Room 504, Friday Afternoon

[intraspective]

It was probably a teensy bit rude how loud she had her music up—especially as Japanese pop was a bit of an acquired taste—in the morning, but Ino wasn’t really inclined to turn it down. (Unless asked. Or someone called her. Or... something.)

She’d left her door wide open and was sprawled on her stomach on her floor rug, going through her notebooks while absently practicing the mental shield work her father had set her to studying.

One page of notes and her shields were unraveling. Another page and she was pulling them back up. Down again, up again. Until it was like breathing. Ino frowned at her notes, having to stop and take a moment when her shields tangled over each other. Sigh. She smoothed them over and began again.

Okay, eventually it would be like breathing. Right now it was a bit too much of a stutter-stop sort of process than anything quick. She rubbed her eyes and rolled onto her back.

Maybe she’d take a break for a bit. Even if it was good training.

[Ooopen door, open post.]

Comments

[intraspective]

"Pretty often?" she said, wrinkling her nose at him cheerfully. "If I'm not singing, I tend to be humming and stuff. I tend to do a lot while I'm at the flower shop."

Clinic was for studying and Wellspring Arms was for trying out weapons.

[therewaslife]

"I'm almost sad I didn't get to hear the singing," he said, laughing lightly. Singing was another one of those uncommon thing despite the presence of singers and musicians in his graveyard.

"Perhaps I'll drop in on the flower shop at some point and try to catch you mid song."

[intraspective]

"I suppose that's okay!" Ino laughed. "Some student that used to go here had me put on a few performances with him--that's a bit too in-the-spotlight for me, but he'd always pout 'till I gave in. Someone dropping by while I'm already singing, though, I don't mind."

Unless they laughed at her. But Ino was pretty sure Bod wasn't going to laugh at her for singing.

... The dancing on the other hand...

[therewaslife]

The singing he wouldn't laugh at. The dancing might earn a smile, mostly born of enjoyment of seeing someone doing that right in front of him.

"Well, it would give me a reason to see the flower shop," he reasoned, nodding. "I don't have many other reasons to drop by. I'm not very familiar with flowers and occasions to send flowers."

[intraspective]

Ino blinked at him.

"You don't need a reason to send flowers," said the girl who'd grown up in a flower shop. "'Just because' is totally a good reason. And the only way to learn 'bout something is to go and see!"

[therewaslife]

"And people won't feel obligated to return the favor?" asked Bod, slightly skeptical.

[intraspective]

"Saying 'thanks' is good enough if it's a no reason gift," she pointed out lightly. "I mean, you don't have to pay people back in kind if they're doing things just because they feel like it--you've just got to be polite enough to say thanks."

[therewaslife]

"All right." Bod nodded, looking thoughtful. "So, perhaps a trip to the flower shop is in order for more than just hearing the singing. We'll see if I can't find someone to send them to."

[intraspective]

"Just make sure to write a note sayin' 'just because' or something," she added, grinning at that. "Or else someone miiight think you're crushing on them or something."

[therewaslife]

"And I'm not crushing on anyone." At least, Bod didn't think so but it wasn't like he'd had a crush on anyone before. No experience in that area of things. "It would be good to avoid unclear messages though. To avoid any misunderstandings."

[intraspective]

"Well, that too," she said, then added: "What kind of person do you think you'd be likely to crush on?"

She was curious!

[therewaslife]

Bod's eyebrows went up as he turned the question over in his head. "I don't know if I've ever thought about it. It's never really been an issue before. There weren't...a lot of people to possibly crush on back home."

[intraspective]

Ino nodded--she had to give him that. Graveyards were, well.

No. Bad for crushes, she was pretty sure.

"You've probably got some things you like and dislike 'bout people in general though, yeah?"

[therewaslife]

"Well, yes, of course," he said, nodding. "I don't know if things would necessarily change for a crush, though? I've never really experienced one. I had a difficult enough time just with friends."

[intraspective]

Awwww.

He was adorable, really.

"Fine fine," she laughed, holding her hands up. "I won't keep with this line of questioning! But--sometimes things stay the same, sometimes they don't. Crushes can be complicated that way."

[therewaslife]

"There are..." He paused and pursed his lips thoughtfully. "There are people here I like in different ways. I just wouldn't know a crush if it hit me in the face."

[intraspective]

"Don't tempt the island," she teased. "But--I don't know how to explain it. It's different depending on the crush."

[therewaslife]

"You shouldn't have to explain," he said, breathing a bit of a laugh. "It sounds like it's something that's different for everyone. I wouldn't feel the same way as you would, for instance."

[intraspective]

"Probably not," she laughed. "But, you know, one thing that's always the same? Is that you like that person rather a lot."

She was so not going to try and explain UST and rivals-enemies and how that could turn interesting, no.

[therewaslife]

Bod...hesitated there and looked a little more thoughtful. "Huh. That's...interesting."

That word barely got past his lips though since his mind was now turning over a few different things.

"Interesting."

[intraspective]

Oh, like she could resist that?

"That's interesting?"

[therewaslife]

"Yes," he said, regaining his focus and nodding. "It's interesting."

And. Say something else, Bod.

"Helpful too," he added. "If that should happen to me, that is."

[intraspective]

Ino was totally tempted to call him on the fact that he didn't particularly convince her with that.

"Uh huh," she said, smirking slightly. "Well, I'm glad I could help then. What've you been up to? Oh! Did you ever do the letters you said you might?"

[therewaslife]

"I did actually," said Bod, grateful for the subject change so he didn't have to think too much on things he wasn't sure about. "I wrote two of them. I haven't heard back, and I doubt I will, but it was nice to relay some of the things that I've experienced to them."

[intraspective]

"Long letters?" she teased, tapping her notebook idly. "Bet you had loads to say 'bout around here."