the devil says "oh no, she's up"[open]

[Victoria Heart]

It had been such a long time, yet the building looked just as she had remembered it. Red lips formed a bright smile as she swiped off her sunglasses and entered the main building, her heels clicking on the floor. In spite of herself, she couldn't help but sweep the hallway, just to see if she had grabbed anyone's attention, and it seemed that she had, at least a couple of passersby. Good. Her smile broadened into a more mischievous one as she thought of Reason #13 she wanted to return to this school for university; a wider dating pool. Sure, Wonderland had its fair share of attractive people, and whenever she was on diplomatic trips with her mother, she had dallied with more than her fair share of castle staffs and even a prince and princess once in a while, but there was something to be said about finding all new people to flirt with, or even just party with. 

She checked her phone, noting that she still had quite a bit of time before class. Not that she really objected to skipping a class or two, or just arriving fashionably late, but she liked to have control over when that occurred, rather than just be clumsily late like some protagonist meant to be relatable in a cheesy movie.  But since she did have time to kill...might as well use that to actually approach someone...for what, exactly? Well, wouldn't you like to know? Where was the fun in always having a plan, anyway?

But the question was who...once again, she scanned the hall for someone that appeared interesting enough to stop and have a chat with...although of course she'd have to play it subtle. Despite what most would expect from a demigod, she strove for subtle, because subtle tended to make your desires easier to meet. Probably playing like she needed help with something could work...that was usually a great opener...

Eventually she caught sight of someone and strolled over, fixing her features into one of polite confusion. "Excuse me, hope I'm not interrupting anything. Could you please help me? Do you have any idea which way to Room 117B, it feels like this place was built just to confuse people, am I right?"

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

"Room one seventeen b?" repeated Lorelei, all but popping up behind Victoria. She probably hadn't been the one asked, since there was this half-crazed, child hobo chic look she had going on. The fact that her left hand happened to be all but tied to her chest in a splint would've explained the mismatched clothes for anyone else. For Lorelei wearing blinding yellow and deep blue with some green plastic bracelets on her right wrist and her hair looking like it survived a tornado was pretty much normal.

"That's one of the classrooms," Lorelei said, tilting her head. "It's definitely ground level and i want to say it's one of the labs. But yeah, this place was definitely built to confuse people. Or, like, repaired to confuse people, since they got invaded and they wanted to make it hard to get to the important parts of the castle or something. Oh, I've got a map..."

Lorelei twisted, trying to get to the backpack on her back. Of course, she was lunging right and sort of spinning, so she was having something less than success in actually catching the backpack and more just spinning.

[Victoria Heart]

It was rare that someone could manage to sneak up on Tori, but this was certainly one of those times. She blinked, her eyes widening slightly the only sign of her surprise, before she turned to face a...slightly insane looking girl. She once again managed to not look too wary or surprised by her, and simply excused herself from the person she had been speaking to, since, well, she couldn't just tell the newcomer Oh, I was just looking for an excuse to talk to someone, THAT would just be rude. Besides, if that splint was any indication, the poor dear had probably been through enough.

By the time the girl had started spinning, she decided that no, she had to help her here. "Hang on, how about I open the pocket and you tell me where to find it?" She pulled out a smile. "It seems the least I can do since you're going to be helping me."

Sure, some would've taken one look at the girl and gone running, but to be honest, the outfit wouldn't have been that out of place in Wonderland, and while messy, she could see there was some beautiful hair under there, and...well, who could blame a girl for being lively? At the very least, she clearly wasn't boring.

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

Lorelei paused at hang on. She paused midmotion, which meant literally freezing in place. This would've been awkward for anyone, but given that parts of Lorelei were still not quite functioning properly, she was actively wincing. "oh, right," she said, unwinding herself with some relief. The less pressure she had on her stab-wound area, the better off she'd be.

"It should be in..." Lorelei paused, looking at her pack with narrowed eyes. "Uh, I think I moved it to one of the outside pockets? It seems like there are always people wandering lost and stuff, so I made certain to move the map to a location where it would be that much easier to grab for different people."

Lorelei paused, then pointed with her right arm, twisting again, which made her wince again. She mumbled under her breath, her eyes flashing gold for a second, a little burst of white light seeming to shimmer around her. "That one," she finally said after a bit. "Or if not that one, another of the outside ones? I could probably just take you there if you don't want a map. I have most of the school memorized," Lorelei shrugged, which would probably make getting the backpack a little more difficult.

[Victoria Heart]

Tori's expression flashed with concern when she saw how much the girl was wincing. Again, the splint made it pretty obvious she wasn't doing so well, but clearly it was still actively causing her pain...gods, and she was trying to carry that backpack? She nodded, and went behind her, listening for instructions and...she seemed rather confused. This was the moment where she remembered she honestly didn't need this map...but no, better to keep up the masquerade all the same.

"That was rather smart of you," she noted when she said she made the map. "This place could probably use it. My Aunt Della said new students could use a lot of things before walking in here. A map, some weaponry, an intervention..." She smirked just a little at the old joke. Even if she was fairly certain her godmother genuinely meant it, to an extent.

When she saw the glow around the pocket, her eyes lit up a bit. Ah yes...one of the reasons she came here. She grinned. "Magic, then..." Although when Lorelei mentioned she had the place memorized, a part of her got a little annoyed. Really? She was causing herself unnecessary pain and wasted a bit of time...oh nevermind.

She flashed a smile. "Why don't we go that route, you seem like you keep torturing yourself trying to get me to this, and clearly, my dear..." She motioned at the splint. "You've been through enough. The name's Victoria Heart, and I'm more than honored if you'd be my tour guide."

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

"My dad said nearly the exact thing!" agreed Lorelei, grinning. "it's why he insisted I come here with a sword and a map. Haven't gotten the intervention yet, but fingers crossed," and Lorelei literally crossed her fingers, because of course she did.

But it turned out they wouldn't even need the map, at least for the time being. "Oh, it's no torture, really. Torture is, like, being locked up in room and having hot irons shoved under your fingernails. Or being forced to watch those Star Wars movies by your super nice brother," Lorelei shivered at that particular memory. Really, she did not know what her siblings and their friends saw in those things. Nobody could even understand the giant teddy bear creature! And he was definitely not cuddly enough.

"Oh, right, introductions," Lorelei dropped into a curtsy, which just made her wince again. "Lorelei Summer-Lac. And it's an honor to be--" she paused, brow furrowing. "Heart... as in---" her eyes went wide and she snapped her fingers, pointing. "You're Alyss's daughter, right? The, uh, heir to the throne of Wonderland? Wow, and you came here? If I was from your place i'd pretty much just stay there for, like, ever. Assuming it wasn't at war, I guess..."

[Victoria Heart]

...the girl literally crossed her fingers. Okay, she had decided. This girl was adorable and entertaining. She could do a lot worse in terms of companions. "Oh yes, indeed. Fortunately I don't need to carry weaponry, per se..." she trailed off with a wry smile. She had a funny feeling if the girl was going to ask what she meant by that, the resulting conjuring of something out of thin air would thrill her, even if she had magic of her own. She just seemed that excitable.

Tori let out a laugh at her examples of torture, and she teased, "Oh definitely don't let my aunt hear you say that, she loves those movies..." And honestly, she had a feeling her family would too, but there were just a few too many parallels to their own lives for them to feel comfortable. Light Side, Dark Side, White Imagination, Black Imagination, dictatorships galore...it was pretty uncanny, enough that Alyss had once tried to remember if she had met someone named Lucas and told him her life story too. "But I get what you mean."

Tori wanted to tell her to not bother with the curtsy, it was so not needed, especially if it hurt, but then apparently Lorelei recognized her name. She was almost surprised. Sure, her mother was an alum here, but she didn't think most students took the time to think of that...well, she certainly didn't object to being known, of course. Unlike her mother, fame had not hurt her. She beamed. "The very same...and no war. I just figured I wanted to meet people outside of Wonderland before I became Queen, you know? And I'm already succeeding. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lorelei."

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

"I suppose that does make sense," allowed Lorelei, standing up. "For all I know you could be hiding out or trying to live a normal life of dating and schoolwork and boys or girls whatever your desires lead you. Y'know,' she paused for a moment, tilting her head, "for technically being a medieval society, we're oddly progressive in Camelot slash the Summer Country,' since, really, people shoved the two together so often that they might as well be the exact same location by this point. Didn't help that pretty well everyone from the area who ended up in this school happened to know each other.

"So, yes, pleasure to meet you. Your land always sounded like one of the more fascinating ones when compared to everything else," Lorelei fluttered her good hand for a moment, and looked about ready to start up again, noises like words even started coming out of her before she seemed to remember: "Oh, right," she paused, "you need to find a classroom."

Lorelei nodded, then closed an eye, tilting her head as if to shake the info out. "I swear the medication they're giving me is so not helping," she mumbled, before turning, "we head this way for the hundred set of rooms," she started walking, turning to walk backward a few steps. "You coming?"

[Victoria Heart]

Tori couldn't help but smirk and say, "All of the above, actually...with who I'd date, not the hiding. I don't hide from anything." A very slight lie, child's play for her. Lifting up a pebble would have probably been harder. "I've heard as much. Honestly, if our lands weren't from separate worlds, I imagine we'd make fantastic allies, but we're still working out exactly how the Pool of Tears works." She let out a sigh, although a part of her had to wonder just how proud her mother would be to know she was discussing diplomacy in the midst of her socializing. See? It was possible to do both. This venture offered her more of a chance to get to know other lands, get more practice in dealing with them. Regardless of any motivations that involved avoiding certain things, or certain people's mortality, this could lead to a world of good for once Tori was good and ready to be queen.

"And I suppose it is...though it's not nearly as trippy as Carroll made it out to be." That name was one of the few that Tori's tongue would ever release any venom on. "It's different, though, and I can certainly see why someone would want to visit. I'd be more than delighted if more did, in fact..."

And Tori couldn't help but chuckle once Lorelei remembered herself and the task at hand, although that certainly faded when the girl mentioned taking medication. That would certainly make sense, given the state of her arm. "Oh don't worry, I can certainly understand. I'm not in any real rush..." And then she did, in fact, follow her. "Your help, however long it takes, works just fine for me."

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

"Ah, yeah, dating options. Though it kinda sucks if you're a girl around here; it seems like almost every guy is already taken or likes other guys or---well, I guess you could like girls,' Lorelei laughed nervously, flushing pink again. She considered the bits about allies and Pools. She'd spent some part of a summer once reading through the Wonderland information. It hadn't seemed like Alyss had done a lot at the school, but the info on her home was still fascinating in and of itself. Lorelei wasn't even certain who Tori's father was, and she was usually great about that.

"Yeah, that Carol," agreed Lorelei, not having the slightest clue who that was. She started walking, turning as Tori said they could take it easy. "Well, if you're trying to get to class, we don't want to stall too long or anything."

Lorelei nodded turning back around and facing forward. "And I haven't gotten so stabbed that I don't know my way around. My gut got stabbed, not my brain. Though some people would say you can't tell," she giggled at that, shrugging slightly. Of course, the shrug jostled her arm, making her wince, but it didn't seem to diminish Lorelei's good mood much.

[Victoria Heart]

There was this reflex that Tori seemed to have where she smirked every time she made someone blush...or just surprising them in general. Her inner prankster never really died, even as she outgrew the constant urge to make that sort of mischief. She supposed that was what was left of that part of her. "I just don't see the point in limiting myself. So long as the person's attractive, why not?" And she couldn't help but size up just about everyone she encountered in that regard. Tori was aware that probably wasn't the best trait, but was it really so wrong to exercise her ability to detect what she liked in people? As for Lorelei, her fashion choices were eccentric and her hair desperately needed a comb, but the latter could be attributed to her injury. And she did have a lovely face, and while some might find her energy level annoying, Tori found it refreshing. Just, yes, someone who actually exceeded her own...so perhaps. She certainly wouldn't say no. Again, why limit herself?

She could tell without a second thought Lorelei hardly knew what she was talking about, and she didn't want to really bring it up at all. But it was sweet of her to try for the solidarity thing on top of the tour guide thing...

...hang on, did the girl say she had gotten stabbed? Like, it wasn't that surprising, given her entire conception was the result of her mother's temporary death, but still, how absolutely horrid. "You're...very chipper for someone who got stabbed...I'm extra glad you're recovering, in that case. That's genuinely terrible."

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

Huh, well, that was one way to look at it. Really Lorelei just found everyone kind of appealing herself, or nearly everything... she really hadn't stopped to think about it, and most people didn't even look at her like that. Even the annoying ones back home weren't likely to look too long at the sixth daughter of six, not when there were older more attractive siblings about to stare at instead (particularly not when Lorelei was the one who's father was probably mostly likely to stab; Gaston would shoot someone [which was worse though, really?])

Lorelei had already started moving, figuring that walking toward the right area would be the best move. That and the nerves were starting to give her more energy and she still couldn't quite move around to really get rid of it like she should. "I get that a lot," said Lorelei. "I guess I just bounce back quickly," or lie. Lie a lot. Because right now Lorelei's gut was hurting just remembering it, and she had this sinking feeling she was going to be feeling pangs in her gut for a while. Thankfully the wrist had gotten lots of healing magic; Lorelei and Meredith had been on top of that.

"And that's just what it can be like here. You gotta take the bad with the good, right?" Lorelei shrugged, which tugged at about three wounds, making her wince. Still, she gestured for Tori to follow; they had a classroom to find, right?

[Victoria Heart]

Tori nodded, even though she could tell Lorelei wasn't telling the whole truth, if her typical "lie detector" instinct was any indication. She could sense that Lorelei was actually feeling rather awful...if she was to remain friends with the girl, she would have to see to that. Gods, she wished she was surprised that someone as sweet as her got stabbed, but the innocent were often the first to be hurt by those who weren't...obviously the world wasn't quite so black and white, she knew that, but there was definitely something of a trend, one that at least dated back to her own father's birth, if not further back. It was a shame, truly, and she admired her mother for somehow managing to insist the innocent be protected whenever possible, for someone who had seem so much bloodshed and heartache. She could only hope to be such a beacon of light in people's lives...

"Of course you do, as with anything," she agreed, though the concern didn't leave her face, even as she followed her. "Do make sure to take care of yourself, though, Lorelei. This is a particularly grizzly thing to deal with. I'd loathe to think your attempts to bounce back wound up coming back to haunt you and wipe that sweet smile off your face." So she couldn't help but weave in a compliment. Was that really so wrong? It wasn't like it wasn't genuine.

[Lorelei Summer-Lac]

Lorelei giggled slightly at Tori's encouragement. "Eveyrone keeps telling me that. Nice to know I'm loved," she gave Tori another smile, showing off teeth and everything. "And thanks for the compliment. You're quite sweet too," was that flirting? Lorelei thought it might qualify. But should she be flirting with a girl? Lorelei made a note to ask if that was allowed here or not. Was that a Mom question? Tristian? Meredith? Maybe even Jenny...

Lorelei had gotten so wrapped up that she didn't quite realize they'd entered the right area of school until she caught absent sight of a set of numbers. She pulled to almost too suddenly of a stop, likely to be bumped into or run over by Tori, if the other girl wasn't at the top of her game. "Right hall!" she suddenly chimed out, pointing toward the nearest set of number. Right hall meant most of the way there, yes? Shame, as Lorelei was starting to enjoy the company. most people weren't so complimentary to the spazzy Summer.

[Victoria Heart]

"Oh I can't see why you wouldn't be, you're positively charming...and I do try to be, at least to those who deserve it, so thank you and you're welcome." Honestly, no matter how this went, she was rather glad that Lorelei had sneaked up on her...and speaking of random movements from the young Summer girl, Lorelei had stopped short, and it was only her demigod reflexes that stopped her from full on crashing into her. It was only a short stop of her own that led to her inevitably touching Lorelei's shoulder. Fortunately it wasn't the injured one, or she would have felt positively awful about adding to the girl's pain. Instead it was just a grip that insured that she couldn't topple over, and...well, not her typical mode of getting a first touch in, but she'd take it.

She shot another smile at Lorelei. "Whoops, easy there. I'd have hated to cause you more injuries." She decided not to let go just yet, unless Lorelei indicated that she wanted her to. Plus this made it far easier to keep up with her. Even she found that the slightest bit difficult.