Yusuke "shibari is an art form" Kitagawa (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fabrefactions) wrote2017-08-26 12:53 pm
fabrefactions) wrote2017-08-26 12:53 pm
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[ THANKS. It's nice and slick inside, too. It's spotless, with a little cat trinket hanging on the rear view mirror. Akira slides him, starts the engine, and they back out and start their sushi journey.
Tasteful music!! In no time, Akira brings the car into the parking lot. They're early, so there's space, but they can see a line forming at the sushi bar already. ]
Good thing we have a reservation...
Tasteful music!! In no time, Akira brings the car into the parking lot. They're early, so there's space, but they can see a line forming at the sushi bar already. ]
Good thing we have a reservation...
[ ✔ Rea-- wait crap this isn't phone related.
I mean. He's at a crucial point with his paintwork right now, someone else will have to get the door. Or, they would, but he's the only one home right now.
Oh well. ]
I mean. He's at a crucial point with his paintwork right now, someone else will have to get the door. Or, they would, but he's the only one home right now.
Oh well. ]
You were very forward-thinking regarding this.
[ Perhaps those are qualities he had in that other world and other life as well as here. True leadership skills. ]
It must be good, for a queue this long.
[ Perhaps those are qualities he had in that other world and other life as well as here. True leadership skills. ]
It must be good, for a queue this long.
[ someone is persistent. Yusuke is just considering he probably should go and answer the door, when his phone buzzes. In the time it takes to set his paintbrush in water and set aside his paints, it's buzzing a reminder, and he taps the screen to keep it lit.
...
Ah.
Well, yes. He should probably go and answer the door before he's having to call the landlord about getting a new one fitted. ]
... Yes?
[ Please appreciate the paint covered art shirt, he has been disrupted midwork after all. In case there were any doubts. ]
...
Ah.
Well, yes. He should probably go and answer the door before he's having to call the landlord about getting a new one fitted. ]
... Yes?
[ Please appreciate the paint covered art shirt, he has been disrupted midwork after all. In case there were any doubts. ]
[Seeing as Sanji's been standing outside this godforsaken door for the past ten minutes (oh yes, he counted them), the state of Yusuke's dress is hardly surprising -- though damn they strike a pair, the art-covered nerd and the overly-polished asshole.
Doesn't do much for that visible throbbing against his temple, however.]
Tch. Good to see you, too. Nice weather, you look healthy, got paint in your hair--
[Rocketing through the pleasantries in one breath before he waves the rest of them off with a flick of his wrist. NOW TO BUSINESS]
Listen, I need to borrow your tastebuds -- but since I can't just take 'em, the rest of you's gotta come along, too.
[And he punctuates the statement by shaking a plastic bag he's been carrying the entire time, opaque enough to hide whatever's in it.]
Doesn't do much for that visible throbbing against his temple, however.]
Tch. Good to see you, too. Nice weather, you look healthy, got paint in your hair--
[Rocketing through the pleasantries in one breath before he waves the rest of them off with a flick of his wrist. NOW TO BUSINESS]
Listen, I need to borrow your tastebuds -- but since I can't just take 'em, the rest of you's gotta come along, too.
[And he punctuates the statement by shaking a plastic bag he's been carrying the entire time, opaque enough to hide whatever's in it.]
[ Akira actually possesses a lot of leader-like qualities, too bad he barely uses or acknowledges them. ]
It better be.
[ THEY ARE DRESSY FOR THE OCCASION. They enter the bar and it's rather luxurious inside, not your usual sushi place. Akira processes his reservation with the hostess quickly and they're seated at a nice corner with a window.
Picking up the menu, Akira squints at the prices. They're affordable, but still on the pricey side of affordable. ]
So... How much are you willing to spend?
It better be.
[ THEY ARE DRESSY FOR THE OCCASION. They enter the bar and it's rather luxurious inside, not your usual sushi place. Akira processes his reservation with the hostess quickly and they're seated at a nice corner with a window.
Picking up the menu, Akira squints at the prices. They're affordable, but still on the pricey side of affordable. ]
So... How much are you willing to spend?
[ Yusuke's hand absentmindedly rises to tug at his hair at the paint comment, looking for the offending paint covered lock, but mostly he just kinda stares at Sanji, a little wide-eyed.
Well then. ]
I... see? [ He does not. ] Thank you for not removing my ability to taste?
[ Yup. Sure is a bag Sanji has there. ... Well, he's not going to be going away in a hurry if he showed up specifically with food so. He should probably be polite. ]
Please, come in.
Well then. ]
I... see? [ He does not. ] Thank you for not removing my ability to taste?
[ Yup. Sure is a bag Sanji has there. ... Well, he's not going to be going away in a hurry if he showed up specifically with food so. He should probably be polite. ]
Please, come in.
[He's being let in.
Oh.
... Well, that's the shitty idea, isn't it? The fuck wouldn't he be allowed in? He's here for purely altruistic reasons, after all, and Yusuke's the polite one between them. Sanji mentally smacks himself out of his impromptu staring contest, rolls his shoulders back, mutters a "thanks" before sliding between Yusuke and the door--
His heart's picking a fight with his lungs trying to escape his ribcage but otherwise he'd like to think he's handling this well.]
So... your kitchen? [Is that where the cool artists eat these days?]
Oh.
... Well, that's the shitty idea, isn't it? The fuck wouldn't he be allowed in? He's here for purely altruistic reasons, after all, and Yusuke's the polite one between them. Sanji mentally smacks himself out of his impromptu staring contest, rolls his shoulders back, mutters a "thanks" before sliding between Yusuke and the door--
His heart's picking a fight with his lungs trying to escape his ribcage but otherwise he'd like to think he's handling this well.]
So... your kitchen? [Is that where the cool artists eat these days?]
[ Show them off more often, it's impressive.
Once they're sat down, Yusuke has a look over the menu as well, finger dragging down the choices, and hovering over the few that appeal to him. ]
I have some extra money this month from commissions over Christmas. [ He doesn't elaborate on what kind of commissions, sOMEONE funded one of them. ] But it would irresponsible to spent it all...
[ Hm. ]
There are some very tasty looking set options around the $25 mark - is that a reasonable amount?
Once they're sat down, Yusuke has a look over the menu as well, finger dragging down the choices, and hovering over the few that appeal to him. ]
I have some extra money this month from commissions over Christmas. [ He doesn't elaborate on what kind of commissions, sOMEONE funded one of them. ] But it would irresponsible to spent it all...
[ Hm. ]
There are some very tasty looking set options around the $25 mark - is that a reasonable amount?
[ what
did he think was going to happen? That Yusuke would take the bag and beat him with it? Instead he just tilts his head at him a little bemused, before closing the door once Sanji is actually through the door. ]
Through there.
[ He points ahead - through the door just off from the entrance way, there's a medium sized room, and the kitchen is just off from there. He'll have to step around the admittedly haphazard set up in the middle of the first room - there are paints, and sheets across the floor to catch any falling droplets of paint, and propped on the canvas in the centre of everything is what Yusuke was working on before he was interrupted. ]
Just be careful of the paints, I... think there are probably quite a lot of them scattered around.
did he think was going to happen? That Yusuke would take the bag and beat him with it? Instead he just tilts his head at him a little bemused, before closing the door once Sanji is actually through the door. ]
Through there.
[ He points ahead - through the door just off from the entrance way, there's a medium sized room, and the kitchen is just off from there. He'll have to step around the admittedly haphazard set up in the middle of the first room - there are paints, and sheets across the floor to catch any falling droplets of paint, and propped on the canvas in the centre of everything is what Yusuke was working on before he was interrupted. ]
Just be careful of the paints, I... think there are probably quite a lot of them scattered around.
[Good lord it's like someone bombed the room in linen and color. His amused snort nearly turns into a laugh before he swallows it at the last inning.]
What, you don't like visitors? It's fuckin booby-trapped in here. [You can bet he's carefully picking his way forward, lifting each step with exaggerated movements. He only has two pairs of dress shoes and there's no way Sanji's explaining to Yusuke's landlord why the house was suddenly wiped off the face of the earth.
But about halfway across the room is when Sanji stops as if Goemon froze his feet in place -- except then to move with sudden quickness as a sharp noise of surprise escapes his throat]
-- Did you paint that?
[Whaaaaaat. The food's gonna have to wait a beat, he's busy standing over the artwork, half of him leaned forward for a closer look, a wide grin taking over his expression]
Shit, how long did it take you to get that kind of texture on the petals?
What, you don't like visitors? It's fuckin booby-trapped in here. [You can bet he's carefully picking his way forward, lifting each step with exaggerated movements. He only has two pairs of dress shoes and there's no way Sanji's explaining to Yusuke's landlord why the house was suddenly wiped off the face of the earth.
But about halfway across the room is when Sanji stops as if Goemon froze his feet in place -- except then to move with sudden quickness as a sharp noise of surprise escapes his throat]
-- Did you paint that?
[Whaaaaaat. The food's gonna have to wait a beat, he's busy standing over the artwork, half of him leaned forward for a closer look, a wide grin taking over his expression]
Shit, how long did it take you to get that kind of texture on the petals?
I wasn't expecting any, no.
[ Otherwise he probably would've contained the spread of paint somewhat. Probably.
Although he ends up smothering a laugh instead when Sanji picks his way exaggeratedly through the tubes of paint and brushes and then freezes like a statue. What on earth is he doing?
...
Ah. ]
Yes?
[ That would be why it's in the middle of the room surrounded by his paints... ]
A while. But perhaps not as long as you're thinking. [ He leans around Sanji to point at and follow the line of a petal without touching it. ] The texture is mostly at the edges of the leaves and petals - minimal build up, maximum dimension.
[ Otherwise he probably would've contained the spread of paint somewhat. Probably.
Although he ends up smothering a laugh instead when Sanji picks his way exaggeratedly through the tubes of paint and brushes and then freezes like a statue. What on earth is he doing?
...
Ah. ]
Yes?
[ That would be why it's in the middle of the room surrounded by his paints... ]
A while. But perhaps not as long as you're thinking. [ He leans around Sanji to point at and follow the line of a petal without touching it. ] The texture is mostly at the edges of the leaves and petals - minimal build up, maximum dimension.
I have a small pool of money to use for occasions like these, so I'm good... But that sounds like a good limit.
[ There's only the two of them, too. It shouldn't be hard and shouldn't burn through their wallet. It's also Yusuke's special day... So Akira has a surprise later. For now, he thumbs through the menu. ]
We can share, so let's order something different. I'll probably get the nigiri platter?
[ It looks pretty good. The waiter does slide over to ask about drinks. Akira asks for water for himself. ]
[ There's only the two of them, too. It shouldn't be hard and shouldn't burn through their wallet. It's also Yusuke's special day... So Akira has a surprise later. For now, he thumbs through the menu. ]
We can share, so let's order something different. I'll probably get the nigiri platter?
[ It looks pretty good. The waiter does slide over to ask about drinks. Akira asks for water for himself. ]
Heeeeeeh...
[Yes, he sees the technique, and inside his pockets, his fingers pretend to trace the path Yusuke shows him. There's a couple seconds more of open approval before he straightens, rocked back on his heels. His head gives a soft cant of thoughtfulness]
It's nice.
[Not much of a critique, but hey. He likes flowers.
Though with the same quickness that saw him approach the picture, Sanji snaps back into his old ways, glancing in Yusuke's direction with his smile gone and his eyebrows raised.]
Anyway, kitchen -- let's get this over with.
[BACK ON THE MISSION.]
[Yes, he sees the technique, and inside his pockets, his fingers pretend to trace the path Yusuke shows him. There's a couple seconds more of open approval before he straightens, rocked back on his heels. His head gives a soft cant of thoughtfulness]
It's nice.
[Not much of a critique, but hey. He likes flowers.
Though with the same quickness that saw him approach the picture, Sanji snaps back into his old ways, glancing in Yusuke's direction with his smile gone and his eyebrows raised.]
Anyway, kitchen -- let's get this over with.
[BACK ON THE MISSION.]
Thank you.
[ Sometimes a great critique isn't needed. Acknowledgment, or doing something that people like to look at sometimes feels as much a goal as depicting an artistic vision. The balance between what the artist wants and what the audience wants is a fine line... one that hopefully he'll be able to walk when it comes to producing artwork. After all, paintings are there to be looked at, and if no one wants to look at them, then... ]
... I'm starting to become concerned with what's in that bag, given that you're treating this like it's something dreaded.
[ Is Sanji going to beat him to death with the bag? This isn't how he wants to die. ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡ ]
[ Sometimes a great critique isn't needed. Acknowledgment, or doing something that people like to look at sometimes feels as much a goal as depicting an artistic vision. The balance between what the artist wants and what the audience wants is a fine line... one that hopefully he'll be able to walk when it comes to producing artwork. After all, paintings are there to be looked at, and if no one wants to look at them, then... ]
... I'm starting to become concerned with what's in that bag, given that you're treating this like it's something dreaded.
[ Is Sanji going to beat him to death with the bag? This isn't how he wants to die. ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡ ]
[The true reason Sanji tiptoes all the way to the kitchen -- can't leave behind evidence. (งಠ_ಠ)ง
Though once he finds a table to set his burden on, some of the anticipation thins out. He just leaves it there while turning back to Yusuke, gesturing to a chair in vague impatience.]
Tch, hardly. I just figured the sooner we get this over with, the sooner you can get back to work.
[See? He's being considerate! Give him what he wants and then he'll gladly leave.]
Though once he finds a table to set his burden on, some of the anticipation thins out. He just leaves it there while turning back to Yusuke, gesturing to a chair in vague impatience.]
Tch, hardly. I just figured the sooner we get this over with, the sooner you can get back to work.
[See? He's being considerate! Give him what he wants and then he'll gladly leave.]
Yes. Enough for a good quality meal, at least.
[ He's looking through the menu as well, before tapping his finger against one of the options. ]
Should I get a roll selection...? It would probably complement well. [ There are a couple of Americanised ones in the selection but it all sounds good.
Drinks are easy though. Water is always important. ]
[ He's looking through the menu as well, before tapping his finger against one of the options. ]
Should I get a roll selection...? It would probably complement well. [ There are a couple of Americanised ones in the selection but it all sounds good.
Drinks are easy though. Water is always important. ]
[ He will katana you in the face, mister. Or just throw paintwater BOTH OPTIONS SUCK.
...
Yusuke looks over at the bag on the table... and then back up at Sanji, clearly a little confused. But he does... sit down. As wordlessly suggested. ]
I'm no clearer on what it is I'm supposed to be doing.
...
Yusuke looks over at the bag on the table... and then back up at Sanji, clearly a little confused. But he does... sit down. As wordlessly suggested. ]
I'm no clearer on what it is I'm supposed to be doing.
What, you don't remember?
[Eh, well... he supposes it's on him for getting distracted with the painting (and the image flashes in and out of his thoughts, leaving Sanji only half as irritable as he'd normally be).]
I want you to taste something.
[At that explanation, Sanji finally reaches over to the bag, unknotting it with one hand and bunching the plastic down against the table. What's left standing is a bento box of all things, blue in color (pay no attention to that picture), and sectioned into three layers.]
[Eh, well... he supposes it's on him for getting distracted with the painting (and the image flashes in and out of his thoughts, leaving Sanji only half as irritable as he'd normally be).]
I want you to taste something.
[At that explanation, Sanji finally reaches over to the bag, unknotting it with one hand and bunching the plastic down against the table. What's left standing is a bento box of all things, blue in color (pay no attention to that picture), and sectioned into three layers.]
[ ... Oh. Yes, come to think of it he had mentioned something about borrowing tastebuds... which had been pretty ominous, more than anything.
That sure is food. But why does he need to be the one to taste it? ]
... Is there a reason why?
[ He's not? Ungrateful? Food is food and he 100 per cent hasn't eaten in too long, so he will happily accept. But it seems like an odd request, especially when it involves showing up out of the blue at his house in order to fulfil it. ]
That sure is food. But why does he need to be the one to taste it? ]
... Is there a reason why?
[ He's not? Ungrateful? Food is food and he 100 per cent hasn't eaten in too long, so he will happily accept. But it seems like an odd request, especially when it involves showing up out of the blue at his house in order to fulfil it. ]
Edited 2018-01-27 21:37 (UTC)
[Sanji's answer is... silence, mostly, the man standing stiff and abruptly quiet, one hand frozen on the top of the bento. The pause stretches into awkward territory before:]
I was in the shitty area, alright?
[Mmmmmmmmmmmmhm. That sure is the truth. He shrugs, ducks his head by an inch, returns to his fussing over the bento sections]
Got it from nearby café, newly opened... and you're Japanese, right? Thought maybe you'd know how it's supposed to taste.
[Because there sure weren't any other Japanese men who know swordsmanship that Sanji could've asked for help. Regardless, by the time he's finished setting the individual sections out in front of Yusuke, a warm scent is slowly encasing the kitchen. Everything is obviously freshly made, from the salmon that's been baked with a layer of miso mayo, the pumpkin slices marinated in a spicy honey sauce, the mustard soy sauce-flavored pork paired with scrambled egg, and finally a more traditional helping of tamagoyaki wrapped with spinach, furikake-flavored rice, and chicken bites that had been fried in ginger oil.
...]
Café made a lot, they gave me extra.
[INDEED]
I was in the shitty area, alright?
[Mmmmmmmmmmmmhm. That sure is the truth. He shrugs, ducks his head by an inch, returns to his fussing over the bento sections]
Got it from nearby café, newly opened... and you're Japanese, right? Thought maybe you'd know how it's supposed to taste.
[Because there sure weren't any other Japanese men who know swordsmanship that Sanji could've asked for help. Regardless, by the time he's finished setting the individual sections out in front of Yusuke, a warm scent is slowly encasing the kitchen. Everything is obviously freshly made, from the salmon that's been baked with a layer of miso mayo, the pumpkin slices marinated in a spicy honey sauce, the mustard soy sauce-flavored pork paired with scrambled egg, and finally a more traditional helping of tamagoyaki wrapped with spinach, furikake-flavored rice, and chicken bites that had been fried in ginger oil.
...]
Café made a lot, they gave me extra.
[INDEED]
[ ... B L I N K I N G. ]
Yes... I have an idea of how Japanese food would traditionally taste.
[ He watches as all the food is set out - the smells are familiar; the ginger, the scent of soy so if this "café" is looking for a positive review, it's off to a good start. Although, come to think of it, he hasn't heard of a new café opening up. There is something of an expat community in the area, so surely he would've heard about a Japanese restaurant opening up from his mother.
But perhaps it just hasn't been a topic that she'd deemed worth discussing. There were other things happening in his mother's life right now - like her projects and upcoming exhibition works. Maybe it hadn't been what she wanted to discuss with him at the time. ]
That is a lot of extra.
[ More than just a doggy bag to take away... hang on, he's just going to go and grab a couple of essentials from the drawer. Chopsticks, and a dish for soy sauce at the very least. ]
Were they looking for word-of-mouth custom? [ He's just gonna. Grab one of those tamagoyaki, hold up - eatin' time. ]
Yes... I have an idea of how Japanese food would traditionally taste.
[ He watches as all the food is set out - the smells are familiar; the ginger, the scent of soy so if this "café" is looking for a positive review, it's off to a good start. Although, come to think of it, he hasn't heard of a new café opening up. There is something of an expat community in the area, so surely he would've heard about a Japanese restaurant opening up from his mother.
But perhaps it just hasn't been a topic that she'd deemed worth discussing. There were other things happening in his mother's life right now - like her projects and upcoming exhibition works. Maybe it hadn't been what she wanted to discuss with him at the time. ]
That is a lot of extra.
[ More than just a doggy bag to take away... hang on, he's just going to go and grab a couple of essentials from the drawer. Chopsticks, and a dish for soy sauce at the very least. ]
Were they looking for word-of-mouth custom? [ He's just gonna. Grab one of those tamagoyaki, hold up - eatin' time. ]
[A vague, muttered hum is all the answer Yusuke gets at the moment, what with Sanji watching the other's movements like a hawk. And while he doesn't go as far as to hover right over the artist's shoulder, he fidgets and stares and otherwise stews in his own impatience while he waits for the verdict]
... So? Is it any good?
[It is just good? Phenomenal? Out of this world? Too much salt in the tamagoyaki? He -- uh, he means, the café tried not to fuck that up, but was too nervous to taste-test, so they don't got a shitty clue what the final product is like--]
... So? Is it any good?
[It is just good? Phenomenal? Out of this world? Too much salt in the tamagoyaki? He -- uh, he means, the café tried not to fuck that up, but was too nervous to taste-test, so they don't got a shitty clue what the final product is like--]
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