Odango
Apprentice mage
Just like an adhesive I stick to my thesis!
Posts: 68
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Post by Odango on Jun 5, 2007 21:30:17 GMT -5
Bunny is angry. Bunny is very, very angry. Yeah, he's a Zen Buddhist, but he's also a sixteen year old in high school, and he hasn't been practicing zazen nearly long enough to keep from getting upset about incidents like the ones that have been happening repeatedly at school.
Namely, getting beat up on because he's gay. Oh, and a goth. And a tree-hugging hippie vegan. And on top of it, he was kicked out of his house a few months ago because his mom saw him kiss a boy. Thank goodness he has such solid friends that are willing to take him in, because he's still too young to rent his own apartment, and his boyfriend can't seem to hold a steady job--not through his own fault, but because he's going through a temp agency and they get rid of him when he's not useful anymore.
So, what does Bunny do when he's angry? Not what most people do. He doesn't go to the gym to punch things or listen to loud, angry music or scream into pillows until it passes. No.
He grabs his acoustic guitar and meditation cushion, bikes from his apartment to the park on fifth street, and plops himself down on the corner to play songs he's written about searching for peace and love in such a confusing world.
I met him at a bus stop on the morning Of February the twenty-seventh He asked me if I had any matches in my bag So he could light his cigarette.
The soft chords and the gentleness in his voice are a stark contrast to his black clothes, makeup, three facial piercings, and purple streaked black hair, and a few people have stopped by to say anything from "You have a nice voice" to "You fucking goth poseur," but he doesn't stop playing and he doesn't stop singing, only offers a smile to anyone who stops, whether they have something nice or horrible to say.
I gave him a lighter and he gave me a smile and said "Do you know where you're going today?" "I don't have any plans, my life has no demands," I said, "And it doesn't really matter that much, anyway."
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Riemman
Junior mage
Official WTF
Shira: "You are the icing to my cake."
Posts: 176
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Post by Riemman on Jun 6, 2007 7:37:16 GMT -5
Skye sighs softly, making his way through the streets in the direction of the Fifth Street park. He ignores the strange glances he gets on occasion; he gets them so often that they don't really register anymore, he's too used to it. Although he figures that it might be understandable as to why.
On first glance, Skye is often mistaken for a woman. But then people notice that he's not, and decide to stare and whisper. Part of him supposes that he attire most likely doesn't help any of this, on the contrary, it probably encourages it, but it's no less annoying.
Skye is not exactly what a person would call a model example of a masculine figure should be. The most accurate description would probably be androgynous. He's very slender of build, with effeminate features on a heart-shaped face and soft, shiny hair that falls in flowing layers to mid-back. In a mid-thigh jean miniskirt, two layers of layering tank tops, the bottom one being dark green and the top one a brighter green, slightly platformed tan sandals (complete with green-painted toenails and matching fingernails), dangly earrings and a wide bangle on wrist, and the cute XO purse one one shoulder, he really does look like a normal, trendy girl, until people notice the complete and utter lack of any sort of chest. Then he gets double takes and strange looks of realization and half-disgust, half-complete astonishment.
He's learned to ignore it. It's nothing new. His parents spent a long time when he was younger to try to get him to wear "normal" boy's clothing, but he'd kept one staunchly refusing, often throwing temper tantrums (he'd been six, okay), and they'd finally caved. If there was anything he was supremely grateful for, it was his parents. They supported him despite his odd tendencies, and even despite the fact that he'd replied that he was bi, but yes, preferred guys when they'd asked him if he were gay. He was ever grateful for them, because he knew he was blessed, there were many parents who would abandon their children for such things.
Other people weren't quite so forgiving, but he'd learned to cope. After getting beat up so many times for being a 'girly little wuss', his parents decided to enroll him in martial arts, hoping it would help. It did. And he enjoyed it when his would-be bully realized that the 'girly little wuss' that he was about to beat up was going to instead kick his own butt. Most people learned pretty quickly to simply be polite or stay out of his way.
So it wasn't a bully problem or similar that had him down today, but his brother. He loved his siblings immensely, despite being the supposedly-ignored middle child; he'd never had that problem. But his older brother had signed up for the army two years ago, after he'd graduated high school. The family had begged him to sign up for the reserves, but stupid Micheal insisted that he wanted active duty. He'd been deployed to Iraq six months ago. He'd been due to return in a couple of weeks for some leave time, but they'd received a call today saying that he'd been severely injured in skirmish and that it was still unknown if he'd survive.
Mom had broken down crying. Dad tried to console her, but he himself was still in shock. His younger brother, Jason, had shut himself in his room. Skye hadn't been able to take the atmosphere, so with a quick comment to call him on his cell if anything happened, he'd grabbed his purse and left, hoping that sitting in the park for a while would calm him down a little.
He notices the music before anything else. It's soft and pretty and the voice is equally nice. He glances around in search of the source and sees a goth-looking kid sitting on a cushion and playing guitar. He walks closer a bit, listening to the music and looking the kid over for a minute. He supposes that it's a little strange to see a goth playing and singing ballad-type songs, but who is he to judge?
But the music's nice, and lets him clear his mind for a while, so he gives the boy a slight smile and sits nearby on the grass, folding his legs to one side.
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Odango
Apprentice mage
Just like an adhesive I stick to my thesis!
Posts: 68
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Post by Odango on Jun 6, 2007 8:22:22 GMT -5
The street was wet from the rain the night before The sky was grey and idyllically bright The winter chill was departing day by day And spring was coming in with a gentle, welcome sigh.
Bunny smiles back at the girl--no, boy?--after a few moments, he realizes that yes, the other in indeed a boy, but Bunny's expression doesn't change. Heck, sometimes he crossdresses, more out of like of women's fashion than anything else. He has no right to judge. Still, he doesn't say anything, but he does pause for a momet to offer a wave, then continues to play, his chocolate brown eyes smiling behind black-framed glasses, black painted fingernails glinting in the light as his fingers play across the strings.
He asked me if I had religion in my life Then said "It doesn't count for much if you do." I just smiled and looked up at the cloudy sky And said "God's everywhere, here, and in me and you."
After a few verses, a passerby drops a dollar in his guitar case and Bunny looks at it, surprised, but before he can call out to the person to say she can keep her money, she's disappeared somewhere down the sidewalk. Instead of getting up and chasing after her, he decides to give it to the next homeless person he sees, so it can go to someone who really needs it. After that pause, he continues his song.
"John Lennon said it best," I said, "When he said 'love is all you need'."
"And you know how it goes," he smiled, "A friend in need's a friend in deed."
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Riemman
Junior mage
Official WTF
Shira: "You are the icing to my cake."
Posts: 176
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Post by Riemman on Jun 6, 2007 16:06:39 GMT -5
Skye grins when the boy waves and can't help but giggle at the expression on the boy's face when the lady drops the money in the case. He reminds himself to greet the boy when he stops playing.
After a moment, he leans backwards onto the grass, carefully maneuvering his legs so he doesn't flash anyone unknowingly. Holding his purse and settling it on his lap, so that his skirt doesn't fly up with a breeze, he closes his eyes, letting the music wash over him.
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Odango
Apprentice mage
Just like an adhesive I stick to my thesis!
Posts: 68
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Post by Odango on Jun 6, 2007 18:54:14 GMT -5
"'Cos all the world's a stage," he said "And we're but humble players in it."
"But it leaves me so derranged," I said "With the love and hate, joy and pain within it."
More people pass by, rushing to work, going on lunch breaks, heading home from school, wandering the park, cars and pedestrians stopping and going with the red and green of the traffic lights. The light is red and two guys about his age stop on the corner, talking about he doesn't really care what, he just keeps playing and singing for anyone who might want to hear, even if it's just himself and the boy sitting on the grass.
"Carpe diem," he said, "Carpe Diem, my friend, Live for today and tonight and tomorrow."
"I just want to get by" I said "It doesn't matter why Why yesterday happened as long as I'm still here."
As long as I'm still here ...
With that, the song is over, but though Bunny has stopped singing, he keeps playing until one of the guys looks down at him--glares down at him--and kicks his guitar case, growling, "Fuck you," just before the light turns green and he and his friend cross the street, leaving Bunny sitting on the corner with vague hurt in his eyes. He's gotten used to it when he's out like this, and he knows it's not so much that people don't like him or what he's doing, but that they're insecure about what his songs are about--peace is threatening in a world at war, as much as it shouldn't be.
After a few moments, he goes back to his playing--simple strumming and fingerwork as he decides which of his songs he wants to play next.
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Riemman
Junior mage
Official WTF
Shira: "You are the icing to my cake."
Posts: 176
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Post by Riemman on Jun 6, 2007 23:38:43 GMT -5
Skye opens his eyes and looks over when he hears the kick and the curse. He scowls sharply at the backs of the two retreating guys. He hates people like that.
"Why do you put up with stupid idiots like them?" he asks the boy, sitting up to look over at him properly.
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Odango
Apprentice mage
Just like an adhesive I stick to my thesis!
Posts: 68
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Post by Odango on Jun 7, 2007 9:19:54 GMT -5
Bunny looks over at the other boy, slightly surprised that the other seems upset. The Japanese boy just smiles a little and says, "I could ask you the same question about everyone that's given you dirty looks and whispered since you sat down over there. People insult each other all the time. It's just what they do," he shrugs. "It shouldn't be that way, but if I let it get to me every single time it happens, I'd be miserable all the time. Yeah, it hurts sometimes, but ...it's something that has always happened and always will. They're just words, from someone I'll probably never see again, no less. It's not so much that they don't like me. They're afraid of what I'm saying, so they lash out."
As he speaks--his voice soft, just loud enough to make up for the sounds of traffic and pedestrians--he continues playing, the music for a song he wrote a few days ago that still needs half its lyrics.
"I mean, I'm not going to roll over every time someone tries to push me down, but it's important to know what kind of reaction is best at what time, you know? I could have gotten up and in his face, I could have yelled a 'fuck you!' back, but what would be the point if he was going to cross the street two seconds later? All that would come of it is a pointless fight."
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Riemman
Junior mage
Official WTF
Shira: "You are the icing to my cake."
Posts: 176
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Post by Riemman on Jun 7, 2007 12:02:26 GMT -5
Skye scowls at that, but has to admit he has a point. So he grudgingly nods and mutters, "I suppose."
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Odango
Apprentice mage
Just like an adhesive I stick to my thesis!
Posts: 68
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Post by Odango on Jun 7, 2007 19:22:27 GMT -5
Bunny laughs a bit. "Trust me, though, I'm not always this calm and accepting," he says with a wry smile. "I wish I was, but ...well, it takes a lot to really get me angry, but when I get there, I can be the biggest bitch you've ever met. I try, but I fuck up just as much as the next kid." He pauses for a moment before chuckling again. "Maybe even more."
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Riemman
Junior mage
Official WTF
Shira: "You are the icing to my cake."
Posts: 176
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Post by Riemman on Jun 7, 2007 21:14:12 GMT -5
Skye cocks an eyebrow. "Well, you're much better than me," he says wryly. "I tend to be a bitch from the get-go."
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Odango
Apprentice mage
Just like an adhesive I stick to my thesis!
Posts: 68
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Post by Odango on Jun 7, 2007 21:21:42 GMT -5
"I used to be," Bunny laughs, "but now that I don't live with my mom and her boyfriend anymore, I have a much easier time since I'm not always so stressed out about everything." He winces a little when he strikes a not-quite-right chord, then reworks his fingers, plays it again, and nods once when it comes out right. "I'm Bunny," he says. "You?"
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Riemman
Junior mage
Official WTF
Shira: "You are the icing to my cake."
Posts: 176
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Post by Riemman on Jun 7, 2007 21:41:20 GMT -5
"Skye," he replies with a little half-smile. "And I suppose I'm just naturally bitchy," he laughs.
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Odango
Apprentice mage
Just like an adhesive I stick to my thesis!
Posts: 68
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Post by Odango on Jun 7, 2007 22:25:14 GMT -5
"I imagine you'd have to be sometimes, if the looks you've been getting by all of those assholes walking by is anything to go by," Bunny says, half-smiling back. "It fucking sucks. Everyone I hang out with is really open-minded and easygoing, but the looks and comments I get when I go out wearing a pride shirt or showing my sleeve?" He stops playing and sets his guitar down in his lap so he can roll up his left shirt sleeve to show the tattoo he's talking about--a Katamari Damacy inspired sleeve, with the Prince rolling a Katamari ball and pandas and bunnies running around on a big rainbow, taking up all of his arm above his elbow and an inch below. "Even just leaning against my boyfriend's shoulder when I'm tired. Generally I can put up with them, but every now and then it's just ...I know it's terrible, but I actually want them to try to hit me just so I can have the excuse to hit them back." He pauses for a few moments, looking at Skye thoughtfully.
"I really have no idea why I just told you all of that," he says, his voice soft and thoughtful. "I don't know anything about you but your name. I probably had no right to say all of that. I'm sorry."
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Riemman
Junior mage
Official WTF
Shira: "You are the icing to my cake."
Posts: 176
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Post by Riemman on Jun 7, 2007 22:36:39 GMT -5
Skye just laughs and shakes his head. "Don't apologize. I don't really mind. And, yeah, I often do have to bitchy to deal with all the assholes. Unlike some, this is normal attire for me, not just something I wear once in a while cause I feel it." He shrugs. "It's me. I don't feel the need to change myself for people who don't even know me just cause they feel offended at my wardrobe. So I tend to attack before I can get attacked."
He grins slightly at Bunny. "School was interesting at first, I'll have to admit. I outcussed several bullies before finally just beating them up. They left me alone after that. Unfortunately, I can't simply beat up the entire world," he smiles ruefully. "So I end up having to put up with it when I'm out on the street or something."
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Odango
Apprentice mage
Just like an adhesive I stick to my thesis!
Posts: 68
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Post by Odango on Jun 7, 2007 22:46:26 GMT -5
"I can't imagine it would be very easy, beating up the entire world," Bunny smiles. "I'd think it would get to be way more stress than it was worth. I tried. It didn't work out too well," he laughs good-naturedly. "The last big fight I got in was six months ago with my mom's boyfriend," he says, wincing a little at the memory. Even though it was a while ago, everything about that night is still as fresh in his mind as if it happened this morning. "Since then I've been in a few scuffles, but for the most part I've gotten good at ending them before they really start. Not always. But for the most part," he repeats with another wry smile.
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Riemman
Junior mage
Official WTF
Shira: "You are the icing to my cake."
Posts: 176
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Post by Riemman on Jun 7, 2007 22:51:14 GMT -5
Skye winces in sympathy. "I'm sorry."
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Odango
Apprentice mage
Just like an adhesive I stick to my thesis!
Posts: 68
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Post by Odango on Jun 7, 2007 23:01:56 GMT -5
Bunny shrugs a little. "No need to apologize. It was going to happen eventually. It had been building up for a while. My boyfriend was there to help me out--though he wasn't my boyfriend then. We were in a weird 'I like you, and it fucking sucks because you're straight, but I have to tell you and just get it off my chest, wait, what the hell, why are you kissing me?' moment and my mom walked in and freaked out and started screaming all of this homophobic crap ...then her boyfriend came in and started screaming, and Dexter got in his face and started screaming, then her boyfriend punched him and it all just ...exploded."
He sighs a little, but ...as much as it still hurts to think about it, it's in the past. There's nothing he can do to fix or change it, so he usually doesn't let himself dwell on it.
"And now I live in a two bedroom with him and two of our friends," he finishes. "And it's a much safer, more stable place to be, so I'm very happy about that."
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Riemman
Junior mage
Official WTF
Shira: "You are the icing to my cake."
Posts: 176
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Post by Riemman on Jun 7, 2007 23:12:48 GMT -5
Skye nods, his eyes sad. "At least you're okay, yeah? It's when I hear stories like this that I thank whatever deity loves me that I have such a supportive family. It makes everything else easier to ignore."
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Odango
Apprentice mage
Just like an adhesive I stick to my thesis!
Posts: 68
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Post by Odango on Jun 7, 2007 23:21:07 GMT -5
"I'm better than okay," Bunny says. "I'm actually never been as happy in my life as I have been in the past six months. I don't have to hide anything from anyone I'm living with, they don't bug me when I'm sitting zazen, they're totally respectful of my religious and ethical beliefs and choices, and even though I don't make enough money to really help out with my share of the rent, no one's on my case about it because they know I'm doing all I can, and I make up for the rest by buying and cooking everyone's food." He laughs a little. "I mean, it's not amazing--it gets really cramped sometimes and since I no longer have a curfew, the nights I stay out late at shows and have to get up at six the next morning to go to school or work really suck, but it's so much better than what I had before."
He picks his guitar back up and goes back to his playing, before he smiles and says, "It's really, really awesome that your family is so supportive. It makes me really happy to hear that there are still so many understanding people in a world full of people that just seem to hate everyone because they don't really know how to handle it."
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Riemman
Junior mage
Official WTF
Shira: "You are the icing to my cake."
Posts: 176
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Post by Riemman on Jun 7, 2007 23:29:27 GMT -5
Skye smiles, happy that the other boy is better off now. "That's good. Makes me happy," he says honestly and with a bright grin.
"And, yeah, my family's the greatest," he agrees, a soft smile on his face, although it dims somewhat as he remembers the earlier call, sighing softly.
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