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 Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:30 am
A gentle tug at her sleeve drew pale eyes around to her side, but only in time to see the source of the disturbance slipping past her. His clothing having snagged the sheer fabric that flowed down the length of her arm. Dark features pinched subtly in thought before she drew a deep breath and followed the unknown youth's lead, slipping through a gap in the dispersing crowd. Almost, but not quite retreating from the large knot of students for the clearer hall beyond them.
Her elbows brushed a few stationary figures as she passed, but she kept her chin high and her eyes trained straight ahead. Safe behind the cool, uninterested mask of the privileged noble. There was ever possibility that she could easily get along with any one of the students milling about, but the sheer number of bodies was making her nervous. She was a craven thing, and crowds set her on edge. Unease running rampant within that willowy frame. If the idea of missed opportunities where friendship was concerned bothered her, it didn't show as she reached the clear hall beyond the first 20 feet of the doors.
Her breathe eased out in a gentle sigh, shoulders loosening after a roll. She was making nice progress with one on one conversation and mingling, but groups still managed to make tension sing along her shoulders and back, breathing shallow. Her mood suffered as well, leaving her company much to be desired. Avoidance was really the best option for her, and after a quick glance over her shoulder she adjusted her grip on her books and continued on down the hall towards her first class.
Spiritual magic and magic theory. Essential to any blossoming soul conduit with hopes of achieving priesthood. Shin herself loved the class. She'd been studying her craft from a very early age, but you can only absorb so much knowledge from books. Having real practitioners teaching was invaluable to her. Her stay at the academy would be over soon, and she was eager to learn all she could from the teachers while she still had a chance.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:33 am
Perhaps his suggestion had been premature, for Veryuu could feel the mood of the group shift ever so subtly, but hardly a real physical action was made towards progress. It was disheartening, but with such companions as he had adopted for these fleeting moments, at the very least, the blame would not rest solely on his own slender shoulders should they happen to be late to the classroom that members of the party rather ceaselessly seemed to be acquiring directions for. At this juncture, the young Lunarian was entirely sure that this was the singular focus that had spawned their merry crowd. Grand. He'd fallen in with idiots. Not that he wasn't accustomed to it, his brother had seemed to habitually pick up such dolts and then expected his hermit of a brother to enjoy their company with the same relish he did.
Amane, however, there was something about that one that struck a certain chord, and for him, if none of the others, it allowed for a certain sense of ease, neatly groomed nails ceasing to pick anxiously at his raiment. It was freeing to no longer dwell in that completely inhibiting state of social apprehension, that sense that he was a new fish joining a pond of much larger creatures, surroundings alien. His companion's utterly unintimidated attitude towards Veryuu's frosty demeanor, no matter that there seemed to be a slightly negative note therein, felt oddly welcoming. Crossing arms loosely in front of him, he nodded, the vaguest semblance of a smile touching features, the expression actually reaching those intelligent eyes. "That would be assuming we could move the group as a whole." Whilst his voice held an unequivocally dry note, it was a whit lest ice-laden when aimed solely at Amane. The slights, the ribbing towards his nearly eccentric and ostensibly high-born vocabulary, were easily overlooked and disregarded. They were nothing, after all, that he had not heard a thousand times over.
And 'lo, the blithe, incessantly polite lad had predictably responded to Veryuu's inquiry as to his identity. "Jing Liu..." It wasn't any intentional infraction that he mulled over names in that fashion, that was simply Veryuu's own personal, and admittedly odd way of recalling the names he actually intended to tuck away into the depths of memory. "It is very satisfying to make your acquaintance." For though he might not be the most impatient of creatures, he did intensely desire a certain air of formality within first encounters of any nature. It was yet another thing that his siblings had heckled him endlessly over, and only now was it dawning on him that they might very well have had a point. Being cast adrift amidst so many casual parties truly did make him seem a touch jarring...not that he planned to alter himself for their sakes, he was insanely content to allow others to speculate what they wished about his person.
His expression did twist a pinch at their astonishing ease with physical contact. Already the youth had deduced that those three had no true prior link with one another beyond the pleasantries and squabbles that had previously been exchanged in the course of, at most, half an hour ago. It was sickening, really, that some people could so casually gift that which should be reserved for only those things most precious,those with true meaning. Perhaps in the weeks forward he would come to understand this bizarre state of mind, glean from strangers what his siblings had never bothered to elaborate on. Haote in especial had seemed fond of draping himself over his chums. Mayhap there was some allure to it, but Veryuu had always failed to see the value in such insouciant touches.
Regardless of their intent in the matter, much like at the lively functions that his brother Haote had seemed so fond of attending, it once more caused that incessant need to withdraw. And while he himself was not sacrosanct, a fact that fate seemed deliriously fond of repetitively proving to him, Veryuu would, to a fault, seek out that which was most comfortable and cling to it with childish tenacity. So whilst the merry trio all but cuddled themselves together, he stood just far enough apart to distinguish himself from their nitwittery, the cracks in the ice that had appeared at Amane's forward behavior once more being enforced with a new layer of snowy distance. Gods but he hated this so... Why had he not made the wise decision and sought out one lone, knowledgeable individual, and struck a rapport with them? But...to abort now would look foolish, and thus he remained, casting longing glances towards the supposed location of the cooking classroom.
At the moment he was unsure if this stagnating crew of nauseatingly chummy young males would ever arrive at that destination. "Lads, do we perchance know at which time the class is set to commence?" Another attempt to reroute their hapless caravan, if he kept trying, then with any stroke of luck they might mosey their way to the classroom eventually.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:52 am
"Where to go...where to go..." he found himself whispering over and over again as he stayed, his back still against the wall. His eyes were closed, his arms folded and his head tilted upwards just a tiny bit as if he was having a conversation with himself. After a few minutes however, he grew restless, dropping his hands to his side, lowering his head and opening his eyes, gazing forward. He was calm, and he would remain calm. That was the plan. The plan he had worked out with his mother the day just before he left to attend the Academy. Nothing was going to get his way. Nothing was going to exploit him for the hot-headed fool he could be. Nothing. He smiled at the thought. Total Control. He had arrived at the sense of peace he had been look-
"Can I help?"
A voice, even when he was in a state of total peace broke through what he thought was a perfectly achieved state of calm. No one was suppose to break though, not that easily. It was too easy. Who was it? WHAT WAS HE? The words echoed constantly in his mind as he seemed to snap out back to reality, turning his head to a single boy amongst a group of many. This was the one. The voice could not have come from anyone else....based on the direction he had heard the voice come from. His face turned to one of shock. "WHAT?!" he shouted rather loudly, realizing that he had not used his inner voice. He coughed, as if to make it seem like something had been wrong, composing himself to make up for his rather loud outburst.
"S-Sorry a-about that..." he said in what he believed to be his "composed" voice. He took a deep breath through his nose, exhaling out his mouth as this time a movement in his direction caught him off-guard, but instead of yelling he jerked somewhat in surprise. "Two people in same day already!" he thought as he turned his head to the new...acquaintance maybe? A somewhat nervous and irked look on his face. He wasn't sure how to react in such a situation, making the best fake smile he could muster, waving back for a few seconds before sighing. "All this in merely minutes! What happened to...oh wait...those days were back home. Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!" he thought to himself, smacking his forehead with the palm of his hand just seconds before. "Alright! I can do this!"
With that, he clenched one of his hands into a fist, as if to show his determination before turning on his heel to face the first boy, only to be nodded at. "I...forgot what I was going to ask..." he whispered, dismissing his idea of asking a question, to watching and following this group instead. Perhaps. Just perhaps. That had the same class as he. Surely, things would work out this way, as he again look to the one that had first initiated contact with him personally. "Nguyen Lien eh?...not bad. I'm not sure if giving ones name is the proper response to someone giving you their name....hmmm. Best wait to find out first. I'm in...no rush. After all" he whispered, a small smile forming on his face.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:32 pm
One..two..three...four...
Dai calmed himself, putting his hand on his chest and breathing deeply, this took more courage than he had thought. The young teen was in the middle of the long and wide hallway, the crowds of people mingling and going on their own way. His bright eyes explored the wide institution, the grand walls towering over him as the air was filled with conversation and amusement. This atmosphere was almost suffocating. His emotionless face showed no fear but inside he was consumed with his nervousness. With the butterflies still fluttering around his stomach he mustered all the confidence he could and opened his mouth.
At a passing person he lifted his hand, with a small wave and a weak voice, "Ah-- Hello." he was not noticed.
He cursed himself in his mind for that failed attempt of socialization. He closed his eyes and replayed his father's words in his head, "The Wu family has a reputation to maintain..." Yes, he was of the distinguished Wu family and he would show them all. This family still had the skill of swordsmanship in their blood after centuries and that everyone with that name was a true noble and a person to be respected.
Of course, that was easier said than done.
But Dai was not one to back out from a challenge. Years of training alone with his blade would amount to this day. He was finally at this Academy and he would not let this chance slip away from his fingers. He was the youngest boy of the family and it was a fact that he hated since he was not taken too seriously. Stepping into this academy was something he had thought of everyday as his sweat and blood trickled down his skin in practice, his fingers forming calluses from holding his blade too firmly. Every passing season, the vivid colors of spring, the heat of the summer, the dull and coolness of autumn and the freezing ice of winter--he had experienced them all with his old friend in his hands. Only for this moment.
Once again, his eyes roamed the unfamiliar place, eying all the strangers. He looked almost predatory in this state. But he was merely planning his next move, which would hopefully not be a failure again.
He tilted his head down, his white locks covering his youthful face, "I'm ready to do this."
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:41 pm
((Bpyan, is Dai talking to our group? I'll respond as though he is, but if not, ignore it and we'll assume Amane is a crazyperson >.> wink )
Amane resisted the urge to squish his fingers together, like he did when he was annoyed. Instead, he took one deep breath, exhaled it. He resisted the urge to ask Veryuu what, exactly, meeting this new person had satisfied in him. The desire to meet yet another he would then look down upon? It seemed as though Veryuu felt comfortable with Amane, but Amane himself disliked the boy on principle: no one could be cold towards his new friends without the repercussions of Amane's own endless calm. It was strange, to find oneself the enemy of calm. Looking into Amane's eyes felt a little like mirrors upon mirrors; they reflected back the person's face, but also their intent, because Amane spent so much time thinking upon subtleties and gestures. There was comfort, in Lien and Liu. Amane felt that. They were new, yes, but unlike the other new boys, Amane had been drawn to his two new companions.
He had thought, intially, that Lien's desire to protect them was a little hampering. He felt differently already; it was an endearing quality which Amane, though it may annoy him after a while, would support and foster. Especially if it helped take care of Liu. Amane would continue to serve as a fulcrum, so long as he was able to. He would stand between Liu and Lien and offer whatever support they needed, including the deflection of Veryuu. However, Amane suspected Veryuu was just not very adept at interacting with others. His mannerisms, his way of speaking... Amane almost felt sorry for the boy. At this Academy, he would be bested by someone, somewhere, and that grandeur would come into speculation. It was bound to happen, as most things of an extreme nature were oft to do. Amane, for example, was sure that someone would begin to try his patience, and he would have to use his stress-relief technique, which always came across as a little bit silly. It was strange, to have all these new experiences testing what had once been an unrippled calm within him. It was still there, his heart a grey, still body of water: nothing swam there, there were no birds, no chattering voices. Just the water, until it met the horizon. That was what it looked like, to see past one's reflection in Amane's eyes, and into the heart of the boy himself.
Amane didn't really want to respond to Veryuu at all, but he figured it would happen at some point. He opened his mouth to respond when the strange boy who had been hugging the wall earlier finally responded to Lien. Amane nearly burst into laughter. All these new emotions, he was finding it strange to deal with them. He dug his nails into his palm again, relishing the sting and then hiding his hand against his thigh. "Perhaps proper to offer, if you aren't asked?" Amane suggested to the boy, "For example, my name is Amane; pleased to make your acquaintance," Amane continued. It was the first time in the past two introductions that Amane had indicated any kind of joy at meeting the person. Lien and Liu had made him happy, because they both had some kind of sincere quality about them that reassured him. It was like having a family again, even though he barely knew them; that desire to reach out seemed instinctual. He had never reached out at home, because the children his age never got along. Now that he was older, apparently he was able to actually connect with others. He was finding, however, that connecting with people was making him feel all kinds of emotions which he had not really experienced before. His infinite calm would have to evolve to encompass those. Without knowing, he would probably grow to reflect the calm of a sunlit field, rather than that of a grey lake. Maybe, given enough time.
"To answer your initial question, Veryuu, I believe class will be starting shortly, unless it is delayed," Amane offered, clasping his hands together behind his back, again. Amane ignored the boy's unnecessarily decorated way of speaking. He used too many words. His father would have laughed to hear a boy speak that way. Takes too long to say what he means, his father would probably say, laughing. His father preferred people who were direct, to the point. His mother supported that, because when Amane was little, apparently he used to forget what he was saying mid-sentence and then just walk off. It had taken work to get where he was, now. And he was much better composed for it. Calmer.
Amane thought he heard a boy who had stopped close by mutter something. "Pardon me?" Amane turned towards him, tilting his head to the side. Perhaps he had imagined it; the halls were so noisy, it seemed.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:08 pm
Lien's parents had often told him to show patience to his younger siblings. When his oldest little sister, Tu, had been born, his parents had sat him down and had a talk about how he had to be patient with her after he had attempted to stop her crying by hiding her where he couldn't hear it. Though at the time, it had seemed like an efficient solution, he had eventually learned that perhaps the best solution wasn't always the quickest. Looking over at the yelping wall boy with this in mind, he offered, "Think back carefully, because we should go to class soon." He was willing to wait for his answer, but they really did have to get going, so he asked, "Do you have cooking?"
Now the boy was whispering to himself, it seemed. Lien chose to wait for him to finish, and turned to deal with other matters. Amane was addressing Veryuu, and Lien nodded. He didn't want to be late for his first class, especially since his parents wanted him to send those recipes, but Amane seemed to be the leader of the group and he didn't want to leave without him and Liu.
There were so many worried or nervous students around the hallways now that it was almost time for classes to start that Lien couldn't possibly take them all under his wing, so he adjusted his frame of mind. Before, he had been looking for people to attach himself to, now he had them. These were the people that he would try to look out for, unless someone else attached themselves to the group of their own volition. However, with classes so close, Lien was beginning to find that his own nerves were jangling again. His parents had sent him here with Quy on the understanding that he would do well, but he had never considered himself to be particularly talented to begin with. Classes starting would mean that he would have to find out whether he was any good or not. If he wasn't, he'd be letting down the family, his real family.
Swallowing for a moment, Lien looked at the floor. No matter what classes brought, he would just have to keep working at things until he was satisfied that his parents would be pleased. If he thought of school as just another chore for them, classes would be easier.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:56 pm
Toshiro found himself sighing again, thinking back at just a few minutes ago. He gritted his teeth as he thought back to his outburst. "Stupid, stupid, stupid! WHY did i DO that?! I bet I look like a total idiot now! A fool! NO...I must calm myself....calm myself..." he found himself saying only in his thoughts. Going about things the way he has since entering the school hasn't been working. He was cracking. Everyone was going to see through him at this rate. "No...NO! Just calm down...calm down.." he whispered, his voice lowering with each word as he spoke to himself, only to be disrupted by yet another new voice!
Twitching somewhat, he gathered himself properly and took a deep breath before turning his head to the new voice. He was being far to jumpy already, and he knew that he'd better compose himself as he had planned or he'd end up suffering from...constant distraction. Staring at the body that held the new voice, he actually found himself intrigued. This person....This person looked practically perfectly calm! "No fair...stealing my idea..." he thought as he shook the thought away, composing himself and standing up straight. He'd present him as a very knowledgeable and intellectual individual. The only way to go. Everyone would forget about his outburst just minutes ago if he presented himself this way. "Perfect" he thought as he the very calm individual spoke to him and even gave him his name.
Toshiro nodded, added an "mm-hmm" after this very calm character had addressed him and even gave him his name. "Amane huh?...uh-huuuhhhhh....very nice...even sounds calm.." he whispered, pondering on the point he had brought up to him, turning his back to him and then turning around. "You make a very valid point!" he nearly shouted, clearing his throat as if to distract everyone from the volume he seemed to put his voice at. "Too loud! Must be softer...calmer..." he thought as wiped his hand across his forehead, though there was nothing there. "I can do this!" he thought, taking another calming breath.
"Well then, Amane. It is...nice to meet you as well." he said as calmly as he could, just moving inches from where his spot on the wall had been. "My name is...Toshiro. Just Toshiro." he said smiling somewhat before stretching his arms. Once done, he dropped them to his side, turning to the voice of the boy who had talked to him before. He blinked, his eyes widening as he dropped his composure, his head and half his body turned towards the boy. "ARE YOU A FORTUNE TELLER?! HOW'D YOU KNOW I HAD COOKING?!" he found himself shouting again, this time also being one of utter shock. Freezing, his eyes scanning those around him, he cleared his throat before fixing his clothes and standing back up straight. "Um yeah...I've got cooking..." he said, panicking on the inside. "I did it again! Calm Shiro! Calm!" he once again told himself in his head as he looked back at the group. "what?...There something on my face?" he asked just out of pure assumption that anyone was even paying attention to him.
Taking a deep breath, he started to walk forward, holding a fist into the air as he walked past the group, catching the scent of food that could come from none other then the cooking class room. "Onwards!" he said as he walked, dropping his hand back down to his side. "Pft. Forget this. I'm not going to be late to class." he thought as he headed towards the room that held the source of the smell.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:38 pm
Classroom door no more then handful of feet away, Shin-Mu slowed her pace with contrasting features pinched in slight unease. Something had caught her eye as she passed, and she had the nagging sense to do something about it. That sense had slowed her steps, made her linger instead of simply entering the classroom. She'd almost made it past the gauntlet of moving bodies with little more then annoyance, almost. Now she contemplated doing something insanely out of character for herself, but she couldn't ignore what she'd seen. Besides, had she not being trying, as of late, to get beyond her social faults?
Squaring thin shoulders, she gave a great sigh before turning, staring with mild resent at the cluster of four not far from her. three standing close, obviously social, and one with them, but only barely. That fourth young man had distanced himself, but seemed unwilling to part with them for whatever reason, as if trapped by proper social conduct. She'd noticed it as she'd moved past them, and that subtle distance, the crispness of his voice, had been hint enough for her. If he wanted an escape, she'd offer him one.
Retracing her steps, she came to rest beside the small knot of new faces. An expression of subtle boredom situated on darker features. Personal boundaries had always escaped her, having been taught manners by the spirits of self proclaimed guardians whispering in her ears, and she extended a hand to rest on Veryuu's arm lightly. It was rude, but she ignored the others. Not on purpose, but for lack of knowing any better. She hadn't wandered over for them.
"I'm not familiar with all the students in attendance here, but I'd like to believe I at least recognize familiar faces. You don't look very familiar, would you like assistance finding your first class?" It had been a bold move indeed for the normally shy young woman, but she was learning, maturing, and she could reach out, be friendly.
She was learning as of late that becoming attached to people was not so bad as she'd always assumed, and she could in fact form bonds of friendship if not more. So far it cost her little more then a soft wave of nerves to offer him help, wanted or not, and the realization painted a smile over subtly painted lips. "You don't have to accept, but I thought I heard to ask about classes, and I thought it would nice."
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:40 pm
To proclaim that matters were vexatious to the youthful Noble would be a gross understatement by now, for whilst the blunt, but at least talkative Amane still afforded him replies as to the status of the situation, the others were by now clearly a loss cause. This pointless mingling would go on forever, were his cohorts allowed, milling like sheep only to look later upon angered superiors with upturned eyes and blithely announce that they'd lost track of time. It was that sort of individual that exasperated Veryuu above all else. "I see..." He muttered at Amane's informative, and yet at the exact same moment, obnoxiously vague statement. By now he had gone back to running fingers up and down the insides of his sleeves, picking at the frayed threads beneath the weave to contain inward anxieties. There was no problem with relaxation at it's proper time, even he had been obscenely guilty of downright laziness in his time, but not when the situation warranted direct and efficient action. Not all this leisurely dawdling like a gaggle of goslings that had lost their mam.
Had he known that he had a spectator; one that bestowed enough of her valuable time to recognize his plight, he would have been particularly bewildered. For whilst many of his brother's friends had afforded him some small magnitude of attention, Veryuu had usually, almost without fail, to dismiss their interest coldly until they saw fit to retreat, wondering just what had buried itself in his hindquarters to make the young noble so prickly an acquaintance. He wasn't isolated or lonely, after all...he'd had Haote. And well...now he didn't, and he was peevish and forced into veritable solitude in the center of a crowd of peers. How utterly irking to be so ill-regarded.
A pang went through him, a weak wave of upset that settled into his chest at thoughts of what had been, nestling there to fester insidiously. He really ought to have avoided thoughts of an irretrievable past. It might have been this particular train of thought that sunk him, had it not been for the interference of his quiet observer...and when she touched him, he started out of the daze that had been swiftly driving him to secluded melancholy. How mature of you, Veryuu...having a pity party in the midst of all these peons. Shaking his head, clearing the frost-touch cobwebs of encircling memories, he smiled very faintly when he noted that it was a lady that interrupted him, any thoughts of a reprimand for having the gall to lay a hand on him dying on his lips.
And 'lo and behold, she was extending to him the very salvation he'd been yearning for not a minute beforehand. Luckily for Shin-Mu, the lollygagging of the other boys had put Veryuu in a far more tractable mood. "Miss, you are a godsend." He admitted, "I feel almost a trespasser here, and even queries towards the subject of classes have proven...unfruitful. Despite replies being garnered from even...well, somewhat knowledgeable subjects." There had to be that note of doubt lying within the words, as even now he was still unconvinced of the credibility of those who seemed to have overdeveloped relationships with the ground or the walls. Truthfully, he could not hold back the exasperation that bled through.
Shifting subtly so that he was no longer even playacting as a part of the group containing Amane and the others, he centered his attention on the lovely lass before him, fixating his gaze politely on the sea-foam green of her eyes. "Your offer of assistance is most kind, and I think..." He wrinkled his nose in recall, "That I'd be a hapless idiot to turn it down." Perhaps he did use a grand many words, but he'd always thought that descriptive, rich language was the best way to say a thing. If one did not employ the knowledge they had learned, what good was it? "Might I inquire as to the name of my savior?" A far more pleasant plea for her name, instead of the subtle demands he'd placed upon the boys. One simply did not treat a lady that way.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:05 pm
It was almost tangible, Lien's discomfort. Amane shifted so that he was a little closer to his friend, clasping his shoulder again, though briefly. Amane wasn't much for physical contact, but when he had no words to express himself, sometimes that was all he could think of. Even now, he was having difficulty forming his words. "We'll get you there on time, Lien, alright? Let's head down the hallway with Liu." More quietly, he whispered, "If you'd like any of the new ones to come along as well, that is fine, but I will definitely not leave you or Liu alone." Amane nodded, his jaw set and lips thin. He meant what he said. He stared at Liu, with a quizzical look on his face. If he didn't think it would come across as weird, he would have already scooped the boy up and carried him off so that they could get going, already. As it was, he took a step towards the hall, maintaining eye contact with both Liu and Lien as best he could.
"I hope my name calms you, Toshiro," Amane answered, when the strange boy suddenly returned his greeting. He really did get loud, at times, but Amane didn't even flinch. It was odd, true, but not offensive or aggressive. The boy simply seemed to be a little clumsy as far as containing his emotions was concerned. And then Toshiro exclaimed a few more things and took off. Amane nearly sighed, turning to look at Lien and Liu again, shrugging and shaking his head. He clearly had no idea what had just happened. "I feel as though he'll end up hurting himself, if we don't follow..."
In what felt like a constant whirlwind of motion and exchanging faces, a new girl approached them, but she addressed Veryuu, and Veryuu alone. It felt as though she was utterly unconcerned with the rest of them, so Amane dealt with her similarly. Not coldly, but with a learned indifference. Veryuu was too jittery. Amane could not help but become excessively calm and quiet, in order to balance out his picking, moving, fretting. Lien had looked worried, too, but Veryuu seemed to radiate it. It almost itched at Amane, making him uncomfortable. Like a bad smell, or overly humid air. Amane drew from his center, envisioned silver water running from his belly down his limbs, to his toes and fingers, blossoming up into his head and behind his eyelids, cooling as it went. And then he was calm again, ready to deal with Veryuu. In truth, Amane was glad to be rid of Veryuu and his irritating manner of speech. The boy was over-wordy, so that it affected his communication skills. Amane felt like when Veryuu spoke, he was assembling all the words he had ever learned and then popping them out at once in seemingly random orders. And yet, they said something about the situation. It was irritating, to say the least, and Amane felt a twitch inside himself. He smoothed it over and went on looking unruffled. Amane had heard the exasperation in Veryuu's voice and found him rather whiny, like a spoiled boy who hadn't been treated with the adoration or standards he expected. No matter. Amane was better off with Liu and Lien.
"Shall we, friends?" Amane took another step towards the hall, his eyes glittering with a smile. Once they started, he wouldn't stop until they had reached the classroom. He didn't want his friends to get in trouble, and he did worry for the strange one, Toshiro. Since Veryuu had extracted himself from the group as soon as the girl showed up, Amane felt no need to say goodbye.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:24 pm
The group had continued on in their conversation, some extending a thank you his way and taking notice of him. He observed as they continued in their chatting. They seemed lost to Cais, but he figured he must have been the same once joining the Academy. It wasn't all that long ago he found himself in awe once entering the large doors and finding all strangers buzzing around him. Nostalgia was creeping into his mind, it calmed him. Remembering that he was now gawking at the others he took a step back. "My name is Cais!" he called to the others. Normally he would introduce himself as Trinh Cais, but didn't feel the need to be so formal.
"If anyone else has Lunarian History, that's where I'm headed." He said it loudly enough to be heard by the group, though he was unsure if they'd listen or not. They appeared to be well taken care of, watching as they crowded near each other and other, more familiar faces appeared to assist him. Assuming himself non-useful he shrugged once more, walking calmly towards the historical building which housed a complete (or what was deemed "complete") archive of Lunarian historical documents. There he was constantly being challenged to read through them and memorize information. It was interesting to say the least, but Cais had never been one to truly enjoy it.
Far above the Academy the sun was rising up into the sky quickly. That seat was sounding nicer but Cais was lost to the thought now. Curiosity was running his actions, stopping his escape and moved a few steps towards them, listening in on anything he could hear. At least if anything it would be an interesting morning.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:31 pm
With a relieved and grateful glance at Amane, Lien went on with them. He couldn't express why he needed to get there so badly, nor why he felt the urge to stay with at least the two of them, if no one else, so strongly. Lien had never been eloquent, and he was even worse at talking about himself. He was surprised when Amane grabbed Liu, though. It reminded him of when he gave his sisters piggybacks, but seeing someone else do it was strange. Amane reminded him more of Mei than anyone else in his family, and carrying people was a foreign concept to her.
He didn't have long to think about it, because soon they had reached the classroom and he was able to relax. Returning to a state of mind that was closer to his usual placid imperturbability, he glanced back to make sure that Liu and Amane had come in, too. Class hadn't quite started yet, but Lien felt that when it did, Liu at least, would need to be looked after. For Liu's sake, he hope dthat whatever they were learning today didn't involve knives, fire, tenderizers, or breakable dishes. perhaps the safest thing was to hope that there would, in fact, be no cooking involved at all.
Was he equivocating Liu with Hue? Maybe more than he should have been, but what with class about to start, his family were even more on his mind than usual.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:24 pm
The hand on his arm acting as a gentle leash, Shin steered the young man away from the others and further down the hall. Stopping just outside the door to her first class. Classes weren't due to start just yet, but she'd never felt any need to dawdle, instead preferring to linger outside her scheduled classrooms. She smiled at him, pleased her offer had been taken graciously, and let her hand fall away, arm coming back up to curl around the books she was holding against her chest.
"Like squeezing water from a rock, trying to get information from some people." Cool eyes flicked to the trio again with a quick frown, brows pinching and relaxing in the space of a heartbeat. it was true she'd managed to meet and befriend some exceptional lunarians, but there was far more she simply didn't have the patience or caring to put up with. She had never needed to worry about it before coming to the academy, and she'll be happy when she graduated and no longer had to share space with so many other youths that simply didn't share her drive and appreciation of knowledge.
"I'm Xia Shin-mu, and it was my pleasure to offer you an escape." She smiled again, chuckling. "And your name?" Pale brows twitched up in curiosity, though another question was nagging at her, and it concerned which classes he'd be taking. "I don't suppose you're following the path of a soul conduit?" If he was, his first stop would be here with her. If not, there were a few other choices.
There were far more warriors within the academy then budding soul conduits. A single classroom seemed to hold Shin and all her peers, while there were more needed for the studying warriors. They rotated through the various courses, from battle theory, to physical training. The soul conduits followed a relatively straight path throughout the day.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:17 pm
Casting but a momentarily glance back towards those who had been his fellows, he was not at all astonished to note that they'd finally begun to drift towards their objective. Pursing his lips at the rather offensive irony of the situation, he tried to ignore the rather dreadful taste it had had left in his mouth, a sour, stomach-turning proverbial bile. The world was simply populated with a copious amount of useless individuals. Closing that chapter of the day rather firmly, he looked forward to far more rewarding endeavors. For instance, making the further acquaintance of the pale-haired maiden at his side. Already he was predisposed to think well of her, the unexpected extension of aid instantly endearing her to the frosty youth.
"A very apt description..." Replying to her initial statement, he then took a slow breath in, only to exhale again, a certain rigidity easing in his shoulders as her arm dropped away from him, a twofold solace. To be freed from the grasp of the baffling web that was group interaction was liberating indeed, as well as having the intrusion into his personal space dissipate. It seemed they were like-minded creatures, he and his new ally...something that he had not thought to discover so promptly after his entrance to the Academy. Mayhap there was some hope he would yet succeed in his endeavors within this lively place, and for once...some warmth did manage to creep into his gaze. He ought not be so hostile, perhaps, if help came in the form of those like Shin-mu. With such sustainment, it would be an uncomplicated task to perform above and beyond the standards of excellence Veryuu had been assured would be expected of him within these walls. Mind, he did wish to be challenged, an uphill climb, after all, would best test and improve his strengths.
And here yet, was another testimony that cemented his wisdom in abandoning the others for a superior fare. She was deliciously polite, and carried herself in a way that put Veryuu at ease. "Xia Shin-mu." The name settled on his tongue comfortably, "It flows prettily, have you some portion of it you prefer to be called by?" He didn't care what the others had wished to be addressed as, but to someone he was gravitating towards as a potential friend, he would afford her the highest courtesy he knew how to offer. "I am Veryuu Lian-Hyun, though Veryuu is far simpler and easier to remember." Had they not been in a crowded hallway, he might have gone so far as to kiss her hand, an old custom, and one that he was quite fond of.
Her next query, however, made him for the space of a few seconds wish he was something other than a warrior. The young noble had always been staunchly proud of his skills with a blade, having studied diligently under his father's tutelage before the illness had struck. He'd heard, of course, about soul conduits and the nature of such individuals, and the concept had mystified Veryuu, a certain curiosity now overcoming him as to what it must be like...to experience the world in such a way. "No, I fear not...though I will admit that such things intrigue me." He paused for a moment, debating whether or no to question her about the matter. As his almost flowery vocabulary attested to, the young male took a certain delight in savoring new knowledge.
Well, the worst she might do was spurn his request, and it was a thought that it would do little harm to voice. "Are you? A Soul Conduit, I mean...Might I ask you what it's like?" Personal accounts, he'd found, though often less accurate, held a certain appeal, a flavoring of emotion that written text could never hope to duplicate.
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Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:16 am
Liu's uneasy feel about the people situation had been completely solved - what had happened in the last few minutes had left him in a whirl, and even Liu - easy, perpetually happy Liu - was feeling rather confused in the events that they called socializing.
The first thing he noticed was the wall-boy whom Lien had addressed. He had seemed mellow at first, just standing there and leaning against the wall, but once he started to talk, Liu started to rethink his thoughts, because this boy was anything but ... mellow. Toshiro was his name then? Well, Toshiro reminded Liu of whenever he drank coffee, except for the fact that Toshiro was much, much, much more jumpier. Liu somehow felt just mild next to Toshiro, sadly. He smiled quietly, "My name is Liu." And yet, despite his ... issues, there was something about this boy, something that made Liu feel like laughing - in a nice way, of course. He really had a sort of vibe about him that Liu liked, unlike that Veryuu person.
Speaking of him, he'd veered off in another direction, addressing another girl who had walked up to him. Liu was rather glad, considering Veryuu didn't seem to give a damn about him, and he sure as hell didn't give a damn about the other boy. From the way he acted to the way he fumbled with the embroidery upon his sleeves, Veryuu gave off a vibe, that unlike Toshiro's, caused Liu unease. People like that were not welcome allies to him, and if Veryuu felt the need to separate himself, Liu was not going to object. Liu was surprised to find how much his dislike for Veryuu had expanded - when Amane had remarked what he thought so coldly towards the boy, Liu had felt like laughing.
Hearing Amane's voice yet again, Liu blinked and surfaced from his thoughts, smiling as usual. Amane's remark was well-received, and Liu found that being friends with someone was something he would treasure, if the warm feeling spreading through his chest was anything to judge by. "Thanks," he murmured, and Liu really meant it.
"Ah yes~ I really worry for him. He looks even clumsier than me ...." Liu stuck out his tongue and smiled, before following along with them and stepping into the cooking room, a welcoming class that Liu rather liked. Not encompassing his looks and his habits, Liu was rather good at cooking. Living with a grandfather and a sick mother had taught him the hard way how to cook; and despite the scars and painful memories he had of learning the ways, Liu had, over time, become an able chef. Liu would be happy to spend some time learning new techniques and recipes with Lien and Amane. The two both seemed to have started looking at him like a little brother and yet somehow, Liu didn't mind, really, as long as he had someone who felt something for him.
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