of gold and ash.

----- nerissa blake, asp. "true mystery lies in the visible."

[crownae]

"Perhaps," shrugging nonchalantly, pressuring his left palm upon his temple with a light exhale. "But I’m sure you would just share it with me if I really wanted it."

[grim-dust]

"I may be feeling particularly stingy tonight, who knows."

[the-blackest-constellation-deac]

"There’s a difference between being curious and completely moronic. Places listed as off-limits are generally avoided for good reason." she spat, digging into the depths of her school bag for another pencil. Her mind was clearly frazzled at the moment as she barely registered the other’s question, refusing to tear her gaze away from the pile of coursework on the table before them. "I have two projects due this week and three tests, not to mention that I’ve been slacking in power control training. Now I have to worry about Claer’s little brother getting himself killed out of ‘curiosity’? I’d rather it be the proverbial cat instead. Much less messy, much less stressful."

[grim-dust]

"You mean lightning boy?" The words came as a fleeting memory of one of the only redheads on campus surfaced. Never mind the similarities between the girl mentioned and the boy himself; to date, he was among the few Rissa knew off-hand to take in the sights of the local forest on more than one occasion recently enough to be relevant. A brief quiet would pass between them once the shuffling ceased, Nerissa eventually fishing out a cigarette from her back pocket with ease. The clicking of a lighter would be the only noise for a time. "As I said. Not much to be done, more so if he's so insistent. So take a breath why don't you." At that point, the blonde appeared to take her own to heart, breathing in the nicotine and later exhaling moments after. "If he's smarter about it, he'll limit himself, especially since he's only just recovered."

[crownae]

"Even if I asked? Pleaded.”

[grim-dust]

"Maybe if you pleaded. But I expect genuine pleading. No half-assing it, mister."

[crownae]

"I don’t think I could stomach the amount of snacks that you would prepare to bring."

[grim-dust]

"If that's your way of calling me greedy, I'll accept it. I never said anything about sharing any of it, anyway."

[the-blackest-constellation-deac]

"Why must freshmen insist on venturing out into the Blair Forest? Are instructions that difficult to comprehend?"

[grim-dust]

"They're a curious sort, I suppose. Can't be helped, really." Watching the utensil fly, amusement flickered briefly in her features before returning to something more subdued in nature, as per usual. "They'll learn in time. ... In any event, that can't be the main reason for your frustration, can it? I would think you'd have more important things to fret over, Patel."

[crownae]

"Unfortunately, I really don’t want to have you be sentenced to any trouble.” Slender arms ascended and crossed with brows subtly rising. “Stroll through the forest it is.”

[grim-dust]

"Oh good. We should stop for snacks beforehand."

[crownae]

"You certainly have a wondrous perspective on the topic, Nerissa.” Lips curved upward in response and a forced exhale with it . “Oh, I definitely wasn’t. I think that I could grant a reward like that. Did you have anything that you wanted to do in mind anyway?” 

[grim-dust]

"Set off the fire alarms, watch them scramble." A moment of thought, and another idea struck. "Or a stroll through the forest, maybe."

[crownae]

“‘Good’? I had no idea there was a certain level of quality that the word ‘fun’ possessed. You were thinking about giving me a vacation from you entirely? How.. thoughtful. I don’t think that it was all that necessary though, but still brilliant.”

[grim-dust]

"There are plenty of levels. Everyone just has a habit of lumping it all together most of the time." A shrug accompanied her words automatically, a smile gracing her lips following. "Don't get too into the idea, I just figured if I left you alone for awhile, I'll have all the more reason to bother you more later as a reward." 

[deareditor-deactivated20150613]

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[crownae]

"You’ve decided to leave me out on it then?"

[grim-dust]

"Well I never said it was good fun. It never is without you. Anyway, I figured you might enjoy the quiet more without me around bugging you for a bit. Most everyone could use a vacation here and there, right?"

[crownae]

"The lack of activity circulating throughout the campus is truly astonishing — might I even say enjoyable?"

[grim-dust]

"It's boring. I've had to make my own fun lately."

[atlantisritual]

[thefashioncave]

[lightning-kid]

Lloyd let electricity course about his form before she turned her head back to him. He almost released another jolt, but he decided against. He lowered his visualization of power and grinned widely. “I think I am going to go back to the forest! I wanna know why I got sick,” he said, giving Nerissa a thumbs up.

[grim-dust]

"That's the opposite of what I meant, you realize." By all accounts, it was also a pretty dumb idea, more so considering the boy's former claim. And had she been someone who particularly cared one way or the other, the mere suggestion of returning to the forbidden area would have likely brought about a fierce scolding. Since she wasn't one with much concern in either case, there seemed little wrong with seeing what all the fuss was over and killing some time. "So I take it you wouldn't mind an extra, then?"

[lightning-kid]

"Both!" he exclaimed, turning briskly to the young woman who approached him. With a wide grin, he looked up to the sky. "You want everyone to go into a state of panic?" Lloyd asked, looking back down onto the wide eyed classmen who noticed that electric bolt being sent into the sky.

[grim-dust]

"Even you have to agree it's been a bit dull." A gamesome grin replaced her former, a lighthearted air to her ways as she cast a quick motion beyond her. "I doubt they'd mind so much." As if to confirm, her gaze landed on a few others who seemed to place no immediate disagreement. If out of fear, there was hardly a clear indication as to whether it was from her or the idea itself. Nerissa gave little chance for proper response in either case however, soon returning to Lloyd.

"So what is it you plan to do with your new found good health? Nothing too perilous, I assume?"

[lightning-kid]

"Guess who is better than ever?!" 

The vocalization of upbeat resonated throughout the quad. Upon one of the many staircases, Lloyd stood with his arms spread out. He let free a bolt of electricity into the sky. He looked up and came back with a slightly worried look. “Don’t worry, it’s not coming back.”

[grim-dust]

"Now to which are we referencing?" Her book snapping shut, sky hues shifted towards the other. "The bolt of lightning or the sickness?" Recalling the young male's prior state when speaking of the last choice, the petite blonde kept a weather gaze on the underclassman, a pondering expression in play. "Though, I admit the idea of a bolt suddenly crashing back might work as a nice change of pace, so I may be hoping for the latter on some level."

[anightfullofnosleep]