It was amazing how much work was necessary for a small get together, but also how quickly and easily it went with the help of another person. Especially when that person happened to be on staff
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Aara listens intently, a small frown tugging the corners of her lips. "Oh. Then it would be useful for angha to have this school. When an angha woman comes of age... it is almost guarenteed she will die. We have lost our ways. Knowlege of our abilities." Sad eyes lift to meet Bobby's. "I should not be alive today." Her tone was raw as she said it.
Her worries ease and slowly melt away at Bobby's smile. She doesn't need to dwell on such things here. Then Bobby uses the word 'pretty' and all thought stops entirely. Aara simply stares, a deep blush crossing over her cheeks like wildfire, and before she realizes it Bobby is already back with her drink, which she accepts with slightly trembling hands.
Pretty?
She had certainly never been considered attractive before, but where she was from, people didn't have pale skin, eyes, and hair. Here, many people did, so maybe he really did think--she cut that line of thought off, heart in her throat as she smiles down into her cup.
"Thank you..."
Then she tastes a sip, and sweet, wonderful flavor washes over her tongue. She gasps, eyes widening in pleasure and delight as she looks from her cup, up to Bobby.
That stopped him in his tracks. He had to keep himself from just kind of repeating everything she'd said right there, only in the form of a question, because, yeah, that wasn't going to help at all.
"I'm sorry. That's one of the reasons my school exists. Aside from being a safe place for people like us, where no one will be feared or judged, it's there to help people understand their abilities. So they don't cause harm to themselves, or others."
He hesitated, then added softly, "I'm really glad you are."
But then the conversation turned to drinks, and Bobby was only too happy to retrieve punch for the both of them. He smiled brightly at her when she took the punch he offered, and waved off her thanks.
"No problem! I should've thought to offer it first." Then he chuckled at her delight in the punch. "You're right, it does. I wonder who made it?
Aara shakes her head. "It has been the way of my people for so long, it is as though we are used to it, now. That is what one should feel sorry over."
She listens attentively. "Feared or... judged?" There's something vulnerable and raw about Aara's expression at that. She frowns, thoughts far away. "I think I would like such a place. I think my clan would benefit from such ideals, as well." Aara glances away, expression suddenly closed off. Remembering makes it hard to breathe.
A smile starts, pain pounding within and Aara forces a light laugh, actually looking up to Bobby once more. She knew he meant it, and it was nice to hear such a thing. "Thank you, Bobby." There was a catch in her words, but Aara took a deep breath and battled insecurities aside.
Taking another small sip of the sweet punch, Aara smiles into her cup. It's unfathomable that she would meet such people here, and she truly was thankful. "So, Bobby. You like going to social gatherings?" She attempted to lighten the mood, and smiled up at him in curiosity. He seemed like the sort who would enjoy and shine at such gatherings.
"I'm sorry for your people, then. Knowledge like that should never be lost."
He shifted closer to her at the change in her expression, hesitantly resting his hand on her arm in an attempt at comforting. "For what it's worth, they'd love you there. A dragon? The kids would never leave you alone."
Bobby smiled at her thank you. "You're welcome. It's only the truth, though."
And then he chuckled when she asked him if he enjoyed social gatherings. "Is it obvious that I like them? I like meeting people, and just being around them."
She laughs, shaking her head a little even though she secretly yearns for something like that to be the case. A place where she would be accepted. Loved. Adored by children.
Another small smile finds her lips. "Well. I'm glad you're here too." Especially in the off chance there was ever any question whether he would live or die in some past experience, also.
Aara nods somewhat solemnly. "I can tell you enjoy them. You seem to be the person who lights up on such occasions, and in return brings light to those around him."
Bobby would be only too happy to take her to that place, too.
He smiled slightly when she said she was glad he was there. "Thanks. That - actually means a lot." He was, too. Well, not specifically here. Though he would admit to being happy to have had the chance to meet a lot of people here, he could never be really glad to be somewhere else than with the X-Men. They needed him, considering how few of them they had left.
But he was glad to be alive here, since there'd been some times recently he thought he might not have been going to make it. And - and he was kind of happy to have someone actually say that, as the number of people that was true for seemed to have been dwindling back home.
Her last comment got a laugh, and a slight head shake. "I don't know about that. I just try to have fun, and make sure other people are having fun, too."
A small, serene smile finds Aara's lips at his thanks. She looks over to him, then looks away, feeling as though words did not need to be spoken. Truth was truth, after all.
Shaking her head at that, Aara looks at Bobby with an 'I already know the truth' expression. She smiles. "You genuinely enjoy yourself, and do what you can so others do the same. It is a nice trait. Not everyone feels comfortable enough to do what you do."
She looks back over the crowd, feeling a lazy contentedness fill her.
No, words didn't really need to be spoken. Even Bobby knew that, and just smiled at her before taking a sip of his punch.
Then he chuckled. "I've known some people who considered it less of a nice trait and more of an annoying one, so thanks. Really, it's partly selfish, though. I'm happier if everyone else is enjoying themselves, too."
Aara grins, taking another small sip of her punch and casting a small glance up at Bobby, amusement and knowing in her gaze.
"I do not believe it is selfish. I simply believe you are that giving." She smiles softly. "Unless you are unhappy and hiding it, of course." She considers him, for a moment.
He laughed. "Okay, you win. I'm totally willing to go with me just being really giving and not selfish at all."
Bobby shook his head automatically at her last question. "I'm at a party with drinks, delicious sugary goodness, and a pretty girl who's willing to hang out with me. How could I be unhappy?" He grinned at her, then said, more seriously, "Yeah, I miss home. A lot. But I'm not going to let it get me down."
And...that was more or less the truth. Things were a lot more complicated than that, but it wasn't anything he wanted to focus on. Not when there was a party to have fun at.
The corner of her lips twitch up into a tiny smile. She's watching him, looking for telling signs through his mannerisms and trying to see if his words hold true--if he believes them.
Then her quiet observation is abruptly cut off and a deep blush coats Aara's pale face. She is confused, however, and frowns in deep thought. He keeps saying that. 'Pretty.' Did he really mean it, though? Perhaps he did not know the correct meaning of the word. "Do you really mean that?" Confused blue eyes rise up to meet his, then Aara's throat seizes up, and she wishes she could take back her question. "You do not believe beauty is only in reference to those with dark hair? Dark eyes?" She just wants to understand. She has certainly never considered herself pretty, ever. Different, yes. Pale. Colorless. She had heard whispers from those in the Clan that they believed her to be soulless.
Yet... Kanan had thought she deserved to live. This was all very confusing.
She tries to smile when Bobby relents, and talks about his home.
"What is it like? Your home?" She had yet to realize his school was his home.
"Of course I do. I wouldn't have said it if I didn't." He frowned at her second question, confused. Bobby could honestly say that wasn't one he'd been asked before. Questions about tails and differently colored skin, yes, but dark hair and dark eyes? "Um. No? Why would I?"
When the conversation moved to the subject of his home, he smiled slightly. "It's great. Most of my best friends are there, and it's the one place I've always felt like I could be myself. It's not perfect, or anything-" Especially not lately "-but it's mine."
Aara tilts her head to one side, considering him. He was not dark, however, so maybe he found beauty in people who looked like he did?
"What is beauty to you, then?" Maybe if she better understood. She'll tell Bobby all about her clan, some day. Tonight, if he really wished to know. For now, she really wanted to understand.
Bobby's explanation of home brought a warm feeling to her chest. She smiled, but then the smile faded.
But it's mine.
Aara... did not have anything like that. Aara had Aara, and that alone. At least--she did where she came from.
And another question that he's confused by. Except this time, he wasn't sure he has an answer.
"I don't know? It's - a lot of things. I mean, I'm assuming you mean people here, right? Because there's lots of things, like buildings and forests and lakes iced over in the winter and perfectly solved math problems that I think are beautiful." And he had to pause again. "I like eyes, I guess. They're really expressive, and you can tell a lot from them. And smiles. Smiles can be really pretty. And, okay, yeah, a good figure is nice, but I think a lot of what I think is pretty has to do with personality?"
And he was rambling. He should just - stop rambling.
Especially since Aara wasn't smiling any more. "Aara? Are you okay?"
She shakes her head. She isn't saying she is not okay--she just doesn't understand.
"You like any color of eyes? Or do people mostly like what they see in themselves on others? Does your clan have the exact skin tone, hair, and eye color you do?"
Then another thought strikes her.
"Do all clans stick to themselves? So everyone looks the same, always?"
Oh, good. More questions where he had to explain world differences. And these were actually the hardest questions he'd had yet, because it wasn't like he really spent much time giving thought to what he thought was pretty. He just - knew.
"Any color, pretty much. Brown, blue, green, yellow, it doesn't matter. And I think that might depend on the person? It's not really true for me, though. I don't think I prefer blond hair or blue eyes."
And then he blinked. "Um, no. Really no, actually. I guess most families do? But my home - we're kind of outcasts. A bunch of people that banded together because they needed what the school offered them. So my friends range from dark to light to blue to silver."
He shook his head. "Not where I'm from. Communities are filled with people who all look different."
Her worries ease and slowly melt away at Bobby's smile. She doesn't need to dwell on such things here. Then Bobby uses the word 'pretty' and all thought stops entirely. Aara simply stares, a deep blush crossing over her cheeks like wildfire, and before she realizes it Bobby is already back with her drink, which she accepts with slightly trembling hands.
Pretty?
She had certainly never been considered attractive before, but where she was from, people didn't have pale skin, eyes, and hair. Here, many people did, so maybe he really did think--she cut that line of thought off, heart in her throat as she smiles down into her cup.
"Thank you..."
Then she tastes a sip, and sweet, wonderful flavor washes over her tongue. She gasps, eyes widening in pleasure and delight as she looks from her cup, up to Bobby.
"This tastes really good!"
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"I'm sorry. That's one of the reasons my school exists. Aside from being a safe place for people like us, where no one will be feared or judged, it's there to help people understand their abilities. So they don't cause harm to themselves, or others."
He hesitated, then added softly, "I'm really glad you are."
But then the conversation turned to drinks, and Bobby was only too happy to retrieve punch for the both of them. He smiled brightly at her when she took the punch he offered, and waved off her thanks.
"No problem! I should've thought to offer it first." Then he chuckled at her delight in the punch. "You're right, it does. I wonder who made it?
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She listens attentively. "Feared or... judged?" There's something vulnerable and raw about Aara's expression at that. She frowns, thoughts far away. "I think I would like such a place. I think my clan would benefit from such ideals, as well." Aara glances away, expression suddenly closed off. Remembering makes it hard to breathe.
A smile starts, pain pounding within and Aara forces a light laugh, actually looking up to Bobby once more. She knew he meant it, and it was nice to hear such a thing. "Thank you, Bobby." There was a catch in her words, but Aara took a deep breath and battled insecurities aside.
Taking another small sip of the sweet punch, Aara smiles into her cup. It's unfathomable that she would meet such people here, and she truly was thankful. "So, Bobby. You like going to social gatherings?" She attempted to lighten the mood, and smiled up at him in curiosity. He seemed like the sort who would enjoy and shine at such gatherings.
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He shifted closer to her at the change in her expression, hesitantly resting his hand on her arm in an attempt at comforting. "For what it's worth, they'd love you there. A dragon? The kids would never leave you alone."
Bobby smiled at her thank you. "You're welcome. It's only the truth, though."
And then he chuckled when she asked him if he enjoyed social gatherings. "Is it obvious that I like them? I like meeting people, and just being around them."
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She laughs, shaking her head a little even though she secretly yearns for something like that to be the case. A place where she would be accepted. Loved. Adored by children.
Another small smile finds her lips. "Well. I'm glad you're here too." Especially in the off chance there was ever any question whether he would live or die in some past experience, also.
Aara nods somewhat solemnly. "I can tell you enjoy them. You seem to be the person who lights up on such occasions, and in return brings light to those around him."
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He smiled slightly when she said she was glad he was there. "Thanks. That - actually means a lot." He was, too. Well, not specifically here. Though he would admit to being happy to have had the chance to meet a lot of people here, he could never be really glad to be somewhere else than with the X-Men. They needed him, considering how few of them they had left.
But he was glad to be alive here, since there'd been some times recently he thought he might not have been going to make it. And - and he was kind of happy to have someone actually say that, as the number of people that was true for seemed to have been dwindling back home.
Her last comment got a laugh, and a slight head shake. "I don't know about that. I just try to have fun, and make sure other people are having fun, too."
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Shaking her head at that, Aara looks at Bobby with an 'I already know the truth' expression. She smiles. "You genuinely enjoy yourself, and do what you can so others do the same. It is a nice trait. Not everyone feels comfortable enough to do what you do."
She looks back over the crowd, feeling a lazy contentedness fill her.
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Then he chuckled. "I've known some people who considered it less of a nice trait and more of an annoying one, so thanks. Really, it's partly selfish, though. I'm happier if everyone else is enjoying themselves, too."
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"I do not believe it is selfish. I simply believe you are that giving." She smiles softly. "Unless you are unhappy and hiding it, of course." She considers him, for a moment.
"Are you unhappy, Bobby?"
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Bobby shook his head automatically at her last question. "I'm at a party with drinks, delicious sugary goodness, and a pretty girl who's willing to hang out with me. How could I be unhappy?" He grinned at her, then said, more seriously, "Yeah, I miss home. A lot. But I'm not going to let it get me down."
And...that was more or less the truth. Things were a lot more complicated than that, but it wasn't anything he wanted to focus on. Not when there was a party to have fun at.
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Then her quiet observation is abruptly cut off and a deep blush coats Aara's pale face. She is confused, however, and frowns in deep thought. He keeps saying that. 'Pretty.' Did he really mean it, though? Perhaps he did not know the correct meaning of the word. "Do you really mean that?" Confused blue eyes rise up to meet his, then Aara's throat seizes up, and she wishes she could take back her question. "You do not believe beauty is only in reference to those with dark hair? Dark eyes?" She just wants to understand. She has certainly never considered herself pretty, ever. Different, yes. Pale. Colorless. She had heard whispers from those in the Clan that they believed her to be soulless.
Yet... Kanan had thought she deserved to live. This was all very confusing.
She tries to smile when Bobby relents, and talks about his home.
"What is it like? Your home?" She had yet to realize his school was his home.
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When the conversation moved to the subject of his home, he smiled slightly. "It's great. Most of my best friends are there, and it's the one place I've always felt like I could be myself. It's not perfect, or anything-" Especially not lately "-but it's mine."
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Aara tilts her head to one side, considering him. He was not dark, however, so maybe he found beauty in people who looked like he did?
"What is beauty to you, then?" Maybe if she better understood. She'll tell Bobby all about her clan, some day. Tonight, if he really wished to know. For now, she really wanted to understand.
Bobby's explanation of home brought a warm feeling to her chest. She smiled, but then the smile faded.
But it's mine.
Aara... did not have anything like that. Aara had Aara, and that alone. At least--she did where she came from.
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"I don't know? It's - a lot of things. I mean, I'm assuming you mean people here, right? Because there's lots of things, like buildings and forests and lakes iced over in the winter and perfectly solved math problems that I think are beautiful." And he had to pause again. "I like eyes, I guess. They're really expressive, and you can tell a lot from them. And smiles. Smiles can be really pretty. And, okay, yeah, a good figure is nice, but I think a lot of what I think is pretty has to do with personality?"
And he was rambling. He should just - stop rambling.
Especially since Aara wasn't smiling any more. "Aara? Are you okay?"
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"You like any color of eyes? Or do people mostly like what they see in themselves on others? Does your clan have the exact skin tone, hair, and eye color you do?"
Then another thought strikes her.
"Do all clans stick to themselves? So everyone looks the same, always?"
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"Any color, pretty much. Brown, blue, green, yellow, it doesn't matter. And I think that might depend on the person? It's not really true for me, though. I don't think I prefer blond hair or blue eyes."
And then he blinked. "Um, no. Really no, actually. I guess most families do? But my home - we're kind of outcasts. A bunch of people that banded together because they needed what the school offered them. So my friends range from dark to light to blue to silver."
He shook his head. "Not where I'm from. Communities are filled with people who all look different."
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