First Meeting, Second Words (Closed)

[Alastin]

((Continued from First Meeting, First Words))

Thalomin was walking the large halls beside the young woman he had only met a half an hour ago at the training grounds. Like himself she was a summoner though they were both focused on different aspects where she was a master summoner of elements he was only a dark summoner. Still the first conversation was rather successful and she had agreed to go with him to the cafeteria. This was very good indeed to have met a fellow summoner on the first day and she was such a lovely one at that. He gave a small smile to himself as he looked at her walking along beside him. He had no summons with him at the moment and he wasn’t sure if her Phoenix was going along with them not that he minded since the bird had shown no hostility at him yet. He shifted for a moment and paused seeing a board announcement about a ‘Prom’ not something you would ask someone that you only recently met but, perhaps he would go there so he could learn more about the area.

After all information gained is always a profitable reason to go attend something that you would normally stay at home and try to ignore. Social gatherings also show a more interesting and often amusing side of people…

“I appreciate you coming along with me Ziare I did not want the conversation to end but, the artic part of the training grounds was not exactly the best place to carry a conversation on,” Thalomin said with a small smile at her as they soon entered the large cafeteria and he got in line with her getting a large salad and a pot of hot tea with a couple mugs as well as a cold bottle of water. The extra mug was for her so that they could split the tea since a pot was a bit too much for a single person. He walked over to a table with her and sat down gracefully enough his hood still thrown back.

“So to pick up where we left off at the training grounds tell me about the academy even throw in your own favorite spots that you like to visit. This is not exactly a place that’s easily explored in a couple of days and I feel that hearing it from someone else is my best bet,” he poured the mugs of hot tea adding creamer and sugar to his stirring it in lightly as he watched her with his pale white eyes.

[Ziare]

They entered the cafeteria a place that Ziare had been frequently since she had come to the academy. He ordered a salad for himself and a large pot of tea. Two mugs came as well and together with their things they made it to a small two person table in the back of the cafeteria.

"Geez, what ever happened to the easy questions like.. what is your dogs name? Or what music do you like?" she chuckled shaking her head as she accepted the mug of tea from him.

She took a sip. It seemed that a lot of tea got drank here at the academy. Mages seemed to think it was the drink of choice apparently. She sipped it a bit more before adding some sugar. She had a sweet tooth a mile long and this was gonna help her out.

"Well, my favorite places are the balcony, the garden, and the courtyard. Those are basically where I spend my time. Easy places to find me when I am not in class. I'm a very out doors kind of girl so I tend to be outside a lot. As for the school itself I think it's amazing. Anything and everything you want is here. We have a wide variety of teachers and staff that make life intersting. Lots of classes to attend but only if you want. There are missions to go on and large battles we all participate in. It is hectic at times but it is usually really fun. It's also safe here and I think that means a lot to us." she said

"So tell me about your family." she said as she took another sip of her tea.

[Alastin]

“Those questions would work well if you had a dog but, from what I’ve seen and heard you have plenty of summons and a Phoenix neither of which are exactly normal question material so to speak. As for music well we will get to that one set of questions at a time you know,” he replied as he watched her had sugar to her own tea and gave a small grin at her doing that.

“Glad I’m not the only one that needs to add things to the tea so it doesn’t taste so bland.” Thalomin added with a grin as he turned his attention to listening to her response to his own question and was both surprised and pleased that she was an outdoors type of person not one of those people who insisted on snuggling up in some cramped up indoors area. Good yet another thing that was notched in the positive mark about her as he listened to her speaking of the academy in general. His brows did shoot up when she mentioned missions and battles now that was interesting indeed he thought the Academy had sounded like a little spot for teen romances to flare about and make him puke but, he had obviously underestimated this place having not really concerned himself with the major history of the world. He shifted his attention to her eyes those beautiful blue-crystalline eyes that would instill fear in many if she decided to take a darker tint.

Something that would no doubt look good on her especially with that dragon of hers to appear menacing and threatening to anyone that threatens his bond-mate. Ah the joys of planning for the future.

He paused in mid-bite when she asked about his family surprised that such a question would be asked but, it was only fair since she already talked about her family.

“To be honest I didn’t really have a family, the village where I was born had switched to a collective raising of children since not everyone was suited to be parents mine from what I know were both fairly young only fifteen when I was born. In a way I could say that the generation of youths that I was raised with were like family but, that’s it. When I turned seven I was taken on by a group that protected the village and skimmed off any children that had magic potential that could be trained. I was selected that time being the only one that had any potential currently. I consider my master more of a fatherly figure then anything else even if he was a tad insane due to how deeply he delved into black magic.”

Thalomin replied as he sipped his own tea again and leaned back in his chair thoughtfully tapping his fork before taking another bite of salad.

“To answer an earlier comment about music I have no favorite in music yet but, recently I have taken a liking to classical and other music that’s tasteful and not pointless. What about you? Favorite music for one and let’s go with say what your main hobby is.”

[Ziare]

The fact that he hadn't really had a family had really shocked Ziare. She knew that some didn't have one parent or the other. Heck hers though she loved them weren't even real. But to not have a mother or father figure at all was a bit scary to her. She hoped her children would never have to go through that again.

"Hmm as for music I pretty much listen to classical. I don't really like the fads because they come and go and never really try to make their music mean much of anything. But I find that classical artists tend to see the music they play as Chopin or Motzart. They strive to be the next classical master and I think it makes their playing better." she admitted as she sipped her tea.

"And for hobbies. Well mainly I read. I love magic and I've pretty much read everything the library here has to offer on the history and origins of magic." she admitted. "So.. yeah I read a lot. I also like to go on long walks in the woods and shopping in the city. I can't say as though I have a really artistic or oppulent hobby just a normal girl I guess." she shrugged.

"Now what are your hobbies and give me how you got your first summon." she said with a smile.

[Alastin]

He saw her look of shock and concluded that the way that he was raised was not a normal thing in fact abnormal and inhumane by the way her reaction to that was. Well now that was an interesting reaction that he hadn’t expected out of her. Best of all she didn’t’ try to give one of those ‘sob’ crap things of how he should have had a better life and how it wasn’t fair that he didn’t have a family life. That in itself was bullshit coming from people he in fact didn’t care life was life and not everyone had it laced in gold or silver some people had to take on the hardships to balance for the happiness and peace that others experienced and took for granted. Thalomin was just one of the ones that had to endure the hardships bless Confucius for the common sense that the man expressed in all of that. He turned his attention listening to her hobbies and was mentally relieved that she wasn’t one of those ‘artsy types’.

Good very good, Ziare has defiantly gotten full marks in my book so far except for the fact that she needs to have a little bit of corruption. Well I guess I have my work cut out for me but, it’s a worthy undertaking.

He listened on as she told him about her habits of going on long walks and reading and even the fact of what she liked to read an added bonus when you were trying to get to know someone. He leaned back in his seat and blinked once when her next questions were fired at him and speared a bite of chicken and wolfed it down before he took a sip of his now cooled off tea that he hadn’t finished.

“Well hobbies, huh, I guess my major hobby would be reading and working on sketches to keep my fingers nimble and quick. Besides it’s a good idea to be good at art for me since a good deal of the dark arts require an artistic talent in order to have the chance to gain any grasp on them. Now my summon…”

He tapped his fingers into the table. “I can’t say I had an easy time learning how to summon the Hellfire Salamanders and yes I can summon multiple ones at a time with my current ability. My master was as I said relatively mad and crazy but, had a strong desire to impart and pass on as much of his knowledge as possible designating the heir namely me. They are not exactly friendly beasts and with demons you have to have a strong personality to intimidate them and make them easier to control when fighting with them. Needless to say the thing nearly killed me since I was barely strong enough to summon it and was a tad weakened. They’re very good at sensing weakness and it took advantage of it I having to fight it until it finally and grudgingly acknowledged me as its master.”

He shook his head. “Dark magic and summoning is not a pretty thing but, the rewards after all the hard work and setbacks is sometimes worth it. How a person applies that power after he or she acquires it decides who they are.” He looked into her eyes with his pale white ones.

“So next question hmmmm I guess I’ll go with who your favorite author is assuming of course you read outside of magic.” He said with a smile.

[Ziare]

She smiled at his hobbies. They were so normal. Reading and sketching. For some reason it wasn't what he looked like his hobbies would have been. Maybe sicking salamanders on unsuspecting individuals or maybe carving his initials in the walls of the academy she wasn't sure.

"Well you'll have to show me a sketch sometime. I love drawings. I met a student here once that drew the academy for me and it was amazing. It's framed and in my room. Anyway, you have to show me or I'll sick a summon on you, and don't think I wont." she joked with him playfully.

She thought about his next question. It was really much harder than the favorite places at the academy question. She thought about it while she put her tea cup now empty down and leaned back in her seat. She pulled a locke of her hair forward over her shoulder and began running her fingers through it as she tilted her head to the side slightly thinking about it.

"I would have to say if I had to pick just one, which I'll tell you is just an evil question by the way, I would pick Melody Cathcart. She writes the most amazing fiction. You really feel like you can step into the worlds you are reading about and just live right there in them. It's amazing I think." she said. "What about you?" she asked.

"And how about throw in what you like to do for fun." she said with a smile.

[Alastin]

He was obviously surprising her like she had been doing to him and almost gave a smile he hadn’t been lying at the same time he hadn’t been telling everything then again that wasn’t something you told to someone on the first meeting. Unless of course the meeting was going fairly well but, Thalomin would save the deeper stuff after he had time to work on her bit by bit and moment by moment. She was obviously an intelligent person so he couldn’t just use a dark speech charm on her. This meant that he had to think outside the box and slowly plan out what he said and did. That of course just made the challenge and the reward a more worthwhile effort as he watched her listen not surprised that he had to fight his summon in order for it to respect him as its master. Now that was very interesting how she had been reacting on some of the things as he heard her ask him for a sketch one of these days and he almost chuckled.

Sick a familiar hmmmm? That actually sounds like an interesting endeavor provided of course that I get to watch the results and not be the results. More importantly it would be more interesting if she did it for my sake.

He heard her name Melody Cathcart one of the rising and more prominent fiction authors that the world had seen today even he had been impressed. She was a writer that very accurately detailed her surroundings and backgrounds in which her characters went through in some ways rivaling Stephen King in the ability to create suspense.

“Good choice I was especially impressed with her ‘Dragon Caller’ series that she finished off last year the ending well worth reading through the entire series. A part of me did wish that it was longer then five books though.” Thalomin said with a smile as he leaned back in his seat. “Hmmm my favorite that is a tough question Melody Cathcart is exceptional but, I am a diehard fan of Tom Clancey’s books. He makes the non-magical world look so lively and interesting.”

He heard her question on fun and blinked for a moment.

“Huh I guess playing strategy games like Chess or Go would fill out my fun since it allows me to clear my head and actually sit down and think while I play the game. Rather relaxing as well no doubt about that. Hmmm same question and as a bonus did you ever want to have a puppy or a kitten?”

[Ziare]

"Tom Clancy? Well he's allright I suppose but he's just not my type of author. I'm more of a fantasy girl myself. I mean I know I have my very own dragon and all but I still like to read about them." she admitted with a chuckle.

She stole a piece of chicken from his salad since he didn't offer and ate it with a smile on her face. She thought about his next questions so very easy really thankfully. She decided to make him wait for a few minutes as she let her hair fall back over her shoulder once again.

"For fun I like to go dancing, movies, shopping, walks out in the nature, I like going on trips, camping, and so forth and so on. I"m an active girl." she giggled and tucked her hair behind her ears.

"As for dogs and cats. I want both but if I had to pick one I'd say puppy. They have so many good features. Loyal and so forth." she said with a shrug. "And you puppy or kitty? And throw in what is something you've always wanted to try but have never done yet?" she asked curiously.

[Alastin]

He gave a small throaty chuckle as she stole a bite of his chicken but, he didn’t mind at all as he watched her eat it with one of those ‘hah I got a piece’ sort of smiles that made her look cuter for a moment. He wanted to give an open laugh at it but, she was talking and it would be rude to interrupt her talking as he listened to her speak and added quite a number of hobbies and things that she liked to do to keep her occupied. He almost blinked at the size of the list but, was glad that she kept herself active rather then kept herself in one spot and acted in total boredom. So again another positive checkmark for her as she admitted that she wanted both of them and not just one but, chose puppy as the slight favorite and gave a nod at her. This time however, when she finished speaking he speared a bite of chicken and fed it to her so she wouldn’t feel the urge to swipe another piece of chicken while she was talking. Or at least delay the next thievery.

Not that I mind. It makes her look more mischevious and naught when she did it right in front of me so casually heh man oh man.

“Hmmm to be honest I’m more of a cat-person while I like dogs for their loyalty and dedication to their companions I like the independence and intelligence that a cat offers and they are very good at sensing a person’s needs. Since they always seem to come to you when you’re in the worst of moods and just give you that perfect little purr or nuzzle to lighten up your mood.” He said as he leaned back in his seat and considered the next question now that was a tricky one.

“Huh…good question actually one that I never really gave thought to. I guess one thing that I’d like to do is explore one of the ancient temples in Egypt I once read that there were some powerful summoners in that land and the magic in general just intrigues me.”

He said thoughtfully as he turned his eyes to meet hers once more.

“Same question for the first one and the secondary one would be to name your absolute most favorite sweet-tooth craving item.”

[Ziare]

Her brows raised as he began to feed her a piece of the chicken from his salad. She smiled and took it though she took his fork from him and fed herself before she gave it back. Feeding her was a bit romantic they had only just met and aside from that there were no romantic feelings between them.

"Well I would like to travel. See places like Japan, America, but most of all I'd like to go to Antartica. See the penguins and the ice shelf. Maybe some of those little islands in the middle of the ocean. Places like that. I think it would be amazing to learn different languages and maybe see other kinds of magics." she said with a bright and distant look in her eyes as if she was actually seeing these destinations in her mind.

"Ooo easy answer to that. Cookie dough. You cannot make something that tastes as good as pure cookie dough. I swear. Cookies are great and all but the dough.. oh my so much better. Give me a spoon full of that and I'm in heaven. But if you want to really go to town. You put your cookie dough in your icecream of choice and you'll drop straight into a sugar coma." she smiled.

"So now to you." she said grabbing another piece of chicken with that look he seemed to enjoy as she chewed. "Sweet tooth's desire and favorite munchie!"

[Alastin]

He gave a small smile as he watched her accept it and then almost gave a small chuckle as she took the fork from him and gave a mental nod. She didn’t mind it seemed but, from the way she just took his fork she preferred feeding her unless it was something else he wasn’t very sure of yet. After all they had only just met but, then she spoke again and her eyes almost took on a distant look as she began to list the major places that she’d like to go and almost gave a smile over that. Japan and America sounded interesting enough but, his attention was really caught when she mentioned Antarctica Then she mentioned the islands in the middle of the ocean and the fact that she wanted to experience different magic and learn different languages as he gave a nod and leaned back in his seat once again. He gave a broad grin when she mentioned cookie dough and ice cream two excellent choices in his opinion.

“Hmmm in regards to Antarctica how about we plan for a trip down there like maybe this weekend it is a land that I wouldn’t mind exploring and experiencing first hand. Plus it’s the daylight months down there so we would be able to see the penguins more easily and not have to worry as much about predators ambushing us if we wanted to explore by ourselves without some grump scientist getting in the way of things.”

He leaned back for a moment and saw she swiped yet another bite of chicken and finally gave a small and deep laugh.

“Hmmmm for the sweet-tooth factor it would defiantly have to be a hot fudge sundae with brownies under it. Hits my sweet-tooth perfectly and I could just want to groan in the satisfaction of it all. As for munchies well hmmm I think I’d honestly have to say that it would be crackers with something like meat or cheese with them. Addictive little buggers.”

He shifted forward.

“Favorite munchies and what do you want to do after this?”

[Ziare]

Ziare leaned forward her hair falling down over her shoulder as she smiled brightly. This quiz thing was actually really fun. She poured them both another cup of tea before she sweetened hers up once more. She sipped it as she thought about the last question he asked.

"Well popcorn for munchies no doubt about that. You just can't get much crunchier and tastier than that. And besides think of all the things you can add to popcorn. To make it even better. It's like a cracker but so much more fun to eat." she chuckled.

But the next question was definatly an odd one. Something she actually had to think about. And she did while she munched on the very last piece of chicken from the salad. She leaned back in her seat and pulled a long locke of her hair into her lap as she played her fingers through it.

"I think what we should do next is plan our trip to Antartica next weekend. I mean there is much planning to do before fun can be had. And besides, I'm curious as to what you do when camping in the coldest reaches of the earth."

[Alastin]

I can think of a number of things one can do in a cold climate like Antartica; but, they are better left unsaid for the moment since we have only just met my sweet little summoner.

Thalomin thought to himself though he had given a small smile at her munchie factor being popcorn and had to admit that was a good choice. He just gave a small chuckle as she also swiped the last bite of chicken from his nearly finished salad which he had been steadily eating while they worked their way through such an interesting conversation. He was content with the amount of information that he had so casually gotten out of her and decided that since they needed to plan they needed a more informal place to work. A place that was more out of the way from prying eyes in case things got a tad close during the planning and he wanted to take advantage of it. He shifted his gaze to watching her hair once more but, decided to save a hair compliment for later. After all compliments were better when they were furhter apart.

At least that's how it should be the over-romantic saps that the writing community promotes makes me puke...why can't one of the lovers just die you know through a curveball rather then make it happily ever after...

"Mmmm popcorn is a good choice given how much you can do with it but, I'm more of a nacho person myself especially when you break out one of those layered dips. You can make a meal out of that that your doctor won't freak over if you know what you're doing," Thalomin said with a teasing small smile at her as he tapped his fingers against the table.

"Hmmm then perhaps we can meet at my dormitory room unless the library allows us to bring munchies into the place. Of course we can always sneak them in," he said with a smile at her. "We'll need to get our hands on an atlas to plot a route out, make a list of the supplies and gear that we'll need to get from town, and of course discuss the things we wish to see while down there."