39th: The Recreation of Haruhi Suzumiya

[godbent]

[It's been sort of a long path, but Haruhi Suzumiya has a... something. She's still hesitating around the word "boyfriend," but someone she is seeing in something sort of resembling a romantic capacity (SSISISSORARC). They were "test running" in October, she was avoiding him in November, and in December, they've been taking it slow. Hanging out more, going out to places, having some meals together...

And now, well, Haruhi decides she wants to mix it up some. So in the morning today she does her usual "throw rocks at Minato's window until he comes outs" and then he's dragged along out into the forest with an ax and ordered the chop down a Christmas tree for her house. She's not really done this weird Western custom all that much before, it it sounded fun to try out this year, particularly with a SSISISSORARC to chop down the tree, lug it to house ten, and then prop it up inside before they go out to collect things to put on it, and finally, decorate with.

Honestly, this might seem like slave labor, but the indicative thing about it is that this happens on a Sunday. She called Winry to apologize and say they should hang out more in the next week but she's cancelling on "their" day a few days before, but didn't give Minato notice about this. If he realizes what she's implying or not is up in the air -the meaning is pretty elusive.

This is a joint post with Minato (emp3thy), and you can run into them many places, but some examples are:
1) Going out into the forest in the morning to chop down the tree... and the time Minato needs to spend chopping when they find it.
2) Coming back with the tree in the later morning and bringing it to House 10
3) Collecting decorations for the tree from the item shop around mid-day and bringing them back to House 10
4) Decorating the tree in the early afternoon at House 10 (this one is prob just for House 10)
5) Going out to a late lunch after skipping two meals aside from snacks after that, at Seventh Heaven and lamenting the variety of places to go for this

Or whatever else between those you can spawn up]

Comments

[repudiate]

[ Well, it's not that weird to see those two together, so it's not like Ange thinks anything (especially involving long and complicated abbriviations) is going on here when she does see them while out on a short walk to clear her head - to be specific, when they're seemingly dragging around a tree. Huh. Did Haruhi bother Minato into doing that? Seems like her style, but still.. ]

Having fun, you two? [ Her tone is deadpan though, and her expression as lineface as ever. ]

[godbent]

[More like Minato is hauling the tree and she... okay she was helping until someone was there, then she let go and crossed her arms, imperiously. Fun...]

Yeah, I suppose you could say that.

[emp3thy]

That means 'yes.'

[Just in case Ange can't decipher 'tsundere.']

[entreats]

[ Hey, Ange is tsundere, okay. Although not as much as Haruhi. But enough to decipher the language of her people. ]

Or maybe it means you're more into this than she is. [ But still, always got to deadpan about it. ]

[godbent]

That's a good point. Minato does seem like the sort of person who would enjoy manual labor like this.

[emp3thy]

.....Why is that?

[entreats]

Maybe just since you're the type that doesn't complain.

[ aka lineface. ]

[menial]

['So I first spotted them this morning, when I was going out for my getting-to-be-usual "apparently I miss that damn hill more than I thought" morning walk. Or just walk, since that title, I think, is redundant with saying that it was this morning.

Anyway, who should I see but Haruhi, Arisato, and an ax. I thought nothing of it then -- in fact I thanked my lucky stars that she didn't contract me for the presumed menial labor associated with it. Arisato is a great person to foist that off on. Other great candidates include Lolicon Aikawa, Maebara, or really, I don't care. Granted, I'm moderately surprised, but not displeased. And not even that surprised anymore. I've said it a hundred times. Different place, different whatever, drift along with your life in the way that you think it best.

So I finished my walk at the tea shop, and here I am at the store, staring at the axes myself, weighing my desire for a modicum of decoration of my own with the soreness that will probably result from putting forth that much effort. It's not like there's anyone who'll be coming over to appreciate it, anyway. It's almost sadder to have a tree in your apartment and no one to celebrate with, right? I'll probably be at some kind of party on Christmas anyway.

End digression. Point being, here they are again. Are they spending the whole day together? Grabbing decorations. Very much like a typical cowed guy and brash girl going to the mall or something. I can hear the "baka baka" from here. A whole day seems like a bit much, doesn't it? However, let's remind ourselves, what business is it of mine? None whatsoever. Even if "it's not a date!" (in that "it's a date" tone), I mean, I don't even have a leg to stand on! I went on a not-date with Arisato's sister, for God's sake. And I would have objected very much to anyone sticking their nose into that! Because it was difficult enough as it is, cruel and unusual girl that she was...

Digressing again. It's not that important. Granted, the consequences of dating Haruhi should be very clear to Arisato after everything I told him! And granted, the blithe ass is impossible to read and who knows what he's thinking. And someone who talks so little sure manages to be supremely irritating when he does. He's like a Ken doll or something else that you want to punch the wooden non-expression off of! An X-factor Ken doll with blue hair, which I reserve the right to be pissed off about since Asakura.

However, at this point, being three point six yards away, it would be weirder not to comment than to comment! I can hardly pretend I didn't notice them this time. Fine. Here goes.']

...Getting a lot of stuff, huh?

[godbent]

[For Haruhi's part, she actually starts a little. She was aware Kyon was there of course, but she was sort of hoping that they could avoid small talk. In a few weeks she might be more okay with the whole "interacting with Kyon or Winry with Minato by her side" thing, but right now-- it stirs up old feelings, and of all things she immediately feels a rush of guilt. It's the same as when she encountered Kyon with Winry, though she decides to handle it a different way. Not indignation, because they'd found their absolution, but - as annoying as the guilt is - she just decides to shrug and nod]

Well, I've not really set up a tree any year in Luceti before, so I decided I'd try this year so I could see what it's like.

[emp3thy]

[Minato, however, feels no guilt over this at all. He turns to watch the conversation, the hand that's not holding a bag of decorating supplies stuffed into his pocket as usual. Kyon seems to be talking to Haruhi, so he won't interject just yet.]

[menial]

Really? [He pauses for a second before shrugging.] Probably like setting up a tree anywhere else. Kind of surprising, though.

[He turns to Minato, suspicion written in his eyes.] How's it going, Arisato.

[emp3thy]

[......What's with that look. Minato ends up returning it with something similar.]

It's going fine.

[godbent]

Yeah, probably. I'm older though and everyone here seems to be obsessed with Christmas gifts. After all, that stupid Panda stole the Secret Santa from us, so it's clearly popular.

[ilyana]

[Ilyana can be found just outside the seventh heaven restaurant, passed out on the ground. She also has a knack for blending into her surroundings, so you might accidentally step on something soft and squishy... namely her.]

Ohh...

[She's finally starting to stir a little bit.]

[godbent]

[Yeah, definitely stepping here. She was actually animatedly describing the likelihood of Luceti having a population of yetis up in the mountains, and steps right onto Ilyana's back. She doesn't notice the noise though, and just takes another step, on and off her]

[ilyana]

[Well that wasn't terribly nice... course Ilyana isn't really the kind to complain about such things. Still, she will grab onto Haruhi's foot to try to get herself up off the ground.]

O-ow...

Haruhi -> Minato -> Ilyana is the intention so yeah

[godbent]

[WHAT. WHAT IS GRABBING HER FOOT. She actually goes now to kick the thing grabbing her. If she's not stopped]

Re: Haruhi -> Minato -> Ilyana is the intention so yeah

[emp3thy]

[Minato is a pace or two ahead and to the side of Haruhi, so he misses stepping on or noticing Ilyana as they pass. But Haruhi stopping mid-talking does get his attention. He turns and, seeing this situation only about to get worse, intervenes. With a swift motion, he picks Haruhi up bodily and moves her a foot or two backwards away from the poor fallen girl.]

Are you okay? [to the girl; he's not even going to bother trying to reprimand Haruhi. He's expecting her to change kicking targets to him after that move but it's better than her giving an innocent person a concussion.]

[ilyana]

I'm sorry... I didn't mean to startle you...

[Ilyana's still down on the ground, not really moving much.]

action;

[gleamed]

[Rapunzel is on her way to set up for the art club meeting when she spots Haruhi, Minato, and the tree. She wasn't aware that Haruhi and Minato were friends (she couldn't speak for the tree, being unacquainted with it) but she always got excited at seeing two friends together, so she gleefully stops them on their way.]

Hello, Haruhi! Hello, Minato! How are you? Oh - is that a Christmas tree?

action;

[godbent]

Yeah, that's right. Hi Rapunzel.

[She says this with a little shrug and brushing back of her hair. Maybe she should have used a bun today...]

action;

[emp3thy]

[thumbs-up greeting for you, Rapunzel...]

I'm helping her set it up.

action;

[gleamed]

[She taps her chin thoughtfully.]

I see! That's a very fun activity for the two of you to be doing together.

action;

[godbent]

I just needed someone to swing the ax and carry the tree back, that's all.

action;

[emp3thy]

[Is that really all he is to you Haruhi, a lumberjack...]

Something like that.