beaconed | [ ic contact ]

[ Gosh it is hard not to smile automatically at his kind volley there. ]

Yeah, ah, you know– I'm really sorry I keep - dragging you into things. [ He couldn't know it, of course, but this is literally the first time she's apologised to anyone for such a thing, which is different from apologising for punching them in the face or needing to be rescued. ] But it's– ...Agh It's just that you don't treat me like something weak for what I don't know or how I look. How I act. [ If anything he sort of... reveres her?

No, that's too strong a word. Narcissistic! She goes red with shame just thinking it... ] Ah. Well. Anyway, you don't. And - honestly, Jaune? You know, you... you don't have to try as hard as you do. You don't need to be different to be special.

I mean who else thinks animals are easier to understand than people?

[ NOT ALL OF US ARE WEIRD ROYALTY ]

[ The way he hears it, it almost sounds patronizing, even if she didn't quite mean it that way. Like when his parents said that he can come home if Beacon doesn't work out, because they care about their son, and not because they don't believe in him. It's his own issues, really, and he has learned to brush it off by now.

In the meantime, during her lengthy speech, he's been slowly making his way across the desks, finally landing in front of her just as she finishes speaking-- ]

I'm sorry, which one of us is best friends with a chameleon again? [ It's said lightheartedly as he also taps the top of her head now that they're in close quarters. It's an "I GOT YOU" kind of tap, as if they've been playing a game of tiggy tag. ] ...Are you ready to come down, now?

I am absolutely not ready to come down now. [ And she'll demonstrate it by folding her arms again, refusing to carry the torch of tag. Now that he's near enough to whisper fiercely at (h a h a), looking him up and down, something that wipes Rapunzel's face of all but pride occurs to her. ]

This is the only way I'll ever be taller than you. [ And, taking pity, she finally taps him back. Maybe clumsier than intended. ]

And you know. That's actually a good point? About the chameleon? I'm used to understanding... myself. –And Pascal, of course! And my head. I feel like I've been in my own head for way too long. [ As if to punctuate his existence, Pascal nuzzles affectionately at Rapunzel's neck before scuttling down her leg like a~~n Australian~~ spider and seeking solace in the solid ground. ]

...Don't let me give you advice, okay? We're equals now. I don't want to do to you what everyone else does to me.

Heh, equals? Sure... Y'know, if you keep saying it like that, people are gonna think we're--

[ Before Jaune can finish his sentence, all the lights in the room suddenly turn on, and then the doors open for small waves of older students entering the class. A couple of them even notice the two virgin losers just standing on top of the desks, while most are just taking their seats and preparing notes.

It looks like they've stumbled upon a college seminar... class... wayyy above their year level.

Uh. ]

[ At this point none of it comes as much of a surprise; the colour in her face doesn't even change!

Feeling further beneficent, Rapunzel drops and slides to the edge of her desk before offering Jaune a hand down, which isn't strictly speaking necessary. ]

Let's get out of here. I don't know that these people want to talk about snail courtship. And we have a vending machines to see. I hear one is supposed to be cursed?

[ He takes that hand anyway for two reasons, 1) automatic response when someone offers you a hand, and 2) sea otters alkjdfjkl;ahdg. ]

S-Sure you don't wanna stay? Heh... [ It's a jokey, sarcastic question, because fuck this mystery class. As they walk past a couple of the students, they get some funny looks, which Jaune either doesn't notice or he's just used to sticking out like a weirdo. ]

Oh, and Rapunzel? [ And now it's his turn to whisper, but only because they're still in a crowd. ]

I don't mind it. ... Being dragged into things.
[ By you. ]

[ Lmao this isn't cool man. ]

[ First the classroom promise bullshit and now he's picking up on her tricks UM ]

[ Rude. He's rude. He's a rude person. ]

Yeah, well. [ Short laugh. ] Your turn to drag, I guess.

[ AND DRAG HE WILL.

They've spent about half a day playing hooky so far, just exploring the campus while avoiding security like they're playing real life Metal Gear Solid. And they didn't even need to use any boxes yet! How did his life suddenly get 1000% more adventurous... ]

...aaannnnnd now this brings us to the vending machines! ... A vending machine. [ Jaune steps aside to let her examine it. It seems to offer both snacks and drinks, but as for curses? There's no guarantee in Cerealia. ]

... Thrilled? [ Because it's pretty underwhelming, haha. ]

Maybe. [ Said appraisingly. She pauses to inspect the goods through the glass, tilting her head this way and that before stepping back and gesturing plainly. ]

Well. How does it work? I won't know if I'm thrilled until I see it in action.

Wh... What do you mean?

... Rapunzel? Have you... y-you've never seen a vending machine before, have you?

[ Jaune wonders just how small her world used to be. He has no idea. Perhaps she lived on an island or something? But that's fine, even he didn't know what Aura or a Landing Strategy was. No judgment! ]

Do you have quarters? Coins maybe?

No. [ She bites her lip, suddenly feeling a smidgen of consciousness - despite what they'd just talked about!! ] –er, I mean... maybe? I don't know. Heh. Quarters of what?

[ Gosh sure is strange being the one who doesn't know something and needs instruction. It must, she thinks, be incredibly annoying, and she wishes there were a book somewhere she could read about all this! ]

I mean. I don't know if there are vending machines in my world, you know...

[ Meanwhile in Jaune's mind, he wonders if this is what Pyrrha felt like when she had to show him the simplest things. He's certainly smiling the same way she did. ]

Well, you can't know everything about everything. I would know.

[ His hand rummages through his pockets until he shows her a fistful of coins. All random change. ... There's also a loose button in there, just to remind everyone that he's still an idiot. ]

Vending machines are like shops, y'know? The way it works is you put money in them, and... then pick what you wanna get in exchange. Wanna try?

[ ...Looking tentatively between Jaune's hand and the machine. Those are his precious items, aren't they? Treasures from home. ]

...I can? You don't mind if I take your quarter coins?

[ Quarter coins....... d-don't laugh. ]

I think we earned ourselves a snack, don't you? [ Note to self: Teach her about money sometime. Second note to self: Teach self how to explain money to someone else. ]

Go ahead.

EE! [ Unexpected outburst right in the face!! ] Okay!!

[ And now she hop hop hops like a strange mutant rabbit to put the coins into the slot, first the wrong way, then the right way, then hesitantly because she doesn't like to see them go away aaah... ]

Goodbye friends. [ There they go! ]

Jaune, I did it. Look. Now what?

[ jESUS don't scare him with those outbursts!!!! ]

Well, let's see.

[ Jaune towers behind her as he also leans forward to read the machine better, lightly slamming the thing with his hand when he looks at it accusingly.

It's like a backwards kabe-don. ]

W-What?! Did I only have that much?! C'mon... We're supposed to be students! Unbelievable...!

[ Apparently they can only afford the low quality drinks/snacks. And not enough for both?? ]

[ At first this seems like a very serious transaction; Rapunzel looks up at Jaune (she has to crane her neck rather sharply to do this, but it's actually sort of fun), looks back at the snacks, looks up at Jaune...

And then, as he's negotiating with a nonexistent teller, hums and nods to herself as if this makes any sense at all, settling back for the long haul. Ah life in the under 5' lane. ]

Yes. Mm, it's a problem for sure. [ beat ] What's the matter?

[ Man, he's so flustered about the machine robbing him that he doesn't even have time to be flustered about this weird closeness. HE WANTED THAT ORANGE JUICE, UGH. ]

W-Well? See this second row? [ His hand lowers slightly as he presses his finger against the glass, dragging it across as he continues explaining. ] You get to pick annnnnyyyyyyyy of these snacks or drinks. --Cool, right?

[ He's trying to sound enthusiastic about it, but it's hard when there's a muesli bar among those options. Who the hell ever orders those from vending machines?? No wonder they're cheap!!! ]

But only one! So... ch-choose wisely! I guess.

What-?! [ Uh oh was that a note of irritation. ] T-That's so unfair...! I don't believe them.

...um. [ Uh oh was she just rambling on in a misleadingly knowing manner again. ] Remind me again why that's a problem?

[ Her cringe melts into a contented smile as she turns her eyes back to their limited selection. ] I mean, some of these look... all right. Right? Like - hah. Okay, so I don't know what most of these are, but - cha. Still.

[ STOP IT ]

...How about you tell me what they are and I'll tell you which sounds the least awful. If the taste is bad, I'll eat the rest since it's only fair.

Edited 2016-01-23 09:29 (UTC)

Sheesh! You're really dragging this out, aren't you?

[ Tapping the glass with his finger now, not out of impatience, but more as a way to help him think. Maybe it would be good to narrow these down even more if she's indecisive... ]

First, do you wanna eat or are you thirsty?

[ are u thirsty thirsty... ]

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this one is for you senpai

fair crack of the whip mate

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