View source for 91/Text Me Next Time Plz

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2023/07/15
|Location=Guidance Office
|Synopsis=Kyouka returns a call to Darien after he left a voicemail for her.
|Cast of Characters=38,53
|pretty=yes
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Next day after Darien left a message in Kyouka's voicemail. She must have gotten his cell number from his file, because his phone rings. It might just show the number, unless for some reason he has 'RHA Guidance Office' in his contact list. When he picks up, Kyouka's dry tone can be heard on the other end. "Mr. Shields. I don't want to talk to you either, but the school suggests I return students' attempts to contact me."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>On the phone, Darien at least has the grace to sound sheepish. "Sorry about that, Counselor Inai. I realized how it must have sounded after the fact. I just prefer texting, but I know that's not feasible. Thank you for calling me back. There are a few things I need to talk to you about. Is that all right like this, or should I come in?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It sounded incredibly passive-aggressive, but I'll forgive you for that since you also seem to be implying I'm helplessly old and don't know how to work a cellphone. I can't be offended by two things at once, so I'll pick the bigger offense." Her tone is sardonic, her offense clearly more on principle than anything else. "More seriously- you can talk to me on the phone. If for some reason you'd feel better coming to the office that's also fine. But either way works."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Good data point: Darien is apparently easy to wind up, at least sometimes. "I meant feasible in that I'm a student and maybe shouldn't have a teacher's mobile number! But whatever! If you want to think you're a decrepit cave-dweller, that's on you." He breathes through his teeth for a second, then says, "First, is it all right if I come to your self-defense class? Second, do you have Koji Silvia watching me or something? Third, there are at least two other people who seem to remember things that most people don't, and fourth, uh." A beat. "Usagi Tsukino."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouka actually '''laughs''' at the anger she provokes in Darien. Well, more of a chuckle. Still, not very teacherly. But when he begins to say things of actual substance, she seems to respond just as seriously, her tone even. "The self-defense class is a school class. You don't need to ask my permission to attend, you just have to sign up. If you're asking if I'm going to throw you out if you try, no. I won't do that." A pause. "I've never met Koji Silvia, so no, I don't have him watching you. He's your roomate, isn't he?" Probably noted in Darien's file. "Sounds like he's just observant." Another pause. "That third thing, I need more information before I can give you any kind of response. As for the fourth- ....yes? That's not a question. It's a person."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>'If you try' Darien mouths to himself, frowning. Try to sign up? He shakes his head and listens. "All right. Yeah, he's my roommate, but he also remembers things, and I think more, so maybe you want to talk to ''him''. The other two people I'm just telling you about because," the handwaving is practically audible, "that sort of thing is your job. Chiyo Sakai and Naru Osaka. The first definitely remembers seeing a weird thing fighting people, the second at least remembers things being weird and I know for a fact she was at a weird... event." He seems to be pausing for a prompt to keep going, since she could be taking notes. He would be taking notes.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's some silence on the other end of the line as the names are named. Koji, perhaps, was already on the list because of being Darien's roomate. "Chiyo Sakai." Kyouka repeats, as if committing it to memory. Curiously she doesn't repeat Naru's name. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention." She says, with the rote formality of someone only half paying attention. "I'll be sure to follow up. Now what.." Another brief pause, "Is your concern with Tsukino-san?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I do like her, a lot, but that doesn't seem like a good idea for me to pursue, but our friends just pulled a fast one at a study group we all had at a restaurant and left us alone while I was helping her with algebra. I want to keep helping her! She actually got it! But I don't-- I mean-- my other friends. I don't think it's ''safe''," he says, getting increasingly desperate and more than a little embarrassed. "I don't think my boss would like it. I mean presuming Usagi even likes me back. I might be worried over nothing and being friends might be fine."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouka is silent through this rambling, embarrassed diatribe. She's silent for a good few moments after it concludes as well, as if choosing her words very carefully. When she speaks, her tone is deadly serious, as if what she's saying is of utmost importance. "You should continue to see Usagi Tsukino, if that's what you want. Don't worry about her safety." Another brief pause, before she adds, "I'll keep her safe. Even from you, if I have to." In a lighter tone, suddenly. "You need friends, Mr. Shields. And I think she would be a good one for you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"You promise you'll keep her safe?"<br /><br />His voice doesn't sound at all like anything she's heard out of him before. It's absurdly vulnerable.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You have my oath." Her voice is deadly serious. Then, in a much lighter voice that almost doesn't seem connected, "It's my job to keep all my students safe."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Thank you," comes the boy's voice, and it's ''so'' relieved, and then he awkwardly tacks on, "Sensei." A beat, and then somehow even more awkward, "Sorry. Thanks again. I'll let you go." Implicit: sorry I'm a jerk. And then, "Bye," which he'll probably be kicking himself for, and then he hangs up.<br> <br>
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