Like nothing else {open}

[ruki okamura]

[ Ruki ]
THE REVERSE SIDE OF BEAUTY

Ruki enjoyed the moment that school ended. It meant that he could give his brain a rest, and he didn’t have to be worried about being called on when he hadn’t completed the day’s homework. Yes, after school was like a sanctuary in itself… until he got home. But he had a couple of hours to try and kill before his father picked him up to go to a dinner party that night, so he was at the mall. Ruki didn’t know many people at school, even though he was a junior. He seemed to be a bit of a loner, but he hoped he might run into someone interesting or one of the few people he actually was slightly familiar with. At the moment, the chance seemed slim, but the mall was plenty big enough to provide some form of entertainment.

It

[/i] was at that moment that Ruki realized that perhaps he’d better set his mind to something other than fellow schoolmates. He did want to find a new and unique belt buckle, but he doubted he’d find something virtually priceless like that in the mall. Here everything was pretty much mass produced, and to his knowledge they didn’t have a charity store where he could find items that people had decided they didn’t have the use for anymore. This thought saddened him, for now he was discovering he really had no reason to be in the mall… there wasn’t really anything for him. Sure, he could go shopping for clothes he could modify but he didn’t have a lot of money and the clothes he liked tended to be expensive. That, and he didn’t really enjoy shopping in the mall in the first place.

With[/i] a sigh, Ruki plopped down on a bench and pulled out his wallet before beginning to sift through it to see just exactly what sort of cash he had available to him. He really needed a job… But food sounded like a pleasant idea, and so he lifted himself up off of the bench and headed in the direction of the food court. He ticked off the food places he knew of in his head, thinking that perhaps Chinese would suit him well. He’d get chicken fried rice and mixed vegetables. Not a lot to eat, but it was better than nothing and even a favourite of his.

Finally[/i] he had something set in his mind, and that grounded Ruki, keeping his anxiety in regards to schoolmates down a bit. He tucked his wallet back into the pocket of his black skinny jeans, and looked down to examine himself before taking too many steps. White cowboy boots and a gold buckle of a lion stared back at him as he checked his waist and down. The gold studded belt glittered along with the lion and Ruki couldn’t help but smile. He’d made the belt himself just for the buckle he’d found. He then lifted a hand to smooth back his hair a bit, feeling the slight spikes he’d made with a good hair gel. The blazer he wore was also adorned with bits of gold around the collar and near the silver zipper. A white shirt ruffled around the neck with a gold, modest cross necklace finished off his look. The thin blonde streaks in his hair now really showed, and if Ruki had been looking in a mirror he would have been proud of himself. He looked like no one else, and in some ways that was his greatest pride, considering he didn’t have much to show in the way of pride. Or at least, he felt that way.

But[/i] now it was time to eat. And he finally began meandering off into the direction of the food court.
[/color] [/size]
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OOC
[ I'm totally museless *sigh* ][/color][/blockquote][/center]

[jessica leigh ryan]

Jessica was at the mall today, looking to buy a new pair of sneakers. Her old pair had run out, and so now the most comfy shoes she had left were the beat up red converse on her feet. But converse were not for the gym, she had told herself time and time again, and you can't run or even do PE in them either. By the time she woke up and drove over to the mall, she found her stomach grumbling. Time to head over to the food court, it said. She figured she could stop there to eat before getting her shoes.

She looked around between the restaurants. There was no way she was going to stand in the Burger King like (eew) and she wasn't feeling like pizza. So, Japanese food it was. She stepped in the line and grabbed a menu. The soup of the day looked good, but looking down at her clean white shirt (with an outline of a phoenix on it in black) and the new vest she wore over it, she decided not to risk it. Instead, she'd have sushi, her favorite, and the only meat she would ever eat.

Finally, Jessica made it to the front of the line. "I'll have the sushi combo with ebi and unagi." she told him. The cashier typed in her order, eyeing the pins on her vest. Jessica knew why; one of them was from PETA with a slogan that spoke of vegetarianism. "Technically I'm a pescitarian. Sushi's the only meat I eat." she explained to him. He just nodded and told her how much the meal cost. She dug into the back pocket of her skinny jeans and pulled out a couple of crumpled bills. She had decided not to buy a drink, since drinks here were expensive. Besides, she had a bottle of cranberry juice in her red tote bag (which had a black octopus on it).

After dropping her change, which was only coins, in the tips jar, she stepped over to the "pick up" area. They made the sushi fresh here, so who knew how long it would take for it to be ready?

[ruki okamura]

[ Ruki ]
THE REVERSE SIDE OF BEAUTY

Ruki was about to sit down when he noticed the Japanese place not too far away from him. He knew they served fresh sushi, and now he was wondering if perhaps the sushi would be a better choice. Then again, he got it enough at home, and homemade at that. To Ruki, his mother made the best sushi. But Ruki knew the Japanese place also served cucumber maki rolls, and he was now really craving those. He looked down at his soggy vegetables almost pathetically, but he tasted the rice with the fork he’d been given. Yes, the rice was very good. But he wanted that maki.

With

[/i] his tray he made his way towards the Japanese place and got in line to place his order. Two people were ahead of him, including one girl waiting in the pick-up area. Once the person ahead of him was finished ordering Ruki asked for five pieces of cucumber maki and then took a sip of his cola. It was starting to feel really hot to him, so he tugged at the collar of his blazer, knowing he’d have to take it off when he sat down.

Ruki[/i] joined the line in the pick-up area, waiting for his own order. He eyed the two other people, especially the girl as he believed she was probably about his own age. “Do you go to Eastside High by any chance?” He asked her, waving to catch her attention, “I think I’ve seen you in some of my classes, but I could be wrong.” He silently prayed that she was kind enough to give him some sort of answer, and not ignore him like he’d been ignored before. Perhaps they could even share a table as he wasn’t crazy about the thought of eating by himself. That always felt weird.

”I’m[/i] Ruki,” he added. “Ruki Okamura.” So he’d introduced himself politely, that was as good a start as any. He was pleased with himself for even talking to someone he didn’t know, so now he was in pretty good spirits. If she replied he’d be happier as he wouldn’t have to feel embarrassed and nosy. [/color] [/size]

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OOC
[ sorry, low muse right now >< ][/color][/blockquote][/center]

[jessica leigh ryan]

Jessica turned when a boy spoke to her. He asked if she went to Eastside High. "Yeah, I do. I'm a junior." she told him. She figured if they were in the same year, they must have a class together. Math or History or something. Maybe English? "And I think I've seen you too, although I can't remember which class..." she bit her lip. She knew he must be in one of his classes. If he wasn't a junior (which he looked like he was) then they still might be in the same Chemistry class. There were some sophomores and seniors in her Chemistry class, she knew.

"I'm Jessica Ryan. Or Jess, whichever." she said with a shrug. Some people preferred to call her Jess because it was shorter, but others preferred Jessica. She didn't mind either way, and she responded to both. It all depended on what the other person was comfortable with. She just wouldn't go by Jessi, since there was another girl in the school named that (Kennedy's sister).

[ruki okamura]

[ Ruki ]
THE REVERSE SIDE OF BEAUTY

Ruki looked at the girl as she spoke, admiring her hair. When she told him she was a junior he was almost delighted, finally pleased he’d met someone else in his class besides former friends.

”Great!

[/i] I’m a junior too. Though I can’t remember which class I saw you in, myself. I suppose that’s alright though.” He nodded as he finished, taking another sip of his drink. He briefly wondered where his cucumber maki was. Normally the places he went to always had some premade since it could longer as it wasn’t fish. He supposed that perhaps they went in turns, no matter what was finished first.

”So[/i] what did you order here? Are you a big fan of Japanese food?” He asked, hoping for some reason that she was. He had it quite a bit, though his mother was now making more western food than she usually ever did. He didn’t complain, though, it was a new experience from him. When he was younger he’d only ever eaten western fast food with his friends, as his mother had always been a stickler for Japanese food. But about two years ago she decided she’d like to know more about western food, seeing as she didn’t live in Japan anymore. Yes, Ruki was born in the United States and he’d never yet been to see his heritage in the place where it was born. One day, though, he knew he would.

Taking[/i] another mouthful of rice as he waited, Ruki listened for her reply, hoping it could lean towards some sort of decent conversation. He’d been starving for a good talk for a few days, but he’d never really bothered talking to anyone while he was in class or at home. His parents even thought he was depressed, but he wasn’t, he was just trying to work hard on the things he liked, and even school for a change. This was the year he’d finally get decent grades.

With[/i] his tray he made his way towards the Japanese place and got in line to place his order. Two people were ahead of him, including one girl waiting in the pick-up area. Once the person ahead of him was finished ordering Ruki asked for five pieces of cucumber maki and then took a sip of his cola. It was starting to feel really hot to him, so he tugged at the collar of his blazer, knowing he’d have to take it off when he sat down.[/color] [/size]

IT DYED BY BELOVED FILTH

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OOC
[ eated? O= ][/color][/blockquote][/center]

[jessica leigh ryan]

Jessica just shrugged when he said he couldn't remember what class they had either. They'd find out when they saw each other in whichever class it was next week though, right? It didn't matter too much. And she had guessed right that he was a junior too.

"I ordered the combo, with ebi and unagi." she told him. The combo let you choose two types rather than just one, and those were her two favorites. "I'm too indecisive to pick one." she said with a laugh. "And yeah, I love Japanese food. Normally I'm a vegetarian, but I don't think I'll ever be able to give up sushi." she told him.

Finally, her order of food came. She picked it up and took a little soy sauce as well, plus the chopsticks. If she'd have known that she was going to have Japanese food, she could have brought her plastic ones from home; she hated having to waste cheap plastic utensils and wooden chopsticks by throwing them away after one use. After all, people used reusable bags now, why not reusable utensils?

"Do you have anyone to eat with?" she asked him. She was going to be eating alone, and figured they could talk as they ate. That is, if he hadn't brought anyone else with him. If he had someone to eat with, she didn't want to disturb him.

[ruki okamura]

[ Ruki ]
THE REVERSE SIDE OF BEAUTY

Ruki nodded at the girl as she spoke. “Yeah, I think I can definintely agree with you there, losing sushi would be a bad idea. Great choices, though. I just ordered cucumbi maki. Have you had it? It’s vegetarian.” Well, at least he was pretty sure cucumber maki was vegetarian. If there was meat in it his mother really should be telling him what he eats. Not that he’d ever displayed an interest in cooking… and he was sort of afraid of the oven. He was definitely not a chef in the making.

When

[/i] asked if he had anyone to eat with he started looking around before landing back to the girl. With a small laugh, he looked down to the floor at his right shoe, moving it around a little. He was hiding the dimples on his face that he hated, so once he stopped smiling he looked back up. “Nope, I’ve got no one to eat with. What about you? Are you also here alone?” Please please please let the answer be yes so that he’d have some sort of distraction from his anxieties.

At[/i] that point, Ruki’s maki was handed to him in a Styrofoam to-go box. Just the way he’d wanted it. Eagerly he took one of the pieces and popped it into his mouth, clearly enjoying it. “It’s the cucumber piece that makes it so good,” he began to explain, likely pointlessly, “It just fits with the rest of it so well together. Would you like a piece?” He offered. “And if you’re really into Japanese food, come to my house. My dad and I were born here, but my mom lived in Japan for a lot of her life, so we eat a lot of Japanese food.”.[/color] [/size]

IT DYED BY BELOVED FILTH

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OOC
[ eated? =O ][/color][/blockquote][/center]

[jessica leigh ryan]

[]

"Actually, I don't think I have, although I've definitely heard of it." Jess admitted when he brought up cucumber maki. She liked cucumber, it's just every time she went to have sushi, the ebi and unagi called to her so loudly, she couldn't think of ordering anything else. It was kind of silly, her ordering the same thing all the time, but it was her favorite food. Like, ever.

"Yeah, I am." Jess told him. She was kind of glad he didn't have anyone with him. "You wanna eat together, then?" she asked him. She looked around. "There's a clean table over there." she said, pointing to one that was far less dirty than the other unoccupied tables (and there were few).

Then he offered her a piece. "Oh, sure." she said. She popped one in her mouth. "Mmm, I see what you mean." she said after she finished chewing and swallowing. She was no master chef, but she knew when food was good and what made it good. Cucumber maki was good, although it still couldn't beat ebi and unagi.

"Really? That's pretty cool." she said. "My parents can't make any sort of ethnic food to save their lives." she said with a laugh. "So it's usually some casserole, cooked veggies, tofurkey..." she giggled slightly at the name. Tofurkey. It sounded kinda funny, although being a vegetarian, she should be used to it by now.