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Post by LARK MARIE HARPER on Jan 9, 2012 1:59:08 GMT -5
Lark did not have many friends; the only two that remained loyal through thick and thin was Josh and Sam, and even then she did not socialize with them too much because they had lives to live. What kind of image would that send to everyone else, to see Lark clinging to both of them like a puppy? That was why, even though she and Ashton were on opposing sides, it made her smile to hear him say that to her. As quickly as it appeared, if slowly faded into a dim, rather sad smile. Doesn't matter. Won't change anything. Her eyes scanned the room again, her tendency to heavily observe others kicking in. As her eyes flitted from table to table, she caught one in particular that had a couple sitting and chatting; however, she noted that both of them were fires, and they continued to glance her way. Even now she felt as though she was walking on eggshells with her own element, even on a blind date set up by the school. It felt like things were never going to go right for the poor girl. "At least someone thinks I'm alright. It just sucks it had to be someone on the opposite side." Lark could not stop rethinking how unfair it was that the people who could handle her the best were the ones she could not be friends with.
Finally, after a moment or two of holding the other table's gaze, Lark pulled away and leaned forward again. It was hard to sit still, but it was not because Ashton was boring--it was more that she always had a hard time staying in one spot for too long. She liked to keep moving and keep doing because it kept her mind busy and focused on other things than what it wanted to focus on. Things at home with her dad were...estranged. Although he was kind to her and they did not have many arguments, she did not feel like it was home any more. It felt...empty. Lonely. Quiet. When at school things felt the same; she kept to herself most of the time, mostly because it made her feel safer. Ashton's gentle voice and kind words was refreshing. It made her feel calm. It bothered her, but allowed it anyway. "I'd much rather have no one admit something is wrong than there be something wrong all of the time. We get angry over everything...all it takes is one word and the entire universe bursts into flames." Lark said 'we', because even the brunette was guilty of reacting negatively to something that was nothing to get upset over. She had to admit it was getting better--after all, she was sitting here talking to the Earth leader as though it was completely normal. Would it be normal if it had been another fire? She didn't dwell on that for long.
"Hm?" Lost in her random and trailing thought processes, she caught the tail end of the question. However it was not a question she was expecting; Lark drew her head back slightly and blinked, tilting her head in Ashton's direction. "Oh...well, I don't really know. I don't think I would. For me it's been nothing but trouble. Besides..." Lark chuckled a bit. "If my best friend was even willing to switch sides, there is obviously something better there than here." Joshua was a loyal person, and had a lot of pride. She knew that the main reason was Nell, but Nell was also an Earth elemental and that meant joining ranks with all of the earths and waters. He did not seem to regret his decision, which spoke volumes to Lark. She was loyal and did not want to walk away from her element and alliance, but how can you be loyal to something you felt did not have loyalty to you?
"Yeah, they are close. But when they are so easily angered...and most of the ones I know don't like to talk much...it makes it difficult to be anything but a loner. All it takes is a few words of miscommunication, and the fists fly." Lark rested her chin in her hand and sighed. "At least, that's how it is for me, anyway. I want more than that." Since when did she ever start babbling away like an idiot who wanted the world to know all of her feelings? This was strange, and part of her wanted to take off and go back to being a lonely girl who was down and out. It would make things simpler than telling a complete stranger--not to mention an 'enemy'--about all of this. And yet, just sitting in the presence of someone who was genuinely smiling and talking made her feel at peace. When another war breaks out, which I know one will...could I really go against Ashton? Could I pretend to hate him, and Josh?
[XD It's definitely helping Lark...even though she's tweaked that she's talking so much.]
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Post by ASHTON CAMDEN RALEIGH on Jan 9, 2012 12:23:23 GMT -5
His lips tugged into a sad sort of smile. In a way he could understand how she felt because of Asha and he almost let that slip, then reminded himself that some information was best kept to himself. He had often wished that Asha had been Wind or that he could at least be seen with her without the alliances freaking out and breathing down their neck about it. That had been impossible and he'd been prepared to adapt, but she'd left before they'd even gotten the chance. So even though Lark was just referring to how they couldn't be friends, he could empathise. "Life's funny like that," he said, almost a sigh. He did not plan to stay in touch after this. He liked how Lark was not as bitter and sour as a great deal of the Fires but he also acknowledged that this was wrong. It was against the alliances. He followed her gaze when he noticed her staring off to somewhere in particular and saw the Fire elementals at another table watching them—the sight made him a little uneasy. "Do you think they'll bring this up?" he asked Lark when he fixed his attention back on her again. It always sucked to have people watching your every move. That was part of what elemental politics was all about. With politics in mind, he couldn't help but glance surreptitiously around the hall, looking for other members of his own element that looked a little too comfortable for... comfort. It was almost hypocritical but it was also necessary. You could never be too careful when it came to leading.
He listened to her speak, surprised by what he was hearing. The whole school was aware of how angry and volatile the Fire element could be but they always gave off an impression of such unity that it shocked him to know there were cracks on their supposedly undivided surface. The fact that a few people had already defected over to their side had hinted at it but to have an actual Fire who was still amongst the masses confirm it was unsettling. What it the same thing happened to Earth? He felt a sudden rush of protectiveness over his element. He loved them like family and didn't want to lose them to the whispered words of the other side. "I had no idea it was like that," he admitted. Though he tried not to think about her, he wondered why Asha had never mentioned how her element operated. Was it because she did not feel the effects quite so much? She hadn't been all that much of a traitor. Oh, there had been some issues thanks to him—he still felt bad about that—but for the most part she'd been loyal. "The grass isn't always greener, even if it is tended to by an Earth," he said with a soft smile. He didn't know if she'd find what she wanted him the elementals on his side. Sometimes he wondered if any the traitors missed what they once had. They weren't open about those feelings if they did. "Everyone has their flaws. Even us." He didn't see it as disclosing a weakness. It was common knowledge that no one was perfect, after all.
Wars were the precise reason that Ashton hesitated to make any real bonds in the opposite alliances. He had learned his mistake when he'd stupidly fallen for an enemy elemental before. It was difficult to conceal things as they were and it was even harder when all the elementals were on edge, just looking for reasons to slap on the label of traitor and attack you for your apparent crimes. It scared him sometimes. He had not gone into leadership wanting to be a leader but he liked his position now and didn't want to risk it. Even as they sat there he worried about how some of the Earths and Waters might be judging him. He had his excuses ready for when they asked but he hated lying to people. Maybe he wouldn't. Maybe he'd chance it and say that they had not been fighting because there was no reason to—one thing was for certain, he'd not speak of it again afterwards. "I guess we all want what we can't have." It wasn't taunting her, merely stating an unfortunate opinion. He had wanted Asha but that hadn't worked out. He'd wanted to stay friends with Nell but that had backfired, too. He wanted a lot of things. He didn't want to fight Lark—didn't want to fight anyone—but he wouldn't have much of a choice the next time a war broke out. "Why do you stay, then, if it bothers you so much to be with them?" It was an honest question and one that had poked at him since she'd first expressed her distaste for her own element.
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Post by LARK MARIE HARPER on Jan 11, 2012 20:14:07 GMT -5
Lark stiffened up for a few moments at Ashton's question; what if they did bring it up later? Would she get cornered in the hallway again and accused of betraying her element again? I don't know why it matters. They don't feel like my element anymore. The longer she thought on it, the less calloused she felt towards the two fire elementals who were looking at them as they chatted, acting as though Lark was a traitor simply because the school partnered her up with the earth leader. It was not her choice, and had she actually had a choice she most certainly would not have chosen Ashton for this event. And yet, as fate (or luck) would have it, he just so happened to be just the type of person who finally took the time to listen and talk to her. To treat her as a human instead of an elemental. That's all I want. She glanced at him. "Even if they do, there's nothing to be done. It was an event set up by the staff and the results were random. If they want to pick a fight, then so be it." A small growl formed in her throat as her gaze hardened towards the two, who quickly turned their heads away from Lark and Ashton. She smiled a bit and dropped her shoulders, satisfied. "Sorry..."
The fires were tight knit, and they did travel in groups, but what most of the earths and waters did not know was that their tempers ruled most of their relationships. It made Lark remember when she and Josh met up after several months of silence, and how quickly things heated up over a few simple words. Joshua was her best friend and would never harm him, but it was proof that it was hard to be friends with people that had the same fiery attitude as you did. Although Lark was always a loner and kept to herself, and usually embraced who she was, things were changing quickly. She did not feel quite the same. "Oh, it's definitely like that. It's funny how each side has such heavily preconceived notions about the other that we have no idea what really goes on." She shrugged and let her attentions drift around again as she listened to Ashton, actually taking comfort in such a level-headed conversation. Could I really switch sides? Would it really be worth it? The questions ran through her head over and over again. "It may not always be greener, but at least it isn't torched." Lark chuckled a little bit before scraping at the wood of the table.
At Ashton's comment, Lark tilted her head to the side and lifted a shoulder in agreement. "Yeah, I suppose so..." If she wanted it, she could have it. All it would take was telling her element of her decision and walk away from it without looking back. But was it so easy? Was there enough conviction to switch sides? Josh had Nell, but what did she have? Nothing...just a general dislike for her element. Was that even good enough? I guess it's good enough for me. I won't ever find what Josh has. She lifted her eyebrows a little as though exasperated with herself. Lark was not really one to think about anything romantically but sometimes it did cross her mind. She stopped herself and looked at him as he questioned her. Lark felt her heart lurch. "I..." Her voice grew quiet as she ran a hand through her hair. She had never felt so confused or torn in her entire life. Before, the brunette felt loyalty because they were her element and was raised to understand how the alliances worked, but now that mattered less and less to her. I just want to find people who actually care, and can handle who I am, and maybe give me some good friends. She would lose Samson, but...was staying with an entire element worth just one person? My god I feel so torn.
Releasing a bit of a sigh, she smiled at Ashton; a flash of sadness and confusion passed through her eyes before lowering her gaze. "To be honest, I don't know, Ashton. I really don't know." Her jaw locked a little bit as she shook her head, biting at the inside of her lip like she always did when thinking or under stress. "Would I even be accepted by anyone else if I did decide to leave? I highly doubt it..." And it was more of a rhetorical question than anything, but she voiced it anyway. They wouldn't want to take on another traitor, would they? Especially after how awful I was to them before...even if it was to protect Josh.
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