yogen | cotton candy skies, why can't you be mine?

( at some point during the month, nene's going to come to realize something- when william is absorbed in something, he lets it consume all of his attention- even if it means neglecting himself. so today she is once again taking it into her own hands! while he's busy, she lets herself into the office quietly and sets a dish down beside him- a nice curry with rice, and she's been enjoying making things cute so. he gets to have that, too. and if he doesn't seem to notice right away, she'll reach over and tap his shoulder. )

[ if there's anything that william takes seriously, it's his duty to teaching.

(that, and his ability to multitask.)

with finals week ominously looming over their heads (metaphorically and also literally), when nene walks into the area that he's claimed as his office, she'll find him poring over a stack of quizzes and mock tests that he's been giving to the first year students in a desperate attempt at trying to get them to at least pass basic math, so all she gets is a fleeting glance and a small smile of acknowledgment before he dives back into correcting said stack of quizzes. there's a half solved rubik's cube next to where nene's set down the dish, which also explains what he's been doing when he needs a break.

she'll probably still have to tap his shoulder, regardless, and that will cause liam to do a slight double-take, blinking once, twice (or well, blinking as well as he can, with one eye under an eyepatch) - before he seems to notice that

one, there's food.

two, he's actually feeling hungry.

well then. ]

... Is it sleeping?

[ liam. maybe thank nene for bringing you food, first? ]

( pfffft-- she doesn't mean to giggle so obviously, but. well. it's hard not to. it's such an innocent reaction for a man like him- like when lucifer was impressed with the idea of fruit being used to make flowers in cream sandwiches. but nene nods- yes, it's sleeping. that doesn't make it any less delicious. pulling a chair over, she hops into it.

why stick around? ... why not? besides, there's a chance he'll forget to eat even with a meal right in front of him if he goes unsupervised- she knows his type. kicking her legs back and forth, nene types onto her phone, and hits read out loud. )

yes! and the curry has potatoes, chicken and carrots.

[ her giggle is contagious, because liam laughs too, like he's just realised what he's said, almost like an afterthought. when nene pulls up a chair, it's automatic, the way that he shifts around the mess on the table out of habit just to create a bit more space - that his haphazard mess isn't encroaching into her space.

(that pile of papers is probably teetering a little bit but that's a problem for future liam, maybe.) ]

So I should be careful not to disturb it too much, then.

[ he can pick out the ingredients now that she's mentioned them, and you know what? nene is absolutely 100% right - he's the kind of person that would start eating, get distracted, and then completely forget about his food again, so the supervision is probably warranted.

(louis would definitely approve of nene, he thinks idly, even as he picks up the accompanying utensils and starts picking at the food.) ]

I've never actually had curry like this before.

[ not japanese style, considering ye olde england. and definitely not where the rice is shaped like a bear.

he seems almost reluctant to dig his spoon into the bear's actual head, considering that he's chipping at what passes for the rice-bear's hands. ]

( oh... he's trying not to break the rice. that's so sweet? that's so sweet! she hadn't expected that. but the rice is important too, so... )

don't worry about disturbing it too much, i just wanted to have some fun with the presentation!

( nene looks at the pile of work all around him and frowns a little. exams were really putting everyone through the ringer, huh? the transfers who took teaching positions had twice the work especially, she's realized- it really solidified after ramuda had asked her for help trying to get through to his class. if william's been so busy all day... )

have you stretched or gotten any fresh air at all today?

( wait- oh!!! oh, that's exciting! her cooking is his first time having japanese curry!! curiously, she looks over with big eyes... what does he think... )

And let your effort go to waste?

[ liam sounds mildly scandalised, but it's more in good jest than anything. look, she put in effort into the presentation! even liam will recognise points for Effort, so the bear gets to stay intact for a while longer even as he chips at it from the inside out. ]

Is it difficult? [ this is also his first time having a character bento because as nene might have inferred, liam is remarkably basic about his food. his opinions of the food are probably also evident in the way that he's actually eating a good chunk of it! amazing. ] Louis would probably appreciate--

[ LONG, AWKWARD SILENCE, ]

[ ... that's probably telling enough??? oops????? ]

[ ah, busted. it takes liam a moment to recover, because uh. ]

... Maybe?

[ he walked over to the door at some point to close it, maybe? does that count? ]

( if he hadn't just confirmed he's been sitting at this cruddy desk for who knows how long without standing up or anything, she'd laugh and play along with the joke. unfortunately, he did just that! so now a grown man is getting scolded through text-to-speech by a sixteen year old girl who looks fourteen. with her cheeks puffed out in annoyance and everything, even. )

after you finish eating you have to go for a walk. no buts!

( a glare for an extra moment more... and then nene is back to relaxed and comfortable, kicking her feet again as she types once more. )

it can be hard getting the right shapes sometimes. this sort of thing is really popular back home though, so people have made tools to make it easier- molds to shape rice and boiled eggs in, and things like cookie cutters but for fruits and vegetabls, things like that.

[ FOR A MOMENT, liam debates on whether he should protest or not.

but there's something in nene's stubbornness that evokes louis, so...

he decides against it.

(he's fairly certain that if nene could actually talk instead of through the text-to-speech, she would have the exact same inflection in her tone that louis would have if he was reprimanding william about his less than stellar habits.) ]

Only if you come with me?

[ an olive branch, extended. the school is still... relatively new territory for him, even with how he's wandered the halls occasionally when he's not cooped up in this makeshift office, but still. it doesn't hurt to have company.

and with that matter settled, he returns to picking at the food - well, not because he's a picky eater, but more because he's finally deigned to start chipping away at the main head of the rice-bear.

like how he's picking up the piece of seaweed being used for its eye circles. ]

... I can't imagine cutting all these by hand.

[ there is a vague undercurrent of sounding impressed there. ]

( nene nods, smiling again- yeah, she'll come with! besides, she's grown rather wary of sitting still for too long in these cold buildings- which is part of why her bunk is full of soft stuffed toys and thick blankets, insulated by curtains. it can get insufferably hot, especially when noah's with her, but it's better than freezing in the night.

she's half-tempted to open a game to play while she waits for liam to finish his meal, but with an active conversation... well, it'd be rude and she'd also be switching constantly between text and game. annoying!! she'll have to be patient...

oh right. the seaweed. )

it can be frustrating sometimes yeah... but i think the final outcome makes it worth it, you know? especially when its for someone else.

( nene yashiro is someone who lives to serve- she will learn entire skillsets for a loved one, dedicate herself to it wholly... no matter how much she may actually hate it, like learning poison-making from shinobu. it made her... not necessarily happy, but it helped shinobu feel like she accomplished something, passing on her life's work to someone else, so nene accepted it.

no one knows, still.

anyways, the point is. acts of service are her love language, and from that comes gifts- she likes seeing how people respond to her work. so... liam's muted praise pulls her smile into something more. he's enjoying the food, he sees her effort. it's nice. )

Should I feel special?

[ a quirk of his lips upwards, a slight teasing note in his tone, even as the edge of his eye crinkles into a smile-- ]

You're going to have to show me how you make one of these, these days.

[ maybe when finals are over. when he doesn't have the existential dread of the practicum and trying to get all his students to pass hanging over his head.

it doesn't take too long before he's done with the rice and curry - he didn't finish it, but it's more because he's a (rather) small eater rather than because he's a picky eater, so.

and with that: ] I suppose I should keep my end of the bargain?

[ let's go take a walk, nene. just give him a moment to go get his coat - it's draped haphazardly over a chair, and he's probably going to need it, with how cold the rest of the building is. ]

( as bluntly as text to speech can be, coupled with a flat yet wide-eyed gaze: )

yes.

( she can only keep the blank face for so long before she starts giggling though, so she lets everything drop. she cares for almost everyone trapped here in yogen, however- so yes, seeing his response to her work was nice.

nene nods though, smiling. )

i get the feeling you'll catch on quickly! i hope you have fun with it, too.

( she doesn't mean to watch, but... well, when serving someone cooking for the first few times, it's good to know how they react, right? and he seems to like it... so. maybe he just doesn't get big appetites? she'll have to keep that in mind. but if he's done, then.... yes! time to get this man some fresh air! she hops out of the chair, and makes a note to grab the bowl when she goes back to the dorms after this. )

yes! i won't keep you for too long.

[ that response is so louis that it causes william to double-take slightly, a brief, almost missable pause before he actually laughs, and the expression on his features is softer, almost fond and wistful, in a way. ]

I'm not good in a kitchen, but at least I can follow instructions.

[ wryly. maybe his character bento is going to end up deformed because art or cooking are neither of his strong points, but, We Shall See. ]

No, no, I hope I'm not keeping you for too long. Please tell me you're reasonably prepared for finals?

[ coat acquired! it's the same one that served him well while he was in new york and is probably the only thing keeping him from freezing in the school building. he's probably going to stick to indoors though, considering. snow. ]

anyone can cook, if they know the recipe or have someone to help!

( ... sigh. the text to speech feels so overly formal and stilted. she wishes she could use her own voice- that when she opened her mouth, more than raspy whispers and clenched teeth would happen.

she's got her winter coat waiting in the locker area, but even indoors she wears layers- despite her penchant for skirts, wool leggings and a thick sweater keep her nice and safe from unheated buildings and with her constant movement even as they were sitting, she's fine to follow along almost like a duckling.

--oh god the school questions. if she instinctively balks, no she doesn't. (yes she does.) )

the biggest risk is my music elective. despite being musical theory, i've heard rumor the exams will involve actually singing. as i'm sure you can tell, this is a big problem.
but even then, i struggle with the core classes... i've had a lot of people helping me, but i feel like i haven't improved at all
i can stay above failing, at least, but

( but in yogen, even that feels too dangerous. )

i've been doing better in chemistry i think, since i know a better way to approach it now. i think the bigger formulas just scare me a little

Edited (code goofex2) 2021-12-31 07:02 (UTC)

[ nene trails after him as they make their way out of the classroom and down the hall towards the locker area, waiting for her to pick out her winter coat. ]

Hm. I'm not so sure about that - I may have gotten banned from the kitchen back at the manor. [ the kitchen is Louis's domain, after all. ] Hopefully your presence mitigates that problem, though.

[ and despite that, he notices the way that she balks and-- ah, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to start off with that topic. but still, he listens, and he nods. ]

Ah, is there nothing to be done about your voice...?

[ some hint of sympathy, there - but also some hesitance, because he had wondered, privately, although he has enough manners to not just... ask about it outright.

until now, at least. ]

If it helps, I haven't looked at a high school curriculum in... years. So we're in the same boat, here.

[ he may be a genius, but... crash course in things that have progressed in the 150-odd years since and trying to stay above failing is something that he can identify with. ]

Chemistry is like a puzzle, isn't it? That's what Sherlock would say.

( it is pretty cold in the school building... god, the exchange students must be miserable. even spring felt too chilly, back when they first got trapped...

ah. right, he wasn't... there. for when she first... )

i lost my voice two months ago, at the very start of november when my little sister went missing. it was
the final straw, i guess. after seeing so many people i considered family die or vanish.
the nurse says it's a trauma response, and believes that it's continued for so long because of high stress or anxiety.

( which means that if she had low stress and low anxiety, she could presumably speak again. unfortunately, the exams will absolutely kill any progress she's made, but she's trying to be optimistic right now.

oh, hey, subject change! awesome! (she doesn't expect it to last long.) )

i've found i do better hands on then just seeing diagrams or text! back when shinobu-nee was here, we had to use a lot of chemistry because she was teaching me how to make medicines!

[ VERY OBVIOUS ATTEMPT AT CHANGING THE SUBJECT, SUCCESS.

kind of. we'll see how this goes. ]

... Ah, I'm sorry.

[ for the loss, both of her little sister and also her voice. truth be told that's not really the answer that he's expecting, so, like any normal functioning human being (or well, a valiant attempt at being one), he steps a little bit closer and kind of... awkwardly places a hand on her shoulder in something that... probably approximates comfort or something.

An Attempt Was Made. ]

Medicines? What kind?

[ subject change, again! here we go. at least now he does sound genuinely interested. science has probably progressed too, right? the school's chemistry lab is nothing like sherlock's makeshift lab in their new york apartment, after all. ]

( nene stiffens a bit at the contact, looking up at william wide-eyed- what. what is he... oh.

oh. he's trying to comfort her. after a moment she gives a small if not melancholy smile, and nods. there's little to say in the face of his apology- it's not okay, it will never be okay, and there's nothing he's at fault for. even the most inane platitudes would fall on their face here. so... subject change. )

she taught me herbal remedies, and antidotes. she was also teaching me things she used as a field medic, and i've been trying to learn more ever since. i hope i never have to use any of it, but if it's needed, i can.

( not that she hasn't had to, already. not that she won't have to at the end of the practicums, when noah needs her. but it's a nice, quiet 'what if'. )

cotton candy skies, why can't you be mine?

liam you need to eat something!

pls feed and water the houseplant

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