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It hasn't been so long since the proverbial feces hit the coolant device, with Red's...... "Retirement" and the slow trickling of student's abandoning their dorms and Damien?

He just wanted things to make more sense and for things to get back to normal. But some things never changed, the gnomes still tried to slack off and the pumpkin sun still rises and sets. And life still went on in the lovely, horrible, little campus. Damien was never really good at cooking and normally left the task to the professionals and the lunchlady while questionable, does a pretty good job at satisfying culinary needs. But there was always those times, those cravings for a home cooked meal, a fancy meal that was made fresh and today was one of those days.

The idea of going home for a meal was out of the question, mostly due to dealing with the prying questions about the instructor situation and the threat of being pulled out looming above. It was either burning himself on the stove, or going to a restaurant. And that was the mentality he had when he walked out of the dormitory with a heavy sigh for his wallet. "Lets make the folks back home cry oh tragic card."

It wasn't as if the campus was too large for a fateful encounter to happen, it was just always unexpected. Especially with the drop of student's Damien didn't expect the polite voice to waltz up behind him, and catching him off guard to boot as he whirled around to face the ghoul. "Hm? Oh no trouble at home, at least till they see the credit card bill." he chuckled out jokingly to the blank, dark eyed familiar face.

It wasn't as if he knew the fellow student intimately, but he knew it was nice she was still here and giving the campus a shot, or at least her family was still willing to. Has it really been that long since the food eating competition and the physical torture that was Terror Warrior. "How have you been, has your stomach been OK staring at food since then?" he said with a casual wave of the hand and walked up to the innocent beauty. But kept far far away from her arms just in case.

He dared not ask about the pink slice of cake in fear of a passing mindflayer and its sprinkler system pattern of regurgitation, He didn't want any more clothes ruined beyond salvaging.

It was like a impulse to echo her confusion, like the hell hound had no choice but to tilt his head at her tone. Damien didn't even believe it was possible to not know about a credit card out here, considering how easy it was to loose seeds or spend it frivolously and not have any when something bad happened. "Yeah, instead of carrying around tons of seeds, I use this thing instead." he said in reply to her quiet and thoughtful question while holding out the little rectangle card to the engraver.

It was a lot better then dealing with Danny and her wondrously phrased questions. Yes she was a much better choice for company and he showed it on his face as he beamed at the ghoul and frowned at the sudden sound that hit his ears. "Is everything all right?" It was a sound worth investigating for the ghouls sake.

"I'm sorry, i didn't mean to pry miss..." the pup started to mumble out almost instantly from embarrassment flushing over his cheeks as the words died in his mouth. He still didn't know her name.

it was like watching a carefully planned show, each move was deliberate , effortless and yet so natural. It was as if in the Hounds eyes, the wind was merely bending to the ghouls whim and let the fabric fall exactly where it should with all the grace in the land. To Damien it was mesmerizing as he stared agape at her gingerly touching the simple card like it was porcelain and not the cheap plastic it was truly made of.

The card was lucky for the honor she gave it. "haha, is that so?" he asked shyly, scratching the back of his neck from the lost moment of magic. "I can't imagine not having this thing around, much to my own dismay." he said quietly, flicking around the simple object back and forth from finger to finger. He knew it had to be a crime to be that graceful and polite as she eased his worry with such an easy display. "I'm sorry to hear that, I hope you recover very soon, miss Needle." he offered with just as much grace that he could muster with a flourished bow and his left palm gingerly touching the extended arm, gently tilting her palm downward to place a gentle peck on the back of it. "Damien, but please, call me Demi and there is no need for you to apologize ." he offered happily to the ghoul and the bow that he was glad his grandfather made sure he knew for such an occasion.

The formality was always so automatic before, with no real thought or care behind it, but not here, where he found himself even enjoying the times where it was called, and genuine to boot. "Well then Miss needle, may I offer you to a nice lunch today, something that does not involve a time limit perhaps?" he may have phrased it formally but the grin on his face spoke of nothing but barely concealed happiness and good humor. "Don't worry, its on me and my card."

Damien knew for a fact, Needles manners are impeccable. It was a reflex to bow back to the ghoul, like a twitch that just had to happen and nothing in the world was going to stop it. "I hope so." he had to wonder if the engraver was also on the trip too, being the likely cause of her injury and getting used to said hand, but asking about it just didn't seem right. No need to drag up sad memories from the ordeal that was just beginning to heal.

However her reaction to his politeness was worth all the effort as his smile widened on his face even more. The innocent blush looked well on the pale ghouls face, something he was sure to make happen more often. "As it was for me too." he finished after her and let go of her fragile hand and made careful motions away from the protrusions that wanted to meet his flesh as well. "And Needle it is then."

it was also nice seeing that she had some wit to her as well, a very interesting ghoul indeed. " Well then, a nice leisurely, savory lunch seems in order." the smile faded into a wry grin but the humor still danced in his green eyes before waving of her concerns with the swish of his hand and tail in tandem. "Oh no, a meal is much more enjoyable in company, and its only fair for me to treat you as well." he said simply to the ghoul and her mask that stayed effortlessly in place. "I know my father and clan elder would do the same thing in this position." he cried out in earnest, if anything he would get scolded for not being proper and do that sooner by said elders. "I insist, it would be nice to have a small break away from the grounds, wouldn't you say?"

"Fair?" Damien replied back dumbly as his ears flopped over by the mention of the word "Hard to say, its more like it was only polite for me to treat you as well, seeing as how I'm asking for your company." he said in thought over his poor choice of words to the engraver. it wasn't as if he wanted to make her uncomfortable with his offer. But his smile deepened as she accepted it and had him bouncing on his heels in excitement. "I don't mind what we eat, long as there is meat!" he cheered out in exuberance and started to think about places where they could go.


"since I'm treating you, is there anything you wanted to try?" he asked, putting all the choices on the fellow student yet again and squinted at the brief moment of pain that flashed over her face and then it was gone. was it really even there or just him imagining things? Either way, he didn't want to bring it up and look like a idiot in front of the engraver. The change of topic was perfect as his tail began to calm down as did his expression.

"Yeah i mean, who would have thought we'd be seeing so many empty rooms and its less vibrant here what with all the boogeymen around." he muttered, far too wary of the prone standing figures that littered the grounds and practically guarding the entrance to the school grounds. Off putting was the only way he could think to describe it. The question that was suddenly brought up was surprising as he whirled around from the boogeyman back to his company and had to clear his throat before replying, practically feeling the eyes of the officers glaring into the back of his head. "Uh, yeah I was there Needle, it was... an interesting experience to say the least, did you go too?"

"Nope, maybe it just speaks volumes of my love for bacon." Damien yipped out quietly, his arm rubbing the back of his head in innocent embarrassment. He had no clue what she liked, or if she had any allergies. Already his mind was a whirlwind of "OH JACK, SO MUCH TO FRET OVER" and on the verge of a panic attack before the ghoul had a moment of Epiphany that caught his attention.

He didn't really expect her to take so well to the idea of Meat, color him surprised as he practically got in the engravers face. " If that's the case, I know a great steakhouse we could go to near the maul!" Blessed be that the ghoul still had a stomach for meat. Well given how she ate those oddly named hot dogs, he should have figured she had a fondness for sausages.

He was almost swept up in the excitement and reach out to hold her hand and drag her to ol' Uncle jasper and his steakhouse but the reminder that she had protrusions ready to skewer him to made the hound stop in his tracks and hover over the ghouls hand like it was fire. "It's over that way. I know they should be open right now." he offered helpfully and fell in step by Needles side. "I'm sorry to hear about your sister, it wasn't a very... easy going trip" he offered solemnly, now that the boogeymen were farther away, it felt like he could finally talk about what happened, away from prying eyes. "If anything, like I told a few other students, it just means that we should always be ready for anything, to fight or to run."

The compliments that Needle was bestowing on Damien was just so much. "Haha, thank you but I didn't do much other than just being present." he insisted sheepishly as he began to twist his fingers in the hem of his shirt. He would have to go to Red's monument and give thanks to her for saving them yet again. He didn't even think much over the ghouls sudden shyness.

hanging around Xiu just made the engravers actions seem, normal. "So you have a sister on campus huh? that must be interesting." he blurted out in a jumble from the embarrassing situation. "is she anything like you?" he asked in curiosity of being in this school with a relative. Did they even share a dorm or classes. "better yet, is she all right?"

And then she called him on what he was trying to do. Talk about awkward. "Well. you see I just wanted to take you to the thing- and i was going to hold your ha- but then you have those pointy- and then I got worried i might hurt you and-" not even all the flailing and rosy red cheeks could save him from the embarrassment as he hung his head in same. "I must look super lame right now."

"If you trust me, I will show you how it is done."

Just the shy assurance that she was fine with him was enough to have the canine gaping at the ghoul with wide emerald eyes and unable to find his voice, gave Needle a firm nod and held back out the palm that was shaking like a orange, brittle leaf in the cool, autumn wind.