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Oh! Hello!

Started by Celegwen, February 11, 2018, 03:24:00 PM

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Celegwen

The dining hall was a decent distance away, but it was a nice campus with interesting people and scenery. There was everything to see, from students studying together to small - or not so small - displays of magic. For Ginger, the whole thing was incredible.

Inside the dining hall, she looked around and nudged Reina, unsure of where to sit. It was lively, but not as crowded as one would expect it to be near midday.




Across the hall, Darius was sitting at a table, watching the door for the new students. He had been there for a few years, so newcomers were a kind of prey for him. He grinned at his friend, jerking his head towards the girls.

"Hey, Faryn," he said. "Blondie and carrot-top just walked in."

DragonSong

With a low growl for having his attention pulled away from his food, Faryn lifted his head and immediately locked on the two girls his friend was referring to. "And?" He snorted, shrugging as he leaned back in his seat. "They look too easy. C'mon, Darius, where are your hunter's instincts?"




"Oh...there, by the window, see? Looks like those two spots are free." Reina pointed and smiled at Ginger, then looped her arm around the other girl's shoulders as she made to cross the room.

She paused suddenly, realizing what she was doing, and flushed as she retracted her arm quickly. "Ah, sorry! I wasn't thinking..."




Faryn snorted and looked at Darius as of to say, See?

"Way too easy. See the mage? She isn't even properly bonded with the familiar yet, you can tell."

Celegwen

Darius rolled his eyes at his friend's response. It was true. The girls seemed to have met recently, but still...

"You're a poor sport," he said. "Hunter's instincts, my ass. Sometimes a hunter likes an easy kill. I'm bored."




Ginger smiled with a casual shrug. "I don't mind!" She said, linking their arms again with a wink.

Of course she separated when they sat, but the girl liked the feeling of closeness with Reina. It was strange and comfortable at the same time. "What do you wanna eat?" She asked, placing her book on the table.

DragonSong

"Something hot," the older girl answered immediately, adding a dramatic shiver for effect. "The rain has been so chilled lately, I need something to warm me up." She smiled again- she was doing that a lot today. Ginger seemed to just bring it out in her.

Not to mention it was nice to be making a connection, any connection, in a strange place. As excited as she'd been to attend the college, she couldn't deny that she'd also been nervous. Her childhood had been rather secluded, she'd never really had much practice making friends.




Faryn rolled his eyes and lounged back in his chair, waving a hand airily toward the two young women. "As you like, then. You want the lion or the man for this?"

Celegwen

Ginger's eye rolled back, and a warm breath escaped her. Some lentil soup with cheese melted over the top sounded like a piece of paradise right then. 

"That's perfect," she said, realizing that she was just in her own head.




A chuckle escaped Darius. Faryn was probably the best wingman ever. "Don't wanna scare 'em too much at first, so I'd say man." He touched the coin purse in his jacket, standing and patting Faryn's shoulder. "Come on. They're getting lunch: let's go."

DragonSong

Reina gave the other girl an odd look, then chuckled and stood, leaving her bags and books at the table. "Come on then, let's go see if there's stew or something."




With another roll of his eyes Faryn got languidly to his feet, knocking his shoulder gently against Darius' as he did. "I follow your whim, master," he said with a smirk.

Celegwen

The girls were near the counter for food, and Darius walked over with a quick pace to make sure he was able to get in right behind them. Most people knew who he was, thanks to his reputation and easily recognizable birthmark around his eye.

He slid next to the blonde girl with a grin. "It's on me," he said smoothly, an intense passion in his eyes.

Ginger squeaked slightly at the men's sudden appearance. Her cheeks tinted red, unused to being approached by...well, anyone.

DragonSong

The young Lady Bartok started and turned sharply to see the owner of the new voice, eyes a little wide. "Oh!"

Her eyes flickered over him, sizing him up. Likely a noble, attractive- and he obviously knew it- with an odd birthmark around his eye. Notable, even if she didn't recognize it.

Smiling politely, she dipped her head to him and demurred, "Well, that's incredibly kind of you, but I wouldn't feel right taking advantage." Hoping to smooth the situation, in case her deferment had offended him, she added quickly, "We'd be happy to join you for lunch though, if you'd like." She glanced at Ginger with a brief, apologetic look. Sorry.

Faryn approached behind the small familiar, a silent, hulking shadow. "Hey there," he rumbled, voice deep and soft- intended to scare, because honestly it was a power trip.

Celegwen

Darius raised his brow, suave grin faltering only momentarily. He dipped his head, too much to be a nod and not enough to be a bow. "That would be lovely," he said politely.

Ginger was slightly unsure about joining the newcomer for lunch, but Reina's confidence and agreement told her that he probably wasn't dangerous. Then came the other one...

She turned around, feeling a presence. The girl flinched, sucking in a little too much air in a gasp that matched her widened eyes. Ginger took in the tall, handsome stranger, while a blush crept up to her freckled cheeks. "Uh, wow..." She gently poked his chest. "You're big... I mean tall, err strong... I mean...um, Ginger. That's my name."

DragonSong

Farryn chuckled quietly, thought the sound seemed to almost vibrate through the air. "Farryn," he introduced himself with a small nod and a smirk. "That's Darius," he added with a nod for his partner.

He caught the girl's hand abruptly as she poked his chest, and didn't seem all that interested in letting her go. "Hey now, that's not very polite."

Reina found herself stepping protectively closer to Ginger, though her smile never slipped. "I'm sure she's just a little nervous," she said easily, slipping one arm around the smaller girl's shoulders.

Celegwen

Ginger found her knees weak when he touched her. If she could've burst into flames from embarrassment, she would've burnt the school down. "Uh, ha. Yeah. Nervous. Sorry. I'm a little pokey, and you're really... Well, you know! I'm Ginger. I already said that. Um, that's Reina."

Darius gave the girls a wink at his introduction, then swept his arm towards the table. "Shall we, ladies? Just follow us." He jerked his head at Faryn, indicating that they were going back to the table. "You have her wrapped around your finger," he whispered. "I'd take advantage."

DragonSong

Farryn huffed a soft laugh. "Almost too easy," he murmured in response, with a dramatic sigh. "I like a hunt every once in a while..."

Reina was more concerned with her new friend than she was with paying attention to their escorts. "You sure you're alright?" she asked quietly, one hand on her shoulder.

Celegwen

"Eh," Darius said. "Even the hunter would like to be fed now and then."

Ginger blushed at Reina's hand on her shoulder. She nodded quickly, eyes darting from Faryn to Reina and back again. "Sorry," she muttered. "It's been a while since I met someone like me. Familiars aren't too common, so I always get a little flustered when I meet another one. Especially one so..." She bit the air behind Faryn and giggled slightly, indicating that she thought he was incredibly attractive.

DragonSong

"He's a familiar?" Reina repeated, intrigued. "How can you tell?" She caught the meaning behind Ginger's fluttering and started to smile teasingly. "Ohh? Is tall, dark, and stoic your type then?" she murmured under her breath, eyes glinting.

The lion shot his friend a look and gave him a quick, fang-tipped smirk. "And you? Your prey seems a bit more cagey," he pointed out quietly as they reached the table.

Celegwen

"Maybe," the girl whispered, stifling a giggle. "I wanna braid his hair." She bit her lip in excitement at the thought of...well, him. She just kind of shrugged, forcing herself to relax as much as possible. "Familiars are just able to tell. I can't really explain it. We're spiritual beings, so it's almost like we're all linked together. Or something like that!"

Darius snorted quietly. "Hey, you know I like them feisty. Gotta charm the fighters a bit more." He winked at Faryn, then turned around to the girls, giving a half bow and stepping out of the way. "Ladies, take a seat?"

DragonSong

Reina chuckled. "Well, I maybe wouldn't lead with the hair braiding," she teased quietly. Raising her voice a bit, she said with a smile for the two young men, "Thank you, that's very kind," as she took an offered seat.

She let her eyes linger on Darius a moment, trying to place him. She was fairly sure he was nobility, but despite how distinct the mark on his face was she still couldn't remember a family name. "Forgive me, sir, but from where do you hail?" she asked politely, then glanced toward Farryn. "Both of you?"

The familiar smirked and muttered in Darius's ear as he passed, "Charm away." He took a seat beside the one offered to Ginger, giving her a quick nod.

Celegwen

"House Bakarov," Darius said with a smile. "We're a house of minor nobility, but we own a sufficient amount of land. Perhaps, you've heard of the Bakarov quadruplets?"

Ginger tilted her head slightly, almost unaware that it was extremely obvious she was sizing Faryn up. "You have nice eyes," she said with a red tint on her cheeks. "What animal are you in your other form?"

DragonSong

"Oh yes, of course." Reina blushed prettily and said with a sheepish little smile, "Forgive me, I must seem incredibly rude. The Bartok estate is a little out of the way, I don't actually get the chance to meet many of my peers often, unless I'm in the capitol."

Faryn quirked an eyebrow at the tiny girl, then smirked slowly. He didn't see much point in acknowledging the compliment, or returning it. With the easy grace of the hunting cat he was, he arched his spine in a long stretch, then suddenly shimmered with shadow, and a massive black lion twined around her, a low rumble echoing in his chest.

"Goodness!" Reina yelped quietly and skittered back a step instinctively, eyes wide.

Celegwen

"I fucking knew it!" Ginger squeaked at the shape of a black lion suddenly around her. She covered her mouth immediately, shocked at her own vulgarity. It wasn't that she doesn't swear, but she doesn't swear!

Darius jumped up, a frown growing on his lips. He put his hands on Reina's upper arms from behind in a comforting manner. "My lady, don't worry," he said immediately. "He's not going to hurt you. You have my word." He shot a glare at the lion. "Warn me next time! Everyone's staring!"

Ginger bit her lower lip, standing up. She did a small hop, then smoothly transitioned into the eight-inch fennec fox. The little creature scampered between Faryn's front legs, looking up at him with wide eyes.

DragonSong

"Oh no, I didn't think he would- it just startled me a bit," Reina laughed, flushing darker. "Ah, my apologies, Master Faryn."

The lion chuffed, a soft laugh. Master Faryn? Well isn't that fancy, he commented in Darius's mind. And don't get in a tizzy about it, it's not like it's the first time you've had the attention of a room.

He glanced down at the fox between his paws, cocking his head to the side. Tiny little thing indeed. He lowered his head to sniff at her, surprisingly delicate for such a large creature.

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