3

[tenderoblivion]

[action, 1485 Kramden, post-dated to Monday]
[Early in the morning, before school begins, Yuki can be found in the kitchen of 1485 Kramden, humming softly to herself as she prepares breakfast for her beloved family. Absurdly shy, she trusts herself only around her family, and though she is aware at this point in her life that she must be adopted, she has never even questioned them as anything other than her family. She quietly bustles around the kitchen, preparing a healthy and nutritious breakfast consisting of eggs, toast, and fresh fruit.

Yuki adjusts her glasses as they begin to slip down her nose. She has, of course, always needed them to correct her vision.]

[action, school]
[At school, Yuki keeps to herself, much like she always has. She quietly listens during classes and sneaks a peek at the pages of her books when she thinks the teacher isn't paying attention - still, when called upon, her answers are almost always correct, if a bit inaudible. Or, at least, quite close. Between classes, she hugs her notebooks to her chest and keeps her eyes fixated on the floor. After classes, she waits until all the other students have filed out before following after meekly.

The sole exception to this behavior comes during lunchtime, when she allows her mind to wander. On her napkins, as she reads what clearly appears to be a romance from the cover, her hand subconsciously doodles...

'Yuki + Kyon'....

If she ever happens to spot the boy in question during the day, she will start violently and flee in the opposite direction.]

[phone]
[A voice speaks out over the phone lines, soft, tentative, and confused.]

I... I-I'm so sorry to disturb you all, but... I... I have a question - for... for film enthusiasts. I haven't been keeping track of the pictures they've been showing lately - t-they're all wonderful, I'm sure, it's just that, I... I prefer reading, but, um, if it's not too much trouble... May I ask if... if there's been a science fiction film lately? ...I've been having... very strange ideas, you see, and I... oh, I can't remember attending, but I'm sure I must have seen them at the pictures.

((All responses will come from disappearance.))

Comments

Action

[bespell]

[Lily all but waltzes into the kitchen, twisting her hair back with a ribbon before noticing Yuki.] You're making breakfast today? You're an absolute doll, sis.

[disappearance]

A-Ah, good morning!

[She gives a slight start as Lily enters, nearly knocking a pan off the stove in her clumsy movements. This was nothing new, however, given that Yuki started at stray sunbeams.]

Oh, it's the least I can do - my classes aren't nearly as difficult as yours must be. Did you sleep well last night, Lily?

[bespell]

Good morning, love.

[Seating herself at the table, Lily anticipates the meal happily. For some reason, she feels it natural to expect others to prepare food for her. She's never been particularly good at it.] Don't tell mother about this, but I stayed up quite late, actually. [she added with a conspiratorial smile] On the phone.

[disappearance]

[Yuki lets out a slight gasp as she solemnly places a hand over her mouth. A hint of color rises to her cheeks as she blushes slightly at this news - so unreserved! It was just like Lily to be able to do all of the normal teenaged-girl-activities she only ever had the courage to read about. With aplomb, too.

Yuki smiles shyly as she slides the fried egg onto a plate and brings it over to the dining room table.]

I won't tell, I promise.

[A pause as she sets it before Lily.]

With -- ...With a boy?

[bespell]

[With a dreamy look on her face, Lily slides the toast to where Yuki is, sharing it now that she has it buttered.]

You remember the Potter boy, from school? Only he's finally asked me proper to go steady this-- [she frowns, that little detail vague in her head for a moment.] a week or so, I think. You know mother will fuss, so I'm waiting for the right time to tell her.

[After a few mouthful, she looks up at Yuki.] I know you won't tell, right?

[action, school]

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

I knew it! [ SHana was just eating nearby, and saw her doodle. ]

I KNEW IT.

[disappearance]

[Yuki somehow manages to jump with such intensity that her lunch tray goes flying.]

A-A-Ah...! Oh! I! -- I... Ah, it's not... n-not...

[She seems to be too flustered to speak.]

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

Not what? { SHana is pretty good at this looking smug thing. ]

[disappearance]

I-I don't know what you're talking about!

[This seems to be as good a defense as any. Yuki's natural instinct would be to flee far, far away, but she is torn between her desires and the need to fix the mess she's just made.

In the end, she sways awkwardly back and forth in play, her eyes fixated on the milk slowly leaking out of her upended carton.]

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

You're in love with Kyon, of course. But you know he's with Haruhi now.

[phone]

[noluckduck]

Science fiction?... 'M not sure. I don't really-- I mean, I've gone to the movies, yeah, but not... not recently, I guess.

[disappearance]

T-That's fine, thank you. Um.

Can I ask... Have you... -- Have you ever heard of something called the... the Integrated Data Sentient Entity?

[noluckduck]

Nnnnope.

[disappearance]

O-or, or... um.

'Humanoid... interface'?

[noluckduck]

The hell is that?

phone

[answerer_sword]

Did you think to check the theaters?

[disappearance]

A-Ah... Oh, I. N-N-No. I... I couldn't.

[The meaning seems to be that while she could handle talking to the faceless masses, having to speak and ask silly questions in front of an actual human being was beyond her.]

[answerer_sword]

[She raises an eyebrow.]

Is there any particular reason?

[disappearance]

[Was there any particular reason? Of course there were reasons, but they weren't particular, they were rather general but perhaps she was just saying that as a colloquialism oh no she was making shallow breathing sounds again.]

N-No. Nothing...

[answerer_sword]

Do you have any friends who you can ask?

School

[ex_seventh238]

[That shy meekness sure is uncharacteristic of the girl, when Ciel spots her in the hallway. (Or wait-- was it?) The buzz in her head and the occasional headache has made it hard to think clearly, but still, this is a student she knows, right? So...]

Na--

[--wait... This doesn't make sense--]

Yuki...-san?

[Like 'miss', right? There's... nothing unusual about that, it's just another address!

(Ugh, maybe she should go get another coffee at the office soon.)]

[disappearance]

[Yuki starts visibly at being addressed before adopting an anxious smile.]

Ah... H-Hello... Mrs. Slick.

[She looks confused. Then again, Yuki always looks confused in a conversation. Right?]

[ex_seventh238]

[...There's always something about the helplessness of others. How to react to that doesn't take any thinking, at least. It comes naturally, just like breathing.

Her shoulders drop a bit, and she offers the stuttering girl a small but reassuring smile. Does it matter if Yuki's always acted like this? Anyone looking so downtrodden could definitely use a push to lighten up and try becoming more confident!]

Good morning! I hope I haven't startled you, aha. Are you okay?

[disappearance]

O-Oh, yes, of course...

[Yuki looks far from it, but she knows the things that one is expected to say in casual conversation. Even if she avoids it as much as possible. She brushes a nonexistent lock of hair back behind her ear as she carefully stares at a floor tile.]

Is... Is there something I can do for you...?

[ex_seventh238]

You should straighten up and look at people in the eyes when you're talking to them, miss Yuki. It may be a bit hard for you now, but try when you can, okay?

[Ciel'll just keep beaming cheerfully as she tightens the hold she has on the stack of papers she's carrying.]

I was about to ask you that, haha. You look [...] more down than... usual(?), to be honest. Are you sure that you're doing fine? School is important, but you shouldn't push your health for it either.