Fresh Start, Fresh Hope

[Connor Dwyre]

The school was still closed. It was a habit of Connor's to be at the school before the rush of the student body showed up. It had been since he started attending school, as early as elementary. It gave him the chance to get used to the building without the busy sounds of the students, the loud noise that seemed to filter through the halls regardless of where he attended. People, as a whole, were very noisy.

The air outside was cool, but not bitter. The wind wasn't blowing, the birds were barely singing. It was quiet. Peaceful. Serene. The calm before the storm as it were. Soon the student body would fill the building to learn, to goof off, to hang with friends... the options were as diverse as the students themselves. It was the shear variety that Connor did enjoy, whether it be simple student life, or nature. Variety painted the picture for him. Even without color, he felt the picture was complete.

He opened the door, which was unlocked, and tapped his cane against the empty floor. The vibration gave him an idea, though not detailed, of the layout of the immediate area. Most schools were laid out very similar, and so he found his way to the one door that he sought. The one with the stairs leading up. He continued this pattern until he found himself on the roof of the school. While there, he felt he could really breathe and relax before the day started. It gave him a chance to calm himself. His past schooling experience wasn't exactly the most pleasant, though it had started similar to this day. He hoped things might be different here.

Setting his backpack and cane against one of the half walls that created the rail of the roof, he sat himself on top of it, and tilted his head back, letting the sun hit his face. He smiled, enjoying the calm for the time it lasted at least.

Maybe this time... this time will be different.

[Matrim Gallagher]

(OOC: Hola! Hope you don't mind my joining in on this.)

And just like that Matrim had fallen asleep on the roof again. Only, strangely enough, he over slept. Not till after his open periods, not till after school itself, but rather until the next day. Which would mean that his homework for the classes he did have would be, well, late for the first time in history unless he worked fast. He woke up in a panic, almost knowing what had happened, he saw a kid on the rooftop with him, but didn't pay attention yet. Instead he pulled his back pack out and opened his folder for his English class.

Wait... I got my homework done early... which was why I... yes, I came to take a nap because I didn't want to drive home. I was tired... and shaky, and my head hurt... I decided to sleep here... why didn't I pick a classroom? Or sleep in the library? Because... because I wanted to sleep in....

Matrim looked at where the sun was, "So much for that...." He said to himself getting up and looking over at the kid who had joined him on the rooftop. Matrim was a very quiet sleeper, but he wondered if the kid had even noticed him, if he had it was nice of him to leave Matrim alone to let him keep sleeping, "Good Morning, you're here pretty early. I don't recognize you.... are you new?"

The pillar was always looking for more athletes, but he couldn't remember seeing this kid. Which for someone with a freakishly good memory like Matrim, was sort of off a bit.

[Connor Dwyre]

OOC: Not at all!

It was odd for Connor to miss a detail of any sort, especially a living one. But, as the sun rested it's rays on the boy, he heard a shuffling, then a voice. As the shuffling came first, he managed to keep from being surprised and falling off the roof. That would not have been a great start to the school year. Boy falls off roof on his first day... film at eleven. The person who greeted him seemed friendly, albeit a little tired. Connor assumed he had just gotten up, and the still sleeping body with light breathing would be why he missed it to begin with.

Connor shifted so he was facing the... well student from what he could gather, and smiled. Not one to be rude, Connor nodded at the question. "Yes, I am new here. This would be my first day. I like to come before the rush." His own tone was open and friendly, but much more awake than his new acquaintance. "Hope I didn't disturb your slumber." He let his feet hang down, almost touching the roof of the school.

"I'm Connor. Pleased to meet you." He gave a small bow, as was due to his training. He smiled, and was thinking so far, so good. The day had only just started, and he had managed to meet someone pleasant, at least so it seemed. But, he didn't get his hopes up just yet. After all, it was only day one, and it hadn't even truly begun.

[Matrim Gallagher]

"Nice to meet you too, Conner," Matrim said getting a little creeped out by the kids eye, but then he noticed the cane in the picture and nodded. He made a quick scary face to see if the kid would react. Sure Matrim was a dick, but he saw the brighter side of things. So he stuck his tongue out, bared his teeth, and held his hands up like he were a bear! Having all sorts of fun he coughed and said, "Sorry forgot my manners for a moment. I'm Matrim Gallagher, I'm the Varsity Captain here. Which... basically means I'm the guy in charge of sports and all that."

Matrim put the English folder back into his bag, and slung it around his shoulders as he stood up, observing the kid and wondering exactly what he was doing in a school like this. Especially coming at a time like now, it could get dangerous for the newer kids, "So, anything you need to know about the school? I can give you the skinny on all the latest events, in fact a quick rundown might do you some good. And if you haven't done one already I can take you on a little tour of the campus."

Matrim would slowly approach the kid to close some of the distance between them. Mostly because it wasn't like he was afraid of the kid, "Although I'm afraid there's not much to look at..." And then Matrim's face twisted in horror as he realized just what he said.

Oh shit, this is both cruel and somewhat funny... why in the world did I just say that!

[Connor Dwyre]

Connor realized he had let his sunglasses off, and quickly put them back on. He didn't like to make anyone uncomfortable, and he was, in fact, a little embarrassed by the appearance. The boy introduced himself, and included the fact he was in charge of all things sports related. Connor had an interest, though he didn't know how useful he'd be on any sporting team. Unless there was some kind of martial arts tournament team here, he would fail at pretty much all other events.

The boy closed some of the distance, and Connor got off the wall. A tour of the campus sounded good. It would help him get acquainted with the facility. Then the boy spoke again, and Connor could feel how he had just spoke before thinking. Connor, not one to take offense to his handicap (he was long since passed that), knew the boy had realized he was blind, and didn't mean for things to come out that way.

Connor replied with a chuckle. "Not to worry. I don't think the sights should bother me too much." As if to affirm that statement, he waved his hand up and down in front of his face. "I'd love a tour. Thanks for the offer. I'll try not to lag behind." He grabbed his backpack and cane. He grinned. "Describe things the best you can. I'll put two and two together."

[Matrim Gallagher]

It was good the kid could laugh a bit, Matrim laughed with the kid, getting the nervousness out of the way, "Don't worry I'm sure you won't lose me. I'm a bit of a loud mouth so I'll be hard to miss," Matrim said leading the way down from the roof, taking the staircase. He would hold the door open for the kid, but only for a short amount of time. The kid could open doors after all, it was just polite to hold a door open for anyone. Matrim would lead the kid down towards the first level of the building, "First off you should know the school has recently been given some harsh standards, our test scores have earned us some babysitters from the school board or whatever it's called. A one Mr. Purple, who looks very purple as you might imagine, and another named Mr. Orange who, again, appears to be very orange. Anyway, hallways are basic, ugly lockers line the sides, classroom doors or hallways wherever the lockers end."

Matrim headed towards the west exit, "Coming up on the west exit of the building we're in, also known as the main academic building. Might want to avoid the third floor of this building, the teachers will get cranky when a student is up there, although I'm sure you could get away with it if you play the 'blind card'," Matrim said, opening the door to the outside world, keeping open for Conner, long enough so he could get a hold on the door, "And continuing on west of here we can go to where the path ends and either take a left towards the Science and Technology Building, or a right to the Arts Building, any preference in which one you want to visit first?"

[Connor Dwyre]

His nervousness went away, and Connor was glad for that. He didn't need his tour guide to feel uncomfortable around him. He explained that the third story should be avoided, and Connor nodded, though he doubted he would heed the warning. At least, he would still visit the roof of the school as his usual routine. It was nice up there. Aside from that, he would avoid it. As for the "blind card," he could unintentionally play that as long as he held his cane. But aside from that, he would listen. He wasn't a trouble maker or rule breaker, after all.

Connor could hear Matrim's footsteps, which echoed a bit in the empty halls. That gave a clear view through vibration of the layout. Navigation this early would be easy. It was when the halls were crowded that Connor would have trouble. He would just have to make due where he could. Matrim also warned him about the upped standards of testing as well as the rules in general. That didn't worry him too much. Connor was what some might call a book worm. He enjoyed learning, and so testing shouldn't prove too difficult for him. At least he hoped it wouldn't.

The school was fairly large, and Connor was already planning routes to navigate to class fast. His schedule was simple, and from what Suichi had told him, they kept his classes close as they could so he didn't have to run from one end of the building to another. When they reached where the hall split, Matrim presented Connor with a choice. As technology wasn't his strong suit, and probably something he wouldn't be delving into, he was more interested in the arts. He loved poetry, writing, and all things artistic (though paintings were something that eluded him for obvious reasons).

"The Arts Building would be a good start." At some point, he definitely wanted to visit the library, hoping they would have books he could take out. Though, most schools didn't expect a blind student to enter their building. Maybe audio books would work. He'd decide that later.