Welcome to Gaia! ::

((lol!! Really? Why so? Her constant staring? You know, I find it so ironic that she stares at him considering how many people have stared at her in the past. smile ))

Danni could be heard walking around in her room upstairs, dresser and closet doors slamming. Then there was the sound of footsteps in the hallway, and the bathroom door slammed shut. He heard the occasional falter of steps, which he took to meant she was stumbling again. She was still almost dead on her feet, and this wasn't good for her. Her siblings had already left the shack, leaving just Cook, Danni, and the three dogs.

He heard the sound of water running, and sighed, sinking down lower in his chair. She'd come out when she was ready, and not a moment before. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Danni was on her knees beside the tub, her head under the fall of water that came from the tub's faucet. She brought her head up, her blue hair soaked. In her hand, she dumped a mixture she'd concocted herself into her hand, then spread it through her hair as though it were shampoo. Once she got it completely mixed in, she stuck her head under the water again, washing it all away.

Three minutes later, as she toweled off her hair, it had lost all trace of blue. In its place was a fall of auburn hair, not quite red, not quite brown or black. Her natural hair color, something people rarely saw, if they ever did. She took a hung outfit off the hook on the door, shooting a wistful glance at her torn jeans and tight tee shirt on the floor before she pulled the the skirt and blouse on. They were earthy, subtle tones of green and brown, the flats she slipped on a light brown color as well.

In the bathroom mirror, she carefully applied makeup, her eyes uncharacteristically blank blank as she slid the lipstick over her mouth, the mascara and eyeliner on her eyes. She clipped her hair back to the nape of her neck with an intricately designed clip, and slipped a golden cross necklace and a small locket over her neck. The cross stung a bit when it touched her skin, but it was something she'd have to tolerate.

With a long look at herself in the mirror, she sighed, hardly recognizing herself, if she did at all. She stuffed her clothes in the laundry basket, then opened the bathroom door. With a heavy silence, she made her way down the stairs, careful not fall, and presented herself for the first time to Cook. At the sound of her approaching steps, Cook turned, only to stare blankly for a moment. "Don't recognize me, Cook? That's ok, I hardly do either. It'll be ok, though. Ma and Pa with leave soon enough..." She said softly, feelign like she was on display as Cook only continued to stare.

Lin nodded and bowed deeply. "Yes, that is all. Thank you again, sir. I hope you have a very good day and I hope to see you again."

She then turned and walked back up the stairs and lost herself in the dark shadows, since it was still very early in the morning and dark outside.

Ialo waved goodbye to Lin, and continued down the hallway. He stopped as he passed a couple in the hallway. "Can I help you?" he politely asked. They looked like parents. Involuntarily, he though of his first week and at Mystic Fountain. His mother arrived and beat him for not calling her every night.

From the moment Sylvester first spoke, Ialo knew what type of people they were, and decided to level the playing field. He ran hand through it hair, so it wasn't so messy. Luckily, the dragon had a knack for wearing semi-formal clothes and not leave a wrinkle on them, so besides the dark shadows under his eyes, he actually looked somewhat decent for having pulled an all-nighter.

Ialo didn't even bother with the thought of shaking their hands or introducing himself or anything like that. He kept walking, towards another stairwell. Near the Headmaster's office was a conference room, and that was where he was headed. "Follow me," he said curtly. "We're going to the conference room."

Sylvester nodded, and began leading his wife after Ialo. Ambrose and Lia were coming from the opposite direction, and Lia smiled when she saw her mother. "Mama! You're here! You too, Papa!" She said, throwing herself into her mother's arms. Eleanor smiled back, hugging her daughter, then stepped back to pet her on the head. "There's my precious little girl. Marvelous dress choice, darling. Pink is definitely your color. Hello to you, Ambrose. You're growing taller everyday, darling." She said, patting Ambrose's shoulder before taking Lia's hand and walking with her after Ialo.

Sylvester patter his son on the back before slinging his arm over his shoulders. "Hey there, son. Your mother's right, you are getting taller. Where's that other sister of yours?" He asked, following his wife and daughter, leading Ambrose. "She'll meet us, I'm sure. She won't be late, Pa. She's promised to be...presentable." He said softly, and Sylvester nodded, his eyes guarded. One thing his daughter had never done, he thought, was break a promise. That was all he'd admit to giving her credit for.

Sylvester nodded, stepping into the conference room with his family, and taking a seat. It was a few moments later that there was a knock, and Sylvester immediately sensed who it was. "Come in, Isadora." He said briefly, not even looking as the door opened. However, Ialo would be in for a shock. He'd obviously never seen Danni without her tomboy clothes and hair. Now all he'd see was a...well, miserable girl in proper clothes.

Her hands were clasped in front of her, her head bowed respectfully, and she stepped quietly over to her father, standing at his side. "Hello Papa. Hello Mother." She said softly, nearly flinching at the scowl Eleanor sent her way and the blank stare her father sent her. "Yes, yes. Sit down Isadora. You've kept us waiting." Eleanor said sharply, and Danni lowered her eyes, knowing that Cook was waiting out in the hall, having stubbornly followed her back to the school.

"I apologize." She said, automatically sitting opposite her family on a small stool, closer to Ialo than anyone else. "Ialo. It's...delightful to see you again." She said, more for form's sake than actual truth.

"Well then, I recommend we get on with this business. You've greatly disappointed us, Isadora. I hope you realize that. You know how much we disappove of your practicing of the dark arts. Rinaldi's, as you know, are white magic and shield charm users. Our line has not been stained by a black magic user for centuries. I'd hoped sending you here would help you remember your place. But then you went and dishonored us. I'm sure you troubled Mister Ialo as well, disrupting the order of this fine establishment." Sylvester said, his gaze accusing as Lia and Eleanor looked on smugly. Ambrose just looked at his feet, reluctant to be a part of this conversation. But deep down, he was grateful that Danni was around to keep either him or Lia from being the focus of blame.

Lin was walking around the halls, so incredibly excited about classes beginning in a few hours. She had to test them, make sure they were still fresh and would work the same here in this setting.

So, she quickly went to her room, got her bow and arrows and ran outside. It being dark made it even better, more challenging. Elves had great night vision, though. Hell, they had great, long-range vision period.

She noticed the arrow in the bow, aimed it at the window and pulled back. As soon as the arrow went backward between her fingers, fire ignited the arrow. Part of her abilities.

She then shot the arrow through the window. It was the one leading to the hallway that she had just come from. She knew it was empty.... or so she thought.