Myshuno #7 - Hideki & Madison on a date
Sorry guys, been off doing other things. Went to a careers fair in London, started tidying my bedroom (you can walk around without standing on painful things! :D), etc, etc. No progress on the actual chapters either :/ I'ma struggle with the deadline I was thinking of for something, but meh. We'll get there eventually.
Prompt: Hideki and Madison on a date
Rating: U, more or less? Can't remember if there's any swearing, got a headache and can't look at the screen for too long. Meh, if you're reading this storyline, U/PG/12A should not be what you're worried about.
Word Count: 1957
Notes: Don't think there's anything spoilery in this really, knock yourselves out.
Madison anxiously fiddled with the back of her earring. She'd only had her ears pierced a couple of days ago and she wasn't sure how easily the expensive jewellery could fall out, but she knew it happened to other people sometimes. Hopefully he'd notice and appreciate them because she probably wouldn't have had them done otherwise. She also wouldn't be waiting at this restaurant if he weren't meeting her, but he hadn't shown up yet. Perhaps he was busy with work, she knew he must have a lot on his plate with the buildings he'd bought and was having work done on, but still she hoped he would at least have the time to let her know; they could reschedule if they had to.
After a few more minutes where she waited at the bar, delicately drinking a glass of water while watching the door, she saw him entering, looking to have come from work in his suit but with a slightly loosened tie. She quickly checked her earrings again and that her hair was still in place via the mirror above the bar before approaching him with a small smile which he was probably too distracted from work to return.
"Have you been here long?" he asked as he looked her up and down.
"Just a few minutes; it gave me time to check my e-mails," she lied brightly, trying to mask her nerves.
She wasn't sure if her lie worked though, because he looked at her silently for a few moments, face unreadable. It was a little unnerving, but it must have made him a very good businessman. "We should get a table then," he finally said, and she gave a small nod in agreement and followed him to the waiting area, from which the host swiftly seated them.
It was a posh restaurant so the meals were naturally expensive and Madison wasn't certain what the situation was going to be about paying, but she'd brought enough for herself- actually she'd brought probably enough for both of them, just in case, but still she wasn't sure how much to spend and was hoping he'd decide first so she knew how best to follow.
"What do you think you'll get?" she asked as lightly as possible.
He seemed to glance at her (difficult to tell with those fascinating black eyes) from over the top of his menu before looking back. "Red wine... scallops to start, lobster for main... perhaps some pavlova for dessert if I feel like it."
Oh. This was going to be a big and expensive meal then. And with alcohol. She could probably get away with a white wine spritzer, but should she eat as much? She didn't want to appear greedy or gain weight. She'd just go for the lighter and healthier things, she supposed. Certainly better than what she got back at the dorm, anyway.
The host came back and they ordered, but the conversation was far from flowing as they waited for the starters. Perhaps he was naturally quiet, or still distracted by work; if he was in any way as nervous as Madison was, he hid it very well. He must naturally be quiet.
A topic did come to her when the starters did show up; "So are you a big fan of seafood then?" Actually that was a fairly lame topic, but at least she was trying?
He smirked a little, which she hoped was good. "It's okay. Cooked well here, and healthy at least."
If he cared about that, Madison was glad of her own food choices so far as she started on her assortment of melon. "So I guess you had a busy day at work?"
"Always work to be done, and slow to start, but it'll gather momentum once I have the staff sorted."
"My offer still stands - you know, to help out in any way if I can."
"Not kept busy enough at university?"
"Well, I have projects and things that I do, but I still have time left over. I think our lecturers cater to the lowest ranks; people with no ambition who are out every night and hungover every day. Too easy for those of us who actually try."
Hideki hummed agreement. "I know a few people who were there when I was who should never have been allowed in. Would have been better suited working behind a fast food counter."
"Well, if they didn't do very well they might still wind up there, right?"
He made a frustrated noise. "Sadly there's less of a correlation between lack of brains and lack of success than you might hope. You don't need a brain at all to become a celebrity - probably helps not to have one."
Madison couldn't help but think of her ridiculous grandfather Seth and agree. Heaven knew how her father had come from that. "Still, celebrities come and go, but good education and business investments shouldn't, and you seem set up even at your age."
He hummed again. "It does help having been the only child of a chief of staff at the biggest hospital for miles around, who himself came from a rich family. I needn't have worked very hard either, though there is a certain matter of pride."
"So does your father support you in all of these things then?"
"My father's dead," he said, slightly hollowly, and Madison panicked a little. Was that recently? Was he sensitive about it? Should she drop the subject or express her condolences-? Surely expressing condolences was never a bad thing, right?
"I'm sorry," she ventured, but he didn't look particularly bothered as he finished up his scallops. "Um, how long ago did it happen?"
"Shortly after I graduated."
"Oh." She waited until the waiter had taken away the plates before she continued. "Do you mind if I ask how?"
He shrugged slightly before commenting wryly, "Who would have thought that living in the most haunted house in all of Simfield would be a health hazard? I wasn't living there by then, but according to my second cousins, who were the only ones at home with him at the time, the ghost of one of my great-aunts gave him a heart attack. Said second cousins tried to save him but failed badly."
Madison had to pause again for the arrival of their main courses - she would comment on how good the service was if they weren't discussing parental death. "Do you... blame them?"
He snorted slightly. "A bunch of idiot teenagers who I never really got on with from the beginning. And given my father's age and frailty, he should have considered moving away, childhood home or not. Sentamentality is a terrible cause of death. Still, my inheritance is helping to fund what I'm doing now, so..."
"My father died when I was young," she found herself saying. She probably shouldn't be talking about it, but she never really got the chance to discuss it with anyone who wasn't family, and trying to do it with them just wound up making her angry.
"Really?"
"Mmm. Car accident - drove into a building. Apparently he'd been drinking, but..."
"But?"
"I don't know. I can't really believe it."
"Maybe it was a cover up," Hideki suggested. "Knew too much."
"My grandfather was still the mayor back then. And nobody ever could or should have wanted my father dead, he was a good man. But he didn't just drink and get into accidents. He wasn't like that."
Hideki shrugged and Madison found herself blushing - she was getting too caught up and personal. She decided to try switching it back to him.
"So... you weren't close to your father? I mean, did you have, like... a mother figure?"
"No. There were plenty of adults in my house between great-aunts and uncles and my father's cousin as well as my own grandparents, but not what I could even start to refer to as a mother, unless my father should be considered such; he did give birth to me, after all."
"So, like... you don't hear from... your other parent or whatever they would be?"
"No. I tracked things down about them as best I could, but, well... they keep an eye on me but never get involved apparently."
Madison frowned. "'Keep an eye' on you?"
"Apparently they observe everything I do, 24/7. For science, or something."
She stared. "Like, right now? That's... kind of creepy."
"Mmm. I hope they enjoy the show," he muttered with a dark smile as he sipped his wine.
"Well... you're showing you can do perfectly well without them, right?"
"Right."
"And you've obviously got big plans for the future..."
"You could say that... What about you? Have you got big plans?"
"Oh, I want big things and am willing to work very hard, but I'm not really certain which direction. My father went into oceanography so I've looked at that, but I'm kind of unrestricted, so I guess I'll see what direction I'm led in." Perhaps in the direction of a rather handsome half-alien businessman, she thought hopefully.
"Mmm. Maybe I could find something to do with you. Though you probably wouldn't struggle, what with your connections..."
Madison felt uneasy. "Well... I would if I had to, but I'd want a job on my own merits, you know? I certainly wouldn't want my connections to be what qualifies me, just maybe a bonus."
"Oh, of course. Certainly I wouldn't expect that too much; connections to politicians only last as long as the politician's power, after all, even if your grandfather's been mayor since before we were born..."
"I suppose he's doing a good job."
"You're not very interested in politics, are you?" he observed with a slight smirk.
"Too much lying and putting value into words that have no value by themselves. I'd rather do something with real value."
"Well, I don't know if I can offer you that exactly, but I could probably use a PA."
Madison's heart skipped and she had to make her mouth close so she wouldn't gape. "Are you offering me a job?"
"Isn't that what you want?"
"Y- yes-!" Though, hang on, did that mean this meal was only really a job interview? That would be better than nothing, but she'd hoped...
She was distracted from her thoughts by the sound of a phone beeping, apparently Hideki's as he pulled it out of his pocket, pressed a button and scrolled through what was seemingly a message with a frown and a frustrated sigh. "Honestly, can't leave them for a few hours... I'll have to go, I'll get the bill and e-mail you officials about the job once I work out what I need that you can do."
"Oh, um, okay, great," she tried to smile and conceal her partial disappointment as he got ready to leave. At least he was paying for dinner too?
But just as he was leaving he turned back, "Oh, and we should do this again sometime. There's a new Twikii place I have yet to try - do you like Twikii food?"
"Um, yeah, it's great."
"Then it's a date," he said, and Madison couldn't help her face lighting up when she heard it and realised that it wasn't just a turn of phrase, and his partial-smile grew wider too before he turned and left.
She had another date! And a job! A job and a second date with a businessman who owned his own hotel and factory and she wasn't even 21! Everything was perfect! He was perfect. Oh, this was the best day of her life. If only her dad was alive for her to tell about this - she was sure he would love him.
Prompt: Hideki and Madison on a date
Rating: U, more or less? Can't remember if there's any swearing, got a headache and can't look at the screen for too long. Meh, if you're reading this storyline, U/PG/12A should not be what you're worried about.
Word Count: 1957
Notes: Don't think there's anything spoilery in this really, knock yourselves out.
Madison anxiously fiddled with the back of her earring. She'd only had her ears pierced a couple of days ago and she wasn't sure how easily the expensive jewellery could fall out, but she knew it happened to other people sometimes. Hopefully he'd notice and appreciate them because she probably wouldn't have had them done otherwise. She also wouldn't be waiting at this restaurant if he weren't meeting her, but he hadn't shown up yet. Perhaps he was busy with work, she knew he must have a lot on his plate with the buildings he'd bought and was having work done on, but still she hoped he would at least have the time to let her know; they could reschedule if they had to.
After a few more minutes where she waited at the bar, delicately drinking a glass of water while watching the door, she saw him entering, looking to have come from work in his suit but with a slightly loosened tie. She quickly checked her earrings again and that her hair was still in place via the mirror above the bar before approaching him with a small smile which he was probably too distracted from work to return.
"Have you been here long?" he asked as he looked her up and down.
"Just a few minutes; it gave me time to check my e-mails," she lied brightly, trying to mask her nerves.
She wasn't sure if her lie worked though, because he looked at her silently for a few moments, face unreadable. It was a little unnerving, but it must have made him a very good businessman. "We should get a table then," he finally said, and she gave a small nod in agreement and followed him to the waiting area, from which the host swiftly seated them.
It was a posh restaurant so the meals were naturally expensive and Madison wasn't certain what the situation was going to be about paying, but she'd brought enough for herself- actually she'd brought probably enough for both of them, just in case, but still she wasn't sure how much to spend and was hoping he'd decide first so she knew how best to follow.
"What do you think you'll get?" she asked as lightly as possible.
He seemed to glance at her (difficult to tell with those fascinating black eyes) from over the top of his menu before looking back. "Red wine... scallops to start, lobster for main... perhaps some pavlova for dessert if I feel like it."
Oh. This was going to be a big and expensive meal then. And with alcohol. She could probably get away with a white wine spritzer, but should she eat as much? She didn't want to appear greedy or gain weight. She'd just go for the lighter and healthier things, she supposed. Certainly better than what she got back at the dorm, anyway.
The host came back and they ordered, but the conversation was far from flowing as they waited for the starters. Perhaps he was naturally quiet, or still distracted by work; if he was in any way as nervous as Madison was, he hid it very well. He must naturally be quiet.
A topic did come to her when the starters did show up; "So are you a big fan of seafood then?" Actually that was a fairly lame topic, but at least she was trying?
He smirked a little, which she hoped was good. "It's okay. Cooked well here, and healthy at least."
If he cared about that, Madison was glad of her own food choices so far as she started on her assortment of melon. "So I guess you had a busy day at work?"
"Always work to be done, and slow to start, but it'll gather momentum once I have the staff sorted."
"My offer still stands - you know, to help out in any way if I can."
"Not kept busy enough at university?"
"Well, I have projects and things that I do, but I still have time left over. I think our lecturers cater to the lowest ranks; people with no ambition who are out every night and hungover every day. Too easy for those of us who actually try."
Hideki hummed agreement. "I know a few people who were there when I was who should never have been allowed in. Would have been better suited working behind a fast food counter."
"Well, if they didn't do very well they might still wind up there, right?"
He made a frustrated noise. "Sadly there's less of a correlation between lack of brains and lack of success than you might hope. You don't need a brain at all to become a celebrity - probably helps not to have one."
Madison couldn't help but think of her ridiculous grandfather Seth and agree. Heaven knew how her father had come from that. "Still, celebrities come and go, but good education and business investments shouldn't, and you seem set up even at your age."
He hummed again. "It does help having been the only child of a chief of staff at the biggest hospital for miles around, who himself came from a rich family. I needn't have worked very hard either, though there is a certain matter of pride."
"So does your father support you in all of these things then?"
"My father's dead," he said, slightly hollowly, and Madison panicked a little. Was that recently? Was he sensitive about it? Should she drop the subject or express her condolences-? Surely expressing condolences was never a bad thing, right?
"I'm sorry," she ventured, but he didn't look particularly bothered as he finished up his scallops. "Um, how long ago did it happen?"
"Shortly after I graduated."
"Oh." She waited until the waiter had taken away the plates before she continued. "Do you mind if I ask how?"
He shrugged slightly before commenting wryly, "Who would have thought that living in the most haunted house in all of Simfield would be a health hazard? I wasn't living there by then, but according to my second cousins, who were the only ones at home with him at the time, the ghost of one of my great-aunts gave him a heart attack. Said second cousins tried to save him but failed badly."
Madison had to pause again for the arrival of their main courses - she would comment on how good the service was if they weren't discussing parental death. "Do you... blame them?"
He snorted slightly. "A bunch of idiot teenagers who I never really got on with from the beginning. And given my father's age and frailty, he should have considered moving away, childhood home or not. Sentamentality is a terrible cause of death. Still, my inheritance is helping to fund what I'm doing now, so..."
"My father died when I was young," she found herself saying. She probably shouldn't be talking about it, but she never really got the chance to discuss it with anyone who wasn't family, and trying to do it with them just wound up making her angry.
"Really?"
"Mmm. Car accident - drove into a building. Apparently he'd been drinking, but..."
"But?"
"I don't know. I can't really believe it."
"Maybe it was a cover up," Hideki suggested. "Knew too much."
"My grandfather was still the mayor back then. And nobody ever could or should have wanted my father dead, he was a good man. But he didn't just drink and get into accidents. He wasn't like that."
Hideki shrugged and Madison found herself blushing - she was getting too caught up and personal. She decided to try switching it back to him.
"So... you weren't close to your father? I mean, did you have, like... a mother figure?"
"No. There were plenty of adults in my house between great-aunts and uncles and my father's cousin as well as my own grandparents, but not what I could even start to refer to as a mother, unless my father should be considered such; he did give birth to me, after all."
"So, like... you don't hear from... your other parent or whatever they would be?"
"No. I tracked things down about them as best I could, but, well... they keep an eye on me but never get involved apparently."
Madison frowned. "'Keep an eye' on you?"
"Apparently they observe everything I do, 24/7. For science, or something."
She stared. "Like, right now? That's... kind of creepy."
"Mmm. I hope they enjoy the show," he muttered with a dark smile as he sipped his wine.
"Well... you're showing you can do perfectly well without them, right?"
"Right."
"And you've obviously got big plans for the future..."
"You could say that... What about you? Have you got big plans?"
"Oh, I want big things and am willing to work very hard, but I'm not really certain which direction. My father went into oceanography so I've looked at that, but I'm kind of unrestricted, so I guess I'll see what direction I'm led in." Perhaps in the direction of a rather handsome half-alien businessman, she thought hopefully.
"Mmm. Maybe I could find something to do with you. Though you probably wouldn't struggle, what with your connections..."
Madison felt uneasy. "Well... I would if I had to, but I'd want a job on my own merits, you know? I certainly wouldn't want my connections to be what qualifies me, just maybe a bonus."
"Oh, of course. Certainly I wouldn't expect that too much; connections to politicians only last as long as the politician's power, after all, even if your grandfather's been mayor since before we were born..."
"I suppose he's doing a good job."
"You're not very interested in politics, are you?" he observed with a slight smirk.
"Too much lying and putting value into words that have no value by themselves. I'd rather do something with real value."
"Well, I don't know if I can offer you that exactly, but I could probably use a PA."
Madison's heart skipped and she had to make her mouth close so she wouldn't gape. "Are you offering me a job?"
"Isn't that what you want?"
"Y- yes-!" Though, hang on, did that mean this meal was only really a job interview? That would be better than nothing, but she'd hoped...
She was distracted from her thoughts by the sound of a phone beeping, apparently Hideki's as he pulled it out of his pocket, pressed a button and scrolled through what was seemingly a message with a frown and a frustrated sigh. "Honestly, can't leave them for a few hours... I'll have to go, I'll get the bill and e-mail you officials about the job once I work out what I need that you can do."
"Oh, um, okay, great," she tried to smile and conceal her partial disappointment as he got ready to leave. At least he was paying for dinner too?
But just as he was leaving he turned back, "Oh, and we should do this again sometime. There's a new Twikii place I have yet to try - do you like Twikii food?"
"Um, yeah, it's great."
"Then it's a date," he said, and Madison couldn't help her face lighting up when she heard it and realised that it wasn't just a turn of phrase, and his partial-smile grew wider too before he turned and left.
She had another date! And a job! A job and a second date with a businessman who owned his own hotel and factory and she wasn't even 21! Everything was perfect! He was perfect. Oh, this was the best day of her life. If only her dad was alive for her to tell about this - she was sure he would love him.