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 Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:59 pm
One again Canaan found himself grateful to Micajah for his tutoring when the native had first arrived at the school. While he wasn't a fast reader, he was now a good one. Better with technical texts, still, and he didn't read fiction [other than his people's myths, however the boy didn't count those as fiction]. Now he was in the bookstore, running skilled, callused fingertips over the spines of old texts as he walked the rows.
If he had his way, he'd be taking home more than one book. About basic mechanical construction and electronic armors and security. Oddly enough, he was alone. Sure, Cane was perfectly content with his own company, but he rarely ventured to the mall on his solitary sojourns.
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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:52 pm
Ah. The companionship of books. A companionship he had long been without. As the British youth stepped through the doorway into what would be nothing less than a haven for him, he took in the smell of the place. Though it was odd, something about the smell of any large place containing books was almost as intoxicating as toxins themselves. That thought sent shivers down his spines. That was sort of why he was here today; to look up what sort of poisons he could make himself immune to and how to make antidotes and mix your own poisons. He was beginning to feel he had enough knowledge and an idea of what he wanted, now it was merely pulling it off with proper experimentation. One day he'd have to head to a lab... maybe he could find someone who'd want to help him? Was that a silly thing?
Well no matter. As he stepped in and began to wander the rows, he stopped short. Was that...? Yes it seemed to be the boy from the Ecology class. Canaan wasn't it? He stared at him a moment more, wondering if he should approach him or let it be. He decided at last that it could do no harm and he had best begin to learn otherwise. He wasn't so high and mighty anymore that he could avoid social contact.
Gently he walked over and glanced at the books the other was eying before eying the youth himself. "Canaan," remarked Nathaniel with a very small albeit nervous smile, "Looking for some reading material?" He was trying to be nice about it. Friendly too. But the concept was so foreign that he still just didn't know how.
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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:32 pm
"Nathaniel."
A nod and animalistic, toothy grin from Canaan as he realized whom was addressing him. The muscular teen hefted one of the texts, letting Nathaniel catch a glimpse of the spine and title [Technological Mechanics and Defensive Armours: An Engineering Perspective].
"Yes... Some light reading." Canaan's developing humor was strange, very dry and subtle and he raised both his brows before turning back to the shelf, the book he'd lifted now under an arm as he scanned for another worthy choice. "And you?" It was but a low mumur.
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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:48 pm
Well the fact that the other hadn't rejected his precense outright was something to be said. Something to be cheered for if nothing else. Not to mention the other had remembered his name. That was really the first time someone other than perhaps Scyeth or Jaden had made such friendly contact with him. All other contact was awkward and such. But something about Cane was easy.
So was this what it was like when you had friends? Was this what that was? He canted his head to the side gently as he glimpsed the book title. The book was a little too hefty to be considered 'light', and so the humor was quickly lost on the blunt and straightforward British youth.
Instead of commenting, he made a strange sort of grimace that proved he didn't understand before turning it back into a nervous fake smile. It was so hard. He didn't know how to do much else. And so in the end, he forced himself to turn to the shelf opposite the one Cane was looking through and ran his fingertips over some of the books before pulling out a particular poison one. Not anything particular, just proof of what he was looking for.
"More research material," he returned calmly.
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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:11 pm
"You dabble in dangerous arts, friend." A low chuckle, and the comment was clearly not an insult, but rather an observation. Where he was from, people used more herbal remedies than medical ones and that included some ingredients that were poisonous if not used in the proper doses.
Selecting another book or two, his bright blue eyes zeroed in on Nathaniel. "Choose your books, and then we will go eat." Another slight smile. "I am beginning to realize that many of the students here neglect their bodies needs, so I shall remind you of them."
Somehow, he doubted the British boy had eaten much today.
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 1:55 pm
The oddly placed grimaced turned into a gentle smile upon the British lad's lips as the other practically teased him about his 'art'. There were many things the other could have said, and yet he called him friend and did not reject him for his strange tendencies and desires. For all of this, Nathaniel found himself enjoying the other's company. It was odd if he thought about it, and so he tried not to.
His toxic green eyes moved to linger back on the shelves when he felt Canaan's blue ones staring at him. Hunching up a little in guilt, he said nothing a moment before continuing with all seriousness. There was this book. This looked promising. Perhaps he should pursue something of this sort? Or maybe that? Would something paralyzing be useful? And what sort of effect could this biological warfare he was going to start really have on everything? Yes there was much to be learned and decided before he created the proper poison. He almost had an idea of what he wanted to try, but had yet to mix it up.
Pulling some books from the shelf at last, he cradled them in his arms gingerly as he turned back to his... friend. "I wouldn't want to impose upon you Canaan," Nathaniel said after a long moment, blinking at the other almost awkwardly shifting. He was still unused to this, despite how nice it felt to be on equal terms with another.
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:06 am
"If I thought you were a bother, Nathaniel, I would not have demanded your presence." The stocky native chuckled, clearly amused, and smiled, his wide grin making his white, white teeth stand out against tan skin. Gesturing for Nat to join him, he made his way to the counter to pay for his book.
A charming grin for the pretty clerk and he headed out the door toward the foodcourt, not even bothering to glance back and see if the other science student followed.
Canaan may have been strange, but he was at peace.
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:01 am
Still, the British lad could not help but feel to be a bother. It wasn't more than feeling out of place. He didn't belong there, certainly didn't belong next to this other boy. He was different, and in ways that he didn't like to imagine sometimes. And yet, wasn't that true for all of them anyway? That was why they were here. Why they were students at Shinkami, trying their hardest to prepare for the war. The inevitable war.
Toxic green eyes glanced down at his books and he stared hard at them for a long moment. When he had looked up, the native was already walking away and Nat darted after him, feeling suddenly compelled. It was a strange thing for him to do, but he did so. Paid for his own books, hid his eyes from the clerk, and walked out.
At first, he was a few steps behind Canaan, feeling rather awkward about the whole thing, but at last he realized this wasn't what he wanted, and skipped ahead a few steps to walk beside the other. Well... not necessarily... 'skip', but stepped it up enough to accomplish such a thing. That was Nat, curious and thoughtful.
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:28 pm
"Ah, there you are, friend. I was beginning to worry you would cower in my shadow forever." Canaan already had plenty of people to protect. What he needed, as he got older, was more allies. Those he could rely on for strength. So far, ShinKami was lacking.
Scyeth was strong and brave, but too hotheaded, too volatile. Micajah was absorbed in himself. And the others... They were developing, but it was slow, a slow, slow path.
Still, Cane's smile was easy as they reached the foodcourt to stare at the varied menus. "What do you like?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:36 pm
Nathaniel's answer was perhaps the strangest of all. For someone who took such terrible care of himself, it would never have been obvious that his favorite hobby outside the science labs was cooking. And so he had a rather refined taste for what he liked, what he didn't like, what recipe was better and what went with what. In all honesty, he probably would have preferred to buy some ingredients and make something. That would've been, not only enjoyable, but perhaps healthier and less taxing on the wallet. All in all, a bonus.
And yet, Nathaniel could not bring himself to say it at first. For an outright moment, as he stood there next to Canaan, he felt an overwhelming desire to simply be. To not get in anyone's way or put himself in situations that were becoming increasingly difficult. Socializing made one feel so very out of place, why did people ever attempt such things?
At last, Nat folded his arms and turned away slightly, "I... never really come here, so I don't know. I usually cook for myself, in fact I think I'm just a few ingredients short of being able to make some soup or something..." He looked up thoughtfully for a moment, going over the list in his head and then turning back to Cane. "Yea I do. If you'd like uh... I could make enough for... for us both?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:14 pm
Cane's laugh was warm and he gave Nat a clap on the shoulder before changing course, heading for the supply store. "I am pleased to hear that, friend! I cook often, but I find that many of our fellow students prefer this court of food, so I thought it might put you at ease."
A bright grin. "I would also prefer to cook. Let us gather the remainder of the ingredients." A pause as he considered something else. Where he was from, it wasn't even a question, but he'd run into some odd things here. "Do you eat meat?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:34 pm
Startled by the physical contact, the British lad sank into himself a little, cringing almost but able to quickly control the reaction. Standing up a little straighter, he felt himself become at ease with what was to come. Yes. Cooking was something familiar, something he had total command over. Something he could understand and chat about with a pleasant joy. Even the idea brought a bright and true smile to his normally pale unhappy face.
He was quick to head for the store himself, checking off the list of what he did not have in his head. He didn't think he had enough broth, but he had vegetables, but not enough meat. Certainly not enough. Which was when Cane brought up the other topic. He blinked calmly, "Certainly. I was just thinking I might not have enough of that in my dorm... and I'm short some spices... you don't mind then? I'm pleased to hear that."
And for once, he really did look pleased.
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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:47 am
"Depending on the meat you would like, I have plenty." It was true that Cane ran a bit gamier of tastes, such as venison rather than beef, but he was more than willing to compromise.
As the two walked on companionably and entered the store, the native took a long look around. "No, I do not mind. I prefer it, in fact." Interested to see how Nathaniel would cook, considering his accent the two were from very different places, he didn't offer his own spices.
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