Introducing Skyline to Calvarn

Participating characters: Elara, Mariette

Location: Calvarn University

Date: 6 August 2021

Faint rays of sunshine are still illuminating the area, but Elara picks her way around them with a surprisingly casual air for someone who would burn if they touched any of her - quite hidden - skin. Max pads along cheerfully at her side, and Mariette might notice that he picks his way around the occasional rays of sunset too... though when it hits his fur, he doesn’t seem to mind at all.

“So does this mean that I’ll be able to sneak into your room and rearrange your stuff while you’re sleeping?” Elara asks, light. She doesn’t seem any more worried than usual, just her typical fidgety paranoia.

Mariette walks by Elara's side. The rays that don't hit Elara are hitting her, but they aren't bad enough that she would find them obnoxious. Or find any other thing obnoxious. She was in a very good mood, walking down the street with Elara.

"Well, you could do that, *or* you could mess with my dumb roommates. But yeah, you could sneak around, we could pass some time on the roofs like that other night with Vesper. Hell, we could hang out with her too, if you want!"

There was a subtle smell of flowers in the street, but Mariette was barely able to catch it.

"We just need to convince that nurse that you're okay... Shouldn't be hard enough, right? You're pretty cool!"

“Pretty darn tame for a ghoul,” Elara says, sardonic. “My current oaths should be sufficient, but I guess we’ll find out.”

"Ha! Maybe they'll ask you to not be rude, that could be a tragedy!" Mariette sticks out her tongue. "So? Aren't you nervous? Interviews usually make me feel weird. The nurse seems pretty cool though! At least from what I've seen, like a badass."

They were getting close to the building.

Elara snorts at the first statement, but also glances away. Then she shrugs. “I’m nervous,” Elara admits. “But there’s benefits to being mostly dead. Don’t generally ‘ave to feel stomach butterfly type stuff.” Then Elara glances back at Mariette and grins. “Besides, you’re here!” she announces lightly. “What’ve I got to be worried about?”

*Butterflies in your stomach... Funny I've felt that a lot recently*

"Oh, but what if I say something awkward and ruin your interview?!" Mariette chuckles. "Nah, it probably won't be that bad, you can do great!"

They were arriving at the place. A plaque with the school logo and the name *Calvarn* adorned the facade of the building, a place that screamed *school related* thanks to it's colors and overall look. Mariette stops in front of the door, a crystal double door that joined to several windows. She puts her hand on Elara's shoulder.

"Alright, are you ready?" She gives Elara a reassuring smile.

Max determinedly seats himself by the door, which Elara doesn’t notice; she’s too busy struggling to remain Death-aligned when Mariette is touching her. It’s not going well. “Let’s get it over with,” Elara responds, managing to not sound strangled. Somehow.

"Alright!" Mariette lets her hand fall and opens the door, holding it so Elara goes through.

The inside is full of wooden furniture and smells like AC. In front of them is a lobby, with a waiting room and a secretary in front of her desk. She looks back at them; "Good evening, how can I help you?"

Mariette steps to the front. "Oh hello, we're here to see coach Tamera Knight? We have an appointment." Her voice sounds confident, she was used to this.

The secretary directs them down the hall, to the third room on the right, where Coach Knight is already waiting for them. She calls out, "Door's open, get in!" as they approach, but does not rise from her seat to come out and greet them.

When they enter, it becomes fairly evident why: she's sporting a nasty burn up one side of her face, bad enough that a good chunk of her hair and an entire eyebrow is missing. The other side has a black eye and an arm in a sling with a crushed hand, withered and curled in on itself. She has an ornately carved cane propped up on the desk beside her, just as dinged up and damaged as she is, but still somehow completely out of place with her Calvarn Royals-branded sweats.

The room itself is very sparse and very boring. There are shelves with books on them, but not especially books: a psychology textbook here, a dictionary there, a thick stack of Natural Atlas magazines taking up an entire shelf. All things that could be found better and cheaper in an Innocent used book store. Nothing that resembles a personal touch or a stylish flair. The sort of office that gets used by a dozen people in a year and where nobody leaves anything of themselves beyond. A liminal space for a liminal process. "Chairs are over there, and there's instant coffee fixings if you want it. Assuming you're Ms. Coste and guest, then?"

Elara nods, and her calm is faked, but being dead makes that sort of thing easier. She carefully arranges for Mariette to sit before she does - the rules of Other/Practitioner dynamics are fun ones - at which point she realises Max didn’t follow. She tenses, before forcing herself to ignore it. Her posture, for once, is neat.

She pulls off her mask once seated, showing mostly human but not quite alive half-Japanese features.

Mariette sits down, weirded out at Elara for taking so long to do the same. "Hello, Coach Knight, yeah, I'm Mariette Costé, but please call me Mariette, and this is Elara, as you can see, she's a ghoul... Eh... Just before continuing, I know that that's part of your practice, but are you feeling ok? If we catch you in a wrong moment maybe we could leave it for tomorrow or something?"

Coach Knight shakes her head. "It ain't a bad moment. I look like this *because* I'm meeting a strange Other I don't know. I'm Wound Shaman, Mariette. What else was I going to bring with me? Flowers?"

"Flowers could be nice," Elara remarks brightly, before twitching a little. Fuck, she hates formal things. She falls off script so easily. "Anyway. Hello."

Mariette lifts an eyebrow at the coach's remark. *Suffer then.* Wouldn't help the conversation.

A smile appears at Elara's comment.

"Alright, then let's start saying that we don't plan on attacking you or anyone in this building, alright? The reason we're here today is because we needed to talk to someone from the staff in order for Elara to get access to the place for some days, and I thought you were *cool*, so I wanted to ask you for the interviewing and whatever Calvarn needed in order to let her in."

Mariette gives a forced smile. The coach wouldn't notice, she had practice with that.

"Course. These aren't just weapons, I should point out. Dinged up eye can be used to stop people from seeing what they ought not to. And a scald like this is good for boiling water, if I feel like it. It's not just shuffling hurt around." She shakes her head, deciding to get back on track. "School's got a list of questions it wants me to ask you two, before I let you in. And I'll be honest, I might have one or two myself. First one's an easy one - state your full names and your 'nature of being' - by which they mean what exactly are you - for the record. Elara, sure. But Elara what? And what sort of ghoul, if you know?"

Elara makes a face. "Elle Palmer, called by the name my parents gave me," she says, and her tone is clearly unhappy with that. "I prefer just Elara. And... near death ghoul, far as I know. If I'm something else then I don't know how to tell."

Mariette listens to Elara, she didn't know her full name. "You also need my stuff? Or by full names you only meant hers? Sorry, English can be confusing."

Tamera writes Elara's answer down, then nods her head at Mariette. "Yep. Need to make sure that you're the same Mariette that's a student here, not somebody else."

"Alright, I'm Mariette Costé, I'm the nephew of the Lord of Bordeaux, who sent me here, I'm a licensed practitioner under him, and I used to work as an enforcer there... Good enough or should I put some fancy titles?" Her tone is serious. She already knew too many people that would prefer her to mention them.

"Should be good enough. But if you want to throw them in, knock yourself out."

Elara glances at Mariette, cocking her head. She *is* curious about the fancy titles.

Mariette looks up and rolls her eyes. She doesn't like to mention those "Daughter of the High Writter of Bordeaux, the *Lumière*, 3 times champion of the Lyon tournament, winner of the 2018 Marseille ring, Red Right Hand of the Lord of Bordeaux, who was formerly known as the High Reader of Bordeaux... Those should be the important ones, I think." She looks ashamed, but in a different way as she gets with Elara. "So... Yeah."

Elara wants to reach out. Its a very physical instinct, and one she doesn't normally feel, let alone indulge. She's not entirely sure *what's* getting to Mariette - though *Red Right Hand* is a title that reminds her of people she'd... rather not deal with - but that doesn't matter, really. Just that she's clearly unhappy.

There are moments Elara does kind of wish she was a dog like Max. Its not serious, but a dog doesn't have to think about propriety, or worry about formality, or fuss about consequences. Max can just nuzzle up without any worrying.

But Elara holds still. This isn't a place where her comfort's appropriate, damn it all, even if Mariette would accept it. She glances back at Tamera.

Coach Knight tilts her head a little and goes, "Uh. Huh. High Writer..." as she tries to get this all down in a hurry. "...Red Right Hand..." She flips the page over. Seemingly oblivious to any emotional impact the question had. "...High Reader of..." She looks up at Elara, inquiring. "Alright. Purpose visit and duration of stay. Why you're here, basically. Oh, and where you'll be staying."

"Visiting," Elara says, with a half-shrug. "Seeing Mariette, pretty much, and a few other people we know. About two weeks from now planned." Elara's tone is awkward, confessing this, and she's barely refraining from ducking her head. "No work, no intended harm to Calvarn. Currently staying in Fellward, already handled that with them." Pains in the ass.

"Mhm. Didn't know you worked with ghouls, but alright. Is there anything that the University would like to know about regarding complications, restrictions, requirements? We're not feeding you, obviously, and I doubt Fellward signed off on that either."

Mariette had been listening to the talk, waiting for the shame to get away. "I don't usually work with ghouls, but well, she's my... Friend."

Elara can't *not* glance at Mariette at that, her expression twitching, before forcing herself to look at Tamera again. "Usual ghoul weaknesses. I try to avoid them, but if anyone spontaneously decides to point a running hose at me or throw fire or sunlight directly at me then I... might not be responsible for my reaction, at that point." Elara glances away. "Food's being handled separately, if there's an issue it should be organisable and paid for properly. Doubt you'll have to worry about it."

Coach Knight looks up from her paperwork at Mariette, then at Elara, and then back at Mariette. Confusion, comprehension and then disgust crosses her face, followed by a apathetic sigh. "Right." She looks as if she's about to say something, but then thinks better of it. "Seal of Solomon? Other major bindings? ...Familiar status?"

"Bound to the Seal, Bound to obey my boss and avoid deaths or major harm if possible, few exceptions." Elara cocks her head. "Not a Familiar, not intending to be."

Under Knight's sight Mariette feels smaller for a second and slides slightly on her seat, her cheeks a soft pink.

"Uh huh. Who's this 'Boss' of yours? And what are the exceptions?"

"Called Cedric Kane," sometimes, "Alchemist back in the UK. Exceptions for animals, if necessary in self-defense, if ordered, or if I genuinely can't avoid it due to circumstances like going feral from running water." Elara's tone is very dry.

"And are you under orders to do anything that might impact matters here at Calvarn?"

Elara shakes her head. "No. Far as I know my boss has no interest in this place. Not sure if he knew it existed before I mentioned it to him." Then again *Briallen* was here, but *also* then again Elara was *reasonably* sure that he wanted absolutely nothing to do with *her* after that whole massive clusterfuck.

Mariette notes her tone and looks at her, wanting to ask her what's wrong, but throws her sight back to the coach, only giving quick glances towards Elara from time to time.

"Alright. I'll make a note of that. Needless to say, if the ghoul's owner orders her to do anything against Calvarn, you're both in metaphorical deep shit. Understood?"

Elara makes a face. "Yeah. I'd assume so. I doubt he'd do that, he kind of values me not being entirely dead, which I'm pretty sure is what you'd do to me if I messed with this place."

Mariette nods. "Let's try to avoid that."

"Right then. Last question's a bit of a doozy, so think carefully before you answer: Do either of you know anything else pertinent to this interview that I'd want you to tell me about, if I knew to ask?"

Mariette's heart jumps for a second.

Then her mind starts working an out. And pandemonium is let loose.

"Uh... Let me see... Ok, so we're about to start a club, or it already started, I don't know, it's kind of a cool club, you know? Or it should be, at least. It's a club for when you don't want to join another club. Has it ever happened to you that someone asks you if you wanna join them on something and you don't have an excuse cause we're practitioners and we can't lie? Well, the point of this club is to be able to say *oh sorry, I'm already in a club* and then you can leave.

"Anyways, that should be like, outside of Calvarn, cause there should be people from a lot of places, and like we wouldn't want to bring too much trouble to Calvarn, right?"

She takes a deep breath.

"So yeah, the name is *the Disaster Zone & Grill*, pretty cool name, ain't it? But like, we're still in the planning phase, I guess.

"So yeah! If you wanna be part of it you could be!"

Mariette finishes with a smile.

Elara watches Mariette talk in stunned silence.

Coach Knight pauses for a moment, taking that all in. "...Right." She makes a note on her paperwork about it, then sets her pencil back down. "You'll want to talk to the professor of Innocent Wrangling or whatever the hell they're calling it these days, about that. Newton."

Mariette lifts up at recognizing the name. "Oh fuc-.. -cool! Newton was the one that interviewed me, I think! I had honestly been kinda disappointed that I haven't seem him yet in Calvarn, seemed like a nice guy!"

Elara has no idea who this is, but okay!

"What about you?" She jerks her good thumb at Elara.

*Fuck,* Mariette thinks.

Elara blinks, attention returned to Tamera. “I’m likely to end up climbing all over any buildings I’m allowed to and might do a backflip off a statue at some point,” Elara says cheerfully. “Shouldn’t be anything outside innocent capabilities, but I can still try and keep that stuff out of view if you’d rather.”

Tamera nods. "We'd rather you keep a low profile, if you can help it. But if that's everything?" She pauses, in case either of you have any last minute confessions. Or questions. "Then I can give you permission to enter."

“I can head in?”

Mariette softly kicks Elara's foot, before softly mouthing the word *Dog.*

Elara makes another face. “... is there an issue with my dog coming in?”

Tamera grabs her cane and starts standing up at Elara's first question, only to sigh and sit back down with the second one. She makes a production of it, groaning and huffing and settling back in.

"If you're bringing anyone other than yourselves in, they're supposed to be in the room answering questions. Or at least getting questions about them answered, in the case of a dog. Go get it." She does not sound impressed.

“He refused to come in! I don’t... I’ll try.” Elara moves, getting to her feet.

Outside she finds Max waiting patiently. “C’mon, boy,” she tells him. “Inside?”

The dog lays his head down and ignores her.

Elara looks at him with disbelief. “*Max!*”

He continues to ignore her.

Swearing, Elara grabs his collar, and he shoves her off.

She gives him a flat look, and then leans down and picks up the large hound.

Max makes a sound of sincere complaint.

The ghoul literally carries the dog into the interview room, swearing under her breath about lazy fucking hounds, and drops him on the floor.

He barks unhappily.

Tamara frowns at the dog. "Alright, name and state of being? And since you left my sight, that means you too, ghoulie."

"Ughhhhhh... That's a joke?"

“Elara, Elle Palmer, near death ghoul,” Elara rattles off, before looking at Max. “Max, uh... dog?” She’s got a questioning tone there.

Max sits up and wags his tail.

He’s a very ordinary dog.

"You sound unsure about that last bit. And I'll note that he's awfully clean for a ghoul's dog. You sure you don't want to try for a more expansive answer?"

Elara shrugs, looking genuinely apologetic. “I’m... pretty sure he’s a dog. If he’s not I don’t know what he is. He likes me.”

"That's even more suspicious, honestly."

"C'mon, it's just a dog, right? What's the problem? Would you want us to say that we don't plan to attack or something like that trough the use of Max?" Mariette pets the dog. "He can give you the paw, it's a cool trick!"

Max promptly and obediently offers Mariette his paw, jaw hanging open in a doggy grin. Such a normal happy healthy doggo.

"He hasn't worked against my interests ever that I know of, and he's nearly always around me," Elara says with a shrug. "And its *definitely* my interests *not* to have Calvarn upset with me."

"Assuming for a moment that he IS just a dog, then I don't see a problem. But you trying to sneak him in last minute and him acting strange for a natural animal... I don't like it, and I don't trust it. How about he stays in Felward while you're visiting?"

Max visibly brightens at this suggestion, looking hopefully at Elara.

Elara looks back at Max with actual disbelief.

Mariette looks at the dog, then at Elara. "Ok, but he can help her out too, consider him like a service dog? Like I've seen him reach out to bring her the food she's carrying when she's feeling bad and can't get to it."

"Is he actually *trained* as a service animal?"

"He's trained to help me," Elara says, still clearly disbelieving. "I... guess... Max stays in Fellward while I'm in Calvarn?"

Max barks, sounding very agreeable. He wags his tail. Such a cute dog. Absolutely normal dog.

Elara continues to stare at him. "I... guess that's decided then?" She glances at Tamara. "Sorry about this. I guess he decided against visiting Calvarn?" She sounds very confused.

"He stays in Fellward. And if the prior warning about 'deep shit' applies to anything the alleged animal does while you're here."

"Gotcha."

Max looks *very serious,* tail pausing in its wagging for a moment while he looks at Tamara, clearly listening.

"So, uh." Elara struggles not to rub the back of her neck. "Is that everything?"

"That's it for you two, as far as the interview goes. I have to go file this and then talk to the Wards people. Elara here should be able to come in tomorrow afternoon."

Mariette smiles. "Sounds good to me! Thanks coach!"

Elara nods. "Thanks."

"Keep out of trouble." She waves, before getting up out of her chair for a second time. "And, uh. Just so you know." She looks down at the floor, surprised to hear herself saying this. "Look, Ms. Coste. I think you're a good kid and all. Smart. But if you come to me with some sort of infection. Please. For the love of whatever God you may or may not believe in. Do not tell me how you got it. Just... I don't need to know."

Mariette blushes in the most intense shade of red and turns around. "I don't plan on it... Thanks coach..." She glances towards Elara. ".... Uh... Can we go?" she whispers.

Elara looks between the two with very visible confusion.

"Oh. Well, uh. Good. And yeah, you're free to go."

Max looks like he's cacking himself as he heads out, Elara following.

Mariette hurries up behind and closes the door. She doesn't even say goodbye to the secretary. She tries breathing deeply. "Well... That went kinda ok... Except for the Max thing..."

Tamera mutters to herself as the two go, "Something ain't right about that dog."

Elara rubs the back of her neck uncomfortably. "Sorry. I didn't notice him stay behind, then..." She glares at the dog, who just lets his tongue loll out contentedly.

Ugh, whatever.

"So..." Elara considers not asking. But. "Did I just miss something?" She eyes Mariette, and whilst she can't see *red,* exactly, she *can* tell that Mariette is still blushing very badly.

Mariette almost chokes just with her breath. A coughing fit later she looks at Elara. "Uh... A joke, I hope... Uh... Apparently she thinks...

"Look, maybe let's not mention it?"

*Fuuuuuck*

Elara's eyebrows go up, eyeing Mariette. She wants to push. But presumably if it mattered Mariette would tell her. She wasn't really the secret-keeping type, not bad ones.

*Fine.*

"If you're sure, I guess," Elara decides, looking down at her far-too-amused hound suspiciously. "You alright other'n... whatever that was... though?" She looks at Mariette again, genuinely concerned. "You seemed... off."

Mariette remembers it then. "Uh... You mean the titles? Or whatever they are?"

Would she tell Elara if she asked her?

She already knew the answer, *she trusted her*

"You di'n't seem okay, after." She shouldn't. Elara knows she shouldn't. This is going to make it all so much worse. "Can I help?"

Mariette gets stunned for a second at the offering, and wonders... Could she help? There was nothing to do now, she decides.

"I... Thanks. I don't know, it's just bad memories, I guess. Like the winning of the tournaments I'm proud of those! Is just that there's some other stuff that... Just doesn't feel too right?

"I... Well, you know I told you some stuff about my uncle, and my dad... I guess I should tell you more about them at some point. Probably not gonna affect you, but... You know, I guess that's part of my history." She feels awkward, slightly sad. "If you're interested, of course, I don't wanna drop a dumb story on you..."

Elara studies Mariette, then carefully reaches out to poke at Mariette's shoulder. "C'mon, I don't think this is the right place. Follow me, huh?" And easy as anything Elara gets moving through the darkening evening, more comfortable with the sunshine blocked out. Max trots at her side, as always.

Its not aimless, she seems to have a target in mind.

Mariette follows behind, not as graceful as her. Elara appeared to genuinely care; Mariette wonders if she deserves someone that does that. She doesn't know.

On the way to the rooftop is a park that’s surprisingly tranquil and beautiful, especially at this hour. If one doesn’t look in certain places, they could momentarily forget that they were enveloped by a city. There was no one else. Just peace, quiet, and…

“That’s pretty old for a city tree, isn’t it?” A strong welsh accent covering a soft, tentative voice that both Elara and Mariette recognise. “I wonder what kind of things you’ve seen, being here as long as you have.”

*Wtf?* Mariette stops and rounds the tree to find her roommate talking to a plant. "Bria? What are you doing here? Are you talking to the tree?"

A little break before telling her story. Not like she cared, it wasn't a story she felt too good telling.

Elara stops in her tracks. Seriously? *Her?* Awwww *fuck* Elara didn't want to deal with her.

Briallen stumbles back from them in shock, eyes wide. “Oh! I thought I put the… Never mind. The connection blocker probably wasn’t very good.” Around her, there’s the slightest shift of movement. Leave twitch. Stems reach. Petals shiver. Almost curling protectively towards her, ever so slightly.

Mariette notices the movement on her feet. A possible attack incoming. She doesn't even bother putting her implement on. "Hey, could you tell your friends that we're chill? They seem jumpy... And your diagram might had been kinda bad cause this was completely on accident. What are you doing?" At least Hilda wasn't around.

Living things don't like the undead. Elara eyes them suspiciously.

Briallen blinks. “Hm?” She takes a look around and immediately does a double take. There’s a very faint sensation of something flexing and shifting in the air; power, Self, both. Blades of grass retreat from the soles of Elara’s boots. As they do, Briallen turns to look at her. “Wait—Elara?”

“Briallen.” Elara’s tone is wary, and she’s shifting in place. She seems moments from possible flight, given any pretext - but she seems more human and alive than would be remembered. “Hi there.”

"WAIT, you know each other?"

“What are you doing in the US?” Briallen absently reaches a hand out, and a pink flower seems to reach out its leaves in return. The stem coils around her hand like it’s nothing. “How do you know Mariette?”

Elara’s smile has teeth. “I wonder. You like the shadows and skyline around here? Kinda fucking nice.” Elara makes an irritable noise. “How the fuck did you get a University to take you? Do they *know?*”

Mariette starts getting worried, and gets closer to Elara. "Know *what*? Can I know what's going on?" She feels her implement on her pocket, if things get bad... She probably wouldn't need it.

Briallen’s expression darkens. “Of course they know. It’s not like I can *lie* to them, can I?” She clenches her fist. Is that—is the flower growing thorns—? “I’m just trying to get to know some spirits; I didn’t ask for an interrogation.”

Elara hisses and looks away, forcing her hackles to settle. “Don’t worry about it,” she tells Mariette. She shakes herself all over like a dog.

Max trots forward curiously, harmless pupper, investigating Briallen curiously.

Elara rubs her face. She seems frustrated.

“Can we not do this with—“ Briallen gestures to Mariette.

Mariette grabs Elara's arm. Not strongly, but trying to get her attention. Things appeared to be getting problematic. She leans towards Elara and whispers in her ear, "Is this a problem? Should I use my implement?" Attacking another student would be bad. But she would rather that than let her get hurt.

“No... no.” Elara’s shoulders slump. She looks away, but still instinctively leans a little into Mariette as she does, minutely. “She’s... I’ve heard good things about her.” Elara looks at Briallen again, wary. “I’m just.... *ugh.*”

Max sniffs at Briallen, then wags his tail, looking up at her.

“Please, don’t tell her.” Briallen looked truly, honestly horrified. “The hell that could be if… if it got out and everyone knew…”

“I’m *not.*” Elara bites the words out like she’s personally offended by them, and she’s looking away again, stiff under Mariette’s touch. “Just... fucking hell.”

Mariette lets go of her arm, feeling left out of *something.* "That sounds... Bad... Hey Bria, again, tell your spirits to chill, would you? Now, if I'm not gonna be told about *that* can I at least know how you know each other?" Her tone is mostly annoyed.

"It's *Briallen."* She crosses her arms, jaw working. "They shouldn't attack you. They're just... Reacting to my Self, I think."

"We both know some of the same people, back home." Elara's tone is flat, and she's eyeing Briallen less like a threat, now, and more like she might be poisonous. "After... what happened... she was brought back for a bit." *Checked, interrogated within an inch of her life, and put under magical quarantine might be a better way to put it.* "We met then. I'm kinda surprised she remembers my name."

Briallen gives a small nod.

Mariette rolls her eyes, people being vague, that was something that she didn't like. She shrugs. "Well, it kinda shows to me that you two don't wanna talk much, right? So... I'll just go over there with Max." She points with her finger back to the entrance of the park. *Is there anyone that needs a roommate? Fuck that room.* "C'mon Max," she says, annoyed.

Briallen looks to Elara. She seems to deflate, slightly, looking tired. “Sorry. Just… Got paranoid.”

Elara glances after Mariette, and she wants to follow, but -

Max immediately retreats from Briallen when Mariette calls, trotting after Mariette and nudging up to her side, nuzzling into her hand and generally being comforting.

"Mari's pretty trustworthy for a Practitioner, but yeah," Elara agrees. "I know." She looks at Briallen. "Basically the same reason I don't like thinking 'bout you as her roommate. I know if you were actually a threat like that they wouldn't even 'ave let you in, but..."

Elara shakes her head.

“They wouldn’t have let me in.” Briallen bites out. “And I’m certainly not intending on hurting anyone. I’m just a bloody druid now. The taint’s as gone as it can be, my karma’s fine, and it’s not like I’m ever planning on actually… *Doing…”* She sighs. “I still can’t tell my parents the truth, but I can’t actually lie. Being home was painful. Apparently people the girl who was kidnapped, raped and tortured by a psycho a short break but she’s expected to get over it and talk about it after a while or something? I don’t *understand.”* Briallen’s voice came out plaintive. “I‘ve sworn oaths to be here, probably more than some others. Is it so bad to want to be normal again?”

"Not *saying* -" Elara folds her arms, making an irritated noise. "I'm not telling people what happened," she snaps. "I know better than that. Just..." Elara makes a face. "Wasn't expecting to ever see you again, much less around..." Elara shakes her head.

“For someone I’ve met once, I think, you seem to have formed quite an opinion.” Briallen seems to be trying very hard to keep up that Practitioner confidence. It isn’t working. She looks on the verge of tears.

Elara looks away. "Its not about you," Elara mutters. "The idea of *her* being around *that...*" Elara's gaze is practically dragged over to Mariette for a moment, before she looks away somewhere else. "Real hard to not think right now, even if *logically* I know she's *not.*"

Briallen initially looks hurt—then her gaze softens as realisation dawns. “Oh.” She looks down, smiles, then looks back up to Elara. “If you’ve found someone that makes you happy and feel… More alive, I guess, I’m glad. You seem like a good person. Please just don’t catch me in the crossfire; I have no intention of hurting Mariette or letting her be hurt. I do not want to be a threat to her.”

Elara flinches, taking a step back. Its hard to tell if its at the suggestion of what Mariette means to her or at the suggestion that she's a good person. "Fine, got it," Elara snaps. "Harmless as that tree there, huh?" Elara eyes it suspiciously. "I guess we understand each other then."

“I’m still trying to reduce the feedback. Sometimes when spirits get attached they react when I get emotional, I think, but that’s only ended up with an ‘attack’ once. And I don’t know how much it really counted.” Briallen smiles slightly, holding up a vial of slightly dirty water. “When the professor who interviewed me said I wasn’t getting the scholarship the pond splashed him in the back of the head.” Briallen ducks her head, slightly embarrassed. “Sorry. Thought you might find that funny, I guess.”

Elara... bristles less. She lets out an unnecessary breath. "Yeah, kinda amusing," she agrees. "If you *really* decide you want to try and talk to the prickly ghoul later, find me on the internet. You really should know which account. In the meantime..." Elara tilts her head towards the waiting Mariette.

She must've warmed up to Briallen, if she was saying 'fuck off' *subtly* instead of straight to her face.

Briallen nodded with a slight smile. “I should probably head back to the dorm. Hope you have a nice time.”

She bent down and started collecting—vials, flowers, leaves—and carefully tucked them away into her leather messenger bag. She hefted it, gave Elara a nod, and began heading back to Calvarn.

Elara doesn't wait for her to finish, heading back to Mariette with a bit too much eagerness - hopefully covered by the dark and by whatever distraction Max was supplying. "Sorry about that," she mutters.

Mariette is waiting, crouching next to Max and petting him vigorously. She looks absent minded and doesn't immediately react to Elara arriving "You're so cute, who's a good boy?" Her voice sounds barely there. Max doesn't care, he looks as happy as ever. She finally snaps when Elara talks. "Uh?... Oh, you're back! I thought that was gonna take longer... Eh, what was all that about?"

*How do I put it?* "Took me a while to calm down 'bout 'er," Elara finally says. "What happened with her was... bad. Thinking about it pisses me off. She got defensive. But I don't think she's actually a problem, so..." Elara sighs, looking at the floor. "Sorry about the vagueness. Just. My boss... I shouldn't talk about it. For her sake and mine."

Mariette stands up. "It's alright, I kinda already knew there was something bad. She mentioned awakening with really bad karma, and well... There aren't many ways to tank your own karma by yourself, right? You don't have to answer..." She shakes her head. *C'mon, she doesn't want to talk about it* "So yeah, she's one of my roommates, did she say bad stuff about me? Haha I wouldn't be too surprised" Mariette smirks playfully.

Elara still can't be *happy* that Mariette's rooming with her. But, well. She *is* safe. Has to be. "Nah, she ain't that bad. Who knows, maybe you'll get along; a pond friend of hers apparently splashed a professor in the back of the head." Elara smiles back, and its a bit awkward, but... at least Mariette was still willing to play.

"And I've had a thought, actually. Something fun we can do before you should go sleep." Elara's smile turns to more of a grin, a bit playfully predatory.

*Oooook?* "Sure, sounds cool!" Mariette can't help but keep her smile. Why was she excited? Could be something bad, right? She knew none of those questions mattered to her, she trusted Elara anyways. "Alright, so what do we do?"

Elara laughs. "How d'you feel about a rooftop wander? Or a run, if you think you can keep up. Me'n Max can show you the metaphorical ropes of parkour, eh?"

Mariette's smile grows to its full extent, her heart starts racing. "I'm in! Just maybe not a race?... I might be really loud and shiny, and people could see me." She pulls her jacket's sleeves down, covering her tattoos. "But yeah, just tell me what to do!"

"C'mon then," Elara tells her. "A quieter area, where we hopefully won't wake up more'n mice." Elara gets moving, a steady trot; she doesn't get tired in the least so the movement is graceful, and there's never any hesitation there. "Keep up!" she calls over her shoulder, not loudly, but it carries. "Don't be a slowpoke."

Max keeps pace easily, sometimes dashing forward and back; he doesn't bark, though he clearly wants to, bounding around like he's on drugs.

"Heh, I didn't go on my morning run anyways..." Mariette starts running behind Elara, with more rigid movements, her pace pushing hard against the pavement. The movements of someone who runs towards the battle. Seeing Elara's more gracile movements along with the trot of Max puts a smile on her face, she thinks she could get used to this. She feels happy. "Ha! You'll have to run faster to leave me behind!"

*Why would I ever want to leave you behind?* Elara just laughs in answer as she winds her way through the streets, comfortable even with a few days only to familiarise herself with the area. Soon they find a more abandoned region - the sort of area that goblins and the dispossessed hang out, as opposed to 'people'. Elara seems comfortable here, in the dangerous dark, though both she and her hound are on full alert.

She stops by a lower wall, gesturing to her dog; after a moment she leans over, bracing herself, and then Max lunges and leaps. He uses her as a springboard to get up the wall, running the last few steps before dragging himself onto it.

Elara then straightens, shaking herself off, and glances at Mariette. "Want a boost up?" Elara gestures, and she's grinning.

An undead creature's just lured her somewhere dangerous, and Mariette isn't worried at all, is she?

Mariette catches on quick.

The place wasn't around her usual route, but it didn't felt as dangerous as the woods when she would go train, less places to hide, less chances of ambushes. And then again, Elara was with her, what was there to worry about? Her kids were safe and she felt ready for everything. She watches surprised at the agility of Max, before Elara asks her if she needs help. She could probably climb it by herself, if a bit less gracefully, and asking for help could make her look weak in front of Elara. On the other side, she could be close to her... Elara had already seen her cry, was it too bad to accept her help?

"Heh, sure, will you be able to climb by yourself though?" She teases with a lighthearted smile.

Mariette gets close to the *undead creature that lured her somewhere dangerous.*

The look that Elara gives her would be withering if it were less playful. “Oh, don’t worry, I’ve been wanting a chance to show off,” Elara says, and it’s a bit too honest. “I can get up there.”

She laces her fingers together and settles them in place as a step; she shifts until it’s clear that the intention is for Mariette to step there, and then Elara can boost her up - a bit differently to how she got Max up, but, hey. “A leg up?” Elara asks, entirely innocent.

Mariette doesn't hesitate and quickly goes to her, putting a hand on Elara's shoulder and a foot on her hands.

"Alright, let's go."

Elara’s flushing, heart beating again, but it’s not interfering here; this is what she *lives* for. She grins at Mariette, their faces far too close for a moment, and Elara shoves up. The amount of strength in there does *not* match her appearance. Mariette’s weight is a non-issue, apparently, as she’s shoved up the wall to find her own way.

Mariette grabs the edge of the roof and lifts herself with no effort. She then stands up and looks down towards Elara. *She wanted to show up... But... Ugh.* Mariette gets down to the floor, extending her hand down towards Elara. "You can do it your way... Just didn't want to be rude." She gives an awkward smile.

Elara laughs. “You’re so sweet,” she tells Mariette, tone too fond. “A’right then, if you insist.”

Elara eyes the wall, then backs up a good few steps.

In a way not *unlike* Max’s own method Elara backs up before running forward, launching herself up in a jump and then literally running up the wall to grab Mariette’s hand for the last necessary distance. “Go on then,” Elara tells her.

If it weren't for her jacket's sleeves people would have easily noticed the glow on both her arms, all her tattoos glowing in them with a soft light. One hand to pull her and the other to hold herself to the edge. It was almost easy, if it weren't for her actively trying to not crush Elara's hand. But she manages. Once she sees Elara is able to continue herself she lets off. "Cool! So where from here?"

Crushing the ghoul's hand is less of an issue than Mariette might suppose, but that's a digression. Steady on the roof's edge, Elara shakes herself off; she's vibrating with anticipation. Mariette hasn't seen Elara quite like *this,* yet; she's practically human, given some altitude.

"Pick your poison," Elara says, amused, and when she lets go of Mariette she does a cartwheel up the slope to the roof's steeple, where she balances as if its easy. Max, more cautiously, pads his way up there; a dog's four paws aren't quite as good up here, but he seems to know what he's doing. "Think you decided against a rooftop race, but we can still walk," Elara says brightly. "How's your balance?"

Mariette gives a few steps and then *jumps* on the steeple. She lands on one leg and pushes the other backwards, fully extended in a pose that would remind people more of ballet than a martial art. It was hard and for a moment she thought she would slip, but she wanted to surprise Elara with *something.*

"Have to have some balance for fighting! Just don't expect me to do the same with my hands or something like that." She plants both feet on the roof, trying to keep her balance, her arms extended to both sides, keeping her in place.

"*Nice!*" Elara's tone is absolutely delighted, and Mariette's *definitely* entirely captured her attention (though honestly, she already had it). "Very very nice. I know a lot of people who couldn't do that."

Elara stretches, and then starts walking; the rooftops here are a maze of up and down, the buildings squished closer together than most elsewhere. Elara doesn't seem to consider walking on a steeple to be any different than a walk in the park. "Max, you pick the route," she tells her dog; he barks in acknowledgement, picking his steps carefully. After a moment he starts trotting, and then he launches himself to another, flatter roof from the edge of this one, a short jump up for a hound and not much more difficult for a human. Apparently the dog wants an easier route, which, fair, his four paws are not made for this kinda thing.

Elara snorts, but follows, crouching and jumping from rooftop to rooftop.

Mariette starts going after her, the walk is going good until *Frrffft* her left foot slips. She quickly puts her weight on the right and is barely able to stop herself from sliding off, ending up in an almost squat. She can feel her active tattoos on her leg and a cold sweat running down her back. "I'm good, I'm good..." she lets out. "Just a misstep." She stands up and continues, more careful now. She prepares and jumps towards the flatter roof, landing all her weight on her feet, in a move that could had hurt someone less prepared for hits as Mariette is. "I prefer this roof!" She smirks.

Maybe Max *does* have the right idea after all, Elara thinks, glancing back with some concern. At Mariette's announcement, though, Elara laughs, and on an impulse nudges into Mariette's side for a moment. "It's a good roof," Elara agrees. "Does its job."

Max keeps up that pattern of movement, taking them on a path across flat rooves and actually *walkable* surfaces, which Elara seems to find hilarious. She crosses gaps with handsprings and jumps, and just casually cartwheels occasionally as they walk.

"I like it up here," Elara says, glancing around. "Less confined, y'know? It's like being free for a little while, like nobody could catch me unless I let them." She says this while walking right next to Mariette, directly within reach.

Mariette doesn't want to stay behind and shows her a backflip using her hands. Maybe she didn't do handstands, but she had practiced that one, thinking it was a cooler way of dodging, even if she barely had used it at all.

Upon hearing Elara's thoughts Mariette can't contain herself and quickly jumps, grabbing both of her shoulders carefully, in an almost embrace. "Caught you! Haha" she giggles. It feels natural, until she realizes their closeness. "Heh."

Elara *was* genuinely impressed by a backflip; Mariette keeping up has her all fizzy and bubbling inside. Combining two of her favourite things is exactly as good as it sounds, and Elara’s riding a *serious* high.

And then Mariette catches her, and Elara startles, stopping in her tracks - which Mariette’s remaining momentum ensures she crashes into her chest.

This really is a *lot* like a hug.

Elara’s voice fails her as she flushes a bright bright red. She should move away. She should, she really really -

Mariette stays there for a few seconds, not knowing if she should actually hug her or just leave her alone. "Uhhhhh... Uncaught you then?..." Mariette finds it harder than it should to end the hug and gives a step back, her face grabbing some color. "... Sorry?"

She wonders if the blood vessels on her face would end up with any permanent damage from all the blushing.

Maybe she would actually end up needing the coach's assistance.

Elara finds her voice somewhere, and just prays it’s not too strangled, “It’s alright,” and can she be called out for an understatement? She’s so alright she might be a little sick with it.

*Uncaught?* Hah, maybe *that* would be a gainsay - Elara is so firmly caught, now. If she could give herself away then she’d already be lost, wouldn’t she?

That thought sobers her, a momentary reminder of reality. Elara’s next grin is closer to normal, the red bleeding out of her skin. “If you actually wanted to play chase you should’ve asked,” Elara challenges.

Mariette catches *color* on Elara's face.

*Is she?... No, she can't, right?* She still somehow thinks it's possible, and doesn't realize that she's about to comment on it excitedly, before getting cut off by Elara.

"Oh! Yo-... Uh, chase?" She smiles. "Sure, sounds fun, so who starts?"

Poor Mariette. Did she think Elara would play fair?

“Catch me if you can,” Elara challenges with a laugh, and she moves, taking off at a run.

Mariette watches her start running before she starts running behind her.

She thinks she would probably be really bad at being the one running away, she was used to being the one always chasing or running towards others, not retreating.

However, doing that while trying to be careful? It's obvious that the difference in skill between Elara and her is enormous.

She wonders about strengthening her legs to run faster after her, but also doesn't want to scare the people inside the buildings thinking someone is trying to demolish their roofs.

She tries to hurry up the best she can without slipping.

*C'mon c'mon c'mon, impress her, Mariette!*

The distance slowly gets larger.

When Mariette starts dropping behind, Elara starts to get, well, cocky. Speed takes a second place to fancy backflips and handsprings; she even deliberately lets herself get close to Mariette just to dodge away with a roll.

Its not like she *wants* to escape Mariette, after all. If Mariette could catch her, well, that'd be perfect, wouldn't it? But she can't make it *easy* now. That wouldn't be any fun.

"C'mon, Mari," Elara teases, crouched on a ledge just above her. "I daaare you! Think you can catch me?"

Mariette starts getting frustrated, but tries her best not to show it.

*C'mon, you can do better than this, right?*

Maybe just a little bit of use of her tattoos? A few of them start shining on her legs, covered by her pants.

"I... Maybe! Possibly, yeah! I think I can!"

Her running starts bouncing her off the ground a bit faster, harder, soon she finds she's not losing ground anymore...

But she's still not getting closer.

"Nice, tricks there!" She says during a particular cool backflip.

Elara laughs. "Nice work yourself!" Her heart's actually pounding, and she can't stop laughing. She looks back at Mariette, and she's *glowing,* and there's Life *everywhere* like fire and -

Elara trips over her own feet, and over the side of the roof she goes. Mariette's immediately reassured of her lack of injury by the swearing that follows; upon catching up she'll find Elara clinging with annoyance to a windowsill.

Mariette feels her heart jump for a few seconds. *Oh fuck!* She knew that that wasn't enough to hurt her badly, but...

Mariette hurries up to her, and upon seeing her starts thinking how to help, trying her best to not laugh. She drops down and with the help of her tattoos on one arm, she hangs from the edge, being held only by that arm. Her other arm reaches towards Elara, and with a smile on her face she says, "Gotcha."

Elara huffs, eyeing the arm with a sort of resigned amusement. "Ya got me," she says, too-honest as she reaches back. Grasping on to Mariette she swings herself over and just climbs onto Mariette's back, casually using her as a climbing frame.

Well. Seeming-casually. She's gone red again, and her skin is hypersensitive with the fact that Mariette is *right there.*

"Up?" Elara asks, striving for and failing at casual.

Having Elara basically hugging her makes Mariette's stomach tickle. *C'mon Mariette, concentrate, don't fall down.* She grabs the border with both hands and pulls, and one of her arms hurts. She now remembers to use her tattoos in both arms and pulls again, climbing the edge. "Ha! That was kinda fun" she laughs. "You got me worried there for a second!"

Elara scoffs. "Even if I didn't catch myself d'you really think a *fall* could hurt me? *Mariiiiiii,* don't insult me like that!"

Elara... does not actually remove herself from Mariette's back, a clinging weight against her.

Mariette does notice she hasn't gotten off her. *Fuck it.* Still feeling that numbness in her stomach she calls on several tattoos along her body, so she can carry her better. She then grabs Elara's legs to secure her and starts running, laughing. "Hold on tight!" And -

She jumps off the roof.

The time in the air seems linger than usual, she can feel the air on her face, moving her hair, the lack of gravity, and Elara's hug on her back.

Elara feels warmer than her usual death self, that only makes Mariette smile more.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally land on the next roof.

"Hahahahaha!"

Elara does hold on tightly, a tight death-grip. The feeling of flying through the air is a familiar one, but normally *she* has control over it - this time she's given over her safety to Mariette's, and despite all her trust that still makes her heart pound and her breath come fast and her skin flush, a sickeningly living *thrill.* Her stomach swoops in a way she'd almost forgotten was possible.

They hit the roof, momentum pressing her closer against Mariette, and the relief and Mariette's laughter send Elara into a peal of her own helpless giggles, head pressed into Mariette's shoulder.

Flying and falling. Everything is colour, pressed so close. Bright and blazing. Mariette's so warm. Elara's hungry.

Ruining this would hurt *so badly.*

"That was fun haha!" Mariette can feel Elara against her back, she can feel... Her pulse? Her breathing?

Is that *possible*?

And her head on her shoulder, she wants to turn and be able to see her.

"Wanna try again?"

Elara laughs, a bit shaky. She doesn't... did she even feel this much when she was alive? How's she supposed to deal with this? "Go ahead," Elara tells her. She shifts in place, testing her hold.

"Alright!"

Mariette starts running again through the whole roof towards the edge and then jumping once again.

She was specifically looking for the more leveled buildings, not trusting her balance enough to try for one of the roofs that Elara appeared to prefer.

She does this twice, getting closer to the woods, where less people should be able to see them.

Each time Mariette can't tell if it's the adrenaline or something else, the way that time appears to freeze for a few moments before returning to normal.

"Ok, check this!"

Mariette starts running, but this time there's no next roof in sight.

Instead she gets ready and jumps towards the edge of the forest, there were they wouldn't be close enough to something that could endanger Elara, but also there wouldn't be people watching for the two girls jumping.

She gets ready, lighting all her leg tattoos and the ones on her back.

The fall makes her feel like her stomach is full of ice and shivers.

*Pomph*

The landing makes her almost fall to her face but instead she's able to fall on a knee.

She can barely breath from laughing so much.

"Wooooohhhhhhhh!!!! Hahahaha!"

Max lands with a thump beside them, but neither of the girls notice the peculiarly resilient hound. Elara's too busy recovering from the way everything had dropped away, over and over again, trusting to Mariette's skill and surety to keep them intact, her heart pounding in a way that almost hurt.

That last drop still thrums through her bones, and Elara's giggling, clutching on tightly. Is it even possible for her to find it *hard* to breathe? There's not enough air for her laugher, but it doesn't hurt.

"Damn," Elara manages, when the laughter manages to recover a bit. "Nice one, Mari," she says, grinning. The flush isn't gone, not even slightly, and she can't quite bring herself to try and get some distance, give up the Life blazing under her fingers, that seems to be kind enough to share itself with her just a little. "That was *great.*"

Mariette takes a few seconds to catch her breath and stop laughing. Her sides hurt. She wouldn't get as tired from something like that, specially with her tattoos in use, but running while laughing so much?

For a moment she thinks that she wouldn't want to be anywhere else, if all she had gone through had brought her there she starts thinking that maybe it was worth it...

"Ahhhh you'll have to help me again if we go back up there," she says with a full smile on her face.

Elara starts laughing again, helplessly. "Happy to," Elara tells her, sincerely, before letting out a breath. "But I'm pretty sure you've got class in the morning, Mari."

"Oh!... oh." She looks around and realizes how late it already is, the night had settled already. "Uh... Shit... So what now?"

Elara shrugs, even if Mariette can't quite see her. "I can walk ya back if'n you like. I can do that, even if I have to wait until tomorrow to try and break into your room," Elara says brightly.

The look on Mariette's face is one of obvious disappointment. At least she feels slightly cheered to be walked back home. "Ok... I'll be looking forwards to tomorrow, not gonna lie. A shame that Max isn't coming, but well... You are." She stands up. "So... I'm gonna be taking you all the way there on a piggyback?"

She laughs.

... Not like she wouldn't mind doing it.

Some part of Elara had been expecting to be dropped, eventually. To have to let go for *some* reason. "Suggesting you aren't up to it?" Elara drawls, challenging, taunting. She can't make herself ask for it, but a *dare...*

"Ha! Calling me weak? Alright." She didn't want to accept it, but sweat pearls had started forming on her forehead, her hair didn't help with that.

Still she starts walking, hoping that Elara won't notice. She feels so at peace, warm, cozy. Probably not the most common hug, but she didn't want it to end anytime soon. "So, are you comfortable back there?" Mariette chuckles.

"Yeah," Elara murmurs, and her voice has gone soft. She is comfortable. Mariette is warm and bright, heart beating so fast. Elara's almost lax, the warmth in her limbs strange. She's not used to this. Relaxing demands that she feel alive *and* calm, and that's a rare combination, particularly when she's outside in the dark with the risk of threats -

Elara tenses at the internal reminder, glancing around suspiciously and straightening up from leaning into Mariette's shoulder. Padding at their heels, Max barks with amusement, and Elara resettles, a bit more warily. "How're you doing?" she asks belatedly. Living people get *tired,* Elara. "Good bit of running we just did."

Mariette thinks about it. "I can get us both back well enough, just got a bit worked up I guess. Like I do a lot of cardio, but usually just carry myself," she laughs. *But I don't want you to stop.* "Any plans for tonight?"

She should talk to grekhaus, shouldn't she? The constant rapid shifting between Life and Death was wreaking absolute havoc on her system. "Explore some more, maybe see if I can catch a squirrel later." Elara rests her chin on Mariette's shoulder, head tilted to press gently into her head. "Just be out and about, really. That sorta thing. Got any interesting classes in the morning?"

Mariette giggles. "Tasty, tasty squirrel, sounds good. Uh... I have one that focused on war magic, that one is kinda exciting, then I have my mundane classes, those I really like too." She fixes the weight of Elara so she doesn't fall. "Have you been checking on your friends back there? How's the kid?"

Elara’s humour dissipates immediately, her tension shifting. Guilt she’s been ignoring ripples back up sickeningly. She shrugs. “Things’re about as I should expect, back home,” Elara says softly. Non-answer.

Mariette stays quiet for a few seconds, she didn't expect that topic to be dropped so quick. "... Uh... So are you friends with anyone else that's in Calvarn? I mean like knowing then, like with my roomie?" She could see the college entrance in the distance, her mood drops a little at the idea of having to leave Elara.

“Uh. Mia’s here, isn’t she?” Elara’s mood shifts again, and she’s vividly aware that she is carrying Mia’s present. She forgets, usually, when Mariette’s around. It feels *weird* to think of Mia around Mariette. Though they’re not too different in some ways, both of them glowing so very brightly all the time... “I know Mia. Which... you know. I don’t think I should know anyone here if they’re not from the forum? I dunno why anyone of them would ever leave the UK except F - Skitter, and I don’t think she’s got business here. Sounds like a bad idea."

"Oh, right, Mia... Damn, I had forgot you knew her." Mariette says, with few emotions. "... And skitter, huh, yeah, she's the one that's a... You know, probably harder for her to be here then." The entrance was getting closer, she didn't like it. She felt a bit better thinking that the next day they would be able to see each other again. "Well... Almost there. You thought I couldn't do the whole trip like this?!" Her mood changes at the last part, a bit happier.

"Of course you could." Elara snickers. "But I still wanted you to prove it!" *And, y'know, just do it.* But she shouldn't say that.

And... the border, now, reached. Where she still couldn't cross yet. Elara sighs, the regret let out before she can think better of it.

"Time for you to put me down, I guess," Elara says, reluctant. She bats at Mariette's hair, at the curly roil of fluff which is apparently blue.

"Oh... Yeah."

Mariette lets out of Elara's legs, one at the time so she doesn't immediately falls down.

She then finally turns around to see her.

Carrying her around was great, but actually seeing her was just as good, even if she missed the contact.

"So, uh... That's it for today?"

Elara catches herself easily as she drops, and she misses the contact immediately. Death creeping back in, senses dulling, heartbeat slowing back to nothing.

She wants to reach back out again. Give her a proper hug. *Another* hug.

"I guess so," Elara murmurs. She wants to follow Mariette in. Even if she needs her sleep, why does Elara have to go? Can't she just... hang around, check in on her sometimes?

*Now you're getting creepy, Elara, stop it. Too much. Definitely too much.*

Elara manages to conjure up a grin from somewhere. A few minutes ago, maybe? "Get some sleep. Class in the morning," Elara reminds, herself as much as Mariette. She can't keep her forever, even if she wanted to, even if anyone would ever let her. "Get some beauty sleep, huh?"

Not that she *needed* it, but whatever...

The grin on Elara's face just makes her mirror her with a smile.

"I'll be looking forwards to tomorrow then."

*What do people do when they say goodbye? Uhhhh...*

Mariette takes a deep breath and quickly moved towards Elara, hugging her. The awkwardness she feels is only drowned by how much she likes it. "I had a lot of fun today... Thanks." She breaks the hug using all her willpower. Couldn't stay all night like that, wouldn't be fair for Elara. "Goodnight, Elara," she says with a warm smile.

Elara freezes at the hug, before tentatively hugging back. She's blushing again, everything inside her fizzy; Elara had basically shoved the piggyback onto her, after all, but this was *Mariette* deciding to hug *her.*

Fuck, she could walk on air right now.

"Good night," Elara manages when Mariette finally lets her go, feeling like she's stuttering. She takes a step back. "Um. Yeah. Tomorrow."

She's staring. Elara *knows* she's staring. Mariette's *smiling,* and she's covered over with that *light.* Elara tears her gaze away from Mariette with effort. "Later," Elara calls over her shoulder, and darts off into the dark, Max at her side.

Elara could swear the dog was laughing at her.

Mariette hurries inside the campus, her mind lost in thought.

This time she was sure, Elara was *blushing*. Was that something good? She seemed to want to leave quick after that.

Was she feeling bad?

Could ghouls blush?

Was it good or bad that she was doing it from *her hug*?

Mariette doesn't know.

She runs to her room, wishing that it was a good kind of blush.

Just like the one she was sporting.

She wants to tell Quiet.