asking for directions

No lie, it was kind of harder to focus on trying to map things around when you're in someone's company and talking to them even. But Raphael didn't admit to that because that was his sort of thing--talking to people. Mapping out the place could come second and he'd probably remember where he'd gone once it was his turn to go off on his own.

"Well, when I want to get distracted I usually hit the arcade. Or try something new with my games back at home," he confessed. It wasn't that he was ashamed of it, really. It was his way of doing things. On the other hand, "Buuut I guess that's not your sort of thing. So why do you not eat or sleep though? Why is it not a thing for you?"

As he asked the question, Aswan spoke right after him, catching his attention to where she was looking. "Yep, that looks just about right," he mused, jotting down something in his notes, away from the ghost girls' sight, "I should have... Music right after that," he added before tucking the notebook away and turning back to Aswan, waiting for the answer to his question.

"I like trying out a lot of things," Raphael responded, a rather proud smile on his face as Aswan commented on his choice of electives. If he was going to be honest, it was.. a bit of a spur of the moment when he'd chosen to pick Music, all since he could chose to avoid other class electives like Language.

The smug look on Raphael was quickly replaced by a confused look. Or was it more surprised? Being what he was, there really shouldn't be anything he should be surprised about. expecially with ghosts since these were things he'd heard from playmates as a little boy when they talked about paranormal experiences while they were huddled around a campfire. Eitherway, it seemed to be just as a shock to him as anything. For a moment, nothing else came from his mouth but a quiet "Oh."

After about a few seconds, he finally spoke again, "Didn't realize you were one; a ghost, I mean," he said. How it didn't occur to him, he had no clue but he wasn't sure if there was ever signs to know if people were ghosts or not. "Then again, I don't think you look like any of the scary ghosts my friends in elementary used to talk about."

It was either because Raphael wasn't actually paying attention or it was because his attention was all over the place that he actually hadn't noticed this. He had to squint at Aswan for a bit, curiously trying to peer through her and prove her translucence and after he had confirmed it for himself, he turned to face forward.

"Well, you know, when your friends' ghost stories involve a lady in white with a bloodied face, you start getting the feeling that ghosts look the way how they died," he said, ending his words with a raised note like it was a question instead of a statement. He wasn't lying at least, he definitely thought ghosts had this thing about staying in death states. "But I guess it's nice to know they aren't all that different from living people in the end."

In any case, "Yep, Music class is up next. I didn't get to ask, what grade are you in right now? I was wondering if we might have same classes or something."

Raphael's expression was solemn as Aswan spoke about ghosts. He supposed ghosts having died some brutal death always looked their part for a reason then. He regarded her appearance, seeing nothing that seemed to give away what her cause of death was but it seemed like she read his mind when she'd continued. For once, he was silenced, muttering a quiet "Oh..." at her statement. He was left wondering if her death was intentional or not and if it was, who could have given her poison? He decided not to ask, given the way she'd smiled at him.

"I wouldn't say surprised but I guess that's one way to put it," he replied, trying to put back a semblance of a smile into his expression again, "That is... somewhat comforting to know at least."

As their conversation progressed, the somber air around him seemed to dissipate when she'd replied. "Tenth?> Really?" he chirped, "I'm in the same grade! What other classes are you taking later?"

Raphael gave Aswan a lighthearted smile, "I'm not moping," he said but just as he did, there was a flicker of something sad behind his eyes. "Three years still sound pretty recent but I guess that's just me," he admitted. Well, 15 years has been pretty long but sometimes he thinks his dad hasn't moved on from his mom's passing.

"Call me anything you feel like! Raf's perfectly fine," he said, returning his bright smile as he flipped around his notebook for his class schedules, finding the class after Music. He turned back to Aswan, his grin still not wavering, "And as a matter of fact, I do seem to have World History right after; I guess that means we're going to be classmates!" he sang, giddy at the prospect definitely had a friend to fall back in at least one of his classes.