halcyon_houses

Who: Halcyon Staff
Where: Common room in the Staff Building
When: Saturday Afternoon
What: Staff get together

The week had been a quiet one for Dove, and she was happy to have that brief moment of calm. The student body, even though she knew there was always some social drama happening, had been in a good mood this week. There wasn't anybody clamoring at her door to get in, no one seemed to have had any vent worthy situations to talk about. Not too many in the school had any serious problems, most of the time people just needed to vent to someone that had an outside perspective on the situation. It amused her sometimes though, when people of the same social circle would knock on her door, all with related problems. She always encouraged them to talk to their friends about it, they would undoubtedly be a wonderful support system for them, when she herself wasn't always available. Of course, if they actually listened to that particular piece of advice, she might be out of a job. On the other hand, she didn't know too many psychologists who would deal with supernatural beings.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft chime sounding from an alarm on her laptop. There was a staff get together of some fashion happening today, and Dove decided she would make an appearance. Having been here for awhile, she was friendly with the staff, but between the newcomers and everyone's busy schedules, she hadn't devoted as much time to them as she should. It was healthy to have social connections, and unhealthy not to maintain them. That's what the general gist of most of her books had told her, and she just happened to agree. It was time to put a name to new faces and remind herself of others. Dove was a cheerful person and very easy to get along with, so she didn't feel that anxiety some might about a bunch of people in the same room together.

Shutting her laptop down and tidying up her desk she got ready to head down to the commons room in the staff house. Quickly, she scribbled a note on a post-it that would be taped to her front door. It explained that she would be out of her office for the afternoon and if an emergency came about to find a guard who would be able to reach her. She never knew when someone would try to unhinge her door in an existential crisis. It didn't take long to get herself together, and she was off.

Arriving in the commons room, she had hoped she dressed appropriately. It was a saturday, but it was still a staff gathering so she wanted to appear casual and professional at the same time. She wore a pair of dark jeans, black healed boots, and an emerald green wrap around sweater. He hair was left loose in long curls and her make-up wasn't much, a very light dusting of eyeshadow and clear gloss. Deciding she was presentable enough, she walked into the room.

Dove would thank Rozlyn an the other staff who helped put this together at some point, they certainly created a warm and friendly atmosphere. It wasn't overly formal or fancy, something she appreciated. There were a couple couches, some chairs and coffee tables set up - more of a room for conversation than anything else. Dove headed over to one of the tables first before she sat down. Coffee, tea, and food platters were provided, and there was some light music playing in the background. At the very least, it was going to be a much deserved afternoon of relaxation for the staff that worked at Halcyon.

Before long she had a hot mug filled with herbal tea, and a small plate filled with fruit. Sitting down in one of the chairs, she waited for more people to arrive.

Who: Aimee and Miklos
What: A reunion
Where: Eventually Miklos' rooms, I assume
When: Thursday night, well after dark

For a good while after their invention, planes had fascinated Aimee immensely. She had studied them when they were only used for the military, and rode on them as often as possible while traveling when they were put into commercial use, but after so many flights the new had long worn off and the professor found herself sleeping off the hassle of packing up her belongings on the way back to the school. She'd taught there before, four years between 2000 and 2004, but her studies had led her away again on a sabbatical of indefinite length and she was only just returning, a few more books among her belongings, a few more studies published, and another few years passed in the incredibly quick way that they seemed to when one had forever to look forward to living.

The plane touched down and Aimee stepped out into the night, only a large suitcase and a computer bag accompanying her onto the tarmac. The rest of her things would be following within the week. In the cab, she managed to doze off again, and familiar dreams began to flit across her subconscious. Miklos, she knew instantly. She dreamt of him often, even now after so much time had passed since their parting. Almost a century. It had taken awhile but she had finally resigned herself to the painful truth--he must be dead. There was no other way she would not sense him. Now he was a fond memory, a constant pang of longing, and his image existed in dreams.

This was more vivid than most, an she awoke so suddenly with such an overwhelming feeling that she startled the cab driver with her exclamation. She hadn't felt this sensation of connection, this awareness of another's presence in so long that for a moment she doubted it. How else could their absence from one another's thoughts be explained if he had not been truly killed? Trembling slightly, she closed her eyes and tried to reawaken a communication line that had been long abandoned.

Miklos? she thought, loudly, desperately. Miklos, is that you I feel? She knew that often, even then, the message wouldn't always get through. But she could be truly damned by whatever higher power might or might not exist if she wasn't going to at least try.

The cab pulled up in front of the school and Aimee hurriedly directed the cab driver to "throw her bags somewhere inside, she didn't care," tipped him with a bill that was far too large, and half-ran into the familiar building, high heels clacking on the stone floor.

If he was here by some farfetched chance, where would he be? A moment's thought, and she made haste toward the professor's housing. He could hardly be a student with his age and experience. It was a long walk, too long, and the speed of her heartbeat and the desperation in each step, each breath, might have somehow traveled along to reach him through their blood tie.