Private Tales Summa cum laude

[Zael Castomir]

One of the Professors, an elderly woman with her hair in a tight, neat bun, at last stepped forward after conferring with the judges (who all looked as though they'd sprinted two miles instead of had a debate over winning placements). She made a short speech about the College, about the honor and privilege of what was about to be bestowed on this night of Fiery Skies, and then cleared her throat.

"And the Duke and Duchess of the Ball, so named by the judges, are: Oren Igneomite and Sasha Vingheim!"

A round of applause as the dwarven couple took to the stage to receive their sashes.

Zael, meanwhile, basked in the moment. Yeah, he wanted to win those crowns, but honestly, what wasn't there to love? Delaney Lennox, famous scary girl and terror to those who crossed her, had just squeezed his arm and graced his cheek with those soft lips of hers. Who would have thought of such a thing? Yet here, tonight, clad in striking red, Delaney had put aside her darkness and had shown herself in a new light.

Zael had to admit—he liked it.

Of course, if those judges didn't make the right call, Zael'd be the first one cheering the return of that darkness to strangle the shit out of them.

I am nervous, Zael...

He returned her squeeze with one of his own.

"We danced our hearts out," Zael said with a cool air, assured in their performance. "Not bad for just today pickin it up. Looks like us weapons can cut a wound and cut a rug."

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Delaney rolled her eyes at Zael's terrible joke. He was lucky he was cute and usually funny because that one was extremely bad and slightly painful.

Once the room had quieted again, the Professor came back to announce the Prince and Princess of the Ball.

"And the Prince and Princess of the Ball, so named by the judges, are: Eric Jenkins and Iliana Sudilenos!"

Delaney clapped and cheered along with the group this time. It was hard to believe that she was ready to kill both of these people just yesterday. They were good people and she was starting to like them. Once Eric and Iliana had departed the stage the Professor came back.

Delaney pursed her lips as she waited. This was it. This was the moment of truth!

And finally, the award that you all really care about! The King and Queen of the Ball, so named by the judges, are: Zael Castomir and Delaney Lennox! Our exchange students from the Vel Anir Academy wowed us tonight!"

There was mostly clapping but Delaney could hear a few growls. She was happy to know that the money paid to the judges hadn't worked this time.

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

And there it is.

How's that for a story, huh? Nobody was impressed with Dreadlords doing what Dreadlords were supposed to do. Even the feats of the top Initiates in their class, with all their strength both physical and magical, never amounted to anything special. What'd they get? Just high marks. Nothin else. Just that. Job's done and who gives a fuck, onto the next.

But here? Traveling across the whole north-south expanse of Liadain to get to Elbion, show up with one day's notice, and winning at something that neither of them had trained for?

They earned these crowns. All the other Initiates back home were going to downplay it, they were going to act like it was nothing, like they didn't care, like they could've done it. Guess what. All that was gonna smell like pure, prime, delicious jealousy to Zael, and boy was it gonna smell great.

Zael smiled a magnanimous smile to match the accolade he and Delaney were about to be given. Together with her he walked to the stage, ascended the small steps, and they took their place at the forefront, Eric and Iliana on their right and Oren and Sasha on their left.

As two of the Professors came forth with the crowns, Zael thought he could see Proctor Penworth making a sulking face out of the corner of his eye. Yeah, twist your visage into a knot and go fuck yourself, Penworth, you'll have all the me-time you could ever want after you bask in the brilliance of these crowns.

One crown placed upon Delaney's head. The other on Zael's. The announcing Professor called out the titles and the names once more, and the Ballroom erupted into a final applause. Damn it felt good. Almost as good as nice fight.

As the clapping rained down on the Ball's awarded royalty, Zael said:

"Queen of Shadows."

Then he glanced over to her.

"King of Flames."

A triumphant smile, understated and stately. Zael was sure to boast about it later, but right now, here in the very moment, he needn't boast of anything at all.

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Delaney smiled as she held Zael's arm and everyone clapped for them. Everyone was clapping for them. Delaney Lennox and Zael Castomir. Dreadlord Initiates, murders, sorcerers, weapons. The only things people cared about right now were that they were guests who had wowed the ball and been crowned. They were special. It didn't even matter that it was just for tonight.

"Queen of Shadows. King of Flames."

Yes, that is what they were. Queen and King, Shadows and Flames. They were an interesting combo to be sure.

Once everyone was done with the clapping, Iliana and Eric moved the short distance to offer their own congratulations.

"That was amazing, Delaney!" Iliana gushed before turning to Zael, "you were amazing as well, Zael!"

Eric just nodded and took Iliana's hand in his own. "We are going to go out to our favorite tavern now. It is a tradition, I suppose. After the ball is completed, we all go out dressed to the nines and let loose!" Iliana was as happy as a clam as she explained their plans for the rest of the night.

"The Ball Royalty usually get a ton of free drinks," Eric added.

Delaney looked at Zael with a sly smile. "I do love free drinks..." She said with a small shrug.

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

Zael gave his shoulder a little dusting when Iliana complimented him and Delaney. No sweat. They had this the whole time. The College should've had these crowns forged with a little emblem of flame on one and shadow on the other. Which, now that he thought of it, wasn't such a bad idea...

Eric, then, knew the best way to get to the King and Queen's hearts. Free drinks. Free fuckin drinks. Weren't nobody on Arethil who was gonna turn that down—and if they did, they weren't good company anyway.

"You said the magic words, Eric." And then he returned Delaney's gaze and her sly smile. "It's Vel Yuna all over again."

The announcing Professor was calling out to the assembly of students in the Grand Hall, bidding them all to have a pleasant night and to enjoy all the Fiery Skies Festival had to offer. Proctor Penworth had vanished, of course. A slow filing toward the exit had begun, and a good many of the students, more than like, had the same idea that Zael and Delaney, Eric and Iliana, had. Except their drinks wouldn't be free. HEY! How's it feel? Should've gotten clever if not better, eh?

Zael clasped one of Delaney's hands and raised it up and kissed the back of it. Grinning. "Queen Delaney...let's go collect our royal tribute from the local taverns."

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Delaney had not been at Vel Yuna but she had heard the stories and she had been extremely jealous of the fun they had. "I was not there so I think you need to show me the good times I missed," she patted his cheek softly in a you better do it kind of way.

She watched as everyone started to file out of the room. The royal couples were the last to leave and Delaney did not mind. It meant that she did not have to deal with the crowds of trying to get to the after party fun that was about to start.

They were about ready to leave when Zael took one of her hands and kissed it with that adorable smile on his face. She felt like a completely different person here with Zael and she liked it a lot.

"King Zael...I would love nothing more," she smiled and stepped closer to him. She leaned up and kissed him right on the lips in front of the other couples.

She didn't have a care in the world right now.

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

Zael's brow perked in the slightest of seconds, fading just as quickly, and he matched the embrace of Delaney's lips wholeheartedly with his own. Riding the wind of the moment, he even raised a hand to cradle the back of her head, feeling the softness of her hair in his palm. He could get used to this.

Although he was still banking on getting slapped later, hoping for it actually, fuck, maybe she'd do it for no particular reason at all. What could he say? He liked a dash of rough and tumble in everything. Just ask Captain Claudia.

Eric cleared his throat. Zael ignored him. Look, fucker, you're a good guy and all, but this was something that just didn't happen at the Academy, so Zael was going to enjoy all the tender things he could with Delaney while they were in the proper setting to actually enjoy them.

He did need to breathe though.

Zael at last pulled back, letting out a small exhale. "Careful," he said, flashing a row of white teeth, "we might just end up burnin down the Grand Hall anyway if we keep this up."

"Come on," said Eric, waving them on to follow himself and Iliana toward the dwindling line out of the Hall. "You're going to love the reception the Ball students get walking out of the College Gates! Folks just love to shower us with...oh, you'll see! Come on!"

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Delaney registered Eric's throat clearing but, like Zael, she ignored him. She was too absorbed in the kiss and Zael's hand holding the back of her head so tenderly. Tender, sweet...these were not things that she knew about. They were two things that were never allowed at the Academy. If she had not already decided that she was going to leave the area once she graduated, this moment would have solidified it. There was so much that she still needed to experience.

The Queen of Shadows smiled like an idiot at Zael when he pulled away from the kiss. "I do not think I would care at this point..."

Eric and Iliana started to walk towards the exit with some words about showering them with something...such a weird place. Delaney slipped her hand into Zael's and laced their fingers together.

It was indeed a reception at the College Gates. Cheers, clapping, and feathers? Delaney laughed and held out her free hand. A soft white feather landed in her hand and she laughed again. Who threw feathers?! People from Elbion apparently!

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

The College and the City of Elbion might be distinct entities, a point of diplomacy, collaboration, and tension for those in the upper echelons, but for the common man and woman of Elbion the College was nonetheless a source of pride. Many Elbionese were personally invested, their sons and daughters attending the College alongside students who'd traveled from afar. The Festival of Fiery Skies was but one of several festivals in which their children could be celebrated.

How the tradition of greeting the students filing out from the Gate with a shower of feathers got started? No one really knew, though some of the longer lived elves could posit a few conflicting ideas.

Regardless of how it got started, the strange snowfall of fluttering white feathers, thrown from cupped hands and hurled upward by the sackful, rained down onto the parade of students. They yelped and laughed and cried out in their excitement and joy, hurrying through the gauntlet before they themselves hosted enough feathers to be named honorary Avariels.

Zael, grinning as if it were a sort of challenge, had his free arm raised as if he'd a kite shield by which to shelter himself and Delaney. He didn't. Ah, holy shit, the feathers were going to get everywhere! And they were gonna stick out like mad on his all black outfit.

By the time he and Delaney reached the end of the tunnel of festival-going Elbionese, Zael had a host of feathers sticking to him—on his jacket, his pants, in his hair. All over.

"We're gonna have a wild story to tell our fellow Initiates. They won't buy a word of it either," Zael said. He couldn't help to smile at the jovial nature of it all. Those magical works of popping and dazzling orange were still igniting the night sky with their intermittent radiance.

Zael started to brush some of the feathers off of Delaney's dress, to pluck some of the feathers out of her hair. "At least we know what they do with all their excess chicken feathers in here humble ol' Elbion."

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Delaney could not help the happiness that was flowing through her right now. This place was amazing. Every student was covered in the white feathers and they all looked ridiculous. Zael and herself were one hundred percent included in that ridiculousness.

The feathers there were sticking in her hair looked a little more at home than the ones that had turned her red dress into a mess of white and red. Delaney started to pick off some of the feathers by the time Zael spoke of their fellow Initiates.

She laughed and nodded, "no they will not. They will think we have lost our minds and no one will be allowed to come to Elbion again!" She laughed again and picked another feather from her hair.

The Queen of Shadows started to pick some of the feathers off her King of Flames at the same time he was helping her out. "They have to save every chicken feather for an entire year! It is absolutely insane!"

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

"There we go," Zael said after the feathers were on the ground instead of clinging like stowaways to Delaney's dress and hair. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "You were makin those feathers look too good."

With the skies above Elbion crackling with the festival's brilliant shades of orange, Eric and Iliana led them to a tavern strategically located not too far from the College's main gates. Making the Mark, it was called. Heh, Zael had the thought that he oughta "collect" all the good, bad, and especially the funny tavern names throughout his travels.

Tell you what, though, Eric and Iliana sure knew how to pick 'em. The Mark had to be the nicest establishment Zael had ever graced with his presence. It was well-lit with magical etchings instead of the usual dim and dingy firelight, the floors and walls were painted instead of the usual drab wooden brown, and there was even a vast collection of spirits behind the bar counter, glass on the shelves reflecting the tiny apparitions of the patrons in them. No Yuna Lager was this, that was for sure.

The clientele all looked to be students from the College, given their age. Some were dressed up fine from being at the Ball, some weren't. There was a table of card players in one corner, another table with two smart-looking guys playing a board game (and having attracted a small crowd) in the other, a one man band with the student effortlessly switching between floating instruments, and a ring of student dancers with their arms linked in a wide circle, spinning around the table at their center eagerly and in lively tune with the one man band.

"Make way, make way!" Zael called like a town crier as they entered. "Royalty comin through!"

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

"Of course I was, Zael, I make everything look good!" Delaney laughed out her retort as they continued through the streets.

She was extremely glad that she had Zael to guide her because she kept getting distracted by the fire working its way through the sky. This was a magic that she would love to learn. It was so beautiful!

The Initiates and students entered The Mark and Delaney let out a slow whistle. This was the nicest place she had ever in...period...not just taverns. It was like someone took a family nobleman's house and decided to stick a bar in it. She really needed to just stay in Elbion. Fuck the Academy.

"Make way, make way! Royalty comin through!"

The Queen of Shadows laughed at Zael's proclamation but it did seem to work. The attention of everyone was turned to the small group of six royals. The cheers and shouts started again causing Delaney to raise her free hand and give her best queen wave and smile. She needed to acknowledge her subjects, of course.

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

Talk about an entrance. Here's how it was in the Academy: either nobody gave a shit about you because you were just another Initiate, or...and there really wasn't an or to that. Nobody gave a shit. Count your lucky stars for the few exceptions that proved the rule. Funny enough, seemed Delaney was becoming one of those exceptions for Zael, and him for her.

Zael sauntered up the counter and placed both his hands on it, favoring the barkeep with a lordly look and sly smile. "So we heard from two fair birds that drinks are on the house for the winnin pairs of the Fiery Skies Ball at the College." He lifted a hand and tapped the crown on his head.

The barkeep, rather more stately looking than others of his profession, gave Zael and Delaney a knowing nod. "Congratulations, students, it's quite the honor." Zael snickered lightly when he had thought them to be students, but the barkeep continued unabated. "Can't say I remember your faces, though. And I pride myself on remembering faces."

"First time here," Zael said, deliberately unspecific about whether he was talking about the tavern or Elbion itself. "Throw a suggestion at me."

"Have you tried cider before?"

"What the fuck is cider?"

"It's made from apples." The barkeep gave a small shrug, as if explaining something mundane. "It'll do the trick for you. Especially the stuff we've got here at the Mark. It's strong."

Zael glanced over to Delaney with a laughing, near to incredulous smile. "Heh, I'm about to get drunk off apples."

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Like Zael, Delaney was a little pleased that the barkeep thought they were students at the college. It gave her hope that not everyone saw the darkness that followed her around and consumed her. There was hope that she would be able to leave a somewhat normal life.

Also like Zael, Delaney had no idea what the fuck cider was. It sounded like some shit old rich ladies drank when they got together for tea. It sounded boring and unappetizing. This barkeep seemed like he knew what he was talking about though. Everyone in the Mark was happy. That would not be the case if this man was a shit barkeep.

Zael asked the question that was on her mind before she could and she listened to the description with a single raised brow. Delaney laughed out loud at Zael's assertion that he was about to get drunk on apples.

"I am too, Zael. I am insanely curious now! Two ciders, please," she said and smiled at Zael again.

When the barkeep returned with two giant mugs, Delaney took one and held it up to cheers Zael.

"To the Queen of Shadows and the King of Flames," she hit her mug to his and took a long drink of the cider.

"Oh shit, this is really good and it doesn't taste like it will fuck you up..."

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

So it was time to once again put the age old question of Zael's to the test: how fast would he get drunk this time, and why the fuck did he get drunk so fast? So that was two questions, but good news, they're on sale, have both. Anyway. So after a few disastrous forays into taverns on some of his earlier missions, back when he was first starting out on them, he'd asked a Proctor about it. The Proctor told him that (apparently) muscle mass affected how much spirits one could imbibe before getting tipsy and eventually drunk. In Zael's experience, this was some bullshit. The Proctor just had to be fucking with him. Zael had plenty of muscle mass. Yeah, he wasn't a goliath like Edric or Sable, those motherfuckers were half orc so far as Zael was concerned, but damn, come on, he felt like anybody could drink him under the table.

Maybe there was some crazy old alchemist in the woods somewhere he could see about it. Have that crotchety old bastard brew up a concoction that'd give him the drinking power of a dwarf (that was they were good at, right?).

But that was for later. Cider was for now.

Zael clinked his mug to Delaney's.

"To the King and Queen," Zael echoed, then pitched his head back and drank. And fuck, was this stuff different. Zael was used to beer and ale which could probably clean the rust off of an old copper coin, but this was actually...nice to drink, fuckin imagine that. It had its subtle bite, but that apple flavor was crisp.

"No kiddin," Zael said, tipping back another long pull of the cider. "I feel like I could swim in this stuff and be all cozy the next day. No hangover, nothin."

Even Eric and Iliana had gotten onboard and had a couple ciders for themselves. What could go wrong?

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Everything. Everything could go wrong.

Delaney's alcohol tolerance was only slightly higher than Zael's. By the time they had gotten three ciders deep, Zael was wasted and Delaney was pretty tipsy. The barkeep was not exaggerating when he said the cider was strong. It snuck up on you and slapped you in the face after hiding behind the crisp appley sweetness. It was an evil drink really. Or perhaps a drink that an evil genius created.

Delaney laughed at her own thoughts as she walked back to the table with drink number four. The four of them had taken one of the dark wood booths with gold cushions and all of them had gotten comfortable quickly. The men, being the gentlemen they were, sat against the wall and let the ladies lean against them.

Delaney scooted into the booth and got comfortable by wrapping Zael's right arm around her waist. She did not care if it made drinking awkward because she was the more important one here. And the most gorgeous.

"So what else do you do here besides festivals and drinking?" Delaney asked. She was absolutely loving this place.

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

Eric was about to answer that question.

When Zael butted in, his speech with that telltale slur. "Probably fuckin...blowin bubbles in some titties...you know what I mean?" Zael just started giggling. "Don't be shy now, Iliana, you can tell us all about it. Shiiiit...where's my cider?"

He had already spilled it over five minutes ago, the mug sideways on the table and the damp trail still standing in its dark, stark relief on the tablecloth. Not that he knew. He'd forgotten. Fuck it. He was drunk. Fuck that Proctor who said that shit about muscle mass and spirits. Delaney sure was warm. This was nice. If a duck came anywhere near Zael, he'd punch its beak off. Damn this booth had soft cushions, his butt was sinking right in. Delaney was also a soft cushion. She also had soft cushions, he was sure. Blow some bubbles.

Damn he was drunk and he loved it.

"Lookin real red there, Eric," Zael said.

Iliana, her face flushed with inebriation of her own and for other reasons, pointed a finger at Zael that didn't quite point precisely at him, "Look here, you...you Inishit! Inishee...In...Inishit! You think you're so tough."

"I am tough. Eat nails for breakfast and shit out hammers." Zael roared with laughter as if that was the funniest thing fuckin ever. Eric joined in, and Iliana had to recompose her "anger."

"Eric and I..." Iliana hiccupped, "...are classy."

"We're classy too." Zael squeezed the arm around Delaney's waist, sliding a look over her way. "Aren't we? Yeah. Some classy mothafuckas..."

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Delaney was enjoying the show. She thought she was more sober than she actually was and as long as she did not try to speak, she continued to think it. Half her cider was gone by the time Zael was proudly proclaiming how tough he was.

"That makes...zero sense...Zael...eat nail and shit out hammers?" Delaney laughed and shook her head at the ridiculous idea. It was utterly impossible!

And then poor Iliana exclaimed that she and Eric were classy. Man, everyone at this table except her were lightweights! She could drink at least four more ciders and walk out of the tavern just fine.

"I think we proved that we are the more class," she furrowed her brow. "classiest in this group." Yeah...those were the right words...she thought.

One of the waitresses was walking by when Delaney called out to her, "four shots of your most classy shot!" The drunk girl who thought she was still pretty sober ordered.

The shots arrived a few minutes later and Delaney lifted hers to cheers with the others.

"To the most classiest group in Elbion!"

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

Now this was new! Ha, ha! Look at this! Look at these tiny little glasses. And they were glasses, imagine that. They weren't like a nice stout tankard, you could break them if you threw them. Or belched at them. Zael could probably break one of these "shot glasses" if he flexed at it.

Careful now!

Zael grabbed his small glass with a big hand and raised it up.

"Classy mothafuckas," Zael said as his toast, and then dropped his head back and downed the liquid fire that was in the glass. Holy shit, that cider spoiled him! Shit! Whatever cask this stuff came out of, fuck, check it for scorch marks! Fire couldn't burn him, but alcohol sure as hell had a fair shake, and this shot had the fairest shake of all.

Funny enough, it wasn't Eric but Iliana who struggled on the shot. She grimaced hard and bent over and coughed and gasped and fanned herself heavily, her cheeks aglow with perhaps the reddest red of the four.

While Eric was laughingly tending to her, Zael sloshed his gaze over to Delaney beside him. Said, "Fuck...I can't wait to graduate. Fuckin Academy stinks, am I right, Del? Proctors can kiss my ass. Penworth especially can tongue my asshole, that lazy cunt."

His head, drifting down all of its own accord from drunkenness, came to rest, his cheek against Delaney's hair.

Damn that is soft.

"All Vel Anir's gonna know my name some day. Ha, ha. Zael fuckin Castomir."

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Zael looked like he had never seen a shot glass before and it took her a moment to realize that she only knew about them because of a mission she did a few years ago. She had taken a shot (haha) in the dark that Elbion would have them since they seemed fancy like that. There were probably nicer bars in Vel Anir that had them but she was not one to frequent nice places often.

Delaney immediately felt bad when Iliana had some trouble post shot but she had Eric to help her. Delaney did not feel that bad.

"You are disgusting, Zael. The thought of Penworth tonguing your asshole makes me want to vomit," she laughed and turned her slightly to look at him. She didn't move enough to dislodge him from his resting place though. That would be rude.

"No, they won't," Delaney started with a sly grin. "They will know the name Lord Zael Fuckin Catomir!"

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

"You know, the more I hear that, the more I like hearin it. Know what I mean?" Zael said, his drunken slur robbing whatever seriousness he intended for that.

"Makes for a fine story, don't it?" He laughed. "Fuckin bastard son from a backwater village goes out into the wide world and makes a name for himself. Oh yeah. Toss in a big fat prologue all about the Kress-cursed Academy too."

He paused for a moment, using what capacities of his mind weren't addled with alcohol to hone in on something.

"Alright. Maybe not a Kress-cursed Academy. They did at least teach me how to read. Ain't that somethin?"

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

"Reading is stupid," Delaney said with a laugh. It wasn't. She loved reading. "I am joking!" She said in response to the twin looks of horror on Eric and Iliana's faces. Nerds.

She reached up behind her and gently touched Zael's cheek. "I think you'd be the best Lord," she said with a smile and snuggled into him a little more.

"So what do you lot do once you're drunk?" Delaney asked. She had not been drunk many times in her life. There was no reason to celebrate and she was already dark enough that she did not need it to help with depression or the like.

"Cause I really want to do terrible things to Zael right now," the hand that had been touching his cheek fell to his thigh. "Or drink more!"

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

That hand went down to his thigh and Zael just slid a devilish look Delaney's way, grinning. He liked where this was going. There were a select few highly interesting places where that hand could have gone and his thigh was one of them.

"Mostly I just fight people," he said. "Arm-wrestlin. Actual wrestlin. The crown is when I can get into a good brawl."

He spared a glance over at Eric and Iliana, both of whom had recovered from Delaney's total decimation of the act of reading and were chatting (and getting a little handsy themselves). A glance over the rest of the ritzy students in the upper-end tavern. Yeah, tough luck looking to start a fight here, free booze or not.

He looked back to Delaney again, grin eternal. He squeezed her waist for a little added emphasis as he said, "I'll wrestle you. Trust me, a little drunken grapplin is somethin else. You never know where your hands might go."

There was that.

Or, as timing would have it, one of Eric and Iliana's friends, a small and mischievous looking girl named Yuna (almost like a certain Vel Yuna), was teetering toward their table with a face that suggested no good proposition was about to be uttered. Her hands smacked onto the table, a sly gleam in her eye, and she said to Eric and Iliana, "Are we going to do it??"

Zael just had to butt in. "Do what?"

And Yuna looked him and Delaney over, finger to the side of her curled smirk, and she said simply:

"Streaking."

Delaney Lennox

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Delaney was completely down for some wrestling with Zael but before she could voice that she would enjoy that, they were interrupted by one of the Elbion students. They had met Yuna earlier and she seemed nice enough. A little boring but that was most of the students here.

The look on Yuna's face right now told Delaney that she had been wrong. This young woman was anything but boring. She had that mischievous smile on her face that screamed it is time to start some shit.

"Are we going to do it??"

One of Delaney's pale brows rose but Zael asked the question that she did not voice.

"Do what?"

The smirk just grew even more mischievous and the Initiate found herself smiling. This was going to be good.

"Streaking."

The way Yuna said it was so nonchalant. It was like they went streaking every day. Delaney looked from Yuna to Eric and Iliana to make sure this wasn't a joke. The looks on their roommates faces told her that this was not a joke.

"Oh fuck yes!" Delaney exclaimed and then covered her mouth with a giggle.

Zael Castomir

 

[Zael Castomir]

Zael didn't need to be drunk to know that this was a smashing idea. He was never too shy about taking his clothes off (most of all his shirt) even by Academy standards. And to hear Delaney, again, Delaney, jump onboard for this idea even quicker than he could? Oh. Ohhh! What a fuckin night, right? He needed to get Delaney drunk more often. After Vel Yuna, where she had tried to get handsy with Gaage and ended up "snogging" with Kristen instead, and after tonight in Elbion, it was pretty clear that she could get pretty damn wild while boozed up. Really helped brush some of that gloom and doom off of her.

While Eric and Iliana waffled about on whether or not it actually was a good idea, and while Yuna was convincing them that it absolutely was and that they just couldn't say no to it because after all it was a Fiery Skies tradition, Zael turned his attention onto Delaney.

"That's the kind of enthusiasm I fuckin love to see."

Then he laughed as an outstanding idea struck him.

"We need to find some blue paint."

With his free hand he mimed with his index and middle finger painting two lines across his cheekbones.

"'Cause I'm gonna go streakin as a berserker! And scare the fuckin daylights outta people."

He nudged her with at hand. "You should do somethin special too."

Delaney Lennox