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 Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:34 pm
It had been after a long day of classes that Canaan'd returned to his dormroom, only to find a note telling him to report to Doctor Kenth's office. The teen had barely stopped long enough to dump his notebook and tablet on his bed before jogging to the hospital wing. He'd been spending hours each day studying, learning to read quickly, learning to spell. In fact, he only had one lesson to go before he was eligible for promotion. Cane was succeeding here. Soon, he would be able to write to his grandmother, and that made him proud. He'd never written a letter in his life.
Now though, it was after dark, the conversation with Kenth [however brief] taking up dusk, and he approached the gym, rather than the woman's office. As usual, Cane had great timing, and he found her right after she finished a repition of exercises. Announcing himself with a polite knock on the wall, the tan native entered the room, the note once again in the back pocket of his black jeans. It was interesting how he and Alex seemed to have a similar clothing style. [The tank tops, that was] Today, though, he wore his lengthening hair down.
"Alex? You are well?" A traditional greeting, for his people.
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Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:04 pm
It had been a long day, and Alex took out her long days on the nearest unfortunate inanimate object.
Today, at least, she managed to spill her annoyances onto her favorite punching bag, taken a jog, and then continued to hammer the hapless thing. Her hair was longer as well, too thick now to pull into a tail, instead looped and knotted at the nape of her neck with the tips splayed to the side. It made her look older, likely, but she hardly cared. It was out of her face and that was good enough.
She wore sweat pants this time, her tank top rolled up and tucked against her sports bra underneath, displaying her road map of scars. A slender, snaking pale scar crossed over her spine on either side of her back at a downward angle; there was a smaller, fleshy scar over her left hip that had an 'exit' scar on her back in the same place, no larger than a quarter and ragged in the back; last visable would be the one on the right side of her ribcage, an ugly thing that was obviously not clean when it was made, ending at the edge of her ribs and disappearing beneath her shirt. The rest were yet still hidden, thankfully, as she was not one to show them off.
So when Cane's voice interrupted her volatile thoughts from her day, her hands immediately lifted to loose her tank top, letting the soft fabric cover her tanned and marred body. She turned, surprised green eyes lighting upon the student, the tension there smoothing out into a pleased grin of recognition. "Cane!" she greeted the intruiging student warmly, "I'm a helluva lot better now, good to see you! Looks like you're moving right along."
She indicated his hair as she approached him, offering a bandaged hand before giving her own limb an unpleasant glance. "Ah, I'd shake your hand, but I'm kinda sweaty," she smiled apologetically, "but it's quite a pleasant surprise. I hope you're well, too?" Alex felt instantly better to see a friendly, agreeable face after such a long day, her broad shoulders easing into a semblence of contentment.
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Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:20 pm
The native was different than most of the students at the school, and one of the ways in which he was different was that he'd been raised in an environment where self-absorbtion was deterimental to development. Cane had been told to always observe, observe, observe. To listen to his gut, avoid judgements, and above all else, repair instead of damage. His blue eyes casually took note of the scars and he wisely chose not to comment, instead taking her sweaty hand in his dry one. He didn't have a problem with sweat.
"Ah, I always feel better after a work out." Cane prefered to do his in nature, but there wasn't too much to offer on the island. "I am well, indeed. I progress in my studies, and I am learning a lot about the ways of others."
Once again, a crisply folded piece of paper was withdrawn from his pocket, and held out to the woman. He didn't think he needed to say who it was from. Instead, he grinned. "I must admit, I was pleased to recieve his summons, as it gave me an excuse to seek you out once more."
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Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:38 pm
The woman appreciated his lack of questions on that particular day, and made a mental note to give him a hug when she wasn't so sweaty.
Shaking his hand with a smile, she chuckled, her expression light and easy, genuinely pleased to see Cane. "I'm very happy to hear that. You'll learn all sorts of walks of life here, some...less savory than others, but we make the best of what we have." Her shoulders rolled in a shrug, tilting her head to the side in a flippant manner. Alex actually had some difficulty in making the best in some cases, but she was trying sincerely.
"So what brings you here, other than to charm me out of my bad mood?" she joked, "You don't look dressed for the gym--"
And the answer was there.
A note.
Alex uttered an explictive in her mother tongue, taking a few steps back from the note as though it would bite her. She put her hands on her hips and paced, glaring at the paper, paced more, bit her lip and growled. Another few steps back, some forward, a precarious peering at the thing and an uncertain look at Cane. The stupid, infuriating piece of paper was mocking her, and she did not take kindly to that.
With a sigh, she grumbled, "I don't suppose you can say you lost it," and gingerly took the damnable thing with a sideways smile. "Yeah. I suppose in all of this, at least, I can say I got to chat with you for a bit again." She gave the thing between her flushed fingers a dirty look. "Any clues or warnings this time?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:47 pm
"I think the Doctor has picked up on my perchant for honesty." A sympathetic smile from Cane and he shrugged as the woman took the note. The curse may have been in Italian, but one could catch her drift. "No hints. He was matter-of-fact, once again, though he may have given me an unintentional compliment." A pause. "However, the note was unfolded when I recieved it. His hair is quite long."
She would understand the odd comment once she read the sparse thing. In fact, Kenth could have just told Canaan what to say, but he chose to write it down. Possibly to intimidate her.
"Do you handle all of his social and personal affairs for him? He seems to avoid leaving his office." It wasn't a nosy statement, simply one out of curiosity. If she fed him, and handled his barber appointments, what else?
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:32 am
"His hair has always been long," she murmured in quiet agreement, although she really rather found the length attractive on him. The woman unfolded the note and prepared herself, but single sentiment there, the couple of words made her expression shift. Her jaw slackened, her brows lowering over slightly narrowed gaze, disbelief awash on her sharp features. Was this a joke?
Incredulous green eyes turned to Cane, not at him, but hearing his statement coupled with the note made her hackles stand on end. The note crumpled beneath her dangerous fist, her brows furrowing darkly. "I am not his wife," she hissed irritably, more at the note than Cane. Alex wanted to scream and shread the paper into hapless bits and burn the remnants, but she really didn't want to disturb the young man in the gym with her. It was one thing for her to feel half the students were out of their gourds, and another entirely to make the one normal one distrust her because she herself couldn't possibly be more out of her gourd if she tried.
"I handle nothing of his," she finally replied, her tone dry. "Not his hand or his heart. Why he's asking this of me, I can only imagine." The last word was laced with annoyance. "Too busy, no doubt. It's a wonder he hasn't asked for a diaper change yet." She gave Cane a small smile, not expecting the youth to catch her sour humor. Kenth had fought her so long on not letting himself be taken care of, not letting her care, and then he reverts to this.
Mixed signals. The man had a Masters in it.
The note found itself airborn, discarded as she adjusted the wrappings on her wrist. "I suppose I could always come at him with scissors," she joked lightly, "since he wasn't specific." Of course, her coming at anyone with a sharp (or blunt) object in hand often meant bad, bad things.
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:27 pm
"I did not mean to suggest you were his wife, in fact, he seems to behave more like your wayward son. Avoiding contact unless he desires something." Cane's shrug was relaxed, and he didn't seem preturbed by Alex's outburst. In fact, he prefered it to the way people seemed to pretend they lacked emotions completely.
"My people usually give each other haircuts. It is silly to spend money on such things." He agreed with her. Perhaps she should cut the doctor's hair herself. "I would not mind escorting you to Doctor Kenth's office, if you should like."
It seemed like the two should talk.
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:59 pm
An apologetic smile curved her playful banter. "I didn't mean to say you did, he just...frustrates the hell out of me." She chuckled quietly, rolling her broad shoulders again, eyes ticking towards the discarded note, considering what the insightful student was saying. "You could say that," she replied at length, knowing very well why Kenth was the way he was. Alex could only damn herself for feeling for him even now.
"A trim wouldn't be difficult," she agreed quietly, "but I have a feeling that's not what he's asking for." The woman rubbed the back of her taut neck, eyes shifting around in quiet contemplation; why would he ask her? He'd given her small considerations, enough to make her think that he didn't just suffer her for the sake of her own affections...but he still baffled her to no end. Why? Did he need her to hold his hand?
"No," she mumbled, "he's not asking me to cut his hair. Especially not sweaty and riled." He couldn't handle me, she almost joked, but she had to remember this was a student she was dealing with, and her off-brand of humor had to be toned down just a wee bit.
Alex shrugged again. "I'll go by the mall and see if I can arrange something. If it's not what he wants, well. Not my problem, is it?" She chuckles ruefully, knowing it's partially a lie; she'd make sure he got what he wanted, and he likely knew that. Such terrible, fine-lined webs they wove.
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:20 pm
"I fail to see how any man could not want you around in such a state." Cane's grin was cheeky, a touch of the humor he had at home on the reservation, where it was accepted, showing through. It was of course, inappropriate, considering she was not only his elder, but also a staff member, but perhaps she would let it slide. After all, one couldn't deny that Alex was a very attractive [and capable] woman, and Cane wasn't the type not to notice.
Now though, he dropped back into a more respectful tone, his large hands clasped behind his back. "Is there anything else I can help you with, then? I am going to the mall tomorrow, and wouldn't mind dropping a note by the barber." He had no idea if she planned on doing it personally, but if she wouldn't mind the help, he was happy to do it. He was already going there.
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:29 pm
It was the first time someone had complimented her in her time in ShinKami (Greg not withstanding, he complimented everything with two legs), which explained the owl-eyed look she gave Cane before quiet laughter escaped her. She covered part of her face with her hand, giving the student a smile between grateful and coy. "Once you've met the rest of the school, you might understand," she replied cheerily. It was fun to joke, but really - these boys and the teachers weren't exactly around women. It only made sense that they'd gravitate to one another, like her dear little brother.
Strong arms crossed over her chest, index finger rubbing along her lips as she considered Cane's proposal. It would be nice of him to do, but Kenth had asked her. He'd no doubt take it as a personal offense if she pawned it off, even if she was really only making it easy for both of them. Ugh. Who knew haircuts came with a free headache?
"As much as I appreciate that," she finally stated, "I'll do it. And hey. If I run into you there, lunch is on me, for putting up with the theatrics of the faculty." She uncrossed her arms and wavered her hands as though it were a great drama, and really, it was more a tragedy than anything. "It's a bit much, even for me, and I'm often more embroiled in it than I care to admit."
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:45 pm
"Alright, I wish you luck."
Cane himself was no stranger to 'boy loving', however, he was openly a raging bundle of bisexual hormones, and he'd dated and appreciated more women than boys. Still, he grinned at her positive response, and nodded his head, before moving to the door of the gym. "It will be a good omen if I see you there."
"Donada`govi, Alex. Until we meet again." A short wave from the native, and he was out the door, into the night.
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:13 pm
"Thanks. I'll need it, along with a universe of patience."
A trickle of laughter managed to fight beyond her misgivings from the note, nodding enthusiastically. "Agreed." Alex lifted her hand in farewell, watching the teen go. It was a very strange, turmoiled friendship they were building (and the base of it a being with a heart of ice, but that wasn't the point), but she enjoyed the easy banter and light-hearted nature that Cane brought with him.
"Essere salvo, Cane," she replied in her mother tongue, smiling. Well. The Native had done his job, so she supposed it was time to do hers. A shower, a quick dinner over her stove...
"Tomorrow," she muttered to herself, shaking her hand to hide the anxiety that made it tremble. "Tomorrow is another day."
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