Mariko Mimasaka (cuteheiress) wrote in carpediem_rp, @ 2015-11-03 23:21:00 |
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Current music: | Morning Musume Sakura gumi - Sakura Mankai |
Now, when I open my heart to you
Who: Mariko and Jackson
Where: Great hall, just outside in the courtyard
When: towards the end of the Halloween Gala 10/31
Warning: Probably none
Status: Closed/In Progress
After much deliberation Mariko had eventually chosen to go as a cute human strawberry to the Halloween gala, twirling with an expert grace in stilettos on the dance floor with both girls and boys, it had amused her to no end to dance with her best friend who came as a 'man in black' which sounded silly to her but the contrast of her costume to Skye's had amused her greatly.
As she stepped off of the dance area proper, breathless from a brightly colored lovely spin she had executed, yellow petticoats fluttering even as she raised a hand to make sure her pigtails her still perfect--they were of course. It was a lovely night so far even hardly over an hour in, she had been flirting coyly with anyone who was anyone and was worth her attention along with a few sips from a flask one of the other Slytherins had semi discreetly passed her.
Now she wanted to sit a moment, the crowds and the touching--it was amazing how forward some thought they could be when they thought their identifies were hidden in a mass of people--were causing a biting in the back of her mind. So she was calmly making a beeline towards the tables set to the side, eagerly looking forward to the bubble of semi calmness that came with it.
Well, at least this wasn't a suit and tie kind of event because Jackson did not do suit, ties and shoes well. It was why Halloween had been high on the list of favourite holidays, taking the spot just below Christmas for obvious reasons. It was freakin' Christmas, bro, and with it came the most kick ass of all four seasons. Winter! So, of course his costume, as random as it was, conveyed it as much as possible without putting too much effort into it, since it was thrown together that afternoon. His familiar blue hoodie, with a connecting pocked in the front to store his hands...and candy. In between the deep folds of the hem had been caked with frost crystals with a spell, spreading to the shoulders and down his back under the hood. His brown skinnies ripped and frayed calf height leaving him bare foot, with bundles of twine coiled to the knee where it too, had been glazed over with ice. His shepherd-like crook made of entwined branches also with the added wintry theme he had running.
Running? OF COURSE HE WAS RUNNING. Pivoting and dodging between the sea of half cut party goers, Jack had been on a mission after probably...maybe....sort of. Ok, so he did conjure a bit of ice over the already glossy surface of the red candy apples that had been set out. And maybe (Raava? :D) was the first to get her tongue stuck to it when she took a lick. It was all in good fun anyhow, and it would wear in just a few minutes with the heat from her breath to finally let it thaw.
The tap of his bare feet against the glossy floor had finally slowed when he emerged from the crowds to cover his escape route, Jack turned with a bright smile over his shoulder in victory and a smug nod before he continued on to the more quiet section of the festivities. With eyes, the colour of frozen water rested on the single student who had decided to separate herself from the rest and feeling an instant draw because of the fact that she was alone.
With a bounce in his step, Jack leaped to the chair in front of her, squatting to the balls of his feet with his staff resting against the left side of his chest. "The party is over that way," he pointed out, "...Yah got dressed up, and now you're coolin' your hee-" he paused, tilting his head to her feet and his eyes widened...."..how do you even walk in those things without breaking your ankles...holy snowballs," Jackson was never one for shoes in general, which was why he was without them now and having an excuse via costume. But those...coming to a dance with those stilts on!? "...heels?"
To say she was startled by the sudden person in front of her would be an understatement, and she gave a cute squeak of surprise, hands flying up to her face to hide her startled look--but not smudging her makeup of course! Luckily she hadn't been walking too fast so she was able to stop without falling, balancing precariously on her heels as she took in the boy before her. After a moment recognition soaked and she pointed an accusing finger at him, "Jackson Overland you better not be planning anything that will ruin my outfit!" She had already felt a tenseness at the crowd she definitely wasn't going to have one of the resident pranksters send her back to her dorm early in frustration.
That being said the frost on his outfit did look pretty neat, and she had to admire that he was able to do it without apparent damage to his clothes or his skin, then again he did have a reputation for using frost spells for his pranks so he was experienced with them. Tilting her head to the side she looked at her shoes, pivoting her ankle on her toes to look at it in a classic pose, "Talent and grace of course," With not the least bit of ego, ego was bloated confidence, all of her's was warranted so it was just surety in her own practiced poise.
Flipping a pigtail off her shoulder she grabbed the back of the chair, barely touching his hands that gripped it in the process, "I needed air, anyway since you're here you should get me something to drink," A finger on her chin and a pose that was obviously created for a camera and cute captions, "Get me something as sweet as me of course!" Batting her eyes at him she tugged on the chair, waving her hand in dismissal as she did so.
"Jack," he corrected her almost fast enough to cut her off in her thoughts. Jackson was so freakin formal, and the fact that whenever he heard his full name a detention was soon to follow. His postured arched back with the accusatory finger in his face from where he had been crouched on the balls of his feet on top of the chair he'd occupied with a flat expression. He wouldn't intentionally and maliciously ruin someones hard work on a costume made specifically for tonight. He was not malicious by nature, just typically seeking fun and laughs had always been a trait he'd always possessed.
Placing his hand innocently against his chest, "I'm both shocked and appalled that would even think I would do such a thing to your...fruit salad attire?" he cocked a platinum brow, his curious eyes glanced over the yellow and red combination and determined that she was possibly a strawberry and banana salad or something. No, walking on banana peels would probably be easier than those, but he shrugged his shoulders, "Well that's talen--
"Jackson, chairs are for sitting, not crouching. Park it," a random command from a near by authority figure earning quiet the adorable scrawl, but listening all the same when he plopped down in the seat properly. Grumbling under his breath, he turned his attention back to the strawberry princess in front of him and curled a lip at her demand. His hands curling around the staff he held, his feet doing the same at the end and rested his head against it with a sort of coy smile spreading from ear to ear.
"Huh," he responded finally, peeling a hand from his prop and trapping the thick fabric of his frost crusted blue sweater between the pads of his fingers and giving a bit of a tug. His eyes glancing over himself curiously before he turned back to her. "Fewf, for a minute there, I thought I'd made a mistake and dressed up like your butler," on he knew her now. Miss Mariko. MIss prim and proper. Miss get what I want because I'm so darn cute. Not that he thought about such things in length, but seeing her up close he did find her rather adorable. But adorable enough to cater to her like one of her hired help when this was the first interaction they had ever really had together. Jackson had a heart of gold, despite his antics, but he was not about to offer himself up as a servant to a Slytherin princess who would just ignore him once he had gotten her what she wanted.
Arms crossed over her chest with narrowed eyes and an adorable pout, Mariko stared at him, deciding in her head if she wanted to call him by his nickname or make him deal with being called his proper name. The boy was blocking the few feet she had to get to to truly regain her personal space so she decided that no he would not get to pick his own name for now. Thats just what he got for being rude!
Tugging at the corners of her dress she glanced down at herself, back at him and once more to her dress, "Excuse you! I am a strawberry!" She corrected him indignantly and found herself pleased as anything when he was corrected and told to actually sit properly by a staff member, and she flashed them a pretty smile in gratitude. Alright, granted, his smile was kind of cute, and so were his eyes, but he was hardly listed in the carefully constructed social hierarchy, and rumors spread faster than wildfire in this castle so she couldn't very well call him cute. Not like she would Gabriel(though he was a 'doorknob' as one of her tutors would have said) or even that deplorable Trystan.
Mimicking him deliberately she took an exaggerated look at him and then herself, widely gesturing to them both, "Well Jackson, I am a Lady and you are a boy," A Lady dressed rather fanciful this evening but a Lady none the less thank you, and it wasn't just her family's lineage and money that made her consider herself such. It was how she carried herself, the amount of care that went into her appearance, the way she spoke and the skills she had been learning her whole life. While Jackson was, well, Jackson. She knew him by reputation alone, and glimpses of his pranks--although once she got caught in one, hallways were not ice skating rinks darnit!-- but she knew enough. As she finished a theatrical but proper curtsey she gestured back towards the refreshments table, "Boys are supposed to take care of Ladies, as you have probably met few in your stay here allow me to teach you." Contrary to what he may think during their three minute encounter, Mariko was not always this pretentious. She was often just theatrical and dramatic, confident and sometimes a little whiny but always proper. But he had caught her in a tense moment when she had a destination in mind, and put her on the defensive in the process.
His smile only grew wider when she corrected him on her costume of choice. If she was going to dress like a strawberry, dress like a strawberry! This was a red and yellow polka dot dress for cryin' our loud. She needed one of those big fluffy suits with a hole cut out for her face and have to wear green leggings to match. Now, that was a strawberry. "I can't remember ever seeing a yellow strawberry, unless it isn't ripe and super sour," sticking out his tongue, remembering the distinct bitter flavour of the whitish fruit having tasted first hand the trauma he endured for even trying such things.
His smile faded into a frown, there it was again. Jackson. So not impressed right now. "This is the 21st century, Mariko. Woman are more independent from the time warp you're living in. But alright, if you want a drink," he paused, turning to the table behind him and scooping up the half glass of...he lifted it to his nose to take a whiff. Pumpkin spice juice? Or something, it might have a few other random flavours in it as well. Who knows.
Giving it a bit of a shake, the juice sloshing around in the cup before his smile returned. "There is always...whatever this is," he knew she'd be totally disgusted, but he wasn't serious about actually offering this up as a choice. But it would be kinda funny to watch her controlled proper cuteness crumble into a fit of horror for just a moment. "Don't drink it all in one gulp, I'm sure the owner will be back for it momentarily," he couldn't help himself but snicker at his approaching accomplishments.Besides, she had two feet and a heartbeat, she could easily get her own drink considering the table had been way the frig over there, providing she didn't break her neck in those heels along the way, that is.
The Slytherin gave a feminine "Hmpf!" Smoothing out the folds of fabric as if he had physically rumpled them, "My outfit was chosen to best accentuate my natural beauty and charm," A gentle tap on her hat, red manicured nails almost blending in with the red bow tied there, "Not to accommodate your taste in fruit. So there." Alright, perhaps that last bit was childish but he seemed to be bringing that out in here.
Of all the things! How dare he! Trying to say she was not independent when she was going to school in a country where she knew no one, she who hardly spoke to her family and was learning a new language with no assistance or regulation. The nerve of this boy! That raised her hackles more than anything else, "Excuse me! I am very independent," The controlled exterior cracked just a bit as she retorted against him, "Just because I am accustomed to certain treatment that I garner naturally does not change that!" His next comment did not get the horror he had been hoping for, instead there was disgust, "Sheltered I may be but naive I am not! Who knows what is in there!" Had he not seen the flasks that were being passed around? Anything could be in that cup, things worse than alcohol.
A popular Halloween song came on and all at once people rushed from the sidelines to the dance floor and it swelled with people, where before she had a couple feet between her and the mass of people now she had none. The noise level rose as well, volume of the music along with the laughter and cheering behind her. A sudden, quick spike of panic and she darted like a red blur to the table, grabbing a chair to sit at it primly, as if trying to hide the rather undignified burst of almost fear she had felt. Squashing it down in her chest she watched the people there, thoughts now distracted form Jackson, eyes scanning for Skye or even Bucky as her heart settled. It was commonly known that Mariko was quite social, and that she could be physically affectionate with her friends or even people she was flirting with. Chaste, for the most part, a hug or leaning on someone's shoulder to read, but common none the less. This partially stems from the fact that at home she had not, and is still not, allowed to be physically affectionate with her friends, boys or girls, and even her family has never been big on physical contact. So at school she indulges, as it never ceases to be a novelty.
Less well known--in fact one of her best kept secrets, along with her brother-- was that she had a time limit with crowds. Physical contact went from something fun and new to suffocating and terrifying, sometimes suddenly and other times through a slow progression where she could no longer deal with being in a group. One of her muggle friends had called it an anxiety attack, her mother called it embarrassing beseeching her not to tell anyone else, and as they happened rarely, this had not proven to be a difficulty. Though the party had only been going on about an hour and a half, Mariko had spent nearly the entire time on the dance floor, surrounded by people, and she had felt the edge of anxiety creeping in. That was why she had stepped away, and that was why the people suddenly practically surrounding her had caused such a reaction, though by now she had recovered her dignity and proper facial expressions, and finally gave into the fair haired boy in front of her, "Jack, would you please be so kind as to get me some water?" She gifted him with one of her brightest smiles in return.
Ahw, well, at least it was some kind of reaction even if it wasn't the one he was expecting from the serpent princess. Ah well, he gave the cup another little shake before drawing it to his own lips and stopping just before touching the edge as if he were seriously going to take his own offer but stopped when he had noticed the small change in her aura. It wasn't much, obvious from probably years of trying to hide such emotion because of her hierarchy attitude. It almost felt...venerable to him. Panicked. Social anxiety? Wait, no that couldn't be right. She was Mariko, she was a social butterfly-strawberry salad, whatever.
Setting the glass down, he couldn't help but follow her swift dash from the gathering students reacting to the next song that begun to play. The gap had closed between her and the masses and it had triggered a rather random retreat to his far side. Letting a soft breath pass his lips at her change in tone also softened his as well. Fishing around in the single front pocket of his hoodie, he pulled out a tin of raspberry-lemon energy drink. It wasn't exactly sugary sweet, but it had a kick to it that would soon have her bouncing off the walls anyway. Like he needed the extra boost anyway, right.
Placing the sealed can in front of her, he popped the cap back and slid it towards her. "You can have that. I get them all the time from the shop. I just got this one before my shift was up last night, I was just saving it anyway," he confirmed. Well, working in a candy store did have it's perks, along with the ol' bat that he cared for like a member of his forgotten family. Renting the small room above her shop to keep a closer watch on him when he was not attending classes at Hogwarts. She gave him in moderation whenever he wanted, energy drinks or sweets and candies that didn't make the shelf cut all redirected into his tummy.
"Want to get some real fresh air?" he offered genuinely, not drawing attention to the fact that he did, indeed, notice her sudden attack.
Admittedly, Mariko reached for the drink before properly looking at the label, though did stop herself from just swigging from the can, choosing instead to take a demure sip and giving it a look of genuine surprise when she found that it was yummier than expected. Then taking a moment to look at what she was drinking, normal soda thank goodness, and raspberry was one of her favorite fruits so no wonder she liked it so much. The panic, the need to bolt was subsiding, and she was pleased with herself for the relatively low-key display and keeping the worst of it from showing. It had been sometime since she had felt that way, and it had been much worse previously.
"Thank you." The words and tone were genuine, even if her straight back and face was still pulled into her practiced smile that she only wore when trying to hide her thoughts. Heels tapping on the floor, watching the people dance, she found her eyes flitting across the crowd like they were wild animals and she was afraid she was going to be attacked. At any moment they could rush her again, and at the thought they seemed to sharpen while other things lost focus in her vision, her own heartbeat heavy in her ears and she felt her breathing slow.
Later, if she was asked, she would say that she hadn't heard his offer, didn't remember his voice forming the words, but her mouth formed an automatic response anyway without consulting her mind. Old habits were hard to break, "No I am perfectly fine thank you, It would not do for me to be seen living a gala suddenly with a boy." To her credit she didn't say anything specifically about him just that he was a boy and that was enough.
But then the song ended and the crowd broke as if someone had cast a spell(possible considering where they were she supposed) and the people flooded off the floor in all directions, but primarily towards the refreshments to drink and the tables to rest. Towards them. Suddenly, being seen leaving with a boy didn't seem like the worst thing that could happen tonight at all and she was standing, grabbing the drink and his hand, tugging him up from his chair before pulling him towards the exit, proving that someone in stilettos could actually dodge and weave through a crowd without wavering, "Actually, no better night for a scandal than Halloween!"
Had he been insulted by her refusal? No, but he expected as such once she had gotten when she wanted and it did overshadow the genuine meek little 'thank you'. The feeling had struck him prior, even though he did tend to give most, if not all, the benefit of the doubt. But Jack was not oblivious that he wasn't exactly a step higher on the social ladder of popularity among the pure blood wealthies. There had just been an aura about her that clashed with his own, being oh so completely different on the personality spectrum it was a wonder she didn't take the energy drink and run, after she discovered she liked it.
"Yeah, sure. Of course," even though he did not completely understand what she was getting at. He offered company for some fresh air, nothing more and nothing less that maybe she could relax and drop this holy-than-thau persona and behave like a normal teenage girl, instead of a dress up doll caging herself from being just that. However, Jack did not know her story, nor would he attempt to voice his own thoughts towards someone whom he barely begun to speak to. He was friendly by nature, and she was no different in his sincerity when he offered to help her in his own, discreet way. Well, except for the whole 'man should do this for the woman' thing because that had already been judged, which he was almost sure he was not the first to, but dropped just as fast as it was brought up.
Though, his eyes shot open at her sudden change of heart and his gaze darted between the back of her head, striding like a dandy long legs in those damn heels making it harder for Jack to keep up. He almost had to sprint in attempt not to loose his hand that was suddenly attached to her. "Wait, what? Scandal?" tripping over his own tongue, because the thought of such a thing never even crossed his mind when it was offered in the first place. His gaze fanned over the hall of students blurring past before he was drug through the exit and away from the party goers to some where far more quiet with an overabundance of the fresh air she originally sought.
Mariko broke through the doors of the great hall and felt relief flood her once they entered the less crowded hall, but it wasn't good enough and she continued striding towards the doors that led to the outside with purpose, almost forgetting about her grip on the somewhat willing boy in her wake in her determination. Here her heels echoed louder, but her steps didn't waver on the smoothness of the floor like a pro who was told versatility with footwear was essential at seven and took it to heart.
Finally the door which had seemed so close yet took so long to get to was before her and she pushed it open with a fierceness that she would later attest to not remembering as well. There she stopped, barely remembering to get out of the way in case someone else came outside and release Jack finally, taking several deep breaths. Her muggle friend had these issues too, except when it struck her breathing came heavy as if she was already running, but with Mariko she almost stopped breathing, as if being quiet and shutting down would somehow protect her. She had never understood it, and frankly tried not to think about it.
Twirling one of her pigtails in her fingers she grasped at her composure and dignity to yank it back towards her firmly, taking another drink of her soda and feeling the bubbles slid down her throat in a way that made her toes curl, the sweetness making her feel better. Maybe she should keep something like this handy at gatherings like this, perhaps the boy was an unexpected blessing. The breeze and the cool night air ghosted across her bare arms and legs, and she shivered slightly at the contrast between inside and out before she redirected her gaze back to Jack, "So what are you supposed to be then?" A frosty shepherd? The staff reminded her of a shepherd's but it was hard to say for sure.
Holy crap could she ever move fast for a small woman in stilts, and her solid grip wasn't too shabby either as Jacks soft barefoot padding along the cool floor could not be heard over the loud echo of her heel toe. Swiftly, he cast a glance over his shoulder to the few lingering stares left behind in their departure before escaping through the second set of doors that brought them outside in the crisp autumn air. Though, the cold did not seemed to effect him the way it effected others, and even the frost that shimmered against the silver light of the moon through the cobble stone archways lining like windows along the long search of the hallway. The fog from his breath had been almost non-existent, which had been rather curious given the temperature drop after night fall. But like most things, Jack didn't think too deep of it it until it had just been more of a natural state of things.
When he did see her shiver, the gentlemen in him had the impulse to offer his frozen hoodie until he halted his own ridicules thoughts. A) it was covered in unnatural frost, real, but conjured by him before the party and B) Mariko wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole if it didn't go with her current outfit. Complicated woman are complicated, she'd probably rather freeze to death than ruin the look of her cute dress. His feet took a few last sprinting steps until slowing to a stop, rounding her other side.
"Hum, oh... I guess I'm just a snow spirit or something, I don't know. I literally threw it together this afternoon and just used a spell to frost it," he answered her, but the tone in his voice had no interest in explaining his costume choices when the more pressing concern was her issue with crowds all of a sudden. "Ah, Mariko? Are you alright? I mean, you sort of freaked out back there and I always thought you were quiet the social butterfly...strawberry," he asked, raising his hands in confusion as he took a few giant steps from one cobble stone tile to the next until he reached the short ledge of the wall separating them from the courtyard.
Leaping to the wall, Jack lowered to the balls of his feet again where he now faced her. The bright rays of the last quarter moon. He pivoted in order to press his back against the frame of the archway, lowing his bottom to dangle his feet over the ledge, leaving enough room if she so decided brave the potential dirt to join him.
To be quite honest, Mariko's first impulse was to light. It came easily to her and she liked spinning little lies if for no other reason because it was fun, and spinning them to hide her to biggest secrets(this one and her brother) was a skill she and her mother had honed for years. But in that same vein of honesty, she knew that the secret was already out so it was probably a little silly to act like it wasn't. Now came the clean up, she just had to win him over so he wouldn't tell anyone. Easy peasy.
As she watched him settle down on the walls her Slytherin mind tried to work to create a plan on how to best save face, but the earnest confusion and concern in his face made her lean more towards honestly begrudgingly so. This was a boy who was open and direct, she didn't think he had a deceptive bone in his body, would he really by the type to spill her weakness across the school? Probably not, then again she had thought Trystan was an open book as well, and he stood her up.
After much deliberation--though her face kept the same socially acceptable smile befitting herself, she finally took out her wand from where it had been discreetly stashed in her petticoats and cast a familiar charm on herself to stop the dirt and dust on the rocks from sticking to her. One more quick warming charm on her person before she delicately worked her way over to him with small careful steps, hoisting herself up on the wall beside him. Posture still perfect and ankles crossed she shrugged in a long awaited response to his question, "I am a very social strawberry butterfly thank you," Actually that was pretty cute, maybe she could use that later, "I just--" Suddenly she felt at a loss, she purposefully came off as shallow and immature to many on purpose and on some days thats what she was, but opening up wasn't something she was good at, even with Skye, "I like touching people, but I did not get to do it with my family or associates growing up so I guess my tolerance level is low?" It was hard to explain, and her voice had lost it's higher pitch that she used when trying to get her way at some point, a blush on her cheeks as she stared at the place where her heels clicked against the rocks as she bounced them out of a strange sense of nervous, fingers smoothing out nonexistent
wrinkles in her dress.
Just because Jack Frost had made a name for himself as the resident class clown, did not mean he was not honest and trustworthy. He was loyal and if anyone were to call on him for help or just an ear to listen he would be the first to do so. Had it happened often? Not too much, but that was alright, earning the trust of people around him that accepted who he was without understanding why he was the way he was. It stemmed from someplace familiar and yet distant in the same cold breath. There had always been a void in his soul that he just simply could not explain to others, wondering if he even had the rite to question a life he could not remember.
His furrowed gaze turned slowly back to where she had now sat next to him, ensuring that she obviously didn't get her dress dirty. Typical, despite the charming smile that curled the corner of his lips. Her explanation made sense, and he could see just by her change in demeanour, her aura around him and the sudden compliance to just give in and open up to a complete stranger. Sometimes, they were the best kinds of conversations. "Oh, I see. Well, the more you do it the easier it becomes," Jack reached for the still full tin of raspberry-lemon energy drink in her hands, careful not to touch her in any sort of way given the information that had been so readily offered up to him in trust.
Tipping the can back, Jack filled his mouth with the cold beverage and swallowing before handing it back to her causally. "... I mean, practice with someone you trust or something, can that work? I'm sorry I can't give you advice on this. I've always been a rather open kind of guy, so I can't really tell you I understand what you're going through because I don't. Everyone has their own unique quirk about them, and I'm a true believer in accepting those things as they are a part of the person. If it's something that you want to change, it's up to you." Suddenly shifting a bit in his spot, hearing the hallow gargling noise begin to rise from his throat and the anticipation of the energy drink induced belch that was about to make a audible appearance with zero hopes of suppressing it.
Oh here we go. He'd apologise later, when he was done laughing. Opening his mouth, Jack let a loud, earth shattering burp echo from the depths of his stomach. He was sure he felt the ground shake at that one. Bam. Compliments to the chef. He cast a swift, blue eyed glance to her with a devilish smile. "Wonder what that one registered on the Richter scale...." he couldn't help but let a snicker surpress past his nasal passage before he out right apologised. "Well, better out then in..." he shrugged sheepishly.
Oh but he misunderstood! Normally that would not be so bad, maybe he would stay away from her that way or be more sympathetic but before she could stop herself she was shaking her head and corrected him, taking the can back as if it were the most normal thing in the world, "I am fine with touching people, it's crowds I have issue with." Only when they were, packed around her for long periods of time. Her parents galas were always very formal with touching very controlled and limited, personal bubbles always respected. An air of tradition and elegance no matter how modern they sometimes were.
Mariko stared at him with veiled interest and curiosity, he had a direct, honest and accepting nature that was unlike most people from her house, or like the people who had interacted with back home. Wearing masks, performing a dance that they had been taught the steps to since birth, either because their families had certain expectations or because they had been though such awful things the mask was all they knew anymore. But in Jack's face she saw no judgement or glee at her giving details on a weakness, and she took the drink back without much thought, though she did wipe off the top of the can with the hem of her dress before taking a much more controlled drink than he.
Just as she was starting to really soften to him he let out a terribly horrific belch, it was loud, it was gross, and she found herself looking around to ensure no one had seen her with someone who that sort of sound. Even so, that sort of sound coming out of someone that looked so sweet and angelic at a glance amused her, and she let out the tiniest giggle before stopping herself, switching back to grossed out quickly, "How uncivilized!" Her head snapped away, eyes rolling in disgust before she took another drink of the soda still waving her hand demurely as if shooing away the horrid act she had witnessed with eyes and ears.
Finally, deciding she had chided him enough she looked back at him,"You won't tell anyone will you? My mother would be furious if people found out." A small and sincere voice accompanied her words, partially sincere and partially controlled and geared towards a specific purpose like most things she did, a weird hodgepodge of just Mariko and the Mimasaka Heiress her parents had created. For good measure though she held up her hand, pinky out towards him, "You have to pinky promise." It was one of the last habits she kept from when her and her brother were close, a memory she both cherished and hated of sacred pinky promises from mom and dad for the silliest things.
He could not stop the fit of laughter erupting from him that tickled straight down to his bare toes, that not rested against the cool stone wall from where he sat next to her. He honestly didn't mean for it to come out so unexpectedly crude, but it was obviously unstoppable. "Oh come on, Mariko, it's a natural bodily function...." well, induced via energy drink but that was beside the point. He would have an extremely hard time believing that she had suppressed all bodily functions because of her prim and proper image. Everyone had to let one go once in a blue moon, or they'd simply explode!
His bright smile faded when his crystal eyes turned to the extended pinky to him in a promise. He never really thought twice about such traditions, he had just figured it was a given when someone was brave enough to admit what was bothering them. No matter the walk of life, the house they had been placed or history that they bore the weight of. His gaze lifting to scan her determined and serious features, he found himself complying to her request and hooked his finger with hers. "Though, I will admit, it will be hard to keep this from your mother since we do tend to have tea and crumpets every now and again to catch up on our gossip," of course he was kidding, but he just wanted to let her know that her secret was safe with him. No matter how small or large it was. It would never be in his business to tell anyone.
"If...you don't mind me asking, Mariko. Out of curiosity, and you don't have to tell me - but why are you afraid of your mother finding out about something that is seriously bothering you. You are not alone when it comes to crowd anxiety, there are many people who go through the same thing and it should be something your mother would want to help, right? Because she loves you," indeed, he was probably overstepping his bounds, but she seemed like she honestly did want to open up to someone. She had caught him in a bit of a slow period from his usual fast paced antics. It was nice, though. Taking the time to get to know the most unlikely of peers at his school. She was actually sort of sweet, and even Jack had to admit she was rather adorable in her little fruit salad costume. To ensure his promise was still as valid as the last, he reached to take her pinky with his again to let her know that she was safe here. It was just the two of them now, and the ever silent Man in the Moon.
The frown of disapproval was still firmly on her face, even as he tried to justify that awful noise. Inwardly she was a little amused but her always shifting sense of propriety stopped her from admitted it outloud. Even though at school she was sometimes silly, often pouty and ever so dramatic, some things her parents had drilled into her too deeply for her to set aside easily. This boy would never be approved by his parents as her friend, with his crazy antics, loud bodily functions and barefeet. Even if his eyes were lovely like a doll’s, “Have some self control boy Jack! Goodness!” Another ‘hmpf’ sounding a bit like her sewing teacher when she was small after Mariko got to whining about lessons,
She appreciated that he calmed down and seemed to actually take his promise seriously, until he started joking again. This time she definitely giggled, trying to repress it before it turned into a full out laugh at the image of this boy having tea and crumpets with her mother in formal attire, hair done up and makeup perfect, Jack with bare feet and pretty blue eyes sparkling with mirth, “You can be kind of clever for a Puff boy,” The smile was warm though the compliment was a bit backhanded, and she gripped his pinky securely with her own as she focused on him.
Releasing him, secure and confident in his sincerity with his promise even if it did come with them both laughing she took another drink of the soda, gaze redirected to the dirty ground as she listened to his question. Her answer rolled around in her head, Mariko was taught early to think before she spoke, the repercussions of her words and the various ways people would react, to try and predict them and see how her comment would effect everything even hours down the line. Though sometimes she neglected these lessons, she always tried to keep them in the back of her mind. Though she did not know this boy, she had been open and honest, even Skye did not know about her rather embarrassing secret, should she be more honest? Dark eyes looked back up at his face so full of sincerity and she felt her self control slip, just a little, “She knows, sort of. Partially. I just do not want her to know anyone else found out here, or realize the depth of it. My brother could not handle the responsibility of being the heir to our family,” It was so rare that she ever spoke of him here, she found herself tensing as she did it, “I do not want her to think I will break the same way he did, or embarrass the family by people finding out.” The Mimasakas were very modern for an old family, they interact with muggles as equals, the women take are active in the business, and Mariko herself wore several pairs of pants. But some traditions die hard, and something like this bore a stigma to her that she could not shake.
When he took her pinky again she felt an odd sort of flutter in her stomach, and she shook her head as if to remove the heavy thoughts that were now rolling around in her mind. Grinning at him again, this time with one that truly reached her eyes, she gifted him with a kiss to his cheek, “Thank you for listening Jack,” Voice quiet, full of a gratitude she didn’t know she was capable of.
Then, the worst thing happened.
Worse than a heel breaking, or a beetle falling on her head, or tripping face first in the mud—okay maybe not that bad.
As she pulled her lips from his fair skin she burped. Burped! The squeal was immediate, as was the flush to her face, red tipped fingers flying to cover her mortification not caring about her makeup.
“Oh my gosh I am so sorry!”
Had he known what that odd hallow ping in his chest when she spoke of family, he would have been include to tell her she was rather lucky to have them. Regardless of the choice of upbringing, or the 'shameful' behaviour of her said brother, to which Jack had noticed her slight recoil from the topic the moment it left her perfectly glossed lips. Did he too have a brother like hers? A sister? What would she be like? It had been all of these questions he had asked himself on many occasions in his internal battle of trying to piece together what was...just...no longer there. Like a void in his heart that was impossible to heal, and not just covering it up with his playful persona or the little things that offered a sense of peace, at least for a short while.
He returned her smile two fold, deciding to drop the topic for the moment and perhaps if she wished to revisit it in the future she knew now that he would be there for her. He'd certainly hopped that this wouldn't be their first and only interaction, she seemed to melt that prissy attitude the longer she sat with him, wondering if this had been a side of her that not even her closest friends had seen. And he straightened his posture, inhaled deeply puffing his chest slightly at the thought before every coherent need for speed thought derailed off the tracks when he felt the sweet press of her lips against his cheek. His eyes shot open and his heart had jumped in a momentary lapse, even the sincere 'thanks' had hazed into the backdrop of the quiet evening.
Well, almost quiet. Snapping his head sharply to the sound of the burp, the uncontrollable laughter could not be stopped. He was sure his voice echoed through every empty hall of the school because it was just so out of place, but totally epic on so many levels. "Well," he started, fighting back the battle to get his words out, "....that was an after shock to mine..." well, it was adorable and she may of stolen a piece of his heart just then. Maybe. "That was weak, but I will give you a ten," he held up both hands, one pointer finger extending on one hand, the other into a circle next to it to form a ten. "But only because I'm pretty sure that's your first semi-public belch. The next step is to say your name while it comes out. After that, the alphabet. Eventually, WORLD DOMINATION!" clenching his fist for added determination. Wait, what?
There was a definite version of herself that she presented at school, and speaking of her brother, her insecurities and her fears was not a part of that version at all. Somehow this pale boy who she had known about but had always dismissed out of hand was easily pulling out a different Mariko, and she was still trying to decide if that was wonderful or terrifying.
But then all she could think about was mortification and horror as her burp echoed throughout the courtyard(or seemed to, in her mind). This is why her parents told her not to drink soda! How very undignified of her, and hypocritical after she had chastised him for his display. It also totally ruined the kiss on his cheek, which was more meant to further ensure his loyalty with her secret than as a proper kiss. Maybe. Mostly.
He laughed at her, but not in a cruel way and finally her hands fell from her face and she laughed with him, a much quieter more controlled laugh of course. Belching her name or the alphabet was simply out of the question of course, and she handed the can with the remaining liquid back to him, "My first and last public belch thank you very much," She tried to stay stiff and show she was above that sort of display but his happiness was contagious and the smile worked it's way back on her face as she watched him, "I will have world domination without belching for your information." A grin and in an impulsive move she leaned into him, bumping his shoulder playfully with her own.
His laughter faded into a cheeky grin before too long, feeling rather victorious this evening given his list of good accomplishments had been growing the longer they sat dangerously close side by side. With a gentle sway of his body with her playful nudge, he lifted his eyes to meet hers when she was handing him back what was left of the drink they had shared. "I have no doubts, Mariko. You are certainly a farce to be reckoned with," he told her with an amused smirk, with the thoughtful image of the kind of world that would be if she had ruled with an iron fist. He suspected there would be a lot of pink involved. Glitter and frills. A world Jack would have loved to witness for a day, just to see how she would function as a super power.
Leaning in just slightly, Jack had mimicked her little nudge back before he slid from his perch against the cobble stone wall and reached his arms high above his head to stretch. "Come on, it's getting cold for you I bet," he said offhanded, not thinking twice of his actions when he had offered to wordlessly take her back to her dorm room before it started getting far too late. The muffled music from the great hall had dulled quieter, perhaps because the change in tempo to something a little slower and guessed the final song of the evening.
So, with the boldness of only Jack Frost could conjure he reached out to snag up her small wrist that felt so thin in his larger hands, and tugged her easily from her seat. He figured why not!? Their private conversation would be coming to a close in the moments to come, she would be heading back to her Slytherin life and he his own house. So in a moment where she had felt freedom in her own skin, allowing that proper persona crumble for a simple boy who just wanted to hear her laugh and see her smile. It was only fair since she had done that for herself before him, that he should extend a more gentlemanly gesture absent earth altering belches. His free hand around her waist, the other hold her petite hand in his when he started to shift from foot to foot. "I'm not awesome at this," admittedly, his nose pointed down between them to where his carefully footing wouldn't accidentally step where they shouldn't.
Another flip of both of her pigtails, this time just to be silly before she gave him a pleased and approving smile at the comment. World domination may not actually be her goal, but she definitely intended to take as much as she could get her hands on that was going to be her's and no one could have any influence on how she ran things. It was not her ego that made the sorting hat choose Slytherin for her; it was her ambition.
He was right, she was still a little cold even with the warming she had cast. When he took her hand in an almost proper gentlemanly gesture he earned another small, sincere smile in things as she brushed nonexistent dust from her dress.
The hand in her's was cold against the softness of her skin, and the hand around her waist though unexpected made that fluttery feeling come back in her gut. A glance at his downward gaze, the lovely hair and the fair skin made her feel a little bad for what she was about to do but it was a necessary evil, "Jack," A kiss to his forehead, where she may have lingered longer than she planned, "I fear I will have to leave you at the doors. There are certain implications from a boy escorting a girl to their dorms, and those are rumors I will not allow." Surely he would understand, and if she held his hand a little longer, or hesitating in taking a step away, who would call her out on it?
But she did, in the end. She was her mother's daughter and the Mimasaka heir, so she stepped away from the nobody boy with the caring smile, but she could not resist looking back at him and it did not came out as cute and coy as she wanted but more warm and a little sad, "For the record though, I think you are very good at this."
Her voice speaking his name had pulled him back from his focus, and before he could respond with a simple yes his eyes crossed to where she placed a kiss against his forehead. With pursed lips and the rare warm flush tingling to the surface of his pale skin. Perhaps it was because he was not expecting such a thing, or maybe that he couldn't remember any time before this one that he had been kissed period. It shot an unbelievably pleasant sensation through the length of his spine to the bare toes now firmly planted still under him to prevent any kind of imbalance this may have caused him. It was her clever tactic to cloud his head with the haze from her sweet kiss that softened the blow for the the truth of it all.
And in the next moment, her small hand was slipping from his before he had realised what was happening. Still rather oblivious to the fact that it was her darn pride, her obsession with reputation and image that she halted him in his wondering thoughts. It was with her final glance over her shoulder that he had snapped from this enchantment she had casted in her wake, and he realised just what had happened. She had carved her very own dull ping in his chest, because being shoved to the side or ignored was the one thing he had a profound dislike for.
Thankfully, Jackson's life had never been dull enough to linger too long on damp thoughts because just as he was about to go after her, his head turned sharply to the sound of his name being bellowed. In full length syllables bursting from the grand doors of the great hall where students were now beginning to flood back to their respective dorms. His crystal eyes snagged one last look at the retreating heiress before his feet responded as they always had when he felt the wrath upon him. A wide grin played on his boyish features, snagging the prop crook in his hand and began to run down the adjacent hallway to escape.