Welcome to Gaia! ::

Riley let out an exaggerated sigh, and shrugged. I hope so. For their sake, more than my own. The situation in this school is dire, and I know it won't be an easy task to help keep it safe and well balanced. I would hate to see someone falling asleep on the job.

Burn.

Riley gave Jericho a quick squeeze, meeting his eyes as he tensed. She could feel the moment he let himself relax, and took a deep breath in response.

She turned her head when she heard Christof's voice, but all she saw behind her were posters scattered all over the floor. She blinked, trying to reach out for the patchwork's mind, but he had scampered off too far. She slumped just slightly in disappointment.

"Or someone who will just delegate." Invictus added. Conquest never asked someone to do something that he himself was not at least capable of doing - even if he wasn't as good at it. He had to make sure he wasn't completely helpless after all. He wouldn't have delegated the task of at-home defense to Riley if he wasn't capable of putting one together himself.


That and Riley needed to be blooded just a wee bit. Okay, Invictus just wanted to see how she'd handle it and possibly grin maniacally behind closed doors.

"You have no idea..." he answered to Jericho, that faint smile forming on his lips, looking almost twisted. Almost. But surely most of that messy Insanity was working out of his system by then, wasn't it? Oh, it probably wasn't. Conquest just had to be in control of himself just as much as he was of those around him.

"If nothing else, you know how to keep it lively about you."

Jove cowered, just a little, as though he were about to be crushed under the fist of that frightening Reaper, and the hand on his shoulder made him jump backwards yet again, giving the booth a gentle bump with his back. And then as if things couldn't get worse, that crazy horseman from the island showed up.

But... None of the aforementioned students seemed inclined to beat him to a pulp, so the little wisp managed to avoid crawling under Riley's booth to hide. Although he imagined it would be such a calm, dark, comfortable place... He calmed down the more he was ignored, and felt the urge to flee slowly disappear. Perhaps that was one good thing about being barely chest high on most of the other students, it was easy for them to overlook his presence. Literally.

He glanced back over his shoulder to make sure he hadn't ruffled anything on the booth, and noticed the tentacled cannon cat had moved closer. It was a sign. Jove took it with the slightest little tail wag, if anyone asked he could always insist it was for one of his pets.

He gave her a broad, blatantly adoring grin for that. "Thank you, Xiu. Have I told you how amazing you are? Taryn and you, you guys will get along great!" he told her, positive of that fact. "Plus, all those awesome bakers all in the same room, jackDAMN am I looking forward to that! We're talkin' mooncakes and spookies and crepes and--"

He reached up, wiping drool off of his chin. "I can help if you put something together! I'm good for heavy lifting and taste testing!"

She blushed at the compliment, but her expression eventually turned into a grin as he promptly launched off into listing desserts. Yup, same ol' Roch. "I...I'll let you know if we end up starting up a club or a group then, okay?" He definitely seemed excited about the food possibilities that would come out of such a club.

A brief glance to the side determined that Riley had been looking their way. Tensing up immediately, Xiu realized that the reaper was probably supposed to be playing more music now instead of chatting with her. She quickly cleared her throat. "A-anyways, I...will leave you to your playing! U-um...please pass that message on to Taryn for me!" She shot him a smile, and then quickly skittered back to where Shun was standing. When she reached him, the Baku let go of the breath she was holding.

"That...that wasn't too bad."

Oh, Roch was in a GOOD mood. That had been great, not only had she calmed down and smiled for him, he had arranged for the equivalent of heaven in Halloween to happen pretty soon, knowing his Xiu. Ahhh, man was he looking forward to this baking club. Even if he had had to cut back on eating, a spookie or cupcake once in a while wouldn't kill him!

His good mood showed with the next song he picked, and the fact that he even stood to play it. It was upbeat and excited, different subtly from the things he'd been playing before. He even did a bit of slap picking where the drum should have been in Bulldog Bite.

I'd like to think so. Riley was starting to get just a little too interested in the goings on around her, and she hardly wanted to insult Invictus by speaking with him while she was distracted, so she turned fully to him and gave him a charming expression. Would you excuse me for a moment? Xiu, my darling. Can I borrow you here for a second? She held her hand out to the ghoul hiding behind Shun in a rather unexpected move since she hadn't really been speaking to her.

She led Xiu away, behind the booth, out of earshot - leaving the cookies unguarded. Charlie would never get a better chance than this moment.

Love the music, Roch. You are a gift. She complimented with a gentle, but knowing look, as she led Xiu away.

Riley caught that. Then again, Riley caught everything.

Once they were out of earshot, Riley pulled one of the chairs back from around the booth, and held it out for Xiu. You are nervous. She pressed her hand against the ghoul's arm, brushing it in comfort. And that makes me nervous. Tell me what's wrong? Maybe I can help.

Xiu had been hiding behind Shun, a fact Riley felt was worth worrying about. Who would hide behind Shun, anyway? Whatever this problem was, it was probably his fault to begin with.