<font color='#F8F8FF'>Out of Character Private for Jaceen. Set on Day 2 of the Tria Quarter. Year 2. Um. The shorthand in the lyrics [copyright Darius Rucker] was done on purpose -- not because I am a moron. In Character And U want me to change. I can't get used to. All U want me to be. I just can't pretend. To be anyone else. Cuz it's not really me. Okkie, the infamous caramel pendragon, had had three lovers in her life. First, there had been Russett. He had shown 'Kie her true inner and outer beauty, had guided her unto a path that culminated into not only self-acceptance, but self-love. But, despite his being wonderful and genial, the young female had discarded his guidance for the thrill-seeking Sioux. He had been blunt and random, aggressive and dominant -- with a soft-as-cotton-candy heart. She'd been elated when they had run off together, oh-so-romantically. Yet he had perished, as truly weak as his heart had been. From there, Okkie had moved on to meet a young one named Orca. She had loathed his coquetteish nature at first, but had soon grown to love his clumsy ways and his cock-eyed smile. He had been her complement, or at least more than the two before him had been. But none of them had truly been for her. Russ', she had abandoned, because he was too peaceful, too pacificist. Sioux had been done in by the rigors of nature, and her mentaility had grimaced at his memory. Orca had been torn away by his own devices many a time, never caring enough to strive at his invisible harnesses, to try and find her. None of them had truly loved her enough to pursue the catch-me-if-you can female. They hadn't loved her and cherished her for what she was, or what she stood for. But all of this was okay. Okkie had someone new -- except he wasn't her lover. He was Reveri Silvent, her kin of the spirit. They'd almost fallen into a romantic relationship, but 'Kie had put that to a quick stop. She knew that what they had now was simply the devotion of siblings, and their bond was carved deeper than any bond of blood could ever be. After all, wasn't the soul above and beyond flesh and bone, didn't it last after the body had decayed away? Okkie was sure the soul was more important, was sure that hers and Reveri's love was her buttress and her truth. There were times, though, when 'Kie abandoned her contemplations of her complicated love life. Sure, it was fun to think about, and a whole lot of information to sort through. And the memories, they made her laugh and weep, chuckle and snort and sneer. Yet, one could not only live within memories. One had to make new ones, to live in the here and now. Right now, XII was surely living for the present. Caramel feet -- all four -- and gingersnap ears were clad in white-'n-red striped socks as the young female paraded across the Janardan Courtyard. Alas, her love life was unusual, and so was the rest of her life. Especially her style. As she pranced across the dust and grass, tail erect and eyes half-lidded in a seductive manner, Okkie simply screamed of unique nature and personality. And not only because of the socks. Hooks and rings were attached to the struts of her feathery apparel, and 'Kie smiled rogueishly as she flipped her gear, showing all the watchful youths littered around the Courtyard how eccentric she could be. Satisfied that she had shocked the majority of onlookers, the unloved but loveable Okkie flopped down to the ground, limbs splayed about her spread-eagle style. From somewhere -- perhaps one of the socks upon her ears? -- she conjured up a magnifying glass. She peered through it with right eye, her left eye closed, and studied a cute bug that scuttled by in front of her. "Well, hello there, lil' fellow. I'm screwed up in the head, I've been dumped more times than I can... count, and my life is a probably a goddamn liability to the Graders! ...How's your life?" This is my world. This is who I am. And I'm not gonna give up myself. To make your life better.</font>
<font color='#FFFFFF'>Jaceen, her pelage mimicking the sun itself with its bright yellow hues, was on recess duty. Her colouration on this morning was somewhat softened as the sun had yet to reach its full potential. And for that she was thankful; she didn't need students running around and jokingly claiming that they had been severely blinded. That was one joke that seemed to get old too fast. Not that she minded... just that when you hear it about four to ten times a day, it started to get a little annoying. Even now she had several younger kids shadowing her. They were following, trying their best to be descreet. Hiding behind whatever they could and creeping along. Perhaps they were pretending to be detectives, or hunters, or something else of the same nature. It was their faint giggles and scuffling every now and then that gave them away. Jaceen couldn't help but smile at their antics. To be a child again. What was it like? It wasn't long before she spotted Okkie. A teen, that much she could be sure of, but her exact age was uncertain. What caught Jaceen's attention however, were the strange articles that she was wearing. Very... different. Had Jaceen again fallen behind with the program on what was 'hip'? Not that it really mattered. Every time she tried to 'get with the program' - someone changed the channel. But that was okay. As Jaceen walked up to the side of the oddly clothed female, she noticed that she also seemed to be intently studying a bug. And... talking to it? Ah, the clothes to Jaceen were a lot stranger than just talking to a bug. Heck, she talked to rocks sometimes herself. She only caught the last bit of Okkie's short conversation, yet it was enough to make her respond softy. "You know, the Graders aren't even half as bad as everyone makes them out to be."</font>
<font color='#F8F8FF'>In Character The youthful pendragon lapsed into silence as she watched the bug scuttle in a few circles. The little creature then broke his own pattern and sidled away into the grass, chirping once before he left the idling Okkie to sit alone on the edge of the Courtyard. She smiled as he went, set the magnifying glass down, and offered a wave with sock-clad paw. He'd been cute, and she was sad to see him go, but everyone had to go back where they'd come from at some point. Now that the insect was gone, 'Kie looked around boredly. What was there to do? She could round up some others her age and propose they play a game of Jemdrull or something. Or maybe she could rouse up some trouble and start a brawl? That sounded like fun, but the youth was wary of the many teachers and other authority figures that prowled at the precincts of the 'yard. They were probably watching her already, what with her odd choice of clothing, so Okkie mentally crossed out the idea of instigating a fight. But all was not disappointing. 'Kie was not swept into an abyss of boredom, but instead her strong azure eyes were drawn to a lemon figure that was sauntering in her direction. This particular pendragon's coloration seemed to brighten up the very air around her, and Okkie's hackles prickled and tail flicked as the obvious adult padded in her direction. "Oh, I know. I was only joking. I'm just a weird-o, and I figure the Graders would probably be annoyed by my wonky ways," the banded she-'dragon piped up after the other had spoken. Muzzle was marked by a small grin. "But I won't change my ways. Not for them, not for anybody."</font>
<font color='#FFFFFF'>Jaceen grinned, the tips of her canines showing faintly. Weird? She certainly had seen her fair share of 'weird' things throughout the courses of her life. Okkie on the other hand she didn't consider to be all that weird. No. Okkie seemed more like a piece of unchallenged reality and youth combined together, playing off alone on a lovely tangent. Oblivious and uncaring as to what the rest considered 'normal'. Or perhaps it was that Jaceen was a little weird herself. No wormholes filled with love stories riddled this teachers past. Jaceen had never found someone that fitted her likes. Though it was just as well. They'd likely become targets for Jaceen to worry and fret over. No. No love life. Though she had several friends, and that was enough. Friends and she had the school. As it was, Janardan practically was her life. "I wouldn't change for anyone either. I'm Ms. Lapices." She said, then lowered her voice a notch, "Feel free to just call me Jaceen though. Sometimes the formalities of this place irk me. So... do you happen to like bugs?" So it was a little bit of an odd question coming from a teacher, but what did that matter? Faint hints of laughter bubbled up from behind Jaceen. The little ones that had been following her had broken off to play another game by the sounds of it.</font>
<font color='#F8F8FF'>In Character The candid focus on the lemon-colored Jaceen faltered a bit as another little bug scuttled into view. The same one? No... this one came from another direction entirely. And it had red spots, whereas the other had had blue ones. Momentarily, the odd youth turned her gaze from the adult, and peered closely at the diminutive creature. It stopped right in front of the chocolate pendragon, flicked a wing, and goggled at her with large, lucid oculars. Then, with a twitch of tiny antennae, it scampered onwards, and Okkie was left bug'less once again. "I like 'em," 'Kie said, distractedly turning her mug back towards the inquiring Jaceen. "Just to watch. I don't eat them or anything like that, nor do I catch them. It's interesting just to watch them do their own thing." Feathery wings shifted, bangles and rings jingling with a quicksilver glint against snowy appendages. Tail flip-flopped back and forth as the young one adjusted her weight. Once comfortable, she yanked her stockings up her legs using pearly white teeth. It was odd, and just like the two bugs had done, she was doing her own thing. As Okkie preened and primped, she was briefly mindless of Jaceen's company and the onlookers that littered the Courtyard. Finally, contented with her grooming, Okkie sat up. That lop-sided grin still on her face. "Do you like bugs, Mrs. Lapices? Most find them disgusting and creepy. Do you?"</font>
<font color='#FFFFFF'>Jaceen nodded her head, just watching bugs was fine... although she had eaten her own fair share out of sheer curiosity in her lifetime. Oh, and she had learned a variety of lessons from that... Some bugs bit or stung, some were dangerous and housed deadly poisons, and above all - most tasted just horrible. As Okkie was adjusting herself, rather mindlessly, Jaceen's attention was drawn briefly to a spot across the yard. Two younger pendragons were shouting at each other with their hackles raised. When the smaller of the two noticed Jaceen's innocent glance, he backed off with a snarl. Most likely with intentions to "finish this after school". Not like Jaceen would really bother to intervene either, though if worse came to worse, she'd just freeze them both on the spot and send a sparring teacher to sort them out. Thinking about this, Jaceen was prompted by Okkie's words. Did she like bugs...? Jaceen would have cried out in exalted laughter had she not feared that it may drive the younger off. "Yes, I like bugs. Though perhaps not for the same reasons that you do. I like them because of what they represent." She said, then motioned to the insignia on her left haunch. There, etched in black and littered with red was an unclassified type of swallow-tail butterfly. As Jaceen indicated it, the butterfly fluttered its wings. It was alive? ...so to speak. The teacher made a small movement with her left paw. All of the sudden the butterfly seemed to just peel right off her haunch as it became 3D and solidified itself. It fluttered aimlessly about in the air for a moment, as if not knowing where to go. Eventually it landed upon Jaceens head where is stood, fearlessly opening and closing its wings ever so slightly. Jaceen cast it a glance, her smile a little crooked. "Take this bug for example. Sure its just pretty to some, but I like what it represents much better. Metamorphosis or a transformation. It kind of reminds me that there's still hope - for both myself and everyone."</font>
<font color='#F8F8FF'>In Character Okkie’s own cobalt gaze followed Jaceen’s to the pair of bickering youths across the field. The female’s head instinctively ducked a tad lower, and her bladed hackles prickled soundlessly. She expected one or the other young pendragons to launch at the other, and cherry tongue flicked out to bathe caramel snout. ’Kie loved watching fights, loved to instigate them even more. Though she had just finished grooming herself, she would have loped over and leapt right into the heat of the battle, had the young ones engaged in feeble combat. As it was, no fight broke out, and Okkie’s ears flicked in slight disappointment. No blood would be shed today. She had no idea at all that it had been Jaceen’s charming gaze behind her that had ruined her morsel of fun. Kanji-marked façade was turned back to the lemon-colored adult, and her wings shifted a bit as the elder explained her fascination with insects. Searing polar oculars were drawn to Jaceen’s remarkable tattoo, and they widened with surprised awe as the tattoo peeled off and fluttered around to perch on the adult’s cranium. “Magic?” Okkie whispered, standing up and pawing forward to take a closer look. Her tail wavered idly. “There is hope for everyone, even the misfits,” she added mysteriously, meeting Jaceen’s gaze.</font>
<font color='#FFFFFF'>Jaceen's gaze wavered up to glance at the butterfly perched upon her head. Her eyes crossed momentarily as she did so, silently considering it. Magic... Was it magic? Perhaps... but not in a natural sense anyway. She let her gaze drift back down to meet Okkie's, the butterfly meanwhile fanned its wings without a care in the world. "Yes, I do suppose it is a form of magic. A higher form of telepathy anyway. The butterfly is just an illusion - but a rather nice one at that." Jaceen commented idly. It wasn't often that she pulled off a stunt like this in public. Illusions - even ones that were small in scale - often caught and held the wrong kind of attention. Okkie's mention of hope, even for the misfits, caught Jaceen slightly offguard. Okkies words had seemed genuine and optimistic, but the term 'misfits' confused the teacher. Who exactly was Okkie referring to when she spoke of 'misfits'? Herself? The two of them? Others? She decided to pass this off. She didn't want to risk misinterpretation. "I don't think you told me your name. Or else I didn't catch it. Could you share it with me?" Jaceen asked as she became suddenly aware that she didn't even know the name of this student. Somewhat of a shock too. She knew most of the students that passed her way at least by first name.</font>
<font color='#F8F8FF'>In Character The prickling sensation that crawled up Okkie’s back like an unwelcome insect told the youthful female that Jaceen had been perplexed by her comment about misfits. Tail flicked with guarded intensity, and a cool, eerily blank light flickered in deep oculars. She had not implied anything about the sun-kissed adult, but it was oddly pleasurable for ’Kie to revel in the mild confusion for a split second. Jaceen was nice enough, but to drink of another’s discomfiture, no matter how nice they acted, was always satisfying. Okkie let the doubt and quizzical feelings cling for a few seconds, then, just as the lemon-tinctured femme queried about her name, Okkie said in a mystifying voice: “Each of us is a misfit of some sort.” Heavy blink was drawn from her as the other’s voice stomped her own out, and Okkie decided that Jaceen had probably not heard the secretive statement. Not that it mattered. ’Kie was being enigmatic for the sake of nothing. “My name?” Sock-clad paws shifted, and, once again, Okkie found herself sitting. Her calculating gaze watched the illusionary butterfly flutter its wings, and then the teenager said, “You can call me Okkie.” Tail curled around to rest upon candy-cane-striped forepaws, and she tilted her head. Okkie wondered why she had suddenly been drawn into this odd and distant mood, and wondered if it was because of the failed prospect of a fight. Not important, though, and so she shrugged it off and continued to gaze with candid curio at the bautiful insect of gossamer wings...</font>
<font color='#FFFFFF'>Jaceen lifted an eyebrow in somewhat of a playful gesture. Somehow it felt to her as if Okkie had thwarted her somehow. As if she had lost some kind of personal battle. Just how that had occured, she wasn't quite certain. That sort of thing didn't really matter to the sun-coloured thill. She never had been the competitive sort. This could have been counted as one of her virtues... although it also could work against her as a flaw. The butterfly continued to flutter, seemingly weightless, upon the teacher's head. It moved delicately, looking as if it could break with a single touch, yet, also looking as if it could survive the extremely high winds of a hurricane. The detail on the minute creature was mind-boggling. It's antennae quivered in the slight breeze and it's coal eyes glittered almost dangerously as if perhaps the small creature held some sort of higher intelligence. An omniscient presence...? That was a foolish thought though. However, even the small shadow that it cast down upon Jaceen's face was strangely accurate... which caused the butterfly to seem even more realistic than it probably should be. Perhaps it's actual existance could be debatable. "Okkie, hm? Nice name, I don't think I've come across it before... does it mean anything in particular?" Jaceen asked, having noticed the younger's somewhat fallen mood.</font>
<font color='#F8F8FF'>In Character “Okkie, hm? Nice name, I don’t think I’ve come across it before... does it mean anything in particular?” Okkie XII... what did it mean? Not many knew that it was just a nickname for a very long and eloquent moniker — Okkatteru Magnificat StormWing, XII. The youth had shortened it for obvious reasons, and because there was a certain tangy mystery about the shortened title. Okkie. It sounded tropical, and she smiled to herself and flicked chocolate-laced ears. How lucky she had been to dub herself by that name... it was goofy, simple yet foreign, and unique. Just like its holder. “Okkie doesn’t really mean anything. I guess you could say I made it up. It’s actually short for something, but my full name isn’t that important.” Star-swept orbs peered once again at the butterfly, whose intricate designs seemed to glow in the afternoon light. Okkie wished that her own tattoo of curious white could come alive like Jaceen’s had, but what could words do? Flop on the ground, uselessly? Though her mark was very beautiful, it was not quite as interesting as the adult’s. “Does your name have any meaning? Not only in the language context, but does it... mean anything especially? To you?” Ah, names. They could be simple words, or so much more...</font>
