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 Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:48 pm
There was one major flaw in the plans that Yǐn Cáng had made with Alexander. They had set the date, the place, and the time. Sortof. Late afternoon, the mantodae had discovered, could mean very different things to different individuals. Alexander might have a completely different definition of late afternoon than he did. He considered afternoon to begin after 12:00pm, and so late afternoon was typically 3:00-4:00, and possibly ranging toward 5:00. But if one considered afternoon to be, well, after noon, late afternoon may be from 4:00-5:00, and as late as 6:00. Then there was always the distinct possibility that Alexander went by meal times. The cafeteria served lunch beginning at 11:00am, so with that late afternoon might begin as early as 2:00pm. So he had a solid 4 hour window to contend with. As soon as he finished eating he took Princess Eva outside for a short walk, her ribbon leash tied securely to his wrist and then took her back to his room. It was at this moment that he wished he had a clock. He had left the lunchroom at approximately 12:45, so it was probably 1:15 or so. But he may have lost track of time. Not wanting to make the zomboil wait he decided that the best course of action would be just to wait for him outside, and he headed to their meeting spot, arriving there by 1:30. Surely he could find something to do while he waited.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:41 pm
No, Alex had not specified a time, and no, he didn't even think about it as the hours crept slowly by. He had gotten out of his dorm early enough to get to his morning classes on time for once in his unlife, then he had gone to the library to return some books, then to lunch, and then to another class. By the time that class had ended, it was around 2:00pm, and Alex still needed to go back to his dorm and grab some things before he could go.
Was it because Alex wasn't particularly excited to go to the maul? Is that why he didn't hurry along?
Nope.
On the contrary, he was actually really looking forward to it! It was just in his nature to not worry about time, and was probably the main reason he had given Yin a generalization and not a specific. Why give somebody a specific time when chances are you were going to be horribly late anyways?
Around 3:30pm, Alex came along at his steady pace towards the Monster dorms. He had a backpack slung over one shoulder, and a skateboard that he'd grabbed from his room tucked underneath one arm. His mom had sent it, with a letter that explained her reasons and had made Alex only a little annoyed. She apparently didn't have confidence in his abilities to meet important time deadlines.
Really, Alex's mother knew him all too well, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
But yes, here he was, ready and raring to go, a grin splitting his face as he approached the meeting spot.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:54 pm
It was not until Yin turned to walk back toward the tree that he noticed Alexander meandering his way toward him. Immediately he started down the path, hand raised in greeting to the grinning zomboil. He hoped that he could put enough distance away that the evidence of his waiting, a literal path revealed by the bent and bruised grass between a tree and a medium size rock, could be spotted.
He did not actually know what to say, but as he drew nearer he began to notice that Alexander was carrying things with him. Immediately he began to feel slightly self-conscious and worried. He did not remember that he was supposed to bring something, but perhaps he was supposed to. Perhaps everyone had a bag strapped to their back and an oddly shaped board when they went to the maul. "Was I supposed to bring anything?" he questioned as soon as he did not have to yell to be heard.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:10 pm
Oh good, Yin was already waiting for him! And he was being kind enough to come to Alex and not make the zomboil walk all the way to the tree! If his grin could have gotten any bigger, it would have. This was a great start to an already beautiful afternoon. He gave the weremantis a small wave of greeting in return to the one he had been given.
When Yin got closer and started to talk, Alex just shook his head.
"Nope, not at all! Unless you were wanting to buy something when we got there? I've got my money in my backpack." and then he held out the skateboard. "And this...this is my mom's idea of a joke, I'm sure, but I think it might come in handy today...if I don't fall off of it that is. C'mon, I want to try it out!" When Yin was close enough, Alex reached out his free arm to put around the mantodaes shoulders, squeezing his hand on the top part of Yins arm and gesturing around them with the skateboard. "Isn't it just a wonderful day?" he continued to grin.
The zomboil seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood. The reason for which would likely become evident later on.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:28 pm
Now that the afternoon was over halfway gone, they were beginning their journey. Yin actually had no idea where the maul was, so he merely hoped that Alexander knew the way and that it would not take them an hour or two to get there. All of those concerns were forgotten when Alexander mentioned money. It was a rather embarrassing predicament to have no money whatsoever, well, minus the single pumpkin seed he had found on the floor and pocketed.
So he was rather glad that the gleeful zomboil just kept talking about whatever it was that he was holding. It had been a gift, so it had to be precious, and apparently Alexander could fall off of it even though he was holding it. He gave it a curious glance as he neared, letting the boil's enthusiasm perk his interest.
He was still looking at it when the zomboil suddenly put his arm around his shoulders. He tensed, but immediately forced himself to relax, despite the fact that Alexander's arm and hand smelled somewhat...rank. Was he still wearing the clothing from two days ago? Had they been washed? He had not been expecting the gesture, but it was his friend, and friends were allowed to take certain liberties. Even if they seemed odd. He looked as the ridiculously happy zomboil pointed around. "The day is enjoyable," he confirmed. "Is there something special about today other than our journey to the mall?" The zomboil was being almost boisterous, and Yin just really was unsure of what to think.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:45 pm
Alex couldn't help but chuckle a little, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he did so. He released Yin, and placed the skateboard on the ground, wheels down, then cocked his head at it, his grin finally fading and his lips pursing in a straight line.
Hmmmmm...how to go about this? He knew what the simple mechanics of a skateboard were, to be sure, but knowing and doing were two completely different things.
"Well Yin, you see, sometimes a day is just wonderful because it is..." he continued to frown down at the skateboard, then glanced back up at the weremantis. "If I climb onto this thing, I don't suppose you might be willing to give me a push?"
Of course, he was only joking around. A little....
Alex finally, tentatively stretched his regular foot forward, figuring it would be the easier of the two to balance upon once up on the skateboard. He placed it down near the center and a little towards the front, and tested the rollability of the object by pushing it forward a little ways, and then back again. With a heavy swallow, and one last apprehensive glance to Yin, he attempted to push off with his skeletal foot.
Yes, the skateboard moved forward, and yes, for maybe a few paces Alex managed to keep up with it, and push himself along. But the second, the very second Alex tried to swing his left foot up onto the skateboard he immediatly began to wobble, arms flailing wildly, and promptly fell to the ground.
"Ya ok, that did not quite go as well as it could have" He groaned from where he lay, sprawled in the dirt.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:55 pm
Something seemed odd with the zomboil, especially after he told Yin that sometimes a day was wonderful because he could climb onto the contraption he had set on the ground and ask Yin to push him. And that, quite frankly, made no sense. He was half tempted to insist that Alexander go rest in his room before trying anything else, but on the other hand this was probably the most energetic he had ever seen him.
He watched with open curiosity as Alexander put one foot on the board and rolled it back and forth. The look that was then given to him was not very reassuring. "Maybe this is not the bes-" the mantodae's words of caution were too late, and it was as if he saw the zomboil fall in slow motion. "Alexander!" He did not know what the board was precisely, but if he had to name it it would have been "death trap."
By the time the zomboil had finished groaning about the botched attempt Yin was already reaching down to grab his wrists and haul him back to his feet, his expression somewhat stormy now that he realized his friend was alright. "Just what are you attempting to do? That...thing cannot be safe."
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:27 pm
Alex grunted as he was hauled back to his feet, and glared over at the jack be damned skateboard that had continued to roll on without him for several feet as he started to brush the dirt off of his clothes (really, did it make much difference?) and out of his hair. "I'm attempting to find a solution to the obvious problem of my mobility." He explained, though it was obvious his good mood had been soured somewhat by that little experience. "I'm open to any other suggestions, if you can think of any..."
Alex at this point very determinedly limped over to the skateboard, his skeletal leg having been jarred so hard from his fall that it was now acting nearly useless.
He was fairly confident his FEAR could do the repairs necessary and it would be in working order again soon. Hopefully.
Once he reached it, he continued to glare. What had his mom been thinking when she'd sent him this wretched device? He was halfway to attempting to kick it into the bush with his good leg and leave it there. Reaching down, he picked the skateboard back up, and held it under his arm, shooting Yin an apologetic look. "I don't think I'll be able to try again just yet..do you mind if I just hobble along for now? The maul really isn't all that far...." his voice trailed off.
His good day was falling to ruins around him.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:44 pm
It that thing was supposed to help him move it obviously was not doing its job. Yin was positively glaring at it as Alexander hobbled over to pick it up. Who knew what sorts of things people would create to try to make money. It was hard to believe that his own mother would send it to him. But so far as a solution for how he could learn to use the thing? He honestly did not know if he would want to help him, the thing was obviously dangerous.
And now he was suggesting that he limp all the way to wherever they were going. It was at least out of eyesight of the school gate, or blocked from view, and the zomboil already moved slowly enough. Alexander sounded as if he had reached the same conclusion. So Yin began to study the taller boil, weighing options in his mind.
There was really only one solution. "I will carry you on my back," he informed the zomboil, stating it as a fact. He had done it with Miss Danny before, and while the zomboil was taller than she he had gone through a molt since then. And without flesh on his leg he probably did not weigh as much as others his height. "I am not positive that I can carry you the entire distance, but perhaps by then your leg will be up to par. Now try to stand on that stump over there, it will be easier for you to get on my back from there."
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:01 am
Alex immediately opened his mouth up to protest. It would be ridiculous for him to be carried by Yin! Sure he'd been carried by a ghoul, once, but he had been unconscious at the time. But something in the other boils face and the way he had said it made him snap his mouth back shut.
"Are you sure?" He frowned. "I'm like...way taller then you!" Though it was true that there wasn't much to Alex's physique but skin and bone. "And..I really don't want to get your clothes dirty..." He lowered his head when he said that, glaring at the ground. It was really his own fault for not washing his clothes, ever. His shirt, the last shirt he even had to his name at this moment, was stained in several places with old blood and dirt and any number of other things that he might have spilled on it. He was used to it, sure, but it was becoming fairly obvious to the boil that other students were not so pleased with his shotty appearance.
Being raised around nothing but other zombies didn't really prepare you for the cruelties of the real world.
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:09 am
Alexander seemed determined to delay the inevitable, but after two hours of waiting, even if it was not actually the zomboil's fault, Yin was not going to have it. "My clothing clothing is not special, and I can always shower when I return," he pointed out. He ignored the fact that he was wearing one of his own last shirts as well, with a bit of elbow grease he could get most stains and filth out.
"I believe you have three options. One, you can go stand on that stump so you can get on my back and we can leave. Two, you can stay right where you are which will make it more difficult to pick you up, but you will still get hauled off regardless. Or three, you can protest farther, and I will go into that dorm, and when I come out I will be in my natural form." He stated it all flatly, even the barely concealed threat. This maul nonsense was really getting to be too much.
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:13 am
Alex listened to the first option, his eyebrows rising.
He listened to the second and he frowned and just about said "Now wait just a minute!" but didn't get a chance.
Alex listened to the third option, and marched his a** over to the stump without any further delay.
Jack
Jacking
Damnit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
He had clambered up onto Yins back, face clearly unhappy as he did so. He prayed that nobody was watching, his face turning slowly redder and redder by the second as Yin carried him along, and he mumbled out directions. His cold body was pressed up against Yins back, and for that he was most sorry of all, because he knew that the weremantis did not handle low temperatures very well.
But finally, blessedly, they reached the maul, and Alex asked very politely if Yin might be able to please place him on the ground now.
Pleeeeeaaaaaaaase.
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:24 am
With Alexander refusing to say anything other than directions it unfortunately left Yin with plenty of time to think. And while plodding down the road there really was not much to think about, other than the boil on his back. Despite his height he was rather light, and while it was difficult to carry him they still progressed faster than Alexander's shuffle would have confined them to.
The other highly noticeable feature was his body temperature. He had not walked very far before he had noticed the cold seeping through to his back, the chill slowly spreading. The exertion of carrying the zomboil helped to keep his body temperature up, but by the time they reached the maul he had to fight to keep his teeth from chattering.
So he was more than ready to deposit Alexander onto the ground by the time that they arrived. At his request he did so, and began to look at the building with interest. It was huge. People were coming and going from the doors, of all shapes, sizes, and age. There also seemed to be several entrances. "Do we go into a specific door?" he asked as he sneakily tried to rub his hands over his arms to warm up a bit.
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:35 am
Alexander merely had to stretch out his legs the tiniest fraction for his feet to be touching the ground, and so he did when Yin let him go. He then stood there for a time, thumbs looped around the straps of his backpack with the instrument of death poking out of its open zipper, gazing at the large building with all of it's different people streaming in and out.
He tried his best to ignore that Yin was rubbing at his arms, and pointedly looked away, feeling horrible about the fact that it was his fault.
"Yes, I mean, No." He shook his head, his mind had obviously been on something else. "No, we can go through any door, but lets just go through the main ones straight ahead." He pointed to the large set of double doors across the lot in front of them.
"Hey Yin?" he asked, and then continued, without waiting for a response. "I really think you should let me buy you that dinner." Then started to walk, albeit slowly, towards the mauls main entrance. His leg was feeling much better, and much more intact, then it had before.
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:51 am
Yin eyed the doors they were headed too and nodded. The crowds of people were not something he loved to deal with, but in a crowd it was harder to be singled out by random strangers. And at least he would be facing it with a boil that was tall enough that if they got separated he could probably find him fairly easily.
There it was again, another offer for dinner. This time however...Yin had the tiniest suspicion that he had earned it. Still, it would be wrong to charge Alexander for something that he had done willing. Wavering slightly he finally consented slightly. "If there is something not too expensive." Really though, carrying the taller boil had begun to work up a fairly decent appetite.
Finally they were at the main doors, and flowing with the crowd they entered the maul. Just walking into the building almost stunned Yin. For some reason it seemed like every noise was somehow amplified, the interior of the building one loud roar of noise. It was brightly lit, and every direction that he looked had someone. Shops lined the huge hallway that they were in, and the mantodae may have shifted slightly closer to the familiar presence of his friend, slightly overwhelmed. "Where to first?" he questioned a touch nervously.
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