Halcyon Halls

Who: Aramil, and Vivian
Where: The archery range
When: Night
What: The unlikely friends head out for practice


"Fuck... I really wish I had my old finger tabs, these are too stiff. My brace is as well." Truth was, all of her new archery gear needed breaking in, and working. But, she didn't have much choice in the matter, seeing that most of her belongings, including her old bow, were in Ireland. Vivian liked to think that if she had, had them this whole time, she would have been practicing. Was it true though... no, probably not. Partying, and having a good time had been on her agenda a bit too much. Now, she was trying to regain a bit of that focus she had carried, before being turned. When your past became a hinderence, rather than just an excuse, it was time to get your shit in order, and move on. Hopefully she wouldn't be too horrid because of it. Being very out of practice could be blamed as well. Flexing her fingers, her eyes moved to Ari, as the two made their way down to the range. Thankfully he'd been there repeatedly, and knew where it was. She, on the other hand, didn't have a clue.

Having asked him to join her, she wondered if things would end peacefully. The two were always at odds, after sharing conversation, yet, it didn't prevent them from carrying on that strange friendship they had. She liked that about him, he didn't seem to hang onto little stupid grudges, as so many did. Really people, there were more important things to be concerned with. "Are you going to give me any pointers, Sunshine? Or will you just laugh at me, when I don't compare?" She asked, smirking, and adjusting her bow across her shoulder. His people lived by their skills with a bow, she didn't for a moment think that she could ever compare to him. Which had been one reason she asked, she was curious to see him in action.

If there was one thing she had taken in, it was that you should learn all you could from others, whether they knew it or not. No matter how much she observed him, it was very doubtful, that she would ever come close to his skill. Yet, it was still worth watching, wasn't it? Vivian had dressed for the night, red running shorts, trainers, and a black tank top. Her hair, which before break had been short, and blond, was now back to normal. Long, and that same dark brown. It seemed Dacia hadn't been fond of the cut, so Vivian had spent quite a bit of money at a stylist, to have the hair replaced. Her mission on that trip, had been to get back into the womans favor. So, she had done all she could, to do so. She preferred it this way as it was, felt more like herself. Thought it suited her better as well. Plus, being able to pull it up, out of the way was a God send. As it was tonight, in a high ponytail, at the top of her head.

Who: Summer and Ari
When: Friday Afternoon
Where: In a clearing in some woods far, far away from all the noisy emotions of the people at the school

The school had been tolerable throughout the break just because there weren't all that many people around. But now that everyone was starting to arrive back, Summer was starting to feel the impact of just how many people there were at Halcyon, and just how intense the emotions here could be. She couldn't handle it. It was worse than being in the freshman dorms right before final exams, worse than taking the SAT's which she had bombed for the simple reason that she couldn't get her head on straight because everyone else was in it. This place was so much worse than that, and she wasn't sure exactly how long she was going to be able to handle it. Solitude was definitely going to be a necessity.

And that is why she was here, in the middle of the woods, in a clearing that she had found while walking, laying on a blanket she had spread out on the grass. Her I-Pod was beside of her, in the little docking station with the built in speakers, Led Zeppelin's Over the Hills and Far Away playing. Summer hummed along as she lay on her stomach, stripped down to bare feet, incredibly short denim shorts, and a bikini top. Hair was pulled up in a loose bun so as not to get in the way of the sun, and her nose was buried in a book, Twilight. It was supposed to be for young adults, but it was a good book regardless, a love story, and it seemed very fitting considering where she was in life right now.

A page was turned, a few more lines read, and the chapter she was on was finished. She bookmarked it and then put the book aside, rolling onto her back to peer up at the sky. Summer stretched a bit, and then settled onto the blanket, eyes closed. She started to doze off. She had such a hard time sleeping when she was around people.

Who: Ari and Kalli
Where: Out by the lake
When: Late Afternoon
Why: Nature types being all nature like..

The elf was enjoying the break for all it was worth. No need to be indoors for most of the day. No need to perform ritual school work after hours as well. He would never quite understand why they felt the need for such things, it was so different than how his people taught their own. You were showed how to do something, and then expected to be able to do it. After a time of practice, of course. No text books, no read this chapter, none of that. And of course, no finals to cram for. Though, his clan did have something similar to ‘finals’. The final test his father gave him for his survival training was one he would never forget. Of course, then that had been the idea.

He should have gone back to the mountains during the break. Should have gone back and seen if his parents were happy enough to let him stay there and not have to return to Halcyon again, but he knew that wasn’t going to be the case. Aramil knew his father wasn’t going to be happy with just a couple of weeks of this particular training episode. So, the young elf remained behind on the islands and decided to get more familiar with his surroundings.

For nearly the entire break, he was out in the woods. His room was barely used. If he was in it at all, it was only to get a change of clothing, or to wash something off he couldn’t get off on his own out in the woods. The weather on the islands was mild enough, that he really never thought about being outside all night long. It really was different than the mountains he was used to, where one could literally freeze to death at night, even an elf prepared for the winters. He even returned to ‘harassing’ the wildlife, particuarlly the deer. While he didn’t harm any of them, he knew they didn’t appreciate having their backsides hit with a harmless blunt arrow. But, he needed to keep up his archery skills, and that was the best way he knew.

He had only been on his favorite ledge over the lake for a few minutes that afternoon when he heard a noise. Ari tilted his head slightly, as he turned his ear toward the sound the sound of someone walking by. The elf gave a faint smirk as he shook his head. Light steps, he thought to himself, definitely a woman. Must be her. Pity the ‘her’ wasn’t the actual person approaching. He would learn that soon enough.

The elf glanced around for a moment, before he pulled himself from the ledge. Still thinking that the approaching person was someone else, he just smiled to himself as he quickly moved back to the treeline and disappeared up one of the trees next to the lakeshore. He always did enjoy sneaking up on people. It was going to get him hurt some day.

Who: Starbuck and Ari
When: Tuesday evening, after football
Where: the gym

Finals were just around the corner, and Starbuck had no idea how they'd snuck up so quickly. It wasn't that long ago that he'd been stressing out over the last round of big exams, fretting as he waited to see how he'd done on Theora's test. Energy/Light/Life was the only class he really cared about. Sure, he wanted to do well in all his classes, but healing was his primary reason for being at Halcyon. Nothing else mattered as much as learning to use that one ability he'd inherited from his father, and he was going to continue his education at Halcyon until he felt he was skilled enough at healing to make Bardsley proud.

The new professor in his magic use class wasn't at all like Theora. But Starbuck doubted he'd ever find another healer like her. She was so easy to talk to, explained things in ways that Starbuck understood. He missed her a great deal, but he always kept a part of her with him. The amulet she'd given it was around his neck at all times. She had told him it would help enhance his natural abilities. Whether that was true, Starbuck wasn't sure. He wondered sometimes if it was simply a regular necklace, and if she'd simply told him it was special to help boost his confidence. Either way, it worked. Starbuck was getting better at controlling his ability. Healing bruises and small cuts was easily accomplished... so long as his mood was stable at the time.

That was his real problem lately. Attitude was everything when it came to healing. He couldn't even recover from his own injuries at an advanced rate when he was feeling kinda glum, how could he possibly help others? Starbuck needed to lock up all the distractions in his brain and focus. Hopefully working with Ari would allow him to do that.

The two men weren't close, but they'd worked together in class many times, and they used to be in football together. Starbuck had quit the club recently, unable to deal with being around Jeremy after learning some very ugly truths about the bastard. But Starbuck knew that Ari was still in the club, and so he'd arranged to meet his classmate when practice was over.

Starbuck stopped by the kitchens for a snack before heading to the gym, arriving just as most of the guys were leaving. He nodded politely as they walked past him, though his teeth and fists clenched when Jeremy and Xael passed. Both of them were on Starbuck's shit list right now. When everyone but Ari had left, Starbuck walked in and greeted his classmate, "How was practice today?"

WHO: Aramil and Evelyn
WHEN: Afternoon
WHERE: Wooded area at the school


Some things you need an entire weekend to recover from. In Evelyn's case, this was entirely too true. It had been awhile since she had indulged in a party like that one. Quite awhile. And it had been quite awhile since she had indulged in other things too, which just bought a coy smile to her face at the thought. It was one strange week. At least she remembered quite a bit this time. She couldn't promise she recalled it all in stark detail, but did she really need to?

There was something else she got to celebrate last week too. Her 18th birthday. Though it had been a rather quiet affair. She didn't do much to mark it. She spent time mostly to herself and on the phone back home to her family, her grandmother and father. And even her brother Michael had called to wish her a happy birthday. Really? It was a most unexpected week to say the least.

The last couple of days she basically went through her classes in full concentration. It was about the only way she was going to retain anything thrown at her. Not because of any residual effects of anything. That had long sense worn off. But just because she was just distracted. Throughly and utterly distracted. And for reasons that were entirely mundane. And this afternoon, that will only too soon give way to evening, she finds herself relaxing and enjoying the weather. It was beautiful outside. Perfect, really. Granted, she liked it just a tad bit cool outside, but this would do nicely.

She diverted a bit through the woods toward a lake she had stumbled across one day in her flight practice. Maybe...well, it had been just a little since she had a free swim in such gorgeous warmth.

Who: Everyone who received an invite, and their guest (Check Wes' page, if you're not sure about an invite.)
Where: Gun Smoke Tattoo
When: Thursday Night
What: Shop Warming party, and small gig

There was a goal here. After living in Vegas, having been to so many bitchin' parties, your standards for them rose. The normal, punch, and cookies, with a shit ass dj, lurking in some corner, wouldn't cut it here. Hell no. The goal, was to make this party, just as fucking killer, as any party he'd been to in Vegas. To make those parties jealous even. With the help of his friends, and brothers, it seemed as if that was going to happen. All the elements were in place, now it would be down to those in attendance, to make the most of it. Wes was sure of one thing, he was going to have an amazing time, there would be no stopping that.

The Spooks had been a huge help, in their time on the island. While Wes tended to his classes, they took care of setting up for the party. Doing little things here, and there. Anyone who came into the shop after that Monday, would notice that certain things were off. It was all in preparation. Now, it was ready, everything was good. A bar had been constructed against on the walls. Bottles, upon bottles were either stacked beneath it, or on the packing crate shelves they had built last Monday. Wes had been told that there was more than enough liquor... he was starting to question whether it was enough. Also available at the bar, one would find certain goodies upon request. That was one good thing, about knowing drug dealers. They made excellent party guest. Aside from the bar, another sofa had been added to the sitting area, similar to the one all ready occupying the space, but not nearly as detailed.
( Let the fun begin. )

Who: Evelyn and Ari
When: Friday Night
Where:: Heaven and Hell


It's been a couple of weeks now which means Evelyn's had a chance to find her way around, get to know some people, and generally get acclimated to life at Halcyon Halls.

Which means now she is feeling just a little bit restless.

Lyn was quiet as a mouse as she put her ear to the door and listened for any noise out in the hallway. Nothing. And there probably wouldn't be. It was getting late, but that's usually the time when everything started happening.

There were rules around here to be followed. And normally, Lyn was the type to follow them. But what could be the harm in just going out to have a little fun? Besides. Her 18th birthday was only a couple of weeks away. So that meant what she was doing wasn't too bad.

Her door secured, she tip toed across her room even though she was the only one there. She opened her window, a shiver of goosebumps raised along her arms. It wasn't that cold compared to where she grew up, but it was that tinge of excitement. The night air was cool and she could see the dark clouds as they floated lazily overhead. It would probably rain before morning, but she would be back in long before then.

A last check across the grounds, she made sure no one was within eyesight and then she carefully stepped up to the ledge and over the edge. She floated there a moment, careful in her concentration as she floated herself to the ground.

Again, she stopped, crouching slightly, she listened. A quick scan of the area and then she nodded once. So far, so good. She stood up and quickly made her way across the clearing.

It was finally time to see what Heaven and Hell was all about.

Who: Aramil and Vivian
Where: Outside in the woods.
Why: Booze to be drunk
When: Monday Night after the Archery contest

The day had not gone at all like he had expected. Not one little bit. The contest had been organized, and he had been sure he knew how that would end. Instead, the arrogant little elf got himself knocked down a peg. He had been so certain that he would win that particular test, that the fact he didn’t took quite a bit of his breath away.

Aramil had been so certain that his elven heritage would trump out human magic any day. That the skill of his people would prove superior to any magic or skill by any other race, that he never even considered any other potential ending. The fact that he lost by the slimmest of margins most would have taken as proof of their ability. After all, it was pure skill versus supernaturally enhanced skill. But, Aramil had always been an arrogant elf, as others so often referred to him as.

After the contest, he disappeared. In that regard, he lived up to his people’s name as well. He lost himself to the woods, and to nature and the world his people were the guardians of. The deer would be lucky that evening in that he was not out hunting at all. In fact, this one time, he left his bow back at the school and only had minimal weapons. For the first time since he had gotten to the school, he was out in the woods with just the knives in his boots. No sword, no bow, nothing else.

Not that he could remain in hiding for long. He had, after all, made plans for that evening. Plans that were entirely his idea, and not ones he could just ignore. They were a matter of honor, after all. His father had told him he needed to learn to be more tolerant, and the evening plans were part of that. Though, considering his planned partner of the evening, his father might have just objected over that.

When Vivian finally arrived at the location he told her to meet him at, she would find him reclining. Not on the ground, but instead in the trees above. A good couple of feet above anyone’s head, Ari had found a nice solid branch, and leaned back against the trunk of the tree. While he looked to be at peace, his mind was most definitely racing still.

Who: Aramil, Kate, and likely Braden
Where: Archery Range
Why: Ego's this big need some deflating. Archery contest of course. Elves vs Humans
When: Monday Afternoon, after school

The werecreatures might be having their own anxiety attacks that week, but the elf had a style of his own. This was one of those moments that he lived for. To prove himself better than others. It was one reason why he was always hunting, and so often ‘stalked’ intelligent beings. They were always so much more fun to hunt.

So when a human of all creatures claimed to be as good if not better when it came to using a bow than an elf, that was more than his ego really could bear. An archery contest was just what the doctor ordered. Just the thought of what the foolish young human’s expression would look like was more than enough to keep the young elf amused for the entire day.

As he entered the archery range outside the school, Aramil removed the quiver he tended to wear while hunting, and let it rest against the ground at his feet. He then slipped his bow off his shoulder and ran his fingers along the drawstring, as he tested its hold. He then regarded the targets.

Once the others arrived, he pulled back on the string one last time before he let the bow relax in his hold. “Did you have any thoughts as to the rules? Hitting an unmoving large target does not seem to be quite a suitable test. I had a thought, but was not sure if you had one as well…”

Who: Aramil and Kim
Where: Archery Classroom
When: Tuesday evening
What: Just a couple of archers chatting it up and such

It was after dinner and Kim was starting to feel a bit restless. She was sitting on her bed in her sweats and an NYU t-shirt, flipping through the April issue of Cosmo. With the full moon approaching, she needed to keep herself busy with something but seeing as it had been storming all day, any outdoor activity was out of the question. Stupid rain. She let out an exasperated sigh, chucked the magazine onto her desk and flopped back onto her bed.

Her eyes scanned the ceiling of her room as she racked her brain for another activity to do. She had already checked her e-mail, written to her best friend, taken that high school stereotype quiz, cut her nails and re-read that issue of Cosmo for the billionth time. She let her head drop to the right as she looked out the window, hoping that the rain had stopped. Nope, fat chance. But hey.. she had gotten an idea.

She quickly got up out of bed and walked over to the window. She bent down and picked up her bow and arrow carrying case that was propped up against the wall next to the window. Why the hell didn’t she think of this before? Nothing like shooting some arrows at a target to take her mind off the restlessness.

Kim slipped on a pair of sneakers, slung her carrying case over her shoulder and she quickly navigated her way to the archery classroom. She walked in, set her stuff down on a desk off to the side and opened the case. After strapping on her armguard on her left forearm, she unlatched her bow from its place in the case and pulled an arrow out from the top compartment. She walked over to the mark a few feet in front of the bulls-eye and took her stance. Pointing her bow to the ground, she nocked the arrow and then in one fluid motion, she raised the bow and drew the arrow back. Her right eye stared down the length of the arrow all the way down to the center of the target. She moved her bow down slightly, making her aim just right. After a few more seconds of concentration, she released the arrow and it shot through the air at full speed, landing in the third yellow circle from the center. Pretty freaking close to a bulls-eye but not good enough. “Damnit..”

Who: The Triple C Extreeeeeeemmmmeeeeee! and someguynamedari
Where: Destination: Dance Fantasy! Or one of the smaller dance studios for practice. (not that there are a ton or anything)
When: Tuesday. Two parsecs after dinner or something
What: Elves vs. Faeries in a colossal battle that is guaranteed to expose flesh and end in a cacaphony of sparkles...or whatever.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Faerie Princess
and
The Grumpy Elf
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 1

Maybe she didn't have a Rhythm Nation's worth of dancers, but Kissy had a strong Solid Gold Dancers troupe. She would fine tune their amateur moves into a powerful force of neck rolls and hip struts even if it cost her untold pain and misery! Thus far she had broken a nail; disaster already threatened to end production. But disaster didn't plan for her iron will. Disaster paled at the sight of her serious Adidas baby blue sweat headband that had totally come back and was number 1 for keeping stray hairs out of her face.

Disaster had a new enemy: Nichelle Cheri Chevelle. Faerie. Bad Mamma Jamma.

Today, Seargent Slaughter she would train a new recruit to her cause. Not even the guard's refusal to let her roller skate would pale her vision. She would first finely hone each individual soldier into an untouchable killing force real top models air guitar champions a solid dancer before this semester's big dance show or she'd go on alone! Currently, she had absolutely no idea how she'd pull this off, but like the ability to play the violin, she assumed it would just come to her one day if she thought about thinking about it long enough.

She arrived at the dance studio five minutes late, wearing her headband, matching sweatband, lip gloss, eyeliner, this cute little necklace on a gold chain with heart shaped charm in this cute little pink marble effect with a tie-around blue satin top over a black tank top with a baby blue Nike swoosh and small black athletic shorts with blue stripes which sucked SO hard because it was totally cold. Tiny ankle socks peeped over the top of her White Adidas shell-toes with matching color accents. With so much crap in similar colors she could totally bust out the matching outfits.

"Are you ready to rock?" She asked with much flair and enthusiasm as soon as she walked in. Fittingly, no rock music or actual rocking was involved in this dance routine. But it was the attitude she was looking for. Kissy bounded in and threw her bag down. "Whoo!" Rule number: Enthuse the troops. "Yeah!"

Who: Mair and Aramil
When: Monday afternoon
Where: Somewhere in the woods

The horse Mair was training was green. Very green. In fact, it was only the third time she’d had the young animal under saddle, and each time had been quite an experience. The owner of the stables preferred for her to train in the arena, but this horse was nervous around the jumps and the barn and the bustle that surrounded it. Mair thought that taking the colt out into the woods would be good for a change, so she hadn’t exactly asked permission to do so. After all, she was the trainer, right? He had told her to do as she saw fit, and this was what the horse needed. He wasn’t the one who could talk to animals.

Arrow, the horse, was still nervous. Every time a twig snapped beneath his hooves, he shuddered a little, his muscles twitching, nostrils flaring. She steadied him, murmuring quietly in that language she could speak but didn’t quite understand. That was the strange thing about her ability. She could comprehend what the animals were thinking, what they wanted her to know, and she could speak back to them, but she had no idea how it worked or what sort of sounds she was forming. Sometimes she was unsure if any sound came out at all or if it was more like telepathy. To an outsider, it would look like Mair was a rider on a nervous horse, leaning over and whispering quietly to him. Arrow’s ears flicked back, listening, and he heaved a breath. Temporary relaxation.

She pressed her heels gently into his sides and he sprung forward into a trot between the trees. The trail she was riding on was overgrown, but she knew how to pick her way through the woods. Her confidence seemed to be slowly rubbing off on Arrow, and his steps became quicker, his stride more easy. Mair moved with him effortlessly. She rode as if she had been born for it, and in a way she had. Her father and all of his family before him had been horsemen. She had learned to ride as she learned to walk, so the act was natural, easy.

She pulled him to a halt next to a stream and dismounted, pulling the reins over his head so he had a little more room to move around. She didn’t train with a bridle and bit, thought it was too harsh to have a piece of metal tugging at the corner’s of a young horse’s mouth when they were only trying to learn. Instead she rode with a hackamore, a soft leather headstall with a braided noseband that gave a little more control. The slightly sweaty Arrow lowered his head to the water and took a drink while Mair took a seat on a rock a few feet away, watching the horse and listening to the sound of the swollen stream as it rushed by.

Who: Tiffany, Gossamer, and Aramil
Where: The garden maze
When: Tuesday after dinner
What: The twins are scaring themselves in the fog and hoping for someone else to scare


They weren’t exactly the kind to get lost in a fog. Especially not in a place that they knew as well as the two knew the groomed hedges that made up the maze within the extensive Halcyon gardens. It was, by all accounts and purposes, their favorite spot at the school. When any needed to know where to find them, it would of course be the gardens, more specifically, the maze.

Having spent their most formative years in the fog of northern England, near enough to Scotland as to almost not know the difference, the two were quite confident in their abilities to navigate through it. The maze, hedging them in as it did, actually had the added benefit of giving them definite boundaries, lines which they could follow so as to keep to known boundaries.

So then, what went wrong? How had they become separated? On purpose actually. It wasn’t as though they maintained a constant hand-holding. Rather unnecessary when they were as connected as these two. They could find one another by simply moving in the direction in which they knew their other half to be. Neither had yet done that. For now they were content in playing the game of “being lost”. They were, quite thoroughly, but without fear. It wasn’t as though they could fall off a cliff, or be run over by a car, or any of those other dreadful things that might happen to people in a fog. They trusted the maze to secure them.

This was the best way they could imagine entertaining themselves in the fog. Well, the best way they knew with clothes on. Even better would be if someone else wandered in and were truly lost. Though, if one sister found them, and not the other, that could prove a problem, especially if they were a creature more wicked than the fae. The school did have them after all. Some the girls had already made enemies of. Not on purpose of course.

“Tiffany…” Gossamer giggled, her muffled voice sounding as delicate and vulnerable as her wings. There came no sound in reply, but a feeling, a knowledge that her sister was indeed nearby. Likely she’d not even heard her. This fog had a way of swallowing everything including sound.

It was starting to get dark. Had Gossamer's voice held a slightly worried sound? Was it her own concern she felt? Or was it Tiffany's. So hard to distinguish her own feelings from her sister's sometimes.

Who: Charlie, OPEN
Where: The Library, helping to clean up
When: Wednesday afternoon after classes

Charlie really didn't have a life as far as school went. She went there, she studied, she tested, she came out. But when a place like a Library needed help, she felt compelled to help out. Books were great things, full of knowledge (or lack of them) and meant to be revered. She had volunteered herself after class on Tuesday, but quickly found it took more than she had thought, and had come back the next day to finish what she had started. She had been told as a child that if she were to start something, she ought to finish it. Just like in a fight. Or, as she was quickly learning, in magic too.

She had never been one for magic. Beyond her initial Priestess training, she really hadn't been educated all that much. Her Order was a secret, after all, and slowly dying out. Especially after discovering her power with the thanks of Miss Errona, Charlie had begun to understand what it took to be a Priestess and a Witch. She only wished that it wasn't so time consuming, and that is wasn't confusing. She felt torn at times, between the rational, spiritual logic that she knew, and the new uncertain territory that came with being a Witch. She wasn't sure which one she preferred more. All she knew was that she had to live in the best of both possible worlds. And that alone was confusing.

Stooping down to pick up a few books and prepare them for reshelving, she wondered if anyone in the world held all the answers. Perhaps the Dragon did, but she would never really ask. She really needed to stop being so reclusive. She had nearly no friends, after all. Maybe a club, or an extracurricular. That, and she really needed to practice her powers one day. Assuming she still had them.

When: Friday after class
Where: Some random hall
What: Nat’s lost! Oh noes.
Who: Nat and OPEN!

To Natalia it felt like her first two days were going as well as could be expected. Her classes were definitely interesting and Noah was already fulfilling his role as the overprotective best friend so really, she felt right at home. As much as it sucked having to be there and dealing with the whole supernatural thing, she was glad Noah wasn’t going through it alone. Sure she knew that he would forever kick himself for bringing her into this but this was for the best. He needed someone and what better someone than his childhood best friend? Besides, he had saved her from the bad situation in New York so they were even now.

Since everything was all hunky-dory, Nat decided that there wasn’t any better time than the present to get out and explore the school. With the map she received on her first day in hand, she set out on her own to figure out where everything was and see what there was to discover. She was doing quite well navigating the halls when she suddenly found herself facing a wall that shouldn’t have been there. Crap.

She tried to backtrack and get back to a place where she knew were she was but it just wasn’t working out. A heavy sigh parted her lips as she stared down at her map and twisted it in her hands, silently hoping that a different perspective would help her out. Unfortunately it wasn’t working and she had just yet begun to discover her heightened senses so it wasn’t like those would do her any good. Sigh.

A string of mumbled Spanish swear words filled the air as she ran her fingers through her silky dark hair and she was about to just sit down and wait for someone to rescue her when she heard some footsteps approach.

Where: The dance room
When: After dance
Who: Sam and Ari

Sam’s head had been in the clouds ever since her encounter with Easton on Monday. Life was good no, life was excellent at the moment and it definitely showed in her eyes. She found herself daydreaming a little more and smiling a little brighter. It didn’t hurt that her birthday was right around the corner and she was looking forward to that as well. Happy didn’t seem a descriptive enough word for how she felt, but it definitely came close.

The meeting with the dance club had been enjoyed and since she didn’t have any plans following it, she decided to stick around and work a bit more. It had been years since she had taken any ballet classes but she did remember all of the barre work she had learned in her teens. Even after she had stopped attending classes, she kept up with the strength training to aid her in her swimming and it helped keep her body and mind disciplined. Granted over the past few years she had just stuck with running for her workouts but maybe it was time to bring it back into her life.

She stood alone at the barre after everyone had taken their leave, her left arm resting on the barre and her right en bas. Her feet were in the first position and after a few calming breaths, her legs bent to take her down into a series of slow pliés. The muscles in her legs burned as she focused on her balance and posture, but the pain felt good as she worked through it. Memories of her mother watching through the glass window washed over her and a bittersweet smile tugged at her lips. Jeanette Collins might not have been the best mother, and she might have wronged Jax in more ways than one, but that didn’t mean that Sam didn’t miss her or loved her any less.

A soft sigh parted her lips as she turned to face the other way and work the other side and her chocolate eyes discovered that she hadn’t been alone. “Oh hey, I didn’t know you were still here. I guess I was just in my own little world.”

Who: Ari, and Vivian.
When: Night time, obviously.
Where: The castle grounds.
What: A very wet run.

She's so cold she's so cold. She's so cold cold cold. Like a tombstone.

Muted words passing through the coated wires in her headphones. Leading from the mp3 player strapped to her arm, just hidden beneath a light coat. Why ever the association with death, and frigid icy skin amused her, as much as it did, not even Vivian knew. The smile she wore, highly inappropriate. Especially given the conditions in which she had undertaken her nightly run in. It was freezing, and the constant splattering of rain only added to the undesirable conditions on the night. It wasn't something she could skip, it didn't matter what the weather was like. Each night, she had to leave the thick stone walls of Halcyon behind for an hour, if not more.

It was a reluctant prison, in a way. The teasing windows, which allowed her eyes to few the sun without consequence. After so many months, of only night, being able to see day once more, but not enjoy it, was torture. What she wouldn't give, to just be able to lay beneath the hot African sun, until her skin was darkly tanned, while the words of Simic, and Bly soared through her mind. Her own wishing that they could stand among the greats.

She could not leave those walls, not until the beloved star sunk below the horizon. Only then, was it safe to wander out, and she did. It could be considered a type of phobia, but being stuck inside for several hours at a time, made her rather nervous. The same phobia, which had kept her from welcoming death, when it's hand was wrapped so tightly around her throat. That fear of death, and rotting in a concrete box back home. Not even able to become something beautiful again, like a flower, or a plant. No, just rotting flesh incased hardened mud, and rock.

If Henry had found her only months before, she would have slipped into that sleep. There was a time when she was eager for it, she sought it out, and did everything in her power to bring it upon herself. Dacia had called her self destructive. That passion, she held, mixed with the lose of her family, had been far too much to handle. No one ever expects to lose both parents, and all siblings in one fucking night. That would royal mess up any sane person. Problem being, Vivian had never been conventionally stable. She had always been a bit wild, and carried a taste for trouble. Things which only seemed to heighten after their deaths.

Becoming a vampire had added to her recklessness. She despised what she had become, but denying that several of it's qualities were not extremely appealing, would be a bold faced lie.The more she learned about her own kind, the more her mind began to favor the idea. The more her mouth began to release thoughts which should be kept private. It would likely find her in trouble one day. Even now, she was all ready risking. Having made a "date" with a man... or so she assumed he was a man. A fellow vampire... whose name she did not know, nor had she ever seen. Having a couple of drinks couldn't be too bad, right? It's not as if she planned to take him back to her room... that all depended on how his ass looked in jeans.

Even she knew that was horrible, but still that smile stayed, her feet pounding the cold, damp earth. Ever fiber of clothing, and hair upon her head, soaked, but still she carried on. The air felt like daggers scrapping the inside of her lungs bloody, and raw. This pain, she enjoyed, it drove her that much more. Sooner, or later, it would become to much to bare, and she would have to stop. Then again, being a vampire did allow the body to take far more abuse, so it would be later, rather than sooner.

Who: Ari and Open
Where: Just outside of the school
When: Afternoon, after classes

It was a day of days in his life that much was for certain. There had never been a day in Aramil’s life that he had ever been as quiet or reserved as he had been all day. Something that might have even had his parents worried to see him so quiet. Not that it wasn’t a natural reaction for the young elf. He had moved to new areas before, but unlike the last time, this was a complete change for him. Never before had he been indoors for so long, or been around so many people, and it would only take him a bit of time to adjust to the new surroundings and become active once again.

A quick stop to his room to make sure everything was in place, and to change into a slightly heavier jacket, and moved out into the hall, and then through the doors out onto the grounds of the school. He kept the jacket open, despite the cold. The temperature, in fact, was one of the few welcoming moments of the day. The cold reminded him of home, and the world he had left behind. And, of course, the family that was all together quite angry with him.

A rumbled growl escaped him at that thought, but he quickly shook it out of his head. No, he was going to prove to them that he was capable of everything they had wanted. Despite his anger at his father for sending him here, Ari was still his father’s son and had every intention of proving himself to him. Even if they had different opinions about how to go about the methods to their means. He swept his eyes over the grounds, just outside the building and then shook his head a little.

“This is such a strange place…” he muttered out loud.