Getting to Know Each Other (Aren)

[HIRO JUN MIZUSHIMA]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding-left:5px; padding-top:5px; padding-right:5px; padding-bottom:5px; background-color: #575757; border-radius: 100px 0px 100px 0px;] Hiro Jun Mizushima "Im nothing more than a chalk outline" It was a Saturday in March as Hiro drove done in his car into town. His exact destination was the shopping mall for he was going to be meeting someone there. Today Hiro would be spending some time with a rather special person, a young thunder named Aren. What makes this person special is that recently this young girl had been adopted by his best friend Avery. It come as quite a shock when Avery first told Hiro the news. He hadn't exactly known what to think of it. It wasn't that he didn't see Avery as the parenting type it just that had been completely out of the blue in eyes and even more surprising that the child in question had been a thunder considering Avery was a water. Despite the surprise he supported his friend as after first meeting the young girl that Avery had adopted he would admit that the two seemed like a perfect fit. In the process of this Hiro had become something of a make-shift uncle to the young thunder. He considered Avery and thus saw young Aren in the same way. After all, blood doesn't make family. Aren was a sweet girl and he got along with her fairly well. This shopping trip was his way and excuse to spoil her. When his sister Isabella was younger he had spoiled her when he could and even after they lost their parents he would spoil her every now and then when he could. Thankfully Isabella was growing into a bright and good lady so he didn't have to worry about her. Now here was a chance to spoil someone else since he could. He drove into a parking lot before shutting off the car. Getting out and locking the door he walked up the curb into the shopping mall. Heading to where he had promised to meet Aren. Isabella had meant to come but something came up at the last minute so it would just be him and Aren. It should be fun. Tags: Aren/Lali | Words: -- | Credit: 156zcm of Caution Notes: In their own line

[AREN NOVA KAEL]

Aren didn’t generally mind going shopping. His only problem was when he was being asked to try something on, and ended up standing in front of a gendered changing room. At that point, he generally made some sort of excuse that would allow his escape, and he would get out of there very quickly. He had loved going to Wal-Mart for clothes, when he’d been little, because the rooms weren’t assigned genders. You just got a tag that said how many items you were trying on and were ushered into one of ten little plastic-walled rooms. He hadn’t needed to make excuses. He hadn’t needed to lie. He hadn’t been subject to weird looks for not deciding which room he wanted or needed to go into. It was a relief. He wasn’t sure what sort of shopping Hiro and Isabella had in mind, however, so he had no reason to get nervous in the meantime. Either way, he liked the two. There was no reason to get nervous at all.

Right? Right. God, he hoped so. He hoped this would go weird or non-normal or make him lie because he couldn’t remember how to speak if he was being asked to tell his little secret. His secret that was so much more than little. He wished it weren’t such a large part of his identity. He wished it were easier.

He could make it easier, he knew. He just speak the truth. He could reveal himself. Wear clothes that were appropriate to his sex. Maybe he’d be bullied. Maybe people would have respect for him because had the guts to wear a girl’s clothes when he wasn’t one. It would be easier than just always lying, lying endlessly as his heart rattled in his ribcage like a hummingbird trying to escape a birdcage. It would be easier.

Except for the part where his voice died in his throat and he couldn’t do it. His nerves were too much. He was too scared. He was a coward.

But because he was going to hang out with two people whom he liked very much, he put a smile on his face and darted through the throng of people until he found them. Well, he didn’t find them. He found just one. He slowed down a little and looked around in confusion, wondering if Isabella had run to get something from a vending machine or gone to the bathroom. Despite his curiosity as to her absence, he grinned at Hiro and greeted sweetly , “Hi there. How’s it going?” Civilities first, then be nosy. It was only polite. He could be polite. He’d been raised to say “please” and “thank you” and “you’re welcome” and to hold doors for people carrying things, whether they looked heavy or not. At least h was being sincere. He actually wanted to know whether Hiro was all right or not.

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OOC | coding may or may not come alter depending on if I feel like it and I fall in love with simplicity again xD[/font][/size]

[HIRO JUN MIZUSHIMA]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding-left:5px; padding-top:5px; padding-right:5px; padding-bottom:5px; background-color: #575757; border-radius: 100px 0px 100px 0px;] Hiro Jun Mizushima "Im nothing more than a chalk outline" Isabella's cancellation had been very last minute leaving Hiro having to choose whether to cancel this entire trip or not. Consider that it had come at the eleventh hour he felt bad to simply cancel and thus decided to come on his own. He hoped Aren didn't mind too much. The two hadn't exactly spent a lot of quality time together. It had been mostly been with Avery and sometimes Isabella as well but never just two. Hiro bought himself something to drink as he waited. Since he was early he would have to wait a bit but not too much. It gave him time to grow comfortable with the situation. Of course he had gone of shopping trips with his sister when she was growing up but now that she was older she did her shopping separately most of th time. He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard a soft voice and turned to find Aren standing before him. "I'm good thanks. How about you?" he asked warmly. Of course the first time they had met had been different being that he didn't exactly know what to think of the fact that his best friend, a water, adopting a young girl who just happened to be a thunder. It didn't take long before getting used to idea but it had been surprising that was for sure. "Isabella unfortunately couldn't make it. Something came up and she sends her apologies. I hope you don't mind if it's just me." he said with a light smile. For all he knew Aren could be uncomfortable being just the two of them, after all in a way they were still strangers. "So, if you're ready let's get started. Is there anywhere in particular you like. Just lead the way." he said encouragingly. Hiro knew where he liked to shop, and that was normally in the more expensive areas but they weren't here for him. Tags: Aren/Lali | Words: -- | Credit: 156zcm of Caution Notes: In their own line

[AREN NOVA KAEL]

“I’m well,” he replied easily, smiling at him. He liked Hiro, though he was probably severely biased because of his dad’s best friendship. He just couldn’t imagine anyone his dad loved being a bad person, and they were definitely incredibly close. So Aren had absolutely no reason not to like the teacher. After all, he had an awesome little sister, he had an awesome best friend, and he just seemed like a nice guy over all. What could be wrong about that? He couldn’t picture Hiro hurting a fly. Maybe that was just him being innocent wanting the think the best of anybody and everybody, but he was going to stick with it, even if he felt a bit awkward about this situation currently.

At hearing of Isabella’s inability to come, he tilted his head to the side curiously. “Is she okay?” he asked, genuinely worried for the girl. As with Hiro, he didn’t know her particularly well, but she seemed so nice. He really liked them both, and he could see why his dad did. Even if it was just turning into a repetitive cycle that didn’t really end or begin anywhere. Man, he was just going to confuse himself. “I don’t mind,” he assured hastily, smiling at Hiro again, a little embarrassed that Hiro would even have to suggest such a thing. Of course he didn’t mind hanging out at the mall with the teacher. Why should he? The guy was nice and easy to be around, even if they were pretty close to strangers.

Aren looked around, a bit baffled. “I don’t… really come here much,” he admitted, and scratched slightly behind his ear. He wasn’t sure where anything was, or really what a person could buy here. He didn’t know if there was a piano store, or a bookstore, or a video game store, or a food court, or anything at all. It was almost amazing he’d found Hiro at all, considering how little he’d been to the mall in previous years. “Where do you like to go?”

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[HIRO JUN MIZUSHIMA]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding-left:5px; padding-top:5px; padding-right:5px; padding-bottom:5px; background-color: #575757; border-radius: 100px 0px 100px 0px;] Hiro Jun Mizushima "Im nothing more than a chalk outline" "I'm glad." he said with a soft smile. Hiro wondered at times how much of his history with Avery the young thunder knew. Hiro didn't exactly think that the fact that Hiro once upon a time bullied Aren's adoptive father would exactly sit well with her. Or perhaps she did know and was able not to hold a grudge just as Avery had been able to. Hiro was curious about this but a part of him very nervous about finding the answer. Based on the way Hiro acted around people now a days no one would probably be able to guess the kind of person he used to be but that didn't mean there weren't those who were well aware. Hiro figured that would be something he'd be much better asking Avery about before discussing it with Aren. He didn't want to make things far more awkward between himself and the young thunder. "Oh she's fine." he replied hoping to calm any concerns. "Something about a school project going wrong and she had to fix. Nothing to worry about." he said reassuringly. At least he could feel better knowing that Aren didn't mind it just being the two of them. He could imagine if it felt weird being out with a teacher. Hiro wouldn't exactly have been very keen on the idea when he was in school. He chuckled a bit at the thunder's uncertainty. "I guess we're on the same boat. Hmmm, but when I do come I normally head straight to the clothes. " he said thoughtfully as he tried to think of a destination for the two. "What kind of stuff do you like? Video games, books...ahh, I do remember Isabella saying there was a clothing store she wanted to take you to. It's a favorite." he said with a look as if a light bulb turned on in his head as he remembered his sister's words. Tags: Aren/Lali | Words: -- | Credit: 156zcm of Caution Notes: In their own line

[AREN NOVA KAEL]

Ignorance is bliss.

Hypothetically, if Aren had known about the history between Hiro and Avery, he would have been entirely and completely shocked. Firstly so that someone so kind to him could ever have been so cruel before. Secondly so because they were now the closest of friends he could imagine. He wouldn’t understand how the two could have connected so well after such harsh events had made them enemies. He doubted he would ever be friends with enemies he had now, especially those who liked beating on him without invitation. Sure, he could be provocative, but there were some who liked picking on him without him saying even the slightest things. Maybe he’d just given someone the wrong look. He’d never know. Similarly, he’d probably never know that Hiro had at one point tormented Avery—and perchance it was best that way. It kept their growing bond from breaking like an icicle.

He was relieved to hear that Isabella was well. He nodded along to Hiro’s explanation, understanding completely. “Projects go wrong all too often,” he agreed, smiling a little. “I hope it isn’t too hard to fix. Wish her luck from me when you get home?” He was trying not to make it sound much like an order, because he was definitely the inferior here. Hiro was not only his teacher but his elder. He needed to be courteous, especially so because of the double position of respect. Why did that make him nervous?

He had no clue. Maybe it didn’t entirely matter. It probably didn’t, but he was nervous regardless, especially when the talk turned to clothes. His stomach turned inside out, and he hoped Hiro wouldn’t suggest he actually try something on if they visited a clothing boutique of any sort. He’d prefer both video games and books to looking through clothes. Clothes made him insanely nervous—at least shopping for them. He liked the idea of shopping online better, and having the clothing delivered, even if that required him to buy fabric and thread to resize the clothing that might not fit. That, or asking his dad to pick up something for him instead, because that was less nerve-wracking than actually going and standing in front of the dressing room, trying to decide which to go into.

“Lead the way,” was all he could force out, hoping that his anxiety wouldn’t be entirely too obvious. Then, to calm himself down and keep them from falling into potentially uncomfortable silence, he added, “So, why did you want to be a teacher? Were you a really good student in high school or something?” Even if it wasn’t his business.

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[HIRO JUN MIZUSHIMA]

"I'll let her know. The way she talked about it it wasn't anything that wasn't fixable, just something that was going to take a while to fix." If anything Isabella had just been disappointed that what went wrong would take a while to fix it up and have it ready again. If it had been a quick fix she probably would have been joining them a little later. She promised to call if anything changed and if she could come in the end but Aren and Hiro would make due until he hears something.

Hiro just nodded and began walking towards the stores, deciding which ever popped out to him first would be their first stop. "Uhh, well, I was a good student academically. Graduated in the top of my class but that wasn't the reason I chose to become a teacher." he said kindly. He wasn't lying about being academically a good student since he was. He was just keeping a tight lid on the reason why he was such a good student. It wasn't as if he had been doing so because he wanted to study hard and get into a good college or anything. It had been mostly because he was selfish and wanted to be a show off and figured graduating at the top of the class was a perfect little achievement to add to the fray. "My mom was a teacher. After my parents died, even though I was meant to take up my dad's company I decided to become a teacher instead. I still keep an eye on my family's company but thankfully I have people I can trust that take care of it when I'm not around." That was one of the good things. It wouldn't have been impossible to believe people trying to rip the company apart for themselves after his parents' death but thankfully there were people that the family trusted that kept a good eye on it and kept Hiro updated on what was going on.

They were passing a bookstore when a thought crossed Hiro's mine. "I forgot I had to get some books. Would you mind if we go in for a bit?"