* Alexander hall is totally empty at this time of day, and the doors into the
cafeteria are now closed.
* Ryo comes running out into the hall after Ao-Lang, skidding for a moment and
slamming into the wall as he tries to turn the corner.
* Ao-Lang turns and just sort of looks at Ryo blankly for a moment. "You meant
to do that."
<Ryo> I deny that allegation categorically.
<Ao-Lang> So you didn't mean to do it?
* Ryo pauses, obviously trying to figure out which one makes him look better.
* Ao-Lang manages a little smile, though it's extremely brief. She holds out a
hand to Ryo.
* Ryo reaches out and takes the hand, grinning widely.  "You okay?"
<Ao-Lang> No.
* Ao-Lang pauses, then adds, "Though I didn't run into a wall."
<Ryo> Yeah, but you looked kinda like a wall ran into you back there.
<Ao-Lang> It kinda did.  I don't want to be around them anymore.
* Ao-Lang starts walking, Ryo in tow.
* Ryo lets himself be pulled along, slowly.
<Ryo> It'll get better, you know.
<Ryo> And at least she's sticking up for herself.
* Ao-Lang shrugs. "Which means everyone ignores everything I did."
<Ryo> You'll end up in that spot anyway, I bet.
* Ao-Lang shakes her head.
<Ryo> I know, it doesn't help now.
<Ao-Lang> I'm not going to be leader.
<Ryo> What, never?
* Ao-Lang looks tired. "Not more than I've already done."
<Ao-Lang> They don't like me enough.
* Ryo shrugs.  "Maybe you can get past that?"
<Ao-Lang> Not without really trying.
<Ao-Lang> They like Mariah more, you know?
<Ryo> Yeah, but if she screws up...
<Ryo> Of course, you could always make sure she doesn't.
<Ao-Lang> Lotta thanks that'd get me.
* Ryo shrugs.  "Can't win 'em all."
<Ao-Lang> No.  You can't.  I really hoped I could, though.
<Ryo> Sure, but you've got people here for when you can't win.
* Ao-Lang looks at Ryo, then shakes her head. "Not on my team. I'm stuck with
them."
<Ao-Lang> I mean... I don't really care about being leader.  If we can win with
Mariah, great.  But...
<Ryo> But it sucks being stuck with people you don't like.
<Ao-Lang> No.  It sucks being stuck with people without recognition.
<Ao-Lang> It sucks when they know you're not going to leave, and so they're
going to use it to support people they like.  I can handle people not liking me. 
I'm used to it.  I can handle having to prove I'm worth something.  I'm used to
that, too.
* Ryo nods slowly.
<Ao-Lang> But I already did that, and I... I can't do anything more.  I just-
they just want to treat it like a popularity contest, fine, but I don't-
* Ao-Lang chokes, then stops herself and takes a few deep breaths. "Mariah's
just better than me, or they think she is, and I... can't... I just can't do
anything else. They picked the perfect time. I can't."
<Ryo> So... wait?
* Ao-Lang lets out a long, heavy sigh. She gazes at the floor ahead as she
walks. "Are you even on my side, Ryo? It almost looks like you think Mariah's
right."
<Ryo> I'm not on anybody's side.  How can I be?
<Ao-Lang> I dunno.  Something about everyone having their own opinions, even if
it's not supposed to be their business.
<Ryo> I dunno if it's good or bad, it's too soon to tell.  But if you can't do
anything about it, I say don't worry about it.
<Ao-Lang> It's easy to say, but I can't do that.  They...  I can't.
<Ryo> So you can't stop worrying, and you can't do anything about it?
* Ao-Lang sighs. She drops Ryo's hand. "I guess."
<Ryo> So, like I said... wait.  The time to strike will come.
* Ao-Lang nods. She's silent for a moment, then says, "Ryo?"
<Ryo> Yeah?
<Ao-Lang> What'd it take to join that dueling club?
<Ryo> Just show up, sign up, and fight.
<Ao-Lang> Okay.  I'm gonna do that.
<Ryo> They should be out there right now.  Let's go.
[Session... END!]