After the teacher told them to get some rest for classes the next day, Finn looked back to Selena, Who was still looking away from everyone, her tail tucked in and ears down. He walked over to her as karya had asked if she was ok.
After she nodded her head, he would then say softly. “Come on then, let's get you back to your room.” after which she quickly got up and with a head down made a beeline for the door. Ignoring any politeness of saying goodnight or goodbye. Leaving Finn to quickly catch up to her.
For most of the altercation, Valencia had just been watching quietly. She
had wanted to get involved, however everyone else had decided that they were all going to fling themselves into the altercation first so she decided to stay back; Her hand was, however, perhaps a little closer to her sword then it would normally have been. It never hurt to be safe, particularly when it seemed like things were going to spiral out of control at any moment. Plus, it would be a huge embarrassment if she had to end up fistfighting someone, especially since with such a mean punch, she’d likely break something of the opposing side.
Thankfully, things began to de-escelate thanks to the teacher that had gotten himself involved. Letting out a little sigh of relief, Val allowed her hand to return to the table, away from her sword. A duel sounded like it would be entertaining to watch, especially if the asshole got his butt whooped by Finn. Though, with a slight smirk on her face, she wondered if she’d get a chance to duel the bully if Finn couldn’t attend the duel, though she knew that wasn’t going to happen.
Her focus returned to Selena, watching the girl with some sympathy, though that sympathy was soon spread to Finn as he quickly tried to catch up to the kitsune. Val decided that she would join them, both to try and provide some sort of comfort to her roommate, and also to get the hell away from the ruckus that was the hall. Before she left, she did pick up a bowl of strawberries to take with her. She hadn’t eaten too much, after all. Quickly, she began to catch up to Finn.
Finn had managed to catch up to Selena who slowed down once outside the hall. But he didn’t say anything, only walking next to her. He didn’t know what to say at the moment. He was still angry about what happened, at the guy, at himself. If Lorelei didn’t stop him. He was sure to have decked the guy right then and there. He always had an almost non existent fuse when it came to bullies. Or any outward expression of superiority over any other race. He winced and rubbed his prosthetic forearm...despite not actually receiving the normal relief someone would get from rubbing it.
He was lost in his own thoughts when he was surprised to hear footsteps behind him, glancing back he noticed val catching up with a bowl of strawberries. He gave a small forced smile and nod as he slowed down a tiny bit.
“Um.. sorry about that…” he said softly.
Val took a few moments to think about how to respond about that, before shrugging her shoulders a little bit.
“I understand,” she replies, quietly.
“Well… I do and I don’t. But I understand trying to defend someone. Even if it was with force. And a lot of flair.” She gives him a little bit of a smile. She knew it wasn’t so much flair, as much as it was brute force with all eyes on him as he tried to fling himself toward the bully. She extends the bowl of strawberries toward him as they walked.
“Duck?” She joked quietly, trying to brighten the mood a little.
He only smiled for a split second when she smiled at him, confused by the fact she didn’t understand as well. But he figured he just let it be. She even offered him
duck to try and brighten the mood a bit. Which he appreciated the new inside joke. It took him a moment before deciding on allowing himself to take one. Quickly popping it into his mouth and walking in silence for a moment while he ate it.
”To be honest, I was saying sorry for just running out of there.” He said calmly with a slight smile.
”Not really for my actions against that… well other student “ Val couldn’t help but smirk just a touch at that, offering just a little shake of her head.
“If I was in your position, I suppose I wouldn’t be apologising for my actions against the other student, either,” she replies softly. She takes a strawberry out of the bowl, popping it into her mouth. After a few moments, she adds,
“Though, I think it’s far superior to launch an attack like that out in the halls, alone in the dark. Much less chance of a teacher stopping the act, no?” “While you are correct…and admit I have thought about it.” He said glancing at her.
“Perhaps a duel would be better….” Looking back forward to Selena who was ahead of them still.
“No better place to send a clear message to everyone.” He said with a hint of foreboding in his tone.
Selena stopped at the door and looked back at him. She was so completely lost in her thoughts wondering why that boy would shove her. She never had anyone do that to her before… well mostly because she was a ‘Goddess’ Anyone that would even look at her wrong would be punished by others. Not that she liked that. But straight up shoving her for no reason? Never happened, or even occurred to her. She didn’t know what she did, she knew kitsune were not liked, that humans were naturally racist towards other races. She heard the stories… but she almost didn’t believe them. Living with the Renards she hid her identity at their request and her protest. It was still a nice bubble though as they were really nice to her.
She didn’t know what to say, really. She felt embarrassed still after everything. All she could muster was a quiet goodnight. Before walking into the room. Honestly she didn’t want to be alone just yet, but She felt horrible that because of her, Finn was in a fight already. She only managed to say goodnight in her tongue in a tiny voice. Before slipping into the room.
Finn answered with
“Goodnight” in the common tongue. Val, however, remained paused at the door, not quite entering the room yet and allowing Selena to go in first. However, once Selena had gone inside, the silver-haired girl turned to Finn.
“I… Am not sure how to go about comforting people,” Valencia admits, very quietly. She knew that she would feel a little awkward about staying in the dorm with Selena whilst she wasn’t in a good mood. The lack of true social contact didn’t very much help with that, she hadn’t had to deal with many upset people before.
“It might be better if you came in for a little bit. Because you’re her friend, that is. I don’t know. She might feel better having you here for a bit. Instead of… Well, a stranger.” She was talking about herself for the latter part.
Finn hesitated. Scratching the back of his head
“To be fair, i’m not the greatest either.” He said softly. But he understood completely where she was coming from. He didn’t know what to say to make her feel better. He did have one idea though.
“You don't need the bathroom for a bit do you?” There was a slight look of humour on Valencia’s face at what she perceived to be a bit of an odd question by Finn. She supposed that he had some sort of a plan, though; to ask her a question like that, she certainly
hoped he had one. With a questioning look resting on her face, though a smile resting upon her lips, Valencia shook her head. “I do not,” she answers.
Finn only nodded.
”Good. May I?” he asked while motioning to the door. To which he received a nod of the head as a voiceless response from Valencia. Then he proceeded into the room. He could smell the strong scent of the soap that Selena had used earlier. Much to Selena’s surprise, who was sitting on her bed at the moment. Her ears perked up at the sight of him.
He smiled warmly at her and went straight for the Bathroom. At which the confused kitsune got up and walked over to the door.
“Finn?” She asked hesitantly. Peeking her head around the doorframe. She would see him kneeling next to the tub, already turning on the hot water, allowing his hand to test the water till it was hot enough, and plugging the drain. By now, Valencia, who had entered the dorm and shut the door behind them for privacy (and to make Selena feel a bit better) had caught onto Finn’s plan.
Finn looked back as he stood up flicking his wet fingers over the tub. Having some time to think about what to say now, he then said.
“You’ve had a really long and quite stressful day. Especially with what just happened. I just hope you can relax a bit before you get some much needed sleep. I know how much you enjoyed the hot baths, so...yeah..” He said scratching his left cheek while getting slightly embarrassed for some reason.
Selena smiled a bit at Finn’s attempt to make her feel better. She reddened
“Thank you...Finn.” She looked away,
“I… Sorry for…” Was all she could before Finn said quite firmly.
“NO.” raising an index finger, half pointed at selena and the ceiling. While he moved back towards the two of them.
“No apologies. You did nothing wrong.”Selena flinched only slightly, startled only at the sudden interjection of Finn.
“S...sorry.” was all she could come up with, even though she was still smiling. Which caused Finn to lower his head in defeat as she apologized again.
Meanwhile in the background, there was a
THUD sound as Valencia practically leapt onto her bed, which creaked loudly in protest before settling. She hadn’t thought about the fact that the bed wasn’t made to take an exhausted half-gargoyle flopping herself atop it as hard as she could after the stress of the day. Though her head was half-buried in the blanket, it was turned in the direction of the bathroom door, watching and listening to the interaction between the two.
This thud had caused Selena to turn around suddenly, and Finn walked further out, peeking over Selena’s shoulder at what had caused that loud thud. Selena smiled slightly as she didn’t expect it to be Val that made that noise and to be sprawled out on her bed/.
Finn then asked.
“Eh… you ok over there?” He said with a small smile. Not expecting the prim and proper looking girl to flop onto her bed. Surprised even more on how loud that thud was.
“I’m fine. Just, wow, today has been… Quite the experience,” Val replies, half-murmuring into the bedsheets. She reaches down, removing her sword from her belt and lazily reaches over to rest it against the wall behind the bed, inbetween it and the bedside table. Just within reach. She returned to lazing about after that, keeping her eyes on the two with an innocent smile.
Selena nodded quietly. Realizing she had stuff out on her bed still and quickly moved over to put it away, slightly embarrassed at her ‘untidiness.’ Shoving her small bag into the trunk of her bed.
Finn nodded,
“Yes it has… He said glancing around the room. Now that he had a chance to, he noticed the heavy armor on the rack. He blinked a few times. Despite the fact it was plate armor, it had intricate designs and was dark steel. Clearly, Valencia was from a
VERY Rich family...perhaps nobility even.
He narrowed his eyes and looked from it to her then back to it. She didn’t have the frame to hold that much weight up. Let alone in a battle. Though it was her height clearly.
”Wait… that’s your armor?” He asked clearly confused. He had seen women in armor before, but usually it was a lighter plate armor. But this one looked quite heavy.
Valencia had slowly rolled herself over onto her back, so she could at least look around the room without mushing her face further into the bedsheets, and was now resting on her back, head on her pillow. It was odd to have someone that she liked hanging out in her room; previously, the only people hanging out in her domain were those that did so in hoping that she would take favour to them, and in turn, that would cause her father to like them more. Those people bothered her, but having Finn hanging around did not.
The question, however, brought a bit of a smile on her face. She almost instantly knew why he was questioning if it really was her’s or not; it certainly wasn’t Selena’s, and Val knew that she didn’t exactly have the type of figure that would be expected to hold up heavy armour. She nods her head, smiling at him. “Mine, and mine alone,” she responds proudly.
Selena kept quiet still as she looked over at the armor, which she did see Valencia wear. It did seem quite heavy, but she clearly didn’t think it was a problem. Not being as observant as Finn. She was feeling a little better that Finn was there, making conversation so she was comfortable. To be honest, she was looking forward to the bath. So she found some flower petals that she gathered for this very purpose.
Finn blinked a few times as if trying to figure out if it was enchanted to be lighter or she was just joking with him, either way he gave an impressed look before looking towards the bath once again. Bolting over quite suddenly as he realized it filled faster than he thought. Turning it off, he sighed as he got to it in time. Rolling up his sleeve he reached down with his right arm and pulled the plug for a few moments before plugging it again. Wincing at how hot it was. But he knew Selena loved it hot.
He then walked over to the sink and wiped his arm off before walking out and looking at Selena.
“Ok that’s ready for you. I hope it makes you feel a little better.” Selena came over with her flowers, her tail up and swaying softly now. She nodded.
“Thank you Finn.” She said with a smile. She slipped by him and then turned…
”You...um...Come back in morning? We walk to class together? All three of us?” She asked, looking at Valencia as well, who gave a little nod of agreement for her part.
Finn nodded as she smiled.
“Of course. Have a good night Selena…” He said, as she closed the door. He then realized he was in a room alone with another girl and scratched the back of his head. Looking to Valencia.
”She will be in there for a long time… So…” He made his way to the door.
“I probably should be heading back to my room.”Valencia notes Finn scratching the back of his head, and moves her hand up to tap her lip a little bit, thinking. Then, she shrugs.
“Alright,” she replies.
“Any more plans for the rest of the night, or are you just planning to lurk in your room alone?” She asks, out of curiosity. Her casual smile seems to grow a little.
“Or, do you have a roommate of your own waiting for you?”Finn looked over as she was laying in her bed still. Wondering what she meant by if he had any more plans for the night, was that meaning she wanted him to stay?.
”I didn’t have any plans really. Probably just go to bed. He was even more confused on her smile when she asked if he had a roommate waiting for him.
“I actually haven’t met my roommate yet. So I doubt they are waiting for me.” he answered as he wondered who his roommate would be. Hopefully it wasn’t a girl...he probably couldn’t get any sleep if that was the case.
“Who knows, maybe you don’t have one?” Valencia suggests. She wasn’t sure if she would prefer it that way or not. She
had to learn to be social somehow, and a roommate helped with that. She privately wondered if the school picked roommates intentionally and with purpose, depending on each student’s personal circumstances.
”Well, I’m sure I do, there were two beds in the room.” He said thinking to himself. All he did know that the roommates were random, and it was coed. But there was a possibility that the person would never show up or whatever.
“Well, if you don’t, push the two beds together and make an even larger bed,” Valencia playfully suggests. She sat up a little, folding her hands together on her lap. His words brought up a point of curiosity for her; she wondered what would happen if the school received an odd number of students. Would one student rein king, as the only one of his dorm, or would there be one dorm with three students? She wouldn’t want to be in
that situation, that’s for sure.
”Maybe, The beds are already bigger than what i’m used to, so I wouldn’t know what to do with all that extra space.” He said with a small laugh. Looking back to her as she sat up in bed.
Valencia tilts her head a little at that last statement, taking a glance down at her bed, and then up at Finn once more.
“Are your beds larger than these ones, then? These beds are small, at least, smaller than what I’m used to,” she replies. Her bed at home had certainly been larger, but she had thought that was a normal size. Room in a bed was nice.
That confirmed it, she was a noble. Finn thought to himself. Scratching the back of his head. As she tilted her head to the side. The innocent ignorance reminded him a little of Selena when she saw one of their beds/cots for the first time.
“N-no, they are the same size. I just grew up sleeping on smaller beds, or hammocks or even the forest ground.” She would probably think he’s a peasant by the sound of that, he thought to himself.
Valencia took another uncertain glance down at her own bed, and then across at Selena’s bed.
“Oh. I see. I mean, it’s not really a tiny bed. It’s got room, I suppose. Not too small,” she replies, stammering a little. She didn’t want to seem pretentious, tilting her nose up at protest at the beds being smaller than she was used to. Acting like a snobby noble was what she wanted to do the
least.
He chuckled.
“Yeah not as small as i’ve seen before.” he said as he realized he’s being awkward now. Didn’t help that she was being cute with her innocent look. “Tomorrow is probably going to be more exhausting.” [/color] Especially for him as well.
“I probably should let you get some rest now.” He said taking a backwards step towards the door.
“Definitely going to be exhausting,” the silver-haired girl agrees. At the very least, people wouldn’t be hopping over eachother to meet one another as much. Hopefully with a teacher controlling a classroom environment, things would go smoothly. And hopefully she got enough sleep, she liked sleeping in her own bed, and sleeping in a new bed was strange.
“Everything is just so unusual. It’s going to take some time before I can get used to it all. Well, go and get some rest, Finn. I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Ill see you tomorrow, Goodnight Valencia.” He said with a smile and hitting the door with his back before turning and opening it, and slipping through. Giving a small wave to hide the fact he just walked into the door.
Valencia waved back at her friend as he left, and waited until
after he had left to giggle at the fact that he had backed into the door. Taking a glance towards the bathroom, she figured it would be a while before Selena came out. With Selena apparently frequenting baths, Valencia trusted that the kitsune wouldn’t drown, and proceeded to make the preparations to get herself some sleep. Sleeping like a statue, some could say.