People Who Make Good First Impressions Usually Suck

[shikomizue]

Who: Takasugi Shinsuke + Lavi, Kanda | Koon, and Lancer
Where: Sugar Point | Upper Class Leith School
When: 10 years ago | 20 years ago
Summary: Catch-all for Takasugi's pre-game prompts. Feel free to hit me on the BSM or on plurk (fromgilbo) to plan something out!
Restrictions/Warnings: Alcohol, Very mild violence

Comments

kanda ✿

[shikomizue]

[The voices of hecklers blended in with the chatter of the crowd around him as Takasugi roamed one of the many allies full gaudy lights and food smelled of nothing but grease.

A shout of 'Sir! One eye one free chance!' went ignored, left to fold in with the distorted music and incomprehensible mix of voices. Takasugi lowered his head and kept walking. The fireworks display was about to begin. There was no announcement, no fanfare, simply a thinning crowd as everyone found their viewing locations, to herald the show's beginning. Light flashed over the street and Takasugi stopped walking, turning his gaze towards the sky.

His teeth clinked soundlessly on the mouthpiece of his pipe, half-smoked tobacco reignited by a small flame that paled in comparison with the fire above him. Explosions loud enough to make the ground tremor called everyone, even the vendors, to watch the display.

When the last shimmer of color faded from the sky, however, they were back to preying on any passer-by they saw. It seemed he was a target again, a beckoning voice urging him to come try 'just one toss.

Takasugi removed his pipe from his mouth and rolled the shank between his thumb and forefinger. He'd intended to avoid gratifying the hawker with a response, but more shouting followed him, each yell describing him more than the last. 'Pipe smoker!' 'Eyepatch!' 'Swordsman!'

Heads were turning towards him, and a smirk not born from elation but from exasperation spread on his face. At that moment, a child passed by - and Takasugi seized the opportunity. He nodded at the invitation, and then looked down to the boy.] He wants you to play his game. [Takasugi spoke quietly, as if a secret, not a meaningless suggestion, was coming from his lips.]

lavi ✿

[shikomizue]

[Loud music and bright lights provided excellent cover, but nothing could surpass an alcohol vendor when it came to keeping a low profile. Takasugi gave the man in the booth his money and a polite facsimile of a smile when some hokk spilled on his fingers as his purchase was handed to him. Departing the throng of people gathering to fill their bellies and empty their minds, he transferred his drink to his other hand and flicked the dirtied hand at his side.

A kiosk with its front face shut for the night was his destination. Takasugi slipped through a thinning crowd, to lean against the coarse wood and sip his cheap booze. This wasn't his first glass, but the only benefit of drinking several was that they'd stopped tasting so horrible.

As he drank, families, partners, and drunks alike passed him by. Some smiled, some staggered, and some looked glum as they wandered the street alone. He cast his gaze upwards, drinking his hokk slowly as the stars grew sharper in the sky with the gradual extinguishing of lanterns as shops closed for the night.

In just a short while, they would be dulled by the flames of rebellion, rather than the dull glow of vendors attracting people like moths to the light.]

koon ✿

[yaburi]

[Shinsuke scrunched his nose as he sat at his desk, feet wrapped tightly around the legs of his chair. No, he didn't want to participate in a 'welcome' song for their guests, and he didn't want to show anyone around, either. There hadn't been much of an argument - just a simple 'nah' - before he leaned back at his desk and watched the other kids leave.

Only once his teacher left with the rest of the class did he let his displeasure work it's way out of him. He was bored. 'Just stay in the classroom' was fine in the face of public embarrassment, but it was quickly growing into the punishment it was meant to be.
He let his feet dangle lifelessly.

He couldn't stay here. Shinsuke stood, pushed in his chair, and exited the room, slipping down the hallway of classrooms as purposefully as possible. If he looked like he was in the middle of something no one would stop him-

It had been a noble goal.

But soon an executive official would pull him aside with a smile that made the man look like a crook. There was a VIP, and Shinsuke was to show him the facility. Even rolling his eyes couldn't get him out of it, and he was so helpfully escorted to the main office where he'd meet their guest.]

Yo. [Begrudging and casual, his introduction made the official's eyebrow twitch. The man would finish the rest of the acquainting, presenting 'Shinsuke Takasugi' as one of the school's finest gentlemen.

He stifled a laugh and offered his hand for a handshake.]

lancer ✿

[yaburi]

[As soon as Shinsuke was able to slip away from his responsibility as a noble, he was out the door. So what if he'd left an 'important guest' stranded? The school wasn't a labryinth - anyone with enough brains to be someone who mattered could find their way. Or not, but then they deserved to be lost.

He climbed the fence surrounding the playground with practiced speed, dropping to the ground. The ground was wet from the morning's rain and his footing slipped, sending him to a knee. He felt it scrape on his pants, but all he let out was a hushed grunt of pain before standing.

The playground was empty, all of the other students occupied with the activities of the day. He wandered its perimeter, looking over the equipment with a blank stare. There was no piece he considered his 'favorite' - it was all childish - but Takasugi quickly decided his destination. The metal of the jungle gym was cold as he climbed, his hands wet with drops of rain that had clung to the bars. When he got to the top he'd sit, precariously balanced with one leg bent up so he could rest his arm on it, and the other dangling over the ground.

He didn't intend to stay for long, but it would serve as an acceptable perch from which to consider his next move. The moment he decided on something, he'd jump down, but time passed and Takasugi remained. Everything sounded trite. Each minute that passed guided his eyebrows closer and closer together, the onset of frustration slow but steady.

Until someone joined him on the playground.] Hey. You lost? [He tilted his head, giving the other child a flat stare. It wasn't anyone he recognized - a visitor? Or maybe just another boring student he hadn't bothered to remember.]