Aug 14 01:31:18 <Knave>	Austin slides casually into the common room, his eyes on the notepad he's holding in front of him. With impressive grace for someone not looking where they're going, he turns sharply towards a couch and jumps into the air, twisting so that he lands across it on his right side. He rolls onto his back, legs dangling over the armrest, and retrieves a pen from a pocket of his jeans, which he uses to tap against the notebook.
Aug 14 01:43:40 <mrs_padri>	A voice from atop the couch--the top, not the part you sit on--says "Um, hi." Chloe is awfully glad this guy is graceful, because he didn't even notice she's there when he flopped on the couch she was on.
Aug 14 01:46:33 <Knave>	"Hey." Austin says casually, gripping the pen between his fingers and ripping off a lazy salute in greeting, "Sorry. Kind of laser-focused right now. Haven't written an article in a while. Say, do you read the Sanctum Enquirer?" He bounces from sentence to sentence, tapping his pen along to his own voice.
Aug 14 01:55:47 <mrs_padri>	"Um, no. What's that?" She peeks at him from under her blanket. "A newspaper?"
Aug 14 01:57:35 <Knave>	"The school newspaper, no less." He beams proudly, "I pretty much run it. It's definitely worth your time. Just don't hope too hard to find any news in it."
Aug 14 02:04:23 <mrs_padri>	"A newspaper without news? What does it have, stories instead? That sounds pretty cool, actually."
Aug 14 02:06:46 <Knave>	"Mostly I just mean I'm not often the first to find out about things, but I live in hope." He grins, "But stories and stuff are a possibility. You know, if they ever get off their backsides and make me editor." The pen spins in his hand, and he deposits it behind his ear so he can offer the hand to shake, "I'm Austin, by the way. Austin Silver. Ace Reporter."
Aug 14 02:17:05 <mrs_padri>	A tentacle emerges from under the blanket and wraps around his hand. "Chloe Gass." She shakes his hand. "Are you writing a news article right now? What's it about?"
Aug 14 02:18:59 <Knave>	"Well..." Austin turns the notepad so that she can see the blank page he'd been drumming the pen against, "I'm trying to come up with an idea for an article. As usual, nothing's coming." He taps the pen against his own temple.
Aug 14 02:20:57 <mrs_padri>	"I got a new coat. Does that count as news?"
Aug 14 02:34:28 <Knave>	"Not the student populace at large, I'll bet." Austin scoffs, "And not to the hack teacher they have working as my editor." He plants one foot on the armrest and slides effortlessly up so that his head dangles off the opposite end of the couch, then he lifts it up, eyebrow cocked, "Say, any input on what kind of thing /you/, a typical student, would wanna read about?"
Aug 14 02:37:16 <mrs_padri>	"Are you sure it doesn't count as news? I've never had a coat before. I'm sure people will be excited about my new coat. It's beautiful. I can show you."
Aug 14 02:37:53 <Antichthon>	Phew. The worst of the mating season was over for Athene. All that was left now was ravenoous hunger, and Akemi's pills took the edge off of that. So Athene, in all her metric-ton-of-snakey glory, was feeling refeshed like she hadn't felt in weeks. She slithered into the common room's adjoining kitchen, clad in the standard Athene jean skirt, fur-lined jacket, studded belt and fingerless gloves combo. The stylish wrap-around AR glasses were new, though. She wore her hair over one eye, an awfully sultry, sexy look for Echidnean. After stealing some food from the fridge she entered the common room, gave Austin a nod and a smile, and brightened at the sight of his companion. She held out a hand. "Hey there. Chloe, right?"
Aug 14 02:39:02 <Knave>	"Never?" Austin asks Chloe, interest piqued, moving an arm up behind his head to rest it on. At Athene's nod, he returns a bright smile and flashes a peace sign.
Aug 14 02:42:12 <mrs_padri>	"Um, yeah." She lifts her blanket, peeking at Athene. Austin can see all the tentacles underneath. "Um, I never ever even had clothes before. Um." She turns back to Athene. "I don't remember your name."
Aug 14 02:48:52 <Antichthon>	Athene curled up most of her bulk in the corner, where it could be easily ignored. Well. Relatively speaking. It was hard for a massive pile of red snake to be unobtrusive. "Athene." Smile. Sideglance. Awkward smile at her hand not being taken. She'd been trying to treat Chloe like any other student, but maybe "handshakes" weren't viable. She lowered her hand as un-awkwardly as she could. "Sorry I haven't said hi to you earlier. I've been so busy these last few months, and there's been so many new people."
Aug 14 02:50:56 <Knave>	"Never had clothes..." Austin says, mainly to himself at this point, "See, yeah, there's a human interest angle there. I could maybe spin it into a story about how Sanctum's been good for students that can't pass as mundane." Austin's nose wrinkles, "Jesus, when did I become this place's cheerleader?"
Aug 14 02:52:07 <Antichthon>	Austin earned Athene's attention. "Are you writing a new article?"
Aug 14 02:53:28 <mrs_padri>	"Um, sorry. Um, it's nice to meet you. Um..." She looks at Austin. "So do you want to see my coat?"
Aug 14 02:53:40 <mrs_padri>	"You could put a picture of it in the paper and everything."
Aug 14 02:54:22 <Knave>	"Not a bad idea. It's not about the coat, it's about what the coat /means/." Austin scribbles in his notepad, then points to Athene, "It looks like I am, yes. It's about a coat." He grins.
Aug 14 02:56:41 <Antichthon>	"Maybe you can do one of those spotlights you did before," Athene said, putting her hands behind her back. "Make it all about Chloe, instead of just her coat. I know I'd love to read that." She gave the girl a warm smile.
Aug 14 02:58:40 <mrs_padri>	"What, an article about me? No one'll want to read that. But Zita made my coat, so it's interesting."
Aug 14 03:00:57 <Knave>	"Zita... Zitaaa... Zzzita..." Austin taps his pen against his lip, "No, doesn't ring a bell. But get serious, you seem plenty interesting, and one Devoted Reader /just/ said they'd love to read about you." He scooches up so that he's sitting up, knees bent, "Of course, if you don't want a spotlight piece on you, that's your call. I can't force you."
Aug 14 03:01:21 <mrs_padri>	"Um, will it help you get to be the editor?"
Aug 14 03:01:45 <Knave>	Austin shrugs, "Maybe. Here's hoping." He flashes a bright smile.
Aug 14 03:02:19 <Antichthon>	Athene nodded along with Austin, keeping up the smile. "I'm super interested in people's stories, especially if they aren't fully human. Since I can kinda relate." Grin.
Aug 14 03:03:32 <mrs_padri>	"Um, okay. Maybe. Okay."
Aug 14 03:05:33 <Knave>	"Okay." Austin gives an encouraging nod, "Uh, when would be a good time for an interview?"
Aug 14 03:06:53 <Antichthon>	Athene turned her attention to Austin. "Is anyone but you and Lisa even interested in the editor position?"
Aug 14 03:07:25 <mrs_padri>	"Um, whenever you want, I guess."
Aug 14 03:08:01 <Knave>	Austin nods to Chloe and writes 'whenever' down in his notebook. "I don't know, Athene, I kind of just assumed there was no competition."
Aug 14 03:09:28 <mrs_padri>	"Who's Lisa? Does she write good articles, too?"
Aug 14 03:09:41 <mrs_padri>	She just assumes Austin's articles are any good.
Aug 14 03:09:57 <Knave>	"She'd have to write /articles/ first." Austin snarks.
Aug 14 03:12:19 <Antichthon>	"It's been a while since I talked with Lisa about it," Athene said. "She might have changed her mind." Attention back to Chloe, again with that charming smile. "Yeah, Lisa's another writer for the paper. She hasn't written as much as as Austin, though." A bit of a warning look to Austin, before her attention was back on Chloe. "So, I'm a bit late, but how are you liking the school so far?"
Aug 14 03:14:15 <mrs_padri>	"Um, it's really great. Um, I think I already have more friends here than at the circus. It's really good here. Everyone's really nice."
Aug 14 03:15:59 <Knave>	Austin diligently scribbles away as Chloe speaks, not one to let good material go to waste. "Been with us long?"
Aug 14 03:16:13 <Antichthon>	"Well, um. There are a few people to watch out for, but for the most part everyone here is super accepting. We all know what it's like to be different."
Aug 14 03:19:51 <mrs_padri>	"I've been here, um, three weeks. And everyone's been so nice, even though I'm weird looking. Even Jacob, and he thought I was gross or something, but he also thinks Vincent shouldn't make me different." She watches Austin as he writes.
Aug 14 03:21:10 <Antichthon>	Athene was watching Austin write as well, but continued talking to Chloe. "Have you been on any missions?"
Aug 14 03:21:34 <Knave>	"Vincent..?" Austin squints, then tuts, "Do I know /anyone/ at this school any more? Wait, no, I'm pretty sure I've seen the posters. That guy." He shrugs, then gets back to writing, "I concur."
Aug 14 03:21:47 <mrs_padri>	"No, not really. But Skix told me about them, and I think I want to."
Aug 14 03:22:20 <Knave>	"I'd strongly advise against it." Austin says drily, "Getting shot is all kinds of no fun."
Aug 14 03:23:26 <mrs_padri>	"Um, but if it helps the school..." She looks between the two. "I got a lot here even already."
Aug 14 03:24:44 <Antichthon>	Athene was no longer so relaxed. "I agree with Austin. If you want to go on missions I support that, but, uh. Some of them can be..." She swallowed.
Aug 14 03:25:33 <Knave>	"You want to help the school, organize a bake sale or a dance or something. Or write for the paper." He chuckles, "The school is supposed to help you. You don't owe it your safety."
Aug 14 03:26:05 <Antichthon>	"If you do go, make sure it's with someone you can lean on, during and afterwards. It can be horrible."
Aug 14 03:27:58 <mrs_padri>	"Okay." She wiggle-nods. "I will. I'll go with... um... Jacob or someone."
Aug 14 03:29:03 <Knave>	"If you gotta go, go with a buddy." Austin says, wistfully. Then, he rolls his head back to look at the ceiling, furrows his brow, and mouths 'Jacob?'
Aug 14 03:30:07 <Antichthon>	"If we're ever on a mission together I'll look after you," Athene promised. "It's sort of my job, really."
Aug 14 03:30:39 <mrs_padri>	"I wouldn't mind going on a mission with you. You look scary. In a good way, I mean."
Aug 14 03:31:09 <Knave>	"I hear that." Austin says, apparently without thinking, then takes a very deep interest in his notes.
Aug 14 03:32:41 <Antichthon>	Athene gave Austin an amused little smile. She leaned in and whispered to Chloe, "I scared him once and I think he's still got a bug up his butt about it." she laughed playfully.
Aug 14 03:33:45 <mrs_padri>	Chloe yawns instead. A great big toothy opening appears amidst three tentacles, full of razor sharp teeth.
Aug 14 03:33:54 <mrs_padri>	"Scuze me."
Aug 14 03:35:02 <Knave>	With Athene leaning past him, Austin reddens and makes sure that his eyes stay firmly on his chicken-scratch. He wasn't at home to Mr Ogle. No sirree.
Aug 14 03:36:47 <Antichthon>	Athene straightened and gave Austin and apologetic look. She knew more than she let on, apparently.
Aug 14 03:37:40 <Antichthon>	Also, wow. Chloe had quite the mouth. "Is it impolite to ask what you eat?"
Aug 14 03:40:14 <mrs_padri>	"Um, normal things?" She could probably eat bones with those teeth. But she doesn't. "I eat people food. But I've always gone to the vet, not the people doctor." She wiggles. "It's a little strange."
Aug 14 03:42:16 <Knave>	"You think there are inbetween doctors now?" Austin asks the room, "Y'know, since Halloween? Think there might be doctors who specialize in people who aren't totally human?"
Aug 14 03:43:01 <mrs_padri>	"Maybe. That would make an interesting article."
Aug 14 03:43:17 <Antichthon>	That's horrible. That's what Athene wanted to say, but managed to keep it to herself. Making someone go to a vet instead of a human doctor was dehumanizing. "Yeah, there are," Athene confirmed. "I have my own doctor here."
Aug 14 03:43:42 <Antichthon>	And, proving herself to be the teenage girl she was, Athene took out her phone and sent a quick text.
Aug 14 03:45:31 <mrs_padri>	"I think that maybe I should go to bed soon. Because I have an--"yawn"--early class in the morning."
Aug 14 03:46:08 <Knave>	"Ha. Class." Austin smiles, shaking his head at the novelty of the idea. "But sure, don't let me keep you. I'll track you down for that interview sometime." He flashes another winning smile at her.
Aug 14 03:47:41 <mrs_padri>	"Oh, hold on." She reaches out and takes his pen, writing her number on his pad in great loopy handwriting. "You can call me, okay?"
Aug 14 03:48:23 <Antichthon>	"Mm, yeah. Hope it won't be another three weeks before we meet again, but jeez, things being as crazy as they are." Athene flashed her own smile, more warm and less...Austin-y than Austins.
Aug 14 03:48:40 <mrs_padri>	She wanders off!
Aug 14 03:48:56 <Knave>	"Nice girl." Austin says to Athene, conversationally.
Aug 14 03:50:42 <Antichthon>	Athene nodded in agreement. "She's very genuine." Athene's smile turned apologetic. "Sorry about teasing you."
Aug 14 03:51:47 <Knave>	"Hey," Austin puts up his hands, feigning cool while he blushes again, "Look, no worries, I mean...animal magnetism... uh..." He furrows his brow, "Damn, I swear I used to be better at this."
Aug 14 03:54:20 <Antichthon>	Athene laughed. If it was out of genuine humor or politeness, it was hard to tell; Athene was an excellent actor. "You're just fine." Her smile softened, and she put a hand on Austin's shoulder. "How are you doing, anyway?" What with the whole Tara situation.
Aug 14 03:58:10 <Knave>	"Uh, not bad, actually." He nods, "I broke up with Tara and now I'm with Yuki, so that... worked itself out." His nose wrinkles, "Yikes. That sounded mean. Am I getting mean?" The question seems to be rhetorical, as he directs it at the ceiling. "The Enquirer is actually keeping me thinking and working, so, that's probably good. What about you? I haven't seen you around in a while, how've you managed without me?" He flashes the classic Austin grin at her, with extra sparkling eyes.
Aug 14 04:00:32 <Antichthon>	More laughter. Austin was nothing if not charming. "I've been okay. A lot of ups and a lot of downs. Me and Lisa started dating. That's gotten me through a lot."
Aug 14 04:03:10 <Knave>	"Man, that guy was right..." Austin says to himself, then refocuses on Athene, "That's great to hear. Well. I'd make a crack about it not being great that you're not single, but I'm not single either, so..." His face goes red, because digging that hole he's now in was hard work, "I probably should have just nixed the whole gag. Anyway." He smiles uncertainly through his own goofiness, "As long as you're happy."
Aug 14 04:05:22 <Antichthon>	Athene just let that slide, because yeah, what do you say to that? "I should probably get to bed too," she said with a lopsided, awkward smile. "It was good to catch up with you, though."
Aug 14 04:06:24 <Knave>	"Yeah." He slides down in his seat, "Hey, before you go, you work at that salon place, right? Do you know anything about dying hair? Only, Yuki bought me some hair dye, and I don't wanna mess it up..."
Aug 14 04:07:49 <Antichthon>	"Oh? Oh, yeah, sure, I could help you out. Want to stop by the salon sometime this week?"
Aug 14 04:09:02 <Knave>	"You can bet on it." Austin smiles wide and salutes, "G'night, Athene."
Aug 14 04:10:56 <Antichthon>	Athene matched the smile and gave a very Athene wave. "G'night." And off she went. And went. And went. And...well, it was Athene.
Aug 14 04:11:46 <Knave>	"Hate for you to leave, but love to watch you go." Austin says. Very quietly. When Athene's ears are well out of the room.
Aug 14 04:12:30 <Antichthon>	-Scene Austin is Terrible-