18th Rise of the Phoenix ஜ Action/Voice [Backdated to the 15th]

[uccellodifuoco]

[To be honest, Ikki hasn't slept at all. He has stayed awake in his room, glaring at the clock as it slowly ticked away the minutes until midnight hit and with it came the official start of the new day. Another August 15th, another birthday he never expected to "enjoy", the third spent in this place which only reminds him that he's on his way to his third year in Luceti as a whole. He spends the night sulking to himself before leaving early in a poor, and probably useless, attempt to avoid Smoker and the rum cake he knows that is going to show up sooner or later for as long as possible.

He never wants to celebrate his birthday, this year isn't an exception. Selphie isn't here anymore, which is good because it means there's one less person who will know that it's his birthday, but deep inside it just bothers him that she's not here. Hyoga isn't here either, still kidnapped... Assuming that they didn't send him away while they had him, but the Cygnus cloth is still in his room after he recovered it from where Hyoga had camped so he will keep some hope and assume that he's still there somewhere.

At least he has Kotomi, except that even after confessing to her, he still doubts he deserves her or that he can do any good to her. Actually he doesn't have doubts about that, he knows he doesn't deserve her and that he can't do any good to her, but he also knows that she's in his heart too deeply for him to be able to take her out of there and not bleed completely. He may be the immortal bird, but his heart holds enough wounds as it is, he doesn't really want to kill his heart completely even if reason sometimes tells him that it would be the best option. At any rate, House #26 will have Ikki knocking at the door early in the morning, not too early for it to be a crazy time to show up but still early enough so that no one, specially Kotomi, won't have plans already.

Because of that Ikki will spend most of the day with his precious treasure, hanging around, having lunch at the Seventh Heaven... Though knowing them, they will probably end sitting somewhere with her reading to him. And by sitting somewhere it means him sitting and making her sit on his lap so he can lean his head against her shoulder and read as she does while holding her waist in a loose hug, discretion be damned... It's advised to not stare though, as the phoenix doesn't deal well with that.

Later, once Kotomi is delivered safely back to her house, just in time for dinner, Ikki will crash at the Good Spirits for a few rounds against his liver. Just so it doesn't forget the habit, you know. A few hours later, a drunk Ikki will be fumbling with his journal. Maybe next year he will remember to lock it away before he gets drunk but for now... Have a drunk message before you go to sleep Luceti, please don't mind the slur in his words.]

I bet you were thinking about how great she is and how I don't deserve her or some shit like that. Well!! I know that already. I know that I don't deserve someone as sweet and innocent as Kotomi, I know I don't deserve to be alive. But you know what? I'm screwed up, because no matter what you throw at me I just won't die, I will keep fucking returning from hell as if it was any Tuesday. And I love her. And she loves me! I don't know why or how she can do that, but she loves me. So until she stops loving me or I can finally die... What was I saying? Hey, where did the whisky go? Tch, it keeps vanishing, stupid glass. Stupid drink.

Anyway! [Pause as he tries to remember what he was saying. No really, it has left his mind.] I don't care how bad I am, or how little I deserve to live or to be with Kotomi. It just happens, I always deal with all the shit life has in for me, I take it even if I don't want it, so I'll take this too, because I want it. I love Kotomi and until she gets tired of me, you lot better stop looking at her like that, because she's my girlfriend. And you!! Shitty Malnosso, I bet you had a blast taking my sister and my friend, well, have all the fun you want, but if you touch one hair of Kotomi's precious head there won't be enough magic, divine power or whatever to save you from the hell I'll send you all to.

[ooc: You can crash into Ikki and Kotomi while they are together, just leave a note in the subject so we can both tag back.]

Comments

[etudes]

[ Kotomi is as blank as ever.. if anything, she's a little happy since the date is fun and all and she's glad a friend is here too now, but it's always difficult to tell just exactly how she's feeling. ]

.. Huh? Ikki-kun thinks Rin-kun hasn't..?

[rashness]

Wh....what, no, of course I have! I'll have you know I'm not a loser who's never had a date that evil scientists didn't make, even!

[...too much, Rin]

[uccellodifuoco]

[Too much indeed. Ikki glares at Rin, the previous mild annoyance and discomfort melted into pure anger while he decides what Rin meant and what meaning he will take. Fortunately, Rin isn't a stranger, so Ikki decides to not give it too much thought and just take the most direct meaning. That doesn't mean he's any less angry, he glares at Rin for another minute but since the other doesn't explode or anything he ends looking away as if Rin didn't interest him anymore.]

Aren't you a lucky one? Next time, to avoid the confusion, try to not gape and stare like a dead fish at people.

[He's just going to look at Kotomi now, best way available to relax. Leaving the reigns of any attempts to make conversation to the shy, monotone girl? Sounds like a good idea since his attempt has gone so horribly in his opinion, even if it's his own fault for having an easy trigger.]

[etudes]

[ It's okay, surprisingly Kotomi can make conversation once it starts.. in her own special way, but hey, whatever works. ]

Do evil scientists make dates? I never even knew that..

[rashness]

No! [His voices cracks. No, he can't let them know about Precis! He already revealed too much, about himself! Ikki here has a real girlfriend and is way beyond the ken of him. And he's glaring at him and] No they do not!

[uccellodifuoco]

[If Rin had given any other answer Ikki probably would have done more than glaring, Kotomi's presence be damned... Mostly because he's thinking that the experiment date thing refers to both Kotomi and him rather than to a personal experience. Ikki couldn't care less how it started, he has enough worries as it is, but he doesn't want anyone to bring that up again to Kotomi, in fear that it would upset her or make her wonder if she's not being affected by an experiment again.

He gives Rin another glare though this time is more bored and less angry, still greatly annoyed but not as bad, before he looks at Kotomi with a veeeeery faint smile. So faint that it's almost not there.]

Evil scientists would need to know what a date is to be able to make one anyway, and for that they would need a life which pretty sure they don't have.

[Even Ikki has more than a life than them right now. In his mind he supposes they really spend their whole time just working and doing experiments and studying things, just stopping to sleep and eat if they are lucky.]

[etudes]

[ Luckily Kotomi is not fast mentally enough to connect the whole experiment thing from quite some time ago with what Rin said.. so she's just a little confused now, so it's not true after all? ... Oh well..

Not to mention she doesn't notice Ikki's glaring either because he's at least faintly smiling when he looks at her, so she doesn't think there's any tension here at all. Sorry Rin. ]

But you can read about dates too, right? I've done that before [ for.. the whole relationship's sake and all... ] so those scientists could do it too. Scientists like reading, after all.

.. Don't you agree, Rin-kun?

[rashness]

Y-y'can't figure out a relationship from a boo---! [book. Though really, given the level of awkwardness he feels and the fact he's screeing this, he might just be cut off]

[uccellodifuoco]

You can learn many things about relationships from a book.

[He doesn't want to imagine how his life would have been if Kotomi had never read about dates or anything similar at least once in her life. Probably a bigger hell than he's in now.]

He's partially right, though, books can teach you a lot about those things but practice is different, you should realize it yourself. What's better, to kiss each other or read about kissing?

[For Athena's sake, Kotomi don't say that you prefer reading about it, he can't compete with a book for your affections!]

[etudes]

[ It might be a difficult battle, Ikki. She does like books a whole lot..

Although, you know. You just caused a big problem for yourself now, Ikki. Depending on how bad it is that she says this out loud - apparently she doesn't even have shame about saying it in front of Rin. ]

.. Hmm.. Well, I did like kissing Ikki-kun a whole lot..

[rashness]

[.....................WOW I FEEL OUT OF PLACE NOW.

I SHOULD LIKE. STAND. AND GO.

WORK LEGS, WORK.

His eyes are quite wide now either way]

[uccellodifuoco]

[He's not sure how he expected her to answer that. It's a good answer, of course, but... He hadn't really considered she would answer that way and without problems in front of others. Ikki coughs a little hoping that his face isn't turning as red as he feels it. He looks away a bit and looks at Rin who seems ready to just bolt up and leave... Oh, no, don't run away, this is your fault somehow.]

So, how has work been going for you, Rin? Learned any new recipes or something?

[Switching topics! Normally Kotomi doesn't really notice those things so it should be okay.]

[etudes]

[ Yup, she doesn't even notice the awkward mood.

Nor the subject change.

All she does is glance from Ikki to Rin, as if this is a normal turn of conversation. ]

[rashness]

O---Oh yes! A normal topic! I mean, yes! Work is good, I have been trying to work out some cajun stuff. And stuff from the south United States. 'Cus they fry things different?

[Gulp.]

[uccellodifuoco]

[He doesn't think recipes are a normal topic, but whatever, he agrees that it's a better topic than the previous one. At least less embarrassing.]

They fry things differently? How many ways are there to fry something?

[etudes]

Of course there are different ways to fry things. [ oh, there we go, useless facts knowledge kicking in here again.. ]

There are generally four ways of frying. Deep frying, pan frying, stir-frying and sautéing. Other methods are sometimes called frying if they are also quick, dry cooking methods, like hot salt frying and hot sand frying.

[rashness]

Not to mentioned, when you deep fry something the sort of oil you use can change the composition and how it tastes a lot. Like, for example, the way you make tempura and the way McDonalds makes chicken nuggets is a very different procedure even if the style ain't all that different.

[uccellodifuoco]

[Ikki crosses his arms and makes himself comfortable.]

Really... I never thought there were so many ways to just fry something, or that something like the oil mattered. How is it different the way McDonalds makes chicken nuggets? Or is it just the oil?

[etudes]

Hmm.. I've read that they're fried in vegetable oil before.

[rashness]

Yeah. Tempura's usually in canola or vegetable oil too these days, but it's traditionally going to be in sesame oil. And I know I said the oil changes a lot, but the batter and the spices are event more important.

[uccellodifuoco]

More important? More like dangerous if you ask me. I rarely use spices, I learned to not mess with them long ago.

[Learning the hard way because of taking care of a baby, yep.]

I've never really cared about the oil either, though. I just used whatever was available.

[etudes]

[ She's carefully noting everything down mentally what you're telling here, Rin, it's interesting information.. but then Ikki pulls her attention with what he says. ]

Ikki-kun fried things that much too..?

[rashness]

Man if you don't use any spices things can end up pretty bland tasting. Tell me you at least use some soy sauce, pepper, salt, and cumin.

[uccellodifuoco]

I didn't really care about taste, just about it being edible and enough to calm the hunger. Shun's stomach wasn't very friendly with most of those things, though I did use soy sauce at times if there was some in the kitchen I used and I could reach it.

[His reach as a child was very limited even if he was big for his age. Sometimes it was really annoying, specially if the kitchen he sneaked in had the milk on the top shelves of the fridge.]