Night before training begins

[Noam Levin]

Noam waited as his sister caught up to him in the rec room. He looked at a pool table near them and smiled. "Hey, we're gonna play a game." Noam didn't wait for a response. "Whoever loses at pool buys the other..." Noam examined the room, "A healthy dose of fruit for dessert." He said spotting the cafeteria across the hall. He walked over to grab a cue. Upon turning around he saw his sister standing there. "What are you waiting for?"

[Tali Levin]

Tali felt the knot in her stomach tighten further as she followed Noam into the rec room. She had stopped by the door, feeling almost faint from nervousness. "Noam," she said, voice barely above a whisper, "what is going on? You said Dr. Kerr sent you, and if you lied then the training instructors are going to have both of out heads." She almost hoped he had lied, so she could go back and forget all about this. Knowing Noam, though, there was something more going on; she just didn't quite want to think about that. "And if he did send you, then just say whatever it is you have to say. If it's about me not going through with training, I'm doing it no matter what you or Dr. Kerr say." She folded her arms across her chest as she said this, just daring him to argue with her.

[Noam Levin]

"Would you calm down half a second?" Noam usually grew impatient with his sister's impatience. "Yes, I was sent by doctor Kerr. No, you don't get any choice in what we do until I beat you and you buy me some fruit. Now hurry I'm getting a sweet tooth." Noam couldn't help but smile as he finished speaking. "At any rate I'm your superior so if I have to I'll use authority to force you to relax and get your head out from up your butt for long enough to have a little fun." Noam wondered if he went a little overboard on the last part but couldn't take it back now. He hoped the smile on his face and sarcasm in his voice convey the humor he was trying to get across. Tali ought to have known his sarcastic nature by now anyway.
"Besides." He continued looking around to make sure no one was near, "What have I ever cared about authority. It just happens that they like me at times and at others I am... well I've had enough punishment not to be too scared of it." Noam turned around and grabbed a second cue, throwing it to his sister. "Now, play."

[Tali Levin]

||Haha, you keep saying "Talin" but it's "Tali." No n.||

Tali shook her head. "Have you you forgotten we don't have to pay for food? And since when is it possible to force someone to relax?" She wanted to smile and joke with her brother the way they always had before, but everything seemed so different now. She was tempted to turn and walk out the door, but both curiosity and the fact that she had no desire to go back just yet kept her there. Sighing, she forced herself to walk forward, and caught the cue when he threw it. "Fine," she muttered. "I'll play one game, if you promise to tell me what's going on once we finished." She looked at him in the way that little sisters have, half glare, half you-drive-me-completely-insane-but-I-love-you-anyway. "Deal?"

[Noam Levin]

|| I knew that. I was just testing you. I get the feeling these next posts are gonna be short considering its a conversation. Don't feel bad if there isn't much to say.||
"Deal." Noam figured if anything went wrong in the talk he could just go back to the game and figured out what he was going to say. Although he thought, For something to go wrong, don't you have to know what is right first. He picked up his cue and readied his finger as a pivot for his shot. He let the cue fly between his first finger knuckle and thumb. The balls scattered.
"So, how do you feel about first day of training tomorrow?"

[Tali Levin]

||Eh, just as long as it's at least 5 sentences. . .||

Tali shrugged as she watched a couple balls roll into the pockets. "I'm stripes," she said, mostly in hopes of diverting his attention long enough for her to come up with a decent answer. She leaned in toward the table and set up for the shot, which she messed up entirely because her hands were shaking. The cue ball went sliding across the table, away from any stripes, and almost managed to knock a solid in.

Tali stepped back and placed her hands in her pockets, hoping he hadn't noticed the cause for her terrible shot. She shrugged again, realizing she had no answer to give him. She sighed inwardly, and quickly decided to turn the tables on him. "How did you feel about your first day of training?"

[Noam Levin]

"I guess it depends on whether you mean the day before or the first day." Noam laughed. "The day before I was pumped and excited. The first day, however, I hated my life." Noam stared into space for a moment, thinking about training. He grabbed the cue and shot and the smooth white ball again. "Probably be similar for you, although they've got new people teaching it so no way to know what to expect. I was on a transport mission with Lokai as a junior agent. I honestly can't believe he's tough enough to be a trainer. He's a bit of a teddy bear as far as I could tell. I've heard things about Valkyrie, though. They say she likes to get things done with no regard for anyone else. Just make sure to get extra sleep until you get things figure out." Noam looked up realizing he hadn't watched his shot. "I'm curious about how you, as a person, feel though... I'm also curious if I got any balls in." Noam said studying the table.

[Tali Levin]

||I don't know anything about pool, really, but isn't the cue the ball and the stick just. . . I don't know, a stick?||

Tali listened intently, nodding a little to show she heard and understood. "I didn't really meet Lokai, but when I walked in he was making another girl put underwear on her head." Tali smiled a little at this. "She deserved it, though. She's a brat. And Valkyrie seems kind of tough, but not the type that will go around humiliating us in front if everyone, which is all I really care about." She shrugged. "I mean, I know it will be tough, but I'd rather have them push me to my limits physically than make me wear underwear on my head." She looked at him, suddenly feeling extremely vulnerable. He may have been her brother, but she hadn't been that open with anyone about anything since before their father died. "Is that, you know. . . stupid?"

[Noam Levin]

||A cue is the stick. A cue ball is the ball. Get a clue ||
Noam laughed. "I don't know. If you have cute enough underwear you might even get a boyfriend out of the mess." He sat on the edge of the table. "No, there's nothing wrong with you not wanting to be made fun of. If something happens, then run with it. Chances are everyone will get made fun of at some point or other in the process. Just don't let it bother you. If you get in a fight, like I did, it's probably worse than just being cool with the joke.
"Look, Tali. There's nothing easy about what we have gone through and what the last months have been like. No one expects you to just get over it. You've got feelings and there are times we all cry. I watched the biggest, strongest guy I've ever seen cry one time because his partner died in a mission against the Ukwtakun.
"Point is, I'm proud of you for sticking it out and going through your scheduled training anyway, but if you need anything I'm here for you and Dr. Kerr promised the same. There are a lot of battles in life, but few of them ought to ever be fought alone." Noam finished, a bit more satisfied with his choice of words than he figured he would be.

[Tali Levin]

||Psh, fine. Whatever. ||

Tali stared down at her feet. "The other girl--Natalie said I'd never make it through training 'cause I'm too emotional. And Valykrie or whatever her name was told me I needed to learn control my emotions." She took a deep breath, still staring downward. "She made me so mad, though, just walked up to me and said, 'Hey, weren't you the kid who's dad died recently? I'm so sorry.'"

Tali kicked the floor with the toe of her shoe. "A lot makes me mad lately. I thought Dr. K was going to blow his top the last time I got into a fight." She sighed, finally lifting her gaze to look at her brother. "Don't you care that he died? You seem the same as always." She looked back down and kicked the floor again. "Not like me. . . I'm a freak now."

||Haha, what the heck? Lukwari? Hahaha. . . you mean Ukwtakun?||

[Noam Levin]

|| I knew someone would correct me||
"You're no freak, we just all handle things differently. I have my times where I just need to talk to someone. Dr. Kerr even had me go through some counseling and I still am. Don't think it's bad to mourn or care. You are you. Just be that and you'll do fine in basic."
Noam tried to hide his anger at the new trainer as he began again. "And just remember, all basic training instructors are egotistical maniacs who care nothing for anyone, at least while in basic, but you can't let that get to you. They're preparing you for the harsh realities of life.
"If you get angry, try to not fight, just show them up in training. Run harder, fly higher, swim faster. Trust me, although I have taken you for granted a lot of times, your emotions are one of your strengths. Use them well, just don't let them use you.

[Tali Levin]

Tali nodded solemnly. She had so many thoughts and emotions swirling around within her, but she couldn't make herself say any more. She'd already said more than she'd intended, and her stomach hurt from all the emotions she had experienced over the last ten minutes or so. She sighed and stared at the far wall. Finally, she forced herself to speak, though what came out was far from eloquent. "Okay. Thanks, Noam." She straightened and gestured toward the pool table. "Let's finish our game, okay?"

[Noam Levin]

"You can't even shoot straight tonight. Unless you want to finish, lets just get some food and get you back in time to sleep." Noam looked over at Tali, her nervousness apparent. He hoped it was merciful and not rude of him to make this suggestion. "Shall we go?"


*This conversation is over! Tali returns to the dorms and Noam heads to the dorms*

[Administrator]

Locked.