Early Aspirations




Fuvii's antics became a regular occurrence around the Labyrinth, and much of the staff adjusted to his presence with little disagreement or annoyance. He was a pleasant change, playful and agreeable for the most part, occasionally becoming involved in a debate here or there about an object or other, but for the most part he simply watched and listened. The first week aboard the Labyrinth was spent exploring the ship's displays with Ahivo, who, despite living on it for a fair few years, knew very little about anything not in his field. That was alright, though, Fuvii didn't mind having to ask questions. The curators were, for the most part, rather friendly. And Fuvii enjoyed being social. Ahivo didn't seem to mind it as much, either, so long as his bond was there too, and he wasn't forced into adding his two-cents to whatever query or conversation was at hand.

"So they burned them, really?" Fuvii's eyes were bright, glimmering with the prospect of yet another story. Behind them was the crusader display, a collection of armor, uniforms, weapons, and religious symbols. Parchment hung on the walls, encased in thick, Plexiglas frames and restored to an almost-readable state. The room itself was not large, but the ornaments and decorations more than made up for that.

Fuvii had begged Ahivo to take him up to the room as soon as possible, but Ahivo had put it off. He'd introduced Fuvii to the prehistoric skeletons and models, which he had taken a keen interest in as well. He'd asked several questions, both of Ahivo and the others that managed the display, but he wanted to learn the history of the creatures. Not the biology. Eventually Ahivo realized he wouldn't be able to sway his bond's interests, and brought him up a level or two.

Right now he, being Fuvii, not Ahivo, was listening attentively to one of the curator's explanation of the Knights Templar.

"Every last one of them, yes,” said the curator, nodding his head,” Or that's what they hoped to do. It was impossible to get all of them."

Fuvii's entire body shivered at the prospect,” Are there still some alive today, then?"

"Oh, perhaps, perhaps. No one knows for sure. Although some of us do speculate the Free Masons were a continuation of the Knights Templar. They, of course, were a very secretive society, so nothing can be proved..."

The mantra continued for quite some time, and nearly an hour passed before Ahivo and Fuvii left the room.

"Aren't humans fascinating, Ahivo?" said Fuvii, with a little bounce to his step and a swing to his tail.

Ahivo nodded silently. He wasn't much for human history himself, but they did have an interesting collection of extinct animals.

"Can you imagine being a crusader? Fighting for something like that. Going down in history so no one ever forgets your name,” he smiled wistfully.

Ahivo could have done very well without anyone knowing his name, but he understood where Fuvii was coming from.

"I'd like to be a curator. Or a historian,” he glanced up at Ahivo, smile vanishing but a hopeful look in his eye,” The Labyrinth doesn't hire dragons, does it?"

Ahivo bit his lip and twitched his ears back,” They might." There weren't any dragons working onboard just then, but that didn't mean anything. Curators wouldn't be able to take years off work to join someone in excavating a planet, though. He didn't say this, of course, he didn't want to upset Fuvii. Besides, it was a rather selfish thought. Fuvii should be allowed to do whatever he wanted, as far as a career choice was concerned.

"Yes,” said Fuvii again,” I’d really like to be a curator." His mouth curled downward in a frown, and he turned his attention to the paintings on the hall walls,” How long do you suppose it takes?"

"I don't know,” said Ahivo. Which was true. He never had much of an interest in curating. "But I can find out, if you'd like."

"Yeah,"said Fuvii, grinning back up at Ahivo,"I'd like that." He wasn't going to ask whether or not Ahivo minded, Ahivo knew. He already knew the answer, but Fuvii would not be swayed. If he truly wanted to get involved with curating, then so be it. He was young, after all, he could change his mind a million times. Hell, he was a dragon, he didn't need a job if he didn't want it. It was Ahivo's responsibility to provide for him.

"After all,” continued Fuvii,"I won't have much to do buy study history anyway, living on the Labyrinth, so why not make something out of it?"

Ahivo's ears swiveled upward. He licked his lips and nodded once. It was a good philosophy, if he ever heard one.

They continued down the hall in silence, making their way toward the next 'themed' display. Fuvii stopped halfway down to the next room, pausing in front of a painting. Ahivo stopped beside him, clasping hands behind his back and waiting patiently behind his bond. The painting was a simple one, depicting an alien of sorts (Ahivo wasn't sure what), standing atop a violet hillside, the sky breathed in dark red and indigo. Eight arms were stretched upward, and between them a fine webbing, tangled with long, spike-like structures.

Fuvii frowned and stepped closer to the painting, although his eyes were no longer on it, but rather below it.

"Ahivo?" he asked, squinting his eyes at...something on the wall.

Ahivo flicked his ears forward,” Yes?"

"Can you teach me to read?"

Ahivo paused, drawing his bottom lip into his mouth. He was never a very good teacher. A good listener, indeed, but not a good speaker, and therefore, not a good teacher. He was much better at using information than re-explaining it. Ahivo shifted uncomfortably.

Fuvii twisted his neck and shot Ahivo a sheepish grin,” It’s alright, I don't care if you're not very good. But I'd like you to teach me."

"I...I can try,” said Ahivo. His toes curled against the carpet. He could, and he would, but he wasn't going to do a very good job at it.

"Then maybe I can read history books,"Fuvii grinned, shifting away from the painting and returning back to the main hall. Ahivo let his eyes drift toward the spot he'd been watching previously. A description plate.

Amunuku. God of Fate. By Biseka Mun.

.:.:.::.:.:.

Ahivo wasn't used to approaching people for help. He had never needed to in the past, and, he supposed after a moment or two of speculation, requesting information as to how to enroll in a history course was not really asking for help. He needn't be worried. But, of course, he was. It was late, near the midnight hours, not that the time of day affected anything in a spaceport, but the halls throughout the Labyrinth were empty and most of the staff had returned to either offices or apartments for the rest of the night. Ahivo was one of the few not within the confines of his room.

He curled a hand into a fist and wrapped on the door in front of him.

There was a short moment where he was cast in darkness and silence, before rustling was heard within the room, followed by heavy, sluggish footsteps. The doorknob slid open and a man stood in the way, dressed in nightclothes and slippers with tousled hair and tired eyes. He yawned, blinking his eyes rapidly before settling them on Ahivo.

Ahivo bit his lips.

"Good lord,” the man growled, twisting his neck to squint back at, what Ahivo assumed was, a clock,” it’s 11:35. Who are you want what do you want?"

"I apologize, Mr. Panonsine," - wasn't that a mouthful of a last name? - ,"I had some questions, and I couldn't come at any other time." Fuvii had to be sleeping. He didn't want him present with such a high possibility of bad news.

The man, Mr. Panonsine, groaned and stepped back, ushering Ahivo into the room,” You’re that paleontologist fellow, the one who found the new species?"

Ahivo swallowed hard and nodded. Had it gotten around so quickly?

"Don't look so worried,” the man shut the door and shuffled across the room, flopping down on the Labyrinth standard couch and yawning again,” What questions? Hurry it up, if you can, I'm tired."

Ahivo nodded,” I was wondering where I might be able to enroll in a basic history course? And where I might get relevant text books?"

"There's no courses on the Labyrinth, but you can always do online ones,” the man snatched a pad of paper and a pen off the side table and scribbled down a URL. He handed it across to Ahivo, who took a quick look at it before sliding it safely into his back pocket.

Ahivo stood and nodded,” Thank-you, sir. I apologize for coming so late."

The man waved a hand dismissively and buried his head in the couch cushion.

Ahivo showed himself out.

.:.:.::.:.:.

Ahivo concluded two things upon looking up the website Panonsine had given him. First off, that text books could be found and purchased in any ordinary bookstore, and were often in stock in second hand stores as well. Secondly, Fuvii could enroll in an online course, but it would be, at the very least, a Junior High level education, and he would certainly have to learn how to read before that. Which meant Ahivo would have to hire a tutor or teach Fuvii himself.

The clock chimed. Ahivo shifted his gaze to it, rubbing some of the sleep from his eyes as he did so, if only to allow him to actually read the numbers. Four in the morning. Good lord. He glanced across the room at his open bedroom door. Fuvii was just barely visible amid a crowd of blankets. Ahivo yawned and exited his windows, shutting the computer down (properly, none of this 'off button' stuff people seemed to enjoy doing lately), and slipped into his room.

Fuvii stirred and lifted his head,"Ahivo?"

"Shh, Fuvii, go back to sleep,” he slid under the covers, moving the dragon over in order to make room for himself.

"What were you doing?" Fuvii snuggled closer to his bond, flopping his chin down against Ahivo's shoulder,” Are you alright?"

Ahivo nodded and stroked Fuvii's neck,” I...I'm going to teach you."

Fuvii smiled and cuddled in closer,” Thank-you."

Ahivo's lips curled minutely upward,” You're welcome."