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Post by fryn on Jan 25, 2010 2:22:44 GMT -5
His Vespa was filled to its brim with petrol and he'd rolled a blanket up into a tight wad, blancing it somewhat precariously across the scooter's handlebars. Takumi shook his head. That wouldn't work as the first pothole they encountered would shake it loose. Instead he rammed it into a small backpack. They'd need the carrier anyway when he picked up Lia as she was bringing their picnic. The only problem was he'd need to ask Lia to wear the pack because if he did they she's be chewing on canvas fior the entire duration of their journey.
"I'll be back early afternoon!" he called up to his mother. This afternoon he was to meet up with Evan and Dare at the latter's house for their music session. Hopefully Izzy could make it. He'd sent her a text to remind her... and another to Lace... It should be a fun afternoon but first he had an equally fun morning to look forward to!
He set off towards Lia's house, not all that sure where they'd be going exactly but just as sure they'd have a great time doing so. He drew up outside her house at a few minutes before 10 and with a bright smile across his face he made for the front door. With luck he'd even run into Jandro as he hadn't seen any of the other school escapees from yesterday to tell them about his after-school punishment. Not that he really minded. Takumi knew he'd been let off pretty lightly.
He reached out a hand and pressed the doorbell...
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Post by Lia Juarez on Jan 25, 2010 23:53:02 GMT -5
Jandro was dancing around the living room to the music on his ipod when the door bell rang. "I'll get it," he called out and ran to the door before Lia could try to lock him in the closet or something to keep him from finding out who her mysterious plans were with. When he flung open the door, he was so shocked to see Takumi there that he almost fell over. "Hey Taki," he said and gave him a quick hug. He felt better because he did not believe that the slender Asian would take advantage of his sister especially since it seemed he was dating Izzy. "Lia has been cooking all morning. It smells good, but she wouldn't let me taste any of it," he said with a grin and showed their friend the video he had taken of her cooking on his ipod. She looked frizzled and damp with her hair flying away in every direction as the humidity from cooking ruined all her efforts at styling.She came out of the kitchen, her hair now tamed into a long braid down her back and a western hat on her head. "Taki, thanks so much for this, it is going to be so much fun. I made lunch for us from traditional family recipes from Spain and Sweden. I really hope you like them. This is the first time I have made them without a grandmother supervising me. She handed him a heavy backpack that was filled with containers. Jandro I left plates filled in the fridge for you and Saint and Jonah, Make sure he eats. Tell him I will tell Meme and Nana if he doesn't then he can listen to their lectures on the importance of tradition and nutrition. There is a pitcher of the peach Sangria in there as well, but no getting drunk. I don't want Mama to yell at me for corrupting you both."
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Post by fryn on Jan 26, 2010 5:21:54 GMT -5
"Ohayu, Jandro-chan!" Takumi replied with a smile and a brief nod. "I hope Lia hasn't gone to too much trouble!" he added but Takumi had to admit the house was filled with a delicious aroma and his stomach rumbled in anticipation. He peered over Jandro's shoulder at the vieo and grinned. "She has indeed been working hard! I will make sure she has a fun time as thanks." And he'd treat Kla to a warm chocolate drink later as well.
He glanced up as Lia joined them, assuring her he was positive he'd love everything she'd made and he laughed when the siblings began to argue whether sangria counted as alcohol. "You are like Jett and Izzy," he said. "They seem to like to argue as well." He knew in both instances it was born out of love and a need to care.
"Are you ready, Lia-chan?" he asked and she nodded. They waved goodbye to Jandro who watched them leave from the front doorstep and with Takumi precariously balancing the heavy pack on the floor of the scooter's footwell they set off. "Any idewhich way you would like to go?" he called back to Lia. Takumi hoped she could hear him above the noise of the Vespa's engine and whilst wearing his second crash helmet.
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Post by Lia Juarez on Jan 26, 2010 8:03:05 GMT -5
"As long as it includes the ocean and you, I will be happy," Lia said with a happy smile. She seemed much lighter of heart than she had been for weeks. "Jandro said you had an adventure yesterday," she asked for her brother had been short of details when he was telling her and Saint. "He mostly kept telling me how cute Teddy looked and that someone named Sebastien had freaked out because Thad kept begging him not to summon demons and he didn't seem to like gay people sitting next to him. Jandro thought that maybe he was afraid it was contagious. You don't think that do you?" she asked, hoping not for she would have to limit their friendship if that was the case. She didn't want her twin hurt by such ignorance and she could tell he had been yesterday.
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Post by fryn on Jan 27, 2010 4:50:41 GMT -5
"You are very... kawaii, Lia-chan," Takumi answered with a smile of his own. "But yes... and for my efforts I have detention for all of next week. I am to clean the quad after school every day. Thad had us skip morning class to go and get some cotton candy stuff. I don't even really like it," he confided. "It's far too sweet for me. Anyway, a group of us went in Izzy's car and Thad kept on at Sebastian, saying he summoned demons. Sebastian got upset and ran off and so I had the others hide while I called the school and told them. Luckily no one else got into trouble but I am not sure what happened to Sebastian."
"As for being gay... I don't think that's something you can catch," he assured her with a short laugh. "It isn't like measles or anything. Really, I don't think Sebastian was upset by Jandro and Teddy... more at what Thad was saying and that he told him he'd read his diary. That seemed to upset Sebastian even more than the demon talk." He sighed softly. "It was all very strange but now we have all morning to have fun and so no more talk of demons and detention!" He laughed again, relaxing back as he steered his scooter across town.
They finally came to a halt at the far end of the cove and at a place where the beach head curved around in a sharp arc, ending at a rugged cliff. The wind was sharp wnough to whip back their hair when they removed their helmets. "It is beautiful," Takumi murmured as he stared out across the grey water.
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Post by Lana Cross on Jan 28, 2010 2:20:38 GMT -5
It really is beautiful. With Japan being an island, you must have had many views like this, Lia mused. She would love to see it someday. She loved to travel and had a lot of interest in other cultures and history, she was considering maybe becoming a teacher that traveled to other countries to teach military children or english to the Natives. She could learn so much more living there with time to visit sites of interest. "Do you miss your home Taki? she asked not even able to imagine what it would be like to make such a major change in her life at this age. Would you like to go down and wade in the tidal pools there will be all kinds of things down there right now, but it will be very slippery.
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Post by fryn on Jan 28, 2010 5:19:46 GMT -5
Takumi nodded. "Beautiful, yes, but Japan is so different to here. The water is... ah... that colour between green and blue." He shrugged apologetically. "I'm not sure what its called in English. In my language its 'toruko'. Like the colour of the palest jade statue. But yes, I miss Osaka," he continued. "That doesn't mean I'm not happy here!" he quickly added. "I am. Very! I have met some really nice people and have made some great friends." He leaned sideways to shoulder-butt Lia, making sure she understood he included her in that second group. "I have been more than fortunate. Still, sunrise over Osaka castle..." He sighed. "I can't even begin to describe that. And the view out across the bay..." Takumi threw Lia a smile. "One day I must show you the photographs I took before we left. Then you will see what I mean about the toruko water."
He dug into a pocket and drew out a wax paper-wrapped package. He opened it carefully. "Mochi," he told her. "Made from rice. These ones have aduki inside. A sweet red bean. My favourite!" he declared. "Would you like to try them?" Not everyone liked the taste of mochi - or aduki - but it was always good to test new food. He held the paper package towards Lia. "I won't be upset if you spit it out," he added with a glint of laughter in his dark eyes.
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Post by Lia Juarez on Jan 28, 2010 10:02:38 GMT -5
Lia frowned slightly and took a piece of mochi without a hint of fear. "I have eaten blood sausage and calves stomach without flinching. Red beans are as nothing to me," she said defiantly and popped the mochi in her mouth. "Mmm this is good," she murmured as she chewed thoroughly. and then swallowed. Lia truly was the bravest of her siblings especially when it came to new foods. She was the one that wanted to experience the most out of life and that included the weirder things culinary culture had to give. She had actually sought out a Scottish butcher and bought a Haggis just because she wanted to taste it. She had so freaked out Saint that he wouldn't eat for a week until he was sure she wouldn't sneak some onto his plate. Saint was the pickiest eater and luckily Jonah was easy to bribe to sneak around and make sure Lia wasn't going to sabotage his plate with something odd. "I promise none of that is in our lunch. Probably the strangest thing for you would be the Rye bread which is thick and dark with a strong taste from the rye flour. That combined with the curried chicken salad you might not like. There is also a tapas called tortilla which is really more of an omelet that is eaten cold with lettuce salad and black olives. Some people do not like cold eggs, but it is quite loved in Spain. I think you will love the dessert. It is Scanian apple pie with vaniljsaus which is like vanilla custard but not so thick. It is more like cobbler than pie, but it is yummy. My brothers always ask for it instead of cake on their birthday.
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Post by fryn on Jan 28, 2010 12:37:12 GMT -5
"You ate sausage filled with blood?" Takumi's eyes widened in something akin to shock. "It was a punishment perhaps?" Why else would anyone eat blood? And an animal's stomach? He didn't even want to think about that! He was relieved to find out that their picnic had no such items in it as he might not have been able to eat it otherwise. No, he knew he wouldn't. The bread sounded absolutely fine and while he hadn't a clue what either tapas or tortilla was he trusted Lia not to feed him anything... uncertain.
"We have omelette," he stated with a bright smile. "We call it tamagoyaki and is often used with rice and sushi. I like omelette," he assured her. "Dessert sounds fantastic!" he continued. Who couldn't love apples? Custard he knew as chawanmushi - chawan meaning tea cup and mushi meaning to steam. It was a firm favourite of his.
"Soon you must come back to my home for a traditional Japanese meal," he said. "Although it wouldn't be as exotic as blood and stomachs," he added uncertainly. "Nihon ryôri... traditional Japanese cooking... has many rituals and eating it even more so. I promise I will explain them all before you come over for dinner!" Takumi added with a laugh.
(ooc: glad Lia changed back to her more normal hair colour this time ;P)
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Post by Lia Juarez on Jan 30, 2010 13:56:51 GMT -5
(ooc: not sure why Lana kept wanting to horn in on their date, she must be trying to tell me to write her more lol)
"It sounds much worse than it tastes. but my grandmother is rigid about us eating what is put in front of us, which is why I can use her to threaten Saint to eat. We are all terrified of her disapproval. Her tongue is a terrifying weapon. She is a good relative to have on your side though. If you are willing to learn, she will spend hours patiently teaching you. I will have to show you the embroidery she taught me." Lia said with a happy smile.
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