sagittariusly | for asteroidbelt

"Out of the question." For both things. Nevermind the mere prospect of being indebted to JK, the nebulous nature of such an open-ended promise was dangerous. JK could ask for anything after the fact and say that Ryusei had been disingenuous if Ryusei refused. Since Ryusei's relationship with the Club was based so much on trust—or on the trust they were willing to put in him—that was not something he was willing to sacrifice.

That and he didn't want to be indebted to JK. Tell me upfront what you want or I'm leaving. "I can't do that. I don't make deals like that, JK-kun."

If what JK wanted was to humiliate Ryusei with that suggestion (or the execution of such), then Ryusei wasn't going to bite. It'd been JK who'd suggested that Shirakawa's simply being a girl had been the problem; asking someone on a date after she saw that couldn't be anything but insulting. Especially not since Ryusei couldn't follow up. He didn't have the time to mollify Tomoko in such a time- and energy-intensive manner. Even if....

No. "Let's assume that I can't."

Psh, deals-schmeals. Since when was it not possible to think about what he wanted in return? What if there wasn't anything he wanted in return right now? What if he was just doing this all out of the goodness of his own heart?

Hahaha, no.

Anyway, this was proving to be more difficult than JK thought. Both his suggestions were drawn from his own experience. Heck, both his suggestions worked on girls he knew and wooed! Of course, both those girls have difficulty differentiating right from left and knew nothing more than the contents of their wardrobes - just the way JK liked his women to be.

Tomoko never fitted in any of those criteria. A part of JK wondered if Tomoko fitted anyone's critera.

He glanced at Ryusei and smiled benignly at him. What if--

What if.

"Oh, you can't? Even if it's to save your own ass from her curses?"

"No. Think of something else."

He didn't know anything about JK's girlfriends. For all Ryusei knew, taking advantage of girls was JK's modus operandi. Asking Tomoko on a date just 'to save his own ass', like JK had put it, was taking advantage. "You're very set on this idea, aren't you?"

And anyway, since Tomoko was avoiding him, he doubted that she would even let him come near enough for him to ask. Ideally, he wanted something that he could have JK put on her desk. A flower, maybe. That in flower language conveyed his affectio— No. Not that far. He didn't know flower language, but he could look something up in the library.... But this was Tomoko. Maybe she didn't even like flowers that weren't black and prickly. And he couldn't count on her knowing flower language, either. But information on her likes and inclinations was what JK was supposed to be for. "I don't need anything grandiose. But it's okay if you don't know, I can ask someone else."

...was it very obvious? JK shrugged carelessly. People enamored with someone else was easier to manipulate. Shun, when he was still a senior in their school, was very generous because JK gave him information on where Miu might be... whereas Miu was somewhat soft on him because he fed her information just so she could avoid Shun. It was all about timing, the way JK wasn't caught in what he was doing... yet.

He was intent on keeping it that way, thank you.

Now, Tomoko and Ryusei were in no way in the same league as Miu and Shun, but JK was sure if he dug deep enough, if he waited long enough, he'd find something about the two that could be beneficial to him.

Before that, though--

"Now, now, hold on Ryusei-san-- I was just... getting started!" Getting started to lose ideas, really. He never thought this would actually be difficult!

"What if you start with something small? Say... try to make her smile? Or laugh?"

He was almost sure that Kisaragi would say the same thing. Did that make it a good idea or a bad one? ... He could go on the internet, browse some goth girl blogs, but he wouldn't know if any of those were fake, or even deliberately fake. Would Kazashiro also make this same suggestion, make her laugh? Would Usaka Ritsuko, for that matter?

He was acutely aware of his own need to hurry. JK hadn't answered his question; how long did Tomoko hold grudges? He needed to know whether or not the week had made her germane to whatever act that JK was thinking of. If Ryusei was going to go along with that idea, anyway.

JK also hadn't commented further on his payment either way. Ryusei didn't want to bring it up again in as many minutes—it'd make it seem like he had something to hide—but he needed to resolve that, too.

One thing at a time. "What are you thinking of?"

Edited 2013-01-31 01:27 (UTC)

Was Ryusei actually thinking about JK's suggestion? Finally! It wasn't like everything he was saying was utter nonsense... right?

Right. Of course.

"You said nothing grandiose," he said, buying time as he thought about what to say next. Man, thinking of things that made Tomoko laugh was hard. One of the few times JK actually saw her smile was when she and Gentarou were scaring him and that wasn't really an experience he was looking forward to repeating. Nope, no thank you.

"Tomo-chan likes witches and stuff, right? But, see, it's difficult to say what'll make her laugh if you go along that route because your options are extremely limited and, besides, since when are curses and witches and goths laughing matter anyway?" What if Ryusei ended up making fun of what she liked and Tomoko ended up insulted instead of amused? What if he ended up being worse than he was right now?

"You hang out with her sometimes, 'ne? What else do you think she likes, aside from the creepy things?"

JK had no idea, did he? This wasn't a consultation. Ryusei was asking, and if JK wasn't answering definitely despite his seeming desire to help, then it must mean that he didn't have it. Why am I still here, then? If there was one—just one—good thing to come out of this newfound development, it was that Ryusei could claim that he didn't owe JK anything for information that JK hadn't procured. He'd say that, if it came to it.

Making her laugh just seemed like something Daimonji would do. It hadn't worked for him, but to be fair, that was because Kazashiro hadn't wanted to go to prom with him, no matter how many times he asked. But if Tomoko didn't want to forgive him, Ryusei might find himself in the same situation. Worse, even, if she could affect his physical body like this.

What else did Tomoko like? He knew, unfortunately. "Meteor," he said reluctantly. "That Meteor guy." He paused, then went to the table and sat down, folded his hands. "She asked me to help her find him, before she caught me."

--ohohoho this was getting interesting. JK wanted to hear from him the answer, not because he didn't know it, but to check if Ryusei knew it, too. At least Ryusei wasn't obtuse enough not to notice Tomoko's other obsession.

It was weird how much Tomoko knew about Kamen Riders. It was even weirder how she seemed to like Meteor over anything else, despite the fact that Meteor was a bit of a loose canon - neither a confirmed enemy nor a definite friend. JK couldn't quite forget how Meteor seemed unconcerned when he was taken hostage; if it hadn't been for Gentarou--

JK felt his neck, then rubbed his nape. Thank god for Gentarou, then.

"Well, there's your answer," he said, moving his hands in circular strokes before pointing at Ryusei. "Catch Meteor for her. Better yet, find his identity for her. I'm sure she'll appreciate it either way. She might even lift her curse off you if you do. Seems like she likes that Meteor guy after all."

Ryusei looked up at JK through his hair a scant moment before lowering his gaze to his folded hands again. "JK-kun, I'm not like you. Or her. If the two of you can't find him, I don't think there's anything I can...."

He couldn't even parcel out a hint under the guise of knowing Meteor (somehow); that would put him under scrutiny. Kisaragi in particular would never stop pestering him, not to speak of Tomoko. And.... When he finally did tell them about Meteor, it'd expose him not only as a liar but someone who'd lie in particular to Tomoko just to get back in her favor. It didn't sit right.

He was doing it because he needed to be able to fight properly. But that wasn't the only reason he was doing it.

He had to be careful. "It's impossible. And I told you I don't want anything grandiose." For that matter, weren't they discussing what would make Tomoko laugh? "Try a little harder, JK-kun." He paused a second. "Could I... make her a Meteor-shaped cupcake... do you think?"

...well, that was true. If JK couldn't sniff out who this Meteor was, then he doubted anyone in the school could. Not that he'd already tried, since he hadn't, yet. JK had no reason to. No one asked him to do that, so why bother?

He glanced askance at Ryusei again. Good thing Tomoko asked him and not JK to sniff out Meteor, because JK wasn't sure he wouldn't do what Ryusei did: blow Tomoko's request off. And if he'd done that, then he could've been the one suffering Ryusei's plight, and then--

Thank god for Ryusei, then.

"Finding Meteor would be grandiose, but it would also make her happy. Possibly for a long, long time, 'ne?"

...cupcakes, though. JK had to raise his brows at that. "You... bake?"

Ryusei didn't look up this time. If he'd said no to the attempt at finding Meteor with her, what made JK think he'd do it without her? "Are you trying to say that you know who he is?"

Or was JK trying to goad Ryusei into thinking or talking of Meteor as a rival? JK seemed to think there was more to Ryusei's and Tomoko's relationship than there was. What was JK trying to accomplish by that suggestion? If he was trying to hook up Tomoko and Meteor, he wouldn't mention it to Ryusei. Was he trying to stir up trouble because he was bored?

No helping that, if it was true. "People have told me that I have strange hobbies." Not exactly a lie—he didn't bake in fact, but it was a convenient way to dissociate Ryusei from Meteor, as long as they were talking about it.

JK shrugged noncommittally. "Maybe." It was a safe answer - maybe. It meant a lot of things, and now, it meant JK didn't know, but he could find out if it was worth his while and he was very forward-looking because he was assuming he might, this time.

Anyway, that road was already blocked, so. "No, no-- baking isn't strange. Collecting insect husks and cicadas and deleting the school's picture database is strange. Baking is actually very, very usef-- er, interesting." One that could benefit JK, actually. He needed food; he's a growing boy!

"Cupcakes are a safe way to go. She'll probably find it cute, if you get all the details right. Tomo-chan's very particular about details after all." JK drummed his fingers on the table. "You just have to find a way to approach her because she's been keen on avoiding you, 'ne?"

"Leave it on her desk."

'Maybe,' he'd said. That was way too vague. JK had dropped the idea of exposing Meteor, but that wasn't confirmation that he didn't know. Especially as he'd continued along that line of inquiry after Ryusei had told him that Ryusei didn't have the skills necessary for it. "But if you know who Meteor is.... You're the one who suggested that it'd make her happy. JK-kun... are you trying to sabotage me?"

JK blinked at him. "Me? Sabotage you? Whatever for?" For good measure - and his way of showing him his support - JK clapped him on the shoulder. Hard. Twice. "Kamen Rider Club stick together, right? Besides, you're our friend, not him. I never really liked that Meteor guy anyway." No matter how many times he'd helped them out of a pinch.

Here, JK stood and adopted an exaggerated copy of Meteor's stance. "The way he's all huuuuuuwatchhha--" JK's probably doing his pose wrong anyhow-- "--rubs me the wrong way. No, for me, Gentarou-san's the only Kamen Rider."

Okay? Okay. JK then went to sit down again. "No! Don't leave it on her desk. What if someone comes by and... eats it accidentally? No, no. You have to give it to her personally."

Think this through logically, don't let the anger rise—

He'd mentioned Kisaragi. Then again, he still hadn't answered the question. Keeping it as an option, Ryusei would think, but JK also hadn't pushed it in the way he would have if he'd thought he was talking to Meteor. On the other hand, it was hard not to react to JK's outrageously wrong impression of Jeet Kun Do.

He couldn't react to that. Don't react—!! "Are you telling me that you'll eat it, JK? You'd better not."

He crossed his arms. "Anyway, no one'll take it if you're guarding it."

"Me? Guard it! Oh, no, no, no, no, no." Couldn't say no enough, could he? "No! I don't want Tomo-chan mad at me, too!" Because when it all came down to-- well, extremely bad situations, JK's first instinct was and would always be self-preservation and at this point, Ryusei wasn't worth allowing himself to be cursed like Ryusei was.

"Like I said, you have to give it to her personally. Just so she'll know who it's really from." What else, what else... "Besides, wouldn't you want to see her smile yourself?"

...ugh what a sappy sentiment. Yeesh.

This had nothing to do with Tomoko's smile, desire to see it or not. But if JK was desperately trying to save his own skin, then fine. Ryusei already knew that about JK. It hadn't occurred to him that Tomoko would curse JK just for bringing a message from Ryusei, though. "Do you think she's that angry with me?"

If she were, maybe he should leave it for a few more days. But then she might get angry with him for waiting so long. This... would be easier if he could get JK to ask Tomoko directly, but not only would JK refuse, but there was only a small chance that Tomoko wouldn't catch on that it was Ryusei asking. He didn't want to ask Kisaragi to carry him close with Rocket, either. Not only was that utterly embarrassing, but it was Kisaragi; he'd find a way to make it worse somehow. "A..." he started, thinking aloud, "... disguise?

"Well--"

JK hadn't been paying too close attention to Tomoko this week - she'd been scarce outside of class and it wasn't like he could talk to her during school hours. But every now and then he'd catch her looking more morose and, well, quieter, than she'd been before joining the club. "Maybe not... exactly angry," he started. "Maybe more... sad, I guess." He supposed that's how jealousy worked - there's the initial anger, and this was when Tomoko supposedly cursed Ryusei. Afterwards? Just a lot of hurt feelings.

...not that JK had a lot of experience in that area.

The mention of a disguise, though, perked JK up. "Ah~! Now you're thinking!" A disguise would be perfect for Ryusei. "We could... make you look like someone you're not, just so you can get close to her. But you have to be quick about it or she'll catch on!"

Bad news. This was going to be bad, wasn't it? "Why are you grinning like that?"

If what JK had said was true and Tomoko was sad, then maybe the disguise thing would work. Sadness was a distraction, took focus off the here and now, made someone less aware of his surroundings.

He wasn't going to put on a clown suit, though. Daimonji was the last person he wanted to imitate. What else.... "I'm not going to disguise myself as Meteor," he said quickly, before JK had the chance to suggest it.

...JK wasn't exactly thinking of Meteor for a disguise, though. "Nothing like that!" he said. "Nothing grandiose, right? Besides, what makes you think Tomo-chan won't notice that? Or, even if by some lucky chance she didn't - what makes you think others won't?"

No, no. Something easy to pull off but still far away from Ryusei's personality that Tomoko wouldn't expect it. "We could... try something with how you dress," he suggested. "You're too... brown. And neat! We could try making you look a little less... 'together.'"

"It's... not that she won't notice...." A paper mask wasn't the most conspicuous thing; she might not notice if it was just that. But he didn't think she'd appreciate it, either.

"This is my uniform, JK." He couldn't help it if he was too brown. But he was almost afraid to ask. "What... do you have in mind?"

[[SORRY FOR THE SHORT TAGS SORRY FOR ALWAYS DOING THIS ARGHH I'm not losing steam, though; it's just anything I add atm feels like padding D| ]]

"Something about the clothes... and the hair! Trust me, Ryusei-san. You'll look better if you look a little more like--"

Here JK did a little jiggy in the middle of the room, breakdancing like there was no tomorrow "--me."

Because yeah.

[ ooc: LMFAO don't worry about the length of the tags dude they are beautiful and sufficient ok ]

"No."

[[ IS THAT BEAUTIFUL AND SUFFICIENT ENOUGH I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry ]]

...wow that was almost insulting.

JK straightened himself then, and dusted himself off nonchalantly. He - and half of the entire Amanogawa population - happened to think JK was pretty, pretty cool though. Ryusei could only wish he was as fantastic as one Kaizu Jingu. "Why not?"

In order to do that, they had to operate under the assumption that Tomoko liked JK. Which was fair. But if they were going to make Ryusei look like JK, he may as well have JK apologize for him.

"I can't do that. That... thing." He held up a hand, waved it halfheartedly. He couldn't do the break dancing thing. Was he supposed to get her attention by doing physical feats in the courtyard? In that case, Ryusei trying and failing to do martial arts forms might have been enough; she'd already seen him do that to Kyknos. But the last thing he wanted to do was remind her of that incident.

What had been the other thing JK had said? Less... together, was it? What about break dancing wasn't 'together'? On the contrary, it seemed quite a bit of focus was required for that. Enough for JK to be able to operate Power Dizer. "That's very impressive, JK. But be serious. What did you mean?"

for asteroidbelt

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