voices heard

Tom Marvolo Riddle · Nov 28, 2015

There seemed to be a lot of complexities in the workings here, all of which Milo longed to ask about and offer comfort with. Not here, not now, but sometime.

Still, Wei was smiling again, so he'd already managed something. This, this was why he was here.

"Thank you," Milo said with a nod. He'd always been good with collecting relevant information, the current situation was just the first time it'd ever been more public shown off. "I have a lot of free time, especially with not doing anything other than this in terms of my campaign. If you could call it that." He laughed lightly.

He nodded a second time. "Mhm. That's why so many people have been responding like this to me, it's a breath of fresh air after too much… superiority. Still, it's good you at least tried. We can always do better, but trying is where it starts. You're doing well, Wei."

And then, he reached out, fingers brushing against the small boy's shoulder before settling, holding but not tightly. "Yeah. It's okay. Really."

"Remember that we're not just opponents here, we're also just people, talking to each other. It's okay, Wei."

Zell · Nov 28, 2015

Wei felt nervous talking about it for real, but he took a deep breath. He'd always seen stuff like this on TV, the cutthroat atmosphere of campaigning for student council. He'd seen how people back-stabbed each other, crossed each other, used each other. That scared him. He didn't think he would ever be able to campaign like that.

Talking to Milo was comfortable though. It was different than talking to the other campaigners, not that they weren't nice. It was just... with everyone else running, campaigning felt more... competitive. Like they were inserting themselves into his campaign to use what he's already got to give themselves a boost.

It was scary. It felt mean.

Finally, he laughed, and exhaled. "Yeah. I mean, It's nice talking to everyone campaigning. They're all really nice. It's just kinda lonely."

If Milo would listen...

"Last time, I campaigned with Morgan." He said. "I ended up winning the popular vote but... because I wasn't... confident in my ability to be the president I dropped all the way down to secretary."

He fidgeted. "Being secretary was a lot of fun! It's just...

"I noticed a lot of things when I was secretary that I wished I could change."

Tom Marvolo Riddle · Nov 28, 2015

Milo listened. Wei was another kid who was bright and shining, and who loneliness seemed just as relevant to. That kind of thing never failed to get to him, and it stood out so easily.

And this was… interesting to hear. Very interesting. "I see," Milo said, thinking on it. "It's brave, admitting you don't think you can do something. President is a lot to take on. I heard you're always one to be quite busy, with being on the council before as well as a lot of clubs." And this boy was so young. It felt different, a highschooler taking this whole thing and more on, in comparison to him as a college student. A sixteen year old and a twenty-one year old.

Aw. So small and fuzzy.

"I hope you've been keeping that in your heart, then, using that need for change." Milo paused, then leaned forward. "I really don't care about winning, you know. With or without this, there are things here that need improvement, and I'll push for it no matter what. In the long run, it's the voices of the people that truly matter, we're all the reason this place exists. Do you understand?"

He relaxed again. "Caring, and being there to show it no matter what the circumstances end up being, that's the most important thing. You're doing well, Wei."

Zell · Nov 28, 2015

Wei listened closely to Milo and nodded. Admittedly, maybe he put a bit more stock in what the older boy was saying than he should have, but he watched with rapt attention, almost not noticing when someone passed behind him and gave a hello. Milo was older than him. He knew a lot of stuff, just by virtue of being older.

And Wei Hu Sun had always been taught that you can always learn something from the people who had been on this Earth longer than you.

He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I'm in a lot of clubs. I work too. But if you like something, there's no sense in doing it half-heartedly is there?"

Excitement bubbled up into him and he stood from the chair, flailing and bouncing in place as he spoke. "And, plus, I mean, What kind of person wouldn't be excited to be able to change the place they're in for the better! Last term I got to do so many fun things! I talked to the heads of other clubs! I couldn't stop myself from joining EVEN MORE!"

He stopped as suddenly as he started. "I really like this place, Milo." His voice was earnest. "This place, the people, it's so nice, isn't it? There are so many people here--this is their home, yanno? People who don't have anywhere else to go. This place--these people--that's all they've got."

Wei exhaled, and as if that released the last of his excitement, he plopped back into the chair. "I wanna make it the best home ever, yeah?"

"That probably sounds stupid." The monkey looked down towards the table.

Tom Marvolo Riddle · Nov 29, 2015

Although there was casual comfort here, Wei also seemed to be treating him with a certain level of respect, and that was… nice. It was nice.

Milo started doodling some flowers in his notebook, golden and spirited, reaching up and out, as Wei spoke to him.

"No, I do agree that when you feel strongly about something, you should immerse yourself in it and appreciate it as much as possible. But if you're constantly worn out and putting yourself at risk, that makes it harder to be around to do so…" He gently waved a hand. "No lectures, though. Not today."

Milo blinked for a moment when the monkey boy stood, then burst into laughter. "Ah. I'm simultaneously concerned and endeared, that's a new one."

"Hey. You don't have to explain all that to me- I know. I don't think it sounds stupid at all. It means a lot, and it's true, what you're saying about it being special. A safe haven. One with a long way to go, but that has all the right potential. This passion of yours, it can help it keep growing, like it's meant to. So believe in yourself a little more, kiddo. Don't apologize for this stuff, or put yourself down. Let it happen."

Zell · Nov 29, 2015

"Don't worry about me!" hands on his hips chest puffed out. "I am tougher than I look!"

Wei relaxed though, having said his piece about it all. When he'd said all of that to Sid the guy had laughed at him. But Sid laughed at everything regardless of how serious it was.... unless someone was hurt. He was one of those people with no place to go, but he was also fine with spinning his wheels forever and doing nothing.

He would never understand that lazy drow.

Sitting down and being not laughed at, but encouraged felt nice. "You know, Milo," he said, his voice a little hesitant, as though he was figuring out what he wanted to say as he was speaking. "I don't know about you, but this kind of thing, sitting around and just talking about stuff--don't you think this would be a nice place for the Academy to be?"

A tail waved in front of his face, temporarily distracting him before he grabbed it. "Just. Sitting and talking. I think I'd really like to have a president like you."

Tom Marvolo Riddle · Nov 29, 2015

"I'll take your word for it," Milo said, still amused. He also noted to himself that he wouldn't just do that at all. Wei was one to keep an eye on, to look out for, that was set very stubbornly in his mind now.

Milo eyed the monkey boy, quiet as he trailed through what he was saying, his words feeling like more innocent and vulnerable thoughts spoken out loud, given a lot of trust. The tall man's expression faltered for a moment, nervousness and surprise flashing on his face before it mostly blanked again.

He went over what had been said. Then did so again, and again. Just to make sure he'd heard that right. He opened his mouth for a moment, though didn't yet say anything in return.

Milo's cheeks were pink, and he ducked his head a bit.

"Thank you. I'm not sure… as I keep saying, I'm not obsessed with the idea of winning a position like that, or any position at all. I don't expect it, nor is it my purpose. But. I can't ignore that sentiment, so... thank you."

Zell · Dec 22, 2015

Wei smiled and kicked his feet idly under the table. He hadn't been trying to make Milo embarrassed, but the fact that he was made a little pang of pleasure pop in his stomach. He always kind of liked when he had that effect on people. Not the embarrassing part--the part when it happened because of being caught off-guard, of hearing something they might have want to hear, but never heard. He liked it.

It made him feel nice.

Knowing that Milo really didn't care where he ended up, and didn't even care if he won or not was interesting for Wei. The monkey definitely wanted to win, he definitely wanted to be the president, and he definitely wanted to do everything he thought about. He had no doubt that Milo was the same. The guy wanted to see change enacted, but if he could be the one to enact it, even better, right?

"Don't mention it!" Wei said, his smile taking up much of his face. "I mean it!"

"I wish i could be as easy-going about it as you, but I reeeeally wanna win!" He squirmed, his tail moving back and forth with fervor. "I don't usually... yanno... win stuff, so...."

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voices heard

Tom Marvolo Riddle

the dark lord

Zell

Well-Known Member

Tom Marvolo Riddle

the dark lord

Zell

Well-Known Member

Tom Marvolo Riddle

the dark lord

Zell

Well-Known Member

Tom Marvolo Riddle

the dark lord

Zell

Well-Known Member