2025-11-10: A Bow Long Bent Grows Weak
- Log: A Bow Long Bent Grows Weak
- Cast: Hyousuke Suzuki, Julian Marlowe
- Where: Hirasaka - Kameya Alley, Izakaya Shiraishi
- OOC Date: November 10, 2025
- IC Date: August 08, 2012
- Summary: Hyousuke happens to visit the Izakaya Shiraishi when Julian is there, prompting a spontaneous conversation. Though Julian's Counselor Sense is going off just from observing him, he doesn't pry too much into what's obviously troubling Hyousuke, allowing for those matters to be deflected for the time being. Building trust is, as ever, an important first step.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke poked at the ramen idly. It wasn't as if he didn't care for it - odd as banana ramen might have sounded to some, he'd found a certain fondness for the foodstuff. It wasn't as if the atmosphere was putting him off - the izakaya was in much the same state as it ever was, with everyone from wayward students to tipsy salarymen chatting away at their respective seats. It wasn't even the fact that he was there alone, if the fact that he'd made a conscious decision to walk there and pay for a meal was any indication. No, it seemed to be something else entirely.
Though he looked in the general direction of the bowl, his gaze was an empty one, while his mind seemed to be elsewhere. He didn't look at the bowl - rather, he looked through it, barely seeming to register its presence as he lost himself in thought. Quite what he was thinking of was unclear, but the look he bore was a pensive one, and might have gone some way to illuminating his sate of mind, if nothing else. It was a far cry from the usual sunny disposition he showed, and a stark departure from the passion or battle-rage he so frequently displayed at other times.
A particularly loud clink caught his attention, and shook Hyousuke out of whatever reverie he'd been trapped in. It turned out to be someone stumbling while carrying a couple of pieces of porcelain - nothing worth paying attention to. They hadn't even dropped anything. However, before his gaze could drift back down, it caught on someone familiar. It could have been nothing, of course. A trick of the light, his own imagination, or mere coincidence. But he couldn't shake the feeling that the stranger he saw was someone he recognised.
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
Julian Marlowe has in fact been here at Izakaya Shiraishi for a while now, seated in a far corner booth, by himself. Well, him and the laptop that partially obscures him. It's not too common to find him here, given that while he may be employed at Kasugayama, he lives outside of Sumaru and generally catches a Shibuya-bound train before having dinner.
Now that it's vacation time however, it seems that he's chosen to hang out here today for one of his favored activities: people watching, while simultaneously engaging in some semi-idly research. He's certainly chosen the best spot for it, with a good view of the entrance and many of the seats.
Judging from the cleaned plate (he had the Yakitori) and the near-empty glass of beer that sit beside him, he's been here for a while now. And he's quite obviously been watching Hyousuke, given that when his direction is looked into, the Englishman casually raises a hand in greeting. He's still wearing a business suit as well as that monocle he's always going around with, looks like whether or not he's working makes no difference in that regard.
Smiling calmly as usual, he'll let Hyousuke decide whether or not to approach him, only closing his laptop in a show of being open to it, should he so wish. He's been watching for long enough to have somewhat of an inkling that his student might have a thing or two on his mind. This may be off time and away from school grounds, but that never means that he isn't available to be a listening ear, when one is needed.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
The stranger's identity didn't quite click for Hyousuke until his eye caught on the monocle. A look of realisation crossed his features at that point - realistically speaking, there was really only going to be one person that both recognised him, and wore such an uncommon accessory. In a heartbeat, he wiped whatever remained of his pensive look away, replacing it with a a broad grin. The smile didn't quite reach his eyes, but he hoped that at that distance, such a detail would not be detected - and that he could fake it well enough that Marlowe-sensei wouldn't figure it out when he eventually did draw near.
He could very well have stayed away and allowed the moment to pass. It would have been easy to simply show that he recognised the school's guidance counsellor while politely - if silently - declining the invitation to sit together. However, compelled by what few tenets of etiquette he actually bothered following, Hyousuke found himself ambling over with a still-warm bowl of ramen in his hands, still wearing a smile that he hoped was more convincing than it felt. To any casual observer, it might very well have been - his was a practised mask, worn for longer than he cared to remember, to the point where he could don it reflexively. Whether Marlowe was amongst them remained to be seen.
"Marlowe-sensei!" Hyousuke said, a slight twinge of surprise to his voice. That, at least, was genuine - he didn't seem to have expected a familiar face there. "Didn't know this was your kinda spot too. You been here a while?" His eyes had caught on the laptop and half-emptied glass, leading him to cant his head a little like a curious dog. What this also did - rather unintentionally - was cause a mark on his neck to show. It was only the edge of it, and it disappeared back under the collar of his shirt once his head tilted back into a straightened position, but the bruise had been a stark contrast against his otherwise unblemished skin.
The rest of him did not seem to be in much better a state. Though the Harrington-style jacket hid the majority of the bruises on his arms, some still crept out past the cuff, leaving dark patches scattered all the way up to his hands. Further down, his knuckles bore fresh scabs, left after the skin on them had split open and been left to heal. Then there was his eyes. Though he tried to keep them alert, the dark bags beneath them spoke of sleep deprivation, and no small amount of it either.
"Guess teachers don't get breaks like we do." He said offhandedly, either oblivious to the state he'd arrived in, or simply choosing to ignore it.
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
Julian does have a way of standing out. Monocle aside, there's no hiding that he's a westerner. Not that he tries. On the contrary, he tries to appear like he's an open book. In his experience, it helps when people feel that what they see is what they get - and that they are viewed the same way. Even if Julian has absolutely noticed Hyousuke's earlier mood and feels that one is closer to the truth, he's not about to directly point that out. He considers direct confrontation to be rarely constructive in his line of work.
...Not that he's working right now, nor does he assume that Hyousuke approached him for his capacity as a counselor. That doesn't mean he's not in counselor mode. He is always in counselor mode. At least, he is when he feels that he's speaking to someone who could use it.
Pulling his laptop back and resting his hands on it, he indicates the seat across from him as an invitation to sit, smile never wavering. "<Mister> Suzuki, what a coincidence to see you here as well!" He lets out a soft chuckle. "I wouldn't say this is 'my kinda spot' so much, I like to... vary my hangouts, as it were. It just so happens this was my choice for taking a little break today."
Up close, it's even more obvious that Hyousuke has - to phrase it in a way Julian never would - been through some shit. Still, his non-confrontational policy remains in effect. He'll see what Hyousuke chooses to share, during the course of the conversation.
"I will admit to perhaps having underestimated the level of exam crunch on the teacher's side, but today is purely pleasure rather than business, I assure you. It would feel rather superfluous for me to go too far afield - I'm still rather new to the country, I prefer to take some extra time to familiarize myself with my direct surroundings."
'Rather new', he says, yet speaking flawless Japanese with only a very mild accent - even if most would describe his phrasing of things as 'stuffy'. That's the case no matter which language he speaks. Perhaps that's normal for English teachers who come from actual England? (absolutely not)
"How about you?" he asks casually enough. "Any plans for the summer? I imagine you must look forward to some relaxation time, now that the stressful period is over."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke was silent for a moment, blinking without giving a response. His expression was a blank one, consisting of little more than glassy eyes and a polite smile. It was only in part because of his apparent exhaustion, and not at all due to Julian's accent. He was, in fact, taking time to process the stuffy speech being directed at him. He did his best to appear as though he was simply digesting the information and formulating a response that he was happy with, but Kasugayama was hardly a school known for housing intellectual powerhouses. It wouldn't have taken much to infer that the hamster wheel in Hyousuke's brain was squeaking away as fast as it could manage.
"Relaxing? Nah, I still got a bunch of studying to do." He said, waving his hand a little to dismiss the notion that relaxation, of all things, was in store for him. "Teach told me to read a book over the summer, I got a tutor so I don't fail my next tests, Mutou-sensei's been kicking my ass with training..." None of it was said with any real regret or disdain, despite the things he'd listed off. It was difficult to say for certain that he was looking forward to it, but to say he was bitter about it would have been a gross exaggeration.
"I'm gonna go see a friend at a concert though!" He said, perking up a little once he remembered that particular plan. It wasn't just due to remembering he'd get to see Ririka perform live, however. The fact that Julian had missed - or simply chosen not to address - the litany of injuries and signs of poor health that he displayed put him more at ease than he'd have felt with Kasugayama's other authority figures. Not to mention the casual setting. It was neutral ground, rather than school - a place he might have viewed as Julian's 'territory,' so to speak.
That was not to say he was entirely comfortable. Julian was still not someone he viewed as a peer, let alone someone trusted enough to talk of recent troubles to.
"What about you? You gonna explore the place more? There's a bunch of cool stuff around here if you look for it." He turned the conversation back to Julian, hoping to keep from revealing more about his plans or himself.
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
Julian takes note of the fairly sluggish manner of processing, which probably wouldn't be a strange thing to draw attention to at this point. Yet he bides his time. He's certain he'll get a chance to weave this more organically into the dialogue - and indeed, it's not very long at all before he has the perfect opportunity.
There's nothing disingenuous about the surprise in his expression when he hears of all the studying on Hyousuke's horizon, of at least two different kinds, no less. "My my. Sounds as if you have a full plate indeed. I must say - with no disrespect to anyone intended - this is rather uncommon for Kasugayama students. As a teacher, far be it from me to discourage it, of course."
Faint smile never wavering, he takes a handkerchief out of his pocket and the monocle out of his eye, taking a moment to polish the glass. "However, as a counselor, I would be remiss not to caution against overworking yourself. As the saying goes, <a bow long bent grows weak>. It's a cautionary saying, warning that a bow that remains pulled taut for extended periods of time will break ere long." Now he's just being a counselor and a teacher at the same time. He shakes his head, replacing the kerchief and then the monocle where he removed them from. "Forgive me, I do not mean to lecture in your and my free time."
His smile grows slightly wider at hearing the concert plans. "That certainly sounds like just the thing to raise one's spirits. I do hope you'll have a good time." And what of himself? "I do plan on a number of outings here and there. For instance, I hear of an event set at a French restaurant in Kagurazaka this Friday, perhaps I'll swing by there if time permits. It may not be the exact taste of home, but it is rather close in proximity." Geographically, anyway. Of course there's significant differences in traditional cuisine, but it's not as if he's never tasted French cuisine before.
He folds his hands together. Though he may not probe directly, he will at least put an offer down on the table, figuratively speaking. "That being said... I am also keeping myself available for students to speak to in my capacity as counselor, should they require it. Only the students who come to me regularly for counseling sessions have been told of this directly, but... that does not mean that the offer is open just to them. Do feel free to avail of this yourself if you feel the need to, I assure you that anything you say to me will be kept in strict confidence."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke kept his expression still, but internally, he cursed at himself in as sharp a tone as possible. Of course things would be noticed - he'd hardly done a stellar job of hiding them. Even if he'd worn gloves and a scarf to hide whatever bruises still peeked past his clothes - the cuffs of which he unconsciously tugged down to try and hide his injuries - the bags under his eyes and the distant look on his face would have been dead giveaways of something being wrong. His mind ran a mile a minute, trying to figure out if he should deflect it, address it with a half-truth to satisfy incoming questions, or simply ignore the matter altogether.
His body language grew looser and noticeably more relaxed once the conversation turned back to Julian. It wasn't a particularly difficult change to notice. Ironically, his attempt at maintaining a relaxed and casual look had only made him seem a little more tense than usual, such was how much effort he'd poured into keeping his expression from changing. He nodded firmly, remaining quiet, but leaving little doubt that he was being attentive. The mention of a French restaurant piqued his interest in particular, causing him to sit up a little straighter and focus a little harder. Quite why, he was quiet on, but the thought yet lingered in his mind.
Then the conversation turned back to him. Perhaps not directly - it was only Julian offering his services as a counsellor, after all - but Hyousuke had no doubt that Julian had noticed something was wrong. His postured shifted a little, as if doing so would hide the worst of what he had sustained, and the lighting would mitigate how bad the rest looked, but he knew the damage had already been done. The best he could do was try to convince Julian it wasn't as bad as it looked, he thought.
"Thanks, but I don't wanna trouble you with that kinda stuff during the holidays." His tone was casual - almost flippant - in how easily he rejected the offer. "Most of my problems are school stuff, but I got a tutor that knows his stuff. I'll be fine."
He'd deflected - successfully, he hoped - so the next step was due. Redirection. Keep Julian from insisting, and keep the conversation focussed on anything but his own wellbeing.
"So, do you got any idea what that French place is like? I hear they do all kinds of fancy teas and coffees in there. Pastries too." Given his experience with French cuisine was limited to the few patisseries he'd visited, such an assumption was hardly a surprise to those that knew him.
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
Half of Julian's job - the one which he favors - is all about perception. It's not up to him to correct what troubles his students, just to notice it - it will always ultimately be up to them whether to act upon a wish for things to change. All he can do, all he should do, is to advise when asked, and otherwise try to gently steer them to consider their situation more carefully. Even if he knows perfectly well what Hyousuke is doing, he won't deny him the right to handle it as he sees fit. He's just here to say - imply, rather - that if things are hard to handle and assistance is welcomed, that's what he's here for.
Having said his piece, he won't directly insist beyond that. Though he will respond in a manner that he hopes makes it clear that he's not the typical kind of uncaring Kasugayama teacher, that calm smile never wavering.
"I understand. That would be the polite thing to say, and I appreciate that. Though you should realize... I would not have applied to this school in particular if I stood on ceremony where it comes to those I speak to. So feel free to trouble me whenever you wish, test my patience as you like. I believe you'll find it rather a challenge to get me to perceive whatever you may say or do as a personal affront."
This isn't a bluff, or an exaggeration. Students have ignored him, mocked him, stolen from him, and yet... not a single Kasugayama student has ever seen Julian Marlowe lose his temper. Not even once.
Whether or not his chosen phrasing will be helpful or not remains to be seen, but either way, he isn't about to press further, chuckling amicably at the overt topic focus. "It sounds as if you're more familiar with the restaurant than I am. Need I remind you, I have only lived here for about half a year. Tokyo is a big place, and I am only one man, who needs to work for a living." And lead a double life as a supernatural investigator, but nobody needs to know about that.
He's fine to keep the conversation to more casual things from here on out, and see how things develop in the future. He wouldn't expect anybody to speak frankly to someone they don't know very well yet, but hopefully he's managed to lay the groundwork for such in the future. Besides... knowing of Hyousuke's ties to Ichika, he's fairly certain he can count on at least one of his peers to vouch for him, should this encounter have been of enough interest to ask.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke offered a smile in response to Julian's assurances, though it was dangerously close to a mocking smirk. At the end of the day, Julian was just another member of staff at Kasugayama. He was just another authority figure that could only be trusted with the most innocuous of information. He was a professional, first and foremost, that reported to a higher power, and could easily twist Hyousuke's words against him if the need arose. But, at the very least, he didn't seem like an unpleasant person. Not the kind he usually hung around, but then again, stranger things had happened in the past few months alone.
"Familiar?" He eventually responds, before laughing a little and shaking his head. It was a hollow chuckle, used more as an indicator of tone, than a show of actual amusement. "Nah, I've just been to a few pat-" He paused, quickly realising that he didn't actually know how the word as pronounce. He barely spoke Japanese, why did he bother with French? "A few French cafes and bakeries..They always do some good stuff, but it's a bit pricey." Finally, he'd started being honest about himself. The information wasn't much, but it was something. He paused for a moment, considering what other information he thought would be harmless to volunteer. Upon remembering that Julian likely had access to a file containing a great many details about his life, he spoke of something he was certain was on there, and thus saw little point in hiding. "Y'know, I haven't actually been here long either..."