[narrations + overflow]

[darkinferno]

[A collection of narration bits that don't belong anywhere else from Dante/Riku's time in Recollé.]

[Or, a personal overflow.]

Comments

[darkinferno]

[For a moment more, there's that touch of surprise on his face... and then Dante seems to realize again where he is and what's going on, because he averts his eyes, resisting the urge to fold his arms and lean back in his chair like a sullen child.]

Who says you need to worry about us? We can look after ourselves.

[Yeah, like he actually means that at all. But how in the world does he react to something like that? Dante's got no idea--and so he reverts to his normal deflection instead.]

[daemonized]

[It seems like he's triggered that deflection reaction in the boy, he thinks to himself, and quite accurately at that. This isn't the first time he's seen Dante respond in this way, which usually means he's hit something rather close to home.

Or, at least -- he thinks he has. He hadn't meant to be presumptuous, only sincere.]

All people your age say that. And even if you don't need someone, you have someone.

[darkinferno]

[He never knows how to react when Ardyn doesn't respond to his acerbic comments. It's tough to keep it up when he continues with the sincerity...

He can't meet Ardyn's eyes as he feels that sensation welling up in his body again.]

Yeah, well...

Thanks, prof. [VERY POINTEDLY NOT MEETING HIS EYES NOPE] You're a pretty cool guy, for a walking fashion disaster.

[Yeah, he should've been expecting that.]

[daemonized]

[Maybe he was -- maybe he just so obviously takes no offense to it, as always.]

I'm offended, Dante. Tell me how you really feel.

[He just gives him a grin that's lopsided as usual, but there's affection in his tone regardless. Still-]

I may just have to slap you for that.

[darkinferno]

Aha, so that's what this was really about.

[He's just gonna point toward that sign--he knows you saw it, Ardyn!]

Sorry, no family discounts.

[daemonized]

[Yes, he sure did see the sign.]

Mm-hm. Are you paying taxes on all this money you're going to make, I wonder?

[Excuse him while he digs around his pocket for his wallet.]

Not even a ten percent discount? For all the knowledge I've granted you in class?

[darkinferno]

Actually, I was thinking about using it to buy stuff for the fight practices.

[Dante shrugs. It's not like he actually needs the money; he's just doing it to undermine Retrospec.]

Fine, if you're gonna complain about it I'll give you the teacher discount. I don't have change, though, so if you don't have singles, you're out of luck.

[daemonized]

[Undermining Retrospec; that's something Ardyn can always get behind, and he'll not argue the point.

Finding his wallet, he takes out a ten dollar bill and offers it to Dante. His complaining about price was nothing more than his usual flippant joking.]

Well, since I'm generous...

[darkinferno]

Generous, huh?

[Dante's got his normal smirk on his face as he takes the bill, putting it in his pocket with the rest of the money he's made today. And then he'll get up to come around to the front of the table, so that they don't accidentally knock anything over, spreading his arms wide in invitation.]

Well, let's see it.

[daemonized]

[Well, time for the slap, then.

(Ardyn's damnable bleeding heart will tell him, don't hit him too hard.)]

May I ask just how hard others have slapped you so far? So I know what will count and what won't.

[darkinferno]

Depends on the person.

[He shrugs. If Ardyn looks hard enough, he may be able to see the beginnings of some swelling to his right cheekbone--don't ever get hit by Noah's new arm. That thing's like a lead pipe.]

The first guy barely even made contact. It was almost a pat, if you ask me.

[daemonized]

I see.

[He does spot that swelling, frowning slightly. He'll be making a note to avoid that side of his face, just to be kind. Other than that, he tells himself that he won't be so gentle that it won't count for his bingo card. Dante did take his money, after all, and he was more than willing to see this through.]

Brace yourself, then.

[And with that warning, Ardyn raises his hand and slaps Dante across the face.

"Slaps".

The bleeding heart always wins. It was not anything close to painful. Don't you dare judge him.]

[darkinferno]

[Yeah, it's a slap, but it's nothing really, not in comparison to some of the others he's gotten. Maybe a 1 on the "ow" scale? Dante lifts an eyebrow at it, but other than that he's not going to say a word about it.]

Do you want to make sure that counted? Check your card.