sumarusfinest | Casual Culinary Soiree (for h

"Duly uhm. Ah. Noted."

What is happening right now? What is she looking at? Does he have something on his face? Katsuya brings a hand up to check but there's nothing there. Just--

Oh.

Oh.

UHM. Is there a protocol for when you're pretty sure someone you've known since before their kids were born (in the other room even, Katsuya!!) is looking at you like that? That IS what's happening right now, isn't it? He really doesn't want to read this wrong but--oh hell.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAA---

"...H..hi there." Smooth, Katsuya.

"Hi."

No excuse, but he's stiff as a board, and not in the fun way. Her eyes flick to the side, and the boys are still both absorbed in manga and 3DS. So she gently puts her hands on Katsuya's chest, one on either side of his lapels. And, yes, inches herself just that little bit closer. Not touching him yet, but one more step forward and she'd be plastered all over him like aluminum siding. Heh.

"You, sir, look like a very fashionable deer in some pretty bright headlights. Do I need to slow my roll?"

She's many things, but at least she knows to keep her brazenly hussy ways to those who reciprocate now. Deadpool was more than a little brutal in hammering that lesson home.

Edited 2018-03-20 23:27 (UTC)

"I..uhm--"

Deep breath Katsuya. She's known him through at least two of the trainwrecks his relationships have been. She knows he's not the best at this sort of thing. He's pretty sure she's not teasing him. Gently Katsuya reaches up and takes both of her hands in his.

"I get the feeling I may have m-missed a lot of cues up until right now, and if that's the case I should...ah. I should apologize. But can we...possibly...talk? About this? First? I'm n-not...I'd like to be sure we're on the same page, here."

"That sounds great," she murmurs, still all up in space. And when he takes her hands, she smiles. It's not her usual impish grin, either. This is a softer sort of variety of smile, a little rusty from disuse, but sincere and feminine and making her look years younger.

"But just so you know, I don't invite just anybody here. And I certainly don't leave my children with somebody I don't completely and utterly trust. So."

She winks at him, and then pulls back slowly, the tips of her fingers lingering against his. Turning back to the stove, she allows herself a moment to grin like a madwoman, and even giggle a little to herself. Yup. He's into it and she's going for it.

"The uh...the trust wasn't really ever part of the question, Hippolyta."

Did he almost just default back to 'Ms. Hollister'? Maybe but no one will ever know if he did. People remark at how socially awkward his younger brother is but Katsuya is still a Suou and is still awkward all these years later even if he's gotten better over the years.

He lets out a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding when she finally pulls away and turns her attention back to the stove. Okay. Well. This is apparently happening now. When did this become a thing? Does it really matter? He's known Hippolyta forever it feels like and the most important thing to keep in mind is that she's his friend and someone he trusts. If he can't have a frank and open discussion with her then he might as well give up on having one with anyone.

There is one thing niggling at him though. Enough to make him look up from the salt shaker he's decided is the most interesting thing on the planet and has been staring at for the last half a minute.

"How long have you been...that is..just how much of an idiot have I been?"

Edited 2018-03-23 02:03 (UTC)

She turns back from the stove, and puts a hand to her forehead, palm facing out.

"Oh, positively years, Katsuya. I've been pining."

And she cannot keep a straight face at that, eyes bright with amusement as she snickers to herself. He's just so damn adorable. She never thought she'd go for the socially awkward....type. Uh. Except for Rimmer. And Thundercracker. And Wade, Wade was definitely a total social outcast even if he was more vocal about it. And Ramon, the man literally isolated himself in a castle with a cult.

Smeg. She's always been about the awkward boys. Well, this is a revelation.

"Not long. Honestly, I just realized the last time we saw each other that...well. You're kinda hot, you know. Unfairly so. I just have, as the kids today are saying, zero chill."

She's pitching her voice low so Sammy and Frankie don't overhear. They're still engrossed in their various entertainments, so that's a plus.

"Like I said. Tell me if I need to slow my roll. I know I'm a shameless hussy."

"When I was watching your boys."

That's a relief at least. Katsuya's not sure he can handle finding out this has been going on for a while and he's only just now finding out about it. While he doesn't have any idea what 'Zero chill' means, he does understand what she means when she says he's hot.

And ah. Well. That's not an uncommon opinion to have been made about him.

"You know as well as I do that my looks count for nothing in a real relationship, Hips." His smile is small and not very kind to himself. "If...I can't...I don't think I can do a casual relationship and I've not..." He's struggling with his English here, gesturing vaguely while he tries not to make what he wants to say come out as vulgar as it feels in these strange words.

"I haven't slept with anyone in years. Remember the talk we had last time? About the trainwreck my relationships have been?" He sighs slightly. "I feel like you deserve better."

Wow. That's....Wow. She hasn't had a man be this up front with her in respects to a potential relationship in....uh. Hold on. Calculating. Wow. Um, recalculating....never. It sort of strikes her silent for a moment, wiping the ever-present smirk off her face as she just stares at him for a second. Her mouth is partway open, and she just sort of blinks at him stupidly.

"Same, honestly," she blurts. "After Ramon passed, I went about the business of finding somebody who would treat me like dirt, you know? And I succeeded. That was five years ago, and I haven't seen him or anybody else since. I don't...do casual. I haven't ever, really. I mean..."

Well. The tables have turned. She's now the one reduced to the stuttering mess, and she turns back to her pans, thinking fast. She has this wonderfully slutty reputation, that everybody looks at her and sees the woman who slept with Deadpool, who slept with a Decepticon, who slept with Arnold Rimmer, and who married a literal zombie midget pirate and had his freaky Plaga baby. (Who she loves desperately as only a mother can, don't get her wrong!)

"It's more than just the physical, Katsuya. You're....you're a hell of a guy, and I really respect you and trust you, and I don't want you to think this is..."

"Ah! Good evening, ma'am, sir!"

Her heart sinks as Kryten toddles into the kitchen, fortunately not wearing his groinal cleaning attachments. But he does have a bottle of window cleaner in one hand and a slightly used rag in the other.

"Kryten!" she says cheerfully, eyes wild and tone cheerful and brittle. "I thought I told you to take the night off?"

"Oh, I am, ma'am. This is my relaxation cleaning time."

This is getting heavy really fast. Katsuya knows his face is a bright red even as he's trying to have a frank and honest discussion with Hippolyta. Quietly, there are children right next door. It's a lot to take in and he's feeling just a little bit trapped--and then Kryten shows up.

Smelling of glass cleaner and a wee bit of dust. Katsuya feels himself sighing and smiling before he can stop himself. Thank every gods except the ones he's beaten up before.

"Kryten...? It's good to meet you properly." Relaxation cleaning time? That's a sentiment Katsuya knows all too well. Get him something to fold or bake to relieve some of this tension. Hippolyta's tone might be strained but his is anything but. "I hadn't run into you the last time I was here."

Heard of, yes. What an odd sort of fellow.

"Ah, yes, because Ms. Hollister told me that if I came into the kitchen or living room, she'd remove my head with an ice pick. That would invalidate my Diva Droid warranty, you see."

If Katsuya is as red as his signature glasses, Hippolyta is a charming shade of pink as well. Except around the edges of her mouth, that's white. Mainly because blood flow is severely restricted by the pinched look she's wearing now.

"Kryten, I can upgrade that threat from ice pick to an ancestral ceremonial sword. There's one hanging in the library. Looks suitably sharp."

"Oh, Ms. Hollister, ma'am, you're just being ridiculous. Anyway, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Katsuya, sir. Samuel and Franklin have spoken quite highly of you." Smiling a lipless, plastic smile, Kryten leans into Katsuya conspiratorially. "If I may be so bold, sir, it's nice to have a man around the castle again."

And with that, the mechanoid set about cleaning up the top of the fridge, and underneath the floor runner, humming off-tune as he cleans. And Hips has gone from charming pink to vivid scarlet, her face buried in both hands.

Edited 2018-03-24 02:08 (UTC)

"I uh...thank...you?"

Why would it matter to have a man around the castle? Hippolyta can fight better than most men. He's fought alongside her enough to know that much. It's a memory that stirs something in him. A small smile, fiercely proud. They fell out of touch when they both turned their backs on the Nexus but it seems like they haven't drifted apart at all even after so long.

He glances back at Hippolyta, slightly amused that she seems to be even more caught off guard than he was.

"Is the food ready?" Katsuya asks instead of bringing attention to the emotions she's so clearly trying to control.

When she finally looks up again, she slowly smirks, which turns into snickers, and she's shaking her head wryly at her date.

"Just about. And then I'm going to PINpoint onto the surface of Pluto and not come out until Bog Bot over there leaves."

"My audio input devices are burning!" calls Kryten from somewhere deep in the fridge, plastic derriere the only thing truly visible of him.

"No they aren't. Not yet, anyway!" she calls back, in that same brittle tone. But it's the sort of teasing that old bitchy friends do, old bitch friends who can put each other on blast at the blink of an eye. Kryten and Hippolyta have basically been co-mothering the twins since the day they were born, and the mech takes his position very seriously.

Hips turns back to Katsuya, and drops her forehead onto his lapel, right above his heart.

"I take back what I said about getting drunk. I'm going to have all the scotch."

"He's not all that bad, really."

His time spent in the Nexus has rather made it easier for Katsuya to accept such things as droids like Kryten as real fairly easily. It's hardly even the most outlandish unfortunate truth he's learned from his own world, much less the Multiverse. It's easy to tell that he and Hips get along alright.

Reminds him of himself and Baofu, really.

Katsuya brings a hand up and pats her on the shoulder with no small amount of sympathy.

"Best not, but it's your house. I'll do what I can to help if that's what you decide to do."

"Nice to have a man around the castle, my arse" she grumbles, but the blush is fading and she's smiling again. "I'm sorry, Katsuya."

That little pat on the shoulder is adorable, and she's already angling for more casual touching. At least in her head, anyway. She's determined to get this button-up boy to slip a few loose already.

There's a bit more prep, but not much, and soon the meal is finally together. There's even a healthy serving of broccoli, which she knows full well neither of her boys will voluntarily consume. So Katsuya will get to see that whining, as well.

"Boys! Dinner. Franklin, book down please."

Frankie huffs an impatient sigh and shuffles in behind his brother, carefully placing the borrowed book somewhere safe and well away from the food. Hips rolls her eyes, even as Kryten fusses over the boys.

"By the way, family rule. No reading at the dinner table," she murmurs to Katsuya, pitching her voice low. "Otherwise we can't get Frankie's nose out of them. Which isn't a bad thing, but I'm trying to encourage him to be here and now."

"No books at the dinner table, understood."

Frankie has a bit of Katsuya's sympathy there. His own table is three quarters paperwork with a small spot free at his usual seat for him to eat while he works. Though that is more necessity than a tendency toward escapism.

Katsuya's quick to serve so that Hippolyta can get herself and the boys something to drink but all he offers is a small apology when the broccoli goes on plates.

"Your mother insists." Is his only quiet remark. Besides, he likes the stuff and will definitely be taking some for himself.

Sammy actually pouts at Katsuya, his face scrunched up in dismay.

"Maaaaan, I thought you were gonna be the cool boyfriend," he groans, stabbing a piece of broccoli with his fork. Hips visibly bites back her initial snarky comment to her son and lets it slide.

Frankie is also less than enthused, but less vocal about it, shifting the offending vegetable around with the tines of his fork. But then he looks up at Katsuya and smiles shyly.

"Thank you for the manga," he says, in what's barely audible above a whisper. "It's very well drawn and plotted. So far."

Hips works very hard not to snicker at her son's phrasing. Of course Frankie would leaven his review with a promise to downgrade if it didn't meet his expectations. She pours out big glasses of water for the boys, and two smaller cups of milk. No lactose intolerance in this household, at least.

"I think you'll find I've never been 'cool' in my life. Just ask my brother."

He makes an art out of being stuffy and responsible. Has pretty much since he was the boys' age, really. And for now they only get the same soft smile from him, though it turns a bit wider at Frankie's comment.

"So long as you enjoy it I'll keep buying them for you. If you'd like I'll read them too if you want to talk about them? I picked them up because it was about cooking, which is something I enjoy."

Katsuya's only read a couple of manga in his whole life, but he'd pick them up in a heartbeat if it meant giving Frankie someone to talk to. He thanks Hippolyta for the glass of wine she's poured him and finally sits down to eat himself. Almost immediately he gives a startled noise and a wide smile.

"This is very good, Hippolyta!"

"Glad you like it."

She pours herself a half glass of wine, and then - after a moment of hesitation - pours him an identical half-glass. It's a well-aged merlot, grown in the soil of España, and a perfect pair with the stroganoff. And, like all mothers everywhere, she takes her seat last, and relaxes slowly.

Sammy is still toying with his veg, but Frankie digs in. At least he sees the benefit, eating the broccoli before the meat and noodles. Hips hides a smile behind her wine glass, even as she leans over and strokes the back of Frankie's head. And then she winks saucily at Katsuya, nodding at his wine glass. Drink up, m'laddio.

If Katsuya makes a little bit of a point to eat his broccoli with gusto, well, clearly he's not trying to set a good example for the children. Even if Hippolyta's stroganoff is very very good he wants to be sure all of his greens are eaten promptly before he fills up on the rest of the meal.

Nor has Katsuya forgotten the insistence he try the wine with the rest of the food, either. Half a glass even he can handle, especially on a full meal. Gotta hand it to her too, everything goes very well together. Katsuya's smile is small and sheepish but he nods all the same.

Good call.

"I'm not sure if I should make dessert tonight, Hippolyta. It doesn't seem like Sammy is very hungry. I don't want it to go to waste and I had been rather counting on him to be my sous chef for the evening..."

Sammy groans dramatically and slumps in his seat, pinning Katsuya with a glare.

"Your Jedi mind tricks won't work on me, señor. I am too strong-willed."

Oh, yes. This young man is definitely Hippolyta's son. She's doing her best not to burst out laughing in her stroganoff, even as Frankie snickers to himself. He's the one to gently kick Sammy under the table.

"Eat the broccoli and accept the bribe, brother."

Sammy snorts but does as he's told, before turning to his mother.

"Next time make carrots instead, please? I hate broccoli."

Hippolyta sighs, but tilts her head in acceptance.

Katsuya can't help the smile that flits across his face. Embarrassed to be caught out by Frankie rightfully calling him on his ply with Sammy, but also proud that Sammy has done what he knows Hippolyta expects of him without a fight. They're good kids. He rather enjoys looking after them.

"I don't know what a Jedi is, but thank you for being agreeable about this. I really do need a capable helper to assist me with getting dessert ready, just so you know. I hope you all like chocolate."

"WHAT?!"

"Samuel. Inside voice." Hips actually winces at that, and there's a strange ringing in the air, almost like tinnitus but not quite. Apparently in his excitement, Samuel has let loose with a string of plaga sonics, enough to make his mother's head ring. The noise cuts out half a second later.

"...What? You've never seen Star Wars? Oh my god, dude."

He's squirming in his seat now, blue eyes wide with shock. Like, he's heard of these rare and mythical beasts that have never seen Star Wars, but has never met one in the flesh. Hips has put her fork down and is staring at her boy expectantly.

"Sammy, you know better than this. Nexus rules, please."

"But mum! Star Wars!" Like that made it okay to point out gaps in people's multiversal knowledge.

"Samuel Miguel. Enough. Or I'll revoke dessert privileges after all."

Oooh, full name, he's in trouble now. Frankie is silent, like a spectator at a tennis match, eyes flicking back and forth between his mother and his brother. Sammy's pout is so much like Ramon's that it's almost heartbreaking.

For just a moment Katsuya twitches his head to the side, brow furrowed in clear discomfort. It's a sickening feeling that's familiar in a truly awful way but it's gone again before Katsuya can pin down exactly what that was and why his fight or flight responses feel every kind of triggered.

The officer sucks in a deep breath and tries to look engaged with Sammy's questions, but he honestly doesn't know what to say. It's not something he's heard of or seen so he just offers a shrug of his shoulders and a glance to Hippolyta.

"Is this a cultural thing? Like pokemon? Something I should probably know but don't?" He offers Sam an apologetic smile. "I did warn you I wasn't cool."

See, here's the thing about Hippolyta. She knows how to read a room. And more specifically, she knows how to accurately read micro-expressions and emotional temperature with astonishing clarity. That's what happens when you grow up in a household where the slightest shift in somebody else's mood could lead all too easily to pain.

Katsuya's wince might as well be in 72-point bold Verdana, blinking in neon over his head. It was easy for baseline humans to hear plaga song as a high-pitched squeal, like a cheap dog whistle. But even then, it shouldn't have been that much of a wince. Sure, it was annoying sometimes, but not painful. Her eyes cut across the table from Sammy to Katsuya, and she frowns thoughtfully. Hmm.

"Star Wars is something of a cultural touchstone on many worlds," Frankie puts in quietly. "It enjoyed a resurgence here in the last couple of years with several new movies and cartoons."

"And they're just cool," insists Sammy, oblivious to his mother's thoughtful expression. "I want a lightsaber."

"No," Hips says simply, spearing another piece of beef with her fork. "You alright, Katsuya?"

"My Resonance acted up. Nothing important." Katsuya brushes his free hand over his chest for a second and taps it by way of explanation. "My Persona." As to why Helios has a very specific reaction to Plagas in specific, that has to do with Katsuya's near-death experience with them years ago. Not something he thinks about much anymore outside of the occasional nightmare, nor something he's thinking actively about now even after the reaction.

He turns his attention to Frankie and nods along with the explanation.

"A movie series then. I'm afraid I don't watch much in the way of television or movies, sorry boys. A lot of those references will go over my head."

His smile for Hippolyta is sincere, at least. He's enjoying himself and the meal.

"Are they movies you enjoyed then too?"

Casual Culinary Soiree (for h_hollister )

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