APPLE ORCHARDS AND TORN DREAMS [OPEN]

[cordibus]

Who: Open Log (All)
Where: Around the city (one prompt at the Green Valley school
Summary: Welcome Ceremonies, Dreams, Stirring a shadow hornet's nest. No big deal.
Warnings: N/A

"Are you ready my black lambs? Let's get to work..."

Apple Picking (General Prompt)

As September begins, the apple orchards of Greenfield Valley school are bursting with thousands of apples of various flavors and colors. There's even an experimental breed that's blue!

Those who have been attending the school know that this means a few important things. The first (and most important of course) is that it means that fall vacation is coming in just a few weeks (despite school having started just a few weeks ago), the second is that the school's menu is going to have a high number of apple-themed dishes until winter, and finally, the opening ceremonies.

The opening ceremonies are - well - one would consider them mostly boring for typical schools. And truth be told, Green Valley is not an exception. A single camera posed at the school's main gymnasium, a large podium in the center. For those who can't be physically there, the school's televisions all synchronized to a live broadcast as does the audio feeds. You can't quite escape it. Yet most people don't - after all it's one of the rare times of the year where the principal appears to wish students good fortune.

The person who stands in the front, Ms Michelle Andersen, is the very definition of an ice queen. Her face is perhaps locked forever into an emotionless stare. Bright blonde hair with blue eyes, both contract to her orange and black outfit.

Behind her, three men, the vice principals, who tend to play the good cops to her bad cop routine and insist that most students call them by their first names unless something really bad has happened; Norman (the most average man on campus that no one would know who he was if it wasn't for his name tag), Jeremy (the tallest staff member standing at over 195cm, thin, a bit of a lisp but he always means well), and Felix (possibly the hairiest man on campus as far as the rumors go, muscular, and a black beard that matches his scowling face when he isn't laughing - which is usually all the time. In fact, he's holding back himself from doing so when Ms. Andersen speaks.)

The presentation is short, as the Principal wishes all the students a great year, gives a bit of data on the number of students (they are up 300 new students from last year), the number of important guests that have passed, then as quickly as she was there, she leaves, explaining that there are additional meetings and events she will explain in greatest detail in the upcoming months.

Afterwards the students are treated to the vice principals singing a welcome song (it goes as well as one would expect it to go), telling the students that they are free to pick as many apples as they want as long as they all get eaten, but everyone is limited to two of the new apples and report to the hospital wards if any of them feel anything unusual after eating them. Just in case.

When the ceremonies are done, students and staff can return to their day...although some of the staff can be heard commenting that the Principal seemed even more...cold this year. Of course asking them for details would just cause them to shoo anyone away and pretend they didn't say anything.

[OOC: Players are welcome to speak to themselves or go have some apples. It's a general school mingling prompt! Additionally, it will be possible to email the vice principals during that week should the characters want to talk with them or ask school questions. Typical school stuff.]

Sound the Rebellion

(Special Prompt for the Unawakened, Monday the 4th)
The school's opening ceremonies aside, the Unawakened’s Monday was rather...strange. The night was plagued with restlessness as they heard the voice of someone laughing. Waking up feeling 'odd', although that differed between all of then - some would feel sick, others have a headache, or some just deciding that wearing a piece of clothing they haven't wanted to worn would look great right now. Perhaps they got a few comments from their relatives about how strange they were acting that day, or a worried glance if they felt sick. It might get dismissed with a wave of a hand.

After all, how can you explain that when they sometimes look upwards, they hear the sound of a child laughing and briefly see a symbol above their heads? Or that this somehow feels...fine?

Maybe in their new state of mind, they might not even notice the people that keep following them around...

Better than a GPS

(Awakened prompt, Monday 4th, day and night.)
"Alright Lambs, time to get to work."

Luci's voice echoed in their phone, laughing. Was he doing a peace sign?

"There's only a few but they'll be useful. I want you to find them and see what you can do. Who knows! Maybe you might be better at this than me, although I doubt it heh heh heh…Now remember what I said! You have to get them to fall asleep...but there's no real rules for that!"

For the Awakened, the symbols above the Unawakeneds’ heads will be as clear as day - Luci will even go so far as play little musical tunes when the characters are close by or distract them using electronics. "Come on! Stop wasting time and do something!"

For the Unawakened who have a relative, it will be somewhat easy. It is the others that will be a pain. Maybe that's why Luci asked for help. Or maybe he just wanted to see his 'lambs' struggle. "Get them to bed! It's not that hard! If you have trouble, just show them the program I've put into your phone and toaster! Or knock them with your toaster first if you want, I don't care! Just go in teams when you go after them, got it?"

It's obvious that 'sleeping' as far as Luci is concerned, is when someone is unconscious - he seems to almost want someone to knock an Unawakened out and then drag him into a room and let themselves go to sleep.

Once the task is done, and the place is secure, the characters will have to do the same. While the hypnotic wheel from the program is the easiest way, there's no hard rule about knocking oneself out either.

MINDJACK
Once the characters get inside, they'll be in the person's mind and dreams. Eddan's memories are predominant, and the unawakened will be standing there wandering around. It will be up to the Awakened to peel back the fabric of reality, much like curtains and show them the true memories of their past...

But beware. Shadows lurk here, and transforming will be necessarily. And if a character dies in someone else's dream...they might never wake up. So be careful...

The main mission is to showcase the person a few memories. Give them an idea that something might be amiss...it can be a little or a lot. Just be careful that the more memories, the stronger the shadows become... When both are done and awaken, ten minutes will have passed. Perhaps it will be time for question afterwards.

[OOC:The Unawakened characters need to be isolated for the program to run, and so do the players, so half the 'fun' will be setting up the traps so that the characters will be alone.

Awakened might decide to have someone stand on guard while the others go to sleep with the Unawakened, or just all stupidly go together, or find an area where they won't be disturbed - everything is up to you.

The dreamscape can be anything the Unawakened desires! It could be good memories of their time in Eddan or bad memories, a mixture of both, or just silly dreams. Whatever it is, the Awakened will need to 'peel' those memories away - for example showing them that their mother was someone else in their other life, or even directing the person to a mirror so that they can see their true selves. But for each memory - both good or bad, shadows will start to attack both the Unawakened and Awakened. Be careful and let the mods know if a mission goes REALLY bad.]

Comments

[blacktemper]

[his arm is screaming, but he refuses to break eye contact with Kit for even something as trivial as a flinch. their gazes remain locked even as his jaw tightens, physically pushing down the pain threatening to overload his senses once more.

it's with untold relief that his companion finally relinquishes his grip, although Vincent is certain to take his sweet time in moving the arm to a more comfortable position. as evinced by his following words, it was clear that nothing escaped his 'partner's' gaze.

it would almost be admirable if it weren't so goddamn irritating.]

...hn.

[for a moment it seems as if he was still going to refuse the gift, but at least the silence breaks with an irate noise as he practically yanks the sweater out of Kit's hands. it settles peacefully in his lap while he goes to work pulling off his own mangled shirt with neither warning nor fanfare; given the intensity of their fight it would be wise to do this first so he could wipe everything down at once with the cloth.]

People don't remember their actions while they're unconscious. That's nothing new.

[it seems that he still hadn't given up entirely on the embers of his pride. despite having been directly called out on it, he refused to acknowledge that one weak moment of kindness.]

[whitefox]

[He was sorry for being so forceful when the sweater was yanked so roughly from his hand, but at least his point had been acknowledged. However, there was still one more debt to Vincent that Kit had left to pay and, giving his guest some privacy to clean up and dress, he wandered out of his bedroom to see to its fulfillment.

The dorm's kitchenette was small but well organized and very clean. Everything he needed was easily found, from an ice pack into which he dispensed fresh ice, to two cans of beer he'd pulled from a small pack in the mini fridge that had been gratefully supplied by someone he'd done business with last week. He didn't drink often, but every now and again as a reward to himself or simply to blunt a particularly sharp edge he would indulge.

Never enough to dull his senses or lose himself, and he would not supply his guest with that sort of luxury, either. But one drink...for the one he'd promised to buy him before.

When he returned to the bedroom, he offered the ice pack first with the instruction that it should be applied to his throat.]

You may not be the front man for your band, but that doesn't mean I want to see any lasting damage done.

[It was only after he had taken a seat on the edge of the bed and relieved his sore muscles from the burden of having to carry his weight that he held out the drink. It was as much a peace offering as it was evening the score.]

[blacktemper]

[it takes him longer than usual to complete such a simple task, thanks to the sorry state of his entire body. even removing his shirt had required a moment's pause before wiping away the crusted blood that seemed to have congealed on every available surface. he's more glad for the opportunity to clean up than he'd ever say - it's a strangely familiar relief to get Kit's blood out of his eyes completely.

by the time his host returns he's moved back onto the bed, more from how exhausting the mere idea of sitting back down on the ground had been than anything else. the sweater was too large for Vincent by more than a bit; he'd been forced to roll the sleeves up an unconscionable number of times to locate his wrists, and even then they still had a habit of sliding right back into place.

it's not something he acknowledges, even as he reaches out to take the ice pack with a skeptical look.]

I've told you before, it'd only be an improvement.

[Kit was the one who'd suffered real damage to his hands, after all. all of his own injuries would only increase the performative impact his band had.

but even with the flat correction, he obediently presses the ice pack against his throat. Vincent watches him with vague sharpness as the other boy settles onto the bed near him, expression barely shifting as he regards the beer.

there was a choice to make here, and they both knew it. the silence stretches out an intolerable length of time to the point where it seems that the decision has been made - only to be broken by a soft chuckle as he reaches out to take it.]

[whitefox]

[Theirs was a tentative and delicate truce, the sort that was born in an instant and tended to die just as quickly, dependent entirely upon the purpose it served and whether the struggle to maintain it was even worth the inconvenience.

But...it was still a truce.

Forged when they'd pooled together their knowledge to make an ofuda, and again when their fight had concluded before the Leviathan Habitat's sleeping quarters. Given life when they'd worked together to outrun whoever had been following Kit from Green Valley, and once more now when they were both too tired to continue fighting.

It truly was a satisfying sort of fatigue, though. As Vincent accepted his drink, Kit contemplated it as he struggled just to open his own can. If he'd refused to indulge his companion's temper and had better managed his own the way he'd done in the past, it was possible he'd have walked away from their few encounters mostly unscathed. And yet he found that he relished the way his body quivered from exhaustion and strain because it meant that he'd used it to its fullest. Knowing that, how could he possibly have any regrets?]

I'll have to verify for myself whether or not that's true one day.

[blacktemper]

[this was what he wanted out of life. a challenge so all-consuming that it left him feeling utterly depleted, unable to complete a task as simple as balancing an ice pack and drink at the same time. he'd lost, but the failure had left him feeling invigorated rather than irate.

it was a strange feeling, as was the excitement over knowing that he could attempt to remedy his past defeat whenever he liked. was this what people referred to as companionship? it seemed silly to even contemplate.]

Go ahead. Just don't expect any help from me.

[finally, finally he manages to fumble his way into getting the beer open. the faint satisfaction makes its way into the amusement in his voice as he takes a swig, more shallow than he'd like thanks to the severe trembling from his hands.]

[whitefox]

Cooperation? From you?

[Kit chuckled softly, shoulders shaking with the sound. Even that hurt, but in the same vein as all the rest of his injuries it was a fine ache for the way it reminded him he was alive. That was, perhaps, the root of his enjoyment of Vincent's company, too. The other boy had a way about him. He was completely unapologetic in how he challenged the world and it reminded Kit of when he'd been a little younger and a little bit more free to be himself.

It was far more intoxicating a feeling than any beer could ever prove to be.]

I don't expect you will ever make things easy for me.

[He never had and, as Kit felt certain their paths would continue to cross, their threads of fate inevitably intertwined, he was certain Vincent would continue to prove difficult. Such was his way.

Finally pushing open the tab on his can, he took a sip of the beverage. It was too little too late, however. There was no hiding his amusement behind the tin, nor his fondness. It seemed that Vincent's difficulty wasn't something he had any desire to see corrected...]

[blacktemper]

[yeah, there's no mistaking what the look on Kit's face is meant to convey. he gives the other boy a sharp look that hangs between them for several long moments before he seems to accept the sentiment with faint amusement of his own.

the idea of someone being fond of him was completely alien, now that he's forcibly parted ways with his parents. everything about his mannerisms and opinions are offensive, meant (intentionally or not) to put people off and keep them feeling vaguely hostile towards him. it was how he best understood how to interact with the world.

but the idea of Kit feeling endeared towards him...for whatever reason, it wasn't as repulsive as it should be.]

Why would I? You wouldn't be worth tolerating if I had to dumb everything down.

[it's a genuine statement, even if it's disguised as a joke to both of them. ...and even if Vincent deliberately gives Kit a mild jab with his elbow when he next lifts his beer to take another sip.

listen, just because he's accepted that sentiment from him doesn't mean he should be able to think he can keep doing shit like that.]

[whitefox]

[As he was nudged, Kit boggled briefly at his companion. His had been a surprising gesture of grudging acceptance and perhaps even affection, one that could have easily been mistaken for an accident. That was, if Kit didn't know better. But at the same time it felt almost dangerous to have any of his own tolerance reciprocated.

He was safe so long as certain walls remained intact, capable of withdrawing without a moment's notice and slipping out as seamlessly as he had slipped into someone's life. But nothing so far about his interactions with Vincent had been seamless. There was so much friction it was a wonder they hadn't started a fire and burned alive.

Kit frowned at the drink in his hand and then, all expression wiped clean from his face in an instant, he turned to face the other boy.]

It seems there has been a miscommunication. I didn't invite you here for anything like that.

[Much as he enjoyed their peace, there was only so much even he could take before he was tempted to test its limits. And Vincent's patience right along with it.]

[blacktemper]

[Kit's internal conflict was unfortunately not shared by its originator. his companion was rarely inclined to think too deeply about his own thoughts and actions, and far too skilled at repression to ever be truly bothered by whatever may slip through the cracks. his decision not to start another fight moments ago was simply an outgrowth of his aching body, in his mind.

the other boy's response is therefore a bit of a surprise, although not too much - their relationship thus far has been fraught with nothing but conflict. it was more impressive that they'd managed to sit in tranquility next to each other for this long, all things considered.]

You didn't invite me here at all.

[he doesn't give Kit the dignity of actually turning to face him fully, throwing the barbed comment out while still focusing mostly on his drink. if he was going to get pissy about things, Vincent had more than enough ammunition to get pissy right back.]

[whitefox]

No, I suppose you're right.

[Speaking of ammunition...]

It's rather impossible to invite someone anywhere if they're unconscious, isn't it?

[...it seemed Kit hadn't forgotten who the victor of their most recent clash had been.

Probably, he wouldn't ever let that go, though not so much because he took pride in defeating the other boy, but because he rather enjoyed provoking his companion and pushing whatever buttons he was foolish enough to leave exposed. It was like a game they had both unwittingly agreed to play with one another.]

[blacktemper]

[enjoy it while you can, Kit. he didn't intend to suffer the same fate upon their rematch - and there would be a rematch. there was absolutely no possibility of this remaining a single event.]

Not when you don't have working hands, no.

[the reminder galled him at present, however, and so Vincent refused to even acknowledge its existence. instead he chose to throw his own volley right back at his companion, drawing attention back to the horrid condition of his hands. fainting he prevented him from assessing the damage before they'd been bandaged up, but he fervently hoped that the other boy had nearly bled out from them.]

[whitefox]

They work well enough.

[Standing with his drink, Kit crossed the short distance between the bed and the exit and pulled open the door. The trembling in his hands from earlier seemed all but gone for the moment, though how much concentration was required to perform the act was difficult to say.

He leveled a flat stare at Vincent then, vibrant green eyes saying for him what the rest of his expression would not. He would concede to a rematch whenever Vincent felt that he was ready. He would even fight him here and now, in his condition, if that was what the other boy desired. But he also had no intention of losing.]

Pain is sometimes necessary, but it is also easily overcome. The human body is capable of many remarkable feats.

[blacktemper]

[Vincent laughs aloud at the blatant rebellion against his little quip and, despite even his own better judgement, proceeds to down the rest of his beer in a single breath. whether it was to stifle more mirth or push his companion to the brink once more by setting forth another silent challenge he couldn't say.

whatever the real answer, he knew one thing for certain: just like Kit, he refused to lose. it's what spurs him into completely ignoring the screeching protestations of his body and pushing himself off the bed and upright at last. the brief rest made the movement even worse than when he'd gotten dressed, but unlike last time that fails to stop him now.

he moves at a deceptively leisurely pace to stand before both the other boy and the door. before answering he observes the open doorway for a moment, expression clearly unimpressed.]

So they say.

[his gaze returns to Kit, an unpleasant smile tugging at the edges of his lips. this was a poor idea for several reasons, but he never could seem to find a way to talk himself out of such things. oh well.]

Makes you wonder how far you can push, doesn't it?

[and with that he raises a hand and slams the empty beer can down, substituting Kit's shoulder for the usual forehead required for this particular party trick.

he can't be absolutely certain whether the action is hurting himself or the other boy more, but he refuses to let the possibility of his entire arm falling off stop him. the can crumples appropriately thanks to his dogged triumph over common sense and the human body's warnings.]

[whitefox]

[A small sound of discomfort left Kit when the can was crushed against his injured shoulder, but he would give Vincent no other outward signs of the pain it caused him. No twinge of hurt behind his eyes or at the corners of his mouth, no fluctuation in his breathing, and no dropping the beer he was holding despite the way his fingers ran cold with the threat of growing numb. He didn't even retaliate, righting himself instead only to brush Vincent's hand away and wipe a trickle of alcohol off his shirt.

He'd just put a clean one on, too...]

Are you satisfied now?

[He fired a look down at the other boy. To think he'd not only been contemplating making them something to eat, because a healthy meal would help speed up the healing process, but that he was going to salvage some aloe from a plant he had growing in the living room, too...]

[blacktemper]

Never.

[his stomach had been completely empty when he'd pumped the contents of a nearly full can of alcohol into it with a single gesture. standing upright was perhaps the most foolish thing he could be doing right now, but with the intoxication still buzzing through his head Vincent doesn't even consider such a thing.

all of his remaining focus had gone into checking for little tells in Kit, all of which had been expertly smothered aside from his groan. it really wasn't all that satisfying, but he took comfort in knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that it took the other boy even more energy to paper over his reaction. small mercies.

with no idea that he'd finished what Kit had started in eradicating the possibility of a nice meal, he simply meets his companion's disgruntled gaze with a vaguely smug look of his own. did either of them even have the physical ability to carry on with this? Vincent has no clue.]

[whitefox]

[Meanwhile, Kit was well aware of his physical limits. He knew that he could continue to fight so long as he had breath in his lungs and retained any ability at all to move. He didn't require the use of his hands to inflict injury upon someone who had the audacity to look at him that way in his own dorm. But was it a good idea to act on those impulses?

Absolutely not.

Common sense was his voice of reason, keeping him from forcibly pushing Vincent back and out of his personal space. Unfortunately, that voice was not loud enough to tell him to keep from glaring defiantly at the smaller boy. If Vincent wanted a fight so badly, let him be the one to pick it. If pushed, Kit would fight back. But only once he'd confirmed that whatever Vincent was trying to do now wasn't mere posturing because he'd lost and needed to feel better about himself.]

[blacktemper]

[just the sight of that ugly look on the other boy's face has Vincent's blood practically aching. it is possibly the worst thing anyone with a pulse could do, and yet initiating his revenge round immediately is the only thought floating through his mind currently.

it would be so easy to do. their expressions alone had pushed Kit within a hair's breadth of lashing out - he'd barely have to breathe wrong in his face to start a fight. the adrenaline would more than make up for his currently diminished state.

his hand rises up once more, and it seems that impulse has won out over rationality yet again. it descends slowly, inexorably...to give Kit an almost playful thump on the chest.]

Looks like that makes two of us.

[...so it had just been surly posturing after all. Vincent may be a musician, but his acting skills were nothing to sneeze at.

having delivered his judgement, he makes to move past his host. the intent is to rudely descend upon the other teen's fridge and find something for himself to eat - without asking, of course. this was what happened when one kept their aborted meal plans to themselves.]

[whitefox]

Honestly...

[Kit felt that, at least in part, he should have expected this. The other boy seemed to take the utmost pleasure in pushing his buttons, particularly if that meant pushing him near some invisible edge. It seemed the only thing he enjoyed more was careening over the side with him, but for reasons beyond Kit's understanding, he was exercising some restraint now. Perhaps their clash had taken as much of a toll on him. Or perhaps he had a shred of commonsense after all.

Whatever the case, Kit didn't follow the other boy immediately. He took a few extra moments to center himself, breathing in deep and exhaling slowly, and then repeating the process until he believed with absolute certainty he was calm. Then, and only then, did he leave his bedroom...

...to find his guest rummaging around inside his fridge.

Remembering his beer, Kit took a long drink and migrated to the couch instead of the kitchen, his green eyes following Vincent's movements from across the shared living area. Even he couldn't tell if he was more cross or exasperated at that point.]

[blacktemper]

[whatever Kit was feeling, it held no bearing on the actions of his guest. Vincent is perfectly content to continue stealing as much as he needed from the fridge in order to sate his ravenous appetite, slight frame practically disappearing as he leans into the appliance.

he emerges after a few moments, already munching on an apple, with a plethora of other various items in hand. these he deposits on the kitchen table before turning to face the fridge once more; it seems even that isn't enough to satisfy him. as he pauses to take a more meaty bite out of his snack, his eyes catch Kit's. the grin he flashes is utterly obnoxious, just daring the other boy to step in if it bothers him.]

[whitefox]

[Kit said nothing. Not at first. Instead, silently sipping his beer, he continued to observe the other boy's behavior. He was like some sort of stray that had been brought home and, determined to test his new owner's patience, he was chewing up the furniture, eating everything in sight, and stubbornly refusing to accept admonishment.

Fortunately, there hadn't been any defecating on the floor. Kit was thankful for that one distinction between a human stray and an animal. Even he had his limits, after all.

But it was interesting...

From the night they first met until now, Vincent had displayed a consistent need to battle everything and everyone, and it was clear by the grin he wore that he reveled in it. But he wasn't without a softer side. Sharing a soft drink, providing a cigarette, supporting him when he'd fallen and carrying him back to his room...and those things had been all in the same night. Since then, the feeling of camaraderie between them had only seemed to grow. Even moments ago in his bedroom there'd been a glimpse of it, of something less volatile in Vincent. But it seemed to confuse and rattle him whenever it emerged, causing this beast to rear his head again.

...he took another sip, his can of beer running curiously low. Looking at it, and then up at his guest, he made a decision.]

There's more to drink in the fridge. You may as well bring us both a new beer and sit down.

[blacktemper]

[Vincent's figure pauses in the shadow of the fridge at his host's words, just for a moment, before continuing its soft exploration into the innermost contents of the appliance. it feels almost as if he'd chosen to disregard the open invitation, moving instead to satiate his own stubborn blood.

funnily enough, despite seeing them quite openly displayed on a shelf he hadn't had any intention of touching the rest of Kit's alcohol up until now. it's a courtesy easily kept to himself, especially when he reemerges with two cans cradled amongst the rest of his supplies. he pauses only to toss the now finished apple core into the sink before lobbing one of the beers the other boy's way; he's confident even in his diminished state he'll be able to make the catch.

the rest of the food (and his own beer) is gathered up into his arms before he wanders over to the 'living room' of the dorm, depositing most of it onto the coffee table before carelessly dropping onto the couch. his body protests the nonchalant action, but he steadfastly ignores it.]

Thought you were supposed to say please for shit like that.

[whitefox]

[He wasn't going to...

He did!

Kit had barely a second to react as the can of beer was lobbed in his direction, lowering one can to settle between his legs quickly raising his hands to catch the other. While Vincent's aim had been on point and he'd managed to receive the drink easily enough, it wasn't without a faint wince as the can struck his hands. Even through the bandages, the impact had been a little more than he was comfortable with.

Still...Vincent had obliged. Both in getting him the beer and coming to share the couch. That was a start, he supposed.]

I didn't think you cared about manners.

[Nodding at all the food pilfered from his fridge, Kit fixed his guest with a very pointed stare.]

[blacktemper]

[Vincent meets the stare without an ounce of shame, going so far as to boldly reach out and pick up another piece of fruit to start munching on as he continued to hold the disapproving look. if it truly bothered him that much, he was right next to him. there was nothing stopping him from attempting to retrieve his groceries.]

Just my own.

[the only ones that really mattered in the long run. or at least, the only ones that mattered for the sake of this conversation. in truth he really couldn't say that he particularly cared how polite other people were, to him or otherwise. his anger would be roused regardless of how courteously his hot button issues were packaged.]

[whitefox]

[Kit raised no complaint, merely continued to watch the other boy with the same flat-faced curiosity as before. He finished off the beer from his first can before setting it on the table, and then cracked open the second as he settled back against the cushions of the couch. Even then, however, he appeared to be studying Vincent's behavior. Trying, probably in vain, to make heads or tails of any of it.]

In other words, only when it suits you.

[That seemed...true to experience thus far in Kit's dealings with Vincent. The other boy didn't seem to lack manners entirely, but he went to great lengths to make it seem as though he did when other people were looking.

It was the sort of thing a grumpy child might do. It was cute.]

[blacktemper]

[likely in reaction to the obvious way he was being scrutinized, Vincent's feet found their way onto the coffee table as he leaned further into the couch himself. it was nowhere near polite and hardly sanitary that close to food, but those facts only seemed to goad him on rather than act as a deterrent.

truly, he was incredibly adorable.]

That's the only time anything's worth doing.

[no one would force him to action unless he deemed it in his own interests. that was the belief he held to fast and would likely never abandon.]