[And he's watching her carefully, even if it might look like he's just leaning back, settling in and bringing out his own pack.]
I could be better, honestly, but I have been worse. So I suppose I'm all right?
[Lighting up, lighting up. There is no better placebo than cigarettes. Also turning briefly to thank the waiter that comes around to hand them both menus. What to get, what to get...]
How about you?
[Saying that while he's browsing. Pleasantries are in order, right?]
[ This is where Brianna starts to go around a whole range of emotions, because talkative. ]
Nothing much! Just wanted to check up on my Daddy Hikaru.
[ Flashes a big BIG smile. ]
It's difficult not having a parent figure to understand this whole supernatural business. I've tried talking to my parents but they mostly smile and say polite things.
[ Takes a drag off her cigarette. ]
I don't want to scare them, naturally. Especially since after everything that's happened, I find out that I have even more new abilities.
[ Hopes to lure Hikaru in with that last statement. Please be curious. ]
[Color him intrigued. Not a lot of people could do something like that. The last ones who had awakened to such a thing in his immediate circle were Tala and...
Yeah. Her.]
So you just started seeing things, huh? That must have been interesting.
[He should say more, really, but the words aren't coming. Taking another drag, then. And then another.
The look on his face is quiet. He's not angry... he's way past that face, and he's used to having some of his shit get exposed in the worst possible way to people he didn't generally like to bother. It doesn't make it easier; it just gives him practice at not reacting so badly to it on the fly.]
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Hiii! It's okay, I did say 3-ish.
[ Drops the ash off the tip of her cigarette before asking: ]
Soo, how've you been?
[ Aaaand proceeds to take a puff. This is going to be D I F F I C U L T. ]
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I could be better, honestly, but I have been worse. So I suppose I'm all right?
[Lighting up, lighting up. There is no better placebo than cigarettes. Also turning briefly to thank the waiter that comes around to hand them both menus. What to get, what to get...]
How about you?
[Saying that while he's browsing. Pleasantries are in order, right?]
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You suppose? Well, I hope nothing that bad happened to you.
As for me, I'm perfectly fine! Nothing special really. School, training, usual things.
[ LIES! ]
[ A pause. ]
What happened to you anyway?
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Got sick after the train business.
[Then he's giving his order. Coffee (black). He's not that hungry.]
It's nice to be up and about again, honestly.
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Eyebrows furrow a bit. Juuust a bit. ]
Sick, huh? Yeah, I would imagine. It's always nice to be out to distract your mind from things, right?
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[You don't even know the half of it, love.
But you actually do know a BIG part of it, and Hikaru doesn't know it yet. Oops.]So. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company today?
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Nothing much! Just wanted to check up on my Daddy Hikaru.
[ Flashes a big BIG smile. ]
It's difficult not having a parent figure to understand this whole supernatural business. I've tried talking to my parents but they mostly smile and say polite things.
[ Takes a drag off her cigarette. ]
I don't want to scare them, naturally. Especially since after everything that's happened, I find out that I have even more new abilities.
[ Hopes to lure Hikaru in with that last statement. Please be curious. ]
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...And then she's mentioning new abilities. Hmm.]
Oh? Like what?
[She was probably remembering some new Contracts. It's been known to happen.]
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Says 'as-a-matter-of-fact'-ly...]
Apparently, Ma'am Lia says I have a gift.
[ Thanks the waiter for serving their coffee and her cake, immediately takes a small sip. ]
I can dream walk, apparently.
[ Just laying it out there. ]
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[Color him intrigued. Not a lot of people could do something like that. The last ones who had awakened to such a thing in his immediate circle were Tala and...
Yeah. Her.]
So you just started seeing things, huh? That must have been interesting.
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Yeap! Ma'am Lia's taking me under her wing to train me.
You could say that it was interesting because I actually saw you.
[ Looks up at Hikaru from her coffee mug to measure his reaction. ]
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Oh?
[Calm, measured, and trying very hard to be neutral.]
What did you see?
[Because now? He HAS to know. Certain things are starting to make a lot of sense.]
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It's...
[ Glances up, finding a way to word it. ]
...a cause for concern, I guess? I saw you and Ma'am Aria.
[ Not even gonna mention that this wasn't her dream per sé, but Lia's. She looks a bit sad at this point. ]
I kind of wanted to check up on you, given everything that's happened.
You are like my 2nd daddy, after all.
[ And kind of the guy who I owe my life to. ]
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[He should say more, really, but the words aren't coming. Taking another drag, then. And then another.
The look on his face is quiet. He's not angry... he's way past that face, and he's used to having some of his shit get exposed in the worst possible way to people he didn't generally like to bother. It doesn't make it easier; it just gives him practice at not reacting so badly to it on the fly.]
Thank you, then. For checking up, I mean.
[He's smiling at her, but his eyes are sad.]
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I'm sorry, I shouldn't have sprung that on you.
[ Eep, probably a bad call to have dragged him out and let the cat out of the bag in public. ]
Can't help but make sure that the people I care about are fine.
[ Durrr, BriBri, no one is 100% fine, not in this side of the fence, at least. ]
...or y'know, relatively fine.
[ Maybe a change in scenery? Think, Brianna! ]
You wanna take this someplace else? [ Gestures at the number of other customers also inside BIzu. ]
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[Being in public actually helps. It's a constant reminder that he needs to stay in control.]
Your blade mates told you how she and I sort of have a history, right?
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Uhm... Well, okay if you say so.
And actually, no. They didn't.
[ At least not that she remembered, and she usually remembers.
She looks down at her coffee and swirls the liquid around. ]
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[Or end up looking for yourself. Or... well. End up in a dream.
Changeling, sigh.]
She's the reincarnation of the only woman I ever married.
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Or if I can't do anything about it. [ Which rarely happens. ]
Oh. Uhm. But. [ Taps her nails on her mug, tilting her head to the side while thinking of something to say. Reincarnation?! ]
So did your feelings for your previous wife come back after finding out?
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[Taking another drag, looking thoughtful.]
It's just... difficult. You see, I... well. [It never gets easy, admitting to this.] She died by my hands.
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Oh. Wow... That is difficult.
But... Don't you ever think that you're holding on too much on the guilt you're feeling?
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[But. Well.
Right, okay. Smoking now.]
She doesn't really want to believe me. Or maybe she does, and that's what scares her.
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But...
[ She's thinking twice; should she ask or not? ... Oh what the heck right? ]
Would you know if she loves you back?
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[Feelings suck.]
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Wait, so you love her, and she loves you, but you still don't want to be together?
[ For Brianna, the hardest part of a relationship is actually finding somebody to love who loves you back. ]
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