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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 20, 2009 2:32:27 GMT -5
Not hearing any particular answer, Alex opened the door and came in. Once again, he flopped on his bed; he lay on one side, curled up a little, and silently considered what he ought to do next.
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 20, 2009 2:42:10 GMT -5
He heard the door open, the soft sounds of the bed being claimed. It could only have been Alex.
Hitoshi thought briefly that he could sneak out through room 201, probably even duck through the hole and into his old room. The worst thing he would have to worry about would be bits of things falling on him and maybe Lhachlhass, and Lhachlhass at least had the advantage of being someone he couldn't give a damn about. Or he could just curl up in the empty bathtub and wait for Alex to fall asleep before going back into the room.
He quickly pushed those notions aside. He was going to have to face Alex sooner or later, and it might be easier to actually figure out why he was so bent out of shape if he was at least in front of Alex. Maybe he'd have some sort of insight if he could just look at the boy.
Hitoshi opened the bathroom door, took one glance at Alex, took a few steps forward, halted, looked around as if there were something else. He sat quietly on the edge of his bed, looking at Alex, waiting for him to say something first.
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 20, 2009 2:44:32 GMT -5
Alex looked up at Hitoshi. A little flutter of something bizarre ran through him.
"So you made it back first, I guess." He didn't move, but he smiled a little, a polite smile, and clenched the covers a bit.
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 20, 2009 2:50:53 GMT -5
Hitoshi nodded. Alex suddenly seemed...apprehensive. Nervous. Almost afraid. It could have been his imagination, he supposed... Something about the thought of Alex being afraid of him made the bottom drop out of his stomach.
"...I'm sorry." His voice was quiet, tense, and just a bit shaky. Those weren't words that Hitoshi said often, and they felt strange. He wasn't sorry for attacking Thrall; he knew he should be, but he wasn't. He was sorry that he had done something to upset Alex, and that was plenty for him.
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 20, 2009 2:53:20 GMT -5
Alex swallowed, licking his lips again.
"Rudeth said you don't do that often. He said you got unusually defensive and didn't realize what you were doing."
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 20, 2009 2:57:15 GMT -5
So Rudeth had talked to him. That was probably a good thing, but there was no telling. He was certain Rudeth was at least trying to help, if nothing else, so he couldn't have done anything too unreasonable.
"He's right," Hitoshi responded slowly, trying to keep his cool. "That...I'm not usually like that." Flickers of Thrall's words ran through his mind again, and Hitoshi found himself clenching the sheets a bit too tight. He tried to pry them off.
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 20, 2009 2:58:44 GMT -5
"Why?" Alex folded his arms around himself and looked plaintively at Hitoshi.
"Why did you get so defensive over what he said?"
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 20, 2009 3:03:02 GMT -5
It was as if he flipped a switch. Hitoshi went rigid, and he felt his hands trembling uncontrollably. "Because he didn't have any right to say that!" Hitoshi replied, raising his voice a bit more than he had intended. He knew almost instantly that he shouldn't have, that the best course of action was to be as soft and calm as possible, but it was too late.
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 20, 2009 3:05:52 GMT -5
"But he's like that usually. Even you implied that," Alex tried to keep his tone neutral.
He blushed a little. "I'm sorry, I just... I'm wondering why you care, since I barely know you. I suppose I care too much myself, about what you're doing. Should mind my own business," he mumbled.
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 20, 2009 8:07:53 GMT -5
Hitoshi stared at Alex. He seemed equally confused, which was somewhat comforting. At least he wasn't alone.
"It's different," he muttered. "It doesn't matter when it's just me."
He tried to think of something to say that wasn't stupid. "I'm supposed to care, aren't I?" Hitoshi replied. "I mean, if what Professor Smoke said is true. Wouldn't it be weird if I didn't care?"
Of course, whatever sort of fate-bonding was present, it didn't necessarily imply that he had to give a damn, especially not about what his idiot cousin implied about his relationship. It wasn't like it even mattered that much...
Alex was probably interested in Rudeth or something. That thought bothered him in a slightly different way than the thought that he was interested in Thrall. It wasn't jealousy or anger; it was something he couldn't put a name to.
Hitoshi was silent for a moment. "Are you alright?" he asked, looking up at Alex with concern. Alex seemed fine, but he wanted to make sure. If he had gotten hurt...
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 20, 2009 9:27:06 GMT -5
Alex looked bewildered. "Wait, you mean that thing has something to do with it? It's actually making -" might as well be entirely honest, "-us do things?"
"I probably should have considered that." He looked a little more miserable for a moment. "And that doesn't even answer any questions, does it?"
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 20, 2009 14:33:13 GMT -5
Hitoshi thought for a moment. It probably wouldn't do to try and use this Fate nonsense as a scapegoat... He'd have to take responsibility for it on some level, anyway.
"Well, it's not quite..." he started, trying to word this in an appropriate way. "It can't make us do just anything. It has to be something that you have the capacity for, at least on some level. For example, it probably wouldn't have been able to make you do anything like that, if the tables were turned." He paused, looking up at Alex. "I...I'd like to think that I wouldn't have killed him. I'm sure I would have stopped before it came to that."
At least, Hitoshi really hoped that he didn't really have the potential to kill someone over something like that...
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 20, 2009 19:45:41 GMT -5
Alex seemed to be deeply examining the weave of the blanket. He sighed- this was getting nowhere near where he wanted to go. "I guess it's just obvious that we don't really know each other that well," he finally spoke, "and that's probably going to be awkward. I just..."
He sat up a bit, leaning on his elbows, and looked at Hitoshi. "I don't want to be rude, but how much do you mind my being direct? It might make things easier."
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 20, 2009 19:54:17 GMT -5
Hitoshi was a bit hesitant to be direct with Alex, which was another unnerving thing about him. He'd never had any trouble being frank with anyone else, regardless of the situation. Perhaps it was simply because this situation had more personal implications, and Hitoshi himself still hadn't managed to sort through them...
"Go ahead," he replied. Regardless of his hesitance, he knew it was necessary. No need to prolong the inevitable.
He was going to have to try to be open with Alex, which was going to be difficult. Talking about himself was not one of Hitoshi's strengths.
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 20, 2009 19:59:09 GMT -5
Alex thought carefully about his words before speaking. "I can think of several reasons why someone would get mad about someone saying crude things about their being around another boy."
"I don't want to presume which one you were going by, though I could guess- partly because I could guess-" though he bit his lip awkwardly and looked as nonthreatening as possible, just in case, "but it's rather important to me to know what part of that exactly you had a problem with. If, uhm, you don't mind."
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 20, 2009 20:27:13 GMT -5
Hitoshi stared for a moment, considering exactly why he had gotten upset and what exactly the boy seemed to be implying. There were two possibilities, from what Hitoshi could see: one, Alex was worried that Hitoshi liked him and wanted some sort of assurance that his actions weren't based on any sort of romantic inclinations, or two...he was worried that Hitoshi wasn't interested. That was certainly a startling thought.
Hitoshi focused intently on the paint, appearing to be very intrigued by its peculiar texture. He slipped his glasses off, wiping them on the sheets, more as a distraction than because they were actually dirty. He kept the glasses in his hands as he replied, "It wasn't about me.... I didn't like him saying those things to you."
He glanced back up at Alex. Without his glasses, he couldn't make out the details of his face, only the mass of white curls. In same ways, it made it easier.
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 20, 2009 20:39:02 GMT -5
Alex made an odd little noise.
"Thank you for your intentions. I'd prefer to handle it myself if it comes up again, but I understand."
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 20, 2009 20:48:53 GMT -5
Without the ability to see his face, Hitoshi could only make blind guesses as to what Alex's response was.
Hitoshi nodded. "If that's what you want, I'll try to keep it in mind in the future," he said, slipping his glasses back on. "Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?"
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 20, 2009 20:56:42 GMT -5
Alex could think of quite a number of things he'd like to ask, but considered that this would not be the best time for most of them.
"Not right now," he said. He looked pensive, now that Hitoshi could see him. "Uhm, is there anything you'd like to ask me?"
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 20, 2009 21:14:22 GMT -5
Hitoshi thought for a long while, trying to determine if there was anything he wanted to ask. There were so many questions... So many things he didn't understand...
"I...well..." he began. As long as Alex was being bold and direct, he might as well. He wasn't sure why it mattered to him, but he felt as though it was especially important. "Are you...interested in Rudeth or Thrall?" he asked. With the way he had stared at them at the gym...
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 20, 2009 21:20:39 GMT -5
He blushed a bit, again. That wasn't exactly what he was expecting.
"Er, they're- I'd have to say rather pretty, but I don't think so. And I don't know them very well, anyway." He hesitated a bit before continuing. "I don't go after every guy I see, you know, I- partly at least- thought the swordfight thing was interesting? I've... only really wanted one guy I didn't know very well."
He wasn't going to mention the part where he hadn't been entirely certain he was gay in the first place until he met that particular guy. That made him feel awkward.
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 20, 2009 21:41:17 GMT -5
Hitoshi felt his face flush with warmth, and he suddenly felt very awkward. It was probably just his imagination...after all, there must have been hundreds of attractive males that Alex hardly knew. There was no reason to believe that Alex was referring specifically to him...
"I shouldn't have said anything. It wasn't any of my business," he replied quickly. "And...I wasn't suggesting..." He stopped. "I was being rude. Forgot I mentioned it."
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 21, 2009 8:21:14 GMT -5
Alex couldn't quite help grinning, so he slid back down onto his chest and hid his face between his crossed arms. It didn't help completely, but he didn't mind; that reaction was close enough to what he had wanted to know.
"It's fine. If I didn't feel like answering I wouldn't've said anything."
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Apr 21, 2009 16:45:33 GMT -5
Hitoshi remained silent, scooting back on the bed until his back was against the wall and reaching for his computer. He had no specific task in mind to accomplish, but he hoped having something idle to occupy his time might alleviate some of the awkwardness of the moment.
He brought up the set of files associated with his after school activities, briefly sorting through them. Extra curricular culinary arts (that blasted class he was forced to teach at the Headmaster's whim...), a varied assortment of magical clubs....Hm. The Host Club. Did he have anything else to work out for it?
Hitoshi halted mid-click, his face a ghostly white as he glanced up at Alex. He had invited Alex to join the host club, which meant...oh. Oh.
Shit.
He couldn't exactly just turn around and tell Alex he wasn't allowed to join; he had invited him, nearly coerced him, into joining, and not exactly by telling him the complete truth of the club's purpose. Either way, trying to convince him not to join, especially after the day's occurrences, would just make him look even more insane. And because of Rudeth's little asinine club, he was going to have to watch a swarm of girls -- or worse, Thrall -- make constant passes at Alex.
He was going to have to come up with a creative solution to this one. He didn't dare resort to using an Enchantment, but he could probably manage something...
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Apr 21, 2009 17:15:52 GMT -5
Alex looked up curiously at Hitoshi's glance.
Well, if there wasn't anything else... he rolled over, grabbed his book, and set about planning how he was going to ingratiate himself with the larger student population, insulate himself from further potential dangers, and seduce Hitoshi while making it look like someone else's idea in case it turned out badly.
He began humming a happy little tune.
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