tranquil as autumn leaves

The other student is a touch more anxious over their situation, it appears, if the jolting and murmuring is anything to go by. It’s hard to blame him. They can only count themselves lucky that neither of them is in this alone. And so, though he keeps his guard up, he tries to make his presence as friendly as he can.

“I have…friends…but I would assume they would be too…preoccupied with the festivities to offer much assistance,” he responds, even though the majority of his bandmates are closer to acquaintances than friends. He could make an attempt to contact Dabi but in his senior’s own words, he is likely getting “hammered” that very moment.

His trained ear did pick up on the “pick the lock” bit from the other student, however, but maybe not the part about it not being allowed. “Pick the lock…yes. Yes, in this situation, they would not fault us for simply trying to escape, correct? Would you happen to have a bobby pin on you? Or perhaps a good, strong paper clip?”

Ah, right... That was going on now, wasn’t it? No wonder most everyone seemed preoccupied... Was Emma the type to do that kind of thing? ...Almost certainly. So he definitely couldn’t ask her to help. So his only apparent option was going along with whatever this stranger had in mind.

Which... is getting a bit scarier with every new word he says, considering his tone treats the situation as if they’re breaking out of jail or something, instead of a library. ...He should relax. He’ll choose to believe this stranger is trustworthy, for the sake of his anxiety if nothing else.

“I... think mine would be as well. But, ahー“ he pauses to somewhat nervously palm his bag, “I think... maybe? I, I can check, to see.” Another pause. “If I have a paper clip, I mean, I don’t think I... wear...” he trails off as he brings his bag to his front, shuffling through a binder, a textbook... Flipping through the former briefly, he slips his target off some notes (and makes another in his head to try and put it back later).

Shouko had been busy labeling their new sets of flowers when she feels a tap on her shoulder. She looks to her side and sees her co-worker gesturing to someone next to her with a hurried wave of their hand.

Right away, Shouko diverts her gaze to her other side to find a customer appearing to be very hesitant about something. He isn’t the first nervous customer she’s expected to assist today and she’s certain that he won’t be the last. She doesn’t understand what is it about people being a bit embarrassed to ask her regarding anything that has to do with flowers but she’s more than happy to help them in any way she could.

An easy smile tugs the corners of her lips as she pulls her phone out of her pocket, her message already typed out for faster communication as she presents the screen to him:

❝Hello! My name is Shouko and I’d be happy to assist you today! Please understand that I have hearing impairment so if it’s not an inconvenience, I would be grateful if we could communicate through writing or sign language. If you don’t wish to be bothered by this, I could also ask someone else to assist you. Thank you very much!❞

She then hands him a pen and a notepad, gesturing to it for him to write down his response.

Aesop’s face shows surprise for a moment, before he takes a moment to collect himself. Ah... It’d been a while, and he only really knew this from his previous work, so he didn’t know how dependable his speech could be, but... He sets down the notepad anyway in favor of signing to her.

His hands move slow, hesitant but deliberate, “I’d like to know about arrangements. I don’t know how to make them myself. Is that something you can help with?”

Aesop is starting to worry that perhaps he looks odd, or even suspicious, having been loitering around the shop for so long. But he didn’t mean to ‘loiter,’ it was just that... he didn’t actually know what he was thinking, coming here. He would like to get a nice bouquet, yes, and especially for this person, but... what did he know about arrangements? (or about gestures like this at all?) She knew plenty, but he was far too embarrassed to ask her about it, so he came alone.

He regrets it more by the moment, really. Though eventually, he does stop avoiding that he needs to ask for help... Looking around, he decides to make his attempt with a nice-looking girl he spots in the shop with him. She probably wouldn’t get mad or anything... right?

This had not been a part of Jamil’s evening itinerary. He must have been too engrossed in his readings to realize that the library had been locking up. One glance at his watch tells him it’s about fifteen past closing time. Perhaps the librarians on duty had been eager to join the New Year festivities to notice him? It’s hard to blame them, but to think he let something like this happen, with the place’s glass interiors and all…how humiliating.

With not a movement gone to waste, he gathers up his study materials into his satchel and leaves his cubicle, heading straight for the front doors. His hopes are dashed when he discovers that the area around the library is deserted. This had been expected, but still…

That’s when he notices a slight movement out of the corner of his eye. So he isn’t alone. On high alert, he whirls around to find…another student, one a little older than him. While he let his guard down a bit, something about the other prevented Jamil from completely relaxing.

“It appears you and I are trapped. You wouldn’t know another way out of here, would you? I’m afraid I’m new and have not had a chance to map out the layout of this place.”

It takes until his surroundings get dark for Aesop to notice it’s finally reached closing time. Ah... So that would mean both that it was late, and he was locked in... He didn’t have anyone to contact (or... he did, but she was probably asleep by now...) and he didn’t know if it was alright to call the school staff or anything...

It doesn’t help his rising anxiety when he notices someone move so suddenly and can’t suppress the jolt of fear. Jamil wasn’t the only one who thought he was alone, and jumpy as he already is... But it does help when the other speaks, and he realizes it’s a friendly presence.

a bit odd, but means well. if you can get past his possibly off-putting air, he’s very sweet and polite

(you might also get to hear him softly infodump if you touch on something interesting)

some rumors about him combined with his eerie demeanor can make him come off as intimidating or aloof.. but hes trying his best. i swear.

anxiety vs big curiosity, who will win?