XIV. Mourning [Monday 17th, Day]

12:42:59 [Audrey`] "You should probably be looking for their first book of the semester, Miss Rancourt. With all due respect, your lesson plans do not exactly look similar to that of those which have been successful in your... Subject... So I do suggest you test them in the waters and go from there." Rolling her eyes slightly at the memory, she had spoken to the head of education not too long ago, her 'boss' of sorts. So they didn't like her lesson plans because they were different? So be it. Fingers found the silver plate of the door, pushing it open to enter the nearly deserted library in the morning. Some meandered about plucking books from the shelves or typing away at one of the public school computers, though only very small sounds could be heard as the door closed behind her with a soft thud. The faculty seemed more worried about teachers' lesson plans than these teenagers dying off as quickly as flies. She had only been at the institution a couple of weeks and already she had heard of three deaths, or bodies found. A shiver rippled up her spine at the mere thought, the petite teacher bringing fingers to the bridge of her nose, giving a small pinch as she regained her composure, caramel eyes opening after a moment as she held her files in her opposite hand. To find a book now. One that came in bulk in the library was necessary. She would need about thirty copies for her kids. Moving towards the first shelf she saw, she would allow her eyes to flicker over the titles, thin pink lips pursed as she thought silently. None looked familiar or even sparked her interest in the slightest. Heavenly. Peering up at the top shelf, she saw a relatively familiar book. Brave New World. It was a classic. Though the real challenge would be reaching the thing! Moving to her tiptoes, the small female crinkled her brow, reaching dainty digits towards the top shelf, though unable to even come close.

12:48:03 [Izak] Yesterday still felt like it was an utter blur, like it hadn’t actually happened. Declan never woke up him, he’d never ventured over to the Loch, and this was all some terrible nightmare perhaps due to some buried guilt about involving Sydney in the Yule Ball prank. The young Were’s memory had its fair share of black spots, beginning with falling through the ice and sinking in the glacial waters of the lake and ending sometime afterwards when he’d woken up under the tender care of one of the school nurses. Somewhere in between there were distinct feelings of burning, likely due to the water in his lungs, and his head and body ached, common symptoms an emotionally triggered change. But mostly, there were vivid but uncatchable rapid flashes of white streaked with red; that and the sound of a painful snarl as it was cut short by the Loch’s unforgiving contents. It was something he couldn’t seem to un-hear. When he’d come to, a short while after the incident, Izak had had the situation calmly explained to him, the memories and glimpses into the past suddenly making sense, and falling into place like a finished puzzle. Except, this was one puzzle he almost wished he’d never put together. Despite the reassuring words, and persuasive explanations all saying that it wasn’t his fault, that it was all one big accident that not even the Divination master had foreseen. Izak remained unconvinced. The previously, carefree, easy-going senior was initially horrified. He’d demanded proof, to see what had happened, what’d he done but the faculty obviously thought otherwise. Barely an hour spent in the infirmary and he’d left with nothing but a mere bandage stuck to two lengthy slices on his face, one cutting into the end of his left brow. Likely the result of falling through the ice…, or a defensive polar bear claw to the face. One he’d deserved, at the very least. And one that would heal quickly enough. But after all was near said and done, the night had dragged on for the well known Dball goalie, barely an hour or two of sleep was to be had as he relived what memories of the recent event he concretely had. Slowly but surely, as the hours passed and morning came, the numbness had settled in. Rising from his bed with haunted circles lingering under his glossy grey hues, Izak gave a sidelong glance to the shreds of clothing from the outfit he’d worn yesterday. The still bore speckles and splattered stains of her blood. The girl who’s death he was responsible for. The girl he’d murdered. Listlessly the young man pulled on fresh hoodie and sneakers and trekked outside, prepping his body for a brisk morning run. Mouths whispered, and stories travelled fast throughout the school, some sensitive, sure, but the most exaggerated the gruesomeness of it all, it made his stomach sick. The normal were appetite was gone, and as he tugged on a beanie, half covering his bandages, eyes were cast at the caution-taped scene of the crime if only for a moment. He could still see the splotches of snow stained red, the distance gaping hole in the ice that was proof enough that this wasn’t just some nightmare, but real. Very real. Izak would starting running with the hopes that if he ran fast enough, and long enough maybe, just maybe, he could forget.

13:05:05 Adilyn was also outside, her body riveted in place of the scene where her friend Sydney had died. An accidental death they were calling it, but she could see clearly the vivid signs of blood that was all that remained of her roommate. The notion still hadn’t hit her clearly enough. Sydney was so vivacious in life, it was nigh impossible to not imagine her around. Adi almost felt that any more she would come bundling down the hill, take hold of the siren’s arm and convince her to train. The thought of which caused the young female severe pain and a tear welled within her eye, pushing to the limits to spray forth over the smooth ivory pallor of her cheek. Natural ruby lips formed a small pout, the bottom lip quivering as she closed her eyes, lashing of ebony brushing against her soft cheeks while she took a moment of silence, hindered by the pain of loss within. This was the last thing she would ever expect, though for Sydney to die a hero’s death was fitting of the girl. At least she had died doing something she loved. Saving someone. Steps around her in the snow indicated another presence close by and the Siren Mage slowly pivoted around. Adorned in a white jacket with fur lined hood and wrists, a hat atop her head, hair in it’s masterful mahogany curled down over her shoulders, the femme was every bit a natural beauty, enhanced further more by the very glamour that ensconced her form. The siren was in all ways a pull to the eye, a glance that needed to be taken twice, with her soft essence and alluring ways. Though she was very much innocent in how they progressed. Letting her charm flow just as natural as she was, rather than force them at least in this given situation. Eyes of rich sea-green, lightened by the white of the snow reflected her tears, while landing upon the form of Izak. The one everyone was talking about. A hint of anger welled up inside her. She knew the male through Durusball. She knew most people on the teams just as Sydney had done. Without further pause, the slim figure, dainty yet showing surprising strength in her mannerism motioned forward, ending up in a jog herself as legging covered legs, boots to her knees and mittens completed her outfit to keep her warm from the biting chill. She soon caught up to the Were, arm reaching out as she aimed to tap him upon the shoulder, fingers moving in to tug his shirt. “Hey you there.. Hey.. Please stop..” As she tried to get his attention. “Izak.. Please..”

13:36:11 [Izak] The Were ran laps with not so surprising endurance and stamina. He’d kept the same pace since he’d starting running, neigh an hour or so ago. His self-made track never once varied, and it got to the point where his shoes had trampled the snow in an clearly visible beaten path. Should anyone walk by it would be obvious where the young man had been, was, and would be by the trail he both followed and left in his wake. His hood had all but blown back, jostling about behind him only a wool cap adorned his head protecting it from the cold. Meanwhile his nose and cheeks went unshielded and quickly turned a bright rosy red; his eyes watered, his moist lips had begun to dry and chap from wind exposure; and his ungloved hands shared a similar fate as they pumped along consistently by his sides. Izak kept his chin angled just enough toward the ground. Enough that he could still see where he was going, but obscured in the same manner so he wouldn’t have to meet the gazes of others, nor look them in the eye. Toned legs pounded the earth as he looped around for another lap, his head swimming, but his breaths coming evenly. He focused on the sound of his breathing, his footfalls, the crunching of the snow, the whistling of the wind in his ears; but in reality everything currently sounded like his head was underwater. A distant, muffled indifference to what was going on around him. He barely, if at all, noticed the sound of footsteps behind him, at least one’s that weren’t his own. They weren’t near enough to shake him from his focus, to break his fierce concentration. But the stranger apparently wasn’t so easily deterred. Her words didn’t register, but a tap on the shoulder, and a not-so-subtle tug of his clothing had the young man swinging around suddenly as he was pulled from his reverie, forcefully so. “-What?” He reacted, slowly realizing that his voice had come out an octave to high, and just a tad too harsh. The girl’s eyes were slightly puffed, watered either from the wind, or from tears. Tawny brows furrowed, crinkling the bandages on one side as he fought and stifled a frown. A red cold hand with white tipped fingers ran up then back down his face, a clear sign of stress – he obviously wasn’t hiding it well. “…I’m Sorry…what?” He asked again as an afterthought, softly jerking his shoulder away and out of her reach as he settled where he stood, catching his breath and purposefully avoiding direct eye contact for more than just a few seconds at a time.

13:47:50 [Adilyn] :had been prepared to yell toward him. To unleash her anger. The HOW COULD YOU!’s and the WHYS!? That plagued her mind. It was a terrible thing to lose a best friend. A room mate one had known for many years, growing close together as time at Hex had drifted along. But what was more terrible was the look upon the male’s face. His rapid snap reaction causing her to stumble back at first, in fear of him. Eyes widening in sheer terror just momentarily until it dawned upon her. His face, his eyes - all of him carried so much pain inside. She could naturally feel it oozing from him as if an empathic fiend of great power. It hit her directly in the gut. She wasn’t prepared to be taken aback so, not by him. She expected to be hateful and hurtful to his presence, but he was doing enough of that himself. Her grief was like a knife cutting through her, but this male was so lost, so alone and so distraught, she could barely stand to speak at first. Ruby lips parted into a soft O, while she lowered her hand from his form, letting go of his shirt as he tugged away. “Izak..” his name like a song on her lips, the Siren’s gift of voice was enough to sooth any a male, regardless what state and in her make up and natural design she actually wanted to help him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” She sniffed slightly, another indication of the fact that she’d been weeping. “I know you, through Durusball. I’ve heard the rumors and while I don’t know what you must be feeling, I can image at least what you must be going through.” She paused, her tone was lowered but enchanting all the same, enough to appease the male with soothing calmness, as if coddled in warm arms that surrounded his body. “I… Sydney was my roommate.” She struggle to say without trying to break tear again. “My best friend..” She gulped. “I want to come and yell at you. Wanted to scream at you for taking her away but I know Sydney wouldn’t want that. I know, Izak that Sydney wouldn’t hold you responsible. Not at all. She would have forgiven you if she’d been given the chance too. You .. You should know that.” She was cold, but she didn’t know if she was shivering from grief, or from fear of the male, or from anger that burned deep inside. Her small frame was petite against his large form, but she stood her ground, resilient in how she spoke, masterful in her approach. Though this was no game to her. Her words were genuine. caring even. “You look like you could use a friend…”

14:28:14 Erinn smiled as he agreed to the deal of taking her with him if he escapes this prison of a school, she wouldn't hold her breath for that but one could hope, right? She was surprised to hear that he hadn't seen a mermaid before, at least not one shifted in the water with a tail, "Well, I guess I will have to show you then, mark it off your bucket list." she would say to him with a smirk but winced slightly as she felt him put his arm around her, his arm pressing against some of the lashes at first but soon she would smile to him, "Thanks, " she said as she huddled a little closer to him and let him start to lead her onto the path again. A grin appeared on her face, "It would be a shame to drown someone so pretty, " she would say to him and laugh softly as he took a drag of his cigarette. When he mentioned being able to accomplish the alternative to going inside she breathed a bit of a sigh of relief, "That would be pretty great, " she really hated to be inside "If only we had marshmallows, chocolate, and grahm crackers." she would say and laugh softly.

14:35:16 [Izak] The way she stumbled, recoiled, and overall responded with a distinct sense of fear caused the male’s features to tense up, his shoulders and posture to stiffen. A self fulfilling prophecy it seemed, he thought he was a monster so he was beginning to properly act like one too. Still, as a silence lingered in the air, he found himself getting restless. She was just looking at him like a doe looking into the eyes of a lion, not saying anything. It was unsettling, and he began to shift about on his feet, itching to just turn and run. His head swiveled, glancing around waiting for the deafening silence to break, but he definitely wasn’t going to be the one to do it. She’d stopped him obviously, for a reason, and he simply wanted her to get on with it. To say whatever it was she came to say, so he get back to forgetting. His name, she’d said it, finally the hush lifted, but her tone was a strange sort of note, a melody to it. His brows crinkled again, looking past the sound and defensively wondering how she knew his name. The thought was answered quick enough by his own head – everyone probably knew his name by now. This – this was how he was to be remembered. She spoke again, some sort of apology, but it brushed his ears and his shoulders as he shrugged it off and let it get picked up by the wind. She still wasn’t getting to the point, but now she was sniffling – something he wasn’t currently prepared to handle. He fought off another frown, and looked off to the right – the opposite direction of the Loch as she recovered and finally began explaining. Durusball. Rumors. Imagine what he’s feeling? His gaze instantly flicked back to her, a fierce guarded stare. “No. No you can’t.” She couldn’t possibly understand, or imagine how he was feeling. Like a monster ; “You didn’t –“ Kill an innocent girl – one who had – to add insult to injury – only just minutes before, saved his life. What a way to return the favor. Izak stifled a scoff and shook his head instead, cutting his retort short. As it seemed, the still nameless femme was resilient and perhaps a bit stubborn as she continued in her fruitless attempts to explain her situation and even offer aid. She was Sydney’s roommate – her best friend. Izak’s insides clenched in a knot, guilt bubbling somewhere at the pit of his stomach rising until it spread through his veins. Jaw and muscles rigid, he’d nearly begun to just turn and walk away. . He couldn’t stand here and watch this girl cry – he just couldn’t. But now she was speaking of forgiveness, of friendship – putting herself out on a limb to the guy who had murdered someone she obviously, deeply cared for. However, Izak’s guard was up and his defenses on full alert. The wall had been built overnight, and it wasn’t anywhere near to coming down. Not when one girl out of an entire academy said he was forgiven and offered her pity. “..Yeah? ..Well, I don’t…” Again, it came out harsher than he had intended and it was then that the Were turned on his heel and began walking, if left alone for a few steps he’d once again break into a run. If the girl persisted, he’d give up on finishing his morning exercise, so to speak, and start back for the dorms – or the library – or wherever. //

14:42:14 Henry chuckles lightly at the bucket list comment, but doesn’t really say much more on it. He’ll just remember to remind her later on. Eventually they stop just into the woods in an area that could be considered a very small clearing. Once they get there he slips his arm from her shoulders and goes to gather up as many branches as he can, shakes off whatever snow might be on them, then piles them up. “I could get used to all those compliments.” With a wink and a smirk thrown over his shoulder at Erinn. Now that he’s got a pretty good pile of kindling that’s only a little bit wet from snow and stuff, he goes about trying to get it lit. No snapping fingers tricks here - he just concentrates really hard and points at the wood like he’s trying to force choke it, and eventually it lights! Bwoof, fire! With a bright smile he motions her in closer to the flames. “There we go! Should warm you up.” But just in case, he throws his arms back around her shoulders once she gets closer to the flame. Hey, she let him get away with it once.. Might as well push his boundaries a little bit. “That does sound good, but that’d mean we’d have to go inside.” If his arm is around her shoulder, then he uses the other to jerk a thumb in the direction of the school. And then uses it to pull out another cigarette, light it, and get to smoking.

14:53:35 Adilyn was stubborn and wouldn’t give up so easily. As much as she wanted to hate him for his actions, she knew she couldn’t. The wound in her was too great, the loss to powerful for her to feel anything but grief, though there was a sense of pity for the man who felt a monster. His response to her, his reaction was to be expected. Certainly the little Siren wasn’t going to let the big bad wolf knock her down. No, this femme was determined and would see this through to the end. He didn’t need to be alone, it wasn’t going to be healthy for him to be alone. Both of them were grieving in different ways, both had lost something that linked the two of them together. Sydney would have forgiven him. She wouldn’t have held it against him. Sydney wasn’t that kind of person. “You’re right I don’t… “ As she began to follow him once more, keeping up with his jog, her slender form carrying itself with grace and posture, something she’d gathered over the years in ballet. “And you have to in time. You can’t keep carrying this pain alone.” She spoke, her voice more forceful this time, though sweet melodic tones that sang with a richness to ease its way to his heart. “I don’t forgive you, but I want to. I want to understand to help my grief. It’ll help you to. Don’t… “she stopped, her words getting a slight edge. “Don’t run away from this. This isn’t something you can just ignore. Stop. We’ll go inside, have some cocoa or anything. You don’t need to be alone right now. Sydney wouldn’t want it this way at all.” The name was spilled from her lips, near broken voice happening once more though she maintained her splendour, keeping her appearance as beautiful as ever, despite the red nose, rose cheeks and swollen eyes. “Izak, please. “ She pleaded with him, following him along. “I will persist in this. I won’t give up. You owe some answers, and I’m willing to listen to what’s going on inside of you because that’s what Syd would do. She wouldn’t let you fall on the ice. She’d teach you how to move. She wouldn’t leave you alone during your grief, your guilt, she would have persisted in helping you to move past this. I’m not Sydney, but I’m the next best thing.” Her anger was bridled in the way she wanted to just slap it out of him, to punch him to get a reaction -- let him unleash the monster in him so he can get it all out instead of keeping things bottled in. She hated him, but she cared enough to want to help him. She didn’t know him, but knew of him. She also knew Sydney knew of him, had even mentioned him the morning after the ball. “It was an ACCIDENT, IZAK.. NOT YOUR FAULT! You weren’t yourself. You’d been in the ice for how long!? The lack of oxygen to the brain made the change happen. You couldn’t control the Wolf in this case. Not this time. It wasn’t your doing. It happened.. God, it happened.. “ The tune to her words, the song that she sang was no melody but a pure heart wrenching song to reach the male. She rarely used her Siren powers for manipulation of others. Not anymore - that was the old Adi, but since joining Hex, she’d learned very quickly how not to do so for the repercussions were too much. But now - how she sought to reach him, to pull deep inside and tug at his strings so he could unravel some of that emotion he’d built up inside. Grief was a terrible beast of nature, and Adi, despite everything, was desperately trying to help him, and in doing so, would use her powerful nature of her voice to do so.

14:58:06 Erinn grinned a bit as she listened to his chuckle and fell comfortably silent for a few moments as they soon stopped in the woods, she helped him get some branches and wood for the fire, she didn't want to be completely useless right? She brushed some snow off her and tried again to make her hair cooperate and stay out of her face as she pulled it over one shoulder, it cooperated for the most part and she smiled, satisfied. "Hmm I suppose if you earn them, I could get used to giving them. A girl likes to be complimented now and again too, ya know." she would say with a grin and a wink in turn as she looked to him. She watched him as he stood there and pointed at the wood, she waited expectantly then once it lit, she would grin a bit, "Damn.. That's hot." she would say and laugh softly then let him motion her closer to the flames and him. The fire light shot a pleasant glow across her face, lit her up in a rather flattering way as she stood there and felt his arm around her shoulders again. She leaned into him a little and wrapped her arm around his waist loosely. "Definitely warmer. Guess you'd never have to worry about freezing to death." she would say to him witha smirk, his gift was more useful than her own. "That's true, I don't particularly want to do that, so this works great.. Thanks. " she would say and look up to him with a smile.

15:15:08 Henry gets a contemplative look about him as she helps gather wood and mentions girls liking compliments. Generally he compliments with his eyes rather than his words, but he’ll have to work on that. So he nods but doesn’t immediately say anything. Not until her ‘that’s hot’, then he lets out another bit of that rich, deep laughter. “Well, that’s a first.” And then there they stand, her arm about his waist and his about her shoulders, getting warm by the fire. Which casts such a very pleasant glow about her face. And, as it has been, his attention is mostly on her and very little on their surroundings. “You’re beautiful, love.” Very blunt compliment, but Henry thinks it’ll do nicely. Conveys his meaning well. And then he slips right on back into their conversation. “I’ve never worried much about being cold, let alone freezing. But I’m not immune to my own fire so I still have to be careful.” Matter-of-fact nod given after that. A lesson he’s learned the hard way. “Hey, no problem. Means I get to keep your keep your company a little longer.” Sly little grin here that disappears around the butt of his cigarette. Another puff, smoke exhaled through nostrils and away from her as best he can with their closeness.

15:20:48 Erinn could still feel him looking her over a little even as they were gathing fire wood, it makes her smirk to herself before she soon watches the fire. She would laugh with him, his deep, rich laugher was rather infectious in her opinion and she would blush ever so slightly at how dumb what she said probably sounded. "I doubt it." she would say when he says it was a first, she still grins another moment before it slowly fades into a soft smile as she stands there with him and her eyes watch the fire dance as it lights her face. When he told her she was beautiful, she was surprised, not necessarily by the fact that she was called beautiful, but that he said it so bluntly, but sincerely. She would smile up at him, "Thank you, I think I could get used to hearing that." she would say to him and smile a bit more up at him before she looked to the fire again and let her head rest slightly against him as she was warming up. "You haven't? I have, but guess I don't have to worry right now." She would say but frown slightly at the way he said he wasn't immune to his own fire, "You sound like you learned the hard way.. How bad?" she would ask him, a little concerned as her lips frowned slightly still, she hoped he hadn't been burned too badly. But soon that frown turned into a smile as he grinned at her a little and said it meant he got to keep her a little longer, "Yes, you do.. For now." she would tease with the last bit, almost challenging him to try to keep her longer as she leaned in a little and watched for his reaction as she reached for his cigarette after he took another drag. She would try to take it from him gently, if he let her she would smile a bit more and take a drag from it and blow the smoke away before handing it back to him.

15:44:02 [Izak] When it became clear that should he run, she would likely follow – Izak resigned to walk, stubbornly so, towards the Academy’s doors letting the girl’s passionate words bounce off of his back. Why she was so steadfast and determined to play therapist was beyond him, but it had barely been twenty-four hours since the incident, and he simply wasn’t interested. Wool hat was tugged a little tighter down over his ears, and cold hands were buried into the depths of his pockets for warmth. I will persist. I won’t give up. You owe me answers. Izak battled the urge to spin around again, and this time shout . ‘Why’ or ‘Fine’ but instead he stopped mere feet from the entrance to the school and hissed out an exhale. “Fine.” Izak shut his eyes, and lifted a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Fine –“ He repeated. “You have questions – what makes you think I have answers? Or that I’d want to talk? I don’t even know your name.” He spat caustically, bitter as he brushed off his hat into his hands as fingers wracked through his dirty blond locks. Mixing with the guilt coursing through his veins was a growing frustration. He wanted to be left alone, why didn’t she understand that? No, she wasn’t Sydney. But what made her the next best thing? The tension was building already, -- and then she began shouting. Loud expressive attempts telling him what everyone else had already said. It was an accident, it wasn’t his fault, blah blah fucking blah. She didn’t know. She wasn’t there. She didn’t understand, and as far as he was concerned she never would. “…Shut up!; Just – Shut! Up!” Came the response of a young man’s who patience had worn thin and frustrations bubbled over. By now, both of their outbursts had probably garnered some attention but he didn’t seem to care. This could add to the stories that were already circulating. Whether by her guidance via a Siren’s persuasion, or by his own will the built up emotion had been released, even if it had been the form of a hostile shout. Izak inhaled, grasping at the roots of his hair for a few prolonged moments. “…You win.” He breathed, letting his arms drop back by his sides, hat in hand, simply defeated. “What do you want to know? - What do you want me to say?..” Appearing to have resigned, he’d wait for her to lead the way or ask whatever it was she wanted to ask.

16:02:12 [Henry] That blush was hard to see in the light of the fire, so he probably misses it entirely. But he does catch that doubt. Instead of responding with words he just gives a light squeeze to her shoulder in reassurance. The smile she gives is definitely returned, his lips peeling back into a beaming show of pearly whites. “I’ll have to say it more often, then.” Another quick drag, maybe a lean in against her as she leans into him. Propping themselves up with each other. Nice and cozy and warm. “Pretty bad, but it’s gotten better since then. Medical magic and all that.” The hand holding his cigarette waves in the air to dismiss it as no big deal, which is probably about the time she reaches out to take the smoke from him. He arches up a brow, but otherwise doesn’t stop her from taking it. Just gives a little grin as he watches her take a puff and hand it back. “You know, I don’t mind sharing, but I’ve got more if you want one.”

16:03:16 [Adilyn] It truly wasn’t a question of winning. No one won in this game. In fact, it wasn’t a game at all. In all senses it was two people grieving over the loss of one common ground, one person that they shared a bond with in some ways. Adi was trying to reach out to someone else, to make a connection with the male that took her best friend away in hopes of desperately trying to understand the mistake made. It wasn’t his fault. But she did blame him, though she’d not say that directly to his face. He already blamed himself enough. It was visible to read, clearly defined in the depths of his eyes. He seemed to give in to her will power, though it was of no smug effort that Adilyn would respond, nor would it be fitted upon the angelic face that gazed at the male. “No one wins, Izak.” She whispered softly, moving toward the door where he stood. “We can go into the library if you like, or someone quiet. Away from other people, if that suits you. Then we can talk?” Her question was offered, her head canting, a strand of hair falling over her face, was pushed back behind her ear under her hat. “I’m Adilyn Winters. Tritus. 5th year.” She offered her information. “I play Durusball for Tritus, on the same team as Syd. I know you because we made it a habit of getting to know other players, or at least about them and who they were. It’s how we competed. Sydney was far more better than it, though than I. She was much more dedicated.” For a moment, she turned, spinning around as her voice broke once more, not wanting him to see her tears as she ducked her head, then wiped her eyes quickly with the back of her mitten covered hands. Exhaling a slow breath of air, she turned back to face male, eyes lighting with the beauty within them, crystalline tears that reflected of her eyelashes as she motioned toward the door. “I just want to talk. I want to know what Syd was doing.. I want to know how she looked at the ball because I didn’t go. She was so excited about her date.. And then it all ended so quickly. I just want to talk to someone who knew of her. Not my close friends. We’re all to grieving to much to be able to talk to each other. But you - you have a connection to Sydney. You’re the last person she was with when she was alive.’ As she slowly turned back to face him, her eyes widening further as she tried to appeal to his nature. “Don’t carry the blame. Sydney was out there just as much as you. Things could have been reversed. You didn’t act on your own, Izak. It wasn’t a thought process to take her life. You couldn’t have known it would happen..” As if she was reaching for a statement that he would realize, and confirm. To help her understand the process further. To help her make sense of her friends early departing from this World, and to help elevate the man’s pain before her. “Let’s go inside..” She offered, moving in through the door, hoping he would follow her as she took the stairs, making her way up toward the Library. If he followed her, she’d enter into the quite room that was devoid of all other students - leaving it to be just the two of them for the moment. Opting to slide down one of the aisles, she took a stop at the end and begun to remove her coat, hat and mittens, before leaning against the wall and sliding down. “Sit.. Please.. “

16:09:23 Erinn was glad he didn't see the blsh, she hated how easily she blushed sometimes because of how fair her skin was. She didn't miss the squeeze he gave her, it made her smile a bit more, especially as he smiled too. "Only if you mean it." she would say to him and smirk. She liked it, it was comfortable and relaxing, she looked around and saw a few logs on their sides and realized they had found a spot used just for this on more than one occasion it seemed, "Want to sit?" she would ask him, gesturing towards the rather large log that looked just big enough for the both of them if they huddled up close. As he mentioned it being pretty bad she nodded slightly and frowned, "That sucks.. Burns are the worst, they hurt long after the fire is gone, get worse, much worse before getting better.. I'm glad the didn't use fire for punishement, " she would say with a bit of a smirk, though there was no amusement in it, more bitter about the lashes she still had since she hadn't been healed like the others. She had caught the arched brow and smirked after she took a drag and he said he had more, but didn't mind sharing, she shook her head, "It was more or less to see what you'd do." she would say to him and grin, she had thought of tossing it in the fire, see if she could spark his temper and that devious glint lit her eyes most likely giving it away. She liked to push boundaries, see what made people tick, it was a dangerous game but that's what made it so fun. She was playing with fire, literally, how exciting!

16:23:44 [Henry] “I don’t say things I don’t mean.” A very true statement, and his tone suggests a seriousness he doesn’t normally display. Of course it only lasts for that one sentence before he’s back to his jovial self. Glance is given to the log she points out before he nods and leads them both on over to it, brushing off whatever snow is there for them both before taking a seat. Should she follow, then he wraps that arm wrap back around her shoulders. If she sits somewhere else, then he probably doesn’t do that. “Yea, it was fucking painful. Guess I learned my lesson though.” Another of those nonchalant shrugs to dismiss that part of the conversation. He doesn’t care to talk about his aches and pains all too much. Her bitterness is understood, though he doesn’t know exactly where it stems from. Some kind of punishment. “You’ve been down to the dungeons?” A bit of sympathy in his tone. It seems likely most of the students have made at least one trip down there, being delinquents and all, so at least they all have that shared memory. Despite the generally depressing conversation point of the dungeons and punishment, he can’t help but chuckle a bit at her little cigarette test and the glint in her eyes. “You play a dangerous game, love.” But danger is exciting and makes for an awesome story.

16:29:14 Erinn canted her head to the side slightly as she looked to him and he said that he didnt' say things he didn't mean, she would smile a bit and nod, "I'll keep that in mind, " she would say to him and give him a gentle squeeze as she saw him look over to the log and she would let him lead her to it, she was about to brush it off but he took the lead on that. "Thank you, a gentleman?" she would ask with a slight arch of her brow. She had called Ignatius a gentleman a time or two, but he was only one when the mood struck, he never seemed to like to really be one. She didn't think about that long though, he was inconsequential now, in her book. She would soon with him and huddle up againt him again with a smile but it turned a little whistful as he said it was painful, "The lessons we learn best are usually the painful ones, I think." she would say to him as he shrugged but she left it at that. As he asked about her going to the dungeons she would laugh softly, though no real mirth was in it, she caught the sympathy in his tone. "Several times actually, mostly due to me liking to push boundaries and test limits. Most recent was a food fight, just some lashes." she would say to him, but of course he'd seen them at the dance, so he would know it was a lot more than just a few. She didn't seem to like to talk about her suffering, aside from complaining about the school being a prison, but they all shared that feelin gon some level she was sure. At his mention of a dangerous game, she grinned at him, " My favorite kind, love." she would say softly in his ear as she leaned in before she would pull back slightly and with with a smirk before looking to the fire.

16:38:20 [Izak] “Sure. Wherever.” Came the subdued response to her inquiry. Library, common room, cafeteria – did it really matter? He wanted to forget everything, she wanted to learn it. Stuck between a rock, a hard place, and a girl who refused to take no for an answer Izak had succumbed to her demands, but not enthusiastically so in the least. He’d answer her questions concisely, he’d not say more than he had to, and some things he wasn’t sure he’d say at all – unless magically persuaded, which would not be something he’d appreciated should he realize it was occurring. Steady footfalls ghosted Adilyn’s – who had finally revealed her name – as he was towed up a staircase and into a random, but desolate and isolated isle of books starting with the letter M. As the girl slid into her makeshift seat, so too did Izak, slouching into his, letting his long legs stretch out some in front of him, however bending at the knee. He sat opposite of her, back pressed to the massive book case and forearms balancing atop the peaks of his legs. After a few moments of silence, Izak shut his eyes and let his head lull back, an oddly vulnerable position as his thoughts wanders and swam, searching his memories, and figuring out which questions to address first. Start simple, he thought as his lips parted and he simply began speaking. “She wore something silver and sparkly. Like it had had a bucket of glitter dumped on it at some point. It was pretty though – especially when it caught the light just right.” His nose scrunched a bit, absentmindedly at the musty smell of their locale – the trouble with keen werewolf senses, still he kept going. “She wasn’t so excited when I found her though – her date was MIA, I didn’t really ask why. But we chatted about Dball for a few minutes when Mila – another sixth year - showed up. They were both pretty bummed, so – well, I’m sure you heard about the Ball getting cut short – that mess was my attempt at cheering them up, bringing some excitement; though that didn’t exactly go as planned. Sydney knew better though, and backed out before things got….wet.” For a moment, he paused, peeking open a single grey eye at the fifth year. “…What else do you want to know?” Hesitant, reluctant – he imagined more sensitive questions were to come compared to what outfit she was wearing, but he supposed if anything, he could at least try give her some closure, he owed her that much. And it was that simple logical thought that had him sticking around – if only for a short while.

16:54:38 [Adilyn] Jacket, hat and mittens removed revealed how lithe the woman was. She wasn’t short for stature, but she certainly was slim enough that bones may appear brittle, as if she’d snap within the wind. This was an illusion however for her form was all sinew and muscle from the years of avid dancing she’d progressed through ever since a child. Her hands were bony but dainty, ever graceful and expressive as they hung upon her legs which had been brought up to her form while she hugged herself, revealing her clandestine flexibility in the way it was done. Long graceful neck plunged toward the bodice of her long sleeved tee-shirt that was tight fitting and incumbent of the Siren’s elegant shape and form. There was a delicacy to her, and a near exotic motion, otherworldly in how she sat with her head canted, watching the male as he too took his seat, then continued to speak. Reddened eyes remained dry though as he words of Sydney sailed through her mind. She had cried enough today. It had been tears all the way. “Oh she was so looking forward to going with Kyran. It’s unfortunate he left her. I can imagine he’s feeling rather guilty now too.” She spoke, the words flowing ever melodic like a distant song of nature, the hum of an orchestra to sooth the common mind. Delightful and enchanting as she was, like some sort of spirit that existed only to bring light. “Her dress sounds beautiful though. I could see her wearing something so flashy. I’m just sorry I didn’t go. I.. didn’t have a date and didn’t want to go by myself..” She admitted. “So I did other things to keep myself busy. I was aware of the early curfew though. Sydney was upset at it.” She smiled in recollection, the expression denoting her beautiful features with an iridescent glow. “She was rather grumpy at being returned early. I think she held back a secret from that night though. She wouldn’t tell, but there was something more going on.” The smile was soft in memory, though her gaze turned once more, long lashes beating against cheeks as those sea-green hues landed upon Izak. He seemed resigned to speaking with her, which she was glad. Perhaps this would help him to. “Yesterday, on the ice, she was always good at skating. She was good at everything she did. She did have fun yes?” She wanted to know her friends last moments. Not in the blood and tearing of flesh that had ripped across the girl’s neck, but before that. “Did you have fun with her? She was always so easy to get along with. I envy.. Envied her so much at times..” There was another pause before she questioned further, taking a soft inclination of breath before continuing. “Can you forgive yourself? What will it take for you to move past this? What can people do to help? And don‘t say leave you alone. That is the worst thing you need right now. Trust me. Being alone doesn‘t heal. It only makes things worse in the long run. The more you have to think, the more hardened, angry and bridled you become. ”

17:48:47 Mila 's long, dark eyelashes dusted her wet cheeks – striking orbs of crystalline becomingly brightened by the tears she couldn't stop shedding. A careless day on the ice had ended in disaster. The belle couldn't shake the feeling that these things.. were always her doing. Truly, her spontaneous nature could be blamed for the cause of many mishaps, but she was never alone in fault. The food fight, which resulted in the whipping, particularly brutal and sadistic in her case? She had begun it. Her fault. Sydney's death. Her fault. Though unconscious she knew what had occurred when her body was pulled from the water, and tended to in the arms of Thane and apparently Jake. From there she had been carried, by the Were, to the infirmary were she had been humanly tended and restored to her dormitory for doctor ordered rest. Trix and the others filled in the blackness with facts. Now that she knew? Mila wished she didn't. Ignorance is bliss. Requesting a day alone the girls had reluctantly left her in bed, in the peace of the dormitory – a lump in the mass of bedding, curled in fetal position with only a lock or two of sable hair peeking from beneath the blankets that would tell tales of whom they hid. She lingered here a short while, and then she needed.. A friend. Chase, was her best friend. Endearingly sniffling and mumbling to herself, the whimsical girl rolled from the bed as a cocoon. The butterfly, did not emerge. Instead, she remained in her pyjamas of cropped purple camisole and short, fitted shorts. Needless to say, the cocoon came too. Her long locks were half restrained in a messy bun atop her head, with a section or two having coming unbound on the left. All in all, Mila was a mass of blankets – petite form barely found amongst it, and she waddled slowly beneath the weight of the heavy blankets to the boys dormitories. The Houses were generally empty at these hours, for students preferred to socialise during their limited holidays and were far too accustomed to an early rise for school to sleep in. How would they be tired, regardless? Their lights out hour did not laten, even at Christmas time. Flippant, and unintended rebellion had her knowing exactly which room was his. She pushed in and found the place empty and, with her giant mass of blankets, climbed onto his bed and resumed her position. Curled up on her side like in her own bed, the only hint of what lay beneath was a lock or two of long sable that peeped, and the toys of her dainty, left foot. The bed smelled like Chase. Needing her friend, she chose to wait where she was for his return.

18:07:39 [Izak] knew better though, and backed out before things got….wet.” For a moment, he paused, peeking open a single grey eye at the fifth year. “…What else do you want to know?” Hesitant, reluctant – he imagined more sensitive questions were to come compared to what outfit she was wearing, but he supposed if anything, he could at least try give her some closure, he owed her that much. And it was that simple logical thought that had him sticking around – if only for a short while.

18:07:54 Chase` had, well, for one reason or another been avoiding a certain someone. But not his best friend. Never her. Mila had missed him by just a couple of hours, being the early riser that he was, and it was a good thing he had left his watch in his dorm, otherwise she might have lain there all day. He left the boys bathroom and headed through the common room for his own room. He had only entered far enough to grab the pocket watch with it's renewed engraving and turned to leave. But he did a double take at the sight of a blanketed mass on his bed. He grinned a little after examining it for a moment. There were locks of sable hair peeking ot from under the blankets, along with dainty little toes that were undoubtedly attached to an equally dainty foot. He chuckled inwardly. Of course she knew which bed was his. He moved over to it as silently as he could, "Now who could this be laying in my bed?" He leaned down and his fingers grabbed at the blanket about where her side would be, hoping that through the blankets he could tickle her into making noise. Of course, he wouldn't tickle her for long. Once she showed her face he'd sit on the edge of his own bed with her, bouncing his watch, chain and all, on his palm, "What are you doing in my bed, young lady? This space is reserved for me, you know." And, of course, sneaking a girl into his bed for sexytime was highly impossible not to mention imprudent. His roommates, well, one of them probably would rat him out to Doctor Sinclaire. And he'd get lashes for sure, so he'd never done it, nor even tried it. She was the first girl to ever physically lay down in his bed. Strange, no?

18:08:30 [Izak] Head stilled lulled against the book case, Izak let both eyes flicker open in a steady exhale. His explanation hung in the air and the recently deceased shifter’s roommate took it in. It was strange, knowing that such simply information that hadn’t seemed important to him was acting as an aide to help alleviate another’s grief. Then came the discussion of the Loch, and ice skating which was not a far from the incident itself. The Were stiffened again, less visibly so as her questions escalated. “Yeah – we had fun. She was trying to teach me how to skate – probably not the best idea on a freshly frozen over lake.” His chest felt tight, and his jaw clenched when the final assault of inquiries hit his ears. Could he forgive himself? What would it take, and how long would it take? They just kept coming and Izak shifted, both hands raking through his hair and one lingering at the back of his neck. “I think I’m done talking –“ He answered curtly, pressing his palms to the carpet and lifting his weight from the floor and straightening. He vaguely thumbed over the bandaged brow and looked for the exit, taking a single step before glancing back down at the femme with guarded orbs. He’d answer her questions, but they probably weren’t the answers she was looking for. “I don’t know – I don’t know -- & I don’t know.” Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he’d start for the door hoping she was satisfied enough for now.

18:19:30 Adilyn was still and quiet as the male spoke. Taking in every word given and responding in kind as best she could. It helped to talk. To talk about Sydney. It helped for her to deal with the loss and she was grateful for his time spent knowing how hard it was indeed to sit there and listen to such words. Instinctively though the petite Siren would know when her words struck a chord he wasn’t willing to respond to. A chord that struck deep, though one she needed to hear answers from all the same. His response was to purely try and run again, and she knew at that point she’d lost him. That he was going to go and she couldn’t force him to stay with her. Why she wanted.. No needed his company so much was a strange revelation to her. He one of the last people with Sydney when she died. With her beloved best friend whose life was taken to early. The fact her body was burned after was even more horrifying as there was no closure for the girl to be had. She couldn’t see Sydney sleeping peacefully. It would always be a crispy corpse in her mind, as if Sydney’s dignity had been taken from her in her last moment. Stripped and ruined of any personalization. It was so much the thought made her eyes brim with tears as he answered her questions with not knowing the answer to them. He had turned and was walking away and Adi felt she may just crumble further into a nothingness that overwhelmed her. Near suffocated. The siren was so good at causing calmness in others. Of giving them their dreams in manners of a touch, a kiss, a simple song but in this case, there wasn’t anything she could do for herself. “Why did he have to burn her?” She suddenly blurted just as Izak was walking away. “Why couldn’t they have just left her as she was. Healed her wounds, so we could all say goodbye to the beauty she was. Why??” Her eyes began to spin those tears as she felt her heart well into the deepness of her chest, like a pit of heavy weight that burned inside. “They had no right to do that. No right at all!” Her words picked up in anger, her hand reaching toward a book beside her, several of them chosen as she began to toss them angrily, rising to her feet as her slim form unleashed it’s strength in her. Book after book went flying harshly, horrifically being torn apart as papers fell all around the isle. Indeed Dietrich would have a fit were he there. “Why! Izak!? What you did was nothing compared to what was done to her after.. NOTHING… why?”

18:24:50 Mila knew nothing of his dalliances and discretions with Calyope. If anything, she presumed there may be a seed of truth in the rumours about himself and the Burger Girl, commonly referred to as, August. Even if she had, she would still have come to him. At twelve years old most children gravitated to friendships amongst their own sex, but she and Chase had been inseparable. His familiar voice stole her from the lull of mournful daydreams and back to the equally harsh breath of reality. But them, Ack-! Mila's innate form instantaneously resorted to jerking about, shifting, and writhing in agony. Muffled she may have been, but the femme was squealing and yelping in girlish screams. There was a hint of laughter there. He knew she was insanely ticklish. “ChaseCHASEStopskfoajflalJEFACKmercyohyeremrga!” She managed to writhe from the tangle blankets, and damn near knees him in the crotch and punched him in the face – without purposely intending to. Mila had no control over her limbs during a tickle attack. Chase knew enough of this to keep his unmentionables safe from harm. When he stopped, Mila was a panting and all the more mussed little thing. Her hair was an endearing wreck, and voicing her fond irritation she pinched his arm. “Sadist.” As for what she was doing, Mila threw herself into his arms for the comforting hug of a friend. She needed him. Hiding against his neck her voice was muffled, but.. “Yesterdayathteice. Itwasme. Itsmyfault. Itsmyfaultshe'sdead.”

18:49:05 Chase` 's instantaneous reaction to her flailing limps saved him from a painful knee to the groin, though she did manage to graze his cheek with her fist. Of course, it was his own fault, so he didn't let it bother him. The pinch to his arm was answered with a grin, "I had to get--" you out of your cucoon somehow is what he would have said her she not been suddenly clinging to him. He looked a little dismayed as she mumbled against his neck, though his arms wrapped around her slim body instinctively, his hands rubbing her back soothingly, "What? Mila that's crazy talk. You could never kill anyone. And no one could ever die because of you either." He knew that letting her lay in her cucoon all day, doing nothing else but wallow in her own morbid thoughts, was not what she needed. And so, without letting her go, he threw off the blankets she had brought into his bed, leaving them piled up against the headboard, he slipped one arm under her legs and he stood, lifting her into his arms, "Come on. You can tell me about it after you get dressed. You need to get it off your chest and go out and be around people." Yes. That would help her get back to her usual effervescent self. And food, eventually. But first he needed to get dressed and wash her face. He carried her out of his dorm room and down to the common room. He stopped when he reached the entrance to the girls dorms, setting her feet on the floor, "Go on. And don't even think of getting back into bed otherwise I'l just go outside and lift myself up to your window and force you right back out again." He had never really tried to get into the girls dorms, because he figured there were countermeasures in place, but he doubted that there were any spells placed on the windows to keep a boy out, which made his promise a very real possibility. And, well, her blankets were still in his room, so unless she planned to steal someone else's blankets, she couldn't cucoon herself up again.

19:11:51 Mila didn't believe what he said – not when he was denying that it had been her fault, but it was comforting. She revelled in his hold, nodding and sniffling childishly as he ordered her about and carried her, reverse piggy back style, from his bedroom, through the common room and to the girls dormitories. She clung to him a little longer, and flippantly forgot about her abandoned blankets. Oddly unchatty, she simply nodded her ascent and then scampered off down the hall to gather her clothes and ready herself. Half an hour later she was garbed in leggings appropriate for the weather, her oversized Highlanders sweater for the comfort she needed this day, and shoved her feet into snow boots, though she had no intention of leaving the castle walls. With guilt still weighting her shoulders she found herself wishing to find Izak. Only he could know what the three of them had gone through, and with the other dead.. Presuming Chase was waiting in the common room she found him, and then remarked in a small voice “Can we just walk around? I need to find someone.” Food wasn't on her mind. A credit to how the sometimes gluttonous little femme was sporting such a slender physique– when her mind was busied with other thoughts, the terrible multitasker often forgot entirely about nourishment. Now, providing the boy had agreed to this, the two wandered from Crux and drifted through the hallways, striking crystalline eyes scanning each path they crossed.

19:16:09 [Adilyn] There was nothing else to be said. Everything she wanted to get of her chest was thrown through the books as that heated anger in her was brought to the surface. She didn’t care if Izak stayed or left, she was in a zone of her own making, of grief that laden her with a weight so heavy it was too difficult to cast aside. There was no sense to her mannerisms. Sufficient to say she didn’t know what she was truly doing. Just following a passion that needed to exhume itself from deep within. Her actions stemmed by the emotions curdling through her, she didn’t notice as Izak returned, his body coming toward her as she offered her a hug. Arms nestling around her, as if to offer a cold comfort to the already numbing experience that currently antagonised her. Her body stiffened - she became completely still, holding it for a moment or two. Only then to have her arms move as she too inched them around Izak’s form, offering a hug back in return. In a given answer to the touch, sobs flowed through her lips and from the deepest recess of her chest as she began to cry, the noise muffled against his shirt. She couldn’t hold it in. She wouldn’t fight of the emotion that surged through her. She wasn’t strong enough to take hold of this grief and make it her own. In a delicate fashion of touch, she succumbed to the man’s arms, her lithe frame in the awkward hold as she squeezed in return, wanting him to receive as much care from her as he tried to do for her. There were no answers for her today. Nothing that could be voiced. For the questions would forever remain as they were - a serious of don’t knows. It was what would become of Sydney’s death. At least to Adilyn. And most likely to Izak too. Lost souls on a path of destruction for both different reasons and yet something tied them inextricably together. One person was a bond, and that person was now gone.