It's Mutual

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

Violet would sit in the cafeteria staring at the little message that Richard had slipped her the other day and idly awaiting his arrival. She didn't really know when was a good time but aimed for it to be sometime around brunch seeing as most students were in a tandem of class constraints but a select few had a free period in between. If this wasn't the case for Richard she might just drop by at any break she really had it wasn't as though she were a stranger here already making close buddies with the Lunch lady whom welcomed her with a big uncomfortable hug... often times with a small speckle off food clinging to her apparel. As luck would have it she'd avoid such an encounter not besmirching her own white blouse and jean pleated skirt.

As she'd wait however she'd pop the top on a small grape soda and seclude herself to a power seat in the back corner of the room getting a good view of any approachers unless of course Richard was in the Restroom in which he'd have a blind spot entrance on her.

Richard Stock

[Richard Stock]

Richard was tired.

It wasn't an unpleasant feeling. He just cursed the sodding School Administrator for not going through proper channels when he assigned SJ to him. Wasn't her fault and he was having fun... but when dealing with credit and his classes and the piling homework... and now a date, the young Englishman was overdue for a nice, long kip.

Vi would see Richard quite easily---black pants, black shoes, long-sleeved white button-up high-collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up neatly past his elbows and the top button undone to show his black tank-top, black coat slung over his left shoulder, and his brown leather satchel in a death grip in his right hand. He was more well equipped for the California heat, but the heat on top of everything else was absolutely draining. He had bags under his eyes and his steps didn't seem quite as proper as yesterday. In fact, he seemed kind of wobbly on his feat.

She would see him scanning around for her, first at the tables and then at the corners where he would wave at her in recognition and slowly meander his way on over to her. It would take a few minutes.

"Hello there. May I?"

The short Freshmen would nod to his upperclassmen and pillar where she sat, before making a sweeping motion to the empty spot right next to her. It felt nice and cool here, in the shade.

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

Violet would look up brightly, it was apparent he was suffering in this heat even if it was just an idle spring afternoon but then again California didn't really have seasons just moderate and hot she supposed. She'd slide over in her seat and pat the adjacent one she'd just moved from gifting it up to him with a compliant "Please."

Still presenting the smile she'd invert her body so that she could face him giving him a moment in the seat to collect himself feeling very empathetic for his plight despite their differences in apparel. Vi's hand would snake back into her backpack settled away at her side for something to lend him a little bit of relief. Sadly no water or Gatorade, nothing that'd really cool someone off other than her own soda which she quickly neglected as her hands clutched around a rectangular object which she'd bring forth unceremoniously.

"Snack?" Offering it up to him in the briefest of silences.

Richard Stock

[Richard Stock]

Gratefully, the Freshmen would accept her gracious gift and scoot himself into the seat, propping up his knees to his chest. He would've laid out his legs so that blood in his chest could more easily cool and flow away from his head, but he wasn't certain on the last time the janitors had exactly prioritized this area. Settling in the seat, he closed his eyes, actively slowing his breath and letting the coolness of the concrete seep in past his clothes to him.

With a final sigh, he opened his eyes and stretched his back to lean a bit of his head to the wall to accelerate the cooling. With an errant hand he tucked his ponytail to his front-right shoulder to prevent it from leeching the cold before he looked up to see her offering a rectangular object. His eyes would flick up to hers.

"You are a dear, Vi," he said before leaning over to take it. He'd put it on his satchel, which he had laying down and slid it between them so they could both share from it. Richard would then promptly whisk out of his bag (the leather was very stable and kept its form well) a thermos with two cups and large brown bag and began taking out its contents. White bread, rye bread, lettuce, tomato slices, cold cuts of two kinds of meats (chicken, beef, pork, turkey), a small stick of butter, a small dispenser of mayo, a small dispenser of mustard, two sealed shakers of salt and pepper, slices of munster cheese, cheddar cheese.

And then began the assembly. With practiced hands, he would take the pre-toasted bread and begin making his sandwich. Slight spread of butter on the insides of the rye bread. Beef, cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, a dash of pepper, a knife scrape of mustard and mayo...

...And promptly put the sandwich on the other side of the satchel. His eyes darted up to hers...

"Bread?"

"Butter?

"Meat?"

"Mayo? Mustard?"

"Tomatoes? Lettuce?"

"Salt? Pepper?"

"Cheese?"

Rapid fire questions, quickly assembling the sandwich according to Vi's direction. It was a bit of a show for his determination, but it wasn't altogether satisfying---right now, he felt no better than a cheapened Subway. He still needed to finalize a menu, the ingredients, and more to it the costs in bulk, have to keep track of what was selling, what didn't sell... when he realized he forgot to bring slices of pickles. Togo's was better than that and had kingly pastrami sandwiches.

Even in a bit of a test show, Richard was contemplating on how to improve.

Upon completion, as if it was the most natural thing to do, he then would lean over and wordlessly offer out the sandwich.

After that, he'd unscrew his thermos, revealing the double cups, and take the time to pour some out for the both of them. A blueberry tea concoction from Teavana. He would pull out a small jar filled with sugar rocks that actually looked like mineral rocks.

...It cost him a better portion of his budget, but he meant it all the more to show he meant business.

And yes the tea was hot, but he would be damned if he didn't retain at least this much from his homeland.

"Ender's Game is good," he would say simply as he pulled out the book, reviewing the first chapter before looking at her, as though dismissing everything else that just happened.

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

She'd lean back in her seat giving herself enough room to watch him, observe really as he sat. The boy had only given her a moment or two beforehand to really get a feeling for how he was; initially striking her as dutiful, organized, and direct. However now he was giving her an entirely different vibe, perhaps it was in the way he drew his legs up into his grasp or tucking his hair the certain way he did that gave her the impression he was very much the insecure sort. Violet would in turn grin bashfully feeling none so on high but rather graced with this change and display of trust really whether intentional or not.

That was when he pulled out his mini-kitchen. Violet's mouth watered as she glazed over the organized layers upon layers of consumables before her. It really made her granola bar look pathetic by comparison as she limply held it out still lingering upon being given away. With the rapid fire questions all she could do was stare up dumbly in return thumbing through her inventory of responses to form a response that didn't border on aggressive babbling. She'd manage out a nod and them make a circle with her finger trying to express that she wanted all of that. What a Glutton. As he handed out the sandwich she'd nearly take off his arm as penance eating well into it the same way a crocodile munched up antelope at the watering hole and she'd continue munching until he'd thumbed through the book making note of its quality. Ender's Game, how she'd loved the story and its dark undertales.

"It really is, you won't know it just yet but it bears a certain similarity to whom we are here, trapped under an authoritarian power poised against one another relentlessly at odds with even ourselves." She found herself gazing off to the sky before dropping her gaze to him again with a blush. "Sorry got a little heavy there." She'd say so moving a hand to move a tussle of hair over her eyes a means of escape from a stare.

Richard Stock

[Richard Stock]

When Violet made the circular motion to include as many ingredients (if not all of them) as he could, Richard almost grinned. Almost. Any cook or chef likes having their food enjoyed and Richard was no exception.

...He just didn't expect how much Violet wanted the sandwich as he felt the muscles in his arms and fingers stretch forcibly, before the sandwich was released out of his hands. Richard shook out his hand for a moment, staring at it to make sure it was functioning, but was otherwise undeterred.

When he finally got about to addressing the book, Violet went full out, comparing the school to the book... even analyzing it (although he wasn't quite certain what she was fully talking about since he wasn't done reading it). Still, it was a happy surprise. Contrary to the gregarious and clumsy side that Vi would display, Richard began to appreciate that she was... deeply intelligent. He nodded, looking at his untouched sandwich.

He shook his head and held up his hand at her apology.

"I'd like to change that," he stared, appreciating the little nuances in how Vi adjusted her hair... blatantly referring to in his statement the Student-Run Cafe & Spa. The neutral zone. The area that Mr. Asiv required both the S.H.C.P. and the Student Hierarchy to agree to guard or there would be no Cafe & Spa. He still didn't know how he'd break that to Emily. Before the date might work, but that would spoil the initial mood of the date... which, it could recover, but that was a gamble. He could do it at the end of the date, but then it would cheapen the entire experiance of the date. He could do it after, but that might have the same effect as the prior option.

He sighed.

Wordlessly, he took the granola bar, held it between the two of them, and snapped it evenly in half, handing her back half. His now free hand would stoop down to his own tea, gesturing towards hers, before jiggling his half of his two feet in front of her face.

"This. Perfect with tea."

...Was he smiling?

Surely not, because the next moment, his face was calm and reserved as usual, taking a bite of the granola and then blowing lightly on his tea... before bringing his nose up to it, closing his eyes, inhaling the aroma. He took his time doing so and only after enough of this ritual went on did he finally drink the tea, synergizing the granola, cleansing his palette.

The contentment that showed on his face was striking as he stared up wistfully in the bloody sun, almost not bothered by it for a moment. He glanced over Vi and put the granola and tea down to pick up his sandwich. He gestured to all the food---her granola, his sandwich and tea... her book.

"Sharing... is better," he'd uselessly comment to no one in particular.

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

Violet would return with a bright lit gaze as he mentioned that he wanted to alter the status quo. It was an appeal that she very much shared in turn, surprisingly enough to most people as her vie for pillarship wasn't in the prospect of violence but in doing her job to her fellow peer. It really didn't seem to amount to much thus far as the school had already suffered a riot and violence seemed to be as prominent as ever.

"Oh yea?" Violet would patiently nom away at her food taking her piece of the granola and nibbled away at it a bit slower than she had the sandwich seeing it already vacated this world and entered one of its own turbulent nature (aka her stomach). "Whelp that's why I'm here, what can I do to help?" A bubbly response looking more so to help out than really push her own agenda but in one light if his was to change the bloody outlook of this school then in turn hers lay parallel to his own.

Richard Stock

[Richard Stock]

Richard wouldn't rush his words. Truth be told, he was hungry, and his performance from before only exerted out more of his heat-drained energy. He seemed to be trying to push himself closer to the wall with knees propped up, before he'd take to his own sandwich for a bite, a bite of granola, a sip of tea.

Buying time to think.

Vi would see him nod slowly to himself as he stared out into the cafeteria. He would smack his hands together lightly to brush off the crumbs and then tilt his waist to reach into his satchel, pulling out a piece of paper.

It was the notes again, except this time it was just the last one, scrawled over with Richard's neat handwriting. He'd slide it over to her and then tap one of the first bullet points in the second half of the page three times... the one that said "Mr. Asiv Requirement."

The one that would say "-The Student Hierarchy or S.H.C.P.'s presence." with quotations next to it: "'Go to the Pillar Office, as well as the S.H.C.P Office and see if they would be willing to lend someone for presence efforts if nothing else.' - Mr. Asiv's Words."

If and when Violet looked up in Richard's eyes, she'd find him staring square-on into hers.

"Cooperation," he would start.

"It can be just you,
"But I don't want to half-ass.
"Soften... Emily,"

For restatement purposes, from Mr. Asiv's description, he didn't require the full S.H.C.P. or full Student Hierarchy support. But he did require something of both Student Organizations, as they were both organizations that the students of PHS #259 respected... or feared. But if they were to bring customers from Los Angeles, people who could be spending money in the cafe and enriching the school and the students' pockets... to have the full support of both Student Hierarchies and know that the strongest of the strong would occasionally be present to ensure the customer's protection would both encourage the more peaceful students to congregate as well as raise the opinion of the city and nearby areas of PHS #259.

---Richard would then resume slowly biting into his sandwich, as he also began putting away the spare ingredients from whence they came. He was thinking over his words for the next major point. The initial reason for Richard inviting Violet to join him in the cafeteria this afternoon.

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

To be entirely honest, despite Richard's unique size and the distinct difference in build between the two Violet found his stature or at the very least the determination in his stare intimidating. She'd react by calmly craning her head a little bit aback. Ever the nonconfrontationalist Violet took his words rather seriously trying to find some way to explain to Richard that perhaps it was best to keep Emily in the dark until the goal was achieved. It wasn't like she was trying to betray Emily more like she wanted to prove to the girl that she could get things done without the straight-arm of violence always dictating what was right and wrong.

"I don't know how well I can...soften Em. I can certainly put in a good word with Stevie-Ray if that's acceptable?" She noticed that her tone of voice seemed to unconsciously be mimicking his in the ways of properness. "Em just doesn't get it I mean she's got this idea in her head that everyone is an enemy." At least that is what Violet was beginning to presume with the girl. "And nothing's going to change that unless we can show her that things aren't so dim. y'know?"

Violet would hunch over grinning to him for a moment looking for some kind of recognition to what she'd just said. It wasn't like she was flat out telling him that she couldn't help. If anything she complied to his 'cooperation' entirely. Getting the SHCP and Pillars to unite even if it was only partially, they were headed in the right direction.

Richard Stock

[Richard Stock]

"I don't know how well I can...soften Em. I can certainly put in a good word with Stevie-Ray if that's acceptable?"

Richard was a little slow on the uptake.

'Is she...?'

Violet was being diplomatic with him.

In other words, there was a snag here (namely being Emily's predicted disposition on the matter). That means Richard had work to do. And on top of that, Violet had work she had been working on.

She continued on to explain more of Emily's personality and how not conducive to the plan she was---as of now. How you had to show results... but if attempting wasn't allowed, you had to sneak the results in. Violet continued to surprise him more and more. This also meant that Richard here was also becoming a figure in this... which was fine with him, since Violet seemed to wholeheartedly support the Student-Run Cafe & Spa, seemed to completely coincide with him on many matters.

...Also, it was interesting to watch her start to... dare he say emulate him? The matter did not go unnoticed.

But long story short... she wanted Richard quiet on the matter. About Stevie. About how the Cafe would start without Emily's deal going on. This also meant that Violet was trying to play ball with Stevie-Rae.

Richard had been resting his head forward slightly on his hand which was propped-up on his two propped-up knees, palms down. He considered it.

Violet talked to him as an equal. She displayed trust in him not to screw her over from a serious political standpoint. She wasn't bothered, as a pillar, with meeting with him, a transfer, outside of her office off her time. And she very much had her own ideas in mind.

Gone was the girl who buried him in a mountain of books and acted silly and bubbly (not that those traits were gone)... She was much deeper than he had ever expected.

...

"...You're sly. I like that," he pointed very seriously at her... playfully booping her on the tip of her nose with his pointing finger.

This was not what Richard wanted. The full support of both the S.H.C.P. and the Student Hierarchy was his overarching goals... but the cafe was one of his end goals. The full support could come later... the longer the cafe took to set up, the longer it would take to begin the training and planning out logistics.

He leaned back in his seat, absorbing the coolness. Absorbing her words.

The matter was settled. He would need Violet's as well as Stevie-Rae's seal of approval and turn that in to Mr. Asiv.

...But there was one more matter to go on. Richard opened his hazel eyes, staring skyward. It was hard to tell if he was smiling, if he was blushing slightly or if it was the day's heat that flushed his cheeks.

"...About Emily..."

He trained his tea and took another granola bite...

"What color favorite?
"Does she like flowers or no?
"What are her hobbies?"

...Just to start...

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

Once again things had gotten a little bit heavy and her brows based up with an embarrassed look on her face. Violet's hands would come up and wave again in a frenzy to dismiss everything that she'd really said, "Sorry, getting heavy again haha." She really didn't want to put anyone out her own goal long term was to make everyone perform as equals, for everyone to have fun and get along. Naive.

As Violet turned up with her attention to Richard she was caught completely off guard to the booping of her nose turning back with a scrunched up recoil in response to his statement. "I'm not sure what you mean...?" She'd return innocently enough, sure she had some solid ideas and ways to go about things but by no means were any such of those plans nefarious. She fully intended to clue Emily in when the time was right and if time allowed let her take the credit for it. Violet had no urge to be sole beneficiary to these end game designs that was purely prideful.

As far as the latter-most subject Violet admittedly froze up. Come to think of it she really didn't know Emily all that well especially from a suitors standpoint. Having recoiled even further Vi placed a hand to her temple straining to think of little tell-tale signs of clues. "Uhhh she likes black!" denoting the fact that she is never without that captains jacket. As for the rest she was drawing a true blank responding to such with a frumpy face glowering at him with faux anger, "ISN'T THAT YOUR JOB YOU'RE ASKING HER OUT!" Calmly settling to resign herself to disappointment in her new found friend asking someone out you hardly knew how silly....

Richard Stock

[Richard Stock]

"S'fine, it's fine," he'd say to the frantically waving Violet as she tried to dismiss all the heavy thoughts. After all, he was the one who asked about it initially and she answered him seriously back. He appreciated it. Maybe it was his inexperience or the blood rushing down to his stomach, and no dreams were triggered, but he didn't think much of how she seemed to avoid heavy topics. How that might pertain to her own life... no. Nothing.

What he did notice, instead, was how amusing she was to being touched. Perhaps that was rude of him, but it's intent was of course meant positively. Much in the same way how the entirety of Violet was the very embodiment of good intentions, not seeing much further then that. The further Violet recoiled, the amusing Richard found her---but you'd never know with the constant resting bitch face he had. Even his eyes were hard to tell... it was just the subtleties. His other hand seemed to be bouncing to an unheard rhythm.

They continued on, but Violet seemed... uncertain about Emily's preferences. 'Ah, so they have a professional relationship?' he'd guess---

Her "anger" caught him off guard and he held up his hands. Richard would look up thoughtfully (apparently he had misintepreted that as her being serious and was reflecting his actions)... Then he'd nod at her.

"My apologies,
"Yes, you're right, a bit sudden," he'd say, referring to the way he asked out Emily,
"But she seems so... tense."

"Independent, strong,
"Passionate, stubborn, and shy
"Confrontational."

"Charisma in strength,
"A natural leader, no?
"She gets done stuff fast."

"She needs relax,
"She will wear herself out fast.
"That shouldn't happen."

It was only a date, after all. He felt it might be good for her.

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

Violet wasn't quite sure where Richard was going with this haiku, by now she was beginning to get used to it, past the stage where it mildly confused her somewhere along the lines having skipped hatred perhaps that wasn't in her or that his fine cooking bridged that gap. All the same she leered at his speculatively as he rang on about Emily and even so more pressing matters at least how she interpreted his garbled speech.

"You're a character. Y'know that." Violet would say with a Cheshire grin not meaning any ill intent but blindly stating the matter anyhow. Brash in her words and innocent in her appearance she'd rotate in her seat like a cat might to assert a more comfortable sitting area. "Just be yourself." Violet would glint back at him with a lazy expression tucking her head into the nook of the seat eyeing him up momentarily with confidence. "If she isn't able to unwind and enjoy that then hells with her." Violet would fling a hand up dramatically letting out an infectious laugh before settling into her seat a bit more snuggly.

Richard Stock

[Richard Stock]

Violet's observation amused Richard. He would neither disagree or openly agree with her statement on his... 'character.' Outwardly, though, it would only manifest as a raised brow as he looked at her as she gave him a broad, all-consuming smile. It was infectious and adorable and she was acting like a cat, curling up in her seat. Richard listened, watching her, not emoting anything as she gave him advice and encouraged him.

'Be yourself.'

...And her last comment was curious. From their initial interactions, he had figured Emily and Violet to be closer then that, from how well they seemed to counter-balance each other emotionally and how open they were with each other. Or perhaps they were, but... Violet was still concerned about him, making sure he took care of himself and not to worry too much if things went to sod-all.

Either way, she was proving more and more not to be anything that he had initially expected and his opinion of her grew. Still... that meant that he'd have to take onto figuring out the scope of the date himself of what she might like or wing it the day. He settled into his seat, following after the mood that Violet. Richard would nod slowly. It'd be okay. It always was.

...One more question, though, played into his mind. It seemed arbitrary, but it was important.

"Know a good tailor?"

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

Right about now Violet felt like some cheesy infomercial giving teens life advice and that was never really her style, she opted more for that brand of cheesy that came from a silly extended love romantic comedy that came at the expense of her dignity. Though that was neither here nor there she intently wrestled with the work of the piece. Clearly schools weren't designed to be cozy, how could one learn when every impulse told them they needed to roll over and beg for five more minutes.

Mind having since wandered plenty she'd quirk a brow at his question. A tailor? No she'd hardly even become a resident here herself, going into town was something she'd do on the regular only long enough for a stop by the beach or maybe even a nostalgic visit to the arcade. But what was more pressing was the fact that he had a look, she couldn't quite place it but it unnerved her. A plan perhaps? Was he going to sweep Emily off her feet, a carriage, flowers, bow tie? Yes she could see it now with the bells chiming in all the churches.

"Richard....!" She'd clamor up having to hesitate for a bit realizing that she didn't know him last name and deeply wanting it for moments such as this where she could rattle it off dramatically. "Dare I say you're planning a romantic excursion beneath the city lights for Emily?!?!" Violet would close her eyes briefly twirling her hair about, palms raised to the sky as she outlined what she'd imagined her little fantasy pairing of the two.

Emily adorned in her gorgeous yellow gown, Richard head to toe in a suit with a matching bow tie. He'd greet her at the steps of a horse drawn carriage as she blushes something Emily never does. The two are drawn around the park and then with a final romantic kiss to end their night. Violet would find herself making smooching noises to the air about her.

Richard Stock