i turned off the music

[revengier]

Comments

[dissimulative]

[ ...

They meet eyes and Oria isn't sure whether Kurapika smiled at him or not. Why though? He didn't do anything? Unless it meant that much to Kurapika that he came to watch the event, but he doubts that. Oria has enough self-respect and a seemingly inflated ego, but he's going through the logistic motions here.

But then he watches Kurapika tend to the boy that's having some problems. It's nice to see him like this, he thinks. Perhaps he really didn't need to bring him to the dog therapy week after all.

He's also ignoring the girls in favor of watching the event. Do not distract him. Please. ]

[revengier]

[ the girls immediately descend upon oria like a pack of wolves

Although Kurapika called this a practice, this seems to be more of an archery meet between a few schools in the surrounding area as more students from other universities, high schools, and even a few middle school students aside from the ones Kurapika is tending to begin to arrive en masse.

The students that were milling around, including Kurapika, start to gather into their own teams, divided up by school, and the younger students by grade. It's a while before their school is finally up, but maybe watching the younger students slowly get better as they take their several shots and receive tips from the older students is something Oria would find interesting. That, or he can get distracted by the girls.

Either way, a lot more people in the stands pay attention when Kurapika finally steps up. It seems like he's known, especially among the students, who all watch him intently. For his part, Kurapika seems relaxed as he readies himself, muscles taut only in the areas where they need to be, especially as he nocks his arrow and draws the bow with ease. It's as if he doesn't hear the chatter around him, his gaze focused on the target, a fire in his eyes that hasn't been present any other moment.

He lets go of the arrow and it zips towards the target and lands in the bullseye.

With each subsequent shot, Kurapika makes the bullseye. The way he readies himself looks effortless, almost as if he isn't even thinking about aiming. Though of course, the sharpness in his eyes counters that notion.

When he's done, Kurapika disappears somewhere behind the crowd, but it's obvious he hasn't left. ]

[dissimulative]

[ He will not be distracted by anyone as he focuses on the event. He is here for one thing and doesn't feel like doing anything else!!

Oria watches all that happen and takes notice of, well, how the audience shifts its attention once Kurapika's turn is here... and for good reason. The consecutive bullseyes and how he does it-- ]

He makes it look so easy...

[ Oria is impressed as Kurapika disappears into the crowd somewhere. But rather than making the target itself, perhaps what really stands out was how he composed himself.

He thought he was good at reading people, but Kurapika just throws that out the window. He watches the rest of the archers too and finds himself comparing in his head.

... ]

[revengier]

[ It's a few rounds of other archers before someone sits next to Oria, a duffel bag unceremoniously dumped at his feet. Kurapika leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. ]

His shoulder isn't relaxed, do you see? That will cause him to miss the mark and stray left.

[ And sure enough, when the student lets go of the arrow, it lands on the upper left area of the target. ]

[dissimulative]

[ Oria was aware that someone sat next to him, but didn't look in their direction. It's only after Kurapika speaks that his head turns to look at him, missing the student releasing the arrow to an undesired area. ]

Aren't you supposed to stay down there with everyone until it's done?

[revengier]

Technically.

[ He shrugs. ]

I'm finished, though, and there's no awards or anything they're handing out. [ He glances at Oria. ] I asked if I could go, before you start to worry.

[dissimulative]

I'm not worried!

[ He laughs a little.

Yeah, not anymore. ]

Choosing to sit with me after you're done instead of cheering on your juniors... should I be honored?

[revengier]

Honored, if you don't think that I'm a terrible mentor.

[ But they know he's up here, cheering them on. The raven-haired boy Kurapika was helping out earlier even looks up into the stands and waves before he steps up to shoot.

As he readies, Kurapika focuses on him, a soft hum escaping him. ]

His form is good, but he tends to be a bit overzealous. If he can focus properly, he'll do well.

[dissimulative]

Honestly, after doing all that, there's no way I can call you a terrible mentor seriously. It looks like you have what it takes to be a good teacher too.

[ No tolerance for bullshit.

He watches the boy and huh. Kurapika is right. ]

Does he have trouble focusing?

[revengier]

My patience is only reserved for children I actually like.

[ It just so happens he likes all kids, so... ]

He does, to the point he struggled in school. His aunt was desperate enough to reach out to me over the summer after seeing an article about the archery program at the university. I hadn't even started here yet.

[ But his profile on the school website listed his accomplishments, so he was done for. ]

She thought he could use something that would require him to focus.

[ And sure enough, there's that same fire in the boy's eyes that Kurapika had, his gaze focused and narrowed in on the target as he shoots, getting close to a bullseye. ]

[dissimulative]

Wow. Speaking of which, it looks like you're really popular around here. Are you famous?

[ He's joking, but he has the "unless...?" vibe right now. ]

[revengier]

My name is known in the archery circuit, since I was skilled in high school.

[ He glances at Oria. ]

However, I'm no celebrity.

[dissimulative]

Yeah? The audience here was held captive by you when it was your turn, more than any other archer. It was like you were the star of the show.

[ That seems celebrity-esque to him. But also, that woman mentioned earlier specifically wanting Kurapika to teach her nephew. Man. ]

[revengier]

I'm skilled and that's a known fact among people who attend things like this. Why wouldn't they pay attention?

[ But also sometimes one has a bad habit of becoming Important at whatever they join or sign up for and that recurring trend just... is something he doesn't notice. ]

[dissimulative]

[ Oria will eventually point that out when he learns more about Kurapika, since this is the only thing he has to go off of. ]

Yeah, you're sounding more like those unapproachable students on the dean list because they're sooo good at everything and intimidating.

[ Not like... Oria should talk. But. At least he's friendly?? ]

[revengier]

I will be on the dean's list, but that doesn't make me unapproachable.

[ Maybe he should counter and say he's not good at everything or intimidating, but nah. ]

You make me sound like one of those characters from a television show.

[dissimulative]

Well, things from fiction have to come from somewhere. Besides, that just means you're intimidating, since you didn't avoid that at all.

[ Hm. ]

Though I guess if you're going for the minimum, then it's fine as long as you know what to do.

[ When to act friendly, when to be intimidating, etc. Kurapika seems to have demonstrated that clearly well with the middle school kids in comparison... to him. ]

[revengier]

[ Hmmm... ]

Do you find me intimidating?

[ He'd be shocked if the answer was yes, but he's curious. ]

[dissimulative]

You're a biiit difficult to get along with, but you're not scary at well.

[ What would he even be scared of? Kurapika's bite sure hurts, but it's nothing he can't deal with on a day to day basis, being used to condescending people and going about his own merry way.

He rests his elbow on his knee and rests his head on the top of the palm, looking over at Kurapika. ]

The only one who scares me is my mom.

[ lol ]

[revengier]

[ Kurapika leans forward on his own knees (sorry Oria, he's a manspreader), looking out at the students milling about on the field before glancing back at Oria. ]

Is she strict? [ Average family reasons? ] Or is it something else?

[ His tone is soft, almost cautious. This time, Kurapika knows better than to push. Although he wants to dig underneath those layers Oria has put up, he also doesn't want to push too hard again. ]

[dissimulative]

It's not like she scares me 24/7! But when she gets angry, I feel the dread equivalent of a ground rumbling next to a volcano mountain. Hm...

[ Huh. He's having a realization and laughs. ]

Actually, you two are pretty similar in terms of work ethic and personality.

[revengier]

...In what ways.

[ He sits up, crossing his arms and (almost) pouting. That comment about anger already has him on edge. ]

[dissimulative]

Let's see~

[ He pretends to think about it, but he has things all lined up in his head already. ]

The first thing I can think of is the determination and tenacity in getting things done, but also prooobably unsparing along the way. If I had to compare it in a more lax situation, I'd say you wouldn't hesitate in throwing things out based on "does this give me joy".

[ Marie Kondo, save him. ]

[revengier]

I doubt that I'll ever categorize what I should own based on "joy" rather than usefulness.

[ He's latching onto the wrong thing here— ]

[dissimulative]

[ Luckily for Kurapika, he isn't focusing on the wrong thing. ]

... That's the point.

[ He sighs into his hand. Boy, please. ]

She'd do the same. You two wouldn't get along at all... or become the scariest combo in the world.