Another day, another job. (O)

[Azik Farenfir]

Better not push that any further... Ray resumed sipping his milk as Azik tapped the side of his cup softly. Thinking of where he should step next. He lifted the mug and drank more of the coffee. Savouring the bitterness of the brew and the face-slapping buzz that followed. Resting the mug back on the table, the Demi-Human continued tapping.

Azik looked up to the feline who sipped his milk now and then. So young... And so much responsibility to deal with... What happened that pushed him far enough to join? Azik's mouth noticed his growing curiosity, and leapt on the opportunity.

"Why did you join the Resistance...?" He pondered aloud. Azik's eyes widened with the realisation of what just slipped though his lips.

"I-I-I'm sorry! You don't have to answer that. M-My mouth just runs off on it's own sometimes..." The Demi-Human apologised with a sheepish grin.

[Ray]

"It's fine," Ray replied simply. "I don't mind the question, but I rather not answering it now, if you don't mind."

"Lets just say that Shepherd gave me a chance that I didn't had, and for that, he can use me anyway he wants to." He gave a short explanation while pushing the empty cup away.

"That's the reason I'm here." The snow leopard stated calmly.

[Azik Farenfir]

With a push of his cup and a plain, simple answer, Ray left Azik cringing behind his cup, biting the rim in frustration. After finishing his own mug, he sat it down, not uttering a sound. This kid is like a minefield... Lemme see... Ah yep, see? My leg's gone. Stepped on one... With the two of them sitting in the silence, Azik felt like he was waking up fine without the aid of caffeine. The heaviness of the tension basking in their presence was enough of a slap on the face.

The Demi-human rested his elbows on the table and rested his hands atop each other, looking down while he grasped at straws for a conversation starter. Expertise with guns? Tied with his past. Excellence of physical abilities? Tied to his past. Feathered earring? Tied with his past. Reason for joining the resistance? Taboo past. What's the chance that eyepa-Stop thinking about the damn eyepatch!

His train of scattered thoughts was interrupted by the waitress who began picking up the cups. "Will you two be wanting refills?" Azik shook his head. She turned to Ray as Azik lifted his head up to the Feline. "Want anything, Ray? Or are you ready to go?" Go? Go where? Idiot.

[Ray]

"No, I'm fine," Ray shooked his head before standing up and thanked the waitress, getting a compliment of his politeness in return. He then turned to Azik, "and can we stop by the study room for a moment? I need to pick up my stuff from the class."

He hoped that Bobby had found his note by now. He'll be too focused on looking for him then, and not realize that he might turn back to where he escaped from. And why did he escaped again? Oh yeah. Math was the reason.

And its okay even if Bobby is still at the study room. The time for his study session was over anyway.

[Azik Farenfir]

"Sure, that's fine." Azik said as he stood. "Thanks for the coffee," he nodded towards the waitress, who nodded back and returned to her duties. The pair left the canteen and followed the gravel path towards the study. It took a while for Azik to process what they where they were going.

"Wait, you're a student? What're you learning?" The Demi-human asked as they neared the tent.

[Ray]

"Never luck enough to be one,"Ray stated matter-of-factly, "and I've picked up weapons long before I got my hands on my first book."

"Shepherd said I'll need the knowledge for when this war ends." The snow leopard explained. "But I don't get it. What's the use of knowledge if you can't use them out on the field? I only needed math to count bullets, not solving algebra." Then he looked at the human, as if pending approval.

[Bobby Scrumble]

The study room was a quiet place right now, with only three people still hanging around the small place. One sat quietly, her short legs on the edge of the chair and holding the book extremely close to her small face. One of the tiger beastfolk, young but brawny and clearly showing the scars of servitude on his neck and arms, was in the process of sounding out the words from a kids' book.

The only other person was standing on the table, and still managed to be shorter than the tiger sitting nearby. With one delicate finger, he was conducting a series of papers into arranging themselves into a pile, inchworming across the table. With another finger, he had the books flipping end over end into their own four stacks.

"Uhhn … eye … queue …"

"Unique," Bobby helped him gently.

The tiger gave a soft grunt back, a look of intense concentration on his face.

"Unique," he repeated it the way the 'professor' said, trying to commit the letters and the sound to memory. "We. Are all. Unique."

[Azik Farenfir]

Stopping before the entrance of the Study room, Azik turned to the snow leopard, grinning. "That's true. Can't say that I was fond of learning math. I figure all you need in life is a good pair of legs, a light step and dexterous, nimble fingers." The Demi-human chuckled. Pushing the door to the study room open, Azik glanced about.

For one thing it was small. It looked like it could only house a few students at a time. Besides the pair, there were three occupants spread around the room. Two were obviously students. Their noses buried in books. The third was a small older looking man standing on the table at the end of the room. Papers and books were moving around him and organising themselves into neat piles near him.

Azik cleared his throat and stepped inside. "Sorry for the disruption, but we're just here for his books." He said sidestepping and pointing a thumb at Ray.

[Ray]

The snow leopard body shook with surprise as he found out that he hadn't tell Azik he skipped class earlier. And the human is telling the professor of his arrival! His hope of getting in and out stealthily is out the window now.

"...Professor Scrumbley?" He nodded, tail lashing about from the uncertainty of the situation.

PleasedontyellatmeinfrontoftheclassPleasedontyellatmeinfrontoftheclass...He crossed his fingers in a silent prayer. No, more like a loud one. A loud, repeating one.

[Bobby Scrumble]

The fragile, ugly looking elf stopped conducting the dance of homework, looking to the newcomers. He recognized them - and that's why his face was sad for a moment. The books and papers continued to organize themselves even as he grabbed one book off the top.

Half as big as he was, he used two hands to pick it up and hold it in front of himself.

"You missed math, Rayra Karzi," the Brownie said the odd nickname sounding disappointed. He offered him the textbook - just one of the many, since someone had once copied the original with magic for educational purposes.

With another snap of his fingers, the twenty or so other odd chairs tucked themselves in under the edges of the tables, put neatly away for another time. The tiger had stopped reading out loud, and was partially glancing at them out of the corner of his eye.

[Ray]

"No," Ray said, his ears drooping at the nickname. How he hated that it reminds him of his age. "I skipped math. And please don't treat me like a kid."

Then Bobby snapped his fingers, making the chairs snap against the tables, arranging themselves orderly under their respective table with a loud sound of wood on wood. The snow leopard jumped at the sound, the fur on the back of his neck all bristled out, guilt creeping inside the crack of the armor he put on, created the perfectly timed sound.

"And I'm sorry." He whispered. So silently that only someone with a feline's ear would be able to hear him.

Somehow the consistent stare of the tiger made his tail curl against his leg a little more.

[Azik Farenfir]

Looking from the now regretful snow leopard to the dwarfish elf, Azik couldn't help but feel he had a hand in this situation. "And I'm sorry." Ray uttered quietly. His tail curled around his leg as he glanced at the tiger who kept watching them. Moving to Ray's side, the Demi-human placed a hand on his shoulder, giving a assuring grin.

"Sir, please excuse Ray. You see, I asked if he would help me with my training. And the kind lad couldn't turn me down despite his own duties." Azik said with a warm grin. He look towards the tiger, then smirked.

"Couldn't you let this slide?" He turned back towards the professor. "It was just one class." The Demi-human inquired as he kept his hand on Ray's shoulder.

[Bobby Scrumble]

The disappointed look on the small, ugly brownie's face shifted into something more akin to sadness as he listened to the pair of them give their piece. Then he gave a soft sigh and picked up the group of papers left behind by the other "students."

"Neither of you understand - Azy Farfy, Rayra Karzi," he said gently, not intending it as insult but as exposition. "Bobby is not here to punish anyone. Bobby is not here to chastise anyone. Bobby cannot, cannot recommend Rayra Karzi for college or anything important like that."

Papers were quickly glanced through, just to check whose names he had, before putting them under his left arm.

"So many of the people we free, have never had any formal education. Most don't know how to read, much less how to do math," he said, jumping off the table onto the floor below. "You know that yourself, Rayra Karzi."

With his right hand, he gestured to the pile of books, who neatly floated up and after him.

"Bobby teaches people, because they want to be taught. Bobby teaches people because they want to learn. If Rayra Karzi doesn't want to learn, he doesn't need to show up. But Rayra Karzi should feel lucky," the brownie said, still with a hint of sadness to his tone. "There are still thousands others who want to learn, and don't have the chance."

[Ray]

"Neither of you understand - Azy Farfy, Rayra Karzi," Bobby said softly. "Bobby is not here to punish anyone. Bobby is not here to chastise anyone. Bobby cannot, cannot recommend Rayra Karzi for college or anything important like that."

"Yes, sir." He answered. Yes, he'd known that. College was never a privilege for a lowlife like him.

"So many of the people we free, have never had any formal education. Most don't know how to read, much less how to do math," The fey jumped down from the table. "You know that yourself, Rayra Karzi."

"Bobby teaches people, because they want to be taught. Bobby teaches people because they want to learn. If Rayra Karzi doesn't want to learn, he doesn't need to show up. But Rayra Karzi should feel lucky,"He continued, the disappointment in his voice cannot be more opaque. "There are still thousands others who want to learn, and don't have the chance."

"But I wanted to learn!" The snow leopard protested. "Or else I won't show up at your English class every time, sir."

"And yet..." Ray continued, shifting in his place as if something is troubling him. "It's just..."

Then he sighed, and let it slip before he can grab on it tighter. "I sucks with numbers..." He lowered his head in shame.

[Bobby Scrumble]

The brownie took a long breath - an understanding yet still a little disappointed breath, that came along with a small shake of his head.

"If Rayra Karzi is having trouble, he won't get better by avoiding it," he said gently and tactfully. "Bobby did not learn long division in a day. Bobby learned long division over several months, hiding in his master's cupboard."

The brownie gave a small shrug, and then his face stretched wide with a smile. He leaned in closer to Ray as if to tell a secret, his voice just a little hushed as he held up a finger by his mouth. "Bobby knows no one who is good at everything - except, perhaps, Sheppy Herder. And Sheppy Herder is quite old."

[Azik Farenfir]

Azik listened and watched as the small professor tried to encourage Ray. The Demi-Human crossed his arms and leaned against a table besides Bobby and Ray looking towards the pair.

"He's right, Ray. Numbers are just like you honing your marksmanship. Or me practicing my lock picking. It takes a while to master. And as I said earlier, it took me decades to get my aim with knives to where they are today."

Looking about at the other students, he jabbed his head towards the Tiger. "And this lad is trying to learn too. English, I'm assuming. Or perhaps just reading. But he seems to have a more difficult time. Yet he's here, nose deep in a book." The Demi-human held a hand up to the Tiger and grinned apologetically. "No offence."

Resting his hands on the table he leaned on, Azik looked more towards Bobby and smiled. "And would I be wrong in guessing you're still learning, too Proffessor? Knowledge is a lock that isn't cracked easily." He chuckled.

[Bobby Scrumble]

The gruff tiger, shifting his seat further away from Azik, growled softly past narrowed eyes. He held the book up a little higher to stop them from seeing his eyes.

"That also is very true, Azy Farfy," the brownie nodded in his direction. "Bobby is indeed always learning. Bobby finds many things he didn't know in our books. We're very lucky to have all the books we do, you know - thanks to all those who've saved so many rare texts. Rasputin has tried to destroy many, many old tomes you know, Azy Farfy, from before the revolution."

"Such knowledge is very precious, but Bobby also knows that he has much to learn, about everything else. Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, History - Bobby knows there is very, very much still left for him to learn."

[Ray]

"I..." Not knowing what to say, the kid stumbled on his words, his tail thrashing around again as he try to collect his thoughts. "I dunno. I'll try to get to math again, so I'll show up on the next class," then he sighed. "But no promise on how long I'll stick to it."

"So can I just take my stuffs and leave now?" And with that, he walked over to his table and collect his note books and pens from the drawer. "Thank you, sir. I won't miss the next class of yours." He then turned and escape from the room in frustration.

[Bobby Scrumble]

"If you want to learn, then you must make a promise to yourself, Rayra Karzi," the brownie said sagaciously, nodding slightly as he did so. "You owe it to yourself, not to Bobby."

"So can I just take my stuffs and leave now?" the youth said, sounding frustrated in the process.

With a small, saddened look on his face, the brownie nodded twice fast. "You always could have, Rayra Karzi."

"Thank you, sir," Ray replied, moving quickly to depart. "I won't miss the next class of yours."

Bobby gave a small shrug, resignation clearly on his features. He felt like he should say something else, something more, but there was little point. Either Ray would understand by then or not.

"Have a good day, you two," the brownie called after them.

[Azik Farenfir]

Azik pushed off the table as Ray walked by in a hurry, clutching his books. Nodding to Bobby and a smirk to the tiger, he followed after Ray who seemed more then eager to leave.

"Have a good day, you two," the small professor called out as they exited. Once back outside on the gravel path, the Demi-human eyed Ray who seemed somewhat irked. Moving besides him, he turned to look as they kept walking to nowhere in particular, studying the snow leopard.

"You seem upset," Azik indicated with curiousness tinting his expression. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he kept watching Ray.

"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, y'know. You're not some lowlife. Rasputin and his lackeys already do a too fine a job of conveying that, so they don't need your help," he goes on to say while smiling.

[Ray]

The human followed. Why he had to follow him? All Ray wanted now is to be alone for a few minutes, to sort out his thoughts. But no such luck. He can hear Azik's footsteps approaching from behind.

The human studied his expressions warily. "You seem upset," he concluded.

As if it wasn't obvious. Ray let out a sigh, but his speed didn't falter.

"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, y'know. You're not some lowlife. Rasputin and his lackeys already do a too fine a job of conveying that, so they don't need your help," he continued.

"I know......" The snow leopard said, "It''s just...I was never needed to study anything other than weapons. I was nothing but a tool, to be used until I broke, then throw away without remorse. I never had anything close to- " He stuttered, trying desperately to find a word to describe what''s in his mind. "- This! I never had a life before."

Then he finally stopped. The beads on his earring clinked against each other, an abrupt sound in the empty hallway.

"And now, for the first time I'm in control of my life - sort of - and yet I don't know how to deal with it." He confessed.

[Azik Farenfir]

"A tool hmm? You're quite conflicted for a tool," the Demi-human said while cocking his head with a smirk. It faded soon after as he mulled over what Ray mentioned.

"You know, you're right. You may be a tool, but so is everyone else fighting along you," Azik continued.

"We're all tools trying to make a better future for everyone. You can't build without tools," he said with a grin. The earrings clinking caught his attention, making him recall it's value to the snow leopard.

"Ray, I had a close friend a while ago. Even taught me magic," he chuckled with a sad smile. "But he died because of the Government. I don't want anyone else suffering because of that tyrant Rasputin." He then looked to the young feline.

"Isn't there anything you want to do after this Ray? You're a very contemplative young man. I'm certain there's something you'd like to see happen," the assassin grinned and placed a hand on Ray's shoulder.

[Ray]

"A tool hmm? You're quite conflicted for a tool," Azik said with a smirk.

And he's right.

"Yeah, tools wasn't suppose to be conflicted." The snow leopard stated coldly. "Tools wasn't suppose to have feelings at all. Or maybe I'm just flawed."

But the demi-human continued. "You know, you're right. You may be a tool, but so is everyone else fighting along you,"

"We are?" Ray raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion.

"We're all tools trying to make a better future for everyone. You can't build without tools," Azik explained while grinning.

"But I never build anything......" The snow leopard lowered his head, his ears drooping back. "Guess I used the wrong word. I'm not a tool. I'm a weapon."

The only I hated most in the world, and yet I can't survive without it. He thought. Oh sweet irony.

But the smile of the human soon turned into a sad one. "Ray, I had a close friend a while ago. Even taught me magic, but he died because of the Government. I don't want anyone else suffering because of that tyrant Rasputin."

"I sorry to hear that." Comes the automatic response.

"Isn't there anything you want to do after this Ray? You're a very contemplative young man. I'm certain there's something you'd like to see happen,"

The pat on his shoulder made him raise his head to look at Azik. He tried to think about it, about what he wanted, but soon shook his head back and forth and lowered his head again. "......I don't know," He said. "I never thought about that. I thought I was just going to fight hard and die somewhere between this...revolution."

[Azik Farenfir]

"I never thought about that. I thought I was just going to fight hard and die somewhere between this...revolution," the Snow Leopard said as he watched the floor.

Azik turned to the side so he was still invading Ray's sight, his smile gone and replaced with a look of puzzlement. "I thought I would be a wizened old man by now, yet here I am. Still a child. Fate almost seems to have a likeness for not following expectations."

His eyes fell on Ray's earring again. Cocking his brow, he nodded towards it. "Ray? Can you tell me about the kid that gave you that earring?"

[Ray]

"This?" Confused by the sudden change of subject, Ray raised his hand to stroke the feathers on his earring. "Marka....That was her name."

"She was my age......and this earring was meant as a birthday present." He explained.

[Azik Farenfir]

Azik remained still, arms folded and eyes trained on the young soldier as he spoke of this "Marka" girl.

"She was my age......and this earring was meant as a birthday present," he finished. The Demi human watched Ray a little more before scratching his cheek.

"Sounds like she was quite find of you," Azik mumbled, pointing out the stark obvious once again. Letting his hands fall to his sides with one hand slipping into his pocket, the assassin didn't feel he had to ask what became of her. He raked more into how he could somehow give this lost kitten some sliver of hope to not see this war as all life is and will be.

Geez how the hell do you give someone who sees themselves as nothing but a weapon hope?

[Ray]

"She was......" He stated calmly. "Every kid was, though mostly that's because I bring foods to them."

Talking about her brings back bad memories, but also good ones. Like the sounds when she's laughing. Like when she showed him how good she could be in close combat. The dread when she was brought away by the commanding officer. The despair when he heard she died. The urge to revenge her, even that means he'll die trying.

He found his claws scratching the inside of his palm as it balling up into a fist, so he force himself to relax and retract the claws. The rage subsides eventually. All that left is a hollow feeling of being survived.

His knees feels weak, so he leaned into the human besides him.

"I'm tired." He muttered.

[Azik Farenfir]

The sudden extra weight made Azik take a step to the side for support. He looked at the feline now leaning against him, frowning.

The pain this boy went through... Most grown men would crumble over a fraction of it. He is more stronger then he thinks

The Demi-Human put a arm around his upper back, helping him keep stable in his slumped pose.

"Here, gimme your arm. I think a nice rest will do ya more good then caffeine" Azik stated, not giving any hint that it was up for debate.

[Ray]

"Yeah, let's get back to the dorm." Ray said, and put an arm over the human's waist, since his shoulder is too tall for him to reach for it comfortably.

"Azik?" He asked quietly. "Thanks."

[Azik Farenfir]

Blinking, looking down at the snow leopard, then smiling, Azik nodded and started guiding the pair through the camp to the dorms. It has been quite a while that he had heard that phrase without it involving frequent callings to the reaper. It felt so good, that it saddened the Demi-Human somewhat that they have been pushed so far by the government that the chances of a peaceful end had been reduced to nothing but childish hopes. But even if it was, a part of him craved the end would be bloody.

Arriving at the dorms and pushing the door aside, Azik looked around, seeing other Resistance members talking and relaxing from their duties. Seeing more then a few vacant beds, the hybrid human carried Ray over to a more secluded and less noise part of the room, before setting him down on a bed. He stands upright again and stretches a little.

"There. You should be feeling much better after gettin some shut eye Ray" he said, smiling.