Eighth Pattern ; Audio

[hikaruorkaoru]

[Today, the camera isn't turned on. Hikaru isn't about to really let himself be seen with bruises and a split lip. Nothing irreparable, but he doesn't feel like letting anyone see, and he's not putting on make-up just for talking to the journal.]

So. Gotta ask --

Does this place have any video games? Like... something on a handheld system? I don't even care if it should be in a museum, I need something. Been way too long since I played anything.

[It was, strangely, something he found himself missing a lot as the days went by. He'd grown up in a world of fashion... and video games.

His father had even hinted at leaving his company primarily to Hikaru while their mother left hers primarily to Kaoru. Of course, they'd both work both jobs... Hikaru wasn't quite willing to really accept the idea of being apart from Kaoru, even professionally.]

Comments

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

[Loki smirks. He isn't blind, by the way, Hikaru.] Upon whom other than myself have you made the mistake of trying to sharpen your tongue?

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

Doesn't matter.

[Because it doesn't. ...Hell, he didn't even get the other guy's name. And he isn't someone who calls in reinforcements. He's used to being untouchable, but that doesn't mean he doesn't handle his own problems.

...Just not always well.]

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

I have a rather vested interest in the health of my tailor. [These clothes don't make themselves.]

What incited such unpleasantness?

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

I got into a fight with a guy. No big deal.

[Yes. A "fight." In which he threw maybe one blow. But, hey. He can call it what he wants.

"Fight" sounds better, anyway.]

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

I didn't think you were the sort to do that.

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

Usually nobody has the guts to hit me.

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

Ah, the great equalizer of a place with no money.

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

And no Mori-senpai or Honey-senpai.

It totally sucks.

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

Your friends and protectors?

It's annoying. It requires different routes being used to build and exercise power, some of which can be quite tiresome.

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

Yeah. I mean, only Kyouya-senpai's family still worries about bodyguards now that we're all hanging out with them. No one's stupid enough to try and grab one of us if Honey-senpai and Mori-senpai are around.

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

Oh? Why is that? I haven't heard of any of these mortals. [So they can't be that impressive, that's for certain.]

Hah, and instead you've been grabbed into one of the most annoying places at all.

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

In our world, we're all the heirs to major companies. Except Kyouya-senpai. His older brothers are going to inherit.

But his family's still rich, so. We're all totally aristocracy.

Mori-senpai and Honey-senpai are from elite marital arts families and are the best their families have to offer. So when we're hanging out with them? Only someone really stupid would try and kidnap us.

...'Cept the Malnosso, obviously. And they don't even want ransom.

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

Is aristocracy in the mortal world now a matter purely of wealth? [Interesting. Though wealth is useful, the humans of old were more obsessed with bloodlines.]

Hm. So they might defend themselves. How traditional.

When we finally do ascertain what it is they truly want, that is the day we shall actually make progress.

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

Sort of. I mean, well. Like my school.

Ouran Academy. If you can pay the tuition -- or have the grades to get a scholarship but those students are rare -- you can attend. But our classes are sorted by academic achievement and social status.

So the new money and Yakuza kids are kept at a pretty good distance from those of us with actual pedigrees.

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

Ah. So money only gets one so far. That's more the world I'm accustomed to seeing, really. It's always nice to know certain things are constant.

You do like to keep the lower classes in their place.

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

Some commoners are alright. We've got one in Ouran right now and [he? she? talking about Haruhi with a stranger means pronouns are a problem... but he'll play it safe, easier to explain this way than the other way around] he's pretty cool.

Got in on scholarship and made the right friends, so. Nobody bothers him now.

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

In any place, people are power. [Who you know and who you use, really.]

And in this place moreso, as there is no money and threats of violence are of limited utility.

What made you decide to take this boy in your school under your wing?

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

Milord decided he should join our club. [Hikaru shrugs a bit.] So we just got used to him.

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

Your lord? [...that sounds rather feudal...]

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

...Huh? Oh.

Tamaki. Club president. He's pretty ridiculous. He likes to shout a lot and spout orders no one listens to, so... That's what we call him.

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

Ah, a title of mockery.

What club?

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

Yeah, basically. [But if anyone outside the club tried to insult Tamaki, the Hitachiins would be one of the first ones to strike back. He's theirs to insult, not anyone else's.]

It's a host club. Which sounds kind of weird, but. Hey. We make it work.

[Action]

[complicatedliar]

...host club?

[So how does that translate into the All-tongue?]

...prostitutes?

[Action]

[hikaruorkaoru]

...No.

[No, no. Not even close. Not in his opinion. And it shows. A wrinkling of the nose, a sharp frown.]

Re: [Action]

[complicatedliar]

[Shrug.] Then how do you translate that?