A Preoccupied Mind

Ah, studying. The 'necessary' evil.

Ambrose managed to find a deserted study space to spend his Saturday morning in, the books piled high around him and threatning to topple at any moment. He was actually quite studious, depite what others thought. Spending countless years in an asylum certianly helped with that.

Currently, Ambrose was massaging his head while reading one particular text for History involving multiple god-like figures ruling over the world-- as if he didn't have enough of those already. Deciding on a much-deserved break, Ambrose leaned back in his chair and sighed. After History, he still needed to figure out what the hell was up with cosigns and cotangents. Even after that, there was still a science project for Kale . . . Perhaps he would save Kale's project for tomorrow. The best idea he had had all day.

Ambrose's gaze flickered over to the large wing beside him. Luppa's wing.

Not knowing what else to do with the wing, he now kept it with him at all times, the wing usually stuffed half-way in his pocket; its leather fringes hung down from his pocket, making most people believe it was a new accessory. Now, though, the wing was on the table, layed out smoothly and with care. He still wanted to give it to Luppa. Somehow.

Mind overloaded with thoughts and regrets, Ambrose thudded his head onto the wooden desk, covering his face with his long-sleeved arms.

"Damn it."

Henry was in a way, glad. Glad to be in this school, finally away from his home. It was too depressing there. So ow in his new home he searched for some living forms to check out. He wasn't particularly fond of non Fairy's but, maybe meeting some other creatures would make his life easier here.

Henry unfortunately got lost, like most other students on their first day. He saw a door and gave it a shot. What things could honestly be hiding in there he couldn't handle?
Upon opening the door, Henry spotted a spider. A very large spider. His eyes widened but he quickly regained his calm. No way he would let this thing scare him. Was it a student? How the heck would he know!

"Uh, hallo?" Henry approached the bug. His wings happened to be away at the current time, see it would be ridiculous to walk around hitting everything with them.

Deneli opened the door to yet another of the seemingly endless rooms of the castle. This was something of a game she'd started with herself. The object was to find any random door she hadn't entered yet, and then try to guess what was behind the door.

At first she opened it only a crack, peeking into the room. Then she opened it all the way and giggled. "Aw, it's just another study!" She skipped into the room, wondering if there were any other doors to be found within.

When she spotted the red-headed boy she gave a mock gasp of surprise, having forgotten anything that may have happened between Ambrose, Abenzu and herself. "Hi Ambrose!~" It was said in a way that was far more than it probably should have been. She closed the distance between herself and the table Ambrose was seated at. Seeing the other she didn't recognize, she put on a 100 watt smile. "Hi!"

She looked back at Ambrose, leaning her elbows on the table and resting her head in her palms. She tried, unsuccessfully, to read the words in his text book. "Whatcha' doin'?" The necklace Yuuki or Ketsuta had given her hung between arms. A gold chain with two fish swimming around eachother in the form of a heart.

The various voices filtered into his head . . . Double-damn. Couldn't anyone see that he was studying?

Raising his head slowly from the table, Ambrose first looked towards the new guy, then to Deneli. Although more surprised to see Deneli around him after their last confrontation at the Halloween Party, he had something else to do first.

"My name is Ambrose," he monotonously informed the new boy, then immediately whipping his head towards Deneli. No offense, but Ambrose just really did not care about him. Deneli, on the other hand . . .

She seemed . . . fine? How could she, when she was screaming at him so much last time they met? Perhaps . . . Could Deneli simply not recall what happened? It had been a while ago, almost three months now. It was entirely possible that she just didn't remember. All for the better--

GOLD. The glittering of gold immediately caught Ambrose's keen eyes. When did she gain such an item? WHEN. Despite everything-- their last encounter concerning this very impulse, how he did not want to screw-up meeting Deneli again-- his hand slowly reached out towards the necklace, knowing all too well that his fixation would be his downfall . . .

As the girl came in he raised a brow at her overly happiness. Ugh. The name. Ambrose. He felt like it was a powerful name, he kind of liked it. Ambrose. Yeah, it had a nice ring to it. He looked the girl up and down before replying to her, "Hallo." His eyes widened though as he turned to the masculine voice. Where the spider was , there was now a male. His red hair was another surprise.

As the Guy got up and reached for the girls neck Henry felt obligated to stop him. This young woman shouldn't have to deal with psychopaths. Henry went closer to them and tried to shove her out of the way. "Oi! What are you trying to do!" He looked at the girl not asking if she was alright, just looking between the too. His height was a disadvantage in this case, he had to look down at the both of them. Something Henry had started getting use to in his puberty.

Deneli tilted her head curiously at Ambrose's hand. He hadn't answered her! Why was he ignoring her? It was then that she remembered she was supposed to be mad at Ambrose. He was mean to Benny! And he wouldn't apologize either!

Her eyes widened momentarily at the memory, but before she got the chance to say anything she was suddenly pushed. The position in which she'd been leaning on the table in combination with her already clumsy nature caused her to fall gracelessly to the ground with a "Wah!"

Deneli collected herself quickly, though, her cheeks practically flushing with embarrassment or anger. She had actually been doing a good job of not falling all over herself lately. She crossed her arms as her face took on a child-like pout. "Don't be mean!"

With Deneli's fall, Ambrose managed to snap out of his trance. Look away from the gold! It doesn't exist!

While turning away, though, Ambrose once again caught sight of the new boy. What was he still doing here? He was obviously intruding.

"Nothing," Ambrose stated bluntly. "Nothing at all." Which was the truth-- he had not intended anything at all. It just . . . happened. It always did. Gold was more precious than anything they could imagine. Anything at all . . .

He turned his gaze towards Deneli on the floor. Her anger was once again enflammed. . . . Damn it. This was why he escaped to the library-- to make sure none of this drama happened!

"I wasn't being 'mean!'" Ambrose retorted back with his own anger, not sure whether or not the comment was for him or not. Knowing her, it probably was.

He shook his head. "I think she's talking to me." Henry gave a sweep over the girl. He seemed fine. Probably a lot better than she would have been if he hadn't push her out of the way. Sharply though he reached a hand down to her. No need to leave the girl on the floor.

"Sorry about that. Just making sure a pretty girl didn't get hurt by a spider." He swung a smile at her. Hopefully she wouldn't be to upset. Her curly strawberry-blonde hair was cute.
Looking back at Ambrose though he gave a scowl. What was his problem? She seemed friendly enough. He didn't have to go and choke her, or something.

Deneli tilted her head at Ambrose again. She wasn't sure why he'd responded to her then when she wasn't talking to him, but she was just happy he wasn't ignoring her anymore. She looked back at Henry. "I was talking to you. Meanie!" She stuck her tongue out at Henry a moment before pulling it back and giggling. Evidently she'd already forgiven him, but was simply in the mood to be difficult about it.

The spider bit caught Deneli off guard, and she pouted for a moment before remembering. "Oh yeah!" She turned on her heels and pointed a finger at Ambrose. "This is Ambrose! He's mean sometimes, but he's usually nice. And he's only a spider if you don't know him. So now he's not a spider anymore!" She opened the fingers of the hand she was pointing with almost like she were performing magic. Turning what Henry surely saw as a spider, back into a boy. Though she didn't realize that Ambrose had already introduced himself to the boy.

Deneli moved past the new boy and ran around the table so she could stand on the other side of Ambrose. She had noticed that Ambrose seemed fairly distracted and and wanted to know what was wrong. She aimed a poke at his arm to let him know she was there. "Ambrose~ I'm not mad at you, you know." She said it with a giggle. Truthfully, though, she'd only just decided to forgive him, and the only reason she did was because he was distracted.

". . . Oh." It was a relief that Deneli didn't call just him 'mean,' even if that word had no connection do him whatsoever (( Yeah, right. )). She called other people 'mean,' too. That was slightly comforting, considering how many times she had called him that.

He still had to look away, though. There was no other choice: if he saw the gold, he would lunge for it . . . and, pay the supposied price.

Ambrose felt the poke but did not respond to it, only her words. His tone was false, a vain attempt to seem completely normal and at-ease. His focused eyes told a completely different story, though.

"Good. You shouldn't be mad at me."

Henry rolled his eyes playfully. He was sure this girl wasn't how she appeared. Most people at this school weren't what they appeared. Take spidy for example. As far as he could tell from observing her, she seem human. As she moved on her her murderous friend Henry step back. Why was he talking to these people anyway? They were so strange. Then again wasn't he to them?

As they seemed to be ignoring him, he wondered about leaving them tho what ever business was going on. He felt like leaving the girl alone with this Ambrose guy might be a bad idea... He decided to pipe into their little conversation. "Is every thing okay?"

Deneli's only indication that she'd heard Henry's words at all was a slight glance in his direction. She didn't want to be mean or seem like she was ignoring him, but truthfully she was more concerned about Ambrose right now. She didn't even realize she'd forgotten to introduce herself to the boy.

A pout was still growing on her face at Ambrose's minimal attempts at conversation. It quickly disappeared as inspiration struck, though. She didn't even want to be mad at Ambrose anymore. Being mad wasn't fun. She moved to wrap her arms around Ambrose's shoulders in a hug. Had a hug worked last time? She couldn't remember. Actually, it had been hard to tell. Oh well. Hugs were the solution to everything~

"Ambrose, whats wrong? Tell me~" Her voice was beginning to get a bit higher pitched, and she giggled.

"No," Ambrose truthfully answered the new boy, although not glancing over to his direction. Nothing was ever okay. Not anymore.

Ambrose didn't flinch at the hug. In fact, he was used to such actions. Disaster would annoy him with them all the time, before the asylum business. Even after Ambrose entered the asylum, sometimes the deity would pop into his cell and talk to him, wrapping his arms around Ambrose's head . . . The conversation was nice, at least. This? This was just stupid. Why the hell was Deneli hugging him?

"Get off," he ordered, his voice flat and neutral. He did have a plastic fork in his pocket . . . but, he didn't want to use force on Deneli. Only if necessary.

She didn't get it at all. The girl was clueless! Henry scratched his head, unsure of what to say. Ambrose had answered his question and obviously wasn't taking the girls actions the way a happy person would. Henry did feel a little bad for him. Henry tried to hold on to the girls shoulders and pull her off Ambrose. Maybe helping the guy out would set his mood better.

Henry felt a bit uncomfortable around Ambrose but, he was growing on him. Maybe not everyone was an annoying brat here. The girl wasn't annoying, just she seemed to not know the right way to react to the situation. "Need help with anything?"

Another pout returned to Deneli's face momentarily. Why was Ambrose answering the other boy and not her?? It wasn't fair! Her smile returned at Ambrose's request though, along with another light giggle. Nope, hugs didn't work for Ambrose.

Deneli was getting ready to release Ambrose when she felt the other boys hands on her shoulders. A look of frustration soon followed. What was he doing? Sure, she'd forgiven him for pushing her over earlier, he'd apologized, but that didn't mean she still wanted him so close to her again. She didn't even know his name. She ducked under his arm and walked around Ambrose chair to the other side, putting Ambrose between her and Henry. She wanted to say something along the lines of 'now stay there', but didn't want to be unnecessarily mean. If she needed too, she'd continue walking circles around the table until he understood. He wasn't annoying, he just didn't seem to understand that there was a certain way to behave one you've just pushed somebody to the ground.

Since her usual means didn't seem to be working today, Deneli decided she'd try a different approach. She put another pout on and lowered her face so she could look up at Ambrose through her lashes, despite the fact she was standing and he was sitting. "Ambrose, why are you ignoring me..?" Though the emotion was belittled by her exaggerated expression, she was truly saddened by the fact she was being ignored, and her pout deepened to a more believable one as she realized this. No Fair! He was making her sad! She wasn't supposed to be sad in front of strangers, and she still didn't know the other boy's name!

Since she'd moved to stand on the other side of the chair, she could now see Henry over Ambrose... which meant he could see her. She hated it! It always started from just a little thing and then it spiraled out of control. She looked away from both of them, directing her eyes to the table. She could feel that familiar sensation behind her eyes and in the back of her throat like she was about to cry, but no tears had materialized yet.

Deneli decided to focus her attention on the objects on the table, and it was then she noticed the vaguely familiar leathery object on top of it. She reached a hand to poke it. "What's that?" Thankfully, the question was only two syllables, otherwise she wasn't sure she would have been able to get it out without something of a sob escaping her throat.

What the hell was up with Deneli's expression? It was so bizzare, even while glancing at her through the corner of his eyes. Still, her message was sent clearly enough.

"I'm not ignoring you." Why was that so hard to understand? "I'm ignoring that . . . that thing around your neck." 'That thing' was harsh terminology, even for him, but he had to use it. He felt sorry for the poor necklace-- it wasn't its fault. Really, it wasn't. It was all his. Ambrose's eyes snapped over inevetably to Deneli, though, when she spoke.

"Don't touch that," he immediately growled, not able to realize just how close Deneli was to tears already. "Don't--" He cleared his throat, frowning more at himself than anyone else. He tried again: "Don't . . . touch that. It's a momento of sorts."

Luppa . . .

(( I'm not ignoring you, Henry, but all of Ambrose's focus is pointed at Deneli. Sorry. ))

(its fine, henry doesnt care haha)

Henry was completely baffled by the girl. She was so... emotional? She kept going from giggling to hiding to giggles and then angry! What was up with her! What ever she was doing it was getting on his nerves. Ambrose's reply to her told Henry that Ambrose never meant to strangle her. At least he didn't have to stay around long to 'protect' the brat.
It stunk that the guy liked the necklace so much. Maybe he had an issue.

The next thing to happen was totally more annoying. Gosh couldn't the girl keep to herself? Poor Ambrose, she wouldn't leave him alone! Henry hung back not wanting to get in this. Ambrose seemed like a strong enough guy to handle her.

While he watched he noticed a fork in Ambrose's pocket. He must like eating.

Deneli looked down at her necklace to confirm which one she was wearing today. She had been grateful for receiving the gold necklace, simply the design of it didn't allow for her to be able to wear her pearls at the same time. In truth, she didn't really like the pearls. It always seemed like she had an obligation to wear them though. Recently, she'd been opting to wear the gold chain instead for this exact reason.

Though she hadn't been told it directly, Deneli was beginning to make note of something of a gold obsession in Ambrose. She took the necklace by the charm and dropped it so it was hidden by her shirt. Would that help...? Ambrose voice startled her and she jumped. She looked at him with an apologetic pout. "Sorry.." She was managing to keep tears from welling in her eyes, but the sensation that she was about to cry was still there. She shook her head. No! She especially wasn't supposed to cry in front of strangers! And if Ambrose made her cry in front of a stranger again then she'd definitely be mad at him. Even if it wasn't his fault this time.

Deneli looked back at the wing again but didn't make any motion towards it. "What is it though? It looks familiar."

Ambrose glanced towards Deneli as she apologized. . . . Good. The gold was gone now. He wouldn't be tempted anymore. The topic of the wing was nevertheless a sore subject. He moved from where he was and towards the meregirl.

"It probably is familiar to most . . ." he admitted, glancing down at the wing before pocketing as it was before. He avoided Deneli's gaze before sitting back down where he was previously, picking up an old-fashioned #2 pencil and spinning it in his right hand.

A distraction . . . Yes, the new boy would do.

"Why are you attending the academy?" Ambrose asked directly, directing all of his focus now towards the new boy in an effort to throw-off Deneli. He hated to do this, but . . . he wasn't ready to talk about Luppa. Not yet, anyways.

It was amusing to see the two acting together. He didn't meet many people and he was interested in the two new personalities in front of him, even if one was annoying and the other was crazy.Oh he was being talked to now? Why the sudden interest? Not that he minded, or cared really.

"I had to get away from my village. It was to depressing. I took a look here at the party thing you guys had and thought it was a beautiful castle." Henry nodded towards Ambrose in a matter of returning the questions, "My names Henry by the way."

Deneli's gaze remained glued to the wing as Ambrose put it in his pocket, then her pout returned to her face. She'd wanted to look at it a moment longer. She was on the verge of remembering where else she'd seen it. And Ambrose hadn't answered her!!

Deneli had always thought that Ambrose was smart, but he didn't seem to realize that when she was ignored it only served to, in general, make her more pushy. She may not have been altogether observant, but she noticed when she was being ignored, even if it was just one question or one statement.

At Henry's introduction, she'd also noticed that she had yet to introduce herself to him. But she didn't want to be on the verge of tears when she gave him her name. What sort of impression would that leave?? No, she had to wait until she was happy again. Then she could apologize for not introducing herself earlier, and it would all be okay.

Deneli aimed a poke at the back of Ambrose's shoulder, since that was currently what she was looking at, his back.. The first signs of tears were beginning to form in her eyes, but she fought them back. "Ambrose, you're being mean!" She left it at this for the moment, decided the best first step was to inform him that he was in fact being mean.

The party . . . Ah, yes. The New Year's celebration. Something he would rather forget.

"Henry," he repeated, sounding out the name. Ambrose wouldn't have usually bothered learning this boy's name, but he despirately needed this distraction, expecially when Deneli dared to touch him again. Stop that. "I'm not quite sure about the castle being beautiful, but--"

Deneli's remark broke through.

What had he done now? Yes, he was ignoring her; no, he wasn't being mean. Being mean to someone meant that he had injured them in some way-- Deneli was, clearly, unharmed. Physically, at least. Did she even know what such a simple word meant? Or, did it mean something completely different to the merpeople? Either way, he couldn't ignore her anymore. He turned in his chair . . .

"What exactly do you mean by that word?" Ambrose questioned in all seriousness. He was lost-- what did she mean, 'mean'? He was being nice to her, to both of them! He wasn't telling them that Luppa was dead!

Henry let his temper get to him and he looked at the girl, "Would you just shut up?" His fists clenched but he moved his focus away for her and looked at Ambrose and took a deep breath. "It's my more beautiful than my village, the architecture is very Nordic"
Not wanting to deal with the drama Henry walked over to a table. He looked at a book and started to read it. Let them settle their issues.

Deneli crossed her arms, opting to ignore Henry entirely. Shut up wasn't a very nice thing to say either.

She looked at Ambrose almost like she were scolding him. "Mean. It's when you're not being nice. Ignoring people isn't very nice, Ambrose!" She let the explanation "set in" before continuing. "What is that thing?" A memory came to her in a flash. The cocktail party. Richard! He turned into a bat! The thing Ambrose had kind of looked the bat's wing. Didn't it? "A wing?" She blinked once and some of her tears spilled over, but they only succeeded in moistening the kin of her eyelids. She quickly wiped the back of her hand over her left eye in a weak attempt to keep anyone from noticing.

He couldn't keep-up conversation with Henry-- all of Ambrose's attention was now on Deneli.

The opposite of 'nice' . . . Then, what exactly did 'nice' mean to Deneli? The defintion didn't help nearly as much as it should have. Still, considering the circumstances (her yelling at him), Ambrose did not bring this issue up but rather remained silent.

A wing . . . she figured it out. Ambrose turned his gaze away from the scene and onto the floor.

"You recognize it." How couldn't she? Luppa had been a vital part of the castle for so long. He was going to be missed.

He didn't care right now-- yell, scream. She could do whatever she wanted to Ambrose.

He deserved it.