RUPERT;

[goalsides]

Comments

weekend 0, saturday

[goalsides]

[once again, taichi is entering the cafeteria and seems to be on a mission to examine the area for any noteworthy changes. instead, what he finds is someone familiar who seems perplexed by how food works. he approaches casually, stopping just behind him and looking at the stalls over his shoulder.]

See anything interesting?

[heartlands]

Uh, yeah. A few things, actually.

[he's glancing towards the different restaurants inside the cafeteria, looking a little bit confused as he does.]

Are those, like... It seems like they're making food back there, but I don't see any fire. How are they cooking it?

[that's not what he meant by interesting but it's fine]

[goalsides]

[oh. okay. luckily for rupert taichi is actually used to explaining how things in the modern world work, so he gestures toward the back of one of the stalls.]

Usually places like that have a stove or an oven, depending on what they're making. Pretty sure it's an oven or a toaster for the sandwich shop. It's an appliance that works like a contained flame.

[heartlands]

[he tilts his head]

A contained flame? Like a lantern?

w0, tuesday

[goalsides]

[it is group discussion time in film 198, which means that taichi is turning to a familiar face in class...and looking appropriately disturbed.]

Can you explain what the hell we just watched?

[heartlands]

[he is staring into the void]

Are... Are all movies like this...?

[goalsides]

Definitely not. This...I don't even know if this could really be called a movie.

[heartlands]

I have no frame of reference and yet I'm still horrified...

w0, sunday... 2!

[heartlands]

[after that all wraps up - well, he didn't think he would feel better even with the events of the week finished, but he in fact feels much angrier than when he woke up. it's not hard to tell he's unhappy as he wanders around the campus, but when his wandering brings him to the cafeteria and he sees taichi, he pauses.]

...That was sure something.

[angy]

[goalsides]

That's putting it politely. [which he doesn't seem to like, given he has a sandwich that he's more massacring than eating. he does kick out a chair though for rupert to take a seat.] Some of us had a feeling it would be a death, but I don't think anyone expected it to be like that.

[smash....why.]

[heartlands]

...You're right. It's - horrible. It's really messed up. The way they set it up like a game when somebody's life was at stake, and the stupid music, and the way they couldn't even choose what to do on their own...

[bad! he takes a seat, though, scowling.]

I know that we kind of got forced to go to our dorms on Thursday night, and we got stopped from helping earlier today, but - there has to be something we can do to make sure this won't happen again.

[goalsides]

If you have any suggestions, I'm listening. [stop. be nice.] Sorry, I'm not...I know. I've been trying to think of a solution myself but nothing sticks. Especially when it sounds like the dorm heads don't even really know what to do either. We're pretty much on our own against something we don't understand yet.

w1, saturday.

[heartlands]

[wow! everything is horrible.

he's trying and failing to clear his mind after that trial, which means he's wandering around - and when he happens across taichi in the field, he raises a hand in greeting.]

[goalsides]

[everything is awful! but when taichi looks away from the ball he's kicking around and spots rupert he waves right back before wandering over to him. the ball is kicked in the same direction, little by little ahead of him.]

So. That was impressively bad, wasn't it?

[the tone is light, but he's still big mad.]

[heartlands]

That was the most pathetic hint I've seen in my life.

[he's - still angry, still upset, but he tries to calm down a little bit.]

We need to... find a way to coordinate better next time, or - something. There has to be something.

[goalsides]

It was more like an insult if you ask me. The geese were already there yesterday. Why bring them back when we didn't get it the first time?

[annoying!!!]

The problem is there's so many of us it's hard to get organized. One thing gets said and we derail everybody for hours. It's insane.

w2 monday

[goalsides]

being mad's pretty exhausting
wanna do something today?
how do you feel about animals?
like cute ones

[heartlands]

Oh, you know, can't stand them. Never want them near me.

Kidding! What did you have in mind?

[goalsides]

ever been on a field trip before?
we could go out to the farm together and see what's out there

w2 thursday

[goalsides]

[wow this really has to stop! especially to people who don't deserve it! so after the chaos of the group coming back and getting treated or at least watching them leave, taichi slips away and wanders off.

it's how he comes across rupert on his way back to winter and he falls into step with him.]

...let me walk you back?

[you know. just in case.]

[heartlands]

[he's moving pretty slowly, so taichi will be able to keep pace easily. he - doesn't quite smile, but he at least gives him a nod.]

Yeah. Of course.

[goalsides]

Thanks. [the smile he offers isn't one of his easygoing ones, a tinge worried and mostly a slight act of reassurance.] It's been...a busy couple of days.

[yesterday's formal, and the adventures in the library, and the auction, and now this...]

Let me know if you need a break before we get there though. I've heard those places can be brutal.

w2 saturday

[goalsides]

[he will enter the classroom that i assume rupert is being kept in, hands in his pockets and just pausing somewhere against a nearby wall. he doesn't say anything right away, but he does pause to look at him.]

...it's been a rough week for you, huh?

[heartlands]

[he seems... fairly unhappy, but he's not breaking down or anything, so. he gives a little shrug.]

You could probably say that, yeah.

[goalsides]

Sorry, man. [which is the first thing he says even if he looks a little tired.] At least your whole dorm has your back anyway.

[the rupert support squad...]

This is probably a stupid question, but how are you?

[...also are you yourself. are you possessed. everything good there?]