Mmm...Jealousy-y.

[Kristina Northampton]

It was odd, after all this time here, but she was still jealous. If she looked out the window, right now, odds were there would be some jammy bastard practising flying or making trees dance or turning into Optimus bloody Prime - hell, even the non-physical ones had some cool stuff going for them. Telekinesis, for example, which would probably make Kris a fat bitch spending her life on the sofa and letting the doritos float towards her mouth, or even just something as mundane as turning the lights off - and what was she, except for a glorified antiques dealer? The only good thing was - well, two good things. Firstly, she was at a swanky school of a far higher quality than she would otherwise get, and secondly, she had the friends upstairs who would try to cheer her up, but as for now, she was stuck in the common room, looking distinctly mopey. She wasn't even dressed to her normal standard; just the boots, black skinnies and a hooded jacket; she had planned to grab that corset-shirt combination and the leather jacket, but she simply couldn't be bothered.

Come, come, now, said the ever-chipper Lucile. Sey are not as pretty as we are, eh? "Yes they are," muttered Kris - while they must have been a greater challenge in a shower or bath, wings made every mother look good - Gabriel himself could have been a total munter with three teeth and an eye missing, but if he had wings, damn it he would be attractive - not that she imagined God employed many ugly people. Somehow the idea of ugly people in Heaven was just wrong - no, ugly people went to...some kind of eternal after-dinner party with dancing and too much alcohol, all middle-class and silly, and everyone would have unpolished shoes. I do hope, interjected Lord Fortesque, sounding uncharacteristically miffed, that you aren't blaspheming, young lady. The good Lord did not give us reason so we might turn idle minds to the task of thinking evil.
"I'm sorry," moaned Kris, at a few decibels above the level that winds went past in spring, before Lord Fortesque broke a smile in her head. No harm done, Miss Northampton. Just make sure it doesn't happen again, hmm?
"I know, I know," she whined, fiddling with the drawstrings around the neck of her sweater.

Look, it's not all that bad, you've got much more practical skill than they have, insisted Heinz, who had sprung from a mid-19th century German silverware piece a long time ago. There is an infinite welt of possibilities for you if only you will take them - archaeology, investigation, antiques, history, second-hand sales, perhaps even some police work - and what need is there for people with wings? They are circus freaks, Kristina, they are the showy ones the news loves to make editorials on and tell inspiring stories of, while you are of the kin that can make a better world with your talents. "Yeah," chuckled Kris, "You're right. Danke," she said, a grin crawling along her face as she reached for a copy of NewScientist and flicked straight to Feedback - that always made her laugh. Who needed wings when you can have science?

[Brielle Vacanti]

Brielle was sitting in the Dorm Common Room reading her book over modern poets. It wasn't very interesting but it was for her English class and thus she would read this book cover to cover. She would entertain herself sometimes by imaging the poets who wrote this and smile. But for the most part she was serious about her schooling.

But as she was reading she could hear the quite mutterings of the girl sitting in the room with her. She looked over towards her and looked a bit worried. not because she was talking to herself, many people did that on a daily basis, but because the girl looked a little sad. No sad wasn't the right word for it. She looked like a mix of sad and angry together.

Brielle was horrible at leaving when someone was sad or hurt. So she closed her book and walked to where the girl was. She hesitated slightly before sitting down besides her. She sat there for a few moments silently before speaking.

"Hi, um, I know you dont' know me, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I mean you look a little down so..."

Brielle couldn't feel any more embarrassed if she tried. how could she just walk up to this girl and randomly just speak to her.

"I...i'm sorry, I should bother you"

[Kristina Northampton]

Being approached was not something that happened often, so when it did Kris usually assumed that she was either in trouble or she was about to be congratulated for some especially good piece of homework - almost never did it happen that another student came up to her, probing her with questions - within a fraction of a second, the Colonel had reviewed her, a cursory glance for a moment before deciding she was harmless; her gait, her stuttering tone, everything about this girl told him that she was no threat. Missy, she's all right. I think you can handle this little doggie. His Lordship butted in, rather politely, taking his hat off before coughing, I do wish you'd stop calling people by such a name, Colonel, it is most disrespectful! Before Kris could grab the brakes, an argument rang around her head, everyone shouting over one another, ignoring her requests for quiet contemplation, or at least a slightly lower volume.

"I...er..." Kris mumbled, rubbing her temples. "Not really, no, I'm...yes, a bit down, it's...well, it's silly really, I just...this place kind of gets to you, y'know?" she said, tapping her head with her index finger. "In here. At least out there we're freaks, but in here, we're just...well, we're just...normal. I can't do being regular, it just...I'm sorry, you don't need to hear this. I'm sure you've got your own problems. Krissi Northampton. What's your name, and why have they roped you into this unending circus act?"

[Brielle Vacanti]

Brielle shifted slightly and played with her fingers slightly. She wasn't used to this, talking to someone. she hoped that she would do okay, or at least that she wouldn't be shooed off like a kid. She knew that most people could just pass right by her and not say a word, some wouldn't even see her. So this experience of having an actual conversation with someone was quite amazing.

"I actully like it here. I like being normal. You see where I grew up difference got you pushed around and bullied until you felt like you needed to hide from the world. I was one of those people, but here I don't feel that way, i feel like I can just show everyone who I am. well at least if I wasn't afraid I could."

She looked down a little embarrassed by her explanation.

"I'm Brielle Vacanti, and I've been here for 3 years cause of my Illusions."

[Kristina Northampton]

Illusions. Lies. Falsehood. Trickery. Deceit. Embellishment of the truth under a thousand layers of obfuscation and mistrust, utter weasel-minded double-dealing two-faced salesmanship. She could no longer be trusted. Not one word. Not one sound would go unanalysed. Only sentences with no substance at all could be uttered. Silence. Absence of sound. All at once, the voices fell silent, their steely eyes falling on Brielle, examining her, moving around her like a thousand winds, picking her apart and putting her back together again in their own image, building an imaginary woman in their hostess' head, matching her to the physical monstrosity before them, with her fancy illusions. Don't trust your eyes. Don't trust your ears. Don't trust your senses. Trust only us. Only us. Only us. The voices were all she needed - closing her eyes for a moment, Kris breathed in, adjusting her position in her chair, letting them take over what they needed, what had to be done - hush, hush, Kris, let us steer the boat.

Relaxing a little, a smile crawling over her face, Kris put down the magazine and leant back, propping her feet up against a table. "Illusionist, eh? We-I am a retrocog. This chair, for example. This fuzzy, worn-out chair was built in 1996 in Edmonton, Canada, out of MDF and synthetic fibres. I don't suppose you would be...gracious enough for a...display?"

[Brielle Vacanti]

Brielle turned to look at the girl, an animated expression on her face. She thought that Kris's power was absolutely amazing. To have all that knowledge about everything...it would be amazing. Though to be honest , Brielle liked her powers. She could make images appear out of thin air, beautiful things. Though they couldn't last long, she was getting better at controlling them.

"I...I guess I could show you"

Taking a deep breath and closed her eyes to concentrate. She focused on a picture of a fairy she drew the other day. She formed it in her mind , giving it movement and sound. She could feel the whisper of wings brush against her cheek. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.

There it was the blue and green fairy floating in front of her face. A soft giggle was whispered in her ear as the fairy floated and dived about. It only lasted about 30 seconds before it started to fade into the air. But even after it faded Brielle still rubbed her cheek , trying to remove the feeling of the fairy wings from her skin.

She turned to Kris again , her gaze a little unfocused , but quickly focusing in on her.

"Was that good for a display?"

[Kristina Northampton]

I still say it's witchcraft, warned Lord Fortesque, his tone grim and steady. No good ever came from messing with the Fae, and even less came from cavorting with witches. I say we run her through now and be done with it, before she uses more of her foul magics. Lucile spat something in her native language before retorting, Fairies are pretty, you silly old Englishman, be quiet. A laugh rang around Kristina's head as Heinrich smiled.
Witches? Really, Herr Fortesque, you are quaint. Next you will be warning us that the sun is a vengeful god come to reap a grim harvest!
I resent the implication, German, that I am some relic of the past with antiquated ideas.
Shut up, Freiherr, concentrate! The silence stretched out again, Kristi's eyebrows still raised from the impressive display. Insulated from the rest of the world by the comfortable blanket of her voices, she was still a little stunned by the creation that had appeared, lived and died in front of her; such pretty colours, such a sad thing, so fragile, so...adaptable. If she wasn't plotting to take them away it would almost be worth a round of applause.

"That was...very impressive. I'm afraid I'm not quite so impressive myself - I'm an antiques dealer surrounded by magicians and lion tamers, which...that was why I was down here in the first place. Trying to forget how...dull and boring I am. Enjoy your talent, Meta, while you have it."

[Brielle Vacanti]

Brielle gave the girl a shocked looked and moved a little closer to her. She looked down at her hands, today her nails were painted a winter green. She watched them shine in the light as she thought about what she would say to Kris.

"I take it you don't like your powers? That's too bad, because I think they are pretty amazing." She took a deep breath and blew it out."It's hard to explain but the thought of having that knowledge in you...it just sort of amazes me."

She picked up her book and held it out in front of her. "You see this book...I would love to know when, how and who made it. I'd love to just know how everything was made, what makes it up and how it was made. All I do is create things that can never be real. Like my first illusion was of my grandmother."

She looked down and smiled sadly "You see my grandmother was one of my favorite people in the whole world, but she died when I was 9. but the image of her I created seemed so real that you could almost touch her, but if you did you would just walk through her. " It was at that she could smell the lemon soap that always graced her grandmother's hands. She must of created an illusion without thinking about it.

"I side effect of my illusions is that they feel real to me, even though I know they are not. Like the fairy , while I know I created it, and I know it was fake, but I could still feel it against my skin." She looked up thankful the illusion was now gone.

"So I hope you forgive me , when I say I think your power is pretty freaking awesome."