Painting pictures with my mind

[plum_that_snaps]

Who: Hinamori Momo (plum_that_snaps) and Kuchiki Byakuya (soul_scatter)
When: Tuesday, April 10, evening
Where: An art gallery in Sector 3
Summary: Two shinigami share their taste in art.
Warnings: None!

Hinamori flipped over the glossy, full color postcard announcing the opening of a new exhibition at a small art gallery catering to young, emerging artists in the Port. Exhibition open all day. Reception, 6-8pm. It looked like precisely the sort of thing she would like to go to. She liked art, perhaps more than she let on, and it was a chance to get out and see more of the city. It seemed like it would be a nice affair, cultured but not too high-brow or elitist.

She decided to wear some of the more casual clothes she had bought since arriving in the Port, figuring that her shinigami hakama would make her stand out far more than she wanted. As she came downstairs, she saw Captain Kuchiki at the kitchen table, buried in papers. She just looked at him for a while. He worked so hard. A little absent-mindedly, at times, but really dedicated to his work and his students. She admired that.

Hinamori approached him cautiously. "Captain... Kuchiki? I... don't know if you're interested, but I was going to go out and see this exhibition tonight. It's for a showing of up-and-coming artists in the Port, at a gallery over in Sector Three? I would be glad for some company, if you'd like to join me." She thought perhaps he could use a break from work, and she did always prefer spending time with others to being alone.

Comments

[soul_scatter]

That they did. But when all the strong connections were destroyed one way or another and your only other strong connection was to people who feared you... He refused to think about it. He was the Kuchiki and that meant something to him, even if it meant nothing to anyone else.

He glanced at her, vaguely amused by the question. He almost said 'Wakame Ambassador'. Almost.

"Poetry." He said, instead. "I enjoy writing as well as reading. Though I claim not artistic talent for it."

[plum_that_snaps]

"That's... what you teach at the university, isn't it? You must have some talent, if you're well-versed enough in it to teach."

[soul_scatter]

The faintest twitch of his lips was the only indication he was amused. If she was quick, she'd catch it. "Certainly more than I do for drawing."

Kuchiki just made a joke. Surely the world was coming to an end.

[plum_that_snaps]

And that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Or at least Hinamori's resolve. She laughed, a natural, ringing laugh that echoed through the quiet hall before she slapped her hand to her mouth in embarrassment. Several heads turned to look at her, some of them disapprovingly.

"Ah—" She turned her head down, too embarrassed to look him in the eye. "I'm s-so sorry, Captain Kuchiki; I shouldn't laugh."

[soul_scatter]

Byakuya glanced at those who dared look at her disapprovingly. His cold look was worse than theirs. He wasn't going to allow them ruin her enjoyment of the outing.

"I see no reason to apologize." Byakuya wasn't going to allow the evening to be ruined. "You have done nothing wrong."

[plum_that_snaps]

Her surprise showed on her face, though she still couldn't bring herself to look up at him. She had expected silence, reproof even, but not pardon. Not from Captain Kuchiki.

She hiked her shoulders back to stand closer to attention, an unconscious bodily reflex to make up for her perceived transgression. "Ah, o-of course. For—" She stopped herself from apologizing for her apology. Hitsugaya-kun had told her not to do that.

She looked around the room, noticing the other people, most of whom had gone back to talking quietly and minding their own business. "This place is actually much bigger than it looks from the outside. I never would have guessed."

[soul_scatter]

Byakuya enjoyed hearing people laugh. They did it so rarely in his presence. He wished they'd do it more. Not that they would, but he wished they would.

"Would you like to explore more?" Byakuya slid a glance. "Or, we can enjoy the rest of the evening by fetching dinner and desert." Because he wasn't above enjoying himself.

[plum_that_snaps]

"Ah! That sounds... good." Her stomach gurgled appreciatively. "Perhaps... I'm a little hungrier than I realized."

[soul_scatter]

Another amused twitch of his mouth. "There is a well-known restaurant in Sector 6. Hitsugaya-taichou and I often go there." Or have it delivered. "They have a nice selection of food from home, as well as native dishes."

He nodded toward the door and started walking with her.

[plum_that_snaps]

Hinamori's face perked up in attentiveness at that. It wasn't that she took an unusual interest in things pertaining to her best friend. Not at all. Though she would of course have to compare notes with him once she returned.

"Food... from home would be nice." She was suddenly reminded of Hitsugaya-kun mentioning that Captain Kuchiki was completely unable to cook. She wanted to ask him about it, but thought that would be terribly rude. She had already laughed at him once this evening. For her, food from home always meant home-cooked meals—Granny's cooking—though the same dishes made by chefs were obviously just as appreciated.

Hinamori followed him to the door, giving a deep appreciative bow to the receptionist on her way out (who just raised an eyebrow and went back to typing).

[soul_scatter]

Hinamori was just like Htisugaya. Interesting. That was something he would have to protect, if for no other reason than he didn't want it used against them and paranoid or not, he worried over such things.

He held open the door for her again and stepped out. "Shall we?" He stepped into shun-po but didn't leave her behind. That was a petty cruelty and there was no reason. He wanted her to join him for dinner, even if they just took it home.

Alighting in front of the restaurant, he held open the door for her again, and ignored the interested look from the waitress.

[plum_that_snaps]

Hinamori gave a happy nod, and followed. She arrived at the restaurant just the slightest bit out of breath but trying her hardest to hide it. She might have pushed herself a little harder than necessary, trying to prove that she could keep up. She didn't want anyone to have to wait on her account.

"Thank you." She went through the open door and gave the waitress a friendly wave, oblivious to any looks she might be giving Byakuya, interested or otherwise. "Ta—" She started out in her cheeriest voice, but hesitated. She always got a little unsure around someone of a different rank. She generally let captains lead, and subordinates follow, but... it wasn't always necessary in social situations. "Table for two, please," she said, more quietly.

[soul_scatter]

Byakuya let her handle it. He had no problem stepping back and letting someone else take the lead, in certain situations.

They were shown to Byakuya's typical table and Byakuya held the chair for Hinamori. When the waitress came back, Byakuya glanced at the menu. "Their jasmine, white pekoe, and orange blossom tea is one of my favorites."

Just a suggestion, and he'll be having that with his dinner.

[plum_that_snaps]

"That sounds lovely." Captain Aizen had always been more of the tea fanatic than she had, though she had enjoyed many cups with him. The aroma of it was what she enjoyed most.

She perused the menu, looking over the wide variety of dishes, unable to keep the smile off her face in anticipation. She was surprisingly hungry, and wanted something a little more savory than usual. "Mmm, spicy orange tuna donburi. I think I'll definitely have that."

[soul_scatter]

He ticked up an eyebrow. He nodded to the waitress. "Bring the tea things." He hadn't even looked at his menu. He came here far too often. "I will have the itame-gohan with extra beni-shouga, fried pork and a large side of wasabe."

The waitress rolled her eyes. She knew how much extra to give him. "It will be just a moment." She bowed and then headed toward the back, calling the order out.

[plum_that_snaps]

Hinamori's eyes widened just a little, and she fought to keep the amusement from her face. "You... like your food spicy, Captain Kuchiki?"

[soul_scatter]

Byakuya poured both of them tea and didn't mind the amusement he could see on her face.

"I do." Byakuya sipped his tea. "One of my favorite desserts is candied lemons rolled in crystallized ginger."

[plum_that_snaps]

"I'll have to try that sometime." I didn't sound quite like the sort of thing she would enjoy, being drawn to sweeter things most of the time, but she felt obligated to give everything a chance, at least once or twice. "I generally prefer fresh fruits for dessert—not too sweet, but just sweet enough, and... a bit lighter than pastries or cakes."

Hinamori took the tea in her hands and held it up to her lips, taking a long deep inhale to enjoy the warm, fragrant steam. It came back out in a long sigh, as her shoulders relaxed and her whole body visibly untensed. An observant person would understand (though Hinamori would deny it to the ends of the earth) that she held far more stress upon herself than she cared to let on; that below that happy, cheerful exterior there were sorrows and cares she considered her own burdens to bear. It was pleasant, to take time for tea, to take time... for herself.

[soul_scatter]

Byakuya noted the lessening of the tension and was glad for it. He didn't know the source - the fact that she knew they knew about her future and wouldn't say anything, the Port itself, something else, possibly; too many variables - but if he had to, he would make sure they removed themselves from the house for a couple hours once a week and she was able to have a good time.

"You are welcome to any candy my students bring me." Which, they did, on a regular basis. "I will tell Ella-san to save them for you, if you wish." Because otherwise, she just threw them away. Why would he want to eat them, honestly?

[plum_that_snaps]

All of those things, really. To have been dealt one shock after another—the death of her captain; Kira-kun's betrayal; her imprisonment; her removal to this place; the uncomfortable silence surrounding her future; the loss of her friends, her unit, her family, her... home; and to be brought here, to a city with its own troubles, its own corruptions and dangers. At home, she might have shared her worries with her captain, but he was gone, and that in itself was almost too much for her think about.

So she had immersed herself in this new world, one which was luckily full of fascinating people and novel magics, to distract herself. Everyone had said that time stopped here, after all. It was a mere vacation from reality. It didn't matter. Here she could play and enjoy herself. At least for a little while.

"Ah!" She said in surprise. "That's... kind of you, but I wouldn't want to put anyone to any trouble." She didn't know who Ella was, but she couldn't imagine gathering up candy for Hinamori was high on her list of things to do. Then her brow furrowed a bit in confusion. "Do you— why do your students bring you candy?"

[soul_scatter]

Byakuya's lips twitched again, as their food arrived. He nodded to the waitress, when she refreshed their tea pot. "It would not trouble her. It is just as easy to gather them for you, as it is to gather them for disposal." He doubted Ella would mind at all.

Besides, Ella would be good for Hinamori. No reason they shouldn't meet.

"They think it a bribe so I will be gentler with their grading." Another flicker of a smile. "They are greatly mistaken."

[plum_that_snaps]

"You— you can't mean you throw them away?!" She said it before she could stop herself, and in retrospect, froze just a little at her boldness in questioning him. Such a waste of sweet, yummy things. "Ah, I'm sorry, I mean, in that case... thank you very much."

She smiled, both at his kindness and at his remarks about his students. Picking up her chopsticks, she began to eat. It was good, just as good as she had expected. Better, in fact. It was a very high-quality restaurant.

[soul_scatter]

Byakuya hid a grin behind a sip of tea. He hated wasting it as well, but there wasn't much else to do with it, unless Ella always took it home and he knew she didn't do that. He'd be sure to call her and tell her to save it for Hinamori.

"You are quite welcome." Because he liked making her smile. He liked making a lot of people smile, but it so rarely happened.

"You would like Ella-san." He thought the two of them should get together. He was sure Hitsugaya would approve.

[plum_that_snaps]

"Who is she, then? Your... assistant?" Hinamori had almost said vice-captain, before remembering that Abarai-kun had become Captain Kuchiki's vice-captain. And then remembering that none of that mattered here. "I'm sure she's very nice. I would love to meet her."

[soul_scatter]

"She is my teaching assistant." Byakuya wished there was a better way to describe Ella. She ran his life when they were in the office, and that made his life so much simpler. "She works in my office, and is a good friend of Hitsugaya."

He briefly thought about warning her about Hattie, but Hinamori wasn't an idiot. She would see for herself how the woman treated Ella.

"How is your dinner?"