Cultured Reading

[Deleted]

((OoC: I don't like sticking messages in the title so... Since Ookami (sp) asked he gets first reply, after that its all good.))

The library was relatively quiet as Saint sat there by himself. His first day in this new school had been uneventful, a day of finding classes, getting overviews, and meeting people. The last one was not something he readily participated in. After all he was not the most social person, in fact often he preferred to be alone. Just like he was now, sitting alone in an almost empty library reading his book. It was The Iliad by Homer, in the original Greek text. Not exactly something the average high school freshman would be reading, save for in Greece perhaps. The book had been a gift from one of the men working with his mother during her time in Brazil. Before now, the boy had gotten a chance to read it and now decided to read it again, having rather enjoyed the ancient literature the first time.

He was just beginning the section where Patroclus takes Achilles’ armor into battle. Then, while leading the Myrmidons to killing many Trojans, including Sarpedon, he is killed by Hector. This always intrigued Saint to no end. To think the death of one man lead to the fall of a city, in a manner. Without Patroclus’ death Achilles would never have rejoined the Greek forces and Troy would have stood. Yet, so many people disagree on why this is. Some believed the two lovers, other that they were like brothers, and even some believe they were simple war buddies. It really became what you believed when you read it. Saint found that… interesting.

However the one thing he could not stand about reading this book was the average person’s ignorance. Since the travesty of a movie called Troy came out, everywhere Saint went people comment, “Oh! Is that the book Troy was based on?’ The answer was a resounding no. Nothing was really the same, only the basic principals. Hector never killed Ajax, Cassandra was no where to be found, Menelaus and Agamemnon never died, Helen returned to Sparta, the gods’ involvement is far less, and not to mention The Iliad ends at Hector’s funeral. So very sad, Saint reflected.

[Ookami]

walking into the library he looked around to see who all was in here. One kid caught his eye and that was a kid reading a book called 'the Ilaid' he hadn't read it before so he didnt know what it was mainly about. he walked over to the kid and asked "hey, that a good read?" he figured that was something to start a conversation and to end in asking about the gang.

[Deleted]

Slowly Saint raised his head from his book to look upon the figure that had posed the question to him. The boy appeared to be the same age as him, though slightly smaller in stature. This would also be the first person Saint had really spoken to on this campus, the feeling was slightly offsetting. With a small shift of his head, the religious boy turned to better address the boy beside him. Speaking in a flat quiet tone of voice that was what someone would usually use in a library, Saint answered the question.

“Yes, it is. After all this story has withstood the test of time and is still one of the greatest Epics ever written. Perhaps you should pick up a version for yourself… you might enjoy it.”

It didn’t seem all that odd to Saint the boy had seemingly never read The Iliad, so few people did these days. Sure, many schools required the reading of The Odyssey but The Iliad was far superior in Saint’s opinion. For a moment Saint went back to his book, more so to remember his place than continue reading. After making sure he had the spot memorized, Saint glanced back toward the boy and simply asked.

“By the way, what is your name?”

[Ookami]

smiling "my names Ookami, and i would look for the book but my passion dosent lie in reading, sadly, its in fighting. the reason i've been looking around here is to find someone to participate in a group i'm making. the best word to call it is a gang, but its nota steriotipical gang, weare there to help the other people who happen to join. so a long explanation leads down to the question 'will you join my gang' "he said after the long explanation. de didnt know what the kids reaction would be but he figured it would either be a 'no' or some highly intelegent wording for the same thing

[Deleted]

Politely Saint sat there listening to everything Ookami said. However much of it was not something he wished to talk about, fighting… gangs… Saint wanted no part in any of it. But with each passing moment in this place he began to realize that whether he wanted to be part of it or not, he had little actual choice. He closed the book setting it down on the table beside him before resting his elbows on the edge. Trying to figure out how to say this in the most polite way without offending Ookami, Saint took a deep breath before giving his response, a roundabout version of one at least.

“Well…this book is about a war that takes about ten years, so you may find it intriguing. Though I am curious as to whether you enjoy fighting or studying martial arts. I find the two to be very different items. I, myself, study martial arts… Capoeira to be exact, however I despise fighting and always try to find a non-violent way to solve my problems… and I am sorry, but I cannot join your organization. My mother would have a fit if I joined a gang. However if you ever need help with something, school or otherwise, feel free to ask.”

Saint finished with a sweet smile, trying to be as polite as possible in rejecting the offer. But everything he said was true, save for his mother having a fit. In truth, she would kill him after all she went through to just get him into the school. Saint remained as he was, waiting to see if there was something else Ookami wished to talk about or if they were done. Odd that the first conversation he had in this school was about joining a gang. Could this school really be that bad?

[Ookami]

smiling "that sounds interesting, although i like to study fighting, theres nothing quite like the feeling you get in a good fight, i see we come from different ends of lifetyle and by the way you put your words, it seemed as you wanted to be carful. thats wise, but i couldnt care less how you responded, unless it was with a fist. thats fine, i'll take you up on that offer some time, and if you need any help. me and whoever dose decide to join me will try our best as well." he finished and took a seat near saint. "so, thats a book on a war? sounds interesting, i might pick that up some time. till then i might as well relax. mind if i do that right here?"

[Deleted]

Saint could not help but agree with Ookami’s observation about their respective pasts. They came from completely different backgrounds and had different views on a lot of subjects most likely. He was also slightly glad his careful wording had not gone unnoticed; it was nice to see extensive efforts to be polite acknowledged. Nodding as a gesture of agreement to help each other whenever possible, Saint reached over and picked up his Greek book again. Though they weren’t exactly done, he figured Ookami would not mind his reading whilst they continued their chatting.

“Yes, it is about the Trojan War, a war long ago between the Greeks and the Trojans. You may have heard about it… and you can relax…uh… where you wish I suppose… it is a free country.”

Stammered Saint at the end of his sentence, as a slight tinge of red coming to his face due to having someone sitting to him. His hair and clothes would hide the slight change of tone and the downcast face aided the covering. It wasn’t something the boy wanted to broadcast to the school. With it already being hard for him to get used to people and places, Saint did not need anything else getting in his way.

[Ookami]

smiling "it seems to me you where brought up to be as polite as possible, you dont need to walk on eggshells around me, or mostlikely anyone here, but i suppose what your doing now was engrained into you sience you where a kid, so thats too bad" as he said that he thought of what he was saying. "and, it may be a free country, but here, in this school its not what i would call free" smiling still "anyway, got any good lines from that book?"

[Deleted]

Saint nodded slightly, knowing that his polite mannerisms were not needed in such a setting as a high school, but as Ookami said, he had been taught to be polite as possible since… he could remember. Ironically, not as long as many people might think. With such a lack of memory, childhood seemed like another lifetime that was lost to the abyssal vortex of time. His mother would always tell him to just make new ones and not dwell on the old. Shaking these thoughts aside Saint smiled before reading the passage he was on, of course translating as he read.

"Then, O knight Patroclus, with a deep sigh you answered, "Achilles, son of Peleus, foremost champion of the Achaeans, do not be angry, but I weep for the disaster that has now befallen the Argives. All those who have been their champions so far are lying at the ships, wounded by sword or spear. Brave Diomed son of Tydeus has been hit with a spear, while famed Ulysses and Agamemnon have received sword-wounds; Eurypylus again has been struck with an arrow in the thigh; skilled apothecaries are attending to these heroes, and healing them of their wounds; are you still, O Achilles, so inexorable? May it never be my lot to nurse such a passion as you have done, to the baning of your own good name. Who in future story will speak well of you unless you now save the Argives from ruin? You know no pity;"

A small sigh escaped the boy at the end. No one talked that way anymore, a shame really. That way of articulating speech was so beautiful and eloquent, a lost art. Though such a passage may have not been the most exciting part to hear, especially when so interested in fighting. However the book was far to large, in the form Saint had, to find a more battle filled part. He glanced sidelong at Ookami before asking.

“So what do you think?”

[Ookami]

smiling "its good, and achillies, he the one with the heel? and that part is actualy called the achillies tendon? the wording seems too drawn out to be usefull in everyday life, but it sounds alright to read. the only kinds i know like that is like...'ask not whor whom the bell tolls it tolls for thee' and 'ett tu brutee' in any case i'll have to pick that up sometime." thinking "although your already against the gang thing. i just want to point out we wont beat down people for nothing or anything like that kind of steriotype, its just a group to help eachother and such thats all"

[Deleted]

With a slight nod, Saint affirmed Ookami’s suspicion about Achilles and the heel. The very though of having an injury to his Achilles Tendon made him flinch with discomfort. A small chuckled escape Saint as Ookami said the famous quotes. True that this way of speaking wasn’t practical in the high-speed world of today, but it sounded so beautiful when it was spoken. It rang with such eloquence and feeling. Perhaps it was the evolution, or more likely devolution, of the human language. Such a sad thought, but there was really nothing he could do about it.

Leaning back in his chair Saint remember the movie he had watched just a year before in school, The City of God, a film that covered the gangs, drugs, and wars that had plagued Rio years earlier. There was still some of this around though in this day and age those elements had receded quite a bit. One thing he had learned from it was the exception became the rule. Sure Ookami intended to not go about beating people up but for how long. How long until he was forced to do so? How long until he lost sight of that goal? Saint smiled dimly, still trying to be polite as possible.

“I’m sure you do. Just don’t lose sight of that…”

[Ookami]

smiling "yeah, i thought of how big orginazations find other goals that seem easier to fufill, but no matter how large this gets i intend to keep the principals the same." he said as he wondered about how big he intended his gang to get. he wanted it fair size but not have everyone in it, and doubted everyone would want to join a gang. this kid was proof of that, and sure enough hes a nice enough guy but he refused and there was nothing he could do to change that.

[Deleted]

Saint hoped Ookami would be able to do exactly what he intended. There really wasn’t any real reason for him to doubt the boy’s ability to do so. He would just have to have faith in Ookami to keep sight of it all. Though within himself, Saint dearly hoped his faith was not misplaced. Turning with a playful, he glanced at his counterpart and said playfully.

“Well, if you don’t you’ll have to answer to me.”

[Ookami]

smiling moving to place a hand in front of him, in an armwrestling position and said "sure thing". he hoped this kid would be a good firend in the future and relized he never caught his name "hey, i forgot, i told you my name, whats yours?" still smiling.

[Deleted]

Saint took Ookami’s hand with a sincere smile, slightly humored that in his ritual of proper manners that he had forgot to introduce himself. Perhaps this is what the psychiatrist was trying to get him to do, simply laugh at his mistakes instead of being so… obsessive. That reminded the student he had a session today, he’d better not forget this time. Every time he did everyone seemed to obsess over it. Getting back on track Saint introduce himself as politely as possible, but intentionally leaving out his middle name. He used to get taunted for it so often in Brazil. How could any child resist Blu Rose? It was just asking for trouble.

“My name is Zachariah Rose, but everyone calls me Saint. Nice to meet you… again.”