[Backdated to Sunday] Gonna try with a little help from my friends

[godlessblossom]

Who; Jill Valentine and Misaki Asou
What; Making a mountain out of a molehill
Where; Jill's place
When; Sunday Evening
Rating; PG-13
Status; Closed and Incomplete

Comments

[zerosuitjill]

Jill knew she was late. She wasn't always perfectly on time for things in her life, but neither was she content with being tardy; thus there was a pang of annoyance at herself when she glanced at her watch. Having decided to try a new route for her evening run, she stopped where she was and turned directly onto the street that she knew would bring her back to her place the quickest. She was getting decent at memorizing the city, piece by piece.

She'd slowed to a quick walk by the time the apartment complex came within view. Once inside the front door, she stepped out of her shoes, glad the weather had been decent today; a shower could wait until after dinner.

"Sorry I'm late," she called, hearing noises in the kitchen and making her way towards it. "The food smells good, though."

[godlessblossom]

"It is no problem!" Misaki called out, diving down to pick up the plate pieces before Jill could turn into the kitchen. Quickly she discarded the pieces in the trash bin before washing her hands off. By the time Jill would enter Misaki would have the kitchen looking as normal as possible.

She turned the hot water off and gave Jill a small smile as she carried the plates of vegetable curry over rice to the dinner table.

"In retrospect I should have made this before you went on your run but I needed to watch the store. How was your run?"

She made sure to place the bigger portion at Jill's seat. It was not as if the food would do anything for her own hunger she reasoned with bitterness.

[zerosuitjill]

"Uneventful, I'm glad to say," Jill replied as she washed her hands at the sink. "I'm daring to think I've caught a lucky break lately." Aside from that whole pseudo-marriage ordeal, at least, but she'd finally reasoned with herself that it hadn't been bad, by far. Aside from that, a few nights of insomnia were all she could personally complain about and those weren't anything new.

She moved to the table and sat, eying the food gratefully and smiling across at the chef. "Good day at the store?"

[godlessblossom]

She sat down and picked up a spoon, her lips forming a silent thank you for the food she hoped Jill would ignore. Some traditions she kept hold of with the hope that if she returned home it would be easy to adapt back into life. Misaki smiled, albeit it being a small one.

"The business side was as uneventful as your run, however, we brought in a decent amount of business. I still find it odd how often our customers are natural inhabitants of the underworld."

Actually had spent a large amount of time arguing with more difficult customers and the occasional person over the network. Misaki moved the vegetables around on her plate and pressed her lips together as a hunger cramp seized her stomach. She needed to rethink her view of vampires.

[zerosuitjill]

Jill nodded. "Tell me about it. Just getting used to them was strange at first, no offense to them." The dead, she was used to; the dead in this sense was entirely new.

She took a moment to eat several bites, her empty and tired stomach glad for the good cooking. Jill was a decent cook in her own right, but the introduction of someone else's style had been welcomed. After a pause, she glanced at Misaki good-naturedly. "So, how have things been lately? Besides work, I mean."

Jill was too observant, had been trained too well to overlook certain cues. Misaki was subtle, but there had been something different about her lately. The puzzle of the furniture aside, Jill's gut had been picking up on something out of place -- but she hadn't pushed, knowing better than most the need for patience and privacy on some issues.

[godlessblossom]

Misaki took a moment to consume a bite of the curry and could have cried from how it settled in her stomach. Whatever trick the underworld was using on them this time she wished it would end already. The food itself was delicious but still not enough.

She smiled at Jill, "It seems there has been a problem the last few days with powers but I am sure you saw that over the network. Of course I would think it more odd if we had a week of peace without the underworld pulling something."

She continued poking at her food for a moment before breaching the topic which had been on her mind. "Jill, I appreciate you letting me stay the last few nights. I intruded upon your hospitality, but-" Why was she so nervous? "Are you opposed to the thought of a roommate? If so I can find somebody else."

[zerosuitjill]

Yes, Jill had caught sight and sound of the latest bit of trickery from the gods, and could only be glad that she'd apparently been spared this round. She filed that away inwardly, taking that and the change of subject to mean it was the most she would hope for in terms of an answer

[godlessblossom]

For once Misaki smiled without holding anything out and the relief was there. "Thank you, Jill, it is very much appreciated. It has been a while since I have had proper company as well." It was something she needed more than anything else at the moment. She had always spent a majority of her time with somebody else and she had managed to ignore it until she was 'married' to Mitsuru. ...Another matter she would prefer not to think on.

Misaki lifted up another spoonful of the curry and softly blew on it. "Of course there is the added bonus of knowing I can count on you to tie me up and put me in a closet if the situation calls for it."

It was easy to laugh at the matter in retrospect. "So besides running through the underworld how have you been spending your time?"

[zerosuitjill]

Jill laughed at that. "Well, I'd like to think you'd do the same for me."

Reflecting on that briefly, she shook her head. "I've just been trying to keep my hands busy. Besides gathering what I can for the organization I mentioned, I've done a little exploring here and there. Some personal research on the side.

I've been considering looking for a job," she added after a moment. It wasn't entirely necessary, given the basic necessities the population was supplied with, but... "I've never been good at sitting still." She smiled slightly. "And it beats sitting around wondering what the gods are going to throw at us next."

[godlessblossom]

Misaki nodded in understanding. It was one of the reasons she enjoyed her time at Strife Delivery so much. "What sort of work were you looking into? I'm not sure how many businesses are run by us captives besides the Delivery, The Roadhouse, and I believe Mr. Crowley may have a shop as well. Or you could start your own work."

She smiled. "If you cannot find work elsewhere you are more than welcome to come to Strife Delivery. We always need delivery people who are capable of defending themselves. Unfortunately Claire and Caroline can only do so much." Thank goodness for Fenris.

[zerosuitjill]

It was a question Jill kept asking herself; even now, she could only twist her lips slightly in consideration. "I've been in military and police positions for so long now that it's really all I'm used to. It's been a while since I had any kind of part-time job, even

[godlessblossom]

Misaki shook her head, pausing as she scooped up more curry and rice. "There is a decent majority who can defend themselves. Off the top of my head I would say there are at least five. Of course they may actually know how to fight but I suspect otherwise."

It did help matters quite a bit that so many in the underworld were fighters. They certainly needed the skill often enough. She continued to eat, thinking on making a suggestion for those she knew to take up practicing some sort of defense.

[zerosuitjill]

Jill nodded, again thoughtfully. It was a thought, but charging for teaching others self-defense didn't sit well with her; she wasn't keen on teaching the use of firearms to anyone who asked, either, but maybe something beyond just general self-defense? Hand-to-hand combat, for instance. Then again, managing a free service on top of her mercenary troops and whatever job she did find was a large plate. Jill Valentine was many things, one of them being realistic. She'd take it one step at a time.

She sighed lightly. "Unless anyone here wants dancing or half-decent piano lessons whenever they're not fighting for their lives, I'll probably just keep it simple. I'm not too picky at the end of the day."

[godlessblossom]

Misaki's head turned up at Jill's comment, her eyes widened slightly in shock. "You would offer dancing or piano lessons?" She was sure the amusement was evident in her voice and, when thinking of Jill teaching somebody how to dance, the edges of her lips turned slightly upwards.

"You are kidding?"

[zerosuitjill]

Jill had to laugh a little at that reaction. "Is it that hard to imagine?" she asked, but her tone was light. "I'm no ballroom dancer, but considering how many people on average say they can't dance when asked?" She shrugged a shoulder. "I wouldn't turn someone down if they needed a hand. My musical knowledge, on the other hand, isn't nearly enough to charge for it."

[godlessblossom]

A sudden flash of Jill dancing in a nightclub went through Misaki's mind and she put up a hand to cover her mouth as she giggled. No, she probably meant something in between ballroom dancing and club dancing. "I..." She hesitated and then smiled, shaking her head. "No, it is just odd to imagine. I have a hard time imagining many people down here doing anything normal."