[ September 9th, 1600 GMT. Late training is wrapping up in the SAB training room, 
where everyone knows your name/is glad you came. ]
[ Check that. No mission tonight, so training's still going strong! Unless it 
isn't. So, yeah. ]
[ Start. ]
* Red is sitting at one of the tables in the sitting area, talking to Ari. 
There's a laptop open there, so it must be about techy stuff.
<Red> ( Ha! Now you gotta join in, Kate! ^_~ )
<Ari> (Curses!  You have tricked me!)
* Miles is peeking over Red's shoulder at the laptop.
* Ari was apparently lured from her lair^H^H^H^H computer room by said laptop.
<Red> So, I should try this first, then this second?
* Miles scratches his head. "Anno... I don't get it."
* Ari nods to Red. "Yes." She then turns to Miles. "It's very simple, Miles. Can 
you not see it?"
* Red takes a shot at a drone she has running around for the purpose of being a 
target.
<Red> Miles... er, didn't grow up around much technology, Ari. You'll have ter 
forgive 'im. 
<Ari> Yes, I suppose I should provide a more simplified explanation.
* Miles smiles, but still looks a bit confused.
<Red> Don't worry, Miles. Ari's jus' givin' me pointers on playin a better game 
of hide an' seek here.
<Miles> How can you hide in one of those things?  It's too small to fit in.  ^^;
* Ari smirks very briefly.
<Ari> Not hiding physically, Miles.
<Miles> Huh?
* Ari then blinks as a small beeping sound comes from her pocket. "Oh, excuse 
me." She pulls out a pager.
<Red> It's an entire other world, miles. So in a sense, I'm talking metaphor, I 
suppose. 
<Red> Got somethin' urgent, Ari?
* Miles blinks. "I guess?"
* Ari reads something, then nods. "It appears I am needed for an urgent matter 
of tech support. I'm sorry, Red, but we shall have to put this off."
* Miles waves to Ari. "Bye!"
* Ari stands up. "I shall see you two later."
<Red> Alright. If you get done quick, gimme a call, right? 
* Ari nods. "I shall."
* Ari heads out of the room.
* Red takes another shot at her dummy, which is still running around like a 
headless chicken.
* Miles looks over at the dummy and whips his hand around, creating a spinning 
ball of fire which impacts said dummy in its lower half before dissipating.
* Red hums. "So, what do you think, miles? I'll bet you'd play quite a game of 
hide and seek."
* Miles giggles. "I'm not *that* good."
* Red watches the Dummy get blown off it's feet. "Oh, go on. You can look like 
anything but you're not good at hide and seek?" She grins.
<Saldin> (She's got a point, boyo.)
<Miles> Um...  Yeah?  ^^;
<Red> Or did you mean you're just not good when you can't 'cheat'?
* Miles whistles a little tune.
* Saldin walks in the room from some random door, as she often does. Yes, it is 
she today, complete with a dirty white chinese shirt and equally dirty black 
pants. Her odd wooden sandals make cloppy noises.
<Saldin> (Now it's time to see how good Miles really is at Hide and Seek o/~)
<Red> ( Answer: Better than You. )
* Miles eyes Saldin the instant she enters the room. He remains steadfast, 
however.
<Red> Hullo, Saldin. What's with the new outfit?
* Saldin looks at the people, and smiles cheerily! "Hello, Red. It's not new. 
I'm just very dirty."
* Saki arives some time after Saldin in a completely coincidental manner.
<Red> Ah ha. 
<Red> Hullo, Saki.
* Saki waves. "Hey."
* Saldin nods. "First I helped with sandbagging, then I found some children who 
needed to be taken home. It has been a dusty day." Shee looks over at Saki and 
nods slightly, then looks back at Red n'Miles.
* Red blinks. "Dusty? In London?"
* Miles sniffs. "Anno... I don't think she was in London?"
* Saldin nods at Miles. "Exactly. The first was somewhere in midwest America, 
the second... I didn't recognize the mountain range, but the people spoke 
Spanish."
<Red> Ah. Can you teleport, Saldin? I had no idea.
* Saldin gestures outward with both hands. "It is not as fancy as teleportation. 
I simply... am where I need to be."
<Miles> She's weeeeeird.
<Ari> (And any of us are ones to talk? ;p)
<Miles> (Mwehehehe.)
* Red tilts her head. "How peculiar. What sort of need triggers this?"
<Saldin> I am never quite sure. Those of our temple say it is the universe. 
* Saldin smiles slightly. "The universe seems to give me quite a bit of time to 
talk to people, however."
<Red> So it'd seem. And it's seemingly lent you towards SAB, which could be 
indicative of many things of varying degrees of profundity.
<Red> Or it could just say that we're cooler than the rest of the universe. 
That'd be amusing. 
<Saki> Certainly useful.
* Saldin blinks her eyes at Red a few times, then says, "I try not to second 
guess it. After the first year or two, thinking about it too much simply seems a 
waste of time."
<Miles> I'm cool!
<Red> Oh, I'd never be able to stop readin' into it, myself. Other than that, 
it'd be fascinating, I think. 
<Red> How about you, Saki? Wouldn't you love to go traipsing about the globe 
helping people at random?
* Saki shrugs. "Not really."
* Saldin smiles pleasantly and looks around. "Well, it does allow me to meet 
many interesting people. I could not ask for anything more."
<Red> Ah. 
* Saldin looks over at the poor burning dummy, and seems confused for a second. 
Then she asks, "So, were you victorious?"
<Red> The battle was largely going in my favor until Miles launched a surprise 
attack. ...I should really go extinquish that before the sprinklers come on.
* Miles blinks and smiles sheepishly.
* Saldin chuckles a little, and says, "Aha."
* Miles motions, and the flames extinguish themselves. "I guess I should turn 
them off when I'm not using it." ^^;
<Red> Twenty-seven shots to the left side of the neck, tho. I guess the poor 
thing deserved a break after all that. 
* Saldin arches an eyebrow. "That seems quite impressive. I was never quite that 
accurate. Master Mariko never did approve of my lack of marksmanship."
<Red> Bows or guns?
* Saldin smiles nervously. "Bows, obviously." She twists a little to reveal the 
bow that hides behind her large 6'1" body.
* Miles 's grip on Red's shoulder tightens, although he still stays in sight of 
Saldin.
<Saki> You use bows?
* Saldin looks over at Saki and nods once. "Inexpertly, to be sure, but it is 
enough to hunt, should I need to obtain food."
<Saldin> (Saldin carries too much stuff. I want dportal. ;_;)
<Red> ( Red Assassin wants dportal badly. )
* Saldin smiles a little. "It also seems to be a badge of identification for 
SAB."
<Saldin> There are so few people who shoot bows that one with tattoos cannot be 
anyone else but me.
<Saki> Just grab a burger from McDonalds.
* Red tilts her head, then nods.
* Saldin chuckles. "I cannot always find a McDonalds. I find their food doesn't 
always agree with me anyway."
<Saki> Pfft. McDonalds is everywhere.
* Saldin glances over at Miles, then says, "In cities, perhaps."
<Red> ( That was totally Saki, d00d. )
<Saldin> (And you'd have to be a good face-reader to see Saldin glance, because 
of his stupid eyes. c.c;)
<Miles> Why would you go to a restraunt that serves silly food?
<Saldin> (Oh, I know, I was looking at Miles for sympathy.
<Red> ( Fortunately, Red was looking for it. Ha! )
* Saldin stretches then rub her arms. "I can only assume it is convenient. As 
Saki has said. It is everywhere."
* Red chuckles. "Sounds almost like it's a dark army trying to overtake the 
entire world." She makes 'spooky' hand gestures. "Although you could prolly find 
someone who'd buy into that, if you looked."
* Saki shrugs. "They still gotta compete with Subway."
<Miles> They are?!  I knew it!
<Ari> (*laughs*)
* Saldin looks between Red and Saki, and looks a little sheepish. Then she gives 
Miles a look too! Obviously, not one for understanding the cconcept of 'Subway: 
Eat Flesh.'
* Red laughs out loud.
* Saldin gives a polite chuckle, but still obviously doesn't get it.
<Red> Speaking of which. Who else is hungry? 
* Miles nods. "I'm hungry." He looks warrily at Saldin.
<Ardweden> (<Saldin> I'm hungry! *roasts Miles*)
<Saldin> (Hooray!)
* Saki blinks. "Hittin' McDonalds?"
* Saldin smiles a little. "I ate today, so I'm not hungry, but perhaps I will 
come along anyway."
<Red> ( Evil! )
<Saldin> (Those children I had to rescue? Ate them. Yum.)
<Red> Just one meal a day?
<Red> And I wasn't thinking McDonalds, Saki, no. 
* Miles breathes a sigh of relief.
* Red snickers.
<Saki> Damn.
<Saldin> I do not require much in the way of rest or food, no. Which is not to 
say I couldn't eat, simply that it would not be worth it to pay for food I do 
not need.
<Saki> Subway?
<Red> I was thinking German, actually. 
<Red> Oh, that's no problem, Saldin; I'll be paying for the food you do not need, 
instead. 
* Saldin smiles. "I could not turn down your gracious invitation, then."
<Red> How about you, Saki? Up for some meat in animal casings, some sweet 
cabbage, some beer with the thickness of honey?
* Saki shrugs. "German Subway? I guess...."
<Saki> Probably one closer to here, though.
* Saldin looks over at Miles with a friendly smile. "Will you be coming along, 
then too?"
* Miles blinks. "Anno... I think so?"
<Red> I assume so. He hasn't said anything to the contrary, at lease. 
* Red stands up and packs her gun into a duffel bag, followed by her laptop.
* Saldin stands around, then turns to Saki. "So, I must ask. Why do you eat at 
Subways? I thought those were transit stations."
<Saki> Also the name of a fast food chain.
* Saldin blinks. "That makes much more sense. I had seen signs for 'Subway's in 
places that could obviously not have such a thing, but never had the chance to 
wander in."
* Miles nods. "Their food is... 'Fresh'? But the meat's always old..."
* Saldin quirks an eyebrow. "That confuses me too. Perhaps it's a city thing."
<Miles> I guess.  It's like that in Tokyo too.
<Jex> ( Still open? )
<Red> ( Sure. We're just about walking out of the training room. )
<Saldin> (Sure! Tagteam the monk with spirits and extraplanars. I see how it is.)
<Red> ( BRB. )
<Ardweden> (Trying to remember if Katherine's met Saldin.  I don't think so.)
<Saldin> (Nope!)
<Saldin> (Might know about him, since she's so geeky, but they've never met.)
* Saldin nods at Miles in agreement. "It is like that many places, with what 
people call 'fast food'."
<Ren> ( Ren'll just happen to be at wherever you're going already, by Divine 
Coincedence. )
* Miles nods... "Can we get going, then?" ^^;
<Red> ( Back. And Kathy should join us! )
<Saldin> (Red could stop by and kidnap her again!)
<Miles> (Yes!)
<Red> ( Yes, she could! )
<Ardweden> (Meep.)
<Ardweden> (That's in parens. :P *fixed)
<Miles> (THE ARD SPEAKS!)
<Red> ( ALL HEAR THE WORDS OF THE ARD! )
<RDMgryphon> (and suddenly a strange woman in a wombat suit appears with a lute 
strapped to her back.)
* Red heads out the door. "Certainly. And if anyone prefers another kind of food 
that isn't 'fast', feel free to insist. Whatever your tastes, I probably know a 
good place in town."
<Ardweden> (Well, if you really want.)
<Red> ( Yay! )
* Miles smiles. "Sushi!"
* Saldin follows Red! Hopefully, she won't dissapear, as she does a little too 
often.
<Red> Anyone second?
* Saki shrugs. "As long as it's a sushi bar, sure."
* Saldin smiles. "Sushi is fine for me."
<Red> Very well. Off we go, then.
<Ren> ( <Ren> Sushi, how art I love thou.I shall name a gun after you. ;_; )
<Saldin> (>_>)
* Red heads for the subway station, stashing her gun in a locker on the way.
* Miles goes to the subway too! Yaaaaay!
* Saldin stashes nothing, and walks, still having not dissappeared.
* Red gets to the timestop express, hops on as it passes by and gets frozen. 
"Out of curiosity, Saldin, can you take people with you when you go places?"
* Saki hops on the 'way.
* Saldin goes on too. "It has been known to happen. In fact, a week ago, Tim and 
Mai travelled with me to an ancient temple and the Sahara desert."
<Saldin> It seems as arbitrary as my normal means of moving, however.
<Red> That must've been quite a surprise. Were you able to get them home 
afterwards?
* Saldin smiles weakly. "SAB was nice enough to come and retrieve them."
<Red> Hm... do you know... 
* Red pulls out a cute little cel phone and flips it open, selects a number, and 
puts it to her ear.
* Saldin looks at Red's cell phone, then just stands and looks around. "I have 
never been on an actual subway before. It is very noisy."
<Miles> It's not that bad.  And it goes REALLY fast!
* Saldin nods. "It most certainly does."
<Red> "Hello! Katherine, hi, it's Red."
* Saki looks at Red suddenly and blinks. *blink*
<Saldin> (99?)
<Saki> ( I have infinite blinks. )
<Red> ( Cheater. )
<Saldin> (You are truly a cut above the normal robot.)
* Miles shouts over the phone. "Hiiii Kathrine!"
* Red blinks at Saki and mouths 'is this bad?'.
* Saki shrugs and shakes her head.
* Red talks into her phone. "I'm doing just splendid, Kathy. And Miles, she says 
'hi'."
* Red talks into her phone some more. "I, Miles, Saldin, and Saki were off to go 
to a sushi bar, supposedly to eat and drink. You care to join us?"
* Miles grins.
<Red> "Directions I can give. It's not too much trouble, now?"
<Red> "Excellent! What part of town are you coming from?"
* Saldin rides the subway. La la la.
* Red gives detailed directions, using lots of street names and landmarks her 
player has no clue about. "See us there, then?"
<Red> "Alright! 'Ta, then."
* Red hangs up and closes her phone after Kathy says g'bye. "And, this is our 
stop, now."
* Saldin looks at Red questioningly. "I don't think I have met--" she looks 
around nervously. Our stop! What does she do now?
* Red goes through the doors as they open. Yay, open doors.
* Miles does too! His tails haven't been showing ever since they left SAB. 
Wonder why... o/`
<Red> This way, Saldin. See, the train's gone and stopped for yer. Isn't that 
nice of it?
* Saldin follows Red and nods. "Yes. I will have to remember to send it a gift." 
She smiles faintly at his own joke, then says, "Does this Katherine also work 
for SAB, or is she a friend of yours?"
<Miles> Anno...  I think she's a friend?
* Saki nods. "Fellow worker."
<Red> Both. 
<Red> Artist. Very intelligent. Good for hangin' around with.
<Miles> She makes really good paintings and drawings and stuff.
* Saldin nods, then quirks an eyebrow. "Oh? Very interesting."
* Red leads out into the street. "She really is, yes. She gets her work in 
museums rather frequently, and hates it." She grins.
<Saldin> Does she not seek recognition?
<Miles> Anno...  I guess not?
<Red> I don't think it's the recognition so much as the manner it is given in, 
and perhaps those that give it. Art-snobs are called that for a reason, after 
all. 
<Miles> Snoooobies.
<Red> Exactly. 
<Katherine> (Is Saldin male or female today?)
<Saldin> (Female!)
<Katherine> (Hee, okay.)
* Red turns a corner and reaches a place advertising sushi. She walks in and 
looks around; curiously, one of the patrons has a tail.
* Saldin quiks his head. "Wouldn't that mean that she is exceptionally good?"
<Saldin> Since the most selective critics like her work?
* Ren is just ordering another plate of sushi when they arrive. He sticks out a 
lot, (probably) being the only person there with ghost-like fur, and a tail. A 
shortsleeved green pleather jacket with 'NRA' stenciled into the back is slung 
on the counter. He's oblvious the the entering people. Oh, the extra set of 
feline ears, in addition to his normal ones, is a dead giveaway too, as if the 
other signs weren't obvious enough.
<Red> It would, yes. But the most selective critics may be people she finds 
distasteful. 
* Saldin nods. "Ah, I see."
<Red> Or, I could be entirely off my mark. That's always the other possibility. 
* Red walks up to the guy with the tail. "Ren?"
* Saki raises an eyebrow.
* Ren glances backwards, a piece of sushi held in his mouth. "Mya?" He drops his 
head to catch it, as it fell out when he responded.
* Saldin looks at the guy with the tail and says, "Ah. Yes. Him, I recognize."
<Red> Well, aren't we catty today. Care to join us? Or may we join you? Or let's 
just all get together here, yes?
* Ren tilts his head, then nods. "Sure. That brit's not with you, is he, nyo?"
<Saldin> ('That brit'?)
<Ren> ( *points at Rowyn.* )
<Saki> Who?
[A few of the other people in the restuarant look oddly at Ren.  There's a few 
murmurred comments about the odd sort of people that hang out at Japanese 
related locations.]
<Saldin> (Um. Rowyn isn't playing?)
<Ren> ( So 'that brit' isn't here. =p )
<Saldin> (Aha! I see now.)
* Miles giggles.
<Red> No, I don't believe so. Unless you mean me, of course. 
* Ren nods. "If you have to ask who 'that brit' is, you haven't met him yet."
<Miles> Which 'brit'?  ^^;
* Saki shrugs. "Sure as hell ain't me."
* Ren has apparently forgotten that subject. He's gazing up at at Red's eyes 
curiously. "Oh, where -are- my manners. Welcome, welcome. What brings you here 
today?"
<Red> Food. Are you feeling all right, Ren?
<Red> And, care to join us at a table?
<Saki> Uh... Food?
* Red gestures at a table to emphasize her question.
* Saldin looks at Ren with the good old solid-white eyes with a small smile on 
her face.
* Ren blinks for a moment, then slaps himself in the face. "... yeah. Give me a 
moment."
* Saki raises an eyebrow. "You a waiter or something, Ren?"
* Miles smiles and appears on a seat next to Ren.
* Ren grabs up his NRA jacket and dissapears, just as Miles does that.
* Miles blinks.
<Red> ( I hope you both mean that figuratively. )
<Saldin> (I don't think they did.)
<Miles> (I didn't.  ^^;)
* Saki grabs a seat (and afks).
<Miles> (Well, he didn't teleport or vanish, if that's what you mean.)
<Ren> ( Ren did. TP is fun! )
* Red sighs, smirking sadly.
* Saldin blinks,and her eyes drift towards the back of the resturant, before she 
says, "Perhaps we should have a seat and wait for him to come back."
<Red> Works for me. 
* Ren comes out from the back a moment later, no longer with the tail, ears, and 
fur. Looks rather normal now, except for his mess of a hairdo. Which he's still 
trying to fix. "Sorry 'bout that."
* Red picks out a table in an empty corner. "Ren, Ren, Ren."
[A few customers doubletake on Ren's reentry.  But mostly he seems protected by 
a natural SEP field.]
<Ari> (Hee.)
<Ren> Yes, yes, yes?
* Ren grins sardonically at Red.
* Miles snickers, looks around, and resists the urge to teleport.
* Red smiles. "Have a care, Ren. People notice when you show off."
* Saldin has a seat herself. "Yes, it is not good to be noticeable." Says the 
woman with the bald head, tattoos, and white eyes.
<Ren> Sorry 'bout that. Cheshire's a showoff by nature.
<Ren> One moment, will ya?
<Red> Oh, is that what you are?
<Miles> Why would you show off that?
* Ren grabs the plate of sushi he just ordered, and carries it with him. 
<Ren> Can't forget this. *plops the plate down gently, and has a (reserved) 
seat.*
* Ren shrugs at Miles. "Gotta indulge him sometime."
* Ren nods at Red and Saki. "Nice to see you two lovely ladies again. Introduce 
me to the rest of the party?"
<Red> Certainly. 
* Miles waves to Ren and takes a seat.
<Red> This is Saldin, a wandering monk who may or may not know kung-fu, so I'm 
not sure if she's in keeping with the movies. 
* Saldin looks at Ren with a slight smile. "We have met, actually."
<Ren> Met, yes. Know? Not yet.
<Red> And this is Miles, a kitsune.
* Katherine steps in, closing the door behind her. She's dressed casually, in 
washed out jeans and a dark green t-shirt, and the scar across her throat is as 
obvious as ever. Her hair's tied back in a loose ponytail.
<Red> And this is Katherine, a somewhat famous artist. 
* Ren nods again.
* Miles grins. ^_^
* Katherine looks towards the group as Red says that, despite being on the other 
side of the busy room. She smiles, faintly, and heads over.
* Saldin looks over towards Katherine and smiles, then turns back to the rest of 
the group.
* Miles is, as it hasn't been mentioned earlier, wearing a purple T-shirt and 
blue pants (not jeans).
* Saldin is wearing the Chinese-Clothing getup from her profile, a bit dirtied 
from the road!
<Miles> Anno... so, what are you?
* Ren has on a plain white t-shirt on under the green NRA jacket. He's got on 
black jeans that open up into bellbottoms, with heavy looking boots on under 
those.
* Miles tilts his head at Ren.
* Katherine has a seat at an empty chair - wherever that is - and sets her purse 
down. "I hope I'm not interrupting."
* Red is wearing a red hooded sweatshirt open over a red t-shirt and army green 
cargo pants. Is she packing? Maybe.
<Ren> Me? I'm just an old, retired ex-SWAT guy. If you're asking what Cheshire 
is, that's another story entriely.
* Miles nods. "Who's Cheshire? He looks fun." ^_^
* Ren eyes Miles. "... you could say that."
* Red snickers. "I'm not sure it's so much a who as a what. Ren?"
* Katherine picks up the menu and has a look while they talk.
* Saldin looks over at Katherine and says in her soft pleasant voice, "Hello, 
Katherine. My name is Saldin Qian."
<Ren> Cheshire... is a nekojin spirit. Not from around here. *places a bit of 
emphasis on 'here'* He's .... kinda attached to me.
* Katherine turns her attention from the menu to Saldin. Well, not exactly; it's 
like she's looking past her, but she holds her hand out just the same. She 
smiles. "A pleasure to meet you, though I suppose I've already been introduced."
* Saki waves to Kat. "Yo, Katie." She was busy looking the menu over, so she 
didn't see her come in.
* Saldin nods slightly. "Red did happen to mention your name, yes."
<Miles> Oh, that's okay.  I'm not from around here either!
* Katherine blinks, then follows that with a dry but amused, "Hi, Saki."
* Ren snatches up a piece of sushi, and tosses it into his mouth. "Didn't think 
so."
<Saki> What's new?
* Miles idly orders a rather... complex plate of sushi in Japanese, but the 
waiter seems to take it in stride.
* Saki orders something that actually isn't sushi. Raw fish? Blech.
* Ren is lovin the raw fish. Yum.
* Saldin orders a far simpler plate of sushi, also in japanese, as well as some 
nice tea. Aah, tea.
* Red blinks, and shrugs. "I'll have what the kid's having."
<Katherine> Nothing, really.
<Red> Or, if you prefer, <I'll have what the kid's having.>
* Katherine breaks off whatever she was going to say to point out something in 
the menu to the waiter, and she follows that with a string of, yes, Japanese. 
Seems she's avoiding anything actually raw.
* Ren blinks at all the japanese. It's going right over his head.
<Red> So, Ren. Come here often?
* Ren half-shrugs. "Every now and then."
* Katherine lets out a breath when the waiter leaves and turns to Saki. "More 
shows. I should cancel the next one out of principle. I need the chance to let 
my creative juices flow... or something." She rolls her eyes. "How about you?"
* Miles giggles.
* Red smirks. "Oh, do you two know each other?"
<Saki> Eh, you know me. Same stuff as usual.
* Katherine grins in Red's direction. "No, I strike up conversations like this 
with everyone."
* Red grins back. "Ah! I should have known. It's one of your better qualities, 
really."
<Miles> You do?  Me too!
* Saki shrugs. "We go back."
* Saldin smiles.
<Red> Ah. Well, it's good to be reuniting two old friends, or somesuch. 
* Ren glances from Saki to Katie, his green eyes glinting oddly. "They say that 
once you've been touched, you'll never escape it."
<Saki> Huh?
<Red> Really? Fascinating. Care to explain?
* Katherine picks up her cup of tea, which the waiter just decided to set in 
front of them, and has a sip, then sets it down. "I'm afraid I don't know what 
you're talking about."
* Saldin sure doesn't look to get it!
* Ren laughs. "Nah, that's okay. I'd rather leave it vague and ambigious."
<Red> Ah. I'll just have to pry it out of your skull later, then. 
* Red has a sip of her sake, which has also arrived.
* Miles makes drill sounds.
<Saki> Eh, whatever.
<Ren> Over a bottle of wine?
* Katherine lets out a slight tsh sound. "That's no fun."
* Ren grins at Red.
* Miles has a slip of Red's Sak- err, his 'tea'.
<Saldin> Would it be more enjoyable without the wine?
<Katherine> (That was to Ren, by the way. ;P)
<Red> ( *snrk* )
<Red> Over a bottle of wine? Certainly, unless you're immune to the effects of 
imbibing alcohol. 
<Saldin> (... And you can kill one of those mores.)
<Miles> Anno, who is?
<Ren> ( * shoots it. )
<Red> Because then I'd have to assume that you're planning on taking advantage 
of me, and then I'd have to kill you, and that would make me sad. 
* Red grins.
* Saldin takes a sip of tea and says in a slightly amused tone, "You certainly 
think far ahead, Red."
<Ren> Lucky I'm not immune to it, then.
<Red> Ah, then there's no worries. 
<Saldin> (... dammit, this Red and Ren thing seriously gets me confused. >_>)
* Ren glances at Saldin and Miles, and shakes his head mirthfully.
<Ren> ( ^_^v )
* Miles blinks.
<Saldin> (Sorry, I didn't get to ask the GM to make my 'cryptic stuff that makes 
no real damn sense because Ren is using vague language' roll before he left. ;P)
* Katherine doesn't seem to particularly care. Or even be paying attention. 
She's pulled out a pen and is doodling on her napkin which is, thankfully, paper.
<Red> ( Lucky for you there's an interim GM here. ^_~ )
<Red> So, Katherine, where's your next show going to be? Or must I find out on 
my own?
* Ren raises an eyebrow, glancing at Katherine.
* Miles peers over Kathrine's shoulder, a piece of sushi in his mouth.
* Katherine doesn't look up. "Next Tuesday." She does glance up now, but it's 
towards Ren, not Red. A small smile crosses her face. "And I'm afraid I've never 
met you."
<Ren> I can say the same thing.
<Saki> Mm... Maybe I'll drop by, too.
<Ren> Ren Ran. And you're Katherine... *extends a hand, politely*
<Red> Oh? Sure. You can help me kidnap her this time, Saki. 
* Katherine takes it and shakes. "Katherine Andrews. You're from the States, 
too?"
<Saki> Gotcha.
<Ren> Tennessee, born 'n raised.
* Katherine grins. "Iowa. Born and mostly raised." She lets Ren's hand drops and 
looks over to the girls. "Oh, not you, too."
<Red> Although if there's three of us, we won't be able to take my car. How sad. 
* Saki smiles. "'S cool. I'll take Katie on my bike."
* Red grins. "We're only out to creatively preserve your sanity, Kathy."
<Ren> What kinda shows you do?
[ And now the food arrives. ]
<Miles> I dunno...
* Katherine lets out a huff and turns back to Ren. "Art."
<Red> Guess. 
<Miles> (I thought the food already arrived.)
<Saldin> (Ren had food. We got drinks.)
<Miles> (Ah.)
* Saki eats.
* Red eats a little bit. "Not bad. And what, Kathy, you didn't have fun last 
time?"
* Miles jumps back into his seat. "Yay!" He starts eating.
* Ren tosses in another piece of sushi.
* Saldin eats her food like she spent a good number of years of her life in 
Japan!
<Katherine> I suppose you could say I had fun...
* Katherine picks up the chopsticks and starts picking at her rice.
* Miles is thuroughly enjoying himself.
* Red grins. "You suppose I could say that, hm?"
* Ren is eating like a redneck- unless it's barbeque, it's finger food.
<Katherine> I suppose.
<Ren> ( Luckily sushi is easily finger food. )
* Saki grins. "Katie doesn't enjoy artwork as much if someone isn't staring over 
her shoulder."
* Miles loads up on some wasabi and carefully adds some of that and some sweet 
ginger to the soy sauce dish he has.
* Red snickers.
* Katherine laughs. "Critics do give the impression that they're looking over 
your shoulder." She pops some rice into her mouth and chews as she goes back to 
doodling.
* Miles says between mouthfulls. "Why?"
* Ren cranes his head over, trying to get a look at the doodles.
* Red has some more sushi, grinning.
<Ren> Becuase a picture looks better if there's someone in front of it, I'd 
imagine.
* Katherine snickers.
* Saldin swallows a piece of her meal and comments, "Perhaps because they do not 
give you room to breathe, as it were." She snatches up another bite.
* Ren nods appreciavely. "A'right, I'm hooked. When's this show again?"
<Saki> You ought to grow your hair out, Saldin.
<Miles> It's aaart.
* Saldin looks over at Saki suddenly and looks somewhere between shocked and 
confused. "Why?"
* Saki shrugs. "Dunno. Just seems like you should, is all."
<Katherine> Ten, if you want to go.  It's typically a formal occassion.
* Saki makes a face. "Formal?"
<Red> Formal. 
* Saldin grabs another bite of food, and mumbles more to herself than anything, 
since Saki decided to pay attention to Katherine, "I do not think it would be a 
good idea."
<Red> What, do you not like playing dress-up, Saki?
* Saki shrugs. "Not really."
<Red> Aww. Too bad. I have some outfits you'd look marvelous in. 
<Miles> Formal isn't that bad.  ^^;
* Katherine sets her pen down, picks up her chopsticks, and looks at Red and 
Saki with a critical eye. "I don't think you're the same size."
<Saldin> (Ha.)
<Katherine> (Why'd you two have to have similar names? :P)
<Saldin> (Yeah, really!)
* Ren draws up his head, standing tall instead of slouching back like he was. 
"But of course. A critic would be appalled if someone were to show up worse 
dressed than them. And oh! Who would believe a southern raised hick could 
appreciate art just as much as the professionsals who spend 8 years at college 
to learn how to say it sucks, or it has a nice tone?" *This is said without a 
drawl at all, very precise words, and tone of voice*
<Red> ( Well, if you prefer, you can call me 'Leslie'. :P )
* Saldin chuckles a little. "Formal wear. That is one thing I have never had 
experience with..." she trails off at Ren's diatribe, and looks at him oddly.
* Katherine snickers.
<Saki> Universe never needed you to go to a formal party, eh?
* Red laughs.
<Saldin> No, I don't believe so. And if it did, it certainly didn't tell me to 
make myself a... dress beforehand.
* Miles laughs at Ren's, um, display.
* Ren bows, then flops back down into his seat, slouching again.
<Red> Well, well.
* Saldin suddenly, for seemingly no reason, fumbles and drops her utensils. She 
frowns at them, seeming annoyed for a slight second, then picks them up and 
starts eating again as if nothing happened.
<Katherine> Something wrong?
* Ren raises an eyebrow in Saldins direction. "Eh?"
* Katherine doesn't look at Saldin as she asks; she pops a roll into her mouth 
and chews.
<Red> You all right, Saldin?
* Saldin looks at her fingers, then up at Katherine, then Red. "There is nothing 
more wrong than normal."
* Miles blinks.
<Saki> Way to avoid the question.
<Red> Ah.
* Katherine nods, sets her chopsticks down, and goes back to her doodle.
* Saldin says, "It is not a particularly easy question to answer."
<Red> Enh, leave it, Saki.
<Ren> Well, if ya don't wanna offer, I'm not gonna pry.
* Saldin glances at Miles for a second, then Ren. "I do not mind, but the 
details aren't necessarily pleasant for the present company."
* Ren shrugs. "Some other time, then."
* Saki shrugs. "Whatever."
<Ren> ( Saki = Cloud? )
<Red> Exactly. Prying's my job.
<Red> ( Saki = Squall. They both start with S! )
* Miles scratches his head. "Anno... Not pleasent?"
<Red> Don't worry about it, Miles. 
<Miles> Okay.  ^_^;
* Saldin looks at Miles and nods once, before sneezing. She wipes her nose and 
mutters something in a harsh language.
<Katherine> Bless you.
* Miles jumps at the sneeze.
<Katherine> (I have to sleep, like, now.  So in danger of dropping off. ^^;)
<Ren> Gazunteich.
<Red> Bless you, Saldin. 
* Saldin rubs her nose and says, "I am sorry."
* Ren plops another piece of sushi in his mouth, licking his lips.
* Katherine glances at her watch. "Thanks for inviting me, but I really have to 
get going." She signs the corner of her napkin, likely out of habit, and gets to 
her feet.
* Ren nods, and waves.
<Red> Good of yer ta come, Kathy. 
* Saldin just puts the chopsticks down and says, "It was pleasant meeting you, 
Katherine."
<Ren> Seeya some other time. Promise I won't stand behind your back.
<Red> Honestly, I need to get going, too. 
<Katherine> A pleasure meeting you, too.  And I think I'll live, Ren.
<Saki> Later Katie.  Hey, gimme a call sometime; I got some stuff to talk to ya 
about.
* Miles finishes eating. "Okay, bye kathrine!" He waves.
<Katherine> I will.
* Ren swivels his gaze to Red, and mock-pouts. "So soon?"
* Katherine waves and heads out, leaving her doodle on the table.
* Saki peers at said doodle.
<Saldin> (It's Saldin! But he looks like he has a demon head and is going to eat 
Miles for dinner!)
[The doodle was the teapot on our table with a Japanese mouse peeking out from 
inside.  Partially obscured by the pot (and behind it) is a widely grinning cat 
ready to snatch it.]
[ And if none of them have yet died, they are still alive to this day. The End. ]