Good Morning {open}

[ROSS ♥ WHITE]

Blackness. That’s how it all begins. No light. No life. Just blackness. The sky seems to blanket the land in the dark comfort until the sun trickles in with her fiery glory. Then the blackness dissipates and explodes into a million colors. As the rays of light stretch across the sky the world awakens to begin the cycle of life all over again.

Ross leaned back into comforts of the soft chair sipping slightly on the coffee which he had purchased from the banquet hall. That was the beautiful thing about St. Gabriel just because it was a school didn‘t mean it had to be one. He smiled slightly at the idea. It was true in too many ways. The academy looked official on the outside, but the students had so many freedoms it was painful. There were so many instances that Ross was sure he‘d explode he didn‘t know what to do with himself.

That was it, the Academy expected you to go to class and then after that have a life. The Academy loved it when you got up early in the morning just to watch the sunrise. It loved when you went to parties late night and survived class the next day. The Academy wants happiness…

Another whiff of the hazelnut aroma and the coffee was back to his lips again. Ross sighed deeply before leaning back into the chair to close his eyes for a bit. It was a terrifying thing to think that this could all disappear. The powers, late night rendezvous and partying with the staff. All because some nitwit human organization decided they were scared…

The soft boyish face grew a grimace as he thought of it. That nitwit human organization was also killing off supes. Ross twitched slightly at a faint sound. His eyes opened up slightly as he felt the urge to shift for protection. His eyes traveled across the room to see a dim reflection in a window. He tried to make out the face, but the light of the rising sun made it difficult to figure it out.

The were’s mind quickly went to the familiar death, Luka Svatsky. The one vampire friend was both a soccer player and a rugby player. The immensely sad thing about it was that Luka wasn’t half bad. He clearly couldn't be out during the day, but most of the humans were told he had an extreme case of albinism and when there were night games he was phenomenal. Luka was one of those students who snuck around in the middle of the night. Most of the Academy knew why, but like Ross most kept quiet because they respected “love” boundaries. There was no sense in breaking up a couple if they were in love and if you were smart you’d know not to cross a siren or a vampire, but someone did exactly that.

They killed a siren's mate and within school walls. Ross didn't know how to feel about it, but if he knew Luka's girlfriend well enough, he was scared for them.

"Good morning…" Ross said with a slight turn of his head hoping he’d be able to catch the stranger in his peripherals. "You just going to stand there? I don‘t bite, I swear…" A sincere smile danced across Ross’s lips as he waited for the stranger to respond. That was another thing about the Academy. Whether or not you wanted people to be friendly, they were going to be. Sure there were a lot of stuck up… ehem mers ehem… people who like to stick with their cliques, but there were tons of friendly people to balance it out too. After all outside Academy walls was the human world and that world doesn’t exactly have that many curse sympathizers hanging around waiting to say good morning.

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[esmerelda]

"Don't get too close, boy. I might slice you up."

Esmerelda tilted her head at the teenage boy sat in the chair. She had been hoping to avoid talking to anyone, but now knew that was unavoidable.

She sighed, and skirted around the chair, making for another on the side of the room.

'You don't,' she glanced over her shoulder at him. 'But I might.'

She sat down in the chair she'd made for, leaning her katana against it so she would still be able to reach it if she needed to. Shaking her long black hair back, she curled her legs underneath her as she sipped at her drink of choice, Spiced Berry tea from Twinings.

It was an English brand, but she found nothing else quite suited her taste. That, and contrary to common believe, she didn't like milk. Just because she was a Snow Leopard shifter, didn't mean she liked milk. Must be the Elemental in me... She thought to herself quietly. 'And why did I even stay in the same room as him...?' She frowned in confusion. She usually avoided males...

[ROSS ♥ WHITE]

The stranger spoke and stepped into view giving Ross a bit of relief. With the morning brightening up the room and lighting the dark space he felt a little more at ease. Although it was already clear that his new found acquaintance wasn't exactly so peach and cheery herself. Must not be a morning person.. He thought to himself as he took in a deep breath.

The scents in the room were easy to pick out. He could smell the dust lying on the windowsill, the warming of the sun against the old embroidered cushions and he could even pick out the scents of the girl's tea. What he was looking for was much different. As his nose processed each fiber in the room he found her scent. It was odd nothing he had really encountered before. While she smelled like a shifter there was something peculiar and wrong about her scent.

Ross straightened out a bit, hiding the grimace on his face. He tapped a finger on the top of his coffee lid before taking a sip. "Well good morning to you too..." He said after setting his coffee cup on his thigh. The lighthearted sarcasm seeped into his voice, but it was clear Ross was trying to stay positive.

That was the one thing he hadn't expected to run into in the morning. Usually he was alone in the room and sometimes, occasionally someone would stroll in enjoying the early morning like he had. Part of him wanted to snag Henry and have him analyze miss, I bite, but he knew that Henry was probably passed out in his room enjoying the night after a stressful day.

Ross eyed the stranger not exactly sure of what to say next, but he figured if he stared for too long she might snap. The academy ought to have a screening process for personality issues.... The thought lingered in his mind before he decided to give it another go. "You know this is the common area right? There are bound to be other people..." He mentioned matter-of-factly before taking another sip of his coffee. "Unless I did something to you and I don't remember? Or are you just not a morning person?" He waited a moment for a response as he rested his coffee on his thigh.

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[esmerelda]

"Don't come too close, boy. I might slice you up."

Esmerelda didn't look up as she replied calmly. 'I know. And no, not you personally. It was a long time ago, but I haven't let any male get close since.'

She took another gulp of her tea before speaking again. 'Before you ask, I'm a hybrid. Half Snow Leopard shifter, half Air Elemental. And my cat was unable to hunt last night, which is why I'm not too happy this morning.' She shuddered. 'I'll have to eat regular food, and that means vegetables...'

She scrunched her nose in distaste, and finished the last of her tea. She stayed where she was, though, fiddling with the tassel on the hilt of her katana, looking a little lost in thought.

She never went anywhere without it on the island, even inside the school, and knew that she would never leave it behind. The scabbard was a dark green, similar to her eyes, and had a gold cap on the end to keep the tip of the blade form cutting through. The hilt had been wrapped in black and green leather, providing a firm grip for when she needed it most.

[ROSS ♥ WHITE]

Ross stretched his hand letting each finger be bathed in the warmth of the sunlight. He wondered what it was like to be like Xander, never to see the light of day. He wouldn't be able to handle it. He brought the cup back to his lips to savor another taste hoping Henry would adhere to their smoothie day today. "I know what that feels like..." He said thinking about his mother.

She took off, abandoned him and left him alone. It ruined most of his relationships, but he made it a point not to take it out on other people. So he wasn't really all that sympathetic towards her, but he took it. Ross took it because he wasn't one to make other people feel bad about themselves.

"You go around just telling everybody that?" He laughed for a moment wondering where the hell this chick came from. Ross was bold and he shifted when he pleased, but he didn't go around telling everybody what he was. With the murders that were going on, he just wasn't going to play that game. If they took down Luka, a Siren's mate and a hundreds of years old vampire, the holy cross's knights could have his neck too.

He had noted the weapon she dragged in with her. Ross was used to the usual odd trinket. Some had lucky charms. Some vampires even had epipen like syringes that were filled with blood in case they hadn't fed. Though with the amount of supernaturals he never saw anything quite like that.

The only time he had encountered much of weapon use was around the headmaster and once when he was running away from a hunter. They had guns and they definitely had weapons that were upgrading with the more support they were getting. Ross could still feel the burn of the silver nitrate as it barely skimmed his calf. He hated the Knights and the Holy Cross, sometimes he even swore he hated humans.

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[esmerelda]

"Don't get too close, boy. I might slice you up."

Esmerelda gave a short laugh. 'Goddess, no! Only to guys that for some odd reason my cat accepts when there's no-one else nearby. There's a couple of mice in the wall cavities a few rooms over, but other than that, there's nothing nearby.

And my parents may have abandoned me as a baby, but that's not quite what I meant about not letting others get close. A few years back, the boys in my class dropped a tarantula the size of your hand-,' she pointed at his hand '-fingers and all, down the back of my dress. That's why I don't let people get near.'

A smile was just starting to pull at her lips now, transforming her face. She had no idea why she was so comfortable around this guy, but she liked the banter they were having. It was... different.

[ROSS ♥ WHITE]

Ross tried to conceal the look of "lostness" on his face. He hadn't run into anyone so open about their... well powers. Whatever floated her boat, he supposed, but whatever the case he wasn't going to go around screaming he was a werewolf. Ross opened his mouth for a second to speak, but lost his train of though and instead resorted to some ridiculous sip out of his coffee cup. Thank god for good coffee. "You probably won't find anything to hunt near the school, you have to go out into the forests past the academy limits."

As she mentioned the abandonment Ross tensed unsure of how to respond. No one knew Ross was adopted. The only other person who had any vague idea was Henry and the Headmaster. He simply decided to ignore the comment. While the girl seemed nice, he wasn't going to disclose that kind of personal detail to a stranger. You didn't know who you could trust in this school and Ross wasn't going to risk his neck for anything.

"That is a really big bug..." He added on. He was sure a bug that size would gross anybody out. Part of him wondered if there was any shifter out there who could possess that kind of power. He laughed a bit hoping there was so he could tease them about being spiderman.

That was the fun thing about supernaturals. There were so many of them out there and you never knew who you were going to run into. Ross liked to analyze their scents. He was a tracker in his pack and so scents played a huge part in memorizing the enemy and finding allies. He knew a variety of species, but like the stranger sitting across from him, there were always new ones. "I'm Ross by the way..."

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[esmerelda]

"Don't get too close, boy. I might slice you up."

Esmerelda smiled. 'Esmerelda, but the teachers call me either Esme or Esmi. As for the hunting, I have a bit of land that I've claimed out in the forest. Usually, the local werewolf pack drives some deer straight to me, but I guess they must have gone somewhere else last night.' She shrugged.

'As for the bug, that was when I was six. I've carried Tsundere ever since to keep any other bullies away.' She played with the tassel on her sword before continuing. 'Bit of a double edged sword, unfortunately. Once they saw that I did know how to use it, they spread the word that I would kill anyone who got too close. Because of that, no-one came close to me. Only people I've talked to since, other than you, are the teachers and Mrs Winters, my guardian.'

[ROSS ♥ WHITE]

"Well nice to meet you Esme." He offered as he held the cup between his hands. Ross turned the cup this way and that trying to alleviate the awkwardness he was feeling. She had mentioned a werewolf pack that lived in the area, Ross knew very little of them. Henry had settled hunting rights with them, alerting them that an even larger pack was going to be on their turf. As usual they were fine with it. Henry was good at persuading people. He wasn't harsh or mean, they just always seemed to like him.

"Right. You ever been caught in a shift yet?" Ross asked out of polite curiosity. Most shifters and weres had their snapshot story. There's always once when you get caught in the buff, but who knew some people were loners enough they could avoid it.

With a bit of a reserved look he eyed the sword. It was such a strange thing to carry around just for kicks. Of course to each his own. If she felt safer with that thing then why not, but he wasn't going to test going anywhere near her. If it was messing with her relationships, why not just get rid of it. Ross wasn't going to judge though. If he didn't understand it than that was that, he'd leave it be. "My baby girl cousin would get a kick out of that. When she was little a boy tried to hit her with an aluminum bat and well she gave him quite a shock..." He chuckled nervously as he avoided revealing what Sura was or what her name was. "She's a bit of a tomboy so she's used to beating boys up..."

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[esmerelda]

"Don't get too close, boy. I might slice you up."


Esmerelda smiled. A real smile this time, unlike the one
from earlier which had been a little unsure, still. 'Sounds
like she and I might get along, then. I haven't been caught
in a shift yet, though. Likely because I have two were forms,
and the fact that I fly out to my patch of trees in the forest.'

She stretched, and her gaze returned to her sword with a
small sigh. It was a constant reminder of the fact she'd been
left on someone's doorstep, but she loved the security carrying
it gave her. Even the males in the school that did trying asking
her out were put off by it, staying back at least four meters
from her.

She didn't want a male that wasn't willing to get too close.
Most of the time, Tsundere stayed in its sheath, unless she
was training. She only had to draw it these days if she saw
someone being bullied. That happened more than she cared
to admit it, but someone had to keep an eye out for the unprotected
in the academy, even if they were Stinkers...

[ROSS ♥ WHITE]

Ross was tracing little patterns into his coffee cup with his finger. His eyes were tracing over the small intricate cover of the cup that the school cafe had designed themselves. It was pretty and he had wished he could submit a few covers of his own. He was sure there was some process for it, but whatever the case he'd have to figure it out later. Right now he would only get to marvel at the intricacy in it's design. "Well that's interesting... I don't know a lot about hybrids. I mean my cousin knows a lot about elementals, but that's about it"

He shook the cup with a realization that there was going to be nothing left in it. He should have gone with a larger size. He set it back down in his lap before looking out the window. People were starting to move around and run through the common grounds. Ross always like the early morning runners. They made the campus seem more lively and free.

As he drew his attention back to the sword he couldn't help, but feel sorry for her. There was always someone in the academy who had bad experiences as a child and not everybody could end up as sweet and loving as Sura. Most people hated humans and weren't quite as understanding as Ross, Devereaux or Sura, but he was sure sometime she'd learn they weren't all bad. Until then who knew. "You do know it's against the rules to hurt anyone with that right? I just wouldn't want you to get in trouble" He asked softly not wanting to offend her.

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[esmerelda]

"I honestly don't know what to think of men anymore..."

Esme sighed. 'I know. I would only use it if I truly had reason
to, and that's mostly out in the woods, anyway, for training.'

She stayed quiet a moment, thinking to herself, asking her cat
why she was so comfortable around this man that smelled faintly
of wolf. He's different... whispered her cat. He's a friend, Esme.

Why is he different, Saphira?

I don't know, Esme. But I know he's one of the few in the school
who won't do anything more than talk...

Esme's head shot up, her gaze sharper this time as she looked
over at Ross. 'I know this sounds odd, but why is my cat saying
that you are one of the few men in this academy who wouldn't
ask me out? It happens so often, these days...' Her eyes glazed as
she thought back on what had happened just yesterday afternoon.

She'd been in the courtyard when she'd heard a group of human
males approaching, and asking one of their member about how
he was going to approach the 'Sword Queen', as they'd called her.

He'd laughed and said: 'If she doesn't want me, then she's got to
be a lesbian, right? Come on, as if I'd fail in a bet. I'll get that
sword, show it around, and then break her heart like I do every
time. It'll be easy.' His friends had broken into laughter
themselves before backing away to give him space.

Esme hadn't hesitated to get up to leave when he'd appeared
around the corner, but he'd still grabbed her arm to stop her.

'Hey, uh, you know, you're dead pretty. Would you go out with
me? I think we'd make a good pair.' He'd smiled winningly at her,
but she had pulled sharply away.

'I don't date jerks who think they can break a girl's heart.'
She'd replied, and then gone to walk off.

'What, are you a lesbian, then? Come on! Just for the day.'

She had whirled around and slapped him in front of everyone
there before walking away. Esme blinked, and shook her head
to clear it of the memories. She had too many like that as it was.

[ROSS ♥ WHITE]

He got up for a second and walked over to the trash and recycling receptacles, stretching his legs a bit as he tossed the cup into the recycling bin. He didn't go back to his seat, but bypassed it and walked behind it to keep his distance from her in case she decided he got too close. With ease he sat himself up on the window sill laying his head against the glass pain as he enjoyed the sunlight and watched the runners go past. Ross often sat there and daydreamed. Sometimes about Henry, but mostly about the day when the holy cross would disappear.

"There are some jerks, but there are a lot of nice people here too." He said in a small voice. It was part of the reason that Ross had stayed in the closet for so long. He wasn't sure how people would take it, but when he had partway come out and hinted at the fact that he was not straight in the least bit people were happy for him. He never got bullied and if he got teased just a little bit Henry was there growling his jaws off. That's what Ross loved about Henry. Even though he was adopted Henry saw him as blood. He loved Ross and would do anything for him. Which was a blessing and a curse seeing as Ross had developed more than brotherly feelings. C'est la vie, he'd have to find someone else.

He looked over his shoulder at her briefly as she asked him the usually question. He was glad she wasn't one of the girls who actually developed feelings for him. That got overly awkward very fast. This case he supposed it was just some odd hybrid knowledge. Ross didn't get the whole talking to her cat thing, maybe it was a shapeshifter thing much different from weres. He had remembered talking to real wolves once, but that was a different case. They weren't a part of him.

"Umm. Look don't take this in offense or anything, but you're not exactly my type." He said it as kind as possible not wanting to out himself unless she got super offended. Hopefully she would take that in a nice way and not blow up in his face. He really hated drama queens.

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[esmerelda]

"I honestly don't know what to think of men anymore..."

She sighed in relief, and relaxed into her seat again. 'Thank the Great
Mother for that. I get asked out by so many who think they can just treat
girls any way they want that it's ridiculous. If it's not the humans, then it's
the lion shifters trying to expand their Prides.'

She stretched in her chair, and yawned. She'd had a long night, trying to find
prey of some sort, and had failed miserably in her quest. As if to drive this home,
her stomach growled loudly and she flushed bright red. Not just her cheeks, but
her entire face, turned bright red, and even part of her neck, too.

Embarrassed, she shoved a hand through her black hair. 'Sorry about that.
Saphira and I have a deal-she feeds us, and I let her have free rein to run at
night after I finish training. But, like I said earlier, we weren't able to find
anything last night...'

[ROSS ♥ WHITE]

Ross played with the latch of the window before readjusting himself. He scooted a bit before unlatching it and pushing the glass pane outwards. The morning air was crisp and as fresh as he thought it would be. It was getting slightly colder now that the fall had set it, but he was happy all the same. It was just always nice to feel the sun on his skin and get some fresh air. "It's not just the guys. There are a lot of ridiculous girls here who paw at me like I'm a piece of meet. I mean really they already know they're swinging for the fences." He rolled his eyes wondering what didn't scream gay about Ross. He was a dancer. He was a photographer. He fucking practically drools all over Henry. Not to mention he knew the difference between hummus and baba ganoush and could make either from scratch. Maybe Henry was right he should just come out of the closet so he could use that to fend off the hormonal crazies.

He waved at a runner who had spotted him and smiled. He was sure he knew them, but from the floor he was one he couldn't really pick out who it was. He leaned back into the solid rock of the building before deciding to speak. "The cafe is open..." He said thoughtlessly. "I don't know about you, but most of the werewolves I know don't even hunt actually prey out there. They eat real people food." Ross laughed a bit at the idea of himself sinking his teeth into a deer. Yeah right... That wasn't going to happen anytime soon. "The cafe serves a mean steak if you ask nicely." He mentioned thinking about the time they served lobster as the main course. He thought he had died and gone to heaven.

"No need to apologize. I'm not bothered by a whole lot." He added. Ross was more of the type to accidentally offend people. He didn't have a filter over what he said and according to Henry really needed to work on getting one. Of course it never really happened. Ross wasn't about hurting people's feelings, but he wasn't about lying either. If he saw something as a necessary truth then he said it and if someone got offended that was their problem.

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