[In the past couple years, Yusuke's grown a lot. Matured, even. But you know how the more things change, the more things stay the same? Apparently, Yusuke's reaction to being told what to do is one of those things, and so he doesn't even immediately register Hiei's voice at first before he snaps back--]
What, am I ruining your festive atmosphere? Sorry if I'm not taking this kidnapping quietly enough for--
[ Claude has seen a great many non-humans during his time here. But most looked arguably human. The fellow in front of him also looks arguably human, in all fairness, but just the top half, so excuse him for gawking for perhaps a moment too long, much like the kids currently attempting to clamber all over the poor soul.
So he steps in, clapping his gloved hands and shoving himself between the poor centaur (holy shit, it is a centaur) and the kids. ]
Okay, you little stinkers! [ He says loudly, then fishes around in his pocket for some cash and crouches down to their level. ] I've got a job to you. Go get me a slice of cake and a couple cups of coffee, and you can do whatever you like with the rest of it. And don't think you can go escaping with the cash, now. I know alllllll of your parents.
[ The kids eagerly surge forwards - Claude has always liked bribing children; they count money in how many sweets they can buy, and not the fact that it's frankly not a whole lot of cash - and snatch the money before running off, cackling merrily to themselves about how much sugar they're going to eat. He turns to Vic. ]
Not keen on becoming the next petting zoo exhibit, I take it. They're lucky you're not the sort of fellow to give them a good smack.
[If there is one thing one should never do in front of a teacher, then it's trying to hide a slip of paper. Douman raises an eyebrow behind his mask at her little gesture, but he resists the urge to chide her for note-passing. She's not one of his students, after all. (And it's not like he's being any better himself.)
Instead he makes a mental note that it seems like *everybody* got a note along with their "communication device", and that -- if her reaction is anything to go by -- the contents of the others' notes are about as pleasant as his own was. It's just a hunch for now, but Douman is pretty confident in his guess. Call it a habitual gambler's instinct for chances, or maybe just being used to weird stuff going on every day that ends with an "Y". (He tries not to be cynical about the latter, he really, really tries.)
In any case, it'll be worth looking into later.]
Much obliged. It's- Ghnf. [He has to bite his lip keep himself from chuckling at her slip-up. Tetris, out of all things? Really?? That's cu- peculiar. Yes, definitely peculiar. He is trying to find out what's going on, not to make friends!
(He feels bad for her, though. Murphy's Law knows no mercy.)]
A-hem. It's this message.
[His second brow has joined his first and his amusement is definitely showing in the friendlier pitch of his voice as he hunches a little lower like an old man would and offers her his device with the greeting message pulled up on its display.]
Do you have any idea what it might mean, or who it's from? That little guy was very insistent that I take it, but I don't think that I'm the one it was meant for. .....Do you think it was trying to get help?
[Excuse Yusuke, he needs a brief doubletake at the sunglasses -- the last guy he knew who wore sunglasses everywhere may or may not have threatened to murder him and everyone he cared about if he didn't join the upcoming murder olympics of sorts.
But this seems like just an ordinary guy, so he relaxes a moment later, letting out a vaguely exasperated sigh.]
So they're a pain in the ass and a coward, huh. Lame.
[Toguro and Sensui might have been garbage fires but at least they wanted someone to take them out, so the situations had been straightforward. Win the tournament, go home. Kick seven psychic asses and prevent the end of the world.]
(but he sees all the little things - there's too much familiarity with how she speaks, regardless of the honorifics, the smiles, and he will cut his losses earlier. if he changes his mind in the middle of this exchange, he can very easily go back to his bullshit - like a switch! there's a soft grin that tells her that he gives up for the time being, but it's not the end of this conversation as is.)
Would you then take me somewhere quieter so I can check your work?
Calm, [ a voice calls out, firm but reassuring, belonging to a young man with a confident gait, hurrying up to the distressed stranger. He's been here for long enough to greet new arrival after new arrival, all in different states of distress -- and this woman seems particularly distressed.
She is also, compared to many of the arrivals here, dressed and equipped in a way that's very familiar to Claude. If she's from a world anything like his own, she'll need even more help getting the lay of the land. The gods know that Claude himself is still getting used to it after all this time. ]
There's no one here to fight, more's the pity. [ He reaches one gloved hand out for her to grasp onto. ] Here, let me help you -- but only if you don't strike me down at the first opportunity, because that would make me very cross.
[ The corners of his eyes crinkle, fond, friendly. He's joking. Mostly. ]
[Much unlike her Ekko wasn't used to sharing such close proximity with those he held dear to him. In fact until recently he thought one of his closest companions Vi to be dead but was pleasantly surprised when he stumbled upon her during the confrontation with her sister. On top of all this he really hadn't much experience when it came to dating, if at all, much too busy for such things as the leader of the Firelights raging a war against Silco and his cronies.
He cannot help the light hearted bit of laughter that ensued at Tifa’s proclamation, nodding in agreement as she introduced herself in kind. A wave of his hand is ushered forth in dismissal as a sincere smile crossed his lips.]
Nah- It will be nice to have some company.
[He probably would have gotten lost in his own thoughts worrying about his people back home or wishing they could see the fireworks as well given he was still new around here and hadn't quite accepted the fact that he was stuck here against his will for who knows how long.]
The fireworks should be starting soon, shall we make our way out? I've never been on a boat ride before if I'm being honest.
Of course you know better, I have no doubt you have been noticing yourself shrinking?
(not at all, but you know, there's no truth in any of he says with these things, at the end of the day. not important after chuuya confirms it - they both know they are fucked beyond belief.
fyodor might as well have won. this might be a part of it. there's nothing he can predict that easily onwards, with the little information they now have. bleak, bleak, bleak, it seems.)
Pfft! Yes, that is exactly the last thing I can recall, truly, what are the odds-- ah, it seems like I've been here before too, so there are many mysteries to unfold! Thoughts in that simplistic brain of yours?
[This one is on Yusuke, really, for not having registered her energy in the first place, but he'd been so intent on blowing off steam with the game that he'd been distracted.
So when he hears that voice, he is suitably apologetic -- once his eyebrows climb back down from up on high anyway.]
...Bursting the ball usually isn't part of it. Or showering friends with sand.
[Good thing Hiei isn't here right this moment or his ass would've been grass right about now.]
Hey, Yukina. There's getting to be a few of us now, huh.
(if she can steal a glimpse of him in this moment, the way his face is currently set is on 'enamored'. she's beautiful, and if there's anything that dazai cannot resist is a beautiful woman. a box of unread love letters hidden in his office, women that search for him through the night - solely due to how he cannot defy his own instincts.
he will hit on a beautiful woman, a dazai guarantee.
the words that she sends towards his way take the shape of an imaginary arrow that settles on his chest, his hand dramatically placed atop the equally unreal wound she brought to his chest.)
Oh-- my poor heart, fair lady... I truly did mean it! Ah, if only you could write my own initials after yours on that wishful note you drew on the sand!
Ah, if you know me, you must know I love my secrets! Is it relevant who told me? Why!? Did you not want me to know-- oh, are we not on good terms?
(too bad that he does not care about your teenage moodiness and attitude, scott! he is still as outgoing as ever, even doing a little twirl to face him to the last question. he has no idea!
[ Marianne exhales in relief when she finds there's no medical emergency. While she's equipped to treat him, it's best that her skills not be needed at all. She looks on with a sympathetic expression. That must have been some strong spice. Glancing around, she goes up to a bazaar stand and slips the vendor a few coins in exchange for a drink. Returning with the water in hand, she offers it to the boy. ]
(99% of this interaction won't be genuine, unfortunately. luckily for everyone, dazai has not yet posed his very own ideal person to obiwaka.
instead, his hands go to his cheeks, pinching them softly a few times so they can be a little plumpier before his hand does a 'v' shape with his thumb and index under his chin.)
Oh, how about now?! Oh, wait -- is it the one you carry me?! So technically, you'll do all the work and I'll simply rest?! I'm up for it!
Oh, so they're using you as a offer?! They are currently asking me to spend the night! Ah, then nothing has changed here either. You still get none!
(bitch please there are MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO.)
I'll pretend that I remember, by the way! We don't know what happened here, what have done, so I think this is safest! Who might be hiding in the shadows, after all...! I'm sure I can spin it to 'No Longer Human' secrets.
[ As Claude ambles his way through the town's festivities, he lets his eyes slowly drag across the people there, locals and Chosen alike, all merrily stuffing their faces with as much food as their limited stomachs can hold. He's been here long enough to recogize each one in turn: the fishmonger and the barkeep, the general store owner and the cafe waitress, the kids from a local school that once threw rocks at his wyvern and the fellow who fancies himself a scholar, a friend here and an ally there and, of course, Dimitri.
Wait.
For a moment, all Claude can do is gawk as though he's seen a ghost, face gone pale and eyes widening in shock, staggered and struck dumb. For all intents and purposes, he has seen a ghost. He knows very little about what has happened in Faerghus these past bloody years, only the tale of Dimitri's own death, driven out by Cornelia. Executed, or so they said. There were grim tales of Dimitri's betrayal, though Claude had believed few of them, not of the kind if uptight young man he once knew.
A part of him wants to turn tail and flee, leave the boy to the festivities, to eat his fill and to live happily for another day. But just as he's about to, their eyes meet from across the way. Claude himself is visibly older, broader, the braid that once hung by his chin gone, more a man than a boy. He feels much like a boy now, though, tongue leaden in his mouth. ]
Were you a researcher? That must be why you're so fond of the sciences!
[He's definitely different from his science teacher - cookier in some ways, way more pessimistic in the other. Maybe smarter too, if he's telling the truth about spending a lifetime on research.
Research, huh? He doesn't know why, but it sends goosebumps on his skin.]
...Do you want to be friends?
[The chances are slim, he knows, but might as well give it a shot!]
Of course. Of course he would. Chuuya's expression sours.]
Why am I not surprised you'd take the opportunity of being stuck in a new world to fuck around. Isn't screwing your way through Yokohama's hook up bars enough for you? And I've got better taste than anyone who'd be into your twig ass. I should be amazed you haven't been run out of town already.
[Ugh, just arrived and already Dazai is being insufferable. But he's got a point about pretending. He wonders....] That ain't gonna work for me, though. I can guess a lot from how people act but my ability ain't gonna fly for pretendin'.
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expiationlogs2024-06-10 07:58 am
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