Learning How to Fight (open)

[Marquise]

"Yes, I believe that would be quite a fair trade." Marquise said, "Of course, you must realize there is much more for us to discuss. I wish to know more about you, it'll help me decide what type of style I would teach you. Also, in return I will tell you the truth about me, and believe me, that's something most people never get to know."

Marquise turned around facing the wrestling mats, "I'm not going to force this decision upon you right now, that would be unfair. Just know that if you are going to become my student, I wish to know who I am teaching."

My Sire did the same thing. She made me tell her about myself before she even considered teaching me about what we were, what we could stand, what about us was rumor, and what about us was the truth. Of course.... I already know this girls Armenian, she's rich, and probably a hit with the boys considering one risked his neck to protect her. These facilities however, are not the place to train somebody.[/color]

"If you wish to learn from me, it must be in private, it will be at night. If you are uncomfortable with that, that's fine. At that point we no longer have an agreement, you won't have to worry about me, I'm not a psychotic stalker. Besides, I know what happens to people who try to harm you, from what I saw, it didn't look pretty."

Marquise let that slip on purpose. Maybe she would remember there was someone else there maybe not, but he was going to let her know the truth about him, about his Qi. She would have to keep that secret, and in return, she would learn anything from him. He knew a lot of fighting styles from when he was still alive, and he could definitely teach her a few things with how to use her Qi in combat. He'd have to know what that Qi was though.

"There's a clearing in the woods, I'm sure you know it well. It's the same place that the boy fought that demon. Midnight tonight, if you don't show, I'll assume our agreement is over. If you wish to stop other people from getting killed in order to protect you, you'll show up."

Marquise turned and walked away, "Farewell, Sephora."

Yes.... this could work out. But if she really wishes to be able to stand up for herself and learn something, she must first have the bravery to take a walk in the woods alone tonight. If she isn't brave enough to do that, then learning Tai Chi won't do a damned thing. She'll just be able to look back and know what moves she should have done instead of using other students as her own personal body guards.[/color]

[sephora]

"Yes, I believe that would be quite a fair trade. Of course, you must realize there is much more for us to discuss. I wish to know more about you, it'll help me decide what type of style I would teach you. Also, in return I will tell you the truth about me, and believe me, that's something most people never get to know." Sephora nodded, though she wondered what could be such a secret that most people didn't know something about him. Well, she applied it to her own life and most people didn't know she was the daughter of an armenian drug lord, worth more than they had ever heard whispered in their entire lives. Her wealth overcame that even of the now dead Principal Hikari. But that knowledge wouldn't do any good in training. . . hmm, she wondered what it could be. As far as the Qi went, she supposed she understood. It made sense, in a way.

Then another thought struck her. . . should she call him Sifu or Sensai or something?

"If you wish to learn from me, it must be in private, it will be at night. If you are uncomfortable with that, that's fine. At that point we no longer have an agreement, you won't have to worry about me, I'm not a psychotic stalker. Besides, I know what happens to people who try to harm you, from what I saw, it didn't look pretty." The pretty girl blinked. He knew what had happened? Sephora had remembered there was another, a Christopher, but when she had tried to find him there had been no record of such a student. The girl couldn't remember his face, but she didn't think he looked like this. Maybe that was his Qi, he was a human shapeshifter?

"There's a clearing in the woods, I'm sure you know it well. It's the same place that the boy fought that demon. Midnight tonight, if you don't show, I'll assume our agreement is over. If you wish to stop other people from getting killed in order to protect you, you'll show up." Sephora nodded. She wasn't afraid of the woods, the trees would tell her if there was anything amiss. They had been able to detect the demon, and she could always call on the animals for help... Of course, that's why she was going back, the girl reminded herself. So she wouldn't have to call on them for help.

"Goodbye, John." Sephora said as he left. She would definitaly be meeting him in the woods tonight. If anything happened to her, it would be her own fault for not seeing through him. Nothing would happen, though, for she would know be listening to the trees.

Turning back around, Sephora caught sight of Miss Lunari, her saviour. Raising a hand in greeting and offering a large smile, she turned the rest of the way around to see if Riley had written anything on the paper.

[Riley]

All the while that Sephora and "John", since he had heard the guy give his name, Riley had been hovering above them, and he heard every word of their conversation, especially the part about a meeting later. He didn't know why, but he didn't like the guy as soon as he saw him, and even after hearing what he had to say, Riley still didn't trust him. He looked over at Lunari, who was watching all this time, and he had a feeling something was going to happen, something bad.

" That guy...I don't like him, the spiritual energies surrounding him are off the scale! Not even I have that much energy, and I'm a freakin' ghost! " Riley mused, as he watched the guy turn around and start to leave, the conversation was finished. " I know I can't force Sephora to not go, but I can at least try!" As he saw John leave, he moved over to the paper and began controlling the pencil, writing something for Sephora to read.

Sephora, I don't trust that guy. I don't know why, but I just don't like him. I get a bad feeling from him. Please, I'm begging you, please don't go to that meeting at midnight. Something dangerous could happen. But, I can't force you to not go, so if you must go, at least let me go with you. I'm a ghost, who can see me anyways? I'd feel a lot better if I went with you, is that alright with you?

Riley let the pencil fall back on the paper, and sighed. As a ghost, there wasn't very much he could, but he could at least accompany Sephora and make sure she was alright, that much, he could do. He didn't want her to get hurt again, although he hadn't been there, he could tell she had been hurt, badly. He didn't want her to go through that kind of terrible pain again. Such was his nature, he cared about her, even though he just met her. He hovered nearby and waited for Sephora's reply.

[sephora]

The girl looked around, wondering what to do now. Riley had been the first welcome distraction from her Tai Chi, John the second. The moves were stretching sore muscles and she didn't really know if she was even doing them right.

Looking down, she saw the the pencil was moving again, Sephora, I don't trust that guy. I don't know why, but I just don't like him. I get a bad feeling from him. Please, I'm begging you, please don't go to that meeting at midnight. Something dangerous could happen. But, I can't force you to not go, so if you must go, at least let me go with you. I'm a ghost, who can see me anyways? I'd feel a lot better if I went with you, is that alright with you?

Sephora smiled, she couldn't believe Riley was worried about her. She hadn't really thought that ghosts could care. Taking up the pencil, she glanced back at Miss Lunari. I know he seems odd, but John saved my life, though using a different name. He was one of the people who got me away from the demon. She paused, pencil hovering over the paper. The girl couldn't help but remember the trees telling her she was safe once he had left, and how he had covered her eyes when she was too weak to move. What had that been about?

I think it would be a good idea if you came, though. I am at home in the forest, but sometimes bad things go in there. The girl looked up and smiled at where she saw the shadow.

[Riley]

Riley, anxious to see Sephora's reply, sighed with relief when he saw her write her reply on the paper. I know he seems odd, but John saved my life, though using a different name. He was one of the people who got me away from the demon. Riley couldn't believe what he read. That guy, John, helped her get away from the demon? ...Alright then. Riley, for Sephora's sake, would try to trust John, though he still couldn't trust the guy completely. He saw her pause for a moment, the pencil hovering over the paper, before she continued.

I think it would be a good idea if you came, though. I am at home in the forest, but sometimes bad things go in there. Riley couldn't help but smile slightly, she would allow him to come with her to the meeting. After he saw her finish writing, he saw her look up at him and smile at him, although he only appeared as a shadow to her. He then took control of the pencil, and wrote his response.

Thank you Sephora. I'm happy that you're allowing me to go with you. I know it seems strange, a ghost worrying about you, but I just don't want anything terrible to happen to you again. No one should have to go through such pain, especially a second time. Where and what time should I wait for you? ... I just realized I sound like I'm asking you out on a date, d'oh! Oh well, but yeah, anyways, moving on, after you finish writing, I'll take off okay?

Riley finished writing and would wait for Sephora to write her response before he left, he had to write he would leave, just leaving suddenly would be rude, even if he was a ghost, it was still rude either way. He hovered close to Sephora, so that she wouldn't think he had left already.

[sephora]

Riley took over the pencil and began to write, so Sephora leaned forward to read it, Thank you Sephora. I'm happy that you're allowing me to go with you. I know it seems strange, a ghost worrying about you, but I just don't want anything terrible to happen to you again. No one should have to go through such pain, especially a second time. Where and what time should I wait for you? ... I just realized I sound like I'm asking you out on a date, d'oh! Oh well, but yeah, anyways, moving on, after you finish writing, I'll take off okay?

Smiling as his words appeared, the girl felt a little warmer inside. She supposed it wasn't everyday one met a ghost that care about them. He couldn't possibly know the true depth of her pain, yet he somehow didn't want it to happen to her again. At the mention of a date, Sephora laughed out loud in good humor, then covered her mouth, looking around. People probably throught she was insane.

Lifting the pencil, she wrote, There is a clearing in the forest, be there at 11:45. I'll be meeting him there at midnight, so let's just be there a little early. I'll be 20 feet east of the clearing at 11:45.

Looking up, she smiled at the shadow of Riley, Oh and don't forget. My favorite flower is the buttercup, and my dress will be blue so wear a matching tie. With a grin, she winked at the shadow.

[Lunari Awren]

Although she was reading, Lunari had kept tabs on the boy she'd met healing Sephora out in the middle of the field during the demon attack. Something was wrong, very wrong. There was no reason students should be out on the grounds at night without an escort, no reason at all...so what the hell was this boy offering? As some students glanced around, Lunari looked back at the book and kept listening.

She however, activated her first Qi, so she could see through the book, and at the people she was tracking right now. One of those was Sephora, who waved. Lunari waved back, not removing her face from the book. No, they won't be out there alone tonight.

They wouldn't anyway, Riley had offered, but Lunari hadn't caught notice. The boy left, and finally the two were alone down below, Lunari watched as "John" left, and debated not to follow him out yet, no, she'd do that tonight under cover of the moon in case something was to go wrong. Packing up her books, Lunari jumped from the bleachers, and landed right on floor and continued on her way, glancing back once for extra measure.

[Riley]

Riley hovered near Sephora's shoulder as he saw her read what he had wrote, laughing out at one point then quickly covering her mouth, guess she had read the date part. He then saw her lift up the pencil, and write. There is a clearing in the forest, be there at 11:45. I'll be meeting him there at midnight, so let's just be there a little early. I'll be 20 feet east of the clearing at 11:45.

Clearing in the forest, 20 feet from it, 11:45 pm. Got it. He saw from the corner of his eye Lunari leaving, he knew she had heard every word of the conversation between Sephora and John, and if she had anything to say about it, she'd probably come to the meeting too, uninvited like him, of course.

Riley turned and was about to leave, when he saw her smile at him and then continued to write, there was more? Oh and don't forget. My favorite flower is the buttercup, and my dress will be blue so wear a matching tie. Riley couldn't help but grin at what she wrote, and decided to write one last reply before he left.

Buttercup huh? Got it. Shall I bring a box of chocolates to go with it too? Or maybe fertilizer would be better, right my Nature-Loving Princess? Ack, gigalo again, cripe cripe cripe. A blue tie? Well alright then, let me just dive into my closet full of invisble suits and find the tie. Alright then, I'll see you later Sephora.

Of course he was kidding about the closet part, Riley couldn't change clothes even if he wanted to, and besides, he appeared only as a shadow to Sephora, who cares what he wore? He didn't let that little fact stop him from joking however. Letting the pencil fall, Riley drifted across the gym floor and disappeared through the wall.