The New Kid {Eloise/Zayne}

[Felix Ryder]

---

Felix was glad that he'd shown up on a Friday evening. Too late for classes, but with the whole weekend ahead of him to get settled in. Slim was a bit irritable after being in his ball for the trip here. Because Felix hadn't driven a car, but had ridden his Ducati (a birthday gift from his parents) there had been no room for either of the snake pokemon to be out of their balls.

The ride had been a smooth one without any issues, so Felix simply parked his bike in, what he assumed, were the student garages and took his things to his room, letting Malfoy and Slim out of their balls there. They'd slithered around the dorm room, checking out their territory, before the arbok found his way up onto the bed and coiled up, deciding to take a nap even though he'd just spent the better part of four days cooped up in his little prison. Malfoy, however, wound his way around Felix's body, wrapping most of his generous length around the boys midsection, and settled his large head on his human's shoulder. 

This was his favorite place to be. He felt comfortable, sharing his heat with the boy who'd saved him from his former trainer. He did notice that Slim decided to take a nap instead. "Why don't you come with us? It'll be fun, and maybe we'll get to meet new people!" The idea of meeting new people excited the snake so much that he almost fell backwards off of Felix's shoulder, but he momentarily tightened his body to steady himself, causing Felix to lose his breath for a moment before chuckling. "Don't strangle me Malfoy." The seviper seemed sheepish for a moment before the redhead said they were going to explore.

They searched the school for a bit, meeting some teachers and other students that Malfoy gushed over, but there really hadn't been anyone interesting enough to catch Felix's attention, and so they found the empty lounge. The serpentine pokemon uncoiled himself from around his trainer and made his way to a large, squishy chair, curling up and sinking into the cushion. he was finally beginning to feel the same exhaustion as his friend who'd stayed in the dorm room and felt like this chair would be warm enough for him to be comfortable, so he settled in for a nap. 

There was a close couch and so Felix found a magazine and began reading, but soon dozed off with the open magazine on his chest. 

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Word Count: 423
Notes: Malfoy(seviper), Slim(arbok)
Felix's bike

[Zayne Maddox]

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     He was a bit early, he knew that, but it was better not to keep Eloise waiting.  Wandering into the lounge, with Sterben holding onto his hand, as was typical. The banette was actually in a better mood than he had been in quite some time. It wasn't something that the ghost could place, but likely it had to do with the fact, that finally he was starting to become just a little bit used to the Asian boy, or at least the idea that he might not be disappearing any time soon.  At least for now, the currently absent boy hadn't used anything that Sterben had said against himself or his child... so perhaps he could be tolerated, even if only just barely. 
 
       Behind the pair toddled Creeper. This Mr. Mime was also in a good mood, actually a great mood. Unlike his teammate though, there was no denying the precise reason for his happiness. They were coming to see an Eloise. Nothing could have made him happier honestly.  Eloise was always so good to him, and Goliath didn't mind sharing, unlike a certain volatile ghost. 

      The trio looked for the best place, or rather a place Eloise was likely to prefer, when Zayne noticed some other person. Just why did the academy idiots always have to just... be around?  Of course, Zayne didn't actually know this boy, but people in general tended to be idiots, testing Eloise, or bothering him.  Still, despite this inner spike of anger and irritation, his gaze remained cool.  Sterben, for his part, offered a far more expressive look, glaring daggers at the other boy, before almost tugging on his child's hand, and guide him to a comfortable looking set of chairs that were arranged in a semicircle. He only let go of that hand, to climb his way into his selected seat, which would be right beside his child, as it should be. 

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Word Count: 328
Tags: N/A
Notes: Zayne, Sterben(Banette), Creeper(Mr. Mime) 

[Eloise Rosdale]

Though Eloise had no issues making a person wait for her, she certainly didn't make her Zayne wait long. After all, a few minutes' tardiness could be excused but she was never one to like to leave the blonde boy alone longer than she had to - especially since things could tend to go horribly wrong, horribly fast and she needed to be there to protect him. It was, perhaps, a strange way to look at things but that was precisely how she saw herself - as Zayne's protector. 


Goliath entered first, the large primeape offering a cursory glance around to make sure there wasn't anything or anyone unpleasant in sight. Oh, there was some new guy - but Goliath figured that he could be ignored for the most part. His Eloise was skilled at not paying attention to those that were beneath her, but of course he'd still keep an eye on things to make sure he didn't try anything. Ever since he'd been a mankey, Goliath had found it impossible to trust most male humans around the pretty redhead girl that had decided to make him hers. Especially since that lousy mother of hers had done little to stop them from 'bothering' her. So yes, that boy would be kept a close eye on...but so long as he didn't do anything untoward, things should be fine.


For herself, well...she noticed the stranger as well, but as expected paid him little mind. She simply gave a slight toss of her hair to get the long, slightly curled strands of it off of her shoulders and swished on by him, her grace undisturbed by the precariously thin heels that she wore on her feet, and moved to the little semi-circle of chairs. Esmee followed, the little duskull's expression brightening considerably when she saw a Sterben.


Sterben was her personal favorite of all pokemon, and honestly, if Eloise would let her, she would spend all of her time just hanging around him - trying to absorb some of the awesomeness that was a bannette. Perhaps it was also accurate to say that she might have a little crush on the other pokemon, but Esmee didn't tend to think of things in those terms. So such an idea never crossed her mind. ~Sterben!~ Her eyes flashed as she hurried along to hover by where he sat. ~Can I sit with you?~


Eloise smiled, just a bit, the duskull's need to be in the banette's company really quite adorable, but otherwise didn't say anything - choosing to let Esmee pick where she'd want to settle. She paused as she passed by Zayne, feeling a brief surge of affection for her friend and allowing herself to express it by running her fingers back through the boy's blonde hair, and then took a seat - Goliath settling down protectively beside her with semi-narrowed eyes at the unknown boy and his pokemon before he turned his glance back towards their circle. 


Meanwhile, Eloise had finished making herself comfortable - smoothing the skirt of her sun dress down over her legs neatly before patting her lap for a Creeper to come join her - and was already pondering the reason for her asking for this meeting. Again, her eyes fixated on the way Esmee was currently trying to worm her way as close to Sterben as the plushie-like pokemon would allow, and briefly she smiled, unable to help herself. "I've been thinking Zayne..." Eloise began, keeping her tones low as she saw no reason to announce she was speaking to anyone but those that deserved to hear her. "About Creeper actually. I'd like to trade you for him." And with this, she did pause, eyeing Esmee again - who was unbothered by this turn of discussion. "I'd actually like to trade Esmee as I believe she'd be happiest with you and Sterben..."And she didn't say that she believed that Creeper would be happiest with herself and Goliath because she was pretty sure it was unnecessary to speak of. They both knew that Sterben put the poor Mr.Mime through hell, and though no one faulted Sterben for it as it was just his way - but Eloise didn't like the idea of any pokemon suffering needlessly and she really would be more than pleased to take the Mr. Mime. "What do you think?" 

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Word Count: 727
Tags: Zayne,Sterben,Creeper, Felix (even though at this point she's not paying him attention :P ) 
Notes: Eloise, Goliath (Primeape), Esmee (Duskull) 

[Felix Ryder]

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Felix woke to the feeling of something soft brushing against his bare arm. Just the kiss of fabric. He woke slowly, his eyes opening slowly enough to just catch a glimpse of long, smooth legs leading down to what his southern-girl-turned-city-woman mother called "ankle-breakin' shoes". That small glance told him all he needed to know, but it didn't tell him quite enough. The redhead sat up slowly to take in the rest of her feminine curves and deep burgundy hair as she moved to sit with some blonde kid with a couple creepy pokemon.

Raking his hand over his unshaven face, Felix went over his options. He could assume that the kid was her boyfriend and sit on his ass, or he could risk it and go over there and charm her sexy as hell panties off... At least he figured they would be with the way she looked now.

Malfoy wasn't completely unaware of the situation. He'd woken up the minute the blonde boy had entered the room. Always having been a light sleeper, the sound of the door had taken him from his gentle dreams. The serpent knew how people and pokemon other than Felix and Slim tended to react to his "hugs", but he really wanted to greet them! The bannette was the cuddliest pokemon he'd ever seen and he almost hopped from the chair to curl around him, but then he saw the mr. mime... The poor thing was almost curled in on itself and, while he seemed rather happy, it was obvious by the way he carried himself that this was not always so.

After a few minutes of thought and the arrival of a new person, he'd found his "target". The mr. mime was the best being in the room to hug right now. With that thought, Malfoy uncoiled himself as he moved off of the chair and slithered over to the odd looking 'mon. Without a second thought, he would gently curl himself around the creature if the other would allow it. "See? A hug makes everything better..."

Seeing Malfoy enter the fray to hug the unsettling mr. mime, Felix got up the gumption to go over there. The torn jeans, black t-shirt and mussed up hair may not have been his usual attire, but he knew he could work the look as well as he could his usual slacks and jacket. 

Keeping his eyes on the girl's enormous primeape, he unfolded himself from atop the couch and walked to the semicircular seating that the group seemed to have taken a shining to. "Hi there." He gave the girl his most charming smile, standing with one hand in his front pocket and the other raked through his fiery locks so that she could look over his lean six foot figure. "I'm Felix." He extended a hand to her first and, if she took it, he would bend to softly brush his lips over her smooth knuckles before extending a hand for the blonde boy to shake. 

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Word Count: 489

[Zayne Maddox]

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   Despite the caution he often displayed when dealing with Eloise, in truth, Zayne believed she did know what was best for him. He liked being around Eloise and trusted her in ways he didn't trust other people. So, when she arrived, he was also pleased, though not demonstrating it anywhere near even half as much as Creeper.  Of course, as he watched her situate herself, there was nothing sexual about it, not even the hint of 'appreciation' for her form, Eloise was a girl, he got that, but it never really meant anything to him. For his part, Zayne never thought much on why that might be, not just with Eloise, but with any girl. It seemed obvious enough to him, the sorts of things that people who looked at people 'that' way got themselves into were disgusting, wrong, at least that's what he told himself.  So, why would he look at anyone that way? 
 
     As she spoke, he listened, his usual, emotionless gaze in place. This was very much a public place, and Zayne rarely broke the habit anyway.  Others, who weren't Eloise, and didn't know him quite so well, might have thought that Zayne didn't follow the conversation, on the contrary, he was already processing the matter, but merely remained unresponsive until it was time for him to act. 

    While Eloise spoke with his child, Sterben had his own matter to attend to. The young Esmee wanted to sit with him, and it was no small amount of pleasure for Sterben that she was so keen to be near him.  Why, the possessed pulshie was thrilled, demonstrated only by a slight brightening of his button eyes, and his moving over to pat the spot next to him, inviting the Duskull to join him.  Even as she cuddled up quite close, he made no effort to discourage her.

     Despite popular belief, pokèmon like the pair of them weren't incapable of bonding and caring for others. Usually when it happened between ghosts of similar dispositions, it lent itself to a more even relationship, then in cases such as that between a human and a ghost.  While Esmee got cozy, he considered the likelihood of finding some time to take her into the lower, restricted levels of the main building, where many ghosts wandered about in what had once been a populated part of the academy, before whatever had transpired to result in the area being closed off. Then, he found his attention was captured by the conversation being had.  The ghost considered this a bit. He did like Esmee, didn't mind sharing is child's energies with her, and honestly it seemed to him she would be more thrilled with being with him, than with his child.  As for the psychic, well he wouldn't have to deal with him being part of his 'team' anymore.  It wasn't like the other would just disappear either, if he was Eloise's that would be just fine in his book.

     Creeper, for his part, was pleased as could be in Eloise's lap. Usually he would be one to say nothing else mattered at a time like this, but when he heard the proposal offered to Zayne, the Mr. Mime couldn't help but perk up and pay very close attention. Would Zayne let him be Eloise's pokèmon?  He held his breath, while leaning gently against the girl for cuddles, she was always good to him, and that was enough, but in this moment,he did dare to hope for more.

      "When did you want to do it?", he asked simply. Of course, what all was going on in his head wasn't that simple.  He knew Eloise wouldn't force him to do this, if he didn't want to, but there were many very good reasons to do this trade. Creeper would be happy with Eloise.  He wasn't the least bit bothered when a Creeper made a happy little noise at the indirect confirmation that Zayne was agreeable. Asking when could only mean that Zayne meant to go through with the trade. 

    Today seemed destined to be a day of surprises. First there was the matter of the trade, and then, all of a sudden, an unknown Seviper appeared. At first Creeper thought there might be danger and put out hands to stop the creature, but quickly assessed that it had only friendly intentions, and allowed the unknown mon to curl around him. It was giving him a hug it seemed, and he offered the scaled thing a few gently strokes of appreciation for the gesture. 
 
     Zayne was not as amused. Oh, he didn't have a problem with the pokèmon. It was the boy. What did he want? Suspicious, his eyes narrowed as he watched the other male.  That suspicion only increased when a hand was offered to shake. Leaning subtly into the chair, subconsciously seeking to put a bit more distance between them, he turned his gaze to the hand, glaring at it, before looking to Eloise to see what she thought he should do. She might end up having Goliath throw him against a wall, if he hadn't done so already, or she might be intrigued enough to let him stay a bit. It was hard to say, and before he knew the plan, he'd rather not act. 

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Word Count: 893
Tags: N/A
Notes: Zayne, Sterben(Banette), Creeper(Mr.Mime) 

[Eloise Rosdale]

She'd been just about to answer, wanting to say that the trade could be done when and if Zayne decided to do so. It wasn't in her habits to let on how badly she wanted something, not even to Zayne, so she had been planning to keep both her expression and her voice casual, even if she did cuddle the Mr. Mime a bit closer to her. But any thought of reply she had in her head changed the moment the next two things happened - a seviper came out of nowhere and wrapped itself snugly around the pokemon in her lap and a boy decided to approach, and of all things, introduce himself. Like she would care who he was anyway. 


The first thing made her jump back a bit, startled and irritated by being so, and the second made her narrow her eyes and ready a biting retort to be hurled at the unwanted intruder. But Creeper seemed to be all right with the seviper, the Mr. Mime gently reaching up to pat the rather bendy pokemon...so at least there was no need to worry on that score. But she was still /so/ ready to freeze off that boy...well, she was until she got a good look at the guy. And then Eloise just didn't know what to do, or what to make of the strange jitters that those eyes on her seemed to make flutter to life in her stomach. 


Her gaze shifted from his face to the offered hand, a hint of suspicion entering those ever changing hazel eyes of hers - and it irritated her a bit further that she was so utterly thrown off by this male's approach. "Eloise." She finally ventured somewhat cautiously, not accepting that offered hand, but not scorning it precisely either. The redhead's lashes lowered a moment, her brain needing a moment to process precisely what next to do before she finally sighed a bit and motioned to the free chair in the semi-circle they sat in, perhaps a bit pleased that it was closer to Goliath than her. "You can join us if you want to." And wasn't that just imperious of her? Well, it should have been. She only needed a moment to recall that /she/ was the queen bee around here, and this boy...well, she still had yet to decide what he was. But she was perhaps far too intrigued by him for her own good and there was the problem. Maybe a bit of time spent in his company would take care of that. 


Goliath, in the meanwhile, was on high alert. The seviper that leaped at the Mr. Mime in his Eloise's lap was very nearly swatted down like a fly. Creeper was part of what he considered /his/ team, and because of that, he'd accept no attacks on him. But curiously enough, the snake-like thing didn't seem to be attacking Creeper,and Creeper...well, he didn't look like he minded so Goliath let them be and turned his stony-eyed attention on the boy instead. 


Wasn't he bold, putting his hand out like that and just /smiling/ at /his/ human. His eyes narrowed some, huge hands fisting in preparation to be told to get the guy out of there. It was always his pleasure to throw a human male that dared try to touch Eloise across a room. But the order never came, and he was perplexed - a hint of a grunt escaping as he settled back on his haunches and chose to merely observe. It was unusual that Eloise should invite someone not of their circle to join them, and even more unusual still that she should feel so clearly unsettled. His eyes narrowed more. Just because he was allowed to sit with them didn't mean this Felix guy would get off scot-free. Nope. And he was going to make sure Felix knew it too. So if the other human decided to take Eloise up on what was surely too generous an offer, Goliath would focus the full weight of his rather icy attention on him - determined to keep a firm eye on this fellow.


Esmee in the meantime was in bliss. Not only had Sterben said she could sit with him, but he had let her tuck in quite close to him - which she was quick to take advantage of. She'd curled herself in so that not much of her was visible except for a bit of her head and those eerily glowing eyes. But at the mention of a trade - well, she couldn't help but be excited. She popped out of her 'hiding place' and hovered in front of Sterben, those glowing eyes flashing her pleasure. ~Sterben! Did you hear that! If your Zayne agrees, I can come and live with you both!~ She would have been bouncing if she were the sort to do that, and even still she gave the impression of it by the way she wavered about mid-air. But soon enough, she realized there were others around, /unknown/ others, and she instantly whipped around to survey the lay of the land - backing up next to Sterben once more so she felt less crowded.  

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Word Count: 874
Tags: Felix/Malfoy, Zayne/Sterben
Notes: Goliath (Primeape), Esmee (Duskull)