7/13/2003

04:51 PM

Logfile from Gabriel.

 

 

Gabriel's-Upstairs Loft

There is almost a raw, unfinished feel to this apartment, filling the entire second floor of the building, and harkening back to building's original roots -and purposely so. High ceilings are left bare with mortar, brick, and metal, vaulting over the pale wood floor at least twenty feet high, and adorned here and there with the opaque glass of rectangular skylights. Large windows nearly six feet tall dominate, panelled in glass that at times can be either frosted or clear enough to show the sight of Carmine Street below.

From the staircase leading to the store below, the loft flows outward in a rather dramatic display of space. There is comfort to be had in the pair of dark red couches that are set near to the front facade windows, while just a little further from them is something of a kitchen area, separated with a counter and a dark table. Various entertainment purposes are served with a modest television and stereo, but the majority seems to have been invested in a pair of large cases, filled with various books from pictorials of architecture to modern pop-culture fiction, historical novels to whatever else seems to have claimed the owner's fancy at the time. Littering one of the back walls is an array of framed pictures, mostly black and whites and showing a variety of scenes of both city and country, nameless faces and glimpses of life, all seemingly beautiful in their own way.

Off to the back of the loft is a closed off area, divided by paper-shrouded panels that only extend about ten feet high. Beyond such is afforded the privacy of the bath area, as well as the bedroom. Simple elegance in all things.

Obvious exits:

Downstairs

 

She left a message before she came over; apparently, the reason she's been gone for so long was thanks to a family issue that needed to be taken care of back in California. Figures. She's been out there since, making sure that that everything was settled, and then she came back home. One extra quarter of classes. Augh. She's probably missed so much as far as everyone else. /Augh/. And now, she finds herself here, because someone left a message and she was nowhere to be found in answering. Nevermind it was left over a month ago. He's probably so mad.... /AUGH/. Eeep. So now, Shinobu is knocking on the door, hoping that it'll actually open, than remaining shut.

 

Gabriel has actually been spending a pleasant afternoon at home, preferring the quiet of a good book as he is settled upon the couch. At the knock though, the man sets it aside, draping the book over the couch's armrest and then moving over to open the door. "Can I help... Shinobu." He blinks for a moment in surprise, and then is taking a step back to usher her within. A smile alights upon his lips and he nods, "Please, come in. It is wonderful to see you again."

 

That's a good way to spend the time. Shinobu is honestly regretting doing that later on, because all she's going to be seeing for a very long time is nothing but textbooks. Oish. There's no fun in that at all, is there? Not in her mind. When the door opens, there's a look of relief on her features, one that brightens when Gabriel moves aside to let her in. Oh good... she isn't going to be tossed back out after all. "Thanks. I wasn't sure if you'd want to see me after... well, I didn't call." There's a sheepish smile, even as Shinobu turns once she's inside, hands behind her back. "The shop... it's looking really good. I like what you've done with it." Small talk? Her forte, today, it seems.

 

Gabriel gently shuts the door after she enters, and then follows after. He echoes, "Because you didn't call? Of course not, Shinobu. I don't think that I am quite that vengeful. How have you been though? I admit to being a little worried about you. Everything is alright now?" He offers her a wry smile and then waves her to the couch. "Can I get you something to drink?"

 

Shinobu takes that seat on the couch, dressed simply in shorts and t-shirt, all that purple hair pulled back in a messy bun. Whatever happened to that fastidious woman? Out the door, for the moment, thanks. She'll go back to being impressive when she gets her life back in order. "Well, I mean, I disappeared for a month, and... oh? Well, everything's okay, now." Her head nods as if to accentuate that point. "No more running off for me for a while. Made my head hurt, somehow." Darn memories. Keep trying to leak out. "Just water, please? But... how have you been?" comes at last, hands in her lap, that sheepish grin creeping back into her features.

 

Gabriel slips off to go fetch that water for her. "Well, I have no doubt that you had your reasons for it, but you have been missed." He returns, glass in hand that tinkles with the sounds of ice cubes hitting the sides. "It'll be very good to have you around again." But he frowns once more, "Your head hurt? Does it still?" Yes, that is the sound of concern in his voice as well as on his features when he sits, waving his hand negligently about the question as to his own welfare. Really now, the tale ending up with a hole in your tummy and nearly bleeding to death in the park is not so important as the poor girl's head.

 

Really now. Just wait until Shinobu finds out about that. Tch. Headache, smeadache, compared to that. Feh. She can deal with a headache, but something in her would probably collapse if Gabriel died, without remembering everything. However, that isn't the case right now, is it? Good? Good. "It doesn't now," Shinobu gives after a moment. "I don't know. There's always something about going home that makes me...... antsy." Maybe because the last time Houki did it, there was quite the... affair. Eeek. "I'm really sorry about disappearing like that. It wasn't exactly fair to you."

 

Gabriel doesn't quite allow the concern upon his features to leave as he peers at her. Offering her the glass of water, he speaks, "Then it is even better that you are here. Less... antsy." Something like that. Or not. A faint smile finally makes an appearance once again, "Don't worry about that, but I am happy that you are back, and came to see me."

 

Shinobu takes the glass, though she almost blanches at the look she gets. "Hey now... I'm fine. Really, I am." Taking a sip, letting the glass rest loosely between her hands, she adds, "It went away as soon as I got back here. Like I was expecting something... bad?" It's almost a question. She certainly remembers parts of it, particularly Tendou being back in the village, but the rest...? It comes and goes, depending on who's around her. A month away has allowed her to push a /lot/ back, now. "Well, I figured it would be fair to come see you, ne?" Fair? Not the term that she was thinking to use, but one given all the same. "There hasn't been any more trouble?"

 

Gabriel took note of that 'fair' in her words, provoking a bit of a blink from him, but nothing else. "Your headache did? Well, then that settles it, you need to be around here more, if not always." He echoes her though, "Trouble? No, not really. But, it seems as though I am drawing ahead of you in remembering things. there are more holes in my memories. I recall Houki now." How embarrassing. Forgetting one's own wife. He isn't blushing, but is going to offer her a warm smile.

 

One of these days, she might find an eloquent way to speak. Maybe after she's drained that glass of water, which it doesn't take her that long to do at all. Whew. That was needed. Head bowed slightly, Shinobu pauses at the commentary, before making a somewhat amused face. "I hope you mean the city at large, and not just here. Not that here would be too bad, but it would be a lot of trouble in getting to class." Not that it matters right now. She'll have to make it all up next quarter. However, the last bit, that Gabriel remembers, brings the girl to blush wildly. "Oh... ah... you remember now... huh...." Oh, maybe she should have stayed at home. Cough. "... You remember everything?"

 

Gabriel blinks, because that wasn't particularly what he originally meant either, but... He seems to consider that for a moment, "You could, you know? Stay here more. If at least because I do worry about your welfare." But it is her blushes that has him trailing off on that, smile stalling. "Yes, everything. Or, at least I think so... You don't seem to be as pleased as I am about this, Shinobu?"

 

Shinobu is giving more of a sheepish look than anything. As if she hadn't quite expected that when she got here. But it has been a month... who knows. He could have remembered as soon as she left. However, there's the comment of her living here, which brings her head to shake slightly. "Iie. I don't want to impose." Not that it would be weird, for she's done it at least one lifetime before, but... really. She doesn't want to impose. It's the latter comment that brings her head to jerk up, to shake quickly, almost to the point it might snap off if she's not careful. "No! I mean... no, it's not that. I guess I'm just... surprised. When I left, you didn't remember me... well, Houki at all. I don't... think I'm too much like her." How about not at all.

 

Gabriel drops back into the corner of the couch, closing his eyes and sighing. He reaches a hand up to first rub over his forehead and then back through his hair. Eyes open back up and he looks back to Shinobu, carefully studying her features as if he hasn't seen them before, "You wouldn't impose, but it would make me more at ease if you were. I won't insist, because it would be up to you." A breath, and he continues and at almost a sigh, "No, possibly you aren't. But neither am I all that much like I was then."

 

"Really?" She pipes up, glancing down to her glass for a moment, before she gives a somewhat wry smile. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to... or not. I admit, my memory's a little spotty on some things... okay, a lot, but Malachai... really brought home our relationship. Yours and mine, that is." Well, theirs, too, but she'd prefer to forget /that/. "Oh, I know I'm not like Houki... well, what I remember." There's a pause, before she muses quietly, "She... never stopped loving him, you know. She focused her life on making sure Boushin was protected until he was able to rule."

 

Gabriel continues to look across to Shinobu for a moment, and then his features finally lighten with a smile, "Yes, really. But it would be up to you, and if you would be comfortable with the arrangement." He frowns though at her last words. Ouch. Guilt for not being there. "I'm sorry." And then that nagging need to repent for it.

 

"Well, let me think on it? I mean, my life is rather hectic. Staying up until all times of night and morning, scrambling out to get to either work or school." ... Oh. He hasn't seen her work uniform, has he? ... Ah heh. She might not get to leave the house with that one, huh? Ahem. Still, Shinobu continues, mostly from that frown that Gabriel gives. "It was her choice. She very much loved him... and wanted to make sure all that he put into place went through." She lived.. a very long time, by herself. She'll never give how long, because it was extraordinary, really, and there's just no need to put Gabriel through any more stress. "You have nothing to be sorry over. He was protecting the country... and them. She knew that. I just wish I could remember the stuff before she got married fully." Feh.

 

Gabriel lifts his gaze back to Shinbu, still not looking all that mollified at her words. He shakes his head slowly from side to side, and just the slightest. He doesn't respond further though, but adds onto something else, "You really do need to see Kourin. I am sure she can help you with that more than I ever could." Faint smile shows once more, finally. "I would not mind that, not at all. Had the same schedule myself when I was going to school."

 

 

7/14/2003

11:06 PM

Logfile from Gabriel.

 

 

 

Kourin? She was afraid Gabriel was going to say that. She hasn't seen Kourin yet, only having run into her sister, but there's something about that whole meeting that has her dreading. Gabriel probably has a good idea of what it is, considering how Kourin in the past behaved toward Hotohori. Chewing on her lower lip, she nods, but she doesn't bring herself to speak, at least, until, "Well, if you think so. If you think she can help...." And probably shake her silly, which is what she needs. At the last, she can't help but to laugh, before she waggles a finger. "Well... I insist on paying my part of the rent. I'm not going to sit and mooch off you!" ... Did Shinobu just agree?

 

Gabriel will bring up Kourin quite a bit. Oh yes. He has complete faith in her, and possibly in the firm shaking, but he'd probably really rather not know about that part. "I am sure that she can help. She has managed to help me on more than one occasion." He offers her another warm smile, before nearly blinking in astonishment. Actually, he really didn't expect that either, "You will? I mean, you will. Oh, you wouldn't be mooching at all." Yes, his grin is widening, actually a bit of a chuckle happening as well. "There is no rent. I own the building."

 

Shinobu will be grateful for it when she remembers herself completely. For now, she's dreading it, and she isn't quite sure why. There is something that is settled in her, her memories know good and well why there's a feeling of worry, but right now she can't place her finger on it. Eying Gabriel when he looks astonished over her answer, it's her turn now to be amazed when she finds out he owns the building. "... Well, I'll still have to pay you back somehow. I am not going to sit here and live scot free." Besides, if she could do that, she wouldn't work. She'd change majors... or something like that. Don't tempt her, Gabriel. "I mean, I think I'd feel a little guilty just... living here without providing some sort of rent in return."

 

Gabriel chuckles once more, head bowing forward just the slightest, "If you think you need to... you don't happen to be good at cooking or anything?" Please say yes. Please say yes. He has been living off of takeout quite a bit lately. "I manage to burn toast on my best day." Tragic, really. "Oh, don't feel guilty. But if you want to, then fine. It is really alright, Shinobu." He frowns for a moment, and then slides to his feet. "There is a room off to the back that I've been using mostly as storage, but I think we can make it up for you. Want to come and take a look?"

 

 

Can she cook? "Actually... as a matter of fact I can." Well, blessed be the day for that. "I guess I can make it up in getting things here to cook with?" She's seen this apartment... it screams bachelor. "I'll make sure to get all the things I'll need myself... and pay for groceries. Deal?" Hey, getting actual tools to cook with is an expensive process in itself. "But, we'll see on the rest when we get there, okay?" Pausing as Gabriel mentions the room, she nods, getting to her feet as well. "Sure. I don't have that much... and the rest can be sold, truth be told. A lot of it's old." ... Well! She's a student!

 

See, the thing is... he is a bachelor. At least it is fairly neat though, even if the kitchen looks like it has a fine coating of dust over everything. And, possibly, there are a few loose articles of clothing cluttering up the bedroom from the morning. Gabe blinks though, and then smiles down at her, "You are a godsend, Shinobu." Do we really want to get into that? "Yes, that'll work." He bows his head to her, before reaching over as if to take her wrist and lead her towards a room near the back. Door is pushed open, revealing a room lit only by the lights pouring through the windows. Lamps would be good. There is a moderately cluttered desk with computer that see some action, if only for accounting purposes, and mostly quite a few boxes and such piled along the back walls. "Most of that is what I found where when I got this building, and a few things from the store that can just as easily be set into storage down there. It shouldn't take that long to clean out."

 

Godsend? Considering You Houki means beautiful male phoenix... let's not get into that, okay? It would be very easy to think that considering all that happened back in the past, and Shinobu... hasn't quite figured all that out yet. Once she does, she's going to wonder why she was even reincarnated at all. Not that Shinobu'd complain. "Don't say that. We'll see if you think that if you like my cooking." Well, she's better than Miaka... that's not saying much, but she does eat her own food. That says a lot. Wandering behind Gabriel to see the room at large, she nods, eying the situation thoughtfully, before she muses, "Even a desk... I won't have to bring mine, then." What? Just junk it all and move in? ... Apparently. Maybe Houki's peeking out every now and again after all. "Do you mind if I help? It won't take me all that long to pack, if I'm getting rid of a lot of the stuff."

 

Gabriel chuckles under his breath, flickering a glance down at her, "I am sure that I will." Hey, if he can force himself to smile after eating Miaka's food, he can do the very same for Shinobu. Although he doubts, heavily, that will even be necessary. He moves over to wipe a hand over the window, clearing up the film of dust there and managing to make the room a little more illuminated. "Help? Oh, sure. But that means I have to help you pack at your place as well," he adds, eyebrows lifting in challenge.

 

Well, rest assured she isn't going to kill Gabriel by cooking. There's a good thing in that, to be sure. Fingers brushing against the dust, fingers ending up slightly dusty, Shinobu looks around the place before she finally muses, "Well... I suppose. I mean, someone will have to help in carrying the bed out." Sure, it's not huge, but it does need to be carried out... not dragged like Shinobu would do by herself. "In fact... I should head back. I'll give you a call when I'm ready?" She's... actually moving in. Without remembering everything. Is this a good idea? Well... she's going to find out soon enough.

 

Gabriel casts a final glance about the room, frowning a little at all of the boxes in the back. He draws back over to the doorway though, smiling down at her, "Oh, certainly, even if I'm going to be enlisted to do all of the grunt work." Maybe Kourin will be brought into the mix by then. He flashes her a grin and then moves to close the door to the soon-to-be bedroom. Smile warms as he looks back down to her, "Thank you for agreeing to do this. I appreciate it more than you know."

 

Shinobu pauses at the smile, another one coming to her lips as Gabriel decides to shut the door on what will be her new room in... days? Perhaps. At least that is what Shinobu is hoping... just a little. She'll have to talk to the apartment manager about the lease, and selling her stuff, and... so much to do. But she does hear Gabriel's parting words, before she gives sheepishly, "Ano... I'm still... well, I think that's due to me not remembering everything else." Kourin's help is definitely needed. But she does reach up, to touch the man's cheek lightly, before she pulls back. "I should go. But I'll give you a call, okay?" And this time, it won't take months, but just a few days if she's lucky.