[video]

[stickshift]

So, who all here is into racing?

[simple, direct, to the point. she's smiling as she says it, though. It's about equal parts mischievous and competitive.]

Oh! And for anyone working on or interested in Mr. Kent's newspaper, I'm going to be writing a section on automotives. If anyone has any information on any of the vehicles or mechanics here, I'd love to talk shop. Thanks.

[She gives the camera a little wave, and disconnects.]

Comments

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[stickshift]

[Asami-- actually has no idea how to react to that, and for a moment she's simply shocked into stillness. It's not a bad kind, not exactly-- but the last person who held her like that was Mako and-- well, it's hard to ignore what happened there. Her brow furrows a little in uncertainty.

She doesn't object to the contact, but she had sort of been working under the assumption that they were just friends. It's possible that she misjudged that-- or Tommy did, but... just in case,]

Tommy?

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[crotcharrow]

{he blinks a little at her stillness--which seems to last forever for him--and shifts his hand back down to his side, moving back a bit.]

--Sorry. [God, she reminds him so much of Kate that he's even started... to act like he does around her. He shakes his head a little.] I'm an idiot.

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[stickshift]

No, you aren't.

[Her mouth tugs down a little in an unhappy frown, but it's not directed at him in the least.]

Are you all right? Was it something I did...?

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[crotcharrow]

--What? No. It wasn't you, it's.

[He runs a hand through his hair, biting his lip.]

You remind me of someone. From back home.

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[stickshift]

Is she...?

[A friend? A girlfriend? Asami wraps her arms around herself, curling her fingers in the fabric just above her hip-bones, where Tommy had touched her.]

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[crotcharrow]

[He takes another step back, not wanting to crowd her or anything, and rubs the back of his neck after he's done messing his hair up.]

Sort of? I don't know. It's... complicated.

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[stickshift]

Hey.

[She opens her arms for a hug and tilts her head slightly. She's getting the sense he could use one right about now.]

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[crotcharrow]

[He looks at her with a frown, not really certain if he's in much of a hugging mood. But he doesn't want to make the situation any more awkward than it is by rejecting her, so he takes a hesitant step forward and moves to hug her. It's a pretty awkward hug.]

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[stickshift]

[Welp, awkward hugs are fine too. Still, her side of it is no less sincere for all that, and then she releases him.]

I'm sorry about your friend. I hope you get to see her again.

[crotcharrow]

[He doesn't mean it to be awkward, but. He's not sure how to treat the situation. He does give her a squeeze at the end, and when he pulls away he nervously swallows, giving her a small smile.]

Yeah. Me too. Sorry... about that.

[stickshift]

It's all right.

[No, really. It is.]

I... know what it's like, a little.

[crotcharrow]

Yeah? You got someone back home too?

[stickshift]

Just friends.

[Which is... true enough, all things considered. Though she has no idea when she'll actually be able to trust Mako again completely.]

[crotcharrow]

Yeah. Kinda sucks. You miss them but you don't want them to get stuck here too.

[He gives a small sigh and watches her carefully, sensing something wrong. He's not going to chase after it though and instead he looks back to the fridge, trying to change the subject.]

So, okay. D'you have a list of addresses these are going to or what?

[stickshift]

Mmm, there's a gymnasium where families are staying after their apartment complex was destroyed in the riots.

[She reaches for a map - it's one of those folding, vaguely touristy deals, but it lays out the Metal sector well enough.]

[crotcharrow]

[He's glad the subject change goes smoothly, and leans over to look down at the map.]

And they're all in there? I was thinking I'd have to go door to door.

[stickshift]

No, they're in one place.

[Easy, right?]

[crotcharrow]

Well that makes things easier.

[he smiles.] You got them all ready? Or d'you need any help? I make no promises that I won't eat half the cookie dough.

[stickshift]

[she smiles.]

There isn't any dough left. Those ones [she points at the stove.] Were the last ones that needed to be baked. They just need to be delivered now.

[crotcharrow]

[He looks disappointed that there's none left, but nods.]

You got something for me to carry them in?

[stickshift]

I can make more, Tommy.

['you goof'. And then she nods and gestures to a corner of her apartment where she's set several woven baskets. Support the local economy and all that jazz.]

[crotcharrow]

[He's gone and grabbed a basket and back before she would have even registered the movement.]

For just me? [he grins and puts the basket down so he can start loading it.] Because that'll be awesome.

[stickshift]

Just for you. I promise.

[Not even phased by this speed thing, bro. She's gotten used to it.]

[crotcharrow]

Awesome. [he can't help but stealing another fresh one though. They are right there after all. When he speaks, it's through crumbs.]

So you ready for this to get delivered now?

[stickshift]

Yes, everything should be ready to go.

[SHE SEES WHAT YOU DID THERE, TOMMY. But she isn't about to chastise.]