Under your spell (Nic, Iain)

[Lovely]

PIC HERE Name: Iain Walsh Alias Iain, Hyena Age/DOB Feb 19, 1985 Anniversary: December 17, 2006 to Nic Cowen POWERS: sonic manipulation/disruption; sonic dissintegration; dead silence created: 2005 likeness used: Cillian Murphy

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Name: Nicoleta Samhain Cowen Walsh Alias: Nic, Nicky Age/DOB: October 31, 1986 Anniversary: December 17, 2006 to Iain Walsh POWERS: Plant Elemental, Witchcraft Spellcasting (Simple and Complex Spells), Enchantment (of Objects), Chanting Played by: Lovely created: 2004 likeness used: Nikki Cox

Iain's History: Iain started out as a good kid hardly ever getting into trouble. He was usually the tattle-tale kind even, but it wasn't his fault. He just wasn't good at keeping a straight face when someone else messed up. He was even nice once. That was before he moved to America with his uncle who worked for BP. He'd never known his dad and his mom died when he was little. Her brother had taken care of them both. Working with the refineries had later landed his uncle a prestigious-pay office job with the lower-rent boys in Denton, Texas, a stone's throw from Dallas. This left Iain with an accent he didn't know he had in a world he never knew existed. He was 8. Adjustment took a long time for him, often being the outcast. He didn't play football, at least not the kind the boys in his classes here played. They told him he played "soccer" and that it was a 'girl's game'. They also told him he had nice pretty cheeks like a girl and even laughed like a girl. The girls didn't cut him any slack either. Most thought he was weird or just 'not right'. The few friends he did manage were the quiet ones, the ones who played chess or played out war games on tabletops, usually Iain's. His earliest memory of it happening was when he was 13, during a game with figures posed as ships and soldiers for an off-world battle. Cards needed to be drawn and one of his friends couldn't have had worse luck. Each card put down put the friend further into Iain's clutches and the third friend's amusement at it was more than contagious. Iain's laugh, the one like a girl, started to build up and over the course of the next few minutes while his friend's battalion fell, the radio they'd been listening to faded and squealed as if someone turned the tuner off the station. The flourescent lights dimmed a little as well, but with the summer storms in Texas, there wasn't much thought given to it. Probably just a brown-out from winds somewhere down the line, they thought. Later in the evening, it happened again, but only Iain seemed to notice. Some of his few friends were lost due to Iain's competitive streak and a knack for strategy, though not at chess. He didn't have enough patience for the limitations of the game. He'd rather play out 'real' struggles, he'd say, setting up figures for a strike and heavy conflict with the other sides, laughing and being overconfident that he'd already won the game. He did win most of the time, but didn't mind when he lost. He wasn't a sore loser, he was an avid strategist. Anything lost was an opportunity to learn from and improve. And he did. He spent more time on the games and armies of plastic figures, even computer ones, than on school, failing and skipping classes, and eventually dropped out at 17, before his senior year, mostly due to boredom. His uncle insisted he take the GED at least so he could get into college eventually. Iain's response was a colder laugh than usual. He had bigger plans than college, but kept them mostly to himself. Some part of the games hadn't been just to pass time. He'd been studying them, learning from them and gathering ideas, all the while working on what he thought was something uncanny and unnatural as well, about the wicked distortions that happened, but only when he laughed a certain way. He reluctantly agreed to take the exams and passed as he knew he would, but he still wasn't planning on college. College wouldn't teach him what he wanted to know about what he thought he could do. Mutunt news was everywhere and he even made a few anonymous calls to City Hall to find out more... where someone would go if they knew a mutant or suspected they did. He wasn't expecting the laundry list of schools, organizations, support groups, many of them being in other states, some back home in Britain, he found out, though there was nothing he knew there anymore than he knew here. The biggest loss to him came in March of 2005 when his uncle was one of more than a dozen killed in a freak blast at the refinery in Texas City. Iain just turned 20 and was planning on moving into the city anyway for work, but that plan was suddenly ramped up and he realized he could go anywhere and do pretty much anything. He decided to head further West, maybe Arizona, maybe Colorado, maybe all the way to the coast in search of answers.

[Lovely]

Jan 18, 2004
Evening


Byron sat upon the stage, guitar on his lap. He'd taken leave from school for a while, needing a small break after everything. Living with Kicks for the week the small bar was within walking distance and almost every night was open mic night. Byron played slowly, his eyes closed as he leaned into the microphone and started the Beatles classic. "Blackbirds singin in the dead of night... take these broken wings and learn to fly...." His voice carried a slight bluesy grain to it, but still held a subtle clarity.

Nicoleta lifted her head as his voice rang through the bar. She smiled, wiping down a vacant table. She had been working at the place about a month and the money wasn't too bad, she usually got decent tips. She had seen him in here every night this week, his voice was amazing. She got drink orders for a few more tables while he did his piece, enjoying the sound of his voice.

Byron finished and said a small thank you before lifting his drink from the stool beside him and and slipping his guitar off as he stepped off the stage.

Nicoleta moved over to offer a refresh on Byron's drink. She handed him a water with a smile. "The boss says you get a couple on the house, so what can I get for you?"

Byron finished latching up his case before taking the water. "Well if your not gonna card.. I'll take which ever local brews on tap... otherwise.. a diet soda." He smirked as he lifted his case as he took a sip of the water.

She shrugged. "Old enough to serve it, not old enough to drink it myself...so I won't snitch on you." She gave him a friendly wink. "I'll get that right up for you." She moved off to the bar to get his brew.

Byron made his way to an empty table as another singer hopped upon the stage and started to croon some sappy love song, quite horribly. By sighed as he pulled out his cell and checked it for messages, good no one was looking for him. Tucking it back away he took a sip of water and looked around to check to see if anyone else was smoking, or if this place, like all the rest in the area had finally gone non-smoking, his other stints on stage hadn't left him in the bar long enough to actually need a smoke, on stage, one or two songs, then back home. But tonight he felt like taking his time before having to make the trek home. Besides he was getting a free drink.

Nic found him at the table and carried his brew over. "There you go, can I get you anything else? We have yummy peanuts and pretzels." She smiled and her head turned to the stage. Nic sighed and shook her head. "Oh my he's massacring that one." She frowned.

Byron reached into his pocket and pulled out his pack of cigarettes. "I've heard worse." He shrugged. "Thanks." He said nodding to the drink.

She turned back. "Have you? ..then I feel bad for you!" She smiled, her finger tapping his table. "You're welcome. If you need anything else, just let me know."

Byron slipped a cigarette into his mouth and lit up. "Will do." He said as he smiled at her. "Who do I call for?" he asked.

"Nicoleta or just Nic, they'll know it's me either way." She smiled back. "Well I'll let you enjoy your drink and got pester the other customers."

"Byron." He responded, as he slowly clapped for the other performer as he finished. Then he picked up his drink and took a sip.

"Nice to meet you Byron." She clapped softly for the performer and watched the next one take the stage. She moved off to wait on a few other tables, bringing drinks and smiles. She was friendly and polite, not as flirty as some of the girls who really got into it for the tips. She was just natural and herself, bringing a fresh 'life' to the place. She wandered back to his table to 'check' on him. "How are you doing over here?"

Byron tipped the ash from his cigarette and smiled at her. "Good..." He still had half of his drink left.

Nic nodded. "Good." She let him be then and went off to tend to her other tables and duties.

******************************

Byron stayed in the bar till closing, listening to the other acts and nursing the second half of his drink.

Nic had checked back at his table off and on through the night, and now was wiping down the last of the tables just before they closed. She went out back and grabbed her jacket, heading for the front door as she said goodbye to the two guys who would be locking up. She moved through the mostly empty bar. Helping to get the stragglers out, Nic passed by Byron's table and smiled as she helped a guy to his taxi.

Byron stood up and pulled his jacket on, slipping a new cig into his mouth as he light it up, grabbing his guitar up as he headed out the door. He shrugged at the cold and set his case down to slip on his gloves, it was a bit nippy tonight.

She made sure the driver got the address and stepped back as the taxi drove off. She held her coat more tightly around her and pulled her gloves on, turning she smiled at Byron. "Hello again." She walked towards him, he was in the direction she had to go anyway.

Byron grinned at her. "Hello, heading this way?" He asked as he picked the case back up and gestured in front of him.

Nicoleta smiled and nodded her head. "As a matter of fact, I am." She walked up beside him.

"Well let me escort you home then, make sure you get there safe and all."

"How do you know You'll be safe with me? Hmm?" She teased. "I could be a great criminal mastermind." She winked at him.

"Serving drinks at a bar?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes... it's a good cover, don't you think? No one would suspect a poor barmaid of plotting to take over the world."

He chuckled. "Now that you've told me your master plan, you have to kill me?" He teased.

"Maybe... unless I can convince you to join me in this quest or I keep you chained in my closet - those are your choices." She grinned.

He laughed and shook his head. "Think I could make a run for it? Nah.. not worth it... but hey... there are worse things in life than being chained in a hot barmaids closet."

Nic laughed softly. "You might make it, it's not easy to run in heels." She looked around and then at him. "A hot barmaid? So in theory if I have you chained in my closet and I were to say... ask you to a movie or something... you'd kind of have to say yes... wouldn't you?"

He nodded. "In theory... or you could try it without the chaining in a closet aspect."

"Ahhh but I have this big fear of rejection so I couldn't ask unless I knew you were going to say yes." She took a breath. "So..... would you..?" She chuckled softly. "Would you like to go out sometime, maybe a movie or something?"

He chuckled. "With you?" He asked biting his lip and seeming to think about it. "Hmmm.. I don't know..."

"You're not helping with my fear of rejection, you know." She nudged his shoulder with hers. "Well..." She sighed. "I have three sisters, I guess I'll just have to see if one of them will go with me."

He laughed. "No I'll go... could be fun... my friends are trying to get me to socialize more."

"So, you'll go out with me to make them happy?" She raised an eyebrow at him. A smile spread over her face. "It's ok I understand.... my sisters are trying to do the same to me."

"Well since I'm walking you home tonight.. then I'll know where to pick you up from tomorrow.. right?"

"Oh, I don't know... can I trust you not to reveal the whereabouts of my secret lair?"

"Well no..." He smirked.

"Hmmm now we're back to chaining you in the closet."

"Which means no movie." He arched a brow.

She pouted. "Alright. I'll let you out long enough to take me to the movies." She winked at him.

"So.. why is a wonderfully charming girl like yourself working at a bar?" He asked.

Well, wasn't that the million dollar question, or just the most deadly to any potential relationship. "Oh... okay..." She took a deep breath and just let the truth come out. "I am the oldest of four sisters and my parents are dead. I have to make ends meet and keep the girls in clothes and fed. The tips here are pretty good, I work in an office three days a week, the money is decent but not enough hours." She shrugged. "Aaand this is where most guys run off screaming.."

"Run off? Because you work lots?"

"Because I have responsibilities, to look after my sisters..."

"So your more mature that most girls." He shrugged. "That's not a bad thing."

"And you are different from most guys.... that's a good thing."

"I'm glad." He said, it was then that perhaps she would change her mind. As the cop car drove by Byron lowered his head and looked away. Stupid cops, some were actually gunning for mutants on purpose, he had no way of knowing if any of them had been there when the school had been searched, and who would recognize him from that time.

The cop car slowed a little as Byron looked away, Nic moved as if she was saying something that made him look away. Her hand slid into his and she shifted so her body was between him and the cop car. She didn't say a word, or ask him why he didn't want to be seen. Once to car had sped to normal speed and gone on down the street she shifted back, walking next to him. "So would you rather dinner or a movie? Anything good playing?" She asked not skipping a beat in the conversation.

Byron took in a deep breath. "Could do both." He said, glancing back slightly at the car, before looking back at her. "There's a few places on the 16th street mall near the theater there."

"Ooo double treats for me!" She smiled. "Maybe I won't chain you in the closet after all." She motioned with her hand. "It's a couple more blocks on the right."

He smirked, it was actually close to Kick's place. "Hey, I don't have many opportunities to go to movies with girls, so I've gotta make the best of it don't I?"

"Well I don't get out much either, so yeah, lets make it as fun as we can."

"Deal." He said. They walked along in silence a bit until they reached her complex.

"Well, here we are." She pointed to the door on the left. "Building on the right, door on the left. Thanks for walking me home." She smiled at him.

He nodded. "Pleasure." He said releasing her hand, not having realized he had been holding it the entire time. "Umm... 6 tomorrow night?"

"6 sounds great. I'll see you then." She smiled looking down at her warm hand, she had not realized they had still been holding hands till he let go. "Um..thanks again." Taking a chance she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"Umm... tomorrow." He said taking a few steps back, rubbing his cheek slightly. "Sleep well." He said as he turned to walk the few blocks back to Kick's.

She waved and turned to go into the building. "Good job Nic.. just can't stop the stupidity, can you?" She muttered to herself, thinking she overdid it by kissing him. "Good move, now you did it."

[Lovely]

September 7, 2004
7pm


Byron looked down to the gorgeous red head beside him. "You're going to -love- Kicks." He said, smiling. "Thanks for agreeing to do this." He was dressed 'up' well not really, he wore black jeans and a white T-shirt with his biker jacket, though nothing was torn or messed.. so dressed up applied tonight.

Kicks parked the car and leaned over to kiss Lyric. "Love you." He said with a grin as he slid out of the car, pulling his jean jacket out of the back seat before running around and opening the door for her. He was in a tight pair of blue jeans and the T-shirt of a local band, he'd gelled his hair so it kinda spiked up a bit. He was getting more and more excited as each minute passed.

She giggled and watched him hurry around the car. Not one for crowds, she was doing this for him. Lyric climbed out of the car and slid close to him, her arm snaking around his waist. She wore a denim miniskirt and simple white blouse tonight with white sandals. "Love you, too," she murmured as she drew close.

"So Duke tells me that this girl he's got is real great... So, I'm sure you'll like her... you remember Duke right? He was there that night." He laughed.

"Going to love him? Well let's not jump that far!" She said with a playful smile, sure she would like anyone that Byron was so fond of. She smoothed a stubborn lock of red hair behind her ear and reached for his hand. "I'm sure we will have a great time... and it's nice just to have a chance to be out with you."

She chuckled softly and nodded. "I remember him." She remembered that night very well. "You haven't met her yet?"

He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "I'm glad you could get away from home." Byron said as they arrived at the restaurant. "Wanna wait here? I'll go see if they've arrived."

Kicks shook his head. "Nope. He's been living up at that school. Guess she lives down here." He shrugged. "Come on.. we're gonna be late." He laughed holding her close.

Nic shook her head. "It's okay... I'll come with you.. feel kind of silly waiting out here, by myself."

He nodded and held the door open for her. "After you then..." He said, with a smile.

She grinned and moved toward the place beside him. Ahead of them, a couple was entering. "Hey, isn't that him?" She thought she recognized Duke, but couldn't be sure. She'd only gotten brief glimpses of him, once as a shoe sailed toward his head. The memory made her giggle softly.

"It is!" Kicks nodded and waved. "Duke!" He called out, which got Byron's attention. Kicks didn't want to leave Lyrics side as Byron pointed to Kicks and Lyric, showing them out for Nic. Once they got close enough Kicks dropped Lyric's hand and ran at Duke, they collided in a hug, before hitting each other on the arm, sharing in a 'Hey! You!' before hugging again.

Nic scooted in front of Byron, to go in the door and then leaned back around to sneak a peek at the couple. She watched with amusement as Byron and Kicks greeted each other. They certainly were comfortable with each other and affectionate. Man I guess I have to be a guy named Kicks to get that sort of PDA! She mused, watching them and glancing to the other girl.

Lyric chuckled, watching them. She glanced toward Duke's date and smiled slightly, trying not to appear too shy.

Byron and Kicks parted and clapped each other on the shoulders, exchanging a very short whispered conversation before each of them separated to their respective girl. Byron reached out for Nic's hand to lead her over to meet the other couple.

Kicks looked back at Lyric and held his arms out for her. Mouthing 'Come over here.' He chuckled glancing back at Byron and his girl.

Nic slid her hand into his and stepped just behind him, almost hidden. She gave a bright but shy smile to the other two, her fingers tightening around Byron's.

She eased forward, slipping her hand into Kicks' and nodded to Byron. "Hey, Duke." Her voice was very soft, but audible. She smiled to his girl and leaned against Kicks.

"You scared?" He asked moving to put an arm around her waist. "They don't bite." Byron told Nic, kissing her forehead. Once the two couples met Byron took the lead. "Nic.. I'd like you to meet my best friend Kicks, and this is Lyric." He grinned at them both. "Guys.. this is Nicoleta."

"Lyric... wow that's a beautiful name.." She said softly, looking over at the girl. She smiled at Kicks and held out her hand. "Nice to meet you.. both."

Lyric looked over her shoulder at Kicks and then to Nicoleta. "Thanks. Your name is pretty, too." She relaxed a little and waited for Kicks to shake the girl's hand first.

Kicks reached out and shook Nic's hand. "Pleasure... Duke really has good taste." He grinned, his comment got a look from Byron that told him to shut up.

"Duke?" She raised an eyebrow and glanced up at Byron. Turning back to Kicks she extended her hand to Lyric.

Byron actually blushed slightly. "Pay no mind to the man who claims to be my friend." He cleared his throat. "I-it's a nickname." He explained.

Lyric chuckled and took her hand. "I don't understand it either. Nice to meet you."

Byron looked at the other three. "Shall we go inside and get a table?"

"Nickname... was beginning to think you were immune to such things." She smiled up at him and winked.

"Just cuz you haven't come up with any." He said leading the way back into the restaurant, followed by a 'bouncy' Kicks and his girlfriend.

"Sure I have." She said brightly. "I just don't think you want me to repeat them in front of your friends!" She giggled, playfully.

Lyric continued to laugh quietly as she followed them into the restaurant. She glanced at Kicks and poked him in the side. "Gonna settle down anytime soon?"

"Oh do! Please." Kicks laughed, before looking down at Lyric. "Sorry... just real happy." He said before leaning in and kissing at her neck.

She giggled and shivered as his lips brushed her neck. "Not complaining, Babe." Lyric turned her head and stretched up to whisper in his ear. "Just save some of that energy for me ..." She drew back to wink at him, teasing him just to see his reaction as they continued into the place.

Kicks chuckled and watched as Byron got them all a table and then followed to it, sliding in and letting Lyric have the isle.

Byron let Nic choose which side of the table she wanted to sit before taking the other. Offering to take her coat.

She chose the inside, feeling more secure for some reason with him on the outside. One of her little quirks she supposed. Giving Byron a bright smile, she slipped from the blazer like leather and let him take it. "Thank you." She murmured softly.

She shrugged from her coat before she sat down and slid in close to Kicks. Lyric decided to try for pleasant conversation. "So .. um .. How did you two meet?"

"I picked him up in a bar." She grinned, teasing.

Byron nodded as Kicks gave him a disbelieving look. "Yea... I got picked up by a barmaid." He teased her. "That or... I charmed her with my music." He laughed.

[Lovely]

December 15, 2004
Just before Winter Break


He called her in hope that he could see her again, and when she answered Byron was thrilled that she was home. Of course, he'd have to ask her if she could come visit. When she asked if he was free Byron nodded, though she couldn't see. "I can come get you whenever you want... classes are ending up here for winter break."

"Ahh so you have time off too.." She'd forgotten about schools taking time off at this time of the year. Had it been so long since she'd been in school.. or did it just feel like that long with all she'd had to do and take care of?

"Yea." He said smiling. "And no work to do that can't wait... or that I couldn't take with me." Ok, so that was a lie... but for her, he'd make an exception.

She smiled, starting to feel excited. "So.. maybe.. we'll have more than just a couple days together?" She could feel the butterflies tickling in her tummy and she bit her lip softly, thinking of how wonderful it would be to spend time with him.

"I'd love to spend the holiday with you.." He'd spent the last few Christmas's hanging out at a bar performing, and the last one at school doing nothing. It would be nice to be with someone he cared about - hell it would be nice to do anything at all.

She didn't celebrate Christmas and bit her lip as he mentioned the holidays.. she could for him, couldn't she? Just pretend, bluff her way through it? He was going to think she was a freak if she told him. "Sounds wonderful... should I bring anything?"

"Not required to." He replied, it wasn't like they were actually going to do anything special... just be with each other - that was enough. "Though changes of clothes and that might be good." He teased her.

"Right.. of course.. silly!" She shook her head chuckling. "I meant for whatever holiday celebrations you observe."

He chuckled. "Don't worry about it, I'm not a big celebrator... it's just an excuse for you to stay longer."

It was a relief to hear he didn't celebrate much, made things easier on her. "How long is longer?" She asked softly, the smile evident in her voice.

"However long I can get." He replied, it sounded a lil sleazy after he said it, but it was too late to take it back and hoped that it sounded romantic instead.

"Depending on how you look at it.. that could be a very long time.." She replied with a slight laugh, daydreaming for just a moment of staying forever.

Oh wow, it came off a romantic, that was good. Something then dawned on Byron. "Well you do have a few commitments at home... so I doubt I could steal you away for too long at one time.." He commented, he'd feel bad if he knew he was just stealing her way from her family.

"Yeah.. I've been thinking about running away from home.. " She teased softly.

"There's always a warm bed here for you." He offered, again it could be taken as sleazy, crap.

She giggled at his remark and came back at him with a playful. "Tell me that and I may just run away from home."

Byron knew he liked this girl for a reason. "It's quite warm here... indoor heating and all... mattress is comfy... can get extra pillows... free food?" He said, teasing her.

"Free food?" She chuckled. "Oh.. sold.." She teased as if that was all that it took, but in truth it was very much the man making the offer, she loved him.

"Well then.. it's settled then." He said softly, trying to still sound like he was playing, but was moving more into seriousness... he really wanted her with him.

"You won't think me a horrible person... if I don't invite my sisters over, will you?" Something in her voice hinted that there was more to what she was saying, as if she needed a break from her sisters as well.

"Not at all.. would be waaay too crowded with them...." That, and they wouldn't have any time by themselves. "So..when should I come and get you?"

Definitely too crowded, she wanted to be with him.. just to spend some much needed time alone together, she missed him. "Ten minutes ago." She said softly.

"I'll have to hurry then." He said sitting up on the couch. "I'm so lucky..." He chuckled.

"You're lucky? How do you figure? I'm the one who's being rescued, here." She twisted a lock of hair in her fingers, curling her legs closer to her chest.

"But I'm the one getting a cute girl to come and stay with me... and who wants to even." He told her, the smile on his lips evident in his tone.

"Ohhh so you wouldn't be inviting me if I wasn't cute?" She teased, getting up from the living room couch and making her way into her room to curl up in her chair.

"You really think I'm that vain? The fact that you're a hottie is just a big plus. You're also the sweetest person I've met... and I love you." It was strange to say those three words... but somehow it also felt very comfortable.

"I don't think you're vain.. " She smiled, giggling softly as he called her sweet. "I love you." She said in a hushed voice, blushing a little as the words came out.

"So... do you really want to come over today? Or should you talk it over with your sisters first and come another day?" He asked, getting a bit back to business.

Nic chuckled and shook her head, rolling her eyes, which he couldn't see over the phone. "I'm all grown up now.. I think I can go when and where I want.. " She was teasing of course, she knew he was just trying to be considerate of her sisters. "I'll just let them know I'm leaving... are you really coming today?" Nic asked, getting a little excited at the thought of really going to see Byron.

"I can... if you can be ready." All he'd need is a jacket, and a car... which he was sure he could borrow.

"For you I can be ready.. heck I'm ready now." Nic giggled again, she was a bright and bubbly sort of girl when she was in good spirits, which Byron usually could get her in very easily.

"It'll take me an hour or so to get down there... so you have some time." He said with a chuckle. "I'll snag the school van." He so needed to get a car of his own.

"I guess I'll pack a change of clothes or two while I wait for you then.." She bounced up from her chair, ready to pack and knew she's be done long before he got there, in her eagerness.

"Sounds like a plan." He said, already getting off the couch and gathering his jacket, keys and cigarettes. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Alright.. I'll see you soon." She said softly, she didn't want to hang up, but knew the longer she kept him on the phone, the longer it would take for her to see him in person and she was already impatient for that.

Byron hung up and made sure he had everything, and then headed off to get the woman he loved.

*****************************

A few hours later


The drive had been fun, they'd conversed - small talk about what each other'd been up to. Byron felt happy, peaceful even at having her near him. As they arrived at the door to his place Byron set down the small suitcase he'd insisted on carrying and pulled out his keys to open the door, letting her enter first.

She gave him a soft smile and stepped into his apartment. She was glad to see the plant she'd gotten him when he'd first come, was thriving and lush in the window of the living room. That made her smile brighten, as did finally being up there with him.

"Named her Andy." He said noticing where she was looking. Besides all his computer stuff, computer books and small dvd/music collection it was his only really personal item in the place. Byron left her only for a moment to move the case into the bedroom.

"Andy? Interesting.. any particular reason you named it Andy.." Nic walked toward the window, taking another look at the lush plant, it was doing well. Which was slightly surprising, most guys would have killed it long ago.. forgotten to water it or something, but it appeared Byron had been taking good care of it. That certainly said something about him.. Nic smiled she'd been so lucky to find such a wonderful man.

"Short for Andrea." He told her as he came out from the room. Byron slowly moved over to her. "God I missed you..." He said as he reached out to take her hand.

Her hand went right to his as he reached for it and she stepped closer to him, bringing the other hand up to rest on his upper arm. "Good.. cause I missed you like crazy."

[Lovely]

Feb 11, 2005
Early afternoon

They had decided to wait until the next morning to go back to town and get her things, she'd had trouble falling asleep at first -too excited to drift off easily. But finally curled in Byron's arms she'd fallen into a content and peaceful sleep. When she opened her eyes, there was light in the room, it was morning but she was too comfortable to move or roll over to look at what time it was. Instead she snuggled deeper into the covers and closer to Byron's warmth.

It's a big thing for two people to take the next step and move into their boyfriend or girlfriends house. This is the exact place that Byron and Nicoleta were. Of course there's a bit of a problem with the whole moving in ordeal when you can't seem to keep your eyes off the other long enough to get ready and out the door.

Once breakfast was over and they finally got going they managed to get some boxes from the bookstore and borrowed the car from Keith they headed off to pack Nic's life up and move it to her new home... and get groceries on the way.

Of course, once you're in the right place and get the boxes out to move.. you've gotta stop flirting long enough to get everything done... with these two... that might take a little longer than normal.

Nic smiled at Byron and leaned to kiss his cheek. "How about you start in my room? Everything in there is mine and can get packed up.. you'll be surprised how little there really is.. I'll grab the few things in the living room, bathroom and kitchen, then meet you in my room? If that sounds okay.. or you can help me grab stuff and we can tackle my room together?"

"Hmmm..." Byron seemed to consider the options for a brief moment. "Let see, spend more time with my girl, good choice." He nodded. "But what kinda guy would I be to pass up the chance to get a look at a woman's sexy underwear alone?" He teased her.

She laughed quietly and shook her head. "Byron!" Her teeth caught her lower lip and she winked. "Plenty of time to look at my sexy underwear.. I mean it will be there all the time now." She gently teased him. "might even catch a glimpse of it.. being worn!"

"Is that a promise?" Byron asked with a chuckle as he picked up the box and took a step back. "I'll get to work on your room... and I promise to behave." He told her, leaning in one last time to steal a kiss from her.

She kissed him back, giggling a little still and then flitted off to gather up the few things she would take from the other rooms. The bathroom was easy, dumping her shower and bath essentials into a box and moving on to the kitchen, here there were only a couple things she would take, leaving the rest for her sisters to have and use. The living room was next and in about five minutes she was done in there, grabbing a few statues, photos and items that were hers. All in all she'd left Byron for about ten minutes on his own in her room, of course he'd never really seen all her 'witch' stuff, clothes was not an issue, but she wondered a little about what he was thinking as she brought her box into the room and set it by the door. One box, slightly heaped had cleaned her out of the rest of the apartment. "Hi." She smiled softly, leaning against the wall. "Find the underwear drawer alright?" She teased with a wink.

He had started with the dresser, easiest thing to pack and all. "Oh yea, and I can't wait to see them on my hot new roommate." He said with a grin as he moved a full box over to the bed. "Done with the rest of the house already?" He asked as he took a moment to admire her.

She laughed, it was a soft and sweet sound as she pushed off the wall and stepped closer to him. "Yes, done.. told you I didn't have alot.." Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks slightly pink from his earlier comment and compliment. "Wow.. I do seem to have plenty of clothes though.. no worries there."

"Hey, it makes up for the fact that half the drawers in my dresser are empty." He chuckled. "At least you have good taste." Byron said picking up another box. "Though I think anything would look good on you." My god he was being such a sap.

"Does that mean you'll be walking around with not much on.. alot?" Nic winked, stepping beside him to kiss his cheek and help wrap a few fragile items in her shirts to keep them cushioned for the ride.

Byron laughed. "Only if you want me to." He said as they worked, a small part of him wanted to ask about some of her trinkets, but he refrained... it wasn't like he didn't have a unusual collection of instrument type things and computer things... this was nothing. "So, after we get done, we can run by the store... have some ideas of what you wanna get?"

She grinned and wiggled an eyebrow. "Yeah.. I think I may demand that you do." Nic chuckled and wrapped her arms around his waist for a moment. "Oh, I have lots of ideas about what I want.. but I guess at the store.. we'll have to shop together and get things we both like."

"Yea... but I'm a guy... I like all things." He said as he carefully placed a wrapped thing in the box before moving his hands to hers. "Especially this." He said as he looked at her. "Come on... we should hurry and finish... as much as I love it when you touch me... I hate to drive up the mountain in the dark." Ok, so it wasn't that late yet, but at the rate they were going who knew. But god did he not want her to get too far away.

She frowned just a little as she moved her hands backwards from around his waist. "Well.. fine.. but you owe me lots of cuddles later!" She teased him more, playfully scowling at him as she lifted her small jewelry box off the dresser and set it in one of the boxes. "Really.. I think no more than an hour between us and we'll have this room bare!"

They continued to pack with a few nudges and fly by kisses as they passed each other. The time seemed to fly by as they packed up the room, and eventually they were finished... or at least packing up the very last things. "I'll start bringing stuff out to the van." He said as he stacked two boxes and lifted them to take them out to the school van they'd borrowed. He'd thought about borrowing Keith’s ride, but then thought of space and borrowed his keys to the van instead.

Nic smiled over at him as he lifted the boxes, she almost said something 'motherly' about him lifting too much at once and then bit her tongue. "Okay.. I'll follow with some in a minute." She offered, folding the last of her bed sheets and putting them on top of a box, her comforter was then folded/wrapped around her pillows and a teddy bear she'd had since she was too little to remember.

Byron set the boxes down when he got out to the van and opened it. He put away the boxes before returning inside to help bring out more. As he got to the door his cell rang. It was on vibrate and made him jump slightly as he pulled it quickly from his pocket to check it. "Hey." He asked after checking the number. "What's up?" Byron nodded as the person on the other end talked. "I don't think so... not tonight, I'm helping a friend move up to the school... can I get a rain check?" Byron stepped inside the door and headed back to the bedroom as he closed out the conversation. "I'll have to see what my calender looks like but I'll let ya know.... Yea... you to bye." He closed the phone and put it back away as he stepped into the bedroom ready to grab more boxes.

Nic looked up as she heard his voice in the hall and listened to what he was saying with a small frown, she wondered who he was talking to and what about.. she couldn't hear everything, but enough to make her wonder. It was strange, not knowing if it would be okay to ask -who it was, so she didn't ask. She just smiled a little and looked up at him, hoping maybe he would tell her.

"Everything packed?" He asked, getting another load in hand and heading back out to the car. "Hey, we might get done earlier than I thought, wanna go somewhere for dinner?" He asked over his shoulder.

"Yeah.. this is the last of it." She motioned to the covers she'd wrapped up and moved over to pick up a box and follow him back out to the van. "Dinner? I guess.. Shouldn't we get this stuff back to your apartment first, though?"

"We'll have time." He told her. "We can get something for dinner and then run by the store and head on up to the school... if we don't get -everything- unpacked I can bring in the rest early tomorrow." He said, putting the boxes in. "The other alternative would be to wait until we get back up the mountain. Whichever you prefer." Byron gave her the option as he stole a kiss off her cheek before heading back inside. "Think about it."

She walked a few steps behind him after putting her box with the others in the van, jogging to make up the gap and walk beside him. "Alright.. we can go to dinner.. where do you want to go?" She asked his preference, they weren't dressed to go anywhere that wasn't casual as they had worn clothes to be comfortable in while packing and moving her stuff, Nic certainly was expecting to go anywhere besides a quick run to the store. She felt like a bum in her jeans and sneakers, though she really didn't look like one.

"A lil diner." He said. "It's real casual don't worry." Byron turned to look at her. "I got a call from an old friend earlier... I wanna sup rise him." He said with a grin. "We can get a little something to eat, listen to a little music... have a nice night... Then turn in... and you can show me some of that sexy underwear you have."

"A nice night?" She raised a brow at the suggestion, not sure what he meant, they still had unloading and unpacking to do. She wasn't sure she was comfortable leaving all her stuff in the van while they went out for the evening, plus she was dressed way down for the moving. "Surprising an old friend... music? sounds better suited for a day we're not moving me into your apartment.. unless I'm missing something, which I feel like I am.." She bit her lower lip, looking over at him.

"Remember Kicks?" He asked. "He's performing tonight and invited us along... I told him we prolly couldn't make it, but I kinda wanna go. If only to see how he's doin." Byron told her as they continued moving stuff. "He's kinda gotten involved with this group... I worry about him."

"So you want to go to a concert?" She tipped her head to the side, reaching over to rest her fingers on his arm. "If it's really important to you.. maybe we can just bring my stuff up to the apartment.. leave the unpacking and shopping for another day? I think it's early enough.. we should have time.. I just don't want to be out all evening and have all my stuff sitting the van wherever we are, ya know?"

[Lovely]

June 17, 2005
6pm


Byron arrived back in his apartment... their apartment... his and Nic's. He smiled at that though part of him bashed himself for becoming such a sap. He moved into their place, hanging his jacket on hook by the door and dropping his computer bag by the desk. "Nic are you home?" He called as he went into the kitchen to get himself something to drink.

These two always seem to be flirting, but what's wrong with that? With the Spring Formal coming up Byron decided that Nic might like to go... of course this -is- the boy that had never really asked anyone out in this way before... it was always easier to pick them up in a bar and take them out from there. With Nic, it was always a new experience. Of course he was even more surprised when she was surprised that he asked her... after all she was hot, and in his eyes the type of girl who would have been beating guys off with a stick... and of course his mind had to trigger his mouth to vocalize this.

She'd hardly been beating guys off.. well okay.. she'd had guys hit on her but most of those she bothered to talk to, found her odd or too unusual or weird to keep talking to her or seeing her. She'd kinda mostly given up long before she met Byron... which was sad cause she was still very young. "I'd be delighted to go to the dance with you.. so happy you asked me!"

"Oh goodie." He said as he moved to kiss her, just as the microwave went off. "Oops... food." Byron turned with a sigh and got out the food and pulled of the clear plastic cover, got out some silverware and moved to carry the two trays to the table. "It's ready.. and actually smells good." He said, slightly amazed by that.

"ooo.. a man with brains, handsome to boot, and he can cook.. oh my.. a dream come true.. can I keep him?" She teased but meant the compliments sincerely. Nic dropped lightly off the counter and followed him to the table to sit down with him and eat.. the lavishly prepared feast.

"Cooking?" He asked surprised. "Long as it comes with microwave instructions, or can be poured into a bowl with milk." He chuckled. "But sorry.. I'm taken... by this really drop dead gorgeous red head." Byron smiled. "I think you know her..."

"Crap.. so you.. really like this other girl? Do I even have a shot? I mean.. I could get pretty creative.." She teased, leaning closer to him and threatening to 'pounce'.

"OOoo! You promise?" He asked with a grin. Byron looked at her for what seemed like a long moment. "God I love you."

She giggled at his first comment, but the way he said the second had her growing quiet and blushing softly. "If it's half as much as I love you, then I am the luckiest girl in the world." Nic smiled and leaned forward more, placing a hand to his knee for balance as she reached for a kiss.

Such a lovey dovey pair, nothing can disrupt this... right? Wrong. As smart as Byron might be, he's still a guy and at least once every conversation he doesn't watch what he's saying, doesn't consider everything and makes a mess of things. This is what happened when he was remarking on how strange it was to have so much responsibility as a teacher. What he failed to take into consideration was that Nic had been responsible for her sisters for a very long time, and his lack of understanding stepped on very shaky ground. Everything went silent... and it was clear... this was their first uncomfortable silence.

She sat there a little stunned, not sure what to think or how to react, she was trying not to get upset or make a big deal out of his comments, but it was very hard not to be offended by them. Nic glanced at him as if about to say something then turned back to her plate, pushing her food around with her fork.

Byron didn't know what to say - if there was something he could say. It felt like the silence went on forever as they sat here. He half ate his food, his hunger having faded. After a moment of picking he pushed back the chair and lifted the dish, looking over he saw her pushing her food around. "Are... you done?" He asked tentatively.

She lifted her gaze to his handsome face and a gentle and small smile tugged the corners of her lips, she didn't want to be mad or fight with him, even though she understood that sometimes these things were unavoidable. "I guess so.. I haven't really been eating it for a few minutes, have I?"

He nodded and took her dish to the kitchen. As he emptied the reminance of their dinner into the trash and drop the dishes into the sink he sighed at how stupid he was feeling. Byron went ahead and pulled out the trash bag from the can. "I'm gonna take the trash out to the chute." He said as he moved out of the kitchen. "I'll be back in a few." As he went to the door he grabbed his cigarettes off the table by the door. "We can talk when I get back." He said opening the door and stepping out.

She nodded again and watched him as he moved around. "Don't smoke too many of those.." She scolded him half playfully, shifting herself out of her chair, she felt slightly restless like she needed to move around.

"Yea..." He said as he let the door close behind him. After dumping the trash down the trash chute he went outside to smoke and a quiet moment. He would have been a complete idiot if he had thought that they could go their entire relationship without an argument, but he had hoped that he'd have been able to handle himself better. Byron sighed and sat down on the stair as he took a drag off his cigarette, laying the pack and lighter next to him. He needed this moment of quiet to reflect on their conversation.

She felt on edge and very out of place, pacing the apartment a little.. the awkwardness of it all was what was getting her the worst. How to go on from the 'dreaded silence' that had sprung up, what to say to resolve it or let it go? It's okay - just didn't seem to fit. Her hands wrung together and she sighed, going into the kitchen to wash the few dishes that were in the sink, just to give her something to do with herself. It wasn't more than several minutes that he'd been gone, yet it felt like hours.. was he mad at her? Should she have just pretended it didn't matter? The dishes clanked quietly as she rinsed and stacked them in the drainer.

He'd sat there, his hands clasped together, as the cigarette burned away in his hand. With a sigh he pressed it out on the concrete beside him and stood up. After gathering the pack and his lighter he discarded the butt in the trash and headed back inside. 'I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so insensitive.' That's what he should tell her... let her know that he hadn't been thinking and had talked before he thought. As he reached the door he sighed heavily before opening it and stepping back into the apartment. "I'm... back." He said softly as he closed the door and placed his things back on the table by the door.

"In here.." She called to him, her voice coming from off to the side, within the small kitchen. The light sounds of the water running and the dishes being set to the drain would follow her voice. She took up the cloth and stepped to the side of the sink washing down the counter with a few graceful sweeps of her arm.

Byron went into the kitchen and stepped up behind her. "I'm sorry." He said softly as he reached out to stop her for a second so they could talk.

His hand on her arm more than his words stopped her motions and she half turned to look at him. Her eyes gazing deeply into his, understanding and compassionate though she didn't say a word yet.

Byron lifted his hand and ran it slowly down her cheek. "I love you... and I wasn't thinking before... I was insensitive... I'm so sorry." He said, his words were true, he hated that he made her upset.

Nic titled her face into the brush of his fingers and smiled just a little and nodded her head. "It's not that you said it.. it's that you thought it and felt it.." She sighed, lifting her hand to toss the cloth to the sink and step closer to him. "I love you, too."

He slipped his arm around her slowly. "We've just lived to different lives... What a wonder that we're now sharing them." He smiled down at her. "I love you so much, can you forgive me?"

"Of course I can forgive you.. I don't like us.. being icky.." She made a sour face and then tipped her head back to look into his eyes. "Can we just go back to being happy now? Be all done with the icky?"

Byron smiled slightly and nodded. "Yea... we can be done being icky." He ran his hand down her cheek again and lifted her chin slightly so he could kiss her softly. "There is one thing..." He said as he looked down at her. "I wanna open up... be more honest... and tell you why..." He took in a breath, this just sounded bad. "I get so weird every time we get so close."

"Opening up is a good thing.. and I would like for us to be open, honest and closer.. " She reached to grasp his fingers in her hand, turning her face to kiss his palm. "So how about we have a seat and you can talk to me.."

He nodded and started to the couch in the living area with her. Once they were at the couch he sat down first, taking in a deep breath. "You know... I really don't know where to start... it's kinda funny when you really think about it." Byron started as he watched her.

She smiled softly, still holding his hand if he'd let her. "You could start by telling me how you feel about when we get close.. you think you act weird, so tell me what you think you do that's weird, what you're feeling and then I guess.. the why you get to feeling that way." She offered and suggested, hoping he'd feel comfortable enough to really open up to her.

"Scared... I guess is the best way to classify it." He squeezed her hand gently. "When I really think about it's kinda stupid... Just something that keeps staying in the back of my mind... like a warning." He sighed slightly and leaned back against the couch. "Did I ever tell you about my Ex? Kelly?" He asked, not really remembering... he knew he'd not told her about what happened between them, but couldn't remember if he'd mentioned her or not.

Nic shook her head, curling her legs up and stoking her thumb gently over his hand. "No.. you haven't really said anything about her.. did something happen with her.. that makes you worry about things with us?"

********************************************

June 18, 2005
evening


Byron was just getting in, it was later than he wanted, but he had to run into Denver to get some things from Kicks. "Hey Nic you still in?" He asked as he dropped his keys into the bowl by the door and then moved to his desk to put the sealed box of stuff he'd gotten. He still had to change for the formal, and prolly should shower as well.

She came out of their bedroom smiling as she dried her hair with a towel, another towel was wrapped around her. Nic gave a little 'hello' wave before skittering up to Byron to kiss him softly. "Of course I'm still in.. can't leave without my date, silly."

"Well, there's no rule that says we have to show up together." He said to her with a smile. "Sorry I'm going to make us run behind... I hit traffic before I hit the mountain." He gave her a short look over. "Do you have any idea how good you look in a towel?" He winked.

Her face fell a little when he made the comment of showing up together. "I guess not.. sorry.." She looked away, with a slight frown.. didn't one usually show up for a dance with their date? Maybe that was just her point of view, which she'd seen differed from his alot lately. He'd asked her to go to this.. nice.. formal dance, but didn't expect that they would or should.. go together? They lived together.. they.. it just didn't make any sense to her that they wouldn't show up together. As her brain rambled on in it's confusion, he made his next comment which turned her half smile at him. "No.. actually.. I don't know.. do I look good?" Her fingers curled at the top of the towel over her chest and the other hand swept through her hair, to ease some of the tangles out. "Maybe I should just wear this tonight and skip the dress?"

"That's not what I meant..." He said following her slowly. "And I think if you skipped the dress and wore that... oh my the hormone filled teens would just up and die I think." He told her. "And one of the charming older men would surely try and steal you away from me." He reached out to take her hand. "And about going on to the dance without me... I just meant that if I were running so late I wouldn't want you to have to wait and be bored waiting on me. I know I would be much happier to know that you were having a good time while waiting on my a**. Especially if I forget to call like I did..." He pouted slightly, clearly he knew he'd shoved his foot in his mouth with the earlier comment.

"You.. don't really get me.. do you?" She asked quietly, holding onto his hand gently. "You think I'd enjoy myself going to this dance without you? Not in the least bit.. I only wanted to go tonight.. to be with you, to have a wonderful night with you. To dance with you and.. this was not about the dance.. it was about you and me and getting all done up special to have a really great time together."

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it gently. "I am way to lucky to have you." He told her softly. "Let me go shower... and get ready quickly." He said letting her hand slid from his as he moved to the bedroom. "And we'll have have that special... great night... promise."

Nic shook her head when he said he was lucky, but smiled sweetly at him as he moved off to get ready. She giggled excitedly and hurried to finish getting ready herself, about ten minutes later she was slipping into her dress.

Five minutes in the shower, two to dry off and another five to get dressed. He didn't have anything super formal, no suits or anything but, he could pull off the dressed up rocker look pretty well. He slipped a necklace over his head before running a brush through his still damp hair. "Almost ready." He let her know.

The curve of her shapely leg peeked around the door at him a moment before the rest of her lovely form curled around to come back into the bedroom to show him she was ready herself. "I'm.. excited." She giggled softly, one hand reaching to make sure her dress was not bunched up anywhere. She was normally a more casual dresser but she could do the girly dressed up thing with ease, she hoped he liked what she'd picked out.

Byron turned when she spoke and his jaw nearly dropped. "Oh... wow." He said smiling. "You look... amazing." Byron moved over to her slowly. "So beautiful. You're going to be the prettiest woman there."

Nic smiled and laughed a little, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink with the blush that rose up. "Stop it!" She pushed at his shoulder and leaned into his chest, hiding from the compliment. "So.. do I look good enough to take a few turns on the dance floor with a hot guy who is good with computers?"

He shook his head. "Definitely not... you look better... taking a couple-a turns on the floor with a computer guy is so beneath a girl who looks like you." He said taking a step back and holding his arm out for her. "A musician however." Byron smirked.

She winked at him, barely holding back the playful smile that bubbled beneath the surface. "I don't usually like musicians.. you know that whole I'm so hott and all the groupies.." She teased him, leaning closer and kissing his lips softly. "Lucky for you.. I fell in love with an amazing guy.. who just happens to also be a musician."

Byron moved back slightly and lead her to the door. "Do you really think I'm the type of guy to have groupies?" He asked, arching his brow at her before he chuckled. "I am lucky. The girl I fell for actually fell for me too." He said as he reached the door. "Oh, did you want me to grab a jacket for you? Just in case it gets cold?" He asked her.

Nic just giggled at the groupies question, he may not be the type to 'have' them.. but that didn't mean they weren't around. Nic had noticed more than one woman checking him out.. good thing she wasn't a jealous girl.. Wrapping her arms more tightly around him, Nic smiled. "But if I bring a jacket.. I won't have an excuse for you to wrap up and keep me warm."

"You think you need an excuse for that?" He asked her holding her close to him. "Cuz I'll hold you close anytime you want." He told her as he leaned down to kiss her. "We better go or we'll be late." He whispered.

Nic smiled and snuggled closer to him, her eyes shining brightly with her excitement as she nodded her head. "At least we'd be late for a good reason!" She teased him softly and turned with him for the door, tonight was going to be so much fun.

Byron shook his head, she was too tempting. He opened the door for her and let her leave before following, after making sure the door was closed tightly.

[Lovely]

Monday Oct 3 2005
11:00am

Sharking around the Southwest, it didn't take long for Iain to decide where he wanted to stay. He'd narrowed it down to Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona and by mid-summer, finding the others far too hot, he decided. Colorado it would be. For now. He'd taken his time leaving Dallas, mostly due to paperwork involving his father's death. He could laugh, but he wouldn't. People all over town kept suggesting it was some Eastern agent that caused the explosion. People there had short memories of the risks of refineries. That caused a smile. Iain grinned benignly at the lady beside him on the bus. For her sake, he wouldn't laugh out loud. He didn't dare. "Does the world really laugh -with- you?" He offered philosophically as his stop came up and he stood, folding lithely around her to step off, leaving her with her wrinkled expression.

He'd been downtown already and signed more papers today, change of residence, signing up for a box for the London Aunts to send him their terrible fruitcake in November. He swore it was the same one he'd sent back six or seven years in a row already, but he couldn't fault the ladies. They weren't really even his aunts. They were members of some club his mother had signed into years before who looked in on him once or twice and were still convinced he had the ruddy cheeks of an 18-month-old stuffed in a stroller. The chuckle at that thought as his narrow 6-foot frame slid out the door of the bus to the park-and-ride followed behind him quietly, though the static on the driver's radio caught his attention. Can't do that here, can I? Iain smiled to himself and slid his hands in his pockets to warm them as he strode to his car in the mostly-empty lot.

He looked around as he unlocked his door, observing the small handful of people that maneuvered between other vehicles. A roll of his eyes at their herd-ish-ness, blind to the others around them, naive and apathetic cattle, dimmed the smile and hardened into a cold afterthought. "How easy it would be." The murmur fell into the confines of the black sedan as he slid into it. The map was already on the passenger seat, folded out to show the area just outside town where he was heading. In his delay, he'd done his research. Now he knew his next stop.

The engine whined a little as it made its way up in elevation, finally arriving at the school he'd heard about in the papers. "So this is a home for mutants? Fascinating," his eyes widened at more possibilities as the gates shimmered in the late morning light. He peeled himself out of the car and took a few sweeping looks around, searching for cameras and those monitoring such video. He was just a boy. What did he have to hide? He chuckled a little to himself again, finding the buzzer and waiting, though he stepped back to shut the engine off.

Maddox looked on from the booth, his vision occassionally scoping out to the gate and back, automatically adjusting like slow breathing, finally focusing on something beyond the metal barrier. There hadn't been much to look at in the first hour as he lounged with a foot up on the console, absently working a stress ball in one hand while scribbling notes for his latest report on the pad that rested on his knee, wholly contrary to the usually-rigid discipline his normal life would command.

In the year he'd been at the school, he'd come to fit the part of 'casual schoolteacher' more and more, though beneath the sweats and ever-present whistle remained the sharply astute military-man-on-assignment. And that man was bored. Few students had lived up to his expectations and few of those remained at the school long enough to train properly. Benson had been the first and the last, though Reiger still held some promise if the boy could control his emotional outbursts.

The new arrival buzzed himself into existence and Maddox put his notes down to greet him. He moved to the gate at a standard pace - no need to rush. Strange it was already, he thought, that a student would have a rental car for a one-way trip. No guest speakers were assigned for the day... unless maybe the kid was selling something. "Mornin'. What can we do for you today?" He eyed the boy through a narrowed gaze, his soft Virginian tone rolling out like he was a farmer questioning a banker stepping onto his land. "Do you have an appointment?"[/b]

"Am I supposed to have one? I didn't know places of refuge needed reservations," Iain stated back, looking around as if another secluded cropping of buildings fitting the description might appear across the street or next door. He was at a loss to find one and turned back to the man with iced eyes and a thin smile, speaking more quietly as he came closer. The man appeared soft and unassuming, but Iain wasn't buying that for a moment. Why put a donut out to guard the gate? He obviously wasn't what he appeared, then again, Iain wasn't either. "This is Baker Institute, isn't it? A school for the exceptional and talented? I've come to apply. Or do I need to go back home and have my mother write me a note?"

It was too early in the day for a snap like that. Lou felt the tug of the grin that normally came right before a bark that would drop the man and have him deliver an hour or two of push-ups. Instead, he nodded slightly and his eyes narrowed, looking past the man a moment to focus on the car a little more, the plates and anything visible inside. Still a mystery, at least for the moment. He didn't appear to have any peculiar gestures or anything really out of place with his appearance other than a little too much starch in his attitude. Lou extended the clipboard through for him to sign in. "Right place. What's your name, son? I'll need to see your ID and get you checked in at least this far. Pretty fancy set-up there. Where are you from?"

"Just like the plates say... Texas," he grinned. There was no southern accent and certainly no southern charm or whatever the man was attempting to exude on Iain's behalf. The guy's attempt at giving him the third degree was laughable. "Iain... a - i - n... Walsh, just like the ID here says." He signed and passed his cards through. "Anything else you're going to need or can I go see the principal now? I really don't like wasting valuable time."

"Right you are, Mister Ian... -a-i-n... Walsh. We don't have a principal here. It's a private school. We call it a 'dean' here and her name is Mrs. Veinna. Your appointment with her would need to be arranged separately, but I'm sure she'd love to make your acquaintance." Lou spoke evenly as he examined the ID and adjusted his list. He flipped to a second page underneath, adding his own scribblings that would go in another file in his office. Finally looking back up, he passed the ID's back and unlocked the walker's entrance to bring him inside. "You won't be seeing her today, but you will be speaking with the admissions office. If you'll get the things you need immediately and come with me, please. You'll need to leave the car here until it's cleared with security. Once that's done, you can park it in the garages up the hill to the right there. Unless you need to return it to the rental agency right away. We can arrange for a ride for you once you're settled away with your paperwork."

"What makes you think it's a rental? It was my uncle's car. He passed it on to me," he said, dismayed that he couldn't just have a simple day and get this over with. He wasn't going to argue and take even more time. If security wanted something to do, they would eventually find the information just as he'd told it. He could get his enrollment taken care of in the meantime at least, but he gave the man with the whistle a chance to change his mind. "So, I won't be needing a ride since I own that one, unless that's a problem... coach?"

"A poor assumption on my part then," Lou grinned briefly with little apology, as much amused by the boy's aggressive insistence as he was put off by it. "We'll still need to have it checked, but you can pick it up after your interview. It's not going anywhere. Frankly, it's probably safer outside the gates. So, as soon as you're ready, we won't be wasting any more time to get you to the admissions office, Mr. Walsh."

He waited for Iain to gather his bags and papers if he had any he needed, starting more interesting conversation as he stepped through the gate. "As for the exceptional and talented, perhaps you'd like to enlighten me a little more on your particular...," he waited, his hand rolling as he searched for the word, figuring he'd probably be told Mr. Walsh's preference as well as his reticence, or lack of, about his gifts.

"I understand." Iain sighed at how pointless the discussion was. He wasn't planning on leaving for a while once he was let in, so what difference did it make? Let the man play his law-enforcer best if it made him feel big and useful. For Iain, it was just one more button to push, continually if necessary, until the desired result was attainted. It was a waste of energy he'd rather spend on more intricate plans. If nothing else, the man was done jabbering enough to finally get around to welcoming him in. He stepped back to the car to grab a few meager items out of the trunk. Other things he would eventually need were still in storage and would be shipped to wherever he put his feet up, unless that was against the rules as well. He half expected his bag to be searched, but the man hadn't said anything about it.

Stepping through the gate as directed, he set his case down to extend the handle through the strap of his laptop. The extent of his 'winter' gear, a basic lined adirondack, was set on top of the tiered luggage as the man began talking yet again. Now he was goading Iain into answering and talking about things he didn't want to discuss with him, whoever he was. "Particular... You mean what sets me apart from a mere human? What do you want me to say? I'm here. I feel I have reason to be here. I'll just discuss it with the people in charge, if you don't mind." He'd probably come up with more questions and more directions of idle chatter that neither of them cared about. Saving some time, Iain cut to punch, hoping it would be enough to let them just walk in peace, though he smirked, wondering what the man would think. "A gift of laughter."

It must be, Lou thought, finding himself busting out in a chuckle. "You're alright, Walsh," he determined, shaking his head a little. "You're right. I'm not the one you need to sell, but I will tell you this. We're all on the same team here. Once you're in these gates to stay, it doesn't matter if you're talking to the dean, or me or the blue-haired guy in the kitchen. The word is respect. Learn it. We're all here to help you, not fight with you. You'll get plenty of that without looking for it, believe me."

Learn it? He lived it. He fully believed that everyone should respect the fact that they talked too much for his liking and that they should respect the peace and his sanity therein. No one ever seemed to have much worth saying, but they said it anyway. Iain gave him a side look and turned his attention away to the surroundings, figuring the path would lead him where he needed to be if the place was important enough. "You can just show me the way, if you don't mind. I'll find it myself. Or are you my personal guard now as well? Funny, I didn't catch your name, mister... ?" He immitated the man's earlier gesture, not that he really cared to have the answer, but if the man was going to talk him to death anyway, he could at least tolerate having information he might be able to use later on.

"Maddox, Lou," he said curtly, observing the boy and his behavior. Lou made more mental notes as his humor thinned a little more. "And no, I'm not and I think I'll just be going the same way you're going... if you don't mind. Listen son, I don't know what all you expect to find here, but I'd suggest you lose the act. You may not want to talk to me, but if you want to get in here and start off right, well you already crossed over that line the wrong way."

Iain snickered. The man was being ridiculously easy. "Tempers flare quick around here, don't they? Why don't you just show me that line I'm not supposed to cross, mister boss man and I'll try not to cross it. Oh, and one thing... I'm not your son. Okay? Glad we could clear that up, Lou. It almost makes me feel like part of the 'team' already." He patted his hand over his chest and sighed, flipping from sarcastic to serious in a drastic shift with the tilt of his head. "Just take me to your leader or wherever I need to go, alright?"

The kid was rebellious enough.. annoying enough... Lou let it slip past him. Beneath the calm reactions and simpleton replies of the mild gym coach, the Marine was calculating and listening carefully, somewhat intrigued to read the boy's file later on. "No tempers here, Mister Walsh," he grinned. "Just stating how things are. The way things are done here. You're the student, if you wish to stay that is, and we, the faculty, in trade for protecting and training, feeding and housing you during that time expect dignity, respect and some manner of discipline. Doesn't seem so much to ask in times like these, does it? There's your line, Mister Walsh."

"Ja. Selbstverständlich Kapitän." Iain mock-saluted the man with an eerie smile, uttering one of few phrases he knew in German from his wargame campaigns. He had little more to say and wouldn't agree easily, but he agreed. He sighed up to the air over his head as he walked. If it was this easy to press buttons, he was going to love it here.

"If you have to use a title here, use English. 'Coach' is adequate if you insist. It's not a camp, Walsh, but if you want to be treated like you're in one... you will be," he was still calm, but his voice held slightly too much of the sergeant's edge in the warning and he let out that steam in a sigh of his own, rubbing the back of his neck. The kid was purposely trying to get him and it infuriated him that it was working, but he couldn't let it show too much. They approached the main hall quickly. "Your first stop, Mister Walsh," he stated, moving up the stairs to grab the door. "Is a visit in the dean's office. This way, please."

"Yes sir.. coach," he hopped up the steps and perched a sharp salute at his brow before stepping inside as more or less commanded. Iain's strides slowed to even, gliding steps as he took a look at the depressing decor on the inside and the cold echoing hallway that stretched out ahead. Safe Haven, sure enough, with so little for him to laugh about, it seemed. Quaint was the only word that came to mind and even that seemed too cheerful to describe the heavy atmosphere. He actually felt he could almost cry and that alone amused him. They actually ran the place like this? Was it a mistake to come here after all? He'd find his own ways to make his time pass effectively to suit his needs, he decided, turning from his observations with forced excitement and the echo of his hands clapping before him in a false eager gesture. "Where to now? I can't wait to get settled in."

"It's too bad there's not a charm program here," he sighed quietly then stepped closer. His hand was outstretched toward the obvious line of doors, but it kept him from balling up a tense fist at the moment. "Just a few doors down across from the gallery. I'm sure your eagerness will be rewarded soon, Mister Walsh."

He stepped ahead this time and knocked on the door, hoping there wouldn't be much of a wait this time. The day had been quiet enough... until now.

[Lovely]

Follows: Part of the Plan
Mon Oct 3 '05
11:30a.m.

"It's too bad there's not a charm program here," he sighed quietly then stepped closer. His hand was outstretched toward the obvious line of doors, but it kept him from balling up a tense fist at the moment. "Just a few doors down across from the gallery. I'm sure your eagerness will be rewarded soon, Mister Walsh."

He stepped ahead this time and knocked on the door, hoping there wouldn't be much of a wait this time. The day had been quiet enough... until now.

"Oh, is -that- why you had to come with me? Thank you. I don't think I could have knocked, myself. I appreciate your obvious concern for my welfare and the bruises my delicate knuckles might have suffered," Iain sighed, clasping his hands together and tipping his head under the weight of his own sarcasm. "Actually, I think I can stand alone a few minutes while waiting... Lou. I doubt the place will burn down with me in it, so why don't you just run on back to your easy chair and watch your front gates rust, hm? I promise to be a good boy and not tamper with a thing." He was becoming more and more annoyed with the buddy system this place seemed to have.

Nicoleta was nearly ready to go for lunch, it was close to that time and she'd skipped breakfast in order to get to the office. She'd woken up late -must have accidently shut off the alarm, but that was earlier and now she was here -into the swing of her day. Her current project was organizing some notes and information for a meeting the dean had late in the afternoon. The knock on the door interupted her thoughts and she looked up, getting up a moment later to go open the door. The voice that came from the other side was not familiar as she pulled the door in and then smiled at Lou and the other young man she didn't know. "Morning.. while it still is." She greeted them both, feeling a little weird for answering the door, when the ofices were open most people just walked into the outer area where her desk and a couple others were. The inner offices for the dean and Asst Dean were private but the general admissions office was more of a greet/waiting area most of the time.

"You're in good hands, Mister Walsh," Lou said, giving Nic a warm smile and a silent 'thank you' for being able to hand this one off directly. It was the only manner of warning he could offer the girl, but she could likely handle him fine. It wasn't often that Luther was at a loss, but this one was just too much like himself for comfort and if the kid saluted him one more time, he was going to shove his whistle up the kid's a-..."I really should get back to the gates now. It's... been a pleasure. Miss Cowen... you're in charge." He stepped away to leave Iain in the capable hands of the young conjurer. Maybe she'd turn him into a toad, but Lou had no inkling of whether that was in the scope of her ability.

Iain had already forgotten Lou as he'd been trying to do for the past half hour, offering the girl at the door a grin that dug in beneath his cheeks. They were always ruddy and slightly freckled, giving the appearance that he was shy and reserved. Let her think that. The pleasure, as the man mentioned, was seeing a much prettier face to welcome him now. "Good morning. Are you the one I need to speak with for enrollment here? The way he talked, I envisioned someone not nearly as pretty as the principal." He was well aware that she wasn't the dean, but edging Lou out of the conversation would be ideal now, he decided, suddenly feeling quite eager to get started here.

Nicoleta smiled warmly at the young man and glanced to Maddox with a chuckle and a nod. "Thank you.. most people send flowers, but you brought me .. A BOY!" She teased him as he headed away, giving Iain a wink, before opening the door wider so he could enter the office. She smiled back at Iain now and stepped to the side motioning him to follow her inside. "Morning Mister Walsh. Please call me Nic, not Miss Cowen if that's comfortable for you. I'm not that formal and I'm not the dean. I'm one of the assistants, I can get you started -all the paperwork and get you in the system. I can get you all the way to the final stamp of approval for your enrollment and then I can file your paperwork.. it's terribly exciting!" She chuckled, a little blush to her cheeks still, in response to his calling her pretty.

"Scintillating, I'm sure." He hoped that she wouldn't start giggling. His grin fell flat once she turned and he followed, catlike, quiet, waiting to be directed. The office appeared welcoming enough to tolerate, though in a suffocating manner. Iain had no plans on visiting it often once he was settled, anyway. His studies were key and he intended to remain as unseen as possible outside of his courses.. until he was fully prepared.

Lou left the loving little get-together in Nicoleta's more-than-capable hands, wishing her luck as he went to stop at the security office first to be sure the car was legitimate. He really had nothing to go on other than a feeling, but the boy's militant and dodgey behavior weren't working in his favor. If it checked out, great, the kid had a swanky car all his own. If it didn't check... he sighed. He'd have to worry about that later.

The outer office was light in it's decoration and atmosphere, with Larson, Annia and Nic as the main occupants -it did not have the heavy type of furnishings one would expect to find in the main offices. "Please have a seat." She offered, motioning to the chair on the opposite side as hers, at her desk. She was still friendly, though seeming to get down to business a bit now that the greetings had been made. She settled into her own seat and started pulling together the initial forms he'd need to fill out. "Did you bring any of your record or transcripts with you? We can send for them if you don't, but now and then enrolling students have a copy ready for us."

The case Iain toted was shifted swiftly in front of his feet as he sat. Unzipping the laptop case, he withdrew a folder for her. "Transcripts, medical, career path training and acceptance letters from a few colleges I've told to wait for my arrival. Is it true? The school really trains mutants?" He gave her the file to review. "Or is it just a pen to keep them locked away like sheep?" He asked it directly, sat and waited. If it was true, they should answer without hesitation. The manner of entry had him more curious about the occupants within. If getting in was such a bother, he imagined getting out again was just as annoyingly arduous.

Nic took the folder and flipped it open, to see what pieces she needed for her entries and gave him a slight smile. "Thank you, this is quite helpful." She didn't get further as he continued on with a question she found disturbing. "Why would you say something like that? .. furthermore.. why would you come here if you thought it was?" Her eyebrow arched as she handed him a few forms he would need to fill in. Her voice was calm even and soft, she wasn't one who got riled or angry easily and it would take quite a bit to provoke her. "This is not obedience school Mister Walsh, this is in fact a school geared for the needs of the evolved. I would assume that is what you came in search of.. otherwise you have no reason to be here." His folder was flipped closed with a pointed look to his face and she offered it back to him, letting him decide to take it and leave or to stay. There was a certain something to him, he appeared to like to challenge others, time to see what he would do if challenged himself. Nic remained pleasant and warm even as she turned it back to him.

He was obviously pleased with the reply. "It is. I don't want to enroll in a place that doesn't cater to my needs." He wouldn't elaborate on that yet. "Although I do want and need training, I'm not a medical case and I'm stable. As far as the doctors are concerned, I don't show up except for one small glitch in my DNA. I don't want that glitch on anyone's radar. I want asylum, Nic, not to be in an asylum, and you should understand why I'm wary. You're obviously a smart girl and I'm sure you watch the news."

Her eyebrow arched slightly and a tiny bit of wicked smile curled her sweet mouth. "Nearly an entire generation of my family was burned at the stake.. I can certainly understand the need to keep one's identity under the radar, even without watching the trash they broadcast on the nightly news." She pulled the file back in front of her and taped a few keys to bring the screen back up on her monitor. "'Haven' as we are lovingly called by those who have been and are here now is most certainly a place where you can get training for glitches and not worry about us broadcasting it. You will simply be one among many and if you chose to deny association with us that is your business, we'll still help you." Her eyes never left his as she spoke, firm yet warm, she was serious about this place and was protective of those within, but still friendly and welcoming to those searching for the right place.

"I haven't been offered association to accept or deny, yet." Iain leaned toward her. She'd earned a point or two by not being intimidated or angered. He grinned more. He may have even seemed to hover, though it was merely his expression that filled the narrower space. "The requests, the demands, the rules? Those come next? Tell me what you want of me and I'll tell you what I want in return."

"I want you to cook me dinner and rub my feet.." She chuckled. "But we're not here to talk about my needs." She turned to give him a wink. "You're a smart man and straight to the point. It's making this go so much smoother. Thank you." She smiled at him handing him a copy of Haven's handbook. "Here are the basic rules and guidelines. Feel free to browse and ask any questions you might have while we finish with the rest of this paperwork. I'm sure you'll find some as there are variations of rules for our older students."

"And I'm sure there's a smarter man than me who has a place to do those things for you already. I'd be wholly surprised to find out otherwise," he grinned, sure she had a boyfriend quite capable of breaking him in half if he'd suggested that to her himself. If she didn't, Iain would rejoice at the offer and accept. "I don't care much for manuals. They cut into my time experiencing what's out there to find first-hand and by asking. I've been given one line in the sand already this morning, fraulein. Care to draw the others for me so I know where not to step until I read this at naptime? And where might I do such a thing? A boarding school does have rooms in it, unless I've been misled all this time."

Nic looked at him confused a moment. "A smarter what... oh.. you mean.. boyfriend or some such. I wouldn't say he's smarter.. you appear quite intelligent, and he doesn't rub my feet." Her tone remained light and pleasant as she answered his 'question', her hand wrote his room number down on a lip of paper and she smiled across the desk, reaching to hand it to him now. Part of her regretting telling him she had a boyfriend, until he'd said something specific about it, she'd forgotten she did. That was normal lately, Byron... she couldn't quite describe it -like he wasn't even there with her most of the time. She sighed softly, starting to wonder what more she could do to make things better for them. Of course that wasn't here and now and she needed to get her mind back to work.. Iain had very nice eyes. Wow.. Nic dragged her eyes away from his, she was enjoying his company entirely too much. "You'll be in the DeMarco Dormitory. SS16 is your room."

He found distinctly off-color humor in the room number, causing a tremor of a harmless chuckle. "S-S? Hopefully that isn't code for some security level I'm now under or a gulag for those like me who ask questions. S-S... like 'security surveillance' or ... well SS, meaning SS of course. I suppose you'll be warning my new roommate of my disturbing behavior, no doubt?" He wondered how long a roommate would last with him.

Her eyebrow arched up and her smile curved, her eyes catching a sparkle off the lights as she regarded him. "Was there something distrubing about your behavior? I didn't notice anything disturbing. Hmmm I guess I'll have to keep you here longer to investigate." She wondered how long she could keep him there, he was by far the most interesting and intriguing company she'd had in a long while. Bonus, he was not hard to look at either.. dang those blue eyes of his.. wow.. they were something. "The SS stands for Senior Suite.. and seniors don't have rommates."

"Sorry to hear that on some level. It would have made the letters home much more interesting," Iain snickered still, deciding he needed to give the London Aunts the address right away with the colorful explanation he'd already created. No roommate was a different concept to fathom than he'd expected, however. He'd earned some pigeon-hole of trust already to get a coffin to sleep in alone, it seemed. A place to think uninterrupted was more than he could have asked for.

The snickering stopped as the gears began clicking behind the blue eyes she kept staring at. He was used to that, but not used the other person not turning away. "So you've answered my questions without having to ask them all. Will there be anything else, or can I get cuffed and escorted to my cell, now?" It was rare that he winked, but she'd endured and had earned the tease.

"Well I am sure we can find lots of other things to fill your letters home with.. plenty of intersting things and people around here. I'm sure you will have no problems with that.. and if so you can always use exaggeration." Her lips curved again and she tapped her pencil on the desk. "I don't usually keep my cuffs here.. but if you don't mind waiting a moment I think security might have some.." She chuckled softly, regarding him a moment longer, her eyes steady on his. "Would you like me to show you around campus a little? Show you to the dorms and wherever else you'd like to go.." She offered, surprising herself that she did, but... she didn't want him to go just yet.

"Ja, Fräulein. Ich stimme überein," he stiffened, accepting the request like a cadet accepting his orders from a superior. His German was shaky at best but suited his amusement of the moment over his room assignment still. The words sounded as though he "obeyed" her request, more or less. "I'd like that, thank you. Just don't sic your pit bull on me again or you'll find I have nothing to say." He meant the man from the gates.

She eyed him as he spoke in German and biting her lip a moment to remember, she cleared her throat and started to speak. "Ich habe viele Formen der Folterung, die ich verwenden kann, um Sie zu bilden tue, was ich wünsche." She hoped it came out right and that he would understand. She'd learned German but it had been a long time since she'd used it. "I don't have a pit bull... I prefer cuddly animals." She left a message for her office mates via the computer and also one for Louise that they would all recieve at their desks, that she was going to show Iain to the dorms etc. "Shall we?" She pushed her chair back and stood up, moving around it toward where he was.

His eyes widened more which didn't seem possible. "What and how many forms of torture? Nicoleta, we've only just met, yet I find your approach refreshing, thank you. I refuse to answer that just yet, however. Maybe after the tour?" He sat back, more amused by things he hadn't begun to think about at all until now.

"For me to know and you to find out." She teased him softly, winking as she came to stand in front of him as he sat in his chair. "I suppose we need to get this tour started to get to the 'after' it?" Her smile was easy going and she was unfaltering despite the comments and teasing they shared. "Maybe you'll enjoy my company enough to let me 'buy' you lunch, c'mon." She offered her hands out to him, a warm and friendly gesture to get them up and going.

He leaned on the arm of the seat, looking up at her with noted curiosity. "I have no choice but to accept," he nodded, not taking her hands to help himself up, but pushing up off the arms of the chair. She was tall but he stood a little taller. Once standing he reached for one of her hands. "Since it appears I cannot offer you the same until my car is out of impound or cleared by security. What are the rules on leaving once you've landed on this side of the fence?" He grabbed his handbook, suspecting she'd advise him to read about it later.

"Relax said the nightman.. we are programed to recieve.. you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave." Her eyes sparkled with michief as she softly murmured the word to the Eagles classic Hotel California. Nic gave his hand a slight squeeze and she smiled. "You're an adult, so basically it's simple sign in and sign out at the gates. As long as there are no disiplinary issues or restrictions, our adult students are treated like adults."

The song about ghosts and habits beyond control was familiar enough to be comfortable but her hand felt strange on his. He let go to get his bag and put his folder away along with his reading for the night, muttering away the slight embarrassment. "No milk and cookies, or 'stay in bed until sunrise or the boogeyman will get you?' I never cared for closet monsters anyway. There are too many real ones out there to be scared of, don't you think?"

"Well there are no rules against milk and cookies.. You can have them if you like." She smiled a little, pulling her hand to herself and lacing it with the other after he let go. "We do have some curfews, certain buildings and such close at specific times.. but adults who go off campus we don't bust for coming back later in the night than some of our younger students are allowed to be about. Really most of the rules we do have are geared towards the safety of the students and liabilities for minors." She felt somewhat like she needed to defend the schools policies as he seemed to need to take digs at them and he hadn't yet reviewed them, Still she remained calm, gentle, friendly.. unaffected by his demeanor, she carried on. "..and yes mister Walsh... there are very real monsters in this world and few lurk under beds or in closets. Some of the most dangerous and fearsome of them walk besides us everyday and most aren't aware they are what they are." She took a step toward the door, turning back to wait for him, her eyes casting gently over him as if she knew the things she spoke of.

He shook his head. "It's just Iain. 'Mister' died when I was two, I think. He wasn't much of a father, so I have little to reason to be reminded of him. Sorry." He didn't mean to sound harsh. He appreciated the information to know that he really could come and go, but he was sure there were other restrictions he'd learn about. He wasn't even certain he'd have a means if the car didn't check out. It wasn't like his uncle could sign it over to him after his death.

Nicoleta lowered her eyes for a moment looking slightly upset that she'd made such an error. She herself had been without her father for a long time, though she remembered him and her mother from before... well that didn't matter and it wasn't something she could discuss with anyone. Slowly her gaze lifted again. "I apologise Iain. I only meant to address you in a proper and respectful manner." The apology was sincere and kept simple as not to complicate matters or further disturb either of them. She was doing such a terrible job at welcoming him. "Shall we get on with that tour, before I stick both of my feet in my mouth?"

He chuckled strangely at her comments. "Why are you apologizing? You didn't know he kicked off. I was too young to know. It's not like I miss him. I never knew him, so you weren't showing any disrespect. I'm okay with it. If it's your job, then call me Mister if you have to, but you did tell me to call you Nicoleta, so it seems only fair. Yes, we better get to the tour, since you'll have to hop now as it is." He wasn't sure she'd understand the humor.

Her eyes lit up at his joke and her laughter came softly, her head shaking just a bit. "I was just thinking.. the comment about both feet.. that's so strange.. not many get my humor like that.." She was truly surprised by the fact that he'd made a joke so similar to what she'd been thinking a moment before. "Mmm right.. that tour.. " She blushed a little and stood by the door, trying not to admire him too much. "And um.. yes please Nicoleta or Nic is good.. Iain is fine, I can call you that if it's what you want." Why did she feel nervous?

"We've covered that," he sighed, trying not to sound annoyed, but idle chatter usually grated on his nerves even though she hadn't really struck the usual triggers most did the moment they started to speak. He somehow wanted her to continue. He was at ease with the banter at least, even if he truly had little to say now that his arrangement to stay was complete. "I still haven't met 'your leader', but I suppose that's another day. Or is this a puppet sort of government with a mock general in charge?" He teased, of course, holding up a hand and making it 'talk' with his fingers against his thumb like a sockpuppet would.

"Yes.. of course we did.. I must need more coffee." What was wrong with her? She closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath, much better. Opening her eyes she smiled at him again, nodding as he made his show of puppets. "I can promise you, Mrs Veinna is very real. If you'd really like to meet her, I can arrange it .. just tell me when and I'll see if she's free."

His expression held some level of doubt but he nodded. He had yet to encounter an organization that had anything less than a mere figurehead, but he'd be more than pleased to find out differently here if it was indeed true. "I think it can wait a few days, don't you? Next stop on the tour, if we actually leave your office?"

She arched her eyebrow and gave a barely there smile. "The hallway. You'll find it fascinating.. leads to the stairs or the elevator..with a couple of offices of note on the way." Nic stepped to the door and finally beyond it and into the hall, feeling a bit relieved to be 'free' for a short while.

[Lovely]

HAVEN ACADEMY - SPRING 2006
Student Assembly
---------------------------------------------
Auditorium - Monday, January 9, 2006
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
---------------------------------------------
Mandatory Attendance
students - faculty - services
*_*_*_*
Announcements include level adjustments and honors

Moving day follows
All students must check the roster for changes in room assignments

Conferences with teachers and advisors may take place between 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
-================

Public gatherings were interesting, but so overrated. As told, Iain was playing good little boy and attending, but slipping in the doors a minute late, poking in curiously to view the crowd and plot his best course. Late arrivals were watched carefully, so let them watch. He was dressed for it at least. Long strides beneath a long coat carried him toward the very front row, near the center, where he showed no embarrassment for interrupting as he took a seat alone. His overcoat was slipped off to fill the seat to his side revealing a sharply dressed young man, just short of tie and tails. Black jacket, white shirt - opened casually at the collar, and stark against the dark reddish-brown seats, he made little ceremony of stretching out his long, lean legs that ended in carefully polished dress shoes, and reaching comfortably across the seat on either side to rest his arms. He was ready to be entertained.

Entertainment wasn't forthcoming from the stage. Let them talk and ramble. Iain turned in his seat to survey the rows behind him, first right then left. He settled again with his tongue punching out a small lump in his cheek, focusing on podium as he thought. Blank-faced cattle watching idly and listening if they were paying any attention at all. That's all they seemed to be. Ripe and ready for slow picking, he decided. Iain's attention was focused in on his thoughts, not on the speakers or the restless faculty that waited their turn. He was definitely finding comfort of his own sort in being here.

Tayen knew she should have come earlier. It didn't look like there were any aisle seats left that she could get to without being totally disruptive, so she was likely going to have to fold herself down in the middle someplace at the back. And be comfortable for two hours? There was always the front row, she sighed. There didn't look to be much choice since she was late already and things seemed to be underway or would be soon. She'd have to go around to get to the other side anyway, so she opted to stop at the front, nearly sitting on a very nice coat next to a guy in a white shirt, the only other one who seemed to have opted for the front. She didn't feel entirely stupid now, offering the guy a smile. Something seemed weird about him though, and it gave her a chill the way he was watching people. She sat back and tried to ignore him.

Iain turned slowly as someone sat beside him though he leaned forward and looked each way down the expanse of the empty seats of the front-most row on either side before settling back and rescuing his coat from getting crushed. "How inconsiderate," meaning the coat, of course. She was a shocking woman to behold and he did nothing to hide his reaction. "Brave girl," he smirked. Or perhaps she was simply unfortunate to have arrived after he had and now more unfortunate to endure sitting beside him. The grin widened. His first assumption was that she could likely snap him in half, but he suspected the image and the person were as opposite in character as his own.

Hailey filtered in with the stragglers and ducked into the shadows as best she could, hoping to avoid detection and hassle times eight. Either they'd tease her or nag her or hag her out for being a little late. If it at least looked like she'd been hanging out in the back and then now was just going to find her seat -that was a little better.. kinda. She tucked a bit of her long meduim brown hair behind her ear and 'casually' started to look for an open seat. There weren't many left and irt was looking like she might have to sit in the front row.. oh great right where she didn't want to be!

Hailey sat down a couple seats from a well dressed young man who seemed to have made himself at home in the front row. She felt a tinge as she watched him check out the girl on the other side, Hailey knew who she was -even though they had never spoken. That's how it was with most of the kids here, she watched them and they didn't talk to her. She didn't expect this semester to be any different, Kaz would kill her for even thinking like she was - of just dropping out.

Over his shoulder as he moved his coat to the opposite side he saw a more 'normal' and timid looking, far more feminine woman watching him. He nodded a greeting, uncertain why she might even be looking toward him unless she was also marveling at the large girl. He turned away with more important things on his mind at the moment, wondering about the dark haired man running the cup up on the stage.

Tayen looked at the guy again as he moved his coat. "Sorry," she said. Her voice really didn't match the rest of her. It was small and mild. She looked around, wondering if she should just move to another seat. He wasn't the warmest body to sit beside. She was curious, though. "Why am I brave?"

The girl's voice caught his attention enough to turn from watching the cuprunner. It took a moment to match it with the girl sitting beside him. She sounded like that? Iain chuckled a little at the irony. He could appreciate that on any level.

"Why? You're sitting beside me," he said, the smile falling flat and oddly serious. He didn't like to engage in small talk without direction. She could be useful for gauging that direction, though. He wasn't a small man, but people judged him as mild and quiet. Here sitting beside him was perhaps his complete opposite, a sort of arrangement he could bend and warp to his advantage as he would the playing pieces on his table at home. The smile returned.

She'd initiated the contact and seemed unphased by him so far. Now to test it further. He extended a hand. "Sorry. Just a little joke.. ha ha. Iain. Pleased to meet you." He said quietly, casting a glance to the stage, though he couldn't care any less if he interrupted anyone.

[Lovely]

March 3rd, 2006
8:35am


In a bare-bones apartment in the city, Nicholas sat casually assessing his bills, cell phone in hand. His rent was not much, and just one look at the dilapidated living room would reveal why, with its cracked and leaking roof, sparse furnishings, chipped and peeling walls and its stain-infested carpet. Nick did not mind, of course. He'd endured worse - far worse - but he'd lived under these conditions long enough. He'd spent the past three months in self-imposed contemplation; a sabbatical from life, as it were. He was ready, however, to return to society, and to answer the questions that plagued an otherwise peaceful existence here in his hovel. Aside from all that, the money Sebastian had given him was running thin, and in two weeks he would be out of food and shelter. The only reason he'd kept the phone was for this very day. He'd made his decision, come hell or high water.

Flipping open the stylish new cell phone, Nick couldn't help but grin at its marvel of human ingenuity; especially in the company of his roach-infested cave. Dialing the number to haven - a number he somehow remembered by rote - Nicholas lounged back against the wall on his blanket-covered milk crate that served as one of his two 'chairs'. A child was screaming down the hall - probably the Tileys. The family seemed to have more children every time Nick ran into them, which was quite frequent considering one had to pass their apartment to get out of the run-down shanty of an apartment building they all called home. He was sure the one screaming probably had a diaper rash - the Tileys could rarely afford food let alone ointment - but lucky the concrete slabs this place used for walls were thick, and though he could hear it fairly clearly, whoever picked up the other end would probably not hear the constant if quiet cries. An idle thought passed through his head, wondering if he would know the current assistant dean, only to be replaced by the dialog he'd long rehearsed since deciding to return to his former home and salvation. Haven, it seemed, had just gained another child as well.

Nicoleta had been in the office a little over an half hour and the dean had been there at least an hour, arriving early to go over some things before an morning meeting. The young redhead at the desk in the outer admissions office area jumped a little as the phone rang and then chuckled to herself. Nicoleta lifted the receiver and pressed the button on the light that flashed which line, then her pleasant voice came to greet the caller. "Thank you for calling The Baker Institute. Good morning and how may I help you?"

Nick's voice on the other end was a strong, confident, charming sound to behold, both warm and powerful, but somehow cool, somewhat sad, at the same time. It was obviously the voice of a very complex individual, and Nicoleta would be the first to have heard it in three months time. Even when he went to the local grocer, or down to the little bistro at the end of his street, Nick never spoke. He chose what he wanted, paid, and returned home. Still, even three months out of practice, his voice was unmistakeably his own. "Good morning. This is Nicholas Fry. I would like to set up a meeting with Dean Veinna, if possible." He waited, then, silent but smiling slightly on his end of the phone. Sebastian would have informed the staff of his existence at least, if not his intentions, but Nick imagined his name would spark some sort of buzz around campus. It was inevitable, after all the school had been through due to 'Nicholas Fry', but that made it no less intriguing. Settling back against the wall, Nick waited.

Nicoleta smiled as she usually did even though the caller couldn't see it -perhaps he could hear the gentle expression in her tone. "Alright. Mister Fry let me look at Mrs Veinna's schedule. When were you interested in seeing her?" She pulled up Louise's weekly appointment book and starting glancing through it. "..and what is the appointment in regard to?" Nicoleta and her family were not originally from the Denver area and she was not involved with the school during Nicholas Fry's glory days, his name held no more meaning for her than the other callers she dealt with.

The woman sounded like any other receptionist Nicholas had ever been in contact with; and, apparently, one that did not recognize his name. That, or she did an awfully good job of hiding it. "Whenever is convenient for the Dean, please, but as soon as she is open would be best." He paused, then, to let her find a day that would work. Meanwhile, he took another slow look around his dimly lit alcove; yes, sooner would be much better than later. "I am interested in finishing my schooling and, hopefully, joining the faculty." Though naturally intelligent, Nick had missed three full years of regulated education. His sparse stints with tutors and the occasional former-teacher-made-inmate in the hold was hardly legitimate instruction. Then again, he was a bit old to return as a Sophomore, so some jury-rigging might need be set in place. "I was once a student there," he added in explanation. "I have not attended a class at Haven since Spring, 2003, however." Again, he waited, mildly pleased at how smoothly this conversation had gone so far.

Nic listened nodding and jotting a note down in the pad beside her keyboard as she scrolled. "Former student, well I hope we will be welcoming you back soon. Let me see what I can find to get you in." The soft sound of fingers tapping over keys would be heard quietly in the back ground. "Oh.. how soon could you get up here? She actually has a free slot this afternoon, at 3pm. The next one is in three days.. on Monday morning... 9am." Nic waited for him to tell her if either day would work for him.

"This afternoon would be perfect," Nick said, pulling his phone down to take a glance at the time. More than enough time to get ready and see to his apartment. "Three o'clock, you said?" he asked, bringing the phone back to his ear. "Good. I will be in your office at 2:50." There was a short pause, then, "And am I speaking to the Assistant Dean?" He doubted it, seeing as the girl had never introduced herself, but one could never be certain.

Nic chuckled and sighed softly. "No, sorry.. the AD is not in the office at this time. This is Nicoleta Cowen, I'm one of the Admissions Assistants. Did you need to speak to someone else?" She asked politely, the AD was not easy to find and they never seemed to know when she'd be around.. she'd taken several LOAs. She typed in the appointment for him as she spoke, making a reminder note to pull his file for the Dean prior to the appointment and that he said he'd be early so he would be expected. She also had to call down to the gates to put him on the visitors list.

"Oh, no, thank you," Nicholas answered, "You have been most helpful, Miss Cowen." He wondered if she was as young as she sounded, and smiled. "Thank you again. Goodbye."

Waiting for the obligatory response, Nick pressed the red button on his phone and casually stood from his 'chair'. His bag was already packed with the few belongings he'd purchased since his grand escape. One pair of very simple, unadorned clothes, a new 'bible', some dried foods and water bottles, and a handful of international newspapers.

Tossing the phone into the mix, Nick ran his fingers over the string of wooden beads coiled in three loose loops around his left wrist. Today promised to be a challenging day, so for the next two hours he would meditate. He would recite his mantras, specifically that intended to increase knowledge and understanding, and he would rest. When he arrived at Haven, it would be as a very different Nicholas Fry than most would likely ever recognize

[Lovely]

Sunday 26th March
3pm


Iain heard the music and wondered as he watched the other boy storm his way away from the building. There was a determination in the step and expression he understood and admired a little, making a note to cross paths with him when he was in less of a hurry. The boy was a leader and leaders presented unique challenges he would welcome and appreciate.

Iain himself was strolling in at a leisurely pace, entertaining a thought that he might enjoy the pool, but like some wickedly, electrically blue pied piper, this girl and her music had lured him here first. His first assumption was a bruised ego but the boy hadn't appeared the type to suffer bruises of any kind or show it if he did. Nothing lost then, he determined, so nothing gained but an opportunity. He played his games his way, but beauty and poise, certainly strength, were things he appreciated on a different level of challenge. His effeminate features did his manners little justice but once in a while he managed to slip past appearances to let his style speak for itself.

He was less subtle about his entrance but her attention was turned to the player as he walked up. "That's no way at all to treat a lady in introductions," he offered, seeming to have an unplaceable accent, something continental. His voice was low and resonant and flowed out like his hand in a smooth grace she'd see in the mirror, offering a warmer greeting.

Jez jumped slightly as the second voice registered. She turned slowly, facing him. Her dark black eyes greeted him, "It's fine... It's typical side effect of being a teenage male..." She shrugged a little, not bothered either way by Chris' attitude.

Iain lowered his hand slowly, admiring the emptiness where her eyes should have been. No, where they were, but from where they appeared empty and blissfully dark, the sort in which he could find himself getting lost. The grin was crooked, perhaps intimidating or rude, though it wasn't his intent to offend. He'd seen others here with differences but not as intriguing. He mused more at her summation of what all teenage boys were like since he didn't seem to remember being like she described."Is it? I didn't mean to startle you. I thought you saw me in the mirror. If I'm interrupting, I can go," he said, pointing at the door, not sure if she would want him to follow the other boy out and leave her to her routine or not.

Shaking her head softly, Jez smiled, "No... I'm done anyway..." She pulled out a tee-shirt from her duffel bag, slipping it on. It was one of those cheesy tees people tend to buy at concerts and sporting events. This one was a Flip Rota promotional shirt that had seen better days for sure. But it was warm enough to wear after working out. She rolled down the leg warmers, pulling them both off and putting them into the duffel bag. Then she took her shoes and socks off, letting her feet get some air, "I'm Jez by the way..." She put a hand out for him to take if he so wished. Just like a majority of her body, her hands were covered in soft blue markings.

He looked at the hand a long moment now that it was offered in return after handling her shoes. He was a little less cordial than before, but still offered his. Refinery workers were certainly no better, he reminded himself. The markings were unlike any he'd seen and he marveled a moment, not intending to seem rude. "Iain Walsh.. a pleasure," he nodded, tracing the line of spots that went up her hands and arms and disappeared under her shirt. He looked up to the intriguing expanse of black opal in her eyes. "Please, don't stop on my account. Though I was heading for a swim. If you'd care to join me?"

Jez noticed him looking at the markings that spread over her skin. She was used to it by now, and was becoming more happy in her own skin. It was going to take a long time to be completely happy with her new look, but she'd get. Softly she shook her head, "I don't swim..." She looked into his eyes with her own, her lips creasing into a smile, "It screws up my mojo..."

"Lord knows you don't want that messed with. Who's your friend, Jez?" Phoebe had slipped in found the scene touching enough to tease her about it, in light of what she'd said only recently about the boys around her. She brought in her own bag, ready to do some serious warm-ups and routine work in preparation herself for the upcoming trials. The guy was interesting. She hadn't really seen him that she could remember and that look, she knew she'd remember.

Jez looked over at Phee, simply rolling her eyes in a teasingly girly way, "This young man... I've just been informed, Miss Phoebe of the dance, is Iain Walsh..." She chuckled softly, "And you know you don't want my mojo screwed with... Because without it I won't be trying out for the squad..." She stuck her tongue out at Phee, grinning all the while.

"Oh, honey, let her go right now... mmm mmm mmm," she smacked her gloved hands at them playfully to get them to separate as she came up. "No mojo-messing with my girl, here. I neeeeed her." She went to hug Jez slightly at the shoulders if she'd let her, offering her a mocking "mwuah" near her cheek. "I'm an soooooo glad to hear you're trying out. You have no idea!"

"Sorry to hear that." He genuinely was, about both the swimming and that they were cheerleaders. These two weren't making jokes about him at least like the ones he knew in high school, or weren't yet while he was standing here. Iain let go of the girl's hand as the other came swatting at him, though he hardly flinched. He gave the first girl another look-over. She was closed off in the way she reacted to him seeing the spots and in the way she'd watched the first boy leave and her apparent 'friend' enter. The blond hadn't given him a second thought though. "Phoebe, nice to meet you," he pushed in while his hand was still free. Both girls were beautiful, but how far would that alone get them? He was curious to learn more about both.

"He gives me the creeps, Jez," she whispered through the smile while she was near her ear. She'd met worse, though, and she chuckled. In a sick sort of way he reminded her of Renee, though he could speak without being in her head, or her mouth. That was a weird memory she hadn't thought of in a while. He seemed nice anyway and she returned the greeting, reaching out a gloved hand. "Sorry. Her mojo comes first. I really do need her on the squad, but it is nice to meet you, Iain. Was that invitation for a swim open to anyone?" She gave them both a raised eyebrow and focused her 'look' on Jez as if to prove a point that she was forever one to break hearts even at first sight.

"Phee!" Jez gave her friend a shocked look and a playful shove. She rolled her eyes as she put her things back into the duffel bag, "And you know full well... I'm only going to be playing pom poms with you until I get into med school!"
Grinning she looked at Iain, "Sorry about her... She's got her panties a little to tight!"

Iain laughed and trickle of static hissed from the music player. He made no visible notice of it, though it registered clearly to him. "Not to worry. I'm sure she means nothing by it," he tried to pass it off, though he'd clearly heard her comment as well. Finally, someone who looked a little deeper than appearances. Right she should find him freakish. Weren't they all, here? He couldn't figure her, though. Phoebe seemed normal. Maybe hers was just an unnoticeable blip like his own. "The invitation is of course open. It's not my pool, but even if it were, I'd extend the welcome. I shouldn't interfere with your playtime. It seems you're a wanted woman, Jez."

"Not a word Phoebe or you'll have those pom poms so far up your backside you'll be cheering something completely different!" Jez warned as Iain mentioned being a 'wanted woman'. She chuckled light heartedly, as it was all in jest, "I've been away from the school for a while... Now word is spreading I'm back so old friends are coming out of the wood work..."

"I didn't say anything." Phee didn't have to since her expression said plenty. "I will say I told you so. And we're all coming out to welcome you back because we missed you, honey. Hey! We haven't had a good party in ages. A get together in a lounge at least. A few rounds of pool... Do you play, Iain?" Ever the one to try and include everyone, she was trying, especially since she'd made her comments.

"I prefer more strategic games, but I've shot some 9-ball in the past." He wasn't sure what to say, not having been directly invited, or had he? This was new. "If that invitation is open to anyone...?" He used her words and a similar poking expression to inquire. He would go if they weren't going to simply mock him.

Jez chuckled as Phee mentioned a party, "You sure we'll be aloud? Things have been very quiet in the party front since I came back..." She looked at Iain, her dark eyes scanning him, "And an invitation here is always open! If it's not, then normally the part isn't worth attending!" Jez grinned wide, her smile bright, "And pool sucks Phee!! Table tennis is the way forward!"

"Graduate suite, sweets, not the dorms. I can have a few guests, just not be loud about it. Or, we can sweet talk the real deal out of the fac and set us up a lounge real nice with streamers and everything. Of course we'd have to invite the faculty," she grimaced a little at that thought, but they weren't all bad. She'd heard stories about the Resher brothers, and Matt might be there... and Wil might come up for it. She bit her lip and smiled more at that thought. She teasingly scowled at Jez. "Don't ruin my fun before it starts. Wait... ping-pong? Are you crazy? I know the 70's are in and all, but ping-pong?" She rolled her eyes in mock disgust and teased a little more. "I could break a nail!"

"Oh goodness no! We can't let you break a nail Princess!" She put an arm around the shoulders of her friend. She wasn't too sure about having a party, but she couldn't really say no to Phee. "And table tennis is fun... Can't just shake pom poms to keep fit!" Jez bumped Phee's hips with her own.

"Oh? You got somebody else to shake your pompoms for you then?" Phee bumped back gently, teasing and didn't mean anything by it. Iain was standing there, innocent victim to their gossip and she tried to ease up a little bit, slipping out of Jez's grasp wondering if the boy liked a little double dose of 'southern charm'. "I'm sorry, you were going to the pool, I believe," she said, coming closer toward him to prove to herself she was just imagining things. He was just quiet and new. "I can work out in here anytime. It's not often I get to go poolside with tall, dark and ... mmm," she couldn't put a finger on the word she wanted without it coming out wrong. Something about his eyes was quite breathtaking, but the odd grin and expression still worried her... calculating was all she could come up with.

Iain grinned and stepped back, beginning to excuse himself. "Don't strain yourself to finish. It's not my pool, so if you want to join me, please do. I should let you continue your party plans. Nice meeting you, Jez. Sorry to have disturbed you. Likewise, Phoebe," he nodded. It was the sideways type of nod given by cautious ministers watching for knives aimed at backs during diplomatic scenes. They weren't openly mocking him, but seemed likely to start once he left the room. It was exactly what he expected and so far he hadn't been surprised by many here, except Phoebe whose caution was noted in return. She was wise enough to question him.

Jez rolled her eyes as she watched Phee putting the flirt on. "You'd better watch her Iain... If she bites you, bite back harder!" Grabbing her bag she put it over her shoulders. "I have to go work... Catch you laters Princess..." With a cheeky grin she swatted Phee's backside before phasing down through the floor.

Phee was watching him and still getting creeped out. He even moved like a snake except he lacked Pieter's warmth when doing it. She jumped, not expecting the swat on her rump which nearly knocked her into him. "Hey!" Her mouth opened as she turned to say something about such a snakebite, but bit back her words instead. With a clenched jaw, she managed to smile and spit out something. "You better run. You owe me a chat session or five, still. Stop by or something... please?" She'd deal with her later. She wasn't mad, just pink.

"I don't bite," he grinned, reaching up to catch the blond if she did fall into him. He didn't mind, either. "Are you alright?" Iain would offer to dust her off, but noticing the gloves, he wondered if even catching her would have been wise, or what her intended touch on his shoulder may have done to him. "I'm sorry I interrupted your chat." He was sincere. Watching them longer could have proven interesting and given him a great deal of useful information he'd now have to work at getting, starting with her. "So. She had spots and you have gloves. Care to enlighten me on the walk to the pool?"

Phoebe managed to stop and not barrel into him, but she did land close enough for discomfort. "Fine, thanks," she grinned and stepped back. Being someplace a little more open than this might make her feel better. She looked at her hands and took her chances, taking the gloves off. She'd have to to swim anyway. "These... are to keep me from knowing the full life history of forgotten objects. That's why some folks call me Finder... for getting those forgotten objects back where they belong."

"Finder? I'd never have guessed something like that existed as a gift. I don't understand why you're wearing gloves, though. Does it hurt to find things or do you damage them?" Iain's curiosity may have sounded rude, but the composition of some abilities confused him. He'd rather know from the person than using some definition from a clinician somewhere, again with experience rather than manuals which proved so uninteresting compared to a personal experience.

He'd met two different cryokinetics so far and though they were clinically the same by such a hard-cast definition, they were nothing at all like each other. A gift to find things... He'd have to remember that the next time he misplaced his keys, assuming he'd ever be allowed to go anywhere.

She could have spit. It wouldn't have mattered for her to get upset since there was no way he could know. Phee shook her head, her blond locks bouncing back and forth over her shoulders. "I can't hurt anyone but myself, and I've done enough of that for a lifetime. These keep the waves out when I'm not expecting them. I only get them from certain people, so neither one of us should get zapped or anything, but from things like jewelry or items that are really close to somebody take on vibes, those can last ages and I can hit them unexpectedly. Unless you're ready to scrape me off the floor, don't let me touch anything of yours." She wasn't sure that sounded entirely appropriate. Curiouser, Alice... talking like that never bothered you before. Why now? What are you afraid of? She wasn't sure, but her hand was outstretched toward him enough to find out.

Iain grinned. "It's a pleasure to worry about getting zapped by you, Phoebe." His eyes narrowed slightly, watching for anything that might indicate she intended on purposely doing such a thing and clasped her hand. He wore no rings on that hand, only his watch.

No zap came and the handshake was solid and stronger than she'd expected. She noticed his watch and steered clear, and noticed how thin and rakish he was as well. "Boy, look at you! You need some meat on you," she gawked, not realizing she was being insulting as she turned his hand in hers like a worried mother hen. She let go and offered a teasing tap to his arm. "Stick around this place, you'll have the girls around here stuffing you up in no time." She was trying to be helpful and maybe hopeful. He was polite enough someone would scoop him up, but she hoped they wouldn't eat him alive.

"I don't eat meat," Iain replied in a way that would make someone doubt it enough to wonder if he wasn't really Hannibal Lectre. He pulled his hand slowly away. She teased him differently than the girls at his old school and it made him wonder if there was some substance to it, a curiosity like the one he had growing. Whatever gift she had was powerful enough to send her to the floor at times, she'd said. "Something close to someone. Trinkets and keepsakes that usually only mean something to their keeper, you mean? Interesting. I'm prone to losing things, so maybe I should keep that in mind. Right now, we're losing daylight. Still want to join me for a swim?"

Phoebe winced, sorry she'd been so frank. It must be something with his eyes. They were so intense, it was hard to focus on him without being drawn into them."Oh. Sorry, I didn't know. Personally I love steak, but I don't want to gross you out. You know, I really better not go. I'm sorry. I really am, but I really should get my act, I mean my routine together, you know... gimme an 'A'? Some other time, though. I'd love to, okay?" Or gimme a 'C' for cop-out, she thought.

Typical. He nodded. "Some other time," he agreed and backed away, making note of the indirect 'maybe' she offered. He had a name and a face at least. She seemed to be his age, so he might even see her in class. One less stranger, though no less strange of a meeting. His luck with girls had triumphed with another flat line on his social EKG. "Good luck," he turned to add as he walked away by himself toward the pool.

[Lovely]

Monday April 3rd
6pm


Byron was busy bustling around the dining area and kitchen, it didn't even dawn on him as to how out of character it was for him to 'bustle'. He was making sure everything was perfect, it also helped scare away the nerves. He checked the pasta on the stove and the chicken in the oven - no Byron wasn't normally a cook but he was taught how to cook this one meal from Fixx. Now who woulda thought that Fixx could cook?

The food looked good and would be ok for the time that it would take Byron to finish getting ready. He hurried into the bedroom and changed his shirt into a nice black button-up. Once he ran a brush through his hair and put on a bit of cologne he returned to check on the food. After glancing at the clock he 'dimmed' the lights - ok so no dimmer switch, he turned off the main lights and turned on the smaller one near the couch and at the desk, and the one over the sink - he then lit the candles that had already been placed on the table. Byron reached into his pant pocket and pulled out the small black velvet box and placed it under his napkin.

Just after 6pm, Nic came walking through the door to the apartment she'd shared with Byron for the past year or so. She was smiling a little as she usually did and stopped a few steps into the apartment, noticing how dim things were. "By..?" She called out softly, not seeing him or the 'surprise' of dinner he'd set up yet. She though maybe he wasn't home or he was sleeping.. but she could smell.. dinner? He'd cooked.. uh oh.. that didn't happen often. She kind of laughed and tip toed around toward the kitchen and the small dining room that was off the side of it. "Hon.. I'm home.."

Byron came from around the table and moved up to give her a light kiss hello. "Nic, you're just in time.." He told her. "Dinner's just finished." Byron pulled out a chair for her. "I hope you're hungry."

She turned to meet him as he came up to her, smiling softly. Her fingers curled and gently played over his buttons as she gazed at him. "You're dressed up and you cooked dinner... what's the occasion?"

"Can't a guy do something nice for his girl?" Byron asked, faking innocence. "Now sit... I've gotta get the food out of the oven." He said kissing her cheek before hurrying into the kitchen before something decided to burn. Quickly he got the plates prepared, half a chicken breast on a pile of angel hair pasta on each plate, drizzled with a creamy pesto sauce and sprinkled with just a touch of Parmesan cheese. He carefully carried each plate to the table, setting one down before her and the other before his chair. "I also picked up some white wine, unless you're prefer tea or a soda or something." He offered.

She tried to say something but he was off before she really could, leaving her a bit stunned as she stood there. While he was busy in the kitchen, Nic went to freshen up, she'd been at work all day and felt kind of 'grungy' even if she didn't look it. She only spent a few minutes, changing her clothes and brushing her hair out, then returned just as he came back with the food. "It looks great, Hun."

Byron chuckled. "Don't be so quick with the compliments." He told her as he turned on some quiet background music. He'd put in one of her Cd's, but the volume was very low as to just add a bit of background music. "It could taste horrible." He said taking a seat. "And if it does... just remember... I'm not a cook." Byron added with a smile.

"Oh jeez." She rolled her eyes and chuckled at him, gently moving to sit down at the table. "I said it looks great.. I never said anything about the taste!" She winked, teasing him just a little. She was impressed with the display and really even if the food was horrible, it was the thought that counted.

Byron smiled as he gazed upon her. "Y'know... I never realized how beautiful you could look in candlelight. Like an ethereal being or something." He was almost shaking, he was so nervous, but didn't want to rush this night. "So... how was work?"

Nic laughed softly and shook her head gazing over at Byron, he seemed to be acting a little funny. She was flattered that he thought she was beautiful. "Thank you." She watched him a moment longer before moving on to the very short description of her day. "The usual.. lots of calls, filing, appointments.. people." She shrugged.

Byron nodded. "That's good." He said with a smile that seemed to not want to go away. "There's something I've been wondering." he started. "I know we've been living together for a while..." His practiced speech seemed to be faltering for some reason - nerves. "You know how special you are to me, right? How lucky I feel to have you in my life?"

She looked over at him, tipping her head to the side a little as he spoke. "Umm.." She breathed the sound quietly out, her eyes narrowing some as she regarded him. "I guess so.. " She shrugged, he never talked about it much, about how he felt about her. He was a quiet kind of guy and though once in awhile those conversations came up it was usually tied into some big change.. oh goodness he was going to break up with her! A nervous chuckle floated from her and she cleared her throat. "We just don't talk about that kind of thing much.. but yes.. I know you care about me."

"Good." He said reaching under his napkin and palming the box. Byron felt his heart leap into his throat. "I have something..." He took in a breath and slipped from his chair to kneel beside her. "To ask you.." He reached for her hand, not revealing the box yet. "The more I think about us together... the more I realize that I can't spend a single moment without you." Byron slowly unpalmed the box, and opened it, revealing the conservative (but shiny!) jeweled ring.

Nic was a little confused by him, but as he knelt beside her she felt her heart leap. Her eyes watched him intently as he got his words out. She realized she was holding her breath, waiting for the rest. It seemed like he was asking.. but she couldn't assume -even with the ring shining up at her. Besides she choked up a little, biting her lip softly and her eyes shining with tears. "Are you..?" She couldn't even get the question fully out as she gazed lovingly into his eyes.

Byron nodded. "Yea... I am..." He said softly with a smile. "Will you marry me?"

She let the breath she was holding out with a small elated chuckle. "Wow.." She nodded her head, blinking the tears that threatened to make her all emotional at the moment. "Yes!"

The grin on his lips widened even more as he pulled the ring out and reached for her hand, taking her fingers and sliding on the ring. "I love you." Byron whispered as he reached up and brushed her cheek with his fingers as he rose to meet her lips.

He did not have far to rise to meet her as she tipped out of her chair and tackled him in an excited hug. Her arms wrapped tightly around him and her giggles were full of giddy delight. "I love you!" She exclaimed happily as she tumbled him back to the floor, bringing a very passionate kiss to his lips.

[Lovely]

June 3, 2006
Received at about 2:30 p.m
with Application, pictures, and other materials

To Whom it May Concern:
Our son, Devan Anderson, was born with a rather odd deficiency early on in life. He has a sort of skin mutation where some of his skin, once dead, does not remain connected on certain parts of his body. This means that of his three layers of skin, he only has two. This would have lead to his death, but his boddy seemed to mutate to make up for the deficiency. As of now, his body secretes a brown acidic material that covers those parts of his body. Long ago we learned to cope with this by soaking his clothing with soap and making him wear special lotions, etc.
Recently we've discovered that his mutation has expanded. When he is placed in physical danger, the material (He affectionately calls it his "bark".) covers his entire body. He's a bit of a daredevil and we can't protect him from being discovered. We came to America for business reasons and to be near doctors that could help him with his skin condition. We are afraid that if he registers, he will be deported and sent back to England to live with his aunt. He's never been to England and his aunt is rather anti-mutant.

We believe that it would be in the best interest of everyone if he was sent to your school. We have heard of you're reputation for being a haven for "gifted" people. We will regularly send supplies to him so that he does not intentionally ruin any of your materials. We are also willing to make a sizeable donation to your school in the event that he does damage something. He is a very well-behaved young man, he was just born a little different from many other young men.

Thank you for your time!
Mrs. and Mrs. Anderson

Louise looked over the mail on her desk and read the letter about the boy then set it aside as she went through the other mail in her pile. A short time later she reread the letter from the Andersons and stood up from her desk, walking the short distance to the door to the outer office. With a gentle smile she dropped the letter into the inbox for the girls. "Please see to it that the proper information about the courses and tuition is sent out, a letter from the parents of a prospective student." She pointed and the look on her face would show it was a priority for them to do so. With that she returned to her office to begin the rest of her day's work.

Nic finished up what she was working on and within a few minutes had gathered the letter and address from the box, where Louise had left it. Pulling together the tuition information, financial assistance forms and general release forms she prepared a package to be sent to the Andersons of all the important information they would need about the Baker Institute to help them decide if they wanted to officially apply.

Mr and Mrs Anderson,

We thank you for your interest in enrolling your son in our school, enclosed you will find an introductory packet with forms you will need to fill out and return. The tuition information is enclosed as well as financial assistance forms -should you need them. We have sent release forms for his medical records should you decide to enroll him as we will need such for our medical team as well as to know how better we may help him.

It is our duty to tell you that while we do not force our students to register under The Act, we are openly known as a school for the evolved and the school itself was required to register or be closed down. We are now a well known establishment and can not make any promises as to your son remaining undiscovered as we must comply with state and federal regulations. This said, we are also a privately funded school and our records as of now remain closed to the public and are not subject to goverment audits.

Thank you for your consideration and we hope to hear from you soon. Please contact the main offices should you decide to enroll Devan and would like to set up an appointment.

Sincerly,
Nicoleta Cowen
Admissions Assistant -Baker Institute.

[Lovely]

June 3, 2006
7pm


It was not like Nic to come into town without Byron or to come into a tattoo place, she had never had anything tattooed or pierced and was a little shy about it. This place had come highly reccomended by a fellow faculty member of Haven and so she was willing to give it a chance. This evening she had her hair down and loose and was wearing wht she hoped to be suitable clothing. Jai had told her they were artists not simply someone who would put a cookie cutter pattern on her. They might actualy be able to help her make something more creative of what she started with. With the piece of paper, that held her small drawings, in her hand she entered the shop.

Their conversation stalled as one of the boys at the counter mentioned something involving 'redhead' and there was a thumping crash of some sort in the back room in response. Both boys at the counter, drawn over literally to their ears and five-o-clock stubble turned with amused smiles, one openly chuckling and welcoming the girl to the shop. "Come on in. How are you tonight?"

Nic regarded the men with a smile and a nod as she came toward the counter. "Evening." She gave a slight bow to them as she greeted them. "I am well. Thank you. and yourself?" Her eyes wandered a bit over what markings she could see on them both, admiring and curious.

"About to be real good," Stat murmured, smiling like a wolf watching a stray hen. He spoke up over Rase. "We're just fine, thank you. What can we help you with?" ... and in how many ways...

Rase just sighed. "Let the show begin," he muttered back, nudging Stat's foot. "Don't be stupid," he warned under his breath.

Nic smiled brighter looking at Stat and thinking he didn't deserve to be a toad, a slug was better. Somehow that imge popped into her head and she bit her lip to keep from giggling. "I was told you fellows are the best.. but there were three mentioned, I only see two.. I hope I am in the right place." She looked between the two again and came a few steps closer. "I was referred by a girl I work with.. she said you would treat me well."

Stat murmured something under his breath as he felt the kick again against his shin. He smiled and nodded. "Of course you will. Betsy here will get you set up just fine," he gritted out, starting to step away from the counter. "It's been a hot day. Can I bring you something to drink? Water... twinkie?"

Rase ignored him. "Water would be nice, thank you. How can we help you?"

She reached to the pocket she'd tucked the paper into and brought it out gently. "My friend told me you would be able to help me, with this. This is just the basic of what I want, it's very plain.. well this one here is a little fancier.. She um.. also said you have an eye for perfect placement. The way she spoke, I'd say she's quite fond of you all." Her fingers played over the paper with the small hand drawn symbols. Symbols which represented what she was and were worn as such by some for that reason and now she felt the desire to make such a mark a part of her. She looked to the man now a hopeful expression that he and his associates were all they were said to be.

Rase chuckled. "Perfect placement tells me I think I know who referred you. Send her my best, please. It's Rase. And tell her to come visit once in a while. You'll want to see Sketch. He's the best eye, but if you want bold, you come see me," he winked. "Sketch, get out here, you have a customer."

Nic's face broke into a soft smile and she nodded. "I only see her a couple times a week but I will.. thank you." She extended her hand to him. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Nic.. and how bold?" She glanced past him towards the back room seeking a glimpse of who was coming out to 'serve' her.

"Bold enough we need a release from your parents," Sketch said, coming around the corner, bringing another photo album back with him. "Unless you're over 18 and then... it's only as bold as you can handle. I'm kidding. Whatever you want, wherever you want. We're not shy if you're not. What can we do for you?" He wasn't looking up at her directly as he arranged things around the counter. Redheads simply distracted him.

"My parents are dead." She replied, softly, pulling her ID from her wallet and handing it to Sketch, showing she was a few years over 18. "I just want.. well as I explained to Rase.. I have a symbol I'd like to start with and was told you all might be able to help me come up with something more."

[Lovely]

June 4, 2006
2pm


He didn't ask and didn't feel he needed to. The table was vacant as was most of this row. He made no noise to disturb anyone except the sound of heavy paper being rolled over the table's surface. The map showed much of the northern European coastline, but many of the names were out of date some 8-hundred years or more. Once satisfied that the weights he placed on the corners would keep it from rolling back up, Iain pulled a box out of his bag and started to sift through it.

Only a few figures were pulled from the box to start with. If no one joined him, he didn't need the whole armies set up, just the generals and few key positions marked for strongholds. The loudest sound Iain made now was the rattle of three dice rolled over the edge of the gridded map he'd set down that muffled their drop to the table. Counting the markings quickly, he set up that many more markers on the board, facing non-existent political boundaries between fictional countries. He sat back, looking over the placement and watching for any onlookers who might be curious enough, or hopefully knowledgable enough, to assume the general and rank of one of the armies.

Lucas had come in looking for his dad -thinking he might be 'hiding' in here. He wandered like a curious child might, smiling at the vast wonders held here. There weren't many people milling about and everyone was quiet, most didn't pull his attention to them until he saw a man setting up what looked like it might be a game. Inching closer, he peered couriously at what the guy was doing, but hung back a little, not wanting to disturb or intrude. He wanted to ask though, all his training and it reminded him of boards he'd been shown and had to use in exersices.. though not exactly the same.

"I think I'll have a button made..." He shook his head, muttering softly, then spoke louder to the boy who watched from beside the shelves. "I don't bite. I just set it up. Have you ever played before?" He beckoned the boy to join him, but didn't define the game by name. He'd discovered long ago if he did, others would become defensive and ensure they did know it, whether they did or not. He wanted worthy opponents, not someone he needed to teach entirely from scratch. Honesty made the best players, strangely. What he wanted and the availability of such a player was yet to be established here.

Luke ventured closer and grinned a little. "I wasn't afraid of you.. biting.. just wasn't sure if I'd be disturbing you. Some people prefer to just be left alone." He got closer to the table his inquisitive eyes taking in the set up, it was clear he had knowledge but he shook his head. "No.. I don't think I have.. not exactly like this.. but I had to use similar set ups in some of my training exercises. What is your objective? This here looks like a good strategic location to hold onto." He pointed on the map, his eyes still working over it, trying to understand even before it was explained to him.

"More than one chair and more than one army. You're welcome to take that one and defend it. So you've never played this one before?" His interest in the boy was piqued, just the same. To jump in, unafraid... few had done that around him yet. He'd be willing to teach it to someone like that. Something else spiked his interest. "What kind of training, if you don't mind my asking?"

He stood looking at the map and the table, first from above and then bending to look horizontally at the pieces that had been set up, his head nodding as he slowly circled the table. "You can ask.. but you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you." He replied with simple honesty, his hand reached to point to one of the pieces and then in a line to another location. "This would be best to make a stronghold here."

Iain leaned back, watching him move around the table and direct. "It might be for the third army. I'm curious, why there? You have swamps here and sheer terrain to your back," he smiled. He had an answer, but wondered what the boy had in mind. "While you're at it, tell me your name. I'm Iain." It was a rare moment of warmth as he smiled, wondering if there was hope of finding a worthy opponent after all.

Lucas smiled a bit and gave Iain a look as if to say 'you're really asking that?'. "Sheer terrain to the back means other armies can't sneak up your a** when you're looking out the front, likely not at all making it a natural barrier and defence. The swamps make it difficult to get close without being noticed as they are hard to manuver through and depending on the state of weaponary could make if impossible for some things to pass through. Horses and carts would not do well nor would more modern land vehicles. People might feasibly come through but the water and mud would bog them down not to mention the unstable conditions which can mean finding any number of barriers." His hands rested on his hips as he chewed his lip a little. "That leaves more of your forces to defend elsewhere or to be sent out to attack. With those two sides needing less guards and look outs." He glanced at Iain and smiled warmly. "I'm Lucas.. most people call me Luke. Nice to meet you."

"Have a seat, Luke. I think you might like this game. Remember, it only looks like Europe, but the names have been changed to preserve history as it really happened. This is not a re-enactment, but I have those too. For some other time? You've chosen your side, now here's mine." He pointed out the general and started to dig for markers to stand for each of their units, setting out a handful for each of them. "I'll let you play the third army as well, me with just my one. Dice are there and I have extras. Each roll indicates the total number of troops you can manage that turn. I'm not a telekinetic. If you are, I hope you'll be honest and won't load your roll." It felt strange to say such a thing out loud, but here it seemed perfectly normal. He smiled more, feeling comfortable about that for a change.

His fingers tapped against the front of his jeans as he shifted them and regarded Iain and the board. "Why would you give me the third army? Why do the dice tell you how many troops? What is my objective and what is the of importance of it?" He'd never 'played' a game of such things, it was serious exercises which he had to manage. "What is the punishment if the mission fails?"

"Your soldiers fall, comrade. That's the punishment. Don't take it that seriously, though. It is just a game," he chuckled. Did he really say that himself? Iain wondered a moment if the boy had been in the military, though he seemed so young. Maybe his family was stationed someplace. "I usually play all three armies. Today I have someone to help. The importance of it, is to get to know each other, and how we each handle a situation. I already know how I think. That's only entertaining to me for a while. I want to see how you think." Iain leaned across the board to speak quietly and reached the dice out to Luke, hoping he'd stick around at least a little while.

"They're not real soilders, this is only figures on a board.. there are no casualties, this is only a simulation. Were I to fail to make the right decision in battle or more covert operations, it could mean the loss of life for my men." He paused and looked at Iain, clearing his throat a little. "I'm used to more intense simulations, where you do not know your opponent, there were no dice and severe consequences for the loser. I do not know if I will .. good at this game." He admitted softly, he had not played the games of normal children -even after being freed. He was not a normal child and happy games with no purpose other than fun did not make sense to him. even when it appeared he had been playing his mnd was working on things in a much different manner. He'd spent much of his time reading anything he could to keep his mind busy and studying others to try and learn how to act and fit in.

"This isn't so intense. Maybe you need the break?" Iain laughed. He found it funny that the boy took the game that much more seriously than he did himself, as if he'd been through strenuous training in real life. Iain wondered to himself about that and moved the third army off the board. "Alright then. A simulation. Your army against mine. If you prefer it, the objective is this piece of land here. Conquer it and you seize these quadrants here and here. Fail and..." He tipped Luke's 'General' over in jest as his hand passed, curious what his response might be.

He caught the general with his TK before it hit the board and righted it all the while looking directly at Iain. Lucas raised an eyebrow surprised by the change, his lips curved into a dangerous looking smirk. He was suddenly so very -not- nine years old. "Death... well now, there's an interesting twist. Most people wouldn't be brave enough to enter willingly into such a ... game." But no this was not the first time the consequence had been his life for failure... obviously he hadn't failed the last time. Though killing here in this elememnt seemed inappropriate, perhaps in the orchard would be better for the actual act.

"Right, then don't lose," he chuckled watching the piece move in the corner of his vision. The boy's grin was as unnerving as the 'dead man' that rose on his own on the board. "So you are a telekinetic. Interesting is only the half of it, then. It may keep him standing on the board, but it won't help you otherwise. You cheat the dice, the game's over and you forfeit, understood... comrade?"

Lucas eyed the other man with a piercing gaze. "Understood. I do not cheat, you have my word of honor on that. Nor will I use any of my gifts in this exercise, if it is to be nonpowered play." He gave a slight bow, appearing even beyond his physical guise of 16 and most definately not a child. "Before we begin, is there a method you'd prefer me to use should you fall?" As an after thought he added. "Are your affairs in order?"

"The game begets the game, Luke. If either of us fall, then the next level of the challenge is set - a new game. It may be immediate victory or really damned stupid for either of us to keep the agony going if it isn't, but I'm sure we'll both benefit from the entertainment of it. Consider the endgame as Assissination, of sorts. The loser of this game knows his life is then very, very short and the other will find a means to make his demise as quiet as possible. You can walk away now if you want and there is no penalty. What's your answer?" He still spoke of games and simulations and wondered if Luke was paying attention to that key part of the conversation.

Lucas looked a bit confused now as his eyes narrowed on Iain, he was picking up some thoughts and it seemed Iain's intention was of games. "You.. do not have a true intention of death for losing. I think I may not understand what exactly you mean.. all of it a game? I don't know these games." He spoke quietly, looking down now though he was very curious about it. "You wouldn't kill me if I lost?"

"I've just met you. I might even like you. I have no reason on this earth to want to kill you, at least not over this," he burst out laughing, then grew quiet and even more concerned. What would have happened if the boy hadn't asked? "Of course it's all a game. First the men on the board, then ourselves, but still just a game. You've... never played Assassination before?"

His eyebrow arched and hs head shook slowly. "No.. I've never played at assasination." He spoke in a steady even tone though he was perplexed. "Why do you play such games?" Iain had laughed at him, probably thinking he was some strange stupid kid. Lucas was trying not to dig into the other man's head and respect the 'rules' set here though his other teaching said opposite.

"I have no intention of losing, no. It's been known to happen once in a while, though. I play them to learn from them. You made the best distinction yourself. All games are in some way a simulation of true human warfare. Capture a square, capture a flag or capture a king... or kill one. Even cards represent the armies of royalty, or they did once." He stretched and leaned back on his chair, seeming quite relaxed and unphased about nearly signing his own literal death warrant. He likely would someday. Thankfully it appeared it wasn't going to be today. "Such games show what a person really thinks and what collateral damages he considers acceptable. The real question is what he would really do when faced with the real thing."

His level gaze remained unfaltering as h took to the chair at the side of the table, facing Iain but more beside him than across from him. "..and what of those who have faced the real thing.. and there for know aleady what they would do or would likely do if faced with it again?" He was truly interesting in the conversation that was developing, finding it more engaging than the board next to them, though he was still interested in that as well.

That was chilling. Iain hid the shiver beneath a benign grin. "I wouldn't know personally since I'm still here. My uncle was a working man and didn't encourage me to enlist. Really, it's no different I imagine if the players take it seriously and really know what's at stake, what is really being fought over. I don't think those who do face the real thing are always looking at it as real as the soldiers in the front lines either - Generals in their offices, safe behind phones and bureacratic tape? Is that so different, Luke? What about those with no training at all? What happens when the war comes to their front door with no soldier there to save them? That's how they said he died, that it wasn't an accident that caused the explosion."

"You have a valid point." Luke agreed and his fingers played over his chin, thoughtfully. "I don't really know the answer.. I guess there's not one.. but many because each person is different as is each situation. Someone could react one way in one instance and then completely differently in another." He did his best not to dig more deeply to find out more about what Iain had said, though he watched him with curious eyes.

"A valid point." He looked at Luke with as much curiosity as he was being given. Here was a boy he didn't need to explain things to, yet felt he couldn't communicate with him. "The point is not to take this too seriously when it is only a game. Real warfare, real lives, but this has its point too. Training, I suppose," he mumbled, looking over the board. His features bunched up as an idea came to him. "Forget the names here on the board. Pretend there are no names, no known armies. Assume there are just two men in the expanse of this realm, yours and mine. No collateral damages, no casualties, no innocents. Just you and me. Would that make a difference?" He cleared the extra pieces away, leaving only the generals.

"Every alteration of circumstance makes a difference." He half smiled ad looked to the boards, reaching to fiddle with one of th generals left behind. "One on one is more noble.. precise.. a more clear intent than hiding behind or using innocents." He shrugged, he was not a general. "But.. as you said.. it's a game and should not be taken as seriously as the real thing. I'm curious how you'd play with just the two?"

"I'm not playing yet. This is an exercise, a discussion. I'm finding out about the other general," he grinned. "Isn't that part of the game, too? Know your opponent at the table? Something you said intrigues me, Luke. You talked about methods as if you're familiar with several. I almost thought you meant it for real." He chuckled for effect, but somehow expected to be corrected.

He swallowed and sighed, lifting his fingers from the game piece and using his Tk to slowly spin it around and around. "I did mean for real." His gaze lifted from the spining piece then and met Iain's with a gentle intensity. "You didn't really think I wasn't serious though, did you."

"Maybe. No, not particularly, but it doesn't matter what I think. It matters what a general can make his men think, right?" His gaze narrowed to match Luke's intensity, his arms folding about himself as he grinned. "You probably have read a lot and it shows," he nodded, though he didn't believe that was the only source of the boy's knowledge. He seemed cagey about the topic and Iain wasn't letting it drop that easy. "One on one is more noble and possibly the most frightening, moreso when it's face to face, don't you think?"

"I have read quite a bit, but not on this topic." He answered plainly, honestly -much like a child his age might when someone makes such a statment about them. He considered what else Iain had said and his expression hinted at thoughtful but did not change for the most part. "Not always.. sometimes it's fear and what they have to gain or lose that gives a general the power over his army. What he controls in their world.. be it lands or families or profit, promises.. though I suppose that is making them believe in whatever the general holds over them. I don't find it frightening -one on one, I suppose some others might though." He cleared his throat softly. "Fear is an usless emotion in battle and one must turn it off, it is not allowed."

"Fear is a useful tool when used properly, though. Just one man's opinion." Iain nodded to the boy's point, however. "That's why it's not allowed. Fear in the ranks undermines the cause, makes a man falter and doubt his orders. If he doubts himself or his commander, others follow. Who suffers then? An awful lot to think about," he muttered, reaching for the piece that Luke had been spinning, wondering what it felt like. Did it hold onto such energy or feel cold? His fingers pinched around it, trying to hold it still - he wondered if the boy would move it from his hand, or if he could.

Lucas looked down at the piece again as Iain grasped it and he chuckled softly, making it start to slowly spin in the other direction now. "How come you know so much about this stuff?" He asked, finding he was actually quite curious about the other man.. though he was just a boy in years on this earth, himself.

The piece stopped in Iain's fingers only to begin twirling in reverse. He felt nothing from it beyond the movement and let go. "Interesting," he muttered, looking at his hand, rubbing his fingers together. He looked up at Luke as the subject changed slightly. "I study it. I study people, mainly historical figures. I'm not a fanatic, though. I only learn what I need to know at the moment. I'm no expert," he shrugged. "You know more than most. Why's that?"

Lucas shrugged and sighed looking off seemingly in the distance though they were surrounded by stacks and rows of books. "Conditioning.. training.. studying.." Maybe even sme of the enhancements made to him, he'd been made for a purpose -even if that was not to be fufilled now. He'd been given a life, though he really didn't know what to do with it. He moved through it and enjoyed his family but wondered often what he was supposed to do, what purpose he now fufilled.

Iain leaned closer over the table again. Now he was full of questions and wasn't sure this was the place to ask them. "Conditioning for what? Training for what?" He nearly insisted that Luke tell him specifics. "Maybe we should move this conversation someplace else. We can move this wherever," he offered, pointing to the map that was easily picked up.

Luke watched him quietly for a longer moment and then nodded slowly. "Sure.. we can go somewhere." He shrugged, shifting in the chair that he had folded his tall frame into. "Where do you think we should go?"

Iain made note of Luke's deliberate movements and the lacking answer as he watched him rise. He obviously had an answer, but the reason he wasn't sharing it made him think of many reasons that didn't make sense yet. Luke didn't seem to be easily embarrassed. That was scratched off the list almost immediately. "Where I usually hide," Iain offered with a smirk, thinking of anecdotes relating to inviting others into tangled webs, though who was the spider and who was the fly this time? He scooped the remaining figures back into his box and pulled the rest of his things together. "I've got these, if you'll roll the map up for me. Not much to offer at my room besides privacy and a strange assortment of books that, somehow, I think you might like."

His response was immediate and direct, a simple movement as his hands reached to deftly and quickly roll the map. Done with speed and care, it was perfect as he moved to smoothe it into a precise line. With a almost careless though somehow purposeful flick of his wrist, he held the map out to Iain. "I like books." He spoke with the hint of a smile.

Iain was about to say something else when the map was presented with a sort of flourish a commanding officer would have approved. "Thank you. I'm sure you'll like them. What else do you like, Luke?" He led the way, tucking the map in the unzipped corner of his bag around the box and books he neatly stored within.

Luke found himself following the other man, taking a step to come beside him as they walked. He shrugged his shoulders and motioned with his hand around them in generalization. "I don't know.. still finding those things out I guess."

"Don't guess. Or don't admit that you do. Always have an answer, Luke. Does a general ever say 'I don't know'? Does he ever say, 'I suppose'? Of course not. We both know this. Have an answer. Say, 'I like goldfish', or 'I like sunburns'." Iain suddenly felt like a mentor in ways beyond games, though he suspected the boy was hiding a lot more cards than he was showing. "'I like books' is a start. You could also say you like pretty girls or the smell of roses, but whatever it is, believe it and you'll start to feel the power of that belief grow. Trust me."

[Lovely]

June 4, 2006
9pm


It had been very easy to get dressed and slip out of the apartment, out of the building and across the campus with hurried steps. Did she go unnoticed in her dark cloak -midnight in color with a clasp of silver and stones? Her long red-brown hair was down and loose, curling tendrils out of her hood to catch the breeze as she moved into the forest.

Her dress was of old style, the bodice laced tight and her feminine endowments pushed high and peeking out the top as fit the style. Black trimming and a dark red in color it brought out the fire of her eyes and hair, making her skin seem more fair -her natural beauty enhanced as she found herself preparing for tonight's task. The further she moved through the woods, the darker the path became and more narrow, her feet softly crunching old leaves beneath her steps.

The swish of her skirts keeping pace as she moved, herbs, stones, and other 'tools' of her craft were lovingly tucked in her satchel and waiting to be used. She'd spent far too long pretending to be normal. In a school full of those who were different she still felt the need to hide what she really was. There was reason for it, but no excuse for denying -she no longer could hide the truth. It pained her too much to deny things that were a part of her, her heritage, her family -and she spent her days in an office and her nights with a man who didn't know who or what she really was. How could she have let it get to this point?

Coming to a small clearing she 'felt' this was the spot and knelt down in the center to begin. Before she knew it she had already begun and her voice was soft as her words were spoken. Supplies set out beside her and came to hand as needed, all her movements natural -years of training as well as her gift for such things making things flow easily.

The first incantation was for protection and the next for the health of her family. Her bag worn soft and supple from years of use held her cherished items lovingly and the ingredients for tonight's 'main' spell. Her cloak was pushed back so her shoulders felt the cooler breeze of the night, and her hood slipped down to reveal soft fiery curls that cascaded down and loose. Nicoleta Cowen knelt in the small clearing, a bench next to her provided by the school for those who might enjoy some peace here, but this place had much energy running through it and it pulsed through her. The time seemed to stop as she knelt there calling softly to the powers and forces that would assist her.

Curfew and 22? Why bother, Iain wondered, hands in his pockets, rolling a 12-sided die in his fingers. He rarely smoked, didn't drug himself and didn't carouse much at all. Beyond all-night gaming sessions which didn't seem likely to happen here, he was often guilty of just thinking too much which some considered a worse addiction than the others combined. Thinking caused walking and walking caused changes in direction from time to time, not always just a change in the path he was walking, but the -way- he was thinking. Tonight appeared to be such a time...

The direction took him away from the dormitory doors. What would they bust him for... stargazing? Let them. As soon as they finished looking through their far-too-vast penal code for whatever infraction that was, it would be time for morning class anyway. Out in the open or in an office and subject to scrutiny under that Devil-man's red eyes for half the night, either way he'd still be bored and in search of something to amuse himself until morning.

Shadows moved off ahead down the main path, heading away from the campus toward the more rugged edges and into the forested outskirts. It was too early in the evening for images of reapers and hags and far too early in year for Gretels and Goldilocks and similar red-hooded costumes to appear. Where are the big bad wolves, he smiled to himself. It was likely only a rain slicker he saw, worn against elements contrary to the resident's own abilities or something, he decided, trying to logically conclude things that made little sense in the warm weather and cloudless night. He'd seen a definite person, heading the same direction he was. Why bother changing course? Another person was more interesting than grass, though there were some here he preferred the small, mindless blades over.

Iain entered the clearing slowly, not entirely sure he wanted to converse with crickets and earthworms any more than he wanted to stumble across bush-enclaved and active lovers in a torrent of hidden passion. Why else secret away after the eyes of the school were turned in for the night? His discovery was at once more innocent and more forbidden, seeing the figure closer and the convenient bench from which to make spectacle... or heckler if he had such an opportunity. Did the girl with all these archaic adornments and odd collection of artifacts fancy herself a witch?

Nicoleta felt the change in the energy around her, something darker had entered the clearing. Her senses told her not to startle though and whatever presence came to her was there for a reason. She had work to do.. this was important and she needed to do this for her happiness. The usual chants that wrapped her loved ones in safety were finished and she reached to slide the cloak free from her, let it not hinder her for the stronger spells that were to come. As she shifted and turned, her visitor was shown to her in moonlit glow, bringing his bluer-than-blue eyes to life with a fire she wondered if he knew he possessed. Her motions paused as her gaze fell upon him, but she did not shy away or act imposed upon. "Good evening." She greeted him softly.

"Miss Cowen?" Astonishment. That was the best fit he could use to describe the reaction as he realized Nicoleta, the very woman who'd welcomed him to the school, was crouched before him inside these layers of witchery and selective anachronism. A slow, beguiling smile, one intimating that he kept an uproarious and hysterical burst from shocking the surrounding and unsuspecting clearing, grew over his sharp features, deepening the shadows and crevasses that made up his marionette-like expression.

Just as sharp, his eyes remained unlaughing but curious as he stared in some form of admiration he couldn't describe. He knew the mind behind the shadows and ringlets of red that moved in a breeze out here in the open. Something appeared natural and wholly unnatural about the way she stared and greeted him, though he hardly noticed that he'd recoiled and took the step backward. He composed his wits for a straight reply. "Don't let me interrupt. Or am I?"

The smile twitched again, hoping that for all intents, he'd thoroughly interrupted so she'd have to begin again. He didn't want to miss anything if it would keep him entertained. Now he had questions, several. He'd read his source books for spells and magic pertaining to a myriad of games, but these were not the spells of games, he gathered.

"Nicoleta.. or Nic, please." She corrected him just as softly about addressing her so formally and finished the movement of setting her cloak aside in a neat pool close by where it could be retrieved quickly and easily. Her fingers shifted to smooth a few of the curls out of her face, that were left loose and more wild tonight. Her hair was much longer than it appeared when done or pinned up for the office, hanging like soft flames licking around her. Her dress was also much less conservative the way it hid and exposed and made her a more alluring mystery to be discovered in the wood in the middle of the night. His presence did not disrupt her and for some reason his own energy seemed to add to that of the clearing. She watched his smile with a curious and amused expression. "You are not interrupting. I'd just finished the first and was about to begin again." Why was it that she was not worried about hiding what she was from him, when she hid it from her own fiance?

"Sorry to hear that. I'll try harder then," he decided, openly stating so, if she was going to continue. He didn't believe in magic in reality, though cherished the abilities for his commanders and thieves in game-play. He saw no harm in observing and asking as she went along. Spells, in his mind, didn't work anyway. "Go ahead and start. I'll just watch."

She regarded him a moment longer, he seemed entirely un-freaked out by this, which was odd in itself, though by the way his comments started she wondered what he -was- thinking. The night wasn't getting any younger and she did need to get back to the apartment before Byron started to worry or even noticed she was missing. It wasn't likely that he'd find her if he did go looking -she was far enough out that she would not be seen from the main grounds. Though Iain had found her.. he must have been out this way already, as his energy fed into that here, she decided it wouldn't do any harm if he stayed. Besides if he did, she knew he wasn't running back to 'turn her in' or some such.

"Very well." She replied to him -again in that soft voice. She adjusted herself slightly, settling her knees into the ground and shifting her skirt more comfortably. Closing her eyes she gathered her concentration and energies to focus on the spell she'd come her to do tonight. A deep cleansing breath was taken in and let out, her voice coming softly in a gentle string of words to begin the enchantment.

"What language is that exactly? I don't think I've heard that before. Was that Latin... maybe something Slavic?" Iain was honestly asking as he listened and tried to understand what it was she was doing. So far it resembled nothing he knew from his games.

She paused as he spoke and it broke into the gentle concentration, her eyes fluttered open and she looked over at him. "What?.. oh.. the language was and archaic dialect of Gaelic." She licked her lips and gave him a slight smile, turning back to begin again, pausing before she started to whisper a "Shhh." to him. "I'm concentrating.." She nearly chuckled as it slipped out of her mouth what the spell was for. "on the 'my boyfriend is not a boring computer geek who doesn't notice me' spell.." She adored Byron but most days she felt she needed to give him a kick in the pants to 'wake him up' to her being there.

That thought made him nervous enough to look around. The infamous 'boyfriend' whom he'd yet to see, though he was sure he was around.... He'd done nothing at all but observe, but would a brutish, neck-less, thick-headed protector of this girl not hear that reason if he came into the scene as it appeared at the moment, the two of them speaking in tongues and quiet laughter in the woods? Nerves aside, Iain chuckled and interrupted again, more curious than before. "What happens if it misfires... maybe landing on another boring computer geek?" He couldn't help but wonder. She wouldn't really be dating someone like that, would she? Someone like himself?

Interrupted again, her words halted and she looked at him, amused but needing to focus on the spell for it to work as intended. She wasn't in the habit of casting love spells as they were fickle and she was mostly happy with her 'computer geek'. Byron wasn't a bad guy and he didn't abuse her.. she just wanted a little more 'oomph' in their relationship. One eensy little spell to give them that wasn't a bad thing. "Which one?" She closed one eye as she 'peered' at Iain an eyebrow raising in question. She sighed softly "shhh I need to focus. If I think about the wrong person -it will end up being on them." She needed to get serious or she really would make a mistake.

So she was flappable, after all? Pay-dirt! He smiled, thoroughly amused as he watched a real-life spell being cast. "And what would happen to them? Turning them into a toad?" He stepped around her carefully, observing the angles and things strewn before her, more and more curious, like an attorney questioning a witness on the stand. Witch trials? That in itself he found amusing at the moment, though he wished no harm to come to her from it.

Even with her eyes closed she could feel and hear him circling her, that would not do. "It's a binding spell.." She explained, sighing softly and looking over at him. "Main wording binding.. it's supposed to bind two people to each other.. it's a nice spell.. now hush.. I don't want to be bound to the wrong geek." She chuckled softly at the last bit, looking up to him as he towered over her when she was on her knees.

"Once done, what does that do? Does the geek become a toad? Oh, of course, all geeks are already toads." He'd come to that conclusion, being 22 and still single. He was amusing himself, mimicking some of her expressions and listening to how she said her words though he wasn't paying that close attention to what she'd said in plain English. That wasn't like him, either, though pushing buttons to watch her become more flustered was.

"No silly.. " Her smile curled softly as she continued to look up at him. "..there are no toads in this spell.. " She spoke calmly, a bit matter of fact as if they were discussing the color of paint on the bench where Iain sat. "The geek becomes.. well to put it simply.. mine and I am his.. it binds us together.. you know connected?" She explained, making a few hand motions as she told him what the purpose of the spell was. Of course there was more to it than that, but she didn't need to give him every detail of what she desired with the spell she was casting. Her hand rested over her bodice, gently as she finished a motion from her heart out to an imaginary Byron's, in her attempt to show Iain what she was doing.

He swung himself up on the back of the bench and observed, thoroughly entertained that she was so unshaken by him. He grinned with absolute delight. "No, I'm afraid I don't know what you mean. Tell me."

He was like a curious child pestering with questions about how things worked, she could almost here him repeating the word 'why' over and over. Her eyebrow arched and she tried not to grin, but couldn't help it and the expression slowly spread to light her face up in soft shadows. "Keep distracting me.. and I'll turn you into a toad." She teased him, reaching to light the incense she brought for this part of tonight's activity.

"Covered that. Geek, ergo toad," he shrugged, but kept grinning. He leaned on the bench to either side, tapping lightly and anxious to watch more. He was waiting for pillars of smoke or something, he wasn't sure. "Go on, don't let me stop you. This is fascinating."

"Fine but if you wake up with warts don't complain to me." She warned then smiled at him and winked. "I have a nice tank if you want.." She offered him in teasing and then tried to turn her attention back to what she'd started out here. She said a small blessing and spread the powder she'd made in a circle. "This is for happiness." She informed him as she made the circle with the powder.

"Happiness? Can I put my order in for some when you're through? Been a miserable week, my grades not up to par...," he rambled, interrupting her again. He considered the tank, but he'd been blessed with a private room. That sent him off on different thoughts altogether, but he kept those to himself.

She looked up at him and tried to glare but it was hard and she ended up smiling at him again. "Shhh." She scolded him softly, taking a pinch of the powder and sprinkling it over him as if she was Tinkerbell, sprinkling her fairy dust. Maybe that would get him to hush and stop distracting her in that adorably cute way that was not annoying her, only breaking her concentration.

He chuckled a little, dodging the dust, or trying. He brushed some back off his knee, but it seemed to stick all over. "Hm... not sure it's working," he laughed. "How large of a tank do you have? Do you have cable?"

"It will work. If you be quiet." She crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him. "I do have cable.. I'll even get you a nice rock to sit on." Patchouli incense burned in the air around them from a small burner she lit with care and set close by. A candle was lit before her with the same match before she let it burn down to her finger tips, blowing it gently out. She called to the Father Sun and Mother Moon to imbue this working, reciting an incantation. A piece of black yarn was set in front of the candle and a needle produced from her supplies, this was held in the flame of the candle.

"A needle? Stitches?" He lifted a foot and tugged his sock. "No holes here. Oh, so you're a nurse now? I get it. Hmm, I thought you were supposed to be a witch. I seem to have this sniffle..," he teased more, clasping his hands and eagerly awaiting some magnificent finish to her play.

"No holes yet.." She warned him softly, still smiling at him as she threatened to poke him -playfully of course, intending him no harm as she poked the needle towards his toes. Then she swiftly brought it to stab into her own finger, drawing the blood to drop from it and onto the piece of yarn she'd set in front of the candle.

"Ow. Hey, is that safe? Don't you need a tetanus shot for that?" He hadn't been stung, or didn't think he had, feeling more for her as she stabbed herself. It fascinated him more to watch how she managed the ordeal without batting an eye.

"It's witchcraft.. and the spell requires this." She stated calmly as if stabbing her finger and smearing blood into things was just a fact of life. After letting her blood seep into the yarn she set the needle aside and tied the yarn around her right wrist. Another incantation was spoken by her -of hearts being bound together and then she added a smear from her finger to a talisman and tied it to the yarn at her wrist.

Iain watched, awestruck as she completed, or continued what she was doing. She was as unflinching with the prick on her finger as she'd been with his questions. He had to admit there was something of a 'power' she possessed and he felt the need to respect that and actually remain quiet for the moment.

She was concentrating now, her words coming out more like a chant as she focused. Lifting the apple she passed it through the flame three times in a circular motion. Then she blew gently over it three times, giving it the breath of life. Her dagger was then pulled from the sheath at her hip and the apple was cut in half with deft motions.

One half of the apple was set to the side and the other she took a bite from. "In concordance with the Elements, under one Sun and one Moon, under the Goddess and the God, and in harmony with the truth of the Universe, we are united. May our bond never be broken by any power that exists, and may it be blessed with the forces we have conjured." She circled her hands slowly over the flame, letting it lick at her hand and the talisman. "With these we are forever together, never apart. Even if they are destroyed, we shall be close in our heart." She leaned forward and blew the candle out, the spell now cast.

A gentle breeze coming through the clearing with her last 'breath' to extinguish the candle, the whisper of leaves as if the breeze carried her enchantment off into the night.

She'd left half the apple to sit, forgotten, and sitting quietly wasn't something he could do for any length of time. He picked up the piece she'd left. "So now what happens?" He asked around the bite he munched eagerly.

She had closed her eyes to offer a more private and silent blessing to the forces she'd called upon and as she heard the crunch of the apple her eyes flew open. "Iain!!" She gasped, her hand stretching out and her finger pointing at the apple he was eating, as if in shock. Truly disbelief and this could not, he did not.. ".. oh.. no.." She breathed quietly. "He was supposed to eat.. not.. oh no." She suddenly felt light headed and as if her breath was stolen for a moment, her eyes wide as she stared at Iain eating the apple she'd enchanted.

"What?" He said, wondering if she was pointing to a worm or something else wrong with the fruit. It wasn't the best apple he'd eaten. It even tasted a little strange, but he offered some to her. Maybe it was her last one and she couldn't buy any more for a while. He shrugged. "You left half."

Her facial expression was one of disbelief and nearly mortified as she lowered her hands and took a deep breath. "Iain.. you don't know anything about spells and things.. do you?" Her face took on a worried but more calm repose as she searched his face.

"I know I don't believe in hocus-pocus," he shrugged again and took another bite. "You're not missing anything. The apple is a little sour." What was she so upset about? It was just an apple.

"Well, thank you for not believing in me.." Her eyes drifted away from him for a moment as she was truly hurt by that, this was why she hid from Byron. ".. the apple tastes different because it's part of the spell I cast." She sighed softly, trying to find the simplest way to explain her 'hocus pocus' to him. "It's been enchanted, that half is supposed to be eaten by the other person in the binding. I.. you ate it.. you just became the other person in the spell."

"I never said I didn't believe in you, Nicoleta. I'm a man of logic and strategy, not poems and fancy rituals. If I believed every curse someone put on me, I'd still be in Catholic school in Britain," he grinned darker than usual and slid down to the seat on the bench, feeling a little lightheaded. He looked at the apple then to her. "Assuming it's real... alright, it -is- real. If I give in to that being a fact, then what does happen next?"

She looked up at him accepting his words and his admission of believing in her. "Thank you.. for that at least." She said softly, kneeling in front of him and pouting a little. "I.. I just bound us.. heart, body, and soul.. forever...?" Her voice came out at the last in a bit of a squeak. It was supposed to be Byron.. her fiance -not Iain, though there was nothing wrong with him. He was beautiful, those blue eyes and his mouth.. dark hair.. even his freckles were cute. Beyond that she saw a darker power around him as though something deeper lurked and it wanted to draw her closer.

"Oh." He was quiet for a long moment now, feeling that he must be as green as the apple. He looked at it and chuckled. So the apple was red, not that it mattered or changed the gurgling tickle on his insides. "But that's only until... you can undo this, right?" There was a strange pallor to his already pale complexion and faint sheen of perspiration, the first view anyone here had had of Iain experiencing fear and not hiding it.

She shook her head 'no' at first then shrugged and looked up at him slightly bewildered herself. "I don't know that I can.. it's a very strong spell, if done right.. and I'm sure I did it right, up until you ate the apple." She chewed at her lower lip, feeling the way her heart beat against her chest. "May our bond never be broken by any power that exists.." She repeated the words of the spell and closed her eyes looking down at the ground. "I don't know.. I'm sorry.. I didn't mean... well I did but not.." Her fingers lifted and pressed to her temples and then back into her long red locks. "I need to consult my books.. while I can still think.. before I.." She looked back up at him wondering how she would be affected. The spell was supposed to bind her to Byron -her fiance.. what would it mean for her to be bound to Iain? She was already attracted to him and found him fascinating.. what would the intent of the spell bring now?

"Yes. We need to look through every book you have," he said quietly, wondering just how big a man Byron was and what would happen when he found out. Iain hadn't taken his walk tonight with any intention of getting a date, never mind a bound heart and soul to a girl he knew next to nothing about, or any girl. "Maybe you didn't do it right or not completely right. I was distracting you, so maybe it's not so strong or you missed some part that makes it really stick." He had to find out and ask someone. He didn't believe in magic, so it couldn't stick, could it?

Nicoleta chewed her lower lip softly and shook her head, shrugging a moment later. "You were distracting me.. so maybe there's a chance.. but even with that.. I don't think I made any mistakes, other than you eating the apple. Byron was supposed to eat that." She sighed heavily and closed her eyes against the dampness that threatened to be real tears. "I'm so sorry Iain.. This wasn't supposed.. I just.. " She faltered and looked down to the ground, feeling lightheaded again. "I should have just stuck to pretending this isn't what I am.. I don't think I can get to my books tonight.. not without waking Byron up. I have no idea how I'm supposed to explain this to him."

******************************************

June 4, 2006
11:30pm
The Library


What would a siren like her ever be interested in a sot like him for? It was an answer he already feared he knew and kept himself quiet to avoid that rejection. She couldn't be held to him against her will. He was poison, or at least most people treated him that way, though he did little to deny it. Iain actually used it to his advantage, but not tonight. He'd insisted they look through her books and even scour the library if they had to to find something to fix the spell before something went horribly wrong, or someone got horribly hurt, especially her. This wasn't her fault. He'd eaten the apple. Something clicked with the elements in his mind and he snickered suddenly, thinking of Snow White. "Poison...What do you know about poisons?" If she really was a witch, maybe it was like the story, the pretty fruit lady selling him a pretty story only to cut out his heart later and stuff it in a box.

She turned to look at him, the darkness and moonlight through the windows cast such shadows that all she could do was gaze at him for a moment. He simply took her breath away with his dark handsome visage. Iain excited her in a way no one else ever had, she felt like a siren of some sort as sirens were dark creatures really -beautiful but with power that can be sinister.. and he had darkness in him as well. Maybe he was the siren and she was being drawn into his trap.. "What? Oh.. I know a thing or two about poisons, as well.." She gave him a bit of a wicked smile though she said nothing more on it for the moment.

"Do you? You're not suggesting I -take- poison, are you? I didn't mean to cause this, you know," he defended, smirking though curious if she really might intend to kill him off to solve the problem. Strange he'd had his life on the line for so many small things lately. Now he wondered if there was a hanging offense to trespass the library like this after hours. "How are we going to do this with no light?"

She lifted her finger to his mouth to "Shhh.." him for a moment, lightly touching her delicate digit to his soft lips. Her hand fell away to rumage quietly in her bag and pull free a thick candle, holding it in her hand she concentrated and whispered. "Illuminate." The wick glowed to life with a cool flame to light the space around them. Bright enough to see but low enough to go unseen by security passing outside. "You didn't cause this.. and I wouldn't give you poison.. well not for use on yourself anyhow."

His words and his breath stopped for that second as she shushed him. It was strange to feel that touch and it scattered whatever else he was going to say. "You didn't do this without my help. I'm not - you're not using poison, either, so don't think it."

"You're wrong... I did do this." Her smile was soft and almost 'dark' in the shadows cast by the candle and the rows and shelves of books. "I dug my hole, a deep one at that.. you just sort of tripped over my litter and fell in." Her eyes traveled over him and she reached out but paused before she actually touched. "Though.. I couldn't ask for better company.. I am sorry Iain.. to have tangled you so. I never would wish to cause you such troubles.. as I have managed to do."

"It's a pleasure to be tangled," he smiled. "But I think you're taking this far too seriously. I still have all my fingers and toes and I haven't started getting a taste for flies." He stuck his tongue out to tease, but that was also a strange feeling against the tingle she'd left on his lip.

She chuckled faintly and let her hand find a place to rest on his shoulder as she set the candle to the shelf with her other and stepped closer to him. "Well then let me say.. it's a pleasure to tangle.." Her voice was a murmur and she was so close to kissing him, tackling him to the floor.. maybe she'd only kiss those tempting lips for hours, but the urge was damn near too much to resist. "Not fingers or toes that I'm worried about." She whispered, warmly a breath away from his lips now.

"Careful not to burn yourself," he warned, though the candle had nothing to do with it. It was apparent what she thought the spell was responsible for. For him it was like being drunk and giddy and having her that close was just that much more intoxicating. His eyes closed as he chased his thoughts to corral them into order. He opened them, fixing them gently on her. "What are you worried about?"

"Hearts.. yours and mine.." She replied in the same hushed whisper, looking into his eyes. ".. falling.. like I've never fallen before.. " Her tongue darted over her lips and her fingers curled with his.She couldn't explain the feeling inside her -it was like being freed from a cage.. when she was with him, close to him she felt alive and open to be herself.

"Don't," he said quietly, trying to get his breath to come out steady. He looked around them at the shelves and their task ahead, but couldn't turn from her long, realizing his hand was comfortably twined. "Don't -worry-," he clarified with a weak smile. "We have work to do."

She almost pulled away when he said don't, but as he turned back and clarified what he meant, she came closer, reaching behind his shoulder for a book. She pulled the book free and let her arm curl around him a little, her other hand still holding his. It was so.. very, very hard not to kiss him and probably obvious that she was trying to resist that urge. The look in her eyes spoke volumes and likely read -I'm yours- and she was.. heart and all, his for the taking if he wanted to claim that treasure.

His thoughts were swimming, nearly capsized by unusual waves of things he shouldn't be thinking at all let alone thinking of with her. He hardly knew her though they'd been friends if not just friendly since he arrived. "Where should I start?" He meant the books but her eyes prompted something else of desire to start.

"Here.." She whispered again, keeping her voice low though no one was around to hear her anyway. She had the book in her hand but was making no effort to move away from him or hand him the volume just yet. They were alone in the dark, only a candle to see by and very close to each other. Spells or no spells this could be quite the.. interesting set up.

[Lovely]

June 6, 2006
4:30pm


The Anderson family sat around the table with the information about the Baker Institute of higher learning. The letter had already been opened and they were taking turns reading it.

"Well, that does it, we shouldn't send him," his mother said almost immediately.

Devan considered ripping out his hair, "Mum--"

"They mentioned the Act and the government, Devan. That means they must work for it. I'm not sending you to some laboratory where they'll test you until the day you die. It would be better to be with your aunt."

"The aunt to told us that we were no longer her kith or kin because we had to be mutants to give birth to one?" his father said, "Come now, love, it can't be that terrible."

"Of course it'll be that terrible! When isn't it that terrible?"

"Listen love, we'll make a call and get an appointment with them, alright? Then you'll be able to see the facilities for yourself. We already decided that this would be best for Devan."

Tears welled up in his mother's eyes as she considered the prospect. Finally she nodded, "We may as well. However, I still think it'll be one of those operations where the surface is a school and underneath is a government operation where they use humans for frightful experiments."

Devan shot up and got the phone, handing it to his father. His mother was in no condition to do anything.

His father dialed the number given on one of the pages of the packet of information they'd received. he waited a moment and then said, "Hello?"

Nicoleta was organizing some files she needed to bring to Gefinn when she left so the counselor would have them for the following day, when the phone rang. For what felt like the millionth time she reached to answer it, propping it between her cheek and shoulder. "Baker Institute, Nicoleta speaking. How may I help you?"

Devan watched his father take a deep breath to begin. Why did he always do that? Did it make his voice sound more official? His mother let out a little whimper.

"This is Damien Anderson, I sent you a letter about my son, Devan? I was hoping I could make an appointment..."

Nicoleta remembered the letter as it had only been a few days and she still had it in her 'active file' giving time for a response before it would be shuffled out. "Good afternoon Mister Anderson. I'd be happy to set up an appointment for you with our Assistant Dean. Is there a particular time and day you would prefer?" She set aside what she'd been working on and shifted her chair so she could pull up the schedule and see what they had free that might accommodate the Andersons.

His father put his hand over the receiver, "Do we have any appointments in the near future we need to avoid?"

Devan shook his head, "Let's get this done as soon as possible."

His mother grabbed her purse and took out her schedule, "Joy invited us to a birthday party for her daughter, Alexa, but--"

"There is no preferable day, but we'd like it to be as early in the day as possible would be preferential," his father said into the receiver cutting his mother off.

Devan stifled a laugh.

Nicoleta tapped a few keys and and brought up the next couple days on her screen. "Very well. Is this Thursday, the 8th at 9am alright for you?" She waited for his reply before adding them in for the appointment.

His father listened a moment and nodded and then put his hand over the receiver again, "How's Thursday, July 8th at 9am?"

Devan saw his mother begin to protest. He, himself began to protest the time, but knew the way his father could be sometimes.

"Yes, Thursday would be fantastic," his father said before Devan's mother had a chance to vocalize.

"Alright then, I'll put you in for Thursday the 8th at 9am." She repeated the information back to mister Anderson to make sure there were no final objections as she typed the appointment in the schedule. "Please bring the completed enrollment and medical forms that we sent, with you to the appointment. Are there any further questions I can answer for you this afternoon?"

"Yes, Thursday, July 8th at 9am is an excellent date," Mr. Anderson repeated also for clarification.

Devan's mother, who still had her schedule out, wrote the date and time down.

"Nope, no current questions. Have a wonderful week. We'll see you then." He prepared to hang up the phone.

"Thank you." She replied pleasantly and finished setting the appointment, sending a message to Larson, Louise, security and the gatehouse that the Anderson's would be arriving on the morning of the 8th. She also sent a quick note to Annia in case she was was in the office and Nic was not, at that time. "We look forward to meeting you on Thursday, and if you have any questions or need anything between now and then, don't hesitate to call. You have yourself a wonderful afternoon, Mister Anderson."

"You as well miss Nicoleta," Devan's father said before hanging up.

"Well then I guess that's it then," his mother said sadly.

Devan nodded and sat there for a moment considering the idea. Then he got up and left. Better get some time in with his friends now.

[Lovely]

June 8, 2006
7:30 pm


The note was simple enough and unsigned as a matter of course. He agreed to meet her in the clearing again to look through her books for any counter-spell. Against his better judgement? Probably. In light of the fact that he wasn't sure what accounted for his actions any more, Iain was wary of saying anything at all that might confound or upset her, should he come to realize that not only was magic real, but there were worse things she could hit him with if the mood struck her to do so.

"First things first. Remind me not to piss you off," he noted teasingly as he sat beside her and her things, waiting for toads and lizards or other crawling things he'd once read about to slide their way out from the pages and things she'd brought with her.

She looked up at him from where she sat, slowly taking her books out of the bag she'd used to conceal and carry them to their meeting place. Her eyes were darker than usual but she managed a small smile for him, just his being close improved her mood some. "I'm not.. you haven't." She assured him, though her mood had been off lately. "I'm tired and cranky-ish.. not mad at you though.. no worries." The books she'd brought were older ones that had been passed to her from her family's library, definately not the sort one would find at Barnes and Noble.

"We could see if you can cast a happiness spell. It might do us all some good," he chuckled. He thought about that a moment and put his hand on the book she'd chosen to open first and pressed it down to look her in the eyes. "Though I really don't think you should try any more spells."

She looked up at him again, this time with an adorable little pout on her lips as she blinked to his comment. "Why not?"

"Don't you have enough trouble on your hands already?" He grinned, trying his best not to let the spell overcome him. He didn't... couldn't believe in magic, but he couldn't deny she drew his attention in so very easily since.

She sighed, smiled and closed the book around his hand, though not hard. "You think so? What does that have to do with casting another spell? I did the last one right.. and it worked."

"Yes it did. More reason you shouldn't. Fingers.. please?" He wasn't going to pull his hand too hard and chance ripping any pages that might help her undo what had been done. He did pull it hard enough to bring himself closer to her. "Don't you think I'm happy enough?"

"More reason I should." She countered, still smiling as he drew her closer, but easing her grip on the book to release his fingers. "You tell me.. are you?" She leaned in closer as if to tempt his lips with hers. "I think I could make you happier." She offered him the kiss now as she brushed her mouth over his.

Hells bells, he was having a hard time saying no. He wasn't sure what to do or where the mythical boyfriend would be if he returned the kiss. Envisioning a mallet-like hand clamping on his shoulder, he kissed her back for only as long as he dared. "Maybe. I still won't turn into a handsome prince, but you can keep trying."

Nic giggled at his comment and eased back away from him, her eyes shining at him as she moved away. "I don't want some lame Prince Charming drone. I prefer someone real and flawed and perfectly imperfect.. "

"I'm sure there's a compliment in there somewhere." He grinned and carefully pulled his fingers free and tried to move away, though her charms didn't seem to stop with the spell from the apple.

She pouted some, batting her lashes at him. "It was a compliment.. I like someone with substance and intelligence not just fluff." He should know that compliment was sincere and not just the spell talking as she'd mentioned something similar when they first met. Nic shook her hand out, trying not to reach for his again as he moved away.

"I'm not particularly fluffy," he laughed, nearing on the chaotic giggle that would tip a radio station off its register and spew out static. "I know I asked this before, but why are you doing this?"

Nic stared at him a moment as though genuinely confused, which in honesty she was. "You asked.. why am I doing what?"

"Or maybe it's some other spell, but it doesn't seem to be. You've been kind since I arrived. Despite my best efforts, you passed every test I have, though I wasn't intending to test you, but it happens." He was thoroughly openly honest. He shook his head, not sure why he'd told her that or why it mattered so much that he did.

She folded her arms and smiled a little softer, regarding him for a moment before answering. "I like you." It was simple and straight forward, but if he wanted details as to why, she'd provide him with that as well. "Sometimes.. you just.. click with someone right off. I guess I just felt that about you upon meeting you. Like I said I like real people, flawed, imperfect and not trying to be all that. You have substance, flaws, intelligence, humor.. amazing eyes. I could keep listing but you get the idea."

She licked her lips and admitted something more to him. "..and you have darkness within you. I don't know exactly what it's all about, but it's there and I can see it.. and I.. am what I am. A bit of darkness makes you that much more intriguing."

"More than a bit, but maybe that's just my competitive streak." The words betrayed a moment of bashfulness, but he couldn't look away. She liked his eyes? Most people couldn't bear to look at him long enough to notice them at all. Sharp sky-blue bespecked with hints of inky hazel green stared softly back at her as he nodded. "Click..." he said, agreeing.

"More than a bit.." She nodded in agreement, but smiled still -she did like that about him, but she was not exactly from normal upbringing. "Maybe that's why I feel more comfortable with you than most people."

[Lovely]

June 12 , 2006
2pm


Ben was pulling together his papers and notes, into the briefcase he'd finally broken down and bought -It was a nice leather piece, without the hard box shape older versions had. He glanced up realizing that not all the students had departed and the one who was left was .. anxious about something. When his gaze fell on the young man he was surprised to find who it was. Iain was usually one of if not the first to beat it out of the room at the end of class. Ben paused in his quiet shuffling, intrigued and nodded towards the man. "Something on your mind Walsh?" He asked in his deep low voice. Ben was probably one of the most intimidating yet approachable teachers at the school.

It wasn't like him to daydream so openly. Or doodle on his papers. He hated marking up his things but as the teacher spoke up Iain looked down at his notes to find designs and patterns with very few words relating to the day's topic. He grinned wanly, looking up at the teacher, his shoulder gesturing indifference. "Spring fever. Why? I'm just not in a hurry to be anywhere." He slowly stacked the papers, trying to conceal the drawings. Truthfully, he did have a great deal on his mind and that's why he was staying put. It was just his own will and desire playing games, not the spell making him want to talk to Nicoleta.

Spring Fever? Ben chuckled, looking down at his papers to hide the sparkle in his eyes, he was enjoying the flair of emotions coming from the boy. "Yeah.. that can be ... distracting." He glanced back at the boy, trying not to be too intimidating or gruff. "You're not usually the last to leave.. thought.. maybe you had some questions or something you needed.. advice on?" Being an empath came in pretty d**n handy at times.

Attempting to draw him out some, Ben leaned on his arms, his knuckles grinding against the desk. "Tell you what.. keep me from boring myself to death for a little while and I'll give you a red head, pick one -she's yours.. and what else do you want? Toys.. you like toys? I love toys.." He was thinking of destructive and dangerous things but did this kid need to know that?

He stared at the man a moment when he mentioned red-heads. If not for the scribbles from his pen that made a face or two in red ink, he'd have been nearly convinced the man was peering directly into his thoughts. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what the man had in his own mind when he made his offers. "Toys?" The unsual direction of the topic made him laugh uncontrolled. The lights overhead flickered and Iain's attention was pulled to them, wondering if there was a security monitor that might start spewing smoke. He chuckled more softly. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I could show pictures of a prized Mint-in-box Star Wars collection from the original, among others." He wondered if that was in any way the type of toys the man meant. Somehow, he didn't think so.

He glanced up as the lights flickered and he grinned moving to take a quick look to check for any damages. "Nice.. " He murmured as he hoped up on the desk to examine the fixture. "So.. anything you -don't- have that you want?" He kept the conversation semi-light in tone as he drew the boy out and into a more comfortable banter. Whatever was on his mind would not likely be shared if he was nervous, besides Ben's attention had been caught as more than a teacher. The fixture seemed intact and Ben dropped down to simply sit cross legged on top of his desk. He appeared unconcerned with the use of powers -acidental or not, he was relaxed and secure in himself.

"The european union? It's good to want things. While wanting, why not want big?" He chuckled still. Clearly the man thought he wanted something and was fishing to find out what. Maybe he did. He simply wasn't sure at the moment. "I always wanted to be the chancellor of Germany...," he tossed out, leaning back in his chair in his usual challenging stance, begging to be entertained further by the man's ruse. As long as he didn't seem to know for certain, Iain would try to keep him guessing. Maybe it would make his own thoughts move away from where they'd been all week.

He had to agree about wanting big things, he chuckled and regarded the boy with an amused and curious expression. He was avoiding and dodging, even without empathy Ben could see that. Let him, this is keeping me from banging my head against the wall in boredom. "It is good.. big dreams, goals.. aspirations. But.. why don't we start with.. something more local? .. I can look into the chancellor thing, might take some time." He pondered and shifted his brief case to make himself more comfortable for awhile. This was interesting. "Anything you want.. that I can reasonably get you in a reasonable amount of time? Since you're being nice enough to keep me company.. most of the kids are scared of me.. " He chuckled again, amused by that thought.

"Are they? Why's that? And why are you really offering?" He let that sit out there with a small smirk, his own pale-blue stare attempting to reach into the skull of the man at the desk, though he'd have no success at it. What was he really after? "I'll think about it." He leaned forward and cut to the chase which was quickly becoming uncomfortable. "What do you know about magic spells?"

He watched Iain watch him with wild amusemnt that was hidden beneath his cool visage. He remained relaxed and casual beneath the scrutiny and questions. "I'm in a generous mood." He shrugged, answering the question honestly to elusively. The final question was intriguing and his head tipped and redirected his gaze on Iain. "hocus pocus? oh.. well actually I have conections in that field.. why?" He had a couple associations with those who practiced such arts. As a whole he didn't like 'normals' but those who practiced witchcraft held power that others did not, which made them interesting and useful. Their magics and spells, redeemed their human-ness.

"The redhead..," he began to explain, then decided better of it. "Long story. Only way to be sure any of it's real is to undo whatever was done. I don't like farce and I don't believe in magic, but I may be changing my opinion." Ben wasn't looking at him like he was crazy. Iain wasn't sure yet whether that was a relief. To offer up contacts 'in that field'? He was definitely not feeling comfortable now to know that maybe he was alone in his thoughts of it existing or not.

Ben sighed and rested back on his extended arms, looking to the ceiling as he pondered the situation. "So.. I'm going to assume you've got a little trouble with a spell?" He moved again stretching and leaning over his lap with his hands resting together, arm over his bent knee. "First question.. who cast the spell? There's a difference between a weekend warrior want to be and the real thing." He leveled his gaze on Iain. "Next questions, again assuming there was a spell..hmmm did you like her.. care for her at all before the spell? her for you? usually if there isn't true feeling.. the spell goes all wonky.. -gets very nasty, anything nasty happening?"

"Define 'nasty'," he laughed. Usually that term was reserved for things he -wanted- to happen, but hadn't yet. That would have really complicated things, he decided, feeling a little too warm to simply blame on the weather. "We were friends before. An understanding of perspective that few share, at least, so I'd consider that friendship, though it's been very short. I have no idea about her. She has... I think she still does have a boyfriend." He had to think. He actually hadn't heard her mention him in some time. He thought a moment longer... when did he mention 'she' or 'her' and how did Ben know?

Define nasty, didn't everyone know what nasty was? Ben shrugged as if it was all normal and casual, then started to spell it out for him. "Nasty like hate, rages, obsession.. stalking you, trying to kill you.. or vise vera.. just in general bad things happening to you both. Thing with love spells -which is what I am understanding was done here.. is if there is not real feeling between those it is cast on it has an opposite effect and sometimes violent. All very unpleasant.. "

"Then the answer is only partly true, maybe because we're both aware of it. I don't know." He hated not knowing or being able to find an answer without book work. "Obsession and violence don't necessarily cancel out such feelings."

Ben sighed softly, the kid was trying to analyze this and you couldn't really do that when it came to magic or love. "No.. but they are like side effects of this type of spell gone wrong. Knowing you have a spell cast on you doesn't make you immune to it. Might help you to figure things out to counter it but it doesn't usually affect the spell that was cast.. if you understand that."

"So you're saying that no matter what, some part of it's real?" He took that news a little harder than he should have. Iain's palor shifted to an unnatural shade of green, or maybe red, realizing the room seemed much warmer than it was a moment earlier.

That is what he was implying, if nothing 'terrible' had come from the spell, it was likely that there were genuine feelings between the two it was cast over. "I'm saying since you're in one piece still and don't look worse for wear.. there's a d**n good chance more than a little of it is real. This red head must have really liked you and you her.. and why does this seem like it's bothering you more than if it was fake?"

He didn't know that answer, either. He'd never gotten himself into a position like this, or any he didn't know how to maneuver out of. Maybe that's what scared the p!ss out of him. He looked at Ben from behind a thin sheen of dampness on ruddy cheeks, making the layer of freckles stand out more than usual. "It's not real. It really can't be. It's... we're just friends."

Ben chuckled a little and shook his head. "Sure you are.. why don't you take her in a dark room alone and find out how good of friends you are?" He was serious about that suggestion, not even thinking how it might sound coming from the ethics teacher. "No one better to have it be real with than someone you could count as a friend beyond any romantic notions. Those are the ones that last.. the ones you can trust, the ones who won't just drop you for something prettier or newer. Someone who understands you and accepts you even when theres parts they dont understand or agree with. Believe me .. I've been married and for a guy like me -thats not something taken lightly." He spoke honestly and openly, surprising himself with how frank he was being and also begining to think about Jez and needing to be more honest with her about a few things.

He listened, but the picture wasn't getting any clearer. If anything, the man just confused him more. "She's already got someone like that, Mister Mortemire. She's engaged, but not to me. That's why it can't be real. I thought for an ethics professor, you'd find reason to support me in that."

"I just teach ethics.. doesn't mean I have them." He said somewhat flatly. ".. and don't ever call me mister anything.. I might have to break you into little pieces." His smile was hard to read, to tell if he was serious or joking. "She's engaged, not married.. still time to change her mind and for something else to come along. Let me ask you this.. if she's got someone like that -why was she casting a love spell?" Again he thought of Jez and decided he would have to kill anyone who thought the same of her. That might be hypocritical, but hey he was kind of mental so he could get crazy over his fiance.

Iain leaned more heavily on his own desk."Why do women do anything that men don't understand?" He wasn't being facetious. Women and their desire to do most anything escaped his logic in the best of moments.

"To confuse the sh*t out of us.." It was honest and delivered straight. "Is that why she was doing this.. to confuse you?" He countered, easily with a casual tone as if tossing ideas to the air.

"To be honest, she hadn't counted on me at all. I was an innocent bystander. I was heckling her. Hell hath no fury, I guess," he sighed, finding his neck itching strangely. "If her intent was to confuse whomever, then it worked. Not that I believe in hocus pocus. I don't.. didn't. Not so sure now."

"So she was doing a spell.. in secret? One meant for someone else.. and you stumbled into the middle somehow and got it turned around on you.. accidently?" He asked to be clear as to what he'd been given the impression of, he truly didn't believe such a spell would be done openly with an announcement going out.

"Snakes and forbidden fruit?" He laughed a little more freely. It was an apple, wasn't it? "It was late and I followed her. How was I to know what she was doing? It was meant for her true love, or at least her betrothed. I hadn't meant for this. But being behind this eight-ball, I'm not minding it, really. I just wonder how much of it is real," he muttered. Was that really what he wanted?

Ben hummed softly for a moment and then looked at Iain. "Find out.. don't hold back. This spell was meant for someone else, but happened to you. And if there was nothing -there would still be nothing. Spells cant make you fall in love.. not real love. Tell me what do you feel differently now than you did before?" He was begining to believe more, that this boy's problem ha nothing to do with a spell and more to do with his own denial.

"I don't know," he shrugged. How could he put in words something he'd never felt before? "It feels like fainting," he laughed, though no lights flickered and no smoke came from the equipment this time. "Like I've just run a mile in a second while standing still and I worry for her, whether this has somehow made her different than she was."

"Is the spell making you feel that way? Or is it just the girl? Think carefully.. do you think about her when you're not with her? do you feel this way about her now.. when she is nowhere near you?" He leaned forward, this was important to know, though he was already pretty sure what the answer would be. Iain needed to realize and maybe saying it would trigger that.

"Well I believe it's obvious that I'm thinking of her now," he shot out sharply, his eyes narrowing defensively. "I think of her more than most since she's the one who welcomed me here and has done more than most to continue the same. Why wouldn't I think of her?"

He grinned. "Enchantments usually have a proximity factor.. I may not use the right words exactly.. but basically they are strongest when you are with the person, and fade to nearly nothing when you're away from them. If you're feeling these things and thinking of her.. it's not the spell. Sorry to break it to you, but you genuinely have the hots for this girl. you don't have something of hers do you? Something she enchanted and gave you to carry?"

"I don't have the 'hots' for her," he insisted, though he wondered about the proximity. He'd been around her a great deal lately, so maybe there was a test... if he forced himself to stay away a few days... weeks? "To carry? Like what?" He thought more.. nothing was readily coming to mind beside the apple.

"A bracelet, a piece of cloth.. a trinket or good luck charm of some sort?... anything that could cause the spell to work when she's not in the room with you?"

"N-nnnot that I can think of," he said slowly, not sure that was the answer he was supposed to have. "Just that apple. I'm not in the habit of carrying rotten, sour, enchanted fruit with me, no matter how romantic someone may find that to be."

"Apple? What kind of spell did she cast.. exactly? Did you ask her.. what the purpose was or what kind it was?" He might have thought to ask that earlier, but Ben was a bit surprised at where the conversation had gone. It would certainly make it easier to figure out what was going on if he knew what was going on in the first place.

He shrugged a little. How would he know? "She said... something about bonding or binding. That's all I remember. I was being too silly and teasing her to pay that close attention at the time."

He started laughing, quietly and then laughed some more. "You're doomed.. a binding spell..? the apple.. love.. I have a feeling it was meant to strengthen something that already existed. Meaning if there was nothing there to strengthen.. the spell wouldn't have done a d**n thing. But if you still want to think this is all or mostly due to the spell.. find a way to break it."

"Haven't you been listening?" He was getting steamed now. "I have been trying to find a way. She can't marry him if she thinks I'm in love with her." The words came back at him like a heavy wave. Was he? It was impossible. He hardly knew her and magic wasn't real. It couldn't be real... any more than the smoke that poured from the equipment when he laughed? Iain wasn't sure the chair he was in was still solid. "I... have to go."

"Maybe she can't marry him if she thinks she's in love with you.. maybe she is..?" He offered more quielty, more seriously in his tone. "Yeah.. you should go.. " He watched the young man, not laughing anymore, but still amused at how he denied his feelings for the girl. "one thing... likely since the spell was done with the both of you.. the two of you will be the only ones to break it.. I have a few friends I can see what they suggest, but these things aren't in anyway easy to undo. Especially if the witch who cast it was powerful."

"She's powerful," he whispered, staring into an empty space between Ben and himself. He swallowed but his throat was burning and dry still. "It can't be real," he insisted still, hoping that someone would tell him with any certainty he was dreaming. Perhaps he hoped he was. No girl had given him a second glance before.. now this?

"And if you feel the same if the spell is undone? Will it be real then?" He wondered why the boy was hell bent against the true affections of a beautiful red head. "Can I ask.. why you wouldn't want it to be real?"

Iain's eyes were even pale as he looked up at Ben, trying to find some point of refuge from the twirling mass of thoughts and worries that bombarded him. "I want it to be real because of me, not because of a spell or a pill or a drug. Until this is reversed, neither of us could ever say what we truly feel, can we? Meanwhile, her boyfriend is probably wondering what I've done, when none of it was intentional. Don't you understand where that puts me? At the corner of doubt and blame and neither is comfortable. I have to be sure that it is or it isn't real. Until then, I can't accept it."

He sighed, understanding more now and he licked his lips. "Go to her Iain.. talk to her. Ask her more about the spell, what her intentions were with it, what specific things did she want to come of it, what she used to do it?.. that's where you'll find many of your answers. Maybe then you can accept that somewhere before this.. she cared for you."

[Lovely]

June 15, 2006
11:45am


Nic had been sitting at her desk with the same page and file open for nearly an hour, she just couldn't concentrate. Her thoughts were not on things in this office, unless you counted the times she was picturing Iain there on the day he arrived. Finally she sighed, she'd come to a decision and it wasn't an easy one but she was so twisted up inside and felt there was no other way to sort any of it out. She couldn't keep living a lie and she couldn't keep pretending.. She cared so much for Byron -that had not changed, and it wasn't right to lie to him. She still didn't know how to 'fix it' and hoped her letters to the others would help shed some light. Their circle had been dispersed for their safety, but it might be time for them to come back together.

Nicoleta sighed again and pushed her chair back from her desk, she needed to do this now before she lost the nerve. It felt like it took forever to walk the short distance from her desk to Larson's door, her hand felt heavy as she lifted it and knocked. "Chris.. do you have a few minutes?" She called softly, perhaps her inner turmoil came through in her voice or the tremor of it.

Nic caught him in a moment of extremely focused calm which was how he usually was when reading international articles and taking his notes for his class - so different from the hyper monkey. He looked up almost startled to see her there, but it was only the way his eyes focused on her after scouring the screen for hours. His expression twisted up in a welcoming smile though he blinked slightly perplexed that she sounded 'shaken'. "All the time you need. What's on your mind. You feeling okay?"

She shook her head gently and stepped slowly into the room, she noticed the difference in his demeanor and welcomed the calm. "I.. I don't think I am.. " She closed the door behind her, which was not something they often did around her -always keeping it open to call to one another from the outer office and being casual -unless meeting privately with a student or parent. "I.. need a favor.. sort of. I think I'm entitled to.. because I work here, but I never took one. But I think now I need to." She was jumbled and probably didn't make a whole lot of sense, it sounded so much clearer in her head.

"You're entitled to favors anytime, Nic, but because we're your friends. I didn't think working here was a requirement for that. You want to sit? Um... lollipop?" He offered, but she rarely ate the sweets, so he didn't expect that she would now. He folded the laptop screen down to give her his full attention, letting it whir to a quiet stand-by hum.

She took the offer of the lolipop just to give her fingers something to do and her eyes some place to focus. Nic came to sit in the chair in front of his desk and gave him a small smile. "I.. no.. let me explain this a little better." She sighed softly and let a nervous chuckle come out. "What I need.. is something I believe I am entitled to as a member of the faculty here, but I have never taken that offer. I need to now. The favor is you getting it arranged.. by this afternoon if possible. I'd want to move in this weekend.. as soon as I can.." Her fingers twisted around the wrapper of the lolipop and she looked across the desk to Chris.

He wasn't following very well, but then he'd also spent the last hour trying to read articles in Kurdish which wasn't one of his stronger languages. "Huh? Move in where? The office? I can't arrange for you to sleep in your office, Nic. Louise doesn't even let Armand crash on her couch... well, not much. I thought you had a place with Lewis. Something happen?"

"Not in the office.." The distress in her voice carried a bit and she sighed again. "Yes... something.. has happened. I need my own accomidations. Please Chris.. as soon as it can be arranged. I know we have open apartments.. " She snapped the stick off the lolipop and just stared at the broken piece in her hands for a moment, finally lifting her eyes to the man across from her.

Lovers quarrels weren't something he was accustomed to dealing with first-hand, though he'd seen Erinlynn have her share of downturns back home when he stayed with Milo. Whatever the 'something' was, he wasn't sure he should ask considering her urgency, but he was obvious with the concern. "No big deal, just toss it. Here," he said, reaching around with the waste basket for the broken candy. "We've got plenty of empty rooms... and um.. a handfull of others where you're welcome to just stay a while. You know.. if you just need someone to talk to?"

Her hand lifted slowly in a motion that seemed automated and she dropped the broken lolipop into the waste basket. Just as slowly her hands lowered and folded in her lap, she didn't realize how much they were shaking or that such a tremble carried through her. A tear slid down her cheek and she bit her lip. "I just .. need a place of my own.. I'm such a horrible person.." Her hands lifted to rub the tears away from her eyes. "He doesn't deserve this.. "

"Terrible because you mauled a piece of candy on a stick?" He tried to get her to smile, but it didn't look like that was going to happen. Whatever was going on, it was tearing her up pretty badly. "It's okay. I understand and of course you're entitled to it. If you think it's what you really need, that's fine. Anyway, so if you want to go .. you know... freshen up or anything while I get that set up for you, that's fine. I can just drop the key on your desk for you. Or... was there something else?"

She slowly shook her head, sniffling softly. "No.. that was all.." She spoke quietly and stared down at the corner of the desk, making no move to get up at first. Finally after a long moment she shifted and looked up at him. "Chris.. do .. do you believe in magic.. witchcraft?" It was hard for her to manage to get the words out, it wasn't something she normally brought up in conversation with anyone.

"Oh, you bet I do," he nodded, getting a cold crawling feeling just thinking about it. "There are a lot of things to believe in out there and I probably know about and believe in a lot of them. What... di-... he didn't call you a witch, did he? I mean this isn't all over something like that is it? Or are you asking for another reason?" He wasn't sure what to make of the turn in the conversation. "Nic, it's okay. You can talk here. What's really going on?"

She felt like she couldn't breathe for a moment and her heart stopped, but it passed and she slowly brought her aze to meet Chris's more directly. "He didn't call me a witch... but it wouldn't he a lie if he did, he just doesn't know that." She swallowed and brushed her fingers across her cheek. "So I guess in a way.. yes this is all over something like that."

"Oooka--ay, so you're telling me that all this time, you've been a ... and, well we didn't know either. That's not a bad thing, but why didn't you say? Why hide it, I mean?" The realization of why it bothered her and might be so important took a moment to boomerang around and hit the back of his skull. "Oh... OH, you mean he doesn't know and you... and he doesn't... got it. You think that if he finds out, it's nix-ville on Nic and him? Well, if he does think that, he's not ready to get married, not if can't accept that as part of who you are."

"Yes.. I am. I always have been and I never told any of you.. I haven't told anyone what I was.. not since before my father's death. I've never even told Byron about that or about my mother's.. how could I when I couldn't tell him what I was.. how could I explain what happened to them?" Her head shook slightly and her fingers twisted lightly in her lap. "I didn't mean to lie.. I just.. wanted a normal life.. and yes I know how crazy that sounds seeing as where I ended up." She managed a chuckle at herself for that idea. "It would be hard enough to explain to him.. what I am.. and now.. I can't even find the words to tell him what I did.. I made such a mess of things." Her eyes shone with tears again, but she blinked them away. "funniest part of it all.. is I did it for him.. but I ruined everything.."

Chris tried tipping his chair back on the back legs as he used to, forgetting his chair was now on wheels. He rolled back and lurched unexpectedly, clamboring for the desk for support, startling himself enough he was sure he made her jump.. not what either of them needed. "Okay, we're okay. You're okay? Right. What do you mean you ruined it? Can we get to the part that you're getting around to maybe telling me cuz I'm really lost here, Nic. Y- you're speaking English, right? I'm not missing that much? I mean I know you've been in heaven since he proposed and all, but this is really sudden, whatever happened."

Where she might have giggled at his mishap with the chair once knowing he was alright, this time she just sort of ignored it. "It''s fine.. you're okay?" He didn't appear to have hurt himself, which was good. Nic listened as he went on and she sighed, she wasn't explaining this very well. "I'm sorry." She chewed her lip, sighed and looked to him again. "I was in heavan when he first proposed.. but.. instead of things coasting on that excited high.. it just stopped. Happy for one day and then back to.. nothing. Like it never happened, like nothing changed.. I don't know.. He gets.. distant.. engrossed in other things.. it's like he forgets about me.. doesn't notice me.. unless I'm excited about something and then he tells me not to be.." She sighed again and tried to get back on track, she was wandering. "Thats why... I just wanted to strengthen things between us.. add a little more romance.. make him notice me, remember I was right there... I.. I cast a spell Chris.. one that was supposed to be for him and I.. but.. something unexpected happened.. and now I don't know what to do.. or how to fix it and further more how to even begin to explain to Byron.. any of it."

He listened, still startled, but thankfully not enough to shift and bounce into full chaos mode when she needed his attention. "Something unexpected meaning what?" He was sure the answer wasn't going to be good. "You... didn't turn him into anything that we'll have to assemble the school to help find or anything, right? I can see that might take some explaining if you couldn't change him back. Or some other kind of unexpected? I'm still not seeing why he wouldn't be rational and reasonable if you tell him the truth."

"No I didn't.. the spell didn't affect him... it.. I enchanted an apple.. part of the spell, one half I was to eat from and the other for him.. I bit from my half.. but someone else.. not By.. ate his half.. so.. now.. you see the spell.. me and the other person.. not me and By.. I think that might be worse than if I turned him into something.. " She sank back into the chair, Chris didn't seem to understand how awful this all was and she'd probably made a mistake in telling him any of it. She hadn't even realized herself, until recently, how much she'd been hiding and lying to Byron.. why would he want to marry her once he found out she'd lied to him for years? Did it matter that it wasn't intentional, that it just happened? She didn't see that it made any difference.. she hid the truth and for all this time.

Chris didn't know what to say. It didn't seem like any words he could find would fix what had happened and telling her it would be alright was a crock of stuff he didn't want smelling up his office... or hers. Honesty was likely going to make her burst into tears, but that looked pretty inevitable anyway. "You have to level with him, Nic. Postpone everything until you decide what you want. Yeah, I do believe in witches and the work they do, but one thing I'll tell you and so will they, you wouldn't be this scared if you didn't doubt what you really feel about Lewis, apple or not. Can I ask... who's the dumb ape that got in the way of your spell? If you want me to keep him away from you until you've had some time to figure things out, you'd let me know, right? He's ... it's a he, right? Wow, that would get complicated in a hurry, huh? I guess it already is. He's not threatening you or ... you know... making you crazy or anything is he?"

She sniffled, listening as Chris told her things she kind of knew but did not want to admit. "He's not a dumb ape!" She defended with a pout, sinking more into the chair and folding her arms around herself tighter. She looked up at Chris and wiped at her eyes with one hand. "I am trying to do the right thing here.. how would you feel if you found out your fiance is not what you thought, or who you thought.. and that she's been pretending and lying the whole time you've been together? I didn't mean to.. not like this.. it's just I never knew how to talk to By about it.. I wouldn't want me around right now! It's not fair to him.. none of this.. and it's all my fault. I hurt someone I really care about." She was chewing at her lip, sniffling some but not yet bursting into tears. ".. and.. it was a he who ate the apple.. and.. he's .. very nice to me, even before the apple. You're not going to get him in some kind of trouble if I told you who.. are you?"

"Nic, give me some credit... please? I just want to make sure you're okay and if he's ... well if anyone's hassling you, yeah, he'll hear about it, but I'm not trying to make things worse for you, any of you. Sounds like he stepped in the middle and didn't mean to, so if that's your take, he's in the clear as far as I'm concerned. But, I guess that's not the problem, is it? There's enough going on without me waving rules and regs around. Tell you what. GA3 is open and all yours for the rest of today and ... FA28. You might want to air it out a little and come back, but you've got the space to think or panic... whatever you need. You know where to find us, okay?"

She sighed and closed her eyes, taking a minute to compose herself a little. "I know.. I just.. I don't want to get him in trouble.. it was me doing the spell. He's not threatening or pressuring or anything like that. I think he's a bit freaked out.. but who wouldn't be - you know? oops.. my bad.. that doesn't cover it. I really screwed up." Nic shifted in her seat and straightened up a little. "It's.. Iain Walsh.. I'm not sure if you know who that is.. thankfully over 18, oh goodness that would have been even worse.." It was clear some unpleasant options were running through her mind. "He's definately not hassling me.. I, we.. well we were friends before this.. so it's not like I don't want him around and he's not going all stalker on me. He's been trying to help me figure this out. An undo spell or something. And he's been more understanding about it all than I can imagine anyone being in the same position. I actually.. really like him."

Ding, ding, ding and the lady wins a prize from the top row. Chris sighed. It was worse... so much worse.. hearing her say what he hoped she wouldn't. She wasn't scared, she was conflicted. He was leaning back in his own chair, looking up at her with concern behind pale and thoughtful green eyes, his forehead wrinkling up like a father about to tell his daughter that she needed to make up her mind before the prom, but he wasn't going to say it. She already had if she listened to the words that hung in the air a long moment. "I know who he is and so far, he's been lucky not to be on anybody's bad side but Maddox who swears the kid's got something cooking. He's clean - no record, no poor grades, no anything really, which... should be something, in a way, but if he's trying to help, that's good... right?"

Nic nodded to most of what he said and looked down at her hands which she twisted together in her lap. "He's different.. he's wonderful..and he is .. trying to help." She sighed heavily. "I don't know what to do. This.. with him.. it feels really good. There's this part of me that keeps saying it's real.. it's not the spell I cast... I don't know what to do.. I don't want to hurt Byron.. I don't want to hurt Iain, but there is another part of me that doesn't want the spell to be undone..." She admitted softly.

"Nic, I honestly don't know how much I can help you on this, but one thing you've got to be is honest with both of them, straight up and right now. The room I can do, it's yours, all set, but... you're engaged, remember? The 'until death do you not part unless you have two of everything'? I'm kidding, but I'm not. That's not a small deal to just pack up and walk out on. Maybe the time-out is a smart thing, but don't use it as a cop-out, okay?" Larson was becoming big brother and hoped he wasn't overdoing it. He also couldn't still and talk seriously at the same time. He was distracting himself with his foot bouncing madly and he leaned forward to hold the desk so he didn't row himself around the room in his chair. "Take all the time you need and gather your thoughts, but don't end up hiding and avoiding it. I know where you live," he grinned finally. "If there's anything I can do, I'll be glad to help, but it sounds like a lot of this is making a painful decision."

She sighed and leaned on his desk with her head down. "Stop being rational -it's frightening." She teased him softly, tangling her fingers into her hair as her head rested on her arms and they curled up over her head. "Seriously Chris.. I've been lying to him since I met him.. three years with By and.. poof like a slap in the face I was brought to realize it. I cant even ask him to forgive me. I don't forgive me right now." She sighed again and slowly lifted her head. ".. and then there's Iain.. who knows more about me than my fiance.. who I trust and didn't hide a bit of it from. That says a heck of alot and it's not so good for the 'till death do us part' .. part. I'm not sure how hard the choice really is.. and I think that might be the worst part."

"Do me a favor. Actually do -you- a favor, okay? I just don't want to see you get swept up in a whirlwind-grass-is-greener thing and think this Iain kid is better or more 'wonderful' than Lewis. He's just a different person and what I'm hearing here has a sort of uncomfy one-sidedness to it. Are you sure he's not... well, just a shiny new toy? What happens when the shine wears off? You've been with Lewis for several years, so you know it's not just 'shine' with him, right? Novelty wears off and maybe it's just the shine of this new kid that's got your attention, that's all I'm saying." He wasn't sure anything he was saying was coming out right and not making it worse. He was sure he wouldn't be able to think straight or feel anything but pure chaos if something like this happened between himself and Devin. Putting himself in Nic's shoes was an overwhelming concept. "I don't know - I haven't seen you guys together and I haven't see you with Lewis either. I think you should talk to him, though. No, not right this minute. You can't and I can see that, but soon. Lying and hiding aren't the same things and I think you're short-changing the guy by not giving him a chance. Maybe he knows more than you realize, hm? And if you don't shut me up soon, I'm going to pass my coffee cup over the desk and ask you to tithe in a minute."

She looked at him and closed her eyes a moment before opening them and focusing again. "The grass is not greener.. there is no grass." She kind of smiled, it was much too dark on Iain's side of the fence for grass, perhaps one of those night blooming flowers.. Anden would know what they were. "But.. I understand what you mean. Thank you, for understanding so much and not just thrashing me for being a tramp." Her fingers wiped her cheeks to make sure all the tears were off. "I've been with By for three years and here at the school for how long now.. and you've never seen us together.. we live here, we work here.. no one knows who we are together.. apparently not even me at the moment. I'm not trying to be unfair to him, I think I've already been plenty of that. Maybe I just need to have my own space for awhile.. put all my candles and wards and.. breathe.. be me for awhile.. I wonder if He'll even like me?"

"Nic, give yourself a break or you'll give yourself a nervous breakdown. He loves you enough to marry you, I think he'll still like you. I never did get that, thinking that being upset like mad or frustrated meant that you didn't like someone anymore. I mean, if that was true all the time, my mom never liked me. Okay, she even said she didn't like me the third time I jumped off the roof of the garage, but that's a little different. And she got over it eventually and even brought me new comics... with the flying scenes ripped out, but that's another story. The point is, she and dad understood more than they ever let on and I was always thinking I let them down. In reality, they thought they were doing what was best not to let me be me because they were afraid I'd get hurt, or worse, and I did, but I got over it. I got hurt less when they let go." He knew what he was saying, and she'd either fight it or defend it, but either way it was out there to think about.

"He loves who he thinks I am.. there is a big part of that picture missing.. a whole side of me, a huge piece of who I am, that he has not seen. Being a witch.. that's not a small revelation. I understand what you mean.. but their you're parents.. thats a completely different bond.. usually thy can't not.. they have to love their kids.. Byron doesn't have to love me or stick by me.. not when I've lied to him for so long. Thats the worst of it.. I know.. he told me.. You know he was engaged before? She lied to him about something big.. and it ruined everything, he couldn't trust her.. he trusted me.. and I still didn't tell him. Maybe that's why I feel so terrible.. I never wanted to hurt him but I think no matter what, the fact that I lied.. big and long.. is going to devestate him. it's devestaing me to realize that I've been doing it.."

Chris shrugged, not to put her off, but he wasn't really seeing a difference. "It's the same for me and Dev, or Milo and his daughter since they took me in after my folks died. There's a surprise or a change or something forgotten every day that comes to light some other day, but that doesn't mean anybody lied. We're human, as crazy as that sounds... and no monkey jokes, okay? It's okay to keep things to yourself. You really want my advice? You'll think I'm nuts, but maybe, you should try again with your idea, not the spell - icks-nay on the ell-spay - but try again to strengthen what you wanted with Lewis. You wanted it enough to try and I think you still do. This thing with the new kid is a red herring and he's distracting you. I can't make up your mind for you, though. That's just my advice."

She stared at him for a moment and it was as if her emotions just shut off, you could almost see and feel the wall that went up between them. "Thank you for setting up the room for me." She wanted to explode, scream and demand why no one could understand a simple fact and just made like everything would be just fine as long as she stayed in the neat little package with Byron. It wasn't some small trivial thing, it wasn't a slip of the mind and a week passed, it was a fundemental part of who she was that she'd lied and hidden for three d**n years! Byron was practical and logical and she couldn't imagine his style meshing with hers -what hers truly was. Nic took a deep breath to calm herself and got up from the chair. "I would appreciate it.. if this conversation stayed between us."

"Hold up a sec," he said quietly, watching her rise up along with the emotional blockade. Chris shook his head and sighed, wanting to do the right thing and not let it end like this. They had to work together and knowing she was this torn up, he couldn't keep it closed off without someone noticing eventually. "Nic, I'm sorry. I thought that might be the right answer, that you were looking for validation of some kind to stay with Lewis, but you know what I really see? I see an intelligent woman who already has the right answer. Of course I'll keep this between us as long as you promise me you'll follow what your heart tells you. That's... my real advice, okay? I'll support you if you don't cheat yourself out of what you can be.. what you are.. and what you can have to make you truly happy. And, if you promise to ease up on yourself... just a bit?" He tried to pull a grin from her, not from teasing, but holding his fingers apart that 'bit' and hoping that maybe there was a hole at least that big in the wall she'd just put up.

She didn't exactly lower the wall but replied to his words instead of just walking out. "What I was looking for was some understanding from someone I thought was a friend and who I trusted with what I'm going through. What I didn't want was someone to just tell me to stay in my neat box and with Byron. I don't know if he'll accept what I am, I don't know if he'll like it.. or even understand it. There even a chance he just won't believe me. Regardless I have lied to him and hidden a big part of who I am for three years.. that's not some little thing that you just shrug off. I'm completely miserable right now and I can't stay with him. I need my own space to be myself and from there.. I really don't know.. but I'm not leaning in his favor. Things between us were not all hunky dory before the spell, I don't expect them to get any better.. with me being in love with someone else." She wiped at her face, clearing it of any left over tears. "I've already cheated myself for three years of what I can be, can do, of what I am. I'm not sure this wasn't coming anyway.. even without the spell. But now I have to feel real sh*tty about it all happening the way that it has."

"Space you've got," he reminded her, making sure she took the keys. "And a friend. I promise. I can listen and I can talk, but you can trust me to be your friend and tell you want to hear, but also what you need to hear. I don't think I can help much with how you feel right now except to listen. I want to, but I don't have that kind of power. From what you just said, I think there's only one man who does."

She reached for the keys as he made a motion to make sure she remembered them, her fingers stroked over the metal and the small ring they were on as he continued speaking. Nic nodded as he finished and she sighed again. "Alright.. thank you again, for arranging this for me. I appreciate it.. and I really need it right now." She turned again to go out of the office, a stop in the bathroom would be wise but she wasn't planning on bailing out of her job for the day.

[Lovely]

June 18, 2006
2 p.m.

Lunch hadn't settled well, not that he'd tried to put much down. His insides were as jumbled as his mind and his broken sleep. There had to be something to explain away this myth, this -thing- that was driving him slowly insane and encapsulating his every waking thought. What could he be thinking even considering the thoughts he was having for a girl who was engaged to someone else? She was beautiful, smart, charming... beyond charming and that was the problem, wasn't it? No. Magic wasn't real, Iain continued to insist as he perused volume after volume of folklore and legend relating to potions and tinctures that created predicaments similar to his own.

Several books lay scattered on the table beside him, opened to a variety of pages of demons and monsters, even childrens' stories from which he hoped to find some cure ... for love? The book in his fingers slid to the table top and his hands over his face. He felt warm. He felt alone. He felt himself looking around and wondering, maybe even hoping that she'd come in and join him? No, he had to continue working to find a reasonable - logical - answer to his plight. Why? He kept questionning himself.

"Interesting study topic." Madison commented lightly, glancing down at the various open books scattered on the table. Her own were in a pile in her arms. She glanced at Iain, and her expression softened. "Hey...are you okay?"

"Nothing a lobotomy wouldn't fix," he mumbled through his fingers as his hands moved back to the book in front of him. He looked up to the girl who'd asked and smiled cordially. "Sorry. I didn't really mean that. It is an interesting subject if you can grasp it." Or if it grasps you, he could have said.

"Uh huh..." Madison's tone was somewhat doubtful. Something was bothering him, and judging by his expression it probably had something to do with a girl. "So is this for some kind of school project or something, or just...personal research?" If he was trying to figure out how to make a love potion, he deserved to be smacked halfway across the library...not that she'd do it.

"An assignment with personal interest," he nodded in his manner as if bowing slightly with a cold, reptilian grin. "With an unfortunately short dead-line." He at least was feeling that way. The power that had twined his soul to someone he wasn't meant for was likely to see him come up on a very short end of his life when the confrontations began. Worse, he felt completely at a loss for what the position it had put Nicoleta in. His concern over that was what concerned and confounded him more. Wasn't it she who'd done the spell? Why was he apologizing for it?

"Right." Madison had no idea what to say to that. "So...um...I guess I'll leave you to it then?" It was an open-ended question, in case he didn't want her to go, but she wasn't staying if she'd be intruding.

The girl's response confused him that much more. "You're welcome to stay," he offered. "It's not my table or my library. Admittedly, it is my mess. Did you need some room to study?" He hadn't looked around for hours except to the door whenever someone entered, so he wasn't sure if the other tables were full.

"No, it's okay...there are plenty of other tables." She shrugged. "You just sort of...looked like you needed some company or something. Anyway I don't want to bother you." She turned to go. Obviously he wanted to deal with whatever it was on his own.

"I wouldn't mind..," he started to say in a tone too loud for their surroundings. He had to remember it was the library. "The company. Really. It's alright. I was rude. I didn't mean to be." He didn't, but he was preoccupied which made it worse. "I'm sure your things are quite heavy. Can I help you with any of them?" Did he say that? He looked momentarily stunned at his own polite offer.

Madison raised both eyebrows, probably as surprised by his offer as he'd been. "No, it's fine...I..." As if to prove the lie of her words, a book around the middle of the stack slipped out, dropping to the table with a loud thud. She winced at the noise, giggling a bit in spite of herself. They weren't doing such a good job of being quiet, for a library. Setting the rest of her books down carefully, she retrieved the dropped one and put it on the stack.

"Mind if I..." She reached toward one of his books, waiting for his okay. She didn't want to snoop, after all.

He saw the book slip and tried to catch it before it tumbled, but reflex wasn't his forte. Her giggle was kind and served to break the awkward moment. He smiled, warmly even.

When she asked about the books in the pile, he looked at them as if they'd sprouted heads. He'd be glad to be rid of a few that simply disturbed him. "Sure. Please," he nodded in full agreement, motioning to the entire collection. "I have no earthly idea what I'm even looking for. I probably already found it three or four times. Do you know about... this... any of it?" He picked up a random soft cover and flipped through it idly as if that might mean something to her since all of it was beyond him.

"Um...well my mom was really into wicca for a while." She offered, picking up one of the less scary-looking books. "But really it depends on what you're looking for. I mean...are you interested in the more religious aspects of all this, or are you looking for...oh I don't know...spells and all that?"

He was thankful for the indirect light. He was pale on a good day, but the question made him moreso. Iain was rarely nervous when called to the table, but this topic had floored him considerably and he nodded, cowed and tentative with saying too much at first. "Spells.. and the like."

He was still a relative newcomer and he was finding that many here believed in such matters that were completely whimsical anywhere else it seemed. Even this girl seemed to know something off-hand and didn't find it crazy. Maybe he was the only one. How did magic differ from the gifts he possessed? He'd been asking himself that a great deal lately and kept tossing the thought back into the darker recesses while he continued to look for answers he could accept.

"Huh...well that's a bit out of my area of expertise." She shrugged, flipping through the pages of the book she held. "What do you want it to do? The spell, I mean." She glanced up, blue eyes seeming to watch him closely. "Or is there a spell you're trying to stop?"

"There are multiple areas? Isn't magic just magic - most of it pure guff?" He admitted and questioned as gently as he could, hoping not to offend her. "Stop? Yes... no... maybe both.. I don't really know. I want to understand one, I guess."

"Yeah, there are lots of different schools of thought. You know...pagans, wiccans, that kind of thing...anyway what kind of spell is it? This...one you're trying to understand?" Something about it was embarassing, she figured, judging by how reluctant he was to make with the details.

He muttered out what he thought the binding spell was called, but his chin was down as he looked through another book and spoke more softly than he had yet. Maybe if he was lucky she didn't hear him at all. He glanced up at her. "Do you really believe that any spell works?"

"I don't know." She confessed honestly. "I mean...I believe that they can certainly work if you believe they can. And I also think that the wiccan idea of your deeds coming back to you is a true one. You get what you give, you know? If all you send out is bad, that's what will come back to you. But spells...like curses and love spells and stuff? That I don't know."

Something in her argument made him smile. He rarely spoke well of anyone and yet here was something so opposite that he was convinced that at least that formula wasn't true. If he was dark, how would such copper radiance beguile him as it had? He hadn't believed the spell would or could work since the beginning... ergo..

The smile thinned then blanked and he leaned back into his chair for support. Everything Ben had said had been true... that some part of it was real to begin with, but he'd been denying it, waiting to find an answer he knew all along if he'd listened. "You're sure... absolutely sure that's the way they work?"

"I'm not sure about anything." Madison replied with a sigh, noticing how shocked he looked. "So I'm guessing you think someone's put a spell on you, and you're trying to figure out how to get rid of it?" She shook her head. "I hate to tell you this...but if you think it's a love spell...it's probably just love." She shrugged apologetically.

"Not guessing. She did. I was there, witness to the procedure," he said, staring out at the book closest to him on the table. He spoke of it as if she'd physically implanted the ideas like a surgeon. His thumb raked the corner of the pages over and over, making a slight scratching noise. "It wasn't supposed to be me, but somehow maybe it was?" He turned toward her and her flat apology. "But if the spell didn't work... how...?"

"Spells can't make you fall in love." She said plainly. "They can create...attraction, maybe even draw two people toward each other, but they can't make you love someone. At least...I don't think so."

He was more likely to believe that and that was the problem. He was back where he started, or was he? Was he admitting it finally that Ben was right, Nic was right? He had feelings despite himself and they were for her. He was wondering now how quickly Ben might seriously consider his other requests if he needed to leave the country in a breath. Iain sighed. "No, I suppose it can't make something from nothing, only make what is there work somehow, a mechanism once electricity is applied," he muttered out, most of his words stumbling as his thoughts ran too quickly ahead. He looked up at the girl. "Iain... sorry. Thank you for your information." He grinned weakly, but held out his hand. He should at least find out her name out of courtesy, someone to whom he could credit the advice.

"Madison." She reached out to shake his hand. "And I don't think I was much help. Anyway I should get going...lots of studying to do and all that." She stood, gathering her own books. "Good luck with...well, everything."

He was more confused, glancing by chance at a page referencing guardian angels and other things, and how they seemed to appear in moments of need or worry. He laughed at the similarity, but to explain it would probably not strike the girl as humorously. He did shift the book closer to read more if she happened to look dwon at the page before leaving. "Do you do that often? Just give a two-bit offering and vanish? It really did help. I can't explain it, but it did."

"Um..." What was she supposed to say to that? Glancing down, she spotted the page he appeared to be reading. "Look...I really don't think I'm much of a guardian angel, if that's what you're thinking. And if you want me to stay, I'd be happy to. I just have to get some reading done of my own." Feeling a bit silly, she sat down in the chair opposite again.

"If I could borrow a half hour of your time then promise to leave you alone, would you stay? You seem to know terms I don't that may help me at least cross a few of these things off my list. Would you mind?" He wasn't too stupid to ask for help, but didn't find himself with the opportunity often, let alone with someone he considered knowledgable. He was curious about a handful of other things he'd stumbled across and someone familiar enough would give him the leverage he needed to know what to cross-reference later.

"Sure...but I really don't know as much about this stuff as you seem to think." Even so, she pushed her own books away and leaned over to look at the one he was holding. "What is it you're trying to figure out? I mean...what don't you get?"

"Simply put, any of it. I'm better now, understanding that there are different types. I didn't know that five minutes ago. I don't suppose you could elaborate? Is that what they mean by white magic versus any other then?" He dug under the books for his pen and notes, hoping to ask his questions in a reporter-like fashion, getting a pool of what seemed to be random information. He rescued his notebook and waited.

"Um...I think the idea of white magic and dark magic is kind of out-dated. It seems to me it's more about your intentions, about what you're doing and trying to do, you know?" She shrugged. "Really, I'm not the expert..."

"Covered that, at least I thought we did. Sorry." He looked at Madison, then the piles. It seemed apparent to him. Maybe he'd only thought he'd said it and looked back at her. "To understand a spell. I really am just beginning with this, but I don't know that I need an expert, just someone willing to treat me like I'm not stupid for asking."

"Why would you be stupid for asking a question? I mean, how else are you supposed to learn?" She shook her head. "That's just...well, stupid." She had to smile at that.

Iain shook his head. He felt somehow that he'd gotten himself caught in women's logic, but it wasn't that circular or out of line for her to say. "It probably sounded that way, huh? What I meant was you're not looking at me like I'm stupid for not knowing anything about the topic at all. I'm not the best with bookwork. I - well I usually like experiencing things straight on from the fray, but this is a little different." He admitted, not sure why his smile was still there as he talked about it.

"Yeah...this time you got to experience it before you knew if you even wanted to or not." Madison agreed. "I can't imagine that would be very fun, really...feeling as if something is influencing you that you know nothing about."

Wasn't it fun? He struck a glance up at the rafters for an answer to that and turned a bashful grin at the girl he'd just met. For whatever reason, he couldn't whitewash the effect the entire concept was having on him. "I feel completely out of control, to be honest, but that's really not something I can say isn't fun. Isn't that strange? I'm not giving any creedence to the spell, mind you, only to the person who cast it. That's another problem I'll research later. Right now, I just want to know more about them, where they started and why, maybe how."

"Really." Madison grinned. "A problem to research later, huh? From the way you look when you talk about her, I'd say she's not a problem at all." Okay, so she was being nosy...so what?

He blanched another sheet of pale. Was he so easy to read now? His heart jumped in his chest to think of the girl. That much had been certain since the day they'd met and she dared to counter his offer with one of her own... something about torture. Had he realized then, he wouldn't have been so quick to heckle her, but yet he'd do it over again. The thoughts must have been more apparent across his freckled cheeks than he realized and he found himself nodding in defeat. "She's not, but I am. Nice try to change the subject," he smiled up at Madison, trying to put a layer of cold clay in his expression, though it would probably still be as transparent to this one what he was really thinking. "Now, about the spells?"

She chuckled, but backed off. He wasn't going to talk about the girl anymore...which was something of a relief, actually. "What about them?"

He found his arms folding over himself, doubt, amusement, the usual challenge beginning to build as he leaned back in his chair, relaxed but closed. He cocked his head a different direction. "Let me try this," the smile started slowly and his eyes narrowed down to drill into her attention. "You know enough on the topic that you seem worried I'll do something to mishandle it. So, if I ask you, what topics should I steer clear of, you'd either tell me exactly what you don't want me meddling in out of honesty, or tell me a list of anything but, out of fear that I'll do exactly what I shouldn't. Now, I ask you. What makes you think I might do something like that?" He spoke softer and drilled in closer.

"Wait...I never said that..." Madison shook her head. "Really I'm just worried that you're getting your information from the wrong source. I mean, there has to be someone else who knows more about this stuff than I do. Most of what I think is just speculation, you know? My own ideas, not really facts."

He seemed to wink, teasing her and not really meaning to upset her. "And here I thought I was on the defensive for daring to look up love spells." His arms untied and he leaned himself down to the table, resting his carved cheek on his raised hand. "I have no intention of trying to make one and had no intention of taking one, though, as you already seem to know, there is a girl and there is a spell and I'm in the middle of it without knowing what to do. I have my own ideas, believe me, but I'm not sure they're in line with the preferred outcome. What, exactly, I need to know, involves how to counter it. You might not know either, but if you can help me narrow down the search, that's at least something. It involved an apple and a candle and something with an incantation I might remember if I saw it again, but who knows what language it was."

"An apple...a candle..and an incantation, huh?" Madison shook her head, pretending to look sorry for him. "Well that's too bad...because this right here..." She pointed to a random page in her book. "Says you're screwed." She tried to keep a straight face, looking up at him again.

He couldn't help it. He blushed furiously, though he really wished he hadn't. He wished she'd used another term, actually, but somehow didn't mind the direction his mind toddled off to for that instant. The cough shook away most of the embarrassment as he focused himself toward the page. "And here you didn't have any answers," he smiled thinly, the curve of the smile turning down as he read where she pointed. Iain sighed out his resignation to the fact... "Let no man tear asunder, more or less. Two out of three? Generalizations, opinions, right? Find another," he prodded. He wasn't wholly convinced and there were still dozens of volumes he hadn't yet pulled from the shelf. He'd likely be checking out several.

Madison raised an eyebrow, pretty sure she knew exactly where his mind had gone. Poor guy didn't have a chance against this girl, whoever she was. "Okay, so this is a research project now?" She flipped through the pages, actually looking for something that might help.

"Sort of, yes," he said, watching her expression but being mindful of her time since she did say she needed to study her own work. He raised his own hand to pull hers and the book down. "I'm sorry, Madison. I shouldn't. I thank you, you've been very helpful, but I can't ask you to go through all these. I just don't want to either," he sighed, feeling and probably looking quite overwhelmed. "I know you're teasing and you mean well, but you're probably more than completely right. It is research, but the answer's not going to be found in these, is it?"

"No, it isn't." She answered simply, meeting his gaze so he wouldn't mistake her sincerity. "I think you know where you need to go to get your answer."

He looked deeper into her expression in hopes of hearing something different, some other answer than what she'd said. "Fine, fine, if you don't want to tell me...," he sighed loudly, exasperated, but turning the grin back up a little as he sat back, teasing her now. He chuckled and seemed to form that cold clay into a impish repose. The gears were turning. "Resignation... white flag... I give. The answer's not in the books, but it had apparently been in the stars.. or eye-of-newt... or whatever it was to start with, right? Guess maybe I should enjoy the ride, huh?" His approach had changed in that instant as had his demeanor. He pushed aside the books he'd gone through and started to sort the ones he hadn't cracked. He wanted to know much more still, but for an entirely different reason now. "Thank you for your time."

Madison tilted her head sideways, regarding him with a quizzical glance. This guy changed gears faster than anyone she'd ever met. "Not a problem." She pushed herself to her feet, gathering up her books. "Any time you want to study, discuss obscure texts, whatever..." She shrugged, grinning.

"I may." His smile was strangely human and warm, nearly giddy now. Why fight it? That wasn't the battle he wanted to win, was it? There was another conflict to resolve and he was on the way to slowly discovering how, though it might take time and more patience than he had for most things. "Not a problem? I must be losing my touch. I'll try harder next time. Good luck," he wished her, meaning with her studies, though he was the one who might need it. Strange he did believe in luck. He found that funny at the moment.

"Thanks..." She turned to go, but paused as she had earlier, looking at him over her shoulder. "Good luck to you too." He was going to talk to her now, she was sure of it. Hopefully that would get him the answers he was looking for. "See you around, Iain." Smiling to herself, she headed for the checkout counter.

Iain glanced back up only briefly, checking the time and the stacks of things he needed to put back. He didn't need to know specifics. Not yet. He'd touched on it himself and now the thought was building into something he could handle. Generalizations. Schools of thought... training. It was like learning anything. He needed to learn the basics first, not expect to understand something so intricate as the spell itself. It was like trying to understand a painting without knowing about colors or brushes. For now, the painting... the spell... were the least important things for him to understand. First the tools, then the vernacular... so simple he'd completely overlooked it. He chuckled again, reading over the spine of one he chose to take with him. A language all to itself. He wanted to understand -her-. His expression changed back again, focusing, calculating, shifting into flat gray determination. His newest challenge... maybe he really did believe.

[Lovely]

June 18, 2006
6:45pm

Nic crossed the courtyard from the faculty housing to the senior dorms with a quick bouncing stride. She was a somewhat tall young woman and almost always wore heels -something her grandmother had instilled in her -a direct connection between being a lady and heels and skirts. Her red hair swung softly in the motion of her strides as she went towards Iain's room. The two of them needed to talk about some things and since her sister had gone off to town for awhile, Nic didn't want to be alone. She wanted to be with Iain.. She found herself before his door and she took a deep breath before lifting her hand to knock sharply against the wood of the door. What if he wasn't there? What if he didn't answer? What if he sent her away?? Her heart beat fast against her chest as she waited.

He was there up to his elbows in books similar to the pile he'd left in the library that afternoon that couldn't be checked out. The heat was nothing like Dallas, but it was annoying enough even in his room for him to keep his shirt buttoned only half-way and his shoes off as he researched. At least the heat was just in the room and not behind his eyes now.He looked through this collection more out of curiosity than in the panic he was slowly getting over.

That curiosity was overridden by someone at the door. He wasn't expecting company, or was he? He'd hoped several times, but heard the footsteps beyond his door going to other rooms in the hall. The knock had him wondering if maybe it was the girl from the library. He'd been out of it enough that maybe he'd left something behind.

Iain moved the stacks aside, spilling them over his small table and crossed to the door. He thought nothing of his appearance as he opened the door to glimpse what he was sure had to be some part of his imagination working too hard. He stared a moment to be sure she was real.

"Whooooaahhh." Was her response to his appearance, she had not expected or been prepared for.. wow. She took a deep breath and closed the door a moment to try not to have the thoughts that he had just invoked. She was dressed in a tank/halter style top which laced in back and around her neck, exposed her taunt tummy some and a short skirt, mid thigh length, heels of course - sandals though. Nic was a picture of fresh summer energy and beauty that could come undone with the pull of the right string. The door closed and she didn't even know which side she was on. She closed her eyes and was trying to breath normally but was just picturing him the way she'd just seen him anyway.

What just happened? He paused as the door shut again in front of him, then started chuckling. He looked around the room, wondering what startled her as he pulled the door open again. "In most customs, you're supposed to come in first, then shut the door."

She was breathing a bit hard and opened one eye to look at him but quickly closed it. "Put some clothes on!" She scolded him, reaching with her hands to feel her way as she stepped into the room with her eyes closed.

"What? I'm wearing clothes," he chuckled, looking down at the sharp shirt and simple pants. "Fear of toes? Alright, I'll put socks on. You shouldn't be here." He said it as part warning and part relief that she was. It would keep him from talking to himself at least. "It's safe, you can look." He was slipping on his socks and shoes.

She opened her eyes and did a little "agggh" and swatted at his arm playfully. "That's not what I meant.. you.."She pointed at his unbuttoned shirt and sighed. "That's not fair.. it was like a sneak attack." She smiled, calming down from the initial surprise, however pleasant that it was.

He shook his head, smiling as he did up two more, leaving only the collar opened. "You might have noticed, it is Summer and a bit warm lately. It wasn't meant as an attack. I'm not sure whether to be flattered or embarrassed," he said, leaning on the back of the chair.

"Not sure.. how would you feel if I tackled you? That's what it makes me want to do.." She blushed but wasn't going to lie, even if embarrassing, he was someone she felt she could be open and honest with. "It's pretty warm out.." She agreed, trying not to let the comment of tackling him linger and tried not to think about kissing him. Her fingers played with one of the longer strings that hung down from where her shirt tied up.

He leaned back more to steady himself on the chair he stood behind, casting a glance over his shoulder. "It might hurt," he said truthfully looking at the surrounding small area that was filled with books and a scattering of boxes with game boards and small figures. The movement of her fingers caught his vision and he reached out a hand before she did something they'd both regret, and likely enjoy more than he should be allowed. "Come in and have a seat. It's cooler by the window."

There was nothing but her beneath the top as it's cut didn't allow for lace or the like to be worn. "I didn't think of that.." His first comment made her laugh a little and she stepped into the room, moving closer to him. "So.. hi." She spoke softly, her hand reaching out for his and she tried not to lean in, tried to just keep it a 'comforting friend' gesture but the way her hand laced into his..

"So... hi ," he parrotted, finding it hard to say much else as his thoughts reeled. The smile was shier and he pulled gently to lead her along a safe route between his belongings. "Sorry for the mess. I ... I really wasn't expecting.." Hoping, wishing beyond hope, but expecting nothing.

She came close brushing against him slightly as he led her through. "It's alright.. you should see my place.. except I have no furniture.." She chuckled softly and shook her head. "I probably should have thought about that before I moved out.."

He tried to ignore the touch as she brushed past him, staring at the floor as if it was nothing. Her words attracted his attention, though. "Mo- moved out? Why? When?" His expression knotted and convulsed between confusion, worry and a strange elation he couldn't describe.

She bit her lip and turned to face him, her free hand naturally shifting to rest against his chest and shoulder. "Just finished... " She spoke softly, her eyes seeking the intense blue of his gaze. Why was she so undeniably drawn to this man?

He needed to sit. Why would she do such a thing? He couldn't move. "You must be tired, quite an ordeal. That doesn't tell me why, though," he muttered, looking for reasons and finding his heart skipping madly in his chest. He put his hand on hers to move just a bit to adjust the shade over the window.

She shook her head. "I really don't have alot.. like I said, no furniture, just a bunch of boxes.. clothes and stuff.." She felt the warmth of his hand over hers and she swallowed. "Don't you know why?" Her voice came out in a whisper.

He'd pulled the shade down some, but pushed the window further up for air. He turned sharply, but his expression was soft, not cruel, an unusual shade of fear in the blue looking at her. "Don't I? I'd be lying if I said I hadn't hoped you might. That doesn't make it right."

She swallowed, her own eyes shining with a soft misty sheen as she met his gaze and din't turn from it. "Would it have been right for me to stay there and keep lying and pretending nothing was wrong, that nothing had changed.. deny that I lo... that I feel this way?"

"What do you feel, Nicoleta? Do you really believe it's the spell? Tell me what you really think it is," he murmured, gripping her hand firmly. "You shouldn't lie, no, and I really hope you're... tell me it's real."

How could she tell him what Britt and the others had told her? How did she tell him the spell they thought was over powering their rational thoughts -was doing no such thing? Her eyes searched his and she gripped back against his hand. "I think.. the spell opened our eyes.. awakened us to what was already there. It.. didn't make us.. didn't really change us." She paused and swallowed the small lump that formed in her throat. "It was never meant to make anyone fall in love.. it was supposed to strengthen a love that already exsisted. Make that bond stronger.. unbreakable.. it wasn't meant to change anything.. well okay I admit.. I added a splash of romance in there.. because I was craving it.. I needed some attention.. but it was never a 'make him love me' spell."

"What you added was nothing. It's not the spell. I think you know that better than I do. I wasn't just being polite the day I met you. I think you knew that then." His hand dropped slowly, taking hers with it as he leaned forward, tempted and restrained. He spoke closely. "It isn't your magic at all. It's simply you."

He was so close and it was all she could do not to close the small space and kiss him, her heart raced and she leaned just a little herself. "I.. meant what.. the spell.. it doesn't matter.. the spell isn't making me feel this.. you do." Her thumb brushed over his hand and her eyelids dipped heavily but didn't completely close. "Iain... " She whispered his name in small nearly desperate voice.

"Don't. Please don't." He rested his forehead to her shoulder, trying to breathe and not pass out or worse. The tremor moved from his voice to the breath he tried to take, moving back a little. Why was he telling her not to when he wanted to himself? "It does matter if you think any part of it is to blame. If there's any doubt, then it's not real and I can't."

She had to turn her face away or he'd see how deeply it hurt, she just tried to breathe and slowly turned her face back. "I told you.. it wasn't.. it isn't.. the spell. But if you have doubts.. and here.. I thought you didn't believe in my magic anyway.." She swallowed and slowly pulled her hand free to put it against his shoulder, so she could move past him to leave. She didn't want to push him and cause him to hate her worse for making this mess. "I'm very sorry that I disturbed you.." She said softly, meaning his life more than this instance.

"But I do believe in you," he reminded her gently and chuckled again. "And we've covered that, too. I was already disturbed. I can't give you that credit but I can credit you for something else." He wasn't letting her move away too quickly.

She ended up stepping closer to him as he didn't just move aside as she thought he might. His chuckle had her searching his face and his eyes as he spoke. "Oh.. what do I get credit for?"

"You're a brave girl. You're smart. As little as you know, you know enough that I don't toss out compliments or say things I don't mean. If it's guff, I have no reason to waste my time on it and I won't. You've made me think." That seemed to concern him more, still.

She smiled a little, nodding once to his comments, she did know him well enough to know this was true about him. "What have you been thinking..?"

"Things I have no business thinking about a lady living with someone else, but it appears that's changed. If she's alone and deserves to be adored, and admits she's begging for attention, how can I possibly say no?" He smirked a little, appearing uneasy but eager all the same.

She chuckled softly and lifted her left hand, back facing him to show him the lack of sparkle that had previously adorned her ring finger. "She's alone.. she needs attention.. but whether or not she deserves it, well thats a matter of opinion.." She wasn't sure if she deserved any comfort at the moment.

"Then my opinion is that I'm sorry to hear that," he grinned, pulling her hand from the air back into his to kiss the back of it. He was hardly sorry for any of it at the moment.

Her fingers curled around his hand and she smiled more brightly, lacing her fingers with his and leaning to kiss his fingers as he did the same to her. Her eyes sparkled softly as she sought his gaze, looking for a little of the attention she might not deserve but hoped he'd give her.

He smiled a little more easily as she mirrored his actions. He looked up from their hands to her face."What was it you asked me when you came in? Are you sure that's what you had in mind?"

She blushed again with the reminder and her smile curved softly, she nodded slowly. "Yes, I remember... " Her lips brushed over his fingers in a tender motion. "Is it you asking me now.. or are you asking me if I still want to?"

"So now you're shy?" He rolled his eyes, his head shaking a turn as he mulled over the idea, taking her in completely. "What if I'd said yes? Would you still blush? If I thought I was wasting my time, I wouldn't have asked. Maybe I am telling you, not just asking."

She giggled ever so softly and brought her eyes up to his. Every time she looked into those depths of blue her heart skipped a beat. "I just wanted to know who would be tackling who."

Hell's bells, that laugh could send him over the moon. It gave him a pleasant shiver and again he shook his head, though it was completely void of thought or adequate quip to reply with at the moment. "Maybe you're the one who's thinking too much, not me." It was only a small space between them, shortened by him leaning and daring to kiss her.

That he 'dared' to kiss her like that was a thrilling and delightful surprise. "Mmmm" Was her only reply as she shifted and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. She leaned gently into the kiss to explore and slowly let it take them where it would.

Gently. After an enjoyable moment he moved away, not because he was hesitant or afraid. He stepped out of her reach to the door to lock it securely, watching her pointedly. "You shouldn't have come, but you're here. I shouldn't be thinking these things, but I have been."

She watched him move and lifted a brow as he locked the door, though her smile curved more invitingly as he turned around. "You shouldn't show me what you've been thinking... but I want you to." She countered in a soft almost husky voice.

That made him pause in mid-step to consider, but only a moment. "No, I really shouldn't and be careful what you wish for," he cautioned, stepping around her to move some of the books and boxes from around the chair.

"I shouldn't.. but I wish anyway." She turned to watch him circle and move things from around the chair. "Show me." She invited with a slight 'command' to the words. She wasn't afraid of him or what he might want.

He stacked some items against a blank piece of wall and set some on the shelf where they'd been earlier. Notebooks he'd been filling with his research on magic were moved safely to a side table and he came back beside her. "I plan to." Bits of his hair had shifted forward darkly framing his eyes.

He looked amazingly dark and handsome with the way his hair shifted and how he spoke to her with such a decided tone in his voice. She was curious as to why he was moving things around and watched him till he came beside her again. Nic reached to brush at his hair, though not really intending to move it, more just to feel it and him as he was in this moment.

He stopped her hand. "I'll tell you again, you really shouldn't, but you are a brave girl. I wonder just how brave you are." He let go of her hand, giving her a nod. Maybe it was permission. Ben had seen the challenge in the glance as had Jez and Phoebe. He wondered how much information he gave Nic with the gesture.

Her hand moved back to slip over his dark locks and her eyes met his challenging gaze. "Why do you continue to tell me I shouldn't?.. when we both know you want me to." She smiled some as her eyes held his. "Brave enough to find out what I shouldn't."

"I think you are," he nodded. He closed his eyes a moment as she touched his hair. It was deceptively soft despite his coarse demeanor. "I keep telling you because you may find out. No one has before."

She stepped closer to him, her eyes expressive of the myriad of emotions coursing through her as her fingers slipped deeper into his soft locks. "Stop telling me... I know." She whispered softly, leaning a light kiss to his lips.

He opened his eyes with the kiss. "Then I guess you do want me to show you," he muttered as they parted. The last thing he wanted was to scare her, but many of the visions and fantasies he'd seen since the night he'd followed her were darker than most nightmares. He'd never harm her, but it was clear he wanted control.

She nodded, pulling slowly away from the kiss and opening her eyes to gaze at him, her eyes met his and she showed she wasn't scared to find out. She wanted him to show her and not be afraid to, there was something about him, which she knew to be darker than most people. but she'd already told him that she was drawn to that in him, she liked that he was not all sunshine.

"Everywhere I go," he hummed at her ear. He stepped backwards to the chair and the cleared a little more room beside it. "No power, you said, could break this. Tell me how much you believe that." He challenged, this time offering her a kiss to test how much she believed him and how real he believed this to be.

She watched his eyes as she stepped with him and brought herself to stand against him her gaze unfaltering. "Words are meaningless.. I could tell you a thousand times and you wouldn't believe it unless you could feel it." The kiss that met his offer was fully passionate yet amazingly tender and filled with the truth and intesity of her feelings for him.

He couldn't breathe and he couldn't pull away. He was a dead man, but he'd die happily having shared this moment with her. Iain heard her words and how right they were. They were meaningless, but actions? Hers told him so much, he could laugh for days and feel invincible. He sat slowly, pulling her with him to the emptied chair.

Her long red curls brushed his shoulder as she slid gently in his lap in the chair. Her finger tips traced his jaw lightly, she wanted to explore this sensation that hummed through her, she wanted to follow wherever he might lead her. Dangerous, dark, to the edges and back or over if that's where it was going. "What love has brought together.. let no force set assunder."

He laughed a little, but his thought was an honest one. "Except hunger," he whispered. He'd watched her fingers play with the string earlier that he found in his own power to control now. It wasn't exactly fear that stopped him from pulling it. "Tell me. Do you have the power to really turn me into a toad?"

She smiled and slowly nodded her head. "It's not an easy spell but yes.. I could.. I have the power to do so. If I really wanted to make that kind of effort. Trans-configuration is very draining.. it takes alot of energy to pull that off."

He pulled a little on the string and smiled like a boy with a handful of cookies, pretending he wasn't spoiling his supper. "A lot more energy than this?"

Her eyebrow arched and she chuckled softly as he tugged the strings that held her top in place. "Well.. that exact action? Yes it would take more.. though you're creating quite a bit of energy." Her voice came out in a breathy sigh, though she didn't move to stop him or keep the blouse from being undone.

His fingers were precise and delicate with the string, allowing only enough for his imagination to run more wild, but keep her modesty. Only one step at a time. "You have no idea," he muttered. "I'm sure there's more than just that, but I'm in no hurry."

"So much more.." She agreed with a tiny tempting smile on her lips that she brought to brush over his. Her breath was light and warm as she took the chance to taste his lovely lips again. "No... there's no rush.. but no limits either.."

"So now that we've covered that," he grinned, quitting the small talk to enjoy further kisses and explorations. He was very warm and very willing, but held himself in check. He still had a lot of unanswered questions, slowing marking them off his list with each new sensation.

Her body shifted and twisted gently and naturally to fit and reach him, finding herself a bit closer to his warmth but not hindered. She didn't feel they needed words at this moment, but rather to share and revel in the sensations. Her mouth slowly explored, tested and tasted of his, finding just the right angle and perfect fit for the most blissful of kisses, her lips clinging and nibbling softly, enticing him to find all the answers he needed.

For the moment, the demons that had possessed his thoughts and waking dreams involving her were quiet and calm, but were slowly waking themselves as his self-control began to falter. He glanced to the door again, being sure he'd locked it well and that the shade was pulled far enough that those across the courtyard might not happen to peer in. No, words weren't needed. In fact he hoped for no sounds at all except these quiet ones she uttered to him to invoke more ideas. Hours of painting fine details on his figures lent him skills to touch her skin lightly. "No limits?" He asked.

[Lovely]

June 19 2006
6 p.m.


They were friends before all this started so why shouldn't he? It was a simple invitation, but now there were so many different things involved. He walked the hall slowly as he debated and argued, not wanting to place her in a worse position, especially in the eyes of the faculty she worked with. She wasn't his teacher, so it was alright... wasn't it? He was over 21 so what did it matter anyway? It was only the dining hall this time and they had to eat, so... He knocked sharply on her door, not even sure if she was home.

Nic was sitting on the middle of her empty living room floor with one of the few boxes she had open and pondering where to put what she had. The fact that she had no furniture helped to narrow down the choices, she's gotten her books and clothes, but there wasn't much more than that. The knock on the door made her jump and she moved to answer it, unsure of who might be there. "Hell... Oh!" Her smile lit up her face as she saw who was there. "Hi.."

The initial shock in her expression brought out the nervous chuckle. Maybe he shouldn't have come. Her smile bloomed quickly though and put him at ease somewhat. The small surprises like these were pleasant, finding that each time he came to find her it seemed less and less due to the spell and more like Ben and Madison had warned... something real and definitely... something.

"Hi yourself. I hope it's not a bad time. Decorating?" Iain peeked in the doorway and around the expanse of the apartment that was so much different, larger than his own simple student suite. It seemed unnaturally empty, but he understood why. "Care to take some time for dinner, if you dare?" His eyebrow shifted up, ever the challenge of course, this time being simply to see is she was brave enough to chance being seen together in public.

Her eyes sparkled and showed her delight at his offer and at him just being there, it was a pleasant and welcome surprise. Even if she didn't have much to welcome him into or with. She bit her lower lip and a soft giggle floated from her. "I'd love to." She said, softly -blowing him a kiss from where she stood and opening the door to allow him to come in.

He appeared to catch the kiss. He then gave her a look from behind many thoughts of many things he'd like to do with it. "Carefully," he warned, wanting to say something about ruining her appetitite, though that was hardly the problem. He followed her in and shut the door.

She was touched by how he caught the kiss, and excited by the way he looked at her. She wondered about his expression, what thoughts might be turning in his mind as her own were wandering with him near. She led him into the larger apartment and did a sort of twirl to point out the 'nothing' that filled up the space. There were candles set about and a few plants hanging in the window or with there pots set on the floor, books lined neatly along one wall. Many of them old thick hand written volumes, spells, journals and recipes that had been passed from generations before her. Nicoleta glanced around at the lack of normal modest accomidations and then turned to him with a question. "How do you feel about shopping?"

It wasn't his favorite passtime, except taking notes of the herd mentality at its finest, or worst. He shrugged, "If it didn't involve putting up with masses of a**es and shallow ideals, I wouldn't mind it a bit. But, if you need a ride...?"

"No.." She turned back to fiddle with.. anything to keep her fingers busy. That wasn't why she'd asked him, somehow the thought had tangled in her brain that he ... maybe could or would want to have some opinion and say in what she filled this place with.

That came out badly. He took it back a little. "I'm sure I could keep myself entertained," he interjected quietly. "If you want to go, I'd like to go with you."

"I .. have to.. I need stuff for my apartment... like furniture and everything else." She responded quietly, gesturing to the space which echoed slightly with how empty it was. "I'd like you to go with me.. if you don't mind keeping me company.. and maybe giving me a few opinions?"

He snickered. "You're sure you really want my opinion? Could be dangerous, but thanks. I'll take that as the compliment you meant it as. I have a question for you, though. What do you really need furniture for?"

"Of course I want your opinion.." She chuckled softly and looked at him with a small smile. "Well because I have none.. and sitting on the floor isn't comfortable and neither is sleeping on it."

His finger tapped on his lip as if he held back saying something behind it as he thought. "And here I am, one person with one bottom and two chairs. Maybe what I should say, not that I wouldn't say it anyway if I shouldn't is, why get new when you can share anything you need or want with me?"

She tipped her head a bit, looking at him with questions in her eyes and on her lips. "Are you.. do you mean.. for me to stay.. there? With you?" Her voice was soft, it wasn't that she wouldn't want to.. but she also didn't want to assume and find that she misunderstood what he was saying.

"Is that what I mean?" The challenge as always... He leaned closer. "It is what you want it to mean. If you want to stay, you know how to find my door. If you want to visit whenever you like... no different. If you want to have your own place and your own thoughts, I can't keep you from it. What I can say is, yes, my door is open to you."

Why couldn't he just say.. yes? Because this was him and this was how he would answer. She smiled at him and leaned to whisper softly. "What if I brought your bed to my apartment?"

"Then I might have to come visit it every now and then to make sure you're treating it well," he chuckled. "Not that I've visited it much lately, myself."

"Hmmm that could be a problem..." She tapped her fingers along her arm as she looked him over thoughtfully. "I might have to make sure you start visiting it regularly.. whether here or there." Her smile faded as a thought came to her and she bit her lip gently. "Why.. haven't you been.. lately?"

"Because I think too much about very important things." He watched her, intensely, unyielding. "I've been writing, and studying a bit more to understand things I never believed in before."

Her hands shifted and twisted together as first she looked down then back up to him. "What did you find.. do you believe.. now?"

His expression softened. "Things I should never have doubted. I'll leave it at that." He didn't really have to say. She'd begun to understand more in what he left unsaid.

She shook her head slightly. "Everyone finds they have doubts now and then.. even about things they have believed in all their lives.. sometimes their eyes are opened by the most unexpected things.. or people."

"Consider yourself pleasantly unexpected," he chuckled quietly. "Though I can honestly say I didn't believe in magic - truthfully I didn't - but I've come to realize that as much as I don't like it, there are forces I just can't control. I'm dealing with it. Give me time," he smiled.

"I could say the same about you.. as a matter of fact.. I do." She smiled softly and lifted one hand to brush along his cheek. "Just when I thought I had it figured out.. There you were. You questioned what I believe in, but I never felt like I had to hide it from you.. "

"I still question everything," he admitted. "I can't change my nature, but with you, I don't have to. Thank you."

"I know you do.." She murmured softly, her smile sweetly inviting as her eyes gently moved over his beautiful face. "You're welcome... but you shouldn't thank me.." She chuckled lightly. ".. cause, you know.. I'm all needy and stuff with that lack attention problem I was having.." She teased quietly.

"Mine is completely undivided at the moment if that helps. Though, don't take it personally should I relax enough to doze off here... since you're here and I don't have to dream you."

"I'd take it very personally.." Her eyes sparkled softly. "..as a compliment. That my pressence was enough to keep you from thinking too much and that you could relax that much with me here." She glanced towards her bedroom and nodded slightly. "Would you like to.. try?" She only had some blankets and pillows on the floor, extra that her sister had been kind enough to bring up for her, but it was likely not as comfy as his bed.

"Thought I was already trying," he winked, meaning that he tested her patience and most other people's on a good day. On a better day he simply pissed them off, but he didn't want her upset with him. "You are brave, aren't you?"

Her hand slid to rest at the back of his neck, just curled into the edges of his hair, her arm lightly wrapped around his shoulders. "I guess I am.. " That didn't mean she wasn't 'scared', just that she wasn't going to let it stop her from finding out.

"It might bite," he warned, not looking up past her to see anything else. Maybe he meant himself.

She let her other hand shift to his shoulder and gently massaged as she tilted a small smile at him. "I might like it.."

"Unexpected again," he murmured, feeling his heart skip hard enough that he was sure she noticed. "I know I would." He was drawn to her, enjoying the attention he also craved.

Her eyes lit up like a hundred little sparkles set off within them. "Is that so..?" She leaned as if to kiss him but as her lips brushed over his she shifted and nipped ever so lightly at his neck.

He felt like a ragdoll under her power at the moment, bending and bowing slowly as the newer sensations woke him further. "Mm, very much so. I can only warn you, I may not be responsible for my actions if you keep doing that."

Well if that wasn't just what a woman always wanted to hear when 'testing' to find if a man liked what she was doing. Her giggle was soft but excited and he'd feel her shift and press against him as she tried not to bounce. Nic smiled and leaned to his ear with a whisper. "Promise?" She followed with gentle nibbles over his ear.

"Wouldn't say something I don't intend on carrying through," he muttered. He pulled away enough to turn to face her. "I do play for keeps."

Her playfulness departed for a moment as her gaze met his with an intensity and fierceness that might surprise him. "I was hoping you were.. I'm not messing around about all this."

"Neither am I," he replied, just as sharp and just as passionate. "It's more than just a promise." She was twined as much around his heart as she was his shoulders and his gaze. His arm moved to hold her as he tried to kiss her again.

Her back arched where his arm wrapped around and she came firmly against him, her gaze still meeting his for a breath longer as he leaned to her lips. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt as he kissed her, her mouth meeting his with a tenderly passionate warmth.

[Lovely]

Weds June 21 2006
11:45 a.m.


Nicoleta had poked fun at him, but a challenge was what it was and he wasn't going to back away, spell or no. She was still hurting on some level for being forgotten or lost or even being the one herself to forget her own pending marriage. On his own level, it was so much more than simply trying to make her feel warm and wanted and worthy, which she most certainly was. It was becoming so much more than what the spell had begun.

Iain arrived before the lunch hour unannounced, meeting the challenge of bringing her a small grouping of bright flowers to adorn her desk. He was short a poem still, but that would come later. He decided to play off the cuff instead so he could step away if things went poorly. He focused on her and her alone, approaching her desk confidently. "I brought you something... that you forgot."

She glanced up a moment after the door opened and someone entered, as was normal in the office, people coming and going through out the day. Nic did a double take, seeing Iain, not realizing she really had and going back to her work for a second before quickly looking up again. Her smile broke out and lit up her face, her eyes sparkling like jewels in the light, her joy at the sight of him evn more obvious than the surprise of realizing it was him a moment before. His comment rolled through her mind for another moment and her head tilted to the side. "Oh... what did I forget?"

Suddenly aware of the whole of the room, he found himself whispering, though his actions spoke so much louder as he held the flowers out to his side and his other arm out to accept her if she was willing for a closer 'hello'. "Me," he replied, feigning insult. "You didn't really forget me that soon, did you?"

Nicoleta smiled at his quiet comments and how he held his arm out to her. She was out of her chair in a breath and came over to him, wrapping her arms around him. "Couldn't ever do that" She promised in a whisper and leaned to kiss him tenderly.

"Well that, and my invitation to dinner." He leaned closer and teased about dozing off from two nights of furious research. "Since we slept through it. Free for lunch instead? Oh... these are for you." He lifted his hand to present her the bouquet of bright flowers.

She took the flowers with a sweet and soft smile, adoring the bright boquet immediately. "Thank you" Nic kissed him lightly again, showing him how delighted she was. "I'm not free now, I'm having lunch with you." Her cheeks held the lightest blush at the reminder that they'd fallen asleep and had never made it to dinner.

He was amused at her manner of turning him down by accepting and laughed. "You almost had me worried. I won't get you in trouble, will I?"

"No.. they actually allow me to eat now and then.." She snuggled into him a bit. "Besides.. I'm thrilled that you're here.. and they like to see me smile. I'm much less frightening to the new students when I'm smiling."

Iain frowned slightly. "Then I will get you in trouble. You won't be able to do your work as effectively. How will they know you mean business if you're smiling at them? Especially like that?"

She grinned brighter and chuckled. "That wicked gleam in my eyes.. See this glare.." She demonstrated with a more stern expression. ".. it's very frightening I am told.."

He chuckled a little. It was cute more than wicked, but some might find his definition of cute terrifying. "No, I'm not getting that," he shook his head, undaunted by the effect, at least in that way.

She pouted, then shrugged. "Well I guess I have to quit and find some other purpose in life.." She sighed, arching a brow slightly at him. "... I've lost my touch.." She was teasing and he would see a mischievious sparkle in her eyes.

"Hardly," he laughed. "Though if you do need another purpose, you can entertain me. When can you go?"

"Mmmm that sounds like something I might be better at.." Her eyes moved over him a bit then returned to meet his as she pondered ways she might keep him entertained. A glance to the clock told her the time and she grinned. "Anytime you want me, I'm yours."

"Now that will definitely get both of us in trouble since I might not let you come back. Put these in water and we'll go then?" He offered his hand as he mentioned the flowers.

"I might like that kind of trouble.." She kissed his cheek and moved off to get a container to put the flowers in. No one in the office got flowers, hardly ever, so finding something was a challenge, but she finally came up with an old vase. It was shoved in the back of a cabinet and she used some water from the cooler to fill it and some that had gotten warm in the bottle on her desk. Once the flowers were taken care of and displayed on her desk, she turned to take his hand if it was still being offered.

Chris wasn't intending to eavesdrop, but hearing someone climbing shelves and digging through cabinets in the other room caught his attention enough to come peek out and see what was going on. He'd been the one to organize a lot of the stray things around the place and wondered if he could help find whatever it was Nic was searching for. He stopped at the door, noting her visitor and opted to say nothing for the moment. She'd found the vase she needed, and a few other things she needed from the looks of it including a calm and smiling expression from them both that confirmed pretty much everything she'd told him. Best to leave things as they were while they looked good and not interrupt, he decided. He'd go grab lunch whenever she came back.

She had a way with the flowers that made them seem so much livelier and colorful than they were. "You take good care of every living thing, don't you? Makes a man wonder."

She tilted her head and smiled, but shrugged a little. "What do you mean.. and wonder what?"

He shrugged in return. "Didn't he notice? It's in everything you do, touch and everything you say. How couldn't he have known what you are?" He spoke quietly, unsure who else in the office knew about her practice.

"I don't know.. I guess he didn't. Wow.. thats so.. I was with him over two years and he didn't notice.. but you did.. I suppose that says something, doesn't it?" She smiled a bit sadly, realizing more how repressed she'd kept her natural talents. "Really my fault though.. I never told him, never felt I could openly share that with him.."

"Would you now?" He asked over his shoulder, taking them out to the hallway. "Honest question of course. If you feel alright talking to him about anything?"

She shook her head. "I don't know.. I don't really feel like I could tell him now anymore than I could before." She stepped behind him and into the hall, coming beside him then.

"What if I did? What if I confront him for you? He should know," he said, matter-of-fact, but quietly in his offer.

"What do you mean.. confront him? What does he need to know.. that I'm.. you really think he should know?"

He chuckled. "Yes. I really do. He's not a bad person and he's undeserving, you said, but what does he deserve? Truth, enlightenment... maybe an invitation." His smile sparked with a hint of mischief.

"No.. he's really not a bad person." She agreed softly, her eyes casting down. Byron did deserve the truth.. but she didn't know how to tell him. She didn't even know where to begin. "An invitation..?"

"Sure. I've been thinking. There's really no reason we need to automatically hate each other, though he's given me as many reasons to dislike him as I have for him, I suppose. A friendly invitation to a game among friends. If you want to play, that is."

She just gave him a funny look and stopped walking. "Iain.. no offence but I don't think he'd want to get involved.. I imagine he's probably very hurt by me leaving him.. I don't think he'll want to play games with my new.." She trailed off, not wanting to use the wrong word and finding she wasn't sure what the right one was.

"With me? Technically, he wouldn't be. I'll explain more over food, but consider, we've never met each other. I'm not positive he knows who I am by name. I haven't met him either, so here's the challenge. How much do you know about Helen of Troy?"

"Yeah.. with you." She murmured still wondering about what to call him.. she could imagine introducing him to the others. This is my.. Iain. Nic watched his face and shrugged slightly. "I know a little.. probably the same basic knowledge most people have of her.. she wasn't really part of my studies."

"That might be a good thing," he said. Her expression concerned him enough to almost abandon the concept he had forming. "I can lend you a book later on the Wars, but it's bound to put you to sleep. The basic idea is about a foolish, brazen man stealing away the woman who is betrothed to another man. Things get ugly, fighting breaks out, and someone gets it in the heel and computers have been on the lookout for Trojans since," he grinned. "I'm serious about this, however, since he and I have never met. The battleground doesn't need to be one and a game with us and several others would be a good icebreaker to show that none of us are terrible people."

She started to walk with him again, watching him as he laid the idea out, she wasn't totally following what he was saying, but was getting some of the idea. "I suppose.. I'm Helen in this case? and how do you intend to get him involved in this?"

"Hopefully, simply because of you if you want to play. You don't have to, but it would make things the easiest. Please don't take that the wrong way. I could simply walk up to him wherever he works here and start up a conversation. Don't think I won't, but this would be more comfortable, don't you think?"

"I'm not sure if he'll want to play... because of me." She sighed softly, her fingers curling a little more tightly into Iain's. "I guess you'll have to explain more about the game, for me to know if I want to play... I still don't understand how this .. connects to you confronting him or telling him about what I am."

"It's a game based on secrecy, like a spy game. Each player holds a secret or some part of a mechanism. Each team sends its players out to collect all the parts of the mechanism first and put it together. Well, if it's arranged that he and I are the ones that hold some part the other one's team needs, eventually, one of us will have to wheel and deal with the other, bringing us face to face privately. Ultimately, I would like you to play to get him involved, but you don't need to."

"It sounds interesting." She admitted, a smile finding her face for a moment as she considered playing. "Who's team would I be on?"

"To be completely fair, I'd flip a coin, but of course I'd want you on mine. Really, I just want for you to play. I think you'd enjoy it. Tell me you haven't alvays vanted to be a spy, fraulein," he sputtered out in his poor rendition of an even worse German accent.

She giggled at his imitation and curled closer to him in that moment, nearly resting her head on his shoulder. "I think I might play.. but I don't know if I could be on the other team.. Why don't you pick your own teams? and who else would be playing.. and how are you going to invite him to play? I still don't think he will if he knows I'm part of this."

"Depends on a random circumstance. Why does anyone do anything? It will be open to anyone in the school, including faculty. There are no guns or anything, actually just playing cards and a set of gizmos I should be able to cook up easily enough. I thought of using code names so no one really knows anyone else in the game at the start, like spies, see? What they find out along the way may be useful to the whole team or just that player. Listen, I'll worry about the details. You're right, he might not want to play, but I wager, if he comes across you while you are playing and enjoying yourself, he might want to know why."

Her laugh was dry and bit sarcastic. "Yeah, I'll bet.. you really don't know him. More like if he even notices and he'll tell me to calm down and not get excited... and the fact that I'm kind of avoiding seeing him.. that whole I have no idea how to tell him I'm a witch and all.." That and he'd pretty much destroyed her the night he left her in the clearing without so much as a fight for them.

"So... lead him to me and I'll explain it for you? Alright, so he may not be part of the game, but I can see you want to play. If he does, it's an opportunity to get him alone for another reason and then give him the 'oh, while you're here, there's something I need to tell you' routine. It was a thought. Here's another. Have lunch with me, but have dinner with him. Talk to him before you come up with more reasons not to."

She just looked at him and almost tripped over her feet as she walked, maintaining her balance but shaking her head at Iain. "I don't want to get him alone or give him any routine.. I don't want to have dinner with him... and I really don't know what I'd say to him if I were to. I couldn't talk to him about this when I was with him.. how am I supposed to talk to him about it now??" Now even Iain was pushing her on Byron? How.. why? Why did everyone think she had to .. didn't they understand -Byron didn't give a damn, not enough to talk to her or fight with her when she was right in front of him -in his face with it. Why would he talk to her or fight -for- her now? She couldn't get him to hear her when she was a foot away from him.. he wouldn't hear her now and she was so sick of everyone pushing her.

"Then I guess you'll have dinner with me, and not worry about it. He'll find out if he's supposed to find out and if he didn't care to ask or find out then, that's really his problem, not mine, either."

She was so confused by him at the moment and she turned to face ahead as they walked so she wouldn't really trip. "I guess so." One minute it seemed like he was pushing her towards Byron -talking to him, having dinner with him.. and then the next he just sort of dropped it. She just didn't have words to explain anything to Byron at the moment, didn't know where to begin, where to end.. what exactly she should or shouldn't tell him. Did it even matter anymore? Would he even care or would he just be so angry and hurt he wouldn't even want to speak to her. Who wanted to talk to a girl who'd just left them a couple days before? And why was she even thinking about it -he didn't deserve her time.. how much had he hurt her that night in the clearing? Maybe they were even.. maybe it was better to just leave it alone and move on. That's what she really wanted, to leave the hurt and the lies, the hiding.. everything behind her. There were better things to look ahead to.. and someone she deeply cared about walking beside her.

He grinned to himself, watching her turn to watch the hall. She truly had nothing to say and no fight to try and return to the man she agreed to marry. It was a strange and small consolation that simply reinforced his growing greed to keep her solely to himself. If she didn't even want to have dinner with the man? He did assume that she'd have dinner with him instead. That might have been a step too far, but she hadn't said no, either. "I'm sorry. I just don't want to be the reason you don't talk to him, taking all your free time away."

She shook her head. "It's not you.. I mean in a way it is, but it's not your fault. I just.. honestly.. have nothing left to say to him. Maybe someday an -I'm sorry for hurting you- because that wasn't my intention when I got involved with him.. or even when I started to get to know you. But now is not the time.. it's way too soon for it to be listened to or accepted. Who knows it may never be." Regardless of how Byron had hurt her, she still felt awful for hurting him and had not done any of it intentionally, sometimes there were things in life you couldn't control and this had been one of them.

"Maybe not, so why worry about it tonight? We covered that just now, I thought," he said, not intending to argue with her. "You know you asked about shopping. Is there class on the 4th? Would you like to go then?"

"The fourth?.. I.. well, I was hoping not to sleep on the floor for that long." She chuckled a little, letting the conversation shift away from the previous topic and happy to have it do so.

"Who said you will be?" His fingers reminded her she held on to them as he clasped tighter. "If you want to stay that long."

"Only if you promise to let me 'pay you back' once I have a bed.. and other furniture." She insisted softly, sweetly.. the look in her eyes conveying her affection and thanks.

"No. No paybacks are needed. I don't want you to feel that it's charity. I want you to be there because I want you there and hope maybe you'd want to be there."

She chuckled and shook her head. "That was the idea.. I meant.. that you could come.. stay at my place.. maybe once I have furniture.. you know? Visit me there as well as me coming to your room."

"Depends on the circumstance of actually getting out to the shopping part and not just stealing you away once we're off grounds, doesn't it?"

She considered it very briefly, hardly a moment passing before she replied. "I'm not sure I'd object to being stolen by you.. but where would you take me?"

"Hmmm... check... I hadn't thought that far yet. Point for you. I'm still working on what I'm going to do after dinner tonight since you seem to be free."

"Hmmm not free for the next couple of weeks at least, seems someone just filled up my calender."

"Damn them. I guess I'll just have to fight them for your undivided attention," he warned, stopping and stepping half a step ahead of her to turn and face her. "Because I intend to keep you very, very busy." He stopped them there in the hall to kiss her, not caring who may pass by.