New guy

[fishtie]

Machal Terrence stood in the large main entrence and could only stare and wonder. So far the things he had seen in the city had been like he had never imagioned. Now what would the school be like? Most of Machal's apearence was hidden by a large functional travling coat, brown and well used. He held in each hand a large duffle bag.

Then again, forget the school, think of the new life. Never having to hide what he was, not having to play sick every three days because it wasn't safe to bee seen in public. If what he had heard was right then this place was like a mirracle, filled with people who were different and special, filled with people who would understand.

Then again... said a traderous voice in the back of his head. What if they still don't like me? they may be different, but I'm particulerly strange... What if they still don't like me, the'll just know how to hunt me better. Mabey this was a bad idea.

Machal could only stand there and ponder; the good, the bad, the wonderfull, the horible; in other words, the new.

[Eyvindr]

Eyvindr had been doing a lot of crazy stuff recently. First Vichy, then the Dragoons. Today was planned to be more low-key: exploring the floating city of Babylos. He had been here for about a month already, and he hadn't come close to seeing half of the city. Not only was it huge, but he had been... preoccupied.

As he was about to head out, however, he noticed someone just standing. Closer inspection revealed that he was actually staring at the academy with the look of one who had never seen it, as well as that of great thinking. He first thought of passing by, paying them no mind, but thought better of it in a moment. It was probably someone new, and they would need to have the ropes shown to them. Eyvindr changed courses.

Now, once Eyvindr was a decent distance from Machal, one would expect him to speak. But he didn't. At least, not in the usual way. He instead reached out with his mind and touched that of the new student. Then, through this connection he sent a message.

"Hello. Would you happen to be new?"

[fishtie]

Machal had been rather in a world of his own and had failed to see the other coming. When the foreign words touched his mind they completely threw him off. "Bloody... What the?" He franticly looked about searching for the source when his eyes fell on Eyvindr.

"Uh... That wasn't just you now was it?" Machal queried with a confused look on his face.

[Eyvindr]

"It was. Before you say anything else, allow me to explain. I am deaf, and have to communicate like this. If you were unaware, this is called psychism. Oh, and I would suggest just thinking your responses. If I have a mental link, I can 'hear' what you are saying, but you would draw a bit of attention if you seemed to be talking to nobody."

After a small pause, Eyvindr continued.

"My name is Eyvindr. I fairly recently entered the Arcane Academy. What might your name be?"

[fishtie]

'Umm... Ok. Like this?' Machal thaught hard. 'Hmm, well this is a little strange. Still nothing as bad as me.' At this point he was obviously thinking to himself without relizing what was going on. 'Wait a minuet. What if he heard that! You didn't hear that did you?'

[Eyvindr]

OOC: Sorry for taking kind of a while...

IC: "Yes, exactly like that."

Then Eyvindr picked up something else. Probably a wayward thought, but it was a tad unsettling.

"I did hear that. An unfortunate problem with this communication technique. Dare I ask what you meant? I am curious to know what could possibly be stranger than a deaf communicating with telepathy. If you do not wish to part with that piece of knowledge, that is perfectly all right."

Eyvindr was genuinely curious. It was likely a strange condition that could be easily cared for by the Academy, and the chance was next to zero that he would be kicked out of the Academy for it. After all, if this person was a vampire, for exampe, was it really their fault they were an unlucky victim?

[fishtie]

"Hehe, well I guess there's nothing for it. Suppose there's not much point in hideing is there?" Machal said out loud in defeat. Then suddenly a thought came to him that caught his own curiosity. He then switched to the thought communication. 'Wait, if your deaf but you read minds then...' Machal paused for a moment as he tried to figure out how to think what he wanted to think.(?) 'does that mean you know someones deepest thoughts, but if they say something you have no idea what there trying to convey? Like they could keep a secret from you by saying it instead of thinking?' Machal was both a little confused by the conundrum and slightly glad that he had found a way to change the subject without thinking about it... Blast it.

[Eyvindr]

"Aha, you are beginning to question the subtleties. Very good. The truth is, you actively think about what you are saying, as well as what you are listening to. So, if I maintain a mental contact, I am fully aware of what you are saying, but unaware of the speech of oh, say, him..."

Eyvindr casually pointed at someone about 60 feet to his left and a little forward ("10 o'clock").

"...Unless you happened to be hearing it and paying attention to it, in which case I would hear it through your thoughts. Does that make sense?"

Eyvindr paused for a moment, as if to take a breath that he didn't actually need.

"As for the 'Deepest thoughts' part, if I chose to, I could forcibly push my way into your mind and find out most anything that you know, but that is not something that I usually choose to do. Also, I was only trained to use phsychism as I am using it now, with the outer thoughts. Basically, I know what you are actively thinking."

Again, Eyvindr paused, letting Machal comprehend all of that. He then promptly remembered two things.

"Firstly, if you are new, there is a process to be completed and a campus to explore. Secondly, I believe I missed your name..."

[fishtie]

'Hmm... I suppose that makes sense. I never really thought about it before.' Machal mused for a moment. 'Ah, but where are my manners? My name is Machal, Machal Terrence.' Machal extended his hand to his new acquaintance. 'and you said ... thought... announced that you were,' Machal tried to remember the name he had only herd a minute ago. He was quite aware that he probably butchered it a few times trying to get it right and that the mind reader would be perfectly aware.

'...Eyvindr, yes? It must be rather embarrassing at times to have everyone sort of thinking out loud to you all the time. I don't suppose I ever considered how much for granted I took my iner thoughts. You know, if you can't think of anything nice to say, don't say anything at all? I don't suppose that works too well does it?'

[Eyvindr]

"An unfortunate invasion of privacy that I am trying to work on avoiding... But it's hard to know how well someone can focus on a single thought. If I hold back so that I can only hear your very strongest thoughts, you may be unable to produce anything strong enough. It's all very complex, and the only thing I can do in compensation is let you hear mine as well.

"By the way, you did get my name right."

Machal would be able to sense Eyvindr's amusement at the previous attempts to get it right.

"...Eyvindr. Not Yorvineer, Deerviney, or anything like that. Eyvindr. And as interesting as it is to discuss the subtleties of phsychism, you should focus on settling in your new home."

[fishtie]

'Oh. Right, how silly of me. My mind does have a slight tendency to wander. So where does this process begin? I think that I should be ready for the last registration stages unless the letters we sent never got here. Perhaps you would be kind enough to show me around a little. I always did enjoy a good walk.'

[Eyvindr]

Eyvindr nodded.

"Of course. And don't worry: If you sent a letter, they will have received it. That I can say with confidence.

"As for showing you around, we should start with your dorm. Do you know your room number yet?"

Without even waiting for a response, Eyvindr continued.

"If you do, the dorms are this way..."

He began to lead, being sure to keep Machal in sight in case there was something that needed to be done first. Like get a dorm, fill out paperwork... That sort of thing.

[fishtie]

Machal hefted the two duffel bags a little and followed the strange student. Then again, not that strange was a bad thing. If this guy felt comfortable here, maybe Machal could even fit in. Miracles were possible.

Machal followed along at a steady pace and thought as he went. 'Nope, I don't know what room I've been assigned too yet. Any Idea where to find out? I think that there were a few last registration steps that had to be carried out in person, but I can't remember for sure. Never had a great head for processes, you know?' Machal chuckled a little to himself as he let the small confession out.

[Eyvindr]

"Ah, then we want the main office. The turn was back there..."

Doubling back, Eyvindr made down the hallway he had indicated.

"...No, it was that turn. Or was it that one? Damn it."

He smacked his head.

"Excuse me. I'm not exactly an 'oldie' here yet, and if you hadn't noticed, the Academy is gigantic. It's very easy to get lost."

After a few seconds in which Machal would be able to see the routes of the Academy vaguely traced out through his head, Eyvindr came to a conclusion.

"This way."

Going down yet another passage, Eyvindr eventually led to the main office, where there was paperwork for new students to fill out. The whole way, Machal would be seeing the vile thoughts Eyvindr was targeting at the floor planner of the academy.

"Here we are. I'm severing the mental contact now, they ask for some information on those sheets that I think I don't have the right to know yet. Tap my shoulder if you wish to speak."

With that 'said', Eyvindr's presence was gone. Now silent, he sat down in one of the several chairs in the area and waited patiently, thinking about how to get back to the dorms from here, unconsciously fidgeting with his hands, and staring around the room without much purpose.

[fishtie]

'That would be so kind of you.' Machal smiled to himself. What luck to find such a nice fellow on my first day. Machal followed behind Eyvendr a respectful distance and allowed his guide to lead him along. Machal found mild amusement in the lost wanderings and couldn't help smiling a little more.

Machal was intrigued by the map appearing in his head. Though he felt a little guilty doing so he was compelled to compare it to his own. Though his only covered a few corridors while Evyendr's had quite a bit of space the difference in quality was obvious. Evyendr's map appeared almost made in marker, sections were wobbly and many corrections appeared to have been made simply by scratching things out and drawing over them. Machal's map on the other hand was sketched with precise pencil strokes with careful notation in the margins.

But the investigation came to an end as the pair finally found them selfs at the main office. 'Thank you so much.' Machal projected just before the contact was lost. And suddenly, a quickly as it had come, the presence was gone. Machal then turned toward the secretary who was working and began to talk and fill out paperwork. He had already finished a lot, but there was still so much to do.