potus } { of rescues and sushi

[hereditare]

Jason: [well, what will end up happening is that he will lose his phone and his wallet, end up stranded and all he can find is a folded up piece of paper in his jacket with Cpr. Hale's sister's number on it. He doesn't know anyone else in the city to call for help, so he will just take a deep breath and go into a hotel and use their guest phone to call]

Laura: [and it will go to voicemail because she doesn't answer numbers she doesn't know]

Jason: [well fuck, it's not like he can text her so he will just leave a voicemail] Hello, Ms. Hale, your brother, Corporal Hale, he gave me your number and well, I wasn't intending to call but I'm in a bit of a situation where I lost my phone and wallet and I'm on the wrong side of town and could use some help. If you get this message, I'm at some hotel and the number on the phone is [insert number here]. If you could give me a call back, or if you could be so kind as to help me just obtain an uber to get back to my hotel, I will repay you tomorrow. Thank you. [and he will hang up and just press his forehead to the wall]

Laura: [but she will check her voicemail while she's at her desk and he's lucky that she remembers that Derek mentioned giving her number to someone because Jason didn't give his name so she'll call back instead of just sending an uber]

Jason: [and he will jump because omg the phone rang. And he will pick it up and cautiously] Hello?

Laura: Hi. This is Laura Hale. I'm not sure who I'm supposed to be asking for because they didn't leave a name.

Jason: [oh. whooops] Apologies. That was me, Lance Corporal Jason Nakagawa.

Laura: Okay. [and she'll text Derek to confirm that's a person he knows] Where are you stuck Lance Corporal?

Derek: Yes, that's him. Treat him well, Laura :P

Jason: I'm at um... Sun Bright Hotel?

Laura: [and now she's googling] Oh, you're in Chinatown. That's not far from me. Have you had dinner?

Jason: No. My wallet must have been stolen while I was on the subway down here. I only realized it about an hour ago when I was going to get a coffee and couldn't even pay for it.

Laura: Well, we can't have that. Stay there and I'll be there in twenty minutes.

Jason: [looks over his shoulder at the people in the lobby] I think I can survive another twenty minutes.

Laura: Okay. I'll see you then. [and she will hang up and tell her security detail she's going out to dinner and they ... sigh because there are protocols for these things]

Jason: [hey at least the dinner date is a Marine?]

Laura: [there is that. but as promised, twenty minutes later, she pulls up outside the hotel and sends one of her agents inside to get him]

Jason: [and he will come out after assuring the secret service guy he is not a druggie or a thug]

Laura: [pushes open the door for him as she slides over] Leave him alone, Brady. My brother vouched for him.

Jason: He is just doing his job, ma'am. Can't fault him for taking your security seriously.

Laura: I don't. But I'm also a smart woman and don't go out of my way for just anyone. Get in. [waves a hand to indicate that he shouldn't linger on the sidewalk]

Jason: [and he will do that, so he will slide in] Thank you for coming to my assistance, Ms. Hale.

Laura: Laura. And honestly, it's the least I could do for a friend of my brother. [and the door will close as she crosses her legs in front of her] Do you like Chinese?

Jason: [and he will give her a curious look, the whole 'are you asking this because I'm asian' look] I'm fonder of sushi or habatchi so if there's a place that has both...?

Laura: [no, it's just because they're close to Chinatown] Oh, I know a good sushi place, but it's a bit of a drive.

Jason: If it's close to Central Park, that is where I am staying, so I don't mind the drive.

Laura: .... Eh. Close enough. [and she'll inch forward to give the request to her driver]

Jason: I must thank you again, Ms. Hale. I know it is an inconvenience.

Laura: Laura. And not at all. I was just finishing my notes and was going to head home to eat a pizza by myself. Company is much more preferred.

Jason: Well, I'm glad to be of service then. Laura.

Laura: Better. So how long have you been in my brother's unit?

Jason: A year. I joined him in the deployment. They needed a new medic and I was assigned to them.

Laura: So you're a doctor?

Jason: Yes ma'am. Fully trained combat medic. My family has a history of being doctors.

Laura: A noble profession.

Jason: It is one of service to the world, that is for certain.

Laura: There's nothing wrong with that. Serving the world is kind of a family calling for Hales, one way or another.

Jason: How do you find your service?

Laura: Complicated. But rewarding when it manage to work out.

Jason: Your brother said that you are a psychologist?

Laura: [she nods] It's private practice so a lot of it are people who just need someone to talk to, but it keeps me open so I can help the people who really need it.

Jason: Including lost Marines.

Laura: Them too. Even my brother, whether he wants it or not.

Jason: Speaking freely, your brother needs it.

Laura: Unfortunately I can't help him professionally - that's unethical. But I can point him in the direction of someone who can.

Jason: I have tried to myself. But he tends to be a bit, stubborn.

Laura: He does. But his girlfriend and I are in collusion so hopefully eventually he'll get there.

Jason: I'm glad to hear that.

Laura: So what about you? Having any post deployment issues?

Jason: Beyond needing to get a new phone and debit card? [chuckles]

Laura: And a license or ID, I'm assuming.

Jason: Yes, that too. Though my passport is in my room with my gear.

Laura: That's fortunate, at least. Have you cancelled your phone and debit card?

Jason: [shakes his head] I am lacking the debit card to know what number to call, and lacking a phone to call them.

Laura: [and she pulls out her phone so she can google] What bank do you use?

Jason: Citibank.

Laura: [google google google until she finds the number and hands him her phone to use]

Jason: [oh hey he will talk to the customer service person and cancel his card and well, yes no he did not purchase any of that crap he has hardly any money left in his account but they will work on this and get him a new card and see what they can do about his money thanks frcalling]

Laura: [and she'll wait until he hangs up before continuing] You can use that if you want to cancel your phone too.

Jason: Thanks. I really appreciate it. [and he will call T-Mobile next]

Laura: No problem.

Jason: [and he will hand it over, making arrangements to have a new phone delivered to him overnight to where he was staying]

Laura: [and she will take her phone back just as they're arriving at the sushi place] This is it.

Jason: [looks out the window] I've heard of this place. I was told to try it.

Laura: Well tonight's your lucky night.

Jason: You must let me return the favor when I get my debit card back.

Laura: As I said, it's the least I could do. Don't worry about it.

Jason: [and when the car stops he will get out and then hold out his hand to help Laura out]

Laura: [and she will take it and follow, leading the way into the restaurant, and greeting the hostess casually in a way that indicates she ... may eat here a lot]

Jason: [and there is a smile on his face at that] You come here a lot, don't you?

Laura: Anytime I want good sushi. Some things are worth going out of your way for.

Jason: I bet you say that to all the men you drive across town to pick up. [his smile grows just a bit]

Laura: [she laughs as they're lead to a table and given menus]

Jason: So what do you like here?

Laura: I usually go for the sashimi or the shrimp tempura depending on how I'm feeling. And the philly rolls are good.

Jason: You come to a fancy sushi restaurant with one of the best masters in the kitchen and you get a philly roll? Oh no, this is not happening. I need to fix this

Laura: I like what I like! Don't judge me.

Jason: Have you tried to explore out of it?

Laura: Sometimes.

Jason: Do you trust me?

Laura: [she eyes him for a moment, because that's always been a dangerous question] Maybe.

Jason: Enough to order the first round of sushi?

Laura: [sighs] Alright. Just the first round.

Jason: [and when the waiter comes back he will speak in fluent Japanese to get them a platter of rolls of different types, including the shrimp tempura just in case. But not philly rolls. Never philly rolls]

Laura: [don't judge her for liking cream cheese with her fish!]

Jason: [he's not. in fact two of the rolls he ordered have creme cheese in them.]

Laura: [good to know]

Jason: [and they will bring them soup and salad, and then soon there will be a godzilla roll, a fried shrimp and creme cheese roll, a crunchy crab roll, a dragon roll, and a sweet potato roll for lensing the pallet]

Laura: [and she will eye them each for a moment, before glancing back at him] Okay, what am I eating?

Jason: [and he will explain them all to her on what's in them] The dragon roll would be the one not to try. That's more spicy than you're used to.

Laura: I'll take your word for it. [and she'll eye them for a moment, before reaching for the shrimp roll first]

Jason: [and hopefully she will like then. Fairly easy on the leave of sushi, but more like real sushi and not Americanized sushi]

Laura: [and it's not bad] So are you a sushi enthusiast?

Jason: I was born in Japan. I grew up with it. We immigrated to the US after my father got a job with John Hopkins as a senior physician.

Laura: Oh wow. How old were you when you moved here?

Jason: Twelve. Thankfully I already knew English from school. It was an interesting transition, but I had a year to get used to America before I entered high school.

Laura: Oh God, middle school. I do not envy you there.

Jason: My family enrolled me in a private school that was popular with the other Japanese American families. It did help a lot but yes, middle school sucked.

Laura: Middle school sucked for everyone, I think.

Jason: But I survived, graduated and went to John Hopkins University, then enlisted into the military to be able to earn a service related path to citizenship.

Laura: And we are all very grateful for that service.

Jason: [smiles and nods] I hope to return for my doctorate once I finish my service. I'm eligible to shift to reserves in another six months.

Laura: That's good! Hopefully everything will work out that way.

Jason: That's my plan.

Laura: Have you thought about where you're going to do your residency?

Jason: Not yet. Probably whoever provides housing and a stipend.

Laura: Is there anywhere you always wanted to visit?

Jason: You assume I have time to see where I am going to live while doing a residency.

Laura: You do get time off. It's limited, but it exists.

Jason: I just want to avoid John Hopkins. I don't need to share my father's domain.

Laura: That's fair. Well, there are a lot of great places out there.

Jason: Yes. I just need to finish this service first, and get my citizenship.

Laura: Good. There are also a lot of good hospitals I work with in New York, if you ever need recommendations of people to talk to.

Jason: You already trying to keep me around?

Laura: Hey, I'm just making an offer. You watched my brother's back overseas, I figure I can at least help you network.

Jason: Well, I will not turn down the help. [eats another piece of sushi] Especially if it means we can come here again. This is really good.

Laura: Of course. As I said - I eat here a lot.

Jason: I see why. I may become a regular as well.

Laura: Good. They'll love the business.

Jason: And if the whole doctor thing falls through, I can always be a waiter.

Laura: [she laughs] That's true too. At least you'll get a discount on the food.

Jason: And good tips.

Laura: Well, if all the clientele tips like I do then yes.

Jason: I'll have to ask them how it really is, and if you are their best tipper.

Laura: It is a badge I would wear with pride.

Jason: Good. [and they can get back to eating]

Laura: [yep, they'll work their way through a few platters and some drinks, and make their way back out to the car so that she can actually take Jason back to his hotel]

Jason: [mmm, sake and sushi makes a happy Japanese Marine. And the military at least pays enough for their soldiers to set up in semi-decent lodgings while on leave] So I guess this is where the night ends.

Laura: I guess so. [she gives him a small smile as they pull up to the hotel] This was fun though. Thank you for joining me for dinner.

Jason: Thank you for rescuing me from who knows what.

Laura: It was my pleasure. Really.

Jason: [and he will slide out, and then after a moment lean in] I will be in town for the rest of the week before I go to spend some times with my family before I report back. Would you care to perhaps have dinner again?

Laura: [she tips her head to the side for a moment, before nodding] Sure. I'm sure my security detail will appreciate it if we have plans in advance and they can thoroughly vet the location.

Jason: Once I have me new phone, I will call so we can start those plans rolling then.

Laura: Good. I will see you then. Goodnight, Lance Corporal.

Jason: Goodnight, Laura Hale. [and he will head up to his hotel room]

Laura: [and she will lean back in her seat and have her driver take her back to her apartment]