Watching with a 'forever bored' look on her face, Taika made no move to associate with the first years, or get to know them. Even if she were so inclined to do so, more than half of them would be phased out by weeks end. No point to try to know who they were or why they were there, none of that. At least not until the first round of dropouts. She could already see some young ones with fearful gazes; she almost pitied them, but then decided she didn't much care. Glancing at the terminals, she watched as the last few entered their information and got their dorm assignments. Good. They could leave now.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Clearing her throat [and sighing internally] Taika waited for the noise to die down before she spoke. "If you vill follow Finley and myself ve vill get you to the house and show you vhere your rooms are. Get settled in and in a few hours the housewarming party vill begin. It is mandatory to show your face, but you do not need to remain for the entire thing." She spoke slowly, knowing some couldn't clearly understand the words coming out of her mouth due to her Ukrainian drawl, but if they couldn't hear or didn't understand they'd eventually get the idea. "Don't lose your packets, and don't straggle behind. You might think she vas joking about the hounds, and you vould be mistaken." Taika added that last part as an afterthought, though it was evident in some of their faces that she only solidified their fear. Perhaps it was her matter-of-fact tone, or the void of emotion, but she wasn't lying or joking. It was accurate. There wasn't a lot of death there, but it was certainly possible.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Moving towards the exit, the young woman didn't bother to turn and see if they'd follow. Opening the door she led them back outside and started moving across the grounds to Steel Viper. In the distance, on the edge of the grounds just before the thick forest, were black shapes moving around the border. The hounds.<i>At least they are visible in the daylight.</i>She mused silently. As they meandered across the grounds, Taika had to stifle a yawn, raising on of her hands to her mouth. The sleeve of her shirt raised slightly showing part of her marked arms; true that it was warm enough out to wear short sleeves, but having as many tattoos as she did the stares could be a bit grating on her nerves.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Their 'house' seemed to appear from nowhere, a large building a bit Gothic in architecture. Each house was modeled differently to represent its name. The statues on the outside framing the door were large serpents, mouths gaping, and eyes gleaming in the sunlight. The doors were large made of dark wood, and while it seemed they might creak noisily [as one would expect], when they swung open there was not a sound. The entry way was large and homey looking, cherry wood floors and stone walls. To the right a long hallway led, Taika explained, to the kitchens; the left was open and spacious looking much like a living room but far larger in size. Chairs, tables, couches all framed a stone fireplace. Directly before them was a set of stairs, wide enough to fit two or three people, disappearing into the upper levels of the house.<br/><br/><br/><br/>"Go find your room. The party vill be down here in a few hours." With that, she moved to the left and seated herself at one of the armchairs by the fireplace.