Mrs. Himura is a proper asian lady, but you’re just too persuasive

“Well, a neighborhood watch sounds very considerate of you, but my husband isn’t home right now and I don’t think it would be proper to let in a man I don’t know. B-But like I said that’s a very nice idea and I’ll be sure to tell him all about it. And who knows we might come over some time to-“, Joe interrupted Ichitas excuse by simply freezing her in time.

That didn’t play out the way I wanted. Didn’t I make an elaborate plan on how to have my fun with a cheerleader and one or more of her family members? No one said anything about this being difficult…. Which to be honest it still isn’t. I just have to use the stone a little smarter. How about this:

“The Himura family finds me irresistibly charming. They might not instantly agree with everything I say and do, but it somehow just appeals to them. They might rationalize it and it might take some repetitions from me, but in the end, the Himuras will naturally relent to my will.”, Joe said clutching the stone and glad, that no one was around to hear him.

Ok, that should do the trick. It’s vague, but I think it fits to “seduce” them, without actively using the stone every five seconds. And if it doesn’t work, I’ll be sure to keep this lucky charm around.

Joe took a deep breath and restarted the Asian matriarch.

“- talk about it. At a barbecue maybe? That would be so nice. We women could talk around and chat among ourselves, while you men deal with those “security measures””, Ichita ended her sentence with little quotation marks. Joe thought this was just the right time test his new assertiveness.

“But Ichita, you should take this matter seriously.”, Joe looked right down into her eyes.

“Well, sure security is always important, I didn’t-“, she wavered a little.

“Ichita, this matter is important. And you will take this seriously.”, Joe repeated sternly.

“I…well, if you put it like that. You’re right, I don’t feel very safe. You said you already formed this neighborhood watch?”, Ichita looked visibly shaken. Where she was at total ease before, emitting a commanding aura, she now seemed literally insecure.

“I did and as you can see, I’m most certainly the right person to keep you safe.”

“Of course, that’s true. Please come in!”, the woman took a step into her home and turned slightly to let Joe in.

As he stepped inside, he found the inside matches the outside. The room he enters is spacious and connects a the front door, a living room and, through a set of stairs in an intricate design, a second level with each other. The whole structure and the materials used scream “modern and expensive”.

Little Naomi lives here? That living room could fit ten people comfortably, so there’s probably more people living here than only Naomi and Ichita.

“Ichita, is there anywhere we two could have a private conversation? About security, of course.”, Joe added in case she would have any reservations to spend some private time with him. Rightfully so.

“Oh, sure. Let’s go into the garden, there is a little niche, where I usually go to wind down.”

The two made their way through the Himura estate and Joe was shocked. This was far bigger than he would have guessed from the outside. Him moving the Himuras here must have also blinked away the house that used to be behind this one. Well, oops. They continued on, dugged under the branch of an oak tree and finally reached a little bench by a pond. Ichita seemed to look around almost nervously and gestured for Joe to sit.

“So Joe, how can I help you and the neighborhood to make us all feel more safe?”

“Oh, we’ll get to that. But for now, you are fine being in my presence. I make you feel safe right?”, Joe tried his best to give her a reassuring smile. It seemed to work.

“I guess I really do. Has anyone ever told you, that you have a calming presence?”, she let out a deep breath and returned his smile. That’s just my effect on women.

“Glad, I could help you Ichita. But now that you say that, shouldn’t that usually be your husband’s responsibility?”, Hook.

“Yes it should. Thank you for filling in for him. As soon as he comes from work, -“ Line.

“Seems like he’s a little lacking in that department. Keeping a family safe, making them feel safe, is what makes a man a Man, don’t you think?” Sinker.

Ichitas brows furrowed, her eyes looked around unfocused and she opened her mouth without talking a couple of times. She was visibly confused. Until she wasn’t.

“It does. We’ll have a long talk when he returns, but that really shouldn’t concern you. I’d love to talk with you about that neighborhood watch project of yours, that’s highly important, but I think we’ll have to do that another time. If you don’t mind, I’ll see you out now.”, the woman said and was about to stand up.

“No, no, no. You wouldn’t want to just throw me out now, would you? I mean we were just having a nice chat, haven’t we?", he focused on her and tried his best to look suave.

“I-I guess we were ... and I would feel better if you stayed a while”, she blushed a little. Bingo.

“Ok Mister Neighborhood-Watcher, where should we start that security check?”, she steeled herself and meet his gaze.

Yes, where do we start the tour?