Welcome to Gaia! ::

Shiny hesitated, torn between wanting to escape the decidedly uncomfortable line of questioning and the desire to be a good hostess. After a few moments of waffling between the two, good manners finally won out and she exhaled, offering an apologetic, though somewhat wary, smile as she settled back down into the chair. "My apologies, I am... I am still learning how to navigate social interactions. Your questions are, perhaps... unintentionally, more personal, for me? Because the answers are - that is, they pertain to things I am not accustomed to speaking freely about."

In fact the only person she remembered talking openly about her past, and the challenges it created for her, was Kyouya, and that was in private, after she'd already guessed that he'd done an in-depth background check on her. So perhaps... perhaps speaking now, with Kit, would be good practice? Yes, that's how she'd look at this. As practice.

Oh phooey. Just when she'd set herself to the task of overcoming topics outside of her comfort zone, he offers to return to safe conversation!

"I, well... most of the time people seem to enjoy discussing pastimes, classes, movies and foods..." Y'know... safe, inane chatter! "You're the first person who's ever really asked questions about me, actually, now that I think about it..." She looked a little bit surprised to realize that fact, but it was true. The most anyone had ever inquired was where she was from, and what her family did.

"Well, yes. I am surprised, because it's all I've known." She couldn't help but smile back at him, though her own expression was a bit rueful. "Allow me to explain my previous comment, regarding how I am still adjusting to social interactions: before coming to this school, I lived what I have come to learn is a very unusual life of virtual isolation. Everything that you consider normal is new to me, and I have greatly enjoyed the host club because it has provided me a structured environment in which to learn how to interact with people. So yes, I am surprised, and yes, I am flustered, because you are giving me new lessons that go against what I have previously come to understand."

"However, to answer your question as you have now framed it... if given the choice of what to talk about, I'd really rather talk about the new recipe for dango I am looking forward to attempting this evening when I get home. Do you enjoy cooking, Kit-san?" That warm, sweet smile of hers once again in place, though the twinkle in her eyes held an impish quality. He'd turned her on edge, but that was good. She couldn't learn without the occasional upset to the norm, after all!

At his comment about him not being normal either she allowed herself a good-natured laugh, lightly shaking her head, "I think it may be fair to say that neither of us is well-versed enough on the topic to recognize what is or isn't normal. You doubt that the host club can provide an adequate environment for learning, but confess to also not knowing if your own experiences are any better. So perhaps we should simply forego the efforts at normalcy and simply... explore together?" Her smile warm and friendly.

"And yes, I adore cooking. Growing up everything was done for me, and I find it enormously more rewarding to be self-sufficient and able to care for myself. That, and there is just such a sense of... of satisfaction, in creating something of worth. Especially if it's tasty, too."

"Hmm, I'll admit this club does seem to have quite the colorful reputation on campus." Soft chuckle, "But despite all the silly things that happen here, the hosts and many of our guests are truly good people. Even someone as sheltered and inexperienced as I can see it."

"Any food in particular? Hmm, good question!" She mulled it over for a moment, honestly trying to think if there was any type she'd enjoyed making more than others. "There's still so much out there I've yet to experience; truthfully, I think I'd have to say that I like it best when I'm trying something new."

"I was at Valefor's open house because I was considering enrolling there, before ultimately choosing Ouran. Prior to that I was tutored privately, and kept in isolation due to my skin condition and some outdated rules of inheritance laws that didn't allow me control of the estate until I was sixteen." It felt more than a bit uncomfortable for her to be so candid about her background, but if he noticed she could always chalk it up to what she'd already said about not being used to talking about herself.

"As for the hosts... they will welcome anyone, regardless of age or class or status or social standing, or even if they are from Ouran. They are fiercely loyal and keep their promises, and even if it is through rather silly or misguided means, they are genuinely motivated by a desire to make people happy."

His question about what she'd made so far had her pausing in surprise, and then laughing, "I am not sure there is time enough to fully answer that question. Cooking has become a passion for me, and I have already compiled several books worth of recipes that I tried and liked."