[h2]Bawen Coridell[/h2] [hider='roommating'] Bawen blankly stared at the door to his room, a lone bag hung lazily over his shoulder. He'd some how managed to escape the dog chimera mid tirade as the Boorkat made his announcement. Collecting his luggage was a welcomed distraction from the awkwardness of...whatever that mess was in the cafeteria. He was beginning to wonder if the room was somehow cursed to make his life more difficult. Stowing the thought away for the moment (he'd have to devise some sort of test to run at a latter date), he gently knocks on the door. "...Hello? I pray that you are clothed because I'm coming in." Upon opening the door, the visage of a large lupine monster would be revealed. Staring up from his seated position, reading over a letter, a wild smile came across his face, although Honehe's smiles tended to appear sinister due to the shape of his face. "Ah, you must be Bawen Coridell." The wolf began, raising from his seat. "My name is Honehe. I believe we are to be roommates at this institution. I humbly bid you welcome." Standing at full height over Bawen, he extended his hairy hand in greeting. Bawen gives as firm a shake as he can manage (which isn't saying too much,but still). "Likewise....Though, and forgive my directness on this front but..." Bawen says, slowly looking up at the canind. "...is this room actually large enough to accomidate you comfortably?" "....also they've made the wolf lie down with the lamb, so to speak. I dont think that is an issue in all likely hood." "Fret not." Honehe replied. "I may be of robust size, but I can manage in here just fine. I am not unfamiliar with tight spaces." "And I should think we are both intelligent enough creatures that our anecdotal rivalry should not matter. It isn't that you find me intimidating, I hope? People have been known to suggest that to me. I promise, I do not bite." "Not esspecially no." Bawen states simply."I was raised in the unclaimed territory to the south, so I've seen far more esoteric examples of monster species...unless you perhaps find me intimidating?" He asks, half jokingly. "I hope you'll forgive me for saying so," He began, chuckling slightly. "But not in the slightest. "Alas, my fluff and horns have failed to fill the hearts of men with the darkest of eldritch terrors." Bawen says, closing the door and placing his bag on his bed. "It is intriguing that you hail from the south. It so happens that I hail from the north. There are many examples of monsters there too, but they have intentionally gathered in comradeship. I don't suppose you've ever heard of the Akamina Free Commune?" "To echo your statement before; I hope you'll forgive me, but not in the slightest." Bawen says dully. "It is no bother. We are a small place for now. Many do not appreciate our message of unity, but we grow slowly." A glint appeared in his eye. "We are in truth a gathering of both monster and chimera under one banner. I know, you are probably wondering how such a place could even exist. We struggle with the inborn prejudices of our kind and others, but my father has a dream to bring together our peoples, and so we do so. In time, we hope everyone will forget the division between those with monstrous blood." Bawen goes weirdly silent. "Ah...I see. Well..." He begins, now legitmately regretting not having asked for a roommate before."I am familiar with living with chimera and monsters. However that was a long time ago. And I cannot say the idea of doing so in exclusivity of humans holds much interest to me anymore." "No?" Honehe cocked an eyebrow at this response. "Now why would that be?" "After the war between Airelosia and The Empire ended, my father..." He pauses. "A human to be clear. Was kind enough to furnish myself and my mother with a very privileged lifestyle. With no small amount of controversy to be clear. Monsters and Chimera were previously hunted for sport in the region. So I am rather loyal to humans as a matter of principle. Him and his family especially." "I can appreciate that, to an extent." Honehe stated, while not entirely pleased. "Then again, does it not seem a travesty that monster or chimera should be hunted for sport to begin with? Your father's kindness may be a mercy, but the problem was created by human hands." "If such is the case, then are not you and myself accountable to the deaths caused by feral monsters?" Bawen asks simply, unpacking a set of thin sheets. "To be frank with you, our kind typically lack the resources and organizational skills to hold large communities, much less full blown countries. Human do and have, Airelosia not withstanding.There may be problems, but there is a fundamental element to their system that works. Far more so than anything we've yet to achieve. It is silly not to work to ingratiate ourselves with them." "My my, you almost sound like you're one of them." Honehe remarked sarcastically. "In this case, I must bend to the wisdom of my father. My tribe's history recalls a time when humans were not nearly as advanced or developed as they are now. Through collective effort, they transformed themselves into what you see today. In the case of our species, my father argues that it is a lack of identity that holds us back. Many of us are nothing more than the same tribal mess that we were many moons ago. All we need is an awakening. The Commune hopes to be that awakening. And I should think it clear that we, capable of higher thought, are hardly responsible for the actions of sub-sentient creatures eating to survive." "I am sure that is a great comfort to the people eaten by some of them, yes.Not at all dissimilar to when a friend of my father's showed me his rather expansive collection of stuffed heads." Bawen's face twisted at the thought. If there was one thing he wished his father would make a priority for their territory, it would be destroying every example of those macabre things. "Indeed?" Honehe remarked. "Again, while I can understand some appreciation towards your father, when you tell me that one of his friends was a headhunter, I must admit I cannot see how your loyalty can be so broad." "Because if I wasn't, I imagine the consequences would be rather unfortunate." He says simply, holding a corner of a bed sheet for Honehe. "Hold this for a moment please." Honehe acquiesces, gripping the sheet in his bulky hand. "Then it is not loyalty, but fear, that motivates you?" "Thank you. And no, I simply understand what there is to gain in being loyal." Bawen carefully drags the other end of the bed sheet to the other corner. "After the war, my family's holdings as well as a few others in the region were promised entrance into the Empire in thanks for our efforts. A promise that the empire decided to renege on." He tucks the bed sheet in. "Leaving everyone in that territory, human and otherwise, vulnerable to retaliatory attacks. My fathers goal is to correct that grievous error on the empires part through my efforts here." "Is that so?" Honehe remarked, now infinitely more curious. "A lofty goal. But I must confess I fail to see how your attendance could be expected to encourage such a grand endeavor." "I was selected to...soften the image of the territory. Less likely to think them barbarians if they permit my kind to act as a liaison. The school presents a good opportunity for me to create a name for myself in a hopefully long and productive career.The better I perform here and more positive press I generate, the more likely it will be that talks can be reopened." "A reasonable belief. But if your territories' past experience should have taught them anything, it's that this Empire is hardly honest. The cynic in me says it is unlikely they will agree without true incentive. Wouldn't you agree?" Bawen considers this for a moment. "I never said it was likely to happen in the immidate future. Other corner if you please." He says, tucking in the other corner. "But if nothing else, I can atleast help improve relations to the point that a possible protectorate status might be achievable within five to ten years. Resolves the more pressing military concerns of the region." Gripping the other corner, Honehe continued. "Would they even do that? You said these territories to the south. That would extend their obligation to protect much closer to the deadlands. I would imagine they would need a significant strategic benefit to agree to such a dangerous prospect." "Not that far west. We've got the gulf insulating us from the worst of it. And, as stated before, there is a rich local tradition of dealing with deadland visitors. And it isn't as though the region doesn't have its own standing military. Much of which operated with Imperial forces smoothly not long ago. We simply lack the resources and military berth of a developed nation." "That is better. But I feel you're missing my point. A state is usually loathe to integrate a territory that doesn't give them benefits that outweigh the costs. What does your land have to offer the empire?" "A standing, and formidable, navel asset for starters. While Brigader General Helmwulf might have taken the opportunity to claim, really steal, the recognition for himself, the Coridell forces in the southern gulf were doing all the dangerous missions. This is not even accounting for the other naval families in the area. But I suppose they also gain access to the southern gulf through the lands. Which, as a military asset, gives them more options for deployment should we enter another war with Airelosia." "I see..." Honehe murmured, ruminating on the information. "The possibility certainly exists. In future, you may wish to consider how liberally you share information about your homeland. If the empire is truly concerned about the barbarity of their territories, I imagine they would be deeply concerned to learn of your father's friend's hobby. While it may mean little to tell me, others may spread the information around at their whimsy." "Duely noted." Bawen says with a nod. "And likewise to your commune dream." Honehe smiled once more. "I always try to be discreet. Although I would say we have nothing to hide as of yet. We certainly don't desire to integrate ourselves into this empire, and it would be foolish to hide our presence or intentions. The empire knows of us, and our intentions, but as my father says, they also know we have yet to become worth worrying about. Really, we shouldn't ever be, unless the empire takes exception to the idea of those with monstrous blood organizing." The last part was largely ironic, as Honehe was convinced the empire would indeed take exception to them organising once they became large enough to be a threat. "Unlikely. The empire is...too tolerant." Bawen snorts, " If said commune doesn't expand southward, and culls their ferals, then I do not foresee it being an issue."Atleast in the intimidate." If Bawen has further issue on the subject, he doesn't air it. "Of course." Honehe replied, although he did not believe a word of it. The empire merely held pretenses to inclusiveness in his mind. Taking a look out the window, Honehe continued, "Ah, but as much as I would enjoy continuing our discussions, I do believe it is getting late. We will no doubt have a full day ahead of us tomorrow. We should call it a day here. It was intriguing to learn from you, Bawen." He ended, intending to leave for his resting area when appropriate. "Likewise Honehe." Bawen says, taking a seat at his desk and starting to work on something. He saw no real point in going to bed yet, and the review would be helpful. Sleeping at this point seemed rather wasteful anyway. [/hider] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bawen stares at the final question of the written exam. He’d blown past the other subjects, barely needing a moments consideration for..any of them really. Years of late night study sessions under the watchful (and frequently disgusted) gaze of his fathers many many tutors had honed his mind to a razors edge for most topics. But be that as it may, those four little words were currently left him searching for an answer. He doubted going on a tirade about the injustice his family faced post war was what they had in mind, and there likely was not enough time to do the topic justice. And given his conversation with his roommate earlier last night, he was in no mood to speak of it right now. He flicks the pen in his hand experimentally a few times, feeling his teeth grind together has he struggled to find an answer. Eventually, he gave up, deciding to wait patiently for the staff collect their exams. If he didn’t know the right answer, then putting nothing was the least likely thing to cause offense. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The physical exam had not been noteworthy in his mind. He’d started strong during the kilometer run, able to keep a fairly respectable pace going for the entirety. However, his attempt at the long jump was...well. It caught the examiners attention at least. That he’d managed it by virtue of tripping over himself mid jump and landing flat on his face was less encouraging. His performance at the wagon pull was equally poor, though thankfully the chimera girl he saw the day before (petting the dog...Mark?) seemed to be struggling as well. Thankfully it was over and, for now, he could mentally prepare for the next exam, a thin dot of calm in a sea of worried freshmen. He wasn’t going to bother pestering senior students for information. The staff probably had a rotation of exams they used for this purpose, so there was no guarantee that he’d learn anything useful. Beyond that, he had a good grasp of spell casting for his age. Really the only concern was what would happen if he was paired with a foundation user during the practical exam, but there was no point in worrying over that now. The food held equally little interest to him. He’d managed to eat this morning, and despite the exercise he still felt fine. He was tempted to just leave the cafeteria and go review some information on his own when someone sat in front of him, digging into the pasta being served. Now that she was a little closer, he realized his earlier guess of turtle as the other half of her heritage was wrong. She was armored, definitely, but there was no indication of a solid plate. It looked more like...scales. Lizard maybe? He huffs, deciding to probe her for conversation. It was better than reviewing his own spells for the fourth time. [color=#00FFFF]”You seem nervous. Think you did poorly on the other exams?”[/color] He asks his head resting lazily on his palm as he stared through her. [@Rekaigan]