[Memory] A no good double black dog dare day.

Drezda, please.

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Rhys Valentin
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Wed Jul 25, 2018 4:35 pm

34th of Yaris, 2711
Brunnhold Cafeteria | Midday
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"Sod off, I won't do it." The tall blond boy sneered from over his fork, waving it in Mateo's direction threateningly. The shorter, more delicate auburn-haired boy only grinned wider, like a hatcher waiting for its next meal, and tilted his head toward the red-head next to him,

"Did you hear that, Naul? He won't do it."

The freckled Anaxi grunted, not immediately looking up from the book he had in front of him instead of lunch. His friend finally elbowed him, causing the quiet boy to look up with a hiss, allowing the two other boys at the table to watch without meaning entirely to stare as his left eye blinked noticeably slower than his right when he rolled his gold-rimmed sea glass-colored eyes in impatience at their ridiculous conversation,

"Oh, please. The Hoxian again? Tocks, I'm not going to introduce you to her, so you two toffins are clocking on your own." The grumpy ginger flashed the blond across the table from him what could only be described as a brief, conspiratory grin, one side forming before the other, before he looked back down and began to take notes, dismissing himself from the inane and useless conversation.

"Ersehole." Mateo feigned offense, madly attempting to include Nauleth on their fun despite a weighty awareness that he had no interest. He knew the other boy knew Drezda Ecks, and as much as the auburn-haired student desperately wanted to talk to her—to flirt with her in his awkward way—he had no balls to do so.

He knew, however, that Rhys Valentin would do anything if he could just word it right. The tall towhead was either stupid or reckless or both, and ever since he'd started sitting with them instead of that Seventen's daughter all the clocking time, he'd been even less intelligent than usual. Poor Mateo was trapped between two wet blankets and he was desperate for some sunshine. He just was so awkward around attractive young ladies that he needed an in. He needed someone else to break the ice for him,

"Fine, you chroveshit." Mateo sighed, shifting in his seat and leaning forward on both elbows, "I'll do your clocking Static homework for two weeks and—aaannnnd—I dare you to go and make some of that cute conversation of yours you’re so clocking good at with her."

"Nah." Rhys glanced past the auburn-haired boys shoulder, his blue eyes studying the Hoxian features of the girl in question. She was much older than they were—three years!—though the young Valentin and her were contemporaries in the same form, both creeping closer to graduation. Even he had to admit she was pretty. Not that it mattered. He resisted the urge to let his gaze wander, to search the cafeteria for Charity's face in the crowd, for he'd tried to stop doing that, desperate to stop pining for a girl he already saw too much of in class but was no longer allowed to speak to.

Godsbedamned stop-clocking Captain of the Seventen.

Speaking of Seventen, he'd heard of the Hoxian's interests indirectly, vaguely aware of their mutual connection to the police force of Anaxas through conversation with those who were quite bent on recruiting him. He was more than convinced enough already, though is motivations were questionable at best—

The tall blond's fingers curled into the edges of his tray and his field sigiledsigiled (SIH-julled)(adj): a field that is tense with concentration; can sometimes give off a hot feeling or make the air feel thinner for a moment in his frustrated silence.

"I double dare you."

"No."

"I double dog dare you."

"What? Is that a wick thing? What does that even mean. Fuck you, no."

"I double do—"

"Gods, you two. Fine." Naul's tone was full of barely contained exasperation, not looking up, the meager shift in the inferior student's field catching his attention, Rhys a far less capable sorcerer than himself, "I'll do your clocking Static homework for two weeks and I double black dog dare you to get off your towheaded erse and smile your towheaded idiot smile until you charm her right out from under Mateo's noisy clocking nose."

"Done." Growled the blond, suddenly desperate to distract himself from the wandering, sad thoughts just a glimpse of platinum hair and violet eyes had caused him in a single moment. His chest tightened and he bit his lip, the anger he felt toward Damen D'Arthe simmering through the Perceptive mona in his field.

With that, the young Valentin didn't hesitate, didn't make eye contact, and almost didn't remember to drop his fork, standing immediately and running his hands over the handsome green of his Brunnhold uniform, aware that he never buttoned his collar and not giving a kenser's erse whether a professor saw him out of dress code or not. Instead, he strode with a false confidence—a handsomely convincing sort of bravado that he was known for (behind his back, of course)—toward the table the Hoxian in question was seated at, grinning warmly at the other girls, mostly Anaxi, though a Hessean from his form and a tall, albino Gioran who nearly rivaled his height also shared Drezda Ecks' table.

"Hello, ladies." he hummed by means of introduction, aware of the belikenssbelike (adj): having fields that are compatible or similar; unlikely to have conflict due to magical similarities of of his somewhat unimpressive field to the Hoxian girl's and unable to keep from smiling at the giggles and smirks from the others at the table. Perhaps none of them were actually sitting with Drezda so much as sitting with each other and she happened to be at the table. Or perhaps he was just reading too much into the scene, his overactive imagination and often too-analytical for his own good at the wrong time sort of mind getting away from and keeping him quiet for a second or two longer than was polite. Closer now, the young woman was so obviously disinterested before he said a single word, and yet, instead of intimidating the aspiring Seventen, it seemed to embolden him more, the welcome distraction warming his tone,

"Please excuse me, but do you have a moment, Miss Ecks?"
Last edited by Rhys Valentin on Sun Dec 02, 2018 4:19 pm, edited 5 times in total.

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Drezda Ecks
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Thu Jul 26, 2018 6:05 am

Yaris 34, 2711
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This was Drezda's fifth year in Brunnhold and in all her time here, she had never made friends that she could sit with during meals. Oh, she'd made plenty connections of one form or another - acquaintances, useful contacts, people who could be manipulated, those who could be blackmailed - but the young woman did not have friends. It wasn't a problem for her because it was just the way that she wanted it. Of course, there were always those who tried to enter her sphere of influence because cold or not, no one could deny that the Hoxian had a certain sort of power; she was someone who was going places and there were always those who were eager to try to attach themselves to such people. Those who tried it were usually met with a coolness that could not be thawed, no matter how they might try. Oh, she was never less than polite. She could smile, laugh, joke but there was always a distance to it. People put it down to her origins and most didn't bother trying. In fact, most of those in her own year and the year below had simply thought better of trying to interact with her unless they wanted something or she approached them, which was typically with similar ulterior motives.

Hence, while she frequently sat at a table with many people, they merely happened to be in her vicinity rather than any sort of friends. Today, she'd perched herself on the edge of a group of younger girls, 6th or 7th forms she thought, although they seemed far younger. Drezda had to listen to their giggling, their inane chatter, their ridiculous secrets. It was funny really, how they forgot that she was there, discussing things which they probably thought she was paying no attention to given the book that she had propped open in front of her. Amazing what a simple prop could do. The words printed on perceptive magic were all well and good but there was no better education than the things she observed in the interactions at mealtimes.

A subtle turn of the head in either direction widened her field of vision, allowing her to gain a greater sense of what was going on around her, secretly hoping to spot something more exciting than these pathetic creatures she'd chosen. When she spotted the young man striding across the room, heading in their direction, her interest was mildly piqued. She turned the page of her book, faking a need to tighten her ponytail so she had an excuse to observe him for a few seconds longer, weighing him up. Young, recognisable as someone from her own year group, and walking in a manner that Drezda took to be a strut.

Wonderful. If he was heading this way to a table full of women with that sort of walk then it was likely she'd get to observe an attempt at wooing. A bit young for him perhaps but that just made it all the more amusing. Resuming her meal, the Hoxian allowed her eyes to return to the pages of the tome before her although she was actually focused on her surroundings. Namely, the girls she was sitting with had noticed the young man's approach, spurring excited whispers that provided her with some information.

"Look, Rhys is heading this way! I wonder-"

"Who? That blond fellow? Is he-"

"Rhys Valentin, he's in final form, he's-"

"Don't know the name. Who's his father?"

Their excitable conversation, which she expected was heading towards an assessment about whether he was worth getting to know or not, cut off abruptly as he came into range. While the others giggled at his introduction, Drezda simply ignored him. His field was in proximity to her own, allowing her to caprise it; she was far from impressed.

In Anaxas, there were galdori with sullied heritage, the mingling of bloodlines with humans forbidden here as in Hox but they still interacted with them here, effectively lived side by side with them in far from perfect harmony. They associated with one another here in a manner that the final year frankly found distasteful at best. It was a given that those who were weak-minded, the inferiors of her own race, who would stupidly come to see more intimate interactions with humans as worthwhile. Thus, they upset the purity of things. In Hox, it didn't happen, it was indecent but here... The girl had encountered more than one weak field in her time at Brunnhold but she had never done so at Frecksat. It was a weakness that she attributed to adulteration of galdori bloodlines, something she assumed had happened in this young man's past.

Her lips pressed together more firmly, a slight frown creasing her features as if something in her reading had puzzled her before her face smoothed, her features serene once more. She was getting far better at hiding her true feelings; her people would be proud.

When the buffoon grew silent after his introduction, Drezda was almost tempted to glance his way, an inner part of her eager to observe the agony of awkwardness that she guessed he was currently experiencing. However, when he finally broke his silence, a little jolt went through her, a noticeable twitch in her form like a ripple in a pond. He'd surprised her and it had shown; she inwardly cursed herself.

Ugh, she'd taken him for a fool with that strut but she hadn't imagined that he was coming over here because of her. By the Lady, what a fool! The Hoxian turned her head slowly to look up at him, allowing her field to flex as she did so, eyebrows raised, making no attempt to hide her incredulity. The flex was a brief one, just enough to remind him how small and insignificant he was beside her. She was more powerful, superior. How dare he!

"I think you'll find that I'm eating at present, Mister Valentin, so no, I do not have a moment for you," she responded coolly, the girls around her giggling madly at that. "I'm sure if you have a legitimate reason for wishing to speak with me, it can wait although I can't imagine what reason that would be," Drezda added, turning her attention from him in a cool dismissal that was as clear as if she had told him to clock off. If he was stupid enough to persist, which she had an odd feeling that he was, then she'd delight in dressing him down.
Last edited by Drezda Ecks on Mon Dec 03, 2018 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Rhys Valentin
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Thu Jul 26, 2018 10:43 am

"Is it not a custom in Hox to carry on conversation over meals?" Rhys was not only utterly undaunted by the older young woman's attempt at deflection, aware of her subtle act of establishing her superiority with the flex of her field, but also clearly willing to play the clocking culturally ignorant card just to spite her from the get go. Her brief surprise at his choice to address her didn't go unnoticed, for the tall blond was often dismissed as stupid when he was far more observant than he was ever given credit for. He just chose to keep some things to himself.

If anything, he was used to the galdori display of magical dominance, aware that his own field had been declared meager, lacking, suspiciously watered down, less than. The momentary motion of the Hoxian's Perceptive-laden field didn't phase him and he didn't waste his time with caprising in return. He was aware of their differences without such efforts. Compared to the Siordanti boy two tables away, however, the tall blond had never brailed and his backlash record was nonexistent—his magical potential was underestimated but his relationship with the mona was comfortable and his grasp of theory continued to earn him above average marks in his magical classes.

The young Valentin had just learned to narrow his focus instead, to stick to what he was good at—Perceptive conversation, mostly, perhaps because he was aware he could have a charming sort of way with others when he wanted to—and let the rest slide by like currents on the Arova. His participation in various sports were where he truly shined: mostly track and field games, but he'd given boxing and tennis and rowing a go in his time as a student thus far and proven his merit in the physical realm to be far greater than in the magical.

And that was fine.

Not every galdor had to be a sorcerer.

Right?

Right.

He'd caught the sidelong glances of the other girls at the table, and, truth be told, he knew he'd have been better off settling himself in a chair somewhere in the gaggle of them and enjoying their smiles and conversation. He could charm a few if he wanted to, but he was, instead, bound by the duty of his dare.

Rhys reached for the chair in front of Drezda, which was suspiciously unoccupied as if no one actually wanted to sit with her so much as near her, and he leaned on it, fingers tapping on the painted wood, the color dull and waxy after so many backs had pressed against it over the decades. The truth was the tall blond had no other reason to talk to her than because he was told to. Other than because he was willing to totally fuck up Mateo's plans by proving himself the better galdor somehow.

But did he want anything in particular from Drezda Ecks?

No.

At the same time, Rhys was achingly aware of his weakness for the unattainable, spurned already by the only galdor he'd ever really wanted to court. Unrequited was his theme song, and so this attractive, dismissive Hoxian was surely just another game he already knew intimately well how to play.

Pulling the chair out slowly to prove how utterly undaunted he was by her cold attempt at shooing him off, the expression on his face was one of barely contained mischief and youthful, masculine bravado. The young Valentin made a show out of sitting for her, much to the delight of their audience. His smile was thin-lipped but not cautious, almost facetious, and his blue eyes flicked for a moment from her face to over her shoulder, to an eager-faced auburn-haired toffin who was clearly on the edge of his seat with anticipation of what he could only perceive as Rhys' success from out of earshot.

It wasn't success. It was sticking his fist in the mouth of a hatcher, and he knew it.

"Actually, I have heard a bit about your Perceptive Conversation prowess from that ersehole Siordanti. While he also said your other personality traits were untenable—" Rhys made sure to emphasize the fault of the red-headed Anaxi with his tone of voice, settling into his stolen seat and ignoring the muffled giggles of their unwelcome collection of observers. He wasn't entirely lying, but his next words weren't the entire truth, either. He didn't at all feel like he needed anyone's assistance with magic, especially not anyone like her, but at the same time, academic conversation interested him enough that if he could manage to draw the icy creature into more than a few exchanged words, he could claim a small victory,

"—that's not my place to judge. Anyway, being so laden with foreign wisdom as you surely must be, and of course so much more powerful than I," The tall blond stalled with superfluous compliments, studying her face for a moment before he glanced down at her book quickly, attempting to absorb a title or a snippet of text so that he could have a starting point—

The effects of long-term use of magically-induced satiety on natural apetites, a brief note of caution

Bells and chimes, how clocking dull.

—he brought his sharp blue gaze back to her face, "well, I was curious about whether or not you had any theoretical suggestions for some advanced reading on the subject of Perceptive conversation. I'm sure your opinion is perhaps a little more out of the box than Professor Evan's or Mephist's opinions, for example."

Lame.

Clocking reaching there, Rhys.

He fully expected the Hoxian to inform him of how he wasn't even prepared for advanced study and how his meager field meant he never would be, but at the same time, the young Valentin was always prepared for surprises. Perhaps, for once in his life, some stranger would have some useful riposte instead. Probably not.
Last edited by Rhys Valentin on Sun Dec 02, 2018 4:21 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Drezda Ecks
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Thu Jul 26, 2018 12:37 pm

Yaris 34, 2711
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He didn't have the good sense to accept a brush-off. She was stronger and Hoxian and therefore superior. By Bash, she needed the strength and patience of the mountain in this moment. Why were men like this? Why did men have an issue with the concept of 'no'? Had she actually said the word? Yes, she had, even if it had been couched in outwardly polite terms. Perhaps she needed to be less polite but damn him, she didn't want to let her restraint slip for his sake. Drezda would simply have to watch herself. Let the temper, the bile, come out in her words but not in her tone.

"Yes, we'll have meaningful conversation. Conversing while eating doesn't do wonders for the digestion. Less agreeable when the subject is... unpalatable," she shot back, her black gaze shifting to him, expression almost bored. She didn't allow her gaze to waver. He wanted her attention, did he? Let him have it then, all of it, see how he liked it. He wouldn't find her giggling and simpering and fawning over him, not like this group of chattering idiots. These frivolous creatures were the sorts that would probably have no end of choice when it came to suitors, ready to reproduce more of their useless kind. They came to train in Brunnhold and then they'd concentrate on popping out children, no doubt. Waste of space, waste of talent, waste of breeding. Drezda actually intended to amount to something. She didn't need to waste energy simpering over some man that she had zero interest in. Unless it was advantageous of course but she thought blackmail was probably more serviceable than making loving eyes at anyone.

Valentin wasn't going to be deterred though, that was clear, continuing to hover around even though she'd given no illusion that his presence here was wanted - by her at least. Perhaps he could try one of the other girls in an attempt to instil jealousy in her. That would be a relief and intriguing to observe. It was just inconvenient when she was the target of his attentions.

She continued to stare him down, slightly sceptical expression continuing to pervade her features. He was going to sit down in spite of her unwelcome air or perhaps because of it. There was nothing she could do to stop him from doing so. Well, that wasn't wholly true. She could use a spell against him, make his skin crawl perhaps, or be more magically persuasive but it was hardly worth it. Sure, the mona wasn't likely to take it ill - conquest was conquest - but socially, it seemed potentially detrimental. It didn't seem wise for such a trivial thing as this boy.

As he made a performance out of simply sitting down, it took a great deal of self-control on the sorcerer's part not to roll her eyes. Bash, preserve her! She let her eyes flick back down to the pages before her, wondering if she could become sufficiently absorbed in the words to ignore him effectively but she had a feeling that he would talk and talk so that she couldn't focus on much at all. As soon as he mentioned her Perceptive Conversation prowess, she couldn't stop herself from closing her eyes, groaning inwardly. She hadn't asked for this. Tutoring had never agreed with her. She hadn't wanted to tutor Nauleth either but there hadn't been a great deal of choice in the matter, not when she wanted to stay on Dallium's good side. If this boy was here to request her tutelage as well - which she didn't wholly believe given his attitude, unless it was a cover for ulterior motives - then she would be declining quite emphatically.

His compliments were met with a slight tic at the corner of her lip, the twitch a downward one as she fought an expression of her disgust. His flattery was so blatant, he sounded like a Mugrobi although he certainly didn't look like one. It was snivelling and pathetic.

She held up a hand, a short wave of it signalling that he should stop. "Save your flattery, Mister Valentin. Flattery works on fools and those with doubts about their own worth; I assure you that I am neither," Drezda told him flatly, disinterested in the muted 'ooohs' that came from the table's other occupants. Pathetic. She shook her head as he continued, a short humourless laugh coming from her as she reached out for her drink, sipping delicately.

"I highly doubt that that's where your curiosity lies, Mister Valentin - Rhys - as I said, I'm no fool. However, perhaps I misjudge. Perhaps I can settle it quite readily with a truth spell, show off my Perceptive prowess," she bit out curtly. The response from the girls was enough to earn a slow head turn and a disapproving stare, the closest to a glare that they were likely to receive from the chilly Hoxian. She turned her attention back to Rhys.

"Will that be necessary, Rhys? I have no qualms with making you spit out the truth quite plainly if you will not do so yourself. However, I will save us both time and energy and a needless use of the mona. Mister Valentin, I do not believe that you came to me with all the cockiness of a rooster approaching a brood of hens simply to ask me about Perceptive Conversation. I can assure you that I have no interest in conversing with you socially or magically. I suggest you try someone more susceptible to pomp and bravado," she told him flatly, pushing her plate away from her and closing her book with a snap before slipping it calmly into her bag.

"If you want someone to take an interest in your penchant for performance, I suggest you try a wick. They apparently delight in such things," Drezda added, rising smoothly from the table and slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Good evening to you." If he didn't attempt to stop her then she'd simply depart without so much of a backwards glance. If he attempted to follow her... well, a lack of an audience wasn't likely to thaw her.
Last edited by Drezda Ecks on Mon Dec 03, 2018 3:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Rhys Valentin
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Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:03 pm

"Oh, fine. No need to put on a show, by the Lady." Hissed the tall blond, digging his bony elbows into the worn wood of the table and leaning forward, long fingers of one hand toying with the edge of her lunch tray before he extended his index finger over her shoulder without subtlety, giving away his co-conspirators shamelessly even as a hatcher's grin creased its way into his face, "Those clocking ersehats dared me to speak on their behalf. Mateo, to be specific, but he's anatomically flawed in that he lacks the gods-given balls to be sitting here instead. Mind you, his flirting is sort of like rubbing sandpaper against your brain until you agree to whatever he asks just to make it stop. So I'm doing you a favor, you know. Trust me."

He laughed quietly, leaning away and tapping her tray with his hand before rolling his narrow shoulders in a shrug, "I don't need to say anything, no. You're right there. I've heard about it on the Lawn, in the halls, from professors who have used your name in example in class. There's a difference between a compliment and flattery, but maybe the subtleties of my words don't come across well here in Anaxas to you, Miss Ecks."

Rhys was enjoying himself now, utterly, infuriatingly undaunted by Drezda's cold and dismissive demeanor. Apparently, the lanky creature was just a glutton for punishment or immune to the verbal abuse, for his smile still appeared genuine and the piercing blue of his eyes was still just as bright as ever. She stood, however, and the flicker of a frown threatened to cause his seemingly inane cheerfulness to falter.

Clock it all.

Her insults were at least well-thought out, unlike so much of the drivel that was directed at his weak-vibed, towheaded self. Originality had its appeal, and thus Rhys couldn't entirely complain about the abuse he'd invited from her. Novelty and curiosity seemed to win out against hurt feelings and indignation. Wicks and performance? Was she suggesting he was more like a Circus than a student? Ridiculous.

His attention flicked from the Hoxian's retreating back to the pair of ersehats watching him. Well, Nauleth wasn't even looking up from his book, either, but Mateo had the glazed appearance of a bander pup having been offered onnastick only to watch it get taken away. The young Valentin smirked, letting the young woman to walk further away, much to obvious amusement of the other girls, all of their eyes now on Rhys.

Rolling his eyes with an exhale through his teeth, he enjoyed the chase far too much to give in. Though, the dare satiated in his obvious failure to charm Drezda Ecks in but a mere handful of words, the decision to stand and pursue her was now totally his own onus, his own stupidity.

Long strides made it easy, abandoning his half-eaten lunch with his two compatriots to catch up to the dark-haired creature who wanted nothing to do with him at all,

"Wait—all the chroveshit of my friends aside, I could be genuine instead. I heard a rumor that you've found some interest in the Seventen ... or perhaps, from them—is that true? I'll be turning in my recruitment application at the end of the school year, so, you know, I've got connections."
Last edited by Rhys Valentin on Sun Dec 02, 2018 4:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Drezda Ecks
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Wed Aug 01, 2018 9:24 am

Yaris 34, 2711
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When he pointed out those who'd dared him to speak to her, Drezda could have looked but she did not. In truth, she frankly didn't give a damn, not deeming it worth her time to engage with such frankly childish actions. His crude speech earned her displeasure and disgust, a slight twist at the corner of her mouth attesting to that as she shook her head slightly.

"Oh yes, thanks! I'm sure if your friend had approached, I would have been utterly defenceless. It isn't as if I'm proficient in Conversation that could have sent him scampering off again if he proved a true irritant. You've done me a great favour," the Hoxian responded dryly, making no attempt to mask her disdain, while the girls at the table giggled raucously, evidently enjoying her put down of Rhys.

"I'm fluent in Estuan, Mister Valentin, although I'm not sure that anyone could be fluent in Anaxi chroveshit; a lack of fluency in that certainly isn't a loss in my mind," she retorted coolly. "I wouldn't call it subtlety; compliments and flattery are both ingratiating, whether their intended to be or not. Additionally, I doubt that your friends sent you over here to blather compliments with no ulterior motives behind them," she pointed out, sounding incredibly bored, her eyelids heavy as she looked down on him before finally turning her back, her lunch abandoned; she hadn't been that hungry in any case.

When she walked away, she considered herself done with him, her mind already turning to other matters. However, she didn't turn her attention away from the matter completely until she glanced in the direction that Rhys had indicated while on her way out. One boy was so incredibly obvious in his attention that it seemed certain that he was one co-conspirator but the younger boy had said co-conspirators, plural. She spotted Nauleth's familiar head and wondered if he- Possibly, but really what did she care? They were hardly worth the effort of some manner of revenge for disturbing her meal.

She was contemplating going to see Professor Dallium, a brief fantasy coalescing in her mind, before Rhys reappeared at her side. Her eyes rolled quickly heavenwards, offering a silent prayer to Bash for strength before she threw a glance his way, not stopping. As he talked about the Seventen, her face remained quite blank, life only seeming to appear when he mentioned connections. The Hoxian laughed, a cold, mocking sound, shaking her head slightly although from a distance, she might look genuinely mirthful. In range of her field, Rhys would likely feel the coldness of it, something almost indectal about it.

"Oh you have connections. Is that supposed to be impressive? It sounds as if you expect to get into the Seventen based on who you know rather than any sort of merit," she commented, allowing her field to flex, glancing off his smaller, less powerful one. "Although, I suppose it would be very difficult for you otherwise. A glamour is hardly impressive," she added, laughing again, although this time, there was more genuine humour in it - at his expense.

She stopped in the corridor outside the cafeteria, arms crossed over her chest, her posture ramrod straight as she raised her chin, gazing up at him. Her lips were pressed together, all trace of humour gone. "Whether I am set to enter the Seventen or not is little of your concern, Mister Valentin. If I might offer a word advice, let me tell you to avoid partaking in dares. I imagine you're old enough to know better. You won't be caught in the midst of the childish antics here forever; I'd suggest attempting to grow up sooner rather than later," Drezda explained softly.

"If you're a shining example of what the Seventen might consider recruiting then I shudder. It's little wonder that this kingdom has such an issue with adulteration of galdori bloodlines; you have no control or boundaries."

The young woman smoothed down her uniform, delicately removing a crumb from it before she gazed up at Rhys once more, eyebrows raised. "Do you have a genuine reason to take up my time, Mister Valentin, or may I be permitted to attend to other matters?" she questioned, her voice neutral although her field carried a clear haughtiness.
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Rhys Valentin
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Fri Aug 10, 2018 2:43 pm

For a moment, Rhys fell silent. He felt guttered, disoriented, if only because the Hoxian was so full of negative deflection he wasn't even sure if he was facing the right direction anymore. Even Nauleth, that strange Siordanti, for all of his standoffish grumpiness, had something inside that could be reached that was conversational, that wasn't just a handful of sharp objects. He blinked, gathering his wits much like he gathered his sigiled field.

The glamour accusation wasn't new, but coming from this particular young woman's already rather acidic lips, it caused the tall blond to wince, grinding his teeth at the kind of irritation that single word had caused him over the years. It was like that one grain of sand inside of a mussel that eventually would become a pearl, he told himself, over and over again. Only he didn't want to be a pearl. He just wanted everyone else to clocking get over themselves.

Huffing as if to move the stray locks of hair that always managed to find their way into his face, into his sharp blue eyes, the young Valentin sneered, "I have no doubts about my qualifications are more than met for entry into the illustrious Seventen and I fully intend to pass with flying colors, regardless of how many Captains I know by name, thank you. Considering Hox has only recently rejoined the Symvouli, I suppose the challenge would be yours more than mine—I could only guess that your reasons for even being interested in the Anaxi police force would be purely political ones because it's clear to me your physical and mental qualifications would be questionable at best. You're neither interested in being helpful to the Kingdom nor kind to the general populace, let alone strong enough to carry more than whatever you can shove in that bag of yours. I'd worry for your ability to deal with the general populace with any semblance of propriety and I doubt you could keep up with a fleeing criminal if your clocking life depended on it, especially if you were in a situation where your preciously superior field couldn't help you."

Rhys grinned at the end of his words, but it was a chrove's smile, full of a viciousness that proved he could play games, too.

"Other than the reasons I've already reasonably given? No." He riposted, glancing past her to stare at Mateo's eager face and glance at the back of Naul's head, "I don't have a genuine reason to take up your time. I'll let you let Mateo down as kindly as possible next time. Unless you want to prove the full extent of your so-called superiority on the Lawn instead?"

The tall, lanky creature who was just beginning to fill out the height he'd been inexplicably handed drew himself up to stand straighter and met her gaze, "I mean, you're probably too busy anyway. With all your preparations for graduation and all of your friends. Since I'm such a watered-down example of Anaxi stock in your opinion, it should be a simple matter of putting a piece of lower form, unstudied trash in my place, don't you think?" He laughed then, a sarcastic and rebellious sound, before rolling his shoulders into a shrug, hands out in innocent invitation.

"You're probably too good to duel, too. All talk, no vratz. All theory and no application—typical of nasty, stuck up toffins like yourself." He spit out the Deftung for magic with another laugh, appearing completely undaunted by both the vehemence of her refusal for any form of pleasantries as well as completely unconcerned about the call to magical combat he'd just so casually hung between them.

His tone, in contrast, had remained almost playful, almost coy, as if he didn't have a single fear in all of Anaxas. Truth be told, he was horribly intimidated and very aware he'd lose a duel against a superior student faster than he could name every scientific name of his father's crops back home, but that was besides the point. It would be doing something. It would be action, dueling this Drezda Ecks. It would be putting her ugly words where her pretty mouth was. And at least then, losing horribly would be somewhat more honorable than this waste of a conversation.

Irreverent and uncaring as to her answer, he rolled his eyes and turned to leave, thumbing his nose as he walked past her, not bothering to hold the door for her so much as for the little flow of tiny first forms that rushed past, making sure to let go of the large wooden barrier before she was close enough.
Last edited by Rhys Valentin on Thu Nov 01, 2018 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Drezda Ecks
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Sat Aug 18, 2018 10:46 am

Yaris 34, 2711
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The young woman had a vaguely bored expression on her face, especially as he began what she thought of as a sneering tirade. In all honesty, his words didn't interest her in the slightest, a teenager with a bruised ego trying to strike out and hurt those around him was simply pathetic in Drezda's mind. It was as good as a little child throwing a tantrum because he hadn't gotten his own way, because his feelings had been hurt. He'd approached her on a dare but he'd followed her on a whim, wanting to show off and impress her and she hadn't done what he'd wanted so now he was pitching a fit. Oh, it was more restrained than what would come from a young child but in essence, it was the same. She was vaguely amused by some of his words, especially the idea of the Seventen being 'illustrious'. Her opinion of the police force certainly wasn't as high as he seemed to think of it. Stupid Anaxi.

The student wasn't inclined to reveal her true thoughts on the matters he discussed, mainly because the truth was likely to hurt her. These days, she had to be very careful about what she allowed to spill from her lips these days because it could come back to bite her. The last thing she needed was for certain words to reach the wrong ears, especially within the Seventen. Given her vague interest in the organisation and their reciprocal interest in her, it wouldn't bode well for her if they learned her disdain for them. They were a means to an end, a curiosity really. She hadn't encountered anything else that would interest her, the idea of getting in with the Seventen - the Investigative Services Division in particular - intrigued her. Criminal minds were ones she'd like to examine and the sort of Seventen who dealt with criminal investigations... well, they had to see some interesting things. Pain, suffering, derangement, something that the Perceptive wanted to taste, she did enjoy the dark recesses of the mind where other people were afraid to go.

Drezda wasn't going to deign to respond to his attempts to insult her, her country, and her opinions. The young woman knew that she and her country were both superior to this shithole of a nation and their tainted people. The truth was that confidence was quiet and she didn't need to declare the fact that she was above all this; her superiority should be quite obvious. Her plan was simply to allow his words to slide off of her and then leave. After all, there was no reason for him to remain. Except, he had to have his last attempt to save some face, a pathetic attempt to reinflate his ego.

The Lawn was known as a place of duels. Those who wished to prove themselves, settle disputes and such would go there to display their Conversational talents until there was a victor. Personally, when she'd had to settle things, she took a more subtle approach; the Lawn was a place of public confrontation, even though the teachers could easily step in to intervene. Still, he was relying on the fact that she'd refuse his challenge, was desperate that she'd do so actually. If he challenged her and he refused then he'd get to say that a sorcerer near graduation, for all intents and purposes superior to him, had run scared.

"Oh, your desperation to prove yourself is showing, mho," the Hoxian murmured, her words the equivalent of a condescending pat on the head. "I've duelled before - there's always someone who thinks they can converse better and that they should prove it to everyone - and so I've dealt with them. On the Lawn though, so very public. Quite vulgar. Your friend, Mr Siordanti learned the errors of his ways that way. You do understand that mona isn't something to be toyed with, don't you? It isn't a tool to bludgeon your enemies with," she explained imperiously, scrutinising him, wondering how to proceed.

The Hoxian sighed, eyes closing as she considered. When she opened them, her eyes were turned towards the ceiling, stuck in an eye roll. "If you really feel the need for some vulgar display of talents then consider it done. Although there's no need to do it on the Lawn. One ought to be discreet about these sorts of things. One of the forests should suffice. We aren't likely to be disturbed that way."

With her piece said, the woman began to walk away, expecting that he would follow. However, as she minced away, she paused to glance over her shoulder, brows raised questioningly. "I assume that you're coming... unless you've chosen to retract your challenge? I wouldn't be surprised after all, I can see that it came from a place of desperate shame. Although be warned: hurt feelings aren't a good mindset for going into any sort of Conversation. Or so I'm told. Can't say I'm experienced it myself," she explained before continuing on her way. Either he'd follow or he wouldn't. It would be no skin off her teeth.
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Rhys Valentin
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Wed Sep 05, 2018 4:23 pm

"For gods' sake, I've got nothing to prove." Rhys groaned, exasperated, raising his hands above his head and waving them. He was frustrated, angry, and felt cornered by the Hoxian's relentless and ruthless method of conversation. A cornered chrove bit. The tall blond just wanted to turn his noise into action. He'd already stood still for too long, "I fully expect for you to soundly kick my erse, but clock the Circle if I'll waste that whole useless conversation on letting you walk away like it didn't happen!"

He truly had no reputation to wager. He had no expectations to maintain. He was a towhead and his field was often called nothing but glamour. This foolishness was a needful expression of a young man who longed to break out of the mold just once, even if it didn't make an iota of difference in anyone's life but his own.

He chose to ignore her reference to Nauleth, aware of his friend's backlash just a handful of years ago. The young Valentin was quite comfortable with his relationship with the mona, regardless of how easy it was for his peers to point out his lesser field, to point out that he was somehow different when he'd consistently proven them wrong again and again. The mona treated him no different, even if he often found it more of an unspoken challenge to draw in the sentient particles to his person and feel as though the strange things heard his Monite in the same way. He was an excellent student—or, at least above average—but he was also aware that he'd decided to live his life outside of the expectations of his peers.

"Vulgar. Please. You'd think all of Vita revolved around your clocking ego." Rhys sniggered disdainfully, expression souring further at such an accusatory tone, "You don't have to dedicate your display of talents to the gods if you don't want to—Discreet? What for? Are you worried about losing, then?"

The tall blond laughed, watching as she walked away in a direction that wasn't at all toward the Field of Practical Application. Her choice of well-manicured sidewalk wasn't what he expected and he attempted to consider where she was implying she'd rather duel. Was she embarrassed? Would trouncing him so thoroughly somehow hurt her Hoxian sense of honor? What kind of Kingdom was hers that they couldn't just get things out of the way with an impressive display of power and be done?

The young Valentin hissed his displeasure, blue eyes narrowing as Drezda looked back over her shoulder as if he was some dog that needed told where to go, "I'm not ashamed of anything, and you're really full of yourself if you think you've bruised my feelings just because you have no filter between that brain of yours and your mouth. Not everyone's some clocking wilting flower to be bent in your presence, thank you. Gods, you act like I haven’t heard worse. This whole school is just a breeding ground for bullies and erseholes. It’s clocking ugly conceit like yours that keeps slowly killing the Six Kingdoms." His grin was wicked, suddenly aware that perhaps he'd found something in common in their inability to entirely control their tongues. He didn’t mean to let skip his own opinions so strongly, but he had a firm reason for pursuing the green uniform of the Seventen. It was, like all of himself, unconventional on a good day. But he didn’t clocking care. Someone had to figure out some decent sense of justice in his homeland. It may as well be him.

Not that he'd dare point that out.

He had nothing to prove and nothing to lose, but somehow, he'd made up his mind that magic could make up for what his lack of social ability to keep up with the Hoxian couldn't. It wouldn't. While their conversation had attracted enough attention, his challenge had not. No one lingered near them with any expectation, especially once Drezda refused to walk in the direction of the Lawn.

Fine. Damn it all. Just fine.

Rhys followed, something about the other student's utter lack of real emotion where he had no real ability to turn off his own keeping his attention where even he knew he'd have been a smarter man to walk away.
Last edited by Rhys Valentin on Sun Dec 02, 2018 4:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Drezda Ecks
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Thu Nov 01, 2018 2:27 pm

Yaris 34, 2711
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The Hoxian considered him with a touch of amusement in her features, a mere hint of the true depth of emotion that lay beneath the surface. There was that slight smirk again, that hint of sneer.

"For someone with nothing to prove, you seem to be attempting to prove it rather persistently. Sorry to break it to you but it's the truth," she pointed out, her tone entirely unapologetic.

The peer was practically writhing before her, his emotion barely contained within his tall form. She wondered if he'd literally explode if he was pushed just a little more. He appeared to be a wellspring of rage and desperation. The former was clear in his face, how it flushed and contorted while the latter she could almost smell. Frankly, she'd rather just walk away from the situation, a little too confident that she'd beat him and not revelling in the notion of an easy victory. Where would the pleasure be or the purpose? If he was a threat, someone who she actually needed to take down a peg or two then she'd enjoy it but frankly, the boy before her wasn't even worth her time. However, she couldn't walk away either. Walking away could leave her open, the daft ersehole before her likely to brag that he'd challenged her to a duel and she'd been too cowardly to accept. She didn't like the idea of having to deal with more desperate chancers and those who thought she might be losing her touch.

Her only way out of it was if he was sufficiently spooked but unfortunately, she thought he had too much to prove and too little to lose for that tactic to work on him. A nuisance.

"If you think that you're going to be defeated and you have that mentality then I don't see how that makes this pointless conversation of use. Were you hoping to acquire a painful injury so you could prove to yourself that we talked? If that's the case, I'm sure that I could just hit you. If it's timed correctly then other people will see it and you won't have to doubt your own recollections," Drezda told him, a wry smile on her face.

Smacking him across the face before witnesses would definitely carry some degree of danger for her but she would enjoy it.

Still, he was terribly grating, wasn't he? The Perceptive would be glad when she got rid of him and his excuses, his poor attempts at jibes that so harmlessly slid off her ivory-skinned exterior. Frankly, all he was doing was betraying his own ignorance and stupidity. As if something being vulgar had anything to do with ego. So very, very Anaxi. They lacked all sense of class and taste but then they actually allowed humans to live side-by-side with them so that had always been clear.

"It's not in good taste, mho, and there are better things to dedicate to the gods. Do my people not bend mountains to their will?" Drezda questioned, her voice flat. By Bash, did he know nothing? She had come from a nation where such grandiose displays of power were commonplace. Compared to that, what was flinging around mona but an almost childish game? Moving mountains required great understanding and often some subtlety. Great, brash acts were more likely to bring the mountain down on top of you rather than shape it as you wished. What she did with Perceptive Conversation was quite similar. It required as much knowledge and care and subtlety but the results were far more satisfying; mountains didn't appear to feel pain or anguish.

Still as she walked away and he threw words after her rather than simply follow, she had to laugh. So much bark and yet ultimately, for all his bravado, he was going to follow her all the same, wasn't he? A good obedient dog doing exactly as he was bid. It was delicious actually, bringing him to heel. She simply kept walking, head tilted ever so slightly to the side as she listened. Drezda didn't have to wait long before she heard the steps following behind, her face breaking out in a wide and vicious smile at the sound. By the time he caught up, it would be tamed into something more akin to icy politeness, a slight upturn at the corners of her lips.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Mr Valentin, but I do have a filter between my mouth and my brain. Quite an effective one in fact. I don't blurt out any thoughts and I certainly don't speak everything I think. I sympathise with your impairment though," she murmured. Her condescension could only have been clearer if she'd actually reached out to pat him on the arm.

As she walked, she rummaged in her bag, seeking out strips of bone. They were thin and long, carefully smoothed out and the true nature of the material was hardly discernible beneath the decorative paint. They might have been termed spikes if they'd been sharpened at the ends. While they did taper, they certainly weren't pointed and the reason why became clear when the Hoxian woman tugged her ebony hair back, twisting it into a tight bun before driving the hair spikes in diagonally so that the crossed each other. It was nice to have the hair out of her face, so less distracting and all of its length could be so easily tidied up so that nothing interfered with her field of vision or tickled against her skin.

"Oh, my apologies by the way. It was obviously a mistake to believe that all the huffing and puffing you were doing and the excuses were the product of an ego that had been deflated. I'll be sure to note that your ego is wholly intact," she told him as she walked, her stride as broad as she could manage but largely unhurried. His legs might be longer than her own but if he overtook her, she had no intention of hurrying to catch up to him. Besides, he likely didn't realise precisely where they were heading so having to slink back to ask for her direction probably wouldn't jive well with his currently bruised - no, her mistake - his wholly intact and undamaged ego.

"I really don't see the point of this, you know, but if you really feel that it's necessary then I'm not going to do it where a professor can come along and throw a hissy fit. It's only a few seasons until graduation, it really isn't worth the aggravation. Besides, professors are unfortunately distracting and while I'd like to think that I can prevent a devastating brail, your friend is certainly warning enough against that," she murmured, reaching up to her own face and allowing her fingers to brush over her cheek.

Such perfect and clear skin. It would be a shame to ruin a perfectly excellent face by delaying its motions. Frankly, what had happened to Nauleth disgusted her. What was more, she didn't think that someone like him would have been allowed to continue in Hox as if nothing had happened. He was a freak and his weakness was obvious. If he'd been born in Hox, he would have caused as much shame to a family as a passive although he would have been far harder to get rid of.
Last edited by Drezda Ecks on Mon Dec 03, 2018 4:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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