What's Over Here? (Assignment) [Richard/Asiv]

[Stevie-Rae]

I beamed back at him. I loved talking of home, even if home was now Cali. I wanted to spit. I hated having to say that my home was other than Texas.

"Texas. I only recently moved. About a week go actually. What made you come over HERE of all places? I hope you don't mind me askin?"

[Richard Stock]

He quickly noted her face, as she began to talk about Texas with more than a hint of pride. He could appreciate that, even if he couldn't completely empathize. Because after riding in that metal tin can with at least ten sedatives in him and he was still turning green, California was decidedly his home now. There was no way he was going back in that flying deathtrap to London. His parents could visit him.

Did she grow sadder as she talked about the fact that she moved a week ago? He looked at her face, trying to discern her emotions.

...But it also spoke volumes of her ability. A week from Texas and she was already the S.H.C.P. Captain? Halfway trying to figure out what Texans were made of, she countered his question with her own.

The "why."

He shrugged. And he gave her a rare smile. A dark one.

"A better life, here."

Financial issues. More opportunities. A drunk for a father.

A better life indeed.

But he'd make them proud. Both of them.

He crept a hand over to her shoulder, deliberately so that she could see it.

"...And I need your help."

[Stevie-Rae]

I stopped walking and looked at him. Help? What kind?

"What can i do for you, Richard?"

I was more than eager to please people, aside from that, i needed to show him, no the school. I needed to show the school that i was not a bad person. I needed to adapt, like Mr Kaar had said. Maybe keep the 'bad girl' rep. It might help for neighboring schools to not want to invade.

[Richard Stock]

Richard loosened his hand from her shoulder. He hadn't expected her to full-on stop. And her words were...

He cleared his throat, looking away.

"Both hierarchies,
"Need their support opening
"Student-Cafe Spa."

...A full on haiku.

"If you give support,
"We will give food, massages,
"For your protection."

Two haikus.

To improve the standard of the school. To improve the school itself. To come to a new place and leave it better. He needed her support, her strength, according to Asiv. And given her sense of duty to investigate and protect the school... he was starting to see why.

[Stevie-Rae]

I blinked once. Twice. Three times. He wanted to open a spa. For the students. OK. I guess it didn't sound all that bad.

"What's the catch? I mean, it sounds great and all. I think everyone likes a good massage every now and again. What do you need my help with exactly? I can do protection, but i am not quite sure I can do it alone. Right now, it's just me. I have no followers. I only just took the position the day before yesterday."

I turned my body to face him. He had my full attention. I would always help a friend in need. Even an acquaintance in need. It's how i was raised.

[Richard Stock]

Theme Song: "Professor Layton Theme" Acoustic Guitar Cover by From Ether

A spa for students. Yes, it sounded ridiculous.

The Englishman was even less surprised when she asked what the catch was. But in her own doubts, she had answered him. He nodded with an affirmative.

"Yes, that is enough,
"Your presence alone deters
"violence and harm."

And now he'd give her a second smile. And this one would be encouraging, as he thanked her with a gracious nod of his head.

"Now let me help you," he said giving her a pat on the shoulder. He had, after all, confidence in her. It was only gentlemanly to return the favor whenever possible.

[Stevie-Rae]

I nodded and looked back to the road ahead. I guessed it might have been an English thing. I had no clue!

"Ooook. Sounds good i guess. Well, Day light's burnin! Let's go!"

I walked onward to the school. Now it was just a few streets ahead.

[Richard Stock]

She had consented, and simply at that! Wordlessly, he walked along next to her, "wrestling champion" hat and all, as she led the way to their investigation. Tonight was turning out to be far more productive than what fucking Simon had planned.

[Stevie-Rae]

I walked silently. My head was buzzing with tales i could tell him about Texas, but i kept them to myself. He seemed like a quiet guy. A few streets later, right before the school, i'd ask one more question before turning to our nightmare Undercover job.

"You ever go horse back riding?"

Whether or he answered, i'd continue,

"If you ever get bucked off, just get up, brush yourself off, and jump back on. Never let fear take hold or you'll never get back on."

I pushed off the wall and strode up the side walk. Nodding at people here and there. If someone asked me aquestion, i'd answer, no problem. I just hoped Richard was as ready as I was.

[Richard Stock]

The young Englishman watched the Texan's expression for a bit, and then decided to just enjoy the walk.

Things grew quiet, but Richard didn't seem bothered by it at all, seeming focused at the task at hand. It was also a good time for him to just... take in parts of the city, breathe in the dry air of California. While the lack of rain was sort of pleasant, over the past few days, Richard had found himself over-prepared in terms of attire. He'd have to get thinner trousers. But then, this is also where he needed money and work... which by American (or at least Californian laws) he'd legally have to be sixteen.

Something he couldn't afford to wait for.

---Stevie intruded on his thoughts with mention of horse riding. He looked to his side, at her, visibly shuddered, than reconsidered, placing his hand thoughtfully under his chin as he looked down in thought.

"No," he belatedly responded, his thoughts having gone from "Oh God, all the motion! I'd probably upchuck the horse and would have to pay for it's bath!" to "But it would be a useful skill to have."

But to answer her, 'no,' was the absolute truth.

She seemed to have something else in mind and then began spitting wisdom at him, to which he raised his brow. The advice was akin to an idiom, likened to 'Why do we fall, Master Wayne? To pick ourselves back up.' Quietly, he seemed to consider her words... and perhaps also the reason behind them. Was she also indirectly referring to the task at hand... or perhaps talking about herself indirectly? But already, the short, young man began to see people and started to follow suit, putting a hand to tighten the hat over his head. He flipped his ponytail over his left shoulder.

In an interim as they walked and greeted people, he gently elbowed her---which, at his stature, would end up landing in her forearm. He'd give her a glance.

"Do you miss Texas?"

He'd resume greeting and nodding at people, but he figured it wouldn't be unnatural to talk with the person he was walking next to. And as casual as she tried to come off, she seemed to have a few things on her mind herself. He would look at her occasionally in case she decided to respond, but would politely keep it at that for now.

[Zack Asiv]

Arriving at PHS #260 the duo would notice it was only one large building about six stories tall. A lot of the windows busted out, a whole wall looked like it was gone on the third floor, but most of it was covered by tarps. The students seemed a bit, run down as well. Scared of something, many were even injured. They would get kind of normal greetings, nods and the like. At Richard's hat they would move away and try to avoid eye contact.

[Stevie-Rae]

I smiled at him after he said no. Turning back, i noticed a lot of people weren't all that happy. I stopped smiling immediately. As he nudged me, i looked at him and back to the doors.

"Yeah, I do. Every morning, I look outside my window, hoping i'll have woken up from a crazy dream. I miss it somethin awful. It's my own fault though."

I looked around to find the entrance. Mumbling beneath my breath, hoping he would hear me:

"We need to listen to people without being obvious. We, or at least I need to find out what happened."

[Richard Stock]

Richard's attention was still on her, as she left him with a rather cryptic message on why she had come to California. He was about to press her on the matter, but Stevie's attention had gone elsewhere. He started to look around as well.

They had arrived. Compared to PHS #259's budget this placed seemed---he took a moment to ponder the American terminology---...ratchet.

He stared at a few people and began to notice that he was causing a rift between them and the crowd. He tried watching their eyes, tried listening... the only tell he had was that they seemed to look upward from his eyes before they moved away. Then Stevie reaffirmed their role in being here. He didn't nod, just glancing over again to the... rundown singular school building.

What could cause a situation like this? Who was in charge?

"...Understood."

He kept quiet, trying to observe more, trying to hear any whispering...

[Zack Asiv]

[Combined Perception Check: PASS]

Stevie would hear a small group of three talking about how the School Captain had basically abandoned his post, the Principle locking himself away from the mass of students and the current power vacuum being so out of hand they were surprised the school hadn't been shut down from the mass of parental petitions being put together.

Richard on the other hand would hear whispers as he was avoided about how every club, gang, and even pillars had split into many Waring factions almost at constant battle. Most wanted to stay out of it, and majority of the time paranoia had gotten the better of the factions and they attack random students.

[Stevie-Rae]

I walked around abit more to gather more information before heading back over to Richard to see what he had found out.

"I think we need to find the Principal. What did you gather?"

I'd look around, boredom taking over my features. I tried as best i could to blend in.