PI Log: Another Fine Mess

[joiedecombat]

Too funny not to post. Seravina comes in to check out Ogori's, and Aya ends up getting royally pwned by three well-meaning women. Look for Aya being very, very tempted to pretend he doesn't understand English, and Seravina's conclusions on the subject of male florists.


Dining Room--Chinatown

The light here is muted, chosen to relax those within it and promote the feeling of intimacy at each of the low tables scattered throughout the dining room. Each small table is made of cherry wood polished to a high gleam, the surface inset with lighter wood chosen to contrast well with the darker wood surrounding it. The tables sit low to the ground, with cushions to use in place of chairs. These large, flat cushions are piled along the sides of each table, colorfully embroidered with fantastic creatures from Japanese myth.

The walls are painted a rich cream color, the better to complement the many pieces of original artwork that are hung there, many pieces shown with small tags indicating they were done by local artists, and a few displaying discreet prices. Screens are set up in the corners of the dining room, displaying beautifully painted scenes from nature, available to be set up allowing greater privacy for those diners who request it.

Towards the back of the dining room a long, low counter divides the dining area from the kitchen. Though much of the kitchen is set further back from the dining area to prevent disturbing the patrons, there are grills set up closer to the counter so that those who wish may watch some of the food being prepared. There are stools set up on the dining room side of the counter so that those who wish may sit and watch while they enjoy their drinks, and a few ashtrays are set along the top of the counter.


It's Thursday night, informally known as Gyoza night to most of the regulars. While gyoza is a regular part of the menu as an appetizer, tonight is the night Michiko spoils everyone rotten, making dozens upon dozens of the little treats, and serving them up on platters to all who order the special. That and endless bowls of miso soup comprise most of the orders tonight. Eris and the girls have been run off their feet keeping plates, soup bowls and dipping bowls full - but they like Thursdays. They're more relaxed than any other day that week. And - if one times it just right - one can usually manage to snatch a bite or two every time one runs into the kitchen. Just got to avoid Michiko smacking your hands.

Eris wasn't quite so lucky the last time. The back of her hand is still red from getting swatted by Michiko's long chopsticks.. but she's munching happily as she comes around the counter, leaning over to refill Aya's bowl of dipping sauce without waiting to be called over. <<Watch out. She's being a tiger tonight,>> she tells him merrily, sending a laughing glance over at her mama-san.

Aya is becoming something of a familiar sight at Ogori's, in the evenings between the end of business hours and the true dark of night. Not, admittedly, that he's proven to be a very social creature - but he is at least an unobtrusive presence, tucked into a solitary seat with a good view of the restaurant, a plate of gyoza, and a cup of tea. He answers Eris' cheerful comment with a lifting of his brows and a noncommittal, "Sou ka," and a brief, significant pause of his eyes on the reddened back of Eris' hand, as if to say 'I wonder why.'

It's Thursday night, informally known as 'get the hell out of the house' night, to Sera. John's been away dealing with perhaps some other insane demon, somewhere, which leaves her to entertain herself. Wandering into Ogori's, Sera looks around as though she's a bit of a tourist, and looks for a place to sit where she can see the restaurant, quiet and alone and -- "Well, shit," she says to herself quietly. Taken. Hm, where's the next best one? Except, of course, that she'll turn her head back to where Aya is, and stare, instead. Because /Hello/, pretty man.

With a roll of her eyes, Eris straightens, glancing at Aya's plate. "More gyoza?" she asks as the door chimes, admitting another customer. "Welcome to Ogori's," she calls out to Sera, meeting her partway, and gesturing towards the seat near Aya's. It'll do Aya some good, maybe, having some company. Maybe he'll quit looking like he went to bed with a lemon in his mouth. Probably not - but stranger things have happened. "Please, sit - get comfortable. We've got gyoza on special tonight - all you can eat, with miso. Would you like something to drink while you look at a menu?"

"What... goes with gyoza?" Sera wonders, blinking those huge eyes at Eris, snitching another glance at Aya as she moves to sit near him, her cheeks ever so slightly pink. "I'll go with.. the special, and, yes. Whatever you recommend," she offers Eris, looking hopeful and somewhat out of place, all long limbs and pale skin and big eyes.

Aya pauses with his cup of tea halfway to his lips when Eris offers that seat to Sera, and his eyes narrow slightly at her over the cup - you did that on purpose, didn't you. Looking faintly resigned, he sets the cup back down, and inclines his head very briefly to Sera as she sits, giving her a few moments of consideration a shade too measured to really seem casual.

Eris doesn't even try to duck that look, meeting it with a level gaze all her own, flickers of amusement relieving the solemnity. Of *course* she did. "Just about anything you like goes with gyoza," she hastens to assure Sera, slipping behind the counter to get the girl a tall glass of iced coffee to begin with. "If you like green tea, I can put on a pot for you - or, well.. try this. It's got enough caffeine to wake me up in the morning - and that's saying a lot." There's a muffled sound of agreement from Michiko in the back, she waves her chopsticks threateningly at Eris when the girl slips too near her precious stove, but there's a smile lurking there, beneath the scowl.

"Iced coffee would be fine. I /do/ like green tea," she says, and drains half the glass of caffeinated sugary goodness, looking pleased. "So.. gyoza, miso and green tea. Perfect," she tells Eris, nodding, and then glances to Aya again. And blushes. Again. Because /HELLO/, /PRETTY/ man. "Ah, hi," Sera says, unable to keep from smiling. "Sorry -- I... It's insanely rude of me to stare, I get that, but you... are /impossibly/ beautiful." Another pause. "Could I take pictures of you? Like... in a studio?" Because see, that's normal and not rude, right?

...buh? A look of indescribable surprised bemusement comes over Aya's face, temporarily obliterating the look of calm and over-serious control he normally wears. With those words, it seems, Sera's managed to utterly floor him. It takes him several moments to even begin to formulate a reply, his brain stumbling altogether uncharacteristically over the English, and all he can come up with is, "I beg your pardon?" The words don't sound offended - Aya's low voice is far too blank with incomprehension.

And Eris? She's standing behind the counter, just staring wide-eyed at the both of them. She actually has to press the heel of her hand against her mouth to keep from laughing - turning away to fuss with a pot of tea until she can get herself under control. When she turns back again, she's already given Sera's order to Michiko, and is setting a small stoneware cup in front of the girl, along with a pot of brewing tea. "You should see him in his natural setting," she tells Sera, her face a mask of absolute innocence.

"I mean," Sera says, flushing hotly, looking quite embarrassed. "I'm... I'm sorry," she says, laughing nervously. "You're, ah. It's just that.... see. I take photographs. And, ah. Well. You... you would make an /incredible/ model. I was wondering if you might want to pose for me?" she says, hoping she phrased it better, that time. Her expression is earnest, curious, watchful. Hopeful, really, that even though he doesn't quite sound offended, that it won't turn out that way.

The look Aya turns toward Eris at her comment is almost paranoid, and still quite off-balance. And what was *that* supposed to mean? It takes him several more moments, and a slow blink or two, to form a reply. "Forgive me," he tells Sera, with a stiff, slightly awkward inflection that suggests it's a poor translation of what he really means. "I - would not be comfortable."

Poor Aya. Eris very nearly takes pity on him - but pity isn't something she's very good at. Leaning her hip against the counter she watches Aya's expression, sly humor hooding her eyes. "Aya has a little trouble with English," she tells Sera, her tone giving away her teasing, much as she tries to hold it in check. "I'm not sure he really understands what you want him to do. Besides.. it'd be *marvelous* advertising, Aya. If she took some pictures of you with some of your arrangements.. I bet Michiko-san would hang one up here."

"Eris-chan, *work*," Michiko snaps from back by the stove. "Gyoza get cold, waiting for lazy girl. Move self." She comes closer, to push a plate of gyoza into Eris' hands, of course - of *course*. Certainly not to hear the conversation better.

"Arrangements?" Sera wonders, eyeing Eris and then looking at Aya. "Like... flower... arrangements?" she wonders, cocking her head to the side. Would figure. Gorgeous guy. Completely gay. "It... um. Miss," Sera wonders of Eris, "could you translate? Do you speak ... whatever it is he--Japanese? I'm lost in English, here," she says, blushing again, smiling hopefully at Aya.

At that, at least, Aya manages to regain some of his self-possession... if only to turn a narrow-eyed look on Eris even as Michiko arrives to shoo her off. "Eris," he says, enunciating with precise clarity and only a wisp of an accent, "exaggerates. I can understand English." He reaches again for his teacup, to cradle it in both hands. "And yes. Flower arrangements. I will be opening a florist shop a few blocks from here." He says it matter-of-factly, with no self-consciousness about the fact that his profession brands him an incurable pansy.

<<I speak a little, yes.>> Eris replies, the Japanese tripping off of her tongue flawlessly, before she turns a shameless grin on Aya. "Well, the way you were tripping over your words, I had to assume you'd had a momentary seizure and for...OW!" That, to Michiko - who's elbow had somehow found its way into the small of her back.

Michiko turns a warm look on Sera, reaching around Eris to pour a cup of tea for her. "Tea better when hot," she chides gently, and then she's turning that smile on Aya. "Eris is right. Is good ad..advertisement. Aya makes the very pretty flowers," she tells Sera, bestowing a look of nearly maternal pride on the poor florist. "You take good pictures, we put one on wall, with card for getting business for shop."

"...you know, I think that would really be amazing," Sera says, looking to Aya, those dark eyes hugely bright now, not expectant at all, but hopeful. "I would /love/ to see your work, and then I could capture it on film. Maybe... oh, maybe even getting you working, putting one together?" she says, turning to look at Eris and Michiko. Help me out here. I /want/ to photograph the pretty man. "Wouldn't that just be incredible?" she wonders of them, and turns and looks at Aya. "I'd give you all the negatives when I was done. Make you all the prints you wanted. And if you let me sell them, I'd give you a half the take after I recouped expenses," she says, beaming.

Aya forestalls having to answer right away by taking a slow, deliberate sip from his tea, feeling all too clearly the pressure of Michiko's good intentions. Dammit.

Well, a bit of photographic advertising to link his face to the flower shop, in its flagrant lack of masculinity, probably wouldn't hurt. Much. Even if Yoji is probably going to laugh his ass off when he arrives and sees the results... dammit. Lowering the teacup again, Aya lets out a faint sigh. "I would not be comfortable with having my photograph sold," he says, in a firm tone that makes his rejection of *that* notion clear. "But if you really want, when the shop is ready to open, I suppose... I have very little stock at the moment. The building is still being renovated."

"Oh, I'll help you with *that*," Eris interjects - oh so helpfully. "I did a lot of work with Michiko, when we were getting this place ready. We'll have you all ready to open in *no* time."

And for once, Michiko doesn't elbow Eris - though she likely has a very good idea just what demon of mischief is moving Eris to be so very helpful. She simply nods, her smile quite pleased. "Is good, pictures for showing skills, yes." She tells Aya firmly. "Is good for pretty young miss too." That to Sera, with another of those matronly smiles. "Show everyone how good pictures are, yes? Maybe more people want pictures taken."

"No selling," Sera promises. "Could I sell photos of your arrangements? Even if the answer's no, I'd still love the opportunity to get you on film. I'll bet you're just /alive/ in photographs," she murmurs, her face lighting up. "Oh. Oh. My name's Seravina, by the way," she says, blushing again as she offers out a hand. "And.. your name is .. Aya?" she wonders, looking so pleased. "And... thank you," Sera says to Michiko. "I'd love it if more people wanted their photos taken. I can always use good advertising, myself."

It's with that faint look of resignation again that Aya puts down his tea and reaches to give the hand Sera offers him one polite shake. In that brief clasp she'll find his hand, for all that it's fine-boned, perhaps harder than she'd have expected, skin toughened with calluses. "Selling photographs of flowers would be acceptable," he decides, after a momentary pause for contemplation, and nods shortly. "I am Fujimiya Aya." Another very brief narrow-eyed look is flicked Eris' way - don't think I don't know what you're thinking.

'Wouldn't ever cross my mind.' So much, telegraphed with glances and mild quirks of expression, the turn of a phrase, and the tone of a voice. Eris has to work to keep the smile off of her face, to hide the buzz of her blood. It's been a long time since she played this kind of game with anyone - and she hadn't realized she'd enjoy it the way she is. Subtle manipulation, and not so subtle. Word-play, like little knives. This, though - not meant to wound. It's a surprising treat. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Seravina," she says, once Aya is done. "I'm Eris, and this.." She turns, sketching a bow towards Michiko. "Is Michiko. Technically Ozawa Michiko, but you'll probably end up calling her mama-san like the rest of us."

Michiko bows towards Sera, ducking her head politely. "Is very much pleasure meet you, Seravina-san," she murmurs before straightening. "Please to come again, anytime you wish. And I will make sure this lazy one gives better service. Michiko will get your dinner now. Before it is too cold to eat." Beside her, Eris mimes a long-suffering sigh.

Seravina bows her head to Michiko, smiling brightly. She nods to Aya and to Eris, and says, "Never thought dinner would turn out like /this/." She chuckles to herself, and adds, "The pleasure is mine, Michiko. I'm sure I'll be back here a lot." She hasn't the slightest clue about manipulation, be it for fun, for practice, or for wounding. She only knows that she managed to get the redhead to say /yes/. Beautiful. "You'll have to give me a number I can contact you at, Aya, or let me know when I can visit the shop to check out things for lighting," she murmurs. "But, um. Right now I should probably let you get back to you dinner, huh? I really am sorry to have bothered you, it's just... wow."

"No," Aya demurs, and shakes his head slightly, the slim gold bar of his single long earring glinting in the light with the movement. "It's nothing." A lie, but he can at least pretend politeness. Otherwise Michiko might smack him. "Don't trouble yourself. I'm not certain when the shop will be ready to open, but you may have the number." Later. When he's done with his gyoza and his tea.

"You've been no trouble." There's only a small tell at the lie, the way she tenses for a moment, gaze dipping, troubled, then flicking to Aya before she looks away again. It wasn't a bad lie. Just a lie. Eris steps back to fetch Sera's plate for her, already moving to wrap up the gyoze and put sauce into a carry out bowl. She'll tuck extras into the package for her, just because she had such fun tonight. "It was very nice meeting you. I hope you do come back." And not just because you make tormenting Aya so much fun!

"It was nice meeting you," Sera says, leaving cash for the bill, tipping very well because she can and because she likes to. She smiles brightly as she finishes off her iced coffee and her tea, and picks up her carryout bits. "I'll certainly be back," Sera promises Eris. "And I'll be seeing you soon, Aya," she says. She'll head out, with a bounce in her step and an armload of gyoza. Happy-Sera. Hopefully John will come home hungry, and not possessed. It would make a perfect end to a perfect day.