Very Important Research! (Open)

[rin]

"I...um...I was thinking of finding some...poetry for someone..."

That put a damper on...well...everything. Rin almost let go of the railings he was so dissappointed with the answer. Even if he'd basically guessed that that was going to be it. People and poetry often lead to romance. He let his feet slide down till they met the floor then he turned resting his back against the ladder.

"So what kind of person are they?" Might as well help. "Gloomy? Lovey? Nerdy? Chipper? Hopeless romantic?"

At the request he gave a small, sad smile turning away from the adorable boy. The good ones were always taken. He grabbed the last two books and headed up the ladder.

"Like I said before I don't have anyone to tell. I don't tell secrets." He just happened to keep a lot of them. Rin stared at the titles of the two books Loneliness: The reasons behind it, and Alternitives to Sex. The second one almost made him laugh before he shelved it amongst the other psychology books.

"If they are lovey, chipper, or a hopeless romantic look for Shakespear for inspiration. Or the poem ten reason that I love you or whatever it's title is." The demon wasn't a big romance poem type of guy, mostly because most of those poems were aimed at women. "Or you can look to any sappy love song lyrics for inspiration. Look at flowers, think of all the things that you like about that person. Toss in the words beauty, love, and everlasting and you're sure to make a hit."

Rin gripped the sides of the ladder then slid down, and landed on his butt. Flinching he glared at the ladder then grinned up at the boy. "I'm not the smoothest guy around but I do know my poetry."

[Locke F. Herald]

As the girl talked, Locke listened, and debated taking notes. It seemed so simple when put like this, but then again writing always was the most calm and calculated of the arts.

"She is...really upbeat, chipper and I think...lovey might be a good word." Locke said, scratching his cheek. At the comment about knowing poetry Locke had to smile, until his brain registered one key word.

"I'm not the smoothest guy around but I do know my poetry."

"I'm not the smoothest guy around but I do know my poetry."

WHAA?!

Locke's eyes went wide when he realized what he'd said. This...was a guy?! Ok, now how did he deal with that? What did he say? 'Whoops I thought you were a girl?' No even Locke knew that was rude. And shouting 'YOUR A GUY?!' seemed equally rude.

He was, in reality, left totally speechless.

[rin]

Most people who were wanting poems for their partner had upbeat partners who'd go gaga over such a thing. So it didn't surpise him that this guys girl, or maybe boy was "upbeat, chipper...lovely."

"Okay, go with sonnets for starters. Love sonnets. Might actually lok into the Song of Solomon nice stuff in there." He stood fixing his clothes and hair from the short fall. "Because She Would Ask Me Why I Loved Her by Christopher Brennan is another good one."

Rin was missing the reaction to his statement of not being a smooth guy. Instead he was rambling about poetry, picking up his book, and gazing at the books wondering if he could find a good poetry book the boy could use.

"Always could just pick a random book on love poems and find the ones you like. The library has tons of books on poetry, and a lot of poetry, " He paused turning to Locke, and blinked confused, "What's wrong? do you not like sonnets or something?"

[Locke F. Herald]

Most of what he said went in one ear and out the other, and it wasn't until Rin asked him what was wrong that he snapped himself out of it.

"Oh! Oh no, sorry, I just got distracted by...something." Yes something, that was the right thing to say.

Something, or someone.

"So..you think I should look through the books here for sonnets and stuff? Shakespeare too? Hmm, all right then." He could probably find where poetry was, but he was a little weirded out by this boy. Creepy didn't begin to describe him.

"So...uh...why were you looking for this book?" Locke said, handing Rin the book he had been looking for. "It seems...an unusual book to look for."

[rin]

Distracted, huh? He felt like he'd just missed something, but chose to leave it alone for once. He'd already given plenty of things to scare this boy off. The sadist book, the lover of poetry, the clumsiness, and his small amount of flirting. Any more and he would never make friends with the cutey.

"Ah, distracted. Thinking of the one you're going to write the poem for?" Rin traced a finger along the spine of a thick, leather bound book eyes a bit lost in his mind's wonderings.

"Sonnets, Shakespear, Together byLudwig Lewsohnm would be good for you since you love books." Waving his hand he picked up another book scanning its cover, the book leaf, then flipping through the pages.

"Looking? Oh, I wasn't looking specifically for that book." He shelved the other book to retrieve the book being handed to him. "I am interested in how people work, why people do the things they do. It helps me write poetry, and it helps me understand myself better as well."

The demon shrugged staring at the title as if it was his death sentence. "I like psychological books, even if they might be weird, or creepy. It's not this world is full of butterflies."

No, his world was certainly not full of butterflies. More like pain, and blood, and abandonment.

[Locke F. Herald]

"So.." Locke understood now. "You just pick up books on ways of life, or ways of thinking that you find interesting?" It seemed a simple enough question, and he wanted to get off the topic that he thought this boy was a girl.

That was all kinds of awkward.

"Well, I don't know too much about psychology, the meta-physical aren't really my strong suit."

At his comment about the world not being filled with butterflies Locke couldn't help but laugh. "I think I know some people that might disagree. Say..."

He thought for a moment, he couldn't peg this boy.

"What house are you in anyway? I normally guess pretty well, but you could be a few things.."

[rin]

Rin flipped open the book in his hands scanning over the various chapters. There were even some not so lovely pictures to go with the concepts talked about within each chapter. Some of them looked all to familiar and he shut the book abruptly. Maybe this wasn't the best book to look at. Certainly not a book to read before going to bed at night.

"I read things that I find interesting. Things I agree with, disagree with, know nothing about so I can know about it." Seriously debating on getting a different book after seeing the pictures; he held it behind his back. "I don't hang out with lots of people, so I have lots of free time. Better to read than to blow it doing nothing. I also don't sleep much so..."

He rolled his eyes up to the shelves of books. "I didn't say I knew anything or was good at psychology. I just like reading about it."

The demon's eyes traveled back to the cat eared boy and he quickly scanned the utter cuteness before him. Shame the boy was spoken for. Probably didn't like boys that way anyways.

"If they honestly think the would is sunshine and butterflies they have had a very sheltered life." Realizing this might be someone close to the boy he cringed. "But that's just from my observations from other people. Or they are just very optimistic."

There that could lessen the rudeness of the statement a bit. Hopefully. Tucking his other hand behind his back to hold the book with both hands he rocked on his heels.

"House? Almansy, or however it is said." He thought that that would be obviously given the book on sadism. "What house are you?"

Might as well return the question. Rin guessed either the Edenwhatever or Wingrose, but the boy could blow him away and say the same house. It would be nice to find a someone in his house that wasn't a totally jerk. Or someone who hated the world.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke laughed at his remark about Kiri. "Sheltered life? Yes I suppose your right. But a wise man once did say that 'ignorance is bliss'. If you can't see how ugly the world can be, well then it really is happy for you isn't it? Or maybe just take joy in the small things, a simplistic life isn't necessarily a bad thing after all." He countered the boys argument. When he said what house he was in Locke blinked.

"Pride." He said thoughtfully. "Hmmm, it doesn't seem to fit you." He replied after a moment. "And I myself am an Edengrowth. I'd think that would be pretty obvious what with all the books and knowledge and such." He said shrugging. Oh well, he had been given mixed signals as of late.

[rin]

Rin grinned slightly and nodded at the boy's response. A response that was what he would expect from such an intelligent looking boy. He wouldn't mind meeting such a sheltered person, though in truth it would probably be a bad thing. For it would then be his duty to un-shelter them.

"Lucky them." He mumbled reaching up for another book to add to his reading material. "I'm guessing from your level of intelligence that I'm getting you're not as sheltered?"

Dark eyes rolling to the boy from the books on the shelf he returned his hands to behind his back.

"Pride? Hm, I guess I'm not the most apparent person for the house after all." He just figured it was the house they put the people who lived in the darker side of life. Put demons. Put kids with his background. "I'm very proud of my poems, if that counts."

Picking yet another book he crossed his arms to better hold the books behind his back. One he didn't want the boy to see the other books he was picking out. Two it was better if he kept his hands full.

"Ah, Edengrowth. Makes perfect sense." Three books should be enough for now. "Though I did hope you were in the same house as me. Then I might know someone."

He winked at the boy a half smile also in place. "Guess my bad luck prevails."

[Locke F. Herald]

"Well..." Locke began, thinking hard. Who did he know in Almasy? "I know two people in Almasy...not sure if you'd like either. One is, well let me just say she's a war dragon and leave it at that. She tries to not be a pointless brute though, so I give her points for that. Also, Tutor Caven's younger sister Morgan is in Almasy, I don't know any of the guys in Almasy...well...I don't know any boys in Almasy who have more then three brain cells, present company excluded." He said with a grin.

"Sheltered? Hah, I haven't been sheltered since I was old enough to hear whispers." Locke said and then thought on the words.

Those were memories he'd rather not dig up...and his face fell a little bit as he journeyed into a world of the past inside his own head.

[rin]

His attention perked at the boy started to suggest people, but once two girls were listed his attention wondered again. Girls and him just didn't mix all that well. Though meeting a dragon might be interesting. Pick apart the cause of the rages, if a war dragon was indeed able to go completely against their nature and be pacifists, and ah the experiments are endless.

"I haven't found many interesting boys either in that house. Guess I'll just have to move onto other houses." Rin peered at the boy from the corner of his eyes as he stood facing the book case.

Whispers. Not the best things were said in low voices, though he could imagine what could be said about the ears. He only knew from personal experience. Nothing about his appearance usually. Except the fact that he looked like a girl.

"Yeah, whispers. Not so fun." Turning to face him he saw the expression fall. "Hey, now. Living in the past never did anyone any good. I don't know what people whisper, but if they don't have the spine to tell it to your face they aren't worth the chemicals they're made out of."

"Besides, someone as cute as your shouldn't frown." He winked again giving a crocked smile.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke did notice Rin's glance at him when he said he'd look to other houses. Something was off, it was triggering his mind now, something was not as it seemed. At Rin's comment about spineless people he couldn't help but smile.

"That's what I always told myself." Locke said. "Not worth worrying about if they can't support their points with facts and not myths." He added, tugging on his coat in what he knew to be a 'scientific' manner. Old habits die hard.

And then he made the comment about...Locke being cute? Locke was a little stunned, was this...boy?...flirting with him? No no, it was just an innocent comment, don't just to conclusions.

"Ah, thanks..." What should he say to that, I mean it couldn't hurt to return it in kind right? That was acceptable in social dealings, when someone greeted you, you returned it. When they complimented you, you returned it as well.

"Ah yeah, you...um...look nice when you smile too. Should try it more often."

That was the polite thing to say.

[rin]

Support their accusations with facts, boy was this guy intellectually based. Course from the hiding in a library, the coat, and the certain things he said all of it lead to an intellectual sort. Including the house choice. His expression lightened a bit at Locke's smile, good to see he was doing some good.

"That's the ticket! Ignore the ignorant. Welcome the enlightened." Rin pointed a finger into the air nodding with a half grin. Though enlightened might not be the right term the boy probably knew what he was at least talking about. The demon might like to read but it didn't mean he was smart.

The hesitancy was back. He stopped gazing at the books, and rocking on his heels to focus on his conversation partner. Had he said too much? Said the wrong thing? What was wrong in complimenting him? Did he not take compliments well? Not really knowing Rin chose to ignore it.

"My smile? Well, thank you. I try to find things to smile at at least once a day." Now what? Things felt a bit awkward now. "I bet the person you want to write the poetry for thinks you're cute anyway."

Was it the cute comment? Or something else? "I know I'm cute. I just happen to draw in the wrong people most times." He sighed and lifted his somewhat long hair. "More than once has a boy though I was some cute lil' thang to flirt with."

[Locke F. Herald]

"Yeah...well maybe she does..." Locke said awkwardly scratching his cheek. At Rin's comment about being mistaken for a girl Locke struggled to maintain his composure.

"Well, I could kind of see that." He offered. "Long hair, slim build, jewelry like that, it seems an honest mistake probably. Though I doubt that excuses flirting with someone before you talk to them enough to know what gender they are, right? I mean, far be it from me to suggest changing for the sake of others, but if you don't like being mistaken for a girl have you considered changing your appearance?"

[rin]

As Locke listed off all his girlie attributes he lifted and tried to see each one. The hair, the jewelery, and his build. Hands going to his waist he never really thought of that. He knew he was skinny sure but he didn't know that was a trigger for girliness.

"I like my hair." Rin mumbled though thinking it could use a trim. "And the jewelry..."

What was wrong with jewelry? Jiggling mentioned jewelry he bit his lip. He knew why he looked like a girl but it was just who he was. He liked color in his wardrobe, he liked shiny objects, and pretty stuff. What was wrong with liking pretty stuff?

"I don't know if I can change. I mean maybe I can lift weights to try and bulk up but other than that I don't think I can." Shrugging he leaned against the ladder giving the boy a small smile. "But who really changes anyway? They might build onto who they are but do they really ever change completely?"

Rin rested his head against a ladder rung. "It doesn't help that my attitude, my very nature is slightly girlie." Or the fact that he tended to stay away from girls and flirted with boys.