6/12/2003

04:32 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

 

Mina knocks uncertainly on Chase's door, probably unnecessary if the Genbu's home as he can get an inkling of who's standing outside his door.  Hopefully he doesn't decide to pretend that he's not in, because she's stubborn enough to camp outside of it until a) Kenny lets her in or b) Chase needs to make a run down to Brice's for supplies.

 

But Anana brought over chili yesterday, as he can live off of that for at least a couple of days. There is also the option of climbing out of the fire escape and using Benito to hold her off -no matter that the dog will probably do whatever she asks of him. Chase does seem to hesitate within though, setting the game that he was playing on pause with the slightest of frowns. Why couldn't she have just stayed away? After a moment though, he finally climbs up off of the floor and goes to the door to open it. His expression is schooled into something of blandness, even if there is a touch of apprehension there. "Hey, Mina."

 

"Hello, Chase-kun," Mina meets blandness with open apprehension herself, fidgeting slightly.  Perhaps this was a bad idea, perhaps it's too soon, but she's been missing the other seishi terribly.  "I... Anou... How are you doing, cowboy?"  She bites at her lower lip nervously, raising her gaze so she can study Chase's reactions more carefully before attempting a tentative smile.  He opened the door, that has to be a step forward, ne?

 

There is a brief flicker sadness in his eyes before Chase is turning his head away, masking with the movement of opening the door further as if to invite her in. "Don't just stand there fidgiting in the hallway," he mutters, almost at a resigned sigh. "Come on in. Want something to drink?" While waiting to see if she does so, he finally looks back to her with wariness. "I'm fine. You?"

 

Taking a deep breath, Mina crosses over into the room a smile directed towards the paused game.  "Whatcha playing, cowboy?"  Yes, she's trying to lighten the mood and not being terribly subtle about it, either.  "Anou... I know I should've called first," she turns around again to face the other seishi with a sheepish smile.  "Demo, I figured you wouldn't talk to me."  Drink?  "Hai, hai, have any coke?  Or any other sort of soda pop's fine with me."  Biting her lower lip again, she forces another smile.  "Fine myself."  And then she has to giggle.  "I don't suppose you've seen the Italian Job, have you?  Because FINE can stand for something else, too."

 

Chase closes the door after her with a silent shut before moving away and heading for the fridge in the kitchen. "We've got pop." Although he isn't exactly sure what kind they do have. Looks like he is playing one of the older N64 games with that Hyrulian himelf, Link, on it. "I'm talking to you now, aren't I? Although yeah, if you'd have called I might have told you I was already busy." At least he is honest, in a way, that is. He returns with a can in hand, no glass, handing the Coke over to her. "Never seen it."

 

"Zelda, huh?"  Mina may not be a video game fan, but she hasn't been living under a rock for the past decade.  Wyoming, not a rock.  At his honesty, her face falls slightly before she forces another smile on her face.  "It stands for Fucked up, Insecure, Neurotic and... I forget what the 'E' is, but the first three seem fitting, ne?"  Perching herself on the edge of his sofa, she lets her gaze rest on Chase, studying his body language.  "What have you been doing these past couple of weeks?  Not getting into trouble, I hope?"  And then she'll flash him a teasing grin.  "Though you look okay, so things must be going well?"

 

Chase cracks open a can for himself as well, taking a drink, and then looking across to her. At the description, he frowns just the faintest, mostly in annoyance, "I'm not that bad. Just the traditional description of fine, Mina." Gaze flickers away and to the frozen scene on the television as he continues, "Same old, same old, I suppose. Been around, been home for a little bit, been around some more."

 

"I was talking about myself," Mina laughs nervously, popping the top herself before nursing the sugary drink.  "Demo, I suppose it's not that funny, ne?"  And now she's studying the floor in silence for a moment before rising.  "Anou... I... I guess stopping by was a bad idea.  I'm sorry, Chase-kun."  She hangs her head, her features shadowed by her vivid curls.  "It's just that I've missed you.  But I'll go now."  And she'll head towards the door and a slow, defeated pace, pausing to add, "Arigato for the Coke."

 

Chase isn't exactly making things easier, is he? As she stands up to leave, making her goodbyes, the teenager frowns, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment, opening them with a glance askance, and then the reluctant sigh. "Sorry. I suppose I'm not being a very good host or something. Not very nice. You don't need to leave if you don't want to, but I wouldn't blame you."

 

Mina pauses with her hand on the knob of the door before she turns, leaning her back against the wood and closing her eyes herself.  "Iie, I don't expect you to be nice, Chase-kun.  I hurt you.  I hurt myself.  I know that it's not that easy to pretend that didn't happen, demo, I wish we could go back to the way that we used to be.  I wasn't lying when I said that I've missed you, that I miss you still."  Her shoulders slump and her gaze tracks over to the Genbu again.  "I suppose I'm pushing things again, ne?"

 

Chase moves around the side of the couch only to drop into the already weary spring cushions with a boneless flop, and not managing to spill any of his soda as she he does so. "You didn't hurt me, I did it to myself. Just... forget it." His free hand waves negligently towards her as if dismissing it all. "I was an idiot, and I really don't want to set myself up again for.. whatever. So if you're thinking that things are going to be the same, you'll have a very long time to wait."

 

"I don't want to forget it, Chase-kun," Mina closes her eyes, making her way to the couch.  Placing her can of soda on the coffee table she hovers and then settles down on the couch beside the Genbu, careful not to touch him.  "You weren't an idiot," she reassures, reaching over to pat his knee.  "You were following your heart.  You were being true to yourself."  Withdrawing her hand and clasping it with the other in her lap, she admits dully, "It was my fault for kissing you.  For making it worse."  And then her eyes are watering, silent tears slipping down her cheek.  "Why... why can't things go back to the way they used to be, Chase-kun.  Before you liked me that way, when we were friends.  Remember?"

 

Chase visibly tenses as she comes near, watching her warily. He tries not to react at all as she touches his knee, but fails miserably with his sigh. The briefest of frowns turns down at his lips, annoyance making an appearance again as he replies, "Mina, I really don't want to talk about this. I'm going to start yelling and make you feel miserable, and I don't want to." Oh no. Not the tears again. He makes a conscious effort to look anywhere but at her, "It isn't that easy to just erase whatever and make things the way you want them, Mina. You might think it is, but it isn't."

 

"Damn it, Chase," Mina even drops the -kun as she wipes furiously at her eyes.  "What do you want to talk about then?  When will you forgive me, what do I have to do to make things right again."  She balls her hands into fists, frustration evident in her features as more tears leak out.  "I've got the distinct impression that you don't want to talk to me at all."  And that hurts, it hurts a lot.  "I know that, I know that we can't change what's happened between us, but is it wrong of me to wish that things were different.  Not this awkward, or cold, or even so... so painful," she ends with a sad sigh.

 

Chase blinks at her cursing. Now, he doesn't hear that very often from her. Startles him enough to actually look back at the girl. "Mina, I don't blame you for this. There isn't anything to forgive. And you made it abundantly clear, more than once, I'm just some friend of yours and nothing more. Fine. I just..." He sighs, glancing away again, "I just don't want to set myself up again, or make you feel weird. Save us a whole lot of grief that way."

 

"Demo, you're not likely to set your cap for me again, ne?  So there won't be any weirdness.  This," Mina gestures to her stiff and awkward seating arrangement, "This makes me feel weird.  And you are not just some friend, Chase-kun, you're my best friend.  Not having you in my life for the past month made me realize how important you are to me.  You're not some throw-away person, you're someone that I'd like to keep in my life.  So I'm going to fight for us," she adds with determination.  "I'm going to keep hoping that we can be friends again."  She's already ruined thing with one important person in her life, she's not about to repeat the same mistake again.

 

Chase is reluctant, extremely reluctant, and it shows in his features and the way that he makes sure to sit a little away from her. He doesn't say anything about her first words, actually looking away a little. Who's to say he still doesn't carry that torch? Still. The very idea of, yet again, having to shove everything away and keep quiet about stuff doesn't exactly make him want to turn cartwheels. Ugh, not again. "Mina.. I don't know..."

 

Mina doesn't push, though she would like to.  But the last time she pushed Chase, it blew up in her face.  "Chase-kun... don't you miss me too?"  She drops her gaze to her lap and shakes her head, "Gomen ne, I... I hadn't thought of that possibility."  And now she'll just sit in awkward silence for a minute before she blinks, looking more determined.  "Tell me that you don't miss our friendship and I'll... I'll go.  And I... I promise never to bother you again."  She lifts her gaze, her stormy aquamarine eyes searching out his sea green ones.  "But I won't give up on our friendship so easily.  I won't let you slip away from me if there's hope."

 

Chase drags his fingers back through his hair, nearly groaning as he does so. If this isn't torture, he doesn't know what is. Dropping his head, weary eyes peer through the fringe of his hair and on to Mina once again, muttering with accusation, "You're killing me here, you know?" Annoyed, he glances away, scowling, shaking his head from side to side, "Yeah, I miss things, but... I just don't know."

 

"I'll behave, Chase-kun," Mina promises, his confession causing her eyes to light up with hope.  "I won't kiss you again.  I won't do anything that you don't want me to do."  She juts out her chin, looking stubborn.  "I promise not to hurt you again," she adds softly.  "No matter what else I have to do, I won't let you get hurt."  And then she's cocking her head at the Genbu seishi, studying him hopefully.  "Will you trust me enough to be my friend again?"

 

Never mind that he would actually prefer that she does kiss him again. Chase sighs though, frowning with something of disappointment, before he lifts his head and watches her with continued wariness, "Don't make promises like that." He finally does  take another sip from his pop, buying a little time before continuing, "But I'm not sure that I can do this, Mina. Not how you want me to, and I don't want you expecting such."

 

"Why not, Chase-kun?  How else can I prove just how important you are to me?"  Mina has been making all the calls regarding their friendship therefore at Chase's words she frowns and then nods her head.  "Hai, then we will do things your way.  Just tell me what sort of friendship you want us to have and I will do my best to fill the role that you want me to.  I don't want you to feel awkward, either.  I want this to work out, us to work out."  And as she's talking, she'll reach over and try to grab one of the Genbu's hands, her eyes reflecting her earnestness.

 

Chase really, really hates having boundaries set on things, especially the way that Mina wants to describe things. So, he scowls in response, glancing away again. "Mina, I..." Really sucks to be without the right words either. "I don't know what I'm supposed to say or tell you." And so, he'll fidget, that is until she takes his hand, and he lets her without argument, and the slightest of tensing.

 

"Just tell me what you want," Mina encourages softly, squeezing his hand briefly, but she doesn't let it go.  The fact that he's letting her have any contact with him has her hoping even more.  "I'll let you set out what you want from our friendship this time, Chase-kun.  I'll let you decide on the rules, or lack of them if you'd like."  She shakes her head ruefully, her light curls bouncing.  "We tried it my way, and it didn't work.  So we'll try it yours, ne?  Couldn't mess things up more than they are right now."

 

Chase sighs slightly, looking down at her hand before squeezing his eyes shut. Sucks. Really, really sucks. He draws in a couple of breaths before trying to school his features away from where they were headed, dipping into sheer willpower to do so. "Lets just see how things go, okay?" He slips his hand out of hers though, instead using it to take up his can of pop.

 

Mina frowns as he withdraws his hand, hurt flashing briefly in her eyes before she blinks it away.  "Demo, I don't want things to remain like this, Chase-kun.  I don't want things to be so stiff and jerky between us.  I want to be able to tickle you again until you're giggling helplessly.  I want to stick weasels under your clothing and come over with more Legolas things.  I want to annoy you so much you have to freeze my bra again."  She sits back, sinking into his couch.  "I want to pounce on you, learn how to shoot from you... go camping with you..."  She gives a defeated sigh.  "I just want to be with you again."

 

Chase continues to look away from her for a long moment, studying something other than her for the moment as he tries to figure out what to say or do. The briefest of frowns creases his features, and then annoyance is showing again. A breath, and he turns to finally look at her. Head tilting a little to the side, he watches her with eyes filled with resignation, "Oh, dammit. Don't look at me like that. I can try, okay? And I suppose, maybe... maybe we could do that stuff. It'll make you happy?"

 

And you had to know this was coming.  Mina flings herself at Chase, wrapping him up in a genki hug.  "Arigato, arigato Chase-kun!"  And then she's babbling happily, "It will make me happy, just being with you makes me happy."  But then she sobers and draws back, studying the other seishi worriedly, because she's being selfish again.  "Demo... will it make /you/ happy?  I don't want to force you to do anything that you don't want to do.  I... that's how we got here in the first place, ne?"

 

Chase doesn't quite squeak, but it is a very near thing. As he is glomped by the girl, he tenses momentarily before drawing his arms almost reluctantly around her. Well, at first and then he is plodding bravely on to give her something of a squeeze. The look though, he tries to avoid, instead sliding up off of the sofa, "If you're happy, then I'm happy, of coarse." He then turns to look back down at her, "Everything alright now?"

 

Mina sighs happily at the return squeeze, eyes closed.  But then he's sliding up off the couch at her question and she studies him worried.  "..."  But she's not that experienced in relationship and thus takes him at his word, cracking a mischievous smile.  "Almost," she giggles in response, and then she's concentrating on the seishi who will get a warm fuzzy under his clothing again.  And then she'll laugh, nodding her head in satisfaction.  "Now everything's all right."

 

Chase watches her for a moment, nodding his head, "Okay. Look, I've got a thing that I need to do though in a few minutes. Maybe we'll talk again la-" Things crawling in his clothes again. O.O "Mina!" Yes, he'll curse at her, stifling a snicker while trying to reach underneath to yank the thing out from under his clothes.

 

"Hai, hai, I'll be going now," Mina nods happily over at Chase, trotting towards the door.  "Have fun with my little friend."  And then she's turning the knob and slipping out the door, pausing long enough to toss a happy "Jya ne!" over her shoulder.  And then she's gone.  And they will definitely be talking again later.  Poor Chase is going to think he's got a stalker in the Byakko. n.~