Paying a Visit [Shunnosuke/NPC Ariston]

Posts : 1664 Join date : 2014-05-22

Once he was done suppressing laughters at Ariston's humorous raillery, he went back to the track. — So, as long as Thesis is alive somewhere, this won't end... — He sighed, disappointed. Clearly Ariston had no way of assisting them further with the issue in hands. What they could do is to keep an eye out for Jandice's mood and any perceptible changes in her behavior and appearance, and try to keep her under control should it happen, but other than that...they had to go straightly to the source. Predictable. — Well now, we have other concern in hands. While Jandice is safe right now, I have reasons to believe we're being watched and those interested in Jandice will eventually show up and retrieve her, sooner or later.

Posts : 708 Join date : 2014-02-01

Julian nodded in response to Ariston's warning. Jandice was quite different from any other girl he'd meet on the street, sure. But she had no control over it. She never had a say in whether she was human or not. And from what he saw of her and what he knew, she was a good person at least. So while he'd mind his boundaries and remember the danger, there was no need to treat Jandice like a nuclear warhead.

Placing his hands back in his pockets, Julian awaited Ariston's reaction to the news that they were possibly--or most likely--being followed. Having people on their trail was bad enough; learning that they were in fact a well-known gang was another matter entirely.

Posts : 6498 Join date : 2013-07-06 Age : 30

Ariston frowned. "Naturally. You will just have to hide her, unless she busts out, which you probably should not attempt to control unless you know you can stop her. Put her in a disguise and keep her at one of your homes maybe. We can have her return when this all gets better. If others are tracking her, more reason to get her into a safe spot, and watch her. Skip class if you have to, since it will be starting soon." He said, thinking to himself, and looking out at the window towards Standasen.

Posts : 1664 Join date : 2014-05-22

Skipping classes? No way. Not a suggestion he'd listen from a teacher's mouth, nor a suggestion he'd follow anyway. He didn't want to actually skip classes now he was back to studying. — The thing is those who are after her are a dangerous gang from Standasen who's already aware of my location, name and appearance... — This was one serious concern for him. More than afraid for himself, he was afraid for their parents and grandparents and how clueless they are about their gained condition as easy targets. — This is precisely why I demanded Julian to lay low with Jandice, since I'm a much easier target. However, it doesn't make me any less worried and sadly I can't tell my family about this matter or even resort to the police officers, they've already proved to be useless when it comes to this...

Posts : 708 Join date : 2014-02-01

Bust out? In her condition? No. Jandice wasn't stupid. She had to realize that those people from before were looking for her. Not to mention she was adamant to stay away from people, from crowds, from anyone who could see what was happening to her. Which was why he brought her to his uncle's house and sent away all the other family members there besides Pierce. She had her privacy, shelter, security, and the care that she needed. Surely she could see that for now the place she was at was a decent enough hideaway? With a quick mental shake of the head, Julian reaffirmed these thoughts and convinced himself that, once his business here was done, he would go back to that place and find her still there, maybe up, maybe still in bed, but there at the least.

For a moment, Julian wondered since Ariston was his teacher and he basically given permission to skip class if he'd count the absence excused or not. Hell, would he even mark him down as absent in the first place? ...No, not the time for that. They were trying to focus on keeping everyone out of that gang's hands and alive. Exhaling heavily, Julian muttered, "You should have Hyde watch over you. They saw what he can do and they seem terrified of him, anyways. Maybe if he was around you 24/7 they wouldn't bother coming near you." He'd said it at first mostly out of irritation over the whole turn of events, but the more he thought about it, the idea seemed more and more appealing. He knew they'd told Hyde to stay back the last time they'd seen him, but surely he'd come back if they asked for help? The guy seemed to pride himself on always being there for his friends, after all. No reason why he wouldn't step up this time, right?

Posts : 6498 Join date : 2013-07-06 Age : 30

Ariston sighed. "Either stay low, or try to fight them off, or work with them. I don't know what to tell you about that. I didn't get a gang upset with me," he said. What else could he say? He hardly associated himself with those types, so what would be the point?

Posts : 1664 Join date : 2014-05-22

...that's definitely not what he aimed to listen from Ariston. He expected some offer of help, some concern, but no, all the man did was merely state the obvious. Nothing beyond it. He could pass the first display of harshness, believing it was some endeavor of bringing motivational words to a student in need, but a second time wouldn't be tolerated.

— ...Mhm. I didn't also get myself in the hospital trying to play hero versus an ancient powerful goddess, but it has never stopped from bringing a new outlook to someone who seemed to be utterly defeated and miserable after a failed attempt. Mind you, I've risked myself associating with the gang so I could reach to Jandice easier since, apparently, you had literally zero clue on her real identity, and for clarification, the reason why they're on my track now is because I refused to treat another human being as a commercial ware, regardless of who she really is. So, thank you very much, Professor, that's very enlightening and considerate of you. — He answered calmly, though his snide and firm behavior would come across very clearly. It wasn't hard to notice Ariston did strike a nerve and hurt the teenager. Perhaps he should have indeed rewarded them with Jandice, instead of sacrificing his regular life schedule pretending to be doing something important for people like Ariston and Azores. He still believed he did the right choices, regardless of the high cost of the consequences, but...eh.

Posts : 708 Join date : 2014-02-01

This was probably the part where he should try and calm Shunnosuke down, or at least quietly reprimand him for talking that way to an authority figure. Maybe elbow him in the back or whatever. But why?

From what he could tell, Shunnosuke was actually right. Now, why the underclassman thought their teacher would provide a way to evade a high-profile gang, that was lost on him, but he could understand that Shunnosuke was scared over this whole thing and needed advice from someone.

He was going to let the two of them hash this out. Right now, the talk of the gang being on their tail was making him a little antsy, especially since he'd left Jandice alone. Sure, he'd told her where he was going and promised to come back with an answer posthaste, and she agreed and went back to resting, but leaving her with just his uncle for too long made him uneasy.

"Shunnosuke, I think I'd going to head back. If you need me for anything, give me a call, alright?" Julian looked at his teacher and smiled politely. "Thank you for telling us what you know. I hope you make a full recovery soon, Mr. Ariston, and that I'll see you in class soon." That said, should no one call out to him or ask him to stay, Julian would quietly excuse himself from the room and close the door behind him before leaving the hospital through a different entrance than the one he'd met Shunnosuke at.

-Exit-

Posts : 6498 Join date : 2013-07-06 Age : 30

Ariston remained quiet, in thought as Julian left. Ariston's eyes grew cold at the young man for that sleight of his. He was not planning to let that go. "Do you want to cry now? What else do you wish me to say, beyond stay safe? If you get involved with a gang, then the last thing you want to do is take them on, openly at least. You took the easier job while I chose to fight Thesis, though only to find out she left behind some abomination. I am not stroking your ego for this when there are bigger matters to worry about," Ariston said, staring daggers straight back at the young man. Who was he to talk down at him after what he had done or seen? He sighed, and pulled the blanket off of himself, revealing a hospital gown and pants. He laid his feet on the floor, and his arms in his lap. "Make no mistake, you did a great thing capturing her, but if you want honesty, look no further. You have wandered into a dangerous situation, and you need to wake up and deal with it. I'll gladly help you, but I don't know the answers to everything. Now stop acting like a child and grow up. I am not your father, and hardly someone you should consider a friend." Ariston looked at him almost sympathetically. He didn't understand the young man on the outside, but inside, he could see clear resemblances with him, and a certain brother he had never tried to look after. And in a way, that hurt him to see. Ariston had to make sure Shunnosuke understood, lest he walk that same path his brother once did...

Posts : 1664 Join date : 2014-05-22

...Alright. Shunnosuke would just narrow his gaze at a loss of words. This is not how he viewed Ariston at all, and it seemed like the image he had on the teacher gave rise to a completely different human being. Whether Ariston acknowledged it or not, Shunnosuke respected him highly. Or at least, he used to. He wasn't in theory asking for ego stroking, he was asking for a mentor, an advice, any assistance in a moment he thought an older, wise person would assist him. Shunnosuke wasn't high-and-mighty at all, not against a prominent gang from the neighbor island.

— Why would I cry? I'm not the grown up man here who was visibly hurt over one failure, so you can keep your advice for yourself, by the looks of it, you clearly need it more. — He didn't want to react in such fashion, but if Ariston was prideful and venomous, so was Shun. There's only so much he could take in, biting back was never hard before, and isn't hard now he doesn't attend Zela anymore, meaning he owed the teacher no respect if nothing was given in return. — This is not about bonds. It's...about sticking together when we have to. I can perfectly deal with this alone without your help, I've been already. But I... — He hesitated to go further, lowered gaze to his own lap, the boldness giving space to a different kind of feeling. A less, way less haughty posture, resembling more of a saddened, scared student seeking for answers from someone admittedly wiser. — I can't "look no further". It's not an option now I'm involved from head to toe. I know what I signed up for, but I can't help but worry about what might happen to the ones I'm fond of... In this world, Personas mean nothing for what matters most, and you understand this... — He was speaking from his heart here, the latest insecurities from inside.

» A Certain Visit
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» A visit? [Megumi]
» Another visit: (Paige)
» Another Visit [Tomoe/Souka]