#huo.

"There's always consequences!"

Effy yelled, bracing herself against the door frame to the interdimensional portal. Apparently, this young monk girl had tried to throw random objects into one of the many Strixhaven portals, out of only Ilmater-knows what reason. Boredom, maybe? Puffing out her cheeks, Effy continued to fight against the portal that had begun to collapse on itself after a bag of holding had been thrown in.

Trying to steady herself the best she could, Effy became more than aware she wasn't going to be able to handle this on her own. And she really didn't want to take another unknown portal somewhere...

"Hey, can you grab onto me? I have to use my hands for this spell!" Effy said to Huo, who was braced against the wall right next to her. As the rascal did what she was told, Effy used the moment of freedom to cast Dispel Magic, thus closing the portal and stopping the threat instantly.

Suddenly, not being sucked into a wormhole or the like, Effy fell a bit limp in Huo's grasp, letting out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Looking back towards her companion, Effy brought a hand up to move the starry hair out of her face, flipping it over to the other side of her head instead.

"What?!"

"Besides allowing you to know me? Heh. I don't get embarassed about much, but there was one time long ago... back before I was turned. I got caught stealing something in the markets of my home city. Because of my being an elf, and the expectations that come with being one, I was constantly made fun of and mocked for days. The worst part is I didn't even need the item I was stealing — I originally come from wealth, you see. So I was doubly mocked for that.

That comment earned a snicker from the vampiric male, breathy as it was from lack of... well, anything to drink really. He sat with his back to some of the iron bars, legs stretched out and crossed over one another.

"Yes, you probably should have. I'm the tricksy one, remember?" Etienne said, eyeing Huo cautiously through the bars. While his body language remained loose and relaxed, every ounce of his being felt wound up and taught, ready to pounce the second he let his guard down if she got too close.

Not a battle he had missed.