Doc code 1278803-4576a

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Entry 26--

"Please Querl, sit down," Cselia said brightly, gesturing at a seat opposite herself, to the left of her father.

I was unsure what to make of my friend's glowering father, but decided that if I maintained basic etiquette, the meal would have a lesser chance of ending horribly. "Thank you," I said, carefully taking my seat.

"Dinner will be soup and salad, with a main course and a dessert following the meal," Cselia said cheerily, grinning at me and turning to her father. "Right, dad?"

Cselia's father grunted, but was otherwise unresponsive as he continued to stare at me with a cold glint in his eyes.

"That sounds excellent," I said brightly, hoping I did not sound as nervous as I felt. Inwardly, my mind was filled with dozens of thoughts, most of them being trivialities such as where to put my napkin, how to hold the silverware, and the best way to take a sip of water. I knew the basics of etiquette of several thousand civilizations, and yet, I found myself at a complete loss. Not because I had no idea of how to perform, but because I did not know how much etiquette was expected in this house.

I was second-guessing every move I made, and I found myself watching Cselia's actions constantly to avoid making any sort of mistake that might upset her father. His gaze did not grow softer with time, but rather hardened and seemed to grow in hostility with every minute. I could not comprehend why he would feel angry despite my attempts to keep conversation going, all while maintaining as much poise and etiquette as I could muster.

Somehow, I could sense that despite all my efforts, the meal was not likely to end well.

Unfortunately, my prediction was fairly accurate. "So, Querl, was it?" Cselia's father finally said, picking at the last of his main dish, his eyes still narrowed in my direction.

"Yes," I said, adding "sir" to my statement after a moment's pause.

"So, Querl, you're a Coluan."

"Yes, although I find myself to be a drastically different from the average Coluan," I answered.

"How so?" Cselia's father asked.

"Dad, I'm sure he'd rather talk about something else," Cselia interrupted. "Like… oh, did you hear that Querl contracted the concelarae virus they had at the school?"

"Darling, we're eating," her father said, scowling. "Immunology discussions can wait until we've finished the meal."

"But…"

"Later," her father said firmly. "Now, Querl, you said you are drastically different from most Coluans. What did you mean by that?"

"Mainly that I am a fully biological organism," I replied. "Such an occurrence is uncommon among Coluans."

"I see," he said, "So then, you admit to being a hyper-intelligent, isolationist freak like all the rest of your kind?"

"Father!" Cselia exclaimed. "What are you saying?"

"Isolationist freak?" I repeated, wondering if I had heard him correctly.

"While staying here, you locked yourself in your room for hours at a time," Cselia's father snapped. "You're just as paranoid and introverted as the rest of them!"

"Querl needs peace and quiet to work!" Cselia argued, banging her fist on the table. "Now stop calling him names!"

"I'm not calling him names, I'm trying to show you how foolish you're being!" Cselia's father shouted, his angry gaze now directed at Cselia.

"I'm not foolish!" She screamed. "And you're wrong about me!" Whirling around, she strode from the room without looking back.

I was at a loss for words, wondering how to rectify having witnessed a family quarrel when her father sighed gustily.

"Pity," he said, "she'll miss dessert."

Unsure of how to respond, I nodded dumbly.

"Now that she's gone, however, we can have a little chat," he said, turning to me with a glint in his eye. "Man to man…or adolescent, if I'm not mistaken."

I shook my head, still trying to understand what had transpired.

"Let's not be coy," Cselia's father said, "You know I have money. I know you want it. It's very cute, your transparent attempts to gain the confidence of my daughter."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said, though that was not an entirely truthful statement. In the second it took me to reply, my mind had already raced through what he was saying.

"Don't be funny," he said, "It's obvious; the way you couldn't take your eyes off her during dinner, your supposed love of science, even visiting Jonis! There's only one reason why you would do all this, and that's to bring her close to you so you can use her. But I won't let you; I'm onto you now."

"You, sir, are vastly mistaken, and I hope you don't normally view any of your daughter's friends in this light; or is this treatment a special occurrence because I am an introverted, paranoid, hyper-intelligent Coluan?" I demanded, beginning to feel angry.

"Come now, you can't deny it," he said, chuckling slightly.

"Sir," I said firmly, "Thus far, the only truths you have acknowledged in my presence are as follows: my name is Querl Dox, and I am a Coluan. Rest assured, I have enough of my own money to survive quite comfortably. In addition, I am a student of all sciences and find this status highly gratifying. Finally, Jonis is an entertaining conversationalist who does not deserve to be treated as some sort of prop to impress Cselia."

"…an entertaining conversationalist?" Cselia's father repeated slowly.

"Yes, that is what I said," I replied.

"Maybe you aren't after my money after all," he said. "Maybe you're just crazy."

"Intelligence and insanity often come 'hand-in-hand', to borrow the colloquialism," I said simply.

"Obviously," he grumbled. "Now look here, I don't know who you've been talking to while you're in Jonis' room, but it sure isn't Jonis," he said.

"Why not?" I demanded angrily.

"Because the boy hasn't spoken in eight years!" he cried vehemently. "I've done everything I could, tried anything I could think of! Speech Therapists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, even telepaths and empaths! Nothing," he said glumly.

"Did you try talking to him?" I asked.

"How would that help?" he snapped.

"He's an incredibly intelligent child, and he hates that you act as though he's stupid when he chooses not to speak. How would you feel, if you were visited by psychologists and telepaths more than you were by your only remaining parent?" I demanded, beginning to wonder if this man thought of anything besides his money and what it could and could not buy.

"What are you saying?" he snarled. "Are you telling me how to be a father?"

"No," I said, standing suddenly, "I'm telling you to be a father." With that, I exited in much the fashion Cselia had, minutes earlier.

I hope he enjoyed his dessert…

Alone.

A/N: Oooh! Oooh! Sequel preview!

(Yes, ending on a cheery note, so I thought I'd provide some randomness to inspire... well, me, mostly. Anyway...)

Here we go, I've finally decided the title for the sequel. I thought long and hard about it for thirty seconds. Here it is:

Document 12788034576b

I know, creative, right? Anyway, quick preview:

Document 1278803-4576b
Otherwise known as the (not journal!) writings regarding the disadvantages of being a human hero.

"When I wished to be human, I did not realize how difficult my life would become!" has become my motto for everday life as I struggle with my own humanity alongside a legion of super humans...

Mwahaha! (And besides a tiny outline, that's all I have written so far... but hey, look forward to it anyway!!!)

Thanks for sticking with my long-winded fic and here's to the sequel!!!!!! (yay!)