Who: Elanna and Tayne
When: Anesus 1, early morning, just after dawn
Where: the second floor sitting room
Elanna walked down a second floor corridor of the castle, feeling pleasantly full from her recent hunt. In truth, she hadn't been planning on leaving her room at all once the new group had started to arrive. The hustle and bustle of all the new people moving in unnerved her. Much as she couldn't quite deal with being completely by herself, she certainly wasn't fond of large crowds, either. Besides, new faces meant new people who weren't used to being around her species, and while she had no real problem with Humans or Lykos, she would rather avoid the ones that would be likely to have a problem with her.
When: Anesus 1, early morning, just after dawn
Where: the second floor sitting room
Elanna walked down a second floor corridor of the castle, feeling pleasantly full from her recent hunt. In truth, she hadn't been planning on leaving her room at all once the new group had started to arrive. The hustle and bustle of all the new people moving in unnerved her. Much as she couldn't quite deal with being completely by herself, she certainly wasn't fond of large crowds, either. Besides, new faces meant new people who weren't used to being around her species, and while she had no real problem with Humans or Lykos, she would rather avoid the ones that would be likely to have a problem with her.
Indeed, she had planned to sit in her room all through the first night of newcomers, but as it got later and later in her day, that is to say everyone else's night, her stomach decided it had other plans. She knew she had been cutting it close, going out hunting only a short while before dawn, but she had found herself hungry and would rather risk brief exposure to sunlight than have the always awkward conversation with one of her compound-mates as to whether she might, perhaps, borrow a bit of their blood. In the end, she had found animals not far from the castle gate and was able to return safely before sunrise, if not very long before.
Now that her hunger was satiated, she had little of importance to attend to, and had decided it would be nice to relax in the sitting room and maybe flip through a book or two before lying down to sleep. She hoped that the room wouldn’t be too crowded, though she was certainly always happy to be in the company of a friend or two, especially since she had just returned from hunting on her own which was always an unpleasant experience, save for the fact that her stomach became full in the process.
She noticed upon opening the door that there were, in fact, others present in the room, but realized a little too late that none of them were Vrykolas. Early morning light streamed through the windows, completely destroying her vision as she quickly stepped back out of the door. It was not the first time this had happened to her, but the shock of the light threw her nonetheless, and she simply stood still patting her warmed skin and trying to regain her composure until her vision began to clear. Once she had recovered sufficiently, she sighed, bolstered her courage and again opened the door, though only wide enough for her voice to be clearly heard on the other side.
“Whoever is in there, would you mind closing the curtains?”
Now that her hunger was satiated, she had little of importance to attend to, and had decided it would be nice to relax in the sitting room and maybe flip through a book or two before lying down to sleep. She hoped that the room wouldn’t be too crowded, though she was certainly always happy to be in the company of a friend or two, especially since she had just returned from hunting on her own which was always an unpleasant experience, save for the fact that her stomach became full in the process.
She noticed upon opening the door that there were, in fact, others present in the room, but realized a little too late that none of them were Vrykolas. Early morning light streamed through the windows, completely destroying her vision as she quickly stepped back out of the door. It was not the first time this had happened to her, but the shock of the light threw her nonetheless, and she simply stood still patting her warmed skin and trying to regain her composure until her vision began to clear. Once she had recovered sufficiently, she sighed, bolstered her courage and again opened the door, though only wide enough for her voice to be clearly heard on the other side.
“Whoever is in there, would you mind closing the curtains?”
It was an early morning for Tayne, not because he hadn't been up late the night before-- he had-- or because he hadn't slept well-- he sort of had-- but because he had so damn much he needed to get done that he felt like he needed to. He was, at that point, in the upstairs sitting room poking at the large collection of books in the hopes of finding some resource he could use in the whole "being in charge of a bunch of often-rebellious adolescents" deal.
He wasn't alone in the room, but he was the only one standing up when the door opened, then hastily shut again. He looked up in mild surprise, wondering who it was; the other two people in there-- a Lykos in animal form sprawled out under the sunlight and snoozing, and another human busily hemming a skirt-- didn't even look up. At the call, he glanced at them. The human sighed and called up a tiny bit of light to dance obligingly over her work-- she was a small-level mage, and he silently offered a little of his readily-available and open power to fuel it-- and the Lykos opened one eye, flicked an ear, and closed it again.
"Sure, hold on a minute," Tayne answered, and headed over to the window to start drawing the heavy curtains shut, blocking out the light. It took a minute, as they were big, and they were heavy, but once done, he headed over to the door and opened it for the girl on the other side.
Long red hair, Vrykola or she wouldn't have needed the curtains shut, and polite about asking. "Elanna, right?" he asked with a smile.
He wasn't alone in the room, but he was the only one standing up when the door opened, then hastily shut again. He looked up in mild surprise, wondering who it was; the other two people in there-- a Lykos in animal form sprawled out under the sunlight and snoozing, and another human busily hemming a skirt-- didn't even look up. At the call, he glanced at them. The human sighed and called up a tiny bit of light to dance obligingly over her work-- she was a small-level mage, and he silently offered a little of his readily-available and open power to fuel it-- and the Lykos opened one eye, flicked an ear, and closed it again.
"Sure, hold on a minute," Tayne answered, and headed over to the window to start drawing the heavy curtains shut, blocking out the light. It took a minute, as they were big, and they were heavy, but once done, he headed over to the door and opened it for the girl on the other side.
Long red hair, Vrykola or she wouldn't have needed the curtains shut, and polite about asking. "Elanna, right?" he asked with a smile.
Elanna jumped slightly as the door suddenly opened again. She had heard footsteps approaching, but she had expected a call back to her rather than someone opening the door. Quickly recovering from her surprise, she looked up and was relieved to see a familiar face. Not that she was afraid of new students, but it was always nicer to find someone she already knew something about. In this case, she knew that this person was nice enough and that made her feel a little better about her someone awkward entrance into the room. She nodded at the inquiry about her name.
"And you're Tayne, right?" She was pretty sure that was right. While she wouldn't say they knew each other well, he had been in the compound longer than she had and so she had seen him around a lot. Though, she realized, never quite this early in the morning. "This is a little early for you, isn't it?" From anyone else that might have sounded like some kind of odd accusation, but her voice only held genuine confusion. She was certain that most times she had seen him it was when she had just gotten up, not when she was about to go to bed.
"And you're Tayne, right?" She was pretty sure that was right. While she wouldn't say they knew each other well, he had been in the compound longer than she had and so she had seen him around a lot. Though, she realized, never quite this early in the morning. "This is a little early for you, isn't it?" From anyone else that might have sounded like some kind of odd accusation, but her voice only held genuine confusion. She was certain that most times she had seen him it was when she had just gotten up, not when she was about to go to bed.
"It's a little early for a lot of us," Tayne agreed with a little chuckle, backing up a step and holding the door for her to come in. "I've had things to do, though, so sacrifices had to be made." The Lykos, making a grumbling sort of noise at his newly-realized lack of sunlight to bask in, heaved himself to his feet and, snorting distastefully, brushed past Elanna on his way out and in search of a new patch to lounge in.
"How are you, this morning?" Tayne added, drawing attention away from disgruntled shape-shifters. He knew of Elanna, of course, though they didn't really speak much. Their schedules ran a little counter to each others, given he was very much a daylight-person. Late-morning daylight, preferably, but still. Everything he'd heard and witnessed of her was sweet, though.
"How are you, this morning?" Tayne added, drawing attention away from disgruntled shape-shifters. He knew of Elanna, of course, though they didn't really speak much. Their schedules ran a little counter to each others, given he was very much a daylight-person. Late-morning daylight, preferably, but still. Everything he'd heard and witnessed of her was sweet, though.
Elanna nodded understandingly. Anyone could be forced off of their usual schedule when there was something important to be done, much like she had found herself venturing out in the early morning to find food when she had planned to just stay in her room.
"I'm alright," she replied. "A little intimidated by all the people moving in," she admitted with a quiet, embarassed chuckle. Even though she had gone through it several times already, a new group of people moving into the Compound was always a little overwhelming. She glanced around the library, remembering he had said he was here to do something. "Is there anything I can help you with?" she offered. "I know this library pretty well by now..." Her voice trailed off. She wasn't sure if there would ba anything she could do, but she didn't want to keep imposing on him if he was busy.
"I'm alright," she replied. "A little intimidated by all the people moving in," she admitted with a quiet, embarassed chuckle. Even though she had gone through it several times already, a new group of people moving into the Compound was always a little overwhelming. She glanced around the library, remembering he had said he was here to do something. "Is there anything I can help you with?" she offered. "I know this library pretty well by now..." Her voice trailed off. She wasn't sure if there would ba anything she could do, but she didn't want to keep imposing on him if he was busy.
"That's another one you'll hear from just about everyone here, I expect," Tayne sighed, drifting back to the bookshelves he'd been perusing. Himself, more than usual; he wasn't normally bothered by the appearance of new faces, only really concerned with whether or not he could say their names right, but this time was a little different. This time, he had to somehow corral that new bunch of people into one place, talk to them all, and get them to sign up for chores. "You'll get used to them, though. Happens every year, right?"
He ran a finger over the titles thoughtfully. "I'm wondering if there's anything on leadership... but I've been looking for half an hour, and I have yet to see anything useful." The library wasn't as complete as it could be, when it came to having a variety of subjects, for all it was the most complete he'd ever seen outside of the ruined Sorsenel's city library. Not even this set could have everything, though.
He ran a finger over the titles thoughtfully. "I'm wondering if there's anything on leadership... but I've been looking for half an hour, and I have yet to see anything useful." The library wasn't as complete as it could be, when it came to having a variety of subjects, for all it was the most complete he'd ever seen outside of the ruined Sorsenel's city library. Not even this set could have everything, though.
Another nod was Elanna's response to Tayne's comments about the newcomers. She was at happy to know that she wasn't the only one feeling terribly intimidated, though. She had never understood how some people could manage to go out and meet the new arrivals right away. Nevertheless, there always seemed to be one or two who somehow appeared to know everyone that had come in within the first day or two. She just couldn't imagine.
"Leadership," she muttered, bringing a finger to her lips in thought. Had she seen anything here about leadership? Actually, she seemed to recall finding a book on military tactics in here once that might have had a section. "Why are you looking for books on leadership?" she inquired, moving to scan a particular shelf. It seemed a sort of odd request of subject. Mostly she had noticed humans poking through books that told stories or history or talked about Vrykola technology, the latter presumably because they were curious. She smiled as her finger crossed the book she had been looking for, and she pulled it out and handed it to Tayne.
"Here, see if this might be useful."
"Leadership," she muttered, bringing a finger to her lips in thought. Had she seen anything here about leadership? Actually, she seemed to recall finding a book on military tactics in here once that might have had a section. "Why are you looking for books on leadership?" she inquired, moving to scan a particular shelf. It seemed a sort of odd request of subject. Mostly she had noticed humans poking through books that told stories or history or talked about Vrykola technology, the latter presumably because they were curious. She smiled as her finger crossed the book she had been looking for, and she pulled it out and handed it to Tayne.
"Here, see if this might be useful."
"Huh." Tayne took the book with a little frown, not at her but at himself. He'd read this book three times over, probably more, but he hadn't even imagined it would be helpful in his particular dilemma. "Thank you. It might be."
The rest, though, he offered her a slightly wan smile. "You remember Torehl, last year, right? He kind of looked after things, shepherded the new folks, kept things in order much as he could. Head of compound, and all." He tucked the book up against his wrist, looking faintly embarrassed. "He kind of left his mantle to me, so now it's my job to look after things." And while he'd thanked the Vrykola at the time, now he was starting to get why Torehl had been so amused by it and warned him against it. He was starting to get a bit anxious about it all, and how he was ever going to manage.
The rest, though, he offered her a slightly wan smile. "You remember Torehl, last year, right? He kind of looked after things, shepherded the new folks, kept things in order much as he could. Head of compound, and all." He tucked the book up against his wrist, looking faintly embarrassed. "He kind of left his mantle to me, so now it's my job to look after things." And while he'd thanked the Vrykola at the time, now he was starting to get why Torehl had been so amused by it and warned him against it. He was starting to get a bit anxious about it all, and how he was ever going to manage.
"You're welcome," she replied with a small smile that faded to a look of contemplation as she thought about his words. She had known Torehl, of course, and while she had known someone would take over the position, she hadn't ever thought much about it. It would be very intimidating trying to figure out how to start, at least for her.
"It must be tough," she commented. It seemed like a hard position anyway, greeting new people and keeping the less friendly occupants of the Compound from causing too much trouble-- she doubted she'd be able to do it, no matter how many books she read.
"It must be tough," she commented. It seemed like a hard position anyway, greeting new people and keeping the less friendly occupants of the Compound from causing too much trouble-- she doubted she'd be able to do it, no matter how many books she read.
"Up until this morning, I'd considered it an honor," Tayne confided dryly. "I was hoping to be the one he picked. Now that I am? I half-think I ought to offer it to Gochin and let him take it over." Not that he would; Tayne wasn't one to shirk responsibility once it'd been given to him. He was just... a little nervous. That was all. Anyone would be, with this sort of thing ahead of them.
"I'll figure it out," he added. "I've got support, Torehl says I can write him, and this is probably going to be easier than anything I'll find out there." He gestured vaguely at the curtained window in the direction of his homeland. Tayne handled things at the compound more as if they were training for later in life than as if they were important tasks in and of themselves. At least he'd managed to come away from them having learned things, and he was pleased to say he wasn't particularly prejudiced against other species anymore. That was a plus.
"I'll figure it out," he added. "I've got support, Torehl says I can write him, and this is probably going to be easier than anything I'll find out there." He gestured vaguely at the curtained window in the direction of his homeland. Tayne handled things at the compound more as if they were training for later in life than as if they were important tasks in and of themselves. At least he'd managed to come away from them having learned things, and he was pleased to say he wasn't particularly prejudiced against other species anymore. That was a plus.
His response made perfect sense to her; it was the sort of challenge that might make life easier after leaving the compound. And from what little she knew of Tayne, she thought he would be good at the job. Even so, the thought of it was a little terrifying. It made her wonder if she could end up doing the same thing next year, though that would be pretty unlikely. She thought it would be obvious to most people that she wasn't the person for the job.
"Well, I wish you luck," she told him with a smile. It was good that he was still in contact with Torehl; that would certainly help. "And," she added a little more quietly, "if I can do anything..." she let her offer trail off, not entirely sure what she was even offering, given how timid she was around most people.
"Well, I wish you luck," she told him with a smile. It was good that he was still in contact with Torehl; that would certainly help. "And," she added a little more quietly, "if I can do anything..." she let her offer trail off, not entirely sure what she was even offering, given how timid she was around most people.
Tayne gave her a warm smile. Yeah, she was the type who'd want to help out, even if she had no idea how or if she even could. "Thanks, Elanna. That's sweet of you. Really, just do what I'd hope anyone would do: let me know if you come across any trouble, and I'll see what I can do about it."
He was dreading having to deal with certain compound members who enjoyed making trouble, but at least he'd made a point of knowing just about everyone's names and general habits, just for the sake of knowing who he was speaking to and being sure he could say their name or some acceptable variation of it... so there wasn't anything he was getting into that he wasn't aware of, besides whatever came in with the new kids last night. "I'll need that luck, I'm sure."
He was dreading having to deal with certain compound members who enjoyed making trouble, but at least he'd made a point of knowing just about everyone's names and general habits, just for the sake of knowing who he was speaking to and being sure he could say their name or some acceptable variation of it... so there wasn't anything he was getting into that he wasn't aware of, besides whatever came in with the new kids last night. "I'll need that luck, I'm sure."
"I'll do that, then," Elanna told him, returning the smile. "And I'm sure you'll do fine." Tayne seemed like the type of person who would make a good leader. He was nice and easy to talk to, but she felt that unlike someone like her he might actually be able to yell at people that were causing trouble and have them listen. With any luck, he wouldn't have to do that too often, though.
Having run out of immediate things to talk about, she glanced around the room and noticed that the other human seemed to have been ignoring them completely. That was good, she decided, since she would rather not have been bothering anyone. Speaking of which, this conversation had started because Tayne had wanted to read.
"Should I leave you to that?" she asked, nodding toward the book. She wouldn't mind talking a little more, of course, but if he wanted to be left alone, she was perfectly happy to simply go to bed. It was well time for her to sleep by this point, anyway.
Having run out of immediate things to talk about, she glanced around the room and noticed that the other human seemed to have been ignoring them completely. That was good, she decided, since she would rather not have been bothering anyone. Speaking of which, this conversation had started because Tayne had wanted to read.
"Should I leave you to that?" she asked, nodding toward the book. She wouldn't mind talking a little more, of course, but if he wanted to be left alone, she was perfectly happy to simply go to bed. It was well time for her to sleep by this point, anyway.
"Eh, you don't have to," Tayne answered, giving the book another look, flipping to the table of contents-- yep, there it was. That chapter might have something useful in it. Maybe. He didn't remember that one clearly, as he hadn't paid a whole lot of attention to it-- most of the "leadership" described was from the assumption that the leader in question would be a female leader in a human army, so it really hadn't applied to him. But now... it might.
He flipped it shut again and look back up. "What brought you in here, after dawn?" he asked politely. "Looking for company, or a book of your own?"
He flipped it shut again and look back up. "What brought you in here, after dawn?" he asked politely. "Looking for company, or a book of your own?"
Elanna was silent for a moment as she pondered the answer to Tayne's question. She wasn't entirely certain what she'd been after herself.
"Just getting out a bit," she replied. "I had spent most of the night just by myself in my room, you know, avoiding the moving in commotion." In truth, she probably had come in search of company more than books, and was grateful to have found someone to talk to, but she didn't see a need to go into that. She laughed quietly. "I actually had forgotten that it was already after dawn when I came in here, but you probably had guessed that."
"Just getting out a bit," she replied. "I had spent most of the night just by myself in my room, you know, avoiding the moving in commotion." In truth, she probably had come in search of company more than books, and was grateful to have found someone to talk to, but she didn't see a need to go into that. She laughed quietly. "I actually had forgotten that it was already after dawn when I came in here, but you probably had guessed that."
"Stayed inside all night?" Tayne repeated, brows up but smiling, still. "I don't know how you do it. I'd go stir-crazy, stuck in my room all night, after being inside all day." He was an active sort, and he much preferred to be outside than inside, if he could help it. He'd even been enjoying having those windows open, with the light streaming in and the view of the countryside. It was as close as he could get to being outside without actually being outside.
"Well," he continued, "if you're here to get out, you sure won't want to go back yet. Come on, sit with me." He beckoned the Vrykola to follow him, heading for a set of chairs farther off from the young lady working on her hemline.
"Well," he continued, "if you're here to get out, you sure won't want to go back yet. Come on, sit with me." He beckoned the Vrykola to follow him, heading for a set of chairs farther off from the young lady working on her hemline.
"It's not so bad," she informed him as she followed and carefully took a seat. "Better than getting caught up in crowds of new arrivals. At least I think so." Much as she wasn't so fond of being in a room by herself, it didn't bother her if she knew there were other people in the rooms nearby, and being swept up in a crowd of people she had never met was nothing short of nightmarish. "I did start getting hungry by the end of the night, though, so I had to venture out. At least most of the commotion had died down by then."
"People finally got around to going to bed, at that point, I expect," Tayne chuckled, dropping into a chair more than sitting in it, the motion somehow managing to come across as economical and comfortable rather than lazy or graceless. "Found something, then, I suppose?" There had been a few times when Tayne had offered to be a Vrykola meal, or agreed to it when a Vrykola asked him. He didn't know Elanna's meal preferences, though-- human and Lykos, or animal. A lot of Vrykolas he knew weren't interested in animals, thinking them beneath a Vrykoa... but Elanna didn't strike him as the sort to think anything beneath her, honestly.
Elanna simply nodded in response to the question. Like most Vrykola, she found the taste of human blood more pleasant than that of animals, but she always found it awkward to ask people for blood, even if she knew them well, so she made most of her meals off of animals. As for whether or not they were below her, she had generally been taught that lesser food is better than no food. Even though her Sire had kept servants as a supply, they had occasionally gone hunting elsewhere, both as practice for Elanna and to give the servants a break. It didn't seem so unusual then to rely on animals when the only humans she had to feast on were her peers.
That didn't really give Tayne much to go on, so he nodded, back, and said, "Good," while he sought about in vain for a topic of conversation. He really was usually better at keeping a conversation going than this, but the combination of little sleep, distraction, and the fact that Elanna was a shy and soft-spoken woman-- which he was notoriously bad at figuring out, though he certainly tried-- wound up with him floundering. Everything he was coming up with seemed either inappropriate or inane.
So with a little smile, he held up the book. "Think maybe I'll give this chapter a look over. Feel free to grab something, yourself. A little company for reading won't go wrong, I'm sure."
Elanna had been having a similar problem coming up with topics -- the subject of feeding being an iffy one among those not of her species -- so she was relieved when Tayne suggested more just sitting and reading together. That way, she would still have company, but wouldn't be pressured to keep a conversation going, which she generally thought was a pretty ideal situation.
"That would be nice," she commented with a smile, moving to browse the shelves. After a moment of searching, she picked out a book on human magic and returned with it to her seat. It wasn't an especially practical book, given that she was a Vrykola and would never use such things, but sometimes it was interesting to her to read about what her life might have been like if she hadn't decided to let her Sire change her. With obvious interest, she flipped open the first page and began to read.
So with a little smile, he held up the book. "Think maybe I'll give this chapter a look over. Feel free to grab something, yourself. A little company for reading won't go wrong, I'm sure."
Elanna had been having a similar problem coming up with topics -- the subject of feeding being an iffy one among those not of her species -- so she was relieved when Tayne suggested more just sitting and reading together. That way, she would still have company, but wouldn't be pressured to keep a conversation going, which she generally thought was a pretty ideal situation.
"That would be nice," she commented with a smile, moving to browse the shelves. After a moment of searching, she picked out a book on human magic and returned with it to her seat. It wasn't an especially practical book, given that she was a Vrykola and would never use such things, but sometimes it was interesting to her to read about what her life might have been like if she hadn't decided to let her Sire change her. With obvious interest, she flipped open the first page and began to read.