nexus_sages | At What Price Respect

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At What Price Respect

Verity in the forum? Not a strange sight. Verity without coffee? Rather less common. Verity slumping, exhausted, into a couch? Unusual. Verity covered in scrapes, bruises, and dust? Definitely strange.

"Help isn't if it's forced on someone. This is true. Someone not in possession of all of the facts cannot give fully informed consent. This is also true. But nobody can be forced to listen." Of course Verity has things on her mind. Who here doesn't? "How do you reconcile that? Is ignorance truly bliss? Or do you do what's needed to save someone despite their choices?"

((A note before you come to play with Verity: she's got a magic spell stuck in her that lets her always know when someone is lying to her. This includes sarcasm and knowing when someone believes something to be true when it isn't. This doesn't include lies of omission. She can also see through illusions. Please respect this; if your character is trying to lie to her, please make that known so she can react appropriately. [I completely understand this isn't going to be everyone's idea of fun.] Thanks.))

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There isn't an immediate verbal reply from the other room. Katsuya's probably satisfied or impressed by this answer.

Rice, beans, firm tofu, miso, dashi stock, soy sauce, sake, mirin. Katsuya's got it all. She can certainly make a basic miso soup. Hell, if she roots around in the freezer she can probably find frozen shitake mushrooms to toss in there too.

Coffee might have to wait a while. When Verity does finally check in on the officer, he's dozing on the couch, chin threatening to slip off the hand he has it propped on.

She's not surprised when she finds him asleep. Actually, she's glad. He needs it. She'll get a blanket and a pillow to try and make him more comfortable, and then will find ways to keep herself entertained while he sleeps. If he sleeps long enough, not only is his apartment cleaned, she's got soup simmering and a fresh pot of coffee made. (She drank the last one.) (And that picture turned face-down is still in that position.)

It's too bad Katsuya is sleeping in the living room. Japanese game shows and really variety tv in general is hilarious. A silly culture shock of a good kind.

He wakes to the sounds of movement in the apartment and the smell of miso soup.

"Jun? Ima, nanji?" His speech is slurred with the haze of sleep and very much in thick Japanese as he slowly wakes up.

(("Jun? What time is it now?" Very informally asked, as if to close family.))

Maybe she can catch some of those later. She'd rather be doing something useful right now anyway, and sometimes she actually likes cleaning.

She comes over to the couch when he speaks, resting a hand on his arm for a moment. "It's Verity," she explains. "You've been asleep for a few hours. Feeling better?"

She can be enamored by the names of the cleaning products, some in very deliberate Engrish while she works. His apartment is small enough that she can find pretty much everything easily enough.

He jumps when he sees it's Verity, a flush of embarrassment cropping up on his face.

"Gomen, er. Sorry. Verity." He scrubs at his face beneath his lenses, trying to hide behind his hand a moment. He'd known it wasn't Tatsuya wandering around. The boy wasn't known for cooking. Jun however had always been handy around the apartment, cleaning and cooking where he could to help out. Still, to be that confused after all this time...He sighs and sits up straight. "Yeah, sorry again." He shrugs. "Guess I was confused for a moment there."

She takes a step back when he jumps, deliberately looking away. If she's not looking at him she can't see how embarrassed he is, right? "It's okay. You're tired." If she's upset or disappointed, it's hard to tell. She's never been one to smile habitually.

She is disappointed that he isn't glad to see her when he realizes she's there, but it's the sort of foolish disappointment that only makes her more disappointed in herself. "I made some soup if you're hungry? I think it came out pretty good..."

One more complicated issue to toss on top of the pile of things they should be talking about and instead aren't.

"You made soup." He blinks. Glances at the kitchen, then back to her. And then smiles wide. "It smells perfect." No wonder he thought Jun was here, what with decidedly Japanese comfort food wafting in from the kitchen.

That pile is getting pretty big. They really should deal with it before it collapses on them.

The snappish comeback she'd been forming is delayed by the smile. And then, well, maybe she doesn't need to say it after all. "I said I was going to take care of you, remember?" She'll go to get him a bowl. "You want anything with it?"

This explains so much really. Katsuya ducks his head in thanks.

"I thought....for a minute. My brother and his friend were back." He admits, giving a sheepish smile. "I must have been seeking your cooking and reminiscing while I was asleep."

He shakes his head quickly.

"No that's more than fine."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you." She says it so lightly. It must be a joke. Otherwise, she's been saying that a really long time. She serves up a bowl for him and one for herself; she'll sit on the far end of the couch after he's taken his soup. "I hope you like it."

"Not a disappointment, just confusing." And embarrassing, but well. Katsuya is trying to ignore that.

He looks really impressed by the soup. Really. For one, most of his friends aren't exactly known for their culinary skills, and for another he doesn't expect Verity to be good at Japanese cooking. So yes. Very happy indeed.

She makes a little sound of relief then; it's the sound a person makes when something stops hurting. She isn't aware she made that sound out loud.

She's good at reading directions, and she's had miso soup before. She can muddle through a lot of things with directions and familiarity with the goal. Chairman Kaga wouldn't be impressed, but if Katsuya likes it that's enough for her. This time. She'll get better.

It helps that the soup itself is fairly simple. And that mmmost Japanese soups start off with the same four basic ingredients before branching into whatever dish they will ultimately become.

Right now it's warm and healthy and Katsuya is quite content to enjoy his unexpected meal in peace. He still feels a bit muddled from sleep, but begins to take note of his much cleaner apartment. His gaze flits to the shelves--but no. That photo is still face down.

The frame holds several small pictures inside. A photo booth strip of a boisterous woman in a gaudy top dragging a panicked officer Suou in halfway while she makes faces. Another of a petite brunette American flashing a peace sign outside of the Konan PD. A third, mostly hidden behind the other two, of a group of people outside the Araya Shrine. If Verity peeked. But it's face down still, so Katsuya doesn't seem alarmed.

"It's not nearly as nice as your place." Katsuya seems a bit nervous now. "But it's home. I hope you didn't trouble yourself too much. T..thank you for helping me clean up." He honestly can't believe he slept through that.

Simplicity does definitely help. But if it hadn't been simple she would have opted for a rice dish because she knows how to make rice.

No, she didn't peek. She was sorely tempted, but she respects him too much to do that. She picked it up and dusted it without looking, which is an accomplishment for her. She's better off not knowing some things.

"You're welcome." She frowns down into her bowl for a minute before admitting, "I don't live there anymore. I... moved to the Nexus. It's better for me." Sorry Katsuya, you'll never get to take over that lovely kitchen. "Anyway I like it here. It feels like someone lives here." Maybe not him, but someone.

"You...what?" Katsuya is shooting straight up now. "Why?! What happened? We were just there."

He's sputtering, concern and worry etched into his face as he reaches over to put a hand on her shoulder.

She cringes at his reaction, but it shouldn't surprise her. He saw how much she loved it there. Of course he's surprised.

"You saw how uncomfortable I was. It's easier here." Weird she can handle, so long as it is honest weirdness. But that's not the whole story. Suddenly she isn't hungry anymore, so she sets her bowl down. Then she takes his and puts it down too, just in case.

"I think my world's going to die soon. I got out while I could. No, there's nothing you can do. Yes, I'm sure, and yes, I'm doing what I can to make sure it doesn't happen anywhere else. Please please please don't yell at me."

"What, Verity no. Why would I yell at you. This isn't your fault." He gets up so he can face her, kneeling on his floor like he had at her home only a little while ago.

His hands grip hers.

"Why...I mean. When did you find out? Why didn't you tell me?" His voice grows quiet. "Why didn't you ask to stay with me?" He doesn't know what to do. He feels helpless, suddenly.

She's relieved by how well he's taking this and lets out the breath she'd been holding. Her hands curl around his, not quite clinging, but in need of the contact.

"You've been busy," she points out quietly. "A friend offered me a place to stay, he's been very nice to me. And it wouldn't make sense for me to live someplace where I don't speak the language yet. Besides. You're... I know you would have taken me in if I'd asked, but it would have made you uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship like that."

"What about Loki?" Katsuya hates everything in this moment. His home, the demons. Himself. He pulls Verity forward, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Hold her close.

"Verity. You could never ruin our friendship. Well, okay don't tell me I know I can't promise that. But you'd have to fucking try really hard to." He's talking into her shoulder.

"I care about you so much. You don't even know. God I'm so sorry Verity. If I'd known..." He's choking up, pulling her tighter. The important thing is all of this? Totally true.

She's not talking right now. She might not be listening much. As soon as he mentions Loki she pretty much collapses in his arms and starts to cry. Months of guilt and doubt and dread have built up and she just can't take it anymore.

On the upside, she's not arguing?

And isn't that just a knife twisting in his heart. Well, at least he'd been honest with her. She doesn't have to return his feelings. Of course, Loki is the world to her. And she doesn't know if he's okay.

"Shhh, Verity...It's.." It's not okay of course it isn't okay. "I'm here for you." He says instead. "Whatever you need, I'm here for you."

It would seem that, at the moment, she needs hugs. She's sure holding onto him tight. Tissues wouldn't go amiss, but she's not letting go of him, so they'll have to wait.

"M-my mom." It's hard for her to catch enough of a breath to speak. This is going to be slow going. "Doesn't believe me. She won't. Won't come."

It's not all about Loki, Katsuya.

Her mother. Her family. The only family she has left. Was there still time? Forget safety, was it even feasible?

"Do you want me to get her anyway? What do you want me to do. Anything. Just tell me." If the world ends while he's out trying to save her mother, that's not such a bad way to go in the grand scheme of things. A lot better than bleeding out to a demon attack for no reason.

She sniffles and tries to calm down enough to think. He had been saying something. She's pretty sure he had been saying something.

"I'm going to talk to her tomorrow. One last try. But... I don't have a right to force her. Just like I had to let you go fight the demons." She's too tired to care what she's indirectly admitting. He's warm and his shoulder is so comfortable.

"You...you know the world is in danger, and you're....prepared to let her decide her own fate?" Katsuya shakes slightly. He would never be strong enough to do that. The thought of his father or even as brother, capable as he was. "YOu're braver than I am, Verity. I'd kill myself trying to save my family even if they didn't want to be."

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Watch all of Cooking With Dog Verity!

...I don't know what that is, but it sounds fun.

Japanese cooking YouTube channel

Ahh, yes, something for her to watch. I was picturing Swedish Chef & Rolph in my head.

Chef and Francis are adorable

I'll check it out! :)

You ruin all my plans, angst! *shakes fist*

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You ruin all my plans, angst! shakes fist