[center][h3][i][color=fff200]Eris[/color] [color=00aeef]&[/color] [color=f6989d]Cassandra[/color][/i][/h3][/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/f9sRJb0.png[/img][/center] [center][b][color=00aeef]—Collab between [@KoL] & [@Caits]—[/color][/b][/center] [b][color=00aeef]At the auditorium’s toilet, right after Eris hurt herself...[/color][/b] [hider] Eris was still standing there, staring at her own disgraceful form, unaware even of the deep cut that she had on her hand, when Cassandra came in the restroom and began shouting things at her, even though Eris didn't got a word of it. [color=fff200]"Ah, I see, I must really have gotten mad. Is this what I wanted?"[/color] Eris said, not really believing that the Cassandra before her was real. That is, until the sharp pain from her wounded hand, shook her back to reality and Eris couldn't help but try to take her hand away from Cassandra's grip, though a sharp stab when she tried to do so halted her. Instinctively, Eris tried to grab her hand while grinding her teeth in pain, only now feeling how cold it (as well as everything else on herself) was and that she couldn't move it without crying. [color=fff200]"Cas... sandra? What are you doing here?"[/color] Eris asked with glassy eyes, looking like she wasn't really in touch with reality yet. Eris seemed completely out of it, only jerking back when she put pressure in the slice. Which didn't appear to be slowly down too much. She needed to go to the infirmary, perhaps a hospital, as this probably needed stitches, something Cassandra had no idea how to do, or even if the nurses here knew what to do. At the question, uttered with such vagueness, Cassandra said [color=f6989d]"What am I doing? I was worried. And now I'm stopping you from bleeding out"[/color] although she figured it would take a while to bleed out from a hand wound, Cassandra didn't know the extent of the damage. She doubted it was arterial as, typically, that spurted out with each heartbeat. Still, it was a possibility in a hand. [color=f6989d]"You really shouldn't punch things that can hurt you back"[/color] she said softly, [color=f6989d]"let's go. You need to see a doctor, ‘cause this isn't slowing much."[/color] Keeping the pressure on the wound, Cassandra saw the paper towel and relieved for something else, she grabbed some, and added it to the wad, maintaining the pressure as she did, before gently nudging Eris into motion, she hoped. Eris followed Cassandra slowly, or perhaps she was dragged away by pain that she felt whenever her feet didn't keep up with Cassandra's pace. Her awareness seemed to have improved a bit, since Eris was able to comprehend some of what Cassandra said and reply [color=fff200]"You shouldn't help me..."[/color] without giving much context as of why. From there on, there was two possible routes that they could take, exit through the front door and face the obvious commotion that Eris' situation would elicit to get there faster, or go through the emergency exit and avoid drawing most attention, but take a few extra minutes to reach the infirmary. All had their pros and cons, so the choice was on Cassandra's hand, ultimately. [color=f6989d]"Don't tell me what I should or shouldn't do. I'm helping you, and that's that"[/color] Cassandra said, sighing as she thought on the route they had to go. She suspected Eris might prefer to more private route, and so she went out via the emergency exit, slowing her pace slightly so Eris wasn't stumbling along. From there, she went to the infirmary, keeping the pressure on Eris's hand, and keeping it up as much as she could while walking. She was grateful the door to the infirmary was open and, without hesitating, she led the way in. [color=f6989d]"Someone help here please"[/color] she said, glancing about. Cassandra had never been in there before, and any other time she would have been curious as to what was there, but right then she was more concerned with Eris' hand and her current manner. Was it shock? Cassandra didn't know. What had sent her into doing this? Something Cassandra would find out. [/hider] [center]☆☆☆[/center] [b][color=00aeef]Sometime later, at the nearest hospital's waiting room...[/color][/b] [hider] Eris had already returned to her usual state of mind, after being properly treated at the nearest hospital, resting and getting a few sutures on her hand as well as a sermon from the doctor that took care of her: [center][i]"You should be more careful, a young lady such as yourself shouldn't have a wound that'll most certainly leave a scar. Furthermore, you were actually lucky, a couple more centimeters and you would have slashed a tendon. So, please try to behave at least for the time that it'll take for your hand to heal, also be sure to thank whoever helped you, young lady, without their help you would have bled until you passed out, before even reaching here."[/i][/center] With the physician's words on her head (not that she cared for what another slave of the Interface said, but still...), Eris went back to meet Cassandra, who was probably still waiting for her, despite the fact that in doing so she would miss the morning classes. [color=fff200]"Cassandra O'Shera,"[/color] the blonde said when she met her redhead classmate [color=fff200]"there was no need for you to sacrifice your own grades because of me. Anyway,"[/color] Eris took a small breath and looked away for a moment, as if the words that were about to leave her mouth were the hardest she ever said. [color=fff200]"thank you. I don't know what happened to me, but, if it weren't for you..."[/color] Eris trailed out somewhere in the middle of her sentence, simply staring at Cassandra, but somehow avoiding direct eye contact, as if looking in the other girl's eyes would burn her. The wait wasn't particularly bothersome for Cassandra, as she merely just sat patiently, she didn't even mind missing out on classes-one day wasn't going to hurt, nor did she think that it would matter in the long run. As footsteps made their way to her, Cassandra looked up, relieved to see Eris coming towards her she rose, and stretched out muscles stiff from sitting. [color=f6989d]"No need? I suppose not, and yet, I stayed. Because that's what you do"[/color] She said, simply. As Eris thanked her, trailing off, Cassandra waited a beat to see if she would continue, but when she just continued to stare at her, Cassandra blinked. [color=f6989d]"You don't need to thank me. It's what anyone would have done, really"[/color] although Cassandra wasn’t really sure of that, some people might have just left Eris at the infirmary. Cassandra shifted, suddenly feeling awkward. Why had she followed Eris here? Perhaps she was simply just wanting to make sure her only potential friend was okay. She shrugged, a little bit uneasy by the staring. [color=f6989d]"Ah. Are you okay now?"[/color] She asked with genuine concern, picking up her backpack, intending to start walking, waiting to see if Eris would say anything else. [color=fff200]"Look, I'm not good at this kind of thing,"[/color] Eris said while unconsciously moving her wounded hand to scratch her head, before a jolt of pain made her wrench it back (causing another stab of pain and a low voiced swearing). [color=fff200]"Damn hand, I swear that... anyway, the fact is that you're my first."[/color] When Eris noticed what she had said, she hurried up to explain herself [color=fff200]"Erm, I mean that you're the first one that I met in a lot of time that I don't feel like chewing and spitting again. I'm really confused about what to think about you, Cassandra O'Shera."[/color] [color=fff200]"Anyway, I guess that we should get back now. They might see me as a lost cause, but you might get off, if you deny any involvement with me."[/color] Eris said as she picked her bag with her good hand and slung it over her shoulder along with her uniform's blazer, which she wasn't wearing right now, before beckoning Cassandra to follow her back to Purple Crown. Cassandra let Eris speak, wincing herself in sympathy as Eris seemed to forget the wound. As Eris seemed to stumble over her words, Cassandra maintained a steady expression, letting Eris simply speak. It reassured her that Eris didn't know what to make of her, becuase Cassandra wasn't sure what to make of her either. [color=f6989d]"Well, I'm glad you don't feel like I am an annoyance, at least"[/color] At elast based on wat she had said about not wanting to chew her up and spit her out. That was oddly reasuring, and Cassandra took it as a compliment. She followed Eris, stopping and frowning at her, as if unable to believe what she had said. [color=f6989d]"Why would I deny any involvement with you? I did what had to be done and I am not going to lie about it."[/color] Cassandra sighed, and hurried to catch up. [color=f6989d]"They can do what they want to me. If they wish to encourage indifference at helping a fellow student, or encouraging students not to help each other, perhaps the school needs some...restructure as well"[/color] She slung her pack over one shoulder, and feeling like she had made her point, Cassandra fell silent. [/hider] [center]☆☆☆[/center] [b][color=00aeef]Minutes later, as they were making their way back to the Academy, using a back alley as short cut...[/color][/b] [hider] [color=fff200]"You're a strange person, indeed."[/color] Eris couldn't help but sigh once she heard Cassandra's declaration and had some time to think about it in silence. Perhaps Cassandra didn't knew that Eris wasn't one of the most beloved 'jewels' of the Purple Crown, but still, was it this hard to catch that Eris was trying to keep her away for her own well-being? [color=fff200]"I wonder if you're really dense, or just stubborn? What I'm trying to say is that back there, I'm nothing but a nuisance to them, a problem child, a delinquent if you would like it this way. It was the same thing back home, that's why my family sent me here, to get rid of their trouble-maker daughter while they pampered their golden boy and that's why..."[/color] [color=fff200]"I hate this damn game that's cause of all the grief in my life."[/color] Eris said with a dark expression, before unconsciously clenching her wounded hand and immediately wincing painfully, before letting out yet another curse. [color=fff200]"Now, tell me, Cassandra O'Shera, are you really up to calling me your friend, even though you know that I'll bring you nothing but trouble?"[/color] Eris said as she suddenly stopped and, with a swift move, pressed Cassandra against the wall, looking straight at her eyes with a glare full of contempt and rage (though those clearly weren't directed at the girl before her, but instead at Eris herself) on the desert alley. If doing this wouldn't make Cassandra understand that Eris was dangerous, then nothing more would, but still Eris needed to be sure that what Cassandra was doing was of her own volition, instead of just being influenced by Eris' behavior somehow, otherwise Eris wouldn't be able see any difference between her actions and those of the World Interface. Cassandra sighed. Eris seemed to be quite intelligent, but how could she be so dense to what friendship actually was? [color=f6989d]"Maybe I don't want to be a good girl. Maybe I'm tired of not being noticed. Maybe, just maybe, I don't care what they think"[/color] It was all she had time to get out, before Eris pressed her against the wall. Cassandra was more shocked than anything else, and after a few seconds, she just simply relaxed, and stared back at Eris. Cassandra wasn't a fool. She knew Eris was dangerous, but it didn't bother her. Why should it, when half the students in the school were dangerous, in one form or another? When, quite possibly, she herself was more dangerous then Eris. At least people saw Eris. She waited patiently for Eris to see that she wasn't afraid, that she wasn't doing this simply out of pity for an injured school college. That she was doing it because yes, she was up to calling Eris her friend. She smiled. Such a simply thing, a smile, but it could mean so many different things. [color=f6989d]"I could simply say that yes, I am up to being your friend, to calling you that, but you wouldn't take that as more than simple words. No, you're one that needs reasoning behind the words. But friendship can't be explained. It just simply is, and that's what you are just going to have to accept. Because I'm not afraid of you, Eris. Yes, I would have done what I have for anyone who was injured, but that's because I care. I wouldn't have stayed at the hospital for everyone, though."[/color] That was all Cassandra had, and that was that. Therefore, she just waited for Eris to either release her, or speak. [color=fff200]"Ok, you won again, Cassandra O'Shera. If you say that you're doing it of your own will, I can't do anything but accept it."[/color] Eris said, sighing in defeat before Cassandra and releasing her from the wall [color=fff200]"I can't say that it's so bad as well, having someone that I can trust, for the first time in a long while, I mean."[/color] Eris said, musing to herself with a faint grin on her face. [color=fff200]"Anyway, we are almost back to the Interface’s kennel and I have things that I have to do on my own."[/color] Eris said, turning her back to Cassandra and walking away, while waving farewell with her right hand (the non-hurt one). [color=fff200]"Thank you for looking after me… for real this time. Let's meet again after school at that same restaurant."[/color] Only when she was far enough that she thought that Cassandra wouldn't hear, Eris said [color=fff200]"Farewell, [i]mein Freund[/i],"[/color] before going on to take care of her own life, sighing at how much of a fool she was to be a victim of something as illogical as 'love at first sight'... [/hider] [center][b][color=00aeef]—End—[/color][/b][/center] [center][h3][i][color=fff200]Eris[/color][/i][/h3][/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/nX9DlkL.png[/img][/center] Once Eris was back at Purple Crown it was already lunch time. She headed straight to a place that she was all too familiar with, the Student Council room. Since the students here are responsible for managing pretty much everything by themselves, this was the place that Eris came very often, instead of the Principal's office, like on the puny all-girls school that she went to on Germany. [color=fff200]"I'm coming in."[/color] Eris said after knocking on the door, out of courtesy. Sincerely, Eris still had that faint hope that one day she would find the all-mighty Council President doing something improper of her standing, if Eris came in without knocking. After all no one can be as perfect as Yoshino Tsugumi tried to be. She must have her own skeletons to hide as well and Eris would kill to be the one to find them. However, despite the common perception that Eris was just a gruff delinquent, she had principles of politeness drilled into her after years of living in a Church school and so, she couldn't come inside a room without making herself known beforehand. Eris didn't waited for Yoshino's reply, though and, if the door was unlocked, she would simply come into the room, if not, she would wait for a few minutes, since the dutiful President was bound to come to her office even during the lunch break. In the meanwhile, Eris just ate a hot dog that she bought on the way here, unfazed by the looks that the passing students were giving her. [center][@TheWindel][/center] [center][h3][i][color=0072bc]Yuuno[/color][/i][/h3][/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/Su9c5JW.png[/img][/center] Once Yoshino finished her announcement, Yuuno gasped. [color=0072bc]"Really, a level nine in an instant? I wonder if the me from the other side can do that,"[/color] she thought aloud, before sighing, knowing that Absinthe would never be able to do it. [color=0072bc]"Anyway, I'm sorry but I have to go to my homeroom, Goro... Asahi, please, excuse me."[/color] Yuuno said, while bowing deeply to Asahi, before turning to leave the auditorium. However, just as she had walked a few steps away, Yuuno turned back and asked [color=0072bc]"Also, if you're free tonight we could, maybe... watch a movie, or go eat somewhere? I'll ask Yoshinon to come along as well, so you can bring someone if you want to."[/color] Even though she was being quite bold, Yuuno made sure to stay on the safe side by asking if Yoshino would come, after all she just met Asahiso there's no way to know if he really is what he looks to be. Though, of course, Yoshino would know of any troubles regarding him (if there were any), which is yet another good reason to invite her. [color=0072bc]"I'll send you a message later, if Yoshinon accepts my invitation. For now, bye!"[/color] Minutes later, as Yuuno was almost reaching her classroom, she got her message interface up again and sent an email to Yoshino. [hr] To: [color=0072bc]Yoshinon (Yoshino Tsugumi)[/color] From: [color=0072bc]Yuuno Kurogami[/color] Subject: [color=0072bc]Are you free tonight?[/color] [color=0072bc] Hi again, Yoshinon. I'm writing to ask if you're free tonight? If you are, would you like to go out with me and a friend that I met? I don't know many good places to hang about, since I just moved here, and I also know that it's not safe to go out alone like that. That's why I'm asking you, who's my only friend around here. If you do that, I'll repay you however you wish, Bye! [/color] [hr] And so, Yuuno went into her class room, fully knowing that she would only get an answer around lunch and that, until then, she would have to put up with the boredom of the classroom for the rest of the morning. [color=0072bc]"...,"[/color] sighing, Yuuno resigned herself to her fate. [center][@Lucius Cypher][/center]