Session Start: Fri Oct 13 21:47:03 2006 (H-1) [Tuesday, April 12, 2039 - 1707 local time] [Lobby of H-2 athletics facility] [Mini Start] * Hikaru has just finished swimming a few laps after a round at the shooting range, and is signing out when his monocle indicates an incoming call. "Moshi- moshi?" * Ichigo has been pacing her apartment for quite some time before finally making this phone call. Um. Mr. Fate? * Hikaru coughs, and smiles almost shyly. Or at least embarrassedly. He's wearing a faded sweatshirt with the name of some school's rugby team printed on it. And, seeing the ID displayed in his monocle, answers politely, "Hello, Chi-san. Call me Hikaru, please. What can I do for you?" * Ichigo has on a cute little white shirt with pink and blue dots on it and a little embroidered strawberry just below the sorta frilly collar. She's at home with the AC cranking so she's only wearing one layer currently. Okay, Hikaru-san... Um. I. ... I was wondering if we could um meet up. And talk. About stuff. * Hikaru 's hair is obviously still a bit damp, and some fog has formed on the top of the monocle lens. A little bit of water's resting on the earpiece covering his right ear and holding the monocle device in place. Um, sure. Is something wrong? * Hikaru is walking out of the building, not that that necessarily is visible in the very limited video. It really only manages to capture his head. So I suppose his shirt isn't visible to Chi, after all. No! No no no. It's uh. That I wanted to talk about... you know, the training. *she blushes a little* Oh. * Hikaru , after a pause, goes on. "When's good for you?" * Ichigo blushes more. "I dunno... Are you busy? I thought we could meet somewhere. Maybe." Right now? ... ... *looks a touch embarrassed himself, but covers it well* Sure. Got anyplace in particular in mind? I'm not doing anything. Was just contemplating dinner, in fact. Well it doesn't have to be right now... *sounds rather sheepish* Dinner? I guess we could... get something. Where, um-- What do you like? * Hikaru shrugs, not that it's terribly obvious in the limited view whatever he's using for a camera provides. "^When in Rome...^ Know any good Japanese places?" He says that rather ironically, I mean, this IS Japan. "Still new here, so..." * Ichigo thinks. "Yeah. There's a good sushi place my friends and I go to..." Cool. Can you give me its address? I'll meet you there. Oh okay. * Ichigo types it into her phone and texts it over. It's nothing too fancy... Did you want fancy? * Hikaru looks at it, and replies absently as he focuses on his monocle, "Nah, this is just fine, Chi-san." He mumbles some gibberish. "...ah! Okay, I can get there." After a few more lines of gibberish, he focuses on his monocle again, and continues, "It'll take me about half an hour to get there. How far are you from it?" Um, it's about 15 minutes from my house. If don't miss the train. I can meet you there at 6 maybe? I need to put something um... better on. See you there, then! And you look fine. Better'n I'm dressed, anyway. Bye-bye! *waits for her goodbye before hanging up* * Ichigo blushes big time before going into the panicked what-do-I-wear-what- do-I-wear dance. [Later at the restaurant...] * Hikaru is dressed in old, comfortable clothes - jeans and a sweatshirt. His hair is relatively freshly combed, at least. His ever-present monocle is probably his most fancy-looking accessory, and it's more hi-tech sleek than stylish wear. He's looking over the menu. * Ichigo has on a longer sleeve shirt underneath the shirt she had on before, and a light blue sundress over that, with pink and blue stripped leggings underneath and her pink and white shoes. * Ichigo can't help but be a couple minutes late though as she spent way too long deciding on that ensemble. She looks around for Hikaru as she steps inside the place. * Hikaru smiles as he notices her, and waves her over. * Ichigo notices him waving and blushes, hurrying over to sit at the table. Hi. Sorry I'm late... No problem. I just got here, myself. Oh. Okay. * Hikaru gestures to the menu. "Anything in particular you recommend?" Umm... the sashimi platter is really good. It's fun to share. ^Cool.^ I'll try that, then. I um... *tries to start talking and stops, looking down* * Hikaru 's British accent is somewhat thick tonight. "Yes?" he tries, encouragingly. * Ichigo thinks for a moment, trying to figure out how best to say this. Are... you okay? After... what happened? * Hikaru laughs lightly. He seems in rather high spirits, and uncharacteristically energetic. No bags under his eyes, even. Though he's also untransformed, so maybe that has something to do with it. Oh, yeah. I'll not make that mistake again, but I'm fine. ...you? I... I'm. I'm dealing with it. I guess maybe I got too upset. But um, *she looks up at him with total sincerity in her eyes* I'm sorry. It happens. It was a dirty trick. Still kicking myself for tr-- falling for-- *the second pause is in response to her apology* What's there to be sorry for? Well, for you to be sorry for, anyway. Because. *she almost leaves it at that.* You had to see me. Like... like that. * Hikaru blinks, trying to figure out what she means by "like that". * Ichigo does her best not to blush and breaks eye contact again. It's...okay? I actually thought you did well during the exercise. * Hikaru , when the waiter comes over, orders the platter Chi recommended. And a white, non-caffeinated soda. * Ichigo just asks for a couple different sushi rolls and a water with lots of ice. Thank you, but that's not what I meant. I mean... you know... I'm... I'm blue. And ... And you had to look at me. Like that. It must've been hard. * Hikaru coughs to cover what would have been a spit take if his soda were already here, and bites his tongue for a moment. He does have a rather big smile on his face as he replies, though. ...I was not put out by it, Chi-san. I mean, you had to endure me in even less, so I suppose we're even. *he's trying not to be rude, but is somewhat amused by this. And blushing, just a bit* No, I mean, you don't have to be nice about it. I'm really really sorry. I don't want you to not like me because of it. It's just... how I am. * Ichigo doesn't really seem to be taking in what he said, and this speech sounds almost... rehearsed. At least like she's had to say it all before. Seriously, Chi, that's not --okay, are you even listening to me? Yes, I-- what? * Ichigo looks up. I get enough of the speeches from my sister. She always practices in front of me before she goes campaigning. * Hikaru smiles. "Thought so. You even managed to get the same cadence she does." * Ichigo mumbles. "It wasn't a speech..." Are-- Are you mad at me? * Hikaru leans forward, and lowers his voice. "Seriously, you're a magical girl. Being blue's not a -problem-. That's -not- what I, erm, noticed." He does blush as he admits this. What do you mean, what you noticed? * Hikaru 's turn to look embarrassed and break eye contact, now. "...er..." * Ichigo cocks her head, trying to figure out what he's referring to. "Is there something else... different about me?" ...not...particularly. Geeze, Chi-san... * Ichigo blinks. "What? I'm sorry... You don't have to tell me anything..." I mean, I was surrounded. By you, and the others. Wearing...only slightly more than I was. * Hikaru attempts to cover his embarrassment with a bit of bravado. "And you're hot." He fails utterly, blushing as he says that. And... *pauses, her eyes widening* Oh. OH. Oh god. ...*cough* * Ichigo panics. "No... no... I... I... This wasn't... I didn't mean... You... Oh god." * Ichigo looks around nervously. ...er, sorry? I wasn't -trying- to look. But, erm, well. I was kinda surrounded. And then all hell broke loose, so I had something else to occupy my mind. Thank goodness. ...dammit, please tell me I don't I owe Yumi-chan and Mina-sama thank-yous for that. No. No! I mean you didn't... at me? ... Did you? * Ichigo visibly shakes as the food is brought to the table. ...Oh! Food's here! *obvious subject-change STURAIKU!* * Ichigo can only look directly down at the table now and her hand shakes as it tries to make trap the sushi with her chopsticks and bring it to her mouth. That's it. You're paying. ...Chi-san? * Hikaru watches her for a bit, not eating anything yet. He looks a bit worried. "I did not mean to offend you..." If this-- If this-- If this-- is like _that_, you're totally paying. Okay, now I'm confused. What's 'this', and what is the 'that' that it is like? No nonono. I mean. If this is a *whispered* date *back up to audible* you have to pay. ...well, sure. But...is this a date? *voice lowered to keep it private, but not nervous-whispered* Isn't it? You've already looked at me like I was... something... not weird and blue! I don't mind paying, anyway, mind. But seriously, you didn't know the effect a half-dozen or so bikini-clad beauties such as yourself has on -any- guy? Even *puffs himself up and exaggerates his accent in obvious self-parody* a stand-up gentleman such as myself. I... suppose. But in public? That's so ew... It was embarrassingly public. Perhaps more so for me than you. But it was hardly PUBLIC public. And doesn't automatically require we go on a date. ...so the only reason you wanted to meet up with me was to apologize for your being blue? Seriously? ... I said I was sorry! * Hikaru rolls his eyes and chuckles. "And I said you didn't need to. I mean, it's hardly even noticeable. Did you know that women two centuries ago used to take poison to get complexions half so pale?" Yeah but... are you saying you like it? You're pretty. The whole team is pretty, in one way or another. ...I think the creepiest thing is how attractive MINAMI looked. I mean, she's old enough to be my mother. ...maybe even my grandmother. *obviously trying to make a joke* ... * Ichigo swallows. So then what did you think I asked you here for? I wasn't sure, honestly. I'm still the new boy in town; I'm not sure how things work here. If this -is- a date, it's the first time a girl's asked -me- out on one. If not, then it's still a nice night out with a coworker. One who might even become a friend. But, as I said, I didn't have anything planned, and was contemplating dinner. So it worked out well enough, at least, didn't it? I suppose... But we're already friends, aren't we? Well, we've only met recently. But it would be nice. Friends? *grins, extending a hand to shake* * Ichigo eyes his hand, taking it lightly, if not awkwardly. But then, so you don't _like me_ like me? *shrug* I don't have a crush on you, if that's what you mean. I mean, we only met, what, a week or so ago? I'm not just some easy boy, to be taken advantage of by the first pretty face to show me attention...and other things. *teasingly* Well I've seen other Lords before too! Ones that are way cuter. * Ichigo pouts sticking her tongue out. * Hikaru replies with complete dignity, "I'm sure. I must confess I've only seen a very few Ladies as much as I've seen you. And only one of them was cuter." He sticks his own tongue out. With dignity. Really. ... * Ichigo scrunches up her face in that cute 'I'm angry' way. Fine! Just go out with her then. ...who? * Ichigo stuffs another sushi into her mouth. ... The one that's so so cute. No, thank you. It's hard to play Kirby Tetris while Kiss is clinging to my arm. Also, she's taller than me. ...at least in her heels. Are you just going to be another of one those Lords that goes out with every Lady he meets and doesn't really want to be with any of them? Unless this is a date, I've not 'gone out' with -any- Lady I've met. Kari and I travel a lot, so I haven't had much time for dating. ...hell, I've been on two dates since I last saw my old girlfriend. We had a good-bye date after the High School graduation party. Do you want this to be a date? ...Let's leave that a mystery. It's kinda fun guessing. Do -you- want it to be? Just tell me! * Ichigo 's face scrunches up cutely again. I that case... Not really. I think it would get quite uncomfortable and neither of us would enjoy it. Although, I -will- jan-ken-pon with you; loser pays the bill? Nope. You're the guy. You have to pay. It's the rule. Aw. *mopes comically* But... I suppose I'd be okay if you thought this was a date. If you really liked me... Maybe we could try to do better next time? * Ichigo smiles. Maybe. Let's just see what happens. Office romances are always trouble. Or at least, that's what primetime television tells me. ...it wouldn't lie, would it? * Hikaru smiles back. Yeah, but on TV they always have them anyway. So... I guess they can't be all bad. I mean, where else are you supposed to meet a fellow Lord or Lady? So they do! Despite all the characters do to avoid it. ...I dunno. Do you really think I could meet a nice Lord to hook up with? *OBVIOUSLY JOKING, as he winks* ... Eww! No kidding. * Hikaru takes a final bite of one of his fish things, and sets the remainder down. "This is surprisingly filling. Good suggestion, Chi-san." * Ichigo takes her last bite of sushi. "Yeah, Ryoko and I like to share it. Mari can eat a whole one all by herself!" Wow. Texan appetites are something else. Yeah. When did Mari move here, anyway? *lowers his voice* --Mari is Lady Twister, right? I'm not mixing up names? Yup, that's her. She's been here a couple years. I met her during training. I see. Did you know any of the others on the team? Besides Kari and me, obviously. Not uh really personally. I have a couple of their cards. But that's about it. * Hikaru laughs. "I can't believe they still make MG cards. And that the CCG they came out with was so abysmally bad." Um... *blushes a bit* Thank you for meeting me. I had a really nice time. No problem. It was fun. We'll have to do it again sometime. Maybe invite some of the others. I know Kari needs to get out more, too. But um, that would be fun... but uh, I liked it being just the two of us too though. Even if it isn't really sorta a date... Indeed. *smiles, and finishes his soda* * Ichigo stands and smiles. "I'll see you at work then. Unless you wanna call me before then... And talk..." * Ichigo blushes. "I'm sorry, I'm being stupid." Don't worry about it. See you around, Chi-san. See you, Hikaru-san. [And so the awkward mini-not-a-date ends!] Session Close: Sat Oct 14 00:02:58 2006