(8) Porcelain Shards
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Summary (if you skipped the last chapter):
Xarya decided to use corporal punishment on Gunner to give him a lesson about respect. But then, she started doubting herself. Even though, on Exon, violence is common and rarely frowned upon in a teaching setting. The only way one can learn is through remembering one's faults, according to them. For Exons, MoonSiders and SunSiders alike, physical punishment is a regular practice to avoid chaos, disrespect and disorderly behavior as a whole. The more she reflected on that, the more the English teacher realized that it might seem strange for creatures barren of fear, anger, incapable of cruelty and without physical needs to use bodily injuries as a technique to discipline youngsters. Actually, that is fundamentally peculiar, she found herself thinking. The sight of her new student's blood across her white clothes made the young alien contemplate the intention behind physical abuse. Hadley and Gunner went to the infirmary and the extraterrestrial erased the memories of her other students. For the first time in her existence, X was doubting not only the lifestyle of her fellow Exons, but... Everything she ever believed in.
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Xarya stops scrubbing the plate between her hands, unable to keep doing this meaningless task while her mind is drifting strongly toward more pressing matters. This is exactly why she came to Earth, after all. To reinvent herself and discover methods which, once brought back to Exon, might annihilate the increasing rivalry between the Minds and the Brains. Helping her home planet become a safer and more enjoyable place now seems... As useful as this chore. Every teacher at the Beaufort Orphanage and Educational Institute has to complete 6 hours of work outside of our classroom time every week, I'll show you the tasks calendar later. Helen kept her promise indeed. Yet, even with the extraterrestrial's intuitively positive outlook on life, she realizes that as the newest staff member, she was attributed the most unpleasant ones. Such as helping to wash the dishes after dinner time. X slides the platter back and forth in the water and soap-filled sink, thoughtfully. Experiments are all about learning, aren't they? The alien should have predicted she would have an epiphany of some sort during her trip. It's only natural. Additionally, the only way to improve the quality of such discoveries is truly experiencing the human lifestyle. X needs to strive to understand the creatures of Earth. No more mere observation. She is here now, after all. After about a year away from Exon, with no contact whatsoever apart from the curious message she received earlier in the day, it's due time X immerses herself into society... And the Beaufort Orphanage's small community and remote location is the perfect setting for her to do so. The extraterrestrial raises the dish to rest it among the other cleaned ones, but a crashing sound startles her greatly. She drops the plate, which smashes onto the tiles in a hundred shards.
" My bad. "
When she whirls around, Dustin is already picking up the crate of apples he knocked over.
" It certainly wasn't my fault. " she distractedly comments, simultaneously gathering a handful of porcelain shards from the floor. The lower brim of her crisp white apron grazes the floor as she does so.
" Miss, won't you cut your hands if you..?! " The handyman lets the end of his sentence float, stretching to collect an apple which was rolling away across the tiling at an incredible speed.
Xarya ignores his warning and retrieves every last piece of the plate with the help of her bare fingers. Once they are both finished cleaning up their respective messes, which was done in utter silence, the alien musters up the courage to speak to him. Although she never has trouble socializing with humans, this particular Earthling appears to feel a need for heightened caution around her. Before invading his mind, she still wishes to try finding out the reason behind this wariness without using her uncommon abilities.
" So, how is your automobile? "
" My... Car? " He cocks an eyebrow up and inquisitiveness momentarily replaces the suspicion that is usually displayed upon his angled features when they cross paths.
" Why, yes, I am indeed asking about your car. " she confidently replies.
" Since you mention it... I scratched the fender yesterday. "
" Oh, I'm sorry... " The extraterrestrial offers him an empathetic expression, before adding: " That is a regretful thing, right? An event which would bring an automobile lover such as yourself to fret? " X smiles, raising a single eyebrow.
" ... Yeah. " His confusion isn't masked.
" Will the repairing process be complicated? "
" Nothing I can't manage. " The trademark pride human men get when they speak about their vehicles seems to be something that Dustin definitely experiences. As suddenly as he let this emotion show, though, it fades. The caretaker recovers a neutral and slightly heedful demeanour. He lifts up his fedora from the tower of boxes he rested it on. " Good evening to you, Miss. "
" And you... Sir. " The custodian's steps are intentionally slow and he even stops midway through the doorframe. Apparently, and strangely, he hesitates to leave. He knocks his right-hand knuckles against the light orangey brown wooden arch before awkwardly turning to face the Exon.
" Call me Dustin. "
" Only if you address me as Xarya. "
A strand of the young male's jet black hair falls down above his eyebrow of the same side.
" How forward of you. "
" I've been told it's one of my best qualities! " she cheerfully answers, unfazed.
" Oh, of course, and by who exactly? " he mockingly inquires.
" Anyone with a dash of common sense appreciates it. "
She cleverly avoids naming people whilst poking at his ego. Someone's response to an indirect attack on their self-esteem, especially if it's disguised as a joke, is always useful to gauge their personality.
" If you're implying I'm some kind of idiot, Xarya, I never said forwardness was a bad thing. "
The human's cocky half-grin proves he doesn't take the insult too much to heart.
" If you were some kind of idiot, I highly doubt you could've gotten this position, right? " Her remark is innocent-sounding. Still, she perceives that his distrust is decreasing just like she planned, and hoped, her question would entail.
" Uh-huh. Which reminds me, in your resume you mentioned that you underwent intensive martial arts training, was it? "
" I did... Mention that and do so. " She briefly raises her eyebrows inquisitively, inviting him to complete his thought by pairing it with an iconic friendly smile that works like a charm with any human, unsuspecting or not.
" As a pivotal member of the security staff, it's my duty to watch out for... Potential threats. " His smirk might have thrown any other person off his scent, but Xarya instantly distinguishes the subtle seriousness in his gaze. She decides to keep going along with her primary intent and plays right into his false banter.
" I'm not dangerous. " She keeps her answer simple and candid, arching her right eyebrow.
" Didn't peg you as a liar... " His reaction is sharp and he says it with such undeniable nonchalance and ease that X is genuinely taken aback. He grins wolfishly, noticing he finally managed to get under her skin. " Don't worry, I'll let Helen figure you out on her own. " he finishes in a low voice.
Xarya draws in a quick breath and reinstates her usual, both peaceful yet teasing, smile.
" Interesting... Tell me, what makes you think Helen's opinion is my first concern? "
" I obviously failed at trying to befriend you. I knew I should've just been... " Something that seems like amusement crosses his eyes, before he sternly concludes his sentence: " Straightforward. "
" There isn't anything about me that should induce worry to your person. "
" Right, the blood on your clothes most definitely ain't an indication that you could hurt those kids. "
" Excuse me? " X's heart drops into her stomach, but she remains unbothered in appearance.
The man bolts at her. Instinctively, she steps back but bumps against the sink as he comes to a halt inches away from her. Dustin slams his palms onto the countertop on either side of the extraterrestrial, tilting his head down to glare at her. His hat glided across the smooth marble surface behind her when he let it escape his grasp.
" Take that apron off. "
Curling her fists, she huffs indignantly and defiantly replies: " Your request is denied. "
In a swift brutal motion, he grips the ribbon tied around her waist and rips it straight off the white fabric. The momentum makes her tip forward and his calloused hands clench around both of her delicate wrists to hold her upright. A bitter grin pulls the right corner of his lips up.
" I doubt that's your own blood. "
X doesn't need to lower her eyes, she remembers exactly what the splatter of red droplets against her white denim overalls looks like, having stared at it lenghtily before cleverly covering it with an apron. Instead, she fiercely emulates his dominative glare.
" Why on Earth wouldn't it be? "
" Then, Miss Pepper, I expect you won't mind proving whose it is? "
" Unhand me first. "
Without a reply, Dustin steps away and stretches a hand down into the trash can, immediately whipping out a long and jagged porcelain shard.
" Before telling me I'm insane, maybe revisit your own mental state. " He flatly says, handing his find to her.
She reluctantly takes it, too intrigued by this peculiar specimen of human life to focus on the present situation. Perhaps this is the ideal pivot point, the moment to prove to herself she can - and will - indeed give up on her predetermined beliefs and truly embrace this strange new reality. The alien presses the piece of ceramic to her left palm and the caretaker promptly notes:
"If you're willing to do this right now, it only confirms how dangerous you are, Miss."
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