New Tutor?

Oby · Post by **Oby** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:49 pm

Antoine sat down at his desk with a bit of a sigh. Trying to fit in at the school was going well, but slower than he would have liked. He opened the lid of his laptop, with the half hearted intent of looking at his email, but not really expecting to see anything. He was about to snap it shut again out of habit, when he noticed the new mail icon. "Hmm" He opened the email, and noticed it was from the Headmaster.

Mr. Dubois, given our earlier discussion, I wanted to assign you your first pupil. You are to report to Quad 1, and assist Ms. Dromida with human english. I trust that you will do so with expediency, and will not let St. Joseph's down.

Antoine thought this over for a bit, and then reread the mail. "Quad 1? no no, this has to be a mistake. They wouldn't send me there. I'm thinking of the wrong Quad." Antoine turned across the room "Hey, Bill..." He found his friend, Linebacker Bill to most, asleep at his desk. Antoine picked up a rubber handball off of his desk and whipped it across the room, scoring a direct hit on the back of Bill's head.

The large boy awoke with a start, a snore snapped up in a snort, before it could escape his mouth. Bill turned around and looked at Antoine with a wide grin "Bwahahaha....Dat a good one, Oby." Then he looked puzzled "Why you hit me anyway? I was studyin'"

"Hey, Quad 1, that's a girl's quad, isn't it?"

"Ooooo....yeah, Coach tell Bill to stay away from dere. He say girls give me weak ankles." The large boy scratched his head, then looked at Antoine. "Heyyyy, you planning on going dere? Coach not like dat, him not want to have running backs with weak ankles. Bwahahaha....you plannin' a panty raid!!??"

"NO!" Antoine started to protest, but laughed instead. He was beginning to think that one of Bill's latent abilities must be that no one EVER got mad at Bill....ever. "Winston wants me to tutor someone in human english, and his mail says that it's in Quad 1. I'm tutoring Miss Dromida."

Antoine looked around and grabbed a few books, shoving them into his bag. Bill moved over, and leaned over Antoine with his hands behind his back. As Antoine moved under his desk to unplug the laptop to bring with him, Bill looked in his bag, rifling through the books. "Oooooo, you takin' dat Shakey guy's stuff?" He watched Antoine as he slipped another book in the pile.

Antoine pulled the plug loose, and turned around to his friend. "Huh?...Oh, yeah, Shakespeare. Good a place to start as any. There's some Dickens in there too."

"Bwahahaha.....Bill like da one about the guy, and da girl, and dere dog running."

Antoine quirked a brow at this and dismissed it with deep breath. "Yeah, well, I better get goin'. I'll see you later. Save me a spot for dinner in the caf."

"Okay, me get back to studyin' now."

Bill moved back to hunch over the pile of books on his desk. Antoine heard the unmistakable sound of the snore that had been trapped earlier leaving his friends mouth before he'd ever shut the door.

**************

Antoine wandered a rather indirect path through St. Joeseph's grounds, not in any rush to get to the girl's dorms, but at the same time wanting to make sure he did well by the new school. No matter what he might like, he was stuck in the school, and he might as well make the best of it.

Missed the dance by a week or two, and cheerleading tryouts by a day. Sure would have liked to see who'll be on the sidelines while we're playing. Ah well, there'll be time for that. Besides which....I'm sure Angelique will be there, as 'peppy' as ever.

It wasn't long before his meanderings brought him to the steps of Quad 1. Antoine took in a deep breath and held it for a second, before letting it out in a long sigh. "Oh well....here goes nothing."

He knocked on the door, and waited. When the door opened, a green skinned girl opened the door with a bright smile.

"Hey there, Annie!" He recognized her from patrolling the weekend before, where he'd met her. "Man, I'm glad you answered the door, I thought I was not going to know anyone here. I'm looking for..." He shifted his bag around, pulling out a printed paper, "Miss Dromida. I'm her new human english tutor."

Annie Dromida · Post by **Annie Dromida** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:22 pm

Having just finished giving Pookie his lunch and flibniz scratch, Annie had changed out of her school uniform and into some of the clothes Kris, Cricket, and Sapphire had helped her shop for in an attempt to help her feel more "Earthling". The starburst t-shirt and blue jeans felt really good to the extraterrestrial girl, very different from some of the fabrics she had experienced before. It was as she was looking at herself in the mirror, trying to make sure she had it all on the right way, that she heard the unexpected knock on the quad door.

Pulling her hair back into pigtails as she slipped on her sneakers, Annie hopped her way to the Quad 1 door. Peering out, she saw the midnight black face of her new friend, Seraph.

"Hey there, Annie!" He said with almost a look of relef on his face, "Man, I'm glad you answered the door, I thought I was not going to know anyone here. I'm looking for..." He shifted his bag around, pulling out a printed paper, "Miss Dromida. I'm her new human english tutor."

If Annie’s smile could have gotten any wider, she might have lost some of her signature magenta spots. “You’re going to help me with my homework?!”

Oby · Post by **Oby** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:48 pm

If Annie’s smile could have gotten any wider, she might have lost some of her signature magenta spots. “You’re going to help me with my homework?!”

Oby's brow furrowed for a moment, before it dawned on him, and his jaw dropped 'Annie Dromida' Way to puzzle it out, genius! He relaxed a bit and stopped gaping, and chuckled "Yeah, I guess I am. Well, with english at least." He winked, " Anything else, and I think I need help more than you do."

Oby looked around a bit nervously. Girls, he still hadn't figured out yet, and he still wasn't comfortable with his relatively new appearance. The attention he normally got from girls, he attributed to his odd appearance, rather than any kind of attraction. As it was, he was grateful to find out he had a friend as a pupil.

He looked past Annie's shoulders into the quad, seeing if anyone else was around. Realizing there wasn't ratcheted up his nervousness. Nice job Sir Winston. Not bad enough it's the girl's dorm, but just the two of us? "Soooooo...It's a pretty nice day out, why don't we go study in the main quad?"

Annie Dromida · Post by **Annie Dromida** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:02 pm

"OK! Should I be getting anything? Like my books, class notes, or snacks?"

It was true what people said, it was like she had stepped out of a John Huges movie in the way she talked. Even her mannerisms; the way her head tilted, the bounce in her step... it was almost surreal. But, at the same time, she was undenibly alien.

Turning, Annie ran back into the quad and gathered up a few things from different tables.

Oby · Post by **Oby** » Fri May 12, 2006 7:07 am

Oby started to say something, as Annie turned heel and ran back into the room. His jaw shutting with an almost audible clack. He reached a hand around to the back of his neck rubbing a bit. Well, may as well have some fun with it

Annie came back from her short gathering, and smiled that wide smile once again, and grabbed Oby's arm, all but pulling him along in her enthusiasm. They reached a spot in the quad greens that looked as good as the next, sun still somewhat high in the sky, and offering up a bit of warmth as spring started to make its turn towards summer. Oby sat down next to Annie and pulled the assortment of books from his backpack.

"That's just a few books, mostly classics, that can help you with English." Oby started to deal the books out on the lawn in front of Annie, figuring she could choose the one she wanted. He flipped the fist few down in front of Annie like he was dealing a hand of cards. "Chaucer, the Cantebury Tales, Shakespeare's Works, Dickens Tale of Two Cities," Oby had selected the books based on what seemed like Annie's quick grasp of material. "Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy," another book added to the selection, as Oby flipped through them methodically, each book leaving his hand and falling as he announced the title. Soon though he flipped one book down, The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck, and then the next book.... If left his fingertips before he truly registered the title or book, and landed in front of Annie as he stared at it in muted, embarassed horror. It was the book Bill had slipped into the bag, trying to help his friend out. Oby let out a slight groan as the name of the book finally registered. 'Fun With Dick and Jane'...

Annie Dromida · Post by **Annie Dromida** » Sat May 13, 2006 12:18 pm

Annie picked up one or two of the titles, examining them as Seraph laid out the books he wanted to help her with. As she opened the Chaucer, her brow seemed to scrunch up, almost like a headache hit her straight in the middle of her golden headband. More human talk that only half made sense! She understood that there was a huge amount of languages on Earth, but it seemed that the language called "English" kept getting changed over and over. Finally, another book dropped down in front of her with a smiling human boy and girl.

"Oh! What's this? I've never see this listed in any of the classes..."

Oby · Post by **Oby** » Mon May 15, 2006 5:39 pm

"Oh! What's this? I've never see this listed in any of the classes..."

Oby groaned as she asked the question, under his breath he muttered "I'm gonna Kill Bill"

"That's a reading primer..." Oby's face started to flush, his cheeks turning a deep red, "I think Bill got it mixed up in my books, really it's not much for teaching english, unless you don't know english, which you do. I mean, you know it well enough that you don't need that book."

Oby torn between just reaching out and grabbing the book, and possibly offending his friend, or just letting her open it and sinking him in a pool of embarassment, chose to hope she wouldn't open it. 'It's really nothing, Annie."

Annie Dromida · Post by **Annie Dromida** » Mon May 15, 2006 6:29 pm

"I think Bill got it mixed up in my books, really it's not much for teaching english, unless you don't know english, which you do. I mean, you know it well enough that you don't need that book. It's really nothing, Annie."

"Oh, but I don't know how to speak any English... not really, anyway..."

Annie paged through the book, looking at the simple words and phrases, and saw a few pictures of human children playing with what she now knew was a dog.

"So, this is, like, for Earth children? The ones who want to learn English? They're so young!"

Finally closing the book, Annie looked at the rest of the titles laid out. She seemed interested, but didn't find anything unusual about what had happened so far.

Oby · Post by **Oby** » Tue May 16, 2006 6:25 pm

"I'm kinda confused here, Annie. Sir Arthur wanted me to teach you English, but it seems that you already have a good grasp on it. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to teach you." Oby picks up a book by Bronte, and spins it on a finger, and slips it back in the bag. "Bronte's a bit bleak, we should try to find something fun in this mess. Hey, have you ever read Twelfth Night?"

Annie Dromida · Post by **Annie Dromida** » Wed May 17, 2006 9:33 am

As Seraph turns back to Annie, asking about Twelth Night, he sees her sliding her ever-present golden tiara off of her head, undoing her pigtails in the process. Then, after setting the headband down on the grass next to them, she brushes some of her hair back and opens her mouth to speak.

But what comes out aren't words, but a multitonal string a syllables. It's not loud, but the voice carries as Annie gestures with her hands in a way that seems to be explaining something. No human voice would be able to replicate what she's "saying", but the song-like qualities of her speech are much different from the voice that everyone else at the school hears when they talk to her.

Oby · Post by **Oby** » Wed May 17, 2006 11:31 am

But what comes out aren't words, but a multitonal string a syllables. It's not loud, but the voice carries as Annie gestures with her hands in a way that seems to be explaining something. No human voice would be able to replicate what she's "saying", but the song-like qualities of her speech are much different from the voice that everyone else at the school hears when they talk to her.

Oby blanched at the sound to begin with and then realized what was happening, and smiled. " I think I understand what Sir Arthur wanted, now." He motions to the headband, and makes a motion like putting a crown on his head, indicating for her to put it back on, and waited politely while she did.

"I think Sir Arthur may want me to teach you at least some words, in case your headband ever fails. I think it's not a bad idea." He smiled and looked back, and maybe somehow I can learn something close to yours, so I can help if it ever does happen. Somehow I think it may be easier for you. Think you can help me, while I'm helping you?"

Annie Dromida · Post by **Annie Dromida** » Wed May 17, 2006 11:49 am

Sliding her translator back on, Annie felt the familiar tingle of the psycho-synaptic relays readjusting to her mind and the bioempathic feedback relays adjusting her body language to fit human communication.

"I think Sir Arthur may want me to teach you at least some words, in case your headband ever fails. I think it's not a bad idea." He smiled and looked back, "and maybe somehow I can learn something close to yours, so I can help if it ever does happen. Somehow I think it may be easier for you. Think you can help me, while I'm helping you?"

"Well, while that would be so totally awesome, it's gonna be kind of difficult. Human language is so.... flat, is that a right way of putting it? Your people can say such beautiful things, but my voice," Annie says as she points to her throat, "grew out of my race's aquatic nature."

Annie paused for a moment as she re-tied her pigtails. Running her hands through the strands, she felt that it would be time for a molting soon. Maybe she and Francis could try dying it again.... they learned a lot about how Annie's 'hair' was different from humans last time.

After finishing her pigtails again, the green girl continued, "But I'm also thinking that I'm going to need help because these books have words that seem to not translate right. The get all, I-dun-know, fuzzy when I hear them. Like my translator just can't get it."

Oby · Post by **Oby** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:11 pm

"Well we can figure out those words as we go along. Does the translator 'learn' at all? If we can maybe tie some of the odd words to other words that it knows, maybe that will work." Oby put his chin in his hand, and tapped a finger on his cheek, an unconcious habit that made his finger and cheek click with the unmistakable stone on stone sound. "Hmmmm...I wonder. Maybe trying to have you speak the words wouldn't work so well. As you said, human spoken language is flat. They always talk about how anything living in an aquatic environment has a beautiful voice. Like whale song." Oby looked up, embarassed, not wanting his friend to take offense. "Not that you remind me of a whale or anything like that. Maybe the aquatic nature of your voice would lend better to trying to sing the words?"

Annie Dromida · Post by **Annie Dromida** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:27 pm

"Oh no, I'm nothing like the whales of this planet. I keep getting told I'm, like, closer to dolphins, but that's only if you look at my skin."

As she said it, Seraph could now see what she meant. Her green skin was actually a layer of very fine and interlocking microscales; very smooth to the touch and slightly refractive in direct sunlight. The closer he looked, the more Seraph saw the many differences Annie had with the rest of the students at school.

"I can't really have it, uhmmmm, 'learn' anything new either. It's like a total oddity, in a galactic sense, how often humans make their words different. I've been able to learn that 'bad' means 'good' in some cases, but that's only because I can hear those words all ready. I was given American Teenager for my translator."

Looking down, Annie looked at the books, trying to think what she could do to help.

Kris O'Sullivan · Post by **Kris O'Sullivan** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:34 pm

Kris was headed to the dorms, after a long debate with her powers teacher. She finally acquiesced, but, still felt her empathy wasn't like the empathy of a traditional empath. Looking across the commons, she saw Annie and smiled. Waving, she could see her friend was busy with another friend. Maybe she would go on to her quad, and do her paper on bacteria, for biology.