<@Grysar> [Sunday, February 1st, 2004] <@Grysar> [Taki has gathered her gang for Sukiyaki.] <@Grysar> [The restaurant does a reasonable business, but you're able to get a low table for five or six in a side room, giving a bit of privacy.] <@Grysar> [A little bit after you settle in, Taki's phone buzzes. It's from Nicola, she lets you know apologetically that she's running a bit late and her sister has ask if she can join you if that's okay.] <@Grysar> [She says to go ahead and order, since it's your favorite place. And before to long a traditionaly clad waiter stands ready to take your order.] <@Grysar> [Start!] * Shizaru had already efficiently scanned the menu to select one of the house special orders. * Kenji raises his hand and gets the set with the most beef. Volume, not quality! * Mikage is waiver between a few different options and looks to Kenji to make a choice. She then picks a smaller dish that's a little fancier, confident in her ability to mooch off Kenji's volume. <@Grysar> [The waiter jots down the orders as they come and Taki keeps her cool well enough that she does have a moment to properly look over the menu and consider their guests taste before she has to order.] * Taki puts her phone back in her pocket and quickly scans the menue trying to remember anything at all that Nicola's said about her older sisters taste in food. <@Grysar> [Nicola has mentioned that Hinako's tastes run towards the spicey.] <@Grysar> [Also, don't interrupt your reply, but for the record, Kenji, Mikage, and Shizaru are sitting in a row on the far side of the table. The waiter does bring another pillow per Shizaru's instruction, so was Taki sitting in the middle of her side of the table or in the corner?] * Taki orders a set that's heavy on negi and other flavorful veggies for Hinako and one that leans more twords greens and tofu for herself and Nicola. (The fact that she's ordering less expensive sets will probably dawn on her later.) She also wouldn't seperate the sisters if they don't want to be so she'll scoot over when the pillow arrives. <@Grysar> [And not a moment too soon. Nicola arrives followed shortly therafter by her sister.] * Nicola looks around for the group with a slightly lost expression. Hinako indicates that they should go to the side room. * Nicola nods to her sister and heads to the table. She bows politely to the group. "Good afternoon." * Kenji looks up, recognizing Nicola from The Day of Dumpling Shenanigans, and he smiles. "Good afternoon!" He bows back. * Taki bows back. "Good afternoon. It's good to see you again." * Hinako is wearing her usual cloak, which is folded up around the top obscure her neck and chin. She wears her customary lower cut top which is wrapped in the middle and bottom in belts. Beneath that, she wears a stylish pair of jeans that fits her well but not too tightly, except where secured by an unusual number of belts! * Kenji then looks at Hinako, and he... uh. Whoa. * Hinako billows over. "Thank you for letting me join my sister's table." She then gracefully sits down next to Taki, leaving a spot on her far side for her sister. * Mikage eyes Hinako for a moment. She's going to have to step up her game. * Nicola sits next to Hinako, also with a certain amount of grace. * Shizaru just has her calm, I'm surrounded by weirdos expression. Taki sees it a lot. Are we to order food? * Hinako looks over to Taki, ignoring Kenji's stare. You said to order for you, so I have. I hope that I chose wisely. *she wilts a bit under Hinako's gaze* Uhm. Ah! Introductions. This is Nicola's older sister Arai Hinako. Akaraki student president Yamada Shizaru, her best friend Hasegawa Mikage, and her boyfriend Oshiro Kenji. I'm Shimiru Taki, we've met briefly a few times... * Nicola leans forward briefly and gives Taki a grateful look. * Hinako also gets the faintest of smiles. "Oh, I remember, Taki Shimiru." She then adds in a quieter tone. "Be slightly assured, I have had no recent dreams of you and am not here on business." * Mikage has been sulking somewhat at Kenji's looks and jumps on this. "Well I have, Taki, you have a great destiny. Allow me to tell--" Shizaru lightly nudges her companion with her foot. "Well, I'm excited to try one of Taki's favorite places." * Taki smiles past Hinako at Mikage and starts to nod when Mikage's pronounment makes her twitch slightly. * Kenji shakes his head. "You've been dreaming of Taki?" He doesn't sound weirded out, but really. He looks at Taki. "You guys know each other?" Like I said, we've met a few times. Uhm, never had the time to talk much. * Hinako nods. "Even so, Taki Shimiru has performed valuable services when the need was great." She gives Taki an appraising look. "Though I confess you managed to surprise me given the context of the dinner." * Hinako looks back to Kenji. "I am very rarely surprised." * Nicola seems a bit subdued. "Have you ordered drinks?" she asks the group, once Hinako has finished making pronouncements. * Taki shakes her head. "Ah, no?" * Kenji blushes slightly at the look Hinako gives him. "Uh, yeah... you look like you surprise people more than get surprised." He busies himself with his napkin. Time to straighten it. There. * Mikage sits quietly for the moment, glaring at Hinako and her excessive belts and low cut shirt. * Shizaru gives her customary humor the weirdo nod. "Taki has also done many a service for me. Her transfer to our school was a great boon." <@Grysar> [Hot tea arrives! Apparently it either comes with the meals you ordered or is just provided by the place.] * Nicola smiles. "Ah, excellent." * Nicola is, for the record, wearing a white blouse and a long, bright red skirt with a black ribbon trim at the hem. The ribbon is stitched with abstract patterns in red thread. * Taki nods and tries to relax and drink tea. "It's one of the reasons I like to come here." * Mikage adjusts her position slightly when the tea arrives, so that her knee rests againsts Kenji's. <@Grysar> [Tea makes everything better! Shizaru steers the conversation for a bit, even engaging Mikage again who has settled for the moment. Before too long the your orders come and begin boiling in a central hot plate.] <@Grysar> [Actually we'll say two hotplates, one for each side of the table, since Taki ordered for her two guests.] * Taki explanes that Hinako got what she conciders the most flavorful selection while Nicola got what she usually orders for herself. * Kenji blushed even more at Mikage's touch, and he reached under the table to lightly rest his hand on hers before pulling away. * Mikage settles down at the gesture, and gets that distant look she sometimes gets when she tries to recall one of her prophecies (or when she's just making one up.). * Hinako nods solemnly. "You choose well. Nicola Arai left Japan too soon as a youth to appreciate such spice." * Nicola eyes the dish appraisingly. "My sister is not wrong." I have tried her spicier dishes and it is true. They are not as much to my liking. * Taki nods. "I'll try to keep that in mind." And tries to remember to remember to write that down in her notebook before she forgets and takes her out for curry. My uncle has convinced me to try a regime this summer when I don't have to worry about about the Student Council. He insists that it's part of being a well rounded person." She then smiles conspiratorially at Nicola. "But I think he just wants to experiment on me with dishes." * Nicola looks at Shizaru with interest. "Your uncle is the one who is the chef?" * Mikage shrugs. "I don't see what the big deal is. I'm not afraid of a little heat." She then reaches to add some more to her dish from one of the small cylidrical containers on the table. * Kenji takes some meat off the hot plate and adds more. He's got a lot of it. "Careful, Mikage." * Shizaru nods. "He sometimes calls the family in for help on big holiday nights and the like, but we're amply rewarded." * Mikage hesitates for a moment. * Nicola peers into her side's hot pot for a second before looking back up at Shizaru. "That must be very nice. Our family is... busy." * Shizaru nods. "It is, I have always felt very lucky." * Taki checks the heat on the pot and starts to add veggies that will take a while to cook through, she turns to her tablemates. "Have you made sukiyaki before?" * Mikage makes noncommital noises. Shizaru smiles. "I have but I welcome your advice Taki-sensei." * Kenji takes Mikage's meat off the grill, now that it's gotten cooked enough, and puts it on her plate. * Kenji goes back to devouring his own. * Mikage tentatively sprinkles some powder on the meat and then proceeds to eat. It's a little hotter than she's used to, but she's managing. She also adds some of the selection from her plate to the hotpot now that there's briefly an opportunity. * Nicola peers at the pot again. "How do you know when it is ready?" * Taki passes a container of spice to Hinako. "Well, number one remember that it's a shared pot, so anything anybody puts in there will be tasted a little by everybody else. This place has hotplates for the meat, but usually that's cooked in the pot too. Usually you just remember how fast the things cook and take them out and eat them as they finish. The cabbage I put in will be done * Taki in a couple of minutes, but the noodles and onions will take a while yet." The meat's extra thin so it'll overcook if you get distracted. Not that I'm talking from experience at all. * Kenji laughs around his beef. * Nicola laughs softly. I am glad that you are keeping track now. * Hinako nods thoughtfully. "Ah, then I should wait to ask my question." She then looks over to Mikage who is experimenting with spices again and fast running out of tea. * Taki nods and fishes a leaf out of the pot and looks at it. "And this..." she swishes it around in the stock for a few seconds. "Is pretty much done." * Taki takes it out and sets it on her plate, where it's soon joined by friends. Then she gets to work on catching up to Kenji in the cooking meat department. * Hinako then continues, "Also I would not advise against adding any more to the dish Nadeshiko Hasagawa, it is a slow burn and in this matter you lack the needed experience." * Mikage blanches, speechless for a moment. * Taki blinks. ... Who? * Kenji looks around the table. * Nicola tilts her head in slight confusion. * Mikage's hand shakes slightly as she draws a spoonful and moves it to her plate. "Please, call me Mikage." * Kenji double takes at Mikage. "Wait, that was you?" * Hinako doesn't really acknowledge that and turns to her meal. It's tasty, Taki knows what's what. * Mikage looks back at Kenji. "It's... it's a long story." * Taki is torn between "I should probably gently chastise my guest for being rude to my friend" and "Hinako is the most frightening person at the table and getting on her bad side would probably be the end of normality forever." * Nicola looks in Taki's direction. "Is it ready now?" So that *is* you. Okay. Tell me the story later. Wha... Ack. Yes. Maybe a bit too ready, but there's lots. * Kenji looks at Hinako. "How did you know that? Did you meet Mikage before?" * Mikage adds a bit too much to her plate but soldiers through. She nods with confidence. She's got this. "Yeah, y'know, mysterious past and all. Wouldn't be a proper fortuneteller without one." * Taki gets buisy working the food. * Hinako looks over at Kenji. "Nadeshiko Hasagawa is indeed known to me for her mastery of the art." * Nicola takes one pair of her chopsticks. "I have not done this before, to be honest. Do I take directly from the pot?" * Shizaru is processing all this. "Oh, you must have gone to the fortune telling booth at our festival. It's always great when family comes." * Hinako doesn't comment on this either way. * Kenji nods at Hinako. Got it. He shifts a little so his leg isn't touching Mikage's knee anymore, and he goes back to eating. From pot to your plate. If you're at home or the only person eating you can skip that part. * Mikage nods. "I'm kind of a big deal." She says between bites. The crying means it's working! * Nicola looks at Hinako curiously. "You came to our festival? I had thought you said you were busy that day." * Hinako looks over to Nicola. "I did have something I had to do that day, I am sorry I didn't have the chance to visit you." There were many, many dumplings. Though not spicy ones. * Hinako frowns. "Then the cost of my burden was greater than I realized. For even plain dumplings are delicious." ... Wait, there were any spicy ones? Or did some other class make them? * Nicola shakes her head. "I was unaware of any." * Mikage just keeps quickly eating. Sometimes the only way out is through. It can't get worse, can it? * Nicola looks over at Taki. "I may take some of the food now?" * Taki looks releaved. "Yes, please enjoy." * Kenji eats at a pretty normal, maybe even thoughtful, pace. The pile of infinite meat is becoming increasingly less infinite. * Nicola nods to Taki. "Thank you." * Nicola carefully and deliberately reaches for the pot and removes a few pieces of meat and about an equal amount of vegetables. She then sets that pair of chopsticks down and switches to another for eating. * Hinako takes some as well and actually eats slowly, savouring it. You have untold talents. * Taki grins and says softly "I'm hoping that my abilities as a chef are the ones I'm remembered for." * Hinako's cloak billows slightly as the door is open when a customer exits. "Then perhaps I should give you an opportunity to ease my fears before I act. You see, this dinner puzzled me, because as far as I remembered your..." Hinako ponders her words and has another bite. "Your *attention* was directed to Katherine Andrews." * Kenji blinks. "Who's she?" he mouths at Shizaru. * Taki blushes hard. "I... she has a boyfriend, and I really do want them both to be happy, even if..." she trailes off and then looks more determined when she finishes. " I want her to be happy more." * Nicola is very determinedly not looking at Taki, or her sister, or anyone else at the table. * Mikage stands up. "I... Arai-san was right, I used a bit too much spice. If I may be excused." She stands, a tear still working its way down her cheek but she gives Taki a look that queries whether the girl wishes to come with her." * Shizaru mouthes back. "No idea. English girl?" * Nicola looks up at Mikage with some concern. "Should I call for more water or tea?" * Taki takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "Tea, please." * Nicola attempts to get the attention of one of the waitstaff for tea refills. * Hinako ponders that reponse. "That has potential. But you must also care about *her* happiness even more." * Mikage nods gratefully and then slips out on her own, alone. * Kenji watches Mikage go, a little worried. * Shizaru trades a worried look with Kenji. * Taki nods. "I'm trying and afraid that I'll make things worse if I stayed. But it's hard. Uhm, should I go after Mikage?" * Hinako shakes her head. "Katherine Andrews is not the her I was referring to." * Shizaru nodnods. * Nicola gives up on tea for the moment and stands up. "I will go see if she is all right." * Nicola heads off in the direction Mikage went. Oh. Uhm. Right. I'll go with you. * Nicola has already departed! * Taki is totally not running away from Hinako, she's just taking her and Shizaru's advice to heart! Quickly! * Shizaru helps herself to some food. You can hear her ask as you leave, "So, we may be missing something here, but who is..." <@Grysar> [Meanwhile, in the main part of the restaurant!] * Mikage's back is just visible, moving a bit too fast towards a hallway in the back. * Nicola follows her calmly, not rushing, but very deliberate in making sure she keeps Mikage in sight. * Taki is trying to catch up to Nicola and Mikage without getting worked up enough to teleport to them, although with Hinako here that might just end up with her putting the field up and she really doesn't need to deal with that tonight. * Nicola follows Mikage into the bathroom and waits until the door closes (we'll assume this is a multi-person bathroom). "Hasegawa-san? May I speak for a moment?" * Mikage leans over the sink. She's cupping water up to her mouth, not clear if that's really helping or not. She nods to Nicola. "I've been foolish, I know." <@Grysar> [And Taki arrives in time to hear that.] <@Grysar> [The bathroom is a small two stall, one sink number. There is a lock on the door and it's decorated in lavender tile.] * Nicola looks sympathetic. "My sister, she can be wise, but... she is direct in a way that is not always comfortable to experience." I apologize. * Taki opens the door and shuts it behind her. "Ahm. That's... yeah. I'm kinda afraid of what she's saying back there, but it's usually things that need to be said... Just less polite than anybody would hope." * Mikage looks at herself in the mirror for a moment. "I... there were things that she didn't need to say, that she shouldn't know." * Nicola looks over at Taki. "She takes an interest in people." * Taki nods. "And has ... she just knows things sometimes. I never talked to her about Katie." Katie is... Katarin? No, sorry. Katherine. Yes? * Mikage is content to have the attention off her for a moment. She dabs at her cheeks with a paper towel before cupping more water. * Taki nods again. "Yeah, she used to... she is still somebody that I admire and like a lot. But... well, Sakuragaoka kinda earned its reputation. She got hurt and I just couldn't stay there anymore." * Mikage coughs then stops drinking and closes her eyes for a moment. * Nicola eyes Taki consideringly. "Because of your school, she was hurt?" Well, not the school itself, I don't think... maybe. But there were a lot of students there that had problems. * Nicola nods. "And she left as well?" * Mikage leans against the wall, eyes shut but listening. She graduated... Sometimes I think she came back just to prove to herself that she still could. I... don't have that kind of determination. * Nicola frowns slightly. "But you still care about her?" * Taki sighs and slump a bit against the door. "Yeah. It's already cost me more than I care to think about, but it's not like there's a switch I can flip that's labled "Like Katie" that I can turn off." * Mikage clasps her hand to her chest and her eyes flutter, she's quiet though so Taki may not notice if she's focusing on Nicola. * Nicola frowns a bit more. "You care deeply about her, then." * Mikage tilts her head as if listening to something off in the distance. She stops blinking rapidly and instead stares at Taki and Nicola. * Taki pushes herself off the door. "I am trying not to. She's moved on, my other friends have moved on. I don't know if this is me being incapable of letting go of the past, or the past not being able to let go of me. But either way I cannot stay the person I w- am. I just can't." * Mikage eyes drill into the beautiful half-Russian girl and she intones, "Nicola, your sister is very wise, But She Has Been Wrong Before. The World Has Tricks She Will Not See Coming If Pride Still Blinds Her..." She then looks to Taki. * Nicola stares at Mikage. "Hasegawa-san... are you all right?" I... don't know. Usually she pulls out a crystal ball if she's going to do fortuntelling stuff. Mikage? * Mikage shakes her head and stands up, still looking a little dazed. Hasegawa-san? I'm alright, I just needed a little time. Thanks. * Nicola looks at Taki with a mix of confusion and skepticism and mouths the words "Is she?" I ... probably not. And letting her talk to your sister is either a really good or a really bad idea right now. Uhm, how much of what Mikage just said do you remember? * Mikage looks at the mirror for a moment and stares at herself, zoning the two of you out for the moment. "I need to get back in there or Kenji will think even less of me." She tries to slip out past the two of you. Perhaps we should not stand in the way of her and Oshiro-san's discussion. * Taki nods and opens the door. "You'll be fine." * Mikage looks at Taki as she slips by. She leans in to whisper in response to that comment, "Leaving the lying to the pros, you're no good at it." She then heads back to the dinner. * Nicola waits until Mikage has left before turning back to Taki. "What Hasegawa-san said when she was... acting oddly?" Does she often act in that manner? Uhm... usually it's a lot more obvous she's making it up because she enjoys it? Or maybe she's better at making it look like she's making it up? I'm just confusing and worrying myself now. * Taki rubs her face. "Ughhh. This isn't going at all like hoped." <@Mikage> [The door closes behind Mikage, leaving the two of you alone.] * Nicola folds her arms. "Well, what she said was... my sister is wise but has been wrong before, and the world has tricks she will not see coming if pride still blinds her." Then she unfolds her arms and raises her hands in a gesture of confusion. "I know not what it means but I will tell her, if Hasegawa-san does not herself. * Taki nods. "Thanks, I'm probably going to wind up telling her too, but... well, I don't know how things are going to turn out." * Nicola eyes Taki critically again. "Do you have some idea what she was saying?" * Taki shrinks. "In a 'I really hope I'm wrong and am totally ovreacting to my friend who really likes fortuntellng' sort of way?" * Nicola steps a bit closer to Taki and extends a hand towards her. "Is my sister in trouble?" <@Mikage> [And just then a girl slips in. She's taller than Taki with short hair with died red tips. You think she might go to your school as an underclassman. "Hey, oops, uh, sorry to interrupt you lovebirds, but I really gotta pee." She slips past you to the further away stall.] * Taki shakes her head. "I ... I don't think it's something she can't hande-Eeerk." * Nicola eyes Taki. Just eyes her. <@Mikage> [The girl, you think Akane may have been her name, closes the stall door, locking it. She whistles from the interior.] * Taki takes a few deep breaths. "Nothing's happened yet. I'm just really jumpy because... well, uhm. Because your sister brought up Katie and what Mikage just said and it's reminding me of when everything was going wrong two years ago. But, that can't happen again. Can we please go back to dinner?" We can talk more someplace that, you know, isn't a bathroom. * Nicola eyes the stall where Akane went and simply nods, though her expression is somewhat unsatisfied. <@Mikage> [And you rejoin the others.] <@Mikage> [It looks like the food has finished cooking in your absence and much of it is consumed. You all must have been out a bit longer than you realized.] * Mikage is holding the tea pot, gazing into it as you enter. "...Blinds Her. But Take Solace," She contains a grin, barely. "All Is Not Grim, For The Distinct Red Square Will Be Amenable To The Sale Of Ribbons Of Leather When Spring Dawns." * Shizaru watches and rolls her eyes but is smiling. * Taki relaxes, Mikage smuging while making pronouncements is much, much more normal. * Kenji is watching Mikage, a bit more coolly than he normally would when she's making wacky predictions. * Nicola still looks troubled, but her expression lifts a bit at the "ribbons of leather" part. * Hinako listens, eyes shut. Looking at ease in her cloak, with her outstretched hair. In some ways as pretty as her younger sister though in others quite different. At the end of the prophecy she opens her purple eyes. "I will bare that in mind." * Shizaru smiles as you return. "And now, if there are no objections, I decree it is time for speaking of normal things so that you three can finish your meals before they get cold." I second that ms presedent. * Nicola settles in. "I agree." * Mikage scowls in dismay. "President, more like tyrant." She grins afterwards though. <@Mikage> [The rules are largely respected and the meal wraps up.] * Shizaru divies up the check, as is her wont. She looks to Taki for a moment after collecting the portion that she, Kenji, and Mikage are paying. "So, here's your side. I calculated each person's portion." She hands the bill to Taki. * Nicola reaches for her purse, which she had left behind in the Great Bathroom Migration. * Taki takes it and glances at the prices before looking at the sisters. "May I?" * Hinako gives a sweet smile. "Thank you, but I do not ask high school students to pay for my sustenance." She produces the necessary bills out of some hidden pocket in her cloak. * Hinako pays for herself. * Nicola shakes her head. "Thank you for the offer, but I would not feel right, having both your cooking skill and your payment." She also produces a handful of bills. * Mikage smiles at Hinako's move but frowns slightly at Nicola's. She gives Taki an encouraging look. * Shizaru is politely ignoring this whole exchange. * Kenji is, too. He seems preoccupied by something, anyway. * Taki nods. "Well, then I can only hope to serve better next time." She takes out her wallet and pays for her own meal. <@Mikage> [And everyone starts to go there seperate ways, though as they are leaving, Hinako asks Taki to walk with her for a moment.] * Taki nods and says softly. "I've been expecting this." * Nicola gives Hinako and Taki a concerned look but lets them go off together. She follows Shizaru for the moment. * Hinako smiles, her purple eyes showing a bit of mischief. "Oh, and what did you forsee?" A rather too frank discussion about your sisters happyness and ... * Taki looks around to see if anybody is actually listening before continuing. "How much she knows about the Arcana?" * Hinako purses her lips for a moment. "On the latter point, she knows." She adopts a bit more of an accent, "That I am a strange one. As are you." She smiles again. "And I will do what I must to give her a chance at lasting happiness." But no, she is not initiated into our larger secrets. * Taki nods. "I... tripped overmyself pretty badly in the bathroom trying not to say anything. I don't know if Mikage was putting on even more of a show than usual or if she actually managed to do something, but she mentioned The World... and I would like to never have anything to do with her again." * Taki rubs her arms. [23:30] <@Hinako> And what if she has an interest in you? Or perhaps those around you? * Taki swallows. "I'd warn my friends, try to, try to figure out what she wants. She... I suppose she means well in the end, but her methods make me ill." * Hinako nods. "Not running away then, good." She then grabs Taki by the hand, staring into her eyes a bit too intently. "If you wish to court my sister, I will expect a report from you once a month in my realm. I will not have her come to rely on a heart that belongs elsewhere." I,wait, what? Wouldn't you know already anyway? * Hinako keeps the stare. "I will confess, that matters of the heart often leave my vision cloudy." She shakes her head. "But that is not your concern, and I must away. Do not be late." Hinako lets go of Taki's hand, leaving a business card behind. She then scurries off down an alley, cloak trailing behind her. * Taki just kinda stares at the departing cloak for a bit before remembering to look down at the card in her hand. <@Hinako> [Hinako will not be in sight when Taki looks back up. But she now has an apartment address for the woman, who is apparently on a master's track in education based on her business card.] * Taki shakes her head to try and clear it and then heads out. She has way, way too much to think about. <@Hinako> [End!]