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 Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 6:50 pm
Lost was an understatement. It was the evening of his first day at the school and so far he hadn't really met anyone - though he was certain it was more due to his own skittishness than anything else at that point. Everyone was so different and everything was so jacking new that he didn't really know where to begin. Considering he'd never strayed from his forest since he was 'born' he was fairly shocked at what the others looked like. His interactions with those not his elder had been kept to brief run ins - more so in setting up a prank and watching it happen and less so in the entire talking part. It didn't help that his grasp of language was interesting at best. He knew English well enough though only intellectually. He and his Elder had always spoken in Slovak and it was his preferred and default anyway. The words outside of it felt heavier on his tongue - unfamiliar, and not altogether a pleasant sensation.
Finding another who spoke his language, however, would likely prove to be a little difficult. Finally, the Leshy had given up wandering around and sat heavily down on the ground, removing his quiver from his back and placing it in his lap. Not yet ready to go indoors again and stray from the cool autumn breeze, Aurel elected instead to make sure his arrows were sharpened and ready.
Brilliant green eyes studied the first arrow removed carefully checking for any sort of crack in the wood that would cause weakness. Satisfied that the shaft was in relative working order, he turned it to inspect the point. Dull.
And, of course, there were no useful sharp stones around. "Sakra." He cursed, voice coming out slightly more gravel than intended.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 6:57 pm
Christof was on his way to the demon dorms to make sure Barth hadn't drowned in clutter or forgotten to do his homework, or slept through a few meals (he still felt bad about the refrigerator, really. But not as badly as the Sloth demon felt, apparently) when he spotted a... unfamiliar figure huddling on his own. A new student? He hadn't seen any new faces in a long while.
Maybe they needed help? He seemed to be looking for something- They weren't a reaper, despite the weapon in their hands, it was obviously hand-made, whatever it was. The hunchback crept closer, huddling behind a tree to try to get a closer look. A demon, maybe? Judging by the horns... His boot hit a stick, cracking loudly and he shrank back, praying he hadn't been spotted. He really needed to learn to watch his step when lurking.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 7:05 pm
The crack of the stick was enough to snap Aurel into attention - being a Forest guardian, he was far more in-tune with nature than you'd think would be helpful and he wasn't used to people stepping on sticks and grass and mistreating his woods. Who was that? Where did that sound come from? The shaft was put in his quiver and he stood up, dust clinging to his roughly woven pants.
"...Kto je tam?" He called - and then remembered he'd get a better answer if he used English. "Uh...Who's there?" That was better, though his accent was thick and perhaps a little hard to understand when not speaking slowly. Aurel really had not expected anyone to actually be outside when so many seemed so comfortable inside.
...He'd never quite understand that one.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 7:21 pm
Stitched lips pursing, Christof drew in a sharp breath. Well... he was spotted. No use in hiding. Hopefully this new student hadn't... heard much about the hunchback's reputation at least.
Meekly, he stepped out from the tree, looking sheepish as he raised his more human hand in a shy, silent greeting. English wasn't his first language either- but he didn't know what it was the strange demon had said. He didn't seem hostile, but one never knew with people who carried weapons. The hunchback's eyes remained on the arrows, blunt or not.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 7:28 pm
Aurel locked eyes on the hunchback, gaze traveling from head to toe. He seemed...Well, he didn't really know what Christof was - he was still learning everything, after all - but he did have to wonder if the creature could talk. The Leshy took a few steps forward, swinging the quiver onto his back. It was purely for his own benefit that he had them to begin with - Aurel preferred to catch and kill his own food. At least he knew that the animals were killed humanely if he did it himself.
"Do...you talk?" He questioned, reaching up to scratch at the small moss-like soul-patch growing from his chin. Someday it would be a great, large beard. Someday.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 7:34 pm
The hunchback flushed, shaking his head before pointing to his stitched mouth. It didn't seem to bother him, though, curiosity replacing the shyness in his eyes as he took a few more steps closer, leaning this way and that to look the demon over, calculating measurements, sizing and comparing. He did have some very attractive horns.
Realizing he might be taken as being rude, he fumbled in his vest pocket for his notebook, thumbing to a fresh page before quickly scribbling out with a pencil shard:
You are new?
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 7:43 pm
Aurel cocked his head to the side, looking at the stitched lips. Huh. Couldn't he just cut the stitches...? They didn't look comfortable. Why would anyone stitch a mouth closed anyway? This was going to be an interesting thing, considering Aurel's knowledge of any kind of literature was limited to...Well. Nothing, actually. He knew nothing. Reading was not something he could do.
His own lips pursed as he stared hard at the notebook, the marks on it foreign as ever. "...I cannot read." He stated with a frown, not sure how he was going to communicate with this person.
Just his luck. The first person he talked to outside of the enrollment office ALL DAY and he couldn't communicate with him!
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 7:54 pm
Christof blinked.
His brows furrowed as he tried to comprehend it.
Who... couldn't read?
As though still not quite believing it, he scrawled out: Really?
Hell's Bells. He didn't have to wait for a response. Well... there was always the more frustrating Charades route. He sighed, lowering the notebook and tucked it away again.
Mismatched hands lifted, pointing to Aurel before raising two fingers to his eyes before gesturing outward across campus.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 7:58 pm
"....I....See....School?" Aurel's own brows furrowed, trying to make sense of the other's gestures since he clearly could not make sense of the strange lines on the paper. Good thing he had no idea that the paper was made from trees or there would have definitely been a strike against the Igor.
"Yes, I do see the school."
Really, what kind of question was that? Apparently, Aurel sucked at Charades too. "...My name is Aurel." Though it really wouldn't do any good to ask the boy his name. He'd not understand it!
Translator was needed. Badly.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 8:18 pm
Christof made a frustrated noise in the back of his throat, trying once again. This time, he patted his chest before pointing to Aurel and then gesticulating outward in a broad motion.
A tour! Did he need a tour! How hard was it? Difficult, apparently. Why couldn't the demon read? Was he stupid? Judging by the rather rugged attire, he must have come from some sort of backwoods... backwood.
He sighed, hoping this wouldn't come to needing a Master's help. He could handle this.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 8:25 pm
Stupid? No, far from it. Unfortunately being removed from society and the niceties that came with being around people did not make for easy communication when one of two parties could not talk.
Aurel stared at Christof for a moment. You....Himself. School. Yes, he went to the school. Was that what he was asking?
"Yes." He finally settled, not sure what he was actually saying yes to, but at least it was getting...somewhere? Maybe?
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 8:33 pm
The hunchback sagged in relief- more sagged than he had been 'at ease' at any rate, and gave him a thumbs-up. Ah, see? See he was fine on his own. Already being helpful. He turned to trudge down the path, pausing only to gesture for his new friend to follow over his hunch.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 8:38 pm
Well, at least that motion wasn't mistakable. Aurel offered a small smile to the hunchback and started to follow him - not quite sure WHERE he was being led, but at the moment he didn't really care either. The happy thing was he was interacting with someone who wasn't a tree or his Elder. Even if the entire communication thing was lacking.
Severely lacking, but who was keeping track!?
"Where are we going?" Question was rhetorical all things considered - he figured he'd learn when they got there. Hopefully he wasn't going to be killed or something.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 8:44 pm
Still lurching on, the hunchback motioned once again to Aurel, then to his eyes, and then outward across campus. Ah, the cafeteria was approaching, that was good to know if the Demon was the type to eat. He pointed helpfully at the sign before thinking better. He raised his hands as though holding a sandwich before making a chewing motion and patting his stomach. Cafeteria.
It seemed that didn't interest a boil who didn't use his mouth, though, the hunchback already trodding along to their next spot. This one was one of his secrets, but a good spot he knew any new boil would want to know about. There was a particular window, and a particular tree just outside the side of the gym that had the girl's showers. If you climbed up to just the right height...
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 8:47 pm
Aurel looked at the sign that Christof pointed to, brow raising. He couldn't READ - Oh, there, that was better. So that was a place to eat - not that he'd be using it very much. "I kill my own food." He said to the hunchback, smiling brightly and patting the quiver on his back.
He kept on following, looking around the area with interest - making a note of the route and trying to commit it to memory. Maps only helped so much when you couldn't understand what the writing meant. "Speaking of...How do you eat, Christof?"
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