Vincent had just calmed himself.
Look, you gotta toughen up. You gotta move on.
He noticed a girl come in. She introduced herself.
Another intro… well, I guess that’s one more thing I don’t have to do later.
Vincent reluctantly decided to introduce himself to Nöêl.
“Hey, Nöêl. I’m Vincent.”
He had tried to act normal so the people here wouldn’t notice him so he could be left alone.
“Yeah, we do, Katara. I think we all do.” Anna shot a look at Matt. “Not you. Um…we can try and find something for you when we get there, since we’ll have a little while. Look, if we’re leaving as soon as possible, I have a few things I have to sort out today.” Anna found a way through the improbable number of people in the room to the door. “See you all later.”
Vicent, she thought to herself, was an inadequate name, for this guy really caught her eye. She hoped she wasn’t making herself too obvious… «What classes are you taking this semestre?» she asked with captive interest, trying to make conversation.
Cyril really didn’t want to bring up the subject of m-o-n-e-y, but he finally bit his lip and posed the question. «I’m really sorry, but I’m afraid that I might not be able to afford to go this time, eh?» he asked in such a way as to get around directly asking the cost, which was sort of rude, at least in Dovakhan.
Vincent was thrown off a bit by Noel’s response… or, more accurately, the very fact that she seemed to want to converse further. Something can’t be right here… but I better try acting normal. Last thing I’d want is these guys panicking and getting some whackjobs to pry into my past…
“Oh, geometry, chemistry… just the average classes.”
He wondered about Noel but waited for a response.
Anna shut the door behind her, and went to her own room. It was bright even without the lights, as a large puddle of sunlight had settled into the spot where Katara had been sleeping. Perhaps their places should have been reversed, as Katara never seemed to have any trouble getting up in a hurry, while Anna always did. But she wasn’t there to consider the wisdom of the room layout. She was there to retrieve her completed biology take-home final, which had somehow become lodged in a section of her backpack usually reserved for papers that had been forgotten a month previous, only to be discovered in a fit of panic three weeks after they were due. Still, it wasn’t too crumpled.
Anna decided to try to get some sort of breakfast before heading out, so she went to the kitchenette. Making a beeline for the toast and jam, she simply waved to Noel and Vincent as she went by.
«That’s so interesting» she said sincerely «I’m here mostly to improve my English and get some classes in military strategy». She had heard from her washroom talk of a trip to Liberty City, which sounded terribly exciting. «Hey Vincent, what’s this about a trip to Liberty City? Are you going?» she asked him.
Vincent didn’t really know much about the trip to Liberty City as he had only gotten here not even an hour ago.
“I don’t know much about it, but they are discussing it right now in one of the dorm rooms.”
Vincent didn’t foresee himself going on this trip. I just got here and I doubt they’ll even ask. Let alone the amount of trust… I have trouble trusting this one girl in front of me, let alone the entire group taking me to another country.
Of course, there is the matter of my future military career over there. I think that a visit there would somehow help…
I don’t I’ll go on it… but should I?
“Well, I’m sure we could all pitch in a little, if need be.” Matt offered,glancing around the room for support before looking at Cyril. “Besides, it shouldn’t cost that much. Attendance of the function is free; so long as we don’t mind the bus system, transport around the city is free; and I think I might be able to secure us some rather cheap airfare using my dad. And so long as we’re careful in selecting our hotel, we can probably get a reasonable room rate too. Especially if we don’t mind sharing rooms.”
“As for when we leave,” Matt glanced at the person who had asked, “I think tommorow is the current plan, if at all possible. You’ll all need to check with…whoever you need to check with, of course, and I’ll need to make sure we can get there…one day is short notice for a flight. But, we should be able to do it.”
Karen glanced at Cyril, and then away again. “Sounds like too good an opportunity to miss, and I doubt any of us mind the bus, or would mind pitching in a little, Cyril.”
«Let’s go then» Nöêl said, beckoning Vicent to come with her, brushing up against him as she walked past.
«That sounds perfect. Oh, thank you for you offer, but I think I’ll be just fine» Cyril said confidently. In fact, he was thinking to himself how he was going to have to seriously budget this time. He also pondered temping so he wouldn’t be hurting for money when he got back. Would it be cashier or street sweeper?
Suddenly, Cyril realised he hadn’t called his aunt and uncle. He excused himself to the telephones and dialed their new telephone line. His aunt picked up and they talked for awhile. He told them briefly about the death of his Krech father. Talking about it, Cyril felt so disconnected, this man never had anything to do with him, he was a stranger. His adoptive aunt and uncle were at once surprised and sad for Cyril. They shared a few words and then he hung up.
Vincent followed, still thinking that pretending to be normal would be better than them panicking and calling him insane. What’s up with Noel?
Maybe she’s just this kind of person. But what does she intend to do?
He spoke to Noel to say that he would follow her. “OK.”
Anna watched the two go out as she ate her breakfast. The whole conversation had seemed a bit uncomfortable to her, like each one trying to leave the conversation to the other. But then, she had come to accept that sort of thing, by necessity if nothing else.
After washing her dishes, a chore that actually took more time than using them, Anna grabbed her final and left the building. It was quite bright outside already, although to her dismay there was a strong wind churning up the sea in the distance. No swimming today. As for the grounds, they were surprisingly sparse; while Anna was used to getting up at this hour, most other students had managed to negotiate saner class schedules.
The path to the faculty offices adjoining the Life Sciences was long, convoluted, and interrupted by a very long building whose function was one of those things that Anna kept reminding herself to figure out someday. Unfortunately, upon arriving, she ran up against another problem: Her professor’s office hours started at 9:00, not 8:00. She would have to come up with something else to do in the meantime.
Cyril was walking when he noticed someone he hadn’t seen before with Vicent. He stopped, extending his hand, and greeted them:
«Hello, I’m Cyril Aleksandra Bardaria from Dovakhan, pleased to meet you» he said, deciding to unofficially take his father’s name as a patronymic
Nöêl greeted Cyril in Dovakhanese «Oh, you’re Dovakhanese? So am I! Well, my father is Dovakhanese and my mother is Tokan. Anyway, I’m Nöêl, pleased to meet you» she told him. «Can you help us, we wanted to know about this trip to Liberty City»
Cyril started to respond in Dovakhanese, but he realised that Vicent was there. «Umm… Some of us are planning to take a subsidised airplane voyage to Liberty City to attend a function and spend a few days of our Winter holiday» he finally said. «How about you join me for lunch? I’ve got some vegetable soup on the stove»
Nöêl responded «That sounds perfect!». She glanced at Vicent hoping he’d come too.
Vincent had followed Noel into the room. When Cyril said ‘a subsidized flight’, he had become very interested.
Subsidized? Flights aren’t usually subsidized… Of course, not that I’d be one to know, but still… I think the trip might help my FPS military career.
laugh Military career. What a laugh. It’s not like they’ll follow through with the deal.
VIncent was very curious about this trip now, so he had decided to go along with Cyril. After all, there was no harm to come from taking up the offer.
He replied to Cyril in his still-faked tone and said that he would accept his offer.
After both Anna and Cyril had left, the room had become a little lesser overcrowded and above all, the weight of the still unspoken words between the Dovakhanese and Karen had suddenly disappeared. Glancing at the young girl, Arian hoped the two of them would have been able to find a new equilibrium very soon but in the end, that wasnt his business at all. Stifling a smile, he hugged Katara before turning towards Matt.
«Ok, Matt. Well see if your father will be able to do the miracle. I mean: youll ask him to find enough room for a whole group and cheap airfare Im beginning to wonder who your father is, guy»
Chuckling, the young Cadet smiled towards the girls.
«Very well did you hear the boss? Check with whoever you need to check with, find a suitable dress and pack your things but, first of all, I think we could have breakfast. After all, a long journey is waiting for us, and a cup of coffee at 7 AM is definitely not enough»
Katara kissed Arian, “I will go pack but as for the dress, I don’t have any and need to go shopping. Maybe Lyndale can go get me one, wait now that I think about that, I better go.” Katara sighed, “I don’t even know what kind of dress to get and I still need to pack.”
I am going to look so stupid in a gown.
Karen had felt somewhat relieved when Cyril left the room. It wasn’t that she’d been tense exactly, just not quite at ease. Smiling, she looked at Matt. “Arian’s right. Something to eat, checking in with whomever, and then packing with some shopping if necessary. Thanks, Matt.”
Looking over at Katara she added, “If you give me a couple of minutes to check and see whether or not I brought the dress I hope I did, you may or may not have someone to go shopping with. Arian’s right though. We really should grab something to eat whether we both have to go shopping or not. At any rate, I know I need to. Whatever you decide, I’ll meet you down in our room.”
Letting herself out of Matt’s room, she immediately felt less claustrophobic. Half chuckling, she realised that there really HAD been a lot of them in there. Letting herself into their room, she immediately headed for her closet and started rummaging through it.
Cyril mixed together a crêpe batter and fried the pancakes. He presented a stack of them with class containers homemade apricot jam and hazelnut sauce (Dovakhanese brand, Ûvölâ). Cyril set out the silverware and small bowls for coffee/hot chocolate then sat down with Nöêl and Vicent.
«Mmm… I love Ûvölâ. Thank you Cyril!» Nöêl exclaimed.
«So, Nöêl, I’ve not been to Azûr in a while, what’s new there?» Cyril asked.
«Oh, you mean since Tokana became independent… Uh, not much except they changed street and building signs from Dovakhanese to Tokan or made them bilingual. Oh, bossa nova is in» she added. Then she asked «So, are we leaving tomorrow? How long are we staying?»
«Umm… I don’t know for sure, but like I told you, Matt said he could get us reduced-price tickets to Liberty City. I imagine we’re staying a few days to a week» he said. Then, he looked at Vicent, «Are you planning on coming?»
Katara nodded and watched her leave the room, “She is right, I am a little hungry. I will see if Karen needs any help with anything. I also want to check with Lyndale and see if everything is all set on my parent’s end. I will talk to you all later.” Katara waved as she left the room, keeping her wings tucked in as to not hit anyone on her way out.
Katara came into the room to see Karen rummaging through the closet, Katara cleared her throat to let her know she entered the room and try not to scare her, “Find what you were looking for? I have never worn a gown before, it feels kind of nerve wracking to me.”
Vincent did not know whether he would go or not. For some reason, he wanted to go. Despite his obvious concerns, he still had some sort of internal yearning for travel which he could not explain. He was a little tired of mingling but he knew he had to continue. So he simply replied,“I’m not sure.”
He then ate some of the pancakes.
“Mmm… these are pretty good.”