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 Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:44 am
The Herbalism class was filled to capacity. A lot of the caretakers this time around had insisted that the freshlings attend Corben's class, as this semester they had planned to take plenty of nature walks. Today was one of those days.
It was early in the morning, the golden streaks of the twilight morning illuminating the path before them, aided by the lamps that lined the streets as the freshlings formed their lines and followed in rows behind their teacher.
The students were to be paired off, to explore the forest a few kilometres away from the school (not the forbidden one, of course) and report back on what sorts of flora they could find.
Pearl was nervous. Nibbling gently on her bone claws she was intimidated by the prospect of finding a partner on their own. Normally the teacher picked pairs, but this time it was up to the children. Pearl's tail dragged behind them as they walked down the sidewalk, her long goblin ears perked to the sound of the children's chattering around them.
How were they supposed to choose a partner? They would have chosen Cervina had they been present -- simply a familiar face to soothe her and feel less alone -- but it would seem she would have no choice but to push outside of their comfort zone and find someone to complete the project with.
Pale pink eyes scanning their surroundings, Pearl spotted a boy with a cute flower crown sitting atop their head. More curious by the flowers than the boy itself, Pearl quietly approached.
"E-excuse me ... " Pearl piped up. "Did you ... did you need a partner ... ?" her voice was small and timid, high for ever a girl of her age. "I ... I'm looking to find one myself, if ... if you're interested ... !"
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:44 am
Hawthorn had been told he'd need to find a partner, and the teacher had said 'No, he could pair up with Peony'. With a resigned sigh, Hawthorn had ensure his half-sibling was safely settled with ze's partner when a tiny, timid voice rose from behind him. He turned simply, mismatched eyes focusing on the sweet face and long, curling locks. He registered he request despite her stutter, and judging from the pinched shoulders and nervous pinch to her brows, assumed it was only due to nerves and not some congenital defect.
"Sure, I'll be your partner," he answered easily. His voice was, in counterpoint to hers, a little deep for a child his age, with a smooth velvety finish to it. It made him sound older, more confident, smoother. He'd long since learned that if he chose his words with care, he could have quite an effect if he wanted to. With a half-smile curling the edge of his lips, he offered one clawed hand to her. "I'm Hawthorn. And you?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:44 am
Pearl's cheeks went as pink as they could, the little girl rubbing at her cheeks with her clawed hands quite nervously. "Ahm ... " she hesitated. Why was giving a name so difficult? He had, after all, just given her his. Surely it was polite to offer hers in return.
"I-I'm Pearl." She stammered uselessly, dropping her hands around the bottom of her sweater and twisting the fabric between balled fists. It was rather belatedly that Pearl took his hand in greeting. It seemed rather formal and adult-like to shake hands, but if that was what the boy was used to, how could Pearl deny him such a small thing as a hand shake.
"I-I see you're a litch too ... " she commented nervously. "My daddy's a litch. I-it's nice t-to meet a familiar face. Ahm. Well. As familiar as one can get, that is ... mmrhnn ... "
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:44 am
Hawthorn watched quietly and patiently as the girl managed to stammer out her name and nervously fidget. He wasn't sure what she was nervous about, but it certainly couldn't have anything to do with him. Maybe for the assignment? Well, they were partners for the project now, and that meant working together.
As she finally took his outstretched hand, he gave hers a small but warm squeeze, as if to say, 'it's alright'. Then she mentioned his Litch nature and Hawthorn nodded softly. That he was. Was it an unusual thing for this girl? Or was she simply trying to make polite conversation?
Hawthorn fell into step beside her and suggested softly, "We should start looking for flora." The teacher had explained that meant any sort of plant life, and Hawthorn was determined to find at least one flower, one fern, one fungi, and one lichen. "Should we write down what we find? Or draw what we see? What do you think the teacher will like best?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:44 am
When the boy didn't answer her question, she silently wondered if she had offended him. She gripped her tail even more tightly. Had her intent been misconstrued. "I-I'm a ... a ... a litch goblin ... I noticed your claws and your eyes ... and I t-thought maybe ... !" Pearl shook her head then. No, enough of that. The boy had probably not answered her for a good reason.
"I'd like to draw it, if that's okay ... maybe you can write and I can draw? That way we do b-both at the same t-time?" Pearl bit on her lower lip to try and stop her stuttering words. There was nothing to be so nervous about. She needed to stop.
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:44 am
Hawthorn offered a small but genuine smile. "Nightmare and Daydream? You, Pearl, are the way of the future!" Hawthorn's normally soft voice became nearly brittle as he attempted to give some drama to the statement, but swiftly reigned in the theatrics and shrugged lightly. "So I have heard my Caretaker say, at least..."
As they took another few steps, he considered her proposition to handle the drawing and him the writing and nodded. While he was certainly no poet, he could boast meticulously tidy handwriting and could take direction well. "An excellent proposition," Hawthorn said at last, making use of his precocious vocabulary quite unconsciously. "Here's my binder for something hard to sketch on. You do the drawings in our booklet, and I'll fill in the report afterwards." He tidily penned in his name and Pearl's and handed it to her. He pulled a smaller notepad from his satchel and flipped it open. "For now I'll make note in here of what we find."
It seemed all decided, so he put himself to the task, looking off the path he noted some frothy lichen clinging to a tree. "What do you think, Pearl? Would a moss count?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:45 am
Hawthorn's small comment made Pearl give a rare giggle, largely unheard by anyone not directly related by blood. She supposed she might very well be one of the first daydream/nightmare hybrids, and it occurred to her that even her father had yet to meet a daydream himself. She had been the first Likais had met. It was funny to think of it like that.
"Your caretaker is probably right. I find they tend to know more than we credit them for ... "
Pearl gave a swift nod of her head, giving a subtly 'mn!' in recognition of the boy's plan as she accepted the booklet from him, pressing the binder and booklet hard to her chest, almost hugging it close like it might get away if she weren't careful, a pencil clutched tightly between her bone claws. "Sounds good to me."
Pearl followed his glance curiously, seeing if he would note something she might miss. When he spotted the moss, she titled her head slightly, loose waves swaying. "Hmmmn ... I don't see why not. Perhaps we should try and g-get a variety of plants. I think Mr.Corben would like that ... I'll d-draw it now ... "
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:45 am
Hawthorn kept close by her side, half-chaperone and half-bodyguard. "A variety is important, yes." Hawthorn shifted his notepad and slipped his small 'Local Flora' text out of his satchel. As Pearl did her sketches, he poured over the pages, matching up the shapes of leaves, petals, bark to see if he could identify the species all around.
"I believe the furry moss there is a Grimmia..." Hawthorn posited, studying the photo in the book closely, head bowed yet back straight.
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:45 am
Pearl nodded her head twice, casting the occasional glance as she tried her best to keep up with Hawthorne as he called out all sorts of different names. He seemed so much more knowledgeable about plants than she did. Perhaps, if Pearl was lucky enough, he could mentor her to help her boost her grades? Surely her dad would approve ...
"Grimmia ... that's such a lovely name, don't you think?" a soft, quiet smile spread across Pearl's lips as she gave the furry moss a longer look. "It's quite fuzzy~!"
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:45 am
Hawthorn said the word aloud himself, "Grimmia... It would make a pleasing name for a friend, would it not?" Hawthorn looked up to Pearl thoughtfully, as if seeing her for the first time. Stepping closer, he looked over her shoulder. "How is it going?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:45 am
"I think it's going alright!" she looked a bit more at ease now, having settled in to the task and herself a bit more. "I'd have to agree with you ... Grimmia is a lovely name." Pearl silently wondered if such a name might suit a future child of hers. Maybe if she ended up with a grimm, though she saw that highly unlikely. "Would you care to have a look?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:46 am
Hawthorn was already leaning discretely over her shoulder, watching her careful strokes with some approval when she asked if he wanted to see. "You are quite skilled," he complimented with a sort of matter-of-fact air, his voice soft for the proximity to her ear, but nonetheless spoken with his usual efficiency. "I think we shall score very well, don't you?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 11:48 am
Pearl gave a radiating smile. Her demeanor had shifted so much from the moment the two first met a mere hour ago. Pearl had fully relaxed in to herself, and had deemed Hawthorne a trust worthy friend.
Friend. Was that too quick a judgement to make? Was Hawthorne her friend?
Looking down at the drawings she had made, Pearl couldn't help but to feel warmth in her heart. She had been bullied so relentlessly that she had just gotten used to the idea that perhaps friends were something she wasn't really meant to have. First, Cervina, and now Hawthorne? It made her heart sing happily.
Clutching the notebook a little harder, smile still stuck in place, Pearl managed to whisper a quiet, grateful thank you.
"Yes ... I think we shall."
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