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St. Helena Academy Outcasts (Sorrow's Solace and J)

"Ja, stubborn," Erik said with a thoughtful and respectful expression. "Stubborn is a good trait when one is in the right. She is smart as well. I think she has figured out the way deal with Preston and his friends." He smiled kindly at Tristan and offered him some of the rolls. "If your appetite returns, you shouldn't have to go hungry because of the schemes of that... that... snake," Erik said with more vehemence on the last than he had intended.

Erik's anger awakened his magic and sent in fourth. A small glamour sought Richard Preston III, finding him at his table with his vile friends.

Theo Dawson and Julie Turley heard the polite, accented voice behind them. They turned to find one of the students they had been about to speak to earlier. Their eyes went wide with surprise to see her there. Theo almost left again, worried about what William Thatcher had said about the girl and her brother. Julie caught his arm. Neither was an especially hateful person, though Theo could be a little jumpy. Julie noted that the other girl was being polite and the least she and Theo could do was respect that.

"Sure," Julie said. Suddenly, there was a disturbance at Preston's table. The obnoxious instigator's tongue was darting rapidly in and out of his mouth in a sickeningly accurate imitation of a snake. His two friends recoiled, one of them even becoming physically sick at the sight. Preston tried to stand, as if he was going to flee the dining hall, but he fell to the floor and it seemed as if he was trying to slither under the table. A moment later, Preston seemed to recover from whatever strange fit had overtaken him, but his friends had abandoned him. At least for the moment.
 
Tristan nodded, taking a roll and shredding it, eating quickly "She is at that, the Firestone stubbornness is a family byword. Well two av them, ye get my point." he commented, quirking a brow at the venom in Erik's voice, giving a shrug and kept eating. He was oblivious to the commotion that Erik's innocent statement would cause, trying to keep himself calm as he ate, slowly feeling better.

Mena nodded at them, looking a bit relieved at the girl's assent "I have te ask...what did that lad say te ye? As ye can see, his comment upset both my twin and I. It was a sick accusation, no more no less" she explained, hoping they would believe her, or give her and Tristan the benefit of the doubt. About to speak again she turned as she heard someone being ill and saw Preston writhing on the floor like a snake, about to step forwards and make sure he was alright, she aw him stand and looked away as quickly as possible, being the only one standing in clear view. The other students stared openly and she looked back at the two other students, giving a shrug to show that she had no idea as to what was happening.
 
Erik smiled a little. "Family byword?" he asked. "There are more like you and Mena at home? Your family is... similar...no... close. Your family is close?" The thought of a house full of Tristans and Menas gave Erik a feeling of warm wonder. His own home life was so cold and stern. He had always been so isolated, but if the Firestone family was like the twins... It would be too beyond Erik's experience to even imagine.

Julie decided she should be the one to tell the other young woman what had been said. It was going to be hard enough without her having to hear it from a boy.

"Will said you and your brother... that you were lovers." Julie took a breath. It wasn't going to get any easier until she had told her everything. "He came back later and told us that you were sent away because he... your brother, got you pregnant and you had to have a... an abortion."

"Look," Theo said. "What you and your brother do isn't any or our-" He was cut off abruptly by Julie stamping down on his foot. She shot him a look that seemed to scream "Shut Up". Then, she looked back to Mena.

"That's what he told us."
 
Tristan grinned and nodded "My da and brother Tobias, my mam was stubborn too, I take after her in some ways." he replied simply, stretching out his legs. To the young man, he had known nothing else and too see other ways of life would be both a shock and a reaffirmation that he was lucky to have a family like he did. Nothing was every perfect, but they had always had his back and he had theirs. He may not have been in tune to the emotions of other as his sister but he possessed his own insight and it told him now that Erik had been living a cold life. He thought a moment and turned to the young man "If ye want ye can meet them come the holidays, we're always glad to have others over." he offered with a comradely smile, it never hurt to have someone new to joke around with either.

Mena stared at them both, and felt an uprise of rage build and die out right as Theo spoke and got a footstomp for his trouble. Her own response surprised herself and undoubtedly the others as she started to laugh, a bright and hearty sound that rippled along the table as she sat down nearby, the mirth carrying on for a good minute before she snickered and shook her head "Ah...what an idiot. Have te give him points for sheet outlandishness though. Besides it's not true in the least, my twin's my twin and that's all, we've no dirty secrets such as that. We're scholarship students, all we want te do is learn." she commented, becoming grave now. She thought a moment, turning to them again "Look, can ye help me out with something? I need to talk te a school official, it would be good to have someone te back me up, someone that's no' family, or a roommate. I don't want this spreading too far, rumours like that have a nasty habit of being blown out av proportion, and it's already mad enough."

(Sleep time now)
 
Erik was surprised and deeply touched by Tristan's invitation.

"You would ask me to your home?" he asked quietly, almost certain he had misunderstood. Erik was the disgrace. He wasn't even wanted in his own home, much less those of his family's friends. Erik grateful for the kindness and friendship of the Firestone twins, but here at St. Helena, they were outcasts together. it would not be so at their home. There, Erik might bring embarrassment to his friends, or his wild magic might cause problems for their family.

Julie and Theo didn't need more than a second to think about Mena's request. It seemed to them that they had been duped by William Thatcher, and been unkind to two innocent strangers because of it. There was only one thing to do. Agree to go with Mena and tell what they had been told. Both teens nodded.

"I'm, sorry," Theo said. "I've known Thatcher for two years. When he said... what he said... I still shouldn't have listened."

"I'm sorry, too," Julie said. "I should have known it was too outrageous to be true."
 
Tristan looked at him a moment, bright grey eyes scanning his face before he nodded "Av course we would, seems better then ye going home." he replied with a shrug, hitting on a pointed truth with his somewhat blunt tact. "And it would be nice for some extra company, Da's been a bit sick for awhile and Tobias is always off studying." he commented, looking about a moment thoughtfully.

Mena gave a small sigh of relief and smiled at the two "Thank ye, it'll really help us out. It's a bit late te do so now, but we can try and leave a note or something at least." she replied. At their apologies, she shook her head "It's alright, ye didnae know, I'm just glad ye listened to me." she added.
 
"I would not be missed at home, it is true," Erik said with the detachment of a bitter but long accepted fact. "And to meet your family would be a great privilege." Erik's eyes met Tristan's gray ones. "If you still wish me to come when the holidays arrive, I would be honored." he said solemnly. "I will try to be a good guest."

Julie and Theo both agreed to leave a note with Dr. Haskins, who was Dean of Students. William Thatcher noticed them talking with Mena. He gave the three of them a nasty look and left in a hurry to tell Preston about the new development.
 
Tristan gave a faint sigh and lightly patted Erik's shoulder in a sympathetic manner "One day ye'll show them, ye're worth alot, don' forget that." he stated simply and grinned, cuffing him playfully "Don't be so solemn! We'll have fun, I promise!" he exclaimed, trying to inject some cheer into Erik's voice.

Mena looked relieved still and nodded at them, moving to stand "Thank ye both, that will help alot." she commented, and caught William's glare, simply smirking at him. "Look...if ye get flak from the others for helping us...I'm sorry." she murmured, frowning a bit now, hands in her pockets, worry crossing her face.
 
Erik smiled, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth. Tristan's happy confidence seemed to be contagious.

"I look forward to learning what you consider 'fun'," Erik said happily. Erik ate a roll, but made sure there were at least two left for Mena when she returned. "I think it will be more exciting than what I do for fun."

Theo frowned fiercely and put an arm around Julie.

"We'll do what's right," Julie said. "If we get flak for it, then we'll get flak for it." She offered her hand to Mena. "I'm Julie, and this is Theo. Can we start over and forget how stupid we were?"
 
"Ye'll get an education, I can promise that." he replied with a grin, noting the rolls set aside and felt a small surge of gratitude. Erik was a good lad, it was a pity that he seemed so damned lonely.

Mena grinned and shook both their hands "It's really good te meet ye both, and thank ye." she replied, relaxing now. "Anyway, I should leave ye be, thanks again...let me know if ye hear any trouble, alright?" she asked, and nodded at them, before heading back into the hall, walking up to Erik and Tristan "Well, that's taken care av." she commented, sitting back down easily and took a roll starting to eat.
 
"Good," Erik said with a small smile. "It is good that you were here, Mena. Thank you for finding a way to deal with this Preston that did not require me or Tristan to be expelled." Then Erik frowned. He realized that Preston was still their suitemate. He was most unhappy about the thought, but even more so for Mena and Tristan. They were the ones he'd attacked with his vile slander. He felt they deserved better.

"I hope we can exchange Preston for another suitemate. If he doesn't get expelled."
 
"I'm glad too, I wouldn't have wanted either av ye to get into trouble over that asshat." she replied with a shrug. A moody look passed over Tristan's face "He'd have deserved what he got." he muttered. Finishing a bite of roll, Mena shook her head "And ye would have been expelled, Da would have worried and then where would we be?" she pointed out ignoring her brothers glare. "He won't get expelled, people that are rich can have way too much pull in such things. His da or mum will toss a bribe and he'll get a slap on the wrist." Mena added a trifle bitterly as Tristan nodded, face clouded with irritation.
 
Erik realized that he had spoiled his friends' happy moment with his talk of Preston. He hadn't meant to, and he felt bad about doing so. Better if I had kept my mouth shut, Erik thought. He also suspected that Mena had a point. Even if the other boy admitted that Preston had sent him to spread lies, Preston's parents would probably just buy his "forgiveness". Even the boy who told the hateful lie was less likely to get expelled.

"I think I will go back to our room," Erik said with a grim frown. "I will try to reason with Preston. I will try to show him the logic of switching rooms." He nodded to his friends. "I am sorry to be a wet sheet on your happy moment."
 
Tristan raised a brow and Mena blinked, both standing up. "Look, it wasnae ye're fault, all that bullshit has me in a mood. Ask Mena I've a temper." Tristan commented and his sister nodded "we both do, and having people twit at us about thigns we canae change is annoying. We'll come with ye, we've a need to talk to him too." Mena stated, a stubborn light in her eyes showing that she would not back down from this request.
 
Erik thought to object, but his mouth closed again without uttering a syllable. Though he had no wish to see his friends upset any further, Erik's heart was warmed by their support. They would stick together, and as one be stronger than the sum of their parts. Erik nodded gratefully.

When Erik opened the door to their suite, he found Richard Preston III Pacing in the common room with a blue tooth in his ear.

"They can't be serious," Preston said with disgust. "Don't they know they're nothing but filthy scholarship students? Not even paying their own way? And that Grunwald! I was just talking with Elly Lang. She said there's a rumor that his mother had some kind of affair and he's the result." Preston scoffed. "His real father is probably a gardener or some other servant. No wonder he wants to slum among that filth. It's in his blood."

Preston stopped talking when he turned and saw his suitemates. A look of shock came over his face.

"Oh... you," he said flatly. He turned to go to his room, but Erik rushed forward and grabbed Preston's shoulder. He yanked the other youth around. "Let me go!" Preston said fearfully.

"Go is just what I want you to do," Erik said, his eyes like blue fire. "Go from this room. Find one where you can be among your own, and leave us in peace."

"You can't make me go," Preston said with a sneer that seemed a little fearful. "I shouldn't have to go. It's you and your "friends" who don't belong here."

This is the only place I do belong, Erik thought, though he didn't say it. "Leave us alone," he said instead, his temper growing short. "All you have to do is leave us alone."

"I'll leave you alone when you're gone from this school," Preston said.
 
Both Mena and Tristan exchanged a look, each knowing that they would have gone to confront Preston no matter what. After all, they were his main targets and they also did not want Erik to get into anymore trouble for standing up to their other suite mate, as grateful as they were for the support. As Tristan said, Firestone stubbornness was a family byword neither would back down so easily. Which was why, when Erik grabbed Preston and whirled him about both moved in to intervene. The rich's boy's so called revelation was filed away for later as Tristan rested a firm hand on Preston's arm, Mena touching Erik's shoulder lightly "Ye won't get through te him, no' with threats, he'll cry te his family and the sympathetic teachers and get his way." Mena stated, her voice cool and quiet.

Tristan nodded, his grey eyes flintly, both twins were solidly united in this, a identical coldness to their being, a obvious chill directed right at Preston, "We won't harm ye, any effort like that sounds too damned tiring. These attacks on us, and Erik will stop. If they don't, we won't hurt ye, or seek out revenge, but we will not run away, and we won't back down." Tristan commented, his voice was soft, but his grip was like iron, his touch was also very warm, nearly hot.

Mena stared at Preston now, her own gaze piercing, her own grip on Erik firm, hand cool, her mouth tight. "We have much as a right te be here as ye, we may be getting a scholarship but we proved that we can study and learn, that's all we want. Learn that and treat us with the same courtesy we'll give ye. If ye canae do that, then move te another dorm, or ignore us, we don't much care. Let him go Erik, he should have some time te think." she commented, voice utterly calm.
 
Erik let go of Preston's arm. Oddly, he hadn't quite realized he was still holding it until Mena asked him to let go. Preston back away shaking his head. It was difficult to sure if this was a gesture of disbelief or stubbornness. Preston's face was a shade paler than it had been, and his eyes were wide with fear. His arms crossed so that his hands could rub his arms where Erik and Tristan had touched him. Then, the snobbish young man turned and rushed into his room. The door closed heavily and the privacy bolt was closed with a loud click.

"I am sorry," Erik said softly. "I have never before had such trouble controlling myself." Of course, Erik had never really had friends before. He had never felt as if he belonged before. Mena and Tristan had given him both friendship and belonging. The thought of them being harmed in any way was more painful to Erik than the harshest beating or cruelest prank he had ever suffered.

Erik bowed his head in defeat. He had not been beaten by Preston. His own temper had beaten him. Outbursts of anger and loss of control were luxuries Erik could not afford. He remembered his brother's scars, and Erik's fists clinched hard.

"I think I will go to my room," Erik said. His voice was not barely more than a whisper. The thought that his mother was right about him was never too far from Erik's mind. It surfaced now in all it's ugliness. Erik wanted to be alone. He didn't feel that he deserved the company of his friends, at least until he had his feelings a little better under control.
 
Mena watched as Erik let Preston go, and Tristan stepped away from him as well, relinquishing his hold. They had scared him, either as a united front, or Erik's grip, but it was hard to say whether that fear would be beneficial or not. He ran off quickly, and silence filled the room until Erik spoke. Tristan suppressed a sigh and Mena bit her lip, both not liking the discomfort Erik seemed to feel, not really knowing what to say to make things easier on his mind.

"Everyone gets angry, it can be a good thing, if used right." Mena commented, voice soft, trying to help him see that not all outburst were wrong. But it didn't seem to take and she paused a moment, before nodding quietly "If ye're sure, but we're here as well. Erik...ye were trying to help us, and yerself, Preston needed to be stood up too. In my mind, ye did right." she stated and Tristan nodded in agreement "Not many else would stand up for us, it means alot." he stated, on his way to him room. Mena gave a faint smile to Erik, walking to a window seat to give him room to head to his dorm.
 
Erik was reaching for the doorknob when Mena and Tristan spoke. He listened to what they had to say. Their support warmed his heart. They were so kind to him, that Erik felt he at least owed them an explanation. He turned to face his friends, but found that Tristan had already left the room.

Erik walked hesitantly over to where Mena sat in the window seat. It felt rude to stand over her as he explained himself. There was no other chair close by, however.

"May I sit here?" he asked, referring to the seat beside Mena.
 
Mena turned and smiled briefly, nodding at him "Av course, make yerself comfortable." she replied, turning back to the window. Clouds were scudding across the sky slowly, the soft blue darkening to a deeper twilight as the sun had set. The clouds would be thick tonight, blotting out the stars and the young woman held in a sigh, knowing it would storm in the late night, or early morning. It was hard to say how she knew exactly, but a feeling along her scalp and neck, as well as deep inside made her sure of the weather. Putting that thought aside, she turned back to Erik "Feelin' better?" she asked, voice soft and quiet.
 
"I feel that you and Tristan deserve an explanation," Erik said softly. "As long as I can remember, I have been taught to control my emotions. I was told it was... unseemly for those of my station to let our emotions control us." Erik smiled softly, his eyes still sad. "You and Tristan have showed me today that giving emotions a little freedom is a good thing, and I thank you. But I have learned another reason to keep my emotions, especially my temper under control. My magic is wild and uncontrolled. I am afraid that if I let my anger loose, my magic will harm someone... like Gunter. As angry as I am at Preston, I do not want to hurt him so badly. I may wish I could punch him in the nose, but that is different."

Erik noticed Mena looking out the window. His expression became one of concern.

"You feel something?" he asked. "Something that bothers you?" Erik tentatively touched Mena's shoulder in a gesture of friendly support.
 
Mena listened to him, turning to face Erik as he spoke. After he spoke she nodded "There's nothing wrong with feeling emotions, as long as ye remain in control. And as ye said I can see how..that would scare ye, after all that happened. But Erik, that's why were here, to help us gain control, so that won't happen." she stated, voice soft, calming. When he touched her shoulder, he'd feel that she had tensed up, looking out to the window once more "It's going te storm." she murmured, voice nearly a whisper.
 
"The storms make you uncomfortable?" Erik asked. "I can feel you are tense. Could I... Would a massage help?" The teen wasn't trying to hit on Mena, though he knew enough to realize it might seem that way. Erik just wanted to help.

He had learned about massage thanks to the gardener who had tried to help Erik with his gardening hobby. The gardener had suffered a shoulder injury that caused him pain after a day of work. Erik's massage had helped him to feel better until he was fired.
 
"Something like that." she replied, not really sure how to put the mix of exhilaration and terror that she felt when it stormed. She blinked and gave a faint smile, shaking her head "No, it's alright. I'm tired really, long day av travel and all, we had te fly te get to the right terminal." she mused, rubbing the back of her neck. "But thanks, it's sweet av ye te offer." she commented.
 
"You are welcome," Erik said. "Yes, it has been a long day. Perhaps we should get ready for bed? Tomorrow will probably be very busy." Erik got up from where he was seated. "Would you like to have use of the bath first?"
 
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