therealbrianna | Come As You Are // Open Post

[She has spent the entire day observing Brianna Lopez and Michael Lamont from where they were seated at the back of her classroom in Balamb. It didn't distract her from doing her job (she's well past the point where something like that could affect her), but it certainly did warrant a lot of attention.

The boy still wasn't opening up, but he had looked marginally better. Prior to Brianna's arrival, he used to constantly look like he was shrinking into his own seat, jump at every little noise, and give a wide berth to any man or other boy in the area.

Now, at least, he actually spoke. Granted, it was just two times (one to respond to Brianna asking for his name, and another to ask the other Changeling if she was going to be back tomorrow), but two times was plenty for a special case like his.

"Special case". What a kind way of putting it.

She's watching Michael flee from her classroom now, and then turning, once he's gone, to measure Brianna's reaction. No words yet: she needs to see how the girl took it.]

[ She bent down to gather her things, and raises her head to notice that Aria's looking at her. ]

...What? [ Her response isn't snarky or mean, though. In fact, she looks to her side and turns around a bit to see if Aria's looking at someone else, before turning her attention back at Aria. ]

[Blinking now, and smiling. This one's sharp, and she's only going to get sharper with more experience.]

Sorry. I wanted to see how you're feeling after all of that. [Chuckling now.] I'm used to having to figure things out on my own with people.

[Not a lot of her comrades are very upfront about their emotions these days.]

[ Oh. ]

Same here. I'm okay, I guess. Usually people warm up to me very fast but...

[ She shrugs. ]

He did go through an incredibly tough time. Had to read the file you sent me.

Yeah. Unsurprisingly, all of that came from Selene, and from reading into his memories. He just wouldn't open up to any of us, even her.

[Right, stuff packed. Canting her head towards the door.]

Let's walk and find a place to smoke?

[ Politely smiling at Aria. Of course she won't say no, but she's not totally into the idea.

Eh, might as well, right? Nowhere else to be anyway. Besides, Brianna's learning to give second chances. ]

Sure. Lead the way!

[Well, it's a step. She doesn't actually need to get along with this one, but in the long run, people didn't really need anyone to like them.

Stepping out of the classroom, then, and heading downstairs. Out in the back garden is probably a good place.]

He does look better. Which is good.

[ Nodding along and sits herself down on one of the benches.

She fiddles around her bag for her pack and lighter. ]

That is true. Who's looking after him, anyway? Like I hope they assigned him a guardian or anything?

[Sitting on the bench across of Brianna's, just to give her space. She's lighting up as well, and looking... pensive.]

He doesn't have a guardian yet, actually. I'm the one in charge of him as his teacher. [Drag, exhale.] He's still being kept in the Psych Ward of Ziz.

[ That makes her a bit sad. He's just a kid, and for him to be kept at a Psych Ward...

Well, not like they can place him anywhere else. They do have to contain the things that he sees around him, and the people he interacts with.

She lights up as well. ]

Is he talking to anyone at the Psych Ward?

No. I'll have to check again, though, just in case.

[It bothers her, really. She's seen a lot of things, done a lot of things, but cases like this? That, and she is kind of really close to the likes of Tala and Selene Vega, personal things aside.]

How was anyone able to convince him to join Netsach anyway, or even attend class at that?

[ Based on how he seems on edge every time someone approached him, she's kind of surprised that he'd even go to class everyday. ]

He hasn't actually joined us. Lia just feels that it's necessary for us to watch over him for now, at least until he starts making some real decisions for himself.

[She's speaking quietly now, because. Yes, this gets under her skin.

Fucking Gentry.]

[ Oh. ]

Better us than someone else.

[ A bit bitter there. Had she found out about Michael way before, she would have stopped at nothing to get him safe - which in Brianna's definition means Falner Estate. ]

My thoughts exactly. Sometimes, though, I wish we could do more.

[It's an honest response. One would think that a woman of Aria's position would be confident where she is, and confident in what she does.

It's ironic, though, how the higher you get, the smaller you feel.]

[ Don't we all. she thinks to herself sadly.

She's takes a thoughtful puff from her cigarette before replying. ]

Well, if I learned one thing about the Fae, it's that there's not much you can do when it comes to them. I'm still learning more about Arcadian politics and such but yeah, some of them kind of just raise their middle fingers to rules of basic supernatural decency and whatever.

[ It's a lot more complicated in Brianna's head but basically? That's how she would explain it. ]

[That makes her chuckle a little, because it's so true.]

Well, as long as they don't complain when we decide to fuck them in the ass with their attitude, then I suppose it all works out.

[Yeah, Teacher Aria Skye has a mouth on her.]

[ That makes her laugh out loud. Quite unladylike, at that. ]

Oops, sorry. [ Giggling now. ] I would really like for that to happen.

You can always put yourself in a position to take that particular matter into your own hands, you know.

[This is kind of nice, being able to talk to Brianna like this.]

[ Yes, talk of revenge fires her up. Not in a bad way, but more in a "I'm-gonna-fuck-shit-up" way. This one is quite decided on doing all she can to make that happen. ]

Oh, I'm planning to. [ Sweet smile with lots of evil intent. ]

[Normally, she'd tell another person at this point to be careful. This girl, though, is much older than she actually looks. She's also got a good blade at her back, and big people watching over her. She'll probably be fine.

There is something else that does need to be said, however.]

Just don't get too lost in it, okay?

[ Yeaaah she's been trying not to. Though sometimes all that suppressed rage comes out in the most inconvenient times - in the shower, before bed when she can't sleep. ]

Yeah, I won't. You don't have to worry about me. I swear, so many people tell me that. I think I got it. [ Smiling at Aria with appreciation. ]

Nevertheless, I don't blame people for reminding me.

[Nods. Then, wryly:]

Don't worry. You're only ever going to hear it from me once.

[Because she knows that it is incredibly annoying, having folks harping on you all the time. One should just never get to the point where they'll have to.

(Right, self?)]

[ She's certain she'll see more of Aria now that she took on the task of somehow rehabilitating Michael socially, so maybe what Aria's just nice and trusting enough to know that she doesn't need to be reminded constantly. ]

Thank you for that.

You're welcome.

[Always, really. Any Keeper of the Vigil is a friend of hers until proven otherwise.]

So, do you think that you'll be able to come in every day, or...?

Waking the Dead 2.0 || July 2, 2063 || Monday

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