The Synchronization Project

Mirage and Evelynn turned their attention to the commotion nearby, that was Kassandra and Dmitri. They seemed quite competitive, and it was drawing a bit of attention to them.

"Ah, isn't it bad if they get too drunk?" Mirage asked, seeming concerned.

"Don't be silly," Evelynn said, watching them as well. "What's the point of a party if you don't get so drunk you pass out?"

"No, they'll be fine. You should see their fathers get drunk, that's a real show. But they won't drink at the Fall Ball, which is the next time they'd be here. That'll happen... in two weeks, I believe. Don't worry too much about clothes, the girl and the guys alike all go out to shop and get clothes. Trust me, it's not fun for us, but it'll be good for you. I'm going to try and wear the same suit from last year." Then again, he couldn't do that. He had someone to impress.

"There will be a lot of royals. They'll be getting decently drunk, which is hilarious to watch. But don't comment on it, royals have a tendency to remember those who make fun of them." They didn't need to know why he knew that, either.'

"Everything gets all decked out, and somehow we manage to get the girl combatants in dresses. They really dislike them." He huffed.

Evelynn's attention returned to Gilbert. "A Fall Ball, you say? Well, that does sound quite interesting." She ran a finger lightly across her lips as a smile formed. She could definitely impress there. She liked getting all dressed up and the like.

"Oh, that seems like fun. I've never really gotten all dressed up before. Not really something I would do. But it will be a change. It will be hard getting Trey to wear anything fancy though."

This girl was perhaps a bit too cheerful, and Evelynn couldn't stomach it anymore. "Well, I'm off to get a drink. Good to meet you," she said, rushed, as she left the two to find alcohol.

"The Fall Ball, the Blizzard Ball, the Berry Ball, and the Breeze Ball. The Fall Ball is in September, Blizzard in December, Berry in March, and Breeze in June." He explained. "You ought to bring a datemate, people don't get very picky around that time."

Mirage watched as Evelynn left and turned back to Gilbert as he started talking. "Oh wow, there are so many!" she exclaimed, after he named them all off. It seemed they celebrated in every season. "It seems like this is a very nice place to live."

He mentioned a datemate, and it took her a moment for her to understand what he was talking about. "A-Ah, well, is it required? I think I would rather go by myself or with my brother. I'm not sure I could find someone else even if I wanted to."

Her cheeks tinged pink at the idea itself. Being around her brother constantly, and how protective he was of her, Mirage never thought about, let alone had the chance to be interested in someone.

"I Can turn into cats?"Jenny asked tilting her head. "How'd you figure that out? Am I growing a tail or something?"JEnny asked trying to make a joke.Jenny hadn't been paying attention to the drinking contest, being more interested in figuring otu how her powers worked

His brows lifted and his mouth shaped as an 'oh' though the sound didn't escape from him. Well, it wasn't anything he expected, but if she was in Combatants sobeit. Quickly it reverted into a smile and he let his journal hang to his side, pushing himself from the wall to stand straight.

His expression turned apologetic as she extended her hand and he didn't hold his out in return. Instead it rubbed the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. Nevertheless he still managed to keep a smile.

"Orlitt," he introduced then quickly began with an excuse on behalf of the offered handshake. "I apologize. I can't quite control my energy all too well so it lingers, and as far as I know it's not really comfortable when I touch someone," the words tumbled out of his mouth quickly before she thought that he was just unfriendly or anything the like.

"It's not that I don't enjoy it.. These things are not really my feat. I'm still trying to get familiar with constant company."

His words came out quickly, and it took her a moment to catch up with them. Then, she gave a light laugh, smiling. "It's fine. I'm not really used to being around people either. I just figured it was a normal thing to do. Kind of glad that you aren't normal in that aspect."

She paused. "Ah, no I hope that didn't come off as rude. I didn't mean anything badly by it." She raised her hands trying to defend herself. After a moment, she sighed. "I can't even use my sync right now anyway. Kassandra... reconstructed it, so I have to... not use it for about a week. I don't even know if I can do that."

Pushing her hair off her shoulder, she moved one hand to her chin, looking at him in thought. "What is it that you can do?"

No offense was taken to her words and he was only glad that she could related. Most of the time he wandered around his home in the company of only his butler. At least he knew how to speak to someone, having gained that suave talent from books and being in the presence of others from time to time.

"No, no, you didn't!" He immediately assured. His head angled a bit as he listened and he only grinned. "It'll take a bit of focus, but I think you can do it," a beam rose to his lips, one he hadn't given in a long while. "Ah, and I'm an- or will be- an illusionist," he didn't know why he was so bashful about it, but he was.

"Illusionist..." she said, half questioning. "So you like... make Illusions..." Her face turned red a bit. Of course that was obvious. "Geez, today has got me all out of whack. I feel so dumb right now." She chuckled a bit. Maybe it was also the fact she had her sync rewired.

"Should be interesting, the next few days. I still need to find a roommate... There weren't too many I was keen on rooming with in the Combatants, so I wonder if we can room with people from the other groups."

He couldn't help but laugh with her if not at her. It wasn't that he believed what she said was dumb, he simply thought it was funny and hopefully it was safe for him to laugh. "It's been very eventful. I have my mind scattered in a lot of ways too," if that was what she meant by all out of whack then he must've been right. There were many things he had his mind on and it wouldn't be surprising if he slipped up on his words too. "But, yes, I make illusions. Good ones if I'm lucky," his shoulders rose and fell briefly.

"Me too. No one is solid in who they're staying with, but I wonder if it's up to the instructors to choose.. I wouldn't mind. Then again, I wouldn't mind choosing a roommate either."

"I guess it really wouldn't matter either way. I'd be rooming with a stranger no matter how it is chosen," she laughed, closing her eyes a moment to relish that amused feeling. It felt light. She didn't have that feeling often. Her golden eyes looked at him again, and she realized his were a bit similar to hers. She wondered if that would be common here, seeing people with similar traits she once thought strange.

It was then she realized she had probably been looking at his eyes for an awkward amount of time. Glancing away quickly, she spoke a little more loudly than normal. "I-I'm pretty thirsty! Do you want something to drink?"

"Oh, well, when you say it that frankly," a chuckle bubbled within his chest, "but that's no more or less true. We'll be roomed with strangers, sit in awkwardness for the first two days before either of us peep a word. Something to look forward to." Or at least that was how he envisioned his first few days with his roommate to be. How uncomfortable it would be..

He let the thought slip from his mind, then noticing how intent her gaze was on him. Little by little he was becoming sheepish, however he was spared the self-consciousness when he noticed the hue of her eyes as well. Honeyed over just like his. She someone who also shared that trait. Interesting.

Nelís wasn't even aware of the passing time as they had both stared, but clearly she noticed and was quite embarrassed by it. His face turned to something of contentment and he nodded in answer to her question that sounded as though it had been shoved out of between her lips.

"We should go see what they have to offer besides alcohol, yes?" he finally stepped away from the wall, but not before slipping his journal back into his luggage. He'd leave it there until the celebration was over and trusted that no one would take it.

Walking ahead of him, she headed toward the area where a larger group of people were and pushed through them. That was when she saw Kassandra and Dmitri going at the alcohol like no other. By the count of their empty drinks, she would have to say they might be getting pretty intoxicated by now.

"Ah, goodness, that probably isn't so good. Aren't they afraid they will make a scene?"

Her question was answered by a smooth voice. "I think that is mostly what they are trying to do..." Evelynn said, watching them with a drink of her own.

"Oh, hello," Erasai said, not realizing she had been so close to someone. Evelynn just looked at her, before looking at Nelis. "Seems you aren't as quite lively as I thought you would be, seeing as you would be a perfect apprentice. I thought you might be in there with them, eh?"

The young illusionist trailed not too far behind, close enough to hear her when she spoke. His eyes turned to the seemingly brazen instructors who made drinking a sport and it appears that, despite how many cups they've gone through already, they've made it their absolute objective to beat each other out. Nelís could only grin upon this as it sure was amusing to watch.

"From what I've heard they've done this many times over.. I don't think they're afraid of anyth-" he'd been cut short of his sentence when another had intervened. He turned his attention to the familiar Evelyn then caught Erasai's glance. Looks as though the two were not acquainted yet.

"Thatcher," he addressed with an ever so present dip of his head. From what he'd seen of this girl she wasn't much of a charmer, but the boy knew it was definitely not in his place to judge. She, however, was evidently sizing him up in which he chose to overlook. "As I had said to Erasai earlier: it's not my feat," his smile hinted disappointment towards no one but himself though it wasn't his fault he didn't feel at ease taking part in those things. "Maybe in a few years that will change," he shook the topic off with that before gesturing to Erasai.

"This is Erasai," he introduced his most recent friend- or schoolmate if friend was too quick to announce her as. "Erasai, this is Thatcher," he dipped his head towards Evelyn.

Cold hands touched Nelís's shoulders. "I found you." Intense, purple-gold eyes were scene as the older male walked around to talk to the young male. Aidas didn't have a concept of personal space. "What's this talk of apprenticeship?" He asked, still holding a hand on the male's shoulders.

"No need to fight. The best thing to do now is to see who wins the Battle of the Drunks."

Erasai cocked her head to the side a bit, wondering what the relationship of the two art students happened to be. It didn't really seem to be all that pleasant, from what she could see.

"I'm assuming Thatcher is not your first name," Erasai said, giving a small laugh as she tried to break the tension. She wondered why he called this girl by her last name... though she figured he would have probably done the same if she had given him hers.

"No, it isn't..." Evelynn said, not offering her name. Her eyes narrowed at Nelis as Aidas came over. "Yes, competition is always healthy. Why don't we partake, Nelis? I'd like to see how well you can hold back your liquor."

"Uh, my names Jenny by the way."Jenny said introducing herself to Marina.

Nelís visibly flinched at the cold pressure applied to his shoulders, and the voice that followed was no doubt Aidas. He'd have to get used to these unpredictable actions, falling tense underneath them every time. As of now he was frozen, even his expression seemed momentarily frozen either waiting for the hands to release or he was in shock, but that was unlikely.

He hadn't meant to take anyone's attention. He didn't even bring up the topic of apprenticeship, but it would only prove that ears were open, waiting for the one word to spring them into action. That or Aidas just had keen ears.

At the mention- or suggestion rather- that he drink gained an immediate response from the boy, "Pardon??" He couldn't acknowledge what Erasai said, having been too panicked by the thought of having a drink shoved into his hand. Instead his eyes were on Evelyn who was challenging him. His head shook lightly. "I don't think it's the best idea.. I don't drink- I wouldn't be able to take it in so well," he was sputtering out the first excuses that came to mind, briefly glancing at Erasai for some spec of support on his behalf.

"It'll lighten you up." The male clicked the bottle cap off the beer, and put it to the younger boy's lips. Aidas was a terrible influence. "Just drink a little bit." He urged. "You need it, you're too nervous. Unwind a bit, will you?" He continued, drinking his own bottle with the other hand.

"So long as you don't do what those two do, you'll be okay." He promised, looking at the two who were making the scene they usually were. "Damn it, they started dancing." He looked at the two, who were kind of just spinning around. "What terrible form that is. I can dance better than they can sober, though. He's too tall for her." It was true. 5'4 and 6'6 wasn't exactly the best combination.

"I've always told Dmitri that his height was unnecessary. His father is actually taller than he is. By an inch."