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 Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:32 pm
 Yalitza was so focused on Rakshasa and taking notes, she didn't hear Cashimer move towards her until she heard his voice. Turning she smiles to him as she bows her head "Hey, long time no see. Enjoying the class?" with a soft chuckle, she turns back only for a moment to look as she heard the questions. She herself didn't have any, but she like some of the ones asked and was eager to write down any information that Graphtas was willing to tell them all.
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:27 am
Lelaus gave Graphtas a long sidelong glance and rolled his shoulders back. For once the talkative Professor said nothing.
Graphtas, casting a cautious gaze sidelong back at Lelaus, began to answer the questions as swiftly as he could. He kept the same grumbly, measured pace, and his English stumbled along in a foreign cadence as he mentally translated.
"A Rakshasa can turn to any form that he has seen the all sides of. A hologram like the Outsiders have is good enough, though many prefer to see their subject in moving to better copy body languages." Graphtas answered the first question, with not a small amount of pride.
"We make pacts to be paid. In Lesh Tarr we have no quarries, no mines. We need supplies to run our homes and materials to make the things we need. Raw leathers, metals and alloys for weapons and tools, plastique, food, jewels.... These things have worth to all creatures." Graphtas answered Eve's question rather reflexively, having had to explain his standings more than once before to various parties.
"Lesh Tarr is our one city." Graphtas then continued, by way of answering Biwa's question. "There are no female Rakshasa, you see. So our numbers are never so many. We try to find each other as much as we can for safety and organization." Graphtas paused for a second, bowing his head in reverence to his home and heart, Lesh Tarr. Then Lior's voice raised his question and Graphtas looked up again, his lip curling ever so slightly, eyes narrowing ever so faintly. "No one can walk into Lesh Tarr unless they are Rakshasa by blood. One would be hard luck to find it for searching. So, if you want the help of Rakshasa, you need to do one of three thing:" Graphtas held up three fingers, each thick and tipped in a vicious-looking black claw. "One: be so lucky as to find a Rakshasa wandering by himself. Two: call the name of a Rakshasa who has sworn an oath to serve you, and has not completed his task. Three: possess a Shri Atath." At this last comment, Graphtas nearly spat the words - how he snarled as he said them! He clenched his upraised fingers into a tightly balled fist and let his paw drop to his side.
When Khamsyn said his 'excuse me' Graphtas' attention snapped back to the class at hand and his prickled fur smoothed a little. "The changing is true. Not illusion, not screen. Not...how you say...facade? In body we become our disguise. But it is up to a Rakshasa to learn to move or speak or behave like the desguise. Good Rakshasa spy on target to learn these things before starting impersonations.
Lelaus watched on from the side, pleased at the sorts of questions they were asking. Graphtas was always a good way to get tongues wagging. Lelaus would have to give him an extra brushing after class to thank him.
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:29 am
Lior looked surprised by the tones in Graphtos' voice, but nodded in understanding and offering a polite smile, hoping to appease whatever displeasure he may have stirred in the powerful creature. "Thank you, very much, for explaining, Graphtos," he said, bowing his head a little and stepping back into the crowd of students. He looked around for Cashimer, then shuffled to him and Yalitza, smiling warmly. "Hello," he greeted, offering a hand to Yalitza. "Cashimer has told me about you, Miss Yalitza, and it's nice to meet you."
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:36 pm
Abacus looked startled as the new student entered, grabbing for his camera and -- No. No click, no embarssment immortalized by him. Abacus let his camera fall back to its normal position, grinning and shaking his head slightly before returning to his current task: writing down the questions and the answers. He felt self-conscious around the Rakasha, and couldn't help but to be awed by him.
Khamsyn's question, however, gave Abacus an idea. He set his notebook down onto the ground and faced Graphtas. "If I may," he began, "Graphtas, would it be too much to ask of you to allow me to take a picture of yourself now, and another of when you have shape-shifted into another shape?" He grinned, adding, "I'm sorry for requesting you to shapeshift again -- when I first saw you in Lelaus' form, I admit I was quite confused at how similar you and he appeared. I would be greatly pleased to have a picture of your ability, and to witness it again."
He hoped he wasn't pushing the flattery too much, but it was better to try and be on their good side than otherwise, right?
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:04 pm
Khamsyn absorbed the Rakshasa's answers to the other students questions but pursed his brow at the answer to his own. It seems the Rakshasa misunderstood his question. He took it as if the student was asking if the change was mere illusion. That was not what he had meant. However, Graphtas' further explanation granted Khamsyn some degree of an answer to his real querry. To spot a Rakshasa in disguise, one must look for any behavior uncharacteristic of the individual being imitated. All the more reason for Khamsyn to get to know his fellow students, teachers and other faculty here.
"Thank you Graphtas. I appreciate your honesty." Khamsyn said with a slight seated bow. He flicked his gaze to Lelaus then, looking to confirm that the Rakshasa was indeed being truthful.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:18 pm
"Thank you, Graphtas," Arwen followed Lior's lead, thanking him for his answer. She, on the other hand, had no doubt that his words were truth, for what else would Lelaus bring him here? The smile on her face was small and tight, especially after the mention of Plastique. She wasn't about to give the poor Rakshasa a history lesson, not when she herself had been so stiff during her own. It was a little unnerving, the extent of their flawless execution of metamorphasis, especially at the disposal of the highest bidder... Of course, part of what he said piqued her curiosity, but the Sanguine got there first.
Eve nodded to Graphtas, a hand reached back to touch Biwa in reassurance. "Thank you, but...no females?" Perhaps a wee bit less eloquent than the Melancholy would have posed the question, but that was hardly her concern. She thought for a moment, searching for words yet again before speaking, "How do Rakshasa breed? Or...are Rakshasa ageless?" It still didn't make much in the way of sense, but she was hoping his answer would shed some light.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:09 pm
Biwa murmured, "Thank you," softly, before falling silent. She would have drawn back a little once more if Eve hadn't reached out, given her that reassuring touch. As it was, she tentatively took Eve's hand, remembering the odd sense of calm it had given her in the garden.
If her friend was there, she was sure, then everything would be fine. Everything would be just fine, no matter all this talk about shifting loyalties and flawless imitations.
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Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:04 pm
Cashimer grinned ear to ear, rocking back and forth from his heels to his toes, and back again. There was nothing that made him happier than being around his friends... Save for being outside with his friends, but that could wait until later, after the class ended. And class was turning out to be rather fascinating... It was nice, to have the seriousness of History to be leveled by the more light-hearted feeling Animal Care. He was sure that it didn't mean any less, and was just as important. It just had a different... feel to it? He was never any good with words, but that's how it felt to him. "Yes!" he answered to Yalitza after Lior introduced himself. "I like this class quite a lot. And you, so far?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:51 am
Fenna blinked at the mention of plastique. After the discussion in History class... Wouldn't the stuff be dangerous? Or were they immune? But if it was dangerous to them, they surely wouldn't want anything to do with it. And in the midst of all these other questions... Perhaps she could find an answer later; she intended to look up the effects of the stuff later, anyway.
These thoughts ran through her head as she tried to think up a question to ask, but they ground to a halt as Graphtas snarled the third method of employing a Rakshasa. Her curiosity was piqued, and what better way of getting her answer than asking right now? After all, who knows when she would have the chance to ask again. "What's a Shri Atath?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:37 am
Daggart looked on, amazed by the talent this creature before him possessed. It was... astounding and the thoroughly impressed choleric had sat down at Graphtas' feet to listen and watch. When he hissed about the Shri Atath Daggart frowned in sympathy. With how cool the Rakshasa was, such a reaction had to mean something unpleasant.
When Fenna asked fer question, he nodded, also curious. If only for the knowledge so that he knew what it was so he could avoid it. It didn't seem like you had to force a Rakshasa into service if you were respectful... which, come to think of it, probably made that collar around his neck a formality. Daggart was beginning to re-evaluate his monster hunting aspirations... he'd have to learn the good and the bad ones so he didn't kill an ally.
Perhaps he'd stay after class and talk to Lelaus to see if there wasn't something more the professor could tell him... and if there wasn't anyone who hunted for their profession. It would be nice to be able to catch of glimpse of what he was passionate about.
Astaroth in the meantime, while interested, was wary. Anyone who used plastique was a gamble as far as he was concerned. Especially after history class. If you knew the risks and the results of such things, why did you chance the use of such horrible materials? As far as he knew Emyreans avoided the stuff. Why hadn't others learned a similar lesson?
Remaining silent, bright blue eyes scanned the room, amused at the great number of questions. Some more probing then he would have expected from his peers. Interesting.
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:05 pm
Lelaus glanced at the clock and decided that they had time for this last round of questions before needing to lead Graphtas away. He signalled to Graphtas these sentiments and swished his tail.
Graphtas watched Abacus carefully, eying the modified camera around his neck. A fancy little toy for such a young Empyrean, Graphtas thought to himself. He must have some sort of standing or talent to be granted such a rarity. Deciding to put in good manners now just in case it should be worth something in the future, Graphtas nodded his head slowly and began to change.
His height began to shrink primarily, and his fur began to recede, leaving behind soft blue skin and silky lavender hair. Clothing manifested itself, growing out of his excess shedded mass, and his paws refined into slender-fingered hands. Finally, his orange-on-black eyes turned green-on-white and there stood a perfect replica of Abacus. The only difference to tell the two apart was the collar around Graphtas' neck rather than the camera.
Then in his new form he began to answer the remaining questions, mimicking Abacus' charming tenor. Although his cadence was still a little improper, one who did not know Abacus intimately would easily be fooled by the mimicry. "Rakshasa have no women, so we need hosts to breed with." Graphtas addressed Eve first. "Since Empyreans are barren, that leaves us with other monsters and Outsiders to take as our mates. Many Rakshasas simply rape monsters, since there is little love between us. But a rare few have coupled with Outsiders." He touched a slender hand to his chest. "I once had a son." A moment of pained sadness crossed over his features in a way far more visible on Abacus' features than would have showed on his native face. Then he mastered his expression and continued. "But when we do breed, our young are always male, and depending on the host they came from can sometimes damage the mother in birth. Likewise, we are not ageless, we live for about 50 years or so and then our bodies begin to break down.
And then Fenna asked about the dreaded Shri Atath. Graphtas visibly shuddered and let out a ragged sigh that was entirely his and not masked to sound like Abacus at all. And then he levelled his masked gaze on Fenna and cleared his throat, resuming the falsetto. "Mechiresa, the High Duke of Hell created the first Rakshasa from the form of an Empyrean that he had ensnared. We call him Fes Danmatza - The First Father. As Fes Danmatza came to understand his skills and own intelligence, he rebelled against the High Duke and escaped his morbid hall. Mechiresa let him go. We believe so he could watch and see what all Fes Danmatza was capable of. Fes Danmartza was a skilled morpher, and he swiftly took the form of a handsome young Empyrean in the hopes of returning to his roots. He was discovered to be a Rakshasa, and the Chorus Council believed him to be a spy and persecuted him. He escaped again and took to the Outsiders for refuge. There he took form of a handsome young Outsider and proceded to sow his seed. When Mechiresa saw that his creation could further his kind, he flew into a rage and created 9 Shri Atath from the shards of a mirror he broke in a rage and the blood he spilled in breaknig it. Each of these Created Jewels held the power to force any Rakshasa bound with it to do the will of he who bound him until they decide to release him." Graphtas paused and looked at them all, sweeping his stern gaze over the room, formidable in its intensity. "Truly vile things, to force a creature of Free Will to obey you like a slave...." He shook his head and shrugged sadly. "They have since been set into jewellery of various kinds so that they are more easily bound to a Rakshasa. I have seen two of them in my time: an armband which I was once forced to wear, and a diadem that was put on my son the last time I saw him alive."
Lelaus gave the signal then that their time with Graphtas was now at an end. Graphtas let the disguise drop away, the features seeming to melt from him like water falling to the floor. As the disguise melted he grew back into his true form, and rolled his shoulders back, stretching up to his true height and shaking his head a little as if to adjust his vision.
"Everyone," Lelaus called out cheerily, as if trying to lighten the mood, "Let's all give Graphtas a warm round of applaus and thank him for being so very helpful to us today." Lelaus began this round of applaus himself and gave Graphtas a warm and caring look which the Rakshasa seemed to take and return in his way.
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:16 pm
Lior had been ready to strike up a conversation with Yalitza and Cashimer when Graphtas began to speak again. The story completely enthralled him, as it was strange to hear of a society so odd and different from his own. His eyes widened as things progressed into darkness and sorrow, feeling a dark and heavy pang in his heart. His hand lifted to touch his chest and he sighed softly and heavily, bowing his head just slightly.
When Lelaus announced it was time for Graphtas to leave, he lifted his head again, before smiling crookedly and lifting his hands to applaud lightly, pleased to have had this chance to hear of someone else's life. Ubel lingered in the back of the crowd, just listening... He didn't need to see to have the story hit hard in his heart. His arms curled around himself a bit tightly and he pouted just slightly, not liking that life could be so cruel, for seemingly no reason. But he applauded and brought up a smile when Graphtas was taken away, despite wishing he could learn more.
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:02 pm
Blayk had started scrambling in her bag for a notebook and quill as soon as Graphtus had begun to relate his tale. She didn't have that good of a memory, and she wanted to be able to remember this, to read it over... This was something that she got, something that she really understood. This was something that she liked, and she wanted to work at it. Wanted to be good at it. At least she could be good at something. None of the classes so far had really caught her interest... She hadn't really been good at anything. But this... maybe she could work with this. Hunkering down on the ground, carefully opening an ink well, she dipped her quill in, and began to write as quickly as she could, her handwriting big and blocky, as the Choleric put down as much of the story as she could catch, thinking that at least she could try and fill in the blanks later. This was... this was amazing. She almost wanted to say no, no, don't take him away! Not yet! I didn't do his story justice, I didn't get everything! But such was class. It wasn't as if the Kinesthetic couldn't come back later, and ask politely for the chance to speak Graphtus again. Blayk decided she would need to learn to take faster notes.
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:58 pm
Khamsyn absorbed the tale Graphtus told, talking special note of the parts that caught his attention more than most. No females was one thing, but procreating by rape? That struck the young phelgmatic as just plain wrong. Adapting to the circumstances of your genetic deficits was one thing, but physical violation was something else. He found himself getting angry, really angry. He clenched his fists tightly and closed his eyes, forcing himself not to let the anger consume him. After all, Graphtus never said he commited such immoral acts.
1... 2... 3...
Khamsyn started counting slowly in his mind.
... 4... 5... 6... 7...
He could already feel rationality and calmness reasserting itself.
... 8... 9... 10
He opened his eyes, took a deep breath and focused on the next bit that struck him as interesting, albeit in a different, and less emotional, way. The first Rakshasa was created from the form of an Empyrean? Did that make the creatures cousins of theirs in a left-handed sort of way? He vowed to ask when the Rakshasa had finished his tale, but Lelaus quelled that thought by ending the Q and A session with Graphtus. With a sigh, and mentally filing his querry for a later date, Khamsyn applauded along with the teacher and rest of the class. As a bit of excitement welled within him, Khamsyn couldn't wait to see what Professor Lelaus had in store for them next.
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:03 am
If possible, Arwen seemed to pale under her porcelain skin, from both Graphtas' explanation of how they procreated as well as the story of their beginnings. It was quite possibly as hard to swallow as the history of the Outsiders, and it left the Melancholy with a bitter taste in her mouth. Her awareness of the Outside seemed to be expanding in an unpleasant way; somehow, the brutality and roughness of it all - learned from the mouth of another - seemed to momentarily loosen the clench of fear she regarded the Outside with.
"Be well," she bid the male farewell, standing to add her dainty applause to the Professor's.
Eve found herself inching forward in the slightest as Graphtas talked, considering his words only for their surface value. Certainly, rape shouldn't be taken so lightly but he did mention posing as Outsiders to mate with them. It was survival, and there were no rules other than to live life the only way they knew how. By the time the Rakshasas was finished, she was near the front of the class with the other curious Empyreans, bright tangerine eyes observing the shift with hungry intrigue.
Graphtas was a living being like the rest of them, and at Lelaus' dismissal, Eve had little choice but to respect the decision. "Thank you, Graphtas," she murmured, one hand extending as though she would try to touch the Rakshasas, before shifting the motion into a slight wave.
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