[AQ] Meaty Noms [Hiro/Aoife]

[Hiro]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Portal To The Meat Dimension
+ Description: A new noodle shop has opened up in Otonoki and they're holding a special promotion to get the word out! They're giving anyone who can finish their Mega Beef Bowl, a free week's worth of noodles for you and a friend! Many have tried, few have succeeded. Will you take the challenge or will you be sucked into the next meat dimension?
+ Give the Mega Beef Bowl challenge a shot: -1 Guardians, +1 Faberge
+ Cheat and have your guardian character help you finish the bowl: -1 Faberge, +1 Roost
+ Pass on the challenge but cheer a friend on: +1 Guardians, -1 Roost
+ Attempt the challenge but throw in the towel: +1 Faberge, -1 Roost
+ Judge the noodle-eaters for their gluttony: -1 Guardians, +1 Faberge, +1 Roost
+ Requirements: Minimum Level 1
+ Submitted by Kingmochi

---

Man he was hungry today... he'd been at baseball practice for most of the day and he felt exhausted and famished. So where else to go to get food than the new noodle shop that had opened up recently. He was going to conquer that Mega Beef Bowl and get a week's worth of noodles! And once he'd had his fill gorging himself on noodles, he was going to flop into bed and sleep for days... or at least hours.

As he made his way to the shop, his hands in his pockets, he hummed a song under his breath happily. He was hella excited to get food, if that much weren't obvious beforehand. As he went into the shop, he realized... wow, it was really really full in here today. People were at every table, and there was kind of a line out the door. "Oh no..." he mumbled to himself. He was starving, and here all these people were... in his way! What the hell.

He bounced on the soles of his feet a bit nervously. Maybe he'd have to sit with someone...? He looked around, surveying the faces around to see if he recognized anyone. Unfortunately, he didn't. He'd go hit on some cute girl but... he didn't have the energy right this moment. Guess it'll have to be him waiting for a whole table to leave so he could sit alone. He chewed on his bottom lip, not liking the idea... but who knows, maybe they'd seat him with someone and he could just eat and stay quiet....? Then again, staying quiet was not his strong suit.... 

Aoife 

[Aoife]

Aoife was not use to the whole atmosphere of more modern Japanese restaurants. If she'd ever gone out to eat in the last five years it had been when she'd been with her family and it had always been a family restaurant or a very old style places. She moved onwards. Sitting alone in restaurants was not something she felt really comfortable doing. But here she was - about to be sat at a table all on her own. She liked to talk while she ate - so the sudden being alone thing was kind of jarring.

The girl let out a light huff and a smile split across her face as she was sat down - it wasn't too busy once she'd gotten there but even from the moment she'd sat down more and more people seemed to just turn up. She was the only person at the table and she was struggling. The girl really wasn't able to keep her mouth shut for such a long amount of time. It was really, really testing her.

But would she really be able to talk to anybody if they did put somebody at her table?

Aoife fluffed one side of her hair and gave her server a grin as they came to take her order. She'd known vaguely about the Mega Beef Bowl - she hadn't really thought ordering it too much until she was looking at the menu. Aoife...wasn't really interested in eating all that meat. 
So she would not order that - even if it seemed like it might have been an interesting challenge to try out. She could not stomach all that savory food in one sitting. Not even if she forced herself would she be able to do it. 

She bounced a little in her seat. Now to wait in silence...She was gonna die. 

[Hiro]

Hiro went out to eat sometimes... not too terribly often, though. What with working out, baseball practice, band stuff, and an annoying guardian character, he had been fairly busy... and cooking wasn't on his high priority list usually. Instead of spending money and going out, he'd honestly been eating horribly... ramen, easy stuff you can cook in a microwave, and various types of bread were what he ate most of the time. It wasn't healthy, and he knew it... and often felt it... so he'd told himself he'd eat better... after this. Hiro wasn't the type of guy that would pass up free food... let alone a week's worth of free food.

As he looked around, he spotted a few different cute girls. The one that was closest to him, a dark haired girl, caught his eye. He stared for a moment... she didn't seem to be waiting for anyone... just seemed wired in general from the crowd. A small pink figure poked out of Hiro's bag, looking around. Glancing down, Hiro looked to his little guardian character. "Stay put." He commented, reaching down and pushing Kushu back into his bag with a finger. The small sprite let out an angry remark, but it was muffled by the people around them and also by the bag she was just shoved into.

Glancing back to the girl from before, Hiro circumvented the line, heading over toward her. When a server moved to stop him, he waved them off. "I have someone waiting for me." Of course, this wasn't true... but Hiro was just that kind of guy. He moved over to the table where Aoife sat, then stopped across from her. "Kind of forward of me, but would you mind if I sat with you? The whole place is packed and it's too hard to get in... but I'm starved." He gave her a small smile. "I won't bother you." So long as she didn't bother him. Except, he probably would bother her.

[Aoife]

The girl startled a little as somebody sat down in front of her. Okay - she hadn't expected that. She'd thought that maybe they'd put somebody from the queue down in front of her and not just...some random person coming and sitting down out of nowhere. Aoife looked up at the person who had sat in front of her. "Hm? It's okay -" And it wasn't she wasn't all that bothered about him sitting with her. "I'll...probably bother you. So I hope you don't mind." She gave him a bright smile - not wanting to lie about that at least. 
Aoife was just a little bit happier to have somebody to be sat with her. Sure she had no idea who he was at all but it was totally okay! As long as she could talk a little she thought it would be fine at least. 
She wasn't really sure if it was totally normal for people to just place themselves at other peoples tables, so she couldn't really say anything about his actions either. 

Aoife flicked the band around her wrist and started tapping her foot lightly and peaked around the restaurant. It had gotten pretty busy - and if he was as hungry as he said she wasn't all that surprised that he'd joined her at her table. "Ah - I suppose it did get pretty busy huh..?" It was a quiet mutter and she offered the boy another smile. 

"You really wanted to get food here then?" She was sure he could have gone somewhere else if he was that hungry. Unless he was going for the Beef Bowl or whatever it was. Aoife said that much after a few moments. "Ah - the beef bowl?" Free food always had a good appeal. She knew that much. When she made food herself and offered it up it was often gone within a few moments. She herself could make...a few dishes, mostly only western food and all the other knowledge she had on food was just how to bake. 

[Hiro]

He hadn't sat down yet, but when she said it's okay, he moved to take a seat, letting out a relieved sigh. "Thanks. I mean, there are so many people here... I doubt I'd have gotten a table for like... hours." He waved a hand nonchalantly. "Yeah I don't really care if you chat with me..." he shrugged lightly, pushing some hair out of his face. "Hiro by the way. Osamu Takahiro." He gave her a small smile. "You are?" Hey if he was gonna sit with her, he'd at least like to know her name... plus, she was a cute girl, so.

"Yep..." he nodded in question about the beef bowl. "If you can finish it, you get a week's worth of free food." He grinned crookedly. "And I just happen to be a hungry baseball player with a black hole for a stomach, so..." To be honest, he felt like he could probably finish multiple beef bowls, if given the task. He was starved! When he noticed a server passing, he flagged them down quickly. "Hey, I arrived later than my date here-- can someone come take my order?" He figured she'd already ordered. Hiro, Hiro please... you don't even know her name and you're calling her your date? Shake my damn head.

The server nodded, then offered to take his order right then. He ordered the beef bowl, of course, then glanced to Aoife. "Just in case-- have you ordered yet? If not, now's the perfect time." He smiled warmly at her.

[Aoife]

She let out a hum of agreement. It was very true that it was very busy. "Yeah...It would probably have taken a while..." She took another look around. Probably a little longer than just a few hours. It was good that he wouldn't mind that she'd talk to him, because she really wouldn't have been able to stop herself. "Ah - good." She offered him a smile and nodded her head. "Well, nice to meet you. Nagumo Aoife. But uh - just feel free to call me V." She didn't really want to make it more difficult. People had already been finding it hard enough to pronounce her name. 

"Yup - I heard yeah." She wasn't sure how somebody could eat that much food. It just didn't seem like something that somebody could really do - but considering so many people were probably taking the challenge she assumed that people would be able to do so. She gave him a look out of the corner of her eye as the server approached once more. She almost rolled her eyes but gave the server a warm smile. "I thought he wasn't coming so I just ordered without him." Her smile turned more apologetic, she did feel bad about the whole thing, it wasn't exactly the best thing to keep calling them over again.

Aoife eyed him from the corner of her eye. He just seemed so - well she wasn't sure of the word - but honestly to actually say that out loud was only kind of embarrassing but also it sounded so incredibly silly. "I've already order though yeah." Just normal ramen was good enough for the girl. She didn't need that much food. 

[Hiro]

He nodded... then when she introduced herself, he kind of stared at her for a moment or two. "Navi-chan it is." What- Hiro- Hiro please. Once he'd gotten the server to take his order and Aoife said she'd already ordered, he smiled a bit. "Thank you..." He waved the server off, then glanced to Aoife. "So what'd you order?" He asked, curiously.

"Wait- don't tell me-- I can guess." He squinted his eyes at her, as if trying to figure out what it was that she would be most likely to order. "Hmmm... I don't think you're here for the beef bowl..." He rubbed his chin a bit. "And this is a noodle shop. You probably ordered somen or udon...?" He thought a bit more. "No wait- probably ramen. Mmm-- shio ramen? Miso ramen... some type of ramen." He guessed.

He sat back in his chair, crossing one ankle over the other under the table. "So, Navi-chan..." He smiled a bit. "Where are you from?" He finally asked... though he'd been curious about that since he first saw her. He'd been wondering if she lived around Otonoki or if she was just visiting. "May as well get to know my date since we're stuck together, no?" Whose fault is that Hiro??

[Aoife]

"Navi-chan?" She rose an eyebrow - her expression amused. Really what kind of person just completely changed a persons name without actually asking if it was okay. Well she didn't mind all that much. Although all she could think about was the tiny little fairy in the Zelda games. "Can't guarantee I'll actually answer to that but -" If thats what he really planned on calling her. 

She rested her elbow on the table and settled her chin in her hand - smirking a little at Hiro. Really - she couldn't believe this boy. "Ooh boy, a mind reader huh?" Clearly she was messing around herself - but she felt like she should at least play along for a little bit and play impressed. "Aren'y I just lucky?" She pulled herself away from the table again and turned her attention away from him for a moment. "Your first guess was correct. Shio ramen for me." 

She felt her lips twitch as he actually used the nickname - ah. No, if he actually kept calling her that she'd answer rather easily. "I live in Otonoki." She tilted her head - he probably meant where she was actually from considering she looked like a foreigner. "Originally from Ireland." She shrugged a little feeling like she might as well give him that much.

She found herself rolling her eyes. "If I ever had a real date with somebody who just sat and randoms girls tables I think I'd get pretty worried." But she supposed if they had to share the space they should at least talk about something interesting.

[Hiro]

"Mhmm..." He nodded. "I'm not good with names, but I can remember Navi." He shrugged. Yeah, admittedly, partially it was from the Zelda games... that annoying little fairy... reminded him of Kushu, to be honest. But he pushed those thoughts aside.

"You didn't hear it from me." He commented, regarding the mind reader bit. He chuckled. "Ah- shio ramen... how did I know?" She just seemed to be the type to eat something like that.

"Ireland!" He exclaimed. "Wow, well... I'll refrain from embarrassing myself by trying to say something to you in Irish, because I haven't the slightest clue how to... is Irish even a language?" Wow, Hiro. Wow. "Either way-- what brought you to Otonoki?" He asked, curiosity piqued. Ireland... that was above... England, wasn't it? Or was that Scotland? He never remembered. He'd definitely make a fool of himself if he asked though. He sucked at geography. He knew where Japan was in relation to the rest of the world, but if you put him in front of a map? He'd be lucky to place AMERICA properly... much less other places.

"Wow- are you suggesting that you'd never actually go on a date with someone like me?" He feigned being hurt... clutching his chest. "I'm hurt."

[Aoife]

"Haa - you must be a genius or something." She rolled her eyes a little, but her expression over all was still amused. Okay - so she definitely wasn't bored anymore. And she probably wouldn't end up dying of loneliness or something as weird as that. The girl let out a small hum.

"Techicly there is...but it's called Gaelic." She could only speak a little of it herself. Her older brother had gone to Gaelic camp and had taught her some of what he'd learnt while he was there. "Even if you could speak it, I only know swear words." She was taught some very select words. "I have family here." She shrugged. Her grandparents needed her family around at this point to help take care of their property. They didn't really trust outsiders all that much so it was down to her and her siblings to make sure everything was spic and span in the large house. "Are you from around here then?" He couldn't be the only one asking questions - that felt very one sided. 

"Aw -" She patted the table in fake sympathy. "I'm sorry. Complete strangers aren't really my thing." Ah - he was amusing at least. For a complete stranger. "I'm sure you're super, super disappointing." Well - she knew she was at least cute so for all she knew he might well have been. Be it fake or not. 

The girl looked up as she watched people flit about - the smell of the place was amazing - and she was slowly getting more and more hungry. But she was sure that food would be there fairly soon, noodles didn't usually take that long right?

[Hiro]

He snorted softly. "Yeah, a genius." You could say that, Hiro thought to himself... or you could just not. He pushed a bit of hair out of his face, watching as the food came out. Indeed, noodles didn't take too long to cook. Good thing, too, because he was pretty hungry... and by pretty hungry, that mostly meant he was starving. That's what a good workout will do to one... his stomach was tying itself in knots while waiting.

"Gaelic-- oh okay." He nodded. "Does that mean you speak it--" Oh, she answered his question even before it was fully formed on his lips. "Teach me a swear word some time, then." He replied with a soft laugh. "Huh-- family out here? Interesting." He pushed some hair out of his face again, as was his habit. "Yep, born and raised in West Otonoki." He nodded softly with a smile.

He started eating, not minding how hot the beef bowl was... but he was gonna put it away where it deserved to be, right into his tum. "Haven't you ever heard of speed dating? That's kind of a situation like this." He chuckled. "And wow, I'm kind of insulted... you think I'd be super disappointing? Well- maybe." He shrugged.

[Aoife]

"If I ever get the chance, I can teach you a few." Honestly - she could have done it then but considering the setting, she figured that maybe teaching the guy swear words wasn't exactly the right thing to do in that moment. She titled her head slightly as the food was placed in front of both of them - and gave the server a bright smile before turning to her own meal - which was definitely too hot for her to just consume without blowing on it a good bit. "Ah - thats nice then - Otonoki seems like it'd be a nice place to grow up..." At least to her it seemed that way - her own home had been nice, but a lot more dangerous with large woods to get lost in and ponds that might still cover her head.

"Speed dating? Ah - we have it in Ireland too." It wasn't like the Irish in the country were total idiots. Tv was still a thing. Even if she had barely watched it but honestly, that was the only exposure she'd ever had to speed dating at all. Which wasn't a surprise considering she'd only had English TV until she was ten. "But if that were the case, wouldn't we have already been whisked away from each others delightful company?"

"Oh - no I'm sorry." Danggit - there were still many Japanese words that she got confused and mixed up. She may have learnt at a young age, but as it was she'd only really spoken it the last few years and some bits still caught her out and just...ruined things. "I meant disappointed." She shook her head a little at herself - annoyed at the mistake. "My Japanese can still be a little bit -" She made a gesture that involved putting down her chopsticks so she could wiggle her fingers about her head all the while sticking her tongue out a little bit.  

[Hiro]

"I mean, you have the chance right now." He pointed out, not really caring about the surroundings they were in. People in Japan were loud when they ate, the whole place was probably roaring with talking and laughter. "It's not like anyone would really hear us." He shrugged nonchalantly. "It was alright..." He admitted. "I'd like to travel some day... maybe to Europe or America." He thought about that a moment.

"Do you? Well- that's kind of similar to this, don't you think?" He blinked. "Well, true. But, that's why it's similar, not the same." He let out a soft laugh. "Glad you think my company is so delightful, though." Odds are, she didn't, Hiro... but hey, let the guy be amused by it.

He ended up letting out another laugh. "Nice save." He joked... smiling. "I'm not really that disappointed... who would be? I mean, I get to sit with a cute girl and eat together a meal that I'd still be waiting for if I were still in line... plus..." He held up a hand. "It's not every day you get to sit with an Irish girl... at least not here in Japan." He chuckled.

His guardian character, who had been silent and MIA until now, poked her head above the table. "Oooh is that for me!?" She asked, flying over to Hiro's food and leaning over to smell it. She ignored Hiro's "stay put" from before.

[Aoife]

"Ah - well I suppose you are right." It was pretty loud and it wasn't like anybody would actually be able to hear her. She tilted her head again, thinking about what ones she could actually teach him. "Ah - might as well. Lets start with Focáil leat." Ah - a familiar phrase that was yelled by all of her family members no matter the age. "Fuck off. Staple swear, right?" At least...to Aoife it was. "Ah Dúil mo bod might suit better for a guy though..." She tapped her chin. She didn't feel like she could say the translation out loud - it might actually be embarrassing for her if anybody heard that out of context. "America or Europe? No aim for both then?"

"Ah - I suppose it is." She rolled her eyes slightly - but she was still smiling which was something. She'd always been a fairly talkative person so...although he did seem a bit strange sitting and a random persons table and all that...he didn't seem totally bad. "Ah, better than being sat on my own. I mean another random stranger might have been much less pleasant than you."

She found herself covering her eyes - but continued smiling all the same. "Ach - damn." It was a muttered sentiment before her own hand moved under her chin - the back of it supporting her face. "What a smooth talker, huh?" She let out a small laugh - Irish lads tend to be far more...brutish in her experiences. "Alas - Japanese boy in Japan is a touch less rare this lass, hm?"

And then - she completely froze in her seat as a tiny nurse appeared. Ah - another one of those Guardian Characters...not a faery. A fact which she often found herself repeating to herself. She closed her eyes for a brief moment. She could just...it would be rude to leave...or ignore the small creature. She'd have to just put up with it right? At least until she finished her food. 

[Hiro]

He knew he'd totally butcher any words... but hey, he may as well attempt them, right? "Fo-fo..." He started, stumbling over the words already. He shook his head. "I'll just remember them." Yeah, no sense in embarrassing himself already, right? At the question of Europe or America, he thought about it a moment. "Sure, both would be nice. If I had the money for it, you bet I'd go to both." He grinned crookedly.

"Oh- so you think I'm pleasant?" Of course he would glom onto that one comment, wouldn't he? Leave it to Hiro to put his interests first. "Man, you think I'm pleasant and that my company is delightful. What a surprise." He chuckled softly.

He chuckled gently. "Well if I'm not a smooth talker, then what else do I have about me that's so delightful and pleasant?" He winked softly at her. "Fair enough, though... fair enough." He nodded to her.

Hiro glanced down to Kushu, plucked the small sprite up by the back of her uniform, and pulled her away from his food silently. He had egg sense, he could tell that Aoife had one.. so her freezing up kind of surprised him. He raised a brow. "Not used to seeing them?" He asked. "You have one, though, don't you?"