tunein | 04 ❥

[He nods to her first question as he steps inside, taking in a whiff of that familiar scent. Rainy days be darned, it was still as good as ever.]

The ramen here's pretty good...the dumplings aren't half bad, either. I'd suggest the special, but they only have those on a rainy day. [Okay, they didn't exactly have dumplings as available options, but let's get creative here. It's a chinese restaurant.]

[She follows after, the smell hitting her like a wall. It's not a bad smell, though. Judging by smell alone, it would appear that it was good as he says.

It's usually a telling factor, anyway. It can look as nice as you want, but it's all about the smell and the taste.]

Then... I think I'll take that. It's worth trying anything at least one. And I'll keep the special in mind for a rainy day.

[She doesn't wait for an answer beyond a polite smile of her own, before making her way over to the owner, who was wathing the pair of them. A couple of eyes turn and fix on her, students to be sure, but she pays them little mind, instead ordering the items off the menu with easy confidence. Public speaking is something she's good at. She's never had a problem with it. Being charismatic is also helpful that it tends to rally people around you. If they're willing to listen, first.]

[He nods, returning it with a subtle one of his own. A little bit of him wondered if she could actually handle it -- lord knows he couldn't until recently -- but maybe that's best left for when the rain comes along.

Souji settles into his usual seat in the diner, ordering his share and taking an appraising glance around, moreso on Lucina than all the other faces in the diner -- though he definitely caught those glowers from the two students that had turned their gazes on her. It at least looked like Lucina was used to the sort of pressure that came with being the center of attention...you'd have to be in a small town like Inaba, given how quickly word spreads. He couldn't help but muse on what their earlier talks dug up, too, and what facts were spread around by word of mouth. She'd been called royalty, but aside from that 'tiara', she didn't really look the part...and she'd apparently turned heads at the kendo club -- so much that they didn't care as much about who signed up.

He could've also sworn he heard her when he passed by the Drama Club to see what was up, too... but he could ask about that later.

It's another moment before he realizes his gaze lingered on her a little too long. He looks away for a moment, distracting himself with the food being cooked.] Is this the first time you've tried other foods?

[More small talk -- it wouldn't help to jump into a topic so suddenly.]

[She's oblivious to his lingering gaze, at least at first, having struck up a conversation with the owner, if he'd consider helping out at a Tastes of Inaba stall she's found herself managing. It seems he's pretty open to it. A few seconds later, she seems to have found agreement and she seats herself with a hint of success next to Souji... which is the point she notices him looking, but it's then that he turns away.

She doesn't jump to any conclusions, and neither does she call him out on it. She just looks a little surprised to and self conscious at having him see her at her most confident best. Not that it's a bad thing, it's good to show it, it's just, with someone you know watching, even if they only met less than an hour before...

But that thought trails off at his question. She shakes her head.]

I was always encouraged to try different things, from different places. Though I haven't had ramen for quite a while. You think I would have, being in Japan, but... sometimes, when you're busy, you do tend to stick to what you know best.

[He at least didn't seem the type to judge...in fact, that only helped the impression she made on him, though he doesn't voice it.]

Mm...especially if it reminds you of home. [He let his thoughts drag him around for a bit.] Is there anything else you want out of your stay here? ...If you don't mind me asking. [It was probably a far cry from where she'd been before -- she seemed more adjusted to bigger places like Tokyo...though he wouldn't be all that shocked if he was wrong.]

Exactly. [She nods in agreement. To the latter, there was noteable pause, but not of rebutal, merely thought, as she picked up a glass of water and swirled it around absently.]

To experience, mainly. To meet new people, and to understand a different culture, to change the future of myself as well as others. To help those who need it. You can try to help the world all you want... but if you don't know it, that becomes harder.

[She trails off, shaking her head. It's a little heavier than she intended it to sound.]

That's what I'd like, at least. That was... possibly the most extravagent way of putting it. My apologies.

[She wouldn't want to scare him off, or bore him, so it's a token apology, complete with token bow of the head, in case it was something he didn't care for. Not everyone did.]

[He blinked for a few moments at the apology, but let a smile grace his lips -- this one just a mite less subtle. What was there to be sorry about?]

Don't fret over it. It's not a bad thing to want.

I wasn't sure what you'd think.

[Honestly, unfiltered. The smile if naught else prompted that.]

[He made a small noise of amusement. Well, he hadn't really made his stance all that clear...it was fair to have a little uncertainty.] I'll give you that.

Still...it's rare to see anyone going to those lengths just to push for good change.

[His tone suggested a fair bit of admiration -- not so much that she'd be on a pedestal, but definitely positive. The more they talk, the more he finds himself liking his new friend.]

Sometimes, it does quickly bore others...

[The silent comment is that she's glad that it doesn't, for him.

To his second comment, she shakes her head. She doesn't find it that impressive, from her perspective; nothing to be admired, in her eyes. She is, also, rather modest.] It's something natural, for me. It was something my father always taught me. That I took on for myself.

[The smile lingered for a while longer, before fading back into his usual, flat expression. Ah...there's that sensitive topic again. He'd noted her aversion to it earlier, and his mind wandered to the possibilities for why she'd been distant when they talked about family -- though he quickly put down those thoughts eventually.

Out of respect for her privacy, he nods in understanding.]

You should stay on that path. You won't know how many people you'll help until you try, after all...

Edited (Woooooooords. 8|) 2013-09-27 02:53 (UTC)

[She appreciates that he doesn't ask. It's not something she'd readily share, but then again, it's something she doesn't have to share. Everyone around her has always known it, until now. It's not hiding away from it, she just... won't talk about it to just anyone. Which is understandable, see rumour mill.

She smiles a fraction at that.]

I plan to. I will make a difference, somehow.

[She has strength in that conviction.]

[> Lucina seems to have at least some form of trust in you.

> Through talking with her, and seeing her perspective, you feel like you've made the first step towards beginning to understand your acquaintance...

Thou art I...
And I am thou...
Thou hast established a new bond that transcends one journey to the next...
Thou shalt be blessed with further aid from the Strength Arcana...

> You have established the Lucina Social Link of the Strength Arcana!

...Transcending one journey to the next, huh...was there more than what he'd seen that day? Maybe...the future was always uncertain, after all. But he can think about that later.]

[...Oh, right, their food. It was probably convenient that they took great care in preparing their signature dishes -- they wouldn't have had so much room to talk otherwise.]

...Ah, our food's ready. [He watches as the owner proceeds to put their bowls down, along with the rest of their orders.] Shall we?

Thank you. [Lucina offers to the owner, who smiles before retreating back down the bar to see to another order. It's as he goes that Lucina turns back to Souji.] Let's, before it gets cold.

[Despite mentioning that she hadn't eaten food like this in sometime, she certainly seems efficient enough. And she's certainly a polite eater. Table manners, they're important, lessons courtesy of Maribelle, even if it's not the best she could possibly do. It's so ingrained it's second nature now.

She takes a few mouthfuls before she chuckles to herself.]

It is as good as it smells.

[He couldn't help but laugh a little as he watched her for a while, before swallowing a couple mouthfuls of his own.] I told you it wouldn't disappoint.

[Not that he thought she didn't believe him -- it was just emphasis on how much he enjoyed dropping by. Money well spent, if you asked him.]

I'll believe you for next time.

[There's a smile, an actual geniune one, not just one for politeness, though it soon fades because Souji you had to introduce her to Aiya this place is amazing I have to eat the whole bowl one minute. Or several minutes. Like ten.]

[It really wouldn't surprise him if she wanted to stick around for a while longer. If it managed to attract him, his sports club buddies, his fellow team members and his classmates, you just know it's good.

He returns her smile with his own subtle one again, before going on with his meal just as slowly, just to extend the amount of time they'd have for chitchat about normal things. And as soon as it got late, he saw her off, though not without exchanging numbers with her beforehand, before heading back to the Dojima house.

It was going to be a long year again... Not that he minded.]

04 ❥

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