Mana Academy (IC) (Open, Fantasy)

[Prusselanden]

The boy nonchalantly shoved off Aether's hand and turned his head to face her, ceasing his degrading gesture and instead giving her an annoyed kind of stare after stealthily rolling his eyes at the Professor. The fire didn't seem to bother him at all, nor did he look very threatened at all by her words, the exasperation remaining steadfast in his pointed face. With a bored sigh, he spoke again, his voice cold as ever.

"The very idea that anything could give those imbecilic constructs humanity merely attests to your intelligence...or rather, a lack thereof. A doll cannot be given a soul, just as a machine cannot be truly given life. The 'humanity' you see in those worthless things can only truly be your imagination."

"Actually, as you would know if you weren't an imbecilic, entirely unintelligent and ignorant child, it is quite simple to give constructs a soul," Aether said calmly. "You should try studying sometime, it might do you good. On the other hand, judging from your behavior, you are entirely too dull and thick-skulled to comprehend any of it."

Her skin and eyes started glowing, making her look stunningly ethereal and truly formidable.

"Now, either you be silent," she ordered in a frighteningly dark tone, "or I'll silence you myself."

"OOOh! Boy, better save yourself." Ignis was obviously enjoying this even though she was trying to be pretty stoic on the surface.
Uknowingly(?) her 'aura' began to heat up from the excitement and the temperature within a 5 foot radius began to get quite warm.

[Luminesa]

Aether shook her head, placing a gray-scarred hand on the young man's shoulder.

"I would disagree with that assessment," she said softly. "I think the biggest joke they made was in inviting you here. After all, humans of your caliber are little more than 'pieces of sentient garbage', are you not?"

She smiled thinly.

"Why, I've met stuffed animals with more humanity than you, and that's not an exaggeration. In fact, several of them are currently attending."

Fire flickered over her hand. She wanted to burn this insolent child, and she wanted it badly.

The boy nonchalantly shoved off Aether's hand and turned his head to face her, ceasing his degrading gesture and instead giving her an annoyed kind of stare after stealthily rolling his eyes at the Professor. The fire didn't seem to bother him at all, nor did he look very threatened at all by her words, the exasperation remaining steadfast in his pointed face. With a bored sigh, he spoke again, his voice cold as ever.

"The very idea that anything could give those imbecilic constructs humanity merely attests to your intelligence...or rather, a lack thereof. A doll cannot be given a soul, just as a machine cannot be truly given life. The 'humanity' you see in those worthless things can only truly be your imagination."

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Catherine didn't look at the boy with anger, though she felt that. Insteaded it was almost more with grotesque interest. Like a train wreck you know will make you late for your plans, she was also slightly disappointed. She reached into her handbag, and causally pulled out a band of green bills. She doubted what she was about to do would actually dissuade the boy, but it would also work as a nice insult.

"Look, I really don't want to deal with someone like your self right now, so how about I pay you ten-thousand euros to just fuck right on off?"

The boy simply shook his head and laughed at Catherine's offer of appeasement and her own words, like she were a circus freak at some twisted attraction that he found some morbid joy in looking upon.

"As if I would accept money coming from the hands of a filthy Yank...Your kind are presumptuous indeed! And so horribly foul mouthed...Tut, tut, tut..." he replied, a twisted, bastardly grin creeping onto his face. He didn't even care if it was an insulting gesture, it seemed. The attention and responses he was getting right now were more than enough to keep him entertained.

Dominique Corleone

"Excuse me?" He said sounding calm, but also annoyed. "Did you just call someone....'garbage?' And of all people, her?" Dominique said folding his arms in anger waiting for an answer. He knew what it was like to be called garbage as everyone around him called him that for years. Even to the point of calling himself garbage just to make himself feel better. It took him many years to remind himself that he wasn't garbage and in fact a human being he'll be damned before he lets someone calls another person garbage.

"And no. He's not garbage." He said referring to Rabbit's comment. He then looked at Catherine and smirked. "Hell, I'll do you one better. I'll give you the damn keys to my chateau in the valley if you were to just leave this young woman alone." He said politely closing his eyes and continuing to fold his arms.

"Did you just refer to that vile creature as a person?" the boy said incredulously, scoffing once more at what he thought to be utter and complete idiocy. "I did, and I was speaking the truth, you insolent négros.

"Honestly, how many times must I requite that none of your petty offers interest me? What must a man do to speak his mind without being interrupted by mindless chatter such as that?"

Slowly, he approached the boy, his ocean-blue kimono and long, sweeping white hair giving him the air of an ethereal Far-Eastern deity. "I am sorry...but did I hear you say 'sentient garbage'? Are you possibly referring to yourself, dear?" he questioned, as he stopped in front of the boy. He used his normal term of endearment in a sarcastic manner, his voice sharp enough to cut clean through bones.

"Oh, no, no, no...The thing I am referring to? It's standing behind you, flanked by one charming, scarred young woman and an Aryan coconut, wearing perhaps the ugliest excuse for a gown I have ever seen." the boy said, trifling with one of the golden feather earrings and running a hand through his messy, unkempt brown hair. Even in the presence of the Rabbit, who should have intimidated him to no end, there was no sign that the boy would cease his antagonistic rhetoric.

Rabbit heard the boy insult Aether, and he immediately bristled. He felt an urge to destroy the boy right then and there, but he did not. Someone else had finally come to join the party, and he stood right behind Lorian, and Rabbit had turned to look at them.

"...Mais les poupées ne disent pas les choses terribles que vous dites. Poupées sont heureux et ont des gens qui les aiment. Pourquoi vous insultez les poupées? Vous souhaitez secrètement que vous étiez l’un?"

Soleil stood right behind Lorian, still holding Bastille partially out of anxiety and partially out of his inability to let go of the cuddliness. He spoke very quiet, gentle French, slowly and calmly, as he was not certain if the boy was French. Based on his accent, he sounded European, but he was not certain. Hence, he decided to use a trick he had learned when he was very small: to annoy someone, speak to them in a language they do not understand. All the while, his blue eyes shone determinedly, and he kept himself from blushing with nervousness.

"Avez-vous perdu une poupée quand vous étiez petit ? A vous faire triste ? Vous avez dit que vous ne donneriez jamais votre coeur à un autre poupée plus jamais ? Je suis désolé si c’est ce qui est arrivé. J’espère que vous n’êtes pas dans la douleur." He continued to pet Bastille's head, as he spoke, far more focused than he usually was.

Cecily merely watched, edging toward the conversation as she waited to hear Lorian's response.

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

While dancing with Annice, he noticed a commotion going on. It was from the area of Aria and it seems that it has already attracted quite a few Mana students and teachers and a some onlookers. He can hear some shouting and can see some spike in some people's mana, clearly summoning their magic. "Hey Ann, wanna go there and check what's happening?"

[Prusselanden]

Ignis looked at Soleil, her mouth open in surprise and eyes wide with delight.
"..Mon garçon, vous aurez maîtrisé de sass !" She told him in awkward French. That was the only sentence she had learned, apparently.

[Chrome Legion]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Catherine just ended up with a quizzical look on her face. yank? Seriously? She was expecting comments on her injuries but yank? The boy seemed egged on by the others though, insulting him wouldn't do anyone good, as cathartic as it maybe. This boy could be trouble though, who knows what he was capable of if he was willing to come up and insult Aria so in front of all those that cared for her. He might not have known just how provocative his words were, but Catherine wanted to be ready for trouble. A dark mist flowed from the surroundings to her, coalescing into Erebus' raven form on her shoulder. His talons rested on her alabaster skin, but didn't leave an impression, as if the bird had no weight at all. The runes covering what flesh Catherine was showing started to slowly swirl, the colors inside them varying from blood red to the deepest abyssal black. She wasn't ready to jump into a fight over some imbeciles unkind words, but if he made any moves against Aria, Catherine would be ready.


Annice Null


"There are few things in this world that I would prefer less." Annice let out a long sigh, truly not wanting to be distracted from the moment. "Though perhaps it would be good if we moved closer, and stayed there, in case things get more serious than words again. Wouldn't do to have Henry start a full on brawl. At the very least I should be able to suppress any magic if people try to take things to far."

[Finsternia]

Annice Null


"There are few things in this world that I would prefer less." Annice let out a long sigh, truly not wanting to be distracted from the moment. "Though perhaps it would be good if we moved closer, and stayed there, in case things get more serious than words again. Wouldn't do to have Henry start a full on brawl. At the very least I should be able to suppress any magic if people try to take things to far."

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor nodded and watched the group. "Well, you do have a point. And it seems that Cat has summoned her familiar. This can't be good if someone would add more fuel to the fire." Glacia raised her head from the warm and fluffy embrace of Alli's cravat, her bright blue eyes staring straight at Erebus. "Well, seems like even Glacia is concerned of the matter. Let's just move a bit so that we'll get in range." He pivotted the two of them near the group, near enough to hear them but far enough to blend with most of the crowd.

[Saldinado]

"Did you just refer to that vile creature as a person?" the boy said incredulously, scoffing once more at what he thought to be utter and complete idiocy. "I did, and I was speaking the truth, you insolent négros.

"Honestly, how many times must I requite that none of your petty offers interest me? What must a man do to speak his mind without being interrupted by mindless chatter such as that?"

Dominique Corleone

Dominique's eyes widen as he said that. A négros? It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what that meant. He looked at him with complete anger and shock that he had the audacity to do so. His hands and arms were soon becoming entangled with vines and thorns from his own mana. He then realized what was happening and took a deep breath, with the entanglement of foliage slowly disappearing. Dom then softly chuckled at the remark and shook his head.

"Hm. So I'm a as you say....a...négro, no?" He said quietly but loud enough for the feather-wearing teen to hear him. A small laugh can be heard from him right after. "Well I hate to say it, but I applaud you for saying that. At least I know that you're actually man enough to say it to my face rather than behind my back my friend. It shows that you have honesty. Though I'd be careful saying that around people. For if you say to the wrong person, you might end up saying your last words."

Dominique's voice trailed off a bit at the end of his sentence before giving a nod and a small grunt to him while still folding his arms over his chest. He wanted to just see this dude on the ground and bleeding from a broken nose like that Russian dude. But he knew that that wasn't going to happen. He'd probably would've wanted that. This wasn't what Dominique's parents would want. And he knew it as well; to embarrass and shame them just because one person said something he didn't like. He'll be like a certain political group back home in America.

What a complete and utter disgrace. I'll rather die than become part of them....Believe them....

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Catherine just ended up with a quizzical look on her face. yank? Seriously? She was expecting comments on her injuries but yank? The boy seemed egged on by the others though, insulting him wouldn't do anyone good, as cathartic as is maybe. This boy could be trouble though, who knows what he was capable of if he was willing to come up and insult Aria so in front of all those that cared for her. He might not have known just how provocative his words were, but Catherine wanted to be ready for trouble. A dark mist flowed from the surroundings to her, coalescing into Erebus' raven form on her shoulder. His talons rested on her alabaster skin, but didn't leave an impression, as if the bird had no weight at all. The runes covering what flesh Catherine was showing started to slowly swirl, the colors inside them varying from blood red to the deepest abyssal black. She wasn't ready to jump into a fight over some imbeciles unkind words, but if he made any moves against Aria, Catherine would be ready.


Annice Null


"There are few things in this world that I would prefer less." Annice let out a long sigh, truly not wanting to be distracted from the moment. "Though perhaps it would be good if we moved closer, and stayed there, in case things get more serious than words again. Wouldn't do to have Henry start a full on brawl. At the very least I should be able to suppress any magic if people try to take things to far."

Henry Von Kressel

His smile to Aria's compliment was abruptly interrupted by someone... Whatever that someone was. And apparently, he was less educated than Anatoly in voicing his disapproval in Aria's presence. Unfortunately for him, there were enough people that cared about her. And unfortunately for him, Henry was among one of these people.

Like a gentleman of old times, Henry simply said a "Excuse me" to Rabbit and Aria, before walking right to the front of the boy who dared to do such an act. Following Catherine's act, Henry promptly stared right into the eyes of the boy.

"You see, I could use the time I will spend with you talking with the most beautiful woman of this ball. So I'll be very clear, and I hope that your intelligence can keep up with the speed I'll talk, because I really don't want to talk with you more than I'll have to given such unhappy circumstances.

Allow me to present myself. I am Henry Von Kressel. I could say all my lineage here, but I'll skip the part so we can get to what really matters. You called someone dear to me garbage. That's... Not a wise thing to do. Specially in Europe. Germany and Austria are right over there you know. That's where I come from, actually. I don't like saying it, but this time I'll have a special pleasure.

If, by any chance, you think you're smart enough, or better than anyone here just because you think you can pull some fake smart talk, you're wrong. If you're thinking that you can insult people that way, you're wrong. You're nothing more than all of the disgrace humankind had ever passed through in the project of a man weak enough to provoke people in secure places, where he thinks he's the king of the world. You're a self made joke. You're the rat among the worthy ones, thinking you can pass like one of them, while everyone sees your tail waving in fear. What will they do if they find out that you're nothing more than a rat? I don't know about them, but I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'm a calm person. I try to. But some people took their time today to make me angry as possible. So I'll describe, calmly what I'll do to you if you ever do it again. I'll not just punch you. I'll break you. I'll make sure that for the rest of your life, you're marked as the disgraceful rat that you are. No one you shall judge worthy of your presence - because if you ask me, you should be in the dumpster - will ever want to talk to you. I'll use every last piece if influence I can to make sure that all of the world know that you are nothing than a ridiculous clown who portrays himself to be better than everyone around him, clawing for an attention people don't give you. Because they see your desperation. They have pity on you. They have mercy on you.

But I won't have if you do that again. And believe me, I take my promises very seriously. So, before me and my friends lose our patience with you, move away with your tail. Before I decide to do it for you, and fulfill what I've promised regardless of your reaction, your worthless talking piece of something humanity has to bury and burn deep as possible."

[Archembalt]

Scott had given Shaun another brief response, mainly because he couldn't elaborate much on his situation.

"Uh, I don't know. And I don't know again."

He really had forgotten where he was staying. His basset hound, Bertram, was probably resting his drooping jowls on the white bed, sleeping. He had to figure out what the hotel was so that he could fetch that fat dog. And Scott really hadn't known who he was staying with. The day had sort of been a daze to him.

Then, when that whip-tongued man made his debut spitting raw fire at the crowd surrounding Aria, Scott couldn't help but be slightly enthralled with whatever the outcome of such a saucy exchange would be. When Aether, a teacher of all, began acting in such a manner alongside Rabbit, he couldn't help but grin just a little. Things could escalate. He would pompously opine in his own head how such figures shouldn't act like children, but truly wanted for something thrilling to occur. This dance was boring. Not only that, but he would get to see other peoples' powers, yet he could keep his hidden. Things were getting heated, but he knew that the teacher's wouldn't kill anyone. Well, they could be pretty stupid and juvenile, but surely they must understand the consequences of attacking a foreign student before the tournament began. That would be dishonorable. And dumb, overall. Regardless, they weren't doing a good job at retaining Mana Academy's reputation. They need to gain an adequate understanding of what emotional maturity is. If they received any punishments for their unnecessary transgressions, they would be well deserved.

At this point, Scott had unwittingly began to ignore his conversational partner.

[Rhomaia]

Rabbit heard the boy insult Aether, and he immediately bristled. He felt an urge to destroy the boy right then and there, but he did not. Someone else had finally come to join the party, and he stood right behind Lorian, and Rabbit had turned to look at them.

"...Mais les poupées ne disent pas les choses terribles que vous dites. Poupées sont heureux et ont des gens qui les aiment. Pourquoi vous insultez les poupées? Vous souhaitez secrètement que vous étiez l’un?"

"Avez-vous perdu une poupée quand vous étiez petit ? A vous faire triste ? Vous avez dit que vous ne donneriez jamais votre coeur à un autre poupée plus jamais ? Je suis désolé si c’est ce qui est arrivé. J’espère que vous n’êtes pas dans la douleur." Soleil continued to pet Bastille's head, as he spoke, far more focused than he usually was.

At the sound of Soleil's question's, the boy closed his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, as if to emphasize that none of the words were worth his time. Every single syllable, asking if he was lonely, asking if he was sad, was total garbage. This tiny child, about a half a foot shorter than the boy, had the audacity to ask such stupid questions, and in a peasant language no less. Nonetheless, it was one the young man knew fairly well, and his response to Soleil was just as hateful and scathing as all those that had passed.

"Écoutez attentivement, votre enfant stupide. Un homme n'a pas besoin de poupées, ni jouets comme vous le faites. Si jamais je le faisais, je serais pas plus que le moron pleurnichant que vous êtes. Peut-être que vous ne laissez jamais aller vos jouets et votre poupées ... peut-être que c'est la raison pour laquelle vous avez besoin quelque chose à retenir lorsque vous essayez de regarder un homme dans les yeux."

His words were heavy with an Italian accent and an air of superiority, though if one could tell close enough, his control of the French language was not to the caliber of Soleil's, signifying further that he was not a native to the land.

Henry Von Kressel

"If, by any chance, you think you're smart enough, or better than anyone here just because you think you can pull some fake smart talk, you're wrong. If you're thinking that you can insult people that way, you're wrong. You're nothing more than all of the disgrace humankind had ever passed through in the project of a man weak enough to provoke people in secure places, where he thinks he's the king of the world. You're a self made joke. You're the rat among the worthy ones, thinking you can pass like one of them, while everyone sees your tail waving in fear. What will they do if they find out that you're nothing more than a rat? I don't know about them, but I'll tell you what I'll do."

I'm a calm person. I try to. But some people took their time today to make me angry as possible. So I'll describe, calmly what I'll do to you if you ever do it again. I'll not just punch you. I'll break you. I'll make sure that for the rest of your life, you're marked as the disgraceful rat that you are. No one you shall judge worthy of your presence - because if you ask me, you should be in the dumpster - will ever want to talk to you. I'll use every last piece if influence I can to make sure that all of the world know that you are nothing than a ridiculous clown who portrays himself to be better than everyone around him, clawing for an attention people don't give you. Because they see your desperation. They have pity on you. They have mercy on you."

"But I won't have if you do that again. And believe me, I take my promises very seriously. So, before me and my friends lose our patience with you, move away with your tail. Before I decide to do it for you, and fulfill what I've promised regardless of your reaction, your worthless talking piece of something humanity has to bury and burn deep as possible."

For all the time before Henry's speaking up, the young man had on his face a cruel, mocking smile, suggesting he took some kind of sick pleasure in stirring up trouble and animosity among his foreign counterparts. He didn't really seem to care that just about every pair of eyes in the room was on him, frustrated and infuriated at him for disrupting the atmosphere of the ball. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the attention as well, having illicited outraged and angry reactions from nigh every American on the dance floor.

And yet now here the boy was, facing the closest thing to consequences that he had seen all night for his belligerent actions. Henry, a man of his own age now stood tall, looking down upon the black clad young man and put him down. He, like Soleil before him, spoke of desparation, but also insulted the boy to no end, especially with the fact that he was of a Noble House, and still found some stupid reason to defend the little abomination standing behind him that still dared to breathe the same air as everyone else in the room.

The young man's pointed face turned red with fury, his ears pink with embarrassment as his grin turned into a dreadful scowl. "...A Von Kressel...I didn't expect to see one of your kind lingering here, in such a lackluster place...with company that fits the location, most ironically."

"If we are to get introductions out of the way, my name is Lorianus Avitus Comnenus. Remember it well." Lorian said through gritted teeth, looking almost like fangs as they were shown. "I hail from Italia, where blood and purity are actually held sacred. We do not allow simple beasts, demons, and dolls in our company, for we have more respect for ourselves than you Americans and Germans will ever have. Your over-long speech on my class, however eloquent, is pointless when any rational man sees what you would consider worthy of your time..." he continued, his emerald eyes set on Henry's golden ones.

"And if you have the audacity to make such laughable threats, as your dear Professors have, then I'm sure you would be more than willing to back up your words with action." Lorian said, his lips curling into a smile once again. With a snap of his fingers, a broad jade green blade of mana sparked to life in his hands, white sparks arcing and coursing through the weapon as he raised in Henry's direction. "Or, if you are wise, you will take back every previous statement that you have made in the last minute, like the rest of your pitiful compatriots!"

At this moment, just as it seemed a bloody fight would break out, a new series of events began to unfold, some of them rather humorous in the eyes of the people Lorian had just insulted.

The arrogant boy was swept off of his feet by an invisible force, landing on his back and knocking the wind out of him in the span of two seconds, leaving the boy coughing and gasping for air, to the horror of a few of his 'friends'. More than anyone else now, he looked to be the pitiable one, helpless on the floor with no one to care. The sparking mana blade in his hands dissipated into nothing, like it had never been in the first place.

Well, that would have been the case if the next mystery man hadn't stepped forward from the hallway entrance. He was tall and pale, with short, platinum blond hair and narrowed sun gold eyes, clad in a white suit and blue tie that was loose on his neck, and obviously mismatched. He looked absolutely furious at the boy at the boy, the sound of his footsteps heavy as he quickly advanced towards Lorian, who still lay sprawling on the floor.

"You bloody foolish child! That is no way to act! Not in your home, not in my Academy, not anywhere!" he said with a quiet, controlled anger as he lifted the boy up by the scruff of his neck, only to drop him again, sending Lorian down on all fours, gasping for breath once more.

The man looked over to the Mana students and Professors, shaking his head. "...My sincerest apologies, my friends...It would seem like this child thought he could do as he damn well pleased in a place that wasn't his mansion..."

[Prusselanden]

"Ey ey ey, why don't you just cool it with your Trump speech, Mario?" Ignis's fist clenched down angrily when he insulted Soleil.
When the proffesor lifted him up, she blew a strand of hair out of her face.
"Finally, someone is teaching this child some discipline."
My mom was a free range parent. And look what it produced...

[Luminesa]

Rabbit heard the boy insult Aether, and he immediately bristled. He felt an urge to destroy the boy right then and there, but he did not. Someone else had finally come to join the party, and he stood right behind Lorian, and Rabbit had turned to look at them.

"...Mais les poupées ne disent pas les choses terribles que vous dites. Poupées sont heureux et ont des gens qui les aiment. Pourquoi vous insultez les poupées? Vous souhaitez secrètement que vous étiez l’un?"

"Avez-vous perdu une poupée quand vous étiez petit ? A vous faire triste ? Vous avez dit que vous ne donneriez jamais votre coeur à un autre poupée plus jamais ? Je suis désolé si c’est ce qui est arrivé. J’espère que vous n’êtes pas dans la douleur." Soleil continued to pet Bastille's head, as he spoke, far more focused than he usually was.

At the sound of Soleil's question's, the boy closed his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, as if to emphasize that none of the words were worth his time. Every single syllable, asking if he was lonely, asking if he was sad, was total garbage. This tiny child, about a half a foot shorter than the boy, had the audacity to ask such stupid questions, and in a peasant language no less. Nonetheless, it was one the young man knew fairly well, and his response to Soleil was just as hateful and scathing as all those that had passed.

"Écoutez attentivement, votre enfant stupide. Un homme n'a pas besoin de poupées, ni jouets comme vous le faites. Si jamais je le faisais, je serais pas plus que le moron pleurnichant que vous êtes. Peut-être que vous ne laissez jamais aller vos jouets et votre poupées ... peut-être que c'est la raison pour laquelle vous avez besoin quelque chose à retenir lorsque vous essayez de regarder un homme dans les yeux."

His words were heavy with an Italian accent and an air of superiority, though if one could tell close enough, his control of the French language was not to the caliber of Soleil's, signifying further that he was not a native to the land.

Henry Von Kressel

"If, by any chance, you think you're smart enough, or better than anyone here just because you think you can pull some fake smart talk, you're wrong. If you're thinking that you can insult people that way, you're wrong. You're nothing more than all of the disgrace humankind had ever passed through in the project of a man weak enough to provoke people in secure places, where he thinks he's the king of the world. You're a self made joke. You're the rat among the worthy ones, thinking you can pass like one of them, while everyone sees your tail waving in fear. What will they do if they find out that you're nothing more than a rat? I don't know about them, but I'll tell you what I'll do."

I'm a calm person. I try to. But some people took their time today to make me angry as possible. So I'll describe, calmly what I'll do to you if you ever do it again. I'll not just punch you. I'll break you. I'll make sure that for the rest of your life, you're marked as the disgraceful rat that you are. No one you shall judge worthy of your presence - because if you ask me, you should be in the dumpster - will ever want to talk to you. I'll use every last piece if influence I can to make sure that all of the world know that you are nothing than a ridiculous clown who portrays himself to be better than everyone around him, clawing for an attention people don't give you. Because they see your desperation. They have pity on you. They have mercy on you."

"But I won't have if you do that again. And believe me, I take my promises very seriously. So, before me and my friends lose our patience with you, move away with your tail. Before I decide to do it for you, and fulfill what I've promised regardless of your reaction, your worthless talking piece of something humanity has to bury and burn deep as possible."

For all the time before Henry's speaking up, the young man had on his face a cruel, mocking smile, suggesting he took some kind of sick pleasure in stirring up trouble and animosity among his foreign counterparts. He didn't really seem to care that just about every pair of eyes in the room was on him, frustrated and infuriated at him for disrupting the atmosphere of the ball. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the attention as well, having illicited outraged and angry reactions from nigh every American on the dance floor.

And yet now here the boy was, facing the closest thing to consequences that he had seen all night for his belligerent actions. Henry, a man of his own age now stood tall, looking down upon the black clad young man and put him down. He, like Soleil before him, spoke of desparation, but also insulted the boy to no end, especially with the fact that he was of a Noble House, and still found some stupid reason to defend the little abomination standing behind him that still dared to breathe the same air as everyone else in the room.

The young man's pointed face turned red with fury, his ears pink with embarrassment as his grin turned into a dreadful scowl. "...A Von Kressel...I didn't expect to see one of your kind lingering here, in such a lackluster place...with company that fits the location, most ironically."

"If we are to get introductions out of the way, my name is Lorianus Avitus Comnenus. Remember it well." Lorian said through gritted teeth, looking almost like fangs as they were shown. "I hail from Italia, where blood and purity are actually held sacred. We do not allow simple beasts, demons, and dolls in our company, for we have more respect for ourselves than you Americans and Germans will ever have. Your over-long speech on my class, however eloquent, is pointless when any rational man sees what you would consider worthy of your time..." he continued, his emerald eyes set on Henry's golden ones.

"And if you have the audacity to make such laughable threats, as your dear Professors have, then I'm sure you would be more than willing to back up your words with action." Lorian said, his lips curling into a smile once again. With a snap of his fingers, a broad jade green blade of mana sparked to life in his hands, white sparks arcing and coursing through the weapon as he raised in Henry's direction. "Or, if you are wise, you will take back every previous statement that you have made in the last minute, like the rest of your pitiful compatriots!"

At this moment, just as it seemed a bloody fight would break out, a new series of events began to unfold, some of them rather humorous in the eyes of the people Lorian had just insulted.

The arrogant boy was swept off of his feet by an invisible force, landing on his back and knocking the wind out of him in the span of two seconds, leaving the boy coughing and gasping for air, to the horror of a few of his 'friends'. More than anyone else now, he looked to be the pitiable one, helpless on the floor with no one to care. The sparking mana blade in his hands dissipated into nothing, like it had never been in the first place.

Well, that would have been the case if the next mystery man hadn't stepped forward from the hallway entrance. He was tall and pale, with short, platinum blond hair and narrowed sun gold eyes, clad in a white suit and blue tie that was loose on his neck, and obviously mismatched. He looked absolutely furious at the boy at the boy, the sound of his footsteps heavy as he quickly advanced towards Lorian, who still lay sprawling on the floor.

"You bloody foolish child! That is no way to act! Not in your home, not in my Academy, not anywhere!" he said with a quiet, controlled anger as he lifted the boy up by the scruff of his neck, only to drop him again, sending Lorian down on all fours, gasping for breath once more.

The man looked over to the Mana students and Professors, shaking his head. "...My sincerest apologies, my friends...It would seem like this child thought he could do as he damn well pleased in a place that wasn't his mansion..."

Rabbit smiled calmly from behind his mask, as Lorian was promptly laid-out by his professor, and he turned to the man as he apologized. "There is no need for that. It is not your fault. The boy should have known better than to attack a student from another school in such a petty manner," he answered, friendily. He then walked around Lorian, as he gasped for air on the ground, and he put an arm around Soleil's shoulders. "Are you alright, dear?" he asked the boy, who was staring at the ground in disgrace.

As Lorian spat him down, Soleil had backed away slightly, and he had pet Bastille, trying to keep calm. He then backed away even more, when the Italian teacher admonished Lorian. By the time Rabbit had come to comfort him, he had buried his face in Bastille's fur, frightened and unable to watch. Seeing that his student was not responding, Rabbit hugged him to his chest, and the boy slowly calmed himself, peeking from out of Bastille's fur to look at his classmates.

"Ahem! I see we have been having plenty of fun tonight, monsieurs and madamoiselles?"

If everyone looked up toward the second-level of the ballroom, they would see Madame Bourbon standing above everyone, on a balcony. She was decked in a satin, ocean-blue mermaid gown that hugged her figure and gave her an air of both total style and total authority. Her huge pearl earrings, necklace, ring, and pearl-encrusted shoes completed her look.

"Excellent! But now, since we have moved deep into the night, and all of you are here, I am sure that you are interested in knowing a little bit more about the event that has brought all of you here to this luxurious event," she answered. As her dark eyes twinkled knowingly, she continued, "Every four years, the International Student-Mage Tournament hosts forty of the top students from eight of the best magical academies in the world. This year, those students are...all of you! Since many of you are new, let me explain to you some of the rules, and how you can all maximize your chances of taking your school to the top." She then held up a hand, and showed all five fingers.

"Each school is represented by five students, so each school starts with five points. For each student that loses, your team loses a point. If all of the students win, your team keeps all of their points. If your team loses all of them, however, and has no capable substitutes-your two reserves-your school is eliminated from the competition. Except...that is not all. There are penalties that we will keep track of. Five to be exact: attacking an opponent while they are down, beating an opponent after they are rendered unconscious, actively attempting to kill an opponent, arriving late to a match, and breaking our curfew, which is 10:30 every night during the tournament. Each penalty costs .2 points, and if a student-or a teacher-breaks all of them, their school will be eliminated from the competition. Of course, I'm sure all of you are wonderful young mages who will not break any of those rules, now, will you?"

After a moment, she then disappeared and reappeared in front of the students, in the middle of the dance-floor. Her expression was only mildly smug, and she looked like she was having a bit too much fun herself.

"Final submissions for teams are due by 6:45 AM tomorrow morning, to my hotel room in the penthouse. If you are late, your entire school is eliminated, so don't be late, dearies! Now, why don't we all finish this night in style, hm?" Madame Bourbon snapped her fingers, and the band began to play a soft, jazzy slow-dance song. When she had done this, she disappeared.

Soleil simply stated up at her for a moment, and then he looked around the room. Seeing he still had Anne-Marie's cat, he smiled up at Rabbit to thank him for his kindness, and then he walked over to her. "O-Oh...ummmm...I-I'm sorry, I...I-I ran away with Bastille...p-please, take him back...I-I almost walked out of the room with him..." he told her, a bit embarrassed.

[Charlia]

At the sound of Soleil's question's, the boy closed his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, as if to emphasize that none of the words were worth his time. Every single syllable, asking if he was lonely, asking if he was sad, was total garbage. This tiny child, about a half a foot shorter than the boy, had the audacity to ask such stupid questions, and in a peasant language no less. Nonetheless, it was one the young man knew fairly well, and his response to Soleil was just as hateful and scathing as all those that had passed.

"Écoutez attentivement, votre enfant stupide. Un homme n'a pas besoin de poupées, ni jouets comme vous le faites. Si jamais je le faisais, je serais pas plus que le moron pleurnichant que vous êtes. Peut-être que vous ne laissez jamais aller vos jouets et votre poupées ... peut-être que c'est la raison pour laquelle vous avez besoin quelque chose à retenir lorsque vous essayez de regarder un homme dans les yeux."

His words were heavy with an Italian accent and an air of superiority, though if one could tell close enough, his control of the French language was not to the caliber of Soleil's, signifying further that he was not a native to the land.


For all the time before Henry's speaking up, the young man had on his face a cruel, mocking smile, suggesting he took some kind of sick pleasure in stirring up trouble and animosity among his foreign counterparts. He didn't really seem to care that just about every pair of eyes in the room was on him, frustrated and infuriated at him for disrupting the atmosphere of the ball. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the attention as well, having illicited outraged and angry reactions from nigh every American on the dance floor.

And yet now here the boy was, facing the closest thing to consequences that he had seen all night for his belligerent actions. Henry, a man of his own age now stood tall, looking down upon the black clad young man and put him down. He, like Soleil before him, spoke of desparation, but also insulted the boy to no end, especially with the fact that he was of a Noble House, and still found some stupid reason to defend the little abomination standing behind him that still dared to breathe the same air as everyone else in the room.

The young man's pointed face turned red with fury, his ears pink with embarrassment as his grin turned into a dreadful scowl. "...A Von Kressel...I didn't expect to see one of your kind lingering here, in such a lackluster place...with company that fits the location, most ironically."

"If we are to get introductions out of the way, my name is Lorianus Avitus Comnenus. Remember it well." Lorian said through gritted teeth, looking almost like fangs as they were shown. "I hail from Italia, where blood and purity are actually held sacred. We do not allow simple beasts, demons, and dolls in our company, for we have more respect for ourselves than you Americans and Germans will ever have. Your over-long speech on my class, however eloquent, is pointless when any rational man sees what you would consider worthy of your time..." he continued, his emerald eyes set on Henry's golden ones.

"And if you have the audacity to make such laughable threats, as your dear Professors have, then I'm sure you would be more than willing to back up your words with action." Lorian said, his lips curling into a smile once again. With a snap of his fingers, a broad jade green blade of mana sparked to life in his hands, white sparks arcing and coursing through the weapon as he raised in Henry's direction. "Or, if you are wise, you will take back every previous statement that you have made in the last minute, like the rest of your pitiful compatriots!"

At this moment, just as it seemed a bloody fight would break out, a new series of events began to unfold, some of them rather humorous in the eyes of the people Lorian had just insulted.

The arrogant boy was swept off of his feet by an invisible force, landing on his back and knocking the wind out of him in the span of two seconds, leaving the boy coughing and gasping for air, to the horror of a few of his 'friends'. More than anyone else now, he looked to be the pitiable one, helpless on the floor with no one to care. The sparking mana blade in his hands dissipated into nothing, like it had never been in the first place.

Well, that would have been the case if the next mystery man hadn't stepped forward from the hallway entrance. He was tall and pale, with short, platinum blond hair and narrowed sun gold eyes, clad in a white suit and blue tie that was loose on his neck, and obviously mismatched. He looked absolutely furious at the boy at the boy, the sound of his footsteps heavy as he quickly advanced towards Lorian, who still lay sprawling on the floor.

"You bloody foolish child! That is no way to act! Not in your home, not in my Academy, not anywhere!" he said with a quiet, controlled anger as he lifted the boy up by the scruff of his neck, only to drop him again, sending Lorian down on all fours, gasping for breath once more.

The man looked over to the Mana students and Professors, shaking his head. "...My sincerest apologies, my friends...It would seem like this child thought he could do as he damn well pleased in a place that wasn't his mansion..."

Rabbit smiled calmly from behind his mask, as Lorian was promptly laid-out by his professor, and he turned to the man as he apologized. "There is no need for that. It is not your fault. The boy should have known better than to attack a student from another school in such a petty manner," he answered, friendily. He then walked around Lorian, as he gasped for air on the ground, and he put an arm around Soleil's shoulders. "Are you alright, dear?" he asked the boy, who was staring at the ground in disgrace.

As Lorian spat him down, Soleil had backed away slightly, and he had pet Bastille, trying to keep calm. He then backed away even more, when the Italian teacher admonished Lorian. By the time Rabbit had come to comfort him, he had buried his face in Bastille's fur, frightened and unable to watch. Seeing that his student was not responding, Rabbit hugged him to his chest, and the boy slowly calmed himself, peeking from out of Bastille's fur to look at his classmates.

"Ahem! I see we have been having plenty of fun tonight, monsieurs and madamoiselles?"

If everyone looked up toward the second-level of the ballroom, they would see Madame Bourbon standing above everyone, on a balcony. She was decked in a satin, ocean-blue mermaid gown that hugged her figure and gave her an air of both total style and total authority. Her huge pearl earrings, necklace, ring, and pearl-encrusted shoes completed her look.

"Excellent! But now, since we have moved deep into the night, and all of you are here, I am sure that you are interested in knowing a little bit more about the event that has brought all of you here to this luxurious event," she answered. As her dark eyes twinkled knowingly, she continued, "Every four years, the International Student-Mage Tournament hosts forty of the top students from eight of the best magical academies in the world. This year, those students are...all of you! Since many of you are new, let me explain to you some of the rules, and how you can all maximize your chances of taking your school to the top." She then held up a hand, and showed all five fingers.

"Each school is represented by five students, so each school starts with five points. For each student that loses, your team loses a point. If all of the students win, your team keeps all of their points. If your team loses all of them, however, and has no capable substitutes-your two reserves-your school is eliminated from the competition. Except...that is not all. There are penalties that we will keep track of. Five to be exact: attacking an opponent while they are down, beating an opponent after they are rendered unconscious, actively attempting to kill an opponent, arriving late to a match, and breaking our curfew, which is 10:30 every night during the tournament. Each penalty costs .2 points, and if a student-or a teacher-breaks all of them, their school will be eliminated from the competition. Of course, I'm sure all of you are wonderful young mages who will not break any of those rules, now, will you?"

After a moment, she then disappeared and reappeared in front of the students, in the middle of the dance-floor. Her expression was only mildly smug, and she looked like she was having a bit too much fun herself.

"Final submissions for teams are due by 6:45 AM tomorrow morning, to my hotel room in the penthouse. If you are late, your entire school is eliminated, so don't be late, dearies! Now, why don't we all finish this night in style, hm?" Madame Bourbon snapped her fingers, and the band began to play a soft, jazzy slow-dance song. When she had done this, she disappeared.

Soleil simply stated up at her for a moment, and then he looked around the room. Seeing he still had Anne-Marie's cat, he smiled up at Rabbit to thank him for his kindness, and then he walked over to her. "O-Oh...ummmm...I-I'm sorry, I...I-I ran away with Bastille...p-please, take him back...I-I almost walked out of the room with him..." he told her, a bit embarrassed.

Katelyn's eyes widened, and she dashed over to Rabbit.

"Hey, I can be on the team, right? It'd be so much fun. And I'm pretty good at fighting. Can I do it? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaase?"

She looked truly desperate. She wanted to participate so badly.

---

The Japanese teacher, Sarawa-sensei as her students knew her, cleared her throat, having gathered the seven children together.

"Well! You'll all be glad to know, I'm sure, that you have been chosen to represent our academy in the tournament! Sasaki-san, Kanata-san, you two will be our reserve team members. Kageyama-san, Akuma-san, Matsushita-san, Saitama-san, and Tanaka-san, you five will be our main fighters. Isn't that exciting?"

Sadako's eyes widened, and she loudly shrieked, "YES!" with delight. Hanako cleared her throat as if to remind her friend to calm down, and Kazuo just looked slightly embarrassed.


Himiko covertly snuck a glance at Momoko, her eyes shining and her face turning pink. She could show the other girl how strong she was for sure, now! She'd defeat all the competition in Momoko's honor!

I won't allow anyone but our academy to win.

For Momoko-chan.

[Luminesa]

Rabbit smiled calmly from behind his mask, as Lorian was promptly laid-out by his professor, and he turned to the man as he apologized. "There is no need for that. It is not your fault. The boy should have known better than to attack a student from another school in such a petty manner," he answered, friendily. He then walked around Lorian, as he gasped for air on the ground, and he put an arm around Soleil's shoulders. "Are you alright, dear?" he asked the boy, who was staring at the ground in disgrace.

As Lorian spat him down, Soleil had backed away slightly, and he had pet Bastille, trying to keep calm. He then backed away even more, when the Italian teacher admonished Lorian. By the time Rabbit had come to comfort him, he had buried his face in Bastille's fur, frightened and unable to watch. Seeing that his student was not responding, Rabbit hugged him to his chest, and the boy slowly calmed himself, peeking from out of Bastille's fur to look at his classmates.

"Ahem! I see we have been having plenty of fun tonight, monsieurs and madamoiselles?"

If everyone looked up toward the second-level of the ballroom, they would see Madame Bourbon standing above everyone, on a balcony. She was decked in a satin, ocean-blue mermaid gown that hugged her figure and gave her an air of both total style and total authority. Her huge pearl earrings, necklace, ring, and pearl-encrusted shoes completed her look.

"Excellent! But now, since we have moved deep into the night, and all of you are here, I am sure that you are interested in knowing a little bit more about the event that has brought all of you here to this luxurious event," she answered. As her dark eyes twinkled knowingly, she continued, "Every four years, the International Student-Mage Tournament hosts forty of the top students from eight of the best magical academies in the world. This year, those students are...all of you! Since many of you are new, let me explain to you some of the rules, and how you can all maximize your chances of taking your school to the top." She then held up a hand, and showed all five fingers.

"Each school is represented by five students, so each school starts with five points. For each student that loses, your team loses a point. If all of the students win, your team keeps all of their points. If your team loses all of them, however, and has no capable substitutes-your two reserves-your school is eliminated from the competition. Except...that is not all. There are penalties that we will keep track of. Five to be exact: attacking an opponent while they are down, beating an opponent after they are rendered unconscious, actively attempting to kill an opponent, arriving late to a match, and breaking our curfew, which is 10:30 every night during the tournament. Each penalty costs .2 points, and if a student-or a teacher-breaks all of them, their school will be eliminated from the competition. Of course, I'm sure all of you are wonderful young mages who will not break any of those rules, now, will you?"

After a moment, she then disappeared and reappeared in front of the students, in the middle of the dance-floor. Her expression was only mildly smug, and she looked like she was having a bit too much fun herself.

"Final submissions for teams are due by 6:45 AM tomorrow morning, to my hotel room in the penthouse. If you are late, your entire school is eliminated, so don't be late, dearies! Now, why don't we all finish this night in style, hm?" Madame Bourbon snapped her fingers, and the band began to play a soft, jazzy slow-dance song. When she had done this, she disappeared.

Soleil simply stated up at her for a moment, and then he looked around the room. Seeing he still had Anne-Marie's cat, he smiled up at Rabbit to thank him for his kindness, and then he walked over to her. "O-Oh...ummmm...I-I'm sorry, I...I-I ran away with Bastille...p-please, take him back...I-I almost walked out of the room with him..." he told her, a bit embarrassed.

Katelyn's eyes widened, and she dashed over to Rabbit.

"Hey, I can be on the team, right? It'd be so much fun. And I'm pretty good at fighting. Can I do it? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaase?"

She looked truly desperate. She wanted to participate so badly.

---

The Japanese teacher, Sarawa-sensei as her students knew her, cleared her throat, having gathered the seven children together.

"Well! You'll all be glad to know, I'm sure, that you have been chosen to represent our academy in the tournament! Sasaki-san, Kanata-san, you two will be our reserve team members. Kageyama-san, Akuma-san, Matsushita-san, Saitama-san, and Tanaka-san, you five will be our main fighters. Isn't that exciting?"

Sadako's eyes widened, and she loudly shrieked, "YES!" with delight. Hanako cleared her throat as if to remind her friend to calm down, and Kazuo just looked slightly embarrassed.


Himiko covertly snuck a glance at Momoko, her eyes shining and her face turning pink. She could show the other girl how strong she was for sure, now! She'd defeat all the competition in Momoko's honor!

I won't allow anyone but our academy to win.

For Momoko-chan.

Rabbit looked to Katelyn and answered calmly, "All of us Professors will discuss this at length in the morning, before we send our forms. You will know in the morning who we picked, dear," he answered. He hated sounding so...mechanical, almost, but Katelyn had wore him out. She changed from excited to angry in the blink of an eye, and he himself was not sure if she was stable enough for the tournament. She was a great fighter, but her temper and her emotions always seemed to get in the way.

Meanwhile, from the other side of the room, Momoko's team was celebrating. Momoko herself looked a little nervous about fighting, but she clapped for her friends when they were picked. "Yay! Congratulations, Himiko-chan! Midori-chan! Sadako-chan! Katsuko-chan! All of you! Let's all do our best and have fun!" she cheered.

"Have fun? HAVE FUN?!" Katsuko stood over Momoko and shouted. "WE WILL NOT SIMPLY 'HAVE FUN'. WE WILL DEFEAT THE OTHER SCHOOLS AND WE WILL COME-OUT VICTORIOUS! FOR I. AM. SAITAMA. KATSUKOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" She raised her spear triumphantly and struck a pose.

Midori merely sighed, as she was used to Katsuko's behavior, and hoped she would not be utterly ridiculous during the tournament.

[Charlia]

Katelyn's eyes widened, and she dashed over to Rabbit.

"Hey, I can be on the team, right? It'd be so much fun. And I'm pretty good at fighting. Can I do it? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaase?"

She looked truly desperate. She wanted to participate so badly.

---

The Japanese teacher, Sarawa-sensei as her students knew her, cleared her throat, having gathered the seven children together.

"Well! You'll all be glad to know, I'm sure, that you have been chosen to represent our academy in the tournament! Sasaki-san, Kanata-san, you two will be our reserve team members. Kageyama-san, Akuma-san, Matsushita-san, Saitama-san, and Tanaka-san, you five will be our main fighters. Isn't that exciting?"

Sadako's eyes widened, and she loudly shrieked, "YES!" with delight. Hanako cleared her throat as if to remind her friend to calm down, and Kazuo just looked slightly embarrassed.


Himiko covertly snuck a glance at Momoko, her eyes shining and her face turning pink. She could show the other girl how strong she was for sure, now! She'd defeat all the competition in Momoko's honor!

I won't allow anyone but our academy to win.

For Momoko-chan.

Rabbit looked to Katelyn and answered calmly, "All of us Professors will discuss this at length in the morning, before we send our forms. You will know in the morning who we picked, dear," he answered. He hated sounding so...mechanical, almost, but Katelyn had wore him out. She changed from excited to angry in the blink of an eye, and he himself was not sure if she was stable enough for the tournament. She was a great fighter, but her temper and her emotions always seemed to get in the way.

Meanwhile, from the other side of the room, Momoko's team was celebrating. Momoko herself looked a little nervous about fighting, but she clapped for her friends when they were picked. "Yay! Congratulations, Himiko-chan! Midori-chan! Sadako-chan! Katsuko-chan! All of you! Let's all do our best and have fun!" she cheered.

"Have fun? HAVE FUN?!" Katsuko stood over Momoko and shouted. "WE WILL NOT SIMPLY 'HAVE FUN'. WE WILL DEFEAT THE OTHER SCHOOLS AND WE WILL COME-OUT VICTORIOUS! FOR I. AM. SAITAMA. KATSUKOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" She raised her spear triumphantly and struck a pose.

Midori merely sighed, as she was used to Katsuko's behavior, and hoped she would not be utterly ridiculous during the tournament.

Katelyn's eye twitched. She wanted to tell him not to call her 'dear', but she figured if she annoyed him then he'd never let her be on the team. "Okay," she said, forcing a cheerful tone, and walked away.


Sadako just shoved Katsuko to the side playfully, grinning. "You drama queen," she teased. "Your sense of self-restraint hasn't developed past the first grade."


"We'll all do our best together, Momoko-chan," Himiko said with a tiny smile, still blushing.

[Luminesa]

Rabbit looked to Katelyn and answered calmly, "All of us Professors will discuss this at length in the morning, before we send our forms. You will know in the morning who we picked, dear," he answered. He hated sounding so...mechanical, almost, but Katelyn had wore him out. She changed from excited to angry in the blink of an eye, and he himself was not sure if she was stable enough for the tournament. She was a great fighter, but her temper and her emotions always seemed to get in the way.

Meanwhile, from the other side of the room, Momoko's team was celebrating. Momoko herself looked a little nervous about fighting, but she clapped for her friends when they were picked. "Yay! Congratulations, Himiko-chan! Midori-chan! Sadako-chan! Katsuko-chan! All of you! Let's all do our best and have fun!" she cheered.

"Have fun? HAVE FUN?!" Katsuko stood over Momoko and shouted. "WE WILL NOT SIMPLY 'HAVE FUN'. WE WILL DEFEAT THE OTHER SCHOOLS AND WE WILL COME-OUT VICTORIOUS! FOR I. AM. SAITAMA. KATSUKOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" She raised her spear triumphantly and struck a pose.

Midori merely sighed, as she was used to Katsuko's behavior, and hoped she would not be utterly ridiculous during the tournament.

Katelyn's eye twitched. She wanted to tell him not to call her 'dear', but she figured if she annoyed him then he'd never let her be on the team. "Okay," she said, forcing a cheerful tone, and walked away.


Sadako just shoved Katsuko to the side playfully, grinning. "You drama queen," she teased. "Your sense of self-restraint hasn't developed past the first grade."


"We'll all do our best together, Momoko-chan," Himiko said with a tiny smile, still blushing.

She shouted to her in response, "I NEED NO SELF-RESTRAINT!!! I AM A STORM, A GUSHING FORCE OF NATURE THAT WILL FILL EVERYONE WHO WALKS INTO ME WITH FEAR AND LOATHING!!!!..." She then stopped for a moment, and she walked over to Sadako. She then pushed her very lightly, as though she was not sure if she should do so.

Momoko was clueless to Himiko's blushing, as usual, but Midori did notice it. She had watched how Himiko and Sadako had interacted with each other, and she had a feeling that their respective feelings for the cute-yet-oblivious girl was particularly to blame. She frowned as she thought about this, as she knew their behavior toward each other would probably only get worse once the fighting actually started.

[Charlia]

Katelyn's eye twitched. She wanted to tell him not to call her 'dear', but she figured if she annoyed him then he'd never let her be on the team. "Okay," she said, forcing a cheerful tone, and walked away.


Sadako just shoved Katsuko to the side playfully, grinning. "You drama queen," she teased. "Your sense of self-restraint hasn't developed past the first grade."


"We'll all do our best together, Momoko-chan," Himiko said with a tiny smile, still blushing.

She shouted to her in response, "I NEED NO SELF-RESTRAINT!!! I AM A STORM, A GUSHING FORCE OF NATURE THAT WILL FILL EVERYONE WHO WALKS INTO ME WITH FEAR AND LOATHING!!!!..." She then stopped for a moment, and she walked over to Sadako. She then pushed her very lightly, as though she was not sure if she should do so.

Momoko was clueless to Himiko's blushing, as usual, but Midori did notice it. She had watched how Himiko and Sadako had interacted with each other, and she had a feeling that their respective feelings for the cute-yet-oblivious girl was particularly to blame. She frowned as she thought about this, as she knew their behavior toward each other would probably only get worse once the fighting actually started.

Sadako started laughing, and poked Katsuko in the face, making sure not to get the other girl in the eye.

"Don't be ridiculous. Everyone knows I'm the storm around here. And if you're a storm, then that just means I can control you. Bet you don't want that, huh?"

[Saldinado]

Dominique Corleone

Dominique looked at the emerald-eyed boy fall on the ground and was lectured by his teacher for his behavior, for which he responded with stifled laughs and looks at the boy. But his niceness got in the way and decided to help Lorian to his feet and smiled at him before dusting his shoulders off for him.

"There you go! All spiffy and nice for the night!", he said chuckling with his anger now being replaced with his usual cheery self, though it was at a more calmer and quiet. He was still annoyed at him for his remarks, but could forgive him for it. He then looked at what he believe to be his teacher or headmaster and smiled and waved at him. "Um...Bonjourno! Or ciao; piacere di conoscerti signore! ", he said continuing to smile. He knew how to speak a little Italian due to school, but only enough to form a single conversation. "And don't worry. I do believe that some of us were also acting unprofessional, myself included."

But then, Madame Bourbon came from out the blue in the blue and stood in a balcony above them, looking very well. Though given her status and possible wealth, she could look like a model in her pajamas. He turned to listen to her speak about the reason that they were all here, which he already knew was for this tournament, as well as the rules and regulation for it. They seemed easy to know and understand. And just like that, she was gone and the sound of her voice was replaced with the sound of the band playing. He shrugged his shoulders as he stood there waiting for the teachers to say something. As he did, he shyly smiled at Soleil and nodded at him as a form of comfort before folding his arms once more over his chest.

Shaun Calhoun

Shaun just rolled his eyes and shook his head at Scott as he gave such vague answers to his questions. He would ask if he would like to sleep with him for the night in his room while finding a hotel room for him but quickly dismissed it, for fear of causing a complete mess between Scott and Soleil as they probably either don't know each other or like each other. And he had enough drama as it is with his friends' antics and constant ganging up on the other international students. But that French's headmaster's rules and penalties...They seemed to be off to Shaun. There seemed to be holes in them. Large enough to drive trucks through them. And knowing the people here and already seeing their antics, they too already knew it as well.

This made him smile in an almost slyly evil way. Knowing that these games were going to be more corrupt than last year's Olympics made him began to think off all the ways one might find loopholes in these regulations and rules so that he can prepare for them as well as possibly use them himself. Looking as Scott, he walked beside him and spoke to him.

"Hmph. Seeing as the end is near for us, I'll be going to my room...If your staying here, than goodnight. Well in our case, good morning. If you're looking for me, than you know where to find me. Au revoir." And soon he turned towards the doorway and began leaving the ballroom. But before he left, he had something to say to his companions that were all near the stranger.

"And would you all please behave yourself? You might get us eliminated just because someone offended your name. Be the better people and just ignore him instead of stooping down to this fils de pute level of sad antics and giving him what he wants. Isn't that what you would've told us to do?" Shaun said calmly and politely possibly to either Rabbit, Aether or even both. But not looking at the two of them.

"And before I go..." Shaun then walked over to Aria and raised her left hand up to his mouth and softly kissed it before letting it gently back down and shyly smiling at her.

"It's nice to see you here Aria. Hopefully you're alright and feeling better. If you need anything, you know where to find me. Plus, you look beautiful as usual." With a wave of his hand, he left the group alone and walked completely out of the ballroom. "Au revoir les amis. See you in the morning."

[Archembalt]

Shaun Calhoun

Shaun just rolled his eyes and shook his head at Scott as he gave such vague answers to his questions. He would ask if he would like to sleep with him for the night in his room while finding a hotel room for him but quickly dismissed it, for fear of causing a complete mess between Scott and Soleil as they probably either don't know each other or like each other. And he had enough drama as it is with his friends' antics and constant ganging up on the other international students. But that French's headmaster's rules and penalties...They seemed to be off to Shaun. There seemed to be holes in them. Large enough to drive trucks through them. And knowing the people here and already seeing their antics, they too already knew it as well.

This made him smile in an almost slyly evil way. Knowing that these games were going to be more corrupt than last year's Olympics made him began to think off all the ways one might find loopholes in these regulations and rules so that he can prepare for them as well as possibly use them himself. Looking as Scott, he walked beside him and spoke to him.

"Hmph. Seeing as the end is near for us, I'll be going to my room...If your staying here, than goodnight. Well in our case, good morning. If you're looking for me, than you know where to find me. Au revoir." And soon he turned towards the doorway and began leaving the ballroom. But before he left, he had something to say to his companions that were all near the stranger.

"And would you all please behave yourself? You might get us eliminated just because someone offended your name. Be the better people and just ignore him instead of stooping down to this fils de pute level of sad antics and giving him what he wants. Isn't that what you would've told us to do?" Shaun said calmly and politely possibly to either Rabbit, Aether or even both. But not looking at the two of them.

"And before I go..." Shaun then walked over to Aria and raised her left hand up to his mouth and softly kissed it before letting it gently back down and shyly smiling at her.

"It's nice to see you here Aria. Hopefully you're alright and feeling better. If you need anything, you know where to find me. Plus, you look beautiful as usual." With a wave of his hand, he left the group alone and walked completely out of the ballroom. "Au revoir les amis. See you in the morning."

Scott gave a half-hearted nod of his head as he gave an ear to Shaun's other comments. The mage had given just a little thought to staying in the same room with someone -- in fact, he hated it -- but there was a chance that he could actually make some "friends" and have someone backing him when the going gets tough. But Scott hardly knew how powerful, or useful, Shaun was. Honestly, most people here just seemed to be bundles of raw, untamed power. They lacked strategy, tact . . . control. He'd prefer to just wait until others show their power off before befriending them. And then there was the trouble of having to remember where his hotel was, fetching his basset hound, Bertram, and then taking him all the way over to where Shaun was staying. And Bertram was a cumbersome load.

What a hassle.

"Goodnight," Scott said, allowing Shaun to saunter over to the exit. Shaun's scolding made Scott lightly chuckle to himself, as he shared his sentiments. The teachers and students were acting petty. And then he saw Shaun kiss Aria's hand. Something about that bothered him. It didn't make him hate Shaun any, no, but the way everyone was fawning over some emotionally broken, redheaded broad irritated him conceptually. He had been spotting just a few pretty faces in the crowd -- particularly one anonymous woman, who had pale skin, black freckles casting a dotted array across her cheeks and nose, long, black curly hair, a voluptuous figure, and large, brown eyes. And a well-designed navy blue dress. Striking. He wished that he could have approached her at some point, until he took note of a nondescript man who had an arm around her waist. Shame.

And when he looked at Aria, he could see nothing noteworthy. Yet teachers and students alike crowded her.

How baffling.

When the strange, golden-eyed, pale man knocked Lorian off of his feet and succinctly subdued the student, Scott huffed. He had really wanted the scenario to unfold a little more. It would have been entertaining, he was sure of it.

For the remainder of the night, Scott would just reside there nearby the wall like usual and continue his "people-watching" until all cleared out. By that time, Bertram would probably be dying to be in his master's company. Basset hounds are very social dogs.

[Luminesa]

Dominique Corleone

Dominique looked at the emerald-eyed boy fall on the ground and was lectured by his teacher for his behavior, for which he responded with stifled laughs and looks at the boy. But his niceness got in the way and decided to help Lorian to his feet and smiled at him before dusting his shoulders off for him.

"There you go! All spiffy and nice for the night!", he said chuckling with his anger now being replaced with his usual cheery self, though it was at a more calmer and quiet. He was still annoyed at him for his remarks, but could forgive him for it. He then looked at what he believe to be his teacher or headmaster and smiled and waved at him. "Um...Bonjourno! Or ciao; piacere di conoscerti signore! ", he said continuing to smile. He knew how to speak a little Italian due to school, but only enough to form a single conversation. "And don't worry. I do believe that some of us were also acting unprofessional, myself included."

But then, Madame Bourbon came from out the blue in the blue and stood in a balcony above them, looking very well. Though given her status and possible wealth, she could look like a model in her pajamas. He turned to listen to her speak about the reason that they were all here, which he already knew was for this tournament, as well as the rules and regulation for it. They seemed easy to know and understand. And just like that, she was gone and the sound of her voice was replaced with the sound of the band playing. He shrugged his shoulders as he stood there waiting for the teachers to say something. As he did, he shyly smiled at Soleil and nodded at him as a form of comfort before folding his arms once more over his chest.

Shaun Calhoun

Shaun just rolled his eyes and shook his head at Scott as he gave such vague answers to his questions. He would ask if he would like to sleep with him for the night in his room while finding a hotel room for him but quickly dismissed it, for fear of causing a complete mess between Scott and Soleil as they probably either don't know each other or like each other. And he had enough drama as it is with his friends' antics and constant ganging up on the other international students. But that French's headmaster's rules and penalties...They seemed to be off to Shaun. There seemed to be holes in them. Large enough to drive trucks through them. And knowing the people here and already seeing their antics, they too already knew it as well.

This made him smile in an almost slyly evil way. Knowing that these games were going to be more corrupt than last year's Olympics made him began to think off all the ways one might find loopholes in these regulations and rules so that he can prepare for them as well as possibly use them himself. Looking as Scott, he walked beside him and spoke to him.

"Hmph. Seeing as the end is near for us, I'll be going to my room...If your staying here, than goodnight. Well in our case, good morning. If you're looking for me, than you know where to find me. Au revoir." And soon he turned towards the doorway and began leaving the ballroom. But before he left, he had something to say to his companions that were all near the stranger.

"And would you all please behave yourself? You might get us eliminated just because someone offended your name. Be the better people and just ignore him instead of stooping down to this fils de pute level of sad antics and giving him what he wants. Isn't that what you would've told us to do?" Shaun said calmly and politely possibly to either Rabbit, Aether or even both. But not looking at the two of them.

"And before I go..." Shaun then walked over to Aria and raised her left hand up to his mouth and softly kissed it before letting it gently back down and shyly smiling at her.

"It's nice to see you here Aria. Hopefully you're alright and feeling better. If you need anything, you know where to find me. Plus, you look beautiful as usual." With a wave of his hand, he left the group alone and walked completely out of the ballroom. "Au revoir les amis. See you in the morning."

Rabbit smiled at Shaun as he left, knowing that he was referring to him, but he understood. He had never intended to attack Lorian physically, but being a teacher meant he hoped he had at least scared the boy a little.

Soleil saw Shaun going back to his room, and he handed Bastille to Anne-Marie. "...I-I hope you...you have a good night...A-And Bastille, too..." he muttered. As he spoke to the cat, he pet the cat behind the ears again. He had been so patient with him, sitting in his arms as he hugged him and hid his face in his fur. Now his arms suddenly felt...empty. "...G-Good night..." he repeated to Anne-Marie. He then turned and walked over to Kasumi. "...K-Kasumi-chan...I think I might...turn in for the night...I-If...that doesn't bother you..." he mumbled.

[Charlia]

Rabbit smiled at Shaun as he left, knowing that he was referring to him, but he understood. He had never intended to attack Lorian physically, but being a teacher meant he hoped he had at least scared the boy a little.

Soleil saw Shaun going back to his room, and he handed Bastille to Anne-Marie. "...I-I hope you...you have a good night...A-And Bastille, too..." he muttered. As he spoke to the cat, he pet the cat behind the ears again. He had been so patient with him, sitting in his arms as he hugged him and hid his face in his fur. Now his arms suddenly felt...empty. "...G-Good night..." he repeated to Anne-Marie. He then turned and walked over to Kasumi. "...K-Kasumi-chan...I think I might...turn in for the night...I-If...that doesn't bother you..." he mumbled.

"It's all right, Soleil-kun," Kasumi said reassuringly. "I'm going to need rest myself. I promised Natalie I would take her to buy something for Hikari, after all, and knowing her, I'm going to need to be well-rested for that adventure."


Speaking of Natalie, she was no longer dancing with Orso. She'd fallen asleep, so Hikari had picked her up and could be seen leaving the ballroom, Natalie sleeping on her shoulder.

[Woodstovia]

Alexander had spent hours preparing for this ball. He was a d'Autriche, and a d'Autriche especially in love with himself. He couldn't let his name or his ego down and needed to be perfect. Alex's hair was washed and neatly brushed, his face was shaven and washed, his skin perfect. But one thing always ruing=ed it: the eyes. Those haunting, evil eyes. On more than one occasion Alexander had considered it... Considered driving a dagger or his thumbs through them, feeling that pop as they burst and deflated and the black gunk mixed with his blood and dripped down his face. To get rid of them, to have a face freed from the torment of eternal imperfection and evil. But every time he tried, every time he pressed his thumbs to his eyes and decided that this was the time he hesitated and faltered. Perhaps it was because his eyes had always been there, since his birth. They had always served him loyally and protected him. Maybe it was the fear of blindness, being swamped by eternal darkness and fear. If he lost his sight he'd become a defenseless mewling creature. Worthless. Maybe he was simply afraid of the pain, or the sound or the feeling of maiming himself? Whatever the case once again Alex lowered his thumbs and sighed. He'd have to bear another day with them.

He strode to the ballroom, a bag of insecurities and meat and bone sewn up together and not much more. He knew what to expect, students from all around the earth were here. He knew what he'd get, looks of disdain, disgust, pity, revulsion. One glance at his eyes and most flinched or turned away and they were lost to him forever. He simply had to bear it. He was strong, he couldn't be weak, he had to bear it, to glare at their faces of disgust and pity and revulsion all the same and not be phased by it. Though perhaps it was all water and would erode at him until he snapped? Alex stopped thinking about the issue.

Nevertheless he was as well made up as he could be and he stalked into the room, knowing what to expect. What he got instead was chaos. A million voices screaming at a German child in a faux-Prussian outfit, strutting around while teachers swiped at him and the children surrounding him each tried to come up with their own unique taunts which simply fell flat or missed the target. Humans were stupid. Alex concluded and decided to go speak to some foreign students, he spoke German so he mixed with them the best he could despite being emotionally and socially stunted. Once the excitement with talking to a foreigner wore off most of the Germans deserted him. They deserved to have been massacred he decided at once. About to leave before the teachers made an announcement - A tournament!

Alexander quickly almost ran up to them, radiating excitement. For once in his life something was providing genuine entertainment! "I need a place in this." he told Rabbit simply, less of a request and more of a demand.

[Chrome Legion]

Hailey Winters


Hailey walked up to Kate, a seductive twinkle in her emerald eyes. She was walking with a bit more of a flair as well, throwing her hips out more than normal. Now that the dance was ending she had something else on her mind. Something that she had waited for with Kate far longer than anyone she had been with before. Hailey came up to Kate, and took her hand loosely.

"So, looks like this event is starting to wind down, and I'm getting aweful bored, what do you say we head back up to our room put on some music..."

[Luminesa]

Rabbit smiled at Shaun as he left, knowing that he was referring to him, but he understood. He had never intended to attack Lorian physically, but being a teacher meant he hoped he had at least scared the boy a little.

Soleil saw Shaun going back to his room, and he handed Bastille to Anne-Marie. "...I-I hope you...you have a good night...A-And Bastille, too..." he muttered. As he spoke to the cat, he pet the cat behind the ears again. He had been so patient with him, sitting in his arms as he hugged him and hid his face in his fur. Now his arms suddenly felt...empty. "...G-Good night..." he repeated to Anne-Marie. He then turned and walked over to Kasumi. "...K-Kasumi-chan...I think I might...turn in for the night...I-If...that doesn't bother you..." he mumbled.

"It's all right, Soleil-kun," Kasumi said reassuringly. "I'm going to need rest myself. I promised Natalie I would take her to buy something for Hikari, after all, and knowing her, I'm going to need to be well-rested for that adventure."


Speaking of Natalie, she was no longer dancing with Orso. She'd fallen asleep, so Hikari had picked her up and could be seen leaving the ballroom, Natalie sleeping on her shoulder.

He smiled at her, and then he kissed her cheek. "...Good night, Kasumi-chan...I-I hope you sleep well...a-and...th-that you will make the team..." he whispered. He then walked away and followed Shaun to their room. As he walked out of the ballroom, he also looked at Aria and smiled at her. "...I-I am sorry for...wh-what happened...I hope you have a good night too...Y-You look wonderful..." he told her shyly. He blushed a little as he spoke to her, and then he hurried away after Shaun.

As he walked out of the light and into the darkness, his conversation with Ruta came back to him. He worried about what Ruta had told him, about whether or not he was happy with his friends, with the life he had. He definitely was quite happy, but only at Mana...

And then he remembered what Tsukiyomi had told him. She had wanted to speak to him about something, after the dance.

Rushing away from Shaun, he ran back into the ballroom and went to look for Tsukiyomi. As he did so, he passed Cecily, who had been heading to bed herself, and who gave him a very sharp glare as he walked by. He did not take the time to notice it, with all of the worries he had, but it was certainly strange.

When he finally reached Tsukiyomi, he poked her from behind. "P-Professor?...D-Did you want to speak to me about something?" he asked, softly.

[Luminesa]

Alexander had spent hours preparing for this ball. He was a d'Autriche, and a d'Autriche especially in love with himself. He couldn't let his name or his ego down and needed to be perfect. Alex's hair was washed and neatly brushed, his face was shaven and washed, his skin perfect. But one thing always ruing=ed it: the eyes. Those haunting, evil eyes. On more than one occasion Alexander had considered it... Considered driving a dagger or his thumbs through them, feeling that pop as they burst and deflated and the black gunk mixed with his blood and dripped down his face. To get rid of them, to have a face freed from the torment of eternal imperfection and evil. But every time he tried, every time he pressed his thumbs to his eyes and decided that this was the time he hesitated and faltered. Perhaps it was because his eyes had always been there, since his birth. They had always served him loyally and protected him. Maybe it was the fear of blindness, being swamped by eternal darkness and fear. If he lost his sight he'd become a defenseless mewling creature. Worthless. Maybe he was simply afraid of the pain, or the sound or the feeling of maiming himself? Whatever the case once again Alex lowered his thumbs and sighed. He'd have to bear another day with them.

He strode to the ballroom, a bag of insecurities and meat and bone sewn up together and not much more. He knew what to expect, students from all around the earth were here. He knew what he'd get, looks of disdain, disgust, pity, revulsion. One glance at his eyes and most flinched or turned away and they were lost to him forever. He simply had to bear it. He was strong, he couldn't be weak, he had to bear it, to glare at their faces of disgust and pity and revulsion all the same and not be phased by it. Though perhaps it was all water and would erode at him until he snapped? Alex stopped thinking about the issue.

Nevertheless he was as well made up as he could be and he stalked into the room, knowing what to expect. What he got instead was chaos. A million voices screaming at a German child in a faux-Prussian outfit, strutting around while teachers swiped at him and the children surrounding him each tried to come up with their own unique taunts which simply fell flat or missed the target. Humans were stupid. Alex concluded and decided to go speak to some foreign students, he spoke German so he mixed with them the best he could despite being emotionally and socially stunted. Once the excitement with talking to a foreigner wore off most of the Germans deserted him. They deserved to have been massacred he decided at once. About to leave before the teachers made an announcement - A tournament!

Alexander quickly almost ran up to them, radiating excitement. For once in his life something was providing genuine entertainment! "I need a place in this." he told Rabbit simply, less of a request and more of a demand.

Rabbit turned down to look at him, and he nodded, though inside he was sighing with slight exasperation. It seemed only the more violent students were truly interested in this tournament, whereas the students who were the best representatives did not seem to care either way. Nevertheless, he had to give him an answer. "We will see in the morning. We will all meet in the courtyard and explain how we will train for this tournament as well," he answered, quietly.