things i have loved. [open]

[adelaide]

There was heard a deep piano rift, powerful and haunting. Body-moving, almost, as if you'd want to dance to interpret the flowing patterns. It was repetitive, but still just enough difference to keep your attention. And then a voice.

Thank heavens she didn't have that stereotypical sound. Most of the time, it was either operatic or that pathetic pop-rock shit that came from most girls her age.

Imagine a hollowed-out pumpkin, filled with honey and cayenne pepper. Just a bit closer to what she sounded like, if that whole mess could make a noise.

"The flowers you gave me are rotting
And still I refuse to throw them away.
Some of the bulbs never opened.
They might, so I'm waiting and staying awake."

Almost accusing, but still quite happy, in its own strange way. The lyrics had been picked up and copied from some artist, the piano music listened to over and over before eventually played on those ivory keys. She was quite good - one of her few talents - and played as often as she could.

"Things I have loved I'm allowed to keep.
I'll never know if I go to sleep."

Back in the major chords now, for a split second, and then back to minor, hushed, before rippling into something grandiose and lovely.

"The papers around me are piling
And twisting Regina the paperback mummy.
What then?

I'm taking a knife to the books that I own
And I'm chopping and chopping
And boiling stick from stone."

Threatening, agressive. Back to the chorus.

"Things I have loved I'm allowed to keep.
I'll never know if I go to sleep."

Repeated, and then Adelaide's voice was lifted up into a slow movement. Not really words, just a voice rising and lowing, making noise and patterns with the tongue, while the piano continued underneath it.

Pretty, but slightly frightening in a way. She loved it.

[/size]

[Elijah de Abbith]

It was a wonder more teachers hadn't thrown hissy fits at him. Elijah had decided that morning to roam the Blackbriar University of Whatever, which meant he couldn't bring along Riley, but eh. You couldn't have everything, and some stupid kid probably would have tried to blow up the poor dog. Besides, this way he didn't have to worry about the German Shepherd keeping quiet or trying to jump on someone.

It was one of his more common haunts, though. Sure, he probably wasn't supposed to be there, and he was twelve years past needing to be there, but it was worth it occasionally. Interesting people, crazy people, suicidal people, relatively normal people... there was an amazing variety of life there. No, wait, there was an amazing variety among the species dwelling there. That species in question was obviously humans. Human mutants, yeah, but humans nonetheless. And, as a human, he decided, it was well within his rights to wander around the building! He loved his screwed up logic.

This time, though, it had led him somewhere interesting. He perked a bit upon hearing the piano... well, actually, it looked like he perked a bit, but he perked a lot. Everyone has to have some sort of creative outlet, and music was his. Piano was a common instrument to learn, but to hear someone playing something he either hadn't heard much or never had before made it worthy of his attentions. He padded carefully onward, then edged into the room. Must be sneaky; don't want to disturb Piano Girl.

He chose the corner farthest from the piano, glancing briefly at the instrument itself and then at the back of the girl. Redhead; if he had seen her, he hadn't seen her enough to remember her right off the bat. It wasn't like the back of one's head was a good way to identify someone, anyhow. That was not a huge factor right now, though. He glanced from the floor to the piano, still silent and unmoving. Nope. Not a problem at all.

[Lucian Stone.]

Lucian Stone wandered about in the halls that he had previously helped create... over what? 50 years ago - more or less? The building looked good. It was lasting, and strong. Strong from the hands of the mutants who built it - like a huge castle fortress. It was nice to see it still in good condition, unlike other such wonders of the world. How he got in? Simple enough - the front door. He looked like any other bright young face around the halls. However, his portrait still hung over the great hearth in the mess hall, so only the intellectual students made the connection and scurried off to inform a teacher.

It was at that moment that Lucian slid around a corner and ducked into a hidden passage in the wall when a couple of wary teachers charged down the halls. Lucian wasn't exactly given the warmest welcome anymore - he was practically exiled, but not totally forgotten. People just didn't know where to place him. His ideas were good and justifiable, but his motives were unclear. Lucian just wanted to observe his school without six teachers hanging about - being all protective and the like. He navigated about the dark tunnels expertly; vibrant blue eyes picking up the slightest bit of light to see.

Although, as he was walking, a sound steadily echoed through the walls as he got further and further. It was the sound of a piano - the higher keys carrying first, then the low ones, then a voice. Lucian walked softly for a while more, trying to figure out at which point the sound was closest. Finally he found it, and lingered with his ear against the wall - listening as his breath grew silent. It was a positively haunting sound, no doubt (Lucian was always a sucker for classical instruments). He waited until the song ended, before leaning on the wall slightly to push it open.

Although as he began to enter the room from out of the wall, it was too late to just go back when he saw an adult standing in the corner. Sneaky little silent bastard. Lucian pushed through anyways, closing the section of wall behind him and proceeded to clap his hands with an artful expression. His black wings were not tightly folded as usual, but up and out a bit, wary just in case this teacher was going to do anything about him being there. Lucian regarded him coldly before looking over the girl.

"Bravo, bravo - that was positively marvelous," the words rippled from Lucian's deep voice as he stalked around the room on long, slender legs. He sighted a violin and picked it up casually, examining it, "I play a bit of violin on occaison... But I do love the classical instruments. Call me, old-fashioned. Or, better yet, call me Lucian; Lucian Stone," that comment was more or less directed to the male who stood in the corner, trying to entice him to move, or to see what effect his name would have. Lucian posed against a desk, plucking at the violin grimly.

[adelaide]

She hadn't even seen the first gentleman come in - he was on her wrong side, and even if the eye had been working, the eyepatch completely blocked her view. It was the second man's voice that startled her. The flurry of sheet music and banging piano keys couldn't possibly stifle the sound of her rising up off the bench and smacking her little head on the raised lid of the piano, making her clap her hand on her forehead, which smarted it even worse.

"What? Who is that? Who are you?" She looked around blindly, grabbing the edge of the piano with one hand while reaching around for her cane with other - it had fallen out of reach and was rolling across the floor.

Her one eye was screwed up in her head from the pain, and she could only see in brief glimpses, which made her stumble and nearly fall, although she caught herself in time.

"Why are you in here? I thought I was alone? Were you watching me this whole time?!" Adelaide's voice was almost hysterical, although the pain seemed to calm her as it slowly ebbed away. But she still couldn't find her cane.

"Who are you? Who's there? I know you're there. There's two of you." Adelaide limped her way over to the walking stick, picking it up and leaning on it with one hand while gesturing with the other angrily, cheeks blushed ruby in her agitation.

[Elijah de Abbith]

Another man, complete with wings, came in through the wall, saw him, and then went on to clap. Elijah watched as he roamed around the room, picking up a violin and starting to pluck at it. He, himself, was a bit more focused on the girl. She had jolted up, hit her head on the piano, and was now fumbling around for the walking stick and rattling off questions. She was essentially asking variations of the same thing, over and over. Elijah stayed in his corner, eyebrows raised skeptically as he watched her. He would answer whenever he felt like it, which would probably be when she finished talking. Convienence and whatnot.

She stopped talking, gesturing about angrily with her free hand, cheeks flushed crimson. Elijah took this chance to speak up. "I'm Elijah de Abbith, great playing, sounds nice. As to that aloneness question, nope, not here the whole time. I'm just sneaky like that, and I think he may be just an inquisitive jerk," he said brightly, fingers laced behind his head. Wonderful move, Elijah. No wonder everyone loves you. It's not as if you offend people based off of first impressions, after all. Well, he had pretty accurate first impressions most of the time! He had heard the other man's name. Rang a bell, somewhere... wasn't he that guy who built this place...? Oh, yeah, he was. Nifty.

Elijah himself looked... well... typical. Today's choice of attire were his black sneakers, black jeans, and a white shirt, complete with a design of skulls and flowers in black. Summing the rest up, he was as scruffy as usual. Nothing special. The winged man (name, name, what was his name again?) was far better looking than him, something he decided to ignore. Down, Elijah. Of course, it did help to reassure himself that Larry seemed to have a rather foul personality. Well... personalities didn't affect flings, but anyone who looked that good doubtless had an STD. It was just the way of the world.

He looked over the girl then. She had an eyepatch, but other than that she was... well... a redhead. Blue eyes, red hair, pale skin. Nothing especially different. Content with his examination, he allowed his hands to fall at his sides and looked over the instruments assembled in the room. Dammit. He knew he should have brought his DS today...

[JC Bytes.]

ooc;; LMAO!! I can't stop laugh for some odd reason. Hahaha...Larry.

[adelaide]

"Oh." She seemed a bit comforted by this, although by no means less anxious. "Thank you."

One tiny hand gripped the edge of the cane, blinking at either of them while she collected her thoughts. Breathe, breathe. This was indeed an awkward situation. She didn't really know who to look at - the gentleman who had applauded her in the first place and then ignored her, or the creepy one who had been watching her for heavens knows how long. And now the side of her face was beginning to twitch, sending shocks of muted pain up through her temple.

"Who are you, again? Did you even say your name?" Adelaide had always had one of the worst memories, and at the time she wasn't thinking straight anyhow. "Oh, yes. Elijah. P-pleasure to meet you." Thick accent made her stumble over her words, spare hand lifting to wipe away the bead of sweat on her brow.

"I'm...I'm Adelaide. O'M-Mara." Might as well try and attempt to make polite conversation, even though she was standing there wobbling on her nearly-useless legs. Another moment's pause, before the girl limped her way to the bench, the click of the wooden cane echoing through the room. She was shaking now - she'd riled up her nerves, and her eye was twitching so badly she could barely see.

Adelaide bit her lip, holding back a grimace. "S-so...why were you here in the first place? Either of you?"

[/size]

[Lucian Stone.]

Lucian looked up in bewilderment as the girl freaked out. Lucian absolutely hated people who were skeptics, cowards, claustrophobic, or panic-aholics. He would just rather her shut up and assume the wrong things rather than ask so many questions. With Luce, the more questions one asked, the less likely he was to answer them. When your brain is working that fast, nothing sticks, and Lucian hated to repeat himself. He merely sat down on a desk and waited it out until she shut up - or the other male answered for her.

Inquisitive jerk? Lucian scoffed lightly, shaking his head in amusement. Oooh, he was a wise-guy, eh? Well, two could play at that. Adelaide O'M-Mara - Lucian logged that away. She was such a pitiful little creature. Weak... Half destroyed. He could entice her to come join his army; but what powers could she possibly possess that would be of any use? Mutants were like fireworks. All in various types of packaging; but the most elaborate had some duds and the plainest sometimes went off with a bang.

"It's Lucian. Stone." he answered back, rubbing his temples. Argh. Stupid gimp, "I was taking a tour through my school and happened upon your playing. This one here may just be a loose rapist or something... I'd be careful - they'll let just about anyone in the school these days," Lucian smarted, striking a nonchalant pose on the desk after crossing his legs. He had no idea as to where he would go from here. Perhaps he would try to get at whatever ability this girl had, and to entice her to join his side... Unless, of course, she was useless.

[Elijah de Abbith]

Elijah nodded as the girl gave them her name, trying to mentally log it away. In the way of things, his weird little mind instantly started rearranging and messing with the letters. Oh, well. If they got ticked off because he messed up their names, sucked to be them, he might get it eventually. Adrienne had calmed down, gotten Lar... no, Lucian, to repeat his name, although he did it with much rubbing of temples and irritation. Oh yeah. Definitely an inquisitive jerk.

"Yeah, nice t' meet you too. Eh. I roam around the school every so often. Heard the piano-" he gestured absently with one hand at the instrument- "a minute or so ago, wandered in." He glanced at Larry, eyebrows quirking upwards with amusement. "If I were a-" he did airquotes with his fingers- " 'loose rapist'-" end airquotes- " then I would have had my head blown off by now. If I were a rapist, I would have been skulking around at night instead of in broad daylight, and I wouldn't have bothered giving my real name. Any more questions?" he asked. Until his last question, everything about his body language, the movements of his face, his hand gestures, had been more than hinting at sarcasm; but as he finished, he laced his fingers back behind his head and watched Lucian through lazily narrowed eyes. The very image of an innocent conversationalist.

He looked back at the piano, scanning over it once more before taking a look at the other instruments around the room. The violin, a drumset, an acoustic guitar... Ooo. Wait. Guitar. He could go to it and start playing, but he decided against it. He had one at home, and he was more involved with the situation at hand. It was far more interesting, at any rate. He'd wandered into the school to amuse himself, not to do something he could do at home.

[adelaide]

The greater part of their little 'conversation' was directed between one man to the other. Lucius, was it? No, Lucian. There was also Elijah--or Elias--no, Elijah, and either were tossing half-hearted insults towards one another. Adelaide was overwhelmed. Her fingers ran over the keys, feeling the smooth ivory, calming her tensed nerves. The piano always helped.

"Oh. I still don't get why either of you are here. Were you just curious, or something?" Apparently Miss O'Mara wasn't frightened enough to stutter her words--she spoke clearly, although cautiously. Perhaps they were in on something together. You could never keep your guard up too much.

Shifting her weight, the cane scratched against the floor, thumb and forefinger still running along the keys, like a security blanket that a child might have. Just reflexes, t'was all. She ran her spare hand through her hair, pushing back those long ringlets from her face in light agitation, although most of her stress had by now long fled from the room along with the pain from her forehead.

"Lucian, that's it. And...and Elijah." Adelaide had always been absolutely horrible with remembering names.

[Lucian Stone.]

"Well," Lucian scoffed once Elijah had finished his little speach, "I didn't say anything about you being a smart rapist; now did I?" it was the only rebuttle Lucian could think to say to that; but his art wasn't all in the type of words - but how he said them. With enough confidence and finesse, one could make even the dullest phrase positively genious. It was Lucian's method - to never loose confidence in his words. They were all he had. But, from the way Lucian closed his shoulder to the man, it was obvious that he didn't want to stick on this topic.

"Don't tell me you're crippled and stupid; it would just be too much to bear," Lucian sighed dramatically, annoyed at how unpromising this girl was. They told her like, three times why they were here. Some people just didn't have very good sense. Composing himself, Lucian tried to explain it in other terms, "You're a talented musician - isn't that enough to be here? And - unfortunately - I'm quite sure it is probably the only thing you're good at..." Lucian muttered the last bit under his breath, but still quite hearable. Politeness was something he lost, oh, about fifty years ago. Now he was just being honest.

A keen look was sent her way. Lucian was just being, himself, and feeling slightly playful - and dreadfully devious at the same time. Besides - she was being annoying, making him repeat everything. She deserved a little bit of rift he was sending her way. Perhaps it would teach her to listen up better; now that what he was saying could potentially be harmful. Oh, how could people go about so obliviously? What if Elijah was a rapist - she wouldn't be able to remember his name for the police.

[Elijah de Abbith]

"Nope," Elijah agreed mildly, a smirk, impossible to see unless you were paying attention, playing along his lips. "If you had, you wouldn't have had a comeback." The topic was settled now, though. He widened his eyes in mock horror at Adrienne. "What? Curiosity? Never. If I were curious, I'd have stopped and looked in on that noisy janitor closet I heard. Strange what lives in there nowadays," he mused amiably, ignoring Lucian's being an ass to the girl. She had made it through high school and she would be fine right now.

He slouched contently in his corner, silent as the proverbial grave as he watched the other two. For a man who didn't give a shit if he ranted and raved at someone in the middle of a public area, he could be awfully quiet when he wanted to be. Well, that wasn't often (unless he was somewhere he shouldn't be) but he was still good at it. That fact remained. It was always useful... got a touch obsolete when you were 6'6, looked like a hobo, and had to go through crowds, but still useful.

He drummed his fingers on his thigh, tapping out some rhythm or who knew what. The soundtrack of the mind. Such fun; whatever tune you feel like listening to, you play what you remember and no one can hear it. He, frankly, preferred his iPod, but whatever floats your boat.

His hands now loose at his sides, he watched Adrienne, wondering absently what she would do.

[adelaide]

Silence. She was, obviously, speechless.

Rising up off the bench, the redhead tottered over to Lucian's side, standing there looking up at him before wrapping her arms about his middle - she barely reached his collarbone - in a tight hug. "Thanks for being honest, Mr. Lucian." Might as well be polite for once. It'd be a one-time opportunity for this guy.

She looked up at him, not meeting his gaze, as she didn't think he'd realized that she was hugging him yet. "And I'm not totally useless. I can swim at a speed of almost ninety miles per hour, you know." Well, he wouldn't have known, but now he knew.

Adelaide's head turned, looking at Elijah after his comment about the janitor's closet, giving a little giggle. "You're quite funny, did you know?" Apparently that knock on her head had given her brains a little jostle as well - in any other situation she'd have run away and would now have been sitting at the bottom of the nearest source of water, fuming.

[Lucian Stone.]

Lucian watched warily through his icy blue eyes as the girl began to approach him. He didn't exactly trust anyone that well; especially mutants. Lucian had seen a kid of his recieve a hug from one of those porcupine mutants - and, lemme tell ya, it was not pretty. So, naturally, when the girl began to wrap her arms around his chest, Lucian almost stood up; his arms agape with his wings spread open. The lights even started to dim as his apparent uneasyness coursed through the shadows. He listened to what she was saying incredulously; still prepared to beat it out of there if things got hairy.

He was surprised when it didn't. In fact, Lucian had barely heard what she said - too surprised by the fact that he was being hugged for saying something horrible mean - which was exactly the smartest thing for the girl to do at the moment. Lucian fed of fear, panic, hatred, and lust - but sweetness, that was something foreign to him. He was at a loss for words - the last time he had been touched in such a manner (minus all the sex) was when Victoria was still alive. Lucian couldn't have been happier when she finally released him; but shrank backwards a few steps. The lights returned to their usual brightness.

"Swimming eh... thats... useful..." Lucian replied dubiously, not giving off the impression of being either dissatisfied or sincere. His generally mixed up reply could be taken either way; but he was more concerned with straightening up his shirt to look her way and make the comment stick - so it listlessly bounced off the walls. He wondered at what an odd little girl this was - and was sincerely suspicious. No. She couldn't possibly be that way. She was going to do something else... She had to be upset - didn't she? Lucian waited pensively for what was to come next.

[Elijah de Abbith]

Elijah watched, more than a little baffled, as the girl went to Larry, watched him for a couple of moments, and then hugged him. The lights dimmed, and the other man just generally looked as uncomfortable as could be. Honestly, he probably would have been too, if some girl he'd only just met had toddled up to him, hugged him, and thanked him for being as ass. It didn't stop him from watching, smirking, eyebrows raised just a tad. Must be liked hugging cardboard, he though absently. He was, naturally, quite amused by this situation. It was just... humorous. Did he honestly need to explain himself?

Lucas. Or no, wait, was his name Ludo? Larry? No, it wasn't Larry, couldn't be, it had a U sound. Louis! That was it, wasn't it? Anyone able to see his thoughts, watch as he tried to make his brain remember this guy's damn name, would have been at least sniggering. He really was hopeless when it came to names. There was just no way around it. The only names he didn't forget were the ones he could make fun of at a later date, and those he would cling to with a sticky-fingered glee reminiscent of a three year old with ADHD and Pixy Stix. He was quirky! Good for him.

"It's been implied a couple of times," he replied to Adrienne, a grimace flickering on and off his face. The humor was mostly commented on before he made some overly snarky remark, which would probably then earn him a horrified stare and angry words. It was so amusing, really. The looks, the horror, the indignation... he had to get a video camera someday, he decided. Honestly. There were so many wonderful situations he hadn't caught on film. Doubtless, they would make noises that would scare the neighbors and have the University kid next door yelling at him to turn it down and help him with his homework. And then Elijah would be bitching at the kid and then the kid would be bitching at Elijah and then they'd be bitching at each other until the elder of the two tried to burn the other's papers to a crisp... maybe the video camera wasn't such a good idea.

Digging around in his pocket rewarded him with a garishly colored yo-yo. It was worn, faint indentations around the edge where something had chewed on it, the sticker almost all gone. To saw the least, it was well-loved and well-chewed, probably from a couple of times when Riley had gotten at it. He was a bit more focused on the function of the yo-yo, though. It didn't take him more than a few moments to pick some random trick and start on it, in this case loop the loop. We return to the three-year old reference, plus five years and minus some of the ADHD and several of the Pixy Stix.