A Dinner Party [Closed]

[faithfulflame]

Who: faithfulflame, idolater, allergictoloveletters, bropane & zerotohiro
When: IC: Backdated to 3/30, OOC: 11/5-Onward
Where: The Sailor Apartment
What: The Sailor Senshi invite the Hamada brothers over for dinner with the aim of helping Ami and Tadashi get closer.
Rating/Warning: PG-13 for language And for Minako

---

Well they'd been back in town for a few days now, and after discussing it a few times, Rei, Minako, and Ami had all thought it might be nice to invite some friends over for dinner. Minako in particular had an ulterior motive, but Rei was more than happy to help...so they'd put together a little get together for the three of them and the two Hamada brothers. Nothing too fancy, just three Tokyo girls and two immigrant boys all set to hang out, eat, and maybe watch a couple of movies or something on CERES-Flix.

The living room of their four bedroom place was set up as neatly as could be, cleaned, everything polished and the usual clutter that came from life put back into closed bedroom doors and the like. The CYBuddy, Lacus the Panda, meandered around still, but never really seemed to be too intrusive so it didn't feel like anything to worry about. Basically? They thought they'd spruce up the place since there was company coming. Even the TV was polished up, and everything just looked spotless!

Food was simple, various rice and fish dishes and hot-pot soups that Rei had either prepared or paid Archer to take care of for her. Ami had also put together sandwiches and other fingerfoods and most importantly of all they had kept Minako out of the kitchen and just had her pick up a cake. She may have grumbled but...this was for love and friends after all and nobody needed to be subjected to her attempts at baking.

Everything was as perfect as it could be by the time the Hamada brothers arrived, and they would find themselves greeted at the door by the trio. Come on in!

Comments

starts the party train, sorry for him, etc etc

[zerotohiro]

[There were worse things that could happen to him. The sky could collapse or Tadashi could die for a third time or he could be dumbed down to average intelligence. This? This isn't exactly terrible. He'd only been half-listening when the girls extended the invite for dinner to their apartment and at the time he wasn't thinking beyond "hey, free food that someone else cooked."

Now that he's in the home of the Sailor Senshi (and Minako, unknown to him a Senshi as well) he's...a little more muted than usual. Rei might notice the difference the most since he's closest to her but when he and Tadashi arrive he sticks a little closer to his older brother at first. It's a bit reminiscent of when they were kids, how the younger Hamada would practically hide behind Tadashi's leg when meeting new people or going new places. He's not as shy as he was back then but this is still enough to keep him on guard.

While the older teenagers (and Tadashi) are busying themselves with chatting and what-have-you Hiro finds himself slowly gravitating toward an abandoned corner of a couch and seating himself there. It's weird being in a girl apartment. Everything's so clean and organized and the place smells like delicious food. His feet are barely touching the ground as he tilts his head back to watch what else is happening in the apartment. He...should be social. He can do social!

But there's something happening here that he can't exactly pinpoint. It's best to do observations first. I'm so sorry I just wrote a hook that's literally "my character is sitting here, please bother him.]

[bropane]

[ after dinner, tadashi will try to help out in washing the dishes, but his plans may be thwarted since he's just a guest at the house.

he can also be found on the couch, without his hat off, of course. he had taken it off upon entering and left it on the coat rack. tadashi's jacket and sweater, of course, have not been taken off. YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE HIS SCARS, basically. someone talk to this poor guy because he's just petting the panda and being a nerd about it and checking its specs.

there's a part of him that also wants to turn the tv on and see what shows are available... maybe there's some kind of mecha anime up or something... he's not a nerd, he swears. ]

[bropane]

[ oh my god hiro, tadashi and aunt cass taught you better!

tadashi's seated on the couch as well, just relaxing with the panda cybuddy. they're friends now. ]

What's wrong, bro? You okay?

[ are you afraid of getting cooties? ]

[zerotohiro]

[Dude. Still. He shrugs even if he's not quite looking at Tadashi because he's quietly watching the three girls and observing their behavior. This shit's like a nature documentary, okay, he has to figure out how all of this works. It's not like Honey Lemon or GoGo are normal girls anyway.]

Yeeeeah? [That was 100% convincing.] Everything's fine. [Let's ignore everything he's thinking/researching/absorbing and focus on the panda!] One of yours, or someone else's work?

[Tadashi help, he's drowning.]

[bropane]

Not mine.

[ he shrugs afterwards, not really sure whose work the panda is. he lets out a chortle after that, though, and he can't help but say: ]

Don't tell me you're afraid of the ladies.

[zerotohiro]

[A pause. A look.

And an elbow digging right into Tadashi's ribs.]

Shut up. [So that's kind of a yes. It's not so much that he's afraid, but he feels like he actually has to be on his best behavior and that's hard sometimes.] I'm not afraid of them.

[faithfulflame]

[Okay. Well. Rei isn't about to miss Tadashi poking at poor Lacus. The CYBuddy doesn't seem to mind, but it's a pretty ordinary little guy. Y'know, as robot pandas are.

Rei wanders on up and takes a stance to one side, smiling faintly.]

Tadashi-san, are you enjoying yourself?

[bropane]

[ tadashi takes that as a very yes, and laughs. ]

They won't give you cooties, don't worry. You can talk to them.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei isn't going to let this stand. No. she is a nerd herself, but she didn't invite you here so that she could ignore you and let you get away with hiding on the couch. It's not like she's psychic, or anything oh wait right?

Disengaging from a conversation with Minako, Rei takes a seat next to her young friend with a plate of cookies.]

Is there something bothering you?

[bropane]

[ oh! he looks up and even gets up from his seat to properly converse, hands behind his back. ]

Hey, thanks for the invite. The food was really good.

[zerotohiro]

"Cooties"? I'm fourteen, dude. [There's a very indignant look. He's very grown up, how dare you.] And I know how to talk to girls! [...Hiro. Stop talking.] ...Ami and Rei are really cool.

[A pause.] Ami's helping me build something, actually. It'll be really cool if it works.

[zerotohiro]

[Reiiiii please put him out of his misery. He's awkward. He's painfully awkward today and he ends up giving her a slightly wary smile before immediately honing in on the cookies.]

I...not really. [What's the best way of saying "I am trying to be a good houseguest and your girlfriend's pretty and your friend's nice and you're my friend and I'm not a moron I know girls think Tadashi is attractive but Tadashi's dead and you're the only one who knows he's dead and I just want to keep him safe, not that you guys aren't safe but your apartment is really clean and pristine and sort of stifling for me because actual girls are kind of complicated and there are a lot of complicated emotions here and hi my name is Hiro I overthink everything and can I just stuff my face and hide?"] It's fine. [And he seems to be thinking of something else.] Um. Thanks for inviting us over, by the way. ["Even if I'm wondering why and I kinda feel bad for wondering why."]

[faithfulflame]

[Throughout the evening Rei makes it a point to spend a little bit of time with everyone. She's trying hard to be a good host, and it probably shows. But more importantly, she's actually enjoying herself. She likes having guests, and it makes her feel a bit more homey, and even makes this strange apartment feel more like a genuine home.

Midway through the evening, she slips over towards Minako to confer with her on a few things, and maybe share her good mood a bit with her partner. And if Ami is being a little bit too nervous, then Rei may very well just glide on over and give her a poke.

And to add a little Poe to the scene, throughout the whole evening Phobos and Deimos are sitting up on a coat rack, watching the little gathering with dark, sparkling eyes.

[bropane]

[ hm, that strikes his interest. ]

Yeah? What are you guys working on?

[zerotohiro]

I found something of hers that's really cool and I wanted to replicate it. A computer. It does a lot of really cool and useful stuff and it's a little more than standard tech? But she said if I make the right tools I can start trying to make a replica.

[faithfulflame]

Absolutely, Tadashi-san.

[Rei folds her own arms on front and bows in a hostess greeting.]

I'm glad you liked it. And we were glad that you could make it.

[bropane]

[ ... tadashi wonders if hiro knows that ami's a magical girl. but he isn't just about to ask him directly. ]

What for? What good would it do you?

[ seriously. ]

[zerotohiro]

[And then, in all the seriousness he can muster:]

It's a magical computer from Mercury.

[So yes. He sure does know.]

[bropane]

Don't worry about it. I wouldn't miss something like this, especially if it's to thank somebody who's helped my brother out a ton.

[ he nods sagely, rubbing the back of his neck afterwards. ]

Maybe you guys can come by some time, too. Our place is a little bit messier than yours, but I'd have to repay the favour.

[bropane]

And how exactly would that help you? You aren't a Mercurian.

[ a pause. ]

Or a magical girl.

[ he snorts afterwards, just imagining it. ]

[faithfulflame]

[Hiroooooo, she's not going to let you off so easy. But the cookies were there for both of them to enjoy, so she holds the plate closer to you so you can grab one.]

Of course. It felt like a nice thing to do. Given all that we've been through together.

[And it doesn't even take a psychic to tell there's something bugging him. She elbows Hiro slightly and leans down, keeping her voice low so that she isn't going to be overheard by Tadashi and Ami.]

And it was Minako-chan's idea. When she realized how happy Ami is when she's around Tadashi-san, she thought it might be good to get the two of them to spend more time with one another. Ah...I probably should have explained this to you beforehand, but honestly these things aren't my forte. But Ami-chan doesn't have many friends with similar interests, and I thought...it would be easier on both of them if you came too. It gives us a chance to talk, and you a chance to eat.

[Hi Hiro, sorry, Minako dragged you into one of her schemes. But Rei thinks it's good too.]

And for goodness sake don't look at me like I'm going to bite you. I'm not. Neither is Minako-chan, or Ami-chan. We trust you. You're an ally and a friend. So relax, okay?

[zerotohiro]

Well no. I would look really bad in a skirt. [Deadpan.] Anyway you don't know how the thing functions. It scans, like, everything and it taps into everything and...dude, just ask Ami. It's awesome.

[faithfulflame]

Well it's not thanking me. I should be the one thanking you for helping my best friend in the jungle. Ami-chan was quite glad to learn you're alright. And after everything all five of us have been through, it seemed like the right thing to do.

[Rei steps in a bit closer, smile remaining fixed and serene.]

I understand she told you her secret.

[zerotohiro]

[He's going to hover for all of five seconds before snatching a cookie at lightning speed and cramming it into his mouth. ...it's pretty good, actually, so give him a minute to chew on that even as he nods along. Right. This is what it's like to have friends. He was starting to get that when he was back home and then all of this craziness happened.

But then Rei explains. His eyes widen a bit as he thinks all of that over, mind working itself into overdrive as he rapidly puts the puzzle together.]

Yeah, you really could have said something sooner. [This is all said with his mouth full. Pardon him. He swallows the cookie before he continues, keeping his voice lower so they aren't overheard.] ...I mean don't get me wrong, I'm glad we're hanging out and you made dinner and I know you guys are friends but...all of this is seriously just because Ami likes my brother?

[In this thread, Hiro starts to think that girls really do make everything more complicated than necessary. As they talk though it's clear he's relaxing more. It's Rei. Rei's good at getting him to slow his roll when needed. It's also clear that he's a little unsure if Ami likes Tadashi, or if Ami likes Tadashi. These things are foreign when you don't hit puberty until after you graduate from high school.] I guess that makes sense. Tadashi seems to like her enough...and I get how that is. Not having friends with similar interests, I mean. [So he sympathizes a bit. It probably won't be hard to get Hiro on board with this ship, honestly.]

[bropane]

[ you'd be so pretty in one, hiro. ]

I'll ask her another time. Kind of too joyous of an ocassion to talk about... work. But you've got me interested now.