During Tea Time in Elenore City's third year, visitors were greeted by each of the four versions of the Lovely Angels in turn...
May - July 2001:
#&@*$%!! Yuri, what the hell is with the freakin' tri-vid in this place today? It's gettin' nothin' but STATIC!
Well, let's see... it COULD be that someone hasn't given Mughi his kalium tablet yet. You know how cranky he can get when--
WHOOPS! Back in a flash... (darts into another room, from which soothing sounds and small growls can soon be heard)
You'd forget your head if I wasn't here to-- (slight startle) Ara! I didn't hear you come in. Hello, welcome to our little museum. I hope our pet's EM emissions haven't disturbed you (or erased any data storage you were carrying...).
Since we're beginning a third year here already, the Founder's decided to try something different. So, as I understand it, we're going to do some sort of "time-share". We'll be handling the introductions for the first three months--
(returning to living room) --since, obviously, he wanted the best of the Lovely Angels up first!
Then those two from the '80s anime -- you know, the ones who look the most like us?
After all, they had great models to work from...
True enough... Anyhow, they'll be here next,,,
Good thing this place has air-conditioning: I hear summers in Elenore City are pretty stinkin' hot.
...and in the fall and winter, the other two Pairs will be your guides.
Those'd be the genetically-tinkered duo with all those strange internal accessories and the two punk kids with the weird hair. Can't make up my mind which ones bother me more...
Now, Kei, a little charity toward our colleagues... After all, all eight of us have enough adverse public reaction to cope with.
Maybe so, but I still think that--
*ahem* The reason we're doing this is that the arrangements in this place get a bit complicated because there are four different versions of our stories floating around. So we have four separate rooms you can visit to find out more about any or all of us Lovely Angels.
But I think you can figure out which ones you oughta spend the bulk of your time with... (if you know what's good for you).
. . .
(server-robot enters with drinks) You know, this place won't be bad at all to stay at for three months.
Yeah, we'll be fine... as long as the hot-cocoa supply holds out! (Your figure, on the other hand...)
Or the *ahem* "adult beverages"... (How many is that so far today?)
You sayin' I gotta problem with drinking?
Why, no! (...you manage to get most of it into your mouth... initially...)
Yuri, what say... you just... enjoy your refreshment now? (While yer still able...)
July - October 2001:
#&@*$%!! Yuri, why is it so freakin' hot in here? Is the weather-control satellite busted? Is B.R.I.A.N. on another rampage?!
(at one of the wall monitors) Nooo, it just seems to be a problem with our own air-conditioner.
'Just a problem with our...'? Well, why didn't you do something about it already?
Ano... I'm really better at wrecking machines than fixing them...
Whoa, hold it! You stuck me with workin' on that thing last ti-- (spots Mughi dozing) I know... (brightly) Ohh, Muu-ghi, c'm'ere! I got a little job for ya... (Mughi glances back suspiciously, then slinks at an accelerating pace out of the room) Hey, HEY! Get back here, you coward! (follows the big 'cat' out)
Jeez, I wonder if I should even mention the broken-- (suddenly notices a visitor) Ah, irasshai, welcome to our little museum. Sorry about the temperature in here. We'll be tending to the problem straightaway.
(tool box in hand, herding their pet back into the living room) The air-conditioner will be in the good paws of Mughi here... (he delivers a feline groan and sets to work) Or, as we sometimes call him, Daatipea no Daijuumoukyuu...*
[* dai: big, great; juumou: animal fur; kyuu: sphere, ball]
We're here hosting this site since the arrangements in this place are a bit complicated. After all, there are four different versions of our stories floating around. So we have four separate rooms you can visit to find out more about any or all of us Lovely Angels.
Of course, the ones in the upper right corner have gotta be the best of 'em...
. . .
The Founder has this "idea" of having us rotate the site-hosting duties this year, so we'll be here through the summer--
Just our rotten luck to draw the hot months... Still, it's good to be back in Elenore City.
Then, in the fall, our counterparts from the comix will be here--
With all that weird technology of theirs, it makes ya wonder how much of what is implanted where...
*ahem* And the Flash duo will follow them in the winter.
Yeow! Those punk kids?! Why, when we were their age--
Kei, maybe the less said about those times, the better...?
(considers this a moment) Oh... yeahhh... Well, here's hoping there's something left of the apartment when we get back.
You know it...
Anyway, please feel welcome to have a look around. We both hope you'll enjoy your visit.
Y'know, I was up half the night refilling the foodstuff and ethanol supplies in the auto-kitchen. Someone of those last two who were here sure could do a job on the booze 'n' munchies.
Hmm... I could hazard a guess as to who that might be.
(glowering) And your "guess" would be...?
(abruptly) Let's see how Mughi's coming along with the air-conditioner!
You ain't gonna answer me, are you?
Oh yes! Why, it feels better in here already!
Waitaminnitdammit, I just wanna know...
October 2001 - January 2002:
#&@*$%!! Yuri, what in hell is with this effing food-synthesizer? It was workin' fine yesterday, and now it's just spittin' out this watery gruel kinda junk!
Well now, dear, I couldn't say for sure, but it might have burned itself out last night trying to manufacture ten kilos of Peanut Butter-Caramel-Double Fudge Swirl all in one go. But that would just be speculation on my part... as would be the identity of the party responsible...
Hey, it ain't my fault this apt is outfitted with such rinky-dink, low-capacity equipment... Cripes, damn thing hadda blow out right when I was try'na stock up on my favorite... And what's with the floor in this place? Am I nuts, or is the whole place tippin' to one side?
Oho, a two-parter, eh? Hmm, maybe I'd better just deal with the latter half... I think I heard something about the regular tenants having something to do with that. The City's master computer went berserk and when the two of them tried to deal with it--
Yehwell, whatever! I'll get Mughi to help me set up some grav-manipulators later to compensate for... Hey, where is His Furballitude, anyhow?
I think he might be occupied in the living room. It looked like an "Invitation to Love" Marathon was underway on holovid...
Just freakin' terrific! No auto-kitchen, no Mughi to help fix things! (stomps off to another room) Hell, I'm gonna go order some delivery grub...
Jeez, I can just imagine what she'll send out for-- (suddenly notices a visitor) Oh! Hello, I didn't see you there! Welcome to our little museum. We're here hosting this site since the arrangements in this place are a bit complicated--
(re-enters) Ohh-kay, we're all set! You like deep-fried emu, don'cha, Yuri? (spots visitor) Hey there, nice ta see ya! Make yerself comfortable! Stay for a nosh -- we got krillburgers comin'...
Gosh, I can hardly wait... As I was about to say, there are four different versions of our stories floating around. So we have four separate rooms you can visit to find out more about any or all of us Lovely Angels.
Ha, you can tell just by lookin' that the ones in the lower left corner are the best of the bunch!
. . .
The Founder has had a policy this year of having us rotate the duty of hosting this site, so we're keeping an eye on the place through January, after which the Flash Pair will take over--
Whoa-ho, wotta crew: Lilac-Hair an' Ol' Red Britches! That's gonna be somethin'... (chime sounds in another room) 'Scuse me, I gotta get that! Those two... a-hahahaa...
*ahem* ... which will take things up to the Third Anniversary here at "Tea Time". If you're a regular visitor, you may recall that the Lovely Angels of the novels were here in the spring and those from the '80s anime preceded us during the summer. (It remains to be seen what will happen here next April...) In any case, please feel free to look around. We both hope you'll enjoy your visit--
(returns with a parcel) All right, soup's on! Got us some good stuff here... (begins setting out containers)
You know... I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a meal from Chez H'n'J...
Whaddaya mean, Yuri? We just got something from them last week!
I stand by my statement.
(eyes narrowing) Would you be impugning my taste?
Of course not: to do that would presuppose its existence.
ALL RIGHT, that tears it! I demand satisfaction! Straw wrappers at two paces! Have at you!
(laughing) En garde, partner!
February - April 2002:
(observing her partner with some distaste) Hmm... I see you're getting an early start on your day's routine!
Hey, it's the "breakfast of champions"! Beer's got lotsa important nutrients and carbo-whatchamacallits... Anyway, we're outta groceries again. Just don't start up with me today, hunh, Yuri? I'm kinda short on sleep.
Well, small wonder, considering you sat up till all hours playing Final Gunfighter IX on holovid--
Hee-hee, made it all the way to Level 24, too. I bet I found stuff the designers don't even know is there. (suddenly serious) Besides, gimme a break! Minding this apartment is torturously boring. And there's something weird about it, too: it feels like the whole place is tippin' to one side -- and I know I haven't had that many already. (lays an empty on its side) I mean, look at this! (both watch as the can rolls of its own accord to a corner on the room)
(pensively) I think... I heard something about that. The regular residents had some kind of battle with the Elenore City computer and, somehow, this building ended up getting tilted...
Cheh! And the other ones say we mess things up. They think they can dump on us just 'cuz we're younger. We get stuck watching this place in the winter months and it's gotta a flukey food-synth unit, a busted Hypernet hook-up, and a vent system with a mind of its own. To top that off, it comes with a roommate who needs looking after, too!
Just what do you mean?
Those ain't my long purple hairs in the bathtub drain all the time!
Those aren't my beer cans filling up the refrigerator!
They don't take up the whole fridge: there's plentya room for the food it's your turn to go get--
When am I supposed to find time to do things like that when I have--
Oh yeah, I forgot that crowded "social calendar" of yours. I knew it was something important!
Thanks for reminding me why we don't normally share an apart-- (suddenly notices a visitor) Oh, hi there! We didn't hear you come in! Welcome to our little museum. We're here hosting this site since the arrangements in this place are a bit complicated. After all, there are four different versions of our stories floating around, so we have four separate rooms you can visit to find out more about any or all of us Lovely Angels. The Founder has had a policy this past year of having each Pair of us rotate the duty of hosting this site, so we're here for the final quarter before Tea Time's Third Anniversary in April...
I think it's obvious that they saved the best ones for last!
. . .
I guess that tells you pretty much what you need to know. I know I speak for myself (and certain people who won't come out and say so) when I say that we both hope you enjoy your visit here. Thanks for coming by and we hope we'll see you again soon.
Hey, I was gonna say so...
Come on, you know how you are about talking about personal stuff.
(eyes on the floor) Well... ya know... I'm not really that ticked off about most of the things you do...
I guess I'm not so upset either... And I really appreciate your fixing my hair dryer for me.
(brightening) And I think it's pretty slick the way you got the Chief to look after Mughi... Why don't we do something with equipment that actually works around here? (they walk to the holovid area) Hey, it looks like pro-wrestling is on! The Main Event oughta be good: it's the Silver Draculas against The Grotesque Sisters!
All right, but after that, I want to watch "Invitation to Love"!
And then, you can go do the food shopping.
Huh? No way! I have to go meet--
So take him to the market with you!
That sounds like the kind of date you'd go on. *giggle*
(balling a fist) Ohhh, now yer askin' for it...
