5/2/2003

10:51 PM

Logfile from Chase.

 

The Berkley Apartments - 302

Clearly, apartment 302 is a bachelor's land that knows no womanly touch. While the apartment is clean, even immaculate, it's hard to mistake the gender preferences of the decor. The main room is painted a neutral creme color with a tan border that displays many different kinds of fish around the world; On the walls, glass-windowed storage cabinets hold poles, tack and bridle for horses, nets, ropes, and any number of bestiary-related clutter, most of which can't possibly be of any use in the city. Tools hang on a cork board on the far wall, ranging from different gauges of wire to a welding torch. Contrastingly, the kitchen is decked out in warm shades of red and white, with an expansive spice set and expensive cutlery visible among the otherwise immaculate countertops. Stranger yet is the complete absence of electronics; No clock, TV, radio, or telephone grace the entire apartment, and both the table and the massive bed that sits in the bedroom seem handmade, if awkwardly so.

Obvious exits:

Exit

 

Where Chase knocks, Mina taps politely on the door, waiting hesitantly outside the entrance.  She does a quick inventory while she waits: rubber ducky chew toy, check.  Organic dog treats, check.  Legolas poster, check.

 

The sound of the television turned to some late-night talk show. Yes, the television, brought out from Chase's bedroom and settled in the main room *never mind the old desc*. Chase is opening the door at the knock, blinking for a moment at Mina, and then breaking out into a wide smile. "Hey, you came... Pizza should be coming soon. I hope you aren't one of those vegetarians that don't like cheese too?" He steps back though, waving her in.

 

"Those are vegans," Mina flashes a laughing grin up at the Genbu as she makes her way into the room.  "I have no problem with eating cheese, dairy products, etc.  Although I draw the line at eggs."  Just because she doesn't like them, no other reason.  "Cheese pizza sounds divine."  Handing over the presents, the poster rolled up and sealed in plastic, she quirks a brow at the television.  "Anou... I see that you're studying hard, Chase-kun."

 

"Actually, they have a vegetable-lovers pizza," Chase answers, grinning all the while. "Tomatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, whatever... should be coming any moment now." He flickers a glance at a clock, and then closes the door after her. At the noise, the dog sprawled over one of the chairs lifts his head from the chair's arm to peer at the pair, and then drop it right on back down again. "Ooooh, presents." Delight registers in his eyes at the gifts, even if they are for the dog, well... except for the tube. That gets an odd look, but then he is pointing at the couch. "Sit. Watch. I'm done for studying for the evening. My brain is turning to mush. Maybe tomorrow."

 

"Even better, Chase-kun," Mina's stomach rumbles at the thought.  "Although, are you sure you'd be satisfied with just veggies on top, you crazy carnivore, you?"  Casting a disbelieving glance at Benito, she laughs and makes her way over to the dog, offering him a brief pat on the head.  "Looks like you're making yourself at home, Benny-boy.  Hrm, wonder who's really king of the castle here."  Her money's on the pooch.  "The poster's for you, Chase-kun," and that's all she'll say on that matter.  Plopping down on the couch, she sits Indian style on the cushion, her attention briefly diverted by the television.  "Anou... when isn't your brain mush?"  *Ducks*

 

Chase will now bop Mina on the top of the head with the poster. "Saucy. I like that." He is rolling his eyes though, not quite sitting yet but instead leaning a hip against the couch as he begins to work at unrolling the poster. "I'll live with just vegetables. I had something earlier. Hopefully it wasn't Kenny's dinner." If it is in the fridge, then it is fair game as far as he is concerned -no matter whose fridge it is. "What the hell is this?!" Yeah, he finally saw the picture on the poster.

 

"Kenny?  Ye gods, Kenny lives here?"  Oh, don't surprise Mina with things like that.  Looking over her shoulder fearfully, she asks, "Anou... he's not coming home soon, is he?"  Because he's a mean, mean seishi.  Giggling at Chase's reaction, her eyes flash with laughter as she peers up at the other teenager.  "What, Chase-kun?  Don't you like it?  I saw it and immediately thought of you.  You can hang it above your bed or something."  And now she's going to unfold her legs and try to ease out of easy striking distance.

 

Chase snorts, "He's probably out knocking over a liquor store or something. Who knows when he'll be back in." No, he is too busy looking at the poster, "Now... tell me this, what is it that women see in this guy? The hair? That whole girly-man sort of nancing elf... what do you mean over the bed?" Okay, with that last, the poster is tossed to the side and he is going to climb over the couch to try to get at her. Alas, he only manages to straddle the arm, when there is a knock at the door. "Pizza!" Abort mission. Instead, he simply waggles a finger at her, but then is climbing down to go and retrieve it.

 

Whew!  Saved by the pizza man.  He's Mina's new hero.  "I don't know Chase-kun, I find him rather hot.  Look at that hair, those eyes... and that strong jaw bone.  Not to mention he's got great legs and a cute butt and..."  Giggling, she rises and picks up the poster and makes her way into Chase's room while he's busy with the pizza man.  Hrm, wonder if there's any cellophane tape or extra pins available.  She'll do a bit of redecorating herself.

 

Chase's room is a lesson in relative neatness at that. And to be honest, there isn't all that much stuff in there -comes from leading a fairly nomadic life lately. Bed, dresser, closed closet. Schoolbooks scattered in a corner near the backpack, and nothing on the walls. He opens the door to get the pizza, paying off the man and then sending him on his way, He comes back around, dropping the box on the coffee table before the TV, looking after his bedroom but not going to seek her out. "Awwww. You've got to be kidding me.... cute butt? And /what/ is so bad with mine?"

 

"Anou, Chase-kun, have any tacks?"  Mina calls from the bedroom.  Perhaps she should rummage around in his backpack.  "Or a stapler?"  Staples will work as well.  Studying his room thoughtfully, she makes a mental note to try to be more clean.  When a bachelor's pad is more clean that hers, she knows that she's not doing well on the neatness front.  "Hai, he's got a very cute one," she returns distractely, trying to locate something to hang the Genbu's newest wall covering up with.  As for his?  Good thing he can't see her in the bedroom.  She tries to brazen her way out of the question.  "I don't know, Chase-kun, I haven't really looked at yours."

 

Chase just had a mother that was very, very insistent on her children being neat. "Tacks?" Yeah, he really doesn't like the sound of that. But, ah well... "No, but check the top shelf of the closet. Shoebox. Should be tape and stuff in there." Of course, all in the closet it is fairly bare, except for a couple of coats, some actual dress clothes that probably haven't seen the light of day, the rifle leaning in the back corner, and whatever is else is up on the top shelf. "I'd say that is hard to believe. I've looked at yours. Get out here and eat your pizza before I eat it all, woman."

 

Thud.  Thunk.  "Owwww."  Mina's found the box with tape.  Sadly for her, she's not that tall and it was on the top shelf.  "Hai, hai, coming, just a sec, Chase-kun."  Scrounging the contents up and replacing them in the shoebox, she takes the tape and paces towards the wall opposite his headboard, eyeing the middle of the Genbu's bed as she situates the poster.  Tacking up all four corners with the tape, she returns it to the box and replaces the lid.  She'll leave it on the bed though, instead of trying to reach that top shelf again.  Wiping her hands together as she exits his room, she shoots the other teenager a pleased look.  "Now, what was that about piz-"  Blink.  "What do you mean you've looked at mine?"  Blush.

 

Chase is already adorning the couch, legs kicked up on the coffee table as he eats away at a slice of pizza. He blinks after the room for a moment at the noises, frowning faintly, but when Mina finally returns, he gestures with a hand to the pizza box. "There. Eat. Don't ever say I'm not hospitable." He blinks at her for that last question, looking almost puzzled that she is even asking it. "I've looked at yours. So?" *shrug*

 

Pizza!  Mina helps herself to a slice, holding it gingerly between her hands as she looks around for a plate.  "How could I accuse you of being inhospitable, Chase-kun?"  Flashing him a teasing grin, she explains,  You buy me pizza, that's the height of hospitality."

 

Pizza!  Mina helps herself to a slice, holding it gingerly between her hands as she looks around for a plate.  "How could I accuse you of being inhospitable, Chase-kun?"  Flashing him a teasing grin, she explains, "You buy me pizza, that's the height of hospitality."  Making sure that her rear's nowhere near the Genbu's line of sight, she frowns and sniffs.  "Well, you shouldn't be looking.  That's just plain weird."

 

Chase peers up at Mina, and then points a finger down at the couch. "Sit. Eat. What are you looking for?" Plates? Who needs plates? He rolls his eyes at her once more, but chuckles nonetheless, "What? That I actually admitted to it? This coming from the girl who admitted to admiring the butt of that elf. Don't throw stones, Mina-girl."

 

Mina plops down on Chase's couch and takes a big bite from the saggy end of the pizza.  Hey, if he's not going to worry about crumbs, than neither will she.  Situating herself in the corner so that she can see Chase better, she pokes him with the toe of her boot.  "That's different.  There's no way that I'm going to get to meet Orlando Bloom in person, so I can notice all I want.  But you're not supposed to notice these things about friends, Chase-kun.  That's just wrong."

 

"And this is why girls roll their eyes if some guy points at a girl that he sees on TV and comments about her chest..." Chase smirks across to her, plucking off a mushroom from his pizza and tossing it over at her. He sighs, reclining back in the couch, eyes training to the television, "Fine, then I won't look at your butt anymore. Satisfied?"

 

"That's different because.. erm..."  Mina grimaces as the mushroom falls short.  But she's not going to pick it up.  She's the guest.  "Anou... you can ogle all the girls you want to, Chase-kun.  I won't say anything."  Wouldn't do to have a double standard.  If men can be objectified, women can be as well.  "Arigato," she smiles beautifically at the other seishi.  "It'd weird me out if you continued to do so.  Hai, hai, that's much better."

 

Alas, while Chase sounds as though he is resigned to such a thing, it doesn't last very long. Popping the crust of the pizza into his mouth, he chews away and then licks his fingers afterwards. Okay, now he can speak. He turns to the side, peering over at Mina, "Why would it weird you out? Does it make you uncomfortable? You don't like me looking at you like that or something?"

 

Mina studies her pizza at the question, taking a slow bite and chewing thoughtfully before she looks over at the other seishi, her expression serious.  "Anou... I'm not sure, Chase-kun," she answers honestly.  "I... we're friends, right?  And friends... well, friends aren't supposed to notice things like that, that's all."  Taking another bite of her pizza, she uses the need to chew as an excuse to pause, before she continues, this time with a blush flaring along her cheeks.  "Just like friends aren't supposed to kiss."  Finding the courage to look up at the Genbu, she asks softly, "Anou... why did you kiss me before?"

 

Chase stretches, draping his arms over the back of the couch. He idly watches the television, but, inevitably, he is looking back over to Mina. The faintest of frowns drags down at his dark eyebrows, and he speaks, the tone of his voice softening, "Because I wanted to, Mina. Because... because I like you and -and I'm not going to just sit back and let it be. I'm not just going to hang out and now at least show you how I feel about you."

 

Mina returns her half-eaten slice of pizza to the box before she turns to study the other seishi, confusion written all over her face.  "Demo, Chase-kun... you..."  She shakes her head, lowering her gaze to her hands which she clasps tightly in her lap.  "I like you too," she admits softly, finally raising her gaze to meet the sea-green of his as her cheeks flare with an even darker blush, "But I like you as a friend, a brother... you... you're terribly important to me."  Biting her lower lip, she adds quietly, "I... I can't deny that I'm attracted to you, but things... everything's just too complicated."

 

Chase watches her curiously. Utterly unable to hide his feelings, his face is an open book as usual. There is a moment of hope, and then comes the annoyed scowl, followed by patient curiosity once again. "Mina... I care a /lot/ about you. A lot. But just because things are complicated for you, that doesn't mean I'm just going to sit back and let you have it easy. You know this. And I am not going to give up on you." He sighs, scooting a little closer towards her. "It doesn't have to be as complicated as you are trying to make it out to be."

 

Biting at her lower lip, Mina just /stares/ at Chase, giving off a good imitation of a deer in a pickup's headlights.  "I..."  Shaking her head, she rises and paces towards the door, skittish as hell.  "Chase-kun, I don't want to hurt you.  I've... "  Turning around, she tries to blink back her emotions.  "Why... why do you have to push?  I don't want to lose you... I don't want to lose your friendship, because I care about you too, but-"  And here she pauses, worrying her lower lip again.  There's a paused silence before she notes on a hushed whisper, "You know that my heart belongs to someone else."

 

Chase is immediately bouncing up as well as soon as she moves to stand, watching her all the while. "I know, Mina. I know that. You've told me before. Quite a few times before. But that isn't going to stop me from trying." He is stalking after her, still speaking, "And you aren't going to lose me. Not by a long shot, because I am not going to give up about this. I have... I've rolled over for a lot of things in my life, but I'm going to fight for this, Mina. I want this. I want to see what might happen. And I want to give it a chance."

 

"Then why do you persist, Chase," Mina asks worriedly, watching the Genbu approach with a widening of her aquamarine irises.  "If you know how I feel..."  She lowers her gaze and just shakes her head again, as if doing so would change his feelings, would somehow make things easier for both of them.  "Please," she sighs softly, still not able to look at the other seishi fully, but instead raises her gaze to only chin level, her features paling with the strain.  "I wish... I wish I could be what you want, Chase, but I can't.  I can't let myself see what would happen, I can't give it a chance because... because I'm not willing to damage my relationship with Rathan."  Finally finding the courage to seek out his compelling green gaze, she sighs softly.  "I... I can't separate the physical from the emotional, I don't know how.  If I give in physically, I'm afraid of what I'd do emotionally.  So I... I won't let myself even wonder, Chase."

 

"Because I care too much for you, Mina," Chase murmurs, watching her with a softening expression. "I care too much for you to throw everything away. I care too much to see you with a man who you even said doesn't love you. I care too much to not give this a chance." He doesn't hesitate in his advancement though, reaching forward as if to try to take her wrists, "What do you mean physically? You think that I'm just here to try to get you into bed or something? Mina... it isn't about that. I want to have a chance with you emotionally, and physically if you want. I already know that I care about you more than I've cared about a lot of people."

 

Chase's words have a way of twisting within her heart, of causing Mina to try to back away, although she doesn't tug her wrist out from his grasp.  Not yet, at least.  "Iie, Chase," she shakes her head.  "He doesn't love me, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care.  He cares for me a lot... and I..."  Her shoulders slump and she offers the Genbu a frightened look.  "Please don't push.  Please don't make things more complicated, because I don't want to hurt you, Chase."  Reaching up with her free hand to softly touch his cheek, her own warming at her own brazeness, she lets her expression reflect just how much he means to her.  "Please let us just return to being just friends."

 

"Mina? I could love you..." Chase speaks this softly, watching her through the dark fringe of his hair. There is insistence in his eyes, determination and hope. "You deserve that. More than that. After all you have had to deal with..." He turns his face into her hand, moving his free hand up to press against the back of her hand. "I will always be your friend, but I want to be something more as well. Just give it a chance." And without warning, he is leaning towards her once more, again trying to seek out her lips with a kiss.

 

Heart-thumping, Mina blinks at Chase's words, her mouth opening to form a perfectly little stunned 'O'.  And then he's kissing her and she doesn't know what to do about it.  Breaking away in confusion, she shakes her head in denial, her stormy eyes a little too wide as she backs up one step and then another.  "Chase.. I..."  But then she's too cowardly to finish her sentence, instead pivoting quickly and racing for the door.

 

Chase isn't the kind to torture Mina with these sorts of things to much. And so as she breaks away and goes for the door, he remains there, only to look after her though. But the very fact that she is running away from him is enough to cause his heart to drop, an almost lost puppy-dog expression on his face. He mutters a curse under his breath though as she disappears, only to move over and make sure the door is shut. With a sigh, he turns about, leaning his back against the door to slide down it and sit upon the floor. Gaze tracks over to Benito, and he murmurs to the canine, "Think I screwed up, big guy?..." Of course, the dog doesn't offer anything. *sigh*

 

Amefuri goes home.