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Nicholas left Callaghan to play damage control, vanishing into the crowd while the rest of the coven played emotional support animal or whatever children needed these days just to brush their teeth. He'd often contemplated if the loss of the hardships of old was partly to blame - food was easy enough to get these days and even easier to steal with less consequences (no one was losing a finger or a hand for a loaf of bread), shelter simple enough to take with as much sat empty, and water poured easy from every place with restroom. Wild animals rarely tried to tear you limb from limb, hunting and foraging was a thing of the distant past, and disease a temporary inconvenience. The people of this era, children concerned with how their coven treats them and if their books are made of human flesh and screaming at all hours of the day, would not last a day 400 years ago. 

[color=5b8a9a][i]“Do you wish to reconvene prior to our meeting or shall I meet you there?”[/i][/color] Nicholas sent his brother, already planning to vanish away into the green house after. The lingering irritation with Mikkail and his covenmates followed the message. 

[Color=8a9a5b][i]”Feel free. I am in the courtyard having a bit of a smoke after a [b]very[/b] stressful outing with my so-called ‘Coven’.”[/i][/color] Barty took another long drag of his cigarette, closing his eyes as he let the smoke billow into his lungs, the heat warming the back of his throat like a fireplace, before finally letting the smoke softly escape through barely opened lips along a deep sigh. 

A smoke sounded like exactly what he needed, an annoying buzz in his veins the nicotine would chase away, and he turned at the next corner to make his way outside. His brother was relaxing against the wall, cigarette between his fingers, and Nicholas wove between the other students, pulling out his pipe and packing in tobacco. He light a match and warmed the pack before puffing gently to open the flavors, settling in next to Barty against the wall as his lungs filled and he held the smoke for a beat longer than normal before releasing it in a long, steady exhale. 

[color=5b8a9a][i]“The dragon is looking to add witch hunt artifacts to his collection. Gathered his little protégé, a diviner, and a first hand source to his group to make it easier.[/i][/color] Nicholas grumbled. 

Barty raised his eyebrow. Now that was certainly an interesting new spin to the year. The old dragon never seemed particularly harmless, only ever caring for the knowledge and not the execution of it it seemed, but still if he was to gather these items and become a threat…They would have to keep a close eye on him moving forward. [Color=8a9a5b][i]”The sentimental old bat has seemed to have gotten himself entangled with what has been deemed a cursed statue. Some old friend of his he owes a favour to, but it doesn't look like a curse, only acts like one. What's more the bird head spent the whole time writing notes and that [b]Jake[/b] was about as useful as dulled saw.”[/i][/color]

[color=5b8a9a][i]“Simply a side effect of hunger. Varn's grown lazy; a buffet of students at his disposal and the entirety of New Orleans. The vampire fad in the early 2000s certainly made feeding easier for them.”[/i][/color] Nicholas shrugged, further cementing his certainty that modern day was too soft. [color=5b8a9a][i] “Connie's rigidity remains fixed as ever, it seems, and… Jake seems almost new. He found me in the greenhouse this morning, strangely upset about what happened last night. His face presents a dangerous weakness for me. I do not know if it is wise for me to be alone with him.”[/i][/color] Nicholas admitted, annoyed at the softness he'd shown the man earlier in the day. 

Barty shot his brother a cold and jealous glare from the side. Taking in another long drag as he spoke. [Color=8a9a5b][i]”According to him he may as well be new. Born yesterday he says. His mind certainly shows it.”[/i][/color] He held the hit in, exhaling through his nose before snuffing the cigarette with his fingers and tossing it to the cobblestone floor. [Color=8a9a5b]”Care to see what this ‘Advisor’ has for us?”[/color]

[color=5b8a9a][i]“Just because his face is dangerous, does not mean he is more important than you, Bartholomew. I offered you that so you could help keep me from blindness - my conviction in him is not yet solidified and I would appreciate my brother keeping my back safe in the event my suspicions are correct and I am foolishly taken with sentiment.”[/i][/color] Nicholas offered back, an apologetic touch on the shoulder. While Barty may be kind enough to dispose of his smoke, Nicholas savored his pipes and whoever his advisor was would need to adjust. He knew where to meet them but hadn't bothered to read who it was. [color=5b8a9a]“I suppose, if we must.”[/color] Nicholas sighed, a puff of smoke following. 

[hr]

Nicholas regretted attending this school. He ought to have insisted they escape this forsaken place because [i]this[/i] garish display was even worse than Mikkail's office and he squinted in the brightness. He took a puff on his pipe and exhaled slowly, letting the smoke curl from his nose and relishing the burn left in its wake. At least it was more grounding than… whatever this insane excuse of an office was. Nicholas refused to sit in anything, ready to wrap them both in his magic and bolt. 

[color=5b8a9a]“All grown up? You have seen barely a twentieth of the years we have and now, we are all grown up?”[/color] Nicholas scoffed. [color=5b8a9a]“If at all possible, I would prefer we maintain a minimalist relationship: I only contact you when desperate and you only contact me when required by your position.”[/color] 

[Color=8a9a5b]”Wild to think that this [i]isn't[/i] the danger room. This place has so much vibrant puke it may as well serve as a danger to my eyes, No I'm not stepping foot in here. We can discuss from the doorway.”[/color] Barty leaned against the wooden frame of the door, refusing to even walk in before finally deciding that if he was going to interact with this person he would desperately need a drink. He pulled out his flask and took a swig from it, letting the Scotch do its work.