Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (Koh & Hadrian)

[Hadrian]

40th Spring, 510 A.V. The time was drawing near when the real work of creating the blood-compass for Hrair must begin. If there was a catastrophic failure, he had to have the time to start over and finish before the spring term ended. But in his anal-retentive drive toward perfection, he didn't want to have a catastrophic failure. He wanted instant gratification, or as instant as ten days of work in the laboratory could be, and he wanted to get it right the first time. He wanted it to be better than he had planned it. To this end, he had found a new place to study, sitting under an apple tree in one of the small public gardens in the Old Quarter with its pre-Valterrian architecture. Open in his lap was a book on mathematics -- geometry, to be precise -- and he had a piece of parchment laid over one side, scratching notes into it. Some glyphs would have to be added to the normal protections of the laboratory, and he had to get the angles perfect or the magic would be imperfect. He didn't like imperfect. As he scowled at the words and numbers until his eyes blurred, he did make some progress. When an apple fell from the tree and hit his head, he knew that some unnamed god of mathematics was laughing at him. Proving gravity mathematically was a bit beyond his skill at the moment. That didn't stop him from making a study snack of the apple.

[Koh]

Sleeping coiled around a comfortable branch, Koh dreamed his pleasant dreams. He shifted a bit, smacking a nearby apple and thus knocking it down. This he seemed to pay no mind to, or so until a crunching sound was heard. Quickly, his eyes darted, arms grasping at the tree as he made his way down to the nearby noise. Whatever it was, it had no time to react as he coiled once more, pinning the source of the noise to the bark of the tree. It took only his lower body to hold the boy there, an angry glare held upon Koh's face as he stared at the man.

"Too thin to make much a snack." he said with a wicked smile, before remembering where he was. Quickly he corrected himself, "Was hoping I caught stray cattle or the likes." With his arms he rubbed at his eyes, yawning a bit, his body still coiled around the tree holding the man there. Curiously, Koh reached down, grabbing a fallen book and opened it with wonder. "Ah. A scholar perhaps? A student?" he asked curiously as he flipped through the pages. After a second he turned to the boy once more, yellow eyes revealing the horrors of the snakelike monster, "Who are you" he asked with both an annoyed and curious tone, lightening his grip around the man slightly.

[Hadrian]

The mathematics, while stimulating, had apparently put him to sleep because suddenly he was bound to the tree by what could only be a Dhani. He blinked at the yellow-eyed, human-like face, but was given true pause by the lack of humanity in them. The particulars of his upcoming project were forgotten, and he rightly assumed that the creature could kill him before he could bring any kind of reimancy to bear in his own defense. Thus, honesty seemed the best policy. "Hadrian," was all he said.

[Koh]

"Hadrian." Koh repeated with a questioning look. Once more he looked at the books that brought to him an interest, then towards Hadrian, poking at his thin body. He couldn't be a fighter. He's probably not much a threat. Koh thought to himself before asking the boy another question."What are you? A scholar, or a student?" he asked pressing the same question while still examining his frail looking body structure. His grip around both Hadrian and the tree tightened a little, his force only showing his curious nature being combined with his natural desire to crush what he held firm now. To crush and devour his prey.

However, before Hadrian could reply, Koh took notice of what he was doing. His hold no longer evident, releasing the man from the vice grip, but still keeping a circle around the tree stopping him from retreat. "My apologies." he said with a bow, "I tend to be in a foul mood when I first wake. I am Koh."

[Hadrian]

"Yes," he said. "Student, scholar..." Chlorine eyes were gloriously wide. When dragged from his books by true experience, he was often amazed. "Koh," he said, trying to get the inflection just right. Nothing pissed a person off more than having their name mispronounced, especially by someone from another species. Hadrian liked to imagine he was worldly and urbane, but that was only when he attention could be kept on the here and now. "That's, that's all right. Thank you." The loosening of the Dhani's coils made living easier, though he was aware that he was still bound within them for the time being.

[Koh]

Koh remained still for a minute, the only sign of life given from him being his breath. He still eyed Hadrian curiously, before flipping through the book once more. Koh paused on certain pages before flipping through them again. Throughout the time, he still kept Hadrian in his line of sight. "What is your study?" Koh asked as he handed the book to Hadrian, with what appeared to be an attempt to smile.

Though Koh had a face of a monster, he was in midst a strong attempt to be friendly, or so it seemed.

[Hadrian]

With the coils of cool flesh loosened, he was at least able to move his arms, and he took the book. Part of his mind was reveling in the cool softness of the reptilian flesh. It had been a long time since he had touched a snake, and this Dhani was so large in comparison. He assumed he was a constrictor, but could be wrong. The Dhani culture was not his primary focus of study. "Anthropology," he said carefully, "and magic. This geometry is secondary study for an upcoming project. Thank you for the book back."

[Koh]

Koh thought for a moment, struck with a slight level of confusion. After a minute his eyes opened up even brighter, realizing what was what. "Anthropology. The studying of intelligence in other races if I remember correctly." Koh said with a slight smile. After a second however, he added to his words, "And magic..." He paused once more, thinking to himself for a second before speaking again, "What magic are you learning?"

Though his race was known for being as quoted, 'walking stomachs' Koh remained ever curious of the nearby human.

[Hadrian]

"Anthropology," he corrected gently, "the study of mankind. But it's not so limited as its name. Mankind in this case includes all sentient races. Physical anthropology, cultural anthropology... there are many branches of study. And magic... I've been focusing on magecrafting. Something useful." That last was added with a small attempt at humor. He hoped he could talk the snake-man down from devouring him if that was his purpose. If he was truly hungry, Hadrian might already be dead. But if the Dhani wanted to live peacefully in Zeltiva, he would have to be more circumspect about murder of people, even for food. The citizenry wouldn't stand for it, and the city guard were fierce. "What about you?" he ventured carefully, trying to draw the man into a two-way conversation.

[Koh]

He seemed a bit confused as you corrected him, but instead nodded. He had not had the fortune to take any classes of which could teach him, and only knew so much that was word of mouth or taught through experience. Instead of taking anything offensively he nodded, especially at the word magecraft. As the man asked Koh his own question, Koh replied with his own words. "Magecraft. Be sure to be careful of such a thing. Is true to be helpful and yet, is also true that what is created can also cause much pain..."

He ended up saying this as though word of experience, but then cut himself short as he then replied to Hadrian's question, "As for me. I'm just Koh. I usually don't stay in town long but it's hard living out there. You know?" Then he rubbed his head, "I am feeling pretty peckish though...maybe I should get a bite to eat." he said with his smile, revealing his row of teeth midst the smile. This sort of thing sounded normal for anyone to say, but was intimidating when the one saying it could easily swallow a person whole and was high enough on the food chain to do it happily.