10/10/12

[bythewall]

WHO: Oscar, Lawrence, and anyone who wants to join
WHERE: October 10th, on a bench outside the dorms
WHEN: Towards the end of the dinner period
WHY: Because he lives at school, too, and I need more threads. Who wouldn't want to ruin his dinner spend time with their principal?

Comments

[isolatedscholar]

After a light dinner, Lawrence made his way outside. He had eaten quickly because he wanted to get out before anyone else was in the hallway heading to their evening destinations, and he wanted to return after everyone else had already gone back to their dorm rooms. In other words, he had wanted to be the first one out and the last one in. It was still relatively early. He had a good chunk of time to get through his novel before he was to be reprimanded for being out past curfew. Lawrence tried to keep up with the time but he always lost track of it when he was lost in his novels.

It was nice out, with a cool wind blowing past him. This kind of weather made Lawrence happy. Who knows? Maybe he could finally be finished with his novel before he'd have to go inside! That thought filled him with happiness. A wide smile spread across his face, but quickly faded as he approached an occupied bench. He leaned forward a bit, standing on his tip toes to try and get a glimpse of who was there, but he couldn't make much of them out.

"Blast it all... it would seem someone's occupied my usual bench..." He muttered under his breath, hoping the person on the bench hadn't heard him.

There was another bench across from that one. He quickly made his way across the yard. As he walked in front of the bench, he didn't notice the huge gust of wind that blew his ponytail into the occupant's face. He continued, hoping they weren't paying any attention to their surroundings, and quickly planted himself onto the opposite bench. Try as he might, however, he couldn't focus his attention on the book he was reading and kept staring at the person across from him.

Something about him seemed very familiar... but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He knew, however, that he had seen this person around campus quite a bit.

[bythewall]

Oscar hadn't paid any attention to anyone walking by until the sudden woosh of hair right into his face. He frowned, but his reaction was slow and next to non-existant at first. He lowered his arms and looked up at the person who had walked by. Oh, a student was there and already annoying him. That was certainly new. Only not really. This one wasn't one of the usuals though... he made an effort to know all of the students at the school. It certainly wasn't a difficult task with the low number of students. The quiet ones would try to slip by unnoticed, but their names were never forgotten.

"Mr. Bright, do you need something from me?" The principal asked in a tone that was far from concerned, though certainly curious. He already knew the answer to the question as well, but with all of the staring, Lawrence was asking to be bothered.

Yay more awkwardness~ (also, sorry for the deleted post, posted in wrong place ^_^;)

[isolatedscholar]

"Mr. Bright"...? Lawrence thought. Who would call him that? Most of the people who knew him called him Lawrence... but--and then it hit him who this person was. At first, he just simply stared without a response to offer. He cleared his throat and tried to get some words out.

"P-Principal Ivors..." he stuttered, "Ah, well... you see, you were in the bench I usually... I mean... you were in my bench... no, wait, it's not MY bench but you were..." He stopped. This wasn't going anywhere. He calmed himself a few moments and tried again.

"You were occupying the bench I usually use to read, so I decided to use this one instead. That's all. I didn't mean to disturb you."

[bythewall]

Getting to the student would be much easier than he first thought it would be. He had only said a sentence to him and already he was tripping over his words, stumbling and stuttering to correct himself. Oscar leaned back for a moment, giving the boy and thoughtful look and then nodding.

"You? Disturb me? Nonsense." Deep down there was certainly sarcasm to be found in his words, but he had always been talented at hiding that. "It's a good bench for reading, so I can't blame you," he pointed to the book in his lap with his chopsticks. "I was just reading a tragic tale about disappearing problem students. You know, the kind of students who fail tests and are nuisances to their instructors. The policeman in the story has yet to locate them." None of that was true, but oh well.

[isolatedscholar]

Lawrence chuckled. "Disappearing students who fail tests and are nuisances to their instructors? Those kinds of students don't belong in school to begin with. They are wasting both the time of the instructor, and the time of the students around them who want to learn. An intriguing tale, but one of pure humor and little else. In all seriousness, what is it that you are reading? I am currently in the middle of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, respectively."

[bythewall]

That was interesting. The principal cracked an honest smile and popped another dumpling into his mouth. Maybe he came on a little strong. A more subtle approach might have worked better. He'd keep that in mind for the future with this one. "You'd be surprised at how many of those actually need school the most," he corrected. "If you must know I'm brushing up on my own studies. This is nothing special so far."

He shrugged, thinking to change the subject before any more questions on that matter came up again. "How are you enjoying Doyle so far?"

[isolatedscholar]

Lawrence raised his eyebrow before answering. This conversation was going... surprisingly well for him so far.

"The Hound of the Baskervilles is a classic, sir. The way the mystery is presented is quite grand, and it is quite difficult to say whether or not I prefer Doyle or Christie more. And Then There Were None certainly holds a special place in my heart, but you cannot beat the amount of effort Doyle placed in building up Holmes's character. So far, I am enjoying it very much. And reading it in such a peaceful place adds much more enjoyment to it, I should say. Is that why you've decided to read out here, away from the students?"

[bythewall]

"I enjoy any sort of peace I can get, reading or otherwise," he admitted. "Today it's for the weather more than anything."

"I'd say Doyle and Christie were very different writers. Would you say that Doyle put more effort into Holmes than Christie put into Miss Marple?" He continued, interested on the topic brought up by Lawrence's wording, though his eyes drifted back to his own book, skimming the last of a page before turning it. "The Hound of the Baskervilles is a classic, but I'd doubt that most people have read it. However, most everyone will be able to tell you who Sherlock Holmes is, because regardless of Doyle's works he's the culturally relevant icon of the perfect detective. Miss Marple is a rarer creature in comparison. Would you say that was all a matter of the author's effort?

[isolatedscholar]

Lawrence couldn't help but smile thoughtfully at Oscar's question. It was very rare that he met someone at school who provoked such thought. "I wonder... I do believe you are right about that, however. Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes are two completely different people. Holmes was absolutely brilliant, but some of his methods of coming about his brilliance were... questionable, at best. He is a very intriguing character, however, and that may be why he is the culturally relevant icon of the perfect detective, as you put it so well."

He paused, gathering his thoughts, and then continued, "As for it all being a product of the author's effort... I believe the two make very different efforts. On one hand, Doyle has fascinating characters who have very vivid backgrounds and stories behind them. Christie, on the other hand, spends more time crafting a truly gripping mystery that keeps the reader guessing on every page. And Miss Marple is such a kind, charming character, at that. You are right in saying they are different creatures."

[bythewall]

Oh no. He coaxed a smile out of the boy. That was a bit too much for him. Time to cut and withdraw. It was getting interesting and Lawrence seemed like a thoughtful student, but he had a policy to uphold. "You read too many books, Mr. Bright. Try to make some friends this year." His suggestion was insistent, but blunt with a dismissive grin on his face. Kids these days.

"Are you getting along with your schoolmates?"

[isolatedscholar]

And in an instant, all happiness Lawrence had obtained from chatting casually with Oscar had vanished. He read too many books? Most of the people he met didn't read enough! Oh, but that wasn't even the worst of it... the question that followed is what drove the stake through this calm, intellectual conversation about mystery novelists. He made a heavy sigh, and responded quietly.

"No, I am not. I'm afraid they just don't... what's the word... ah, yes... I'm afraid they just don't "mesh" with me. Ezra and I simply do not see eye to eye on... well... anything. We are constantly fighting about something. Some days, I wish I could opt not to return to the dorm room because of it, but such is life. And two days ago, some truly reprehensible girl named Emi decided she would send me on a journey to fetch the missing members of her study group. I called her a number of things, uncouth being one of them, but no, it did not get me out of the situation and only made it worse because she insulted my speech... Why do you ask? What interest have you in whether or not I get along with those people?" He asked, closing his book and setting it in his lap. He could tell this conversation would need his full attention.

[bythewall]

It was then that he realized he had almost ran into what could've been a very large oversight. Lawrence's roommate was indeed Ezra. He knew that, but the reason that it was important was just now hitting him. With addition of Emi sending him on errands... Well, that was suspicious behavior for a naturally suspicious group of people. It was probably just a coincidence given the small student body, but one could never be too sure. Students associating with several at them were bound to be at risk.

"I am the principal. I should at least pretend to be concerned for the happiness of the students. The parents and guardians expect that much. I'm sorry to hear that you're not getting along with your roommate, but..." He paused briefly, shutting his book and setting it to the side. "Do tell me more about this study group. Do you know any of the others in it?"

[isolatedscholar]

Lawrence knew where this was going. He had said far too much and had probably said something he shouldn't have. He raised his eyebrow as he spoke carefully, making sure not to stumble over his words, "Do I know them? I know Lilly, but that is because she's in some of my classes. We have had a few... encounters... but I cannot say any of them have gone particularly well. Of course, there's Ezra. I guess you could say I know him as well, but we are far from friends as I said before. Anthony is another member, and I had a brief encounter with him in the hallway."

He paused here. What reason could Oscar need this information for? He did not particularly like any of his schoolmates, but Lawrence couldn't help but feel strange providing information about the study group to him. What had they done? Were they involved in something dangerous? If that were the case, it would be Lawrence's responsibility to give Oscar all the information he needed to put a stop to it.

He proceeded more carefully after this brief moment of thought. "Aside from them, I cannot say I know any of the others. There's Emi, but she is hardly worth mentioning. I do not know any of the others; that is to say, I know only descriptions, and maybe a name here and there. If I may ask though, Principal Ivors... what is it that you require this information for?"

[bythewall]

Oscar listened intently with a half-smile, mentally taking notes on what Lawrence was telling him about each of the other students. That seemed about right from what he had seen from them, too. But the question. Hm.

"Curiosity mostly, but..." He tiled his head upwards, a hand to his mouth in thought. He had always been the sort to think of how he could use a situation to his advantage. He only pondered if now should be one of those instances. It could work out well enough. And it could be interesting to prove some theories. "You should keep an eye out for your roommate and that group in general. I have a hunch that they've been up to no good, but you know how it is. If I don't have proof I can't do anything about it."

The statement was littered with half-truths. It would be a lie to say he wasn't concerned with their activities, but he wasn't entirely ignorant either. Still, nothing more than that needed to be said to someone outside the situation. He say his chopsticks in the takeout box and leaned over to hand the book he had been reading to Lawrence. "Here, take this. It's on social astronomy. You might find it useful."

And with that, he stood from the bench and started to take his leave.

[isolatedscholar]

Lawrence was shocked to see that Oscar was giving him his book. He just stared at it for a while, trying to make sense of this odd turn of events.

Oscar had said something particularly troubling to him... that his roommate and the people he had previously assisted were up to no good. Lawrence knew nothing of these people... but he had a hard time believing someone as quiet as Lilly could be involved in such a thing. However, Emi was also in that group... and she was quite hostile towards him. Maybe there was something to this whole thing. If there was... Lawrence could not ignore it. He owed it to the safety of the people around him to put a stop to whatever it was this group was up to.

And so, he decided he would do what Oscar said. He called out to him one last time as he prepared to leave, "Wait, please. If I could just have a moment more of your time, what exactly do you expect them of doing? If I have nothing to go on, I will not know what to keep an eye out for."

[bythewall]

The principal did take a moment to stop and look back when Lawrence pipped up. What to keep an eye out for. Hmm... It was probably a good sign that the group's actions were discreet enough to not seem suspicious by an outsider yet, but there were certainly some key things to watch for. "You'll figure it out. Just watch for someone wandering off to weird places at odd hours, sneaking to the attic, having unusual discussions... you know, anything strange," Oscar advised, waving a final time before walking off again.

"Just do what Holmes would do, sans all of the drug-use."