Scenario:Sen - To My Feline Friends

To My Feline Friends

As Valentine's Day approaches, many crew members are busy making chocolate, which is tasty to people but toxic to cats. Feeling sorry for Rivera and company, who have fled to the deck to avoid accidentally ingesting the confections, Sen brings them treats. Realizing the chocolate odor on her clothes is repelling the cats, Sen changes into a new outfit. As she plays with the cats, she makes up her mind to give them a present.

---

The delectable aroma of chocolate permeates throughout the Grandcypher, which can only mean one thing: Valentine's Day is on the horizon.

An eclectic collection of crew members occupy the kitchen, brewing their sweet concoctions.

While these chocolatiers work their magic, Sen pops in to fetch treats for the cats in the crew.

Sen: Let's see... I'm pretty sure we keep cat food in this cupboard...

Lyria: Aaaand my chocolate is done!

Lyria: How's it going for you, Yaia?

Yaia: Mine's done too!

Lyria: Yay! Why don't we eat them together later?

Yaia: Okay!

Cerberus: Coco! Mimi! I need you two to sample this fudge for me!

Coco: N-not again!

Cerberus: Yes, again! There's no stopping me until I perfect my recipe for (Captain).

Cerberus: And your taste buds are going to help me make that happen!

Coco: G-give it a rest already! Any more and I'm gonna barf, woof!

Mimi: What Coco said, woof! I can't eat another bite!

Cerberus: Too bad!

Cerberus happily cackles as she stuffs more chocolate into the puckered mouths of Coco and Mimi.

Yaia: Oh, no, no, no! Stop that, Cerberus!

Yaia: Chocolate is like poison to doggies!

Cerberus: Nah, it's all right. Coco and Mimi aren't dogs, you know.

Coco: That's woofin' right! Don't lump us in with those regular ol' mutts!

Mimi: If a measly bit of chocolate puts us in the eternal doghouse, then we aren't fit to be her guard hounds, woof!

Cerberus: So there you have it, right from the hellhounds' mouths. Everything's fine.

Yaia: Well... All right. But be careful, okay? It can still be dangerous if they eat too much.

Yaia smiles and runs off to catch up with Lyria.

Coco & Mimi: The little one's right, woof! This is dangerous! So put away the—mmph!

Coco and Mimi's mouths open wide in protest.

A mistake their master gleefully exploits.

Clarisse: This is your year, Clarisse! With these chocolates leading the way, I'll definitely get my feelings across!

Clarisse: It's gonna be fine! I've already taken the first step. Now I have to go all the way...

Clarisse: Wh-wh-what am I saying! It's still way too early for that! Or is it?

Sen: (As usual, everyone's pouring all of their effort into making chocolates for Valentine's Day.)

Sen: (I think I'll make some too after I feed the cats.)

Sen: (There are a lot of people I'd like to thank for the kindness they've shown me.)

While these thoughts run through her head, Sen searches the cupboard for the cat treats.

Sen: Aha, found it.

Yaia: Hi, Sen. Are you busy right now?

Sen: Oh, hi, Yaia. What's up?

Yaia: Here! I made chocolate for you!

Yaia: If it's not too much trouble, can you tell me what you think?

Sen: Aw, that's sweet of you! Of course I'll have a bite.

Sen eagerly selects a dark chunk from Yaia's tray and brings it to her lips.

Yaia: Well?

Sen: Mmm! This is delicious! It just melts in my mouth!

Yaia: Ehehe. Yay!

Lyria: Say, Sen... Could you maybe try some of mine too?

Lyria: I'm a little worried they didn't turn out the way I wanted them to.

Sen: I'd be more than happy to!

Sen: Munch...

Lyria: H-how is it?

Sen: Wow, this is also yummy! It has a very grown-up taste—not too sweet but not too bitter either!

Lyria: R-really? Phew, what a relief!

Lyria: That reminds me. We're having a tasting party later. You should come join us.

Lyria: Hm? Is that a box of cat snacks?

Sen: Huh? Oh, this?

Sen looks at the box in her hand.

Sen: I was wondering if the cats felt obligated to stay out on the deck today to avoid eating any chocolate by accident.

Sen: I figured they deserve some treats to make up for the holiday commotion.

Lyria: Ah, good point. We are kind of being loud and everything, aren't we?

Lyria: Okay. I'll come find you later then.

Lyria: Please tell the kitties we're sorry for the racket!

Sen: Yep, will do. See you later!

Sen bows to Lyria and Yaia before leaving the kitchen.

Stepping out onto the deck, Sen sees a number of lounging bodies in the distance.

Each cat has claimed their favorite spot to soak in the sun.

Sen: Sorry to keep everyone waiting! I brought snacks! Come and get it!

Sen holds up the box of treats over her head.

Ewiyar: (Oho!)

Ewiyar: (Dispense with the morsels at once! My stomach demands it!)

Sen: Hey, hey, hey! Please don't pull on my skirt like that! You're going to rip it!

Aselia & Mewmew: ...

Mukuta & Afaka: ...

Vapaus & Rivera: ...

Strangely, the others barely move. They watch with their eyes and do nothing more.

Sen: Um... Is something wrong?

Aselia: The stench coming from Sen's clothing is overpowering.

Afaka: Think I'm gonna stay away from Sen today.

Mewmew: Smells icky!

Mukuta: This happens every year. There's always a bunch of days when this smell floods the ship.

Vapaus: Yep. No way are we staying inside for that.

Vapaus: Not that I mind being outside or anything.

Mukuta: You said it. Breathing that stuff in all day makes me wanna retch...

Aselia: Isn't that the truth? Just what are Sen and her colleagues doing in there?

Rivera: Preparing for Valentine's Day.

Mewmew: Valen... tine?

Rivera: They make food called chocolate and gift it to others to show their appreciation.

Vapaus: You're telling me that odor comes from something edible? Yeesh, furless eat the weirdest stuff.

Aselia: With that being said, that one doesn't seem the least bit put off.

The cats look to the creature Aselia calls "that one," otherwise known as Ewiyar.

Rivera: So it would seem. Now that I think about it, are we even sure it's a cat?

Rivera: It doesn't appear to understand what we say.

Afaka: I tried talking to it before, but it just ignored me.

Sen: Uh... Kitties?

Mukuta: Fine, fine, but what are we going to do about Sen? She's looking our way, and she isn't smiling.

The cats have been discussing among themselves this entire time.

But to Sen, all she hears are meows.

Ewiyar: ...

Ewiyar: (With the way things are going, those treats will never leave that box!)

Ewiyar: (It seems that this girl has no idea why the other cats refuse to come near her.)

Ewiyar: (Sigh... Very well. To sate my belly, I shall perform a fantastic feat of intrigue!)

Sen: Whoa! Why did you suddenly jump into the air like that?

Sen: Are you asking for a hug?

Sen scoops up Ewiyar and gives her a solid squeeze. One whiff of Sen's clothes makes the cat hiss and squirm away from her grasp.

Sen: Huh? So you didn't want a hug? I'm sorry! Your face said it all...

Sen: Wait a minute!

Sen: Is it because of the chocolate smell on my clothes?

Sen: Yeah, that could be it. Chocolate is poisonous to cats, so obviously they'd hate how it smells.

Sen: I'm so sorry! I'll go change right away! Be right back!

Ewiyar: (Stop! I don't care if you go, but leave the box!)

Sen: Whew, I'm back! What do you think of this outfit, meow?

Sen: It's fresh from the wash, so it should be odor-free, I hope.

After a couple of investigative sniffs, the cats finally get up and approach the girl.

Sen: Phew, that's better. Thanks for teaching me something new today.

Sen extends her thanks to Ewiyar, bowing to the cat.

She then lays out a line of plates and fills them with food.

Ewiyar: (Worship me more, girl, and pile on the delectables!)

Sen: Hm? Do you want seconds? Well... Just a teeny bit more couldn't hurt.

Sen: Wait, where's Young Cat?

Rivera: He took off as soon as he could.

Afaka: Said he couldn't take the smell anymore.

Sen: I wonder if he's off playing somewhere?

Mewmew: Sen, let's play.

Sen: I'll just give Young Cat his treats later then.

Sen: No, Mewmew, please don't hang on my scarf! You might hurt yourself if your claws get stuck in the fabric.

Sen carefully separates Mewmew from her scarf and hugs the kitten.

Mewmew: Sen's head scratches are the best.

Sen: Heehee, is that your way of asking for more cuddles?

Mewmew: Mew...

Sen: Ah, what a warm little cutie you are...

After filling their bellies, the cats disperse to catch more rays on the deck.

Sen remains sitting on the floor, joyfully watching the cats and basking in the sun herself.

Sen: It really is relaxing out here, isn't it?

Rivera: The child speaks the truth. We are blessed to be warmed by the sun.

Afaka: Oooh, there goes a big bug.

Mewmew: I call Sen's lap!

Mewmew clambers atop Sen's thigh and buries her nose in the girl's skirt.

Sen: What is it, Mewmew? Do my clothes smell weird?

Mewmew: Nope. I like it.

Aselia: Mm-hm. It smells like a sunny day.

Afaka: That's what I was gonna say.

The other cats purr and rub up against Sen's new outfit.

Sen: Hm... I guess that means my new clothes smell pretty good, huh?

As Sen continues to pet the cats, her thoughts are drawn to a pressing matter.

Sen: (I still haven't figured out what to do for Valentine's Day...)

Sen: (I haven't even had the chance to think about what to make...)

Rivera: What bothers you, child? You look flummoxed.

Aselia: Is something on your mind?

Rivera and Aselia stare up at Sen, meowing their concern.

Sen: Hm? Why are you looking at me like that?

Mukuta: That frown of yours is worrisome.

Afaka: You're always there for us, so we wanna help you out if we can.

Sen: Are you all bored or something?

Sen: I don't mind playing.

Sen: (I've got it. This year I'm going to give a present to the cats.)

Sen: (They're always looking out for me, so....)

Sen: (But that's another problem. What would they like? Chocolate is off the table, and the usual treats aren't anything special...)

Sen: Hmm...

Sen: (I've still got time to brainstorm ideas.)

Sen: (I'll do whatever it takes to keep the kitties happy.)

After coming to her decision, Sen starts amusing the felines with cat toys.