Studying

[Elle]

Elle sat alone at a table near the back of the library. She had covered it with her history notebooks and textbooks and was currently flipping through a book on ancietnt Egyptian history.

History had never been Elle's strong point. It was too much memorization. Sure, Elle's memory was decent, but there were far too many people, places and dates to memorize. She prefered math, by far. Learning why something happens the way it does was easier for her. However, she was still forced to go to all these other, memorizing courses, unfortunately.

Sighing to herself, she flipped through the book once again, determined to memorize every last date. Or at least try.

[ωΘĿƒ]

Walking his fingers carefully along the spines of the old story books, Le Cyll wondered which one he should read. He had been craving something challenging lately, something more than the usual novel or thesis paper he could find lying around. He wanted something that was thought provoking, but of course, these things were so hard to come by. Thought was a commodity so rare in this age. At least, the level of thought he could collect to his name.

Not finding anything truly interesting, but landing on one that looked sizable and well written, he plucked it from the shelf and sat down at a table. There was one other person there, and she was studying something. Taking a close glimpse as he sat down, he realized it was history.

He did love history. All the places and things and ideas and people, all in their struggles across this vast planet. History was the largest story known to man, and it grew larger still with each passing moment.

The girl however did not seem to share his affinity. Sitting down and opening his book, he quickly flipped to page one.

Maybe she was more a math or science person?
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[Elle]

Just as she finished reading through the third chapter once again, she noticed someone else sit down at her table. Looking up, at this new person, she realized that he looked somewhat familiar. Perhaps she had seen him in passing in the halls?

He was reading a rather big book. Seemingly for no other reason than to read it. He didn't seem to be studying anything. Apparently, he was a sort of intellectual. He seemed quite a bit older as well. Probably in college.

Realizing that she had been staring at him, she quickly turned her head back down toward her book, avoiding any eye contact. She felt her cheeks get rather warm as she struggled to find the sentence she was on.

[ωΘĿƒ]

Le Cyll looked up suddenly, the hair on the back of his neck rising. You could say he was a little paranoid, or you could say he was extremely observational. Either way, he had felt something. Someone... looking at him.

He did not like to be looked at. It was one of his so called "pet peeves." There was something about the questioning stares of other people that repulsed him. Mostly, it was that they asked the wrong questions when staring. They asked "who" and "what." Meaning, they usually summed him up with one glimpse, and they decided amongst themselves if he was uninteresting, or merely "creepy." He had gotten creepy a lot. It was expected now, though it usually meant that the person in question asked one too many of said questions later, and consequences soon ensued.

What they should be asking then, was "why." There were many more, extremely interesting reasons for why, and it ended in less of a conundrum for him. He did hate to decide where to hid the bodies... They stunk if you did not bury or sink them, and could be unearthed or dredged up if you did. Always a problem. He sighed. He usually had to end up eating them... and that was not good for his health if they were in bad condition. He usually did not eat junk food, but sometimes his hand was forced.

Seeing that this girl was the one that had been staring at him, he wondered if she was asking herself the right questions now. No, he decided. She wasn't thinking about much of that at all. She was blushing, meaning she was guilty for staring, guilty for being curious. Sad. He did not like those that boxed themselves.

Doing a bit of studying himself, he took a good long look at her, dropping his eyes easily once he'd done. She was shy, and a follower. She did not ask many questions, and she had good intentions, but they were easily compromised for those of her superiors and friends. Interesting girl, but not as interesting as the book, and he had to admit to falling asleep while he was reading.

Shifting slightly, turning the page, he continued to think and read at the same time. It was a bit more comfortable this way. He had more to do, and he did not have to suffer through this mediocre book without pondering a bit on the side.

He was thinking of his father... He wondered how the tribe was doing now that its heir had gone? Not that he cared. He did not need them any longer. He would sit here with his book, and he would be perfectly content. He did not need their companionship.
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[Elle]

After studying in silence for awhile, Elle was forced to push the book aside. It was just too much. She didn't want to cram another date into her already packed mind. Instead, she leaned forward, resting her head on her hands, sighing in a bored manner.

Stering off in the distance, Elle's mind began to wander. She began to think of other, more interesting subjects... Like Culture. That was one type of history that she didn't mind. Folklore too. Though they were certainly related to history, it was far more interesting history. Besides there wasn't much of a memorization aspect to it. Yes, she would much rather be studying that than this history.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, her gaze inadvertantly shifted to the boy sitting across the table. Despite reading the book, he seemed to be daydreaming as well. Once again, realizing she was staring, she once again looked quickly away. She had to stop doing that...

[ωΘĿƒ]

Taking his time, flipping through the pages at a leisurely rate and ignoring almost completely what he read, he again noticed that prickle on the back of his neck. Looking up, he just caught a glimpse of the girl in her stare.

Why did she do that, he wondered...? Was she thinking?

No. Something told him she was just the kind of creature not to think. She would be going through the motions, but no real, independent thought would ever cross her mind. He sighed at this, inadvertently. There were so few like that, and it was a welcome relief to find one that just pretended to think, and did not try to be anything else.

Most others would at least have the audacity to question things, futile and fleeting though their independent thought may be. They never actually ended up with anything interesting to their names. Just a few questions about him that would all be answered before he ate them.

Thinking about it, he wondered if he should make that part a little more antagonizing. If he ate them alive..? But no, he worked under the assumption that they were one entity, and that collectively they would learn from such a prudent lesson. They would not. Over and over, they would make the same mistakes, and he would bear them quietly until that one night where he could glimpsed weakness in himself and did something regrettable.

At least this girl did not pretend she had independent thought. Her mind must be full of safe, useless information. That came to imply that she was not the curious cat that was killed for its questions, only the cat that did as all cats do and slept.

Looking up from his book, he proceeded to stare at her, not meaning to hide it at all.

Yes, she may be quietly not thinking anything to herself, but she was still rude in that she kept staring. This, he could not stand.

"Is there something particularly interesting about me?" He asked, not unkindly, but with a small hint of impatience that just barely sharpened his voice above the polite norm.
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[Elle]

Elle had been trying to force herself to get back to studying once again. A losing battle. Although, it wasn't long before she was torn away from her studies once again. For a good reason, this time.

She looked up, startled that the boy had spoken to her. Oh, no. Had he noiced her staring. Nervous, Elle began picking at the corner of her notebook.

"Oh, no..! I mean, I just... Um, I..." She stuttered, trying to find the right words, "I've just, been, um... Like, spacing out? I'm... Um, s-sorry..."

Looking back down at her notebook, she couldn't help but wince at her words. She sounded so weak! What she wouldn't give for just a little confidence... Or at least a way to prevent herself from stuttering so badly.

[ωΘĿƒ]

"You just...?"

Le Cyll was flipping boredly through the pages of his book, not looking, not caring. He was bored with the book, really. This was more interesting anyways.

When she said the words "I'm sorry" he calmed down a little. Well, at least there was one person in this wretched school with manners, even if she was a sniveling twit. The stuttering, he barely noticed. He had expected it, and welcomed it almost like he welcomed the stares he received - with a patient annoyance.

"That's okay." For some reason, he decided to be nice to the girl. It must have been something in the innocence she possessed. Yes, that was it. She had no inclination towards any form of vicious thought against him. He could tell, and now, he felt that this was a rare enough moment that it should be treated with a little false forgiveness. "It bothers me, is all. I do not like eye contact much."

He had closed the book now, and was twirling it on its hardcover like a top, the book spinning from side to side on its lower left edge. It was heavy, and it was boring. He needed no other provocation to give up on it.
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[Elle]

Elle relaxed a little when she heard that it sounded as though he had forgiven her. That was good. She didn't like confrontation at all, and any more anxiety like that threatened to place an unbearable strain on maintaining her skin.

Still picking at the corner of her notebook, she decided to do something to get her mind off of those few tension-filled seconds. Even if that something included forcing herself to talk to this boy.

"Y-Yeah... I, I don't like eye contact much, either."

Her mouth twitched slightly at her words. While it was true, she was certain that she disliked eye contact for a completely different reason than he did. A reason she really had to get over, she thought, finally realizing that she was ruining her notebook by pulling at it like that. Dismayed, she set about to futiley try to push the frayed edges back together.

[ωΘĿƒ]

"Really?"

He tried not to sound uninterested as he twirled the book. Looking at the way the girl was tearing at her notebook, he wondered if she was nervous.

Well, obviously she was. Maybe the more appropriate thing to say was, why was she nervous? Was she shy? Most likely. She fit the profile neatly, and he had no problem with placing her in it along with all the other shy people he'd met over his long years. Noticing she was now trying to fix the notebook, he smiled slightly. Fun little habits like that did tend to have their consequences. He should know. He had a few of his own that were entertaining beyond belief, and that was setting aside the whole eating thing for a moment.

He sighed, thinking about it now. He hadn't picked up a scalpel in months. Sad. He would have liked to work somewhere nice and sterile, with beakers and burners so he could work out all the tension of his infuriatingly fun habit.

"Is there a laboratory here?" He asked, out of sheer curiosity. The girl did not look mightily intelligent, but she seemed like she would be extremely useful if utilized properly. She looked like the kind to do whatever one asked, and that was always nice to know. She did not ask questions, she just obeyed. What an invaluable trait in a creature. It was truly a shame there weren't more like her.
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[Elle]

Unable to fix it, she set it aside so that she wouldn't mutilate it anymore. However, now Elle had nothing to focus on. That wasn't good... She needed something. Looking around the table, she quickly picked up her pencil and began rolling it beneath her fingertips.

Concentrating on not letting the pencil slip away, she was able to speak more calmly at his next question.

"Oh... Yes, there is... A few halls away."

Of course she remembered where the laboratory was. They had been there a few times for physics experiments and Elle had a pretty good sense of direction. He was probably interested in the lab because of his college studies, she reasoned, gazing past the rows of bookshelves to the library door.

[ωΘĿƒ]

She was playing with a pencil now, but he would not have noticed, had he not been so observant.

He was too busy thinking now. Yes, so there was a laboratory... That was good. He had a feeling he'd be using it more often than not. It must actually be fairly impressive, considering what the rest of the school seemed to be.

How wonderful... That made him feel so much better...

"Why thank you..." He had just realized he had never gotten the girl's name. Interesting. He must have been too preoccupied to do his usual formal introduction.

Straightening, adding a bit of humanity to his voice, he recited the introduction he had so carefully constructed.

"I'm Le Cyll, and you? It wouldn't really be proper if I thanked you without knowing your name first."
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[Elle]

Now Elle had begun to slightly bend the pencil in her hands. Not too far. Not enough for it to break. Although it might if she were startled or something. Actually, it would be best to set that aside as well. In thinking so she did just that, placing her pencil right next to her notebook.

Hearing the boy speak again, Elle was forced to look up slightly as he introduced himself.

"My name's... Elle. Um, nice to meet you..."

She forced herself to smile slightly. Sometimes when she spoke, people would think of her as distant or uncaring because of her short, whispered words. Precisely the reason why Elle now always made sure to add a touch of politeness to her voice. A smile never hurt either.

[ωΘĿƒ]

Still smiling, thinking to himself how nice it would be to work off a little proverbial steam, it then forced him to remember a rather unpleasant thing about his studies in the lab.

He needed his hands to do anything, and currently his right hand was susceptible to disease...


He stifled the urge to curse, his left hand clutching tightly at the bandages around his right. It hurt, and he most likely would have cared enough to stop, had he not known that his injury had been practically self-inflicted.

He lost control, and something compromised him. He deserved the pain.

Feeling in a foul mood suddenly, he struggled to hide this from the girl, Elle. He'd already made a circus sideshow of himself in that damned class. He didn't need anything else to wear down the thin veil of his control, especially while he was so tightly coiled.

Ah, what he wouldn't give for a night in the lab, flaying some innocent nobody.... The very thought was therapeutic, but not nearly as much as the actual deed, and it was only the deed that would uncoil him now.

...He could substitute? Another fight? Something to eat? What else could he use to barter for his sanity? He was feeling it again, that anger, that emotion. He did not much care for emotion. It was sloppy, and destructive, and it was terribly hard to control. Remembering that the reason he'd been in here in the first place was to escape all this, he now couldn't help but laugh to himself.

He couldn't get rid of it... Not if he tried. He'd have to do something soon, or the next full moon he'd be even worse than usual. He then thought of Ailyth and his limits peaked. He was digging himself in such a deep hole, it would be funny then that he would most likely be buried in a shallow grave. Seth was looking for him too.

Placing his hands on the table, keeping his composure to the utmost of his abilities, he quickly stood up.

"Excuse me, will you? I have to be leaving."

He needed to get out of here and go somewhere, anywhere else. He'd go back to the graveyard and howl at the moon, or he'd find some squirrel somewhere and kill it. Whatever it may be, he just needed an escape.
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