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Missing India; [CLOSED]
Topic Started: Jun 16 2007, 10:33 PM (482 Views)
Arjun Shaari
Unregistered

Laundry was a modern human necessity, much like showering or brushing your teeth. It was an expected and menial chore that Arjun happened to actually like. There was something about getting the dirty clothes clean, that seemed to just fit. He didn't do it as often as he should, sometimes walking around knowing that he had no clean boxer shorts or that he'd been wearing the same pair of black jeans for two weeks straight. But when he finally made himself collect each article of clothing off his bedroom floor, the one he shared with Colin, he'd feel it was the right time.

Whenever he emptied his basket into the laundry, he'd find himself with sickening amount of homesickness. Arjun's mother used to do his laundry for him, and he could remember watching her hand wash the clothing. He recollected as he tossed in a plain wife beater into half full washer.

Arjun...Always remember where you come from..

His mothers last words to him before he boarded the direct flight to America. He'd been wearing tight jeans and a black colared jacket the day of his departure. His mother said he looked quite "English". His father just sniffed, trying to act the part of a proper father.

Back in the Institute, Arjun could hear the students above him. It was dinner time, but unfortunatly, home sickness took his appetite away. He could smell the food and hear the loud chatter. Tugging off his plain black teeshirt and throwing it into the washer, he silently nodded. He'd put the correct amount of detergent in, and pushed the start button. It buzzed to life. He'd sit in his shorts until his laundry was done. He would just wait.
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Anne Lee
Unregistered

Though it was dinner time another student could be found wandering their way down to the basement to complete the tedious task of laundry. Even if a day was set aside for laundry to be sent to get cleaned the small blonde found solace in doing the task herself. Oh how wonderful were those afternoons sitting inside the pleasant environment of the Laundromat. Being memorized by colors whirling in suds was fun as the gentle buzzing of the washing machine kept you from being bored. Yet there was only one thing that ruined the pleasant experience, quarters. That one thing wasn't a problem in the mansion laundry room.

Anne Lee walked a bit loudly into the laundry room. She didn't care to notice anyone else. Her dark brown eyes staring at the basket full of an assortment of black dresses with lace trim and blue hoodies tangled in cargo shorts. She had decided to wash Mittens clothes as well as her own. The only thing she noticed was that the washing machine was on.

Making her way to a table in the corner she sat down after placing the basket lightly on the floor. For a few moments her tiny digits tapped the table's surface while she rested her blonde head on an elbow. Gazing into nothingness her eyes moved around the room. Twice they passed over a dark figure hovering around the washer. It was the third time that her brain registered that there was someone else enjoying doing the laundry.

"Hello," Anne Lee smiled. "It's kinda funny how one gets urges to do chores when its time to eat." Her smile ebbed as she noticed that the teen appeared as though lost in thought. "Sorry to be bothering you. If you want I can leave so the sanctuary of the laundry can be all yours," she said standing up about ready to pick up the basket of clothes.
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Arjun Shaari
Unregistered

He had been watching her from her first step into the laundry room. It seemed to take her along time to notice him standing there, totally inthralled in thought.

"Hello," Anne Lee smiled. "It's kinda funny how one gets urges to do chores when its time to eat."

Flashing a bright pearly white smile Arjun said, "Well, I guess I don't really consider it an urge, as much as a instinct. I mean, when lunch rolls around i just can't help but vacuum the stairs..." His tone was warm and inviting, not uncomfortable even though he was standing in just shorts. His upper body was bare of clothes, showing off his brown toned body. "And really, You mus'nt leave. We can share the sanctuary if you want."

He wanted to make friends, and who could blame him?

Turning he looked at the laundry timer and it read, 45 minutes. He would probally miss dinner. Oh well, he thought, he could just dip into the kitchen later and snag something delicous. Besides, he liked to make his own food, it always tasted better.
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Anne Lee
Unregistered

Standing to her full height, which wasn't saying much since she stood below 5', Anne Lee looked up at the stranger. "No the sanctuary is big enough for two, correct?" Crossing her arms in front of her small torso she frowned slightly in thought. "Laundry as an instinct, for me it's for fun. As you can see," -pulling a blue hoodie from the basket- "I like washing the clothes. I don't tend to where something so baggy," she finished returning it to the basket.

For the first time since she ventured in she gave Arjun the once over. Had she seen him walking around the mansion? Her mind couldn't recall so that meant she hadn't. But yet his appearance seemed familiar. Maybe her brother had said something about meeting someone from another country though he couldn't recall, exactly. A catboy and midnight snacking, not a good mix.

Suddenly the small blonde's cheeks flashed pink as she drew a hand over her mouth. Looking away her small frame shook from giggles. He was in nothing but shorts. It was an embarrassing surprise on her part. "Guess your instinct only works when every last clothing article is dirty," she mused through the ever growing giggles.

Settling down, she smiled to assure that he needn't put a soaking wet shirt on. He was fine as he was. Following Arjun's look to the timer her face grew in comprehension. "Gonna miss dinner, I guess. What would you like?" she questioned. "Oh, I'm Anne Lee by the way. And you are and powers." This girl was someone who didn't beat around the bush. It was a mutant school so all students should have powers.
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Arjun Shaari
Unregistered

Arjun looked downwards at himself, as if to make sure he still had shorts on. In his country, a half naked man was not an uncommon sight. The men hardly wore teeshirts, if only on the coldest days or when it was a formal event. He remembered that when he was a child, he had worn a loinclothe. Why was this girl giggling at his naked chest?

He then caught her smile that signalled that he could stay as he was, shirtless and comfortable. Which was good because he would have had to borrow a teeshirt from another boy, maybe his roommate Colin, or someone else. He hardly knew anyone yet, so it would have been very much awkward.

Smling through his thoughts, Arjun said, "What do you mean?" He was referring to her question of, "What do you want?"

"And, I'm Arjun Shaari. My powers are fairly simple. I manipulate light to form illusions. Basically, I'm an illusionist. Though...I can't do noises or feelings yet."

He moved his body fluidly up onto the vibrating washer machine, sitting in a comfortable crosslegged position. He could hear the students above get louder, it must have been dessert time.

"So Anne Lee, what are your powers?"
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Anne Lee
Unregistered

"What do I mean?" Anne Lee repeated raising her eyebrows. "I mean, what would you like to eat? I'm starting to get hungry and these sandwiches I made earlier look delectable," she said smiling holding two sandwiches wraped in plastic wrap in front of her. Cut diagonally on white bread and just noticeable was the tomato, lettuce, and turkey. One could assume that mayo adorned them as well.

She had been standing the whole time and hadn't rummaged through anything. It was anyone's guess where they came from though she did in fact make them. They came from the girl's dorm fridge.

"Well hello Arjun," the blonde said with a smile. Her left foot was pushing the basket toward Arjun. Once at the end of the table nearest to him she set the sandwiches on the table climbing up and at last sitting crossed legged on its top facing him.

"An illusionist," she said mildly interested. Then raising her right index finger in the air in an all knowing way she began to speak excitedly. "A light illusionist may never be able in affect feelings. However, if you aren't able yet one day you will be able to make solid illusions. For light can be made solid with different variables such as a laser."

Her little rant ended and her voice dropped to normal. "If you're the illusionist than I'm the magician. As you can see," -a red rubber bouncy ball popped out of thin air falling into her out stretched hand- "I can make things appear from thin air. I'm a summoner," she added for zest and understanding.

Rising the hand with the ball all the way into the air she abruptly pushed her arm toward the floor with great force. Opening her hand the ball continued its track to the floor bouncing immediately back into the air. After it hit the ceiling Anne Lee ignored 'thump' as it hit the wall, dryer, floor, and other things. Instead she held out one of the sandwiches to Arjun.
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Arjun Shaari
Unregistered

Arjun gasped for several reasons. First, it was pretty amazing how Anne Lee just summoned up the food, quiker than the blink of an eye. He was envious of that sort of power. He imagined all the things she could summon and in what situations it would be helpfull. And second, because of what she told him.

"A light illusionist may never be able in affect feelings. However, if you aren't able yet one day you will be able to make solid illusions. For light can be made solid with different variables such as a laser."

Frankly, Arjun felt blown away. He had never fully considered the fact that his illusions could become solid. He had tried of course, but they always passed through his hand. It was frusterating, but he had come to terms with it. Now he had the knowledge that otherwise was possible.

"I really like the idea that of you a magician, and me an illusionist. Now all we need is a knight! " He said quikly taking the sandwhich Anne Lee was offering to him. He unwrapped it and quikly took a bite. It was delicious, probally better than the food he would have been eating up stairs.

"Anne Lee, you should tell me more about yourself. I'm interested.."
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Anne Lee
Unregistered

Anne Lee blankly stared at Arjun as he gasped. It seemed as though he liked her power or something. She smiled and unwrapped her sandwich. A funny idea popped into her head. The teen in front of her seemed to get rather excited. ~We'll get along fine. What's my brother call me... flamboyant. Yes, that's it,~ she thought while taking a bite from the sandwich. Ooh, it was good.

"A knight, huh," thinking for a second her face suddenly lit up. "We could ask my brother though he's a bit short... I mean I'm a bit short... We're both short," the blonde shouted. Looking over at Arjun she realized that he was rather tall. At least, unlike her brother, tallness of others never bothered her. "You're tall you know."

And yet a much larger smile grew upon the small girl's face. He liked her cooking. ~Guess I have another critic,~ she chuckled to herself.

Taking another bite of the turkey sandwich Anne Lee began to stare at it. "Hmm... My name's Anne but since I was eleven I made everyone call me Anne Lee. I'm a techno bug but don't ask me who stated that first 'cuz I don't know. I can't live without computers and I like everything and anything about Anime," she finished at last taking a breath. "I also live by the philosophy 'Why run when you can walk.' It basically means if you can do something without your powers then do so," she ended with a voice ever growing in excitement.

Looking at the timer on the washer if possible her smiling face got brighter. "Why don't you ask specific things about me and I'll answer them. Mind you, you have a courtesy to do the same," she warned while she bit into the crust of the bread. "Though there are some things in which I can't tell you." ~Especially since the bond I share with Mittens is broken from me not telling him,~ she added in thought. Yes something she wouldn't tell anyone until she knew absolutely for sure. Blood relatives what an interesting concept.
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Arjun Shaari
Unregistered

"Is your brother Mittens? Because if so, i met him the other night. It was interesting, a large group of us up late at night, all in the kitchen. Ha, you should have seen it. All of us falling asleep right on the kitchen counter!!" Arjun said, nodding in agreement to himself. "And yes, I am tall. My father is too..."

Arjun ate the whole sandwhich withen a few minutes, because it tasted good and he was very hungry. Who knew when he would get such good food again? Maybe he could retrake his previous beleif, not all food tastes better when prepared by ones self. Some tastes better when prepared by Anne Lee. He could tell her so, but he would refrain. Maybe when they knew eachother better.

"I'd love to ask-uh...whats the word? Specific? Yes, specific questions." Blushing, Arjun looked down at his lap. English was after all, his second language. Sometimes he just didn't know the right words to say. "When did you find out about your powers?" Smiling softly, he recognized that she could not tell him everything, some things need to be kept secrets.

(so sorry about the post above. I forgot to log in!)
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Anne Lee
Unregistered

"Yes, Mittens is my brother," Anne Lee said shortly. "It's unbelievable that he was up that late. Probably dead tired as well. Please don't take that meeting seriously he kinda forgot about... it was really late," she ended hastily. "I'm not sure how he acted but his personality depends on the time of day."

She too finished her sandwich but with less emotion. Her cooking wasn't perfect just enough for two rather young siblings to get by. "What a coincidence, my father was tall, too," she stuttered through bites. "But that's what my grandma said. He died before I could remember him." By the last bite of turkey a slight mist formed into her brown eyes. However, it was gone before she rolled the plastic wrap that had covered the sandwich into a ball.

It was hard to suppress her giggles as Arjun tried to remember the word 'specific.' ~I hope you're not going to start using it in your vocabulary. I pronounced it as pacific,~ she mused in her head. There were just some words that one couldn't pronounce correctly.

"My powers emerged on my eleven birthday. Everything significant seems to happen on my birthday," Anne Lee begun as she fiddled with the plastic. "I had locked myself in a closet and wanted a cupcake and 'Poof' one appeared." At poof she had put her hands into fists and quickly opened them to reveal her palms as emphasis.

"It was a surprise but then it happened again and again. Mutants weren't taken lightly at the orphanage. I was found out but eluded capture with a well placed bat." Her cheerful face was no more but behind the dark brown almost black eyes hung a bit of hope. Truly what would have happen if she didn't escape, if she and Mittens never found each other, again?

Looking pointedly at Arjun a glint appeared in her eye. "What about you? Illusion powers would have seemed more of an illusion then getting what you want when you want."
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Arjun Shaari
Unregistered

Arjun turned away from Anne Lee, leaving their conversation suddenly in silence. He was trying to remember all the details of the day he had gained his powers. It had been on a day where the sun was smiling on the earth, instead of raging agaisn't it. The wind had been small, but it had defintily been there. The faint hum of the washing machine finished up its washing job buzzed into Arjun's brain, replacing the sound of the wind in his memory.

"Why don't I show you..." He said, turning quite suddenly towards the girl. His expression was fresh, bright and enthusiastic. He could use his illusion powers to put them directly in the scene of his power activation.

Raising his hands into the air directly in front of himself, he said, "Just don't move to much. This is going to be detailed, and will take alot concentration. I'm still honing my skills."

Everything around the two kids sitting on the washers starting to fade away, to simply cease to exist in their vision. In its place, was a bright hillside of dying grass. The wind was light thoug neither could really feel it,the sun was relaxed, and the main heat of the day had floated away. The sun was setting almost. In front of both of them, instead of a dingy floor and a side table, was a boy sitting on the hill also. He was unmistakably Arjun's younger self, sitting by himself. He was thinking, looking towards what might have been a market in the distance, wearing a simple white tunic and tan shorts. Rural India was beautifull, and seemed to be full of possabilities. Quite quikly, a butterfly appeared beside Arjun (younger self) and fluttered about. He seemed surprised, and excited. His head cocked to the side, as if figuring out the situation. His mouth moved, but Anne Lee and Arjun could not hear the younger boys words. He was talking to the butterfly. It was when the boy reached out his open palm towards the fleeting bug, that a hundred more burst into sight. They seemingly came out of no-where, but both Anne Lee and Arjun recognized it as Arjun's powers manifesting. A look of pure enjoyment fell upon younger Arjun's face, right before he raised himself and ran towards home with a trail of flying butterflies in tow.

The image faded, and it was just the two teens and their laundry room. "I think images are better than words sometime..."
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Anne Lee
Unregistered

Anne Lee sat still on the table top. Arjun hadn't even reacted to anything she had said. Nothing was said about her being to young to remember her father or being in an orphanage. She thought it was odd. Finally looking up to him she realized that he was deep in thought.

"Show me," she questioned. "I would love to see." If he was willing to show her it meant that his manifestation was peaceful. ~A rarity among rare,~ her sadden mind thought.

Briefly wondering what was about to happen, the small blonde sat stock still. As the illusion began to form her face lit up in wonderment. The landscape, the sun, even that marketplace was clearly visible as if it were plain day. Though she knew his powers wouldn't allow her to feel the warmth or to smell the spice in the air she imagined it. This whole thing was something out of the books she read.

With the first butterfly Anne Lee simply smiled but as the boy reached out her breathing stopped. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Though they weren’t real being able to see them made it seem that there wasn't hardship in the world. But that was the problem with illusions they were just illusions which end too soon.

The image faded, and it was just the two teens and their laundry room. "I think images are better than words sometime..."

"They are," she agreed quietly. Pulling her knees under her chin she began to rock back in forth. "That was beautiful. I always loved butterflies but... you were lucky," she ended without explanation. Seeing that illusion reinforced her hope that life can and would get better but it also made her heart hurt. Butterflies meant more then just beauty.


Freedom, the current my wings fly
Hope and life I bring upon them
They’re a bridge between worlds
Of resurrection, renewal; of spring
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Arjun Shaari
Unregistered

Arjun smiled, but not in a bragging sort of way. He felt truely happy that he could share his first experience with someone, and have her find it as beautifull as he did. It had been a work of Bramha, one hundred percent creation and good. His mother told him that he must have been made a prophet of all Brahmin, to create good, even if what he was creating was just altered light fragments.

"That was beautiful. I always loved butterflies but... you were lucky,"

He knew he was lucky. Others in his village had been less lucky, and he had heard plenty of horror stories of whole towns turning on one mutant. Luck was usually on Arjun's side, but in the moment when he told his parents and they just smiled, he had been extrodinaryly blessed. He would not forget that, ever.

Anne Lee seemed to have almost deflated from her previous energy. "Is everything ok, Anne Lee? I do hope I didn't upset you when i showed my past. I had no intention." The rumble of his washer ceased, and he rose off of it and opened it. He moved all of his wet laundry to the nearest washer and clicked the start button. Turning back to Anne Lee, he waited for her response.
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Anne Lee
Unregistered

He was lucky but not in the sense he was thinking. Arjun's seemed happy with his manifestation. She knew that his family could have hated him for what he was but instead they accepted him. This was why Anne Lee was saying that he was lucky, lucky enough to have love ones' to make the choice of acceptance or denial or ridicule. By the time her powers manifested she had no one but Mittens.

"I'm fine," she murmured with a quivering voice. "It's just that I remembered..." Tears formed as her vision became misty. A dream, a nightmare, a repressed but vague memory began to play in her mind; a mobile of butterflies and smiling faces of two shadowed figures holding a crying infant. The blonde stopped rocking on the table. Her small fingers began to trace a scar barely noticeable on her left cheek. It reached from just below the left eye to the jawbone.

Small hands hastily wiped away the tears that were slowly falling down her reddening cheeks. "Arjun," Anne Lee addressed the boy, "When I was little my grandparents never told us bedtime stories with princesses and fairies, of dragons and knight, or the hero rescuing the day. They told me and my little brother stories of parents we would never remember."

Her eyes drifted to the laundry basket full of dresses and hoodies. At last they could be washed for the washer was free. However she remained where she sat on the table top. With unfocused eyes she was again was smiling at the tall teen.

"My grandmother said that my mother's favorite animal was the butterfly. They mean to me as freedom, to others luck, and even more as death. But she viewed them as hope and a promise, a promise that I all but forgot until now. Thank-you," Anne Lee chimed coming back into reality.


Around the world I am seen as beauty
Even my cousins, the ugly, are praised
I am little and unimportant, just simple
My being should not be explained
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Arjun Shaari
Unregistered

Arjun didn't really know what to say to Anne Lee's story. It was cute and sad, and seemed to really be important to her. He knew how important it was to have memories of your parents. Whenever he felt lonely in the mansion, freindless and miss understood, it only took him a second to become happy again, with a simple memory of how much his parents gave up just to get him there. They beleived in him, and so he had to beleive in himself. It sounded corny, but he would not give up, not as long as the School stood.

As Anne Lee started to smile again, Arjun gave an inward sigh of releif. He was not good with crying girls.

He moved to take out all of his laundry and move it to a dryer. It was about time, Anne Lee could finally start. "Sorry, it took so long." He said, nodding towards the machine. He attempted to hide his wet underwear in other clothes, so she would not see them. Though modesty was not his forte, for he was standing half naked in front of a girl he hardly knew, he still had manners.

It was nice to see someone open up....Finally.
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