[closed]

[p66]

CHARACTERS: Sakura, Julius and Reika
DATE: 2/6-ish
WARNINGS: nah son
SUMMARY: Julius becomes an angry nightlight and the other 2 ladies have to do something about it.

[ Julius had staggered home glowing brightly yesterday and went straight to sleep, so Sakura was not privy to it. Reika made dinner for both of them, telling the girl that he felt a little tired - which was the truth, but also that she still had to sort out her own thoughts about the situation and it might be best to wait.

It's the next day now and he was feeling well enough for social interaction, so maybe it's time. She's made breakfast for the three of them while waiting for Julius to get ready and Sakura to wake up. ]

Comments

[viscontree]

Oh, good morning. I apologize for inconveniencing both of you. [It's not his fault, really.]

Are you ready for school? [They need to attend like proper students!! None of them can't be late too often.]

[keystaff]

[Sakura has a habit of almost or just sleeping in, even back home with her alarm clocks. Things here are not so different, with her having school again and needing to be somewhere in the mornings at a certain time. She can be heard before she's seen, her alarm waking her up with a start as she then trips in getting herself dressed before barging down the stairs to the kitchen.]

M-Morning! Eh? Oh, it wasn't....are you feeling better now?

[She takes her seat at the table, before addressing his other question.]

I got my homework done. I just need to get my bag from my room and figure lunch.

I got the okay to go and reply yo eons skipping

[viscontree]

I'm doing well, thanks to you two. Good work on finishing everything.

[He would pat her on the head or something. Maybe next time.]

Do either of you need any help studying?

Oh okay, I did wonder for a sec seeing this in my inbox.

[keystaff]

I feel like I could help more if I didn't need to spend so much time at school or doing homework. But...I've been managing okay so far. The library helps, and I know I could ask you or someone else if I needed it.

[Let alone if the school might have some sort of extra support for exchange students or the like. Sakura hasn't actually really looked into it, but still. The library is a great resource and Peter is there.]

reika's just going to stand there so ther ewont be much for me to write xD

[p66]

[ For all it's worth, they're doing quite a good job blending in. Some people might be suspicious of young adults living in one house alone, but they have Sakura here and it helps impart the impression that they're very responsible. ]

That's good. I'll help you the best I can, too.

[ But.. there's another issue here, and she gives Julius a meaningful look. ]

[viscontree]

School is important. All of us should keep ourselves sharp.

I'll be indoors reading examination guides. [He knows Reika's concern and he's not going to push himself over it. Julius merely nods in return.]

Preparing tests for students at home shouldn't be an issue. Although, I may need another hand around the house. Reika, Sakura? That's acceptable with you?

[keystaff]

Y-yes. We should. I haven't had class with everything with ALASTAIR but I've still been learning a lot on missions too. But you're right. I'll do my best!

[She gives a nod, and another at Julius asking for help around the house.]

With the house too! I can do laundry and cook and clean!

[p66]

It's okay. You need to rest.

[ With how he had a bad fever last night it's probably not a good idea to have him out and about. ]

I'll have to fill in at the university, though. Sakura-chan, I'll leave it to you?

[ She's responsible, which means Reika can go out without worrying. There's still another matter, which she isn't sure if she should bring up. The matter of what had happened to Julius to make him glow in the first place. Maybe he'll speak of it of his own volition? If not, she might have to ask. ]

[viscontree]

[It seems alright to leave Sakura with basic house chores. Julius is glad that she's mature enough to take care of these things. ]

That would be nice. I'll take it easy, alright?

[Saying that would probably make these two worry less.]

[keystaff]

Right! I know you're both busier with your work and all here, so just leave the housework to me!

[She's used to sharing chores anyway with her brother and father back home, so this really isn't all that different. If he and Reika are busier and he's still....recovering from whatever that was earlier, then she's happy to help. It'll help her feel more useful anyway, since Sakura still isn't quite sure how to help in this particular mission.]

[p66]

[ Ah, so he's not bringing it up. Well, she can roll with that. ]

Thanks. You're a great help.

[ This she says with a smile, tilting her head slightly before she goes back to mind the stove. There's toast as well as some eggs that she's trying to cook.

Though, now that they're all here... ]

Did you see anything strange at school?

[viscontree]

Yes, thank you. I'd like to know too if that's alright.

[Sakura may be young, but shes fairly observant. Julius and Reika need an extra set of eyes. She's perfect for that role. ]

[keystaff]

Hm. Nothing yet? But if something does happen, I'll let you know!

[It's harder to say just yet, but Sakura is aware of the situation, knowing what's going on and alert to anything odd. Any potential symptoms or anything. She's perfectly served to keep an eye among the younger students and the teaching staff at least.]

And you'll tell me if something happens at the university, right?

[Between everyone, they have a lot of areas covered, with their various roles among the recruits with ALASTAIR. So Sakura figures they'll manage well enough should something come up.]

[p66]

Yeah, we will. There's a couple of people at the university too. We'll have it covered.

[ Peter doesn't stick around, but Sonia is there too and she's capable. ]

Do you still have the tranquilizer Lance delivered?

[keystaff]

And I know Graham-san is with the police. So he'll be ready too if something happens. He'll know to be able to tell everyone.

[It's good, reassuring in spite of the situation that the recruits hopefully have it under some sort of control in being prepared in various areas between them all. Somewhat. As much as anyone could be prepared with something like this. In a way, something like a virus like this is almost more terrifying. How much more helpless it makes Sakura feel until they figure a cure for it. This isn't like trying to be able to reason with someone who might be making a mistake. It's harsh. And all too realistic in a way.]

Um, y-yes! I do. I haven't had to use it yet. But even having the one I can take with me in my pocket, that'll help! Give me a chance so I could find help or something.

[Since she doesn't want to instantly resort to her magic if she has another option.]

[viscontree]

That's good. We can usually rely on members of our team. I'll let you two know when I see something suspicious.

At the very least we should be safe in here for the time being. [They should have the option of resting when it's necessary. Sakura is young still and shouldn't push herself too hard. Julius is a little concerned about her at times.]

[p66]

[ Now that the serious things are settled... maybe they can talk about something more light-hearted now. ]

Okay. I've been looking around at the grocery store, too. I'd like you two to let me know what you like for breakfast, I'll try to make it.

[ Western cuisine tended to be sort of oily, so she prefers to make her own. ]

[keystaff]

For breakfast? I'm still figuring what they have here for what I'm used to getting back home too. I don't mind some eggs and toast or something if it's simple?

[Eggs and bread or something would be easy enough to get, right? Even if this place might not have specialty foods she's used to back in Tomoeda at least. It's easy enough to distract Sakura with talk of food or chores at least. Almost enough to be sort of nostalgic, even if not discussing it with Touya and her father.]

[viscontree]

The same goes for me as well. That reminds me, I saw sugary food meant to be eaten as breakfast earlier. Is that feasible? I'd prefer to keep low on fat.

How do people eat so much sugar in the morning?

[He doesn't get it. Maybe eating plenty of sugar gives certain people an energy boost? That's unhealthy though.]

[p66]

Eggs with toast sounds good. How about salad to go with it?

[ Doing domestic things like these help settle the air to be one of calm, even if they have the threat of a zombie apocalypse hanging over their heads. ]

Maybe they need the energy. The food here tends to be kind of unhealthy, though.... is it because the people here have larger frames?

[ Both her and Sakura are Asians, with lower average height. Julius is sort of the exception, but he comes from a Mediterranean country, so they all fall towards the low-fat low-sugar cultural diet range. ]

[keystaff]

Sugar? Ah, the um 'cereal'? I'm not sure I get it either. I don't really eat that back home either. But what about...oh! I could make us pancakes! Or omelettes? I'm not sure which you might prefer.

[After so long, Sakura is used to the different foods available depending on where their missions were. It does make her a little homesick food-wise on top of missing her friends and family, but she's made do so far.]

[viscontree]

Pancakes sound delicious. I'd like to try your cooking.

If I may be of assistance, I can do some shopping later on. Make a list of ingredients.

[He's no chef, but he can be the man of the house. Julius doesn't mind doing the groceries for them.]

[p66]

Then we can make pancakes. Maybe with 'maple syrup'? I heard it's popular.

[ They went out shopping before but it wasn't with him, so this'll be a change. ]

How about going together? The three of us.

[keystaff]

Pancakes are easy enough that I can figure making those at least. But that could be fun! We'd just need a list of what we need to get.

[Which shouldn't be too difficult, taking into account what is available here and foods they like. Going together could also cover something like snacks, which might not be on the list but something they see in the store once shopping.]

[viscontree]

Let's go together. I think it'll be enjoyable.

[Just to make sure there's nothing else. When they're like this it almost feels as if they're a real family. ]

Do you want anything else for a meal?

[p66]

Some salad to go with it could be nice. Let's do it, why not? We can also see what's on offer at the store, if it's good, we can buy it.

[ The three of them end up going to the supermarket later for ingredients. About half an hour later, they'll be back. Julius is efficient and it extends to the rest of them. ]

We have pancakes to make, and stuff on the side. How should we allocate the things?

[keystaff]

[She makes something of a list before they head out, based on what they already discussed wanting to make, the ingredients needed for those. But there's also potential for anything else they see that they might want, on special, or just something they hadn't tried before.

Still, the shopping itself doesn't take them too long. Once they are home, she helps put things away in the kitchen.]

Hm. Well, I know how to make pancakes, if Julius wants to help you with the salad was it?

[viscontree]

That's fine, sounds like we have a plan then?

Making a meal with others is...enjoyable. I hope we can do this again later.

[It's fun to hang around people and share time with them. Before Julius didn't have many friends. Every moment he shares with Sakura and Reika is special to him.]

[p66]

Yeah! Let's get to work.

[ Sakura has only been helpful and she's grateful every time. Reika moves to sort out the vegetables they've brought back. ]

We can do this as often as we can. It's quite fun.

[ And for more reasons than that. Julius needs support, too. ]

[keystaff]

At least, on weekends? Or back at Oska when things aren't so busy with missions maybe. I'm sure we could find some times when we were all able to get together to make the meals.

[It's easier to figure a meal with others helping, delegating various tasks in preparation and all at least. Sakura's probably more used to doing it alone, or doing so while fighting Kero to not 'taste test' it all before it's actually finished or something if it's baking.]

[viscontree]

I'd like that.

We have a magical kitchen back in Oska. I still prefer eating handmade meals. The food tastes better when you know your friends made it.

[He'll never complain about home made cooking. They're grateful to even have food.]

[p66]

[ That might also be because Reika has been making them almost every day...

She moves to the sink to start washing the greens they brought back. ]

The kitchen is useful, but we don't really know where they get the ingredients from. Sometimes there's weird stuff in there. Harmless but weird.

[keystaff]

Hm. I prefer to make my own meals where I can. Not that the kitchen at headquarters isn't useful sometimes! Like Reika-san said. But I like cooking. I guess I've gotten better and used to it since I was helping with dinners while dad or my brother were out working.

[Sakura sorts the ingredients she needs, starting to mix them together in a bowl before pouring them on the heated pan.]