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

[afflictive]

[...]

I need [blah blah

you said to do this okay]

[inlets]

[They head straight for a sizable store, as Tao chatters on – ]

Ah, I know exactly where those are. Follow me!

[Down this aisle, doop doop, here and there.]

[afflictive]

[If you'd led him down an alleyway, Fujimaru would've ditched you immediately, so good job.]

... Tch. I guess you're not as shady as you seem.

[inlets]

[Please. An alleyway doesn't even have proper outlets.]

So, what do you think? Will these parts work for the power station? Of course, this isn't all of it. There's one more thing in another side of the store.

[afflictive]

I can find it myself, in that case.

[inlets]

Are you sure? This is a big place.

[afflictive]

I'll figure it out!

[inlets]

Then I'll just stick around, and you can find it by yourself. Let's go!

[afflictive]

Why do you need to stick around in the first place?

[inlets]

To make sure you don't get lost, of course.

[afflictive]

I'm not gonna get lost!

[inlets]

Then you shouldn't have a problem with me coming along to see, right?

I don't get to work with power stations, so I'm curious, too.

[afflictive]

... Tch. Fine! Don't get in my way.

[inlets]

Didn't plan on it. Lead the way!

[afflictive]

[He just shoots Tao a scowl, before going off to search for what he needs.

... Well, while Tao said to lead the way, that would suggest Fujimaru knows where he's going, and he obviously doesn't, since it's not like he's been here before. He's making a valiant attempt, though...!]

[inlets]

[Fujimaru, this is taking too long.

But Tao is patient, and he can plainly see the type of person this boy is. So he follows diligently from behind, just off one of Fujimaru's shoulders.

. . . even though he's pretty sure they just passed the right aisle.]

[afflictive]

[Give the crippled kid a break, gosh!!

But yes, he's doing his best even if ow, carrying a bag or two is starting to hurt his arm/shoulder, and he doesn't have the luxury of switching sides. He's also pretty sure Tao might be laughing at him inside, which ticks him off, so ugh...]

Tch...

[He's still not going to ask for help.]

[inlets]

[Why, so the kid can pitch a fit about being babied?

Tao's curious gaze wanders to the bags in Fujimaru's grasp. Even for someone with the use of both arms, that's a lot to carry.]

You know, I can carry a bag.

[afflictive]

[At the offer, Fujimaru pauses, before eying Tao dubiously.]

You're being weirdly helpful to a complete stranger, aren't you?

[inlets]

I did say that I'd take you to the right place. Now that you've taken over, isn't this the least I should do?

[afflictive]

Are you always this overly friendly?

[inlets]

[Tao just flashes a friendly smile.]

You looked like you could use a hand. [Oops, maybe that was too literal.] You know, there's a lot of kids where I work. They're always so happy that you can't help but to return the gesture.

[afflictive]

What does that have to do with anything?

[inlets]

It means that, after everything, I couldn't just ignore you! [Gotta help the kids.] How come you're all by yourself, anyway? Isn't that too much for one person to carry?

[afflictive]

I'm here by myself 'cause I can take care of it by myself.

[read: he's probably the one who insisted on doing it on his own.]