Blind Dates: C TABLES.

[goldhearted]

What: BLIND DATES! Round 3.
Who: Anyone who was sent a note with the letter-number combination C#.
Where: Off-campus restaurant. AND BEYOND!
When: November 30th, eveningtimes.
Warnings: ???
ALSO, HEY, TAG YOUR CHARACTERS WHEN YOU REPLY TO THIS LOG. ♥

[The third group has been given directions to a well-known fancy restaurant at the heart of the city. The dining room is not as intimate as the others, but still has a pleasant atmosphere. There's quiet music playing overhead. The menu leans towards upscale, contemporary French/American food. It seems expensive, but that's not worth worrying about. Someone else will be covering the meal, right?

It might have been smart to dress nice- but not too nice- for your date. At least that's what Gold suggested!

There's a candle at every table. Beside each candle, there is a card. On each card, there is a different letter-number combination.

Find your table!

And feel free to leave at any time, with or without your date.]

Comments

[travelingbelle]

Oh what a cute place! Blue was beaming from the moment she walked through the restaurant doors, happily locating her table card to take a seat. Like she had said on the network, she was actually pretty excited for these. The results of the night were a huge mystery, but she was at least hoping for a nice time regardless of who would take their seat across from her.

Blue had gotten a little dressed up, even if she personally didn't believe it made that much of a difference. She was going to be a bit plain and mousey regardless, in her opinion, but whatever. Any excuse to pull out that black dress she liked was a good excuse.

Idly, she began to glance over the menu while she wondered how her boys were faring on their own mystery dates (she was a little worried about Blake, admittedly) and who she'd be spending the evening with.

[deathboss]

She didn't have to wait too long, as her date showed up exactly five minutes later; the exact time he had been given on his notice paper (quite a feat, considering he'd probably spent more than three hours getting ready). Eikichi was taking this in a fun jest as well, but gods knew he would never show up to any date looking like he was passé!

Lucky you.

The makeup was the typical that Eikichi wore at school; woe be it for the ex-Boss to arrive at a date looking like his old man! His bluish outfit was a little number he'd found in a fashionable boutique in the city that, thankfully, had them in his height.

If she was expecting him to show up at the front door, Blue had another thing coming; he'd cleverly (read, almost tripped on his way there) in the workers' backdoor passing into the kitchen area as if nothing was wrong, using their surprise as a way to easily weasel his way out before no one screamed at him. Not that it would have done much anyway, considering no one could be scarier than his pops. And...aha! There she was! Quite a lucky break too since she knew her (and also she was a girl), which was clearly an advantage (but an advantage of what, that was a mystery).

"Good evening!" he said from behind her, showmanship turned up to its highest potential. "It seems fate has brought us together for another evening once again! But, you will find that Michel will not be one to complain. After all, i would be quite a sin to miss out on such a bella rostro." With an exaggerated flourish, he held out the bouquet he had in his hands.

"Calla AEthiopica," he explained, waiting for her to take it at leisure. "A good friend of mine knows much about flowers and their hidden meanings, and Michel thought perhaps that he would take a page from his book." Eikichi had visited the library that morning for flower meanings, and picked out the first one that had caught his eye. "It is a a rather fitting tribute for a Magnificent Beauty, hmmm?"

Oh gods he was laying it on thick. Like a Boss.

[travelingbelle]

She knew that voice. She knew that voice a lot better than she should have, but at least it wasn't screeching love songs at her at the moment. At the moment. At least this meant they could skip all the ice breakers! Blue nearly started giggling at Eikichi's approach as she turned in her seat to greet him, but oh. Flowers. Flowers oh. "Hello... oh!"

She blinked as she took them, glancing between him and the flora as he spoke. Oh. Well. Gosh. Blue blushed a little bit as she laughed good naturedly. "I think that's pushing it a little far," she admitted, but it was clear she liked the comment nonetheless. "Thank you, you're very sweet, hehe. You look rather dashing yourself."

What was she supposed to do with these now...?

[deathboss]

"I am, aren't I? I mean uh...thanks!" Yeah okay slightly better there. And not to worry about the flowers, he had her covered! As Eikichi sat down, he grabbed one of the water serving jugs already filled up and put it on the table that she might place the flowers inside.

It was a shame she was already seated, as Eikichi would have helped Blue to her seat. No matter! He could just as easily show off show off later.

"Now then, quite a different establishment than our first outing, isn't it?" He shot a quick glance at the menu between the smiles and thanked the gods it wasn't sushi or fish.

[travelingbelle]

Well how convenient was that? Blue had a sneaking suspicion that jug was supposed to be for refilling peoples' drinks, buuuuut whoops they were home to a bouquet now. It was a noble service you were providing, jug. Any looks from waiters were conveniently ignored at the moment as she chuckled.

It seemed she had the habit of getting involved with guys that were a little full of themselves.

"You can say that again. It's a lot different from where I would normally go too... Which is part of the fun, haha."

[deathboss]

The waiters could stop staring as far as Eikichi was concerned.

"Considering I've lived in Japan all my life," he continued to scan down. Escargot...isn't that SNAILS?! "It's a far departure," Meat, Meat, meat... "From what I know...oh good, salad!" ...wait he's said that last part out loud. "Ahem! Excuse me. I prefer vegetarian meals," he explained. "But...enough about my dietary problems. Let's hear more about you now, chica."

He gave a quiet laugh, and grinned.

"And I don't mean you need to talk about what you like eating! If you're a trainer like a lot of the others on campus, I'm sure you have some interesting stories."

Yes, as surprising as it might first seem, Eikcihi was actually quite interested in the lives of others and did want to know more about her.

[travelingbelle]

"Haha, well, I'd talk about that if you'd like!" She pursed her lips slightly as she glanced back at the menu. There were a number of things on here that she wasn't really sure what... was... Hm. Well, no matter. Blue glanced up at him with a smile.

"You're right though. My team and I have been all over all the different Pokemon regions, so its actually a little hard to figure out where to start!"

[deathboss]

"Well then babe, perhaps the very beginning would be the best place to start!" He stopped speaking long enough to shoot another look at the menu.

"Actually I've been looking up a bit more about Pokemon training...is it true that they let you leave the house at around ten years old?" Because seriously, that was terrible parenting.

[travelingbelle]

"Haha, yes that's pretty true... Though now that I think about it, I think that might depend on what region you're from. I think kids in Unova might start a bit later..." Blue considered this a moment with a thoughtful touch of her fingers to the corner of her mouth, but she shrugged.

"In Kanto, at least, you're eligible to apply for your license when you're ten. For a lot of us it's basically a coming of age thing: Getting a companion and going off to see the world and learn about who you really are. At least that's how my dad always put it. And going through it myself... I'd probably send my kid off too, hehe.

"My friends and I all turned ten the same year so we went and got ours together... We each got different Pokemon from each other as well. Do you maybe know what a Charmander is? That's what my Sienna was."

Blue paused again and gave a sheepish smile. "Let me know if any of this gets boring, I don't want to talk your ear off."

[deathboss]

"That's nice of your father..." he said trailing off. Eikichi and his dad's relationship was something else entirely, built of out fear for his old man, and being taught a job be loathed with nearly every fiber of his being. Maybe this place had a good idea.

"Still at ten years old out on your own...your parents must all trust you a lot." Had to be fun, that. "I guess Pokemon are a lot like Persona. Not everyone gets those in my world, mind you. You have to be strong of will for one..." When she mentioned the Pokemon species he thought about it for a few seconds.

"Charmander..." He reached inside his pockets and pulled out a small black book, before flipping into it before stopping and showing her a page. It had the entire evolution line handrawn in poses, their names written in Japanese underneath. His finger pointed to the first in line.

"That one, right?"

[travelingbelle]

Curious, Blue leaned forward to take a look at the drawings that he was indicating. Blue blinked once in mild surprise. Those were actually very good.

"Yep, that's the one! Gosh, you're pretty talented." She moved her finger next to his, gently tapping the page next to his sketch of the Charizard. "She's a Charizard now, though."

Blue had no idea what the heck a Persona was, but if it was something a lot like Pokemon than she could roll with it. "Not everyone can get a Pokemon back home, either. Er, rather, not everyone can train one officially. Typically you need to be able to display a bond with the Pokemon you're seeking to train first. Dad's told me stories of people that have gotten turned away cause they couldn't hit it off with any of the starters there. Without a mutual trust, things just aren't going to work out very well."

She sat back in her seat, resting her chin on her hands. "I think that's why people don't have a problem letting their kids run around. They're not alone."

Pause.

"But what actually is a Persona?"

[deathboss]

"Heh heh heh..." Of course he was talented! Drawing was one of the greatest gifts his mother had given him. If only he hadn't inherited her tenancy to get fat easily as well... He looked back to his own sketches and nodded. Charizard. He'd seen a few of those on campus already.

"I see! Well a Persona is a facet of your personality that surfaces as you react to external stimuli. As Philemon said, 'we all wear different masks!' Say you become angry at someone babe? That's a facet of your personality. And then there's also when others make assumptions about you, creating another of those pieces of your personality. With the power of Persona, we bring all those facets of ourselves to life."

He pointed to his chest.

"It is a manifestation of my psyche, given form. You may think of it as a visible mask that protects me as I brave hardships. I'd show you, but I don't think showing off such a power in a restaurant might be a good idea, hmmm?" He offered her a grin.

"I can always show you later...if you'd like."

[travelingbelle]

She stared at him for a moment.

"... That kind of sounds like something on one of those anime things," she mused quietly. Big monsters she understood. Super psyche mask powers, not quite so much. Though, it wasn't as though his explanation hadn't been clear. Maybe she sort of got it? If things changed by how they reacted to people... Eikichi had a happiness evolution...??? No.

"I think a demonstration is definitely going to have to be in order," she continued with a sheepish smile. "I think I'd get it easier that way."

[deathboss]

"Anime right!" He beamed a little too much like a small kid at that word. "But yeah, we could do that la--"

And he was cut off midway just as their waiter came up, looked at the flowers for a second, and asked them if they were ready to order.

Oh right they were here to eat some food!

"That depends if miss Blue is ready," he replied with a flourish of his hand. "For she has all rights and privileges, and I insist she must go first." Woops he might be overdoing it.

[travelingbelle]

Blue stared at him for another moment, raising her eyebrows juuuust slightly before glancing up at the waiter who was looking at her and also raising their eyebrows.

He might have been overdoing it, yes.

"Um." She glanced down at the menu again and then gave the waiter a smile. "Yes, ok. Could I get the spinach salad with strawberries and goat cheese, please?" If Eikichi wasn't a big fan of meaty foods, he probably didn't enjoy looking at them much either.

The waiter wrote her order down with a flourish, and then turned to the extravagant looking man and asked what he would like this evening.

[deathboss]

Nailed it.

When it was his turn to order, extravagant looking man...I mean Eikichi looked down at the menu again. "Let's see..." He was definately going to skip over the Niçoise and Bacon ones. "I'll take the Mesclun Salad. Add some tomatoes, honey melon, julienned carrots and cucumbers, if you please and have the ingredients. I'd like the vinaigrette in the side." Pause. "And a glass of water." Considering their current water jug was being occupied by one(1) bouquet.

The waiter gave him a look, but didn't argue. When he walked away, Eikichi almost looked relieved.

"I always feel bad asking all of that -- pisses off pops all the time when customers ask him for custom orders. That's why I usually make all my lunches myself."