2014-04-12 - Myths and Gems! Jadeite is Cautious
| Title: Myths and Gems! Jadeite is Cautious | |
|---|---|
| Summary: The search for the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou continues, though this time it's in books instead of jewelry stores. | |
| Who: | |
| Where: Library Island, Infinity Institute | |
| OOC - IC Date: December 28, 2013 - 4/12/14 | |
<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
So it's the Saturday morning after the train came back from Hokkaido; it's not too cold, it's not snowing, and the sun is shining brightly outside in the pale winter sky. Vacation! The school's practically deserted, except for those students who are exceptionally studious, or various club members with things they had to put on hold for the trip and are just now coming back to, or--
--in the case of one Chiba Mamoru, visiting Library Island to make another attempt at finding the mythological restricted mythology stacks. He has directions written on an index card, and a compass, and has his phone running a modified GPS app. He's not dressed for the lower levels, so what he's looking for must be up a lot of impossible stairs.
He looks up, and up, and up, and grimaces. "At least," he sighs, unashamed of talking to himself, "I have all day."
<Pose Tracker> Jadeite [Infinity Institute (S)] has posed.
Jay Dite sits at the first research section of the Library sipping tea and reading a book on Ancient Rome. He is quite happy with these children gone. It is, for instance. Quiet. So he sits there reading until he hears somebody enter. "Ah. I see they're back."
Snapping the book closed he looks up at Mamoru and tips his glasses so that he is peering over them. "Student. Can I help you?" His tone says he's pretty sure the Library is closed to students at this hour.
<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
And this guy, at least, isn't even wearing an Infinity uniform. In fact, he's not wearing any kind of uniform, he's wearing a criminally fashionably cut tailored suit. When he turns, it's-- one of the maybe three guys who were in the crowd for the show DJ Dite put on at the ski lodge. The one. That guy.
That guy.
He doesn't look at all perturbed by the 'I don't think you're allowed to be here' tone. "Well. No one's ever in the clubhouse when I come, but I've left my information with them, and I did get directions to what I'm looking for. If you're bored, you're perfectly welcome to join me, but I wouldn't want to interrupt--"
Is it his face? His voice? His voice is carelessly confident, entitled like an Ohtori student-- or like royalty, new or old. He's so tall, and he carries himself so well. "--your book and your tea."
Odds are pretty good he won't be kicked out that easily.
<Pose Tracker> Jadeite [Infinity Institute (S)] has posed.
Smirking, Jay Dite walks over to Mamoru and looks the student over as he walks toward the man. "You DO have a familiar mien about you. Do you attend Infinity?" He says as he comes close. His eyes narrow just so slightly as he looks the other man over."
Finally he shrugs. "Very well. I will accompany you. To assure you find both your way, and that you do not ..." He gestures and shares another smirk. "Stray."
<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
The young man's blue-eyed gaze is steady; the only thing that can be read from it is a faint puzzlement tied with something remarkably similar to sadness-- but not quite-- as he regards Dite-sensei. Finally, he breaks off, smiling (and that smile is uncanny, too) and gestures toward the first set of stairs. "Not at all. Ohtori. But I'm in the process of joining the Exploration Club, since it's open to the Sister Schools. Are you certain you don't mind me interrupting your book? Your tea will get cold."
This last he asks, half turned around and slowing as he reaches the first step, with polite uncertainty. "I might take a while to get back down, but I doubt I'll be hopelessly lost up there."
<Pose Tracker> Jadeite [Infinity Institute (S)] has posed.
"Tea can be rewarmed." Dite-Sensei says with that knowing smirk. He gestures for the student to lead on. "Ohtori. Interesting. I wouldn't have thought an Ohtori student would be capable of having the intellect to join the club." He shrugs a shoulder. "All the money. Impairs intelligence or so I'm told."
<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Mamoru glances back as he starts climbing, and his look is both disappointed and reproachful. "That's not a very kind thing to say, sir," he says matter-of-factly. He doesn't mention his top grades; he doesn't mention the offers he's had over the years to switch schools.
Again, the implication that this boy has nothing to prove, isn't worried by the opinions of others.
"There are two books in particular I'm looking for," he says, just as if Dite-sensei hadn't just cast aspersions; he continues up the steps to the first upper level, then starts walking around to the next set. "They're both in mythology, though one's cross-referenced in gemology. I'm doing an extra credit study on the attributes of different precious stones in traditional fables, and these are the last two books I need."
He turns around briefly and gives a quick grin, holding up his phone. "Taking pictures of the pages in question; no worries about me trying to take anything out."
<Pose Tracker> Jadeite [Infinity Institute (S)] has posed.
Jadeite nods as he follows then waves a hand. "It is. Yes." He says on chalantly as if he not only knew, but also did not care. He looks over at the student and smirks again. He does remain silent for a little while though and then finally looks over to Mamoru. "Mythology and Gemology?" He narrows his eyes ever so slightly, one might even miss it they are only narrowed that slight, "What era of Mythology are you looking in to?"
<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"Mid-to-late Heian," the Ohtori student answers reasonably, as up and up the stairs they go. Even when the stairs go weird and impossible. He glances over his index card once more, then starts using the railing, just in case the stairs decide to look like they're still going but be totally lying about it. Card goes into pocket, phone and its little GPS does not. "If I can't find what I'm looking for there, I'll go into classical Chinese. That'll be fun, I'm rusty."
He's just a kid. Right? Some snot-nosed rich Ohtori kid.
"I can probably find it, though. I'm familiar enough with the Konjaku Monogatari to know where -- in general -- I should be poking at the lit crit."
<Pose Tracker> Jadeite [Infinity Institute (S)] has posed.
"With Mythology, I figured you'd be looking deeper. Perhaps even as far back as Jomon, or perhaps Yayoi." Dite-Sensei says as he moves through the library. He shrugs. "But. It is your research. Come. Follow me. I know my way through this library." He gestures and moves through the Library, clearly showing that he does indeed know his way through the library and appears to be leading Mamoru to his place of study. "What is it you are hoping to find?"
<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"I have an annotated edition of the Kojiki at home," the student says cheerfully. "That's as close as written language is going to get to the Jomon or Yayoi periods, as far as I know. This report's specifically on the traditional properties of gems, though, and I've already gotten everything I can out of it. The Konjaku Monogatarishuu references several sources for the subject matter that are no longer extant, and the books I'm looking for are studies and reconstructions of those. Very -loosely- mythological, but it's the last bit of citation I'll need."
At this point, as the blue-eyed youth's gone into nerd mode, he's already following Jay and his eyes keep catching on other books. It's almost like playing wikipedia tag. The last question gives him pause, though, and he stops briefly. "Established properties of the various named kanju and manju, and specifics on the nyoi-ju. Why do you ask?"
<Pose Tracker> Jadeite [Infinity Institute (S)] has posed.
"Curiosity my boy." Dite Sensei says evenly and without missing a beat. "Your knowledge is impressive for one of your age. This always make me as an educator very pleased to know there is a student who ACTUALLY pays attention." He smirks and reaches up to a book on a shelf. Then he hands the book to Mamoru. "Here you go. Try this book. It's language is divine and scholarly. It also has a fantastic Bibliography that you can use to branch off to see where he, the author, finds his sources." He looks around and hrms, before grabbing another book nearby, "I'd try this one as well. It goes into the metamorphoses of the Japanese Deities over the centuries. It MIGHT have some of that Gemology you are looking for in that period and find you a different approach."
<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"Does it?" Mamoru asks Jadeite, eyes twinkling as he takes the first book. "Even though I'm from Ohtori?" He can't keep the crooked grin from his face--
The gentle teasing's another uncanny oddity, something not impolite, not disrespectful, but somehow steeped in the familiarity between friends. It echoes, it's bright and pleasant and golden, and then it's gone as the eleventh-grader looks down to scan the titles of the first book, and then the second as it's handed over. "Oh, excellent. Thank you very much-- even if I don't find anything for the report, this one--"
He indicates the second book while glancing up, and there's something about the singular focus in his eyes, something driven, that is generally not in evidence in students preparing extra credit schoolwork over winter vacation. "--I think I'll spend today taking notes on." He looks down at it again, opening it randomly and tilting his head very slightly as his eyes scan down the words. "Huh. No, I need to spend more than a day on this one. Would it be all right if I left it at the desk with a note on it, so it's not put away again? Or will you be here tomorrow...?"
<Pose Tracker> Jadeite [Infinity Institute (S)] has posed.
"I might be around. It depends on if my own research requires me to be here." Dite-Sensei says evenly with another one of his smirks. "However, I will make sure you have access to these books." He looks at the youth and gives a slight grin. "Even for an Ohtori. You have proven yourself to be quite the academic, it makes a history teacher very proud."
<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
There-- right there. An honest and inexplicable affection in that too-familiar face, practically glowing. "Everything is interesting," he says with a quiet firmness that holds no hint at all of self-deprecation. "The world and all of its history and ideas-- I'd be ungrateful if I didn't learn as much as I could about everything I can. Academia is a side-effect of appreciation."
Then it's just a quick, brilliant grin, and a cursory bow. "Thank you, Dite-sensei." A pause, and then the heel of his hand goes to his forehead. "All this and I'm incredibly rude! I'm Chiba Mamoru, sir. You also put on a very nice show in Hokkaido, thank you for that as well."
<Pose Tracker> Jadeite [Infinity Institute (S)] has posed.
Jadeite blinks and then smirks slightly. "Ah. Pieced together my weekend hobby eh?" He says in that smooth Jazz tone. "Nicely observant. Even my students haven't pieced it together. They likely think a History Teacher is too boring." He shrugs a shoulder. "But. Love is apart of History. One must search for it, but most wars have been fought over two things. Resources, or Love." He winks.
<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"Won't breathe a word, your secret's safe with me," says the high-schooler with a laugh, before he shifts the books to hold them at his side. And then he's serious again-- it seems to be his default state when he's not running off at the mouth over this or that piece of obscure knowledge. "And you're right, of course-- I'd love to talk with you about that, too, but if I'm going to get anywhere in these today, I should probably start now," he says apologetically. "Thank you again, you've gone above and beyond."
<Pose Tracker> Jadeite [Infinity Institute (S)] has posed.
Jadeite bows his head just slightly, a sign of respect to the young man. "And you have proven yourself most enlightening." He gestures toward a small alcove. "I suggest performing study there. It is quiet and peaceful, and most of the other students won't bother you."
<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
There's a blink as Mamoru glances toward the alcove, the glow of praise from a knowledgeable source still in evidence on his face. It. Looks almost like an office-- no, a study. And Dite-sensei knew exactly where those books were. And history is tied so tightly to mythology--
His eyes widen slightly behind his glasses as he looks back at the teacher, and then he bows a little more deeply than the last one. "I am most grateful, sir. I hope your tea reheats well."
And then, given that irresistible invitation to a 'don't bother me' zone, he slips away into the teacher's study area.
