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Maurabel ignores her classmates, by and large. She most especially ignores them when she is on the path that leads to the elemental barracks, because on those occasions they are more likely than usual to laugh at her.
She has considered their arguments, insofar as they have any, and they're nonsense, so now she ignores them. As best she can, anyway.
The amulet-minder knows her, too, and doesn't stop her on her way in to ask what element she wants the way he would anyone else. She'll take an amulet on the way out, probably. (Usually.)
She lets herself in and starts scanning the population. She saw two Shadows out flying on her way in, which means unless nobody else has one checked out, the selection's going to be pretty thin. She can use another element if she needs to, though. She doesn't need to do dark scrying specifically for this project - in fact, she could work entirely out of her personal affinities, if they wouldn't give her the time of day - dark scrying just interests her and she doesn't have enough of her own Shadow affinity to pull it off alone.
She counts Shadows, assessing how much time it's going to cost her to get the willing help of whichever feels like working "cheapest" today - and she sees an unfamiliar face.
A nearby Water leans in the new Shadow's direction. Maurabel stands back politely, hands clasped behind her, and lets her talk to him.
"That's the weird one I told you about," Water whispers to Shadow. "The one who makes it all - transactional, has all these fussy rules for herself."
When Water appears to be done talking to Shadow, Maurabel takes a couple of steps forward.
"Hello, Shadow," she says gently. "I'm Maurabel. Looks like you're new. I'll leave you alone if you want me to but I would like to talk to you. Do you prefer to just be called Shadow and told apart from the others with your university checkout number, or do you have a name you like?"
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make_opportunity
make_opportunity
"Thanks." She puts the box on her desk; she'll turn it in later. "Okay, that's all I have for today."
make_opportunity
"You have any plans for your chunk of time, or are you still waiting to think of something?" she inquires, getting up to lead him out.
just-a-shadow
"I still haven't thought of anything," he says. "And I haven't made any friends here to give it to."
make_opportunity
"Earth - the one I borrowed the other week, fifty-four - he's friendly. Although his best friend isn't, so that might be off-putting. One of the Shines is very sweet - twenty-one. Dust is nice, when she talks, although more often she daydreams, which might suit you. Let me know if I should stop recommending you friendly elementals."
make_opportunity
"Both of the Stones seem nice enough. One of the Ices - twenty-eight - is pleasant to me, but I'm not sure if that's just because she likes going to the library and doesn't have someone like Earth is to Lightning who'll split earned time with her... The newest of the three Glasses was the most recent acquisition before you and might not have made close friends yet either, but I can't vouch in much detail for her personality."
just-a-shadow
"I... had a friend. Before our owner sold me to the university. I miss him a lot," Shadow murmurs.
just-a-shadow
"And I don't think I could be friends with anyone else like I was with him. And I don't know any other way."
make_opportunity
"Like you were with him?" asks Maurabel - aiming as best she can for "gentle curiosity" and not "invasive prying".
make_opportunity
Quiet is fine.
She makes sure the amulet is clear and returns it to the minder.
She doesn't need any elementals all week, but she does drop by on that weekend to see if Earth and Lightning want it. She doesn't mind fronting Earth some time or giving it away outright when she has it to spare.
She makes sure the amulet is clear and returns it to the minder.
She doesn't need any elementals all week, but she does drop by on that weekend to see if Earth and Lightning want it. She doesn't mind fronting Earth some time or giving it away outright when she has it to spare.
Earth and Lightning do in fact want the weekend. Lightning is even in one of his less belligerent moods when she asks; he smiles instead of ignoring her or glaring.
make_opportunity
That will make the escort to her room pleasanter! She checks them both out, tells the attendant it's going to be all weekend, mutters something inaudible about homework that seems like it might involve insulting her Wards teacher, and then absconds with the amulets and their attached elementals.
They hold hands on the way; Lightning's sparks fizzle harmlessly on Earth's skin, and the loose end of a vine from Earth's halo loops itself around Lightning's wrist.
make_opportunity
Maurabel lets them into her room. She's already packed a weekend bag. "Are you all set?" she inquires.
"Yep!" says Lightning. Earth nods corroboratively.
make_opportunity
"Okay. Have fun, don't alert the neighbors, the media, or the faculty," she says with a wave, and she puts her bag on her shoulder, tucks the amulets under her shirt, and goes off to visit her parents for the weekend.
She is back in plenty of time to sleep on campus the night before her next class, and knocks conscientiously first.
She is back in plenty of time to sleep on campus the night before her next class, and knocks conscientiously first.
Earth opens the door.
As usual for when the pair of them spend a long time in her room, the place is completely spotless - bed made, floor swept, surfaces dusted, all garbage deposited in the bin. Lightning looks more cheerful than usual, and Earth does too, although on him it's much harder to tell.
As usual for when the pair of them spend a long time in her room, the place is completely spotless - bed made, floor swept, surfaces dusted, all garbage deposited in the bin. Lightning looks more cheerful than usual, and Earth does too, although on him it's much harder to tell.