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 Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 5:52 pm
Finally.
It had taken weeks to catch up on the backlog of work she had failed to do in the sleepless days following the field trip, but Riyo had managed to do it through perseverance (and, you know... Not leaving her dorm for a couple days so she could effectively fill out forms, sign papers, and approve/deny preposals until her eyes bled)! But hey, the nightmare (and the literal nightmare she experienced while asleep) was over!
It was another mediocre day at Amityville, but the glass was less empty then it had been in awhile. A pessimists way of looking at the bright side, she supposed.
"Lets see. This file should be at the top of the stack, these need to be here, and now I'm in perfect order." Giving the files a tap on her desk for good measure, the feline tucked them into a folder and under her arm. Ah, yes. Now all she would have to do is drop these off at the office and she was scott free..
... Unless there was more for her to do.
... Which there would be.
... Because there always was.
It was the thought that hit her as her hand reached up to turn the knob of her finely polished door, a frown immediately decorating that pale face. Yes. She was trapped, wasn't she? A scoff escaped her mouth as she yanked open the door, taking a quick step out and locking it behind her. "That's the way the spookie crumbles." She sighed and kept her glance to the ground. Jack help her if she passed one of the unsavory demons that made their home here as well. At the very least, she looked better than she had in awhile. Not a hair out of place, a freshly pressed coat, and her beloved top hat keeping to it's perch with a creepy kind of accuracy.
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:04 pm
Zar was much less organised today of all days, he'd only arrived a few hours earlier to settle in his dorm and this was his first real chance to explore the common areas of the dorms he'd be calling home for the immediate future. To his relief at least the surroundings seemed suitably homey. Perhaps not as black and white as he was used to but certainly tacky, certainly ornate. Anything that exuded wealth and opulence made him feel better. And it was tidy. That helped.
His hooves made faint little clip clopping sounds on the floor as he sauntered along, looking utterly dazed and starstruck, not to mention a little confused. His complete lack of sleep had done little to sharpen his senses, and as it was he almost felt he was wandering around in some sort of dream he'd wake from in due time.
He hadn't even considered the fact that there were other students attending the school, and as such prospectively other students to run into. But he quickly did as he heard a door open just up ahead and froze, tail curling almost defensively at his feet, tail flicking anxiously as it so often did when he was tense. Maybe they wouldn't notice him. Maybe they'd completely miss him.
Maybe he was just kidding himself. He was right in their path.
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:50 pm
Get to office, throw papers at secretary, and run out before the VP had a chance to give her more work. It was like playing hookie, but the plan was something she seriously considered for once. She needed a break. Needed away from the work for just a little while....
That's what the formal-clad feline had on her mind... And not the fact that the clip-clop sound that echoed softly through the hall was getting closer. Why, even her ears gave a little twitch to each murmur of something hard hitting the wood floor. Yet her mind was very obviously somewhere else. Brows knitted together as she schemed, her eyes stayed to the floor.
That was... Until she bumped into something. There wasn't usually something there. She remembered things like that.
Oh s**t. That was another student, wasn't it? With wide eyes, the cat demon practically leapt back with a loud gasp, the folder tucked into her arm managing to fall back with her... and out of her grasp.
It was almost comical watching her try to juggle the normal-looking manilla folder to keep it from splattering it's papery contents all over the floor, and for a moment it looked like he had it!
... And then she didn't. Woosh went the papers, the floor now as white as... Well... her paling face.
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:58 pm
Zar probably should have stepped out of the way, it would have been the sensible thing to do. But he wasn't firing on all cylinders at the moment, not by a long shot and he found himself more interested in the ghoul coming towards him than in taking any kind of sensible evasion. It was only as she walked into him he was equally jolted out of his reverie, as she leapt back, staggering back a few steps himself, wings out, tail aloft for balance as he tottered on the edge of falling on his rear.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" He stammered, as if it was him who'd been the one doing the walking, as if he'd walked into her. He found himself utterly torn between the good manners of helping her pick up her papers and of the fact that he'd be touching someone else's paperwork without express permission, that was like a sacrilage. It didn't help just by touching them he'd probably end up reading them, and who knew what sort of thing she had on there.
So he was stuck looking like an inconsiderate heel as he stammered a few more apologies. "I erm. I'm sorry about that, I should have.. I should have said something, I erm. I didn't mean to startle you. Do you.. do you need a hand with those?"
Please say no. Please say no. His thoughts ran counter to his every instinct, he wanted SO badly to help her pick them up that he could taste it. Such a mess. Such dissaray, such chaos, he could reorder, he could help. But he'd give away right away his ..almost neurotic obsession with the stuff.
He chewed his lip uncomfortably and pushed his glasses back up his nose a bit "Because..I could.. help. Maybe."
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:36 pm
Riyo's face switched from an uncomprehending expression to a weary one as she looked up at the stranger, then back down to the papers. "You shouldn't apologize for something that wasn't your fault... Though this is an awkward place to stand." The ghoul sighed as her ears fell back against her head, immediately dropping to the floor in order to start the game of 52 paper pick up. Yes, perhaps if this had been a year ago, she would've been more angry, more aggravated, but now wasn't so much the case... Considering it was her fault, after all. Still, it didn't look like she would be apologizing in return.
Piece by piece, she lifted the thin parchment off the floor, glanced at it, and put it back into her slowly regrowing folder accordingly. "No, I don't accept help. Especially not with things of this-" An eyebrow raised at his second comment, her stare turning upwards momentarily. "... manner. Um..." He was... Acting strangely. Well, strange was hard to define here. Maybe that wasn't the proper word. Then again, what was? Did he really want to help that bad? Ugh, she hated the thought of looking like she couldn't even pick up a simple stack of papers... But he seemed desperate.
Wasn't she trying to be a better person anyways? ... Something like that. "If... You really want to though." Riyo held back a cringe as she spoke those words, trying not to think about it after. They were just papers, after all. Important papers.
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:50 pm
Two emotions. It was a strange feeling. Elation at getting to do what he sorely wanted, irritation at things for going this way and instantly giving away himself in doing so. No sooner had she said the word that he could help than he had ducked down in a rustle of paper feathers to help her, his prehensile tail even getting involved in the work at hand, picking up, seeming to skim read and sort them even as he did so, his gaze darting around as he went at a surprising pace. He was a flurry of activity, barely paying any heed to anything else until all the papers were gathered, as soon as he was done holding them out in one hand to her in as flippant a fashion as he could manage. He strove to regain some degree of aloof credibility after his little...outburst.
"Its no trouble, really. It was indeed an odd place to stand. I could have at least had the decency to clear my throat." At least he wasn't stammering anymore, that was a start. He even adjusted his tie a little and refolded his wings, composure once again returning to him now he was no longer surrounded by paper-based chaos. He couldn't stand scattered paper, it was like nails on the chalkboard of his soul.
"I'm Zar, by the way." he added with a courteous little bow.
Thank you for sharing your documents he thought to himself.
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:35 pm
Riyo... Didn't know what to say. As soon as the demon dropped down to help, the ghoul wondered if she had said the right thing. He looked so... Absorbed in what he was doing. Once she opened her mouth to say something, a finger signifying that she was going to speak, but no words came, so she allowed it to drop. It seemed like the time it took her to blink was the time he took to gather up the papers she had carelessly dropped.
Oh, and they were full of all sorts of things. Company proposals for something so little as more seeds being placed into heating (which had been denied), and as much as requests for holidays (also denied). There were papers on money transfers, accounts, contracts, you name it. All branded with a big S.
Looking a little awestruck at the stack of papers being held out to her, the feline shakily grabbed them and placed them back in the file with the meager number she had managed to collect. Wait, had his attitude just done a 180? The boil standing in front of her seemed much more collected than the one she'd collided into. Odd... And a little suspicious. "Uh, really. It was my fault. Don't beat yourself up over it." Though he obviously wasn't. "I'm Riyo." She added and silently watched him bow. She didn't like that, and the irritated flick of her own thin black tail might've reflected it.
"Are you a new student or something?" She had never seen him in the halls, but then again, she didn't really pay attention or frankly give a damn about most of her classmates.
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:49 pm
He nodded to her, impressed by her apparent perceptiveness and even more self concious that he stuck out like a sore thumb. "Yes. Very new actually. Very. Just got here today even." He glanced back along the corridor fleetingly in the direction of his dormitory. "Finished unpacking a few hours ago, only just finished organising things in there. It will do." Clearly he was picky with more than just paperwork.
Still, it was as if his thoughts kept flicking to the papers she had, as he glanced at them, feeling the need to blurt out "I grouped the money transfers at the back, but your stack you picked up has them next to the requests" as if this minor disorganisation actually somehow bothered him. He seemed suddenly aware of this and backpedalled. "Just...in case you get muddled..up." And again that uncertain stammer came through a little.
Quick, he thought, change the subject before she got irritated he'd read them. "But yes. New. That obvious?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:29 am
Ah, yes. Very new then. Nodding in acknowledgement, the cat ghoul seemed to lighten up momentarily...
That is, until Zar blurted out his accidental confession.
Looking down at her folder, then back up at her new acquaintance, the ghoul's face contorted into something akin to rage. "Nonono, lets go back to what you said before. Is THAT why you looked like you wanted to help me so bad?" She seethed out the question and folded her arms, though the folder remained tightly tucked underneath. "Wanted to go through my information, huh? Find anything interesting?" Riyo leaned forward as she asked, shooting Zar a very accusatory look. "THIS. Is why I don't accept help from people. Nobody does it just to be nice. It's a ridiculous myth." Nevermind that if the shoe was on the other foot, the feline probably would've snuck a peek. She was, after all, naturally curious.
It looked as if she was about to shove past him any second, but something else struck her. "... Wait. You can read this business jargon?" Certainly anyone could read it, but most of the people she knew at this school would probably get confused by the first sentence.
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:53 am
He kissed goodbye to whatever semblance of composure he'd managed to get hold of as Riyo, much to his chagrin /did/ notice that he'd gotten a look at the documents. His stomach twisted up as though someone had seized it as he stammered again, holding his hands up apologetically. "Nonono. I didn't want to read it. It ..I wanted to ..I wanted to help you out, I can't help but read them. Its just.. its automatic. Its not a good thing." his entire posture had shifted to a very submissive half crouch, tail once again slunk about his hooves defensively. Well here was a good start to his school career, offending the very first person he met. At least until he noticed her comment about the business jargon and all but pounced on it, anything to avoid parting on bad terms with his first aquaintence.
"That? Yes. I can. Its..its what I do more or less. It just..comes naturally. Paperwork's like my natural element" it was the best way he could think to word it. Words were so much more awkward aloud. " I /was/ just trying to be nice you know. I made you drop your papers, I helped pick them up. Anything I read I keep confidential in any case. You ..tend to when its an embarassing habit." He frowned again, realising he was rambling and ended with the last defensive statement. "It would have been rude to just stand there and watch you pick them all up."
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 11:59 am
It was a little... Strange to see a boil curl up defensively like that as if she was about to beat him. Should anyone happen to pass the scene, they would most likely think just that. Well, it wasn't like some people didn't see her as a villain... Though the thought of that started to grate her more and more. "C'mon, don't do that. Stand up straight... I'm not going to hit you or anything." The ghoul tried to soften her tone, encouraging him to lighten up a little.Though she did like punching people in the face... Especially Hel. 99% of the time however, it was when they asked for it... And this poor fellow certainly hadn't.
Silently she listened to his explanation, defensive stance unraveling as she glanced at the folder under her arm. He... Understood this kind of thing? Moreover, it was something he did WELL?
Really, she wasn't sure what to say. She already felt bad for snapping at him, but worse it seemed he was already embarrassed of is more than a little odd habits. The ghoul could relate in some ways, considering she had polished the floor for a week straight when she couldn't do much else because of the lack of sleep. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry." Her ears fell back as she looked up at his face. "I've never been very trusting of people in general, so it's really not you. Just... Something I do." Not that she was trying to make excuses. If anything, she figured it was good to be suspicious of everyone until they proved they deserved otherwise. Guilty until proven innocent, if you will.
Okay, attempt to remedy the situation. "And I don't think it's a terrible habit to have. If anything, it's interesting. I guess if I was that dedicated I wouldn't have half the problems I do now." If she was that dedicated she might hate herself even more.
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 12:17 pm
At the very least he seemed to relax again as she reassured him, gradually coming back into his confidence, doing as asked and straightening up, once again rearranging his wings and those glasses he couldn't seem to keep in the right place on his nose. At least to all outward appearances he had calmed again, swinging back into that apparent front of cool and calm he put on when not freaking out about one thing or another.
"Its fine really, no need for you to apologise. It was pretty forward of a stranger to read your documents the way I did, habit or not. As for trust, don't worry about that either. I've never been very..quick to trust anyone myself. Every time you think someone's got your best intentions at heart you find out they had a dagger in their other hand" He smiled weakly "Such is the world of business. Mistrust is a required skill." The world of demons too, he mentally added.
As for his habit, it was still embarassing for him to discuss, his father had encouraged his son's ..bookishness. But his mother had been quick to point out he'd be as dull and unlikable as his father. Their relationship was lovely. Still it had made him a little hung up on it all. "Its fairly irritating as far as tendencies go, some things it would be nice to be able to ignore. Still. You run a business or just do administration work?" His curiosity was piqued.
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 12:51 pm
It was surprising to hear that from someone else's mouth for once. Most of the people she knew, that she worked with, were those very kinds of people. She could almost see the daggers shining under the sleeve of their freshly pressed suits. "Truer words have never been said..." She spoke softly, though did her best to avoid thinking about it further. No need for those thoughts right now. She didn't have time to be sad.
"Oh, uh. Yes." His question managed to snap her out of the stupor. "I inherited my mother's business when she... Became indisposed of." It was the best way to put it, she had discovered. The woman was not dead.
Things would be much simpler... If she was dead.
"Though I've been working there since I was a little ghoul, so it wasn't much of a shock. My life was already centered around it." A sad note, she supposed, but the cat demon didn't look upset at the admittance.
"And what about you?" Surely HE led some sort of professional life as well with the speed and accuracy he showed in paperwork.
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 12:59 pm
Zar listened to what she had to say intently, looking thoughtful. He nodded as she finished and added. "Certainly sounds like some very taxing work, especially when multiplied with the work you'd no doubt have to keep on top of from school."
"As for me? My father's a control freak reguarding his business, he won't let me help in any meaningful way and generally never has. Apparently I don't have enough of a way with people to be worth having around. So I do the administration. I'm basically a secretary without the benefit of being able to get myself free drinks or greet people. Work's always dictated my home life however, its all that's generally spoken about. I just don't get a say in the important things." He drummed his fingertips together, eyeing them, it seemed at least that she wasn't alone in having her childhood dominated by business. "Which is why I'm here. I have some decisive things to prove, because I intend to wrestle control of the company when he kicks the bucket, one way or another."
He gave her a sympathetic look however. "I wouldn't want to have that sort of responsibility dropped on my head at the moment in any event, for now I'm just grateful for the steady if meagre stream of paperwork my position provides, and the insight doing that busywork gives me into what's going on that he won't tell me."
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 2:21 pm
"It wasn't a big deal... At first." Before more and more things came up. Before she realized how terrible it had made her and the opinion of herself. But that was best left unsaid. "I've learned to be pretty good at multi-tasking." But everyone had their limits, of course.
Ah, control freak. Riyo could sympathize with that. In truth, if her mother hadn't 'become indisposed of', the feline would've never ascended higher than 'paper sorting ghoul'. "Psch. Social interactions are overrated. Especially with upper-crust demons. A bunch of sniveling over-privileged children with nothing to show for their age but petty ranks. At least, that's my opinion. Better to drink alone, in the comfort of your own room than have to listen to stories of how they deprived some poor schmuck of money." It was obvious by the look of disdain on her face that she had been privy to such conversations. "I have someone to do that for me." And that was about all the VP did.
Looking towards the freshly polished door she had just locked, the ghoul sighed. "Still, I can understand if you would want more. Especially when it comes to proving yourself..." Walking back towards the door, Riyo grabbed the key she had tossed into her pocket and unlocked the door. "I think this discussion would be better had sitting down. Would you like to come in for some tea?" She didn't usually invite people into her room, but... It was sorta nice to discuss such things casually. One thing her acquaintances here probably wouldn't understand very much.
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