|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:16 pm
 There she is. Oh jeez. Oh jeez. Keep calm. And don't run. Running away is not only completely un-Knight-like, it won't win you any friends. Or special lady friends, either. Oh Guardians, she's walking this way. Stay calm.
Dante attempts a warm, inviting smile at Katya as she walks past. It probably comes off more as nervous and vaguely terrified. Oh man. She walked right past me! Uh, oh jeez. Quickly he scribbles on his notepad and thrusts it in front of her.
Hi Katya! it says.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:50 pm
Katya had given the other young Pae a polite nod and warm smile as she passed, familiar enough with him to know he was quite genteel and reserved.
Which was why she was a little more than surprised when a notebook page filled her vision with the words 'Hi Katya!' hastily writ upon it. Her head stopped so as to not walk into the message, and her legs halted just a moment afterward, leaving her leaning back precariously. A quick flutter of her wings steadied her balance as she brushed a few strands of hair out of her face, her gaze following the arm that held the note back to the face of its owner.
The brightly coloured demon looked Dante in the eye and her expression went from one of surprise to a more welcoming smile. "Well hello, Dante." She said. "Have you also finished all your classes for the day?"
It then occurred to her that they hadn't really interacted before, or she might have seen more of that notepad. Frowning internally, she realized she really didn't know all that much about their silent compatriot. Perhaps it was time to fix that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:08 pm
Uh. He hadn't thought any further than his original message. What would he write next? Ugh, why did he even bother? Nobody ever wanted to talk to him. But she was talking to him now, wasn't she? Dante smiles at her again and nods, looking as pleased a cat in a patch of sunlight.
Say something. Well, don't say anything, but respond with more than a nod. She'll think you're boring if all you do is gesticulate. Ask her to go somewhere with you. Somewhere familiar, so she won't think you're being strange. But somewhere exciting! So she'll think you're interesting! Hmm...He brings the pad back into himself again and writes another note, this one less hastily-scrawled.
Would you like to go for a walk?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:31 pm
Katya looked out at the warm-looking afternoon sky and then glanced back to Dante. He was wearing a smile, which pleased the young demon. It seemed to be turning into a pretty good day for everyone.
"Sure, that seems like a good idea. Mind if we get out of these halls while we're at it? I hate being inside on a day like this anyway." Her wings unfurled just a little as though in anticipation.
Katya looked outside, before pointing at Dante's notepad. "I haven't seen much of that..." She mused out loud, looking up to again meet his eyes. "Do you use that to communicate with everybody?"
She blinked as she caught herself. Best not to ask too many questions at once; that notepad only had so many pages, after all. She fell quiet to give him a chance to write an answer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:44 pm
Dante nods in agreement and unfurls his own wings, shaking out his feathers. The sunshine would be pleasant, although Katya makes the barest of winters seem warm and fragrant. He begins to walk with her back down the hallway and toward the courtyard.
As to her second question...Dante blushes a little and nods. He begins to write a response, hoping he isn't boring her as he takes the time as they walk to tuck the notepad into his belly and write.
I've been like this ever since I was born. I don't know why, and neither does anyone else. I think the Guardians are [scratched out word] testing me. If I'm the best knight I can be, perhaps one day I'll be able to speak.
He offers her the notepad again with a hopeful smile. It was so nice of her to be interested in him like this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:12 pm
Katya took a moment to read the note. "I didn't know you were born that way." she gently replied. The teen reflected on how she sometimes cursed her own small, frail body and how she used to think that was a handicap. I guess I needed a little perspective. She didn't try to discern what was behind the scratching out on the note, as it didn't seem like she was meant to see it.
"Well, we're all in this together, right?" She asked brightly. "I'm sure that if we stay true to the Guardians and our teachings- Ahhh." She interrupted herself mid-sentence as they strolled into the courtyard and the warm sun fell upon their shoulders. Her wings stretched out behind them and caught some of the warmth, which relaxed her. "Sorry. That's a good feeling." She grinned broadly. "But yes, as I was saying, I'm sure you'll get your wish. As long as we stay on the same side." The shorter demon gave him a playful nudge with her elbow.
Katya turned her face away from him and looked skyward for a moment, hiding her expression. "Are you nervous? About any of it?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:48 pm
[Sorry I've been a bit delinquent in replying--a new term just started and I'm ironing out my schedule. :3]
Dante can't help but smile. It was so nice of her to understand him. He hopes they can be friends. She's so pretty and nice and has the best smile, and...Dante resists a smitten sigh and instead concentrates on her question.
He stares at his pad for a moment. Was he nervous? He isn't sure, to be honest. He begins to write anyway.
I'm a little nervous, but it's more like a....nervous-excited. I can't wait to train with our teachers. I know the Guardians will choose the right ones out of us, and they'll bring out the best in us. He offers the pad to her with a bit of a hopeful smile, then takes it back to add at the end: Are you nervous? He holds it out again with a nod.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:42 pm
[Hey, we all got real life to think about wink Take ya time]
Katya's eyes scanned the note, doing her best to perceive the feeling behind it without being able to hear Dante's voice. She was happy Dante was excited about their training. As for her...
"I'm excited too, but nervous." She sighed, looking back at him. "By the Guardians, am I ever nervous." The short demon had to crane her head back just to look the angel in the eyes. For the barest of moments, she looked stressed, and older than she really was. But that moment passed and she resumed her carefree, smiling expression. "I'm just worried about the combat bits. I'm sure you've noticed..." She rubbed her arm. "It's not like I can keep up with the rest of you in any of those physical exercises. At least the ones down here on the ground." She smirked, flaring her wings out to make her point.
"Seriously though," Katya turned and ran her fingertips along the rim of one of the fountains. "It looks like we have some fine teachers, and interesting times ahead. I hope I don't disappoint."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:25 pm
[Annd now I'm sick. D8 The universe, it hates me.]
I don't like combat either, offers Dante on his notepad. I understand that sometimes it is necessary, and therefore we all must be skilled in it, but....I feel that sometimes the chosen ones of the Guardians can be too quick to resort to bloodshed. He gives her the notepad and shrugs a little. He's hoping he hadn't turned the conversation, such as it was, toward the melancholy.
He turns his face toward the sun and smiles, enjoying the warm rays on his skin and the gentle breeze in his feathered wings. Katya seems to enjoy this weather as well. He shoots a grin at her, trying to express happiness, not...whatever emotion came through in his note.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:08 pm
"It's true, we need to be capable of defending ourselves, or else we wouldn't be able to defend others who depend on us." Katya mused, "But just like you I feel that violence should be the last resort. If we have to convince others of the righteousness of our cause at the point of a sword, or the tip of an arrow, then we're doing something wrong."
She sat at the edge of the fountain, the end of her spade tail just skimming over the top of the water and leaving ripples in its wake. "I was actually thinking about this very thing yesterday, when I was walking past this fountain." She leaned back and pointed at the two eroded stone figures at the centre, from under whose feet the water flowed from. One appeared to hold a scroll and had its palm facing outwards. The other had its hands resting on the hilt of a sword. The two figures were back to back but clearly carved from the same piece of stone.
"I noticed this and I kinda got to thinking, that's what we are." Katya leaned forward again, leveling her gaze at Dante. "We're both warriors and diplomats, defenders and missionaries. And it's up to our judgment to know when to be which one." She looked thoughtful for a moment, but then smirked. "Some of us I know would rather stab first and speak later. But I can count on your judgment, right?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:55 pm
Dante watches Katya's tail with no small amount of fascination. They were so similar in so many ways, and then there were some marked differences. She moves with such grace, such effortless beauty...he blushes softly as he realizes he's staring.
He sits next to her on the edge of the fountain and nods at her assertions. He takes the pad back and writes a message back on it.
That's a brilliant analogy, he writes. I think that's exactly what we're expected to be. He pauses a bit to think. You can always count on my judgement, he finishes, and hands it to her with a soft smile on his face. She's amazing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 8:34 pm
Katya smiled. "Good to know." The little demon shook a few drops of water off her tail and curled it so it sat in her lap. "I like that about you. You've got a level head on your shoulders." She indicated the notepad, her voice taking a slightly more somber tone. "I bet if others could hear you speak, you could be the team's diplomat, what with your passion for our cause, and your way with words."
As though reminding herself of his way with words, she looked back over the other things Dante had written down. He seemed like a pretty smart fellow. It occurred to her that she really didn't know half as much about her comrades as she wanted to. Although they were all getting comfortable around each other, she realized that the coming times were getting her and them really talking about things, important and personal things, not just the weather and how much they hated certain lessons.
"You know, I bet we could really be a couple voices for peace on this team." She beamed, then twitched slightly at her use of the word 'voice'. "Er, in a manner of speaking."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:12 pm
Dante blushes deeply. She was so sweet! He pulls his knees up to his chin to hide his now-red cheeks. But it does get him thinking. If he could speak, he could be the diplomat of the group. Truthfully out of all of them, Katya's the only one he'd really trust to effectively use words to come to peaceful arrangements. Perhaps they could work together. They both had good skills for diplomacy.
I think you're right, writes Dante. Let's try to put our heads together, especially in the coming days and weeks. He offers it to her and smiles. They would make a great pair.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:58 pm
"Great!" Katya's smile widened as she considered the prospect. "Teamwork it is, then. Level heads and silver tongues." She said with a giggle.
At that, she stopped to ponder for a moment. "Come to think of it, I didn't hear of any details about a diplomacy class. I suppose that might be covered in chivalry." And then her brow furrowed. "We're going to have a lot to learn."
And I'm going to have a lot of bored.
With a smirk and a slight roll of her eyes she dropped her serious facade. "Yeah, if I'm honest I'm not really good at studying. I think I do well enough though."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:44 pm
Dante giggles soundlessly in agreement and takes his pad of paper back. She was right, of course. There was no diplomacy class, and he isn't even sure he knows what she meant by chivalry class. Hm. Still, he has confidence that he'd be able to use what he'd learned on his own, and what they'll learn in their upcoming classes (especially history) to triumph over hotblooded, zealous ideas.
He watches her face change. Not good at studying? How could anyone not enjoy his or her studies? Dante ponders this. He'd always lapped up information like a thirsty animal at a waterhole. He jots a note on the paper and hands it back. I could help you, if you wanted. I love classes and reading.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
