Sooraya and Medusa | Thursday afternoon

[x-dust.livejournal.com]

Sooraya encounters Medusa out by the lake while on a walk. After a little initial awkwardness, they talk about home.

It was late in the afternoon and Sooraya had finished nearly all of her homework for the next day. She usually spent hours after class either in her room studying or in the boathouse reviewing her English lessons, but today she was rewarding herself for getting things done early by going for a walk outside while the sun was still shining. The weather was slowly turning cooler and the days were getting darker earlier, and she knew that once winter came she wouldn't be able to go outside unless she was bundled up. Some of the other students had spoken in glowing terms about snowball fights and forts and ice skating, so she supposed she was looking forward to the winter. Wondering what it would be like and whether she would enjoy it, she made her way out the door and headed for one of the neatly-groomed paths around the mansion.

Medusa was out for her daily walk around the grounds. She had decided to leave her work in her room and just enjoy the crisp fall day as she anticipated that she might soon begin running out of time for such small enjoyments. She paused at the top of a hill as she saw a short, younger girl heading towards her. Medusa's eyes took in Sooraya's garb, triggering a few things Crystal had told her about her suitemate. As the Afghani girl's path brought her closer to Medusa, the redhead nodded in greeting.

Sooraya smiled shyly at the other girl as she passed by and said "Hello," in a murmur - she hadn't quite picked up all the non-verbal nods and shifts in body language that the Americans and other people at the school seemed so fluent in. She didn't want to interrupt the girl's walk and so was about to keep going when she noticed the long, red locks that seemed to be moving on their own. Sooraya knew it was impolite but couldn't keep from staring anyway as Medusa's hair gently lifted and swayed of its own accord, creating a beautiful pattern all around her head. "I... I am sorry," she stammered after a moment, dragging her eyes away and dropping them to the ground. "Your hair is very beautiful."

"You have nothing to apologize for," Medusa said while looking at the girl curiously. "I always appreciate a bit of flattery." She considered nodding and continuing on her way, but that would be bordering on rude. "I am Medusa. I believe you share a suite with my sister." And probably judge us, just like everyone else around here.

Whose sister was she? Sooraya considered this for a moment - it certainly wasn't Angel, and it couldn't be Yvette... She didn't think Laurie's sister was at the school, and the same with Jennie... that only left one suitemate. She of the birthday parties and Power Bars, Crystal. "Oh, Crystal?" Sooraya said hopefully, raising her eyebrows. "Yes, she lives in the suite. She is very nice."

Medusa raised an eyebrow speculatively. "Yes, I would agree." With how she and her sister had been treated by the majority of the residents, she had a hard time believing the girl. An awkward silence began to stretch out before Medusa's training forced her to speak again. "It is a beautiful day, yes?"

"Yes," Sooraya agreed, darting a look up at the redhead's face. Now that she was looking there instead of at Medusa's hair she thought she could see the resemblance between the two sisters. "The lake too is pretty," she continued. "There is so much water... I do not know all this water, still. It is strange to me."

"It is very pretty. I like the water," Medusa said wistfully, glancing out across the lake. "My homeland is an island," she explained. "It is never far to find a spot where one can view the water and I spent many happy days sitting and watching the waves of the ocean." The tips of her hair waved in the direction of the lake, an echo of the longing in her voice.

An island? Sooraya knew Mondo had come from a place like that, but to think another person had lived on such a strange arrangement of land… “It is good there is a lake… so you do not become sick for your home,” she said, sensing the other girl’s sadness. “I wish for mountains, sometimes. Like my home.”

If only that was all it took to keep from getting homesick. The image of a strong, silent man flashed through her mind. "The hills here are not quite the same as true mountains, are they? Perhaps you could go visit some that are closer, if your home is too far for a visit."

Sooraya thought about this for a moment, then gave a tiny shrug – one gesture she had picked up from the other students. “This is my home now, I think. I am learning and being happy here. And it is not mountains that is home… it is people.” If any faces flashed through her mind at this, her face didn’t show it. “It is good your sister is here, yes?”

"People are indeed more important to making a place home than the place itself, so it is good that my sister and I are together." Here is another question entirely. Medusa shifted her stance slightly, her gaze still focused on the lake. "It is good that you are happy here," she offered, though she couldn't imagine why anybody would be.

"Thank you," Sooraya said with a slight smile. "I hope you will be learning and being happy, too. I wish to help you, maybe, if I am possible to."

Medusa started to shake her head and tell the girl it would take more than one person to change anything, but paused. Nathan had said there were people that would accept the Amaquelins at the mansion and this girl appeared to be one of the few. It would be a shame to push away someone who could potentially be a friend for Crystal. Medusa worried for her sister - it was true that she was friendly with several of the residents, but she did really did not have a close friend. "Anything is possible," she replied.

Comments

[x-aerial.livejournal.com]

She of the birthday parties and Power Bars, Crystal.

I love that description! "I am Crystal Amaquelin of the birthday parties and Power Bars..."

The image of a strong, silent man flashed through her mind.

That's what webcams are for... ;)