astute & ostentatious [open]

[Tyson Castelle]

&&&

For an hour and thirty minutes he stood in a line in the Student Affairs office. He figured if he moved early he would get through early and be back home in time to make some plans and head back out but it seemed that most had that same idea, the getting here early part anyway. This was unfortunate and annoying but he needed to be here right now. It was Saturday, classes started the following Tuesday and he needed to get his fees in before he could even think about registering, something he was thinking about doing online rather than sitting and talking to an academic counsellor. The latter would have been the better option given that he was new to the States and Berkeley but he was the type to figure things out on his own and quickly, and besides, if there was a class that he wanted but it was full…he would just have to use his innate gift and make a few switches here and there. Simple, right?

“Next!”

Two steps. That’s the distance he covered when someone else ahead of him was finally able to reach the desk. Forty-something steps later; it was finally his turn to move forward to the desk to glance down at the youthful woman behind the desk. Probably a student doing some work before the semester began, that or something else, it did not matter much to him. He handed her the receipt he got from the campus bursar and he was handed some regulation booklets and quite a bit of paper then advised to see the academic counsellor before proceeding to register for any courses. He smiled, thanked her then left that poorly ventilated, over-crowded office and stepped out into the fresh aired corridor. After walking a few steps from the door, he stopped and started to sift through the paperwork he had to do, the booklets he needed to read and then there was that course sheet that he had been looking forward to obtaining. He had decided to work toward a First Degree in Biochemistry before he went into Medicine. It would provide him with enough time to get himself sorted here before he got serious in studying Medicine. Three years of time and that was good enough for him.

Not feeling to head home right away, he took to the campus. Fifteen minutes he spent just looking around. Noting what was where and stuff like that. He say a few people around, should common courtesy and exchanged greetings; occasionally nodding or waving slightly but nothing to exciting on any level. Ty was Ty after all and such would have been dangerously uncharacteristic. Berkeley was nice…he guessed it was of fair size but he was not going to judge it on what the outside looked like. It was all about the curriculum and the classes and how adequate the library was for his studies. Chances are he would convert one of the rooms into a library fitting his studies but for now, he would have to suffice with the school library and any local public libraries. Though his focus was on what went on within the classroom, he had to admit that the grounds were attractive, especially a certain part close to the girls’ dormitories. It was almost like a picinic setting that could cater to quite a few groups. It was made up of roughly a dozen picnic tables with the majority in the shade of a variety of tall, strong trees and he happily made himself comfortable underneath one but rather than sitting to one, he found the cleanest with the most shade, put his booklets and papers on the seat and actually laid on top of the table with his hands cross behind his head, providing some cushion and support while he stared up at the sky through the leaves and branches, evading the sun but succumbing to the cool breezes that managed their way down to earth.

[Katia Redfield]

"I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me.."

Bouncing her leg, Katia sat at a nearby bench with a book open before her at the table. From what could be seen it was simply some sort of romance novel, something she didn't bother to hide. She had a thing for romance novels, her mother called her an old lady but she loved the stories as trashy as they were. Writing in a notebook next to it, it seemed the pages were full of notes and several massive paragraphs. She had always wanted to become a writer, so in her spare time she drew ideas from what she read, using music as her medium, and put the pen to paper and made it happen. Taking her right hand, she'd move several loose strands of hair behind her ear.

Lately she'd been on this craze, addicted to anything Ga Ga. She never even noticed how close Tyson had come. With a heavy sigh she'd drop her pen and look up, resting her chin in her hand. It took her a few moments to register, but then she'd notice that there was a man laying on the table. Blinking her eyes, she'd tilt her head and gaze at him for a moment. She recognized the paper work he had sitting on the seat below him. He was registering for classes, one of the many who had spent all day standing in that stuffy office. Laughing, she could understand why he was sprawled out like that. Removing her head phones, she'd giggle at him.

"Been a long day? Perhaps a long wait?"

She asked, her russian accent heavy. Reaching down she'd close her books. She'd never been known for being one to start a conversation, but this one was easy. There was a common ground easily dangling before her eyes. If she was going to attend school here in this city she'd need at least a few friends. "I got here as early as I could and still waited awhile." she said laughing as she smiled at him. Something about him seemed different, perhaps he wasn't from here, perhaps it was just his apperance. Needless to say, she was intrigued, anything beat being out here on such a nice day alone.

[Tyson Castelle]

&&&

He managed to close his after some time. The day had gotten somewhat cooler and the breezes even more so themselves. It was good. It honestly was good just lying here without having to ponder what he was going to do next because if he got to that point, he would start going on about that whole Father and Caliste bit and that whole bit gave him a downright honest headache and he just could not deal with that right now. It made him angry, irritable, and miserable and any word that meant those and more. He just wanted to do this right here. It was a simple task that he could pull off in his sleep, and if sleep where to come, he was sure that he would let it take over him. God forbid a guard come around and ask him to stop loitering or something like that. But he had the feeling that such was not going to happen so he put his mind at ease; he allowed his body to fall to a state of rest and soon, he hoped, he would achieve sleep.

Almost…almost…and, he lost it. A voice broke through. He opened his eyes and looked to his immediate right and noticed someone he had not seen there before. Really? Was she honestly sitting there just moments before? How unobservant was he? He sat up, wiped the fatigue from his eyes and face then turned and stepped down till he was standing on the ground again. He reached his hands up, stretched then looked at her with a grin. She hit the nail right on the head with her first words. It had been an insanely long day and he was eagerly anticipating its end. “Yeah…and the poorly vented office, the heat and the fact that I am insanely tired does not make the day go along any quicker.” He said; his English stained with his French accent. Yeah, he took note of and recognized hers quiet easily. “Know what you mean though,” he continued on quickly after, “you mean and the rest of them still in that office had the same notion to rise and get her early…kinda backfired really. But I’m just glad I got through and it looks like you and I are in the same boat where that is concerned."

He turned and picked his books and papers and what not off the seat, set it up on the table and took a seat facing her. Well…now what was he going to talk about. “Bit of a stretch but I’m guessing you like yourself a good book.” He stated through a smile. “What’s that you got there reading and is it any good?” He asked, daring to sit back a bit. This was a first and he was nervous. Sure he had talked to members of the opposite, but that was just it…talking. He was not one for social interactions, he would partake, he would not always enjoy and right now, he was making leaps. Insane leaps that made him feel good…and weird at the same time.

[Katia Redfield]

She smiled as he sat up and looked over at her, it seemed that her words had broken him from his trance. As he moved she took the time to look him over, he was exactly what she would've expected from someone here. Almost every guy in this college seemed to be tall, dark, and handsome which made her raise a brow sometimes but she supposed to some women she was living in the ideal dream location. "I know what you mean. It feels like you're going to choke in there. Luckily I brought the cure to the energy it drains from you!" she said with a grin as she turned and rummaged through her bag. A moment later she would remove a can of energy drink which she'd just purchased before coming out here to sit down. "Drink up, it'll fix all your problems." she said with laugh.

She had been right about him being different. His accent told her all that she needed to know, he was of French heritage. She had been there once as a girl, but it was not for something she truly wished to remember. Those were times when her father had moved them around alot, first from Moscow to Paris, and then all the way to the United States. "Yeah it turns out in this place you can't be early for anything unless it's just to get a good seat in class. Especially irritating when those who don't bring laptops to class sit next to the electrical outlets.." she said trailing off. She'd been taken by surprise by his question though as she thought about what she had been rambling to him. Blinking, she'd semi blush having forgotten that it was sitting right there.

"Oh this? It's just a romance novel. I enjoy these trashy little books, they're kind of exciting when you're bored in class or anywhere." she said as she closed it. The title of the book read "The Highland Outlaw's Lonely Mistress" which in it's self was quite eye catching. "I plan to be a writter some day, not for romance novels really however. I just use them as an idea for love stories." she said casually as she brushed a strand of hair from her face that had fallen loose. "If you're looking for a good read though then yes, yes it is. It's about a woman in Panama who's having a secret love afair with a Police Chief." she said giggling. She never really had anyone ask about this before, it made her wonder if she seemed weird for liking such things.

"So tell me something, your accent is French. Why are you attending school in San Fransisco? If you don't mind me asking. France is a far prettier place.." she trailed off in her words as if she was almost day dreaming. She missed her own home country at times, wondering why anyone purposely came to America when they were not forced to. She didn't hate the place, it had just yielded bad memories early on for her which made her dislike her location. "I used to live there when I was a girl. Paris, such a good time!" she said beaming at him brightly.

[Tyson Castelle]

&&&

As she spoke, explaining her book and her reason for reading it he smiled and his smile grew when she went into to explaining what it was about and understood the emphasis placed upon it. She must actually enjoy those types of books and though he had never sought to read one, he could understand her desire to read something so racy; so thrilling. It took you out of this plain world and dropped you into another filled with romance, sex, drama, scandal, secrets and what everyone craved these days in a good book, TV show and film. It was hard not to admit that such a combination would be more than just entertaining, so yes, he could understand her liking for those types of books but that was just from his point of view, she may like them for an entirely different reason altogether and that was fine to, perfect actually. What was also perfect was that she had a dream to be a writer and he loved that fact. She was one of the daring few who had that desire to take her huge, vivid creative mind and to put her thoughts, dreams and such onto paper for the world to read. Yeah, he was always an admirer of the arts. Something his mum rubbed onto him and he had no regrets.

Well that was enough of the memory lane trips and her next question came right on time and he was faced with a slight dilemma. He was not the type to talk to strangers, and as friendly as she seemed, he knew nothing about her other than the fact that she liked racy books and that was not enough to allow him to bring down safety walls…but isn’t that what happened when new bonds of friendship were being made? He shifted slightly then he looked at her with serious written into his eyes…and then he smiled. “What may be beautiful and exotic and amazing for others such as you is just home for me. And I just wanted a break from home…to stay somewhere on my own and dig my own roots…you know. Don’t think me wrong, I do love it there. As I said, home is home and there is no other place more beautiful but it is like I also said…I just needed time to grow on my own and a place to do that. Was definitely not setting up my life in New York, so I chose here and it’s been decent so far.”

While he spoke his gaze drifted down the his foreground as he thought about the real reason why he had left France and the rest of his family behind. It was because of that precious family secret that wrecked his life and after having taking the careful time to map out his future…to have it dissolved in his hands was just wrong for him and he could not stay there and just accept it. That’s why he came here. For his selfish need to put his life back in order regardless of what he was and despite all that has and will happen. “Now, if you don’t mine me asking, how long have you been here in the States?” He asked, hoping to make this conversation less about him.

[Katia Redfield]

"I know what you mean, it's a chance to escape old troubles and peoples assumptions about you too." she said shaking her head slowly as she laughed softly. She could fully agree with his sentiments on digging your own roots, becoming your own person. Being trapped on what someone else wants you to be was something she'd experianced first hand, introduced to a life she didn't want but became stuck in. "Most of the other silly girls would gasp to hear you say that, but I understand what you mean. It's kind of like how I feel about this city after three years." she said with a grin as she realized that she herself had become quite home sick. Everything he said made her think of things that she'd already come to terms with once before, yet for some reason she couldn't help but feel like there was a reason.

"You've been to New York!? Ooooh, tell me, what is that like!?" she'd ask with a ton that expressed pure excitement. She had even leaned forward and bounced a bit in her seat. She had always wanted to see Manhattan, the lights, the crowds, the plays. Ever since she'd read about the place last year it had become somewhat of an obsession for her. "Ever since I read about it last year I've always wanted to go. Broadway, the shopping, the crowds.." she trailed off as she bit her lip. She was easily excitable obviously, but even more so embarassed by her out burst. Her cheeks would tint themselves a light pink colour as she realized how she'd blabbed out. "Have you ever seen a Broadway play in person?" she'd ask.

That was when she slowly realized that he had asked her a question which she'd neglected. "I've been here for almost four years now, I think. Four -long- years." she said with a laugh and a sigh as she looked around the courtyard. Some people were filing out of the office, alot of odd and attractive young people who were hoping to spend their next few years studying here. "Always planned on attending this school, or was it sort of a proximity choice? I always thought of trying to get into Harvard." she said however part of that was a joke. She knew that she wasn't up to the pressure that Harvard could put on it's students, granted the school she went to now wasn't exactly easy on the work loads either.

[Tyson Castelle]

&&&

He was thankful that she decided to sidestep knowing about New York to answer his question and that was because he hadn’t much to talk about where that was concerned. His time was not spent seeing Broadway productions, shopping for the hottest and latest, eating at the brightest and fanciest or hanging with the smartest and the prettiest. No. It was spent acting as a business liaison for his father who was busy in Dubai wrapping up a three-week business meeting with some very wealthy Asians so he was stuck with doing something his father deliberately trained him to do: entertain his prospective clients, work in a business proposition and try to mix business with pleasure in such a way that it would lead to an eagerly anticipated business meeting. That was how his father got things done when he was not around, he used his children and wife…ex-wife. So basically, his time was spent in an office, an apartment, on the busy streets during the daytime and at a private club for businessmen and the like. Boring for love of a simpler term.

“Four years is good time.” He responded. “This is my third year here now…been busy setting up my life and such, and now that the time came around, I decided to enroll…kinda tragic for me." This was because it really cemented his being here for an indefinitely long period of time and that means that France would become just a place he used to live that held his childhood memories while San Francisco looked forward to holding his new memories…and it was all going well…until Caliste stepped off the bus from down the lane to turn his world upside down. No, not in the good way. “Sadly, I have not done much in my two years here. Have not experienced the nightlife, going out dining…nothing. It’s just been business so I’m hoping that school can be my excuse from all of that, my father could pick up the slack, and he owes me anyway.” That last portion of the sentence didn’t come out as he wanted. It almost sounded mean for lack f a better word and he didn’t want to hint his issues to a stranger. Not how he was raised.

Someone walked by them moments after he had finished speaking. Some dude who was busy with his iPhone, no one important that is, but he felt it best to keep quiet until privacy had been re-established. “I feel odd asking you this…but would you like to go out with me sometime. Not for a date or anything, not really about relationships right now…just want to go out and have fun somewhere with someone. I heard the clubs here are nice, the night scene is dark but attractive…so I’ve been told and I’m, I’m eager to test out what that person told me.” He paused and looked at her for a moment. “A bit much or is this cool with you?” Maybe he should have saved his proposal for the end of the conversation when he was about to leave. At least then, if she said nah, he could head off as quickly as possible and unscathed.

[Katia Redfield]

She'd smile at him and nod as he spoke, it was definitely all very familiar to her. Perhaps they got along so well right now, being strangers since they were so much alike. The funny thing about this was, neither of them even knew each others name. It sort of just clicked and exploded out of them, perhaps trouble in the making. It could've been the start of an amusing friendship, perhaps even a terrible dynamic duo! Her thoughts were weird and out of hand sometimes, but they made her smile none the less. "I hear you though, I have not even had the pleasure myself of getting out. School, work, sleep, and then back at it again." she said with a chuckle and sigh. "Setting up a life when you had a perfectly okay one before is sort of a challenge. There is no balance sometimes it seems." she said with a smile.

It seemed the topic would shift into a bit more of a personal matter however, he mentioned his father. She nodded, knowing full well the burdens parents could place upon their children and vice versa. Yet what she found most amazing still was that she had known him all of fifteen minutes and he seemed.. well more comfortable. She'd never thought of herself as a very welcoming person, but it seemed that he had no trouble talking about things with her that seemed like they would be well into a friendship, not at the beginning. "Sounds like you have a busy life with that kind of pressure. Perhaps though it'll produce alot of good things for you down the road." she said with a grin before adding to her statement, "Or early gray hairs, no?" she said giggling.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to recitfy their lapse in manners, he spoke once more and caught her off guard. Go out? She couldn't help but blink a few times until he finished speaking, giggling softly and smiling at him. "Well, as neither of us truly have a life right now, I don't see why not. You seem like a nice guy, not like the weird ones here..." she trailed off winking at him. "It's not too much at all. I'll take the company where I can get it, especially from someone who peaks my interests." she said before looking down at her phone. Tearing off a sheet of paper from her notebook she'd write down a number, sliding it across the table. "My names Katia by the way. Katia Redfield." she said as she slid her phone back into her pocket. "I realized we'd been talking all this time but I don't even know your name." she laughed.

"Oblige me, good sir?"

[Tyson Castelle]

&&&

He watched as she wrote on the sheet of paper she had torn from her book and right after, he smiled when she gave him her name. Katia. That was a nice name. It was sweet in a sense and it suited her. Funny how a name always suited someone so well. Someone else, that is. He could never see himself as a ‘Tyson’ but there was nothing he could do about that. He could change it but at the risk of breaking his poor mother’s already fragile heart and he could not live with himself if he was suddenly compared to his father whenever he did something heartbreaking to her. Not that he was afraid of being labeled by her, he could care less about that…he just did not want her to ever have the thought of known the two closest men in her life caused her such misery and pain she did not deserve. That and he did not want to ever be compared to the man he called father.

“It is a pleasure to meet you Katia.” He said, getting to his feet and walking over to the table she sat at. With a pen in hand, he tore the paper in half, folded the piece with her number and put in into his pocket then wrote his own on the other half; leaving it there for her as he returned to the other, close by table with his things. “My name is Tyson Castelle. Forgive me for not introducing myself from the very beginning. If mother were to know she would be beside herself, fussing over the importance of making a good first impression where friends are concerned. Her defence for her fussing would be that one that I would meet the woman of my dreams and come off as less of the man I truly am simply because I did not introduce myself. I tell her she’s nuts sometimes and she replies it’s because I drive her nuts. I love my mum.” He smiled after that, even going off into a little day dream, his gaze shifting down to the floor as he started to remember…

“So, where is good to just hang out and chat and possibly meet more people. New people obviously.” He said, suddenly zoning back into the there-and-now. “Not much for clubbing.” Not much for people either but things change but not that much. “Just a place with music, food, drinks and cool people that I can chill with from time to time…like yourself. Everyone needs a spot to hang out at the end of the day and stuff like that…how about it? What’s the most ideal place for us to claim as a spot.”

[Katia Redfield]

Katia laughed at him, his explaination after forgetting an introduction. A smile spread across her lips as she shook her head, "It's alright. It was mysterious until now." she joked. "Introductions aren't always the best way to make a great first impression, unless you're old. But I do think your mother is onto something." she said winking at him. She could have introduced herself as well, but she found it fine just as it was until now. She never really intended to make a new friend out of saying a few words, but it happened and it was an exciting new prospect for her. Watching him collect his things, it seemed like their conversation was most likely drawing to an end, but she would see him again later obviously since they were going to find a spot to hang out, get to know one another and have a good time. Except, she was almost as clueless as him.

"A spot to hang out?" she repeated slowly, letting the words drift from her mouth as if hearing it would help her think. She had obviously heard of a few places, but she'd never been to any of them so they were iffy in her mind, she didn't want to suggest something bad. "Well.. there is always P3 but I think everyone knows of that." she said slowly still trying to think. "Don't suppose you like Graveyards?" she asked, however her expression showed she was joking. The very thought of being that close to the dead in any way sent a chill up her spine that made her nervous. She had never been able to deal with knowing that there were corpses nearby or even look upon a dead person. She hadn't even been able to look at the body of her ex.

"I guess we'll just go see what P3 is all about, can't be that bad with the things I've read." she said shrugging her shoulders a bit. "The only question is, who is driving?" she asked him with a grin. She didn't mind driving however she wasn't exactly happy with her situation right now. Her other car had died, thus she was stuck with something she was less than amused to be driving. She actually parked it several blocks away and walked, something that made her feel like she'd died inside a little. "..and what time would you like to go?" she asked before realizing she had a blonde moment. "Oh wait, you said after school.." she trailed off smacking her forehead. "Guess I should've been a blonde."