Session Start: Fri Jan 21 21:16:16 2005 Later on... The party breaks up, and everyone starts making their way home. Sakura, still untransformed, puts on a heavy red coat and slings her duffel on one shoulder before sauntering out the door. [mini start] * Taki takes that as her cue to leave as well, heading out the door after Sakura. Um... Hey Sakura. * Taki looks and sounds incredibly nervous. * Sakura looks back over one shoulder, and slows down enough to let Taki catch up. You have any other plans or you just heading home now? Well... I hadn't really decided. You wanna... do something? Do something. Heh. * Taki blushes. "What?" No, either I'm going home and doing a little more home remodeling done, or I'm going to the palace and discussing... things. Ah. Well, need any help? I could do your assistant stuff since Anzu is... uh... *goes quiet* I suppose you'd be welcome either way, but I don't imagine you like pink paint and I know you don't like the hoity-toities at the Queen's. I can deal... ... Pink paint? Uh, duh. *thwaps Taki* * Taki mocks injury at the thwap. "And you're going to live in that?" *sticks her tongue out* That's the plan. You're far braver than I thought... Yeah. Is your little friend following us? Probably... * Sakura turns around. "I don't see her." You're not supposed to. I suppose not. * Sakura starts moving again. * Taki follows her, trying to get used to walking side by side instead of trailing. Do you mind? I could send her home, I guess. No, I find it rather amusing. Heh. Why's that? It just is. I suppose so. It's kinda weird to be on the other side... * Sakura walks along, not saying anything. * Taki holds the silence for a while as she follows. ...okay, I'll bite. What's up? Um... Nothing. *blushes* I just wanted to spend some time with you... *looks down at her feet* With me? Yeah... Is that weird? I dunno. When I was really a direct part of your team, it wouldn't have seemed so. I kinda miss that, I guess. Especially when I don't get to see you for weeks at a time... Now that I'm... you know, in management I'm not so sure I'm supposed to. That sucks though... It does. And I'm not sure that it really makes sense, either, but that's also just sort of the way of things. Maybe I could be your new assistant? Then we could see each other all the time. No, no. Anzu is my adjutant. That's the deal I made with the Queen. Heh. One of the deals. Oh... Well maybe just temporary? Until things are sorted out? Which will be done by Tuesday. Now... what's up? ... Um... Do ... Do you have anyone that you like? I... uh... you mean like a boyfriend? ... Yeah. No. No, I haven't really had the time since you guys came on, and before that I was a little too isolated to meet anyone interesting. I, uh, sorta kissed Rinada once, and embarrassed him into a quivering lump, but that wasn't anything... Oh. That's too bad... * Sakura chuckles grimly. "I shouldn't have done that." ... Rinada? Yeah. It was at the karaoke place, when you were celebrating my promotion. He started sneaking out and I had a little talk with him while they were trying to drag you on stage. ... Oh. It was a whim. A bad one. ... You hugged me too. But he's so *cute*, dammit. And I wanted to make up for slugging him that once. Did I? Oh, after the Pie mess. Yeah. Not exactly the same thing. No? * Sakura stops and leans against a lightpost. * Taki pauses and looks up at Sakura. Where is this conversation going, Taki? *sheepishly* Nowhere... I dunno. I didn't really have a plan... * Sakura thinks for a few moments. I'm not good at all this touchy-feely shit. * Taki laughs. ...but there's something you want, or want to know. I can tell that much. If it's not confidential business, I'll be happy to tell you. ... I... I can't just say it... Or help you, or whatever. I just want to be with you-- spend time with you is all. *shrug* I like having friends. I also like to be alone. Me too. I've just been alone for a really long time... Maybe I want to make up for lost time... or something. Well... not tonight, I think. ... * Taki sighs, disappointed. Look, Taki, you need to rest up for tomorrow. You're going to be on point for the bugging, and you have to be in perfect form. ... But... And I do need to take care of business tonight. Which you really aren't cleared for, so it's not like we would actually be doing anything together. ... * Taki chokes back a sudden sniffle. You like movies, foreign film, right? Pick out a couple and when things settle down a little we can make an expedition to see them. Okay. If you want to invite some of the others, that would be fine, too. ... We'll see. I'd kinda like it to be just the two of us... * Sakura shrugs again. "If that's what you want." * Sakura shoulders her duffel once more, and moves on. * Taki follows again, heading to the train station. I'm sorry for being a bother... You're not a bother, Taki, I'm just not that good at reading you. ... I'm not that hard to figure out. Yeah, but you know me. I'm good at shooting things, paranoia, and avoiding bureaucracy. Not friendships. * Sakura steps up onto the train platform. "Well, this is my ride. I'll see you later this week, probably." I'm not either. I didn't even know what a friend was until joined this team... * Taki looks up. "Oh. Okay. See you. I guess." * Sakura noogies Taki. "Be good." I will. Have fun at the palace... * Sakura boards her train, waves, and rides away. * Taki sighs again. "I suck." [end session]