Capriccioso

[Andrei Zacharov]

It was another prison to break the mould of; another institution he had been sent away to by his single-minded comical excuses for parents. A loud minded bureaucrat up against a viciously buttoned down practitioner of torture to rival those put well into use during the holocaust, making most venomous instructors seeming like a sweet angel to wash upon the shores of her vile expectations. His knuckles were held together and sounded a soft cracking noise near his chest as he strode, chin down and glassy eyes focused ahead of him.

Oh, how he loathed the petty games his mother played. It wouldn't be much longer until he was stretched down in such an eloquent display of respect with the tilt of his head and the bow of his chest to prove his unrivaled obedience to the witch, having exhausted all her prior engagements to send the bastard away. It was, after all, much better in his mind to be born from a softer woman he never knew than to possibly think in his first moments that he had passed between the loins of such a vulture.

If it was going to be a game set up by her, it would be well challenged by him in every way he could imagine, and oh, what a match it was turning out to be.

The building had a very refined and distinct look to it, a modern cut yet an institution that blended well into its charming, although dull and aged, scenery. It was details he didn't bother to pay attention to, for it would soon be forgotten along with every other place he had been to before and had done nothing but drop in with such theatrics and individualism on their parade of conformity with such alluring charm. His smile seemed to drive most of the people that entered a heated debate with him mad, and whether it be a broken nose or a few misplaced teeth, their anger only fueled his victory.

It was a little past lunch, and most of the students were gently focused little on their meals and more on their mindless chatter from one to the next on topics he ignored for the most part. His thick dark navy jacket was an elaborate display of buttons, straps and buckles that all shockingly had a purpose (much unlike modern north american apparel) that came to stop only an inch before the floor. Only two basic buttons were cared to be done up in this dramatic climate adjustment of such heated weather in the comparison of what he had recently come from, leaving his hat off and well tucked away in the dorm he would be residing in. The only extra addition beyond the basic white tee and black form-fitting slacks would be the rare beauty of a seven-string guitar that rested on his back sitting in a rather slanted upside-down position with the neck poised gingerly beneath his grasp.

The air about him held the traces of a dignified gentleman, fighting precariously beneath the onslaught of his quick wit and cynical humour at the sarcastic expense of those around him, leading him on to appear at the first glance you give him to be nothing but trouble beneath his short brow-length ebony locks. His green-blue glassy eyes were held to look past the tip of his nose as his head came up while he slowly approached a crowded table, a grin slithering curling the edge of his lip upwards on one side. Introductions were his specialty when it came to first impressions of arrogance and ignorance, leaving him no choice to live up to what he would consider an astounding reputation for illustrating the finer points of what most mainstream would call 'making a statement'.

Well, there wasn't much room at the tables for both him and his deep cherry-stained classic, so it looked as if he had to make some.

He approached some students from behind and reached a hand forward, placing it down calmly on the table beside a tray that belonged to a young woman with homely looks. A smile came out to answer her puzzled expression as his hand shot across the surface with trained fingertips to send four to five of the food trays from the group sitting on this side flying from in front of them to clatter to the ground off the closest edge of the glass tabletop. A few watching stared in shock to follow the expressions of some who the act was done to, and like a prince that reeked of feigned innocence, he leaned in and cooed for them to vacate his so-claimed spot. A few had shot from their seats to challenge this, but like every nearly instigated fight, there was always some voice of reason to tirelessly blow the steam from what would've been a righteous sock to the jaw. The group had left entirely, leaving only those who weren't involved with the unfortunate affair and victims to his antics at the other end eating while most eyes traced his every move.

Like in any good board game, the first move made always defines the type of player you're up against.

he flicked away a few clumps of food that had spilt from their messy eating habits and from the horrid flick of the trays off the tabletop and took a seat, pulling his guitar from behind him with his hand that had never moved from its neck to let it rest atop his lap, a pick rested nicely between his lips from his pocket. He never dared use a pick, his fingertips were well-adapted to plucking the strings to give it that sweet resonating sound he just adored. A solemn strike of the strings brought his eyes to rest closed for a moment, before he began to nibble at the rim of his pick, his hands gliding over the instrument to play one of favourite and relaxed songs as if nothing ever took place.

[Tania Yates]

Tania was in a splendid mood when she entered the academy. After weeks of preparing for classes, teaching classes, more planning and slaving over textbooks, presentations and exercises she had managed to take a little time off and had used that time for a trip to Rome.

An afternoon of shopping and sightseeing, followed by a night in one of the best hotels money could buy had done wonders to turn her mind away from the tasks Four Points provided for her, which seemed almost mundane, now that she had settled into a pattern.

Taking delivery of her car in Rome had also helped her to break out of the rut of everyday life and she had laughed out loud half the time while speeding down the highway on her way back to Kalloni. Money was hardly a problem for her, so a few small - or large - fines for speeding she was happy to risk. Her gleaming golden Porsche had called out to her and allowed her no other choice but to exercise it to the limits her skills and the roads imposed on her.

It had been a wonderful 36 hours away from the academy, and when Tania passed close by the cafeteria doors on her way to her room she wished nothing more than those hours not having ended when they did. The agitated reddened faces of some students told her there was something afoot she wouldn't like, even without the muttered mentions of a "jerk" she overheard.

She contemplated leaving the situation to sort itself out - it hardly appeared to be a major emergency after all - but then the sound of music caught her attention. The sounds of a guitar were not unheard of at Four Points, but the cafeteria seemed hardly the place for it, not, at least, around lunchtime. That the opening chords had been accompanied by a chorus of angry murmurs of those leaving the place in a rush could hardly be a coincidence.

Her mild anger at the interruption of the last few moments of her short holiday dissipated as she entered the cafeteria and surveyed the scene. The relaxed music and equally relaxed posture of the musician stood in stark contrast with the hastily pushed away chairs and splattered food surrounding him. Here - if Tania could consider herself any judge of such things - was a troublemaker.

That, all by itself was not what she would consider much of a problem, merely an inconvenience at best, under different circumstances. But Four Points was her home now, and as a teacher she had responsibilities that could not be ignored. That she had never voluntarily backed away from a challenge, relished them far more than dreaded them, almost compensated for the interruption of her last few moments of a short vacation. Excersing her role as a teacher and dealing with a troublemaker - it was too good a combination to pass.

Sauntering across the room to a chair facing the young man she studied his face and thought his features striking her as Slavic, Eastern European or Russian perhaps. That would certainly fit the scene. Playing soft music in the middle of chaos - how more Russian could one get?

Tania straightened her white blouse and black skirt before she sat opposite the young musician. Reaching out across the table she pointed an index finger at the neck of his guitar and allowed a little magic to flow into her nail, growing it just long enough to reach to the strings.

She twisted her finger and slid her three inch nail up to the very end of the guitar's neck, stretching two strings tight.

"You wouldn't happen to know how all these trays ended up splattered around this table, would you?" she asked in a voice dripping with saccharine sweetness that was put to shame by the grin slowly curling up her lips and a glint lighting up a challenge in her eyes.

[Hayzie]

Hayzie had been reading over one of the local gossip magazines whilst enjoying her salad. Well, as much as a salad could be enjoyed at any rate. Flicking through the pages, her hand hovered above a slice of cucumber as green eyes read from one side of the column to another. Now that was interesting...

Though her focus on the article at hand was most certainly broken by a rukus from a few tables across. Looking upwards sharply, her stomach sank. Bullying really wasn't something she agreed with, and bullying by someone who she didn't even recognise as being part of the school was even worse. Rolling her eyes, Hayz shut the magazine, mentally remembering which page she was on, and hoping it wouldn't get swiped as she stood up and began walking over to the table in question.

The fact Tania got there first left a situation Hayzie Roberts was not able to read very well at all. The crowd had cleared by now, leaving only the teacher and the blonde student council rep nearby. Coming to a stop, her uniform skirt swayed a little as she crossed her arms, vision expectantly on the student causing the trouble awaiting his explination.

For now, she wouldn't say a word. Tania would probably ask her to leave, and sort it out herself, and Hayzie wasn't one to tread on any toes.

[Andrei Zacharov]

The cavalry galloped in at a quick pace ready to slam down their genuine ideals for how things were to be run a lot sooner than he had expected from his previous school dealings, but it didn't make Zae-Zer skip a single beat as he observed the young woman while he perched atop the glass table, one foot tapping the seat of a chair it rested on. She wasn't alone, but the cute and seemingly irrelevant blonde that chose to be a background piece hardly caught his attention as the professor over-stepped her boundaries as both a teacher in his opinion and as a sensible human being. His eyes didn't leave her face as his cool expression remained a smooth neutral while she exercised her magic.

The strings were pulled taunt and violated in a disgusting manner by the witch before any words or accusations were exchanged, presenting Andrei with yet another delicious confrontation. So soon, but not unwelcome.

But there was absolutely no need to victimize the guitar in anyone's methods.

When she spoke her inquiry, Zae-Zer's eyes squinted as a smile formed while he leaned forward, his glassy eyes greeting hers without any hint of intimidation within his features. She was just like all the rest of the swine he had been pressed head-to-head with because of his antics in an unavoidable path.

"Why, yes I do actually," Andrei replied in a very rich, dignified tone of a well-practiced accent to swallow down his native one as best as he was trained, "I believe they slid across the table from this point here, to the edge and clattered to the ground to rest in the position you just asked about."

How much more Russian could you be? What a delightful inquiry.

Andrei's fingers slid up the neck of his beloved guitar to rest beneath the grotesque aftermath of a witch's disgusting magic and with a slow, non-threatening air to him and his movements, he gently removed her vile appendage from his beauty. "I know you probably enjoy flaunting your lovely beauty techniques for keeping from aging underneath all that make-up and from your nails cracking beneath all your hard work as a teacher, but it's alright. I'm sure someone out there cares that you'll eventually meet one day, so it's not a total loss to keep trying."

His eyes slid to take in the young blonde that stood not too far from the spectacle as his hands came to rest back on the strings, head tilting slightly as he traced her outline from the whisps of her delicate strands to the curves of her body. He assumed the one that had decided to challenge him in such an upfront and sweet manner was nothing but a measly little teacher, but with the lack of action she was giving made him wonder whether she was another one or just another student left standing to watch. Either way, she had a pretty little mouth - at least while it wasn't moving.

After his quick evaluation of the spectator was done, Zae-Zer turned his head back to stare the teacher in the eyes solidly, waiting for her next move in this little game she picked up the glass to. It wasn't more of a curiosity if she would drop the ball and lose her temper, it was more of a question of how long she could last.

[Tania Yates]

So he wanted to play a wrestling match of words? How intriguing, but not entirely uncalled for, given that her question could very well be answered in the precise - and yet pointless - words he had just offered.

That he removed her finger from his guitar in an almost languid manner was just as much called for. She had, after all, interfered with his playing quite purposefully and with the intend to provoke a reaction, but while his gestures and actions were nothing but inoffensive, this young man still managed to exude an air of arrogance that failed to straddle the border of insolence and instead threw itself with gusto into that territory.

His remark about make up was clearly meant to provoke, but he defeated his own purpose when he talked about 'knowing' what he thought she liked to 'flaunt'. If he truly knew, he would know that she drew a line between using her powers and flaunting them. A small display was nothing. But nonetheless Tania came under the impression that this young man was no stranger to playing mind games. Or maybe mind reading, as his casual remark about hard work as a teacher closely mirrored thoughts that had been going through her head not two minutes ago. But that could be a coincidence, just a provocation of someone who thought teachers were too full of themselves.

What an interesting challenge he tried to provide, but there was no reason to play by his rules. Once she sat foot on that slippery slope there would be no turning back and if Tania knew one thing about winning a fight it was to play by rules she set herself instead of falling prey to a trap someone else had prepared.

Her lips curved up into a smile that widened until her mouth opened into a loud laughter.

She clapped her hands in mock applause and nodded approvingly.

"Very nice. Have you rehearsed this act, or is it something you just improvised?"

[Hayzie]

Hayzie looked between the two, uncomfortable at the look the potentially newest student to join FP was offering her. Though this feeling escaped with a jolt as Professor Yates started.... laughing and applauding the young man who had just been spotted...in the middle of the cafeteria... pushing people out of his way. How on earth was that to be laughed at? Then again, she had been on vacation for the last week. Maybe Tania was still jovial from that. It wasn't the welcome back most Professors expected, but then there was something about Tania that wasn't like most other Professors. Hayz couldn't quite place her finger on what it was, but there was something there.

Seemingly irrelevent she may have been, but Hayz really didn't want to walk away from what could be one of the most interesting occurances of the semester so far. Though maybe it would be best doing it from the comfort of behind her gossip magazine.

[Andrei Zacharov]

Andrei cocked his head to one side with a sly grin as she erupted with laughter and began to clash her palms together as if she was truly jovial. Was she trying to unnerve him? He kept his calm exposure, monitoring her every twitch and movement without trailing his eyes away from hers. Knowing probabilities when it came to those who would use magic before they assumed any form of conversation or conviction made her a specific class that was most commonly attributed to people who always expected themselves to be better than others. A small display in such a trivial manner was more of a threat than a greeting, and in such cases of social interactions where magic was far from being interjected in any common method aside from the use of outmatching the other, it could easily be attributed to flaunting.

Like her hips, her lips, her chest and legs, magic was just another tool a woman could use to benefit themselves in any interaction.

"Why," Zae-Zer put on a face of genuine shock, a total play in response to her words with jaw slack and eyes wide, "I didn't know someone would have to rehearse to tell you how distasteful you looked today, or are you just used to cheap men that had to resort to their mirror practice to have the stomach to lie and say you look goregous dear?"

Zae-Zer's expression became contemplative as his shoulders leaned to one side and his eyes fluttere to the ceiling. "That is, if there's any poor sap out there that would attempt going that far with you."

Now, she was interesting. Instead of taking such a straight-forward bite at his remarks, this little professor was trying to change the playing field up on him. It didn't matter either way, as she was still retorting and sliding little remarks, which meant he had already baited her enough to think she could actually fight with him.

"Hey, sweet-cheeks," Andrei flicked the pick between his fingers as he gestured his head towards the spectator with a bop of his head, "you've been standing there for so long, can I help you with anything?" Well, three's a charm is it not? After all, just having her stand in such a close proximity (in his mind) to just stare at the two was kind of interesting, but a little unnerving all the same.

Perhaps acknowledging the little tag-along'll cause her to shuffle away.

[Tania Yates]

Oh, how disappointing his reply was, so shocking in its open cruelty, a jackhammer where she had hoped for a sword. And yet the jackhammer had found its mark. Perhaps not as strongly as this troublemaker hoped for but still hard enough for her to feel the insult.

Punching him squarely in the face appeared a tempting course of action, and just imagining the sound of breaking bones as her fist connected with his nose allowed the hint of a smile to break through her surprise and anger. But no. Not before she had talked with Hikalyn. How the academy stood on corporeal punishment was a subject that had never come up before and it needed delving into before she would allow her fight instincts to overrule her better judgement.

But the thought of fighting and weapons made something obvious to her. She had looked forward to the verbal equivalent of a sword duel - wit against wit and some banter. What he had brought to the fight instead were jackhammers and chainsaws. He was playing by his own rules, and those rules were designed to allow him to lash out and take the initiative whenever he wanted. A troublemaker for sure, and a consummate one.

What his motives for his behaviour were mattered little. A difficult, perhaps abusive childhood? Was he a natural born asshole? Did he enjoy getting people to slack him in the jaw? Did he want to get thrown out of the school? Did he just revel in the cruel power of his tongue?

None of it made a difference. Not in the here and now. Especially not now that he turned his attention to Hayzie. This situation had to be resolved, and not to his satisfaction.

Tania pushed her chair back slowly and deliberately before she rose. "It seems you have made it very clear what you are, but that leaves the question of who you are." She kept her expression neutral, her voice matter-of-factly, cool, with just a hint of coldness swinging between her words. Some anger at his insolence still remained, but buried deep down, far away from mien and voice for now.

"And forgive my lack of manners. I should have introduced myself first. Tania Yates." She offered him a sharp nod. "Member of the faculty, so Professor Yates, or Miss Yates are the appropriate forms of address. Now, two simple questions for you. What's your name, and what courses are you here to study?!

This post has been edited by Tania Yates on Jun 16 2009, 06:45 AM

[Hayzie]

"Erm...I..." Hayzie stuttered, tripping over her words as the male student addressed her. Sweet cheeks. Did he really just say that? Going red, she shook the thought off, tucking some hair behind her shoulders. "You know," Hayz started, struggling to regain herself. This was certainly going to be one of Four Point's more interesting students if first impressions were to be believed. "Doing things like that isn't going to get you very well liked..."

There, she'd said what she wanted to say... but there was still something nagging at her. Maybe it was because Ta--Professor Yates was still standing there, waiting on a response from him as to a name and the courses he was studying. If Defense was on his agenda... oh classes could be about to get a lot more interesting. And with Professor Yates seemingly gettiing angrier, and with good reason, too, Hayz figured it may be time to step in a little and try and defuse the situation. As best a student council member could without tredding on toes,anyway.

"Uhm... welcome back, Professor Yates... did you... er... want me to take it from here? Let you settle back in?" It may not have been the best way to try and help, but it was certainly one way. Hopefully it wouldn't backfire.

[Andrei Zacharov]

Oh, how delightful it was. If Zae-Zer even lost one ounce of the self-control he had to quietly tuck within his coat all the sheer enjoyment that he felt from the professor's callous and sharp reaction to a sentence that was minor in respect to his usual gambles, he would surely be giggling behind his sleeve. Instead, a tongue snaked across his tender lips as his smile grew evermore while he leaned towards her.

"Oh, I haven't even begun to show you 'what' I am, miss," His tact fell short as he let his accent cut and jar the words to his native Russian bite, eyes flickering with anticipation.

"In concerns of 'who' I am," Andrei straightened himself and brushed his coat, "I'll have you call me 'Zae-Zer', as most of you esteemed teachers seem to end up calling me in the first place." His nose wrinkled as he came to stand on his feet, accent well tucked into place by his rigorous lessons when he spoke in response, "Your name's of no importance to me, I'll forget you soon enough anyways."

Andrei's hand reached forward and pushed the guitar to rest upside-down against his back as he approached Hayzie. Slightly adorable for sure with her cheeks flushed red and her words a stuttered mess, she was almost irresistible when it came to his games. After she had addressed Tania, Zae-Zer leaned down to see her perfectly eye-to-eye with a finger raised to run across her jawline.

"Aw, are you here to rescue poor Professor Yachts? She could probably use it, why, to slaughter someone who brought the wrong weapon to the massacre is almost criminal." Zae-Zer gave a slight pout to his lips as his glassy eyes traced Hayzie's features, from the freckles of her skin to the curl of her hair. It was clear that he held no common care for personal boundaries or space when his nose hovered mere centimeters from her's as he examined her closely.

"I'm a tough cookie when it comes to friends," Andrei said softly to Hayzie with a wink in his eye and a smile on his face. Tania's questions had all been ignored, and her presence soon to follow to file in the back of his mind.

[Tania Yates]

Tania sighed. Whoever had let this guy join the academy had made a big mistake. Four Points was an institute of learning, but Zae-Zer appeared beyond learning and ready to be institutionalised instead.

But at least her suspicion had been proven correct if the accent he let cloud his voice for a moment was anything to go by. She knew enough Russian to carry a fluid conversation, but - as far as she knew - none of the bystanders did. That could come in handy.

"Would someone please provide this fine gentleman with the implements he might need to clean up the mess around this table?" she called out to the people behind the counter.

As he turned away from her she rose and smiled. The guitar on his back was such a tempting target, but no, not now, not yet. And there were more than enough other options.

"Well then... Zae-Zer." Placing a name on him had been the whole point of her question and introduction, and at least he had provided something of an answer. "For the suddenly flying trays you'll be banned from the Student Lounge and Cafe Okeanos until further notice. I am tempted to ban you from this cafeteria too, but I am certain the kitchen staff can come up with some nice ways to... spice up your meals, should you decide to eat here. And meals are the only thing you will come here for in the future, unless you want to be literally thrown out of this place."

Tania's smile widened. So he thought he had won, talking about slaughter like that? Maybe now he even thought that she was letting him off the hook lightly.

"As for ignoring my second question and the insults... You will get your punishment for that, but not now, not yet. That would spoil the surprise."

Her hand came up behind his shoulder, for Hayzie to see. Her fingers snapped up in rapid succession. One, two, three, four. She could only hope that the blonde would associate it with the four points she had explained in the first self-defence lesson. She closed three of her fingers again and held up just her index finger to indicate the first of those four points - avoidance - to the blonde. She could only pray that, for her own good, Hayzie would get what she meant. The last the girl needed was to become the plaything of an asshole like this man.

Tania leaned forward and brought her lips close to Andrei's ear, ignoring the conversation he was trying to strike up with Hayzie. When she whispered to him she used Russian and her voice was completely neutral, not a hint of emotion in it, just laying down facts for him.

"My dear, if you think I need weapons for a slaughter you are sorely mistaken. Oh... and if you are wondering if I mean that figuratively or literally - don't."

[Hayzie]

Hayzie swallowed nervously, suddenly feeling awkward as Zae-Zer as he had introduced himself stepped forwards so his nose was almost touching hers. It was hard to look away, but constant eye-contact was unnerving to say the least. As for being a tough cookie when it came to friends... "I-I don't doubt it," the blonde replied in a whisper.

Professor Yate's interruption was one that was, without a doubt, most welcome. Noticing her fingers counting as Hayz took a few steps backwards, she tilted her head to the side a little, trying to figure out exactly what the Professor was trying to say. Was there steps that she was meant to take in this situation? Something in the Student Council handbook that she'd merely skimmed over instead of reading thoroughly? Well, that certainly wouldn't surprise her.

Looking around the cafeteria for anyone else she knew, Hayz opened her mouth... closed it... and then opened it again to speak. "I'd... I'd better get going... need to... er... pick something up before class," she explained, turning around quickly without waiting for a reply. Picking up the magazine she'd left with her lunch, the blonde put her tray away and left the cafeteria. It looked like Zae-Zer could be a handful. Maybe it was worth bringing him up at the next Council meeting.

Especially if he was going to be sticking around.