Keitha walked through the hall behind some funny little git she couldn't even remember the name of. Something along the lines of Irogumiki. She didn't know, she couldn't even pronounce it. She sighed, Ok it wasn't fair to be like that, it wasn't his fault or his difficult name, even though she was sure she could pronounce it if she tried. She was just nervous. She had lived in Ireland her whole life, she had never dreamed of leaving it. But then again ever since the Obelisks nothing was the way she dreamed it was going to be. She mentally smacked herself, there was no time for bad thoughts. It was time for Keitha to cheer up. Who knew this could be a good thing. A fresh start like her dad had said it would be.

The guy she was following who was taking her to her class stopped in front of a class room door marked Class-B. They said she was lucky because it was only the second week of school, so the students would be more welcoming or some rubbish like that. She gulped as the guy opened the door and shooed her inside, closed it, then left.

As soon as the door closed all heads turned to her. She pulled on the collar of the her uniform clearing her throat. "Ello mates tha names Keitha O'Malley. Nice ta meetcha." She said in a thick Irish accent.

Sophia smiles at the newcomer. Keitha seemed to know how to make an entrance, bursting into class right at the time it was about to start and announcing her name to a full classroom. More than a full classroom really since they combined a few. Keitha definitely got points for bravery in book.

“Good morning, Keitha!” she says. The excited welcome comes out of her mouth quickly and a little too loudly. Part of it was just happiness for a somewhat normal day in school after a storm that nearly killed everyone. Part of it was excess energy after sleeping nearly the entire day yesterday. And the final part was residue excitement about earning her purple ribbon. Toning it down a little, she adds, "Nice to meet you as well. Hopefully, you didn't also get lost in this maze of a school." Keitha's Irish accent was pretty distinctive, and Sophia wishes that she chose to learn Gaelic instead of learning German for a few seconds. She had yet to meet anyone who spoke German yet after all. However, it was another person that she could probably speak in English with. There was some space by Yuki and her if Keitha chose a seat close to the window.

Kousuke sits in the class room looking out the window until a new student appears. When she introduces herself he perks up a bit in interest. “Oh a foreigner.” He murmurs then calls out in English. “Oh you new? Come on over there’s a free seat over here!” He calls out indicating a seat diagonally in front of him.

Assuming she sits there he smiles brightly and introduces himself in English with an American accent. “Nice to meet you, my name is Kousuke Archer I’m in the sports program for basketball, what about you?” He extends his hand for a handshake while looking at the other members of the group to introduce themselves as well.

Yuki had decided to take a nap before class started. Generally she was used to getting up early for morning practice, however using her newfound abilities yesterday had taken more out of her than she anticipated. Hearing some voices speak up around her caused her to stir though, and she sleepily looked up at the new girl who had just come in.

”Good morning…” Yuki put her head back down, deciding she wasn’t quite ready to wake up just yet. She wasn’t being unfriendly, just tired. On her arm was a newly received green armband, showing that the sleeping girl belonged to the sports program.

Val felt like shit…her skin color had returned to normal along with all other body functions but she felt sore all over. Still residual effects of the poisoning she had endured the other morning. Thank god she was a shade of purple that could be explained by hypothermia when her Dad finally managed to track her down yesterday….she would have to find where the fuck he hid that tracking device…Something which disturbed her greatly. Though points to her Dad for the creepy factor….now she knew where she got it from.

She plopped down in her chair, apparently there was a teacher shortage considering their classes had been combined….Her violet eyes looked around, she spotted little mouse, pushy cat…one of her classmates…annoying classmates freaking out that she was in there class now. Those she promptly ignored.

Her hair today was done up in a side bun, with long strands of hair cascaded from it; neatly held in place by a white ribbon that twirled around it. She wore the school uniform, a white pleated skirt, white button up shirt covered in a white blazer with purple trim. A purple ribbon and armband adorned her uniform as well, marking her as an Art program student. Black wool stockings kept her legs warm, along with black boots.

Valdis keeping herself busy found a sleeping victim behind her. She had taken out a magic marker and was currently drawing cat whiskers on the sleeping girl when another burst into the classroom and announced her presence. She quickly hid the marker and innocently looked forward…Did a leprechaun just walk into the classroom…short and red….and irish….Yes it was a leprechaun.

”…Where are the lucky charms?”

Statement was mostly for herself but it was a thought she did have.

Amarissa was slightly annoyed by the combined classes thing, thought it was sensible since half the school and faculty had come down sick. Still, it took her a bit to find the new classroom since she had never come to this part of the building. She walked in shortly after the new girl, mentally marveling at the rich Irish accent. Scanning the room, she saw Kousuke, Sophia, and Valdis and smiled. Valdis, at least, was looking much better though Amarissa wasn't going to say anything.

Taking a seat behind Kousuke, she set her bag under her chair. The purple ribbon stood out against her white school uniform, silver hair, and pale skin. She was proud of it though, getting into the art program was exciting for her. Finally settled, she looked up. "Morning everyone. Welcome Kietha. How is everyone today?" Her eyes fell on another girl that looked familiar but she didn't know her name. "I'm Amarissa," she said quietly. Though why she didn't know. Likely the teacher would want them to do stand up introductions announcing name and hobbies or goals.

She sighed and began doodling in her notebook, which she had placed on her desk. If one bothered to look, the would see the beginnings of familiar faces as she practiced drawing people, something she wasn't good at, and using the friends around her.

Keitha was just about to start scanning the room for an empty chair she could sit it, when she heard a loud greeting. She jumped a little; she had not been expecting cheerful greetings, especially ones in English. She smiled happily for the first time she had been here and was about to return the greeting, when another person called out a welcome and told her about an empty seat, as this was pointed out she went for it and sat down, hearing another greeting which sounded like the girl was sleep talking. Keitha turned and shook Kosuke’s hand, “Thanks mate and oi haf no bloody clue, they told me ta make a choice tamorrow, but if they haf music or fencing that’s what oima choose.”

She turned back around and not two seconds after she heard, “Where’s the lucky charms?” Keitha turned her head and saw a purple haired girl, and instantly the words porcelain doll came to mind. She chuckled, “Me apologies doll, fresh out. Som kiddos already took off wit em dis mornin, ye’ll haf ta wait till tamorrow.” She shook her head still smiling while scratching at her nose; the school said she had to take out all of her piercings because it was unlady-like and a distraction. Her face now felt empty and the skin where the piercings usually stayed started to itch due to air going through the holes. As she was doing this a girl with long silver hair entered the class room and bid her welcome as well. She nodded towards the girls, “Thank ye.” Keitha was glad she wasn’t the only one with a normally unnatural hair color, but this girl’s hair looked like freaking moonlight not to mention the violet haired doll girl. She shrugged deciding not to put much though into and pulled out some paper and a pen from her red plaid messenger bag.

Well, that was a normal welcome for Valdis. At least, she stopped her prank on Yuki, but how Yuki seemed to not notice was beyond Sophia. She was somewhat impressed with her sleeping ability; going to sleep instantly and deeply but wakes when needed. However, Keitha seemed to take everything in stride.

Sophia switches to English since it seemed Keitha was comfortable with that. “I’m Sophia,” she says once Keitha was close enough to where she should shake her hand. She looks to the sleeping girl, “And maybe she will introduce herself if I can wake her up… but I think that is easier said than done.” She taps Yuki lightly.

“Fencing or music. Hard decision. There is the arts program, and there is the sports program. I haven’t seen anyone in both, but perhaps they will let you. However, going through one audition was nerve-wracking enough for me. Not that they are bad! What sort of music do you like, and what do you play?”

Yuki in fact did not wake up when Valdis drew whiskers on her face. She continued to sleep, blissfully unaware. The voices around her were beginning to wake her up though, and for a moment Yuki thought they were currently in English class based on the words she was hearing. When someone tapped her shoulder, she reluctantly stirred. Blinking a few times, she realized class still hadn’t started yet. However she did get a better look at the new girl.

”Yuki Takamora,” she stated her name to the red head. Yuki gave a big yawn, unaware of the cat whiskers currently drawn on her face. Seeing as she probably wasn’t going back to sleep till class started, she simply listened to the conversation the others were having.

Cats do the darndest things.

In the middle of the night before, the white cat had an itch he utterly could not scratch at all. Sophia was asleep, and considering what happened the day before and her efforts to make him feel better after he suffered a magical attack, he wasn't about to disturb her. The cat found that he was able to use the material of Sophia's school bag to comfort, and eventually wormed himself into the bag, expecting to be woken up beforehand.

Now Artemis was a deep sleeper..certainly in the same league as Yuki. At the bottom of the bag, with a cloth garment of some sort on top making him slightly less than obvious to Sophia if she was rushing in the morning, he ended up involuntarily tagging along to school. Eventually, his Mau senses go off, and he stirs from his sleep, the bag squirming slightly as the cat figured out where he was again, peeking out from under the flap barely and unnoticeable to others around. He had to keep quiet for now, but he could sense something was in this room that needed his attention..

”Well that’s a shame, I love those little marsh mellows. There fun to lick and stick on thing.”

A dark chuckle escaped her lips as she remembered the look on her father’s face when he walked into his office to find his entire office covered in tiny little colorful marsh mellows. It had taken her the better part of a week while he was away on business but the photo she had captured was worth the effort. The complete dumfounded eye bugging look on her father’s face was the crown jewel of her prank album. She loved making him loose that cool mask of his. It was also worth the month of grounding she had received for it as well. Her eyes glanced over when Ama chan walked in the room, she gave a very slight nod as a greeting.

”Mornin, congratulations on your entrance into the specialty program.”

When Yuki woke she suppressed a grin, only resulting in a slight twitch of the corner of her mouth. Otherwise she maintained a cool expression.

”The specialty programs are for people who are serious in making one of their talents a career. You don’t get in if you go after it in a half assed approach. If you’re not sure don’t bother, it’s an insult for those of us in the programs. You’re not required to join a specialty program, and there are plenty of clubs that include fencing or music.”

Lucky charms had hit one of Valdis’s pet peeves; she hated it when people looked into going into music as an either or decision. She sighed, and rubbed her eyes…why did so many people go into things like this half assed. Though she was in the entertainment industry, she was use to people who had the do or die attitude that approached there line of work seriously. Valdis was at the top in her industry….is this what commoners were normally like? No passion? No do or die? Perhaps normal high schoolers did not have the same drive…Well on a side note…She glanced up and voiced a serious question.

”Does anyone know where someone could hide a tracking chip in someone?”

She looked at them all expectedly, she hoped one of them knew…cause until hers was out she felt violated and very confused…Her sharp eyes caught something white and fluffy poking out of a bag near her prank victim. An eyebrow shot up, but she made no moves to do anything.

Keitha laughed at the bouncing, bubbly, and very talkative girl who called herself Sophia, shaking her hand back she decided to answer her questions since she didn’t know how to respond to the rest of Sophia’s rant, “Well I like all kinds of music, but nothin makes me appier than rock n’ roll, I’d love to play the electric guitar but all I ave is an ol’ acoustic.” She smiled at Sophia, glad to have someone who was so talkative in the class, it made settling in just a wee bit easier. She even let out a small giggle as the girl with cat whiskers raised her head and made her introduction.

The happiness didn’t last long though as she heard the purple haired girl make a snarky remark, “Half arsed you say? Well lass I don’t see it like that. I see it as I like todo lots of things and I am bloody good at em’ so I’m not completely one hundred percent sure on what I like tha most. Plus if you haven’t noticed, I’m new to this place so I don’t know how things are run round here. So don’t go raisin’ your prissy little ninny nose at me thinkin yer better than I am just cause you ave all yer ducks in one row.” Keitha then turned around with a sour look on her face playing with the hole in her ear where her gauge usually was while mumbling Irish obscenities, that even those who spoke English, probably would not understand a word of it.

On second thought, Valdis definitely had a talent of pressing people’s buttons, and expecting Keitha to sit in take it wasn’t really realistic. Sophia can’t understand a word that Keitha is saying. However, she gets the feeling that she rather not know.

“It’s possible to be passionate about multiple things. That doesn’t mean anyone is going into either half-hearted. However, Valdis just takes her job extremely seriously like anyone else in industry should,” Sophia says sort of validating both people. “However, don’t let Valdis get you down. The verbal abuse is her form of hello, I think,” she says, partly joking and partly not, being reminded of their introduction.

Valdis’ sudden question makes Sophia’s disrupts train of thought. Tracking devices? “Ummm… I think they normally put them on people’s clothes. Probably some place you wouldn’t notice too much.” At least, that is what she had seen on TV.

Her mind bounces back to the new student. Moving to a new place can be sort of alienating and lonely. And her welcome with the exception of Kousuke and herself was less than enthusiastic. “Hey, Valdis, do you mind having Keitha over for the sleepover?” she asks in almost the same tone that a child would ask to keep a stray puppy. It was a good chance for them all to get to know each other better.

Amarissa continued to doodle idly while she listened to the conversation, that is until Valdis congratulated her and then seemed to make a rather pointed remark about not taking the program seriously. Raising her eyes, she gives a Valdis a sort of calmly annoyed look. "I think everyone that has managed to successfully get into the specialty programs obviously takes them quite seriously, enough at least to be that good at what they do. Art might not end up being my career, but it is certainly a major part of my life," she finishes managing to sound somewhat friendly despite the look on her face.

She doesn't notice the cat in Sophia's bag and instead starts adding the finishing touches on her drawing. Until, of course, she is once again interrupted by a comment from Valdis. This time a question really, and after a moment of consideration, she gives a very serious answer. "If not in your clothes, then under you skin somewhere. Possibly your arms, scalp, or back of your neck. Those are common places."

Yuki perked up a bit as the conversation around her began to get a bit heated.

”I dunno…I think Mortimer has a point. The specialty programs are for individuals who are really serious about their passion. Doesn’t mean you can’t have other interests I suppose regardless of whether or not you’re in a program. Just do what you want…who cares what other people think.” Yuki spoke in a somewhat lax tone. She herself was very serious about soccer and pretty much revolved her life around her sport and focused on little else. Well she did until some talking cat instilled her with magic powers to fight covenant monsters. A minor detail.

Of course Yuki probably couldn’t be taken very seriously anyway, seeing as everyone neglected to bring the drawn-on whiskers to the poor girl’s attention.

When Valdis asked where someone could hide a tracking chip, Yuki looked somewhat confused.

”What do you mean hide? Don’t they normally put those in the back of the neck, just below the scalp? You know…for pets and stuff in case they get lost.” At least that was what she assumed Valdis meant.

When Sophie mentioned the sleepover, Yuki visibly stiffened. She had almost forgotten about that…however if asked she would simply have to make up some excuse.