Manhattan - Haiku
The entrance to Haiku is a quiet and unassuming restaurant front. Simple glass windows decorated with understated patterns of red and gold, with a single, simple red canopy over the door. Haiku is spelled out in a simple calligraphy font in gold trimmed black letters, and the word in Japanese beneath it.
There is a faint chiming of bells as the door opens, but it is muted and understated. The small foyer is elegant and unassuming, with a simple coat rack off to the right, a small display case directly across from the door where carved jade figures, golden Buddha statues, and original, hand painted ceramic tea pots (among other merchandise) can be purchased. There is a single bench, deep red in color and a matching arm chair for seating in an open area to the left if customers find there is a wait.
An elegant, dark painted bridge over an indoor koi pond leads into the restaurant proper. Carpet of gold, red and brown covers the floor, complemented by the dark tan and black cafe two and four seat tables and chairs that neatly line the open area of the restaurant. A proper sushi bar lines one wall, where single seat stools wait to be occupied by sushi connoisseurs.
The windows are covered with pale cream blinds that can raised or lifted to adjust the ambient, natural light and block out the sun. The walls are rich red, complemented by the large red globe lamps that cover the ceiling. To the back of the restaurant and around the left corner are the restrooms, kitchen access and a private room where the seating is Japanese style. The room can be reserved for large parties with advance notice.
Characters
 |
 |
| Ariel Johnson-Lowell | Jenna Donovan |
Ariel is taking Cooper's suggestion to heart. Jenna's a bit on the busy side, getting ready for her trip to London with Chance, but the witch did ask her if they could go shopping and have lunch together before Jenna's departure. They're roommates now and they've barely had any time where they've been one-on-one, and awkwardness aside, Ariel really does feel like they need to talk and get to know one another without the buffer of Preston or Siobhan between them.
Lunch is on her, because she isn't a pauper even if she is most certainly the poor relation. Her upper middle class lifestyle just doesn't compare to the UES, though she only feels awkward and out of place when she isn't with family or Preston or Jenna. Ariel receives a regular allowance from her parents, which doesn't go quite as far in the city, but the extra little supplement from her Grams helps with that. The fact that her grandmother is covering her living expenses is a big help too, though she'd honestly rather be able to handle more things herself.
She's not stingy, just frugal and the place she's chosen for lunch is a little sushi place, Haiku, and the sort she can happily splurge a little on, especially given that their lunch prices are discounted.
~
Haiku happens to be one of Jenna's favorite places. She can get a purely vegan meal here if she wants to, and it's something she hasn't done for a while. It's the perfect day for lunch and a shopping spree. Her vocal rehearsals don't start until she's back from London, and she doesn't have another choreography rehearsal until the next morning. She's not scheduled at Eclairant until the dinner shift, so she's got plenty of time to relax.
"You have to come see the koi pond," she tells Ariel. "You could almost just stand on the bridge and watch them all afternoon."
~
"Then we'll do that before we leave," Ariel says. "I love koi. There was this restaurant back home that had a huge koi pond and a fountain. We do family dinners there all the time, but when I was younger, Jazzie and I used to love to finish up early. We'd go sit on the bridge and dangle our feet." Now her baby sister isn't a baby any more and will be starting college in the fall, and she's starting life New York City. It makes Ariel a little nostalgic and wistful to think about it.
"Are you getting excited for London? You have to be." Ariel would be. She's a little envious of the other woman. Her parents gave them plenty of vacations with travel opportunities, but as far out of the country she's been has been Canada and the Caribbean. Ariel would love to see Europe or somewhere else.
~
"I love when restaurants bring nature into them. There's this charming place in Little Italy that is full of plant life. I can almost see myself in Tuscany when I'm there." Jenna smiles at that as they're led to a table, and she gives the server a quiet thank you.
"I've been to London before, but this is two weeks on the West Side, so it's going to be exciting. Plenty of shows to see, lots of networking, and definitely sight seeing. I'd love to go back to Bath, and maybe spend a day out in Wales if we can."
~
Ariel also smiles and thanks the server as she settles into her seat. She smooths her skirt over her lap and picks up the menu, though she doesn't glance at it just yet. "I'd love to go to London someday. Or Paris. Or just Europe in general." The witch smiles softly.
"Maybe once I'm part of a big orchestra and start being a requested guest soloist." It's the one place where Ariel's confidence excels and swells. She doesn't say it like it's a dream or a wish. The words sound firm, a statement of fact such as growing older or having dinner.
"You have to take lots of photos."
~
Jenna would normally take off her cute crocheted cap, but she likes it, and it's just lunch. If this were a formal dinner, she'd feel obligated.
"You'll go. Honestly, you should take time off once you're done school and just go to enjoy yourself. If you're on tour, or a guest soloist, you won't have much time to be a tourist."
The little empath can definitely see Shiv's grandmother ensuring that Ariel gets to go and enjoy the experience if it's what she wants.
"I will. Is there anything particular you want to see or have a picture of?"
~
"Maybe I'll do that," Ariel gives a half shrug. "It won't be much fun going alone, though. Or safe. A woman on her own in a strange place, just screaming out tourist?" It's a consideration if she has someone with her, but it's at least two years out for her anyway.
"Everything?" Ariel asks with a little laugh. "Really. I've only seen pictures and postcards. I'll be happy to see anything and everything you snap. Pictures are so much better with narrative."
~
"You could plan it with friends. I almost went with Pres when he did, but I wanted to fast track through my graduate studies too." Jenna is young to have not only graduated from Tisch, but to have her graduate studies under her belt. She's proud of that, and she knows that she can always get a job teaching theater somewhere now, or even work in community theater if she can't make it on Broadway.
"You got it. I know if I go to Wales, I'll need to take a lot of pictures for Harper anyhow. He's a BBC geek, so he'll want as many pictures as I can manage."
~
Ariel looks over at Jenna and smiles mischievously. "Okay, do you think you'll want to go back to London and Europe in two years when I'm all done with school?" She's not really teasing, either. It was Jenna's suggestion, and it's not the sort of thing that Ariel can't financially plan for on the fly anyway. If she's seriously going to do it, she needs to start planning and saving up now. "We can ask Siobhan too. She's been talking about a trip to Europe since forever."
It may seem a bit strange to mention it to Jenna, and planning to include Siobhan and not focusing on Preston and/or Cooper, but the witch isn't going to get her hopes up and project too far in the future on that one. She knows she'll still have her cousin around in two years, and still be in contact with Jenna too likely.
Of course, they'll probably want to take their boyfriend and husband, so maybe it's not the greatest idea.
"Maybe you'll see Doctor Who filming. I bet Harper would think that's really cool. You know, if you got an actual picture of his blue box thingie."
~
"We were all supposed to be going to Europe this summer for our graduation, actually. Only, Shivvie got on the tour, and that was more important, so I think it's a great idea to plan for it." Jenna smiles across at Ariel, and then pulls out her phone. Typing in a quick note, she adds, "Though I'm guessing by then you'll have great friends from Julliard too, that you might want to invite."
Dropping her phone back into her purse, she reaches to take a sip of water from the glass on the table.
"That would be really fun. Maybe I'll audition for a bit part while I'm there." It's a joke, honestly. Jenna doesn't think she could pull off a decent British accent, and there are very few Americans on that program.
~
"Possibly," Ariel shrugs again. "Though you have good friends at Tisch and Shiv has good friends at Julliard and it's still just the two of you and Pres against the world." It's not said in a bad way or as though it's a bad thing. However, while it's possible that Ariel might make friends at Julliard that she'd want to do such a thing with, it's also possible that her closest friends that she'll want to travel with might be the ones she left back in San Francisco - who might be able to save and join her on such a trip - and her cousin.
The server returns to take their drink orders, reminding Ariel that she hasn't looked at the menu yet. She orders her one soda for the day and asks for a few more minutes to decide on food.
"You should! If they have walk ons, you could be an extra who just strolls across the street or runs away screaming from danger."
~
"Shiv's been my bestie forever. It's me and her against the world, always." It's the way things have always been, and anyone who hurts Siobhan is the person that Jenna will unleash her wrath on. Chance's cousin is aware of that, and he was surprisingly pleasant to her in Texas.
That could've been because 'the witch bitch' wasn't there, but she was smart enough not to bring up the incident.
"Ariel, if you have friends back in California that you want to invite with you? Do it. They may say no, or be unable to go, but it wouldn't hurt to invite them."
After asking for sparkling water, the little empath giggles. "I could do that. It wouldn't hurt to peek at casting calls before we fly over."
~
"I'll bring it up to them, once I'm certain that it's something that might happen," Ariel says. "I'd much rather make plans to see them on school break next spring or get together next summer right now." She knows she can handle the plan fare out to San Francisco without too much fuss. So long as she's careful with her credit card when the time comes.
"I wanted to thank you again for letting me move in with you," Ariel tells the actress. "Otherwise I'd be in one of the dorms or living with Aunt Dawna and Uncle Robert. There's nothing wrong with them, but I've been living on my own for a couple of years. It would have been weird having parental figures around again."
~
"It's not a problem. We had the room, even if Shiv wasn't moving in with Harper." One bedroom they turned into a studio. Jenna was going to reclaim it, but she can use it for extra practice when she needs to. They still had a guest room as well, even though it wasn't as large as the other three, it would've sufficed for a while.
"Have you thought about what you're going to do after the wedding? I know you'll be practicing, but you'll have a few months before you start school, right?"
~
"I did want you to know that I appreciate it and I'm not taking it for granted." A brief glance at the menu and Ariel decides on what she wants. She sets the menu to the side.
"I plan on looking for work. I know a lot of people wait tables, but I don't have any waitressing skill. I was thinking I could apply at coffee shops as a barista or maybe walk dogs." Ariel takes a sip from the glass of water on the table. "Aunt Dawna offered me work as a receptionist at her dance school, too, but I've never thought it was the greatest idea to work with family."
She nods. "I'll be starting the program in January, so it's going to give me plenty of open time. I'll spend some of it practicing." The musician has been slacking a bit, but she's going to blame it on unpacking, moving in, and learning her way around the city. "I usually try to get in two or three hours a day during the school year."
Beat.
"I know Pres has gone on a couple of auditions, but if he doesn't get a part, I'll see what sort of help he needs at his theatre. I'm sure I can be a gopher." Ariel can't imagine he won't get cast, even if it's a small part. When he does, he'll be busy with rehearsals there, and Coop will be at the studio for at least eight hours a day. With Jenna busy on Broadway, Siobhan also back in the studio swing and Harper working … Ariel is going to have find ways to occupy her time.
~
"I didn't think you were taking it for granted, Ariel. Besides, it's a safe neighborhood, and if any issues arise, my parents are right above us." Jenna does consider that a blessing rather than a curse. Her parents rarely come down to bother them, unless her dad has Broadway news to share, or wants her to read a bit of the book he's working on to help him with his music. She's done it in the past, and she doesn't mind still doing it.
"I can ask at the restaurant if you want? I work as a hostess, which is pretty good. I greet people and show them to their tables. Introduce them to their servers." She can't promise that there'll be a job opening, but if she talks to Nichole or Mr. Collins, then she'll have a better idea of what's needed.
"I mean, if you'd like me to? I don't mind asking around."
~
"Would you?" Ariel brightens at that. She might want to pay her own way, but she's not above using networking and getting leads from other people.
The server returns with their drink orders and to take their orders. After making certain that Jenna is ready, Ariel allows her to order first then orders her own variety of sushi.
"I think I could handle hostessing. It's taking and juggling orders that would be a problem for me."
Beat.
"I really don't want to have to completely depend on my parents and Grams. I think that Preston would pay for everything too if I let him." Ariel has no intentions of being a 'kept' woman, especially since that will be awkward if things don't work out between them.
~
"I don't mind."
Placing her order, Jenna also orders a small bowl of edammame for them to share, along with a pot of green tea. Once her sparkling water has arrived, and she doesn't have to drink the table water, the little empath pours a little into a glass and plops two thin straws into it.
"I can't make promises, but I can ask. Even if Mr. Collins doesn't have anything available, he might know of something." Eclairant is nice because it's not too far from home, which means Ariel wouldn't have to go to the other side of the city.
Pausing a little awkwardly, she takes a sip from her water. Once she's done, she nods. "He would."
~
"I'm not looking for promises. Knowing that there are feelers out there is good enough," Ariel smiles graciously at the other woman
Catching the pause, Ariel looks down at the table for a moment. She's just flagged the elephant in the corner, and that is part of the reason for this outing. The witch frets with her napkin for a few moments, then glances up at Jenna.
She isn't sure how to broach the subject, but she doesn't want things getting weird and awkward every time she brings up Pres or references their relationship. "Jenna … I like you and I think you're really great, and fun. We've always gotten on well and I don't want that to change. I don't want things to feel all weird and strange every time I talk about me and Preston. I'm kind of wondering how you're feeling about all this, really?" It's clear that it's a little awkward for the witch to broach the subject; old traces of her childhood North Carolina accent can be heard coloring her voice.
~
"Honestly?"
Beat.
"It's weird."
Jenna isn't going to lie, because it is weird. She may be past the hurt after talking it out with Chance, but it is still weird. "I've only ever known Pres one way, so it's very hard for me to think of, or picture him with a girlfriend."
Beat.
"I'll get past it eventually, and as long as he's as happy as I am with Chance? Then I'm happy for him. For all of you, really." Pres is her person, and that's not ever going to change. Getting used to this new facet of him is going to take a while, and she's not ashamed to admit that. She is trying to make the best of things, and not focus on it though because it is still confusing to her, even though the hurt feelings have been worked out.
~
"I get that." Ariel does get that. Siobhan told her the same thing, that's it weird thinking of Preston with a woman, but that she'll get used to it. As long as it's what Ariel and Preston wants and they're happy. Siobhan also added a few things about not wanting to have to kick Preston's ass, but that's just to be expected.
"It's strange for me too." Because it is. Cooper is one thing; he likes beautiful people no matter their gender equally. With Preston it's different because Ariel is very much aware that she's somehow unique, in his eyes at least, compared to the hundreds and thousands of other women out there. There's not an indication that Preston is bi-curious or developing an interest in women. "I always just accepted that he was gay, and it's like … I don't know what it's like." Ariel gives a nervous little giggle. "He doesn't either."
Beat.
"I don't want you or Pres to be uncomfortable. I mean, I'll make sure that I don't do anything to make you feel that way."
~
"I imagine he doesn't," Jenna replies lightly. She and Preston had this conversation. The one where he's still 'gay', but he likes Ariel, and he can't explain it.
"Just be careful with Cooper? I trust Pres, and even if he's just trying to figure everything out, he's not going to hurt you. Cooper though… can be a bit much."
Beat.
"As long as I don't catch the two of you naked on the couch, it'll be fine."
~
"I know," Ariel says softly ducking her head again. It's a little too late to warn her that Cooper is a bit much. Jenna doesn't know the half of it. Ariel shifts a little in her seat, her face and body warming at a few not so PG-rated memories.
"I'm just … seeing where this goes … and exploring things," Ariel takes a hurried sip from her drink. She's not getting seriously involved or attached. "I figure that it's all just fun and friendly …" That's what she keeps telling herself so that she doesn't get too wrapped up in this and get hurt.
It sometimes works.
Beat.
"Oh … nonono .. I'd never … that's just … oh no that won't ever happen," Ariel shakes her head vehemently, blushing darkly.
~
"Preston likes you. You may just be exploring things, but he wouldn't have pursued anything with you if he didn't like you, Ariel. Try to keep that in mind too." Jenna knows that Pres is in love with Cooper, but that doesn't mean that he can't have feelings for Ariel too.
"Never say never."
Beat.
"Last year, I didn't think I'd be having sex. Let alone having everyone know that Chance and I got a little carried away under the Christmas tree." Clearing her throat, she sips from her water, and grins. It doesn't matter now that she's over that embarrassment. It's one hell of a memory. "It could happen, though I know Pres is generally more careful than that."
~
Ariel sighs. She's aware that Preston likes her. There's been emphasis on that from Preston in their conversations and his willingness to pursue this. "I know that."
Beat.
"I also know that he loves Cooper. I'm the novelty."
Beat.
"I'm fine with that. I knew what I was getting into and no one twisted my arm." She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and takes a long swallow from her glass. Ariel can't argue that this isn't where she thought she would be a year ago, or a few months ago, but she knows herself well enough to know her sex life is staying out of the living room and any other public places in the house she shares with Jenna and Preston.
"It won't happen," Ariel repeats. "I'm … I'd be too embarrassed and worried, and couldn't relax anyway." Plus, she meant what she said about not making Jenna feel weird or uncomfortable. That includes not fooling around in places where Jenna might witness something.
Right now, that includes keeping the PDA to a minimum, period.
~
"I don't think so," Jenna points out lightly. If she were just a novelty, the empath doubts that Preston would've bothered to say anything to her. Yes, Ariel moved in with them, but that doesn't mean that Preston had to tell her what was going on between them. There are plenty of ways to keep things like that a secret.
"I mean, yes, he does love Cooper, but no I don't think you're just the novelty."
Beat.
"It's your apartment too, alright? You can't spend your life being worried about me. I'll be fine." Once she finishes wrapping her head around it all. "Besides which, I'm going to be gone for two weeks."
~
Ariel isn't going to argue about it. It's a defense mechanism for the little witch. She needs to have that buffer there to protect herself. She's not the sort of girl who imagined herself in this scenario, where she has garnered the attention of not one, but two, very different men. It's something out of a cheesy erotic romance novel, and it can't last forever, right?
"I just don't want to offend you," Ariel repeats. She really doesn't. Or upset her.
"That doesn't mean we're going to lose control all over the apartment no matter what Coop might have implied he and Preston did. That's what bedrooms are for." It's going to be a good long while before she can be in Cooper's apartment and look at the island or sit on the couch without being embarrassed and turned on at the same time.
~
"If I'm offended, I'll tell you." Jenna does know that the awkwardness is going to be there a while, but that's really something between herself and Preston, and not something Ariel should be worrying about.
"Oh, you may not lose all control. I'm just saying that what I don't know won't hurt me, as long as all surfaces we may need to eat off of are clean, and there aren't any spots on the couch."
Beat.
"I'm teasing, by the way. You've never been uncomfortable with me before, and I don't see why you need to start worrying about things. It'd be just like if you had another boyfriend over, alright?"
~
"Fair enough."
It's on the tip of Ariel's tongue to tell Jenna that she wasn't screwing Preston before either, but she doesn't go there. She just wants to make certain that things are all right between she and Jenna.
Ariel nips at her lip, and takes a sip of her drink. "You realize I'd probably behave the same way if it was any other guy who was my boyfriend?" She's never had a boyfriend before, period. Even if it wasn't Preston and Cooper, Ariel thinks she'd be embarrassed with too much public affection.
~
"Yes, but again, I'm going to be gone for two weeks. You can have the two of them over and not sweat it, no matter what you do. Even if it's just a nice friendly dinner."
Jenna takes another small sip from her straw, and smiles.
"Just so long as you make yourself comfortable in your home, alright?"
~
"Alright." Ariel appreciates what Jenna is saying and trying to do, but it's still something the witch is going to have to work out on her own. Being comfortable in her home, because it really doesn't even feel like her home yet. It still feels like she's a guest who's just moved in. It's nothing Jenna or Preston has done, it's just something personal to Ariel, and she'll work through it.
The bowl of edamame is brought out, and the tea with the promise that their food will be up shortly. Ariel takes a few pods, though she doesn't pop them just yet. "Can I ask you a question?" As if she hasn't been conversing and doing that already. Ariel rolls a pod across her palm with her index finger. "Do you think … do you think I'm a slut?" It's something she's been wondering about, everyone's perceptions of her and the position she's put herself in.
~
Jenna stops mid grabbing of edammame pods. Blinking, she carefully pulls them onto her little sushi plate and carefully pops them open before saying anything. She could just pop the pods between her lips, but she's trying to give herself a few additional seconds to answer.
"No."
Beat.
"Plenty of women don't… commit themselves… to seeing just one guy at a time. You're sort of in that boat, only they're in a committed relationship with each other, and I'm pretty sure that beyond Cooper, Pres is committed to you. It's just… weird."
Eating a little, she frowns.
"I don't mean that you're weird, just that it's one of the only relationships like it that I know of. You're not using either of the guys, which is what a… slut would do." Jenna has issues saying that word, but she manages to get it out without turning bright red.
~
Ariel doesn't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that Jenna takes a while to prepare her answer. She can feel her face warming, and tries not to wiggle in her seat. The witch is pretty certain that this is going to be one of those times when she should heed the adage of not asking a question to which you might not like the answer.
When she finally gets an answer, Ariel releases the breath she didn't realize she was holding. She posed the same question to Siobhan, who looked at her like she'd grown a second head. Her cousin doesn't sugar coat things, so that knee jerk response made her feel better from that quarter, but she likes Jenna and respects her opinion as well.
"It's polyamorous," Ariel volunteers quietly. She swallows and clears her throat. "It's defined as an open polyamorous triad because there's three of us and Cooper is …" Ariel sort of waves her hand off as she trails off. Yes, she did do research on it after spending the night with Cooper and even tentatively joined a forum or two, though she's done nothing more than lurk.
Clearing her throat, she straightens and asks, "Are you going to pick up any special outfits for London?" It's a change of subject because she suspects that this isn't a topic that Jenna really wants to engage in. She asked her question, got her answer and she'll move on.
~
"Well there you go. You've got a term for it, which means it's less weird than I think." Reaching across the table, Jenna touches Ariel's hand and grins. "Cooper is a manwhore, or at least puts on the visage, yes."
Beat.
"I think it's good that you've been looking into it though, and I don't mind you explaining it to me."
The little empath has no idea what's pushed her to say that, but she does get the feeling that Ariel needs a bit of understanding at this point.
"I might. If I find anything that I really like when we go shopping. I'll want something a little more causal than usual if we're going to explore historic locales, and go walking in the countryside, but I should get a few dresses as well… and definitely some new lingerie."
~
"He is but … I don't know," Ariel slowly pops the edamame seeds onto a plate. "He's giving this a chance. I mean, knowing about the things I can do and all that. He didn't even seem to mind when I … performed in front of him." It was nothing more than moving a blanket, and he has already seen her levitate things, but Ariel considers it a step forward.
Beat.
"I guess I can live with the other women, so long as I don't know anything about it."
She pauses as their food is brought out, and thanks the server quietly. Once the woman is gone, she bites her lip, considering. "I thought I should know what I'm getting into, right? I know it's not normal or natural to most people, and it's hard to explain. I really do like them both, it's not just because Pres and Coop came as a set."
She pours a little soy sauce into the saucer, and picks up a sliver of pickled ginger, laying it atop a bit of maki. "I might do that too. Pick up some lingerie." Amusingly enough, it's that statement that makes her blush and squirm, and not the technical and clinical definition of her relationship.
~
"Woman."
Beat.
"So far as I know, it's just one, and she's happily in a relationship." Jenna shrugs her shoulders a little, and doesn't mention that the woman in question is a vampire, because she's not at all sure that Ariel is going to be able to handle that just yet.
"So we're definitely hitting Victoria's Secret then? Unless you want something more risque. Preston took me to a few places, so I know where a few of them are located."
~
"Huh?"
Ariel blinks at Jenna. That's news to her. Both that there's only one other woman in the equation and that that woman is in involved in a relationship. "I didn't know that." It's said very quietly, because it's something that Ariel is going to have to think about. She's not sure if she feels better about it being one woman, or more confused.
"Victoria's Secret will be fine. I'm not used to risque. I wouldn't know what looks good versus what looks skanky."
~
"She runs the gallery under the restaurant, and her boyfriend is the one that was in charge of finding Siobhan and bringing her home."
Jenna bites her lip, and then mixes a little wasabi into some soy sauce, and dips her veggie roll into it. After eating the piece of sushi, she raises an eyebrow.
"I think they have an open relationship too, but I don't know for sure."
~
The witch takes in the information and runs it through her brain. She's met quite a few people since coming to the city, but that one doesn't sound familiar. Probably a good thing. The last thing she needs is to start comparing herself to some mature, more experienced and elegantly older woman.
"He's sleeping with Mr. Blackwell's girlfriend?" That's what Ariel takes away from it. She doesn't know Mr. Blackwell either, only has heard his name bandied about since the kidnapping and afterward.
"I hope they do." If only because she doesn't want Cooper to end up on the wrong end of a pissed off, jealous sorcerer's spell.
~
"Ye-p," Jenna says, popping the 'p'. Reaching for the small pot of tea, she pours a little into her mug so that it can cool. "I don't know Mr. Blackwell that well, but Rory said that he hasn't mentioned anything about Cooper."
Of course, the little empath would ask. Just to ensure that Cooper wasn't getting himself into too much trouble beyond already sleeping with a vampire.
"You have to know that Coop's not going for a relationship with the woman."
~
"He wouldn't, I don't think, even if he knew, right? It's not the sort of thing that's just open conversation, I don't think. 'Hey, by the way, my girlfriend is sleeping with this other guy'?" Ariel smiles a bit as she says it, because the thought is amusing.
"Coop doesn't do relationships, so I know that." Ariel holds up a hand before Jenna can object. "That's what he says. No labels and he doesn't really do relationships."
~
"You're right," Jenna replies with a giggle. "I doubt he'd go around telling everyone that. I just meant… I don't think it's something you need to worry about."
Dipping another piece of the vegetarian maki into the soy mixture, she grins.
"He says that. He's been saying that since he met Preston, but I'd say those two are in a relationship… wouldn't you? He may not label it, but we all know what it is."
Beat.
"I think it scares him. To be committed."
~
"I'm sure her boyfriend might object to that, but then again…" Ariel shrugs. Who knows what her boyfriend might object to or not object to? Look at Ariel's situation.
She picks up her bite of sushi, dips it in the soy sauce and pops it in her mouth using the chopsticks. Once swallowed, the wtich continues. "Yes, I see that. I know that. I think that deep down he knows it. That he's in a relationship with Preston. That's all he'll admit to, though." Which is fine. She can handle that. Again, so long as she has Preston to ground her.
~
"It took him almost a year to admit that with Preston," Jenna points out. "Hell, it took him nearly a year to admit that the only guy he was sleeping with was Preston. Not that we needed to know that, but it took him a while is all I'm saying."
The little empath blows across the top of her tea mug, and sips at it daintily.
"Just don't be surprised if he can't say words that you might want to hear. Allow his actions to speak for him."
~
"I'm not rushing anything, really I'm not." Ariel follows suit like Jenna and pours a bit of tea into her cup. "I was surprised enough when I got here and they were both still interested." To go from being a wallflower to two hot guys wanting to be with her is still something Ariel is having trouble wrapping her brain around. She's waiting to wake up, or to find out it's a big karmic joke.
"I'm happy for what I have right now. It's new and different, and honestly, I'm not the girl that gets the guy. Not like you and Shiv."
~
Jenna stops in the middle of using the chopsticks to lift up another piece of maki. Frowning, she gives her head a shake. "Ariel, do you think I thought I was the girl that gets the guy? I'm not. I mean, I wasn't. I am now, because I was lucky enough to meet Chance, and then find out that another guy I knew was his roommate. That's all it was. Pure luck. I think you have, but it'll just take some time."
~
"Why not?" Ariel takes another bite of her sushi roll and washes it down with water. "You're beautiful, Jenna. I always felt like the 'ugly friend' next to you and Shiv." Still does, when the actress and her cousin are so poised and put together. Siobhan's going through some things right now and she's still poised and socially graceful.
"I loved coming out here to visit, but always felt like I didn't quite measure up to the two prettiest, sweetest girls I knew."
Beat.
"It's still early. I don't want to get my hopes up and have something happen and be hurt and disappointed. Pres and I didn't even have a real conversation about it until I got here last week."
~
"I'm the ugly friend," Jenna points out. "I always have been in comparison with Shiv, but I don't mind." It's something she got used to when they started going to parties in high school, and it's part of the reason she just stopped bothering attending them.
"Even compared to you, I'm the ugly friend. Believe me, I don't think it's genetically possible for anyone in your family to be considered ugly."
Beat.
"I'm not saying get your hopes up. I'm just saying that I know how Pres feels, even though he's been trying to hide it, okay?"
~
"I don't think you're 'ugly' or even comparably unattractive," Ariel responds. She really, honestly has always found Jenna to be quite pretty and very graceful and poised. Her cousin is a knock out, yes, but Jenna is no slouch in the looks department.
"I'm not my sister or my cousins, so I'm pretty far down on the scale if that's the case," Ariel laughs it off.
Beat.
"Oh." Ariel's been so worried about being careful that it's not occurred to her that Jenna could sense Preston's emotions until she just mentioned it. "I know he likes me, I just wasn't sure he likes me. You know as more than just something he's curious about and trying out because for some reason he's attracted to me."
Beat.
"I'm not even sure that made sense."
~
"Thank you. The guys back at school though? They only had eyes for Shiv."
Beat.
"I never minded though. I mean, I wasn't ready for anything back then anyhow, but…"
Shrugging, she sips from the mug of tea, and allows herself to eat another piece of maki.
"To use the juvenile term, he like likes you. I'd thought I felt it when you were up after Shiv was taken, but I passed it off as nervous energy and Pres is always touchy-feely anyhow…"
~
"It was the boobs." Ariel grins, trying to make light of it. She's not poorly endowed; being buxom is a family trait, though she's not as blessed as Siobhan and Jasmine and she's never been big on putting the girls on display.
Ariel picks up the tea and takes a sip. It's been long enough that she knows it's cooled enough. "Oh," she says again simply. A small delighted smile touches the corners of her mouth, and Jenna will feel how happy that makes the witch, though Ariel is doing her best to be contained.
"Alright, enough about me and my issues. I want to know about you and Chance. And Texas. And what you're planning for London."
~
"Probably." Jenna still doesn't mind. She and Shiv have their own dynamic, and she likes how that works.
"Understand now? Pres wouldn't have told me, except that he knew with you living there, I'd pick up on how he felt and start harassing him about it."
There's a deep blush that brushes over her cheeks, and she smiles brightly. "God, I love Texas. If it weren't for the fact that his entire family was there, I'd honestly give up the theatre and move there."
Beat.
"Plenty of horses. His dad breeds them, and there was this one that was just perfect. I'm going to see if Rhett can find a good mate for him, and breed me a foal to have when we go out there again."
Beat.
"London… I really just think that a lot of it is West End stuff. Shiv took care of booking it all, I just had to call and confirm when we wanted to go, and what seats we wanted."
~
"That's how I feel about North Carolina," Ariel grins. "I'd move back when I'm all done with school but you don't hear about the Raleigh Orchestra, do you? Maybe when I'm ready to retire."
Beat.
"He doesn't get along well with his family?" Ariel heard about last summer, but she hasn't really heard a lot about Chance's family, outside of them being the typical brood of sorcerers. She honestly hasn't talked to Chance much or learned much about him at all.
Beat.
"She's good at that. She doesn't give herself enough credit, but she's good at more than dancing."
~
"I don't think that's it. I think he gets on fine with a lot of them, he just doesn't want to get drawn into the… er… family business… I guess." It's not as though they can talk openly about such things at a restaurant. Jenna wrinkles her nose a bit.
"They're very opinionated about certain things, and I don't blame him for not wanting to be super close to some members of the family. That, and he likes the city." Which she's sure is partially because she's here, and her career is here for the time being.
"Shiv? Never gives herself credit for anything. It was honestly a very thoughtful gift, and I'm still in shock over it." Especially since Jenna's gifts weren't that great in comparison.
~
No, they can't talk easily without a privacy spell, which Ariel puts up.
"Privacy spell," Ariel explains once it's in place. "Just so it's easier to talk."
Beat.
"I haven't really been able to talk to him much, but Siobhan says he's all right and he seems all right. I haven't met a lot of sorcerers outside of Uncle Robert. The few I did? Just snubbed me and turned their noses up the minute they found out I was a witch. Except for Ken Pike in fourth grade. He was a pain in my backside." That boy made her miserable.
"I bet he just wants to be where you are," Ariel smiles at Jenna. The couple is very sweet together.
Ariel laughs. "She doesn't. Unless it's her dancing and sometimes not even then."
~
"I know what they feel like," Jenna tells her with a grin. "I grew up with Shiv, remember?" She's also dating a sorcerer, so it's a given that she'd know the privacy spell feeling. The little empath just doesn't explain that she and Chance rarely use it for conversation.
"Chance?"
Beat.
"He's not a prejudiced ass like a lot of other sorcerers. Neither is Mr. Blackwell, or Mr. Harper. I don't think you need to worry about any of them, to be honest."
~
"I guess you would," Ariel blushes a little, taking another sip from her cup of tea. "I didn't want to assume …"
Beat.
"Good, I'm glad to hear that. It's a little weird for me being around them, yeah? I don't even think about Uncle Robert being a sorcerer anymore, but I get a little tense when I'm around Chance." She figures it will wear off eventually; she hopes it will. "I hope he doesn't take it personally."
~
"I'm pretty sure he doesn't take it personally. It took Shiv a while to warm up to him too." Jenna didn't get the feeling from her boyfriend that he has an issue with Ariel.
"It's natural for you to feel that way though. I mean, it's something that you all feel… that's been bred into the blood for centuries."
