View source for 2327/Before the Storm

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2017/01/12
|Location=Sakura Territory
|Synopsis=Kyouko and Naru have dinner and talk about some stuff which they have no idea is relevant to incoming doom.,
|Cast of Characters=78,127
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko actually worked an early shift today, which is somewhat unusual (she usually does late morning into evening). The result is that she has been essentially bumming about the place all afternoon after she got home. Oh, she went upstairs a bit, but nobody was around (also unusual, but not unheard of), she puttered around, she texted Naru a bunch. But she's mostly been hanging around. Going just a little stir crazy.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Which is why when it was ''finally'' about time for Naru to come over and have dinner, as they had arranged during the aformentioned texts, Kyouko is practically vibrating with anticipation. I mean, she'd be happy to see Naru anytime, but now she's also been ''bored.'' For ''hours''.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's wearing comfortable home clothes, short sweatshorts and a tanktop (this is a high-class apartment and the heating is included in the rent. Its cold outside, but the apartment is warm) when she opens the door. And Naru is treated to a more-enthusiastic-than-normal greeting of getting grabbed by the hand and towed inside. "Naru!"

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Exam hell is A Thing and Naru is deep in it. Which means that on a perfectly nice Wednesday when Kyouko is even free, she has been up to her eyes in textbooks. And texting. Mostly textbooks.<br /><br />Except when it was texting.<br /><br />Dinner time is almost like being let out on parole, and Naru is early rather than later. She has her schoolbag with her, because gods forbid the study guides stay home, but she managed not to dig out a textbook for the trip over.<br /><br />There's a bright ripple of laughter from Naru as she's dragged into the apartment. "Hi!" The door has barely closed behind her before she's tugging on those joined hands to draw Kyouko closer for a kiss. "I do hope I'm not inturrupting."<br /><br />The smirk says she knows full /well/ the degree of bored that has been going on.

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fingers lace, there's a kiss, and there's a beaming Kyouko because ''goddamn it has been so boring''. Foyer-canoodling lasts for a few moments, but only a few, because it's not the most comfortable. Kyouko pulls back after a moment, eyeing the bag that Naru has brought along. "That's the ol' ball-and-chain, huh?" She asks, grinning. "Ah well. Frankly, way you were goin' on earlier, I'm happy to have you here at all. " And secretly very happy to be a middle-school dropout.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She leads the way into the main part of the apartment, past the bedroom doors, which are both closed currently. "I did go out and get the ingredients for dinner you listed." She assures, bare feet padding on the carpet. "I think I got everything. But it requires more assembly than I'm willing to attempt on my own, so you can not-study for a little while longer while we cook."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"My brain is full." Naru declares as she pauses long enough to kick off shoes and take off coat and, for the moment, leave the damn bag closed in the living room.<br /><br />At the mention of having ingredients and not actually dinner, Naru heaves a sigh of contented relief. "You really /do/ like me." Which is possibly not the normal reaction to having one's SO say 'I'm gonna make you cook', but such is the nature of both exam procrastination and Kyouko's usual cooking skills.<br /><br />"I am pretty sure I have also been snacking all day." Naru points out as she heads kitchen-wards to wash her hands and dig out dinner stuff.

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko snorts, remembering the comic which was referenced earlier with that line. Then she rolls her eyes at Naru's comment. "I do, but you don't have to act quite so thrilled that I haven't attempted to ruin dinner on my own."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She has ''also'' been snacking all day, being trapped at home alone and bored, but Kyouko almost always snacks all day. It's a wonder she's as slender as she is- but magic, and also constantly fighting monsters is a pretty good way to burn calories, it turns out.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She trails after Naru into the kitchen, leaning back against the counter and crossing her arms, watching the other girl move about. A small smile quirks her lips as she does so.. just watching. But when the silence, companionable though it is, threatens to stretch just a bit too long, she says, "I haven't heard anything new about anything."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I'm not nearly as concerned about you ruining dinner." Naru protests as she puts water in a pot for the noodles while she chats. "And was more worried that you'd deny me perfectly reasonable procrastination time."<br /><br />There may also have been concern about the state of dinner.<br /><br />Cutting board, knife and mushrooms are set over near Kyouko for the slicing. "What sort of anything are you hoping to hear about?" Naru asks as she sets to making some sort of sauce for the beef.

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko is actually capable of boiling water- probably. Well, she can for tea, it can't be that different, can it? Maybe she really did leave it knowing that Naru would want procrastination excuse.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ooh, slicing. This she can do. Knives are gleefully wielded, and before long there are pieces of mushrooms where mushrooms used to be.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I just meant.. y'know. All the stuff that's going on." She says while she chops, glancing at Naru out of the corner of her eye. "Witches, and Alex, and stuff. It's been quiet today." Too quiet, she refrains from saying, because this is not actually a bad movie.

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I'd say maybe the rest of the world has exams too, but right this second, I'd be /shocked/ if Alex went back to school, and he's a year ahead anyhow, so already in high school." Naru muses on that a moment and then shrugs, getting out a fork to whisk the sauce together.<br /><br />"Thanks love." Naru comments as mushrooms become mushroom pieces and she mmms softly. "Witches aren't exactly common at the best of times, right? So I'm not surprised that it's been quiet there." She pauses just a moment and then notes. "Hannah collapsed, and I have no clue what's up with her, but that's not exactly in your purview on many levels."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yeah it's just.. it was weird. Witches like that normally don't just.. show up. If I went to a city where there hadn't been Puella hunting for a while, I might expect to find a Witch that strong, but they don't get that strong overnight and they tend not to move without a good reason once they've established a huntin' ground." A brief shrug from Kyouko as she leans against the counter again, watching the sauce be born. "I don't like it, but I don't know what to do other than keep an eye out."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for Alex, a mild grimace and a little shrug. "S'true, but I'm keeping my ear to the ground anyway." She blinks at the mention of Hannah. "Collapsed, huh?" She tries to keep the note of grim satisfaction out of her voice. She doesn't succeed.

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I'm going to call it reassuring that it was on the strong side." Naru points out as she passes the beef over to Kyouko next with a request of "Thin strips, if you would please. Do we want other veggies in there too?"<br /><br />Naru pads over to investigate the fridge and see what else might be lurking that can go into dinner, even if mushrooms were all that were on the list.<br /><br />"She's neither dead, nor in a coma, so don't sound too happy." Naru points out as she prods at a continer of .. something. That jiggles. Er. Naru carefully just puts that one back. "It doesn't sound like she's in a good place, though, but I don't know details."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Why would you call it reassuring?" Kyouko asks, brows drawing together, as she takes the beef, and proceeds to excercise her skills upon it. Soon there are thin strips. Perhaps even a little too thin. Kyouko really likes her knives.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Um.. I think there's some zuuchini left from the other night?" Kyouko leans over to point to one of the other containers, giving Naru a brief look for inscrutable reasons before leaning back to the task of further enthinning the beef.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A faint sigh as she hears that Hannah is probably going to pull through. "Sorry, I know you like her. I just.. really don't. I feel like it'd be shittier of me to pretend to be concerned."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Because it was a tough fight, and I'd not wanted to hear 'oh yeah, that was a total weenie witch'" Naru explains how it's 'reassuring', which really means that it's kinda worrisome on a different axis.<br /><br />The container that should hold zuuchini is extracted and examined and found acceptable to be added into dinner. Veggies are good for them!<br /><br />A quick kiss to Kyouko's cheek, even while she's slicing. "I know, love. And I considered not mentioning it at all because I know how little you like her, but it /is/ something that makes it not quite as quiet as it first seems."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh.. I guess that makes sense." Kyouko muses, on the thought that it's reassuring that a tough Witch was not actually an easy Witch and there were even tougher Witches out there lurking. The zucchini goes in. The beef goes in. Soon there will be actual food.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her cheek is kissed, and it's a little red for some reason. Definitely ''not'' because of Hannah though- that's what the scowl is for. But that's as mild as the blush. "Yeah.. I know. And Mamoru likes her too, for some reason," grumpy-Kyou, "so it's worth knowing about because it means he's going to be upset and him being upset I ''do'' have a vested interest in knowing about."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Noodles into water, and then a whole lot of 'doesn't take long to cook' happens all at once and illustrates that Naru probably has some practice in getting everything to be done to the same amount and at the same time as the noodles.<br /><br />It's a few minutes that doesn't have a whole lot of talking potential as she ensures that she doesnt burn stuff, or either of them.<br /><br />"Hopefully less upset and more worried, and honestly, I'm hoping someone goes 'oh! Oh why didn't you say ages ago, we can totally fix this that or the other' and it's all good." She pauses and then realizes she forgot to get bowls before this food dance started. "Can you get us bowls please?"

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko manages to stay mostly out from underfoot as Naru performs the delicate dance of making dinner appear out of random parts thrown into a pot. It never ceases to amaze her.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes dear~." She sing-songs at the request for bowls, enjoying the faux-domesticity as she skips over to the appropriate cabinet and fetches a couple down. She places them on the counter, then walks over to the fridge, pulling it open and peering inside, wiggling back and forth momentarily in thought. "Preferences on drinks?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks over her shoulder, still half-bent at the fridge. "Maybe. I dunno. Sometimes I don't know what to think. Half of me is offended that ya'll aren't more offended on my behalf, and the other half admires your ability to forgive."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Liquid is about where my preference starts and stops on drinks. Juice.. water. I dont think I want fizzy, so apparently I do have a preference, but I'm not sure I saw pop in there when I was looking." Naru comments as noodles go into bowls to be topped by beef and veggies and sauce and there's enough enough left for Momo.<br /><br />"And I don't know what to think most of the time, it feels like." Naru comments as she sets the pan aside, covering it so that it wont dry out as leftovers. "Because there's a disconnect between what I know she did to you, and what I know her like. And I don't know if she's faking it well.. which is entirely possible.. or if there's some glimmer of change in there."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Don't forget, with me you also need to specify alcoholic or non." Kyouko comments dryly, as she fetches a couple juices out of the fridge. "Although I'm not ''quite'' mean enough to get you drunk when you're supposed to be studying." She carries the drinks out to the low table in the living room, setting them down as Naru brings the food. She then flops onto one of the cushions, drawing her legs up into a cross-legged seated position and tucking her feet under the opposite leg.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She eyes Naru as the girl joins her. "If I asked you to stop hanging out with her, would you?" She says suddenly, her eyes thoughtful and examining. Note- she is not actually asking this. She's curious. Is this some sort of test? Maybe. Or maybe she's just being difficult.

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"The likelyhood of me requesting alcohol is pretty much nil, you know." Naru points out with a touch of a smile as she follows with the bowls. "Although the sip of your mimosa wasn't bad." She settles to kneeling at the table and slides a bowl over to Kyouko.<br /><br />Naru has to think about that and then she slowly nods. "I would. And at some point it would end up fodder in a fight, because it would really bug me. Which, I suppose, me spending time with her really bugs you, so turn around is fair play, I suppose."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko gives a little half-grin across the table as she accepts the bowl, and digs in, which is a more literal expression when it comes to Kyouko than it might be for many others. The pasta begins to disappear at an alarming rate.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sometime during this consumption of food energy, though, she finds the time to say, "S'ok. You don't have to stop seeing her. The fact that you would is enough." Yup, a test, and Naru passed. There's an almost palpable pleased aura around Kyouko as the pasta is made to vanish.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she adds, "The more you resist drinking, the more I'm going to plot to get you drunk off your ass one of these days." A mischevious smile. "If only because I think you'd be an adorable drunk. Of course, I might be totally wrong, but there's only one way to find out."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Naru flickers a smile as Kyouko tests and she passes.. while showing her work even. "That's good. She is a good running partner."<br /><br />Naru is a slower eater, she might be starting to catch up (starting.. only starting), but she's never gone for the speed round, so her supper takes longer to vanish.<br /><br />"I'm not actually /opposed/ to drinking, exactly." Naru quirks her head thoughtfully. "I've just had enough stuff in my head that the feeling of not being in control isn't just silly fun with friends, it kinda weirds me out and makes me paranoid. Which is not an adorable drunk.. or it'd be like when I tried whiskey and I pretty much passed out before I even hit tipsy." She pauses, considering over a piece of beef. "The fact that I'd been drained to semi-conscious and slammed into a wall earlier that day probably was not helping my alcohol tolerance though."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'd be a good running partner, too." Kyouko mutters, though more in some kind of imaginary contest with Hannah than because she really wants to go running as godawful-o-clock like Naru insists on doing.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A small smile at Naru's explanation of why she's in no rush to get drunk. Kyouko begins scooting herself around the table. It is slow going because she is doing it by inching along with her heels as Naru eats, and the other girl has ''plenty'' of time to notice and get out of the way if she wanted to, but assuming she doesn't, by the time the pasta is gone she has a Kyouko leaning into her side lightly.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I kinda get that, but you can drink and not get wasted." She points out, her tone quieter now. "And you're safe here, y'know." This last in a more serious, even more quiet tone. Words for Naru alone, though there's no one else in the apartment to hear them anyway. "I swear it. In these few rooms, at least, even more so than upstairs, I swear it."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Mm mmm." Naru doesnt rise to that bait of trying to get Kyouko to go running at o'dark'stupid in the morning, she just smiles. And watches the slow arrival of scoot-scoot-scoot over to settle with her.<br /><br />Naru nudges her bowl aside and leans back into Kyouko, giving a quiet sigh at the soft words. "Here is where I'd be far more likely to try it. Upstairs erupts into chaos too abruptly, wtihout any warning at all." She shakes her head at that notion. "I don't especially want to get wasted.. except that I kinda do /once/, just to know if it's as weird me out as I fear, except that it seems stupid to do something that I am pretty sure is going to make me really uncomfortable that's pretty easily avoided."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko laughs softly. An arm snakes around Naru's waist, squeezing, and she leans her head sideways against that of the other girl, simply enjoying the closeness for a few moments, as the food is now gone and the all-important task of ensuring not-starvation has been taken care of. "It's not stupid. Just means you wanna find out what somethin' is like, which is a ''totally'' Naru thing to want."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But I also wouldn't make you, y'know? I mean.. I couldn't ''make'' you, I just mean, I ain't gonna pressure you or anything. Just know that if you ever do decide to try it, you can do it here."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She considers the ECFH. "I love it up there. I've been alone far too often in my life. I love the bustle, and the noise and ''feeling like I belong''. Like, nobody is going to try and chase me off. People are happy to see me." She actually gives a small wiggle. "I ''love'' that. But this.." She glances around. "This is my sanctuary. And yours now too, if you want. I mean.. you have to put up with Momo too, but. Sorry, it's not perfect." Grin.

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I know you wouldn't make me. No one would, which is why I have amazing friends." Naru points out as she settles close, resting her head on Kyouko's. "I have considered it, but not quite in a 'Let's try this now' sort of way."<br /><br />"ECFH is awesome and I love it too, but you never really know who is going to turn up at the door, which doesn't make it the most controlled environment for something that I sort of worry is going to make me skittish and paranoid." She smiles and gives Kyouko's head a little nudge. "I was /so nervous/ just turning up there the first few times. Like I was some sort of poser, quietly hanging with the cool kids and hoping they didn't notice. Hard to believe that now, really. It's a good place."<br /><br />Naru smiles. "It's a place of calm. Except when it isn't, but it's a good sanctuary. I like it here, I'm glad to share it. Even with your little sister /too/." Her grin says that adding a Momo and a Dog isn't such a bad deal.

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I think the word you're looking for is 'not assholes.'" Kyouko says, dryly. "Your friends are not assholes. Forcing someone to get drunk when they don't want to makes you an asshole."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She nudges her head back against Naru's, a gentle half-nuzzle, half-headbutt, because just straight-up nuzzling isn't nearly fierce enough for Kyouko. "You were, huh?" She mmms faintly. "I remember one of the first times ''I'' was there. I brought take-out ramen to share with Mamoru and we ate it on the balcony. Then Rei showed up.. I didn't know her at all at the time. This was before he even knew who Princess Serenity was. Long time ago. I dunno that I was ever ''nervous'', exactly. But I definitely didn't always feel like I belonged there, like I do now."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She smiles. "Good. I'm glad you like it here. It's starting to feel one-third empty when you're not around."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I'd just started learning about magic, it was mid-crisis and I felt in the way eternally." Naru points out and nuzzles in return to the headbutt, wriggling closer. "Even after he asked me to do the mural, it still was kinda weird, but at least there was an easy excuse for being there, and then it slowly seemed.. normal. Eventually." She turns her head to settle a gentle kiss on Kyouko's cheek.<br /><br />"It feels weird not to see you every day." Naru nods in agreement. "And totally normal to just be here. Even if I do need to turn up at home periodically, but I miss you."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko considers for a few moments what Naru has said, then nods. "Your mom is cool." She declares, seemingly out of the blue, then grins. "I mean, she didn't bat an eyelash to see me come out of your room in the morning ,wearing your clothes. And yeah, I mean, we ''weren't'' up to anything objectionable that night, cuz OMG passed out after Witch fight, but even so, like.." She pauses, searching for words. "I half expected an interrogation, or a 'you corrupted my daughter', or something."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm glad she lets you come over and stuff, as much as you do. Like I said. 1/3 empty without a Naru in the house." She grins. "I'm not ''glad'' to be an orphan, but in this one respect, it's one less thing for me to worry about, so. There's really no reason we can't see each other every day. Maybe we can't sleep together every night," A quirk of lips, "Which sucks, but.. seeing, at least for a bit? Probably can manage. Hell, I think we did that ''before'' we were dating."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I think there's a certain level of 'I am not going to think too hard about this' going on." Naru points out with a soft giggle. "Or possibly she is really /trying/ to be a cool mom, which she can manage most of the time." She relaxes into Kyouko, relaxed and lazy and content.<br /><br />"I think we got really damn close if we didn't hit every day. I mean, I suppose school and work could mess us up, but if nothing else we kinda text a /lot/. It counts." Naru points out and then laughs softly. "I like being here in the mornings, even if I wake you up."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No, ''you'' text a lot, and you're a bad influence on me." Kyouko says, with a smirk, if a fond one. "I didn't even ''own a cellphone' last year at this time, and I only just got a smartphone in the fall when I became a Shitennou for real. I'd barely learned how to text at all until you barged into my life, and now it's all I do all day long."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her mock-anger fades though, and she laughs. "Buuut, I suppose there are worse things." Then a grin. "'Sat so? Gonna be here tomorrow morning?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And it may be a while before Naru gets back to studying, even if she ''did'' bring her books.
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