The flight from here to there [Kirks saga, Elise]

It was a bit unexpected, the sudden call from Kirk and the request that accompanied it. While she knew that Kirk's grandfather had been dealing with complications to his health, it appeared the decision had been made for him to return to his homeland to receive further medical attention there. It was an understandable decision after all most people prefered to get treatment at home rather than somewhere far away. Of course, there had been some concerns about the journey, so Kirk's request for her to join him on taking his grandfather to the airport was one she had gladly accepted. She had made a bit of extra effort, consulting the man's medical file to ensure there would be no complications during the journey. So far things seemed favorable, the man's condition was stable and he was healthy enough to make the journey, but due to the fact that when it came to medical matters she was not the type to make unneeded risks, the Germanic lass had decided to request a nurse to accompany him on the plane.

She was quietly walking beside the rather loud duo, a smile on her lips that was without a doubt brought forth from the events of the night prior since Tetsuko had been staying over. Still, when the man pointed his stick at her and called her a 'darn schoolgirl' the Eisenberg lass couldn't help but snicker softly at the statement. It had been quite a while since she had been called that, especially now that she was working as a member of the Public Safety Commission. When Kirk thanked her for accepting the call Elise shook her head lightly in return. "Don't worry about it Kirk~ I'm certain you would have done the same for me. It's a pity Tetsu couldn't join us, but she had some paperwork for the committee to do."

Raising a hand to her cheek she gazed at Kirk's grandfather and mused softly. "Your grandfather's condition is stable, so the journey should be able to happen without any complications, but for safety measures, there will be a nurse onboard."

Still, the sudden question from the elderly man and Kirk's reaction earned a soft giggle from Elise. "I wouldn't be too sure about that Kirk~ You taught me some very 'interesting' things~" The Germanic lass mused softly, knowing it would earn a reaction out of the pair which she followed up with a warm smile. "I think it is because of what Kirk calls the 'Bro Code', real friends stick with each other through the good times and the bad times, all the way till the end of time~"

Still, she couldn't help but smile at the energetic behavior of the elderly man, it reminded her of how energetic her own grandparents are, and it was those type of people she tended to get along with quite well. Still, it did make for an amusing scene at the airport as some of the passengers at the airport looked in amusement at the arrival of the group.

Elise nodded her head with a smile, knowing all too well that Kirk was the type of guy who would jump at the chance to help a friend in need. However, when he mentioned that being in a leading position took time off his day she couldn't help but feel a bit guilty for the teenager. She couldn't help but wonder if she would had been able to make his burden lighter if she had stayed at the academy, but then again there was no use crying over spilled milk. She had chosen her own path, her own road to walk and it was in the end the best for everyone, she was confident that Kirk understood that. When Kirk's grandpa started inquiring about Tetsuko Elise chimed in with a bright smile. "mhmm~ Tetsuko Shindou, she is my lover and childhood friend, but I tend to call her Tetsu~ Although I totally understand the confusion with Japanese names, it's likely the German side of me protesting in confusion~"

She smiled apologetically at Kirk's grandfather who seemed quite grumpy at the prospect of a nurse being around to tag along with him. "Don't worry Doohan, while I might call her a nurse, you won't be seeing a pretty lady in a nurse outfit tending your needs~ She is going to be traveling along wearing regular clothing and will only step in if you call for her or seem to be in problems. Although we understand your desire to be independent, and your medical health is stable, we got to make sure you get back safely so you can watch your Grandson become a great hero~" Trying to encourage the old man, the moment that followed as Doohan exchanged words with Kirk made her chuckle briefly, at least things still seemed to be going well.

Of course, the teaser in Elise couldn't help but find amusement in the reaction of the elderly man who glared at Kirk, ready to put his grandson on the spot, but as she clarified further she smiled gently. "Trust is important in a team, and so is a leader who can unite them, that's why I think the Sports Club is in such a fine state with Kirk leading them." It was not just a compliment, it was a genuine truth that came from the girl's lips.

Soon the three of them arrived at port 2, and for a moment Elise's eyes wandered among the people already there, and a light nod was made by the girl, who actually signaled she had spotted the nurse who was traveling along with the flight. The sudden question made Elise look back at Kirk and smile briefly at him. "Aside from my apprenticeship at the Public Safety Commission I been preparing a new song~ Keep it a secret for now but seems they want me to perform at the National Stadium and a very special guest will be joining me~" She grinned briefly at him and when hearing about her grandparents nodded her head lightly. "They been doing well~ I heard last time they went to North Pole, something about searching for polar bears?"

Elise nodded her head sheepishly in return to Doohan's comment. "My grandmother is Japanese on my father's side, grandfather is German and my parents are both German~ No idea what that makes me, I guess German with some Japanese flavoring?" She laughed heartily, yet hearing Doohan quip into calling her and Tetsu "Progressive friends" earned a light blush from the young lady, who couldn't help but grin sheepishly. Still, she couldn't help but wonder if something was off when Doohan went quiet after her encouraging words.

Elise nodded her head lightly at the mentioning of the bar. "Haha~ no Tetsu won't be singing, she would be too embarrassed for such a thing, my mentor of sorts when it comes to music is going to be singing the lyrics of a new song I wrote." The explanation made her smile briefly as Kirk soon inquired about the whole artist name. "Mhmm~ I stuck with the name 'Tetsu no Shugotenshi', seems ever since the Fourth Corner's event people came to call me that~" Elise explained with an awkward smile, scratching the back of her head as she tried to figure out how to continue the conversation.

When Doohan mentioned something about a situation, Elise tilted her head slightly to the side in confusion. "Something happened to you Kirk? Please don't tell me someone was dumb enough to try to bully you, I'd whack them straight into the air with a Shoryuken if they did!"

Yeah right, as if anyone was dumb enough to try to bully Kirk... Elise tilted her head slightly to the side as Kirk started to explain what had been bothering him... "Dipping biscuits?" Not really aware of the slang's nature, Elise seemed entirely bewildered by the situation. "Umm..." Pondering a bit more the girl lowered a hand inside her pocket and withdrew what appeared a small bag of crackers. "I don't have any biscuits, but if you want we can crack some crackers together? But in return you have to explain what Dipping the biscuit is, and why it seems to be so funny~"

Poor Kirk, it seemed like this situation was still far from over!

At first Elise couldn't help but find herself hopelessly confused at the situation. Perhaps it was her foreigner origins, of a Germanic girl who grew up in Japan and most of her contact had been limited to her family and Tetsuko that the existence of such a slang entirely escaped her. Although it seemed Elise unknowingly was adding more fuel to the fire. "Nonsense~ I know you well enough that you aren't the type to bully someone. In fact, if you're willing to dip biscuits with them you must be quite friendly with the person?" Of course Elise was totally assuming the meaning had been literal.

Of course, Elise's confusion was made even more complete when she offered to 'Crack some Crackers' with Kirk, which led to Kirk's grandfather to burst out in a laughing fit and Kirk to admit that he had angered one of his pals in the process by doing so.

Fortunately for Kirk, the words spoken by the elderly man finally made the figurative lightbulb in Elise's head lit up. "Ah..." A ritual to become a man, something you can't do with just anyone and need to use tact and technique in order to carry it out. "I do like iced tea during summer, and a nice cup of tea during the winter helps immensely to ensure I sleep well~" Although when Doohan inquired about whether he had already dipped the biscuit, Elise's gaze shifted to Kirk and she seemed very, very attentive. "Couldn't kick the ball into the goal hmm?" Elise smiled weakly, almost sympathetical at Kirk, as if she tried to console him in her own way. "Don't worry Kirk~ life isn't just a single penalty shoot, you'll get more chances down the line." yet Doohan's comment about tea and biscuits, now that Elise understood the meaning of the saying earned a sheepish smile from her, and a very strong blush as she recalled a certain memory. "I... wouldn't call myself that experienced, I'm very selective in the tea I dip my biscuits in~"

Of course, when Doohan commented being peckish, Elise happily extended the bag of crackers to him. "There you go~ Something for on the plane~" Elise chimed softly, knowing well enough that it was almost time for Doohan to get on the plane. Of course, for now, she allowed Kirk to lead the conversation again, till one of the flight personnel spotted Kirk's grandfather and reminded the duo the flight would depart soon.

Watching the elderly man getting ready to board the flight Elise couldn't help but muse softly. "Your grandfather is quite an interesting person, isn't he Kirk?" She smiled gently at Kirk upon his return from saying his farewells to Doohan, upon which she gently spun around on the ball of her heels, taking a few steps as she gazed upwards and asked him a question the teenager might had dreaded to come to pass. "Say Kirk~" She paused for a bit and then continued. "Do you... love Tetsu?"

Elise chuckled softly at Kirk's description of his grandfather. She could see that despite the hardships the two had experienced, they genuinely cared for one another, and perhaps it was for that reason she understood why he lacked that usual cheer behind his response. "Last I checked you didn't get an airplane ticket yourself, so it's natural they stopped you." She spoke briefly in jest till they arrived at that subject. For Elise it briefly felt like the world had come to a halt, to have Kirk admit the thing Elise had once dreaded, feared even was brought to the front. In a way, perhaps it was needed for them to have this conversation. For when Tetsuko had given him the title of 'right-hand bro', it was evident that the trust and friendship between the three of them was mutual, and yet it was different from the bond between herself and Tetsu.

Elise's gaze which was lifted upwards slowly lowered as she turned around to face Kirk and smiled gently at him. "I see." She paused for a bit, her gaze shifting to a nearby aisle which was unoccupied, and walking over to it she gestured lightly at it. "Thank you for being honest with me Kirk, and in a way I'm sorry you had to experience something like that." She leaned back lightly on the seat she had taken and closed her eyes. "I, I'm not sure what words to use, because it's difficult to express. I get that there are people who might say that love isn't restrained by a number, but... to me my bond with Tetsu is special, it goes beyond the concept of lovers. But then again, you only know that we are childhood friends, don't you?"

She turned to Kirk and shook her head lightly. "And yet that doesn't begin to describe it. My family moved to Japan while I was still eight years old, of course it was a change, a new country where I knew nobody at all and a land of foreign language and traditions. I... used to struggle a lot, you see my hometown was quite old-fashioned and Quirkers like me and my brother didn't really receive the nicest of treatments so when we moved to Japan I tried my best to get along with everyone, to the point I always tried to take things with a smile, but that just led to people to consider me a faker, someone who never was honest with others."

She sighed gently and resumed to speak. "I had to deal with a lot of bullying, and because of my quirk it was hard to show any proof, so I had this habit that when things became too harsh for me to bear, I would hide behind the gym, and only then allowed my feelings to show. It was at such a time, when a group of bullies had chased me to my hiding spot that she first appeared in my life, yes... just like a knight from a fairy-tale."

She smiled at the nostalgia as she continued with a more cheerful tone. "Tetsu was already like that even as a child, caring about being just and fair, and she would never allow such a slight to go unpunished. Ever since she saved me that day I became her spoiled little princess and she was my beloved knight."

She chuckled briefly, leaning a bit forward as she swayed her legs lightly against the seat. "Although what I am trying to say here is..." She went quiet for a bit, trying her utmost to figure out what to say and yet the words didn't come. What could she possibly say? Did she even have the right to tell Kirk to stop loving Tetsuko? It wasn't like her lover was some sort of possession! "I... don't think you need to worry too much. It's clear that Tetsu cares a lot about you, and I think I speak for the both of us that we truly consider you our best friend, or the most brosome friendship we have with someone~"

She smiled briefly and yet that lingering sensation didn't exactly ease up, that feeling that made it almost hard to breathe. "Still..." and then it started, it was almost like a revelation, that moment a memory of a recent day arose in her mind, it felt like she had a light push in the back, a boost of confidence and courage, and it all came from those words Tetsu had spoken exclusively to her.

"I'm afraid you're about to lose the battle with a straight-up homerun... Because I will be the one to make Tetsuko Shindou my wife! Well someday... marriage is kinda early when we have only just started dipping biscuits."

An awkward giggle escaped her lips as she raised a hand to pat Kirk's shoulder lightly. "But back onto your earlier question about Tetsu's mom... It's quite complicated. You see, for Tetsu her mother was like a role model, someone she admired so strongly, and the incident truly changed things a lot. I'll spare you the medical lingo, but basically Tetsu's mom is in a state where a full recovery is borderline impossible. Although my parents, as the doctors in charge of her were working on creating a treatment to improve her condition, but it's a long and hard road, both for the patient and those around her. So the subject of Tetsu's mother is quite a difficult thing for her to bring up, especially with the way her family is."

She shook her head lightly. "All we can do for now is be there for Tetsu, to support her as she tries to find the answers she is searching so desperately for, and as much as we desire to answer them for her, they are questions that only Tetsu herself will hold the answers to."

Truly, life could be so complicated at times, perhaps that was why she found this world to be so cold and cruel at times, even if there was some beauty to be found in it.