01 [Date: October 10, 2003. Time: 6:30ish PM.] 01 [The Soratas and one Andrews are at the Kurobayashi Hotel's Japanese restaurant, well known for its pricey traditional fare. They even have a table near the window, which overlooks the Imperial Gardens! It would probably be a lot more fun if they weren't also in the middle of what's probably a very awkward dinner.] 01 [Food has been served and they are eating.] 01 [Start!] 06* Tomoe is discreetly enjoying her eel. 06* Katie is more picking at her food than eating, but she does eat some of it! And at least she isn't terrible at using chopsticks. 06* @Nozomu is eating his pork, even if no one else will. 06* Kyon is eating some of the stewed carp. It's not bad, but it's pretty sweet. 01 (He ordered sweet!) (He did order sweet! It's that sort of dish.) (Traditional and kind of sweet.) (You might not find it that sweet, though.) 06* Katie keeps with the picking, drinks more tea, and then settles for looking out the window. She must not be very hungry. 06* @Nozomu has nothing to gain from interupting the meal for more talking. 06* Kyon looks at his mother after a few bites. "How was your signing?" (are we saying that was today then? I asked Nozomu last time and he thought it was tomorow. I'm fine with either, just checking!) 01 (Let's say it was today or Kyon looks sillier than he probably should.) (I thought it was today? ^^; ) 01 (And I'm usually a fan of Kyon looking silly. ;P) <@Nozomu> (But silly Kyon is the best Kyon! He pouts!) (i sort of thought it ws today too, but whichever is fine! :3) 01 (Gryph has been outvoted! It is today!) <@Nozomu> (Sad panda.) 06* Tomoe nods as she takes a sip of tea, and smiles. "Hectic," she says~ "There were a lot more people than the publishers had led me to believe there would be. But I believe I made it through unscathed." ^^ 06* Kyon smirks. "Too popular these days?" <@Nozomu> You handled it quite well. (WHERE DID MY POSE GO) 01 (I had your pose, but I eated it.) 01 (Did you hit the down arrow or something?) (i pressed enter and nothing happened. Well, it vanished. Is starting with an open quote a bad idea?) <@Nozomu> (So that's why you arn't hungry!) (wait no, i didn't even) 01 (Try pressing up, see if it's there.) (HMM I guess I'll start over.) 02* Grysar (gsanders@c-69-140-137-39.hsd1.md.comcast.net) Quit (Ping timeout ) 06* Tomoe smiles, both at her son's joke and her husband's compliment. "One has a responsibility as an author. You have to keep your cool, or you'll hear of it later. Anyway, I don't know why there were so many people. Perhaps it was a slow day for entertainment elsewhere." ^^ (yay worked this time) <@Nozomu> (Yay!) 06* Katie sips more tea. 06* Kyon nods. "Maybe. Yours are adults. Makes it easier to keep under control." 06* Katie snerks a little into said tea. 03* Grysar (gsanders@c-69-140-137-39.hsd1.md.comcast.net) has joined #arcana <@Nozomu> (My mind! It is so totally blank!) 06* Tomoe has a small chuckle. "Yes, I don't especially recall ever being presented with love notes from young ladies during signings." 06* @Nozomu coughs and reaches for his tea. 06* Kyon shakes his head quickly, looking a bit annoyed now. "Be easier if that's all it was." 06* Tomoe seems intrigued, and slightly concerned? "Is there something we should know about, Kyon?" 06* Kyon shakes his head again, and grabs another bite of his dish. "No." He glances at Katie to see if she looks amused now. 06* Katie is totally amused! She puts her tea down, and she has a little grin on her face. "He has fangirls, that's all." 01 (Had to talk to my dad. Phone stuff!) Oh dear. Are they quite rabid? 01 They haven't bitten him yet, so so far so good. 06* Kyon smirks at that one. 06* @Nozomu puts down his tea. "All for the better then." 06* Katie nods and says, straight faced, "I'd hate to take him in for shots." 06* Tomoe 's cheeks become slightly rounder and slightly pinker with her amused semi-smile! She pours more tea for Katie, and Nozomu, but Kyon's cup seems fine. She pours herself some and sips. Still amused. So genteelly. 06* Kyon snorts. "Could handle it. If I had to." 06* Katie pats Kyon's arm. "Needles aren't that scary." And then she picks up her chopsticks and goes back to nibbling at her food. 06* Kyon doesn't even withdraw at her touch. "Right." 06* Tomoe finds their degree of familiarity a little bit offputting, but also - perhaps - promising. They're quite young... but... it's not impossible that they're in it for the long haul. Hmm. She decides to observe this girl more closely. Does she really want this spirited, introverted half-American as her daughter-in-law? (ooh, progress) 01 (Yay!) <@Nozomu> (Argh, I keep typing up things and then realizing they're no good.) 01 (That's because you're no good, Nozomu! *flee*) <@Nozomu> (*calls in a Yakuza strike on Katie, is somewhat confounded after they all fall off a building while on fire.) 01 (Man, wouldn't it be hilarious if Nozomu actually did have mob connections?) (Tomoe would not find it hilarious, thank you.) 01 (Well, Katie wouldn't, but I sure would!) (hahah) (fair 'nuff) Have any other events lined up? <@Nozomu> (Argh, I'd swear I was channeling Kaede. I keep trying to say something and it keeps coming off as "Don't do things that are likely to get you sick it's a waste of your valuable time) 06* Tomoe nods. "A smaller signing in Chiba tomorrow." 01 It sounds very busy. Father going with you? 01 (Hello?) <@Nozomu> (Sorry) 01 (Oh good!) (we were deciding ^^;;) 06* Tomoe smiles! "Yes, fortunately. To Chiba, at least." <@Nozomu> With enough advanced warning, even I can try to take days off. 06* Kyon nods quickly, and takes some of Katie's dish. "You going anywhere after Tokyo?" 06* Katie isn't even sure which dish is "hers", but she does realize she's running out of food (she hadn't taken much in the first place) and claims more carp. And actually a little pork, probably making both men at the table a little grumpy. 06* Kyon just gives her the odd look she usually gets when she eats pork. Kyoto, and Osaka. 06* @Nozomu smiles a bit as his sons girlfriend shows better taste than his son, then he takes some of the eel. 06* Kyon nods quickly. "And then home?" 06* Tomoe also takes a bit more food, since everyone else is doing so. Some of the carp, and the other fish dish. Yes. You should visit more often," she gets in ^^ 06* Kyon glances over at Katie sidewise. "Right. Katie wants to see it, too." 06* Katie nods in agreement, because she does. She also adjusts her scarf a bit. 06* Tomoe thinks they should plan for that, then, but waits to see what her husband thinks. 06* @Nozomu nods. "Just warn us in advance. If you suddenly show up there might not be anybody at home to greet you but the servants." 06* Tomoe is surprised by this gesture of welcome! She would have expected Nozomu to want to keep Katie at arms' length. But perhaps, she considers, he's just calling her bluff. 06* Kyon blinks, also surprised it was that easy, and nods quickly. "Right. Be after the season ends. I'll let you know." 06* Katie smiles. 06* @Nozomu nods as that potential headache moves off several months. Ah, we should plan for that, then," Tomoe says, smoothly. "It will be a pleasure to see you at home again, Kyon. And to get to know you better, Katie," Tomoe turns her no-nonsense smile to the young American. Get to know you and judge whether you're WORTHY 01 In a while, yeah. But you're going to try to go to Kyon's game, right? Oh, yes. The game. On, the 18th was it? 06* Katie nods. 01 Maybe your tour will be done by then and you can stop by on your way north...? 06* Katie sounds hopeful that that's the case. I was just thinking the same thing. Is it a home game? 06* Kyon shakes his head quickly. "But it's still in Tokyo." Mm... And the last signing is on the 15th. Should make it, then. 06* Kyon picks up his tea. "Can get a box." 06* Tomoe doesn't want to commit herself, but it does sound somewhat exciting. She hasn't seen him play since, ah, so long ago! 06* Katie glees at that. "Boxes are great," she tells Tomoe. "They're so much roomier and quieter." 06* Tomoe smiles softly. "Do you go to all of Kyon's games, Katie?" 06* Katie shakes her head. 01 No, there are too many of them, too close together. I make what I can, when he's pitching. 06* Katie picks at her napkin. "I try, though." 06* Tomoe thinks this seems sensible. Where did Kyon find himself a sensible girl? She is growing increasingly suspicious. 06* @Nozomu nods. "We all have things that take up our time." 06* Kyon nods quickly. "Only get boxes when other people come too, though." 01 Yeah, usually I'm in the lower seats. Well, I'll certainly do what I can. ^_^ It sounds quite exciting. 06* @Nozomu rubs the bridge of his nose. Just let me know. Don't want to book it if you're not there. 06* Kyon glances at Katie sidewise, and smirks. "Unless you think Haruko'd be into it." 01 Earlier is better, so the boxes aren't all taken- 06* Katie turns to stare at Kyon. "You would not." <@Nozomu> Another of your friends? 06* Katie rolls her eyes. "*His* friend." She doesn't seem angry, though. We all went to school together. Haruko was in my grade. <@Nozomu> Ahh. 01 She's a flake. 06* Tomoe eats and listens. Kyon doesn't talk about school often... 06* Kyon shrugs quickly. "She is a flake." 01 Yes. And she treats boys badly. 06* Kyon smirks. "Treats me fine." <@Nozomu> (That's because you're a Queen Kyon.) 01 That's probably because she thinks you're a smirking robot. 06* Tomoe sips o. o 06* @Nozomu eyes Katie. ( What? Smirking robots are awesome.) <@Nozomu> That is an unusual opinion. 06* Kyon feels his smirk widen. "But still, a boy robot." 01 It's because he smirks and twitches all the time. I mean, I think it's cute, but- see? Smirk. 06* Katie points. Smirk. 01 But Haruko likes robots, so it makes sense that she'd treat him better than just boys. 06* Kyon sips his tea, still smirking. What? Smirking is natural. 06* Tomoe hides her own smirk in her tea. <@Nozomu> If we could trademark smirking I'd never have to work again and could make all of Kyons games. Unfortunatly it will never happen. 06* Katie notes the smirk Tomoe makes even as she tries to hide it. Hm, from his mother's side. 01 Oh, you should try. 06* Tomoe SIP 01 Anyway, Haruko mostly treats boys who are interested in her badly. Kyon's not, so he's in the clear. 06* Kyon feels at home in this. "Right. Really not interested." 06* Katie folds her arms. "Yes, super not interested." 01 But I still don't like it. <@Nozomu> Hmm. 06* Kyon shrugs quickly. "She's a good person. Except for that." 06* Tomoe eats. Now that Katie's relaxed a bit, she's talking more, and therefore Tomoe has more to mercilessly judge her on. Yay! 01 A good person. Just annoying. (I wonder if future generations will say that their google alerts are going off rather than that their ears are burning. ;P) 06* @Nozomu snorts. "Perhaps she should get her own box then." 01 Not enough money. 06* Katie turns her attention to Kyon. "She mentioned the game, anyway, so I think she already got a ticket. If you're going to get her other seats you should call her or something. And find out if she wants to bring a boyfriend." ( Wait, she's poor? I thought you said she was a good person.) 01 (HA) 06* @Nozomu says levely. "I see." 06* Kyon raises his eyebrows. Boyfriend? "Right. I'll call later. So you want her along?" (Of course, then she can serve in person the role she's already served in this conversation. ^_~) 06* Katie picks up her tea. "Not really, but if you do, I'm okay with it." 01 (Katie has to maintain my general dislike of your character, Greg. Otherwise a small part of the universe will implode.) 01 (As opposed to the ENTIRE universe which is if Kaede didn't maintain his.) 06* Tomoe 's eyes... they're watching you... watching your every move, Katie. (That song always makes me think of Veronica Mars.) 06* Katie doesn't seem bothered. Right now, at least. 01 (Can't listen to music atm. Dre's playing Green Day Rock Band.) (Regardless, Haruko's of a party with Oscar Wilde. It beats not being spoken of.) 06* Kyon nods quickly, and thinks for a couple of beats. Katie and Haruko and his mom unsupervised for hours during a game. Hmmm. "Maybe not. Should think about it more." <@Nozomu> ( The bad news is that Haruko actually is immortal. The good news is that your mom is AWESOME!) 06* Katie sips her tea, then says cheerfully, "I could invite Kaede. Then we'd have a party." 06* Kyon snorts, and turns to look at her wordlessly at that one. Much like she did when he brought up Haruko. 06* Katie can't fight a giggle as she puts her tea down. "I'm sorry, it was- sorry, that's funny." <@Nozomu> And this one would be your friend from the same grade, but doesn't get along well with my son, yes? 06* Tomoe notices that the girl does have laughter, somewhere under all that sternness! 03* Rowyn (Rowyn@66.201.146.49) has joined #arcana 01 (Speak of the devil!) 06* Katie grins. "Sort of... more like he doesn't get along with Kyon." 01 And he *really* doesn't get along with Haruko. <@Nozomu> Ah, I see. 01 He's a good person. 06* Kyon turns to look more towards his father. "He's an okay person." <@Nozomu> (Except when he tries to murder people in self defence) (In his defense he never actually tried! He either succeeded or he didn't!) 06* @Nozomu nods. "Some things are best left behind when you grow up." 06* Katie tells Kyon, "You're just grumpy because he's so much like you. If he learned how to smirk more and grew a few inches... Oh, and dyed his hair orange, and got rid of the glasses..." 06* Tomoe agrees with this, having a fond feeling for her husband. She was just thinking about the childish squabbles and cliques all high schools are plagued with... It also hasn't escaped her that Katie's best friend is a boy and Kyon's is a girl. That's interesting, and odd. 06* Kyon scowls. "And knew how to run a business. And to work people." But he doesn't sound upset, either. 01 (Hey, I'll have you know that we're in college now!) 01 (Barely.) 06* Katie shrugs. "He's doing okay with the Akemi thing. But she is hot, so that helps." <@Nozomu> (Hmm, we probably wouln't recognise Akemi's name, but if shown a picture she'd be that one girl from that one commercial!) ([Somewhere, Haruko feels that she and Kade are but pawns in a battle waged by forces she can barely comprehend. But after the original game it's a familiar feeling, so it doesn't really register.]) 01 (HA) (Hee. That was very cute. ^_^) (Heh) 01 [And so, dinner continued with considerably more talking than it began! Largely at Kaede's and Haruko's expense. And they're not even there!] 06* Tomoe will leave QUITE intrigued about this Katie girl. She's all sharp edges under that shyness, and seems like trouble.. but maybe the kind of trouble that'll keep Kyon on his toes, in that good, wifely sort of way. The jury is still very much out on that one! And she will definitely make that baseball game, if only for a good chance to speak more with Kyon's young lady. 01 [Session End.]