Not A Good Start {Open}

[Leela Dy Cazaril]

Face it Leela, you're lost.

Leela stood outside the corridors of the stairwell looking at the makeshift map the useless student representative had given her. She was just looking for her room! Why is this so difficult? The dorms were a maze to her, as someone who was used to a castle, this was certainly new. She wished she had asked someone to show her around.

Perhaps that was just good old fashioned pride.

She couldn’t help it, putting the case down that were all her belongings in the world, including her new modern day clothes she put a hand through her hair.

“Great. Lost. First Day. This is just great.”

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

"You look lost," chirped Lorelei. If she could actually speak bird, the girl probably would've. It did look a bit like Lorelei had tossed a bird in an alley, a canary, judging by the extreme yellow that dominated most of her body right now. All the way from the yellow headband to the yellow denim jumper she'd gotten from God knows where.

"It's super confusing if you don't know where you're going or you just got here and you didn't exhaustively study maps until forever,' said Lorelei, shrugging. She moved to stand beside Leela, looking down at the map. "Wow, that's definitely not to scale," she said, pointing at it. "Like, this section of the dorms is a lot farther away than this one," she moved her finger around the map, "and the kitchens are way closer than this. Whoever made this has absolutely no skill in cartography whatsoever," Lorelei unslung her bookbag (she loved those; seriously, why hadn't people figured that out sooner?). "I've got a much more accurate map in here somewhere..."

A few notebooks labeled "Camelot Notes" and "Fanfiction - Gaston" and other similar titles fell out as Lorelei started through the overloaded bag.

[Leela Dy Cazaril]

“Oh.”

Leela was heralded by a very yellow girl, around the same age. She looked down at the map, then to the girl again who started searching around in her bag. Leela just stood there, taking in this weird help that had appeared from nowhere.

“That would be great, I’m looking for number…..Thirteen, I think?” She too, dug into the front of her suitcase for a sheet of parchment, her acceptance letter with all the details. “I can’t tell.”

She gave the other girl a little smile, then noticed the note on Camelot -- and the name Gaston.

“--- I --- erm” she flustered, trying to find a word or two to say, instead, she decided it was rude, another breath. She didn’t want to make comment on something that really wasn’t her business but perhaps this girl was from Camelot too...perhaps she knew her brother. She had been so closeted that it was possible they had never met, or if they had, Leela was too young to remember, she was rarely let outside the castle.

“I’m Leela. Leela Dy Cazarl, do you live in these dorms too then?”

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

"Thirteen..." Lorelei mumbled. She finally fished out her notebook, knocking loose a few hair ties and what appeared to be one of those google-eyed monster finger-puppets. She pulled out what appeared to be an incredibly thorough map of Tintagel. "We're...' she said, tracing, she'd heard the other bits, but she was mostly ignoring it, "here,' she jabbed her finger at the dorm. "So thirteen's not actually too far away. As far as getting lost goes, you're not too bad."

Lorelei rolled her map up, sticking it back into her bag. It was then that she saw the other stuff, and started scooping it back up too. "Leela--- wait, ' Lorelei frowned, then shifted, opening the Camelot notes and flicking through, "are you related to Lupe Dy Cazaril? Known scholar and tutor who I wanna say hooked up with--" Lorelei froze, eyes going wide as she looked up at Leela. There were clearly wheels turning behind those wide brown eyes, spinning so fast you could almost see spokes in the irises.

[Leela Dy Cazaril]

"Oh! Thank you." Leela's eyes fell upon the map with excitement, so much to learn, relieved to not be alone either. Even if the girl was bouncier than any rabbit she'd seen on the outskirts of the castle.

It was her dad's full name however that first gave her reason to flinch. She knew he hated it. Leela was rather proud to bear the title. Though she'd never go about calling herself Caz.

Still, the way the girl drew out her sentence it felt like the right thing to do, to finish the sentence. She tried to carry pride in her response, but it came out much weaker.

"Morgana Le Fey's my mother, if that's what you're asking."

She found herself unconsciously folding her arms, protecting herself from the sins of her mother's past.

"You might know my brother then, Mordred. He's at the university. He might be in your --- err --- notes? Why do you have notes on my parents?"

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

Name flinching; sadly, not the first time that Lorelei had experienced it. She hopped to her feet, eyes wide. "Wait, so Mordred's your--" she said almost at the same time that Leela said the rest. "That's weird, I didn't know he had a sister..." she trailed off, looking at Leela almost guiltily. If anyone knew about being the child locked away from the rest of the world, it was Lorelei Summer-Lac, sixth of six.

"He's definitely in my notes," admitted Lorelei, letting out a light laugh. "And I have notes on most people's parents," she bent to hurriedly tuck more notebooks away. "I sort of got a lot of information on the people who used to go here from different sources and I collated the notes with alternate sources to piece together fairly comprehensive profiles that also include information on the children and prophecies and so forth."

Lorelei let out another giggling laugh, before scooping up her bag. "So, you needed dorm thirteen right? It's this way," she pointed, beginning to walk the direction indicated.

[Leela Dy Cazaril]

"Oh, yeah. Little sister, always a huge surprise...like, same parents too." She blushes a little, to think Morgana could actually love another person enough to choose to have another child with them seemed unlikely to most. Still, she tried to laugh it off.

"Well, my info is basic. You can just write: Modred's sickly sister, finally given permission to leave Camelot, scared stiff and will always ask for directions. Extra note: Looking for like-minded friends."

She then starts to follow Lorelei towards the dorm, her nerves really kicking in. Lorelei seemed nice, but what about her actual flatmate? Would she be okay? Would she mind that she was Mordred's sister? She knew her brother already had a reputation here, she hoped they didn't think she was like him in that way.

No offence of course, she did love Mordred, and she'd do anything for him, but that didn't mean she had to agree with every action he took.

"Have you met my brother then?" Leela finally asked.

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

Same parents and everything. Strange that Leela hadn't shown up in court... at least that Lorelei could remember. Even stranger that she hadn't gotten any notes. Then again, it sounded like about the only way she could have gotten notes was by asking Mordred, and Mordred scared her more than anyone in their home (keep in mind that Jesse lived in the same area too; yeah, Mordred is that scary).

"That actually sounds kinda like me," admitted Lorelei. "I'm one of the Summer kids, but I'm, like, kid six of six, and I had a different dad than everyone else. So they really don't like to pretend I exist," mostly a lie, "but I spent a lot of time studying people and figuring them out and trying to figure out what life was like here of all places," she nodded, then turned, facing Leela and walking. "So I've kinda met your brother," Lorelei managed to turn in time to avoid a corner, "and I'm probably like-minded enough that if you really want a friend, I'd be a good match. Watch that tile," Lorelei pointed at one just in front of Leela before turning to walk around.

"It'll be in this hall," she said, nodding and gesturing. "Probably in the middle, what with three being a middle number and all."

[Leela Dy Cazaril]

"Oh? The scared stiff bit, or the sickly closeted bit?" She inquired with a soft grin.

Still, Leela couldn't help but feel warmed by Lorelei, to find a like-minded person from Camelot so soon? They'd probably run into each other when they were children, maybe once or twice. Leela felt guilty she didn't recall her easily.

"Yeah, I think everyone's met Mordred, he's hard not to recognise." Still, as they walked, or rather, Leela walked and Lorelei seemed to bounce and flaunt as if she knew each hallway by heart by now.

"Thank you so much for your help Lorelei, couldn't have done it without you. Perhaps, when I'm settled, we could meet up for tea? Or--Or something like that?"

Gosh, she was not good at talking to new people as she'd like to be.

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

"mostly the just allowed to leave Camelot bit," said Lorelei, adding a slight shrug. "I was kinda closeted though? Like, everyone seems to forget just how many Summer kids there are, and I'm kinda at the bottom," Lorelei added another quick shrug. This was also sort of her way of allowing Leela to not really remember her. Though in actuality, Lorelei was fairly well known throughout both courts; the hidden sibling thing being mostly in her head (and the fanfiction she dared write about herself).

"Oh, it's no problem," she said as they approached Leela's dorm. "And I'd totally be up for tea. Mom was nuts for it, so I even got to attend a few if you wanna go all formal. If not, there are some fun places to just sort of hang out and stuff. I think there's actually one shop where they fit you with these amazing hats and sometimes ask you to show off your talents and stuff? I'm hoping to get to do a live reading of my fanfiction sometime."

Lorelei smiled, then moved forward, suddenly wrapping Leela in a hug. It went quick, however, as Lorelei almost sprang back. "Sorry! It just felt like a hugging moment. But I'm awful at reading people?"

[Leela Dy Cazaril]

Lorelei was sweet, and Leela liked that. It wasn't often she found such a connection to someone so quickly, but that was due to not meeting new people that often. Something she'd have to get used to here. He could still feel a little worried about her new flatmate might not be so kind.

At least she'd accepted tea. Leela grinned, her eyes bright in her direction as Lorelei explained the shops that she'd yet to visit.

"That all sounds wonderful! I was just also meaning inside my dorm too, if you wanted company. We should make sure to meet up" Then came the hug. Leela was surprised, so much so she almost forgot to hug back, but just as she settled into it, Lorelei moved away.

"Oh, oh that's fine. Hugs are fine! You're fine. You don't have to worry. I do like you, and I don't mind hugs at all...." She assured her. Before looking at her door and swallowing very hard.

"Wish me luck, then?"

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

"oh, you want me to go inside?" asked Lorelei, blinking in surprise again. "You know, that's pretty neat and all, but it probably would be more fun if we hit up one of the tea houses in town. I'm telling you, there's supposed to be this one with hats and stuff, and I'm super eager to go there, and you'd give me just the perfect excuse and all."

Lorelei looked up at the door, standing on her toes to sort of look around Leela to get a better look at it. Leela seemed almost nervous about it, so Lorelei simply reached around her and opened the door. "You don't need luck," she said, giving Leela a wink, "you're in Tintagel now."

[Leela Dy Cazaril]

Leela nodded, "Well, yeah, obviously, how silly of me," the young girl said, feeling a bit stupid for suggesting it now, but atleast Lorelei was nice about it.

She was still debating about opening the door, when it opened, Leela's eyes widened, but it was too late, her front door was open and she now had to walk through it, with the hope that whatever was going to come would be good.

She turned on her heel before stepping inside, thankful for the vote of confidence, giving Lorelei her most confident look.

"Yeah, I guess I am," before disappearing through the door.

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

"I'm sure we could have tea in your room sometime soon," chirped Lorelei, nodding. She had the feeling that this was the start of a quite beautiful friendship, and she was more than glad to volunteer to spend more time with someone. She would be lying if she didn't admit that finding out that there was another child of Morgana and Caz around didn't intrigue her greatly, but she was trying to keep that on the downlow for the time being. After all, Leela didn't look like she was going to start being an evil tyrant any time soon.

Then again, wasn't that how the best tyrants started?

Yes, Lorelei would definitely have to make sure to keep friends with this one. She smiled and waved at Leela. "You'll do fine!" she reassured one last time before turning to head out. She needed to look up the address of that tea house...

{fin?}