Enjoying the Afternoon [Invited, open]

[Kira Karyuudo, Hikari]

Sunday afternoon. Homework was finished, and Kira needed to get out. Out of the dorm, away from the school captain. Hell, away from the school itself. And so, grabbing a book she'd been working on reading, a blanket and a bit of change, she jumped out the door and went park-hunting.

Fortunately, she didn't have to look far.

It was nice to just walk. She knew of two parks, but the Marina Green caught her attention. It was closer to the water than the other park. She could have a view and relax. Peeeerrrrrrfect.

What amounted to a few blocks down Cervantes had her at the park, taking a deep breath. Grinning, she soon found a place to slump down upon the flung-out blanket. Flopping lightly onto her stomach, she settled herself upon her elbows and flipped to the dog-eared page. Before turning her attention to the words written on the pages, she took a few minutes to just look at the view. The yachts sailing upon the open bay, the people scattered here and there either walking or having about the same idea that she did.

Definitely a nice day.

[( Technically, I'd like my invited to post first...or at the very least, to interact with Kira first. )]

[taru]

Taru walked happily while humming the song "Simple and Clean", which was one of his favorite songs. Taru nodded his head as he slightly increased the speed of him walking. Taru thought to himself ,"It's certaintly a wonderful day. Better than most atleast. Nothing on my mind really..."He smiled slightly after that thought. So much has been going on for Taru. He lost love then got it back. He got a sister, his first sibling. He even went on a motorcycle for the first time. A walk is certaintly what he needed today. Just to clear his mind of what is going on. He looked upward and saw a woman walking infront of him but in the opposite direction as well. Guess other people take walks too.

He laughed a little then looked downward as he pulled out his cell phone. He tried finding Araxie's number so he could call her and talk to her a little bit. He then had second thoughts rather to text her, or call her. Probaly text just in case she can't talk and he calls in a bad time. He went to his messages and create message. What to say...What to say...Hmmm...Taru started pressing the numbers creating the word "Hi" and then he started making a ":-)" he got to the ":-" until he didn't notice where he was walking. He looked upward and he was just about to bump into the woman he saw walking. He fell back as the woman bumped into him but she didn't fall. The woman looked down at him and said.

"Watch where you going child."

Taru thought,"She must be old." So instead of walking on the street, he turned on the end of the street into the park. A place he hasn't been in quite a while. He walked around still texting Araxie smiling at each word he wrote. He then looked at the park sign saying ,"Marina Green." Wierd name. Oh well Taru kept walking unaware of what direction he was walking due to him texting. He walked for a few more moments until he was unaware that he was walking on someone's blanket then he looked down to see a girl that he was just about to trip over!!! Doh! Taru's foot bumped against her and he fell forward right ontop of the girl and his cell phone flew right out of his hand to the corner of the blanket.

"Ouch....Oh I'm so sorry!!!"

Taru quickly got off the girl and looked down at her as she was reading her book.

"I'm so so so sorry. Please forgive me!"

Taru said nervous and bowed to the girl. Agggh so stupid. Taru kept his head bowed waiting for the girl who was reading the book on the blanket to reply to him.

[Leon Loire]

There lay Leon Loire, hovering - no, floating - in the fluid darkness known as space, body limp as the Dead, frozen icicles substituting the navy gaze, form robed in the signature attire of his maned jacket and battle clothing, left hand gripping a shattered blade... the Revolver.

'Why Live the Stresses of Life, When I'm Already Dead?'

Darkness shattered however, as conscious woke, and that icy gaze felt the warmth of day...

'Damnit, I fell asleep again... gah! Now my contacts are irritating my eyes!'

Leon Loire watched as the blur of a clear blue world returned to his mind, the sudden lean forward turning that blur of the sky into a muck of sage, grey and a bit of brown. Loire's own eyes, while he could not tell, were clearly a small mix of pink and red, the soft dry skin slowly recovering its oily moisture. But in that time of recovery came heated, oddly torturous pain.

"Ack, that was stupid." Leon whispered to himself, slowly standing as he shook his head to clear up the draining tire of his brief nap. Finding his hands subconsciously rubbing the back of his neck, before finally cleaning up the sloppy feel of his maned jacket across his shoulders. Loire felt a sigh pass his lips, and his lids shut over his still-bothered eyes before reopening slowly.

It had been a rather odd week, and it hadn't been given a very good start. The riot that had gone beyond control had just been a few weeks ago, and since then the faces of Kvist and Stern Mason had risen back up as two major sinners of the Varron history. Rumors had the Hand of Fate attempting to begin a sort of covert war against the Pillar System, and with Stern Mason back in play, Leon knew he'd be planning something to throw everyone into chaos. It didn't help things that the school was still rather violent, as Kurtz's speech had done little to bring violence down any lower, he'd only changed the targets.

Needing a humane break from such drama, Leon Loire found himself at one of San Fransisco's local parks, and from there, he had sat back in the morning breeze at a simple bench, leaning his Saxophone carrying case against his stomach, watching the clouds pass by...

And from there, the exhaustion of such stress knocked him out cold, and three hours later, he awoke to find himself at noon.

"Well, I suppose I need to move about, stop being so lathargic." Loire murmured quietly, gazing left and right to try and peak his interest; such a search failed, and the young adult found himself shrugging as he decided to walk toward the left, hoping to find a good place to sit back, place his music, and not fall asleep for a second time.

Marching forward without a solid sense of focus, Leon continued to search for anything that would catch his eye: food, fountains, a rock, a tree, a woman... Nothing seemed to really stand out in the bright world of the local area. Oddly enough, something eventually did catch Loire's gaze with a sort of strange familiarity. In the corner of his right eye, Leon witnessed a young woman of jet black hair reading a book, sprawled across a picnic blanket. She seemed intent on enjoying the wonderful air of the spring day, and while Leon originally had no intention of bothering her, he saw a random boy crash into her, and then fall upon her.

'Damn! Awkward!'

Finding himself only a few steps away, Leon tread closer, watching with a grin as the boy rushed an apology. Yet Leon eyes realized something: the woman herself was far more familiar than he first suspected. It was none other than the sharp-witted female that had been one of the first faces etched in his memories from Varron Academy, Kira Karyuudo.

"Kid, ten bucks says that you'll want to back up a few more steps, hence you feel the wrath of that book across your temple." Loire warned, keeping his eyes at his familiar at the blanket, before grinning back at the stranger, "She tends to have a rather... random temper. Always best to be ready for her to slap you with a broom."

Yet, before the boy could reply, Leon looked back to the woman in question, grinned, and bowed in a sort of mock to the Sophomore's apology, "Afternnoon Kira Karyuudo, I hope school's treating you well? I haven't seen you enough to converse, it seems."

[Kira Karyuudo, Hikari]

Kira smiled, breathed deep, and turned her attention to the novel she was reading. Sue her, but it was the second book of a triogy by Nora Roberts: Dance of the Gods. Even she needed to have a bit of whimsy once in a while. Hunkering down slightly with her legs swinging freely behind her, she found where she'd last left off...and sank into the world presented by the book.

By the time she'd finished a session with the weights and grabbed a quick shower, Blair had worked up that appetite. She decided to go for one of her favourites, and dug up the makings for French toast.

She tossed some Irish bacon into a skillet for protein, selected Green Day on her MP3 player. Music to cook by.

She poured her second cup of coffee before breaking eggs in a bowl.

She was beating the batter when Larkin strolled in the door. He stopped, stared at her player. "And what is it?"
"It's a—" How to explain? "A way to whistle while you work."
"No, it's not the machine I'm meaning. There are so many of those, I can't keep them all in my brain. But what's the sound?"
"Oh. Um, popular music? Rock—of the hard variety."
He was grinning now, head cocked as he listened. "Rock. I like it."
"Who wouldn't? Not going for eggs, this morning. Doing up French toast."
"Toast?" Disappointment fell over his face, erasing the easy pleasure of the music. "Just cooked bread?"
"Not just. Besides, you get what you get when I'm manning the stove. Or you forage on your own."
"It's kind of you to cook, of course."

His tone was so long-suffering, she had to swallow a laugh. "Relax, and trust me on this. I've seen you chow down, cowboy. You're going to like it as much as Rock, especially after you drown it in butter and syrup. I'll have it going in a minute. Why don't you flip that bacon over?"

"I'm needing to wash first. Been mucking out the stall and such, and I'm not fit yet to touch anything."

She lifted a brow as he strolled right out. She'd seen him slip out of all manner of kitchen duties already. And she had to admit, he was slick about it.

Resigned, she turned the bacon herself, then heated a second skillet. She was about to dunk the first piece of bread when she heard voices. The newlyweds were up, she realized, and added to the batter to accommodate them.

Effortless style. It was something Glenna had in spades, Blair thought. She wandered in wearing a sage green sweater and black jeans with her bold red hair swinging straight and loose. The urban take on country casual, Blair supposed. When you added the pretty flush of a woman who'd obviously had her morning snuggles, you had quite a package.

She didn't look like a woman who would rush a squad of vampires while she bellowed out war cries and swung a battle-ax, but she'd done just that.
"Mmm, French toast? You must have read my------"

And was abruptly dislodged from said world when someone tripped over her, the toe of the shoe digging in almost painfully just below her ribs. Dropping her book, the momentum causing Kira to roll onto her back, she quickly covered the sore spot with her hand, the other pushing her into a sitting position. 'Ouuuuch...' She thought, grimacing a moment as the quickly-spoken apology was finally heard.

Shaking her head slowly, just to get her bearings again, Kira finally lifted her blue eyes to look at just who had tripped over her. "Ugh... It's okay just next time watch where you're..." Blink. 'Leon?' "...going..?"

Turning her head as her friend spoke, cautioning the kid about her temper, she glowered with a mock-menacing face. And then brightened up with a sweet smile. "Ah, Leon, I'll save the broom or mop just for you, then." Turning her attention back onto the kid with curious eyes, she questioned him: "What's your name, kiddo?"

Finally shifting up enough to sit on the blanket, Kira's hands brushed over a cell phone. Blinking, she picked it up, and after glancing at it, tossed it to Taru. She didn't say anything, but merely gestured for Leon to sit down, and then as an after thought, spoke to the kid. "Sit down if you want."

[taru]

Taru looked at the woman who was asking his name and he rudeley tripped over. Taru blushed as he looked at her. He wasn't really comfortable around girls especially older ones. Then he noticed a phone coming at him which knocked him in the forehead making him fall back. Ouch. Taru got his cell phone and stood up to look down at the girl who is probaly same height as him. Taru was nervous around every girl he met especially ones who were good looking. So he introduced himself out of sort of fear and nervousness.

"Um..I..Uh..Am Taru. Miss....Um...May I ask your name miss?"

Taru looked at her shyly. She was older and he was never comfortable around girls besides Araxie. So he just looked at her in the eyes with nervousness and tried to fit in a small smile at her. It was hard for him. And the older girl was good looking too another con against Taru. He even sometimes got nervous around his girlfriend Araxie due to how she looks. So he put his cellphone in his pocket still waiting for Kira to reply. The girl could of destroyed his cellphone if she wanted to and he could never ever text Araxie again if that happened. And communication would be hell for poor Taru. HELL!!! Taru thanked god that she didn't so his life wouldn't be hell. But it might if the woman that he just met did anything to him.

"Um..Yeah..Again I'm really sorry. I was just texting my girlfriend and I didn't know where I was going and I accidentally tripped on you and I'm reallly really sorry!! Please forgive me miss. I'll do whatever for you to repent."

Taru blushed as he bowed. Jeez dude for all you know, that guy is her friend and they could be a gang and beat the crap out of him then shock him to death with tazers. Then use him for prositution and so he could never ever see his beloved Araxie again!! AHHHH!!!! Okay relax Taru...Relax...Deep breath. Alright that's good. Relax. Anyways, Taru looked upward slightly at the girl and tried to fit in a smile at the girl hoping she would forgive him and let him off with an easy repetence.

[jellar]

(OOC: Assuming Jellar already met Taru in the thread in the Streets...)

Ta-DAN!!

The G-Major chord rang proudly in the small performance hall from Jellar's violin. Applause came down like rain, and Jellar, after letting his violin ring to the very end, withdrew his instrument to between his right arm and bowed lightly, his tux uniform with his black slacks and the jacket making him seem very professional. Still with applause filling the hall, Jellar made his way off the stage, satisfied with his performance all the same. He went to another room to pack up his violin after leaving the compliments from many of the audience to where everything seemed to be dead quiet. He was done with the place for the day, and he wiped some sweat off of a towel he brought. Performances so lively as the one he had just played in took a lot more effort than some would think.

Having not brought another suit of clothes to change back into, Jellar merely took off the outer black jacket leaving only his undershirt covered by a tux. He had just finished playing a volunteered performance at a church and was free to go, and so he was going to do just that. He was not one to take compliments very well, so he wasn't about to stick around. He left the hall, craving the colder air outside than the heated one in the church, he felt the breeze take over his arms through the thin tux that he was wearing. You could see tints of his skin color through the tux, and the thinness proved able to give a very relaxing feel to his arms.

Unfortunately, Jellar would have to walk home. His dad was working, and he did not bike for fear of damaging his violin. Walking was no quarrel, however, as he did it many times a day. What was wrong with doing it some more? So Jellar left the hall, dressed in his tux and black slacks and his black dress shoes, on his way home. Hopefully he would not damage his shoes too much, though that was of little consequence. Not many people looked at the bottom of a performer's shoes during the performance, as they would be against the ground.

However, about half-way to his house, he came across a nice, grassy field, or rather, a park. It was labeled Marina Green. The park had an interesting name, and perhaps would provide a great view of a green lake, as the name of the park suggested. He decided to check it out, and so he walked into the park, simply investigating.

In all consequence, he saw two familiar faces, seeming to have a lively chat nearby accompanied by a girl of which Jellar had no idea. One was the good Alex Thompson, or should he say, Leon Loire. The other was Taru, someone he had just met recently, showing his usual nervousness and shyness as he apologized for whatever he had done to the girl. Perhaps he could drop by and talk for a bit. He had a lot of free time. It was Sunday, and Jellar very rarely procrastinated, this weekend being no exception. He had his homework finished by Saturday evening.

Arriving at the scene behind Leon, Jellar spoke out, making his presence known.

"Hey Leon, hey Taru, what are you guys up to?" he asked just after Taru had finished his drawn out apology and his offer to 'repent.' Surely the girl, who Leon seemed to know so well, would not have Taru do anything for whatever he had done. Jellar did not arrive in time to see what had happened, though upon examination of the girl, Jellar deemed her a little bit 'cute', if that was what Jellar would call it. He did not have much fascination with girls and never had a relationship and never considered getting one for more than a minute. It was probably strange for that.

[Leon Loire]

"First I'm threatened with the broom and then invited to take a seat? I'm feeling quite special today Kira, thank you." Leon remarked back in a lighthearted sigh, slowly pulling off his jacket so the noon breeze would settle his nerves. Slowly sitting down and leaning his legs onto the grass, Leon hovered his left arm over his bent left leg, his eyes glinting slightly as his attention drew to the Sophomore Hircinian.

Leon felt a bit of a surprised laugh at the boy's offering of redemption. It seemed his nervousness was preventing the realization of Kira's acceptance, and his mind was still set on the default mode on assuming his own guilt first before blaming a female.

'Good to see he has chivalry - although, it seems a bit mixed with a touch of innocence and naivete. No matter, he seems just about my age when I was going through that phase. He'll get over it.'

Leon grinned at this "Taru," and joined Kira's movement to motion him in sitting down, "She's not asking for your pleas... Taru, she's already accepted your apology and approved of you. Go ahead and sit down so we can get to know you."

Leon had the feeling that Kira would be the one leading this discussion, considering she was the hostess of the almighty blanket - and she had been the first to claim the lawn. Since he had been invited, Leon decided it was better to leave Karyuudo to lead the discussion with the young Hircinian, and Leon would keep to adding in quirks and laughs, acting as the boy's gender support.

'I doubt he really needs me to drop out of his shell, but hell, I'm sure being here would make it that much easier. I'll just sit back, maybe play some music to ease things...'

Holding a grin at the subconscious bend of Kira's reaction to him, Leon attempted to distract himself by examining her hoped entertainment of the afternoon: a novel. Its fascia-red skin dominated the appearance, bringing the natural attention of human eyes to a bright object; the title itself was large and emboldened, nearly atop the simple silhouette of a dragon. Checking the spine momentarily, Loire's navy eyes caught sight of the book's genre - fantasy and romance?

'Wow, never really thought of romance with fantasy. Learned something new today. And so Kira's interested in such things...'

Leon's mind, beginning to free itself a bit from stress, flirted with the idea of buying Karyuudo another book of a similar genre on either part, but soon found himself placing the object right next to its owner's left hip as he looked up towards the light to see a violinist in a slightly casual tuxedo.

'Ah man, this is just getting better and better... man, this kind of feels like a corny movie scene or something.'

Leon forced himself to end his mental thoughts, now recognizing the face of the instrumentalist himself, "Ah! Jellar Feint! What a surprise, I didn't expect to see you - especially in evening clothing. Even still, quite an entrance I must say, and it's good to see. Please take a ... oh wait, um..."

Leon realized exactly what was about to slip from his lips, and catching himself, turned toward Kira with a nervous grin, "Hehe, hey Kira, is it all right if Jellar Feint joins us as well?"

'God, it's true that women train us... and instead of a whip, mine's a bloody broom...'

[taru]

ooc:I'll have trouble posting since my mom grounded me.

Taru was slightly confused on the offer the man before him had given him but, Jellar was there to calm him a bit so he agreed to sit down still nervous around the woman he tripped over. He really felt bad still due to his actions but the man who Jellar called Leon seemed pretty passive and said the girl wouldn't do anything to him so Taru sat down quietly and looked at the three. Taru didn't have much friends since he got to highschool due to the fact all of them moved when they heard Varronites we're coming to the city so they all left and never came back. Not even discussing anything with Taru. So Taru in groups is something that he is no longer used to. And a broom? This woman could be a mad woman who uses a broom as her slaying weapon to murder all three of them and he would be unable to move the next day due to the evil whacks of doom thier woman. Then then they could be ahhh!!! Taru shook his head after his crazy assumption and looked upward again.

"Yeah...Okay...So your Leon...I already met Jellar. And you are Kira? That's a strange name but strange is normal in this place. Just incase you guys haven't been here long, the place has been very strange especially with those insane pillars on the loose. You really get used to it in the end. And no offense to your name Miss Kira it's nice. Better than Taru. Mine came from a plant...So...I have no right to judge..."

Taru looked downward after that embarrased what his name came from. Taro is a plan and Taru is just changing the "o" to a "u." Proving his name is honestly lame to the literal point. He started to think out of insanity again just incase all three of them we're in a plot and he could get brutally attacked and aaah!! God stop thinking that way. If you do, it's gonna happen. Atleast, thats what Taru said. Taru shook his head in result and leaned back for a while then noticed the book Kira was reading.

"Book huh? My girlfriend loves to read books so, it became my passion too. At this point of time, I read so many books I don't remember what it felt like to watch T.V. The last time I watched T.v. was months agoo....But it doesn't matter as long as im with her. Everything is exciting in its own way making my day every day. Except today because I can't see her. Anyways, I hope I'm not talking too much. I just don't know what else to talk about."

[jellar]

(OOC: To accommodate for my leave...)

"Haha yeah, I'll tell you the details soon," Jellar said, grinning to Leon in response to his own attire. Letting Leon see if Jellar could join them, as he was planning to because he had time to spend that would better go to friends than anything else, he suddenly felt very, very thirsty. He realized he had not drank anything since the performance he just had.

Taru had explained their connection and Jellar nodded in approval. He listened to Taru finish his rant on their names. If anyone's name was weird, it was Jellar's, in his opinion. However, he did not have to bring it up. The other two names were Japanese, but to distinguish Jellar's was not very clear. In fact, Jellar was not even any form of his own Chinese name, merely something his parents decided on calling him when they got to America. Though, aside from the point, Jellar needed to quench his thirst, and he was going to do just that.

"Hey guys," Jellar said, not trying to be rude or anything. He set his violin on the grass and his jacket over it, not letting much of the jacket touch the grass because he needed to keep it clean. "I'm going to get a drink of water." He notioned to a water fountain about twenty yards away. With that, he left in his formal attire to the fountain to get a drink, hearing Taru speak of books and hearing his timid continuation. He had a girlfriend, as he had made clear. Still, those types of bonds were not fit for Jellar. Regardless, after walking away a distance, he was in no position to respond unless he was to yell, so he just continued to go get his water.

[Kira Karyuudo, Hikari]

The kid looked, for want of a better word, disturbed. Greatly. She could see the deep breaths he occasionally pulled in, as though he was trying to calm himself down. 'Do I really scare him that much? Or is it because Leon's here as well..? Kinda a strange kid, I'll give him that, but he doesn't seem bad at all...' She mused silently, smirking at her friend's retort as he moved to sit near her, taking the offered seat. She nudged him, raising an eyebrow as though to say It could be worse..?

However, she nodded with Leon's answer to the poor boy. "He's right... The apology you've already given will do more than suffice... And as you've heard, my name is Kira."

'Jeez... Wonder if he would freak out if he knew the translation for that... Heh, he probably would...' She thought, with a slight grin in amusement.

Covering a small yawn with her hand, she leaned to the side, nudging Leon with her elbow, a glint appearing in her eyes at his "slip-up" with the seating. Truth be told, Kira couldn't care less, the newest arrival looked interesting enough, and considering he was friends with Leon... He couldn't be that bad.

"Hmm... I don't think I want to let this new guy sit with us..." She sniffed before, unable to hold it back anymore, laughing. "Kidding, kidding... Leon, anybody can sit here... It's not as though I'm going to kick anyone off..."

Turning her attention back to Taru, she smiled, a hand reaching up to rub the back of her neck slowly. "Yeah, I was just figuring I had some free time, I could get some fresh air and all that... And, you're just talking so much because you're a bit nervous, right..?" 'D'uh...as if that wasn't obvious...' Kira shrugged. "Relax, kid, none of us is going to bite your head off."

[( Sorry for the lateness...I was dealing with an essay yesterday. And John, your posts don't have to be essay-length, yeah? )]

[Leon Loire]

Leon grinned a bit at Karyuudo's sarcasm and nodded his head in thanks, appreciating the reaction and the approval all the same, "Hey, always good to check, isn't it?"

Looking back to the young Taru as he detailed on Kira's "odd" name, Leon could not help but feel a bit of an amused smirk cross his face. The guy was definitely nervous, and it showed true when he made a rather self-harming remark about his own name. Leon had to admit that his own "name" was normal according to European standards, even though it was typically given to a French man. Even his real name was common, so the Senior could not argue either case. Leaning back a bit more, feeling a mental laugh pass over his thoughts, Leon felt a subtle need to react toward Taru's mention of names. However, before doing so, Jellar noted that he was off to get a drink, and Leon realized the Junior was placing his violin case and tuxedo jacket carefully on the grass.

'I should move that onto the blanket itself, his instrument and clothes will be safer there.'

Leon stood up briskly, grabbed the Violin's handle and the collar of the jacket, and then returned to the blanket, placing them comfortably behind where his own Saxophone sat. Satisfied with the safety of Feint's equipment, Leon sat down once more, grinning at Taru's mention of books - and his girlfriend, someone he seemed unsurprisingly obsessed with.

Then again, who isn't obsessed with those they love? The only difference was the boy felt the need to speak it out loud to strangers, that was all.

"Talking's a good thing Taru, the only problem is to keep those you're speaking with interested. You're fine though, so don't worry about it." Leon commented as he sat back down next to Kira, but felt himself laughing a bit as Kira noted the idea of going "Ozbourne" on the poor Sophomore, "That is unless we happen to know Ozzy and we dress you like a bat, then you'd be in trouble. Otherwise, you've got nothing to fret over. Kira's beauty is meant to make you feel better, not worse."

'Was that too blunt? Hell, who care...'

[taru]

Taru looked at the two confused and in a way a little less nervous. Was this Leon guy with this Kira? Or is he just hitting on her...Hmm...Interesting. Taru scratched the back of his head as he looked at the two. I seriously think that Leon guy is either with her or just wants to hook up with her. Oh well...I can worry about it later. That's atleast what Taru thought. Taru crossed his legs and shook al ittle bit after he said the Ozbourne's joke.

"Umm...Yes miss Kira is pretty and all but are you with her mister Leon? And no offense to you at all miss Kira but I get nervous around pretty girls. So...Yeah...It kinda doesn't help that muccch...And I don't mean go draw a mustache on her and a goatee but yeah...And sorry. I'm young and in love. Here's something to keep you interested in though. You guys hear that the pillars are gonna get taken out soon? This guy Stern is planning to take out all the pillars. At any cost. It's going to be crazy. So IF THat doesn't interest you I don't know then because anyone who actually can take out a pillar would be pretty crazy. Even beating one is an achievement. "

Taru smiled. His job was to spread the word of Stern taking out the pillars. He'll do his job then. Tell everyone he knows about Stern's little uprising. As crazy it may be, it's a good thing that Stern will take out the pillars. No pillars would be freedom from the system. And make a more controlled student body instead of pillars beating the crap out of everyone. So Taru was supporting Stern's little revolt against the stupid pillars 100%.

"So...How's everyone?"

[Kira Karyuudo, Hikari]

Kira shifted as Leon sat back down with a wry smirk, leaning back against his arm with her head just leaning against his shoulder, picking her book up. Thumbing through it, she quickly located the page she last left off on, and slipped her finger between the pages to mark it. She couldn't help the light blush that crept onto her cheeks at Leon's last words.

Nor could she help the fierce one that had her face completely red at Taru's innocent question.

'Myeeeeeeeeeeeep...' Kira thought, unable to think of anything else.

Abruptly sitting up from her position, she blinked at Taru before squeaking out a reply. "Uh...no..? W-we're not together..."

With the change of subject, Kira hesitated before slowly leaning back against Leon once more. Her face was still hot, but slowly the blush began to fade. Breathing a soft sigh, she considered the kid's words. ' "Stern," huh? That's interesting, though I should have guessed that our little 'group' - if you can call it that - wouldn't be the only ones wanting change...'

Snapping out of her thoughts at the new question, she tilted her head, directing her gaze to Taru. "Fine. Mildly embarrassed still, but fine..." Her last words came out mumbled, but undoubtedly Leon would at least hear them. "And you?"

[Leon Loire]

After sitting back down next to Kira, Leon allowed his two arms to lean back, supporting his form. What surprised him however was not Taru's strange continuance of Kira's beauty, but of the girl herself leaning against his right arm. He had to admit, it wasn't terribly suggestive, but the thought of some intimate physical contact brought a strange spike of nostalgia and anxiety through Leon's neck.

'Gah, Kira... you're not helping things...'

Even still, the thought was only sarcastic in Leon; he was surprisingly happy to have his friend so comfortable around him, and it was relaxing to know that he truly wasn't alone. He knew it was best not to wrap his arm over her shoulder or something of that nature, knowing well how suggestive that'd be. He merely leaned back, a light smile passing over his lips as his stomach warmed from emotional comfort.

Still, Taru seemed to catch on to the obvious misinterpretation quickly. Leon felt Kira's face warm a slight bit at his notion of her beauty; it grew intensely more at Taru's sudden question as to whether the two were dating.

Leon's own face instantly flushed, and as Kira quickly sat up straight, his own body leaned forward, as if he were preparing to hurl. His eyes set on Taru's face awkwardly, his stomach twisting.

'Where did he get that? Just from Kira leaning there? Come on Leon, relax, it's nothing... nothing at all...'

Once Kira responded that the two were only friends, Leon felt the need to add in, "We-we're only friends Taru, we haven't reached that peak..."

'Yet - damnit! Stop being suggestive!' Leon found himself nearly wording that last thought, consciously forcing himself to cut his sentence short. Of all things that Kira Karyuudo needed, affection to a condemned man was far from it.

Besides, Leon soon found his political senses taking over; Taru made notes toward Stern Mason himself.

"Mason you say? Hmm... interesting... very interesting indeed..." Leon trailed off, his eyes first glancing toward Taru - suddenly side-glancing Kira as she leaned her head against Leon again - then toward the lawn nearby.

'So Stern's starting it again. Yet, to go after the Pillars suggests a different approach, and he has Zeniro with him. It's possible that if he overthrows the local Pillars, he'd induce a revolution as he wished to commit at Varron Academy... but what's his plan? Does he intend to use the same methods as before?'

Suddenly Leon found this young Taru very interesting. As Kira noted her own status, Leon smirked and quickly replied to her whispered hush in an equal wind, "Hey, it's just me, you don't have to worry, eh?"

Leon grinned at the girl, then looked to Taru to react to his question, "Me? Hell, first you had me unsure of things, but now I'm back on focus. Tell me... where did you hear about Stern taking on the Pillars? I just saw him the other day, and certainly it makes me curious that he'd be acting against a System that he doesn't even know so quickly. Perhaps you could explain how you met him?"

[taru]

Taru was in a way, alarmed of what Leon asked of him. But Stern did tell him to spread the word so...Taru might as well. Taru took a deep breath and looked at Kira and Leon then sighed for a moment. I want to tell them. But its not a secret. Taru smiled then finally spoke.

"Well...I was in the halls and I found out this guy was about to take out the pillar system. So yeah..."

Taru looked down after his comment and looked at the two waiting for thier response to what he just said. So Taru had nothing else to say.

ooc:short sorry bye

[charlotte]

(OOC: Hope you don't mind a fourth party - I've been feeling the need to be involved in more threads, and this one I've had my eye on )



Red Converse All-Stars creating soft footsteps on the ground, her legs and breathing in concert and rythm with her heartbeat, Charlotte ran, as she often did - more often on weekends than weekdays.

The day was sunny, and she had decided to run far today, further than normal and deviating from her usual set of routes, taking her many blocks from her apartment, and along a waterfront park called the Marina Green.

In her black shorts and white t-shirt which featured the Union Jack emblazoned across her chest, her leg muscles revealed thier true shape and strength as she ran, as opposed to her normally deceptive altheticsm. The open air was refreshing, keeping her body cool, and the sun's soft radiance was not at all unwelcome.

Unlike many other runners, Charlotte didn't carry an ipod or mp3 player to listen to. The earphones agitated her, annoyed her, and besides, with music in such close proximity to the ears, it drowed out most other sensation, dulling the enjoyement of the day.

And it was quite an enjoyable day.

Years of running had taught her body to keep a rythm with the motion of her legs and breathing, maintaining a steady beat with her heart. That was another reason for her no-music rule; with a foreign beat in the mix, it messed with her internal rythm, making her tire faster. By keeping herself in constant awareness, any change in speed or direction could be efficiently made by steadying her increased heartbeat with minute changes in her breathing.

To her, running had become an almost subconscious science, knowing instinctively what shifts to make and when, her mind keeping the steady beat easily, which allowed her active thoughts and senses to focus on other things, such as her surroundings, the scenery, and the absolute beauty of the day's weather.

No thoughts of school or plots crossed her mind, and even her natural wall of an icily sarcastic demeanor seemed to melt away in the sun. A carefree nature like no other came over her, as it frequently seemed to do when she ran (perhaps that was why she ran in the first place), a sudden, more carefree mentality, not unlike the sort that she herself found obnoxious or annoying.

As she ran, a flash of a familiar face, sitting reclined on a blanket, a girl leaning her head upon his shoulder whilst another student, a boy, standing nearby, talking with them, met her eyes.

Not bothering to slow her pace to perform an easy halt, Charlotte twisted about, her feet skidding, a few rocks kicking up as her foward motion stopped completely and she stood at an easy stance, easily within comfortable talking distance from the trio.

So the landing would be hard on her diaphragm ... she could handle having a stitch later, and a rare chance of being willingly social was one she had no inclination of passing up.

"Hey Leon," she said, a highly uncharasticly friendly grin creeping up upon her face, her breathing slightly hard from the running, but slowly returning to her; cheeks flushed, heart still beating heavily from the run. "Enjoying the day with a few friends I see. Think you have enough room for one more?"

[Kira Karyuudo, Hikari]

Slowly leaning back against Leon, pondering over his words a few moments before simply ignoring it. While she looked down at her book, nearly wanting to return to it, she needed to listen to this stuff about Stern Mason.

After all, anything about any 'rebellion' or whatever else was something she had to pay attention to.

"You say 'about to', Taru, yet it's obvious he hasn't. I have to wonder why people would follow one so blindly. As it stands, I figure he hasn't really told you all that much as to what his plans are...and if he has given you a measurable sum and you're just not speaking of it, then he hasn't told you all of it. Of course, I may well be wrong, but that seems to be the way things work with following someone... Feel free to elaborate if he has...it might be interesting to hear."

Kira tilted her head to the side a moment, waiting upon his reply. And yet, as she waited, she noticed they had gained the company of one more. 'A pretty girl,' Kira thought, smiling slightly at her. 'Who knows what else, though...looks can be deceiving... However, she seems nice enough. I certainly don't have any qualms about letting another sit with us.'

"Certainly." She spoke to the girl, answering for Leon, who might have consulted her because she was the 'master of the blanket'. Still, what Kira said to him before was still the same. He could accept or decline anyone if he so wished to.

Shading her deep blue eyes from the sun, she gave the girl a quiet smile, a hand gesturing to the blanket in offering of a seat.

[Leon Loire]

Leon smiled innocently at the Sophomore's surprise and reluctance to answer. He seemed caught off guard by Leon's own hidden familiarity with Stern Mason, and it was clear his rather two-faced tone had given a bit more of an edge to his rather simple question. In reaction, Taru replied in a sort of evasive maneuver, acting as if he had simply picked up the source of the rumor itself from a passerby.

'My ass. This kid's not going to try and rant about Mason so vigorously and so suddenly because of a simple rumor. If he hated the Pillars as much as he seems to and ran on rumor only, he'd have been on the Varronite side by now, and we're not even calling for war against Blayne.'

Leon felt Kira's head pick up for a few moments as she spoke back to Taru in a pseudo-aggressive tongue, a side of the sable-haired female that Leon always found strong and attractive. Allowing his smile to stay constant, Leon reacted once his friend's words were finished.

"My guess is that Stern's followers are rather small, considering any Varronite that wishes to resist the System would never be caught dead in the presence of Mason. He had quite an infamous reputation back at Varron Academy, one in fact that completely contradicts what you seem to be suggesting now. So tell me Taru, how did you really hear about this? You don't strike me as someone who runs on eavesdropping and rumors."

Leon soon found that Taru was interrupted, however, from any chance of reaction, as his name was spoken forth from nearby. Turning his gaze with a lazy ease towards the direction of the familiar voice, Leon's simple smile became a nostalgic grin, as a younger Hircinian girl by the name of Charlotte Anders stood in the beaming light of the noon's sun, her sleek body clothed in running attire, her voice a bit restricted by her busy lungs - yet only slightly; she seemed an expert of track from her stance alone - and the flush of her face and the smile alongside it seemed to catch Loire by surprise. He barely knew the girl, yet such a happy appearance didn't seem to come natural to her, or at least, artificially to her.

'Maybe it's the workout?' Leon thought to himself, a small bit of him worried it was something else, but ignored it. There was nothing wrong with that thought, at least, nothing more than the fact that Kira was sitting right next to him...

"Glad to see you Charlotte, here, come and have a breather." Leon spoke back in reply, motioning towards the space on his own left. Looking to Kira with a nod toward her instant invitation to the new arrival, Leon mentioned her name, "Kira, this is Charlotte."

Leon wished to say more, perhaps adding in her help to him in the cafeteria, or her actions at the riot, or any other detail Leon had learned through brief investigations, but he was honestly concerned with embarrassing her - not to mention, but a possible lackey of Mason was sitting just a few feet away, and any chance of Mason attempting to find other targets to attack Loire or the Pillars was definitely not on his list to act upon.

"Ah, and this is Taru. He's been telling us about Stern Mason, weren't you?" Leon through in quickly as Charlotte took her seat, grinning back to the boy with a hostly, comforting stance.

'Time for my lovely game of Politics...'

[charlotte]

Charlotte moved foward to sit down, and as she did so, a blazing warning suddenly throbbed in the back of her mind. The thought didn't halt or slow her movements, so she sat, noting, above all things proximities. She positioned herself smoothly on Leon's left, curling her knees upward and draping her arms across them casually, almost lazily, not too close to him, but not too far away either - a friendly distance. There was still something about him that made her ... nervous, would be the best way to describe. It was a raging mix between being absolutely, stammering-and-unable-to-think uncomfortable, and impossibly giddy.

Charlotte supposed that it was probably his aura of importance and command - one which certainly was not false - which made her feel that way, something akin to the feeling one might recieve when shaking the President of the United States' hand; the closer up she got to him, the more the feeling tugged at her, and especially potent when she observed his close proximity to Kira.

However, with the sun on her face and the slight breeze cooling her flushed, warm skin, the thought quickly turned tail and vanished, her steady smile dominating her emotional and facial expressions.

"Nice to meet you Kira," she said, her grin still etched upon her face.

"And you too Taru," Charlotte turned her head to regard the student standing before the blanket.

Stern Mason hmm?

She had met Stern on two occasions, once in the cafeteria, and once after tracking down his on-campus dorm room and having a brief chat. The first had left a significant impact on her, both in her attitude towards Leon, now known to him and not only to herself, and her attitude towards Stern.

Stern was something Charlotte saw as a challenge more than a person, an obstacle, a test; she wanted to pit her own wits against his plan and see who was the better. To her, Stern was simultaneously an opponent she respected and loathed utterly.

"Stern Mason?" She said, her tone still light. "I'd be interested to hear what you know about him myself, seeing as how our first two meetings didn't go over too well."

Instantly, she regretted her rash and sudden choice of words. As far as anyone in the small group knew - and by everyone meaning Leon - she had never had any contact with the enigmatic and seemingly violent Stern Mason, other than a brief exchange in the cafeteria.


Way to throw possible suspicions your way ...

[taru]

ooc:I'm back baby! W00!!

Taru smiled nervously at the question. Hmmm....How can you explain Stern's uprising. He's going to probaly rape the whole school with it. But...That's just a point of view. He could be doing a favor. Probaly not. Who knows. Taru needed to answer the question though.

Or...Maybe his hallucinations of him becoming thier "bitch" was true. He hoped not. Taru turned his smile into a confident one and finally replied to the question.

"Stern Mason. Strongest person there is. That title is self proclaimed atleast. He's planning to take out all the pillars and end that way of school system. He got plenty of followers too. So many people are sick of the pillars reigning down upon them. Mason is going to beat everyone as far as I'm concerned. I believe you two aren't that concerned though. Only me and Charlotte here will really have to deal with it..Since you and mr. liore are graduating. Isn't that right Miss Kira?"

Taru gave a slight smile before continuing.

"Anyways...Stern is doing whatever it takes to take the pillars out. In fact I'm sort of scared that he'll actually do it. Then what? Will we just have no pillars. And all school problems won't be solved. That's the only negative thing in my mind. Stern takes out the pillars. What purpose would we have then. Nothing? We would be free from control. And everything would be complete chaos. The pillars are needed to maintain control. But need to stop being such douche bags. That's what I believe atleast. And I know this because I was planning to do the uprise with him till I backed down."

Taru stood up for a moment than sat back down to stretch his legs. He then crossed them with his hands on his thighs waiting for a response from one of the three. Any response. Just a reaction to what he said. He needed something constantly to do whether is it talk or just wait for a response. And when he meant wait, he meant now.

Taru basically had no patience when it came to conversations as much as he tried to maintain. Taru just smiled in a fake way as he waited for a response from Kira,Leon, or even this new girl Charlotte. So he decided to think instead of what he would say next.