Kezzin wakes up in a foul mood. Unsure why, he decides to skip breakfast and spend the morning in his room playing his violin and trying to shake the irritation plaguing him.
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"Ahh. What about you?" he says to Kezzin. "Looks like you eat normal things..." Kezzin looks up, his hand halfway to his mouth. He uses utensils for many foods, but this drumstick is meant for hands. "Huh? Oh. Yeah, normal food. Just a lot of it."
Kezzin follows her through the line, beckoning at Al'rqyq to come along, though he does go through the non-firebird portion of the line. He comes out with an impressively heaped tray also. After they sit, Kezzin tucks in without a word.
Kezzin smiles at the taller man, "That is meatloaf. Its a baked dish made from ground meat with spices and other things added into it. It is quite good, actually." He looks around the cafeteria then back to Al'rqyq, "The best thing to do is just try new things if you are not familiar with them. Go through the lines and take small amounts. If you like a thing go back for more."
She shrugged. "I'm a firebird. Our food makes other people sick and vice versa. Fire heals me and cold can kill me pretty easily. Pretty standard for a firebird. My little brother is different than me that way though. He uses cold magics and fire hurts him. Which is why they abandoned him as a baby. I didn't even know he was alive until a few days ago when we met here. Funny how life works sometimes, you know?" Kezzin stares for a moment at the clinical and offhanded way that Asha describes the attempted murder of an infant. Unable to find the words to respond he simply shakes his head slightly. After a moment he gives a small shake of his wings, settling them against his back, "So, don't give you foods that are bad and keep you warm. I can do that." After a moment Kezzin realizes what he had just said and stumbles in embarrassment. If he could, he would be blushing rather brightly, and he begins tripping over his own tongue, "I uh .. I mean .. I can .. I mean .. That is good to know," he finishes in a flustered voice.
"Oh," she said blinking. She still wasn't used to this idea of someone being concerned about her well being. She had just about come to terms with people being worried or feeling guilt for accidentally hurting her, but just being concerned about her was...new...and rather odd. "Well, I'm okay now. You're not intruding or anything. I just didn't think you'd mind about me being hurt. I mean, not like you wanted me to be hurt or anything...." She sighed. "Everything I say is coming out wrong now. I'm just not used to people caring about my well being. Nobody ever thought it was that important before I came here."
Kezzin stares at Asha in disbelief for a moment before turning to head for the cafeteria once more, "That sounds like a lonely way to grow up. Be assured, there are people who care about others being hurt. I do not like to see anyone hurt, physically or emotionally." He cocks his head to one side just a bit then continues after a brief pause, "The funny thing is, in order to keep people safe, it is sometimes necessary to hurt others. It is an intensely annoying fact." With a shake of his head and a short roll of his shoulders, he dismisses the whole idea. "So you mentioned eating some types of food I have never encountered as food before. And you turned into a breathtakingly beautiful bird earlier. Anything else I should know about you? Like things that could hurt you without me meaning to?"
He looks a bit uncertain, then glances back out the door. When he turns back to Asha, he is more sure of himself, "Not exactly. You just seemed really hurt, so I wanted to come and make sure you were okay. Sorry if I intruded."
"May I help you?" a nurse asks in what was intended to be a pleasant voice but came off rather surly on account of her being on the tail end of a fifteen hour shift. Kezzin looks at the nurse in what he is hoping to be a pleasant manner, but his uncertainty about waiting at the cafeteria or checking on Asha at the infirmary results in him presenting more as hesitant, timid, or possibly having been caught while up to something, "No. I mean, yes. I mean, um .. maybe? I don't know." He just kind of trails off, unsure of the situation.
With a wide and decidedly carniverous grin, Kezzin leaps off the roof after her. An excellent flyer, he hangs back a bit to give her the room she needs, and so has an excellent vantage point from which to observe her spectacular 'landing'. He cuts a tight curve around the tree she is stuck in and flares to a perfect landing right in front of her. His face has a look of bewildered helplessness and his free hand partly outstretched as if he is trying to figure out what to do to help when she disappears abruptly, leaving a small wing-shaped hole in the tree. After a little while of staring at the hole in the tree with a disbelieving look, he leaps back into the air and flies to the infirmary. At the point where the path to the infirmary and the path to the cafeteria diverge, he stops, standing for a few moments as if debating with himself. He finally takes the turn for the infirmary, arriving there several minutes after Asha.
"Yeah, sure. I could do with some charred cheese and a nice, hot cup of paraffin," she said cheerfully. "Plus, it gets too chilly to play outside as it gets later. They tell me it gets even colder...guess I won't be wanting to go outside at all in a few months." Kezzin gives her a decidedly odd look, having not figured out that she is a firebird, but lets it slide. He turns toward the rail, then pauses as he gets a thoughtful look on his face. He turns back to Asha, "Sorry, I always just fly down. Would you rather take the stairs?"
"Well," Asha said, patting his shoulder gently, "I don't know anything about dragons or kobolds, but it seems to me that if you're something really rare, then you can just as well be a rare type of dragon as a rare type of kobold. Not that it should matter all that much probably. I can believe in you, if that helps," she said with a cheerful smile.
Kezzin smiles up at her, and as he is about to speak his stomach grumbles loudly. With an embarrassed chuckle he picks up the violin case, "I think I need to get some dinner. Would you like to come with me, or are you gonna stay up here?"
Asha sighed. "Oh, practically everything is shameful among my people. That's why I avoid them whenever possible. But this week has been full of people telling me that this that and the other thing are offensive to them. I've learned to err on the side of apologizing," she said, rolling her eyes. "As if I could possibly understand the social conventions of humans, elves, lycans, and other assorted beings in only a few days! They're all so complicated." She regarded him curiously. "What species are you? I don't think I've seen any other beings like you here yet. And if there's something that you find particularly offensive I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me so I don't do it accidentally." Kezzin looks sullen as he responds, "I am a dragon. No one believes me though. They say I am a rare type of kobold. I do not think there is much that offends me other than being told that I am not what I know myself to be." He stops abruptly as he latches the violin case, staring down at his hands where they rest on the latch. His wings sag slightly, "I may be as delusional as people seem to think, but I cannot make myself believe anything else."
Kezzin gives her a curious look, "Why would that have offended me? Is nudity somehow shameful among your people?"
"I have this power that I can't really control," she said with a shrug. "I go right through things. Including floors. Which is better than the time I fell through my chair and then resolidified with the chair leg in the middle of my leg. That hurt. And the nice ice cat person made me some special clothes that go all unsolid with me so at least I don't end up in the basement and naked. It's cold down there! Well, except the boiler room. It's pretty nice in there. But most of the basement is too cold and definitely not the place I want to be walking around naked," she said firmly. Kezzin looks closely at Asha for the first time, and his tone when he speaks gives her the impression he might have the image of her with no clothes on floating around in his mind, "That sounds like .. it would be inconvenient, lucky for you to have clothes that stay with you. Are you making any progress on controlling it?"
Kezzin smiles back at her, "It can be rather overwhelming! I couldn't really function well with all that was going on until I found this lovely instrument hiding in a shadowed corner of the library. That was when .. I .." What she said finally seeps through and he stops, puzzled, "Falling through the floor?"
"I can fly. But I'm really bad at landing. So I guess it's a little bit the second one too," she said with a shrug. "But they say crashing is good practice for possibly not crashing at some point in the future." "Yes, landing well is important, but so is a willingness to take risks." He gives a powerful stroke with his wings and leaps off the dormer's peak and onto the balcony where Asha is. His wings fold back behind him, and he kneels to put the violin in its case laying nearby. "What do you like to do other than balance on balcony rails and avoid crowds?"
"Because it's good practice. And I'm tired of just practicing on the beams in my room. The SIM rooms are pretty good too, but sometimes I like to go outside because I can now and that's important. And I like to practice because after I've spent all day on things I'm not good at, it's nice to spend time at something I am good at," she said, flipping up to an upright position to make conversation a little easier. "Is that why you like to play your violin on the roof?" Kezzin smiles a closed-lip smile that mostly hides his very sharp teeth, "I come up here because the view is better, and it is far from the stampeding students. I like to start and end my day with some peace. I haven't been at Avalon long, but sometimes it feels like I have been here forever. A few minutes at the end of the day helps to .. clear my head, I guess." He looks at Asha a little more closely, then down the side of the drop she had been balanced over, "Can you fly, or do you just like to take really big chances?"
Asha changed direction and headed towards the sound. She listened for a little while and then at a pause in the music she spoke up. "Why does it sound so sad?" she asked, curious. "Is it because you're sad?"Having discovered that the roof is an excellent place for acrobatics, Asha was walking along the edge of a railing on her hands. Because it was good practice. And because her friends were mostly either busy or cranky. Or both. Kezzin jerks a little as he notices Asha and his wings flare out to keep his balance on the roof, "What? No, I am not particularly sad. This violin just likes sad songs. And when I am just improvising, I play what my violin likes to play. I like to play as the sun rises and sets, and this violin is good for the sunset because the sun is leaving for the night. I found another one sitting on my bed three days ago that is better for the sunrise." He cocks his head at Asha, "Why are you walking on the rails on your hands?"
Having discovered that the roof is an excellent place for acrobatics, Asha was walking along the edge of a railing on her hands. Because it was good practice. And because her friends were mostly either busy or cranky. Or both. The soft sounds of a violin can be heard from nearby. Kezzin sits perched on a dormer window's roof, playing as he watches the sun set. The song aches of a deep sadness and irrevocable loss.
Kezzin is back in classes the following day, and most of the people in Avalon who knew of it have no memory of his impact with the wall and subsequent disappearance. In point of fact, they have memories of him attending classes for the rest of that day and the rest of the week. Andromeda senses some residual time-altered effect around him for a couple of days, but cannot pinpoint what it was. One notable exception to the memory alteration is Lily Svarog, who remembers all too well what it felt like to have her skull crushed at high speed.
Suddenly, Kezzin feels another presence in his mind. A female presence that is initially full of rage, but quickly receeds to panic. These emotions bleed slightly over to Kezzin himself as the panic sharing his mind begins to mount. Stunned by the sudden intrusion, something he had not yet experienced, Kezzin fails to turn when he should and plows headfirst into a wall at full speed, there is a crunching sound, and Kezzin disappears.
"Watch your flight path or I'll have your wings clipped!" Lily shouts rather loudly and forcefully as the flying blur passes by her. Was he still a hatchling?! Who taught that thing how to fly anyway. Goodness. The creature looks back and makes a rude gesture at Lily, "Go ahead and try, leg!" It is clear as the creature gains a little distance, that it is a young kobold, but one that is far more draconic looking than most of its race. It is also apparent that he is, actually, a very skilled flier; had he not been, Lily would likely have been struck.
As she passes through the hallway, a small winged and distinctly draconic blur whips around a corner and narrowly misses colliding with the haughty firebird before soaring just over her head.
Kezzin finishes his breakfast and looks up at the clocks in the cafeteria, then back at Marcell, "It seems we do not have time before my first class for a flying lesson, sorry. Just watch what I do and try to duplicate it, you will be fine. Good luck!" With that, he collects his tray and leaps into the air, swoops past the tray return and out the cafeteria doors.
KEzzin shrugs and turns his attention more fully to the food.
"I'm going to have to find a way to record you, aren't i? Look, I'm just trying to make sure you're alright... I'm sure you stuttered... What thought were you destructed by?"
Kezzin shrugs, "No worries, maybe I did stutter. I doubt anything is wrong though. I do not remember what thought it was that distracted me. It seems to have not been important as it has flown right back out of my brain."
"I zoned out? Hmm, I must have gotten distracted by a stray stray thought or something. It is gone gone now, whatever it was." Kezzin does not seem to be concerned by his blank moment, but also seems not to have noticed his stutter."And now you're stuttering. You have a problem. It's not normal to black out like that." Kezzin scowls slightly and his voice is a little irritated and a little defensive, "I am pretty sure I would know if I stuttered. And I didn't black out, I was just distracted by a thought or something like that. My only problem is that magic does not work for me."
"Um, no. You zoned out, looking at nothing. Either something is wrong and you don't want to talk about it, or you've got some other problem." "I zoned out? Hmm, I must have gotten distracted by a stray stray thought or something. It is gone gone now, whatever it was." Kezzin does not seem to be concerned by his blank moment, but also seems not to have noticed his stutter.
Kezzin's eyes snap back into focus and he looks at Marcell, a puzzled expression on his face, "Um, nothing? What do you mean? I mean, the bacon is a bit overcooked and those clowns over there are damaging my calm, but other than that it is a Monday like any other."
"Really? How strange. Even non-magical people can usually use magic items. Well, some. Either way, I'll try to figure out how this works. So far, the reincarnation spell is the closest match for what this is. I've been doing research on it." As voices rise over by Ace and Dave, Kezzin glances that way with an irritated look, then returns to his meal, clearly trying to ignore them. "Yeah, even a magic sword is simply a normal sword in my hands; albeit a fancy one. Reincarnation, eh? I don't know much about that kind of ..." Kezzin's voice trails off and his expression goes a little blank as if he is staring at things that are light years away.
"Magic's in my blood. My family are all capable of magic. Not much, but some. I wanted more, so i came here." "Well, perhaps you can learn to control your new ability. There is power in my blood as well, but I cannot use it at all. Enchanted items do not even work for me."
"What do you mean, 'use your blood to fuller potential'?"
Kezzin looks over at the symbol for a moment, then speaks around a mouthful of hash browns, "That is pretty interesting, where did you get it?""It appeared on my back after i had a spell cast on me. No-one knows why yet. After it appeared, the next day i transformed into a mermaid, and the day after that a human-like dog, and today a dragon." "What spell was it? Do you know what it means?"
Kezzin looks over at the symbol for a moment, then speaks around a mouthful of hash browns, "That is pretty interesting, where did you get it?"
"Good. Lets get breakfast out of the way and do some flying! My name is Kezzin, by the way." Kezzin helps Marcell managae a tray and soon the two are settled at a table with breakfast. Kezzin's tray is loaded with a surprising amount of food for such a small person.
"Less than an hour, eh? Well, perhaps you should give it a try. I can show you after breakfast and before classes start, if you like."
After playing his violin at the sun's rising with Vai and Fei below performing their morning routines, as was his habit the last several days, Kezzin makes his way towards the cafeteria for breakfast. when marcell does get to the lunchroom, she looks up at where they give out the food, wondering how she'll get up there.
He falls into place behind a tiny dragon shaped creature and after a moment of watching it looking up at where the food is served, speaks up, "You know, those things on your back are useful for reaching high places. And if you would like a hand I can carry a tray for you."
Kezzin starts putting his violin away, and though he has not spoken since before the last song he played, he appeared pleased by the mention of dinner. As he is putting the instrument away, between an eye-blink or a gaze directed elsewhere, in a moment when no one is actually looking at the kobold, Kezzin is no longer there.
Kezzin smiles as Melody plays Snowflakes and his body language indicates that he enjoyed the song, but he remains quiet.
Kezzin smiles a little and brings the violin to his chin. He begins playing something a lot faster than he had been playing before, something more in line with what Melody had been playing on Cameron's violin. His smile while playing seems to invite the others to join in.
Kezzin listens to the song without playing he has a quizzical expression on his face as if he has not encountered this style of music before. By the end of the song his talons are tapping on the floor in time with the music, and his left hand is fidgeting with the strings of his violin. A closer look will reveal that, though he is not playing, he is actually fingering notes on the violin's fingerboard.
Kezzin is playing his violin quietly while listening to the others. He is again working out a new piece of music. The bits that he is playing sound very melancholy. If his musical equivalent of doodles are enough to evoke emotion, it is pretty clear that once he finishes the piece and adds in all the dynamics, the music will have a profound effect on its audience. After a few bars he stops and pulls out some sheets of paper and begins scribbling them down. Some of the sheets are filled with short bits of music in a haphazard jumble.
Kezzin grins at Cameron's words, fully displaying wickedly sharp teeth that are as much weapon as anything else. As he watches the display that accompanies the music, his grin fades and is replaced by an expressionless mask. Once Cameron finishes, Kezzin nods to him, "You are truly talented, Cameron."
"I sit among great musical talent." Cameron says after a moment. "I almost feel the need to show off!" "I have heard you play, Cameron. You have no reason to need to prove yourself in this company." A small bow accompanies the kobold's words, and his wings flare out slightly making the bow more elaborate.
Kezzin nods with a smile, "Of course. I would love the company. Can you fly? I usually perch rather high up the wall; if you cannot fly perhaps I can lift you up there." He gives Melody an appraising glance.
Kezzin listens to the first few bars of the music, then lifts his violin and softly at first to better hear the piano line, he begins to play. It is clear that he does not know the song, but he seems to be trying to do as he did before and blend his music with that which Melody is playing.
He seems to struggle a bit with finding the right notes for the song, and the result is a slightly discordant effect. Once Cameron joins in, Kezzin modifies his music to better match the Piano and the other Violin.
"You play wonderfully, my scaled friend." Cameron says after a moment. "You only heard some of our song and composed a piece to match in your head! Simply amazing. I would have to sit down and write it out before playing, personally." Kezzin smiles his peculiar close-lipped smile again, "I love to improvise. My favorite is to perch on the Eastern peaks of the school and play the sunrise. No two are the same! Sometimes they are slow and mysterious, the light sneaking into the world as if it hopes we will not notice, and other times it comes crashing in like a tidal wave, and everything between."
Kezzin cocks his head slightly in Mel's direction, then after a moment he sets the violin case on the floor in front of him and withdraws what is clearly a superb instrument, if not one a master would use. As he checks his bow and tunes the instrument, he speaks in a quiet voice, "Professor Fieri showed me what these instruments can do in the cafeteria a few days ago. Someday I will be able to play like she does; it was the saddest, most beautiful thing I have ever heard." Kezzin closes his eyes for a moment and begins playing what seems at first to be disconnected bits of songs. He seems to be sounding out something new.
After a few moments, he stops and when he starts again, the bits blend together smoothly and after a moment the others can recognize a rough counterpoint to the song they had just been playing.
He plays on for a few more measures, then just kinda peters off. He opens his eyes again as he lowers the violin.
Kezzin starts slightly as the others talk to him, but he stands up and walks over to join them after just a moment's hesitation. "Hello. Sorry to intrude, I have a hard time staying away from music when it is being played. My name is Kezzin."
Cameron takes a little longer as his mind tries to find the right beat for the violin, but when he finally starts to play little shadow creatures that resembles angels and fiends start to fade in and out of view, dancing. As Cameron plays and becomes more confident in the music he is playing, the door to the practice room opens silently just wide enough to admit a largish kobold with a violin case tucked under one arm. He quickly retreats into a corner and squats on his heels, head cocked to one side, and a small smile showing a few very pointy teeth.
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