17080/Happy Preparations

Happy Preparations
Date of Scene:	02 February 2024
Location:	Kenka - Japanese Restaurant
Synopsis:	Ideas for the next sorcerers' night.
Cast of Characters:	Illyana Rasputina, Stephen Strange

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Illyana Rasputina has posed:
Every once in a while, a girl wants sushi. Is that so wrong?

Sushi date for lunch, plotting time ahoy. The restaurant isn't particularly busy despite being in Greenwich Village, and that could be due to ESU's student body finding the price too high - it is New York - or some spell warding off unwanted attention, the cold weather, or the in-between hour of rush and dinner. Hard to be sure.

The blonde Demon Queen slouches in her corner chair, watching windows and door and bubbling Zen fountain alike. The matcha in her hands is piping hot, surprisingly earthy, and intensely welcome. Rare to find her smiling into a cup, but there she is.

Stephen Strange has posed:
To answer the question, no, it is never wrong to want some sushi once in a while.

Honestly, it does Stephen good to get out of the Sanctum once in a while. Not that he would ever admit to it out loud. But...he's pretty sure that sentiment is shared.

And yes, the restaurant is particularly chill for the moment. Three of the four reasons are completely natural. The price is a bit too high for the common student. And...it is cold, certainly, though not as cold as it has in the past couple of weeks. And certainly the timing might have something to do with it. Only those in the neighborhood really know that trick, and the Sanctum is certainly in the neighborhood.

But the minor ward? That....might be a little of Stephen's doing. It is just a minor diversion spell, just subtle enough to prevent just casual onlookers and other such distractions from interrupting a nice lunch. Still, the truly determined could still walk in, which was fine for the good Doctor. It...is just one more assurance that the lunch will be a cozy affair.

The Sorcerer Supreme appears anything but for this date. Long coat, sensible footwear, jeans. Definitely more casual than tunic and cloak. He takes a seat opposite Illyana, placing his back to the door but enjoying the views of windows and fountain. If he would bother with such views. No...his attention is on the Demon Queen, smiling. No words exchanged, for the moment. Just the simple act of watching Illy enjoying her matcha prompts a smile all Strange's own.

Illyana Rasputina has posed:
The prospects of a sour-sweet rice topped in marbled slices of fish appeals to a woman whose domain rarely includes such niceties. The exceptionally sharp knives and skill to use them simply add a plus to the experience. Chances are she's already looked over the menu a few times to decide what sashimi and rolls are worth tempting herself with. Or Stephen.

"Do you want to pick several things or let it be chef's choice?" she asks, the native camber of her Russian accent flatlined for the time being. Only when she's in uncertain waters or projecting by leaning into it does she have to worry all that much. The doctor is not one of those people who needs to be Russified, so why spend the energy? The server coming by receives a request for a bowl of red miso soup and sunomono salad, the delicate shavings of translucent cucumber snappy and adjacent to her own preferences.

She pushes up the sleeve of her sweater over the round of her shoulder. Glancing at Stephen isn't an indulgence, it's a gift any day of the week. Should anyone decide to spoil the day by walking through the doors, she might incinerate them for the hell of it. He deserves a bit of peace and quiet. "Do you have ideas for what to discuss at the next meeting?"

Stephen Strange has posed:
"Well, we can live in the moment and let the chef decide. It will be an adventure." For a person that usually spends a great deal of time to ensure that he is in control at any given moment, the fact that Stephen is letting go of this one small aspect is telling. He's opening himself up more, further proven by the series of meetings that he is attempting to host. The server receives a similar order from the Doctor, something appropriate and yet mundane, lost to the moment of just relaxing with his companion.

Discussion turns to the next meeting. The next gathering of mystically-minded individuals. And, apparently, Strange does have at least an idea. "The first discussion turned into more of a social mingling than a discussion. Granted, it was needed, certainly, as there were those present that had never been in the Sanctum before and truly did not know how to approach me. So, as far as discussion or offers for assistance....that was rather limited." A beat as Stephen shifts to glance to the fountain, enjoying its contribution to the ambiance, both visual and audible, before he returns to focus on Illyana. "So, I do think that perhaps the next meeting is spent giving opportunity for those that truly seek assistance to feel comfortable enough to ask for it. Meaning that perhaps it should be hosted at a more neutral location."

Illyana Rasputina has posed:
What are the chances a chef this close to the Sanctum would be a skrull or Baron Mordo's puppet? Low, though any chance of slipping Stephen fugu or a poisonous interdimensional turbot seems pretty low.

The blonde tucks her hair behind her ear, the rest of it pulled up into conical buns wrapped in moon-and-star splotched wires. Truly, the new bishoujo senshi, that's her. Everything comes around in the end, where fashion is concerned anyway.

With their initial orders in post-"chef's choice, no octopus" in, the matter turns to a more significant topic. Notably, what Sorcerers Supreme do in their office hours, like TAs suffer.

Her eyes lift thoughtfully to him and mark the response. "So not Limbo." Right. Definitely not Limbo. "No pressing or very urgent matters, da? We had the foolish people with a grimoire in a house to worry about. Maybe put out word for news of other stories. Everyone so likes to talk about what things they do. Maybe send word to the professor... Morrigan? Her school does many things. She might have something there to warn about."

Stephen Strange has posed:
The threat of an outsider influence trying to kill Strange via Asian cuisine honestly never crossed Stephen's mind. Maybe it should, given the number of enemies he has made, but in terms of audacity...it would be something, truly. Perhaps it is a good thing that villains are usually not that creative. Or that the selection of Greenwich Village chefs are of the most stringent criteria.

The orders in place, minus the calamari. It is probably for the best to not to consume any distant relations of elder gods, certainly. And, as the two mystics talk, the smile on Stephen's features grows.

"Regrettably, not Limbo. Though I would enjoy seeing that reaction from our more terrestrially-located compatriots. Could you imagine it? Hiding under a table within the Sanctum is one thing. But, in Limbo? The poor innocents would have no idea where to go." This...actually brings a chuckle to Strange's lips. "So...no. Unfortunately, Limbo is not a possibility at this time." There are more than a few demons disappointed at such a declaration, no doubt. "I was thinking more of various locations more welcoming. Perhaps a bookshop or a bar or something similar."

The suggestion of the school...Happy Harbor...does prompt a more inquisitive expression to appear. "That's a possibility. It is a more inviting scenario than the Sanctum, certainly, and it wouldn't show favoritism to a certain group or party. And certainly, Doctor MacIntyre may have need for assistance that our more unique acquaintances may be able to provide."

Illyana Rasputina has posed:
Just trust the paranoid intentions of a woman raised in the most horrible of places, a scarred trauma on her psyche she would even consider someone slips her food that's probably very bad to eat. Not just from outdated products or fish left on a block too long, either. Criminals in the world don't have half the bad nights' sleep Illyana Rasputina does.

Most of the time.

No octopus; Tako is too smart, and she does not deal well with eating things that are smarter than the average bear.

"Oblivion Bar? Bookstore?" Illyana supplies the options for Stephen, but he's more certain to have ideas than she does on that front. "Bookstores reliably do not encourage people to set things on fire. Some participants may want more adventures given to them." She shrugs. "Or not share. That's the danger. We set them loose and see what happens?"

Her shoulders rise, smoothly shrugged. "Doctor MacIntyre knows things that go on. She is usually willing to talk."

Stephen Strange has posed:
"Indeed. More adventures given to them." A nod in agreement is given as Stephen reaches to take a sip of water. "That seemed to be a going theme. That others were surprised I was hosting a meeting without having the fate of the world at stake. It was amusing, but also revealing." Revealing in the sense that most people do see him as a harbinger of doom.

Whether or not he actively supports this image is not mentioned. Though...there might be a little encouragement in that regard.

But setting the myriad of powers loose to see what happens? That might be profoundly unwise. And, yet, probably the most entertaining as well. Not that Stephen actually vocalizes that.

"Yes. Oblivion Bar was an option. There are only a few that I would be concerned with inebriation in our particular social circles. I had thought of other places, but again wanted to keep it neutral. At least for now. Perhaps we will start showcasing particular groups and pursue that route, but for now I feel that it would be more of a benefit to pull everyone together rather than highlight one team over another."