Every door is different. Student's of Eleanor knew that. Some knew that one day they would find their way home. They had hope. Once a four letter word to Sumi. Eleanor allowed it anyway, though she didn't permit real. Because what is real?

Days at Eleanor West School for Wayward Children were filled with classes, taught by outsiders. And therapy sessions run by Eleanor's great grand-nephew Kade.

Since Hannah had joined Eleanor's school, she had made friends with anyone who would let her. Of course, she had made fast friends with Sumi. They had come from similar compass worlds, albeit very different worlds in of themselves. The pair of them had become the welcoming committee. Eleanor did her best to make sure they weren't greeting children from High Logic worlds, but there was no guarantee.

Of course, she couldn't stop the girls if they were already outside greeting the new student before she had even finished getting down the stairs.

"Hannah! Sumi! She's from a land of the dead!" The door was closing behind them before Eleanor had finished her sentence.

The chaos that was Hannah and Sumi had already found their way in front of a squinting Astrid "Hello and welcome." They said in unison.

"Now, you're sure you've got everything? We made sure that the headmistress knows of your needs, and that you do have to go into town to see the doctor at least once a month. You've also got..."

"Mom, I'll be fine. We've been over this a hundred times, and when I say that, I do mean literally. I've been counting." Astrid looked up at her mother with soft eye. She knew the woman was trying her best, but was at her ropes end. That is why Astrid was going to be going to Eleanor's School for Wayward Children. Astrid had to give her parents credit. They had accepted a lot, but just to absorb it all at once, she couldn't blame them for needing to send her away.

"Alright..." Astrid's mother kissed her on the temple and rubbed her cheek gently. "Call us anytime." Astrid nodded as she picked up her case and then started up the driveway to the building. It was a quaint looking house, a nice place for a school. As she headed up the stairs, she couldn't help but wish that the door would open back to Valhalla... she missed it.

Before she could open the door, there were two girls there, dressed in the oddest of ways, at least the Asian girl more so than the other. It was like a rainbow, exploding on a person.

"Uh, hello... I'm guessing you're students here as well? I'm Astrid, pleasure to meet you both." She looked at them both oddly with her one good eye, and backed up a bit. Of course, it didn't look that friendly, as Astrid still had her trusty spear in her hand, and she clutched it closer.

---

Katalina had gotten use to the sound of chaos that seemed to follow Hannah and Sumi, even if it wasn't her thing really. Nonsense worlds were not really her thing. She had seen what Sumi's idea of meal time meant, and found herself missing the raw fish of home more and more.

She laughed a bit as she sat there by the front entrance, watching the two terrors pour out the door and nearly assault the new girl. "Oh boy, if she is from a land of the dead, I hope it is a lively one... otherwise those two are going to stomp right over her, huh?" She smirked as she looked over at whomever else was in the room with her.

"Part of me wants to hope that they've learned to cool it," Alexander replied, leaning against a wall near Katalina, "But the rest of me knows that's unlikely."

It hadn't been long since he'd had his own encounter with the twins on first arriving. He'd had his share of oddities in his world, but the two of them had caught him completely off guard. Especially with the synchronized speech they used, which was nothing if not unnerving. He'd managed to talk his way through things, but who knew if the latest arrival would be capable of such things. Given the backstep and her continued clutching of a spear, Alexander noted, it was likely she was shy or untrusting. Or, he reminded himself, maybe she was just nervous; not everyone greeted new adventures with open arms like he did.

"Think one of us should step in?"

(OOC: I am aware Hannah and Sumi aren't actually twins, that's just what Alexander calls them due to the unison speak)

"Hannah, Sumi. Contain yourselves." Eleanor said though she spoke with a gentle smile on her face. It was clear she was not truly annoyed. "Now Astrid dear. I have two rooms I can put you in. Either with Cora or with Katalina here. Can't have two water world children in the same room. We'd never see a fresh towel again. I think you'll get along just fine with either of them." Eleanor paused, "Oh and Alexander you have a roommate coming now." Then firmly at Hannah and Sumi. "And I want neither of you to be seen by the poor boy's parents."

She was at this time reaching for a gray shawl and heavy overcoat. Neither appropriate for the current weather, but she put both on, at first in the wrong order. They covered her bright clothing and she went from a child of nonsense to a severe-looking woman.

"I hate doing this, but there is no way around it with that boy's parents. I'm sure they will insist on following him inside and making sure he is properly housed." She shook her head. Hannah and Sumi seemed too curious about the new-new student to want to follow Astrid, but one glance from Eleanor and they were following and somehow leading the group to the room Astrid picked.

"Alexander stay here though. It'll be no use telling them saying Ryker has a roommate and not introducing you I'm afraid. Try to come off as a Logic child for a few if you can handle it." Eleanor's own sunny-ness was barely contained under the shawl. Alexander could see it required both to keep her in check for long.

Viola -- Miracles

Her day began early, it always did. She stirred with the warmth of the sun, wbich cast its golden rays through the small structure of vines she had housed herself in. Concrete, brick, and stone were too daunting, too intimidating, too limiting; she couldn't stand the lot of them. Blearily her emerald eyes opened to see the freshly cleaned school clothes hanging from a doorknob, sharp and pressed, much unlike her haphazard hair.

On the ball of her feet she strode as she slid off the mattresss, and the former flower of miracles disappeared into her bathroom, hooking the hangar holding the uniform around a fingertip as she did such.

Today was her second day in a school her parents had found for her. A place which embraced the oddities that she seemed so suddenly rife with. Dozens of different, alien languages, a habit for tinkering with things she shouldn't, and most of all her ability to garden better than most.

Running a brush through her onyx hair, Viola chanced a glance at herself in the mirror, only to frown in distaste. So rigid, with a dark blue plaid skirt, and a satin jacket. So irritating with the white blouse, it was so plain, boring, and even a touch irritating.

There was another option, and she took it. A pale pastel summer dress with thin straps over her shoulders. As vibrant as spring, she found it to be much more befitting. Glancing in the mirror again, she frowned.

There must be something she can do to add a little color.

To her little abode she reached, and with her will, a vine twisted towards her, until a brilliant Hawaiian Hibiscus blossomed at the end of it. Letting a deep breath of exasperation pass from her lings, she gently plucked it, and smoothly inserted the brilliant flash of beautiful vibrance into her hair. An exquisite pink blossom beset in fine emerald leaves, it was truly breathtaking to behold.

Finishing up by meticulously routing her hip-length hair into an elegant braid, she paused before a mirror right before her depature.

This was as civilized as it got.

At least for her, anyway.

So onward she strode down the street, her bare feet padding along the concrete as she seemed to drift along at the tips of her toes. It didn't take her long to find the mansion of a school, nor did it take long to see the students outside. A boy, and three other girls, of which there seemed to be a pair. It felt uneasy, as they all looked, well, like her. Human, normal, what have you, it was strange to the flower. Especially since she had spent so long with multiple alien races, seeing so many humans was unsettling at best.

So her hands mutely folded in front of her form and she tried to move along quietly past the fringe of socialization. Brushing on between the two groups with little more than a moving of black hair aside, and a weak smile in turn. Whatever she had to do, it was probably best to not interact with others, especially one such as herself.

Captain Johann had said that once to her. Best be believed a fool, rather than speak and remove any doubt. He had told her once she began socializing more with his crew an age ago.

She was certain his lesson applied here as well, and it brought her to lean against a wall and silently watch her peers interact.

Maybe, just maybe, it would give her insight on how to approach them.

“Turn left in four-hundred feet,” the electronic voice of the GPS intoned from the front dash of the Buick.
Ryker sighed. He stretched across the back seat as much as the cramped space allowed. With his back pressed against one door, he stared at his sneakers, one tapping against the opposite car door. He had to admit. He had forgotten how convenient shoes were. And they were not too uncomfortable once socks were taken out of the picture.
He longingly watched the world flashing by outside the window. The drive had been long and arduous. Though he spent most of it pretending to be asleep, every bit of him ached to be out there, wandering and, more importantly, searching. He had tried running off during their first rest stop, but, alas, his plan had failed quite utterly.
His fingers tapped at the seat beside him with his anxiousness to escape the confined car. His other hand toyed with the cord hanging around his neck. The only bit of what remained of his beloved jaguar pelt wrapped the pendant, hiding its abnormal appearance.
“Ryker?” Not receiving an immediate answer, his mother, Donna, turned to peer at him around the backrest. Noticing his bare chest, pity flashed over her face at the handful of scars marring his tanned torso, some more noticeable than others. But only for a moment. Her lips pulled instead into a frown. “We’re almost there. Put your shirt back on. First impressions are everything, and I won’t have my son running around like an uncivilized vagrant.”
Ryker groaned. He rolled his eyes, their irises darkening irritably to a shamrock green. Under his mother’s disapproving gaze, he made a show of groping around at the floor in a hunt for the garment he knew was not there.
“Musta left it at the last rest stop.” He shrugged animatedly, a corner of his lip quirking upward.
Donna shook her head, then glanced to the black hoodie shoved in the back window. She nodded to it. “Then at least put that on.”
“It’s too hot. I’d die of heatstroke.” He shrugged again, as if that should have been common knowledge.
“Ryker.” His father’s stern voice cut in as Karl Porter adjusted the rear view mirror.
Ryker scowled, wishing they would stop calling him that. All the same, he refrained from demanding they call him Jaguar. He already knew what would come of that. Instead, raised his eyebrows in answer as Karl’s green eyes and part of his dark, pyramidal mustache reflected in the mirror.
“Don’t argue. Do as your mom says.”
Ryker snorted softly, his eyes deepening another half a shade. He had heard that a lot since being forced from his true home in Neverland: ‘Just do as we say.’ As if their way was the only way. Was his way.
He leaned forward to grab his hoodie to get his parents off his back. He stole a quick glance at the GPS, wondering how far ‘almost there’ meant. The device told him they were still thirteen minutes out. Thirteen minutes until he could be out in the warm summer air. Thirteen minutes until he was passed on to what he was sure would only be his next prison cell.
Until he managed to slip away, that was.

"Sumi? Hannah? Ever cool it? Unlikely... I mean, c'mon Alex. You have your moments as well. We all do." Katalina sighed as she stood up and looked over. "I think Eleanor has it in hand. Though, she has the look of the warrior on her. I admire that. Even in the worst of moments she clutching to that spear... as a life line." Katalina's eyes went from the blue she had to a more stormy grey in that moment, as her true age reflected on the surface. She knew the look the new girl had too well. Also the eye patch... she had lost it somehow. She wanted to know more about her, and when Eleanor spoke up, she blinked, wondering if the girl would pick her as a roommate.

"C'mon Eleanor, Cora and I aren't that bad... we make sure that everyone has towels. Especially after Kade made it perfectly clear that if we kept using them to try to plug up the bathroom we were not allowed to use the pond." The blue was back in her eyes and the fifteen year old was back.

---

Astrid looked at the brightly colored older woman as she approached and held onto Vaengr tighter. Most adults wanted to take her spear away, saying a young man...lady, should not have any 'toys' like that. They didn't understand, none of them did. She had earned Vaengr, and it was the only other thing she had beside her empty eye socket to reassure her that her journey had been real.

"Um... I'll room with Cora? I suppose? One is just as good as the other..." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but ever so delicate and feminine. She was proud of the fact that she could pass so well, and had trained herself to never raise her voice so much to arouse suspicion. "I believe there was to also be an orientation?"

"That will come later..." A red head spoke up as she plucked herself up off the chair she was sitting on. "Name's Katalina. I can show you to Cora's room while Eleanor deals with the other new arrivals parents. Also, best that they not see a spear as well."

"A-ar-are you going to take it away?"

"Nah. Just don't let the mundies see it..."

"Katalina, we've talked about that. Do not call them that." Eleanor's voice was kind, even as she chastised the other girl. Katalina simply rolled her eyes and looked over at Astrid.

"Yes, Eleanor. C'mon. See you later Alex." Katalina gestured for Astrid to enter the house, and lead her inside, and then up the stairs. They creaked ever so slightly under Astrid's feet, and she was thankful for the welcome feeling of wood. So many modern buildings were made of concrete and brick, so she missed the shining wooden halls of Valhalla. This place was a poor substitution for it, but it would do for the moment.

"So, a Land of the Dead, huh? I guess we'll learn where in time. I'm from... well, I can't pronounce it right. Don't have the right ability to click now." Astrid blinked at the slightly younger girl's words as she was lead further into the house, and noticed something... odd. Some rooms were covered in bright colors, while others were more somber. What place had she landed in this time?

"Yeah," Alexander replied to Katalina, "She's definitely used to fighting for things. Nothing wrong with that though." His mind went to the knife sitting on the dresser in his room. Better, more interesting times, he thought...

But then things started moving quicker. Most predominantly, Eleanor had stepped forward and donned a dark shawl that concealed her nonsensical sunny disposition. She looked a bit like a nun in an odd way, Alexander thought. She'd already shooed the girls away, even somehow making Hannah and Sumi desist. As he started to leave himself, however, she beckoned him to stay with her- and, more alarmingly, asked him to try and pass himself off as a Logic Child. Apparently the new arrival, who would turn into his roommate once he arrived, had some very strict parents, and it seemed Eleanor was intent on hiding the nature of the place. Well, he corrected himself, hiding was the wrong word. What did the Captain used to tell him? "We're not lying mate, we're just showing them the truth they want to see."

"Sure thing Miss, that's not too hard. The hair's dyed, the feather's just a necklace, and be as boring as possible." He smiled as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and ambled forward, just a bit behind the headmistress. "Only joking on that last one of course."

Maybe it was a good thing he'd left the knife in his room today...

"Viola, you too please make yourself scarce right now. " Elenore's face pinched a bit with worry as she looked out to the road where Astrid's parent's car was disappearing in the distance. "I think you'll get along with Ryker," Elenore said to Alexander. "We have more children here right now then I've ever seen here. The last year alone, and this week three new students."

---

Sumi led the way to Cora's room beside Katalina. As they walked Hannah asked, "So Astrid I'm Hannah, she's Sumi. We're both from high nonsense worlds. I understand that you don't know what that means yet, but what was your world like? I mean obviously it was a land of the dead, but Christopher is from a land of the dead, and it was full of skeletons. What was your land like?" Hannah then shouted over her shoulder, "Catch up other newbie! That's Viola she believes she is a plant, which is fine because I believe I am a squirrel, but also a horse, and sometimes an Owl. Though one time I was an otter that was neat."

“Arriving at destination, on right.”
Ryker’s head thunked back against the right-hand window. At least he would at last be capable of leaving the wretched car behind.
His parents’ attention turned to the destination in question as the car slowed.
“This it?” Karl smoothed back his short, dark hair. “Bit of an odd place for a school.”
“Looks like the pictures online.” Donna quickly checked herself in the visor mirror. She fluffed her blond hair, and made sure her makeup was still in place.
“Finally,” Ryker muttered under his breath the moment Karl put the car in park.
Ryker did not waste a second. He straightened and practically threw the car door open. Forgetting to unbuckle, the seat belt rewarded his efforts of getting out by snagging around his waist, pulling him awkwardly back inside.
Donna sighed. “Please, try to behave?” she pleaded as Karl popped the trunk and got out.
“Whatever.” He quickly unbuckled. He just remembered to grab his hoodie as he hopped out.
The afternoon sun made his black hair shimmer with a pearlescent sheen as he took in the school. Not that it looked like a school. Ryker blinked in surprise at the large mansion before him. Flowers in every color, some in shades Ryker thought had only existed in Never-Never, lined the walkway leading to the mansion. The pristine grass looked lush enough to comfortably sleep on. He swore he could almost smell the sweet scent of freshly cut grass mingling with the aroma of the flowers hanging thickly in the air.
Most importantly, it looked like an easy enough place to escape from, unnoticed. The last thing he needed was to be surrounded by more people telling him he was traumatized from his ‘ordeal’ and suffering from some sort of PTSD. What he needed was to find a way back to Never-Never.
Donna got out and quickly brushed off her black pencil skirt. She tugged at the bottom of her crimson shirt, then stepped to Ryker.
“You did pack a comb, didn’t you?” she sighed, reaching out to attempt taming Ryker’s unkempt hair.
He ducked away, brushing her hand off.
“Right next to my toothbrush,” he grumbled. He slung his hoodie over his shoulder, holding it by the hood. He slipped his opposite hand into a pocket in his cargo shorts.
Donna’s lips pursed.
Karl forced the trunk shut and joined his family, wheeling Ryker’s small suitcase behind him. He stopped beside Ryker, and refolded the collar of his button-down shirt, just for good measure, surveying the estate with a critical eye.

"Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Porter. Thank you for bringing Ryker here. Alexander, please take his bag and show him to his room." Elenore smiled at Ryker's parents. She hoped that that would be enough for them. A normal looking moment, an obedient child, order out of what they perceived as chaos.

(((SORRY that this is so short. If you're working on a post and need Elenore pm me and I'll give you reactions/lines)))

The Porter family’s attention turned to the porch of the house when the door opened and a woman stepped out. Donna put on a practiced smile in greeting as Karl grabbed Ryker’s suitcase and wheeled it down the sidewalk toward the home.
Ryker sighed and followed in his parents’ shadows. He looked between them at the woman. His brows rose slightly at her attire, and he wondered how she was not melting from sweat beneath her overcoat.
This is going to be interesting, he thought with a slight smirk, trying to decide how stern of she would be, and how hard her buttons could be pushed.
“Of course!” Donna answered cheerily, ascending the steps to the porch. “Thank you for accepting him into your school at such short notice.”
Ryker hung back where the walk met the porch, avoiding the shadow of the house for as long as possible. Noticing the sign hanging above the porch, his brows rose further.
‘No quests?’ He took a step back to get a better look at the sign. What’s that supposed to mean?
Deciding he could figure that out later, he shook his head and looked to the boy who had followed the woman outside, a section of his hair presumably dyed blue. He glanced to the woman when she addressed the boy as Alexander.
He sighed at the prospect of seeing what was to be his room. He had already spent too much time cooped up in the car. Though he hoped the room would be larger than that cramped space, walls were walls no matter what form they took.
“You must be Ms. West, I presume?” Karl released the suitcase handle and offered the woman a hand to shake.

Alexander's lips pursed as the clearly uptight and stuffy looking family stepped out of their car. No wonder Elenore wanted to disguise his Nonsense for them. Well, if his new roommate was going to be just like them, things at the school were about to take a turn for the worse. But, he reminded himself, he'd have to keep things in check for a little while. Keep up the show, as it were; Great Eagle only knew what these people would do if they thought for a moment the place was anything but normal, he could tell just by looking at them. So, he stood with his heels together, his back straight, and a small smile on his face- all the things he'd done when the Captain came on deck except the salute. It was a practiced thing for him, which made it easier to do.

Thankfully, Elenor seemed to sense his discomfort at holding it and, after introducing herself, beckoned him to take the boy, Ryker, and his bag up to the room. "Right away, Headmistress!" he responded cheerfully. It took far too much effort to resist the urge to spring forward and instead walk to the bag, but he managed. "Hello Ryker," he said as he actually got a good look at the boy. He was interesting, to say the least, had some sharpened features. His ears were a bit pointy, which was unusual, but outside of that he certainly looked Logical. And yet, there was something in the way he sighed and slouched, almost in rebellion against the two adults he was with. He looked entirely out of his element next to them. That gave Alex hope. "My name's Alexander, and I think I'm your roommate from here on. Come on, I'll take you to the room!"

And with that, he took hold of the suitcase, waved his hand for Ryker to follow and took his slow, almost too measured steps through the door and up the staircase. Once they reached the first landing and Alexander knew they'd be out of eye and earshot of the porch, he leaned against the wall and took a great, deep breath. His entire posture changed on the exhale, restoring him to his usual casual half-slouch and springy gait, as though the air he'd blown out had been holding him up. "Oh, thank the clouds THAT'S over with! No offense if that's the kind of place you're from, but me? Trying to force the Logic out is for the birds."

Astrid had to admit that she was still confused, even as Katalina showed her to a door with a simple name plate on it that said "Cora." Katalina knocked on the door and waited for a moment before making her way in. It seemed that Katalina could realize that Hannah and Sumi were overwhelming the newest girl, and she asked them to wait outside. It was good, as Astrid was not ready to answer their questions quite yet. "Cora's probably out at the pond... I'd be there too, but I was interested in the new arrivals... busy day today. Two on one day, and not from the same place. And Viola a day or so ago. You'll get to meet everyone later, no worries, but best to get that bag put down and possibly the spear..."

"No." Astrid could feel her grip on Vaengr go knuckle white at that moment. No one seemed to understand that Vaengr was the only thing that Astrid had left from Valhalla. Being tossed back to Midgard had left her wingless, armorless and friendless. Vaengr was the only thing that had made the trip back.

"Okay then... I mean, I understand but you gotta know that you can't have that with you all the time. Is there any way you can make it smaller? That might make it... well, people will freak out less. Us students here, we're use to it, but you know how most folk are. Given by your reaction, everyone's asked you to give it up, yes?"

Astrid bit her lip softly at the younger girls words. Though, as she looked Katalina over, while the girl looked like any normal fifteen year old, her eyes were those of an old warrior. Astrid had seen those eyes many times before, when she had come to the battle fields to claim those that would join the eternal feast. The girl was much like her, a warrior, a fighter, and whom also looked like she was not in the right place. "Yes... they do."

"You know what, I'll let Kade handle this. Not my business. Now the open bed is yours to claim. Knowing Kade, he'll have some orientation after lunch. Though, if those new kid's parents are still here, you might wanna put the spear in here for now. No one is telling you that you can't have it, just... you don't use it when not in battle right? We're not in battle." The girl, Katalina, offered a small smile that Astrid couldn't help but return at that moment.

"Okay." Astrid tossed her suitcase and duffle towards the emptier side of the room, but she ever so gently placed Vaegnr on the bed and put a blanket over it. She did understand the girl's logic, even if she still felt uncomfortable leaving her spear behind. "I'll unpack later."

"Okay. Now, I'll give you the tour, and then we can get some food in you."

Ryker frowned at Alexander’s formal stance. Once more, he found himself wondering exactly how tight of a leash Elanor West kept on her students. Though, he was sure he saw approval in the quick glance Karl spared the other boy.
Ryker flinched at the sound of his name coming from a boy around his age. He opened his mouth to instinctively correct the name to one of his favored nicknames. A sharp warning glance from his mother made him shut it with a scowl, his eyes shifting closer to a deep emerald.
“Hey,” he grumbled instead as Alexander looked him over. “So I gathered,” he interrupted with a smirk when the boy introduced himself, gaining a glower from Donna. This time, he ignored her.
When Alexander bid him to follow, Ryker sighed. His head tilted for a moment, noticing something slightly off with the way the boy headed toward the door. His steps were too… deliberate. Forced.
He started up the couple steps to the porch.
“Ryker!” Donna gripped his arm, forcing him to a stop. “Hoodie!”
Ryker’s nose scrunched in a snarl, and for a split second, his gaze shifted to so dark a green they looked nearly black.
The woman startled slightly, but her hard gaze did not relent.
“Fine,” he growled, wrenching from her grasp as Alexander disappeared inside. He turned from her. Taking a deep breath to push down the anger that had risen, he shrugged into his hoodie for show.
The soft fabric still felt strange on his weathered skin. Not bothering to zip it up, he stepped after Alexander. Light on his feet, he easily caught up with the other boy. He cast a quick glance behind him toward the door, making sure he was out of eyeshot, then quickly removed his hoodie. He rolled his eyes—already a couple shades lighter—at the ridiculousness of their resolve for him to wear a shirt. He held it once more by its hood and draped it over his shoulder.
An extra sense of ease settled over him. Though forced indoors, at least he no longer had to put up with his parents. The number of filters he had to use had greatly diminished. An extra lightness entered his steps, and the tension that had built up in his shoulders released at the prospect.
He followed Alexander silently, taking in his new surroundings. The place seemed suspiciously quiet for a school for difficult cases. All the same, Ryker ascended the stairs only a couple paces behind his new roommate.
On the first landing, Ryker’s attention turned fully to Alexander. He eyed the boy curiously as he leaned against the railing and heaved a sigh that changed his entire stance. A relieved grin pulled at Ryker’s face; it had been an act.
His eyes lightened as the next words out of Alexander’s mouth fully confirmed that suspicion. But the rest of his statement tinted Ryker’s joy with confusion.
He glanced back in the direction of the door. “I did get out of the car with ’em, didn’t I?” He shrugged, misunderstanding the statement. “But none taken. Can’t stand ’em, either. So, what’s the deal with Ms. Heatstroke?” He jerked his head toward the door, indicating the ill-dressed Elanor. He may as well take the opportunity to get to know who he was dealing with. “She as stuffy as she dresses?”

“You must be Ms. West, I presume?” Eleanore smiled. She was rarely called that.

“Yes,” She held out her hand and played her part. Her hand warm like the rest of her was slowly getting uncomfortable. She didn’t want to invite the Porter’s inside, though.

Mr. Porter took her offered hand. He gave it a quick, business-like shake, his grip firm and still a bit chilled from the car’s air conditioning.

“I am happy you’ve brought the young Mr. Porter to us.” She spoke like Lundy would have if she had still been alive. Eleanore’s mind wandered to the shady grove on the hill.

“Of course,” Mrs. Porter repeated, her gaze on the front door as if still trying to see Ryker. She looked back to Eleanor and took a breath. “You should know. Ryker went missing about three years ago. We only just got him back, but…”

“But he’s different,” Mr. Porter finished for his wife. “Defiant. He’s had difficulties re-adjusting, and can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality.” He frowned, his mustache accenting the action. “He thinks he came from Neverland,” he added with a disapproving shake of his head.

“We can’t imagine what he’s been through to concoct such a delusion.” Mrs. Porter sighed sadly, worry glistening in her eyes. “But he refuses to listen to reason. He won’t talk about what really happened. We just don’t know what else to do for him. Then his therapist suggested this place.” She gestured to the house. “Do you think you can help him?”

Eleanor nodded along as they spoke their fears. It was the same story as every other parent told her. The same worries, the same changes. The Porters wanted their baby back, and he was here, physically, but he would never be who they remembered. She hoped Alexander had done his job and gotten Ryker out of earshot. It was bad enough that he saw her dressed like she was, dying in the heat, but to protect the children it was worth it. “We specialize in cases just like him. This is a rare but not unique disorder that manifests in young children just as they are reaching adulthood. It is a delusion and with some time away it may help cure it. It is not your fault.” Her speech was practiced and played upon those very fears the Porters carried. Best though, they wanted to help their son, and so did Eleanore. It was simply that they had very different ideas of how to help him.

“A disorder.” Mrs. Porter nodded slowly in acceptance at the false explanation. “I trust we’ll receive progress reports throughout his stay? And of course, we’ll expect to collect him for the major holidays.”

Beside her, Mr. Porter checked his watch. His frown deepened. He glanced behind him toward the car, then returned his attention to Eleanore, his mustache twitching with growing impatience.

“Of course.” Eleanore gave Mrs. Porter the necessary reassurances. “Though if you don’t mind now I’d like to get started with orientation for young Mr. Porter.” She offered another handshake and watched the pair climb into their car and drive off. Once they were clear of the gate she stepped inside and dropped the logic as the shawl and coat came off. She sighed relieved it was over. Then started up the stairs. She had several new students, the most she had seen come in at one time ever. As she climbed the stairs she narrated and hoped that the brief glimpse Ryker had had of her wouldn’t break his trust in her.

Alexander blinked several times as his brain processed Ryker's question. And then he again needed the support of the railing as he burst into a hysterical fit of laughter. It didn't last too long, however, as he managed to compose himself enough to realize it was probably extremely awkward for his new roommate. "Sorry, sorry," he said as he picked himself back up and brushed the hair off of his forehead, "It's just... oh man, Eleanor and 'stuffy' in the same sentence. Nah, she was just putting that on for your folks. Wouldn't do to have stuck-ups like them see how she actually is, she's as Nonsense as they come."

"Oh, right," Alexander interjected mostly to himself, "You haven't had the talk yet, so you have no idea what I mean by that. Won't be too long though, don't worry. Let's keep going to the room, shall we?" He grabbed Ryker's bag again and kept going up the stairs. A few minutes later they arrived at one of the mansion's many rooms. A twist of the knob sent them into... a room that was half clean, organized, and brand new, and half quite a mess. A few clothes were scattered about, but mostly it was logs in a variety of sizes and wood shavings. Some of them showed very clear signs of being altered or cut, and a space on the floor by the bed was strewn with wood shavings. One of the few clean places was the top of a nearby dresser, where rested a large, curved dagger in its sheathe laid neatly next to three metal files (author's note: as in nail file) with a bottle of sewing machine oil and a folded rag behind them. And yet, for all the seeming disarray, the other half of the room wasn't touched.

"Sorry about the mess," Alexander said as he beckoned into the space, "I, uh, I kinda like woodcarving. Takes me back to when I.... well, it takes me back home. Anyway, that side's yours. May not want to spend much time getting settled though, I bet Eleanor's going to come get you for the talk any minute now once your folks are gone. But, uh... welcome to your new home?"

@Siaya Dragalorn

A bell rang through the house announcing that it was lunchtime. The couple classes that were running were let out and the teachers left to their own separate lunch eating area. They knew the kids were "troubled" but most of them had no idea of what was actually going on with the children. They all lived offsite. Only Kade and Elenore lived in the house. Kade in the attic still, but now that he was 20 he was no longer a student, and without Lundy, he was in charge of orientation.

Elenore paused on the staircase as she heard footsteps leaving classes, or from their breaks toward the lunch room. Hannah and Sumi passed her grinning and chatting in their wild high non-sense way. Elenore knew that Sumi gave people hope because all the students knew that she was destined to return to her world. Someday she would find her door again and she would save her world and marry and have a daughter. A good portion of the student body had even met Sumi's daughter. Hannah found hope in Sumi's story. They both had been ejected from their worlds by an enemy. Hannah saw that as proof she could someday go back. Kade though was proof that sometimes there was no going back. He had broken a basic law of his world and they kicked him out. He could never return. Elenore worried that Hannah would have too much hope... and someday that would eat away at her. She was what Elenore considered an at-risk student. Elenore finished the climb to Alex and Ryker's room, she gently knocked.

Kata paused as she head the bell and laughed a bit at that. "Ah, well you've seen more of the school now. After orientation ts afternoon you'll start classes. Just to note, most of the teachers come in from town. That's why you have to keep the spear in your room... they know we're 'troubled kids' but if we showed up with weapons..."

"I understand. I mean, my folks were not thrilled with me having a spear but... I refused to let anyone take it." Kata noticed that look in Astrid's eyes, and she knew it well. It was hard for her to let go of anything that held her to her true home. Though she was envious. Kata hadn't spoken to her parents since she had left school to come to Eleanore's school, and was pretty sure they had abandoned her. Now, two students arriving with parents that seemed to care even a little? It did sting a bit, but she didn't hold it against either Astrid or Ryker.

"Well, for now, I'll show you where the dining room is. From there, you'll probably go spend the afternoon with Kade. He's cool." Kata offered a small smile to Astrid and lead her downstairs and into the dining room. She could see Hannah and Sumi talking away in their usual fast paced chatter and decided that it was probably best to introduce Astrid to someone calmer for lunch... though she was not sure whom to introduce her to.

Katalina noticed that Astrid looked around at the food and paused for a moment before speaking up. "Where's the mead?" Oh sweat Nereids... this girl was going to have her own set of problems.

At the short pause, Ryker opened his mouth to specify who he had meant by ‘Ms. Heatstroke’ in case that was the problem. But his mouth snapped shut and his eyes widened when laughter bubbled from Alexander in answer.
A concerned confusion settled over Ryker’s angular features. He took a step back and looked his new roommate over with a cautious, calculating eye. The last time he had seen someone laugh like that, they had been bitten by a snickering snake. That had been a week to remember. And not in a good way.
“Everything alright, mate?” Ryker asked, his brows rising.
Thankfully, Alexander’s laughing fit ended quickly in an apology.
Ryker’s hopes rose a fraction when Alexander began to actually answer his question. Though he had no idea exactly what ‘as Nonesense as they come’ meant, he rather liked the sound of it.
Before he could ask what ‘the talk’ was, Alexander grabbed Ryker’s luggage and continued up the stairs. With a half shrug, he followed, his steps unhurried.
He kept careful track of where he was relative to the front exit. Though the mansion was not small—its halls huge compared to the cramped, horribly claustrophobic space of the car—the number of walls between him and the outdoors made him nervous. His gaze lingered on every window they passed, part of him wanting to run to it and pry it open. No matter the temperature inside or out, the air indoors always felt a little too warm, stuffy, and stale to him.
Ryker stopped a pace behind Alexander when the boy paused to open a door. He fidgeted with the hood of his hoodie, the garment still slung over his shoulder.
Once the door was open, Ryker stepped in tentatively behind his roommate, uneager to see his newest cell room.
Ryker stopped in the doorway and blinked at the sight before him. He took in the glorious mess of what could only be Alexander’s half of the room. A familiar kind of mess. His gaze hovered over the impressive dagger sitting among other tools if a carver.
A grin spread over Ryker’s lips as he stepped fully inside. The stark contrast of the cleanliness of the other half of the room nearly made him laugh. It looked like the perfect ‘Before and After’ picture, cut straight down the middle. Even the warm, earthy scent of shaved wood fought against the sharp odor of cleaning supplies and freshly washed bedding.
“You kidding?” Ryker began when Alexander apologized a second time. “It’s ruddy brilliant!”
Not waiting for the other boy’s explanation, Ryker tossed his hoodie on the perfectly made bed and practically sprinted to a window placed squarely on the line between the halves of the room. Only half listening as Alexander spoke, he quickly unlocked the window and lifted it open as a bell rung through the halls and filtered into the bedroom.
He inhaled deeply as a flowery summer breeze blew through the screen. With even that minuscule bit of the outdoors inside, he felt a bit better almost immediately. He let out a quick laugh when Alexander confirmed which side of the room was his.
“Thanks, Captain Obvious.” He turned to face Alexander with a good-natured smirk, his eyes slowly lightening to a pale green. He crossed his arms over his bare scared chest. His hide-wrapped pendant hung just above his forearms.
“Thanks. I think,” he offered with a doubtful snort to Alexander’s unsure welcome. The back of his messy black hair ruffled in another gentle breeze as his attention turned to the tidy dresser and its contents.
“I have a friend back in Never… wood High,” he corrected unconvincingly as he easily picked his way toward the dresser, “who carves.”
Without bothering to ask permission—and trying to not further think on Pan at the moment—he reached to pick up the dagger.