Does that mean you like sciences here? [ He raises an eyebrow from behind his sunglasses, smirking lightly. He knows about skipping class well enough from his own teenage years; he wasn't the most dedicated student.
So he's not going to judge her. And maybe she can validate his style of teaching. ]
I'm looking for shells. Empty ones, preferably, not the ones with animals still living inside them. You've seen any?
Would they not be enough? What do you want from a class?
[ He pauses, looking over at Charlie again. He shouldn't - Jesus fuck, she's hot as hell, looking like a million dollars wearing that tiny bikini, and it's so fucking wrong of him to even think that.
[ Her smile turns a bit more impish as she bobs her head side to side--] No, actually, badass experiments do sound pretty great.
[ It's not like he's unattractive. But Charlie doesn't feel one inch of guilt for looking at him or thinking said thoughts.
She adjusts the strings of her bikini bottoms without thinking about it before she tilts her head back the direction she came--]
Follow me. [ And if he follows, she'll guide him towards a little smattering of rocks and boulders sticking out of the sand, pointing towards them as they walk--]
I'm not stressed, exactly. [ She's only dealing with the fact that her mother was murdered by hunters, her father became sort of unhinged because of it, her brother is a mess and she's gotten herself tangled up with a few people here who won't ever be able to give her what she really wants. And that--] I'm a werewolf so... there's that whole thing. You know, the evil selkie trying to torture my kind into being her slaves for some kind of Battle of Hogwarts wannabe.
[ Straightening up, Z crosses his arms over his chest, the shell stuck between two fingers. This time, he looks at her from over his sunglasses, looking more serious than he usually does, even in class. ]
Sounds like stress to me. You don't trust us to keep you guys safe?
[ He's been working with the Headmaster to help with the warding of the school. After all, he had some pretty solid abilities that could add another layer of protection.
Still, there was something there that got his attention further. ]
Do you think she's targeting werewolves in particular?
My parents and pack couldn't even keep themselves safe. [ Charlie was starting to worry that it wasn't just your average hunters that came after her pack and she wonders if her mother sacrificed her life for her own.
The thought makes her sick.
She looks at him briefly.]
That's the rumor. There's stories that she's been taking young werewolves and turning them to her side.
That - I'm guessing you won't want to tell me what happened if I asked?
[ But the rumor, that's something to think about. He frowns, pulling his sunglasses off completely, even though it forces him to squint in the bright sunlight. ]
Does the Headmaster know about this rumor?
[ Because what if it's more than that? ]
If it's true, then... we've got to make sure you are protected. [ And when he said that, he meant her, specifically. The other werewolves, too, of course, but Charlie. ]
My mother was murdered by hunters. [ She says it matter-of-fact-ly, like she's said it enough times for it to stop hurting but it does, every time. ]
I would think he does, he seems like the kind that keeps his ear to the ground or whatever. [ She watches him as he squints against the sunlight, pushing her own sunglasses more securely on her face.]
That would be why my father sent me and my brother here. To be protected.
Oh, shit. I'm sorry. [ So many kids with terrible backstories in this place. Z can't help but take it in and thank whatever Lady Luck that has been looking after him for leaving his family alone. The way she says it, too, so detached, makes him want to reach out, put a hand on her shoulder, something, anything. Reassure.
He's not great at the reassuring thing. ]
I guess he is sort of that kind of guy.
[ His ear. Ah! Jokes. Z puts his sunglasses back on, turning to face the ocean before sitting down in the sand, digging his toes in. ]
It's not your fault, [ she says again, detached, as she's said to many other people who apologize for her mother's death. She knows how they mean it but...] Thanks though.
[ She doesn't hesitate in sitting next to him despite being in a bikini where sand might get all over her ass. For all that Charlie likes nice things, she's not a girly girl.]
I never said that. I am just not going to let my guard completely down. I can't for my brother's sake. [ Her brow furrows and she looks out at the ocean, letting out a terse laugh.]
It did, didn't it? [ He lets out a laugh, wrapping an arm around his knees. ] And now you're definitely late for your next class, aren't you?
[ He keeps smiling, even if it's not as wide as it was earlier. ]
Keeping alert is good. [ Says the guy with approximately a thousand different types of security measures and checks on everyone and everything he can think of, ready to ping his phone at the slightest weird shift in patterns.
Paranoid? Nah. ] But don't let it take away from your life, either. You're too young to get wrinkles.
I haven't been letting it, [ she pointed out, waving her hand around as if to remind him that she was alone on the beach before he showed up. Paranoia wasn't something she let herself feel, not when she saw what it did to her father.]
I'm fine here, I feel safe enough that's what matters.
I have a lot more freedom to be me here, so hell yes. [ She laughs a little.] To say they are pretty relaxed about rules here is... an understatement. [ She's no narc though, she will probably avoid specifics, just in case.]
Yeah. [ He wiggles his toes in the sand. In his high school, no teacher would have been allowed to hang with a student like this, on the beach, while she's wearing a bikini. ]
It's taken some time to adjust to it. Nothing like 'normal' schools I've been to. As a student, i should add, not as a teacher. This is my first teaching job.
[ And he knows that here, some of the faculty doesn't care about rules and he knows there are a lot of relationships happening all over the place that maybe shouldn't. Z can only witness them, turn a blind eye sometimes. ]
[ Yep. Definitely not the most student/teacher sort of hang out is happening right now.] It has to be, right? You look like you should still be in college.
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So he's not going to judge her. And maybe she can validate his style of teaching. ]
I'm looking for shells. Empty ones, preferably, not the ones with animals still living inside them. You've seen any?
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Yeah, I grab one every time I run.
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Aaaand that must be why I can't find any, huh? You're a hoarder!
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Or maybe you're looking in the wrong place.
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[ He pauses, looking over at Charlie again. He shouldn't - Jesus fuck, she's hot as hell, looking like a million dollars wearing that tiny bikini, and it's so fucking wrong of him to even think that.
And yet... ]
Where should I be looking?
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[ It's not like he's unattractive. But Charlie doesn't feel one inch of guilt for looking at him or thinking said thoughts.
She adjusts the strings of her bikini bottoms without thinking about it before she tilts her head back the direction she came--]
Follow me. [ And if he follows, she'll guide him towards a little smattering of rocks and boulders sticking out of the sand, pointing towards them as they walk--]
That's the jackpot.
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It's his place to be responsible, but as soon as she's adjusting her bikini, then turning around, his eyes fall to her ass, and goddamn it.
He catches up to her, sand sticking to his toes. ]
Huh. Well, those are perfect. [ He crouches, picking up a shell and holding it to the sun. ] Do you come running here often?
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She likes his smile, she thinks, as they walk. And she stands back when he moves to grab a shell.]
I don't run on the beach a lot. I mostly do yoga here with a friend.
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[ Z is not much of a yoga man, preferring to run and hit the gym himself. But he can appreciate the thought of Charlie doing it. ]
School is stressing you out that you feel the need?
[ Surely, can't be worth than prison. ]
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Sounds like stress to me. You don't trust us to keep you guys safe?
[ He's been working with the Headmaster to help with the warding of the school. After all, he had some pretty solid abilities that could add another layer of protection.
Still, there was something there that got his attention further. ]
Do you think she's targeting werewolves in particular?
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The thought makes her sick.
She looks at him briefly.]
That's the rumor. There's stories that she's been taking young werewolves and turning them to her side.
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[ But the rumor, that's something to think about. He frowns, pulling his sunglasses off completely, even though it forces him to squint in the bright sunlight. ]
Does the Headmaster know about this rumor?
[ Because what if it's more than that? ]
If it's true, then... we've got to make sure you are protected. [ And when he said that, he meant her, specifically. The other werewolves, too, of course, but Charlie. ]
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I would think he does, he seems like the kind that keeps his ear to the ground or whatever. [ She watches him as he squints against the sunlight, pushing her own sunglasses more securely on her face.]
That would be why my father sent me and my brother here. To be protected.
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He's not great at the reassuring thing. ]
I guess he is sort of that kind of guy.
[ His ear. Ah! Jokes. Z puts his sunglasses back on, turning to face the ocean before sitting down in the sand, digging his toes in. ]
But you don't think we can do the job?
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[ She doesn't hesitate in sitting next to him despite being in a bikini where sand might get all over her ass. For all that Charlie likes nice things, she's not a girly girl.]
I never said that. I am just not going to let my guard completely down. I can't for my brother's sake. [ Her brow furrows and she looks out at the ocean, letting out a terse laugh.]
This escalated into dark-as-fuck, quickly.
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[ He keeps smiling, even if it's not as wide as it was earlier. ]
Keeping alert is good. [ Says the guy with approximately a thousand different types of security measures and checks on everyone and everything he can think of, ready to ping his phone at the slightest weird shift in patterns.
Paranoid? Nah. ] But don't let it take away from your life, either. You're too young to get wrinkles.
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I'm fine here, I feel safe enough that's what matters.
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Yeah? You're having fun here, then? [ Yes, he's fishing. Why, that's the question, because he shouldn't be interested. ]
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It's taken some time to adjust to it. Nothing like 'normal' schools I've been to. As a student, i should add, not as a teacher. This is my first teaching job.
[ And he knows that here, some of the faculty doesn't care about rules and he knows there are a lot of relationships happening all over the place that maybe shouldn't. Z can only witness them, turn a blind eye sometimes. ]
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Technically, I could be. Should be, really. But I'm kind of a... I don't know I just learn things quickly,
[ He doesn't want to use the word 'genius', even if it's the accurate, scientific term. ]
And sciences are fun.
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I'm 25. [ Possibly, under different circumstances, he'd add 'and I've got two masters'. But it feels pointless right now. ]
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