Letters from Home (open)

[Allison Kazim]

"I'm here to continue my studies of combat and qi, and to seek opportunities I wouldn't have back home."

[Cillian McWolfe]

"More or less the same."

[Deimian Kyrikk]

"Ah yes that is good," Deimian nodded with an awkward smile.

[Cillian McWolfe]

"Well, I think that's what most of us are here for in some way shape or form. But we can worry about that during classes, and if you don't have a team yet, then I'm sure you'll be given one soon. It didn't take them long to give me one, so don't worry about it. I'm more interested in what you guys like to do for fun? What makes you guys laugh and smile?"

He'd grin widely.

"That's my kind of cultural exchange."

[Allison Kazim]

With the focus on studies set aside, the conversation turned to more light-hearted and personal things that actually made Allison do a mental double-take and try to remember the last time shed just let her hair down and had fun. It had been a while.

"Reading, for one," she mused with wry smile. "And we have a gorgeous view of the ocean back home. But I also help create things for my family's business and cook." She looked to Deimien, silently asking him to elaborate since Cillian asked.

[Deimian Kyrikk]

At the other two's silence, Deimian supposed it was his turn. "I typically meditate, do Tai Chi, or simply listen to the sounds of the natural world around us. Sometimes I'll sit amidst crowds and listen to the words spoke by passer-bys, and the emotion in each voice. Sound is a beautiful thing." He almost slipped into another world, thinking about the many sounds of nature and people as they were respectively mentioned.

[Cillian McWolfe]

That all sounds lovely. And I have never seen the Ocean, but I have spent a lot of time out by the lake back home. It is gorgeous. Unfortunately I have never had the head for meditation either."

He'd say with a self depreciating chuckle.

"I always just feel silly sitting there doing nothing. Not sure what I am supposed to do, or not able to. I suppose."

[Allison Kazim]

so he had a taste what it was like. Deimien sounded as though he was used to a more peaceful lifestyle, or at least a quieter one. She wondered how he would fare at Cabal, given its reputation as a military compound. Then again, there were others who liked the quiet as well.

"I always found clearing my mind came easier when I wasn't just sitting," she admitted. "But I don't normally take time out to meditate, eiher." There was always too much to do. Even if that was what she was supposed to be clearing her head from, she could never just sit.

"But what about you, Cillian? It seems we know of a couple things of you, but what do you do for fun?"

[Cillian McWolfe]

"Oh well, back home I don't get a lot of time to myself.  I am expected to spend the majority of my time with proper activities." 

He said reaching in to his pocket to pull out a red ball which he would proceed to toss up into the air.  His Qi mirroring it to create multiple balls, all of varying colors for him to juggle one handed.  

"Swordplay mostly.  Horseback, writing of course.  Penmanship and the like..." 

Catching the red ball as the others vanish he pocketed it once more.

"Oh!  And learning and reciting poetry.  That's a big one.  Like this."

He'd reach out to gently tip Ali's chin up so she was looking him in the eyes.  


"It is not your conversation
That keeps me entertained
But rather the way you look at me
That makes me feel sustained
It's the curve of your lips
And the curl of your hair
T'is all of the little things
That make me stop and stare

It is not your intelligence
That drew me close to you
It is not your sense of humour
That has thrown me all askew
It's the touch of your hand
And the thoughts in your head
T'is all of the little things
The things that don't get said "

He'd drop his hand and bring it to his heart as he continued.

"It's not your vivid history
That's made me fall in love
It's not your comprehension
Of the world or what's above
It is your soft temperament
And the way you smile at me
T'is all of the little things
That make me want to see

It's not when we are talking
That I want to know some more
It is not whilst you teach me
I learn what I'm looking for
It is the time we spend alone
And the time in utter silence
T'is all of the little things
That form a strong alliance

It's not the job you work so hard
That shows your true commitment
It's not your crazy habits
That give me great fulfillment
It is the way you use your hands
And the way I have been chosen
T'is all of the little things
Why I know silence is golden"

Taking a step back he'd run his hand through his hair with a grin.

"So you know stuff like that."

Qi use 1

Smoke and Mirrors - The Amazing Ardan creates an almost invisible fog in a twenty-foot radius around him that allows him to create and manipulate images of anything within that radius. Such images are visual only and have no physical presence but can be used to make duplicates of things within the radius, make things vanish, or even to make images appear to move on their own. These illusions register as genuine to Qi sensory techniques and machines.

[Deimian Kyrikk]

Deimian smiled pleasantly at the recitation. "Beautiful," Deimian complimented. "I have always loved listening to poetry. Birds have their songs, people have their emotion and music, but literature has poetry."

After a brief pause he confessed, "Yes, I do believe I would memorize all the poetry I could if sight returned to me. But I have yet to find poetry written in my own little dotted language." 

Quite possibly the greatest shame of his flaw.

[Allison Kazim]

Ali could relate to the lack of personal time, nodding slightly in agreement as Cillian continued his list of responsibilities and expectations. Her eye went to the brightly colored ball in his hand, certain it had to be qi to create more. When he mentioned poetry, however, her focus was directed back at him specifically, eyes wide as she instinctively raised her chin a little higher than the brief touch indicated because DEAR MANA HE WAS TOUCHING HER.

It's definitely not something a girl from the bottom of the social barrel is used to.

And it got better - worse? - better as he recited a devoted love poem, the words flowing with ease that had her blushing so much that, by the time he finished, the mage's face was redder than her hair. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out, thoughts fleeing her mind until at last she managed a soft response that was little more than a whisper.

"I also enjoy training." She cleared her throat and shook her head, taking a half step back as she tried ot pull her pride and dignity back together.

"That was a lovely poem, Cillian, thank you." She smoothed out her skirt, willing her blood to stop rushing to her face as she focused on what Deimien said.

"On that, we can all agree."

[Cillian McWolfe]

"I am pleased that you both enjoyed it."

He'd say rubbing the back of his neck, flashing another smile at Ali, noting how red she was now before turning back to Deimian.

"Well, I see no reason you can't create your own poems."

[Deimian Kyrikk]

Deimian gave a head tilt at Allison, as if giving a knowing glance not with his eyes but with his ears.

Then his head went back up at Cillian's thought. "Hm," he muttered as his head lowered in thought. "I suppose I've spent so much time listening I've never thought to compose." A tilted nod paired with a brief silence interrupted him before he continued in ponder, "I could write it in dotted and seek a translator..."

[Allison Kazim]

"There's no better person to write what you think or feel than you, yourself." She could appreciate trying to push his own boundaries and looked towards the main building and archives of the campus.

"There are many people here from all walks of life. I'm sure there is someone who would be able to help with translations."

[Cillian McWolfe]

"I believe the young lady is correct. In this, the only limitation is your willingness to create."