Dravius looked up at Rpahael with a large grin now on his face, sitting up, and crossing his legs. "Nice to meet you, Miss Shys," He smiled, brushing his hair back from his face, and snorted at Raphael, "I was actually just pondering the mysteries of the universe. Also, trying to figure out how many licks it takes to get the the center of a tootsie pop."

Turning to wave at Disera, Dravius laughed quietly and said, "Not eating for a day isn't starvation, Disera. And I know," the boy's smile slid off of his face, and dug his toes into the soft sand, bending his legs and placing his chin on top of his knees. His long frame was folded, making him look smaller than he was, and he wrapped his arms around his shins, exhaling through his nose. "Maya doesn't like to let people worry about her. Betcha anything she's bolted herself in her wagon. I guess...she and I both tend to do that." Looking into the ocean, Dravius shook his head and shrugged, sneezing once and crossing his legs again.

"Ah well. I doubt that anyone would be able to get her out without some chloroform," Dravius twisted his neck from side to side, humming a gentle song and turning his attention back to Disera, laughing again and asking, "Mister Circus master? Why am I not 'Mister Co-Master'? Hfff. No respect," He joked, getting to his feet and stretching his arms over his head with a quiet grunt.

Tootsie pops?... This was one weird kid.

Raphael had been n the verge of responding when Disera spoke, and looked in her direction, pulling himself straight so that he was no longer looking at Dravius. He listened to the Shifter with a slight smile. "The same?... I suppose that's true," He said quietly, with a slightly amused chuckle. "Probably because they've spent the last 7 years around each other, things tend to rub off," He said with a grin.

He raised his eyebrows slightly when she looked pointedly at Dravius, throwing his own glance in the kids direction. Smiling, the Ring Master then looked over his shoulder, watching a few of the members mill about on the grounds, only returning his gaze to Dravius when the kid spoke. "No," He murmered in agreement. "She doesn't like people worrying, but I highly doubt she enjoys actually worrying herself. It's probably a nice thing if she gets comforted every once in a while. Worrying is all well and dandy, worrying constantly about someone important to them usually makes it a lot worse," He said, reverting to gently kicking Dravius in the back, his hands in his pockets and an overly-cheerful smile on his face, despite his slight concern for Maya's welfare. It was an obvious hint. But that was Raphael most of the time. Obvious. Unless he honestly thought he had to hide something.

He took a step back when Dravius stood up, his face thoughtful. "Wouldn't put it past her, saying that. She rarely stays inside longer than she needs to. She despises being indoors," He smile became somewhat strained. "She really wasn't all that well when I saw her last," He mused. "I'm actually rather concerned about that girl. She will do herself serious harm if she carries on the way she's going," He added, thinking about the girls basic week. His voice, unusually, was entirely serious, no single hint of his usual demeanor in his tone. Usually, when such a voice was heard from Raphael, a sitaution could be clas.sed as pretty serious.

Raphael was then pulled from his thoughts by Shys voice, smiling slightly at her name for him. "My name is Raphael, pleasure to meet you, Shys," He greeted, nodding once. "Seems their showing up everywhere these days," He laughed quietly, his eyes on Shys. "Tell me... Do you have anywhere to stay tonight?... I'm sure we have a van or two spare, if you need a place to stay," He said, smiling at Shys, clearly set on as.sisting this girl, should she choose to take it.

"Oh, it does, Disera," Dravius answered the blue-skinned woman, exhaling through his nose. Feeling the impact of Raphael's foot in his back, Dravius huffed and said, "You know, just because it doesn't hurt doesn't mean you're free to do it." Pushing Raphael teasingly, the boy nodded, crossing his arms across his chest. "I do have a key, so I think I'll check up on her. And I'm just as worried as you are..." Dravius trailed off, tapping his toes on the snad. "Yeah, she could try Slipke's. It's more of a tank than a van, if you like water, that'll work. Lotta sand and seaweed, too," Shrugging to Shys, he threw his hands up in defeat and said, "Alright, I'm going. I'll see you guys around," The dark-haired boy left, swallowed by the deepening darkness.

Arriving at the wagon that belonged to Maya, Dravius knocked on the door and set his forehead on the wood, calling gently, "Can I come in, May?" He also rested his scarred forearms on the smooth wood, spreading his fingers out and sighing gently. "You and I have the same problem, although you're much better about it than me." Dravius leaned his weight onto the thin door, his index fingers touching each other and his black and white hair. The fingers themselves were bandaged with sopping wet, white bandages, which left salty trails down the clean, fresh-smelling wood of Mayanna's van. The dark boy stood out against the woody, natural van, his white hair drifting around his face in a slight, cooling breeze. "Please?" He added softly, his hands pressing hard into the wood.

"What's a tootsie pop?" Shys wondered quietly. That was the only question she let herself ask, though many, many more came to mind. She bit her lip to keep herself from showering them with questions. There was no point in asking question after question when she didn't even know if she'd ever see them again after tonight -- and besides, the topic of conversation sounded very serious.

She listened seriously, forcing herself to keep from asking the multitude of questions that built up inside her. She was beginning to feel very sorry for whoever Maya was. When she was finally adressed, it took her by surprise, and she started. "That's a much better name than 'Mister Circus Master'," Shys decided before turning to other, more important matters. "Well... Technically.. yes." She made a face. Though it was true that she had a place to stay and had had one for most of her life, she didn't really want to return to the ocean now. It got lonely.

Dravius said something about a tank (which made her wince reflexively) then got up and left, presumably to go talk to Maya. "Good," Shys whispered, looking hard after Dravius for a moment before returning her attention to Disera and Raphael.

----

Myrra shrugged delicately. "I have found that what society deems normality is nothing more than conformity," she replied. "If you do not act or look the way everyone else does, you are deemed monstrous."

She listened to his offer. It was a kind offer, that much was certain, and it was true that from what she'd seen of these people it was likely they were as kind as they seemed to be, but still... "I am used to the outdoors," she finally said. "Sleeping indoors now would be... odd."

It was a beautiful field, all flowers and gra.ss, with one big tree in the center. There little field was encircled by little hills, making it a nice valley. A nice, secluded, quiet valley. Sh'Yama stared at the little pink flowers that dotted the ground, and felt a wave of calm pa.ss over her. It made her a bit irritated. Or at least she tried to feel irritated. This place was just too... too... wonderful. Naturally, it didn't exist.
 
But it was very difficult for Sh'Yama to hate this place, and instead she sighed in relief. It was quite nice, with the soft breeze, and it smelled a bit like cotton candy. After looking around, and enjoying the quiet, Yama noticed there was a picnic blanket next to the big tree and it looked like there was someone over there. Yama started walking. For some bizarre reason she felt ridiculously sad about stepping on the flowers, and adjusted her steps accordingly to avoid crushing them.

Spider was sitting on the picnic blanket. Well, not sitting, but more laying on it with his arms and legs spread out. Sh'Yama sat down on the one free corner and patted her skirt down. Skirt? Why was she wearing a dress? She pulled on the big bow on the front, but couldn't get any other feeling other than pleasant surprise. Zinc's doing, no doubt. It was a very pink dress.

“Why do you have to go?” Spider asked, muffled by the picnic blanket.
Yama sighed, “Because I have to. I was on the run when I bumped into Xetem. I've made quite the.. ah... reputation. I hadn't actually believed her when she mentioned you and... I didn't think of the consequences.” Sh'Yama folded her hands on to her lap and looked up at the swirling clouds in the sky—purple, she noted with amusement— and poked Spider's foot. “They wouldn't understand. And really, if they're shocked about my temper, they really don't like me all that much after all.” Yama grumped, despite the place influencing her to feel happy happy happy.

With a grumble, Spider sat up. “Nuts to them!” He said, crossing his arms over his chest. Yama's eyebrow shot up. “You know, you should really act your age.” She said.
“I don't know what that is and I can't see how it matters.” Spider said with a huff.
“You don't know how old you are?” Yama asked. Well, she didn't either. They'd discussed their birthday before, how come age had never been a topic?

“Hmmph, well. I'm... roughly. How many years has it been?” She hadn't been keeping track, that was Laurence's job, not hers. “Well it's been more than twenty, I'm sure. Actually might be a few years after that. Do I look like I might be in my thirties?” Sh'Yama asked, putting her hands to her face and poking at her under eyes. “What should a person who's thirty look like? Everyone I've been around is either young or immortal!” Spider moaned, rolling back into the blanket and shoving his face into it. “Ah.” Sh'Yama said, “Well, that makes you quite old too. Better start acting like an adult.”
“I don't want to.”
“Well you're going to have to.”

There was a silence.

“Yama, when you're gone what if people are mean to me? You're a lot less threatening when you're hundreds of miles away and they don't have to worry about disembowelment.” Spider muttered.
“You shouldn't want people to be disemboweled. Hey, get up here,” Sh'Yama waited for Spider to sit up, and then formed her hand into a fist. “If someone is mean to you, you make a fist, like this, and then you say: “Shut up or I am going to hit you.” No, here. Like this.” Sh'Yama corrected Spider's fist and shook it for good measure. “You have to make a good angry face, and let them know you mean business.” Maybe a nice pair of sungla.sses would add to the look. Yes.

Sh'Yama sat back, looking at Spider's pitiful angry face. “Or you learn how to use that... ghost mumbo-jumbo better. Maybe you could just sic Zinc on them or something. I'm sure some of them find him much more frightening than me. Especially when he get's all... touchy.” A grimace replaced Yama's smile, and she just knew that creepy booger was watching them.

“I dunno, I kind of like Zinc's hugs.” Spider said, picking at a few little pink flowers in the gra.ss and sticking his lip out. Sh'Yama growled. “That's exactly the kind of behavior you're supposed to punch him for.”
“But I like hugs.”
“. . .”

Making a noise, Sh'Yama stood up, and hauled Spider up with her. “Well, maybe you should find someone else to hug.” She muttered, scrutinizing the field around her. “Now how do we get out of here?” She asked.
“Well, normally you just wake up.” Spider said, still looking quite grumpy. “Hmm.” Hummed Sh'Yama, and she wondered how you went about that. She'd prefer to wake up before Spider, and sneak off into the night.

“Oh come on, you can wake up later, and no sneaking. Let's have a picnic!” Before Sh'Yama could properly react to the distinctly Zinc voice, she was sat back down on the picnic blanket. She didn't remember being this short before. It was horrible. Spider was sitting next to her, and seemed much happier to see Zinc than she was. Zinc's beaming face was looking particularly punchable at the moment. But... one picnic... it's not like it could hurt.

 [[boop.]]

"Of course I'm free to do it," Raphael replied flippantly, waving a hand. "After almost 8 years of babysitting, your not gonna deprive me of that small amusement. Besides. Even if you could feel pain, it wouldn't hurt. I'm not kicking you that hard, you know," He paused here for a moment, then shrugged and continued. "Let's just call it habit, same as you chewing on your stitches all the time,"

He grinned openly, reverting to pouting slightly when Dravius shoved him. "Of course you are, and good idea," The Ring-Master replied, stretching his arms above his head and focusing his welcoming gaze back on Shys. He glanced away only to watch Dravius leave, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"It's your choice, of course," He said, turning back to Shys once the Co-Master was out of sight. "Your welcome to come with us, and if you'd rather not share a van, you could always have your own," Raphael dropped his arms, sliding one hand into a pocket as he kept his eyes on the girl in the shallows. "You don't have to decide just yet, though. We still have a few days of vacation to spend here before we move on. You'll have plenty of time to think it over, if you decide to consider the offer," Smiling warmly, Raphael glanced off again over his shoulder, watching the members around the vans for a few moments. 

"Hm... Disera?" He asked, pulling his vision away from the vans and back to the two people in front of him. "Why don't we go find that magician of yours?... It just so happens Shys here isn't the only new face tonight, and I believe Selvai is probably doing his best to welcome the other one," Raphael chuckled quietly. "What do you say, Shys?... Why don't you come and take a look around the Majikus?"

~~~

Yawning, Maya complained mentally when she realised she was probably still going to have trouble sleeping. She'd dozed silently on her chair, stuck between sleep and wakefullness, her tired state in no way deminishing after these little periods; If anything, it seemed to just make things worse. She had, at some point, flopped onto her side in her chair, and attempted to curl into a ball, one of her vivid wings outstretched so that it lay like a blazing tapastry on the pale wall behind her. The lamp light in the van still cast it's warm, ruddy glow, and Maya watched for a moment as the movements of the insects in her van cast flitting shadows across the walls. The many plants gave the area a calm sort of air, and the few that held delicate, brightly coloured little flowers released a warm, natural scent. It was a wonder anyone could stay awake in such a place.

The butterfly-winged blonde eventually closed her eyes again, falling back into that turbulent state of fitful dozing when a knock on the door caused her to focus her gaze on the locked entrance of her van. She had, essentially, promised herself to ignore anyone who happened to approach her door, though she knew full well that she probably wouldn't hold herself to it. Especially if said visitor happened to be an older member.

Upon hearing Dravius's voice, Maya groaned lightly, covering her head with both her arms and shutting her eyes again. Yep. So much for locking herself away. She remained silent for a long while, frowning slightly at the Co-Masters words. Problem?... What problem?... She sighed quietly, then opened her eyes, slowly, her gaze resting on the floor of her van. It took a few more moments for Maya to pull together enough energy to move her arms, laying them over her stomach rather than her head, and stretching herself out a little so that she wasn't as cramped. Her outstretched wing remained where it was, splayed against the wall. She eventually closed her eyes, yet again, and tightened her own arms slightly around her torso, her hair falling in waving strands over the arm of her chair. She was still attempting to ignore the dull ache that resided in her head, not that she'd had all that much success so far.

"Alright, Dravius," She replied after a good 10 minutes of silent debate, her voice just loud enough to permeate the wood of the van door.

Dravius jumped slightly at Kioko's words, looking down, and saying, "Yes?" Tilting his head and tsking softly, Dravius listened to her and trotted briefly after her, his long stride allowing him to catch her and scoop her up, saying, "Well, if it hurts, we'll have to fix it. Come on," Carrying the slight, white haired girl back to Maya's van, Dravius inserted a deep, veridian green key into the thin lock on the front of the dwelling. Slipping inside, the co-master nodded his head to Maya and put Kioko down gently on the smooth wood floor, adding, "And you're not bothering anyone at all."

Setting to work examining Kioko's swollen ankle, Dravius traced the inflamed area, his cold fingers gentle as he shook his head, and straightened her foot, pulling just enough to extend it fully, and wrapped it swiftly with black and red gauze, leaning back on his ahunches when it was finished, and Kioko's ankle was bound tightly, and stood, striding over to where Maya was sitting, and asking softly, "What's wrong?" His voice was gentle, and his brigth blue eyes bored into the nearly-dozing girl.

((Eh, fail, but I had a rough day.))

((*Hugs Dravvy* D:))

Hearing the quiet click of the unlocking of her door, Maya opened one eye, watching in silence as the Co-Master entered carrying Kioko. The sight of the small pyro caused her to sit up rather quickly, which made her slightly lightheaded for a moment. Once she felt able, she pulled her legs up onto the chair and crossed them, placing her hands on her ankles.

Lifting a hand, she placed her palm on her throbbing head, eventually dropping it and watching Kioko with a slight concern on her face. It would have been quite a bit more obvious, alongside a few quickly asked questions, had Maya had the energy to do so. Right now, however, she watched as Dravius dealt with the girls injury with a detached sort of worry.

Almost as soon as the two had entered the van, the resident butterflies had started to flutter. Specifically around Dravius and Kioko's heads, the odd few landing on them for a curious moment before taking off again. Maya could only watch them with a buried amusement. Butterflies. They were such traitors. It happened all the time. After shows, every now and again, when the performers vans were open for an audience to take a look, anyone who happened to enter Maya's domain we're usually greeted by a group of the cheerfully fluttering creatures.

Yawning, Maya kept her eyes on Kioko, even when Dravius appraoched. She didn't particularly seem to pay to all that much attention to any of it, looking very much like she was too busy thinking to even speak. It took a few seconds for the butterfly winged teen to process what Dravius had asked. She looked up at him, absoloutely no change in her ex
pression, before sighing through her nose and turning her gaze away. She threw one last glance in Kioko's direction, ensuring the girl seemed alright, then promptly, and somewhat shakily, stood up and laughed; Her body trembling with submersed strain. There was no amusement in her laugh whatsoever. "It doesn't matter," She replied flatly.

She refused to answer Dravius's question. He'd asked it enough already, and she was fed up of repeating herself. She could have added her little headache issue, or the fact she was feeling weak and tired; No doubt to her lack of sleep and food. But still. That wouldn't accomplish anything but make her sound like she was complaining.

"You know what?" She murmered, her voice emotionless. So much so she could probably have pas.sed off quite easily as Gemini. "Forget it. Just forget it," She hadn't looked at Dravius, choosing to keep her eyes on the floor. Maya was silently cursing herself for letting him in here. She suddenly felt very cramped.

"Forget it. All of it... I've had enough," She repeated, brushing past the Co-Master and heading for the door, pausing only to look for her cloak. Well, she'd failed herself by not keeping her own promise. She figured getting out of there altogether would be a better idea. After all, she wouldn't let anyone in if they couldn't find her. Maybe leaving the grounds entirely for a bit would help. Maya figured she could probably do with stretching her wings a little with flight, though whether or not she had the energy to do so was quite something else. She'd see, she supposed.

Nylat, stung somewhat by Maya's words, had long since slid off the van, and padded into the trees around the beach, making a wide semi-circle around where Raphael and the others were. She needed to take out her frustration--frustration that'd been building, without her knowing, over the past week--on something. A tree. Yes. A tree would do just fine. A tree couldn't hit back. A tree couldn't speak. A tree couldn't feel. And most importantly, a tree wasn't someone she knew. Hissing to herself, she remembered her carving. Oh well. It could wait. She didn't think she'd be able to handle it with the care she wished. Well, Raphael was over there. If nothing else, he'd take care of it.

Once well into the trees with no idea how long she'd walked, or run, for that matter, she found a rather large tree, as wide as she was tall, and perfect for claws to dig in. Unsheathing said claws, she leapt up onto a large, lower branch, sinking her claws into the rough bark and squeezing her eyes shut. As she dragged her claws along the branch, she growled, naming a frustration of hers for each claws she had sunken into the wood. Eight frustrations.
Kanec. Just, Kanec in general. Not dealing with my own problems. I'm too caring.
Two down.
All the new members. I don't hold it against them, but we always get a town full every time we stop, it seems. Another...Break. Oh, I wish he were alive again so I could kill him...
Another two. Halfway done.
Love. If there was no love, none of this would have ever happened. Dravius. That oaf. Myself. I should never again get involved in others' business.
One more. Just one more. She put all of her power into her claws.
Jevak. That rotten, no good, sad excuse for a hybrid! He isn't even a hybrid! If he hadn't reopened my wounds, Kanec would never have had to save me, He'd never have killed Jevak, and he'd never have left! I'd still be on the advantage. We wouldn't be even--no! I am still on the advantage...
She raised her head to the sky, sighing heavily. On the exhale, she opened her eyes, watching the stars with a sad look.
How much longer can I continue to convince myself I'm ahead? That he owes me? I owe him more.
Tears wet the fur under her eyes, and in anger she she gouged the branch, putting the last dregs of her strength into it, and the limb fell away, taking her with it.

Pulling herself off the ground, the hybrid stood shakily, her anger and frustration now directed at herself. Completely ignoring a sharp pain in her right foreleg, she continued her train of thought.
Who am I fooling? Kanec could have saved himself those years ago. He might have been able to shift. But I didn't give him the chance. Me, though... He had to save me. I'd have died. What would've happened if he hadn't found me?
She shook her head, scattering drops of tears from her eyes.
"I don't want to think about it..."

((Cue rain to complete Nylat's self-healing of anger. :D She's dealing with it herself.))

~~

((And now Kanec's interference...again.))

Kanec was gliding on updrafts again, no real goal in sight, his blue-black wings beating the air. Ravens were so common, he was no oddity in the area. As he glided over trees, he looked down to see a tree that was commanding enough that it was clear for ten feet around it. He settled in an upper branch, barely strong enough to handle his small weight. Flicking his tail feathers, he glanced down to see Nylat. Though too far away to tel what she said, he noticed that, standing beside a broken branch, she was favoring her left. Not common, since that was where her scar was. Noting this odd behaviour, he lifted into the air, cawing as he did so, and angled toward where Raphael was.

As he beat his wings, he got to thinking. What had been going on down there that had caused Nylat to come so far out? She was a good mile or so away from the furthest group of Circus members, and they were spread out in a one mile radius. Something was definantly odd. He shifted into a peregrine falcon, beating his stronger wings to reach his destination faster. After all, time was of the essence. He landed, rather clumsily due to speed, a mere few feet from Raphael only a short while later, shifted into a human.
"So, what's been going on down here that has driven Nylat at least a mile away, hm?"

~~

Nylat, hearing the caw, stopped her self-loathing and her misery river and looked up to see a raven flying away. Toward the Circus. Growling and grumbling, she moved off in the other direction, limping as she did so.
"Kanec...always trying to play hero. I'll show him one of these days...never had bird feathers in my van before..."
She limped at a steady pace, not slowing for the pain at all, and not speeding up. She usually moved faster than a human. Unless they got Julian after her, it was doubtful they'd get to the tree before she was well away.
Maybe it's high time to put my own plans in action. There's nothing left for me here. I don't perform, and there's no one left for me. It isn't like I have someone to love to hold me down. Just friends. Human friends. Kanec especially. No one I can call mine. No ties, no ropes, just threads. Threads break easily. Leaving is just as easy.

((Ranting is now stopping.))

"No. No, no no." Dravius replied flatly, grabbing the girl around her slight waist and slipping his other arm under his knees. Dravius lifted Maya easily up and turned on his heel, setting her down back in the chair. "It does matter. I refuse any argument, and you're not leaving before you tell me," The co-master had a stubborn look on his face as he sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of the van, and muttered, "I don't want you to leave..." Under his breath, shifting his position to where one of his legs was stretched out, and the other bent at a fourty-degree angle, his elbow resting on the bent leg's knee.

"Tell me what's wrong," Dravius said again, leveling his one eyed gaze at the girl he had deposited in the chair. "Or if you don't feel like talking to me, I'll leave, and you can tell Kioko. But tell someone. I'm too stupid to figure out what's bothering you by meself. I need help to know what you're thinking," He added, bringing his knees under his chin, and hugging his long legs. Dravius felt truely lost. He couldn't, for the life of him, ever decipher Maya, whether it was why she was mad, or sad, or anything else. It was downright disheartening. He felt stupid most of the time usually, but being around Maya made it ten times worse. Sighing quietly,  looking at the green floor of Maya's van, watching distantly the butterflies in constant motion, fluttering around the three figures. The van had a smell of earth and seemed muggy after the cool outside air.

Dravius felt like hitting something. Or someone. Most likely something, unless something that was trying to eat someone came along. Drawing his frame even closer together, the co-master crossed his arms, digging his fingernails into the bare skin of his arms, inciting bright red marks that segued into shallow cuts, the boy didn't even seeme to notice as he still stared at the floor, clutching his arms even tighter, widening the growing wounds, and grinding his sharp teeth into his bottom lip as well, seemeing determined to chew and bore as many holes as possible in himself.

((Wondering... If I should raise the character limit... And like... Bring in Zyano... Lol... o_o

And... LOL. Blunt much, Kioko? o-o))

Raphael had been on the verge of turning and heading into the camp grounds when he heard Kanecs voice. He looked at the Shifter, frowning slightly at the winged beings words. "Driven... Nylat?..." He blinked, then his eyes narrowed.

Great. Now what?... He exhaled through his nose. This was perfect. Maya had fallen iinto a despairing state of mind, and now Nylat was off roaming the place. He was pretty sure it all boiled down to the same thing. Damn. Why couldn't there be a member in this Circus who erased memories. As much as he hated the idea, it would serve to prevent all this suffering. He despised having his members suffer, especially if he was powerless to help.

He knew Maya's situation, and with any luck, Dravius would atleast improve her general mood, preferably convincing her not to lock herself away. Nylat, on the other hand, had proved to be far more calm. Or so he had thought, clearly, she was suffering the same.

Raphael glanced at Disera, then back towards Kanec. He paused only a moment before he spoke. "Kanec. Take the form of the unicorn, only this time, add wings. We need to go and find Nylat. I'm going to need to talk to that hybrid," He said with a fleeting smile, which quickly fell from his features when he saw Kioko storm off into a nearby wood. What?...

On an impulse, the Ring Master sighed heavily. "Actually. Kanec. Take Disera with you. Do what you must to convince Nylat to come back, I need to take care of something. I'll join you shortly, if I'm able to find you," He smiled somewhat, then took off, following Kioko's path with his much longer stride. He found the girl not long after, pausing to watch the pyro take out her anger on the nearby plant life. He gave her a long moment to recompose herself, then leaned gaily against a nearby tree, slightly charred, and spoke, his voice soft and very warm.

"Problems, Kioko?... It helps to talk you know... Despite how certain older members behave," He said, with a slightly twisted smile. "I think it has something to do with how long you know people. Sometimes, its harder to talk to people you've known years. Easier for those not so long,"

He slipped away from the tree and sat by Kioko, folding his arms over his long legs. "Or, we can sit here in silence, if you'd prefer," He added, turning his gaze to the moon.

~~~

Having been in the process of locating her cloak with her eyes, Maya had very little to no time to react to Dravius's sudden intervention, and had even less time it seemed to do anything in retaliation before he dumped her on the chair she'd previously occupied. She blinked a few times, then scowled at the Co-Master, which lasted all of five seconds before she had to drop the ex
pression. Being angry took too much effort, and Maya's head still hurt too much to think all that clearly. Besides... She could get away later. She was certain the white haired male wouldn't be able to keep his eye on her constantly.

She didn't respond to Dravius's words. She still blatantly refused to repeat herself. She'd spoke of it enough. It was time to drop it. Sure. She wouldn't forget. But she wouldn't relive, either.

The butterfly got about as far as him talking about speaking to Kioko, before she finally lost the will to look at him anymore. Lifting the cushion that lay on the chair, she promptly stuffed it over her head and flopped onto her side again, being sure to face the back of the chair so that her back was towards Dravius and Kioko; Keeping her arm on the cushion over her head. The cushion was a slight comfort. It quieted sounds, and the cool meterial made her head feel slightly better, though it probably wouldn't last.

She heard, slightly, Kioko's words, but not clearly enough to make any sense of them. Had that been the case, Maya would probably have tried to make another getaway, probably through the window seeing as Dravius seemed intent on blocking the door. Listening in silence, the trembling girl attempted to curl into another ball, closing her eyes in order to stem out the ache in her head. Well, whatever. She'd find another way out, eventually. Or at least, that's what she had convinced herself of.