Ronnie "Gattlin'" Crier was a shit shot in pool, and had breath that could peel the paint off of a truck, but he was good at one thing.

Having a truck.

Azaziel was a better shot in pool and boasted considerably better breath.

Which meant Ronnie Crier lost himself a bet, and the right to complain about driving some upstart stranger with one too many bags up through some godforsaken woodland following buses and all manner of traffic which were inexplicably all going to the middle of nowhere.

None of which, save the landmarks he made careful note of, mattered to A.J.T.M.V.C, who's full range of initials was emblazoned on each and every piece of luggage he carried.

Some kids were moving rooms. He was moving his entire life. Zaze didn't have anywhere else to go besides the school that awaited him.

"Enough..enough.." He waved Ronnie's spiel about the sinister nature of capes away with his hand. Zaze was far more concerned that the other male's head was out the window of his pickup truck, facing 180 degrees away from the road, bothering him about a discussion he had already given his opinion on.

"I've said, and again, I've said, listen , a robe is benevolent as long as there are clothes beneath it Ronnie, up, no, no no more."

"Hush, shhh, shhh...shh."

Zaze brought his book back up to eye level, and blocked Gattlin's stupidity, and breath from his mind and face respectively for the remainder of the trip.

Time passed, more time passed, and finally the duo parted company with a firm handshake, another firm handshake, and a blot of paper under the tongue each.

"Stay firm brother, keep on with the keeping on."

"Keep on keeping the damned truck still or I'll never get this luggage off." Piece by piece it was lifted, and dragged to the gate, left, and piled, until a veritable mountain sat outside the office.

"I don't think I'll see you again. Goodbye Ron."

Next came?

Sign ins. A form for his familiar, (partial summons excluded he imagined), contraband search, blah blah blah.

"I was informed this was a place of learning, and I assure you each and every one of these," (moldy, waterlogged, questionable, vaguely demonic, and vaguely pornographic pieces of literature) "are an important part of my learning process."

Azaziel gave a small sound of frustration, and began to compulsively tap the counter-top.


"How can I level with you here."

'Leveling' amounted to several of the sketchier looking (and sounding), books being left behind the desk for further review, with a ticket issued for each that he could use to pick them up once 'It is is confirmed that they are up to standard.'

Typical, in his mind. The stout, intimidating woman who checked his bags fit into the 'uninspired' category of living creatures that breathed air on earth. "Understandable for the fainter of disposition Afrit."

Afrit was his familiar, a humanoid being with an unsettling amount of flexibility, void of any features save a large mouth. It had the ability to change the colour and consistency of its skin, much like a chameleon. Currently, it was a midnight black and draped around Azaziel's neck like a loose fitting scarf.

They walked into the cafeteria, initially drawn by the chatter and the smell of food.

The commotion drew his eyes like everyone else, and the conflict between the Norrevinter girl, and the Sterling boy, (info he had gathered from the idle chatter around him) served as a reminder of his broods outcast status among the other Mage families.

Perfect.

Being a pariah should certainly help him navigate through the competitive school environment while building bonds with the more colourful bits and pieces of the student body. The colourful bits were great for getting the bits he needed.

He deftly circled the intrepid madness, moving counterclockwise until he found a table left unblemished by fighting or boorish hands. He picked up a virgin pancake, untouched by the sweetness of syrup, and promptly stuffed it into his pocket, along with an apple, a kiwi, and a banana. For later.  

"Maybe not the yogurt in the pocket."

Instead, he crushed it from the bottom and slowly sucked out the contents.

"Mmmmm."