[@Eviledd1984] [@SunsetRoses] [@Tsar Gatto] [@paragloan] 

Erik groaned internally at the overly chipper nature of Michael's voices, having trouble deciding which he found more annoying. However, for the sake of appearances he smiled briefly at Michael and said, [color=00a651] "You'd think so wouldn't you? But no, that's not it. Give it some thought and try again."[/color] Erik hadn't expected him to get the answer right in any case, the trick of the riddle had caused even Erik a brief moment of hesitation before he had correctly answered it on his first attempt. It simply couldn't be helped if simpler people couldn't keep up at his level of intellect. He 'fed' Calla the last piece of food on the plate, the napkin in his sleeve now full, but holding. [color=00a651]"There all set! Now I -"[/color] Erik was cut off by the angry shouting coming from Maddy, he turned quickly to face her, mouth slightly ajar as she yelled at Sarah. [color=00a651][i]'Have I ever heard her say so much before?'[/i][/color] 

And then Maddy turned her wrath upon Erik, [color=00746b]"If you weren't such a vain bastard I might be able to tolerate you more. And don't flirt with me unless you mean it."[/color] The rest of her shouting fell upon his deaf ears as he felt himself go numb, a protective layer against the swarm of emotions slicing through his body. His grip on the spork he had fed Calla grew tight, the white of his knuckles showing. Slowly, almost in a dreamlike haze, his eyes turned toward Teres. Above all else, one thought rang clear in his mind. [color=00a651][i]'She was listening.'[/i][/color] His eyes flicked back to Maddy, the sound of his pulse pounding through his ears drowning out the rest of speech, before she ran outside of the door. She ran down the hall, most likely going to the common room to gain some small amount of privacy. Erik rose, placing the spork on the table with a deliberate, soft clink. He kept his expression neutral as he looked around the rest of the dining room table. He couldn't look Teres in the eye, not yet.

[color=00a651]"Please excuse me."[/color] He walked down the hall to the common room door, kept ajar like most of the doors in the home. Sitting on a couch with her knees up, chin resting upon them, was Maddy. Erik stood considering her for a moment, the neutral expression still pasted over his face like a poorly made mask. [color=00a651]"You embarrassed me, Maddy."[/color] His tone was flat and emotionless, just as his gaze. He stood still in the doorway, not making any motion to move further into the room. [color=00a651]"Why would you do that? You said I was vain and that I was flirting with you. Why?"[/color] Something in him cracked with an almost audible sound, and the mask of face revealing a look of hurt bafflement. His tone wavered, unexpectedly emotional. [color=00a651]"Is it because of the chair this morning? You could have just told me someone new was coming! I gave Teres the clean chair, and I took the dirty one. I thought that would make you happy!"[/color] His eyes grew downcast and sad. [color=00a651]"Is it wrong that I care about what I look like? That how I present myself to the world matters? I have so much to give to this world, and I should make it clear shouldn't I? And I don't know what you're talking about with the flirting! Is it when I told you that your hair looked lovely? Our therapist told me you are supposed to compliment others when you see that they put a lot of effort into something. It looked like you took great care of your hair so I said it. That's all! Last time I try a therapist's advice. I actually liked you best of the people here you know!"[/color] He made to turn around and walk away, but stopped back now facing Maddy. His head lowered so he was looking at the floor, while his right arm rose to cover his left forearm. He spoke not angrily, not forcefully, but in a near whisper, [color=00a651]"I just... I can't understand why you don't like me.'[/color] 

Erik left the doorway and entered the first floor bathroom, taking a breath to regain his composure. While he was there he took the the remains of Calla's breakfast and dropped it into the toilet, flushing it away. He rested his head upon the mirror gazing at his reflection, feeling his control slip back into place. Quickly he washed his hands and returned to the dining room, face relaxed. He sat down next to Teres, hesitating for a moment before saying, [color=00a651]"Sometimes, I think new people are hard for some of us already staying here. Try not to judge her for that."[/color] Whether he was saying that for Teres's benefit, for his own image, or for himself, even Erik wasn't certain. He shook himself and gave Teres a smile, [color=00a651]"In the meantime, are you ready for an almost extraordinarily series of lectures, punctuated only by attempting to convince a man who thinks you are crazy that you are sane?"[/color] Erik absentmindedly grabbed a small handful of grapes for a quick breakfast before they had to go.