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Post by Veronique Poulain on Jun 16, 2010 22:17:19 GMT -5
Veronique drove like a bat out of hell for about an hour, tossing students all over the bus and narrowly avoiding hitting anything, probably thanks to whatever enchantments Smoke had placed on the bus.
Eventually, however, the bus began to slow, and the city of Thessaloniki swam into focus around them. Not quite as big as Athens, Thessaloniki was still likely the biggest city any of the students had seen since at least Winter Break, possibly longer for those that had stayed for Christmas. The city was a charming mix of old and new, weathered buildings and modern structures, interspersed with Greek cafés and fast food restaurants, and plenty of shopping.
The bus finally pulled up to a stop in front of a tall building in the center of the city. The doors opened, and the headmaster turned in place, glaring back at the swarm of students and teachers behind her.
"We're at the hotel," she called back at them. "You have ten minutes to get yourselves off of my bus. From here on, you are the responsibility of your professors, not me."
Veronique grinned, drumming her fingers against the smooth leather of the steering wheel. The students would go off and have their fun in Greece, and she... Oh, she and her new toy would have a little vacation of their own.
She switched out the rock CD in the player for Kesha and cranked the speakers as loud as they would go. That should sufficiently clear out the bus.
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Jun 16, 2010 22:24:38 GMT -5
Hoshi cringed at the sudden change in music and leaped up from his seat.
"Alright, everyone, flee the scene and grab your things from the back!" he called, cupping his hands around his mouth to make sure those at the back of the bus could hear him. "Regroup in the hotel lobby and find your roommates, and we'll get you your keys and room numbers!"
He grinned and grabbed Ellie's hand. "Her music has been getting progressively worse, and I don't want to know what ranks below Kesha. Let's get moving."
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Elliestraaeln Evans-Barros
Keme
Beloved School Healer
So many things I'd say if only I were able; but I just keep quiet.
Posts: 503
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Post by Elliestraaeln Evans-Barros on Jun 16, 2010 22:32:56 GMT -5
Ellie snorted and stood. She stepped into the walkway and nudged Kemekin and Jaebi with her free hand-- how in the world the two of them had managed to sleep through the roller-coaster of a ride was beyond her.
"Wake up, sweetie," she said to Jaebi, who had switched seats with Kemekin soon after the bus had left Dunehelden. "Get your things, get to the lobby."
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Jaebi Lyckander
Keme
Academy Freshman: Cheetah Shapeshifter
This secret side of me, hid under lock and key; I keep it caged but I can't control it.
Posts: 200
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Post by Jaebi Lyckander on Jun 16, 2010 22:37:35 GMT -5
Jaebi jumped a little at being woken up-- he jumped more when he realized the music blasting through the bus. He shook Kemekin before hopping up and making his way to the back of the bus to help the other vacationers rifle through the luggage.
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jun 16, 2010 22:54:16 GMT -5
Hitoshi shifted slightly and glanced over at Alex as the announcement to exit the bus was made, and Hitoshi felt his face redden slightly. At some point the other boy had managed to fall asleep on his shoulder, though he was unsure how between the headmistress' driving and the blaring music. A part of him was admittedly rather hesitant to wake him.
Hitoshi nudged the other boy's shoulder slightly. "Hey, Alex, we're here," he said quietly.
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Post by Hitomi Gilespi on Jun 16, 2010 23:14:50 GMT -5
And Hitomi had thought Lady Gaga was bad. This was just... Ugh. There weren't even words to describe the atrocity masquerading as music. She shot Jaymie and pained look and hoped to god that even he would agree with her on this.
"Come on, I don't think I can take any more of her music," she hissed, grabbing Jaymie by the sleeve and dragging him toward the luggage compartment.
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Post by Alex Meriweather on Jun 16, 2010 23:26:26 GMT -5
Alex made a sleepy little mumbling noise and pushed himself off Hitoshi. His face slowly contorted from a yawn into a cringing squarish shape during which he tried simultaneously to stretch his arms, rub his eyes, and cover his ears. He pulled the blanket up over his head, one eye half-shut, and went to grab his things.
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Post by Jaymie Elderton on Jun 17, 2010 0:00:19 GMT -5
"Ack!" Jaymie's eyes widened and he stumbled after Hitomi. "Not so hard, that's hand-stitched!"
He was never really sure how to take it when Hitomi got all assertive and cultured. On the one hand, it was kind of cool seeing she wasn't as shallow as she pretended to be. On the other hand, it was kind of scary. (On the third hand he sometimes felt must be growing out of his head when he thought about relationships too hard, that was kind of hot.)
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jun 17, 2010 2:12:05 GMT -5
Hitoshi ducked his head slightly and tried to rub the warmth out of his cheeks, wondering just how long it would take for him to stop reacting like that every time Alex so much as looked at him. He seemed to have slid backwards during the few weeks where they were barely talking.
He pulled his bags out of the luggage compartment and made his way into the hotel lobby as quickly as possible, eager to get out of the bus. Hitoshi didn't do terribly well in enclosed spaces, and while he had been in many places worse than the bus, the mild motion sickness was doing nothing to help the matter.
His legs felt like jelly as they hit the concrete, and Hitoshi grabbed onto the nearest solid object to keep from falling over under the weight of his bags.
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Elliestraaeln Evans-Barros
Keme
Beloved School Healer
So many things I'd say if only I were able; but I just keep quiet.
Posts: 503
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Post by Elliestraaeln Evans-Barros on Jun 17, 2010 2:25:34 GMT -5
Ellie came off the bus right after Hitoshi-- she saw him wobble and gripped both of his shoulders to keep him steady.
"Are you alright, hun?" she asked. He was a bit pale. Ellie rested a hand lightly on his forehead and let a wave healing magic wash over the boy. That done, she smiled and brushed his hair out of his face.
"Better?"
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jun 17, 2010 2:41:23 GMT -5
Hitoshi hadn't realized he had been feeling that poorly--a bit overly warm, perhaps, but he had attributed that to the Grecian weather--but when he felt the soft touch of her magic, he suddenly felt better. Better than he had felt in a long time. A headache he hadn't realized he had was swept away (so much for ibuprofen), the slight spinning sensation and unsettling feeling in his stomach were gone, and he no longer felt like a slight breeze could topple him over.
Hitoshi looked up at the healer and nodded slightly. "Much better," he murmured. "Thank you."
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Elliestraaeln Evans-Barros
Keme
Beloved School Healer
So many things I'd say if only I were able; but I just keep quiet.
Posts: 503
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Post by Elliestraaeln Evans-Barros on Jun 17, 2010 2:46:08 GMT -5
Ellie's smile brightened. "You're very welcome, Hitoshi."
Ellie glanced up at the windows of the bus and smirked, calling, "Kemekin, stop trying to trip Jaebi." She shook her head, then looked back at Hitoshi, giving Hoshi's hand a slight tug. "I'll see you inside, along with the other students." She winked.
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Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jun 17, 2010 3:27:51 GMT -5
Hitoshi nodded numbly, then turned and shuffled after Alex into the lobby. A strange feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. It could have been the lingering effects of the magic, of course. Hitoshi hadn't been healed magically in years, mostly because he took care not to need healing, and there was something soothing and strangely pleasant about the feeling. But that didn't quite seem to explain it.
It was something different, something familiar... The way she had talked to him, she had sounded just like his mother, and Hitoshi couldn't quite decide how to feel about it.
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Jun 17, 2010 4:04:18 GMT -5
Hoshi raised an eyebrow as he watched Hitoshi walk away, then glanced back at Ellie. He wasn't entirely sure what had happened, but Hitoshi certainly looked slightly shaken.
"I wouldn't worry too much about Kemekin and Jaebi," he commented idly. "Jaebi can take care of himself, and if Kemekin gets hurt in the process, he might learn a lesson from it, at least temporarily." He smiled and wrapped his arm around Ellie's waist, leading her into the lobby.
The inside of the hotel was rather extravagant, with an arrangement of comfortable arm chairs around a decorative fireplace and more art work than some museums Hoshi had seen. The floor was glossy and wooden, and every step seemed to echo thunderously in the building. Many of the students had already made their way inside and had grouped with their roommates, standing around art work or lounging in the chairs.
Hoshi headed over to the receptionist's desk to collect room keys and figure out where the heck they were staying in this monster of a building.
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Post by Hitomi Gilespi on Jun 17, 2010 4:15:41 GMT -5
Hitomi opened the door to the lobby and was nearly floored by the sheer decadence of the place. Even on the occasions Tristan had the money to take them on vacation, they rarely went anywhere nicer than the beach, and then they were lucky to get two beds and a continental breakfast.
This place had practically sparkled. It was the sort of hotel that got used for proms and corporate meetings, not the sort of place people actually stayed in. There were two pools, one indoor and one outdoor, a kitchenette, room service, more TV channels than she had ever seen in her life... Oh, and she was going to get to go shopping. And probably harass her boyfriend into buying something for her. This was quite possibly the best vacation ever.
Hitomi plopped down into one of the armchairs, her feet dangling over one of the armrests, watching for the girls she would be rooming with. If she remembered correctly, she was with Rudeth's girlfriend, and a purple-haired upperclassmen she didn't know very well.
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Post by Meriel "Dubhiarr" MacNamara on Jun 17, 2010 12:39:21 GMT -5
Dubhiarr sighed and straightened her hair with her free hand once she was free of the mass of students and teachers crowding into the hotel. Her other hand was holding her duffel bag. She looked around the lobby -- wow, it was impressive -- and spotted a girl whom she guessed was probably Hitomi. Heading in her direction, Dubhiarr settled down in an armchair beside her and smiled over at her neighbor.
"Hi there. You're Hitomi, right? I'm Dubhiarr, one of your roommates."
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Post by Aritha Bianca Kairavi on Jun 17, 2010 14:46:35 GMT -5
Aritha had dragged Zeph into the hotel, and finally dumped him with his brothers. Carrying her two bags, and slightly surprised at how much heavier they felt here, she headed over to her roommates. She was in two minds of the hotel. Being a person who normally lived in a wagon, she felt like a country hick. But having spent several summers at the Aetai's mansion, she also felt it was not nearly as impressive as everyone else seemed to think.
"Hello? Pretty sure I'm rooming with you, Hitomi," she beamed. She wasn't entirely sure of how Hitomi felt about her, but after working with her on costuming for the Fall play, Aritha decided she liked Hitoshi's twin. Hitoshi himself was neither horribly liked or disliked, considering both his relationship to Hitomi and the way he had treated Zeph after that accident in the cooking class. However, Aritha wasn't rooming with him so she wasn't horribly concerned. She didn't know the other girl, and so offered her a hand. "Hello, I'm Aritha."
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Post by Hitomi Gilespi on Jun 17, 2010 16:46:49 GMT -5
Hitomi smiled and swung her legs around in the chair to face the other two girls, resting her feet on top of her luggage.
"Yep, that's me," she chirped. "Nice to meet you."
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Kemekin Evans-Barros, Jr.
Keme
Academy Freshman: Were-Korean
No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.
Posts: 229
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Post by Kemekin Evans-Barros, Jr. on Jun 17, 2010 16:55:42 GMT -5
Kemekin came into the lobby with the last of the students, rubbing a newly sore spot on his neck. Jaebi had retaliated to his antics by using the cord of his headphones like a whip. Either it was a lucky shot or Jaebi had used his headphones as a weapon before, because the metal part of the jack had slapped against his jugular with a surprising force.
Who was he rooming with, again? Besides Jaebi. Oh, right. Kemekin stood on tiptoe to look around for Professor Mervielle-Dion. Unable to spot him, Kemekin stepped up to the three girls with an amiable grin.
"Have you guys seen Professor Cullen, anywhere? You'd think a little sparkly guy would stand out in a group..."
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Natsuritcha Uerka
Vi
She of the Puppy Eyes
The world will turn if I see it or not.
Posts: 42
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Post by Natsuritcha Uerka on Jun 17, 2010 20:12:16 GMT -5
Natsu nervously got off the bus. She hadn't been to someplace this big in a long time. As if going to Dunehelden wasn't enough of a culture shock. She looked around the busy hotel lobby timidly. Who was it she was rooming with again? She knew about Dou-chan but who was the teacher. Ms. Evans-Barros she believed?
In all of the hustle she had lost sight of Doucan, this made her even more worried. How could you miss a 6 foot tall blue night light. Natsu walked over to the only person nearby she vaguely knew. She tugged on Keme's sleeve and asked in a quiet voice, "Um, excuse me but h-have you seen Dou-chan or Ms. Evans-barros around?"
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Kemekin Evans-Barros, Jr.
Keme
Academy Freshman: Were-Korean
No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.
Posts: 229
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Post by Kemekin Evans-Barros, Jr. on Jun 17, 2010 20:17:19 GMT -5
Kemekin turned to face the girl with his eyebrows raised. He glanced around, didn't see the tall girl, and quirked his mouth to one side.
"Ah..." He stood on tiptoe, spotted his aunt, and grinned. He leaned towards Natsu and pointed so she could follow his line of sight. "Ellie's over there, with Professor Yogo. See?"
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Natsuritcha Uerka
Vi
She of the Puppy Eyes
The world will turn if I see it or not.
Posts: 42
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Post by Natsuritcha Uerka on Jun 17, 2010 20:30:44 GMT -5
"Oh," Natsu said now seeing the beautiful woman. She turned to Kemekin and bent lightly at the waist in a slight bow. "Thank you very much, Kemekin, you're very kind." She gave Kemekin one of her cute smiles before heading towards the teachers.
Natsu had some difficulty maneuvering through the crowd. People don't often look for short people in a massive group of people. Natsu barely managed to avoid getting trampled a few times before finally making it to the two teachers. "H-hello, Ms. Evans-barros, I do believe we are going to be sharing a room." Nastu said with a broad grin. She once again nervously surveyed the area, "Have YOU seen Dou-chan anywhere?"
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Doucan Abshire
Keme
If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development.
Posts: 11
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Post by Doucan Abshire on Jun 17, 2010 20:42:44 GMT -5
Doucan reached Ellie soon after Natsu did, adjusting the strap of her backpack on her shoulder.
"This one is here," she said. She looked from Natsu to Ellie and blinked a few times. She hadn't realized just how blue the healer's eyes were. Even more so now that they were reflecting the mild glow from Doucan's blue hair. It was too bright in the lobby for it to be recognized as a glow from a distance, but Ellie was standing just an arm's length away.
Doucan tore her gaze from the woman and smiled down at Natsu.
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Natsuritcha Uerka
Vi
She of the Puppy Eyes
The world will turn if I see it or not.
Posts: 42
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Post by Natsuritcha Uerka on Jun 17, 2010 20:57:59 GMT -5
"Dou-chan!" Natsu exclaimed happily as she smiled up at her best friend. "I was wondering where you had disappeared to." Natsu gravitated over to Doucan and wrapped her arms around her tall friend.
Natsu turned her excited gaze to Ellie and asked, "Do either of you know what we do, now that we've found each other?"
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Jun 17, 2010 22:33:40 GMT -5
"You go to your room, of course," Hoshi announced, jingling a pair of keys near the group of girls. He tossed the first key to Ellie, and the other to the two high schoolers. "You'll have to decide which of you gets to hang on to that one, though. You're in room 301, I believe."
Hoshi clapped his hands and turned to face the mass of students in the lobby. "Alright, listen up, everyone!" he called, cupping his hands to make sure he was heard over the chattering. "Stand with your groups and I'll give you your keys. If you're in a room with all students, one of you will be assigned as your room captain for the duration of the trip. During the two days spent in Thessaloniki, you will be allowed to go wherever you want in the city as long as you stay with at least one other classmate, as long as the teacher in charge of you knows where you intend to go. You are report back to your rooms by ten o'clock, when the teachers will perform room checks.
"In two days, we will meet at seven in the morning in the lobby and head to the ferry, which will take us on a two day tour around the cost of Greece and a few of the islands nearby. Do not be late for this, or we will fall a day behind schedule, which would give us less time to spend in Athens."
Hoshi smiled and tossed the next set of keys to Dubhiarr. "You've got seniority, so that would make you room captain. Aritha and Hitomi will have to share the second key."
He threw the next two keys at the Aetai boys. "Boreas, you're room captain." He smirked. "Don't kill each other over the keys."
Hoshi continued through the pile of keys, handing them out to the students and teachers, until he got to last two keys. He stuck one in his pocket and held out the other toward Hitoshi and Alex. "Looks like we're going to be rooming together," he commented.
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