Arkasel Redfield
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Science.... Not Always The Answer
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Post by Arkasel Redfield on Dec 22, 2010 4:13:42 GMT 10
The duo's conversation had fallen into apologies for different actions and inability to keep the talking going, neither it seemed able to think of something to say as they gave their own reasons. Adelaide added further to herself as she told him usually she was good at the talking deal but broke off mid way of saying a reason why that seemed to explain itself. He nodded to agree for a moment before asking if she was ok, deciding she was worth throwing his rules out the window for her since she had risked so much on him.
She went quiet for a moment with a frown still looking at the floor before breaking from it and looking up with a forced smile and telling him not to worry about her. When she rubbed her shoulder but he suddenly understood how the nervous twitch worked and how many times he'd done it before, betrayed by his own body language and it seemed it had done the same to her. ”You sure? First year in boarding tends to hit most students hard” he replied, genuinely curious as to if she was ok and if there was anyway he could help since she'd done the same for him.
The fact it hadn't been to hard for him had been that he had nothing to leave behind other than his family when he came to the school and even they seemed not to care to much. No friends meant no goodbyes and he saw his mother and siblings during summer and even then they didn't notice to much with his silence. That and being used to solitary situations meant that few to no friends was nothing new, it was just the same thing with better labs and libraries.
But eventually the girl looked back up again to him with a sigh and a smile spread once more as her hand dropped to the side and she told him she wasn't strong enough to break a beaker barehanded so her history was best avoided. It made him a little embarrassed as he looked to his hand and placed it behind his back, keeping it out of sight as he nodded. ”I guess so” he replied back quietly with a nod as she poked him in the arm gently.
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Adelaide Peyroux
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Post by Adelaide Peyroux on Dec 25, 2010 19:04:44 GMT 10
When Arkasel asked if she was okay, Adelaide was touched. It was sweet that someone who seemed to have very deep trust issues would care enough to ask a girl he’d just met something that could possibly result in an intense conversation. Luckily, she wasn’t the type to voluntarily offer up her emotions, especially if they were ones she was ashamed of, so she said she was fine. It only made things worse when Arkasel commented that boarding for the first time was always the hardest.
“I’d assume so. I’m fine.” She replied, suddenly feeling a little awkward. She continued on to make a small joke at Arkasel’s expense, commenting that she wasn’t strong enough to break a beaker. She felt a little bad when he put his bandaged hand behind his back and mumbled in an embarrassed manner.
Adelaide breathed out, with a wry smile, and reached around Arkasel’s body. She took hold of his wrist and pulled it back in front of him. “It was a joke.” She said, gently, before taking a second of silence to think. “Can I see you again sometime soon?” Adelaide blushed slightly, prepping herself to say something embarrassing, but forced a confident voice. “Truth is: I think you’re great. Maybe we could do this again sometime?”
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Arkasel Redfield
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Science.... Not Always The Answer
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Post by Arkasel Redfield on Dec 25, 2010 20:55:09 GMT 10
Adelaide seemed a little off which prompted Arkasel to ask if she was ok, something he usually had a rule against since it lead only to hellish trouble. But she'd risked it with him and he'd be damned if he didn't offer the same back to her, but she went against it as she told him that she was ok. He added after but that he knew the first time in boarding was tough, he'd seen so many students break down in tears from it and some crash and burn. But Adelaide didn't seem like the kind to break so easily, she was a fighter but if he could help in any way after she'd helped him out like this he'd be sure to do so.
She told him that she was fine after assuming that he was right, but she went back to her chirpy self and joked about being unable to shattered a beaker with a single hand like he had. Just another reminder of how he had messed up that night and lost control, he was ashamed but glad at the same time he didn't have a repeat of what had happened last year when he was sixteen reaching seventeen. He instantly moved the hand behind his back and mumbled in agreeance about it, the shame rising once more about what he had done and only realising now he'd need a cover story for it on the Monday.
He was still looking to the floor unable to make eye contact before he found his hand being tugged back out by the girl to his front. She told him it was a joke and it took him a few moments of silence to nod. ”... I'm still not proud of it but” he replied quietly as he clenched the fingers slowly and softly to make sure they where still limber. Yet a moment later the girl spoke again, this time asking if she could see him again soon to which he looked up a little confused.
It took her a few seconds of awkward silence afterwards before she spoke again and continued that she thought he was great and hoped they could do it again sometime soon. ”The drinking, talking or losing self control?” he asked back after a moment with a weak smile. ”I think you're great to... I'd love to do it again, a thousand times better than doing it alone” he said a moment after, feeling a little more relaxed now about things
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Adelaide Peyroux
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Post by Adelaide Peyroux on Dec 25, 2010 22:46:59 GMT 10
Adelaide felt bad that she had so readily made a joke at Arkasel’s expense, even if she thought he was taking it a little too seriously. He put his bandaged hand behind his back, but she pulled it back around and told him it was a joke. The taller boy flexed his fingers, testing their movement and commented that he wasn’t proud of the way he acted.
Adelaide laughed a little at the absurdity of Arkasel’s attitude. “Come on. Everyone’s done something they’re not proud of. In fact, some of us have done very adventurous and stupid things that they aren’t proud of.” She thought for a second, before smiling to herself. “Honestly, I had fun fixing you up. I haven’t played nurse since I left home.”
After a minute or so, the redhead went quiet, before asking if they could do it again sometime. She enjoyed herself that night, and wanted to see him again, and soon. Arkasel didn’t speak for what seemed like forever, and for a second, Adelaide felt that she’d said the wrong thing again, but when he smiled and made a little joke, she smiled back.
“All three at once. Who needs self-control, right?” The Louisianan said, raising an eyebrow with a grin. “I sure don’t.”
Arkasel confirmed that he thought well of her too, and said he’d had fun, to which Adelaide smiled a little. “When are you drinking next? Hopefully I won’t get so knocked back by the booze next time. I might take your advice on mixing it with something, at least until I get a little sloshed and forget the taste.”
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Arkasel Redfield
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Science.... Not Always The Answer
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Post by Arkasel Redfield on Dec 26, 2010 0:57:31 GMT 10
Adelaide was doing her best to make the situation a little more light hearted after everything that had happened by joking about the beaker. Except that she struck a nerve on Ark, the fact that he was usually dependant on his ability to keep control as a definition of himself when he lost that he felt like he was turning into his father. But she pressed on to try and make him feel better by telling him it was a joke and when he told her he wasn't proud of it she went further telling him everyone had things like it and that some had done adventurous ones.
Telling him that she had fun fixing him up made him give a weak guffaw as he shook his head. ”Well I'm glad my slip brought at least a moments good” he replied quietly as he still looked at the floor, the silence encroaching for a minute before the redhead asked if they could do it again sometime and that she had wanted to see him again. It took him a stunned moment to react and look up to her, making a minor joke and a small grin that had required no enforcement.
She replied back of all three and asked who needed the self-control with a cheeky grin and eyebrow. *You have no idea how much...* he thought to himself with the weak grin still there as he nodded to her. Then came the question of when he was next drinking and that she'd take his advice to mix it and not get plastered from it. He took a moments careful consideration to reply, the truth being that it was in two days that he'd be doing I again but he didn't think she'd think to highly of him if he told her that.
”I'd say probably sometime next fortnight, have to be careful with the supplies so they don't notice” he replied with a nod. ”And that may be an idea, pure alcohol also gives you a killer hangover if you're not used to it or failed to mix it” he added after.
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Adelaide Peyroux
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Post by Adelaide Peyroux on Dec 26, 2010 2:06:57 GMT 10
Adelaide felt a little bothered by the fact that Arkasel had taken her joke seriously, but she decided that it must’ve been too early for jokes. It seemed that he was still a bit of a puzzle, and though he seemed strong, or thick-skinned, it was possible that it wasn’t the case, similar to the way she was believed to be confident in herself at all times. From their time together, it was obvious that it wasn’t the case, and it was possible for Adelaide to get embarrassed and feel ashamed.
She bowed her head slightly, and brought her hand up to rub the back of it, feeling like a complete bitch. “Sorry Ark.” She mumbled. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
When she had finally felt like she could speak again, Adelaide asked if they could do the night again, to which her companion asked what part of the night, the talking, drinking or losing of self-control. The redhead lightly confirmed all three, jokingly asking who needed it, to which he nodded, but looked incredibly uneasy. Adelaide tried to shrug off the sinking feeling she was suddenly digging herself into a hole again. He continued on to say he probably wouldn’t be drinking again for a fortnight or so, making the redhead feel a little disappointed.
“Seriously?” She said, before she could think about a decent reply. Her voice mirrored her disappointment, as well as the way she linked her fingers together and twisted them around a bit. “I s’pose it serves me right for making jokes at your expense, right? I guess I’ll go back to my usual way of getting through the night: wandering around the second floor in the dark til I get tired enough to fall asleep.”
Feeling like a bit of an idiot, the redhead continued on to mention that she should probably come prepared to their next meeting, so as not to get effected by the awful taste. The taller boy replied that a terrible hangover would be in action for those not used to the purity, or having failed to mix it. With both of these being the case for Adelaide at that point, she sighed at the idea of having to face the girls in her dorm the next morning, hoping that she could ask Angie for some of her pain killers and pass it off as the ache in her shoulder.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She thought for a moment, and rocked back on her heels. “You were right by the way. It is hard boarding here, but not because of home-sickness. I just feel really out of place. Like someone like me just doesn’t belong in a place like this.” She didn’t say any more on the matter, and didn’t expect Arkasel to either. He seemed awkward enough by just asking her if she was okay, and she preferred it that way. It was clear that Adelaide was fine at nursing other people, but hated to be nursed herself.
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Arkasel Redfield
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Science.... Not Always The Answer
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Post by Arkasel Redfield on Dec 26, 2010 6:51:01 GMT 10
The conversation had taken a dip again as Adelaide looked after making her joke of being unable to break a beaker and Arkasel staring at the floor in his usual morbid mood. Taking her hand back from him she looked to the floor rubbing it and apologising and saying she didn't mean it seriously. It made him give a weak sigh as he shook his head, ”I know, sorry. It's not your fault, Still not used to the whole fun and joking thing” he replied as he shook his head gently to reinforce that she had nothing to apologise for.
She asked if they could do it again and he tried to make a joke back that made her seem to cheer up a little as she returned the humour. He replied back that it would be within the next two weeks to which Adelaide voiced her disappointment with a quick yelp. Once he'd mentioned the reason for it she mentioned it serving her right for joking at him and that she'd take a new way of getting to sleep. Well now the guilt hit him like a steam train and he gave a weak sigh ruffling the hair on his neck gently.
”Well... I do have a bit left over from last week...” he replied, feeling he owed her that at least before warning her of the hells of the hangover from the alcohol without diluting to which she said she'd keep him in mind. She spoke a moment after as she agreed that boarding was hard but not because of home sickness. The Louisianan explained it that she felt like she didn't belong at the school which pulled a pang at him that made him note that he wasn't the only one feeling out of place at the school.
He was silent for a minute as he bit the side of his tongue, deciding if it was the alcohol or something new making him consider his current course of action. He didn't get a chance to figure it out however as he found himself reaching out with his damaged hand around her shoulder and pulling her in for a one armed hug.
”Believe me when I say I know better than most about that” he replied as he looked down at her with a weak, broken smile. ”Four days... It's not exactly drinking but it is more adventurous which I think would appeal to you” he offered after. He was actually gathering a few samples from the plant life down near the lake but it would be nice to have company again, especially in an environment that would appeal more to the wild girl that the science nerd.
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Adelaide Peyroux
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Post by Adelaide Peyroux on Dec 26, 2010 16:13:22 GMT 10
Feeling like she had run their conversation into the ground, Adelaide glared at the floor, until Arkasel said that he wasn’t used to fun and joking all that much. His words made her smile a bit, and she forced herself to look up at him. “Spend enough time with me and you’ll get used to it.” She said, cheerfully.
If that didn’t cheer her up, his acceptance to meet her again sure did, but she was thoroughly disappointed when he said that it would likely be two weeks before he was drinking in the lab again. She replied with her honest idea that it served her right for making jokes at his expense, which made him mention that he had some alcohol left over from last week. Adelaide remembered during their first meeting in the music room how he was drinking out of a bottle. At the time she didn’t think much of it, but that was probably what he meant.
The redhead shook her head, gently, and looked up at him. “I have trouble sleeping, but I could probably get something from the infirmary if I had to.”
It was then that Arkasel warned her of the effects that the alcohol can have, to which Adelaide said she would watch out for, before finally admitting that it was definitely hard for her to board here, and that he called it exactly right. Her outburst seemed to render him silent for a moment, during which the redhead just stood and watched as he suddenly snaked his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close. Adelaide’s took a quick breath out of surprise before she realised that he was holding her, and how good it felt. She looked up to find the taller boy looking down at her, speaking words of comfort, telling her that he knew how she felt. It was surprising, but he was smiling the same broken smile he had before, when she couldn’t help but hug him, and Adelaide had to focus on trying not to reach up and placing her lips on his cheek. She was mostly surprised at herself, though, being so affected by one scientist boy and his smile.
Adelaide shook herself out of her silly rainbows and sunshine mindset and reminded herself that she couldn’t get too attached to anyone, because as soon as she could, she was going home to see her boys again, and that was all that mattered. She must’ve been standing, silently pondering, for longer than what was comfortable, so to stop Arkasel from letting her go, she rested her bright red head on his upper chest, over where his heart was.
“Thanks Ark.” She said, just barely loud enough so that he could hear.
When Arkasel spoke about meeting again, the Louisianan’s cheer came back. Four days wasn’t too far away, and it would probably be something fun if he had suggested it, even if they weren’t drinking. “Sure.” Adelaide replied, with a shrug. “What are we gonna do? Where and when do I meet you?”
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Arkasel Redfield
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Science.... Not Always The Answer
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Post by Arkasel Redfield on Dec 27, 2010 2:16:13 GMT 10
Adelaide looked down as she apologised for making a joke at his expense and looking as if she felt awful for it. He told her not to worry and blamed himself for it without a sense of humour. She cheered up a little as she told him that if he spent enough time with her he'd get used to the jokes and laughter. He nodded weakly to agree at the idea, unsure really if he ever could since he was often out of place.
When he told her it would be about two weeks before he drank again she seemed disappointed as she said she'd go back to wandering at night to try and get to sleep. It made him feel guilty of the truth that he would in a few days to deal with things and offered that he still had a bit of drink available that he could give to her, a part of the private stash he kept hidden away.
She rejected the offer but and told him she could get something from the infirmary if needed to which he nodded softly, his method was usually the drink or to black out from working endlessly. Normal sleep was just to difficult to manage for him normally since it let the dark memories arise once more in his head. But the conversation turned to the effects of the alcohol soon after as he warned her of the oncoming hangover that came from no experience with the drink
She said she'd keep an eye out for it before admitting that he was right that boarding was hard, it left him silent for a few moments as he felt a pang eat away at him and tried to think of what he was about to do before he did it. However that went out the window as he wrapped his arm around her for a gentle hug, his damaged hand on her arm as he did so and told her that he knew better than most about it. Namely since he didn't have any friends and was often pushing himself away to work excessively meant that his mental health had gone downhill from it all.
She took a few moments to react after breathing out sharply and suddenly, thanking him quietly as she lent her head just over his heart. He offered her another outing but in a few days time and that it didn't involve drink but she'd enjoy it. She agreed quickly with a shrug and asked what it was and when as well as where to find him. ”About half eleven, near the jetty at the beach. I need to grab a few samples for some experiments and... Well it's field work so be prepared to be damp and coated in sand, grass and nature” he replied.
He could do it during the day but he found that at night he always got better samples, more peace and a clearer head working. He assumed she'd enjoy it to and he had a feeling it would probably make the night more entertaining as well.
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Adelaide Peyroux
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Post by Adelaide Peyroux on Dec 27, 2010 16:03:58 GMT 10
When Arkasel pulled Adelaide close to him, she was more than surprised. Seeing as how awkward he acted when she hugged him, she felt her gasp of surprise was justified. It took her a minute or two to register what had happened when she finally laid her head over his heart and thanked him for comforting her. It was rather sweet of him, first to ask her if she was okay, then when she told him she wasn’t to do the only thing that would probably make her feel marginally better. They had already agreed that if there was anything they could say to each other, they would say it, but it just seemed to Adelaide that having the closeness of another person, feeling their warmth, made her remember that she wasn’t the only one who felt awkward and uneasy at times, and out of place most of the time. It was nice.
Adelaide gladly agreed when her companion offered her another meeting, four days away. She was happy to embark on any kind of adventure, regardless of what it was and where, but she still enquired and was told that he wanted to collect some samples for an experiment. He added that it would be dirty work. Holding in her initial surprise from the idea of Arkasel embarking on some sort of late night adventure in the woods, she tentatively disengaged herself from his hold and slipped the lab coat from her pale shoulders.
“Sounds like fun. I can’t wait.” Adelaide said, hanging the coat over the chair that sat behind her and reaching for her own black hoodie. She slipped it on, relishing the feeling of its warmth and turned back to Arkasel with a little grin. “It’ll just be you and me, right?”
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Arkasel Redfield
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Science.... Not Always The Answer
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Post by Arkasel Redfield on Dec 28, 2010 6:27:20 GMT 10
The conversation between the two vastly different students had gone all over the place during the course of the night but further towards the end it had become more brutally honest and risking of personal loss. But when the brave redhead admitted that she was finding boarding tough Arkasel couldn't not help himself from reaching over to give her a hug softly. But it wasn't just for her, it helped him to as it reminded him that he was not the only one to find it tough at the school. Though the main factor as well was that for once he felt like he was worth something for being able to do anything that helped another, that something as simple as a hug could make things better made him feel like for once that he was doing the right thing.
So he also made the offer of the field work a few days later to try and cheer her up after the news of it being near a fortnight before the next drinking session. She asked what it was for and he told her that it was sample gathering which would involve a lot of dirt as a warning. She slipped away and removed the lab coat as she told him it sounded fun and couldn't wait. ”Well I'm not so sure if you'd call it that but I enjoy it rather than during the day with louder students” he replied as he felt the temptation to remove his lenses for the glasses in his pocket grow stronger.
But she asked quickly after if it would just be the two of them to which he nodded as he lifted the coat and headed to the rack to trade it for his own sweatshirt. ”Yes well other than the animals living in the woods” he replied as he hung the coat up and lifted his own sweatshirt and held it over one arm.
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Adelaide Peyroux
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Post by Adelaide Peyroux on Dec 28, 2010 20:01:11 GMT 10
The night, in Adelaide’s opinion, had gone swimmingly. She had met with Arkasel and they had drunk almost all of the lab-made booze, gotten to know each other and she even got to play nurse at one point. She felt comfortable around him, and assumed he felt the same, as he had asked for her to join him on a field experiment. The redhead was excited to go; she loved adventures, especially at night, and hopefully this could help her get over how she felt about not calling her boys back home.
She zipped up her hoodie across her chest and stuck her hands into the pockets. She followed Arkasel, distractedly, over to the coat rack where he switched the lab coat she had just removed with his own sweatshirt as he confirmed that it would be just the two of them, not including the wildlife. Adelaide smiled, excitedly.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you by the jetty.” Adelaide stepped toward Arkasel and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Bye Ark.”
The redhead turned, quickly, and sauntered to the door of the lab, her mind buzzing. She turned back for a second to glance at her friend, before making her way back to the dorm, excited for their upcoming adventure.
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Arkasel Redfield
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Science.... Not Always The Answer
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Post by Arkasel Redfield on Dec 28, 2010 23:14:03 GMT 10
Things had been all over the place that night, going from normal & quiet to drunken laughing, conversation, madness and secrets being let loose. Yet still Arkasel would put it better than any of the other nights he'd been heavily drinking, namely since It hadn't been him alone in the dark with a large beaker of drink. He'd organised another night out for fieldwork to cheer her up from a damper mood and it seemed to work as her spirits lifted and she asked if they'd be alone to which he let her know other than animals they would.
Switching the coat for his sweatshirt off the rack which he threw on quickly with a swift movement. Fixing it and tugging the hood out, Adelaide said it sounded like a plan and that she'd seem him at the jetty. Next thing he knew she'd moved closer and kissed him quickly on the cheek before saying goodbye.
He stood stunned for a moment before turning around to look at her as she left and glanced at him before dashing away to her dorm. He took a moment before rasing a hand up to his eyes and quickly removing his lenses which where tossed into the bin. Midway through he burst into a quiet laugh but as he lifted his glasses from his pocket and slipped them on. ”Well tonight was.... Interesting” was all he could say with a grin as he quickly cleaned up the lab before flicking his hood up and heading back to his own dorm.
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