i turned off the music

[revengier]

Comments

[dissimulative]

That isn't answering my question!

[ That tail looks like it'll turn into a helicopter... ]

[revengier]

I feel fine, if you really care that much.

[ Hmph!! ]

And it looks like you're feeling more obnoxious than usual.

[dissimulative]

Am I? Doesn't feel any different to me.

[ Maybe that says more things about Oria than Kurapika... Anyway, he seems fine with just watching Kurapika and the puppy for a bit. ]

If I say you're my friend, will you break out in hives?

[revengier]

No. I'm not that opposed to friendship.

[ Somehow, he manages to sound irritated anyway, even with a puppy on his lap. ]

I don't know you well enough for that label to apply. I don't even know what you're studying.

[dissimulative]

I'm a business major! There, now you know one more thing about me.

[ Despite the irritation that Kurapika conveys, he pushes on through. ]

You always sound annoyed whenever I talk to you about anything. That's the biggest thing I learned about you.

[revengier]

[ ...Ah.

Well. Oria's right about that. Kurapika hasn't once sounded not annoyed when speaking with him. It's a habit he has with most people, unfortunately.

But he does make an effort to soften his tone now, to sand the sharp edges of it off. ]

Do you plan on running your own business in the future?

[dissimulative]

[ Oh.

Oria is surprised when Kurapika tries to soften his tone. He didn't expect it at all, and it feels like he just got rewarded. Feels good, man. ]

Mm, something like that. Honestly, though? Me being here is mostly for my family's image, because having kids that graduate from higher education sounds great on paper and as conversational topics over food.

[revengier]

Is that something that matters that much to your family?

[ He sets the puppy down back in his lap, absentmindedly petting its head as he looks over at Oria. ]

Or in their social circle?

[ They must be rich, is what he thinks. ]

[dissimulative]

Hearing that a high school dropout has an important role in something wouldn't necessarily inspire confidence nor respect.

[ That's how it be in this bitch of a world sometimes, so he shrugs. ]

[revengier]

No, it wouldn't.

[ Should they be given chances? Of course. But it seems like Oria is well aware that the world simply does not work that way. ]

So, what will your important role be?

[dissimulative]

That's a secret!

[ Obnoxious. ]

It's not confirmed anyway, since the selection will be in progress for a while.

[revengier]

[ Truly obnoxious! Kurapika rolls his eyes. ]

So you'll be in the C-Suite, then. [ Total guess, but if it's a secret, Kurapika thinks that it's on a similar level, at least. ] I suppose this hinges on your grades?

[dissimulative]

I guess? But I'm not really worried about my grades.

[ The boy who learns to actually learn instead of memorizing the academic text. People wish to be him. I wish to be him. Damn. ]

[revengier]

Of course you aren't. I never see you actually study.

[ But watch him make the Dean's List alongside Kurapika... Kurapika will not be happy. ]

Are you not going to divulge what you know of the selection process, then?

[dissimulative]

[ rip to kurapika... some people are just insufferable by nature ]

It'll probably be based on experience and skill. It's an ongoing thing. Dog eat dog world—

[ Oh, right. They're at a dog event. Oops. ]

... You get the point.

[revengier]

[ That actually gets him to laugh, a soft little huff. ]

Watch your metaphors.

[ ... ]

This school is a free ride for you, isn't it? Or, rather, it's pocket change for your family.

[ Shockingly enough, there's not judgment in his tone. ]

[dissimulative]

... I'm here on a scholarship, actually.

[ Oria really didn't need it, but sometimes people insist too hard. He would have paid with his own money in the first place... ]

It's, well... I don't need it, but I'm not going to will it away by flunking on purpose.

[ His pride........ ]

[revengier]

Even I would be disappointed if you did that.

[ As if it would take much to disappoint Kurapika??? ]

I'm on a scholarship too. [ A pause as he focuses on the puppy in his lap. It's a convenient way to not look at Oria. ] If I lost it, I'd have to drop out.

[dissimulative]

[ fr ]

What's your scholarship based on?

[ He knows that most are based on grades, but he wants to see if there's something else. ]

[revengier]

My grades, previous student leadership, and archery. All three combined give me a full ride.

[ Which begs the question of why he's working at all. ]

[dissimulative]

[ Oria thinks about that right away. He doubts he'll get a serious answer for this, but... ]

Are you saving up for something?

[revengier]

[ He gives that some serious thought, and... ]

I'm making an investment into one of my long-term goals.

[ It's the truth, but it isn't exactly helpful either. ]

[dissimulative]

[ Honestly, it's more than what Oria expected, so he'll take this as a win. It's definitely vague, but it's fine. Probably. Oria assumes that he's saving up to buy a house.

He looks down at the puppy, who is having a grand time with Kurapika. Maybe this will be the only time when he'll see something happy in Kurapika's radius. ]

You seem pretty disciplined, so I doubt you'll have too much trouble regarding that.

[revengier]

[ WOW RUDE ]

I get what I want eventually. No matter what.

[ There's an odd weight to his words, like this is about much more than earning some extra money on the side. ]

[dissimulative]

So should I assume that everything you don't get is something you don't want?

[ In jest, sure, to counteract the weight in Kurapika's word. Oria would want to ask, and he knows he won't get his answer. ]