Kitty stifled a shriek as the table moved, knocking her off balance and straight into Michael's lap. She blushed brilliant red, her skin matching her hair, suddenly wishing that she really could disappear.
Saffire wailed as his meal bowl slid away from him down the table, hopping determinedly after it.
"Get off of your fellow student, student! Public displays of affection most definitely do not belong in the cafeteria! Not everybody finds you as attractive as you seem to think, and they're trying to eat!"
Kitty's lip quivered as she tried to bite back the tears. She jumped up and ran from the cafeteria, not even remembering to grab Saffire in her hurry to get away. Saffire wailed pitifully as he realized he'd been left behind.
Kitty's lip quivered as she tried to bite back the tears. She jumped up and ran from the cafeteria, not even remembering to grab Saffire in her hurry to get away. Saffire wailed pitifully as he realized he'd been left behind.
Vakkler stares at the little dragon, hearing its mewls, and for a moment his glare falters.
Then it returns. "Will someone shut that ugly little abomination up?" The kobold scowls at the other students and stalks off, forgetting to get the rations.
"You want to make new friends and you come to me?" Asch asks with a wry grin as his eyes flash red for a moment.
Claring at the retreating kobold, Michael's right eye starts changing color again. He raises his hand toward Vakkler for better aim when Saffire jumps up onto his arm and whines at him. The anger drains from him as he cradles the little drake and heads off to find Kitty.
"Vakkler is gonna pay for this..."
Kitty curled up in the storage area and cried. Her stuff was here again, naturally. She ought to just move in and claim this as her room since she was always here anyways. She was so embarrassed. How could she even look Michael in the eyes after that? Maybe he'd just forget about her...
Ephebe blushed.
"Daa-aad!" she complained, embarrassed by the public show of affection, but still smiling a little.
"Alright, I'm not gonna promise that I'm gonna stop getting into trouble. I know that's not what parents want to hear, but I've got some fate of the multiverse stuff hanging over my head that has to come first, but I'll try to go to classes as often as I can. Will that work?"
"Which is why I'm reminding you of that for when you do get in trouble. And I'm sure Ryo and I can take care of the class thing so that we strike as good of a balance as we can between school and Multiversal Fate errands," he laughs as he lets her go.
"Just remember - no more leaving family out of the loop, okay? We can't take care of each other if we don't know what is going on. Deal?"
Tamrin notes the episode with Vakkler, but the agitated kobold leaves before he can say anything on the matter.
Ephebe hesitated. She'd gotten used to handling things on her own. She'd gotten this idea stuck in her head that that was the best way to protect the people she cared about. Maybe she'd been wrong. It was a disturbing thought, but also kinda freeing.
"Okay, Dad. It's a deal," she said. "I'll do my best to stop leaving you guys out of the loop."
"You want to make new friends and you come to me?" Asch asks with a wry grin as his eyes flash red for a moment.
"Yes. I need to make new friends. For note though how did you get your eyes to flash that color? You are the first person other than myself, and my brother that I have seen eyes that can do that." Enre looks at the man that answered him.
Ephebe hesitated. She'd gotten used to handling things on her own. She'd gotten this idea stuck in her head that that was the best way to protect the people she cared about. Maybe she'd been wrong. It was a disturbing thought, but also kinda freeing.
"Okay, Dad. It's a deal," she said. "I'll do my best to stop leaving you guys out of the loop."
He smiles.
"That's my girl. Then I'll stop the sermon now and let you go do your training. And we'll all go grab some dinner in the city sometime this week." :)
He stands up.
"And even though I wish I could have stopped all of this recent stuff from happening to you, I want you to know that I am so proud of you for the way you've handled it all. You did better than most people would do in the same circumstance - and don't let anybody tell you otherwise."
"I know I know - stop embarrassing you. Nope." (^-^)
"Hey, Tamrin," Keaton groans, stuffed with food, "don't tell Ryo about me, okay? I want to see the look on his face."
Ryuzo nods at Enre when he introduces himself
"I am new here too"he says.
When vakkler starts going off on Kitty, Ryuzo smirks, and an 10 images of himself find themselves on 10 different random laps around the cafeteria, and and Ryuzo then goes running off out of the cafeteria screaming "HE"S GONE INSANE!!!" with his arms waving about. When Vakkler pursues, he reappears sitting exactly as he was, grinning at Micheal and Kitty saying "I love that trick..."
sends off a quick message spell to Ephebe
"Do not worry, be gone couple of days, I'm ok."
"Hey, Tamrin," Keaton groans, stuffed with food, "don't tell Ryo about me, okay? I want to see the look on his face."
"I can do that - though it looks like you may be making a 'pit stop' before you go see him. Do you need some antacid, or just a bucket?" ;P
The door to the storage opens a crack and Saffire wiggles through fiercely, hopping to Kitty and snuggling her. Michael opens the door a bit more and steps inside.
"When you weren't in your room, Saffire did this weird eye-glowing thing and ran here. I'm sorry about Vakkler, he wouldn't even have noticed you if you hadn't listened to me and gone barefoot." He says softly as he sits down next to her.
"I can do that - though it looks like you may be making a 'pit stop' before you go see him. Do you need some antacid, or just a bucket?" ;P
"Nah, just need to sit around and get used to digesting. It's a good thing I don't have a Theology class to teach today though."
"I can do that - though it looks like you may be making a 'pit stop' before you go see him. Do you need some antacid, or just a bucket?" ;P"Nah, just need to sit around and get used to digesting. It's a good thing I don't have a Theology class to teach today though."
"Yeah - that would not be the appropriate place to start hurling pea soup on the students. Unless you want a cross-class in exorcism, which could be fun I suppose..."
"Exorcisms in class were a bad idea. Turns out we actually had a minor possession during that week, and a bunch of kids performing what was supposed to be a mock-exorcism did not make that end well."
Ryuzo nods at Enre when he introduces himself
"I am new here too"he says.
When vakkler starts going off on Kitty, Ryuzo smirks, and an 10 images of himself find themselves on 10 different random laps around the cafeteria, and and Ryuzo then goes running off out of the cafeteria screaming "HE"S GONE INSANE!!!" with his arms waving about. When Vakkler pursues, he reappears sitting exactly as he was, grinning at Micheal and Kitty saying "I love that trick..."
Vakkler does not pursue the illusions, having been at a school for, among other things, magic, for years, and being a non-idiot. Instead, he glares at Ryuzo. "You want slurk duty as well, then? So be it! When I return, you can clean the dens with your tongue!"
The kobold continues to stalk off.
"Well the eyes are part of being a damper I suppose. Also the names Asch I'm sure a few people will eventually warn you to stay clear of the vampire…though technically I'm not a vampire." Asch says as he sticks his hand out.
The door to the storage opens a crack and Saffire wiggles through fiercely, hopping to Kitty and snuggling her. Michael opens the door a bit more and steps inside.
"When you weren't in your room, Saffire did this weird eye-glowing thing and ran here. I'm sorry about Vakkler, he wouldn't even have noticed you if you hadn't listened to me and gone barefoot." He says softly as he sits down next to her.
She sniffled and cuddled Saffire. "It's not your fault," she said, still keeping her face down. "I'm sorry. That was really embarrassing....You're not mad at me?"
"Exorcisms in class were a bad idea. Turns out we actually had a minor possession during that week, and a bunch of kids performing what was supposed to be a mock-exorcism did not make that end well."
"I don't remember that...was that one of the weeks I was gone?"
Ryuzo nods at Enre when he introduces himself
"I am new here too"he says.
When vakkler starts going off on Kitty, Ryuzo smirks, and an 10 images of himself find themselves on 10 different random laps around the cafeteria, and and Ryuzo then goes running off out of the cafeteria screaming "HE"S GONE INSANE!!!" with his arms waving about. When Vakkler pursues, he reappears sitting exactly as he was, grinning at Micheal and Kitty saying "I love that trick..."Vakkler does not pursue the illusions, having been at a school for, among other things, magic, for years, and being a non-idiot. Instead, he glares at Ryuzo. "You want slurk duty as well, then? So be it! When I return, you can clean the dens with your tongue!"
The kobold continues to stalk off.
Looks puzzled
"Can I cook them first?"
She sniffled and cuddled Saffire. "It's not your fault," she said, still keeping her face down. "I'm sorry. That was really embarrassing....You're not mad at me?"
"I think people understand that Vakkler went a little overboard. Why would I be embarrassed anyway? It's not like I got covered in food or anything."
"And yes, the person who suggested you go barefoot because people wouldn't notice is at fault."
"Well the eyes are part of being a damper I suppose. Also the names Asch I'm sure a few people will eventually warn you to stay clear of the vampire…though technically I'm not a vampire." Asch says as he sticks his hand out.
Enre focuses on Asch for a moment before putting his hand out to shake Asch's hand. "So eyes like that come from being a dhampir? What is a dhampir? Well other than related to a vampire. Would you happen to know of anything that looks like I do? Headmaster said he would do a DNA test to see but figure I will ask some of the others around." He than says "Seal Release, Code: Vis" He puts his hand on his mask and removes it from his face while pulling back the hood of his cloak.
She sniffled and cuddled Saffire. "It's not your fault," she said, still keeping her face down. "I'm sorry. That was really embarrassing....You're not mad at me?""I think people understand that Vakkler went a little overboard. Why would I be embarrassed anyway? It's not like I got covered in food or anything."
"And yes, the person who suggested you go barefoot because people wouldn't notice is at fault."
"Bu--But when I fell...and then he made fun of me in front of everybody...." she sniffled again. "They've probably mostly forgotten now anyways, I guess," she said, softly. "But it's harder for me to forget."
"And it's not like I had to take that suggestion...and you didn't tell me to sit on the table...but nobody ever noticed me before..."
"I don't remember that...was that one of the weeks I was gone?"
"I think so,"[/i] Keaton says as he thinks back on it.[/i] "Yeah, you were gone that week. I can get you the video of it though, if you'd like to see how it all went down. Poor guy didn't even know he was possessed."
"I don't remember that...was that one of the weeks I was gone?""I think so,"[/i] Keaton says as he thinks back on it.[/i] "Yeah, you were gone that week. I can get you the video of it though, if you'd like to see how it all went down. Poor guy didn't even know he was possessed."
She laughed. "Yeah, that sounds like a fun watch. Anyways, I should get going now. I've got a lot of training to do. Oh, and Krays is going to be absent for a couple of days. Not sure what's up, but he says he's okay. I'm sure he has a good reason."
"Bu--But when I fell...and then he made fun of me in front of everybody...." she sniffled again. "They've probably mostly forgotten now anyways, I guess," she said, softly. "But it's harder for me to forget."
"I can think of far worse things than having a pretty girl fall on me." Michael tells Kitty with a slight grin. "I don't even think I'll have any bruises." ;)
"Bu--But when I fell...and then he made fun of me in front of everybody...." she sniffled again. "They've probably mostly forgotten now anyways, I guess," she said, softly. "But it's harder for me to forget.""I can think of far worse things than having a pretty girl fall on me." Michael tells Kitty with a slight grin. "I don't even think I'll have any bruises." ;)
Kitty blushed and finally looked up. "You're...really not embarrassed about what happened? I...I was afraid...." her voice trailed off.
She laughed. "Yeah, that sounds like a fun watch. Anyways, I should get going now. I've got a lot of training to do. Oh, and Krays is going to be absent for a couple of days. Not sure what's up, but he says he's okay. I'm sure he has a good reason."
"Thanks for the heads up. I'll get you that vid as soon as I think I can stand." Keaton replies, waving, before he starts thinking about trying to take another drink of water...
Kitty blushed and finally looked up. "You're...really not embarrassed about what happened? I...I was afraid...." her voice trailed off.
"Of what, me? Not a chance! I've had worse things happen to me before, so don't worry about." He stands up and holds his hand out to her. "Come on, let's move you back into your room. We can't let the maintenance staff win, now can we?"
Kitty blushed and finally looked up. "You're...really not embarrassed about what happened? I...I was afraid...." her voice trailed off."Of what, me? Not a chance! I've had worse things happen to me before, so don't worry about." He stands up and holds his hand out to her. "Come on, let's move you back into your room. We can't let the maintenance staff win, now can we?"
She laughed and took his hand. "No, I guess not. Although I was seriously considering just moving into the storage closet."
"I'm glad you still like me. I'm sorry. I guess I overreacted."
Ephebe stepped out of reality and into the Clock, finally ready to finish her training. She was glad she got to talk to her dad first though. He'd said a lot of things she had needed to hear and some that she needed to think about. As important as it was for her to master her abilities it was just as important for her to let go of some of the baggage she'd been carrying around.
"Not overly so, in my opinion. Vakkler's the biggest bully this school has." Michael picks up one of the boxes and opens the door. "He's getting to be a real problem too. Delusions of grandeur and all..."
"Not overly so, in my opinion. Vakkler's the biggest bully this school has." Michael picks up one of the boxes and opens the door. "He's getting to be a real problem too. Delusions of grandeur and all..."
"Yeah, I don't know why he's so grumpy lately," she said cheerfully, picking up another box and carrying it back to her room, her demeanor back to normal now that she wasn't worrying about losing her friend.
"Thanks for the heads up. I'll get you that vid as soon as I think I can stand." Keaton replies, waving, before he starts thinking about trying to take another drink of water...
"All I'll say is 'good luck' - and don't surprise your brother by gaining 300 pounds before you see him," he says with a shake of his head as he turns around and brings his full attention to bear upon his apprentice once more.
"With me, Redgrave," he says to Asch as he starts to walk out of the cafeteria, motioning him to fall in step beside him.
"Yeah, I don't know why he's so grumpy lately," she said cheerfully, picking up another box and carrying it back to her room, her demeanor back to normal now that she wasn't worrying about losing her friend.
"Well... It might have something to do with what happened in detention. Albin, the wererat you saw me fight, got attacked by the slurks." Michael shivers slightly at the memory. Strange that it doesn't bother him as much as it used too. "No one can figure out why they went crazy like that."
Asch falls behind Tamrin silently.
Asch falls behind Tamrin silently.
Asch falls behind Tamrin silently.
"So...tell my why exactly I took you on to be my apprentice."
"Yeah, I don't know why he's so grumpy lately," she said cheerfully, picking up another box and carrying it back to her room, her demeanor back to normal now that she wasn't worrying about losing her friend."Well... It might have something to do with what happened in detention. Albin, the wererat you saw me fight, got attacked by the slurks." Michael shivers slightly at the memory. Strange that it doesn't bother him as much as it used too. "No one can figure out why they went crazy like that."
She shudders. "Well, I really hope they don't have anyone doing that for detention again. And I'm really glad it wasn't you that got attacked. Not that I'm glad Albin got attacked...well, you know what I meant."
"I know. Though I, um, did end up getting attacked." Michael admits, resisting the urge to rub the back of his neck and thus drop the box. "I'm okay though."
"I know. Though I, um, did end up getting attacked." Michael admits, resisting the urge to rub the back of his neck and thus drop the box. "I'm okay though."
"Wait, what??! When? What happened? Are you sure you're okay?" she asks, instantly concerned.
"I'm fine, the nurses checked me out and everything. Only thing they can't explain is why my right eye is changing color." He opens that eye wide so Kitty can see the shots of blue going through the brown. "Asch Redgrave was in the infirmary when I left you to see if Albin was doing okay, and he said something that made me angry so I said something that made him angry... and the next thing I know I'm stuck against a wall getting punched like it's going out of style. Then he... then he bit my shoulder. He got slammed away by another student pretty quick after that, and she healed me before collapsing herself."
"I'm fine, the nurses checked me out and everything. Only thing they can't explain is why my right eye is changing color." He opens that eye wide so Kitty can see the shots of blue going through the brown. "Asch Redgrave was in the infirmary when I left you to see if Albin was doing okay, and he said something that made me angry so I said something that made him angry... and the next thing I know I'm stuck against a wall getting punched like it's going out of style. Then he... then he bit my shoulder. He got slammed away by another student pretty quick after that, and she healed me before collapsing herself."
"Oh, my gosh, that's unbelievable! That jerk! I'm so glad you're okay," she said, dropping the box she was carrying to give him an impulsive hug. "There's no excuse for treating you like that!"