#anywhere

"Whatever."

The teacher stays where he is, crosses his arms, and yes, the car can be entered right now.

"You're... part of that club; I'm not, I get that. Thought maybe, here, but..... whatever. Tell Sam thanks."

"Well, I'm not here as a troll. I'm here as a teacher. " He says "Look. I can't tell you to click your heels three times and you'll be instantly 'in the club' as you put it. I can tell you that I've noticed that you're working hard to keep our secrets...and I believe would even without the Oath. Just because you're making slow progress towards a finish line doesn't mean you're standing in place. Now, it sounds like you're saying you are baling on your first day because of 'the club'?"

A sullen shrug. "Yeah. Whatever. School sucks."

"Yeah, well, maybe, but I don't want a squire who is uneducated."

Adam continues to look sullen and disruptive but there's a glint there......?

"That's right dude, I know why you hang around.. why it hurts to feel shut out. You're a jock, but you love D&D... you're chasing the ladies... but you want to believe in magic. You want to be a knight, or at least a warrior, or at least a hero right? Well, lots of knights can be villains...but not the point. I know- we tell you it's not personal that you're not in, and it's not- because we'd treat any other kinian with your gift like this. BUT it FEELS personal, doesn't it? And feelings don't always give a a crap about logic or even the truth. It just hurts. The hurt is real. Well. I'm sorry you're hurting, but that doesn't make the Chief wrong. THat said, yes, what you're hoping for IS possilbe... but it's not easy. That's why the terms 'trials' 'challenges' and 'quests' are used. It's hard. It's supposed to be hard. If it was easy, anyone could do it. The hard is what makes it great. "

"And if you can do it? yeah. I might consider taking you on as a squire. That's not a carrot, or a promise... it's just a possibility, one possible future out of a dozen or more. And only YOU can make THAT One happen"

Adam flushes.

"Whatever." Too cool.

"Look man, you got a choice here. Follow to French class, because the bell is about to ring, and tough it out like the hero you want to grow into, or ..don't. Fold. Go off with your tail between your legs... but I think you're better than that last. " A pause then a shrug "Also if you don't show you know I or some other teacher will be calling your mom and dad anyway and who needs that shit?" He backs away from the car "Either way, your choice, your consequences, YOUR dreams. I can't make them for you" He starts to turn to head to French class.

Adam.... does not stay at his car but he SURE isn't going to take French.......

The boy ambles towards school.

Well, it seems he's got French for his language class.. he might have to go to the office to get it changed.

He does.

Hurtful. Vali signs his excuse note anyway

Adam finds another language class. Spanish, maybe.

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Oh Sylvi is in the bathroom and...

Yup...quick preventative to catch mascara before it runs. Damp corner of a paper towel....

"There you are" Tanya comes in

Then cold damp towel to cheeks.

A sigh. "Yeah. I'm fine."

"I'll be fine."

She doesn't try to hide the makeup repair, though. These things happen.

"Better" At the correction "And Sam doesn't realize what she said...not in what it could be seen as"

A sigh. "I guess. It's just...did you see her this morning? Before now?"

"As a matter of fact I did... but was on the way to my locker so I didn't get to ask about it in time. Your work right? I saw the video for the more ..dramatic job last night"

"She did it this morning. I just did touch-ups, but she had it. I wasn't expecting her to keep it on all day, but...." She pauses. "I just...she didn't think it was stupid this morning. She liked it. And...I guess I shouldn't take it personally that she's saying it's stupid, now, but...." She presses her lips together and shrugs, another dab at the eyes.

"But you feel like all your help, and teaching just got spat on. IT's not you or your teaching she's mad at , but it's one thing to know up here, " A gesture to her head, "And ohter to process it down here" A gesture to heart "I'm sorry. Sam is..she feels very powerfully, and forgets others can too."

Another shrug. "Selfish of me. I was proud of what I taught her to do. Thought she'd be happy with it. But...that's not fair of me to expect." Deep breath. "I'm okay. I'm not mad at her or anything, just...disappointed, and I've got no right to be."

"I don't know about that. Look, she's a person, but so are you. You gave a gift, and it got rejected. That stings, I don't care what the gift is. And let's face it, muzzling Zane is NOT a bad idea." A sigh

Sylvi smirks at that. "He's a doofus."

"I like him, and sometimes he's SO smart but then he .. 'hey, I noticed something let's talk about itin the worst way possible'"

"Doofus," Sylvi asserts, doing touch-up work in the mirror. All business, now. "I'm fine. But...it's nice that you checked. Thanks."

"Well, least I can do... " A shake of her head. "For all my frustrations, everyone of trhe Davidsons and Kings HAVE been tolerant of me. At times when I did not deserve it"

Sylvi musters a bit of a grin...and even offers a quick hug.

She gets one, but quick "Now, we have both shown a brief moment of fragility. We shall, of course, never speak of it to others" A nod

"A dire secret, absolutely. Now...back into the breach." She squares her shoulders, cheerleader smile, and dives back into the hallway and on the way to class.

Tanya checks her own hair, takes a deep breather and chants to herself mentally a mantra If I kill him he won't learn anything. If I kill him he won't learn anything.If I kill him he won't learn anything. If I kill him he won't learn anything...

and so it goes...

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