(Untitled)

[zealouspeter]

Who: Shuji Ikutsuki (rodeforthefall) and Shiroe Rei Seki (zealouspeter).
When: Today, March 9th, Afternoon.
Where: Hillsdale University.
Summary: Funds are thin and SERO's welcoming. What a perfect combination.
Warnings: Shouldn't be!

Comments

What, you mean it isn't already? :3

[rodeforthefall]

The question, despite its open honesty, did not offend Ikutsuki. In fact, he chuckled in response to it, clasping his hands together on the desk in front of him. “Ah, Shiroe, was it? It would be quite the pointless procedure to go through all the forms and not refer to it at all in the end! It’s very straight forward, though, no way to deviate from the trail - of paperwork, that is!” With a small, self-satisfied smile on his face, as though he had just made an incredibly intelligent joke, he turned back to face Shiroe again, this time with some of the brochures in his hand.

“The application process itself is simple enough. There’s nothing you need to supply beyond your enrolment details, and permission for access to your academic results, seeing how you’re a current student. There’s a few other stipulations as well, but they’re all outlined here -“ a small frown formed on his face as he trailed off, sliding one of the pamphlets off his desk and into the wastepaper bin at the side of the desk. “That one not’s relevant,” he muttered, before returning his attentions to the boy sitting across him once more. “Ah, where was I? Yes, there’s a few other stipulations; as a scholarship student, you would be offered the chance to partake in original research with some of SERO’s ongoing programs; really, it’s a wonderful opportunity, so I don’t think that should be too much of a hassle.

“Here you go,” he said, pushing what he deemed the most relevant pamphlet to the boy. It detailed more information about the committee in charge of awarding scholarships, how they were offered - definitely by real people, despite Shiroe’s hesitations - and of course, the conditions of the scholarship. It was financially strategic of SERO to invest in upcoming talents while they were still young, gain their loyalty while they were studying at university so they wouldn’t have any reason to work anywhere else -- couldn’t work anywhere else. “If there’s anything you want to know about in more detail, just ask. Otherwise, I’ll start on arranging the necessary papers.”

It's a good name, I think. A very fine name. And forever will be, yes. :3;;

[zealouspeter]

Even if the joke hadn't of been the funniest sort, Shiroe gave a smile-- not a laugh, because that would have been pushing it, but a smile was safe and easy to pull off. He was all open ears, too: there was nothing faked about his attention. Even if some teenagers may have taken it as a bunch of boring paperwork talk, he wanted to know - which made that one pamphlet that got shuffled away all the more interesting.

Still, if he asked about it, he had a strong feeling that he'd be either lied to or told that it was nothing. So the piece of paper only got a curious glance as it fell, before he redirected his attention rather neatly.

The one that was offered, well-- he took it and immediately flipped it over, scanned the back before opening it up. Reading and speaking at the same time wasn't a feat: it might've been considered rude, but, "This one's one of the better, you think...?" A 'hmm,' a considering noise; and he knew that the other was a newcomer from the those video-voice posts, but there was no reason for the counselour to know the same of him. It wouldn't be hard to find out, of course, and it was sort of pointless to keep a 'secret,' but Shiroe had always found amusement in odd things. So, he was glancing up momentarily, eyes focused. "Did you ever take any of these, when you were going through the University? I'm guessing you did go through Hillsdale."

Questions for the actual scholarship were few and far between. If there was a need for a guardian's signature, Daedalus would probably do the honors. He could see, too, those loopholes where SERO was tightening their noose, and while it made some part of him want to retreat to a more safe option (such as dropping out), he'd steeled himself for this. That confidence wasn't going to be easily beaten back.

[rodeforthefall]

The question about his educational qualifications caused a small smile to play on Ikutsuki's lips; he wasn't especially concerned about hiding his face from the newcomer network, but on the other hand, he hadn't been particularly active on it of late. At least, not in a capacity that could be seen by others; he was still learning, still observing.

"Ah, I'm afraid I didn't, so I don't know as much about the university from the students' perspective as I would like to. Of course, I do hear quite a bit of it, considering my current position, but -- there's always time and space to learn more."

Seeing that Shiroe was still considering the scholarship upon the offered pamphlet, he continued, his tone pleasant but slightly curious. "How have you been enjoying your education at Hillsdale thus far?"

[zealouspeter]

"Where did you go?" His head was tilting to the other side, eyes still wide with open curiosity. The added comments weren't given much thought - he saw them as nothing more than filler, whether or not they really were.

To counter curiosity with curiosity left Shiroe smiling wider, perching more on the edge of his chair (little cues, finely tuned things, it was only a good thing that there were no disruptions yet). "It's interesting. The labs, the professors... They're all top-notch. There's never really anything more than facts to be found, too."

Facts that were grievously twisted toward SERO, but facts nonetheless.

[rodeforthefall]

The boy was astute, Ikutsuki would grant him that; while it was evident what knowledge Shiroe was attempting to gather, Ikutsuki saw no reason not to divulge it. After all, he’d already shown his face to the newcomer’s network and if the boy didn’t know now it would be, truly, only a matter of time. "I studied in Japan," he answered. "Are you familiar with the country?"

He found himself nodding as Shiroe commented on his Hillsdale experiences thus far. It was on natural, under such circumstances, for him to desire to continue his education at the university.

[zealouspeter]

"A bit. It wasn't in my world." Just so that the cards were on the metaphorical table, and it was rather funny, very funny, if Shiroe let himself think on it-- here they were, two newcomers, working right alongside SERO. The same company that had driven to exterminate them in the beginning. The same that posed the most threat.

And, obviously, the most benefits if one cooperated well. In any case, he went on to ask, "What year did you study in Japan?"