Maria has never been known as being good at telling jokes. In fact, she tried to stay quite clear of the subject altogether. She sipped her tea waiting for any kind of recognition that her self-deprecating humor was effective. He would deny her on all counts. In fact, he seemed even more quiet than usual as if withdrawing into himself. Clearly he hadn’t caught that she meant she was acting like the giant and him like the proper gentleman. She sipped her tea again, this time more pensive.

She was so close to something she thought would be an actual connection. Would she have prefer someone more dashingly handsome? Probably. Someone more easy to talk to? At this point, given the fact he just iced her joke, most definitely. However, despite of, or perhaps in spite of, his frightful exterior she was determined not to give up this spot. Maria Leung de Almeida was not a quitter.

He finally chose to speak though, reminding her that she wasn’t just there by herself with her cup of tea. For as big as Kiyoshi was, he certainly had a talent for making himself invisible. A deal? Maria thought for a moment, pouring them both another cup. She had lost enough face in front of him, not that she was even sure a giant had such a concept, that she probably couldn’t lose anything else by going a few rounds. If anyone could handle what she wanted to really throw at someone, it would probably be him.

“I look forward to it then, Kiyoshi-kun,” her voice soft, dark, and foreboding, low and mumbled into her teacup - the first genuine sign of emotion she let out in quite some time. “Tell…how is the tea?” She asked. As long as Kiyoshi allowed it, she would continue to spend the afternoon with him drinking tea in relative silence.

@Kiyoshi Sato