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Post by ken on Jan 19, 2009 1:02:12 GMT -5
It sounded like Kennedy needed to work over his tests. Sure, Locke was some kind of genius, but Kennedy should be able to out think him. Assuming he borrowed the Gift first and focused extraordinarily hard.
"What am I supposed to think?" demanded Kennedy. "You're not telling me anything, you look exhausted."
Kennedy waved a hand at Locke, and tried not to look exasperated. Since when had Locke gotten this difficult? It wasn't hard to picture him taking drugs when he behaved like this.
"You're my student, I care about students," Kennedy replied automatically, his voice dipping dangerously. "Furthermore, I happen to know you personally, Locke. Believe it or not, but I worry when someone I know looks as bad off as you do."
He waved at Locke, as if to point out exactly how the younger man looked. "Besides, you're dating Kiri, who I sort of adopted. If you're dangerous to her I need to know. I need to..."
What? Save Kiri? Because Kennedy hadn't done that with Morgan? No, Locke didn't need to know that tidbit.
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Post by Locke F. Herald on Jan 19, 2009 10:19:28 GMT -5
Locke glared at Kennedy, feeling an increased sense of guilt about the situation. If he was just worried, it wasn't so bad...was it? No, that was ok he supposed.
When he said dangerous to Kiri Locke practically exploded.
"Dangerous? DANGEROUS?! I'm doing all of this FOR her! You can't possibly understand that can you?! I want-!" He stopped, his face flushed a bit as he realized what he was saying. His voice lowered immediately. "..I want her to know...how much...I like her. T-the only way I c-could do that...is by doing work...it doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, work is work. With this...I could...maybe...umm..."
Locke stared at his feet again, a mixture of embarrassed and ashamed. "It's only a month away..." he mumbled.
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Post by ken on Jan 19, 2009 16:26:53 GMT -5
Kennedy weathered the yelling with only the slightest wince. Locke was low on sleep. Locke was overworked. Locke was dealing with quite a few issues right now. Yelling back was not to be recommended.
Still, it was tempting.
"What are you trying to do for Kiri?" Kennedy asked point blank. "You really don't have to lavish things on her, Locke. She's not the type of person who's going to be impressed by fancy gifts or an expensive dinner. You want to impress Kiri? Take her in the woods on a thoughtful walk with a picnic basket. And coo at creatures. Hope for a deer."
Kennedy crossed his arms and arched his brows. "What are you thinking of doing? Buying a forest for her?"
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Post by Locke F. Herald on Jan 19, 2009 19:29:25 GMT -5
Locke was silent for a moment, then he spoke. "M..my dad told me...that if you want to give a good present...something that...really means something...it has to be something you work for...he said...the more of yourself you put into getting that gift...the more meaningful it is. I'm...doing this because I want...I want her to know...how much I'd..."
He was quiet now. He didn't quite know what else to say. He wanted Kiri to know how much he was willing to do for her. How much of himself he was willing to sacrifice for her.
All the work he did, the nights without sleep, the time away from her that he suffered. The time dealing with idiots who couldn't pass a test. All of that had been the payment for the perfect gift. He was willing to endure all of that for her.
Wasn't that a good enough gift?
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Post by ken on Jan 21, 2009 21:41:23 GMT -5
Unlike far too many of his peers, Kennedy listened to Locke. And understood. Yes, he too had done something similar to Locke, though Kennedy had managed to keep up his studies as well. Then again, Kennedy had been a good deal older then Locke when he'd done it, and he'd nearly killed himself doing so.
Sighing, Kennedy crossed his arms, looking over at the young man.
"You know, you don't have to kill yourself. I see where you're coming from... and it's admirable," he smiled, "you almost deserve Kiri. but..."
Kennedy shifted, blowing out his lips. "I'm betting that as much as she'd love a gift you worked so hard for, do you really think she'd want you to do this to yourself to get it? I'm not saying don't work, or don't try and get something for Kiri. Just.. don't over due it."
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Post by Locke F. Herald on Jan 22, 2009 19:39:00 GMT -5
"I'm...not over...doing it." Locke said, though even he could feel how much of a lie that was now that the adrenaline had worn off.
"She...deserves it...so it's worth it..." He felt himself wobbling a bit and steadied himself by grabbing the desk. He wasn't holding together so well.
"I'm...more then 2/3's the way there. I only need to do it for another week or two...then I'm done...I have to see the project through..."
But right now he knew it was time to rest, to recuperate.
"Your right...I need to...rest."
It looked like he might pass out at any second, he didn't even have the energy left to control his ear response, which he normally focused hard to eliminate. So without that focus, they now drooped down slightly from their usual perked up state.
Like most of his feline features, he tried to suppress that.
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Post by ken on Jan 24, 2009 19:18:34 GMT -5
"Yes, Locke," Kennedy step forward, smiling. "You can finish. I'm not going to stop you. Just... try not to give away the answers to my tests, alright?"
Kennedy was already planning for his next evaluation to be all essay. Lets see Locke give away the answers to that.
"Yes, Locke," Kennedy nodded, "you need to rest..."
Kennedy raised a hand, gently placing it on Locke's shoulder. Hopefully this worked well enough, and Locke would probably understand why Kennedy did it.
The tutor channeled some electrical energy, giving Locke just enough of a jolt to render his tired body unconscious. Hopefully it worked as planned, so Kennedy could then simply carry the young man to his bed. That way there was no doubt that Locke would be getting rest.
If not, well, Kennedy could explain...
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Post by Locke F. Herald on Jan 25, 2009 16:24:43 GMT -5
"Yeah, I suppose s-*zaaaaap!* *Thud!*"
Was the extend of Locke's conversation with Kennedy, as his body went rag doll. Images already flowing through his tired brain of a single sought after object, held by a single important person.
"zzzzzzz"
A man could become drunk on love, it was true. Locke must be over the legal limit then, as he drifted further into the world of his dreams.
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Post by ken on Jan 25, 2009 22:43:30 GMT -5
That worked better then Kennedy had expected. Muttering apologies to the unconscious Locke, Kennedy bent over and gently lifted the boy. The cat-eared Edengrowth was heavier then Kennedy expected, but not overmuch. The Cavan tutor could still manage just fine.
He shifted Locke, and walked over to gather up the various material. Kennedy managed to balance the boy with one arm, shifting most of the weight onto his body, and quickly log off the computer with another. Soon they were all ready to go, so they went.
"Sleep will do you some good," murmured Kennedy, patting Locke gently. Admirable kid, he just needed to know when to quit.
Not that Kennedy didn't have that problem...
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