Out of the Cold(Esha and Vernal)

[Esha]

Breath fogged in the air, and the mist covered things in the distance and there was a bitter chill in the still air. If it were any darker the scene could look spooky. A figure was walking in the distance towards the dorm building, that wasn't even visible when she left the castle with her arms stuffed into her pockets.

It was chilly outside, more so than Esha had prepared for whilst leaving in the morning. She hadn't really prepared for the cold that much anyway because of not being a morning person; her mind in the morning was a cantankerous, careless thing. Going out with only a thin hooded sweatshirt was a bad idea. Terrible, actually. Her scarlet cheeks and nose, biting lack of feeling in the fingers and proved that.

With a 'Tch-ch-ch' sound from between her teeth whilst opening the door to the dorms, Esha strode in and shut the door quickly and none too quietly behind her. Well...at least classes were over for the day.

That had to count for something, the stone girl reckoned as she wished she had a hot drink. The facilities for that though, sadly, were back at the castle and now that she was in the warmth it would take something drastic to leave. There was a fire in the sitting room so like a moth to the flame Esha was drawn into the warmth.

Landing heavily with an sigh, the stone girl took the closest seat to it with intent to stay there for a few hours. At bare minimum.

[Vernal Equinox]

Regardless of apology, there was no way Vernal was going back in that room. Not voluntarily, anyways. He was forced to sleep there by the Powers That Be and the temptation of comfy pillows, but the rest of his time was spent elsewhere: nooks in the library, covered furniture on the abandoned third floor . . . the warmest chair in the sitting room. Blizzards were nice, but being in one (or, what felt like one) was a completely different matter. So, the warmest chair it was.

He brought with him the usual supplies, including a book slipped into the pouch of his hoodie. Reading material had nothing on watching from Up There, but it was the closest substitute he had besides gossip-- and, gossip was spontaneous, never planned. A book, at least, would be there when he needed it. Laughter had recommended it: To the Lighthouse. FASCINATING stuff, really, how the narration slipped into each person's mind. He had just finished the first part during Offense/ Defense and was eager to start the second.

There was but one problem, of course: someone was sitting in his spot.

The crime was for good reason, he assumed with her chattering teeth, but inexcusable nevertheless. The man continued to walk towards the chair after but a pause, planting his feet right next to the criminal's and shooting down a glare. Intimidation tactics were all he needed in such a situation: he straightened-up his back and cleared his throat.

"A-hem."
It would have been better with italics. But, he would make due.

[Esha]

With a new person in the room, she didn't expect him to walk towards her. Or march right up to her for that matter and..

"What seems to be the problem officer?" Esha inquired with a playful grin, at the very formal and serious sounding throat clearance. Leaning back on he chair, the stone girl looked up to the new-comer, thinking it would be a question like 'do you know the homework for..'

Of course Esha would know what the homework was...yeah right. In the habit of usually only remembering the night before, she wouldn't be a source to go for, for that information. Stone eyes looked up expectantly, but at the glare her eyebrow furrowed in confusion at what she could have done to provoke him.

Whilst toe-to-toe, Esha looked up, still awaiting an answer but not with the same lightheartedness as she'd had before. Although she was a bit annoyed in response to Vernal's mysterious dis- contentedness with her. Why was that..? Well they hadn't even talked from the last meeting between them. It seemed ages ago to her though, she couldn't see it being that.

[Vernal Equinox]

At the title of 'officer,' several of Them snickered. A bad choice of wording, to be sure. Vernal's glare deepened, half of his mind focusing on Them just to keep the memories away. Finally, a use for Them.

"You," the man began, stressing the word but not quite reaching italics, "are in my spot." He pulled out from the confines of his hoodie the small paperback, not wanting to hurt it but ready to use the novel as a weapon regardless. Perhaps the multiple points of view would throw her for a loop-- one could hope. He pounded the novel lightly into an open palm, a baton to his supposed officorial position.

They weren't helping as much as he wanted.

He studied her face closely for a focus . . . Ah, HER. Not HER-her, but still an annoying woman. The golem-girl. The more recent memories combated the old; excellent. She had not screamed in reaction to Ambrose, had helped wake Ambrose up-- a debt, to be sure. He had to remind himself that more and more: he wanted this woman, yes, wanted her to be on his and the darling's side--! But, that was his spot. The glare remained, but he averted his eyes slightly.

"How have you been?"

[Esha]

"Did you stick a tag on this seat? Nope. If you absolutely have to sit here" Esha pointed one hand casually to her lap and grinned with deviousness "-there is a seat here." With humor she finished her statement with a chuckle, not thinking for a moment that Vernal would comply. Even for 'his' precious seat.

The book didn't really scare her much, but she leaned away nonetheless. Was he really all that territorial about his seats? Odd. Although the chair was very nice so she didn't blame him at all. Leaning into the back cushion luxuriously and looking up, to the book and the that stern face, Esha smiled crookedly as if something was funny.

"I've been well, you?" She answered the blond man, although making no move to let him have the chair.

[Vernal Equinox]

She had a point; a proper label should be looked into. The man stared at Esha for a moment, then her lap-- then, complied. A seat was a seat; he was certainly not about to frown on it. Who knows? Her lap might actually be comfortable. If the golem girl did not squirm, he sat exactly where she pointed to, not at all disturbed by such a position nor enticing the one sat upon. She was a seat, albeit a talking one. He retrieved his book from the confines of his hoodie. Settling in.

"Decently," Vernal noted absentmindedly, turning a careful page. "Mid-terms are coming up. I don't plan to study." With proper listening to the Powers That Be, there was no need. Ooo, he's gonna get it WRONG, They would say. He should have circled-- and so on. Even hecklers had their uses. From the stupidity of many came otherwise useless wisdom.

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