[Thread] Unexpected Meeting

[finalanalysis]

Characters: Szayel-Aporro Grantz (OU), Tenjoin Asuka (AU)
Where: Mess Hall/Kitchen
When: Evening, just after dark
Summary: Szayel-Aporro and Asuka happen to meet in the Mess Hall and have a chat.
Warnings: None

Comments

[idolfragrance]

Asuka was humming quietly as she entered the Mess Hall - she was looking over one of the pieces she had received as a gift, making sense of the tune before she put the words to it. Not that she couldn't have done this in her own room, but she was, admittedly, kind of hungry, and it was about the time that she would usually have dinner.

As she obtained food for herself, not completely noticing the other person in the room, she glanced for a moment at the hot chocolate mix that was sitting there on the counter. Oh, how she would have loved to prepare some of that, since it was so cold outside... but, unfortunately, hot drinks were seemingly cursed for her, so instead she took a glass of cold water with her meal. Best to be on the safe side.

[finalanalysis]

At first, he paid little mind to the person who had joined him in the room. He finished preparing his tea, gathered a cup for himself as well as a few rather delicious cookies he had discovered recently and began placing everything neatly on a tray. As he did so, he noticed the girl who had come in earlier pause momentarily in what she was doing to glance at the counter. He raised an eyebrow and followed her gaze, a little curious.

"Hot chocolate?" He inquired, returning his attention to the tray in front of him.

[idolfragrance]

Hearing the other person's voice suddenly sounding in the relative silence of the Mess Hall made Asuka slightly jump, though not visibly. But it would be rude to not respond, so...

"Yeah, I did glance at that," was her response as she averted her gaze toward what she had gathered. Just a simple statement of truth, nothing else.

[finalanalysis]

"Yes, I noticed," he replied simply, lifting the tray from the counter before turning to face her. "I wonder, is it actually good?"

[idolfragrance]

"Yes," was Asuka's reply, though she didn't look up. "It can be very good, depending on the specific mix and how it's made."

[finalanalysis]

"I'd never even heard of it until recently," he commented with a slight shrug as he stepped away from the counter, now intent on making his way to a table to enjoy his tea before it got cold on him. "Perhaps I'll give it a try sometime soon, while I'm able."

[idolfragrance]

"While you're able?" Asuka asked, mildly confused. "What do you mean by that?" Now granted, it wasn't as though she was technically able to drink it safely herself for some reason, but still.

[finalanalysis]

"Oh." He paused, glancing at her again. "I mean, while I'm human."

[idolfragrance]

"...Ah." After a pause, she continued, "Well then, you should definitely try it, while you can."

She wondered for a moment what species couldn't drink powdered chocolate mixed in hot water, but decided not to ask.

[finalanalysis]

He tilted his head slightly to one side in curiosity as he studied her for a moment. Wasn't she even a little curious about that? This place was odd, certainly, but if he were in her position, he would've liked to know more.

"Hm," he hummed in acknowledgment. "By the way, what's your name?"

[idolfragrance]

"Tenjoin Asuka," was her reply. "And if you ever hear singing coming from Nyi-Ennea, that's probably me."

[finalanalysis]

"Oh, it's you, Miss Tenjoin. We've already met via the messengers. I'm Szayel-Aporro Grantz," he said, thinking for a moment before continuing. "And I don't think I've ever heard you sing. That's a shame."

[idolfragrance]

"Oh, Mr. Grantz!" Asuka looked up in recognition of the name. "It's nice to meet you in person."

[finalanalysis]

"Mr. Grantz," he repeated, grinning in mild amusement. That was certainly not something he was accustomed to being called. "Yes. A pleasure."