Li Haneul
Keme
University Junior: Mage
The enemy is nothing but images and illusions. Break the image and you shall break your enemy.
Posts: 85
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Post by Li Haneul on Apr 25, 2010 15:30:08 GMT -5
Haneul spotted the man before Nina did. He stood taller than most of the other students in the hallway, for it was between classes and most of the academy attendees were on their way to the last lesson of the day. Adler was leaning against the wall by the door of his classroom, a light grin playing across his features as he watched the kids.
Haneul approached Adler, keeping close to the wall to keep out of the moderate throng. He kept Nina behind him and, when he got close enough to the TA, said his name.
"Adler Lundgren?"
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Post by adler on Apr 25, 2010 17:43:36 GMT -5
Adler heard his name and turned his head towards the voice. The speaker was a solidly-built Asian male, a few inches shorter than he.
"Yes?" Adler turned to face him fully and raised his eyebrows. Behind the asian's shoulder he caught a flash of blond hair.
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Nina Paem
Keme
Academy Junior: Mage
No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly.
Posts: 427
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Post by Nina Paem on Apr 26, 2010 20:36:53 GMT -5
Nina tipped at the waist to glance around Haneul at this Adler. He was a handsome young man who, as Aramis had said, bore quite a resemblance to her. They had the same pouted mouth and softly-structured nose and cheekbones. There were marked differences, though. Granted, her mother's romantic practices would bring no surprise to Nina if she found out that she and Adler had different fathers.
If they were, indeed, related.
Nina stepped past Haneul to approach the man. "Adler, I was told you were looking for me. My name is Nina Paem-- formerly Lundgren."
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Post by adler on Apr 26, 2010 21:02:46 GMT -5
Adler looked down at her and felt his throat tighten a bit when he heard her speak. It was such a quiet sound. He wondered what had made her voice so rough.
No matter. Adler would learn with time. He felt the corners of his mouth twist upwards, and he took a step forward.
"Hello, Nina," he managed eventually. He paused and gulped. "Um..." He had planned for this. He knew what he wanted to say. But his thoughts were so muddled at finally meeting his little sister that all of his carefully constructed conversation flew from his mind.
"Ah... Well, Nina, it's nice to meet you. As you know, my name is Adler-- also a Lundgren." He held out his hand for a shake. "What you might not know is that I'm your brother."
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Nina Paem
Keme
Academy Junior: Mage
No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly.
Posts: 427
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Post by Nina Paem on Apr 26, 2010 21:12:26 GMT -5
Nina let Adler shake her hand. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a breath upon hearing his news. Okay, so this is what Aramis told her he had suspected. But hearing it from the horse's mouth had a different sort of impact. She didn't know if she wanted to believe it, but the resemblance they shared-- even though Adler was clearly a different ethnicity than she-- made it hard to deny that possibility.
Nina took another focusing breath and opened her eyes.
"I hope you don't think me rude for saying this," she reached discreetly behind her to take one of Haneul's hands, "but is there any way you can prove that you're my brother?"
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Li Haneul
Keme
University Junior: Mage
The enemy is nothing but images and illusions. Break the image and you shall break your enemy.
Posts: 85
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Post by Li Haneul on Apr 26, 2010 21:25:53 GMT -5
Haneul gave Nina's hand a reassuring squeeze. "You're not being rude," he insisted. "You're being safe." He looked at Adler. "Ellie could administer a test. Her magic would make it failproof."
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Nina Paem
Keme
Academy Junior: Mage
No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly.
Posts: 427
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Post by Nina Paem on Apr 26, 2010 21:37:21 GMT -5
Nina shook her head. "I don't want to bother Ellie with this right now." She half-frowned, watching Adler intently. There really wasn't any denying that they looked like each other, and that was odd enough. She was inclined to believe Adler, as well. And it wasn't just for the resemblance. Her mother's relationship habits definitely posed the possibility of something like this happening.
Nina decided that, despite the odds against it, Adler was telling the truth. She didn't know how she knew. "I think," she said, turning her head to smile up at Haneul, "that I believe him."
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Li Haneul
Keme
University Junior: Mage
The enemy is nothing but images and illusions. Break the image and you shall break your enemy.
Posts: 85
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Post by Li Haneul on Apr 26, 2010 21:44:57 GMT -5
Haneul nodded. "That's that, then." He kept his face impassive, though he smiled with his eyes. "You have a brother, Paem-ah."
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Post by adler on Jun 7, 2010 0:41:21 GMT -5
Adler let out a sigh of relief-- without realizing it, he had been holding his breath-- and ran a hand through his hair. He felt his fingers shaking, and put his hands in his pockets.
"Um... So, Nina. Can we talk? I mean, both you and your..." he looked at Haneul and paused, wondering what to call him. "Your..."
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Li Haneul
Keme
University Junior: Mage
The enemy is nothing but images and illusions. Break the image and you shall break your enemy.
Posts: 85
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Post by Li Haneul on Jun 7, 2010 0:55:56 GMT -5
Haneul put his hands paternally on either of Nina's shoulders. He looked Adler in the eye and said, "I'm her family."
This was said in a clam, plain voice, without indication of malice or ill will.
But the challenge behind the words was there.
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Post by adler on Jun 7, 2010 1:34:38 GMT -5
Adler swallowed, blinked, and smiled. "Well, her family is growing then, isn't it? Heh."
He shuffled his feet a bit. "Would you mind at all if I talked to Nina? Alone?"
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Li Haneul
Keme
University Junior: Mage
The enemy is nothing but images and illusions. Break the image and you shall break your enemy.
Posts: 85
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Post by Li Haneul on Jun 7, 2010 1:35:18 GMT -5
Haneul's eyes closed for a moment. "That's Paem-ah's choice."
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Nina Paem
Keme
Academy Junior: Mage
No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly.
Posts: 427
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Post by Nina Paem on Jun 7, 2010 1:49:39 GMT -5
Nina was suddenly feeling shy. Shyness hadn't had any hold over her since the beginning of the school year. It was odd that it had come back with such vehemence.
She wanted to talk with Adler-- curiosity was gnawing at her, as was an odd new sense of duty to be connected with family-- even one she hadn't known about. She had gone so long with only Haneul to call family. The two were closer than twins. Seele was a friend, sure, and Nina felt close with her, but Haneul was the one she went to for everything. Haneul had taken her under his wing when he'd had no motivation to do so; had brought her into his heart, which was guarded by so many walls, and given her a new life to live when she had left her old one behind.
"I want to talk," she said, patting Haneul's hands. "I'll meet with you after the call bell, okay Hannie?" She smiled up at the monk. It was the same smile she had given him before she had gone cliff diving for the first time, and the same smile she had given him before he had gone off to Dunehelden without her.
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Li Haneul
Keme
University Junior: Mage
The enemy is nothing but images and illusions. Break the image and you shall break your enemy.
Posts: 85
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Post by Li Haneul on Jun 7, 2010 1:51:20 GMT -5
Haneul nodded. He ruffled the blonde's hair and said a barely-audible, "Saranghae," before he turned to leave.
"The usual place," he told her as he exited.
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