BLIND DATES: A TABLES

[subspaceemissary]

Who: We shall see.
What: BLIND DATES
Where: Restaurant off-campus.
When: 29th November, 2013.
Warnings: It is a mystery.
TAG YOUR CHARACTERS WHEN YOU REPLY. It's the fun thing to do.

[This restaurant is known for its seafood, steak, and sushi selection. The food is cooked in the open for the costumers to watch being prepared, the odd sound of fire flaring up on the grill heard as certain dishes are put together!

Despite the fancy entertainment the décor is simple and spacious, but not unsightly.There's a Japanese feel to the place, the colours of red and black dominating the furnishings. People are simply dressed, and invited diners are told to dress the same; not too formal, not too casual.

The music played matches the laid-back atmosphere, catchy but not distracting. Chatter mingles in with it, and may help to ease some dates this tonight. Or not.

The candles on the table here are-- candles? There are no candles here! But on the tables reserved for the academy, there's a card. Each card has a different letter-number combination. Find your table!]

Comments

[hawkhearsyou]

With some hesitance, Ulki returned the gesture and shook his hand shortly. "I'm Ulki."

[jonny_talbain]

Jon's grip was firm and cool and likewise short.

"Ulki. Interesting name."

He leaned back in his chair a little and looked around. "Now that you're here we ought to get some attention from the wait staff."

[hawkhearsyou]

He said nothing in response and diverted his gaze to the other people bustling about in the restaurant. The waiters and waitresses were quite busy with the other tables, but one came around shortly, asking if she could get them something to drink.

He considered some of their wine options, but decided against that for the time. "Water is fine."

[jonny_talbain]

"Tea, if you'd not mind, Luv. Hot. None of this iced business." Jon gave his order.

As the waitress bustled off to take care of that, Jon turned around to face his companion for the evening.

Hmm. And folk think me stone faced - This lad's got me beat.

"So. You sign yourself up for this or did your name show up without warning?"

[hawkhearsyou]

Ulki had most everyone beat when it came to looking perpetually serious or even angry, even back where he was from. He was considered scary and unapproachable for the most part.

"I didn't sign up," he answered. He never had, and yet he always convinced himself to attend. He couldn't be certain if Jon was in the same situation, so he looked back at him to meet his gaze. "Did you?"

[jonny_talbain]

"Aye. I did." replied Jon. "The first time, I did not. However, I wound up meeting someone who became something of a friend. Since then, I've put my name down on the off chance it happens again."

[hawkhearsyou]

"I see." PRESSURE'S ON It sounded like a valid enough reason to sign up. Probably.

Ulki wasn't sure if he himself was the type to just go accepting friendship with anybody. It felt awkward that friendship was what Jon expected of him. He still felt uncomfortable around humans sometimes. It just felt weird to foster a friendship over dinner with one. He reprimanded himself internally for that sort of thinking. He knew now that humans weren't always playing this game of deceit with him, so why would Jon be doing that if he genuinely wanted to be friendly?

(Of course, this is at a moment in time where he assumes that Jon is a human. Normally, he'd do his homework on whoever he was meeting with, but it was hard to when it was randomized.)

"You have done this twice before, then." It was just a guess.

[jonny_talbain]

"Aye. I have." Jon replied, picking up and sipping his tea once it was delivered. "Something I never would have considered before coming to this school. And of course, should the company for whatever reason not suit me? There's nothing to say I can't simply leave. Hence, it's a no lose situation."

He wrapped his hands around the cup. Mmm. Warm.

"Is this the first time you've come along to one of these? I've seen you about school grounds since I arrived a few years ago, so I know you must have been here long enough to attend more than one."

[hawkhearsyou]

"This would be my third," he recalled. The first time was with somebody who had since left: Meta Knight. The second was with Byrne, who had also left. He remembered both occasions clearly, but nothing interesting came about from their meeting.

And somehow, he always brought himself to attend. He supposed it was because nothing bad ever happened, and it was a good way to get to know people. That much was true. He wanted to say something else, but he couldn't figure out what would be appropriate to say. He'd never been a great conversationalist, especially with humans. But he knew he had to improve that attitude rather than just think about it. It was irrational, so he had to try.

"...What do you do, here?" he asked.

[jonny_talbain]

"I'm a student." Jon replied. "First year college. I'm also a Pokémon trainer. Riwane, my Charizard partner, attends as a High School senior."

At least he was assuming Ulki meant 'here' as in the city and school. Not the restaurant and/or date specifically.

"I believe you're on the staff, correct?"

[hawkhearsyou]

"Yes. Disciplinary staff," he responded, folding his hands on the surface of the table. He didn't expect Jon to be a student, really, but anybody could be one. A college student made more sense.

That he was a Pokémon trainer piqued Ulki's curiosity. He hadn't actually had many opportunities to talk to them, and he wasn't sure how he felt about the matter to begin with. In some ways, training Pokémon seemed wrong to him, but with such little information on the matter, he couldn't give into assumptions.

[jonny_talbain]

"Ah. Probably why we've not crossed paths properly before now." Jon replied with a nod. It was true that he was no angel. But when he did break the rules he was damn good at it and didn't get caught. As such, he had not yet faced detention.

To be honest, it didn't surprise him to hear that Ulki was a disciplinarian - He certainly had the look of a stern, no nonsense sort.

[hawkhearsyou]

"Mmm." Jon didn't seem too much like the type to get into trouble, and most of the staff members were not afraid to send anyone his way if they deserved it. He could trust that.

"After you graduate... What do you plan to do?"

[jonny_talbain]

"Good question. I'd been thinking about taking up a position as the Martial Arts teacher at the school. However, considering I've only mastered several styles of Kung Fu and have very little knowledge of the Arts not originating in China, that may be a premature goal."

He had no real knowledge of Aikido, Jujitsu or Karate for example.

"Long term goals... I'm actually considering moving to Kanto and getting involved in the Pokémon science community. I've a lot to learn but my ability to communicate with Pokémon would give me an insight I find lacking in most Professor's work on the subject."