[Day: Tuesday, June 7th. Time: 1:00 a.m.] [Chomei and Chie go to the IHoP. Late at night. Smelling like pasta, potato salad and tartar sauce. They're bringing their own condiments!] [Mini start] * Chie pulls into the parking lot of the IHoP. Okay, this is the place, right? * Chomei opens his eyes and looks around. "Yup." Cool. Haven't been to an IHoP in ages. Oh, you can let go now. We've stopped. * Chie turns around and grins at him. * Chomei lets go and hops off the bike. * Chomei takes off the helmet and hands it to Chie. He looks around. "So, was anyone else comming with us?" * Chie vaults off and removes her helmet. She then looks down at her shirt. "Ugh, still a mess. Oh well." * Chie accepts the helmet from Chomei. "I thought Maria might, but it doesn't look like she's here yet." So I guess it's just us for now. * Chomei shrugs. "Nothing wrong with looking like a fruit salad." * Chie laughs. "Says the one who made it out of there mostly unscathed. Hope you didn't get tartar sauce on the inside of my helmet. It's a pain to clean." Hey, I tried to get it out of my hair, but you know how that stuff is. Let's just say I've never tried to get it out of my hair before. So, anyhow. It's been a night, and I need waffles. Waffles and pancakes. Yes. I *like* your way of thinking, Chomei. * Chie grins at him. * Chomei smiles. "Well, what else should you eat in the morning?" * Chie starts walking towards the IHoP. "I wouldn't know. I usually don't wake up before noon." But, I suppose this is morning. So, yeah. * Chomei makes his way into the IHoP. * Chie plops down in a booth. * Chomei takes the seat accross from her. "So, you said something earlier about being interested in someone able to make clothing?" * Chomei picks up the meenu and puts in near the edge * Chie picks up a menu and idly flips through it before looking up at Chomei. "Yeah. We've been thinking about expanding the shop, and that was one of the ideas we discussed." * Chie orders a Belgian waffle and half a cup of coffee when the waitress comes by. * Chomei places his order for a glass of orange juice and some chocolate-chip pancakes. What kind of things were you interested in? * Chie drums her fingers on the table as she considers. "Well, actually... we hadn't gotten all that far in the discussion. Shirts and blouses, mostly. Maybe dresses. The clientele is primarily people our age, with some older customers." * Chomei nods. "Oh, I know how that way of discussion works." * Chie takes her cup of coffee when the drinks arrive, puts about five packets of sugar and four of those little cream thingies in it and stirs vigorously. "Another things is that I tend to do a lot of work on commission... that is, somebody comes in with an idea of what they want and I help them with the design. Would you be willing to work that way as well?" * Chomei shrugs and smiles. "Never had a real job before, so I suppose that would work." He takes a sip of his orange juice. So, you make custom jewelry or what? * Chie sips some coffee. "Yep. I've made some stuff that's there on display that people can buy right then and there, but most of my stuff's custom." So I'd imagine you'd work the same way, if that's how you felt the most comfortable, and if that's what people were interested in. I think that's pretty cool. * Chomei sips his juice again and checks his phone. "Good, no messages." * Chie grins at him. "Yeah, I enjoy doing it. And am I that boring that you have to check your voicemail?" She winks. ( Chomei, I'm being eaten by the panda of doom, and I don't mean the one in my apartment! Heeeeeeelp!) * Chomei smiles back. "Not at all. I just realized that ghost probably screwed with my mail... Oh, and my mom likes to call me a lot." Heh. I think we're free of phone problems, although in my case it'd probably help if I read the manual before I tried using it again. And you're close to your family? That must be really... nice. * Chie gets a somewhat distant look. * Chomei realizes what's up with Chie. "Well, it's never been close. More as my mom's very possessive. Not really... My mom's what you would call, controlling. Nothing happens that she doesn't know about, and if she doesn't like it, she changes it so she does." At least you can talk to your parents without them biting your head off every two seconds. * Chomei takes a drink of his juice. * Chie blinks. "How do you *live* with that, Chomei? And how much do you know about my parents?" I, well... I just do. Not much of a choice. * Chomei shrugs. "Not much. Just that you probably speak to them more than I want to speak to mine." [There's an awkward silence...] * Chie idly stirs her coffee and sighs. "Dammit, people like that make me so angry. It's why I left my family. I mean, I'm not saying that you should've done it, but..." And as for my parents... Chomei, they're *dead.* * Chomei blinks. "Damn... I'm sorry... I'm sorry for bringing it up." * Chie shakes her head. "No, don't be. I mean, I pretty much said as much tonight. And it was gonna come up sooner or later. And... well, it's not like I *don't* still talk to them. It's just that they're not really there... and, well, that's why I was a bit envious when it seemed like you and your family were close." * Chomei stares into his juice. Well, you still have others who care, right? And if you don't know, I know at least six people who do care. * Chie looks over at Chomei and half-smiles. "And here I was thinking that you believed I was a scary, disturbing freak." She starts laughing, but it seems a little forced. (No, that's Rei.) (Hee. ^_^) (Freak out!) * Chomei chuckles as little. "You're only scary when you're trying to dye my hair." * Chie grins. "Because it would look *good*! Everyone needs a little change!" * Chomei says in a kinda 'I told you so' voice, "See? Now you're scary." C'mon. You know you'd like it. I've never needed my hair dyed before, why would I need it now? Because you didn't meet me until now. * Chomei smiles. "Clever, very clever." * Chie grins at him. "I've got an answer for everything, you know." Yes, but is it right? No. Occasionally, it's left. * Chomei facepalms. "I should have seen that one comming." * Chie laughs. "Just keep hangin' around me. You'll learn." I hope so. I can't stay with you guys and not catch anything forever. You know what would really be scary? ( A pizza vampire! Eek! ) * Chomei leans back. "What? Rei with a box of 96 crayons?" * Chie considers. "What's so scary about that?" (Calvin and Miyu's child.) * Chomei looks up. "That... is for me to know and you to find out." * Chie laughs. "Oh, no fair!" She stops for a minute to let the waitress deliver their food. "C'mon, you *have* to tell me!" (Your moma!) * Chomei laughs. "Absolutely... nothing." Is that "absolutely... nothing" as in there's nothing scary about Rei with crayons, or as in you're telling me absolutely nothing. * Chie busies herself with applying various syrups to her waffle. * Chomei humms as he cuts up the pancakes. "Okay, which do you think it is?" * Chie grins. "Oh, so you're gonna play it that way, huh? Well, you're going to tell me." You know why? * Chomei looks up to her with a pancake in his mouth. "Mrrflm?" Because if you don't, I'm going to do this! * Chie reaches across the table in a lightning-fast movement and steals a piece of Chomei's pancake, before popping it into her mouth and chewing in a satisfied manner. "Mrfelm!" * Chomei swallows the pancake. "Hey!" Ha! Tell me, or I shall do it again! Don't think that I won't! * Chomei stuffs another pancake in his mouth, eyeing Chie. You doubt me? Bad idea. * Chie reaches across again. * Chomei puts his hand in front of her's. * Chie leans a little further so that her face is fairly close to his. "Tell." (If you don't, she'll either kiss you or smear syrup over your face.) * Chomei swallows. (If he doesn't first. ;p) (Heh.) Wait, tell what? Tell me what's scary about Rei with a box of 96 crayons. You didn't think I'd *forgotten*, did you? * Chie doesn't move. ( If it were me, you'd have Kirby drawn on your head :P ) No, but I did. But I already told you the answer to that one. Absolutely nothing. If you want a different answer, ask a different question. Okay. Can I have some more of your pancake? It's really good. * Chie grins. * Chomei smiles. "Only if you give me some of that waffle." Deal. * Chomei points at Chie's waffle. * Chie sits back down and pushes her plate towards Chomei. Oh, and about Rei and the crayons? I figured she's colorblind, so anything she draws would be blindingly bright. * Chomei pushes his plate over to Chie. But that wouldn't be scary. You just answered your own question. * Chie cuts a piece of pancake off and munches. "True." * Chie pushes Chomei's plate back to him. * Chomei cuts a piece of the waffle, dunks it in his orange juice, and munches. He pushes Chie's plate back to her. Is that good? I'd never thought of dipping waffle in orange juice before. So what were you thinking of that was so scary? Oh, I think so. It's sweet and zingy at the same time. Rei gave me the idea when she made Tang waffles. Oooh, those sound good. Can I try this? * Chomei pushes his glass over to her. "Sure." I'd offer you the use of my beverage, but I don't think pancakes would taste all that good while dipped in coffee. Not even with the way I drink it. * Chie cuts a piece of waffle off and dunks it in the orange juice. She pops it in her mouth and chews consideringly. "Mmm. Yeah, that is pretty good." I've tried that before too. It's wierd, but it will get you up in the morning. Not like you'd know anything about that, would you? * Chie laughs. "Nope. I'm definitely not a morning person. And I'm gonna be up half the night, but that's okay." * Chomei grins and cuts himself another piece of pancake. * Chie munches some more waffle. "So what kind of hours do you usually keep?" * Chomei looks up "I wonder..." He looks back down. "I'm sorry, what?" * Chie blinks. "No, what were you going to say?" I was just wondering what's waiting for us when we go to grab the computer. Oh, and what we're going to do to Demitri when we find him again . * Chie sighs. "Haven't a clue about the first. As for the second... mangling sounds good, don't you think?" * Chomei hmms... "Yeah, mangling and much breaking of limbs." So, what did you say? * Chie looks distracted for a second. "Hmm? Oh, nothing important." * Chomei shrugs. "Okay." * Chie grins at him. "You're not going to threaten me with stealing my food until I tell you?" * Chomei smiles back. "Not this time." Ohh, I see. You only save it for the *important* questions. How'd you guess? It's not like it's common knowledge... Okay, so maybe it is. * Chie laughs. "Yep. So, anything you feel like asking me that you means might need to make good on that threat?" * Chomei considers and points in the air. "Anything that... asking. What did you just say?" * Chie blinks at him. "I said was there anything you wanted to ask me that you might need to make good on that threat in order to get me to tell you." Oh, not right now. * Chie grins. "But you might come up with something when I don't have any food, and then what will you do?" Why, just wait for you to have food to ask it, of course. * Chie nods. "Good answer." * Chie finishes the last of her waffle. "Because I just ran out. Unless you'd like to fight me over the syrup." * Chomei looks at the last bite of pancake on his plate. "Nah, too sticky. Although I don't think you'd care right now. * Chie looks down at herself. "All things considered, yes." * Chomei eats the last bite and swallows. "So, do you have any questions for me?" Am I going to have to threaten you in order to get the answers? * Chie winks. Depends on the question. * Chomei smiles back. "Also depends on the threat." * Chie puts her hands behind her head and leans back. "Hmmm..." She considers for a second, and then leans forward. "Okay, would you dance with me?" * Chomei looks at Chie. "No offense, but I don't dance." * Chie grins. "Oh yes you do. I've seen it." That was pure luck, I'm telling you. I really can't dance. How do you know if you won't try? * Chomei looks at Chie with a serious face. Well? I really don't want to find out. And even if I did, not tonight. Aww, c'mon. Why not? Because that would likely involve me getting either hurt, humiliated, or both. * Chie folds her arms. "You will not get hurt *dancing.* Not if we go out to the parking lot and try it. And nobody but me will see you, and *I'm* certainly in no position to make fun of anyone's lack of dancing ability." The worst that could happen is that I will step on your foot, and I don't weigh that much. Anyways, I'd feel pretty silly dancing. * Chie speaks in a pleading tone. "Try it just once? Else I might have to start singing, and we don't really want that to happen, do we?" She grins at him. * Chomei looks around the restraunt and sighs. "Okay. Once, and only once." * Chie grins. ( This isn't a dancing place, mind. ) (We're going out to the parking lot, which is empty. And... well, you'll see. ^_~) (Oh dear...) * Chie fishes some money out of her pockets and puts it on the table. * Chomei does the same. Come, Chomei. The dance floor awaits. * Chie stands up. * Chomei adjusts his fingerless glove and stands up. "Why do I have a feeling I'm going to be reciting this to a psychiatrist someday..." I thought you said I didn't scare you? * Chie winks at him. Well, you're doing something scary, aren't you? Have I mentioned hair-dying in the past fifteen minutes? You just did. * Chie blinks and then laughs. "Hey, that didn't count." * Chomei laughs. * Chie makes it out to the parking lot and walks over to her bike. * Chomei walks out and stands next to Chie. "Well, now what?" * Chie rummages in the little storage compartment until she comes up with a small stereo (or closest equivalent thereof). "Now I provide the music." * Chie hops up onto the seat of the bike and fiddles with the stereo a bit. Let me guess. Something from some group that I've never heard of. * Chie looks up from her tinkering and grins. "If you did, I'd be very surprised. Hang on a second, I've almost got it." * Chie tweaks the knob one last time. "Disco Inferno" starts blaring from the speakers. Okay, go to it! * Chomei covers his ears. "Why disco? Why?" Because. Now dance. * Chie taps her foot expectantly. * Chomei sighs and tells himself that it's only once. He tries to dance, and doesn't do half bad, for someone with no previous experience. It's obvious he's never done this before, but he does try to keep his balance. * Chie watches. "Hmm... maybe you were right about it partially being luck before. But you're still better than I am... not that that ever stops me from trying." * Chie grins and stops the music, but doesn't put the stereo down yet. Instead, she fiddles with it a bit more. * Chomei stops dancing. "Oh com'on. I bet you're better than me at this stuff." * Chie looks up at him and laughs. "You saw me earlier, didn't you? And who said you could stop?" She puts the stereo down and walks up to him. You stopped the music, and I said only once. So there. I asked you to dance *with* me. That wasn't with. I need to be dancing, too. Hey, you never said anything about that. (Chomei, start running now.) Yes, I did. * Chie reaches out and takes his hand. Would I lie to you? * Chomei backs up, but doesn't break out of Chie's grip. "You might, I don't know you that well yet." ( Kirby's a better dancer than both of ya! ) * Chie shakes her head. "Chomei, I don't lie to people I care about. I never have, and I never will." She steps forward, reaches up and puts her other arm around his shoulders just as "In My Life" by the Beatles comes on. (Well, duh.) ( Why would the Beatles be on the radio c.c ) (Who said it was a radio? Chie has her own CD/whatever in there. ^_~) * Chomei suddenly feels very out of place. "Um... Chie?" * Chomei hmms and considers. "Nevermind." * Maria has joined #MC2 * Chie looks up at him and smiles. "You really haven't done this before, have you? Just put your arm around my waist." (This bodes... POORLY!) (EVIL! ;p) * Maria is suddenly right next to Chie and Chomei. "Goood evening." * Chomei jumps as Maria shows up. "Good evening." * Chie 's arm slides off Chomei's shoulder as he jumps, but she doesn't let go of his hand. "Oh, hi, Maria." * Maria grins. "Yeah, hi." She then looks back and forth between the two, full of mock surprise. "Oh, am I interrupting something?" * Chomei grins a little, and decides it's best to let Chie talk to her. 'Cause, y'know, I wouldn't want to interrupt anything. Not on such a beautiful night, in such a romantic IHOP parking lot. * Chie shrugs. "Just a dancing lesson. That's all." She suppresses a sigh as the music stops. * Maria perks up. "Ohhhhhh, a dancing lesson." She looks thoughtful. "Well, I've always wanted to learn how to dance." * Chomei scratches the back of his head. * Chie looks at Maria. "I don't know. You seemed pretty darned good earlier." * Maria waves dismissively. "Oh, that was just improvisation. I've never actually danced with anyone." But I'm sure you know all about that, Chie. ( No she doesn't. She sucks at dancing :P ) * Chie smirks at Maria. "Would you like me to dance with you? I have to warn you, I might step on your feet." ( Shush. ;P ) * Chomei backs out a bit. He sees what's comming. * Chie still hasn't let go of Chomei's hand, mind you. ( I know, and I bet she wouldn't let go now either.) * Maria pouts. "Aww, you wouldn't do something so thoughtless, now, would you?" I wouldn't do it deliberately, but you saw how bad I was earlier, didn't you? Ohhh, you're right. I should've known better. After all, we all know you're always thinking of others, Chie. * Chie narrows her eyes. "Absolutely." * Maria turns to Chomei. "Now, you danced real well earlier tonight. You dance much, Chomei?" Um, no. Actually, that was the first time I had ever danced. ( He's got natural skill ) * Maria blinks. "Really? That's odd. You've never danced before, so you couldn't be giving the lessons. And Chie's a terrible dancer, so she couldn't be giving lessons, either. Hmmmm." Maybe we both wanted to learn. You don't get good at something without practicing first, you know. Well, that or taking lessons. You could look for someone who actually knows how to dance to give you a pointer or two. And in a better learning environment than this, too. Oh, but that'd make too much sense, wouldn't it? * Chie shrugs. "What's life without spontaneity?" Well-planned and productive? And who says that the two are mutually exclusive? * Maria smirks. "People who know how to dance probably do." Then they must be terribly boring people when they're not dancing. Aww, that's so mean, Chie. Think of all the dancers whose feelings you're hurting right now. Like I care what a bunch of people who I'll never meet would think of me. ( Like you won't meet them :P ) (And they'll know Chie said that *how*? ;p) Oh, but of course you do! You're such a nice person, after all. ( Magic ^_^ ) ( Magical dancer senses, of course. ^_^ ) (Dancer sence... tingling.) (*snicker*) ( "My dancer sense is tingling!" Damn you, Cho. ) I'm nice to people who have my respect. All both of 'em? * Chie grits her teeth. "Don't make unfounded assumptions, Maria. It doesn't suit you." * Maria grins. "Assumptions? What assumptions?" * Chie shakes her head. "You don't know a thing about me, do you?" * Maria looks dead serious, for once. "I seem to know enough." No, I don't think you do. I'll freely admit that I don't know nearly as much about you as I thought I did. Looks like it, yeah. * Chie puts on the most fake smile she can manage. "But I'm sure we'll have plenty of time in the future to get to know each other better. Come on, Chomei, I'll give you a ride back to wherever you need to go." * Chomei waves to Maria. "Alright." * Maria fakesmiles right back. "Oh, but of course. Oh, and for future reference? When I say 'I'll join you there later'? I will. Have a nice night, both of you." I'll remember that. Night. * Chie pulls Chomei towards the bike, stopping only to grab her stereo. * Maria backs into the shadows and disappears. * Chomei gets pulled to the bike. "Good night Maria..." He puts on the helmet. * Chie finally lets go of Chomei when she has to put the stereo away. * Chie mutters (quietly enough that Chomei would have trouble hearing). "Bet she's still there." * Chomei raises an eyebrow. "... Right, whatever it is you said." * Chie shakes her head and lets out a deep breath. "Don't worry about it, Chomei. Let's just go." She jams her helmet on and hops onto the bike. * Chomei hops on. Tomorrow will be one of those days. "Ready." * Chie revs up and heads out. [Mini end]