Arashi was trying to appear as chipper as the other students as the day continued to lag on. And by other students, she really only meant Usagi, who was taking this college thing seriously. As if she didn't already have several degrees. Arashi supposed that it couldn't hurt to get another degree either. They say one never stops learning.
The group was slowly making its way through yet another activity. The tigress was half listening when Sasuke explained the rules to this "Smashing Stereotypes" workshop. From what she could understand, they were basically going to make fun of each other based on stereotypes for a few minutes, talk about a time when someone had done that to them, and speak about a time when they had done that to others.
They were all in groups of four. Arashi was grouped with Usagi, a girl named Coriander, and Takun. Takun laid on the ground while Coriander was preoccupied with asking him questions. Usagi wanted to stick to the task at hand, which was "Smashing Stereotypes" because it was important for the overall campus wellbeing, she had said. And Arashi? Arashi wanted to take a steak knife and stab herself in the eye. Repeatedly.
"So, is Tessa your girlfriend now?" Coriander asked.
"What is this 'Interrogate Takun Hour'?" Takun grumbled.
"Who should go first? I think Coriander should go first. What do you say, Coriander?" Usagi tried to facilitate a meaningful discussion.
"I saw you and Tessa kiss and Tessa said...," Coriander said.
"Or what about Takun? Takun, do you want to go first?"
Takun belched loudly in response.
"That was about an eight," Arashi heard Sirod yell from across the walkway. They were on
the back patio of the Oak Vista Dormitory, some sitting under the fading orange gazebo others sprawled out under the giant oak trees that lined the pathway.
"If you heard it all the way from over there, it should be at least a 9.5," Takun yelled back.
"You're disgusting," Arashi muttered.
"Can we do the exercise?" Usagi asked. Takun sat up and shrugged, then burped again, just because he knew that it bugged her.
"Have at it."
"Okay, I guess I'll start," Usagi said. She read the worksheet. "When you think of a hybrid, what stereotypes do you think of?"
"Um... confused?" Coriander suggested, though she wasn't entirely sure what she should say.
"Confused!? I'll have you know that I am most certainly not confused, I graduated top of my class," Usagi said.
"I don't know. I was just guessing. I don't hear a lot about hybrids," Coriander said. "I'm from Koudo."
"Oh... I'm sorry. What about you, Arashi?"
"You know how I feel about most hybrids, Usagi, though at this particular point in time I find one particular hybrid to be rude, disgusting, and intolerable," Arashi said, pretending that Takun wasn't staring at her with this strange look.
"What about you, Takun?"
"You know," He looked at her name tag. "Arashi, you'd be really hot if it weren't for that attitude of yours," he said. Arashi really didn't know what to say. The tigress wasn't sure she wanted him to find her attractive. She just scoffed and tried to ignore him.
"Well that was fun," Coriander said with an annoyed sigh.
"This is stupid," Takun said. "Why don't you guys join Sasuke's group? I'm going to take a nap."
"Fine, any group is better than this one," Arashi said.
"I agree," Coriander replied, annoyed that Takun wasn't answering any of her questions.
"Look," Sasuke's voice boomed over the shouting match between a few girls of different species in a different group. Arashi was surprised that he could even project his voice that loud. It was actually scary in a way. "This was just a simple exercise about stereotypes. If you guys are just going to sit here and make fun of each other, then get out of my group."
The girls shut their mouths immediately and looked at the ground.
"Good! Now, the program says that we're supposed to go inside and watch a movie. If you want to do that, line up over here and head to the cafeteria."
"What are we doing instead of the movie?"
"We're going to Aoiya City. You guys can pick up some last minute things if you need to or just wait for 'Friends and Family Day' tomorrow. There's a lot to do there and we've got three hours," Sasuke said glancing at his watch. He sounded truly agitated, and from the little bit she had gathered from observing Sasuke and his interactions with other people, it would take a lot to push him to this state. "So if you're down, stay where you are."
"What are we doing instead of the movie?"
"We're going to Aoiya City. You guys can pick up some last minute things if you need to or just wait for 'Friends and Family Day' tomorrow. There's a lot to do there and we've got three hours," Sasuke said glancing at his watch. He sounded truly agitated, and from the little bit she had gathered from observing Sasuke and his interactions with other people, it would take a lot to push him to this state. "So if you're down, stay where you are."
"Are you going to go?" Usagi asked.
"Yeah, why not? I have some last minute things to pick up," Arashi said. "Plus I need to start spreading awareness for our memorial next weekend. Aoiya's the perfect place to do it." A bunch of rich people feeling guilty for something they had no control of, but somehow feel responsible for. "Why don't you get out and have a little fun?"
"I'm having fun here," Usagi said. "I want to see what the movie's about."
"I'm having fun here," Usagi said. "I want to see what the movie's about."
Arashi shrugged. "All right. Don't you get tired of watching the same types of movies over
again?"
"I think they're interesting," Usagi replied in a matter-of-fact tone. Arashi shrugged again.
"I think they're interesting," Usagi replied in a matter-of-fact tone. Arashi shrugged again.
"Especially the one about Megami Bara. That one is really good."
Arashi had to admit "The Last Goddess" was one of the better movies based on Megami Bara, though it wasn't entirely accurate. It did mention the woman who predicted the attacks years before they actually happened. The Koudonese version made her into a crazy voodoo priestess, who shared an uncanny resemblance to another woman in a movie about pirates and rum (or the lack thereof).
"What movie will we be watching?" Arashi decided to ask. Depending on the movie, she could either: A) force herself to watch it and have a peaceful night in the dorms without the irritated (and irritating) counselors hovering over her. B) go to the city and pick up some last minute items that she mistakenly forgot to pack.
"A movie about diversity, what else?" Sasuke said. He was starting to lose his happy outlook and was slowly turning more into the jaded student counselors that college was known for producing. He looked at his paper. "It's called 'A Moment to Cry'."
"I love that movie!" Usagi exclaimed. "It's about the woman whose children got killed and set off the Blood Wars. She then becomes a key speaker in the war and it's really really sad."
"Doesn't she die at the end?" Sirod asked.
"Didn't she get killed along with her children?" Arashi asked. Koudo had to stop taking artistic licenses with the stories it decided to tell.
"She technically got beheaded in front of her children," Usagi said. "But I guess they decided to put a new spin on it. It's a really really good movie."
"Yeah, I'll bet it's a triumph in the human spirit and all that bullshit," Takun said, slinking up behind them and stretching. "I'm down for going to the city though. There's a couple of spots throwin' some kick ass parties."
"No partying!" Sasuke said. "We can't afford to get fired. We're just going into the city and making a trip to the convenience store to pick up some necessities. If you have money, I guess we can get something to eat out there too."
"Well, if anyone's down to party, you can come with me." Takun smirked. His fangirls flocked to his side.
"Didn't you just hear me? I know you must've with your big ass ears," Sasuke said. "No parties. No sex. No alcohol. No nothing."
"What's the point of going if we can't do any of that stuff?" Tessa asked, lacing fingers with Takun. The hybrid looked uncomfortable.
"Do that stuff on your own time," Sasuke said. Takun conceded.
"Fine. Party at my place tomorrow," he said. Sasuke didn't put up a fight.
"So if you want to watch 'A Moment To Cry', you've got fifteen seconds to get your ass to the cafeteria," Sirod exclaimed. It was obvious she was ready to go. A few mahonin and half breeds reluctantly headed to the cafeteria, probably because their parents told them not hangout with people like Takun, Sasuke, and Sirod (or animari and nymphs in general).
She was surprised that a group like them were even considered to be counselors. They weren't the type of students she would have chosen for this job, interfacing with the students and whatnot. Through her various stints at college, there was one thing she didn't forget and that was the freshman orientation.
"You're not going, Usagi?" Arashi asked.
"I've seen that movie sixteen times already," Usagi said. "It's the same thing over and over again, so I think that I'll go with you guys."
"Plus I want to keep an eye on some of these students," the rabbit-wolf added. Arashi nodded.
"That's settled," Sasuke said. "I guess we head over to the airtrams."
"Yay! I love the airtrams, they are so fun. It was such a good idea that they got that installed. Back in my day, we had to walk up hills like that," Usagi said.
"Back in my day?" Sirod asked. "You mean, like two years ago."
"Precisely," Usagi said with a cheerful and oblivious smile. Arashi nudged her in the side.
"Be careful what you say," she whispered. Usagi nodded.
"Back in my day two years ago," Usagi reiterated.
The airtram was an old blue carriage instead of the chubby bug-like pods that Arashi was used to seeing. She could tell that they had modeled the airtram to look like a carriage, because inside it had bright blue and goldenrod chairs and blue painted hand rails. She took her seat next to the window, Usagi sat next to her.
Arashi smiled, looking out the side of the airtram as it made it's slow climb to Aoiya. She could see the whole city of Hirukaze to the south, lit up like a Dejingras water fountain during the holidays. The sun was just setting, casting a pink-orange tint over the area.
To the north, she could see the lush mansions in Aoiya, hidden between beautiful iridela plants that were in full bloom, their tiny neon pink petals falling down to the ground. To the east and the west, was sprawling country side.
The grass was fluorescent green and the wild tinkerberry shrubs with their large white flowers gave off the scent of something vaguely reminiscent of lavender with a touch of vanilla, cinnamon, and jasmine. There was a small river coursing beneath them that disappeared into a series of tunnels.
To the north, she could see the lush mansions in Aoiya, hidden between beautiful iridela plants that were in full bloom, their tiny neon pink petals falling down to the ground. To the east and the west, was sprawling country side.
The grass was fluorescent green and the wild tinkerberry shrubs with their large white flowers gave off the scent of something vaguely reminiscent of lavender with a touch of vanilla, cinnamon, and jasmine. There was a small river coursing beneath them that disappeared into a series of tunnels.
"Wow, this view is spectacular."
Sasuke had a smile on his face as he looked out of the window.
"It is nice."
She saw him glance at Taiyo and give a small smile. In Arashi's heart of hearts, she knew Taiyo returned it, even if she did turn her head too quickly to see. She overheard some of the girls talking about who was going to hook-up first. If Arashi had to put her money in the pot, she'd put on Takun or anyone, but Sasuke and Taiyo would be a close second.
Arashi felt bad for thinking this, but she could tell that the groups she was with were scholarship students. They looked as if they had never seen so much greenery before.
"I guess I can give you guys a little guided tour," Sasuke said. "Well obviously you can tell which cities are which." There was a thin layer of smog to the south where Hirukaze stood.
"The river flowing underneath us makes this land very beautiful. The pathway that it flows is
actually the remnants of an ancient elven village."
The students in the airtram humored him with an "oooh." He beamed.
"You can see small doors and windows in this crack over here," he pointed to stone where there were indeed little windows with yellow stained glass windows and little doors that were covered in overgrown vines.
"Are you sure these weren't hobbits?" Usagi asked. Only Takun appeared to have gotten the joke. He was rich enough to import Koudonese movies or pay the exorbitant price for theater tickets. She and Usagi actually saw the movie in the "Fact from Fiction" class they had to take at the Goddess Studies Lab in Kiyahana.
"So if this used to be a village, how did the water start flowing through it?" Usagi asked.
"Well, the water was already here," Sasuke explained, sounding like a teacher. "It used to be a minor waterfall before the elves used it for their power source. With help from mizukasui, they were able to use the water to carve out homes and things. Though after the First Blood Wars, the area was abandoned by the elves as they moved under ground. Mizukasui used this area as a battlefield in the Second Blood Wars."
"Fascinating," Usagi said. She was always intrigued by little facts like this, for whatever reason. Arashi had to admit it was a interesting little tidbit, though it wasn't entirely useful.
The only information that isn't useful is no information at all, Arashi repeated the Goddess aphorism in her head.
Sasuke continued on his tour, spending most of his time talking about the native plants in the area and how most of the trees were planted by the Aoikin University founders. Only Usagi appeared to be listening, though he didn't seem to mind. Most of the students mingled amongst themselves.
"So, are you going to use this time to ask for participants in the memorial?" Sora asked. She was sitting in the seat behind her next to Taiyo.
"Yeah, I'm thinking about asking some business owners if they're willing to donate," Arashi said. "I mean we do have celebrities on campus who are on board with the whole thing, maybe they can convince them to donate. I'm just a nobody." She smiled.
"It's a really nice thing that you're doing this," Sora said. "A lot people here don't seem to care about anything."
"I noticed that. I guess you really don't have to care if you're rich, as long as you have your money."
There was silence between them, but it wasn't awkward. Arashi looked around the airtram cabin and noticed that most of the students were scholarship students. It was obvious that they all stuck together, even if they weren't doing it intentionally. There was strength in numbers. The whole world of Atheria ran on this principle.
"So, what's your major?" They both asked in unison.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead," Arashi said.
"I'm majoring in Goddess Studies," Sora said. "I'm hoping to go to St. Talea's after graduation."
"Cool, that's a really good school," Arashi said, knowing this for a fact. She had attended a while ago and it was a life-changing experience. It was the determining factor of why she was at this specific place with a specific mission to accomplish.
"I'm majoring in Goddess Studies too, with an emphasis in history," Arashi replied.
"That's cool," Sora said. They chatted a little bit, though Arashi could tell that Sora was trying to avoid talking about the attacks. It was understandable, who wanted to talk about something so depressing anyway?
The tigress suspected that may be the reason why rich people didn't seem to care about anything other than money because the current state of Atheria required that one take action. It was bad form to talk about something you weren't prepared to fix. Rich people only seemed to talk about the weather and/or gossip.
They talked about weather because it was something that could never be controlled (unless you were an expert teikasui like she was) and they gossiped because it was something you could control depending on which words one chose. She spent many a time in a tight corset, listening to potential suitors, biddy old ladies, and spoiled rich brats ramble on endlessly about these things. Arashi was glad those days were over.
The airtram came to smooth halt.
"Thank you for visiting Aoiya," the pleasant voice greeted them as the door to the airtram
slid open. "Please watch your step and have a wonderful day."
Arashi stepped out and looked around. Despite all the places she traveled, she had never been to Aoiya. It was a rich town, so she never had a reason to be sent there. She marveled at the white marble floors and pillars and portraits of famous magical creatures. It looked more like a museum than an airtram station.
"Wow, this place is..." Arashi said, looking for a word to fill in the blank.
Sora looked around, unimpressed. "A waste of money."
Arashi nodded, hoping that if the citizens in Aoiya wasted all this money on an airtram station, that they would surely donate to her worthy cause.
