Brightest Star in Class

(closed starter for @kindspokentm ) Being stuck in yet another strange, unfamiliar place with any ‘routine’ from before shattered and broken - but this time completely without the sign of anyone he knew right away - Klug had withdrawn more into books and reading, the little comfort he had in a place like this right now: he couldn’t even summon his bear of stars to help him feel better, for while his comet magic was certainly still there - he couldn’t use it, he could tell it had been sealed off. Even more than it had slightly been back at the other place: the thought of sealed off made him worry, again, regarding his friends he’d made back there. Were they stuck somewhere like he was? Were Sig and Aya okay? He wasn’t sealed back in that horrid book, was he, or worse -  Sig forced to fuse with him, which was worse because TWO people he cared about would be distressed about it? Ugh - getting his thoughts stressed and worried about how everyone was wasn’t going to help how upset he felt, he knew that, but he couldn’t help it. Laying his head down on the book with a heavy sigh, the dragon friend he had at least provided some comfort. At....at least he wasn’t totally alone, though it was small positive. Though, he jerked alert from laying on the book in the small library at noting someone else was also nearby. He couldn’t let strangers see him in a ‘vulnerable’ state like that...even if he was ridding himself of the mask, he generally didn’t like to do that around those he didn’t know well regardless! “It’s rather rude to stare, you know? What business do you have with me?”

( closed starter for @royalied ) Green eyes snapped open with a start, or they had after signing off on that letter because - well, with everyone going away, even if he had desperately wished he might be able to stay -  he wanted to keep to the promise he’d made Aya, but he didn’t want to have to forget everything that happened, for Aya to lose everything he’d worked so hard for, either - so the letter had come at the right time. If it meant Aya keeping everything and his happiness: he’d gladly make that sacrifice: but he hadn’t expected to wake up in a completely unfamiliar area not long after signing it. No, no no? He didn’t want to leave them behind, he wanted to make sure they came with him: oh no, were they still alright? Were they still stuck back at the other place? Pacing up and down the hallways of the school, he could not even turn to his own magic for help - it was still there, but he could sense it was sealed off. Not even the dragon friend he’d found when he woke up had stopped his stressful pacing.  In fact - Klug actually ended up walking into someone in the process, and losing his glasses. His dragon friend jumped off his hat in alarm, trying to help him pick them up. “M-my glasses...please don’t step on them, I need those - -first I lose my friends and family and don’t know where they are, and now I’ve lost my glasses! T-this day SUCKS!” One couldn’t blame his distress and being upset, given all the routine he’d been comfortable with before was gone, as well as people he cared for.

(( Yomieru here, with the worry-wart comet mage himself! He’s probably going to be more than a little distressed and worried about the location of Aya and Sig until he knows they’re ok, but if you want to bother his studies or try to get him to stop worrying please feel free to like this for a starter! Capping at 4 likes, Castmates are exempt from this cap, but if you have a multi account and like the post, please tell me who you’d like Klug to interact with! ))

“I certainly do not look as if I am joking, do I?” Allowing himself a bemused adjustment of his glasses, there, he took the statement that the place actually looked like him as a compliment, given it was a good friend talking. “Thank you, i’ve worked really hard on it...” Though, seeing Sig’s expression cut any further boastfulness quite short, as he knew that expression from the times back home quite well - Sig was thankful for the words, the advice, and his offer - knowing that made the comet mage quite happy. It was always easier to tell from his expressions given how well they knew one-another - much how he supposed he himself was ‘easy to read’ despite his old mask back in the day before he’d come here. His appreciation was as evident as Sig’s thankfulness to Sig himself, no doubt, one of those rarer, soft, genuine smiles flickering but for a moment before he moved back to a serious look as always. “The people here can be a little varied and curious, but - taking the time to get to know them, this place, it and they have good, wonderful points as well....”

Ah - aha. That was funny that Sig should say that, actually - and it made Klug look very proud of himself that so much of his own energy should be enjoyed in a shop and noted by a friend as well, for - he smirked as he said aloud - “Actually - this is my shop! I’m the owner - granted I did have help setting it up, but the reason why it looks like a second home is because of my ownership here, uhyahyahya! You’re free to enjoy a cup of tea or maybe a book here as long as you like as much as any of my other customers, Sig.” Did Sig even like tea, though? He had a feeling his friend might prefer sweeter things that he could share with his ‘bug friends’ like fruit juices or what-not, but he’d offer regardless. He was pretty sure Sig would like that sort of whole ‘baking’ thing, given he could shape it like the bugs he so adored and all, actually..

Hah - such a pure, almost naive mindset, to simply want others to be happy. He’s glad that he and her did not meet back when he first arrived here, when his mask was still very much up out of self-defence: the old Klug would have said what a foolish venture that was and how likely it was to lead to her being ‘used’ for someone else’s advantage, because he knew - he knew how important it was to keep one’s guard up - that might have hurt her. He’s glad that he has made those changes: while he’s reserved and prefers smaller groups, the fact of the matter is that perhaps that mindset and his want to protect those friends he has made are not so different after all logically. “I really hope...the people you’ve helped keep your own spirits up, too. Such open kindness is a rare thing, you know?” A soft, thoughtful statement, before he moves on, sadly, to more serious matters, frowning as he takes it all in. Of course...Mary would be the most upset at the people she had befriended being targeted, given how lonely she was before: he wants to avoid her having to be alone again as much as possible, so it’s clear that he can’t know any more, for her sake as well as his own. Aya wouldn’t let him hear the end of it if he got himself into a mess while his back was turned, too... “Right...I promise I will try to keep my distance, she’s been through far too much already and I don’t wish to add to that, but - forgive my bluntness, but you seem....to carry a lot of troubles yourself. I won’t pry to those, myself, but...” He recognised the ‘trying to stay strong’ look, because his sold mask had given much the same airs. “Any friend of Marry’s is my friend too. If you ever need to talk like this, I’ll listen, ok?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it? Nobody knows. All we can do is have faith it’ll be done eventually, right now: things like an outside group poking their nose in this kinda complicate stuff, as well, but - logically speaking, if we band together, we’re sure to be able to try and get through a lot of different stuff, right? Though it might not be easy...I suppose it sounds strange, me, of all people, suggesting ‘working together’ is a good option...” He knew back then he’d been very closed off from everyone, a ‘lone wolf’ reluctant to show behind the mask and to admit when he needed help, but, well - to be rid of that mask a little more these days was something he’d worked hard to change somewhat. Though he still disliked huge crowds and preferred small company of ONLY trusted friends, it was true he tried to open up slightly more. “I know I can work TWICE as hard with someone from home here, just as I did in Primp, uhyahyahya!” It was perhaps prideful, but his classmates even back then pushed him forwards - so that hadn’t changed now.

Ah: to be told someone not only noticed, but is proud of the progress he’s made? At least, despite all the struggles and uncertainties, he’s doing something right - and even now, it still feels really validating to be told that, so much so Klug can’t help himself from smiling a little at the achievement. He was the top student of Primp, after all, so the old habit of getting happy about achievements was something he’d had even back then. Ah - not to get distracted, though. He shakes off the little pleased ‘uhyahyahya’ laugh he’s doing to himself at Sig’s praise, especially so in the face of the serious second comment. “Yeah - I’ve been looking for clues this whole time, and while I’ve understood a few things, the only way out, clearly - is for the scientists in charge to send you back themselves, or sometimes it randomly happens. The latter’s not something you can count on, though...and the first, won’t happen until their ‘experiment’ is done.” He didn’t....have the heart to tell Sig about the ‘once people get sent back, they forget everything about their time here’ fact. It would be just too cruel to say on the first day his friend was here, and he couldn’t go upsetting Sig that way.

Nodding, Klug went right into the explanations of how and why they were here: “Some of us get brought here unwillingly, but apparently there are those who ask for it - either way, those that are brought here are brought here for the purpose of the people in charge of Koi doing some sort of ‘experiment’: I can’t claim to know the nature exactly, of it, as any information being given on that front had been lacking. I surmise it has to do with people interaction of some kind, given the variety of different sorts here.” Pausing a moment to allow Sig to take all this in, he went on: “I....it’s been about half a year and a bit since I’ve been stuck here, so that is why I...lost composure a moment there. A lot of things have happened, but I’d like to think I have made some positive changes for the better - you’ve probably noticed, already, aha...”

Hey, hey....is Sig making fun of him? First Aya makes fun of him being emotional in public when they found each other and now Sig’s done it too, oy, oy - but at least it’s nice to know despite the frightening situation, the sense of humour was still intact? Kinda wished it didn’t have to be directed his direction, but what was more important here was that his friend was looking more cheerful now. Though, it’s true in his time spent here on the island, he has become somewhat less reserved with hiding things - he is still very much a reserved person by whole, so he’s not sure if all the positive changes are going to be obvious yet to his friend....well, he hopes they’re not startling at least. “Did you....just find yourself brought here, Sig? If you need an explanation about all this...then my brilliant genius is glad to provide!” As expected, whenever it came to getting to explain knowledge, Klug’s proudness in what he knew shone through. That was something that hadn’t changed.

Oh no, no, no - he was already having a terrible time keeping his composure, and seeing Sig, of all people, cry as well? There was no chance of any composure now, honestly - ugh, he had to pull himself together, he knew that, but - the conflicting emotions on top of seeing someone from home after so long? It was too much to keep a calm reaction to: though Sig, even now, believed in everything being okay? That they’d get out of this one together? It was very idealistic, innocent a view: he was too logical to know that it would be true, but when Sig of all people said it? He...wanted to believe it too, despite knowing the illogicality behind it, that such a ‘rose-tinted’ view normally wasn’t one that would come true so easily as that. Being wrapped into another hug was very helpful to his current state emotionally, though - and he hugged back if not for his sake, but the other’s as well. It was very rare that Sig would get so worked up, so he felt a little guilty for being the cause of that, but...in honesty, despite the other conflicting emotions slowly flickering and fading as he slowly calmed down, one that did stay was happiness. “S-sorry to get all worked up in the open like that, it’s not like me, is it? Even if I wish it had been under better circumstances, I’m...really glad to see you again too.”  A fumbled attempt to let one arm go and un-fog his glasses, there, but he kinda didn’t want to let go from the hug completely just yet, so one arm remained.