Friends and (inanimate) foes [Private]

The awakening ritual of bone clicking had commenced, the gratuitous noise echoing throughout the dorm halls of the academy. A late rise for most was an early one for him. So early had he risen that his pet chimp, usually having to wait half an hour longer before effectively dragging him out of bed, was still asleep. The short man, throwing on his usual walking boots, a set of old green trousers and a light brown shirt so tattered that it had entirely lost it's sleeves. It was far too early to be lugging around his weapon at this hour... so he lifted an electric dust crystal and some of the explosive type; though he was less inclined to use it.

A quick note to his chimp scrawled at their room's desk and the boy was out, into the empty dorm halls. He continued his clicking routine, pulling his right arm down his back before repeating with the left. He closed his eyes as he made his way down the stairs, pushing his head once left then once right; letting out two final clicks. The short man stepped down from the final stair, having not noticed the girl to his right... what was a civilian doing at the foot of the dormitories? Waiting for a relation?

Richard paused, looking to the girl. Brown hair, scroll held up by some device. Certainly a civilian. His shoulders loosened a little, he hadn't heard any other footsteps down here nor in the dormitory. He didn't have to be so perceptive around a civilian, let alone one in a wheelchair.

He felt a little awkward though... like... was this person just waiting for someone or where they lost or? Could they not get up the stairs? He was done giving tours, two lots of students was enough but... eh a civilian guiding, might get a reward for it.

"Oi oi... Are you lost or?" He asked the seemingly sour looking girl, hoping not to startle her, "Or like... waiting for someone maybe? I could go up and call on them? It's not too much effort... well, long as the name isn't too long."

Why would a wheelchair user need access to the dorms? Relative of a teacher maybe? Meh, good for nothing brat if it's the case, I doubt they'd let me keep my sister here... then again, I doubt I'd want to keep my sister here. Still, she seems polite enough. If she ticks me off though, I won't think twice about abandoning her here.

"Trust me, if we had elevators I'd know about it. I'd use them every day. If you're looking for a way around in that way, you might have a bit of a bad time... though I guess if you're staying here they plan to fix things up for you, right?" Richard's eyes grew manic and a smile broadened, "Are we getting elevators?!"

He quickly recomposed himself, turning to the stairs to hide his embarrassment, "Uh, but yeah I'm not to sure there is a way. I'm not the strongest but I'm strong for my size, and you don't look like you'd be too heavy... least with out the chair... Do you know how much you weigh? More importantly though, can you be removed from your chair without injury or does it require a doctor's hands?"

Richard's more analytical mind, commonly used for tactics and opponent analysis, was probably even better set tackling small problems like this. He'd always enjoyed doing puzzles as a child, especially those riddles Gyro would set up.

"Oh, and if I can carry you it'd only be this once. Don't make a habit of coming to me for help, the first one's free but I charge from there," He warned her, unwilling to take on much more work without a guarantied reward.

Richard glowered lightly toward her, "I should be more than strong enough to lift that much, I know I'm short but I'm strong for my size. Hunters in training could be strong. Regardless of how they primarily fight. Can't have a hunter who can't handle their own weight."

He reminded himself that this was just a civilian, not a hunter in training, "Just be careful about underestimating people around here. We are trained to go out and fight after-all."

Richard ten turned back to the stairs, extending his left arm straight horizontally; he created an L shape with his forefinger and thumb. Estimating the distance in his head. It might have been a little out of his reach how tedious, an eight inch rise per step mad things difficult.

He turned back to her; "Course, with a semblance like mine raw power is less of a necessity. I can get you up there in a matter of seconds if that's fine with you... although, it may be a little frightening for a civilian."

He paused, now more than a little curious. The girl didn't look like Smokey Coot, didn't look like the Raven man... didn't look like that pompous brat Haze. Maybe she took more after her other half? Relative of a student maybe? But he was sure that wasn't allowed, couldn't have extra emotional baggage hanging around; perhaps some rich kid had bribed the headmistress.

The short man cocked a brow, "Who's dragged you out here anyway? If your parent's a teacher it's kinda awful of them to abandon you like this, not like there are any classes on right now, but if it's a student you'd think they'd look after their sister a bit better. Things are clearing up for summer, they don't really have an excuse," he tutted, "Regardless, if you can get out the chair I can get you up there. Just give me a sec'"

Richard then, extending a single of his white sickle like claws from the top of his right fore finger, tore at the rim of his already tattered cotton shirt. He struggled a bit as his crooked claws were quite blunt.

"What?"

Richard's eyes widened, his his remaining nine claws extending defensively. He was about to position the squares of cloth he'd removed on the stairs for easy transport... but this revelation had sent him reeling. His mind was aflame with theories.

W-Was that a joke? Was she just kidding? How could a paralyzed hunter exist? Surely she's joking. I've encountered all sorts of poorly prepared student's, long hair and poor battle attire and unskilled fighters but her... how could one ever hunt from a wheelchair? She can't beat a set of stairs let alone a Beowulf! What would she arm herself with? What's she going to do? Wheel herself onto the battlefield with a machine gun in her lap? Is the chair her weapon... Is the chair her weapon? But if the chair were her weapon-

The boy's back straightened, he became far more aware of his surroundings. His left hand was held above a dust crystal alike a cowboy's hand their revolver, not facing her. Even if she'd seen his claws, even if she was aware of his strength for his size, he still had the advantage. She would have to leave her chair before she could attack... wouldn't she?

However, he quickly retracted his claws. He lent down close to her, arms at his side and (much as it pained him to do so) with his back to her.

"Alright, how're you going to more onto me? Is this okay or would you like another position? If you can wrap your arms around my neck I can stand up and grab your legs. But do remember what I'm about to do might be... slightly intimidating." He attempted to sound cool and collected, but perhaps came off as a little rough.

Just before she could latch on he cast his hand forward and up, sending the little fabric squares soaring toward the stair-top in their ball like crumpled form.

Richard's face only grew paler still as the girl talked of how she fought. Unlike most of his village, he had adapted to technology... but to be so reliant on it. A huntress couldn't be that, they wouldn't last. The instant they ran out of fuel, the instant a device broke. They'd be dead. Dead almost instantly. Nothing could save her, no one could, for if they tried she'd lead to their deaths. Almost certainly the death of the team, if not only herself.

Just as she latched on Richard dove forward, quickly crouching down and before jumping forward. The instant he left the ground however, he was suddenly eight meters in the air; having switched locations with the most ideal of the falling cotton squares he had thrown. His movement however was retained and so, as he appeared in the air, the pair launched forward like a bullet. Skidding to a halt at the top of the stairs, struggling not to fall forward and have her crush him.

He steadied himself, low to the ground; "Now then... if you were lying to me you'll be forced to have this talk. If you were lying to me, getting up and walking, I'll know you lied."

Crouching low he licked one of his clawed fingers at her hand, hoping that the shock would startle her into letting go of him. She would be left stranded without her chair at the top of the staircase, no one in sight.

"If you genuinely are paralyzed, I'm maybe sorry. I've never been trusting, but it's a trait I'm glad I have. You could easily have been faking it, your chair capable of transforming into some manner of weapon. I can't take chances like that," He informed her, "However... if you are paralyzed and a huntress in training I need to know more. How do you intend to get stronger? What if you're defeated in battle, you could lead to your allies death couldn't you? If your suit breaks you'll be stranded... tell me everything."

He remained crouched, turning to her; "What you're doing confuses me, I'm not sure if I like it yet. I'll go get your chair once I'm sure you do need it but please... do explain to me what you're doing here."

The words, If someone has to die, why not the crippled one? Echoed through Richard's mind louder than anything else she'd said. The boy's brow furrowed deeply, claws on the verge of extending. He let loose a small snarl as she finished, pacing down the stairs toward her chair; grabbing it by the handles.

"An out-look like that to life, how awful. Even my philosophy of; sleep, eat, repeat... seems more natural and fair than what you're putting yourself through. Shouldn't waste life like that you know, The boy grabbed the chair, slowly lifting it wheel by wheel up the stairs, "I can't say I abide your philosophy though... there's something quite different you could take from the old man's words, not only with your technology but becoming literally stronger. Despite your disadvantage. You shouldn't have needed me to do this, you should be strong enough to tackle the stairs alone... you know? Strong despite, not strong with the aid of help, you know."

He paused in his stepping, before restarting "That might be the kind of training you're here for... but you do realize you're entering an area, filled with people who have more than that right off the bat? Won't it take a lot of private tutoring and..."

Richard reached the top, setting the chair down, "I'm not sure how to feel... even though, in hindsight, long as I don't hunt alongside you it's none of my business. I suppose I can respect your ambition, I can certainly do that much... I don't really talk like this, or this much to other students. It's strange."

He wheeled the chair to her back, hoping that would allow for the easiest access. He couldn't help smiling a little bit. Even if she was strange and ambition charged, she had a will at least. That was more than he had.

"You see, I just want to hunt for a job and power. So I can buy food and no one will mess with me. The reasons you're doing it are a lot more... well not smart perhaps, but certainly will make others want to become better hunters. I guess, long as you don't get anyone killed, yourself included, I can respect that."

"In the mech sure, but outside of it... you do plan to get stronger right?You're not so stupid to wholly rely on your technology alone right? In your position a weapon might not be best... but dust wise, there's a lot you could do for yourself. I tend to specialize in it more so to make up for my size," He questioned, admitted and informed.

He was half tempted to pull out a crystal there and then, if she couldn't survive the attack she wasn't fir to be a huntress... but he restrained himself. Probably would be a bit rude to blast her with electricity or detonate a bomb in her face right this instant. It'd help her learn, maybe, but the wounds and psychological scaring of a sudden blast from a person who just put faith in you... may never heal.

He quickly realized how imbalanced he was, unlike his usual self. He was paying attention, not yawning and taking in what little mattered. He was taking time, letting the other person talk and giving good answers. His face turned red, a small snarl coughing out.

"Oi oi, as I said. This is abnormal for me. Don't expect this kind of help from me ever again. Certainly not for free, you got it?" He grumbled, "However... if you need help with your dust and I'm bored enough I might lift a finger."

Richard's brows furrowed further, "You are far too trusting. I just dumped you at the top of these stairs and threatened to leave you there..."

Richard couldn't help complaining, the idea of having to work along-side incompetent hunters was frustrating. Let alone the potential loss of life stupidity could account for, it took one idiot among the crows to get them shot. He drew forth another ivory claw, scratching the top of his head. He had to options; continue to annoy these people and continue to be annoyed by them. Or teach these people to be better and continue to be annoyed by them, slightly less he supposed. One required more effort but at the reward of less overall annoyance. He mentally shrugged, he wouldn't think too hard about it.

"Just maybe be a bit more skeptical, I can't really stop you being naive though," Richard shrugged, "Anyway, as for dust, I've read about all they have in the library. A lot of it's garbage, but there are diamonds in the rough."

Richard, slowly but surely returning to his regular lazy state, let out a loud yawn. Eyes sinking back into their tired state. He'd been up what... fifteen, thirty minutes? Far too long.

"So, do you think your room and stuff will okay? There could be more unplanned obstructions right?"

Ash tilted her head slightly as she was said to be too trusting by the boy before she giggled. "You did dropped and threatened me, but you still helped me right? You can try as much as you want to look cold and uncaring to others, but deep down you just want to care for others. You just do it your own way. But yea I guess I should be a bit more around strangers, but we're in a school of Hunters so surely no one here is really bad." The boy then said that the library held a number of books related to Dust but that most of them weren't worth her while, straight up calling them garbage but that a few would be great. "Well, maybe you could send me a list of the best ones? Oh but you'd need my name though, right? I'm Ashley Skyler, but you can call me Ash. If I had your name it would help too, so I would know that it's you that would have sent the message."

As she saw that the boy was looking tired, Ash decided that she wouldn't bother him more and that she would end for her room. "No I think I will be fine on my own from here, my room is on this floor and I'll have a way to get around when there. Thanks for everything and see you around~" With that the brunette went into the next hallway that led toward her room. It wasn't a bad meeting for the first person she had spoken to so far in the academy. It could have gone waaaaaaay worse than that.

~EXIT~

Richard growled, clicking his tong. The idea that he was sweet deep down, like some kind of cake or candy. What a horrible idea. It was because it was early and he'd misjudged her, that was all. Idea that he was some kind simpleton, too dumb to see a challenge or an opponent before him.

He yelled at her back; "The name is Richard! Don't expect me to remember yours, I didn't ask for it!"

His face was thoroughly red, sweat on his brow and a deep pout on his face. Idea that some stupid paraplegic had the ability to control him in such a way, she was clearly more dangerous than she was willing to let on. Something he would usually regard as good and be happy about, had she not bested him at their first confrontation... it was as if she hadn't even seen it as a confrontation.

He sighed, trudging away from her and toward his room. Flopping onto his bed... just in time for an alarm next to him to sound, his pet chimp rising from his own bed and hopping onto the short man's back... oh today was getting off to a brilliant start.