umbrage_embrace (umbrage_embrace) wrote in freedem_uni, @ 2010-09-20 05:21:00 |
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Entry tags: | #log, emma bishop, locke lamora |
Who: Emma and Locke
What: Making Amends
Where: Cafeteria
When: Wednesday, November 15th, 2:00 p.m.
Rating: PG
Status: Complete
Ah Wednesday. It wasn't her busiest day, especially after her morning class but there were still things to do. After swinging by to drop off her book bag in the dorms the mutant had taken on the War room for a bit to work up an appetite. She was to meet with Locke for lunch today and managed to squeeze in a quick shower before heading down to the lobby where she'd asked to meet the boy. Things were settling down a bit around campus, calming her nerves but her mind was not so lucky. Regardless she sat patiently in a comfy chair awaiting the arrival of her companion and became curious where they might be going. Being on a meal plan she didn't go out for food much but it was a welcome change.
Locke entered the lobby shaking off the cool breeze. It was a crisp November afternoon, good for the appetite. Espying Emma sitting in the lobby, he waved to her, a friendly gesture with a somewhat melancholy face. It was getting easier to face those around him for the unfortunate happenstance, but Emma was the one he owed the most to. He couldn't imagine what she was feeling then or now, he could only make good on his word. Here goes nothing. "Good afternoon, Emma. I am honoured that you would meet with me."
The sight of him brought a smile to her face as she waved in return, standing to smooth out her clothes before they headed out. It made the empath less worried to see the man was well and perhaps she could even coax a smile from him. "A-Afternoon Locke. And it-it's a pleasure. Sh-Shall we?" she asked cheerfully, gesturing toward the door. "H-How've you been?"
Locke bowed politely and joined Emma in stride. "I've been lost in thought over the...proceedings, but time heals all wounds. One can only hope anyways." He looked down at his shoes, then up at the door, inhaling deeply and exhaling noisily. "Emma," he turned, "I'm sorry for my actions, as released from them as I may have been. I should have been stronger and I promise you, I will become stronger." Locke searched Emma's eyes for a response.
"I-I believe so," she agreed as they walked along, reaching for the door but pausing when she heard the heavy noise. A concerned gaze met the brunette's when he faced her, features releasing relaxing on a light sigh. "You w-will be s-stronger Locke, I-I have no doubt about th-that." Tender forgiveness shimmered in clear blues with obvious care and concern. "Th-Thank you again f-for your apology and if th-there's anything I-I can do to help simply say th-the word. Your intentions h-have never come across as anything b-but good and I-I have faith in you."
Locke smiled gratefully. Once again, the gods had seen fit to grace him with forgiveness that he did not deserve. May not have deserved. He was being hard on himself, he knew, but he felt it was owed of him, at least for today. It was Emma's day and he would do the best he could to lift her spirits if not just for raising his. "You are too kind, Emma. There is something you can do to help me though," Locke held out his elbow, "you can accompany me to lunch. I have made ready a veritable smorgasbord, and there's no way I could finish it alone."
Rustic brows raised in curiosity, a dainty giggle passing her lips as she hooked her arm with his. "Th-That sounds delightful kind sir and I-I look forward to seeing wh-what treats you've put together."
Locke lead Emma outside and across the campus to the Student Centre whereupon a table with a staggering spread of foodstuffs ranging from fresh fruits and vegetables to carved meats to breads and cheese was splayed out, buffet style. A janitor stood guard at the table with a small red velvet rope line. Upon seeing them, the man saluted and Locke returned the gesture.
"Password?" the man asked.
"Operation: Impress Emma," Locke returned.
"Have you the centerpiece?"
Locke opened his blazer, reaching into the breast pocked for a cling-wrapped small frozen cube about 4 x 4 x 4 inches. Removing the cellophane revealed a block of ice containing a single daisy. "Present and accounted for."
The man nodded satisfaction and unhooked the barricade. Locke walked up to shake the man's hand, palming him a fifty dollar bill. Smiling, he turned to Emma as the man ambled away. "Shall we?"
A flush arose on her cheeks as the sweet gestures and once spoken to directly she nodded excitedly. Her stomach howled in glee at the sight before it as she stepped closer, eyes scanning over everything. "It-It's beautiful. Wh-Where do we s-start?"
"We start by sitting," Locke laughed. He placed the frozen daisy cube in a small dish, slightly elevated over the expanse of food and motioned for Emma to sit down on an already pulled out chair. Daises were for innocence and apologies and Locke hoped they would be a good omen for the luncheon. Seating himself, Locke pulled out a red napkin and a white plate, sprinkling it with cherry tomatoes, mandarin orange slices, figs and braised pears. Sugar to whet the appetite. "I must confess, I do not know much of you. Tell me, what brings you to Freedem?"
Nodding with a vibrant smile, she took her seat and examined the daisy. It was a gorgeous flower and she took a moment to admire it. Setting up a plate of her own, Locke might notice it was all fruits and veggies though he probably wouldn't know why. Nibbling a strawberry, she wiped her lips and finished the bite before speaking. "It-It's the best teaching school on th-this coast from wh-what I hear. I-I didn't even know about my. . .ablilities until." She frowned a little, but continued, "Professor Jamenson discovered me. Wh-What brings you here?"
Dabbing the napkin to his lips, Locke dug in for a second helping. Sliced turkey and ciabatta bread, steamed asparagus and foie gras with truffles. Spreading the pate across the bread, Locke bit it hungry. Passable. I shall have to procure more mustard seed. "Very much the same story as you: I was told this institution was the thing to best hone my skills, but until recently, I hadn't believed the curriculum to provide a modicum of assistance. I'm pleased to admit I was erroneous in my initial judgment." Locke took into account her change in facial expression at the mention of Professor Jamenson. He was not close with the instructor, but she obviously had a positive influence on Emma. "I'm sorry for your loss. I did not know her well, but I can only assume she was a wonderful mentor."
Finishing off the delightfully sweet fruit, she proceeded with another and listened intently. It was interesting they all seemed to be here for similar reasons and truth be told that notion comforted the Empath who normally felt like an outcast. "I-I didn't know her v-very well myself but it saddens me s-such a brilliant light has been extinguished from th-this world. Sh-She gave so much and I hope wh-wherever she is now sh-she's at peace. Speaking of-of abilities, I-I'm curious. N-Not to pry but what are yours?"
Locke smiled, slowing his eating pace. "My talents lie in the area of chicanery and deception." Locke leaned back in his chair, "There are times when a man of low birth might say, 'Locke, you dashing, young cheloveck, I need you to go over there and bring me things of a nefarious nature,' and I might reply 'right then, governor,'" He produced a silver coin with a flourish of his wrist and caused it to vanish a moment later, repeating the trick successively with two coins, then four, then with, both hands, eight. "Or another gentleman may need to attract the attention of a lady of high station and tell me to 'give this one to that one' and so forth." Locke reached behind Emma's ear and his hand returned with a daisy. "But I'm hoping to branch out from the many applications of this subset of skills." Smelling the daisy, he placed it on the slowly melting cube in the dish. "I am rather curious as to your abilities myself."
Well that would certainly explain what little she'd seen of the man's fighting style and it was fascinating. Consuming a small piece of raw carrot, her eyes followed the coin and sparkled as it disappeared with a childlike glee. Wow! What a neat trick! Giggling when he pulled one from behind her ear, the empath nodded. One could never have too many skills and expanding your own knowledge could be helpful on so many levels. When it came time to speak of her own. . .talents she took a moment to find the right words, not knowing if they would truly do it justice. "I-I'm a t-telepath w-with empathy if-if that makes sense?"
Locke's throat tightened slightly, but his smile did not waver. "Is that right?" he mused, leaning forward to pour himself a glass of fruit juice. "A most useful skill to have, I can only imagine." Locke began to go through the memories of the night in the village. At one point when he lost himself, he hazily remembered an incredible spontaneous pounding headache during the assault. "You must be puissant when it comes to meditation classes then."
Refilling her plate with a little bread and more veggies, her eyes stayed trained on him. "Y-Yours sounds equally useful in-in it's own respect of course. I-I've been meditating f-for years wh-which does make it'it easier. I-I'm still working on th-this telepathy th-thing though. Empathy is m-much easier, even if-if it doesn't inflict actual p-pain. I-I'm grateful for th-that." Tilting her head to one side, a brow raised, "I-I'm curious. Wh-Where are you from? Th-The way you speak is q-quite unique and almost. . .poetic."
Locke picked up a warm croissant and buttered it lightly. "Camorr," he replied, "though I would hesitate to call my speech poetic. English is a fine language indeed, but compared to those back home, I am a mere wastrel, bumbling about in my lack of verbosity." Locke was quite comfortable with English actually, it being one of the languages he preferred with it's adjectives and ambiguity, though at times he did miss speaking Therin to his companions, or Vadran to the bourgeois. "But enough about me," he continued,"I'm curious as to your thoughts on the increased...activity on campus." Locke put a finger to the side of his nose and tapped knowingly.
What a strange sounding place. Sometime she would ask him what home was like as she was sure it would be an interesting description at the very least. The subject of the weird things popping up around school came to light and it was inevitable really. "I-I hear it's not normally like th-this and I-I have a sneaking suspicion something is at work beyond wh-what we can see. It-It's unnerving but I-I can only hope we discover wh-what lay beneath th-the surface before it-it's too late. Your th-thoughts?"
Locke's thoughts drew him back to the evening Professor Bane had them run an errand. A demon-catching errand. Of demons the professor summoned. He grimaced, "Sometimes man doesn't know what he dabbles with. I can only continue to use the excitement as a learning experience." With the practical use Locke had been picking up, Locke felt more confident in his powers now than ever before. He sipped the white grape juice and crossed his arms. "I just do not settle well with the idea of being unsound in my own body. In my own mind."
A slow nod of understanding was given, fetching a cup for herself and pouring some juice into it. It was true these. . .events had caused them all to test their abilities in ways they might not normally think of and while it made her nervous she was also grateful. While she couldn't speak for the others it had been one hell of a crash course for her and she was better for it. "Understandable. I-Invasion of th-the mind is a very unsettling th-thing." Pausing a moment when a thought occurred to her, blue eyes widened slightly. "J-Just so you um know I-I would never. . .without your c-consent," she assured in reference to her powers. There were lines and she refused to cross them uninvited when it came to those she considered friends.
Locke nodded quietly, offering a brief smile before falling back into the focused look of deep thought. He had be practicing with Takahashi, the defense of the mind, and though he believed he might know enough to fend off Emma, he did not wish to put it to the test. Replaying the moment in his head was starting to become a habit, so Locke shrugged it off and reconnected with the conversation. "And, of the same token, be it far from me to attempt any acts of subterfuge on your person," Locke snapped a coin into his fingers, "aside from the whimsical, of course."
The smile was met with one of her own, daintily picking off one morsel after the next until her turn to speak came again. "I-I'm deeply sorry if th-the use of my abilities on you h-have had any um side effects. It-It was a defense mechanism I-I wasn't even um aware of." Glancing at the coin she gave a light chuckle, "and that sounds like a w-wonderful plan."
"Pish-posh, madam," he scoffed, "you needn't apologize to me." Locke spotted the cafeteria manager frowning at him. "Excuse me for a short spell, while I settle our affairs." Locke rose from the table and walked over to the frowning man.
"Lunch with a lovely young lass and the janitor as the maitre d'. That will be 100 dollars, please."
"I can't believe you got Bill to do that," replied the manager, reaching begrudgingly into his pocket for a few lint-caked bills. "How did you talk him into it?"
Locke put his finger along side his nose and tapped it. "Good afternoon, sir."
Locke walked back to the table, sitting down once more. "Apologies for the interruption, I had to see a man about a horse."
She bowed her head in a gracious nod, taking this time to tear apart some fresh salad stuffs. How she loved the refreshing and cool taste of raw veggies, sighing happily with each bite. She wondered at this rate if they would be able to finish this stuff and if not what would be done with it? If there was any soup perhaps she could talk Locke into saving it for Mags whom she was still worried about. Upon Locke's return she beamed up at him even though the reference seemed a bit off, "welcome back."
Locke noticed that the woman wasn't touching any meats and chided himself mentally. He would take note of this the next time he prepared any food for her. "What are your plans for Thanksgiving holiday?" he asked, reaching for a blueberry and cream cheese danish.
Dabbing her lips, eyes beamed up at him. "I-I'm flying home to spend time w-with my parents," Emma replied joyously, truly excited about getting to spend time at home especially since her mother would be around. Eyes followed his hand and she decided to grab one of the tasty treats herself although she would choose raspberry instead. "And yours?"
Locke thought about home, about returning to the tumult that was his city, especially now with himself outed as the Thorn of Camorr and to the Spider no less. He shook his head and chuckled. "I plan to stay right where I am. Besides, I've grown accustomed to my diminutive little domicile, and who would be there to feed Touya or change his water?"
The image of a battle armored gerbil Touya nibbling at pellets made the empath burst into a brief bout of laughter. Once she had collected herself, cheeks still flushed, she replied lightheartedly, "I-I guess you have a p-point. He might s-starve without you and all. It-It's nice of you to do so and I-I can only hope others wh-who stay behind are so fortunate." Again she thought of Mags, wondering if the poor thing would be going home or staying around the dorms.
Locke brushed crumbs off of his lips. The confectionery treats were filling and his appetite was almost sated. "Scuttlebutt on the precinct is the Liadan is attempting to fashion together a soiree of some sort. Does such a thing take your fancy?"
A slim brow rose. She had never been invited to a party that was not her own though friends here and there had dragged the empath to events. On her own she actually enjoyed a social atmosphere, even if she was completely out of her element. "It-It sounds lovely but of course depends on wh-when it-it is and th-the likes. Wh-What kind of party would it b-be?"
Locke gave Emma his most neutral stare. "It is a fancy dress party in which we shall don top hats and monocles while flogging each other with live trout," He took a sip of his juice, "and if you believe that, then I have a bridge to sell you." Locke laughed aloud. "It is a get together, silly girl. Good food and drink, the choicest of companions, perhaps a few memories to be made. The date is indeterminate as of yet but what this brouhaha needs is groundswell. Spreading the word should actualize this function."
Emma couldn't help but laugh at the mental image those words summoned, savoring the lighthearted conversation. "W-Well you be careful, I-I'm awfully mean w-with a trout," she joked before sipping her drink. Placing it back on the table, the telepath continued, "I-I wouldn't miss it and I-I don't know many but would be more th-than happy to tell th-those I-I do. I-I was also asking um in case you needed um h-help in acquiring alcoholic beverages."
Locke grinned deviously. "That aspect of the party should be taken care of, but feel free to provide for yourself and others what you may need to turn this fete into a fracas." Locke tapped his head thoughtfully, "Salmon boffing aside, I would wonder how, by chance, do you plan to accumulate said ambrosia?"
A brow perked up, interested in how Liadan planned on getting said drinks. She hadly looked old enough but there was surely something here the redhead had missed. Teasing gently in response, "at th-the store my dear boy. I-I may be a freshman but I-I'm also of legal drinking age." Winking, she added, "is th-there anything in particular th-that tickles your fancy?"
Locke became deadly serious, gripping his glass white-knuckled. "559 casted Austershalin Brandy." Reflex guided his mouth more so than reason. Locke knew Austershalin Brandy would never cross the Iron Sea to America; it could barely leave Emberlain. But it had been SO long since he had a decent drink that the finest was what he craved. Austerity became melancholy became a fluster of hand gestures. "ah--er, rather, I've been known to frequent spiced rum from time to time."
The confusion was clear on her features as she never head of such a drink but then Locke wasn't from around here so she should have expected that much. "W-Well, I'm afraid W-Wal-Mart doesn't carry th-the first but th-the second is no problem at all. I-I'm partial to coconut rum m-myself."
Locke composed himself. "Then we have struck an accord: you supply the hooch and I shall carry it in my stomach." Things were looking up. Locke surveyed the food and looked towards Emma. "Still working on any of this?"
Waving a hand to her plate, she responded politely, "only wh-what's already on here. Wh-What should we do w-with the rest?"
Locke pulled out a small cardboard sign from underneath the tablecloth. It read: Grad Student Luncheon: DO NOT TOUCH. Locke placed it on the table and shrugged. "That's the quickest way I know for it to be picked clean."
Amused, the empath continued to pick at what was left of her food. "Th-That'll do it, in most c-cases. So wh-what are your plans for t-today?"
Locke thought of the past few weeks' lessons with Takahashi, recalled the mental strain and frustration. Was reminded of the increased curriculum since the village debacle. He sighed heavily. "Training. As always. And you?"
"A-About th-the same. Class later th-this evening but I sh-should get in some study time a-and maybe meditate for a little. L-Lunch was lovely th-though and I h-hope we can do it again sometime soon. Perhaps n-next time I can cook for you." She smiled sweetly, loving the idea of being able to prepare a meal for somebody other than her parents. While they always enjoyed it she enjoyed spreading the joy of a home cooked meal to others which she couldn't do as often as she liked.
"I look forward to it." Locke arose from his seat, brushing off his clothes as he stood. "I'm glad I could convince you to come out today, Emma. This has been a boon for me." Locke bowed deeply, sweeping his toe.
"As do I," was her simple reply before adding, "take care of-of yourself Locke and d-don't be a stranger." Covering her plate with another to take the remains back to her room, she bowed to him gracefully. "I also l-look forward to this gathering. Until w-we meet again."