Tess was many things, intelligent, ambitious, and bookish, but it seemed that in this field there were a few things that she needed to work on: patience, tact, and heart. She knew those were her downfall, they were no secret. The fact that the closest people around her were wondering why she chose was field was enough for her to think that perhaps this wasn't the best choice of work. But she had to try, it had been something about the field that seemed so out of character that she went for it.

And here she was, in her volunteer uniform wondering if this was the right thing to do again. Perhaps dragon training was better and she should quit before getting deeper in the major? Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and remembered her afternoon. She had no problem diagnosing the problems, before the clipboard had been given to her, that was no problem, but the whole approach was where she lacked success. Her first patient had accidentally caused himself to turn his bones to jelly. In in an unkind way she accidentally called him an idiot, in a not so accidental way. She couldn't help it, her mouth got the best of her and she asked him if he had fallen on his head at birth. The Healer, bless, had pulled her aside and tried to tell her why it was wrong. The spoonful of skele-grow and a kind smile were what she was forced to give. But it was no use, the boy wanted nothing to do with her.

She didn't have the gift to connect the heart into it and she figured perhaps this was a sign. She loved medicine though, but people were hard for her. Either they were stupid, or too forceful, and those middle people that were kind and soothing made her immediately become suspicious of. She was issues, at least that's what the Mediwitch hinted at when she sent her to the break room after helping with stitches. At least she knew the stitches were perfect, she'd practiced multiple times before, but it was no use. No one wanted to work with someone who didn't have that nice aura about them.

Sitting on the couch, she covered her face and groaned aloud. She didn't know whether to cry or just leave before she faced even more mistakes. Maybe potions was her calling, who was she kidding she was just a female version of her brothers and call it quits to being her own person.

Tess hated self-wallowing, but it seemed that this was one of those instances. If this was the day that signified if this was the right choice...well then it failed miserably. She wanted the earth to swallow her up immediately. She realized that her parents where absolutely right, she wasn't cut out for a world like this. She was better behind a book, not out there in the real world. People like her weren't even meant to work. They were meant to be a nice wife, who waited her day to start once her husband came. She figured she could do that, be one of those people, if only she shut her gob and just pushed through.

Her inner turmoil was interrupted as she felt the couch shift in weight and someone talking to her. She jumped and immediately glared, she couldn't help it. This was definitely not a good day, especially when she realized it was another volunteer. She'd notice her, she was good at it, she was meant for this stuff. Sighing she muttered an apology.

"I'm always fine" she replied, "On break too I see" she said trying to be casual as possible.

"You don't look fine"

Tess nearly flinched from her comment and she could feel herself already building up her walls hoping to control herself at least at surface level. It wasn't safe to just be so open with people so quickly, that's how you got hurt. But she could do business, and their business was the hospital. And while the girl commented on how she looked she took the bait on the easy comment. Leaning back on the couch, she pulled her legs closer, hugging them closer to her and smiling politely.

"I'm just stressed is all, you know how it is"

She figured this was the best excuse she could come up with, and she was going to stick with it. But as the girl began to explain why she was on break, Tess couldn't help but laugh softly. She hadn't got someone that had been handsy yet, and she was thankful for it. She didn't know what she would do. Before she could say anything, something made her freeze. Egg? She looked at her and squinted moving closer. She hadn't told anyone she'd picked up a second major, not even Rhian, and she hadn't officially been accepted, except for Codey who'd been more than happy.

"Excuse me? Egg? Who are you?" she was starting to grow suspicious.

Tess was told many times in her life that she could be too trusting, and at first she scoffed at her family. She assumed they meant because she was a 'lady' and she had her 'feminine sensitivities', her mother would tease her softly, of how she tried to hard to be like the men of her family. Usually a little Tess would protest, go to a tantrum, then her mother would run her fingers through her long hair and sooth her about the purpose of 'pretty women'. Even today it frustrated her to no end, to be put in such a niche in her family. But she had caused them to keep believing, with Dominic and her just enthralled so quickly, showed how little experience she had with the real world. And now again, she was being forced to evaluate someone else.

But this was different, it wasn't enthrallment that Tess felt towards this person, but rather wariness, and some fear. Maybe it was those big blue eyes that looked so doe-ish innocent, that made Tess wary. The best and most manipulative were the ones that looked innocent. She knew this first hand, that was her way of protection. But the girl peeled back a layer, she felt a bit gobsmacked, confused as to why she knew this. The fact that she had asked a question and the girl had yet to answer made her wary.

Would she get expelled if she hexed this girl? She nearly jumped seeing the elf, she hadn't noticed it before. As she opened a notebook she stared and wondered if she could leave at this moment. She felt cornered a bit, yet she had done the cornering. But as the girl scribbled, she knew this was her way out. She got up, ready to leave the weird girl.

"Please wait. She needs a few moments."

She tensed up, and looked a the elf coldly. Why should she wait, to realize someone was trying to use her? Blackmail her in some way that would put her under someone's power? No. She stared at girl, not sitting down as she once was. Her arms were crossed, not in a defensive position, but more of a form of self-comfort.

"No it hasn't hatched" she hissed, "who put you up to this? It isn't funny, no matter how good of an actress your elf is."

If it was any other person, they would admit they were wrong or misjudged a person. But Tess new saying 'the lady doth protest too much' and she was stubborn. But as the girl got up she almost winced at the noise of the notebook falling on the tiled floor. The girl did protest too much and she merely waited for her to finish. She was simmering as well, a slow simmer rising as the girl got far too close to her face.

Once she finished she leaned closer, breaking her own rule about personal space and looked at her coldly. Perhaps it was the fact that she was stressed, angry at the world, or the fact the girl picked the wrong day to say something, but she wasn't having it.

"Look" she hissed, "When my private life is out on the open to some....stranger" she almost said nobody. "it is a problem. And I don't like having problems. I am not an open book, and believe me when I say, I don't take kindly to people lying or getting in my face" she lowered her voice. "We'll be okay if you take my name out of your mouth unless I let you."

She felt some sympathy, that was new especially as the girl's fire died down immediately after she finished. She knew her tongue was sharp, much rougher than anything an actual hex could do. But as she cut herself off she bit her bottom lip.

"Don't play that game with me" she muttered. Taking a deep breath she tried to calm herself down. Rolling her shoulders she rubbed her temples hoping to just get herself together. "Forget what I said, just forget it, all except poking at my private life without my consent. Bad things happen when people do that"

"Watch yourself" Tess growled at the girl.

She hated when people began to get on their high horse about lying. Everyone said that but then again everyone lied. It was basic human condition to lie, it was just a matter of when. And if the girl...Lilliana wasn't lying now, she'd lie eventually. She rolled her eyes at the girl trying to toughen herself out. It wasn't a fitting role, but she respected her a bit for trying.

"I don't play games. I would never do that. Ever. And if you want to, go ahead. Hurt me. Hell, kill me if you want. Maybe you'll be the reason the Ministry stops hounding after me."

"I can't help that I'm a seer. I can't help that I see things. Do you really think I want to? To see things people try to hide? To have to pretend I haven't just invaded the privacy of a stranger?"

That's when Tess cut her off, she was mentally playing the violin slowly, at her misfortune. She huffed letting out her air slowly as the girl a bit dramatic about killing her. As if she would get her hands dirty. Looking at her dispassionately, she glared at the girl making a hand gesture for her to shut up before she did something dirty.

"Stop with your dramatics" she snapped, "why would I get my hands dirty with you? I don't get my hands dirty, ever. And I don't care if you don't lie, which is a lie in itself, when you obviously have done it before. Everyone lies, it's just a matter of when. But everyone does it." she crossed her arms now in the defensive, "And I don't care about your issues with the ministry, go share that with your friends."

Her words got caught in her throat hearing the word seer. Her mother had told her about it, how there was older magic that revolved around the ability to look to the past of someone's life, know their secrets and sometimes prophecies of the future were written from it. Taking a deep breath she wasn't going to say anything more. Her thoughts began to swarm her and she ignored the girl saying that she would enjoy the break on her own.

She didn't even say anything, instead she sat down across from the girl and her whole body sank. If she saw the dragon egg, what else did she see? Tess was simmering in shame, never at screaming at the girl, but the fact she could have seen her at her most vulnerable. Her heartbreak, the past injustices and her firm expression soon began to shift. Tears began to rise slowly as she simmered, ashamed at being so exposed. She would have left, had it not been that one movement would have made her start crying. She swallowed, feeling her throat dry, as her vision began to blur, tears beginning to rise but resting on her lashes unwilling to slide down.

As the witch spoke, she just stared ahead not bothering to make eye contact. She knew that Seers were usually in their own form of entrapment when it came to the ministry. Her father, being part of the Ministry was the similar thing, knew how it happened. It wasn't something odd. It was another part of being tied down and for a moment she felt a pang. Tess Holmes was a bitch, hands down she was one and she never once denied it, but at the moment she felt sympathy for Lilliana.

Still, she stared ahead, ignoring as one tear fell down her cheek. Exposure meant something heavy on Tess; she'd already been exposed in every sense of the word to one person and they had ripped her to shreds and now a stranger knew probably how stupid she'd been. And it was a horrifying thought. For a moment she wished her brain wouldn't stop thinking of the absolute worst situations. The way she'd been stupid in so many ways...is that what Lilliana saw? She blinked back tears as they silently fell.

"I'm sorry. I never should have said anything," she said softly. "I promise you, I am not one to judge. What I saw happened in the past, and the past is just that. I look at you and see a fellow Healer in training whom I have just met, nothing more, nothing less."

When the witch moved closer to her, Tess didn't bother moving. Hell what was there left to hide? Her errors, her misjudgement, her blatant vulnerability and how it bit her in the face, was clear. But the moment that Lilliana touched her, her bottom lip wobbled. She flinched slightly but nodded her tears falling all the more realizing that she said the one word she feared more than anything. Being judged. She was judged from the day she was born the wrong sex. And from then on, it was a weight that was on her. Sniffling softly she tentatively placed a hand on Lilliana, and lowered her face to attempt to hide her tears.

Tess was horrified at her breaking down. For something that started off at being bothered at someone knowing something tiny. But her privacy was so limited, so precious to her. Only in her privacy could she be...human. She could cry, be disorganized, burn things while trying to learn to cook. In privacy she could show her imperfections that were obviously there. But in the public eye, she tried, desperately to just fit. She wanted normalcy, something that never seemed to work well with her. Her dreams and aspirations would all be thrown to the site to get the normalcy, and that's what shook her. Lilliana saw her ugliness, the ugliness that swarmed Tess in every waking moment behind doors. Here, in the middle of the break room and it was so embarrassing.

She cursed softly while she was embraced. When was the last time that happened? It wasn't with Rhian; they had a strict no touching policy, that was enacted when Tess was in her second year and Rhian had amusingly accepted. It wasn't with her brother who didn't really initiate things because of her aversion to touch, but he would kiss her cheek. No. Last time she was hugged was with Dominic and that shook her more than she cared to admit. So awkwardly so she hugged the girl back.

"You'll be okay,"

Nodding, she didn't dare look up, instead she saw their hands. Lilliana was sickeningly beautiful person, those people that you read about. How they had their lives together, and powered through. And she was quite the foil, perfect outside, inside...a chaos filled personality brimming with imperfections. It was horrifying. She cursed softly as she lifted her free hand to wipe her tears.

"I'm sorry" she whispered.

She hadn't apologized to someone...in a long time. Never so sincerely as she did at this very moment and it was shocking to her. She knew she had problems with certain aspects of societal niceties, but this took the cake. Lilliana deserved it and more.

"I'm sorry for being to ugly to you" she added as an afterthought.

Taking out a tissue, Tess wiped her tears, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. From being so rude to someone to crumbling, it was just horrifying how she ranged in emotions in such a short period of time. She prided herself in control, control was what made her become stronger. It created a nice wall for her to hide behind and pretend to be protected. But at this instance, it wasn't the case. In this instance the cracks were pushed by just one vision. Looking down at her hands she took a deep shaky breath, as Lilliana began to speak. Her tone was so calm and soothing, that her shoulder's sagged.

"I mean, never apologize for feeling. That's what my mother always tells me. It takes a real woman to cry and feel."

While she found the saying to be beautiful, she was ashamed. Because at the end of the day, she was sensitive, fairly sensitive and it weakened her state of mind. She couldn't be like her brother, the definition of success and control, no crack to break him. He was perfection and she was born to be constantly trying to keep herself together. Tears meant defeat and her mother constantly told her a woman cried behind a closed door if she had to. She'd never seen her mother cry, and briefly wondered if her mother had the ability to even do it. Still, it was nice to hear a different perspective, that showed her how different her family held her, and if it was her misfortune to simply accept it.

"And I don't think you're ugly. What's ugly is pretending to have to be okay and people judging you when you show your real feelings. When you can't be who you are or people call you names, that's ugly. The truth is always beautiful. Believe me when I say that.." she hesitated for a brief second, ".. Tess."

It was then that Tess looked up at her as she spoke. She was right, Lilliana had seen more than she cared to admit and after her tears, it was something she'd have to accept. Like what had happened to her before, it marked her. She nodded slowly, she knew she wasn't always okay. Sometimes it was harder to get out of bed, and sometimes she felt like she knew exactly who she was. But at the hesitance of her saying her name, she couldn't help but laugh softly. Her throat was a bit try, but the sniffling had stopped, and she felt like laughing softly at the hesitance.

"Thank you" she said softly, "and I-I promise to not be okay more often, at least more honest" she shook her head, "I don't have friends..I only have one. But...but could I make it up to you, all of this, with some tea?"

A cup of tea fixed anything; that was the saying her grandmother told her all the time. Tea fixed awkward situations, sickness, and brought soothing emotions towards a person. Her nana was someone who took the time to just sit with her and appreciate her for the person that she was. Normal, in her eyes. That was probably the last time she felt almost normal. And now here she sat, with a witch she barely met, who'd now given her more sympathy than life had often times given her.

'Poor little rich girl' her mind snarked at her.

And it was true. Because it wasn't the way that she peered into her and saw the dragon egg, but the implication that she saw more. She knew she saw more, she could see it in her eyes that tried to desperately to make things better. She girl was too nice, too nice to a person like her. But Tess was selfish, and she would take it. She, would have a friend undeservingly, and she would be okay. Lilliana would never have to know.

But as she mentioned the idea of her being friends and being able to listen, Tess smiled. She would need to rethink a lot of things, but having twice as much friends didn't seem like a waste after all.