i turned off the music

[revengier]

Comments

[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.

[revengier]

I doubt we would get along. I don't typically have positive interactions with people similar to me.

[ That really brings into question what he considers a "positive interaction" but it's fine. ]

[dissimulative]

[ Yeah, he thought so. He's pretty sure she wouldn't like it either. ]

So, like... are you only nice to kids?

[ Just... asking............. ]

But I'm not similar to you at all! I don't know how I feel being the exception.

[revengier]

[ Well... yeah, mostly. ]

You aren't an exception. I don't dislike you.

[ Shocking, probably. Kurapika doesn't even have a negative opinion about Oria either, he's just... like this, at least at first. ]

[dissimulative]

... Huh?

[ Huh?? Oria looks like he just heard something baffling. ]

So you act that way with everyone that aren't kids?!

[revengier]

No. You are a bit of an exception in that regard, I suppose.

[ Huh. He hadn't even realized it! ]

It's probably your personality.