Description: Accompanied by Aislinn, Yurika heads to Taiyo in hopes of personally arranging a meeting with the legendary Chairperson. However, she ends up running into 'mild-mannered student' Kula, and ends up poking a little fun along the way.
There is a goal. And while Yurika Kirishima isn't entirely sure what steps to take that goal should be, it doesn't stop her completely. It'd be best, she thinks, to observe some of the things going on within the other schools about Southtown before coming up with a strong plan.
Of course, Momo was stationed here for a reason, and the musician has decided it may be a good idea to start with the little ball of terror, even if she isn't so fond of said person. Rumors of the Chairperson starting something had similarly caught her interest.
And so that brings the frill-clad president to the school, perhaps just half an hour or so after the final bells have rung, and clubs should still be active, if she's thought correctly. A fancy car had pulled up to the entrance, though Yurika steps out on her own accord, and with her? Would be her 'bodyguard' of sorts. Some might consider it a little odd that despite her support of wanting to change how people think of Seijyun girls as 'weak', that she has protection by her side but.. That's simply just how she works. There must be a reason behind it. "Aislinn," the girl murmurs. "Again I apologize for taking your time.. But I assure you this visit shouldn't take much longer than forty minutes."
Hnn. Well, there are better ways to spend an afternoon. Worse ways, too; though it's not widely publicized for many reasons, Seijyun teachers do have a small, effective bag of sadistic little tools at their disposal for dealing with the rare delinquency in their students. Aislinn has never experienced any of those--but she's heard stories.
She slips out of the car just behind Yurika, her manner quiet and impassive; arms folded behind her back, she simply stands there, unspeaking and nearly unmoving. As a good bodyguard should be. Taiyo... she's visited the school before, of course--but in a manner designed to cause a ruckus, not prevent it.
Really, to pull the impassive bodyguard bit off she needs the black suit and sunglasses; here she just looks bored and slightly menacing, which does not help her -not- attract some attention.
o/~ No more pencils, no more books! No more teacher's dirty looks! o/~
Yes, classes have ended. But while Kula Diamond would never sing the aforementioned song out loud, the tune does tend to repeat at the end of the day when she's leaving the main building. Perhaps it's all the cartoons Angel has required her to watch in order to keep up with the woman's numerous pop-culture references. Or maybe it's her own innate childishness shining through. Either way, as Kula steps through the doors after staying late (again) to catch up on a quiz she missed, a few wayward notes get hummed past her lips.
She's already late for cheerleading practice again, but since she's just a second stringer, she can probably get away with a no-show. It almost makes her wish she hadn't worn the costume to school, though. She just isn't used to having her legs bare. However, her own disappointment on a few of her recent exams has caused the girl to re-examine some of her priorities.
She can parrot and repeat what she learns in class, but so many things the girl missed out on are starting to catch up on her. History class has left her standing there stupidly not knowing things other students picked up in elementary school. The identity of Napoleon Bonaparte, the fact that Hannibal tried to attack Rome with elephants, or even any of the names of the Presidents of the United States. Science? She didn't know the difference between an insect and a spider. It's rather humiliating.
This is why the girl's nose is buried in a textbook. Not just any textbook, but a sixth grade science textbook and is puzzling over cloud shapes. Cumulus, cumulonimbus, cirrus. It seems so simple, so why did she never learn it before? ...oh, the preppy car out front? Ignored for now. It could belong to anybody.
As usual, Aislinn isn't talking much. But Yurika had grown quite used to it, in fact it had often been quite enjoyable as she could, if she really wanted to, just chatter on and on about something she thinks is interesting. Aislinn has such a strong poker face, Yurika would be blisfully ignorant to the idea if she'd really be paying attention or not. Though she's also used to silence of even the more uncomfortable sort. It must depend on her mood, it'd seem.
She strides along, opening her parasol along the way that's then held above her head. She's first making somewhat of a beeline toward the schools main entrance, but she can't help but have to come to a halt just two steps after passing Kula. Her nose wrinkles slightly, recollecting what she had just seen, and then she turns around to face the young-looking student.
The pause is brief, "Excuse me.. I couldn't help but notice your reading material.." she states with a small smile. "Suddenly I have a feeling I know what Kusanagi still attends here. Do all students study at that level?"
She's almost always quiet. It's like a trademark with her. Even someone as no-nonsense as Leona talks more than Aislinn does. And she remains quiet--even as she spots Kula. This... well, this could prove problematic. It really depends on what Kula does. Aislinn has been very rigidly trained; she has no intention of revealing any prior knowledge of the young Ms. Diamond.
The question is, will Kula do the same? Ais cannot say with any accuracy as to whether Kula even remembers her; their meetings were a while ago, to say the least, though she's kept tabs on the young Anti-K' as is part of her NESTS duties. Subtly, quietly, Ais slides a half-step to her right, almost... hiding, behind Yurika.
Much like Aislinn, Kula has secrets of her own. She's keenly observant of combat scenarios, so when she's stopped by Yurika, her mind immediately switches to something slightly mechanical. If this was a television series, the camera view from behind her eyes would be red with targeting systems locking on to people and objects of note.
Three things strike Kula quickly. One is Aislinn's presence, but her training keeps her from doing more than the slightest eyetwitch that can be explained by being pulled from her book. Second is the fact that she forgot to slip her high school science book cover over this one. -Oh nutbunnies- the girl thinks to herself. That's just sloppy. Third is the mention of Kusanagi. Interesting. Yurika herself is almost a footnote until Kula's limited social training kicks in and is quickly overwhelmed.
"Hm? What? Thi- oh." Kula looks appropriately embarassed to be caught with the book, but comes up with her provided explanation. "Er, no, see, I- before this, I was homeschooled, and I missed a few things an- well, no, the rest of the students they're all-" Her humiliation almost complete, Kula sighs and says with a resigned tone, "...smart. They're smart."
Kula slowly closes the book and hugs it close to her before her eyes finally recognize Yurika as 'not belonging to this school.' "Er- you..." Her eyes dart to the car and then back before she continues. "...can I help you find somewhere?"
Whatever actions Aislinn is taking, it doesn't appear that the graceful looking student is making any obvious reaction to it. In truth it's actually not much more different than how Ai normally stands; not that they hang outside for business matters all that after. Her attention really seems to be more focused on Kula, Yurika keeping a plesent, patient smile despite the bumbling and word slips.
The final breakdown is almost a disappointement, really. But the girl's honest, and Yurika can't really fault that. However there's a trait that's slowly being exposed from the redhead that Aislinn knows Yurika enjoys grasping and using. "I am Yurika, student council president of Seijyun High school.. I was here to complete some inter-school matters but.. it can wait, I've never really gotten a chance to speak with many students outside of my own school after all."
Yurika's dark eyes look the other up and down slowly, she's not making an effort to hide her own 'analyzing', still keeping a pleasent air about her as she notes. "Oh don't worry about that, Miss.. I assure you, very few of are as intelligent as you think. You should feel right at home."
Well, Aislinn knows what's up with the textbook thing. She's been kept apprised of 'the goings on' re Casa Kula. They just haven't been anything remarkable--something that is, all things considered, probably pretty good for the Anti-K'. A normal life... it's important for girls like her. Aislinn is probably not one to talk, but she leads 'as normal a life' as she can... in her own estimation. Probably not as normal as should or could be, though.
She makes eye contact with Kula, and nods, fractionally--but she's still not talking. That is, after all, Yurika's gig, and it's never been something that Ais has felt comfortable -doing-. Talking, that is. She shares the same sort of combat-situational awareness, and truth be told it might make her a little quick to react sometimes, but she's getting better at not doing so...
As she does here. Kula is clearly uncomfortable; that is a little disturbing to Aislinn. But she'll just have to bear up.
It's Kula's touch of naivite that helps her in moments like this. Maybe Yurika's trying to be clever and slip an insult in there to further pick at Kula's self-esteem. Maybe she just worded that strangely. But Kula does look for the best in people, and she smiles a bit at what comfort was offered in there, and stands up a bit straighter. "Oh, I know. And I do feel a bit at home here. I mean the science club was talking about the virus versus packaging methods of human genetic engineering, I almost joined in but I had practice." Oh, right, she's keeping it on the down-low. "I mean, there are plenty of people here who are really smart. Like, college smart."
The girl fidgeted slightly when Yurika looked her over, and shuffled her foot lightly on the pavement. "But you're the student council president? That's amazing. I mean, we have a government here, but I could't dream of joining it. They're just..." The girl lifts a hand as if to establish 'the bar' and then raises it to show where the members of the council are. "Up here, you know?"
Yurika isn't above displaying superiority, teasing or making someone uncomfortable to pick apart someones personality. Of course there's common sense in how one goes about it.. Yurika has only spoken to the girl for a few seconds and the first impression she's gotten is 'vulnerable'.
She'd learned through Kurow that vulnerable people tend to be very useful; and really, she's living proof of that. What could she possibly gain from Kula? Yurika hopes something soon. Because Roberto has been incresingly more difficult to deal with. The smile on the girls face is actually shaken for a moment, caught a bit off-guard by Kula's mention of 'virus versus packaging methods etc.'. That actually makes her double-check to make sure Kula is actually holding a sixth graders science book.
It's enough to shake her off for the time being, she letting Kula continue to talk, and when she's done, she smiles a little brighter, giving her parasol a little twirl, "I'm sorry, where I come from, we give our names when the other introduces themselves. I had no idea that Taiyo High had such a major gap in mannerisms. Miss, you seem like a nice girl, but you are most certainly within the wrong crowd if you hope to be..." And she raises her hand to mimic the bar motion, "'Up here' one day. I'd like to ask another question while I'm at it. What do you wish to be when you're older?"
Erk. Kula almost drops her book and turns red in embarassment before she stammers out, "I- I'm sorry. I mean, I didn't mean to- I j-" Poor Kula. She hangs her head and then says, softly, "I'm Kula. Kula Diamond. I- god." Kula slumps back to land against the wall of the building, and hides her face behind her book and arms for a moment as she takes a deep breath. "I'm really sorry. But I, uh..."
Kula brings up a hand and scratches her cheek for a moment before she continues. "When I'm older?" Probably be one of the soldiers on the front line against the forces that fail to understand the fact that NESTS will be bringing a new golden age to mankind. And maybe ice skate. "I'm not really sure. I mean, I'm looking at colleges, but, well, there's money issues, so maybe get a job b-" She's rambling. "I don't have anything concrete yet."
"It's pleasure to meet you, Kula Diamond.." Yurika replies. The musician is having a good time, in fact she's starting to see Kula as quite adorable! Perhaps not at the level of Kentou but.. It is cute, despite the oddity that Kula seems to have 'matured' a little early. "And it's quite all right, I'm sure it isn't your fault, it's the system really. Taiyo is well known for their 'heroes' of sorts, but have you ever really took a good look or listen to them? With their scars, their lack of manners, horrible nutrition, 'ain't' this and 'ain't' that. Miss Diamond, when you get the chance I want you to take a good look at all the students around you. And then think really hard on whether you think you deserve better or not, all right?"
Again, Yurika seems nothing but amused, perhaps more delighted, that Kula doesn't appear to have a particular direction. She'd gladly offer a small one for now and she what comes of the seed. "Oh no no, you misunderstand. I'm curious to know what your dream is. Do you hope to be a hero? A famous dancer? If it's something silly, I promise I won't laugh." Though she's fairly certain Kula doesn't want to be a 'bride'.
Kula smiles a bit more, and lets out a small sigh of relief at the fact the topic doesn't seem to be how she fails as a basic human being anymore. "Thank you. It's very nice to make your acquaintance as well." Kula does know about all the 'heroes' that pop up in Taiyo, in fact she's made the acquaintance of several of them. They really are quite...eager. "Well, I don't use 'ain't', but, I mean..." Kula shrugs a bit. How can she say that she's here not only because NESTS assigned her, but because it's one of the few places that didn't look too carefully at her paperwork. "Well, people like me here..." Lame.
But Kula recovers! She gives the final question a lot of thought, and then says, "Well, I've dreamed a few times..." Kula scratches the back of her neck again, and then glances at Yurika for a moment before her eyes move to Aislinn and back. It momentarily occurs to her that Yurika didn't introduce Aislinn, but since she already knows the girl, she lets it slide. She gives her a slight nod to hide the glance as a simple greeting. What she's about to say might make its way back to NESTS. "Well, I like to ice skate a lot...and I really enjoy dancing. But I don't think I can go very far in that direction. Maybe a scientist, like-" Momentary, fragment of a second pause- "Like my mother."
Oh there we go, a hint of better mannerisms there. There's hope there, just as Yurika had figured. And she didn't introduce Aislinn, no. In fact she'd been waiting to see if Kula's curiosity would get the better of her, and thus far it hasn't. Her free hand raises her to her lips, looking genuinly suprised for a moment, but then quite pleased, "Oh is that so? Now things are starting to make a little more sense, that is quite an ambition. I confess, at Seijyun, science isn't one of our better taught subjects, but we have been broadening, little by little, in hopes of supporting more focus on them. Myself.. I'd like to be a woman of power. The president of a major corporation or something similar to that. But I don't really look the part do I?"
Yurika gives a small laugh of amusement, and then waves her hand dismissivly. "I am not a very good skater, but I know a few dance steps myself. We have numerous dance classes at our school actually you should give it a look sometime. Which brings up the point, it is fine that the people like you here, but it isn't a very good reason to stay in a barn, you're simply limiting yourself." Yurika glances up to the school clock, and then back to the student. "Well then, I'd best get to my meeting. Remember, be aware of what's around you, research your options, and think what is best for yourself in the long run. We'll be meeting again."
Well, Kula was taught to be very respectful to her superiors. And while there's no way Yurika compares to someone along the lines of Igniz or Zero, she's powerful in this little world, anyway. And- ...was the point of this whole conversation to try to recruit Kula to go to Seijyun? The girl looks a little stunned and somewhat embarassed at the attention. "Well, um. I-" Kula again glances at Aislinn before looking around and then back at Yurika. "Well, I'll take a look, but, uh-" Oh no, what should she say? She's heard it's really difficult to get into Seijyun? No, then Yurika might make some vague comment about how she can pull strings. It's further away? ...well, there's buses, and Kula doesn't want to come across as being a pauper or anything. "I'll...see?"
With a helpless shrug, Kula stands up straight again as Yurika says she has to go, and extends out a hand, fumbling with her textbook in her other hand for a moment. "It was very nice to meet you. It's been, um. Educational." Kula glances at Aislinn again and says, "It was nice to meet you both."
Yurika honestly isn't certain if she'd like Kula to be in Seijyun or not; the girl isn't quite as same a case as the others she'd take interest in but.. The more she could take away from other schools without hurting her own school, the better in the very long run. That much she knows for sure. And so for her, the point was to start a trial of potential.
"That's what I like to hear. It was quite the pleasure, and you take care.." Yurika's dark eyes for a moment look down to Kula's, a silver brow quirking just slightly. And decides to hold off on any further teasing, taking the hand and giving a dainty shake in return. With that done, she looks over her shoulder to Aislinn, giving a small nod of her head. With that, she's off, her maryjanes clomping lightly along the floor as she heads into the Taiyo halls. Poor Aislinn. She's probably going to have to sit through a half hour meeting.
Log created on 19:47:19 02/07/2008 by Yurika, and last modified on 04:36:36 02/11/2009.