Get Your Mind On Your Studies, Boy! (open)

[Zarius Shine]

Kaidan was looking at him as he spoke, and Zip wondered a bit what the other student would make of all he had said. But he wasn’t overly bothered by whether Kaidan would receive his words as a compliment, or just get nervous about them. He had found over the past few years that other guys usually got pissed, or anxious or pleased if he expressed any sort of admiration for their appearance. Those who felt threatened or offended by the then obvious fact that Zip fancied other men would have never asked the question Kaidan had. So Zip felt comfortable in concluding that he would either fall into the category of getting apprehensive (usually this was because the guy thought Zip might pounce uninvited on them), or he would be happy that another guy found him attractive. So, he simply posed his own question and waited to see what Kaidan had to say, if anything, for perhaps he had not, in fact, seen anyone he fancied wandering about the university corridors. Kaidan’s answer, though, caught Zip off guard, for he sure hadn’t expected that! It seemed that Kaidan could be as direct and candid as Zip was himself, and he had found that was definitely not the norm. And though Kaidan’s voice was smooth and steady as he spoke those flattering words, it didn’t seem to Zip as if this was some polished, well used delivery. Kaidan’s compliment seemed very… guiless. Once again, Zip’s eyebrows shot up, but he smiled too. Kaidan’s gaze too was very frank, and direct, and for the first time in this encounter, Zip felt a bit of warmth suffusing his own face – a flush of pleasure, really, and not bashfulness. But he didn’t look away. “What an amazingly nice compliment that is, Kaidan,” he said, more quietly than he had spoken before. Those eyes that had just been the subject of that praise looked into Kaidan’s without any embarrassment. It wasn’t that Zip was conceited and felt it was his due to receive such favor. He simply thought the best way to accept a compliment was to be gracious about it and not insist that the giver was wrong, blind, adlepated, or clearly being ridiculous – all of which seemed to him to be vaguely insulting to the person who was just trying to be kind. “I don’t think anyone has ever called any part of me entrancing before.” He had to grin, for this was true. People had commented on his eye color, for it was a bit unusual, but never to the extreme of labeling it entrancing. “I have to give credit to my grandmother, though. She was a Symenestra. Her eyes were a lovely shade of amethyst. I was lucky enough to get a bit of my coloring from her, I guess.” “And don’t worry, you don’t make me nervous. I feel a bit as if maybe my head just swelled up a couple of sizes, though.” He laughed. “But… thanks. Very kind of you to say that.” Zip paused, and looked pensive. “It – it’s really nice to hear something like that. I…” His voice trailed off and whatever he had intended to say he apparently had changed his mind and kept it to himself. He gave Kaidan a little, quirky smile. “So . . . You are distractingly good looking and I have entrancing eyes. What a pair we make.” He chuckled. “We’ll have to be careful. If we walk about together, we’ll just be so devastatingly irresistible, we’ll have all those other students bumping into walls, and not just you.” Shoving his hands in his trouser pockets, Zip rocked back on his heels, still smiling. He looked down the corridor, and then looked back, at Kaidan. “I hate to say this, but… I’m kind of glad you got run over.”

[Kaidan Arianos]

Having finished putting the last of his papers within his backpack, and slinging it over his shoulder, he allowed his smile to broaden a bit. "I really do mean it. I don't think i've ever met a Symenestra, and I can honestly say that the eye coloring suits you even if you're only part Symenestra," he said, in all honesty. Not forced or anything. He never tried to sound forced when giving compliments, and in this instance, he honestly meant what he said. His eyes followed Zip's down the hallway towards where he was looking, down the corridor, and then back to Zip as he returned his gaze towards him. "Well, do you have anything to do the rest of the day? Besides miss lecture, and speak with an incompetent fool in need of glasses?" he then asked, a slight grin on his face, playful in nature, showing that he could at least make fun of himself because he accepted his character flaws. "If not, might I suggest we take a stroll down the hallways, and see if together, my distracting good looks and your entrancing eyes can't entrap people into falling into a wall or something?" he jested as he looked towards him. He too was glad that he managed to get knocked over by the other larger man, and in turn when Zip said that, he nodded and asked, "Perhaps it was Lhex's way of allowing us to meet today?" And with that, if Zip agreed to walk with Kaidan, the young man would smile, and begin to walk alongside of Zip through the halls of the university. If he didn't agree, well, Kaidan would have to find some other way of catching his attention possibly, although, he was fairly certain he had captured the attention of the man quite well all things considered. His head was even starting to feel better as the conversation had allowed him to ignore the pain enough that it had started to settle down a bit. "So, tell me about your grandmother? You said she was Symenestra... What are they like? Is their culture much different than our own? or the culture here in Zeltiva?" he asked, looking for information from the man that possibly had an answer to his question. If there was anything Zip would be able to tell about Kaidan, was that he had a natural inquisitive nature. Questions would be formulated, and opinions listened to. He was very unbiased towards most things, save for things that he loved, his family, botany, magical theory, other such things. But perhaps this would be a good way to expand his horizons, apart from what his instructors would teach him. He was generally socially awkward, but for some reason, speaking with Zip, he didn't feel the need to be awkward or shy, and felt as though he was breaking out of his shell a bit in order to meet somebody new, and learn more about them, possibly forming a long lasting friendship...

[Zarius Shine]

Zip grinned at Kaidan’s suggestion – or more precisely at the mental imagery of people walking into things just because of the two of them. “Sure,” he agreed, happily, even the thought of missing a lecture not bothering him more than a small twinge of guilt. “I somehow get the feeling that, despite our combined awesomeness, the student body of the university will be safe.” His eyes went one last time to the lecture hall and its closed door. “My things aren’t going anywhere. I doubt anyone will mess with them until the lecture is over. I’ll just have to be sure to get back here by then.” As the two students began to walk off down the corridor, he added, “I’ll have to drag you back here with me, though, so I can explain to Professor Sprague that it really was necessary for me to bale on his lecture in order to keep you from meeting an untimely and painful death. Philanthropy over studies, right?” He chortled, giving Kaidan a cheeky look. They walked at that pace that made it clear the walking was for no specific purpose – there wasn’t a destination to get to at a certain time. Zip still had his hands shoved in his pockets and he was looking down at his boots when Kaidan posed his series of questions about Zip’s grandmother. Zip looked up, with a thoughtful expression, wondering just how much his new acquaintance knew about that race, and if he would likely hold it against Zip, or his ancestors, if and when he was told the truth. His gaze turned on the boy who walked beside him, and he replied, “My grandmother’s people are very different. Physiologically, and culturally. The Valterrian… did something to them. Changed them. They are…a dying race.” His voice was quiet and a bit mournful. He thought it tragic, what his ancestors on that side of his geneology had come to – what they were forced to do, to keep their race going. He shrugged, searching for words that would explain without instantly making Kaidan recoil in loathing. “Before the Valterrian,” he went on, “The Symenestra lived above ground, in the forest of Faylndar. They actually lived in the trees themselves, in a city hung between the branches of the canopy. But, like many, they sought the shelter of the underground during Ivak’s rage, and somehow… they were… transformed. They…” Zip paused, clearly searching for a way to paint the picture that he had in his own head. “They could no longer reproduce normally. Birth…resulted in the death of the mother. Always. So many Sym women died. They would have been extinct, hundreds of years ago, if they hadn’t begun to…recruit, females of other races.” He had actually stopped walking at this point and now he turned to Kaidan. He shrugged yet again. “It’s…complicated.” He sighed a bit, and then went on in a brighter tone of voice. "They live in a beautiful cave city, Kalinor, where all the buildings hang from the ceiling of this enormous cavern. And to get from one place to another, they use silken strands, like rope bridges, but more simple. Humans can’t get around very easily there. But one day, I’m going to go, to see it. To meet my grandmother’s family.” His voice was taking on a tone of excitement. “It sounds amazing, right? There are so many places I want to go – to see all the different ways people have adapted to where they live. I can’t wait!” He had resumed walking again and he asked curiously, “How about you? Have you ever thought of traveling? Once you’re done as a student? What do you want to do?”

[Kaidan Arianos]

"I won't mind explaining to your professor that I needed to be kept watch for at least a few hours given how hard I hit my head. Don't worry about that," he said grinning, and then began to listen intently as to what exactly the Symenestra culture happened to be like. It seemed fairly bloody from what the man was explaining to him. They harvested their women from other races? That sounded dire... but it was also in order to keep a race from becoming extinct. Kaidan didn't know whether that was a good or bad thing, he had mixed opinions on it. If only there was a way to fix the Symenestra's curse that they apparently gained after the Valterrian. As they stopped walking, Kaidan felt a bit sorry for Zip, and the fact that his culture he was descended from had been drawn into that sorrowful choices they were now making in order to survive as a race. Reaching out a hand and patting Zip upon the shoulder reassuringly, he said, "Don't worry, It's an ethical issue that i'm sure will sort itself out in the future... if only one were to find a cure to their ailment, then perhaps... well, perhaps even the gods themselves would be unable to stop the Symenestra from becoming a whole race again, and not have to borrow from other races to keep their own race going..." He paused thoughtfully, and then turned towards the corridor once more that they were walking down. As for places that he wanted to visit? He didn't really know. He had always been afraid of the unknown, but he did want to visit the forests outside of Zeltiva. Even if it was only a little ways away. "Well, you see... I've never really been outside of Zeltiva before. As for places i'd like to visit someday though, the forests outside of Zeltiva would be interesting to me to see... but i'd also like to see Riverfall someday. That place just sounds amazing from everything i've heard other people say about it. And i'm sure there would be plenty of plants there to study as well," he said. "As compared to Zeltiva, where there's not many plants at all save for the outskirts of the city where the deciduous forests happen to be at..." Nodding for a moment, he turned his head back towards Zip, and then said, "I guess that would be where i'd like to go someday... but definitely when i'm done with being a student i'd love to travel someday. See everything there is to see, and gain knowledge of a great many things... I'm sure Kalinor would have some interesting fungal life being inside a cave... perhaps I would like to visit there someday."

[Zarius Shine]

Zip felt a good deal of relief that Kaidan didn’t immediately get up in his face, accusing ‘his kind’ of being kidnappers, rapists and murderers. Of course, Kaidan didn’t seem like that kind of person to begin with. But it had happened before, to his grandmother, his mother, even to Zip himself. It was very complicated. There were many Symenestra women who chose to become pregnant by their husbands, and thus perish at the birth of their one and only offspring. It was the ultimate sacrifice, that many were willing to make. And there were those, both females and males, of their race that held that the “recruitment” of females from other races was a crime, for it was mongrelizing the pure blood of the Symenestra. Others held that it was a crime for ethical reasons – of course, murder by pregnancy could hardly be considered moral, though some females allegedly did it voluntarily. Zip’s grandmother had said that was bullshit – those who came to Kalinor ‘voluntarily’ did so only because they were lured there with false promises, lied to, deceived. It was during these discussions, Zip thought, wherein his beloved grandmother would tell him of their race, that he first developed an acute aversion to lying and deception. His grandmother had been one of those female Symenestra who accepted the fate of their race, as being forever irreversibly changed by the Valterrian, and had refused to sacrifice herself for a cause that ultimately would still see the end of their people. She did not wish to bear a son that would grow to be a murderer or a daughter that would become yet another offering on the altar of the vanity of ‘pure bloodlines,’ as her own mother had been. She had left Kalinor at an early age, and come to Zeltiva to study medicine – anatomy, physiology, endocrinology, poisons and philtering – all in the hopes of one day finding some cure for her people’s affliction, as many had before her. Many and many and many, but all with no more success than she had herself. She had chosen to marry a human, and their daughter, his mother, and her two sons (Zip’s uncles) were half bloods. Their poison was not as potent as an infant born of a Symenestra father. So she had not been at risk from their births. Zip’s mother had also married a human, and so Zip was only one quarter Sym, and he bore almost none of the racial features of his grandmother, outside of his unusual eye color and a tendency towards having a delicate digestive system – it was hard for him to digest some things like meat without getting stomach upset, so he had finally opted for being a vegetarian. But he would never forget this part of himself – he had been very close to his grandmother and had been devastated by her passing when he was a young teenager. He was determined to one day see the city of her birth, and find his relatives there, even if they would view him with antipathy – for his grandmother had warned him that she had left under acrimonious circumstances and whatever family she had living would not welcome Zip with open arms. He didn’t care though. He would go to Kalinor, sooner or later. Zip nodded and looked at Kaidan with an expression of appreciation, for at least being reasonable. The pat felt good, too, and he thought again that it was remarkable how long it seemed to be now, since he had felt comfortable, and at ease, in the company of another guy. Petching Simon. He had so royally screwed everything up… But Zip didn’t want to go to that unhappy place, so he shoved thoughts of his ex into the far corner of his consciousness, wishing he could shove it, and Simon himself, into a pit and bury it forever – all of it. Not that he wished Simon any harm. He just-wanted-to-forget. And to stop feeling bad about it. Well, here was a golden opportunity to do just that, he thought happily. So he would sure as hell make the most of it. In reply to Kaidan’s discourse on his own goals and plans, Zip looked enthusiastic. “Yeah, Riverfall would be a really interesting place to see, though all those big, blue guys might be a little intimidating.” He laughed. “Defintely have to watch where you’re going there – you wouldn’t want to run into one of them!” His expression became thoughtful, and he added, “I wouldn’t mind getting outside the city. See what’s out there.” His gaze turned to Kaidan. “Of course, it’s pretty risky. You said you know shielding? I guess that would help some…” He made a little face. “I wish I had learned some self-defense skills. Would come in quite handy, once I get to travelling. I mean, I hope I’d never have to use them, but…you never know.” He frowned just a bit. “Have you heard about that martial arts association? I’ve thought a bit about joining but…well, I wasn’t really sure. And not knowing anyone that did that kind of thing…” He looked curiously at Kaidan. “We could, you know…maybe try to together? If you have any interest in that?” He grinned. “It might keep you from being running over so often.”

[Kaidan Arianos]

The martial arts association? thought Kaidan for a moment, as Zip spoke about it. He had indeed heard about it, but never really thought about joining it. It was an abstact concept to him, he was all about defending himself and others, that he never thought about actually utilizing it for some form of offense. But then again, perhaps knowing how to defend ones self utilizing offense was something he should learn. Especially if he was to head out of the city on his own. Shields would only hold up for so long against certain offenses. It would be something he'd have to ponder on. Okay, pondering done. If it meant a chance to learn something new, and do it with somebody new, someone that might genuinely have an interest in him, then why the hell wouldn't he do it? Or shouldn't he do it? It was a good idea, and Kaidan didn't have any objections to it after the few moments of careful pondering. "I wouldn't mind joining that with you," he said thoughtfully. "It would give a nice distraction to constant studying, plus provide some form of benefit for if we were to ever travel outside of the city. I've heard it's a give and take place, you give something to get something in return. What type of martial combat would you want to take there? Unarmed combat? Weaponry of some sort? I personally wouldn't mind learning how to use my hands to defend myself. And learning some balance or acrobatics wouldn't be bad at all either. Might make my perception better to keep from being ran over..." He said the last bit with a laugh, and then looked back towards Zip. Smiling he patiently awaited an answer from the younger man as to what type of martial arts the man might be interested in. Kaidan definitely had an interest in it, especially after his logical pondering had ended. And the fact he wouldn't be doing it alone was enough to solidify that interest into something he wanted to do. But that wasn't all the reasoning. He doubted if he had met Zip, and it had been someone else, that he'd have wanted to do this. There was something about Zip that did entrench his interests in the man, something that he couldn't entirely place, not yet anyways. A handsome man had come to his rescue when he had been knocked down, and was now seemingly asking him on some form of a date, even if it was a martial arts class of some sort. It would still be something they could do together and enjoy together. Never before in Kaidan's life had he been approached like this, and it made him feel good in the long run. Hopefully this wouldn't die away like his father had, and he wouldn't lose this friend as he had so many others. Most of the friends he had made growing up had all moved away, or done something incredibly stupid like going out into the wilderness, never to be heard from again. Part of the reason why Kaidan had an aversion to doing it, even though he knew that one day he truly wanted to venture outside of Zeltiva, in order to see the world of Mizahar, even as dangerous as it happened to be nowadays...

[Zarius Shine]

It really pleased Zip that Kaidan was open to joining the Martial Arts Association with him. And it had nothing to do, really, with the thought of learning some self-defense, though that would be a good thing, definitely. No, it was the thought of doing something with Kaidan that brought a kind of sloppy grin to his face. For weeks he had been so despondent, so caught up in his own little world and the drama and the bitterness, that he had forgotten that there were some really nice guys out there. And it sure seemed like Kaidan was one of them - even if just as friends, someone to hang out with, to talk to. His blue eyes searched Kaidan’s and he wondered if the other student had ever been through anything similar to what he had just been dragged through. Maybe, if they got to be close enough, he would tell Kaidan. Just to have someone to confide in – that was something he really missed. For now, though, he said only, “Hm, I hadn’t really thought that far. I suppose hand to hand combat is useful. But learning how to use a weapon – that might be good too.” He looked apologetic. “And I don’t even know a thing that I could teach anyone else. Unless you count boring your opponent to death with trade ledger accounts.” He had to laugh at himself. Zip raised an arm and mockingly flexed his bicep. “Not much there, I’m afraid,” he said, shaking his head. He reached to squeeze Kaidan’s upper arm and made a comical face. “Damn! Enough there to lick your weight in pussy cats!” He laughed again. “If we ever get to wrestling you’re going to have to promise to show mercy.” Almost unaccountably, Zip blushed right after he said that, which might have seemed odd, unless you could have known what he was thinking. To cover for what was hopefully only noticeable to himself, he went on hurriedly, “I think I know where we sign up. But it’s across the city. We probably just have enough time to do that, before I have to head back to that lecture hall, to grab my stuff. But, um, well…if you have places to get to, I understand. Or, if you need to think about it some more. I mean, we just met, and…well, I don’t want you to feel pressured into it or anything.” He tacked on in a quieter voice, “But I hope you do want to, or, anything really. It doesn’t have to be fight training.” He risked a sidelongs glance at Kaidan. “I just, well…I hope you’d like to….do something, together? Like, you know, hang out together?” It was odd, Zip thought, how, when he had first gone out to help Kaidan collect his things and all, he had so blithely made that comment about Kaidan being good looking - and he was. But now that they were walking along together so cozily, just chatting away, and it seemed like, maybe, Kaidan was up for spending some time together - suddenly Zip felt more self-conscious. Before, it had seemed like it didn't matter what Kaidan thought of him, or what he said. Now, though, it did seem to matter. He really wanted Kaidan to like him.

[Kaidan Arianos]

When Zip reached out and gripped his upper arm, Kaidan blushed a little bit. He wasn't used to being touched as much as he had been, but the compliments certainly helped bolster his confidence though. Smiling as the man mentioned wrestling, he then said in response to it, "Perhaps wrestling might be in our future if we work together at the martial arts association..." And he left it at that, not wanting to read any further into it at the moment, even though he had some inkling of why Zip happened to be blushing as he spoke about wrestling with Kaidan. It was true that Kaidan had a very muscular lean physique. He used to do most of the housework for his mother when he was living there, in order to keep the stress off of her, so that assisted him in gaining a decent looking physique. Not that Zip was privy to seeing the entirety of it yet, Kaidan happened to be wearing his velvet wine red jacket, over a white collared shirt, and black dress pants held up by a belt, with black shoes. It was really his only outfit since he had set out on his own, though, he was going to buy more clothes soon, as this outfit one could tell was a bit worn, even though he tended to wash it as much as possible. "If you wish to head over to the sign up places now, I have no problem with it. My classes happen to be over for the day, and all I was really going to do was study some, maybe head over to my mother's place to look at her carnations and study their structure a bit, and water them, as she tends to be a bit forgetful in watching over the plants she has..." he answered, truthfully, the honesty in his voice completely present. "And don't worry, I don't feel pressured at all. I love meeting new people, and interacting with them if at all possible. I may be a bit socially awkward at first, but I tend to open up and trust people quickly, unless they give me a reason not to." He placed a hand upon Zip's shoulder, and then said, "You're not pressuring me into doing anything that I haven't thought of, or don't want to do with you. I am enjoying the time i'm spending with you now, the conversations, and i'd certainly like to continue them if at all possible, maybe over dinner sometime..." His offer of dinner came out of his mouth almost without him thinking about it, but to him, it felt... right. It felt like the right thing to do, in order to prove that he wasn't just trying to use Zip for anything superficial, a superficial friendship or relationship. His honesty was very blatant, and he had no trickery up his sleeves, for that just wasn't his style. Hopefully Zip would agree to go out with him for a dinner sometime, in order to learn more about each other, and build their relationship up as friends in an orderly manner. Perhaps they'd even become more than friends, but Kaidan didn't want to place his gold rimmed mizas on that yet, as they had only just met, but it was a thought in the back of his mind. He wasn't very good at interacting with people, but when he found someone he enjoyed spending time with, chatting with, and interacting with, he'd become attached very quickly. It was possible that he even had a crush on Zip right now, perhaps that was the feeling he had felt before, and was just denying it because he wasn't sure he wanted to take that road with a man or a woman. But truthfully, he had never really seen women in the same light that he had seen men. Especially attractive thin, lithe men like Zip, with entrancing eyes. That was really what was drawing Kaidan in, was the eyes, and the fact that Zip could hold a conversation with him, without judging him, or being rude and ignorant as some people tended to be...

[Zarius Shine]

Zip had been relieved that Kaidan didn’t seem to notice anything awkward about the wrestling comment. He smiled happily when the dark haired young man agreed to his suggestion of going and signing up right then. Kaidan even went so far as to assure Zip that he didn’t feel like he was being pushed into anything prematurely, and Zip nodded in understanding, glad that he wasn’t being seen as overbearing. He was just about to say something when that last bit slipped out, and Zip felt as if his breath caught a little in his chest. It seemed that Kaidan was pretty much on the same mental wavelength as he was, and Zip looked at him, thinking that it really was a stroke of luck that he had so randomly met this guy. “Sure, that would be great,” he said easily, smiling. The food situation in the city was always iffy, with frequent shortages. The storm that had hit in the Spring had made rationing mandatory, but that had eased, somewhat. Still, there weren’t many eateries in Zeltiva – just the Grotto really. But frequently, there were those entrepeneurs who would set up a stall down by the docks, at the fish market, and freshly cooked seafood could be had for a very reasonable price. It had been a while since he had been down that way, so Zip suggested, “Want to try the fish market? I know a lady who does grilled fish on a skewer. It’s pretty damn good.” Again, not wanting to be pushy, he hesitated, before adding, “We could do that some night. Maybe tomorrow? Unless your busy.”

[Kaidan Arianos]

"I..." he started, thinking about what all he had to do tomorrow. Nothing really other than maybe head over to his mother's place and utilize his reimancy in order to water her carnations, which were getting close to dying anyways, as they were perennials, and only lived a brief period of time during the summer and early fall. "am not doing anything tomorrow night, so that would work great for me, if it works for you," he then finished what he was saying, even though the brief pause for thought was there, there was no hesitation in what he happened to be stating to Zip. He didn't think there were many people out there like them, men that liked men that is, and he didn't even know if he truly was attracted to men, he just knew that he was attracted to Zip, and that he should take every chance he could to learn what it was like to have a crush on somebody, and allow that to develop. His heart needed something there, and he knew that, but would try not to let it interfere with his studies. Turning to Zip, and patting him on the back, he said, "So, tomorrow, the Fish Market, i'll buy," he said with a smile, offering to purchase the food that they'd eat. "Where did you want to meet? at the fish market directly? or somewhere else and then head to the fish market?" he asked finally, and once their plans were set in stone, they'd hopefully head to the Martial Arts Association to sign up there, and after that was done, either spend more time talking together, or head their separate ways for the night until the following day, when they'd be able to meet, and chat over dinner of some sort...