Two birds, one home.

anouk: Anouk had arrived the day before and spent most of the night unpacking. Unlike many of her peers who waited until the last possible moment to return from vacation, she couldn't wait to leave home. A summer away from school, stuck in her step-mother's summer home in Toulouse had been hr own personal Hell. The woman was too quick to remind Anouk of her bastard birth and just how unwanted she'd been. While her father was always kind, he never seemed to have time for his nearly-adult daughter. After all, he now had a set of seven year old twin boys born from an actual marriage instead of a tryst with some crazy woman from America. The entire "vacation'' had been horribly uncomfortable. No matter how she tried to fit in with her father's family, with whom she lived, they never let her forget where exactly, and in graphic detail, she came from. No, Rookhaven was her home. There she had friends and sympathetic teachers, and above all - very few who knew the nature of her birth. Having stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to get the bulk of her unpacking done, she'd had most of the day free. None of her friends had arrived yet, nor had her new flatmate, so she'd found herself waking up around 7 am with almost nothing to do, wandering the halls and familiarizing herself with the easiest routes to and from her classes. She had been pleased to see who her teachers would be that semester. Professor Hallan would be her biology 208 professor. It was a shame she wouldn't have the woman for any electives - her opinions were the type to make the average person blanch but they never failed to take Anouk's mind off whatever bothered her. On the other side, Professor Torres was a ray of sunshine who always seemed to find the good in everything. Indeed, the raven-haired college sophomore was glad to be home. [d]

Yvonne: Summer vacation, a loosely used term since it wasn't vacation. It was traveling around with her father while he conned the believers out of their money and womanized every pair of female legs he could find into bed with him, while traveling in the cramped quarters of a train car shared with two others. It was less than pleasant, and often times smelled strange because Le Reves was filled with stinky, smelly, muscle-bound men who didn't care much for hygiene. The women weren't much better, but at least they covered their stench with perfume and herbs. Her only freedoms were the day before a show, while the tents were being erected and fences put up, and her time on stage when she was coupled with the spotlight. The rest of the world never mattered beneth the warmth of that lamp, and she was free to do what she did best, even if it was under the guise of being nothing more than a common magician. To say she was happy to be back at Rookhaven was an understatement. The dusty halls that smelled of books and time were a welcome aroma above most others. The familiar chattering and laughter and teasing and teachers chasing around the younger students. Yvonne walked the halls, suitcase in tow, so lost in her reverie to be returned that when she reached the second level, student living quarters, she couldn't even remember how she got there. She blinked thick veils of lash and peered about the hall. There was still almost 10 days to return before orientation, so the halls weren't nearly as full as they could have been. Her usual group of friends hadn't made it back yet, which was no surprise. They rarely made it back much before the day of orientation, but she did spot one familiar face and couldn't help but draw a smile upon berry lacquered lips. "Anouk!" Beige heels carried her in the college student's direction, wheeling the poor ol' bag of hers behind her.

anouk: Not yet in uniform, Anouk wore a plain white polo, jeans, and beat up trainers. Her father hated them and insisted she dress befitting a woman of his line, but at school there wasn't a soul to tell her how to dress. As she walked, hands tucked in her front pockets, eyes darting around at the new year's welcoming decorations, she heard her name called from behind her. Startled, she paused and turned in time to see the under classman heading towards her. The familiar click clack of heels on hard wood caused the corners of her lips to twitch before breaking out into a smile and meeting Yvonne halfway. See? Home. Where people are actually glad to see you. Reaching out, she embraced the girl in a hug, planting a dry kiss on the girl's. "Hi! Did you just get in?" she asked, hazel eyes having taken in the suitcase trudging along behind. [d]

Yvonne: Yvonne might have been one of the girliest girls ever. She loved skirts and blouses, dresses and heels and jewelry. The only time, ONLY TIME she was ever in anything that resembled pants was her gym shorts. Thankfully, she'd passed that course in her younger years and no longer had to wear the dreadfully ugly things. The uniforms were bad enough, but at least she had the skirt option for her uniform, rather than feminine slacks. The beamed smile was returned, as was the kiss to the cheek, which was mindful to not smudge the fall-toned berry color of her lipstick against Anouk's cheek. Free arm embraced her friend. "Yes. Father insisted that I stay for one more show, which of course threatened my timely return." She did not like being late for anything. Especially her return to Rookhaven. Stepping back from the embrace, her smile softened. "I'm so glad to see a familiar face whose company I enjoy. Bobby was in the class corridor, making comments to everyone as they passed."

anouk: Though they were in different grades, the two had been in the same school and living just down the hall from one another for years. If someone were to see the two side by side, they might not think either had anything in common. However, neither particularly seemed to care for the lives their fathers provided and for one reason or another, neither saw their mother with any kind of regularity. "You're looking lovely, as ever," Anouk remarked pulling back from the embrace. It was hard not to know the livewire in front of her, Yvonne was full of life and always had some fascinating story to tell about her travels with her father. Hearing about Bobby, she could only shake her head and roll her eyes. "I saw him early this morning. He was insisting to a First Year that he'd met the Supreme Being... Didn't he cry last year when he almost spoke out of turn to a gnome?" She laughed at the memory of the boy checking himself into the hospice wing after his little near-death experience. It wasn't like her to gossip, but having spent the summer with her lips shut tight it was a relief to be able to speak freely to a friendly party. [d]

Yvonne: "You'd look lovely in a burlap sack." Such a true statement of the hazel eyed sophomore. Her thinner build made her perfect for her chosen style, and though Yvonne didn't much care for jeans for herself, some people lookedexceptional in them. Case in point being Anouk. She couldn't help the quiet gale of laughter for the mention of Bobby's experience last year, and rolled her eyes. "That boy would wet himself in a cold wind blowing from the north. He's all talk and no history." Yvonne liked to come up with her own little terms and references. "So, which room are you in this year? Do you know how your roommate is yet?" Looping her arm with Anouk's she guided them over to one of the small seating arrangements there in the commons so they could sit down and Yvonne could let go of the age old bag she loped around. "Was your summer any better this year?" She knew that Anouk had problems with her family. It was probably the one true factor they both had in common that had been grounds for the mismatched friendship. Dads who were less than ideal and moms who just didn't care enough to be around. Yvonne barely remembered her mother, so there was little pain there. Hard to miss what you've never really known.

anouk: Yet another smile was cracked, accompanied by a bit of blush at the girl's burlap-sack comment. Anouk's style was built around keeping her unnoticed. The less attention on her, the less chance of her being known as the Nutty Necromancer's offspring. Still, what girl didn't like being complimented? As the conversation turned to Bobby the Bed-Wetter, she relaxed a bit more. The circles under her eyes not as easily seen in the dim light of the hall. Allowing Yvonne to lead, she walked into the commons and sat down, leaning back against some sofa cushions. "I'm in 217, but I haven't met my roommate yet. I've got a feeling it'll be a third year. Don't ask why, just a feeling." With a shrug, she smiled and gave a nod in the direction of a group of boys who'd just walked in. Most of them were much younger, surrounding none other than Robert as he regaled them with tales of his conversation with the SB. Shaking her head again, she turned back to Yvonne. "Summer wasn't all bad. The twins were in camp all summer, so Mummy Dearest was far more relaxed," Anouk shrugged.[d]

Yvonne: Try though she may, Anouk was not as unnoticeable as she'd have liked to be. Yvonne would never really say that, though. It seemed rude and an unwelcome comment, though it would have been given as an absolute comment. She did occasionally take into consideration the feelings of others, but usually only those she felt some deeper connection to. Being related to one of the council, she was known for being a snob more often than not, though it wasn't something she tried for in the least. A book worm and quiet in large groups, but she enjoyed intimate conversation amongst friends. The bridge of her nose scrunched just slightly at news of her potential roomie. "You should put in a request while you can for someone else. I wish we could co-mingle the college and high school students in rooms, but I guess they're afraid all you college students will be a bad influence on us younger students." A coy grin cast before looking over to Robert and his band of merry followers. "You have to wonder; is he actually talking to them, or is he talking to himself just to hear his own stories." Because he liked the sound of his voice. "Sounds like a better summer than last. At least mom was relaxed and you didn't have the twins going through all your things. You should come with me for Christmas holiday this year. It's not ideal on the train, but at least you'd be away from them."

anouk: Her attention had been on the braggart on the far side of the commons, his story causing loud Oooh's and Aaah's from his audience. Thinking about possibly requesting a certain class of student to share her room with didn't really appeal to her. That would just label her as a problem child and bring on added attention. Whomever she ended up with, she would make the most of and just keep to herself. Turning back to Yvonne, her smile broadened yet again. "Oh yes, you can saw me in half. Or perhaps I could pull you out of a hat?" She meant it as a joke but realized that it might sound crueler than anticipated once the words were out. "I just mean, don't you ever have a vacation where you aren't working?" With a sigh, she looked the younger woman over, concern taking over her features. For someone who was supposed to be an heiress to one of the school's founding families, Yvonne didn't seem to have the token ideal life of the others. "Maybe this year, we can just sod off on our own - families be damned." It was one of the few times anyone would hear her swear, and in doing so she cast a conspiratorial look about to ensure no one else overheard. [d]