Welcome to Gaia! ::

Xiu momentarily glanced away when she heard a familiar voice greeting her in her head. Lips quirking upwards in a smile, she turned in search of the mindflayer, lifting a hand to wave when she spotted Riley. "Hi, Riley!" She chirped back, offering her friend a bright smile, "Are you here to sign up for the part-time job as well?"

She perked up and turned her attention back to the undead ghoul when she went on to explain what she needed the fabric for. Oh, she designed and made clothes? The baku's expression visibly lit up, and she beamed at the other ghoul in evident awe. "My uncle designs and makes clothing as well, and I've seen what a fascinating--and difficult-looking--process it is. You're amazing!" She beamed at the other ghoul, and it looked as if she wanted to ask something else when a familiar face appeared.

"Oh, hello! You're...Frost, right?" They had spoken one or two in the passing, but as the boil had said, never had a real formal introduction. She gave a little bow of her head as she confirmed that her name was Xiu, and then turned back to smile at Sophie. "Sophie, is it? That's a pretty name! And--...ah...Van Rotte?" The baku suddenly furrowed her brows. Why did that sound so familiar...?

She shook the thought away at Sophie's offer, her lips spreading into a delighted grin. "I'd love that, if I wouldn't be too much of a bother! I'm not sure if I could be of any help at the model or inspiration bit, !"

The familiar hum of her words in his head was comfortable somehow. He shrugged at her questions and then tilted his head head this way and that, thinking about it. "I am here because I have nothing better to do. I think I should visit the other places since I've been to human world once," he answered thoughtfully. Shrugging again, he sighed and looked at her again. "Ah, if you get cold, I suppose I could lend you my jacket. I do not need it once we are out in the snow. Everyone is cold. They will not notice me too much." He said that kind of sheepishly. Honestly, no thought went into offering her his jacket. He would be glad to be rid of it and she would probably need it so it worked out perfectly.

It was cold.

Lizzy should be in her room, wrapped in a blanket while attempting to keep warm. However, she hadn't really been out and about as much as she liked... She would be hit by sudden bouts of sadness at times, and it's like a weight on her heart that she just couldn't shake off, no matter how hard she tried to forget. Or embrace. Or something.

Her other solution was to keep herself busy; with her mind occupied, she would be less likely to think about things that made her sad. A part time job sounded like the perfect thing to occupy herself with... Even if it looked kind of... Fishy...

Xiu's cheerful reply was met with a soft, caressed touch to the ghoul's hair with one of her tentacles; a tender expression that Riley did not often exhibit. But when she saw the crowd the sweet ghoul was gathering, she simply answered with a silent nod, to refrain from stealing her away from her friends. Besides, Uller was being such pleasant conversation, it was rather enjoyable.

That's quite gallant of you, my friend. I am under the impression we will be given a chance to head back to our dorms after we've signed up for this, and if so, I will be able to acquire my coat. But if I'm wrong.. And there was always the chance she was wrong, and something would force them into Xmas Town before she could even blink - I'll be happy to take you up on that offer. My wardrobe is, mmm, not well suited for the cold weather at the moment.

She could already feel her heels sliding too deep into the snow.

I'm grateful for your offer, though. It's.. Her features lifted in lieu of a smile once more. Sweet.

The dash of pink caught her eye as Lizzy entered, but she refrained from waving. Instead, when she passed, and others began to call out to her, Riley simply snuck a tentacle under her arm and tickled her. That was proper etiquette for raising someone's spirits, wasn't it?

Xiu caught his attention for a moment and he just arched a brow at how... happy she seemed before ducking behind Riley again. Too much happiness made him a bit lonely. He didn't need that now. Uller really didn't need his memories floating to the ghoul that he had claimed as his best friends. Truly she was. She taught him a lot, took him under her wings, literally that one, and they had fun together. He missed her.

Riley's next words made him jump a little, not really expecting them for some reason. Blinking, he nodded again and shrugged. "More out of convince for us both," he clarified. Uller didn't think himself sweet. It wasn't one of his strong suits.

Then his eyes landed upon the ghoul wrapped in a blanket and he just kind of rolled his eyes. If this many people didn't like the cold or snow, why do this? It was winter. It came with the season. He couldn't understand it.

Lizzy was a little sleepy, her eyes half-lidded as she wondered if this might be a Bad Idea after all; despite her get up - coat, scarf, all those things that were supposed to keep her warm - she still felt cold... Then again, it's not like her body was generating any natural body heat for her clothing to trap. The only way this was going to work is if she had tucked some hot water bottles in between layers.

Maybe she should have done-

"Oh! No worries!" She yelped, looking down as she took a step back; she was so engrossed in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed anyone coming her way, "... Chuppi?" Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked the shorter ghoul over; although she had most certainly grown up a little, she still resembled the Chuppi from a year ago.

"CHUPPI!" She exclaimed, and would hoist the monster up in order to spin her around in circles if she didn't already know that she was heavier than she looked. She did, however, wrap her arms carefully around Chuppi - avoiding her sharp quills - in order to give her a quick hug, "It's been forever!"

An exaggeration, perhaps, but it felt like forever.

Lizzy was not holding a blanket, and those she thought that she was should go get their eyes checked... Yup. The tickling, however, was canon, and she snorted - really unladylike - in surprise, turning on her heels to look at whoever the culprit was.

She would expect someone like Mot. She was shocked to find a tentacle. And at the end of the tentacle? Riley.

"Riley... Why... Why would you do that..." She looked more traumatized than cheered up, although it did manage to clear her mind of saddening thoughts, "MOT DON'T ENCOURAGE HER!"

Alexander didn't know anything about any part time job offer. All he knew was there was a crowd of students present, and as most knew, the zomboil was often attracted to large crowds, gravitating towards them as though he could not even control himself. A large smile was pasted across his pale greyish-green face, and his visible eye twinkled merrily. He was adorned mostly in red, not having any green clothes himself though he often considered sneaking into Yin's room to "borrow" something or another.

As he approached it was to see that many who had gathered were close friends or, in one case, even family! To Jack and Tomoko, the pair got a cheerful wave before she shuffled towards the group surrounding his sister.

"Hey!" He greeted Xiu, stepping forward to draw her into a bone crushing hug before letting go and stepping back. Frost received a bro like mighty clap on the back, the ghoul with the face paint a smile and a small inclination of his head in a nod, and then his darling sister got an arm around her shoulders as he gave her the old one armed hug, as he reached over with his free hand to mess with her hair.

"I see you're making friends?" He said to her, his tone nothing short of absolutely elated at the prospect.

Though he might have given Frost an extra look to make sure he wasn't going to try anything with her. Joyful though he may be, he was still in his over protective big brother role.

Riley imagined the blanket. It wasn't there. This is not the blanket you are looking for.

The last thing Riley expected at that moment was for someone to stick a star on top of her head. When Mot did it, she was sufficiently confused enough to just stand there, trying to look up at what he'd done and simply going cross eyed in her failure. Hello, Mot. Is this.. your normal greeting? She turned her confusion towards Uller, and tried to shrug it off. She appreciated Uller's honest answer, however, and understood it all too well. Ah, but convenience can be considered sweet, in its own way. Still, I will not easily forget it. I forget nothing.

That was both true, and hilariously ironic.

She felt eyes on her, and her gaze flickered just enough behind Uller to a staring zomboil. She couldn't place his face - even with Malodore's memories, she couldn't recall his name, just the same as the smaller, green ghoul. But he was certainly trying to get her attention - even if the look he gave her had a touch of unhappiness attached. She lifted one hand, and gave him a soft, careful wave. If she was at odds with the boil, it was best to test the waters carefully, and not jump in headfirst.

Lizzy's blanketless reaction to her tickle was exemplary. As a result, Riley reached her tentacle around and tickled her other side. Her answer was simple, and very pleased. Because it's fun.