bakerstreet | and since we've no place to go

and since we've no place to go

❄ it's quiet
and the snow's beautiful tonight

snowfall;

stage i; none, streets are already blanketed in white.
stage ii; very light and intermittent.
stage iii; light - moderate. lasts longer periods.
stage iv; continuous, heavy snowfall.
stage v; the hardest of cores - blizzards, snowstorms, you name it.

scenarios;

① fuck the police, this is the best time for a walk. hope you've got a nice thick coat on.
② stranded in the buttcrack of nowheresville? weren't you watching the time? now you've gone and missed that last bus out of there. or maybe you're lost, somehow. what do?
③ literally chilling, in this weather, is quite easy to do. sitting around relaxing in it is a wee more difficult, but sometimes much more enjoyable, especially if shelter can be found. the snow is beautiful to watch, after all.
④ the weather's not going to stop you. your snow fort's packed full of ammo and ready to go. those aren't snow angels over there; they mark where the poor souls you've downed have fallen. be careful with that snowman's head!!
⑤ you're about fifty miles from civilization but there's a roof over your head, so never mind the chilly draught, right? right. you mightn't be the only one lucky enough to stumble upon this little shelter, though. remember to share the blanket.
⑥ everyone stuck outside should be jelly. you've got a fireplace and hot cocoa and damn if it isn't awesome. a heater's not quite so romantic, but it'd do. there'd better be a backup generator in case the power trips.
⑦ mix and match, or make up your own.

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[ The mug is definitely too big for Hana's fingers to wrap entirely around them, then; so she hooks a finger into the handle with one hand and the other cups the side as she smiles at Shiro.

She is usually this peppy when she's not fighting the greatest battle of all, which is staying awake in class. She knows she sleeps through his lecture a lot and only hopes he doesn't take it personally; it's just that she's got a lot going on. And she sleeps through most of her classes. Which is why-- ]

I guess I could've. But this is one of my only free days before finals, so I gotta shape up!

[ A beat, and then her brow furrows, lips draw into a thin line, and she looks down at her drink briefly only to look back up at him with an apologetic expression. ]

I know you probably think I'm a slacker and don't put in any work-- but I really am glad you agreed to help. You didn't have to.

[He doesn't take it personally when she falls asleep in his class. He doesn't like it - but he understands she's balancing a great deal and sleep is one of those things that often gets pushed to the side until it refuses to be pushed any more. It's not really his place to tell someone what they should or shouldn't be doing with their academic career. He's just supposed to help them as much as he can. Which is what he intends to do.

So he appreciates both that she doesn't make excuses - and that she really does fess up to things. His smile softens and he exhales, shaking his head.]

If you were a slacker, you wouldn't be here now. I'll help you as much as I possibly can - but at the end of the day its going to be up to you. I'm not going to go easy on you tonight.

[ She can't help the quirk of her brow when he says he "won't go easy on her tonight" but-- she doesn't say anything about it. He's her teacher, in a way. That would be awkward. But she's also aware that he's not technically her teacher and that this is the first time she's really seen him up close because she's usually nodding off in the back of the lecture hall and that-- damn, he's pretty cute. Especially when he smiles.

Focus, Hana. You're here to study, not to flirt with your TA. ]

Okay, I'll do my best! Thanks, Shiro.

-- It's okay that I call you Shiro, right? I know you're not actually the professor for this class but still.

[They've got exactly one night to get her ready for the final. There's no way he can go easy on her and have her ready for that in one night. But she doesn't make a face about it or fuss, rising to the challenge instead and -

and he thinks he likes her a bit more for that. Not that he didn't like her before. He just had very little to base any opinion on her over other than the fact she was cute. Now? He likes what she's turning out to be. And her question has him giving a short chuckle as he sets his mug a little to the side to crack open the first book.]

Shiro's fine here. It's what everyone calls me outside of class. Is it all right to call you Hana?

[ As soon as anything's posed a challenge to Hana "D.Va" Song, then there's only one thing for her to do-- win.

Which is why she lets go of her cup and lifts off her seat just a little so she can grab her chair and scoot in closer to Shiro. She gives him a thumbs up and smiles. ]

Yup! Hana's okay. I'm not gonna make you call me D.Va while studying.

[ And then with a chuckle, she leans down to the other side to pull her backpack's zipper open and fish out her notebook and pens and the other books from the class and lays them out across the table space in front of her. ]

Alright, game face: on!

[His lips quirk at their edges at the joke and the amusement comes out in a short humming sound and he shifts his seat to make room for her. It's a table in the corner of the shop and on a night like tonight the place isn't going to get crowded. They've got plenty of time and quiet to get down to work.

And plenty of coffee to keep them awake. He reaches over with his off hand and grabs a ginger sip of his still steaming hot tea and then settles in. But not without another crooked smile at her declaration. She's apparently serious and if she's cute in the way she does it, it doesn't mean there's any lack in determination.

He's seen her test papers. He knows what level she's on. And he wouldn't consider himself any kind of TA at all if he didn't know how to start there and build. So that's what he does, making sure her base is firm and building the facts and methods step by step from there.]

[ Classmates can say whatever they want about how distracting Shiro can be in class, but--

No one can deny that he's a freaking good instructor. And he's not even the actual official instructor for this class! By the time that they're getting kicked out of the coffee shop for it to close up for the night, Hana already feel a lot better about where she stands on the material. It's a testament both to Shiro's patience and ability as it is Hana's sharp mind and determination. And by the time they decide to call it a night after a few more hours of studying at the library, she definitely feels good.

A little mentally exhausted, maybe, because he really wasn't kidding when he said he wouldn't go easy on her, but good.

At the very least the snowfall has stopped, which should make getting back to her dorm much easier, she thinks. Maybe she'll take a longer way back to appreciate the scenery of the campus blanketed in snow, safety concerns be damned.

Hana's putting her beanie back onto her head as they walk through the doors out of the library, fully expecting them to part ways here. She's sure he can't wait to get back to his own place to do whatever it is grad students do with their free time. So once they're outside, she slips her gloves back on and then holds a hand out for a shake. ]

Well, it was a pleasure working with you, Shiro! That was a huge help!

Edited (i picked the wrong icon) 2016-12-03 06:19 (UTC)

[Looping his scarf in place, Shiro pauses at the top of the library steps and inhales deep, closing his eyes for a minute. It's been - it's been a really long night and his morning starts early but he's rarely felt as content and satisfied on this little sleep before. He honestly hadn't been sure how much he could help Hana with her lessons when he'd agreed to help. But she had a mind as sharp as a razor and picked up things quickly, logical jumps were fast for her and she worked like a devil. He had no doubt at all, now, that she'd ace her final at the end of the week. She'd remembered more of the classes than she'd given herself credit for and all he'd had to do was come along and fill in all the gaps.

He was going to sleep very hard until his alarm woke him up.

The smile, crooked, slips back over his lips as he watches the ears on her beanie wiggle as she puts it back on. Smart and cute. He's pretty sure the guys are all over her. Possibly the girls too.

He extended hand catches him off guard and he shakes it automatically before realizing why. And then he grins.]

You did most of the work yourself. You should be proud. [His eyes lifted to look at the snow covered campus and then up to the moon hanging low above.] Which dorm is yours? I'll walk you back.

[ She gives a dismissive shrug at his response. Really, it wouldn't have come to this if she'd just put in some effort over the semester instead of at the very end, but her schedule didn't leave her much room for it, made it hard for her to be focusing on five different things at once.

Hana's hands return to the pockets of her coat after they shake hands, and Shiro's offer to walk her home surprises a breath out of her, one that's visible in the snappy cold air. ]

Aww, you don't have to do that, honestly. You already came out to help me study for like eight hours, Shiro.

[Its three in the morning. And the library is on the other side of campus from the dorms. They're in a good city and the campus has always been safe

but like hell is he going to let her walk back to the dorms through an empty campus at three in the morning.

All he does though is smile and shake his head, voice mild.]

It's no problem. Its a nice night for a walk.

[ She just stares at him for a little bit before she sighs, resigned. ]

I have a feeling you're gonna insist... but okay. I live on the quad where the second-year dorms are.

[ Nodding her head in the direction of said quad, she turns on her heel and begins to walk. Thankfully, most of the main paths around campus were properly prepared for the weather and aren't covered in snow, but other than that? Snow everywhere.

And now Hana's attractive TA is walking her home. Okay. ]

[He doesn't answer her, just continues to watch her with that mild look but yes. Apparently in the eight hours they've been together she's figured out enough about him to realize that he would have insisted.

Nicely she doesn't make him and so he falls into step next to her, long legs easily covering the distance before shortening his stride to match her. His hands slide in his jacket pockets and while he's well aware of her presence at his side, his eyes are up and taking in the scenery, looking for all the world as if he's got the rest of the night and nothing to do during it. His voice is low to match the quiet of the night and the moonlight.]

I know I'm going to hate it by the end of winter but snowy nights always feel just a little magic to me.

[ She shoots a skeptical look up at him as they walk, but the curl of her lips says she's more amused than anything. ]

Magic? That's pretty cheesy.

It is supper pretty out here tonight, though, that's for sure.

[There's a soft chuckle next to her and his voice comes out soft and low across the snow and moonlight:]

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

[A long pause, an inhale and then:]

See? Magic.

[ She's confused at first, not entirely sure what he's saying until it occurs to her--

He's reciting a poem.

What a complete and utter nerd.

So while he lets the poetry flow, she listens, thoughtful, but halfway through she squats down and starst fumbling with the snow pile up on the side of the pathway they're walking along. And by the time he's finished, it's packed into a snowball that Hana is now juggling between two gloved hands as she stands back up to speak to him. ]

You remembered all that off the top of your head? Jeez. No wonder you're so on top of everything.

[He's been watching her from the sides of his eyes without turning his head and he comes to a stop once she's back next to him. He doesn't answer her right away, head tilted a little to the side, dark eyes watching first her face and then very pointedly down to the snowball in her hands. Casual he reaches up to the tree branch hanging over them and curls the tips of his fingers over it.

His eyebrows go up at her and something quirks at the very edges of his lips. It could, potentially, be a challenge. All he says though is:]

I try.

Yeah, I bet.

[ That tree branch is filled with snow balanced precariously on top of it. She is onto you, Takashi Shirogane.

She glances back down to Shiro, still tossing the snowball from one hand to another and back, and smirks. And... decidedly does not chuck the snowball at him. She'll still keep it in her hands for, you know, fun. Even as she starts walking along the path again. ]

By the way, I think I owe you dinner once finals are over for helping me out today.

[If Hana's proven anything tonight its that she's sharp on the uptake and Shiro's glad she got his point about the snow in the tree branch. His fingers are very gentle when he lets them uncurl to keep from shaking any of it down as he lets go and falls into step next to her again.

Fully aware she's still got the snowball. His smile is bemused though.]

I never turn down a food offer. [He doesn't charge for his tutoring and if someone wants to find a way to 'pay' him for it, he won't protest. Not over food at least. He's pretty far from home and his cooking skills usually require a fire alarm. He's not going to hold her to the offer either though. Finals ending is open season on party time before everyone either goes home or knuckles down for the next semester. He imagines someone as popular as Hana will have more than enough invites to be more interesting than dinner with a TA.]

Good!

[ Has anyone ever turned down a dinner offer from Hana Song? Probably not.

She brings her hands to her back, snowball still securely held in one of them, but she leans forward and looks up at him as they walk, with a curious glint in her eyes. ]

What would you wanna go for? Pizza? Sushi? Tacos? Or real ramen?

[He's tired, he realizes, but - this is nice. Walking through the quiet night, snow blankets everywhere and - not alone. It's nice to go for a midnight walk and not be alone for a change.

He hasn't lost track of her snowball though.

There's a brief moment when he frowns though, at her question, and then the smile comes back, a little crooked and, maybe, a little shy.]

Ramen sounds really good. I haven't had anything that tasted right since I left home.

[ Cute smile.

It brings a smile of her own to bear, and she pulls one arm away from her back to flash him a peace sign. ]

You got it! I know a really good place we can go to. Usually you can't get in without waiting at least an hour but I can get us in right away!

[ Being famous has its perks. ]

[Well, that's distracted him. His eyebrows go up in surprise. When she offered a meal, he was honestly thinking of something that was grab and go. Not a sit down kind of thing and certainly not the kind of place with any kind of wait, much less an hour.

For just a moment, he lets himself think of how nice it would be to have a real sit down meal that wasn't eaten while on the move and authentic tasting ramen no less.

Before he pulls himself back to reality and reminds himself that she isn't making a promise so much as having an nice thought. Which he appreciates too... it just - real ramen...]

You'll have to tell me when and where after you finish your finals. [Just because you realize something is a thought doesn't mean you acknowledge it. His hands slip into his coat pockets.] You've already got my cell phone number.

[ She would never, ever promise someone real ramen and then make them have to take it to go. Because it's something you need to be sitting down for and really enjoying and taking your time at, especially now that it's winter and the ramen would be a warm refuge from the bite of cold weather. To her, this is a promise.

The hand of hers that she'd had up for the peace sign goes up to her forehead for a quick salute. ]

Roger! I just have to get through finals first. [ A beat, then: ] And make sure I don't have to fly off somewhere right after that. We'll make it work!

[The salute is cute and earns a chuckle but he also shrugs his shoulders to show there are no expectations on her.]

We can always rain check it if we need to.

Don't you mean...

[ Her hand returns to her back, where the snowball is, and when she looks up at him it's with an utterly shit-eating grin-- ]

A snow check?

[ Get it? Because it's snowing? ]

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