set the world on fire

- open | noon | drowning metal -

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give me a second, i ...

Everything was just so wrong. Kairi was hurt. Chevalier Evans had failed her miserably. But here he was, suffering little more than fatigue, minor dehydration (which he was sure was no longer a problem) and an extensive sunburn. Yeah. What a hero.

Being inside would have provided Chevalier with a certain measure of comfort. His entire body still seemed to ache, and the long sleeved shirt he was now wearing to conceal the angry red hue of his skin was a constant irritant to every part of his torso. You'd think he'd get used to the stimuli. Unfortunately, that'd be far too merciful, and apparently the world wasn't feeling particularly sympathetic. He didn't find this unfair with all things considered.

At any rate, he couldn't afford to be inside. Not yet. Not if he didn't have to. So Chevy removed his shoes, placed them carefully on the bank, perfectly lined up with one another with his socks balled in and concealed in each of the shoes, before he made the journey through the water and across the rocks until he reached a rock farther in, where the bottom of the lake was no longer visible from the surface of the water.

Once there, he crouched down, his back arched to gain better access to the water, placing his left hand into the water vainly. The subject of his drowning was a silver bracelet. The electronics were not damaged by water, he already knew that. If a fish didn't come and bite his hand off, taking the bracelet with it, he could use the water to constrict his blood vessels and, theoretically get the device off. Never mind the simple fact that cold constricted metal. That wasn't constructive, so he ignored the taunting thought.

Chevalier pushed down on the metal device, willing it to slip from his wrist, to the point that his hand hurt from the pressure of the unyielding metal. This battle was ended when Chevalier lost his balance and tumbled head first into the water. Instinctively, he grabbed his glasses when he hit the water, clutching them tightly in his right hand.

When the teenager surfaced he was taking in deep breaths and struggling not to panic. All he could think of was how cold he was and how badly he didn't want to be swimming. Compounding the issue was the fact that Chevy found himself staying in place, merely treading the water with his eyes closed as his mind wandered uselessly to his previous swimming adventure not long before. Panicking without much motion to rectify the situation was only serving to add to his anxiety as well. But there he stayed, ignoring his own discomfort.

✘ chevy

i need to get my story straight.

The day seemed nice, the sun had a joyous shine upon the land giving it a beautiful appearance. It did not impress Margaret in the slightest. She was out for a walk around the campus of the school and as well parts further places beyond that. She had heard before that nature walks were a good remedy for stress and mental pains, but so far it had proven to solve nothing.

Grueling headaches had begun to plague her mornings, this was not desirable in the least. A recent explosion in her now former laboratory had not left her too happy to say the least and the addition of headaches to welcome her every morning were not making her feel any better. Sure the headaches would come and go every so often during the day, but that did not relieve her in any way. She had pin pointed the case of her headaches to be stress that had originated from a recent traumatizing accident since they were not present before the day of the explosion.

Nature just did not seem interesting to her in the least, she’d look at plants and such, but it did not respond to her the way she assumed it did to others. The walk almost seemed useless to her, but at the least it was giving her time to think though she was only considering things she had already figured out during her stay at the Nurse’s office. Perhaps she had just been thinking too much and not doing enough lately.

Margaret considered that she may as well finish her wandering after viewing the lake and then return back to her dorm room, that is if it has been fully repaired yet. Once at the lake she noticed a boy sitting atop a rock surround by the lake. Curiosity is not exactly one of her virtues, but this seemed intriguing to her, the boy was putting a lot of force against his wrist. The boy ultimately ended up falling into the water, to which Margaret began to approach the shore line of the lake. As of currently she was trying to be a better person so she might as well show some kind of concern over this matter.

The boy seemed to have no reaction to his current situation so she did not express any kind of concern, he didn’t seem to have any problem with what had recently happened. She stood there still seeing as nothing was really wrong, but she supposed she had to voice some sort of concern. “You okay over there?” she said in a sort of a shout.

- margaret | noon | noting a problem -

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give me a second, i ...

Water ran in rivelets down his face, weighing down his normally spiky hair. His entire body seemed conflicted between the heat of his recent sunburn, and the coolness of the water. Was he okay? No. His eyelids fluttered open, his oddly colored purple eyes taking in the blurry scenery.

Nope, couldn't make out anything. Well, almost nothing. The general grey, blurry blob that was certainly a rock was apparent enough, so that was a plus. Chevalier blinked his eyes a few times, trying to improve his sight. It did nothing. With a small sigh, he placed both hands onto the rock (so he didn't lose it), mindful of his glasses as he hoisted himself up. Once in a sitting position on the rock, he tilted his head forward, then brushed his hair back before looking in the general direction of the voice. He still couldn't see... It helped that she couldn't have been behind him, considering the expanse of water that happened to reside there.

"Is the lake's water toxic?

[/color]" Chevalier questioned in reply. If asked why he retorted in such a manner, he would have to say he didn't know. It wasn't like she was being unkind, so why hadn't he just answered her? Chevalier rose to his feet, still squinting as he tried to walk. He ended up just shuffling across the rock, praying he didn't fall, his glasses clutched tighter in his grasp. His progress was haulted at the edge of the rock when he found he couldn't make out the distance he needed to travel to avoid falling. With a dejected sigh, his gaze shifted back to the shoreline as he tried to reason through a solution. His first instinct was to ask for help; he wasn't happy about it, though.

"Do you see a towel upon the shore?[/color]" Chevalier called again, a bit annoyed that he had to yell again. Yelling wasn't really something the boy was used to. As for the towel, well, he wasn't holding his breath because he hadn't seen one when he'd ventured out here. He certainly hadn't brought one. And he wasn't asking her to carry his shoes over so he could use his socks. He did have standards.

... Well, at least, he did when he wasn't stranded in the middle of a lake without his glasses. He just hoped he'd get lucky and a towel would have appeared on the shore. If there wasn't one, his next option was asking her to help him get across (which was particularly disheartening for the gifted boy, considering his ability) or asking her to wipe away the moisture from his glasses on her dry t-shirt.

Chevy decided there and then that he should just stay out there until he dried from the sun. It was far less troubling for the both of them. If he could have retracted his previous request, he would have.[/size][/blockquote]

✘ chevy

[/blockquote]

i need to get my story straight.

Margaret continued her unalarmed stance as she watched the boy out in the water. Should she have been alarmed? Probably not the boy appeared to have slight hesitation when climbing the rock, but it wasn’t like he was in that great of danger; it was a lake the current wasn’t that strong, he should be fine. This was nothing life threatening, unless of course the child didn’t know how to swim, but then again he couldn’t have gotten in his situation if he couldn’t swim.

The boy had asked Margaret if the lake was toxic. It was an odd question, but not exactly one that she could answer and feel completely correct about. She did not know much about the school grounds, even though she had been at this school for a couple years. Although she assumed that the water was nothing dangerous otherwise she would have heard more about it by now. “I’m not exactly sure, but I believe it is not” he shouted in reply as she cuffed one hand by her mouth to make it echo better. Besides shouldn’t he have checked that out before he went swimming anyway? Maybe he had other reasons, but Margaret didn’t particularly care to learn them.

The asked another question, that being was there a towel on the shore. Margaret didn’t recall seeing one when she approached the place, but then again she wasn’t exactly looking for one. She glanced to the right side of the shore and then to left, but saw nothing. That was exactly as she expected, which made the act absolutely pointless. “No, there is no towel, why do you need one?” she answered. She wasn’t sure why the boy would need a towel, other than to dry himself off of course, but why it was so urgent at this very moment.

Margaret stood with an arm folded at her lower chest and her other hand cuffed against the side of her hairless head as she stared at the boy from afar. What was he doing out there anyway? “Why exactly are you out there on that rock anyway?” she asked since she couldn’t help but to wonder it.

- margaret | noon | noting a problem -

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give me a second, i ...

To the reply about the toxicity of the water, Chevalier made no further reply. Of course it wasn't toxic. Well, it still could, but he wasn't honestly fearing the scenario right now. No matter, he supposed sarcasm didn't travel well in a loud voice. That was probably for the best.

"I don't, don't worry about it.

[/color]" Chevalier wasn't going to admit he was disapointed by this development. But, if there was no towel, he resolved himself to stay there until his own shirt was dry enough to clean the glasses. Chevalier carefully lowered himself to a sitting position on the rock, figuring he'd be there for a while. Now, if the girl would just leave, he could spend this time thinking.

On the other hand, with his hand on the rock for even the briefest moment, flashes of the rock's rather boring life cycle were coming to mind. Based on this rock's ... 'history', it seemed the rock cycle had a few bumps. Chevalier shook his head, finding himself annoyed by his own thoughts.

This annoyance Chevalier already felt would likely explain why the next yell from the girl aggitated him. He'd probably done more yelling already than he'd done in years. Chevalier lifted his left hand, rubbing his face to rid it of water again. It was a pointless gesture because his hands was still wet from the constant stream of water traveling down from his canvas jacket, but it made him feel slightly more productive to at least be trying.

"I was enjoying the sunshine.[/color]" Chevalier called in reply. For a boy who still appeared red from sunburns, the statement was a very odd one to make. But shy of saying he was trying to remove a metal bracelet he'd had his entire life, he didn't have a great excuse for his behavior or his subsequent predicament.

"Why are you yelling at a boy in a lake?[/color]" Chevalier added. Maybe the situation was a little bit funny... He moved his right hand, with the glasses, to his lap, his gaze traveling down to the black frames. Maybe this wasn't so bad. [/size][/blockquote]

✘ chevy

[/blockquote]

i need to get my story straight.

The boy had made a very valid point towards her, why was Margaret talking to this boy still? He was safe upon the rock, he was in no danger and that was what attracted her to this situation. She really had no need to continue a conversation with him, she should leave about now. Although the boy seemed to be hiding something from her, that was something she had deducted easily. She wasn’t sure what it was though and whether she should bother herself with him any longer.

The boy’s reply was obviously a lie. He wasn’t sun bathing when she had first seen him, instead he was fiddling with his wrist, for what reason he wasn’t sure. The real question came to should she bother him about it. It did not involve her so why should she care what he was doing. She hated the new way she thought because now she actually had to consider about other people opposed to when she didn’t have to even put a thought into another person. Being nice was harder than she had anticipated and it didn’t have too much awards either.

Now she was just over thinking this. “I’m not entirely sure anymore, at first I thought I was doing you some service, but seeing as you are well off without me I might as well leave” she shouted quite calmly and carelessly in tone. She had noticed the glasses in the boy’s hand before she had turned, that would explain his hesitation, but it gave her no further interest in him. She motioned her body to shift back into the direction she had came from in order to return to her less than intriguing walk.

The thought of continuing that walk was not in her slightest of interest either, perhaps she could stay a bit longer, the only thing she had to look forward to today was the disappointment of her probably unreconstructed room. She quickly turned back to the boy now wanting to ask the question of his earlier doings. “By the way, is there something wrong with your wrist?” she asked quickly.

- margaret | noon | resisting solitude -

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give me a second, i ...

[[ *total champ* I just modified my last post instead of quoting it, so don't mind the edit line, nothing changed from what I submitted before, I hope. ._. Thankfully, I have Lazarus. ]]

Even with her words, as far as Chevalier knew, she hadn't moved between speaking. So he did his best to give no attention at all to the fact that she may have left him. If he ignored it, maybe she'd be compelled to stay? Vainly, he tried to tell himself that was absurd and that he was just as stuck talking to her as he was stuck on the rock, but he merely had the misfortune of her wanting him to know she could leave at any moment.

Too bad he didn't believe this line of logic. So, to keep himself from prolonging this shouting match, and to keep her nearby if he could, he decided to invite her over. If you could call it that. Besides, part of him didn't want to be caught shouting toward the empty shore. Or worse yet, caught shouting to people that happened not to be this stranger.

"Of course not.

[/color]" Chevy replied quickly- quicker than he meant to when she asked about his wrist. She'd hardly got her question out before he was calling back in denial. Yeah, smooth. He brushed his left hand back behind his back subconsciously, his right hand still in his lap, his gaze having lifted toward the shore.

"I'd really rather not yell. Can't you swim?[/color]" Chevalier prompted. That was as close to an 'invitation' as the girl was likely to get if she had, in fact, warned him of her departure just to get his attention. With any sense, though, she would jump as he had rather than swimming. Then again, his journey had involved getting into the water where one particular gap seemed too far for a daring leap.

"The water's a little bit cold- do be careful.[/color]" Chevalier added helpfully. Once the words left his mouth, he wasn't sure why he'd bothered with it, except that maybe she was interesting to him, too, even if he couldn't see her.[/size][/blockquote]

✘ chevy

[/blockquote]

i need to get my story straight.

Margaret once again regained her stance that she had been standing in before since she was not as compelled to returning to the school as before. Though she wasn’t sure why she wanted to stay here instead of there, besides of course the tedious walk back that would give her no reward once completed. She had no desire for that whatsoever.

The boy had replied much quicker than Margaret had finished, that seemed quite odd. He most defiantly was trying to hide something which made her oddly curious, though she had no intention on learning the true of what his problem was. For whatever reason he had to hide something from her that was his own prerogative and she wasn’t going to intrude him with questions if he did not want to answer them. Besides that would get her nowhere if she tried. She shrugged it off knowing it was not something he wanted to be bothered with, she could identify with that, she hated people who stick their noses in someone else’s business as well.

Margaret moved in closer to where the water and the land meet with the water nearly splashing at her shoes. She heard the man’s invitation, but she didn’t exactly want to swim over to where he was. There was however an easier way that did not require her to get into the water and that was to leap across the rocks. This was no more desirable than the other route there, but she’d be more motivated to go across there than through the water. Thankfully she was not the kind to wear skirts or dresses; it would make the trip a whole lot simpler. “I’m coming over, just wait a bit” he spoke with a sigh.

She analyzed the path she was going to take making sure that she would know which stone was where and which one would be the more desirable route to take. Margaret was not the extremely balanced type, but neither was she absolutely clumsy so the trip may or may not end up badly. With slight hesitation she made her first leap and landed securely on the closest rock. Then she made her way down the path only tripping up every so often, though not enough for her to fall off. She did not want to fall off so that may have motivated her better to keep from falling off.

Near the halfway point she wondered if this person was even worth the trouble of this act. Ultimately she deduced that that part of it did not matter now since she was nearly there already. From what she heard of this lake it seemed too quiet to be the ordinary for it, but this just crossed her mind briefly. She stopped at a large enough rock for her to stand on with ease, though it still was not that big, she stood on it steadily and looked straight at the boy who was now in front of her. Maybe he was telling the truth earlier about his sunbathing because his skin was very red.

“Well, did you want to talk?” she asked.

- margaret | noon | resisting solitude -

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give me a second, i ...

[[ Sorry it's short and for the delay. I've been asleep most the day. I could have made it longer, but I can't promise what I would have added would have bore much relevance. So I'll save you the trouble of reading it. ]]

"I said I didn't want to shout.

[/color]" Chevalier corrected in what he considered to be a more reasonable tone. It was definitely a relief to put the yelling behind him. That was very near the only improvement because he still couldn't see much of her. He could tell there was a person near him now who wasn't particularly tall, and who must have hard to see fair hair (he didn't consider none, since she was a girl) to go along with the bit of blue he could make out (as he presumed, eyes). He was sure she'd come into a little more focus if he squinted, but he avoid giving the impression he couldn't see now that she was sitting so near.

"But I guess I do. I'm C.J.[/color]" Chevalier introduced, offering a smile. Providing a nickname was easier to explain opposed to Chevalier, especially when he was talking to a girl who was already asking questions about his wrist. He didn't need to have a conversation about his weird name that lead into the fact that he was French.

Chevalier's natural accent probably said as much, he didn't need to make it any more obvious. And, more significantly, he especially didn't need to get pulled into a conversation about his past. He did have distinct limits about conversation. ... or, he hoped he did. He couldn't remember the last time he was stuck on a rock with one sole being to talk to. Chevy could only hope he wouldn't give in to the questions she may eventually ask of him.

"Have you been on this island long? It is an island, right? I mean, I haven't been completely around, but, it would appear to be an island.[/color]" Chevalier found himself questioning. Maybe that would guide the conversation. He could hope, couldn't he? He was rather fascinated by the island. This rock? Not so much. He was about ready to trade, on the grounds that he happened to know too much. The moment his clothes were dry, he assured himself he would move.[/size][/blockquote]

✘ chevy

[/blockquote]

i need to get my story straight.

Margaret wasn’t sure if she should join him on the rock he was on, the rock she was currently at was big enough for herself to sit so she would deem it more favorable to keep to her rock. Besides if she went over to his rock it would be much too crowded for the both of them. She made herself lower and she sat on top of her legs still in the direction of the boy who had introduced himself as CJ. The boy did want to talk, which was good maybe she did need to talk to somebody else that was a bit less self righteous.

Margaret supposed she had to give out her name as well, it was a social standard after all. “My name is Margaret” she replied with an attempt at a returned smile. She felt odd giving out her name it was not something she did often, in fact it might be the first time she had done it in years. The mention of her own name had made her reflect on her past conversations, back then she only talked to people to manipulate them for her own needs this day was much different than back then though.

“Yes I’ve been on this island for years, how many I’m not sure myself though” she answered dully in tone. “I suppose more than one year at the least and not nearly as far as 4 years” time was not exactly the thing that she had been keeping track of during her stay here. She only realized then of how much she had been disconnected with the rest of the world. “I’m sure this is an island, although I cannot give proof of that exactly, I’ve not been around the island a lot myself.” By that question she could tell that this person must have been new to this place there was a lot of evidence towards that.

“So I would take it that you’re new to this place then, CJ?” She asked simply. Again she did not want to cluster him with questions, but one cannot begin a conversation without one. This was the first time in a while she had a casual conversation without a well known direction she wanted it to take, it felt so un-orderly she wasn’t quite sure if she enjoyed it or not.