Heaven Descending and Hell Rising

The DWMA was a really impressive building. Oren was surprised that he had never heard anything about it while he ws living with his people. Surely they would know that something like this existed. Riel stood next to him, and he wasn't sharing his emotions, but that made sense. He was really logical about things while Oren lived for his emotions. The decoration was gorgeous and he loved all of the vivid colors. He hoped that he would be able to make a life for himself here. He had done some reading on the train and found out that this was a school for meisters and weapons, which were special people that, when working together, fought the darkness in this world. Oren didn't know if he qualified to even stay here, but he was excited to find out. Whether or not he could live her, he could find a place in this city and play his music to make a living like he had in Las Vegas. "Are you nervous?" He asked Riel, not bothering to face him since he could just talk through the Bond.

Riel shrugged, hands in his pockets, hair and face thoroughly hidden beneath his hood. His eyes wandered about, taking in the passing students, the structure as a whole, and the god awful heat. "It's not exactly structurally sound or practical. Just the right amount of pressure against one of those spikes, and it's bound to fall-"

"Oh, don't be a downer! It's beautiful. The artwork is exquisite." Oren interrupted, his mental voice laughing a bit to let Riel know that he wasn't actually upset. He playfully pushed Riel a little bit, but he had forgotten how gangly Riel because the boy went tipping over. Oren's mouth moved in the motion of making a squeal, but not sound left, obviously, and he leaned forward, grabbing Riel's hand to prevent him from falling.

Riel reached his hand out towards the ground, letting out a quick burst of wind from his shifted hand, the blade gleaming in the light. "The art is structurally impractical." He looked over, brow raised, not bothering to pull his hand free, instead transforming the other one back and tapping Oren's nose. "And I weigh about as much as air."

Oren blushed, but didn't bother letting go of Riel's hand. Despite the lanky form, there was hidden strength in those fingers. He knew that they had committed some atrocious acts, but Oren chose not to dwell on those. Instead, he chose to think about what good those hands could do. Aslo, on a much less philosophical level, Oren just like to hold his hand. It made him feel safe. The Bond prevented them from keeping secrets because every emotion was experienced by both of them. Oren could feel that Riel was protective of him. Not too crazy, but enough to make Oren's stomach feel fuzzy. Oren wouldn't lie and say that he didn't feel a connection with him. Well, their literally was a connection between them. Oren giggle a bit at his pun.

A bit of a snort slipped through Riel's nose, and he shook his head, looking away from the boy and smirking up towards the sun. "If you're very much done with your puns there... partner, I think we need to... ah, how do we start here?" Words failed him, as most of his education was either on the run or second-hand; there were reasons why he couldn't read cursive or write very well.

"Ummmm, I kinda don't know either. I was hoping there was going to be some directions once we got here. I guess we can just wander a bit." Oren said, walking forward to enter the building with Riel in tow. The halls of the academy were also nicely decorated. Oren could lost in this place because he would just keep getting distracted by all of the colors. The boys did eventually find the administration office where they could begin the process of officially becoming students. Oren still needed to be tested to see if he could be a Meister.

Riel, however, was almost on a bit of a lockdown, not allowed off of school grounds without some form of chaperone, something about being "dark" rather than a "demon." The logic in that failed him, but it was something he could not exactly question. He was to meet with a "Ms. Himura" at some point this week, but he was more concerned with the classes they'd be pre-enrolled in. The schedules were likely temporary, as neither of them were definite students as of yet, but there were quite a few combat-based classes, and Riel wasn't liking the idea in the slightest. He was thin, gangly, and malnourished, but as a weapon... as the Vorpal, he could thrive. Oren, on the other hand... he seemed so fragile, like paper butterflies. Paper doesn't do well under pressure, or in the wrong hands. The idea of the boy being hurt again-

Anger boiled beneath the surface again and he released Oren's hand to pop his knuckles and try to keep from balling them into fists. "We-" He cleared his throat when his initial voice was harsh. "They said we could have the choice of staying on... camp? Was that the word." He shrugged, "Do we want to look at the flats- ah, that wasn't the word..."

Oren felt the anger well up in Riel. He had felt the boy's thoughts before he got mad, and he understood why. He leaned into Riel and put his arms around the taller boy's waist. "We can look at dorms, and don't worry about me. I am stronger than I look. If you want, though, you can try and wrestle yourself into my fighting class." Oren suggested. He had been really angry when they had painted Riel to be some evil thing in the office. Oren felt that evil was a really strong word and it did not at all describe Riel at all.

The boy tensed initially, looking down at the mess of blonde now against his chest. A chuckle followed, and he patted him on the back, looking around and narrowing his eyes at the strange looks some of the others were giving them --- mostly those that, he assumed, were meisters as their eyes painted him as some sort of monster, just as the administrators had. Riel had no intentions of making things more difficult for them, but he wasn't about to let anyone disrespect them, not without due cost, at least. Tapping the back of Oren's head, he drew back, nodding off towards where the map had designated the... dorms.

Oren nodded and, grabbing on to Riel's hang again, walked towards the directions of the dorms. They got to see a bunch of different ones before they settled on a simple suite. The room had two private bedrooms so there was some privacy. There was a common area that was supplied with some storage space for food, a mini-fridge, and a microwave. There was also a washbasin so they could wash dishes and brush their teeth and stuff in their room. The bathroom was communally shared with the other guys in this area. That idea made Oren really uncomfortable because, while being around Riel was easy, other men still triggered some issues. Still, it would encourage healing for him. Oren was happy with the room because it was space that he could call his own.

Riel seemed largely indifferent to whatever was chosen, complaining idly about the showroom set-up of some of the rooms, as they were impractical, but he wouldn't argue when Oren decided he liked something. Shrugging instead, he merely nodded, and they were lead to an unoccupied room, where they were allowed to stay for at least the week before they knew for sure if they were enrolled... and would then be paying. That task was a daunting one, but it was said that they could receive government funding if needed. Free money seemed untrustworthy, but Riel said they would look into it. Dropping his stuff down and kicking it under the bed, tying the bag he used as a sort of wallet-coin-purse combo to his belt, Riel waited for Oren, eyes diverted towards the door, mind elsewhere entirely.

Oren took a bit of time getting everything set up in his room. He put all of his clothes away and, taking a good look at the room, had a few ideas about how it would look better. However, he decidied that he could wait to redecorate and, instead, just grabbed his violin case and headed into the common area. "So, what do you want to do? Grabbing food sounds fun. They have a cafeteria here." Oren said.

Riel shrugged, fingers tapping at the pouch. He looked to the boy and nodded towards the door. "Food is fine. Perhaps they have bangers?" A nervous laugh followed and he shrugged. "We might want to look into getting clothes, as well. I don't think society is overly found of therm not being... Washed."

"Hm, I guess you're right. We can do that first. I hear they have a shopping district in the city. Hopefully clothes won't be too expensive." Oren said. He still had plenty of money saved up, but he really wanted to use it for emergencies. The life or death ones, that is. Still, taking a look at his own clothes, which were not the nicest in the world, he definitely would not complain about an upgrade. Signaling to Riel, Oren left their room and headed for the direction of the Academy doors.

Riel followed along after him silently, hands in the torn, holey pockets of his pants, hood pulled up and over his eyebrows. His eyes watched the world with a level of detachment, scanning and analyzing all that they came across, curious and waiting, cautious and observant. Every step he took was shaky, but deliberate and well-controlled, given his physical being. Vaguely, he recalled that there were fitness standards for the academy, and he made a mental note to work on that. Running, he could do... if he was being chased. Even then, though, he usually just opted for his weapon form. Anything outside of that was something wholly... different. Difficult, more of.

At the doors, they were stopped, a militaristic woman with black hair and brown eyes glaring at them over a pair of polarized lenses. There was something soft behind the gaze, deep in the back, but Riel was too busy focusing on placing himself between her and the Muse to bother trying to decipher it. Cigarette in hand, she tapped the ashes from the end, arms folded beneath her bust. "Escort will be over soon," she said, voice somewhat gruff, a bit unnaturally so. "She's running late --- was supposed to meet you at your dorms." Her eyes flicked up as a shock of blue appeared off in the distance, and a sigh followed. Shifting on her feet, she nodded forward. Riel's head did turn, but his hand most definitely did, shifting flawlessly into the blade of his weapon form.

The girl, or perhaps woman was the more accurate term, came to a halt to the boys' right, grabbing his wrist just as it was heading to threaten her approach. "Easy, killer. Well, Keller. There's an irony to that name." She laughed, a full, gentle sound that carried with it a sort of freedom Riel could not fathom. His eyes didn't leave the woman in front of him, something about her seeming off, making him uncomfortable. The younger woman was unphased. "Jasmine Smith. I assume you," she gave his wrist a light squeeze and his eyes flashed over momentarily, "Are Riel." Deep blue eyes, matching her side-braided hair in an almost uncanny fashion, slid to the shorter boy. "Which makes you Oren. It's a pleasure." She shifted on her feet, running shoes showing their use more than she would have liked --- honestly, they needed replaced --- and tattoos rippling over the surfaces of her moving muscles.

Oren just nodded at her when she said his name. He didn't want to risk Bonding with another person. It was one of his most guarded secrets, and a lot of people didn't like having someone else in their minds. Riel had, obviously, been an emergency exception, but he hoped he could get by with just him. He made some hand gestures to make it clear that he was mute so she wouldn't ask complex questions of him. Besides, worst case scenario, they pretend Riel knows sign language when he is really just repeating what Oren says in his head. In fact, that was a really good idea. Oren had learned sign language when he found out about it, so he signed at Riel to tell explain to her about Oren being mute. "You probably don't know what I am signing, but just tell her that I am mute. I don't want people to know about the Bond. There may be consequences if they find out I can just force myself into peoples' heads. Just pretend you know sign language." Oren said to Riel through the Bond.

Riel pulled his gaze away to look at Oren almost instantly, nodding at him as he signed to feign knowledge --- it would probably help him to learn, as well. "He's mute." Riel said, eyeing the girl, transforming his hand back and letting it drop when Jasmine released it.

Her head tilted just slightly, and her eyes flashed to the other woman. Receiving a nod, she continued. "I'll make it quick, then --- I'm your chaperone. I get to follow you little kiddies around whenever you want to go off campus, and I will help you to fit in around our little Vegas, here." She laughed at the irony, looking down at the ink on her arms and legs --- flowers and various designs covered her from the chest down at varying intervals, quotes littering her arms. "Well, fit in would probably not be the most accurate, but we're all misfits. Now, let's make this simple, shall we?" She reached a hand out, holding it like a mock gun before it transformed, her thumb remaining normal so she could click off the safety. "If you do not cause trouble, no trouble will come to you. If, however, if you choose to disobey any order given to you by the school, or me, as your assigned guard, be aware that I can disable both of you faster than a bullet." Her eyes were darkening as she spoke, a change he noticed without any difficulty, though he could tell that there was far more behind the gaze than the threat -- mercy. She didn't want to attack, but would if it came down to it. Understanding. He'd seen that look before, so many years ago...

"Understood." He said, just as the woman guarding the gate was about to speak.

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at them both, snuffing out the cig. "I am Ms. Himura. You have a meeting with my next week, Keller." His eyes flashed, darkening as they did so, and Oren would be able to sense the disharmony of his mind and soul. Kazuko's gaze darkened as well, and Riel felt exposed in a way he hadn't before. What was she sensing? He wasn't sure, but he found himself shifting on his feet. "I am your first and last line to this academy, your judge, jury and executioner. If any harm comes to Jazz by your doing, your stay here will be... extended. In lock-up."

Oren's own mind darkened in anger for both the girls. He really hated how judgmental these people were being towards Riel. However, he tried really hard to feel differently. He didn't want his own anger adding to Riel's. That wasn't too hard because the second the girls hand turned in a gun barrel his anger changed into fear. He scooted up close to Riel and held on to his arm. He knew he appeared like some scared child, but the emotions the women were giving off reminded him of the dark place in his mind that he ran to when they had taken advantage of him. He wanted to believe that the woman meant no real harm, but the rational part of his brain was kinda small right now. Also, the negativity given off by the teacher didn't help Oren's head at all either. He jsut hoped that Riel didn't too anything to get himself in trouble. That was the other reason why he clung so tightly to his arm.

Riel stiffened at the contact, looking at Oren again and sighing, forcing as much of his frustration out with the effort as he could. "Can we just go buy clothes now, ma'am?" The words sounded foreign on his tongue, but he spoke them anyway, watching, guarded but... obedient enough.

Jazz phased back to normal, dropping her hand and looking to the teacher. "I think they understand, Himura."

She nodded, curt and controlled, stepping aside and allowing them passed, saying nothing further. Jasmine held back, watching and waiting, her expression still hard but dulled.

Oren walked out with Riel and the girl, Jazz. He didn't let go if Riel entirely, but he did shift it down so he was only holding his hand, oblivious to any implications that it gave to other people. The city was actually really nice. It was easy to find the shopping district here. It didn't have too much, nothing like the Strip in Vegas, but it was pretty nice. They walked around a little bit until one place stuck out to him. It had the most beautiful clothes in the window. Suits and dresses side-by-side with cool casual wear and pajamas. However, considering how they looked, there was no way he could afford those clothes. Still.....he really wanted to at least look at some of them. He pulled on Riel's hand and asked, "Can we please go on there? I sorta....can't really control myself." His voice sounded very sheepish, but he couldn't help his nature sometimes.

Muse. Right. He looked back at Jasmine, who had been trailing behind them the whole time. Her brow raised when he nodded to the shop, but she didn't have to say anything. "He likes art, to put it simply. The clothes are... pretty. He knows we can't afford them."

Jasmine shrugged, brushing off her cargo shorts and following along after them, closer this time. "You know, you have that pickpocket look about you. I better not catch you lifting."

Riel looked like he was going to roll his eyes out of his head, but he shrugged instead. "I don't think Oren will let me do anything." He looked at it then back to her. "And I couldn't sell anything with you around." His tone was rather dry, but the slight sheen to his eyes made the sarcasm clear.

The clothes were as beautiful up close as they were from outside. The price tag may have wanted to make him cry, but just looking at them made it worth while. Oren fingered through a few shirts on the more practical side of the store. He had no need for the overly fancy stuff.....even if he did want it. He also couldn't help but imagine Riel in some of the clothes. The boy would look good in a few of the shirts. Despite the fact the fact that he couldn't buy any of the clothes, nothing was stopping him trying some on. He picked out a light blue and white checkered collared button up and a pair of jeans and rushed over to the fitting room.

Inside, he quickly shucked his clothes off and put on the ones he had picked out. He looked at himself in the mirror and felt really good about what he saw. It had been awhile since he had worn nice clothes like this. His mother had insisted that he at least dress well to cover his shame, his shame being him being mute. He came out of the fitting room to show off his outfit. The jeans hugged him really nicely, and the shirt made his eyes pop. "Riel! Look at this! Oh, I wish I could get it." Oren said.

"My my, what have we here?" A smooth and enchanting voice said. From the door to the back, a woman of extreme beauty and elegance came out. She had shimmering blonde hair and eyes like the sky. She was dressed in the most gorgeous black dress that slung over her left shoulder and trailed behind her. The click of her heels rang through the room as she walked over to them. "You look divine, my boy. Those clothes suit you wonderfully. Oh! Excuse me, I'm Aelia de Clermont. I own this lovely place." She said to them.

Riel had turned to look towards him the instant he heard the boy's voice in his head, snapping his attention to his charge. His face flushed just slightly as he went to nod and lift up a thumb in appreciation, but the voice dragged his attention. It seemed to dance about him, cooing and coaxing at him, and that unsettled him in more ways than one. He moved his mouth to speak, but Jasmine held up a hand to stop him, eyeing the woman appreciatively but knowing that it would be best to help where these two were concerned. Or, perhaps thinking that it would be best.

She reached a hand out, smiling and nodding. "Hello, ma'am. These two are Riel and Oren," Riel seemed to be rolling his eyes, moving closer to the other boy as Jazz took over the social interactions. "They're prospective students to the Academy. I'm Jasmine, their... guide." She laughed a bit uneasily, shifting, feeling even more out of place in her cut-off and cargo shorts; the boys couldn't be faring any better.

"I know a guard when I see one, dear. You are Joseph's sister. It's delightful to finally meet you." Aelia said, eyeing all three of the individuals who had entered her store. The two boys seemed fine enough, and one of them was even a Muse. She could smell it in his blood. In the other boy, she saw shadows dance before his eyes, but he watched the Muse with a fierce protection that could have made her jealous in her mortal years. She turned back to Oren and asked, "Do you like what you are wearing?"

Oren nodded enthusiastically because he really did like them, but there was no way he could pay for them. He didn't want Ms. de Clarmont to feel sorry for him. Aelia could feel the boys sadness permeate the air, and she was pretty sure she could guess why considering the state of the clothes Riel wore. She felt a little part in her heart stir. Her cool attitude never held up when children were in the picture. Sighing, she said, "Come with me, the both of you. I think I have some clothes from last season that didn't sell. You can have your pick of them. Oren, dear boy, you can keep that outfit. Consider it a gift from someone who....understands your needs."

Oren perked up immediately, but not at the wonderful gift. Understand his needs? And....and how she said it....she knew. Panic shot through his entire body. He hadn't met anyone who had figure out his actual identity on their own. However, the panic died off quickly because of what she had done. She hadn't revealed anything, and she had gifted them with such an amazing gift. Slowly, he nodded his head in response to her gift.