Will we meet for dinner in elysium, my dear(Ami and Natsume)

[Bean Bandit]

Ami sweatdrops, flushing. "Nothing as dramatic as Natsume or Usagi's talents, though." she demurs, trying to keep track of the tangle of what Natsume's family knows, and what would give the game away.

[Anastasia]

Ami is starting to need to go to the bathroom. Timing figures, doesn't it?

"Really? If you are willing, could we see a display of your talent after dinner," he asks, curious now. "It's so rare these days to see youths with such skill in these matters."

[Midnight Sun]

'Good, I think grandfather is starting to take a liking to her,' Natsume thought. 'If all goes well...maybe when I tell him the truth the impact won't be so hard.'

[Bean Bandit]

Ami squirms a bit, the sudden, slight pressure on her bladder only adding to her discomfort.

"Uhm...if you like." Ami agrees shyly, glancing nervously at Natsume before nodding. Of all the times...should I hold...No, best not to tempt fate. "Forgive me for the poor timing, but may I be excused for a moment?"

[Anastasia]

"Go ahead," Grandfather nods, starting o his owm meal right after.

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods and gets up from the table, and hurries to the bathroom. Without, of course, looking like she was hurrying. She hoped.

[Midnight Sun]

Natsume watches Ami get up and leave. As she exits the room she breathes an internal sigh of relief. So far, so good...

"So...what do you think?" Natsume asks grandfather in a bit too cryptic a manner.

[Anastasia]

After a few bites of his meal, "She seems like a nice enough girl," he ventures. "Are you thinking of learning from her?"

[Midnight Sun]

"Ahh, y...yes! I am! She is really very intelligent, and I think I could learn alot from her," Natsume says, with a bit of a nervous laugh. "I...was hoping she would meet your approval. I'm...so glad..."

[Anastasia]

"I don't see any objection, should her talents be in order," he agrees. "Which we'll see after dinner. I'd rather you took up with one of my friend's grandchildren, but if she can teach you well...so be it."

[Midnight Sun]

"Oh, I'm sure Ami is just as good if not better," Natsume says. She knew very little about grandfather's 'friends', but from what little knowledge she did possess, she had no interest in any kind of training with them. "Her abilities certainly are not the norm."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami quietly pads back into the dining room, and resumes her seat, nodding sheepishly as she sits, and quietly resuming her meal.

[Midnight Sun]

Natsume eyes dart back and forth between everyone present as they all eat in silence. She is at a temporary loss as to how to break the lull until...

"I've been meaning to ask, Ami. I know your mother is a doctor, but what does your father do?" Natsume asks. "I realize its an odd question, but I was curious."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami smiles a little wanly. "He's an artist, actually." she says slowly. "I don't know what he's doing now, though. I haven't seen him since I was very little."

[Midnight Sun]

"Ah, I see," she said. Ami's situation certainly felt all too familiar. "I'm...sorry."