That throbbing beat takes your breath away

[heavenly_earth]

Characters: Neji, Tenten, and Hanabi
Location: Shopping District- Mall
Rating: G
Time: November 22nd, early evening
Description: Hanabi and Tenten need new clothes, Neji offers to take them shopping. It's as good a time as any for a discussion or two as well.

Comments

DINNER-- LATER THAT NIGHT; this is action tag b/c i'm balls at prose

[wiredgod]

[Lain had spent the rest of that day cleaning the house, making sure all of her computer parts are put away The living room is still home to two computers, kind of built together, with a few parts around them and some tools, but it's far enough out of way to, hopefully, bother no one.

The whole place smells strongly of food to hopefully make mouths water. The table is already set up nicely, white a place setting for the four of them.

The dinner consists of Gyūdon and gyōza, with strawberry-flavored Uirō for dessert.

Lain's managed to clean house, do all of this, and throw herself into the shower to get herself clean and presentable before they arrive. After Bold's big...impression, Lain wanted to do her best to fix it]

[heavenly_earth]

[Once the girls have put away their purchases, Neji leads them upstairs to the small apartment type arrangement he shares with Lain and knocks briefly to signal their arrival before opening the door.

The apartment smells like Normal's cooking alright and he relaxes, moving inside and searching for her]

Lain, Tenten and Hanabi have agreed to stay with us for dinner. [He turns back to them with a smile] Although you've already met briefly... Tenten, Hanabi-san, this is Normal Lain. As I mentioned, she is a very adept cook. I believe you'll be able to get along well.

[underspinning]

[ Tenten walks in and places her things on the nearest table before smelling the aroma inside the room.

It smells just like home. Just like all the times Team Guy went out to eat and like that one time where Lee got drunk.

Tenten's usual line face curls into a very subtle but warm smile. ]

It smells delicious . . . ! Lain, you're a great cook! Where are you? [ Oh, and she's totally noting everything here that looks remotely odd so she can investigate it later ]

[usedforcepalm]

[The scent of the food is welcome. Hanabi hasn't eaten anything since her arrival in Death City and her stomach's been growling at her quietly in protest for the past hour. The fact that Lain's cooking smalls good is just that much more of a relief.]

It smells wonderful, Lain.

[It's on the tip of her tongue to offer to help set the table when she sees that Lain's already done that.]

i just realized the link for the Uiro doesn't work FFFUU also tl;dr holy shit SORRY

[wiredgod]

I'm here. [Lain wipes her hands off on one of the kitchen towels, moving around to greet their guests, bowing politely to girl in turn as she sees them]

Thank you. I hope you all enjoy it, I've been working hard. [She smiles, clearly proud of the praise, and casts a shy look to Neji, as if to make sure everything's alright.

There's that silent, deep connection between them that makes her soul hum, and she smiles a little more. Despite Tenten and Hanabi being from Neji's world, or maybe because of Neji's reassurances, she felt content, and reaches to grasp his sleeve quietly; partly she does this to get his attention, and partly it's to have that tangible link to him

I cleaned up as best as I could too. [She seems to be talking directly to him, more than to the group as a whole] But I couldn't put away all of the electronic parts and cords. I don't have enough room in my room for them all.

Her gaze returns to Tenten and Hanabi, looking a little embarrassed ] So, you'll have to excuse the slight mess in the living room.

[And her

[heavenly_earth]

[Neji tilts his head and smiles a little in lieu of a nod and follows Lain further inside, gesturing for Tenten and Hanabi to do the same]

Eventful. [To say the least. He suddenly feels tired thinking about it.] And so long as the rest is as organized as they can be, it's fine.

[He turns back toward their guests] Feel free to make yourselves comfortable. It looks like everything is ready.

[underspinning]

[ Tenten follows and nods while looking around and taking in the aroma. She doesn't seem exactly overjoyed and swooped off her feet, but she does seem rather positive from the snarky, stiff person Lain previously encountered ]

Eh, I didn't find what I was normally looking for but I have some clothes to hold me off before I begin to search for things that are more me. Don't worry about it, Lain.

[ She will pull out a chair and sit down politely, twirling a fork as if it's second nature, with her left hand. ]

[usedforcepalm]

[Hanabi follows after both Neji and Tenten, and she smiles politely at Lain. She's not troubled by the computer parts - the apartment itself is not messy.]

I found what I needed. I like my new sweatshirt the most.

[Not only was the hooded sweatshirt warm and comfortable, she had discovered it had a couple of hidden pockets in it that sealed shut with velcro. She takes a seat. The food smells so good that it is making her mouth water, though she manages to avoid making it known. She's a hungry growing girl and if not for the fact that she's eating with other people, she might eat in a less than ladylike fashion, complete with holding up her plate and shovelling food in. ]

[wiredgod]

[Lain bowed lightly, polite and calling upon everything she'd learned (or, at least, thought she learned pulling up experiences from her fake memories) to be a good hostess and make a good impression. Though surely the food made the first impact and dent into the bad impression Bold had given.

She watches the twirling fork in curiosity, then turns her attention to Hanabi's sweatshirt and her good manners.

Then with one last look at Neji, as if to make sure he was okay, Lain whisked back into the kitchen to start serving the food. Neji got his plate first, then Tenten, then Hanabi, before she finally took a seat herself.]

Um, I hope you all like it. Please, dig in. I made a lot, so... feel free to ask for seconds. [Then she smiled, still a little shy, but eager to see how they liked it.]

[underspinning]

[ It's working! Though Tenten is wary simply because Bold is too hostile to not use caution around, she has a pretty favorable opinion on Lain. What a nice rewarding meal to eat after you're kidnapped from your dimension to fight a war and you haven't eaten all day! You're a life saver Lain!

Either way, Tenten has been starving and she's been enduring her hunger until now. With the satisfactory means to curb her famine, she immediately digs in and begins to eat. She's clearly overjoyed with the food and Lain's cooking. Tenten offers an odd glance to the wires every once and a while but it's more curiosity than judgmental.

Of course, Tenten isn't just a tactless machine that's out to eat Lain out of her very own kitchen! She'll wait to see what Hanabi does in relation to eating before asking for seconds. Either way, this nearly makes up for this day from hell, and it definitely shows as she rapidly consumes what's on her plate. ]

[usedforcepalm]

[Seconds might very well be on the agenda. Hanabi hasn't eaten much all day, and it takes restraint to eat in the polite and dignified way that was impressed upon her since she was old enough to feed herself. Even so, she still eats a little quicker than normal, avoiding conversation in favour of putting food in her mouth.

After she's eaten enough to stave off the growling of her stomach, she swallows the food she's currently chewing, sets her fork down, and smiles at Lain.]

It's very good so far. Thank you for the invitation.

[Then back to eating.]

[heavenly_earth]

[He's content to watch them eat, relieved to see they've relaxed and seem to accept Lain along with her cooking. Hanabi in particular, he can see she's more eager for the food than her Hyuuga upbringing will allow her to fully display but it's there in her eyes regardless.

He turns a smile on Lain and fishes a small cardboard box from his pocket, holding it out to her with a tinge of color in his expression.]

I went looking for something for you while we were shopping, but I didn't know your sizes accurately enough. [He clears his throat, throttling the uncertain hesitation that threatens to color his words]

At any rate, I had noticed you wore earrings and thought you might be able to use these next time Shibusen hosts another celebration...

[wiredgod]

[She's pulled away from her observations of Tenten and Hanabi to stare at Neji in complete and utter bewilderment and surprise.

She looks from him to the box like she can't quite believe it's there, and hesitantly reaches out to take it. Quietly, with all the reservations of one who has never received a gift before (And likely, she hadn't, not like this), she opens it and gazes down at the earrings within.]

Oh... [It's a soft noise of wonderment and she turns a slow, happy smile on her meister] Neji-niisan.. Thank you so much, I don't know what to say... I love them!

[She moves to throw her arms about his middle (not his neck to pull him down, like Bold would have done), trembling with a pent-up happiness she doesn't know how to express]

[underspinning]

[ Gyudon.gif.

She's still eating, but at a much slower rate. She carefully observes Lain as she continues to eat her food. She does seem a bit too happy, but it's all genuine. It really really makes Tenten curious, but she bites her tongue on speaking. She doesn't want to say the wrong thing to Lain after she just ate something she made. Not to mention, the wrong thing could make Bold appear. Instead, she'll continue eating but watching like a hawk.

Tenten has already decided: her behavior definitely is odd. She's totally awestruck and overjoyed, like as if she's never received a gift before. Oh well, for now she'll just stare at them and continue eating. ]

[usedforcepalm]

[Lain's reaction to Neji's gift is endearing. Hanabi continues eating, but she notes that reaction. It gives the impression that Lain hasn't received many presents in her life. After the way Bold got as jealous as she did, it was a good choice on Neji's part to make sure to get Lain a present when he took Tenten and herself shopping, Hanabi thinks.

Once she's completely cleared her plate, she looks up hopefully.]

May I have seconds, please?

[heavenly_earth]

[He doesn't expect such a big reaction; a simple smile and genuine gratitude was everything he might have hoped for, but this... he isn't sure how to handle.

The hand on her back feels her trembling and he frowns, peering down at the girl and mindful of their guests, idly hopes she isn't too overwhelmed.]

Lain? It's alright. [Feeling profoundly awkward and not entirely certain of what to do, he glances up at Hanabi and manages something like a smile] Yes, Hanabi-san, feel free. Tenten as well.