Prosaic

Palm Beach Royals: Class Reunion

Caden Burke

Name

Caden Alexander Burke.

Nicknames

Cade, C.

Age

28.

Gender

Male.

Sexuality

Bisexual.

Relationship Status

Single.

Occupation

Journalist.

Current Address

Brooklyn, NY.

Appearance Details

Caden has always been tall and lean, even in his younger years. Conventionally handsome, he carries himself with a certain tilt of his chin and a wistful look in his eye. Over the years he's built up a sort of broadness and tone but it stays nearly hidden behind loose shirts and oversized jackets.

Often times he dresses in a manner that would suggest an affection for vintage apparel. This manner of dressing is quite new to him as he spent many of his teenage years wearing all black and keeping his head down. His hair is bleached blond and somewhat shaggy, it hangs in his face. It's naturally dark and this can be noted through the shade of his eyebrows. He has mocha brown eyes set beneath dark eyelashes.

There are not many scars to note on this boy, the most prominent ones can be found on his hands and knees, though if one were looking closely then they would note a thin scar along his forehead.

Personality

• Melancholic • Temperamental • Impatient • Judgemental • Sarcastic • Friendly • Empathetic • Humorous • Brave • Outspoken •

Somewhat prone to being down in the dumps, Caden isn't always the easiest person to be around. Temperamental when provoked and terribly impatient, he often has to bite his tongue to keep himself out of trouble. A tendency to snap back at those who bother him or upset his balance, he doesn't hold back in his scathing reviews. He can be judgemental with people that he doesn't know and terribly sarcastic.

Quite friendly however most of the time, he's sweet in his demeanor. He's very empathetic and he likes to offer an ear wherever it's needed. A warm, joking manner is common of him, even if those jokes are pretty sarcastic. He's very brave, not afraid to jump right into things and he will be the first to speak his mind.

Upbringing Synopsis

Caden was never any good with people, though it wasn't for a lack of trying. Many of his highschool years were spent trying to see what personality fit right amongst his peers and eventually, he gave up. He found his home amongst rejects and he was content that way but he couldn't help but wonder what it was like to run in the popular crowds. Intelligent and somewhat introverted, he took to writing poetry and keeping his nose to his notebooks. He wasn't confident enough to stand out so he decided to stay in.

Once he was out of highschool and into college, he actually started to blossom. Studying journalism brought him to all sorts of different people and this mixed crowd of brought out the best in him. He became braver and louder and more willing to speak for himself. He maintained some pieces of his old withdrawn personality but he was a much more confident person and this inevitably lead to his second relationship. This relationship was a ride of ups and downs but it ended in a crash-- literally. A car crash attributed to the substances his girlfriend was on at the time.

They both got out alive but not without a few nasty reminders. His girlfriend was left with a permanent limp and he had suffered damage to his vestibular system which lead to many dizzy spells and balance problems. This accident ultimately spelled the end to their relationship and he was soon out of college. Heartbroken but diligent, he carried on and picked up a job as a traveling journalist. He never stayed in one place very long but there was something distracting about never having to plant his roots anywhere.

Extras

Jesse Rutherford | #8493ca
• Do to the damage to his vestibular system, he's somewhat unbalanced and sometimes suffers dizzy spells.
• He still writes poetry.
• He has a cat.

Relations Sheet

{"I never had much luck with people but they weren't all bad."}
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Reina Barracano
"Rei was… well, she was incredible."

When Caden speaks of his first relationship, he often doesn't mention Reina but not for lack of caring about her. Their relationship was good and that was half of the problem, he had thought for a time that he loved her. They were connected in their similarities but their differences were what really brought them together. He admired her courage and a part of him wished he had her ability to naturally shine.

The concept of a real relationship was still very foreign to him and though he wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of an open relationship at first, he ultimately decided that he just wanted her to be happy. He respected her choices and didn't try to tie her down. Much of their time after school was spent together, hanging out, and enjoying themselves. He often invited her to his poetry readings or got his concert tickets in duplicates in hopes of bringing her along.

Things were really good but ultimately came to an end, he left highschool with some very unresolved feelings towards her.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Grayson Chambers
"Gray and I actually did pretty good at keeping in touch and he saves me a fortune by letting me crash on his couch."

Grayson was one of Caden's closest friends in highschool, though they might not have even met if Caden hadn't been so hopelessly bad at math. He had awkwardly sought Grayson out after being warned of his plummeting grades and the two ended up on a deal where Caden would help him with English and literature and Grayson would help him with math. This arrangement would inevitably end up as a proper study group including Alexander.

Outside of the study group, he often hung around Grayson. He even went as far as helping him write up a poem to impress a girl. He was one of the only people from highschool that Caden managed to keep in touch with and still crashes on the couch of to this day.

Theodore Gage
"I was lucky I met Teddy, he's always been a real one."

Caden met Theodore through the school paper where the two initially bonded over their love of literature and journalism. They were quick friends because it wasn't often Caden got to gush about classic novels or old poets. As time stretched on, they learned they shared many other interests and this encouraged Caden to seek Theodore out more often with concert proposals. By the time he wound up dating Reina, this fortunately gave him even more reason to hang out with Theodore.

Even as highschool ended, Theodore's ability to maintain contact with him was a comfort as he went into college. It was a happy surprise when they both ended up living in New York. He often made time to visit his old friend and even invited him on a few business trips.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Alexander Shields
"I remember Alex being pretty chill, I have to hope he did well for himself."

Alexander was a part of the study group with Grayson. The three were pretty close and Caden was comfortable talking to Alexander outside of their work. At the time he considered Alexander and Grayson to be his closest friends and he usually tried to spare time to hang out with them.

Brent Walsh
"I have to sort of thank Carlos, Brent was a really good friend."

Caden knew Carlos first, having bonded with him over a shared love of poetry. This lead him to meeting Brent, who he found was strangely amiable. He was confident but also very kind which made Caden feel secure in talking to him and even befriending him. This fortunately lead to him becoming a part of The King's Men.

Andre Martin
"Another of the King's Men! Dre was honestly cool."

Caden was never personally very close to Andre but he liked him, he got along fairly well with all of the King's Men. While he was never the sporty type, he could sometimes be found at basketball games to cheer on his friend.

Sebastian Russo
"Oh, boy, Gray didn't like him."

He didn't know Sebastian personally, really, but he did know Grayson wasn't a fan of him. He was a King's Man though so Caden was pretty affable with him.

Willow Nicholson
"Willow was nice! It's a shame we didn't hang out more."

Caden and Willow shared a literature class together where they first crossed paths. While they weren't best friends by any means, they had many friendly conversations and even hung out a few times. Caden enjoyed being around her though he didn't know much about her personally.

Camden Bensen
"Camden was cool, teachers were always pairing us in group projects. It got to be kind of funny."

He liked Camden and found her easy to work with, and though they didn't keep in touch after highschool, he thought she was pretty cool.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Allison Bentley-Song
"Ally was smart, overall very sweet, can't complain about her."

While he was never very close to Allison, she helped him out quite a few times through tutoring.

Amanda Woodall-Cross
"She was really untouchable, wasn't she?

He didn't know Amanda, not really. He did know about Grayson's obsession with her though and never personally understood it but then, he was rather content to be all eyes for Reina.

Tessa Mendoza-Rosales
"Tessa was Rei's friend, we didn't talk much.

He saw Reina's love for Tessa and he supported their friendship, though he never spent much time with her outside of when he was with Reina.

Grace Pruett
"She seemed alright?"

Another person he didn't really know but saw in passing.

Tara O'Leary
"I saw her around."

He didn't know Tara either.

---

Palm Beach Royals: Class Reunion

@Dirty Pretty Lies

Caden Burke

Name

Caden Alexander Burke.

Nicknames

Cade, C.

Age

28.

Gender

Male.

Sexuality

Bisexual.

Relationship Status

Single.

Occupation

Journalist.

Current Address

Brooklyn, NY.

Appearance Details

Caden has always been tall and lean, even in his younger years. Conventionally handsome, he carries himself with a certain tilt of his chin and a wistful look in his eye. Over the years he's built up a sort of broadness and tone but it stays nearly hidden behind loose shirts and oversized jackets.

Often times he dresses in a manner that would suggest an affection for vintage apparel. This manner of dressing is quite new to him as he spent many of his teenage years wearing all black and keeping his head down. His hair is bleached blond and somewhat shaggy, it hangs in his face. It's naturally dark and this can be noted through the shade of his eyebrows. He has mocha brown eyes set beneath dark eyelashes.

There are not many scars to note on this boy, the most prominent ones can be found on his hands and knees, though if one were looking closely then they would note a thin scar along his forehead.

Personality

• Miserly • Temperamental • Impatient • Judgemental • Sarcastic • Friendly • Empathetic • Humorous • Brave • Outspoken •

Somewhat prone to being down in the dumps, Caden isn't always the easiest person to be around. Temperamental when provoked and terribly impatient, he often has to bite his tongue to keep himself out of trouble. A tendency to snap back at those who bother him or upset his balance, he doesn't hold back in his scathing reviews. He can be judgemental with people that he doesn't know and terribly sarcastic.

Quite friendly however most of the time, he's sweet in his demeanor. He's very empathetic and he likes to offer an ear wherever it's needed. A warm, joking manner is common of him, even if those jokes are pretty sarcastic. He's very brave, not afraid to jump right into things and he will be the first to speak his mind.

Upbringing Synopsis

Caden was never any good with people, though it wasn't for a lack of trying. Many of his highschool years were spent trying to see what personality fit right amongst his peers and eventually, he gave up. He found his home amongst rejects and he was content that way but he couldn't help but wonder what it was like to run in the popular crowds. Intelligent and somewhat introverted, he took to writing poetry and keeping his nose to his notebooks. He wasn't confident enough to stand out so he decided to stay in.

Once he was out of highschool and into college, he actually started to blossom. Studying journalism brought him to all sorts of different people and this mixed crowd of brought out the best in him. He became braver and louder and more willing to speak for himself. He maintained some pieces of his old withdrawn personality but he was a much more confident person and this inevitably lead to his first relationship. This relationship was a ride of ups and downs but it ended in a crash-- literally. A car crash attributed to the substances his girlfriend was on at the time.

They both got out alive but not without a few nasty reminders. His girlfriend was left with a permanent limp and he had suffered damage to his vestibular system which lead to many dizzy spells and balance problems. This accident ultimately spelled the end to their relationship and he was soon out of college. Heartbroken but diligent, he carried on and picked up a job as a traveling journalist. He never stayed in one place very long but there was something distracting about never having to plant his roots anywhere.

Extras

Jesse Rutherford | #8493ca
• Do to the damage to his vestibular system, he's somewhat unbalanced and sometimes suffers dizzy spells.
• He still writes poetry.
• He has a cat.
• I'm leaning on sherbet icecream.

Palm Beach Royals: Class Reunion

Caden Burke

Name

Caden Alexander Burke.

Nicknames

Cade, C.

Age

28.

Gender

Male.

Sexuality

Bisexual.

Relationship Status

Single.

Occupation

Journalist.

Current Address

Brooklyn, NY.

Appearance Details

Caden has always been tall and lean, even in his younger years. Conventionally handsome, he carries himself with a certain tilt of his chin and a wistful look in his eye. Over the years he's built up a sort of broadness and tone but it stays nearly hidden behind loose shirts and oversized jackets.

Often times he dresses in a manner that would suggest an affection for vintage apparel. This manner of dressing is quite new to him as he spent many of his teenage years wearing all black and keeping his head down. His hair is bleached blond and somewhat shaggy, it hangs in his face. It's naturally dark and this can be noted through the shade of his eyebrows. He has mocha brown eyes set beneath dark eyelashes.

There are not many scars to note on this boy, the most prominent ones can be found on his hands and knees, though if one were looking closely then they would note a thin scar along his forehead.

Personality

• Miserly • Temperamental • Impatient • Judgemental • Sarcastic • Friendly • Empathetic • Humorous • Brave • Outspoken •

Somewhat prone to being down in the dumps, Caden isn't always the easiest person to be around. Temperamental when provoked and terribly impatient, he often has to bite his tongue to keep himself out of trouble. A tendency to snap back at those who bother him or upset his balance, he doesn't hold back in his scathing reviews. He can be judgemental with people that he doesn't know and terribly sarcastic.

Quite friendly however most of the time, he's sweet in his demeanor. He's very empathetic and he likes to offer an ear wherever it's needed. A warm, joking manner is common of him, even if those jokes are pretty sarcastic. He's very brave, not afraid to jump right into things and he will be the first to speak his mind.

Upbringing Synopsis

Caden was never any good with people, though it wasn't for a lack of trying. Many of his highschool years were spent trying to see what personality fit right amongst his peers and eventually, he gave up. He found his home amongst rejects and he was content that way but he couldn't help but wonder what it was like to run in the popular crowds. Intelligent and somewhat introverted, he took to writing poetry and keeping his nose to his notebooks. He wasn't confident enough to stand out so he decided to stay in.

Once he was out of highschool and into college, he actually started to blossom. Studying journalism brought him to all sorts of different people and this mixed crowd of brought out the best in him. He became braver and louder and more willing to speak for himself. He maintained some pieces of his old withdrawn personality but he was a much more confident person and this inevitably lead to his first relationship. This relationship was a ride of ups and downs but it ended in a crash-- literally. A car crash attributed to the substances his girlfriend was on at the time.

They both got out alive but not without a few nasty reminders. His girlfriend was left with a permanent limp and he had suffered damage to his vestibular system which lead to many dizzy spells and balance problems. This accident ultimately spelled the end to their relationship and he was soon out of college. Heartbroken but diligent, he carried on and picked up a job as a traveling journalist. He never stayed in one place very long but there was something distracting about never having to plant his roots anywhere.

Extras

Jesse Rutherford | #8493ca
• Do to the damage to his vestibular system, he's somewhat unbalanced and sometimes suffers dizzy spells.
• He still writes poetry.
• He has a cat.
• I'm leaning on sherbet icecream.

No text header yet but uh. I stayed up until three finishing this for some God forsaken reason.

Palm Beach Royals: Class Reunion

I'm here!

Legends of Carnation Island (SHELVED)

@Melo

"Thank you, you’re very kind." His response was amiable enough but it did little to qualm Zeke's growing anxiety. He wasn't bad with people, not really, he had a social bone or two in his body but something about the atmosphere was oppressive. He didn't blame his newfound companion, he was more inclined to blame how crazy things were back at the bonfire. He had once liked parties, he had frequented quite a lot of them with Theodore during his highschool years but that was a long time ago. He was much more at home amidst cafés and pretention.

In a way, he sort of wondered if this young man was similar. Most people didn't choose to spend their party playing the violin in a hidden cove unless they weren't enjoying the festivities. There was something kind of elegant about the choice in instrument, it was better than the acoustic guitar that he expected of aspiring musicians at parties. Can anyone say Wonderwall? "Well, since you’re my only audience right now. Care to make a request?" His smile was charismatic, his voice was confident. It was the kind of kind of quality that made a person likeable, confidence without blatant arrogance.

"I'm a little afraid I'm going to disappoint you," responded Zeke with a laugh. The laugh didn't reek of the nervous energy that his body language had been showing, it was a step in the right direction. He was slowly but surely screwing his head on straight, getting a grip on the situation. This guy wasn't so scary, at least not on his own, it might have been worse if there had been a small crowd. He was sort of glad he'd wound up here first. He decided to relay a bit of what he taken back from music class over the years. Sometimes having a crazy good memory had it's perks. "I'm partial to Amy Beach's Violin Sonata. Traditionalism makes me shudder and her style is very romantic, it's a shame that her work is so often neglected. Beautiful violinist, probably one of the few that I actually listen to."

He paused a moment to let all of this sink in before a smile threatened to overcome him. "I assume you would prefer that over something by The Front Bottoms, which was my other choice." His tone was a touch playful at that, steadily more comfortable. He found it easier to feel like he was in his place when his place wasn't terribly crowded. He set the can down, didn't bother opening it and took a seat. He hoped he was making a good impression but he had stopped caring as much. "I'm Zeke, by the way."

He was interested to hear the other guy's take on Amy Beach, curious if he'd do her justice. He appreciated music even if he considered himself someone who lacked any sort of basic talent in music. He knew talent when he heard it but he couldn't imagine how any of it was done. He was entirely incapable of picturing how any of those notes came to be, he preferred to just close his eyes and listen. Any person could be an enjoyer of music but he respected the actual ability to play it.

His only creative venture was writing and he didn't even do that for other people.

Legends of Carnation Island (SHELVED)

@hero

It was in full force, the night full of laughter and shouting. He could see people chasing each other across the sand, he could hear talking beneath the hum of the music. It was just as extravagantly extra as he had come to expect from Rachel and he let himself take it in. This was his favorite kind of atmosphere, when the air was heavy with excitement and people couldn't keep their voices down. He settled himself to enjoy it for a moment longer as a spectator and not a participant. At least, he thought. Not until I've finished my cigarette.

He lit a cigarette, he inhaled deeply and he exhaled smoke into the warm air of the night. Smoke swirled off into the darkness, lost from where the light no longer touched it and he shut his eyes for a moment. He listened to the music, relaxed into the familiarity that was as good as home for him. A few more drags, a moment more of relaxing and he was in the swing of things. He flicked the cigarette down, ground it out beneath his sneaker, and headed to the tent.

It didn't take much to get in but he gave the bouncer a little shit anyway, mostly for the sake of appearance. He didn't want anyone to go thinking he'd lost his terrible sense of humor. He entered the tent with a confident stride, taking in what it had to offer. He could see that the space was already pretty full but that was fine, Quinn loved company, whether he knew them all or not. The point of parties was mingling and nobody liked a guy who couldn't mingle.

"Now this is where it's all happening," he said enthusiastically as he made his way forward. He greeted the people he knew, fist-bumps and big grins. He hugged a girl or two, people he didn't spend time with outside of parties but he knew by face enough that he couldn't shake them off without acknowledging them. He got dragged into sharing a joint with one of his party friends, topping off the soaring feeling that he was already wandering through.

A joke here and there, some laughter that went on too long. He was in his element and he was loving it. He was starting to crave a drink though and he knew the bar would be good. So, waving off his "friends", he eventually found his way to the bar. There was a small group there already and he offered a grin in place of a greeting.

He made his way to a seat, leaning across the counter. "Mind if I get a whiskey sour?" He took in the bartender a moment, resisting the urge to lay on one of his famously awful pick-up lines. He could only imagine that his pick-up lines would be even worse while he was high as a kite. No, probably best to keep his mouth shut, or, mostly shut. Quinn wasn't good at shutting up entirely, "Good party, crowded as all hell though."

@Melo

Zeke was floundering.
All the mental preparation in the world couldn't have possibly prepared him for the grandiose display of Rachel Ashford's party. He liked Rachel with coffee and the quiet murmur of people in a cafe, he liked her with the clinking of mugs and the clicking of hipsters with their laptops. He liked Rachel when they were one on one and he had no social expectations aside from asking for the orders of contrived cafe-goers. He liked Rachel when he didn't feel so crowded that he was pulling his shoulders in to avoid people hurrying around him.

Zeke was floundering in this environment and he didn't want to spend his whole night trailing Theodore like a lost puppy. So, after Rachel had ushered Theodore into the VIP tent, Zeke had unceremoniously ditched the main event. He had grabbed himself a beer and he had wiggled his way through the crowd to get away from it all. So, sue him, he wasn't really a party person anymore. He would ask Theodore how his night went later and he'd write about that in his journal because it would assuredly be better than anything he planned to do.

He didn't know where he wanted to go, he wasn't ready to turn in for the night and he didn't want to wander around awkwardly until the night ended. It was by chance entirely that he wound up hearing the sound of violin on the night air. It put him off a little because he wasn't prepared for it but he recognized the talent behind it. So, he did what any sane and terribly socially awkward person would do, he followed the noise to the cove where the guy was playing.

Brunette, blue eyes, looked friendly enough from a cursory glance and- oh fuck, he's probably alone for a reason. Anxiety shot through Zeke and he awkwardly raised a hand in greeting to the stranger. "Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt." His voice betrayed the awkwardness, one hand clenching tightly over the can in it. "You're good at that."

The Marchand Academy of Sorcery

Sanitary mask. Rubber gloves. Hand sanitizer.
He was technically ready for anything that this school could throw at him but he was a bit nervous nonetheless. The room was bigger than he'd expected for some reason, though he hadn't had many expectations. He could see many interesting faces, some that already seemed engaged in conversation.

He walked carefully, his gaze scanning over the walls as he took in the strange decor. The skulls were a little bit of an odd touch, the colors were kind of atrocious and the layout was very weird. He wanted to know what the interior designer had been thinking when they'd set the place out, perhaps they'd been on hard drugs. Maybe they were just eccentric. He didn't think he'd ever really know the truth. Perhaps he'd ask a professor about it someday. That might prove interesting.

He walked carefully to an open seat, ignoring the breakfast options. The smell was tantalizing but he didn't really want to stop and eat any of it. He didn't know what everything was made of and accidently setting off an allergic reaction would be a horrible first impression. He tried not to picture it. Sometimes he was sure that his body was a ticking time bomb and that it was constantly ready to explode.

Grimacing, the dark haired boy twisted a chain around one of his fingers. He was so uncomfortable, he was surrounded in strangers and he didn't know what to say or do. He was hoping to better his aquamancy here, to maybe meet some of the other families but he couldn't help feeling so awkward. There was so many of them.

He was glad to be here, despite his discomfort. If was different and it was exciting. He just had to get through his first day jitters, he didn't take to new environments very easily. It often made him feel like a fish out of water when there were so many strangers around him. They were so varied, he wanted to know more about them but he was also terrified by that prospect.

The Marchand Academy of Sorcery

It was the first day of school and he was hungover.
The night before had been spent emptying a bottle of scotch in his bedroom while his mother pounded on the door and tried to reason with him. He knew why she was sending him there, it was like the wards, she wanted a break and she was too polite to just fucking say it. Keandre was no stranger to beimg sent places to ease his mother's guilty conscious and this was no different.

Late summer in America was painted in warm tones, the leaves hadn't changed yet for the onset of fall but the warm air was loud with the sounds of insects in the trees. He could ear the raucous cries of crows as he stepped from his plane, their anxiety was his anxiety. He tried to soothe their worries as he made his way into the building. An airport was an airport, no matter what language they were speaking though he was much less at ease to hear friendly people speaking English in his ears. Perhaps a product of his bad mood and his growing headache, he decided to only speak to them in confused French until they left him alone.

Using the minimal cash that his ex-step father had given him, he booked his cab to the school on his own. He stood and waited for this cab alone, keeping his eyes set forward. A man with an Italian accent made a joke at him in Italian, he responded in French. The look of confusion on the man's face had made all of the waiting worth it. Eventually his cab showed up and he wordlessly slipped inside, only offering a few vague "yes" and "no" answers to the man driving him around.

This is absolute shit, he thought as the cab took him from the airport to the school. His head was pounding, a dull and throbbing sensation that he couldn't quite shake. He knew that he should have perhaps been more tactful woth his decisions the day prior but spite was a very powerful beast. He was still ridiculously angry at his mother for being so alright with sending him off to this hellscape of a school. She was so tired of dealing with him that she'd sent him to an entirely different country.

He wanted to blame Adriano, naturally, who had always had it out for him but he couldn't help blaming her too. It took two to send your teenage son off to America to "improve his magic". Fuck that, he thought. Holly never cared about my magic before. When the cab pulled up outside the gates, he passed the money along to the driver and he hopped out to face the security outside. They let him through after a cursory check and he made his way into the building.

The common room smelled strongly of breakfast and hormonal teenagers, he wasn't one to turn down breakfast but he could do without the teenagers. Human public school all over again, he thought disdainfully. He grabbed himself a plate, spotting Dawn by herself. He knew that mage, at least, and he offered her a wave as he went to find himself somewhere to sit.

It had been a long day. It was going to be a long school year.

The Marchand Academy of Sorcery

Santora Residence - Earlier

They had been all too eager to get rid of him. He remembered the day the letter came in and he remembered thinking that his parents wouldn't possibly send him off to some unknown school in the middle of absolutely nowhere. He'd been wrong. His dad had brightened at the prospect, perhaps envisioning a future where a professional actually managed to teach his son corporeal necromancy. Maybe Nolan couldn't blame him, maybe he could, but now he sat at the dining room table on a very tense first day of school.

His dad was at the other end of the table, picking at a pancake breakfast that was steadily growing cold between them. Viktor Santora was a stately man with a headful of golden hair that was steadily growing streaked with white. He had the same pale blue eyes as Nolan and an often unsmiling mouth. He speared a strawberry and swirled it through runny whipped cream without looking up to meet Nolan's eyes. "I just don't know what you want me to say," said Viktor before he bit into the strawberry at the end of his fork. " I've said everything I possibly can. You know why this is important to us."

"No, dad," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I don't, would you mind runnin' it by me for the hundredth time this week?"

It was worse somehow that his mother hadn't even stood up for him when it came to the Niklaus nonsense. She wasn't often quiet when she disagreed with his father but she'd been very quiet about this. He was equally angry at them both, he couldn't shake the growing resentment as he watched Viktor meticulously saw off bits of pancake and eat them. He knew his outburst would be disregarded but he couldn't help but spit it out anyway.

Viktor chewed thoughtfully before finally glancing up and settling his gaze on the red stone resting at the hollow of Nolan's throat. "Need I bring up that silly amulet that you insist on wearing?"

Nolan could feel his face grow hot at the mention of Niklaus' amulet. It was a noble old thing, the golden fixtures were brassy with age and the chain was quite brittle. The stone itself was a dark and fathomless red, it held no other shades and the facets glittered when the light hit them. He brushed his fingers over it before tightening his hand around it.

He knew what the family thought of his insistency on wearing it, he knew what other necromancers must think but his grandmother had given it to him on her deathbed. She had worn that amulet her whole life and everyone had assumed she'd intended to be buried in it but no, she'd taken Nolan's hands in hers and given it to him. He hadn't taken it off since that day. It seemed wrong somehow to dishonor the memory of someone so dear to him by refusing to wear what she'd gifted him.

"Grandma Arcadia gave it to me," he reminded him, keeping his hand on the stone. "Y'want me to just toss it aside like it means nothin' to me?"

"I want you to grow up, Nolan," responded Viktor. "I want you to get your shit packed and ready to go."

He hadn't complained after that, feeling hushed by the razor edge to the words. He had quickly gathered his things, leaving a note for his mother to send in the rest and without so much as a goodbye from his father, he'd boarded the bus.

Marchand Academy

The ride on the bus was treacherous, each bump made his teeth grit and his nerves were on end. He couldn't bring himself to focus on any of the books he'd brought, frankly staring at the white pages had started to make him nauseous. He had settled for staring out the windows and tracking the colors of the cars that they passed. He almost couldn't hear his own thoughts over the cursing of the driver, he almost couldn't so the entire ride fretting over potential meetings with other necromancers.

Only recently had the Santora family come to power in the council, it had been a landslide victory in a turnout that had taken many necromancers off guard. Nobody had expected the Santoras to win and yet, they had. A history as littered im bones as theirs should have ruined their chances but somehow Viktor had come out on top with flying colors. Before this victory, they had been terribly reclusive, keeping to themselves and avoiding conflict.

This reclusiveness had been all that Nolan knew for seventeen years, it was surreal to imagine something outside of it. When he arrived at the school, he tried to keep his posture as open and friendly as possible. He didn't want to scare anyone off by walking with hunched shoulders or scowling avidly, so he made his way to the common room with a smile on his face and an easy gait.

He made himself a plate heaped up with all sorts of goodies and he got himself a glass of orange juice. He didn't really have the stomach for food after the tense meal he'd had with his father but for the sake of image, he started to choke down some pancakes. He hoped someone had the mercy to sit with him but he was content to wait.

Legends of Carnation Island (SHELVED)

Cheeky bitch, he thought to himself as he picked up the card on his bed. He had really only meant to stop in for a moment, just to change his clothes but he'd paused at the sight of the white envelope resting across his pillow. His name was scrawled across the front and he was much too nosy not to pick it up. He wasn't surprised to find a letter from Rachel, one telling him where to find a ridiculous stash of weed.

He still wasn't surprised when he actually did find the weed, tucked away in a little brass box beneath the bed. He was almost unable to keep himself from laughing at the impression he'd made on her to get himself sent a stash of weed. It was all still so unbelievably extra but at least he'd be high as a kite while indulging in the excess. Rachel had a strange way of just knowing what to do, it was one of the things he found endearing about her.

He wasn't about to spend another moment marveling over her majesty though, he took the glass pipe from his bag and packed it before taking a hit. A few hits later and he finally made his way to the shower, washed the smell of cigarette smoke from his hair and swapped out his outfit for another. Black and gray plaid, sleeves rolled to the elbows, black jeans, black converse. It wasn't a far cry from his last outfit but c'est la vie, he'd never claimed to be a fashion icon. He forced a brush through his hair, splashed some water on his face and set out for the bonfire.

He was in good spirits, humming to himself as he walked. Most things were better under a bit of a weed haze and he was excited. He could already see people starting to gather and the fire was being started, it cast a ruddy illumination over the sand. It all just screamed summer, and he was more than ready to get the party started.

He caught the flash of Theodore's grin when he approached, unable to keep himself from grinning back. "Alas, I somehow managed not to throw myself overboard before we hit the island," he intoned devilishly. "Every time it passed my mind as an escape from all this partying, I had to wonder what you'd do without me." He was joking, of course, he'd been just as excited for this as anyone else. Ezekiel may not have been a frequenter of parties into his older years but he'd been growing weary over the last few months. Rachel had offered him an out from the mundane droll.

He had to give it to her for being able to see how tired he truly was. They spoke nearly every day at the cafe and he'd always been so sure that he'd covered up the bone-deep exhaustion, apparently not. He'd have to thank her sometime in person, but for now he was content to bask in the time spent with his best friend. Theodore was not someone who was heavy and being around him was as easy as breathing.

Theodore's hand thumped Ezekiel's back and he couldn't help but laugh, shrugging. "Yeah, I'm settled enough, and the guys were-" he mused, the guys were assholes sometimes but not assholes he was unfamiliar with. He'd been sure to hide his journal securely between his mattress and his bedframe, paranoia and old habits really did die hard. "-the guys. Don't start expecting extra out of your bandmates now." He said, voice bordering on playful.

He was handed his water from the pretty blonde behind the bar, paper flower and all. He took a sip from the glass, nudging the little carnation away from his mouth with the tip of his finger and trailing his gaze over the growing group. Everyone knew Theodore, he recognized a few people but not all of them. It was steadily becoming a game of putting names to faces in case they addressed him. Despite this small anxiety, it was nice, unfamiliar but nice. It was almost nostalgic, highschool parties with Theodore had wrought some of his best memories.

"She always does seem to go the extra mile," he mused, turning to get a good look at the bonfire being started in the near distance. It really did feel like summer with a proper bonfire going, he almost wished he'd brought his journal so he could more properly wax poetic about it. He'd have to write something tonight, he made a mental note before continuing. "Does she ever get tired of being the best? That's a hell of a title to hold onto."