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Post by Hino Rei on May 26, 2009 13:41:32 GMT -5
It was the second time in two months that she'd come to Makoto's kitchen with the intent to discuss something incredibly personal. Rei tried to pretend that it wasn't bothering her, but after spending a morning throwing up and trying to convince her miko that no, she was okay... She shook her head and dodged her way across the kitchen towards the office.
After having it confirmed the day before, Rei had picked herself up, got some work done and tried to proceed as normal. That morning, after her lost battle with her gag reflex, she'd showered and dressed well and done her hair up. For all intensive purposes she was looking just as snappy as usual... and if she moved a little slower or seemed a little drawn about the eyes, no one took any notice.
After peeking around the blinds to make sure that Makoto was alone, Rei knocked politely and opened the door in one gesture. "knock, knock," she lifted a brow at her friend, pausing to make certain it was okay to enter.
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Post by Kino Makoto on May 26, 2009 13:52:31 GMT -5
Makoto had spent most of the morning buried in paperwork that was still left over from all the New Year’s festivities. One would think that these things would have been sorted out nearly two weeks after the fact, but no.
Between e-mails and phone calls and other interruptions, she attempted to sneak in a quick meal. She’d just taken a rather large bite of her sandwich when she heard a knock and the door opened. A blessing in disguise because there was no way she’d have been able to ask the person to enter without choking her food. She looked up and was thankful to see it was only Rei and not someone who would take offense to a gaping mouthful of food and a smear of mayonnaise on her cheek. She quickly chewed and swallowed before wiping said mayo off. “Hey there!”
She wiped her hands on a napkin before jumping up to move a box off one of her chairs and gestured for Rei to have a seat. “Sorry about that. I’ve been absolutely swamped around here since the ball, and just haven’t had time to clean up. What brings you around?”
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Post by Hino Rei on May 26, 2009 13:55:28 GMT -5
"Oh don't--" Rei started to say but Mako had already gotten up and moved the box. She chuckled faintly and shut the door behind her before moving for the chair. Throwing her sister a faint smile, Rei shook her head. "I'm sorry to interrupt then. Please, don't let me stop you." Rei nodded towards the sandwich, but ultimately felt sick looking at it and so didn't let her eyes linger.
"Well... I was going to try to steal you for an hour or so, but as you're busy I don't think that'd be a good idea. Anything that you need help with?"
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Post by Kino Makoto on May 26, 2009 14:02:27 GMT -5
“Oh don’t worry, you’re not interrupting at all. I could honestly use the break!” She moved back over to her own seat and shuffled around some papers to clear off a spot where she could properly work on her lunch. “If you really wanted to help, you’d light all this paperwork on fire so I can get back to a normal routine!” Makoto chuckled. “Really though, it’s mostly invoices and inventory papers and other things that I need to sign off on for accounting. Comparing what we paid for to what we used, donated, et cetera.” She waved it all off and moved her attention back to her sister. “So you wanted me for an hour or so? I think I can manage an hour.”
She raised the sandwich to her lips again before stopping and glancing up at Rei. “I’m sorry, this is really rude for me to eat in front of you. Can I offer you anything?”
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Post by Hino Rei on May 26, 2009 14:09:17 GMT -5
Rei smirked faintly and settled back into her chair. "I think the accountants might have a fit if I did that. Not that I'm opposed--I can certainly try if you'd like." The smile spread a little more as Rei was encountered with a mental image of the little balding, pudgy men jumping up and down in fury.
"I was... mm." Rei glanced back at the windows behind them. It wasn't that she didn't trust Makoto, but after the security briefing.... She still thought that everyone was being a little anal retentive about the whole thing. Yet there was a somewhat paranoid feeling on the back of her neck, now, when she thought of how easy it was for anything they discussed to be overheard. The staff hadn't been high on her list of trusted persons and now it was much farther down.
"Well I thought we might go for coffee, but that may not be the best plan. I'm afraid I need your help with a small matter."
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Post by Kino Makoto on May 26, 2009 14:19:03 GMT -5
She chuckled as Rei agreed to setting the paperwork on fire and nodded. “I suppose you’re right though. I am down to the end of it, really. It was much worse than this a few days ago.”
Makoto quirked an eyebrow and set her sandwich back down on its plate. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you out, Rei-chan. Would you like me to bring some coffee in here, or we could head upstairs to the private kitchen or my quarters if you’re looking for privacy…”
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Post by Hino Rei on May 26, 2009 14:21:34 GMT -5
Rei shook her head and stood up, "I'll get it, Mako-chan.. but upstairs might be a good idea. It's a fairly sensitive issue, at least at the moment..." She paused with her hand on the door. " really I need your opinion more than anything, but the same thing applies. Do you still take three sugar and a cream?"
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Post by Kino Makoto on May 26, 2009 14:29:38 GMT -5
Makoto nodded as Rei stood. “Two creams now, actually,” she chuckled. “The crew’s been making it stronger, so the extra cream takes the edge off.”
As Rei opened the door, she grabbed a folder and shoved some papers into it. “You go ahead, I’ll be right behind you. I’m just going to grab a few things that I can work on upstairs, maybe work the rest of the day in my room rather than this stuffy office.”
Satisfied with the now overstuffed folder, she set her plate with sandwich on top and headed out the door a few moments after Rei.
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Post by Hino Rei on May 26, 2009 14:36:29 GMT -5
Rei nodded, keeping that in mind for herself, and went to fix the two cups. She ignored the glances her way as Makoto exited her office. The staff could be as nosey as they wanted, she wasn't going to give them an inch.
It took her a few minutes to finish with both cups, especially as she paused in fixing hers to consider what was appropriate. In the end, she decided on more milk than coffee to cut down on the caffine, and neglected her usual amount of sugar. She'd have to find some literature on the subject before long.
That done, the woman loaded them onto a tray and then side tracked to add a couple of coffee cakes that caught her eye. The pastry chef working on them offered her a smile and chuckle, and a slab of carrot cake as well. Rei declined with a respectful shake of her head, thanked the man, and headed upstairs.
After making sure to shut and lock the door at the bottom of the stairs, built in for Makoto's privacy, Rei headed up the stairwell and carefully closed the door there as well. Now they should only be overheard if the place was bugged, and with Lucan in residence it shouldn't be. Feeling much more at ease, Rei found her way to the counter centered in Mako's kitchen and perched upon a stool.
The tray set down, Rei placed Mako's coffee in front of her and the plate of coffee cakes between them. At least the child didn't object to coffee, Rei noted with some amount of satisfaction, and took a sip from her mug. "First of all... how are things with you and Nathanial?"
Now she was just stalling, her inner monologue informed her. Rei told it to shush; after all, she was actually interested.
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Post by Kino Makoto on May 26, 2009 14:55:02 GMT -5
Makoto was already waiting in the private kitchen in the Senshi Quarters when Rei arrived with the tray of coffee and to her surprise, cake! She glanced down at her partially-eaten sandwich, contemplating whether or not to set it aside and go straight for dessert. Temptation got the best of her and she rose from her seat at the counter to grab a couple forks from the drawer. Re-seated, she happily took one of the slices and placed it before her.
The bite of cake was oh so close to her lips when Rei inquired about Nathaniel. Her eyes widened and her mouth remained slightly agape. It wasn’t an intrusion for her sister to ask, it was just…surprising. Was this what she needed an hour to discuss?
After a moment she found her voice. “Things? Uhh…things are…fine.” A light blush rose to her cheeks as she thought back to their recent ‘date’. One that she’d neglected to share with her sisters. Woops.
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Post by Hino Rei on May 26, 2009 14:58:34 GMT -5
"That's good," Rei replied mildly, nodding to herself. She glanced at the cake she'd brought. Rei would have thought that she'd feel queasy now, but in an instant the nasua seemed to vanish and cake sound really, really good. ... she was going to be huge before this was over.
Taking up the offered fork, Rei used it to cut the tip off her wedge of cake and stared at it before she said, "So I have to tell Jad--Hiroki that I'm pregnant."
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Post by Kino Makoto on May 26, 2009 15:20:56 GMT -5
’Well that was easy’ Makoto thought to herself as Rei seemingly decided not to press any further on the matter. She raised the fork of cake to her lips once more…
…and promptly dropped it as Rei, rather nonchalantly at that, dropped her own bombshell. Again.
It landed on the plate with a loud clatter before bouncing off the plate, counter, and landing on the floor. Makoto blinked a few times before looking over at the calendar tacked to the fridge. Was it April 1st already? No, it very much wasn’t.
She took a deep breath and once again pushed herself away from the counter before crossing the kitchen to a wall of cabinets on the other side. She bent down and opened the door, pulling out a large bottle of clear liquid and then two shot glasses from the cabinet above. Back at the counter she set both shot glasses between the two and filled them with vodka. She set the bottle aside and raised one of the shot glasses in a toast. Mako offered a quick “Congratulations!” before downing the shot. She looked back to Rei and quickly added “Don’t worry, I know you can’t drink,” and pointed at the second shot. “That’s for me, too.”
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Post by Hino Rei on May 26, 2009 15:25:54 GMT -5
That was.. well, close to the reaction she'd expected, actually. Rei took the bite she'd been neglecting as Makoto went for the booze. Just about to ask, Makoto cut her off with a congratulations and a quid addendum. The Priestess bobbed her head slightly and took another bite of cake.
"I'm not sure congratulations are in order, but thank you. As you can well imagine, I'd rather this not get out... at least not yet. I won't be able to hide it forever, but I'd rather make the announcement on my own terms."
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Post by Kino Makoto on May 26, 2009 15:32:20 GMT -5
Once the burn subsided, she downed the second shot. Sure, portraying oneself as an alcoholic was a fantastic way to react to news. But really, how else should she have reacted? Jumping up and down and screeching? Asking ridiculous questions like “Are you sure” or “How in the world did that happen”? No. Alcohol was definitely the best route this time.
Satisfied with the warmth that now coursed through her veins, she gathered her thoughts as Rei continued to eat. “Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting that…like…at all. I’m not really sure what to say, to be honest. I mean… I’m happy, I should be happy right? And of course I’m totally there for you for support.” Ok, rambling wasn’t a good way to go about it either.
“No, I won’t say anything, I swear. It’s definitely up to you how and when you tell others, I totally respect that. I’m honored, really, that you came to me privately though. Makes me feel all special and whatnot.” She offered her sister a genuine smile.
“So, back to what you were saying… You haven't told Hiroki yet... Any idea on how you might go about that?"
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Post by Hino Rei on May 26, 2009 15:38:31 GMT -5
Glancing up, Rei found herself smiling, if somewhat ironically. For the first time since she'd had the real suspicion of it, she found herself with just plain nervous-butterflies rather than a sudden urge to jump off a bridge. Ami's tactful, smooth acceptance had been what she needed yesterday, but having someone react in a good way made it seem a little less damning.
"Not really, no," Rei shook her head, "I spent all day yesterday trying to figure something out, and most of this morning. I just don't know what his reaction will be like, and I'm not sure I can trust him to keep his mouth shut. You know how this palace is. If even one person gets a whiff of what might be going on, they all jump to conclusions."
Another slice of cake and a sip of coffee later, the Priestess hummed thoughtfully. "I know I haven't been to your restaurant often--" she didn't eat out often, "--would there be anything resembling privacy somewhere in there? Perhaps a.. table in a corner somewhere? I think being out of the palace and hopefully under the radar might help."
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