Idle Errands

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

Dressed in a fresh set of black slacks and black jacket, bag over one shoulder, Spider let himself into the teacher's lounge. Placing a large tray of somewhat suspect looking sushi on a convenient counter, he made his way to the faculty mail slots.

"Let's see here... gotta be someone who can give me a hand." He looked at each one, muttering quietly under his breath. "Gandalf... Abe no Seimei... Dream... Death?" He paused there for a moment. "No. Psychologists are always bad news."

Fishing around in his pockets, he produced a pen and paper, scribbling a quick note and sliding it into Abe no Seimei's box. "We'll start with him. Seems his kind of thing anyway."

Spider snagged some of the sushi and settled into one of the over-stuffed chairs, propping his heels on the low table and opening his laptop. "Now let's see what other trouble we can get into."

Comments

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

Several minutes passed before Spider shifted his feet slightly, looking around the edge of his laptop screen at Seimei. "History? I would have expected swordplay or cryptic utterances, tea ceremony or even exotic dance."

[abe-no-seimei.livejournal.com]

Looking up, Seimei smiled and inclined his head. "History has it's importance." He placed his brush to the side and arranged his sleeves.

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

"It shows those with eyes to look which mistakes to avoid this time around," Spider said, tone not quite one of agreement. "Too bad most people seem to spend their time with those same eyes firmly closed."

[abe-no-seimei.livejournal.com]

"And repeat," Seimei agreed. He shook one arm to move the sleeve from his hand and poked experimentally at the suishi. "We all are sometimes forced to accept roles we might not have chosen for ourselves."

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

"... remind me not to have these heartwarming conversations with you." Spider closed his laptop and stowed it, pulling his feet off the table to set them on the floor. "Genuine tentacle monster sushi. No wasabi, but nothing's perfect."

He looked at Seimei over the top of his glasses for a moment. "I've been doing some reading on you, or a version of you, anyway. I was hoping you'd be willing to give me a hand with a small problem."

[abe-no-seimei.livejournal.com]

Sampling the ‘sushi’, Seimei’s eyebrow rose after the first couple of chews. He decided against taking another. “Cryptic utterances?”

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

"Like that one." Spider gave him a twisted smile. "Let me get straight to the point, then. I've got a very advanced security system for my quarters, but it seems to have some vulnerabilities to magic... and to tentacles. Would you be willing to have a look at possibly strengthening my defenses?"

[abe-no-seimei.livejournal.com]

Seimei gathered his materials. He tucked his toes under and rocked to standing. “Wasabi,” he said, his hand gesturing to the door.

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

"... you're a braver man than I. I can't face the stuff without dolphin sauce, myself." Spider shoved his laptop into his bag and hoisted it over one shoulder. "Right this way, then."

[abe-no-seimei.livejournal.com]

After the door shut behind the two men, the butterfly took flight again, fluttering out the opened window.