band-aids everywhere!

[persuades]

Characters: "Karin Asagiya" and you good person you!
Format: First or third.
This log is: Open.
Location: In the cafeteria. Amazing, isn't it? He goes there now that the SC office is closed.
Summary: Apple bunnies! The ex-Student Council President is making apple bunnies. And failing miserably.

[ There's one (1) young man seated at the far corner of the cafeteria away from people's usual line of sight, looking rather preoccupied. On his right is a plate of sliced apples, looking rather haphazardly done with a chainsaw, and a small bowl of cool water. On his left is a small medical kit with strips of paper that held band-aids littering the table. He holds a paring knife in his right hand, slowly carving away at one of the slices. Every five - or less - minutes, he winces, sighs and continues on.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, El is having trouble peeling apples. What a sad day this is for the world.

A moment later, he finally sighs again and puts down a slightly blood-stained apple bunny, half-peeled with the supposed bunny ears cut awkwardly. He used to be able to do this before he came to this place. ]

I suppose that one's wasted as well.

Comments

[defender]

[Clearly confused, but taking it in stride:] Ah... well, that's fine, I'm not that hungry anyway. [Which is a lie, but Shoujou would never show weakness before El - not intentionally, at least. He casts an eye on the apple massacre, utterly perplexed.]

Peeling apples... did they take that from you? [Pause.] ...El?

[persuades]

Never had blood-red apples before?

[ Another smile before he wraps a hand around a finger to stop one of the cuts he got from bleeding. He gives him another stare from head to foot, lifting an eyebrow at his disheveled clothes. ]

It's just peeling apples. It could have been worse. Like not being able to button my clothes. [ El inclines his head at his name as he picks up a band-aid from the kit. ] I look obvious enough, I suppose.

[defender]

I can't say that I have. [Shoujou smiles back, mostly in relief - he was hoping to avoid a conversation about the clothes, especially after the various disasters he'd had with them in the morning. And of course El would figure it out; El figured everything out.]

Why are you wearing your hair like that? ...you don't have to hurt yourself like that...

[persuades]

It's easier for me to blend in a new school and to get information without having to reveal myself. Especially with Sora Himoto and the others being here as well.

[ Running around as El when he's all by himself . . . That's simply stupid. He was planning on waiting this out until his own Council arrives in this school. And it seems that they were, one by one.

He takes another slice of apple, one that hasn't been mutilated and covered in blood yet, to test out his skills once more. If he had forgotten about it, maybe he could relearn it. ]

[defender]

Himoto...

[Is respectfully silent for a minute, watching, before speaking up.] ...as far as I can tell, memories are irretrievable outside of participating in their Exaclan. I don't know how it works, but I think they erase the memory again if you recall it.

[Shoujou's desperate to know what El's found out, what El's plans are -- to know, in short, what El wants Shoujou to do, but rather than articulate his feelings, he opts for a shorter question.] Um, El, what have you found out so far?

[persuades]

[ Just silent on his part for a few minutes despite Shoujou's remark on memories, successfully cutting his own finger again. He sighs.

You should do your homework, Shoujou, instead of asking these things from El. ]

Did you know that I am Tsuki Aoi's Weapon?

[defender]

[He'd done his homework, certainly, he hadn't been able to connect "Karin Asagiya" with "El."

So upon hearing that revelation, something between a disbelieving snort and a terrified scream catches in Shoujou's throat, producing something like a strangled gasp and leaving him coughing for a few moments.

Way to break the zealot brain.]

Y-You what?! But – but, El! She... [Fumbles for the words.] She can't be trusted!

[persuades]

[ He can't really say that Himoto had a hand in this little alliance. According to her, since he was an ally, then she too had to protect him. Silly little girl, she doesn't even know that a snake has already latched onto her. ]

Once this round ends, the Players of the Exaclan are shuffled and the ownership will be void. After that, I'm a Discard again unless a Player takes me up as his or her weapon.

[ He speaks as he nonchalantly wraps another band-aid around the offended finger. Like he's been doing this all day long. ] It doesn't really matter. She's not going to use me anytime soon, I'm sure.

[defender]

[Well.

Not that Shoujou could possibly argue with that.]

...I still don't like it. Being used as a Weapon... with that woman as a Player...

But there's an unusually low amount of Exaclan battles in this school, don't you think?

[persuades]

[ Have a stare, Shoujou. He's not even giving a comment on his next remark. El knows that however, noticed how the other Players were so reluctant to battle with each other. ]

What would you suggest that I should have done then?

[defender]

[He doesn't falter under that gaze, not even for a second.]

What were the circumstances?

[persuades]

Tsuki Aoi recognized and knew who I was. Sora Himoto was there when she did.

If I were to keep my identity from that girl, then I had no choice but to play along.

[defender]

[Shoujou's quiet for a moment. He doesn't have any response to that - not really, anyway, for surely El wouldn't do anything wrong - but he can't help uttering:]

It's just... that woman, using things like that ridiculous mask and wig... she's afraid of helping Himoto outright, I know it! I just don't know why...

She wouldn't have told Himoto anything right then and there. And the girl is dumb as a brick anyway, she's only clever when it comes to fighting...!

[persuades]

[ No, she wouldn't tell Himoto anything. Even El was sure of that. That girl hides more things than he does after all, and to her beloved knight nonetheless.

And yet he let himself become her Weapon, if only to see how long until that composure of her breaks. But Shoujou need not know that. He chuckles, amused. ]

Why are you getting so worked up over this, Shoujou? Is it because you arrived far too late?

[defender]

[Now that takes Shoujou off-guard. And of course, he slips into denial first.]

What... I'm not - I'm not getting worked up!

[persuades]

[ He lifts an eyebrow then chuckles again. You poor little boy. ]

So you're not thinking of doing anything unnecessary again?

[defender]

[Unnecessary?

The things he'd been doing were unnecessary? He had only wanted to be helpful to El, and yet...

Unnecessary...?]

...I won't...

[persuades]

Just sit tight and let me handle things for now.

[ There's no Iwahijiri here so Shoujou can relax for the meantime. Until, at least, something else decides to be the bigger antagonist than him.

El reaches out to fix the topmost button of Shoujou's shirt. ]

Learn the new rules of the Exaclan before the next round begins. That's your assignment for now.

[defender]

A-Ah... [A barely audible gasp, and then Shoujou is standing as properly as possible, holding himself perfectly still until El is done.] ...yes, sir.

I can do that. I'd been meaning to, anyway.

[persuades]

[ El lowers his hands a moment later, turning back to his previous occupation of making - or mutilating - the apple bunnies. ]

Try to eat something for breakfast as well, Shoujou. It wouldn't do me good if you passed out.

[defender]

[Having not expected that either, Shoujou just blinks in surprise for a good two seconds.]

Eh? How did you...?

[persuades]

[ Have a smile, Shoujou. ]

How did I?

[defender]

[Shoujou comes up with the highly articulate response you're El before realizing that it's a rhetoric question, so he decides to avoid responding altogether.]

...I'll go get something to eat, then. I assume I should sit somewhere else if you're trying to keep your identity from Himoto? [Not that he seems particularly eager about leaving.]

[persuades]

You're free to sit anywhere you want, Shoujou.

[ And he starts with the mutilation of the rabbits and his hand again.

He's good at making excuses after all. And Sora's far too much a trusting idiot to catch on anything anyway. ]

[defender]

Really?

[And with a nod and a cheerful "Ah, okay," one highly delighted Shoujou is running off to get breakfast. Good luck with him on your hands all morning, El.]