maskormenacelogs | [closed] but not for me

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[closed] but not for me

WHO: Kasumi Goto & Jacob Taylor
WHERE: Nonah, the only nice city for dates
WHEN: The calm before the storm, aka February 14th, aka Valentine's Day
WHAT: Kaidan set these two up. A disaster ensues.
WARNINGS: None... for now?!

[ It seemed like a harmless idea at first, but now Kasumi really thinks she might kill Kaidan.

Well. Kill is a little bit too strong. Passive aggressively reprimand is more like it. Because while this is far from the first time that Kasumi's been out and about with someone, it might rightly be the first real date she's had in... a while. Because she doesn't count going out for drinks and maybe ending up in bed afterwards as a real date, for the most part, but this? Dinner? A nice, dressed-up dinner, and on Valentine's Day, no less? It's enough that Kasumi actually finds herself just a little nervous. And that is about as foreign as a feeling to her as gourmet ramen is to a krogan.

If she were to put a fine point to it, it's not so much that it's a real date that's causing her internal floundering as it is the fact that it's with Jacob. She honestly wouldn't have batted an eye if it were pretty much literally anyone else, but Jacob? They've got a lot of history. They've been through the hell that was the Omega 4 Relay together, been through some truly terrible personal things while serving on Shepard's crew together--truth to tell, being on Shepard's crew could be something to have "been through," too, but Kasumi wouldn't change any of it for the world. The galaxy, even. And then you add on all the things they've been through here: Archangel, horrendous Swear-in after Swear-in, actually getting to know the guy and not just the soldier... Then you've got a nervous Kasumi. She likes Jacob--she really does. But she doesn't know when the superficial crush she had on him on the Normandy turned into maybe more than that.

She also doesn't know what to do about the fact that she knows it'd never work out between them, even without Brynn Cole in the picture. And even without the awkwardness that was walking in on him and Hawke's morning-after not too long ago.

But Kaidan pulled the friendship "I want you to let yourself have a good time" card, and she felt strangely obligated to go through with this. (She isn't sure when she started thinking of Kaidan as an actual friend, either.)

And so Kasumi waits at the restaurant that Kaidan apparently picked out for them in Nonah. It's a nice place--not so overly fancy that they would turn away someone who showed up in jeans and a nice shirt, but definitely nicer than the dive bars she'd been frequenting with other people these days. And nice enough that even though there is a bar in the establishment--which is where she waits--it doesn't have that smell of beer forever ingrained into the place. The biggest difference, perhaps, between this date and any other sort-of dates she's been on, though, is that she's there sans hood. In fact, she's traded her hood in for wearing her hair down, black and spilling over her shoulders; she's also traded her signature purple lip in for full red lips that match her red-and-black dress with lace. She has no idea if Jacob knows who he's going out with, tonight--but even if he did or had a vague idea, her appearance would surely be a surprise.

(In a good way, she hopes. Deep down inside beneath the pretend-icy exterior that is her trying to be super cool about this.) ]

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[Jacob doesn't get that he's meeting Kasumi. Honestly, he doesn't get a lot of what's going on here. Kaidan setting him up with someone was strange enough to begin with, and the Major had done that thing during the conversation where he said things sideways instead of outright so that you could almost see him squinting even over text.

All Jacob knows is that Alenko wants him to have dinner with someone they both know who thinks about Jacob a lot. Depending on what kinds of thoughts are in question, Kasumi could on that list, but so could Hawke, Maria- hell, his date could be Garrus for all he knew. The situation has an extra wrinkle of complexity because of what had happened with Hawke- something that Jacob would absolutely like to happen again (and again), but which Hawke had made clear was just a distraction for after she went through hell.

At any rate, Jacob shows up looking like this and determined to impress whoever Kaidan has set him up with (unless it is Garrus, in which case this is about to get awkward). The woman at the bar immediately draws his eye. The way she looks, it's a wonder she isn't the center of attention for every person in the restaurant. Because, damn.

She looks kind of familiar from behind, but Jacob can't place her initially- her head's uncovered, so it's definitely not Kasumi, right? Jacob approaches with a smile on his face to take a seat beside her.]

I really hope you're who I'm here to meet.

[And double-take as he turns to get a better look at her face in 3... 2... 1...]

[ It says a lot about how wrapped up Kasumi is in her own thoughts that Jacob actually manages to sort of sneak up on her. And though she doesn't exactly jump in her seat when he speaks up, she does startle just a tad, and her head turns abruptly to face him. It's a huge deal for Kasumi whenever she bares her face entirely for the first time to anyone, and this is no different; her expression is hesitant for the slightest of moments before her gaze flicks down briefly to give him a once-over, and she gives a small smile. ]

Well... you're in luck, Mister Taylor.

[ The face may be unrecognizable as it is, but her voice is a dead giveaway. ]

Kasumi?

[And there's the double-take. It's a significant one- more of a triple-take, really. There's the take of recognition, and then the extra take of viewing Kasumi's full face for the first time, letting all the details burn into him.

There's a lot he could say right now. Many of the options involve wry or unkind remarks regarding the judgement of one Major Alenko. But instead, what comes out is:]

You look amazing.

[ In all honesty, Kasumi might have thought this would never happen-- her showing her face to Jacob, that is. But she's glad for it now, and especially so after that reaction. Her smile grows a tad wider. ]

I could say the same for you, but you always look amazing.

[ Ah, yes, the shameless flattery. She must be feeling a little bit more comfortable, now, if that's any indication. ]

So... Kaidan put you up to this too, didn't he?

[You would think that after this long being exposed to Kasumi's flattery Jacob would have built up stronger defenses against it... but here and now, he is damn weak to it. Because good God, that outfit.]

Yeah. He said I should go have a good time. With someone who thinks about me a lot.

[He smiles, lopsided.]

Guess I should have known who he was talking about.

[ That earns him a little lopsided smile of her own, as she glances back down at the drink she had begun to nurse while waiting for him. ]

Well, I wouldn't blame you for the vagueness of that description--I'm sure there are more than a few people who think about you a lot around here.

[ And then she downs what little of her drink remained--a bit of liquid courage, if you will--before she turns her body to face Jacob. ]

Shall we find our table?

Yeah. Let's do it. And order some wine, while we're at it.

[Jacob feels like he could use his own liquid courage right now, and Kasumi has an unfair head start over him in that regard.]

Now we're talking.

[ She pushes off the edge of the bar, slinging a small purse over her shoulder as she does so. (And don't ask what's in it. Chances are there are already a few pieces of jewelry in there that do not necessarily belong to her.) She walks ahead with a confident stride, and she may or may not cast Jacob a shy-slash-flirty little glance over her shoulder once, maybe twice as they walk; Kasumi knows she looks good, and she enjoys making anyone's first time seeing her without her hood on as impressive as possible. She hasn't had much of a chance to work that angle here as much as she would have liked, seeing as a good part of her showing her face to someone typically came on the heels of something tragic or awful, but now's her chance. In fact, she's glad for the fact that Jacob sees her like this and not because something horrible has happened.

When they approach the host working the restaurant's accommodations, they're shown to their table rather promptly; it's a quaint little set-up at the far end of the establishment, seemingly away from most of the action--just the way Kasumi would prefer, honestly. ]

[Well, shit. Jacob has been going along with this setup by Kaidan on the grounds of 'sure, why not', but the way Kasumi glances like that is a... problem. A feelings problem. Jacob has always known that Kasumi is flabbergastingly gorgeous, fun to be around, and interested in him on an intellectual level. But only now, as he sees her without her hood, making herself a little vulnerable for him, does that knowledge really connect on an emotional level. And then she does that glance again, and...

A problem. Definitely a problem.

He shakes his head, then sits down and forces himself to smile casually.]

Good location. I can tell you picked this table- lots of privacy.

[Okay Taylor, he tells himself, you've been dealing with this woman hitting on you for years. This is no different (aside from being a date, on Valentine's Day, in a really nice restaurant, with alcohol, where you can see her face). Stay cool and keep it relaxed, you've got this.]

[ Internally, Kasumi is chastising herself for doing this to Jacob. He deserves honesty (which, for someone like Kasumi, doesn't necessarily mean complete honesty) and she shouldn't do all of the things she knows drives people nuts when she knows the two of them are probably better off as friends. When she knows that in a few months' time at home, Jacob is going to meet his person and eventually start a family with her.

The thing is, right now, she also knows that Jacob looks goddamn good, and she knows he doesn't know about what's in store for him and is actually rather open to anything casual (exhibit A: Hawke) and... well, it's just a date, right? Why should she feel guilty about this when she's not technically doing anything wrong...?

Crap. This situation is quickly deteriorating. Maybe she shouldn't have had that martini at the bar.

She came here with the intention of going on a friendly date, honest. Even though the way they're seated across from each other, it's getting really difficult not to think about the handsome man in front of her. ]

You know my style. That, and I'd hate for your adoring fans to find and interrupt us.

[ and then she winks. so many mistakes are being made ]

[Externally, Jacob's face maintains the same wall of relaxed coolness that Kasumi's advances have slid off time and again. Internally- she winked. She's winking. Oh nooooo red alert, red alert, this is not a drill.]

Flattering me, Kasumi? I don't have that many fans.

[And he folds his arms in mock-seriousness, showing off how tight the gesture makes his sweater around the shoulders. He knows he looks good, and sees no reason why he should be the only one suffering here when Kasumi's throwing around winks and glances.]

Hey, you would be surprised what you find on the 'net coming from the locals.

[ She shrugs a shoulder before she picks up a menu-- not that there's much to choose from, really, as it's one of those places where your choice is between something fancy and something fancier-- and peers at him over the edge of it. ]

A lot of people still believe in what you started last year.

[ And there's the sincerity interlaced with the mind games these two are apparently playing with each other. She hopes that he knows she means that much, at least; that it's not just empty flattery. ]

Well. It's nice to be appreciated, isn't it?

[For some reason that appreciation puts a pensive and faraway look on Jacob's face. He breaks contact for a moment to order them some badly-needed wine, then focuses his gaze on Kasumi- serious now.]

Hey. I'd like to tell you a secret. Something that has to stay quiet.

[He can't keep it from her anymore. Not after everything that's happened- not on a night like tonight.]

[ That look doesn't catch her off-guard, but it does leave her a little worried. Was it something she said? (Yes, it was, Kasumi. Duh.)

She sets the menu back down onto the table when he continues to speak, and the mildly teasing smile that she's been wearing since they met up gives way for something more solemn as she leans forward, arms resting on the table, and responds in a quiet voice. ]

Sounds important. What is it, Jacob?

[He takes a breath, then launches into it, speaking low in case of eavesdropping.]

Archangel wasn't my idea. I was approached to be the field leader and the public face of the team, but- somebody else came up with the mission to clean up Maurtia Falls. Someone who wanted to do good while staying anonymous. Keeping their involvement quiet wasn't negotiable.

[He lays his hands on the table, palms up- a gesture of showing.]

I did my research. Asked questions before I took the offer. I'm still confident I wasn't being used for something bad, but- I never felt right keeping things like that from you and the team. I'm sorry.

[With that, he leans back.]

So there it is. What I started last year isn't really what I started.

[ Kasumi is good with secrets--hearing them, keeping them. A considerable portion of her profession relies on the business of secrets, after all (and she probably would have made a decent or even effective agent for the Shadow Broker, in another life). So, normally, she can take a secret with a stone-cold expression, like she's merely learning about something for a job and filing it away into her greybox until the intel becomes useful or profitable.

But all bets are off when it comes to the people she's close to. It's no secret by now that Kasumi wears her heart on her sleeve, but it becomes much more apparent when she doesn't have a hood to veil her expressions beneath, to hide things like the way disappointment flicks across her face so very briefly as he speaks, before she reins herself in, looks down at her hands on the table, and falls silent for a moment.

She hadn't thought that Jacob, of all people, would keep secrets like that from her. But, shit--does it even matter? She's keeping so many more secrets from him. ]

... I appreciate you telling me, Jacob. I really do.

[ There's another beat of silence before she looks back up, meeting his gaze. ]

But I don't think it matters whose idea it really was in the end. This mystery guy might have come up with it, but you believed in the cause, you carried it through as best you could, and that was enough for people to fall in behind you and believe in it, too. That wouldn't have happened if you weren't sincere about what we were doing.

[Jacob relaxes slightly, tension easing out of him. Either he missed the flash of disappointment, or he can live with it for the sake of Kasumi's appreciation and absolution.]

Thanks, Kasumi. You're right- I did believe in Archangel, all the way.

[He half-snorts, half-chuckles.]

Then again, sincerity has never been my problem, has it. Making the right choices with that belief is what trips me up. I'm- lucky to have people like you and the others backing me up. It means a lot.

[He pauses. The wine arrives, and thank god for that. Jacob doesn't get into self-doubt and regret often, but when he thinks about how his leadership of Archangel went down, it can be hard for him to believe that he's worthy of the support and courage he's experienced from people like Kasumi, and Hawke, and Glitch, and so many others.]

I've got a couple ideas on who it might have been- the backer. But like you said, it doesn't really matter now.

[ Kasumi can't help but be a little or a lot grateful herself, when the wine arrives. She flashes the waiter a small smile as glasses are poured out for her and Jacob, and once that's finished, she lifts hers at him in something of a toast. ]

And the rest of us are lucky to have someone as sincere as you watching our backs. I mean it.

[ It was hard, after all, to be resentful about how Jacob's stint as the leader went, because everyone could see how dedicated he was to the cause. That he wasn't half-assing even one bit of it. If he had, then he wouldn't have stayed behind to allow the chance for others to escape, wouldn't have let himself get caught. And Kasumi knows, better than any of the other initial members of Archangel, how much being a leader that people can look up, and a better leader than his father to mean to Jacob.

So this should be a tender moment, really, which of course means Kasumi is going to ruin it by being her, with another sly little smile to match. ]

Although I mean it in a few different ways, probably. Cheers?

Edited 2016-02-23 17:07 (UTC)

Cheers.

[Clink clink. Kasumi's being a pervert, which is how Jacob knows she really does forgive him completely. And that warms him in ways the wine never could.

Although the wine is quite good, really.]

Ready to talk about something that doesn't involve combat or secrets?

[Can Normandy crew talk about topics other than those two, is the real question here.]

Edited 2016-02-23 19:49 (UTC)

[ The wine is, in fact, delicious, to the point that it's almost dangerous. Although they could have been served crappy wine and Kasumi still would have taken a daring swig of it, probably, as she does now. At least she looks classy while doing that? ]

My god, Jacob, I thought you'd never ask.

But you know--you can talk to me about anything. Including combat and secrets... but maybe not on Valentine's Day?

[ She chuckles a little, because that turn of conversation was pretty inevitable, but that doesn't make it any less amusing. ]

[Jacob would have preferred more privacy for the next phase of their evening, but this is America, and shooting ranges are popular Valentine's destinations in America, and nobody on the Normandy crew has the kind of financial weight to rent out a whole range for just two people. Especially not Kaidan. So they're just sharing a booth on the firing line, one couple (???????) out of many.]

Not as quiet as the restaurant, is it?

[Jacob has to raise his voice over the ear protectors he's trying on. Also the gunfire.]

[ Man, America is so weird. Is going to a shooting range with your beau (???????) seriously a Valentine's Day thing? Kasumi isn't sure what to make of the fact that Kaidan thought having them go here afterwards would be a pleasant second phase to the date. But then again, Kasumi has made dates out of heists and heists out of dates, so she can't really judge. At least she's always been pretty good at going with the flow, and so here she is, admittedly not having as terrible of a time as she initially thought she would considering the circumstances. ]

Nope! This is, in fact, the opposite of quiet. I kind of like it!

[ She's chosen a pistol as her not-weapon for the evening, and though she's still not quite adjusted to the handling and amount of kick it has compared to her trusty Phalanx pistol from home, her marksmanship is still pretty solid, as evidenced by the new holes on the target in front of them. ]

Didn't know you liked it so loud, Kasumi.

[You know, because of her being a stealth expert and all.]

Hey. [Smiiiile.] Do you ever miss Mass Effect guns? Because I might have something for that.

[Jacob has brought something special to this portion of the date, although knowing Kasumi she probably saw it already while she was going through his things at one point or another. He kneels to unlock the secure case he's been carrying it around in, and stands up holding something that looks a lot like a Predator Heavy Pistol from their own universe, though with noticeable differences in design and material.]

Check it out. Something I had Revan make for me a while back.

I can get loud when the situation calls for it--

[ --if you catch my drift.

But the rest of the sentence dies on her lips, as she turns to look at him and notices him finally opening the case up. Kasumi has been wondering what could be in there since she first noticed him carrying it, and at some point she probably wished the Porter gave her, like, X-ray vision as a power instead. How useful would that be...? She's known that Jacob had some sort of firearm in his possession (because, yes, she has gone through his things) but she wouldn't have imagined that it would be a replica of the Predator. She quirks a brow, and stares at the replica for a moment before she looks back up at him.

This is certainly not the gun show she would have asked for, but you know what? It'll do. ]

Hold on--you're telling me he managed to invent micro mass accelerators to replicate the tech we had at home?

[Oh, so she didn't know about it already. So much the better. Jacob doesn't mind the chance to show off.]

The accelerators were the easy part for him. The tricky part was finding a way to power it. There's no Element Zero in this universe, and it's not something you can synthesize.

[He offers the pistol to her, handle first, safety on.]

Go ahead- feel the weight.

[ She gives the not-Predator another look, then Jacob another look, before she holsters the gun she's rented (and will possibly walk away with) from the place, similarly making sure that the safety is on because that is important. Then, she takes the pistol, testing its weight by lifting it with her hand repeatedly, and then looking at it more closely. It's a pretty impressive replica, which is why she whistles, and she's still examining it when she asks, ]

Nice. So, how did you get around the eezo hitch?

[ Lord, help this woman, becaus she is entirely unprepared for the answer. ]

[~~Please don't rob the venue for the date Kasumi~~ Jacob could draw out the mystery a little more and tease Kasumi with it, if he was someone other than Jacob Taylor. Instead, he steps back from her and spreads his arms to indicate himself.]

The solution's simple- you're looking at it. Being a biotic means there are nodules of Element Zero in my body. It's how I'm able to generate mass effect fields. Revan was able to rig it so that my power makes the gun work.

[He lowers his arms, and raises an eyebrow.]

You want to try a few shots? I'll just need to be touching the gun to charge it up.

Aww, you'd let me do that? I'm touched.

[ She smiles. ] But sure, I'll give it a whirl.

[ Now, she's thinking Jacob is going to like, biotically empower the gun and then hand it back to her, or something (because biotics? What?) and so she holds the gun back out at him as though she's expecting him to take it back from her first. ]

Edited 2016-02-28 02:37 (UTC)

[Haha, no Kasumi. What Jacob is going to do is take the gun, then take up a position standing very close behind you. His biotics hum to life, casting a faint blue glow over both of them, and the pistol lights up as it activates. He brings his arms around her sides to hold the gun in front of her, handle free. When he speaks, his voice is closer to her ear than it has ever been before. ~~See, now you're touched.~~]

I've got to be in contact with it to keep it charged. Kind of like a second safety. I'll just keep my hands on it for you while you aim and shoot, okay?

[The 'second safety' feature had really come in handy while fighting against the Hornets last year. Now, it's becoming useful in entirely new and unexpected ways.]

[ Outwardly, Kasumi appears cool as can be; these two have been playing a game all night, and she's no stranger to it. In fact, as hopeless a romantic Kasumi can be, she enjoys the thrill of the chase just as much as she enjoys the more delicate, intimate aspects of romance.

She's never thought there would ever be a time when she'd be in it with Jacob. Especially because it's a terrible idea to begin with. She's not right for him. Brynn Cole is proof of that. But Brynn Cole is not in this alternate dimension and Jacob is actually flirting back with her and goddamn it.

So, inwardly? She's going to pieces. Her heart is racing, but it doesn't show except in the way that her body stills when his biotics kick in (likely because she's probably never been on the receiving end of biotics that aren't being used offensively), nearly goes rigid as he moves behind her and practically embraces her. She tries very, very hard, to virtually no success, not to think about how nice it feels to be this close to him and to be in his strong arms, and the way his deep voice rings so closely to her ear. But she gets what he's doing. Teasing, and that's a craft Kasumi's perfected.

She's never thought he would beat her at her own game.

And the biotics are seriously just unfair. ]

Uh... Sure.

[ And that's why she literally has nothing more eloquent to say in response. Curse you, Jacob Taylor. It actually takes her another moment to focus herself back into the fact that they're at a shooting range, so she takes a deep breath, bites down on her lip before she grips the handle of the pistol firmly, and moves their arms slowly to aim at the target. It's through that act that she manages to piece back together some semblance of composure. ]

I swear to god, Jacob, this better be worth it.

[ And then she fires. ]

[Oh, now this is fun. Jacob has been fending off Kasumi's flirtations for a long time now, often with greater difficulty than he lets on. Seeing her reduced to uncertainty and incoherence by him? That's one hell of a guilty pleasure.]

Try to relax when you shoot, okay? Your stance is a little tense right now. I don't know why.

[Yes you damn well do know why, Jacob Taylor. Of course, teasing someone like Kasumi in this way carries a heavy risk, but the... well, you know what goes here.]

[ Jacob, you ass.

Mind, the shot that she takes doesn't quite make the bull's eye, but she doesn't miss horrifically, either. She at least makes halfway to the center of the target.

But he really should be careful. If he baits her like this, she'll start to think it's okay to really give in. She exhales a breath she doesn't realize she'd been holding, and shakes her head. ]

Tense, huh?

I've been a pretty stressed out lately, actually--I could use some help with relaxing.

[ See? Two can play at this game. ]

[You love this ass Kasumi, and don't ever pretend otherwise.]

Yeah? I guess a war will do that to you. Anything I can do to help you loosen up?

[His arms tighten along her sides slightly, and his hands are now pretty much on top of hers on the handle of the gun. But really, why wouldn't he let her know it's okay to give in? It's not like there's anyone else in his life Kasumi has to think about or anything...]

[ She moves her arms down, slowly lowering the gun (safety on, of course!); the result is, naturally, that Jacob practically has his arms around her. After another slow, deep breath, she hums thoughtfully. She'd like to turn her head to look at him better when she responds, but she decides not to, keeping her gaze fixed ahead at the target.

Because she can feel her cheeks growing warm. She's actually blushing. ]

I'm open to suggestions.

[ She doesn't know if she has it in her to directly proposition him given her hangups--but if it came from him, she wouldn't say no. ]

[More than anything, the intense cuteness of seeing Kasumi blush for him is what prompts Jacob to make a final decision.]

Yeah? Well here's one.

[He takes his hands off the gun. One of them moves to her waist, firmly pulling her closer to him.

The other hand gently moves under her chin, tilting her head upward so he can kiss her, long and thorough.]

[ That's weird, Kasumi doesn't remember falling asleep in the middle of all this and lucidly dreaming, nor does she remember entering some virtual reality in which Jacob pulls her into a kiss.

Which means, holy shit, this is really happening.

To be fair, she's not actually that shocked. This sort of thing usually happens when Kasumi brings her A-game and doesn't hold back any of her charm. But there's a part of her that didn't think she'd actually get through to Jacob, who's done such a fantastic job at stonewalling her flirtations up until this very moment. And there's a part of her that still thinks, okay, this is definitely a mistake.

Ah, screw it.

There's only a short moment of her contemplating all of this until her eyes slip shut, and with it she just. Stops thinking about it, and lets her instincts take over. And her instincts are telling her to carefully reach up, loop her arms atop his broad shoulders (yes, gun still in hand, thank you very much), and kiss back. ]

[When they break apart (which may be a while, Jacob doesn't halfass his kisses), Jacob takes a breath as he holds Kasumi by the shoulders and looks into her eyes.]

So.

[Soooo. Yeah, he's feeling like they're probably just about done with target practice for the evening.]

Having a good Valentine's Day?

[And then he smiles.]

[ Yep. She's definitely thinking she'd like to get out of here and go--honestly, anywhere else. But fast.

As for his question, she merely smirks and quirks a brow, her silent way of saying are you honestly asking me this question right now? And as for the actual response, she trails one hand along his shoulder and down along his collar before she tugs--yanks on it, really, to try and pull him down for another kiss.

Hopefully that's enough of an answer. ]

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[closed] but not for me

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LATER AT THE SHOOTING RANGE

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