Eryn's Day

Tamela Douglas took the bakery box from the clerk at the Dandelion and pocketed her debit receipt.

“Hope it’s a fun party!” The girl said cheerfully.

Tamela nodded at her casually and gave her a bitter-sweet smile “Yeah me too.”

The morning air still has its chill from last night’s rain. Tamela quickened her pace as she walked down main towards work. She was in uniform already with her police rain jacket over top and had a small sporty black nylon purse slung across her torso. Her eyes darted a fleeting look at the cemetery and then she blinked hard and carried on through the parking lot. The police station was its usual morning bustle of activity. She slipped through the chaos of a woman arguing a speeding ticket at the front desk with Lieutenant Johnson. That left Constable Nault to answer the phones and he seemed to be fumbling through another coon call and feebly trying to get Angie’s attention while she held up a finger at him and stared down the ranting complainant. She passed the back of Officer Reinhardht as he typed madly away at the computer and headed for her own desk. Tamela tried not to look at the collection of photos around her computer. This was not the time to wallow. She had to make it at least until lunch. Often, she had taken this day off work but with so much guilt it was almost easier to just push through it.

April 14^th was Eryn’s day, her birthday to be more specific. Eryn Callahan was her lifelong friend, first and only true love, and at the end of her time on this earth, her fiancé. She was also Chief Nick Callahan’s daughter. He never took the day off, even the first one without her in 2012. So here they were again, coping and painfully aware of the void in their lives.

Tamela dove into a scheduling project for one of her community service programs like it was a life raft. Normally it was annoying fussy work but she gave it all of her time and patience.  The project took her until 11:45 and she noticed the time on her computer monitor and stood up after closing the calendar program. She discreetly took the bakery box and slid on her purse and walked through the now more settled work space to the door leading to the holding cells and Callahan’s office. There was one male occupant in the first cell sleeping off a bender after a bar fight. The room smelled distinctly of vomit so clearly he’d managed to purge some of the alcohol from his system in the night. Tamela breathed through her mouth and knocked softly on the Chief’s door.

“Come in.” he called out from the other side.

She pushed the door open and then quickly closed it after her, taking a deep breath through her nose now.

Nick Callahan looked up and gave her a half smile “Yeah it stinks out there. I’ll put Nault on clean up when we release that bugger later.” His smile faded as he saw the bakery box and he swallowed hard “I went this morning.”

Tamela nodded, not meeting his gaze as she felt her eyes trying to water again. “I figured, but I got you one anyway.” She opened the box and took out a red cupcake with white icing holding it out for Nick.

He took it with a sigh “Red velvet, her favourite.”

Tamela couldn’t help but chuckle a bit “I know. I hate them, but for Eryn….” She trailed off as her voice got hoarse at the name.

Nick pushed his chair back and stood up as he set the cupcake on his desk. He walked around the desk and hugged Tamela without words. She hugged back with a small stifled sob and buried her face in his arm. They stood there for several minutes and then finally broke apart, sniffing and wiping at their faces.

The Chief straightened his badge and smoothed his shirt and sat back down looking numbly at the picture on the wall behind where Tamela still stood. She ran her pinky finger along each lower eyelid and inhaled bracingly “Ok, I’m going to meet them.”

Nick glanced at her directly and gave a small nod “Jen’s coming in tonight. She texted Tally and I yesterday.”

“Anna told me. I got her a cupcake too. See you after lunch…Nick.”

Nick Callahan was her boss and she always observed the protocol of calling him Chief or Sir at work, but right now she was addressing him how she would outside the station because boss or not, he was still and always would be family to her.

Tamela walked through Nick’s office to the side door and made her exit without looking back at the station workspace.

Stephanie Yamada was already at Eryn’s grave kneeling in front of it and digging to plant purple and yellow pansies. She patted the soil as she packed it down and then stood up, brushing at the knees of her jeans, to fetch her watering can and saw Tamela approaching with the bakery box. Upon seeing each other the two women both burst into tears and started hugging. The quiet sobs abated slowly and they pulled back, still loosely embraced. Tamela spoke.

“Some people tell me it gets easier with time. It’s not really happening yet.”

Stephanie rubbed her friend’s back “I think maybe it gets different, but it doesn’t actually get easier.”

“Yeah.” Tamela said in an exhale, letting go.

The squeak of bike brakes revealed Anna’s arrival.  She had seen her two friends hugging and talking as she rode up and set her bike against the brick wall of the cemetery and walked over to hug them each in turn, hanging onto Tamela just a bit longer at the end. Her own tears were silent and she pushed her hair behind her ear and stood between the two women “The flowers look nice Steph.”

“Thanks. Did you bring matches?” Three votive candle holders stood in a row on the edge of the headstone.

Anna nodded and pulled her woven purse towards her hip from the back of her body where she had shifted it to ride.

Tamela leaned down and turned the candle holders over, dumping out water from the rain the last few nights and any debris that has blown in since their last visit. There were some sad looking soggy tea lights that fell out “I think these are toast now.”

Anna knelt beside her producing three fresh ones and the matches “That’s OK I have some more.” As Tamela blew on each holder and set it down, Anna straightened a wick on each candle and dropped it in after. Then she offered the matches to Tams “You first.” Steph squatted on the other side of Anna patiently.

“Hang on.” Tamela said and opened the cupcake box. She added a red velvet cupcake to the little shrine and put a birthday candle in it “May as well do it all…” She took the matches and lit her candle and then the birthday one with a big sniff and then passed the matches back to Anna.

Anna watched Tams and then lit her own with a shaky hand before passing them to Steph.

Steph shuddered and then struggled with get her match started over and over before choking out “Fuck…”

Tamela couldn’t help but chuckle a bit and then held out her hand to offer assistance. She got the next match lit and then passed it burning to Steph.

“Thanks.” Steph forced out quietly as she lit her candle.

They didn’t sing Happy Birthday. They used to try but it always made it feel so much worse so they had stopped years ago. The three women stood up in sad silence for a few minutes until Anna finally said “Ok dammit give me a cupcake.”

The two other women giggled through tears and then Tamela handed them out. As the other two seemed to be enjoying theirs, she took her first bite and made a face.

Her friends watched her with sardonic amusement as she struggled through it. Steph commented “Now that’s love.”

Tamela wiped at her face and laughed “I know right.”

 They left the birthday candle and the others burning and started to pack up. It was a short heart wrenching yearly ritual now.

Stephanie watered the pansies and then shook out the watering can over another grave beside Eryn’s and tossed her muddy trowel into the watering can.  She turned her gaze on Anna and asked sternly “Are you GOING today?”

Anna shifted her weight between her feet and fidgeted with her purse strap, not answering right away.

Tamela looked between the two and then seemingly joined Team Stephanie “Anna you said you were going on Monday.”

With a sigh Anna conceded “I’ll go as a walk in later.”

Steph shook her head “Nope, the clinic is already open. I’ll walk you over on my way back to the restaurant. That way I know you do it.”

“Fer chrisakes…” Anna muttered under her breath.

Tams stepped in towards Anna “Do you know how sick Ryan and Reinhardht have been after getting the shots they give you AFTER a bite? Reinhardt even puked on Nault. Get the little one. It’s only a few days of shitty. Trust me.”

Stephanie and Anna laughed and then Steph looked serious, agreeing with Tams “Ryan was a wreck. His new woman had to take care of his sorry ass for days. Prevention is key.”

The two other women now looked wide eyed at Steph and she winced at her accidental over share.

“Oh…I’m not supposed to talk about that until AFTER we’ve all met her…..sorry classified.”

Tamela grinned “I could have Angie get it out of him. Her interrogations are epic……but I’ll leave it alone…for now. “ She looked genuinely at her two friends “Thanks ladies, again. I’m going to stay for a few minutes longer.”

Anna and Steph nodded in understanding and then both stepped in to hug Tamela at the same time, initiating a closing group hug before the three said their goodbyes. Anna walked her bike beside Steph as they headed off towards the clinic. The trowel in the watering can rattled around as Steph’s arm swung a bit with her steps.

Tamela walked over to Eryn’s grave once more and knelt down again. She slid her hand over the cold marble as if reaching out for the lost connection and said quietly “Happy Birthday my love. I miss you.”

Michael Reinhardt spent his morning typing nonstop.  He had, over the last decade, improved his typing skill and speed what seemed like a thousand percent.  No more hunting and pecking.  He could even look at the screen and not at the keyboard.  In Vancouver, his boss had threatened to make him the shop secretary.  The last time he took a typing test, he’d scored sixty-nine words per minute.  Much teasing ensued.  Now, he figured he might be up to eighty.  Part of him hoped no one would notice, as he was looking forward to getting put back on the beat.  He wasn’t enjoying desk duty.

Around eleven thirty, he decided it was time for lunch.  He called Sakura and ordered one of their soups.  Something light, as the third rabies shot had been as bad as the last two.  He was looking forward to Saturday … two weeks after the raccoon bite and the scheduled date of he and Ryan’s final shot of the series.  With luck they would be back on the street by next Wednesday.

His miso soup arrived at ten to noon.  Michael paid the delivery man and slipped out of the side door of the cop shop, turning right and going along the walk behind the station towards the beach.  Looking neither left nor right, he moved casually and with purpose.  The weather was definitely warming.  He heard some voices at the cemetery and his eyes flicked to Tamara Douglas with Anna Wright, who he had met Sunday in an ALMOST failed attempt to eat a solid meal.  At last he hadn’t lost it, but it had been close.  They were with another woman and seemed to be having some kind of party, complete with cupcakes, on someone’s grave.  It was one of the ones the mayor had shown him.  Tamela’s lover and fiancée;  Chief Callahan’s daughter,  Eryn.

Naturally, he did not stop.  Michael didn’t even slow his casual pace.  He moved to the other end of the bone yard and, stopping under the drooping leaves of a weeping willow, he slid his soup bag between the wrought iron bars and hopped halfway up the brick wall where he could vault easier over the wrought iron grating.  He landed softly on the grass under the tree beyond, took his soup and settled himself between the raised concrete coffin grave directly beside it.  Then he opened up the soup and ate … or rather drank … his mostly liquid lunch.

Tamela finally stood up, wrapping her arms around herself protectively as she took a last look at the grave and let out a slow sigh. She was about to turn and walk back out the way she came in when she noticed movement in the far corner of the cemetery and squinted, trying to see what was happening. There was a willow tree with low hanging branches that was a bit challenging to see through or around. Curiously she stepped towards the middle path, after picking up the bakery box, and began to walk that way. As she was almost in range to see what or who was in the corner, a car alarm went off in the street beside her and made her turn her head in the other direction with a start. She could hear Coco, the Mayor's dog, barking at the alarm from inside the house and chuckled a bit.

Michael finished his miso and was sitting back, enjoying the feeling that it was not going to defy gravity. In his mind, he elevated the chef or chef's at Sakura to the level of minor deities, even though before that damn raccoon, he had not been a huge fan of Japanese cuisine. He put the empty soup container back in its bag and was about to stand anyway when a car alarm began blaring. Quickly standing, he looked in the direction, almost immediately understanding it was probably an over-sensitive car alarm. Then he heard the mayor's dog begin to back. He stepped through the hanging branches and around the grave to get a better look. Just in case. Then he spotted Tams. Officer Douglas.

Tamela shook her head and then turned back to where she had originally followed her curiosity and then blinked as she noticed Officer Reinhardht. He clearly wasn't what or who she was expecting. "Reinhardht?" she called out to him, narrowing her eyes a little as the sun hit her.

Michael noted Douglas and raised his empty hand in greeting, changing his route and walking towards her a bit. "Afternoon, Douglas." he intoned. Half hoping not to be questioned about his favorite picnic spot, he nodded towards the street and the noise. "Ah, the sounds of home." he quipped. 

"Watch your step around that little dog." she jokes "You just out for a....walk?" She's asking in a tone that reflects a trying to pry while seeming like she's not. Her own eyes are still very red.

Michael grins. "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting it yet, but I met its owner." he glances back at the tree. "I was .. picnicking." he confesses, unsure if she knew whose grave he was beside. "Under the willow tree. Quiet. Almost meditative." he looks at her. "You were visiting Eryn's grave." his voice makes it a statement. "I know it’s late but .. my condolences."

Tamela inhales and nods "Thanks. It's her birthday today, or would have been. She was always the last of us to turn our age....skipped grade 2 and joined us in our year." She changes the subject, grasping onto the other offered conversation "So you met my Great Aunt? She's quite spry for 82, still loves being the mayor, keeps us all in line." she says smiling. She glances over towards the tree casually with a nod "Bit of shade is nice in here." If she suspects anything more she's not showing it.

Michael glanced in the direction of the grave. "It's STILL her birthday and always will be." he speaks softly, as if speaking from experience on that thought process. Then he smiles, taking up the new conversation gladly. "I almost ran her down on the sidewalk last week. But instead of firing me, she bought me tea to settle my stomach, then gave me a walking tour which ended here." he motions around the cemetery. He looks back at the grave; at the tree. "Yea. That's my spot. Might change it up when the snow starts flying again."

Tamela gave Michael a grateful little smile and then snickered a bit as he talked about Aunt Shirley "Sounds about right. The snow never stays this close to the ocean." She gestures up towards the lighthouse and the forest "They might get a few days of it on the ground up there. Kinda like Vancouver really. Are you heading back to work? I'll walk with you."

Michael notes the smile but doesn't acknowledge it. "Well, then I guess I've found a perfect lunch spot." he smiled and nods. "Thanks. I've been typing like a fiend lately. With luck .. another week of it and I can get back on the street." he sighs. "I read the side effects but ... I don't feel like I am going to have a seizure or anything. And .. at least I threw up on that knob Nault and not any of the beloved citizenry, right?" he understands why hes been put behind the desk. He just doesn't like it. Too much energy.

Tamela nods "It's rough sitting still. That's why I do the outreach. I hate the desk. We all do, except maybe Angie. It feeds her inner control freak. Of course with community service planning comes scheduling...ugh. Nault gets to clean up even more puke today. Let's hope it's happened already or we'll have to listen to his whining." She points her body towards the station making to start walking but looks to see if Michael is ready to do the same before she steps.

Michael nods and turns in the direction of the station to walk with her. "I've done community service. Some self defence .. not karate or anything exotic. More basic, poor man’s street self defence sort of stuff. But I didn’t do the scheduling." he shakes his head. "Nault is a little old to be acting like such a kid. What's his problem anyway. I know he doesn't like me .. even BEFORE I puked on him." they pass a garbage can and he tosses his lunch bag.

Tamela shrugs "Natural born moron. I don't even try to understand that guy any more. maybe I should puke on him next." she jokes as they pass Spokes and cross the walkway to the little Japanese garden beside it, heading for the cop shop door.

Michael laughs richly a minute.  "We can all take it in shifts.  Bet I can get some ipecac from a nurse or two I've dealt with over the years...."  he seems to ponder this as they approach the door.  "Thanks for seeing me safely back to my keyboard."  he winks, not to be flirtatious but because Nault is watching ... and Nault baiting is becoming a fun pastime for him.

Sunday Brunch April 10th RP Log

This is a role play log of our last Sunday Brunch. Bon appetit!

Eien Fumetsu notes a customer the second he unlocks the door and smiles brightly at them. "Welcome to breakfast brunch, please have a seat and I get your order."

Anna Wright pulls the first batch of sweet potato hash browns out of the oven and smiles as she inhales.

Michael Reinhardt comes EXACTLY on time and is greeted by a large black man and a Japanese accent.  He arches his brows, smiles and moves to a table by the door.  "I'll have the breakfast.  Thanks."  he orders, already knowing it comes with coffee.

Eien nods "Hai .. right away sir." and moves to stick his head in the kitchen and give the order to Anna.

Anna flips the bacon already in the fry pan and smiles at Eien "We got one?" she calls out. "The regular full breakfast? How do they want the eggs?"

Michael considers the man, who he's seen but never met.  "You're Eien .."  he pauses and decides to ignore the last name, which he will botch.  "I'm Michael Reinhardt.  CPPD.  Nice to finally meet you.  We spoke on the phone."

Eien nods. "Good too meet you. How do you want those eggs?" he asks, kicking himself that he forgot.

Michael smiles.  "Scrambled.  Please."

Eien puts his head back in the door. "Scrambled, Wright-san."

Anna Wright pops the toast in and nods "K cool thanks." she calls as she reaches for a grapefruit to cut.

Michael sits back.  "I noticed your scooter isn’t front of the bakery now."  he says, softly.  "I hope that fixes the joy riding problem."

Eien smiles and bows. "So far, at least." he replies. "We will see." and suddenly he is tempted to see if it is still there. Eien Fumetsu then moves to get the man his coffee.

Anna scrambles the eggs and assembles the plate with all the fixings. Because it's not busy, she pops out the door with it. Seeing only one customer she sets it down for him "This must be for you then." she says with a friendly smile.

Michael smiles as he is brought coffee and breakfast at the same time.  "Thank you both." he looks at the woman.  "You must be Anna?"  he looks at her.  "I met your brother Lee last night."  he begins to put creamer and sugar in his coffee.

Eien nods. "You are welcomed." he replies and backs off of him so he can enjoy his coffee.

Anna smiles again and then looks apprehensive "Oh cool..." Lee was sometimes unpredictable and she hoped it was a good meeting. She darts a look at Eien as he backs off. He's so on top of his game always. Looking back to the red haired man she says "Sorry I didn't catch your name?"

Michael bites and swallows and hums at the taste.  "Sorry.  Michael Reinhardt.  I'm with the CDPD now."  he pauses and lifts his mug.  "I met Lee while I was having a couple off duty drinks before I went back to Vancouver.  I know people always wonder when they find out I'm a cop."  And he sips the coffee again.  "Excellent cooking, by the way.  My compliments to the chef."  he smiles a charming smile.

Eien watches and smiles but says little. He likes this job.

Anna tilts her head "Thank you Michael. You must have just started at our station. How do you like it so far?" She makes eye contact with Eien too, including him in the conversation visually.

Michael makes a piece of bacon go bye-bye.  "Only a couple of weeks ago.  From Vancouver PD.  I wanted a less stress free existence.  A friend told me about Cedar Point and ... I finally got a job here."  he holds up his left hand, which is bandage free but still a bit scabby from the bite .. mostly the stark white of a new scar.  "And learned that raccoons are not always cute, cuddly and funny."  he smiles with good humor.

Eien chuckles, checking out the coffee maker, creamers and the like to make sure there’s plenty. "Ah so ... Reinhardt-san is very good. He helped me with my first ticket." he chuckles. "Maybe it is those racoons take my scooter for rides."

Anna looks at Michael's hand with a look of dawning "Steph told me about that....you and Ryan right? I'm friends with his sister. She says he's been super sick from the shot though. I am NOT getting that vaccine...." she shudders and then turns to Eien "YOU got a ticket for something? " she laughs in disbelief "Was it for being TOO polite?"

Michael eats a bit more and chuckles, nodding.  "I hear they're smart enough.  I never saw a raccoon out of a zoo before I came here."  he considers.  "Steph ... yea ... Ryan's sister.  Yea, I guess we BOTH have.  It's like having the flu or something.  And I can NOT take any time off a job I JUST got, you know."  he glances at Eien.  "Yea .. he got a ticket for jay walking.  It was nothing and it's .. just gone now.  Taken care of."  he wasn't sure who but SOMEONE had torn it up.

Eien shudders also. "I did not get it, either. I do not have money to put on what may happen." he insists. Then he laughs. "Normally I would not jay walk. But my scooter was gone again so ... I was in a hurry and the officer made me THIRTY minutes late to work." his eyes fall, as if it was the most shaming thing to ever happen to him.

Anna tries not to giggles at Eien and says kindly "It happens. I'm sure the Yamadas were totally cool. Garrett's late all the time." she has a momentary awkward look and then continues "How many times has your scooter been taken?" She glances at Michael and says "Glad you're well enough to eat now. "

Michael finishes the bacon and works to make a little scrambled egg sandwich.  "I don't blame either of you."  he snorts.  "This is the first real meal I have had in a week .. and I may come to regret IT ... which is nothing against you, ma'am."  he tells Anna.  He grins a bit at Eien.  "Nice work ethic, man."  he compliments.

Eien smiles. "Arigato." he says. "If you will excuse me." he moves to Oshi. "Good morning time to you, Sikigami-san. What can I get for you?" he asks her, taking in the less than basic outfit. Not that he can talk in hit tie-dye.

Anna grins at Michael "No offense taken." She moves to check the coffee and juice supplies and looks back at Oshi "Morning Oshi"

“Good morning Anna san and Eien San.” Oshi bows to each in turn and notices “Oh and to you aw well Michel san.”

Oshi Shikigami smiles

Michael looks over as Oshi enters.  "Good morning, Oshi."  he takes in her outfit.  "Nice hat."  he folds the toast over and takes a bit of the impromptu sammie.

Oshi: Why thank you, I just felt like , how you say, gussing up, a bit? She winks.

Eien smiles at her. "Is a good hat, Shikigami-san. Very like your hair and your shirt. Is all one color." while he is every color of the hippie rainbow.

Anna peers in the coffee pot and then closes it back up "You look nice Oshi. OK more bacon cooking time." she heads for the kitchen.

Michael t grins as he finishes his breakfast and sits back sipping his coffee, waiting to see how his body will take fried bacon.

Oshi: Tatsu san, so glad you could join me for brunch! Oshi smiles at her cousin as she comes in and plops herself at the table.

Tatsu Yume: Well my shoes don’t fit any more! I had to come here in my socks, it took longer! She sounds a little unhappy and then rubs her feet.

Eien stands at the table seeing Tatsu enter and sit. he bows. "Tatsu-chan. What can I get for you on this good morning?" he is still waiting on Oshi's order as well.

Anna puts one pan of hash browns back in to keep warm and flips the bacon around in the pan. She plunks down some toast in anticipation of orders coming in.

Michael sips a little more coffee.  "Eien ... do you have any ... tea?  Green if possible but some kind of herbal blend?"

Oshi: Your breakfast special sound great for me. The first one on the board outside. And for Tatsu, well I will let her decide, But I bet she goes for that Vegan thing. Oshi looks over to Tatsu expectantly.

Tatsu: Well you told me I am too busy with death and killing and stuff. So I decided I won’t eat any food that is killed. That should make you happy? She then excuses herself to wash her hands before eating.

Eien nods and looks at the kid. "I will get them for you now, thank you." he bows and watches after Tatsu as she goes off to wash her hands. Very traditional stuff. Very good. He approves.

Michael leans back and settles one hand on his stomach as the other reaches behind, getting his walled out of his back pocket to pay his tab.

Waiting for Tatsu to return, Oshi turns and smiles at Michael, as He starts to get ready to leave, And says, Hope your day goes well, It was fun last night at the black hole. And nods to him.

Anna starts slicing grapefruit and putting them in bowls, singing to herself a bit . It might be heard muffled through the door "Blackbird singing in the dead of night..."

Eien smiles and sees that Michael is paying his tab. "You do not want the tea?" he wonders. The man looks slightly ill to him. He hears the singing and grins slightly as he pokes his head in the kitchen. "A breakfast and the vegan one, Wright-san."

Michael shakes his head. "No, I better pay and go." he leaves cash and a nice tip on the table and stands. "Great food though. Thank you. I had a great time as well, thanks." he heads out of the door and turns left towards the beach.

Tatsu sits up to the table, and mumbles with a stage whisper, "I cannot abide these western toilets, Weird, and all that paper..." And stares at her plate.

Eien smiles at Tatsu going to wash her hands, then moves in the kitchen. "A breakfast and a vegan .. plate." he tells Anna.

Oshi giggles for a second, and then in a mock tome says, That is not *exactly* proper table conversation. Um, don't you think? Trying not to grin.

Anna calls back "Coming right up!" and pulls a pack of medium tofu out of the fridge for the vegan. She grabs some fakin bacon and throws it in the microwave.

Eien had missed the comment about tables or he would have been mortified. he gets Oshi a coffee and asks Tetsu. "A drink Tatsu-chan?" he still hasn’t dropped the Japanese honorifics.

Tatsu, says I will have coffee too please Eien san. And grins

Oshi: So how are you doing with your studies? I hope you remembered to get that paper about the importance of the Miji period in Japan as effects the rest fo the world, was it called?

Eien hesitates slightly, but bows and brings her a cup.

Tatsu: NO milk in that please! She adds as an afterthought.

Anna arranges the two plates and comes out with them, since it's quiet. As she opens the door she's still singing quietly "Blackbird flies....." and then she stops as she approaches the table. It was the Sarah McLaughlin version if anyone knew it and was listening carefully. "Here you go ladies."

Eien brings black coffee. "Sugar and creamer on the table for you Tatsu-chan." he tells her. She can pour her own milk or not.

Tatsu: My paper is turned in as you know, cus the teacher, talked to you about already!

Oshi: Well I was going to get to that. Seems it is not appropriate to quote manga or anime, in a historical research paper?

Eien turns a laugh into a cough, covering his mouth appropriately. He turns to check the coffee supplies.

Anna smiles at the conversation and starts to step back "Bon appetit!"

Tatsu: That's just not fair. Next they will tell you that YouTube is not a "credible source" for reference either...

Oshi: You have a hard sale for me. I have had to write college research paper, and I cant begin to tell you how picky they get about sources, or a lot of other details...

Eien fiddles with the coffee supplies, waiting a chance to serve and wondering if the child is in college or if Canada was different that way

Wolfgang Pots walks in smelling faintly of engine oil and boss Hugo cologne with a rumbling belly that can be heard outside the door .. he saunters  in beaming big. But has a bit of a hitch in his step .. like one sore from a workout.

Anna sniffs at the air and chuckles "Morning Wolf."

Oshi i: Wolgang San, so good to se you this lovely morning, er, day Oshi smiles and give sa slight bow

Tatsu: Hello Mr. Wolfman san, Tatsu smiles and nods...

Eien sees the blond come in and waits for him to sit so he can be of service. This is one man he has not yet met, but hears Anna call him 'wolf'. An interesting name. Oshi continues and it is Wolfgang. Even more interesting. He offers a nod .. a truncated boy as the Westerners do and waits.

Wolfgang chuckles used to the Japanese people of cedar point and bows in west meet east with a southern flare  'well a fine, how de do to yall , lovely ladies ' he bows at the ladies seated and then to Anna 'morning, Anna '  he smiles nodding then to Eien 'pleasure is all mine , ' he say to the apparently Japanese but black tall man .. his drawl long . 'how are yall doing he sits down still facing them

Anna  walks by but stops at the table, leaning her hands on the empty chair casually "As I'm heading for the kitchen again, what would you like cooked up there cowboy?"

Eien nods and smiles moving to this wolf. Anna gets his order and he waits to see if he is bringing coffee or not.

Oshi: Tatsu, the gentleman’s name is Wolfgang! And I only call him by his first name, as it is customary here in Canada to do so. Were we in Japan, it would be different. To call him that would be rude and insulting even here in Canada. You should apologies. Oshi looks sternly at her cousin.

Tatsu: OK, sensei Humble apologies to Mr. Wolfgang san. And she bows deeply and then turns her head.

Eien nods and smiles moving to this wolf. Anna gets his order and he waits to see if he is bringing coffee or not.

Wolfgang winks at her flirting just a bit in a friendly sort of matter 'the usual, wonderful kitchen goddess except some of that vegan meat ..yall got in the back . 'he say meaning his usual bacon and eggs 'tried it the other day ,  darn near good 'he chuckles .. looking to Eien smile 'may I please have some coffee .. black ' he winks and waves to the ladies

Anna laughs, blushing a bit "Well if you're going to ask like that. Coming right up." She sees him extend his flirtation across the room and snickers, watching and then shaking her head at Eien and the cousins at the antics.

Oshi looks at Ein and in a quiet voice, says, do you have chopsticks here, in Japanese. If So I would like some, and I think Tatsu would eat better with them.

Tatsu, sneaks a small bit of Canadian bacon off of Oshi's plate while she seems distracted with the two boys in the room.

Eien nods and turns to get the coffee, setting it in front of him. "I am Eien Fumetsu, if you need more." he moves to the table with the Japanese girls. "I can get you anything?" he asks. he chuckles. "This is a Western place, Shikigami=san so no. There is not much Japanese here. But I live only across the way and have plenty if you would like me to get you some." above and beyond the call as usual.

Wolfgang laughs softly at Tatsu 'little lady , you may address whatever way you deem fit ' he smiles  and waves to Oshi 'good to see ya again . he chuckles 'well thank ya kindly , Anna " and comments to Tatsu 'but also whatever Oshi says too ,, ' he say meaning to her about minding her elders .  chuckles  a bit seeing Tatsu sneak the bacon . . he turns to Eien 'nice to know ' he smiles beam 'Names Wolf .. 'he chuckles  softly interesting accent .. 'he say seem genuinely interested"

Anna slips back into the kitchen and cooks up Wolf's order.

Oshi blushes, and looks mortified. She stumbles a bit in saying, Oh, please no, that is a very honorable thing you offer. But it is not necessary. We can get by without. And maybe it is better,, for Tatsu, if we don’t anyway. SO Many thanks, but do not need do so. And, she bows deeply.

Tatsu plays around with the food on her plate. Coming to the realization, it just isn't that tasty to her. And seems lost in a daydream.

Eien bows deeply. "I do understand. It can be hard. No Saki, no chopsticks ... but it is good. We should be as they are here to get along and not make the waves." he moves to the doctors table. "May I help you?"

Wolfgang laughs softly at her fluster 'whatever works fer yall . When in Rome right 'he shrugs. 'he watches the good doctor walk in smiling then returns to his black hot coffee eyeing Eien a bit but goes back to watching the ladies ' he nods at the doctor

Anna comes right back out with Wolf's plate and sets it down with a half grapefruit "There you go."

Oshi, sees the doctor come in and says greetings “Doctor san! You were correct with the shots, they did not hurt much at all, and everyone should consider getting them.” Oshi seems to be saying this so all can hear, in an attempt to promote the shots, and the doctor's skill in giving them.

Adam Pierson walks in, knowing he's almost at the end of serving time. He nods to Wolf, remembering him from the market. He looks up at Eien with a smile, "The special." He smiles over at Oshi when Eien has his order. He bows with his upper body back to Tatsu, "You must be Tatsu, greetings!"

Eien nods and bows. "Right away." and he sticks his head in the kitchen to tell Anna "Special for doctor." and moves to get the man some coffee.

Wolfgang sniffs it “Well 'dang... 'he say in a lustful tone .. 'egg perfection as per usual Anna and he starts on his eggs . he pauses laughing 'had mine .. When I was 7 got bit by a raccoon.. When I was a lil en 'he laughs 'or do I need an update?”

Anna hears Oshi, shudders at the idea of the shot and smiles at Wolf and then calls across the room "Morning Doc Pierson. Coming right up." She smirks at Eien after and runs to make another special.

Oshi beams at Tatsu, for her very well trained and proper Japanese styled greeting done in English. She will savor this moment for as long as she can, as it is so rare...

Tatsu, notices Oshi's happiness and smiles back. She is happy that they do not need to be at opposite ends, or disagreeing on customs all the time...

Adam listens to the bustle in the room and smiles.

Eien moves around the room after bringing the doctor his coffee, seeing who needs refills.

Wolfgang continues on eating his dinner savouring the vegan meat .. with fervor  he consults the doctor 'I’m good right .. don’t need a booster shot for the hydrophobia , do I "

Anna brings out the Doctor's plate. Most of the stuff was prepared ahead except the eggs and sets it before him "Busy week for you eh?"

Oshi looks at Tatsu, and says “Did you know MunYo has come out with a new series of water micerable oil pastels, and they will blend with regular oil paints? What do you think, should we get a set, and see how they work?” A smile creeping on her face.

Tatsu: COOL! Tasu says with genuine enthusiasm. That sounds crazy cool to try, please, please Sensei, let us try some. (and pushing her luck) And can you get some extra crimson sticks too? She smiles a big cute irresistible and devil making smile.

Adam smiles at Anna, "Yes, it was a very busy week. Thank you." He chuckles at the enthusiasm he hears in another voice, drinking his coffee.

Wolfgang looks over to Oshi and Tatsu “Now that’s got me thinking of red velvet churros. “

Eien has made the rounds with the coffee pot and puts it back, tiding the area, which doesn’t need tiding,

Anna nods at the doctor and looks around "Does everyone NEED a shot? I hate needles...and I react badly to vaccinations....."

Oshi says, done then we get a set, but you will have to 'nurse' that crimson, the _only_ one in the set, I am NOT buying extra.

Tatsu: Aww, OK then. i will just have to come up with another color for blood... Tatsu looks very deep in thought. Oh wait, I be they have also alezrian crimson as well! ah ha!

Adam "Well the needles we use are for children, so there's less than a mosquito bite. I would recommend it, considering the way the raccoon is reported to have acted."

Eien stands casually by the coffee station, nodding his agreement to Anna's words.

Wolfgang turns to listen to the doctor response also curious.. he listen with a raise eyebrow at the word blood " and turns back to the doctor 'I think I’ll go schedule an appointment with you soon. 'He say softly ' he rub his neck . You can see what looks like a bruised bite mark on his neck .. but clear not from a rodent ' he sips his coffee

Anna looks nervously at everyone and then the Doctor "Ok I'll come in sometime this week....if I can fit it in." Her tone is both shaky and non committal. She clears her throat and heads for the kitchen looking a bit anxious. She hates needles more than anything in the known world.

Oshi says, with a little more volume than necessary to get across the table with, "I think it is a good time to do more Kendo practice! You have your own stick, I even have another" Her vice sounding almost conspiratorial, "I would not wish to see you, or anyone, getting attacked by such monsters! Even the Komoto dragon I captured was less aggressive...

Tatsu: OK, You had me at the Kendo for self protection story. I want to be (she stands up straight) 'P repaired', then sat down.

Adam "Whenever you can make it Anna, I'd hate for a raccoon to catch you at a trash bin. They're very small needles." He says then eats quickly. "My pager went off. I need to go." He leaves enough for his bill on the table and a tip, grabs a final swallow of coffee and heads out the door.

Eien glances at his watch .. his scheduled time is up. He bows. "It has been an honor serving you all." and he heads for the door closest to his home.

As they both finish up their meals, Oshi pays cash, for the brunch and give Eien a 30% tip. She bows to all her friends at the place, and smiles, and then looking at Tatsus feet, and soiled socks, says “You want a 'Piggy Back Ride'?

Wolfgang waves at Anna as she goes and chuckling at  kendo and he oddly say a broken 'the faith of the village is with you young one ' in Japanese and bows and chuckles 'his Japanese unpracticed and minimalistic

Tatsu finishes, bows and when offered she says SURE! gleefully, and hops on Oshi's back as they head out the door.

Wolfgang  finishes his coffee and leaves his money and tip and stalks off.

Cedar Point News Bulletin Regarding Raccoons

***in all publications, websites and social media***

Press Release From the office of Mayor Shirley Douglas

Cedar Point Citizens, we have had several reports of nuisance raccoons and related incidents. This season seems to be bringing in a larger than normal population of the animals. Please do not be alarmed. These incidents are preventable and if we all take the proper precautions we can reduce nuisance raccoons and the risk of disease. We've started a Cedar Point Community Task Force to assist in education. Volunteers will be coming to your door with printed information in the next few days and will be happy to answer some of your questions.

The rabies vaccine will be available at the Cedar Point Clinic as of Thursday, April 7th for those who wish to be immunized. This is not considered an outbreak or essential immunization so it will not be covered under Canadian Medicare. Whether or not you chose vaccination, please seek medical attention immediately if you are bitten or scratched by a raccoon or any wild animal.

Coon Calls - Part 2 - First Blood

Michael Reinhardt almost couldn't believe it when he heard his radio squawk.  Officer needs assistance.  Cody came back just in time for his turn at the desk, where hopefully no one would walk in and wind up with a citation.  So Michael took a cruiser to Ryan’s location and, pulling up almost couldn’t believe what he saw, four raccoons all over a car.  Michael stops his cruiser and gets out moving slowly to Ryan’s side.  He looks completely incredulous.  "So .... this ... is .....  normal?"  he asks, cause it’s the strangest thing he’s ever seen.

Ryan nods, his tazer in his right hand and pepper spray in the left. "Yeah. But this is extreme....even for here..."

Ryan gestures at a middle aged balding man with glasses cowering in the driver's seat. His car is filled with food wrappers from various take out places, all contributing to the smell that attracted the raccoons.

"Might want to clean out your car Sir!" Ryan yells towards the window.

Michael reaches for his own pepper spray and tazer as he takes in the scene.  It was like something out of a horror movie ... or maybe a comedy.  The man IN the car looks terrified, at least.  "Alright ...."  the raccoons are all over the car.  Two on the hood, one on the roof and one at the passenger side door.  "OK ..."  he almost repeats, unsure how to proceed.  "Pepper spray and taze if they attack?"  he asks, that seeming to be the most logical solution to him.  Experimentally, he takes a step forward and around the front of the car, trying to flank the fur balls.

 Ryan nods "First we'll try annoying them with noise, but these ones don't look too scared...."

Ryan starts banging on the side of the car with his pepper spray can and yells at the creatures "Get outta here...Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!" at the top of his lungs. The racoons startle but then just stand and stare at the officers.

Michael raises both eyebrows, but follows Ryan's lead.  It isn't working.  "There wouldn't be an air horn in the trunk of one of these cruisers, would there?"  he suggests.  "That’s the loudest thing I can think of."

Ryan looks encouraged "Yeah and the sirens. The residents will hate us for a few minutes...but it might work...." He glares back at the raccoons "Let's blast them!"

Michael nods and motions them both back to the car.  "Let’s give it a try."  He gets in the car leaving the door open.  Flipping on the siren in his cruiser ... he waits.

Ryan walks to the other car and does the same. Three of the animals scamper off down the street but one remains, right above the driver on the roof. It peers down into the window as the occupant unwraps a hamburger and takes a bite. Ryan watches the man in disbelief and then looks at Mike with wide eyes.

Michael watches as three take o but one remains.  Then the driver starts eating.  "What the ....."  he gets out of the car and approaches, pepper spray extended.  He sprays towards the animal and he turns, clearly angry and runs towards Michael, pausing to bite hand before running over him and towards Yamada.  Michael swears and grabs one hand with the other, pepper spray hitting the pavement/

Ryan charges forward, seeing Mike get bit and then tries to dodge the animal, holding out his own pepper spray. The racoon looks at him with bloodshot eyes and then dives at his leg, biting him hard through the fabric of his pants before he can spray. Ryan cries out "Ah fuck!" before shaking it off his leg and giving it a swift kick. It whimpers and runs off, a bit disoriented and swerving. Ryan grits his teeth and heads straight for the car now and pounds on the window "What the hell is the matter with you Mister?! Why would you open up more food?!"

He looks towards Mike worriedly "You ok man?"

The passenger nervously presses a button and rolls the window down "I eat when I'm nervous....sorry!" His face is red and a little moist with sweat.

 Michael doesn't see Ryan get bit, but he does hear the swearing.  He straightens slightly, shaking his pain filled bloody hand.  "Damn thing BIT me."  he looks at the man in the car.  "Well, they are gone, sir.  You can go on with your day."  Which is followed by half a dozen words in perfect German which are unlikely to be complimentary.

Ryan gives the roof of the car one last smack with his open hand and nods, even though he doesn't speak German - he has an idea of what Mike may have spouted off. His last words to the man are a sharp "Clean out your car!" before turning back to Mike "Yeah he got me in the leg. I think we might need shots. Did you see its eyes?" He watches in irritation as the car with the hamburger eater pulls away.

Michael watches the man go while shaking his aching, bloody hand.  "Shots?"  he blinks.  "As in RABIES shots?"  He sounds ... reluctant.  "I mean .. they eyes were red . That’s not natural?"  Big city boy knows nothing about raccoons.

Ryan sighs "Yeah I think we better go get checked. I'd hate to start frothing and then lose my mind, know what I'm saying? I don't think the local clinic has the stuff all the time so let me drive us to White Rock. You're not afraid of needles are you Mike?"

Michael sighs.  "You're leg okay to drive?"  he asks.  "I can probably drive, too."  he arches his brows at Ryan.  "I seen too many drug addicts dead with the needles still stickin out of them to completely trust needles .. OR doctors."  He grumbles.  He straightens.  "Okay ... lets man up and get out of here."  He sighs deeply.  "My car or yours?  And I say we go with the sirens..." which are still blaring, since neither of them turned the damn things off.

Ryan laughs "I can do it. It's my left anyway. Let's turn off the other one though or Angie will have both our asses if she gets calls from the whole street all day about the noise." He walks over and clicks the siren off and then radio's in "Uh Yamada and Reinhardt seeking medical attention. We might be....rabid. Can someone pick up a cruiser on Galley Crescent by the school? I'll hide the keys in the usual spot...over..."

Michael gets in the car on the passenger’s side and  is looking at his hand as Ryan calls it in.  He listens as Cody, sounding somewhat jealous, agrees to get the car.  "What is WITH that guy?"  He marvels, waiting for Ryan to start driving.  Seems like it’s going to be an interesting day.

Ryan clicks off the radio and then laughs "Maybe he's already rabid? I better fuckin drive or we'll all be Code Naults!" Ryan pulls his seatbelt on and puts the pedal to the metal dramatically, causing a wheel spinning squeal as they peel out of Galley and turn onto Main heading for the hill, head turning from all directions at the speeding cop car heading for the edge of town, sirens blaring.

 Michael snorts.  "A fate worse than death."  he agrees and leans back as Ryan peels out of town.  "This is not how I thought I would spend time getting to know my fellow officers."  He rolls his eyes.  "I was gonna deposit the check I got yesterday, maybe go have a drink downtown and start looking into housing closer to where I work NOW."  He blows out a breath.

Ryan turns off on the exit for the 99 and then breezes past the traffic as it moves over and slips effortlessly into the merge. He chuckles to himself "Sirens for rabies, never for donuts. Shit." He glances over and clicks off the siren "I don't think we're going to die on the way and there's no backup right now. Depending on what they give us we might be able to drink after. But while we're killing time and not yet foaming at the mouth tell me about where you're looking for a place? And after that, tell me who that hot blonde is who handed you a check.....that caught my attention, not that ALL gentlemen prefer blondes, but you seem to..."His tone is a little teasing about the woman.

Michael chuckles as the siren is finally turned off.  "I need a place that is NOT in Vancouver.  Closer to Cedar Point.  Maybe even IN Cedar Point.  House, apartment, condo, doghouse or houseboat, I don't really care."  He laughs.  "Ah ... you saw that?  That was Sara.  My ex-wife.  She was dropping off my alimony.  First of every month she hands it to me."  he shrugs.  "Celebrity models."  he almost growls.  "Goes to their heads, man.  I don’t know how many times she cheated, but I finally just divorced her over it."  he shrugs.  "Although sometimes she IS still around come the morning of the second of the month ...."  Suggesting that near smoldering near kiss sometimes became more smoldering other things.

Ryan raises a brow "You lead an interesting life Mike." It's all he can think of to say about alimony until he asks "You guys have kids?" Ryan checks the rear-view mirror and then moves back into the slow lane letting a big rig pass them on the right.

Michael snorts in reply.  "Nooooooo.  She didn't want to ruin her perfect size zero getting fat with my child in her....  her words, not mine."  he shakes his head and glances out the window.  "You got kids?  I don't see a wedding ring..."  may as well get to know each other before they are rabid frothing zombie officers.

Ryan smiles awkwardly "No kids, no ring. I do have a girlfriend, it's kinda new still. Sorry about your wife....well ex, now."

Michael nods.  "Now is good."  He remembers.  "And you live and learn I guess.  When they are career minded, the relationship goes to hell."  He shrugs.  "My mother wants me to go for a nice Irish girl.  My father says another German one, but more home-minded."  he rolls his eyes.  "Of course, my parents fight like its World War Two all over again sometimes but they're still married.  Maybe its my mothers strong red haired Irish temper or something?  They're full of those racial stereotypes .. we heard all about it all the time growing up."

Ryan chuckles "Can't choose your parents right? Brothers and sisters? I got one of each, both older than I am."

Michael blows out a breath.  "Ohh yea.  I have a brother.  John.  My parents had tried and tried to have a dozen children and nothing but John.  SO they just stopped trying and BAM ... John was twelve .. and I'm not sure he's ever forgiven me."  He laughs, good naturedly.

Ryan blinks and then glances briefly at Mike "That's eerie. Garrett's exactly twelve years older than I am...for the exact same reason. They had Steph and the doc said they couldn't have more. Ooops here I am!"

Michael laughs a bit.  "That is weird."  He agrees.  "Accidents like us need to stick together."  He chuckles.  "Did your brother try and kill you on several occasions when left to baby sit you?  Of course John SWEARS he wasn't.  A few times he tried to shut up my crying using good old fashioned Irish whiskey."  he shakes his head.  "Miracle I ever saw double digits."

Ryan hunches a bit over the steering wheel "No Garrett was more of a pyro and taught me how to set off fireworks "Here Ry hold this while I light it......two less eyebrows later..... Steph's style was more physical torture and interrogation once I grew too big to dress up in doll clothes.THAT doesn't leave this car by the way. I still can't look at a bonnet without my heart racing in fear."

Michael laughs.  "Man see I could have lived with that.  Well, maybe not the doll clothes, but ... yea ...  your secret's safe with me.  My mother wanted a daughter.  She got me as the last hurrah ... unless they got something to tell me since the last time I talked to them.  I'm lucky I DIDNT wind up in doll clothes.  But she taught me all the old Irish dishes and the meals my father likes.  SO I cool like a housewife."  He rolls his eyes.  "You feel like taking a bite outta anybody?"  He wonders.

Ryan looks sideways at Mike with a wary expression "Don't fuck with me man. We're still ten minutes away. I'm good....so far. My leg feels a little sore and itchy but I've had worse. If you promise not to chew on any nurses you can make me a schnitzel pot pie or something OK?"

Michael shrugs.  "I wouldn't know if we were developing rabies or not, man."  he scoffs.  "I've been stabbed twice in ten years and one bullet grazed me.  Now I needed a TETNUS shot when some crazy bitch high on PCP decided to take a bite out of me, but RABIES?  Should we have shot that damn rat?  Raccoon .. whatever?"  he cocks an eyebrow.  "Depends on how good looking the nurse is and where she lets me chew on her."  he grins.  "And Ill make dinner for you AND your woman if we make it out of this."

Ryan shakes his head "Jesus Mike. I've had a few hand to hand situations but nothing like that. I worked for the West Van PD before Cedar Point so a couple of times we got called to a B&E in progress. And a few weeks back a woman went ape shit in the Black Hole and was ready to cut me with a broken glass until I pulled out my tazer. But that's considered odd in Cedar Point...AND she's from West Van...." he laughs sardonically before saying "We can't shoot the raccoons. We have to call it in and let conservation make the decisions about wildlife or it's our asses. We should make sure Cody told Angie we got bit so she does that though. As soon as I park I'll text her." He turns into the lot and starts circling the rows. "We'll be fine, bored maybe but fine. You're on for cooking though. Indy's a bit....slow to want to meet people so I'd have to run it by her." he says carefully "But watch yourself around those nurses. They'll sedate you if they have to Mike." He finds a spot and turns in and then turns off the car and pulls out his phone to send the text.

Michael chuckles.  "West Van is NOT the Devil's Kitchen neighborhood of Vancouver."  he reminds.  "Oh was that that .. Alice chick I was hearing about on the street yesterday?  A couple guys were saying this did that AND tore up the supermarket?  And you DIDN'T taze her?"  he snorts.  "You think Nault did his job?  Yea ... we're dead meat."  he shakes his head, mock sadly.  "As soon as I get a place, I'll invite you guys over.  Irish and German food mixed together in something that is probably against the Geneva Convention."  he watches Ryan as he writes and sends the text.  "Sedation is startin to sound kinda good about now."  he blows out a breath.  "Thank God for black uniforms."

"Alison Chase." he mutters as he watches Angie's all caps reply comes across his screen "Oh shit...... he didn't tell her......and she's not happy. I almost wish we were there to watch......" He looks over at Mike "I feel a little gross too. Maybe it's psychological, like watching someone puke and feeling nausea. Let's go in." He undoes his seatbelt and pockets his phone before pushing his door open.

 Michael snorts.  "Of course not.  Too busy giving parked cars tickets for going under the speed limit."  he blows out a breath and undoes his seatbelt with a growl of pain.  "That hurts .. yea ... that is not fun."  he gets out of the car and slams the door.  "Nault can wash the goddamn blood off the seats."  he blows out a breath as the gimp into the emergency room.  Two cops, both apparently injured.  He wonders if it’s like the Devils Kitchen here or not.

Coon Calls - Part 1

This is a role play log from an impromptu role play scene we had in the police station. It was fun and we may use that role play zone again for a casual role play time. It's also leading to a few follow up blog stories and this week's little campaign plot. Watch for those and join in on more raccoon fun!

Michael Reinhardt finishes the report and stands up to stretch his legs, listening carefully. "Do you hear that, Yamada?" he asks of the younger man beside him.

Ryan Yamada scratches the back of his head and then finishes typing data from an incident report into the front desk computer "Hear what Mike?" He asks smiling a bit.

“Hello officers.” Oshi smiles and looks friendly.

Michael winces inwardly but says nothing about the shortening of his name. Happens all the time. "No gunshots, no gangs, no screaming, no screeching tires. Silence, man!" he watches as the young/old woman from the day before appears. "Ma'am."

Ryan snickers and then looks up at the woman as well "Good day Miss. How can we help you?"

Oshi Shikigami: Oh, I don't have a crime to report, or have an emergency. Is this the right place just to ask a few questions? She looks puzzled after the comment she came into hearing no doubt the end of.

Michael looks curious. "Of course, ma'am. What kind of emergency do you have?" he can handle this ... probably.

Ryan looks between Mike and the woman "We'll do our best with any questions. Just no math tests please." he jokes.

Oshi Shikigami: “Um, I just wanted to know if this town, here, has any special programs for young ones. Children, teenagers, more exactly, that um, are designed that they can "ride along" and see real police work in action? One that is instructive and not too scary for a teenager, say for instance?” She seems a bit nervous in asking, like she is not sure if it is proper, or correctly phrased.

Michael Reinhardt blinks and looks at Ryan, curious himself. In his old area of Vancouver they didn’t want kids on the street, never MIND riding along on the beat.

Ryan thinks about it and then asks "Is the kid saying he or she wants to become a cop, or is this more of a scare them straight request?" He says with a twinkly eyed grin.

Oshi Shikigami: “You see, my cousin, who I am in charge of for now, well, she is quite interested in a lot of things, and one of those is the whole "law and order" thing. I am afraid she has seen too many cop shows on TV... “ She takes a breath and sees if this is being received well. “I had her that in the states at least, they some had programs where citizens could ride along with cops on the beat. See what it is really like, instead of the drama on TV.” She continues “So she learns it is not all donuts and gunfights...”

Michael watches as Ryan answers and then glances at the woman. She seemed very sweet the day before, but this was an interesting situation. He hears her speak and nods. "Well, this isn't New York, or Los Angeles, Miss .. Shitigami." he isn’t sure he got her name right. "I'm not sure, if that what she’s looking for ... she’s in the right place." he pauses. "They've done it there ... considered it in Vancouver where I worked but ... you wouldn't like it .. even if SHE did." but he wonders if the kid might like to walk a beat here .. the place seemed harmless enough.

Oshi Shikigami: “I mean, if like this didn't work out, you did not have anthing like that, then I would understand.” Oshi looks down at the floor. “But, it might just help to a girl that is confused by what she know at home, sees here and sees on TV.”

Ryan shrugs "I get it. I thought this would be WAY more action when I was a kid too, even in the academy. But it's a lot of walking around, talking to people, writing stuff down and then data entry in the computer. You could email Lieutenant Angie Johnson, she's second to the Chief. She might be able to hook your cousin up with some observation. We've had kids write papers and stuff and come in. Officer Douglas might even let her tag along on community service but that would bore a teenager even more. It's a lot of beach cleanup and passing out water bottles."

Oshi Shikigami:” That sounds like just what she need!”  Oshi perks up a bit, and she jots down whom to contact, and smiles. “Perhaps a bit of boredom would be good. Oh! And she may be precocious in some ways, but she really is a good hearted person. And, if you ask her nice, she might even do some sketches of you on duty, while _not_ shooting somebody or 'cuffing them.” Her smile brightens, a bit and she hopes she was clear she was making a joke.

Michael chuckles. "As long as she knows that Cedar Point is a very quiet town ... and that she doesnt want to see real life action .. it is VERY different from Law and Order." he seems to be speaking from experience.

Ryan passes the woman a business card from Angie's pile of stuff "the info at address on there from our website goes to Angie. I'm Officer Ryan Yamada by the way. Sorry I didn't catch your name Miss...."

Oshi Shikigami: Ah yes, I understand that all, myself. But, to her she went from Japan, where there is almost zero crime, at least in the streets, to here, where she sees cops fighting bad guys every day on TV. It is a bit hard for her to reconcile. TO not be scared to go out of the house, or anywhere at night. And fear if she does some small thing wrong she will be locked away in jail forever...And my cousin is Tatsu. Thank you for the introduction. She holds the card reverentially and bows looking at the card and keeping it in her hand reverentially.

Michael makes a mental note of the cards again and looks to the woman. "Sh eis ... Oshi .. Shit -- Shik ... Shitigami. We met yesterday." he struggles with her last name, and then looks at her. "It really isn't all dead bodies, drug dealing and gun fights." he tells her. "Even in the big city, where I transferred from, I spent more than my fair share of time doing paperwork."

Oshi Shikigami: Oh, and you can’t miss her, she is full blooded Japanese, but her hair is 'dyed blond', yes died. Like me, she has no hair coloring natural, but unlike me, she goes blond, so she doesn't look like a "freak" Oshi chuckles a bit.

Oshi Shikigami: Thats S H I K I G A M I. said with a smile.

Ryan coughs to cover a laugh on Mike's name struggle and then rubs at his face as he gives a little bow back, really an extended nod, but acknowledging some shared cultural etiquette. "We're here to help. She doesn't need to be scared here. This is one of the safest places to walk I've been, even at night, though maybe not by the Black Hole sometimes.....can be a bit rough every now and then."

Oshi Shikigami: I will take that all under advisement, officer, Yamada san.

Michael  winces at having botched her name so badly. "I'm sorry ma'am." he apologizes. "Is it possible I could just call you Miss S, or something, or would that be considered rude?" he arches his brows a bit. "Freak?" he glances at Ryan. "I've never seen a quieter place." he agrees.

Oshi Shikigami: Oh please do not worry, I have had it misspelled all the time, even by Japanese people too. And she smiles at Officer Reinhardt san.

Ryan smirks "Been called Yamaha a fair few times. Names are fun. We see all hair colours here, no freaks, just whatever right?"

Michael blinks, never having had an honorific attached to his name. "Miss S it is." he decides, since she didn’t protest. "I have seen a bunch too. I like my carrot, though." he smiles at her. "I've been called a salad for some reason." the olive green eyes and carrot red hair may be a reason.

Oshi Shikigami: Well it’s what happens for me, and I just go with the flow, rather than trying to constantly hassle with root hair colour that opposite.

Ryan gestures at Oshi "You're like a superhero. It's a good thing." he compliments.

Michael nods. "Thats a good way to live. And they Do say that the gentlemen prefer blondes."

Oshi snickers, placing her hand over her mouth while doing so. What a sweet thing to say. That just sounds so much better than, um, "granny"! And she chuckles a bit more.Al least I don't get carded at the bars any more...

Michael laughs. "Now I admit." he confesses. "At first I thought you were older, and then I looked at your face and no way." he looks surprised. "I might think about carding you. Just to make sure." he jokes, the charming flirt.

Ryan raises a brow at Mike and laughs and then nods at Oshi "I do in Vancouver still. Curse of my eternal youth." he says sarcastically.

 “Oh my!” Oshi fakes surprise, and quicly fumbles in her purse, and pulls out her Japanese drivers license, and international drivers licence and after a couple more moments, her Japanese passport with Canadian stamps and visa, all in order and hand them over...

Michael snorts. "If I am lucky I won't be bald by forty." he shrugs. "Honestly I might too if I stopped you for something." he sighs softly with no explanation. He takes the info. "I've never see a Japanese license." he looks it over and hands it back. "But it IS good to know you're legal." yup, seems this one is a flirt.

Oshi Shikigami: I could show you my MI5 ID, but then of course, I would have to kill you. She says with a smirk.“And that would be such a waist.” she mumbles under her breath.

Ryan shakes his head at Mike and laughs openly at them both before answering the phone when it rings "Cedar Point Police?" He pauses with an obvious eye roll "We're not animal control Sir......is it in the vehicle....."

Oshi Shikigami: Animal control? Well I have had some experience with animal rescue, if you ever end up needing some help?

Michael smiles at Oshi and then glances at Ryan as he answers the phone, curious.

Oshi Shikigami: Seems back in Japan, someone had smuggled in a Komodo dragon! And it got away. We had a team that finally tracked him down, and we got him contained, without anyone getting bitten! Wow, that was intense, OH, but I ramble on about such. Not likely you get that sort of thing here?

Ryan writes down an address "Uh huh.....have you tried making a loud noise to scare it away? I know there are a lot of them...contain your garbage and you'll get less. It's the season. Try banging on the roof of the car with a broom....call me back if it doesn't leave." He puts the receiver down "Raccoon." he says tiredly "Fourth call today."

Michael chuckles. "I've had a couple calls about Burmese and reticulated pythons. Both wound up being destroyed for ... what they did." he looks at Ryan in slight disbelief. "Racoons? Seriously?" they don't have that problem in Vancouver. Not where he was from.

Oshi Shikigami: Foxes. Oshi says almost reverently. In Japan, it foxes. They get into the weirdest things, and are very clever...Know what they did there?

Ryan nods at both of them "People just need to lock down their trash. You go and look in on some of these calls and they've got an open bin and a heaping compost in the yard. They're hungry and it's spring. Tell us about the foxes?"

Oshi Shikigami: They made them guards of the temples. They protected the crops! Had them get the rodents, cus they don’t eat crops.

Michael chuckles. "I may get a do someday but ... " he is cut off by another call. He picks up "Cedar Point Police Department, Officer Reinhardt speaking how ...." he pauses and blinks. "He did? I see sir ... " he glances at Ryan and half listens. A deep male voice can be heard tinny through the phone. "No ... I .... yes, sir. I understand perfectly Mister ... yea ... Fum... u .. etsu..." another name for him to botch. Terrific.

Oshi Shikigami: Perhaps we just need some foxes to scare away the raccoons?

Ryan smiles at Oshi and half listens in on Mike's call "Got any stashed away Miss Shikigami?"

Oshi Shikigami: Foxes? Um no, but I have an uncle back in Japan...Yup he would send me some if I asked.

Michael continues with his call. "No sir, usually we don't do anything like that. Um ... yes sir. One moment please." he covers the mouthpiece and leans into Ryan murmuring softly. "Cody gave a man a ticket for jay walking in front of the bakery." he sighs. He's met Cody and is a lot less than impressed.

Oshi Shikigami: Wait, he is Japanese, and he Jaywalked! Osh asks disbelieving. You DONT jaywalk in Japan, that is quite dishonorable! He should be ashamed! Osh looks at both of them, like it is obviously understood. It would be dishonorable to Jaywalk.

Ryan Yamada laughs at Oshi's suggestion and shakes his head "No, they'll chill out once the berries come out. You don't have to ship over any predators. Happens every year." He face palms at Mike's statement and then clears his throat "Callahan's going to love that one..." he mutters "It's not really a huge deal with the limited traffic here though."

Oshi Shikigami: Let me talk to him! I will set him straight!

Michael glances at Oshi as she speaks, then holds up a finger to her to hold on. Into the phone he speaks. "No sir. No. Bring the ticket in at your leisure. We'll straighten it out. "Yes sir I .... I understand. You have a good day, sir. Yea .. Good bye." he hangs up the phone and looks between the two of Japanese descent. "What is a baka? He kept calling Cody that." he looks at Ryan. Michael doesn’t speak a word of Japanese.

Oshi Shikigami: That is insulting, it means "STUPID"!

Ryan Yamada laughs openly now "Oh man. It's OK. We might give a warning on jaywalking but not a ticket. And I'd warn a kid, you know to teach them, but this was an adult. I mean they know to look for cars. It's the chef from my parent’s restaurant...." he keeps laughing "Ah life....."

Michael arches his brows and nods, straightening from his phone call. "Well, the man was upset, Miss S." he smiles at her anger; all fluffed up like a cute little Japanese bird. He doesn’t mention that, in his opinion, the man on the phone was stating a simple fact. "Oh you know the guy?" he knows in a town this small he shouldn’t be surprised. "He said Cody made him late for work ... which ... I've never heard anyone so upset at being fifteen minutes late for work."

Oshi Shikigami: Oh, Oh, wait? Is that the Sakura Sushi? The Jamaican Japanese Chef?

Ryan nods "I recognized the name Mike was trying to say, and yeah that place. My sister says Eien is very proper so being late would be a thing."

Oshi looks befuddled, and bemused. She is defiantly mulling this turn of events over in her mind.

Michael sighs. "SO I got it wrong .... well ... at least I can say Yamada?" he blushes at having botched so many names. "In my area in Vancouver it was most European names, and immigrants from the States."

Ryan smiles and slaps Mike on the back "You'll catch on man. Lotta nationalities in this little place." The phone rings again and he reaches for it "Cedar Point Police?"

Michael chuckles. "Funny thing is I can get Jaskovich and Zakowski and obviously Reinholdt. Of course Washington and Jackson are easy too." he chuckles. "I'll have to keep practising."

Oshi smiles and says rather mater-of-factly, well, if you need some foxes, or you run into an komodo dragons, or, even if, um, you have too many raccoons - jay walking, well do feel free to call me, I am always happy as a cheerful citizen of the community, to assist in whatever I can to make this community a quiet, peaceful and safe community... One that even foreign teenagers, can grow up in , uh, unafraid. Oshi says with a smile.

Ryan sighs "OK Sir, stay in the car. I'll see what I can do to get them off the roof..." he sighs and hangs up the phone with a chuckle "I got this one Miss Shikigami." He turns to Mike after "We had a break in at a mosque last week. Those were some fun names to try and spell. I'll see you folks later." He grabs the address and a set of keys and gets ready to head for the back door.

Oshi Shikigami: PEANUT BUTTER! Oshi shouts as he heads out, If you put out peanut butter he will find it irresistible!

Michael watches Ryan head out, looking bemused. Then he looks at Oshi. "I must be the world’s largest racoon then. I DO like peanut butter."

Ryan Yamada smiles and yells back "Thanks for the tip." as the door closes and he heads for a cruiser.

Oshi smiles, and if she has not offered her phone number address and stuff, she does so now. And says that if any need help with critters, or they want to talk about a ride along program for kids, to call any time.

Nabe Night RP log from March 23rd

Nabe Night or Nabemono is a special offered at Sakura Sushi in Cedar Point. It's a Japanese hot pot where the customer gets a tray with a pot of boiling broth on a burner and an assortment of fish, meat and veggies to toss in the pot and create their own custom soup at their table. This is a log from the second time we offered the special; a particular special of Eien's.

Stephanie Yamada walks in from her bank run and heads to the till to dump in some coin rolls "Hi Eien. Did you get my email? I hope it's not too crazy in here tonight...." The sound of dimes hitting plastic accompanies her statement.

Eien Fumetsu watches the pots of broth as they heat up. Beef, fish and vegetable." he turns when Stephanie walks in "Good day to you, I did get your email, Yamada-san. And we will do very well, I am sure." he offers her an encouraging smile.

Stephanie smiles back as she organizes the remaining coin rolls "You look all set to go. I think people are really liking this special."

Eien nods and looks at his prep area. Nothing sliced yet, as he likes to do it as its ordered. "I am glad to be of service, Yamada-san. How have you been. Your son is well?" he finds Westerners like to be asked about their home life.

Stephanie Yamada snorts "Well the school called today. Tristan and his friends decided to cut each other’s hair at recess. He came home half bald. I took him to Luxe and told them to set the clippers on him. Apparently the Chen kids got sheered by Ushi. Shoulda sent her Tristan too..."

Eien nods and grins slightly. "Boys will do things like that. I did not dare mess with my hair. My mother .. it would have been very bad." he chuckles and almost by instinct reaches for the wrap around his locs.

Stephanie shuts the till drawer and clicks the mouse around looking through a few accounts on the computer "Well my boy hangs out with girls so we'll see how they like their brush cuts. Rosalee and Lian Chen are his closest friends. So you had a strict mother Eien?" she says half teasing.

Eien nods and smiles. "Ah, so maybe they wanted to impress pretty girls?" he wonders. "I spent much time slouched terribly in school to be more like the other boys." he nods and sighs. "I did. She ... how do I say it. She wanted me to be Trini, but in Japan it was not easy. My father was half Japanese but worked like a pure Japanese man. My mother would yell at him that Trini men work hard too, maybe harder than Japanese, she would say. And then ... they would argue."

Stephanie drops her teasing approach and says kindly "I'm sorry. That must have been hard to grow up with. I'm not even convinced Tris likes girls but we'll see what evolves." she says with a small shrug.

Eien shakes his head. "No .. it is .. Japanese do not fight. But Trini ... fight ... it is ... the passion in them .. us." he shrugs and then blinks. "He could like boys? Is that alright with you?" he blinks once, unsure.

Stephanie looks pretty balanced about it "Well he's 9 so it's hard to tell but I just have a feeling about it. And I could be wrong. Really I just want him to grow up a happy person so whatever paths he chooses, as long as he finds joy, I'll support it." She smiles and nods "Oh I know my parents tried so hard not to fight because of how they were raised but Sometimes there were those long silences." she laughs "Better to just say it I think."

Eien chuckles. "They would fight over me ... should I be Trini or should I be Japanese. It is not easy to be both. When I feel a passion, the Japanese man wants to .. to not show it." he looks at her and then down at the counter. "To just say it is .. very hard."

Stephanie looks amused "Canada's going to be fun for you Eien. Go to a hockey game. You'll see people expressing their passion." she laughs "Then they rip their jerseys off and punch each other in the face. I'm not even making it up." She pops open the debit printer to check how much of the roll is left and then closes it.

Eien arches a brow. "If I can find time, I will take your advice, Yamada-san." he cants his head. Sounds nothing like Sumo, which he was never a fan of.

Stephanie looks around the restaurant and then out the window "I hate hockey, but it is Canadian. Get Ryan and his friends talking though....they'd take you to a game."

Eien nods. "I hate sumo." he says in an undertone. "So I understand. I will speak to your brother. He is closer to my age, so that would be right, I think." hearing that she hates hockey puts the kibosh on one potential plan of his. Ah well.

 Jun Saigawa walks in smiling an comes up to the counter directly

Stephanie smiles at the familiar customer "Good evening. What can we get for you?"

Eien looks at Jun when he walks in. "Heyro! he greets him. "Welcome. The nabe, sir?" they are good friends, but a, this is business and b, he likes ribbing his friend.

Jun laughs at his friend so formal address and plays along 'no sir.. ' he bows 'I’ll need a take away order

Stephanie looks curiously between the two men and grabs the order pad "Uh...OK....are you guys kidding around?" she asks with a smile.

Eien arches his brow in mock surprise. "You and May will have a food fight tonight?" he smiles. "What can I get for you?" he glances at Stephanie. "Forgive me, Yamada-san. Jun-kun is the first Japanese I met here .. we are friends. It was inappropriate of me to be so unbusinesslike." and the Japanese trumps Trini 1-0.

Jun chuckles softly 'food fight or food love making .. you never know what you get around the Saigawa Castle ' he states . he looks at Stephanie 'Eien is a devoted Nihonjin 'he chuckles

Oshi Shikigami: Oh! yum! Whale tonight! Sound good! Oshi mumbles mockly under breath. Now I KNOW I am with Japanese pepole, the real ones! A she approaches the counter, and smiles to the attendant. "I would like to of your delicious specials, she says with her most polite and formal Japanese and pays for the orders.

Stephanie answers back in Japanese as well and a smile "The Nabe for you then? Take any seat you like and we'll set you up with a pot."

Tatsu Yume: Heya CUS, got it set up yet???

Eien smiles and puts his hands together. "I thin yo humble, or honored customer." and grumbles "Baka" and then smiles brightly at Oshi. "One moment, preeze." and he picks up a knife and freeses when .. SHE .. enters behind her cousin. But recovers and begins to prepare the tray.

Jun chucles as he watches Tatsu arrive and his eyebrow raises 'ill have two orders of Sakura rolls and do you have anything without fish ..Mays still breastfeeding

Oshi Shikigami: Tatsu, I am tired of having to scrape you up from the cemetery every time it is time to eat! What give girl?

Tatsu Yume: What? I was just painting, and you supposedly like when I do that? she says with a mock tone.

Stephanie pours a pot of green tea and grabs two cups heading towards the table with the women. She smiles between Eien and Jun "I'll let you guys sort out the order. Just let me know when it's time to ring in." She steps up to the table "Tea for you ladies?"

Eien prepares the Nabe tray, the broth now boiling furiously. He sets everything on the tray and nods. "I can make you something with no fish. It is no problem. Does she like White Rock?" he wonders, not knowing she moved. He finishes up the tray and delivers it while un decides what he wants with no fish. Carefully he sets the tray down. "Here you are." he smiles at Oshi and the, straightening, to Tatsu.

Oshi Shikigami: Well don't take "tone" with me! I am just hoping your art would include something other than tombstone and blood?

Tatsu Yume: What else has any meaning? Really?

Jun chuckles 'she hates White Rock so she move to Alexandra .. she loves that place except for her nosey sea witch of a neighbour.

Oshi bows to Stephanie when she presents the order and smiles weakly.

Stephanie looks ruefully between the women and quietly pours the tea with a small smile.

Oshi Shikigami: So dear, did you see, that the Americans just did another space launch? Cygnus the swan, it was And no, I don’t know why they call a rocket a swan...

Tatsu Yume: 'its cus it is just as likely to do a swan dive into the ocian, I guess?

Stephanie leaves the teapot "We'll have a tray for you shortly." she says warmly and heads back to the cash desk. She looks between Eien and Jun "So what can I ring your formal friend in for?"

((I think a bunch of us screwed that up and the order was actually already put down by Eien but play along like that never happened dear readers:))

Oshi Shikigami: Well I for one, think it is important to keep stuff getting to 'International Space Station!, The have a Japanese astronaut there, you know?

Tatsu Yume: Yeah? And like what does he do, make sure they have rice every day? Sarcasm evident in her voice...

Eien comes back behind the counter. "Alexandra. That sounds familiar to me. Who is the sea hag? Someone who does not like hafa?" he looks over at the conversation with Oshi and her cousin and maybe Stephanie. He blinks at the cousin’s reply and again looks at Jun. "Vegetarian roll?" he suggests, then sneaks a look past Jun towards Oshi and Stephanie. he arches his brows at Stephanie, as he’d placed the nabe tray on the table a moment after she set the tea there.

((Yep we did….shh just keep reading:))

Oshi Shikigami: Young lay, Oshi says in formal Japanese, That is no way to talk about a national hero, and a very well educated man!

Tatsu Yume: Yeah, so important big man... I suppose. But we only have one there. Just one.... She sounds genuinely sad.

Stephanie glances over to see what Eien is rolling for his friend and then says "Thanks for getting that tray Eien. You are too quick."

Eien watches Jun on his phone and begins to prepare the vegetarian roll. he knows nothing of nursing mothers so he just does it. Looking over to Stephanie, he smiles and bows his head. "I work hard for Yamada family." he isn’t being a smart ass, he really is working hard. "The faster orders get out the happier the customer, the happy customer tells their friends ... more business for the Yamadas."

Oshi Shikigami: Well young lady, if you ever think they are going to stop calling us whale killer, and find some dignity to what we do, it will not be by writing comic books and making hello kitty city mascots...

Tatsu Yume: Oh so now anime and manga make us look S T U P I D to the rest of the world? Tatsu's voice starts to rise.

Stephanie laughs at Eien and then watches the table with the two women with a slight brow raise.

Eien looks at the tale with the women and arches his brow, curiously. He isn’t sure if the girl means us as in Canadians, Japanese or .. what.

Upon receipt of the hot pot, Oshi bowed politely and said thanks to her server with a whimsical smile that says, so sorry, I am talking to a teenager, look in her face.

Tatsu Yume: Tats pokes her pot contents absent mindedly for a moment, and then says I HATE boys! There is this P  I  G at school, that has no manors and tries to get my attrition all the time! arg!

Jun hangs up the call 'yeah she said a vegetarian was fine .. extra avocados ' he chuckles ' he smiles 'dunno about the sea hag... he say .. she’s old fashion ..Probably doesn’t like May with some oriental . ' he sighs ' on maybe she need to get laid dunno '

Stephanie chuckles a little at the young girl's words and then observes Jun's conversation with Eien "So what can I ring you in for then?"

Eien looks up sharply at the comment about may and getting laid, then looks pointedly down at his prep area, adding the extra avocado and rolling the vegetables int he rice and seaweed carefully but quickly. "Yea ... vegetarian roll. Should freeze it some for you .. How far is this Alexandra?"

Oshi Shikigami: Now boys IN GENERAL, are OK. They clean up well, in any case. But some are 'Pigs' as you say. But soon, and I think real soon, you might have a few other ideas. Mumbling to herself, she says, if you ever go somewhere other than the cemetery anyway...

 “Well, if it takes that, I am not holding my breath.” Tatsu says with mock indignation.

Jun Saigawa: nods 'a bit away .. so yeah "

Stephanie keys on vegetarian roll into the till, ready to adjust numbers if there are more. She patiently watches Eien to see what to ring in while eavesdropping on the table of women.

Eien packages up the vegetarian roll and sets it int he freezer for a moment. Then he takes a fresh pot of tea to the Oshi table and switches them out, bowing. "This most humble pig is at your service." and he winks at Oshi and backs off, winking at Stephanie as well to show he is not being an ass hole.

Oshi Shikigami: "Alexandria" catches Oshi's ear and she pauses for a moment. "I think Alexandria would be a nice place for the two of us to visit. We could find new places to paint....

Tatsu Yume: Anyplace but here? Tatsu said with a perk in her voice. "Uh yeah" and tries to not look excited, when she knows it shows.

 Oshi smiles tiredly at Eien.

Stephanie puts a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh at Eien and just shakes her head slightly at Jun.

Jun nods 'its very picturesque .. my wife loves it there ..lovely backdrop for an artistic endeavor….oh my.” 

Oshi Shikigami: We need to make, how they say, A ROAD TRIP! with some level of real enthusiasm in her voice.

Tatsu Yume: A road trip Tatsu repeats, and she starts to smile, yeah It would be somewhere else than here? I am as they say, "all in"! And she cracks a smile.

Eien nods and smiles at Jun, preparing and delivering a tray to the new NPC customers who ordered.

Oshi Shikigami: So, can you please, take down that fishing rod,and the sign pasted on it that says, "Best whale cater, this side of the pacific" on it? It's embarrassing! Oshi says with a weak smile.

Tatsu Yume: OK, I was not getting any bites anyway...Tatsu seems a bit less then genuine.

Stephanie snickers and quietly mutters "Whale cater." before addressing Jun "My friend's sister just went to Alexandra. I haven't been in years. We used to play them in volleyball back in high school. Sweet little town." The phone rings on the wall and she leans sideways to grab it. She had noticed Eien making up a new tray and was glad he was just on top of his game with one chef sick "Sakura Sushi?" she chimes into the phone. She grabs the order pad and poises to write.

Eien  moves slightly closer to Stephanie and looks confused. Leaning in, he murmurs softly in her ear. "Is legal to hunt whales in Canada?" he wonders, completely at a loss.

Oshi Shikigami: If you do, I will show you one of my kendo moves that you won’t see in any of those "kun fu" movies you wath here! She tries to sound enthusiastic and it sounds mostly genuine.

Tatsu Yume: Oh, oh, yes! please do! If I have a big stick, I can beat those boys when they get stupid!

Jun just patiently waits as he texts his May .. ' he laughs  softly as he listens and waits

Stephanie Yamada hears Eien in her other ear as she writes down an order. She looks like she's trying not to laugh at him and holds up one finger as she keeps writing "Clam miso....shoot you know our delivery guy....you know what, never mind, I have it covered....I'll call you back if it's going to be awhile." she hangs up and hands the order to Eien, darting a sideways look at the women's table and dropping her voice "I think you have to be Aboriginal for it to be legal...like the Inuit...way of life as opposed to for commercial fishing."

Eien waits for the reply and when he gets it, he nods, still at a complete loss as he takes the order and looks at it. Setting IT down, he moves into he cooler, bringing back some clans and the vegetarian sushi. The sushi he wraps very quickly in foil .. three times .... and packages it. "That should stay cold a good time." he tells Jun. Then he gets working on the clam miso.

Jun looks at Eien 'that sounds good can you add clam miso to my order ' he says in response to Steph. '

Oshi Shikigami: Kendo - it is serious stuff! Oshi tries to sound stiff and important. Sounding a lot like a school phys-ed teacher. AND it can get you hurt if you do not learn with respect! She says with mock and real appreciation...

Tatsu Yume: Yeah, I had her for a teacher too! What a witch! She "know" everything! Tatsu said with exasperation. Obviously they had had the same instructor in school.

Stephanie  nods at Jun and then looks at Eien for a second before clicking in the clam miso for Jun and then discreetly pulling out her phone and sending a text. She holds the phone to wait for the reply while she glances up at the table of women, drawn in by the word kendo.

Eien glances over at Jun as he silently begins to double the order. He opens his mouth and his eyes glint. "Hush, Eien." he says to himself not making a dirty comment in front of this ... too grown child. Instead he looks at Jun. "What you know about hockey?" he wonders.

Jun Saigawa” umm that May is mad about it but nothing other than that.”

Oshi Shikigami: When you E A R N it, I will give you a sparing kendo stick. But young lady, you will E A R N it, she says spelling out the words.

Tatsu Yume: Oh great, you tell me I get one then you add all those (air quote) rules... Bummer!... Tatsu looks like she was gong to have to work a lot harder than she thought.

Stephanie smiles to herself eavesdropping on the young girl's struggle and then looks down as her phone make a little ding. She self consciously turns the volume off like she's trying not to draw attention to it and then turns slightly to the wall and types back briefly.

Eien considers and puts the sushi back in the freezer then returns to the miso. "The foil will get cold and help more." he explains to Jun. It will be ready soon.

Oshi Shikigami: I was older than you when I made first level. and it took me until my senior year to reach level three. You will go only as fast (she pauses for emphasis) when you *truly* earn it!

Tatsu Yume: Yeah yeah, I will be good, no! I will (air quotes) do my best!  (with mock enthusiasm.)

Jun nods 'did you get my order of sakura rolls ?"  he continues to text but looks up at Eien

Tatsu Yume makes a hand gesture of putting a banner around her head.

Stephanie looks at her list on the till screen and reads it to Jun "Sakura roll, veggie and a clam miso? Is that all?"

Eien nods and hold up a finger turning and takaing them out of the oven. "Hot rolls and soup and cold sushi." he nods in approval. He pours two orders of the soup, bozes the rolls and takes the sushi out of the cooler. Packaging one soup, rolls and the sushi beautifully, he presents it to Jun. "Yamada-san will ring you up."

Jun looks over at the ladies beaming but a bit scared ..'kinda glad i have a while before i have to worry about that with Bethany .. 'he chuckles stating this after turning back to Eien .. 'hai ' he adds ' he receives the sushi before going over to Stephanie

Oshi Shikigami: Look, cousin, I understand, I feel for you. You ger dumped here, anywhere, without any real notice. you are stuck with a cousin, that you don't know all that much. You dont know, that your parents are 'ever" (word said carefully but with emphasis) going back home, or see them again... It is scary. I understand that, as best I can. You are family, and you tink I (air quotes) have to care for you. It is true. But I do, I really do care for you. You as a cousin. You as a talented human... Oshi's voice trails off

Tatsu, is stunned by this admission, she looks weekly for a while and looks like she does not know what to say. And she pokes at her dinner, like it was all that existed in the world.

Stephanie is momentarily distracted by a serious shift in the conversation at the table of two women and then snaps her gaze to Jun "Sorry, what....oh um...after tax it's $13.85 please."

Eien prepares another nabe tray for another customer, laughing and joking and beng entertaining to the audience. Basically he missed the whole exchange between the cousins.

Oshi Shikigami: Look, I am just trying to do what I must. But that does NOT mean I do it only because. I also do because I see a bit, no, a lot of me in you! I was just like you. no really. I was.

Tatsu Yume: You just say that because you have to? You say it because of family obligation yes? She begins to look unsure. And then she again pokes her food with deliberation.

Jun pulls out his wallet the picture sleeve falls out like accordion . he shrugs then gets to the cash and hands over the money .. before he stashes his wallet and pulls back the accordion pic sleeve you can see him with a lovely redhead at what looks like in their teens and then a current picture of his family of a small Japanese baby boy , a year old girl, May clutching him . and Jun giving a blonde 6 year old a piggy back ride .. at Tokyo Disney with mickey and daisy

Stephanie takes the cash and counts out change and then smiles as she passes it to Jun "Cute kids."

Eien packages up the second order of Miso and looks at Stephanie. "Order up." he looks at Jun. "A father with a daughter is blessed and cursed." he teases.

Oshi looks to cousin, and has an inscrutable look. and slowly smiles. daring not to breath too hard, least it burst her vision of reality....

Tatsu, seems uncharacteristically quite, and pokes at her food with upheld enthusiasm and ponders.

Jun smiles ‘thanks. he bow 'my whole world ' yeah with this one ' he mutter in osaka slang Japanese 'with my luck.. ; He shakes his head

Jun holds up a finger as his phone rings again.

Oshi Shikigami: You had enough yet? If so, let’s go back upstairs? I can show you a few move with that kendo stick...

Tatsu Yume: Uh, yeah, I think I would actually like that cousin, if your bones don 'creek' to much, that is! (a smile slowly crosses her face.)

Stephanie smiles warmly at Jun and then glances at the table of women briefly before looking at Eien "Oh...thanks.." she says and takes the miso. Oddly, she looks like she watching out the window for someone. A minute later she spots someone and steps out from behind the counter "Scuse me." she says and slips out the door. Her brother Ryan can be seen taking the order from her hands but if you blink you'll miss him. Stephanie walks back in casually like nothing happened at all and scratches at the back of her hair as she walks to the till.

Eien watches with raised eyebrows, but says very little except. "I am not the only fast one, Yamada-san." and he moves to bus one table before seeing if Oshi and her cousin are also done.

Oshi makes sure the bill is taken care of, including a Canadian sized tip. And she smiles weekly at her cousin and says, let's go home...

Tatsu looks at her cousin s if seeing something for the first time, smiles a weak smile, and says SURE! and head to the door.

Stephanie waves at them as the ladies go "Thank you! Goodnight."

Eien bows in the direction of Oshi and her cousin, smiling. "Thank you for coming and please come again." and when they are gone, he busses their table.

Jun laughs after hanging up 'dad said i was japans cure for the lack of baby making 'he laughs 'too bad .. 'he say not sorry at all 'i need to chase my sexy wife back to her homeland ' he laughs

Stephanie smiles at Jun "Good luck with that. And thank you."

Eien chuckles. "You will have another soon, I bet." he predicts.

Jun laughs 'I bet I will 'he winks

Stephanie inventories out 2 clam misos but doesn't put them through the debit machine and chuckles along.

Eien moves to bus another table and takes another order.

Jun Saigawa “Kinda hard not to stay away from May.. 'he say laughing softly

Stephanie looks up and smiles and then the phone rings again and she leans over and grabs it "Sakura Sushi?"

Eien chuckles. "Someday maybe I will know that feeling."

Jun smiles 'well maybe you .. you never know who will cross your pah .. i was just an anime otaku in the anime club at my high school when a redhead of a goddess came to my school as foreign exchange student .. very interested in Japanese culture and had otaku level liking of anime.. who oddly enough she was blessing by the Kami with the name Annie-May

Eien nods. "We will see ... I am more busy than Western women seem to like." he shrugs. "But I have MY anime and my work."

Jun nods

Jun Saigawa “ just try bigger towns or something.. I dunno maybe may has an otakus friend 'he scratches his head

Eien  holds up his hand. "I will look in Vancouver first. If I cannot we will talk about your wife’s sex addicted friends." he laughs

Jun laughs 'how do you know they’re sex addict ' he say teasing him

Eien arches his brow. "Anime is not all that holds you two together."

Jun looks at you mockingly shocked 'yeah love does .. ' he states

Eien snorts. "That and my clam miso." he argues.

Eien buses another table. "It is time or closing, Jun-kun." he sounds a little regretful. "Time for me to go home to my otaku-emotu bed." he winks

Jun nods ‘maybe  ... 'he shrug 'she say thank you .. he say getting his order as he prepares to leaving 'you know I heard clams are aphrodisiac , not that i need them 'he chuckles as he leaves.