IC INBOX; MoM

[pushtheboundaries]

"You've reached Robert Callaghan, Headmaster to the Heropa Organization for imPort Education. Please leave a message with your name, your phone number, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. As a reminder, my office hours are..."

Comments

[pushtheboundaries]

What is it they say, better late than never? [he leans back, wry] I'm afraid I haven't much of a present for you, though I'm sure you've already had a few good nights since then.

[tadeadshi]

['A few good nights', there's a joke if he ever heard one. Even with it being legal and all, he still just isn't a drinker and hasn't gone seeking it out.]

Nah, not really. And it's fine, honest. We didn't really do much for it, just uh. Me and Hiro and Aunt Cass having a dinner together.

[pushtheboundaries]

[you have the majority of your peer group here, Tadashi. and while you're not a drinker, in his experience, it Happens at least once. still, he seems to take the thought of them going out for dinner well, brightening up at the mention]

Still a good night by the sound of it. How is she doing?

[tadeadshi]

She's fine. Still settling in to the whole 'registered hero' thing. But I think we're working on helping her open a cafe here, so she'll be doing even better after that.

[pushtheboundaries]

So she did register? I hadn't asked. [is he the only one in their little group that hasn't? even Krei...] I can't see her going out as much as some of them, but if she's going to be opening a cafe...

[tadeadshi]

I think she did? I'm not sure.

[It hadn't really been his business...]

Mm, yeah. Me and Hiro are going to help sponsor it. All she's got to do is find the place she wants it and we'll pay for it.

[pushtheboundaries]

[frankly, someone with Cass's personality...he sees her doing much more good on the home front, so to speak, rather than out in the field. support, as opposed to the forward force.

and considering that had been Robert's own role, with his combat experience, he doesn't look down on that whatsoever.]

That's probably a change she'll appreciate, considering she'd been supporting you before - scholarships aside. Although...I'm sure she didn't expect the sort of thing to happen for a few more years.

Not that it's a bad thing, mind.

[tadeadshi]

Probably. [He smiles a little; he's glad they're in a position they can support her, after everything she's done for them for the last decade. It only feels right that they do it.]

Sounds like you've gotten to talk to her some since she's been here?

[pushtheboundaries]

A bit. We spoke at the beach, and...while some of the mess was going on. [that seems like a good way to refer to it. he'll stick with that, for now.] She's a good woman. I'm honestly surprised she never found someone.

[tadeadshi]

[That... gets him a little bashful again. Not that romance is ever a thing he thinks about (for himself or for anyone), but he has an inkling of an idea as to why.]

Well... It's not like me and Hiro ever made it easy.

[pushtheboundaries]

[that? that actually gets him to snort a bit, pushing himself up]

I don't doubt it, but anyone worth their salt would have stuck through it.

[tadeadshi]

Then maybe one worth it hasn't come through yet.

[At least that's his way of looking at it.]

[pushtheboundaries]

Here's hoping that changes. Or- maybe I should toast to it, to give it better luck.

[there's a short pause. should he...]

...you know, we both could. If you wanted to give it a try.

[tadeadshi]

Uh...

[He'd bought that for Callaghan, but it'd be rude to decline.]

If you're offering.

[pushtheboundaries]

You're of age, and if you haven't had much before, it's a lot safer to try at home than at a bar. Or at- well, you know what I mean. [this is hardly Tadashi's home, and it's only so much Callaghan's, but...] I'll warn you, though, scotch has a bit of a kick to it.

[tadeadshi]

[He's... Is he being lectured about alcohol safety from the guy who will eventually kill him?

Yes.

Yes, he is.

It's just one glass to toast with, come on.]

I think it'll be fine.

[pushtheboundaries]

[yes.

yes he is.]

We'll see. You did pick it out, it may be good to see what exactly you picked.

[don't mind him while he gets the glasses and ice and fires off a text message]

[tadeadshi]

More like we'll see if I have any taste.

[He doesn't see the stealth text, he's more looking around Callaghan's place now. It's. ... Very him, if nothing else.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[it's a nice place, all told; Callaghan keeps it neat and organized, but there's things that make it 'him' - some books with sticky notes in their pages, what looks like a draftsman's desk with a few sketches adopt its surface, some metal brain teasers on shelves...]

I promise not to throw it out if it's cheap. [he'll find a use for it, somehow - possibly in a class. but it's not long before he comes back with the glasses and bottle. he pours a small amount of the latter in to each of the former, then moves to sit back down.]

[tadeadshi]

Well, that's a load off my mind.

[But he's eyeing that glass suspiciously. The mystery ''''alcohol'''' adults drink that he's never really cared a whole lot about, even when Hiro kept urging him to try it once the clock hit midnight a week ago. He's only ever drunk once, and that was with Aunt Cass' supervision the night they celebrated his getting accepted to SFIT two years ago, and he never lived The Hangover down.

He's got no interest in repeating it either.

When the glass is poured, he reaches for the one closest to him and just. Holds it for now.]

...I really am glad you're doing all right. I was worried.

[pushtheboundaries]

[it's not just alcohol - it's scotch. on the rocks, and, by the smell, a decent malt in itself. Callaghan notes Tadashi's trepidation but doesn't comment on it, content to let him take it on his own pace.

he even manages another one of those small smiles.

there's not much humor in it.]

I was shaky for a while, but knowing that things have calmed down's done quite a lot. Knowing that they're not a total loss, as well...it's nice looking forwards to things, again.

[it seems to be a more general statement as opposed to specifically referring to all the recent chaos. but it's no less honest.]

[tadeadshi]

Yeah? Like what?

[He forgets for a second what's in his glass, raises it to take a sip and swallows - then sort of regrets it having not prepared himself for that. A 'kick to it' was an understatement. It doesn't show on his face obviously, but the corners of his mouth are pinched at the most.]

Looking. Forward to what, I meant.

[pushtheboundaries]

[oh, Tadashi. Robert hides his smirk behind taking a sip of his own, but he doesn't swallow it immediately, instead keeping it in his mouth to taste. it's not the best he's ever had, but he doesn't think Tadashi's gotten ripped off - that is, not unless he paid for something twice the quality.

he won't ask. nor will he answer, at first, just arching his brow and giving Tadashi a bland look.

the answer, to him, is obvious.]

[tadeadshi]

[He catches it and frowns deeply at it. Now that's just rude. Just for that, he's determined to show him up; he bought the stuff, he should be able to drink it. So he takes another half-sip and sits on it before -- nope. Nope he has to swallow it.]

And this is what you drink by choice.

[Sound more incredulous about it, Tadashi, it's sure to make him feel guilty eventually.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[well, he didn't mean to imply he was looking forwards to drinking and/or watching Tadashi drink, but...Callaghan chuckles good-naturedly, swallowing after another moment]

It's an acquired taste. Though my daughter said the same thing, when I let her try it the first time.