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| Just another lunch break; Joseph/Elaheh | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 6 2013, 10:06 PM (355 Views) | |
| Hobo the Terrible | Jun 6 2013, 10:06 PM Post #1 |
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Serial Insomniac
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It's quite amusing how quickly people seek to return to status quo and the students and staff of Ravencroft weren't so different. After the harrowing events of the entrance ceremony, the school was closed for a short while. But once the initial shock has faded, people have eased back into the old routine. If not for occasional reminders to be safe and the ever-present rumors, few could have even guessed that one of the students was brutally murdered on campus just the other week. Joseph was one of the majority who embraced the return of normality. Right now the young man was less concerned about murders or sociological debates and more interested about what to pick for lunch. And he sure had quite a number of options. Ravencroft didn't skimp out on the facilities and the cafeteria was no exception - food from just about every corner of the world was sold here at a relatively low price. It wasn't his first visit here, but this place never failed to kick Joe's appetite into high gear. In comparison, his old school's cafeteria had nothing on this veritable temple of food. Joseph couldn't choose what to go for - so many interesting things, he never even heard of some of those, let alone try. But after a couple of minutes of deliberation he went for some spaghetti with meatballs. It wasn't the first time he couldn't choose and just went for something he considered safe. Never before stepping in this place did Joe think that there is such a thing as too much choice. With a sigh he grabbed his cutlery and proceeded to look for a seat. Today was quite crowded, but even then there's usually some free space. Finding an empty spot, he sat down and looked at his meal with a satisfied smile - food is food and good food is good, especially here. Perks of going to a big and wealthy school, one might say. "Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub", thought Joe preparing to dig in. |
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| OracleOfMaia | Jun 6 2013, 10:34 PM Post #2 |
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The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom.
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Elaheh glanced across the cafeteria, unsure of what to do. In a group so diverse, she expected that she wouldn't get so many stares from the increasing crowd. She knew that she was the new girl, but it was a little bit irritating after a while. She instinctively observed what the others were doing, as they say about when in Rome. She felt like she was a new culture all over again. Before here she lived in a small town to the north of here, and before that Iran. Half a world away and she felt like it still had its grip on her, branding her for the rest of her life. She looked towards the direction of which the group was filing into, a lunch line that seemed to hold a large variety of food. She looked down at her bag, knowing she brought her own lunch, a salad with tofu. She knew step one was finished, but that was the easy part. Finding a place to sit is the true challenge. Elaheh wasn't too bad with crowds, she could both blend in and stand out, depending on the situation. But today she was a little nervous, something she felt a little embarrassed to accept. She wanted a table that was empty, preferably with few people seated already. If she had to sit with a crowd, it was best if it wasn't all at once. She noticed a table, empty with the exception of one boy. She began to walk towards the table, her heels tapping against the floor as if to announce her arrival. "Hello, is it alright if I sit?" she said in a clear voice that held an undeniable tinge of her native language. She smiled slightly, waiting before she sat down. |
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| Hobo the Terrible | Jun 7 2013, 02:26 PM Post #3 |
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Serial Insomniac
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Just as Joseph was enjoying his first bite, he heard someone ask him "Hello, is it alright if I sit?". Looking up from a plate, he saw a girl, who wore the school uniform with a matching hijab, which was a bit surprising for Joe. Not only because he got used to spending lunch breaks alone, but also because that was actually his first time meeting someone from Middle East, if the girl's accent and outfit were anything to go by. Swallowing his food, Joe replied "Sure, go ahead" with a slight nod. The girl didn't seem to have a tray, so she must have brought her own food. A thought passed Joseph's head - he should consider making his own lunch. The food here might be good here, but making it yourself would probably be cheaper. But that would be a consideration for the future. Right now Joseph was in a bit of a predicament - not only was it his first time meeting an arab, but also hs first time eating with a stranger, as well as the first time he ate with a woman other than his mother. Given that she wasn't exactly eating with him, only just sitting at the same table, but Joe still found the situation somewhat awkward. He wasn't sure if trying to strike a conversation would be rude or not, but he found the prospect of just eating in an awkward silence simply unnerving. Finally mustering enough courage, Joe spoke up. "Um... May I ask your name?", his voice clearly showed his nervousness at the situation. He mentally cringed at his own words, "Real smooth, man. Real smooth..." |
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| OracleOfMaia | Jun 7 2013, 03:30 PM Post #4 |
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The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom.
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Elaheh sat gracefully with one smooth motion, as if the motion was practiced. She tried her best to present herself as best as possible. From her bag she pulled out the box that held her salad. She withdrew a plastic fork and pierced a small piece of lettuce, putting it in her mouth, chewing slowly. The silence was rather heavy, perhaps too much. She wasn't sure if it was projection, but the boy seemed quite uncomfortable in her presence. "Um... May I ask your name?" The boy spoke in a sheepish tone, it was enough to verify he was unmistakably uncomfortable. Elaheh wondered for a moment if anyone else would be coming to sit with the boy she had found alone, solemnly -if not a bit morosely- wondering if anyone wished to share his company. Elaheh swollowed before speaking, "I'm Elaheh Rashidi," she said with an accent that was thicker than previously. It was something she couldn't help, it was Iranian name so the accent almost instinctively follows. Granted it was never exactly a good thing in her eyes. In her previous town it marked her as an outcast. It isn't always best to stick out in a melting pot of cultures. "May I ask what your name is?" She said, trying to maintain the conversation, hoping that keeping the boy talking would ease his nervousness. Or at least disrupt the heavy silence that befell the two of them the moment she sat down. She took a bit tofu as she waited for the boy to answer. |
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| Hobo the Terrible | Jun 7 2013, 04:20 PM Post #5 |
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Serial Insomniac
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The girl gave her name - "I'm Elaheh Rashidi". It sounded foreign, especially with the accent she used to say it. But it didn't really surprise Joseph that much - even though he wasn't in Rockport for that long, he already got used to its remarkable diversity, both in architecture and in people. The multicultural spirit seemed to count double here in Ravencroft. Elaheh asked for Joe's name. "I'm Joseph Cross, but people just call me Joe. Nice to meet you, Elaheh.", he said with a smile. He wasn't as tense as before now that the girl agreed to at least humor his attempts at a conversation for the moment. That said, he was still a bit cautious about his words - he still wasn't sure what the girl could find offensive and Joe had almost a talent at striking the wrong chords when it came to women. Nevertheless, Joseph felt he should try and keep up the conversation, "Say, is it your first year at Ravencroft or are you continuing?". He grabbed another bite while waiting for her reply. If he had to guess, he'd say that she transferred here recently - after all if she wasn't new, why would she sit with him rather than with her friends? (OOC: Sorry for the short post )
Edited by Hobo the Terrible, Jun 7 2013, 04:21 PM.
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| OracleOfMaia | Jun 7 2013, 09:11 PM Post #6 |
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The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom.
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"I'm Joseph Cross, but people just call me Joe. Nice to meet you, Elaheh." Elaheh smiled slightly as the boy answered. He seemed much more at ease now that the conversation has begun to flow much more smoothly. Feeling a little more comfortable, she pulled out her tea as well. She took a sip as she closed her eyes for a moment, glad it was still warm. "Likewise," she said with a subtle smile that was clearly genuine. She found that the boy's company wasn't too bad. He could continue a conversation without too much difficulty, and he wasn't quite as awkward after he warmed up a bit. "Say, is it your first year at Ravencroft or are you continuing?" The boy asked, seeming rather cautious for some reason. "Yes, this is my first year here at Ravencroft. But I am coming in as a sophomore. My last school was in a small town north of here." She said, the memory of her old home flooded her mind. She wasn't quite sad over the loss, although content didn't quite cover her feelings either. Elaheh wondered just how far the boy had traveled to get here, many have come from the other side of the world. "What about you? Would this be your first year here as well? She asked, wondering to herself if this is why the boy sat alone. Many questions flowed throughout her mind, many best to remain unspoken, lest she risk embarrassing Joe, or offending him. |
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| Hobo the Terrible | Jun 8 2013, 11:45 AM Post #7 |
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Serial Insomniac
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Joseph noticed that the girl smiled when she replied to his introduction. It may have been simply a polite gesture, but it still, it gave Joe a little bit extra confidence. He became a bit less tense in his speech and his body language. But he wasn't about to drop his guard entirely - he was actually enjoying the little chat they were having, and he had no intention of spoiling it with a rude question or something along the lines. "Yes, this is my first year here at Ravencroft. But I am coming in as a sophomore. My last school was in a small town north of here." was Elaheh's answer to his question. So she's new in this school and was a sophomore, just like himself. Looks like they had at least that in common. "What about you? Would this be your first year here as well?", she asked in turn. "Actually it's the same for me. It's my first year here and I'm a sophomore too. Heck, even my hometown is to the North from here", said Joe with a chuckle. He then followed up with a question of his own - "So, how do you find Rockport? It's an interesting city, isn't it? So many cultures in one place - I think it's amazing.". He may have been getting a little bit carried away, but it was probably the most enjoyable lunch break he's had since coming to Ravencroft. It sure beats eating alone. |
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| OracleOfMaia | Jun 8 2013, 09:54 PM Post #8 |
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The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom.
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Elaheh nodded, realizing that he too was in the same situation as she. She then began to attribute his fading tenseness as the result of him too being new to town. She found it mildly ironic that he too came from the north, but of course not the same town though, since she didn't recognize the boy at all. He had asked her how he liked the town. Elaheh delicately put down her fork as she began to speak, more than aware that she has a tendency to use her hands as she speaks, "I kind of like it here, but it is so different than anything else I have ever experienced. In America, I only lived in a small town. And in Iran, cities are nothing like this. They're far less... open?" She said struggling to find an English word to describe it. She wondered if her origin would have any effect on his opinion of her. She has both witnessed and dealt with prejudice, although she has learned to simply deal with it. Unlike her mother, she doesn't strive to change people's opinions. She felt like people don't change, so she shouldn't waste her breathe on the ignorant. But she knew better than to judge others solely due to the fear of being judged by another. She knew she at least had to give others a chance, "What about you, do you like it here? Is it much of a change from your hometown?" She forced herself to take a small bite of her salad, knowing if she got too caught up in the conversation, she will forget to eat. |
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| Hobo the Terrible | Jun 9 2013, 07:05 PM Post #9 |
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Serial Insomniac
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Joseph noticed that Elaheh used her hands to accompany her speech. Joseph heard somewhere that it was a mark of a sincere person. Whether it was true or not, it made him think that the girl wasn't just answering out of a sense of politeness or anything like that - she was actually engaged in the conversation. "I kind of like it here, but it is so different than anything else I have ever experienced. In America, I only lived in a small town. And in Iran, cities are nothing like this. They're far less... open?" "So she IS from Middle East", thought Joseph. When she first mentioned being from a town to the North, he thought that she may have been born in the US and picked up the accent from her parents or something like that, but it seems like she at least lived in Iran at some point. Ultimately, it didn't really matter where she was from, but it did make Joe a bit curious. "Less open? I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to say. It's just I've never actually been outside of US, so I was wondering how it's in other parts in the world.", he asked, oblivious to the possibility that it might not be the best topic. Elaheh also asked about his hometown and if moving to Rockport was much of a change. "Well, I do miss my friends and parents sometimes.", he answered with a slight hint of sadness. It wasn't that long since he had to leave his parents' house, but he was already all nostalgic... The prospect of being all mopey about it for the next several years didn't sit quite well with Joseph. After all, who knows what future holds? "But it is a new experience for me, yes. My hometown wasn't that big either, you see. In here there's just... more of everything, you can say", Joe continued with a more enthusiastic tone. No use crying over spilled milk... Edited by Hobo the Terrible, Jun 10 2013, 12:01 AM.
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| OracleOfMaia | Jun 9 2013, 09:42 PM Post #10 |
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The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom.
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Elaheh nodded, realizing that she should have been more specific. She shouldn't have expected Joseph to understand what she meant, although she struggled to find the English word to describe it. "Of course, I should have been more specific. Iran itself does have cities that are more western in design, but the one that i lived in had narrower roads. Everything is much more private there, most houses have courtyards instead of actual yards people have here." She found it difficult to put to words. Mainly because her memories of the place were tainted, it was hard for her to not put bias in her description. Upon being asked the same question, Joe continued to talk about his previous home, which seemed much like the last town she had left behind. He too seemed to lack words for the city of which they both now called home. At least she wasn't alone in her feelings, "I understand what you mean. But I guess that isn't a bad thing, no?" She said, feeling the same ease that Joe had been experiencing. Her tone was a bit more natural as the conversation developed its own natural pace. She took another sip of her tea, feeling it's gentle warmth flow through her body. "So Joseph, what kind of things do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have a job or after school activity?" She said, curious about what kind of a person he was. He seemed nice, but she wanted to know a bit more about the boy, maybe they might have a common interest? And if not, a little bit of conversation has never hurt anyone. |
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| Hobo the Terrible | Jun 10 2013, 05:10 PM Post #11 |
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Serial Insomniac
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Elaheh explained what she meant by 'less open' when Joseph asked her. She seemed to struggle finding the right words but Joseph understood what she meant (at least he thought he did). "Hmm, so the community back there was kinda close-knit? Like when your neighbor is pretty much like a part of your own family and rumors spread like nothing.", asked Joe. He was probably making a bit of a leap there and he may have got it completely wrong, but that's the impression he got from her words. "I guess it's a bit different here. You might live in a city for years and never actually talk to a person who lives just two doors away." The city seemed to produce a rather mixed set of emotions in the boy - while it was a new experience, he was still a stranger to pretty much everyone. The conversation took a bit of a turn when Elaheh asked Joseph about what he did in his spare time. It was a normal question, true... but his favorite pastime is a bit questionable. The words "I walk around town picking fights with people for the heck of it" are not exactly good conversation fuel. Thankfully, the girl has provided an alternative - "I work part-time at the arcade in Downtown. I'm also in the Music and Martial Arts clubs, but I show up there only occasionally. And if I get any extra spare time I just... walk around the town. It's a big city after all.", was Joe's answer. "What about you? Are you in any clubs yourself?" Elaheh didn't seem like the type who would be into self-defense or such, but it would have been nice if they had common interests - it's much easier to talk about things you enjoy, after all. Edited by Hobo the Terrible, Jun 10 2013, 05:12 PM.
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| OracleOfMaia | Jun 10 2013, 07:48 PM Post #12 |
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The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom.
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Elaheh wasn't exaclty expecting having to give a culture lesson, but something inside of her forced her to correct the boy, to prevent any misconceptions. Perhaps it was her mother, she felt like she heard so much of it from her. "Like mother, like daughter huh? Bokon!" she thought to herself with irritation that was directed to none other than herself. But she knew that she had to focus on the present and the boy before her. "It's not quite like that. In Iran, you do not really have 'friends' as you do here. You see, over there your family is just about all you have, and they come before all else. You can talk to your neighbors and such, but you may never necessarily become close like over here." She knew the concept would be rather foreign to someone who was born and raised in America. She wondered how much the boy really knew. It seemed all that the majority knew about Iran were misconceptions with little to no factual basis. She was glad when the conversation had successfully shifted topics. She took a mental note of everything he said, finding much of it quite interesting. She picked up on the fact that he does a lot, she knew that if he hasn't made many friends yet, he was probably bound to make quite a few. But then the question was reflected her way. "Well I write for the school's paper, and i work at the gym on the weekends as a yoga instructor." she said with a tone that seemed to downsize the amount she did, although more in a modest fashion rather than a prideful tone. "So your into music? What instrument do you play?" She asked with curiosity slipping its way into her tone, even though she doesn't play one herself. |
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| Hobo the Terrible | Jun 10 2013, 11:30 PM Post #13 |
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Serial Insomniac
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Elaheh was quick to correct Joseph when he made his guess. Her explanation was very clear, but even he could feel the irritation in his voice. In short - he got it way wrong and now the lady was probably quite annoyed by his ignorant guesswork. "Ahh, I see...", was all Joe answered to that mini-lecture on life in Iran. He sure didn't know much about outside of the US. Joseph admitted to himself that a slip like that was inevitable, but some of her words struck a different chord in him. No friends? That sounded so... lonely, even with the parents. But the boy held back the questions, though - he embarrassed himself already, and he may have misunderstood her yet again. It would probably be best to stick to topics he actually knew something about. Joseph was actually surprised by Elaheh's reply to his question about clubs and activities. To start with, he didn't even know that the school had a newspaper, although that would be expected from an institute this large. That said, he wasn't interested in newspapers much, and right now they would probably be mostly filled with articles on that... incident at the entrance ceremony. What caught Joe's interest more was the girl's job. "A yoga instructor? That's pretty impressive!", he said. She was a sophomore like himself, but she was already good enough to teach other people. He would never have guessed - it seemed that there was more to this girl than met the eye. Elaheh also asked about his choice of instrument. "A piano. My mother is a tutor so she taught me a bit too.", Joseph replied with a bit of nostalgia in his voice, although it was of a more cheerful kind. He treasured the memories of the time spent with his parents, especially since they were almost always busy keeping the family finances afloat. "although I'm not that good at it...", he then added with a somewhat quiet voice. He didn't inherit his mother's talent and relied more on muscle memory rather than the understanding of the melody. Edited by Hobo the Terrible, Jun 10 2013, 11:30 PM.
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| OracleOfMaia | Jun 11 2013, 07:56 PM Post #14 |
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The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom.
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Elaheh's smile faded once she realized that her words came out more like a lecture than she had intended. She felt a little ashamed, it wasn't as if he could control his lack of knowledge. And on top of it all, it wasn't as if american culture supported such an understanding. It is often best to blend oneself in the melting pot, not stand out. Joseph seemed impressed by Elaheh's ability to teach yoga. It was enough for her smile to return as to what it was prior. It was something she had done since she was barely able to walk as she tried to imitate her mother's actions as she practiced. She picked up on it rather quickly, soon able to match her mother's every move. "Thank you," she said a little more quietly than she had beforehand, she didn't expect a compliment. Upon asking the boy what instrument he played, he replied saying the piano. Elaheh nodded with response. "The piano is a very beautiful instrument." She said, wishing that she had learned to play as well, but in Iran it would have been rather difficult to get a piano, not to mention lessons. But the boy's tone seemed to dip down, suggesting that his mood did likewise. She figured there had to be a way to lighten the boy's mood once more. "I'm sure your much better than you think. It's a difficult instrument to learn." She projected her voice in a way that was calm, yet firm. Almost as if to leave no room for a retort. |
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| Hobo the Terrible | Jun 13 2013, 01:19 PM Post #15 |
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Serial Insomniac
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When Joseph essentially dropped the topic of life in Iran, Elaheh seemed somewhat disappointed, the smile she previously had fading from her face. Oblivious to the actual reason for that, he assumed that it was because of his previous ignorant guess. "Way to go, Joe", he berated himself. But what's done is done and there were still some things to talk about. Speaking of which, his compliment on her position as a Yoga Instructor seemed to have brought her in a more cheerful state. Her quiet response contrasted with her somewhat strict voice just a few moments ago. "No, seriously. A sophomore and already an instructor - if that ain't talent, I don't know what talent is", said Joseph. While it may have founded like flattery, he meant every single word. "Heh, imagine if you'd have to instruct one of your school teachers. That would be an interesting situation, don't you think?", he added with a chuckle. Elaheh said that piano was a beautiful instrument but was difficult to learn. Her reassurance of his skills was delivered in a firm tone that made Joe tense up a bit. "It is a difficult instrument to learn, yes. I guess it's a matter of practice...", he answered with a somewhat stiff voice. It reminded him of the way his mother was when she was upset - she never seemed to actually get properly angry. This girl is full of surprises. "Are you into music yourself?", asked Joseph, as he tried to continue the conversation somehow. ((slow Hobo is slow)) |
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