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 Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:33 am
The Science student leaned against a stack of crates on the harbor, his keen eyes looking over the boat. His expression was one of patience, a faint smile ticking at his lips so he didn't look too stand-offish. RuiZhi was dressed in his immaculate uniform, arms crossed over his buttened chest, coat tails billowing around his legs in the gentle breeze coming off the ocean. His long black hair was unbraided today, simply kept in a ponytail, a few of his shorter strands curling around his youthful face; in a fit of being unable to find his glasses, he had donned his Halloween contacts, making his eyes blue but able to see.
The teen shifted his weight on his booted feet, fingers tapping absently on his elbow. He'd been briefed about a student named 'Darren' that he was supposed to show around; he'd been given a brief glimpse of the student's ID picture (to know what the heck he was looking for), deciding it would be unbelievably difficult to miss someone with red hair and blue eyes. The Chinese youth had only met one such person in his life time, and the man had left a huge impression.
Not that he'd pin all his hopes on someone who had the same attributes, but he was hoping the student would be affable. The tour would prove to be awkward otherwise, as RuiZhi had put aside his Very Important Work to make sure Darren was properly seen to.
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:22 pm
After being told that the ship would soon be docking at the respectable port, Darren had scrambled to gather up his miscellaneous belongings that he brought along for the ride. Knocking over a tacky aquamarine lamp and jostling the mini fridge seated upon the floor in his room the lad managed to gather up what he desired. The most important of all was his laptop; that was placed respectively at his side. Since one never knew when the time would come where certain information was needed. Of course he would be smart enough to answer it without an online encyclopedia help page but keeping the machine close was a smart precaution in Darren's mind.
With his laptop and a duffel bag that contained a few helpful distractions, Darren moved out of the room and up onto the ship's deck.
Ever so gently, as if it was a fine piece of glass, the Irish boy set down his bag and laptop. Determined to crack the tight spot that had formed in his neck during the journey Darren stretched his arms upwards and tilted his slim body to the side. A happy smile coiled his lips when the much needed sound of a crack reached his ears. Not one for something going uneven, Darren leaned to his other side and did the same exact thing.
Before he could work out all the kinks to his body; The strong scent of salt in the billowing winds along with the screeching calls of the gulls brought Darren back to his senses.
He had come up here because, in just a few moments, the ship was going to stop. The waves would lap against it's sides and cry out a great chant for Darren to get off the boat. Even if he didn't want to, the ginger-boy knew his legs would give under pressure and lead him along. This change in his life was inevitable. So he may as well make the best of it and be as successful as possible.
"Ah..." The lad breathed as his mind was taken out of focus once more and placed back on the grassy knolls of Ireland. The familiar salt in the air had to be doing this to him...playing tricks with his mind. Yet unlike last time, Darren didn't awake right away from his little trance. It took the jostling of the boat for this young man to startle and wipe his thoughts clear of home.
Slowly, not wanting to look too eager and juvenile, Darren descended from the boat once they were allowed to get off. He didn't notice, but his hopes to look composed and old weren't working as much as he had hoped. Lost in a sea of people Darren's stomach had begun a circus performance with loop de loops and acrobatics so powerful that the show played upon his face. His blue eyes had grown large and round as they graced the crowds faces. The young man's long arms pressed the laptop to his chest and clutched the duffel bag so tightly that his knuckles had begun to turn white.
The youth looked like a small puppy searching for it's owner. Course, the description isn't as far from the truth as Darren may have hoped. Since he couldn't just find his way to the school grounds. Someone had to lead him.
He hadn't been told much though of who he was exactly supposed to be looking for. The information given to him was One. He would be wearing green. Two. He was Asian Three. He was a good kid who would help answer all his questions.
Yep, that description was fool proof...Darren frowned triggering his brows to furrow and dark lines to crease onto his forehead. How was he going to find this person?
What the young man didn't know as he stumbled over pieces of ground and clung as though his life depended on it to his laptop(which is kind of true) how close he actually was to this person. If RuiZhi turned his head just a little bit more to the right he would notice without a doubt the patch of vibrant red hair lingering among the hues of blonde, brunette, and black.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 12:51 pm
In truth, RuiZhi had spotted the red-head as he exited the boat, smiling a little at the look of the new student. Proud, curious, intelligent; just things he gleaned off of the young man's face. He could be completely wrong - he had been before - but there was no better way to know than to test for one's self.
"Darren?" he inquired politely, voice quiet but strong enough to carry over the din of milling and chattering students. The Chinese youth pushed himself off of the dock and tapped the other student's shoulder, wearing a kind smile that was earnest and not for show; he remembered his first trip down these docks, into the audience hall. He supposed that being thrown to the wolves was what was best for him at the time, although this method of learning about the school was just as agreeable, if not preferrable.
"I'm RuiZhi Tai," he greeted the youth, whom he had no doubt was the student he was told to speak with. "I'm here to welcome you to ShinKami and see to it that you're familiarized with the grounds. We can take a run to the bathrooms if you're not a fan of boats." Goodness knows he hadn't exactly enjoyed the trip, but it seemed polite to at least offer a visit to the bathrooms if the other was sick from the journey. Better than finding out later.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 2:16 pm
If Darren had known what RuiZhi thought of him right off the bat his heart would have fluttered with great pride. Those words: Proud and Intelligent described exactly how he wanted to look. After all, it was a fact that a goofy child never gained respect, while a tall-standing broad-chested intellect was cherished like gold.
As he stood within the crowd of bustling students, heading this way and that, the lad could have sworn that he heard his name. Grasping his laptop close to his chest he looked to his right, then to his left. Suddenly from the direction his eyes had not fallen upon something pressed against his shoulder. Not one to be snuck up on, Darren jumped almost a foot in the air from the ghost touch. The young lad even voiced a frightened mewl; the awful kind that he would later very much so regret ever having released from his throat. Immediately after, when his wide eyes fell upon the kind smile of the older student, his face became as red as his hair. How embarrassing! The spectacular first impression he had planned for days had been utterly destroyed by one fateful second in time. What would he do now?
Darren stood erect as a soldier before RuiZhi Tai as the older student greeted him with kindness. After he believed him to be finished, the youth extended his hand to his elder. The brilliant blue eyes that reflected the sky narrowed as a weak smile, not something Darren was used to, formed on his lips. "It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. RuiZhi Tai. I am Darren Jepson. Thank you for meeting me and for your kind introduction." Suddenly his shoulders leaned to the right as he hefted his bag back onto his shoulder as it began to slip down his arm. The lad grunted with anger but kept his hand out as he jostled with the small piece of luggage. "Sorry." He grumbled in great frustration as his attempt at a grand impression fell even lower. This just wasn't working out the way he planned it.
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:46 pm
The startled sound earned no strange look from RuiZhi, nor any disapproving words. He simply smiled, giving a quiet apology for startling the other, shaking the new student's hand. "Oh, no, please, just RuiZhi," the Chinese youth laughed, mildly embarrassed, "I'm still earning my title like the rest of the students. May I call you Darren?" He was trying to be polite, but he was still adjusting to the Americanized way of doing things; they were very unlike his upbringing, and not something he thought he'd really fully grasp anytime soon.
"Ah, can...can I help you with that?" he inquired, extending his hand yet again. "We can go by the dorm first, and then I'll take show you the rest of the grounds. I'm not going to make you carry all this around, that's for sure." He gave Darren a warm smile, not in the least bit affronted or deterred by the massive luggage. The kid had just moved here after all, and packing up their mere teenage years of life still amounted to just that - many years of stuff. Granted, RuiZhi still had very few and meager possessions of his own, but he had everything he owned with him. He didn't expect anyone else to be any different.
He moved one hand to indicate a building set between a few others. "Just this way if you please, we'll get the tedious stuff over with and take in the sights."
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