[Open] Can you play me a memory?

[bakudan_shounen]

Who: Gokudera bakudan_shounen and you!
When: 5/6 around 5 pm
Where: Passing by The Patrol Headquarters, heading back to the outlander's community block
Format: Prose to start, but either is fine by me!
What: Gokudera regrets his choice of profession and WANTS SO BADLY to join, but doubts he'd be wanted.
Warnings: Foul language.

Comments

[charmprince]

After dragging herself out of bed-- even at almost fully-recovered it felt like a chore to actually move, though that had died down once she was fully up and mobile--, Asellus had resolved herself to doing something outside, to getting some fresh air. First on that list is getting her pay so she can pay the landlord the rent due and get some food. Because she wasn't actually on patrol today, and because she was going to have to deal with the natives, she shows up dressed... well, like a lady, rather than her boyish style. Even so, she hadn't had to dress up in long enough that the skirts had her tripping a little; by the time she reaches the headquarters, she's already dusty and in a bit of a Mood.

But that mood fades when she realizes that no matter how dusty she is, there is someone who's worse off. It's a vague sort of schadenfreude, but it passes clear by when she pipes up from behind him.

"You going to go in?"

sorry for the lateness! And.... if it sucks... orz

[bakudan_shounen]

He'd been so busy thinking about his own problem, that Gokudera hadn't expected in the slightest that he might have company. When Asellus's voice rings out from behind him, he jumps and turns, hands diving to his chest to bump at his suspenders, where his dynamite is not hiding. It's a good thing, too, since this person doesn't seem like they wanted to catch him off guard.

It's a bit hard to stop the thundering of his heart in his chest, but it's easier to put on an aloof, guarded expression as though he'd never been spooked. His hands fall and his eyes narrow. Was this person a part of the patrol? They didn't look like a fighter...

The dirty teen eyes the dress, then raises an eyebrow. Even if she is dressed up, there's something about her that assures him she isn't a native of Anatole, but another outlander like himself. It's not much of a difference, but enough to give him ease in speaking with her. "Is it that easy?"

quiet you, it's lovely <3

[charmprince]

If he thinks his startlement has gone unnoticed, he's very, very wrong-- but she's not going to make a point of it just yet. Instead, she just looks a little confused, her head tilting as she tries to puzzle out what he's talking about. Eventually it does come to her, and she can't help laughing, just a little bit. "What, the Patrol?" She picks at her skirts. "Not in these, it's not. I definitely don't suggest wearing them when it's not your day off." And then she looks him over, reddish eyes laughing. "Or at all. I don't think you've got the figure for them."

And then she grins-- not unkindly. "Are you thinking of joining, then? You were looking at the place like you can't decide. We could really use the help, though." That wasn't strictly true, but after recent events, another pair of hands would be a great thing to have. The more people trained to help, the better.

[bakudan_shounen]

Gokudera all but deadpans. He really hadn't meant the skirts, but he's not going to stop her from talking. The teen was just really awkward about his own curiosity for the Patrol when he was so uninvited. He listens and watches her, and then looks disgruntled at the comment about him not having the figure for a dress. Some small part of him is glad for that, and the other find the joke embarrassing. He wants to yell at her.

Then she mentions him joining and his voice dies in his throat. Gokudera nods numbly. "Are you a member?" He asks, point a thumb over his shoulder at the building behind him. If she is, then he'll hold back his yelling until maybe things are a bit more... comfortable? He can feel some doubt bubbling in his chest.

[charmprince]

She can't help being amused, any more than she can help breathing or blinking-- especially the disgruntled face he made when she began joking around. But it's probably in her best interests not to go chasing this poor thing off-- they might look about the same age, but he was definitely younger, with all the insecurities that probably entailed. She'd be nice...r.

"A member? Yeah, I am." She pats at the blade half-obscured by her skirts. "Not for all that long, though-- I'm kind of a little new, I guess." She even has the grace to look a little bit humble about that. "But I've been in long enough to get a handle on things. Did you have doubts or questions or something?" Because she can't understand that odd conflict in his eyes when he watched the place-- at least, not in regards to anything external. "I'll answer what I can, if you want."

She might be a bit of a troll, but she does try to be helpful, after all.

[bakudan_shounen]

A bit of hope gathers in his chest and he doesn't seem quite so bothered talking to her. Maybe... she could help him? Gokudera isn't enough of a fool to let it get to him and cloud his judgement, but this realization will keep him from being a complete ass to the person he's just met.

The teen looks down at where she pats, a little surprised with himself for having not noticed the weapon at all, even if it was partially hidden. He looks back up at Ascellus' question, then shifts his weight awkwardly from one foot to the other. "If I wanted to join. Do I need to speak with Priscilla?" He'd read that she was the one in charge, and could only hope that he didn't have to meet everyone before her. He'd rather not have to appeal to everyone when he knows he isn't.

[charmprince]

"Yeah, Pris'd be the one to talk to-- she's really nice, even if she does overwork herself. You'll have to talk to Arthur and Riza too, eventually-- you have to have all three's okay--, and they'll test you in the ruins, but it's not really all that hard." She looks him over, curious. "You fight, then? Not that you don't look like a fighter-- actually, I guess I can't even talk, can I?" She finds herself laughing again, though she's not really sure why. Maybe it's just kind of nice, being able to help someone out, even as tired as she is.

"Anyway, it's not an easy job, but it's not hard, either, and with partners it goes by pretty quick. Honestly, you should give it a try. If it's not your thing, it's not, but enough happens that we can always use more help. It's the nature of this place."

[bakudan_shounen]

Gokudera nods as she talks, glad that she's found him, even though he's still a little embarrassed by the circumstances. When she looks him over, his face goes hot, "Ah-" Even Gokudera knows he doesn't look as tough as he usually does. In fact, with the way he's dressed and the condition he's in, he just looks like a dirty beggar boy. He slumps a little at that realization, then shoves his hands in his pockets before throwing her his regular tough-guy scowl.

"Where I'm from, I right-hand man to Sawada Tsunayoshi. He's the Tenth generation boss of the strongest mafia family in the world! If I didn't know how to fight, then I wouldn't be able to call myself that!" Despite his attitude, the tone to his voice is full of childish excitement. He won't let anyone put down his family, even if they find him inadequate, and it's that pride and enthusiasm that makes his eyes sparkle and pulls a slight smirk to his lips.

[charmprince]

This seems to be exactly what she was hoping to hear, and there's an undercurrent of approval in her responding grin. "So you've got spirit. Spirit's good. Better than good. You should definitely go for it, then." She shrugs toward the building. "The place could use more energy. Everyone's so serious all the time."

With a flit of her skirt-- she won't trip this time, not when she's pushing for a cool impression-- she steps toward the stairs up. "I'd be cheering for you, anyway. It's hard to find the fire in people around here, when they've been here a while. It's all cynics and boredom. You going to go in and at least take a look around? Pris is probably in there, somewhere. She usually is, at this hour."

[bakudan_shounen]

Usually, his enthusiasm isn't met so well. To face someone who would grin at his declarations makes him feel even more excited, and the smirk turns into a grin. His brow quirks a bit, though "I take it seriously, though!" He doesn't want to be viewed as a kid getting in over his head about it. He's seen enough darkness in his youth. It's just a question of how he can handle the monsters outside.

Gokudera does find it a little cool -not that he'd say anything- how she holds herself. It's a bit odd that now his eyes go to the skirt, which had unintentionally been the start to their whole conversation. He looks up at Asellus, wondering where such faith in him was coming from. They'd only met and she was saying things like that? The boy nods and steps after her, "If it's alright. I-I don't want to go where I'm not allowed..."

It's a bit of a shocker to himself to say something like that right off the top of his head and he wants to kick himself. Maybe it won't sound as unsure to her as it had to him.

[charmprince]

"Well, yeah," she shrugged, "I'd expect you to. It's not easy, and it's definitely not safe, but it doesn't have to be a daily grind, either. There're some things out there that most people won't ever see, and some of the ones that do wouldn't see anything ever again. But we're Scorched. We're the best defense the normal people here have."

She turns to look at him again, an undefinable stubborn set to her features. As a Scorched-- as someone the natives looked down on--, it's a point of pride to be able to do something that might change their minds. "And it's a little thankless, when it comes to the people who live here. They fear us about as much as they need us.

But there's no reason not to be enthusiastic about what you do, you know?" She grins again, and it's like she's never said anything serious in her life. "C'mon, if no one but members were allowed, they'd never recruit new people. If it'll make it feel better, you can be my guest-- as long as you don't go breaking anything. I need to pick up my pay, anyway."

[bakudan_shounen]

He nods, his usual frown back on his face. Gokudera hadn't expected this position to be an easy one. It's the actual step of appealing to people who are accustomed to the fighting that intimidates him. The teen lacks so much experience, and he knows it, worries that they'll overlook him for it; presume him weak, even for one of the Scorched.

His eyes meet her, concerned at first with that look to her eyes before she grins. The same could be said about the mafia where he's from. Gokudera nods in understanding, "I'm not looking for any special recognition." And there's an earnest, pleading look to his eyes. He just wants to be useful, to belong somewhere in this new world where he feels so out of place.

"Your guest...?" The boy stalls, not sure how he feels about that. What would that entail, exactly?

[charmprince]

The thing about experience, Asellus has learned in her fifty-something years on the battlefield, is that even if you start out without any, you end up collecting it, even if you don't mean to. She understands that-- just about as much as she understands the need to be of use. She'd had a similar conversation with Kurogane not a few days prior, hadn't she? It was hard, not having a place to belong, not fitting in. To some extent, she gets it.

"Well, if you're my guest, you can't help but be allowed, can you?" Though she doesn't expect that he'd run into any trouble at all, were he to go alone.

[bakudan_shounen]

If he were to go alone, he may very well cause trouble. People haven't exactly been very helpful to him since his arrival in Anatole. Asellus has been a rare exception, and he has a feeling it's going to be like that for a while. Maybe sticking around her for a bit would be a good move?

Gokudera falls into step at her side, "You've got a point..." The teen then realizes that they haven't been properly introduced, and he looks at the green-haired woman expectantly.

[charmprince]

"Asellus." She'd offer a hand, but it's hard to shake hands when you're walking. "So you're new, then, um..." It's an obvious pause to catch his name, and then she continues on. "This place can be a little rough at first, but once you've made friends and settled in, it's not really all that bad."

Another flash of a grin crosses her face. "You might have to swallow your pride sometimes, ask for help, but our fellow Scorched are generally pretty nice, if you're nice to them. Some of us are even helpful without needing to ask. It's best to do what you can-- I mean, we're all in this together, aren't we?" Not like a family, she thinks, but like comrades-in-arms; save for a few people, they're not really all that different.

[bakudan_shounen]

"Gokudera," He says with a nod. The teen had already introduced himself to a member of the Patrol with his given nickname, but that person had been troublesome, so it's not like they really needed his name. If he were a nicer person, he'd have already made a few friends. As it is, he's just not very good at being civil.

"In battle?" The teen wouldn't really be able to ask for help anywhere else. He also doubts he'd need it in battle. He'd rather lose.