Cocytus Greywing

"Saddening, is it not? Carrying such a name with you wherever you go. Cocytus. It's that river of lamentation, am I right?"
"Yes, of course. However," Cocytus lifted a long finger lazily, "You realise that it does tend to apply to me. I'm sure you've noticed."
"That you're such a melancholic git most of the time? Oh yes, I think I noticed that bit, Master Greywing." The girl sarcastically said. "Indeed, you seem to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, Master Greywing. Attempting to imitate Atlas, no doubt?"
"My dear Lady Kestrel, when sarcasm is overly used, it is considered a crime against language. Certainly, I think you warrant numerous arrests. I can hardly imagine the day we speak with no sarcasm or wit or insult on our tongue. That would be a sad day, Lady Dmitri Kestrel." He said, knowing that she did not like others to use her first name. The two of them would have continued verbal sparring and calling each other "Master Greywing" and "Lady Kestrel", but they both knew that hardly anyone these days used the ancient honorific for teenagers like them. It was a habit that they couldn't tell from whence it sprung from, but it held them and so they greeted and insulted each other with such names.

"I hope that you are not so blind as to notice our new classmate, Master Greywing. Lethe Glimmergaunt, I believe she is called. Lethe. Another River of Hades. Maybe there will be five of you, each named for each river." Kestrel said, pointing at the new arrival to their class.
Cocytus snorted. "Whoever would name their child Styx, or Phlegethon or Acheron? Hmm, she sits with our esteemed companion Lacier Eves. He seems to have made a fine introduction, angering her so quickly. I believe she looks rather beautiful. Especially with those different coloured eyes."
"Ah now Master Greywing, would you be dumping me for someone else so quickly? So shallow, just for a set of different coloured eyes. While I do admit that she is pretty, are you seriously showing yourself to be so fickle?" Kestrel prodded her boyfriend, knowing that it was just a jest.
"I'm not so indecisive, dear Lady Kestrel. I merely state the facts. You cannot expect me to look at something beautiful and call it disgusting, can you? I am intrigued by the eyes though. There must be some interesting bloodlines behind that. Shall we go forth and introduce ourselves?" He looked at her askance in his eyes.
She nodded and they stood, heading for Lethe's table. The two of them made an unusual pair. Cocytus was not tall, merely of average height, while Kestrel stood about a third of a head over him. Cocytus was languid and slow while Kestrel was efficient and every movement seemed very definitive, as if there was a great plan which required her to move as such. Cocytus had an expression of sorrow, even when he smiled. He always seemed on the verge of grieving, though it was in a strong way, as if he had great willpower. Kestrel was cheery and enthusiastic, a strong contrast to Cocytus's mournful attitude. Though Cocytus seemed very much like an introvert, anyone who was a friend of his would testify to his cutting remarks and participation in conversations. In that way, he and Kestrel were similar. Both enjoyed the subtleties of wordplay and regularly threw insults at each other.
As they approached the table, they took a couple of chairs and just sat themselves beside Lethe and Lacier. Kestrel started first, "Hi there, my name is Dmitri Kestrel, but try not to call me by my first name, I prefer Kestrel. This here's my boyfriend, Cocytus Greywing." Cocytus just said a single "Hi.".
Lethe introduced herself and they started talking.
"Cocytus? That's one of the Rivers of Hades. Like my name. Lethe. I think there were five? Acheron, Cocytus, Lethe, Styx and Phlegethon. It's cool, never expected to find someone else with such a name."
"Neither did I. Well, as you most likely know by now, I live up to my namesake, so don't worry if I look like someone in the family just died. I always look that way. Even now, I'm sure its obvious."
Lacier interjected, "So, you see, Lethe, nobody's gonna ostracise you or anything like that. So, just relax."
Apropos of nothing, Cocytus just said, "I like the eyes." And Kestrel muttured something that sounded like 'shallow' and nudged Cocytus in the ribs.
Lethe just kept silent for a while. Awkward silence ensued. Then, Lethe said, "Thank you. Very few have complimented me on them. People tend to call me a freak."
Kestrel said, "Well, quite a few people call Cocytus a geek and geek is derived from the old German word 'geck', meaning freak. So, you're not alone. I mean, 'regular'" Kestrel made connotation symbols with her fingers. "people call the three of us weird the whole time anyway. I warn you now, being friends with us will label you weird too. The four weirdos."
Lethe laughed, a sound reminiscent of chimes in the wind. "Weird? I got used to that a long time ago. Sure, if I'm destined to be a freak, I might as well be with others of my own kind."
"By the way, what did dear Master Eves say just now to anger you?" Cocytus asked.
"He reminded me of my past, why I'm an orphan."
"Ouch, touchy subject, mental note to self: steer clear of subject of family." Cocytus winced.