2024-01-04: Kitchen Conversations
- Log: Kitchen Conversations
- Cast: Anne Aomori, Damian Tamaoka
- Where: Viridian City - Emerald Way
- Date: January 04, 2024
- Summary: Anne invites Damian to her apartment to share her kitchen while they both prepare for the office party potluck. They have a pleasant conversation as they do so.
=======================<* Viridian City - Emerald Way *>======================== Viridian City is a city of many importances; it is the major commerce and logistics hub within the Emerald Cape province, providing primary access to the western reaches of the Kanto region. It's of no surprise, then, that it sports an expansive and well-developed commercial district, with Market Way providing a wide variety of shops and goods for all walks of life. Lush and adorned with nature, Viridian's residents enjoy a spacious and relaxed environment, with most living in medium-density apartment blocks three to four stories high. The market is most recently memorably featured in the hit single by sensational Nedean-pop band 2BA, "I'm on the Road to Viridian City." BGM: Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee & Pikachu! - Pewter City - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGrGjO5F6ZM
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
The lab has facilities for preparing food, but there's nothing quite like a home kitchen. Anne Aomori has one of those. She has an apartment on the fourth floor of a block in the city, a reasonable walk away from her workplace.
It's still fresh; she has added some touches of home, but hasn't really settled since she came here a couple of months ago. The walls are white and the apartment is spacious; along the walls are some art and photographs. There's a large bouquet of flowers on the coffee table, with a card. And the kitchen is large.
In that kitchen, Anne is mixing together some ingredients in a bowl on the large kitchen island in the middle of the room. She's been putting this together for a few minutes now!
She is baking cookies.
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Damian had not expected to be... well, to be told to think about joining Team Rocket, going strictly by what Anne had said. Once she had revealed she was also with Team Rocket, he started to get the inclination that Anne might have wanted that outcome... not that he minded terribly much. Not that he minded. He could be with his friends, he didn't have to go home, all he'd really have to do is look the other way sometimes... he could live with that.
But even beyond that, he hadn't expected there to be an office party, of all things. Or to be invited. Or that it would be potluck. Or for Anne to offer to share her kitchen with him.
He had shown up with a few grocery bags, admired the apartment, and then stopped at the flowers to examine them. "O-oh, camellias, red chrysanthemums, and roses... are you seeing someone, Doctor Aomori?" He doesn't sound too terribly scandalized or gossipy, merely curious.
He was awkward, to start, with making conversation, mostly concentrating on measuring and mixing his own ingredients. Once he figured out where everything was, though, he relaxed somewhat, working with practiced precision. He even starts humming to himself on a couple of occasions as he works.
Purrloin is lounging somewhere in direct sunlight.
Damian is making Poke Puffs.
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Regardless of what outcome Anne wanted, she was sure to make it Damian's choice. One way or the other, he had to make the decision. But now that he has...
Yes, it's a little weird that she's willing to be domestic about it. But she doesn't act like it's weird. She acts like it's normal, that she's having an assistant over to use her kitchen, because that is more or less the case.
When he stops at the flowers, Anne gives him a lopsided smile. "He wants me to be," Anne says, with an amused but tired kind of tone. "I'm still thinking about it, but he hasn't given up. ...I don't really mind that."
She might talk more about him, if Damian asks; for the oment, she moves on to, "This way's the kitchen."
And now....
Laqui is lounging in the living area on a big bed. Anne herself mixes some more. "And after this I'll need to let the dough rest. So the oven's free for your Puffs."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Damian definitely made his choice. he's even pretty sure it was the right one for him.
Anne acting like all of this is normal is definitely helpful and grounding to Damian. (Really, just having any kind of stability at all at the moment is immensely helpful.)
But the person who sent the flowers hasn't given up on her. Damian has a shy smile as he leans down to give the flowers a quick sniff. "Aww... that's kind of sweet, though." He follows along to the kitchen. "He got you a really nice arrangement. Does... he know...?"
Damian's taken his hoodie off (and he's just wearing a t-shirt underneath) so he has his arms free without long sleeves to get in the way. And he's made sure to put an apron on, too. "O-okay." Damian takes a step away to start the oven preheating, then returns to mixing ingredients. "O-okay. I think I'm almost ready to get these in the oven, th-then I can work on toppings while they bake..."
He pauses for a moment. "It's not... weird that I wanted to make Poke Puffs, is it...? I-I've never been to an office party before..."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
That's what counts. Anne, though, as established is good at calming and de-escalation. She's a Pokemon behaviorist and raised two children, in addition to her more secret skills. They're all contributing.
She smiles at Damian as he sniffs the flowers. "I thought so," she admits of it being sweet. "He did. But he's good at that. He was always charming." A beat, and she shakes her head. "He doesn't. There's no need for him to know yet... Though that might change, if I take him up on it."
Anne is in normal enough clothes; a red blouse, blue jeans. She has the sleeves rolled up to be out of her way, and has an apron, too. Simple black. She does have more fun ones, though, for Damian to borrow if he wants.
"Good," Anne answers, and finishes her mixing, picking up the bowl to take to the refrigerator. "...Hmmm. Most people would make people food," she says. "But we do have a few favorite Pokemon that might be there. A little weird, but not a bad idea," she concludes pleasantly.
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
He was always charming. "So... d-did you two used to be together before, then...? What was he like? Besides charming?" He doesn't know, but that could change... Damian nods in understanding. "Oh, I see."
Damian opted for a regular white one... though he did spend a moment or two looking at the more fun ones. Just a moment.
Damian is pouring batter when Anne comments that it is, in fact, a little weird. He tenses up for a moment, and hastily tilts the bowl upright and scoops up a drip of batter that was threatening to go wayward. "I-I, w-well..." Damian glances thoughtfully aside as he chews on that thought. He looks up to Anne as she says that it's not a bad idea and nods. "I-I just thought, w-well... Purrloin would be there, a-and there might be others..."
A thoughtful frown. Anne is making cookies, so... "I could... also make brownies? O-or should it be an entree, so it's n-not all desserts..."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
"That's right!" Anne answers as to the man. "He's Sable's father--Sable, that's my daughter, you might've seen the photographs." A pause. "Heh. Charming is a lot of what he is. He's a researcher into Pokemon habitats. ...And not always very reliable. But he was always fun to be with. ...And I admit it's different, living on my own after so long." The memories are mostly fond. But Damian sees about not knowing, "In general I hide it unless there's a reason to know. ...There are a lot of people who wouldn't understand."
Anne smiles at Damian. "I don't think it's a bad weird," she says. "If we had more people who thought of what our Pokemon needed, I think our Trainers would be stronger."
"Feel free to just make the Puffs. There'll be a lot there already."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Damian thinks back. He did look at the photos, and he recalls... "Oh! Y-yeah, her. W-was that him, in the photo with you and Sable?" Charming, but not always reliable... "D-do you think he's changed since then, maybe? I-if he's still sending you flowers after all this time..." Living on her own... "D-does Sable live with her father, then...? O-or is she out on a Pokemon journey?"
Unless there's a reason to know. And a lot of people wouldn't understand. "Y-yeah... I get that... if... i-if I didn't have my friends to talk to already, I d-don't know who I'd be able to tell about it."
That smile is reassuring. "S-so... a good weird, then...?" That sounds, well, weird. But if it's good, then... maybe that's okay. "... S-sounds like... the Trainers need training, then..."
Just the Puffs are okay. Damian nods, and goes back to pouring batter. "O-okay..." Soon several trays are ready, and Damian slides them into the oven and then sets the timer. He looks to Anne. "I-is... there anything I can help you with...? I've got some time while those bake..."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
"That's right," Anne answers. There's the three of them in that picture, and there are a few other pictures like it. "Maybe," she says. "He could've grown up some more. You'd think a man his age would've already been, but.." She smiles, despite the dour pronouncement on him. And maybe that has to do with, "Sable started her journey just a couple of months ago. She's doing well. Until then, she lived with me. Her father came to visit a lot, though."
Then she nods. "Right," she says. "I'm glad you do have your friends for that. But remember what I said about that, too--it's a risk, to talk to people about it who aren't already involved."
Good weird. "They do," Anne agrees, "But we take who we can get. Not everyone is very good with Pokemon, but everyone has a role to play."
"Hmmm..." She considers. "Well, we might as well spend the time somehow. Sure. Can you peel some potatoes for me? It'll make dinner faster."
She's going to feed him, obviously. He's a kid at her house.
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
With his Puffs in the oven, Damian is taking a moment to clean up a bit: wipe down surfaces, soak bowls and utensils, that sort of thing. But first... "Purrloin! I'm done with the beaters!" Purrloin comes scampering in excitedly, purring as she licks an offered beater clean. Damian smiles at her, and then looks up to Anne. "D-do you think Laqui might like the other one...?"
"Y-you never know..." How much he might have changed. Damian goes back to cleaning again, and absent-minded comments, "S-still, it must be nice, though, getting flowers like that..." But Sable is on a Pokemon Journey. "O-oh, cool. Does she have any badges yet? O-or d-does she have a different goal in mind...?" Not everyone is out for badges... Damian certainly isn't, but... he's already explained why he took his journey.
Damian nods. "I-I know... I... w-well, d-don't really have any f-friends, besides them..." There's a small wince as he admits that, but he tries to forge on ahead. "S-so I don't know wh-who else I'd tell..."
He looks up curious as Anne mentions potatoes. "D-dinner...? O-oh, D-doctor Aomori, y-you don't have to go th-through all that trouble for me..." But even as he says that he's already looking for potatoes and a peeler and getting to work.
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Anne isn't leaving Damian to it alone, of course; she's likewise cleaned up the things she had been using. But Purrloin wants the beater, and... "Heh. Usually I'd save that for one of the kids," Anne says, and says, "But then, this is for Pokemon. I think Laqui would enjoy it. Laqui!" She calls him in, and the Typhlosion (not-fire-edition) comes padding into the room.
You never know. "That's true," she says, but when he comments about flowers she turns to look at him a moment. Hmmm. "It is," she agrees. "Maybe when you're older you'll get to send or receive some flowers, yourself. I used to send them to my friends in university, too."
"She's planning to go the whole way to the Elite Four, if she can. She gave me a photo of her with Pewter's badge and everything. I think she might make it. Maybe you'll meet her one of these days."
Then, his friends... And his lack thereof. "I hope you can make a few more. We have a number of kids near your age on the Team."
But dinner! "I have to eat in any case," she says, "So why not share? I insist."
She moves to get some other vegetables to start chopping, in the meantime.
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Normally she'd save it for one of the kids. "W-well..." Damian seems to start to say something, but seemingly decides better of it and moves on. It is, indeed, for Pokemon. "Th-that's what I was thinking..." He offers Laqui a smile and holds out the second beater to him. "H-here you go, Laqui. I-I'll make sure to save a puff for you, b-but I hope you like the taste. Purrloin finishes licking her beater clean and wanders off to reclaim her sunny napping spot.
A moment after Anne turns to look at him, Damian looks up to her with a blink. "Hmm?" Seems he didn't realize exactly what he said. Once he's older... "O-oh, w-well, maybe..." Damian looks back down to his potato peeling with a faint blush to his cheeks, then looks up again. "R-really? You did?"
"O-oh, wow! I hope she can make it." Maybe he'll meet her... Damian laughs a little nervously. "Th-that might be nice, a-as long as she doesn't challenge me to a fight."
Damian nods at there being other kids his age on the Team. "A-Alice was mentioning them, b-but I haven't really h-had a chance to meet many of them yet... B-but that'd be nice..."
Anne has to eat, too, and besides, she insists. "O-okay, well, if you p-put it that way..." He's silent for a moment as he peels, then looks up to Anne with a shy smile. "Th-thanks, Doctor Aomori, f-for... w-well, everything."
"S-so, what are we making?"
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Damian's right! This is for Pokemon. Laqui accepts the beater, taking the handle in his paws and licking at the batter lazily. "Tyyyyy," he tells Damian, languidly leaning against the kitchen island.
Anne didn't immediately think of funeral arrangements when Damian brought up flowers--but she mentions her friends because she doesn't want to push him. He's pretty young. "I did! It was fun."
"I think she's got a good chance, if she works hard. And you know..." She regards Damian a moment and laughs. "She just might. You'd better prepare yourself."
Alice mentioned them... "Hopefully soon, then."
But Damian thanks her. Anne continues to chop, and then looks at him for a moment. "You're welcome," she says.
"I'm thinking I'm going to roast up these vegetables with those potatoes and then maybe have some steak with it. I have some meat in the fridge."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Damian gives Laqui a warm smile as he takes the beater. "You're welcome!"
He accepts Anne at her word, then. "Th-that does sound k-kinda fun..." he says, thinking on it some more as he keeps working on the potatoes.
Damian lets out a half-whine, half-sigh as Anne confirms that Sable might, indeed, challenge him to a battle. "W-well... I g-guess I needed to train my pokemon m-more anyway... G-given what you said, before..."
"They sound nice, from what she said..."
Steak and vegetables... "Th-that sounds really good... I-I can chop up the potatoes, i-if you want." Assuming Anne does want them cut up, when he finishes peeling he grabs a knife and starts on that.
He's quiet for a few moments as he concentrates on the task, then looks up and quietly asks, "D-Doctor, do you mind if I ask a question?"
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Laqui sets the beater down with a little clatter after a little while. Then, he starts to rise up on his hind legs to examine the dinner in progress.
Anne doesn't have to tell him not to eat their food.
"It was. A lot of them were too busy for romance, so it was a way to get in on the game, a little."
Anne suppresses a laugh at Damian's trepidation. It might almost seem entirely normal, this conversaton. "You do," she says. "So be ready!"
But 'they', "Good."
"Feel free," she says, and if she worries about someone his age handling knives she doesn't say so. Considering Nede's youth culture, it's probably fine.
"I don't mind," she says, "But I don't promise an answer." She says it lightly; it's true, but she's also joking. "What did you want to know?"
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Damian stops with potato preparation for just a moment to scoop up the beater and put it in the sink with the rest of the things needing to be washed (and makes sure to quickly wash his hands before going back to working with food.) "What did you think, Laqui?"
"I guess university would get pretty busy... that's a lot of classes, huh...? And I guess some people work jobs at the same time, or have internships..." There's a moment to think on that. "... Studying how to care and raise Pokemon might be nice," he says finally. It's an offhanded comment, but also once that has the tone of 'but of course I'd never be going to University.' His parents did have a pretty firm path set for him, after all, and he's still not quite out of that mindset.
Damian sighs again. "M-maybe Alice can give me some pointers..." She can be kind of intense, though...
But it is a really nice conversation, all the same.
Damian gets a knife out and starts chopping the potatoes next. He's appropriately careful with it, and looks like he's had some practice.
He looks up to Anne curiously. "... C-can I ask... why you joined?"
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Good habits! Damian clearly knows his way around a kitchen, Anne notes.
Laqui says, "Phlooooo," in answer to Damian, closing his eyes contentedly and proceeding to laze about for the moment.
"It is," Anne says. "Worth it, though." An offhanded comment, but...
"It might be nice," she agrees. "You should consider it."
"I bet she could. She's very talented."
Still, potatoes happen, and Anne begins to prepare the next set of vegetables with some oil and seasoning.
The question? "Sure, you can ask." Pause.
She laughs, after a few moments to let it sink in, and then grows more distant as she actually considers the question. "I joined because Nede needs to change," Anne says seriously. "Because continuing the same stagnant society their our parents and their parents did thousands and thousands of years ago isn't good enough."
She smiles, dispelling the serious moment. "...And besides, the pay's good."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
To be fair, Damian has probably made more Pokemon food than People food, but still, some of the kitchen habits are the same between both.
Damian smiles at Laqui's reaction. "I'm glad!"
There's an encouragement to think of university, and Damian blinks as he looks up. "O-oh, n-no, I couldn't. M-my parents would never..." He trails off, frowning pensively as he catches up to what he was about to say.
Isn't that why he was doing all of this...? To get away from his parents? (Well, and also to be with his friends.)
"M-maybe I should..." he admits quietly. He doesn't sound completely certain, but... maybe that's enough to start, for now.
"... I wouldn't want to face her in a pokemon battle either," Damian quietly admits. Joy can also be kind of intense sometimes.
Damian considers what Anne has to say. He doesn't have nearly the same amount of life experience she does, of course. He's only 14, after all. But even so... In a quiet voice, he admits, "M-my parents talk all the time... about how o-our family h-has helped take care of the T-tower... or g-generations, and g-generations..." There is a long beat, and his voice grows even quieter. "S-sometimes, it f-feels like... i-it feels like... th-they can't even imagine d-doing something else..."
This might be the most direct criticism he's leveled against his parents, instead of just talking about how he hates working with his special ability. Even if it's delivered in a rather soft way.
Damian actually giggles a little at Anne's probably-not-a-joke. "W-well, I g-guess that's good..."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Laqui is just going to hang out.
"It's ultimately your decision whether to try," Anne says, and she leaves it at that. If he shows interest, that's one thing. But she hasn't seen him show aptitude yet, and that's going to make a difference too. She moves on.
"Hmmm. She's very strong."
But Anne says what she says. "..."
"Yes. There's important jobs out there--but we can, we must, do more than just what we've done forever. We can't let the past rule us until the end of time."
"...And a lot of people can't imagine doing otherwise. But we'll imagine it. And we'llo make it happen."
She finishes her vegetable prep. "...But that's probably enough ranting from me," she says, as if she'd gone on for a long time. "I feel strongly about it, is all."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
Damian considers the matter of university for a few moments longer and then finally nods. "... I-I'll think about it..." Maybe Damian will get to demonstrate his aptitude with the egg.
But Anne goes off on a 'rant', and Damian looks up to Anne as she does, listening intently. She feels strongly about it, and there's something of that enthusiasm that rubs off on Damian. 'We'll imagine it. We'll make it happen.'
Damian nods a little, as he looks down to his food prep once more. "Y-yeah..." He finishes with the potatoes and collects everything into a neat pile.
Anne calls herself out for ranting, and Damian looks up again. "N-no, it was good! I liked it. Um... what should we do next for dinner?"
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Thinking about it is good enough for now. It's a start, and most of this for Damian is about starting and working onhis own path.
The fact that he's listening is a good sign, though.
Still, when Damian says it was good, "Hmm. We'll see how you feel about the work after a while then, too."
"Next up you can relax! Go hang out with Purrloin, I'll take care of the rest. Laqui, go with him."
She smiles. "Good work. You've got your timer set; I'll keep an eye on the Puffs."
<Pose Tracker> Damian Tamaoka has posed.
He's still not used to really deciding for himself what he wants. That might still take a while to get used to... and longer yet to decide what it is he does, in fact, want.
The work. Oh, right. He did just join a criminal organization, after all.
... it was kind of easy to forget that, for a while. The baking (and Anne) have just been... really pleasant. Normal, even. "I-I guess..."
But next up is relaxing. "O-oh! W-well, if you're sure... b-but let me know if you want any help, okay?" There is a genuine smile as she compliments his work, and he nods about the timer. "O-okay, thanks."
Damian takes off his apron and hangs it back up with the others, then heads to the living room to find Purrloin. He pauses at the doorway, though, and looks back to Anne. "Um... D-Doctor Aomori? ... Thanks. For l-letting me use your kitchen, f-for bring so nice... I, um... r-really hope we can do this again sometime." He offers Anne an actually-steady smile, at least for a moment, before turning to find his feline friend.