So another term was over.

Strangely the thought didn't fill her with immediate joy, more like immediate panic. Danae was aware that her mother would be calling to ask when she was coming back. In fact she was impressed that there was not at least a text message on her phone already, but that doubtless meant the hotel was busy and she simply hadn't had the chance to do so. But she would. Which meant either outright lying or even worse...the truth.

Gee mom I'm an empath with pyrokinetic abilities on the side. Yeah, that does mean I'm a freak. Disown me!? Of course, no worries...

The mental conversation was so not helping bring on the calm but Danae didn't know what she was going to do. She could lie and say she was working this summer but her mother would still expect a visit of some kind and Danae was not sure she could hide what had been happening from her with any real skill, besides a part of her didn't want too. A part of her wanted to believe her mother would always love her, no matter what. It was however a very small part really.

Wandering back towards the dorm, she covered her mouth with a yawn. Too many late nights they were definitely staring to catch up on her and not in a really good way either. Still she would cope, she had too after all.

Distracted and feeling hungry she decided to see if there was any food as soon as she got back and hope the departing room-mates had not devoured everything edible from the cupboards.

Riley was sitting in a communal room on one of the only chairs that had survived the term without being smashed up. She had a can of saod in one hand and her cultural studies book in the other, with a pair of thin latex gloves over her hands as she skimmed the pages. Classes were over yes, but riley was one of those rare few students that actually enjoyed some of her books and read them when she had free time.

The bustle of the other students didn't much phase her as she sat reading. They were all leaving for the most part, but riley would be staying behind. Her parent's were not overly fond of her due to her very awkward childhood, and she wasn't keen on the idea of spending weeks with them in any case.

She set her book down with a little smile when she thought of all she did have to look forward to now that the term was over. Riley had a new job working for Get Carter, which she was sure was going to be exciting, if not a little tense. And then there was Damien. They had been dating for a few weeks and she was absolutely smitten with him, even though he was clearly trying to charm his way into her life. And possibly her pants, though there would be some complications there and they both knew it.

Still smiling, Riley spotted a small and young looking woman who was very obviously upset about something coming through the room. She got up quietly, her friendly instincts getting the better of her, and made her way over. "Hi there. This is kind of weird to just come over and say hi, but I'm Riley." She eyed the almost empty cupboards and looked doubtful. "If you're looking for something to eat, good luck. They've been like vultures in here today."

She was a bit surprised to hear anyone come up to her at all. Danae had assumed she would be alone in her dining adventure, of course it was also that fact that meant she had not noticed anyone in the room with her, "Oh...hi back at ya. And its fine, I can see they were definitely in...looks like I am risking the bank account to seek out vittals", she winked then and held out her hand towards the other woman.

"I'm Danae", she offered by way of introduction, "Its nice to meet you and see a friendly face", Danae added and gently opened her mind to let the other womans emotions touch her own thoughts. She was not going to pry but she was learning it was a good idea to be aware of the person she was talking with as it was likely to assist in her conversation with them.

Waiting for Riley to either take her hand or brush off the gesture, "So, what are you studying?", she asked. Typical question for the typical student and not anything she hadn't heard herself about a hundred times in her first month and a half at the university. That and 'how was the money thing for them'. Danae had missed this sort of thing in all the time she had spent with the preternatural folks fo Yeovil though that had its own rewards as well.

Riley smiled, checking the cupboards for anything that was left behind. "Well, there's some canned corn and a half eaten box of cereal in here if you get desperate. Though I'm betting there's no milk left." She opened the fridge and made a face when she saw that most of what was left was dried up or covered in mold. "I would suggest staying out of there completely if you can manage."

Riley stretched out a gloved hand a little awkwardly to shake the small woman's offered one. It would be rude not to accept, and her mother had taught her better than that. Even if she was a freak. "Riley. Nice to meet you also." Feeling a little bit off beat at the moment, Riley smiled a little shyly. "I'm sorry about the gloves, I have a condition." It was how she always explained her strangeness away. The gloves kept her out of stranger's heads, where she didn't want to see what they had going on in thier lives. But it was weird to wear gloves in the middle of the summer, so she explained it away as a skin condition.

"I'm here to study ancient cultures and histories. Some classes on relics, things like that. I'm a history buff." It was true. The best thing Riley could think of was that with her abilities, she could discover some day, the thruths about all of the legends and items used in times like the crusades. She could discover if people lived they way archeologists assumed they did, and things like that. Well, that and she put her talent to good use working for Trio, helping solve cases. "What about you? What are you studying?"

Danae had to resist the urge to gag at the revealation of the remaining food in the fridge and cupboards, "hmmm no I think I shall a pass on side order of food posioning and salomnella", at the same as she shook hands with Riley she smiled though it faded quickly as she realised that the other woman was not actually telling her the whole truth.

Though Danae wasn't sure why the matter of her gloves deserved a lie. It was not the worst thing that she had seen people wearing after all, one boy in her class insisted on wearing a woolly hat every single day. The gloves were at least not obvious in their reality, so she wondered but Danae would let things go for the moment.

"So looks like the bank account is going to take another hit...", she muttered and then shrugged as she listened to Riley's answer. "Oh really? I study the myths and legends more than actual historical fact...or at least not historical fact as it stands. I mean I am interested in seeing how much of what is thought to be simply mythical is actually real", she stopped aware of the fact she was starting to babble about her interest in this matter. Danae smiled and looked at her and then around at the room.

Taking a breath as well as a chance, "....would you maybe like to come over and join me in some foodness? I mean company is generally better right?", she made the offer in her usual impulsive whim but hoped that Riley would be interested all the same it owuld be nice to talk to someone who had similiar interests as herself.

Riley made a face as she swung the frisge door shut, trying to avoid the wafting smell in the process. How could college kids be so gross? "Yeah, I'll pass on that too. I prefer my food not growing limbs and trying to attack me. Nothing that looks like that is edible."

She was relieved when the woman seemed to buy her lie. Or at least she didn't say anything about it. It was awkward to explain away a skin condition that you didn't really have.

"That's the bad thing about food. It costs money. And if you're anything like me, you probably have very little." Riley set her book off of the chair and onto the counter. In the event that someone tried to steal the chair, she didn't want the book to vanish along with it. At least the counter was attached to the floor and the walls. It wasn't going anywhere. "Well, finally someone who likes the same subjects that I do. You would be surprised at the truth behind some of the stories. I find it all fascinating. I read a lot of very obscure studies to see if anything new has been dug up or some myth proven or disproven. It's more like a hobby that ties into my classes really." Riley shut herself up, realizing that she too, had started to babble.

Riley considered what all she had left to take care of, and realized it was nothing important and nodded to Danae. "I think that would be nice. Especially considering that if I eat anything here, it might kill me." Smiling, Riley motioned to the door. "Do you need to get anything else before we head out? Or would you rather stay here and absorb more of the toxic waste oozing out of the fridge?"

"Yeah death by killer tomato is just an embarassing thing to have written on your gravestone...but it would be a rather unique way to go I guess", she added the last with a wide and generous smile even as once more her empathic talent spun out and touched the other person she was with. Danae could feel it but she didn't try and stop it, after all it wasn't actually doing harm and she had learned it was usually better to let it be when it did things like this rather than fight it.

Riley seemed very like good people to her way of thinking especially as she started talking about the course she was studying. "I always loved stories, right from the time my father first told me my first fairy tale", Danae didn't mind admitting that fact she was rather proud of the fact she was able to remember that memory as easily as she did now.

"I think avoiding the toxic waste sounds like a plan...or possibly burning the whole thing to avoid it spreading as well", the laugh that followed was a gentle one as she stepped back from the fridge and its very hazardous foodstuffs, if that was what they were anymore. Thankfully the cleaning staff would be in soon to fix the place up for the summer.

Riley laughed at Danae's ide for death b y killer tomato. She was sort of adorable and funny, Riley thought. And with a good sense of humor. Reflecting back on her time in the university, Riley realized she hadn't actually made many real friends at school. Damien, Trio and the others at Get Carter were great, but they were her boyfriend and work buddies. Sometimes it was nice to hang out with other students and just talk about school.

She couldn't help the grin on her face as they started talking baout classes. "Me too, ever since I was little I've loved them." Riley shrugged. "Maybe we can study together some time, since we're taking similar courses. What do you think?" She asked. Riley usually studied by herself but it could be fun to have a study buddy.

Riley headed to the doors with a laugh, wondering where they could go to get something to eat cheap. University students were just about always surviving on fast food around here, and she didn't uaully follow suit, but it might be a good idea today. Cheap and easy, Riley thought. "So," She said, turning to Danae, "Where do you like to eat around here that isn't going to make our stomachs explode?" She asked, laughing.

Danae could definitely see her getting along with Riley, of course she had to admit she generally got on with most people no matter how they might consider otherwise their relationship with her. Danae got on with them. Perhaps it was only a reflection of her empathy and yet, perhaps not. Some of it had to be her all on her.

Grinning back at her she shrugged, "I loved them. Always. They were the special moments I got to spend with my father...before he died. Afterwards I treasured them even more, because I could remember him and the sound of his voice as he spoke them too me" Danae was finding it a little easier to talk about her father lately. It was still not easy but it was better than it had once been, just as it had been easier lately to talk about her talents. The things she had once forgotten.

"I would love a study buddy...someone I don't bore completely to death would so be a bonus" she added with another of her warm smiles. "I know a coffee shop and this lovely place by the waterfront...but near here; hmm there is one place for sure I go there sometimes and its not too expensive" Danae stopped to give her a chance to consider what she had said. She didn't want anyone calling her pushy after all. "What do you think?"

Riley frowned a little to Danae as she mentioned her father again. "Sorry to hear that he died. At least you have some good memories of him though. Those are the things to remember." Riley had never lost a family member, not really, but she was definitely estranged from her brother, whom she had accidentally landed in prison due to her abilities. It was a blow to her at the time, because he had been very close to her, but his words had been cruel when Riley had exposed his illegal activities, and she hadn't really spoken to him since.

She grinned when Danae accepted the offer to study together. "Great. Once classes start up again we'll have to work something out. Damien is interested in the classes I take, and he has a degree as well, but he just can't sit still long enough to help me out." Riley shrugged. "Well, that and he's been on a really hard case with Get Carter the past couple of weeks." Coffee sounded really good, so Riley nodded.

"Coffee would be great. I could probably live on just coffee if my body didn't demand that I feed it every now and then." Riley laughed, picking up her book for fear that someone would destroy it if she left it about, and opened the door for Danae and herself. "Lead the way!" She said, waving her arm dramatically with a litte curtsie.