Cracked Glass, Broken Mirrors [Asami, Lerna]

How long had it been since she last spent a bit of time with Asami?

It had been...quite a year to be honest. Man....had it really almost been a year since she became a Shinigami? Her work down in the world of the living made things fly by, and the classes at the shino academy only furthered that feeling. Learning to communicate with her Zanpaku'to had been .... crazy and a half. She hadn't....quite made as many friends as she had hoped. But frankly, the friends she DID have were pretty solid.

When she arrived there was.... a pretty immediate pause as she made her way into the shop, her head canting to the side. Repressing the urge to flick her tongue. The sound of cooking already hitting her ears as she poked her head in and spotted her teacher working away. A big smile spreading across her face, despite the sliver of concern about the ....energy with which the woman worked. IT wasn't quite the .... calm, that Asami usually conducted herself with. And it had her a bit on edge.

[color:14e7=

[color=orchid]"Long time no see! You shoulda told me to come earlier I woulda helped ya." She greeted the woman with a gentle chuckle, slipping inside and watching as the woman worked, taking a moment to move off to the side and wash her hands. Fully intent on helping of course. All while in the back of her mind she tried to ....figure out what was up with her teacher.

The blonde tilted her head just a little, and furrowed her brows as the ...rather unnatural-sounding line spilled out of Asami. "Yea... it was.... uh....not really my style... Also the staring at my chest got a little old fast." She murmured softly, her brows furrowing as she herself sounded very clearly distracted as she stared at her teacher.

She was quiet for several long moments before finally she made her way over to Asami and gently set a hand n the woman's shoulder, moving in beside her, not restraining her but still trying to get the woman to hold still for just a moment as she took a moment to look the woman in the face. "Asami..... is everything alright?" She asked softly, her voice firm, but gentle as she did. Maybe it would have been more ....polite to sortof let things shift at their own pace. But well, subtlty was never Lerna's strong suit. SOMETHING was up, and so, she wanted to figure out what it was.

Lerna noticed that bristle, but she was entirely unphased by it. No flinching or anything like that, pretty understanding if Asami tried to just shake her off or whatever. If nothing else, she knew Humans could be like that. But thankfully that wsn't the case. She watched the tension slip off of those shoulders and the woman infront of her sighed and seemed to capitulate.

She messed up? She raised a brow slightly at that and furrowed her brows. At first she was a little confused, that was.... until the woman elaborated.

Aaaaaaaaaaaah.

She'd heard that phrasing enough times before to know that this was one of those mating problems. Frankly, the gusto and relentlessness of how horny Shinigami were had been something of a surprise to Lerna. And she thought Hollows had been degenerates. But she wasn't gonna say some crazy shit like that, rather, she nodded in understanding. "I see.....I see. I guess that kinda stuff happens to the best of us." She murmured. Briefly, she considered a line like 'Well this is pretty common, right'? but that felt a bit .... too soon. Throwing the fact that this had been very likely from the start of .....whatever she'd been engaged in, probably wasn't the move.

"So this thing you messed up with. You uh... want me to beat his or her ass?" She ventured. If it was some of the students she probably COULD. Frankly she kinda felt like she could probably take some of the teachers even. Especially that Henrex guy, guy looked like he'd fall over from a stiff breeze, heh. Oh man, she hoped it wasn't THAT guy that she was all torn up about. All the same, she gently guided Asami to the nearest chair so she could sit down, Lerna herself just squatting down and resting her elbows on her thighs.

"Whatever happened it wasn't just YOUR fault. Whats that saying.... it takes Two to Tango? So it's half their fault too. So come on, lets see at least half of that frown turn into a smile huh? You take a seat, get some uh.... booze? Milk? To calm you down. And I'll handle the cookin for the evening. That sound alright?" She asked with a big confident grin. Did she think she could cook nearly as well as Asami? Hell no. But she could at least make something simple.

Shit that usually worked. She paused....watching Asami as the woman spoke about this little....altercation. IT still wasn't very clear what happened but there were...hints at least. 'What could have been'? IT sounded like the woman was thinking about the future or something? What, offspring? Or just ... making things serious? It definitely SOUNDED like she aughta cave this guy's face in. But well, Asami made her feelings clear on all of that. She rubbed the back of her head, entirely unaware that Asami wondered if Lerna had such feelings. Which well, while rude, was kinda reasonable. She didn't have much of a response to that. She just...watched Asami roll around a little, before her own head started to bob in unison with Asami's. Typical snake behavior.

"Alright, food it is." She noted, grinning just a little as she promptly stood up and held her hand out to help Asami get up and off her feet. Even letting the woman lean on her shoulder as she promptly paid for what Asami had already eaten and tipped before helping guide the woman out. "I know you got like fancy noble kitchens probably, but we're gonna go to my place, got it? I got JUST the thing that's gonna cheer you up." She pointed out with a roguish grin. Heh, she may not have been very good at cooking in general, especially unfamiliar dishes. But there was one food she absolutely EXCELLED at making. After all, it was what she enjoyed most. The very first dish she'd ever learned to make. Her secret weapon. Heheh~

Lerna perked up when she felt Asami's hand snare her own,a nd certainly she was happy to grasp it back, even sortof pleased that she had the assistance accepted. It felt nice that she had somewhat formed some kinda friendship .....thing with Asami. Despite the dynamic logistics of her being her teacher. But well, she wasn't too worried about that. All she cared about was getting Asami to her place. It was just like Asami might have expected. Maybe?

It was fairly spartan. No real personal belongings to be seen. There was evidence of having been lived in. A few things out of place here and there, certainly a uniform or two off to the side rather than properly put in a hamper or something. But by and large, it just seemed like a ...lightly lived in space. Once inside, Lerna would grin and gesture around. "Welcome to the casa! Here we have a LOVELY tenth century lounge sofa." She regaled, gesturing to what was very obviously just some cheap couch she'd gotten shipped here from the world of the living. Definitely not antique, but it would be pretty clear this was a bit.

"Perfect for resting one's head whilst dinner is prepared." She noted, making sure Asami got a chance to lay down before promptly she scooted off to the kitchen! Grinning from ear to ear as she got to work, plenty of gusto behind her as she started. It wasn't anything insane, but soon the smell of rice and meat filled the small living space. It was nothing special. Or even all that insanely flavorful. But Asami would get a nice comfy seat to see little flashes of Lerna moving around, hunching over the stove, or rummaging around for things. It wasn't anything that took very long, and before Asami could say 'Montage', Lerna emerged from the little kitchenette with a serving platter of cooked rice and Beef Stirfry, grinning as if she'd prepared something on a Five Star menu. Proud as all hell of herself as she promptly set the platter on the coffee table and made plates for both of them. So that if they wanted seconds they wouldn't have to get up. Promptly, Lerna would ....settle next to asami, in whatever....laying or sitting configuration the woman had chosen. Watching eagerly to see how her meal was accepted!