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Post by Hikari Sorano on Jul 12, 2006 8:18:45 GMT 7
Hikari entered The Hungry Horntail a short time after leaving professor Gumbligger at the zoo. She had taken plenty of time to get there, getting to know the area a bit more on her way. She was dressed the same as at the zoo, not needing a change of clothing as the professor did. Her crimson eyes scanned the room around her, finding an empty table with a good position.
Hikari swiftly, but carefully, made her way to the table and sat in the seat that allowed her to see the door. As she sat down a waiter managed to get to her asking if she wanted to order anything. "I'm currently waiting for someone, so I'll order when they arrive," she said quietly, "but while I'm waiting I would like some tea." Her voice was smooth and calm, her word always careful.
The waiter nodded and walked away to get her tea. Hikari sat in silence now, letting her thought roam a bit while at the same time observing everything around her. There were many groups of people here, ranging from couples to families and groups of friends. This place seemed like a good place for a get-together.
The waiter brought her requested tea, placing the cup and saucer in front of her. Hikari took the saucer in her left hand, and with her right brought the cup to her lips. First she cooled it with her breath, then she took a sip, savoring the taste. She waited in silence no, slowly drinking tea and waiting for professor Gumbligger.
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Post by Professor Ronald Gumbligger on Jul 12, 2006 13:57:10 GMT 7
Professor Gumbligger arrived at the entrance to the Hungry Horntail at 12.29pm, right on time. It was very characteristic of him, time management and organisation were way up there on the important list. He pulled the door open and entered.
The place was busy, as usual. It seemed to be a very popular spot, even though term had not yet begun! He coudn't wait to see it when the campus was full and all the students were here. Scouring through the crowd he managed to spot Hikari sitting alone at a table near the far end of the restraunt. He made his way over and sat opposite her.
"Hikari, hi." He said as he picked up a menu. He was absolutely starving and couldn't wait to eat something. Lucky for him, the waiter arrived almost instantly, asking if he was ready to order. "Yes, yes please. Erm...I'll have the steak and pasta please, and, Hikari, what would you like?" He waited for Hikari to make a decision. There was a good chance she hadn't even looked at the menu yet!
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Post by Hikari Sorano on Jul 12, 2006 14:08:31 GMT 7
Hikari was ready to order even though she had not looked at the menu. She had heard this restaurant had many Asian dishes and she hoped for one of those. One of her favorites dishes was a Korean dish called Japche. The dish consisted of a special type of noodle and some vegetables.
She glanced over to the waiter and asked, "do you serve a dish called Japche?" The waiter nodded. "Yes we do, it is a fine Korean dish," he said. Hikari nodded to the waiter. "I'll have that then and some more tea," she said, gesturing to her empty cup. The waiter proceeded to walk away to get their orders ready to be served.
Hikari looked back to professor Gumbligger and nodded in greetings. "I see you are redressed now," she said as she studied his clothing. She wasn't really good at starting a conversation so she would leave the honor to the professor.
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Post by Professor Ronald Gumbligger on Jul 12, 2006 14:19:01 GMT 7
Professor Gumbligger smiled at the waiter to gesture that was all, and then he turned and left. Hikari noticed his change of clothing. He was now wearing a sleek, crimson robe. You didn't see that many wizards around still wearing robes, they all prefered Muggle attire these days, but good old Gumby was still true to his roots! He had a variety of fine robes and he wore them every now and then. "Yes, much better than what I slept in anyway!" He chuckled. "I wasn't expecting to see anyone, so that's why I wasn't to bothered about how I looked." He went to pcik up his glass before realising he didn't have a drink. How embarrasing!
"Where abouts are you from then, Hikari? Where do your roots lie!" He always found it interesting to know which corner of the globe people came from.
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Post by Hikari Sorano on Jul 12, 2006 14:26:51 GMT 7
Hikari looked down at her empty tea cup, wanting some more drink. Where was she from, the professor had asked. She was born far from here actually, but she had been raised in England. "I was born in Tokyo, Japan. However, I was raised in London. I don't remember any of Japan except what my aunt told me of the place."
Hikari had not been raised by her parents, the reason she had been raised in London instead of her birthplace. Her mother had died when she was born and her father... Well she didn't know where he was yet, though she did plan to find him one day. Her father had been a vampire and her mother a witch, though her mother's family disagreed with her choice in lovers.
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Post by Professor Ronald Gumbligger on Jul 12, 2006 14:37:55 GMT 7
Professor Gumbligger listened to Hikari's reply. He was about to respond when the waiter returned with their meals. Talk about quick service! Gumby was amazed and totally impressed by this restraunt, it was so efficiently run. He said thank you to the waiter and began taking the knife and fork out of his napkin.
Before he began to eat, he spoke again to Hikari, but very quietly, not wanting others to hear. "Hikari, forgive me if you don't want to answer my question, I'm just curious. The reason you were raised in London, had it anything to do with the fact you were rejected by your parents because of your.." he paused to think of a suitable word. Condition? No, that sounded terrible!"...abilities?" He looked in her eyes for a second longer before finally beginning to eat his meal. The steak was absolutely delicious, medium well-done, the way he liked it.
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Post by Hikari Sorano on Jul 12, 2006 14:44:35 GMT 7
Hikari picked up a pair of chopsticks, about ready to eat when professor Gumbligger quietly asked her a question. Her eyes focused on him for a moment as he tried to find the right word. She had to smile a bit at his attempt though. The question was a simple on, and not offending to her in anyway really.
"I was raised in London because my mother died giving birth to me," she said quietly, "my father left me with my mother's family, but the only one that would take me was my aunt, or great aunt rather. My father had been the side which I inherited my abilities."Hikari began to eat, giving her tea time to cool. The food was very nice, just the way she remembered it.
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Post by Professor Ronald Gumbligger on Jul 13, 2006 7:06:35 GMT 7
Professor Gumbligger was soory he had asked the question when she mentioned her mother had died during labour. "Hikari, I am so sorry to hear that. Please forgive me for asking such a private question." But she shook it off and continued. It was so sad to hear how she had been rejected by everyone in her family. Just terrible.
He took another big bite out of the steak, and manouvered a bit of pasta on top using his fork. The taste was delicious.
"So, who looked after you in London, if it was not your family?" He hoped he wasn't going down memeory lane of nghtmares with her, but he was so curious to find some answers.
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Post by Hikari Sorano on Jul 13, 2006 8:43:12 GMT 7
Hikari thought for a moment. "Well one of my family did take me in, but she was the only one who would. My great aunt Tsukiyo. However she died during my first year of Hogwarts. After that I mostly stayed at the school and then with a friend over the summer," she explained. She ate some more of her food before continuing.
"My great aunt was... good company at times, though it seemed she never really liked me. However, she would do her best to be civil in my presence. She always said it wasn't my fault, yet she could help the way she felt. And though I never really talked to her too much, I think I have always thought of her as wise," Hikari said quietly. She then took a slow sip of her tea.
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Post by Professor Ronald Gumbligger on Jul 13, 2006 8:50:14 GMT 7
Professor Gumbligger listened as the story just got sadder and sadder. He decided a swift change of subject would be the best idea.
A waiter passed the table. "Excuse me, could I get a glass of water please? And a pot of tea. Thanks" He was glad the waiter passed, he was dying for a drink!
Change of subject. Something happy. And nteresting. Hmmmmmm......
"So, Hikari, where you headed after you finish your degree? Will it be straight to the Ministry on do you have other plans?" He noticed he was asking all the questions and hoped Hikari didn't consider him a stalker or something!
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Post by Hikari Sorano on Jul 13, 2006 9:03:04 GMT 7
Hikari noticed the change in subject, though she hadn't really minded talking about her family. She wasn't really sad, as there would be no point, and since it was just life she just lived it. And since that was how she grew up, it was all she ever knew. The waiter arrived back with what professor Gumbligger wanted, also pouring her more tea. She nodded her thanks to the waiter and took another sip.
"I hadn't exactly decided on my exact plans for the future," she said, "I guess you could say I live in the present. When the time comes for me to decide, I'll decide then. If I planned it out now, something will happen and then I'll have to rethink my plan, so I'd rather not go through all the trouble."
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Post by Professor Ronald Gumbligger on Jul 13, 2006 13:50:31 GMT 7
Professor Gumbligger thanked the waiter for his water. He then chuckled rather loudly at Hikari's comment, even though she was probably being serious and had absolutely no idea what he was laughing about! He just found it funny the way she said it. "Too true, Hikari, too true. But what do you want out of life? Overall? I mean, would you like to go travelling, see the world?"
When he was young Professor Gumbligger was lucky enough to travel and see lots of the world, he enjoyed it immensly. To him, the only thing that came close to being with animals was being somewhere exciting and unknown.
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Post by Hikari Sorano on Jul 13, 2006 13:55:56 GMT 7
Hikari watched as professor Gumbligger had a laugh at something or other, probably at something she said but she didn't really care. Her chopsticks were once again lifted to her mouth to eat. For now she just observed him. She shrugged her shoulders at his comment, just swallowing her food.
"I suppose traveling would be nice," she said, "would probably keep me occupied if I did. However, I want to find my father. I want to find out why he left, who he is and so forth. He's a mystery to me, yet he helped create me."
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Post by Professor Ronald Gumbligger on Jul 13, 2006 14:13:34 GMT 7
Professor Gumbligger pushed back his plate on the table and wiped his mouth with the napkin. That was the best meal he had ate in a while! He listened as Hikari said she would like to one day find her father. Oh, how that brought back memories. It was not his father, but Ron had looked for a lost loved one in the past. He shook away the memory.
Out of politeness he paused and did not ask anymore questions. Perhaps Hikari was getting annoyed at the questions, maybe she was even waiting to ask him one.
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Post by Hikari Sorano on Jul 13, 2006 14:19:12 GMT 7
Hikari finished up her own meal soon after professor Gumbligger finished his. She wiped her mouth and hands clean with her napkin and took another sip of her tea. The professor seemed to have become quiet, probably waiting for her to ask some questions of her own. She wasn't normally the curious type, she would get her answers mostly from observations or passing conversations.
However, Hikari would ask him something, perhaps he would feel more comfortable if she did anyway. "What brought you to your line of work exactly," she asked, "did something inspire you or was it something of a fluke?" She always did wonder about what drove people to become what they were.
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