"About the Dawn-Ishamael thing - she was already in emotional turmoil because she thought Shadow was dead. You have to factor that in before you judge her, I mean, it's such a crazy situation." Dead? Kisa thought, this place is more confusing than I thought. "Ooookay Demon, whaddaya have against Shadow?" Kisa watched with interest. She was slowly fitting the different scraps of story she had heard so far. I wonder... did Dawn really like Ishamael, or was it just cover for this shadow? Kisa decided to keep quiet and listen to the rest of the story. She wasn't sure how much the others would say with her around - how much she was entitled to know - but she might as well wait and see.

Kisa listened intently to Demon's story. It made a lot of sense to her, and also explained Ishamael's reaction. He would be really hurting right now, if he had fallen for Dawn as well. She would have to find Ishamael later to make sure he was okay. She hated to see someone in pain. Although she noticed Demon had neglected to mention why he hated Shadow, she decided not to pry. She figured he must have his reasons. Even as this all ran through her head, all Kisa said was, "That's quite the story. But, if those two care for her, I'm sure they'll want her to be happy."

"That's quite the story. But, if those two care for her, I'm sure they'll want her to be happy." "Hopefully," Denebola nodded, although she doubted the human race was that gracious. Her eyebrows knitted together in thought. Demon hadn't answered her question. Hadn't she been obvious enough? She didn't feel like pestering him with questions though - Demon seemed. . .well, she hated to feel immature. . .but he seemed a bit more sophisticated than she was, and she didn't want to come across as the annoying little girl. However, she was going to figure this one out. She vowed to get to know Demon better. All this mental drama was going to be really anticlimactic if Demon just hadn't heard her question. "Actually Demon," she began, hesitating - it felt like a bit of a stupid question as well, but she ploughed on anyway. "Uhmm, what are all the relationship. . .statuses. . .here? Any arch enemies I shouldn't attempt to mix together? Anyone I shouldn't try to date? Anybody you think I should just avoid, period?" It was necessary information, and Demon seemed to be in-the-know. Still, she felt stupid asking it.

Kisa listened to Demon talk. Sounded like everyone around here had a bad temper. She thought she could feel one in Demon too... "As for who you shouldn't date... any guy that comes up to you and uses a pick up line is pretty much bad news. Unfortunetly there's too many of them for me to name. Most of our torture specialists are a bad idea as well..." Kisa thought to herself about the pickup line. Technically, Ishamael wasn't using pickup lines, but.... Her mind froze. She wasn't seriously thinking that, was she? She barely knew him. As for the torture specialists, she decided to avoid those at all costs. Demon continued speaking. Kisa made a mental note to beware of Blaze. She couldn't resist adding, "I don't think they're the only ones with a little bit of temper around here..."

Denebola listened attentively to the whole speech, trying to remember the details. She already figured Dawn and Blaze were tight asses, but at least Demon was telling her straight out. She grinned wryly at the torture specialist joke. . .not really knowing whether it was a joke or not. "And avoid Blaze at all costs unless he specifically seeks you out. He doesn't realize it but his codename also describes his temper." "I've met Blaze. Benny and I saw him erupt at a girl with purple hair," she said. Then, frowning in thought, "She was from England too, I think - that is where your accent is from, right?" She smiled. "Yeah, they were really going at it - Blaze said something about Benny and the purple-haired - Oh! Her name was Roxzaine! Yes, Roxzaine." She was super proud of herself for remembering. "Anyway, Blaze said something about Roxzaine and Benny and she totally blew up at him. It was terrifying." "Don't go into the armory without first consulting him and don't go into the simu hall when one of the senior students is in there - Senior being 16 years of age or older - since they're probably using one of the more advance levels." "I'm 17," she informed him. She felt he might as well know. "I don't think they're the only ones with a little bit of temper around here..." She bit a fingernail, her eyebrows knitting together. "Yeah, it seems like most people here are total jerks, eh? Well. . .no. Not total jerks. But mentally unhealthy, anyway. It's a seriously negative atmosphere." She looked at Demon. "Doesn't it ever feel to you like this Academy is just breeding volatile, angry children who grow up with a gun in their hand? That's completely the vibe I'm getting. And don't try to tell me that they're like this because they've 'been through a lot' - hell, I've had some pretty rough times, too. It can't be that much of a miracle that I'm optimistic, can it? That's pretty pathetic if it is. . ." She hadn't meant to say that much in one go, but she still couldn't figure this place out, and she might as well ask all she could while Demon was willing to be interviewed. "Then again, I s'pose Dawn's kind of bound to be messed up in some way if her cousin or whoever is all 'Orycalcos yay'. . . Not to attack parenting skills or anything. . . But the others have no excuse!" She crossed her arms, fixing Demon with a stare. This was a terrible sanctuary. THANK YOU, Mom and Dad.

"Yeah, it seems like most people here are total jerks, eh? Well. . .no. Not total jerks. But mentally unhealthy, anyway. It's a seriously negative atmosphere." Kisa looked down at this. She didn't know if she could classify them the same way, not after some people had been so nice to her. She listened to the rest of the other girl's speech, but a few things struck her the wrong way. She had to say something. "Everyone's had rough times, but you can't call someone on behaviour if you don't know why they are that way. Otherwise, I would..." she caught herself before she divulged the information about her family. "Anyways, optimism is great, but at least if they're angry they're doing something about it. There's always time to grow out of that... the worst is when the person keeps it inside. Then you never know when there's actually trouble." "Then again, I s'pose Dawn's kind of bound to be messed up in some way if her cousin or whoever is all 'Orycalcos yay'" Puzzled, Kisa asked, "What on earth is Orycalcos?"

Kisa couldn't believe Demon's words. It took a moment for them to sink in, that people could use children in such a manner. Demon's eyes looked far away... she had a sinking feeling he knew more than his fair share about them. Kisa looked at him. "So whose job is it to fight against them?"

((Demon: "Orycalcos is a cult that has existed since memory serves." Dene: "Didn't Erisia found it like a couple years ago?" Demon: "I have a really terrible memory." I WAS COMPLETELY GOING TO PUT IT IN. But then I was like "No man. They're already annoyed with Denebola for being happy. Better leave it as is." xD Lol. You guys love me a lot.)) "Everyone's had rough times, but you can't call someone on behaviour if you don't know why they are that way." She rolled her eyes. She didn't want this to turn into an argument, but she hated to be thought of as callous and totally ignorant. "I was just trying to point out the fact that it must be kind of sad and scarring to be brought up in an environment where you're taking other human lives. Essentially, one could say that it isn't any better, right? I mean, there are really young kids here, right? Some of them - what, twelve? That's so depressing, that they're expected to kill others, it's totally like. . .soul-corrupting, isn't it? I mean, blowing up an entire Orycalcos base is effective, but it seems a little drastic if you try to think in a less barbaric way. . . One could always consider lifetime imprisonment." She paused. "Now I don't know what the conditions were when you all decided to blow the base to kingdom come, but still." She swallowed. "I hate Orycalcos as much as anyone here. They took my parents from me. My brother and I spent three months with them. Now I'm a human heater. But I still don't agree that exterminating them is the right idea - doesn't that just make for another world war if so many are sponsoring the organization? It seems like the wrong plan to be following, and that's why I think it's a little bit funny here. A little bit sad. Like everyone here is about to slit your neck if you do something wrong or get on their bad side. I assume there aren't any friendly 'hello's in the hallways." She was attacking this place. It was stupid. But she wanted to know whether she had the idea of this place figured out, and right now, it seemed she did. However, if she went on like this, she'd either be murdered or kicked out, and she might as well show some gratitude. Hell, she wanted to stay here, if only to honor her parents' wishes. "Don't get me wrong," she said. "I'm glad to be here. I appreciate having this information on Orycalcos. You guys are more likely to find my parents than anyone else, I'm assuming. It's just that I hate to see how little. . .life. . .there is here."

"It seems like the wrong plan to be following, and that's why I think it's a little bit funny here. A little bit sad. Like everyone here is about to slit your neck if you do something wrong or get on their bad side. I assume there aren't any friendly 'hello's in the hallways." Kisa looked at her. She had some good points, and right know Kisa felt a little bit ignorant. The Academy was suppose to be an escape for her, but apparently she didnt know the first thing about it. Kisa hadn't had a bad experience, so far everyone she talked to had been kind to her in some shape or form. "It's just that I hate to see how little. . .life. . .there is here." Kisa looked at her. "If anyone can add life to this place, you've got a pretty good shot." She smiled. "Just cause it's like this now doesn't mean ideas or people can change how they behave." She paused. When she continued, her voice was significantly quieter, "I hate death too. I don't want my supposed 'refuge' to look at that as the only option. I might as well just pick up where my father left off, if that's the case." It took a second for her to realize what she just said. She sounded like such a sob case, bringing her poor family history into this. These people wouldn't want to know that. So, she smiled. "The only way that's going to change is if we decide to do something about it."

((Shame on you for ruining my fun, lmao.)) Denebola felt a little more lighthearted. At least they were shooting her down for suggesting she go cheer everyone up. Far from that, actually. They were supporting her idea. That made her smile. "Now do you have any other questions?" She thought for a moment. "Mmm. . .Yes." She shrugged apologetically. Demon probably hated playing twenty questions like this. No doubt she was kind of annoying him. She sighed. She hoped he didn't dislike her too much afterward. "Firstly, did you know my parents at all? No one but Blaze seems to have heard of them, and they used to work for the Black Scorpians - not in the Academy, though. Victor and Jeanette Roth?" She cocked her head. "Oh, and also: What teachers should I avoid? I. . .don't wanna get killed on my first week." Completely a necessary question, no matter how stupid she felt asking it. She needed to know who would be okay with her cracking jokes, and who'd give her forty lashes.