Interview at Aeixxa

[Mister]

The lower deck of the skyship was cramped and smelled of sweat and sawdust and on the ground were scattered adamantine shackles and chains. The students of Gaian Academy were not eager to be there. They all stood very still trying not to touch the walls and looking earnestly at their shoes or at each other for some sign that they too were equally displeased with the present surroundings. An expression of relief appeared on every one of their faces when Mr. Sassoon and Ms. Giroux entered the room.

“I apologize for having kept you here for so long. I asked Warden Ainsley to clean this ship before we boarded but it seems he ignored my request. Let’s hope that is the only one he ignored.”

Mr. Sassoon paused and looked at Ms. Giroux with affected dread. She was an attractive woman. She either did not catch his humorous expression or did not care. Mr. Sassoon looked back at the students and continued.

“After a short briefing you will all move to the surface deck and enjoy the fresh air you haven’t been able to get down here.”

Mr. Sassoon had been holding in his hands a square stack of paper while he spoke and now he handed it to the nearest student.

“Please take one and pass the rest on. There should be one for each of you.”

Spoiler:

Question #1: What was the first crime you committed?

Question #2: Why did you do it?

Question #3: How did you feel doing it?

Question #4: Do you feel remorse for your actions?

Question #5: Question of your choice.

Question #6: Who was the first person you took a trait from?

Question #7: Why did you choose that person?

Question #8: What trait of mine do you want to take?

Question #9: Do you wish you had your own personality?

Question# 10: Question of your choice.

“Please pick a partner. Once we arrive at Aeixxa we will be escorted to the prison’s interrogation facility where you will find waiting for you one of the worst criminals Valucre’s penal system has to offer. You and your partner will take turns asking him a question on the sheet. It is up to you and your partner to decide who will go first.”

“About the criminal you will be interviewing. You will most likely find him charming and affable but please do not be fooled. Underneath he is cruel, manipulative, and predisposed to acts of extreme violence. He is hyper-aggressive and lacks the capacity for empathy. He also has the ability to take from you the most treasured aspects of your personality simply by touching you and leave you with nothing. He does this because he has no stable personality himself and because it is his drive to suck from you all that you are. He is a psychology vampire. He is what we in the field call a psychomancer.”

“Do not worry he will touch you. He will be restrained and incapable of harming you. That said, he is not an animal in a cage to be rattled and if you or your partner provoke him unnecessarily you will both be taken from the room and your actions will be punished as soon as we arrive back at the academy. Ms. Giroux and I will be watching you both from behind a two way mirror.”

“We will be arriving at Aeixxa in about twenty minutes so I suggest you go topside and enjoy the sights since you will not be enjoying any sights once we arrive.”

The students exited the room leaving Mr. Sassoon and Ms. Giroux alone. Mr. Sassoon turned to her and smiled.

“Should be exciting?”

[animosity!]

Brigitte stood profile of Mr. Sassoon, distracted and out of tune with his lecture to the students, taking in the atmosphere of the ever gloomy underbelly of the skyship. In all honesty, she dreaded all methods of transportation other than walking. The chains at her feet as she walked in with her coworker to greet the fieldtrippers further solidified her feelings. She shuddered, and glanced over the students. Poor things. Perhaps, like it was hers, it was their first voayage on such a vehicle. It shook her up quite a bit, but the ever emotional cripple kept her thoughts on it to herself. She barely left her quarter's in the Academy when not teaching, minded her own when it came to the other professors. . ., but she had been the new staff member before, and so she offered her company to the newer Mr. Sassoon. Thinking, perhaps, it would bring him some confidence in his employment with the school, to have a companion so soon. Although, Brigitte couldn't lie, the idea of meeting, interviewing, seeing a pyschchomancer excited her. Her parents, long ago, talked frequently of them as a man made a household name for himself in the Giroux residence. . . Brigitte's father's brother, her own uncle, a pyschomancer on permanant lockdown at Aeixxa. She knew nothing of him, except what her father informed her of in the fireside horror stories he graced her with every so often. She didn't want to know him. . . and hoped their paths would not cross this day.

Losing herself in the possibility that she might come across him, Briggs felt her palms becomming clammy, and the color draining from her face. Oh the treachery even a mere stranger[ even if he was family, he was a stranger to the girl] could put the young scientist through! The only thing that brought her back to earth was Mr. Sassoon's question directed right at her. She was put on the spot, and instantly a flood of guilt overcame her. Surely, he expected the students to lack the ability to pay attention to his rules for the trip, but his own co-worker. . . most likely, not. She cleared her throat, and was certain the color returned to her face, a bright pink hue especially occupying her cheeks, in embarrassment of her spacing out. She giggled frantically, nervously. . . lost for words. Taking far too long to process his question. Her hands moved to her front to mindlessy brush the nonexistant wrinkles from her ciffon career top, and on down to grey wool blend trousers. She was aimlessly tinkering with her clothing, in part to buy herself more time to think of a good excuse as to why she wasn't paying attention, and in part to cover up the fact that the reason she had done so in the first place was because for once, in nearly three years, she did not have a white labcoat over her shoulders. It had been her security blanket for so long, and it being gone now, left her feeling especially exposed and vunerable, not a favorable thing to be in such a place as Aeixxa.


When she finally had the courage to stop being a total idiot in front of Mr. Sassoon, and answer him, her words came out slow and fluid, moreso now, as she tried to compensate for giggling like a teenage girl. "Hm? Yes! Exciting, definitely. Quite gloomy though, isn't it? The skyship. I assume the prison will be no different. I've never been, you know. To any kind of occupancy of criminals, I do hope it will be a rush! . . . for the students of course. " She returned his smile with a sheepish grin. And by the end of speaking had composed herself. Her words tailed with the slightest French accent, as they always did when she found herself overwhelmingly nervous. The mixture of being on the skyship, the thought of meeting her serial psychomancer uncle, and being alone with Mr.--wait. She looked around the room. Had she been so out of it that he had dimissed the students without her notice? Obviously so. She frowned, pressing top teeth against her bottom lip in disappointment. If she was this frazzled on just the way to Aiexxa. . . it worried her how she would handle herself inside the prison gates. Oh well, she would calm down soon enough. It was the woman's reclusive nature though that left her in such a strange state of mind, and she prayed that Mr. Sassoon could see past it.

[Fallen Joy]

Liyah was dying.

The overwhelming stench that caused the students' stomachs to churn and shrivel in utter disgust filled Liyah’s over sensitive nose and made her feel like she was inhaling poison. Several times the contents of her stomach tried to force their way up her throat before Liyah closed it and tensed her abdominals stubbornly to deny it. No one wanted to see the contents of a shift shaper’s belly. The visual conditions of the under chamber was unpleasing as well. The walls were paved with the disgusting details of cruelties that occurred below deck. The walls and floors held stains of vomit and blood, conjured by the plethora of prisoners that were airsick, but abandoned in their wishes to relieve themselves properly overboard. Cruel but understandable, many prisoners probably attempted to escape or rather commit suicide over the edge of the ship rather than be taken to Aeixxa.

Liyah had heard terrible things about what goes on within those impenetrable walls. The thought of its secrets reminded Liyah of a slaughterhouse—if either had glass walls, people wouldn’t be so prone to support their existence. Liyah had been inside a slaughter house—her unrivaled lust for understanding overcame many aspects of her logic and instincts…much like the animal spirits frolicking within her very core. Liyah wanted to explore the insides of the prison, stare into the diabolical eyes of not just a single criminal, but many of them. She wanted to explore the deepest and darkest pathways of the psychologically distorted existences of society. Alas, distorted was probably not the correct term.The morals of society were not set in stone for everyone, animals being a prime example. Liyah and been on the other side of the spectrum, she had been consumed in the bloodlust and desire to taste flesh. To revel in the retreat of prey and feel it fed her desire to kill them. She had made the choice to not let the animals within control her—but these people madean entirely different choice. Liyah wanted to know why.

But this curiosity was dwindled down to a minor itch in the back of her head in light of her grotesque environment. Liyah's head was buried between the shoulders of a particular student, a student that for some reason she had been clinging to from the moment she met him. Despite this not being long ago, Liyah’s over demanding personality forced many to either completely avoid her, or get used to her in a short amount of time. Throughout the entire ride, Liyah kept her head buried into the back of Alexei; clinging to his waist and taking long inhales, holding her breaths as long as she could before her exhaling again. He smelled much better than the boat. The professors entered the room and described to them the situation. Liyah didn’t make any physical or verbal response for the sake of her senses, but her mind was indeed turning—turning in a way that the professors probably wouldn’t like. When he mentioned chosing a partner, Liyah gripped Alexei slightly tighter to indicate she was his—didn’t give him much choice.

They were granted access to the surface and Liyah was the first out the door. She sailed onto the deck and inhaled deeper than an elephant, leaning on the rail and loudly exhaling. The ship wasn't too high, and currently over the ocean. Liyah was hardly afraid of falling.

“AIR!!”

She screamed out happily, closing her eyes to enjoy the caress the ocean zephyr. The cloak danced around her form, compressing against the mysterious frame within and revealing a vague outline of the petite female. Whatever was under that cloak was definitely a humanoid, and definitely a woman. Liyah remained in her meditative state for a moment, tasting the ocean through her nostrils before her eyes slowly opened and observed the beautiful spreads of glimmering water. Rotating her body, she waited for Alexei to join her on deck and then waved him over with a small gesture of her hand.

“This should be exciting…But I don’t think it will be excited enough. He said we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the sites. That sucks. You know…an animal never acts the same way caged or in a lab as they do in the wild. I wish I could see these crazies in their natural habitat…” she paused for a moment, mulling over the depth of her own words. “But I suppose that would be bad for people they chose to victimize, eh?”

Liyah turned her head to the ocean again, listening to whatever Alexei had to say on the subject for a moment before turning back towards him.

“Hey…” Liyah leaned from the rail and took a few steps closer to him. A hand rose to cup the back of his head, an endeavor that might have been him feel uncomfortable, but when she drew him towards her, her head rotated to the side of his face and her lips whispered gently into his ear.

“How much are you willing to listen to your teacher’s orders?”

A simple question that suggested so many things.

[Alexei]

Alexei can't say he had been in worse, or had smelled worse, but he wasn't about to complain, there could always be far worse than being in an unclean airship. What did make him uncomfortable, was the fact that it was a, well, an airship. Land, he loved land. Water wasn't so bad either, at least he could swim. But being in the air, that was a whole other situation he wasn't too fond of finding himself in. He couldn't fly, and though he was pretty confident in his toughness, when one fell at an extreme height, that wouldn't account for much. It didn't help that Liyah was clinging against him either. The poor girl seemed far more worse off than he, it actually appeared that she might even be sick. As the Mr. Sassoon and Ms. Giroux made their entrance, they may find that one particular boy made no expression, yet at the same time seemed very awkward by just standing there.

It was probably due to the girl pretty much holding on to him for support. Now, some had their reasons for being here, but Alexei couldn't much explain his. Except for the sheer curiosity of it, and maybe something interesting could happen. What he didn't want, was to be flying around. But, he was here, with Liyah clinging to him. He was definitely not used to her, but he did tend to just go with the flow, she hardly ever gave him much of a chance since the first time they had met. Which wasn't too long ago in itself. He found her interesting, but in one of those weird ways. He could hear her inhale, then after a while of holding her breath, exhale. Just what exactly was she doing back there? It was obvious she was not pleased with the smell of the place, and the sight of it didn't help either. There were shackles, which didn't help lighten the depressing view. And as if to make matters worse, there were various stains, that Alexei did not want to even guess as to what may have caused them.

The person they were about to meet in the prison, did not sound like someone he would like to get close too, no matter how confident he was in his fighting ability. A simple touch, and the man could steal away everything he was. And to top it off, he was an insane criminal, locked away in one of Valucre's top maximum security prison. Curiosity seemed to bring him places he shouldn't be going to. But it was too late to change his mind now. And as if to confirm that thought, Liyah's breathing could be heard, as well as her arms wrapped around him, and her head between his shoulders. When they were given leave to go up to the deck, it didn't take Liyah long to rush up there.

Alexei, however, would cautiously follow her. Once there, he could see she had no problem getting close enough to look over the ship. The breeze allowed her cloak to reveal a petite female frame beneath, Alexei would look away, even he was more awkward about things than most. He always wondered why she was never shy when it came to such things. His grip on the railing, was unnatural, as his leather, and kevlar gloves creaked in protest to the strength he possessed. Only when she waved him over, would he approach her, his hand still on the railing. "I suppose. I was just curious to see what something like that would be like. I bet a lot of 'em are strong too." He would input his own thoughts on the matter of this trip. Though his, quite a bit more simple.

His dark eyes would look out over the side, somewhat calmed down thanks to the conversation, but his grip remained firm, but more relaxed. The azure of the ocean, and the salty air of the sea was a welcoming thing, compared to the hold. He would turn his head to see Liyah closer than she had been, much closer. He would have backed away, but the hand on the back of his head stopping him, and she pulled him closer so that she could whisper into his ear. He would awkwardly listen to what she had to say. Her words hinted at something, but he could hardly guess as to what, she was always full of surprises. "What?" He would whisper back. Not that he didn't hear her, but he wanted to know what she had in mind, he'd end up be dragged along with it anyway. Might as well prepare himself.

[Mister]

Mr. Sassoon could tell Ms. Giroux was apprehensive about the trip.

"Yes. I'm afraid the prison won't be too much different from this room. I've visited Aeixxa several times while I was doing research for my doctorate. I wouldn't worry though, we shouldn't be there more than two hours. Let's join the students, shall we? Make sure none of them fall off the ship."

Mr. Sassoon laughed and realized this joke was probably inappropriate and quickly became serious and gestured to the door as if to say, "After you."

[animosity!]

Relieved at the idea of not feeling as if she were a prisoner herself in the confines of the below deck dungeon of sorts, Brigitte graciously accepted Mr. Sassoon's request. Two hours wouldn't be as dreadful as she thought. Aeixxa was a large prison. . .certainly no chance of seeing her uncle within. She hoped. The woman was cautious of confrontation, as it were, and the quietest of all the professors. For her to break away from her work, and dare to cross the line into adventure was a surprise to even herself. Impulsive, she was, but never about things of this nature. Perhaps curiousity had won her over. . . the need to know the only blood relative left of her father's side. Pursed lips reflected her contemplation on her new found courage and dissipated into a squinty, ear-to-ear smile when she realized Federic's attention was on her once again.


"Have you? I just am fearful for the students. I do not want them to let their confidence overpower their caution..." She nodded in appreciation at Mr. Sassoon's gesture, and as she passed him to make her way up the steps, her voice faded. She near ran up the flight, and pushed open the doorway to the morning air with much haste. A wave was given to the GA students and a smile back at Federic to reassure him that all were still very much on board. She made her way to the railing and leaned over to look down at upon the scenery that graced the occupants of the skyship, and on the horizon. . . a spot of black in a canvas of magnificent color: Aeixxa came into view.

~~*~~

How long had it been. Hours? Days? Months? Mortimer turned in his decrepid cot to face the front of his cell with an unusually dark smirk. His legs moved to his front as he pulled himself into a sitting position and he stretched like it was the first day of a new life, despite the fact that he would remain in Aeixxa until his death. Nonetheless. He sensed the oncoming pleasures of amneable minds, ready to be clenched and wrung dry by he and his fellow prisoners. One young mind in particular, a strong, relectant young woman's stood out to him most, and the thought of devouring her very sould brought on a wider grin to the man's bearded, dirt covered face. As he basked in the innocent ambience of victims to be, a rattling of nightstick against steel bars echoed through the corridor. Officers approached Mort's cell and stopped, one staring him down with a look of utmost disgust. " Alright, slimeball. You get center stage today. Warden's orders since you like to play big bad wolf, we invited some sheep to interview you from the Gaian Academy. Try anything stupid, and your sentence will end today, with you in the chair. Understand?"

Mortimer smiled ever so sweetly and stood as the officers unlocked the cell, shacked him, and dragged him out to the interegation room. His smile never left. Oh precious Brigitte. . . how long I've awaited your arrival. . .

[Fallen Joy]

Liyah grinned even wider at his curiosity. Her lips began to part and explain the details of her delinquent little plan, when the professors came into view and caught her eyes' attention. Whispering into another student’s ear could easily spark a suspicion which could eventually lead to eavesdropping. Shifting her eyes in the direction of the female professor that leaned upon the rails, Liyah produced a small frown but then wittingly pinned Alexei against the railing of the ship in an ostensibly dominant display to all peeping eyes.

“Don’t fall,” she whispered as she leaned upon him, and pulled his head into the shadows of her hood. To an outsider, it would look as if the students were sharing an intimate kiss—a much less conspicuous setting and shame on anyone who openly stared at their ‘indecent’ display. In reality, Liyah lips rested less than an inch away from Alexei’s, his vision cast into darkness from the fabric of her hood and their proximity exiling the sunlight. Only a few times would their lips touch as she continued to whisper to him, her tone even softer than the light wind.

“Let’s sneak off away from the class and explore what this prison has to offer, two hours talking to a single criminal isn’t enough excitement for me. C’mon, we’ll last sure to be last or first ones in line and return in time. The professors will be too busy watching the interviews to notice.”

Liyah was a naughty girl and an even worse influence. The untamed nature of her body made her horribly disobedient in facilitated systems like school. The call of dangerous convicts surrounding her at every side and dark secrets of the most heavily guarded prison in the land resting just under her feet…sneaking around such a place was a rush just too strong to resist.

[Alexei]

Her sudden movement threw him off guard. Her body's sudden advance had successfully pushed him against the railing. His hand gripped the bar, as if to hold on for dear life. Did she enjoy putting him into awkward situations? He had thought he might've gotten used to it with time, but that hope was quickly dashed away, especially considering that they were high up. Oh how he hated heights. But his curiosity and fear, kept his eyes glued on Liyah. He couldn't dislike her for her forceful, and wild nature, he was curious. It was as simple as that. But this closeness, it wasn't exactly something he was used to, and this was evident by the flush of his cheeks, and the awkward expression he wore.

"I'm trying not to." He whispered back in reply, her pinning him there wasn't exactly helping him either. She always had a reason for why she did things, but for the life of him, he couldn't understand why. The other peers wouldn't be the only ones mistaking the situation, but Alexei had only done so for all of a second. Her lips were only less than an inch from his, and as she spoke, they would only just brush, adding to his awkward expression. Her hood concealed her face, and darkened his vision, but he could feel. Her lips brushed his, and her petite figure pressed against his own lean, muscular form, body tense from the fact that there was nothing but railing behind him.

"It's not like I have a choice right?" Well, he probably did, but he couldn't leave her alone, especially so in a prison. She probably knew that fact all too well, and would undoubtedly exploit it. But it didn't mean he wouldn't resist, at least a little. He would be silent for a time, taking a moment to think. "Can't leave you alone anyway." He would go along with her plans, letting out a light sigh. "Now...can we please step away from this railing?" It wasn't exactly a position he was taking a liking too. Nothing but wind behind him, and a very domineering Liyah in front. Odd day to be him.

[Mister]

The skyship docked at Aeixxa ten minutes later. Warden Ainsley and a train of ten guards waited for them at the port. The guards looked at the students like sharks at minnows and they held in their hands rifles and in their belts were black batons and they were an ugly lot. If not for their uniforms it would be hard to tell them from the prisoners.

“Welcome back Mr. Sassoon,” said Warden Ainsley and looked at the students behind Mr. Sassoon.
“I’m afraid we don’t accept children no matter how much they might deserve to be here but I can recommend some wonderful juvenile facilities.”
“That won’t be necessary,” replied Mr. Sassoon. The warden repulsed him but he had met worse.
“Please, show us to the interrogation facility.”

“This way.”

[animosity!]

Finally!


Brigitte latched politely on to Federic's arm, locking her elbow with his own, offering a shy smile to assure that it was okay. She was nervous. And felt it necessary to draw the man close to her. Her intentions were pure, she had no affection to offer the man, however attractive she may have found him. She just needed to feel the security that only a man's presence could offer in such a frightening place. A slanted eyed grimace was offered to the gaurds as she and Federic led the student's to the entrance. The poor poor students, they must be frightened as she! Most likely not, though, they were probably less sheltered than Brigitte. More confident, daring! She had been a tiny sparrow, caged her whole life and the trip to Aeixxa was her way of escaping, even if it were for only a fleeting taste of what reality, away from her work truly was.

She oozed false confidence, kept a strained smile playing on her features and prayed that Frederic could not feel the goosebumps forming on her skin as they walked inside, or the shivers of fear now coursing through. She used her hand not occupied by Federic to feel for the small hand weapon of her own creation beneath her blouse. Still there. . .she hoped it would not be needed.

~~*~~

Mortimer slammed his shackled fists against the table in Interrogation Room 213. They had arrived! He stood and slammed the chair he was sitting on against the tempered glass. It bounced easily back towards him and he avoided it with a swift slide to the side. Put on a show for the little termites he would. His body was shaking with excitement. He had waited so long. . .to devour. Mortimer was skin and bones, a shell of what once was a powerful man, too powerful. He let his control and influence over other get the best of him, and it landed him in Aeixxa. But that was of no concern now. Not today.

Fate would have it that on the very day his precious niece arrived, he would be the one being interviewed. . . and when he had her alone. When her innocent soul was his and he captured her heart and held it hostage, he would be free. The would let him go, because he would make Brigitte force them to.

[Fallen Joy]

“Mmm. Are you scared of heights, Alexei?”

Malevolent eyes glinted at the tense and nervous demeanor Alexei radiated with—he looked as if he were about to erupt from the waves of discomfort. This amused her to no end, and as if to further quench this addicting desire for entertainment, Liyah lifted her leg and stepped onto the railing, gripping the top bar and elevating herself. This made her taller than Alexei and compressed her figure closer to him whilst forcing him to lean dangerously back over the open air.

“Tsk..But I guess if men were meant to fly, they would have wings. It’s a date then.”

Liyah drew away from Alexei, the brief shimmer of fluorescent eyes twinkling under the shadows of her hood before their proximity lessened and shadows were rekindled upon her mysterious countenance. Excitement boiled within; she thought of the things she would see within the eerie prison gates and was only tantalized by her imagination. Her eyes caught the glimpse of the prison approaching the ship in the distance.

“So this is Aeixxa...”

They landed.

As Liyah’s feet touched the solid ground, the woman rolled her shoulders in their sockets for a moment, standing in the back of the group and staring warily at the barbaric looking guards. Liyah stifled a laugh under the cloth of her sleeve and quickly transformed it into the throat clearing cough.

I transform into a plethora of wild animals and even I still don’t look like these untamed brutes. They must have real interesting criminals in here.

She wondered if they were as ‘all brawn, and no brain’ed as they looked. Liyah shifted her head to the warden and quirked a brow—seems years worth of tyranny over society’s scum had made him a little too bigheaded for his body. Liyah shared her professor’s immediate dislike—she had a peeve for men who thought they were an all powerful king because they had the cowardly leisure to brutalize the imprisoned. She saw it with humans and caged animals all the time. Under the shadows of her large hood she glared venom into the back of the warden’s head as they traveled.

But it lasted only for a second. Liyah was quickly getting a look at her surroundings, particularly observing if those husky guards would be following them where ever they go.

[Alexei]

"Yeah, I happen to be." Came the soft, uncomfortable reply. Unlike her, he couldn't change into a bird, and if he fell, he'd be out of luck in the flying department. As she placed her leg on the bar, to raise herself, and lean further in, he would instinctively lean back as their bodies began to press much too close for just a casual conversation, not that the earlier distance could be called casual. The wind rustled through his hair, making him far more uncomfortable knowing that there was not much support behind him. He would look up at her, his face showing his discomfort at the fact that he was being pressed against the railing far too much for his liking, and that her body was much too close to his.

He would relax as she increased the distance between them, his chestnut hues catching her fluorescent ones, which never failed to unnerve him. Letting out a sigh of relief he would step away from the railing and stand to the right of Liyah, much more relaxed now. Then they docked, which brought Alexei much more relief as he stepped on solid ground. His body's muscles would visibly relax and he too, would loosen up, rolling his shoulders and stretching. "Hmm..." Was all he could say as he looked around. It wasn't the best looking place, but it was a prison after all. His eyes would then fall upon the brutish guards that awaited them. Not the most welcoming of appearances. They did look like they could hold their own if it came down too it, but they didn't look too bright. But, he wouldn't just run off with the assumption that they were stupid.

Alexei would watch Liyah as she looked about. No doubt she would be starting her own little plan to sneak around and sate her curiosity. Alexei, would undoubtedly follow, just to make sure she didn't get in over her head. Not to say he wasn't curious himself. The guards here looked like caged animals, ready to snap at any given moments, leaving him no doubt, that the prisoners were much worse. He flexed his fingers, the leather of his gloves creaking as he did so. He was slightly on edge, but it was a good thing, it meant he was wary, and prepared for the unexpected. Though, he had wished he brought his sword with him, but there was no use in lingering on the thought, his fists would have to suffice if they were to be needed.

But, he would make a hasty retreat, if the one he had to fight happened to be with the criminal they were to interview, he would beat a hasty retreat. And if need be, carry Liyah over his shoulder to do so. No point fighting someone who could destroy who you are with but a touch. He would glance at her once more at the thought, wondering what she might say if he were to do such a thing. Probably another perverted comment that would undoubtedly make him uncomfortable. Taking in another breath, he would release it slowly. He could feel Liyah's excitement, even from here, and possibly some anger? Releasing it slowly as they walked.

[Mister]

Mr. Sassoon was pleasantly surprised when Ms. Giroux took him by the arm and he turned to her and smiled and whispered.
“You don’t have anything to fear Ms. Giroux. Like I said earlier, the prisoner will be well restrained. I’m curious, if you are so fearful, why did you volunteer to accompany me on this trip?”

[animosity!]

Brigitte's head canted to the side, she paused in Mr. Sassoon's embrace and brows knitted together as she, with much beforethought, answered his questions. A sigh escaped her lips, slow and particuarly strained with caution. " I'm very sure they will be, Mr. Sassoon, nonetheless, a prison is always a frightning place, criminals detained. . . or not. And in a place where the guilty have more power than most, precautions must be taken, steps must be taken to ensure the innocent's safety. Step most tedious and necessary to be executed with perfection, else the prisoners get the upper hand. . . I just wonder if we will stumble apon a failed process, this day, as I know there are many, and get more than we bargained for!" She paused longer still after confessing her worry that there would be and escape, a mistake, or a taking. . . before speaking again. A look was given to Federic, an overly happy but nervous smile. . . the kind that only graces children who have been caught doing something against their parents wishes, and the kind that usually precedes a glamorized lie as to why they did what they did. It was a smile on the face of a woman knowing what she was about to say could hardly be believed.

" . . .Well, Mr. Sassoon, if I told you, you'd hardly believe it! But, I will anyway, as to provide you with at least some knowledge as to why I find myself in such a panic at the moment. You see, years ago, when I was a child, my parents were always gone away, research scientists in a very secret project in my homeland. Months they stayed away, and eventually, I was informed that they had died experimenting on a new bioweapons batallion. A batallion interlaced with creatures of psychomancer ability. That was all the information I recieved. There was no funeral, no final goodbye I could give. Still barely an adult, I was left in the custody of my housemaid until of age, at which point I took over the manor. Nights passed, and finally under a full moon in midsummer, a knock, the first knock in years it seemed echoed through my home. I opened it to discover a man, very smiliar to my father in appearance, so much so that I nearly fainted thinking it was him. But it couldn't be. . . the man was crazed, dirt stained and with what appeared to be dried blood adorning his clothing; his eyes moved in vicious manners across the threshold and as he spoke haggard French, screaming it really. He went on about how my parents deserved to die, for corrupting the souls of psychomancers and imprisoning them in artifical warfare drones. . . about how I would be next, if I did not fall away from the life my parents had left behind and follow him.."


The woman paused again, realizing her voice was rising and she had probably drawn a crowd by then, so she continued the last bit of her story in whispers, leaning in close to Federic. " Finally, he confessed that he was in fact the death of my parents, that he, the greater of the Giroux brothers, had gained victory over the great scientist Leonard, my father. He was my uncle, Mortimer. At the point of my discovery of his identity, he mercilessly grabbed my arm and attempted to pull me into the night, I assume to wretch me away from the manor and all the memory I had left of my parents. . .to shape me. You see, genetically, I am much like Mortimer. But, unfamiliar with the lifestyle that goes with it, and my parent's denial of my ability, it never truly was anything more than a tiny spark of a flame, now snuffed by years of logic and other worldly things. My parents refused to acknowledge that I may be like Mortimer, because they were fearful I would be taken like much of the others...and have my mental abilities fostered and utilized for unjust cause. . . The end of the story? Well, here I am. And Mortimer. . . much like the rest of the rebel 'mancers, is here as well! I had to sate my curiousity. Had to see him one more time before his death sentencing, just to know him before he's gone. "

[Acies ab Vesania]

Chaflin listened intently to the instructions as the instructor gave them, taking a series of mental notes that he put away for later. Chaflin ignored the less than desirable scenery, finding the smell to fall short of matching some of the more foul stables and dairy stalls he had cleaned much out of in his farming days, and the shackles interested him more than frightened him. The Gaian academy was previously the furthest he had ever traveled and the only means he ever traveled besides his own feet was horse or wagon. Riding a ship, not just a ship but also an airship, was something entirely new to him. He could not wait to reach the top deck and stare out at the lands as they passed beneath the hull. Chaflin intended to heed the instructions given by the teachers, eager to have more chances in the future like this one.

Once let out on top, Chaflin raced to the rails and looked out over the horizon, staring through clouds at the grounds before, slipping by rapidly. It was an entirely novel concept to be above the land and among the clouds, distant vapors he only dreamed of someday touching. Here and now, he was flying among them, only an arm’s span away from the ephemeral bodies of white. He wondered if she danced among the clouds as she always said she would someday, now that the limits of mortality freed her of physical limits. Renei dreamt of many impossible feats and daring exploits, dancing among the clouds just one of many fantasies she shared with him, keeping him up late into the night and often into the early hours of the morn.

Thinking of her made his eyes tear up and a single drop run down his cheek; he made sure to conceal his expression of emotion, afraid of embarrassing himself among the others.

A short while later, the ship came to a stop and docked at the prison city. The guards there welcomed the students as if they themselves were prisoners in transport and in spite of his ease on the ship, Chaflin felt different about the prison entirely. The guards themselves looked like a rough lot just as likely to smash your teeth, as they were to pull an unruly prisoner off you. Something about the prison gave him the chills, touching some deep nerve and spreading a cold sort of fear through his body. Resolved in fulfilling his class duties, Chaflin mustered his fear and left the ship, ready to face whatever the prison threw in his direction.