Coffee [Luna]

[Saint]

Is it bothering her? He mused as he threw glances to his side. Saint was still holding her hand. There was an inward fear in him that if he let go of the girl, she'd melt into the gloomy atmosphere embracing her. He even had a foolish thought that she might run away anytime he frees her hand.

In those kind of situations, Saint was ever tempted to pull out a stick of cigarette and puff an addicting cloud of smoke. It was as if the gray cloud could blur his thoughts.

No, I can't. I'm with someone. He dismissed the idea and after much musing, he stopped in front of a new coffee shop. From the clear glass pane he could see adults from outside. Well, silly him, coffee wasn't really a drink for young people like them.

"Let's go." He smiled and pulled Shanine through the flapping doors and had her sit near the glass wall. "So, what will you have?" Still, being distracted by her sullenness, he added, "I'll take you somewhere else afterwards. It'll be fun, promise."

block.

[Luna Katanashi]

OOC: Me too, sorry. :_;

Her hand was being held. Not that she doesn't like it, but she direly wanted to hold Ryuu's hand instead of Saint's. Well, no hard feelings. They entered in a nearby coffee shop and just didn't converge her surroundings -- in a while.

She found herself sitting down already; but she still ignored everything around her. A familiar voice broke her out of her musings. She had been so deep in thought that she hadn’t noticed him talking. At least, she still caught up with his question.

"I'll just have a... cookie and nothing else. I'm not thirsty or anything."

She told him; there were cookies available in coffee shops too. Before her now desolate eyes were staring a standing person whom she would put on the very first of the "people ever possible to appear after her waking up" list. Saint was the only person to bode this day. Will she ever enjoy herself in accompanying him here?

'I'll take you somewhere else afterwards. It'll be fun, promise.'

A bestowed statement; she was struck by the heart. He was acting so much like a true friend. Something along the line of his statement even struck her heart all the more. Being aware was a lost cause when she mused again. She only focused on the surface beneath her feet and not a lot more. His statement was gently blasting through her ears.

"Thank you, Saint."

[Saint]

"I'll just have a... cookie and nothing else. I'm not thirsty or anything."

Saint nodded a happy nod. At least she was playing along his pathetic attempts to make a girl happy. She had never been great around girls. "And cookie it is." He lifted the corner of his lips.

"Thank you, Saint."

Saint nodded once more before ambling towards the counter to make their orders. As he placed his elbows down on the polished granite, he looked down on the shiny surface and smiled down on the vague reflection of his face.

"So that I won't be alone." He whispered. He was overly scared of being alone. He just realized it.

"Sir?" The girl at the counter lifted her brows.

"Oops, sorry fair lady." He excused himself with the tray of his hazelnut frappe and a plate of cookies.

He almost hopped towards Shanine, sliding the tray over the table. He pushed the plate towards her, hoping to hear the cookies crunching in her mouth in no time. He took his frappe and stirred the foamy cream on top.

"So..." Saint started, hoping for a lighter conversation. "Tell me about yourself, Shanine." He smiled his handsome one-side smile. "You like flowers? You like chocolates? What's your Alice?" He kept on avoiding the boy on the tree. "I'm hearing Jason's after you." He smirked. "He has a chance?"

We're being killed by writer's block.

[Luna Katanashi]

"Oh no. I just like him as a friend and nothing else."

She protested with a laugh. How can she be paired with Jason? In what way exactly? It's not like he loves him very much. He was just sympathetic to her -- that's what a friend usually does -- it just depends on their personalities.

It’s not possible!

She repeated those words like a mantra but it didn’t change anything, it wasn’t able to change anything. Jason exists in this Academy. And it was a fact. It was still a fact nonetheless. She was forced to accept it as much as she loathed it.

OOC: Sorry, I'm blocked still. ;_;

[Saint]

"Oh no. I just like him as a friend and nothing else."

Saint held back a smirk poorly as he looked at his hazelnut treat. He shook his head, thinking of the tall general he often met nowadays. "Well, he's a nice guy." He sipped. "Not that I like him myself." He smirked again, but stopped immediately when he found that he was the only one who found his little joke funny.

Saint ran his fingers through his hair. What the hell is bothering her? He almost wanted to ask about the boy in the painting. The silver-haired guy took a long sip, keeping his eyes on the table. Well, for starters, all he wanted was to keep himself entertained and now, he found himself getting into Shanine's world of gloom. It wasn't his business, he wasn't that nosy before. However, something told him that he wanted to help her.

"I want to make you scream." Saint suddenly told her after a long, brain-freezing sip.

"You afraid of speedy driving?" A smirk crossed his lips.

[Luna Katanashi]

'I want to make you scream.'

Why? She wanted to ask, but she couldn't. Right now, she was definitely seething. She nearly glared at him. How dare he asked such a question? True, Jason and her friendship might not have a long history, but they had been through some hardships that strengthened the bonds between them to the point it was impossible to break them just like that.

They had been supporting each other lately -- but that does not mean that they are beginning to be lovers.

'You afraid of speedy driving?'

"Just a little."

She answered in a barely audible tone. She even wants to hiss through gritted teeth. Ryuu might have wounded her deeply, but she would never lose her faith in Ryuu. Never. Maybe she was really in a livid mood today. Even Saint's question earlier almost got her to her rawest core. Well, at least she was still regaining her composure and her patience was still a little high too.

[Saint]

Saint was sensing defeat. The sadness was getting to him as much as the thought that he was helpless towards her. He tried to stir the happiness left between the two of them.

"I saw this ride in the amusement park we passed." He began, finishing his frappe. "You know, it's hard to be bottled up so just to let it all out, I want to take you it. The ride starts off high." He smiled. "The downward slope is insane."

Saint looked sideways, feeling the melancholy seeping in. He won't lose. He won't give in. He was a naturally sad boy, he wasn't going to revert to that state. He wanted to befriend Shanine. He couldn't do that if he felt like crying.

Was he even doing the right thing? He didn't know. Maybe he'd just end this little getaway with that ride. After that, he could disappear among the strangers until he'd be called for.

"Up for it?"

[Luna Katanashi]

'I saw this ride in the amusement park we passed. You know, it's hard to be bottled up so just to let it all out, I want to take you it. The ride starts off high. The downward slope is insane. Up for it?'

A finely tuned mixture of comfort and sadness bottled her up. It was good to talk and accompany someone; the entirety of the moments in this day is letting her reminisce about Shaira, Shido and Ryuu. Saint's invitation doesn't sound so exciting for her, but maybe she should just give it a try. It's just that she is not too experienced in trying those kinds of activities.

“I'd love to.”

Her voice was quiet but firm, yet it held trails of emotions she tried to suppress. Still, she was having a difficult battle with herself to hold back tears. It was nice to meet Saint. Ryuu and Jason, though were both the toughest materials from all the males she met. Right, replace the word "materials" to "persons". She still wanted to cry. She could do nothing anymore to prevent it, as piece by piece, her façade will shatter and she will soon break into tears.

Is it possible? Let's hope not.

Well besides, after a few seconds of daunting encounters with her tears, she won't cry anymore. Somehow her eyes will become dry, unable to produce teardrops any longer. It just depends on where she is or who she just accompanied with. Thus, it will be too irrational to cry in front of Saint. She will always lie and lie, that's why maybe he might think that there wasn't any logical cause for her crying. Expelling her thoughts now, she gave a light nod at the boy she was talking with.

[Saint]

“I'd love to.”

Saint smiled, she was still playing along. That was...too nice of her. However, he also thought that maybe he was making everything too hard for her--and it all started by asking her to paint.

He sighed inwardly.

"Well," he began, taking Shanine's weak hand once more, "let's go."

The walk was silent, Saint believed it was better if he did not ask too much. He made comments on the shops they passed, even bought Shanine a little stick of glowing cotton candy. He walked briskly, hoping his acquaintance didn't mind.

He was disturbed. He wanted to turn, hold her by her shoulders and ask her what was running in her head. He wanted to use his Alice to just take a small glimpse of what emotions were in her head. However, using his Alice on her would not only violate the Academy rule but it would also harm her.

Saint was a troubled person-pleaser at that moment and with a sudden lift of his head, he saw the large arch that bore the name of the mini amusement park. Finally, something to cool them both.

With little prodding, he pushed her to the line, having the tickets already in his pocket. He stood behind her, observing her, almost oblivious of the chatters and the screams from the ride.

The people in front of them rushed inside a log-shaped cabin for six. With the help of Alice, the log moved in crazy swerves and loops before literally flying off the track and zooming half-way to the skies. After that stunt, it propels down to the pool below, earning its rightful screams and hollers.

Saint sighed and pocketed his hands as he waited for their turn.

I'm debating whether I would do something...bad or not.XD

[Luna Katanashi]

OOC: ROFL. 'Shanine' is acting like a doll! xD

Well, she didn't even take a bite on her cookie. She didn't care of what she is currently holding and where they are currently heading. She felt herself being pushed; she ignored the action. It's still crystal clear that something was still maliciously bothering her.

She was still dazed out and she was acting like a robot -- more like a doll who only follows her master. No matter what kind of defenses she would hide behind, people would always find a blind spot and infiltrate questions and inquiries without a strain.

"So... we're here?"

[Saint]

"So... we're here?"

Finally, she spoke, at least. Saint thought, giving Shanine a little tap on the shoulder. "Yeah, it's actually--"

"Sir, ma'am, it's your turn!" The usher winked as he opened the gate.

With a gentleman's hold, Saint pushed Shanine to the front seat. He guided her with the safety belt before settling with his own worries. The people behind them were far off with more energy that the duo at the front seat. Shanine was dead in Saint's silver eyes--he wanted to revive her before they part.

"Alright!" The man clapped his hands. "Enjoy, folks!"

The log finally moved. A smile of excitement was on Saint's face. It had been a while since he rode in an amusement park. He stole glances of Shanine, hoping the building speed was thrilling her, before being absorbed by the loops the crazy log made.

Screams were inevitable. Saint was screaming with the other four people behind them--he just didn't know if the blonde beside him was also shouting with delight. Every time he aimed to look at her, the track made a sharp turn that kept his head wobbling back to the front.

They made the swerves, the loops and in no time, the log zoomed to the sky--the climax before the fast descent.

"Shanine--!" Saint was supposed to say something but it got stuck in his throat the moment the ride propelled down. Everyone was expecting a wet landing. The ride was made so that the log would hit the surface of the pool and then slide off back to the terminal.

The wind was fast, kissing their faces. Saint's eyes were directed to the pool below that changed color from time to time. From green it turned to blazing orange, making its waves seemingly like fire.

All the child could remember was the large flames dancing and lapping at every piece of the structure of the orphanage. Everyone was screaming, afraid of the orange blaze that consumed too many children already.

The silver haired boy cried and ran with no exact place to go. He called out the priests and nuns he knew but only the cackles of the growing fire replied.

"Help!" He shouted.

"No!" From the flames ran a person and embraced him, covering the child's head in protection.

There were screams of fear from below the ride. Something might have gone wrong. Saint, however, was focused on the orange pool below, waiting to eat him like fire.

"NO!" He turned to his side and embraced Shanine's head.

The log hit the surface of the pool but it did not stop there. It hit the tiles below, sending the people riding in it either towards the tiles or simply in the water.

Saint's hold of Shanine's head loosened, his eyes were closed and a trail of blood was on his head.

Major writer's block.

[Luna Katanashi]

Trying to avoid in releasing a scream, she closed her eyes. She wrapped her arms around Saint with her head on his chest, not even divulging her blue eyes yet. Never did she try such a ride. Her long, blond hair was being snarled airily, but she does have a curly hair so she doesn't have to worry about it to be straight again. No, she just doesn't care.

Though, she feigned a smile upon her face, trying to indicate Saint that she enjoyed the ride.

In truth, she wasn't. It was less enticing. She felt themselves propelling down and since the sun was already low in the sky, it was a pool of gold ripples. Well, maybe not quite, but it certainly looked better now than it did during the morning. Then, she opened her eyes. Her murky visage was getting blunt at the moment. What happened now?

Was it just her or did she feel blood emerging from her lips? She didn't look up, she was still hugging him and her face stayed the way it was.

"Saint..."

OOC: Me too. ;_; Gomene.

[Saint]

"What happened?!" A spectator rushed to the scene.

Two of the riders of the log were escaping the pool. One was floating at the surface of the pool while another pulled his floating companion out of the water.

"They're only four?!" Another shouted.

"No, six! There are six passengers!" A man yelled and pointed to the pool. "Get them out!"

Saint was barely aware when he was pulled out of the pool. Since he and Shanine was in the front seat, they were obviously the one who hit the tiles. His forehead hit the solid wall of the pool while Shanine...

"Shanine...!" Saint's eyes opened. He struggled to get the shout out his lips. A wake up call that bore her name made him raise his head.

"Don't move an inch!" One of the men holding the stretcher where he was placed on scolded him.

"Sha--" he stopped when he felt a heavy pang on his forehead. "Shanine...where...?" His head lolled to the side and saw a familiar blonde on another stretcher. His eyes blurred but he was sure she was there...and she was hurt...because of him.