First time meetings ( Westley )

[BERWALD OXENSTIERNA]

Berwald sighed as he put his books away, today was the day he would meet his new partner. He hated the fact that he already has been through a few partners already who were too scared of him, they were with him for perhaps an hour before they went begging to be put with someone else. He was a kind hearted young man and friendly so he didn't quite understand why they were frightened of him. He wasn't going to give his hopes up too high that perhaps that finally he would get a partner that would stick around.

He took a seat as he waited, the longer he waited the more nervous he got because his mind started to play out various scenarios in his mind. He stared at the wall for a few minutes before taking out one of his books to read while he waited. He had been reading a new woodworking book for some new ideas for his next project. Some of the ideas where interesting enough to keep his mind off his nervousness.

He was so engrossed with his book that he didn't even realize the passage of time, the book was successful in keeping his mind off his worries that he didn't even realize when he was not alone anymore.

[WESTLEY KIRKLAND]

Westley chewed on the cookie he was given by the kindly cafeteria ladies under the guise of 'testing for dinner', nodding idly as the teacher explained everything to him regarding his partner. He was older, but more experienced and had a few unfortunate partners over the years. Though they liked to pair up individuals closer in age it seemed with the tentative nature of his own powers he would benefit from having someone more mature who wouldn't misuse it.

The teacher finished with her mini lecture and patted him on the back whilst motioning to the door. He simpered at her and gave his thanks before slipping inside and pausing, cookie clenched tightly between his lips as he stared at the individual seated in the room. He was big, horridly so, almost like a mountain all in himself, his feet were likely the size of both of his own put together lengthwise. He was terrifying, like a troll or a...giant...or...an orc...

"Hullo?" he pulled on a soft smile and leaned over to give a little tap on his shoulder, trying to hide the little quiver in his finger. "Are you Bernie?" that was the name that the teacher gave him yes? The boy hadn't really been listening when the teacher spoke about his powers and...he didn't listen at all actually. All that he remembered his name was 'Ber', and Bernie seemed to be the closest and make the most sense. The child's watery green eyes looked over him nervously as he moved to take the chair set out opposite the other's. "I'm Wes..."

[BERWALD OXENSTIERNA]

Berwald looked up when he felt someone tap his shoulder, his eyes grazed over the sight of the boy in front of him. He was younger then he expected his new partner to be, he was expecting someone closer to his own age but he wasn't going to complain too much. However just like the rest of his partners he saw the nervousness in the boy's eyes. The name he called him however caught his attention, he didn't know why the boy would call him that wasn't he told his name?

" B'rnie? M' n'me is B'rwald."

He nodded at the boy when he told him his name and he could smell what seemed to be cookies hanging off the boy, that and the cookie crumbs on the boy's shirt and the side of his mouth. He tapped to the side of his own mouth in hopes that the other boy would realize what he was talking about. He studied the other carefully wondering what kind of powers the other had that gotten him paired up with himself. But he supposed it didn't matter in the end because he wasn't sure how long his new partner was willing to stay with him.

Berwald placed his woodworking book back into his satchel so he wouldn't forget it when he left. He gave his full attention to Westley hoping to learn a little bit more about his new partner.

[WESTLEY KIRKLAND]

"Bernwald?" he asked, perching at the edge of his seat and hooking his fingers about the base gently. "Oh..." he quickly wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve when the other motioned, a chocolate stain prominent now on the cuff. Wes was small, even for his age and it was apparent that he wasn't so comfortable with the upperclassman just yet.

"..."

The silence between them was awkward, and he didn't really know what he was supposed to say besides a simple greeting. "Uhm...so....what can you do? Can you bake things? Like...cakes and cookies?" No harm in making sure, it would be wonderful if he could, a power like that would be more than useful for the little lamb. "Are you in seventh year? I'm in first...I live with Lars, do you know him? He's not so nice sometimes...and he yells at me if I don't clean up. I hate cleaning...do you?" He cocked his head to the side, sizing up the other as he spoke to him and gauging his expressions subtly to try to get a good read on what sort of person he was.

"I like animals, do you? My sister can talk to them, and it's horribly cool! She's very good at making friends with them...sometimes she hides them in her room though...s'problem if she gets caught..." He swung his legs idly whilst he spoke, trying to seem friendly even though the troll man frightened him quite a bit. He couldn't be that bad though...if he was they wouldn't let him in the school...right? If he was then...he could tell Ana on him...

[BERWALD OXENSTIERNA]

Berwald frowned slightly, he knew his English was horrible but he didn't think it was that bad for someone not to get his name correctly. The kid puzzled him a bit as he watched him wipe the side of his mouth off with his sleeve but leave a chocolate stain on his shirt cuff. He could tell the other boy was not very comfortable with him and he couldn't blame him.

" Nej. Berwald "

He tried speaking slower so that Westley could hopefully get his name right this time. They both fell into an awkward silence until he was asked about what he could do, he shook his head as he listened to Westley ask if his powers had to do with baking. He could bake that much was true however his abilities had nothing to do with baking so it looks like his partner was out of luck on that one.

" Nej. 'm a sh'pe shifter, a w'rewolf sh'pe shifter "

He nodded that he was in his seventh year, but nodded his head when he was asked if he knew Lars. He didn't talk much to the other boy but he knew with the Dutchman was like sometimes.

"Ja. I like 'nimals. It's pr'tty am'zing sh' c'n sp'k to them 'nd it w'uld be a tro'bling 'f she g't ca'ght. "

[WESTLEY KIRKLAND]

"Buuuurrwald?" he tried again, blinking quietly as he waited for the others reaction to it. It sounded correct to him but who knows, he didn't seem to be from around here by his accent, and the blond hair blue eyed giant thing seemed to be northern European? Russian maybe, no way to be absolutely sure either way.

"..."

It fell into silence when the other declared his ability, the boy more than a little frightened at this point. Though he was trying his hardest to be cordial and friendly like his Mummy had told him to be the poor child was quaking in his shoes. What if he bit him? Would he become a werewolf? He didn't want to be a werewolf!

"She's very nice...she's paired with an upperclassman too! She's my best friend...sometimes...when she's not being a...cuss word..." He squirmed a little in his seat, obviously uncomfortable with the formality of being set up like so. It would be easier if Kylie was there with him, she was always fine with everyone no matter how frightening, she would by far be a better partner for someone like him. What could he even do with a werewolf? Stand behind him in a fluffy suit...that actually hardly sounded that bad. He would like a fluffy uniform like that, especially if it was good for nightclothes as well. Kylie would surely be jealous of that.

"...What do you like to do then?" he asked softly, returning his gaze to the elder student. "I like...to read sometimes, I like making things too!"

[BERWALD OXENSTIERNA]

Berwald just sighed, he knew the other wouldn't get it right but he was close enough and with enough practice he would get his name right. He noticed that Westley went quiet again after trying his name again.

" 'm s'rry, my 'ccent 's very th'ck "

He could tell by the look on the other boy's face that he was really frightened of him now, he guess that he thought that he would turn him into a werewolf him. Which was silly since he wasn't a true werewolf, but it wouldn't be the first time someone thought that about him so he would have to set his partner straight.

" 'm n't a true w'rewolf. 'm still h'lf hum'n wh'n I sh'ft. Y' can't b'come 'ne "

He hoped that would put the other at least at ease. But he found it strange that he would start rambling about his sister instead of telling him more about himself but he understood that he was still frightened.

" Wh't ar' y'r abil'ties? "

He was curious to know what the other's abilities were and it was only fair that he ask about the other. When the other turned his gaze back to him and started to talk about things he liked, he noted that he did like some of the same things he did.

" I w'dwork and re'd books "

[WESTLEY KIRKLAND]

"Oh...not a real wolf..." he looked a little disappointed at that, even if it might have been frightening he would have liked to see a real one up close. Arthur would like it too...he was always going on about stuff like that. The frightening stories were not his favorites, the ones with the fairy king and his court frolicking together in great parties were by far the ones he preferred.

The boy's face fell when questioned about his own abilities, hardly comfortable even though he was more than required to tell his partner. Yet the fear that the other would find it his right to make use of it was far too horrible to think about, he wouldn't last if the elder wanted that sort of partnership. It was always better to lie, and make it a good one at that.

"Uhn...I can...make things...explode when I touch them! Living things only though...so...clothing doesn't work...neither does food!" The other wouldn't want to touch him now, and he would be sure not to do it on accident either because boom is rather painful. It hit two birds with one stone, his Mum had always told him he was clever and this was surely proof worthy of her praise.

"You...uhm..." his voice trained off, the boy not very sure that to say anymore now that the usual greeting type stuff was out of the way. "I'm in room 103 or 202 usually when I'm not in class..." Wes went back to fidgeting, starting to gnaw at his nails nervously as he looked everywhere but Berwald.

[BERWALD OXENSTIERNA]

Berwald was slightly confused as he saw the disappointment on Westley's face and he didn't know why when he has told him that he wasn't a true werewolf. It was a bit odd that he was scared he was going to eat him or something one minute and the next he was disappointed. Such a strange boy he thought to himself.

He did notice that the other boy's face fallen when he asked about Westley's powers, he could tell that he was being lied to and that that really wasn't what his partner's powers were. However he had a feeling there was more to it that his partner had to lie about his abilities, he wasn't going to push his partner into telling him what his powers really were.

" M'ke thing's 'xpl'de y' say? "

He inwardly sighed, thinking that was the worst lie he had ever heard. If one was going to lie to him he had hoped it would sound confident and believable, not made up on the spot and awkward. He really studied Westley and he figured the other boy wasn't very good at telling lies up on the spot.

" 'm in r'm 105 when 'm not 'n cl'ss or th' gym... "

He inwardly sighed, thinking that was the worst lie he had ever heard. If one was going to lie to him he had hoped it would sound confident and believable, not made up on the spot and awkward.

[WESTLEY KIRKLAND]

Westley swung his legs nervously, the awkward silence having returned between the two of them. He nodded, not that there was anything for him to nod about. It was just subtle communication that he was trying not to be rude by his silence. Once again he lamented that he didn't tug Kylie along with him like he had first wanted. She would have made it good, she would have stomped away the tension and wrangled the two together into some sort of odd companionship. Somehow here...he didn't know what he was supposed to anymore.

"Uhm...it's supper, do you want to eat together?" He raised a finger and pointed over towards the clock, rising up from where he sat. "I don't want to miss it..." he explained, hoping the other would go with him. At the very least he could snatch up his dessert and the elder would eat his vegetables. That's what partnerships were all about right? He gave the other a nervous smile and fiddled with his gloves whilst he stood by the door waiting for his answer. If he did say no he would just go find Ana, she may not have shared her dessert but she was as fine company as any.

Burwald didn't seem to be questioning his powers at all, and that was a small victory. He didn't know if he would tell the truth in the future, but for now...this was safe. Kylie would probably agree that he was doing something smart by not telling, he could tell him another time as a whole big surprise.

[BERWALD OXENSTIERNA]

At the mention of supper Berwald looked up at the clock and indeed seen at it was time for dinner, and he was hungry now that he thought about it and he knew that this conversation wasn't going to go very far with the other party so nervous around.

" Ja. That s'nds like a g'd idea, 'm hungry n'w that I th'nk ab't 't "

Berwald stood up from the desk he was sitting at and grabbed his satchel bag from the desk, he set the bag strap over his head and moved away from the desk to go to the door. He stood behind Westley before he opened the door, he stepped back to let Westley to leave first before following him out the door.

" I h'pe th'y h've s'me Ärtsoppa "

He adjusted his glasses as they walked towards the dinner hall, he didn't say anything as they walked. He wondered if in time that his partner would come to trust him because that what they had to build up their partnership on...Trust. Without it he knew that they would fail as a partnership.

He walked silently beside Westley because he did not know what he should say, he adjusted his bag as they entered the dinning hall. His eyes scanned the room to find a empty table, when he spotted one he headed to the table.

[WESTLEY KIRKLAND]

"Food makes everyone happy~ And it's fun to meet people over food..." he strummed his fingers against the door frame as he waited for the other to stand and step over. Burwald was certainly larger when stretched up to his full height, but he didn't seem like a horrible person. Maybe a troll? If he turned out to be anything but kind Kylie would love to have a go at one of those, she would probably win too because she was so strong like that.

"I wish it wasn't so hot here..." he whined as they walked together down the hall to the dining hall, flapping his shirt sleeves for little reason other than to amuse himself. "I use up so much energy and I'm always so hungry! It would be fine if the cafeteria was always open for snacking..." He huffed out his cheeks in annoyance of the little problem he had found, following Burwie over to the table that the other seemed to have picked out.

Immediately after setting down his things he scurried away, not to the line of people waiting to get their dinner, but instead through the double doors of the kitchen to ask the nice women directly. They were in the palm of his hand, fawning over his sweet simpers and warm hugs, and so when he skipped the line to get his food ASAP the women were always rather happy to oblige. It had not even been two minutes by the time he was back at the table to await Burwald, with a generous portion of his protein and dessert.

[BERWALD OXENSTIERNA]

Berwald watched as Westley scurried away after a small complaint that he wished that the cafeteria as opened all the time. It amused him that his new partner was so lively and he thought that yes perhaps this partnership would in fact work out nicely. He was rather glad as the younger boy was starting to grow on him.

He set down his own things as he waited for Westley to return to the table so he could get his own meal, he was not waiting very long when the energetic boy returned with his generous portion of food and dessert. He was a bit taken back as he was not sure the younger could eat all of that food, he shook off his slight surprise and left the table to get his own meal. Thankfully the cafeteria did make regional foods so he was able to get a nice Swedish meal, he returned to the table with his meal and a few Swedish desserts.

He placed his tray down on the table before sitting down in his seat, he opened his bottle of water before starting on his supper. He kept his eye on Westley still amazed that he was going to eat that much food.

 “ ‘re y’u sure y’u can eat all ‘f that fo’d? “

[WESTLEY KIRKLAND]

Wes blinked at him, supping on his bottle of juice as he stared between their two meals curiously. The boy had received three hamburgers, a pile of spinach that he quickly shoved off into isolation at the far reaches of his plate, and four fat sugar cookies topped with icing. Then there was the juice, another entity itself with it's supremely sweet taste that most of the older students had grown to despise, but the child was enjoying greatly. It was a wonder how he wasn't far pudgier until the child shook his head to Burwald's question.

It was far too much to eat for a boy his age wasn't it?

Instead he started on one of the cookies first, nibbling on it slowly between sips of juice as he swung his feet idly. The cookies would go first, as usual. And then if he had room there would be a few bites of burger to fill his stomach. Then, the rest of the food would inevitably fall to the trash and Westley would skip off home free with the spinach where it belonged in his mind. Eating at school was wonderful, no one seemed to mind what he ate.

"What is that?" he asked through bites, reaching over to point at the sweets Burwie had on his tray, with a greasy finger.