Magical Teacher Professor Landry! - Episode 4: The Lady in White

[Riin Whitewind]

Sao inclined her head, acknowledging her Elder's warning. "I do not intend on making my decision lightly," She continued after a moment, smoothing out her pleated skirt, "but I feel death is another part of life, a balance that will continue whether I learn a human method, or not."

"I would hear the ways I would change, if I chose to expand my domain." Picking up her neglected mug, the watersprite simply held it, feeling the tepid liquid through the stone. Was Willow's method dangerous? Unsightly? Or simply different?

[Bard The 5th LW]

"We met last night."

That wasn't really much of an answer.

"Well, more like we ran into each other." She laughed a bit as she set down her tea. "Sorry about that, I guess you hit your head harder than I thought, if you've already forgotten."

She went on to explain her story about provoking Jay and Jack into a duel and being weary of getting jumped.

"Did you need something Sean? I'm sorry about being so rough with you, by the way."

A somewhat annoyed frown flashed across Sean's face, breaking his previous cheerfulness. He wasn't buying it. His memory of the day prior all fit together rather completely. There wasn't much room for amnesia. Nor did his head hurt at all. However, a distinct pain in his crotch could be recalled, and Sean decided that now wouldn't be a good time to try and press the matter. Instead he brought his face back to a more neutral demeanor before speaking.

"Well I'll think I might be able to find it in my heart to forgive last night's transgression," Sean spoke, leaning forward a little, "so long as we can have a proper introduction now."

He extended a cold hand forward to Hannah, keeping his expression amiable. "I'm Sean Castevet, I'm new here at Amaranth. A pleasure to meet you."

[Steel Shadow]

"Well!"

Diana froze. She knew that voice.

"There you have it, folks!"

She hated that voice. "Alex," she hissed, her shoulders shaking with barely contained rage. What was he doing h-

"This is irrefutable proof that the, so-called 'Great Director Diana Tear', relies on coercion, blackmail and her deceptively innocent charms to trap unsuspecting victims into invasive interviews!"

... That son of a bitch.

"What say we... teach her a lesson?"

That tore it. With a growl, Diana spun around, ready to tear her pain-in-the-ass rival limb from-

Alex's camera turned back to her.

With a soft sigh of annoyance, Diana turned around, arms folding over her chest, ready to deal with her old acquaintance's annoying exaggerations calmly. She would not be rising to his bait today.

"Diana!"

"Alex." She ignored the finger rudely prodding her in the chest. Some people just didn't understand restraint. Or manners.

"No, means no! Or haven’t you seen the posters all over the school? A true Professional never forces herself on a camera-shy youth!"

"Which is, of course, why you're filming him. Right this second. Bravo, Alex." Honestly, how tedious could he get? Every time they met, it was the same old story. He'd just try to force any situation into making her look bad. It was ridiculous.

She sighed again. Like she'd actually fall for any of his barbs. How immatu-

The camera abruptly turned back to Alex alone as he addressed his audience.

-How insulting could he get?!!? She was going to kill him! Murder was entirely justified. No jury would convict her! The President would give her a medal! And an Oscar!

Snarling with rage, she strode forwards, taking a deep breath, and went for volu-

The camera hit her again.

"You know, Alex, it's been so long since you last tried slandering my name that I was beginning to think Amaranth Administration had realised their mistake letting you in here." She rolled her eyes, speaking quietly, but firm. "Are you just here to annoy me now? Because I have better things to do than trade insults with a man who doesn't know his lenses well enough to tell a camera from a contact."

[Dracorion]

Jack wrikled his nose slightly at the unpleasant smell as Diana continued to try and convince him. She did seem to be telling the truth when she said she wouldn't be poking at anything personal. It couldn't possibly kill him to do the interview, and he could always leave if things got uncomfortable, right?

The puppy eyes might've just sealed the deal, but she had to follow them with, "Pleeeease? C'mon, I helped you out. Consider this paying me back." Right, with the v- No, that wasn't it. Jack quietly racked his brains, trying to remember when she could've helped him out, before his thoughts were rudely interrupted.

"Well! There you have it, folks!" Diana's black aura suddenly extinguished as the newcomer spoke. "This is irrefutable proof that the, so-called 'Great Director Diana Tear', relies on coercion, blackmail and her deceptively innocent charms to trap unsuspecting victims into invasive interviews!"

He then proceeded to go on to speak to his camera and tear Diana now. Judging from her responses, she knew him. Judging from the way he spoke to his fans through the camera, he had a blog or something of that nature. From his attacks to Diana, under the guise of protecting Jack himself from her (though she was right, Alex was filming him as well), and her obvious disdain from him, they were at odds, and probably competitors. The Shuyin to her Landry? Heh. Every troping sense in him said they were obviously archrivals, but he didn't have enough real information to draw that conclusion. Put the fantasy away, stick with the facts.

Actually, he didn't have to stick with anything. Slowly, Jack began quietly sidestepping toward the stairs. Might as well get clear from this powder keg in case it went off. With any luck, Diana and Alex would be too busy with each other to notice his escape.

[Girasol of Chaos]

Adeline's synopsis of the previous day was adequate for the oni, but was difficult to take at face value, especially with a confused statement the poor girl made earlier. They couldn't have met, not yet. Chou made note that she appeared to not miss much lecture-wise. Perhaps that's why Shin didn't write anything.

Azure eyes remained wide, unnoticed as the suspicious character suddenly found her tray very interesting and blushed. A brief and tense silence was shared between them, the cafeteria din feeling rather distant in this corner of the room.

A weak cough shattered the moment, "Forgive me, but I believe I would have remembered if we met last night." The oni eyed Adeline critically, focusing carefully on the girl's face. It appeared the Asian was looking for an answer in the brunette's expression. "Perhaps you are tired and are mixing Shin with myself, which is acceptable." Chou's gaze broke after a brief period, retreating into her own thoughts. "And, if you are new to this school, it could add to the stress and confusion. I had a pretty vivid nightmare myself last night."

Chou's brow furrowed as she began to ease up in her chair again. People didn't blush for nothing. Curiousity was winning over her politeness here. Something was missing. The oni did her best to offer a gentle smile as her gaze lifted once more, "I appreciate the warning concerning the interviews though, and the summary of yesterday." Nibbling on the remains of her meal the oni swallowed, gesturing with an open palm. "Is there something else, if you don't mind me asking?"

[Teal Mage]

Offering a charming smile and few well chosen words, Dal ended his conversation with his cousin, spinning on his heel and beginning an elegant, graceful, exit. "It's much too early in this bright new year for me to take any risks, even through inaction." The dark haired youth called brightly over his shoulder.

Morgan glanced around her easel. "Just be careful with that stuff you bought from Robin!" She called, equally cheerful. "I've seen enough after school specials to know that love potions are never the answer!" The dark haired girl laughed, "…still can't believe you paid money for that piece of trash though." She muttered, still chuckling softly. Shaking her head at her cousin's folly, Morgan vanished once more behind her painting.

Behind her own easel, Rachel giggled.

Neither girl said anything after that, though.

Dal was free to go!

* * *

Hie grunted, before turning around to face her cousin. She crossed her arms, shooting him an annoyed look. "Fine then, if you're gonna be a grump." She 'hmphed' then spun on her heel, turning back in the direction of the school. "I'm gonna bounce."

She glanced back over her shoulder and winked a Sieg. "See ya round bait." Giggling to herself, she took off at a light run, vanishing between the chaotically placed trees of Ansidor's old growth forest.

After a few moments, Sieg stepped out from behind Kohana. The violet eyed youth breathed a sigh, visibly relieved. Suddenly at his feet, Kohana’s puppy barked up at him, tail wagging rapidly. Chuckling softly, Sieg knelt down and ruffled the thing’s head fur – to its obvious pleasure.

They were alone.

* * *

Like a breeze whispering through the leaves overhead, Willow breathed a laugh. "Nothing that lives," The green eyed tree spirit replied in her soft and breathy voice, "can touch death without being changed." She gestured dismissively with her own overlong fingers. "The ritual itself is simple." Willow smiled, soft and wistful. "In an instant, part of what you are dies."

"And from this sacrifice," Willow's smile grew distant, "you are given power." A chuckle followed, "Such is the logic of what humans call 'dark' magic." She gestured once more, toward herself this time. "And for spirits like us, this death brings a new..." She trailed off, thoughtfully for a moment, before adding, "enlightened perspective." Willow raised her head faintly, eyes moving toward the sky behind the canopy above. "A perspective we all, as immortals, were always meant to have."

Willow chuckled and gestured dismissively, eyes shutting. "At least, those are my thought on the matter." She raised her mug and sipped its syrupy sweet contents, before fixing Sao with her gaze. "You will lose your humanity, if you go through with this."

Another vague gesture followed. "The power is immediate, but the change is slow. You will progressively feel emotions less strongly, and most matters shall become less urgent." Willow shrugged, "In time, humans and their..." The elder spirit chuckled, "...quaint struggles, shall become mere novelties, for the most part."

"There are physical changes as well." Willow tilted her head, causing her main of thick dark green hair to spill over her shoulders. "Nothing that should make it hard to exist among humans, should you still desire to." Another vague gesture with her long fingered hands followed. "As a water spirit, I expect your skin shall become paler, and your hair colour will also change."

A shrug followed, before Willow sipped from her mug of tea again. "All in all, nothing atrocious." She chuckled, "Though, perhaps too large a sacrifice for one human girl." Suddenly, Willow stopped, blinking rapidly. Her expression softened with pity. "Ah, and lest I forget, there is some pain as well."

* * *

Offering a warm smile in reply, Hannah reached forward and grasped Sean's hand in a firmly. "My name is Hannah Iruimi." She replied, betraying no discomfort at the Canadian's cold touch. "I'm a third year student." Her expression turned bright, "Professor Landry was my homeroom teacher in my first year too. You've my condol -"

"Ace Reporter Mode, activate!" A voice, loudly, declared - on the pair's north side. A slim young man in jeans and a faded red tee-shirt, with a backwards navy-blue baseball cap on his head, had appeared - he was talking to Zet. "You can't lie to me!" The youth continued, jabbing a finger toward the reclining bodyguard. An aura of colored light flared to life around him. "Is it true Hannah's parent's hired..."

"...publicity club." Hannah muttered, disdain obvious. She sighed, before turning back towards Sean. "Sorry." The blond pushed herself to her feet, gaze snapping back toward the reporter. "Zet!" She called, voice like a whip, the blond's eyes darted toward her second guard. "Al!"

"We're leaving!" She stated sharply, before turning on her heel toward the stairs, and marching off. Her bodyguards quickly followed - leaving Sean alone with the white cushions, and unfinished mugs of tea.

* * *

Shockingly, Diana's words made Alex wince.

The dark haired youth recoiled a step, his camera lens leaving Diana abruptly and causing her aura to lapse. He protectively buried his nose in his wrist. "Jesus Diana, did you forget to put deodorant on today or something? You reek!" Backing off another few paces, the dark haired youth made a face – that was partially obscured behind his glasses, before coughing.

"W-worse than usual, I mean." The youth added, before chuckling nervously. "You really should shower daily, you know!" A dazzling – but obviously forced – smile followed.

In a display that was almost entirely out of character, Alex Darrow had lost his composure! Fortunately, no one important had seen it.

* * *

"Nope! Nothing else at all." Adeline replied, a little too quickly – and obviously embarrassed about something. Before Chou could get another word in edge-wise, the heterochromatic girl went on the offense!

"Are you sure we didn't meet last night?" The brown haired girl asked, fixing Chou with a suspicious frown. "Because the girl I introduced myself to had blue eyes and hair like yours and called herself Chou, on top of it. So, unless you have a third twin running around the school, I'm pretty sure we met." Adeline grunted suddenly and crossed her arms, glancing off into the crowd.

"This better not be some kind of joke." She muttered, under her breath, before sighing softly. "...stupid school."

[Riin Whitewind]

Hands still clasped to her mug, Sao's fingers flicked dismissively. "Pain is fleeting. Even the worst pain can be borne. Still..." She trailed off, taking the time to consider before she gave her answer.

She had done her best to ignore Willow's quiet laughter. For someone who claimed they didn't feel emotions very strongly, her Elder sure seemed amused.

As for the rest... Hair could be dyed, cosmetics are cheap. A focus or link could be found to keep her interest in the world. ... That sexy, shirtless shaman would do, no doubt. The undine stole a glance toward the steaming pool, noting that the third figure had disappeared in the midst of the spirit's conversation.

Really, the only true downside she could see was the loss of her emotions. Becoming an empty, emotionless husk with nothing to live for didn't appeal to her. Perhaps it wasn't quite so severe? Willow had only said they would be reduced, not eliminated. It could even be a boon in disguise. Many were the tales of people who had let their pride, or rage, or sorrow cloud their judgement.

"I am not human, and never was, no matter what persona I wear around the Black. I will go through with it." The mug made a quiet click as it was set back upon the stone table.

Sao smiled slightly. "I am not afraid to touch death."

[Overcast]

Jay had been hearing quite a bit less than usual as he pranced his merry ass around the field. Though even his bumping tunes could not protect him when the sounds around him began to grow significantly more hostile. He pushed the soundmakers off his reception units and took it all in, there was little time to think, but his body moved for him.

First he moved two steps toward the door, Hannah and her rather large pair of sunglass wearing fists were on their way there, he didn't wish to intercept them, but he figured they would see the movement, he raised his hand from the distance he was at and yelled pointedly at them,

"Hannah!"

He stared at them a moment, the dream ran through his head all at once and all that anger from the day before, and all the reality and the fantasy and the moment and his death. Disappointment. Failure. And then he smiled, as warmly as he knew how,

"We should really talk sometime."

He turned his back on them and shifted his footing, step step step, he was on his way to Sean, he rounded on him quickly eyes carefully staring at the big ol' Canadian. He remembered insulting hockey a lot yesterday, it didn't deserve that. It was, as all things are, inferior to baseball, but no one could help that. He lifted up a mug for himself and handed one to him,

"It looks like our Classmate is having a bit of a problem big guy."

He sipped the tea lightly, well steeped but perhaps a bit overboiled. It reminded him of the dream a little, but he pushed it from his mind, as non sipping hand pushed out around them,

"The publicity club has arrived, and a collection of poorly made clones of Di are stuffing up our good afternoon. I think between the two of us, skilled sportsmen that we are, we can find a way to roundup the lot of them and get them out the door even more nimbly than Hannah."

He poured the rest of his cup on the ground. Back to the earth, goodbye past, hello future,

"I'd wanted for us all to hang a bit more out of the class, but with these goons here I'm not getting the vibe that we'll be having much fun. I can try to outruckus Diana but I don't think I can get her to run from this battle. She is way too fiery about spiting that kid. But if you can spirit Mr. Hall over there out the door, she will be certain to follow just so she can keep her interview."

He laid the mug back next to the cushions,

"At any rate that is my idea, basic distraction to steal a base, got anything that could improve it? I imagine you've taken more than one puck in your time."

He wondered what was for lunch today.

[Bard The 5th LW]

"Professor Landry was my homeroom teacher in my first year too. You've my condol -"

It seemed there was a matter for her to attend to, some schmo from the Publicity Club, and she made her way elsewhere. "Sorry," she spoke before heading off.

"It's alright. See you around!" Sean called, still content to sit for a moment as he watched Hannah walk away. 'She seemed nice,' he thought to himself, 'also nice to know that people can actually survive Landry's class.' He was just about to get up when-

-"At any rate that is my idea, basic distraction to steal a base, got anything that could improve it? I imagine you've taken more than one puck in your time."

Jay arrived.

Is he flirting with me?

"Ehh, yeah, I dunno about that, guy," Sean said a bit taken aback at the youth's casualness. Did Sean even know this dude? "It doesn't seem like a big deal to me. Probably won't be an issue to just, y'know, walk downstairs at one's leisure. Also the tea isn't really for you I don't think." The Canadian got up to his feet and began to meander away from the cushions. Where did he know that guy?

---Flashback---

"You have no training on the subject . . . A stupid tactic itself, because I know that senseless violence helped make you into the creep you are right now. . . Your answers continue to fail me Dean. I don't know if you're ready for this level of play yet."

"OH MY GOD NO ONE CARES!"

---end---

Oh yeah, that guy. Why was Mr. Baseball suddenly so friendly? Sean continued his walk, disregarding the youth sitting at the cushion. He took a look over towards the entrance, just in time to see the theatrics between Alex and Diana.

'Ugh, Diana,' he shuddered a bit at the thought, but he was going to have to confront her eventually about his jacket if he ever wanted to get that thing fixed. He would put it off for just a bit longer though, as she seemed engaged in a situation with some other camera person. He waited and watched, a few feet away from the cushions. If it seemed they would be done soon then he would consider asking her.

[Overcast]

He shrugged, he'd wanted to get a bit more friendly with most of his class after the lesson had caused him to inwardly think about how little he was interacting with them inside the thing. But if Mr. Tall mcsilentpants was going to act like he was better than the at time courteous baseball player when he himself was just now talking to someone he had scarcely met, in a class and a seniority other than his own, and had threatened to gloat after he and all his other classmates were expelled then fine by Jay.

He was off the list of potential friends, and interactions would be left to a minimum.

Diana was still in the list though, as was Jack. Hannah was up in the air but he felt like after their history he may as well try to hit her up for a small talk if he could just to figure out why she'd been so hostile. On the matter of hostile...

Jay stepped lively on to the scene of Alex and Diana staring at the kid in the sunglasses. Diana had already hit him pretty hard with that last strike, Jay just needed to add a bit more weight. And he did it as an innocent bystander, he started with a large audible sniff into the air,

"Smell? I don't smell anything. You know there is a place for the media sorts who spread false rumors for the sake of publicity, right next to the guys who write stories about bigfoot marrying the loch ness monster. Diana might be a bit forceful with her interviewing style but at least I know when I read her stuff it is true. Who could trust a story covered by you?"