xp_logs | Julio and Nori - Way Backdated (Reply)

Set soon after Julio returns from San Diego, he and Nori discuss where to go on their first date.

Julio resented the fact that it was March and still cold. If he was home, he would be in shorts by now. But that was home. At this time many were busy trying to get into college. Julio had half-heartedly applied to a couple of colleges in the area, as his second choice. But that was for later. He was concentrating on the now.

The screen door to the smoker's porch banged closed, and he smiled at the other occupant.

"Buenos dias, Nori."

Nori liked the smoker's porch - she didn't smoke, even as mild a stimulent as nicotine was would be too much, but the ashtrays and the lingering smell reminded her of the bars back in Tokyo. On the whole she agreed with Julio about how March should be warmer than this - by now the cherry blossoms would be blooming - but sometimes the electric buzz got too much and she just needed to get out of the house, even if she didn't want to go tramping out in the woods.

When the door opened, Nori looked over and grinned at Julio. "Konnichiwa, Julio."

This was different than how it was with Angel. With Angel he followed her cues, and there was absolutely no trouble with the physical aspect of their relationship, considering how Angel usually flung herself bodily at him. Nori was different, and Julio was unsure how to proceed. He awkwardly perched near Nori on the railing. When in doubt, let the other person determine the boundaries.

"It's still cold," he said finally, inwardly wincing at how lame he sounded.

Nori nodded, wrinkling her nose. "Sou, ne? Nori is not like. Is spring." She considered him for a second, then grinned again. Being all nervous with Julio was stupid. "Ne, Julio, is Nori together go to date?"

Julio returned her grin. "Yes. If that is what you wish. Where would you like to go?"

"Is Julio choice," she said firmly, nudging his shoe with the toe of hers. "Julio is boy."

"No, mira, where I come from, we always make the ladies choose," He said aimiably. He didn't know much about Japanese men, but if the cranky Yoshida was anything to go by, then Nori had probably never known a proper gentleman. "Also, I like spicy food, so where I chose to eat, most people complain."

"Hmmmm," Nori said carefully, pulling a fairly silly face as she did so, still thinking the sound was an absurd way to indicate 'thinking' no matter what her English teacher said. "Spicy is... no." Again the nose wrinkle. "Italy wa?"

"Italian?" Julio said. "Mira, that is a very good choice, because that is my second favorite food." In spite of the fact that he added cayenne pepper to EVERYTHING. "So, we shall go for Italian. Is there anything else you would like to do?"

Nori tilted her head to the side and said, "Is not know. Is no karaoke..." And she didn't really know what normal teenagers did when they went on dates.

Julio inwardly flinched at the mention of karaoke. There was no power on this earth that would ever make him get up and sing in front of strangers. Sessions of Rock Band did not count. "Uhm, I will try to think of something for then, if that is all right with you?"

Nori nodded firmly. "Un. Is ok." She grinned, and then suddenly switched topics. "Spring break how was?"

Julio shrugged expressively. Much was conveyed through this gesture, mostly 'It sort of sucked, but I got through it in one piece and I'm glad to be home.'

"Sou, ne," Noriko said quietly. "Here, mou, is not good. But San Diego is more, Nori is think."

"It will get better," Julio said, giving Nori a small smile. "Someday."

"Un," Nori said, reaching over and briefly taking Julio's hand. "Sou, ne."