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 Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:15 am
It was a perfect day. Outside the mall, sitting on a bench, the British boy was sitting and looking up at the sky. It was a deep blue serene color. Below, the grass was green. And everything seemed silent on a bound of wind. At first, he'd been content with this atmosphere, but the more he sat, the more he avoided his work. It was rare to be at peace when most of his time was devoted to reading and looking up new things. Still, he couldn't help but slightly appreciate it. It reminded him of the old days and though he hated thinking of them, he had to admit that he'd been happy. His expression wasn't one of a happy child now though. It was kind of serious, as if looking at the sky was both annoying and painful.
So, instead, he decided to turn back to his notes and with pencil in hand, began scrawling another long list of poisons and their benefits. It seemed he'd never had enough of it. After a half hour of that, he decided that it was enough and he'd much rather come up with a new recipe. It wasn't as if he could really make most of them with his limited supplies. But he liked to think about it. It helped him with his mixing ideas. And so there he sat, being exactly who he was.
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:57 am
It was indeed a nice day, Micajah had to think, and he stretched his bare arms upwards towards the sunshine as he tried to rid himself of the aches that oft came with sitting in a chair for more then four hours at a time. He'd managed to get what paperwork that needed to be done out of the way for the time being and was free to do as he pleases, as homework had been long since completed and set aside to be turned in, so he took it upon himself to once more get out and walk the island.
The satchel he carried over his shoulder did little more than cause his shoulder to be slightly warm as he traveled, and with a few steps that came to pass he reached in and pulled out a rather worn notebook and a pencil. Micajah's steps didn't stop as he flipped back the cover and idly turned a few pages, his eyes now and then glancing up at where he was going and then back down at the lines and notes that were scribbled in different stages of fading. It was clear he was going to do something while he was out, maybe sew something or plan a new project, and he grinned.
This will work. I've been meaning to practice embroi -
Micajah's thoughts were cut off, hard and quick, as he felt himself contact with something hard and no moving. He winced a bit as his body fell backwards, his eyes taking in the tree that seemed to be mocking him.
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:08 pm
Chicken. Carrots. Broccoli. Cheddar cheese? No maybe Swiss? Definitely not. So what else ...
Nathaniel looked up from his book and notes. There were quite a few food names, crossed out, checked, rewritten. For right now it looked like a mess. But that was the point. The only one supposed to be able to understand his notes was himself. Unfortunately, he'd now been distracted by these notes by a strange sound. And as he looked up, his face sort of fell and he blinked in surprise. Yes, true surprise. There wasn't a mask emotion that could cover what the Brit quite felt at that moment.
One of his fellows students... had just walked into a tree.
It was going to be a long day.
Now, Nathaniel had been called many things. Selfish. Rude. A brat. Pathetic. Not all of them out loud, but people said things with their eyes. However, of all the things Nathaniel was, he was not ignorant. And although he didn't really like the other student, he didn't hate him either. And he figured it wouldn't hurt to be nice to some of the others. He'd much rather not have another enemy like Scyeth. That was going to be a hassle. Usually he'd ignore the situation entirely, but he felt sort of bad. It seemed like the other had been working on something, and he'd hate to have been interrupted by a tree if he was working on something.
And so, manners ablaze, he stood up and held out his hand to the other who looked quite familiar. What was his name again? Micajah?
"Are you okay?"
Yes. It was an odd change for him. But the other wasn't an idiot. He remembered; Micajah had earned his respect. Not much else. But his respect. And that was a good enough reason for the Brit to be polite. He really wasn't a mean kid.
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:17 pm
Stupid tree. Who the heck invented trees anyway?!
Micajah's forehead stung from where it had contacted with the tree trunk, he was pretty sure he'd have a goose egg tomorrow to show off his stupidity, and for a moment his vision swam a little. It took someones voice to pull him out of his tree hating tirade, he when he managed to blink away the dots he recognized the face in front of him.
"Oh, Nathaniel. I'm fine, thank you for asking."
He took the hand that was extended out to him with a friendly enough smiling, taking care not to pull the other boy down as he managed his way back up and to his feet. A quick check-over revealed he was no worse for the wear, other than his head, and he turned his attentions now to finding his notebook that must have been dropped when he contacted with the arbor brute.
He would have kept looking instead of address Nate any further, but it was in his best interests to be polite back.
"I hope I didn't disturb you or anything. I'm always walking into things because I don't pay enough attention, which is also why I seldom leave my room. Kind of hard to injure yourself when you know where everything is placed."
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:54 pm
The British watched the other process things again and then easily helped him back onto his feet without unbalancing himself. This, he decided, was a success in itself, because the other already had a somewhat red mark on his head from the tree. Politely, with a truthful smile he nodded, and then knelt down and picked up a notebook he noticed near his feet. He held this too, out to the other boy and gave a little shrug, as if he really didn't care.
"You were disturbed by the tree. I didn't think it would be awful if I disturbed myself to help you up," he replied nonchalantly. He really could be a good boy, and he was in a good mood today. He'd gotten most of his notes done. Things were definitely awkward, but he had his mask on. It was simply a matter of treating Micajah with the politeness he'd use on a teacher. Once he got into the rhythm of it, it really wasn't too difficult. If being nice to other students both kept them at bay and stopped enemy alliances, he supposed he could handle it. So long as they didn't interrupt him when he was really studying.
It's not like he was gonna make 'friends' with any of them. He didn't need those. Acquaintances could be good though. Useful. Right?
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:26 pm
There's something off about him.
Micajah gave a small word or two of thanks as his notebook was handed back to him, and his lips pursed into a small frown as he noticed a few pages had been bent back and sightly ripped. He most likely did this when he fell, but none the less Micajah felt a bit upset over the pages being in the state they were. He flipped through a few more, to double check, and he frowned as he reached what he'd been working on last night.
"Geh, there's a rip right through the middle of this pattern. I'm going to have to redo this, but I'm already halfway done..."
He mostly spoke aloud, though he trailed off as he looked up from his notes and remembered that Nathaniel was standing right before him. His cheeks flushed a little with embarrassment, and almost to show the other student he wasn't just babbling, he turned the book to face him.
"I..I'm talking about this pattern. I was in the middle of putting this design on a shirt, and now..."
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:37 pm
Was it really okay though? This forced happiness was kind of tiring. He was much more comfortable simply looking calm and indifferent to most of the world. Still. He had already begun to be polite, and he'd found no harm in it yet. Sure, he wasn't going to be chatty. And he really didn't care about whatever Micajah was doing. But he'd already started this stupid conversation, and it was clear that the other wasn't going to let it go while they were in the same vicinity.
Still smiling, although it was definitely more forced than fluid with bits of truth now, he nodded and observed the pattern. So the other... made designs for shirts? That was a little odd wasn't it? But then again, he liked to cook and make poisons. So what was so odd about patterns for shirts? It definitely couldn't be worse than his past time.
Glancing behind him quickly, he realized his notebook was still safe on the bench not too far away. He frowned very slightly, wishing he'd picked it up before he'd come over to this boy, but how could he have known? Oh well. No matter. Turning back just as fast, he looked at the design a little longer, slightly curious about the other habits of his fellow students. Not that it really mattered, because he didn't care, but simply out of curiosity.
"So, you like to sew, Micajah?" he replied politely, old habits dying hard. He had always been taught to finish what he started, and with the best manners possible.
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:46 pm
"Yes, I like to sew. One day I hope to -"
A frown slid across Micajah's lips as he thought about what was going on, what they were doing, and he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand as he sighed.
"Why are you asking if you're not really interested in what I do?"
Micajah's voice was quiet, soft, as he spoke the sentence, his hand softly snapping the book closed. His movements were fluid as he slid the bruised notebook back into his satchel but not once did his eyes really leave Nathaniel's face, not did he speak anything else until he was sure everything was properly in its place.
"You shouldn't force yourself to be polite to others when you don't mean it, even if you were raised that way. Being superficial is just as rude as actually being rude."
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:00 pm
So the other had seen? Yes of course he'd see. Nathaniel had been nothing like this when they'd first spoken. He knew he should feel a shred of embarrassment, but he didn't really feel much. He'd just been trying something new, and Micajah had happened to have been the guinea pig for the experiment. For a moment, he stood there, keeping eye contact with the other. His green orbs were fervently assessing the situation. So, finally he let the happy facade fall and set his face into the serious but calm one he'd been waiting to wear. His almost true face. The only closest to his core.
He blinked at the other, "I apologize." He wasn't going to make excuses. He didn't need to. The other had spoken truth, and Nathaniel accepted it. That was usually how their relationship went. The other mostly seemed annoyed with Nat's all-too-fake behavior. Though most of the time, his polite mask was so good that rarely did people see past it. And sometimes, he actually meant what he said. Today, he had been happy, and had been honest when he'd helped Micajah to his feet. But as for the sewing, he really didn't care much.
People had all different hobbies. It didn't concern him what they did in their spare time, so long as they stayed out of his way about it. Sure, he could be nice to other people. He could avoid enemies. But some people would just not like him, no matter what. Like that Aussie punk, who certainly didn't deserve to be in the school at all. The bloody fool! Micajah didn't seem like that though, and in actuality, Nat rather liked the other's honesty, despite the fact that it meant they didn't get along.
The Brit never seemed to get along with anyone but Jaden, and that suited him just fine.
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:31 pm
"Don't. You're wasting your time because you don't really mean that as well. It seems all you're capable of is automatic reactions to what people feed you at the start."
Micajah's lips were pursed once more into a frown, an expression he was sure that he'd be wearing enough around this youth that it may become the only look Nathaniel would become familiar with when he thought of him.
He sighed a little when he caught how he'd sounded, and after a moment the frown faded to be replaced with a look of general neutrality. He'd been the one helped originally, and now he was yelling at this other boy like he'd caught him with his hand in the cookie jar. Not a smooth way to do things.
"I'd apologize, but I don't really see why for. I'm not yelling at you, and you don't seem upset by anything anyone says to you. Must be hard, huh?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:16 pm
Well now, this conversation was taking a turn for the worst. In fact, he wasn't exactly sure how or why it had turned out like this. He was a kid who liked to study. He could be friendly, but he'd rather be plain. Straight faced, rare smiles, hard calculating gaze. The look he gave the teachers was a much different one, and he always hid behind his mask, never letting anyone see what he didn't want them too. But that smile had just been too fake and too forced. It was perhaps his own fault, but he had indeed been pleased with completing his compilation of notes for the day. And now, here he was, having a conversation with Micajah who clearly had something against him.
And he really didn't want another enemy. That stupid Aussie punk was enough. The bloody fool! Nathaniel sighed a little and folded his arms in a sort of bored manner. Not really angry or anything, but more confused than anything. Was it so difficult for people to pick sides? This one always seemed like he was trying to change Nat. Like he didn't like anything he did or was. So why bother? And why would he be upset? He didn't need to be affected by the petty things everyone else said to him. Only the important opinions mattered, and Aja was nowhere on an 'important person' list in Nat's mind yet. So he didn't count.
"I'm not quite sure what you mean by hard. But I will uphold my manners with honesty." Wasn't that good enough? What was with all these kids? It wasn't that he was too prideful or better than them. No, he was perhaps only better in his own field of study. And yet... everyone he met seemed to have something against him. Not that he cared, but he really did want to know why. Couldn't he make companionship with any of them? And wasn't it better that he didn't lie and try to sound interested in things he wasn't? A gentleman was honest, his father said. And that's what he'd wanted his son to be: a pure British gentleman.
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:44 pm
"It's poor manners to act the way you are in front of someone then it actually is to be rude to them. I'd rather you were honest with yourself and with me instead of pretending and using excuses."
Micajah in all honestly was feeling a little more annoyed than he normally would ever allow himself to be, yet just like the boy before himself he didn't alter the tone of his voice nor the appearance of his face. This Nathaniel wasn't the only who would could 'wear a mask', so to speak, as Micajah probably had just as much practice...but for different reasons.
"But I'm wasting my breath, aren't I? You don't care enough about me to want to hear my opinions, do you?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:24 pm
Letting the other speak seemed the most appropriate thing to do at this moment. Couldn't they get along at all? He didn't want friends, they were burdensome things to look after. But he still entertained the idea of being on speaking terms with most people. Were his ideas really so very different from everyone he met... so different that he couldn't have a simple conversation without annoying someone about something or another.
He raised his emerald eyes to Micajah, looking at him with a respectful gaze, "I apologize if you think I'm rude then. But I'm actually very interested in your opinions. If I'm as poor mannered as you seem to think, then perhaps I would have already proceeded to walk away if I did not care. Don't you think?" Cocking his head to the side gently, he wondered what the other would have to say to that. It wasn't a defiant statement either, but a calm one. Calm and respectful. They were on equal footing.
And though he usually wasn't very chatty, he didn't mind stating his opinion in a conversation such as this. It had to be done sometimes anyway, didn't it?
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:26 am
"You're too full of contradictions for me to honestly care anymore."
Micajah dismissed whatever Nathaniel had said with a wave of his hand and rubbed the spot on his forehead that was still red from his first date with the tree, wondering if he should put ice on it when he got back to his room...or simply wear a hat to class for the next few days. He wasn't sure if hats were going to be allowed in the classrooms, but as Scyeth has always worn one around (or so he thought) and did that little Russian boy (who's name escaped him at the moment), then he should have been able to wear one...if he had one.
"I don't even own a hat, great. Should I just make one?"
His thoughts came out instead of staying in, something that happened time to time when he was thinking about a new project or a situation that left him a little uneasy, and he continued to plot in his mind what he could do next.
"I could always sew one...I've got enough fabric with me if I'm not mistaken, and that's how I could practice..."
Micajah's attentions had totally left Nathaniel behind, though he stayed standing right in front of the boy and chatted out like he was speaking in turn. If Nat happened to think Micajah was daft for any reason, this may have been a helper.
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:06 pm
Nathaniel's puzzled and nearly cornered expression changed oddly as the other one brought up hats. How had it gone from disliking everything about the brit to the other's thoughts on hats? And even possibly sewing his own? Raising a curious eyebrow, he folded his arms and watched the boy deliberate curiously. His emerald green eyes were observant as they analyzed the situation. He could walk away. He didn't need to deal with this anymore... and yet... wasn't this interesting? He could learn something more about this strange boy who seemed to thing his every thought was selfish and childish.
But more than that was that Nathaniel was actually curious. He actually really and truly wanted to know about this boy who could change topics like this. And who, not to mention, had an odd quirk with sewing. It seemed like his little side-talent for cooking. Did everyone have one? Jaden was so filled with them, that sometimes he couldn't tell what was what.
"You're going to make yourself a hat?" he intruded politely, quietly, as if wondering if the other would even acknowledge his question.
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