Riven Wight

They Live Among Us (Vampiricchild x Siaya)

Victoria cocked her head at Alex’s reaction. So, perhaps it annoyed him a tad bit more than it did her. Either he was in a bit of a mood, or whatever had bothered him still darkened his mind.
Unsure what to say, Victoria shrugged and busied her mouth with the root beer.
“Why can’t she be more like you?”
She nearly choked on her drink. She looked to him and blinked. Though she had thought the same thing about Alex on many occasions, she could not recall anyone saying that of her... or him directing such an expression at her, for that matter. She often got the impression that even her aunt and uncle wished that she was more like “normal” girls. Often, so did she.
“Thank you?” Victoria’s voice turned the statement into a question. She felt heat rising into her cheeks, so looked down at the soda, wishing its carbonation held the secret to a good response. With the all-knowing powers of root beer remaining dormant, she opted to change the subject. “My psychology class is tomorrow. We never did figure out if we have the same professor.”

Mystic Orphanage (Aristocles and Siaya Dragalorn)

@Aristocles
Coolieo. I found some time. Updated the info on "The 'Bulletin Board'" post, including changing out the schedule. Let me know if that time change works. Also added the jobs mentioned to actually remember them, just in case. Heh. Let me know if the pay for them sound okay, since we didn't establish how common each of the coins are.

They Live Among Us (Vampiricchild x Siaya)

Despite Alex's now casual tone and posture, Victoria was not quite satisfied with his answer. She was half tempted to lean forward and look out the window. “Who?” Instead, she pulled the wrapping off a straw and placed the plastic tube in her glass. “Your archenemy?”
She let the question drop when Alex changed the subject. If he wanted to tell her, he would. If not, that was his business.
Victoria shrugged nonchalantly. “Everyone has their moments of desperation.” She grinned. “I mean, it’s you or high-school boys.” She gestured toward the occupied booth with a backwards jerk of her head as a roar of laughter rose from the teenagers.
That the frequency women flirted with him seemed to annoy him as much as it did her tended to make her feel... relieved. But that still did not stop her from giving him the occasional hard time about it. After all, someone had to help keep the compliments from going to his head.

Mystic Orphanage (Aristocles and Siaya Dragalorn)

@Aristocles
About the input, just the changes made to the overall schedule, but I haven't really had the time to change that out yet.

Take your time on replying. So you know, I probably won't be capable of officially posting for a couple days yet. I'm in the middle of a move. Got the truck unloaded just, well, yesterday now. So, yeah.

Until later!

Mystic Orphanage (Aristocles and Siaya Dragalorn)

@Aristocles
Woo! Second page! XD

I'll try to remember to update the "Bulletin Board" and the schedule picture. I fixed that up a while ago, but I keep forgetting to update it to get your opinion.

Mystic Orphanage (Aristocles and Siaya Dragalorn)

Thayva, with the corrected papers clutched in her arms, followed Serapis to their fourth-floor apartment. Their kitchen, though small, held a wood-burning stove, cabinets galore, and a closet for herbs and another designed to keep their few meats cold and prevent them from spoiling.
As her husband pulled out what he needed, Thayva went to the herb closet. A large selection hung drying from the ceiling, while others already dried and crushed sat on shelves, stored in glass jars. She grabbed the few herbs she thought would go well with chicken, and placed them on a counter. She went to pop out a cork in one of the bottles, but stopped, listening. An odd noise floated up the stove’s flue, which connected to the kitchens on the ground floor. Shouts. Screams.
“Serapis!” Thayva hissed a moment before the other dracon declared their need downstairs.
She ran after him down to the lower level. The worst possibilities ran through her mind.
As soon as Serapis moved aside enough for her to see the chaos, she stopped. She stared for a long moment, her mouth open slightly in shock as Serapis brought an end to the various spells buzzing through the air. Relief flooded through her that it was not something worse. Then, when the situation sunk in, her nose crinkled, and her lips pulled back in an angered snarl that showed off her menacingly sharp teeth.
She stepped up beside Serapis as he demanded information, and crossed her arms, her angry gaze scanning the orphans.
Looks of shock, panic, and amusement dominated the faces before her, from human to lizardfolk alike. She tried to pick out any expressions that looked guilty among the messy faces, but could find none that especially stood out.
When none of the students offered any answers to Serepis’ questions, the female elf spoke, momentarily gaining Thayva’s attention.
“They planned it well,” a battle-scarred human offered softly after the elf--a well-seasoned warrior male who trained the orphanage’s human children in combat. He clasped his hands behind his back. “They waited for the changeover.”
“Thayva,” Serapis said, gaining her attention, “what’s your take on all of this?”
Thayva raised her chin slightly, still eyeing the children. “My take, Serapis,” she began loudly, her dark tone echoing through the now silent dining hall. It seemed that everyone had held their breath, waiting to hear what the two had to say. “Is that it will be difficult to impossible to distinguish between those involved, and those covering for their friends or themselves, if anyone stepped forward. I say, let them all stay here until they’ve cleaned this room to a sparkle. After all, if they can work together to make this mess, they can do the same to clean it up. And, to make up for any missed practices, add an extra day of classes and training this week.”

They Live Among Us (Vampiricchild x Siaya)

Victoria stared at Alex suspiciously for a long moment. Though his voice displayed ease, his posture still looked tenser than usual.
“Riiiight.” Victoria folded her menu. “If there’s anything you want to talk about--”
“Here’re these for you!”
Victoria jumped in her seat when the waitress hastily placed her soda in front of her. The woman took extra caution in placing Alex’s water on the table, as if any drop spilt would cause the Atlantic Ocean to dry up.
“Are you ready to order?” The waitress pulled out her ticket pad from her apron once more.
Victoria couldn’t help but glance up at her. She raised an eyebrow at her persistence despite Alex’s usual lack of interest, then quickly looked back down.
“Swiss mushroom burger for me,” she said just loud enough to be heard.
The waitress glanced to Victoria and blinked as if she had forgotten the girl was there. She quickly wrote on her pad, then looked eagerly back to Alex.

They Live Among Us (Vampiricchild x Siaya)

Settle in. Right, Victoria thought dismally. Doubt that’s possible. She sighed into her arm, then straightened and ran a hand through her hair to put a few strands back into place.
Victoria gave a small smile at his last question. “Yeah,” she answered after a moment. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
Her brows furrowed as she noticed him glance around the diner. Something in his eyes and expression made her feel uneasy.
“Is… something wrong?”

* * *

Though it had been years since Nyaira had come across it, she had easily followed Alex’s scent. The breeze had been on her side. Another entwined with his, the smell of a human.
She stared at the 50s diner, her painted lips curled up in disgust. Reluctantly, she stepped toward the restaurant’s windows and peered inside.
She scanned the tables and booths for Alex. Among the few foul humans dotting the seats, there in the far corner, she found him sitting with his back toward the wall, his companion’s face turned from Nyaria.
She pressed a thumb lightly to her lips, contemplating how best to approach him, when her phone rang from inside her purse with the familiar tone she had set for Luc’s most recent number.
With a quick glance at Alex, she turned from the diner and slipped into a deserted alleyway to take the call.

They Live Among Us (Vampiricchild x Siaya)

“I’ll be right back with those for you.”
The waitress’ flirtatious tone tempted Victoria to look up. She scowled, but caught herself and quickly banished the expression, mentally scolding herself for caring. If she was honest, Alex was rather handsome, and that kind of reaction seemed quite common. She almost sighed in relief as the waitress left.
She looked back to Alex, whose attention reminded her she still needed to answer. A break from her roommates. The last place she wanted to be was locked in her small bedroom with a supernatural living just outside.
“I would love that.” She gave a humorless chuckle. “It’s been less than a day, and I already want to get away from the dorms.” She laid her forehead on an arm against the table dramatically. “I’m doomed.”

They Live Among Us (Vampiricchild x Siaya)

“I see.”
Victoria glanced up at the odd tone she caught in Alex’s voice before he continued. “With that super brain of yours,” she said to his first offer, “I’ve no doubt.” She looked back to the menu once more, and decided to go the “disgusting” route. A burger and fries sounded too good to pass up.
She looked back to Alex as he gave his second offer, and blinked in surprise. She opened her mouth to respond, but the waitress bounded up beside them.
“Sorry for the wait!” She pulled a pencil and pad of paper from the apron draped over her white blouse. “What can I start you off with to drink?”
“Root beer, please.” Victoria fidgeted with her menu.
“And for you, sir?” The waitress looked to Alex.