Dara Jhiwoon's page

Djalos embeds himself in the books, but eventually pulls himself out. "It's..." he grasps for a correct analogy for Dara. "It is like that I was a wild animal, when they took me in." That was truer than Djalos would have liked to admit. "They trained me the wrong way, and because that is all I've ever known, it had never occurred to me that what they made me do was wrong. But when I came here, some nice people showed me what I did wrong, and taught me - and are teaching me - to do better. Like your sister."

There was a clink as Dara peered over the edge of the table. He made a series of motions with his hands and words shone in the air over his gloves. 'People say they good. Most lying.'

Dara scurried behind Sadie, terrified by Djalos's grimace-smile.

Dara Jhiwoon wrote:

Dara shakes his head. 'Safe here,' he signed. 'Corner. Hidden. Near metal," he added pointing to the large rack of spoons nearby. 'Safe.'

He appears to be on constant alert, not considering anyone entirely above suspicion.

Kim simply smiles and nods understanding. Well I have Teddy right here, and he protects me and keeps me safe. he can help keep you safe too, If you want. but, why are you afraid?

Kim really looks curious and seems to really want to understand. she does her best to help Dara feel safer, without actually disturbing anything that seems important to him.

'Bad people. Good people turn into bad people. Never safe. Watch. Careful. Careful bad people.' He was biting his lip in concentration and he scowled in frustration as he had trouble coming up with the words.

Dara Jhiwoon wrote:

Kim Snow wrote:

Kim seems to not mind Dara's method of communication, though sometimes she struggles to understand him, and she asks him to "say" something again. but when she does she tries to be polite about it.

So, where do you like to have lunch Dara? You will have to show me since this is my very first day here.

Dara struggled to answer, making faces as he tried to find a word he actually knew before he finally settled on, 'Follow'. He led Kim to a deserted corner of the cafeteria, more than half hidden behind a potted plant. Their lunches were brought to them by one of the cafeteria workers. They had tried to make Dara go through the line at first, but the high probabiity of this resulting in flying cutlery had led to the current arrangement where his food was brought to him to avoid any more incidents.

Kimberly sits with Dara, she politely accepts the meal, surprised that they knew she was with Dara.

I'm sorry if this upsets you, but, why do you eat over here? would you like to eat at a table? or maybe outside at a picnic table? at least while the weather is nice. we can stick together so we can look out for each other.

Dara shakes his head. 'Safe here,' he signed. 'Corner. Hidden. Near metal," he added pointing to the large rack of spoons nearby. 'Safe.'

He appears to be on constant alert, not considering anyone entirely above suspicion.

Kim seems to not mind Dara's method of communication, though sometimes she struggles to understand him, and she asks him to "say" something again. but when she does she tries to be polite about it.

So, where do you like to have lunch Dara? You will have to show me since this is my very first day here.

Dara struggled to answer, making faces as he tried to find a word he actually knew before he finally settled on, 'Follow'. He led Kim to a deserted corner of the cafeteria, more than half hidden behind a potted plant. Their lunches were brought to them by one of the cafeteria workers. They had tried to make Dara go through the line at first, but the high probabiity of this resulting in flying cutlery had led to the current arrangement where his food was brought to him to avoid any more incidents.

Kim spent the morning trying to get to know Dara a little better, sensing that both of them are a little nervous about the present situation.

They remained fairly hidden behind the little fortress of books.

when the bell rings for lunch Kim looks to her hopeful new friend. do you wanna have lunch with me? she asks her voice somewhat muffled by the teddy bear covering her embarrassed face.

Dara considered this. The lunchroom was even more frightening than the classroom. But he had to eat and with Miss Zamarosok off today there wasn't anywhere to go and hide. He nodded slowly. This girl seemed like she was as scared as he was which made it easier to not be afraid of her. Mostly. He'd feel better if Midori was here. But there was lots of silverware in the lunchroom, so he could use that to stay safe if he needed.

By this point Kim has figured out that Dara doesn't talk. He communicates a little through sign language as the gloves he wears translate his signs into words that can be read. His sentences are often fragmented and awkward due to a limited vocabulary.

Kim whispers to Dara, Are you afraid of the demon monsters too? I don't like them.

Kim seems to have noticed that Dara shied away with the mention of demons.

you never said your name, but if you don't that's ok. This is my teddy. sometimes he talks to me, maybe he will talk to you too.

Dara held up his hands and made some motions that caused the words 'I am Dara' to float in the air above his gloved hands. He does look at the teddy bear suspiciously. Through all of this he does not say a single word.

Kim scooched her seat closer to Dara, behind his book fortress.

leaning over to whisper to him, can I hide with you? she asks politely

Dara cowered away from her at first, but slowly seems to accept her as mostly non threatening. He nodded, but kept a wary eye on this new person.

Kim cautiously took a seat beside Dara. she looked over at him.

Hi, I'm Kim. are you hiding from someone?

She sees a brief glimpse of a dark skinned boy through a slit in the book tower before he ducks down so he can't be seen. After a minute he slowly looks up again. Then Settro shows up and starts talking about demons and Dara is back to hiding.

Dara Jhiwoon wrote:

Lysander Sandwalker wrote:

"Then you don't need all the forks and spoons."

"Want. Safe. Not like class. Class scary," [i]Dara signed.

"Class is fine, you're scared of people.

"Class has people," he signed. "People scary."

"Then you don't need all the forks and spoons."

"Want. Safe. Not like class. Class scary," [i]Dara signed.

Dara Jhiwoon wrote:

Dara was feeling nervous. He didn't like going to class with all the other students. He decided that he'd had enough of breakfast and had built a gravity defying fortress of spoons and forks around his seat in the corner of the elementary cafeteria.

"Nicely done, Dara," the white letters that appear inside the fort read, "but how will you eat without making a hole for the world?"

"Not hungry," he signed, presuming that if the letters could get in, then they could get out as well.

Dara was feeling nervous. He didn't like going to class with all the other students. He decided that he'd had enough of breakfast and had built a gravity defying fortress of spoons and forks around his seat in the corner of the elementary cafeteria.

"Dare, I know it's a little scarier outside, but you did really well coming out here. I'm proud of you." He tells Dara when he's close enough to hear past all the metal. "do you want to start?"

Dara nodded. At present all that was visible of him was his eyes. He appeared to be completely covered in a suit of armor built out of metal toys. He moved some of the armor away from his hands so he could practice signs, staying close to Lysander just in case.

Lysander sat out in the garden reviewing the word signs he'd taught Dara so far and wondering if the boy would accept his offer to learn some outside today to learn the signs for plants.

Because we just haven't seen enough teaching going on lately. ;p

What looked like a walking tin can tried to move quietly through the garden, skittering away from anyone who tried to get near him.

Geez, you'd think it was a school or something. ;P

Midori lets her guard down slightly as the friendly dwarf tells them they are safe. She remains quiet though, with a hand on Sara-rin's shoulder still, and the other still holding Dara's hand.

"Don't worry Dara-san. You're surrounded by metal, see." she motions to the ship around them.

Dara looked around and nodded, coming out from where he'd been hiding behind the others.

I thought Dara was still there and we were waiting for him

I thought Dara had left with Sun and Settro too actually.

Dara Jhiwoon wrote:

Dara focused on the shuriken and both went flying into the opposite wall on a trajectory that kept them far from anyone else in the room.

He shrugged.

"Hajime mashite." Midori finishes the introduction properly with Settro, before turning back to Dara. "You should go play Dara-san, but maybe we can practice together! If I'm nearby you never have to be scared of anyone! I can make metal for you!" she says, actually excited about her power for the first time in memory.

"Hai! Go play, we'll talk later okay?" she says with a smile.

Dara nodded eagerly, obviously a fan of this idea before heading off to play.

Dara Jhiwoon wrote:

Dara nodded. 'I'm magnet' he signed. 'Can make metal move.'

"Sugoi!!" Midori says again, obviously very excited.

"How fast can you move it? How mcuh can you control at once?" She asks taking a step closer and fishing in her pouch again, this time bringing out a pair of shuriken and holding them out towards Dara, palm up.

Dara focused on the shuriken and both went flying into the opposite wall on a trajectory that kept them far from anyone else in the room.

He shrugged.

'Go play game with Sun now. Can play with you later. Bye.'

Midori kept her focus so that she would only transform the ribbon... but she was astounded. "Dara-san sugoi ne!" she exclaimed happily, watching him manipulate the steel into the ribbon shape.

After a moment she realizes that she hadn't spoken common (again), and corrects herself: "Dara-san, that's so... nice! Uh.. cool? What's the word?" she loses her focus, and the ribbon turns back to silk, though still bound up in a bow.

"Can you do that with all metal?!" she asks excitedly after having shaken her head to clear of her linguistical troubles.

Dara nodded. 'I'm magnet' he signed. 'Can make metal move.'

Dara Jhiwoon wrote:

Dara tilts his head, somewhat confused by her offer. He nods slowly, wanting to solve the mystery.

Midori reaches into her holster as if she's about to draw a weapon... but instead she brings forth a birghtly coloured yellow silk ribbon - probably useful as a distraction when tied to a kunai, the ribbon catches the eye quite easily.

She smiles at Dara and closes her eyes. Her horn comes to life suddenly, glowing with a soft white light seemingly from within, and the ribbon turns to steel in her hands.

She opens her golden eyes and smiles at Dara. "See? It won't hurt you anyway."

Dara grins and then frowns in concentration as he focuses on the steel ribbon, using his magnetic ability. Doing something this delicate is obviously difficult for him, but a with a great deal of effort he bend the sides of the ribbon up and then over and across into a very crude bow shape.

'Won't hurt me,' he agreed.

Dara Jhiwoon wrote:

Dara stopped to think about how to answer with his limited vocabulary. He'd been learning lots of words, but there were still gaps in his ability to communicate.

'You....have lots metal.' he signed.

That gave Midori pause, and even though she had heard Settro, Midori wasn't sure what magnetic meant. But Dara knew about her power and was less afraid of her because of it...

Midori thinks that Dara was talking about her metal power, not her weapons.

"Do you want to see, Dara-san?" she asks without preamble.

Dara tilts his head, somewhat confused by her offer. He nods slowly, wanting to solve the mystery.

That definitely piqued Midori's curiosity, and she looks the boy up and down again, taking stock. He definitely didn't hold himself like a fighter. Midori can't resist asking: "Ano... Why do you say that Dara-san?"

Dara stopped to think about how to answer with his limited vocabulary. He'd been learning lots of words, but there were still gaps in his ability to communicate.

'You....have lots metal.' he signed.

After introductions are over Sun will approach Dara.

Settro and I were going outside to play a game. you don't have to worry about flying I hate flying also we were just going to play in garden. Settro has a game he wanted to she me how to play.

Sun smiles do you want to join us? the girls can make their dresses and we can go do boy stuff

Dara hesitated, but then looked back over his shoulder at the girls sewing and wrinkled his nose. He didn't seem too excited about sewing. He turned back to Sun and nodded, still watching Settr warily.

Contrary to Chara's reassurances, Dara may be able to sense that Midori is armed to the teeth with metal weaponry in her holster.

Midori is looking a bit worriedly at Dara. She didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable, so she squirms slightly. "She's right Dara-san. I won't hurt you."

Dara looked at her warily like he didn't believe her and then he seemed to relax.

'You can't hurt me,' he signed, with no further explanation.

Sun, Chara and company arrive in the home ec room to find Midori and Cariban working to finish up Sara's yukata, with Sara also there, though whether or not she's helping is not immediately clear.

Midori stops her work and quickly steps over to greet the new people. "Thank you Sun-san! Hello Chara-chan! We were making a yukata for Sara-rin and we thought you would want one too."

To the people she hasn't been introduced yet, Midori turns to each of them in turn and bows before saying. "Hello, my name in Midori Tsuyomi. Hajime mashite." that last part almost seems reflexive. As if that's what ought to go along with an introduction.

Dara looked at her anxiously, but then he waved and the word 'Hi' appeared in the air over his glove.

He probably would have left then, but Chara wouldn't let go of his hand and yanking his hand away would hurt her. He looked distinctly uncomfortable.

"Sure, because you would have let me anywhere near you to take it, unless you weren't afraid of me."

'Maybe. Chara said you were nice. Should ask. Not just take.'

"What? You wanted your fear? Fine."

he withdraws his tail.
"I'm leaving. You don't make any sense."

Dara shook his head.

'Nice people ask first. Taking without asking is bad.'

Sun just frowns. I'm sorry, I didn't know. I guess I screwed up again.

Sun looks back at Dara don't worry You don't have to ever fly if you don't want to. Lang would never force anyone to do that. but I sometimes play hide and seek with with Chara. maybe we can play that instead

Dara nods and makes a hand motion which causes the word 'Maybe' to hang in the air over his glove.

He turns and glares at Settro, looking at Chara and shaking his head. He points at Settro and signs something else.
'Not nice. Takes without asking.'

"Oh, calm down, would ya."

settro jumps closer and lashes his tail out, devouring his fear.

As Settro steps closer his path is suddenly blocked as every piece of metal in the playroom is drawn towards Dara who has apparently made some sort of shield of it.

Sun looks on and smiles

Chara, Midori and Sara asked me to have you go to the Home ec room. Sara's teddy is making Yukky-Ta's for a Tea party and they said they needed you there. Oh yeah the teddy bear talks and moves now, I don't know why or how but it does so don't be scared of it okay?

Sun then looks to Dara hi Dara, I'm Sun. I am a friend of Chara and I am also a companion to Lang. he sometimes takes Chara out flying. he might be able to take you flying too but not right now since he is not here.

Dara looked even more terrified and backed away further from Sun when he mentions flying.

Settro wrote:

"Hay, chara, sun wants to tell you something."

Chara looked up from the block tower that she was building with Dara. She grabbed the boy's wrist. "No, Dara, it's okay. You don't have to be scared. Mr. Settro is nice. Sun is nice too. Mr. Settro helps take away the pain when I get hurt."

"Hello, Mr. Settro. Hello, Sun. This is Dara. He's in my class, but he doesn't usually join us during lessons yet."

Dara looked doubtful when she said he didn't need to be afraid and he hid behind a toy chest peering out now and then, clearly not ready to take Chara's word for it about them being nice.

"It is...unfair that you have already seen so much violence in your life," Fei says quietly to Dara as he looks over his drawings.

"But it is good that you are trying to get these images...out. Perhaps you and I can talk through these," he continues, pointing at one of his works, "and give you more words to use with your gloves as we do..."

The young monk stands and walks over to the art table, gathering all of the drawing supplies to hand and bringing them back over to where he and Dara were sitting. He then does his best to learn what Dara already knows, and teach him what he can in the time he has with him. He creates pictures and pictograms as they go along for the young boy to use.

As eager as Dara is to learn at the beginning, he is only seven with a young child's short attention span. Eventually he seems more interested in playing with blocks than with trying to communicate. When Fei decides to leave, Dara gives him a big hug, an unusual display of affection from a child who usually only allows his sister to get near him, and then runs back to the toys to continue playing.

If Sadie gives her permission as she and Vai leave, Fei will stay with Dara for a little while to keep him company. If so, he makes a point to keep his movements slow and serene, and to remain seated on the floor as much as possible to be at his eye-level.

If Fei spies any drawings by the youngster in the playroom, he will compliment him on his work and make a few drawings of his own for him - some perhaps as visual aids to help learn some new words, but mostly to (hopefully) entertain. (^-^)

Dara seemed to be acting more like himself around Fei than he had for the last couple of days. He had a whole series of drawings, most of them vaguely disturbing. There seemed to be a high degree of violence depicted in his pictures. Still, he seems eager for any sort of communication. It clearly frustrates him that he can't talk.

Dara Jhiwoon wrote:

He considered for a long while, his expression grave. After a long time he nodded.

He pointed at her teeth and signed the word 'scary'.

It was her worst fear come true. Someone she cared about was afraid of her simply for what she was...... what she had become. She tries not to display how troubled that one word from Dara had made her, instead smiling wide and showing Dara that her teeth weren't sharp right now. Fei at least can see her tremble slightly, and Sadie and perhaps even Dara may notice it as well.

"I'll never use my teeth on you Dara." she sincerly hoped she could keep that promise. She hadn't exactly had the best week as far as controlling her temper had been. She's still trembling a little, but tries to focus on the happy feeling she had earlier with Fei. She takes strength from that, and the trembling eventually begins to lessen and fade away completely.

Dara nodded after a long pause.

Dara Jhiwoon wrote:

He looked like he wanted to say more, but he still didn't know many words.

With a small glance to Fei and a squeeze of the hand in thanks, Vai releases Fei and steps a little towards Dara, kneeling down and turning her head to the floor for a moment. "I'm sorry I dropped you Dara. I didn't mean to do it. I was really scared and I wasn't thinking. Will you forgive me?" she looks up to see Dara's response, because she knew he couldn't speak.

He considered for a long while, his expression grave. After a long time he nodded.

He pointed at her teeth and signed the word 'scary'.

Dara Jhiwoon wrote:

Dara looks at him solemnly and waves. The word 'hello' is displayed in the air over his gloved hand.

He tilts his head slightly at the display.

"I...cannot do that," he replies, looking at his free hand. "That...is a most useful ability you have." (^-^)

Aaaaand it looks like I have to turn this show back over to Vai...dinner calls ;D

He looked like he wanted to say more, but he still didn't know many words.

Fei stands next to Vai, quiet and unassuming. He hopes his suggestion about coming along works to help Dara - now that his energies are more controllable, perhaps that will mean he could help some of the other children here as well.

When Dara appears from behind Sadie, the young monk smiles and bows.

"Hello," he says, quietly greeting him. (^-^)

Dara looks at him solemnly and waves. The word 'hello' is displayed in the air over his gloved hand.

Sadie Jhiwoon wrote:

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

Leaving Morrivan to finish the cleanup, Sadie led the way to the elementary wing to one of the playrooms where Dara was playing by himself.

"Hey, Dara," she said, kneeling down in front of him. "How's it going? I brought someone who wants to talk to you."

Vai stood back and waited to see Dara's reaction to her before moving any closer. She's holding Fei's hand tight.

Please to be remembering Fei's Intrepid Aura.

Dara instinctively hid behind Sadie when he saw Vai, but then he slowly crept out from behind her, ready to jump away at a moment's notice. He watched Vai nervously.