~Ariella~

~So... Poinsettia got two new AEs. Kaspar and Oriole, a brother and sister. They're kind of alike, very sure of themselves. Oriole's fun; she and I are interested in a lot of the same things, although we think about them in different ways. I never like to focus on one thing for very long, whereas Oriole obsesses over all her interests. So far I've learned that she's interested in fashion, art, horses, traveling, and singing. It'll be nice to have someone else around who's more sociable; Stormi's always in one of her moods and doesn't want to socialize, and Layia just likes to be by herself and enjoy nature. Which is fine, but...~

~Kaspar is the most argumentative person I've ever seen. Not to say Oriole isn't combative too, but she's able to let an argument go, whereas Kaspar just keeps rehashing his arguments until you have to admit he's right. Because he usually is right. And he debates really well, leaving no room for any doubts on the matter. He's kind of fun though.~

^Vireo^

^Justin tells me he doesn't know that much about climate change and asks me to tell him more about it. I'm about to start talking when the waiter comes with our drinks and croissants. They look delicious, and I help myself to a couple and taste the tea.^

^"What do you know and think about climate change?" Justin asks again.^

^"I actually know sort of a lot about it," I confess. "Mostly," I add with a laugh, "because Ibis and Amethyst are always talking about it. And, frankly, because I feel I ought to understand it. There's a lot of science behind it which has never really interested me - such as how carbon dioxide heats up the planet because it makes a thicker layer of gas around the Earth than there ought to be, which traps the sun's rays, and so on - but what I'm more interested in knowing about is why it's happening, and what its consequences are." I sigh. "It's pretty serious, by now. Some of the problem is just ordinary people having cars, and taking planes everywhere, and throwing things out mindlessly, but a large part of it is also just the companies. They're just not environmental, and they both waste a huge amount of materials and encourage people to buy more and more and more, and waste things - it just makes me so angry to think that they could actually do something, and they aren't - and ordinary people are the ones who have to drive, and throw out, and take planes, as little as possible to make up for that!" My vehemence has gotten the better of me, and I pause to calm down. "Sorry, it just really makes me angry. And it's partly governments' fault too, for letting the companies get away with that - at least, it's my opinion that's part of the problem in many countries. Anyhow, that's what I know about it, and I think it's pretty obvious what I think about it, right?" I smile a little.^

^"There are a lot of people who are trying to make things better, too," I add. "In France, for example, there are groups who are trying to make companies cut down on needless carbon dioxide consumption. In France right now global warming has been serious - it's much hotter than it's meant to be, as in much hotter. I mean, I think it's been serious all over the world, like even in the US it's helped contribute to all the smoke from the forest fires. And I've probably rambled on for way too long, so I'll stop there," I add with another smile. "What do you think?"^

@fallen leaf, here's Ariella's POV! Don't worry if you can't respond right away, I understand if you're busy :) And by the way, where should they meet? I've started it off kind of ambiguously; they could bump into each other while Ariella's walking toward the town, or Ariella could meet JJ at the café. Or if you have another idea, that would work too :) 

~Ariella~

~It's currently very boring at home; Stormi and Oriole are out shopping, and Layia's holed up in her room, writing poetry. The house feels too quiet and dull for my taste, so I decide to slip outside and go for a walk. Maybe I'll go to the café in the nearby town. I feel like I could do with some hot tea and a slice of cake.~

~It's cold and blustery outside, unusual for a summer day, but somehow it doesn't dampen my spirits. Something important is going to happen on this outing. I can just feel it.~ 

First time doing this so I'll see how it goes!

-Lyra-

-Well, this place has been...nice so far. When we moved here two months ago, I had no idea what to think of this place, CB. But the place we live in is alright. It's relatively close to the city, but not too close so that there's constantly bustle and chatter outside.-

-Moon Wolf pushed me to make more friends, but she should know by now that I'm not a social person. No way am I going up to a stranger and talking to them unless they talk to me first. That's the only way I'll strike up a conversation.-

-Unfortunately, Moon Wolf still dragged me out, and told me to go explore and find someone to talk to. I assume she's trying to get me to make friends, but that's...a little far-fetched. So now, I'm just stuck wandering the streets, feeling like a fish out of water, until I find someone to make friends with.- 

^Vir^

^Justin looks surprised at the vast amount of information I've poured out to him, but he agrees with what I've said and tell me I'm a good teacher, which makes me feel oddly happy.^

^I finish my tea, and Justin and I make an end to the croissants in silence. I notice that, by now, neither of us feels awkward not saying anything. We've both relaxed, I think, and I at least certainly feel happy just being with Justin.^

^He glances around as I eat the last croissant, and I notice a half-mischievous smile flit suddenly across his face. He turns to me, and the smile becomes slightly shy. "Can I play the piano before we leave?" he asks.^

^I turn and see that the woman who was playing the piano is gone. "Of course," I answer quickly, rising. Since I learned that Justin could play the piano, I've been wanting to hear him do it.^

^Justin pays, telling me that I can pay next time "if you want to do this again". If I want to do this again! Of course I want to - if he does. But Justin is already going over to the piano, and I follow him and sit down next to him on the seat.^

^A powerful cascade of music flows forth, dipping and curving and rippling, making me see things I've never seen and making me dream of things I've never dreamed. I never really want it to stop; each note lingers a little in the air before fading away, and I cling to each one as it passes, feeling myself respond to thier allure.^

^Then they stop, and Justin turns to look at me. "Did you like it?" he asks, slightly hesitantly.^

^I gaze at him. "Justin, that's just - so beautiful," I manage to say. "I think it's the best music I've ever heard. Seriously."^

^Justin looks pleased, and we go out of the cafe. I turn to him. "So, what do you want to do from here?" I ask. "Window shop or walk in the park?" Either one would be nice, I think, though window shopping, as with most things to do with the city, attracts me. I glance at him, waiting for his answer.

-Lyra-

-Moon Wolf brought in a new AE recently, whose name is Aries. I mean, he seems cool and all, but he's also pretty much the opposite of me. For one, he's way better at socializing than me, so it seems that in no time at all that he would gain a few friends the moment he steps outside. But for now, he's staying inside, claiming that it's too hot to go outside right now. Currently, since his room isn't ready yet, he is in my (emphasis on the my) room, sitting on my chair, reading my magazine!-

-"_Just chill_ ," he had said in a relaxed tone. "_I will be gone soon, and leave you in peace._"-

-I guess I should just bear with him for a while. Either way, his room is almost done.- 

Dove 

+It was early morning when I woke up, the sun had barely risen, not that I could see it, there were trees all around us. I knew that Perine was not up by the lack of sound in our cottage, usually she practices violin first thing in the morning. 

I creeped out of bed, going straight to my closet. I jumped at the creaking the doors made when I opened them. I took out a white dress that looked straight out of one of those historical fiction movies. Nope, not today. I took out another white dress, it was very plain. Nope, not today. Finally, I took out a white dress that was not too plain, it was perfect!

After I changed into that, I went downstairs. That's when weird things started to happen. I heard something in the kitchen, like scratching. Now, I'm not easily scared, especially when I'm certain that this house is hunted, but this really freaked me out. Something about that sound, it was just weird. So, I grabbed an umbrella, and ventured into the kitchen. On the floor was Zeus, Perine's falcon, he was sickly still, like a statue. And the window was open. 

"Who let you in buddy?" I asked, trying to be kind, to the falcon. Warning: never, ever, say buddy to a falcon. Of a sudden Zeus lit up, life flushing into his body, and threw himself at me.

Well, you probably never got bitten by something, because you're a book, but it hurts really bad. Especially if you get bitten by a predatory animal, because those kill stuff with their bits. Especially if you get bitten by a falcon. A falcon has a special 'tooth' on its beak, that it uses to dig into its prey's neck so it can break their spine.

Yep, it was that bad.+

^Vir^

^I love the way Justin is always able to think up perfect solutions. We window shop for a while, which is, of course, fascinating - I take advantage of Justin's (probably small) supply of patience to stand for ages outside clothing shops, wondering exactly which dress I'd like better, or would the halter top be better. Justin amiably lets himself be dragged along here and there, and seems to enjoy looking in the shop windows.^

^When we come to the pet store, it's Justin who drags me inside; it's his turn, I suppose, and besides the golden retriever puppies we've glimpsed inside are the most adorable things. I kneel down by their enclosure, reaching into the cage to pat one of them, a plump, adorable bundle. "You little golden fluff," I tell her, longing to scoop her up in my arms. She wags her tail and looks at me happily and adoringly, and my heart melts - actually in the exact same way it does when Justin smiles (because Justin also is just so cute, thought I'd never tell him so).^

^I feel as if I could stay here all day, and the puppy seems to think the same thing. Justin, looking at me, asks me suddenly, "D'you think Amethyst would let you get that puppy?"^

^I realize that in a way, in the back of my mind, I've been thinking the same thing. But I would probably never have really considered it if it hadn't been for Justin. I look up at him, one hand still tangled in the puppy's soft ears.^

^"I don't think she'd mind," I say. "Not that I can see anyone minding a little ball of cuteness anyway..." I glance at the puppy again, warning myself to think first about what it means to have a dog - walking it every day, feeding it, having it get Very Very big... but honestly, I don't think I'd mind. "I think I will buy her," I decide impetuously, and the puppy looks up at me with melting brown eyes as if she understands."

^I buy her, and we continue towards the park, only now my arms are full of golden life. We enter the park and walk along; I have been here before, though only a few times, and it's nice to see the trees and the long, smooth lawns. We reach a fountain, and I sink down on its wall, letting the puppy out of my arms. "She's heavier than I thought," I remark with a laugh. "Shall we sit here for a bit?"^