[no, he isn't. and really, he's not... even sure what he's agreed to... a riddle race? how did you do that? ugh, he'd already had to think about three of them, how many more were there---]
[-- but competitiveness didn't limit itself to foot races. (it used to; alas, what had he gotten himself into?) he sizes Guy up from under frizzy curls, skin pale and sleepless purple rings under determined eyes. but it was... mostly out of habit. once Guy got there:]
Alright! ... So where do we start?
[no... he didn't even know where to access riddles.]
[Hinata looks like he's seen better days-- then again, who hasn't on this crew? First, the bugs and the cats. Now, Macha. But their little meet-up here wasn't about any of these things. So he won't focus on it.]
Weren't you the one who wanted to go looking for puzzle books? [Step it up, young shounen. He looks over the shelves, trying to decide how to turn this into a game.] How about this? We each find our own riddles and quiz each other. Whoever answers the most will win.
Um... Yeah. Alright. [with a slow glance over to the digital readers, akin to a dying man looking at an approaching bear. but you couldn't give up so easily...! he'd start for one, all unsure footed and slow.] Speak up once you've got ten riddles. Then we can give it a go.
[debatable... but you're a good guy (hah) for saying so.]
[Hinata just nods, turning his attention to one of the library's many computers (- the hair ruffling had been nice -- though wow, how often had Guy done that? he barely noticed!) bucking up and puffing out his chest, he meandered toward one, opening up a page to begin searching.]
[... after a potentially comfortable silence arose:]
Hey, Guy? [vaguely distracted. but not really. not one bit.] What've you been up to, anyway?
[Guy himself has gotten to work at one of the computers, soon lost in the pages of encrypted data. It's easy for him to get sucked into another world when it comes to electronics, even if all they're searching for is a handful of riddles. That's why he doesn't notice Hinata speaking to him at first. Hunched over the monitor, it takes him a second to realize he's being spoken to.]
Nothing much. [There's been a lot to think about. A lot to figure out. Guy swipes right on the screen, shifting to find something more relevant.]
I've been training. Hanging around the bars. [He idly scans the titles he's being given, speaking a little carelessly.] Now that we're back on the Neheda, it's a good chance to relax.
[it's the worst chance to relax, Hinata doesn't say, because there's not much point in arguing stuff like that (perspective, luck, paranoia) unless you were too heated to stop yourself. and even then, there wasn't much of a point.]
[there was a lot to think about. Macha's emergency evacuation. the change in authority. the added outside security. where they would go next. what in the world had been the right answer to Dio's math question.]
[... which, speaking of riddles - casting his mind back to Ciel and the entire reason behind the two of them being in the library (rather, the one to give the idea), of rebellion and anger in a medical tent (Guy standing, healthy, and that should've been enough except it hadn't been long since he wasn't so).]
Phantomhive might try his hand at cooking. [a complete, utter non-sequitur. but. he tried.] During our time here, and after. Seems like he's preparing for future issues.
[small sigh, voice equally non-committal.]
But for him, there's no place like home. So he probably won't be the best.
[... but Hinata wouldn't bring it up if he didn't think it had some worth to Guy. that was true.]
[There was how you felt, and how you presented it. Guy's learned a long time ago to package away any troubles he had. The ability to gloss things over was a necessity during his childhood in Kimlasca. It's difficult to unlearn something like that. There's also the factor that he never felt the need to unlearn it, too.
He's become more willing to speak up since the punishments had been issued. But he's still a long, long way from freely opening up to others.
(Anger was not something that should be bared so quickly.)
Phantomhive. His hand hovers over the computer screen. The name is unfamiliar, but he'll bite.]
At least he's willing to try. [That's good.] Is he a friend of yours?
[not clever enough, Hinata thinks; then again, he also thinks (and says),]
Too clever.
[with the clause,]
Sometimes.
[and a blank, zoned out stare at the computer in front of him. apparently, as compared to Guy's enduring neutrality, Hinata had two settings: high and low. but then, that wasn't so surprising. perhaps --- and it was in his mind, somewhere in the back, subconscious but there - he wanted to know Guy's thoughts.]
So he's the type who doesn't like following the recipe, huh? That'd be a problem. We can't afford to experiment too much since we don't have a lot of supplies left.
[It's easy to switch back to that unrelated topic, pretending as though they're talking about Ciel's god-awful cooking skills. There's always the risk of someone listening, and Guy doesn't want Hinata to be implicated. He continues to type away, acting like nothing's wrong.
They need someone who can work with them. Not someone who would put others at risk. They're treading on thin ice already by testing the crew for people they could rely on.]
[as far as metaphors and other turns of mysterious phrasing goes, Hinata had never been the best. but then, Guy knew that--- moreover, sometime as simple as a cooking metaphor...]
[a blink back to the present, though he retains enough of himself to not glance in Guy's direction. lessons, huh.]
[Hinata's concern, amusingly enough, followed Guy's to a T in regards to Ciel throwing them under a bus.]
I don't think so. [with an overdone sigh, but it held a note of true exhaustion.] He's really into secret family trade tricks-- with, you know, Sebastian's help. He's definitely the ruling chef of the roost.
[so. no. he wouldn't be, and there was the demon to think about.]
Although if you had enough evidence his dishes were disgusting, he might change something... But like you said, we haven't got much to work with.
[It's someone they might run into trouble with later, then. If they were trying to put together their own small roster, Ciel might be interested in doing the same-- not for the benefit of other recruits, but for his own.
It wouldn't do if their efforts were divided. Therefore...
Guy considers all of this before he lifts his head to look over at Hinata.]
Then let's keep him in mind. Who knows? [He manages a small smile.] We might need to exchange recipes at some point.
[awareness at a high comparable only to the night of the ambush, Hinata's head snaps up the second he catches Guy looking over in his periphery.]
I might've already offered my help...
[by which he means: he had. and he wasn't sure if Guy should do the same -- laid out as it was, the signs pointed toward no.]
[still.]
... So if the kitchen explodes, you'll know who to look to. [a half-smile, gone in a flash.] Or if he actually brews something good, I'll make sure to nab a copy for you.
[He's not surprised to hear that. Hinata's the type of kid who wouldn't hesitate to nab the chance at helping others. Guy nods, shifting his eyes back to the computer screen.]
Make sure the two of you don't set too much on fire. [It's a light tease, though the warning behind it is sincere. It wouldn't do any good if all the smoke attracted unwarranted attention.]
She's one of the newcomers, but she knows her stuff. I think we can invite her to our club.
[Guy taps his cuff. A moment later, Hinata's will buzz with a new message. It's a text file full of riddles... mostly simple ones like "What tastes better than it smells" and "What are two things you can never eat for breakfast?"]
["club..." sounded as ridiculous as the food metaphors (which actually didn't sound as ridiculous as they should have in Hinata's mind-- he honestly thought them a touch clever), but if Guy gave the go-ahead for Alice, even without meeting her, the ginger trusted the blond.]
[which. was and wasn't an awful idea.]
[... ah.]
[the riddles.]
[he'd been so distracted... (he'd repressed the fact they'd come here looking for riddles, too).]
Um... A bit longer... I want the best! [small cough, face hovering close to the screen as he started really reading (and ignoring the ones Guy had sent - not on purpose, of course).] I'll get them to you soon.
[spoken as Hinata sunk halfway down, body bowed out from the desk in a resigned slump. still clicking. why did Jack jump over the candlestick? -- wait, that was a story. damn it.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[no, he isn't. and really, he's not... even sure what he's agreed to... a riddle race? how did you do that? ugh, he'd already had to think about three of them, how many more were there---]
[-- but competitiveness didn't limit itself to foot races. (it used to; alas, what had he gotten himself into?) he sizes Guy up from under frizzy curls, skin pale and sleepless purple rings under determined eyes. but it was... mostly out of habit. once Guy got there:]
Alright! ... So where do we start?
[no... he didn't even know where to access riddles.]
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Weren't you the one who wanted to go looking for puzzle books? [Step it up, young shounen. He looks over the shelves, trying to decide how to turn this into a game.] How about this? We each find our own riddles and quiz each other. Whoever answers the most will win.
Deal?
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[oh.]
[...]
[that sounded downright awful.]
Um... Yeah. Alright. [with a slow glance over to the digital readers, akin to a dying man looking at an approaching bear. but you couldn't give up so easily...! he'd start for one, all unsure footed and slow.] Speak up once you've got ten riddles. Then we can give it a go.
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Relax. You've got this. You're smarter than you think.
[He hopes, anyway.]
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[Hinata just nods, turning his attention to one of the library's many computers (- the hair ruffling had been nice -- though wow, how often had Guy done that? he barely noticed!) bucking up and puffing out his chest, he meandered toward one, opening up a page to begin searching.]
[... after a potentially comfortable silence arose:]
Hey, Guy? [vaguely distracted. but not really. not one bit.] What've you been up to, anyway?
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Nothing much. [There's been a lot to think about. A lot to figure out. Guy swipes right on the screen, shifting to find something more relevant.]
I've been training. Hanging around the bars. [He idly scans the titles he's being given, speaking a little carelessly.] Now that we're back on the Neheda, it's a good chance to relax.
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[there was a lot to think about. Macha's emergency evacuation. the change in authority. the added outside security. where they would go next. what in the world had been the right answer to Dio's math question.]
[... which, speaking of riddles - casting his mind back to Ciel and the entire reason behind the two of them being in the library (rather, the one to give the idea), of rebellion and anger in a medical tent (Guy standing, healthy, and that should've been enough except it hadn't been long since he wasn't so).]
Phantomhive might try his hand at cooking. [a complete, utter non-sequitur. but. he tried.] During our time here, and after. Seems like he's preparing for future issues.
[small sigh, voice equally non-committal.]
But for him, there's no place like home. So he probably won't be the best.
[... but Hinata wouldn't bring it up if he didn't think it had some worth to Guy. that was true.]
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He's become more willing to speak up since the punishments had been issued. But he's still a long, long way from freely opening up to others.
(Anger was not something that should be bared so quickly.)
Phantomhive. His hand hovers over the computer screen. The name is unfamiliar, but he'll bite.]
At least he's willing to try. [That's good.] Is he a friend of yours?
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[blunt.]
But he's clever.
[not clever enough, Hinata thinks; then again, he also thinks (and says),]
Too clever.
[with the clause,]
Sometimes.
[and a blank, zoned out stare at the computer in front of him. apparently, as compared to Guy's enduring neutrality, Hinata had two settings: high and low. but then, that wasn't so surprising. perhaps --- and it was in his mind, somewhere in the back, subconscious but there - he wanted to know Guy's thoughts.]
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[It's easy to switch back to that unrelated topic, pretending as though they're talking about Ciel's god-awful cooking skills. There's always the risk of someone listening, and Guy doesn't want Hinata to be implicated. He continues to type away, acting like nothing's wrong.
They need someone who can work with them. Not someone who would put others at risk. They're treading on thin ice already by testing the crew for people they could rely on.]
Would he be open to lessons?
[Does Hinata think he can listen?]
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[a blink back to the present, though he retains enough of himself to not glance in Guy's direction. lessons, huh.]
[Hinata's concern, amusingly enough, followed Guy's to a T in regards to Ciel throwing them under a bus.]
I don't think so. [with an overdone sigh, but it held a note of true exhaustion.] He's really into secret family trade tricks-- with, you know, Sebastian's help. He's definitely the ruling chef of the roost.
[so. no. he wouldn't be, and there was the demon to think about.]
Although if you had enough evidence his dishes were disgusting, he might change something... But like you said, we haven't got much to work with.
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It wouldn't do if their efforts were divided. Therefore...
Guy considers all of this before he lifts his head to look over at Hinata.]
Then let's keep him in mind. Who knows? [He manages a small smile.] We might need to exchange recipes at some point.
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I might've already offered my help...
[by which he means: he had. and he wasn't sure if Guy should do the same -- laid out as it was, the signs pointed toward no.]
[still.]
... So if the kitchen explodes, you'll know who to look to. [a half-smile, gone in a flash.] Or if he actually brews something good, I'll make sure to nab a copy for you.
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Make sure the two of you don't set too much on fire. [It's a light tease, though the warning behind it is sincere. It wouldn't do any good if all the smoke attracted unwarranted attention.]
Do you know Alice?
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Alice...?
[that'd be a no.]
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[Guy taps his cuff. A moment later, Hinata's will buzz with a new message. It's a text file full of riddles... mostly simple ones like "What tastes better than it smells" and "What are two things you can never eat for breakfast?"]
Anyway, I've found mine. How about you?
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[he'd remember.]
["club..." sounded as ridiculous as the food metaphors (which actually didn't sound as ridiculous as they should have in Hinata's mind-- he honestly thought them a touch clever), but if Guy gave the go-ahead for Alice, even without meeting her, the ginger trusted the blond.]
[which. was and wasn't an awful idea.]
[... ah.]
[the riddles.]
[he'd been so distracted... (he'd repressed the fact they'd come here looking for riddles, too).]
Um... A bit longer... I want the best! [small cough, face hovering close to the screen as he started really reading (and ignoring the ones Guy had sent - not on purpose, of course).] I'll get them to you soon.
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Right, take your time. [Said teasingly. He pats him on the back.] You've got to think long and hard about which ones you want to choose.
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Yeah...
[spoken as Hinata sunk halfway down, body bowed out from the desk in a resigned slump. still clicking. why did Jack jump over the candlestick? -- wait, that was a story. damn it.]
[Guy would undoubtedly win this round.]