Enjoy the Silence

“…The whole of society,” Hikawa says after a moment. “It is essential that each of us not only knows our role, but has the humility and discipline needed to perform it.”

He tilts his head slightly upward.

“Just imagine,” he says with a far off gaze, “a world in which our species operated together, as one, in seamless perfection. A world of absolute order… A quieting, at last, of the cacophony of humankind’s purposeless, squabbling voices.”

Hikawa looks back down at Seraph.

“Unfortunately, it cannot all happen at once… So that is why we must begin to work towards this ideal here, with the young.”

allatpeace-blog

Quieting? She really had no idea what her vice principal meant at this point. She had a feeling that he was getting really into philsophical views on the world though. And well, Seraph couldn’t help but put in some input of her own on the matter.

“I always felt that people needed to understand their relationship with the world, for things to get better. We’re all one being, after all.”

Seraph, why must you always get into this? You’re going to get in trouble from your beliefs one of these days…

She kept her explanation brief this time, she didn’t want to get into a stern argument with someone of such a high status within her school.

Well then, this is different. A student who not only appears interested in his vision, but also seems to share it. To some extent, at least. Commendable for one who claims to have not set foot in a school before.

"Indeed... You are ahead of a majority of your peers already, then, if that is what you actually believe."

Hikawa pauses. He finds himself growing slightly more curious about her past.

"Where did you receive your education prior to enrolling here?"

#allatpeace

A note with a cherry flavored scent, "It's my birthday. Here have some cherry because I hate the smell just as much as I hate you."

Hikawa actually rolls his eyes at this one.

"...Really, now. A high school student."

And into the file it goes.

#moeshura #reply

Another note by the door, "I wouldn't touch me either if I looked like you. :)"

Ahhh, it had been a few days.

Hmm.

Hikawa folds the note and files it in the drawer with the others.

#moeshura #reply

Hikawa is well aware of the dog, and has been honestly puzzled for a while at Igor’s continued insistence that he not have the animal removed. He shakes his head a bit, letting that specific subject go for the time being.

“Yes, of course closing my office door would discourage interruptions of this sort,” he says, a hint of irritation finding its way back into his voice. “However, the nature of my job demands that I make myself more accessible to students and staff. As a teacher, you should understand that.”

Hikawa’s eyebrow twitches as he hears Philemon’s second suggestion. This man cannot possibly be serious…

“Hurt their feelings?” he scoffs. “Please. I’m not one for jokes, Philemon.”

“Well, it’s a tad impossible to know exactly their feelings.” He ‘confessed’ though honestly that was obvious. “But my feelings should be taken into account as well, but altogether, I wish you luck with your position.”

After all, he did have a point about being accessible, but at the same time if he was going to offer no kindness, there was no point. The room itself was very curious indeed, with religious symbols around it, including the ones he’d noticed on his wrist. Hm.

He reached his hands to pet at one of the butterflies again, Jung of course because he was still the closest to him, being the one who stayed with him longest.

“I apologize for the intrusion of my friends, though, and appreciate your cooperation in retrieving them.”

Hikawa inwardly shudders watching Philemon touch the insect, suddenly reliving the sensation of prickling on his ear again. His stony expression wavers momentarily as he runs a quick hand through the hair on that side of his head. He simply cannot understand the appeal of being in such close contact with those vile, multi-legged things.

He lets out a tiny huff.

"Don't thank me," he says curtly. "As I said... See to it that they do not disturb my peace again, and your friends and your... feelings... may be spared future pain."

Hikawa folds his hands atop the desk.

“I will be tracking your attendance, as is the case with all students who have been reported for missing classes. There may be… some leeway, given your condition. However, I would strongly suggest that you act quickly to make the necessary arrangements to keep up with your peers. Otherwise, disciplinary action cannot be avoided.”

Hikawa leans back and crosses one leg over the other.

“And yes, I believe we are done here for today. You may now leave.”

no-dummy-blog

Manikin rocked back onto her feet, stretching her arms upward and outward. She was kind of relieved this would finally be over, because God, she just couldn’t focus past that horrible fashion sense. He only slightly intimidated her now, for some reason. That suit was just…not pretty.

On the other hand, looking around, the office itself was a tad terrifying. All this weird stuff…She didn’t even understand it, and it creeped her out. Hopefully he wasn’t some evil demon summoning madman or anything. Or someone who skinned pretty girls who can’t run. That’d be unfortunate.

“So I guess I’ll see ya around if I need anything else? I should go uh. Talk to teachers and all that fun stuff.” This felt really awkward though, yeugh.

Hikawa had already begun to refocus his attention on his original task by the time the girl had stood up, assuming she'd just leave. So when her voice pipes up again, the look he flashes is hardly kind.

"Yes, Miss Kent... Manikin. See to it as soon as possible," he says, and clicks his pen. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there are other matters which demand my undivided attention. Please go."

Hikawa then looks back down to begin noisily writing on his documents once again.

#nodummy

When the last of the insects has finally made its way back over to Philemon, Hikawa stands. He straightens out his jacket with a sharp tug on the hem, then inspects his arms and shoulders, and dusts them off a bit with his hands. He leans back a bit to sit on the edge of the desk, crossing his legs at the ankles and folding his arms loosely over his chest. He looks at Philemon again, and seeing him happily covered in all those butterflies again, feels a wave of contempt. The mask, the insects, the affection he has for the things… What a clown of a man he is.

“…Well then… being creatures incapable of forethought, that leaves you responsible for taking better measures to keep them out of my office, does it not?”

He glances to the side, then back again. “Were it entirely up to me, they would simply be forbidden within the school building. At least, forbidden from freely flying about,” he says coolly.

“But… let me just say that, should they find their way back in here again, their well-being will be the very least of my concerns.”

“Perhaps it’s a note that you should keep the door closed. After all, the dog that’s taken up residence on campus and other students would interrupt you far more than my friends.”

He responded, trying his best not to sound snarky or sarcastic. He was very tempted to, but no…He did not want to anger this man or seem hostile. He’d save that for if a finger was laid in force upon one of his insects.

“I believe you should watch your wording around them.” He added, for good measure. “Someone as mature and above others as you wouldn’t want to hurt their feelings, hm?”

Hikawa is well aware of the dog, and has been honestly puzzled for a while at Igor's continued insistence that he not have the animal removed. He shakes his head a bit, letting that specific subject go for the time being.

"Yes, of course closing my office door would discourage interruptions of this sort," he says, a hint of irritation finding its way back into his voice. "However, the nature of my job demands that I make myself more accessible to students and staff. As a teacher, you should understand that."

Hikawa's eyebrow twitches as he hears Philemon's second suggestion. This man cannot possibly be serious...

"Hurt their feelings?" he scoffs. "Please. I'm not one for jokes, Philemon."

Hikawa clasps his hands behind his back. “Your first time in a school? Odd…” He studies Seraph for a moment. She is of high school age, and yet… Hmm. Home-schooled, perhaps? He’s not terribly interested in an explanation right now, so he does not pursue the subject.

“But you are correct,” he continues. “If you are here, you will most certainly be educated about the world, and how you may best become a functional part of the whole.”

allatpeace-blog

“The whole? What do you mean by that, sir?” Does he mean society as a whole? Because she was really working on becoming part of the modern society. She sure didn’t fit with it like how she was now. And if he meant the school as a whole, she was adapting to that one at least. And hey compared to everyone else, she probably skipped class the least of all the students around. Though…if he meant the world as a whole, well then he was really speaking her language. But she doubted that’s what he meant. Not too many believed in becoming one with your surroundings as strongly as she did.

#allatpeace #//IT'S FINE it's fine ;v;

"...The whole of society," Hikawa says after a moment. "It is essential that each of us not only knows our role, but has the humility and discipline needed to perform it."

He tilts his head slightly upward.

"Just imagine," he says with a far off gaze, "a world in which our species operated together, as one, in seamless perfection. A world of absolute order... A quieting, at last, of the cacophony of humankind's purposeless, squabbling voices."

Hikawa looks back down at Seraph.

"Unfortunately, it cannot all happen at once... So that is why we must begin to work towards this ideal here, with the young."

Hikawa swallows hard. He’s actually broken into a bit of a sweat by the time Philemon removes the butterfly from his ear… What an unbecoming state for a man like him.

He grips his prayer beads tightly, rubbing them between thumb and fingers. He draws in a breath and lets it out slowly, closing his eyes as he does so. A circle takes form in his mind. Hikawa begins to trace his consciousness around the circle’s outer edge… Around, and around, and around, until eventually his thoughts move inside the circle and continue in a gradual spiral towards the center. Upon reaching the center, his consciousness spreads evenly throughout the circle and then ceases its movement. He is at once everywhere and nowhere within its bounds.

When Hikawa reopens his eyes, the perspiration has stopped.

“…Very well. I will wait.”

Philemon waited, examining the butterflies on his shoulder in the mean time to make sure no damage had come to them. If anything, it showed that he cared a lot for his fluttery friends, especially in an area where he considered they could be in danger.

Altogether though, he felt no fear towards this man, even in context of the butterflies. Something told him that no finger would be laid against them. He was sure it wasn’t good will, but regardless, it was control.

After a moment of examining, between his shoulder and the others, Philemon is able to guide the butterflies back onto him without as much hesitation. Internally, he wonders what an odd appearance he must make to have them on, though it’s outnumbered by the hilarity of his ‘superior’ covered in them.

“I apologize. They’re beautiful creatures, but perhaps not the best at thinking forward. I suppose it makes sense with their life span and abilities.” And perhaps, he notes, bringing attention towards someone interesting. That was his main point here, right?

When the last of the insects has finally made its way back over to Philemon, Hikawa stands. He straightens out his jacket with a sharp tug on the hem, then inspects his arms and shoulders, and dusts them off a bit with his hands. He leans back a bit to sit on the edge of the desk, crossing his legs at the ankles and folding his arms loosely over his chest. He looks at Philemon, and seeing him happily covered in all those butterflies again, feels a wave of contempt. The mask, the insects, the affection he has for the things... What a clown of a man he is.

"...Well then... being creatures incapable of forethought, that leaves you responsible for taking better measures to keep them out of my office, does it not?"

He glances to the side, then back again. "Were it entirely up to me, they would simply be forbidden within the school building. At least, forbidden from freely flying about," he says coolly.

"But... let me just say that, should they find their way back in here again, their well-being will be the very least of my concerns."

allatpeace asked:

Seraph walked up to the new teacher. She was feeling like she should say hello and introduce him to the school a bit. She remembered how lost she’d gotten way back when she started going here, so maybe she could help out in some way. That would be nice. “Hi. I’m Seraph, you must be a new teacher…” She flashed a smile.

Hikawa turns and looks down at the student. That hair… ha. Another one abusing the freedoms of Igor’s… unfortunately-lax dress code.

“…Hello, Seraph,” he says coldly. He does not return her smile. “Ah, but I am not a teacher. I am Hikawa, your new assistant principal. I have been brought in to bring greater order to the school. I trust that you are not a student who will cause any… problems?”

allatpeace-blog

Well now, no need to be so suspecting, sir.

“Oh now, I’m strictly here to learn. I wanted to know more about the world around me. What better way to do that than enrolling in a school? Though, I must say, this is my first time in a school.”

She says this rather firmly, so as not to show that was trying to get a reading on this man. Trying to see whether or not he was harsh at heart. He was definitely very in control of his emotions, considering she could barely feel an aura from him at all. Well, she’d find out later whether that was good or bad.

#allatpeace #//AHHHH uhh he was referring to her hairstyle which he considers an aspect of the dress code and he's assuming it's ~rebelliously~ dyed ;v;#//BUT OKAY hehehe clothing noted

Hikawa clasps his hands behind his back. "Your first time in a school? Odd..." He studies Seraph for a moment. She is of high school age, and yet... Hmm. Home-schooled, perhaps? He's not terribly interested in an explanation right now, so he does not pursue the subject.

"But you are correct," he continues. "If you are here, you will most certainly be educated about the world, and how you may best become a functional part of the whole."

Hikawa’s head tilts hearing Philemon’s explanation.

“Afraid to fly,” he says flatly. “Butterflies.” His fingers tap the desk in agitation. “How utterly absurd.”

Hikawa faces forward again. This man speaks as though he expects him to simply sit and submit to such nonsense. For the sake of butterflies?

His lip curls as one of the insects climbs over his shirt collar and begins to crawl up his neck.

“Ughh… They should not have been brought into the building to begin wi…” he starts to say, but stops and snaps his eyes shut as he feels tiny legs pricking and tickling across his ear. It’s disgusting. It’s nauseating.

“I… would like for you to remove all of them. Now.”

Philemon frowns at the comment. The butterflies were entirely allowed and encouraged by the principal. It might help that he had mysterious ties to the principal, but none the less he was defensive of his butterflies. They were beautiful, inspiring creatures who represented both the troubles and hardships of life, but also the beauty and strength in it. Not to mention they held much sentimental value to him. None the less, he reached up his sleeve and pulled what appeared to be a small, white plastic tong and leaned across the desk to grasp the wings of the butterfly and pull it back.

He face quickly grew with slight alarm as he swiftly transferred the butterfly to his shoulder. There was a slight amount of guilt he felt for removing the butterfly so roughly, even if it was ‘proper’. He got through the next two or three, before pausing, bothered.

“I believe I should wait before attempting more. It stresses them out. I believe you can pause for a minute or two for the sake of keeping a creature alive.” Especially considering Philemon may or may not have influence over your job.

Hikawa swallows hard. He's actually broken into a bit of a sweat by the time Philemon removes the butterfly from his ear... What an unbecoming state for a man like him.

He grips his prayer beads tightly, rubbing them between thumb and fingers. He draws in a breath and lets it out slowly, closing his eyes as he does so. A circle takes form in his mind. Hikawa begins to trace his consciousness around the circle's outer edge... Around, and around, and around, until eventually his thoughts move inside the circle and continue in a gradual spiral towards the center. Upon reaching the center, his consciousness spreads evenly throughout the circle and then ceases its movement. He is at once everywhere and nowhere within its bounds.

When Hikawa reopens his eyes, the perspiration has stopped.

"...Very well. I will wait."

Hikawa’s fingertips drum lightly upon the padded leather of one of the chair’s armrests.

“…Very well. I’ll forward it as soon as we’re through here.”

He quietly bristles at the sudden mini-torrent of questions that follows.

“Yes, yes of course- speak with your teachers,” he says, a tiny hint of impatience showing through. “It is equally as important for you to attempt to facilitate your own education as it is for others to reach out and facilitate you.”

Hikawa pauses to close his eyes for a moment, then reopens them.

“…And,” he continues, looking back at the monitor and clicking the mouse a few times, “it does not yet appear that you have been assigned a roommate. That is all the information available to me at this time, as I am not directly responsible for managing the housing arrangements.”

no-dummy-blog

Manikin noticed his increasing annoyance, though it gave her an odd sense of success. Nyeh nyeh you have to help stu~dents. Needless to say she didn’t let this show in her expression or out loud. She’d rather he not snap and rip her jaw from her face like a Mortal Kombat character.

“So I’m not going to get called over here every time I miss a few classes, right?” She asked, suppressing her thoughts though she took much amusement in them. “And that’s all we need to talk about for now?”

She couldn’t help but want to ask more about roommates, though. She really hated the idea of sharing her room honestly, though she wondered if actually staying with someone would change that. More so, it amused her that Hikawa would have to have a roommate more. What did that terrible hair look like first thing in the morning? What did his PJs look like? Did they have the same pattern as that horrible suit?

Hikawa folds his hands atop the desk.

"I will be tracking your attendance, as is the case with all students who have been reported for missing classes. There may be... some leeway, given your condition. However, I would strongly suggest that you act quickly to make the necessary arrangements to keep up with your peers. Otherwise, disciplinary action cannot be avoided."

Hikawa leans back and crosses one leg over the other.

"And yes, I believe we are done here for today. You may now leave."

#nodummy

allatpeace asked:

Seraph walked up to the new teacher. She was feeling like she should say hello and introduce him to the school a bit. She remembered how lost she'd gotten way back when she started going here, so maybe she could help out in some way. That would be nice. "Hi. I'm Seraph, you must be a new teacher..." She flashed a smile.

Hikawa turns and looks down at the student. That hair... ha. Another one abusing the freedoms of Igor's... unfortunately-lax dress code.

"...Hello, Seraph," he says coldly. He does not return her smile. "Ah, but I am not a teacher. I am Hikawa, your new assistant principal. I have been brought in to bring greater order to the school. I trust that you are not a student who will cause any... problems?"

#allatpeace

Hikawa freezes for a moment as one, then two, then three butterflies land on his arm and steal his attention away from his work. His head darts to the side as he sees another one touch down on his shoulder. And then another on the other side. Soon, a whole flock has taken up residence upon him, flexing their wings and crawling about. He frowns and shrugs a bit in an attempt to scare them away, but the ones that do leave simply flit circles around his head and land on him once again moments later. Hikawa begins to lift a hand to swat at them, but stops as he decides that he… does not actually wish to touch the things. He also does not want to try shaking them off and take a risk on inadvertently crushing one into his very clean suit, so he gently lays both palms flat upon the desk, and lets out a long, slow breath. He stares straight ahead, features tight with annoyance.

A man has brought butterflies into the school building. And now, they are in Hikawa’s office. On him, disturbing his peace. He carefully twists his torso a bit to glare at Philemon.

“…Get them off,” he quietly commands.

Philemon did try to help, managing to coax over four or five, but the rest valiantly ignored his attempts to lure them over without touching the other man. Usually, they obeyed him at every command, minus Jung, who even knew better by now to avoid people who Philemon said not to go near.

“I think that they fear flying at the moment. It’s a rare occurrence, but occasionally they do tend to fear like this…It takes them a few minutes to relax, and I’m afraid it’s fairly damaging to try and move them when they’re still tense.” He answered, reaching to stroke Jung’s wings gently.

Hikawa's head tilts hearing Philemon's explanation.

"Afraid to fly," he says flatly. "Butterflies." His fingers tap the desk in agitation. "How utterly absurd."

Hikawa faces forward again. This man speaks as though he expects him to simply sit and submit to such nonsense. For the sake of butterflies?

His lip curls as one of the insects climbs over his shirt collar and begins to crawl up his neck.

"Ughh... They should not have been brought into the building to begin wi..." he starts to say, but stops and snaps his eyes shut as he feels tiny legs pricking and tickling across his ear. It's disgusting. It's nauseating.

"I... would like for you to remove all of them. Now."

Hikawa’s hand grips the armrest a bit as a sound pulls him out of his musings, and back into the room. He turns slowly to face this… interruption.

His eyes blink several times at the unexpected sight of a tall man in a mask, with more golden butterflies perched upon him. Ah, yes… this is Philemon, a faculty member. The two of them have never really spoken before, though he’s seen him around campus here and there. Only, without these… companions.

“Oh. Philemon, was it?” Hikawa sets the mug upon the desk, and looks up at him. “Yes, if you’re referring to the insect currently sitting on the wall scroll, please do remove it.”

His eyes dart to the side, then back again. “Promptly.”

Then Hikawa looks down, and pulls a stack of forms from a drawer. He places the stack on the desk and begins to scrawl notes on the top sheet with his pen, ignoring the intruders entirely, and somehow managing to appear even less friendly than he had before.

Philemon stepped over, leading Jung onto his finger and placing him onto his shoulder, only to notice something. The rest of the butterfly-family had decided that Philemon was currently less interesting. What was more interesting than Philemon, though?

Hikawa’s suit.

He tried his best not to laugh, but it was…very funny to see such a serious and intimidating man being fluttered on by fourteen fairly large and very pretty butterflies. He tried his best to form words, but altogether, he had a slight worry for his fluttery friends’ safety that was starting to form more.

“I apologize. They’re very free spirits.”

Hikawa freezes for a moment as one, then two, then three butterflies land on his arm and steal his attention away from his work. His head darts to the side as he sees another one touch down on his shoulder. And then another on the other side. Soon, a whole flock has taken up residence upon him, flexing their wings and crawling about. He frowns and shrugs a bit in an attempt to scare them away, but the ones that do leave simply flit circles around his head and land on him once again moments later. Hikawa begins to lift a hand to swat at them, but stops as he decides that he... does not actually wish to touch the things. He also does not want to try shaking them off and take a risk on inadvertently crushing one into his very clean suit, so he gently lays both palms flat upon the desk, and lets out a long, slow breath. He stares straight ahead, features tight with annoyance.

A man has brought butterflies into the school building. And now, they are in Hikawa's office. On him, disturbing his peace. He carefully twists his torso a bit to glare at Philemon.

"...Get them off," he quietly commands.

spiritmentor asked:

Philemon had been staying late to finish some work, and of course his companions had attended as well. That is, until one of them fluttered off and made its way into a certain office, resting against a wall scroll and waiting. Philemon quickly became worried, searching for the butterfly, though he hadn’t yet thought to check the other occupied room.

Hikawa is sitting at his desk, nursing a cup of tea, when a flash of gold catches his eye.

How… odd that a butterfly should come to rest in here. Hikawa watches it in silence as it gently clasps and unclasps its wings. He imagines the peace of its life days- or perhaps only hours- before, wrapped in the stillness and quiet of a cocoon. It’s tragic, almost, that it has reemerged into this world of chaos and pain. Beautiful to the eye, yes, but an individual fighting the very forces of nature and time for survival, only to inevitably perish. A waste, really… A shallow and fleeting sort of beauty.

His mind moves to humankind.

He’s wondered for a long time, if there were a way to merge the self with the universe… If there were a way, would the whole of man ever willingly relinquish its grip on individuality and the flesh? Could this species hush its clamoring voices and open itself to an existence of complete harmony with the universe, rather than continue this futile and lonely struggle against it…? That is where suffering would end and true, lasting beauty could finally begin to take form.

A quiet perfection, Hikawa muses, continuing to sip his tea and rest his gaze upon the tiny visitor.

Philemon, after a good while of searching with the other butterflies comfortably situated on his shoulders and hair, before he finally checked into the room, with quick glances for his beautiful companion. Ah—there he was, seemingly among the other occupant, the newest assistant principal.

He paused, composing himself before approaching the desk, making his presence known before speaking. “I don’t mean to disrupt your thoughts, but I believe something of mine has let himself rest here. I hope you wouldn’t bar me from retrieving him.”

Hikawa's hand grips the armrest a bit as a sound pulls him out of his musings, and back into the room. He turns slowly to face this... interruption.

His eyes blink several times at the unexpected sight of a tall man in a mask, with more golden butterflies perched upon him. Ah, yes... this is Philemon, a faculty member. The two of them have never really spoken before, though he's seen him around campus here and there. Only, without these... companions.

"Oh. Philemon, was it?" Hikawa sets the mug upon the desk, and looks up at him. "Yes, if you're referring to the insect currently sitting on the wall scroll, please do remove it."

His eyes dart to the side, then back again. "Promptly."

spiritmentor asked:

Hikawa is sitting at his desk, nursing a cup of tea, when a flash of gold catches his eye.

How... odd that a butterfly should come to rest in here. Hikawa watches it in silence as it gently clasps and unclasps its wings. He imagines the peace of its life days- or perhaps only hours- before, wrapped in the stillness and quiet of a cocoon. It's tragic, almost, that it has reemerged into this world of chaos and pain. Beautiful to the eye, yes, but an individual fighting the very forces of nature and time for survival, only to inevitably perish. A waste, really... A shallow and fleeting sort of beauty.

His mind moves to humankind.

He's wondered for a long time, if there were a way to merge the self with the universe... If there were a way, would the whole of man ever willingly relinquish its grip on individuality and the flesh? Could this species hush its clamoring voices and open itself to an existence of complete harmony with the universe, rather than continue this futile and lonely struggle against it...? That is where suffering would end and true, lasting beauty could finally begin to take form.

A quiet perfection, Hikawa muses, continuing to sip his tea and rest his gaze upon the tiny visitor.