((Jasper Bustamante continued from Everyday is Great at Your Junes))
Cheryl's: one of the best restaurants in Kingman. Jasper and his family used to eat here a lot, though his parents stopped bringing them after the whole food poisoning thing. But that was all in the past, and Jasper could freely eat here without fearing for the welfare of his weak stomach. His parents were out that evening, so he figured that he (and by extension, Hannah) could eat dinner here.
The two of them stepped into the restaurant. "Aah, haven't been here in a while," Jasper said, turning to his sister. "Do you remember eating here, Hannah? With nanay, tatay and Lolo Sol?"
Hannah looked around and shrugged. "Not really. I was like...six or seven when we last ate here."
Jasper smiled. "Well, that's true, but you'd be surprised at how much you brain can remember," He playfully tapped his temple. "Maybe stuff'll come back to you soon." Hannah didn't reply, and just kept looking around. It was always awkward whenever he and Hannah were alone together. They'd gotten along so well as kids, but now...yeesh.
He tried not to let his awkwardness show as the two settled down in a booth, sitting across from each other. As he sat down, Jasper did what hw always did in awkward situations: pull out his phone. He opened the camera, snapped a quick selfie, then immediately went to Twitter.
Jay Jay @fisda916 now
Eating out tonight! Ready for a good meal (0u0)
Expand Reply Retweet Favorite More
That would work. He scrolled through the app for a moment, sitting with his sister in silence. He hoped something- or someone- would save him from this awkward experience.
Sibling Apathy
Sibling Apathy
((Raina Rose Pregame Start))
Figuring out what to do for dinner when both her parents were going to be working late had always been an interesting affair for Raina. Her parents sometimes had both the time and inclination to fix something and leave it in the fridge for their kids, but more often than not they were left to their own devices to make something from what was there or to go and get it themselves. When she was younger, she and Leila had endured Cameron's cooking (canned chicken noodle soup was his specialty), and then a seemingly never-ending parade of delivery pizza, Chinese take-out, and whatever the "healthy" options at Taco Bell were at the time. Things improved massively when Cameron got his driver's license and a job, and the possibility of going somewhere beyond walking distance for a full meal became an option. Raina had quite a few fond memories of squeezing into a booth next to her brother and sister and sharing an appetizer plate at Cheryl's, hiatus due to the food poisoning incidents notwithstanding.
Those fond memories were primarily what lead her to take Leila downtown this evening, along with a craving for some loaded potato skins and ranch that had been steadily building all afternoon. Raina had been trying to eat healthier lately, at her parents' insistence that it would do a little to make up for her sedentary lifestyle and sleep troubles, so salty, starchy things like that had been out of the question. She felt that she was due for a little reward tonight, though, and if she got her way that reward was going to come loaded with cheese and bacon.
It was still early enough that Cheryl's wasn't too crowded, letting Raina and Leila grab an unoccupied table without any trouble. Neither of them needed to give the menu more than a cursory glance to know what they were going to order, so Raina rested her chin on her hand and looked around at the other patrons while they waited. She spotted Jasper, that sort of cute Filipino - or was he Polynesian? - guy from a few of her classes, and she sent him a friendly wave when she caught his eye. Looked like he'd had the same idea about taking his sister out to eat.
Figuring out what to do for dinner when both her parents were going to be working late had always been an interesting affair for Raina. Her parents sometimes had both the time and inclination to fix something and leave it in the fridge for their kids, but more often than not they were left to their own devices to make something from what was there or to go and get it themselves. When she was younger, she and Leila had endured Cameron's cooking (canned chicken noodle soup was his specialty), and then a seemingly never-ending parade of delivery pizza, Chinese take-out, and whatever the "healthy" options at Taco Bell were at the time. Things improved massively when Cameron got his driver's license and a job, and the possibility of going somewhere beyond walking distance for a full meal became an option. Raina had quite a few fond memories of squeezing into a booth next to her brother and sister and sharing an appetizer plate at Cheryl's, hiatus due to the food poisoning incidents notwithstanding.
Those fond memories were primarily what lead her to take Leila downtown this evening, along with a craving for some loaded potato skins and ranch that had been steadily building all afternoon. Raina had been trying to eat healthier lately, at her parents' insistence that it would do a little to make up for her sedentary lifestyle and sleep troubles, so salty, starchy things like that had been out of the question. She felt that she was due for a little reward tonight, though, and if she got her way that reward was going to come loaded with cheese and bacon.
It was still early enough that Cheryl's wasn't too crowded, letting Raina and Leila grab an unoccupied table without any trouble. Neither of them needed to give the menu more than a cursory glance to know what they were going to order, so Raina rested her chin on her hand and looked around at the other patrons while they waited. She spotted Jasper, that sort of cute Filipino - or was he Polynesian? - guy from a few of her classes, and she sent him a friendly wave when she caught his eye. Looked like he'd had the same idea about taking his sister out to eat.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
Jasper let his eyes wander around the restaurant as they waited for a waiter. He glanced through the sea of customers when one of them made eye contact with him. She stuck out of the crowd, with blue hair and an eccentric-but-cool wardrobe. She was waving at him, and Jasper's face lit up in recognition.
Raina! Jasper was familiar with her - he shared a few classes with her at school. They were acquaintances at best, and Jasper didn't know much about her. But they were on good enough terms to greet each other in public. Jasper waved back, maybe a little too enthusiastically. He wondered if he should invite her over to sit down. It'd give him someone to talk to while waiting, and lighten the atmosphere a little. She was sitting with what looked like her sister, and four people could fit comfortably in the booth. The more the merrier, Jasper always said.
Heck, maybe Hannah could make a new friend, too. They looked around the same age to him.
Raina! Jasper was familiar with her - he shared a few classes with her at school. They were acquaintances at best, and Jasper didn't know much about her. But they were on good enough terms to greet each other in public. Jasper waved back, maybe a little too enthusiastically. He wondered if he should invite her over to sit down. It'd give him someone to talk to while waiting, and lighten the atmosphere a little. She was sitting with what looked like her sister, and four people could fit comfortably in the booth. The more the merrier, Jasper always said.
Heck, maybe Hannah could make a new friend, too. They looked around the same age to him.
Jasper's sister must not be the best conversational partner, judging by how happy he seemed to see Raina. Leila seemed to be absorbed in whatever game she was playing on her phone when Raina glanced over, so she scooted her chair around the side of the table so that she could talk to Jasper without leaning into the walkway or yelling.
"Hey, how's it going? Just the two of you, or are you waiting on someone?" She couldn't remember off the top of her head what kinds of things Jasper did for fun or anything, so making small talk before they found a more appropriate topic seemed like the best bet. She was pretty sure he was into something science-y, but not the exactly the same science-y things that she was.
"Hey, how's it going? Just the two of you, or are you waiting on someone?" She couldn't remember off the top of her head what kinds of things Jasper did for fun or anything, so making small talk before they found a more appropriate topic seemed like the best bet. She was pretty sure he was into something science-y, but not the exactly the same science-y things that she was.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
She didn't come over to sit, but she did edge closer for them to talk. God bless.
"Heya Raina!" Jasper beamed, scooting over to the edge of the booth. "I've been pretty good," He replied. "And yeah, it's just me and her tonight." He tilted his head towards Hannah, who had her earbuds in and her eyes glued on her phone. She didn't notice Raina, and probably wouldn't mind if they came over. She could adjust to two more people sitting at their table. If she wasn't up for conversation, she could just ignore them, too.
But enough about Hannah. "But how have you been doing? You just here with your sister too?" Taking your little sister to Cheryl's for dinner seemed to be a trend tonight. Well, you can't have a trend with two people, but hey, maybe someone else will join them with their little sister. Jasper doubted they'd be able to fit in the booth comfortably, though.
"Heya Raina!" Jasper beamed, scooting over to the edge of the booth. "I've been pretty good," He replied. "And yeah, it's just me and her tonight." He tilted his head towards Hannah, who had her earbuds in and her eyes glued on her phone. She didn't notice Raina, and probably wouldn't mind if they came over. She could adjust to two more people sitting at their table. If she wasn't up for conversation, she could just ignore them, too.
But enough about Hannah. "But how have you been doing? You just here with your sister too?" Taking your little sister to Cheryl's for dinner seemed to be a trend tonight. Well, you can't have a trend with two people, but hey, maybe someone else will join them with their little sister. Jasper doubted they'd be able to fit in the booth comfortably, though.
Raina nodded. "Yep, our parents are gonna be out late tonight and I've been dying for something to clog up my arteries with lately, so here we are. I'll have to remember to Snapchat Cameron pictures of our food so he'll be jealous." She let out a small laugh at the the idea of taunting him with their greasy, particularly Kingman-style food. Trendy healthy places and whatever sports bars he might be hitting up with his friends were nice, but there was something about local cuisine, such as it was, that you missed no matter how much you liked other places.
She toyed with a napkin, absently nodding along to the faint strains of music coming from Jasper's sister's headphones. "Do you have any older siblings? I forget if I've asked that before." She nudged Leila with her foot. "Hey you, don't be rude." Leila grudgingly put her phone away and gave Jasper a smile and wave.
She toyed with a napkin, absently nodding along to the faint strains of music coming from Jasper's sister's headphones. "Do you have any older siblings? I forget if I've asked that before." She nudged Leila with her foot. "Hey you, don't be rude." Leila grudgingly put her phone away and gave Jasper a smile and wave.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
"Nah, I'm the eldest," Jasper replied. "It's just me and Hannah." Jasper didn't mind being the eldest. He always had to be responsible for Hannah in his parents' absence, but he didn't mind that. Jasper couldn't think of what it would be like to have an older sibling: it was such a broad label, ranging from cool role models to assholes you butted heads with. If his relationship with a hypothetical older sibling was like him and Hannah, it wouldn't be too bad.
He nodded and smiled as Leila (begrudgingly) greeted him, and thought he'd prompt his sister to do the same. He leaned over and tapped her shoulder, motioning towards the other two. "Hey, Hannah, this is my classmate Raina and her sister!" Hannah looked up at them and gave them a polite smile and nod before looking back down at her phone. Guess she wasn't much for conversation.
He nodded and smiled as Leila (begrudgingly) greeted him, and thought he'd prompt his sister to do the same. He leaned over and tapped her shoulder, motioning towards the other two. "Hey, Hannah, this is my classmate Raina and her sister!" Hannah looked up at them and gave them a polite smile and nod before looking back down at her phone. Guess she wasn't much for conversation.
Raina shrugged and gave Jasper a "what can you do?" look, leaning forward to rest her arms on the table. She glanced up to make sure that her potato skins weren't getting delivered without her before turning her attention back to Jasper. "What've you been up to, besides coming out tonight? Seen or heard anything interesting?"
They'd never been in any of the same clubs or anything, but maybe it would turn out they had a few intersecting interests anyway. God knew she could stand to reconnect with some of her classmates after her more... let's say turbulent actions in the past year or two. She didn't regret most of what she'd said and done, even if it had rubbed some people the wrong way. You couldn't change anyone's mind about things without pushing them out of their comfort zone at least a little bit.
But anyway, Raina didn't think that she and Jasper would end up arguing here, unless he suddenly decided he wanted to talk politics for whatever reason. She'd be surprised if that was the case, since she'd never known him to be particularly outspoken about it before. Hopefully they could just have some nice small talk over dinner.
They'd never been in any of the same clubs or anything, but maybe it would turn out they had a few intersecting interests anyway. God knew she could stand to reconnect with some of her classmates after her more... let's say turbulent actions in the past year or two. She didn't regret most of what she'd said and done, even if it had rubbed some people the wrong way. You couldn't change anyone's mind about things without pushing them out of their comfort zone at least a little bit.
But anyway, Raina didn't think that she and Jasper would end up arguing here, unless he suddenly decided he wanted to talk politics for whatever reason. She'd be surprised if that was the case, since she'd never known him to be particularly outspoken about it before. Hopefully they could just have some nice small talk over dinner.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
"Oh, nothing much," Jasper admitted. "It's just been school for the past week. Haven't gotten much time to do anything noteworthy." As sociable as he was, Jasper did not go out much. He spent a lot of his time outside school at home and on the internet. He'd chat on social media, watch other YouTubers, do leisurely research on marine biology, or just aimlessly surf. He actually did quite a lot of things, but he could sum it all up as "being on the computer". A boring phrase Jasper decided not to bring up.
But he did plan on filming a vlog this weekend. He didn't know if he should mention it. He could always keep the nature of the channel vague, but he knew that Raina would want to see it herself. She was only an acquaintance, and he didn't want her to know about half the stuff he was open about on YouTube.
So Jasper fell back on his staple conversation topic: marine biology.
"But I did read about something interesting lately," Jasper continued, grinning. God, he loved talking about this stuff. "Did you know that coral can be used in bone grafts? They're structurally similar, and putting in the coral saves time, because they usually have to preform a surgery to take a bone out for a bone graft, but if you use coral you don't even need that first procedure!"
But he did plan on filming a vlog this weekend. He didn't know if he should mention it. He could always keep the nature of the channel vague, but he knew that Raina would want to see it herself. She was only an acquaintance, and he didn't want her to know about half the stuff he was open about on YouTube.
So Jasper fell back on his staple conversation topic: marine biology.
"But I did read about something interesting lately," Jasper continued, grinning. God, he loved talking about this stuff. "Did you know that coral can be used in bone grafts? They're structurally similar, and putting in the coral saves time, because they usually have to preform a surgery to take a bone out for a bone graft, but if you use coral you don't even need that first procedure!"
"Wow, really?" That was it, Jasper was the one who was into all of that marine stuff. Raina had always been more drawn to the sterile, mathematical side of science over the squishy bits, so to speak, but seeing someone get enthusiastic about the field they loved was always fun. "That sounds complicated, though. Like, what if the patient's body rejects the coral? Can it do that, or is that only for organs?" She was pretty sure that bone marrow transplants could get rejected, at least, but it sounded like bone grafts were something else.
"Speaking of medical breakthroughs, have you heard that some big hospitals are using robots to perform surgery now? It's really good for delicate things, like if a baby needs a procedure, because the robots can have instruments that are much more precise than the ones people can use."
"Speaking of medical breakthroughs, have you heard that some big hospitals are using robots to perform surgery now? It's really good for delicate things, like if a baby needs a procedure, because the robots can have instruments that are much more precise than the ones people can use."
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
"I think rejection only happens to organs, yeah." Jasper replied. "Although bone grafts eventually dissolve because it's more of a placeholder. This was the problem with coral, but someone managed to refine coral so that it would biodegrade." He wasn't completely sure about all this. He'd read the articles a little over a week ago, and some of the details were lost on him. Refining sea coral and human surgery fell outside of the realm of marine biology, anyway.
Jasper 'ooh'ed in response to Raina's fact, eyes going wide. "That's incredible!" He exclaimed, a little too loud. "It's still so wild that we can just make things to do stuff like that. Makes me wonder what else we'll trust robots to do."
Jasper 'ooh'ed in response to Raina's fact, eyes going wide. "That's incredible!" He exclaimed, a little too loud. "It's still so wild that we can just make things to do stuff like that. Makes me wonder what else we'll trust robots to do."
"Who knows? As long as people can get over the idea that the robots are going to overthrow us one day, I think the possibilities are almost limitless." Raina caught movement in the corner of her eye and lifted an eager hand as her potato skins were delivered. She bit down gingerly on the end of one, trying to avoid burning her mouth. Man, that hit the spot even if it did burn her a little. Salt and cheese and bacon, mmm.
As an afterthought, she nudged her plate towards Jasper and his sister, not minding as Leila stole a potato skin as well. "Want one?"
As an afterthought, she nudged her plate towards Jasper and his sister, not minding as Leila stole a potato skin as well. "Want one?"
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
Limitless, huh? Jasper's mind wandered into the far future, where robots and A.I. were as common and vital as electricity. But as Jasper thought about it more, wasn't A.I. already common place? He looked down at his phone. Was Siri technically an A.I.? Maybe in the most basic sense. Jasper knew next to nothing about robots, so he couldn't be sure.
Then Raina's order of potato skins came in. "Well don't mind if I do~" Jasper replied, taking one. "Thanks." Potato skins were more of his dad's thing, but Jasper liked them on occasion. As he munched on one, it dawned on him that nobody had taken their orders yet.
Then Raina's order of potato skins came in. "Well don't mind if I do~" Jasper replied, taking one. "Thanks." Potato skins were more of his dad's thing, but Jasper liked them on occasion. As he munched on one, it dawned on him that nobody had taken their orders yet.
Raina happily munched on her potato skin, watching as Jasper glanced around for a server. "Kind of a slow night, huh?" It was a good night, though. She had her sister, and she had a friend (and his sister, even if she didn't seem too interested in what was going on around her). She had good food and atmosphere, and no worries hanging over her head.
Times like these were almost enough to make her think she'd miss Kingman once she left it behind.
((Raina Rose continued 4649お願いします!))
Times like these were almost enough to make her think she'd miss Kingman once she left it behind.
((Raina Rose continued 4649お願いします!))
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
"I guess so," Jasper admitted. He figured that there was too many people around tonight, and maybe the wait staff just missed him and his sister. He was starting to get worried. How long were they going to wait?
He considered mooching another potato skin off Raina in the mean time.
((Jasper Bustamante continued elsewhere))
He considered mooching another potato skin off Raina in the mean time.
((Jasper Bustamante continued elsewhere))