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Post by squirrel on Aug 10, 2010 20:14:23 GMT -5
Six years can seem like a long time for someone to stop talking, especially someone at the age of ten. But for Mari the past six years wasn't that long. She is now sixteen years old. How it happened know one knows but Mari. She just stopped talking all together. Some believe it was just her way of getting attention, she believes it was because she told her mother that she would never talk to her or anyone else if her mother moved her away from her father and beloved home; Hawaii. But it did happen. Her family unit consists of her eldest brother Brad, who is eighteen and her mother who is pregnant with her third child to another man and on top of that her little brother; Mark is suppose to be born on her birthday. Go figure.
That Terrible Day
“Hey look guys...there’s our new home” her mother points out the small window into the black space surrounding them. "Which one" her older brother asks looking out the window "It's right there. The window close to the end" Brad turned to look at Mari and she rolls her eyes and then Brad looks at their mother "They all look the same. Are you sure this is such a good idea mom. I mean bring all of us all the way out here in space just to get away from dad" "I don't want to talk about that right now. It's a new adventure. Come on kids, doesn't it seem thrilling" Brad looks at Mari then her mother did. Mari shrugged her shoulders "I guess" Brad said.
Six years later School on the station is a joke, Mari had to spend at least two hours in a speech therapy class as they try and get her to talk. Her mother thought it would be a good idea for Mari to start talking again since they were starting over in a new place. Hell living in space was still relativity new but her mother just had to take her away from everything that she loved. The bell rang and Mari jumped to her feet and rushed out
'Finally, my first real class of the day' she thought to herself as she made her way down the hallways of bright neon blue and green lights. Mari walks into the classroom and the teacher gives her a nice smile "Morning Mari. How are you doing?" She gives her teacher a weary look "That bad huh?" She shakes her head and takes her seat near the front of the class. Mari looks up at the board and the teacher already has a few equations up for the students to do. She takes out her notebook and starts to work out the problem. It's not like she had anything better to do. She didn't have that many friends because it was kind of hard to make friends when you didn't talk.
(OOC: Looking for a guy to come along and show her that living in space isn't that bad.
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Post by dravenmeyers on Oct 6, 2010 0:34:57 GMT -5
Zen sat in class just as usual. staring at the blackboard imagining white dots all over it and his ship's HUD showing targets and objectives in front of him. the stars spin as he barrel rolls to avoid a missile lock. He pulls back on the controls and aligns himself behind the target that almost got him. With one pull on the trigger of his Vulcan cannons the other fighters wing rips apart. He begins to applaud himself for a flawless kill. "Z". a voice calls. "Z, would you quit daydreaming and solve problem 3-5?" the teacher asked annoyed at Zen for being a repeat offender at daydreaming. "Uh... yea, it's..." Zen is cut short by the lunch bell. The teacher scoffs and rambles out some new assignment for the weekend. Zen, relieved by the bell's saving coincidence pays no attention to the teacher's demands and books it out the door. He rushes down the hallway wondering which food joint to hit up. Jupiter Burger, Solar sandwiches, or good old micky d's, just like back on earth. "well, they really are all the same", he thought to himself, "I could do whichever i run into first.
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Post by squirrel on Oct 6, 2010 0:56:20 GMT -5
It's not long before the bell tolls out it's soft release and everyone runs off to lunch. She takes her time packing her things up and heads out the door. Mari slowly walks down the commons and into the cafeteria, there she gets hot water for her ‘cup of noodles,’ then she makes her way out of the food court. The place had never seemed so dull to her, just school, speech therapy and home. It was the same boring routine day to day.
Mari exits the common area and decided that after she was done eating that she was going to go back to her room. She just couldn't deal with the rest of the day. Though she would get docked on not going to class and get lectured by her mom but she felt that she could deal with that better then watching all the other kids laugh and have a good time with there friends.
She sighed heavily as she walked out into the hallway and sat down. She hated to be in there watching everyone as she sat in the corner reading yet another book. She must have read every crappy book on this station at least three times with nothing new to learn. Her mother said that she had ordered her some new books but that it would be awhile till another supply ship got to the station. Mari set her cup beside her and opened up an original copy of Les Miserables.
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Post by dravenmeyers on Oct 6, 2010 1:27:40 GMT -5
Z raced through the commons and down the hallway to get to his car. Lunch was far too short to get food and head to pilot training, his next and final class for the week. In his haste he trips on something and eats it into the carpet. "Goddamn it!" he exclaims as he returns to his feet. He glances back to see what caught him off balance. a foot. a foot attached to a girl. this was new, he never had an opportunity to talk to a girl before. or anyone for that matter. not too bad a looking one at that. He chuckles and walks up to her. "I'm sorry, I should watch where I'm going". he pauses waiting for a reply. after a few seconds, he begins to think. she doesn't seem too stuck up to talk to anyone, whats wrong with this girl. He decides he should break the silence again. "I'm on my way to a burger joint down the street, its better than cup o' noodles. maybe you would like to join me, its the least i could do. I hope i didn't hurt your foot". Zen rambles nervously.
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Post by squirrel on Oct 6, 2010 1:40:02 GMT -5
Just as she got started on her book she felt a force about to rip her foot off. She drops her book it almost lands on her cup of noddles. She quickly snatches the book into her arms and holds it there like it's the only thing she's got. A bit stunned she looks around trying to figure out what was going on. None of the kids have ever resulted to beating on her which she was thankful every day.
Mari's eyes land on a guy picking himself up from the floor and she couldn't help but feel guilty that it was her fault. Her brows knitted together at his apology then she was lost as he spoke. Whoa, slow down sonic she thought to herself as he rambled on and on. She glanced down at her lunch and then up at him as he mentioned going to a burger joint, she thought about the last time that she had a decent burger as she looked up at him. He seemed awkward and a bit out of place but his awkwardness was cute on him. She got to her feet and dusted herself off then picked up her cup of noddles and tossed it in the trash, then leaned over and slung her backpack over her shoulder. Why not she thought to herself again and nodded her head yes to him hoping that he understood what she had meant.
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Post by dravenmeyers on Oct 6, 2010 2:24:59 GMT -5
"Not a big talker huh?" Z asked. "well, I'll take that as a yes... I guess." He said scratching his head trying to think of things to say to fill the awkward silence. "My cars a little cramped. well, they all are up here. They run only on electricity in the station, so they can't go that fast". the look on her face a little bit ago probably meant she didn't like how much he talked. What else was he to do, he already made up his mind that she was most likely never gonna say a word to him. He knew she wasn't deaf, she replied with at least a nod, not to mention the expressions on her face.
They got into his car and started the drive to Jupiter Burger. "This place is awesome, you'll love it". He said smiling in her direction.
They pulled up to the restaurant and walked inside. he looked up at the huge menu and pointed up at it for her. "They got everything from single hamburgers to triple cheeseburgers that are outta this world!" his smile reaching ear to ear. "that's what I usually get". He looked up at the bored kid behind the counter. "I'll have the number 3 please". He says as he holds up 3 fingers. He looks at the girl. "what would you like?"
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Post by squirrel on Oct 8, 2010 2:00:48 GMT -5
He really did talk to much but she had agreed to go with him, then he mentioned a car. She had seen several people driving them but any where she needed to get to she just walked. Her mom walked to work and her brothers walked to school just like her. She was a little nervous to get into him car but just took a deep breath, it wasn't like he could kidnap her. Where the hell would he take her....down to the cargo bay and tell her to keep quiet while he kills her or something. She gave a quiet laugh to herself.
Mari looked up at the menu board thinking of what she wanted. She hadn't really been to this place nor any fast food up here in space for that matter. She shrugged her shoulders after a few minute then found what she wanted. Then she looked at him and then at the guy behind the counter...now this one was going to be hard. Not only to order but to explain to the kid why she wasn't saying anything if he asked. She looked back at the kid working and held up two fingers hoping that he got that she wanted a number two, then she dropped her hand to her side and looked away feeling a little awkward.
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Post by dravenmeyers on Oct 8, 2010 2:56:17 GMT -5
Z watched her Gesture and raised one eyebrow. This really intrigued him now that she wouldn't even say an order for food. What seriously is wrong with this girl? Z wanted someone around, anyone would do. He knew that he could work around this silence thing.
The Jupiter Burger kid put together their order on the tray and handed it to them. they found a place to sit and began Z began eating. "good huh". he said with a big smile on his face. He really wanted her to talk. He hasn't had anybody to talk to since he and his family left their home in southern California.
Z paused eating and looked up at Mari. "So, if you don't mind me asking", He said, waiting for a second for a shaking head or something to indicate that it was a bad thing to ask or just not the right time. After a few seconds passed, he added, "is there a reason behind the silence?"
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Post by squirrel on Oct 8, 2010 3:28:37 GMT -5
Mari was thankful when they sat down with their food, that meant they would be eating and not talking. Though her hopes were to high and he started talking anyway. She took a deep breath and took a small bite of her sandwich. He was right, it wasn't that bad but she wasn't about to start boasting about it. She took another bite of her sandwich and about choked on it when he asked about the silence. Now she felt bad, she couldn't even explain to him with out difficulty why she was silent. She knew that he wasn't dumb but had wished that it didn't come up. She was sure that this would be the last time that they 'hung' out if you could call it that.
She sighed and put her burger down. Then she brushed off her hands debating of how to tell him all the while her face had turned a nice rosy red. She looked down at her hands in her lap and after a few seconds made herself look up at him. She slowly nodded her head at his question but hoped that she wouldn't have to go much further then that cause she had left her backpack in his car, without it, it would be that much more difficult to explain to him about her silence.
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Post by dravenmeyers on Oct 9, 2010 1:46:42 GMT -5
Z saw watched her have so much trouble explaining anything and it brought a condition to his mind that he had heard of. "are you a mute?" he asked in a probing voice. "I've heard of people having traumatic incidences in their life making them take a voluntary vow of silence". He felt accomplished with his question, he realized that this simple yes or no question would give him a lot of headway with finding out about his new and... only friend, hopefully he could call her that.
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Post by squirrel on Oct 9, 2010 2:09:53 GMT -5
Yep she was defiantly done with her food. She wrapped it up and pushed it away from her. This was not the best idea to come out with him, he was just going to be like everyone else and try to get her to talk. She stared at him thinking over his questions as thoughts ran through her head this kid does talk way to much, maybe he's the one with the problem and not me she smirked to herself.
She shrugged her shoulders finally to his question and that was all she was going to give him cause in her mind there was no more explanation needed. Her eyes lite up as her phone vibrated in her pocket. She gave him an apologetic look as she pulled her phone out. She looked at it then rolled her eyes. It was just her brother pestering her again about where she was. Then she looked up at the kid and realized that she didn't even know his name. She then opened up a blank text and began to type something out and then she held it up for him to read. 'Forgot to ask your name...' the text read and then she closed her phone and placed it back in her pocket.
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Post by dravenmeyers on Oct 9, 2010 2:40:53 GMT -5
'Oh my god', Z thought to himself, 'She has a phone. this makes things so much easier'. He looked over to the light in front of him and then back to her eyes. "Zen, my name is Zen, but I refer to myself as Z". Zen then thought about the fact that she had just shrugged her shoulders to his question and he began to feel defeated. That was not the reaction he was hoping for, which made him think that maybe he had hit a soft spot and intruded in a personal matter. "Never mind about my question", Z apologized, moving his gaze to the table, he began making invisible doodles with his finger. "I don't really have any friends, so I kinda have a hard time keeping within boundaries. I think its from when my parents and I moved up here from California when I was really little, it might have messed up my social development". Z looked back into her eyes. "please forgive me for asking too many questions too soon". He paused for a second and asked "what's your name?" Z chuckled, "since now we have a way of communicating more than just yes or no questions".
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Post by squirrel on Oct 9, 2010 2:47:54 GMT -5
She wanted to sigh roll her eyes or even laugh. This kid never shut up never and she wasn't sure if she could get use to this. Mari waved her hand when he apologized, it wasn't that it was a personal question cause any time she found a moment to be angry with her situation she loved to boost about it...well to her brother that was but it was just the fact that he had asked in such a blunt matter and so soon. She gave a small smile and pulled her phone out again and typed in it 'I'm Mari' she held up the phone and then placed it in her lap, feeling as though she would need it in about a few seconds with all his questions that he probably had for her.
Then her phone started going off again and she looked down. This time she sighed heavily not really wanting to response but her brother had threatened to turn the station upside down if she didn't text him. She typed in a quick sentence and then sent it to him. She then typed in some more 'don't worry about your questions...I'm just not use to people asking questions and I'm just a little...off. But besides that I really have to get back to school or my brother is going to have a fit' then she held up her phone for him to read.
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Post by dravenmeyers on Oct 9, 2010 3:09:44 GMT -5
"Mari, that's a nice name", Z said with a big grin on his face. He read the text that immediately followed. His grin fell as he saw that it was time for her to get back to class. He really enjoyed actually getting to spend some time with someone who seemed at least a little interested in him. "I'm still sorry, I'll leave it alone for now. your phone will make a perfect method of communication for us", Z said as he lifted the tray off the table. He wished he could spend more time with her. He got to the trash can and dumped the contents of the tray into it. He opened the door and held it for Mari and led her back to his car. "Do you have anything going on tomorrow?" Z asked, "I'd love to do lunch again, I enjoy the company". He drove them back to the school and parked in the same spot he had before and began walking back to the building with her. "I have a phone too", Z said, pulling a black and silver object from his pocket. "could I get your number so we can hang out some more?"
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Post by squirrel on Oct 13, 2010 1:08:04 GMT -5
Mari smiled, no one had said that they liked her name. She got to her feet and followed him out the door. She started to blush this time as he opened the door for her and she got into the car. The drive back to the school wasn't as long as she hoped it would be. As they pulled up she looked at him, he had a nice phone and she gentle took his phone from him. She inputted her number into his phone and then got out of the car. She waved to him and darted down the hallways. She was trying to avoid her brother at all cost.
Mari turned a corner and froze "Where have you been?" She just heard him say and she straightened up and looked at him. Then she shrugged her shoulders "Don't give me that. I've looked all over the hallways and you were no where to be found" she started to walk up to him and then ducked under his arm. He turned with her and fell in beside her "Where'd you go?" He asked again and she quickly made a gesture with her hand "With who?" She knew that he wasn't going to shut up so she started to sign giving him little details about what happened today at lunch "Oh no you're not" He said grabbing one of her shoulders just as she turned to head home "You are going to class. You can't afford to miss another or mom is going to have your head" he turned her towards her classroom and gave a small push "I will pick you up at your classroom after school. If you aren't there we are going to have a problem" she sighed heavily and rolled her eyes "Don't give me that...now move" she turned and started to reluctantly walk to her class.
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