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[ S a v i o r ] Vice Captain
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 Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:05 pm
Disclaimer: This is an introduction RP to the Island of Shinkami. However, participation in this RP does not mean that you can skip the formal intro RP started by Headmaster Norman!! You are still required to participate in that RP in order to promote your student.
Shija looked good.
Well, at least good enough for her job, which was really the main reason that she dressed up. She inspected herself once more in the mirror and smiled at the bird print dress that she was wearing. Ah, the birds. Before the island had been turned into a school it had been a safe haven for many birds, of course after the school there wasn’t much room for them. Then again that was why she was working; because the Shinkami staff had went to the trouble of relocating all the birds.
Shija smiled at her reflection and, as she approved of the smile, went outside to greet the two new students that would be welcomed to the Shinkami school; the boat was already close and would be there quite soon so she was going to have to start soon too. It wasn’t the best job that someone could conceivably have, but it wasn’t bad. After all, she didn’t have the specialized knowledge to be a professor and she wasn’t exactly fond of driving boats and wasn’t the most organized person in the world, so this job was okay by her. That and she got to meet every single cute new boy that came to Shinkami.
The boat docked and she went up to the new boys with the pre-approved smile on her lips. They were both rather cute, but she could contemplate the fact that an amazing majority of the students and faculty, if not all of them, were rather cute or otherwise attractive later.
“Welcome,” She said, bowing and smiling cheerfully to the boys as they got off the boat. “To Shinkami School of Saviors.”
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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:37 pm
The boat ride had been... memorable. Tycho had spent the first few days throwing up the contents of his stomach over the side, and growing more and more irritated. It was a waste of food! He'd confined himself to his cabin, too nauseous to even scout out the ship, or read his books.
Finally, on the third day, the bouncing and tossing of the horizon ceased to make his stomach twist, and he'd even managed to walk up on deck without stumbling. The captain of the boat, a stalwart but amiable old man, had given him a Milky Way in celebration. That had been a mistake.
Several days later, that bar, as well two more pilfered from the Captain's Cabin were tucked into Tycho's backpack, and he'd also obtained a good length of stout rope from the storage room. Tycho stood up on the deck, well out of the way of the crew, and the other boy, and watched as they tied the boat to the dock. From his vantage point, it looked like barely controlled chaos, but the strong sea-men soon had the ship fast to the dock.
They lowered the gangplank, and Tycho waited for the other boy to disembark before he left the ship. For a moment, the ground continued to roll beneath his feet, and he had to stand very still in order to keep the world from swimming around. He promised himself ferverently that he would not be getting back on a ship anytime soon. Of course, that meant he was going to be spending a lot of time on this island. If things became bad, Tycho reluctantly admitted that a boat may be his only way to escape.
He shook the dizzyness from his head, black hair whipping around in the steady sea breeze, and hefted the backpack into a more comfortable position on his shoulder. Then he looked around, taking careful note of where everything was. The other boy stood a few paces in front of him, and beyond him, there was a strange woman in a dress. He gave both a wary look, tightening the grip on his backpack.
“Welcome,” The woman said, bowing and smiling cheerfully to Tycho and the other boy. “To Shinkami School of Saviors.”
Tycho simply looked her up and down, face blank, trying to get a read on what she was like. It could be that she would be teaching him magic. Though, on the whole, he didn't really think she looked all that magical. The boy, whom he'd pretty much avoided the entire trip, looked like all the kids back in Haven, the hide-out he'd left. He looked like an easy mark, but, of course, Tycho would spend a few more weeks observing both boy and woman, before he tried anything. Best to err on the side of caution, and all that.
He decided to give the woman a polite nod, just in case she might be teaching him.
"Hi." he added, as an afterthought.
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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:29 pm
Time always seemed to wave it's celestial hand as it passed right by the well-bred British lad. It wasn't as if he really cared, for he could spend hours doing nothing at all but listening to the calming sound of nature or perhaps machinery, whichever was nearest. For the time being, it happened to be water and the sloshing sound of the sea foam hitting the boat and rising to contact the material said boat was made from. Sometimes, he lost himself in those waves and often would look over the railing and see that scene over and over again.
Certainly it was a hazard to his mental stability to be traveling like this, for those horrid memories haunted his every waking moment and his dreams were ripped to shreds by the flames and his crying tears. How many times he had woken crying and drenched in his own cold sweat he did not know, but it had been enough to loose track. Most of the time he tried to focus on the more pleasant memories of his childhood, like playing in the yard with Charlie while Mother and Father had afternoon tea.
What would they say now if they saw him this way? Father would've disapproved, he knew. This normal outfit, a sweatshirt and pants, was not for a fitting young man like himself, it was for commoners and lowly paupers. A quiet sigh escaped his youthful lips and he looked up at the clouds when the boat docked. The sky was the same everywhere in the world, sure it might be darker or lighter in some places, but it was always the same sky, and in that sky he knew his entire fate could be mapped.
He was a quiet boy, that was for sure, but he was alert too. He noticed the way the other boy avoided him like the plague, and the way he had gotten seasick. Pity had welled up inside, but then he grew to not caring, for the other's life was not his to interfere in unless forced. Nathaniel didn't like to go out of his way because he usually found it caused too much trouble. The only trouble he ever caused was when his fits came on, and when his kitchen creations blew up in his face.
Oh how Auntie Clara had scolded him between her laughter! He couldn't help but laugh with her, covered in the disgusting goop. Ah, what sweet precious memories from days of new! Yet now he was here, in a place that would allow him revenge. That sickly sweet revenge his entire body craved, it was so close... and he was dying to taste it.
Bowing? Finally, his forest green eyes focused on the woman before him. They didn't bow in Britain, they shook hands like civilized people. Oh well, his Father was gone and he no longer abided by those rules (not that he ever really had in the first place). He was at a loss for words. Her statement didn't leave much room for an answer, and the island caught his attention. It was pretty strange, and already his mind began calculating the possibility of finding new substances to work with. Giving her a very polite nod and indicating she had his full attention, he waited.
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Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:31 am
Shija frowned a little, a frown so small that most people would look over. Although she was certain that her emotions could not be hidden in front of these two newcomers. In fact, she could not conseal herself from anyone on the Island. The young woman sighed inwardly.
Smart people...
The frown, however, was not of disapprovement. Well, at least not at the boys' looks nor intelligence. She noticed the caution and alert in the two boys, and that made her feel uncomfortable. This was, of course, not the first time she felt this way. Most of the students she had seen possessed this demeanor when she first greeted them. Only a few were cheerful, but none open enough to greet her back with a happy face. Ah, the kids. No matter how smart they were, they were still kids that had the fear of strangers. Then again, it can't be helped that the boys came from a world of devastation, of war and chaos and death.
...Which is why she had to be there to make them feel comfortable. That was probably the hardest part of her job.
Shija noticed Tycho's eyes on her and Nathaniel's withdrawn. From past experience she could already tell something in the two's personality. She held off the urge to say anything decisive, however, as she had tried to prevent as one of her weakness. Instead, she looked back at the boys, inspecting them with looks that contained the least hostility. The boys always amused her in one way or another.
Finally she laughed. "Please, make yourselve at home. This is going to be your home for the next several years anyways. " Shija reached out her hand, nor particular to either of the boys. "Care to introduce yourselves? I'm Shija, by the way."
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Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 6:44 pm
The next several years? Tycho flinched slightly at the prospect. He'd grown up moving from place to place almost constantly. It was true that his gang had usually holed up in the winter, but every other season they had constantly been roaming, it's what kept them safe. Even while he was in Haven, he could leave the hide-out and explore. To think that he'd be tied down to a handful of miles of land, surrounded by nausea inducing waters... well, it was a drastic change.
He regarded Shija's hand for a moment, and decided to take a gamble. Giving the other boy plenty of space, he stepped forward, and performed a handshake with Shija. It was a useful gesture, especially in thievery, mainly because the mark would be concentrating on that one hand, while the other could do its work. This time, however, he simply used the gesture as a greeting.
"I'm Tycho. Nice to meet you, Shija." There was no real warmth to the greeting, and with the formality taken care of, he released her hand and moved so he could keep both Shija, and the other boy in his line of sight.
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Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:41 am
Shija could feel the boy's alert when her hand touched his. The rough surface of Tycho's hand told her that this boy had been though some tough environments. Then, no wonder was he so cautious about meeting new people and being in new places...it had become part of his instinct.
Having had a few experiences before, Shija brushed her thoughts away and smiled warmly, countering Tycho's coldness. "Welcome, Tycho. I hope you will have a good experience here." She then turned to the other boy, who looked less alert, but more distant. Not wanting to force the boy to talk, she merely smiled at him. Her eyes mildly scanned him from head to toe. The boy, although dressed in simple clothes, showed some degree of higher dignity than a commoner. A royalty, perhaps? The thought intrigued Shija, as her eyes became more curious, looking at the reluctant boy.
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Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:09 pm
Rudeness was unbecoming for one such as him and with a flourish of movement he held out his hand to her as she turned to face him. Unconciously he straightened up and mentally told himself to give a charming smile. It wasn't fake, there was no reason to be fake. His happiness was genuine spur of the moment thing because with someone like he was, it was hard to not be kind.
When the world is cold and bad things happen, kindness is something that needs to rush over and spread like water. It needs to stop at a certain point yes, but if kindness could heal the world he wouldn't be here right now. So perhaps behind the smile there flickered indecision, worry and nervousness. Butterflies were surely running circles in his stomach for he was afraid to see anything bad happen again.
Naturally caution had left him when his parents died. That thought caused a sudden uncontrolled shudder to rack his frame which he ignored and kept his eyes solemnly on the woman. "It's a pleasure to meet you Shija, my name is Nathaniel." His voice was sweet and pleasent, well-mannered and implied that perhaps he'd been sheltered from the roughness. He liked it that way, he didn't like the razor edges of his bloody past... it wasn't who he was and he didn't want to be judged for it.
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Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:27 pm
Shija... seems okay. Tycho decided, as he watched the woman look the other boy over. She reminded him of the village nurse in Haven. Shija had the same disarming smile. Maybe she was the nurse here...
His musings were interrupted by the sudden movement of the other boy. Tycho flinched back visibly, startled into frowning as he gave the boy his full attention. He'd been so still before! Now, his movements were the picture of grace, but the sudden transition reminded Tycho of a clockwork toy, set to move by some external force. But what a toy!
Atticus would've called this boy a "charmer". Had the boy been a thief, he probably could've convinced a mark to simply give him their money with that smile and the voice. It was a talent that Atticus had never quite been able to pound into Tycho, for all that he'd given him fingers like the wind.
However, there seemed to be a gear missing in the mechanism. Tycho noticed the fine shudder that traveled through Nathaniel, and was fairly sure that it wasn't caused by the temperature. This guy was hiding something. Tycho had seen plenty in his own life to occasionally cause a shudder like that, though he had the common sense to hide it. People of the wrong sort would definitely notice such an action and seek to use it. He repressed a wry smile, when he realized that he had basically referred to himself as the wrong sort. Well, why not? Haven sure had seemed eager to get rid of him.
Tycho faked a shiver of his own, rubbing his right arm with his free hand. He looked out to the ocean, where the sea-men were still scuttling over the boat, and then looked to Shija.
"So, uh, is there somewhere we can go that's out of the wind?" he asked. He wanted to see the rest of this place, not stand around shooting the breeze.
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Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:59 pm
Shija chuckled lightly at Tycho's words. "Of course. I apologize for keeping you guys out for so long. This place is quite cold for say. But do not fret. The entire island is protected against servere weather via cyber systems planted in the ocean surrounding it. This little harbor included. Your headmaster will explain how this island works later in the opening ceremony. But for now..." She gestured her hand to point at the little hut, where she came from. "Please, come into my room. It's at least a little bit warmer than outside."
Shija nodded to the two boys and turned to her hut. The hut itself was small, big enough to fit about four or five people inside. Most of the times Shija would find herself outside on top of the hut, looking out to the ocean, waiting for new students to arrive and thinking about the relocated birds. The hut itself was shared by Shija and Marie, another native girl who was resposible for driving the new students to the upper part of the island. Shija had rarely seen Marie besides the time before going to sleep. Today, Marie had gone up to the island to run errands for the headmaster, persumbly delivering boxes of newly baked cookies. Shija sighed. The people on this island, although nice, do have some strange habits. She was sure that every single new students would be amused by the strangeness of the teachers and administrators here. These two also.
"Please pay no mind of the strange ornaments inside of my room, it's sort of a self...fetish. I believe soon there will be people here to pick you guys up to the auditorium, where you will attend the oepning ceremony with other students."
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:30 am
Tycho's actions and words and observations were not a bother to the well behaved Brit, and he cared naught for disputation. There really was no point in wasting effort with fighting, and bitter words only caused more trouble then they were worth. It wasn't as if Nat wanted to be this sweet and kind, and yet he wasn't hiding behind these words either. It was a complicated mess of sorts and it was preferred that he didn't divulge the secret contents of his mind.
Words were spoken and his pupils adjusted themselves accordingly. Seeing without seeing and hearing without listening, it was simply a matter of good observational skill. The gleaming smile never fell from his pale lips and that wind rustled his honey brown hair.
Once inside this new environment, Nathaniel politely looked around. Look but don't touch. Often his Father had told him that. He'd said, 'Nathaniel, my boy, you need to understand the way of things. Watch them and learn how they work so that you may know better how to control it if you need.' What a bore. Father really had been old-school, not that Nat ever dared to say it to his face. Yet Mother loved him and that was what kept their son properly obedient.
"Thank you Shija," he said politely. Those eyes of his were precious as emeralds as he looked around, and he found himself comfortable. Settling into his place on the island would be hard and so he treasured his last free relaxation moment before he was to be shipped off and forced into the company of others like himself. Something about it upset him, yet he couldn't pinpoint it quite yet.
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:54 am
Shija nodded and lead the two into her room. The room was filled with decorations, from paintings to wood craftings, from little gemstones to large posters...all of different kinds of birds. Shija enjoyed the presence of these decorations, for they remind her of the lovely creatures that once lived on this Island. She had grown up with them, but had to say good-bye to them for the greater good of mankind...she wondered often about how and where these birds were living right now, if they were adapting to their new enviornment, if they were surviving under the constant fear of extinction...of course, not that the birds really understand about the whole alien invasion stuff that the humans were up about.
To her, this was a sudden change also. And Shija believed no one on this earth could possibly not affected by the war. The island of Shinkami was too small for the invaders to take notice, but because of this, it has attracted the humans, and was turned into a preparation ground for war by them. Shija hated both side for disturbing her peaceful moments with the other natives and the birds, but she also knew it was unavoidable. She hoped that one day the birds would return, and she would go back living her native lives again. For now, however...
"You can sit down anywhere, I'll go fetch some drinks. What would you guys like?"
Shija smiled at the two boys, who are still looking rather alert and uncomfortable. In a way, they were like her in the beginning when she was told about her new job, and Shija sympathized with the boys. They have no idea what they might face in the future...
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:17 pm
Tycho did indeed look uncomfortable. The room was warmer, but the hominess of the room with its small and many knick-knacks seemed very alien to him. The offer of a drink perked his interest, though.
"You have tea?" he asked, giving Shija what could be interpreted as a guardedly hopeful glance. Atticus had been a connoisseur of the dried leaves, and had introduced Tycho to the many different types. The drink had grown on Tycho. "Earl Grey, maybe?... Please?"
The please was an afterthought, the concept of manners was a subject that Atticus had only lightly covered. He glanced quickly over at Nathaniel, an idea tickling at the back of his brain. He didn't try to draw it out, best to let such things grow at their own pace. He looked back to Shija.
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:14 pm
It wasn't so much a sense of unease as it was a sense of anxiety. He wanted things to get on with themselves and just go. He wanted access to a library he could read at all hours of the day or night and he wanted someone to be around to explain the things he couldn't understand. He wanted the indepdence and freedom to concoct his revenge. Lurking beneath his manicured exterior there was a viciously voracious mind and it begged to be satisfied of it's needs.
Unfocused eyes came into focus at the room, and he became quickly fascinated. There was so much to learn if given the space time and attention, all three of which Nathaniel had taken care in perfecting to the best of his young ability. He gathered the woman, Shija, had a special connection with such gorgeous creatures and these trinkets settled her stomach and put her worrisome self to rest. Her delicate voice rose him from his element and back into the reality of the world. She mentioned beverages and quickly he declined the thought, slightly put off. Kindness was to be expected, but he'd never been one to accept something if he didn't really want it, even if it was polite to do so. Another thing his Father could never pound into him.
"I'm fine, thank you though Miss Shija," he said in that sickeningly sweet voice of his. He had long since resented just using first names and often craved a title if none were given. Habit had finally taken over from his lack of attention -which was still halfway devoted to the observation of the room- and he added the 'miss' to her name. It wasn't to be haughty or try to act better then the other, who was eager and obviously hadn't learned very many manners. It was simply his way of life, yet he had a very good feeling that his up bringing was going to be a real problem from here on out.
For a split second, his eyes locked with Tycho's and a shiver racked him. That boy had something flickering behind the glowing violet of his eyes, and whatever it was, it made the British boy tense. He had never really learned to trust people unless given a reason to do so and this boy had done nothing but give off intense waves of disliking and mistrust since the moment they'd laid eyes on each other. He was loathe to be left in the same room but out of sheer willpower he swallowed the urge to offer to help Shija and to remain here with the possibly dangerous boy.
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:38 pm
The young woman's eyes shifted back and forth from Tycho to Nathaniel, then back again. She finally smiled a reconcilliatory smile, and nodded. "Earl Grey tea it is." Turning, she added, "by the way, this island may be small, but it contains be the best of everything. So donot hesitate to ask for anything specific. Chances are, you will get them somewhere on this island. And if not, the specific item that you asked for will be shipped from outside world in less than 2 days to satisfy your needs. Yes, I know this system can be very spoiling to you guys. Although thankfully, I do happen to have some tea in which you wish for back in my cabinet. Otherwise you'll have to wait for a few days to taste them. They are good, I have to admit."
Shija looked to Nathaniel and bowed a little. "No need to act polite, young sir." She smiled teasingly, feeling the nobility emitting from the boy. "Here, you will abandon all your previous learnings eventually, and enter a brand new environment. If you kept to yourself too much, you might have trouble adepting to this new environment." The woman lifted her face away from Nathaniel and gasped lightly. "Ah. Enough chit-chatting. Let me get you the tea and I'll go see if Marie's back from her trip yet."
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:47 am
Tycho actually smiled at Shija when she said that she did have Earl Grey, though it was isolated to the very corners of his mouth and eyes.
He was skeptical about what she said about all his needs being answered in less than two days, it seemed far too good to be true, and Tycho usually trusted his instinct in that kind of case. It might be possible to get fabulously expensive things, like rare teas, but you probably needed money to do so, and a lot of it.
Tycho glanced back at Nathaniel once more as Shija addressed him. The clockwork boy had met his eyes before, and Tycho was curious, and not a little pleased, that the boy had seemed a bit disturbed. In spite of his shiver, Nathaniel had basically earned a place on Tycho's "Soft" list. Mannered, well-groomed, aristocratic even. Nathaniel had apparently never spent a winter in an abandoned mall, or fought a rival gang for food. Tycho didn't really think this with contempt. Being soft simply meant that you had an easier life, and that was something Tycho had wished for quite often when he was younger. However, Tycho knew that this kid would have a far harder time adapting to a harsh environment, so unless this kid had a hidden talent, there was little chance that Tycho would ever consider forming a gang with him.
As Shija left, Tycho shifted his attention to the room, which was thoroughly covered in small trinkets. All of which were avian in nature. Tycho had to thoroughly surpress the urge to steal one. They were pretty, but he couldn't see any use for them, and they were personal enough that if he tried to sell it, the trinket would be recognized, and he'd be caught. Didn't mean he couldn't look, though, and that he did.
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