◊7th Ride◊ From the Inside [Phone]

[last_to_kneel]

[Private to Olivier Armstrong]

Yeah, this is Varon. We met briefly and you gave me that work-up 'bout the town after you shoved milkweed under my nose. Sheppard said I'd be a good candidate for the Resistance. I'll be brief.

She's seen me 'round on campus and interviewed me. I got plans worked up...mostly notes about what's goin' on an' things. I've been a prisoner when I was thirteen so you don't have to worry 'bout me crackin' under pressure. I've got somethin' worth protectin' here and I'm wantin' in.

A call back is appreciated.

[Private to Asagami Fujino]

Um...this is the first time I ever did this but I wanted to wish you a good night. I'll pick ya up in the mornin' for school.

[Open to all]

Listen up. Anyone so much as touches Fujino will have to answer to me. She's mine, got it? Anyone got a beef with that, I'm all ears.

Comments

[aozaki]

I don't blame you, the fashion is sorely lacking here. Sorted as a seamstress, I can vouch for how bland the patterns are.

Oh? Like what?

[last_to_kneel]

I hate sleeves. They bunch up on my arms an' sometimes they're too tight. It sucks. It's a blessed curse havin' big arms.

Anyway, what I mean is that she's got this somethin' inside that I know is there but it needs to come out. Every woman has it. Maybe she hasn't discovered it yet. I wanna be there when she gets it.

[aozaki]

Get a proper tailor next time, it could save you some trouble.

[...Oh man this kid is cheesy. She chuckles lightly.] Is that so? Would you happen to be an expert on women, then?

[last_to_kneel]

Why? The scissors worked fine.

[Preeety much nailed him on the head. He's clueless.]

Uh, no. Just good with my hands.

[Doh!]

[aozaki]

Asagami is a proper young lady born in a high-class family. She was an honor student too, didn't you know? A little class would be nice, don't you think?

[...

She's just going to laugh out loud, now. WORSE THAN MIKIYA...] Whatever do you mean by that? Are you saying that you're good at handling women?

1/3

[last_to_kneel]

EEH?!

[If she could see him, he's flailing right about now. He's shaking his head back and forth vehemently.]

2/3

[last_to_kneel]

No, no, no, that's not what I meant!

[Face-palm smack.]

3/3

[last_to_kneel]

I work a lot. That's what it means. I mean, yeah, I know that she's smart an' I didn't know that she came from a well-to-do social class.

[Flatly.]

Does this mean I gotta wear a suit?

[aozaki]

[HAHAHA his cluelessness is pretty endearing...]

It was easy to misinterpret, though. I asked if you were good with girls, answering that you're good at handiwork is stretching the topic, no? Although a suit would be excessive, I do suggest you try to put on clean clothes if you're going to see her. There are such things as T-shirts, they're also quite popular in this era. It is still technically winter right now however, the cold doesn't bother you?

[last_to_kneel]

Well, since you put it that way, I'm learnin'. I do wear jackets so the cold really ain't that big a deal.

[He sighs loudly.]

I'm not perfect, I know that, but I'm not an idiot either. There's no way in hell I'd show up at Fuji's house lookin' like I stepped out of a barn. My clothes are clean. Maybe not in your preferred style but they are clean. I've got clothes for work, clothes for school an' clothes for everything else.

Why do I gotta tell ya what's in my wardrobe anyhow?

[aozaki]

It's your own health and comfort, as long as you're aware.

No one said you were, now. I'm just putting in a warning ahead of time, no need to grow snappy. [She also doesn't need to enjoy this but there's SOMETHING about picking on young couples...]

Well, I've spoken to Asagami Fujino's father, for one. [just

lets that hang and see if it gets a reaction...]

[last_to_kneel]

Oh? Ya mean the one here?

[He pauses for a moment. He's not sure how to go about this other than directly.]

What did he say?

[aozaki]

No, I know her and her family from her home world. Or rather, our home world.

[last_to_kneel]

Oh...this is awkward.

[Another pause...]

So...he's pretty much put out there to watch her.

[aozaki]

Why do you think that? [She still sounds perfectly pleasant.]

Her biological father isn't here however, so he can't know what she's doing. Or did you mean me?

[last_to_kneel]

Yeah, you.

[He softly chuckles mostly to relieve the stress he's feeling.]

Since he's not here, someone has to keep an eye on her, right?

[aozaki]

Ooh, now you've got it. Call me nosy if you like, but I am the only one in position to watch her just in case. I also probably know more about her than anyone else in town, hence I'm interested if she's to get a boyfriend here. You don't mind, do you? [NOT LIKE HE HAS A CHOICE, if he hasn't noticed already...]

[last_to_kneel]

[He has a sneaking suspicion he knows what this means.]

Not really. Figures that she would have someone watchin' her back which is why I'm not bothered. She kinda needs it. Nice girls like her need protecting even if it's from themselves.

[Having known a few people like her personality type in his world, he knows that they often hide terrible secrets.]

[aozaki]

[Don't worry she's not malicious!

Just a huge troll...]

That's certainly true. You sound nice enough, but we'll have to meet in person too at some point. That said, do you really think it was necessary, to make an announcement like that to the whole town?

[last_to_kneel]

[He pauses for a moment then his face contorts to one of self-chastisement which can be heard in his voice.]

Agh, that was stupid, I'll admit.

[aozaki]

The best way to protect someone you like isn't to announce them for everyone to hear. You're attracting unnecessary attention this way, giving her out to potential treats - or possible future rivals! - by making them aware of her name. Well, I'm sure that Asagami appreciates your intent, but try to be a little more discreet next time, alright? [just your friendly in-law wannabe neighbor giving some protip, okok...]

[last_to_kneel]

[He sighs.]

If we're lucky, no one'll remember this an' move on. Given the reputation of this town, it wouldn't surprise me. Stupid li'l stuff like this is swept under th' rug pretty quick but th' big things aren't so easily dismissed.

Ah, White Day's comin' up isn't it?

[aozaki]

That should be how it goes, yes. There are plenty of phonecalls made each day, as long as you don't repeat this most people shouldn't remember. And that's right! It's on March 14th. I suppose you know how the tradition goes?

[last_to_kneel]

Sort of. I know it has to do with chocolates that was given on Valentine's Day an' on White Day, it's the bloke that gives somethin' in return accordin' to how they feel about the person an' how much it's worth to them is shown in the gift.

Um, as far as the calls go, there won't be a repeat. I can assure ya that.