<@Grysar> [Resume!] [Our reluctantly travelling couple has ended up with a table at Cicada! It is a Mediterranean restaurant, and they've got a table by a window looking out on what during the summer is a pool and garden, but in winter is a quieter, lit space. The lighting is on the low side, and the restaurant is done in warm earth tones and black. The restaurant is pretty full, even if their table isn't that close to anyone else's.] <@Grysar> ( Reference images: http://www.tyharborbrewing.co.jp/en/cicada/atmosphere/ ) (Very nice! Okay.) <@Grysar> [The orders are in, Kyon made some helpful recommendations and Katie chose carefully to assert her independence. Any drink orders have arrived and the couple have a quiet moment to talk only interrupted by the subtle vibration of Kyon's phone every now and again.] <@Grysar> [Resume!] * Katie is sipping her ginger ale and eyeing where the phone's currently living. Subtle or not, Katie can hear it. * Kyon pointedly ignores the phone for now. He sits back in his chair and looks around the place approvingly. "Been meaning to come here. Owner's got some good drinks here. Could be a good place for us to sell to, too. Good decor, good atmosphere." It is nice, yeah. Good for them. And you, if you manage to get a deal. * Katie 's words are casual but just this side of cool. * Kyon thins out his lips and tries his beer, sipping it, and then looking thoughtful, before saying, "Not why I thought it'd be good to come, though. Just... look." He gestures curtly at the interior. "It's a good space. Not too crowded, not too close. Comfortable, warm." * Katie was looking out the window when Kyon started talking, and as he continues, she shifts her gaze to his eyes, meeting them levelly. When he finishes, she says, "You're thoughtful when you want to be. I'll give you that." * Kyon smirks slightly. "Better to have it than not at all." * Katie fixes Kyon with her best 'not impressed' look. She's pretty good at it. Then his phone buzzes again, and she holds her hand out for it. * Kyon looks down at it, then at her, and then picks it up and holds it in his palm out towards her. "Not looking at it. Haven't checked it since we got here." I know. * Katie takes the phone and looks at it. Who's been bugging him this whole time, even. * Kyon looks at her, slightly amused. He's got a couple of good guesses. <@Grysar> [That would be his editor's number. Plus a number from the office, although the caller ID doesn't list a name.] <@Grysar> [The current one is from the editor.] * Katie debates for a moment, then the phone buzzes again (it's ringing, after all) and she just answers it. "" Yeah, that's in English. * Kyon doesn't respond with anything more than losing the smirk for the moment. * Katie sees Kyon's smirkless face and flashes him a brief, wicked grin. * Kyon raises an eyebrow in response. * Kyon actually looks somewhat surprised. Perhaps it's at the exchange mostly working in English. * Kaneko waits a moment or two before responding. " Japanese " * Katie hesitates a moment, then changes languages: "Yes. Japanese is all right." * Kyon watches. He takes a sip of his beer, even. If he wants the Christmas eve reading and booksigning, he needs to get an excerpt to me by a half hour before close of business on the 22nd. Otherwise, my firm will steal that event from under me and he won't like who gets it instead... And I don't need to remind him that lonelyhearts on Christmas eve and Valentine's day have consistently been his two biggest sale spikes. * Katie looks at Kyon-sipping-his-beer as she asks, voice pure curiosity, "Who would get it instead?" * Kyon cocks his head and looks at her, now more curious himself. <@Grysar> [Give me a manipulate NPC to keep her talking, Ms. pure curiosity.] The latest hot young thing. I don't have a name but I hear it's some sort of supernatural romance type. Plays off that craziness from a couple years back. Teenage angst, secret powers, dangerous assignations. * Kyon furrows his brow. That's a longer reply than expected. Really? If he's that hot, his name shouldn't be hard to find. Kyon would want to know. * Kyon leans an elbow on the table. Fine. Done. But he'll have the excerpt? * Adele is now known as LurkingAdele I don't know, Kaneko-san. I'm not his editor. I'm pretty sure he won't answer you one way or the other until you can tell him more about this competition, though. * Kyon just watches, fairly poker faced now. * Kaneko grunts in frustration. "Just a minute." There's a sound of footsteps and then some rifling of papers. "Uehara Aka... Under a pen name so don't let that out. But the name doesn't matter, the marketing studies matter. He's an escapist dagger aimed at the heart of aspirational romance and Sorata-san needs to do his job or I can't help him." * Katie works sympathy into her voice now. It takes some effort, but she does it. "I'm sure he appreciates everything you're doing for him, Kaneko-san. I'll let him know, I promise. Just... try to get some rest, okay? You sound like you're on edge." * Kaneko carefully covers her phone, to no avail, before letting out a gasp of frustration. "Thank you. I'll rest on the evening of the 24th, one way or another. Please take care of yourself, Ms...?" Andrews. * Kaneko let's out a breath. "Ah, Andrews-san, you're everything I've expected. Ta-ta." * Kaneko hangs up. * Katie hangs up, looks at the phone, looks at Kyon, and hands it back to him. "" The English is out. * Kyon looks at her, palming the phone, and smirks. "Only true things." * Katie rolls her eyes. "" She stands, grabbing her coat. * Kyon looks up at her, eyes widening slightly. "" * Katie buttons her coat, fumbling a bit as her fingers are trembling slightly. * Kyon looks out onto the balcony, then to Katie, and just chucks a thumb towards it with a questioning look. <@Grysar> [You've been there about twenty minutes or so to be precise, which actually means that a confused waiter is bringing the appetizers right now.] * Katie barely steps around him in her hurry to get outside. The balcony, since Kyon pointed it out. He can deal with the waiter. <@Grysar> [Katie can overhear some whispered asides about her as she scurries to the balcony, but the staff is professional and respects the eccenticities of Sorata-san and his guests.] * Kyon watches her go, and then bites back a sigh before looking at the waiter. "Just leave them. Going out to the terrace there." Then he grabs his coat off the back of his chair and makes with the following. <@Grysar> [It's started to snow outside and a cold wind blows through the streets.] <@Grysar> [Kyon give me a manipulate NPC to avoid a fuss.] * Katie makes a mental note to punch them in the face later. *All* of them. Assholes. <@Grysar> * The waiter nods and goes to get covers for the plates while the dishes wait. "Please let me know if you will need to take your meals with you." * Kyon nods curtly to him, and heads out behind her to the balcony. He stops a couple of steps in and waits. <@Grysar> [It is actually peaceful out here. There's not too much hustle and bustle on the street and a few of the opposite awnings are lit up for holiday celebrations. Katie can even see a chrèche in an upper story apartment.] <@Grysar> [There's even an emergency escape ladder, so Katie could have made a clean getaway while Kyon was catching up.] * Katie is standing at the very edge, hugging herself and looking down. She might be crying, but he can't hear her. * Kyon makes his way closer to her, then. "Katie?" <@Grysar> [It is dead silent once Kyon reaches the balcony. Faint traces of the wind and his footsteps are the only sounds to be heard.] <@Grysar> [Katie does hear Kyon.] * Katie jerks up at his voice, her eyes wide. A few tears trail down her cheeks. * Kyon stops when he sees her, and says again, tentatively, "Katie?" He tugs on his coat, and adjusts his armwarmers reflexively after it's on. * Katie rubs at her eyes before looking back out from the balcony. "" she says, her voice raspier than normal. * Kyon nods cautiously. "" * Kyon looks at her for a beat, before replying, "" * Katie sniffs. "" She doesn't sound accusatory. Not anymore. "" * Kyon nods curtly. "" * Katie murmurs, which comes out more as a difficult whisper, "Lonelyhearts." * Kyon frowns at that, and says, still cautious, "" * Katie shakes her head. "" * Kyon shakes his head in exchange. "" * Katie sighs, leaning against the railing. She seems like she might cry again, and she absolutely does not look at Kyon. Still... "" As rough as her voice is, Kyon can hear the warmth creeping in. "" * Kyon smirks, and moves a slow step closer. "" * Katie shakes her head, squeezing her eyes shut. * Kyon blinks at that. "Huh?" * Katie gestures towards Tokyo Tower. "" She finally turns to look at Kyon, and her voice gets hard: "" * Kyon cocks his head, and then scowls. "" * Kyon scowls more deeply. "" * Katie nods. She shoves her hands in her pockets, as if just realizing now that it's really cold outside. * Kyon considers this for a beat. "" * Katie lets out a long sigh, and in the process, she seems to almost deflate. "" she whispers. * Kyon looks at her appraisingly. "" * Katie leans against the railing again, this time actually for support. * Kyon sounds amused. "" * Katie shrugs easily. "" She coughs, then brings a hand out of her pocket to rub at her throat. "" * Kyon raises an eyebrow. "" he says, still sounding amused. "" * Katie nods, and the silence drops, noise from the restaurant flooding back in. <@Grysar> [On re-entry, Katie you do feel something is subtly different in the room.] * Katie slows in her walking, looking around. * Kyon follows in behind her, slowing as well, because, well, Katie slowed down. <@Grysar> [Katie, looking around, learns that information is available. She notices one young lady, about her own age, had been sitting at a table for two a bit away from the balcony and seems a little dazed as a companion asks "Have you listened to a word I've said these past five minutes?"] <@Grysar> [Katie also notes a route she can use to get back to her table and finish the meal without likely being noticed by this woman. That's likely the subtlest way through, though a bit of easily overheard explanation wouldn't hurt either.] * Katie is in no mood for that sort of manipulation, given talking straight up sucks right now. She just walks to her table quietly, taking the safest route, and listens in on conversations, trying to gauge just how out of control her field actually went. <@Grysar> I'm sorry, you've just given me a lot to think about. Really Kazuko-san? Well... we both know what you are getting at. I just don't... want you to be afraid to ask directly. [And they settle into a fairly mundane chat.] <@Grysar> [Kazuko is tall, perhaps a little older than Katie now that you get a closer look, and her features are more striking than beautiful. She wears her her hair in a fairly conventional neck length cut and her wardrobe is elegant without being eye catching. Once she has the chance to relax, she's got a broad easy smile that seems to sooth her companion. She has a certain familiar feel about her, like you've seen her on television or perhaps is someone's cousin, but it's not something even Katie can nail down on quick glance.] * Kyon looks curious enough at that response, but heads back to the table. He's pretty hungry, and appetizers don't stay warm forever. <@Grysar> [And end!]