(Ally's Note: and the plot thickens...)

Stranger: He woke an hour or so later groaning quietly. He hadn't been VERY drunk but, enough that he was dizzy as hell waking up, looking around confused. "Mghn..." only half remembering passing out on the couch and...fuck Arthur- Looking up and around quickly to see if he was still there

You: A humming sound was coming from upstairs. Arthur had dug up the vacuums cleaner and was finishing up upstairs. He smiled at his work as the vacuum stopped. Much better. Everything was sparkling.

Stranger: He looked up towards it curious as to what was going on. Heading upstairs slowly, looking around. His house hadn't looked this clean in...ever.

You: Ah. Francis." Arthur said as he noticed him pass. "This place looks better doesn't it?" He boasted as he looked about. He was just finishing up in the bathroom.

Stranger: He jumped around a bit, looking about. "Uh yeah actually. Arthure mon lapin, please, forgive me I didn't mean to pass out on you like that I just, haven't had much sleep last night and you came so unexpected that..." He was going into a rambling tangent.

You: "O-oh yeah, uh... It's okay haha..." He said with a nervous laugh. He blushed a bit as he remembered what the Frenchman had tried. He frowned and tried make sense of it all. Hopefully Francis wouldn't remember it. It was really embarrassing after all.

Stranger:"Uhh...Arthur if i did...anything stupid..." no he didn't remember but he knew what he was prone to when drunk. "I normally only drink before...heading in for a long night so if I...said anything wrong I'm real sorry"

You: "Oh no, you didn't do anything." He said quickly. Arthur moved the vacuum to lock into place so it would stand upright. He backed it into the corner and wrapped up the plug. Anything he could do to keep the conversation from continuing.

Stranger: "Really?" Smiling a bit relived at that. "So uhm...you haven't been too bored I hope?"

You: "No. However, I was considering leaving after this. I thought you might sleep through it though..." Arthur shrugged. He really hadn't been expecting him to wake up.

Stranger: "So um...you find anything fun to do around this town? I know theres not much..." he smiled.

You: "No. Not yet." He said with a shake of the head. "Best place I've found so far was the library." He stood there for a second, thinking. "Oh! My book! I left it downstairs." He said as he brushed past him to go and get it.

Stranger: Forgetting he'd already invited him in his drunken state, it was the first thing that came to mind ."Well Gilbert is having this thing at his place next weekend, could be a good way for you to meet some people. I was thinking about going if I wasn't going to get too swamped with people...yeah right."

You: Book in hand, he came back towards him. "You already invited me." Arthur said with a small look of victory. "Remember?" He asked before tapping his own head. "You really shouldn't drink, it screws up your brain." He sounded confident, older and more mature as he said that, like he was talking to a three year old.

Stranger: He let out a heavy breath sighing heavily. "hmpghn...yes mother." he rolled his eyes a bit but was smirking despite it. "so remind me if I need to still convince you to say yes or not?"

You: "I've already said yes, though I am curious as to how you were planning to convince me." He said with a smirk. He shifted his weight and lifted his eyebrows in interest.

Stranger: He blinked looking at that smirk, had he ever seen him with that... Francis felt his cheeks heat up a bit coughing to give an excuse to look away. "I uh...well..." shaking his head getting his head back on straight smiling his usual suave grin but some how it seemed more...natural, maybe, was the word. It just seemed alot less plastic and fake. "well while my endless charms are useful, I notice you seem a bit immune to them..."

You: "Only a bit?" He asked before leaning agenist a wall. "I guess you wouldn't have been able to convince me if you weren't drunk." He said with a click of the tongue.

Stranger: "kick a man between the legs while he's down why don't you?" he pouted folding his arms over his chest sighing softly. "Is there anything I can do for you, I feel bad about passing out on you and...leaving you to clean this place up."

You: "I only cleaned up because it bothered me. And no; I was thinking about going home now." He said before turning around and heading towards the door, book in hand. He moseyed on downstairs into the clean living room. And to the door.

Stranger:"ah..um... alright..." It was for the best, Francis still had to go in tonight and usually when it was the weekends that meant they came to get him early. The last thing he needed was Arthur getting tied up in that mess again.

You: Arthur nodded. "See you at school." He said with a wave before leaving. The Brit closed the door behind him. Walking out, he realized how late it was. The sun was already starting to set. Best hurry home. He had to go through some slums; he didn't want to be there, looking like some rich, defenseless white kid after dark.

Stranger: Half way out he'd see it, going the opposite way and it seemed to almost slow as it passed him, that same car from the night before, the driver barely visible through the dark tinted glass, in all of his towering glory- a small smirk going across his lips as he drifted by Arthur, almost taunting him in a way.

You: Arthur watched the car go, a scowl coming onto his face. As it past, a chilly wind and a dark aura went with it. Arthur shivered and considered going back to rescue Francis, but thought better of it. If he were to charge in now, he would most likely fail. In worse case scenario, he would end up dead or even picked up by that guy to join the club. And as much as he wanted to save his friend, that wouldn't help anyone. Arthur hurried home, planning to take a nice long shower tonight. He needed to think.

Stranger: The next monday at the start of school it was a complete U-turn. Francis was right back to his old smiling flirting self, a few people asking him what had been wrong the previous week, and by a few that meant half the school- the same excuse over and over 'family problems, nothing to worry yourself over-" finishing in mon cher, or cherie, or some other generic term of endearment. He seemed to have different ones specific to different people. Loup was strictly for Antonio and Gilbert for example, ma fifille for a young dark haired girl who seemed to be the only girl in school he wasn't flirting with and actually seemed more like a brother towards, and other such cases, but generally it was the generic Cher. After being let in to who he really was it was almost disturbing, how well he lied and how easily he seemed to fall into a role, like he was fooling himself to even believe it, at the very least for a moment.

You: Arthur wasn't planning to get caught up into it and lied to in front of everyone. He stayed with Kiku most of the day, studying and doing homework. They occasionally stopped and talked about magic card games, promising to brim their decks to school tomorrow so they could battle and such. He didn't mind the quizzes and hard notes today. It was Monday! His favorite day of the week! And nothin was going to ruin it. He still hadn't come up with much of a plan, but he wasn't going to give up. He was just delaying the thought about the dreadful subject to be delayed until tomorrow.

Stranger: He looked over towards him smirking softly. It was down time until the teacher got back. Sliding over sitting on the edge of Arthur's desk. "Hey umm..." looking outside sighing softly. "You have a free period coming up don't you?" He muttered. He wasn't normally in the class but the teacher for creative writing was out and the class was too small to deem for a sub so they were sent to this class to be watched over.

You: Arthur looked up from his writing. He shut the book and flipped it over so that the title couldn't be seen. "Yeah, why?" He asked, a bit curious as to where he had gotten his schedule. Oh wait, Francis owned the school. Yeah, that explained it. Speaking of which, didn't he promise himself one friend? Now he had two. And wasn't Francis the one hat he didn't want to be friends with? What the heck happened? Oh yeah, emotional moment. Well, he had already broken most of his rules that he had set up. And he was going to a party. Another rule broken. Great.

Stranger: "I was wondering if we could talk then..." looking about frowning a little at everyone flocking them "too many people here." he mumbled the last part out barely loud enough to be heard.

You: Arthur could feel the glares. All around him, people were staring holes into him. If looks could kill, he would have died thousands of times. Francis wanted to talk privately with him?! Arthur knew too well what would happen if he said yes. And so: from one lie to another, he growled. "No. I needed to practice my instrument that hour. I don't have time for you." He said with narrowed eyes. The room relaxed a bit. Hopefully, Francis would get his hint. He really should be practicing that hour anyways, but he always played in the small forest behind the school, where no one could hear him. He would be going to the music room this time, but he didn't intend on playing today.

Stranger: He got the hint, but it wouldn't be him not to press the matter a little more, only doing it for sake of normalicy. "COme now Arthure, so many would kill for a moment alone with me, you sure you can't spare even a moment from your music?" fingers sliding back through his hair.

You: Oh? He wanted to play this game huh? Okay. Let's play. "Tell you what, I'll go alone with you, as long as you allow everyone else to come too. I don't want to be lonely as I listen to you talk about your great life. While the people here in reality work hard and achieve goals that aren't paid for for them." Arthur finished with a fold of the arms.

Stranger: He blinked curiously, shifting in against him with a small smirk. Well he made the game intresting at the very least. "mmm mon petit lapin, that would defeat the purpose of being alone then non?"

You: "Give the boy a prize! My answer is still no. Goodbye." He then turned to flip back over the notebook that he had been writin in. He finished up the entry before putting everything away. "Still here?" He asked Francis

Stranger: "you are a cruel boy..." he sighed leaning down ot his level. "maybe some day I'll be able to get through that icy heart of yours yet though." being so bold as to put a kiss to his cheek though that seemed to be his regular way of parting he did it with so many, before sliking off into the crowd, hoping he didn't entirely over step on that one.

You: All the color drained from his face. The words he had said while he was drunk, the things he had done, combined with that kiss, was starting to make him nervous. He had to remember that he was acting. Doing it for positive attention. He didn't bother responding, but just looked down into his lap. Arthur took a breath, trying to control his thoughts. What had he gotten himself into? He never should have spoken and told him about his mask... Then he wouldn't be in this mess. Then the days would be boring.

Stranger: Before anyone could start their chuckling gossip about how odd Arthur was the teacher finally was back, beginning the lesson which went by with not a problem. Everyone was back to their typical routine, even Francis was back to his usual drawing all class.

You: Everyone stared at Francis, Arthur ignored him as much as possible. He chatted with Kiku a bit while doing a worksheet together. What did Francis want this time? Last time he went to the music room with him, they came out friends. What was going to happen this time? Looking over to his Japanese friend, he caught him drawing mochi on the paper. He watched him for a moment "is Pro or Eu?" Arthur asked, pointing to a cell as Kiku jumped.

"Uh. Eu." He said before writing it on the page.

Stranger: Every so often he found himself glancing over to Arthur, it was always for a split second before snapping back down to his drawings. In a matter of the class he'd sketched out a few drawings of people around him with astounding detail Kiku and Arthur at work on what ever the Japanese boy was working on most notably. It was an old hobby of his, people watching, drawing them...it helped with his writing oddly enough, gave him inspiration and all of that. Mostly though it was a way to pretend to pay attention to what the people around him were saying and not having to really listen.

You: The teacher was just about to assign homework when The bell finally rang and everyone made a beeline to the door. No homework tonight! Arthur packed up his things, turning their worksheet in and zipping up his backpack. He said goodbye to Kiku before throwing the pack over his shoulder.

Stranger: Francis made his way through the crowds a few asking if he'd like their company instead which he politely declined on which one or two in particular got curious looks about but he paid it no mind. Heading out of the room to the music room.

You: Arthur went to his locker, getting out the instrument that he intended to practice. It didn't matter what Francis was planning, he was going to play his guitar dammit! He sighed and put his back pack away, before locking his small storage space. And once the locker closed, he was met with an angry glare from someone of which he knew. "Hello Amanda." Arthur blinked in surprise to see her there. "What the hell do you think you are doing?! Being mean to Francis like that!" She yelled as he frowned. "I just don't like him." Arthur said plainly as she pinned him agenist his locker. He was a small kid after all. Amanda towered over him... And he didn't want to hit a girl! "We'll get over it or you are going to have a lot more to deal with then me. Got it?" She snarled as Arthur shrank back into the locker doors. She snickered at that and let him free, walking away. Arthur frowned at her as she walked away. Great... He was going to get bullied again wasn't he? Well there goes this school... After he had just made friends too! He let out a sigh. "Git." He said in the direction of which he went before heading on over to the music room.

Stranger: Francis sat waiting at the piano, not playing, rather writting down a few notes on a page musing softly, every so often hitting a few keys humming to himself before jolting down another line or two, or scratching something off, looking up as Arthur came in looking like a prarie dog. "Merde, thank god..."

You: "What? Thinking I wasn't going to show?" He said with a frown before sitting on a stool that the bass player would use. He set his guitar case down by it before releasing the lock on the seat and spinning it down so that his feet touched the ground. He watched him for a moment, then focused his eyes on the sheet of music.

Stranger: "Arthure this is..." trailing off, looking to the guitar curiously. "You never mentioned what you played." he smiled but shook his head this was important. Going over standing close to him arms in around him as he leaned down whispering low enough only he could hear him, kind of arching himself so what he was saying couldn't be heard. "Arthure they're watching you...your in danger."