LOG; Satsuki + Mao [SID]
Satsuki&Mao
Satsuki's house; 1043 Kuro Road
Rated PG for swearing
Disclaimer: Despite the fact that they are discussing the French Revolution, we do not claim to know shit about it. Please do not take any of this as truth and do not get mad at us if you happen to be an expert on the subject and we got it all wrong. :)
History. The past. Something about old people from times long long ago.
"How dull."
As dull as it may be Mao needed this grade so that he could actually get the credit for it and unfortunately he was failing his History class big time. He never thought of the past as being something important. Mao was the kind of guy who lived for the present and only cared about the here and now. Who cared about something a bunch of guys did 5, 10, 20, 100 years ago?
Mao sure didn't, yet here he was at the house of the guy who was suppose to tutor him. He was so annoyed that his teacher suggested he get a tutor. He could have learned it on his own if he wanted but he was really curious as to what this 'Satsuki' was like.
Knocking on the door of the building he cleared his throat, straightened his hat and took a step back to await the door opening.
Satsuki found himself ill prepared for anything that may have happened that morning, including tutoring some idiot who couldn't remember simple facts. That's all history was, facts- and fascinating ones at that. How was he supposed to tutor people in it?
Oh, well.
It knocked money off his tuition and that was all that mattered.
He'd barely finished getting ready for the day when the knock came, and he was just barely able to force himself to answer it, nearly choking when he did.
"...You."
Staring at the smaller student who answered the door, Mao began to grin happily to stop himself from laughing.
"I knew your name sounded familiar," he exclaimed as he put his hands on his hips. Letting a chuckle escape he looked over the others head to see in his house a bit. "Are you going to let me in or are we going to study on your doorstep?"
How could he be so eager, given their first meeting? Satsuki narrowed his eyes in irritation before stepping aside to let the taller student in. He'd known the person he'd be tutoring had to be an idiot, but...
...him?
Why?
"Yeah. Your name's Mao, right?" Of course it was. Having a good memory wasn't always a good thing. Satsuki rememebered almost everyone he met, pleasant or not.
It's not that Mao was exactly eagar to study. In reality he could careless about what happened last month let along hundreds of years ago. He just wanted to see inside Satsuki's house. As he stepped inside he allowed himself to make himself at home even if the other hadn't offered.
"Do you have anything to drink?" he called as he walked away to find the kitchen.
....Idiot.
"Yes. What do you want?" Satsuki felt no need to be polite, since this guy was too much of a moron to answer simple questions anyways- and he'd coated him and coffee prior to getting in his face and threatening him.
He followed Mao down the near empty hallway, none too eager about the guy wandering through his house alone. After all, Satsuki didn't have much, and having something stolen would be both noticeable and tragic.
"Actually...." he began as he stopped and turned to the other. "That's okay." He was tired of looking through the others boring house. There was nothing interesting about it. How sad.
"You should really think about decorating your place a bit more you know." Though Mao was one to talk. He barely had anything in his house either but he knew Satsuki wouldn't be coming to his house anytime soon so why sweat the details.
Satsuki's lack of interest in Mao's opinion was beyond obvious, eyes tired and uncaring. "I don't particularly care what you think about my house, seeing as I'm doing you a favour. Now, did you come here to improve your grade or to look through my stuff?"
Maybe he was being too rude, but he held grudges, hated people based on the first impression- and this guy's first impression had been beyond horrible. Really, if it weren't for the much needed discount on his tuition, he would have slammed the door in the other man's face.
"Yeah yeah okay whatever," Mao huffed as he went back toward the front room. It wasn't like there was much stuff to look through. He might as well get this little session over with and meet up with the girl he had met at on campus earlier.
"Let's get this done as quick as possible alright?"
"Nn. We'll take as long as it takes for you to get it."
How hard could it be to get? That, if anything, was what he didn't understand- why someone could need a tutor in history... and how he was supposed to do it.
"So, what is it you have trouble with?"
Memorization?
Listening?
Satsuki could only guess which of the two was a bigger problem for the other student.
"It shouldn't take me that long. I just don't listen in class." Or come at all sometimes. He could memorize things easily if he wanted to but he had gotten so use to coasting along through his grades that he had forgotten any of the study habits he may have picked up in his younger years.
The tutor rolled his eyes. "Why bother going at all? Why bother coming here, even? If you don't listen to a teacher I doubt you'll listen to me."
It occured to him that he was being a really big asshole, but it didn't occur to him to care. After all, this was how he treated all people he disliked immensely- as if they were worth nothing. A waste of space.
And that was how he saw Mao.
"Well, whatever. Let's see your notes, if you have any."
Mao shrugged at the first wave of questions pertaining to his problem of paying attention and his attendence. He came to kill some time or because he was bored at times but that wasn't really any of Satsuki's business.
Hearing the statement about the notes brought a smirk to the blond's face. Of course he's got notes. He had gotten them from a girl he sometimes sat next to in class when he came. A real cutie that one was. He pulled the folder from the messanger bag he was wearing and handed them to the other.
Satsuki eyed the pink notebook warily and took it as if it were poisonous to his skin, peering at the large, neat, girlish handwriting that could hardly belong to this guy.
"...These are yours?"
If not, he'd be oh so tempted not to use them, just to be an ass. He wondered if his reward for this hellish task was based on Mao's progress. If not, then he didn't give a damn how well the guy did.
"Why thats a silly question~" he sang in a high pitched voice as he batted his lashes at the other and made kissy face. Returning to his normal compsure he replied in a normal voice. "What do you think?"
He hadn't taken actual notes for himself in a few years. Why should he do it when it was so much easier to say a few nice things to a girl and get some free notes from it. He really hoped that Satsuki wouldn't force him to take his own notes or he might walk out on the tutoring session.
Satsuki's expression remained unamused at Mao's awful imitation of a ditzy female. Disgusting- using his "charms"(?) to take advantage of some helpless idiot of a girl. Granted, she probably deserved it, but even so...
"You're kind of a shithead, you know?"
The notebook was closed and slid to the side.
"Give me one fact about this subject you're supposed to be studying."
Mao ignored the 'compliment' about him being a shithead and went straight to the other comment. If Satsuki expected Mao to give an actual fact from those notes then he would be screwed. He didn't even look over those notes the day he got them let alone would think to look them over before he arrived at the man's house.
"December 25th. Jesus is born." Yeah there's a fun fact for ya.
Satsuki's lips threatened to twitch up into a smile. Dry humour was the best kind, after all.
"Can you tell me what year?"
Doubtful, even though it was kind of common knowledge for everyone over the age of 15. He could guess that while Mao could be clever, his knowledge of anything was neither common nor useful.
The blond rolled his eyes at the next question and sighed. Did anyone even know that?
"I don't know," he shrugged as he crossed his arms. "Not that it matters. Christmas rolls around the same time every year." Even if Satsuki told him it's not like he'd try to memorize it for later. When was he going to need to know what year Jesus was born? It's not like Jesus was going to come quiz him on his life history.
"Hm." Satsuki's expression was cold, though there was a bit of laughter in it. "Commonly known as 4BC, but nobody knows for sure. Also, it's pretty likely that December 25th is incorrect, so don't hold onto that too quickly."
And what the fuck was Christmas, anyway? It certainly had nothing to do with religion- though that may because Satsuki himself was godless. That and they lived in Japan.
"Anyway, if you can't learn commonly taught facts like that, you can't pass a college history course."
"Mmmhmmm," Mao frowned saying as he rolled his eyes yet again. He knew he could pass the course if he actually felt like trying and it was probably about time he did. "I'm sure every child in Japan can tell me the exact year Jesus was born. Anyway let's get on with this. I can learn this stuff if I wanted."
It seemed Mao was getting serious now. He really didn't want to fail the class and well he wasn't going to pay Satsuki to amuse him for a few hours during these study sessions.
Satsuki would've enjoyed arguing that point further- after all, if there was anything that gave him adrenaline, it was having an argument and winning. Mao, however, seemed to be starting to give a shit, and he'd have to take advantage of it if he wanted this little project to not be a waste of time.
He took the poor girl's notebook, appreciating her organization skills. Colour coordination, differently shaped bullet points for notes and subnotes. OCD really was underrated.
"Hm. The French Revolution, eh? I'm surprised you're not more interested, Mao-kun. Everyone likes hearing about retards getting their heads cut off."
He set the notebook in his lap as a side reference- after all, this was his area.
"So, how far behind are you, exactly? Do you even know what I'm talking about?"
"I have an idea of what you're talking about," he said as he kept his eyes glued on the other. He knew that if he put his atteniton on something else for a second he wouldn't pay attention to Satsuki and miss half of what he said. It's not that he was ADD or anything he just really didn't care about history but he needed the grade so he was going to work for it for once.
"It was kind of interesting when I tuned in when I came to class."
Satsuki folded his arms on the table, peering at Mao. He was no longer cold and uninterested; rather, there was a vaguely noticeable light in his eye. After all, the drama of the past in Europe made up 90% of his daily interests.
"I'm glad to hear it." And he was, really, because if he'd had to start off by explaining what it was then he would have given up right then and there. "Can you give me a cause? Two and I won't be an asshole for the rest of the session."
Mao pouted his lips as he brought his head down in thought. He was actualy thinking about this. He remembered hearing something in class about why the revolution started but it just wasn't coming to him. He huffed a little to himself as he continued to pout thinking.
"Something about money problems right?" he asked the other finally looking up from being lost in thought about it. He couldn't think of another reason so it looked like Satsuki could be an asshole all he wanted. "Have fun being an asshole."
"Always do."
Really, though, it was incentive, since Mao actually appeared to be trying, not just fucking around. Satsuki could respect anyone who would put themselves through something they despised to get to a goal, even if it was kind of stupid to be there in the first place.
"You could say they had money problems. Basically, think of it as being exactly like Akachou. It started out as the rich stepping all over the poor for years, bascially treating them like they were worthless. The government gave the rich no taxes and increased the poor's for that reason, but the poor didn't have the money so they all starved to death. Poverty, famine, questionable taxation, and conspicuous consumption by Marie Antoinette and whichever Louis she was fucking would all work on your test, since that will undoubtedly be a question."
Without giving it a second thought Mao had already taken out his other notebook and began jotting down a few of the things Satsuki had said to him. As he wrote he quietly repeated to himself so he wouldn't forget as he wrote it. "Okay," he responded as he finished writing and returned his eyes to look at Satsuki. "Where does people getting their heads cut off fit into all of this?" That part really amused him for some reason.
Again, Satsuki wanted to smile, but managed to keep from doing so. "A lot of nobles and, more famously, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were sent to the guillotine." The word was heavy on his tongue, incredibly difficult to get out. "They got their heads cut off with people standing around cheering. Quite the spectacle."
Satsuki really wouldn't have minded seeing Mayor Matsuura get decapitated in front of a crowd full of screaming spectators, either. Too bad he was the only one that felt that way- or so it seemed.
Mao chuckled a little at the idea of people getting their heads cut off being a family affair. Though he probably would have found it amusing as well. Nowadays movies fancy it all up so it's not even that impressive but to see it up close must have been some show.
"I take it the poor were in charge of the beheading?" He figured as much anyway since all these rich people were getting killed. Better jot that in the notes.
"Yeah, though some nobles were pissed at the King too 'cause he fucked 'em over. Better put that in there as well."
Satsuki narrowed his eyes, suddenly mildly irritated that they'd jumped from the beginning to the end of the subject without even covering everything in the middle, but that was just how some people learned.
"Here." He picked up the forgotten pink notebook and put it on the table. "I'd advise looking through this section by section and making flashcards or something, 'kay? You're past the point of hearing a lecture on it. Or, at least, your class is."
"Huh? Yeah okay," Mao quickly said as he jotted down a few more things before his eyes went up to the notes the girl had given him. Hot damn she had good notes. Comparing his to the girls he was glad he convinced her to lend him the notebook for a while.
"I think I can have this stuff memorized by the end of the week." Would it stick? Who knows but he was going to remember this shit for his test like it was his phone number. His eyes were glued to the girls colorful notes as he skimmed over some stuff and made little notes in his notebook.
"I will be impressed if you can."
It was a lot of information to remember, really- dates, numbers, names, events. That was the only challenge of history- the amount of information, but if that wasn't an issue than it was probably the easiest subject aside from gym and shit like that.
"I think you'll be fine if you put your mind to it." Somehow, Satsuki felt a lot less mean. "Come back if you feel like it- sooner, next time, when you don't have the entire subject to learn already."
"So much for being an asshole huh?" he laughed saying as he looked up from his notes at the other man. He was surprised with how Satsuki wasn't even trying to be mean to him. Maybe he surprised him with the fact that he could actually put his mind to things when he wanted or maybe Satsuki didn't have it in him to be an asshole. Who knows. Mao wasn't good at reading people.
"Guess this means I'm getting kicked out now?" The taller student was already starting to grab his things to shove in his messanger bag knowing that if he was going to study this Satsuki would prefer he do it at his own house.
Satsuki swallowed. "Well, I guess you could hang around here if you think you'll need my help." Why was he being so nice? Possibly because his mind was fading, dipping downdowndown to something dark and nasty. He hadn't taken his medicine that day...
...or the day before.
The mania had come and gone, left him dizzy and with no sleep. That left one thing- he'd be usless, but he didn't really want Mao complaining about him, which he may very well have done.
"Nah, I don't think I'll need your help," he replied as he slowly began to stand up from the table. He had almost forgotten that he had a hot date with that girl he met. He figured he could stay at her house if he needed to for the night. He really didn't feel like going back to his own house.
"If I need you or somethin' I'll give you a call," he smiled saying as he took out his cellphone and waved it a little before putting it back in his pocket. Heading for the door Mao paused to see if Satsuki was actually going to walk the other to the door.
Satsuki watched Mao for half a second before remembering that he was supposed to know etiquette, but really, he felt sluggish, slow... clumsy, really, as he stumbled up to hold the door open for Mao. He didn't look at him, no longer really wanted to look at anything.
"Have a good day."
It was too bright outside, and far too loud. He almost felt hung over, but he was used to it. Used to living his life in a constant state of discomfort.
Mao raised an eyebrow at the change in Satsuki as he walked him to the door. Maybe the lil guy was catching something? Mao didn't want to stay to find out though. Giving a small wave to his tutor he tossed his bag in his car before getting in himself and heading off to his hot date.