rakuen | buttons are important guys

Entry tags:

buttons are important guys

Characters: Shoujou
Format: Anything!
This log is: Closed to new threads!
Location: The hallway outside White 1-B.
Summary: Half-dressed ex-student council officer trying to find people he knows.

[Walking briskly – practically running – down the hallway with one hand clutching a stack of papers and the other holding his shirt closed tight against his chest, Shoujou looks like the classic example of a student too tired to dress himself: the ribbon left untied around his collar, vest hanging loosely around his shoulders, white shirt unbuttoned and untucked. He's not really doing a good job of keeping himself covered up, but thankfully, his pants are on mostly right – with the exception of the button being undone, but he’s got the belt on despite that.]

[Muttering things about “Tougyu-senpai’s here” and “El wouldn’t be on the list,” Shoujou knows he’s going to get a lot of questions in the next five minutes.]

[He's still not gonna like it.]

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[At that precise moment, Tougyu enters the hallway Shoujou is storming down via turning a corner. Possibly smacking right into him. At best, the former SC member simply blinks at the contact, barely registering what should be a brief flicker of pain as he looks down on what he ran into and-

Shoujou. The word shoots through his brain like a bolt of lightening. In that moment, his entire stance changes as he stares at the other with mixed feelings. On one hand? He's happy there's another male here from Utopia. On the other? It's Shoujou. That means his search for Shishido-senpai's sister has suddenly become that much more difficult.

Those thoughts will have to come later though. For now, he'll simply remain still and wait for the other's reaction to his presence.]

[Shoujou's not exceptionally clumsy, so when he and Tougyu collide, he just barely manages to right himself in spite of not having his hands free to do so. He looks up to see what he ran into with the vague intention of saying something insulting, especially if it happened to be female - but then stops as he recognizes the figure.] Ah... Tougyu-senpai!

[In a slightly hushed tone.] Have you seen El?

[That response... does not surprise Tougyu whatsoever. Just like he's looking for someone, Shoujou's first priority is his one and only savior. Unfortunately, at the mention of seeing El, Tougyu tries to come up with his face and...

Nothing. He can't remember what the SC president looks like.

Oh crap.] ... I don't know.

[Just. Frowns.] ...you don't know?

What do you mean?

[This isn't going to end well, he can tell.]

They took his face away from me.

But -- you still -- they can do that? [His dislike for the people who are in charge now, whoever they are, is growing by the second. Moreover, this means that Tougyu is useless to him, at least for the time being. But Shoujou knows better than anyone else that Exaclan is a game best played with allies, so he suppresses his scorn (how could you forget El?) and shakes his head.]

[With an exceptionally disgusted snarl, he changes tacks.] It can't be helped. I'll have to look for him myself, then.

You're the first boy from Utopia I've seen. [Tougyu feels the need to point this out, especially since he's been here from what might be called the beginning. Regardless, this makes him start to wonder about who's in charge of this school.

Why bring him and Shoujou, two of the most unstable members of the SC? Is there a connection? Or random circumstance?]

The first... [Shoujou's forced to admit that that's probably the case -- of the names he'd gotten from the information booths, he didn't recognize any others besides "Tougyu Shiro."]

[It's unsettling, really, to see Tougyu so... oddly calm. Shoujou's interactions with the older boy had been brief but poignant -- Tougyu had either been skulking in the corners of the student council meeting room, actively avoiding the discussion, or brutally torturing some miserable girl. Seeing this is different. But not even Shoujou would risk treading on Tougyu's shoes; in the end, he says nothing on the matter.]

Then... how long have you been here? What have you been doing?

[That is quite possibly the one question he doesn't want to answer. Mostly because even though this school is free of Iwahijiri, he still has to keep the pretense of following their chauvinistic ideals. At least until he finds where his senpai is. Only after she and her sister are safe can he tell Iwahijiri to go to hell.

Regardless, as Shoujou speaks to him, his eyes slide this way and that with practiced ease as if he's having trouble focusing on the other.]

Almost a month. There's nothing to do but play with my toys... nothing to do.

[Shoujou just smiles.]

If I find El, I'm sure we'll have something for you to do. Soon.

[ Hiyo wasn't aware some of the people from her world were here, even with her knowledge gathering skills. She had already met with the other Princesses, met with Sora, made plans with the group and she was off to find her 'beloved' Knight that day.

Until she turns a corner, unaware of the two people she would happen to bump into ] A-Ah, excuse me - !

[ Tougyu and Shoujou were definitely not the ones she was expecting to see. ]

[At Shoujou's words, Tougyu gains this odd, eerie smile as if that thought alone is entertaining in some way. Any response beyond that, however, is interrupted by the appearance of Hiyo.

His attention caught, Tougyu will shift in order to see who spoke and... do nothing. He doesn't recognize her, he doesn't even seem to know her. So he'll let Shoujou handle this one.]

[Fortunately for Hiyo, Shoujou doesn't recognize her either.]

What? You're excused. If you don't need anything, leave.

[ she takes a deep breath, gulping, and glances between Tougyu and Shoujou. Things are tense for a moment - she can feel it.

but she notices something peculiar about the latter, and stares at him ]

Your fly's down. And your shirt is coming off. Ahhh, student council members sure live a good life, huh? [ her eyes glimmer with slight mirth and she hopes that it'll get Shoujou good. He doesn't seem to remember her, so that's good! ]

[At Hiyo's remark, Tougyu realizes two things.

One, she's from Utopia. Otherwise, how else would she know they were SC members? And secondly... why is Shoujou in such a state of disarray? (Of course, the fact that it took Hiyo saying something for him to realize Shoujou's clothes were odd is probably something in itself...)

Regardless, now that there's a girl in front of them, it's obvious what stance he has to take.]

That's the problem with this place... all these bitches keep acting up.

[Shoujou, for his part, is too embarrassed to register that the girl is from Utopia.]

N-No, I made sure that I -- [But he doesn't finish the sentence, and flushes a delightful shade of crimson.] Dammit! You bitch! What the hell are you implying?!

But we had such a good time last night, senpai! [ she smiles innocently to Shoujou, obviously up to no good. When you troll someone who doesn't know you, it makes everything a lot more fun. ]

Even though I expected you to be bigger, you ended up being really small... Kya, I wonder how the other student council Weapons go through with it...! [ should a 14 year old really be making dirty jokes? ]

[At that insinuation, Tougyu has to pause and think about what's just been implied, before turning on Shoujou. Doesn't he like El...?

Then again, he's also pretty sure that only Mitarai is that special. Actually, nevermind. He doesn't want to think about any of the student council that way, least of all Mitarai.

He's just going to stay quiet at this confrontation. Obviously Shoujou will put her in her place and expect him to help.]

Edited 2011-01-24 04:34 (UTC)

[And for the second time today, Shoujou drops his papers. He has to crouch to pick them up, turning an even more brilliant red and sputtering incoherently all the while.] W-What – you – something like that – ! I'm not, I do not have – I – [Visibly outraged, Shoujou takes a deep breath before standing back up in a valiant effort to preserve his dignity.]

Like I would ever even touch an ugly, disgusting little piece of filth like you! Get the fuck out of here!

[Then he whirls on Tougyu with a desperate and utterly mortified look on his face.] T-Tougyu-senpai, you don't actually believe her?! I – they took my memories, I can't... dress properly...

[She had simply been on her way out when the guy kinda just bursts down the hallway and, apparently she's invisible today, manages to fall over the end of her wheelchair.]

[Stare.]

... I didn't know wheelchairs were invisible. Or does it make me too short to see? [Grenn is cranky today. She's slept badly due to nightmares, and people falling over her doesn't make it better.]

[Aaaand down he goes, in a fantastic display of klutziness and a wake of papers behind him -- well, okay, he manages to look kind of dignified in that he recovers with a cool half-roll, but how dignified can you look when you're half-dressed? Cue Shoujou frantically trying to recover his files.]

Sh-shut up! I didn't mean to do that! [...obviously.]

[Well, of course not. That was obvious, right? Few people intended to take a, admittedly good reaction, tumble off a wheelchair. Grenn pretends to ignore the half-dressedness, because there must be a reason for that, considering this place, and picks up the few papers that had scattered on her lap.]

Here. I'd help with the others, if I wasn't... otherwise engaged. [Apparently something like a half-roll to recover from an epic stumble across her wheelchair can get her in a better mood, who knew.]

[He hesitates, an emotion something like disbelief on his face - a girl, offering help? - before accepting it, and it takes all of his dignity to say:] ...thanks.

[He casts an eye on her wheelchair, picking up the rest of his papers.] Congenital? Or an injury?

[At least he was direct about it. But her eyes goes heavenward anyway. At home it was most usually a 'omg do you need HELP poor little girl aaaaa', or they decided it was their business to know why she wasn't wearing prostethics. Here though, the Rot was unknown, and while annoying, it was logical some people would ask.]

A disease. It attacks both flesh and bone. I was lucky. [Grenn shrugs, and tilts her head thoughtfully.]

You should see the ones that has their head attacked. [She smothers the tiny, spiteful part of her that hopes he's freaked out and sorry for asking. And then she realises she probably shouldn't go around and be so exact about the disease. There probably is nothing like the Rot in his present...]

[Shoujou, being Shoujou, is mildly surprised; he's never heard of any such disease, and it sounds like something out of some cheap post-apocalyptic movie, but researching such things had never been a hobby of his to begin with.] Oh?

I didn't know something like that existed.

[She coughs, and is now uncertain of how to fix this. No matter what Tougyu said about her maybe being supposed to mess up, she can't go about behaving as if that's true.]

... Um. I think... they're trying to keep it quiet. Panic... well, cancer's bad enough, right? [Oh yes, that was oh-so-beliveable. She should just gag herself, or pretend to be mute. But then she wouldn't be able to talk to Yuki...]

Er. Were you... going somewhere in particular before you... [Pause.] Had your unfortunate meeting with my invisible wheelchair? [Deflection! besides, she is kinda curious why the guyv was running like the engine sprung a leak, or something.]

[He recognizes the topic change, but can't help commenting:] I think there's already been media reports about flesh-eating bacteria. Flesh-and-bone-eating diseases would hardly be novel.

[And Shoujou's recovered his papers now, standing up from his position on the floor.] I was going to look for someone. You happened to be in the way. [There's also the matter of the fact that he was slightly embarrassed about not being able to do his buttons, but she hasn't mentioned it and he certainly won't.]

You have no idea what the government can hide if they get their heads to it... [And that rings true in a way she can't remember. Frag on a stick on a public square! She was so tired of that huge, important thing missing.]

In the way..? [Grenn's eyes narrows.]

You came from slightly behind and to the side of me. If anyone was in the way, it was you. [She'd heard someone running, yes, but she doesn't see anything wrong with assuming they can see the people in the hallway with them.]

And besides, you don't seem to require visual aids.

[He hadn't intended to set her off with that comment, but now that he had, he wasn't going to backtrack.]

Making assumptions. How would you know?

[While the tone grates, the less than full-on aggression makes Grenn calm down. She's not looking to get in a fight, after all, no matter how annoying or rude he was just earlier.]

Well... [She looks around, but it's not so much a show of secrecy as trying to find time to think.]

No matter how many whistle-blowers there are, th... the government always has more in store. [She'd been about to say 'those in power', but they were talking government despite the slight tinge of something familiar there.]

... And people make assumptions every day. [Grenn gives the guy a stare.] I'm sure we've both just now made assumptions about each other that's not correct. [But she does know one observation of this guy is correct, and that's that he's rude.]

[Shoujou slides his papers into a neater bundle, giving her a sidelong glance as he does so - he's not quite following her muttering about the government anymore, but he approaches the topic casually.] All rulers keep their secrets. It's the subject's duty to know when it's necessary to find things out for themselves.

[He looks away.] That's certainly true. [...the first part, at least.]

Subject? You look... er, quite comfortable in those clothes [Kind of, anyway, Grenn has to accede, because a guy who's running around with all his buttons undone...] so I don't think you're from a monarchy.

[Grenn shakes her head, but now that she's turned (accidentally) to the subject of his clothes, she coughs lightly. That's just awkward. Why didn't he ask someone for help?]

You... Did they take some memory concerning buttons? You should probably... um, start asking people in your dorm to help you. [Because she is certainly not going to offer to button him up. Sorry Shoujou.]

[Abruptly closes up his shirt with one hand, turning away.] Ah... they did. I haven't spoken to anyone in my dorm yet. [That was a lie -- there was that one boy, Sherlock -- but Shoujou certainly would not trust someone so readily.]

And I was being metaphorical, but -- [He pauses, and then asks, in a slightly darker tone:] Wait... what do you mean, "from a monarchy?"

[The tone is strange, so Grenn just stares at Shoujou for a bit, trying to decipher it. When she comes up with nothing, she shrugs and decides to answer it straight.]

I've just never actually heard anyone refer, even metaphorically, to people as 'subjects' unless it was some sort of monarchy it was about... [It's just a rather antiquated term to her, is all.]

Why else use that word? [She's probably lucky they all get an instant sort of translation, because if there was a more traditional one, she'd probably understand all these people much less than she currently does.]

[Shoujou is vexed enough that he considers walking off to continue his search for the rest of the student council, but holds his impatience in check, putting on a friendlier attitude. She'd said something to pique his interest...]

I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. You made it sound as if you were expecting me to be from a monarchy, myself.

[Patiently.] And correct me if I'm wrong, but I think most monarchies lost all real power by the twentieth century.

[Ahhh frag. Twelwth century what? He's using the Gregorian calendar, whyyy. He's Japanese! (She's fairly sure he's Japanese, anyway.) He shouldn't be prattling dates at her in the Gregorian calendar! Have some decency and be predictable, Shoujou!]

Errr... Is that so. I, um. [What to say, what to say... Oh right. Grenn manages to collect herself and blinks at Shoujou.]

Sorry, can't say I know what that is compared to the Hijri calendar. [Take that, annoying Japanese boy using Gregorian dates.]

[Sorry Japan adopted it, Grenn. For his part, Shoujou's confused by her confusion; he can only convert to eras.]

...I mean... roughly one century ago? If we were just to discuss the European monarchies, that would be more like two centuries ago, but there were instances... where... [Aaaand traaaails off.]

What country do you come from?

[Aaannd, one century ago? That tells her nothing! Oh wait, rambling Shoujou, European--- wait. Which would that be? Some of them are still in power! (Space is a good place to... be king?) Grenn tries really hard to hide her confusion. Really, really hard. See how hard she tries.]

Er. [Oh great. Why do you have to be difficult, Shoujou? Because with all these dates throwing her off, it takes her a bit (too long) to remember the correct name of the country her family comes from, even if they haven't lived there in like two centuries or so.]

... India. [Grenn resists the urge to groan and hide her face in her palms. She's blown this big-time.]

...India. [The boy repeated, with the blandest of voices and the blankest of stares. He hasn't figured out the time difference yet, mind you...]

I'm pretty sure India is using the Gregorian calendar.

[...he just thinks Grenn might be totally insane.]

India, yes. [She may sound a tad defensive. Just a tad. Pay it no mind, Shoujou.]

... I'm an indian muslim, you know. That means I use the Hirji calendar. [She really doesn't like the tone he has when he says the last, but what can you do. Of course, she's rather sure muslims back in the past were quite aware of the Gregorian calendar dates, maybe, but there's nothing she can do about that. (No time-difference here, no sir.)]

[Shoujou felt that the entire conversation was much too awkward for it to be wrapped up with such a simple (and obstinate) explanation, but if El were somewhere in the school, Shoujou couldn't keep him waiting any longer.]

I see. [Muttering.] I'll keep that in mind, then...

[At least she managed to head him off. She'd done worse with Tougyu... And, wait... He's still standing around more or less half-dressed and had oviously been going somewhere...]

... Er. Well... Um. I'm not sure how pleased either of us is with this meeting, but I'll let you go on your way. [She says with a faintly amused smile and shrugs. It wasn't too horrible, after all. With Shoujou letting up, Grenn's back to feeling more relaxed about the whole thing.]

Just a warning, though... Even with people aware everybody loses memories when they come here, I'm not sure how many's gonna assume you've forgotten how to dress yourself instead of... something else. [She feels kinda sorry for him, considering what that sort of dressed-but-not-really situation could imply.]

[He reddens a little, the expression on his face just a few inches short of 'utterly scandalized' and his voice rising in pitch.]

I-I already know that! You don't have to... tell me...!

[And, looking like he's one more comment short of storming off again.] Ugh, it doesn't matter! They can think whatever they want!

[Why so high-strung, Shoujou? Grenn managed to stop the smile. Apparently he wasn't the type to crassly boast any sexual... intimacy.]

That sort of attitude is always good to have... [Grenn pauses and blinks, not used at saying something even remotely snappy when it might be called for.]

... I, er. Hope you find whoever you're looking for, if you're actually looking for someone. [Yes. Very smooth. Internal eyeroll.]

What?! [He's quick to react, but cools off just as fast. Still faintly red, he looks at her with the same brand of disbelief he had when she'd initially offered help with the papers.] Oh... um...

[Cue a pause as he awkwardly tries to remember his manners.] Thank you. I'm, um, sure I will. [Another pause as he tries to think of something to say in return, but can't really think of anything, so he just nods his head.] If you'll excuse me...

[As she noticed the familiar figure hurrying down a hallway, Tsuki twitched irritably. There were few that could get such a rise out of her, and this was definitely one of them. Him. First El, and now Shoujou. Part of her simply wanted to turn and walk away as quickly as possible. Perhaps he wouldn't notice her.

...in fact, that was exactly what she chose to do. She had no desire to deal with him if she didn't need to. And as far as she was concerned, she didn't.]

[There was a familiar figure in his peripheral vision -- Tsuki Aoi, his mind identified, but he rather preferred that bitch. He had similar feelings on the matter of not wanting to speak with her; seeing her abruptly walk away from him provided a certain sense of satisfaction.]

[He smirked, and walked on.]

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buttons are important guys

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mind if I threadjacked?

OH HI YOU.

'SUP BROSIS, join the party

HI TO GYU TOO

Gyu? ._.

'to gyu'. like 'hi yo(u).' punnery ahoy

/shot

D:

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-- no one saw that

Of course not. Saw nothing at all.

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