[ o/` Ah, look at all the lonely people o/` -- although, there aren't any in sight, tonight. You may wonder where Ariake is hiding, tho. ] [ Outside is cold, and without the sun to bless you with warmth and make the wintertime magical, it's just cold. That's the trouble with night. ] [ It's very still, fortunately, so that you don't have to worry about a chill wind, and all the walkways are kept meticulously free of snow via magic. The moon is out and shining, shedding just enough of it's borrowed light to let you see. So, where to now? ] * Alcinoe blows out a frosty breath and shivers, as she forgot to grab her jacket in her haste. She clasps her hands and murmurs a quick prayer to Galahad for endurance in the cold. [ Divine power enwarps Alcinoe and shrugs off the chill in the air. ] * Alcinoe sighs. She looks around, getting her bearings. * Will notices that Alci is praying and asks, "Where is the holy symbol that Isty gave you?" * Alcinoe blinks, stops, and grins at Will, pointing at him. "Right there." * Will blinks in surprise and feels at where Alci is pointing. "Here??" Yup. Naw, a little higher. There. * Will finds the hairpin and pulls it out. "When did it get there?" When Ah put it there. * Will blinks again and hands the hairpin to Alci. "Oh. Er. I think you should have it back then." Are you telling me that I've been dancing with a hairpin stuck in my head the entire time? o.O * Alcinoe laughs, taking it and setting it in her own hair. She looks around. "Yup." * Will is nonplussed. * Alcinoe giggles. Now. If Ah were Kardos, where would Ah hide mahself. So we are looking for Kardos? Was he supposed to be at the winter formal? [ You're looking for all the lonely people. All both of them. ] Yeah. Well, he didn't go 'n' say he was goin', but if some girl didn't ask 'im... ya know Kardos. Or maybe ya don't. But he can't work up ta ask her. * Alcinoe snaps her fingers and walks around the building, heading to one of the corners. "Ah think Ah got it." * Will nods. "I can totally sympathize." * Alcinoe nods, too. "Yeah." * Will quickly follows after Alcinoe, "Where do you think he is?' Probly on the roof. 'e likes high places. * Alcinoe smiles, a little sadly. "Ah asked 'im out last year. Figured he could find a girl this one... guess not." He's so awesome though. Seems like he should have a fan club at least. * Alcinoe laughs. "Yeah, ya think?" * Will remembers Kardos kicking ass fighting the dragon. * Alcinoe pulls at the door to the turret. * Will nods. "Yup" * Will cranks his neck to take a better look at the top of the turret. [ It's a good eight floors up. ] Hope yer up for a walk. [ The door is unlocked, letting Alcinoe pull it open easily. ] * Alcinoe yanks it open and goes in, starting up the flight of spiral staircases in... high-heeled sandals. * Will grins. "I'm not wearing armor today, so this walk should be fine." * Will follows closely behind Alcinoe. * Alcinoe laughs. "Two-inches thick, right? Ya do know it's not *actually* two inches." * Will grins weakily, "So I found out after I bought it." * Alcinoe giggles. * Will looks thoughtful, "Maybe I can ask Isty to make a two-inch thick armor that I can use." [ You climb, and climb. Right about when your thighs get sore, you reach the trap-door that opens onto the roof. ] * Alcinoe grimaces a little, as her problem's more her feet at this point than the thighs. "Knew Ah should've gone for some other sorta shoes. An' ya shouldn't." Ah mean, two inches of metal? It'll crush ya, an' Ah don't care what it's made outta. * Will looks disappointed. "No matter what it's made of? " * Alcinoe smiles. "Sorry, no." She wraps an arm around him and gives him a comforting squeeze. "Ah'm sure you'll get over it." [ The trapdoor sits there being unopened, tho. It's a lonely people, too. ] (I wanted to make sure you were finished in the other chan. ;P) Now. Ah'm gonna go up first, okay? Ya can follow. * Alcinoe climbs precariously up the ladder in her high-heels and opens the door. * Will nods. * Will waits until Alcinoe is completely through the door before he starts climbing on the ladder. [ Alcinoe opens the door! And peeks out, presumably. ] * Alcinoe does, yes! * Alcinoe looks down. "'e's here." And she climbs up the rest of the way. * Will follows Alcinoe up to the top of the turret. [ As Will comes into view, he sees that Kardos is indeed there, and he's just finishing putting his jerkin on, for some reason. "Uhm... h-hello," manages the noble paladin, who is blushing. ] * Alcinoe smiles and walks a little closer to Kardos. "Howdy. What're ya doin' up here by yer lonesome?" * Will walks along side of Alcinoe, "Yeah. Didn't see you at the dance party." [ Kardos looks over the campus from his high vantage-point. "I am... failing to enjoy my own company. I have come to the conclusion that the campus no longer needs safeguarding, and so I cannot hide behind that pretense any longer." ] * Alcinoe blinks. "Pretense? Whaddaya need somethin' like a pretense fer?" * Will stands still and says nothing, as he doesn't understand what's going on. [ He sighs. "Because I cannot tell a lie, and so if I am to convince someone of something that may not be entirely true, I must first convince myself." ] All right, no lies. Ah don't think either of us like 'em, either. * Alcinoe looks at Will. Go on, nod. * Will nods at Alcinoe's hinting. (Good boy.) ( He is very good at guessing what other people want of him. That super high wisdom of his... ) [ He shrugs. "I have..." he pauses and fishes for words. "I do have reasons to go to the festivities, but I still cannot. Not with circumstances being what they are." ] * Alcinoe hmms. "Wanna talk about it?" Ah know Ah haven't been around the house lately, but it's been kinda... rough. Ah'm thinkin' about movin' out, y'know? But Ah'm still here ta talk to, if ya want. Is there something wrong Kardos? [ Kardos blinks at Will. "Wrong?" He opens his mouth and closes it, as if he doesn't quite know where to start. ] * Alcinoe nods, waving for Kardos to go on. [ Kardos sighs. "I cannot tell you all of what troubles me. Suffice it to say that present conditions lead me to be miserable." ] Oh. * Alcinoe thinks about that. "So... yer miserable. But does that mean ya haveta *stay* miserable?" [ "And how would I pull myself out of my misery?" ] * Alcinoe grins. "Let yerself have a little fun." She finishes walking to him and gives him a hug. "C'mon. Can't have a party with one of mah friends sittin' up here, wallowing in his misery." [ Kardos allows himself to be hugged. "If you say such, then I believe you." ] Sure, 'cause... well, Ah *can* lie, but Ah don't. Ya really don't wanna talk about what's wrong? Might feel better. * Will nods and smiles in encouragement. [ Kardos shakes his head. "I cannot." ] There's a big difference between can't and won't, Kard. Ya sure it's can't? [ "I have sworn an oath to Bahamut, Alcinoe. I cannot." ] An oath at Bahamut? * Alcinoe lets go of Kardos and looks about to say something, then gets distracted by Will. She blinks at him. [ Kardos gives Alcinoe a pleading look. "Please don't make me tell you about it." ] Ah won't. Not if ya made a promise. Ah'm just worried, ya know? [ Kardos nods. "So am I. But I am told it will turn out alright." ] Ah guess ya can't ask for a much better word than that. So, ya comin'? [ Kardos nods. "Yes." ] * Alcinoe smiles. "Thanks. Ya want a little more time alone, or...?" [ Kardos shakes his head. "No, but I should go and dress in something more formal." He may be right, as he's wearing a ratty t- shirt and cloth breeches right now. ] * Alcinoe laughs a little. "Yeah, Ah guess. Ah'll see ya there, okay?" [ Kardos nods. "I will be there." ] * Will nods. "Yeah. See you there. " And try ta have fun, Kardos. That's the point. It ain't about couples as much as it's about celebratin'. [ Kardos nods thoughtfully. He's making no motion to follow you, however. ] * Alcinoe waves and heads back down. * Will follows Alci back down after waving goodbye to Kardos. [ Kardos waves back. ] [ Down you go! And down. And down. Looong flight of stairs. ] * Alcinoe climbs down the ladder and heads down the stairs. She's looking considerably more cheerful. "He'll show. Just hope he has fun." * Will nods. "He does seem a bit more cheerful now. " * Alcinoe laughs. "Yeah? Ah know he knows Ah care about 'im." It's just, Ah think sometimes people need to be reassured. Hard to imagine that Kardos needs reassurance, but yeah... * Alcinoe shakes her head. "Ya don't know 'im that well. Not a lotta people do." But trust me, 'e does, just like everyone else. * Will smiles. "Ok. If you say so." [ You reach the bottom of the stairs! ] * Alcinoe grins. "Ah do." She opens the door for Will and gestures to the outside with a bit of a flourish. * Will bows and walks out the door. "Thank you." Yer welcome. * Alcinoe heads out after him and shuts the door behind her. "So, back to the dance?" * Will grins. "Unless you've got another friend that needs rescueing." * Alcinoe giggles. "Not as far as Ah know, no." She takes his hand and walks back to the dance. "Thanks fer comin', by the way. Ah know Ah didn't really ask, but..." * Will walks along side of Alcinoe. "No problem. And I would like to help Kardos out if I can." * Alcinoe nods. "Yeah." Ah think gettin' him to the dance is all the help either of us can do right now, though. [ You get to the entrance. Kardos is just running up in a tux that must not be his because it seems too large for him. The tux has dark green highlights to go with his ever-present headband, however, so it looks alright. ] * Alcinoe grins and waves at Kardos with her free hand. [ Kardos waves back. And not yet, 'cause Headmistress Bygasse is there to tease him about how snazy he looks, after which she motions Alcinoe over to her. ] * Will waves to Kardos too. * Alcinoe blinks, then looks at Will. "Back inna sec." She lets go of his hand, leaving him with Kardos as she goes to talk to the headmistress. Girl talk, even. * Will nods in understanding and watches Alci walk towards Headmistress Bygasse. [ "So, Alcinoe," begins the Headmistress, "Did you bring up the trip to him yet?" ] * Alcinoe sighs. "Nah. Didn't have the heart to." [ She nods understandingly. "That's alright, dear girl. He probably already knows about it, actually, but you should ask him anyway, just to be formal. You know how he is." ] Yeah. Ah'll ask 'im... just not today. [ She nods. "That's alright. After all, you didn't send him to get dressed for a journey; you want him to have fun." She smiles. ] * Alcinoe laughs. "Yeah. Fun's kinda hard ta come by sometimes, y'know?" [ "If you're Kardos it is. If you're a Paladin, it can be..." she looks at you quizically. "Although I'm sure you'll discover that yourself. But! For now, let us dance, eat, and be merry and all that." ] [ "Come, let us be about it." And she walks on in. ] * Alcinoe blinks. "Ah will?" she asks, puzzled. Then she shrugs it off. "Okay." She follows, smiling. "Ya like the dress?" [ "It's lovely, dear. Couldn't conjure better." ] * Alcinoe giggles. "Thanks. Was last minute." [ "Ah! Then it is twice as good a selection, if picked under duress." ] * Alcinoe laughs.