[PRP] First Meet {Alva & Corrina}

[Painted Cricket]

Quote "Setsunasakuya"
Aviva Shadowcraft sat in the shade of a large tree. Its leaves were small and plenty, and made so that anyone passing would readily notice the person watching from underneath. The teen sat cross-legged with a drawing pad on her lap and a pencil in her mouth. She didn’t seem to have much inspiration recently. She’d been fascinated by everyone’s daemon, even those with no form yet. These, she’d taken a special interest in, as they offered free interpretation. She noticed that people didn’t get a glance at their daemling more than a few moments, but the little creatures were busy playing this strange game with their own people, that they didn’t notice the new, quiet girl watching from afar.

But though this was all very fascinating, Aviva couldn’t seem to get her ideas on a piece of paper. She’d asked for a new pad for her new life, to record the events in the only way she knew how to express herself. A week here and it was still clean as new snow.



Quote "Keetabirdy"
Corrina trudged along the road, weary from the journey. This was her third day of travel, her first night having slept under a tree in the countryside near the city, the second, she had slept in an empty stall in an unattended stable. She had left her home with such decision and abruptness that she had failed to take food or try and sneak some extra money out of the house for coach fare. All she had were the remainders of her menial savings, the rest of it already having gone to food as she made her way through the large city.

The journey was made more rough by her unfamiliarity of the city and it's citizens. Corrina's family had not been among the social elite, but they had lived comfortably enough that their home had been several miles outside of town and that Corrina had been sheltered from the less pleasant aspects of the poorer population for the better part of her life. Another consquence was that although she was used to walking outside or working in a garden, her stamina was not built up for this kind of extended travel and it took its toll on her.

She traveled slow, trying to avoid what seemed to be the less "friendly" areas of town, finding it uncomfortable to apporach people and ask for directions towards the College. The last person she had asked had directed her down this road, about a mile back, informing her that the college was very near, but at this point, all she wanted was to rest.

The only thing that kept her going at times was this little voice she was learning to recognize inside her head. It told her not to give up, and to keep going. She knew this now to be the earliest manifestation of what would be her daemon. The older child of another merchant, who's sibling had died in a drowning accident, had developed a daemling when Corrina was younger and so she had some idea of what must be happening to her. Not to mention the brief flickers she caught in her peripheral vision of something relatively insubstantial.

Right now though, she needed to rest. She agreed with the little voice that urged her on. She wouldn't give up, but her legs were weary and her stomach growled, longing for some of the loaf of bread she had purchased earlier in the morning. Spotting a shady tree to the side of the road, she sat down in its shadow, failing to recognize that the shade on the other side of the tree had already been occupied by another. She felt a quiet nudge from the little voice, however, and looked up to see the other young woman there.

"Oh, I'm sorry...Do you mind if I sit here?" she asked, trying not to be rude, despite her exhaustion.



Quote "Setsunasakuya"
Aviva simply raised an eyebrow at this. Like it's my tree? "Er... Sure. Why not?" At the mental nudge she recieved from her own daemon, she turned her head some way away and looked out of the corner of her eye. This was easier for her that most people, as she was rather blind. When anyone asked how it was for her, she'd say it was like being underwater. She had glasses, but didn't need them to see daemon, or even draw daemling. The little creature hovering about the other girl seemed to her like an odder mix than her own. Like it couldn't make up its mind of what to be, and like it wanted to be everything at once. "So you're the other new student." It was kind of stupid, as there were quite a few other new students. "Funny, I haven't seem you on campus."

She'd been up and around every dawn, before anyone else was awake. She explored the campus and beyond, finding quite a few secret passageways off the grounds. The staff probably knew about them, probably not. But it was always good to know these things. And more importantly, she'd found little hiding spots where she could avoid everyone. It was hard enough to have noisy neighbors, but she now lived closer to her teachers. Not that she hated these teachers, but she wasn't used to being around people like this. The same people took part of every waking moment of her life. It was all rather overwhelming for her.

She didn't think the girl wished to talk, but she was curious. "What's your name?" It was a start. She could see it the girl was up to answering a question or two. It was all she needed, usually, to figure a person out.



Quote "Keetabirdy"
"Other new student?" Corrina's eybrow arched in a manner matching Aviva's initial reaction. She gave the other girl a more complete once-over, noticing the flickers of a daemling next to her, and the fact that she appeared to be a least a couple years older than Corrina.

"You must be from the college then. No I'm not the other new student...I mean I hope to be, but I'm on my way to college for the first time. I left home less than three days ago...It's a long walk." The journey had made Corrina's well made clothes filthy and ripped and she knew her face and hands must be dirty. Not to mention she had a suspicion she didn't smell very nice by now. What she wouldn't give for a long soak in a tub of warm water...She sighed and leaned back against the tree, closing her eyes, imagining it. She was quiet long enough that Aviva might think that she had fallen asleep, but she finally spoke, although her eyes remained closed.

"I'm Corrina. What are you called?" The fatigue in her voice was evidence of the effort it was taking for her to remain awake.

"I hope it's not too much father to the college....Have you been here long then?"



Quote "Setsunasakuya"
Aviva laughed. She’d really just been trying to make small talk. Corrina seemed to think she’d meant some person in specific. “My nave is Aviva. Nice to meet you. I’ve arrived not long ago. I’m new this year. Kind of embarrassing. Everyone seems to be younger than me.” She put the pencil in her mouth in a way that wouldn’t impede speech, but would help her think. Or rather, boost her confidence. She didn’t know why. It was an odd habit, but she couldn’t seem to break it. Even when she was expected to act like a normal person in some official occasion. “It’s not far at all. Follow the wide road until you see the trees that have been cut in some form. They like their grounds kept clean and professional looking.”

Ava let the girl rest then, as she tried to see the constant features of her daemon. In the end, all she had was a sketch of an odd creature with sparse wings and no hind legs. She turned the page and put the pad away furtively. No one had to see that. She would be tempted later to open it again and map how the creature may look as it took on its settler form. She’d done that before. It was more of an impression she got. But when someone’s daemon was close to settling, she could figure what they would become. She was wrong as much as she was right. But either way, she tended to be close.

“Well, we should be getting back. Think you can find your way?” Hopefully, the girl wouldn’t be anywhere near her room. She didn’t want to think she was her new roommate. Ava valued her privacy, especially with her art. She worked mostly at night, when inspiration seemed to strike her like a blade. She didn’t need someone telling her to turn off the lights when mapping out a daemon. She finally had something in her new pad , not a piece of paper she had at the moment, which made it seem more important. She needed the time today. She would take a nice, long nap, so she wouldn’t collapse while working.



Quote "Keetabirdy"
"Why is being older embarassing?" Corrina asked, sitting up and turning her body towards the other girl. She winced slightly when a tender spot on her shoulder made contact with the trunk of the tree. The girl glanced at Aviva, hoping she hadn't noticed. She'd really rather not have to explain herself. There were a few lingering bruises from her encounter with her father, but to her relief, none of them were in places that showed except for her nose which she could pass off as dirt. The rest of her face was certainly dirty enough.

"Seems like being older would give you an advantage in some things," she continued as her eyes traveled in the direction the girl indicated. Seemed like the gentleman in the cart had been correct. Well she would rest here a while longer. It was still relatively early in the day surely they would be able to admit her even a few hours from now? She rested her eyes again, leaning aganst the trunk and avoiding the tender spot she had hit before. She was silent for a while, during the time Aviva was sketching. Corrina even nodded off for a few moments, awakening only when the other girl spoke again.

"Mmm?" she said drowsily. "Pardon me, I drifted off. I didn't catch what you said. Would you mind repeating it?" she asked, feeling a bit embarassed.