So there's some good news/bad news stuff going on here. I'll start with the bad because the good news softens the blow and with the good it'll work itself out.
Bad news: I love my Marvel Pride and Prejudice comic. I'm 100% positive I took it to California with me (for some reason I take it with when going somewhere thinking I'll work on this but never do, maybe now since it's actually on the site that'll be more of a push to do that), but when I looked in that bag a week or so ago it wasn't there. So I think I might have left it on the other side of the country. Poo.
Good news; I ordered it at Barnes and Noble and it should be in sometime this week. And I'll have to go to the city anyway so I can go pay off what I need to for tuition so I can confirm enrollment and pay for my trip to London and stuff. I don't think I have to encounter the scary financial aid lady either, so yay!
Which means I can start story mapping this thing as soon as I get it. I think I'll probably have it in my possession by Wednesday (and actually I just got the e-mail saying it was in today, so it may be more like Thursday or Friday), and so I'm making it a goal to have the map done by next Sunday so I can start chapter three shortly afterward. Aren't you glad I had chapter two typed up previously?
Disclaimer: Don't own either P&P or Junjou Romantica. Sad face.
And to Hiroki, meeting the remaining Bennet girls was about as fun and easy as pulling teeth. He couldn't believe just how giggly and silly the youngest two could be! He was somewhat appalled at Lydia's flirtatious manner, how she seemed to add some extra meaning to his name by pronouncing it just the right way to make him angry.
"Mr. Kamijou," Mrs. Bennet began in when all of the Bennet's and himself had gathered at the table, "I rather find your presence at this house to be an utter delight! I am so thankful to Lizzy for bringing such a handsome gentleman into our home." At this Lydia giggled and whispered something to Kitty, who in turn joined in with her own silly laugh. They had done that all day from the moment he had stepped downstairs all the way until where he was sitting at dinner. Mr. Bennet only rolled his eyes at his younger daughters, paying more attention to carving up his supper rather than the scene they were making in front of their guest.
"Mama, will Mr. Kamijou be joining us at the ball in Meryton?" Lydia got out through a few more giggles, only to duck back towards her sister as they continued to chit-chat at the table.
"I certainly hope so! It would be wonderful, Mr. Kamijou, if you could escort one of my daughters at the Assembly."
"Well dear," Mr. Bennet finally said, taking a mere second to look up from his supper at his wife, "he is Lizzy's guest, it should only seem proper that he would escort her."
At this Lydia's jovial smile immediately flipped itself over. She couldn't argue back with her father on that matter, and even if Elizabeth denied the escort by Mr. Kamijou than Jane would be next in line. Of course, there was always the chance that her mother had her heart set on Mr. Bingley focusing his attentions on the eldest Bennet, and that would make Mary next in line. Of course, Mary had no sort of interest in these kinds of things, which only meant that her and Kitty were next! So if she could get her elder sister to deny him as her attendant for the evening, than they could split him evenly during all of the dances!
"Oh, but Papa, Kitty and I will be so lonely without partners to dance with!"
"Nonsense. The militia is still in town and I am sure there will be some equally fine gentlemen that won't find your silly behavior at all bothersome."
To that the two older Bennet girls grinned and Hiroki let out a small chuckle. But a sly grin was soon thrown at Hiroki from Miss Elizabeth; one that told him that she was going to be a bit of a tease and make him sweat a little bit.
"But I'm sure, dear Lydia, that Hiroki will be more than happy to share one dance with you."
At this Lydia beamed again, and Hiroki's face went completely white. It took him all of his might in order to hold back the firecracker temper that he was well known for; true, about half of the Bennet's may find it amusing, but he had a feeling he knew what Elizabeth was up to, and he didn't want to bite back and give her more reason to tease. So instead he grumbled to himself, slicing away at the food before him before Mr. Bennet directed his attention back at him.
"So, Mr. Kamijou, what is it that you are most involved in? I haven't heard a word of where you had previously resided, and I am most interested."
"Ah, right. I'm a Literature professor at the college level."
"My, what an esteemed young man!" Mrs. Bennet interrupted. "Tell me, where is it that you teach. Cambridge? Oxford?"
"Uhhhh…" Hiroki's mind went blank. Sure, he had heard of the first two colleges that had been established in England, but he'd never done any further research on either of them. Seeing Hiroki struggle, Elizabeth decided to intercede.
"Hiroki is actually from outside of England."
"Really! How pleasant that must be! I trust this is not your first time in England than, since you are so connected with the Lucas's."
"S…since I was a small boy," he managed to stutter out. He threw Elizabeth a look of thanks, to which she smiled kindly at before returning to her plate to finish her meal.
"So where is it than you had previously occupied?"
Hiroki swallowed and hope that this answer would satisfy the very curious Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. "A place in the countryside some far distances from England."
"And do you live alone?"
Oh boy, now he was stuck. He didn't know exactly how to explain Nowaki to them. Homosexuality was pretty unheard of in this day and age, and even if it did happened it stayed behind closed doors. Taking a sip from his glass, hands shakily placing it back down, he cleared his throat and tried to seem as natural as possible. "Yes."
Nowaki had previously told Hiroki that he was pretty bad at lying through his teeth. There were telltale signs that his lover came to recognize in order to tell the other wasn't telling the truth. His eyebrows would always twitch a bit and his hands would shake, and he would even add in that the air felt very nervous around the older man. Thankfully, none of the Bennets seemed to pick up on his odd behavior, and dismissed it, returning to talk about the militia and Mr. Bingley.
However, Elizabeth was just a bit sharper than the rest and knocked on his door before heading to bed herself that night.
"She must be very beautiful, Hiroki."
To which he swallowed, his back facing her when she had entered the room, a bead of sweat nervously finding its way down his neck.
"And indeed most amiable in order to have your attentions focused on her."
At this he drew in a quick breath, not saying anything as this seemingly awkward aura clouded the room, the silence from her last question freezing him into his place.
"Ah, I'm terribly sorry. Please forgive me for questioning about your personal life."
"No…no, it's okay," Hiroki somewhat choked out. Bringing up Nowaki like this; it somewhat reminded him about how much he missed his raven haired lover. "It's just that…well…it's a bit complicated."
"Pardon?"
"I mean…my…my partner…" he began, his cheeks growing a bit redder. Why was he revealing this information to Elizabeth anyway? It's not like she was forcing the answer out of him, and he hardly knew her!
"Oh…I'm terribly sorry, Hiroki. I hadn't the slightest thought that she could be deceased."
"No, no, that's not it. And…well…she is actually a he…"
To this, Elizabeth's expression faltered only for a second to utter shock before returning to normal, smiling at him kindly. "Do you miss him?"
"No way!" Hiroki exclaimed at the thought. Of course he missed him, but he wouldn't admit that to anyone! Not even Elizabeth Bennet. "I don't miss him! Not at all! I see this as a time to relax and have a nice vacation!"
She let out a small chuckle, and Hiroki had a feeling that she knew otherwise. But she wasn't going to press the matter any further.
TBC
Wow, this was actually rather…short.
But I might have sort of lied when I said chapter two was totally finished. Apparently I had started the very first ball and Mr. Darcy's introduction without actually completing it. Like I stopped mid-sentence and just decided to close the computer and call it quits for the night and never really picked it back up.
Bad news for me because then I have no idea what I was thinking at that moment. But I guess it's okay too because I think I was confused at how Hiroki was going to fit into the balls…I know I had come up with something for when Elizabeth walks to Netherfield, but in-between I'm pretty sure I stopped because I was a bit puzzled. And with getting the new book and sitting down to actually map everything out I can probably come up with something.
There was also a review about how Nowaki will walk into all of this. Believe me, Nowaki isn't going to show up for awhile. Not like I'm going to briefly pair Elizabeth up with Hiroki. Ew. That would be just...weird. Kitty and Lydia may flirt, but you should all know by now that they are just really flirtatious and silly and would probably flirt with a cactus if it was given a nice suit and a mask. No, no, no, all couples will stay the same whilst I write this; Junjou and Prejudice alike, I will not change anything.
So yeah, I have no internet as I write these notes. But I'll stop into a McDonalds for a lemonade or frozen coffee so I can get this up. Mmm…coffee.
Read and review, over and out. -Nibzo