637/Catching up at Korma

Catching up at Korma
Date of Scene:	23 October 2023
Location:	Korma Chameleon
Synopsis:	Naru and Adrien catch up a bit at Korma Chameleon. The recent ball is discussed, as well as their friends relationships, and possibly juicy magical secrets! Oh, no, dinner got served first.
Cast of Characters:	Adrien Agreste, Naru Osaka

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Adrien Agreste has posed:
Korma was an excellent place to meet for a study break. Though Adrien could have simply walked there to meet Naru, let's face it: They were both coming from the dorms in the first place. He's polite enough to wait for her so they can both make the trek there and then steps forward to open the door so she can go in before him.

"Ladies first," he offers casually, with a grin, as if this were just second nature to him. "Seriously though I'm not sure what's up with Chrono, but he seems to be in a good mood. I guess the ball went well for him," he explains with a chuckle.

Naru Osaka has posed:
Naru smiles as she meets up with Adrien at the entrance to the dorms. "Fancy meeting you here." She teases as they make their way off for korma.

"He's allowed to be happy you now." Naru points out as they find themselves a table and slide into it. "Did you have a good time at the ball?" She asks as they settle in. "I saw you there, but never did manage to get over to chat with you." She smiles. "You looked snazzy, but you pretty much always do. Occupational hazard, really."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"I..." Adrien begins only to consider if he did or not. He takes the seat opposite Naru while considering his thoughts on the matter. "I had a good time at first. I spoke a bit with Usagi-chan and Darien-san, and danced with their friend Makoto-chan. She was a bit embarassed due to her height. I hope she still had a good time." He gives a bit of a shrug.

The menu at the table is opened up to flip through already regarding the contents with the appetite of a teen who hasn't had a good meal for a day or so. "Then I walked in on another conversation just as everyone was heading to the dancefloor, and danced with Coco so she wouldn't be left out. I think around that time I started getting a bit tired." Better to say tired than sad. Much easier to explain. He looks up from the menu to grin over at her though. "I stayed a bit longer and saw you and your friend dance. You looked good, too."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"I like Makoto." Naru smiles warmly. "I don't think much about her height.. literally everyone is taller than I am, so I'm just used to it and don't think anything of it." At all of 4'9".. pretty much everyone IS taller than Naru. "I suspect she did, ultimately."

Naru barely looks at the menu, she's got her favourites and her options are limited, but still delicious. "That was sweet of you to dance with Coco, she really is lovely." She considers him a moment, evaluating how 'tired' he really was, but she doesn't comment. "Thank you. I really did like that dress. Surprisingly comfortable, compared to many formal dresses I've tried on." There's a little bit of a quiet smile at the mention of 'her and her friend' dancing.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"Oh I can imagine. Even the suits that I have to wear are generally a bit stuffy. It helps if they're tailored right, but not everyone has that luxury. Even then," Adrien has to admit with a grin across toward Naru, "A cumberbund is such an odd thing to wear if you're not used to it. Father always wears three peice suits though so I try to avoid those. That's *his* style." Even if it did look good.

His attention shifts back to the menu considering. "I might try the butter chicken shwarma. It looks good and I am fairly hungry. Anything catching your eye?" He didn't seem TOO tired at least. Maybe just trying to keep his distance from certain topics.

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Vegetarian korma." Naru answers automatically. "I should branch out at some point, but it's just /so good/ that I end up getting it basically every time." She grins a little. "And inevitably, I'll be eating it for three meals, but it's good enough that I don't care." She eats more than she used to, but she still doens't eat that /much/.

"There's always something vaguely uncomfortable about formal clothes, it's true. No matter how it's tailored." Naru nudges her menu aside, accepting that she's going to go with her usual. Again. As.. usual.

"How are you doing, fancy balls aside? It feels like it's been forever since we got to sit and chat." Naru asks, looking over to him and offering a gentle smile.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste glances up at the mention of the familiar meal from Naru. At least she was consistent. "No harm in that. Next time how about I order something vegetarian that's different, and you and you can try some that way? No commitment to something completely new then." With that offer made he folds his own menu shut to slide away knowing that the staff would soon enough come to take an order after that tell-tale sign.

The question causes him to rub at the back of his neck awkwardly. "Well. I'm doing okay. I really can't complain about anything. I think I'm just a little home sick maybe. Marinette's going to be returning to France for awhile to spend time with her family for the holidays." A long pause comes as he considers. "I think. Is it okay to be a bit jealous of that?"

Naru Osaka has posed:
"You don't have to go vegetarian on my behalf." Naru protests. "Although carnivoires who have stolen some of mine don't seem to be suffering for it. We can totally get two different things and try some of each. You'd be welcome to some of mine."

"You are totally legit to be jealous!." Naru admonishes lightly. "France to Japan is a huge change, I'd be kinda surprised if you weren't a little bit homesick. Especially if she's going back and that just kinda rubs it in that you're stuck here." She reaches over to lightly touch his hand, if he doesn't pull away. "You're also welcome to complain. That's what friends are for, the laughing and the venting and the whining and all of the things. It's okay."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste lifts a hand to wave the thought of turning vegetarian aside. "Oh I don't think I could turn vegetarian, but there's nothing that says I have to eat meat at every meal. I could probably use a few more vegetables now and then to begin with."

When Naru reaches out to touch his hand he doesn't draw away. Just goes a bit still whiel listening. A soft chuff of laughter comes. "You know, I feel like I'm the one who is usually giving out advice like that... I appreciate it, Naru. Japan is wonderful, as is everyone I've met here. I do miss my friends there, though." A slight pause comes before he adds, hesitantly, "Makoto and Coco said something last night. Each a bit different. They said I sound lonely. I'm trying not to be."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"I rarely have that trouble, although if you eat enough junk.. you can be a vegetarian who doesn't actually eat any vegetables." Naru laughs at the idea. "I mean.. I suppose with enough noodles, all things are possible."

Naru gives his hand a squeeze. "I'd be lost if the situation was reversed and I was tossed into France to go to school and make all new friends and everything. I mean.. you at least have the advantage of speaking the langugae. My french is /awful/." She considers a moment. "I'm not sure you can just tell yourself not to be lonely, but you're at least not like.. hiding in your room moping or anything. Still.. such a fundamental change, no wonder it's taking some time to acclimate."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
"I guess it goes without saying that I'm used to being a bit of an over-acheiver," Adrien responds quietly. It's an honest remark as he glances down to the tabletop looking just a bit embarassed at having to admit it at all. "You're right though. I just need to give it more time."

He opens his mouth to speak more, pauses, then bites his lower lip. Very carefully he chooses his words. Uncertainly. "I saw Darien dancing with someone else there, too. At the ball," he clarifies as if there were really anywhere else he might have seen Darien dancing recently. "I saw him with Usagi-chan, and they were ... It's obvious how they care for each other. But then he was the same with the other guy, too."

"I have a friend who keeps telling me I need to move on and that 'there's more fish in the sea' than who I care for. Seeing that, I don't know. I guess it made me realize maybe that's true. Maybe even if I still do care for her, I could maybe care for someone else, too. She's made her thoughts clear on the subject. I just keep hoping."

It's his turn to give Naru's hand a little squeeze while offering an optimistic smile her way. "But I might be missing out on other amazing people in my lie, too."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"You've been in Japan for a length of time that can still reasonably be measured in weeks.. so you're still being an over=achiever." Naru points out with a flash of a smile.

Naru nods with a soft mm mmm at the mention of having seen Darien dancing with Kazuo as well as Usagi. "Yep." She answers simply enough. "A configuration and arrangement that makes all three of them happy, and no surprises to anyone involved. Although I don't wholly know all of the details, which is /fine/.. I'm not part of the collective relationships, save that I am very very fond of all three of them.. as friends." Because that seems important to clarify at this point.

Naru considers that. "I was trying to explain to Hinoiri on our date that.. sometimes the lines between friendship and romance are super blurry. Especially when you care for someone, but also admit that you can and do care for others, and how.. it's eternally complicated." She laughs softly. "I'm a little jealous of Usagi and Darien, they are just so utterly certain of it all."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste winces a little bit sympathetically over how that particular conversation may have gone. "How did that go, by the way? I forgot to ask. I did see Hinoiri there as well at the ball. I lost her in the crowd before I could stop by and say hello," he admits a bit guilty over it. "She didn't look to be in such a great mood. Maybe I could have helped."

Or maybe not.

Recalling Darien and Usagi his smile broadens anew. "They really are head over heels for each other. It's kind of wonderful to watch. They really seem to lose sight of anyone else when they look at each other. If they have some other... ah... arrangement with..." He flusters a bit realizing this really isn't something he knows about. "I, ah, I'm glad they're happy? I mean I am. Not that I'm not. It's just kind of new for me to consider but if they're all happy then I'm happy for them and the details aren't any of my business."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"It went ... well.. actually." Naru had to think about that a moment. "I prodded a little too hard and upset her a little, but before I did that it was a really lovely time." She ahhs softly. "Although zero spark of romanace, although I might consider a fling with her bike." Naru laughs brightly, winking. "I did think I might die with her driving.. still worth it."

Because apparently Naru is a sucker for motorcycles.

"They are utterly adorable together." Naru confirms and then smiles. "I'm mostly focused on everyone is happy, so I'm happy for all of them. Cause really, at the end of the day, that's what I want."

A lack of evil overlords, also desired, but not something for this conversation.

Adrien Agreste has posed:
No evil overlords would be good for so many. Even if it would make for a dull time for a few.

Adrien finds himself grinning again at the mention of Hinoiri's bike. "She mentioned wanting to go mountain biking once when I first met her. I don't think it was the type of bike I was thinking of. Did she at least pull off the vest and jacket look?" Now how did he maybe know what she was wearing? Suspicious!

This was around the time the waiter came around to take their orders though so he puts his in, and leaves time for Naru to do the same for her own. He could just order for her. That didn't seem quite right though.

Naru Osaka has posed:
"I dont know if she has a moutain bike as well, but her motorcycle is awesome." Naru is clearly a bit of an adrenaline junkie. Certainly with Hinoiri driving. "She looked very snazzy." Naru confirms and then looks over at him with a giggle. "Your doing? You did well."

Naru orders her usual, because of course she does.

"We certainly picked a super light and fluffy conversatonal topic, that's for sure." Naru laughs softly. "I mean, I can shift to gossip about the Weird, I suppose."

Adrien Agreste has posed:
Adrien Agreste spreads his hands with a bit of a shrug at being blaimed for Hinoiri's attire. "She asked what she should wear and I made a suggestion. I also loaned Chrono one of my old tuxes for the ball the other night. I'm a model, if I can't make sure my friends look good when they ask for help, what good is it?"

An eyebrow lifts curiously at the mention of changing the topic. "Gossip of the weird? Now I'm intrigued. I'm not sure how much weirder than Chrono you can get."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"It's a noble cause, making the students of RHA look good." Naru grins at him. It's a well known fact that RHA has a damn lot of pretty people at it, he's got plenty of material to work with.

Too much extra gossip is sidetracked by the arrival of generous plates of food. Rich delicious smelling food, and vegetarian choices, to break Naru out of her one dish mold.

Gossip will just have to wait until the eating is done.