<@Ciara> [Date: Friday, May 7, 2004. Time: Early evening.] <@Ciara> [Haruko, at some point, mentioned her situation with Ken to Kyon, who - likely to her surprise - volunteered to have a talk with him.] <@Ciara> [Haruko passed Ken's contact information along to Kyon, as Ken wasn't really answering her e-mails and texts very much after that night (just a little over a week ago).] <@Ciara> [Kyon texted Ken to set up a meeting. What he said to Ken in those texts, we'll leave Kyon to elaborate if he wishes.] <@Ciara> [Similarly, Kyon was the one who set the location.] <@Ciara> [The time is now. The place is here!] <@Ciara> [Session Start!] * Kyon has said that it's been a while, and there's a lot to talk about, and proposed a time and place. Assuming that was enough to get him to come. <@Ciara> [Ken's initial response is essentially, "Oh, really? Why now?"] * Kyon replies that he wants to talk about a few things, but mostly reasons about someone they both know. And proposes going to a cafe near Waseda called Easy Epoque. His treat. <@Ciara> [Ken's reply: "Yeah, okay, sure. Dunno what we've really got to talk about there, but if you're buying..."] * Kyon then just sends over a time! <@Ciara> [Ken's reply: "k"] * Kyon will call in advance to try to reserve a corner table! <@Ciara> [Kyon is able to make that reservation! And so now Kyon is at Easy Epoque, at the stated time. Ken is not there yet. Jerk. What does Kyon do?] * Kyon orders a macchiato and a scone and sits at the table to wait a bit! <@Ciara> [Ken shows up about ten minutes late. He walks in, takes a quick look around, then spots Kyon and strides up to his table. "Yo."] * Kyon nods back to him curtly. He's got a knit hat and sunglasses on, as well as a charcoal grey polo. "Hey. Go ahead and order. I'll wait." <@Ciara> ["Okay." Ken orders a black coffee and some sort of sandwich-type thing." Once he's done, he brings that back to the table and sits down. "So."] * Kyon nods back quickly, and says, "Right. First. Thanks for coming." <@Ciara> [Ken blinks. "Uh. You're welcome, I guess."] * Kyon curls his hand around his small cup. "Right. Got a few things to say, but I'll just get straight to the main one. See where things go after that. Which is what's going on with Haruko." <@Ciara> [Ken rolls his eyes. "She put you up to this?"] * Kyon shakes his head quickly. "Nah. I volunteered. She didn't ask me to." <@Ciara> ["Huh." Ken sips his coffee.] * Kyon breaks a piece off his scone with his other hand. "Yeah. Because I figured we should talk. Not going to tell you how to live your life. But why back off like this now?" <@Ciara> [Ken shrugs. "Shit got *weird*, okay? I dunno what she told you, but it was just..." He shakes his head.] * Kyon leans forward a little. "Right. So why don't you tell me what happened? Get your point of view." <@Ciara> [Ken hesitates for a few moments, then sighs. "Okay, look... you gotta promise you won't tell *anyone* about this, okay?"] * Kyon nods curtly, and pops the scone piece in his mouth. <@Ciara> [Ken takes a bite of his sandwich, chews consideringly, then swallows. "She invited me for dinner at her parents' place. And I said I'd go, and I did, and it actually wasn't too bad. Her mom's kinda cool, almost, and she's a good cook. But then Kinsha starts going on about stuff right in front of them and I have no idea what she wants from me. I'm not the guy who goes home and meets the parents. I thought that'd be enough. But she wants... I dunno, more? And it gets hella uncomfortable so I try to book it."] * Kyon keeps a cool expression, and waits a beat to see if this is the end of the story. <@Ciara> ["And then she just comes after me. Like I thought she'd maybe stay behind and patch things up with her parents, but no, she is really goddamn persistent. It's almost scary. I mean, geez, I wasn't trying to piss her off, but apparently I did."] * Kyon nods quickly. "And that's the last time you dealt with her?" <@Ciara> ["Yep." Ken eats more sandwich.] * Kyon cocks his head to the side. "So she wants a more serious relationship than you do." <@Ciara> [Ken shakes his head. "I don't know what the hell she wants, really."] * Kyon frowns. "I think she still wants to be with you." <@Ciara> ["She's got weird-ass ways of showing it, then." Ken sips more coffee.] * Kyon shrugs quickly, and cracks off another piece of his scone. "Maybe. But that doesn't make it untrue." <@Ciara> ["Yeah, maybe." Ken ponders. "Okay, look, I gotta ask. What exactly are you getting out of this?"] * Kyon shrugs quickly. "Haruko's my friend. Don't have a lot of those. For an ally, a partner, I keep my word. Do what I promise. For a friend?" He stretches out a hand wide. "I do more." <@Ciara> ["Huh. Guess your friends are pretty lucky, then." Ken crams the rest of his sandwich into his mouth.] * Kyon smirks. "Yeah. So. You going to get back in contact with her?" <@Ciara> [Ken makes an exasperated sound. "It's not that simple. There's other stuff going on."] * Kyon raises his eyebrows questioningly. <@Ciara> ["So she's your friend, right? She ever do..." Ken stops himself. "God, this sounds so goddamn stupid."] * Kyon shrugs quickly. "Just ask. I'll take it." <@Ciara> [Ken lets out a quick, sharp sigh. "She ever do things with... ugh, I can't even make myself say it. This feels pathetic. Hang on a sec."] * Kyon cocks his head, actually looking a bit curious now. <@Ciara> [Ken stands up, goes over to the counter, and returns a few minuts later with a glass of water. He puts it in the middle of the table, sits down, and then just looks at Kyon.] * Kyon looks at it, and then up at Ken. "She does stay hydrated, yeah." <@Ciara> [Ken looks at Kyon. "Yeah, okay. Hydration. That's important." He picks up the glass and takes a sip. "Okay, then."] * Kyon blows out a breath. "But you mean, can she do fancy water tricks." <@Ciara> [Ken manages not to spit the sip of water he's currently taking at Kyon. "You *bastard*. Yes."] * Kyon nods back curtly. "Yeah. I've seen them." <@Ciara> [Ken sits heavily back in his chair. "Shit, so I wasn't hallucinating. That would've been easier."] * Kyon picks up his macchiato, and takes a quick sip. "No, it's real. First time you've seen something like that?" <@Ciara> [Ken nods.] * Kyon nods back, and his face goes cool as he looks down at his cup. "First time's a shock." <@Ciara> ["What, something actually surprised *you*?" Ken's tone is more curious than mocking.] * Kyon half-looks up him, a rueful smirk on his face, hand tight on the edge of the table. "Yeah. It can happen." <@Ciara> ["Huh." Ken drains the last of his coffee.] * Kyon looks up more. "Yeah. So." He takes a bite of his scone. "Why does that complicate things? Doesn't change anything about her. Just know something now that's always been true." <@Ciara> ["Yeah, but she's..." Ken sighs. "It does complicate things, and I don't *like* complicated." * Kyon shrugs quickly. "It doesn't really. She's not doing it to you. It's another thing about her. You've known her a long time. It's just part of who she is." <@Ciara> [Ken folds his arms. "Fine. I'll think about it."] * Kyon spreads his hands out. "All I can ask for. You want to talk more about it, just let me know." He smirks. "I'll buy you another coffee." <@Ciara> [Ken smirks. "Okay, I'll think about that, too."] * Kyon nods back to him. "Right. The staff know me here, too. I come here a lot. If you're looking for me." <@Ciara> [Ken nods. "Okay." He stands up. "I gotta go. I guess maybe I'll see you around."] * Kyon finishes off his coffee, and nods to him. "Right. Yeah." He waves quickly. <@Ciara> [Ken returns the quick wave, then he's out the door.] <@Ciara> [Session End!]