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Post by starcrossed on Jul 28, 2008 23:54:46 GMT -5
Shortly after midday, Chaosti and Layali sat in a gazebo in the garden to escape the direct heat. It was a picturesque little spot, with vines climbing up the gazebo's eight posts and starting to flower. Layali wore a billowy ankle-length white skirt, a matching tank top, and went barefoot. Her cat Rinalyah sat on her lap, relishing in the attention Layali was giving her. Chaosti was clad in dark jeans, flip-flops, and a light, cottony green shirt that complemented his eyes. Its sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and the top two buttons were undone.
Frowning, Chaosti flipped a page in the sketchbook resting on his lap and said, "See? It's too flat. There's no life there." Layali peered over and said with a wry smile, "That could just be because Logan appears very bored. And, uh, is kind of dead." Chaosti snorted. "It was quite a task just getting him to sit down and take that damn cape off for a few minutes." Layali looked indignant. "Hey, I like the cape. It's.. debonair." "Be that as it may, it doesn't help when I'm trying to practice sketching males. It blocks too much of the body, which is part of the problem I'm trying to fix. This is too stiff. And the proportions of the face are all wrong. How could you even tell this was a picture of Logan? It looks nothing like him." Rinalyah nudged her head under Layali's hand, annoyed that she'd gotten distracted and stopped petting. Layali rolled her eyes at Chaosti while resuming her stroking. "And you all say I'm too critical of myself. The picture's fine, Chaosti. It's a very good likeness."
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Post by Sharkbait on Jul 29, 2008 16:35:31 GMT -5
((How many of the characters are we gonna want to be there when he comes in?))
Autumn and Logan walked into the gardens together. Autumn looked slightly mad while Logan looked content even though he was wearing a sweatshirt, dark gloves, long pants, Converse high tops, and his cape. "Seriously, you have to be hot," she said. "The heat is blistering. I'm wearing shorts! When do you see me in shorts?" "Autumn, you wear shorts all the time," Logan commented, pulling down the hood of the sweatshirt and the cape. He smiled when he spotted Layali. He whispered a small greeting and kissed her cheek before he sat next to her. Autumn came up behind Chaosti and kissed his cheek before glaring back at Logan. "We need to find an alternative to this," she said. "It's against nature! You wear layers in the summer and next to nothing in the winter. Explain to me how that makes sense!" Logan pointedly ignored her and turned to Chaosti. "Is that the outcome of abandoning the cloak for two hours?" Autumn glared at Chaosti. "You got him to take it off? What the hell?"
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Post by starcrossed on Jul 29, 2008 16:50:46 GMT -5
Layali grinned up at Logan, slipping an arm automatically around his waist. Rinalyah gave a happy chirrup and walked over from Layali's lap onto Logan's, demanding attention. Chaosti gave Autumn a quick kiss and a smile in greeting, then glanced woefully at his sketch again. "It was hardly two hours. More like fifteen minutes. And only after spelling the drapes to practically opaque. Which was just wonderful for the lighting." Layali shook her head in amusement. Chaosti only ever really obsessed like this when it came to his art.
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Post by Sharkbait on Jul 29, 2008 17:15:22 GMT -5
((Okay... I might bring in Jasper too... I dunno..))
Logan smiled and ran his gloved hand over Rinalyah's back. "You know I was just joking, right?" he said to Chaosti. Autumn sighed and resigned herself to the fact that the cape subject was dead. She looked instead at Chaosti's picture. "Hey," she said, sitting next to him and leaning her head on his shoulder. "It looks like you didn't like doing this one. Like you didn't really want to try." She looked up at him. "Is that why you've been having so much trouble?"
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Post by starcrossed on Jul 29, 2008 17:28:39 GMT -5
Rinalyah purred happily and Layali smiled at the two of them. Chaosti sighed and said, "I don't know. It all comes out wrong, like I was asleep when I did it or something. I hate having something like this that should be simple thwart me. I mean, I can draw you girls fine when you sit for me. But somehow males elude me. They either come out too feminine or stiff or just not believable."
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Post by Sharkbait on Jul 29, 2008 17:34:46 GMT -5
"Maybe it's because the girls will do it willingly," Logan said. "'Cause you know it's kinda weird for the guys." Autumn raised an eyebrow at her friend. "Dude, have you met Elena? She always pawns it off on me. I mean, I'll do it willingly, but I usually have insentive." She grinned up at Chaosti. "Didn't need to know that," Logan said. "Speaking of Elena," Autumn said cryptically. Just then, Jasper walked in. "Hey guys," he said. "Did I miss the party invitation or something? Wait, never mind. It's not a party. No booze." Logan rolled his eyes. Autumn gave a sad smile and shook her head. "You've been spending way too much time with your girlfriend."
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Post by starcrossed on Jul 29, 2008 17:40:54 GMT -5
Chaosti grimaced and said, "With Elena, it usually just devolves into throwing things at each other before I even have a few lines on the paper." He grinned down at Autumn and added, "It's a good thing some others are willing to indulge me." He waved a greeting at Jasper and said, "Ah, I see Elena's influence is already spreading." He was cheerful about it - a clear sign he didn't know about the Elena situation.
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Post by Sharkbait on Jul 29, 2008 17:50:13 GMT -5
Autumn and Jasper looked between each other for a second, mutually deciding that now wasn't the time to tell anyone, but not saying anything. Logan saw this, but didn't think it was out of the ordinary. He'd had silent conversations with Autumn on too many times to be jealous of not being in the loop this time. Eventually, Jasper decided to just on the ground until Autumn said for him to take her seat. She went and sat, hovering, on the other side of Chaosti. "There, now everyone has a seat." Jasper smiled and thanked her and she just brushed it off. He turned to Chaosti. "Not so much her influence as her... frustration," he said. "She hasn't really had booze in a while, and she's feeling it. So, if there was booze, I think I would be forced to inform her." Nice cover, Autumn thought to him. Which reminds me that we need to get rid of all booze within her reach before she can get to it.
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Post by starcrossed on Jul 29, 2008 18:09:18 GMT -5
Chaosti raised an eyebrow and said, "Elena, not have booze? Mark it on your calenders. You'd think she'd just sneak off to Hogsmeade or something when nobody was looking."
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Post by Sharkbait on Jul 29, 2008 18:18:26 GMT -5
Jasper just laughed. "Nah, she's just trying to get creative now and it's taking a while," he said. "We did the Hogsmeade thing my first day here, remember?" Autumn laughed as well. Logan looked skeptical. "Elena would still do it." Jasper shrugged. "She said she wanted a better way to convince me that American drinking is somehow inferior to what you've got over here."
Just then, a random guy walked into the gardens, looking fancy in dress pants and a button down shirt, sleeves rolled up and three buttons left undone ((True Edward style)). He was looking around at the gardens in awe, but his hands were stuffed into his pockets as if he couldn't touch anything around him. He seemed content though. Autumn sensed his arrival, as did Jasper a full second later, but both were content to just look at the guy, trying to figure out how he was so oblivious to the fact that there were five other people present.
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Post by starcrossed on Jul 29, 2008 18:47:25 GMT -5
Chaosti laughed at their conversation and shook his head, paging absently through his sketchbook. He only looked up when Layali said, "Well, it must really be the season for new students. I wonder if there's some significance to them arriving in groups.."
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Post by Sharkbait on Jul 29, 2008 18:53:31 GMT -5
The guy looked around when he heard Layali speak. "Oh, jeez, I'm sorry," he said. "I wasn't paying attention. I hope I didn't interrupt anything." He looked between the group, skimming over the girls, but noting that they were pretty. He looked more at the guys. Hmm.. The one in the cape must be straight, the girl's arm is around his waist. The blond is nice, but oh! An artist... Damn, he's definitely the best looking of all of them...
Jasper and Autumn both caught the thoughts of the new guy at the same time. They looked at each other, Autumn trying to hold back laughter and Jasper looking shocked. Logan took the initiative that his friends weren't. "Don't worry about it," he said. "It's not like we were doing anything important."
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Post by starcrossed on Jul 29, 2008 18:58:37 GMT -5
Completely oblivious to what had just occurred, Chaosti smiled in welcome and said, "No problem. We were just sitting around." He held out his hand to shake and said, "Welcome to ADSGMP." Layali smiled tentatively at the newcomer and asked, "How long have you been at the school?"
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Post by Sharkbait on Jul 29, 2008 19:05:12 GMT -5
The guy reached out eagerly to shake Chaosti's hand. "Thanks," he said, holding Chaosti's hand slightly longer than was polite. When he let go, he turned to Layali. "Only about two hours. I was told about the gardens and I wanted to see them for myself. All I can say is that they are quite lovely." So are some other things about this place... I wonder if all the men here are as good looking as him.
Autumn barely managed to change her laugh into a cough. Jasper finally reovered and smiled at the new guy. "Sorry about her. Random coughing fits are fairly normal." He put his hand out for the guy to shake. "I'm Jasper, by the way. Welcome to the school." The guy shook his hand, but didn't linger like he did with Chaosti. "I'm Edward." Logan shook his hand and introduced himself as well. Autumn was still trying to get a grip on herself. Okay, seriously, it wasn't that funny, Jasper thought to her. Dude, it totally was, she thought back. Ever since Elena told me about him getting hit on by guys in Paris, I've been waiting to see it in person. This is hilarious.
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Post by starcrossed on Jul 29, 2008 19:10:36 GMT -5
[Lmao! I am seriously loving this!]
"I'm Chaosti. Nice to meet you," he said, then raised an eyebrow questioningly at Autumn. *You okay?* Chaosti thought to her. Layali introduced herself as well and asked, "What house are you in?"
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Post by Sharkbait on Jul 29, 2008 19:20:00 GMT -5
"Water," Edward told Layali. "I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I'm sure I'll find out." Autumn finally composed herself enough to address Edward. "Sorry about that. Jasper's right though... Anyway, I'm Autumn." Yeah, I'm fine. A funny thought just ran through my head and I had trouble containing myself, she thought to her boyfriend. "Right.. Hopefully I'll remember all your names and not make a fool of myself at any point. That is never fun. Though it happens." "Exhibit A," Autumn muttered.
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Post by starcrossed on Jul 29, 2008 19:26:01 GMT -5
"It's a lot to take in," Chaosti agrees. "Don't worry about a couple fumbles. We'll correct you, and you'll catch on." "Chaosti's in Water also," Layali says helpfully, nodding towards Chaosti. "I assume somebody's already shown you to the tower by now?" Chaosti says questioningly.
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Post by Sharkbait on Jul 29, 2008 19:36:02 GMT -5
"Yeah, one of the professors went with me to drop my stuff off in my dorm," Edward said. "But I doubt I could get back there on my own. It's gonna be a while before I can find my way around." He made a deliberate attempt to sound like a lost cause. He knew a lot of guys saw that as a good thing, a way to prove themselves superior. Subtle things like that were always good before flirting. Autumn caught his train of thinking and quickly answered before Chaosti could. "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll all be around to help you out at some point." Jasper smiled in agreement. Someone's getting territorial, he thought to her in a sing-song voice. I hate you, she replied, just as cheerfully.
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Post by starcrossed on Jul 29, 2008 19:45:04 GMT -5
Chaosti nodded and said with a grin, "Yeah. We're used to playing tour guide for most new students anyway." And because he was oblivious, Chaosti thought it would be good forethought to avoid another Todd situation, so he casually took Autumn's hand in his own - subtly marking his territory.
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Post by Sharkbait on Jul 29, 2008 19:50:43 GMT -5
"Well, you must be experts then," Edward said, trying to hide his disappointment at seeing Chaosti hold Autumn's hand. Why are all the good ones straight? ((Totally not true, but I felt it was hilariously ironic.)) Autumn was just about beaming now as she sensed Edward's disappointment. "No need to be experts. It's just second nature at this point," she said. Schadenfreude, Jasper thought to Autumn. What now? she thought back. Taking pleasure in other people's pain. It's german. I felt you should know because I have a feeling you'll be hearing it a lot, he thought.
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