<@Grysar> [Date: February 25, 2004. A bit after 7 pm.] <@Grysar> [The apartment has been fairly quiet and Katie can easily here Kyon's footsteps, finally arriving.] <@Grysar> [Kumaguro has been a bit restless tonight and has been regularly underfoot. A cleaning of the litterbox helped some there, and may have inspired gratitude in Katie that her sense of smell is not enhanced. However, even so the cat seems to swing by every time Katie's about ready to settle in, further disrupting her peace of mind.] <@Grysar> [However, with Kyon's impending arrival, the cat settles down by the couch, looking peaceful and content.] <@Grysar> [Start!] * Katie is on the couch. She's been trying to read for Lit. class, but it's been nearly impossible, and she's gone back and read the same few pages at least five times now. At the sound of Kyon's arrival, she looks up to the door. * Kyon unlocks the door and opens it up, stepping in, and calling out the ritual "Tadaima." He sets down his bag on the edge of the genkan, and starts getting off his shoes and coat. He's in a dark grey button down shirt and black slacks, and an orange and black tie. <@Grysar> * Kumaguro yawns and doesn't get up. * Katie stands, book open in one hand; she's in lounging around clothes, but that makes sense since she's stuck to the apartment since getting back from school. "How was your day?" * Kyon looks down the hall towards her, setting his shoes on the rack without looking. "Fine. Got done some writing before the meeting. Put a personal face on some business for dad. So full." He steps up, and rolls out his shoulders. "You?" I got some information from Doburoku about the social media stuff that my classmate's working on, probably connected to Aka Uehara and those books. Beta access and stuff... I'm going to give it to Kaede, so he can check it out. I went to coffee with Naoki. That was okay. Classes were... * Katie kind of trails off, a little dazed, then looks down at the book she's still holding. She closes it and puts it on the nearest table surface. * Kyon takes a coupe of steps in, and then makes for the kitchen, looking at her sidewise as he heads in more. "Sounds full. Working out the books from more angles is good. But." He opens a cupboard. "Classes were bad?" Yes... no, well. Yes. Sort of. * Katie lets out a sigh. "I... blanked in my painting class. Twice." * Kyon opens the fridge, and takes out a covered plate, before turning to her with a raised eyebrow. "Twice." He pauses a beat, and asks, "Why?" It was... It's stupid. It shouldn't bother me. * Kyon looks at her for a beat, and closes the fridge, setting the plate on the table, and looks back at her. "Right. That doesn't answer why." * Katie isn't really looking at Kyon. She's looking in his general direction, but her eyes are unfocused, and she's not following him as he moves. "I don't *know*." * Kyon takes a couple of steps closer to her, and frowns down at her. "What happened?" * Katie doesn't track Kyon, or his frowning. "I- there was... It was painting class. They brought in a model for us to paint, a nude model, and that was fine. It should have been fine, but I didn't- I don't remember actually painting him, after a point." <@Grysar> * Kumaguro gets up with a meow and wanders over to walk by Kyon's leg. * Kyon furrows his brow, and sets a hand purposefully in Katie's line of sight, in front of him. "Because you stopped? Or because you stopped remembering?" * Katie blinks and focuses. Oh. A hand. A Kyon hand. "I don't remember?" She shakes her head. "The painting turned out fine. I was even complimented." * Kyon scowls at that. "So you did it, but you can't remember doing it." He leans down to give Kumaguro a quick scratch behind the ears. "Memory powers?" <@Grysar> * Kumaguro meows again at this and then settles down by the couch again. I... what? * Kyon looks back at her as he straightens up again. "Could it be someone messed with your memory? Or, you think it's something else?" I don't... think so? * Katie clearly hadn't even been considering that possibility. * Kyon looks at her for another beat, and his brow furrows more. "Come sit down." He goes over to the sink to fill the kettle, sets it to boil, and then will sit down at one of the table seats. * Katie tags along and, once Kyon sits, sits down at her usual place. Her elbows end up on the table and her fingers in her hair. * Kyon tugs the plate over to him, and grabs a pair of chopsticks, before looking at her again. "So. You went to class. You started painting. And things were normal until then. When did things go strange?" * Katie squeezes her eyes shut, trying to remember. "It was- no, it wasn't... I was... kind of uncomfortable when- no, it was..." I started shaking when we were told to paint. But then I stopped. I got myself under control, I think- my painting wouldn't have been any good if my hands were shaking. * Kyon speaks quietly to her. "Right. That makes sense. But you remember getting under control? Or just working back to it?" I remember... I remember losing focus? I remember *trying* to regain control. * Kyon nods curtly. "Was there anything weird about it? Were you fighting against someone?" He grabs a piece of cold grilled fish from the plate, and then adds, "Or was it in you?" * Katie opens her eyes, looking at nothing. "In me," she says, softly. * Kyon watches her for a beat, and then says quietly, "Okay." He pops the fish in his mouth, and stays quiet for now. It's a good piece of fish. I- I don't know why. It shouldn't- something like that shouldn't do that to me. * Kyon raises an eyebrow, and stays otherwise still when he asks, "Something like what?" * Katie says, annoyed, "Some naked boy." * Kyon raises his other eyebrow. "Having to paint him was that hard?" * Katie slams her hands on the table and looks up at Kyon. "Yes! I don't remember doing it! I don't remember doing it the next time, either!" Her voice is rising. * Kyon blinks once, but doesn't seem very fazed, otherwise. "Right. So if that was it, then that's it. Whether it should have or not. Next thing's thinking about why." That's what I've been *trying* to do, but I just-! * Katie's voice starts to seriously give at the end, and she stands, abruptly, going to the sink to get a glass of water. Never mind that tea is on. * Kyon turns, and doesn't protest, but he gets up as well, going next to her by the counter, and dealing with the hot water, getting out the tea stuff. He works on his own cup, but he gets out a cup for her as well, in case. "Can work this through, Katie." * Katie gulps for air as she turns on the faucet. She looks like she wants to say something, but she just shakes her head quickly. * Kyon looks down at her by the counter. "Yeah, we can." He smirks. "We're good at figuring out problems. We can work out what's up." He taps out some tea into a teapot. It's a nice green one. * Katie turns off the faucet and takes a drink, then looks at Kyon. And his smirk. "It's hard," she says, with some difficulty. * Kyon nods quickly. "Usually is. Doesn't mean we can't." * Katie gazes at Kyon for a long moment, actually looking this time, before she nods, too. "Okay. I'll..." She drinks more water. "I'll try. With you." * Kyon nods again, and moves the teapot and both cups over to the table. "Right. You eat already?" * Katie shakes her head, mutely. Fish? * Katie nods a little before she creeps back to the table. Now with water. <@Grysar> * Kumaguro wanders over to sit under the table. * Kyon smirks. "No fish for you," he says, and then offers Katie a pair of chopsticks, pushing the plate more towards the center. * Katie takes the chopsticks, looks at the fish, and then slides some onto her plate. She pulls it back to her and has a bite. * Kyon takes a couple of bites of his own fish, and waits to see if she starts. * Katie eats more fish, then drinks water, and looks at her chopsticks. Finally, she says, "Naoki said that my work today was all about capturing physiology." * Kyon nods curtly. And pours out a cup of tea or himself. I don't... I don't remember. Really? But if that's all it was, I mean... she's right... * Kyon nods again, but slower. "But if it was something else big, someone else would've noticed. In what you made. Or in the room." Yeah. Yeah. * Katie blinks, and she picks up a piece of fish. "Yeah," she says, again, "if I did anything someone would have commented. Instead it was just... my work. Which was fine. It's just not art." * Kyon takes a sip of his tea, and raises an eyebrow questioningly. "Then what was it?" * Katie shakes her head. "Naoki called it my 'craft'." And then she puts the fish into her mouth and chews deliberately. * Kyon frowns, and sets down the tea cup with a litle thwack. "What's that mean?" * Katie swallows. "I think that it didn't mean anything. I didn't show anything new or interesting. It was just like a picture." * Kyon narrows his eyes thoughtfully, and taps his chopsticks against the side of his plate. "Which isn't like you. Usually you make something different." * Katie puts down her chopsticks and holds her water glass without picking it up. She still doesn't look at Kyon, instead gazing at some point past the plate of fish. "Right... because I'm paying attention. Maybe." * Kyon smirks slightly. "Not bad that you can craft something without paying attention. But not if what you wanted was art." * Katie can hear that smirk, and she shifts her attention to Kyon's face. She nods. * Kyon doesn't lose the expression, but he asks, "Right. So was anything else different besides the topic?" I... no? But I... I mean... the thought of, thinking of a naked guy doesn't scare me or bother me by itself. Or pictures. * Kyon nods curtly, and continues, "But the reality of one there. That you have to interact with. That's the problem." He sets his chopsticks by the side of the plate, and looks across at her, questioning again. * Katie scrunches her eyebrows together. "... Yes? That would make sense." * Kyon nods quickly. "So now we're getting somewhere." * Katie offers a faint little smile. * Kyon smirks back at her. "Better to know, right?" Always. * Katie sips her water. * Kyon looks back at her, and then picks up his tea, thinking, looking at her sidewise. "Anything about the model that was troubling? Or was it just the situation?" * Katie thinks for a moment, then shakes her head. "I don't know." * Kyon twists his lips to the side, and thinks for a few beats of his own, before asking, a shade more quiet than usual, "What if it'd been me? Would that've been the same?" * Katie blinks, and she just looks at Kyon for a second. I don't know. * Kyon nods soberly, and makes himself look back at her, blinking a few times. "Right. And you haven't here. We've been careful. So we can't know." ... Seen you naked, you mean? * Kyon nods quickly. Yeah, we can't know. * Kyon nods, and looks down at the fish, before snagging another piece of it with his chopsticks. His eyes dart to different objects on the table, and he stays quiet for a couple of beats. * Katie just watches Kyon. Her eyes are calm and focused, finally. * Kyon looks back up to her. "We could fix that." He colors a little, and follows, "Not right now, but. If that's something you want. Not like I'm not used to it." Definitely more color now, but he makes himself not look away. "Showering with the team, going to onsen. It's doable. And then you'd know." * Katie pulls back slightly, and then she shakes her head. "If you were used to it, I don't think it would... I mean, Kyon. It's probably not actually the same." * Kyon nods quickly, although there's no less blushing. "Yeah. Probably wouldn't be. It's different." He smirks. "Unless you were drawing me. Then it'd be close." * Katie laughs. Really close. Let's... we can try that, but variables. If you- I mean, if you don't *mind*, then maybe without the drawing. First. * Kyon nods what's a pretty bare nod even for him, and stays still otherwise. "Right. We can." * Katie studies Kyon. "If you want." She turns her attention away to finish off her piece of fish, then get more. * Kyon looks down, now that she's looked away, and pours himself a bit more tea. "You want any?" * Katie glances over, and she nods. * Kyon pours some for her as well, then, and sets down the teapot. * Katie takes the cup, if offered, and sets it by her glass of water. Now she has *two* drinks. "What was the business for your dad?" * Kyon takes a sip of the tea before saying, "Meeting with a up and coming restaurant chain here. The representative wants to offer our beer, including the new one, on draft. And some of the sake. But we need to negotiate, looks better if a representative of the family goes. The usual." Sounds like it wasn't bad. And it's convenient you're in Tokyo. * Katie spins her teacup a bit. It's right there. * Kyon smirks. "Always a plus for the company. If we're all up north, someone'd have to take the train down." ... How often would *that* be? Maybe they'd put you here anyway. * Kyon nods quickly. "Maybe. Could make sense to do it for now." * Katie smiles at Kyon. "Yeah." She finally drinks some tea. * Kyon nods back. "Trains are good, but this is easier." He takes some more fish, and more rice. * Katie snerks. "Living with me is easier?" She starts on her new piece of fish. * Kyon smirks back at that more fiercely. "So much easier." I'll try to remember that. Can hang a note by the door. * Katie laughs. A note by *your* door. With a little light, so I can see it every time I wake you up. * Kyon snorts a laugh. "Should just frame it." * Katie grins. "Maybe I will." * Kyon shakes his head, bemused, and then settles again, taking up a bit more rice. As he's looking down at the plate, he asks, "So when do you want to do this?" * Katie sets her chopsticks down and looks at Kyon. "You mean testing how I'd react?" * Kyon glances up at her, and nods, putting on a smirk. "And the note framing. Should work out both." * Katie snerks. "Okay." The note I can do whenever. Maybe today so I don't forget. The other... I don't know. Whenever you're comfortable, I guess. * Kyon shrugs quickly. "Probably better to just try it when you're ready than wait for me. Like I said. I can do it." I don't- * Katie looks down at her fish. "Okay." * Kyon nods back to that. "Is it easier for you if it's more of a planned thing? Or more natural?" * Katie thinks for a bit, forcing herself to calm down. "I... don't know? I, um. Probably the second?" * Kyon nods slower than usual. "Like I'm going to the bath, and I just don't have anything on. Towel over the shoulder. That kind of thing." * Katie looks at Kyon and tilts her head. "Huh," she says, softly, like she hadn't considered. Then: "Yeah, that's probably easier." If we plan it too much, I might just... blank before we even get to that point. * Kyon nods quickly. "So let's leave it there. No more discussion." That works, I think. Okay. * Kyon smirks at back at her, and lays his hand in the middle of the table, next to the plate of fish, fingers spread wide. "Okay." * Katie looks down at Kyon's hand, then picks up her chopsticks and pokes at it. * Kyon snorts out a laugh, and pulls it back, smirking. "What was that?" I wanted to see what would happen. * Katie tries to poke his finger, still with chopsticks. * Kyon flips his hand over and tenses it. "What did you think?" I thought the first time was adorable. But not the second. No. The difference is the surprise, I think. * Kyon cocks his head slightly, and nods. "Probably right." * Katie looks up at Kyon, then, and she smiles. "I'll just have to keep surprising you." * Kyon nods, and looks back at her full on, smirking widely enough that it's basically a crooked smile. "Guess you'll have to." * Katie flushes slightly. "Yeah." And then she sighs. "I just hope I don't run out of ideas." * Kyon shakes his head quickly. "Don't think that's going to happen." <@Grysar> [Date: February 27th, 2004. Location: Unchanged.] <@Grysar> [It's bath time at the Sorata-Andrews. Kyon actually got off work a bit early for him, a meeting had cancelled, and there's still a bit of time before dinner. That said, he did have time to swing by the batting cage after work, so he does have a bit of sweat worked up despite this being a chill and dry February day.] <@Grysar> [The basic routines of his arrival, Katie's slight surprise at the timing, and small chit chat all went by fairly unremarkably. After which he'd gone over to his room briefly.] <@Grysar> [We'll pick up when he rejoins the main room.] <@Grysar> [Resume!] * Katie is hanging out in the living room, where she often lives (hence the name). She's sitting at the kotatsu and flipping through a tarot deck, of all things, while referencing of those books from Kyon's stash. It doesn't look like she's actually doing a reading, though. * Kyon steels himself for a couple more moments in his room, and then steps out into the hallway, entirely unclothed. He pads down into the kitchen, and then says, looking off towards Katie in the living room, "Just going to bathe before dinner. Shouldn't be long." * Katie is examining The World and doesn't look over right away. "Okay." <@Grysar> * Kumaguro is also at the kotatsu and is stretching at the moment. * Kyon crosses the rest of the way through the kitchen to stand just inside the doorway. "I'll make something after if you're not too hungry now." * Katie glances up at this point. "No, that's o-" She stops mid-word upon seeing Kyon, then finishes, "-kay." * Kyon nods, and looks down at her. Nothing too different about this, but he still blushes slightly. "Okay. Anything you want that won't take too long, I can do." * Katie blinks again, then says, sensibly, "I'm not going to make you cook naked. That's dangerous." * Kyon blinks once, and then smirks a little. "I was going to put on clothes after the bath. Tradition." <@Grysar> * Kumaguro starts meandering over to Kyon. * Katie snerks. "Is *that* why you go around wearing clothes." * Kyon shakes his head, and colors a bit more. "Does get cold out, too. It's February." Hm, yeah. There is that. I guess making small fires to warm up would be noticed after a point. And drive up insurance. And probably not be enough. Some part'd still be cold. Maybe you can figure out how to put fire all over yourself. Like the shield, but closer, so... an aura, maybe. * Kyon snorts, and leans slightly against the wall by the doorjamb. "Because that would be less noticeable." But it would be warmer. * Kyon leans down to scritch the cat. "And just wearing clothes is out?" <@Grysar> * Kumaguro takes great pleasure in the scritching and then proceeds to wander through Kyon's legs in a figure 8. I'm trying to come up with new solutions, Kyon. What if some rogue Reversed Arcana jinxes all of your clothes, somehow. * Katie gets distracted by the cat being all cat. * Kyon adopts a sober expression, and does manage to pet Kumaguro some more. "Right. I won't fit in yours. No one else's'd fit, either. Should get practicing that aura." * Katie imagines Kyon trying to fit into her clothes, and she can't help but giggle. * Kyon smirks, and points a thumb back over his shoulder towards the bathroom. "So I'm gonna go clean up. Tell me what you want when I'm done." Sure. I, um. * Katie looks up, to Kyon's face. "Thanks, Kyon." * Kyon cocks his head to the side slightly, and then nods curtly, still smirking. "Sure. Happy to help." * Katie nods. "Yeah. That... wasn't bad, really." She turns the cards she's holding over in her hands. * Katie then seems to realize what she's doing, and she goes back to looking at them. * Kyon nods quickly. "Right. It wasn't. And we're working it out." He walks backwards a few paces to the bathroom. * Katie comments while supposedly looking at tarot, "We are, yeah." And then, "Don't trip over anything." * Kyon snerks, and then safely steps into the bathroom. <@Grysar> * Kumaguro follows. What do humans do in the bathroom? It's so fascinating! * Kyon will close the bathroom door before he can get in. No water for cats. <@Grysar> [And he closes the door on us as well. End!]