Magical Teacher Professor Landry! - Chapter 1: Just a Normal School

[Riin Whitewind]

Sao watched the hunched shoulders of an angry Shinobu until they had left the cafeteria, leaning on her elbows against the false wood tabletop. Sturdy, and powerful. A good protector or initiatior... But a bit of a loose cannon. She chewed lightly on her lower lip, wondering if she should have stepped in. I'll have to ask her about the tusks - no, I'll ask Kirk what he thinks, first. Once safely out of earshot, the comparitively dimunitive Dal laughed a second time. The undine was surprised at his resilience. "You're not terribly fazed by intimidation, are you." It wasn't a question.

"Well, that could have gone a bit better." Dal merely smiled, and retook his seat across from her. A smile in return was drawn across Sao's lips without her realizing. Perhaps I should simply drown Jay? Hm, no. That would be difficult to explain. She ran tanned fingers through her hair, pushing the black locks back into short, upright spikes.

"But... as I was saying, you'll have to forgive me my indiscretions." Not privy to Sao's wandering attention, Dal continued. "It's a..." The undine watched his eyes drift up towards the ceiling in thought. "...flaw of my lineage."

Movement behind him drew her crystalline gaze, as a nervous-looking boy with a dinner-heaped tray stared wistfully in their direction. The boy, the undine recognized as he chose a table not far from theirs, was a classmate - but she wasn't sure of his name. He must have introduced himself before she got to class.

Dalbhach continued with a voice as smooth and warm as a con-artist drawing in his mark. "There are few Nuadas who are capable of merely asking for a favor rather than making machination upon machination or grand shows and plots, but allow me, if you will, to do so now: Please, be my study buddy and help me keep Jay and Dean from killing each other?"

Before the swimmer could even open her mouth to speak, Dal continued as if he'd just remembered the tusks an inch from his face. "Oh, and of course I'm not withdrawing the invitation to your friend." He gestured vaguely towards the door with a raspberry, "She's still welcome as well, just... ask her not to grind me into paste?" His smile was confident, as if the last few minutes had proceeded according to plan.

Again, Sao found herself smiling back. "I will ask, as it would be a shame to ruin that smile." She leaned back from the table, covering her mouth with her palm to mime deep consideration. Her mind was already made up, but it didn't hurt for him to squirm a little.

"For your apology, and your courteous invitation, I will accept." The undine tilted her head to the side in unconscious query. "From your explanation, I gather both are difficult for you, so I forgive the trick." She glanced in the unnamed boy's direction again, watching him pick at his meal with the short, stabbing motions of self-recrimination.

Picking up her laden tray, Sao stood, pushing the chair back with her knees. "If you'll excuse me for a moment?" She deliberately chose a trashbin on the other side of the room for her tray, taking a return path that would take her near Jack's table. The black haired girl waited for him to notice her, then smiled reassuringly. "Would you like to sit with us? We won't bite." She gestured towards 'her' table, where Dal was critically inspecting a cookie.