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Zoe didn't understand why Red was so angry with her today. Okay. So she had snuck into his room even though he was in the male section of the dorm and she the female. They were going to live together anyways! And she had crawled into his bed. But it hadn't been for nefarious purposes. AND she had painted his little toenails a very beautiful shade of peacock blue. At least they matched now. Wasn't that what he complained about all the time anyways? That they didn't match? Their toes did! Their fingers would too, if he wasn't so damn stubborn.

Walking a couple of steps behind the very angry looking young man, she scowled as she kicked at the errant pebble. Damn him. She had said she was sorry thousands of times by now, even if he didn't think she meant it. But what was she going to do noooow? Her toes were beautiful in their peacock glory, with little peacock feather patterns and crystals and...

crack

From her big left toe, the largest black crystal that made up the 'eye' of the feather fell off, rolling harmlessly to the side. The big gaping wound like appearance on her toe was too much for her now.

It was all Red's fault.

Letting out a piercing screech as she collapsed on the ground, she stared at her toes. They were ruined now. All that time spent working on them last night. All that planning for group cooperation... it was all gone now.

Red walked off first, not noticing that his technician had fallen behind: but not caring had he. This was ridiculous. This should count towards sexual harassment!

Ruined. Everything was ruined! Feeling as if her life's work was crumbling before her very eyes, the only thing that saved her from going into catatonic shock was the feel of a very gentle hand on her shoulder. But no. Nothing was going to make this better. Nothing apart from Jared falling at her feet begging for forgiveness, or perhaps 99 kishin souls. But she had no doubt this was not Jared, and that the kishin shouls would not be so gentle if they were here.

But still... deciding that sympathy was better than nothing (and suspecting from the size of the hand that this was very much male sympathy) she let out a little shaky sigh. Not that it wasn't real. She WAS hurt. By Red. Stupid fool. "I've been better." she managed, a little warble in her voice as she blinked up big brown eyes full of hurt.

And froze.

Screw the two options. This was another thing that could make her day better, if it went well! Blinking her brown eyes and trying to force tears (think of bambi! Bambi!) she managed to leak out enough to make them glassier. DAYUM~~~ Jared could stay as far away as he wanted! This was the big fish! The kettle! THE WITCHES SOUL!

She shook her head and pointing to her crystal-less toe, pouted a little bit. "I'm hurt." she let out in an unhappy little squeak. Take care of me! Ravish me in your private quarters! I'm yours!

Right. He was probably saying something to her, but she actually couldn't really concentrate what with the way his arm was now draped completely across her shoulde. B. B. H? Thats it. She really couldn't be stuffed when she was in such a situation: she'd had dreams about things like this happening, and then she'd always wake up before it had a chance to get even a touch raunchy. LOOK AT HER NOW!

He looked so sympathetic and caring! She was going to start a fan blog or something. Damn the fact that her phone was in her pocket. Maybe she should come up with some kind of excuse to bring it out. Take photos. No, even better! She'd take photos WITH him. Oh god but that was too much to plan with those sharp green eyes looking at her.

How could he help? He could start by kissing her toe. Then maybe move to her ankle. Carry her to his abode and then-- her thoughts were cut off when she actually heard the words leave his mouth. Go into a little corner with privacy? She could enter this plot to an R-rated novelist and win money in return.

She couldn't hide the amusement in her eyes this time. They were completely brimming with it, and despite the fact that she completely needed to keep a straight mask to milk as much sympathy as she could, well... that was difficult when she was enjoying herself too much. She had always been such a poor poker player.

"Yes please." she said weakly, raising her arms and wrapping one around his shoulder.

The fan girl inside of her was squeeing when his grip tightened on her and he lifted her up. Yes. There was a squee that was very long and happy when his grip settled on her body. She was having her ear whispered into by Lucien! Lucien! She was half tempted to bottle the condensation and sell it over the internet for money.

Settling down over the crates and shifting her weight so that she was a little bit more comfortable, she was trying very hard to control the thriumphant smirk on her face. Trying very hard meant she succeeded in having an expression of frank curiosity, but not too much more. Instead, the effort had her tremble slightly to keep the laughter in: it would be crazy, fangirl laughter. And that was never good.

The sheepish duck of the head was cute. But Zoe had had so much practice in answering this in her dreams! Except it seemed that now that she tried to think about it... each one of the scenarios were slipping out of her head and she didn't know what to say. Instead she leaned a little bit closer and let out a little 'wuff' of breath, blowing on his nose.

"Koh." she answered, mimicking his action to peer at him from under her lashes. "Does anyone call you Lucy?"

He would be the studliest Lucy in the world.

How come he knew who Red was but didn't know who she was? How come he knew Red at all? Wondering briefly if maybe her weapon was more his type than she was (and then deciding that it went against every rule in the fan girl book to even think of that an option) she leaned back to reasess him. Right. She _hadn't_ forgotten that he was smart too. But look, some part of her had been in his memory! Wasn't that just awesome?

Speaking of Red. Her eyes were drawn back to her feet, and she sighed. Great. He made her feel all better and then reminded her why she had been in such a bad mood in the first place! If she had ears, they'd probably be drooping. With a sigh she leaned back against the crates in a slight sulk.

"We've been better." she responded, repeating the very words she had spoken early when she had first encountered this man. "Luc, then?" What an obvious change in subject. Subtlety was probably trying to kill itself right about now.

She wiggled her toes and winced. Stupid big hole in the feather. "I gave him matching ones too." she said quietly, pouting. Boo. Hmmm. Maybe Lucien would appreciate the private sentiment. ... A thoughtful, considering gleam entered her eyes as she looked back up at him.

His face was so close to hers again. Wait. What had he said a while ago, about Luc? Damn him and her short term memory around him. There was a reason she was a fan! She frowned as she leaned back against the crates, staring at that downcast expression. If the hang dog puppy dog expression could look yummy... well. Here it was. What was she going to do now?

"I like it." was her quick, breathy response. But she liked Luc. Luc was short. It was cute. If only he would like it. Then they'd have a special connection that went beyond damsel in distress and her white knight! She'd come up with something. Maybe play with the second half of his name, rather than the first?

His face was close enough to hers that she was simply tempted to bite it. But now look, there was shock in his eyes! And that look. She frowned, able to pay attention to him properly now that he wasn't too close. Plus his expression was... well. Not as disconcerting to handle for an avid Zoe. Still.

Red NOT want to match with her? That was blasphemy! Sure he protested but deep inside there somewhere she knew existed a man who was just in denial about his love for pedicures. Heck. Maybe Lucien was one of those men as well! But she wouldn't argue with this man.

He seemed to really care. For her! In her opinion. She frowned then as she watched him. "I'm not abrupt." she said, shaking her head. No! She was one of the most subtle and least abrupt people in the world! What was he talking about? Look at how she had handled everything so neatly. "Do you think I'm abrupt?"

She shook her head of the thought, and tilted her head at Lucien. Wait. Why did she suddenly get this older brother vibe from him? Not that she minded but...

Funny.

"He's usually very nice."

See? Even this man didn't think she was abrupt! Nodding her head with a pleased expression on her face, she looked down at her feet with a questioning glance. No, it didn't really hurt. Pity it didn't: if it had at least looked painful, she would have been able to use it as an excuse to have Lucien escort her around campus 'looking' for Red. That would have worked for at least... half an hour? Hahahha. She'd have been the envy of the girls (and maybe some boys)!

Wiggling her toes, she looked up at him with a shrug. "He's always surprised." she said. Well, that was the only excuse she could come up with since he seemed to perpetually wear an expression of resignation on his face anyways. "I'm sure you're right, Luc" oh, right. He didn't like that version of his nickname either. "cien." she added.

Honest mistake there buddy!

"They've been better." pushing her weight off the crates and standing up, she brushed her shorts. Don't want weird dust particles all over her butt if she was going to walk with Lucien! It would (haha) make her look like a strange person. "Let's!" she beamed. L and Z, sitting in a... HEY! Her name was Zoe, and it started with a Z like Z! ... This was a sign. A sign! (Promptly forgetting of course, that no one called her Zoe.) "I want to show you to Red." Not introduce, not meet. Show. Like show and tell. Really, Lucien needed to be blamed for her being so immature. She wasn't usually (in public to this extent).

Look at this he was holding her hand! Her grip tightened involuntarily for a second, almost a reflex to check that in fact that someone was holding her hand and look! She hadn't been the one to reach for it. Deciding that this would officially require a very long journal entry when she got home (probably with a side margin of many spin off fantasies) she beamed. His voice was husky. It was husky for her! That was be it. There was no end in sight to her happy little ending of an adventure.

Following immediatley, she nodded her head as she scanned the horizon. Usually she had a very good idea where Jared was, because he hardly ever left her alone. Something about her being an embarrassment and needing to be controlled... but honestly, this wasn't a usual situation. He hardly ran off in a big enough huff to forget her, like this time around. At his question though, she looked towards the canteen, and paused. He had been planning on eating... but who knows? Maybe he'd found some other source of entertainment without her.

This was like abandoning your favorite dog after raising it for eleven years. Close to it.

"Cafeteria?" the boy rarely spoke of his plans perse. He just really went about in completing the tasks than discussing them. So she couldn't really be blamed for this situation. Probably. Maybe in that direction. This was going be their little adventure! It didn't matter if it would take longer to find him: actually, that was probably better. "This way." this time she was the one tugging at his hand, pointing in the direction