New York, New York. Again.

[a_peaceful_aura]

2011 has not been Taiki's year. Too much stress, too many directions. He's thinner and more reclusive than ever. Mexico was supposed to relax him but it only served to reinforced his resurrected mentality: "Developing relationships is kind of annoying. You always learn about incomprehensible and annoying traits."

Comments

[wasplisbeth]

With everything that had been going on recently it was nice to do something normal like picking up her friend from the airport. There was no time to rent a car so she took the subway with plans of taking a taxi cab back to the house, the drive really isn't that far but why make it twice? Plus it seems that the chances of getting possessed by a demon or evil spirit are twice as likely on the New York subway then in a New York cab. Arriving early she makes her way down to the luggage claim to take a seat and wait for Taiki's plane to arrive.

It's beginning to look a lot like spring in New York, the temperature is mild and while the sky is overcast it isn't raining. Yet. As long as it doesn't start raining everything will be fine. At least that's one of the things that should not happen in order for everything to be fine. Ordering a cup of coffee at the Starbucks kiosk she watches luggage rolling in and then scans the crowd for Taiki, thankfully he's tall and she's short.

However she doesn't remember him being that skinny. He

[wasplisbeth]

Sounds like a damn good idea to Lisbeth. Bring on the tropical islands and the fruity drinks.

“It seems contrary to nature, most animals have survival instincts and bashing your head into something generally goes contrary to that.” Though she is not quite sure of the nature of those birds. “Where were you that you saw them? How did they behave besides the one that was stupid?”

[a_peaceful_aura]

Guuuurl, he is there.

Taiki nods in agreement, nursing his coffee now. "It should be marked on the back of the photograph. Or in the journal. We traveled a lot but I believe it was Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Province. West in the People's Republic of China." His presence was not exactly welcome there, though he did learn quite a lot.

"They were very quiet and still. Watching us. The guide would not let us get very close." Because of him, though Taiki does not add that. "They were not afraid, even when a member accidentally set off a flare in their direction." He was very stupid as well. Taiki shakes his head a little at the memory, wondering how they survived that trip with that man. "They were very interesting." And it seems like a lifetime ago. For a moment he feels as old as he looks.

[wasplisbeth]

Turning the photograph over she nods at his memory, there it is, in Taiki handwriting, the date and place. "Who's we?" She asks before looking at the front of the picture again and then putting it back in the journal. She traveled to Hong Kong a number of years ago but never went deeper into mainland China which she regrets.

Sometimes she finds his stories hard to believe but the skepticism lasts for a minute at the most before it disappears. It's Taiki, what's not to believe? He's never lied to her before. "How did you find them?"

[a_peaceful_aura]

His brows crease while he tries to remember the names of all that were involved. Finally he shakes his head. "Two others. I do not remember their names. I was the only Japanese and the youngest."

He's watching her. If her skepticism ever turns to outright and lasting disbelieve then he'll likely stop. He doesn't really need anyone else thinking he's crazy. Especially not Lisbeth. "A guide took us into the region. They were looking for a different bird. One that makes nests in the side of the mountains. I was told to find fenghuang." And... so he did. Taiki stares down at the edge of the table, running his fingers along the ridge.

[wasplisbeth]

There might always be a moment of disbelief but she would never outright think that he's lying to her or that he is crazy. Lisbeth has seen crazy and he is not crazy. What he is saying all makes sense, when he says it, if anyone else told her what he did she probably wouldn't believe it. Still here's proof, right in front of her, a picture. She takes another look at it before picking up her coke and taking a drink.

"That's really cool," she tells him honestly. He always tells interesting stories that she enjoys listening to. "Did you see any other interesting things on your trip?"

[a_peaceful_aura]

The two women in the next booth order a second round of dessert, eavesdropping. Homosexual lion voyeurism involving the Pope. A tiny woman setting a man on fire. A trip to the far edge of China to see a mythological bird. Almost as good as Maury on daytime t.v.

Taiki nods while he takes a drink of coffee. He feels a little better with some caffeine jump-starting his system. "A lot that I was not able to understand. I did not speak the languages. But there was a lot to see. It was my first trip outside Japan." Short sentences while he organizes his thoughts. "People were building in one village and would stack bricks very high on their heads. There were very short goats in the mountains." A little smile -- the goats were interesting. "We went in a very large cave but had to stop because it was filled with water. There were glowing mushrooms." The entire trip was interesting but Taiki decides to stop there. "I did not stay long. I was attending university."

[wasplisbeth]

Lisbeth is just surprised that they know what all those things are. Taiki is using some pretty big words right then and there, that's for sure. A lot more classy then: you are not the father.

She's heard of mushrooms that glow before but have never seen any of them. When she was young they went on a nature hike at night and were supposed to see glowing mushrooms but didn't see anything. So they just wandered around in the woods at night. Kind of pointless. "I have read books about trips into mainland China and have seen shows on travels through there. It looks a lot nicer and more interesting then Hong Kong. Would you ever go back through there?" She is not sure if she should be jealous of his university experience or not, she decides not.

[a_peaceful_aura]

Taiki considers her question before finally nodding. Not all areas of China welcome Japanese with open arms and shining smiles, but he's never had too much trouble avoiding conflict.

The waitress comes by. Taiki lets her take his barely touched plate, though asks for a refill on his coffee.

[wasplisbeth]

Nodding in response to his nod she reaches into her pocket out of habit for her cigarettes and manages to even take them out. Realizing where they are she sighs and drops them and her lighter down on the table. Taking in a breath she moves her hand over her mouth because she needs to do something with her hands.

"What kind of work are you going to do in New York?"

[a_peaceful_aura]

[What's going on in her aura? Calm/stressed/upset/anxious/etc?]

[wasplisbeth]

Lisbeth is mostly tired, surprisingly depressed.

[a_peaceful_aura]

He follows her movements, from the cigarettes in her pocket to the hand at her mouth. Eyes don't quite meet hers and instead drop to the space of table between them.

"I do not know yet. I have not looked over the list they sent me. We can go if you would like." As usual, he glances up to watch her reaction while she speaks.

[wasplisbeth]

"I am interested in the kind of work you do. I've not done much since I came to New York." Being pretty useless is her new occupation, though she does go to the gym which is a nice work out. Anyway, leaving, yeah, a cigarette would be nice.

Reaching into her back pocket she pays for the meal, not much owed since they didn't order a whole lot. "Ja," she runs her fingers through her hair, "I need a cigarette."

[a_peaceful_aura]

Taiki pulls his jacket and bag with him as he slides out of the seat. He redresses on the move, eager to try and elevate Lisbeth's mood.

"It is mostly mundane. Translating usually. Observation. Confirming whether something exists or not." Taiki blinks when they are outside, pushing his glasses up so he can rub his eyes. "Excitement is bad, as a general rule."

"Do you like it here?"

[wasplisbeth]

"I'm beginning to believe that, interesting is good, excitement is bad." As soon as they step outside she puts the cigarette to her lips and lights up, pulling in a deep lungful of smoke and thankfully letting it out. It's shaping up to be a pretty nice day, which is good, warm weather is always better then wet and over cast.

"You translate texts, correct, not translate conversations in between people." Though he might be good at that given his special skills.

Her narrow shoulders rise and fall, "it's fine. It's not Stockholm."