Happy Birthday Sushi

[a_peaceful_aura]

While waiting for Lisbeth to arrive, Taiki has taken up aura-watching. A lovely, vibrant silver sits off in one corner -- it belongs to a young woman and, presumably, the adoring man she's with. Being a near-hermit himself and keeping company almost exclusively with other men when he does venture out -Lisbeth as an exception-, it's rare for Taiki

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[a_peaceful_aura]

Eyes bounce from his food to Lisbeth and back while she shrugs and he thinks. Taiki rearranges the plates, pulling the soy sauce dish closer. Sadly, no chili flakes are added to the condiment -- spicy was forbidden in his diet as well. When they had pizza the other night he took all the toppings off and just ate the bread and tomato sauce and tonight he'll have to make due with just plain soy. Ah well, it's his own fault... Pickled ginger slices are dipped into the sauce bowl and then spread onto the first piece if maki.

"Please let me know in a week or so if it does not resolve." It's best if he sets actual dates instead of just vague requests. Maybe. Hopefully. "There may be something I can do to help." The wheels are already turning regarding asanas, chakras, and other more homeopathic and traditional remedies. "I might not be able to immediately return your message but I will do my best." Thinking forward to his next stop -- he's not going home right away.

"I am glad that we are able to do this." Dinner. Meeting. Socializing to the extent that they do. "Thank you for everything during this trip and I am sorry for what happened." Berger wasn't his fault but that doesn't mean he can't feel badly for the hardships and trauma Lisbeth was put through. "At least we fulfilled the excommunication." Priorities!

[wasplisbeth]

He can't take the spicy but she can. Some people say you're supposed to savor the subtle flavors and texture of sushi but fuck that, Lisbeth likes it hot and salty. Though not too much with the salt otherwise her fingers swell up and she can't get her rings off which is a real fucking pain in the ass. One day you wake up and you figure out that you are no longer eighteen which is great except you can't stay up for days on end or binge drink, or eat salty, spicy foods because it makes your stomach hurt and your fingers swell up.

It amuses her that she is getting health advice from him. "What can you do to help?" He's got a lot of tricks in his bag to be sure, she doesn't doubt him it's just that, well, she doesn't want to bother him. Picking up her chopsticks she starts in on the first roll. It really is delicious.

"Me too," she comments about doing this. She likes food and she likes spending time with Taiki. "Don't apologize, it's not your fault. Thank you for being here, I am glad you were. Especially for the excommunication." Damn straight she's got her priorities in order.

[a_peaceful_aura]

The pickled ginger should go as well but... so good. He'll just have to temper it with real food and take care, otherwise it'll be a night of stomach acid pain. But a sliver every now and again won't hurt anything and it's not often that he actually seeks out superficial pleasures, especially in food.

Taiki is oblivious to her amusement for the most part. Even while sorting out what he can and cannot eat because of the acidic HOLES IN HIS INTESTINES, Taiki still doesn't actually think anything is wrong. "There are a number of things, depending." Rubbing his eye and temple, Taiki starts in on a very abbreviated list, including some yoga poses and stretches designed to hit key muscles and pressure points. There is no doubt in his mind that she could benefit from a relaxation and realignment session, as well. "There are also fields of energy that can be manipulated some -- a bit of a spiritual response to pressure points. But wait for me to recommend those specialists." The last thing Taiki wants is some new age so-called 'guru' getting their hands on her when they don't actually know what they're doing. "And it's more of a bother if you ignore it."

Eating slowly, he pushes the ball of wasabi off to one side of the plate. "It is not my fault," he agrees, "but I only want good things for you."

[wasplisbeth]

And she staresssss. And stares some moreeeeee. She knows Taiki has her best interest at heart but she can't picture herself going to some yoga session or talking to some guru who is realigning her pressure points and spiritual-ness. Taiki is her spiritual side and unless they plan on realigning him they are not going to get her hands on her.

"So, no sleeping pills?" Which is how Lisbeth solves pretty much everything, except murder, that she solves that with murder. To be fair she has never actually killed anyone.

"I know," she tells him with a nod. "I have good things, you're a good thing," person, Lisbeth person. "I want good things for you."

[a_peaceful_aura]

When he feels her attention on him, Taiki looks up and staresssss and stares baaaaack. There is the occasional blink because... this is basic stuff, Lisbeth. His bread and butter. The chopsticks in his right hand fidget some when she mentions sleeping pills. "There are other ways besides drugs. Those can be dangerous." Eyes drop to his food again and Taiki sets aside the utensils in favor of rubbing at the back of his neck, long fingers dipping just under that checkered scarf. "A last resort and certainly not a solution." At least one of them should be healthy and take his good advice... "I would not do anything to make you uncomfortable." Public sessions and guru quacks are far from what he has pictured -- there are two individuals he would recommend in NYC and several things he can instruct Lisbeth on himself.

A sliiiight smile when she calls him a good thing. Those quirks of the lips that translate to more than outright laughter or wide grins would. It means a lot, especially coming from Lisbeth. He can see it but it's sometimes important to hear -- a confirmation and acknowledgement of sorts. It doesn't make any sense but it means a lot. "I have a good life. I am very lucky."

[wasplisbeth]

Those can be dangerous. It's the loss of eye contact that makes her lift her eyebrows. She has never judged Taiki for what he does, what he believes in, and like him the only thing she wants for him is good things. He deserves good things. For a moment she thinks back to when they were kids and they played together at his house, how his mother got a candy out of her hair and told she had pretty hair. It was probably the only time in her childhood anyone had said anything like that to her. He was a good friend when they were little, things haven't changed much since then. She blinks back to reality. He hasn't made her uncomfortable, "do you take things in order to sleep?" How does he cope? It can't all be yoga. Perhaps she's just cynical.

Well she wouldn't call him lucky. "You're happy with your life?"

Good grief. Check myself before I wreck myself with this editing stuff.

[a_peaceful_aura]

Sitting back against the booth, Taiki drops his arm. "I have." The little bowl of soy sauce is pushed away from the edge of the table before his focus returns to Lisbeth. "But, as with all drugs, they do odd things to peoples' auras. It is certainly up to you but my suggestion would be to view it as a last resort treatment of symptoms. That aside, you said you were sleeping fine -- that it was the waking up you were having problems with?" And we've all seen how Taiki copes: drugs, insomnia, avoidant personality to the point of suppression, and eating disorders. As usual, there may be some wisdom in his advice but Taiki is terrible in practical application.

"Things could certainly be much worse. I am happy with the people -you, Nakatsu, Nakao. I have a job and a home. I do not have to think much on money or necessities." A shrug and he folds his hands in his lap. "I am very lucky."

lol!

[wasplisbeth]

"You can talk to me," she says when he mentions that he has. "When you tell me things I tell no one else, I don't judge you." Which is how it should be with friends but not the easiest thing in the world to do. They both suffer from keeping things deep, deep down and they both have this thought that they can handle everything and that confiding in others would be a bother to them. At least that's how Lisbeth feels sometimes, which is why she goes out and does insanely illegal shit. Still, she feels good that Taiki even shared that little bit with her, now if she could only get to him opening up about that scar. . .

She has some more sushi, and doesn't waste a drop of rice. "You sound content. Most people aren't even with the things they have, even when they have more then enough."

Re: lol!

[a_peaceful_aura]

"Yes," a slow nod, "I know. I doubt there is anything to tell, though." Lisbeth is a good friend -- she always shows interest and never judges, at least not about the important things. Taiki appreciates her, it's just that he doesn't even acknowledge his problems and so they're never brought to light unless she digs a little. He hadn't thought of his father in years until she mentioned him. It's hard but he tries to answer all her questions honestly when she asks. "But I am more concerned about you -- I want you to feel better."

The chopsticks are picked up and he goes through the motions, dipping ginger in soy and then arranging it on another piece of the eel roll. "I really have no reason to be otherwise. And you -- will you be happy here?" Eyes finally flick up to glance at her. He's a little concerned, especially given the things she had to do in Sweden and her current aimless state. But Berger won't be bothering anyone anymore -- not on any plane of existence. Taiki went to work that night after the pizza, using the information Lisbeth gave him.

[wasplisbeth]

"I wasn't expecting soul baring right now," she assures him and gives him a brief, slight smile before looking down at her sushi. All this talk of sushi makes this typist think that it would be an excellent idea for dinner. Looking up at the man across from her, she lifts her eyebrows slightly when he says that he is concerned for her. "There's no reason to be, I am fine," it's something new for her. Like Taiki it's not any problem until someone suggests that it is.

"Ja, I will be," that's what she keeps telling herself. Despite being aimless, she'll find an aim and if not she'll go visit him to get her aura realigned and to get herself back on track. "You don't need to worry about me, Taiki."

[a_peaceful_aura]

A little grunt of a hum at the soul baring comment and he finally eats that piece of sushi instead of just playing with it. "If it does not resolve itself in a week." He reminds her, willing to drop the subject.

"Of course I need to worry about you. I do it in Lisbeth's place." Finally a little smile. "Though you have Mr. Goren now so that is good." Hopefully Bobby is someone who will keep her company and make her wear protective gear while she rides death-and-terror-on-two-wheels.

...And if not, then Taiki will have something haunt the cop until he does his job to Taiki's satisfaction.

[wasplisbeth]

"Maybe it's my period," yes, lets have this conversation. It's freaking classy is what it is. Her attempt to explain it away is meant to be reassuring not uncomfortable. She's tired that's not something to freak out over, at least not yet. When blood starts seeping from her eyes then we'll have cause to worry because either she is dying or she has become a Bond villain, which would be pretty cool.

"Don't let him hear you call him Mr. Goren, it's either Bobby or Detective Goren." She said that a lot when he was in the hospital, because people would forget or the staffing rotation would change. "Who worries about you, Taiki?" She can!

[a_peaceful_aura]

A blank look. Please excuse the male Japanese hermit. He's not going to know what that means and menstruation certainly won't be the first thing that pops into his mind. "Period of what? Does this happen frequently?" Well if she's having trouble sleeping on a regular basis...

Detective Goren it'll be then. It feels better, more respectful -- he doesn't know Bobby and first-name basis seems like a privilege. There's also a cultural difference at work here. "I can worry enough for all of us." He assures her. "I will be concerned so no one else has to. Besides, my life is boring."

[wasplisbeth]

And Lisbeth just stares at him. In retrospect she should have seen his coming. Not only is he male but he is Japanese and a hermit, and not really, well, into females. Not that there is anything wrong with that but they are all signs that point to not having any idea about female menstrual cycles. Finally she smiles and shakes her head, "never mind, it's a female thing." Taiki is adorable.

"I don't think it works like that," that he worries for everyone. "Plus you're always being chased around by evil spirits, I have every right to worry about you."

[a_peaceful_aura]

((OOC: My schedule should open up and even out some now that I'm at my work residence. Family is exhausting. Good grief, I'm so sorry about my slowness lately.))
//

To be fair, he's not into females just as much as he isn't into males. An equal opportunity apathetic. A confused, uncertain look meets her amusement. "The fatigue?" Taiki thinks about this, rolling the chopsticks back and forth a little against his fingers. "Still, I would not want it to continue to disrupt your natural cycle. I hope it resolves soon, though if not please let me know and I could recommend a few things that may help."

"Why not?" The most genuine question ever. Why doesn't it work like that Lisbeth? Clearly it's gone so well thus far. "I am very rarely chased by anything -- which is good since I am not a fast runner. And coming across something truly evil does not happen often, either. My biggest problem is the wayward papercut. There is no reason to worry."

[wasplisbeth]

ooc: don't apologize! I have been working 50 hour weeks, most of the time I get home and just face plant into the bed. I am glad that you're relatively settled though! Good to be back in the states?
//

"If it continues I will let you know," she promises because Lisbeth has come to find that if she doesn't he will continue after her until she does. He is as stubborn as she is. Maybe even more. It's taken her awhile to figure out that it's a good thing and not a bad thing, even if it does rub her the wrong way sometimes. It's not easy to adjust to people who care about you especially when people have not cared for a very long time.

"Because people rarely have good perspectives on themselves." It works for a lot of people, people rarely reflect inward but are quick to spot worry or trouble in others, sometimes anyway. "You have scratches on your arm," she points out because that is more then a paper cut.