Welcome to Gaia! ::

Galan smiled up, nearly euphoric. The combination of music, beauty, tea and company had put him into a humming state of bliss. He scribbled down a series of figure sketches, mere loose sketches to limber up, just as the dancer was doing, but still making an effort to captured his muse: the line of a hip, the long arch of a leg, the crook of the lifted arm as he tied up his hair.

As Laviticus paused in forth, Galan began another figure sketch, glancing up to find his model blushing. "Oh, don't mind me!" he piped cheerfully, still not registering that he'd complimented the dancer aloud. When Laviticus remained in that position, Galan wondered if perhaps he'd offended. He paused his sketching and peered more intently, trying to read the blushing face. Was he pleased? Embarrassed? Timid? "I'm sorry...have I... Have I offended you with my sketching? I suppose I should have asked... I...erm..." Galan unsurely closed the book on his lap, reaching around to grasp his tea cup with his tail and passing it to his waiting hands. He slurped, looking away from Lavi at last, and began to blush mint himself, trying to think of the right thing to say. He wanted Lavi to stay...to dance more...to get to draw him every day... But he feared frightening his friend away.

"J-just ... you, uhm ... " Laviticus rubbed at his arm nervously. Had Galan even noticed? Had he realized what had been said. It didn't seem had. The Goblin seemed far more worried with his sketches than the words that had fallen from his lips ...

"You. Called me beautiful." Laviticus breathed. "Did you ... did you mean that .... ?"

Laviticus didn't know what to say. Galan had given the compliment so openly and without restraint, shyness, or fear. Did he mean anything by it? Anything more serious than just a compliment. "A-ah ... " was all he could say. One of the most beautiful people he had ever seen? The Goblin had lived a whole life so far. Surely he had met people more 'beautiful'? Infact, Lavi found himself a little homely.

"Well ... thank you. That's kind of you to say." He manahed to squeak out, coughing in to his hand to try and clear his cracking voice.

Laviticus stepped forward, curious about the boy's sketches. What parts of his dance had he captured? Were they mere figure drawings, or were they full sketches> He had no doubt that Galan could capture that movement's fluidity, but the hybrid was curious what parts of his little private dance stood out to him.

"I'd like to see your sketches, if that's alright? And maybe we could finish our tea? I don't recall if I even had a sip, to be honest ... !" Laviticus managed a small, quiet giggle, his tendrils flaring happily with a small flash of rosy pink. "And you? What do you desire, Galan?"

As Galan took his arm gently, Lavi felt himself lean in to his touch and hugged his arm more closely. But ... why? As soon as he had it seemed time already to let go again as Galan settled in amongst the pillows. Lavi had nearly forgotten his cup and let out a small 'eep' of dismay as he turned, whipping around to return to where he had first been seated to fetch his mug.

He scooped his tea, clutching it lightly between his clawed hands and quietly inhaled the fragrent scent. The tea didn't smell as hot as it first did. Perhaps it was a reasonable temperature to drink now?

Laviticus sipped at his tea, nearly swooning. It tasted of flowers and berries. How lovely!

The hybrid turned to return to Galan's side, settling in among the pillows and tucking in close beside him, leaning in to see the sketches his friend had made.

"It's quite lovely. Thank you, Galan. It was just what I needed. Do you get your teas from that masked man that comes to the school to deliver teas? A chimera I think? I hear he has teas from Above as well, from even before the borders were opened freely. Makes me wonder if it's something the kids started saying to feed the mystery and hype surrounding, or if he simply had a trading permit and was a trader himself." Lavi was thinking out loud again, curling a finger to his lips, then gave a soft giggle.

His attention was drawn away from his thoughts as Galan brought the sketchbook closer. His bright, glowing pink eyes scanned the pages, and soon lit up with the life reflected on the pages.

"You're such a brilliant artist ... I'd like to paint while you draw sometime."

Laviticus couldn't keep himself from giggling maddly. It seemed his goblin friend had indeed heard of the mysterious tea merchant lurking about the grounds. "I suppose he DOES seem shady! Though, it seems so odd to see someone so finely dressed and consider them shady! I've heard rumors from some of the students have become regulars that he wears the mask because his arranged fiancé attends the academy here, and they left their clan to escape them. The only way he can have a conversation with them is to cover up his face. How silly is that?"

Before he could finish his gigglefit, Laviticus' noticed Galan take his hand, and soon his glowing, pale pink eyes landed on the goblin's face. And on the goblin gushed. It caught Laviticus a little off guard, and a touch flustered as he tried to absorb it all as the words spilled from Galan's mouth. The hybrid was trying to figure out which part to respond to first -- but then, Galan asked him ... to stay? And the rest seemed so unimportant.

"Stay?" Laviticus asked, lifting his gaze and glance around the large, open space. He had, after all, mentioned that he was considering moving out. But to do so that swiftly? It was true his home life was more than unpleasant, and his dad just continued to have child after ... would there even be room left for him to live if he didn't go?

" ... Do you ... truly want me? Someone so complicated? To share a space with? I don't want to impose ... "

Laviticus took a deep breath. This was his chance, the kind of offer he was hoping would come along. Yes, he wanted to move out ... but where would he had gone to? Would the Academy accept juniors who simply just. Wanted to leave their homes? The Academy seemed so full already, but if Galan's space was empty still, maybe he could petition to move in with him ... he was sure once Ava heard his story, she'd be more than willing to let Laviticus stay here with Galan.

"If I'm to stay with you, then ... " he began quietly. "You should probably know why I want to leave, because my situation might follow me from time to time." he said shifting quietly. "And if I have to tell Ava why I suddenly wish to leave home and live on Academy grounds, I think my new roommate should know first."

Laviticus took a deep breath, hugging one of his knees to his chest. Though he didn't slump over, or look defeated. In fact, he was sitting somewhat tall ...

"I guess the story starts with both of my parents. My dad, Likais, fell in love with a geist boy in his class the moment he saw him. But it wasn't the sort of love you think of in fairy tales or happily ever afters. It was more the 'animal attraction' type, I think, that made my dad fall in love with that geist. My dad, you see, is a really charismatic, charming man. He's hard not to love, and he's ... really, really pretty ... if you ever meet him, I'm sure you'll know why the geist boy couldn't exactly refuse my dad's offer to go out with him. The two moved really quickly, and when my dad went off to university to study dance, he asked Sasha -- the geist boy's name -- to move in with him. The two didn't waste any time imbuing stone after that, despite Sasha still being in the academy. I guess when populations were still low that sort of thing was allowed. Academy seniors to imbue, that is.

Anyways, those stones resulted in myself and my sister Dahlia. Growing up, my sister was always ... troubled. Sasha spent a lot of time with her because he was far more the nurturing type than Likais was. Likais, however ... he. Has issues with females. I don't know exactly what it is, but he has a hard time getting along with them, unless they're sweet and docile, and generally agreeable. I think the rambunctious types unsettle him. So he never connected with Dahlia like he did with me ... Likais and I spent so much time together. I think ... he was proud of me? I think that may even be why he sort of named me after him. He'd always get our named mixed up and confused, and I admit, a lot of other people do as well, and I'm not exception to that. I'd referred to myself by his name before.

As the years went on, my dad Likais slowly started to lose his light. Which, for someone like him ... is truly heartbreaking to watch. My dad, Sasha, on the other hand, was bringing home more kids without having discussed it with my dad. Likais had to start acting more and more like a married man, in a committed relationship -- the family type. But I knew, even from a young age, that wasn't who he was.

He started going out late. Likais would come home some days right before Dahlia and I'd leave for school, and he'd just reek of alcohol on his breath. He was just ... so unhappy. I think ... I think he felt trapped.

Then ... one morning. I woke up, And he was just gone. Likais had left a note and just left. He apologized, saying he was unhappy and that he couldn't just live like he had been anymore, unless he wanted to destroy himself further ...

... and now I'm feeling the same way. My dad leaving drove Dahlia absolutely crazy. She's turned ... in to someone I don't want to associate with. She's hellbent on finding dad and 'winning him back', and even tries her hardest to look like him. To make him proud of her ... it's. Scary. I won't lie ... growing up with her has made me a little fearful of women ...

... but now I have ... five other half siblings living under my roof, and that's not including Dahlia, Sasha, and myself ... there's just. Not room for me anymore ... and I'm starting to feel trapped myself. Like I'm going to go crazy like my dad did ... "

Laviticus paused then, taking in another deep, steadying breath. "I still see my dad Likais. I probably would have moved in with him and my latest younger sister if it hadn't been for the fact that Likais is only temporarily rooming with a friend until he finds his own space. The Academy is sort of ... the only place I really had left to go. It scared me knowing my evil sister could still come and harass me here, which made me question dropping out of the academy altogether, finding a job, and just ... surviving ...

... but then I met you." He smiled warmly then, looking down at the Goblin all curled up at his side, clutching his sketchbook. "And, well ... now I feel like I have a safe place with a loving friend to stay ... "