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[thedevamper]

There were some things that Nikola would always be good at; science, pressing his advantage, manipulating others, long cons. And there were some things that he would never be good at and being a good student was one of them. Nikola had amazed and frustrated his teachers as a child, astounding them with his skills and irritating them when he called

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[will_you_see]

Alcuin looked over his shoulder and smiled at him. It was one of the nicer looking huts on the island - having once been built by Atia in her quest for luxury, and then added to after one winter gift season with glass windows and real trimmings such as metal doorknobs.

"I haven't always lived alone," he said as they stepped inside and he closed the door behind Nikola. "This place really is too large for one person, but I'm quite attached to it. You may catch a glimpse of a cat, but he's a bit shy with strangers."

In the living room, there was a a sofa built here with a wood frame and sewn cushions, and having in a rather elaborate gilded frame was a painted portrait of Anafiel Delaunay. And beside it now, hung Alcuin's drawing of the tree, a copy of the one tattooed on his back, with names entwined in the branches.

[thedevamper]

"No?" Nikola asked, glancing at the metal doorknobs. His fingers twitched, a part of him reaching out to the place inside him that he could no longer use. Nikola hadn't missed his other abilities until now, things would be far much easier if he just had some of his abilities and powers. "I've always lived alone except for the times I stayed with Helen or Ja... Watson. I find it much easier to work that way. No distractions."

Nikola wandered around the room, ignoring the painting for the drawing of the tree. Nikola studied it carefully, looking at the names before he turned to Alcuin. "This is familiar. Although it was lacking the names."

[will_you_see]

Alcuin's eyes drifted to it. "In a fit of melancholy I drew it as something of a memorial," he said. "Those loved and lost." He hesitated, and then added, his voice a bit softer, "In the past five years I've had rather more than my fair share of island loss, I think."

[thedevamper]

"Well then, let's drink to those loved and lost." Nikola said, fingers lingering for a moment beside the painting before turning his attention to Alcuin. Though Nikola wasn't a good student, he was a quick learner and when he touched Alcuin's arm he slid his hand up to the crook of his arm, finger brushing against the same place Alcuin did. "And let's toast to the future."