thoughtformed | Closed Log

Sheska hadn't heard him coming, and nearly leaped out of her skin. "K-Koizumi! ...Sir!" How on earth did he move so quietly? Her heart must be beating a million times a minute! And how, exactly, did one address an older version of one of your best friends? E-especially when the original wished to court you and his older self was so... um. (There wasn't really another word for it, was there?) So handsome.

She could feel her face reddening, and suddenly she couldn't quite bring herself to look at him, despite all the covert staring she'd been doing earlier. An irrational guilt heightened the uneasy tension in her shoulders as she pressed a hand to her chest and kept her eyes carefully fixed on the floor.

"I-it's, ah... i-it's good to see you too. Um... Will... will we be seeing you - I mean, the present you... the younger you? - today? As well?" Did that even make sense? She could have kicked herself. Instead she settled for biting her tongue.

Koizumi's eyebrows raised slightly at Sheska's blush, and a feline grin spread across his face as he leaned against her desk. He gently cupped her chin and lifted it to catch his eyes, thumb brushing across her cheek. His voice is amused, yet gentle. "Sheska-chan, it's me. You don't have to call me 'sir'; I may be older than I was, but I'm still the same person, and I'm only your age now - actually, I'm still a few months younger. And I'm your friend - you definitely don't have to feel nervous or embarrassed around me."

He took his hand away then, casually using it to brush a lock of hair out of her face. His face took on a more professional, slightly more distant look. "No, I'm afraid not. He should be in my own time right now, ten years hence.

...I hope he is not quite as foolish as I remember myself being, a decade ago, and that he manages to stay out of trouble."

Edited 2013-08-10 05:54 (UTC)

Sheska's eyes went very wide behind the lenses of her glasses at his touch, though she did manage not to jump or startle away. A dazed part of her mind caught at the honorific, trying to place it, but couldn't seem to focus enough to bring up the appropriate text. Wasn't that the one that men used with...? Oh my. Alarmed, she pushed the thought aside and tried to bring her attention back to what he was saying.

"Oh, no, really, he's very smart, you don't-- What? Oh no! Is he in danger? Is there any way we can help him?"

...Well, that was at least marginally better. More focus, less stuttering, anyway. Not thinking, he barks out something of a dark and mirthless laugh at her defense of him - and her concern for his younger self doesn't immediately stem it, either. "You wouldn't see it, of course, Sheska-chan. I'm precisely aware of how intelligent I was - I was too clever by half - but that doesn't mean I was not also a great fool." His mistakes and his arrogance had gotten a lot of people hurt. He's unable to keep a little of the bitterness from his voice.

He gives her an unhappy smile, grim but unworried. "No more danger than I face on a daily basis." Technically true, though the danger he faces every day in the future is extreme. She doesn't know that, however. He waves off her concern. "He'll manage fine, it's only for a few days. I may think he's somewhat foolish, but I know he's competent."

He gives Sheska a happier smile. "Besides, he'll have all my friends looking after him."

If that was supposed to be reassuring, he wasn't doing a very good job. Bewildered and more alarmed than ever, Sheska shrank back a little, twisting her fingers in her lap. "Of course," she answered automatically, without the faintest notion of what she was agreeing to.

"What is going on?" Oops. She hadn't meant to say that aloud. She presses her fingers to her lips a little too late, and the blush deepens in her embarrassment. "Sorry, I didn't mean... I understand, I think, what's happening, I just... It's difficult when you don't know why or what you can do to help?"

He focus back on her, and seems to realize how this must be sounding to her, his voice instantly regretful and apologetic. “Sheska-chan, I'm so sorry. I spoke without thinking, I don't mean to be talking this way to you. I realize this must be difficult for you.

Look, I... I can't really tell you about the future. But believe me, my past self will be fine there for the few days that I am here." His voice is steely confident about that - though he actually isn't. It had been a necessary risk, but there was no need to worry Sheska with him now.

He sighs. "I really am messing this up. I've just been so stressed, this past... well, decade, actually." He gives a chuckle, then he smiles a little, looking down at her. "Really, though, you have no reason to be apologizing, Sheska-chan. I'd forgotten how often you did that."

A fond and almost nostalgic look takes over his face. "You'll get better about that, though."

Edited 2013-08-11 06:05 (UTC)

"Ah... I certainly hope you're right. It must be so frightening to be flung forward like that with no idea of what's going on." Sheska remembers her own arrival on the island and how it almost immediately had started throwing monsters at the city at night and she'd had to be rescued. Koizumi was stronger, though. He would have outsmarted the monsters. Found some way to fight back, or get away. Not hidden in a diner. But he is stronger and smarter. She has faith in him. He'll be fine. She might chew her nails to shreds thinking about it, but he'll be fine!

She tilts her head a little, studying the older version of her friend. He looks exhausted. She shifts guiltily as he says she shouldn't apologize, and opens her mouth to apologize for it before catching herself and managing to merely look confused. "Ah? I... hope I won't become rude..." she murmurs doubtfully.

If he couldn't tell her about the future - which of course made sense! It was just like in those science fiction novels she'd read - she wasn't... entirely certain what it was he wanted. She didn't mind talking with him, even if he confused her greatly. She just wasn't sure how to go about talking back. This was undoubtedly the strangest conversation she had had since the Doctor requested fish finger and custard cake.

Edited 2013-08-11 07:15 (UTC)

He smiles more brightly at that, fond and amused, and ruffles Sheska's hair. "Nevermind. You'll understand soon enough.

Never mind that, now - I don't get to see you as often as I'd like, in the future. How would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"

She instinctively flinches slightly from his quickly raised hand, but accepts the ruffle, even more baffled than ever. "O-oh, um... I-if you'd like to, ah, I don't think I have any plans this evening. I'll have to stop at home and feed Rook, if that's ok. I do hope my poor roommate isn't affected by all of this..."

"Aye, let us hope that she could be so lucky, that her probable future is positive enough she would not feel the need to try to change the past. I only wish I could have shared in that luck."

He frowns slightly in consternation when Sheska flinches, though he doesn't mention it.

"Of course that would be fine, Sheska-chan. My place? It's been quite a while since I've had the chance to relax and cook in a normal fashion." Quietly, as if to himself, and with just a hint of sadness that might almost have been imagined, he says "Besides, it is my turn..."

His turn...? Have they been trading off in the future? "Ah, if... if you like! Should I bring something?" It's not a date if he's from the future, right?

"Don't worry about it, Sheska-chan, I've got it covered.

Tonight at 7:30?"

Edited 2013-08-17 21:47 (UTC)

"That sounds about right... I'll text you when I'm on my way? Ah... assuming you still have the same phone number."

This was all so strange and surreal. But she was curious, she had to admit.

"I hold my younger counterpart's phone, at the moment, so that should be fine!

I'll see you tonight~"

Having had one of the strangest days in a while, even counting the ones where she woke up with a tail, Sheska made her way up to Sirius and Koizumi's apartment with the cans of Koizumi's preferred soda and the canister of tea firmly in hand. Yes, he'd said that she didn't need to bring anything, but she felt awkward not bringing something to share, and she hadn't had time to bake anything for dessert.

It felt very strange to be knocking on his door for supper instead of to check on Sirius if he wasn't at the shop. Koizumi was so rarely there, caught up as he was in his job and extra-curriculars. Except now he was older. About her age - why did that suddenly make such a difference? Well, it was about time... She took a deep breath to soothe nervous jitters and knocked.

After more than a decade of battle and intrigue, fighting not only for his own survival but the survival of reality itself, Koizumi was very much enjoying cooking dinner for Sheska, spending time doing something normal for once. It had been a while, but he was quickly getting back into the swing of things. He was wearing something comfortable, jeans and an undershirt, with a light blue long sleeved button-up - noticeably unbuttoned - thrown on in order to cover his scars. That was not his favorite choice of conversational topic. On top of that was an plain apron.

He had managed to keep the flour mostly off his shirt, but he had streaks on his jeans, on his face, and through his hair. Of course the apron was a lost cause. He was just pulling the main dish out of the oven and replacing it with his best attempt at dessert when there was a knock on the door.

Smiling openly and broadly, he opened the door, trying to wipe flour off his hands with a towel. "Sheska-chan, come in!" He closed the door behind her and ushered her into the dining room, where two places were already set on the table. "Oh good, you brought the drinks."

Sheska immediately went pink, which actually went rather nicely with her cowl-necked sleeveless top and swishy purple ombre skirt. She was so very overdressed. The headband alone was probably a bit much, but the added pearl jewelry put it far over the top. But how was she to have known? Last time they'd done this he'd nearly turned up in a suit!

And how had he known she was going to bring drinks? He'd even planned for it, by the sound of things. And he was using that suffix she didn't really know that well. She barely had time to greet him before she was whisked inside and the door shut. Well. So much for begging a chance to go and change.

"I-I'm sorry, I just didn't feel right, c-coming without anything to contribute, and I wasn't sure f-flowers would be quite right, ah... Oh dear..."

Koizumi laughed - fully and freely - as she stammered out an excuse, though it was a kind, good-natured sound. "Don't worry about it, love. I said 'good', I'm not mad. I was counting on it, actually. Some things never change."

He elegantly pulled a chair out for her. "Might I say, you look lovely today, Sheska-chan, dear. Please, sit down! The main dish will be right out."

She stared, eyes wide. He... laughed. Was that what it sounded like when he didn't retrain himself? And she couldn't stop herself from twitching a little when he used that particular endearment. What...? How did he manage to make her feel like a beloved adult, an awkward teenager, and utterly baffle her all at the same time every time he spoke?

She felt like a cat plucked out of a sound sleep, dunked in a sink full of water, then set back on its paws and toweled off before it knew what had happened to it. She was suddenly and completely out of her depth. Still, she managed to seat herself without falling over. "Ah... th-thank you. I should have brought a change of clothes, really, but I'm glad that you approve. Is... Is there anything I can help you with?"

"I'm not sure why you say that, you really do look marvelous. Unless it's uncomfortable? I could understand a change of clothes then." Koizumi seemed completely unaware of the discrepancy in their level and formality of dress. "No, thank you, Sheska-chan, I've got it. Just stay there and I'll be right out."

He disappeared into the kitchen for a couple minutes, seeming to make more noise than should strictly be necessary for what he was doing. A short while later, he emerged into the dining room once again, precariously balancing an array of pots, pans, and trays with goodly amount of dinner in them. There was a beef roast, stewed with onions, carrots, and potatoes. Alongside that was a flatbread dish, topped with baby spinach and roma tomatoes, with mozzarella cheese sprinkled over everything. He also had a wide assortment of tempura fried vegetables.

Within a couple moments, he had gracefully and artfully spread the food across the table, smiling broadly as he served up the food. "Let me know if this is too much. It's been a while since I've really had a chance to cook something, and I may have gone a little overboard.

Keep in mind that we need to save room for dessert, though we can take a break before we dig into it, if we need to."

Completely at a loss, Sheska let him bustle off without accompanying him. He hadn't even noticed... And he liked it? A rather different sort of warmth washed over her face. Oh! Now was her chance! Fumbling a little in her haste, she stripped the jewelry off and slipped it into her bag, but hesitated a touch too long over the headband.

Her mouth fell open as he returned, astonished and she jumped up to try and help, but he had everything in place before she could so much as touch a dish. "Oh my..." A slightly stunned smile spread across her face, and her hands retreated behind her unconsciously, like a child told they could look but not touch. "It looks amazing!"

The roast was the only thing that she recognized, but the others were intriguing and everything smelled delicious. "You've put so much work into it! What... Sorry, I'm not familiar with some of this, but this is wonderful. I can't wait to try everything! Where did you learn all of this?"

He grinned at her reaction. "Honestly, it's a relief to do something normal for once, so it was a pleasure.

Oh, we've been slowly expanding our repertoires, this past decade. Some of these, I learned from you! And don't worry, you'll love everything." He leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice to a stage whisper. "I cheated, actually. I already know what your favorite foods are, even the ones you've never had yet."

Sheska laughs in spite of herself, forgetting her self-consciousness enough to reach out and push his arm in gentle remonstrance. "Itsuki! That is cheating! Shouldn't you tell me what your favorite foods are so that I can do the same for you later?"

Edited (names and feels) 2013-10-20 22:09 (UTC)

"What's the point in cheating if I don't get any advantage out of it?" Koizumi teased gaily. "Besides, I actually went through the process of learning your favorite food, I gained the knowledge legitimately. Since it'll be entirely up to you whether you tell my younger counterpart, if I am cheating, I'm cheating for your sake."

Edited 2013-10-22 06:31 (UTC)

"Mm, that makes it sound like you had to discover them individually instead of all at once. I suppose I'd better hold onto this information for a while. Shall I pour the drinks while you serve?" At least that way she could occupy her hands and feel like she was helping.

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[Action]// you seem to have switched tenses...

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