Ray felt his mouth twitch into a lop-sided self conscious smirk.  
"Yeah...I, uh...yeah.  I guess not many kids are into necromancy, are they?  Gotta try and reel them in somehow."
He could remember the last time he'd been so close to Montana...the blood that had followed in his wake as though he were the eye of a crimson tornado.
He shook that memory away.  This was a school and here they were on equal footing, Ray must not be afraid.
"You're looking well, Roderic.  It seems like peace time agrees with y-"

[color=ed1c24]“Roderic Montana!” Her voice was bright, though tired, and she picked up her skirt to walk toward him a bit faster. “And Mr. Matheos.”[/color]

Ray turned to regard the owner of the voice, and felt his face impulsively soften into a genuine smile.  
"Mariana!" he exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around him for a friendly hug.  Though the two did not know each other terribly well, they were both aware of each others unique pasts.  As similar as they were different.  They had both been victims of the Cult, but she had come out of it much better than Ray had.  Defectors were usually better off than prisoners.  He understood Roderic had a hand to play in that, and that the two were quite close, which only served to further haze Ray's preconception of the man.  He feared no judgement or manipulation from Mariana, but Roderic had forever been a wild card.

[color=ed1c24]“You're getting old, Mr. Montana,” she said fondly, hesitant to break the hug until he did, “Isn't he, Mr. Matheos? Nothing but dust will be left of him soon.”[/color]

Ray chuckled softly, "That'll be the day.  He'll be kicking on when we're all in our graves."
[i]That was kind of a dark thing to say, Ray...what the hell?[/i]
He hoped his abrupt silence hadn't given away his embarrassment.  The last thing anybody needed to be reminded of was imminent death...least of all veterans of the great war.
[i]Change the subject, you idiot![/i]
"Oh...how are you kids, Mari?  They must be getting pretty big now, huh?"
[i]That's better.  Nice and happy.  We're all friends here.[/i]

[@ScoundrelQueen][@Magister]