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 Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:52 pm
Can I come see you?
Dante frowned at the note in his hand thoughtfully, fingers moving over the paper as his left hand absently caressed Gelnuir's fur. His brow was creased in thought, not because of the note itself, but because of who had written it.
"Scyeth."
That's right. That was the name of the boy that had run headlong into the building. They were still discussing Scyeth's punishment, with Dante trying to press that Scyeth had tried to step it up when they'd asked. He wouldn't be expelled, of course not - but the price for his intervention was heavy.
He sat back in his chair, thinking things through and enjoying the time it took to do so while trying to still remain aware of the world around him. His eyes narrowed in thought. He'd seen the change the boy had made in that building; he'd felt it, an almost physical articulation of maturation and growth. Perhaps he was just seeing things. Perhaps it was true.
Perhaps the answer to his questions - and vice versa - lay just beyond that door.
"Come in," Dante said calmly, putting the paper down and smoothing a hand pointlessly over his desk. A quick upward glance a hoarse cry and the susurrus of flapping wings inspired him to add, "Mind the crows."
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Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:04 pm
Something was wrong. Something had been wrong, since the fire. What it was, Scyeth couldn't quite put his finger on. Why it happened, well, Scyeth couldn't answer that either. But that didn't bother him so much as the 'when would it end' and, more importantly, 'why?'
He was just...so angry.
So, the young demon had finally decided to do something about it. There weren't a lot of options; he didn't want to worry RuiZhi, after all. But Dante seemed like...well...it was hard to explain. Scyeth had a feeling the Adviser was making the punishment as (well, he hesitated to use the word painless, but it'd have to do) as possible.
The voice shook the blond from his thoughts and he stepped inside, peering at the loud birds for a moment before shutting the door behind him. He strode over to the desk and looked at the Adviser. "I...don't know what to do..."
...it was a good place to start.
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Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:17 pm
Dante blinked up at the boy, cocking his head. He...wasn't sure what to do? About what?
...Well, just charging in and asking didn't seem like...the right type of reaction right now. Perhaps it would be best to get the boy settled first, then ask.
"...Why don't you have a seat," he said, motioning to one of the chairs and waiting for the boy to sit down. "If you'd like anything, I have some tea. In the area of sustenance I only have some strawberries, I'm afraid. Still, let me know and I'll see what I can do."
Honestly, he was just as lost as the boy. His self-reflection over the past few months had changed him in ways he hadn't thought possible - and it was showing in how he interacted with his students.
"Now then. There are several different ways one can define not knowing what to do. Why don't you begin by elaborating on just what you mean by that, so that I can try to help you?" His smile, though thin, was as encouraging as he could possibly make it.
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Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:47 pm
Scyeth blinked, slightly confused at the situation. Duh. Of course Dante didn't know what he was talking about. He wasn't a mind reader. The blond settled in the mentioned seat and shook his head as Dante offered tea or strawberries. "Ah, no thank you," he replied, hoping he wasn't being rude. At least the Adviser got right to the point.
He shrugged and looked to the ceiling. Well, no answer there. He ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "Well..." he started, looking back at Dante, "...I don't know." He frowned. "I'm just..." He stopped again. How did he even put this into words? He couldn't sound weak, or... He sighed and shrugged again. "I'm not myself, I guess. Since the fire, I." The boy stopped again. So angry.
"I'm just not the same."
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Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:57 pm
Ah, so it was that kind of problem - a change within oneself that seemed to come from nowhere.
It reminded him of a professor he needed to apologize to - soon, hopefully, as soon as possible - and caused his face to flinch ever-so-slightly. This was something he could work with, he thought.
"I see. No, Gelnuir, he's not going to give you food, stop picking at his hand." Dante poured a few crumbs into his hand, holding it out to the dark bird and clicking his tongue. Gelnuir took one last look at Scyeth before flapping over to the desk and eating out of the Professor's hand.
"My apologies. They're rather used to the students bringing them food when they visit, so they're a bit spoiled. Now then, you say you're 'not the same.'" Dante leaned forward, resting his chin on a wrist. "This change seems to have come fairly quickly.
"I can think of one of two reasons - the fire itself was determined to be of an abnormal nature. Beyond our power to control until Professor Krovanski intervened. This might have had an effect on you. Or it could have been...it could have been what I asked you to do - to lead the other students out." He tried to sound as neutral as possible - the last thing he needed was for this boy to think him arrogant or self-centered when really all he was doing was trying to help.
"Do you have any ideas you'd like to put forth, Scyeth?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:54 am
Scyeth watched the bird quietly, slightly amused. He was pretty sure the last time he'd seen those birds was the first day he got here...and his cat had been less than impressed. Stupid cat. Banish just didn't know what was good for him, sometimes. Scyeth shook his head, about to answer when Dante said something that caught his attention.
"...More's a professor?"
Man! He really did need to go talk to More again!
The blond blinked and tried to keep himself from digressing. The fire. Yes. It was the fire. And it had more to do with what Dante suggested then he'd like to admit. "...I just...didn't do a very good job." He was a disappointment, that's what he was. They didn't feel like following, so they didn't. If he was going to be a general, well, he'd have to do a much better job than that, wouldn't he? "At all." Scyeth paused.
"But...that's not all." Scyeth brushed blond hair back, reveling his pointed ear. Surely the Adviser knew what he was. He just couldn't bring himself to say it, anymore. It was causing...strife. More questions than answers.
"...why was I brought here?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:29 pm
Dante blinked, but showed no other outward signs of surprise as he fiddled with the quill on his desk. So he'd given this some thought before coming. The least Dante could do was respond in kind.
"I'll answer the easier question first. Yes, More is now a Professor here. Do be sure to stop by and congratulate him." He cleared his throat, settling his blue eyes on Scyeth.
"...I suppose I have to answer both of your other questions by answering one. You ask me why you were brought here. But in all honesty, I can only give you one answer.
"You were brought here, as were the other boys, because you want to save this world, I'd hope," Dante said, lacing his fingers together. "You remember the whole 'Celestial Beings' fiasco, of course. This school was created to save the Earth from that - and from whatever else may arise."
He paused, licked his lips. "But you have to remember, Scyeth, that that's all you share - the ability to save this world. How you want to do it, how you spend your time here, whatever ambitions you have for yourself - that's for you to discover.
"Which brings us back to your assertion that you did not do well," Dante said. "My feelings on what you did...they are mixed, but right now we are not talking about my feelings. You yourself have said you didn't do a good job." He closed his eyes in thought, touching the tips of his fingers together. "So you yourself have to find the answers to that statement. How did you fail? What did you do that was attributed to that? And how will you fix it in the future - while trying to leave who you are uncompromised?"
Dante blinked again, realizing his wandering gaze, and smiled back at Scyeth. "These are the questions you yourself must answer."
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:44 pm
Scyeth had to wonder about More being a professor now. Well, he did seem older...and that whole display during the fire... The blond shrugged. Yes, he'd certainly have to stop by and congratulate his friend. (Could they still be friends, with More a professor?)
And then Scyeth frowned. That was not the answer he was looking for. "But why am I the only demon?" he demanded. "And why was I brought only after whatever happened in China?" He still didn't know what happened in China. The most he understood was there was an attack. Something had happened to RuiZhi's family. Something had happened to the group that went from the school, as well. The rest was lost in translation.
"What attributed to my failure?" Scyeth barked a laugh, mildly distracted. There it was. That boiling anger. He couldn't control it, that nasty thing just kept bubbling to the surface and- "I'm not good enough. It's not complicated. I'm just not good enough, yet."
At least he planned to remedy that much.
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:07 pm
Ah. He'd kind of expected this, but still....
"Ah, yes. That." He nodded, standing and starting to pace - vaguely realizing that this habit had to stop, but at the moment not caring. "...I suppose since it's related to you, the most that I can tell you about that is that something awakened in China. First a malevolent virus that killed all, unless they took a special antidote. The second...awoke something that is related to you. It awakened...more of your kind. More demons." He stopped, closed his eyes. "As for why you are the only demon, I cannot say. You would have to ask Professor Prinwaltz, perhaps, or I can try to get permission to tell you. As it is, though, I don't feel safe to tell you this right at the moment. It's not the answer you want, I know. I'm sorry."
Dante turned, observed the boy, and furrowed his brow in thought. "Not only is the simplest answer often the worst you can give yourself, it does you no good to disparage yourself," Dante said, taking a seat again and fixing the boy with his gaze. "Specifics are always good - as are telling yourself ways in which you succeeded." He felt the corners of his lips twitch. "For one thing, you recognized that however you were behaving before, it needed to change. That's always a step forward."
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:18 pm
Scyeth frowned and blinked, watching the professor pace back and forth. More demons? Why...why was that so alarming? He had thought demons and humans were trying to find some sort of...peace, between them? "No. Not particularly what I wanted to hear," he admitted, slumping back in the chair. "...but I'd appreciate it if you could ask the Headmaster. Please."
The demon blinked as Dante suddenly stopped, fixing him with his gaze. "I-" Well. Maybe he was being kind of hard on himself, but the fire was a big deal, and. He just. He should have done better. Scyeth shook his head again with a sigh. "Yes, I suppose it's a start." There was no sense in arguing the truth. "And I will keep working harder. I do not want to be caught so...unready." He shrugged and looked away before meeting the Adviser's eyes again.
"...there is one other problem, though. The angrier I get, the harder time I am having keeping myself hidden."
Take the sparks at the fire, for example.
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:25 pm
"I will see what I can do," Dante murmured, nodding to the boy in response. He didn't think the Headmaster would object, but there was always that off-chance....
He smiled at the boy's determination. "That's good to hear," he murmured, not noticing as his eyes softened ever-so-slightly. "A noble ambition to be sure. Don't give up on it." He watched as the boy looked away; he seemed to be slightly uncomfortable, and was about to alleviate those worries when the boy looked up at him again and spoke.
Immediately his fond gaze sharpened into one of concern and anger; not for this boy, not at all, but for a world that would refuse to readily accept him and those like him, for a world that had caused all of them to....
"Ada, why do the humans hate us?"
Dante grew silent, had to consciously unclench his teeth.
"...If that happens, you have my permission to come here and wait until you calm down," he said, trying not to betray the storm brewing inside of him. "...They will have to find out sometime. But not now."
If they found out now, who knew what would happen. Tauntings, ostracization...even worse. He felt something spark down his spine at the memories.
I cannot allow that to happen.
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 5:44 pm
Scyeth caught the way the gentle look turned into a sharp one, and was almost concerned. He lost his fear a long time ago, only leaving room to be curious. What was he thinking...? It was better not to ask. But it had struck a nerve, what he said. He had a feeling this conversation might not be the easiest one, but surely, Dante was the best choice for it. He'd understand it.
There wasn't even a question.
"I...two people already know." RuiZhi, who was his ally through thick and thin. RuiZhi, who could see past it. And Weiyuan, his eternal rival. Weiyuan, deeply troubled by the fact. It only took a little taste, but Scyeth now knew what 'hatred' might feel like. Something he never noticed when he was younger.
The blond looked back up.
"Thanks."
It just needed to be said.
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:23 pm
The look on the boy's face did not escape Dante's notice and he bit the inside of his cheek, berating himself for bringing his own weakness to the boy's attention.
"Always," Dante said, his voice distant, his eyes inexplicably sad and mournful.
"...I see." He looked up, blue eyes flickering into blue eyes. "And is it that one person that makes you angry? Is it one person that raises your ire?"
His fingers curled.
"...Or is it an entire group of them? They don't have to know what you are to hate you. They just...I...."
He sighed, sat back, ran a hand through his hair. "It's...taken me a while to trust humans again," he said, and looked away. "...I apologize for my lack of composure, Scyeth."
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:59 pm
Scyeth opened his mouth, about to answer the question. Yes. Weiyuan angered him. Yes. They were rivals. Scyeth would always struggle with the other Science and Technology student, but... It wasn't the same anger, it didn't burn like he did when-
The demon heard Dante's next question and saw red.
"Nathaniel."
Snarl. Snarl.
The temper reared its ugly head and gave a might roar, shaking everything inside the youth. Hackles raised. Yes, that was it. That was it. Maybe it wasn't his 'failure' on the night of the fire. It was the way Micajah had picked at him. The way even RuiZhi wouldn't listen to him. Nathaniel, and. Yes. That was it. Something was different that evening, something he couldn't explain, something he didn't even really remember until now.
"They don't have to know anything to hate."
And yet. He should give them more credit than that. The blond shook himself all over, something like a wet dog, and looked back up at Dante. He shrugged. "But that's..." He shrugged again, at a loss for words.
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:12 am
Dante had to press a hand to his mouth, bile threatening to rise in his throat as he felt the energy around the boy crackle and bend. There it was; there was the magic of Luna. Darkness.
...He knew how to handle this. He'd seen it in his sister many, many times before....
"Calm down," he said, keeping his voice low and neutral, trying to sound as soothing as possible. "You're safe here. No one can see you here."
Once he'd thought the boy'd calmed down a bit, he sat back and lowered his eyes in shame. "That was...out of bounds for me. I apologize," he murmured, voice low and abashed.
"I did not mean to insinuate that they hated you. I...worded my question wrong. I let my past experiences overwhelm me for a moment."
He looked up, a little bit over Scyeth's shoulder, expression distant.
"It appears that I, too, have much I need to work on in regards to my own prejudices."
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