[ Wow, Robby. Are you implying that you were, perhaps, a bad boy?
.. not that Chizuru even really thinks that much. It's hard for her to imagine what that was like, and how bad or not bad it was, when she completely lacks the cultural context for that sort of thing. He may as well be talking to her about his interactions with a bunch of intergalactic monkeys, and Chizuru would have understood just as little as she does now.
It might be the reason why she blinks at him, the look on her face mostly just confused. Like the lights are on, but there's no one home in there. ]
.. oh.
[ That small noise just confirms it, doesn't it. It's almost a little awkward, with how badly Chizuru's brain seems to process this while she's frozen up, still in their dancing position.. ]
Was that.. a bad thing? Or a good thing?
[ Apparently her brain has decided that she's not going to be able to figure it out, so it's just resorting to asking. It's not like she won't just 100% trust Robby's word, regardless of which answer he gives. ]
[ It's okay, this reaction works in Robby's favour--in that it's cute. ]
I had fun. It was a good thing to me and Tory.
[ Nevermind any exes who got salty at their presence. He could leave it at that, and Chizuru would surely still be confused but accept it, but with a pause, Robby decides: ]
Sometimes, people think something is all about them when it isn't. It was our exes who didn't like seeing us--like they had more right being there than either me or Tory.
[ ...they did him, but details. ]
They could have ignored us. But they have a habit of making everything about them.
[ Or, Sam, but why not drag Miguel there too. Like Robby cares. ]
[ Granted, all of this would make a lot more sense to Chizuru if she had any idea what being a modern teen is like.. Or what being a teen is like at all, really. It's hard to ever truly have had the teenage experience when you've basically been confined to one house all your life.
Not that Chizuru isn't trying though. She's trying her darnest to imagine this social situation Robby is talking about, but it's very likely that the mental image that ends up forming in her head is a little different than what actually happened..
.. especially since it also definitely paints Robby in a better light, considering her opinion on him. ]
Oh, well..
[ Do you hear that uncertain tone, Robby? It's Chizuru still trying to process all of this. And figure out what's appropriate to say here. ]
I'm glad you had fun. [ NAILED IT. Though it's true - even if she can't really imagine this particular scenario, she's always glad if Robby is having fun. ] All of that sounds really.. complicated though.
[ Her expression changes into one that's a little less confused and a little more apologetic. ]
That's not a strange thing to say, is it? [ Is this just one of those things that's totally normal to regular teens, but that's going completely over her head? Is she a weirdo now?? ]
[ Robby laughs; nothing full-throated, and not at Chizuru, but fun and amused. ]
Nah--it's good. You didn't have to deal with stuff like that on top of everything else going on through the war. [ ... ] But I guess it would've been better than one.
[ He guesses. ] I bet you would've been great in a school. Going to classes all day? Then you'd have to read books all the time.
[ Is the karate war truly better than actual real war? More at eleven.
But for now Chizuru drops their dancing, especially when it seems that they've moved on to topics that she needs to think a little bit more about.. Instead she wanders over towards the couch, sitting down on there and - almost playfully, just a touch - patting the spot on the couch besides her to coax Robby into coming over and sitting down as well. ]
Is that what school is like?
[ You think Chizuru has any idea? It's not like they even had a lot of formalized education where she came from in the first place, let alone for girls who spent most of their lives in complete hiding.. ]
Do you just read books all day? You have to tell me, Robby! [ Because she's curious now! And he certainly knows a lot more about this topic than her. ]
[ Okay, they can have a break from dancing (he still needs to show her the slow dance couple moves though!), a quick grin at the couch patting, but Robby being a good boy and coming over. Yes, yes, he's sitting down. He leans back in his seat, fingers stitched between each other. ]
Why don't you find out? Gaze's got a school. [ But, he'll be nice: ] It's the same kind of idea: you have a teacher who goes through a subject, and you learn something new about it. So--take cooking. If you start at the beginning, you talk about the basic utensils, and what you use for cooking. A stove, an oven... ...I didn't actually learn cooking in school. But you get the idea?
[ Ah, but: ] You can get books on subjects, but the teacher would hand them out if you needed them. 'Til you get to college--then you need to buy them.
[ Listen to her. Chizuru sounds so scandalized. Even with how little she knows about schools, she feels like it's not just a place one can waltz onto. One does not simply walk into Mordor a school!
But she does pipe down again enough to listen to Robby's explanation, considering she is very genuinely interested in hearing it - or she wouldn't have asked. She nods along when he asks if she got it, since the explanation is pretty clear to her.
Though.. ]
Then what did you learn in school, if you didn't learn cooking? Is that where you learned karate?
[ Clearly this is Robby's #1 life skill in Chizuru's mind now. B-But he just looks so cool doing it, okay! ]
No, no-- [ He really wants to correct her on that first assumption, but ok, start from the last first. ] I got into karate outside of school. School doesn't teach it, you play sports like football or rugby. I'll explain another time. [ Right, he shouldn't have used two examples she wouldn't know.
Regardless! ] Anyway, you have physical education--exercise--, literacy, which is writing, science, mathematics, history, religion, language, anddd art. Which for me was a free period.
[ Who takes art seriously. ]
And, unlike my highschool, you [ said with a light poke to Chizuru's upper chest! ] can walk on in. There's no register--people can show up and go whenever they want.
[ Honestly, the idea of karate school was very valid and normal to Chizuru.. Especially since the only kind of 'schooling' she is even slightly familiar with is the way people train in swordfighting in dojos..
But apparently this is a very different kind of school after all. Chizuru tries to imagine what it must have been like as Robby describes it, but it all feels kind of overwhelming. Not even in a bad way necessarily, it's just.. a lot to imagine. They taught all that at a school? That's so much? D-Did they teach it at the same time?
Is Robby an artistic genius, so art class did nothing for him?!
Chizuru has so many questions. It's probably obvious with the way she stares at the boy, even as he reaches out to poke her like that. Her gaze is so busy, like there's so much happening inside of that little head. ]
Then.. [ .. hold on, she's still processing. ] Why don't you go there now, Robby..? Or did you learn everything already?
[ Chizuru actually sounds like she'd believe that, as long as he said so. ]
[ Okay, that gets a small 'hah' out of Robby. He starts ticking off his fingers. ]
'Cause I've got dojo with Mister LaRusso, staff training with another guy, Saeri teaches me magic writing, Sensei Sasuke teaches me chakra, and Misses Uchiha is helping me more about warmblood and healing.
Oh yeah, [ oh yeah, ] and Viktor's teaching me a bunch of stuff, and then you help me with cooking, too. I have to fit my life around all that. The magic studying and outside training takes up a bunch of my time already.
[ Without adding school into the mix...sorry school. ]
[ Sure, she already knew about some of the activities Robby is listing, either because she's directly witnessed them or her friend has told her about them already..
.. but with him just going on and on, Chizuru's eyes grow wider and wider. At first it seems like it might just be awe in the face of everything Robby is learning here, but there does seem to be a slightly different edge to it when Chizuru speaks up again. ]
W-Wait! [ Her voice is almost a squeak, and she reaches out to put a hand on top of Robby's own, eyes filled with concern. ] Are you sure you have time to just be here with me then?!
[ P-Please, how could Robby have time to teach her some dancing and talk to her when he has so much else do!! She's taking up his valuable time!! ]
Chizuru. [ Robby can't help the laugh this time, short as it is, but still wide and brimming on his face when he stops- ] I don't do everything every day! I space it out! Viktor's busy with the blood research anyway, so mostly I read for that? I visit most people like 2 or 3 times a week.
[ See? Doesn't sound so scary when you put it like that! Maybe... ]
A lot of it, I've gotta do myself. That's the best way I learn. And the best part about it? I get to choose my breaks.
[ And he can even go and see a Chizuru, as a treat. ]
[ Sorry, Robby. Apparently a Chizuru's mind isn't changed that easily - she's still awed over this sheer list of activities. It doesn't help that she's thinking of all of them as separate things, which makes it sure seem like more than she ever did back home.. despite the fact that she was basically constantly working around the Shinsengumi compound back home.
But, you know, when has comparing herself to others ever gone well for Chizuru, right. ]
You shouldn't stretch yourself too thin, Robby..! I know you're really smart, and really amazing, and that you of all people probably could be learning so much all at once.. [ Yes, she had to add that in. She doesn't want Robby to think she's saying he's incapable, she's just-- just a little bit worried--!! ] But I wouldn't want you to overwhelm yourself!
[ The girl quickly shakes her head. ]
If we ever need to spend less time together so you have more time for everything else, I'd understand..!
[ Only god knows how Chizuru arrives at this idea, of all things. The inner workings of her mind are a total mystery. Or maybe it's just that she always defaults to shoving herself and her own needs aside, no matter how much she likes spending time with Robby. ]
[ Maybe Robby needs to show his loose timetable to Chizuru? That might help here. But instead, he can't help but watch her overreaction despite his efforts to already reassure her, and the two times she's panicked over them spending time together... ]
If I didn't know any better, [ he then has to remark, ] I'd think you were trying to get out of hanging out with me.
[ Robby knows this is only going to fluster Chizuru more, but doesn't he deserve a treat? He'll do the reassurance game a second time, but for now, he's sitting with an appropriate lean, looking at her thoughtfully as if to silently ask, Is there something you want to tell me?
Well, Chizuru?? Has this been an elaborate plan to get less Robby tags? ]
[ Of course it's only going to fluster Chizuru more.
But apparently that is Robby's treat today. A treat that's obvious even before it fully comes - Chizuru's eyes growing even wider, even more scandalized, and she shakes her head so rapidly that it's like she's trying to shake off the entire accusation that way. ]
N-No way!
[ She sounds so shocked. The very idea of Robby thinking for a moment she wouldn't want to hang out with him..! ]
I always want to hang out with you! You're definitely one of my favourite people to hang out with in this place..! [ Ah, maybe this is Robby's true treat.
A suck up fest, even if it's Chizuru, which means that she means every word of what she's saying here, even if it's entirely excessive. ]
You're always so kind, and gentle, and you teach me a lot whenever we talk..! I-I'd be so sad if we could never hang out again!
Robby doesn't usually go out of his way to fluster Chizuru (unlike a certain guy liked to do to another), but she did walk into that one--shouldn't she have to suffer for her overly accommodating ways once in a while? And it is nice to hear all that, but he'll save her from herself, bumping arms together playfully. ]
Then don't worry about it. Seriously, I'm here, aren't I? I invited myself over. [ Practically. She wasn't the one who asked about dancing. ] I don't have anywhere I have to be 'til tomorrow, and half my studying takes place when I know it's late. This is my downtime--I actually finished helping out Viktor and came over to see you.
[ More like he was chatting to her and things turned out this way, but same difference. ]
Chizuru moves to lean sideways too, but with a bit more of a turn. Turned enough so she can basically shove her face right against Robby's shoulder like she's trying to hide it - mostly since it's flushing with so much colour at that last part - and whine a little bit in flustered embarrassment. How is a girl supposed to deal with a pal telling her that? ]
That's too much, Robby..
[ Not that she's telling him to stop. This is Chizuru. She's way too soft.
No, she's just whining since she's too flustered and doesn't know what to do. ]
E-Even though you know so many people.. [ And sure, he probably likes hanging out with a lot of them too! B-But to include her at all, even when he's got a big group of people he knows already? Way to make Chizuru's way-too-low-standards heart melt. ]
[ There's a soft hum in his throat as she leans against him, whining, burrowing her head against his shoulder that way. It's cute, tickles at him more than anything, and Robby delights in watching Chizuru, listening to her. ]
You know loads of people. [ Come on, his tone implies, incredulous at the mention of all the people he knows. ] Melius? I know Viktor knows you. Tell me who you know!
[ He might have more people teaching him than Chizuru, sure, but does he really see Chizuru was particularly lonely? Surely not. She's just soft-spoken. A little shy, but not people shy, right?
(Because that's a big difference. Robby knows what he means.) ]
Maybe. But maybe it's also just Chizuru whining against Robby. Which is the much more likely option, if we're being real here.
At least she does pull back a little bit at that. Not that she isn't looking flustered anymore - she's still very much looking embarrassed, with paleblood-coloured cheeks and big eyes. ]
I mean, um, I.. I obviously know Scorpia too.. [ Duh. Since they're living together. ] And--
[ Chizuru is about to sum up some more people, it sounds like, but then she stops. There's a realisation in her eyes, something she didn't discuss with Robby yet, and it feels more important. ]
Oh, did you know..? There was actually someone here from my own time. Someone whose name I recognized! [ Look, that's exciting when you usually feel like you're the odd one out in this place, culturally speaking. Her eyes are more wide with that feeling now than the fluster from a moment ago. ] Even though I think he went back to the sea..
[ This really was starting to sound like a competition...
At least it doesn't go that way for real, since if Robby took five seconds to think about it--and he did, just a second ago--he'd realise he hasn't a clue who Chizuru's friends are. He could name her co-workers, but do you think he remembers their names?
(Uhh, one's called Manaphy?)
Instead, unintentionally, Chizuru saves him from that fate. And actually with an interesting fact, his eyebrows rising. ]
You did? Who? He some famous guy around Japan? [ He knows there was that guy who was friends with an author in town, but that doesn't sound like on the same level Chizuru is potentially implying here. ]
[ She nods. Almost instantly, mind you, and with so much energy. It seems that this topic gets Chizuru kind of excited..
(Even if it may just be because there's a faint shot at seeing the people she knows from back home again if people so close to them could just appear here.) ]
Ryouma Sakamoto.
[ Granted, that name might not mean much to Robby.. But Chizuru instantly recognized it. ]
It was a little awkward, since.. well, the Shinsengumi did assassinate him back home.. [ Okay, maybe that's a little bit more than 'awkward', but Chizuru herself does seem to realise as much, judging by the turn her tone takes when she says that. ] But strangely enough, he really didn't seem to mind. Even when he heard here that I was part of the Shinsengumi, he didn't get mad or anything..
[ Huh. Chizuru's interest alone is enough to encourage Robby's, but he is interested from what she's saying too. A wince for the assassination part, and he does want to ask about that, but... ]
Maybe his timeline was weird? [ Wonky timeline shenanigans? Even though Robby never has to think about it except for his dad.... ] Did he recognise the name?
[ Sure, he knows the Shinsengumi has a whole army, but they also sound like a mercenary group to Robby. Maybe they weren't even formed in the time this guy came from? ]
[ It's the former question though that seems to sap some of Chizuru's excitement, her tone and expression both instead turning more thoughtful - and perhaps even a tad confused. ]
His story seemed really complicated. [ But isn't anything in Trench. At least she feels comfortable talking about it on this level with Robby, since he also doesn't really seem all that used to strange things. Sure, he may know a lot about more modern stuff than Chizuru, but that feels like a different bucket of things altogether compared to this.
It still means Robby can understand this story sounds kind of wild, at least. U-Unless it's normal in his world.. somehow.. ]
He said he was from a place where heroes from the past are summoned again to fight in the future.. or something like that. [ At least she's aware she's probably not conveying it really well, but-- look, i-it was very strange and complicated! ] So it felt like it was all in the past to him, and he moved past it all..
[ There's always a downside to everything in Trench, huh. Even when you meet someone you actually recognize, there has to be some weird technobabble edge to it. ]
[ If it comforts Chizuru, Robby looks baffled as she explains this situation to Robby. Heroes? Summoned from the past to fight in the future? It's not a look that gets any better by the end of it, Robby quiet for a second before giving an incredulous huff. ]
That kinda sounds like us; 'cept this place is more like...the past meeting the future. [ With all the gadgetry... ] And we just need to live our lives and put up with the pthumerians.
[ Not as cool as being considered a hero, huh....
But with that small distraction, Robby does get back on topic with: ] Did you two talk much?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ But there's a grin spreading on his face, an innocent look upward before he gives a faux-sheepish face to Chizuru. ]
Maybe me and Tory ruined a pair's big night by showing our dance moves.
[ No regrets, honestly. Eat it, Sam and Miguel. And while he isn't bothered about being judged, he'll add for context: ]
To be fair, it was a dance for teens the same age, and all we did was dance. Not our fault they cared so much we were there.
[ But they certainly enjoyed screwing with them for existing. How dare they. ]
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.. not that Chizuru even really thinks that much. It's hard for her to imagine what that was like, and how bad or not bad it was, when she completely lacks the cultural context for that sort of thing. He may as well be talking to her about his interactions with a bunch of intergalactic monkeys, and Chizuru would have understood just as little as she does now.
It might be the reason why she blinks at him, the look on her face mostly just confused. Like the lights are on, but there's no one home in there. ]
.. oh.
[ That small noise just confirms it, doesn't it. It's almost a little awkward, with how badly Chizuru's brain seems to process this while she's frozen up, still in their dancing position.. ]
Was that.. a bad thing? Or a good thing?
[ Apparently her brain has decided that she's not going to be able to figure it out, so it's just resorting to asking. It's not like she won't just 100% trust Robby's word, regardless of which answer he gives. ]
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I had fun. It was a good thing to me and Tory.
[ Nevermind any exes who got salty at their presence. He could leave it at that, and Chizuru would surely still be confused but accept it, but with a pause, Robby decides: ]
Sometimes, people think something is all about them when it isn't. It was our exes who didn't like seeing us--like they had more right being there than either me or Tory.
[ ...they did him, but details. ]
They could have ignored us. But they have a habit of making everything about them.
[ Or, Sam, but why not drag Miguel there too. Like Robby cares. ]
All we did was dance.
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Not that Chizuru isn't trying though. She's trying her darnest to imagine this social situation Robby is talking about, but it's very likely that the mental image that ends up forming in her head is a little different than what actually happened..
.. especially since it also definitely paints Robby in a better light, considering her opinion on him. ]
Oh, well..
[ Do you hear that uncertain tone, Robby? It's Chizuru still trying to process all of this. And figure out what's appropriate to say here. ]
I'm glad you had fun. [ NAILED IT. Though it's true - even if she can't really imagine this particular scenario, she's always glad if Robby is having fun. ] All of that sounds really.. complicated though.
[ Her expression changes into one that's a little less confused and a little more apologetic. ]
That's not a strange thing to say, is it? [ Is this just one of those things that's totally normal to regular teens, but that's going completely over her head? Is she a weirdo now?? ]
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Nah--it's good. You didn't have to deal with stuff like that on top of everything else going on through the war. [ ... ] But I guess it would've been better than one.
[ He guesses. ] I bet you would've been great in a school. Going to classes all day? Then you'd have to read books all the time.
[ And not just for your friend's book club. ]
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But for now Chizuru drops their dancing, especially when it seems that they've moved on to topics that she needs to think a little bit more about.. Instead she wanders over towards the couch, sitting down on there and - almost playfully, just a touch - patting the spot on the couch besides her to coax Robby into coming over and sitting down as well. ]
Is that what school is like?
[ You think Chizuru has any idea? It's not like they even had a lot of formalized education where she came from in the first place, let alone for girls who spent most of their lives in complete hiding.. ]
Do you just read books all day? You have to tell me, Robby! [ Because she's curious now! And he certainly knows a lot more about this topic than her. ]
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Why don't you find out? Gaze's got a school. [ But, he'll be nice: ] It's the same kind of idea: you have a teacher who goes through a subject, and you learn something new about it. So--take cooking. If you start at the beginning, you talk about the basic utensils, and what you use for cooking. A stove, an oven... ...I didn't actually learn cooking in school. But you get the idea?
[ Ah, but: ] You can get books on subjects, but the teacher would hand them out if you needed them. 'Til you get to college--then you need to buy them.
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[ Listen to her. Chizuru sounds so scandalized. Even with how little she knows about schools, she feels like it's not just a place one can waltz onto. One does not simply walk into
Mordora school!But she does pipe down again enough to listen to Robby's explanation, considering she is very genuinely interested in hearing it - or she wouldn't have asked. She nods along when he asks if she got it, since the explanation is pretty clear to her.
Though.. ]
Then what did you learn in school, if you didn't learn cooking? Is that where you learned karate?
[ Clearly this is Robby's #1 life skill in Chizuru's mind now. B-But he just looks so cool doing it, okay! ]
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No, no-- [ He really wants to correct her on that first assumption, but ok, start from the last first. ] I got into karate outside of school. School doesn't teach it, you play sports like football or rugby. I'll explain another time. [ Right, he shouldn't have used two examples she wouldn't know.
Regardless! ] Anyway, you have physical education--exercise--, literacy, which is writing, science, mathematics, history, religion, language, anddd art. Which for me was a free period.
[ Who takes art seriously. ]
And, unlike my highschool, you [ said with a light poke to Chizuru's upper chest! ] can walk on in. There's no register--people can show up and go whenever they want.
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But apparently this is a very different kind of school after all. Chizuru tries to imagine what it must have been like as Robby describes it, but it all feels kind of overwhelming. Not even in a bad way necessarily, it's just.. a lot to imagine. They taught all that at a school? That's so much? D-Did they teach it at the same time?
Is Robby an artistic genius, so art class did nothing for him?!
Chizuru has so many questions. It's probably obvious with the way she stares at the boy, even as he reaches out to poke her like that. Her gaze is so busy, like there's so much happening inside of that little head. ]
Then.. [ .. hold on, she's still processing. ] Why don't you go there now, Robby..? Or did you learn everything already?
[ Chizuru actually sounds like she'd believe that, as long as he said so. ]
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'Cause I've got dojo with Mister LaRusso, staff training with another guy, Saeri teaches me magic writing, Sensei Sasuke teaches me chakra, and Misses Uchiha is helping me more about warmblood and healing.
Oh yeah, [ oh yeah, ] and Viktor's teaching me a bunch of stuff, and then you help me with cooking, too. I have to fit my life around all that. The magic studying and outside training takes up a bunch of my time already.
[ Without adding school into the mix...sorry school. ]
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.. but with him just going on and on, Chizuru's eyes grow wider and wider. At first it seems like it might just be awe in the face of everything Robby is learning here, but there does seem to be a slightly different edge to it when Chizuru speaks up again. ]
W-Wait! [ Her voice is almost a squeak, and she reaches out to put a hand on top of Robby's own, eyes filled with concern. ] Are you sure you have time to just be here with me then?!
[ P-Please, how could Robby have time to teach her some dancing and talk to her when he has so much else do!! She's taking up his valuable time!! ]
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Chizuru.
Please. ]
Chizuru. [ Robby can't help the laugh this time, short as it is, but still wide and brimming on his face when he stops- ] I don't do everything every day! I space it out! Viktor's busy with the blood research anyway, so mostly I read for that? I visit most people like 2 or 3 times a week.
[ See? Doesn't sound so scary when you put it like that! Maybe... ]
A lot of it, I've gotta do myself. That's the best way I learn. And the best part about it? I get to choose my breaks.
[ And he can even go and see a Chizuru, as a treat. ]
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[ Sorry, Robby. Apparently a Chizuru's mind isn't changed that easily - she's still awed over this sheer list of activities. It doesn't help that she's thinking of all of them as separate things, which makes it sure seem like more than she ever did back home.. despite the fact that she was basically constantly working around the Shinsengumi compound back home.
But, you know, when has comparing herself to others ever gone well for Chizuru, right. ]
You shouldn't stretch yourself too thin, Robby..! I know you're really smart, and really amazing, and that you of all people probably could be learning so much all at once.. [ Yes, she had to add that in. She doesn't want Robby to think she's saying he's incapable, she's just-- just a little bit worried--!! ] But I wouldn't want you to overwhelm yourself!
[ The girl quickly shakes her head. ]
If we ever need to spend less time together so you have more time for everything else, I'd understand..!
[ Only god knows how Chizuru arrives at this idea, of all things. The inner workings of her mind are a total mystery. Or maybe it's just that she always defaults to shoving herself and her own needs aside, no matter how much she likes spending time with Robby. ]
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If I didn't know any better, [ he then has to remark, ] I'd think you were trying to get out of hanging out with me.
[ Robby knows this is only going to fluster Chizuru more, but doesn't he deserve a treat? He'll do the reassurance game a second time, but for now, he's sitting with an appropriate lean, looking at her thoughtfully as if to silently ask, Is there something you want to tell me?
Well, Chizuru?? Has this been an elaborate plan to get less Robby
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But apparently that is Robby's treat today. A treat that's obvious even before it fully comes - Chizuru's eyes growing even wider, even more scandalized, and she shakes her head so rapidly that it's like she's trying to shake off the entire accusation that way. ]
N-No way!
[ She sounds so shocked. The very idea of Robby thinking for a moment she wouldn't want to hang out with him..! ]
I always want to hang out with you! You're definitely one of my favourite people to hang out with in this place..! [ Ah, maybe this is Robby's true treat.
A suck up fest, even if it's Chizuru, which means that she means every word of what she's saying here, even if it's entirely excessive. ]
You're always so kind, and gentle, and you teach me a lot whenever we talk..! I-I'd be so sad if we could never hang out again!
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Robby doesn't usually go out of his way to fluster Chizuru (unlike a certain guy liked to do to another), but she did walk into that one--shouldn't she have to suffer for her overly accommodating ways once in a while? And it is nice to hear all that, but he'll save her from herself, bumping arms together playfully. ]
Then don't worry about it. Seriously, I'm here, aren't I? I invited myself over. [ Practically. She wasn't the one who asked about dancing. ] I don't have anywhere I have to be 'til tomorrow, and half my studying takes place when I know it's late. This is my downtime--I actually finished helping out Viktor and came over to see you.
[ More like he was chatting to her and things turned out this way, but same difference. ]
'Cause maybe I like hanging out with you, too.
[ How about that, Chizuru? ]
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Chizuru moves to lean sideways too, but with a bit more of a turn. Turned enough so she can basically shove her face right against Robby's shoulder like she's trying to hide it - mostly since it's flushing with so much colour at that last part - and whine a little bit in flustered embarrassment. How is a girl supposed to deal with a pal telling her that? ]
That's too much, Robby..
[ Not that she's telling him to stop. This is Chizuru. She's way too soft.
No, she's just whining since she's too flustered and doesn't know what to do. ]
E-Even though you know so many people.. [ And sure, he probably likes hanging out with a lot of them too! B-But to include her at all, even when he's got a big group of people he knows already? Way to make Chizuru's way-too-low-standards heart melt. ]
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You know loads of people. [ Come on, his tone implies, incredulous at the mention of all the people he knows. ] Melius? I know Viktor knows you. Tell me who you know!
[ He might have more people teaching him than Chizuru, sure, but does he really see Chizuru was particularly lonely? Surely not. She's just soft-spoken. A little shy, but not people shy, right?
(Because that's a big difference. Robby knows what he means.) ]
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[ .. is this a competition now?
Maybe. But maybe it's also just Chizuru whining against Robby. Which is the much more likely option, if we're being real here.
At least she does pull back a little bit at that. Not that she isn't looking flustered anymore - she's still very much looking embarrassed, with paleblood-coloured cheeks and big eyes. ]
I mean, um, I.. I obviously know Scorpia too.. [ Duh. Since they're living together. ] And--
[ Chizuru is about to sum up some more people, it sounds like, but then she stops. There's a realisation in her eyes, something she didn't discuss with Robby yet, and it feels more important. ]
Oh, did you know..? There was actually someone here from my own time. Someone whose name I recognized! [ Look, that's exciting when you usually feel like you're the odd one out in this place, culturally speaking. Her eyes are more wide with that feeling now than the fluster from a moment ago. ] Even though I think he went back to the sea..
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At least it doesn't go that way for real, since if Robby took five seconds to think about it--and he did, just a second ago--he'd realise he hasn't a clue who Chizuru's friends are. He could name her co-workers, but do you think he remembers their names?
(Uhh, one's called Manaphy?)
Instead, unintentionally, Chizuru saves him from that fate. And actually with an interesting fact, his eyebrows rising. ]
You did? Who? He some famous guy around Japan? [ He knows there was that guy who was friends with an author in town, but that doesn't sound like on the same level Chizuru is potentially implying here. ]
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(Even if it may just be because there's a faint shot at seeing the people she knows from back home again if people so close to them could just appear here.) ]
Ryouma Sakamoto.
[ Granted, that name might not mean much to Robby.. But Chizuru instantly recognized it. ]
It was a little awkward, since.. well, the Shinsengumi did assassinate him back home.. [ Okay, maybe that's a little bit more than 'awkward', but Chizuru herself does seem to realise as much, judging by the turn her tone takes when she says that. ] But strangely enough, he really didn't seem to mind. Even when he heard here that I was part of the Shinsengumi, he didn't get mad or anything..
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Maybe his timeline was weird? [ Wonky timeline shenanigans? Even though Robby never has to think about it except for his dad.... ] Did he recognise the name?
[ Sure, he knows the Shinsengumi has a whole army, but they also sound like a mercenary group to Robby. Maybe they weren't even formed in the time this guy came from? ]
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[ It's the former question though that seems to sap some of Chizuru's excitement, her tone and expression both instead turning more thoughtful - and perhaps even a tad confused. ]
His story seemed really complicated. [ But isn't anything in Trench. At least she feels comfortable talking about it on this level with Robby, since he also doesn't really seem all that used to strange things. Sure, he may know a lot about more modern stuff than Chizuru, but that feels like a different bucket of things altogether compared to this.
It still means Robby can understand this story sounds kind of wild, at least. U-Unless it's normal in his world.. somehow.. ]
He said he was from a place where heroes from the past are summoned again to fight in the future.. or something like that. [ At least she's aware she's probably not conveying it really well, but-- look, i-it was very strange and complicated! ] So it felt like it was all in the past to him, and he moved past it all..
[ There's always a downside to everything in Trench, huh. Even when you meet someone you actually recognize, there has to be some weird technobabble edge to it. ]
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That kinda sounds like us; 'cept this place is more like...the past meeting the future. [ With all the gadgetry... ] And we just need to live our lives and put up with the pthumerians.
[ Not as cool as being considered a hero, huh....
But with that small distraction, Robby does get back on topic with: ] Did you two talk much?
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