Karl couldn't help but smile as he lead the way through the hospital in the direction of the parking lot.
"And the worst part is that I can't usually talk about it. By all means, though."
"I can sympathize, but for different reasons. So don't worry and just unwind." he said as he glanced back at her, before reaching the exit and motioning for her to go first.
She went through, as per his gentlemanly behavior, heading for the car that originally took them here.
"I'm a little out of practice relaxing with friends. I usually share a few drinks with Irina. She must be going through hell right now."
Understatement.
Karl nodded as he strode out to his car behind Karine, opening the passenger door for her.
"That shouldn't be too much of a problem, I don't think. As for Miss Rostikova... Hopefully the worst is over." he murmured.
Slipping into the driver's seat, he started it and began to make their way uptown.
"So, tell me, what was Cray like? I knew
of him, but not personally." he said, glancing at her sideways.
In the car, Asagi was simply looking ahead as she spoke. Her cyber-eyes tended to prefer road-focus, anyway.
"'Arrogant bastard' would probably be the best way to put it. Think of a businessman, such as yourself, but where you might have scruples, he had self-centeredness. Most of what I heard is from Irina. But we've spoken a
few times. Events of yesterday seemed to condense him quite neatly: He's a rich, snobby, ex-husband who clearly bent a courtroom with money and power to gain child custody over the mother, whom the law often defaults to, and perhaps his one redeeming quality is that he actually
cared for said child."
His lips twisted into a scowl before he said, "That isn't too far off of what I've heard. Your typical playboy executive, generally self-centered. Though it definitely paints a clearer picture of the man. But at least he kept young Sienna from the worst of the blast. That's something if nothing else."
"He tried to kill her too. Irina, not Sienna. His bodyguards. Tried to cover it up, but I would've made it stick."
She sighs, shaking her head for a moment. Then, she finally took her eyes off of the road and looked at him.
"So, what about you? Any family problems yourself?"
The idea of Nathaniel trying to kill his ex made him wince, but when Asagi asked about his own family, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Oh, I never married, I'm currently single, and I'm an only child as far as I know. My parents divorced when I was young, but they still keep things relatively civil whenever they have to be around one another. Just part of life when the heir of a wealthy German family ends up having a holiday fling with a British soldier on leave." he said, before looking over at her with a small smirk, "Feel free to guess which is which."
She thought about it a moment. Fifty-fifty chance...
"German father, soldier mother?"
Why not?
She was a soldier.
"Got it in one. My father tried to make things work when he found out that he got my mother pregnant, but it didn't last." he said, shrugging as he took a turn into the uptown residential area.
"In fact, part of the reason I admire your parents is because they managed to make their marriage last." Karl told her, before he pulled the car up in front of a series of flats, "And here we are."
"Japanese marriage is a bit different, socially. It helps that they're both workaholics and therefore wouldn't have
time to grow thin-skinned. Now, they get to relax, and yet they still want work. It happens."
After they stopped, Asagi got out of the car, looking around.
"So, is it a luxury flat or do you enjoy the humble life?"
Hah, like he'd accept anything less than a Raymond Luxury Flat... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyQvjKqXA0Y]
As he stepped out, he regarded her with a quirked brow.
"I suppose you could consider it a 'Luxury' flat, but I tend to prefer things... Simple." he said as he stepped up to his front door and unlocked it with a palm scan as well as a more old-fashioned key.
"But, why don't you tell me yourself?" Karl asked, motioning for her to step inside as he strode in and hung his overcoat on a hook just inside the door.
The flat could be described as "sparse" more than anything, with whatever decorations and furniture being simple, yet subtly elegant with the natural wood showing minor wealth. The living area consisted of a few antique couches and a coffee table in front of an old-fashioned stone fireplace flanked by bookcases, though the large-screen mounted just above the mantle went to show that Karl didn't forego modern convenience. And a quick glance at the bookshelves quickly made out what his interests were: What wasn't scientific journals regarding cybernetics were a plethora of cookbooks.
She had a look at the place, crossed her arms, and nodded to herself.
"This kind of reminds me of my home."
"Then I take it you approve." he said, glancing back at her with a smile.
Striding through his flat, he took the time to pull off his suit jacket and roll up his sleeves when he reached the kitchen, and like a maestro getting ready for a performance he wiggled his fingers in front of him.
"Simple ham and cheese sound good?" he called as he started to gather what he needed.
"I do, yeah."
She had grown to like the old-fashioned look of things. Turning her head to him, she nodded.
"That would be fine, yes."
