Welcome to Gaia! ::

Upon first entering the grand hall of Windsor castle, you notice stairs to your right and a long, open hall laid out before you. Windows peirce the slight gloom intermittently and at the far end of the hall you see four tables and ornate chandeliers hanging above each. The walls are all paneled in dark wood and sconces line them giving off their own kind of light. Occasionally you see portraits on the wall of distinguished looking men or scenes of great battles or mythical stories.

After the main foyer, lies the general commons. Here you find many cushy and soft sofas and chairs with ottomans. In the middle, on the marble floor is a great round rug. Small side tables and one main central table can be found mixed among the many seats. The focus of this area lies on the left wall where a large fireplace can be seen. Above the mantle is a portrait of the beloved founder of Windsor Academy.

Moving beyond the commons, you come to the main dining area. The tables and chairs are all of sturdy wood and cushioned. The decor is sparce, but elegant. Two doors on the far right and left of the back wall lead to the kitchen and on the right wall of the dining room can be seen the great, thick doors to the Main library.

Welcome to the Main Commons, please enjoy yourself and feel free to go wherever you please, as long as you do not intrude upon the personal areas of professors or Headmasters in the upper floors of this building.

((Going backward in time, you'd end up here))

Jaycee halted for a moment at the entrance hall. The marbled floor spread out before him, it's dimly polished surface reflecting the murky atmosphere in the vaulted hall. Although Jaycee had been in many halls over the course of his life, this one struck him as the most regal. It's simple decor spoke for the power that it stood for, and the silence that pervaded the place made Jaycee feel insignificant.

Brushing aside the feeling, he broke the silence "Hello... anyone in here?". His soft leather boots made almost no noise on the marbled floor as he cautiously stepped further into the room. The place howled of magic to him in all of its silent grandeur, and his mind sparkled with curiousity. This, was a place he could spend hours studying. Each picture, each carving seemed to hold a little piece of knowledge, and Jaycee wanted all he could get.

His silent footsteps took him slowly down the hall, his eyes and mind racing while his movements were slow and calm. Appearances were everything, and Jaycee was well aware of that. If anyone should happen in, they would see a reserved student studying the room critically. The bubbling wonder and childish awe inside of him were well hidden.

A movement caught the corner of Jaycee's large mahogany eyes, and he turned to face the source. A middle aged woman was approaching him slowly, her light eyes catching the golden beams of sunlight flitting in through the windows. She seemed a woman of power, and Jaycee's bow was deep. In the style of the orientals, he maintained eye contact throughout the bow, and straightened slowly.

"Nice to meet you Professor Kae.. Kayline.". Her name had an odd sound, and Jaycee wasn't sure he had pronounced it right. "Oh well." he thought. "I am, indeed a new student. I was looking for the admissions office, to check in... Could you tell me where it is Professor?" his quiet tones carried through the hall.

As he spoke, his own slender fingered hand rose to shake hers. A firm but quick handshake was Jaycee's signature, and he believed that it reflected something about him. He had noticed most merchants had a very weak handshake, and seemed to be less than forwards. As his hand closed about the woman's he realized that he stood more than a half head above her. Why did he have to be so tall...

((=P People didn't live as long back then. Or he hasn't seen it. ))

The woman's laughter surprised him. Confusion flashed through his eyes for the briefest moment before he inclined his head in acknowledgement. Whe he raised it again, his impassive expression had returned. "Very well. And I do have my dormitory and class assignments..." he turned and glanced in the general direction his first class had been "Actually, I just finished my first class. And my apologies Professor. I'm Jaycee."

His eyes took on the pleasant half smile he used when dealing with people. It was impossible to keep a flat face, but to keep a fixed expression was quite doable. And, it made people think he was friendly. Always a good thing. "If I might ask, what do you teach here Professor?". Talking about himself made him uneasy, so Jaycee attempted to turn the subject of conversation.

((I guessed. But when all you've seen is overworked servants, and women in bars... yeah, she's middle aged))

Jaycee nodded slowly as she spoke about her career, and stopped upon her question "No, I'm afraid not. I remember a few things that we're not supposed to eat, or touch, and a few things that it's alright to eat... but that's all. I'm hoping to learn more, but it will have to wait until my other elective classes end". He kept his tone in line with the pleasant half smile in his eyes. On the thin grey line between amused and neutral.

"It must be wonderful, to have the ability to save people" he mused, almost as much for himself as for her. It would be wonderful to be a healer. Her question registered and his mouth smiled slightly, a social gesture that was helpful if not sincere "And I'm from the north of here. Close to the coasts. But it's.. he paused for a moment, his dark eyes unfathomable "It's been a long time since I've been there."

"She's very perceptive, you'd better stop making mistakes" whispered his mind. For some reason, that amused Jaycee. The warm expression around his eyes strengthened, and his social smile became a real one.

"I look forwards to that day as well. Knowing that mushrooms dripping green ooze will kill you if eaten is hardly helpful. " his tone was also warmed by the amusement he felt. In the back of his mind, a little voice whispered "It's not really that funny".

Ignoring the voice, Jaycee listened to the professor instead. "Augment people... how would you do that " he wondered. She seemed to think about it sincerely for a moment before asking him a question. "I'm not sure, actually. I found my first class on accident, but my other classes... I don't know when they are.". Memories of lessons learned thinned his smile slightly "Why do you ask?". His tone was still warm, and his dark eyes still smiled from behind a few strands of hair that had escaped his tight ponytail, but his mind had stopped laughing at itself.

"Oh, I do have homework, but I'm fairly sure that most of the other students have to do the same thing as me. I'm thinking of asking several to the village sometime later to pick up some of the things we might need. ". He squinted one eye and raised the other eyebrow slightly, as if he were plotting some impish act "If I can get to know the other students that is".

"Still, distractions are always welcome when it comes to homework. What would you have in mind?". He locked his dark eyes onto hers, meeting her gaze, as a small confidant smile creeped over the thin one that had been lingering there before. New things were always exciting, and Jaycee was not one to back down from a challenge.

((Also, sadly, I have college classes shortly v.v Won't be able to do much 'till after I get back from 'em))

"I'll be sure to let you know if I get something going.". Some of the amusedness dropped from Jaycee's tone, replaced with hints of sincerity. "And I don't think you'll have to wait terribly long for most of my homework. Thank god, papers have always been easy for me.". Amusement at some hidden memory flicked through his large eyes for a moment. "In any case, lets hope I can help more than hinder. And it was a pleasure meeting you Professor".

As she flowed back a step, Jaycee bowed once more. "This is definitely a person who could be interesting to know" his mind remarked. With a farewell smile, Jaycee wheeled about, and headed for the door. Occasionally people remarked how sharp and graceless his movements were, but Jaycee thought of them as effecient. As he reached the door, he turned enough to glance back at the professor, and bowing slightly, he slipped out.

((Sounds good. Look forward to it. Don't have too much fun without me though eek ))