Scenario:Manamel - Manamel Is a Cat
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Manamel Is a Cat
Manamel is thinking about what she can do for (Captain), as Halloween is just around the corner. Her dagger Vegalta takes her to Dante, a mage with great respect for cats. Manamel is surprised when Dante is able to guess what her troubles are about. She proceeds to ask him for a favor. Soon after, Dante rushes to (Captain) with Manamel—whose behavior has become completely like that of a cat—in tow.
One autumn afternoon, (Captain) is returning to the ship after completing a request.
Manamel: Welcome home, Master (Captain)!
Choose: Er, I'm back...
Choose: Master?
Manamel: You must be tired! Well, Mana's at your service—I can give you a shoulder, arm, or leg massage!
Vyrn: Your service repertoire is sparse, huh...
Vyrn: Anyway, what's going on? You're usually busy doin' your own thing... What's with the generous attitude all of a sudden?
Lyria: Oh, you're dressed up as a maid! Are you acting along with your Halloween costume?
Manamel: You got it!
I'll do everything I can for... my dear master...
I'll do everything I can for... my dear master...
Manamel: ...
Manamel: Okay, why do I have to do everything? I'm the super cutest. Everyone's supposed to do everything for me!
Lyria: Huh? Um, Manamel?
Manamel: Makes no sense. (Captain)'s not my master and I'm definitely not a maid.
Vyrn: You're the one not makin' any sense here...
Manamel: Hmph. Let's get out of here, Vega.
Vegalta: ...
Manamel turns on her heel. Her dagger floats behind her, its tip pointing downward as if hanging its head in apology.
Vyrn: There she goes again... Just does whatever she wants, huh?
Dante: Indeed, she is quite the free spirit.
The crew turns toward the voice to see Dante, a mage deeply inspired by the freedom of cats and regards them as his mentors.
Lyria: Dante! You're a cat today!
Dante: Nothing compared to Manamel, of course. I am merely imitating in appearance, whereas Manamel's soul itself is just like a cat's.
Dante: I remember when we tried inviting her to the Halloween festival before...
Manamel: So yeah, that's our two rupies. Even if we do end up painting our faces, it's gonna be a design we really like.
Dante: I see. You both possess a spirit that cannot be swayed by others.
Dante: Freedom at its finest!
Dante: She turned down our invitation, then showed up after all in her own style of face paint.
Dante: She follows her heart, as grass bends to the breeze... How she conducts herself is an inspiration.
Vyrn: Her heart, huh? Still, I have no idea what she was tryin' to do in that costume.
Lyria: Could it be that she likes maids and wanted to practice being one?
Dante: ...
Manamel: Sigh...
Vegalta: ...
Vegalta nestles close to Manamel, who is now lying in bed.
Manamel: I know... I'm my own master. I just wanted to try my hand at the maid thing.
Manamel: I thought Halloween could be a good chance for me to do something for (Captain)...
Manamel: But that didn't work. What am I supposed to do now?
Manamel turns over on the bed and buries her face into the pillow.
Manamel: Wheeew...
Vyrn: What the... Manamel? This is (Captain)'s room!
Manamel: I know that.
Vyrn: Yeah, and that includes the bed and pillow...
Manamel: Yeah, no kidding.
Manamel gets up from the bed to stand in front of (Captain).
Manamel: ...
Choose: Something wrong?
Choose: Do I have something on my face?
Manamel: Not really. Sorry I got in your way.
Manamel: Hm... I was hoping I'd figure something out in (Captain)'s room, but no luck.
She takes out a small mirror and stares at her own reflection.
Manamel: My makeup's so not on fleek. Get me my powder, Vega.
Vegalta: ...
Manamel: Hm? Wait. Why am I being such a simp for (Captain) anyway?
Manamel: That's weird. I mean, I'd always been flying solo...
Manamel: And then they went and said that to me.
"Whatever the reason, if you decide to leave someday, we won't stop you."
"We just can't abandon someone we know could use our help."
With those words, my life changed.
Manamel: Well, you're gonna have to take responsibility for showing up in my world like this all of a sudden.
Manamel lowers her head to sniff at her clothes, remembering how she had rolled in (Captain)'s bed in the same dress earlier.
Manamel: I've never remembered anyone's smell before...
Manamel: (Captain)'s not a stranger, or my master, or an attendant.
Manamel: What is (Captain) to me?
Vegalta: ...
Manamel: Wha! Vega? Where do you think you're going?
Manamel: Huff, huff...
Manamel: We're in... the dining hall? I'm not hungry yet though...
Dante: It seems the dagger has led you to me.
Manamel: Dante?
Dante: I came here to prepare some food for the cats. I'm happy to listen once I've finished my duties.
Manamel: ...
Manamel stands waiting as Dante quietly finishes his preparations. Once everything is ready, he turns back to Manamel.
Dante: I am aware of your business. You wish to know what (Captain)'s existence means to you exactly.
Manamel: H-huh!
Dante: You will not be able to express your emotions if you cannot find the answer to this question.
Dante: Cats, too, are independent creatures. I cannot help but see similarities shared among you and the way cats gauge the distance between themselves and others.
Manamel: Hmph. Please, stop talking like you know me.
Dante: My apologies. I did not mean to come off as arrogant.
Dante: Quite the contrary, actually—I respect how akin your behavior is to the ways of cats.
Manamel: Cats... Is it 'cause I'm dressed like this?
Dante: Your costume is splendid indeed. The freedom of cats and the devotion of a maid—one would think them to be contradictory...
Dante: And yet, the two elements go hand in hand to create a perfect harmony. The colorful tail in particular is... very nice.
Manamel: Hehe. Isn't it the super cutest?
Dante: That being said, what I am referring to is your very disposition, Manamel.
Manamel: My personality, you mean? I'm just being me.
Dante: Exactly. Is that not proof enough that you need not rush for an answer?
Dante: Surely it will come to you naturally when you are simply being yourself. Take Lady Afaka, for example—she does not search for a bed, but rather, falls asleep wherever it is warm.
Manamel: Cats, huh?
So I just have to... be myself...
So I just have to... be myself...
Putting a finger to her chin, Manamel thinks for a while when an idea hits her. She smiles.
Manamel: Hey, Dante. I've got something I want you to help me with.
Lyria: The job ended so quickly today. We're free for the afternoon!
Vyrn: We can finally relax in our rooms! I think I'll snack on some apples and roll around—
Dante: (Captain)!
Vyrn: Whoa!
Dante: Apologies, (Captain)! I've... I've done something terrible!
Lyria: Dante? What's the matter?
Dante: I had kept quiet about it, thinking I could solve it on my own... but it was presumptuous of me to believe so!
Vyrn: Hey, calm down! Tell us what happened from the beginning.
Dante: It's my fault... I didn't know what I was doing. And now, Manamel's...
Lyria: Wh-what about Manamel?
Dante: She's turned into a cat...
Vyrn: ...
Wha?
Wha?
Manamel: Meow...
Lyria: Meow?
The crew stare with their mouths agape as Manamel saunters to (Captain)'s bed before flopping onto it.
She turns over onto her back and lazily claws at the blanket, bringing it closer to her.
Manamel: Meeeow.
Manamel yawns and takes a big stretch.
Dante buries his face in his hands as Manamel lies leisurely in bed, not a care in the skies.
Just how will this Halloween cat fiasco unfold?