[IC] The Dark Half

[Tokki]

"It really was nothing," Alexander was unsure of how to reply to her compassionate response, suddenly feeling a tiny bit better about himself and thanked his quick reflexes. If she was being sincere, then she wouldn't plan on back-stabbing him later on, right? Right! He gave himself a light fist pump. "-but if you insist, then you're welcome. 'Twas my pleasure." He left it off at that once a public dismissal was called out.

Before he knew it, Disa was gone, with the exchange of light-hearted "goodbyes" and gleaming smiles. Alexander couldn't help but find her endearing. With that, he left to his own dorm, clutching the jacket he kept around Disa to his chest to make the vivid memory last a little longer. It was definitely a new experience for him, doing something like that for a girl that he barely even knew.

---

Alphonse woke up groggy and tired after last night's event. He slept a dreamless sleep, and thus began his auto-pilot mode. Wake up, take a shower, and head about to do some errands. In this case however, he'd been invited to a buffet that was mandatory for the students to attend. Al sighed as he stuffed the envelope in his drawer for future reference, thinking about what he should wear for the gathering. He tried to not think negatively about the gathering, brushing it to the side and labelling it as a way to "train his socializing skills". In truth, he was a downright pansy.

Alphonse gave quick glances around the hallways for Disa on his way to the grand hall. He had woken up rather early, so he had also been one of the first few to arrive. It was almost empty, with the exception of a few students standing around the corners on their own. With a quick pace he made his way back to the buffet table that he stood at the night before, looking around for anyone familiar- namely Disa.

Maybe she woke up late?

He shook off that thought and scolded himself once again for getting too attached, reminding himself that the more he cared the more pain he'll have to endure at some point. It was a lesson he'd risked his life to learn, so why was it so hard for him to carry it out now?

Taking an impatient glance at his watch before pacing the long buffet rable back and forth, he watched as more people poured into the room as he stood alone- much like his situation last night.

[SwordfishKnight]

Grand Hall to Sapphire Room
"Man this night is a major wreck." Arthur thought, shaking the bits of glass out of his hair. Luckily, he wasn't harmed from any of it. "First I don't meet but one person, and she runs away like a ghost. Bloody damn near looked like a ghost as well. No one will believe I actually have any friends. This definitely sucks. Might as well go back and go to sleep." Walking out of the Hall, Arthur slowly meandered to the dorm, head hung in sadness. He walked up the stairs and reached his room, opening the door and slammed it behind him, surely startling the other resident. "This bloody fucking sucks. Terrible night." Arthur gave a big sigh and jumped onto his bed, not even bothering to change.

Morning, Sapphire Room
Waking up early next morning, Arthur picked up the note that was near the door and yelled out the contents of the letter so that the entire Sapphire Room could hear. "DEAR STUDENTS,

BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS BREAKFAST WILL ALREADY BE PREPARED.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE GRAND HALL FOR A BUFFET STYLE MEAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THIS IS MANDATORY.

I AM OBLIGED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM THERE.

SIGNED

OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS,

LUMEN VALE"

After reading the letter, Arthur tossed it to the side, near the other man's door. "Hmmph. Well, since it's mandatory, guess I gotta go. Hey mate! I don't know if you're awake or not, but i'm heading out. i'll meet you there, and maybe we can talk. Sound good?" Arthur turned and went to change, putting on his school uniform, not knowing whether he needed to or not yet. Deciding to not be the average student, Arthur styled it a bit, untying the tie, opening the first button on his collar and rolling up his sleeves. Walking down the stairs towards the exit, Arthur glanced at the rain and silently cursed under his breath, before walking to the grand hall once again.

Grand Hall
Walking inside, there seemed to be several students here as well, each of them in their own corner. Finding it annoying he spoke up loud. "Bloody fuckin hell you guys are like a morgue. Where is the talking, the friendly banter? Come on, someone talk at least a little bit so it isn't like a funeral." Walking over to the woman with blackish hair, who he assumed to be Lumen, he took on a quieter voice, struggling to keep his accent to a minimum. "You must be miss Lumen Vale correct? Pleasure to meet you. My name is Arthur, but call me Arty."

[AcaciaMalikov]

Acacia Malikov
School Grounds

Had eventually arisen, having heard the voice of a female say her greetings and moving on she slowly raised her head and moved to a tall posture. If anyone had addressed her she hadn’t replied with even the simplest of greetings.

Dull eyes flickering in a partial blink as she peered around with a seemingly uncaring expression and following movements drew her towards the hall. Shoulders back, head raised and chin up, she thought to herself, look like you fit in. That was harder than it sounded in all her honesty.

Acacia’s eyes had lost the friendly glisten and gained a more threatening appearance as she strode down the campus’s grounds. The path under her feet emitting light patters from each step, the light rain hitting her as she let her arms hang loosely, hands empty though her left sat in the same manner it always had, a holding position as if she still had a leash of sorts, yet there was no visible companion.

She froze outside the hall, her head turning lightly as she looked around at the few people on the outside making their way in.

---

Acacia Malikov
Grand Hall

After what seemed like a decent few minutes she took in a deep breath and entered the large doors the room was spotless, her hand was no longer the crimson it had been at the end of last night, she’d cleaned it though left the injury uncovered.

Spotting hardly anyone near the buffet tables, she moved towards them. Her skin was almost a greyish tint as she stood near the table and simply stared out one of the large windows. Uncaringly ignoring anyone who passed as she fiddled with her fingers, she was the night before seemingly sane, though she now seemed on the more uncertain and/or crazy side.

If anyone approached her and spoke she’d not turn to look at them she’d simply reply in a blank voice coated in the thick Neo Russian accent that seemed the only thing to give her substance.

Where is he, I can feel him, but I cannot sense where he is, she thought to herself, watching each drop of rain fall as she raised a hand to pull back to curled locks of fiery ginger tones. I’ll find him when time is free, yes she smiled partially that is what I’ll do the smile faded as she returned to the blank almost statuesque appearance.

We’ll be reunited, don’t you worry yourself about that she continued thinking to herself without saying a word But, what … what could be stopping him from finding me, somethings wrong.

[Leviathan]

Lumen Vale
Grand Hall
Frankly Lumen was in an entirely different element until Arty’s boisterous voice scolded the dead silent room and pulled her back into a harsh reality. Pitch black tresses shifted while she turned to face the one who called aloud. Not expecting him to walkover and introduce himself she intertwined her fingers and rested them against a plaid teal skirt. Bold features were made further prominent among the color palette of her uniform, which slightly differs from all female students at CTS. Aside from a checkered skirt, a black blazer fits snugly on her upper body instead of a black cardigan. Everything else remained the same.

“You must be Lumen Vale correct? Pleasure to meet you. My name is Arthur, but call me Arty.” These affable words were followed by an obvious Neo Irish accent.

His approach was met with an amiable half smile before she responded. “I could not possibly. We do not know each other well enough.” She commented about calling him by a nick name. “Greetings, none-the-less. The Headmistress wished to welcome you all in person but that will not be as of yet.” She slightly shifted as if uncomfortable with the current subject and quickly changed the matter. “Is there something I can help you with in the meantime before more students arrive? Lumen was not one for idle chit chat and holding a casual conversation proved quite challenging.

As another soon entered she could tell this one apart by the profile her hair formed. So it seemed Lumen was not the only one looking lost and somber this new day. The fiery haired Freshman roamed around the whimsical gold tinted ballroom like a zombie before settling near an arched window. Something was definitely different and that puzzle did not take long to solve. Acacia’s cocoa hued canine companion did not wait proudly by her side. Even though greeting the duo last night proved a bitter first impression she had not seemed nearly as disoriented. Lumen also appeared a bit distracted, lost in thought as she was terribly worried about Axel since he had not responded to the letter asking him to meet her early this morning. She wondered if his tardiness was related to the other student who had bypassed the masquerade ball. Ten students were requested to attend but only nine showed themselves.

The student prior to Acacia’s arrival browsed one of the untouched buffet tables seemingly uninterested. All who entered so far meandered Venetian flooring without passion. This place already seemed to be taking a toll on some students and this was only the second day. These personalities so far did not seem to mesh and it would be interesting to continue to watch relationships build, or fold with time. CTS had a mysterious effect on those who stayed. No one remained the same from one year to the next.

---

Faust
Outside male dorms & heading to cafeteria
Two male forms headed outside the male dormitory double doors wearing the required uniform. Both undisclosed men’s names would remain unknown to the majority of the Freshmen excluding Liam who visited the Tordred Maze. However, the one with prismatic jade eyes seemed strikingly familiar to another individual who attended the masquerade. An emerald mask hid everything except those distinct eyes of his, a reptilian green that were often mistaken for contact lenses. Every now and again one would almost swear his pupils would form slits like a snake though not a soul could prove this notion. If anything, his sneaky demeanor resembled that of a serpent for sure.

Faust continued to stroll the path with Haden near his side who was a very muscular man with characteristic scarring running along his entire body—including his face. Disheveled strawberry blond bangs covered the majority of these light marks across his forehead. Though Faust’s sculptured face was flawless, Haden was definitely the curious one and each old scar added a certain experienced or mature aspect to him.

“Don’t suppose you freshmen will be gracing us with your presence in the main cafeteria.” Without pausing to speak Faust concluded while walking by matter-of-factly to the newcomer smoking. It was as if he already knew they were going to attend a private meeting, and he smirked consciously. Haden kept clear ocean tinted eyes toward the building completely indifferent to his friend’s musing. Faust always spoke cryptically and caused a stir no matter what topic.