ArchivedLogs:Butterflies

Butterflies
Dramatis Personae Kai, Sage
In Absentia	2014-02-05 '
Location <XS> Computer Lab
All modernism in contrast to the old-world elegance of most of the mansion, this room has been dragged into the twenty-first century wholeheartedly. Rows of top-of-the-line computers provide internet access to any students who lack their own in their rooms, and sleek tablets give the mansion's artists a place to practice their digital art when the art studio does not suffice. Whether knuckling down to pull an all-nighter on a research paper or simply killing time browsing, students can be found in here at all hours in front of the glows of the screens. It's pretty late in the evening. Too late, really, for anyone to be in the actual computer lab working. But among the dark terminals, one monitor makes a glowing island. In the soft light, Kai sits in his usual silence. Dressed in green pajama pants and a white t-shirt under his thick grey robe, the little Asian boy has his current Computer Literacy assignment pulled up for study. He doesn't seem to have made very much progress on the cut-and-paste project. That could be because he's just sitting in his chair staring at the screen with an unfocused gaze. Occasionally, he shifts his weight, but his hands don't stray near the keyboard or mouse. They seem more intent on wrapping themselves in the cuffs of his robe's sleeves. Entering the Computer Lab, Sage flicks on the lights, before spotting Kai. She's dressed in a gray t-shirt, green sweatpants, and barefoot at the moment, her red tinted glasses on her face as she approaches near his terminal, but sits down in one not far from him, before speaking. "Mr. Kai. How are you this fine evening?". She's taking a brief glance at his screen, before rapidly logging into the computer infront of her. "I see you are working on the assignment for this week. If you have any questions, just ask.". And Sage's focusing back on the computer, a rapid fast typer without even looking at the keys. Kai jumps when Sage speaks to him, and he blinks a couple of times in her direction with a sort of owlish stare. As if he's trying to determine who she /is/. Or maybe remember is a better word. "Oh, Miss Sage," he says in his low, soft voice as he scoots forward on his chair and reaches for the mouse again. "Yes. It seems wise to study the things I do not understand more." He pulls a cut-out length of column from one page to the next, clicking the mouse firmly as he settles it. "And I really do not understand computers," he mutters as everything snaps back as soon as he releases the mouse button. "How do I make it stay?" Sage doesn't actually turn her head to Kai, she's already processing what he is doing as she speaks. "The issue is that you are simply dragging the picture, when the software does not have that capability. The right button on the mouse, click it when the cursor is over the picture. A list will pop up, from which you choose copy. After this, move the cursor to the desired position and right click again. The list will have paste in it now. Click that, and the picture will stay.". Sage gives a slow nod, as on her own computer, she is doing..something 100% more complicated, removing a special USB from her pocket, and connecting the computer to her glasses, as she begins working with the code. "I must make sure the code is still intact after the lockdown last night. I hope I do not disturb you.". Kai follows the instructions as Sage gives them, and make a soft 'ah' sound as he gets the desired result. "Yes, that is very helpful," he says, flashing a bit of a smile at the teacher. "Thank you." His own typing, when he lays fingers to keyboard, is much, MUCH slower. He's totally hunting and pecking to input the information, scrutinizing the keyboard before each considered tap. "I hate lockdowns," he confesses when Sage mentions it. "The alarms are very disturbing, and it makes me want to go and hide." His mouth clamps into a line, briefly. "It is not pleasant." Then he slowly tips his head to regard Sage carefully. "Did you really hit three men with a chair?" "By lockdown I was referring to a command on my computer glasses, ATHENA. Shuts them down from use without a password.". Sage explains, slowly. "Yes, they are quite annoying, but usually hiding is a good option during them, as they do not happen without reason.". At the gossip, Sage shakes her head. "No. I dislocated a shoulder, several fingers, and a kneecap. No chairs.". And then she pauses. "I do not believe I should have shared that information.". "Nobody else goes and hides," Kai points out, his brow knitting. "They probably think that I am silly for being scared." Which probably bothers him, as his slow typing stops altogether as he frowns down at the keys. "I did not know glasses could lock down, though." He frowns at the red-tinted glasses perched on Sage's nose, possibly re-assessing them. Sage's correction gets a small roll of the boy's eyes, and he flops back in his chair. "That is typical. Howard never knows the right things to tell. Unless it is going to get someone in trouble." He shifts to lean over the arm of the chair, watching the teacher intently. "You do not have to worry about me saying anything," he assures her. "No one asks me about anything, especially if it is interesting." Sage gives a brief, slightly forced (since she's pretty bad at emotions) smile towards Kai, before looking back at her screen. "Fear is a natural human response. This is a dangerous world, after all. I /did/ get arrested for trying to buy a sandwich.". Sage pauses, before continuing. "Though that will most likely never happen to you, do not worry.". She's typing away a bit more, the line of code on her screen getting larger. "Gossip changes from person to person. Do not believe it unless you get it from the source.". At Kai's last statement, she turns in her chair. "That is quite a shame, and should not be that way. I would give you some tips but I myself was never a social butterfly.". Kai actually huff a laugh at Sage's thoughts on whether Kai will be arrested for buying a sandwich, and he shakes his head. "There have been many things done to me," he says, sitting back in his chair properly. "I think that being arrested could not be as bad as those were." He considers the screen for a moment, then leans forward to begin poking at the keyboard again. "Howard seemed very certain," he says, glancing at the older woman. "But as I said, he is not terribly reliable. Your way sounds much more prudent." Sage's sympathy stops his poking again, and he stares at the keys before he lifts a shoulder. "I do not understand that term," he says. "Butterflies are not social. They only come together to mate." He furrows his brow, and pinkens a bit. "And I do not want to do that, yet." "Chairs are flawed. They require you to focus your attention on something other than your target. Do not ever battle using a chair.". Sage sounds /very/ certain on this, as she continues to type. "I am aware, and however sad it must be I must agree with you.". Pause. Sage is closing her program, removing the cord from her glasses and putting it back in her pocket, as she speaks. "ATHENA, test operations.". Nothing seems to be happening on the computer or the glasses, but Sage briefly smiles again. "It is a figure of speech, which I also do not understand. It means people who flock in social circles.". "I do not think I will fight with a chair any time soon," Kai says confidently, lifting his eyebrows. "I probably will not be fighting with anyone. I am kind of small for fighting." He holds up a scrawny robe-clad arm to flex it and study his bicep carefully. "And I am not as strong as Shane and Sebastian." Because they are equally small, obviously. At least that's what his expression says. He falls silent when Sage issues her command, either in response to her agreement with him or out of respect for whatever she's trying to accomplish. "I do not think it worked," he says apologetically when nothing happens. "That happens to me a lot." Kai frowns when Sage explains the term, and he scrunches up his nose. "That does not make any sense," he says, clearly stymied by this. "Butterflies do not gather in circles. Unless they are like Monarch butterflies, which migrate in great flocks. But I think that is more about safety than being social." "It did work, actually. Which is what I was trying to test. The frames block output on the outside but they display the data on the inside.". Sage states this emotionlessly, but it probably sounds like gibberish to Kai. "I am not strong either. I only know techniques to give myself an advantage. Size does not matter, tactics do.". Though, Sage is actually pretty fit, so. "The Holland-Zedners are both special, as are you. We are all special, it is why we are here.". And back to the butterflies! "I never said it makes sense, but it is most likely based off Monarchs, yes.". "Oh." Kai blinks at the affirmation that whatever Sage was doing was successful, and it's clear that it /is/ gibberish to him. He smiles brightly for a moment, and straightens his shoulders. "Well then, I am pleased that it works, then." Which seems fairly complimentary, if a bit awkward in its delivery. "I would like to learn some of those tactics," he says, nodding firmly. "Especially if they are good for small people." He colors a bit at the assertion of his uniqueness, and he shakes his head. "Oh, I am not as special as all that," he says quietly. "I am very small and very quiet, and sometimes people forget I am there. That does not seem very special." The comment about butterflies gets another wrinkle of his nose. "English is very strange."