Tea N' Cakes

"Honestly, Lotte...
Lotte looked up from the cake she was nibbling on, crumbs sticking to her lips. Ethel was looking at her disapprovingly, but this was probably because she hadn't eaten in 200 or so years. The ghost was pouting, blushing in embarrassment as Lotte wolfed down the cake. True, she hadn't eaten since breakfast, and it was the late afternoon, but she didn't have to be so messy.
Lotte straightened up. "Sorry, madam." she murmured in a mockingly polite tone, going so far as to dab her face with a napkin and shut her eyes, as if pleased very greatly by such a wonderful meal. Ethel frowned even more, looking peeved, but Lotte only giggled. "Jeez. You are so easy to work up."
Lotte put two hands on the ceramic cup of tea in front of her, still hot. Vapors arose from the liquid, displaying a sweet aroma. Sadly though, she could not afford to burn her tongue, and awaited, staring down the cup as if forcing it to cool with her icy gaze.

She had come back to the cafe a second time. This time, however, she insisted on coming alone - at least without her new wolf-friend; because while she enjoyed his company, she knew he had his own issues that he needed to sort out, but he was always a bit awkward around her - and he kept trying to bring her into the dorm rooms, an idea that she wasn't all too fond of, especially with someone she had just met.
Alicia did look forward to coming here though, since she didn't finish her food and drink the time before. She couldn't deny how good everything here was - so, once again, she paid the waitress in advance for her coffee and went to find a spot to sit. She paused when she saw an unfamiliar girl chowing down on her cakes. Curiously, Alicia tiled her head, 'Is there someone I'm not seeing?' she thought to herself, wondering the who the young lady was speaking with.
Curiosity getting the best of her, she approached Lotte, "Excuse me, who are you talking too?"

"I am about to take that cake and shove it up your a--
Ethel was interrupted as Alicia appeared, and Lotte looked back and forth at her and Ethel, who looked like a plain old empty seat to Alicia. "No one." said the girl, in a surprisingly solemn voice.
"What do you mean no one!?"
"..."
"Answer me!"
"..."
"You are so mean, Lotte!"
A smile crept across Lotte's face, but she held her ground. She looked up at the girl who approached her. "You are from the school, right? I'm Lotte." she said with a larger grin. She took a sip of her tea, the liquid perfect temperature by then and mildly hot. It wasn't the best tea she had ever tasted, but it would have to do for the next few years.

The curious look still lingered in Alicia's eyes as she watched Lotte's gaze flickered back and forth between her and the empty seat beside her, "Oh, my mistake - It seemed as if you were talking to someone else. I just must be tired, then. Please, accept my apology." The young woman was quick to try and right her wrong, as usual of her, looking a bit embarrassed. She brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear, nodding at the stranger with a kind smile, "That's right. Pleasure to meet you, Lotte." Lotte. That was a unique name. "My name is Alicia."

"Alicia." repeated Lotte, trying the name on her mildly warmed tongue. yaytea "I like it."
"I think it is a stupid name." said the cross voice next to Lotte. Lotte went to kick a shin, but only realized she couldn't do such a thing to a ghost when her foot made a loud bang as it impacted the chair across from her. People in the cafe turned and Lotte's face heated up, growing a shade of red. Ethel started laughing, holding her stomach and leaning back in the chair. Lotte puffed out her cheeks. "Say, Alicia. You can sit down if you want." she murmured, and Ethel's laugh abruptly ceased.

"Thank yo-" Her smile had begun to grow a bit warmer when Miss Lotte had begun to glare at the air and kicked the bottom of the table, making her jump a little in surprise. Alicia forced a light laugh, covering her mouth habitually as she did so - hopefully to clear the air and to get the others in the cafe to stop looking their way. "Sure, I'd love the company." Alicia moved to sit down across from the stranger, mistakenly right where Ethel was. "Are... you alright?" She inquired, wanting to know, but also not wanting to be rude.

To Alicia, she was sitting on the chair normally. To Lotte, however, Alicia was sitting straight on Ethel's lap. Ethel's head darted back and forth. "Wha!? Get her off me, Lotte, you devil!"
Lotte ignored her, giving Alicia a crafty smile. "I am wonderful, thank you." said the girl, sipping her tea. Ethel had to brave it out. The ghost tried to squeeze out with no luck. Being weightless, she couldn't free herself from under a cup! Grumbling, Ethel grabbed both ends of the seat, peeved and embarrassed, though no one saw her but Lotte. Lotte was enough to cause Ethel's face to burn as red as a ghost's face could.

The young woman blinked at her smile, it was like Lotte was laughing innerly at something that wasn't happening. "O-of course." Alicia smiled back, though much more uneasily. She shifted around in her seat, getting comfortable and folding her hands gently onto the table, waiting for her drink. "So, are you an initiate too?" She asked, still completely unaware of Ethel's presence as she gently kicked one leg back and forth.

"Yep. My power is-- Lotte stopped herself, realizing Alicia would orobably put two and two together and realize she was sitting on someone. "...not as important as your's! So, what brings you to this sleepy ol' academy"" asked the girl sweetly, stirring her tea absentmindedly with a spoon. She was starting to feel bad for Ethel and not telling Alicia, so the ordeal would end soon. Ethel squeezed her legs together to keep from getting kicked, glaring at Lotte.

Alicia paused, giving Lotte a funny look, but saying nothing. She took a few moments to answer as the waitress came over and handed the young lady her coffee, which she took gratefully with a soft smile - and a fresh batch of an assortment of cakes that was set down between them. "Help yourself, we can share." she said kindly, before looking thoughtful. She wondered if she was the only person who found this strange, talking about gifts about as naturally your name or your age. "Well, I can predict the future... Sometimes..."

"That's neat!" said Lotte, eying the cakes but not daring to snatch one yet. deywersugud ;n;
"Ehem..."
"Oh, excuse me Alicia, you are sitting on my friend."
It was sudden and brusque, but Lotte told her of Ethel. The ghost blinked, uncomfortably shifting under Alicia. Hopefully she'd get up and ask questions later. She was going to knock Lotte to the floor when she was free, and enjoy it. Ghosts as Ethel had the ability to create forces at times, capable of pushing mortals far back depending on how powerful the ghost is. And while Ethel wasn't the strongest spector, she could easily overpower her friend.

She tilted her head and stared blankly at the girl for a few moments, giving her another strange look. "I'm - um ... what?" Alicia wondered, before biting her lip and deciding the humor this girl, she stood out of her chair - looking at the place she had been sitting - maybe she talked to spiders or something? Alicia sure as hell didn't know.

And Lotte started explaining her power, highlighting parts about Ethel and her invisibility to everyone but her. She also explained how people didn't perceive her nor the space in which the ghost took up. "We were arguing, and well...she was sitting in that chair when you sat down yourself." Lotte said with an apologetic smile. "Sorry. I didn't think it would harm you any, since you can't ever tell she is there. Hell, I could be making this all up on the spot."
Ethel breathed a sigh of relief as she was freed, and stood herself, looming over Lotte. She had her hand raised, as if ready to slap the girl, and she very well could. Lotte and Ethel could make contact with each other, but Ethel could not do so with anyone else and have them know so.

Alicia picked her coffee up with her as she watched the young girl explain, her brown eyes wide in amazement. "Wow, that's unlike anything like I've heard before." She wondered aloud, glancing around the room - as if she looked harder, her ghost companion would appear. Normally, someone probably would have thought this prospect crazy, but Alicia was meeting all kinds of interesting characters at the school. Things like this really existed. "So, I was squishing her the entire time?" Ali stayed quiet for a few moments - then, almost out of nowhere - she brought up her hand to hide her smile, breaking into a fit of giggles.

Wow. She handled that well. Lotte too brought a slightly coiled hand to her mouth, giggling. "Yeah. She was blushing a bright re--"
Suddenly, Lotte's face whipped to the side. A red mark, in the shape of a hand, revealed itself on the girl's cheek, and disappeared with time. Lotte rubbed it, pouting. Ethel had never hurt her before. The impact made no sound, however, but the mark was real.
"You didn't have to do that, Ethel. That hurt..." murmured Lotte grumpily. Ethel meanwhile still had her arm raised, face scarlet. She was frowning, an angry countenance addressing her brow. As Lotte said this, the girl crossed her arms, looking away from her friend.
"Someone had to do it." said the embarrassed ghost, finishing her sentence with a hmph. The slap was light and not one to cause any real tension, but rather to prove a message. At times like this, Ethel longed for her freedom. If she got too far from Lotte, however, their bond would break.