What Kids Are Up To These Days

[Kentaro Itonokogiri]

It was with much enthusiasm, and a bit of harassment, that Kentaro convinced the administration to let him train the new girl they recruited. He was eager, not only to test all he had learned so far with the girl but also to show them his worth. He prepared for that, probably more even than the girl herself. In fact, he did prepare more, as she didn't even show up to the first training session.

At first, Kentaro waited, thinking she might just be a bit late. It was a terrible offense in itself but not as bad as not coming at all. Yet it was where it was leading to. He asked around, in case a teacher called her out, or a counselor, but not even the infirmary could say the girl was in their care. There was only one left place to find her for him: her room.

He actually came out of there when he walked into the staff lounge. A man was already there, at the table. Kentaro tossed a book on it. It slid towards the man. “Apparently, that is more interesting than training,” he said with a shake of the head. It was a manga and if the title did not suggest it enough, the way the main protagonists were drawn told you what it was about: boy’s love. He left it on the table as he went to look if there was no tea he could make for himself. “I suppose I could have left it to her, but her expression... I don’t think she has the right to own that stuff so I guess that’s where it came from. Told her she could have her books back once she’ll start attending her training sessions.” He sat down at the table, a hot cup of tea in his hands. He looked at the book. Did he do the right thing? He didn’t know but he chose to give her the benefit of the doubt before getting her in trouble for skipping her training. He shrugged at his decision but frowned as he started thinking about the book. “I don’t even get the appeal of those,” he let out.

TAG: Marcus Foster

[Marcus Foster]

Marcus didn't know what time it was nor did he care. He had an appointment at the Academy (he wasn't all the sure for what) which had pulled his hungover carcass out of bed and up the hill to the campus. He'd trudged in at whatever hour of the day and went straight to the staff lounge. At least if they were dragging him into work he'd take advantage of the free coffee.

The steaming, bitter brew did little to clear the fog from Marcu's mind. Slowly he drifted off, head tilting forward as he began to succumb to the weariness of his brutal hangover. Only when a book of some sort landed upon the table did he bolt upright with a start. He let out a low grumble to himself, peering at his co-worker from behind a pair of large, dark sunglasses. It took a moment for the words floating through the air to reach Marcus' brain which caused a much delayed nod.

The former Army Ranger reached out and pulled the book to him, brow furrowing inquisitively as he flipped it around right side up and lifted it from the table to get a better look. Marcus squinted a bit before leaning back in his chair and idly thumbing through the pages. "This one of those things with tentacles banging little girls or something?" He asked then stifled a yawn.

[Kentaro Itonokogiri]

Kentaro paid so much attention to the man that he didn’t even realise in what state he actually was in. He barely paid attention to the grumble as well, figuring it was more in regards to the type of books kids read these days as opposed to Kentaro disturbing him. Marcus could say it was a luck, if he didn’t want anyone commenting on his overall appearance, that the Japanese young man chose to get himself some tea instead of looking at him in the eyes. Then again, in the eyes would have been difficult. He did notice the glasses and Kentaro wondered for one brief second if the man was blind but, as he picked the book, he got his answer.

Kentaro’s eyes squinted as well. What kind of reputation did his people have around here! He wished he could find the person who first used tentacles in that kind of books, just to ask if they realised all the bad they caused to a whole nation. But he was quick to shift his mood and gave an amused smile as he looked at the book. “No. More the kind where two guys keep banging each other but one has a fucked up life story and keeps freaking the other will never truly love him.” At his tone, it was clear what he thought of those stories. He seriously pitied the girls who thought those love stories were cute and even more those who believed it was how love stories happened.

Thanks to Marcus almost yawning, Kentaro did the same and covered his mouth before nodding his head towards the book again. “Better than tentacles but still some graphic scenes in there,” he added. He was half tempted to censor it, but he really didn’t care what the girl was reading. Not to add that if she really wanted to see that kind of stuff, she just had to look on the internet. “Well, she better go to her training sessions if she wants it back,” he let out, making the book slide back towards himself. He looked at the cover and tried not to chuckle. If she wanted a love story, there were plenty without the graphic images, so he knew what interested her in this one.

[Marcus Foster]

Marcus had to admit he'd seen much worse in his day. It was amazing the sort of fucked up stuff that made the rounds through the barracks and living spaces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Really twisted crap that made this book look like something out of the Sesame Street line of products. Of course, with a thousand men stuck in what was so endearingly referred to as the 'sandbox' for over a year with precious few creature comforts at their disposal it was no wonder they drifted into odd territory when it came to their entertainment.

"Could be worse." Marcus offered, sitting up a bit more and stretching, his neck and back cracking audibly in the process. He may have been speaking the truth but even Marcus had to agree with his co-worker. Such material probably wasn't the best to be circulating around the dorms of underage students. Especially if it interfered with studies or training. "Where... do you think she got it?" Marcus asked, quirking a brow as he over to Kentaro. "You don't think there's some sort of weird, freaky porn ring circulating this stuff around do you?" The sober look on Marcus' face made it unclear as to whether or not he was being serious or simply playing around.

[Kentaro Itonokogiri]

Kentaro couldn’t say he was against this stuff. At most would he find it perhaps too dramatic, but these books targeted a female audience and they apparently craved that kind of love story. Even if it was one of these books with tentacles, he wouldn’t really have minded. Taste was not something you should judge, to each their own as they say. The problem was more that someone decided this book was more important than her training session. That was wrong. Especially when Kentaro could finally train someone and show his worth. All of his enthusiasm ended up reduced to first worry and then frustration. In the end however, he believed he had been nice to the girl. He could have reported her. He also could have reported the sort of books she read. Instead, he gave her a second chance, and a chance to have her little hobby not told to people. He still thought some form of punishment needed to be done, and so he removed the books.

“True,” he admitted to what Marcus said. “But I wished I was interesting enough to be a book,” he added, placing the cover next to him. Wouldn’t he fit whatever fantasy someone reading that kind of stuff had? Considering what this book was about, maybe it was better that it wasn’t the case. He shrugged at the question. “I don’t think it would be that hard. When you look at the cover, it’s obvious you’ll get some boy’s love, but nothing tells you how much ‘love’ you’re getting. She probably could buy it in a store.” He was Japanese and couldn’t even being to round up the amount of mangas published. Had he worked in a store, he wouldn’t know which ones were more adult stuff than others, unless specified. He could only imagine it was the same here.

“If we have one, it’s selling gay stuff,” he pointed out, showing Marcus a page with two boys together in bed. He put the book down after that. “You’ve ever had that kind of stuff?”

[Marcus Foster]

"While I'm glad I was never interesting enough to be in a book." Marcus countered without missing a beat. Usually guys like him that had books written about them weren't actually around today and even if they were it was rare they still had all their limbs or much of a hint of sanity left. No, Marcus was just fine to have lived through the only real interesting part of his life and looked forward to being able to fade into obscurity.

"Uhhhh..." Marcus lifted his gaze from the coffee cup in front of him to his co-worker. He wasn't all that sure, exactly, what was being said but Marcus did know with certainty his interest in a 'boy's love' was largely non-existent. "That's... not really my kind of love." He replied slowly, giving a pause before adding. "Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just not my thing."

When the book was turned toward him, one of Marcus' brows rose. He blinked a couple times, his eyes flicking from the pictures on the page to Kentaro and back. The question was... odd to say the least. It took a few moments for Marcus to make an attempt to decipher what he was being asked and even then he couldn't be all that sure. When he did reply he spoke slowly and with uncertainty. "Are you... asking me if I've ever had gay sex before?" Because that would just be weird given how little contact there'd been between the two co-workers up to this point.

[Kentaro Itonokogiri]

“Well, yes, I suppose, to choose, I wouldn’t want either,” Kentaro agreed. He was looking at the book again and raised it. “But I fit in those more than you,” he added. He was holding a manga after all and, as far as he knew, he was the only Japanese guy around. That qualified him to fit in whatever manga your imagination made up. it was another reason why he figured seeing the real deal would have been better than a book, but some people apparently preferred fiction to reality.

“Not mine either. The one they put in those books are just so full of drama. Is it really that tough for them to talk to each other before one of them nearly gets killed or raped?” He didn't get how that could be anyone’s view on love. As for the sex part, which had to be the type of love Marcus was referring to, Kentaro couldn’t say he was much into it either. While not disturbed by it, he wouldn’t go around buying that kind of stuff. It was perhaps a little more his thing than Marcus though, as he wouldn’t put past him having that kind of relationship in the future. But it was more a matter of not really minding than being into that.

He was actually surprised as the question his own was answered with. Kentaro didn't realise the ambiguity of his question until Marcus replied this to him. He laughed at the question. “No, I meant did you ever have students doing that kind of stuff to you?” He kept laughing at the strange situation he just put the two of them into. He never would have asked something like that. It was not his business and it probably would be best for them to know each other better before going for that kind of topic. And have some alcohol in front of them.

[Marcus Foster]

Marcus didn't offer much of a reply at first. He really wasn't in the right head space to start talking about murder and rape at the moment, whether it be fictional or otherwise. After the hellish atrocities he'd seen firsthand while spending far too much time in some of the most volatile and unstable regions in the world, certain topics would forever be met with a certain reluctance to even acknowledge, let alone discuss. "Yeah. I guess." He said finally if for no other reason than to refrain from being overly rude and not offering any sort of response.

There was still a fair bit of confusion that came with the line of questioning. Marcus was a recruiter and part time counselor who'd only been at the Academy long enough to have come into contact with but a handful of students. He'd yet had to act as any sort of disciplinarian with any of them, nor did he delve that deep into their personal lives. "Uh, no." He answered, his head shaking as his eyes flicked up from the book to the dark haired Academy official. "I never had anyone do that kind of stuff to me..." He trailed off, the words coming slowly and with more than a hint of lingering curiosity. "And no students. They're pretty well off limits." He paused for a moment then added, "That was made very clear in employee orientation."

[Kentaro Itonokogiri]

Kentaro had no problem picking up a conversation but the other staff member he found in the lounge didn’t seem the talkative type. Or it was the topic that he had no opinion about. It was true that it may not be something all that interesting, or that you were interested to share, but Kentaro found some importance in discussing the matter, if only because other staff members needed to know that some students chose to read such books instead of working. That they preferred it didn't bother him, he too had not been the kind of student who listened a lot in class or wanted to go at all, but the fact they actually did it was a problem.

There was something else too about the man. Was it that he didn’t get what Kentaro meant to say? English was not his first language and not only did he sometimes not know the words, he sometimes didn't speak his mind right. He answered though, that he had nothing like that happening to him and Kentaro read by this that no one ditched him to read stuff they really shouldn’t, or whatever other forbidden activity. It was why when he mentioned the off limits rule stated as he was hired, he got Kentaro confused. “What?”

Wasn’t a reason why they were hired to make sure they followed the rules and did what was asked of them around here? “Isn’t it part of our job to make sure they go to class when they are supposed to?” Kentaro was not completely stupid, he started to get that Marcus must have understood something wrong and that it was likely his fault for not saying it right in the first place, but he was also confused now and that was on the other man.

[Marcus Foster]

The simple response of 'what' said it all. Marcus was confused and didn't know where the conversation about gay porn was even a thing. He'd been privy to some seriously weird, messed up or downright bizarre (and often offensive) discussions in his day but he would've admitted to being taken a little off guard by the sudden display of the sexually charged book. It was a godsend when the topic shifted to their respective duties.

Marcus could at least bullshit his way through that talk.

"I dunno. Maybe for you." Marcus gave a semi-contemptuous snort. He barely knew any of his co-workers names, let alone their roles. Only the cute redhead who was following him around when he was on recruiting assignments stuck out in his mind as someone to remember. "I'm here to make sure they don't go apeshit and fucking blow up the place." The swearing came so seamlessly, as if it had been part of his vocabulary for years. Which it had. "I am not into the whole babysitting thing."

[Kentaro Itonokogiri]

Clearly they ended up thinking different things at some point in the conversation. Or Marcus was one of those staffers who wanted to do as little as possible. Their job demanded so much, the rest really depended on how invested the person was. Kentaro had a curiosity and a desire to prove himself that made him try harder than some. As for making sure the kids followed the rules, he believed he was relatively lax about it. They still had to follow them however, he simply didn’t look around like for them to make a mistake and have them pay for it. As for punishment, he knew how detention never did anything to him so he wasn’t sure it would do much on the new generation. He found other ways to punish the girl. Besides, he didn’t want to give her trouble right when she started. He considered his action a fair warning. She’d be more attentive from now on, he was certain of it. If not... He didn’t really want to bring out the book but he supposed he would have to. He wondered who was in charge of situations like this one...

Marcus was of those who did as little as possible it seemed. He didn't consider it his duty to make sure the students were going to class as requested. “What’s your job then?” Kentaro assumed he was a teacher or some trainer. The face was vaguely familiar but Kentaro focused on knowing those he had to work with first, ignoring everyone else until they would interact together. His job description made it sound like he was a trainer though, so Kentaro was a little puzzled. How come he couldn’t remember him more? With that kind of language, he would have thought that he would know him. “I don’t like disciplining them either, but I don’t like when they make me lose my time.”

[Marcus Foster]

Marcus didn't answer immediately. He found himself distracted by the remainder of the coffee that had been sitting in the bottom of the plane, white mug he'd grabbed out of the cupboard in the break room. It was cooling off which required the bulk of his attention. In response he remained quiet, glanced down and lifted his coffee mug to down the rest of the liquid in side. He let the lukewarm feeling settle into his stomach and issued a low exhale of breath before finally turning his attention back to his co-worker.

"I'm an integration counselor." Marcus spoke at last. He wasn't all that enthused about having to describe his position even though he wasn't surprised at Kentaro's reaction and subsequent question. Marcus didn't have the look or the outward demeanor of a counselor or that of a traditional teacher. It took him six months of working at the Academy before people stopped mistaking him for maintenance or a gym teacher. "My job is to help them adjust to their new environment." Which came out as the most official sounding thing he'd said in months. "Again, I'm not a babysitter."

[Kentaro Itonokogiri]

Kentaro waited for the answer. He was also trying not to look too amused by his attitude. Something in the man suddenly favoring his cup of coffee to this conversation amused him greatly. It wasn’t like the question was very personal or embarrassing, he merely asked about the man’s job. He was here, in this room, so they both knew already that he worked at the Academy. Kentaro read in it some failed attempt to being mysterious and it was what he found funny.

He tried to keep a poker face though and was eventually rewarded with the answer. “Oh, you’re the integration counselor,” he exclaimed. He heard that title before. It intrigued him. Somehow, it sounded like what they had him do back at Sainō when he was a student himself. It made him wonder why they needed an adult in particular to do this job. He understood some people needed a little more care than just a student showing them around and telling them what you could and couldn’t do, but it still intrigued him. He looked at the man with a whole new eye. “I was always curious to know exactly what you were doing, I just never really got the chance to meet with you before,” he admitted. Adjusting to their new environment sounded vague. If they had a counselor for this particularly, he must do more than hand over their schedule and tell them why they needed to go to their training sessions.