Huni Pi
That day, Petro could be found in the ghost dorms. Just as he promised the Engraver sisters, he was there to help Lattice settle in. Whatever the ghost ghoul needed, Tro was more than willing to to act as her pack mule slash gopher. Which was a good thing as he found the Engraver had a fair emount of heavy furniture that needed moving. While the gnomes were usually the ones to transport things, the tikbalang did not trust them to do a proper job.
Or a good one. Or a semi-decent one even. In other words, Tro neither liked nor trusted them to be capable of not ruining Lattice's things. "Where do y' want this?" he asked from the doorway with a slight grunt as he carefully half lifted half pushed a large wardrobe into the room.
Or a good one. Or a semi-decent one even. In other words, Tro neither liked nor trusted them to be capable of not ruining Lattice's things. "Where do y' want this?" he asked from the doorway with a slight grunt as he carefully half lifted half pushed a large wardrobe into the room.
Pales
To be quite honest if anyone was to touch her furniture and other things she much preferred to be herself, her sister, or Petro. Petro had managed to get her trust so securely that she didn't mind if he was in her room or touching her things. When he offered to move all the heavy things for her she was elated. No offense to the Gnomes but she just didn't trust them and she didn't want their hands all over her things and ugh, it just was something she'd been dreading until Petro put his foot down and made it clear that he would be the (only) one helping her move in.
Indeed dedication and friendship like his needed to be rewarded but at the moment Lattice was at a loss as to how.
Lattice stayed in her room as Petro appeared in her room, she was currently arranging a vase with a couple of flowering branches in it. Turned her head toward him and seemed lost in thought before she pointed toward a wall, "Over there, please, Petro," she uttered softly a small smile appearing on her lips in spite of herself. She liked the boil he was very kind and trustworthy.
Indeed dedication and friendship like his needed to be rewarded but at the moment Lattice was at a loss as to how.
Lattice stayed in her room as Petro appeared in her room, she was currently arranging a vase with a couple of flowering branches in it. Turned her head toward him and seemed lost in thought before she pointed toward a wall, "Over there, please, Petro," she uttered softly a small smile appearing on her lips in spite of herself. She liked the boil he was very kind and trustworthy.
Huni Pi
Petro wasn't doing this for any sort of reward. A ghoul who also happened to be his friend needed his help and he would help. That was that, end of story. If Lattice made so much as a hint that he ought to be rewarded with anything more than a thank you (and that warm, happy feeling he got whenever he'd helped someone) the tikbalang would be mildly offended. And he would probably tell her that too, in as short as two words even.
But as it was, she hadn't and so, Tro would continue to be in a good mood as he carefully carried the wardrobe in. He didn't want to push it in because it would scuff the floor to her room (he'd learned that the hard way back home and got quite an earful from his cousins for ruining the finish). Sure it meant more effort but Tro was always up for exercise. Besides, all this heavy lifting was good for his developing his arms and knees.
"This spot good?" he asked when he gently lowered the wardrobe to the spot Lattice had pointed to.
But as it was, she hadn't and so, Tro would continue to be in a good mood as he carefully carried the wardrobe in. He didn't want to push it in because it would scuff the floor to her room (he'd learned that the hard way back home and got quite an earful from his cousins for ruining the finish). Sure it meant more effort but Tro was always up for exercise. Besides, all this heavy lifting was good for his developing his arms and knees.
"This spot good?" he asked when he gently lowered the wardrobe to the spot Lattice had pointed to.
Pales
Lattice watched as his shape picked up the larger shape and started to move it where directed she quietly shifted to a stand as she wiped her hands free of debris on her obi. She frowned a bit at the placement now that it was where it needed to be but it didn't feel comfortable for the moment she looked gave Petro a stare before she murmured, "A little to the left, please," in a tone that was almost apologetic.
She felt bad about letting him do all this work for her but having nothing to give him for all his wonderful effort though she didn't think of it as a repayment as much as a reward. She always liked to be rewarded for her good work so why shouldn't Petro? She fiddled with one of her embedded needles a little nervously as she waited for him to comply. As of yet she felt no need to say or point out her desire to reward her good friend.
"If...it isn't a bother," she added after a moment.
She felt bad about letting him do all this work for her but having nothing to give him for all his wonderful effort though she didn't think of it as a repayment as much as a reward. She always liked to be rewarded for her good work so why shouldn't Petro? She fiddled with one of her embedded needles a little nervously as she waited for him to comply. As of yet she felt no need to say or point out her desire to reward her good friend.
"If...it isn't a bother," she added after a moment.
Huni Pi
The horse glanced over his shoulder at the request and gave the ghoul a reassuring smile. "Ain't no bother. Y' want it left, right?" he asked, moving to drag the heavy piece of furniture towards the desired direction. Although, he might have moved it a little too much to the left. He wouldn't be able to say. Those are some rather long legs he had.
"This any good?" He asked, standing by the wardrobe's side, a hand resting against the surface as he waited for Lattice's verdict.
The Engraver needn't worry about rewarding the horse boil. Tro had actually built an entire rollerderby rink in two months for a ghoul just because she asked him. Of course that will never happen again, given her rather... vocal treatment of him since their last encounter.
"This any good?" He asked, standing by the wardrobe's side, a hand resting against the surface as he waited for Lattice's verdict.
The Engraver needn't worry about rewarding the horse boil. Tro had actually built an entire rollerderby rink in two months for a ghoul just because she asked him. Of course that will never happen again, given her rather... vocal treatment of him since their last encounter.
Pales
Lattice waited as the boil moved to the desired direction and indeed it was a little bit too far and thus the ghoul hesitated before she uttered softly, "Nudge it a little bit to the right," as a correction. She hoped the word 'nudge' would indicate that she only wanted it to move just a few inches.
The ghoul hovered back a bit to make doubly sure that it was exactly where she wanted it. Positioning was very important to her since she might sometimes take off her mask and need to move around her room completely blind.
"I..I was wondering if we may go for a small walk after we're done getting me settled?" she asked quietly. She found Petro's company comforting and was loathed to have him leave her side as soon as they finished getting everything into the dorm.
The ghoul hovered back a bit to make doubly sure that it was exactly where she wanted it. Positioning was very important to her since she might sometimes take off her mask and need to move around her room completely blind.
"I..I was wondering if we may go for a small walk after we're done getting me settled?" she asked quietly. She found Petro's company comforting and was loathed to have him leave her side as soon as they finished getting everything into the dorm.
Huni Pi
Nudge, huh? The tikbalang pressed his shoulder against the wardrobe and slowly pushed at it until the piece of furniture had moved just a few inches to the right. He angled his head over at the ghoul, expectantly waiting for whether or not he'd moved it too far, too little, or just enough.
Petro blinked at the request to go for a small walk. He'd thought Lattice might want some time to herself to finish settling but if that's what she wanted, "Sure, y' got any place y' wanna go see or something?" he asked with a smile.
Petro blinked at the request to go for a small walk. He'd thought Lattice might want some time to herself to finish settling but if that's what she wanted, "Sure, y' got any place y' wanna go see or something?" he asked with a smile.
Pales
She watched as he nudged it into place and he was rewarded with a smile, an open bright smile that wasn't usually on her face unless she was with only a handful of people. When around a good friend or her sister she tended to discard her emotional training at least for a little while. It wasn't like she was working with ink right now and she was also alone with Petro it wasn't like he'd use her emotions and happiness against her. She trusted him, and he'd shown her that she could trust him a couple of times already.
"Perfect," she said uttered softly, monotone still heavily evident despite her smiling.
Lattice shook her head when asked if she wanted to go see some place in particular as she moved to tuck a bit of hair behind her ear (not an easy task with needles in one's arm), "I just want to spend time with you since you are a friend. That is what friends do, right?"
"Perfect," she said uttered softly, monotone still heavily evident despite her smiling.
Lattice shook her head when asked if she wanted to go see some place in particular as she moved to tuck a bit of hair behind her ear (not an easy task with needles in one's arm), "I just want to spend time with you since you are a friend. That is what friends do, right?"
Huni Pi
Once he'd gotten his confirmation, Petro stepped away from the wardrobe while rolling his shoulders to wind down his muscles. "'Course 'm y'r friend," he smiled, feeling more than pleased at the reward he'd gotten. He didn't need words or anything fancy. The smile Lattice made was more than enough for the horse boil. "We could just go wherever our feet take us," he suggested, bowing to her from the waist while one arm gestured towards her room's door.
Just then there came a knock at the ghoul's door.
Suspiciously, Tro went to answer it and found waiting on the other side was a closet. One whose sense of aesthetics looked nothing like the rest of Lattice's things. Standing impatiently beside said closet was a sour-faced gnome, "You forgot the minipets closet."
Just then there came a knock at the ghoul's door.
Suspiciously, Tro went to answer it and found waiting on the other side was a closet. One whose sense of aesthetics looked nothing like the rest of Lattice's things. Standing impatiently beside said closet was a sour-faced gnome, "You forgot the minipets closet."
Pales
Lattice was pleased by his response to her, very pleased. It was good to know that he was her friend and would hopefully always be. She moved a bit closer toward him and nodded a bit, "I think that would be nice." She paused staring down toward where his hand would be and was about to take it into hers when the knock came startling her a bit. She tilted her head toward it and then heard the voice.
....
"Oh..Oh...Minipets closet? Umm..." She seemed at a loss at a moment and she tilted her head toward Tro for direction, "put it..where you think is best, Petro."
....
"Oh..Oh...Minipets closet? Umm..." She seemed at a loss at a moment and she tilted her head toward Tro for direction, "put it..where you think is best, Petro."
Huni Pi
Tro did not look happy with the interruption. "'S fine, y' can leave," he growled at the gnome before hauling in the minipets closet. It was surprisingly lighter than Lattice's, not that he would know or understand why so he hoped it wouldn't be brought up. "If y' don't got a lotta minipets, 's best I put this in the far corner so it don't get in y'r way." The suggestion made sense to Petro, but if Lattice thought otherwise, he'd defer to her.
After all, this was her room.
"And if y' change y'r mind later, lemme know and I'll move it to where y' want it." Which pretty much was Tro telling the Lattice his oath and friendship would last for as long as the ghoul wanted. He hoped it would be for a good, long while, though. He rather liked being useful to someone who actually appreciated him not just for what he could do but as, well, a friend. Not that the other friends he's made didn't treat him as such. But Lattice was quickly becoming one of the more integral members of the tikbalang's Amityville herd.
After all, this was her room.
"And if y' change y'r mind later, lemme know and I'll move it to where y' want it." Which pretty much was Tro telling the Lattice his oath and friendship would last for as long as the ghoul wanted. He hoped it would be for a good, long while, though. He rather liked being useful to someone who actually appreciated him not just for what he could do but as, well, a friend. Not that the other friends he's made didn't treat him as such. But Lattice was quickly becoming one of the more integral members of the tikbalang's Amityville herd.
Pales
Lattice nodded in approval of where Tro had put it, "I..I don't have one yet," she murmured softly to Petro and then offered a shrug. It never seemed important back at the Manor with the others they didn't have a reason to have little things like that running around not that her kind were against them, but it wasn't a need or a desire for them to have one at least not on Lattice's end. "Thank you I will keep that in mind if I want it moved," she assured him as she paused a bit.
She moved a bit closer to him and held out both of her hands, "Walk time?" She asked hopefully. Lattice had her reasons to hold onto his hand. Most of the reason having to do with being in an unfamiliar territory and the fact that the last time she held onto his hand in the slightest her sister was with them.
..It was a comfort and memory she clung to.
She moved a bit closer to him and held out both of her hands, "Walk time?" She asked hopefully. Lattice had her reasons to hold onto his hand. Most of the reason having to do with being in an unfamiliar territory and the fact that the last time she held onto his hand in the slightest her sister was with them.
..It was a comfort and memory she clung to.
Huni Pi
The horse boil blinked at the discovery that Lattice had no minipets. Not that they were a requirement at the academy but it was practically tradition for students to have at least one. He'd have to remedy that. Right after he figured out what he could get her.
"Yeah, walk time," he smiled gently, once again offer his arm to her. He began to head for the door only when he felt her fingers against his skin, making sure to open it for her. He didn't know or realize just why Lattice was so eager for the walk. His thought processes just interpretted it as her enjoying physical activities and prefering she kept moving as opposed to simply sitting about in her room.
Despite the lack of basis for this assumption, Tro was becoming more and more glad she was part of his Amityville herd. Not that he was going to tell her. Or anyone else for that matter. Tro didn't want to risk offending anyone. Or worse, making them uncomfortable.
"Yeah, walk time," he smiled gently, once again offer his arm to her. He began to head for the door only when he felt her fingers against his skin, making sure to open it for her. He didn't know or realize just why Lattice was so eager for the walk. His thought processes just interpretted it as her enjoying physical activities and prefering she kept moving as opposed to simply sitting about in her room.
Despite the lack of basis for this assumption, Tro was becoming more and more glad she was part of his Amityville herd. Not that he was going to tell her. Or anyone else for that matter. Tro didn't want to risk offending anyone. Or worse, making them uncomfortable.
Pales
She'd taken a hold of his arm in much the same way as she had done before being careful to keep her needles from poking him or harming him and she even kept her walk at a careful pace so that he wouldn't be forced to walk slower or faster. For the most part she just enjoyed the contact of someone that was now familiar to her. It'd made the transition smoother and calmer than if she had been thrown to Amity with no direction what-so-ever.
The ghoul was glad to walk with her friend going wherever they pleased and she was comfortable to walk with him in silence. Lattice stared ahead for a bit simply being lost within herself before she tilted her head toward her companion, "Petro, what will you do after you are done in school? What will happen then?"
The ghoul was glad to walk with her friend going wherever they pleased and she was comfortable to walk with him in silence. Lattice stared ahead for a bit simply being lost within herself before she tilted her head toward her companion, "Petro, what will you do after you are done in school? What will happen then?"
Huni Pi
The horse boil had no problem with walking in silence. It wasn't like he sang or hummed or did anything of the sort when he went running. Just the feel of Lattice's hand on his arm was enough to make this enjoyable for Petro. He wasn't really a big fan of the whole small talk. You said what was on your mind. If you had nothing to say, don't waste your breath with meaningless chatter. However, his momma had pretty much taught him if a ghoul engaged him in small talk, he was to be a perfect gentleboil and respond accordingly.
Good thing Lattice's question did not strike Tro as small talk. He found it was a serious question. One that merited a serious answer rather than something to respond to for the sake of responding.
"'M gonna take the Trial of the Ages," he answered, his tone containing absolute certainty. "I make it out alive, 'm gonna be a full-fledged Warrior and get sorted into a squad." He spoke about this so casually, it almost sounded like a mere walk in the park rather than the life-or-death matter the trial actually was. A beat, and then he added, "Unless the Clan has other plans for me. What about y'?" he asked with a quirk of his brow.
Good thing Lattice's question did not strike Tro as small talk. He found it was a serious question. One that merited a serious answer rather than something to respond to for the sake of responding.
"'M gonna take the Trial of the Ages," he answered, his tone containing absolute certainty. "I make it out alive, 'm gonna be a full-fledged Warrior and get sorted into a squad." He spoke about this so casually, it almost sounded like a mere walk in the park rather than the life-or-death matter the trial actually was. A beat, and then he added, "Unless the Clan has other plans for me. What about y'?" he asked with a quirk of his brow.
Pales
Lattice was glad to have the answer she listened to him as he spoke and took in her the answer happily storing it away as information she now knew about her dear friend. The ghoul nodded a bit, "I know you'll make it through your trial," she said in a tone that was almost earnest. Lattice believed in Petro and she always would. The ghoul let out a thoughtful sound, "Clans do usually know what is best for you."
..Usually.
"But I hope they take your wishes into consideration as well," Not that her Clan did that very often when it concerned the wishes of others. When the question was turned on her she seemed thoughtful, "I will probably take my place with my fellow Engravers and maybe teach the others the way of the Engraver life..." She didn't sound certain about her path. Being allowed to go to Amity had shaken her view of the certainty of life.
She smiled a little, "I don't know...anymore to be honest now that I am here at the Academy that ... view of life is looking small and closed in..."
..Usually.
"But I hope they take your wishes into consideration as well," Not that her Clan did that very often when it concerned the wishes of others. When the question was turned on her she seemed thoughtful, "I will probably take my place with my fellow Engravers and maybe teach the others the way of the Engraver life..." She didn't sound certain about her path. Being allowed to go to Amity had shaken her view of the certainty of life.
She smiled a little, "I don't know...anymore to be honest now that I am here at the Academy that ... view of life is looking small and closed in..."
Huni Pi
"Thank y', y' believing in me means a lot." His voice was soft, almost a murmur, but the smile was audible. At least he hoped it was. "Huh, 've found the Clan usually does what's best for the Clan. But y're a part of 'em, and y' gotta live with 'em, and so y' gotta do y'r part. We've got some that bumukod. Gone rogue," he clarified. "'S a harder life when y' don't got no one to watch y'r back but 's their choice. Ain't no one's gone ever come back to ask they be taken in again. Dunno if 's because'v pride or they couldn't survive." Tanned shoulder rose and fell, and even though Lattice wouldn't be able to see the shrug, she would be able to feel it given how her hand was still on his arm.
As the ghost ghoul gave her answer, Tro couldn't help but cant his head at her. "What sort of life does an Engraver got?" He was interested and curious to know more about them, not only because he'd never heard of Lattice's kind before but also because, well, he wanted to know more about Lattice. "And 's it the only path y' can take in y'r Clan?"
As the ghost ghoul gave her answer, Tro couldn't help but cant his head at her. "What sort of life does an Engraver got?" He was interested and curious to know more about them, not only because he'd never heard of Lattice's kind before but also because, well, he wanted to know more about Lattice. "And 's it the only path y' can take in y'r Clan?"
