maskormenacelogs | Locked in a room with your memory far

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Locked in a room with your memory far

WHO: Nagachika Hideyoshi and Annie
WHERE: Around Nonah
WHEN: Tuesday around noon
WHAT: A date that Annie doesn't realise is a date.
WARNINGS: Blood, maybe. Someone's getting punched eventually.

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Just as promised, Hide's pretty on the ball with showing up on time. Maybe it was because he can now run at a speed that's uncomfortably fast; but it's more likely that he doesn't want to be late for the first date he actually successfully managed to get in his life.

Even if the other party might not have taken the invite quite as seriously as a certain rabbit-boy did.

He'll take a minute outside to make sure he didn't catch a part of his clothes on fire--trust when he says he's done this before--before he knocks on her door. He hoped she was inside and didn't stand him up--it was his first 'date', okay, he had fears--and waits for her to answer.

...

Wait, shit, weren't people supposed to bring gifts to first dates or something.

Or was it second dates...

Said thoughts are going to cloud him up a bit by the time she answers the door, so don't mind the weird face he might be making at that point. When she does answer, though, said strange expression will be replaced with that infectious-or-irritatingly bright smile, and a wave of his right hand.

"Aaaaaannie-chan! Good morning! Are you ready to go?" Not that he's rushing or anything--

Oh my god calm down.

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She'd noticed the tick before, but not tied in in specifically to lying. (In her opinion, he'd been someone who lied to himself, too; tells weren't always reliable for such things as self-denial so consuming as that might be.) It's a curiosity to her that Hide is sharing this with her now.

Annie would say she's been running full force for a long time, but it's less literal, more metaphorical in her case. As it is, she shrugs. "Friends still try. Even when the people they're trying for can't quite see the reasons why." She's witnessed it enough between Eren, Armin, and Mikasa. She wonders sometimes if that isn't part of why Armin is so unhinged here.

There's nothing she can do about it either way, so she brushes the thought to the side.

"Ten minutes of walking is very little, in the scheme of things."

Kaneki would probably--definitely--be annoyed at Hide for pointing out something like that(It's possible Kaneki himself doesn't even know of that habit existing, Hide's never told him.) but honestly... he can't bring himself to be concerned. Kaneki could learn to be a little more honest.

And maybe this would help.

"That's the way friends are, isn't it? You look in, and try to do everything you can. Even if sometimes, all you can do is watch." He waves a hand a little, stopping at a crosswalk, waiting now for the light to change.

"You're right. Time isn't really a big bother here, anymore. 'least not to me. ...I really am enjoying it here."

Considering Annie's general tolerance for bullshit, it might. She calls Ken out often enough. Doing so more often will simply be upping the ante. Much as with anything else, she only acts when she sees a reason or purpose to act.

With Ken, it's when she feels he needs to get shaken out of his own head and the cycles of self interest he falls into.

As for the comment on friends, she shrugs, not sure if it is or isn't. "You tell me. Is it?" Watching is all she does - or did - for a long time.

"... I'm glad." This is not the conversation she expected to be having as they approach the restaurant. It's strange. "This isn't an easy place, in it's own right... but I'm glad you can find joy in it."

He turns his head only to smile at her, the expression somehow brighter than even the sun that's lazily hanging overhead, brighter than the lights that'll no doubt be buzzing above their heads at the Korean restaurant.

"Yeah. It is. I've known Ken for a long time, and through that experience--I don't think there's much that'd stop me from doing everything to protect him." He turns his head, nodding. "All of my friends--maybe Ken is a little more important, but you know."

Looking up at the flashing light, pointing for Annie to follow along, he drags a hand back through his hair.

"I think it's important. Enjoying the little things in life. This place isn't easy, but heck. I got cool superpowers. I went to Disney World. I got to meet up with Kaneki again. And now look."

A gesture with a hand.

"Going out for dinner with a real nice and pretty girl. What's not to enjoy, right?"

"More like lunch," she says, pedantic in the face of agreeing. "Given the time of day." She can understand what he means either way. There's much to appreciate in the fragile time they all have here. The people they find, the experiences they have... or the ways they drive themselves to distraction staying sane.

"Is this the place?" Disney World she knows about in passing mentions from peers at school. Theme parks are far off her map of amusing, fun times, but more normal for people from times closer to this one, on Earths similar to this one.

"Haaa.. lunch, you're right." but better earlier than later. Even back home, he didn't like to be out after dark with another person. He could make quick getaways himself, but...

He looks up a bit when she asks if they were there, and a wide grin is already stretching across his face. It had to be pretty obvious, the sign outside boasting 'Korean Barbecue'. He points to it, as if she hadn't already seen it.

"Yep, this is the place. Good eye. Looks like we made it in good time after all."

And just their luck, it didn't look too crowded inside yet. He'll pull the door open for her, giving his best gentlemanly 'after you' gesture. "--Hoh. It smells good already, huh?"

The gesture earns him a quirked eyebrow. What's the deal with holding the door, anyway? People are prone to it here, and it's usually men. Are they that unwilling to enter first?

Annie shakes her head. (Hearing that Hide preferred not to be out after dark when she knows what she does of his world would make sense; particularly so, being what she is, too. It's not like she hasn't snapped a man in half with her teeth alone when she's defended herself while attempting to kidnap Eren.) He's right about the smell of the restaurant.

Annie doesn't know what it is, but it smells amazing. (She's going to love all the pickled things...) "Yeah. What kind of food did you say this was? Korean?" She stops inside the door and looks for any sign that says please wait to be seated. With one near the front, a woman toward the kitchen doors peers out and calls for how many. Annie holds up two fingers in return.

Though it does look like she's giving the other woman a peace sign.

Maybe later, when he describes the qualities of a date to her, he'll also explain why letting a lady go first was something that was common. Maybe.

"Yep! Korean barbecue. It's more than just meet and grilled vegetables, sure, but the cooking your own food bit is what makes it so popular, you know? You get to grill things just the way you like it, and it's fun, too."

A perfect first date, something like this, he'd think!!! ...Not that Annie had any real idea that that's what this was. "Unless you're not a good cook. In which case, I'll just show you how it's done, yeah??"

If he does, she'll note how little outward appreciation she has for the concept. Then again, it's part of a sort of cultural cue based on gender she doesn't have in the same respects in her own. As far as she'd be concerned, shouldn't they both equally hold the door for each other?

The idea of grilling things on their own where they sit is curious. Annie blinks, looking around the restaurant with greater care, noting how it is the other people here are comporting themselves. Ah... no. She understands.

"Good or bad is relative. I haven't done anything like this before - so if you want to demonstrate, I'd prefer to watch." She can throw right in, too, but it seems easier to take advantage of the offer he's giving.

Particularly once they're seated and she's looking at the menu itself. "How does ordering work with something like this, then?"

He flashes his companion a wide and cheerful grin, waving a hand at her. If there's one thing he doesn't mind, it's showing someone how to have fun--even if it's something like cooking in a Korean Barbecue restaurant.

"I'll demonstrate for sure. And Here, see..." scuse him, Annie, he's going to lean in a little closer to point out the things on the menu. "You can order noodle dishes or kimchi dishes that are pre-cooked for you, but these items here, the platters--they're uncooked vegetable and meat sets. I'm kind'a particular to the pork one, but I'll let you pick today--"

Yes, he sounds very pleased about this.

"They bring out the food in a neat little plate, and we use the table here--" he points to where they were seated, and there's actually a little grill, already hot, in the middle of it. "To cook and season the meat and veggies whatever way we prefer. It can be pretty fun in small or large groups."

Coming here with a bunch of school friends... it was always a fight to see who would pinch up cooked meat first.

Meat is still such a largess in her eyes that the fact it can be so easily purchased and so readily consumed still feels novel, even after almost a year in this place. Sixteen years plus of something otherwise makes it a surprise each time she remembers.

"Pork? I don't mind pork." She indicates the one that reads as pork on the menu, tapping a finger on the number to its left. If he enjoys it, then better for that. Annie doesn't live to service herself on those kinds of pleasures. She won't eat so much of the meat, so having something that Hide will eat without reserve and enjoys simply makes sense to her.

"This looks fine." She withdraws her hand, shifting her attention to the grill while the waitress comes back with two red cups of water. She figures he can order for them.

"Then that's what we'll have, the pork and vegetables set." a grin already moving over his face. If she's fine with it, then--! "We can also order drinks, tea or soda pop, if you like that sort of thing." the bubbles always were an unpleasant feeling to him, personally. Water was always the first thing they brought you, and he was just fine with that.

"--Ah. And right." he speaks up again, only after Annie had placed the order with the waitress, the menus being taken away. "They always serve this stuff with different sauces on the side. You can smear them on your food while it cooks on the grill. It either adds flavour--or spice."

A grin.

"Do you like spicy things, Annie-chan?"

"Ah?" She looks over to him, sitting back and dragging her waterglass closer. "No, not really. Not if you mean spicy like hot?" Even spices in general could wreak havoc on her digestive tract. Part of what had made her introduction to spices slow and steady is the unpleasant reactions she had earlier on by accident.

She shrugs her shoulders, planting her elbows on the table. "Which shouldn't stop you if you like spice. What I can't handle is my own problem to deal with. For your other question... water's fine. Tea might be nice after."

She quirks up her eyebrows, looking to him for confirmation. That so much food can be had in one place is still a novelty, but she does enjoy the relative freedom to linger over a meal. Tea seems like a decent way to do that... extra bonus that neither of them would have to handle dishes here.

"Yeah, that's what I mean. But honestly, spice isn't my biggest favourite. If I'm to be honest, my favourite flavour is sweet stuff.

Like honey, or cream coffee, things like that, yanno?" he flashes her a smile as the waitress comes back with their drinks, two glasses of water with a little lemon stuck at the top, for garnish. Of course, Hide's quick to push the lemon into the water itself.

"Do you have a favourite flavour? Or anything like that." Look at all these pushy, invasive questions he's asking. Are you suspicious, still?

She is... his game at throwing her off is strong. He gets a beat too long of a contemplative look before she breathes out, giving a small, definitive shake of her head. "Not really. I avoid things that are too sweet... if I'm not careful, they make me sick."

She traces the top of her water glass with one finger, briefly looking across the restaurant. The decor, the scant paintings hung on the walls, all are little details that registered when she came in. She's bringing them into sharper detail now.

"I've been told I'm boring before. Boring flavors are probably the ones I enjoy." There's a joke underneath all those words, but she doesn't pursue the joke all that far.

Don't worry about not pursuing jokes--Hide is quick enough for the both of them.

"Hey, boring flavours have their merits too! If not, they wouldn't exist, right? They'd have been eeked out of existence just like all other horrible things."

He flashes a smile. "You know. Like how you can only get Haggis in Scotland--because who the heck else would wanna' eat something like--"

And that's when the waitress lady comes back with their assortment of sliced meat and chopped vegetables, as well as a few small bowls of sauce to be used on the barbecue table itself.

"...Something like this, on the other hand, should exist everywhere. So. Do you wanna' try first?" The gentlemanly thing to do, after all.

"It's just tossed on that?" She indicates the grill, taking out the vegetables first, then one slice of the meat. Annie has no idea what he means about Haggis. Food is only picky to her for being preservative laden. Past that, edible was edible.

Her younger years had not been plentiful ones.

The sizzling and scent that rose from the small grill was enticing enough she breathes in deep, exhaling nice and slow. "Boring lets you see the exciting all the more clearly, I guess."

She opts not to touch the sauces. It's usually the better course of action for her.

The first time Hide had read about Haggis, he was almost sick. He was glad Annie didn't ask--he didn't want to ruin her dinner over exotic(weird) European dishes. A nod of his head, and he watches as she puts the first few bits of food on the grill. After she's had first choice, he's going to do the same. With a bit more meat, of course, and he'll actually use one of the sauce bowls. It added to the sizzling sound, as well as the smell curling up from the grill.

"You know, that's exactly it. They say monotony is a mind-killer, but yanno. Monotony sure can make you appreciate the not-so-mundane a little more."

He flashes a wide grin at his date.

"Kind'a like cooking your own food at a restaurant for a change."

She eyes him, then finally gives a slight shake of her head and pulls the vegetables back off the grill onto her plate with a soft snort. This isn't how she expected and information grilling session to go. There was a grill, but pressure for answers has been at a remarkable low.

"Cutting out having to do the slicing or clean-up is nice." Feels a little lazy, too, but not the kind of lazy she actually minds. (Sitting idle is closer to that kind of lazy.) "Contrast helps show us what it is we might not appreciate otherwise. There's enough of that around here as it is... even with all the fear in regards to what might happen in this war."

This war that is and isn't a war, at this point. Annie eats her vegetables slowly, enjoying the flavor of them grilled. It's not too much for her palate. That's something she can always appreciate.

"What do you think about that? The almost war we're asked to be a part of." Aside from Alaska, Russia has made no direct move she's aware of - only the indirect ones, such as the space shuttle sabotage, or dropping fliers over towns.

"... Or is that not good dinner conversation?"

He'll admit it, this definitely isn't run of the mill dinner conversation, especially when on a date. But learning about someone elses' thoughts and feelings was important too, wasn't it? Even if they were with 'current issues' of the world they were all working in and what have you.

Besides, it's not like Hide had a problem with serious conversation. Even if he came across as happy and carefree most of the time; it didn't mean he was vacant of any real thoughts on serious issues. "...Well. I don't like the idea of war. I never did. I don't like fighting or violence. Things can always be talked out if there's enough brains to be thrown around."

And that's his honest opinion.

"But I also get that this sort of working out issues is and can be impossible for a lot of people. 'specially large scale. So if fighting is the only way to handle things, then. I'll fight too, so long as it's to protect people." He will not, nor ever, fight just to end the lives of people who haven't done anything wrong.

He doesn't directly address her last question, just continuing. Taking a moment, first, of course, to take the first bite of his food. Maybe a little bigger than he should have, he might smear a bit of sauce on his face. Don't look, he's cleaning it up already.

"We're all here without much warning or reason, though. Even if I've started to adjust to that, fact is: we've all been kidnapped, in a way. And I don't really agree with that. To fight for a cause is to believe in it. Being taken from our homes and THEN asked if we wanna' fight..."

He shakes his head.

"Mm." Those are the lines her own thoughts flirt with. She eats as she thinks, falling into more quiet, usual patterns for herself. Those who are inclined to protect people will protect people. Those who are not, will not.

Annie is inclined to protect herself, Reiner, Rex... and a few others by now. But enough to lay down her life? It's hard for her to say. She doesn't think it goes both ways, so wouldn't that be a "no?"

When she's here, what is she fighting for? Not on behalf of the United States of America. "They've slacked in calling us in to act on their behalf. Among those of us who are Registered, at least." There is worse that could be demanded. She keeps waiting for when they'll hit that point, and wonders what happens then.

"Kind of strange, isn't it. Asking us to help and then slacking off on actually having us do the job they asked of us?"

He waggles his chopsticks a little as he re-loads the grill for a second helping. Cooking small amounts at once, so it's fresh and warm every time. "I can deal with it. My job here is actually the same one I had back home, so it's more or less just a change of setting." A pause.

"Oh, and you know. The fact added that I can run faster than a train, too. That's always helpful." A laugh, a bright, wide grin.

"Makes it a bit easier to just live our lives for ourselves, don't it?"

She rests her chopsticks on the side of her plate, letting her hand tip his way. is it easier? She doesn't know. Annie cannot fathom what it really means to live for ones own self, and in a way, she wonders if that's not what he's sussing out. What a monster does when not being monstrous.

She'd love to know. Maybe he has better answers.

"I don't know. I don't understand what it means, to 'just live our lives for ourselves.' How do you do that?" She lays another few of the vegetables on the small grill, expression softer than usual. "How do you learn to do such a thing? What separates living from surviving? What defines 'for yourself' when most of us are selfish as it is?"

Man, this was some serious talk for a casual date. But you know, he wasn't about to say that the conversation wasn't 'usual date chat', because hell. How did he know? This was his first actual date with a girl; so. Maybe this was normal.

And to leave her without an answer would be rude, wouldn't it? So he gets a thoughtful look on his face as he crunches a bit of baby corn between his teeth, flipping over a strip of pork on the grill before he nods.

"I don't know if there's any real specific differences between living and surviving. I mean. Most of us just take the day-to-day without any real thought to it. But. I think; personally for me. The difference between 'living' and just 'being alive' is in how much you actually enjoy living.

I mean, there are a lot of people who live but don't enjoy it. Each day is just another day to wake up, eat, go to a job or something that you hate, rinse repeat. That's what surviving is. Just living because you have to. But...

To live for yourself is to have something to do. A reason to greet the day with a smile, people to care about and a goal to work towards. Even if it's just something small and stupid like going on a date with a pretty girl, or to go shopping for that one comic book you've been waiting to read.

...Does that make sense?"

Does it make sense? Yes, and no, just like his examples at the end make her squint. She shouldn't read too much into it. (In fact, she really should.)

"If it's a goal you care about, then yes... I suppose." Goals aren't things that give people life inherently. She's had one all her remembered life. It never made her feel inclined to live, or all that alive, or much of anything notable. It simply was. "Though I'm not sure taking pretty girls on dates will do much for improving my outlook on that."

Her lips almost pull up into a sly smile, self amused at her lacking display of wit. Oh... she tries.

And she fails, but she tries.

Locked in a room with your memory far

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that icon is so cute

True sunshine child 1000

he's too adorable for these worlds

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