View source for 2756/To Curry Favor

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2017/06/19
|Location=Korma Chameleon
|Synopsis=Takara needs to fill up her reserves after the fight with Hannah Sharpe and what better place to do that then at the local curry shop?
|Cast of Characters=205,199,198
|pretty=yes
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:205|Takara Himura| (205)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>It's been a couple of days since the, shall we say, "camping" trip with Hanna, the result of which had drained Takara of a lot of her energy. Sure, she got through it mostly unscratched (which is more than what she can say for a lot of the other Mahou that was there) but it took darn near everything she had. So she needs to recharge, and what better way to recharge than curry? <br /><br />Enter: Korma Chamelion. Her introduction to it at the dance all but solidified her decision that she needed to come and check it out sooner rather than later, so here she is. Standing in the doorway taking deep breaths, inhaling the scent of curries. "This must be the place," she says, nodding satisfactorily. The staff are helpful, and lead her to a booth, which she sits in and folds her cane up beside her. "Just water for now," she says when asked if they could get a drink for her.

:'''{{#var:199|Chandra| (199)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Since his discussion with Rashmi, Chandra has spent a lot of time eyeing the restaurant. 'Work' is a foreign concept to the monkey, and if he's even going to ''consider'' it, he needs to figure out what this work thing is all about.<br /><br />Thus, he has been watching Rashmi as she works a ''lot''; staying well out of the way, to avoid drawing attention or interest, but watching where he can peer in through the windows.<br /><br />When Takara makes her way in, the boy fairly chokes on his own tail, then drops down from the window to sit on the ledge of a planter in thought. "Well," he says to himself. "That's ... a problem." Because Rashmi is no doubt going to be assigned to her table, and he is really not sure he wants to miss that conversation.<br /><br />''Be nice,'' he sends to his little sister, as he adjusts his outfit to ensure all trappings of monkey business are well hidden. ''Also can I borrow lunch money?'' Because yeah, he's following Takara into the restaurant, intent on finding a seat at her table.

:'''{{#var:198|Rashmi Terios| (198)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>''Huh?'' Rashmi's head perks up from the table near the door, her extra-study set aside -- if you're going to take the day off school, you may as well stay caught up -- and in short order the redhead slips out of her chair, grinning at the waitstaff. "I've got this one!" she chirps, grabbing 'her' spron from its peg by the kitchen door and bopping back to Tara's table. "Hi Himura-san, welcome to the Korma Chameleon! We don't have Braille menus yet I'm sorry, but, just tell me what you like besides spicy and I can give you some recommendations?"

:'''{{#var:205|Takara Himura| (205)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Takara Himura perks up when she hears Rashmi's voice. "Oh hey!" she says. "I was hopiong to run into you here, but I didn't know if it would be rude of me to ask a random waitsperson if you were here." She waves a hand at the apology, "Don't worry about it. Most mom-and-pop places don't. I'm used to it, and yeah. Surprise me. Normally I don't let people choose things for me, but so far your advice has landed me some very awesome donuts, and I sampled ''everything'' at the dance so I know you won't steer me wrong."

:'''{{#var:199|Chandra| (199)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>''Lunch money, can I borrow some?'' Chandrea repeats, as he makes his way up behind her. He puts on his best smile, pops his collar--because that's going to help with Takara--then says, "Hey there, cute stuff. Mind if I join you?" He is so very out of his league.

:'''{{#var:198|Rashmi Terios| (198)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>''...I'll cover this, yeah,'' Rashmi sends, eyes rolling a bit at the ''incredibly corny entrance,'' and considering for a moment. "Okay, so the Kusha Morgir Mangsho's pretty different, it's a 'dry' curry that doesn't have a lot of sauce, ''and'' it's fried in mustard oil? Pretty hot on its own too and it's really good with rice and naan. And you ''have'' to try the rose kulfi, you'll love it."<br /> <br />Turning to Chandra, the redhead arches an eyebrow. "And what would ''you'' like, sir?" It's probably because she's wearing the apron that she's doing the waitress schtick.<br /> <br />Yes.<br /> <br />It's probably that, and not because nobody she knows, knows what Chandra looks like when not a monkey.

:'''{{#var:205|Takara Himura| (205)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Takara Himura looks pretty surprised when she hears Chandra's voice. "I... hi, Chandra! Yeah, come sit with me!" She grins at the monkey and asks innocently enough, "Do you work here too?" At Rashmi's suggestion she nods. "That's sounds '' soooo gooood.'' I'll take that, a tall glass of mango lassi, too. Too bad you're on the clock," she muses. "Or you could join us, too."

:'''{{#var:199|Chandra| (199)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Work ... here?" Chandra asks, looking around uncertainly. "Ah, no." He does sit down next to her--rather than opposite, then smiles up at Rashmi. "Hi there! I'll have the um." Beat. What do normal people order in a place like this? Scrabbling for the menu, Chandra looks it over a few times, then asks, "Do you have anything with fruits? Or nuts?"

:'''{{#var:198|Rashmi Terios| (198)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Chandra's question is not accompanied with a palm to her face, but the Look she gives him should serve well enough. "If you paid attention to the menu when Mami and Papi make it, you'd ''know,''" she sighs, immediately gunning for the impression that Chandra is the well-tolerated layabout of the family. "I'll have Papi make some Thorer Ghonto, and bring some of the tomato and green mango chutney to go with." ''You ''do'' know how to use a spoon, right Bhaee?'' And I'll join you once your food's out, I'm not on shift so I just took over for your table, Himura-san."

:'''{{#var:205|Takara Himura| (205)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Takara makes a little ''meep'' of a sound as suddenly Chandra wedges his way next to her in the booth. "Hey, warn a blind girl if you're gonna do that, and I'd have made room for you," she chides gently, and not unkindly. Especially since she doesn't really scoot over enough so that their would stop touching. <br /><br />"Oh you didn't have to do that, Rashmi-san" Takara says to her impromptu waitress, blushing a bit at the personal attention she's got. "I'm sure one of the other people could have taken care of it."

:'''{{#var:199|Chandra| (199)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"... I thought I did!" Chandra replies confusedly to Takara. This is already going much worse than he anticipated. He looks up at Rashmi, then smiles sheepishly at her. "That sounds delicious." ''The bowly end goes in the creamy stuff. Omnomnom.'' "Oh, you'll be joining us?" Great. That's not going ot make things more awkward. "Great!" Super awkward.

:'''{{#var:198|Rashmi Terios| (198)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Luckily for Chandra, Rashmi is at her core a nice girl, and not given to really ''enjoying'' watching people squirm. "Sure!" she chirps at Takara, smiling brightly. I've been needing to get ahold of you anyway, there's stuff I needed to talk to you about and I don't mind comping a meal over it. So let me just take this to the kitchen then run upstairs, and I'll be right back out, okay?"<br /> <br />As she follows suit, she glances back Chandra's way. ''Ask her about herself, Bhaee,'' she sends. ''Girls like to know that boys are interested in who they are too.''

:'''{{#var:205|Takara Himura| (205)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Takara holds up a hand when Rashmi mentions she's going to comp the meal. "No, don't do that. I'll pay. My family really isn't hurting for money," she explains, "and I know how family owned businesses like these need every penny, so I don't mind." She grins, wide and bright, "Besides. I like paying for quality things. It... I dunno. Let's me validate their worth. Especially when people worked hard to make it."<br /><br />When Rashmi's gone, she takes the moment given to lean into the monkey a little bit. "Don't worry," she says, hearing the fretting in his voice. "I was just teasing you a little bit. You're a good person to lean on, too."

:'''{{#var:199|Chandra| (199)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>The actual caring in Rashmi's thoughts comes through, and helps calm Chandra. Right up until Takara leans in closer. It's one thing to flirt with a girl; quite another to figure out how to deal with long-term social interactions.<br /><br />Chandra is so not prepared.<br /><br />He stiffens a little, then forces a grin and says, "Yeah? Well, I was built to lean on. Literally, it's kindof a big brother's role in life." A pause, then he asks, "So, uh, other than being cute, witty, and a great dancer, what's it like being Takara-chan." Beat. "Can I call you that? Takara-chan? I can, right? Right. Anyways. You. Tell me about you."

:'''{{#var:198|Rashmi Terios| (198)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Not long after, Rashmi bops down the stairs from the residential portion of the building, carrying a little gift-bag as she hangs the apron back. "That's fine about the food," she says, sliding into the booth opposite the two lovebirds, "that's really nice of you. And... here." The bag is pushes across the table until it bumps Takara's hands, and Rashmi lowers her voice.<br /> <br />"I just wanted to thank you like I did everything else for yesterday. You were pretty amazing, and sorry there wasn't more communication going on. It was pretty nuts."

:'''{{#var:205|Takara Himura| (205)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Takara bursts out laughing at Chandra's attempt at being social. It's not a mean laughter, far from it. It's warm and affectionate. "You can call me that," she nods, giving him permission. To his other questions her lips purse in a moue of thoughtfulness. "I don't know," she says. "Dark. That's a given. Dull, mostly, since I have to go to school, punctuated with periods of intense excitement." Like a few days ago. And a few days before ''that.'' "Also. Horribly confusing most of the time. I'm new to this whole business and there's a lot that I don't know so I'm just making most of it up as I go along."<br /><br />When Rashmi gets back, and pushes a care package at her, she takes it into her hands, feeling at it to get an idea of its size and shape. "Nuts wasn't half of it," she says, pushing the package off to the side to open later. "You'll have to explain what happened back there, how she.." she pauses, trying to find the words for the corruption and pain she felt from Hannah. "How she got that way. I'm just glad that she's, well, maybe not ''better'' but recovering."

:'''{{#var:199|Chandra| (199)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Chandra really doesn't have much information on Hannah. He's about as much in the dark (hah) about it as Takara is. So he doesn't deal with that question. Instead, he says, "Don't worry, Rashmi-chan is pretty new to it, too. But she's learning quickly, thanks to me! I've been doing my best to make sure she knows everything there is to know." Yes, play yourself up monkey-boy. "Or at least to keep her safe while she learns." That one's honest, at least. "So um. I'm a monkey, by the way." Yep. Just like that.

:'''{{#var:198|Rashmi Terios| (198)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I am pretty new, yeah," Rashmi says, and sits, amusedly patient, through Chandra's self-hype. She's about to open her mouth to talk again, when Chandra drops The Bomb, and instead what comes out os a strangled little squeaking noise.

:'''{{#var:205|Takara Himura| (205)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Takara giggles at Chandra's confession, and shoulder bumps him affectionately. "I know that, silly." she says. Clearly. She doesn't.

:'''{{#var:199|Chandra| (199)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Oh!" Chandra replies, then reaches up to scratch at his head. He looks to Rashmi confusedly, then to Takara, then shrugs in a 'what're you gonna do?' sorta way. "Well, if you're fine with that, I guess that's good. How long does it take for papi to cook the food?" he asks Rashmi.

:'''{{#var:198|Rashmi Terios| (198)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I..." Rashmi glances from CHandra to Takara, shrugs her shoulders, and plunges on, sotto voce. "No, he means... Up until a couple months ago, he was a pet monkey that someone gave my mom as a joke for a wedding present. It's a long story, there was a monster, he got hurt, and I had to save his life. Only way I could do that was... basically building him a new body with a spell, so now he's like an ''actual'' big brother."<br /> <br />She's about to go on, but is interrupted by the serving girl setting down plates of amazingly fragrant food down in front of the two.

:'''{{#var:205|Takara Himura| (205)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Takara stiffens, pulling away from Chandra as the shoe is dropped. "I...." she begins, but then is inturrpted by food. This gives her a moment to think, as she thanks the waitstaff for the meal. Despite the wonderful aromas that come from her food, her plate remains largely untouched for now as she processes this information. <br /><br />Eventually, she turns and faces the literal monkey. "I have to apologize," she says sincerely. "I pushed you into this and you didn't know any better." She bites her lower lip in thought, choosing her words carefully. "When we met you were weird, and full of bravado, and a kind of self-assurance that reminded me of me, and you were Rashmi's brother so, you know, you had that going for you." She shakes her head. "But I forced myself onto you and... and... that wasn't right of me." She takes a deep breath. "So you don't have to be my boyfriend."<br /><br />"Unless you want to be."

:'''{{#var:199|Chandra| (199)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Food is Chandra's first true love (after sleep and Rashmi and dessert ... wait.) When it comes, he wastes no time dipping his finger in--then pausing and glancing sheepishly at Rashmi. He pulls it out and wipes it off on a napkin, then reaches for the spoon provided. Bowly end goes in the soupy bit. He manages to almost be a gentleman, until he slurps the sauce into his mouth. "Mmmm!" he declares in the intervening silence.<br /><br />But then Takara starts talking, and he has a mouthful of food to swallow while she speaks. He blinks at her, then reaches up to scratch at his head. "Err. I mean, I still don't ''really'' know what it means. But you're cute, and you're Rashmi's friend, so that means I want to be your friend, too. The boyfriend thing ... is a lot to think about. But hey, nothing says we can't just call each other that for fun until we figure out if we mean it or just want to be friends, right?"

:'''{{#var:198|Rashmi Terios| (198)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>The actual serious conversation, especially from Chandra, brings a warm, wide smile to Rashmi's face. "I'll be right back," she says, slipping out of her chair, making her way back to the kitchen and disappearing for a moment.

:'''{{#var:205|Takara Himura| (205)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Takara's laughter is bright and warm, and she leans back into Chandra affectionatly. "Right," she agrees. "This is the weirdest friendship I've ever had," she says, "But I'm going to be honest: I think I could do a lot worse for a boyfriend-for-fun than you, Monkey-chan." She sits back up, and pulls the plate of deliciousness towards her, and finds a fork to dig in.

:'''{{#var:199|Chandra| (199)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Hah! And don't you forget it!" Chandra says jokingly, then ruffles her hair gently. "I really do eat beetles, though," he notes with a thought. "But someone said people don't eat beetles, so maybe you shouldn't. I mean unless you want to try it."

:'''{{#var:198|Rashmi Terios| (198)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Rashmi remains back in the kitchen until the food is nearly gone, then emerges with a pair of plates. Tara gets little from them but a very faint rose smell, but Chandra can see four pink diamonds of ice-cream-like dessert, as his plate is sent in front of him. "Papi loves it when I have friends over," she chuckles, slipping back into her spot. "So... dessert's on him."
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