Courtyard (closed)

[Shea]

Pale apple green eyes scanned the white pages of her book. The sun glinted off the pages making the white seem even brighter. Who did these eyes belong to? Shea Donnovan. There piled in her lap was a small kitten of a white color a pink bow around her neck as she slept curled up in a tiny ball.

Shea's hand stroked the kitten's fur the breeze blowing through her own raven black locks that fell to her mid back. Intermitenly pearls were woven into her hair. To say that she had a bit of jewelry on was a very true statement. Three earings in one ear two in the other. A diamond on her neck and a ruby encircling her wrist.

Shea was out here for one reason. The sun. She loved being outside not evident by her almost transluscent skin. She was never one to tan. Didn't want to be anyway. Dressed in a long sleeve lavender button down shirt and dark colored blue jeans the girl read her book relaxing in the sunlight the breeze keeping her just cool enough.

[Darian Dumonte]

The breeze blew through his own raven black lockes as he walked out into the massive courtyard of the academy. New to the academy he still walked with a confident air about him as he felt the comfortable weight of one of his guns in a holster hidden from view. His mantle flowed around him as he wore the fancy clothes with an almost unconscious grace. He noted a woman nearby studying from a book as he also caught the glint of a small kitten in her lap. He gave a small smile at the kitten. This parcticular white one had an adorable pink bow on it.

To say the woman was poor was to say that Rome wasn't the site of religious history. He turned to face her with interest as he noted the variety in her jewelry. His eyes blinked once as he shifted and turned to gaze up at the sparkling blue sky above. He gave a smile at it as he let the breeze flow around him the mantle being slightly weighted so it obscured everything from the shoulder and under.

[Shea]

He is watching you. Bella's voice rang out in her mind and Shea smiled.

Is he? What does that matter. she asked Bella the little kitten in her lap.

Just be careful.

Yes, mom. she kidded and smiled bigger as her eyes were no longer moving but still looked at the book.

That's just wrong.

Shea chuckled and smiled brighter her green eyes sparkling as she resumed reading her pale hand stroking the familiar in her lap. The breeze blew threw her hair and she closed her eyes letting it run over her upturned face briefly before she moved back to her book. She did look at the boy out of the corner of her eye but didn't move to say anything. She just resumed her reading.

[Darian Dumonte]

He did hear a chuckle from the girl and he turned his attention back to her. He noted how the wind seemed to make her hair flutter and look alive. Darian turned his red eyes to the kitten there was something....strange about that cat. He couldn't put his finger on it. Instead he walked over into the shade of a tree and took a seat resting back against it. His mantle kept the breeze off of him and he just continued to watch. He was curious about what she laughed at, but, decided simply to wait for now.

[Shea]

While Shea was reading Bella of course was watching. What else was she going to do. First of all, the last time they had run into a male her bond had gotten hurt with the extreme highs and lows and now they were with another well meaning they were in the same area.

He's still watching only more so. I must be pretty. Bella said Shea chuckled again.

It's possible, though I think I'm biased.

Yes well I'm pretty whether you think so or not just that young lad over there agrees. Shea laughed and looked over at the boy for a moment before returning her attention back to the book.

You're right he is watching us. Wonder why?

I believe I've already answered that. she answered in a huffy voice that made Shea smile with a silent laugh.

[Darian Dumonte]

Curiousity getting the better of him Darian stood up and lightly dusted his mantle revealing clothes in a similar taste. In a hip holster the glint of a gun was seen though the strap showed it was secured and not going to be in use anytime soon. He walked over his boots making little noise on the grass as he stopped in front of her and glanced at the kitten. A smile cracked his lips as he crouched down in front of them.

"That's an adorable cat you have there."

His voice was accented french judging from the way he handled his vowels. He gave a smile at her.

"It looks very well taken care of judging from it's coat."

And looks too damn intelligent...

[Shea]

The boy came over and Bella watched his every move. She watched him with her blue eyes while Shea continued reading though was actually watching the boy out of the corner of her eyes.

CAT! Ohhhh I'll forgive you laddie since you said I was adorable. Obviously Bella did not think of herself as a cat.

Down kitty. Shea said and chuckled and Bella looked at her. A slight growl coming from her.

Shea closed her book and motioned for the boy to sit with her. He had red eyes which intrigiued her. He looked new because though she had only been here a week she had never seen him.

"Yes, this is Bella. She is very well cared for. I'm Shea." she said with a gentle smile her very quiet voice light and sweet. Her pale green eyes looking at him.

[Darian Dumonte]

He sat down beside her and gave a small smile reaching out with a careful hand to scratch the kitten's ears. Right behind it where it was sensitive. Thankfully his hand was gloved in case the kitten got hostile which he hoped it didn't. The cat though something about it should have been obvious it was on the tip of his tounge. He gave a smile.

"Pleased to meet you Bella and Shea."

He nodded and gave a smile to both.

"My name is Darian, a pleasure to meet you both."

[Shea]

And so he sat down next to her. She smiled warmly at him but was going to be more careful with this boy than the last. He reached out and scratched Bella behind the ears and she purred happily nuzzling up into him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Darian." she said with a smile. "What brings you out here today?"

I like this spot it's my favorite. He can stay. Shea chuckled and licked her lips.

I scratch you there.

Yeah but he.. he's male. Shea couldn't hold back she had to laugh. Her eyes alight with the laughter.

[Darian Dumonte]

"I thought I'd walk around the academy and get used to it I just got here yesterday from France."

Darian sensing the cat enjoyed it removed his gloves and began to work that spot again with his nails gently. He obviously had a cat sense he knew just how to continue the scratching and he gave a smile. The cat was simply to cute for words to Darian as he gave a gentle chuckle. Still judging from the interaction how Shea seemed to be chuckling and laughing when he hadn't said anything.

"Bella is your companion?"

He asked with a smile.

[Shea]

Can we invite this one to the room? Bella asked and Shea raised an eyebrow.

Not yet.

But he's so good with scratching. she complained.

Drop it cat.

Look whose getting all catty now. Shea sighed and looked up at Darian and nodded.

"Yes, she's my familiar but this is her dormant size. She grows much larger if I let her transform." she said with a grin. "So France, that's pretty neat. I'm from Wales."

[Darian Dumonte]

Darian chuckled softly at her sigh that obviously suggested that the cat was tweaking her nerves slightly. Instead he began scratching Bella's chin to keep her occupied as he listened to Shea's comment. He looked at the kitten with a look of behave and smiled at Shea.

"Wales is beautiful during the spring. Though it's always so foggy in England."

He said with a smile.

[Shea]

She smiled at the comment and Bella went silent just purring her eyes were closed so she didn't catch the look he had given her. Shea didn't miss it though and thought it was good to meet someone that was truly unafraid of the familiar.

"Yes, you are right it is Foggy in England all the time." she said and chuckled.

She looked at the boy petting her familiar and smiled. He seemed to actually want to get to know her. This was kind of nice. She felt Bella stir. She got up and trotted over to the boy curling up in his lap. Shea was shocked she had never done that before. She had been carried by someone else before but never had she voluntarily done this.

What are you doing? Shea asked the small kitten purring in her head.

Enjoying a man that knows how to treat a cat. Shea chuckled.

You've just never voluntarily sat in someone's lap before. She reminded. All she recieved was more purring.

"So what kind of magic do you do?" she asked skipping right to the most popular question at the academy.

[Darian Dumonte]

"Naturally England is foggy it's surrounded by all those frigid waters."

He said with a teasing smile and didn't miss the shocked look Shea had when Bella moved into his lap. He looked at the cat with more of a look of amusement then anthing. Why, was he suddenly reminded of HIS cat.

Because they like good scratches and treats...

"I'm a Gun Mage. Kinda odd I know it sounds like that the magic has only been around for three hundred or so years."

He idly began to scratch the cat's stomache.

"What about you?"

[Shea]

Enjoying yourself? she asked looking down at the cat and grinning.

What you have doubts?

Shea chuckled and turned her attention back to the boy Darian that was stroking Bella's stomach. The cat was purring loudly in her mind and in the real world. She was sufficiently in kitty heaven.

"Gun mage? I think there is one here somewhere if I'm remembering correctly. Just hear rumors though, I've only been here a week so I can't really say." she told him with a smile.

She leaned back a bit on the bench and repositioned herself a litted tucking her shinning black locks behind her pierced ears. It was obvious she took very good care of herself her skin would be soft her hair shinning and healthy.

"I'm a jewel mage. I use pure precious gems to focus my power and call forth the element they carry." she said with a shrug. "It's really hard to explain. Easier to show."

She picked up a small flower. Touching her sapphire she concentrated on it and the flower froze into ice. She reached down and touched her ruby and the flower errupted into flames. Touching the diamond at her throat the ashes scattered into the breeze.

"That's the basics." she said.