|
Post by Phae on Jun 19, 2006 20:43:38 GMT -5
Phae's red hair swung to and fro from the tie that kept it in a pony tail pulled back away from her face as she walked down the small sidewalk past the small shops and buildings in the city. Her sword swinging gently on her hip as she walked confidently towards the next stop on this trip.
She had already been to several stores buying a surprise gift for Junpei and now was heading to the grocery store because she wanted to cook dinner for him tonight and they had no food in thier room. She hummed gently her left thumb running slowly back and forth over the ring that Jun had given her.
The sliding glass door opened and Phae stepped into the store and looked around her right hand holding the bag with the gift as she grabbed and hand basket and moved to the vegetable section to pick up some potatoes.
|
|
Xeryth Varson
Spell Caster
Synsk
The look of a boy best left alone.
Posts: 154
|
Post by Xeryth Varson on Jun 19, 2006 20:56:48 GMT -5
Meanwhile, in that very same grocery store, Xeryth ironically had decided to frequent the same place at the same time. Like Phaedra and Junpei, he was running low on comestible supplies for his room, and had to go out and re-stock. This was normally quite the monumentous task for Xeryth, for he had no money and an intense fear of strangers and, well, people in general. However, necessity often facilitates change, and as such, Xeryth found himself touring the city earlier that day, all by himself, attempting to do odd jobs for people who needed them for loose cash.
Thankfully, the boy's psychic abilities aided him well, his telekinesis allowing him to multi-task and lift and carry more than one thing at a time. While we has working, however, a thought had crossed his mind. These common folk, they were so simple, and so trusting towards a student of the Academy. They could so easily be manipulated, especially with someone with the talents he possessed. Shaking it off, Xeryth continued to spend the morning working honest jobs. He was no crook, and was nowhere near in a position that demanded he be one. The money from these jobs was going to be enough to pick up some food to feed himself.
Now, Xeryth found himself with a basket over his forearm and a nervous look on his face. There were so many people here, it was still something the poor boy was getting used to. He tried to ignore the lingering fear in his brain, mentally assuring himself that this was simply the way of the world, that he would have to adapt or be left behind, when a familiar face almost sent him crashing behind an aisle of canned goods in shock.
It was Phae, the girl he had seen at Junpei's room that fateful night before.
Xeryth stood stock still, looking at the girl quizzically. He was truly no more scared of her than he was of any other person, however, she was new, and apparently someone important to Junpei, and this raised the young psychic's curiosity, as well as his guard. Who was she, if Junpei was so unwilling to introduce him? What exactly was going on? Regardless of the questions in his mind, Xeryth merely looked at the girl, certain she would see him soon.
How she would react, however, he could not tell. He may have been psychic, but he did not know the future.
|
|
|
Post by Phae on Jun 19, 2006 21:09:21 GMT -5
Phae picked out the potatos that were ripe and ready to cook and she placed them in one of those plastic bags and tied it carefully to keep them fresh. She placed them in the basket over her arm and turned to the carrots picking out a bag of fresh carrots and placed the small bag of baby carrots in her basket and turned to move to the next section her list fresh in her mind. She froze seeing Xeryth wanting to say hi but not wanting to scare him as she remembered the other night what had happened and she smiled sweetly and nodded at him before moving down to the meat section.
She stood there wondering what Xeryth was doing here. He must be out of his mind worry about all the people around him and here she was in the same store as him which probably made it a hundred times worse. She swallowed hard and decided she would leave it up to him to confront or at least come up to her she wasn't about to make any sudden movements.
She began going through the meat she could cook and decided on a roast and picked out a good one with little fat and placed it to in her basket. The basket on her arm dipped slightly with the weight and she moved her arm back up the wire handles digging into her skin slightly but she didn't seem to notice.
|
|
Xeryth Varson
Spell Caster
Synsk
The look of a boy best left alone.
Posts: 154
|
Post by Xeryth Varson on Jun 19, 2006 21:16:53 GMT -5
The two locked eyes, and Phaedra merely smiled and nodded before going on her way. Xeryth merely blinked a few times, trying to make sense of the entire situation. Shaking it off, he merely went on his own way, putting some canned goods and easily microwaveable foods such as instant ramen and Kraft Easy-Mac into his basket. The boy may have been a fairly talented psychic, but that was about the extent of his skills, and as such, his more practical abiliites were sorely lacking. Knowing that, if he needed to, he could drop by the Arcane Cafeteria easily enough, though, Xeryth was content to stick with easily prepared foods and snack foods for his own dormitory room.
While he shopped, however, he was struck with a sudden resolve. This girl, no matter who she was, was important in some way. Xeryth didn't quite know how, and he wasn't sure if he'd understand once he did, but he DID know that she was important in some way, important to Junpei, and as such, she deserved some sort of attention. So, steeling himself, Xeryth crossed the aisles into the meat market section, walking up to her in his best show of confidence, which, honestly, was not too great of a show. Steeling himself with a large breath, the same way an excited youth would do to prepare himself to speak with a girl he was enamored with, Xeryth would speak.
"Hi..." this was all he got out in a strong fashion before breaking into his usual way of speech. "I-I'm Xeryth Varson. Sorry about before.... Phae..."
He smiled meekly, looking at her with his round pale blue eyes, regarding her with caution, as if he would bolt off in fright if she made any sudden moves.
|
|
|
Post by Phae on Jun 19, 2006 21:26:02 GMT -5
Phae had definatly not expected him to come up to her and if he did speaking to her wasn't even on the list of possibilities. Yet here was Xeryth ... Xeryth Varson it seemed standing beside her basket in hand and talking to her. She reminded herself that sudden movement would not be best she really wanted to know this boy. She loved people and right now it was killing her not to be her jubliant self. She turned slowly and smiled gently.
"Hi, Xeryth." she said with a smile. "I'm Phaedra Weiss but as you already know I go by Phae."
She offered a warm smile but did not extend a hand for fear he would run.
"And don't worry about yesterday everyone has their own personality mine is just slightly overbearing." she said with a giggle. "I'm sorry if I came off a bit strong, please forgive me I didn't mean to scare you in the least I just wanted to meet you. A friend of Jun's is someone I really want meet."
She looked up biting her lower lip kind of nervous all of a sudden hoping that Xeryth would relax and they could become friends. But until now she would just keep her personality in check and hope she was calm enough for him.
"What are you shopping here for today?" she asked looking up at him her sapphire eyes meeting his lovely crystal blue ones.
|
|
Xeryth Varson
Spell Caster
Synsk
The look of a boy best left alone.
Posts: 154
|
Post by Xeryth Varson on Jun 19, 2006 21:41:28 GMT -5
Xeryth shook his head, dismissing Phae's apology with the mere head motion. "No... no... think not of it... had you been even worse towards people as I am... I would have still reacted the same..."
Xeryth giggled a bit, nervously, but it was definitely already a start.
"As you... as you may know... I'm not exactly used to... well... used to people. It's something I've been working on, though... and any friend of Junpei's... is a friend of mine as well."
Xeryth smiled again, that same tiny little meek smile that seemed to be his trademark. In regards to her other question, Xeryth glanced in his basket, looking a bit ashamed as he answered. "Um, small things, I guess... stuff that I know how to prepare, in case... in case I find myself without food. It's... it's not much. But it's all I know how to cook... and..."
Xeryth bit his lip, unsure of the reaction he'd get from his next revelation, and whether or not it was necessary to even say it at all.
"... it's all I can really afford."
Xeryth's eyes met with Phae's again, as he blinked a few times in rapid succession once more. He hoped she wouldn't think less of him for being rather destitute, but when you were almost completely on your own in the world at fourteen, and unremarkable in every way save for one, it was just something to be expected.
|
|
|
Post by Phae on Jun 19, 2006 21:53:42 GMT -5
Phae was almost relieved when the boy began to speak though his sentences had pauses it was definatly a start in her mind. She took a look at the things in his basket and raised an eyebrow. She looked up and smiled.
"Tell you what, I like to cook and I have a tendency to cook way too much. I don't cook too often probably once a week but your welcome to either come over and eat or I can bring you half of it you could probably eat on it for a day or so." she said tilting her head to the side and smiling.
"Here walk with me." she said as she began to walk towards the isles. She was going to get him a few things that might be a bit more...nutritious to a growing boy than Mac and Cheese. She went down the prepared meal isle and began putting things like soups and small meals that took only a few minutes to heat and was a complete meal and from her own opinion tasted rather good.
"So, Xeryth tell me what do you do in your spare time?" she asked as her eyes scanned the shelves for the food she wanted to give to the boy. She wasn't going to see him starve because he had limited funds she wasn't about to do that.
|
|
Xeryth Varson
Spell Caster
Synsk
The look of a boy best left alone.
Posts: 154
|
Post by Xeryth Varson on Jun 19, 2006 23:35:09 GMT -5
Xeryth cocked his head to the side, not expecting the answer that Phaedra gave him to his situation. Sympathy was something he could understand, but... offering him food? It was almost too much to take, even if, for Phaedra, it was nothing. Xeryth had lived his whole life with little, though. He was kept decently well-fed, but anything else was out of the question. Thus, such direct, unasked for, and unconditional kindness was a very new thing to him. This is why he couldn't even stammer out a reply to the girl, but could only nod quietly, accepting the offer without a word.
She asked him to walk with her, in a manner that sounded a bit more like a polite demand, and he complied wordlessly, walking along behind her as she began to find more food better suited to feed the young boy. As she did so, she asked a casual question, one most would ask when meeting new people. Xeryth answered as best he could, though, as the girl could probably guess, it wasn't going to be the answer most teenagers tended to give.
"I... uh... well..." he smiled sheepishly. "Not much, to be honest. I... I work on expanding my powers, or else... I study... or read in the library... I do like to read..."
|
|
|
Post by Phae on Jun 20, 2006 0:10:31 GMT -5
Phae finished picking things out for him though she didn't tell him about it and put it all in her own basket and went to collect a gravy packet for the roast before she considered her shopping finished.
"I can understand wanting to expand your powers. I plan to work on that myself." she said clamly just standing in the isle talking to him. "However our mutual friend Junpei has sidetracked me a bit but I will definatly begin working hard come Monday when my classes start."
She really did like Xeryth though he was shy he looked like he could use a really big hug. She itched to be the one that gave it to him but she knew it was too soon and she didn't want him to run away after she had already made so much headway.
"As for reading that my friend is a passion we share. I adore to read losing myself in a book. A foreign country or world it's amazing how easy it is when you find that perfect book." she said her voice a bit more excited but still subdued for Xeryth's benefit. "It's also great when your having a really bad day to lose yourself in the one book where you don't think about your troubles."
She looked over at him and smiled.
"I probably don't look like the kind of girl that sits down quietly and reads but I have a feeling I'll see a bit of you in the library. One of my favorite places to go." she couldn't help it she giggled. "You're cute you know that." she said as she turned and began walking down the isle.
|
|
Xeryth Varson
Spell Caster
Synsk
The look of a boy best left alone.
Posts: 154
|
Post by Xeryth Varson on Jun 20, 2006 21:19:18 GMT -5
Xeryth giggled quietly, slightly amused that he and this girl shared one of the same interests.
"Well... it was one of the few things I did growing up... they had me read books to further understand my abilities. It's just what I'm used to, I suppose, because now I'll pick up anything. I... I'm really interested in philosophy, and the studies of... great thinkers of the past..."
Xeryth trailed off, following Phae somewhat like a lost puppy as they walked to and fro amongst the aisles of the supermarket. At her remark that he was 'cute', Xeryth kinda scrunched his nose and tilted his head, yet again. With a confused little grin on his face, he spoke his mind.
"Cute? What do you mean by that?"
|
|
|
Post by Phae on Jun 20, 2006 22:49:54 GMT -5
Phae turned to him at his question and offered him a happy smile and winked at him.
"Well..." she said and thought about how to describe it. "You have that innocent look that just makes me want to hug you really."
She said as she looked at him.
"You just have the personality that is truly endearing and I would hug you if I didn't think you would run." she said. She gave him another smile again.
"So philosophy that is some seriously deep things. I'm afraid I'm not so good at that kind of thing. I like to study and do my magic and read for pleasure." she shrugged. "Speaking of magic can I ask exactly how yours works?"
|
|
Xeryth Varson
Spell Caster
Synsk
The look of a boy best left alone.
Posts: 154
|
Post by Xeryth Varson on Jun 20, 2006 23:03:31 GMT -5
At Phae's responses, all of the words about cute and wanting to hug the boy, Xeryth could only smile, one of the few truly genuine smiles he'd given since... well, since ever. This Phaedra was really a very nice girl, and someone that Xeryth could very quickly warm up to, which was proving to be true as the conversation progressed. He didn't say anything, though, he just smiled broadly and happily, unsure of what to say, and figuring that nothing really needed to be said anyway.
However, Phae quickly moved on, most likely worried about scaring the easily frightened boy more than he probably was already, at least in her eyes, keeping the conversation going and asking the next usual question most Academy students tended to get and give when meeting each other. Xeryth had begun to call it the 'inevitable magick question' in his mind, and couldn't help but grin mischievously at his own personal joke when it was asked of him now.
"Well...." Xeryth paused, not in his usual meek hesitation, but to think instead, putting his hand to his chin and rubbing the beard he was still a long way away from growing as he considered. "I guess it's a hard question to answer, as I don't... really use magick."
Xeryth considered it again silently, also unintentionally giving Phae a moment to let the thought sink in.
"I suppose... perhaps the best way to explain it would be to give you a little example."
Xeryth quickly eyed two boxes of Hamburger Helper sitting on the aisle's shelves. He grinned, and suddenly the two boxes leapt from the shelves of their own free will, and twirled about Phaedra's head for a few moments before settling back in their original positions, right where the stocker had shelved them nights before. Turning to face Phaedra, Xeryth's grin was unimaginable. Every time he got to use his abilities, he was genuinely proud of himself, and it showed.
"Essentially... if I can imagine it... and if I can perceive it... then it can be done."
|
|
|
Post by Phae on Jun 20, 2006 23:54:04 GMT -5
Phae watched in amazement as the boxes of Hamburger Helper no less spun around her head and then settled back on the shelf where they came from. She smiled brightly as she turned to Xeryth.
"That...was amazing!" she said and didn't hide her excitement she was too excited to think about it. "Makes my power look inferior."
She laughed it was obvious she didn't mind but really thought that this boy had the most unique power she had ever seen and told him so. It was amazing.
"How wonderful. That is the best power I've ever seen." she said she almost gave him a hug but settled down and blushed. "Sorry got a bit carried away."
|
|
Xeryth Varson
Spell Caster
Synsk
The look of a boy best left alone.
Posts: 154
|
Post by Xeryth Varson on Jun 21, 2006 0:42:11 GMT -5
If Phae blushed at all, Xeryth was a face full of crimson at all her praise. The boy had never really been given any sort of positive reinforcement for his skills before. At D-13, they had merely encouraged him to push himself harder, never acknowledging that what he could already do was any sort of accomplishment. Even at the Arcane Academy, most of the mages were already so far along in their own abilities that a little bit of Telekinesis was far from amazing in any regard. No matter, though, for here was someone who actually appreciated his talents! Xeryth couldn't be happier, and the smile on his face and red in his cheeks gave it all away. Truly, Xeryth was not one for hiding his feelings, he never really needed to before, for there was no one to hide them from. Now that there was, he wouldn't know how even if he had to.
"Th-th-thanks, Phae! I mean... it's not all that great, really, some of the people at the Academy are sooooo much better with their magickal talents!! But..."
Xeryth's broad smile returned to that smaller, more mischievous grin for a moment, as his eyes took a sly look about them.
"As far as I know, I'm the only one of my kind here.... the only psychic aboard..."
Again, this was obviously something Xeryth was proud of. His eyes lit up, suddenly, as an idea came to him. He wanted to impress Phae, it seemed, and his own excitedness began to get him carried away.
"Hey!!! Wanna see something REALLY cool!!??"
Without even giving her a chance to reply, Xeryth closed his eyes, seeing her with his Mind's Eye. Focusing on the girl, he began to think, and with only the tiniest moment's delay, Phae would hear his voice in her own mind, although it would seem different. Gone was that shy, easily excitable young teenage boy's voice. Instead was a voice that, though still young, seemed to carry within it a wisdom and eloquency unmatched by even those years older than he.
"Do not be alarmed, Phaedra. This is how I communicate best. Thirteen years of nothing but Telepath-speak will do that to you, I'm afraid."
Xeryth mentally chuckled, the laugh reverberating through Phae's head.
"As you can see, I'm a little more comfortable with myself this way. When I'm speaking, the words I think sound wonderful in my head, but something ends up missing when they're spoken. I guess that just takes work, though."
Xeryth smiled at Phae, an honest, regular smile. At this particular moment, the boy was in his element, pure and simple, and was acting almost like a regular person.
Except, of course, for the fact that he was speaking directly to her mind.
"So..." Xeryth said, switching back to realspeak. "... what about you? You've got powers, right? Wh-... what do they do?"
|
|
|
Post by Phae on Jun 21, 2006 1:08:47 GMT -5
The voice in her mind had shocked her and her eyes turned to the boy in front of her as she smiled at how at ease he seemed to be in her mind. She didn't mind she wasn't afraid of him being in there she wasn't afraid of what he would see. There was nothing she was ashamed of. She didn't know if he could read thoughts or not or see memories for that matter but she wasn't hiding anything.
"Xeryth that's wonderful." she said her eyes happy and sparkling. "If you ever want to talk into my mind instead of out loud I'm alright with that. I don't mind in fact it's really quite cool."
She no longer could just stand there holding her basket she went over making sure she did it slowly and set her basket down on the tile floor and gave him a hug. A nice gentle hug a friendly hug not a very excited one or anything. It didn't last very long and she pulled away smiling gently at him.
"My magic well I have two types. I have my blade. I'm a sword mage. Basically I cast spells on my blade that change the element of it or the properties it already has. Watch."
She looked both ways up and down the isle and unsheathed her blade when she saw no one was coming.
"Inferno." she whispered and the blade errupted in flames and she looked over at Xeryth. "See."
She giggled and uncast the spell resheathing the blade.
"I use my sword to focus my magic I can't use my magic without my blade. But I have one more power that recently woke I've been learning to control. Hold on I'll show you."
She sat down in the isle and lowered her head going into a trance a controled trance that would allow her other power to kick in. She concentrated hard on the area just behind where Xeryth was standing and she instantly left her body the close destination being easy.
The full bodied version fleshed out and everything in the same clothes as she was currently wearing appeared right next to Xeryth and it waved happily. It only stayed long enough for him to see it and then she called it back and came back to her body with a breath and she stood up.
"Astral projection." she smiled.
|
|