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Oyama Yuriko (小山 ゆり子) (yuriko_o) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-08-08 21:14:00

Who: Yuriko and Faiza
What: Making friends and following up
When: 8/5
Where: Yuriko's place
Rating: PG
Status: Complete



Faiza knocked on Yuriko’s door, and tugged her shirt down a little bit . She wanted to check up on the woman and see how she was doing. She had her medical bag, and a box of teas she thought the woman would enjoy.

Yuriko was somewhat worried about her fiance, but other than that, she felt somewhat better. At any rate, she felt good enough to move slowly toward the door when she heard the knock. “One moment,” she called. It took her a bit longer than normal to get there, but she did. “Oh. Doctor. Hello.” She smiled shyly. “Please, come inside.”

“Hello, duck!” She held up the tea box. “I brought you a present, and I wanted to check up on you. I thought you might be doing a lot better.”

Yuriko smiled. “I am. Not one hundred percent, certainly, and things have now become new and interesting around me, but I feel much less weak and shaky.” She took the box, looking at it, surprised and pleased. “Oh, you are very kind to bring this. I have heard the Japanese are fanatical about tea second only to the English.” She chuckled a little.

"New and interesting is a good way to describe it," she replied. She gave her a little bow. "Why don't I brew you some and then take a look?"

“That would be excellent.” Yuriko smiled again. “I am grateful for the kindness. And while things are definitely ‘new and interesting’, part of it is in a good way. My gentleman friend asked me to marry him. ... And then he woke up in a woman’s body.”

“Really? That’s one way to have a sex change. How is it adjusting? Has he had his time yet? Oh I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, really, if you think about it. Did you say yes? You’d look beautiful in a wedding dress!”

“Turin is ... displeased. Though I’ve seen others far more angry.” Yuriko gestured toward the small kitchen, slowly making her way there. “I did say yes, before the body switch. I hope that it does not continue, but to be quite honest, I think I would marry him anyway.” She smiled a little. “I trusted him with some extremely personal disclosures, and he not only did not repudiate me; he asked me to be his.”

“That’s so sweet!” Faiza followed her into the kitchen and set about preparing tea. “That must be strange, isn’t it? Could you love him without physical comfort, or is that simply not much of an issue, as it were?” There was something personal in the question. Not that Faiza ever expected Obi-wan to be a woman, but she did wonder if she could love him with all his baggage. Rather, keep loving him.

“I enjoy physicalities as much as the next woman.” Yuriko giggled a little. It seemed a strange question from such a proper woman as Doctor Hussein. Still. “But with such an odd situation, an agreement could be arranged. It does not change the fact that Turin and I understand each other, and that I find his pure heart more than enough reason to stay with him.”

"Agreement. Fascinating." She walked over and put a cup of tea in front of Yuriko. She sat down with her own cuppa. "How have you been feeling? Aches? Sores?"

‘Oh, many.” Yuriko bobbed her head as a thank you for the tea, cupping her hands around the porcelain. “But I shall take aches and soreness as opposed to the feeling of being opened and stuffed.” She made a face.

“Oh yes, that I believe. I wish I could make the pain go away.” Faiza made a little face. “There’s not much I can do, even if I prescribed painkillers they wouldn’t do much good - your healing factor would render them useless.”

“I can exist. I am relieved to have one at all.” Yuriko shrugged. “I thought I was going to expire during that week. The pain was very bad. But I am still alive.”

“I’m glad you’re doing better. What do you think of the tea?” Faiza took a sip of her own tea and made a little happy sound.

“It is very good, actually. I congratulate you on finding a black tea which is not overpowering.” Yuriko smiled almost shyly again. “May I ask, did you find this around Los Angeles, or is it from somewhere else? If it is local, I may try and purchase more. Turin enjoys strong tea.”

“I do have a rather good taste for tea, if I do say so myself!” She reached into her back and pulled out a notepad, writing an address on it. She slid it across the table towards Yuriko. “Feel free to take a good look whenever you wish.”

“Thank you.” Yuriko smiled. “May I ask, Doctor, have you a significant other?” Best to be inclusive. “I merely wonder; it is clear that your spirit is generous.” Yuriko hoped this woman had somebody who loved her. There were some people who just deserved it.

Faiza flushed almost immediately, and ducked her head a little, hiding in her scarf. “I do, though we’re ...well I wouldn’t call it a break, but he has things he needs to sort out? If that makes any sense.”

“I am sorry; I ought not to have intruded.” Yuriko felt awkward, looking away. “I only meant to ask because you give so freely of yourself; it seemed fit that you have someone who would give to you.” She smiled a little. “I hope you will forgive my unintentional rudeness.”

“No! Oh no, duck, I’m not offended.” She reached over to take Yuriko’s hand and squeezed it lightly. “It’s complicated. We’re still together, and I love him dearly.”

“Ah.” She chuckled. “A side effect of being Japanese; I apologise for everything whether it is necessary or not.” She looked up again. “I do hope it works out, whatever may be the trouble. Turin does not complete my life, but he enriches it, and I hope you and your gentleman are the same way. Or will be.”

That made Faiza laugh lightly. “We all have our quirks. I like to think we enrich each other. I think he makes me keep myself from being buried in all the things, and I keep his head firmly planted. Or feet, rather.”

“I think that is how a good relationship ought to be, certainly.” Yuriko nodded. “When Logan and I were seeing each other, he would tell me that I kept his head from growing too large.” She giggled a little.

“That’s not possible. That man’s ego is as large as Heathrow.” Faiza giggled at the thought. “Really, he’s a good bloke. You really were seeing him? What a small world!”

“Indeed, it is how we met. He came into my hostess club in Tokyo, and I was the only hostess who would sit with him. Japanese are racist,” Yuriko said frankly, with a hint of shame. But only a hint, because she tended to be a bit unlike other Japanese. “He was very respectful, even at the beginning. We only broke up because my father objected, but I am pleased that we are still friends. Even with all he knows of me.” She looked away.

“What’s the word? Gay gene?” Faiza giggled and set her cup back down. “Ah, all that in the dreams, yes?”

“Gaijin, yes.” Yuriko laughed. “It means foreigner. And yes - when we met, obviously, neither of us had had such dreams, but he was the one who told me what mine would be like.” She sighed. “I am lucky he can tell the difference between reality and my dreams. I will not allow myself to become her.” She wouldn’t tell Turin, but she had kept her father’s sword after his funeral. She would use it if she ever had to.

“She does sound like a rather terrible person,” Faiza agreed. “But you’re such a sweet woman, I can’t see how you’d be this Deathstrike.”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence!” Yuriko said gravely. “But all joking aside, it does me good to have people who think well of me. You are very respected, according to Logan!”

“You’re going to make me blush. I’m just doing my job, and what God gifted me with.” She put a hand to her chest. “Or a skrull ray gun, at any rate.”

“Skrull?” Yuriko echoed. “That is vaguely familiar, but please refresh me?”

“Green aliens, shapeshifters? They invaded earth, once. Pretended to be some heros, then attacked. I was acting triage when one hit me with a beam.” Faiza nodded. “Instead of killing me, it gave me powers!”

Oh. She’d just had an Origin Story Moment. Faiza beamed.

“Really.” Yuriko laughed. “I do think I recall the name now, but I was unaware they had such a role in your life!”

“They’re my origin story! Splendid! Well, not splendid, the war was rather terrible.” She fidgeted with her scarf. Really, war had become something commonplace. The Skrulls, then Dracula. The Avengers fighting the X-men. Then Ultron...

“I understand.” Yuriko finished her tea, setting the cup aside. “My, er, origin story is equally terrible. My own father created the adamantium bonding process, and after abuse I killed him with my bare hands. After that, I became Deathstrike - and I believe, went mad.”

Faiza stared, her hand going to her mouth. “I’m so sorry. That’s so...terrible!” She couldn’t imagine a parent hurting their child, even though she saw it far too often.

“I don’t believe I could process it.” Yuriko shook her head. “I mean, in this life, my father was distant, and somewhat tyrannical. But he was ill, and old, and I was all he had after Mother passed on. But he was no ... monster.” She shook her head.

“We’re not who we dream of, duck. There might be similarities, but as many people run away from it as they run towards it.” She grinned, giving Yuriko a spirited look. “You’re a good person. I’ve seen your heart, you know. No evil, there.”

“Have you?” Yuriko smiled shyly. “I do not mean to be evil, ever. Except perhaps the slightly naughty kind of evil which may be amusing with one’s gentleman friend.” She winked.

“Oh, even I have that sort of evil in my heart,” Faiza replied, her skin turning a deep shade of red. “But isn’t that... well that’s normal. I hope.”

“I think it is. I was meaning to joke.” Yuriko smiled a little more. “One of the reasons that I enjoy Turin’s company so much is that he tends to be ... dour.” Hopefully that was the right word. “I am often able to make him smile, and that is a rare pleasure for me.”

“Hopefully it becomes less rare, don’t you think? Something that, over time, you can bring out more and more.” She thought about it. “It’s nice to get Obi-wan to not be serious for a few minutes.”

“I certainly hope I can get him to be happier, and yet I would not wish to change him. Does that make sense?” Yuriko cocked her head. “He would not be Turin if he did not stop and think, and plan, and worry. To be honest, it is rather endearing at times.”

“It’s not like we want our men to change. Just be happy, and healthy.” She lifted her cuppa again to make a little toast. “Yours sounds really cute.”

“He is charming.” Yuriko grinned. “The first night we met, he was very existential and sad, but when we continued to talk, he cheered up. In truth, we have not known each other for a very long time, and yet I feel very little worry about agreeing to marry him.”

“Sometimes you just know. Sometimes you just meet that person and he does something to your insides that makes you all kinds of weak at the knees...” Faiza knew she sounded like a sap, but she didn’t care. “You meet them and feel complete.”

“This is so. Un.” Yuriko nodded emphatically. “I feel safe when I am with him.” It might have been sappy, yes, but it was also the truth.

She leaned her chin on her hands and grinned at Yuriko. “You two sound like you’ll be very happy together.”

“I certainly hope so.” Yuriko said simply. “He could have repudiated me utterly when I told him the truth. But he did not. It rather bodes well.”

“He loves you. And he’s a good person, I doubt he would have even if he didn’t love you,” Faiza said. At least he sounded like a good person. Who was she to judge?

“Nonetheless, I continue to feel blessed.” Yuriko smiled. “But I should not take up more of your time; I am certain you have more important things to do than see how I am faring.”

“You’re one of the important things.” She patted Yuriko’s hand. “But I really should get to business. This wasn’t entirely a social call after all!”

“What can I help you with? Or did you mean the business was to inquire after my welfare?” Yuriko looked over at her.

“Your welfare,” she said, blushing a little bit. “I wanted to make sure you were doing all right.”

Yuriko blushed too, but it was mostly because she was touched. “Thank you, Doctor. It may sound silly, but not many people look after me.” Hopefully she’d made a friend.

“You can count on me to look after you,” Faiza said gently. “That’s what friends do, isn’t it?”

“I am led to believe that’s so.” Yuriko teased gently. “Thank you, Doctor. It is kind of you to say. You should come to the wedding, since we are friends. Whenever it may occur.”

“I’d love that!” Faiza straightened, and beamed.

“Good. And bring your gentleman friend, when you have worked out your differences.” Yuriko said firmly. She believed they would work it out.

“I shall,” Faiza promised. On both counts.