ReplyThread Parent Track This apathsolitaire apathsolitaire Kacee G. Wed, Oct. 21st, 2009 08:25 am (UTC) "Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated." Kacee didn't really know what the words meant, she could sound them out, but as to translation? No. And her ears could have perked as she heard the Kitsune's words. A Gurahl, gone to the East? Now that would make a great story!
"If you arrived just this day, then it is our good fortune to have met you when we did. We will of course help you to find your luggage." Airlines, they were always losing baggage! Well, Kacee could get her settled, and help her as much as possible before bringing Brandon home.
“We are on our way to the Airforce Base in El Segundo, only a few miles away. His father lives there. I myself live to the North.” Several hundred miles to the north in fact; but that was not a question asked yet, or one to be answered. “If it would please you, I would see our Eastern Cousin safe and settled before I return. I can remain for another day, two at the most; and then I shall not bed own this way for some time.”
At that moment, Brandon chose to wriggle in his chair, giving a momentary glare at his mother before focusing on his dinner. The topic of conversation was perhaps not the best, and Kacee strove to change it before the boy once more made his thoughts or feelings known in front of their guest.
“Have you decided yet what you would like to eat?” With a look under his eyebrows at his mother and a brighter-eyed one at their guest; the boy blew the blond streaked hair out of his eyes and pointed to one dish, and then another; attempting to sound them out the way their guest had said them.
ReplyThread Parent Track This jyu_ho jyu_ho jyu_ho Sat, Oct. 31st, 2009 07:19 am (UTC) "I'm afraid my baggage is not so much misplaced as...in pieces. They mistook my laptop batteries for a bomb." Sakamae risked a sidelong glance at the boy, thinking the story might amuse him. No matter the race, young males liked a good explosion. "So they blew it up."
She waved a hand back towards the counter, "I was just on my way back from replacing it. I would be most honored by your escort, and perhaps I can offer you the use of my hotel's shower before you go on your way. Have you recently returned from camping?" Her self-mocking grin turned a little mischievous, not quite teasing. Though it didn't suit her current image to look it, she knew the sensation of dried river mud behind her ears and under her nails, of leaves in her hair and pinetar in her fur. It would not be fun to sit in a car with grit itching away where only soap could remove it.
Sakamae leaned over Brandon's shoulder, surveying his choices. "Both very tasty! If you're feeling adventurous, I'd recommend the uni, sea urchin." She smirked at him, daring him to refuse. "Myself, I'll have the tuna nigirizushi." She prefered nigirizushi, where the fish was strapped to a hand-formed cake of rice with a strip of nori, to the popular Western rolls. Makizushi was neater to eat, but all that extra nori stuck to the roof of her mouth.
ReplyThread Parent Track This apathsolitaire apathsolitaire Kacee G. Mon, Nov. 2nd, 2009 08:21 am (UTC) "It did? Really?" Brandon was all wide blue eyes under shaggy blond hair as he studied her, listening to her story. "Just a computer battery? Wow!"
For her part, Kacee sat back, relaxing in the atmosphere and listening to the conversation. This was so much more relaxing than her constant arguments with Brandon at times like this, arguments because her young pre-teen seemed to think her life was so much more exciting, and that he would rather live with her than his father and his father's new - that is - newest girlfriend. He just didn't seem to understand and no lecture, no conversation could get it through to him that he would be better off here, with his father than with her.
And he was safer here, in LA, on a military base than becoming a latch key kid and more, with her solitary roaming nature taking her away from her place for days, sometimes weeks. That was exactly the thought that would haunt her in weeks to come.
To his credit though, her cub didn't just jump on the suggestion of a real shower; he looked to her first. It showed both wisdom and a kind of restraint, very much appreciated by his mother. She nodded once, and took the small teacup in her large fingers, attempting to sip the hot tea quietly. Sugar was alright in tea, but what she really wanted was honey. And of course they didn't have honey here.
"We were, how did you know?" Kacee kept quiet as Brandon spoke to their guest. It gave her time to listen and think.
Brandon launched into their week long adventure; the fishing and tracking of wild animals, the swimming in the small river the sleeping without a tent, how his mother was teaching him to keep bugs away using natural stuff you could find in the woods and keep food cold and safe from animals and make his own fires. And about how his mom slept on a bed made of pine needles and how she could climb up and down the rocks on the side of mountains using just her hands and feet, just like Spider Man almost!"
"And yea, a shower would be great, thank you!" Anything to keep from having to get back when they were supposed to.
"That is a generous offer. One I would be glad to accept, and with thanks." Said the woman watching the exchange between the two of them, her smile kind, her eyes considerably warmer.
ReplyThread Parent Track This jyu_ho jyu_ho jyu_ho Tue, Nov. 3rd, 2009 05:05 am (UTC) "Oh yes, so remember that the next time you fly. Their motto is 'Better Safe than Sorry!'" Sakamae shook her head and snapped a set of disposable chopsticks into component parts. She rubbed the cheap bamboo sticks together, smoothing off the splintered fragments so that she could eat without jabbing the inside of her cheek.
"Hmm," she tapped one against her chin thoughtfully, "I suppose it's because you smell like creek-water. City-water has been processed and cleaned, usually with chlorine. But you smell like wet leaves and rock-moss." A safe answer; if he knew what his mother was, he'd likely accept it. If he didn't, it was plausible enough that a human might be able to tell these things.
She'd always enjoyed the company of children. They said anything that came to their minds and were so transparent in their attempts to manipulate adults. Except in rare cases, such "manipulation" was benignly meant, to acquire a new toy or get out of some trouble. Just being around them helped her center, refocus, remember herself in the midst of the minds she inspected and assessed day in and day out. But there were no children at Court; she was the last shinju born to Kinkaku-ji, and most shen did not experience their First Change until twelve, thirteen at the youngest. Listening to Brandon chatter on about starting a fire and sleeping out in the open as if no one had ever done those things brought a wide, genuine smile to her face. Her shoulders lowered as tension eased from them, knots smoothing out along her neck and spine.
Their food arrived as he spoke, along with extra plates in case they decided to share. Sakamae was quick to divvy up the nigirizushi between them, always pleased to share her culture. And what bear wouldn't like a healthy cut of tuna? It looked to be stomach meat, the reddest, finest-grain of the fish. She'd have to thank the shopkeeper on her way out.
"Here, now," she told the boy as she lifted a piece to her palm, "You have to eat it all in one bite, or you'll have a mess." With that, she crammed the whole piece into her mouth, a more-than-generous amount that made her left cheek bulge like a chipmunk's. Western etiquette dictated small bites, and Japanese manners mirrored this with certain dishes. Shushi was not one of them.
ReplyThread Parent Track This apathsolitaire apathsolitaire Kacee G. Tue, Nov. 3rd, 2009 12:09 pm (UTC) "Do I really?" He tried sniffing at his arm, but the smell of soy sauce and fresh fish was too strong for his young nose, and he simply couldn't tell. His mother could however, and could tell the smell of pine needles, and smoke, and a myriad of other things that could sense to any other changing breed that they were not of the city.
Both mother and son were happy to follow suit, and soon bulging cheeks and wide smiles replaced words as they chewed their way through the rice and strip of seaweed as well as the tender tuna slices. The talk grew lighter, Brandon attempting to use the chopstick as she had, and telling her about the fish they caught, and how to tell both the type of fish as well as if it were healthy to eat. He seemed to take great pleasure in his descriptions, and had to be reminded once, and then gently again not to talk with his mouth full.
After the waitress had replaced their empty teapot with a full, fresh one, the younger man leaned closer to Sakamae and asked in a loud whisper "How do you say thank you?"
Kacee could have stayed and eaten for much longer, but out of deference to their Emerald Court guest, and because the hour was getting later, she refused any extras, choosing to simply chew on the shushi that the Kitsune offered, and declining any extras so that her cub could try more, could eat more.
"Are you almost ready Brandon? I'm going to have to call your father soon, and let him know where we are."
"Will I get to see you again? Mom has to go back to work up north, but if you're here for a little while I can show you the library after Mom leaves, or some of the local sights if you want? If" Hesitation showed through as he fumbled.
"If you aren't too busy. I'd understand though." Kacee looked from the child to the pattern on her teacup. So easy for him to accept and forgive. He did it so often. At least he didn't finish the sentence with 'Adults normally are.' That might have struck a nerve. Fortunately for her, he was content to simply say his piece and move on.
ReplyThread Parent Track This jyu_ho jyu_ho jyu_ho Wed, Nov. 4th, 2009 04:53 am (UTC) "'Arigatou gozaimasu,'" she murmured back to Brandon, watching the waitress turn away to hide a smile. "At least, for formal things like meals. If you're casually saying 'thanks,' then just 'arigatou' is fine."
She repeated it for him once or twice, gently correcting his pronunciation as he tried it himself. She was very pleased that he'd even thought to ask. He certainly was a credit to his parents. Even more pleasantly surprising was his invitation to show her around. Sakamae got the impression that it was as much to break out of what he saw as his "mundane" life with his father, but it was still quite thoughtful.
"I have meetings the rest of this week," she said, "But I'm free this weekend as far as I know. Should we say...Sunday afternoon?" She snuck a glance at his mother, hoping that, by allowing him to ask at all, she approved of the idea.
Sightseeing aside, she would genuinely enjoy spending time with him after days spent mewed up in board rooms and offices. She would have to be firm about setting aside that afternoon, refuse any extra meetings that might come up. Her own childhood had been peppered with such broken promises, as was any child raised in politics. She would avoid doing the same to one who wasn't if at all possible.
Sakamae fished through her handbag and came up with a slim, silver cigarette case. A flick opened the lid, revealing it to be full of business cards rather than carcinogens. She handed one of the cards to Brandon and slipped another across the table to his mother while he was preoccupied with it.
"That's my cell," she said. "It might hit you up with a long-distance charge, but you can call it any time." she grinned as she tucked the case back into her purse. "But why don't I call you to rendezvous? I don't want your father wondering who's been calling Japan from his phone."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-08-05 09:20 am (UTC)ReplyThread Parent Track This
apathsolitaire
apathsolitaire
Kacee G.
Wed, Oct. 21st, 2009 08:25 am (UTC)
"Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated." Kacee didn't really know what the words meant, she could sound them out, but as to translation? No. And her ears could have perked as she heard the Kitsune's words. A Gurahl, gone to the East? Now that would make a great story!
"If you arrived just this day, then it is our good fortune to have met you when we did. We will of course help you to find your luggage." Airlines, they were always losing baggage! Well, Kacee could get her settled, and help her as much as possible before bringing Brandon home.
“We are on our way to the Airforce Base in El Segundo, only a few miles away. His father lives there. I myself live to the North.” Several hundred miles to the north in fact; but that was not a question asked yet, or one to be answered. “If it would please you, I would see our Eastern Cousin safe and settled before I return. I can remain for another day, two at the most; and then I shall not bed own this way for some time.”
At that moment, Brandon chose to wriggle in his chair, giving a momentary glare at his mother before focusing on his dinner. The topic of conversation was perhaps not the best, and Kacee strove to change it before the boy once more made his thoughts or feelings known in front of their guest.
“Have you decided yet what you would like to eat?” With a look under his eyebrows at his mother and a brighter-eyed one at their guest; the boy blew the blond streaked hair out of his eyes and pointed to one dish, and then another; attempting to sound them out the way their guest had said them.
ReplyThread Parent Track This
jyu_ho
jyu_ho
jyu_ho
Sat, Oct. 31st, 2009 07:19 am (UTC)
"I'm afraid my baggage is not so much misplaced as...in pieces. They mistook my laptop batteries for a bomb." Sakamae risked a sidelong glance at the boy, thinking the story might amuse him. No matter the race, young males liked a good explosion. "So they blew it up."
She waved a hand back towards the counter, "I was just on my way back from replacing it. I would be most honored by your escort, and perhaps I can offer you the use of my hotel's shower before you go on your way. Have you recently returned from camping?" Her self-mocking grin turned a little mischievous, not quite teasing. Though it didn't suit her current image to look it, she knew the sensation of dried river mud behind her ears and under her nails, of leaves in her hair and pinetar in her fur. It would not be fun to sit in a car with grit itching away where only soap could remove it.
Sakamae leaned over Brandon's shoulder, surveying his choices. "Both very tasty! If you're feeling adventurous, I'd recommend the uni, sea urchin." She smirked at him, daring him to refuse. "Myself, I'll have the tuna nigirizushi." She prefered nigirizushi, where the fish was strapped to a hand-formed cake of rice with a strip of nori, to the popular Western rolls. Makizushi was neater to eat, but all that extra nori stuck to the roof of her mouth.
ReplyThread Parent Track This
apathsolitaire
apathsolitaire
Kacee G.
Mon, Nov. 2nd, 2009 08:21 am (UTC)
"It did? Really?" Brandon was all wide blue eyes under shaggy blond hair as he studied her, listening to her story. "Just a computer battery? Wow!"
For her part, Kacee sat back, relaxing in the atmosphere and listening to the conversation. This was so much more relaxing than her constant arguments with Brandon at times like this, arguments because her young pre-teen seemed to think her life was so much more exciting, and that he would rather live with her than his father and his father's new - that is - newest girlfriend. He just didn't seem to understand and no lecture, no conversation could get it through to him that he would be better off here, with his father than with her.
And he was safer here, in LA, on a military base than becoming a latch key kid and more, with her solitary roaming nature taking her away from her place for days, sometimes weeks. That was exactly the thought that would haunt her in weeks to come.
To his credit though, her cub didn't just jump on the suggestion of a real shower; he looked to her first. It showed both wisdom and a kind of restraint, very much appreciated by his mother. She nodded once, and took the small teacup in her large fingers, attempting to sip the hot tea quietly. Sugar was alright in tea, but what she really wanted was honey. And of course they didn't have honey here.
"We were, how did you know?" Kacee kept quiet as Brandon spoke to their guest. It gave her time to listen and think.
Brandon launched into their week long adventure; the fishing and tracking of wild animals, the swimming in the small river the sleeping without a tent, how his mother was teaching him to keep bugs away using natural stuff you could find in the woods and keep food cold and safe from animals and make his own fires. And about how his mom slept on a bed made of pine needles and how she could climb up and down the rocks on the side of mountains using just her hands and feet, just like Spider Man almost!"
"And yea, a shower would be great, thank you!" Anything to keep from having to get back when they were supposed to.
"That is a generous offer. One I would be glad to accept, and with thanks." Said the woman watching the exchange between the two of them, her smile kind, her eyes considerably warmer.
ReplyThread Parent Track This
jyu_ho
jyu_ho
jyu_ho
Tue, Nov. 3rd, 2009 05:05 am (UTC)
"Oh yes, so remember that the next time you fly. Their motto is 'Better Safe than Sorry!'" Sakamae shook her head and snapped a set of disposable chopsticks into component parts. She rubbed the cheap bamboo sticks together, smoothing off the splintered fragments so that she could eat without jabbing the inside of her cheek.
"Hmm," she tapped one against her chin thoughtfully, "I suppose it's because you smell like creek-water. City-water has been processed and cleaned, usually with chlorine. But you smell like wet leaves and rock-moss." A safe answer; if he knew what his mother was, he'd likely accept it. If he didn't, it was plausible enough that a human might be able to tell these things.
She'd always enjoyed the company of children. They said anything that came to their minds and were so transparent in their attempts to manipulate adults. Except in rare cases, such "manipulation" was benignly meant, to acquire a new toy or get out of some trouble. Just being around them helped her center, refocus, remember herself in the midst of the minds she inspected and assessed day in and day out. But there were no children at Court; she was the last shinju born to Kinkaku-ji, and most shen did not experience their First Change until twelve, thirteen at the youngest. Listening to Brandon chatter on about starting a fire and sleeping out in the open as if no one had ever done those things brought a wide, genuine smile to her face. Her shoulders lowered as tension eased from them, knots smoothing out along her neck and spine.
Their food arrived as he spoke, along with extra plates in case they decided to share. Sakamae was quick to divvy up the nigirizushi between them, always pleased to share her culture. And what bear wouldn't like a healthy cut of tuna? It looked to be stomach meat, the reddest, finest-grain of the fish. She'd have to thank the shopkeeper on her way out.
"Here, now," she told the boy as she lifted a piece to her palm, "You have to eat it all in one bite, or you'll have a mess." With that, she crammed the whole piece into her mouth, a more-than-generous amount that made her left cheek bulge like a chipmunk's. Western etiquette dictated small bites, and Japanese manners mirrored this with certain dishes. Shushi was not one of them.
ReplyThread Parent Track This
apathsolitaire
apathsolitaire
Kacee G.
Tue, Nov. 3rd, 2009 12:09 pm (UTC)
"Do I really?" He tried sniffing at his arm, but the smell of soy sauce and fresh fish was too strong for his young nose, and he simply couldn't tell. His mother could however, and could tell the smell of pine needles, and smoke, and a myriad of other things that could sense to any other changing breed that they were not of the city.
Both mother and son were happy to follow suit, and soon bulging cheeks and wide smiles replaced words as they chewed their way through the rice and strip of seaweed as well as the tender tuna slices. The talk grew lighter, Brandon attempting to use the chopstick as she had, and telling her about the fish they caught, and how to tell both the type of fish as well as if it were healthy to eat. He seemed to take great pleasure in his descriptions, and had to be reminded once, and then gently again not to talk with his mouth full.
After the waitress had replaced their empty teapot with a full, fresh one, the younger man leaned closer to Sakamae and asked in a loud whisper "How do you say thank you?"
Kacee could have stayed and eaten for much longer, but out of deference to their Emerald Court guest, and because the hour was getting later, she refused any extras, choosing to simply chew on the shushi that the Kitsune offered, and declining any extras so that her cub could try more, could eat more.
"Are you almost ready Brandon? I'm going to have to call your father soon, and let him know where we are."
"Will I get to see you again? Mom has to go back to work up north, but if you're here for a little while I can show you the library after Mom leaves, or some of the local sights if you want? If" Hesitation showed through as he fumbled.
"If you aren't too busy. I'd understand though." Kacee looked from the child to the pattern on her teacup. So easy for him to accept and forgive. He did it so often. At least he didn't finish the sentence with 'Adults normally are.' That might have struck a nerve. Fortunately for her, he was content to simply say his piece and move on.
ReplyThread Parent Track This
jyu_ho
jyu_ho
jyu_ho
Wed, Nov. 4th, 2009 04:53 am (UTC)
"'Arigatou gozaimasu,'" she murmured back to Brandon, watching the waitress turn away to hide a smile. "At least, for formal things like meals. If you're casually saying 'thanks,' then just 'arigatou' is fine."
She repeated it for him once or twice, gently correcting his pronunciation as he tried it himself. She was very pleased that he'd even thought to ask. He certainly was a credit to his parents. Even more pleasantly surprising was his invitation to show her around. Sakamae got the impression that it was as much to break out of what he saw as his "mundane" life with his father, but it was still quite thoughtful.
"I have meetings the rest of this week," she said, "But I'm free this weekend as far as I know. Should we say...Sunday afternoon?" She snuck a glance at his mother, hoping that, by allowing him to ask at all, she approved of the idea.
Sightseeing aside, she would genuinely enjoy spending time with him after days spent mewed up in board rooms and offices. She would have to be firm about setting aside that afternoon, refuse any extra meetings that might come up. Her own childhood had been peppered with such broken promises, as was any child raised in politics. She would avoid doing the same to one who wasn't if at all possible.
Sakamae fished through her handbag and came up with a slim, silver cigarette case. A flick opened the lid, revealing it to be full of business cards rather than carcinogens. She handed one of the cards to Brandon and slipped another across the table to his mother while he was preoccupied with it.
"That's my cell," she said. "It might hit you up with a long-distance charge, but you can call it any time." she grinned as she tucked the case back into her purse. "But why don't I call you to rendezvous? I don't want your father wondering who's been calling Japan from his phone."