Aric feels the rough beak of his owl peck his fingers, it is a shame he has never taught Dante how to not peck him...he was, is, always has been Othello's bird. He unties the thin piece of parchment from the owl's extended leg.

His name is written in a flowing script he knows as Othello's. Aric feels his eyes suddenly mist over as a sign of emotion almost never felt. He leans against the balcony, stroking the owl absently with the tip of his finger and begins to read.

Vicky walked up to the owlery almost ignoring the other boy there. She carries a letter in her hand that she is planning on sending to her aunt. Her owl was injured so she had to use one of the school owls. She walks over to one ind it nips her hard on her finger. " ouch!" she said rather loudly through gritted teeth. " Bloody hell! Just take the letter and leave!" she said looking at her finger wiping the blood on her jeans.

Dear Aric
You sound like you've been having fun over there. I got sck again just two days ago, I wasn't quite careful enough and I recieved an ugly slash mark from the corner of a glass table that Father brought home just the other day.

Really, I'm sure things aren't that bad, just because you're not that wealthy anymore doesn't mean that the world is going to end, you know. You may think so, but you know otherwise.

Written in flawless German, Aric ishalfway through skimming the reply when he hears a high-pitched yelp that more or less could have shattered his ears.

Vicky came out of the cornor of the room still holding her finger. She stopped and looked at the boy. " Oh...I'm sorry..." she said as cooly as she could.

"What a situation for a lady to be caught in. Swearing and looking most haggard." Aric loses attention of the letter just for a fraction of a moment, it almost makes him want to laugh, but he does not.

Vicky looked him over for a moment then ripped a peice of cloth off the bottom of her jeans and putting it around her finger. She sighed and ignored what he said. " I'm Vicky you are?"

"Kaiser." Aric wants to see what happens when he doesn't give his given name, he is about to add that it is an unsightly gesture she is performing, but turns back to his letter, waiting for her response.

" pleasure..."she said quietly looking at her finger which was still bleeding soaking through the fabric from the cloth of her pants.

So now his name is Kaiser, Aric wishes it can be Lord Kaiser, but in such a commonplace setting, such a title would be unjustified. "...Do you mistreat your owl, miss?"

" No." she said simply. " I don't mistreat any owl, that's not my owl, my owl is hurt."

Any girl mistreating any sort of fowl does not suit his mind, Aric shrugs, "I'd expect so."

You really must try to make the best of your time away, you know. Home is a prison too, I'd know. Even better than you. Meet people that are different from you, an asinine notion, I know you will say, Aric, but try. For my sake.

Vicky leaned up against the wall and slide down it slightly so she was squatting. She looked up at him and sighed.

But you know, asinine ventures do have merits too, although I know you don't think so by any means. It must pain you right now to be everything that the sickly Othello Kaiser wants to be. I suppose I must apologize for it.

Aric looks down at her, "...Who were you sending a letter to?"

Vicky looked down once more. " uh, my father." she said softly but loud enough for him to hear.

Sometimes, I wish...I wish I was well. But I know that can't be. So I am sorry that you must take my place and do my will for however long I may live. But sometimes, I wish I was dead too. So that you can be what you deserve to be.

Aric tears his eyes away from the letter, realizing that he she has spoken, "...Oh, that's lovely." He wonders if he sounds sarcastic without meaing to.

Vicky rolled her eyes slightly at him then looks down as an owl flies in.

And you know, there is a good reason why you'll never make any friends. You're caustic to the point of arrogance all the time, do you know? You must know, I'm sure it's not like you to delude even yourself.

Aric sighs and puts the letter back into his pocket, he glances sideways at his owl, and then down at the girl.

Vicky turns her attention back to him when he puts the letter away. " so..."s he said softly not really knowing what to say, the akward silence was getting to her.

"Not very talkative are you, miss?" Aric is half kidding, actually, he favors girls often on the quiet side more than not. He gives his owl one last pat on the head and sends it to its nest with a rather vigorous push.

Vicky smiled slightly. " No not really." she said softly looking from him to his owl.

"...My--excuse me, I meant my brother's owl doesn't much fancy me either." Aric offers blandly, " But in an airy sort of tone, since he couldn't have cared less about what Othello's owl thinks about him...it is just an owl.

Vicky let go of her finger and stood up walking over to him looking at the owl smiling.