Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Sept 4, 2009 14:46:20 GMT -5
Aramis sighed, looking around. So many people... why exactly did he have to come to this school? He'd never hurt anyone... his parents hadn't even KNOWN about his powers until he accidently made that tree grow too fast. The accident being choosing a tree his parents knew the age off.
He paused, looking at a small rosebush in the shade of the wall. It looked sickly... he walked over to it, kneeling by it. He lifted a branch, shaking his head. This plant shouldn't be in this shape... there was plenty of sun and rain here, even so close to the wall. He looked around again, not seeing anyone watching. He focused on the rosebush, urging it to grow, to return to green and health and bloom. The plant swelled in reaction, stimulated from sickness into vegetable ecstasy, going from almost black to a bright healthy green with many lush red blooms... in about thirty seconds flat.
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Post by ianharris on Sept 4, 2009 14:57:12 GMT -5
Ian blinked, shook his head, and looked back over at the younger student and the bush. It appeared he was not seeing things again... the bush had actually managed to return to full health in under a minute! Incredible in the outside world, but as Ian was quickly learning, seemingly normal at Dunehelden. This younger student must be a student of necromancy... a speciality that Ian had only heard about. Curious, and having nothing else to do, Ian headed over to the younger student and the rosebush.
"Uh... hello." Ian said quickly. "I couldn't help but notice your... display. Thought it looked like... uh... necromancy. Is that what it was?"
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Sept 4, 2009 15:02:55 GMT -5
"Mostly," he said softly. He picked one of the blooms, smelling it a little. "At least, so they tell me."
He looked up at Ian, cocking his head to the side. "Not used to this stuff, huh? My parents just about had a heart attack the first time they saw evidence of my power. They always thought magic was fake, the product of imagination. Kinda funny... my parents named me after an Elf, but the second something from their books came to life before their eyes, they shoved it away as fast as they could."
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Post by ianharris on Sept 4, 2009 15:12:26 GMT -5
Ian raised his eyebrows. This younger student's story seemed oddly similar to his own. "The first time my power manifested itself, I was too young to remember. My parents used to talk about me grabbing at thin air, as if there were something there... they thought it was cute, up until they realized there was something wrong with me."
Suddenly remembering his manners, Ian offered a limp hand to the younger student. "I'm Ian, by the way. Freshman at the University." His other hand started to shake furiously for reasons that had nothing to do with the conversation, and Ian hastily thrust it behind his back.
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Sept 4, 2009 15:16:13 GMT -5
Ara looked at his hand, smiling a little. "I'm Aramis, but I go by Ara. Junior in the Academy. Age-wise only. I'm far beyond that. Homeschooled most of my life." His face twisted a little, part anger and part... old hurt.
"I was ten... I helped birth a calf on my parents' ranch, and it was stillborn. Sometimes they are born without breathing and a pulse, but a quick pat on the chest brings them back... that wasn't the case with this one, but I just touched it gently and it took a deep breath and started screaming..." he looked away, his eyes distant. "I've saved... about four that way, and two foals. One is my favorite stallion. No one else can even look at him without getting bit, but he's docile as a lamb with me."
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Post by ianharris on Sept 4, 2009 15:21:40 GMT -5
Ian smiled slightly and nodded. "I suppose it's the little joys in life are what makes life bearable..." His smile slipped, and he shrugged his shoulders. "I'm glad you had some." Then, very softly, he muttered "I didn't."
The hand shaking had gotten worse. Ian brought his other hand back and gripped the shaking hand tightly, trying to make it stop with physical force. It wasn't working...
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Sept 4, 2009 15:23:44 GMT -5
Ara stood up, looking at him in concern. He took his hand, looking it over. "Ian... what is wrong?" he asked softly. He had a hint of healing ability... maybe he could help. Necromancy helped with that sometimes.
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Post by ianharris on Sept 4, 2009 15:29:35 GMT -5
Ian shrugged. "In high school... I don't know if it was the pressure, or what... I... the magic started making me have these violent spasms. They've quieted down since the accident, but my hands still shake sometimes... I think it's a mental thing. I doubt magic would help. Besides," Ian raised one of his eyebrows again. "I was under the impression you were not supposed to use magic outside of class."
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Sept 4, 2009 15:33:52 GMT -5
Ara flinched back, his face twisting again. "Yeah, I know. I hate that. I used magic for seven years without anyone getting the wiser, without ever harming anyone. Why does it have to be so different now."
He turned away, not angry at Ian but rather at the circumstances that had forced him here. "I can't help it. I just... use magic without thinking. I'm not the only one. Zephyros does it all the time. He uses wind to fix his hair, for goodness sake. He uses magic all the time, without a thought and most of the time you can't even prove it because it's WIND. How can you prove what wind is magical and what is normal weather? Healing, and accelerating plant growth is easy to tell, though. It's disgusting." He clenched his teeth. This was WHY he was a necromancer, he was told. The rage built up... made him stronger.
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Post by ianharris on Sept 4, 2009 15:51:42 GMT -5
In that moment, Ian did something he had never done before. He reached out with both hands and grabbed this high school boy, Aramis, by his shoulders. He did not normally get irritated with people's comments, but this boy had no idea what he was talking about.
"Look, Ara. I understand that your life before Dunehelden wasn't great. Mine wasn't either. But the rules are in place for a reason. Magic, no matter what kind of magic, is dangerous. It's like putting a loaded gun in our hands. The teachers here are teaching us to aim and fire, but they're also teaching us what to aim at." Ian didn't usually go off like this, but he was already into it, and this boy was probably going to bolt back into the school building the second Ian let go of him, but he didn't care. Once in a blue moon, something was said that really got under Ian's skin. This was it.
"I used magic for nineteen years. Dangerous, unpredictable, uncontrollable magic. No one told me it was magic. I never learned how to use it. Now look at me! I stutter when I talk, I can't stand still, I can't look people straight in the eye most of the time. And that's not even the half of it!" Okay, Ian. You're in it now. Time to drop the atomic bomb. "Because of 'magic', which you would use so callously and Zeph would use so openly, a boy from my high school is locked up in an asylum for the rest of his life, and because of 'magic', his father is buried six feet underground. Stabbed to death by his own son, because I didn't understand and couldn't control my talents!"
Finished, Ian let go and averted his eyes to the ground. He fully expected the boy to dash off towards the school building, probably to hide somewhere. Oh, well. Ian thought bitterly. Everyone already thinks I'm crazy. I think I'm crazy...
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Sept 4, 2009 16:04:56 GMT -5
Ara just looked at him, a little surprised. He opened his mouth to reply, and let it shut with a snap. "I... I didn't... didn't know. I could never hurt anyone... I don't think my magic CAN."
He felt like Ian's hands had burned his shoulders. He'd... never been...God. His throat closed. He COULD kill people if he wanted to! His eyes widened as he thought of the times, without thinking he had shut a bird up by reaching out and just... touching its heart to scare it. He could do that to a person! He started to feel sick, pulling away from Ian with his eyes still wide. A hand rose shakily to his mouth as he felt bile rise in his throat. If... if illusions could kill... oh GOD. What could he do?
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 4, 2009 16:11:53 GMT -5
Seated on a bench across the courtyard, Vincent looked up from his book at the sound of raised voices. Two boys were having an argument of some sort; he quickly stood up and crossed the courtyard to investigate. He recognized one of them, a mage named Aramis, but the other was a new face. He got there in time to hear the tail end of the unfamiliar boy's angry rant, and Aramis' stammered reply.
"Is there a problem?" he spoke up calmly, glancing from one student to the other.
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Post by ianharris on Sept 4, 2009 16:16:33 GMT -5
Ian did not look directly at the professor, keeping his eyes directed at the professor's left shoulder instead. "Uh... no, sir. I was just... um... I was..." Ian tried to find words. He guessed that the professor had probably heard his little speech a moment ago. With that over, Ian was back to his old, stammering self. "I may have raised my voice a little loudly... without... um... any good reason. I'm sorry... um... sorry?"
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 4, 2009 16:22:31 GMT -5
Vincent nodded, keeping calm and relaxed; this poor boy was dreadfully intimidated by him. That much was obvious. "I don't imagine it would be anything about that lovely rosebush, would it, Mr. Aldin?" he asked, glancing at the other lad and raising an eyebrow that was hidden by his mask.
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Sept 4, 2009 16:22:51 GMT -5
Aramis shook his head, "No... No professor.. he... I deserved it." He could feel himself still shaking, badly.
He turned away, falling to his knees. He swallowed and fought back the urge to retch. Oh GOD. He could... he could do so much damage if he wanted to! Power than can bring one back from the dead can kill... He shook worse, tears coming from his eyes. No wonder his parents feared him... Oh god...
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 4, 2009 16:35:13 GMT -5
Vincent automatically reached out to steady Aramis, laying a hand on the boy's shoulder as he spoke, concern in his voice. "Easy now... easy. Do you need to go to the sick bay?"
He glanced up at the unfamiliar boy, not wanting to point unjust fingers, but feeling that he was directly involved somehow. "I imagine you can tell me what's going on..."
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Post by ianharris on Sept 4, 2009 16:43:24 GMT -5
Ian knew better than to lie to a teacher, and especially one who had probably heard the bulk of the conversation anyway. Taking a deep breath, Ian laid it out for the professor. "We were having a conversation on whether or not magic should be used outside of class and... well... I think I may have gotten... I don't know... carried away and been... more aggressive in my argument then I maybe should have been. I can take him to the sick bay if you want, professor... this is my damn fault anyway..."
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Sept 4, 2009 16:46:37 GMT -5
Aramis looked up, shaking his head. "I..." He gagged, closing his eyes. Okay, so maybe he WASN'T okay... He tried to stand and wipe the tears from his eyes, but finally lost his battle with his stomach, managing to keep from hitting anyone with what he couldn't hold back.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 4, 2009 16:46:59 GMT -5
Vincent smiled, appreciating the boy's honesty. He answered him as he gently helped Aramis to his feet. With one hand he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped Aramis' mouth.
"I can show you if you aren't familiar with the way. I don't believe I've seen you here before. Veronique mentioned a late arrival. A Mr. Harris, correct?"
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Post by ianharris on Sept 4, 2009 16:56:26 GMT -5
Ian jerked his feet back to keep Aramis' vomit from splashing on his toes. He thrust out an arm and draped it up around Aramis' shoulders. "I know the way, sir. I had a very good tour guide, and a... um... head for finding my way around."
He thought for a second. "And... uh... I'm Ian Harris, yes. I'm the special case from the west coast... the late arrival." He slipped his hand under Aramis' arm and slowly started to move him towards the direction of the sick bay. "I'm sorry... sorry... I really am..."
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Sept 4, 2009 17:03:32 GMT -5
Aramis managed to get his trembling under control. He wiped his mouth again, " 'm sorry," he mumbed to the professor. Then he looked at Ian. "You... have a point. A good one. I... should be more careful... I..."
He swallowed again, the shaking coming back with a vengence. "I could kill someone without a thought. The same way I can bring them back. And no one would know! There... there would be no scientific way to prove it. God, Ian... I could do so much damage without even trying!"
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 4, 2009 17:14:20 GMT -5
Vincent looked down at Aramis in concern as he helped Ian lead him out of the courtyard and down the hall toward the sick bay. He had heard a small part of Ian's ranting, enough to get the gist of what they had been discussing. He chose to hold his tongue for the moment, however. They could discuss this in the sick bay, if both parties were up to it.
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