Retire and Roost | Abel + Haruka | Masquerade Car

Haruka Yukimura

After searching the buffet table for a while to find something vegetarian, Haruka had done her best to nod and smile her way into finding a quiet spot to sit before the dance began. The idea of the dance itself was a daunting prospect, but hopefully one that she could just… do her best to avoid?

She noticed someone else had found themself a snack, and waved them over. Abel… now that’s somebody who seemed like he might be at home in this environment. Perhaps she could pick up a tip or two from him? And enjoy some food together, of course… She knew her stomach was certainly rumbling.

“Abel…!” she calls out, careful not to be too noisy. “Would you like to sit together?” She nodded towards the chair adjacent to hers - no crude patting of seats here.

Abel Lazarus

Abel had a much easier time with the food than… Perhaps most would. He has a lot more easy familiarity with these fancy dishes and all of the ingredients they use- so planning what to have for what courses is easy enough. He should work his way up- he didn’t eat much last car and he Does know that the times he goes a few days not eating properly due to work tends to lead towards days where he can’t eat a lot without a stomach ache.

But he also knows the fine line of how much you can get away with eating, or not eating, per course.

… Perhaps he did think this was a chance to not take these for granted but. He’s realizing he still isn’t enjoying this much. Definitely spoke too soon before, Abel.

Haruka Yukimura “Abel…!” she calls out, careful not to be too noisy. “Would you like to sit together?” She nodded towards the chair adjacent to hers - no crude patting of seats here.

Haruka’s voice gets his attention easily. He’s glad this is an instance of him Not doing something stupid in front of her- mostly because he isn’t sure he could handle getting chastised here while avoiding any sort of scene (He is a Lazarus after all. The highlight of those events is watching the blow up from someone getting criticized.)

He nods and approaches, only speaking once he’s closer to say, “Of course.” He’s mindful of his noise- but luckily he isn’t naturally loud. At least, you know, as long as he isn’t yelling.

He’s so careful about the way he sits and the way he adjusts what’s in front of him. Ah yes. Countless forks and knives and spoons. Nerve-wracking for most but second nature for him. It feels good to subtly adjust them to sit Perfectly.

“How are things going so far, Haruka? Some have not been… As able to maneuver this event, but I trust you wouldn’t be unable to manage.” Oh so he can talk more uptight. Wonderful.

Haruka Yukimura

Haruka isn’t used to quite this many sets of cutlery, but she’s fairly sure that one starts from the outside in, and this is definitely a soup spoon, so… If she just has soup, there’s no chance she can get things wrong.

Abel Lazarus “How are things going so far, Haruka? Some have not been… As able to maneuver this event, but I trust you wouldn’t be unable to manage.” Oh so he can talk more uptight. Wonderful.

Her smile seems a little less enthusiastic as she faces the prospect of speaking more formally. Generally formal conversation only meant technical medical talk to her, and she wasn’t sure how well she could carry it for small talk.

Still, she tries!

“It’s not been so bad. I know how to keep to myself, and I went to an international school - which generally do have a… more affluent clientele.”

‘Higher class’ would be odd to say, given her own background, but it’s also not inaccurate.

“It might be more difficult for those of us less experienced, I can imagine… it’s a shame that it’s hard to distract from that without breaking etiquette ourselves.”

Abel Lazarus

Haruka Yukimura which generally do have a… more affluent clientele.”

Ah, so he was right to assume she can hold her own for the most part. Definitely relieving he isn’t trying to cover for everyone.

Haruka Yukimura it’s a shame that it’s hard to distract from that without breaking etiquette ourselves.”

He nods. “It is… concerning. I’ve given two others crash courses so far but… can’t say I’m confident in all of those who haven’t approached.”

Abel eyes the glasses at his setting for a moment. No comment just. Looking. Thinking.

“Hopefully they just… watch others carefully. The denizen’s are unlikely to mess things up so I assume they’re a safe guide to watch.” He looks at the many people around them. “Even if they’re not quite right- if enough people break a rule it won’t be… as noticed. Not a risk I’d like to take but that might… offer something at least.” He sips his water carefully. Perhaps more so than even necessary.

Haruka Yukimura international school

He looks back to her, figuring it’s fine to comment about something she’s brought up herself. He’s not… the best at navigating conversations but surely they’d forgive him if they didn’t really want to talk more on it.

“An international school you say? Those typically board, yes? Or was it more… the sort with host families.” Perhaps he’ll learn the secret of her name here! Either way he’ll let her decide if she wants to offer more than just that information.

Haruka Yukimura

Abel Lazarus He nods. “It is… concerning. I’ve given two others crash courses so far but… can’t say I’m confident in all of those who haven’t approached.”

“That’s very kind of you! It can be hard to help those who don’t ask for it, but at least we can start with those who do, right?”

The fact that Abel is aiding others makes Haruka so pleased. Sure, this is a car where it’s easiest for everyone if no one messes up, but she likes to live in a world where everyone is accepting the joys of helping one another out of nothing but the goodness of their own hearts.

Abel Lazarus “An international school you say? Those typically board, yes? Or was it more… the sort with host families.”

Fear not Abel, this is something she’s happy to talk about! No particular secrets on this front.

“That’s right - my parents were Japanese, and they came to my home region to work. It’s… a lovely place, but one that has seen a lot of conflict. So they wanted to make sure I got the best education I could, even if that meant going a little out of the way…”

Still not quite solving the mystery of how she was related to those parents, though.

“How about yourself? What sort of schooling did you get?”

She does presume some sort of Catholic school, but that’s not saying much. And what if Abel was a recent convert? Could always be possible!

Abel Lazarus

Haruka Yukimura “That’s very kind of you! It can be hard to help those who don’t ask for it, but at least we can start with those who do, right?

Huh? Oh yeah he is kinda doing a good thing right? It kind of didn’t register as any sort of charity- seeing as it was Viper (And he’d prefer dying over risking letting her get harmed here) and… Melvin.

Upon further reflection he does recognize that Melvin was technically charity since they aren’t particularly close but it still feels… Different. Certainly not something deserving of her seeming pleased with him.

Shes… Way too good for all of them, isn’t she? RNA’s gone so it really is just her that’s so… Good.

“… Yes. It is easier to start with those who ask.” It would be easier still, he thinks, if he were still like his younger self- offering help to any and everyone constantly.

Haruka Yukimura Still not quite solving the mystery of how she was related to those parents, though.

Well… He’s certainly curious but he does know that sometimes being mixed can be Like That. He’s just going to figure one of her parents is half of something else too and leave it there for now. If she happens to be otherwise related to them it’s only really his business if she offers the explanation- after all he knows better than most how complicated family matters can get.

“That’s honorable. A good education is invaluable when you can get one.”

Haruka Yukimura “How about yourself? What sort of schooling did you get?”

“I went to two different schools as a child- A Catholic one while I lived with my mother and a Prep School when I lived with my father. I did Board for a time in Kindergarten- but after that I didn’t have much experience with it.” Boarding schools, at least in America, letting children so young board is… Definitely a rarity now-a-days. The Lazarus family is sure to line enough pockets to keep the option open, though, seeing as they’d honestly rather not have to be… Bothered with their kids usually.

“I went straight to work after, so I didn’t pursue anything higher yet- But I’ll probably do so later.” Mostly because he Has to- not because he Wants to. He’d be content to be a secretary forever- but he’s Supposed to inherit Marius’s business. “Have you?” He has to assume she’s been to at least some form of higher education based on her job- but it’s not like he’s a stranger to the idea of [people faking it until they make it.

Haruka Yukimura

Abel Lazarus “That’s honorable. A good education is invaluable when you can get one.”

Haruka’s not so sure about any ideas of honour, but she certainly can agree with the latter half of Abel’s statement.

“Exactly so. I’m very grateful for the opportunities I received.”

Abel Lazarus “I went to two different schools as a child- A Catholic one while I lived with my mother and a Prep School when I lived with my father. I did Board for a time in Kindergarten- but after that I didn’t have much experience with it.”

“Ah, I see… quite rigorous schooling for you too, then?” This seems like the perfect conversation topic - polite, of enough interest to keep them both talking, and unlikely to draw any strange looks from fellow party-goers. She is more than happy to keep the discussion going.

Abel Lazarus “I went straight to work after, so I didn’t pursue anything higher yet- But I’ll probably do so later.”

“That’s understandable… I know for a lot of people they would rather just get straight into doing things. But I liked studying, and I always wanted to be a doctor. In the end, I… ah, couldn’t quite manage it, but at least I found a way to put what I had learnt to use.”

She tries not to sound too sad about it, but there is a hint of sorrow behind Haruka’s mask. As much as she enjoys her current path in life, she really had wanted to be a doctor.

Abel Lazarus

Haruka Yukimura “Ah, I see… quite rigorous schooling for you too, then?”

He nods. “I did quite well in school- so it didn’t really bother me. Even still, I chose to spend a lot of time studying before I started working. It was an easier way to pass the time.” As opposed to like. Living your life? Play a video game loser.

“I think I still Ideally would have graduated early so I could have worked earlier- but that’s likely just because I enjoy my work so much. I find organizing things to be quite… Relaxing. A lot of secretary work is organizing. Calendars, paperwork, meetings, parties- Things to help the other departments or higher ups have things run smoothly. I’m not sure my uncle’s calendar would have been half as functional if he didn’t have me.” Honestly the secretaries might be suffering without Abel considering how much of everyone’s work he Did. People are likely just now discovering they even Have some job responsibilities. He’s thinking now of the mountain of work he’ll need to catch up on… And he’s almost giddy to have an excuse for a couple 18 hour days. Perhaps longer!

Haruka Yukimura “That’s understandable… I know for a lot of people they would rather just get straight into doing things. But I liked studying, and I always wanted to be a doctor. In the end, I… ah, couldn’t quite manage it, but at least I found a way to put what I had learnt to use.”

Abel wonders if prying is a good idea for all of two seconds before he opens his mouth to pry. “… If I may ask, what stood in your way? If it’s what you wanted… Surely it’s obtainable.”

He wonders what it could be. Some sort of duty? The same thing that will tear him from the work he wishes to do with time? Or something he could never imagine like money or opportunities? He doesn’t think it’s that she’s just too squeamish- or else he’ll be rather confused by the amount of times she’s been patching him up without seeming like she’d be ill. (Though… Maybe he hadn’t noticed? He’s realizing he might not have been watching as closely in those moments due to the situation at hand…)

“You don’t have to share if you’d rather not- but I would imagine you’d be a great doctor. It would be a shame if you truly couldn’t.”