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Post by Ciata on Apr 11, 2007 11:41:27 GMT -5
(This thread will be a college based one for the exchange students coming out of New Ciata. Whoever wishes to take part in a common level type story in throwing back the different ideas and realities of their culture on the ground level is free too and where they end up depends largely on who is willing to participate in some fun, casual dialog)
Twenty young male furs of all species and colors sit in one of the many large meeting rooms in the Furry Federation Council Chambers. Many occasionally shift about, trying to adjust to sitting in a chair with a back on it, or adjusting their tails to the odd desks they found themselves in. Their dress was as diverse as their species, showing their class, area of origin, and family background often by their clothing. Though someone not from the culture or used to it could not tell, the signs of north or south, merchant or martial, rich or poor, even religion were apparent as the color of their fur to those sitting there, and the three teachers who stood before them.
The middle one, a tall and slender cheetah who had the disposition of a grizzly, stepped forward with a single, commanding stride, gaining their attention and began in a firm, army sergeant like voice. "You are all here as virtually random choices from different areas of life and our clans. The only requirement was that you know how to read and write our own language. There is nothing special about you that warrants you being chosen for this, nor will your background or family history have any meaning from here on out. You will be going into a different culture where they neither known, nor care about your linage or your accomplishments in our land."
He pauses for a moment to let that try to sink in and take some affect, mainly on those from the richer classes.
"During your time in the countries of destination, you will spend the next 5 years learning their culture, their actual way of life, what the people in their cities and country think and feel and act about issues, not what the leaders say and do, but what the people live out. During your time there, feel free to promote our ways and culture in nearly any form you please. Remember though, you are representing our country and the clans to those around you, and people will be watching and wondering about your presence there because of our isolated status."
He takes another break to catch his breath.
"This next week you will be going through crash courses in the cultures and languages that you will thrust into. The reason for this short notice is to keep track of your adaption abilities to their culture. You will be taught what you have to know to survive and little more. The rest you will have to find out on your own. Once you leave you will be on your own, only having contact with us every season to debrief on what you have learned about your respective culture and to gauge the speed in which you learn and what you learn, both culturally and in the universities you will be going to. If you were to fail at these universities, it would be a great disgrace to our country, your clan, your family, and yourself. Those teaching you will be contacted and informed of your status and abilities and will be asked to be lenient on your language skills for the first period. After that you are truly on your own. You will not be taking language courses this first period of classes, as you would no doubt fail them. You will however be expected to learn their language as quickly and as well as possible. Other details will be told to you during the week and questions you have will be answered. Now, split up into your respective groups based upon country, and depart."
The group awkwardly climb out and remove their tails from the desks, fumble with backpacks that were unlike what they knew as one, and quickly move to find their groups.
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 11, 2007 15:18:49 GMT -5
Ambassador Lren had delivered the following letter to the in box of the Ciata offices a few hours previous:
"Dear Reana Stormwake;
I am delighted to report that six visas have been approved for your exchange program. If given more time or if some of your 20 don't find warm welcomes elsewhere, the number may be upped. In addition, we've been talking with universities and colleges in Tinis about where your youths may attend. Presently we have received word that seven schools have offered up admissions, below is the listing of the school, they type of school, and the number of admission slots available. Let us know where they will be attending as soon as you can.
School - Type - Location - Number of positions
Arx Academy - Liberal Arts and Sciences - Arx - 2 at North Campus, 2 at downtown campus Emshronda School of Fine Arts - Art - Emshronda - 3 Fox College - Liberal Arts and Sciences, Medical, Engineering - Murmisak - 5 Lilumeleate University - Liberal Arts and Sciences - Reloga - 4 Rollrir College - Engineering - Ixitar - 1 United Altzan College - Liberal Arts and Sciences, Medical - Altzan - 3 Vuga University - Liberal Arts and Sciences, Law - Rida - 2
Again, let me know where they would like to attend so I can put the proper paper work through.
Personally, my picks would be either the Arx Academy or Vuga just based off their academic reputations. But I can understand that a large part of this endeavor is to give your people insight into the world beyond your boarders. This is very similar to something my father participated in where he studied in Shimandu City for a few years and I can say he was surely bettered by the experience."
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Apr 11, 2007 18:53:04 GMT -5
Ambassador Ole Acanor en (Cals current ambassador to Tinis) had passed a letter to the Tinisen to be delivered to the Ciataen, as Cal still had no consulate in New Ciata:
"Dear Reana Stormwake;
I am pleased to say that our University Chancellors have agree to take a number of your students as exchange students. The foreign office has confirmed that once they are enrolled they will provide the paperwork required, though this is minimal.
Once they arrive the students will be eligible for the same maintenance grants as native students and shall be treated in all, practical, aspects as native students.
I include a list of some of our universities and their areas of excellence , though it must be noted that the universities as part of their charters provide under graduate courses in the Arts, Business and Sciences. Though some have semi autonomous collages attached that are more specialized. This list is arbitrary and I am certain some of the specialties are not of interest to your people, but I will leave that choice to you.
The Temple University Of Acline (Inleef):Hierology, Hierographology, Philosophy and Medicine The University Of Acline (Inleef): Meteorology, Climatology, Science and Engineering The University Of Tel (Tel): Business Liye Andrac University (Teu): Arts, Hierology, Hierographology and Philosophy The Acime Instatute: AI and IT The Queens Collage of Art: Fine Art and Art (Note the previous two instutions are part of Liye Andrac University) The University Of Tal (Sae): Civil Engineering, Oceanography, Climatology and Meteorology. The University Of Co-Le (teer): Zoology, Botany, Hierology and Philosophy.
All of the universities listed are city university and I believe your people want to learn about our culture rather than the particular culture of a campus. In all honesty we don't have any campus universities that are very good at anything.
I look forward to hearing from you as to where you wish to send your students and hope they enjoy their time here.
Yours
Talimaie (Minister of Education)"
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Post by Ciata on Apr 20, 2007 0:33:28 GMT -5
A week crammed full of rushed language classes, crash courses in sociology, studying of maps and geographics, demographics, manners and taboos. Money, maps, and papers had been given out. They were told to keep their own clothing, partly just to see how quickly they adapted or otherwise were assimilated by the culture. They were also allowed to carry along as much luggage they felt they could manage, which ranged from large sets of matched bags and boxes for the rich, to a single back sack for the poorest. The anxiety of the upcoming deportation of sorts has worn heavily on the students to be, many sleepless nights were spent worrying, praying, practicing, or studying. Those going to the Kingdom of Cal had an easier time with the language barrier, as the languages were in some areas similar. Those going to Tinis had to learn an entirely new way of communication and writing. With some more work, they had acquired 8 visas for Tinis, 8 for the Kingdom of Cal, and 4 for Miokalia. In order to keep the students from grouping together and delaying the process of instant immersion in a foreign culture, they have been split up totally, all going to different colleges and universities. The cheetah chief instructor surveyed them one last time as a group, not completely happy with their progress that week, but at least somewhat satisfied with their efforts. "Males of the clans of New Ciata, you leave today as messengers to the nations of the federation. You carry the honor of your clan and country on your shoulders, but also the course of your lives will be undoubtedly and irreversibly altered forever by this journey. Remember, it is not only those here you go to serve and represent, but your fate and lives you hold in your paws. Also, though you go to sample and explore other cultures, do not forsake your own clans, or yourself." He stops and lets them attempt to absorb those thoughts yet again, and then begins to call them forth by name to give them their tickets. "Pavilon Muax, to Universitat Hokyldaryon, Miokalia for economics." A large, full maned, well dressed, golden lion walks forward. "Remember that you are leaving your clan and entering into foreign territory. Be cautious of your actions and build alliances and friendships among those there. Work your way to the top, do not assume you will be welcomed there." The lion accepts his tickets and bows, showing a hint of the humility that had been urged on him to show. "Bing Chu, to The Queens College of Art in the Kingdom of Cal for art." A rather short, timid looking red panda walks forward in his light blue single piece type of drawn across robe, held with a black belt with leaves stitched into it and on his cuffs. His paws clutched the scrolls of art he hoped would give him acceptance at the review board he was destined for when he arrived. "Chu, remember to believe in your talents and to express and discover yourself in your art. You go as much to show our ways of art as to learn theirs." The red panda bows and tries to not spill his paintings as he takes the tickets and walks off as well. "Opalance Bin-Ja, to United Altzan College in Tinis for philosophy." A snow leopard makes his way forward, his simple light blue shirt and brown pants showing his class as a country peasant, a very low status for a Ciatan. With him he carried just a brown bag slung over one shoulder. "Bin, remember to stay true to the way of peace, observe and learn of other ways of thought and take from them what you can, but take it and hold true to the faith of your fathers and observe what comes from the different philosophies of life." He takes the tickets in his left paw and makes his way to the bus that would take them to the airport where they would separate. After a moment of hesitation, he stepped on and looked around. The lion had taken one of the front most seats, while the panda took up the one in the back right corner and was intently going over something. The snow leopard made his way back to the back as well and sat at the other side. Looking over he saw the red panda going through his paintings, as if he was trying to pick or choose from them. "I like the brown one." He said, setting his backpack down between his legs and placing his tail around his waist. Chu, the red panda looked up suddenly as if he didn't know who was talking. "Oh, yeah. I was trying to decide. you're only allowed to bring so many before them, and I didn't know which one would be better. The brown one seems too dull and the other seems too abstract, but it's abstractness is also it's strength with its colors." Bin, the snow leopard turned his head to look at the two closer as student after student began to fill the bus. "Yeah, but the brown one has got that half mountain thing that's pretty abstract too." Chu looks back and forth with his white masked red face and black chin, making all sorts of squinting and quizzical looks at it while turning his head back and forth. "Yeah, I suppose so, this one's not my best work really, too rushed feeling." With that he rolls the lighter one around a thick stick and ties it off in a scroll and carefully places the brown one on a sheet of rice paper with the others, spread out. "You're really good with ink. I wish I had a talent or something." The red panda replies without looking up from his wrapping. "It's a talent if it can't support you and your family, otherwise it would be a trade...I'll have to be a lot better than I am now to be able to support my family and clan's name with my art." "I guess that's nice in a way, rather than have no name to try and live up to..." Bin sighs and begins to flip through and examine his tickets, trying to read all of the words printed on them as the bus door closes and all of them jerk up a little as it shakes and begins to roll smoothly towards the airport.
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 22, 2007 2:48:01 GMT -5
The bus wound its way through the city of Altzan. The council hall sat near the north eastern edge of the city of a little over a million. The bus ran north when it can, but most of the streets in Altzan were directed at an angle to the north south axis so many turns were necessary. The first stop of the bus was at United Altzan College, where Opalance Bin-Ja would be spending his time. The city had been transforming more into a suburban mode for at least a few minutes before they came across the college, which again took on the ten or more story buildings in several instances found usually closer to the city center. The bus driver stopped the bus and announced, "United Altzan College. Opalance Bin-Ja, this is your stop." With a few words wishing good luck, Bin found his way to the front of the bus. He was a little confused as he had been told they were going to the airport. The rush of all the information of late seemed to have left out that the college he was going to attend was quite local. The bus driver pointed out the door towards another cat, a tiger, who was standing at the door of the bus. "Bin-Ja?" he asked. "I am Habi," he went on in heavily accented Ciatan. "I'm to show you around. I know only a few words in your language." Bin shrugged and left the bus. Habi smiled and gave a short bow. As the bus pulled away, the guide said, "I will say many things in Tinisian, but will give important knowledge in your language. I have memorized the right phrases." "This way," Habi said in Tinisian and began to lead Bin down the street. Continuing in Tinisian, "I'm hoping you'll be alright here. You are the first student from your nation to attend our school. We've had a few from western Shimandu, but its not quite the same, despite the language similarities and some of the cultural connections." They passed a green with a clock tower in the center. Amongst the newly planted trees where a number of students, male and female, sunbathing, playing sports, doing school work, and talking. Bin had to make sure he was seeing them correctly as their manner of dress was very loose, and in some cases very revealing. Certainly more than he was used to. There was also a small group near the corner of the green holding some signs and waving them around. They ignored the new comer and his guide. On the other side was a circular building with concentric paths around it. "That's the old planetarium," said Habi. "The third oldest building on campus." They crossed the street and passed a plaza with even more students hanging about. They then passed a large dark colored building. Habi said, from his memorized lines in Ciatan, "That is where my office is. Ask the secretary for Habi and she will show you. Come if you ever need help." They passes a few more buildings. Habi prattled on about that one was the advanced technology lab and that one was the english building and that one was the student union and that's the medical school. He did say in Ciatan which one was the student health services building. They passed under some elevated rail way of some sort and crossed a few more streets. Finally they reached a taller building. Habi explained that it was where Bin was going to be living. "This is Mantka Hall and its where your dorm room is." He added in Tinisian, "Lucky you, the bowling alley is just across the street here." They entered and Habi took Bin up in an elevator, which was not something Bin had experienced to his knowledge before. It opened up to a narrow hallway with doors on either side. The hall was also full of furs moving back and forth, some moving furniture. In Tinisian, "You came at the start of move in for the summer term. Some students start classes early. These freshmen are such and they usually get stuck in Mantka as a matter of policy by the college. You'll have a roommate of course and he has been informed that he'll be staying with you." A fox walked by barely wearing a towel with sun glasses followed closely by a hyena wearing a trench coat, multiple layers of shirts, and a wide brimmed hat. Habi seemed unfazed. They came to a door that was open. The room was sparsely furnished. The far wall had two desks under a single large window. Out the window was a large arena of some sort. There was a closet and a tall dresser with shelves on the top. The shelves were already full of junk. There was also a bunk bed and atop the top bunk lay a raccoon in his underwear reading a book. He looked over and saw the visitors before jumping off to meet them. "Hello," said the raccoon. "I'm Xef Zatchrir. You must be Opalance." Bin nodded. "Yes," he replied in Tinisian. "Mr. Zatchrir," said Habi. "Remember Bin-Ja is a guest here and try not to treat him too rough, alright?" "Don't worry." "I hope not." In Ciatan Habi went on while handing Bin an envelope which was sitting in the close next to the door, "This is your knowledge packet. You'll find all papers in Tinsian and your language. Classes start in a few days. Good luck. Remember, if you need me, go to the dark building, Das Hall, and ask for me." With a few more words, Habi was on his way. Xef smiled, "Mind if I keep the top bunk?" ---- The bus soon arrived at the airport. The young furs were ushered by airport personnel through the crowds and up to security. They passed through security easily and with only a few funny looks by the other travelers who had been bypassed by the escorted group. It was obvious they were being pushed forward to ensure they did not miss their flights, even though they were fairly early. Before being left to their own devices, they were each directed to the appropriate gate. Those staying in Tinis were directed to one set of gates while to Drastrata and Cal were directed to specific ones in the opposite direction. The airport guides then disappeared and the youths were on their own. But just in case, one of the baggage screeners was hanging about making sure none of them ran off somewhere unusual. Handing their tickets to the appropriate service furs, one by one the students boarded their planes and began on their paths to destiny. [/img]
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Post by Ciata on Apr 24, 2007 0:42:48 GMT -5
After the guide left the two stood looking at each other, the question over the bunk still hanging in the air. Bin just shrugged and began to look around the room, avoiding looking at Xef, and not really understanding the question as "bunk" was not in the small list of vocabulary he had learned.
"So where you from?" The raccoon tried to re-initiate small talk conversation.
Bin recognized those words and replied in a practiced manner, heavy on the accent with his soft tone and pausing a little between words. "I am from New Ciata, state of Kang, I moved around much."
"Uh huh..." Xef was starting to get an idea of the limited nature of his Tinisian. "So where's the rest of your stuff?" Getting a fairly clueless stare as to what he meant, he tried again. "Are your bags in the hall or downstairs?" Pointing to the brown one on his back. "More?"
Bin looked at his backsack, as if he didn't know what was there, or what he was talking about, then got it. "No more."
"That's it? You sure travel light. Some students have moving vans for their stuff, especially freshfurs." The snow leopard continued to look around the room slowly, inspecting things more for lack of seeing them before than to look at their quality. "You can put your stuff over there." He pointed towards an empty desk on the far corner.
Bin finally got the right idea for something and went over and took his sack off his back and began to unpack. The coon, figuring he would just let him go about his business, and thankful he had gotten such a quiet, though odd, roommate, climbed up on top of his bunk and went back to reading, though still watching.
Bin took out all the contents of his sack, two whole changes of clothes, which he laid out neatly on the right side of the desk, and then took out a bundle of scrolls bound with bamboo strips wound together and around bamboo stalks, prized documents on rice paper that were wrapped inside of his clothes to protect them. He also took out incense and a tiny tea pot and a cup, both made out of light china and simple blue patterns on the sides. From inside the tea pot he took out small bundles of herbs and spices and laid them out. From the bottom of the sack he took out a couple wooden plates, and a bowl, all a dark brown wood and made out of one piece, as well as a couple pairs of chop sticks. Everything neatly in place, he looked over to the bed again and untied the small mat on the bottom of the sack and laid it out on the mattress as he was told that people in this country slept on beds and not the floor like he was used to.
Done with all of that, he stood there next to the bed, thinking of what to do next, scratching behind his right ear. Xef leaned down near his face from the top bunk and said, "Dude, we've got to take you shopping."
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Post by miokalia on Apr 25, 2007 21:13:41 GMT -5
[[[This post is late, but just pretend it's retroactive to when everyone else made theirs.]]]
Upon Andertol's return to his office from his diplomatic meeting, he found the draft of an invitation for students to study in a few rural colleges in Danaton District and along the East bay. The draft had been set aside as someone else had decided to drop the whole thing after the news announcement that Ciata was not going to apply to Miokalia.
Andertol picked up the draft, and the note explaining why it was still there.
He sent the letter to Tinis to be redirected to Ciata after explaining that, there was nothing to loose by offering. Stating something about how 'silence only worsens things and strengthens suspicions'.
----
Miokalia presented an offer for Ciatan students of 'a diverse range of social classes' to attend a few colleges and universities along the almost exclusively dragon and feline-populated, as well as reletively less populated Danaton district and along the fishing-community coast of the east bay.
The institutions involved and their programs were:
Rudner Acadamiye - Liberal Arts, Liguistics, Environmental Studies, Ecology, Environmental Management - Rudner, Dana. Gan-Tdo-Szut School - Health sciences, Literary Analytical Studies, Environmental Managment, Philosophy, Liguistics - Tdershiglet, Dana. Hnida Universitat - Traditional Art, Liberal Arts, Music, Philosophy - Hnida, Dana. Hokyldaryon A&M at Kchartrusse - Engineering, Mathematics, Environmental Design (Architecture), Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Ecological Managment - Kchartrusse, Hoky. Goiyta Sztupa Acadamiye - Martial arts and physical studies, Health studies, Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Literary Studies, Linguistics, Nonmechanical Environmental Design, Civil Engineering - Goiyta Village, KHA, Dana.
Institutions which were not involved with the first draft, but requested inclusion are: Universitat Dorigan - Liberal Arts, Art (traditional and applied), Environmental Design (Architecture) (what the school is known for), Physics, Engineering, Linguistics, Philosophy - Dorigan, ZDF Universitat Hokyldaryon - Physics, Mathematics, Environmental Sciences, Ecological Studies, Astronomy, Business, Economics, Medicine - Hokyldaryon, Hky.
Students will be partnered up with appropriate mentors and guides and will take up residence in the residence halls and housing provided by the institutions. At this time, we are willing to offer visas to however many students are sent. We really aren't very strict about this number at all. The suggested institutions are outside of the major metropolitan areas (except for the last two: U Hokyldaryon and U Dorigan). These areas are somewhat absent of matters, one in particular involving a certain section of our population. Therefore you would find the region quite equivalent to that of Tinis or Cal in that regard, and yet distinctively different in other ways (you would find acceptable for this consideration) which would make it attractive to the curious.
I know many students have already began their sessions in other nations. However I was unable to address this matter until recently.
Of course, this is perhaps fortuitous, as our standard schedule is different than that of most other places and most colleges don't start yet for a while.
Thank you.
Secretariat of State Hiyke Andertol
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Apr 26, 2007 19:12:51 GMT -5
Bing Chu was sleep deprived, hungry and utterly confused. He was still trying to get his head straight as to what he had got himself into. He was being watched by a pair of green eyes as he did.
Things had not started well though he had learned a few things, both about himself and the Calie. The first thing he had discovered was that he hated flying, he and the rest of the Ciatan were put on the same flight to Tel on a commercial flight. Unfortunately Bing quickly after they took off, discovered he suffered from terrible air sickness and had spent the bulk of the flight with his head in a sick bag. He had to admit those were possibly the worst four hours of his life so far and if he had to fly back soon he would not be best pleased for that reason alone. He had liked the idea of flying and would have loved to look out over the clouds but his body had, had different ideas.
When they had landed at Lactia international outside Tel he had been the last to leave the flight having been left by the rest of the Ciatan students. Well he couldn't blame them they probably didn't want to be around a very sickly red panda.
When his legs had started to feel stable he had exited the flight and followed the crowds, in what turned out to be entirely the wrong direction but a kindly vulpine had pointed him in the right direction, eventually.
Then he had got to passport control where his Ciatan passport had caused more than a little confusion. But the Calie passport officer figured that it had to be genuine as no one in their right mind would forge such an odd document. He had thanked them and they had been phoned and asked him to go through the red channel as he had been so delayed by his sickness that the customs people had picked up his luggage.
As he walked into the red channel at customs a large Lupine had asked him what he had to declare. Well more correctly had ask "Wotchagotweeye?" in a very strong accent, it had taken him a minute to figure out what he had been asked. He had said he had been asked to come though here as they had his luggage. He had been handed his luggage and one of the officers said "Your lucky we didn't detonate it". He still wasn't sure what that had meant but was sure it was not a good thing. He had also been handed a large bulging manila envelope
As he had come down the stairs from arrivals onto the main concourse he was greeted by the near anarchy that was Lactia international on the 'ground side'. He had recalled that even the Calie viewed this place as insane and well it was worse than he had expected with a mixture of tiered travelers and people that would rather not be there.
He had found the link to Tel more by mistake than anything as he had just followed a crowd that brought him to the mag-lev platform and had simply boarded it. Only after it had accelerated away from the airport did he relies that he had no idea where the heck it was going. He had ask a near by vulpine that was waring allot less than he was normal back home. The vulpine told him they were going to acton street station. This had not reassured him much as he had no idea where that was.
He had opened the envelope to find tickets to Vavlia station from acton street station. He assumed the former was in Liye Andrac, well he hoped it was. So he had got here after quickly exiting the mag-lev and walking down to the main station concourse.
He was wondering, one where the heck he was meant to get the train and two just how much more of this he could take. At least he was feeling better and if he could hold out for a bit longer he might make it.
He looked down at his ticket it had the words Calitua Aratually Transitory written on it and a logo. He noticed the same logo on a sign pointing towards the back of the station and headed off in that direction. He didn't know but he was being followed, some one had taken an interest in him.
He followed the signs until he found himself in front of two signs one read "Platform C-1" the other "Platform C-2", this was not very helpful he thought to himself until he noticed a screen on the wall. it read: "09:11 Departures: C-1 North 09:30 C-2 South 09:15"
He scratches his head, he was fairly sure Liye Andrac was to the south of Tel but was not certain he could trust his memory. He looked about him and noticed a small diagram on the wall, it was very simple with and arrow pointing up labeled with an N and a line with various names on it. He placed his finger on tel and traced down to Liye Andrac, he had been right that Liye Andrac was to the south. Now his only problem was finding platform C-2 in the now remaining three minutes.
He jumps as he is tapped on the shoulder and turns to see the face, well initial the neck before he looked up, of a teerie skunk. She smiles and asks "You going to queens?"
Bing nods, something was not right about this situation.
"Cool so am I, I'll get you on the train, you a fresher?" asked
Bing nods, It wasn't her height, she couldn't be less than six foot six.
"Like wise, sh*t we gotta get a move on." she says heading off at a rate. "Well come on!" she shouts back towards Bing. Bing had no idea who this person was but heck was so exhausted, confused and now hungry that his brain wasn't working exactly well.
It wasn't that she was green where a skunk should be black.
They race down a flight of stairs to the platform where the sleek train was waiting.
It wasn't her odd green eyes, though he had noted them as attractive.
They piled onto the train with, in bing's case very little elegance and climb the stairs to the carriages second deck. They make their way along the carriage until they find an un-occupied table and bing takes a seat by the window dumping his stuff in the seat beside him and his traveling companion did the same opposite him.
It wasn't the fact that an attractive female was paying attention to him, though that was odd.
"Oh yeah I'm Oi, your self?" she asks.
"I am Bing Chu of th..." he is interrupted by a large lupine asking "This seat taken?" indicating the seat next to him. "No, sorry I will..." he replies. "It's OK I'll get that" the lupine says picking up Bing's stuff and putting it in the over head luggage rack. He would have described the lupine as a very statuesque female, he was more than a little intimidated by her.
It wasn't her very informal manner.
"I suppose I had better do the same" Oi says sighing and picking her stuff up to place in the luggage rack.
It wasn't her very attractive.......bloody hell she's naked, he had not noticed as no one else was paying any attention to the fact, least of all her. Bing doesn't know where to look, he knew the Calie had different morals and standards of dress, but WOW.
His case of culture shock was not help as a Leefen took the seat next to Oi, she was waring a sari like dress and nothing else. It exposed the entire left side of her chest.
Oi leans over and says "Sorry I've kinda been spying on you for a little, you looked like you might get yourself in trouble. Your not a hybe and that means you are sure as hell not local."
Bing nods, desperately trying get his head round the situation.
"Where you from? Tell us about yourself, we have an hour or so of a trip ahead of us and they won't be opening the buffet car for a little." Oi says and the other to females look at him curiously.
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Post by Ciata on Apr 26, 2007 23:52:50 GMT -5
Chu fidgeted with his paintings he still clung too, glad he had something to almost hide himself with. This was certainly not normal and not according to social graces as he knew them and his mother would certainly NOT approve. Chu's little virgin eyes were shattered forever and he tried to keep them averted and focusing on his black fingers that fiddled with the strings on the leather portfolio cover. His little white ears folded down against his head despite himself, trying not to look like he was cowering.
"I am Bing Chu. I'm from Old Ban-Xien, Ciata." Most people from New Ciata don't bother with the changed names or "holy" names even, and Chu was one of them. "I am to study art here in this Cal's Kingdom." He also hadn't quite grasped the differences in the grammar between the somewhat similar languages.
He stopped and glanced up, seeing that eyes were still focused on him intently, waiting for him to go on. He wondered why they were addressing him like this, or why they were dressed like that. Just unfathomable, the social rules they were breaking, the disgrace to family names, and mates! None of them could have one, otherwise how would he let his wife go around just...naked like that for any male to see? *Gaaaah...* he shuttered a bit at the thought of his mother, walking around revealing herself to strangers. *They didn't tell me it was like this. "A little more fur than you're used to" HA!*
He regained his mental composure, trying to think of what someone would want to know. "My clan is in Old Ban-Xien for 400 years. They are merchants and few artists, who like some things they trade. Paintings, umm...jars, stones and shaped wood." He still hadn't gotten a lot of the specific nouns and names down for things, and tried to describe them as best he could with his limited knowledge of the language."
Oi decided to ask the question that most people had about New Ciata. "So is it really true that you don't have electricity or indoor plumbing or anything like that?"
Chu looked at her perplexed, or tried to. "Plum bing?" Everyone listening laughed, as that seemed like a hilarious answer to the question.
"You know, sinks, showers, running water?" Oi tried to get the idea across.
Chu thought for a second, flustered and embarrassed at saying something obviously funny to them, then his face lit up. "Oh! Inside water! Yes. My family home has water coming inside we control. We trade for wind pumps and...screw wells before anyone else in Ban-Xien. My 8th father ago had them, back at beginning of last dynasty." He stated with no small amount of pride.
With his pace of answering, it was but 3 or 4 questions later that the train stopped at their destination, or so he figured as Oi got up to leave.
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Post by miokalia on Apr 27, 2007 1:43:59 GMT -5
"You are definately the new student.", said Dr. Tyvek, the orange and brown allosaurus who had special orientation duty. Pavilon Muax was one of several felines in the somewhat open and chaotic hall. There seemed to be several orientations going on at once. Though what made him stand out was the fact he was a lion wearing a full mane of hair. Something a bit unusual, but what definately gave it away was the wide-eyed look of utter confusion on his face. "Either your a hipster or you're happy to see me.", said Tyvek approaching Muax while surrounded by a throng of other students. Pavilon hadn't even said a word yet, but he assumed this was some kind of strange alternative greeting. Tyvek simplified things quickly by saying, "You're in the right place. Aotugehtal Hall. Don't worry, you're not lost." The lion put away the booklet he was going to use to try to ask where to find orientation with and began asking questions. "And you are?", asked Pavilon. Tyvek stopped a moment to introduce himself, "I'm Doctor Sansa Tyvek. I'm a professor and I teach Environmental Economics." "So you will be my instructor here. I am here for economics.", said Pavilon. Still sticking to simple statements as he was very unsure of the languages here. "One.... of many. I will likely have you in a class or two... Right now, I'm just here to make sure you end up with your academic partner.", replied Tyvek, "You're residence is in Qeoo hall with your academic partner, Li Ang." Upon hearing the name with familiar phonetic properties, Pavilon's attention became immediately focussed on the grey tabby-pattern feline. "Um. Yeah. Hi?", said Li shyly. ---- "Well this is... like... Kah-we-ooo-oh... or something like that, hall.", said Li. "Is that a building? We're going to live in that?", asked Pavilon. "Um. yes?", said Li. "I hope the inside is somewhat more welcoming.", he replied. "Uh... well.", said Li. The two entered the lobby. The interior, by sharp contrast to the exterior was a stone texture, and organically curved. "It's like I'm inside some kind of giant stone animal's intestine.", said the lion. "The rooms are normal.", said Li. "I sure hope so. This place appears to be designed to make nightmares.", he replied. Li was already unpacked. His things consisting of a few band posters on the walls and ceiling, a stack of text-books and a compact roll-up computer. There was a miniature fridge built into the wall, as well as a small microwave oven directly above it. Built into the wall also was a sink alcove. The remainder of the space on the wall was entirely taken up my several cabinets and drawers, the faces of them were brightly colored in bold tones of red, green, blue and yellow. Pavilon looked around, noted the beds, he had heard about how bunked beds in Miokalia were above the floor. He looked over at Li's desk. Around the roll-up computer was a collection of paper, writting implements and a few photographs. It was evident that Li Ang, while in possesion of many things Pavilon was not familiar with, was definately not from wealth. He remembered what he had been told before departing and said nothing. After all, nothing thus far had been what it seemed. The two then departed for a short tour around campus. "So like. Campus and stuff... That's the economics building. You're going to have a bunch of classes there.", said Li as they passed the economics building. Soon a dark brown raptor with light blue feathering approached Li from behind. Then unexpectedly let out a very loud, and somewhat quite disproportionate sounding 'woop'. Pavilon wasn't sure if it came from the creature or something else. Li then turned around and started walking backwards. "Doyte... I'm right here not on the other side of campus.", he said. "Dr Snog intends to swallow me whole by the end of the semester.", said Doyte. "WTF Snog.", asked Li. "Snog said my maquette was a 'improper and awkward casserole of random and totally incompatible pseudo-classical forms pasted together into a hideous monstrosity'. But I don't need his grade. I have Vanate's approval.", said Doyte. "How many times have you taken this class?", asked Li. "Third time. I don't see why I need it to graduate. Why should I have to take a class to learn how to misinterpret the art of other people's history", said Doyte. Li explained, "Because Snog sucks. Get someone like Saween. He actually appreciates the stuff to do it justice. I had him for Art History - Earth." "Art History: EARTH", said Doyte in an action movie-trailer announcer voice, accompanied by some swooshing sound effects, then he said, "Student radio is giving out free chulliwigs at the Student Center. And they have the ones without glaze, so they wont make your fur all sticky. You should totally go and get some before they are all gone, because I know all you hairy folk are going to be going after the non-glazed ones only." "Great plan, I was just showing the new exchange student around, And you know this place better than I do, since I'm not really too familiar with this campus anyway.... so maybe you can accompany us.", said Li "Well, it's a good thing I'm done for the day. I guess your classes don't start yet? Mine have. We have rolling enrollment and semesters here...", said Doyte as they approached the student center. "Dude. Awesome clothes.", said Doyte toward Pavilon, "Some people do the whole 60's-70's throwback retrocore thing.. but you're really hardcore hipster when you go with 8th century Indochine clothes. Totally deck." Pavilon looked confused for a moment and then Li said, "Deck is good thing. And... this guy is Doyte, by the way"
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Apr 27, 2007 18:26:32 GMT -5
Oi and the lupine were busily emptying the luggage rack, handing out the various bits of luggage to the others. The lupine then hands him, his stuff and says "Don't worry you'll do fine later today."
Chu looks at her quizzically "what do you mean?" he asks the large lupine what was slightly less intimidating as she was, well dressed in a manner that didn't cause him to want to look away.
"Oh well you are going to Queens?" she says though her accent was odd, but she was trying, like he realized Oi had been, to speak clearly.
"Yes"
"Well my sister went there and they usually have you up in-front of the bored the first day you get here."
She indicates the envelope. He looks at it and was going to look further into it's contents but before he can he hears Oi's voice shouting "Right people lets shift, these things don't hang about."
He quickly joins the back of the group as they troupe down the stairs. When they reach the platform he looks inside the envelope and finds a letter he only had to read so much to feel dread.
The letter head was from Queen Collage but as he read on, it read :
"Dear Bing Chu
We request your presences at Queen collage, room 5-42 at 12:00 on 23-04-42 for presentation of your portfolio." he stopped reading.
He looked about, then notices the date on one of the screens, that was today and the time was 10:30. He was not prepared for this, he didn't know how to get to Queens, heck he wasn't sure where he was now.
Oh god he knew who probably would, he had planned to avoid her and the other females he had met but, they were the only friends he had here. Well if they could be called friends, but Oi had got him to the right train and the lupine had helped him out by pointing out he should check the envelope.
He sighs, it was this or the flight home and walks over to the group of females who were in discussion.
"OK I do think he's sweet he has that innocence thing going" he hears Oi's voice say. "Do you think he can cook?" comes the voice of the leefen. "I can't see him being much trouble" comes the lupines voice. "I'll reckon it'll work out, well if we get in" he hears Oi's voice. "What with him" the leefen's voice comes back. "F*ck right off moggy" he heard Oi reply, he would have to look up couple of words from that sentence.
"Oh speak of Talac" the leefen said (Talac being an evil demon known to the leefen)
Chu bows slightly and says "Excuse me how do I get to Queens co..." He is interrupted by Oi "Oh I'm going there now, you have the firing squad today?" Chu looked blankly, well as much as he could with out looking up. "Presentation of your portfolio?" Oi says. "twelve ocloc.." "Ah high noon" Oi quips, then continues "Yeah I'll get you there, I'm on at quarter past.
Right dump your stuff with these retrogrades, they already have admission so will snag you accommodation. Don't worry they have promised you will not be the only male there.
Right lets be off"
Chu looks at the other two females, well the lupine had pointed out something that might have cost him his position and was dressed, almost, decently. Though the phrase "not be the only male there" did cause him concern, but he was tiered and his bags were getting heavy.
He nodded, thinking that he would probably regret it but his main concern was the panel he was going to face. When placed his baggage, such as it was down and picked up his portfolio and looked about.
"You probably want your paperwork?" Oi asks. Chu puts his passport and letter of recommendation into the envelope, then places it in the front of his portfolio case.
"Shall we went?" Oi says. Chu knew that didn't make grammatical sense, but knew what it meant. As they leave the other two the leefen shouts "May Lefanie go with you" (the leefen goddess of luck) and the Lupine adds "and Ganagan" (the saeie goddess of luck).
Chu still couldn't look at Oi, but was suspecting that this was very normal as he walked to the east exit to the station. He was finding many more directions he couldn't look. It would take some taking getting used to if he got in.
Oi turns to him as they walk "Look you have at least two goddess on our side, well that, I forgot 'liean tie yicano a'"
Chu looked up he had never heard teerie before "What did that mean?" he asked.
"May the ancestors aid you, it's a blessing."
"Oh"
"Well I have a lot of them, my line goes back to the disruption about two thousand years back, but we don't make a thing of it."
Chu stops in his tracks "Pardon?" he asks.
"Look we gotta get this tram, kinda now, so shift your arse"
As they rushed to the tram stop Chu was even more confused, this female had lineage.
They get to the tram stop in time and pile onto the tram. Chu looks out at the neo-classical architecture that was common in this part of the city, he knew the collage and the rest of the university was in the old medieval city.
He was now stressed, exhausted and hungry. He was also feeling a little embarrassed as it appeared modesty here was not about dress but not boasting and he had done the latter.
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 28, 2007 1:29:44 GMT -5
Xef hopped down and grabbed a shirt. "Come on, I'll get you supplies... wait... Do you your student ID yet?"
"I... I... D?" replied the feline.
"Check your folder," replied Xef pointing towards the envelope Habi gave him.
Bin looked inside and among the papers were three small cards all roughly the same size. He pulled them out and with Xef looking over his shoulder began to inspect them. One had his name written in Tinisian characters across the front as well as a few numbers, and a single black strip on the back. The second card said "Emergency Contact Data" and a listing of what appeared to be names and locations, but Bin wasn't familiar with these particular words. The last card had again the black strip on the back but the front said a word Bin had seen several times in examples during the rushed language training, "Bonus". There was also listed in the widely used arabic numbers the number 10,000 G. Xef seemed a little impressed by this. The envelope also had keys to the room.
"Neat, you got a bonus card. I heard you were some sort of exchange student from Ciata, but I guess they wanted to make sure you had a little more to play with than just your luggage and the standard essentials. But come on!"
Xef grabbed a bracelet off his desk. Hanging from the bracelet was a card similar to the first one Bin had found as well as a set of keys and few assorted devices. Xef put it on his tail as he neared the door. Bin was a little concerned he hadn't put on pants, just a shirt with a funny logo on it.
"Are you going out... like such?" Bin cobbled together.
Xef shrugged. "People are a little more uptight about things here than back home, but on campus no one cares."
Bin shrugged, a little confused, but decided to follow. Xef locked the door. "I'm not concerned with what people might take out. I'm worried that people might put something in. Can I count on you to lock up when we're both out of the room?"
Xef said this fairly quickly. Bin gave a slight nod, only sort of getting what was said. He assumed it was about locking up at the very least.
----
The Campus Supply Depot was a five minute walk from the dorm, right along the avenue that passed by the stadium. The sun was shinning and the air was cool. On their way, they passed under the overhead tracks. This time a train was passing by rather nosily. Xef complained that they'd never upgrade the tracks near campus.
In front of the store were a number of tables where students were sitting and reading. Bin was slightly amused by a mole holding a large folio almost as tall as himself. The diagram of squares and triangles reminded him of Xef's shirt.
"What's on your shirt?" he asked as they entered the building.
Xef chuckled. "Only the greatest artists of all time. Round Mazel. I saw them in concert last year when they played downtown. I have to say my life has never been the same since."
It was obvious The Campus Supply Depot, or the Depot as the students called it, was divided into three sections. The first sections was near the front and was filled with literally hundreds of boxes, half a meter on a side, and small carts to wheel them around. There were three furs controlling a line. They would take a student ID and pass it through a reader, and if things checked out the students were issued a box. A number of students were making use of the small carts, but had to leave their IDs with the checkers.
"We'll get your box later. First, you need, well, anything." They walked past the boxy place and entered the second part of the store which was filled with almost anything you could ever want in a dorm room. Lamps, futons, computers, posters, mini-fridges, beanbag chairs, scratching posts, robes, and even five racks of movies and music.
Looking beyond the temptations, was the third section willed with text books.
"I don't know how much you know of how this works," said Xef. "But they said I should like explain stuff to you. As a student you are given the basics, which is all those boxes up there. Towels, bathroom supplies, a lot of bathroom supplies, slippers, a welcome to school shirt, and a bunch of pencils and notebooks and some pointless crap. Over there you'll get your books, but classes don't start until tomorrow so you can probably wait for a little bit before grabbing them. They're free if you're taking the class. But here, here is where you can spent your school allowance, and any off that bonus card you have there that you like. Most people blow their entire school allowance on one of those cheep computers..." Xef was trying his best not to speak to quickly but at points he couldn't help it, thus part of his explanation did get garbled past the point of Bin's Tinisian language skills could work with. "But its your allowance. The prices in bonus and allowance are listed on the tags. Anything big they'll deliver. It usually works best if you save your bonus for more personal things as the school allowance can get you more expensive things at reduced cost."
Bin looked around trying his best to digest the information. "How much of the allowance do I have?"
"I think its fifty thousand Gerbies... Ger-biles," he pronounced after using the slang. [aka, about $250] "Have fun, grab what you like, then we can get you a box on the way out. That cool dude?"
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Post by Ciata on Apr 29, 2007 2:14:31 GMT -5
Pavilon looked down at his yellowish tan outfit he thought to be perfectly normal, loose pants and top, straight cut sleeves and legs, shirt buttoning across the chest near the right shoulder with a couple buttons, his black slipper shoes. The only thing slightly out of the norm to him was the the fact that he had navy blue swirling patterns on the cuffs and where the shirt crossed over going diagonally down from the neck to the side as well as the bottom. He just shrugged his wide shoulders at the comment.
"This has been our dress since after the age of heroes."
"Age of heroes? When was that?" Li asked, turning around again.
"It was time of great wars between greatest armies and the greatest or warriors." Pavilon replied.
"Hehe, know any other adjectives besides great? Yeah, but how long ago do the threads date back?" Doyte asked.
"It ended fifteen hundred years ago." Pavilon answered after some thought.
"Wow...so what your great great great great great great fifteen hundred years ago great grandfather wore would still be in style?" Doyte said.
"Mmmmaybe..." Pavilon wasn't really sure if the odd creature was making fun of him or what he really meant, but he assumed he would be correct.
"Niiice, here fashion changes like every week, I guess since we don't use as much it's more applicable to change." Li walked along contemplating what he would be wearing if he wore stuff from 1,500 years ago.
"See Li, there's something I could have used in an art appreciation class, the more complex, the less likely it is to change. Brilliant! But a little late."
At that moment Pavilon was focused on the odd feathered reptile behind him that he hadn't seen before and his shoulder collided with another large, ungiving one. Without hesitation or even looking Pavilon spun around back into a deep side stance, paws clenched in fists stretched out part way before him.
The creature who collided with him was a massively built alligator wearing a wife beater and shorts who hardly gave any notice to the actual contact, but started to turn around when Pavilon stopped. That was when Doyte interceded. "Sorry, he's really new here, first day, just came in from another country, there is you touch right shoulders with a stranger it's like insulting their 2nd grandmother or something..."
The gator just snorted and walked on and Doyte and Li turned to Pavilon after the gator left and he relaxed, brushing off his shoulder and uttering "Xi yi gou..." which apparently was some kind of curse given the context and sound of it.
"Ok, rule number one here in college life. Don't mess with athletes of any group. If you do, you will have the whole lot of them after you. So just avoid them in general to be safe, except swimmers and tennis and stuff like that, they don't count. That one you can tell he's here for one reason, and it's not because of condensed gray matter in that little hard skull of his."
Pavilon didn't really get a lot of that but just nodded.
Li asked after they were walking towards an eating area of some kind, "So you know kung fu stuff and all that?" making karate chop gestures with his paws.
"Of course, every major clan has their own style, mine is Maux Fist."
"Well I guess that makes sense, easy to remember. So everyone does kung fu fightiiing." Li opened the door and walked inside the eating place.
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Post by Ciata on May 1, 2007 0:31:10 GMT -5
*SLAM* The four forms that were leaned back casually behind a table, being slightly bored, jerked, startled by the entrance door slamming open. Standing in the door, staring at the greased hinges that required little to no effort to move, and clutching a packet of wrapped papers. They stared at this odd creature for a few seconds in silence until he sheepishly broke it with,
"Um...sorry?"
The first, a female fox, slightly graying on the edges and dressed in something resembling a green and white neo-kimono, leaned forward and peered at the sheet of paper before her, recognizing the name and raising her eye-lids at finally getting to this odd one.
"Bing Chu?"
"Yes." He walked in, looking back at the doors which were closing themselves, and stopping in-front of them, still holding his papers tightly.
"Well, we're glad to have you here today, the first applicant even from Ciata here. Would you sign here your name, however you'd like." She spoke in a slow, calming tone, just setting it up for the later questions and extended a sheet of paper pointing towards a line near the bottom.
Chu stepped forward and juggled his paintings in one paw and signed his name in Ciatan traditional script.
"You must be exhausted traveling that far in this short time, here's some tea." She smiled and pushed a handle-less tea glass forward, it still steaming.
"Oh, thank you, thank you." He fumbled and tried to decide what to do with his packet of prized paintings.
The second judge, a seemingly female raptor, Chu couldn't tell to be honest, patted a space on the table in front of her. Chu nodded and sat it down carefully before her and went and grabbed the tea cup. As soon as he did though and made it halfway up to his mouth it slipped out of his paw and fell and shattered on the floor.
Chu was horrified, he jumped back and his tail poofed out to at least 50% larger than it's normal level of fluffiness and he clutched his paws, horrified at his mishap and disgrace of their property.
They however weren't even fazed by it. The third, a large male fox motioned over to a mop near the door he came in through. "Don't worry about it happens all the time..."
Chu rushed over and grabbed the mop and rushed back over to clean it up as the first judge started to ask him seemingly calming questions as the others watched him and passed down his form, glancing at it.
"So where are you from?"
Chu was hard at work, trying to mop up somehow, which was something he wasn't used to doing at all, his mess and respond at the same time.
"I am from Old Ban-Xian, Ciata."
"Uh huh, what kind of place is it?" She prodded further.
"It old town...everyone my family knows us...gǔ jiān fēng shè jì...uh..." His Cal slipped and he started off in Ciatan while his body was occupied with something else. "Um...My family top merchants in area. Why I can paint and not work."
"Oh, so you consider painting to not be work?" The third judge, the male shot back at him.
"Oh...no." Chu froze and realized what he said to then. "No, work, shi not gōng zuò...skill not labor work." He just couldn't seem to get all this darn tea up.
"So where do you find your inspiration?" The raptor, which Chu had yet to convince himself one way or the other on, asked him.
"I like to paint houses and mountains." Chu tried and tried but this mop thing seemed to only make it worse the harder to tried.
"What if there were none and you were in a room with no windows, what would you paint then, where would you get your inspiration from then?"
"Umm..." Chu had to stop, his body coming to a stop, relaxing in thought until his tail lowered down enough to drag into some tea on the floor. Chu stepped back from the mess and tried to think.
"I think...I think I...how do I say? Close eyes and look to heart." He searched hard among his limited vocabulary for the words and they seemed to go well with the judges.
"Now tell me..." The raptor pulled out a large folded piece of paper and unfolded it out on the table and on it was a hundred different tones of rainbows of colors, scattered across it. "...which one do you like the most?"
Chu stepped forward and scanned the myriad of colors, searching for a color, stretching out his finger before finding it finally. A dark yellow.
"That."
"Why?"
"It's the first color of the day." Chu responded, more prepared than most.
"Interesting." Was all she said back.
The four looked at each other and either nodded or shrugged their shoulders.
The first vixen nodded deeply to him and said casually, "You're accepted."
"Huh?" Was all Chu could manage, confused to no end as to how or why they had made their choice as they hadn't even opened his portfolio of art he carefully chose and brought.
The last judge, who had up until this point "just" been watching, finally leaned forward and made herself known, a tattooed female skunk, showing off much of her body art. "What we need to know we've found out by observing you. The signature and the lines it consists of, a sure tell way of reading character and fine skills. The mess caused by the tea, which don't worry about, happens to everyone, we make sure of that, was done so we could observe how you utilize your wrists while working on something larger. Having an internal source of inspiration is key for an artist to be expressing his or herself instead of playing to the eyes of others, and an artist must know what appeals to them and why, no matter what that is. As far as personal style, that will change and be stretched, so while we appreciate your works you brought, they weren't a true telling of what you are...don't forget them on your way out either."
"Um...alright. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." He bowed and thanked each of the judges and picked up his bundle, which seemed slightly less important now, and sidestepped the mess which a janitor had already stepped in to clean up before the next poor student was destined to drop something there.
After leaving he just sat down at the nearest seat he could find, not sure what to think or what to do next at this odd place.
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Post by Ciata on May 1, 2007 22:36:02 GMT -5
Bin began to go through the vast building filled with glorious and wondrous strange objects and pleasures, also known as campus supply depot. They were wondrous to him at least, almost all of them alien to him, and now, within his easy grasp to be taken without any work or trading necessary. It was the first great bright spot in his time away from home thus far. Any one of the larger objects would have been the pride of the family's home, comfortable and padded chairs, lanterns that needed no oil, tiny boxes that were like winter preserved in a place and time out of season, and a strange box with a glowing panel and a variety of buttons that sometimes made noises if you pressed enough of them at once. What caught the wide eyed snow leopard's attention the most was the "foo-tawn" which aside from being above the ground, was closer to what he was used to sleeping on, it was also dual purpose, being able to fold up in a feat of metal stretching and coils. After laying on the mattress on the bed for a few moments and sinking down into the odd, soft surface, he decided that he would need something else to sleep on. Looking about the store he also found a flat and smooth painting or a very realistic mountain that somewhat resembled the ones he would see sometimes back home on his travels further north. He was glad that Chu had gone to the other country, as here there seemed to be a great deal of superb artists that sold their work for very cheap. Looking around at the wondrous lanterns he came upon a wonder. "Ooooooh..." He stopped and stared, leaning in close to watch it. "In the different oddly shaped objects there were brightly colored liquid forms rising and falling and rising and falling back down again after a moment in another clear liquid. Watching he noticed that most would stay at the bottom, where a light came from, and it would drip, upside down, to the top, and then fall back down again, dripping up and down! It defied all logic. Like in that shinning, partly glass and partly metal, vase shaped object all manner of normal reason and nature ceased to exist. He must have it. Reaching out to touch it, the top was warm and cozy on his fur, but the bottom was almost scorching hot. "There must be fire at the bottom." He thought, pulling his paws back. But how would he get it? Perhaps one of the people who were uniformed and guarded here would help? Looking around he noticed boxes with the wondrous object painted on them, and in different colors! Oh the choices he could make. Green was just un-natural, like the ground was melting and floating into the sky, he decided quickly against that. The red was a bit too much like fire, though it did make sense because it was hot. the blue was more calming that the others, the other colors just seemed too odd and un-natural, so he decided on the blue. Taking the box carefully, which was cool to his relief, he picked up the painting also and debated for a moment what to do about the sleeping thing. After much thought he decided to approach one of the uniformed creatures, a very bored looking antelope type creature, who was also seemingly very much a perfectionist by how he was trying to re-align all the small boxes perfectly and carefully on the shelf. "Scuse me, foo-tawn?" He asked, bowing a little at not being able to do a different greeting with his paws occupied. "What?" He stopped, not terribly annoyed at his being interrupted. "Foo-twan?" Bin motioned over towards the furniture area. He seemed to get it now and replied in a bored monotone, "Just take one of the cards up to the front for it and sign your name and room number." "Thank you, thank you." Bin bowed to the uniformed one, letting him get back to his important work, and walked over, taking one of the slips of paper with a futon on it between his spare fingers, and walking to the front. There he waited, and waited, and waited, as the line of similar students had their prized objects taken, moved across a glass panel, which emitted a beep, and then just moved a card across a similar place and went on their way, some having to stop and sign for similar furniture like he was. Getting to the front finally, after anxiously waiting, he too sat his things down which were quickly moved across and he presented the piece of paper. The other uniformed creature, a lioness, slid a writing utensil across the counter and said. "Put your name and room number here." Bin fumbled with the thin object, which made it's own ink apparently, and signed in large script, She looked at it and did a double take, then looked at Bin, standing there with a anxious look on his face, dressed in some type of outlandish Asian type clothing. "Oh, ummmm..." "319 Mantka hall." Xef had been waiting for Bin to finish, he having browsed and picked up a couple small items which were in a bag, spoke up from the other side of the check outs. "Him?" The cashier asked, pointing at Bin, but asking Xef. "Yeah, just put down B I N 319 Mantka, I'm his roomie." bin nodded to affirm that and she jotted it down and took the card from Bin's paw where it had been waiting since before he got in the line, she scanned it, 50,000GB -32,156GB _________ 17,844GB Showed up on the screen and she handed it back to Bin, and motioned towards his double bagged and uber bagged room decor and he picked them up and began to walk over to Xef.
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