Above Ground: Crumbling Classroom

Unlike its well-preserved sibling, this classroom shows clear signs of disrepair. Best to use this room when its warm and dry. Bit of a pain to move everything to a better room, though...

Oh well: at least someone could feasibly be sentinel down here, too, if the occasion called for it...

Darius entered the cruming classroom - yes that's what they called it outloud. He just wanted to find a spot to sketch something.

"Having fun?" Tav asked, a faint smile softening his face as he approached the younger boy.

Darius shrugged, "I just can't get this nose to look right."

"Who are you drawing?" Tav asked, stepping in a bit closer. He always enjoyed seeing the others writing, drawing or doing something else constructive.

"No one in particular," Darius said blushing slightly. "I was just trying to draw a wolf..."

He held the drawing out, "But what came out was... a dog."

Tav looked at the drawing. "It's a nice dog though." he assured Darius. "Nothing to be ashamed of."

"Well I'm pretty sure, no wolves look like this... " Darius said looking at his drawing dislainfully. "You know what? You're right. It's a dog." He nodded at the drawing.

"So, how's your day been going so far?" Tav asked, handing back the paper.

Rossalyn walked by the rundown class room, she was humming... though she was rather unawear of it. It became habit when she was thinking. This praticular time it happened to he her mothers favorite song (may it be.. incase you don't know)

She poked her head into to the classroom and saw Tav with Darius.

"Hey whats up? she asked as usually the rundown classroom was empty.

"Nothing much," Darius said. "Just deciding whether or not this picture is a wolf or a dog..."

Tav chuckled, winking at his sister. "And I was just taking a stroll. You?"

Eliza poked her head in the crumbling classroom and noticed Darius, Tav and Rossalyn.
"Hey everyone..." She smiled warmly and walked across to them.

"Hey Eliza," Darius said. "What do you think this looks like?" Darius held up his drawing.

Eliza deliberately gazed at the excellent drawing from all angles. "Well...I would have to say...A dog."
She smiled. "And a very lifelike dog too. Does it bite?" She joked.

"It doesn't," Darius said. "But it's been known to give paper cuts."

Eliza laughed and went to sit next to Darius. "I'll be careful not to annoy it."
She pondered how best to start the conversation Fitz had asked for. "Uh...Darius...You know that conversation you had with Fitz..."

Immediately, Darius' manner turned defensive. "He didn't sent you here, did he?"

"Darius..." Eliza put an arm around the boy. "Darius, do I look like Will's messenger girl to you?"
She smiled slightly. "The correct answer is no."

Darius relaxed slightly. "You don't agree with him then right? You don't think I should go back home."

Honestly...Eliza wasn't sure.
"I don't-I don't know Darius. I just don't know." She ruffled his hair slightly. "I don't want you to go...cos I'd miss you...but your parents are missing you right now...And I don't want anything to happen to you."
She smiled slightly. "I think I just failed as an older sibling...aren't we meant to know everything?"

Darius smiled. "No you don't, you're just suppose to make sure I don't get into trouble."

"Besides, I don't care what Fitz says I'm staying here." And as if to make his point he crossed his arms.

Eliza smiled and shook her head slightly. "You're stubborn...But do you care what I say?" She watched him carefully.
"Never mind what Fitz says...Will you listen to me? At least consider what I say? Will you do that?" She smiled at the younger boy. "I'm not going to order you away or anything...I just want you to see Will's point of view." She waited for Darius' answer, worried he might storm off again.

"He already told me his point of view, the I'm too young and it's too dangerous and whatnot point of view." Darius said as if he was eating something bitter. "But I'm not! The twins, they're younger than me and I can handle myself, just as you and Fitz can."

Eliza bit her lip. "I know that...But what about your parents? They're bound to be missing you...and if anything happens to you just because you're with us..." She let the sentance hang.
"The purgers are so much older...and taller...than you, not many of stand a chance anyway. And I don't want to lose you, little brother." Her eyes sparkled with shadows of tears.