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 Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:04 am
 Vaden slipped his calculator back inside his binder, closed it and then shoved it and his textbook back in his bag. "Because teachers are stubborn and want you to do everything the long way even if it is easier and more efficient to teach the long way but then go 'but that's ridiculous and you need a whole page of paper for one problem. Here's a simpler way to do it.' But no, teachers thing if you aren't doing ALL the steps you're doing it at all." he sighed and snapped his bag closed then stood up and put it on his shoulder. "I'm a firm believer that it shouldn't matter how you get an answer, just as long it's the right answer."
He started towards the path, stepped over the divide and then turned and waited for Gany. Should he offer to let Gany hold his hand? Was that something he should do? Would Gany be offended and think he was treating him like a very small child? So many questions! Instead of making a decision he decided that he'd just keep his hand down on which ever side Gany walked on...if the freshling wanted to hold his hand, he could do so. That seemed fair and the situation would hopefully resolve it self.
"Charoite is a rare mineral, it's purple. My flitterat is purple so that's why I named her that." once Gany was back on the path he started towards his dorm room, altering his stride so not to outplace the child. "I didn't think it would be a problem. I've seen older students with younger ones from time to time around campus."
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:37 am
Gany nodded, they definitely agreed with Vaden's thoughts on homework. "I think so too. But when I just give the answer they mark it down which is dumb 'cause the answer is right so I should get full points." They trotted along next to them, shorter legs needing to move a little faster to keep up with him, but it wasn't an issue. Rather than reach for a hand to hold, they threaded their own fingers together behind their back as they walked. Problem solved.
"Min...mineral. What's a mineral? Sounds like something you eat." They slowed down once Vaden changed up his pace, not really noticing it since the caretakers did it all the time. "Yeah! They said we can have um.... mentors. So a big kid can come show us around 'n stuff if we want and they want. I thought about it... but I think it'd just be more rules." They made a face, then looked off to one side in a moment of distraction as a bird flew by.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:32 am
Vaden absently wondered if Gany was actually getting the right answer or was perhaps being a little argumentative in his giving of the answer. Teachers weren't much for being challenged by students, especially younger ones. It wasn't until he'd been a junior that he'd been openly encouraged to start debating reasons for Why he felt a certain way about a topic. "Well sometimes it's how you give the answer." he said glancing down. "Tone of voice is everything when dealing with people." there, non-accusatory, let Gany think about that.
He chuckled a bit and shook his head. "Simply, it's a rock, but it has to occur in nature naturally." he motioned towards the sidewalk. "For example, this concrete, it's not a mineral because it was made by man."
"Mentors?" he actually thought that was a good idea, there was a lot of things younger students could learn from older ones. "Hmm..." he pondered that as they reached his dorm building and he let Gany inside. He then motioned towards the stairs. "We need to go up a flight." he said and started on the stairs.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:42 am
They frowned, thinking it over... They were just being truthful though, in their mind. "I guess. Y'know a lotta people say that so I talk like this and they still get mad." They looked up at him, indicating that the flat tone they'd been using the entire time was not particularly natural.
"Oh. I didn't know there were purple rocks. Do they talk about them in older classes?" That sounded like it could be interesting. Maybe they wouldn't mind that kind of class... though it sounded like maybe it'd be a science class... not really their forte, though.
"Yeah, mentors. I dunno much about it other than you get paired with a big kid." They shrugged, then stopped at the foot of the stairs to stare up them for a moment. "How come it's called a 'flight' if we don't fly?" They glanced back at Vaden curiously, but started up the stairs anyway.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:31 am
Well that explained it. "Sometimes, if you don't use any inflection in your voice, people might think you're disinterested, or bored, or even making fun of them. It's hard, but everyone has to learn How to talk to people and when it's appropriate to be very expressive and when it's not." he tried to think of an example. "Like, let's say you were talking to a Litch, you might keep your voice monotone, and very clearly state to them if you were upset or happy, because they might misunderstand your tone of voice of facial expressions. On the flip side though if you were talking to a very animated Imp, and you were talking about a subject that both interested you, but you remained monotone and unexpressive, they might think they were boring you, or you weren't really interested in the topic, or you were making fun of them." very stereotypical examples, but that seemed the easiest way to explain how important tone of voice and expressions could be.
"There are rocks of all colors actually. Depending on what they're made of determines what color they are or what kind of qualities they have." he nodded. "Yes, you'll learn that in science at some point."
Vaden was already a few steps up when he turned to look back at Gany. He stared at them for a moment then started to laugh, his shoulders shaking a bit. "I...I don't know actually." he said amusement in his voice. "Now come on, if you hurry I'll let you give Charo a snack." with that he turned and finished going up the stairs.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 12:18 pm
Gany frowned, listening to his explanation. They were too young to really notice the stereotypicality of his examples, but they did think it was dumb anyway. "That's stupid. Obviously if I'm still talking to them I'm still interested. But I guess there's those times the teacher makes us work in groups and I'm not interested but still have to talk to them..." The frown deepened as they continued to mull that concept over in their head.
"Do we get to keep the rocks?" That would make it worth while. They'd wanted to keep a few of the science samples from previous classes but it just wasn't possible. They stopped when Vaden started laughing, staring at him blankly for a few moments before shrugging and resuming their pace behind him. "What kind of snack? Do flitterats really eat everything? There was a kid in my quad who said her flitterat ate her homework once." They picked up their pace, managing to squeeze by Vaden to reach the top of the stairs.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 1:41 pm
"But they don't know if you're just be polite, letting them talk, or actually engaged." he glanced at the Freshling. "You can be completely uninterested and still offer opinions on a subject, and if you're being monotone they are more like to stop talking because they'll think they're bothering you instead of having an engaging conversation. Other people can't read your mind, and if you don't show them in some small way how you're feeling, how are they going to know how to treat you? You could be feeling really sad and lonely, but if you're not showing it, how is anyone going to know you need cheering up?" he snorted a bit. "And yes, sometimes you have to talk to people you don't want to, about things that bore you, but it never hurts to be polite and contribute to the group. It's not fair to make other people suffer and get bad grades just because you don't care about a project right?"
He frowned not sure how to answer that question. "I don't know? Most of the time you look at pictures and talk about their attributes, but there are places where you can buy different kinds of rocks and crystals." he pondered for a moment. "I think I saw on the syllabus that my science class is supposed to go see some caves in Maiden's Wreath. If they sell any really interesting rocks or crystals, I'll get you some okay?"
As they finished climbing the stairs, Vaden directed Gany down the hall to his room. He pulled out a key and let himself in, peeking around. The room was thankfully quiet, except for the sound of Charo moving around in her cage, which meant his roommate was out. "Okay come on in." he said going over and setting down his bag on his bed.
Except for the cage containing the violet flitterat, Vaden's side of the room was...barren. One lonely trinket, one of those small jars that shone like it had stars in it when shaken, that shared space with some library books on obscure books about history, one about military strategy, and one about psychology, and then the rest of his text books. There were no pictures though, and nothing that really said anything about Vaden. His roommates' side on the contrary was a mess.
 Vaden went over and opened Charoite's cage letting her scramble out onto his hand, and then climb up onto his shoulder. "It's a pellet it's got vitamins in it. She likes them. Yes, she will eat just about anything, I don't know if she's ever eaten my homework...but I've seen her tear up clothing and books before." he moved closer to Gany and knelt down so he could get a closer look at the little lady. "Stay still and she might decide to jump over to your shoulder. Just don't freak out and get scared if she does. You might make her fall and she might hurt herself, okay?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 4:26 pm
"Welllll... most of the time they are bothering me so I s'pose it's okay." They nodded, as if that was completely normal to be bothered by most other people. "I don't get sad. Or lonely. So I don't need someone to cheer me up. Uuuugh I hate group projects. They're the worst." They groaned, cooperating with the other students was just asking too much in their opinion.
They stopped at the door with him and stared, confused by the nonchalant offer to get them something from a souvenir store. "...Really? Why?" This senior was turning out to be very interesting after all... They'd have to put in a little more effort to not be as grating as usual...
They followed him inside, looking around curiously. The mess on the other side of the dorm earned a sour expression for a moment, but Vaden's complete lack of well... anything confused them even more. For someone that seemed kinda homesick earlier, he sure didn't have any pictures of home. Or family. Their attention was brought away from the room itself to Charo once Vaden got her out.
They quieted down, standing still as instructed, eyes intensely focused on the little creature. "A pellet doesn't sound very tasty... And I won't freak out. Yesterday a big bug got stuck in my hair and I didn't freak out even a little." They nodded, only inching forward a little more before standing still again.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:45 pm
Vaden sighed and rolled his eyes upwards slightly. This kid was a never ending supply of wander and fascination to him. "Everyone gets lonely and sad sometimes." he said simply and left it at that. "I will agree with you thought, trying to get any number of people to agree on anything is frustrating."
Vaden paused. Why had he offered to get Ganymede something? It was a little outside of the norm for him, but at the same time it made sense. "Because you seemed interested in them, and maybe it will encourage your interests further. If nothing else they'll be pretty right? And you said you like pretty things." a pause. "Also because...we're...becoming friends?" he offered hesitantly. It didn't seem Gany was overly familiar with the concept of associates, acquaintances or friends in general, and that was kind of sad to Vaden.
"Might not to you and me but it is to her." he watched Charo twitch her whiskers and then turn her head to look at the freshling. "Well she's going to be heavier than a bug, and she's got claws." he added, watching her seem to consider the distance for a moment, then bunched her hind end and jumped the gap over to Ganymede's shoulder, little wings outstretched.
She landed with an awkward little scurry, the child's shoulder being far smaller than the one she'd come from but she settled herself quickly enough and began investigating Gany's ears and hair.
"She likes you." Vaden said standing up to get a treat for Gany to give her.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:56 pm
"Maybe, I'm not very good at science. It's mostly boring stuff." They shrugged, still watching Charo for now, though the suggestion of becoming friends caught their attention. "...Friends?" For once they use a bit of inflection in their tone, raising it just slightly as the turned their gaze from Charo to stare directly at him. "......I'm okay with that. You're pretty interesting I guess." They nodded, immediately going back to monotone.
They went quiet again as Charo made her jump, body stiffening up in reaction to the small weight on their shoulder. "It was a really big bug though..." They nodded, then froze up again as Charo started her investigating. Her whiskers tickled their ear, earning a series of surprisingly emotive giggles in response. "Her whiskers tickle...!"
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:26 pm
"Science has it's ups and downs." he said as he pulled down the container with Charo's treats in them. The box was actually a puzzle box as it was the only way he could keep her out of them when she was free roaming around the room. Although she'd come close a couple times.
Vaden snorted. "Thanks. You're pretty interesting too." he pulled out a treat from the bag inside the box and set it on his desk for a moment while he got the box locked up again.
He looked over at the sudden outburst from Gany and smiled in response. "They do, don't they~" he said playfully. He walked over and had Gany hold out his hands. "Here a treat for her." he put the pellet in one of their hands, which was conical in shape and about as long as Vaden's pinky to the first knuckle. "Here let's play a game with her. Let me take her back for minute, and then put your hands behind your back, put the pellet in which ever you want and then hold them back out to her and make her figure out where it is okay?" he reached out and scooped up Charoite before she could decide to cross to the Freshling's other shoulder by trying to scramble along his back.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:27 pm
"Are you saying interesting because you really mean something else orrrr 'cause you mean it?" They blinked, watching him fetch the treat. A moment later they thought to add, "I used it 'cause I meant it. That time."
They took the treat from him, and inspected it in an open palm. Once he started explaining the game, they looked back up again, and nodded. "I like games. Is she good at this one?" They waited until he'd gotten Charo off of their shoulder, then put their hands behind their back to move the treat around a couple of times. Once they decided to settle it in their left hand, they held out their closed fists for Charo to inspect.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:35 pm
"Because I mean it." he said honestly. "I'm flattered that you said what you meant, Ganymede." he said resisting the urge to ruffle the child's hair. They probably wouldn't like that much.
"She's very good at this game and several others. Maybe I'll show you them some other time." he cuddled the flitterat and stroked her fur while he waited for Gany to finish hiding the treat. Charoite though had other ideas and kept trying to climb Vaden's shoulder, which meant him having to return her to his hand.
Once Gany was satisfied with his placement of the threat, Vaden extended his hand out containing the flitterat and let her investigate the little Geist's hands. She sniffed curiously at each one several times before putting her little paws against his hand and trying to get him to open it by trying to push her head in between his fingers. "Is she right?" Vaden asked, although considering Charoite's reaction, she was definitely right.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:41 pm
"What does 'flattered' mean?" They tilted their head a bit, watching Charo move around his arm with some amusement. "I wanna see that. Did you have to teach her the games?" They kept their gaze locked on the flitterat while she inspected their hands...
Of course she chose correctly. With a grin they opened the hand with the treat for her to retrieve. "Yep! She can smell it, huh? Animals have really good noses."
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:59 pm
"It means I accept analysis of me as a compliment and am pleased by it." he said.
Vaden nodded. "I did. Maybe if I have time I'll set up a maze for her to run and you can watch her figure it out. Her parents were really good at mazes and some other games and I picked only her out of all her siblings to keep because she was the smartest and best at problem solving. Provided there's a treat involved at some point." he smiled and watched Charo grap the treat in her paws and begin to nibble on it. "She can. Now it is possible to fool her with this game, say you dip your hands in something strong smelling like perfume or scented lotion, it's possible you can trip her up. She's only right...a little over half the time when that happens. But that's kind of mean, and she's a good girl and doesn't deserve to be teased." he lifted Charo up to his face and nuzzled against her little head making soft clicking noises to her. Charo in return pressed her nose against his and went back to munching on her treat.
"Would you like a rat kiss?" Vaden asked. He wasn't sure if Gany would actually want one and it was debatable if Charoite would comply, but it didn't hurt to offer.
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