[A tinny man's voice gives what is clearly a default answer machine message. Vira-Lorr is still figuring the phone out it seems.] "Hello, we are not available now. Please leave your name and phone number after the beep. We will return your call." *Beep*
[God, the garden gnomes... that was freaking everyone out something fierce in town. Vira-Lorr engaged her bullshit carefully, considering that she remembered a lot about all the other weddings she'd attended. She knew kind of how it would play out.]
A long time coming, and very sweet. Dyshana had started changing when Rex took on leadership of the armies. We finally saw her softer side. Seeing her smile was something precious.
It was a little bittersweet. A wedding in the aftermath of war always is. But they're happy, so I'm happy. Hopefully you didn't have to worry too much. I'll have to make it up to you.
[Makoto kind of was looking forward to when she'd be able to go back and see Usagi's wedding that Rei told her about. And to find out about the bakery and floral shop she opened apparently.]
You don't have to make it up to me. It's not like you were avoiding me or something.
It was a nice memory, yes. I knew it was to happen, that they'd finally have the chance, but it was a good memory.
[She chuckled a little. Maybe she hadn't been avoiding Makoto. She certainly wasn't planning on doing that any time soon. But she did feel bad about lying like this. There was just a lot of worry involved in what was going on here. And she was still trying to process what was different, however small it might have been.]
Mmmm, I'm going to take the excuse regardless. Making it up to you means I have reason to spend time with you, now doesn't it? Have you managed to finish signing up for classes?
Ah, you're at the apartments aren't you? I've heard stories about the elevator there. Wouldn't want to get trapped there all by myself, no.
What would you say to five thirty? It would give us plenty of time to wile away as long as you're not too busy this eve. And I should be caught up for the night over here at headquarters.
[She was absolutely willing to monopolize her time a little this evening if she had been worried, or any time really.]
I'll bring something to drink with and see you then. Something fruity.
[Which translated to a non-alcoholic fruit wine, because they were sweet and went with just about anything. The point being that she had an urge to spoil both herself and Makoto under the circumstances, because coming back had been at best surreal.
About the appointed hour, there was a gentle rap at the door. Vira-Lorr went with an Ao Dai as she was starting to become accustomed to wearing with her brace. It was good for the high collar and not too aggressive in terms of colors for once. Smiling, she held the bottle of something clear and melon-y up and winked.]
[Makoto had made it a point to hurry home from class, leaving Usagi about half way back to her place to get ready. She had on a dress that she'd just picked up a few days prior. She'd just put in the casserole when she heard the knock at the door.
Pulling off her apron she hug in up as she walked across the small apartment and opened the door.]
I think I'll be alright.
[Makoto smiled and took the bottle. She had a bucket she could put some ice in and let it cool a little. It wasn't a large apartment, but Makoto had made quick work of decorating it with various plants. Her skates from the roller derby were just inside the door, and had actually seen a fair amount of use since she found them quicker than the bus most days.]
[She did like her uniform, but it was a nice outfit, and as she handed the bottle over, she let her eyes trail after Makoto for a moment while her smile widened some.]
Oooh, I love that dress. A little pop of color's perfect for you.
[These little studio apartments were very cozy weren't they? A little bit of a splash of green, though, could do a lot to liven the atmosphere up. As she walked in, relinquishing the bottle to her friend, she had a nice look around the room.]
I do like what you've done here too. They don't give much space, so you have to make it yours, don't you? Mmmm? My day? Surreal. Waking up in the fire department, groggy and disoriented, definitely made for a strange way to return to life here. I've felt... like I'm having an out of body experience all day a little bit.
[That wasn't actually all a lie. She was feeling that sort of strange separation, not to mention a kind of sympathetic reaction to whatever mood Makoto was in. She'd been like this all day, and was glad her activities had involved the Doctor's wedding and this. Everyone was in a good mood, which helped her stay in a good mood. She was taking some getting used to in being back. The reason was the only part of this that wasn't entirely true.]
Thanks, I managed to find it when I went shopping the other day. I really like it.
[Digging out a bowl and then some ice from the freezer, Makoto settled the drink to cool. Putting it on the table as she reemerged from the kitchenette.]
It's not much smaller than my apartment at home. Though it's a bit draftier with the brick and hard wood floors. But you didn't wake up at home?
[No one had mentioned waking up in the fire department, and everyone she'd spoken to had woken up in a bed in a house or apartment. She could understand Vira-Lorr's feeling of disorientation, if she'd just returned it would probably take awhile to get settled back in. There were times that Makoto still felt out of place and like she was watching things from the outside.]
It's going to end up quite cold in the winter. You might want to pick up one of those space heaters. Knowing how this town can be at times, best to prepare...
[She was running her fingers along one of the planters, quietly taking in the warmth of the plant while they waited. Casseroles too a little while to cook after all, which gave them plenty of time to chat and let the drink cool off.
A turn of her body so that she could face her and she gave a very tiny shake of her head. Always small motions at the neck helped to avoid jostling things.]
So, what happens is a little disturbing. Occasionally you might hear of a 'cocoon.' People who do not fully wake up, but who experience pieces of their lives fall asleep where they are and are wrapped in a cocoon. I'd been researching the broken down fire department, to see if I could find anything new on its hauntings, when I fell asleep. So, I was in the upper story there. Most of the time, they're in bed and just wake up there, but I've been keeping odd hours lately.
[Man, keeping these lies to the basics could be tricky at times. Good thing she knew how this sort of thing went.]
Mmmm, sadly I'm still in two pieces. [She winked at her and grinned mischievously.] But not three yet!
[Well there had been the hope of if she had been back home she'd come back in one piece. And the explanation of the cocoons just added to the weirdness of this place. Joining Vira-Lorr next to the planters, Makoto checked the leaves and soil to make sure they still had plenty of water.]
I have extra blankets in the closet just in case. And there are two on my bed already.
[More for weight than for warmth, but they would certainly keep out any cold.]
If it's any consolation? Dr McCoy has managed to get a treatment of nanites together.
[She turned and smiled, leaning in a little close and giving a sniff at the air. It didn't matter if Makoto was wearing perfume right now. With her sense of smell back, just about anything would be an improvement.]
You smell lovely.
[A wink and she leaned back, putting her hands behind her back as she tried to look completely innocent when she said that. She'd already had four hellish months of sensory deprivation. The thought of actually smelling someone's cooking had been an added enticement to this.]
Extra blankets are a nice start. Once you get them warmed up, they do a good job helping. Never hurts to have a little help sometimes. It can be very cold during the winters here.
[She had no idea what those were, and she hadn't heard any talk about a doctor before. But she guessed that it was a treatment, so Makoto was glad someone was helping her. When Vira-Lorr complimented Makto on smelling nice she smiled holding her wrist up a little, it was very light but she did wear a floral perfume that was pretty quiet. Wait did that mean?]
Can you taste too?
[Mentions of the blankets and warming them up slipped right past with that realization. If Makoto had known that the other had her taste back she would have made the tempura that they talked about. She also felt a little guilty when she found out it had been a week already.]
They're very very tiny machines. I barely understand them, but they apparently can apply medicines extremely well? A woman named Moira who was here once specialized in them. Dr McCoy's managed to get them to work on me after some effort. [She grinned] And yes, I have my sense of taste back as well. You have no idea how much I relish the idea of my first meal back being homecooked right now.
[It was probably for the best that the blanket comment was missed. She almost felt like she was pushing it there a bit. But her senses back was making her in such a good mood right now, the casserole was going to taste like a banquet.]
You should have said something. I could have made tempura to celebrate. I'm making a Chicken and Rice Casserole, but I didn't know. That's great.
[She gave Vira-Lorr a quick hug. She'd have to warm up some of the pie that she had too then. And she hoped that the rolls came out alright now. That meant that she was getting better, and maybe eventually that meant that her head would be back on her shoulders firmly.]
[She grinned from ear to ear and if she could have shaken her head with any force she would have.]
No, not at all. That sound wonderful. I don't care if it's my favorite. We can save that for a special occasion. The thought of a home cooked meal being my first meal that I can taste sounds positively divine. You're spoiling me, I promise.
[That wasn't even her buttering Makoto up. The truth was she'd been starved for 'real' food that didn't taste awful, so it could have been crap and she would have loved it. That she was pretty sure it wasn't actually going to be bad, and that it was from someone she liked? That was an added bonus.
She returned the hug, squeezing while she had the chance. The contact was appreciated, and a gentle reminder that there was a definite difference both in strength and height, not that she minded.]
Don't you worry about a thing. I know I'm going to enjoy this.
It should be ready in a little bit. What do you want to do until then?
[Makoto definitely had no doubts in her cooking. She was sure that the meal would be great. she'd had a lot of practice lately between exchanging recipes with people, as well as helping a few people learn to bake.]
[She made no move to disentangle herself just then, laughing a little to herself. 'Probably a couple things that I'd get in trouble for.' But instead of that, she leaned back and smiled up at Makoto, reaching up to tap her own lips once. Hmmm.]
We could go the kitchen and chat while we wait. Save the wine for dinner? Has anything interesting happened to you since I took my little trip?
I got back just barely in time to catch a wedding.
[Jack comes into the kitchen that morning, even more chipper than usual, humming "Here Comes the Bride" and grinning as he putters around the kitchen, making coffee.]
Gorgeous morning, ain't it, Vira?
[There's something teasingly mysterious about his grin this morning.]
You look even more like the cat who's caught the proverbial canary than usual. And you usually look like that. To what do we owe that smile, I wonder? Obviously the Doctor. He's the only one who makes you smile that much.
[Makoto didn't pull away either. Though a moment she did step back and take Vira-Lorr's hand and headed towards the kitchen. She tried to think about everything that hse'd been up to for the last week or two.]
I started taking classes. But I've been helping a few people learn to bake, oh and I've been exchanging recipes with a guy.
[She'd really hoped it would have been more, but he'd been sending some pretty mixed signals.]
[She swallowed a little when Makoto mentioned exchanging recipes. And seconds later, as her thumb pressed into the palm holding her hand a little, she was mentally chiding herself.
'Do not assume, and do not fret. You don't have a right. That's how you got in trouble with Max. If she finds someone before you get the guts up to ask, congratulate them, smile and move on. Don't ever let yourself be jealous, not really. Besides, it might be nothing.'
She hopped over to the counter and leaned there, grinning.]
I wouldn't mind trying my hand at baking either. I only stopped because of the infirmity. It would be good not to rely on pre-packaged food now ad again. Who've you been trading recipes with?
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