|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:18 pm
Slowly but surely she was starting to navigate pretty well through her surroundings but the pacing was most frustrating since she didn't know what to do with herself in these unknown places. Lattice observed her rituals she did everything she could but as of yet it didn't quite feel like 'home' or even 'home away from home'. It was just a place where she had been trying to make friends.
Lattice ventured out of the Ghost Dorms tilting her chin upward in determination as bare feet pattered against the ground to try and go to her next destination with no real direction other than wanting to get more teas. The scent of tea was soothing and nice and she just simply needed more, she'd already gone through her favorite tin in less than a week.
This wouldn't do.
At the moment she didn't think her path was obstructed when she last took a gaze around with her limited vision there was no one really in her way and thus she started to direct herself toward the maul once again.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:55 pm
This was one of those times where Xiu felt that she really, really needed a hug. She wasn't picky about who it was, so long as they didn't mind, and...and so long as they weren't Roch, because as much as she enjoyed his company, things were...a little awkward for her right now.
Her plan had been to take a walk and try to mull over the thoughts that were churning in her mind. Originally, she had assumed that this would help her calm down and figure out what to do, but she found that every time she would try to focus, her mind would dart back into a state of, "Oh jack, what do I do?! What do I say"?!
A part of her wanted to call up on of her friends and confide in them, but...to be honest, she was afraid that she would be a bother. Shun had things on his mind at the moment, and Lizzy had been there to listen to her when she needed to talk to someone about Christof. She couldn't impose on them! No, the only solution was to go through this and try to figure things out by herself.
...She still really needed a hug though.
That was why, when she saw a vaguely familiar figure walking down the path that led to the dorms, Xiu didn't even hesitate. Without any warning, she rushed up the other ghoul, throwing her arms around her waist (and fortunately missing the needles) in a hug and whimpering. It was almost as if she hadn't been terrified of the very same ghost ghoul the last two times she had seen her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 11:24 pm
It was a good thing that Lattice heard the rustle of fabric and pattering of feet as they ran up toward her and eventually her vision sort of caught up with her as she suddenly lifted her arms up for possible collision and when impact was made she kept her arms up staring down her eyes wide behind her mask watching the other ghoul hugging onto her.
Lattice's brow furrowed behind her mask as she leaned a hand down carefully (also awkwardly) and petted at the girl's head with a slender hand avoiding hitting the poor thing with her needles though if she turned her arm just so it would be a disaster waiting to happen. The ghoul hoped the other girl didn't make any sudden movements.
"U..Um..." She murmured softly trying to get her attention, "is...is there something wrong?" There was actually a little concern etching into her monotone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:47 am
Xiu was never really the social butterfly type. At least, she wasn't the type who could confidently jump into a crowd of strangers and immediately make friends. It was a little better when she was with a stranger on one on, but even then, it tended to make her a little nervous. And, oh boy, if they looked scary or threatening to her? It would be hard to get a greeting from her that wasn't accented with stuttering, never mind trying to carry a conversation with her.
Yet, here she was, hugging a ghoul who she had only seen twice before and who had unnerved her greatly.
The patting on her head managed to comfort her for a bit, and the question about her wellbeing made the little Baku sigh softly. "I-I don't know what to do! He's my friend, and...and I'm not sure if he was just joking, b-but if he was serious, then..." The poor ghost was assaulted with an answer that probably made no sense to her at all. Ears drooping, Xiu rested her head on Lattice's shoulder with another whimper.
"S-sorry, I just needed a hug." A pause. "...M-maybe...maybe I should go back and make some tea to calm myself down."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:02 pm
Lattice didn't stop giving the Baku gentle pats on the head. She wasn't completely dead on the inside she did feel some amount of compassion for others. Having a spirited sister helped her have a little compassion in a way though it was hard to explain how or why. She listened to her and let the other ghoul rest her head upon her shoulder. Why not? There were no spikes there. It was safe enough; she would stop Xiu if she was going to get hurt.
Her brow furrowed in a troubled manner behind her mask as she listened to the issue the ghoul was having and offered a quiet, "Joking about what?"
Pause as there was an apology made and before the Baku would try to retreat she offered a quiet, "I don't mind. I was just out to buy more teas for myself. I have...run out. I...I would like it if someone would come with to buy the tea with me..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:26 pm
Xiu would wake up the next day wondering what had come over her to prompt her to hug a stranger, but until then? She was very much relieved that the ghost didn't seem upset by her sudden "attack". The answer to the other ghoul's question was muttered. "Joking about...about...l-liking me." Liking her in that way, and not the friendship way. If it was the latter, then there would have been no reason for her to panic.
The offered surprised her, and Xiu pulled back to stare at Lattice with wide eyes. "I...m-may I really accompany you?" Hastily, she unwound her arms from around the ghoul's waist, taking a step back. "And...and I really am sorry! I-I didn't mean to just...do that so abruptly." One good thing had come out of it though, and that was the fact that she had learned that Lattice was quite nice, really.
...Even if, now that she stepped back, looking at the needles poking out of her arms made her shiver a little. That definitely explained by she hadn't hugged back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:37 pm
There was a bit of a pause as Lattice tried to digest this information of being 'liked'. She wasn't sure what to make of it to be quite honest. Such drama didn't float around where the Engraver came from. She quietly asked, "In what manner of being liked to you speak of? I do not comprehend," she asked not meaning harm with her inquiry. If she wanted to help her new friend she would have to be enlightened.
Lattice nodded without hesitation, "Of course. You seem like you need someone," Xiu's distress seemed to make the Engraver forget her own (quite happily) and all Lattice wanted to do now was help her. The ghoul even offered Xiu a small sincere smile. "It is...Quite alright. It is not often want to hug an Engraver," she said simply. "I am simply glad I managed to not injure you, it would have been a regrettable way to start our friendship."
She wanted friends. Wanted to make them all on her own and thus far she was successful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 9:36 pm
What...what manner? The Baku began to squirm uncomfortably, ears drooping as she clasped her hands together. "Liked as in...as in dating? A-a step beyond simple friendship, I guess?" At least, that was...the impression she got from the "confession" of sorts. If she was wrong, then she certainly hoped that Roch would clear that up for her.
Soon. As soon as possible. Preferably before she began to panic any more.
She was honestly touched by the other ghoul's willingness to listen to her and help her. Considering that she had practically tackled the poor ghost without any warning, Lattice had taken the random greeting very well. At the comment about how she could have been injured, the Baku blushed, taking a step back and giving a little bow. "Y-yes, I...I'm sorry again, and I'm glad too."
Straightening up, she stretched her hand out towards the ghoul, still looking a little embarrassed. "I...I'm Xiu. Xiu-Ying. And you're...?" She felt like she had heard the ghoul's name before--from class, and from when they all invaded Mot's room--but they had never been personally introduced.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 10:35 pm
Lattice was still confused about this 'like' thing even after it was explained though it sounded rather serious as her lips pulled into a disapproving frown followed by a, "If he's joking then he's a horrible person to play with you like that," her monotone voice raising a pitch with her conviction on that matter. Lattice didn't like the idea of others playing with people's emotion. While Lattice didn't have a firm grasp on the whole situation she did realize that something like that was not a joking matter. So far the ghoul seemed so nice. For someone to toy with her like that, it was just horrible.
"It is alright," she assured Xiu with a small smile as she quietly listened to the introduction given to her.
"Xiu," she repeated back as if to test out how it sounded when she spoke it. Yes that would do.
"I am Lattice," She said. After the introductions were out of the way Lattice offered up her hand to Xiu, "come let us go to the shop."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 6:16 pm
Xiu blinked up in surprise, before she quickly shook her head. "H-he's not a bad person, or anything! E-even if he was joking...I doubt that he thought I would take it so seriously." Perhaps she was just oversensitive? If he told her that he had been joking, would she feel relieved? Or...
Shaking these thoughts away from her mind, she smiled up at the ghost ghoul, clasp her hands together and managing a small bow as she was given her name. "L-lattice? It's very nice to meet you, Lattice." Of course, she wished that they had met under...happier conditions. Then again, the Baku knew for a fact that she had seen her before--Human Studies class and the impromptu party at Hel's--but she had only regarded Lattice with wariness then. She had seemed nice, but Xiu had been unable to bring herself to speak to the ghoul.
When the hand was offered to her, she managed a small smile and reached out to take it. "Y-yes." There was a short pause, and then, "...You...you like tea too?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 6:17 pm
Lattice let out a small sound of disapproval, "Even as a joke..." She trailed off and she shrugged lightly, "I am sure your friend is kind but you do not fool with others in this way, it has consequences." Lattice pointed out being practical. Perhaps a little too practical. Lattice might not think much of love but that didn't mean she liked it when the emotions of others were put at risk. It was bad enough that this ghoul was thrown in a tizzy.
The Engraver seemed to relax a bit when Xiu seemed to be calming down as well. She bowed in return, "The honor is mine," she murmured formally as she straightened up. She didn't seem to notice that she had been treated with a wary mindset from the Baku. It was probably something Lattice was a little accustomed to or if she felt any hurt from this behavior she hid it well.
"Yes I like tea very much. The taste, the smell," she smiled lightly as she gently took Xiu's hand and began to walk with her toward the destination they needed to be at. "Do you make tea often?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:10 pm
Xiu was silent at the disapproval, not quite sure what to say. Did she agree with Lattice? ...Yes, yes she did. Of course, she also wanted to jump in and defend Roch, but at the same time...Oh, she was just confused about all of this. Shaking her head, the Baku attempted to clear these thoughts from her mind, falling into step with Lattice when her hand was taken.
"I-I love tea," She murmured, giving a small smile and a nod, "Back at home, I had a little garden where I would grow different herbs to brew tea with. I've brought some of the dried plants here with me, but..." But it wasn't the same, unfortunately. If she could, she would have loved to plant a giant garden at the school but, to her knowledge, that wasn't allowed. She had to settle for planting little pots of herbs and flowers in her room.
Holding the ghost ghoul's hand made Xiu feel kind of...childlike, which was actually somewhat comforting. Giving a little sway of her tail, she tilted her head up towards Lattice. "And...and you? You enjoy tea as well?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:12 pm
Lattice tilted her head a bit as she walked along lightly holding onto Xiu's hand, "You cannot grow a garden here? Dried herbs are just as nice but still," Lattice murmured thoughtfully before she simply shrugged letting the thought drop for the moment. Maybe there was a reason why Xiu couldn't make her garden on school premises.
She nodded her head, "I like it very much, sometimes I like to do little tea ceremonies," Lattice smiled lightly. "They are fun...For me anyways. Most others get quite bored with the whole thing..."
..Like her sister.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:43 pm
Hmm, could she grow a garden? "O-oh, well I just...I just assumed since this is the school's land, that maybe..." If she could confirm that it was alright, Xiu would certainly leap at the chance to grow her own garden here. It would be nice to have some fresh herbs on hand instead of having to ask her parents to send her some every so often. Besides, whenever she called them for a favour, she would end up having to stay on the phone for hours just to reassure them that she was doing well at school and wasn't dating any bad boils.
...Okay, she didn't want to think about dating right now.
Fortunately, the topic of tea ceremonies successfully distracted the Baku as her eyes lit up. "Tea ceremonies?" She repeated, looking interested and vaguely confused, "What are they like?" She had never held or attended one before! Anything that had to do with tea intrigued her though.
She trailed after Lattice docilely, swinging their intertwined hands slightly as they walked. This really did make her feel like a child again! It was kind of nice to feel as if she didn't have any worries in the world again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:11 pm
"Well it is the School's land but I do not see the harm and asking a simple question? All else failing perhaps you can gather small pots to grow things in?" Lattice was often trying to think of ways around possible things one wasn't allowed to do, "If one option doesn't work then try the other. I'll even help if you'd like."
She liked Xiu there was something calming about being around her and trying to help her with her problems.
Lattice nodded a bit, "They are...calm. Every action has a meaning and filled with deep tradition," she sounded almost happy as she spoke about this. It seemed things that had a structure to it made the ghoul rather content. "Perhaps one day I can show you some examples."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
