[h2][center][color=1a7b30]Layne Towerfall[/color][/center][/h2]

[color=1a7b30][i]Jesus[/i][/color], thought Layne as he got a closed look at the boy's face, [color=1a7b30][i]Poor guy is strung out[/i][/color]

Indeed, while Vanya seemed nice enough, he had the sluggish movements and wan complexion that Layne associated with people on the wrong mix of shit. After the young man spoke, however, Layne concluded that maybe he was just a little off.

Still, he had managed to see through Layne's brilliant conversational gambit. 

"[color=1a7b30]Oh, uh. Yeah, I reckon it is[/color]." He said, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. "[color=1a7b30]Sorry. Ain't too good at small talk. Good to meet ya all the same... Bracelet?[/color]"

He looked down at his arm, confused. 

"[color=1a7b30]Oh yeah, the crest. Thanks, it's-[/color]"

"[color=f7941d]Good morning everyone![/color]" 

Whatever it was would have to wait. Layne sat obediently. It was a mostly new experience for him, being so quick to listen to an authority figure. He had resolved to make as much of an effort as he could with this opportunity, and sitting through an orientation was at least tolerable, if maybe boring and pointless. 

It was not to be. Two lines into the Professor's spiel he was struck with a terribly familiar feeling. When you grow up in the rough parts of the world, knowing when you were being watched was a skill that you had to develop fast. Either that, or you spent all your time getting mugged. Sometimes [b]worse[/b]. Normally it felt like a finger being run down the back of his neck. This, however... This was like a full handed claw raking at his shoulder blades. 

He didn't even realize the Professor had finished the orientation until people started getting up. [i]Shit![/i] He'd missed everything they said. 

[i][color=1a7b30]Eh. Probably ain't nothin' that won't come up again...[/color][/i]

He was still disturbed, but the pressure had lessened now that people were in motion around him. It was an effort not to jump a little when Vanya spoke to him again.

"[color=1a7b30]Wha?[/color]" He blinked stupidly at him. Seeing a lot of each other...? He turned and actually read the rooming list for the first time. "[color=1a7b30]Ohhhh... Oh! Duh, sorry, I was uh... spacin' out a little.[/color]" 

As he moved to gather his room key, he chanced a furtive glance over his shoulder, trying to get a glimpse of whoever had been watching him so intently. He met the eye of Maeve Byrne and his blood went cold. It was unfortunate, perhaps, that Layne had no skill for reading expressions. It might have saved him from a bit of pain in the future. For now, all he could be certain of was that whatever the storm of emotions on that woman's face meant, they were nothing good.

"[color=1a7b30]Uh, w-well.[/color]" He said to Vanya, trying to hide his discomfort. "[color=1a7b30]Looks like everybody is movin' on. Ya wanna go find that dorm? Arm wrestle over who gets the top bunk?[/color]"

He looked around, a knot of confusion on his brow. 

"[color=1a7b30]Y'know. Wherever the rooms are around here... Oh! Hey, what's your magic class, by the way?[/color]"

[hider=people][@ScoundrelQueen][@Furiosa][/hider]