1 ☣ arrival

[freewolfmoon.livejournal.com]

[Lunch is almost over, and cadets are just starting to filter (reluctantly or otherwise) back to their classes when a distinctive newcomer walks in from the front gate. Take your pick of what makes him so distinctive: the spiky black armor and huge sword slung across his back, the tense scowl, or the pointed ears. He moves slowly at first, with a tension-filled caution, but picks up speed as he makes his way into the lobby. In one hand he holds a course catalog--at a slight distance from his body, as if he finds it distasteful. He finally stops not far from the directory.]

Venhidis.

[The foreign word is spat out in a low and bitter voice like the swear it probably is. Then his hand tightens on the course catalog, the sharp claw-like fingers of his gauntlet puncturing it, and with a jerk of his arm he flings it off to the side. But none of the tension leaves his body, and when he strides forward to scan the directory, he continues to glower.]

They do not lie, I see. Their Garden even spreads out like a wheel, the better to crush the weak beneath it.

[Fenris is rarely in a good mood, but the past few days of acclimatizing to this new world, learning what goes on within it, and resigning himself to accompanying Balamb Garden in its travels have left him more bitter than ever. This is hell, and he is not out of it.]

Comments

[freewolfmoon.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't introduce himself in return yet. Rudeness isn't really his top worry here.]

You don't think it's bad.

[greeneyedmecha.livejournal.com]

[...Okay, add one to the 'like Auron' list then]

It could be worse. They could be total jerks about everything, but they're letting us stay here. Yeah, we have to take a bunch of boring classes but honestly, free food kind of trumps the whole "military life and classes are not really my thing"...thing.

[freewolfmoon.livejournal.com]

And all they ask in return is that you offer their demons lodging in your mind and serve them with your new magic.

[Anger flashes over his face at that last word like it's a hand pulling a trigger.]

Yes, I would have to be entirely unreasonable to object.

[greeneyedmecha.livejournal.com]

[...Huh. Someone who doesn't like magic? That's new. A headshake]

I'm not using those Guardian thingies, no way. I don't think it's actually required that you use 'em, just learn about them. I mean, I'm taking classes to learn about the machina here, and machina and magic don't mix. [A face] It just ends in explosions.

[freewolfmoon.livejournal.com]

Then you have more sense than some.

[A brief pause. Apparently that revelation makes her worthy of knowing his name--]

I am called Fenris.

It usually ends in explosions. What about this machina makes it so special?

[greeneyedmecha.livejournal.com]

Oh, machines. Machina's just what I call machines. Hela du saad oui, Fenris!

[freewolfmoon.livejournal.com]

[He considers that for a moment.]

What?

[greeneyedmecha.livejournal.com]

[She winces.]

I gotta stop doing that. That was in Al Bhed, sorry. I just 'nice to meet you'.

[freewolfmoon.livejournal.com]

Ave adque vala.

[Almost Latin, but not quite; not that Rikku would know the difference. It's also not exactly the same meaning. He's not really the sort of person who says "nice to meet you" in any language.]

[greeneyedmecha.livejournal.com]

[Blinking]

Okay, what language was that in?

[freewolfmoon.livejournal.com]

Tevinter.

[greeneyedmecha.livejournal.com]

Is that where you're from?

[Completely innocent. Like she knows that Tevinter = bad]

[freewolfmoon.livejournal.com]

[He is the one who used the phrase in the first place, so he's not going to fly off the handle at her question. But his voice is rather flat as he responds.]

For a time.

[greeneyedmecha.livejournal.com]

[...Yeah, he reminds her a lot of Auron. She just nods, though]

D'you need any help finding places or anything? I haven't been here long, but I've gotten lost enough times to sort of figure out where everything is.

[freewolfmoon.livejournal.com]

[He pauses. Proud or not, he has no idea where to go. The directory shows him the layout of Garden, but beyond that it's of minimal use.]

Where is A226?

[greeneyedmecha.livejournal.com]

[Rikku goes over to the directory and points to a spot]

We're here.

[She traces a path to the boy's dorms]

And the dorms for guys is here! I think 226 is on the second floor.

[freewolfmoon.livejournal.com]

[His gaze follows the path she traces.]

Thank you.

[greeneyedmecha.livejournal.com]

Not a problem! Now, if I don't go now I am probably gonna end up late for class, so I better go. See ya, Fenris!

[freewolfmoon.livejournal.com]

Farewell.

[He glances after her as she goes, momentarily curious and thoughtful, but soon enough the scowl is returning and he's back to his usual brooding.]