Studying!

[demonicbookworm]

Who: Ruca and you!
Where: The park!
When: Afternoon
Style: anything you want
Status: Open!

Taking Gohan's advice, Ruca could be found today in the park... studying. Since staying all day in his room wouldn't be anything good.

So now, you could see the silver-haired boy sitting under the tree, books all around him and one in his hands. He was reading and not paying much attention to the world around him.

Well, at least this time he was not walking and reading at the same time!

Feel free to bother him.

Comments

[hopeofzaphias]

Yuri himself can be found outside, wandering about the park despite his housemates telling him otherwise; really, they shouldn't have been worried, it wasn't like the park was ablaze every time he went out...

Pausing, it didn't take long for him to notice all the books near the one tree, and even less to notice the silver-haired boy sitting at the base of the tree hey were clustered around. Yuri had to bite back a laugh -- if he hadn't spotted Ruca he could've sworn Estelle was under that tree.

Deciding to creep up on him, it wasn't too difficult for Yuri to suddenly show up behind Ruca, peering over his shoulder. "What're you reading?"

[demonicbookworm]

It wouldn't be too difficult to creep on Ruca, considering that the boy wasn't paying any attention to what was happening around him. He almost jumped from his place startled by Yuri's sudden appearance.

"Yuri... you startled me." he said, looking at the other.

Then he sighed a little, looking back at his book.

"I'm... only studying." he answered remembering the question Yuri asked him.

[hopeofzaphias]

"Sorry. I couldn't resist." Yuri couldn't help but grin as he ruffled Ruca's hair playfully. Deciding to see what he was reading, Yuri followed Ruca's gaze to the book... only to get completely confused as he stared at all the words.

"...wow. That book is full of scientific things and I can't read a single word of it."

[demonicbookworm]

It sure had been a while since the last time someone ruffled his hair.

At Yuri's comment, the boy smiled a little.

"Well if I don't study things like this, I can never hope to become a good doctor in the future."

[hopeofzaphias]

"You're got more will than I do in that respect." Yuri noted positively as he turned away from the book. "I look at that and all I get is a giant headache from everything."

"Still, a doctor... suddenly it makes sense, how you knew what to do when I first arrived here." He grinned somewhat cockily at the memory.

[demonicbookworm]

That was something he would expect Iria or Spada to say...

Ruca looked slightly embarrassed.

"No... I really couldn't do much back then... and that just proves that I need to study even more."

All what he had done back then was to bandage Yuri's wounds and take him to the hospital. That wasn't much.

[hopeofzaphias]

"Even so, what you did's much better than just leaving me there to bleed out." Yuri responded seriously, ruffling Ruca's hair a little more.

"You should try to be more confident in yourself, you know... you're a sweet kid, despite what you say."

[demonicbookworm]

Ruca's eyes widened at that.

"B-but I would never leave anyone in such state!" he shook his head. "And I don't think anyone could..."

Was it only natural for people to help each other?

Ruca looked away, blushing slightly.

"...That's why I don't think I did something special; I just did what anyone would."

[hopeofzaphias]

"I know more than a few back home who'd be more than happy to let me bleed out, sadly..." Yuri responded darkly, sighing as his expression darkened. Being somewhat of a crusader for the Lower Quarter in Zaphias brought its share of enemies, sadly; he decided he wasn't going to bother Ruca with the details, though.

"Still... thanks. I think it means something, what you did."

[bufudine]

[The park isn't one of Serph's regular haunts, but he was harassed in that general direction by the locals when he came in from the island. Apparently this was the day they chose to take offence at him dripping water all over the city after a swim in the sea, so they cheerfully but insistently shooed him to the park.

Serph wasn't in much of a mood to resist, so he entered the park, intending to sleep off his exhaustion or something while he dried off. But when he spotted Ruca, Serph made his way over to him. It's been a while since they last talked.

...He's still dripping water everywhere.]

[demonicbookworm]

<sub>[Ruca is busy reading and doesn't notice Serph... until water starts dripping on his books.

The boy to instantly looks up, searching for the source of this dripping water... And that's when he sees Serph.]</sub>

Serph? ...What happened to you?

_{[Did you fall into the sea or something?]}

[bufudine]

[Whoops. Well, Serph at least has the good grace to wipe the water off the covers of the books; the head librarian probably wouldn't be very happy at him if he ruined the books she hired him to take care of. Though it's only vaguely successful given his sleeve is soaked, too.

He does, at least, take a step back so the drops of water he squeezes out of his hair doesn't get onto the books.]

I was chased by the demon in the ocean.

[Does it count as falling into the sea if he willingly went?]

[demonicbookworm]

_{[oh, don't worry. He'll wipe the books himself.]}

What do you mean by that?

_{[chased by a demon? Really?]}

[bufudine]

[Serph tends to describe anything that has obvious natural weapons as a demon; animals aren't exactly a common sight in his world. He takes a seat on the grassy ground.]

Have you swum in the ocean by the island before?

[demonicbookworm]

_{[Ruca shakes his head.]}

No... I rarely come to the island actually.

_{[He's been there only to meet Raine...]}

[bufudine]

[So he wouldn't know...]

If you swim far enough, you will encounter a demon. It's fast, like a fish, and has rows of sharp teeth.

[A pause.]

...It seemed a bad idea to fight it in its territory.

[demonicbookworm]

_{[Ruca thinks about it for a moment.]}

Serph... are you sure it was a demon?

_{[and not a shark or something like that?]}

[swordandaxe]

Richter has been trying to make it a point to venture out of the forest more than once every two weeks, but he still couldn't help wanting to avoid the busy plaza. His aversion to social interaction led him to the park, where he aimlessly wandered about until he noticed a familiar bent head.

Approaching Ruca, Richter stopped a few feet away, "Good afternoon."

[demonicbookworm]

Did someone say something to him? Ruca looked around, then noticing Richter, he smiled sheepishly.

"Ah... good afternoon."

[swordandaxe]

Richter merely nodded back, looking over Ruca's makeshift workplace, "Studying again?"

[demonicbookworm]

Ruca answered quickly, while picking up the scattered books and putting them in one pile.

"...Yes. Someone advised me that it's better to study outside sometimes."

[swordandaxe]

Richter took a seat on the ground, legs crossed and one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. It was a bit awkward looking down at Ruca from a standing position. "Good advice. Fresh air is good for you every once in a while, especially when being productive."

Said the guy who sleeps in the forest every night.

[demonicbookworm]

Ruca nodded.

"Yes... but I think I probably spend too much time in my room, too."

Well, he did live all alone, so he had nobody to tell him that he needed to go out of there once in a while. Once he started reading, he rarely noticed how much time passed.

[swordandaxe]

There was the faintest trace of a smile on Richter's face, "Do you do anything besides study?"

[demonicbookworm]

The boy looked at Richter, then back at his books.

"Um... I..." he paused, then shook his head. "...Not really."