[Log-Tachibana and Chitose]

[wildlionchef]

Who: Tachibana Kippei and Chitose Senri
When: August 4, Dinner time
Where: Kitchen
What: Two friends eat dinner and clear the air


Tachibana was in a pretty good mood, all things told. He had some chicken to work with, and had set about cooking a nice chicken dinner for Senri and himself. He had to stop being so weird about the whole thing. Senri had forgiven him. That should be enough, right? He busied himself, waiting for his friend to come ambling in.

Chitose hummed a happy little tune to himself as he made his way to the kitchen. Despite being on Yomi with Tachibana for a little while now, they hadn't seen each other all that much. He was pretty sure that even despite their talk, Tachibana was still at least somewhat uncomfortable around him, and Chitose really wanted that to go away. Hopefully it was just a matter of time, and being around each other enough that would do the trick.

He knocked on the doorframe as a little warning before he ducked in. "Mmmmm. Smells incredible, Kippei."

Tachibana smiled, ushering him closer. “I’m sorry it’s just chicken, but it’s the freshest meat I have to work with right now.” He chuckled softly. “Have you settled in alright?” He did want his best friend back. He wanted to show himself that feelings weren’t just skin deep, and even though he wasn’t in love with Chitose anymore, didn’t mean he didn’t love him.

Chitose beamed. "You know me. I'm not picky. I even actually enjoy some of the replicator meals," he chuckled. Sure, some were kind of odd, but there were some that weren't bad at all. "But anything you make is gonna be good, I'm sure." He draped over Tachibana's shoulders for a moment, watching him work. "Yeah, I'm pretty good. I was a little concerned about some of the seedlings I grew on the shuttle ride, but they seem to have improved now that things are more consistent."

Tachibana made a face. “The replicator is a crime against humanity.” He sighed the minute Chitose made contact. “How did you manage to get those plants approved, by the way?” He had to go through hoops to get seasonings allowed on his shuttle.

Chitose grinned. "Maybe for someone like you. But for a guy like me who just wants to eat? It's fine." He was really glad Tachibana wasn't pushing him off…but of course if he got in the way of the cooking, he'd gladly let go. "Oh, it was pretty easy. I'm a licensed Naturopathic Doctor. Those plants are my medications. I don't know why they'd make it simple for me and not for you, since they're just as important tools of your trade, too, but…" he trailed off, ending with a shrug. "Might've helped that only Mary and Jane were anything other than seeds when we took off. I germinated and potted the rest of them en route."

Tachibana snorted. “Right, medications. I’m not saying you use them for recreational use, but you might want to keep an eye on them, make sure they don’t go missing.” He patted Chitose’s hand to tell him to get off as he went to grab the chicken from the pan. “Careful, I don’t want to burn you.”

Chitose let go, but not before flicking Tachibana's ear for that snort. "I'm also researching the processes for making them into hemp products. Might be outside the scope of what we can do here currently, but if these girls thrive well enough, it could be a viable option instead of having things shipped." Okay, sure, he occasionally used them for the THC, but it was very rare. Hadn't done it once since he'd gotten here. "But yeah, I know. It's why I don't post about them much. Hopefully people will forget about my girls."

“You know it’s weird that you refer to them that way, right?” Tachibana raised an eyebrow. “Like, people will think you’ve got kids hidden away here or something.” Which was creepy, now that he said it outloud. “Go sit down, I’ll bring you a plate.”

Chitose blinked at the thought of having kids, and bust out laughing. "Well, we both know that's not happening. …But I guess they're the closest I'm gonna get. ….Unless Mi-chan has kids, some day in the very very very very very very very distant future." He sat down as instructed, waiting eagerly. "You sure there's not anything I can do to help?"

“How do I know that? You could have changed your mind.” Tachibana thought about it right now. “Drinks? I forgot drinks.” He laughed, already halfway to the table with the plates. “Sorry about that.”

Chitose popped up and got them a couple of drinks, glad to be even a little useful since Tachibana had done all the hard work with the food. "Ohhh no. No way. That is one thing that is very much the same. That and my hair," he chucked, bringing the drinks to the table to join Tachibana.

Tachibana laughed. “That’s really such a shame. You’re good with kids!” He grinned as he took his drink. “Thanks for joining me, Chitose. I feel like we haven’t gotten enough time to sit and talk.”

"I really wonder about that…as you know I met Kin-chan the other day and…well. Maybe I just wasn't prepared for how…not-30 he is? Feral seems like an understatement!" Chitose was actually glad he hadn't had to treat Kin again since, just because he was still trying to wrap his head around that guy. "Thank you for having me. We've both ended up pretty busy, haven't we?"

“His official file says thirty, so in the eyes of the law, he’s thirty.” Tachibana shrugged. He smiled fondly. “I’ve been pretty busy, and you’ve been settling in, but now things are starting to settle.” He took a bite of his food. “Medbay treating you well?”

Chitose arched an eyebrow. Official file, legal whatever. There was no way he would believe Kin was thirty. If so, he was severely stunted in a lot of ways…but eh. He'd worry about that enigma later. "It's been fine. Most of the others down there are fairly skeptical about my Naturopathy, but I think it's put them at ease to see me do all the same things they expect from any other doctor. I think the fact that I blend the two helps. That, and Ken-chan having come on the same shuttle gives me a kind of built in buddy, in the meantime." He took a bite and moaned in appreciation. "Oh my god, Kippei…this is incredible."

“I’m glad Oshitari is here, because I’m sure Atobe-sensei isn’t being friendly.” Tachibana didn’t know much about the good doctor, but he had heard things. When Chitose moaned, it dawned on Tachibana that when they had parted, Tachibana still hadn’t been great at cooking. “Much better than when I was a teenager, right?”

Nodding enthusiastically, Chitose took another bite, which was every bit as delectable as the first. "This is definitely one of those things that's changed a lot. And for the better," he answered after he'd swallowed. Worlds of difference in a few years. "Atobe hasn't been around much when I'm there…I think we work each other's off days or something."

Tachibana was a bit embarrassed at the high praise. “That’s probably for the best. Keep the peace in medbay.” Tachibana ate a few more bites before speaking again. “So besides growing your girls and working, have you been doing anything else?”

Chitose chuckled. Hearing Tachibana say ‘growing your girls’ did sound kind of odd, even if he knew he was referring to plants. “Not really. I wander around base from time to time…and I took a nap in one of the gardens the other day,” he shrugged. Not the most exciting life, but peaceful, and peaceful was good. “What about you? What have you been up to lately?”

Tachibana smiled. Yeah, that sounded exactly like Chitose. “I’ve been reading a lot on fish hatcheries, I have a patient on a meal plan, and I exercise with Kin-chan every night.” He wasn’t ready to talk about his extracurriculars with Niou, because even though they were innocent, people liked to jump to conclusions.

“Sounds like you’re staying good and busy. Please don’t let Kin-chan run you ragged,” Chitose smiled. He was curious about the patient, but as a doctor himself he knew better than to ask. Patient confidentiality, after all. “Fish hatcheries, huh? As a potential food supply, I assume,” Chitose remarked, in between bites. “That would be good. More real food - especially that’s this good - will be good for everybody, in more ways than just the nutrients.”

Tachibana nodded. “The chickens are a great start, but the more sustainable meat sources we have, the better.” He said. “As for Kin-chan, he keeps me fit. We run before bed so we’re both nice and exhausted.” He laughed. “Especially him. I can’t sleep unless he burns off some energy.”

“Oh, definitely.” Plus the benefit of people being actually, you know, happy with the food they eat. Good spirits helped with good health. At the mention of Kin, though, Chitose made a wide-eyed, exasperated expression. “Oh I can only imagine. I could barely get him to sit still long enough to let me treat him. If he’s really like that all the time, it’s a wonder they’re not using him as a human generator or something.”

Tachibana started laughing, loudly. “We would have no energy issues, then.” Although, he imagined that most of the base was solar powered. “He’s a good guy, though.”

Chitose smiled at the sound of Tachibana’s laugh. Still the same, wonderful sound from the last time they’d regularly been around each other. It brought back a lot of memories, and made him rather nostalgic. “I bet he is. I’ve only met him the once, but he seemed so excited that I knew you.” And…with whatever his mental age was, Chitose was reasonably sure Kin didn’t have it in him to intentionally be anything else.

"We've grown close, I think." Tachibana said fondly. He looked up at locked eyes with Senri and for a moment, he felt 17 again. He shook away the nostalgia. He had made his bed there. "I'm pretty happy here."

Chitose smiled, and despite his usual don’t-look-back ways, he couldn’t help but wonder where they’d be if things had gone differently. But they hadn’t, and here they were. At least they were together again. “That’s really good. You deserve to be happy, Kippei. And don’t you dare argue with me about that.”

Tachibana's brow furrowed. "Looking at you, I'm not so sure…" He sighed. "Why did I have to be such a dumb teenager…?" At the time, he was so sure he was being thrown away…but looking back, had he just misunderstood and overreacted? Probably.

“Kippei…I’m pretty sure the phrase ‘dumb teenager’ is redundant,” Chitose teased a little, but really, only a little. “Aren’t all teenagers dumb? I know I was. But…” He shrugged. “It’s not like we can go back and change things. All we can do is keep moving forward, and try not to repeat our mistakes, because being fallible doesn’t mean we have to be miserable, too.”

Tachibana nodded. Chitose always did have smart things to say. "I suppose you're right." He smiled. "I won't be making the same mistake again." He knew that for sure.

Chitose grinned. “Glad to know you won’t be punching me again. Sometimes I worry about that….” Not really, but come on. This had to become a running joke between them. Or something. “Kippei I’m teasing don’t you dare take me seriously.”

Tachibana rolled his eyes. "I might just punch you again." He teased back. "That isn't what I meant…but I won't be doing that, either." He promised. "I just mean…you know….running away."

This time, it was a bit of a sad smile on Chitose’s face. “You’d better not. I mean it. If you ever start to feel like you might, for any reason, you’d better haul your butt over to me and let me knock some sense into you. …Figuratively speaking, of course.”

Tachibana nodded, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "I will. Although…if I hadn't run away, I wouldn't be such a great cook." He joked. "I might still be giving everyone food poisoning."

“….Okay I will admit some good came out of you disappearing like that,” Chitose chuckled. “But….you know? As well as you cook now…there’s a part of me that would rather still be eating your toxic cooking and have never spent that time apart.”

Tachibana was caught off-guard by that. He choked on his words a bit. "I never should have let us get that far. I shouldn’t have misread you…and I shouldn’t have thought you were throwing me away." He sighed. "It's all my fault."

“We’re both to blame. Neither one of us really listened to each other back then.” Chitose leaned an elbow on the table, propping his head in his hand as he looked across at Tachibana. “I just wanted what was best for you. I didn’t want to hold you back from something that was a really great opportunity because I was too selfish. I never thought you’d think I was trying to get rid of you, somehow.”

"I mean, it was the timing of it all… I mean, I know we were just fooling around and it went too far… but…" Tachibana swallowed his fear. Chitose had the right to know. "I was in love with you, Senri. And when we did that and you immediately encouraged me to leave? I couldn't understand it. I thought the worst. I'm sorry."

Tachibana’s words had Chitose sitting back up straight. Had he heard right? Tachibana really…. “Kippei…” It clicked, then, somehow. Sure, Chitose hadn’t really known what Tachibana’s feelings for him were, that they were that serious but… “Kippei. That night…” He took a breath, and exhaled his next words. “You were my first.”

Well, now the world was crashing down on him. He had been so certain Chitose was just as experienced as he was…that's why it had been so easy to get lost in the moment. "Fuck…" Tachibana pressed a palm against his forehead. "I… I didn't know…"

Chitose chuckled softly. “I realize that now. But I…guess I thought you knew, back then.” He shrugged a little. Like he’d said earlier, what was done was done. They couldn’t go back. “I still have no regrets about that, you know.”

"I do. I regret that I didn't just tell you how I felt." Tachibana said. "I wish I would have known…I would have told you to save it for someone you love."

Chitose facepalmed. “Kippei…why do you think I gave it to you?” Okay, so sometimes Chitose wasn’t the best about things like differentiating the level of affection he gives a friend and the level he gives to someone closer, but that was one thing he wouldn’t have done with just anyone.

Tachibana groaned. "God, why were we so dumb?" Strangely…he was okay. He had already mourned what could have been and moved on, but God, was he an idiot. "...Well…then I suppose it could have been worse."

“Eh. Because we were kids that thought we were adults and could take on the world.” Chitose smiled. “There are lots of ways it could’ve been worse…thankfully, it wasn’t. And now here we are, clearing up the misunderstanding and still able to be friends.”

Tachibana nodded. And then his stomach dropped. "...We need to make sure Mi-chan never finds out. She would kill me."

Chitose handwaved it. “Don’t worry. I haven’t told her, for exactly that reason. She thinks I was high my first time, which is why I don’t remember it,” he told Tachibana, making air-quotes around ‘don’t remember’. He actually remembered it quite well, but that part was a secret from everyone except Tachibana himself.

Tachibana nodded. "Okay, good…" He let out a sigh of relief. Now that the air was cleared and his safety settled, he looked at their plates. "Want seconds, or should we move to dessert?"

Ooh… “Um…….Well. Did you make the dessert too?” Both sounded like a good option…especially if Tachibana had made the dessert and it was even half as good as dinner.

"I did. I've been obsessed with baking cakes lately." Mostly because he could make them with staples, so it didn't use a ton of resources. "Today's flavor is lemon."

Chitose grinned. “Would I be greedy if I said both, then?” Tachibana’s cooking was just so good…it might spoil him for the replicator food after all. “What’s with the cake obsession? Just practice?”

"You would be a little greedy, but I'll allow it." Tachibana said, going to get Chitose a serving of each. At the question, he blushed. "No reason. Practice, yeah."

Chitose grinned. "You're the best!" But the way Tachibana blushed about the cakes made him a little suspicious… "So I take it that means things are going well with Niou?"

Tachibana avoided eye contact. "I make cake for more people than just Niou." He said. "I just like it, let's leave it at that." Niou had asked for it to be a secret, so it'll be a secret.

"Hmmmmmm…." Chitose eyed Tachibana, but he didn't push. If there was something Tachibana wasn't telling him, he had his reasons. "Well. Whatever your reason, you've gotten really good at that, too," Chitose remarked, after taking a bite of the lemon cake.

Tachibana smiled. "Thanks." Not only for the compliment, but for not pushing the issue. He would make it up to Chitose later. "Anytime you need something, let me know."

Polishing off the last of the food, Chitose streeetched his arms and legs. "Same goes for you, you know. Anytime, anything." Oh he hadn't had a meal that good since before he set off from home. "I'm gonna burst, you know. You've gotten too good. I wouldn't believe you used to be so bad, if I hadn't lived through it."

Tachibana playfully tapped Senri in the leg as he stretched. "Who knows, maybe my poison is just more subtle now." He teased.

"Ooh, how devious. Good thing I'm a doctor," Chitose grinned, barely having to move to return the tap. "I can save all your victims."

“But how can you help if you’ve fallen victim yourself?” Tachibana laughed. “You’re doomed Senri, sorry.”

Chitose laughed. "I'm immune. Your poisonous cooking doesn't work on me. Didn't you know? It's my superpower."

Tachibana squinted at Chitose. “Hmm…is that so? Your superpower…” He cleared away the dishes, humming in thought. “I wonder if your kryptonite is the same…”

Chitose squinted back, grinning. "Why, I have no idea what you mean. I've never had a kryptonite, Kippei. Must be your overactive imagination." He shifted around, leaning forward. "Want help with the dishes?"

Tachibana nodded. “Sure, could you do them while I put away the pans and whatnot…?” He smirked. “Oh, I know your kryptonite. And I might use it when you lease expect it.”

Chitose gently elbowed Tachibana on the way to the sink. "Well, that's going to be tricky, what with me not having a kryptonite and all. I'm so curious to see what you think it is."

Before Chitose could get to the sink, Tachibana poked him in the side. It was just the right spot that always made Chitose react when they were kids. He wondered if it still worked.

Chitose yelped at the poke to his side. He'd forgotten all about that, because Tachibana was the only one who'd ever even tried it. He whirled around, then, and glared at Tachibana…and in a swift movement, he ducked his head and upper body, shoulder almost level with Tachibana's stomach, and proceeded to toss him over his shoulder.

Tachibana squirmed. “That’s cheating!” He accused. Stupid Senri and his stupid height. “Well, I confirmed the kryptonite is still there. Good to know… now put me down.”

Chitose laughed, challenging himself to see how long he could hold Tachibana's weight…which really wasn't very long, and he regretfully set Tachibana back onto his feet. "You, sir, must be solid muscle. That or I'm a lot weaker than I thought."

“I run every night with Kin-chan. It’s gotta be worth something.” Tachibana said. He hated that he hadn’t gotten much taller in adulthood and Senri had. It wasn’t fair. “Unlike you, who seems to be just a bamboo tree.”

Chitose took a good look up and down Tachibana's form, from a clinical perspective. "I don't doubt that's helped, but it's not just your legs that look like they get a workout." He made it the rest of the way to the sink and started the water, but before he dove into the dishes, he took off the weighted wristbands he wore, casually letting them thump against the counter. "I work smart, not hard," he teased with a grin.

Tachibana rolled his eyes. “I don’t know why people think running with Kin-chan is so hard. We each have our own treadmills. I think he mostly just likes exercising with friends.” He motioned at the wristbands. “Just to keep fit, or are you a secret athlete?”

Chitose chuckled and actually started on the dishes. "I've heard Kin-chan breaks the treadmills?" To not answer Tachibana's question, Chitose flipped one foot behind him so his geta flew off his foot and landed with a solid thunk on the floor behind him. Then he mimicked the motion, a second thunk following the first.

“Not when I’m with him.” Tachibana said. Then he stared as the geta came off. “...Okay, very impressive, but we’re still in the kitchen so put your damn geta back on.” He scolded. Such a show off.

"Oh c'mon, you know my feet are clean," Chitose mock-whined, even as he finished the current dish, settled it into the drying rack, and then behaved himself and slipped back into the geta. "So wait, if he runs by himself, he runs so hard he seriously breaks it?"”

Tachibana sighed. “It’s usually if he’s competing with someone or he’s lonely.” Tachibana was so fond of Kin-chan and it showed. “He really is something, but I think he just wants to spend time with people.”

"Aaahh. Well then. It's a service for more than just yourself, running with him at night. I'm sure everyone who gets to continue using the treadmills and the engineers who have to fix them are grateful to you." Chitose finished the dishes, then leaned back against the counter. "If you need it, I don't mind helping out with him. Although I'm not nearly as parentally-minded as you are."

“Maybe you can come running with us one night. He would like that.” Tachibana didn’t mind being called paternal. It was the closest feeling he had toward Kin-chan, even if all the files said Kin was older. “I don’t know what the military does to these guys, but Kin is very innocent…”

"Oh, I think I can manage a jog…" Chitose chucked. It'd been a long time since he'd run, but it's not like he was out of shape. "Yeah, I noticed…after I treated him, I took another look at his medical file. I don't believe for a minute that he's older than we are. Not without having been extremely sheltered, somehow." He still believed in Santa, after all…

Tachibana nodded. “I kinda feel like if we start asking questions, though, we’ll go missing… or end up as mysterious lumps in the chicken coop.” Yeah, he didn’t trust for a second that snooping around was safe.

Chitose hummed a little. “Well…then maybe I’ll keep any observational notes I make on old fashioned paper copies… Just to be safe.” He was only half teasing. He’d heard some rather dodgy things about the UEA…and he wasn’t necessarily curious enough to go digging…but better safe than chicken feed.

Tachibana couldn’t help but agree. "Just stay low and it should be fine. Also, make sure not to do anything too suspect out in the open. There are cameras everywhere."

“Oh yeah?” Chitose arched his eyebrows. “So there’s one here?” He glanced up and looked around. “Someone saw you get tossed overy my shoulder, then?” Now that was an amusing thought.

Tachibana sighed. "Yes, they did. How embarrassing. Now I have to poison you for real." He said dramatically.

“Tsk. Just for something like that? Wow. So vengeful, Kippei.” Chitose gave serious thought to doing it again, just to mess with him. But…no, that would require effort. “But remember. You poison me and you’ll have to deal with Mi-chan.”

Tachibana gaped at Chitose and shook his head. "Nevermind, you can live." Seriously, an angry Miyuki was not something Tachibana wanted to deal with. "Just try not to get into too much trouble. Apparently, powerpoints get sent if you do something considered frisky."

OH did they now? Chitose staaared at Tachibana for a long moment before speaking. “Oh-ho. Learn this the hard way, did you? Or is it just gossip you’re passing on to me?”

"Passing gossip." Tachibana…well, Niou, had been smart about everything. "Haven't seen the fabled powerpoint myself."

Chitose chuckled. “Seems like there’s a lot to learn about this place that uh. Goes beyond the normal scope of just settling into a new home and job. Interesting people, eye in the sky, mysterious powerpoints being sent out for certain infractions…oh, and let’s not forget the rather interesting chickens… Is there anything else I need to beware of?”

Tachibana thought about it for a moment. “Ah, half of the base is really thirsty for Sanada Genichirou. Have you met him?”

“Sanada…No, I haven’t had the pleasure.” Chitose’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean, thirsty? Is he supposedly that attractive?”

“The man is a living Greek statue.” Tachibana said. “All of his muscles are just…perfect. I should know, we spent two weeks together in nanosuits.” Tachibana sighed. While Sanada wasn’t usually his type, he understood what everyone was going on about.

Chitose thought about it, creating a mental picture of the greek statue where the guy was throwing a disc just suddenly came to life and started walking around Yomi. “Hmm..Sounds like you find him attractive too. At least from a physical perspective,” he teased, noting Tachibana’s sigh. “I guess I’ll have to keep an eye out, see what all the fuss is about.”

“Anyone who doesn’t find him aesthetically attractive is just jealous, I think.” Tachibana laughed. “He’s a good, strong man. Just don’t be put off by his dry nature.” Tachibana thought Sanada’s humor was hilarious, when he was in a joking mood.

“I think I can handle dry humor. I handle you, after all,” Chitose teased again, poking at Tachibana with a long finger. “So if I see a line of drooling men and women, Sanada’s likely at the end of it. Good to know…. Those poor cleaning bots, though, having to mop up all that mess.”

Tachibana laughed at the mental image of poor, overworked cleaning bots. “That would be a safe bet. Speaking of…” A cleaning bot rolled in to clean all the microscopic bits of food left behind from Tachibana’s cooking. “That’s usually my sign to clear out.”

Chitose chuckled, watching the little bot get to work. He found them kind of cute, so he crouched down and pat the top of it. “Thanks for all your hard work, little guy,” he smiled, getting a happy-sounding series of beeps in return. …. How sentient were those things? He stood back up and checked the time on his device. “How soon do you have to be running with Kin-chan? I don’t want to keep you.”

Tachibana smiled fondly at the little bot and then turned back to his friend. “Ah…about half an hour, but I should probably head off. Always feel free to drop by if you know I’m here.”

Chitose nodded. "I'll head out, then. Good luck with your roommate. Hope he tires out well so you can sleep," he chuckled, wrapping Tachibana in long arms for a hug. "Thanks for the amazing meal, Kippei."

Tachibana hugged Chitose back tightly. “You’re welcome. I’ll see you later.” After their hug, Tachibana headed off back to his room, where he was sure Kin-chan would be getting ready for their nightly run.