July 22 / Shakespeare's Children / PG-13 / CLOSED

[ono]

Character(s): Naoki Kohaku, Asuka Tomoe
Time: After school!
Location: Fields

All around there were students chatting and laughing after the last bell had rung. They were scattered everywhere; the entrance, the rooftop, different classes, and the field. Naoki was sitting on a bench at the fields, waiting for his partner to appear.

Before the wait, Naoki was assigned into a partner project for acting class. It was on Shakespeare and they would have to act out just the first few acts to see how dramatic they can get during stage. Naoki really, really didn't like teamwork due to the fact he was so shy. However, this was for acting--something his parents wanted out of him, so he'll do it no matter what.

He sat awkwardly--looking at his shoes, embarrassed for absolutely no reason--the usual. He waited for his partner to appear out of the blue with thoughts like, How do I greet her? Like... "Hi, I'm Naoki!" ...I can never do that with enthusiasm... Ahh, what if she hates me right off the bat?? What if she doesn't want to work with me?! Maybe I should've gotten her a snack?

[false]

The people outside were being so loud and obnoxious that Asuka was tempted to go over and give them a piece of her mind—in the form of a few colourful, carefully-worded insults—but she decided against it. There was work that she needed to get done, and she was feeling unusually sociable today.

A dog-eared, world weary anthology of Shakespeare’s works was cradled lightly in Asuka’s arms as she walked over to where her partner had asked to meet. She didn’t know him all that well, but from what she could gather, he was a bit of a scatterbrained, overly nervous ninny. Ah, well, she thought, walking up to where he was waiting. It could definitely be worse.

“Naoki?” Asuka asked, noticing how completely spaced out the boy was. “It’s me, Asuka.” He was looking at the ground, shuddering slightly; his nervousness was palpable, though at what, she didn’t know yet. “You can pull your head out of the sand, now. I’m not going to bite it off.”

[ono]

"Naoki?"
Hearing his own name had set him flying into several different directions. He nervously looked at the female who was carrying a bunch of Shakespeare's work. "A-A-Asuka! H-Hello!" Well, that was really far off from the original planned greeting...

“You can pull your head out of the sand, now. I’m not going to bite it off.”

He abruptly stood up and then turned and faced the girl's feet. Naoki pursed his lips together before starting anything. Throwing his head up, he exclaimed, "Would you like--uh! Would you like some h-help with those books, Asuka...?"

The brunette placed everything on halt to ask another lingering question. "Hey... why did you grab so many books w-when we only need... to know one dramatic act?" He winced even though nothing happened. However, he did hope that his question was not too obscure.

[false]

Asuka had watched quietly, vaguely amused, as Naoki tripped over his own words. She wasn't quite sure how someone as inarticulate as him got in as an acting major, but she supposed that he must acquire an adequate form of diction under the right sort of circumstances. Otherwise, how would he have even gotten in to Aozora in the first place?

"Would you like--uh! Would you like some h-help with those books, Asuka...?" She shook her head; carrying lots of books was commonplace for her. "Hey... why did you grab so many books w-when we only need... to know one dramatic act?"

"Well, they said we could choose which act we wanted, right?" Asuka said, making sure to explain herself thoroughly so the boy wouldn't have to ask any more questions and they'd be able to get to work. "I thought it'd be best if we had a large pool to choose from, so I brought all of the Shakespeare I own."

Setting the stack down on the ground - Mother Earth had better be damn careful about keeping them in nice condition because if they got soggy, there would be hell to pay - Asuka grabbed her favourite work by Shakespeare: Hamlet. In a low voice, she recited the first soliloquy that caught her eye.

"What if this cursed hand
Were thicker than itself with brother's blood, —
Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens
To wash it white as snow?"

When Asuka was finished, she closed the book and looked back at her partner. "Practicing," she explained. "Which work would you like to do? I've read every one that I have here."

[ono]

The answer that Asuka had given Naoki was short and simple. Naoki felt like an idiot for asking. The brunette calmed himself by taking a deep breath and then releasing it. If anything was going to kill Naoki subconsiously, that'd be partnership.

Asuka had refused his offer on helping-- which made Naoki feel bad. However, she did look like the type to study a lot. And that includes carrying a lot of supplies. Despite all those observations, it didn't stop Naoki's mind from going into frantic mode.

What if Asuka hates me now?! I'm probably the worst partner to be with!! I should've brought books, too... I seem so useless compared to her. How does she do everything in such a calmed manner??

Asuka explained everything in a composed manner. Coincidentally, that was what Naoki was just thinking of. "Well, they said we could choose which act we wanted, right? I thought it'd be best if we had a large pool to choose from, so I brought all of the Shakespeare I own."

"I- I see..." Naoki watched the female place the books onto the clean floor and began reciting a line from Hamlet. It was as if he was watching her on an actual stage-- strong and powerful. Just like how he would like to sound in front of tons of people-- to become another character who doesn't have his personalities.

"Which work would you like to do? I've read every one that I have here."

Clicking away from his trance, Naoki picked up Macbeth. "Hm..." Remembering he had a favorite quote from an act, he went straight to it. It always made him hold lingering thoughts after he looks at it.

The brunette began getting into Macbeth's character and stood up confidently. He emphasised the movements of his body as if he was actually Macbeth -

"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."

When he finished, he glanced at Asuka with a smile. In a way, she motivated Naoki without realizing it.

[false]

Naoki had watched intently as Asuka recited her lines, but she could tell that he'd drifted off somewhere again. He was lucky that he was so harmless, or her patience wouldn't have been as lenient as it was then.

When Naoki grabbed Macbeth, Asuka watched, more than a little curious to see how he functioned within the role of a character. A moment passed before he spoke, most likely using the time to force himself into character. Surprised, Asuka blinked slowly. He'd done a great job, somehow overcoming his spacey personality to become his character, for a second, anyway. Naoki smiled sheepishly when he'd finished, and she couldn't help but smile back.

"Wow," Asuka said, eyes darting down to Hamlet's pages as she looked for another line to practice. It was always good to warm up. "That was good, Naoki! Have you rehearsed that before?"

[ono]

ooc; oasljdnawh sorry you had to wait so long for my sucky reply ; w;

Having Asuka smile back at Naoki made him feel heartened. She looked less menacing or intimidating. Not that Naoki ever noticed her behaviors, though. He only saw her as a girl or an intelligent student. He was jealous of how strong she was without trying as hard as him.

As the female started looking for another line, she spoke. Her words made Naoki beam a genuine smile.

"That was good, Naoki! Have you rehearsed that before?"

Looking at Asuka in the eyes, he nodded his head. "Yes--! I-I did rehearse this. It's just a warm up piece I really enjoy-- that's all!!" After his little explanation, he lowered his head. Ahh, great... I probably sounded stupid again... In his mind, he was on his knees and hands with darkness around him.

He raised his head back up to glance at the bluish-haired female again. "--Uh! A-Asuka... Did-- How do you have so much confidence? I mean-- it's just-- you seem r-really professional... It's amazing!" Naoki tripped over his own words, but hopefully she understood him. He grabbed the hem of his shirt and started playing with them out of nervousness for such an embarrassing question.