Casual Culinary Soiree (for h_hollister )

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya's had a field day with the recipes Hippolyta printed off for him from the Great British Bake Off. The Crossroads Cafe has been full of all manner of European desserts, rolls, pies, and breads while the officer has tried his hand at as many things as he could reasonably make in the time since Hips had shown him the show.

Sadly, he's unable to watch it since. Sumaru, Japan is still at least a decade behind in video streaming services or even the invention of the concept. He really hopes after dinner and dessert Hippolyta lets him watch more of it tonight. Katsuya's got a bag of ingredients in hand (and a couple more issues of that manga for Frankie to read) when he rings the doorbell at the agreed upon time.

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[h_hollister]

It's a miracle these boys have turned out as well as they have. Not just the whole 'non human' thing, not just the isolation, but the sure knowledge that there were forces in this world out to literally kidnap them for experimentation. Both boys had their own PINpoints, and were well versed on how to use them in an emergency.

Not to mention the fact that their mother was...well. She's determined to break cycles of abuse, let's just put it that way.

"Oh, Suou-san," she teases back in the same tone. "You'd deprive my children of the bounty you promised them? On your own fool head be it. You ain't lived till you seen a plaga monster temper tantrum, m'laddio. Pass me the cream and the butter?"

She gestured to her lovely brushed steel fridge, while she starts dicing some shallots for the sauce.

[sumarusfinest]

"Wh-, but I wouldn't be if you're fighting dirty. That was..I mean it was a joke but--"

Caught a bit off guard Katsuya sputters and shakes his head. He's not going to be mean to children, especially hers and double especially not on purpose. There's no doubt Katsuya's trying, but his sense of humor is a wee bit stunted compared to most others. He's been terminally serious for most of his life.

Truthfully, he's grateful for the change in subject as he hurries to retrieve both items from the fridge for Hippolyta's use.

"Here you are. Is...there anything else I can help with?"

[h_hollister]

"Hey."

She turns from the chopping board, laying the knife down, and winks at him playfully.

"Unclench. I'm teasing you."

She takes the items in question from his hands, letting their fingers brush together just ever so slightly enough to be absolutely deliberate, and starts melting the butter for the roux. She works with the kind of effortless grace that only comes with practice. Twelve years of raising two boys almost solely on home cooked meals will do that.

"You hang around me enough, you learn I am never serious, except about two things: Alcohol and sex."

She says that last bit in a stage whisper, knowing full well her boys might overhear.

[sumarusfinest]

His gaze drops from Hippolyta's face to their hands before she's turning back around and working on the roux for the sauce. It's as much of a mental workout trying to keep up with Hippolyta as it ever was with Maya and--he grinds his thoughts to a stop there.

It's never, ever, a good sign when he starts being reminded of his old comrades. Especially Ms. Amano. Katsuya takes a breath and sighs after a moment. He's overthinking things. Hippolyta is an old friend, one he's known almsot as long as he has his other companions. It makes sense that he would think about those times too when he's with her. In a lot of ways, she's the oldest friend he's got and still managed to keep, despite their falling out of contact for a good long chunk of time.

Katsuya certainly knows more about her now than he does any of their current situations.

Is that really so much of a bad thing? Up until now, he's been alone. But now he has Tomoe in his apartment, and is getting back in touch with Hips. It's definitely a change for the better.

"I can't really handle my drink." He admits quietly. "I tend to get emotional. As for the other...I can't really speak on the subject." Not that there'd be much to say even if he did. It's been a long, long time.

[h_hollister]

"A cheap date, huh? Good to know."

There's a quiet sizzle as she drops the shallots into the pan, and then pours a generous glug of cream in after. She knows how to pull together a proper sauce, give her that, her spoon constantly stirring and moving. The scents coming out of that pan are heavenly, and she adds another knob of butter to the mix. Everything is better with more butter, after all.

"Maybe I'll pour you a generous glass of wine tonight. See how far I can push you into speaking on the subject."

And when she smiles at him, there's a very thick, very noticeable layer of sensuality on top. If he's overthinking things, she's determined to get him out of his own head. Maybe not tonight...but soon.

[sumarusfinest]

"Shall I set the table?"

He's looking around the kitchen already, trying to remember which cabinet held the dishes. Which drawers are for the silverware. Everything smells very rich and very tasty and it's easier to focus on that.

Katsuya's always been embarrassed by how emotional he tends to get when he's drunk. It's one of the many reasons he doesn't imbibe. Or at least not very often. He drops his gaze almost immediately at what really can't even be subtext at this point in Hippolyta's smile. She's never serious, Katsuya. She's teasing, best to take it like a man. He only blushes a little bit and continues his fussing.

"Not in front of the boys you won't." Or anyone, for that matter.

[h_hollister]

"Oh! Yeah, plates in this cabinet, silverware top drawer on the left."

The steak is cooked as rare as can be, which is precisely how it should be for a good stroganoff. Overcooking it now would wind up with it being like shoe leather in the final mix. Hippolyta has most definitely learned.

Although.

As Katsuya gets the dishes down, she cannot help the scoping out of the goods, as it were. The man has an excellent ass, give him that. And he fills out a suit very nicely indeed. He's good with kids, he's got the whole Nexus thing on a lock, and he's loyal. Calm. Fulfills his duties and doesn't back down from a fight. Knows his way around guns.

Maybe she really doesn't learn one bit. If Wade Wilson were here, he'd be telling Katsuya to run and never look back. (Okay, he'd phrase it as 'don't stick your dick in the crazy' but that's just Deadpool for you.)

"Hmm. You can't use my boys as a shield all night, m'laddio," she says, almost too soft to hear.

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya is thin and high-waisted, but he's strong as any of the not-Avengers tier Supers Hippolyta has had the benefit of knowing. She's seen evidence of this first hand when they were dealing with the plagas outbreak, or when they were fighting demons back wehn she had helped him rescue his brother's friend. It's been years, but he still looks as fit as ever. Though Hippolyta has to guess a bit since she's never seen Katsuya in anything less than a long sleeved button up shirt and slacks before. Even when they were fighting.

He's definitely got A Look, and he sticks to it.

The officer's just finishing setting the table when he looks up again. Despite all her teasing and the faintest traces of embarrassed red on his face he's still smiling. Hippolyta is a friend and Katsuya knows she's not trying to upset him. He's learned how to take a joke over the years.

"There will be time for you to drink after the meal, since I still need to put together dessert once we've finished."

Don't think he forgot about his half of the cooking. Not even for a second.

[h_hollister]

She can appreciate The Look™ quite a bit. After all, look who she married. If there's anybody in the history of the Nexus capable of serving looks, it's the Spanish zombie midget pirate. Of course, her own aesthetic sense is firmly in the jeans and t-shirt and boots area. Some things will remain eternal: Hippolyta wearing high boots is a foundation of the multiverse.

"I promise I won't get swozzled," she swears, using her forefinger to cross her heart. "But you're absolutely having a glass of wine with dinner. Trust me, it goes so well with the stroganoff."

Which she's putting together very nicely. Although she does pause for a moment to get a giant pot of water on the boil for the noodles. Which just shows off just how much she's kept herself in shape. Her arms are still pretty defined for a woman in her forties, and she hefts the heavy pot with ease. How and where she finds the time to keep her training up...

[sumarusfinest]

"I am? Well. I can't offend the chef's sensibilities now can I?"

Katsuya gives an honest chuckle at that. He can't really remember the last time he had a glass of wine with a meal. Too busy burying himself in work to not just fix a tea or coffee for himself to go with whatever it is he's eating. Indulging rarely in a beer with a meal if he meets Nanjo and Baofu to watch a baseball game at the ramen joint they tend to favor when they're in town.

He doesn't want to just hover in the doorway staring at her or into the living room where the boys are so Katsuya pulls up a stool at the breakfast nook and takes a seat.

"I have a confession to make." His voice is amused but quiet. "I have no idea what is 'swozzled'." Nor can he say it quite right either. He's fluent in English but some things still slip by him. Do not ask how many years it took him to say Hippolyta's name right. He's very glad she goes by Hips even now.

[h_hollister]

That makes her pause. And she knows she shouldn't. But she really and genuinely and truly cannot help herself.

"Swozzled," she repeats, trying very hard and mostly failing to hide a smirk. "You know. Spifflicated. Snockered. Potted. Banjaxed. Well-lubricated. Mottled and muttled. Hammered. Soused. Pished. Hosed. Fecked. Drunk."

And with that, she gives up and giggles. And leans into him, one hand on his shoulder, before ducking her forehead down against her own hand. Which is still on his shoulder. She hasn't had to call on her ridiculous knowledge of ridiculous spacer slang in years. Not since she was living with Nadezhda, anyway.

[sumarusfinest]

Did his ears break?

Literally nothing she's saying is making any more sense than 'swozzled' was. He almsot opens his mouth to interrupt but catches 'hammered' and he thinks he might know that one but Hips is moving right past that too and all the way to--

"Drunk. Oh. Oh I see. I've never heard that term used before. Or...most of the rest of those words, if I'm being honest."

He doesn't brush Hippolyta off of his shoulder, though a faint bi of color settles on his face as he glances at her out of the corner of his eye.

"I'm glad you find it amusing at least." A tiny smile and it's clear he's taking this well too.

[h_hollister]

He's not pulling away.

Hollister. No. Behave yourself, you thot.

...Nope. 404 behave function not found.

She doesn't pull back and step away. In fact, she insinuates herself just that slightest degree closer, her hand still on his shoulder, and her face tilted up towards his. She doesn't deliberately lick her lips, honest. Although her eyes flick down toward his mouth, and then back up to his gaze. Her sons are right there and yet she still can't put that vital distance between herself and him.

"I worked on a mining ship surrounded by space marines," she reminds him, her tone low and intimate. "I have far too many slang words in my brain. Sorry."

There's so many excuses he could spout now. If he picks a single one, she'll back off for good. But...short of a striptease, she's made her intentions 100% clear. Will he take the bait, is the real question.

[sumarusfinest]

"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.

[h_hollister]

"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.

[sumarusfinest]

"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."

[h_hollister]

"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.

[sumarusfinest]

"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?"

[h_hollister]

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."

[sumarusfinest]

"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."

[h_hollister]

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."

[sumarusfinest]

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.

[h_hollister]

"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.

[sumarusfinest]

"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.

[h_hollister]

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."