A/N: Hi readers! Thanks for reading about my obscure OCs. :)
Remember, you can read more about Rhodri and more exciting people in Perfectflyer's Valkyrie.
"The entrance exam is in two weeks." Rhodri's academic advisor pointed out on his holographic calendar. Rhodri tried not to roll his eyes. He had been preparing for the entrance exam into the anthropology graduate school program at the local university for over a year. He had been counting down the hours. A passing grade meant that he was officially on the way to living his dream. The program was grueling and known for weeding out the weak of heart, but Rhodri knew he was prepared.
"You'll be interested to know that I have been given a copy of my entrance exam from back in the day," his advisor chuckled and pulled out a yellowed packet of paper. Not that it would be much use to Rhodri, the exam never had repeat questions. Noticing Rhodri's unamused look, his advisor continued.
"There was an emphasis on High Entia rituals regarding the Bionite Order-"
"I've written three papers on that subject." Rhodri sighed impatiently. The longer he was here listening to things he already knew, the more studying time he lost.
"Ah, but there was also a few substantial questions on the Homs." The advisor continued.
"I'll show myself out," Rhodri stood, collecting his items.
"Rhodri," his advisor elaborated, "I just want you to be prepared on all fronts. Your focus may be the Machina, but the exam requires an extensive knowledge of all races."
"Understood, sir." Without a second glance, Rhodri whisked out of the room. His advisor let out a deep and suffering sigh.
"What an intelligent boy," He shook his head, "Its' a shame he is so disagreeable."
"Rhodri?" A voice called. Rhodri's thoughts were pulled away from listing the greatest Nopon elders in chronological order and in order of importance. A group of female Machina approached him across the university's main quad. With disinterest, he noted that they had been in one of his classes during the past semester. Rhodri waited impatiently for the girls to approach. The more diminutive of the three girls stepped forward.
"Hi Rhodri, uh, I was in Arch-Ed with you, my name's-"
Rhodri deftly cut her off, "Adira, correct?" Rhodri remembered her. She would always chat with her friends during the lecture and had garishly red nails. Rhodri noted that her nails matched the pink of her eyes, but he cared too little to appreciate her stylistic choice.
"Oh yes, uh, you know my name?" She looked hopefully up at him.
"Only due to well trained memorization; I make it habit to memorize the names and faces of the students in all of my courses." Rhodri replied, without missing a beat he added, "Did you need something?" Adira fumbled for words.
"I just… I really admire your commitment to your education." Adira explained slowly. Rhodri contemplated whether her speech programing had been jammed.
"Yeah, and she admires your handsome face." One of her friends cut in. Adira's eyebrows shot up as her friends laughed impishly. She shushed them angrily.
"No! I mean, I really do find you very handsome." Adira added, smiling shyly. Rhodri was beginning to find this encounter tedious.
"Is this an attempt to schedule a rendezvous with me?" Rhodri asked impatiently. With wide eyes, Adira nodded.
"Then I must stop you there, and decline your offer." Rhodri said. He glanced at the holographic watch affixed to his wrist. Adira stared down at the ground and her shoulders slumped.
"Oh, sorry to bother you." She turned and her friends ushered her away. Rhodri continued to his flat, giving little thought to the scene. He had grown accustom to those sorts of confessions, but he was always characteristically unamiable when it came to turning them down. He was a strong believer in not perpetuating fantasies. His relationship with other Machina did not interest him.
On the walk back to his flat, Rhodri went through his knowledge of each race, objectively quantifying his percentage of comprehension. To his chagrin, his knowledge of the Homs fell into only an 88% comprehension level, while the others plateaued around 93-95%. A weak link, no matter how small, had the possibility to affect his performance on the exam. Rhodri would not stand for that.
Coming to his flat, Rhodri hurriedly unlocked the front door. As it swung open, a note stuck to the door fluttered in the breeze. Rhodri peeled it off and absently inspected it. It was another note from Linada, urging him to visit Eleanor again. That Homs girl was persistent to a fault. He sighed; he did not have time for her trifles.
Leaving the note on the table, he collected all of his notes and books on the Homs. Seeing the formidable pile looming before him, it started to seem like an overwhelmingly daunting task. Rhodri picked up Linada's note again, and his annoyance dispelled. Rather than cramming for more information, he had a more effective method of studying in mind.
Perhaps making friends with this Homs girl could prove useful.
Eleanor thoughtfully looked on as Rhodri scribbled furiously in his notes. Per his request, Linada had added a small writing table beside Eleanor's bed. Due to his frequent visits, Rhodri had been learning an incredible amount about Homs culture. Eleanor was concise and clear in her answers, and she had been an invaluable font of knowledge. Rhodri could not help being pleased with himself. Unlike the other students vying for a spot in the program, Rhodri was getting first hand ethnographic data, which was always more useful than theoretical knowledge alone. Anthropology was perfect for him; he was resourceful and persistent. Rhodri smiled to himself.
"You're grinning," Eleanor pointed out. Rhodri jumped at the sudden intrusion and quickly righted his already perfect posture and erased the overconfident smile on his face. Eleanor laughed; a common sound that often followed her unfinished thoughts.
"As I was saying," Rhodri scanned his question master list, not at all shortened by his daily visits, "continue telling me about-"
Eleanor deftly cut him off with a surprisingly loud sigh of displeasure. Rhodri glanced at the Homs, his eyebrows raised at her sudden disapproval.
"I'm tired about talking about Homs. I want to learn more about you and the Machina." Eleanor nodded as she spoke, as if to give her sentence more credence.
"You want to learn about me? How absurd." Rhodri scoffed.
"It's really only reciprocity, my friend," Eleanor replied, "I've been helping you, so now you can answer some of my questions."
Rhodri needed a moment to refocus. She had brazenly referred to him as her friend; no one had ever referred to him as such before. His golden eyes searched Eleanor's face for some hint of deception, but her dusk blue eyes were bright and clear. An odd feeling of confusion over took him; along with an unfamiliar warmth. Rhodri cleared his throat.
"I suppose there is no fallacy in your logic." Rhodri admitted.
"Great!" Eleanor cheered, her enthusiasm not stymied by her wounds or bandages. Rhodri nodded towards her, waiting for her to begin her questioning. He wondered what she could possibly want to know about him. He was uninteresting at best. He would much rather discuss a more intellectual topic. As he glared disinterestedly at the Homs girl, her cheeks flushed into a rosy pink.
The silence deepened.
"I, uh, forgot everything I wanted to ask." Eleanor finally stammered. Her free hand came up to pull at her earlobe in an anxious gesture. Rhodri felt a bubble of mirth form within him. With an elegant hand, he stifled the indecent chortle that threatened to escape from his lips.
"I didn't think I'd convince you so easily, so I wasn't prepared." Eleanor explained. Her cheeks grew pinker as she spoke. Rhodri had to take extra care to keep his breaths even.
"Rhodri, is something wrong? You look like you're about to be sick." Eleanor noticed Rhodri's strained expression. Instead of reassuring her when Rhodri opened his mouth, his hidden guffaws escaped. Eleanor was momentarily alarmed, fearing he was malfunctioning.
"Wait… Are you laughing?" Eleanor raised an eyebrow. Rhodri could not reply due to his chortles. Eleanor let out a pleased giggle.
"I didn't think that you were physically capable of laughing, considering that you hardly ever crack a smile."
Gaining some control, Rhodri attempted to speak clearly, "We Machina are programmed to feel joy. We are like Homs, in the sense that we feel all emotions and have the physical responses to them. You could say that we are just in sturdier packages."
"Then why are you crabby all the time?" Eleanor rebutted. Rhodri was taken aback by her question. Her voice had the notes of an insult, but her face revealed an easygoing smile. He was used to insults, but this one felt different. He decided to handle it as he usually handled offences.
"I have developed a refined control over my emotions. I have no need for superfluous expressions or feelings." Rhodri looked away from Eleanor's beaming face, his own expression cold. Eleanor leaned forward and forced Rhodri's eyes back onto her.
"Don't look like that; I was only joking." Eleanor's twilight eyes glinted apologetically. Rhodri was not sure how to respond; everyone usually meant him harm. How should he reply to a joke?
Eleanor intently watched as Rhodri's dark expression changed to one of confusion.
"That's what friends do; they joke around." Eleanor elucidated.
"Friendship is intentionally, yet insincerely, insulting each other?" Rhodri inquired. Eleanor paused. Her face immediately softened as she looked at the misanthropic Machina.
"I guess it is." Eleanor gave Rhodri a soft smile. With some hesitation, she added, "Have you had friends before?" Rhodri's golden eyes flicked around the brightly lit medical room; he attempted to find his voice after the disarming question.
"I cannot say that I have." Rhodri replied as coolly as he could. Eleanor was shocked into silence. Her hand instinctively latched onto her ear lobe again.
"But, we are friends, yes?" Rhodri hazarded; his voice was suddenly small and unsure.
"Yes of course," Eleanor nodded vigorously. Her free hand trailed over to the bandages still tightly binding her shoulder.
"Then I'd like to say," Rhodri hesitated again, "That it was quite laughable that you have forgotten your inquiries." Eleanor's coppery eyebrows quirked together in confusion. Rhodri felt a thrill of apprehension.
"Did I execute that witticism decorously?" Rhodri asked. Eleanor's confused expression quickly spread into a smile.
"Yes, yes it was perfect." Eleanor replied.
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