Man, it sucks being sick. Really sick, that is, as in 'forced-to-stay-at- home-and-miss-class' sick. ... well, okay, the missing class part isn't so bad, except that the project assignments were given out, and she missed meeting with those she'd been assigned with. And staying at home isn't much comfort when one is achy and wheezy and plain miserable. Fortunately, the cold--or whatever it was--had passed quickly, and getting a doctor's note hadn't even been hard--one of the advantages of having a doctor for a father. It just remains to make up the work she missed, and to meet with her teammates to catch up on what they did while she was away. Which is why she's in the library right now after school lets out, a bit early as usual, kicking back and browsing the web on one of the library computers while waiting for them. Projects. Ugh. The moment the bell had rung and class had let out, he had been totally ready to head on home. He had made it all the way to the bike rack before that horrible, nagging -memory- had kicked in. He had something to do, didn't he? ...he had wondered midway through unchaining his bike. Something that had to do with school. Did he schedule something? Was there a club meeting or something? Something, really, there was something and-- ...aw, fuck. He had almost cringed at the realization. The -project-. He had heaved an unnecessarily dramatic sigh despite himself. Grudgingly re-locked his bike. And then trudged on back up the stairs of the school, down the halls, up to the library. The project. That wasn't something he could forget with a clear conscience. But, really? Childish as it might have been, he really wished he - could- have. Now, now, backpeddle a little there, Soma. He tries to remind himself how little this matters. The expression he wears is utterly inexpressive. His eyes are distant with distracted thoughts. But it's in his mind that he cringes uncomfortably, wishing that he could be elsewhere. Meeting Mina in the public library the day before still... lingered in his mind. Nothing had happened, right? Just more of the same chronic anxiety on Mina's part. It was just a little more... obvious than usual, thanks to the circumstances. So why did the thought make Soma so uneasy? Why did he so -clearly- not want to see Mina again today? Irrational. Overreacting. He brushes the thoughts away as he steps into the quiet of the library, letting the door slam shut hard behind him. Now, they were supposed to have another partner for this project, right? ...not that the name he was given meant anything to him. His eyes scan the room quietly. His hand drifted over a pair of leather bound books. Before fingers closed firmly over the text he had been trying to locate. Soft grey eyes regarded the red headed girl over thin wire framed glasses. A warm smile curved his lips and he started to make his way over towards her. He thought that he would like to get to know Mina better. There had been few opportunities for the both of them to meet and just.. talk. Get to know each other. Being in different classes did that and with schoolwork piling up, it became even tougher. And some disturbing news had reached his ears about Mina and a certain silver haired boy.. Their recent chat together in the library seemed to hint otherwise. She seemed to enjoy talking to him. Easy banter and verbal wordplay. Wide guileless smiles. The only downside was the silver haired boy's presence. Mixed signals and scrambled static. He called out to her, voice soft and effable, "Hey Mina." Mina did not know if she was supposed to meet Soma in the library, though she did head towards it. She had her part of the project to do. They had divided out the work neatly that day in the public library. She was waiting in line behind Ask to use the web browser when he called out towards her. "Oh hi Peter." Mina offered a warm smile up towards him, "What are you doing here?" She asked quietly first, lowering her voice as she spoke to him, "Thank you for your help the other day." This was Peter, nothing to be nervous about. He does not elicit those strange heart-thumping, jumpy agitated feelings that Soma does. Of course, no boy should do that, but Soma does that and she was a mass of confusion whenever she thinks about it. There was this strange tingling down her spine as Soma enters, some part of her seems to sense that he was around. So while talking to Peter, Mina's eyes furtively flit towards the entrance of the library. There he was. Oh dear. What should she do? She should not do anything. Mina gives herself a mental talking to and decides to concentrate on speaking to Peter as she waits for his answer. Mina Autumn, that would be the most apt season to describe the young girl before you. Dark reddish chestnut hair falling loosely around her youthful face, like the leaves that depart from a tree in preparation for winter. Her front bangs had been tied back with small red bows, leaving her face free. Her eyes were gentle to gaze upon, dark chocolate brown in colour with a ring of amber around them. Together with her smooth porcelain fair skin, it makes her look not exactly beautiful but very sweet. The fragility of Autumn sets in the way her frame was, small and petite, she looked as though a large gust of wind could blow her away. She was always dressed in a manner of ancient Japanese shrine maidens. A white Yukata was tied around her, along with a hakuma. Her hakuma was different though, it had red pants and red shoes instead of the usual black. Her history teacher is a strange one--apparently most of the history department is strange, considering they cooked up this cross-class project themselves to inflict on their students. Something about teaching cooperation and encouraging friendships outside of class, or something. Whatever. Either way, it's something to be dealt with, though she wasn't sure how she'd recognize them--but then again, she's never been afraid to do as her name, so. Which is what she does, as she overhears a name being called toward someone behind her. Looking around as the boy calls to the girl behind her, Ask's eyes land on the redheaded girl in the unusual clothes. "Oh! Are you Mina Harker?" she asks, leaping to her feet. "I'm Ask! Askiana, I mean," she corrects herself, and sticks her hand out to the other girl to shake. Then she directs her attention to the boy. "Are you Soma Cruz? No, but wait, she called you Peter, so I guess you can't be." And Soma's meandering gaze finds nothing, of course, of this new person he was supposed to meet--because, really, how would he, with nothing more than a faceless name to go by?--and, instead, lands upon Mina. Waiting quitely, patiently in line for the computer. He lingers by the doorway, not -precisely- raring to head on up and talk to his slightly-neurotic neurotic classmate. But it's a project, he reminds himself. School, class, grades, blah. Things he ought to focus on far more than this -drama- bullshit. So he takes those first, long steps across the library. ...and hesitates again as that slightly familiar face approaches Mina. Soma's steps glide to a stop. Ah. Her friend from before. Wonderful. That makes today almost identitcal to yesterday. Great. Soma really -should- have just gone on home and forgotten about the project. They had time before it was due, right? He could have afforded to miss a day or two of planning. Really. ...But really, why did he care at all? So Mina had a friend. Or someone she liked. Or... well, whoever, whatever the hell he was. So she twitched and fretted and panicked around Soma. Who the hell cared? So she was weird. He knew her for two weeks. Her irrational emotional rollercoastering was irritating, it should have been repulsive, and that he found himself troubled by it was unnatural. So fuck it. He doesn't hesitate a moment more. He continues towards them--because he has to, because this is a project, because that's all that matters--just as Ask introduces herself to Mina. Which makes all of his a lot easier. He stops just short of the small crowd. And regardless of all this irrelevant self-arguing going on in his head, Soma's voice sounds almost deadpan when he speaks, "No. That'd be be." He spoke quietly to her. Soft teasing that made her eyes brighten and her lips curve. Partially enclosed among the heavy shelves, the scent of old wood and books in the air, it made him feel comfortable. At ease. Oh, she is looking for some material for a project of hers. Could he be of any help? Maybe he could try locate a couple of books for her if she would like him to. Have a friendly discussion. She seemed a touch distracted and he scarcely noticed the cause for her discomfort. He was nervous himself. Peter's mouth went dry. Somewhere outside of school? He never got an opportunity to say that, thanks to a well timed interruption. He wasn't quite sure if the emotion that swelled up in his chest was relief or a touch of frustration. Turned to regard the Askiana and her query about whether he was Soma Cruz. Two and two together and .. The silver haired guy? A hand reached up to readjust his glasses slightly. "I'm Peter." A soft smile. It was only when he heard Soma's noncommittal statement when he turns to regard the other boy seriously. Stormy gray eyes hardened almost imperceptibly before his facial features relaxed. He even manages a grin. "Soma Cruz. It's a pleasure to meet with you." Ayup. Mina was kinda back in her shrine maiden clothes. She always fell back to the comfortable when she was feeling particularly angtsy and nervous. She knew Soma did not like that outfit though and she had NOT really intended to see him, so she was a little nervous. Ask distracts her though and Mina turned to face the other girl, concentrating on her, "Yes, I'm Mina Harker. Erm. I just transferred in kinda a couple of weeks ago! Pleased to meet you." Mina greets her with a little bow, hands clasped together as she bends down towards the other girl. Her face turned beet red as Ask misunderstood about Peter, "Oh, no this is not Soma." Soma is different. Some is Soma. Soma has silver-hair. Soma has a nice jacket. Soma looks as though he runs a motorcycle-gang by itself. Soma is nice. Some is sweet. Soma is... ARGH! Mina shook her head from side to side in a sudden motion. Realising that made her look a little strange, shaking her head out of nowhere, Mina dipped her head down and stared intently to the ground. To make things worse, Soma approached them. Mina could feel her heart jump a beat at the deep baritone of his voice, the nonchalant air that he said those words. Her heart sank further down to the pit of her stomach. He does not like her. She does not like him. So why does she feel so happy and yet so sad to see him. Mina does not understand herself. Instead, she smiled and says, "Peter, this is Soma, Soma, Peter. He helped me when I first came here, he was the student volunteer at the registrar's office." Simple introductions done, Mina turned her attention to Ask, "Hey, have you decided on a topic to work on and who's your partner? Oops! I didn't mean for that to come out abruptly, I was just curious." "Ah!" So there's the Soma she was looking for. Turning toward him, Ask offers a bright smile and extends her hand toward him as well. "Hi, Soma! I'm Ask--I think you caught that, if you heard what I said before, though," she adds with a touch of a self-deprecating laugh. Oh my. His hair is really pure silver, isn't it? "Wow, your hair is beautiful!" she adds unselfconsciously, green eyes going wide in awe. She doesn't seem to let that stop her any, though, as she flits right along to the next topic. "Good to meet you too, Peter! And--uh." That, as Mina bows. Putting her hands and waving them slightly in a negating gesture, Ask smiles in embarrassment. "Really, you don't have to bow to me! Though it's cute! But I mean, I'm no one important. But... ah... I was told I was the odd one out, so I got assigned to you guys. I guess you didn't get my note...?" She'd tried to get in touch with them through the teacher, but maybe it hadn't worked so well. Though Soma at least seems to have gotten the message? Maybe? "So what did you guys come up with so far?" Soma didn't want to be here. Soma -really- didn't want to be here. Could anyone blame him? Look how Mina's eyes dart away. How she focuses on the floor before he even gets within feet of her. It was absolutely -maddening-. What did he -do-, really, to make her do this? He only talked to her a few times. And true, those were high strung, nervous, anxious conversations, but he wasn't sure why, either. He hadn't done anything. But she flitted and fretted and fussed so much that you'd think he had been abusing her. He keeps his eyes off of Mina as he approaches. He doesn't even say hello. Peter's somewhat serious gaze catches Soma's attention only for a moment. His eyes flit over to the man and his serious gaze. His polite smile. Soma isn't sure what to make of that. Out of sheer necessity--because the boy has manners, even if he is short spoken--he answers with only a simple, "Hey." Before his eyes flit away once more. And that would have been that, really, if Mina hadn't gone and tried to introduce them. Soma really hadn't had much interest in talking to the stranger, otherwise. They weren't in any of the same classes. He was Mina's friend, not his. And Soma was only here to suffer through the necessity of a project. But at those introductions, he almost reluctantly nods. "Ah, I see. The registrars office, huh? Sounds busy. It's nice to meet you, then." Does Soma dislike the man or is he simply distracted? Regardless of the case, he barely sounds like he's really interested even in his own words. He plods through the formalities because he has to. And he tries, desperately, to move on as quickly as possible away from the drama of Mina, Mina's friends, Mina's anxieties, and the almost strange, almost polite looks this man is shooting him. Whatever. Onwards. Ask's greeting is so enthusiastic--and so normal, compared to the rest of this mess--that it almost surprises Soma. It takes him a moment to recover from that grin, that laugh, that cheerful introduction, before he takes her hand and shakes it as well. "You go by Ask, then? Mn. Nice to meet you." ...and at the random compliment? He chuckles, more in surprise than in flattery, shaking his head slightly. He doesn't respond to that otherwise, but his tone does seem more friendly as he continues, "Yeah, I got the note this afternoon, actually. You're working with us for this project, right? I hope it isn't a problem that we chose our topic already. Just... general British history, really. Boring as hell, but easy to do." See, Vahn wasn't a bad guy. Point in fact, if you discounted the disturbing aspects of his personality and his propensity for going violently angry, he was a downright proper human being, even. But because of his personality, his anger management problems, he more or less is very extreme in his actions. He doesn't do anything half assed, if he's actually going to do something. Which is why the past few days, he'd been wondering about something, which was when he made an ass of himself to Mina and Soma the other day. He wanted to say sorry. So, he was going to do it. And do it today. Nothing was going to disturb this. And he had the best plan ever in order to do it, in a way that at once would appear sincere and also entertaining. Vahn currently is milling about in the background. He's hard to miss, but he's trying to be inconspicuous right now, hiding behind some stacks as he unzips his guitar case and pulls out a rather nice looking red electric guitar... and an amp. Setting his case inside - a random student frowning at him for his acts, but also something he might've seen in the case? - the young teen moves over to a wall and plugs the amp in. Then, he plugs the amp into the guitar. The dial is raised to '10'. Then, he steps out into the open, where Soma, Mina, Peter and Ask can see him. Drawing in a deep breath, he doesn't say anything. Instead, he simply starts playing. A very loud, and actually pretty decent, opening guitar riff. It continues for twenty seconds, in which that time he pretty much has fucked over any 'Be Quiet In The Library Rule' very effectively, and gotten -everyone's- dumbfounded attention. After those twenty seconds, his playing switches back to an easier strum of chords to accompany singing. "JOCKY! I'M SORRY! I made you and yo' lady cry! I was a jackass, a louse, a right fuckin' asshole, and my tears are forever lye! I--" Right then, one of the staff on hand gets it into their head to actually - move- and unplug Vahn's amp, so he's left strumming the guitar that isn't being very loud any more. His lyrics stumble off into something unintelligable, and he blinks, looks from Soma's group over to the librarian who is eyeing him with a look that could curdle milk. "What the f-- OW!" He gets slapped upside the head with a book, and then his ear is taken ahold of, and him, his guitar, his amp, and the guitar case are hauled off away from Soma's group, possibly for a stern lecturing. For a moment, the two boys looked at each other. Before Soma's gaze drops, flits away. The silver haired boy's abrupt greeting, Mina's introductions and the necessary formalities that he adheres to before he falls silent once again. Polite small talk. Strange tension percolating behind those simple words and Mina? Seemed to be getting increasingly anxious. Something about the both of them. Peter felt perplexed. Felt very much like an outsider at this point as he stood there quietly. The easy smile fixed on his face as he commented lightly, "Was pretty crowded. But it was a good thing we managed to get most of Mina's documents done." The conversation continues, traveling uneasily. The three of them in a group together. Something about British history. "It looks like I might be in the way then." A polite nod in the direction of Soma and he prepares to exit the library. Long fingers reached out to touch Mina lightly on the shoulder before he leans in the whisper warmly into her ear, "Let's catch up another day." Hefts his satchel to one shoulder, a quick wave. He turns to leave only to be stopped by the sight of the guitar-playing student. Ah. Freshmen. They get fresher every single day. Shaking his head in amusement, Pter strolls off, turning briefly to give Mina a reassuring look before he does so. Mina was trying not to look too shocked as Soma turned to Ask and actually spoke to her warmly and in a normal manner. She shut her mouth, it had gaped slightly in surprise at his actions. Nervously she pressed her fingers tightly together. Why could he be so normal to the other girl when he treated her... oh wait and whose fault would that be? Her own fault. This was because Mina acted so angsty and clingy and silly in front of him, that was why the other girl must be so attractive to him. Her shoulders slumped slightly. Oh, she was being bad. She was ignoring her friend and Peter had been so nice. Looking up, Mina offered a soft smile towards him. She laughed softly at Peter's comment, her hand moving up to push her hair back. "I know. And I filled up the wrong schedule and almost ended up in the sophomore's classes before you ran after me. Thank you for that." She tilted her head slightly towards him, "Oh I'm sorry, you're not in the way. I.. oh yeah, we have to do the project- " Her words trailed off as he patted her shoulder lightly. Mina turned even redder at the words that Peter whispered so quietly in her ears. Stealing a glance at Soma, Mina felt a pang of sadness before she nods at Peter, "That would be nice." She murmurs softly and waved to him as he starts to leave the library. ... Mina simply stared in surprise at Vahn. Fortunately he had not sang their names out loud. That would have been terribly horrible. She did see the humour in it though, the look of the boy strumming away on the guitar and being hauled away by the librarian. Her hand came to her mouth as her shoulders start to shake slightly before a burst of soft laughter escapes from her. Oh dear, that was so funny and so incredibly sweet of that boy. He had spoken the truth and yet he had risked it all to take time to sing that apology, even if it seemed terribly bad to her. She could not just allowed such a sweet gesture go by, Mina had to do something, "Erm excuse me." She called out to the librarian about to haul him, "He's involved in a very important project." She made her face look deadly serious, "And his whole future hinges onto it. Please do not take him away, otherwise he would end up sad and destitute, singing to make a living." She nods solemnly at that. "And I'm sure you don't want to inflict that on the public do you? Destroying the future of the youth, I don't think that's what a school is for right?" And Mina peppers it with a bright smile. Hmm. There seems to be some tension here! But if there's anything Ask is good at, it's ignoring small social cues like this--or, if she notices it, to try and not exacerbate it by shrinking and acting tense, too. Hey, if she's cheerful, maybe it'll take their minds off things--or, if it doesn't, by acting cheerful she can pretend not to notice and thus spare embarrassment for the people involved by having an outsider nose into their affairs! It's all very clever, see. ...well, okay, she probably never thought of it in such detail or in such a way before--she just does what feels right, and what feels right is to smile and chatter, and besides, that's what she excels at. "Yup! Ask, because that's what I did /aaall/ the time when I was younger, and the nickname stuck. I think I've kinda gotten over that a bit now, but my brother says I really haven't. I don't know." She shrugs expansively and waves that off as a matter utterly trivial for the issues at hand. "No, that's not a problem at all! What part of British history, though? Or are we doing the whole thing, from the Saxons to the present day? 'Cause that's a lot." She might say more--say, a farewell to the departing Peter, though he seems rather absorbed in Mina, or a comment toward Mina herself--except that someone else decides to steal the scene while it's there for the taking, and steals her attention with it. The first riff has her clapping her hands over her ears in shocked reaction to the crackling burst of noise in the otherwise-nearly-silent library. After a moment, as her ears become accustomed to the decibel level, she slowly lowers them and stares at the red-and-black-haired teen. That stare continues for several long moments, throughout the rest of his song--until the plug is pulled and the performance abruptly ends. Then, a grin sneaks onto her face, before she breaks out into a burst of laughter, stifling it into giggles only by dint of clapping both hands over her mouth. Oh my /god./ She has no idea what brought that on, but she has to help save the genius who started it. Thus, she's moved to step forward, too, gesticulating pleadingly toward the stern, repressed librarian. "Yes, please! He was just trying to help us by, uh, kick- starting our inspiration! And I'm feeling really very inspired now after that song!" She can't quite keep a straight face throughout that-- a giggle does escape her--but she forges on ahead, even though her eyes are dancing with amusement. "He's got a very important role in the group, and we really need him to work on the project! Right, uh... Dan?" she says, pulling a name at the last moment. Awkward conversation. Everyone knows that feeling. A person you're not sure you want to talk to. A conversation you're not sure you want to be a part of. Necessity driving you to say -something-, even while resentment at having to say anything makes your words distant and curt. Peter's departure doesn't really concern Soma--he's talking to Ask when the boy ups and heads off. And it is a - relief-, though Soma honestly can't put his finger on why. He parts with Mina with soft whispers, gentle touches. And if Soma notices, eyes flitting briefly, small looks the side of his gaze, he doesn't -try- to notice, and keeps his attention instead on the new teammate. Ask. Right. "Ah, yeah, that -would- be hard. No, we're just--" Halfway through a sentence. And then... ...what. Soma was just standing there in that crowd, utterly oblivious to anyone lurking in the shadows of the stacks, when Vahn jumps out with his guitar. A BLARRING GUITAR RIFF. Blaring, as loudly as possible, so much that you can - feel- the base through the floor. And Soma -tenses-, abruptly, and spins about so fast that his jacket whips about him. So quickly that you'd think he was under attack. ... but no. There's nothing there but that odd, odd, bandaged-up man from before, blarring a guitar and... he begins to sing. The lyrics baffle Soma, mostly because at first all he gets out of it is an awful lot of cussing. He shoots Vahn an unhappilly -baffled- look even while he cringes from the volume. "What the hell do you think you're--" He yells above the music--or tries--when it is suddenly cut off. And then he's left yelling above silence. He abruptly shuts his mouth. And while the boy is dragged off, Soma just swallows a sigh. Still cringing, as the deafening loudness cuts back to mostly silence. And for those first few seconds he can still feel his skull vibrating. Ow. Now... what was -that- about? Sorry? He was looking at them. Crying? But, it hadn't happened like that. What? ... oh, wait. It was an... apology? Was it? Soma isn't quite sure. And while the girls are laughing themselves sick over it, Soma is mostly just -confused-. Mina rushes off after the librarian. Soma watches, still stunned from... well, just about all of this. He shakes his head slowly. He leaves Mina to do whatever it is she intends to -do-, and turns back to Ask... who joins right in the quest to save Vahn from the librarian. Soma falls silent. He has no idea what to say. And, finally, he just sighs, though the noise sounds less annoyed than simply overwhelmed, as he turns his back to the poor would-be-musician and just murmurs to himself, "...What the hell." Though there is a ghost of a smile on his face. Even he can't deny that this is fucked up to the point of hillarity. Though he's clearly trying. Trying carefully to balance the guitar case, the guitar, and the amp while being lead away by his ear, Vahn mutters a series of cusses as he goes, which earns all the more sharpness from the older woman. That is, until the two girls of the party he had sung to decide to stick up for him. The librarian pauses and looks to the two girls, then to Vahn, who is suddenly giving the woman the biggest damn puppy dog eyes you ever did see. After a moment, she caves, and lets Vahn go, though there's a few whispered words between them. Afterwards, Vahn comes trundling over with his arms filled with his various effects, offering a smirk. "Hey, thanks for gettin' me outta that! Old bitch was probably gonna chew my ear off." He gets a frown, and then his ears wiggle. "Probably literally. Fawk." After that, he sets his case and stuff down, rearranging it so it all fits into the rather big case, and then zipping it up before he straightens. And then, quite suddenly, slips an arm around Ask's shoulders, if he's allowed to, with his bandaged arm. His other hand gestures a little, and he says, very simply: "Dan is a very boring name, though. Call me Vahn. Vahn Gabriel. It's -much- better, I think, and I happen to have a sense for these things." He then will settle his arm off her, and set his fists onto his hips, looking around. "So, what the hell's up? Anythin' interesting?" Oh gosh. It actually worked. Her weak excuse. The ghost of the smile that hovered on Mina's lips lengthened into a full smile as she turned to Soma happily. For once, Vahn had made her forgotten what was it about Soma that made her jittery and nervous and all that sort of stuff. "At least we got him out of trouble. He was trying to apologise to us, nothing to apologise about, right?" Mina asked Soma, looking quite happy and relaxed as she says that. Oh crap. Did she actually speak to Soma happily about that? WHY DID YOU DO THAT, MINA? The girl had completely forgotten that she was worried that Soma would think that she was crazy. He probably did now. He probably was thinking that she was awful, speaking of such a thing. He probably wanted Vahn to apologise. All those wrong wayward thoughts start to flit through her mind. He probably think that she was stupid. Mina did the next best thing and tried her best to concentrate on Ask and Vahn, "I'm not sure if we are even in the same class, but we are doing a history project together. Were you there for the assignment?" Mina asked as she waves her hands around, flapping those long voluminous sleeves as she does so. Her hand went to cover her mouth at the familiarity of Vahn as he drapes himself around Ask. Oh. Was there something between the two of them. His gesture also drew attention to his bandaged arm, "Oh. You're hurt. Are you allright?" She asks softly and almost timidly in view of the other's boy violently loud and raucous behaviour. She stole a glance over towards Soma as she spoke. She was showing concern over someone. Would he be affected by it!? MAYBE he would think that she had incited Vahn to do such a thing!? But she DID not. Oh not. Mina frets. Ah~! It worked! Ask hadn't thought that their half-baked excuses would work at /all,/ but there is, in relatively one piece and ear only mildly tugged instead of chewed upon! (Let's get /that/ image out right quick, though, because it's not one she wants to dwell on.) "Hey, couldn't let someone get in trouble for livening up the atmosphere a bit! Though," she squints one eye nearly shut and holds up a finger in semi-admonition, "next time you might want to pick someplace where it'd be a little less out of place, yeah? I nearly had a heart attack when you suddenly started just like that! Though it was pretty good," she admits, frowning thoughtfully up at the ceiling. "You should meet my brother, he plays guitar too, and he usually likes meeting other musicians to jam with, and I'm not always enough." She doesn't seem to mind the arm around her shoulders in the least. After all, she will spontaneously hug a total stranger, so she just assumes it's a friendly thanks, and drapes an equally-friendly arm around him in return--though more around his waist than his shoulders, given their relative height disparity. "Well, I had to use whatever I came up with. But Vahn Gabriel does sound much better. I'm Askiana Johanssen, but I was just telling Soma and Mina at length, you can call me Ask instead." Which reminds her, in a roundabout way. "So what made you burst into song, anyway?" Glancing at the bandages on his arm, her brows furrow in curiosity, but Mina's already asked the question she wanted to, so she remains silent on that issue. ...huh? What was that? It takes a moment for Soma to realize that Mina's voice-- that pleasant little chime, just as normal and sane as possible--was actually directed at him. It is a sad state of affairs when Mina-not-panicking-yet- talking-to-Soma actually strikes him as odd. He turns back around a little, considering he had turned his back to this scene just a moment before, blinking back at Mina. "You... think so?" Soma is still not even 100% sure that that's what Vahn was trying to do. At least Mina's saying that helped clarify that Soma's not just imagining things. His uncertainty is certianly not helped by his confusion over her sudden pleasantness. "Er, yeah. He really didn't need to..." Do that. Yeah. That was dramatic. And yet, in a way... hey, Vahn was obviously really concerned, right? Soma isn't sure if he should think the guy's horribly overreactive or just take it as the kind gesture it was meant as. Right now, Soma avoids the entire issue by not thinking about it. If Soma takes offense to Mina's concern over Vahn, it doesn't show. ... well, why should it? She was practically a stranger. And besides, on a very basic level, that was just showing normal concern for someone. It wasn't the whispered, smiling conversations she had with Peter. And by this point? Soma is so fierecely telling himself that he doesn't even care anymore that he doesn't even waste the energy noticing it. Instead, he just turns his attention over to Vahn. "Nothing much. At least, outside of your, um..." How to describe that? Soma isn't sure. So he doesn't. "It's just schoolwork. Hoping to get it done quick." A dismissive shrug to the entire ordeal. Because, really, that's all it is. "But that was, ah..." Soma lingers on that word, not quite sure how to describe it. Yet it seems like he somehow ought to. "Pretty impressive." Yes, it actually worked. Mostly because Vahn had promised never to even bring his guitar into the library again, and also to meet with the old woman after he was done. Likely for ear chewing. But still, he was spared for now! And that suited him just fine. There's a barrage of questions and talking at him after he comes about, though. Obviously, his performance had been just that inspiring and able to instill he was 'just that cool' sense into people. "Well-- Ask? That's a sweet name. Uh. I figure it had more effect here. Atmosphere, you know. Cozy, quiet... perfect for loud heavy metal. I mean, you play jazz in cozy little quiet places to set the mood, so to counter that mood and make a statement, you play heavy metal. And thanks!" He directs this to the general three of them, thrusting a thumb-up to Soma, despite addressing all three of them. "You bet your sweet Aunt Bippy that it was impressive. I practiced that shit for a fuckin' week. Had me sweatin' bullets to find something that rhymed with 'cry' that fit." The hand he was pushing his thumb out with then lifts, and he quite brazenly stuffs his pinkie into his ear, closing one eye as he ponders over the assignment mentioned. "History...? Holy shit, I think I was in that class last month... ah... fuck, I probably should show up sometime, maybe." He sighs, removes his hand from his ear, flicking away whatever small amount of gunk might've been collected, then turns towards Ask again. "As for your brother, I play alone, sadly." A hand is lifted to his chest, and he thump it twice. "I jam in tune with my SOUL. And, uh, as for this?" He holds up his other, bandaged arm and flexes it. While the 'real' answer would no doubt make them run away very fast, he has a perfectly good excuse cooked up for just such this occassion: "House was burning down right across the fuckin' street. Kitten was caught inside, so I rushed in and saved the thing, but my fucking arm was caught on somethin', suffered third degree burns." He then clasps it to his chest, and shies away. "Girls can't see it, I'm all shy about it!" Is he telling the truth? Prooobbaabblyy not, for as soon as that explanation is given, he's already off of the subject... and onto the next, which is answering what he apologized for. Answering quite simply, he points to Mina and says, looking innocent. "I thought she was being forced to be silver haired boy's little faithful slave bitch or somethin', so I lectured jocky there about the feminist movement and how he was single handedly setting it back." A pause, and he considers, casting his eyes to the ceiling. "I believe I used the phrase 'Making his fucking sandwiches and baking his fucking pies." It was uncanny how fortunate Mina was. Vahn managed to distract Soma enough for him to respond to him. This gives Mina plenty of opportunities for her to sneak soulful glances towards him, hopefully unnoticed. He does not look like he was upset with her or angry with her. Perhaps it was allright after all. He does not say much really. Mina should not worry herself about Soma at all. Mina offered a grin towards Ask as she says melodiously, "Oh. We're not doing the entire British history, we are focusing on Henry the VIIIth and his many wives." She tilted her head to one side, "He brings the word "Adultery" to several different levels." Mina could feel that some part of her was relaxing a little as she chatters with Ask. This was what it should be. Cooperative work that does not involved her having SILLY and probably INCONSEQUENTIAL feelings about Soma. Feelings that she did not want to have. That was just so sweet of him. He practiced for a week to play that song. Mina did not really like it all that much, it was a little too loud for her liking. Though she was in many ways touched by the other boy's gesture and it was all because she was foolish and so silly that he had to do this. She felt a little guilty about it before Mina looked up towards him. "Oh dear. The kitten is allright then. That was very brave of you, I'm certain." She smiles pleasantly at Vahn. Did she actually believe his story about the kittens and stuff? Her face blanched at his next torrential words, "Faithful slave---?" She manages to choke out the words in a weak voice before she hangs her head down. Tilting her head back, Mina giggles. Yes, she giggles, "Well I do make sandwiches and I think that my dad said that my apple pie is delicious. Would you like me to make a pie for you?" Mina quietly offers Vahn, "I use fresh apples in the pie, the crust has to be crisp on the outside and soft in the inside, giving you the melt-in-the mouth feeling. Warm it up, topped it up with whipped cream or ice-cream and drizzled it lightly with caramel sauce and it would taste yummy! I'll make one for you because you are so good to the kitten. That's so precious." "Um. 'Why' or 'die' or 'sigh' wouldn't have worked as well?" Ask inquires with a bit of puzzlement, scratching her head. But, she's no singer-songwriter type! So she simply shrugs and moves on. To work. Yes. "Aww, he'll be sad to hear that. So would I, actually, it's fun listening whenever he starts jamming with someone. Even more fun if I happen to have my cello with me, although that doesn't happen a whole lot, since, well--you don't really 'happen' to have something as big as that along by accident!" She seems to assume that it's natural for her to be wherever her brother is, whenever he's meeting other musicians, anyway. His story about a poor rescued kitten certainly gets a lot of big eyes from the girls around him. "Wow, I've never heard anything like that! You must have quite the soft spot for kittens," she notes with a smile, and then flits onward. "Oh! Jesus. Well, I'm glad you were mistaken about that, anyway. I'm sure Soma can make his own sandwiches and pies, right? Or sandwiches anyway." They're the easiest thing in the world to make, although she's not certain she can make a pie, herself. Maybe if they came in quick-bake boxes with the filling and everything all made up already. "But please, Mina, don't describe it so heavenly! You'll make me hungry, and it's hours yet 'til dinner!" she laughs. "Though speaking of hours, we ought to get to work; I have to be at work by five, so I don't have that much time, I'm sorry. So let's go and find out about adultery!" That last is sad rather too enthusiastically for the quiet library, and it rings out across the room with force and cheer, making heads turn toward her. Realizing this, Ask suddenly becomse very quiet indeed, a blush creeping over her face. "Erm. Right. I'll just go and look up some books, shall I?" she mumbles. "You guys go grab a table while I start," she adds, pushing them lightly toward the seating section--really more of a tap than a push. "Oh, nice to meet you, by the way, Vahn. Bye!" Giving him a quick squeeze on the arm by way of farewell--hopefully the unbandaged one, although she's not too careful about which one she grabs. Then she returns to the computer she'd been at, closing the random browser windows she'd had open and diving headfirst into research. "A... week?" Soma is baffled at the very thought. Some guy screams at Soma for an imaginary offense, sends Mina running off in tears, and... he practices a heavy metal apology for a week? ... and it took him a week to find something that rhymed with 'cry'? ... No comment. Instead, he goes back to his original indecision, and decides, quite decisively, that Vahn is indeed rather obsessive- compulsive. Fine. Soma seems to know lots of crazy people these days. "Seriously, you did all that just because of last week? That's pretty... Well, it's no big deal, okay? Though the thought's appreciated." In a wary sort of way. The whole 'saved a baby kitten from a terrible blaze and now I'm all shyyyyyyyy about it' thing just makes Soma roll his eyes. He tries to do so subtly, at least, half turning away as Vahn goes through the dramaaaaaaatic story of his bandaged arm. Which is good, because it saves him from rolling his eyes anew at the recollection of exactly what Vahn -did- last week. Faithful slave. Really. From the way Mina acted around Soma sometimes, it wasn't too hard to see how he came to that sort of realization. But Soma lets it past, with all of that issue done and past and behind them all, and dismisses the whole issue with a simple wave of the hand. All is forgiven. Instead just shoots Mina a small, almost bemused look, with just the smallest smile on his face, "What, are you trying to prove him right or something?" Ah, sarcasm. But he doesn't mean it badly. He thinks. Nonetheless, Ask's loud proclamation that they begin their project--on ADULTERY!!--gets her a lot of looks from around the room, and Soma simply shakes his head, a wee-bit self consciously. Yet he laughs again, just a light chuckle beneath his breath, at the whole thing. Well, hey. That's a good change of pace. Super-genki girl is certainly a little less nerve wracking than perpetually- neurotic-girl. "Yeah. I'll go unload the books I brought, then." Soma says to Ask as she bounds up to the computer. To Vahn, he just glances over to him and gives him a short nod and a quick, "Well, see you around." And to Mina, ah.... Soma glances over to her. His gaze lingers a moment. But he says nothing. He simply nods towards the open tables down the way, turns and heads off towards them, assuming she'll follow. Or maybe not. It's impossible to read that look.