Product Placement
titsay
oozey mess
shark vs the universe
Not today Justin
Jules of Nature
Three Goblin Art
wallacepolsom
祝日 / Permanent Vacation
Sade Olutola
izzy's playlists!
occasionally subtle
tannertan36
Sweet Seals For You, Always
PR's Tumblrdome
No title available
RMH
blake kathryn
Misplaced Lens Cap
Love Begins
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from Malaysia
seen from Indonesia
seen from Canada
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Australia
seen from United States
seen from Canada
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from Brazil
seen from Türkiye
seen from Germany
seen from United Kingdom
@matchmaker-ren
I can’t see very well right now, so i will fix the problems with this tomorrow. Ren is wearing a vest because my internet connection was gone and that’s what my brain thought he wore.To be friends with Sumiko you have to indulge her 24/7.
ah yes. this summarizes their dynamic perfectly.
"Reeeeeen, don't needlessly apologize! I already expect you to be utterly boring, there's no reason to be sorry for something that isn't a disappointment! It makes you weak in front of your enemies! Geez, even apologizing for asking an extra question..." She made a fist and shook it for effect.
Sumiko put on a mock, over dramatic thinking pose, but it slowly turned into a real one. Why had she talked to Ren again? She went back in forth in her head between being honest and just giving an obviously fake answer. God, how could she even be considering being truthful? It was like a dirty word, truth. She bit her lip self-consciously before talking.
"Hnnng those are difficult questions! Difficult, personal questions! Oh Ren, don't tell me you're trying to take advantage of my emotional insecurity over the death of my friend?! That's low down! Manipulative, even a little bit evil!"
She giggled lightly and briefly put her hand to his chest. "And I like that in a man!"
Sumiko inhaled deeply, pulling or pushing her hands with her breaths.
"Alright, alright, I'm serious now. I'm super...emotionally...intense...I guess I kept talking to you because you are different than most people! No, really! Most people don't really consider me a person worth spending time on. Hell, most people don't act like they consider me a person! People think that cause i'm in a wheelchair that i'm different. Sometimes they act like they think natural selection should have just wiped me out, so i didn't really 'earn' my place as a real person. Even nice people talk down to me or think i'm stupid...it's really helpful in my career though! People don't expect me to be capable at all, much less of killing. Ah, but don't think I'm a martyr, I'm sure there have been people who consider me worthy but are just put off by my being very weird! But still, I guess it was nice to be...well, i know fear isn't the same as respect, but you don't fear sometime inferior! You must have thought i was an equal to be afraid of me, and that's nice! Not to mention people aren't exactly intimidated by a very cute girl who only comes up to their stomach! It was nice that you were intimidated of me before you knew a was a killer..."
Sumiko sat back comfortably, closing her eyes.
" ..It was a real confidence boost. But really, of course you are on my Don't Kill list! Despite my...feelings...about your job you still aren't a bad person, and I only kill criminals. You're on my don't kill as opposed to just not being on the death list is, well, because i don't think you should die! I thought the stuff you said to me had a very- ahhhhh- unique strength to it. I know it's odd to say there's strength in admitting you don't like your 'career' but you don't have the spine to get out of it, but there is! Self-awareness is a good thing, yeah? Besides, if I killed you it would be a little like killing a part of myself, and i'm not really the self-harm type, ehehehe!"
She sighed openly, clearly a bit drained. This conversation was not going how she wanted, this is the real problem with talking to people she could scare; It was waaaay too easy to just talk.. Comfort does not keep secrets safe! Her eyes shot open, and she looked at Ren wistfully, cracking a small but genuine smile.
"You seem like you are like me; a person who has been molded not by their own experiences and wishes but by the desires of other people. Right?"
Ren was in over his head with her, and he felt incredible small. Still, he managed to keep a pleasant smile on his face, although he did recoil awkwardly at any physical contact. As she went on, however, the smile fell into something more neutral. Perhaps that was how he would look if he weren't so concerned about his appearance all the time. A smile was key to a nice and gentle demeanor, but sometimes it was exhausting. So his mouth became a thin line, and his eyes widened with curiousity at her words. The matchmaker truly found people interesting. They were never completely good or completely bad, although some fell closer to the ends of either side of the spectrum. Most of the time, they were hardly what they seemed, so it took a closer look to really understand them. When Sumiko interrupted her usual over-acting with a bout of honesty, he was taken by surprise. He hadn't expected her to actually open up to him. To do that must have been because she was comfortable on some level. Probably because he didn't pose any sort of threat. It was like talking to a fly, he imagined. "I could never think less of you just because you're in a wheelchair." He knew the sort of people who could, and would, but it was an idea he couldn't fathom thinking himself. "I don't mean to, um, pull out the cliche 'it's what on the inside that counts,' but, um, I find the mind much more important than the body. The brain is what makes a person, not physical appearance or stature." The mind was what he worked with. Even if physical attraction had to play a part in a relationship commencing and working out, it was the brain that truly brought two people together. "A confidence boost, huh? You don't strike me as someone who needed that," he said. He took a sip of his tea, a mostly mechanical function, as he was still far too focused on Sumiko: what she said, how she said, and how she moved. It was a steady observation, a habit. "Though I don't feel like I'm much like you. In a good way! I mean, um, in a good way for you." He'd spoken too soon, saying his words before he could gather them into a good order. "Sorry. I really don't think I'm anywhere as strong as you, is how I meant it." He could feel himself faltering under the pessimism sometimes, giving in to the hopelessness of the situation, locking himself in his room for days to not chance death. He wasn't confident, couldn't even put on the air of being confident. Instead, he was just meek and quiet and apologized for everything. "Although, I suppose I can't refute that last point." Ren stared down at his tea again, the liquid's surface dark and calm. "But still, my situation...vastly pales in comparison to yours. Sure, I don't really want to be a matchmaker, but...it's not a very big deal. It's not like...." He snapped his gaze up to her suddenly. "So are you saying it was never your wish to become an assassin?" A second later, he was regretting it though. "Sorry! Sorry! That was...that was rude of me. That sounded really bad." Suddenly he was floundering, unsure how he was supposed to scavenge the conversation, or regain his composure. "I didn't mean to imply I thought you were so cold and callous as to just want to kill people just because you could!" Nervous, he'd raised his voice without realizing. "I just guess I never was sure of the motivation. I mean, I couldn't, because I'm not you, I don't know. But people have reasons for doing things, and you don't seem like you're a bad person, so I don't want to imply that I think you're just a murderer or something...." The tea's surface was no longer calm. It vibrated softly, as his hand was shaking a little, embarrassingly so, and he set the cup down to try and hide it. "I'm sorry. I'm rambling. I'm a little high-strung. Sorry."
ooc: i just wanted to practice coloring and ren became the subject
"Ahhhh? Distracted again I see!" Sumiko rolled next to him, slamming her hand against the table. The noise caused Ren's hand to jerk and spill tea on himself. She pursed her lips and perused over their classmates.
"How can you get any info from these people if you aren't even aware of your surroundings? I've never let anyone sneak up on me, that's a good way to get yourself kiii-iii-killed!" She sang a bit and moved closer, putting a hand around his shoulder.
"I mean, you would have been screwed if that's what a wanted! I'm a snake master; i could have just walked(wheeled!) on by, sprinkling in a few drops of Habu snake venom into that tea of yours." She grim inced and wiggled her fingers at his cup of tea, as if it was the trouble of all her hurt feelings.
" Nobodies paying attention, you would have just collapsed violently until you died! The report would just show you were poisoned, not saying it was snake venom, and all i would have to do is grab a few vials of poison and hide it in some sucker's room! God Damn-" Sumiko collapsed back in her chair, her arms dangling over the side, and started pouting. "That would have been perfect!"
"Maaaaan that would have been great! Like, which one of these yahoo's would know they effects of Habu snake venom?? None of them, that's who! Ah well, hindsight is 20-20!" She sighed, blowing the bangs out of her face.
She looked over at Ren and his expression and smirked, quickly adding, "Not that I would have killed you! You have to understand that i'm a freaky genius when it comes to killing and other evil shenanigans My mind is just going craaaazy not doing any said shenanigans! But really, I promise you are officially on my do not kill list." Sumiko quickly averted her gaze, her entire demeanor falling flat.
"Sadly, my list of companionship has been smacked in two and mopped into non-existence." She was quiet a moment, but then laughed quietly at her own joke. "Ahhh it's good to laugh, even at poorly-constructed jokes. Obviously I'm off my game a bit! But I'll be back to full capacity soon!
Sumiko propped her head on her hand, put on a big,fake frown, and started talking in a cutesy depressed voice. "So tell me Wen, why are you sittin' all awone, in da corner, wif just a single cup of tea for company?"
Hot. His tea was hot. He let out an undignified, "Sh-shit!" It wasn't much like him to swear, as it wasn't proper at all, though he wasn't sure why he was so concerned about it now. Being prim and proper should have been the last of his worries, and yet he couldn't get his mother's reprimanding voice out of his head. Hastily, he dabbed at his shirt with a napkin, but he gave up rather quick. It also seemed like something unimportant.
"Hello, Tsukino-san," he said with a weak smile, although any of his words- his very presence- became engulfed by hers. She was loud and eccentric and confusing with a demeanor that demanded attention, and he shrunk beside her. But that was alright. He didn't particularly mind her, no matter how overwhelming she was. It was a little nice, in a way, to see a familiar face, even if he was convinced that face didn't like him. Ren found himself chuckling a few times as she explained how she could kill him. He never would have thought he'd laugh at the idea of his own death, but there he was. "That would have been a good plan," he agreed quietly. The next part caught him off-guard. Had he heard right? Was he really on her list of people she wouldn't kill? It wasn't that he thought she was unrestrained, and would kill anyone she came across. He had just been under the impression that she was disgusted with him and what he did. Her next reaction, however, shed a bit of light on that. For a moment, she seemed almost...solemn? Oddly subdued for her. And she talked about lacking companionship, and Suzu's death. So she most have been friends with Suzu. It was an interesting combination, Ren thought. The hired killer with the crash test dummy. The girl who could feel no pain and the girl who could kill in the blink of an eye. A potentially dangerous pair. Though, not anymore, not that one half of that duo was dead, so he stopped that useless train of thought. It seemed, however, that Sumiko was hinting at some sort of loneliness. The idea sounded strange to the matchmaker at first- but, then again, assassins were still people, with people emotions. In an instant, she had switched personas again. Why? There were a lot of potential reasons why a person might hide behind a mask. It was something he saw a lot. In fact, nearly everybody hid behind a mask of something or other. She was just a bit more eccentric about it than others. Was it to keep herself distant from others? A barrier? Something like that was good to keep her from connecting to other people. She tucked her own self away and let a fancy outer personality do all the talking for her. Ren snapped back to awareness, away from his theories. She'd asked him a question. He paused, bringing his cup of tea (fortunately not all had spilled) up to his lips and taking a sip. Wisps of smoke curled up and drifted against his face like a warm fog. The tea hit his throat, warm, herbal, but light. "I don't really mind being alone. I was just people-watching. And thinking." He sheepishly grinned. "I'm sorry. I'm quite boring." He took a small sip, and held the tea in his mouth for a few moments while he contemplated his next words. Finally, he swallowed. "Um. I have a question too. Why did, um, you feel like approaching me?" He didn't look at her as he asked, opting instead to stare down at his cup, but he managed eye contact after a moment. "And why am I on your 'to not kill' list? I'm, uh, I'm pretty sure you don't like me. Oh. Sorry. I guess that was two questions."
New Bitch on the Block (Open)
Great, so she was in a new school, huh? Chiemi honestly hated going to new schools. Why should she have to associate herself with dumb bitches and hoes when she had a perfectly fine governess traveling from show to show with her? Sure, during her off season, she occasionally attended school, but that was often short lived. Sighing, the Broadway Performer was soon brought into the school. The girl looked like a human version of a raven when she came in. With piercing red eyes, black hair, a black flapper dress and black shoes, she looked fierce as she did calculating. Perhaps that seemed silly, considering the fact that she stood at a mere 5’2”. If you told her that however, she’d glare at you for being a stupid bitch and not knowing who the fuck she was! Well ok: no she didn’t really care if you didn’t know who she was. Whatever. Chiemi was directed to the mess hall where she waited to meet someone who know what went down at this place. "..Uh, hi…" She finally said as a person approached. Welp.
As soon as Ren saw a new person, the basic instinct to look presentable kicked in. He'd been slightly slouched (how barbaric!) over a table while he read a book, but he instantly straightened back up. Mustering up his most graceful maneuvers, he slid off his chair, and fixed his bow tie until it was perfect against his neck, like a splash of blood against his throat. It was funny how he associated the color red with blood more and more. It was funnier still how it was also the color of love.
"Ah, hello there." His voice was cheerful, not a whisper but still on the quiet side, and his smile was a soft curve. Approachable. Friendly. Perhaps a bit timid. The first two points were what he'd hoped to get across- the timidness was an irritating part of his personality he couldn't get rid of. "I'm Ren Matsui. I take if you're a new student? Oh, um, wait, that's rather stupid of me. Of course you're a new student. I haven't seen you yet and even I am not that much of a recluse. Sorry. Sorry. That was, um, a lot of words for a greeting."
Already he was fucking up. Way to go, Ren, he thought bitterly. Learn to bite your stupid tongue. None of the bitterness toward himself was reflected in his eyes, however. He held out his hand, his posture impeccable, like a model example of a polite human being.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Just from appearances, she seemed to be a somewhat daunting person, but he would need to watch her a bit more before really understanding how she was.
canis canem edit // open
Ren sat in the mess hall, doing one of his favorite activities: people watching. Or, perhaps, he wasn't all that fond of it. It was mostly just something he was used to doing. When he thought about, a lot of things he did were things he only did because they'd been made a habit, through the suggestion of someone else (mainly his mother). He dressed nicely and presentably because she wanted him too, and eventually it had become ingrained into his psyche. He watched people for the sake of his talent, a talent which he had never been entirely fond of, and yet he honed it regardless.
People watching was simple, and revealed a lot about his fellow students. Watching their body language when they interacted with others, watching their body language when they were alone. Seeing what they did when they thought others couldn't see, and what they did when they were sure others were watching. Ren could analyze and dissect their movements, and relay what it said about their personality, for the sake of seeing which two people could put up with each other best. That was what it all came down to, wasn't it? As if he hadn't been jaded before, after a talk with a certain snake charmer, it had become worse. Not to mention, if he hadn't had that stupid talent in the first place, he'd never had gotten into this living hell passing off as a school.
Dead bodies flashed through his mind. Too many. All killed in varying horrific ways. Even the tamest death (Suzu's, in his opinion) was made terrible by the fact it had been carried out a friend. No, worse than that was how she'd been used a shield by a coward. This school was only bringing out the worst in people, which was contrary to its original purpose- to foster students overflowing with hope and promise.
The matchmaker, as he watched some odd assortment of students pass in and out of the mess hall throughout the hour- talking and eating- couldn't keep from wondering who would die next, or might kill him. Pessimism was a dark mold growing on his brain, worsening with each new day in the school. He tried to ward it off, but sometimes he felt so helpless. Thinking about everything, he felt his mind drifting. He was drinking a cup of green tea, still steaming, which he held up close to his lips without taking a sip. Outwardly, he seemed focused, but his mind was actually lost, caught up in too many thoughts. If someone were to approach, he wouldn't even notice.
(( ignore the hands ignore the hands ignore the hands
Left to right: Ren Matsui, Sumiko Tsukino, Masako Seikuro, Jane Perry
[1] [2] [3] [?] [?] [?] ))
Lex Talionis + Open
Suzu Suzuki was dead. The crash test dummy had finally been broken beyond repair. One of the most level-headed and competent students had fallen (giving him flashbacks to the time Mori-san died). Ren had liked her, really. Revered her too. She was stoic and composed. Emotionless? But that seemed ideal in this situation. She didn't fall apart...she'd been through so many tests (he couldn't recall the exact number although he knew it was staggering)...and now she'd been done in here. It wasn't right. Then again, was murder ever right? Perhaps, in the instances where the murderer was killed. An eye for an eye and all that. And that was what he was aiming for. But it was more than that, too. It wasn't about killing the murderer so much as it was about avenging Suzu. She deserved that. (Plus, if they failed to find the culprit, the rest of them died as well, so that was a pretty good incentive too.) After wandering through the halls in a half-dazed state, following the trail of water to gain what evidence he could, the matchmaker looped back around to return to the crime scene. "Shit," he mumbled to himself as the body came back into view. He wasn't sure why but a part of him expected himself to become impervious to the sight of corpses by now. How many had he seen? It would be nice, he thought, if his stomach didn't lurch, if his headache didn't intensify until it felt his skull would crack open. He cringed and brought his hands to his temples, hoping to will the pain to stop. He needed to focus.
What is love? (Open)
Suzu walked into the classroom, quiet as usual. She looked very different compared to how she usually looked. Perhaps it was nice, considering the fact that this was a speed dating event, but she was a little worried that some people might not even recognize her. However, the thought was quickly dismissed when she remembered the bandages all over her upper extremities. Surely that would be telling enough that it was her, right? It was a long time since Suzu Suzuki wore her hair down like this. Truthfully, she preferred wearing her hair down, but it just wasn’t a good idea when it came to being a crash test dummy. Her hair could be ripped out of her head or something if it was too loose. It could even catch fire (something which did happen during her first crash test. THAT certainly took awhile to grow back!) if she wasn’t careful. Sitting quietly in her seat, Suzu didn’t know what number she was, nor did she care. According to a card however, someone might visit her first. Honestly, she was fine with that. Perhaps this would be the best time to raise a question. One she’d been curious about whenever she encountered the idea of ‘love’ in this place. As someone sat down next to her, she looked at them seriously before stating the following “What do you think…love feels like? Moreover…how would you describe ‘love’?” Yeah, that was probably a bad question.
Ren didn't like being held captive at the school, or the robotic cat which controlled them all, or the random field trips she took them on. He felt too much like a marionette, jerked from place to place. Insanity was playing a big game with her dolls, dressing them up, moving them around. And their latest scenario seemed to be... speed dating. When he'd heard it over the announcement, he'd nearly choked on laughter- until he passed out from the gas. Once he awoke, he found himself in one of the nice suits he had packed. It wasn't something he'd ever thought he'd wear since the school life of murder had begun, but he couldn't say he disliked wearing it, either. The jacket was a rich shade of purple, velvety to the touch, and the vest had the most exquisite silver design. Looking around, it seemed all the other students were dressed in fine clothes, which was something Ren could appreciate. He was a sucker for fashion. In his hand was a number, presumably the first table he needed to head to. "We really are speed dating, aren't we? Just when it seemed like it couldn't get more ridiculous...." The matchmaker wasn't sure how he hadn't learned his lesson yet. The situation could always, always get more absurd. It seemed he was paired with Suzu for the time being, so he found the proper table, and slid into his seat. It was strange to think that it was a date...technically, sort of. He couldn't think of it as such. He'd never been on an actual date, as he'd never been so inclined. It was more like a meeting between two friends. Yes, that would be it. The crash test dummy wasted no time in getting into conversation, and started with questions that caught him completely off-guard. One might think that a matchmaker would be a good person to ask such questions, but they would be wrong. At least in regards to this particular matchmaker. "Uh, love, huh?" He blinked several times, then glanced around the room, fiddled with his tie, and swallowed hard before continuing to speak. "Those are weird questions. And despite my, uh, talent, I'm not sure I'm actually the most qualified to answer.... What does love feel like, huh? I can't say anything from...personal experience, but I guess I've seen a lot of people in love, so...." It wasn't a topic he would have chosen to talk about, but it would try to answer to the best of his capabilities. It would have been rude to do otherwise. "Happy, I think. People seem to be happy when they're in love. That's why they strive so hard for it. People, at the end of the day, just want to be happy. And...." He paused, scratching his head. "Cared for, I guess. You know, knowing that there's someone there for you. Comfortable." Those seemed to be the things that the people who came to him were looking for. "Love's an emotion. I mean, it's something you feel for someone else. A...connection." He smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. Those weren't very good answers, were they? And, uh, I meant to say it earlier, but you look really nice tonight. I think your hair looks nicer down than in braids. Uh, not to say they looked bad, it's just...it looks nice, and I'll shut up now."
Ren's appearance for the speed dating. It's not exactly a...drastic change from the norm.
Another Death, Another Trial, Another- oh who am I kidding? (OPEN)
Souda sat alone in the cafeteria, scowling at his juice with a bag of candy he had gotten from the mall in front of him. Staring a hole through the can, he was demolishing the candy at a pretty good rate.
So, that chick had gotten cut up like out of a horror movie and that Dexter guy had done it. Was almost like something out of a B-horror flick but here they all were, living that dumb script.
He wasn’t really sure what he should do. When Yukan had died, yeah he didn’t massively care as it didn’t effect him. But it did effect his schemes and he at least knew Yukan. This time though he barely new those two. Somehow, he didn’t feel any more shocked than if they had just been two names on the news. He couldn’t even begin to fake a care about it.
As intent as he was on the Juice can, he hadn’t notice someone sneak up on him. Turning with a startle he cursed himself mentally for not paying attention, but greeted the new comer with a warm “Oh! Hello there, care for some candy?”
As much as Ren was tempted to revert into hermit mode and lock himself in his room where he couldn't be murdered, he forced himself to move around the school, relying on the hope that a student wouldn't be moved to murder so soon after an execution. It was a gruesome sight, an eye for an eye mentality. But had Dexter deserved it? The matchmaker wasn't sure it was really in his right to judge that. The contortionist had killed, so he was killed. It was twisted, but it seemed equal and fitting on paper.
After all, weren't murderers sentenced to death? This was a little like that, just...more violent. And all set up by that cat. If she hadn't started this game, none of this would have happened, and they could have had a normal school year....
It did no good to dwell on what could or could not have happened, Ren reminded himself. He brought a water battle to his thin lips, and sipped slowly as he walked through the quiet halls. He'd allowed the water bottle to sit too long, so the liquid was room temperature and not very appealing. He didn't relish the thought of going into the mess hall, where the murder had happened, but he found himself on the path there regardless. Perhaps a morbid part of him was a little curious about how well it had been cleaned up.
Very well, as it turned out. He scanned the room, finding no trace of gore. It was like it had never even happened. He walked briskly to the vending machine to get himself a coffee, not intending to stay longer than needed. On his way out, however, he passed a bit too close to another student, who noticed him an offered him some candy.
Ren sheepishly smiled and shook his head. "Thank you, but I'm not very fond of sweets." He paused, looking the student up and down. He had certainly seen him around, but had never actually talked to him before. "I'm sorry, I don't think we formally met before. Where are my manners?"
He straightened up and held out one hand while the other held his drink. "I'm Ren Matsui. It's rather...late to be doing introductions like these, I think, but I suppose I've been holed up too much."
sorry for disappearing. real life happened. i should hopefully be back on within a couple days!
sol lucet omnibus ☼ open
Bright light seared through his eyelids. Had he fallen asleep in his room? Had the light always been the strong? Ren opened his eyes slowly, squinting, adjusting to the high level of light. This didn't feel right. It was warm, and the air smelled faintly of salt and water. Crisp, clear, and a rather nice change of pace from the urban setting of the school. Insanity's announcement came back to him suddenly. They were going on another strange field trip of her orchestration. And this time it was to...the beach. The sand was soft against his bare back. Wait. Bare? That sudden revelation kicked him into full awareness, and the matchmaker scrambled to his feet, slipping in the sand a little. He'd been relieved of his usual formal clothes, and reduced down to a pair of swimming trunks: red, with pink hearts. How...cute. He wasn't sure what to be more distressed about. The fact that he'd been undressed, or that he had no idea where his clothes were. He'd been wearing his favorite blazer and everything.
Oh well. This wasn't the time to worry about that. In the whole scheme of things, it was rather unimportant. Ren glanced around the beach, and out toward the ocean, running his hands up and down his arms. He felt practically naked, both physically and on a more mental level. He'd always been told to use clothes to his advantage to give off a certain presence, to create a certain air about him. Professional, and perhaps a bit sophisticated, that was supposed to be his usual look. Appearances were important, and a pair of swimming trunks weren't a very good appearance. He felt more like the lanky, pale teenage boy he was more than ever. Thin arms wrapped around himself, he walked across the beach. All the bad things put aside, it was a nice change of pace. No claustrophobic walls, no metallic hallways. They were obviously restricted on this beach, but it still felt more open than the academy. After walking a small distance, Ren paused and turned his face toward the water, its blue waves tumbling in a mesmerizing pattern. He closed his eyes, feeling just the sun on his skin, and couldn't help but smile. "It's almost like being free," he said to himself, laughing quietly, but unable to keep the wryness out of his voice.
Super High School Level Matchmaker Ren Matsui
oh man i can't wait to get off work i'll try to write an open and respond to some uwu
" You think so? Is that supposed to make me feel any different? Peddling something you don't believe in is terrible, you're almost as bad as me!" She sneered at the floor, avoiding eye contact. She rolled back a little bit, giving him a little bit of space.
"How do you decide? What do you do to make unappealing people seem worthy of love? When do you strike so you can get change in your pocket and a better record. Please, since you seem so unwilling to defend your career, what makes up a matchmaker? Don't make me ask again, ahoho~" She instantly reverted back to a slightly condescending, but cheerful tone.
She was growing more and more unhappy with this conversation. This whole school was affecting her much more than she first thought. She was not supposed to go off on random boys! She was supposed to be endearing towards any boy who could help her in any way, and intimidating to the worthless remainders. This kid was definitely scared, but he was still here, talking to her as if she was an equal. He was clearly too good to talk to- She was clearly too good to talk to him! Clearly. She frowned without realizing it. Why was he still talking to her?
The space was needed, and much appreciated. Still, he remained on his knees on the floor. It wasn't a very dignified position, but he couldn't seem to muster the strength to get up. He'd never thought about his talent this much. It was just something he had a knack for, and his mother encouraged him to use it. Sure, he was jaded toward the thought of love, and yet he continued pushing two people together toward it. Ren had never thought it as bad before, but Sumiko was making him reconsider a lot in a short span of time. He wasn't sure if he was just easily influenced, or it was something else.
He wanted to tell her that it was his mother who mainly pushed him into this line of work, but she didn't seem the type who wanted to hear excuses. So he settled on answering her question about what made a matchmaker. He was silent for a few moments, rolling the words around his mouth so he could try and find the right ones. When it didn't seem as if the perfect ones would come up, he settled with whatever came out, not wanting to keep her waiting even longer. "It's...a lot about understanding people, I guess. Or, trying to. Observing them. Um. Trying to see how they work...what they're like." He squirmed a little and fiddled with the water bottle so the plastic crinkled. "I'm sorry. I always find it hard to explain. It's just...some traits don't mesh well...and some do. Like...a puzzle. People are like puzzles, and you see how the edges line up. I'm sorry, that's a dumb analogy." For the duration of his speech, he'd been looking down at the floor. At the end, however, he lifted his gaze to look at her, trying to read her expression.
vae victis | open |
Suzu made her way to the mess hall when she smelled the scene of breakfast. Not surprising for her was the fact that she hadn’t eaten much of anything in a couple of days. She rarely was ever hungry, after all. Did a girl who was often beat around by crash test machines have to eat much in the first place? After all, it wasn’t as if she could ‘fight back’ or anything. Still, her stomach betrayed her today when she smelled fresh eggs and pancakes. It reminded her of a morning in particular, when Marco’s wife made her the very same thing for breakfast upon learning that she didn’t eat as regularly as a growing child should. At least, those were her words. Suzu staggered into the mess hall, surprised that there was still more than enough food for her to enjoy. What she noticed more however, was the staggering Ren. Was he the one responsible then? He looked very exhausted, at any rate. Slowly, the girl took 2 pancakes and a few eggs and sat next to where Ren remained staggered. “…Thank you. Do you…want me to serve to a plate since you…made all of this?” She stared at the boy curiously as she asked this. It was the least she could do considering, right?
"Good morning, Suzuki-san," he greeted with a warm smile. It was slightly strained, a sadness creeping along the edges of his features. But that was to be expected. It was hard to really uphold happiness after everything that had happened.
Ren realized he was glad to see the girl. He hadn't talked to her very much, but from what he had seen, she was strong. Stoic, emotionless, and a little strange, perhaps, but she had a level head and seemed to be a good person. He remembered how insistent she had been about avenging Mori-san's murder- how the emotion had crept into her voice then. The two had appeared to be somewhat close. They might've even fit nicely together...if...well....
He stopped that train of thought immediately, shamefully. That certainly wasn't anything to ponder about when someone had died! He was such a tactless idiot.
"Ah, no, that's alright. I was going to let other people take some more before getting a plate of my own. Thank you for the offer, though." That was purely his brain speaking. His body wouldn't have thought twice about piling a plate high with food.
"So, um, any idea what we're supposed to do from here?" The words were out before he could stop them. "I mean," and he quickly had to tack on more so as to not seem so forward, so desperate, "just if...in case you had any like. Ideas? Um." He scratched at the side of his head. "You're a part of the Peace Enforcers, right? I don't claim to know much about them besides how Mori-san set them up...but...I dunno if you were like...planning something." He swallowed hard. "Sorry. This isn't very good conversation, is it?"
