Lunch Break [Open]

[Justine McCarthy]

The young woman sighed as she sat down, placing her handbag beside her feet as she sat down on the edge of the fountain. It was a sunny afternoon as the children went into the yard and the cafeteria for break, while she chose to go outside and sit down near the fountain. It was a sunny day, so there was no point in staying indoors. True, it wasn't very warm as it was late in the year, but nonetheless the cool breeze was refreshing to the young woman.

Looking at her, you'd think that, despite not wearing a uniform, she was a student in the school. While that was true one time, the young woman had since worked hard and took up residence within the school as one of it's Maths Teachers. Her long, dark hair was pulled back into a long braid that ended at the knees, and her fringe was straight and even. Silver-rimmed glasses were perched upon her nose, and hazel eyes could be seen behind them. She wore a black and white, horizontally-striped, sleeveless shirt, along with a black miniskirt and knee-high black boots.

Within her hands was a simple red apple, the fact that she was a teacher eating a red apple made her laugh a bit, and soon after she bit into the apple. Looking out over the yard as she did so, she smiled. She really liked days like these. The students seemed to behave well today, the sun was up, and before work she had managed to get a new CD from a street vendor. All in all a very good day for Suzuki Akiko.

[étoile sanguis]

_{, let's h o p e that today``will be better than yesterday.}

It was odd, quite odd really, to be seen wearing black from head to toe. Okay it wasn't that though it was if in the form of layers, or in this case, a dress. This said dress also happens to be one out of style, so long ago too, yet makes an appearance every now and then. Especially with the lolita and moe fashion style in the more urban suburbs of Japan, though definitely not at school. So then, why was there this one, lone person walking around the vast school grounds dressed in such an old styled dress, with a colour scheme of black (though really is a very dark violet) without being caught or sent to the office?

Who knows.

Well, if you were one of those analytic type of people, or the odd man out who noticed every single detail, you would notice that the faculty didn't really... give much attention to her. They let her escape with the outfit every so often, sometimes forcing her to go back and change, but most of the time nothing was said. It may be unfair, injustice, and other whatnots that spew out of students mouths but that's just how it was. Of course this person never abused the system either. Maybe once a month they did this, or even two, rarity three and no more. Besides, it was always that same dress she would wear here and outside if one sees her. There are no other colour schemes for it, just this simplistic night-like theme. Yet, bloody hell, how the heck does she survive in it?

Right now the student was merrily on her way, to where she didn't know, but just somewhere. The sun was shining, children laughing, people talking, everyone was happy! Despite her choice of clothing her disposition totally contracdicted it, being a bright and serene. There was a small smile on her lips, a twinkle in her eyes while she peered on at the running kids, and a heartache when she saw the couples. However no one would ever see that slight falter, ever see that weakness; she couldn't afford such a thing to happen. Though soon enough she stopped in her tracks and stood in the middle of the field, not a single person minding her too. Her amethyst hued orbs peered on at a lone person sitting by the fountain, gazing at an apple before taking a small bite.

She was fairly pretty, beautiful really, with long luxurious hair, a healthy, glowing skin, and a well coordinated outfit. She looked very good in stripes the student admitted. Soon enough, as in a trance she approchaed the person, one step, two, three, and a couple of more. Bit by bit she started to piece the whole picture and recognized who this figure was: Akiko, Suzuki- the mathemtics teacher in Animus. Well, what a coincidence really, you don't see teachers very often outside sitting on the fountain, enjoying the view and listening to the sounds of children, in fact it was the total opposite most of the time. Then again, not everyone was the same.

"Ah... hello, Akiko-sensei, a pleasure to see you here." Étoile greeted, a small smile playing on her lips. It was a trademark of hers, to bring out that smile, to whoever and whatever, no matter what.

[Justine McCarthy]

Taking yet another bite of the red apple within her hands, Akiko allowed her eyes to gaze across the field, taking in everything around her. She wasn't an artist, she was terrible at drawing, but she pretty perceptive nonetheless, and fairly intelligent to boot. Thus, it hadn't taken her too long to spot the one person who stood out most amongst them: A young girl wearing what looked like the Lolita fashion, with all-black clothing and yet a sunny disposition, by contrast. Not overly happy, but definitely in a good mood at least.

Soon enough it seemed that the student was walking towards her, and Akiko took another bite of her apple as she waited. Perhaps the student planned on talking to her? Possibly, that or ask her about the homework she may have. Akiko wasn't sure, for she hadn't been teaching for long, and thus some names would be unknown to her still. And as she had guessed, the young woman, only a few years her junior, spoke. It looked like it was time to respond, she wanted to be friendly with her after all.

"Nice to meet you, but please call Akiko 'Aki-chan'. Akiko doesn't like being called 'Akiko-sensei' outside of class" she replied, in her odd third-person speech pattern. Not that anyone really minded, some thought it rather cute actually. Of course, if anyone said that, Akiko would no doubt blush, given her timid nature. Taking another bite, she savored the taste of the apple before speaking again. "Sumimasen, Akiko doesn't know your name. May Akiko know it?".

[étoile sanguis]

_{, meeting a f a m i l i a r face``or so it seems.}

She couldn't help but smile lightly at her teacher who seemed nothing more like a child. The third person speech pattern was a commong thing around girls who wanted to be perceived as 'cute' or just had a habit of doing it. Sometimes it suited them, sometimes it didn't, though for this person it was alright. However it was fairly odd, very much so, for a grown woman to be using it. Then again, everyone had their own preferences in how to talk or live, she had no right to judge.

Despite this the woman had a type of aura around her... one that she couldn't exactly pinpoint. No, it wasn't mysterious nor was it overly all friendly, there was another underlying tone. What it was she had no idea. Though at the moment, from what she could see from this person outside of class, she was a fairly nice person. Most of the time teachers tended to act differently away from their students, but then she retained the same disposition and didn't act as if she was a stranger.

Even if she didn't know her name.

"It's alright, Akiko-sensei, it's not a problem," the student began lightly, her smile turning into a light grin, "and very sorry about not shortening your name, it just isn't polite, even with your consultation." Politeness was a big thing for her, whether the person she was talking to wasn't the same, and even with acknowledgement she'll still use one's full name. That was how she grew up anyway.

And the thing about Suzuki knowing her name was fine, she was very used to it. After all, every century or so people left her existence and went on to the never world, she couldn't. Étoile Sanguis was an eternal being who was condemned to being forgotten since the beginning, something that happened every century. It was a neverending cycle, one that she got used to long ago. Though enough about depressing thoughts, she reprimanded herself, it was a beautiful and sunny day and her gloom would do nothing but spoil and ruin it!

"Anyway, I'm Reila. I sit at the last row, to the corner window, in your class." Gingerly the young woman raiser her hand, right in front of the other, "Pleasure to meet you, sensei."

[Justine McCarthy]

"It's alright" Akiko replied, with a small smile on her face, before taking another small bite of the delicious, red apple in her hands. This girl seemed to be rather polite when speaking, unlike her own more informal but still friendly manner of speaking. Akiko, of course, didn't think herself worthy of too much respect of course, she was rather timid and modest, and she was only nineteen. Not that much older than the girl before her. Even if she was talented enough to get a job teaching at this age, she didn't like to consider herself better, and thus tried to be more friendly than polite.

"Akiko understands. Some people try to be formal, others informal. Different people have different values, so only the informal like Akiko tend to call Akiko 'Aki-chan', even when Akiko asks them to" she added, before taking another bite. She listened patiently as the girl introduced herself, and proceeded to explain where she sat in her Maths class. Akiko was right, this girl was definitely very formal. No doubt the kind of good student who'd work hard to do well in her class.

"Reila? Akiko doesn't think she's heard of a name like that before... Is it foreign?" she asked, interested in knowing. It sounded like it was, although she recognized the 'Rei' part as sounding the same as the Japanese word for 'Zero' or 'Spirit'. Or something else along those lines, certain characters were tricky to read. Still, she wasn't sure about the 'la' part of her name, it didn't sound Japanese. She blinked though as the girl raised her hand. Did she want to shake hands? Not a Japanese custom, she noted. The local custom was to bow, but nonetheless Akiko shook her hand, giving her another small smile.

[nihachi]

Nihachi sat calmly beneath a tree, cigarette dangling from his lips while he gazed out at people milling around, enjoying his smoke while he could. People tended to look down on underage people smoking in class and he had already been yelled at enough for one day. It wasn’t his fault…he just didn’t see the difference between wearing the school uniform tucked or untucked. And what in God’s name was wrong with carrying his bass around with him? It wasn’t as if he really needed any of these classes, except for chemistry. Who would have guessed it could be such a lucrative field. There were so many ways to make lovely fiery explosions and so little time to learn them.

He glanced over the fountain, mouth falling agape as he saw something truly awe inspiring. By the fountain was a beautiful girl speaking from one of the teachers. She wasn’t “sexy” in the classical sense…in fact she was dressed head to toe in black outfit which reminded him of some cosplay. Instead of making her look like a depressed goth it make her look like an alabaster Victorian doll. “Dear God she’s gorgeous.”

He pulled open his guitar case, pulling out his bass and a portable amp. He strutted over to the fountain, put down the amp and quickly tuned the instrument. “Oh, sorry sensei, don’t mind me.” He flashed a quick grin at the object of his attention, strumming out a bluesy melody. “You seem like someone who appreciates the blues.”