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]

[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.]

[inlets]

[Tao reads, and he is somewhat impressed.]

Hm . . . so you're going to carry all that?

[afflictive]

What do you think?

[inlets]

[What a stubborn guy . . . ]

Well, lead on, then.

[afflictive]

[He just shoots another glare at Tao, before... leading on...

In his defence, his sense of navigation is perfectly fine and he's not necessarily doing a bad job at trying to locate what he needs. He just hasn't actually found the right area yet, whoops.]

[inlets]

[Happens to the best of everyone in a new store as big as this. Tao doesn't fault Fujimaru for it, and he isn't in any rush to be impatient about it.

Only . . .

Well, he'll be quiet until they find what they're looking for.]

[afflictive]

[aaaaaaand eventually, they do! Much to the relief of Fujimaru's shoulder, as he finally places the bags on the ground so that he can properly browse.

... though first he glances over at Tao.]

Well? You can go now.

[inlets]

[ . . . ]

Haa . . . Coincidentally, there's something I need to buy, too.

[So he'll just snake an arm around and past Fujimaru for that thing right in front of him.]

[afflictive]

Hey—!

[alskdjalsd personal space??

He gives a start at that, nearly tripping over his bags in surprise.]

[inlets]

[Tao chuckles as he turns around to face Fujimaru, free hand on the back of his head.]

Aha, sorry, sorry. You were right in front of it.

[afflictive]

Couldn't you have just said something beforehand!?

[inlets]

[A shrug.]

Well, what's done is done. Find what you need?

[The advantage of this store is its somewhat notable diversity. What Tao got is a computer part.

Which was misplaced by, more than likely, a disinterested customer, but hey. Whatever works.]

[afflictive]

Yeah, yeah. So you can go now.

[inlets]

Okay, okay. Just don't trip on your stuff, all right?

[And there goes Tao. Except the line at the registers is congested, so he may be a while in actually leaving the vicinity. Beware, Fujimaru . . . ]

[afflictive]

[DAMN IT.

The thing about Fujimaru is that he likes to work quickly, so with Tao out of the picture, he gathers what he needs as quickly as possible, and—

...

Well, he may or may not be purposely choosing a line that Tao isn't in...]