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 Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:32 pm
Though it was a chilly day, the mall was warm, and Cane's body had quickly adjusted to the lower temperatures of winter. Afterall, one had to be flexible, coming from Northern California. It was foggy, and wet, and sometimes hot, but mostly cold. Traveling 20 miles in any direction completely changed the weather, where Canaan Kreery was from. The short, strong native's tan skin was exposed, the boy dressed casually despite the snow on the ground in a grey wife-beater, faded, well-fitting blue jeans, and a pair of sandles. The jeans were belted low on his hips by a leather belt with a silver bear buckle, and his hands were deep in his pockets and he stared around, impassively.
What was he doing in a place like this, getting gawked at from afar by Mall Girls who were both intrigued and attracted to his dark demeanor? Well, he was meeting Scyeth. Somewhat near the foodcourt, he was closer to a fountain in the middle of the place, directed there by a random student in his dorm area. Scy had sent him a note, telling him to meet him here, and Cane was here.
He kept his promises, and though he had no qualms with standing people up, he generally didn't go back on his word.
Canaan was slightly early, and therefore unconcerned with the blonde's lack of arrival.
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 5:56 pm
Scyeth didn't really mind being late, though the blond was trying to break the habit. He'd only met Canaan a week ago, but a date was a date, so to speak, and the Australian intended to be on time. Yes, even if it meant skateboarding all the way to, and through, the crowded mall. Only a week ago, he'd been hobbling around on crutches. His wrist was still wrapped, though healing rapidly, and there was still a bandage over his eye, but both were just memories of their former selves. Scyeth hardly let the injuries slow him down.
Ah, there he was.
Scyeth let out a whoop and kicked his board up, grinding up the stair rail, avoiding innocent bystanders (and just showing off). Ah, yes. Still hasn't lost his touch. Grin plastered to his face, the youth glided over to the fountain and slid to a stop right in front of Cane. Yes, it was most definitely on purpose.
"Hey!"
He stepped half-way off his board and gave Cane his wildest grin, visible eye sparkling brightly. "Ready to go?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:36 pm
Cane deserved some credit. He didn't even flinch as Scyeth careened up, standing solid and rock-steady as usual until the boy spoke, then, he only received a brief nod in response, before the strong boy reached into his back pocket, pulling out a folded packet of papers, and handed it to the blonde.
It was a set of sketches. A playing field, some goals, uniforms, and his own chicken-scratch handwriting explaining rules and concepts. "Lacrosse." Was his simple explanation.
So, he had been thinking about sports. He'd also been thinking of his heritage. "I need supplies. For the darktime, and my man-journey." Solstice, and his rite-of-passage.
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:31 pm
Scyeth grunted quietly and made a mental note. Obviously, Cane was going to make him try a little harder. He took the piece of paper and unfolded in, frowning over the scrawl before stuffing it into his back pocket. He'd have to show Norman later. "Lacrosse, huh? Never played." That wasn't saying much; there were very few sports Scyeth actually had played.
And that's when Cane just kept talking. Scyeth actually stopped and had to contain a bark of laughter. "A man-journey? What the hell is a man-journey?" he asked, unable to keep the edges of amusement out of his voice. "And what is this darktime? You mean the night?" Humans were very strange things when left to their own devices, Scyeth decided.
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:37 pm
The was a brief flash of fire in Cane's eyes at Scyeth's mocking words, and he shut-down, briefly, simply ignoring the older boy for a good two minutes as he instead watched the fountain. When he was calmer, he spoke, slowly, clearly. "Darktime, when the night is longest. It comes every winter." The solstice, he meant. His large fingers touched his own chest as he explained, obviously choosing his words carefully. He had a different way of talking than most here, and that was becoming clear.
"The journey is... To change from boy to man." He frowned. "You have not done this?" Scyeth seemed more than old enough. Perhaps there was something that held him back. "Do your people not have tradition?" Everyone did! Other than most paleskins, but Scy was not of their ilk.
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:17 pm
Scyeth grunted, meeting Cane's glare dead on, not phased by the fact he could only use one eye. He gritted his teeth and waited in silence, not gracing Cane with a look when he decided to speak again. He was not the only one who could play that game. "Darktime," Scyeth murmured, mulling over the idea before he had a sudden realization. "You mean the first day of winter? That's my birthday!" the youth chirped, dark mood lifted. "It was different, in Australian, but I think I know what you mean."
And then he quieted again, frowning thoughtfully. "Uh, no. I've never heard it mentioned." He shrugged and looked up, displeased with his father's shortcomings. "No. There is no 'becoming a man' tradition." Well actually, he could think of one, but that was a human thing, and mostly only considered tradition by teenagers. And he had that one taken care of.
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:24 pm
"That is a powerful day of birth." Cane's glance was approving, but his face quickly darkened as Scyeth continued, and he shook his head, firmly. "Then you must join me this winter, in the man-journey." His own blue eyes met Scyeth's and he looked dead serious.
"If you are to reach your full power, you must have your journey." Frowning, he glanced at the mallgirls. "Let us find a supply store, and avoid unnecessary social interactions."
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:35 pm
"...well, if you say so." Scyeth shrugged, too curious to deny Cane's offer. It was a strange concept; Canaan was much different from all the other humans he'd ever met. He wanted to know. "But, does it work the same for all boys?" he questioned, tipping his head to the side. "We are not even the same race, never mind the same culture," he pointed out, silently hoping this would not mean anything to their plans.
Scyeth followed the younger student's glace and chuckled. "Despite what anyone told you, they really aren't that bad. I promise. I'm not sure what everyone is so scared of, they're just girls!" He shook his head and glanced back at Cane, scritching his face. Damn the eye patch. "You know what store you're looking for, exactly?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:42 pm
"I have had my pleasures with women, before." Cane wasn't afraid of them, he simply didn't have the time for frivolities. "And no, I do not think it matters." He leaned closer to the older boy, examining him. "Your people are much closer in belief than the paleskins. We appreciate the natural world and order." His face suddenly brightened in a grin, and he jabbed a finger at the directory sign. He didn't bother to read it.
"Lead, as you like to do."
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:54 pm
Scyeth stared at Canaan in a stunned silence for a few long moments before laughter erupted forth from the lively teenager. "Well, I'll be damned!" he crowed, slapping Cane on the back and shaking his head. He should have expected something like that.
The blond was stunned back into a second time in mere moments when Cane grinned (Scyeth was beginning to believe smiling was something the native just didn't believe in). The demon gave the other student an absolutely wild smile, all teeth and eyes, wiles and glee. He pointed to a block on the map, even though he'd hardly glanced, and took off down the corridor.
"C'mon, Fearless Cane! No time to lose!"
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:04 pm
Oh, yes, they were going to make a good pair, after all. Cane was right behind Scy, keeping an easy pace, as they came upon a store filled with herbs, among other things. Precisely what he needed for the ritual.
"For the magic students?" It wasn't really a question that needed answering, and Cane entered the store, looking unpreturbed as the woman behind the counter gave them a startled look. Apparently, it was a slow day.
Striding up to the counter, he placed a large palm on it, and gave her a glowering look. "Ingredients for smudge sticks and incense burners, ma'am." She blinked rapid-fire, and pointed in a direction. That was all he needed.
"Scyeth." Cane briefly gave him a description of white sage. They'd need it. In the meantime, the native looked at the decorative burners.
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 5:55 am
Scyeth nodded, even if the question did not need answering. Suffice to say, he had never been in this store before, and began to wander around, poking at things, while Cane was speaking with the clerk. "Ne?" Scyeth grunted, only half-listening.
He drew himself away from the suspicious-looking plushes and walked over to the plant items, poking through them until he found something that sort of sounded like what the native described. "These?" he questioned, holding up a small package. Really, he was pretty poor with 'nature' things, other than just enjoying the outdoors. As it were, the Outback didn't offer a huge variety of plants. Not that Scyeth really went looking, either.
"What's this all for, man-journey or the darktime?"
Didn't matter what Cane said, 'man-journey' still sounded ridiculous.
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:49 pm
Cane's eyes cut over to other boy, and he simply raised an eyebrow, tone neutral as well as his expression. "No, package by your elbow." A pause. "You may just call it the 'Rite'." Of passage, of course. "This is all for the rite, but we will get darktime things soon..." Cane trailed off as his fingertips found a burner he was satisfied with and he took it, setting it under one arm as he moved to where Scyeth was, grabbing a few herbs and plants of his own.
"This is all we need from here. We should get the liquor next." A pause. "What is the custom of darktime here?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:01 pm
Scyeth huffed softly and put the package back where he found it, reaching over to the package Cane specified. "Just one?" he asked, ignoring the comment about the Rite. If he didn't want to be teased, he should have thought through that statement a little more thoroughly. "Alright, but we have to go pay," Scyeth pointed out. He had the sneaking suspicion Cane didn't have any money on him, so the blond approached the cashier. "These plant things, those plant things my friend has, and the burner he's got," Scyeth said, holding up his package so the woman could see it. "Just put it under the name Akazar."
His father left him more than enough money, he just didn't usually pay it. However, the uniform was enough for most people to realize he was with the school, and they could expect to get their money back. (If Scyeth tried to shirk anything, he was quite sure Norman would drag him down by his nose and right the matter by means of paying with physical labor.)
He returned to Cane's side, giving him a confounded look. "...I don't think we're allowed to be liquor, Cane. This is a school." What did Cane want with alcohol, anyways? "And I'm not sure what you mean? Last year the school had a 'Christmas' party. I think that's the same, for a lot of humans."
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:50 pm
He nodded, just one bundle.
"Ah, Christ-mass. I am familiar, although not a participant." Cane frowned slightly, considering Scyeth's payment. The blonde was right. Cane had a bit of money, but he was used to trading his talents for goods. "I will repay you with my services." The rite, carvings, maybe help with whatever Scyeth needed help with... His brows rose, though, as he took in what else Scyeth was saying.
"The darktime is traditionally celebrated with drinking." He frowned slightly. "So we do not have complete freedom, then." It was to be expected. They were feeding and housing the boys, so they would also be choosing some of their activities. "They do not like alcohol, here?" Some didn't. Cane didn't drink much, but he did at celebrations.
As they left the store, their goods in a paper bag, Cane rolled his shoulders, deep in thought. "Food, next." Couldn't have a celebration without food.
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