The Half-Blood Academy IC (Redo)

[Nuridia]

Aurelia was painting a pumpkin patch and hayride scene, sketching them out for the party when she remembered James' question. "Forgive me Mr. Patton, I had completely forgotten about your question. Family and friends arequest all welcome, it's not just parents." she said.

[Charlia]

Natalie finally got her inspiration, remembering one of the greats, and began to paint her first work, a boy and a girl sitting in a pumpkin patch, and a dark shadow rising up from the pumpkins as the boy looked on in excitement.

"I hope I don't get crushed by copyright lawyers for touching a newspaper strip," she muttered. "That would really suck."

[Tomia]

Ariana was busy dancing the Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty, that was one of her favorite parts. Lined up in a row were four boys from her class who would play the princes dancing with her. She was just on the pas de deux with Stevie when all of a sudden John walked in.
"Papa!" Ana ran over to her father and kissed his cheek, tugging on the long sleeves of her blue leotard.
"Hey Mr. E, what's up?" Dominique waved from her place at the barre, she was practicing the Kitri dance from Don Wuixote. Dom preferred faster more lively roles with lots of twirling and pointe work.

John smiled brightly as he returned his daughter's hug. "There's my little angel. Just wanted to say goodluck before you preform sweetie I know you'll do great." He said with a smile, kissing Ana on the forehead before hearing Dominique's question and looking up at her. "Just came to wish my girl luck Dominique, I wish you luck tonight too Dom. I'm sure you're performance will be dazzling. I know Mike will be looking forward to it." He said with a bit of a wink, being well aware of the obvious feelings the two had with each other.

[Holy Empire of Avalon]

"So, I know we are doing different seasons. What if I did Bethlehem at night during winter?" He couldn't help but snicker at some thoughts rolling through his head, "I also promise that no shepherds are gonna be getting to know the sheep, or goats, or donkeys. In fact I was thinking rolling hills of desert sand with a beautiful violet sky full of stars, and then somewhere put the North Star, it would be massive compared to the others. I could also do a taiga forest in Russia if that sounds like a better choice. Though don't expect any amazing deer, last one I tried to draw looked like the mentally bent cousin of Bambi drawn by Picasso while high on some drugs, according to Elizabeth that is." He said that as if it actually did reinforce that the deer looked like an acid fueled nightmare demon deer.

[Platypus Reborn]

Nico sighed for what seemed like the millionth time that day, as he laid on his bed starring at the dark ceiling. Nico was absolutely bored, and while he would never admit it he was lonely as well. Most of the students where out and about getting ready for that parent visitation-thingy and Nico was left alone chasing the slowly moving shadows with his eyes.

'Gods, this is abhorrent. What should I do?'

As Nico reflected, he realized that he was thankful that his father wasn't coming. Nico always wondered what his father was like, as he did not retain many memories of his estranged father. Nico forced himself to stop his train of thought. He did not want to bring up bad memories. He looked back up the the ceiling and watched as the shadows slowly swayed.

[Nuridia]

"Julia, James. Winter will be in the theatre, in here its the autumn room. The others will be summer and spring, now come. I believe we're almost done here and then we can move on with the decorations and then we can start the actual performance at about 8:30 it was? Yeah, it was. So everybody who's friends and family is alower to come, but this being a special school they have to be searched, we don't need anybody trying to take over the world with a legion." Aurelia said.

[Holy Empire of Avalon]

"Julia, James. Winter will be in the theatre, in here its the autumn room. The others will be summer and spring, now come. I believe we're almost done here and then we can move on with the decorations and then we can start the actual performance at about 8:30 it was? Yeah, it was. So everybody who's friends and family is alower to come, but this being a special school they have to be searched, we don't need anybody trying to take over the world with a legion." Aurelia said.

"It should be fun. I do warn though, Elizabeth keeps her thirty eight under her left arm. Is she allowed to keep it or will she need to leave it outside? " James looked over to Julia, he could still feel her anger, "My sister being older than me has her CCW permit also." He smiled widely, "Where she works the Office is a bit hectic." James remembered taking her lunch up in Langley, it was rather chaotic, course that was back when they were hunting Bin Laden also, everything was hectic back then.

[Barapam]

"Autumn... I can work with that." Julia smiled slightly. In a way it felt good that they wouldn't do Christmas, because as she had heard James' suggestion it was a complete rip-off of the painting she had made earlier. Prick! Stealing her work without giving her credit, as if he hadn't done enough already...

"Yeah, let Elizabeth take her gun with her... so she can shoot James and then herself... No, now you're being unfair! You can't think like that! It'd be horrible if that happened!" Julia felt ashamed over her thoughts. She would never wish any harm to something living.

"But wasn't that just what you did? No! I mean... Shut up!"

"So... autumn!" she exclaimed in her usual cheerful way, and even clapped her hands together. "That's when the hockey season starts, can we do something with that? Er... that's probably better for the winter room, right? Ehe."

[Holy Empire of Avalon]

"Autumn... I can work with that." Julia smiled slightly. In a way it felt good that they wouldn't do Christmas, because as she had heard James' suggestion it was a complete rip-off of the painting she had made earlier. Prick! Stealing her work without giving her credit, as if he hadn't done enough already...

"Yeah, let Elizabeth take her gun with her... so she can shoot James and then herself... No, now you're being unfair! You can't think like that! It'd be horrible if that happened!" Julia felt ashamed over her thoughts. She would never wish any harm to something living.

"But wasn't that just what you did? No! I mean... Shut up!"

"So... autumn!" she exclaimed in her usual cheerful way, and even clapped her hands together. "That's when the hockey season starts, can we do something with that? Er... that's probably better for the winter room, right? Ehe."

James felt a eerie aura coming off Julia, the kind he got when someone was pissed off to the point of shanking someone with a butcher knife, and being as he was still scarred with the image of a five hundred pound woman shirtless and running at him with a machete sized knife in one hand and a turkey leg in the other after a domestic disturbance call on Thanksgiving turned homicide he decided it was best to avoid that situation.

"Welp, you mind if I step out and make a phone call to the devil? Hell froze over, she actually got a cold..." James remembered the particular way that she caught it and turned a slight shade of pink across his cheeks, though this fact would go unnoticed and other than the slight raising of his eyebrows a the end of that sentence it was likely no one noticed that small piece of body language, which was a good thing as he did not want to explain that part, especially in public. "Can I step out and call to check on her as well as to tell her the time all this starts tonight? I have work later today and will be arriving just in time for the event myself more than likely." James bit his lip as if remembering something and reached inside the interior pocket of his coat, it was meant for a flask, but in his there was a small metal and leather object that had been warmed by his body heat. With his check to see if it was there over his arms returned to his hips, some would think the way he stood was feminine for the fact that his hands most often were on his hips and his elbows at a forty five degree angle, but in all truth this simply felt natural to him as it was near the parade rest pose he had learned after years upon years of drilling.

[Barapam]

Perhaps it was Julias subconscious that did it on purpose because she wished it really was so, or perhaps it was just an ordinary misunderstanding, but nevertheless, misunderstand James' sentence was exactly what she did. "So, he thinks Elizabeth is like a devil... maybe things aren't so good between them after all. Maybe a part of him can't stand her and wish to leave her... and maybe then he can be mine."

She smiled. Not her everyday cheerful smile, even if it was almost identical, but no. This time her eyes had a hint of plotting in them, as she begun to think of a strategy to catch her love. She would need to get close to Elizabeth, find out what her weaness was, and expose it. Divide (the married couple) and conquer (James). Now exactly how she would do it, was something she still had to figure out. There was still plenty of time though, and the little Christmas elf felt confident that she would succeed with her evil scheme.

"Hmm... autumn..." she said again. "We could paint the ceiling and upper half of the walls like the colour of the leaves. Red, orange, yellow..." She spoke to everyone around, looked up, gestured and pointed to enhance her words, to play the role of the dedicated student who took on the assignment with joy. But in her mind, other plans were made.

[Holy Empire of Avalon]

James could see Miss Aurelia was busy and turned away to walk outside, he strode past Julia and could feel the hair on his arms stand up as he left. For some reason he got the instinct to run, not the kind you get when you hear distant artillery, no, the kind of instinct you get when you've been called out to screaming in a house on a storming night, the kind of instinct to run that climbs up your spine when every strike of lightning flashes knife wielding silhouettes around you; that was his kind of instinct now, not one born of logic or even training, one born purely of terror and terror alone, something in that chilling air felt wicked, it may not have been at that point in time but something told him that potential was there, potential for what though he did not want to know.

Pulling out his phone he dialed in a Virginia number and it rang through in mere moments, "Hello, you are calling Micros-" A girl with an obviously fake Indian accent coughed repeatedly, "You suck, this is your fault." James leaned against a brick column and laughed while shaking his head in a manner that physically stated it was not. "I told you I was sick, I get out of school for three days to visit Russia and they lost all out luggage in the trip so I had no jacket, in Siberia, and had to spend twenty four hours, in Siberia, without anything to warm me up accept a dead moose, in Siberia; plus if you'd been a bit less eager to," he looked around with narrow eyed glanced before whispering into the phone. Elizabeth giggled on the other end before coughing, "Okay, okay, so maybe I should have listened. How was Siberia?"

"Oh, well you know, Vladimir Putin was real accommodating, got off the plane, and oddly enough room service met me there. Yeah, they just so happened to be in that area trying to get to the snack bar like I was. I got the Snickers though, which by the way I brought back, in one piece, and it should be sitting on your desk in the Office. You'd best work on it quickly too, I think Vlad knows who stole his F'ing Snickers, and he's just a bit grumpy about it." James looked at a bruise on his knee, the kind of bruise one got from slamming their knee into a guy's face.

"I will, so that is what you were trying to tell me about last night before we got into it? Hmm, global security or a night well spent? Sorry, but I made the right choice. I barely see you, but I always save the world." James sighed as Elizabeth said that, of the two of them he figured she had the better job, anyway now that he had told her of the prior it was time he got to telling her about the arts show.

"The art show is tonight, maybe we should stay in." He looked around subtly before speaking again, "We've got no real reason to come, and you're sick. It won't really help our story either, it is already complicated now that the truth has gotten out to more than Michael and company. It might be best that we avoid the whole scenario, remember, we are trying to stay under the radar after what happened in London. It is best we keep this up until old baroness goosestep forgets we almost have her up a creek."

"Yeah, we can skip it. But can I at least go for a little bit to see my cousin? I can fake a coughing fit and leave after that." The false story was agreed on and they both hung up. James promptly went back inside thereafter without a single delay.

[Nuridia]

Arts Night
Everybody was both excited and anxious as night fell on the Duncan Academy and everybody knew that that meant tonight, showtime. It was time to go and perform, in front of all those people. They had practiced for qeeks for this very moment, the whole school worked very hard and it seemed an exciting and far away dream but now that it was here, it seemed like the scariest thing in the world.
Ariana, the art teacher's daughter fidgeted backstage as she was being helped into her Aurora tutu and her makeup was being done. God it was so nerve wracking, her whole family was going to be there.

"Girl calm down, you'll be fine. We worked our butts off for this moment and we'll do awesome." Dominique, Ari's best friend and distant cousin said. She looked beautiful in her Kitri tutu, it seemed to bring out her skin and eyes.
"Dom, I can't! Everybody will be watching, I'm nervous! Why aren't you nervous?!" she shouted.
Backstage, Luciana wearing a sparkling gold dress and her blonde hair pinned up was singing her lines for the hundredth time, as Apollo's daughter she was a perfectionist.

[Charlia]

Ely had a selection of some of her best photographs, taken during the winter months when frost and snow made glorious patterns perfect for her art.

---

Natalie had painted a beautiful portrait of an old house with a woman in a dark brown cloak, long hair blowing out from under the hood, her eerily pale hands clutching the fabric tight around her, staring at something in the distance with a look of sorrow and terror. Sorrow and terror--the emotions the picture would evoke in the viewer. Overwhelming sorrow and terror.

---

Some of the drama students were performing a scene from Titus Andronicus. Charlotte had, despite her protests, been cast in the role of Lavinia... and she was miserable. She would do her best, of course--but that didn't mean she would enjoy herself.

It didn't even mean she would stay herself...


She might not be acting at all...

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

Ah... Arts night.... The nervousness can be felt... What has the world come to. People of all blood always seek approval of others... When will everyone learn that the only person you need to seek approval from is yourself. Merlin thought as he took a seat in the front row, a clipboard in hand with papers and a pen.

Ah... Arts night.... Can't wait for the fireworks...

No. Void. No explosives... And no metaphorical explosives... That is not what this night is about.

Fine... I'll just comment on everything... About anything...

Merlin rolled his eyes as he looked to the stage, Break a leg children. METAPHORICALLY!

Damn.... Quick on the draw

Then the show began, and Merlin watched with great attention, ignoring the comments of Void.

[Charlia]

Oh, dear. Here goes nothing, I suppose... She walked forward, having been able to remove the backpack to wear her costume only because she had literally tied her wings flat, which was very, very uncomfortable... She had heard of suffering for the art, but this was ridiculous. As she stood by the side of the boy playing Bassianus, they continued walking, finally coming across the girl chosen to play the part of Tamora. 'Bassianus' spoke in a tone of surprise.

"Who have we here? Rome's royal empress, unfurnished of her well-beseeming troop? Or is it Dian, habited like her, who hath abandoned her holy groves to see the general hunting in this forest?" Then 'Tamora' spoke in a bitter, angry tone, slightly more dramatic than she needed to be, but well enough.

"Saucy controller of our private steps! Had I the power that some say Dian had, thy temples should be planted presently with horns, as was Actaeon's; and the hounds should drive upon thy new-transformed limbs, unmannerly intruder as thou art!"

Now it was Charlotte's turn to speak, and speak she did, her voice slightly sarcastic and accusing. "Under your patience, gentle empress, 'tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning; and to be doubted that your Moor and you are singled forth to try experiments: Jove shield your husband from his hounds today! 'Tis pity they should take him for a stag."

Bassianus continued on, sounding almost gentle and persuasive, but slowly changing into accusatory. "Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian doth make your honor of his body's hue, spotted, detested, and abominable. Why are you sequestered from all your train, dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed, and wandered hither to an obscure plot, accompanied but with a barbarous Moor, if foul desire had not conducted you?"

Charlotte spoke again, first to 'Tamora' and then to Bassianus. "And, being intercepted in your sport, great reason that my noble lord be rated for sauciness. I pray you, let us hence, and let her joy her raven-colored love; this valley fits the purpose passing well."

Bassianus said in a warning tone, "The king my brother shall have note of this."

Charlotte continued in a sad, almost pitying voice, now. "Aye, for these slips have made him noted long: Good king, to be so mightily abused!"

Tamora was exasperated now, and it showed in her tone and the way she held her arms out as if pleading an answer. "Why have I patience to endure all this?"

Then two other boys entered, one playing Demetrius and one playing Chiron. 'Demetrius' spoke in a subservient and almost fawning tone, "How now, dear sovereign, and our gracious mother! Why doth your highness look so pale and wan?"

"Have I not reason, think you, to look pale?" she replied bitterly. "These two have 'ticed me hither to this place: A barren, detested vale, you see it is; the trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, o'ercome with moss and baleful mistletoe: Here never shines the sun; here nothing breeds, unless the nightly owl or fatal raven: And when they showed me this abhorred pit, they told me, here, at dead time of the night, a thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes, ten thousand swelling toads, as many urchins, would make such fearful and confused cries as any mortal body hearing it should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly." A sly look came over her face as she continued. "No sooner had they told this hellish tale, but straight they told me they would bind me here unto the body of a dismal yew, and leave me to this miserable death: And then they called me 'foul adulteress', 'lascivious Goth', and all the bitterest terms that ever ear did hear to such effect: And, had you not by wondrous fortune come, this vengeance on me had they executed. Revenge it, as you love your mother's life, or be ye not henceforth called my children!"

Demetrius looked enraged, and cried out, "This is a witness that I am thy son!" He drew a stage sword and 'stabbed' Bassianus, the blade folding into the hilt so it would appear he had truly been stabbed.

Chiron also drew a sword, saying, "And this for me, struck home to show my strength!" He also stabbed Bassianus, who used false blood to make it appear he was wounded, and collapsed, pretending to die. The fact that he continued to breathe dispelled the illusion, but what else could be done?

"Aye, come, Semiramis," Charlotte cried in anger, "nay, barbarous Tamora, for no name fits thy nature but thine own!"

"Give me thy poniard; you shall know, my boys, your mother's hand shall right your mother's wrong."

A look of evil intentions appeared upon Demetrius's face, and he spoke calmly. "Stay, madam; here is more belongs to her; first thrash the corn, then after burn the straw: This minion stood upon her chastity, upon her nuptial vow, her loyalty, and with that painted hope braves your mightiness: And shall she carry this unto her grave?"

Charlotte looked confused, and Chiron continued. "An if she do, I would I were a eunuch. Drag hence her husband to some secret hole, and make his dead trunk pillow to our lust."

A look of dawning comprehension and horror began to cross Charlotte's face, and she didn't look like she was acting anymore. Tamora smiled wickedly along with her two sons, and continued. "But when ye have the honey ye desire, let not this wasp outlive us both to sting."

"I warrant you, madam, we will make that sure," he said firmly, and then turned to the cowering Charlotte. "Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy that nice-preserved honesty of yours."

Her voice was desperate, and she turned to Tamora, clasping her hands in terror, genuine tears beginning to fill her eyes. "O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face,--"

"I will not hear her speak; away with her!"

She turned to the two brothers, begging them, "Sweet lords, entreat her hear me but a word!"

"Listen, fair madam: let it be your glory to see her tears; but be your heart to them as unrelenting flint to drops of rain."

Her voice was choked and faltering. "When did the tiger's young ones teach the dam? O, do not learn her wrath; she taught it thee; the milk thou sucked from her did turn to marble; even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny. Yet every mother breeds not sons alike..." She turned to Chiron, her voice pleading and afraid. "Do thou entreat her, show a woman pity!"

"What," he said scornfully, "wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard?"

"'Tis true; the raven doth not hatch a lark: Yet have I heard," she continued desperately, hoping, and yet clearly knowing trying to prevent it was no use, "O, could I find it now! The lion, moved with pity, did endure to have his princely paws pared all away: Some say that ravens foster forlorn children, the whilst their own birds famish in their nests: O, be to me, though thy hard heart say no, nothing so kind, but something pitiful!"

Tamora said dismissively, "I know not what it means; away with her!"

She grew visibly more desperate, trembling, clutching at Tamora's sleeve. "O, let me teach thee! for my father's sake, that gave thee life, when well he might have slain thee, be not obdurate, open thy deaf ears!"

"Had thou in person ne'er offended me, even for his sake am I pitiless. Remember, boys, I poured forth tears in vain, to save your brother from the sacrifice; but fierce Andronicus would not relent; therefore, away with her, and use her as you will, the worse to her, the better loved of me."

"O Tamora, be called a gentle queen, and with thine own hands kill me in this place! For 'tis not life that I have begged so long; poor I was slain when Bassianus died."

Tamora pulled her arm away, staring at Charlotte dismissively. "What beg you, then? fond woman, let me go."

Her voice was pleading and desperate. It sounded as if she almost believed it was all real. "'Tis present death I beg; and one thing more that womanhood denies my tongue to tell:" Her voice grew fearful, and she became neither Charlotte nor Lavinia, but some mix between the two, walking the line between Lavinia's world and her own, pleading for both their sakes, falling to her knees as tears streamed down her face. "O, keep me from their worse than killing lust," she choked on the final word, "And tumble me into some loathsome pit, where never man's eye may behold my body: Do this, and be a charitable murderer!"

"So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee? No; let them satisfy their lust on thee," she said scornfully.

"Away! for thou hast stayed us here too long," cried Demetrius.

Charlotte's eyes grew wide, terrified, and she fell back, trying to increase the distance between herself and the two brothers. "No grace? no womanhood? Ah, beastly creature! The blot and enemy to our general name! Confusion fall--"

"Nay, then I'll stop your mouth. Bring thou her husband: This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him."

Demetrius pushed the body of Bassianus aside, and seized hold of Charlotte's arm, and though she tried with all her might to pull away--not pretend struggling, but real fighting, bringing a brief look of surprise to his face as he wondered why she wasn't just pretending, and had to hold tighter to her, making her fight all the harder. Eventually, though, Chiron joined in, and they dragged the weeping girl away, leaving the illusion of reality more believable than ever as Tamora spoke her final, bitter words.

"Farewell, my sons: see that you make her sure. Ne'er let my heart know merry cheer indeed, till all the Andronici be made away. Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor, and let my spleenful sons this trull deflower."

She walked away gracefully, and a hush stayed behind her. For while it was surely all mere theater, playacting, even if it was quite good... there was an unshakable feeling of heaviness, a feeling left behind in the silence after their words, a feeling that, while the production was excellent, something had gone horribly wrong that night.

[Tomia]

John and Michael had taken their seats as the performances were beginning. Eric and Salma, John's parents, and Aurelia's parents had shown up to support their family as well. Even gods such as Jupiter, Venus, Cupid, Apollo and Diana were attended. As the Roman gods were always eager to show off and be presented with the skills of their children and desendents.

Meanwhile Craig was with his piano, practicing his hand placements silently as he waited to go on. He was playing a traditional Bulgarian folk song adapted to the piano. He was usually a shy and unopen boy, but on the piano his emotion came out and his feelings were let free. Marius was similar with his singing. He was a folksy song as well, one that he hoped people would enjoy.

[Platypus Reborn]

Nico walked through the empty hall glancing at the pictures arranged on the side of the walls. Everyone was either elsewhere in the school or watching the play. He stopped abruptly when he recognized some of the photos and when he took a closer look, he saw Ely's signature and smiled.

'She certainly is special,' He thought to himself as he stared at the winter-themed photo. Ely is the only reason that he wasn't failing Photography due to her insistence that he gets all his work done. He looked at the clock on the wall and noticed that the play was still going on. Nico had nothing better to do and decided to go watch the play.

2 MInutes later

Nico walked in as someone was being stabbed on-stage, followed by a sentence that Nico could barely understand. He slid into a seat in the far-left corner in the back row; resting his left elbow on the chair's arm in order to prop his head up while he leaned on the arm with his right leg resting on the chair. Nico didn't really understand what the actors were saying, but he understood a bit on what was going on.

Several minutes into the play, Nico turned to his side and realized that some of the audience was made up of gods.

'Is that Zues, er, Jupiter?' He thought to himself.

Nico sunk lower into the seat, hoping that his godly relatives wouldn't notice him, before moving his gaze back to the play so that he wouldn't stick out like a thorn in a bed of roses.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

When Charlotte's drama class came up, Merlin put the board down and focused.

Everything was going fine for the first part, as Merlin could tell. Until a bit further in.

She's actually not a bad actor....

That's not acting.... he thought back, Somethings wrong....

Once it was over, Merlin got up and slipped out, heading for the backstage to find Charlotte.

[Charlia]

Merlin

When Charlotte's drama class came up, Merlin put the board down and focused.

Everything was going fine for the first part, as Merlin could tell. Until a bit further in.

She's actually not a bad actor....

That's not acting.... he thought back, Somethings wrong....

Once it was over, Merlin got up and slipped out, heading for the backstage to find Charlotte.

"What was that about?" the boy who had played Demetrius was asking. "You were supposed to pretend to fight, someone could have been hurt!"

"Leave me alone," she muttered.

"No. You could have hurt someone, what were you thinking?! You can't just decide to be a drama queen at the last minute, if you're going to pull something like that you've got to tell us!"

"Leave me alone," she hissed, and stared up at them, the darkness around her growing ever deeper. "I will not answer."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

Merlin walked in between Charlotte and the other boy after finding her. He looked to the boy, "Excuse me, but I need to speak with Charlotte." He said as he then turned to Charlotte, "How bout we go somewhere more private."

[Charlia]

Merlin

Merlin walked in between Charlotte and the other boy after finding her. He looked to the boy, "Excuse me, but I need to speak with Charlotte." He said as he then turned to Charlotte, "How bout we go somewhere more private."

She nodded, standing up.

The boy just looked back and forth, confused out of his mind.

...Hey. Were you paying attention? Were you?

What?

'Somewhere more private', he said.

Shut it.

I would love to shut it! But--I need clarification on which 'it' I must shut in order to make you happy.

Shut your mouth, or I'll shut you in an airless cell under the river's fire.

Theeeeeeere it is.

[Platypus Reborn]

As the play looked like it was coming to a close, Nico quickly crept out of the theater and began his trek to his room. He wasn't really excited by the play, but he found it a bit entertaining.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

Merlin lead Charlotte back to his office, motioning for her to take a seat as he closed the door. He then looked at her.

"Charlotte tell me... And be truthful. Are you alright?" He asked, care in his eyes.

[Charlia]

Merlin

Merlin lead Charlotte back to his office, motioning for her to take a seat as he closed the door. He then looked at her.

"Charlotte tell me... And be truthful. Are you alright?" He asked, care in his eyes.

She stared at the floor.

"...No."

She paused, and then spoke again, sounding agitated.

"I told her it was a bad idea to give me that part. I said there would be consequences! But she didn't believe me..." She choked on her words. "I can still feel it. I feel... cold... so broken..."

That's because you are broken, sweetheart. Get used to it.

She closed her eyes, whispering half to Merlin, half to herself.

"I hate living like this."

[Platypus Reborn]

As Nico strolled back to his dorm, he noticed as familiar figure ahead. He walked up behind her as she stared at her photos.

"Hey Ely, nice photos," He said.