Tao | please indulge me

[inlets]

[Pick your poison:

• A reputable high school, populated by students in white uniform. Are you perhaps a transfer student? A teacher? A new addition to the security guards?
  
• You're on a computer or some database or another when the screen behaves strangely. You are now being hacked.
  
• An electronics store. Tao is picking up a copious amount of parts, almost at what looks like random, and not bothering to be quiet about it.
  
• Your choice.

Mmhahahaha.]

Comments

[inlets]

Haha, I just heard you. If you tell me what you need, I'll take you where you should go. Isn't that fair?

[afflictive]

Why the hell should I follow a stranger?

[inlets]

You don't have to. You looked like you were in need of directions, so I thought I'd show you around.

[afflictive]

I don't need your help.

[inlets]

I'm sure you could have managed just fine without it.

Are you sure? I mean, medicine and power station parts aren't exactly going to be close together. You'll be saving a lot of time!

[afflictive]

I just said that I don't go around following creeps!

[inlets]

No, that's wrong. You said you don't have a reason to follow a stranger. There's a huge difference . . . unless you think all strangers are creeps?

[??]

[afflictive]

No, but you are.

[inlets]

Ah, I see. Sorry about that, then – I was just trying to be helpful, haha.

[afflictive]

If you wanna be helpful, don't just approach people and offer to take them to places outta the blue!

[inlets]

What else was I supposed to do? We were both just walking by.

[afflictive]

I wasn't even talking to you!

[inlets]

Of course you weren't. This is our first time meeting. It's not a bad way to meet!

[afflictive]

[You're just getting creepier and creepier, Tao.]

Tch. 'Not a bad way to meet?' It ain't much of a meeting at all, y'know...

[inlets]

[This kid doesn't know how to accept help.]

Ah, but it still is! You didn't deny it.

[afflictive]

Seriously? You call that a meeting?

[inlets]

It's a chance meeting! The same as in those anonymous chat rooms . . . like Omegle.

[afflictive]

[He just stares, because you are talking to a kid who has had no interaction whatsoever with anonymous chat rooms because post-apocalyptic world!!]

... What the hell are you even talking about now?

[inlets]

[!!]

Don't you chat on the computer?

[afflictive]

No. Why would I?

[inlets]

You're right . . . most kids your age these days chat through the phone. Sending text messages has gotten a lot more popular lately, hasn't it? Technology sure is great!

[afflictive]

[what the hell is with this guy.]

I don't do anything like that.

[inlets]

[Making small talk.

It's working . . . !]

What? Why not? Could it be . . . you're too shy?

[afflictive]

... Huh!? How the hell does that make me shy!?

[inlets]

It's strange that someone as young as you would be without a phone [unless you're Rai, but Rai is probably thousands of years old]. Do you have one?

Ah! If you do, we should exchange numbers. That way we can send messages. You'll have the experience, and I won't be a stranger to you anymore. It's perfect! Hahaha!

[Tao is honestly joking around. Noisily. Don't fret, Fujimaru.]