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Rodrick looked down, surprise blooming across his face at the young woman standing in his door. He had nearly ran right into her on accident and had to steady himself against the door frame to stop them from colliding. He looked at her for a moment, taking in her appearance with a quick glance. His first thought was that she had really cool hair. His second was complete confusion as to why she was standing outside his door. Had she just said something about roommate? That would explain the other furniture, but she was a woman, a pretty one at that. Was that sort of thing allowed here? 

He was about to respond, when he looked in her eyes for a second and froze. They were an interesting yellow, not unlike his, but there was something else about them that made him feel uneasy. His instincts from years living in back alleyways had given him strong survival instincts, and right now his instincts were telling him that this woman was dangerous. 

He was taking to long to respond. The situation was going to become awkward very soon. A part of him wanted to run. Generally he would have listened to that part of him, as it had helped him survive up until now, but what was he going to do? Charge through this young woman and run away screaming? His face somehow managed to turn slightly more pink at the thought. He was being stupid, and still taking too long to respond. 

Some of the things his mother had taught him about making a good first impression finally started to kick in. Letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding, Rodrick gave Lorelei the most bardishly charming smile he could muster. [color=F08080]“Lorelei, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Rodrick”[/color] He said shaking her hand firmly but being conscious not to squeeze to hard. [color=F08080]“Forgive me, I hadn’t realized I had a roommate.”[/color] He said, stepping back out of the way and holding the door so that she could enter.  

[Color=7ce7d3]"Ah but I assure you, the pleasure truly is all mine."[/color] Lorelei gave him a wink before walking past him. She'd expected that she'd throw him off a bit, wanted to even, as people caught off guard revealed a lot about themselves in those following seconds, but this had been almost painful. She almost felt bad for him. Almost. [Color=7ce7d3]"And I wasn't expecting a roommate as dashing and gentlemanly as yourself."[/color] Was she being over the top with her flattery? Absolutely, but she hoped it would stall him for a moment longer.

She surveyed the room briefly, noting the instrument on his bed. So he was a musician, she could work with that. Quickly she spun back around to him and grasped one of his hands, trying to tug him back into the room as she spoke excitedly. [color=7ce7d3]"Come! I just need to quickly change and we can head down to the main hall."[/color] She gave him her best friendly smile, but then she let it fall. [Color=7ce7d3]"I'm sorry, am I being too much. Sometimes I can be too forward. If you wish to go down to the feast alone I understand."[/color] Lorelei bit her bottom lip sheepishly and looked down as she let go of his hand. Her left arm dropped to her side and her right crossed over her chest, grasping the top of her opposite arm in an insecure manner. Mentally she wondered if he'd play her game or not.

Through an extreme force of willpower Rodrick managed not to blush at being called dashing. He had known Lorelie for an entire 30 seconds and already she had him completely off balance. Was that on purpose? No, he had to be overthinking it. He tensed a little as she grabbed his hand suddenly. He disliked being grabbed but managed to suppress the fight or flight instinct that had served him so well over the years. This young lady was simply being friendly, forward, but friendly. There was no need to be so jumpy. He walked back into the room, the door shutting behind him as he did. [color=F08080]"Not at all. It would be nice to walk down with someone. I haven't had a chance to meet anyone yet."[/color]

Rodrick knew that first impressions were important, and so far he was pretty sure he was blowing this one in every way imaginable. No one should be this awkward and jumpy. His mother had shown him how to charismatic and charming, he should be able to pull it off now, right? He forced his body to relax a little and he adopted more natural stance. [color=F08080]"If I had to guess, I'd say your uniform is in that wardrobe over there, mine was in this one. And there's a bathroom behind that door so you can change."[/color] He said as he pointed towards the wardrobe on the opposite side of the room, and then to the door that led to the bathroom. He smiled warmly at her, hoping he hadn't come off as too weird. 

A look of relief washed over the girl standing in front of Rodrick as she looked back up at him, smiling once more. [Color=7ce7d3]"Oh thank goodness! For a second there I thought I may have scared you off. It would be like me to scare off the first person I met."[/color] Lorelei let out a small giggle and was delighted as he seemed to relax a little. Perfect. She wished to learn more about this tiefling if she were to be sleeping in the same room as him. She needed him to be a bit more comfortable with her if she wished for any sort of truth, though.

Her eyes followed to where he was pointing, having already guessed these things, but she made no comment about that. She'd let him feel helpful. [Color=7ce7d3]"Oh you are a gem and have saved me from a potentially awkward situation!"[/color] There was a grateful tone to her voice and she moved over to her wardrobe. Upon opening it she saw her uniform first, then noticed some of her things had already been put away. How dare Zendan allow someone else to touch her things! She would have to have strong words with him later. Her eyes then fell on the harp and she gave it a glare. In the back of her mind she could hear her teacher yelling at her that it was a lyre, not a harp. [Color=7ce7d3][I]Same difference, old woman…[/i][/color] She thought to herself briefly before grabbing her uniform.

[Color=7ce7d3]"So, Rodrick, you must tell me about yourself. I noticed your lute over there, are you a musician? I, myself, am a bit of a singer and just adore music."[/color] She had begun undoing her top as she walked across the room, heading for the bathroom, paying no mind to the fact that her actions may once again fluster him. Lorelei entered the bathroom and began to change, however she left the door open in order to hear him speak.

Rodrick pointedly stared anywhere else besides at Lorelie as she began to unbutton her shirt. She was certainly not shy. But she had seemed just  a little different when she looked in her wardrobe. Annoyed maybe? Certainly an odd reaction, maybe she thought the uniform was ugly? Deciding it was none of his business, Rodrick looked down at his lute. Yes, he supposed he was a musician of sorts. Musician certainly sounded better then, 'formally homeless orphan with nothing to do but play his dead mothers lute and try not to be stabbed in his sleep.' Still, he didn't feel right calling himself one. He lacked the finesse an charisma of a real musician, and he certainly couldn't call himself a bard like his mother. Did this school teach classes about performing? It was called an adventurer school...so was everything they taught just combat related? 

Realizing he hadn't actually answered her question yet, Rodrick cleared his throat a little before calling back, [color=F08080]"I guess you could say that. I know how to play at least. I can sing a little, though I'm sure your voice sounds better than mine. Your voice has a musical quality to it."[/color] It was an odd thing to say, but it was true. Her voice did come off as oddly pleasing to the ears. It was Rodricks experience that pleasant voices were often good at carrying tunes. 

He paused for a moment before calling out again. [color=F08080]"What about you? Do you play any instruments?"[/color] he secretly hoped the answer was yes. A part of him missed being able to play music with someone else, and Lorelie certainly seemed friendly enough. Perhaps they could play together sometime. 

Lorelei smirked a little to himself as he spoke of her voice. Perceptive, that was something she found a bit admirable. [Color=7ce7d3]"You're too sweet. I'd love to hear you play and sing sometime, I'll even lend my voice to the song if you'd allow it."[/color] She finished dressing, a little disappointed she didn't really have enough time to bathe, but she could do that later in the evening. She wanted to have time to soak and satiate the siren side of her.

She stepped out of the bathroom as he was asking about her. [Color=7ce7d3]"Well I'll be honest, my voice is the instrument I know best. My…"[/color] She paused, trying to think of the correct term for what Zendan was to her. [Color=7ce7d3]"Benefactor has decided I'm to learn how to play the lyre, but I must admit that it's much harder than I thought it would be."[/color] Lorelei sighed as she threw a glance at her wardrobe once more before turning her attention back to him. [color=7ce7d3]"Well shall we head to the feast? We don't want to be terribly late, do we?"[/color] She gave him a cheeky smile, knowing that if they were late it was entirely her fault.

A benefactor huh? Rodrick knew that some talented bards had someone who would pay them to travel and perform across the continent. It was a pretty lucrative position to be in, as they took care of pretty much everything for you. Her voice must have been even better then he thought. [color=F08080]"That sounds lovely. It's been a while since I've had anyone to perform with."[/color] He said earnestly. 

Rodrick was about open his mouth to say they should indeed head to the feast when a small chime sounded in the corner of the room. [color=FFC0CB]"Attention all students, the feast will begin in 10 minutes. Please make your way to the Main Hall now."[/color] Rodrick looked over at a small crystal that was sitting in the corner of the room. He had kind of wondered what that had been for, but hadn't taken the time to investigate it yet. Was it a smaller version of the giant one in the Main Hall? He felt a little odd about having a talking crystal in his room but he didn't have time for that now. [color=F08080]"I think heading the feast is a good idea."[/color] Rodrick said as he popped up off the bed. [color=F08080]"Sounds like we might want to hurry a little too."[/color]

Rodrick moved over to the door and held it open for Lorelei. They would certainly be cutting it close. 

Lorelei's head whipped around to the crystal in the room as Athena's voice chimed out. Intriguing, so they'd have a magic crystal watching their every move? She'd have to keep that at the back of her mind at all times then, not that she really planned on doing anything nefarious while she was at this school. [Color=7ce7d3]"Sounds like it."[/color] She agreed with a nod as she followed him, thanking him as he held the door open for her.

Once they were both outside she moved to stand next to him and then linked her arm around his, smiling at him. [Color=7ce7d3]"I do hope we can find a table that'll let us both sit with them."[/color] She said, knowing that some weren't entirely accepting of tieflings and even sirens if they figured out what she was. She wouldn't lie, that was one thing that could really get under her skin. No sense in judging right now, though, as there was no guarantee anyone would treat them differently yet.

Rodrick smiled back at Lorelei as she linked their arms. It took every ounce of poise he had to not blush again, but he thought he pulled it off alright. The pair made their way to the main hall, walking quickly but not outright running. Rodrick could feel the stairs from some of the other students who were also cutting it close, but he ignored it the best he could. He had always been stared it, it was hard for people not to stare at a man with large horns and red skin, although he figured they must have made an interesting pair. 

The two arrived in an already slam packed ball room. Nearly all of the tables were full at this point, as hundreds of students sat, talked and laughed. It was almost overwhelming. It had been quite some time since he had been around so many people. There was only a few places the pair could sit together, so Rodrick moved too a table that had the most interesting looking group he had seen in a while. There were, what looked like, two mages, one with a big grin and blonde hair and the other's who face looked as though might commit murder soon, a dwarf who looked as stiff as Rodrick felt, a young woman with very white hair, an elf woman who was...drenched? That was interesting. A young man with a metal arm, and a girl with very pink long ears and a fox tail. Rodrick didn't think he had ever seen such a group. He was going to look for somewhere else to sit, not wanting to disrupt the group, but the lights suddenly dimmed and many of the student began to get very quiet. The feast must have been starting. 

[color=F08080]"Forgive me, but I hope you all don't mind if we sit here."[/color] Rodrick said the the group of fascinating people. The two sat just as the room fell silent, and six figures walked out from the front of the ballroom. 

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At the front of the room there were three tables position to face the rest of the room. The two on either side had 15 or so seats and was occupied by older looking men and woman of different races. It wasn't hard to guess that these were where the teachers and staff members sat. The table in the center only had 6, and was currently empty. But as the lights dimmed and the chatter in the hall quieted, six figure walked out to stand behind the middle table. 

The first one was an ancient looking goblin. His face looked grumpy, and he carried a massive book that was nearly as large as he was. Spectacles sat on top of his head, and he seemed to be grumbling to himself. Next to the ancient prune of a goblin was a middle aged man with a perfectly pressed suit, an eye patch, and a hand-and-a-half longsword inside a brilliant scabbard at his side. On the opposite end of the table was a man dressed entirely in dark leather with a beaked mask covering his face, and a beautiful drow woman who moved so gracefully every step she took looked like a dance. In the center of the group was woman with a long, snake like body, and one of the most ancient looking wizards anyone had ever seen. 

The group all moved to the table, almost in unison, and sat, all except the Naga woman who had no chair. The woman raised her hand for silence, although it wasn't really necessary at this point, paused for a moment, and then spoke, her voice coming out clear and easy to hear. 

[color=D8BFD8]"Hello students, and welcome to Hoseforn's Academy for Gifted Adventurers. I am pleased to see so many of you, both new and old. For those of you who are new hear, I am Maurine Rickter, and I am the Vice Dean of this school. Before I give you over to Mr. Hoseforn himself I must remind you all of a few important rules."

"The first, is that harassment of another student is strictly forbidden. Any discriminatory, racist, or sexist behavior is not tolerated within these walls. You are all adults, I highly recommend you act the part. The second, is that anyone caught stealing from another student will be expelled immediately. The third, is that any and all physical conflict must be confined to the Hall of Combat, where official duels may be moderated. The fourth and final rule, is that due to recent changes in the world, all missions taken on by first or second year students will be accompanied by a staff member, both to ensure your safety and the safety of the outside world. As always, a list of your classes will be waiting for you upon your return to your dorms. Classes begin early tomorrow morning, so I suggest you don't stay up too late." 

"Now I hand you over to Asmodius Hoseforn. Eat your fill tonight, future adventurers. Tomorrow continues your path towards greatness."[/color]

A polite round of applause sprang up from among the student's, mostly those who had been here for some time. As Maurine squatted down slightly, the ancient wizard sitting next to her. He cleared his throat, but it came out so load that the entire room shook. He paused for a moment, and then cleared his throat again, this time it came out just loud enough for all of the students to hear. 

Hoseforn straitened his back, looked out at the students, and called, [color=00FF7F]"Well you heard the woman. EAT!"[/color] As he yelled eat Hoseforn waved his hand and the room exploded with movement as platters of delicious looking food popped into existence at all of the tables. Plates and silverware appeared in front of each student. Nearly every type of food one could imagine appeared, from roasted birds and boars to perfectly crafted salads and exotic looking fruits. Pitchers of wine, beer and water appeared along the tables with cups and mugs aplenty. Music sprang into life, seemingly coming from nowhere as the students cheered loudly. The feast had officially began. 

[@Inertia][@StOpossum][@LuckyBlackCat][@Tae][@Omni5876][@Aerandir][@datadogie][@Heartfillia][@Ryik][@Duoya][@mantou]