fortuneprince | 22nd Case - [written/action]

Entry tags:

22nd Case - [written/action]

[These past few months have been rough for Naoto mentally. Homesickness has taken its toll on her as she’s reminded by the photo given to her over Christmas about how long she’s been away from home, how long she’s been away from her friends and grandfather. She misses all of them so much. Nearly half of the investigation team she hasn’t seen in almost two years now, Rise nearly a year and Yukiko just a few months.

It also reminds her that she's older than all of them now. Yukiko even mentioned how much older she looked and sounded when she was here. She's actually older than the entire team now. She's grown up without them by her side with the exception of Souji who came and went a few times, this now being the second time he's gone.

When she wakes up to find Souji’s room now empty, unoccupied, she feels a heavy weight on her heart. Even though she knows it's best if they're not trapped here to be experimented on and sent to war, it hurts to be alone again, to be without her first and closest friends whom she misses.

And while this place has made her put up a facade from the constant farewells like when she was younger, quietly, she cries because she does miss them.

There are no notes left behind, no goodbye, only the sword he used here and back home. It's not something she can train with or use. It's too big for a person of her size, but she keeps it, placing it next to her desk. She takes a moment to put on a strong face before opening her journal.]

Souji Seta has been sent home. [And that’s all she writes before shutting her journal.

She needs a distraction, something to keep her mind busy, and today she's more than glad she attends school here. It may not deal with mysteries but it's something quick to give her something to work on and keep her focus away from thoughts of home. Besides, she can go to the library and find something later.

After school, if anyone stays behind, they might hear music coming from the music room. Well, there's no specific song that's being played, rather it's a guitar being...well, attempted to be tuned. It's probably just as horrible as the attempt Rise made to tune it a long time ago.

Naoto's never played the guitar, in fact she normally plays the piano when she stays behind after school like this. She's only really researched it to understand them a bit more. But the guitar is something Rise left behind for her almost a year ago when she left, along with a song she wrote for her.

It's taken her this long to make a go at it, but right now it puts her a bit more at ease.

(Naoto will respond to messages in the evening!)]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Souji... Again? Yuan hadn't heard from the boy for a while, so it isn't entirely surprising, but the announcement leaves a bitter taste in his mouth regardless. Not entirely for him, but for Naoto.]

I'm sorry.

Please, do not apologize. [Her pen stops on the last stroke for a moment then continues] For his own safety and well being, it was for the best.

Edited (words just words) 2013-02-28 05:36 (UTC)

[Yuan's had far too much experience with this sort of thing to drop the topic that easily. Still, he knows badgering people about it through the journal system is the wrong way to go about this.]

Are you home?

[She knows where this is going, and to be honest, she can't say she's against it. Yuan is a person who's company she doesn't mind. It's a different kind of company than Roxas, but it's welcome nonetheless. He has been there for her through these announcements too so.]

Yes.

Would you object if I stopped by in an hour or so?

No, I wouldn't.

All right.

[True to his word, he'll be knocking on Naoto's door an hour later. He considered bringing a gift for her, but then he realized that wouldn't be entirely helpful with taking her mind off things.]

[The first one to go and greet whoever is at the door is, of course, Kuzunoha. He runs up to it the moment he hears the knock and shouts "Company!" to inform Naoto even though she's already walking over to him.

As she opens the door, she gestures for the dog to sit out of the way and stands to the side herself to allow her guest in.]

Good evening, Yuan-san. Please, come in.

[Yuan hears the dog's call loud and clear. That's why he isn't surprised to see it the moment she opens the door. Well, at least it's not circling his ankles or trying to jump up against his legs.]

Good evening. [He bows his head lightly as he enters the apartment, giving the dog a sideway glance just in case it tries anything funny.]

[If Kuzunoha circled his ankles, he'd more than likely just be a clumsy dog and bump into his legs over and over. He's a pretty big puppy now!! And a decently trained one... decently. He has his moments.

But he doesn't move from his spot as Yuan comes in, tail batting against the ground, and Naoto shuts the door.] Thank you... for coming. [Her expression is a bit sad but she really is glad he's here.]

... You're welcome. [He wishes he had something better to say, but he doesn't. Nothing he can say can make her feel much better, anyway. It won't change that her friend's gone from Luceti.]

Your dog looks well.

[His company is enough to make her feel better. Kind and comforting words aren't exactly needed so it's okay.

She nods and Kuzunoha finally moves to sit in front of Yuan, tail batting at the floor once again and gives an enthusiastic bark] Yes, he has been well. He was rather distressed earlier... though your visit has proved to cheer him up.

Would you like to sit?

[It isn't long before the sound of music issuing from the music room draws Jack's attention-- he'd seen what he thought was the last student off just a little while ago, so he's curious as to just who is making use of the room right now. Not that he minds - that is what it's there for, after all - but if they're playing music, he can always mention the classes he teaches.

Judging from the sounds, those classes might be a good idea.]

Ah, am I interrupting you?

[Naoto practically jumps in her seat when Jack comes into the room, an embarrassed look quickly spreading across her face. It doesn't surprise her at all to see him here, he is the music teacher after all and she is playing in the music room. She was just too caught up in her own thoughts moments prior.

Relaxing after a moment, she shakes her head.]

N-No, you weren't. I was simply tuning it.

Hmm... have you ever played a guitar before?

[Never mind the fact that it is pretty obvious that she hasn't. It's more polite to ask. Besides, he's never played one himself either, so it's not like he could do much better.]

[She knows it's obvious that she hasn't. Her tuning is as graceful as Rise's.]

No, I haven't. My preference lies with the piano. [A pause] However, there is something I wish to play. It is something that may only be played on the guitar.

Edited 2013-03-05 08:57 (UTC)

I see, I see. If you have the sheet music for it, I might be able to help you figure it out, though I must admit that guitar isn't my specialty. I'm much more familiar with the piano too.

Would it be too much to ask for your assistance with the piano sometime? I am a little out of practice. [Out of practice meaning she just hasn't challenged herself that much. She plays simple things.

But in either case she takes out a slip of paper from her bag and hands it to him. The music written isn't exactly that complex. It consists mostly of major chords and a steady strum.]

[That just makes Jack grin.]

Not at all! I'm here to teach, after all; it's never too much to ask for help.

[When she hands him the music, he accepts it and studies it for a few moments. Hmm, simple enough melody-wise. He can probably manage this.]

Hmm, this isn't too complex. Why don't we work on learning the individual chords first before you try to put them all together?

Thank you. [His answer isn't surprising but she genuinely smiles a little. The piano has always been her go to thing when she's upset so with Souji gone now, it's nice to have a teacher help her out with it.]

Yes, I believe that's fine.

[He returns that smile as he hands the music back to her.]

Now, let's hear you try to play it for me. Give it your best!

[He'll watch and listen and see where he needs to offer advice or help.]

[Oh wait what.

She takes the piece of paper and flusters a little. She's never actually played the guitar before. This is the first time she's plucked more than one string and made an attempt to at least tune it.]

I... How do I know when it has been tuned correctly? [CUZ YOU KNOW FIRST THINGS FIRST]

You don't know how to tune it?

[This... does not exactly bode well.]

[Souji? It had only been a few times, and briefly, but she had begun to befriend him in the time he had been here.

This wasn't the first time something like this had occurred to her, but she this was not a time to focus the burden on her own feelings.] Thank you for informing us.

[Naoto takes a moment to look at the replier, but of course, she doesn't know her. That's not surprising, really. Souji has always been the social type. She's glad he made more friends here though.]

You're welcome.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

22nd Case - [written/action]

[Written]

[Written]

[Written]

[Written]

[Written]

[Written]

[Written / Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[written]

[written]