Another day, another chemistry class. Seiren's footsteps led him out of the room where he learned more about chemical bonding and all sorts of moderately useful things for making compounds, particularly sweets. In his arms, a set of notebooks. On his person, a sweater and long skirt for the chilly weather, and for comfort.
The sound of heavy foot-falls approached Seiren from behind - a tall figure clad in a red tracksuit striped with white lines. She ran on the spot before turning about and walking backward alongside him. Snowy white hair balled up into a pony-tail, dark warm skin and amber eyes... And that smile?
"Ah, Ms Isbala~?" she beamed. "I didn't know you were a student here."
"Ah, yeah. Didn't I tell you? It's why I share a dorm room with Aiesu," he said, recongizing the tall L'manel.
"You might have but we did get a bit... Carried away" Lalah said, her mind visibly wandering before she cleared her own throat. "So how are you and her doing? Is it a crowded house-hold?" she smiled.
"Um, well, I kinda... Stormed out, and then when I came back we had another argument. Or did we? I dunno, it was a little strained, and a bit of a blur. Especially since I got an invite~" He cheerily said, pulling a small envelope from between his notebooks.
"O-Ooh?" Lalah began. Her expression said she instantly recognised the styling of the paper - her fingers interlocked to form a cute arch from which she hides her lips and her smile behind. "That's quite an honor, you know!" she beamed, now piping down into a whisper as she leant closer.
"Are you sure you want to go?"
"Well, yeah! It's an honorable ceremony type thingamabob, isn't it?"
"Mm, its to say someone has anonymously accepted you as an honorary L'manel. Its kind of a big deal you know? For someone to think so highly of you, a foreigner. If one of us accepts you, it means we all do. You... probably don't even know who they are... Do you?" she arched over Seiren curiously, towering over him.
"Well, probably not! I mean, I know a few people here, but I don't think anybody I know thinks of me that highly! Well, didn't think," the construct said with a shrug.
"Huuuh... With luck, lots of people should be invitied. Its normally a very cloak and dagger type thing. Did you get a mask yet?"
"I was planning on making mine after class."
"Well, this is over the weekend - they're always the next week unless you miss them - and it begins soon and the kiln will be shut in a few hours. You should probably cut class to make it. I think if you tell your tutor, she'll understand."
Seiren looked baffled for a moment, then slapped his forehead in anguish. "Oh. Looks like I misunderstood the timestamp. Damn my readability!"
"Huh... Your Lorath isn't too great?" she leant over, fingering at the envelope thoughtfully.
"Well, Aiesu told me that it was part of the old dialect or something. And I only know modern Lorath, and just a bit more than standard stuff, anyhow," Seiren explained, straightening out the stack that was starting to slacken in his arms.
"Ah, orthodox? Mm, it can be a pain to read if you've only studied modern or reform. Do you want me to read it for you? I mean... I shouldn't, but I can. I won't tell anyone."
"Uh, sure! But can ya do it while I make my mask? It's gotta be panda themed and I want it enough time to make it all nice and stuff."
"Panda~!?" her eyes lit up, taking Seiren's cheeks in her palms with a broad smile. "Really?"
The construct cocked his head. "Aiesu had the same reaction, huh. . . "
"Haaa.. It'll be so cute~"
"She said it had something to do with pederastry in the feudal era or something complicated and sociopolitcal."
"Mm! Its ... Well. There's a special class of special young boys who were renouned for their acting skills and ... How alluring they could be. Petit, small boys -- about your age. This was maybe... Four, five hundred years ago? Anyway, we always thought Yamataian panda-bears looked a lot like them, because of the style of the make-up" she rubbed her eyes with her fists then peeked through then as the curled each hand into an O.
"So it has that cannotation."
"Huh. . . you don't think my secret admirer person knows about. . . well, y'know, do you?" Seiren asked in a hushed tone. He led Lalah down the halls towards the clayworking classrooms as they spoke.
"Ara? Secret admirer? That you're Yamataian?" she whispered. "Probably... They--"
"No, the other thing."
"Oh~! Well, males and females smell different. Its something all Lorath notice right away. But you're a foreigner so you don't really smell like either. But you are kinda..." she curled her lips into a cheeky smile.
Seiren stopped just short of the door.
"Kinda what?"
Lalah reached forward, placing Seiren's hand upon her chest, the broad barren flat of her chest - eyes beaming.
"We're part of the same club you and I."
"W-well, yea- OH WAIT THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN. . ."
"Ara?" Lalah mimed Yamataian rather poorly through her accent, tilting her head. She seemed quite fond of that particular word.
"N-nothing, I thought you were talking about the- nevermind, so, is there a stock supply of clay masks or? . . ." he asked, wandering around the room.
"Mm, you can get a plain one from the Kilm room. Want to go?"
"Yep!"
The duo moved quickly to retreive one of the masks, Lalah guiding Seiren to the necessary materials. Once everything was retreived and set up for the painting, he set out to work on panda-fying the blank.
"So, what's the orthodox bit say?" he asked, painting broad strokes of white.
"There'll be a change of clothes when you get there. You're expected to stay there for... 12 Lorath hours... That's about 36 Yamataian hours... And there'll be a banquet and everything will be provided for you. Its like a party. With oil massages and candles and ... You'd consider it kind of romantic, actually."
"That sounds pleasant. I bet the banquet's really nice, huh?"
"Mm, but its all Lorath food. You don't have a problem with that, do you? Oh and ... Lorath are kind of more intimate than Yamataians, much more tactile -- So it might be a bit weird at first, but you'll get used to it!"
"How bad can it be? . . to both. Well, maybe more to the second one. I've had takeout Lorath cuisine once or twice, and it wasn't half-bad for something that's converted into cheap takeout."
"Cheap take-out? ... That was an expensive meal. I couldn't afford that on my salery..."
"No, not that. We were eating on somebody else's buck that time. I'm talking about delivery."
"Ah... Still probably couldn't afford takeout" her voice petered out slowly in disappointment.
Seiren continued his art in silence for a few minutes, but then piped up again. "So what else is there on the letter?"
"You need to complete the mask and go to the affirmation building. Its the west wing of the cathedral. Its not far from here, actually."
"Ah sweet! Easy trip."
"Mm. Can I go? ...With your permission, of course. Oh and you mustn't use my name if you do see me."
"Uh, sure thing!" Seiren said with another grin, finishing up the patterning on the panda mask.
"Big dark eyes... Huh..." she glanced from the mask to Seiren and back again. "You'll probably have to wear face-paint."
"Isn't that the point of the mask?"
"The mask is for the introductions. The bottom part comes off see. So does the top. Depending on how things go, you might have to remove a part. Its why it has two spaces for string and then the seam, so you can snap it in two."
"Why would you remove just the top?"
"Because you're not always entitled to your words."
"Wow, that's kinda deep."
"Mm. And the bottom, because sometimes you're not entitled to your sight. First timers don't get eyeholes, you see. The ears, you'll note, go on a head-band that slips against the mask, but you have to put it on your head when you're done" she mimed, demonstrating with her slender tanned fingers.
"Then how do I find my way around?"
"Turn up at the door with the form. They'll ask you to wear the mask and disrobe into the ceremonial stuff. From there, they'll guide you up the stairs. Its kind of symbolic, like an ascent and proof that you can trust someone to lead you in lue of your own eyes."
"Wow. Again. So, um. . . do we throw it in the kiln now, or let it dry and put on a glaze and then throw it in the kiln or? . ."
"Glaze, then kiln while its still wet."
"Got it, got it!"
"Mm. Sometimes, at the door, they might make eyeholes for you and ask you to wear a blindfold underneath. Its because they want to see the faces you make but not you theirs."
"Hah, that's kinda funny. Aiesu didn't want to tell me anything about it, at all."
"Ah, is she orthodox? She's obliged by faith not to. I thought she was an athiest though?"
"Something about her mother, I think."
"Well, Kalopsia is a famous, albiet common name. Like how Smith is on Nepleslia. Though there are famous Smiths."
"Hum. . . well, this sounds like it's gonna be a lot of fun!"
"Mm. You can say no to stuff at any time but..." she ran her index finger down the center of Seiren's forehead and along his nose, giving it a final soft poke. "You probably won't want to." her voice became delicate, barely above a whisper. "It would upset your hosts."
"Like I said, how bad could it be? It's not like they're gonna tie me up to a flagpole and string me up, right? . . . right?"
Lalah pursed her lips inwardly, glancing up and off to one side. "Even I can't tell you that. Each is unique... But you are cute and they will notice that. They'll probably just dote on you."
Seiren grinned a grin as he finished up the glaze. "Well, I do like being doted on~"
Lalah's lips contorted into a broad smile and a thunder of giggling.
"What?"
"I... Aha... Kind of thought as much. Foreigners get lonely so easily..."
"What, am I that predictable?"
The sound of heavy foot-falls approached Seiren from behind - a tall figure clad in a red tracksuit striped with white lines. She ran on the spot before turning about and walking backward alongside him. Snowy white hair balled up into a pony-tail, dark warm skin and amber eyes... And that smile?
"Ah, Ms Isbala~?" she beamed. "I didn't know you were a student here."
"Ah, yeah. Didn't I tell you? It's why I share a dorm room with Aiesu," he said, recongizing the tall L'manel.
"You might have but we did get a bit... Carried away" Lalah said, her mind visibly wandering before she cleared her own throat. "So how are you and her doing? Is it a crowded house-hold?" she smiled.
"Um, well, I kinda... Stormed out, and then when I came back we had another argument. Or did we? I dunno, it was a little strained, and a bit of a blur. Especially since I got an invite~" He cheerily said, pulling a small envelope from between his notebooks.
"O-Ooh?" Lalah began. Her expression said she instantly recognised the styling of the paper - her fingers interlocked to form a cute arch from which she hides her lips and her smile behind. "That's quite an honor, you know!" she beamed, now piping down into a whisper as she leant closer.
"Are you sure you want to go?"
"Well, yeah! It's an honorable ceremony type thingamabob, isn't it?"
"Mm, its to say someone has anonymously accepted you as an honorary L'manel. Its kind of a big deal you know? For someone to think so highly of you, a foreigner. If one of us accepts you, it means we all do. You... probably don't even know who they are... Do you?" she arched over Seiren curiously, towering over him.
"Well, probably not! I mean, I know a few people here, but I don't think anybody I know thinks of me that highly! Well, didn't think," the construct said with a shrug.
"Huuuh... With luck, lots of people should be invitied. Its normally a very cloak and dagger type thing. Did you get a mask yet?"
"I was planning on making mine after class."
"Well, this is over the weekend - they're always the next week unless you miss them - and it begins soon and the kiln will be shut in a few hours. You should probably cut class to make it. I think if you tell your tutor, she'll understand."
Seiren looked baffled for a moment, then slapped his forehead in anguish. "Oh. Looks like I misunderstood the timestamp. Damn my readability!"
"Huh... Your Lorath isn't too great?" she leant over, fingering at the envelope thoughtfully.
"Well, Aiesu told me that it was part of the old dialect or something. And I only know modern Lorath, and just a bit more than standard stuff, anyhow," Seiren explained, straightening out the stack that was starting to slacken in his arms.
"Ah, orthodox? Mm, it can be a pain to read if you've only studied modern or reform. Do you want me to read it for you? I mean... I shouldn't, but I can. I won't tell anyone."
"Uh, sure! But can ya do it while I make my mask? It's gotta be panda themed and I want it enough time to make it all nice and stuff."
"Panda~!?" her eyes lit up, taking Seiren's cheeks in her palms with a broad smile. "Really?"
The construct cocked his head. "Aiesu had the same reaction, huh. . . "
"Haaa.. It'll be so cute~"
"She said it had something to do with pederastry in the feudal era or something complicated and sociopolitcal."
"Mm! Its ... Well. There's a special class of special young boys who were renouned for their acting skills and ... How alluring they could be. Petit, small boys -- about your age. This was maybe... Four, five hundred years ago? Anyway, we always thought Yamataian panda-bears looked a lot like them, because of the style of the make-up" she rubbed her eyes with her fists then peeked through then as the curled each hand into an O.
"So it has that cannotation."
"Huh. . . you don't think my secret admirer person knows about. . . well, y'know, do you?" Seiren asked in a hushed tone. He led Lalah down the halls towards the clayworking classrooms as they spoke.
"Ara? Secret admirer? That you're Yamataian?" she whispered. "Probably... They--"
"No, the other thing."
"Oh~! Well, males and females smell different. Its something all Lorath notice right away. But you're a foreigner so you don't really smell like either. But you are kinda..." she curled her lips into a cheeky smile.
Seiren stopped just short of the door.
"Kinda what?"
Lalah reached forward, placing Seiren's hand upon her chest, the broad barren flat of her chest - eyes beaming.
"We're part of the same club you and I."
"W-well, yea- OH WAIT THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN. . ."
"Ara?" Lalah mimed Yamataian rather poorly through her accent, tilting her head. She seemed quite fond of that particular word.
"N-nothing, I thought you were talking about the- nevermind, so, is there a stock supply of clay masks or? . . ." he asked, wandering around the room.
"Mm, you can get a plain one from the Kilm room. Want to go?"
"Yep!"
The duo moved quickly to retreive one of the masks, Lalah guiding Seiren to the necessary materials. Once everything was retreived and set up for the painting, he set out to work on panda-fying the blank.
"So, what's the orthodox bit say?" he asked, painting broad strokes of white.
"There'll be a change of clothes when you get there. You're expected to stay there for... 12 Lorath hours... That's about 36 Yamataian hours... And there'll be a banquet and everything will be provided for you. Its like a party. With oil massages and candles and ... You'd consider it kind of romantic, actually."
"That sounds pleasant. I bet the banquet's really nice, huh?"
"Mm, but its all Lorath food. You don't have a problem with that, do you? Oh and ... Lorath are kind of more intimate than Yamataians, much more tactile -- So it might be a bit weird at first, but you'll get used to it!"
"How bad can it be? . . to both. Well, maybe more to the second one. I've had takeout Lorath cuisine once or twice, and it wasn't half-bad for something that's converted into cheap takeout."
"Cheap take-out? ... That was an expensive meal. I couldn't afford that on my salery..."
"No, not that. We were eating on somebody else's buck that time. I'm talking about delivery."
"Ah... Still probably couldn't afford takeout" her voice petered out slowly in disappointment.
Seiren continued his art in silence for a few minutes, but then piped up again. "So what else is there on the letter?"
"You need to complete the mask and go to the affirmation building. Its the west wing of the cathedral. Its not far from here, actually."
"Ah sweet! Easy trip."
"Mm. Can I go? ...With your permission, of course. Oh and you mustn't use my name if you do see me."
"Uh, sure thing!" Seiren said with another grin, finishing up the patterning on the panda mask.
"Big dark eyes... Huh..." she glanced from the mask to Seiren and back again. "You'll probably have to wear face-paint."
"Isn't that the point of the mask?"
"The mask is for the introductions. The bottom part comes off see. So does the top. Depending on how things go, you might have to remove a part. Its why it has two spaces for string and then the seam, so you can snap it in two."
"Why would you remove just the top?"
"Because you're not always entitled to your words."
"Wow, that's kinda deep."
"Mm. And the bottom, because sometimes you're not entitled to your sight. First timers don't get eyeholes, you see. The ears, you'll note, go on a head-band that slips against the mask, but you have to put it on your head when you're done" she mimed, demonstrating with her slender tanned fingers.
"Then how do I find my way around?"
"Turn up at the door with the form. They'll ask you to wear the mask and disrobe into the ceremonial stuff. From there, they'll guide you up the stairs. Its kind of symbolic, like an ascent and proof that you can trust someone to lead you in lue of your own eyes."
"Wow. Again. So, um. . . do we throw it in the kiln now, or let it dry and put on a glaze and then throw it in the kiln or? . ."
"Glaze, then kiln while its still wet."
"Got it, got it!"
"Mm. Sometimes, at the door, they might make eyeholes for you and ask you to wear a blindfold underneath. Its because they want to see the faces you make but not you theirs."
"Hah, that's kinda funny. Aiesu didn't want to tell me anything about it, at all."
"Ah, is she orthodox? She's obliged by faith not to. I thought she was an athiest though?"
"Something about her mother, I think."
"Well, Kalopsia is a famous, albiet common name. Like how Smith is on Nepleslia. Though there are famous Smiths."
"Hum. . . well, this sounds like it's gonna be a lot of fun!"
"Mm. You can say no to stuff at any time but..." she ran her index finger down the center of Seiren's forehead and along his nose, giving it a final soft poke. "You probably won't want to." her voice became delicate, barely above a whisper. "It would upset your hosts."
"Like I said, how bad could it be? It's not like they're gonna tie me up to a flagpole and string me up, right? . . . right?"
Lalah pursed her lips inwardly, glancing up and off to one side. "Even I can't tell you that. Each is unique... But you are cute and they will notice that. They'll probably just dote on you."
Seiren grinned a grin as he finished up the glaze. "Well, I do like being doted on~"
Lalah's lips contorted into a broad smile and a thunder of giggling.
"What?"
"I... Aha... Kind of thought as much. Foreigners get lonely so easily..."
"What, am I that predictable?"