coffeejunkie | 02nd beat; written

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02nd beat; written > voice

House 40 Rules
Version 2
[Some of you might remember a certain set of house rules going up prior to Yuri's disappearance. Otonashi isn't exactly second-in-command, but Hinata is emotionally out of commission, Naoi had already taken the burden of announcing her departure, and Noda is MIA.

Oh, and Yotsuba is too young to be making rules.. even though the potential for comedy is there.]

1. No loud music, shouting, or being loud after 11pm. There’s a little girl trying to sleep! It doesn’t matter if you stay up late, but keep the noise down.

2. Keep your eroge and other 18+ fare safely put away! If it’s left out in the living room, I’ll confiscate it. Yotsuba shouldn’t have to see that and neither should any visitors!

3. Everyone follows the rules. Even you, Noda..!

4. Please?

5. Try to keep your rooms clean.

6. Clean up after yourself in the kitchen.

7. Don’t leave your underwear in the bathroom… Keep that clean too.

8. The house is everyone’s responsibility, not just one person’s! Especially not just mine.

9. DON’T KILL EACH OTHER. I don’t care that it “didn’t matter” in the afterlife, it always matters!

10. Don’t make medieval traps! This includes BUT ISN'T LIMITED TO hammer traps, falling ceilings, collapsing floors, and spike pits! If you saw it in a JRPG dungeon, you can't make it in the house! (We can play an RPG instead.)

11. Don’t train in the living room! Keep it to your own room if you insist on doing it in the house…

12. Yotsuba: Make sure you go to school and do well. If you do, I’ll make sure to pick you up a gift at the end of each week. Oh, and find an adult that isn’t Noda if someone is bothering you!

13. Continue respecting Hayate.

14. If you want to set up an in-house visit, mark it either on the white board that Yuri set up or somewhere we can see it. It's better to let everyone know.

15. Don’t measure yourselves in the living room… Why is this even a problem..?! I won’t tell you that you can’t do it privately, because I know that’ll make you just want to do it more.
Noda, this means you… I've heard about your "competitions" and I'm telling now, I don't care..!

16. House meetings are still held on Sunday.

17. RESPECT EVERYONE'S PRIVACY. Knock before entering rooms unless it is an emergency! If I see you barging in, I'll... yell at you!

18. No throwing furniture, halberds, weapons, people, or… goldfish…

19. Why is there a goldfish named after me again..?

20. Okay! Please follow the rules. They aren’t even that hard to follow, you guys…

21. Don't discount me because I'm not Yuri! I don't think I should have to put on a bow and thigh-highs to enforce a rule around here...

-- voice;

[Well, there is a distinct lack of Yuri-specific rules. Like it or not, Yuri Nakamura is no longer in Luceti. He's in no rush to replace her, but the acceptance and healing process has to start somewhere. So, he might as well be the one to take initiative.]

I think that should do for now, unless I missed something... Any, uh... suggestions? [No punishment games though! Otonashi isn't much of a disciplinarian.]

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Right... U-uh. You remember all of it, though..? [Because memories seem to be an issue around here. Hinata has different memories than Otonashi, Yuri had different memories than both of them... Everything about memories and timelines is a mess.]

Naoi... er, he said that I was already here. [He shivers at this. Not remembering Luceti still bothers him... scares him, even.] And some people seem to... treat me that way. So maybe I did meet Yuri..? And maybe — uh, if you don't exactly remember what happened out there — maybe you saw Yuri off. [It's a weak theory, but perhaps a small comfort.]

Of course I'm sure! But if you insist on introductions, I'm Haruhi Suzmiya, the chief of the SOS-Brigade. Now you have to return the introduction.

Yeah, if anything, you're starting to make it sound like it's something even more disturbing.

[ But she understands. Well, not the full details, of course, but she has a vague idea. ]

People do come back here after dying, or so I've heard, if that helps your case. Except it has consequences.

So they're as bad as everyone says... [It's hard to dismiss several different sources on this. The Malnosso seem just like the awful enemy everyone makes them out to be. Otonashi has yet to see for himself, but from everyone's accounts—he isn't so sure that he wants to. And though Aang never says the word dead, the the meaning is clear.]

Ah— it's... all right. She has her own way of doing things. It's not always the, uhh... most thought-out... b-but I trust her. [... Most of the time. He tries, really.] It'll be hard without her, but... we'll get through it. All of us. [Even Hinata and Noda. Even if costs Otonashi a life ~~or 100.~~]

[That's not bad at all. Definitely noted for when he inevitably has to try and explain this again.]

Y-yeah, that's a good way to say it..! They act like regular people, but they don't have a spirit. They live out their roles, reacting to us—the ones with spirits—but otherwise never... changing, I guess. [It sounds pretty horrible when it's explained...]

Ahah... [He certainly feels like an idiot.]

I'm going to look this over... maybe ask if Hinata has seen it yet. [As for Noda, well... he'll give that a little more time. He has at least some sense of self-preservation.] Thanks again, Kou. I would offer to treat you to coffee or lunch sometime in return, but, ahhh... everything's free... so I guess it would be more of just getting a drink together.

[But the act of goodwill is there regardless of free stuff. Promise.]

I swear it makes sense in context... [At least she's not running in fear or calling him insane... He thinks she would have been well within her rights to.]

Yeah, I have heard that... [Speaking of all the fun that comes with dying:] Have you ever, uh... seen these consequences? I've only heard people talk about them as if they've never known someone that died and came back...

But how can you be— [UGH. Nevermind. She's convinced she knows him for whatever reason. SOS Brigade? Kinda sounds like the SSS, at least in name...] Okay—okay, do you prefer Suzumiya or Haruhi?

I, uh... I'm Otonashi. I... don't know my given name. [He honestly still can't recall it. Eventually he should get to working that out...]

[She really did mean it... He figures he should switch also.]

W... wow, that's—that's kind of amazing! I-if you don't mind me saying so... And you keep your own library?! Do the wings ever get in the way..? [To him, the wings weird new appendages that complicate things, but he's not a native winged-person. Or pony.]

Well, my wings are really new, actually! I haven't had much time to be in my library since I got them. But I don't think they'd be a problem; I can just fold them up like this! See? [ She folds them in so that they barely take any space. ]

Huh?

[Kouki's a little surprised to hear his nickname from someone he just met. Only a handful of people use that name for him, unless Otonashi is a natural nicknamer.

Oh well, his surprise passes and he smile on his end.]

Oh, yeah. It would be just getting together and eat but I'm always up for it. The local restaurant here is quite good and their food is great.

[Eh? Oh. That was rather unintentionally rude, wasn't it? Either Hinata's nicknaming tendencies are rubbing off—because really Hinata, Yurippe? Shiinacchi? Hinacchi?—or he spent just enough time with a guy who insisted on a name like T.K.

The brief pause is enough for him to worry.]

Ahh—sorry! I really should just say Wakahisa, huh?! [He laughs nervously. Honorifics were rare with him, but he's not usually impolite. So here he is, sounding worried.] Ahhh, yeah, it would be... uh... I've only really been to the tea shop, the bakery and the store...

Hey, don't worry about it! I don't mind if you use my first name or surname. I'm just surprised to hear my nickname just now. [Since they just met and all, Kouki wasn't expecting it.] So Kouki, Wakahisa or Kou, whichever's you're more comfortable with.

But yeah, I like the bakery if I don't mind a quick stop for a snack. I went to the restaurant if I don't feel like cooking something for myself or whoever's I'm with.

Yikes. [ Yeah, it sure does. ] But, wait - I still don't get it. Are you dead, or what?

[ Tactful as always. ]

[ Don't worry, Otonashi, she's seen much more strange things. Half of the people she knows back in her world are basically serial killers, so.. nothing weird here. ]

I've never seen them. I almost died here once though, so in that case you could've had a direct report for.. but it didn't happen, sorry. Although I guess that's more like lucky for me. [ Her tone is still pretty straightforward, as if she isn't making a big deal out of it. ]

I remember all of it, wandering around in the woods for who knows how long-- [And then he pauses as he listens to Otonashi talk, and his usual glare comes back onto his face. Never mind that possible memory issue, but...]

...So you were here before? And you don't remember it?

[He's looking at you with that look, Otonashi. Does it feel familiar?]

You don't?

[She feels like she used to know it... what was it? Yusaku? No, she don't recall exactly. Oh well.]

Whatever. You can call me whatever you want, Otonashi, just know you'll be punished for incorrect answers.

Oh— does that mean your is library at home, then? [He watches carefully. Her wings do seem to fit more naturally on the curve of her back. They also seem to suit her, in a way!]

Haha... yeah. I should have been more willing to deal with mine when I got here... [He turns a little. The slight kink in the right wing isn't so bad anymore, but it's there.] I had mine open and, uhh, kinda got it slammed in a door...

I... guess I'm not dead here in Luceti. I can get sick here, and we can't just die and come back easily... [Dying and killing is almost a casual pastime in the afterlife.]

So... yes I was, and no I'm not anymore?

I... at least I didn't pull a Hinata, I guess..! Aha... so you're not Wakacchi... or Koukippe... [He still sounds rather flustered, though. Getting casual so quickly was a no-no. ~~And more a mun mistake than anything, oops!~~] Unless you wanted to be, of course...!

The bakery is nice—and atmospheric—but I might want to try the restaurant...

No... [Your guess is as good as his, Haruhi.]

Uhh... H-Haruhi, then? [Yuri and Yui went on a first-name basis with everyone by choice. And this girl seems... similarly energetic.] Wait—punish me?! Don't you think that's a little unreasonable...?!

Eh—? I don't want you to be sorry for not dying...

[Others from home might like killing and take no issue with dying on a daily basis, but Otonashi isn't one of them.] I'm glad you didn't, I was just curious. It seems like you're pretty, um... unfazed by this place, so I thought I would ask. Ahh, I'm Otonashi, by the way.

Ahh... you didn't make landmarks..? [Though maybe it wouldn't have helped.]

That's what I've heard. I don't know—or remember—anything about it... W-why? [Yes, he knows that look. But what else can he really say?!]

[Wakacchi? Koukippe?] Nah, I'll just stick to Kou as my nickname.

[It's bad enough someone else called him "Cookie" because they can't pronounce name right.]

Maybe whenever we're both free, we can go over to the restaurant.

[ Wow, that is...

Extremely confusing. ]

...But are you against harmless traps?

[ This is an important question. ]

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02nd beat; written > voice

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