The Sweet Taste of Victory (and Ice Cream) (private w/ Bastion and Chain)

[Forrest Waldstein]

Forrest was slowly but surely getting used to the hustle and bustle of the city. Though still loud at times to him, it didn't seem nearly as deafening as it did before. Perhaps he was getting used to the noise, or he was going deaf. Hopefully it wasn't the latter. He didn't invest in a method of personal transportation, as he was used to walking everywhere his entire life. Today was no different, as Forrest used his own two legs to get to a renowned ice cream parlor in the city. He had heard the reviews were good, and it was the perfect excuse to finally go, especially since Bastion was covering his tab. Speaking of Bastion, Forrest wondered how he'd been since their match in the Pep Rally. He'd do his best to remember to ask him. It was an intense match, after all.

As Forrest neared the destination, he made out a figure in the distance by the entrance of the ice cream parlor. Details were hard to make out at this distance, so he decided to head for that figure in the crowd. Who knows? Maybe Bastion wore a different outfit when out on the town, too.

Is that Bastion?... It's a little crowded to tell if it's really him or not. I'll have to get closer. Forrest mused as he kept walking.

[Bastion Sandstone]

Bastion grumbled as the sun got in his eyes again. He was used to wearing his wide brimmed hat, and now that Lillia had played a dumb prank to get his attention it was getting cleaned. And he didn't have a replacement. So his shaggy blond hair hung down with nothing to keep it pinned and kept getting in his eyes. He opted for trying to sweep it all back but it wouldn't stay, always flopping forward. Boy must he look sorry for when Forrest would-

He caught the flash of green and brown as Forrest closed in. He was already here! "Howdy Forrest. How you holdin' up?" The cowboy folded his arms and leaned against the wall next to the door. He had long jeans that covered the tops of his leather boots, his shirt and loose vest, bandana, and no hat.

[Forrest Waldstein]

"I'm good." Forrest replied. Although they just saw each other recently, it felt like ages since they last met. It's funny how time works sometimes. It didn't take Forrest long to notice the lack of his signature hat on his head.

"You didn't wear your hat today?" Forrest inquired curiously as he walked over to the door of the ice cream parlor, holding it open for Bastion as the distinct chime of a bell sounded as the door opened. Whatever today would bring, all Forrest knew was that he was looking forward to spending time with Bastion today. Oh yeah, and the free ice cream was a bonus too.

[Bastion Sandstone]

"Nah, figured I'd get cold enough with the ice cream, might need all the sun I can get to keep warm." He jokes as he got let inside, nodding his head in thanks to Forrest. "And a friend of mine played a prank and got it dirty. It's in the cleaner's." He amended.

"Alright Woodsy boy, go ahead and pick out what you want, make sure to get all the sprinkles or cookies you want on it." He pulled out his leather wallet. The monthly allowance by Beacon for students saved his hide. If he had to pay for everything himself he wouldn't have enough money to pay for ice cream, let alone food.

[Chain Dupp]

The door opened with a soft ding as two young men entered. Chain recognized them as being from Beacon, though he hadn't been introduced to either. He'd seen that super bright redhead girl (what was her name again? Kaylee? Kaitlyn?) zooming around with both of them, so that bade well for their social taste at least. He just hoped that they wouldn't be as boisterous as that floating red ball of energy.

"Here you are, Link," Melinda said as she set down an enormous bowl of sherbet in front of him. "Tell your pops that his order will be delivered first thing tomorrow. This bowl's on him, by the way," she added with a wink.

Chain nodded, letting out a sigh at his father's insistence that he not pay for all his sweet indulgences. "Thanks, Lindy," he said, eliciting a bright smile from the girl as the two newcomers approached the counter.

[Forrest Waldstein]

Forrest deliberated for a moment as he perused the available flavors of ice cream the store had in stock. Scanning through the various flavors, he was actually looking for one flavor in particular.

Rocky Road... Parkerhouse... There! Mint Chocolate Chip! Forrest thought as he approached the counter.

An employee rounded the corner as Forrest approached. She was a deer Faunus, as shown by her deerlike ears and antlers. She appeared to be just a bit shorter than Forrest with a similar build to him. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She looked at Forrest with vibrant green eyes that only seemed to brighten as she looked at him, her pupils subtly dilating as she made eye contact with him. As expected, she was wearing the standard uniform that the other employees were wearing. The nametag on her uniform read "Fern".

"Hi! You ready to order?" she asked, her head tilting to the side ever so slightly as she awaited Forrest's response. She tried to keep it low-key, but she was definitely taking a liking to Forrest.

"Yes. I would like a medium bowl of mint chocolate chip with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and a cherry please." Forrest replied politely as Fern began placing his order.

[Bastion Sandstone]

Bastion stood behind Forrest in line, watching him order to Fern. The antlers and deer ears easily marked her as a Faunus. Bastion had been here once or twice and hadn't seen her before. But she didn't see Bastion, her eyes were fixed on Forrest. The cowboy wasn't a love guru by any means, but even he could tell that this girl was into Forrest for more than a Lien tip. She was adorable.

Bastion leaned past Forrest's shoulder. "Medium bowl of Mint and Orange Sherbet for me, please. On the same order, I'm paying. This guy destroyed me in the Vytal Festival the other day, so I lost the bet." Bastion was comfortable where he was relationship-wise, and he had no trouble being a wingman for Forrest.

[Chain Dupp]

Well, well, well. It looks like Fern had herself a bit of a crush, there. Chain smiled and shared a knowing look with Melinda as the deer Faunus rang in the orders for both the newcomers.

He casually slid one seat to his left to make room for them to sit at the counter. "There's room up here, gents," he offered, gesturing to the open seats at the counter. "You're not gonna want to miss Lindy here making that mint sundae," he added.

Melinda laughed. "He's just saying that because he likes screwing with people," she confided in the new customers, but all the same she picked up the chocolate sauce and a cherry before tossing the cherry into the air and spraying a spiral of chocolate sauce into the air in a lower arc before grabbing a medium+ scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream and shooting a wink at her coworker, who immediately tried to hide her ears behind her hands.

The cherry sailed through the air, slowing gradually until it came to a near-complete stop directly in front of one of the seats. Setting the bowl down underneath it, Melinda grabbed the whipped cream and topped the sundae, the spiral of chocolate sauce landing neatly atop the mound of topping and the cherry landing lightly atop the crest of newly-chocolate-covered whipped cream in a display that would absolutely have earned her an earful from Roy had he been in front-of-house to see it. It was a bad habit, she knew, but it was so fun.

[Forrest Waldstein]

"Oh, did he now?" Fern inquired, curiously tilting her head to the other side ever so slightly. She blinked absentmindedly as it took Fern a moment or two to register the fact that she did not, in fact, ring in their order. It seemed that Forrest was a great distraction for her than she anticipated.

"OH!... Silly me! I'm all over the place today!" Fern added with a chuckle and a blush as she rang in the order at the register. After totaling the cost of the meal, Bastion paid for the order as intended. Noting the offer from the black haired individual, Forrest made his way over to the booth.

"Thanks, Bastion." Forrest said as he paid for the ice cream.

She seemed... jittery... Forrest thought as he made his way over, sitting down in the booth.

"Thanks. What's your name?" Forrest inquired to the edgy-looking but friendly fellow.