Gossiping With the Bellhop [Druid, open] 11/11/2013

[Deleted]

Time: A little after noon, Novemebr 11, 2013
Place: Halls of the X-Mansion
Characters: Azure, Druid, open

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Hilda had been on the other side of the Mansion grounds, exploring the woods, when she felt something deliberately brush against her psychic shields. She had come to recognise the Professor's touch by now, so she knew it was not him. It was the first contact any telepath had made with her besides him, and even though it was fleeting it somewhat unnerved her. Since no kind of alarm was raised, she decided there was no danger, but she was still curious as to who this new telepath was.

Pausing to concentrate, she focused on sorting out all the mental signatures she could feel. She did not have to try too hard; there were two very strong presences on the campus. One was the Professor's, the other she assumed was the newcomer. That it was at least as strong as the Professor also slightly unnerved her.

I really hope she's friendly.

She made her way tot he front of the school. She took her time, however, and when she got to where the new presence was she realised that the woman it belonged to was inside the Headmaster's office. That reassured her; as did the scent of Scott. With both the Professor and Cyclops with the stranger she figured there was no danger. The woman neither smelt nor felt like a threat either.

Still, it left her curiosity unsated. There was also another smell, which she vaguely recognised as a student's, which broke off from the two adults. Instead of giving into the temptation to eavesdrop -- which she knew the two telepaths would sense anyway -- she decided to follow it. Doing soled her towards the teachers' quarters. She had never had reason to go there before, but as far as she knew it was not off-limit to students.

The scent grew stronger, and she could hear footsteps. Upon entering the teachers' wing, she saw him. She tilted her head; he looked as if he had been out hiking, and that headband had to be made from roots or stems. She did recognise him, but couldn't recall saying anything much to him. It took her a moment to even rbing up a name.

"Good afternoon," she greeted with a smile. "It's... Axel, isn't it?"

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Once the fox girl approached Axel in the halls the boy’s sense of smell picked something up. So the boy stopped and turned as she spoke. “Nice to meet you; and my name is Axel. I am sorry but I cannot remember your name myself.” Upon seeing the fox like girl Axel could tell she was the source of the smell; and a small flinch crossed his face as the smell got closer with the girl.

But even so; Axel didn’t move to leave the girl. Instead he pointed down the hallway and spoke once more, “Would you like to walk and talk? Just so that we are not hanging out in front of the dorms.” And should the offer be accepted Axel would begin to walk with the fox out of the hallway; or he’d simply continue talking where he was if she refused. “Were you looking for a teacher? I just realized not too many students come up here without looking for a teacher.”

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She grinned as he confirmed his name. As he apologised for not knowing hers, she decided on just how to tease him over it.

"The name's Hilda." She tapped her head with her right forefinger. "Got it memorised?"

Noting the flinch, however, the mirth died from her expression and she dropped her hand. Concerned, she stepped forward, oblivious to the idea that she could be the source of his discomfort.

"Are you all right? And of course, we can walk as we talk if you want." She shrugged in his answer to his question. Turning about, she walked with him from the teachers' quarters back into the hallway where she had just come from. "Where to? The cafeteria?" It was noon, and she was hungry. "And actually -- I was looking for you. I was hoping you could tell me who was in the Professor's office with him and Mr. Summers." She gave him a sidelong look, inviting him to share his secrets.

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When the girl introduced herself Axel gave her a small nod, “I will do my best to remember it. But at very least I will recognize you.” But then as she got closer the boy was able to tell that she looked less happy than she just had been seconds ago. And he couldn’t help but look away at the thought that she may feel hurt from his reaction.

“Oh I am fine.” Axel said in response to Hilda’s first question; trying to ease her concern. “Well if you are hungry we can go to the cafeteria. I have had my lunch; but could eat some food once we get there.” But then came the comment that he was who she was after; and he chuckled nervously; “Wow; someone was hunting me down? I hope I am not going to be in trouble. And the person’s name was Jean; I don’t know much else besides that.” And with that Axel turned to walk to the cafeteria to lead the girl to the food she wanted. But with her look Axel didn’t know what she was looking for of him; and so he began to change the topic. “So do you have any hobbies that don’t include stalking boys?”

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Since he seemed to be over whatever it was and not want to talk about it, Hilda put his peculiar reaction out of her mind. Besides, she almost laughed at his reaction to her teasing. He took it so seriously.

"I'm teasing," She pointed out. She quirked one azure brow. "Haven't you ever played Kingdom Hearts?" That had not occurred to her -- until she saw how he failed to get the joke.

"I'm pretty much always hungry," she said lightly as they headed for the cafeteria. "My powers can be really draining. But then I guess we're all like that."

She gave him another incredulous look. Had the stranger -- "Jean" -- really not told him any more than her name? Or was he trying to evade the topic for some reason? Or did he really think she was chasing him for his own sake? With that thought in mind, she could not help but laugh at his last question, belatedly covering her mouth with her hand.

"Oh, I have a few. Videogames, reading; nothing you'd be interested in, I'm sure." She deliberately left out her more active pursuits. Eyes twinkling, she left him to deduce that on his own -- her bare arms were firmly muscled under her fur, never mind that she still smelled of the woods. "I was 'hunting you down' because you were with her -- carrying…" She paused as she connected the dots. "Oh!" She laughed at herself, again muffling the sound slightly with a raised hand.

"Of course! You're carrying her luggage to the teachers' rooms -- that means she must be a returning teacher. Right?"

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As Hilda clarified that she had been just teasing Axel shrugged; he wasn’t sure of anything to say to that; but as she mentioned the game the boy simply shook his head. “I don’t really play any games. Unless you count tag and hide and seek when I was in elementary school.” Axel wasn’t sure if Kingdom Hearts was some board game or a video game; as he didn’t even watch television much at all; and what he saw was educational videos used in class.

Then when Hilda mentioned that she was hungry Axel smiled and began to lead her to the cafeteria. “Well if you’re hungry let’s get some food. Though I doubt I could go out and hunt you some food. Well; the teachers wouldn’t like it.” And at that Axel laughed a bit at his own joke.

After Hilda brought up her hobbies Axel shrugged lightly, “Yeah I don’t find those video games too interesting. But what do you read? I may have skimmed something you liked. And Jean was a teacher she said. But I don’t know if she will be taking up her classes just yet.”

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Hilda had to stifle a giggle as Axel confessed to not having played anything since tag in grade school. The guy must have absolutely no social life! Which, she supposed, would explain why she had not talked to him before today. It would also

"Silly," she mock-chided, shaking her head at his comment about finding something to eat, "That's why we're going to the cafeteria! Although I'm curious -- can you really hunt? I have been curious about hunting since my manifestation." It was more like a need, actually; and every day it seemed to get stronger. It was probably a good thing that winter was coming on and most animals had departed the leafless woods. She would be faintly embarrassed to be caught stalking squirrels and rabbits -- and botching it.

"As for Kingdom Hearts, I'll show you a clip sometime. Axel also happens to be the name of a character in the series. A really popular character, although I didn't think you named yourself after him. You don't seem like a pyro." Unlike herself, who shared both the looks and powers of a video game character.

Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes over his reticence about the new teacher.Did she swear him to a vow of secrecy or something? But, then, maybe the recluse just was not interested in the matter. Tough luck for her. Either way, she was not going to push it. Instead she took up the topic of hobbies.

"If you've never played a game, how would you know? The RPGs -- roleplaying games -- are stories in themselves, filled with adventure and beauty. The good ones, anyway. They're just as good as any book, which I suppose is why I haven't read much fiction. Although I have read some; The Lord of the Rings and older things mostly, from Dracula to Le Morte d'Arthur." She grimaced; she could never understand why people thought so highly of King Arthur or his wretched knights after reading that.

"Right now I'm working through an anthology by Robert Louis Stevenson. And rereading Plato's Republic. That is what I'm really interested in: philosophy. And here's the cafeteria." She opened the door and held it for him. She was tempted to say "ladies first", but she had teased the poor boy enough for one day.