Welcome

[Nikita Moriarty]

It was early yet, Nikita could just see the sun creeping in through the blinds in her office. The room had been simply decorated, minimalist in the unintentional form of the word. Nikki liked things simp,e and that's how they turned out. The only scene of interest was a wall adorned with Archery awards. In the centre of these, her Sydney Gold Medal. These trophies had grown old in Nikki's eyes and their only purpose was to serve as motivation. She strove to replace them with some other trophy, something she had yet to discover.

Her desk was covered in printed pages. Lesson plans and marking that begged to be done. Nikki ignored them, far more interested at that moment in the book she'd discovered in the library. She sat contemplating said book in her chair, waiting for something to happen. At least she had something to read.

Jeeves was on his perch, head under his wing. He wasn't an early riser as birds went and Nikki let him "sleep in" ocasionally. Today was one of those days, although, as soon as she moved, she noticed the bird's feathers ripple slightly. She had been noticed.

Turning the page, Nikki was content to just sit and absorb all she could before her next lesson. The text had proven remarkably valuable and mentions of both of her family names were included. She was now reading about an Alexandra Zaitsef, aparrently her great, great grandmother. A witch of some note according to the author of this volume.

As her interest was peaked and the book casually absorbed into its depths, there was a knock at the door. "What now?" was her initial thought, but Nikki soon remembered her manners and said brightly, "Come in?"

[Jack Faolin]

Jack almost turned and ran when he heard the petite voice from inside the office calling him to enter. He enjoyed women but he preffered not to remember the encounters he'd had with "lofty" ladies, and this woman's voice just screamed "posh". More to the point, he was hoping to hear a man's voice call him in as he had a few questions about the academy and he wasn't the type to seek advice from a female, especially a snobbish one.

He had arrived the previous evening outwardly composed but inwardly drunk. So drunk, infact, that he couldn't even remember who had given the briefing, or where. He seemed to think he'd been made a professor of elemental magic and basic combat, but he really wasn't sure. Now, not wanting to make his... tendencies too obvious so soon, he was about to face a woman who'd probably manage to somehow unveil this business about him...

Never one to back down from such a fun challenge, Jack wandered into the room as casually as possible. He paused as he looked around, no wonder he heard a woman's voice, this was the nurse's room, not the archery professor's office! The room was so blandly decorated that he knew he was right, which is why he did a double take when he saw the lack of wall around the numerous archery awards, as well as an Olympic gold.

Realising that he was gaping like a fool he turned his attention to the even more amazing trophy sitting at the desk.
"Top o' the mornin' to ya'" he said, "I'm new here, Jack Faolin's the name. I missed a few thing in the briefing when i arrived, would you care to help me out?"
He smiled at her with his best smile, a difficult task under the circumstances, and waited for her reply...

[Nikita Moriarty]

Nikita awaited the intruder’s entrance. She was inwardly willing herself to be civil, knowing that this person had subconsciously become an annoyance. Shaking her irritation, she tried desperately to put on an inviting face. As the person entered however, her effort changed into a look of both confusion and curiosity. The man that appeared in the doorway held no familiarity for her at all. She’d never set eyes on him in her life and here he was, standing in her office.

She watched, taken aback slightly, as he scanned the room. He seemed, at first, to be unimpressed by it and Nikita began to grow a little more agitated as he failed to ask anything of her. She began to wonder if his only intention was to inspect the interior of the room. Her only question, who was he? He lingered for a second on the wall covered with Nikki’s achievements. Openly staring, he seemed surprised that someone who owned such awards could live in an office so completely devoid of interesting décor. Nikki suddenly had a desire to spruce up her surroundings.

Just before Nikita could comment, or cough him into giving her some kind of explanation, he seemed to remember himself. He turned and looked at her, the change of expression on his face made her raise her eyebrows. It amused her slightly to see how she had been noticed.

Realising that he was gaping like a fool he turned his attention to the even more amazing trophy sitting at the desk.
"Top o' the mornin' to ya'" he said, "I'm new here, Jack Faolin's the name. I missed a few thing in the briefing when i arrived, would you care to help me out?"
He smiled at her with his best smile, a difficult task under the circumstances, and waited for her reply...

His greeting finished, he grinned at her and Nikita felt her curiosity return, only briefly held at bay by his introduction. A new professor? He didn’t strike her as the kind of person the Headmaster usually hired, but something told her there was a reason Vaughan had done so. Getting up from her desk with a swift and graceful move, she discarded the book and extended her hand in a reserved greeting, “Nikita Moriarty, Archery Professor… What would you like to know?” She smiled only slightly, still not entirely sure whether or not this man, with his interesting Irish accent, was a nuisance.

[Jack Faolin]

Jack was now even more impressed by her apparent gracefulness, a common thing with nobility, but her's seemed to say "I can kick your ass, and look good doing it."
He felt feelings rise up in himself that he hadn't felt for many years and felt the sudden need for a smoke and strong alchohol.

"Honoured to meet you!" he said, reaching forward with his tatooed right hand to take her's in a firm but gentle shake. The tatoo on his hand was a reminder of the occurance that had taken place in his past. Both his parents had been killed by Vampires and the words "bite me" across his knuckles served as a reminder of his mission to himself and an invitation for any Vampire to try.

Her skin was soft against his hand, finding that he liked it he released her as if holding a hot iron.

"Um...'" he mumbled uncertainly, "I'm led to believe that I've been made professor of elemental magic, and i was wondering if you'd know where my class is..."

[Nikita Moriarty]

Jack seemed unsure as Nikita extended her hand, as if some kind of conflict was going on inside him. Nikita merel waited a little longer in hopes that she hadn't seriously offended him in some way. Her half-smile remained, still maintaining its vigil.

"Honoured to meet you!" he said, reaching forward with his tatooed right hand to take her's in a firm but gentle shake.

Finally he returned her greeting, taking her hand in a confident yet sincere handshake. She was suddenly less certain about his character, her initial sizing up of him may have been completely off the mark and she reserved her thoughts about him.

The tatoo on his hand was a reminder of the occurance that had taken place in his past. Both his parents had been killed by Vampires and the words "bite me" across his knuckles served as a reminder of his mission to himself and an invitation for any Vampire to try.

Nikita noticed the tatoo across his knuckles, reading the words, she smiled. Then, with a hint of seriousness added, "Be careful what you wish for..." She subconsciously shifted her scarf slightly, selfconscious of the secret it hid.

Her skin was soft against his hand, finding that he liked it he released her as if holding a hot iron.

Nikita was slightly shocked as Jack quickly removed his hand from hers and she was uncertain what had caused such a reaction. She chose to ignore it and continue in their current conversation.

"Um...'" he mumbled uncertainly, "I'm led to believe that I've been made professor of elemental magic, and i was wondering if you'd know where my class is..."

Nikita gave the professor a quizzical look. Couldn't remember what exactly he was teaching? She took a breath as if to say something then paused. New teachers were usually briefed and told what they needed to know. Jack had apparently missed out, "Elemental Magic? You're also teaching Basic Combat, is that correct?"

Nikita was curious about this oddly sweet man, he seemed to have the wrong image for one so apparently innocent. Perhaps, innocence wasn't his trademark... Nikita smirked slightly, perhaps the party boy had been scared off...

[Jack Faolin]

Nikita noticed the tatoo across his knuckles, reading the words, she smiled. Then, with a hint of seriousness added, "Be careful what you wish for..." She subconsciously shifted her scarf slightly, selfconscious of the secret it hid.

Thinking for a second, Jack replied "I'm yet to meet a vampire that can get close enough to even try." He noticed how she shifted her scarf, was he making this awkward for her in some way?

Nikita gave the professor a quizzical look. Couldn't remember what exactly he was teaching? She took a breath as if to say something then paused. New teachers were usually briefed and told what they needed to know. Jack had apparently missed out, "Elemental Magic? You're also teaching Basic Combat, is that correct?"

Jack welcomed the change of topic, but the way she looked at him told him that he had given her cause to question him. "Yes, that sounds correct," he said quickly, "I recall being told that I would be involved in combat of some sort. Where would I be able to find these two classes, basic cimbat and elemental magic?"

Since he walked into the office he had been acting incredibly strange, why did this woman have this effect on him? He was usually the one leading the conversation, as if it were some kind of dance, but at that moment he seemed to have been swept off his feet by this astonishingly different woman.

"Man up, Faolin!" he ordered himself inside his head, "Since when have you ever been subject to any woman?"
Immediately he shifted himself to his usual manner, "I'd like to know as soon as possible, Miss," he said, "for it would be best for me to get started about my duties."

[Nikita Moriarty]

Thinking for a second, Jack replied "I'm yet to meet a vampire that can get close enough to even try." He noticed how she shifted her scarf, was he making this awkward for her in some way?

Nikita was somehwat taken aback by this answer. Could this man be so arrogant? She had once been as confident, but she had quickly learned not to be so careless about her liasons with the Vampiric beings. Her interaction with Vance had further instilled in her a huge respect for these creatures and the necessity of approaching them with care. "You're one of the lucky ones then..." she commented simply.

Nikita quickly changed the subject.

Jack welcomed the change of topic, but the way she looked at him told him that he had given her cause to question him. "Yes, that sounds correct," he said quickly, "I recall being told that I would be involved in combat of some sort. Where would I be able to find these two classes, basic cimbat and elemental magic?"

Nikta was slightly unwilling to leave her office, but it seemed it was unavoidable. As a matter of fact, she was keen to learn more about this intriguing professor. He seemed to be an odd sort of responsible, she had no doubt he would be popular with the students, but she was unsure how good a role-model he would be. She was about to show him the way when he spoke again.

Immediately he shifted himself to his usual manner, "I'd like to know as soon as possible, Miss," he said, "for it would be best for me to get started about my duties."

She recognised his want to take control of the situation. She had met many men like him, the type who didn't enjoy being led. Unfortunately, she was the type of woman who did the leading. She had been told that she was intimidating for this very reason, but she had shown little care. In this situation, however, she found herself willing to submit in the interest of finding out more about the man in front of her. This was unusual, submission was not one of her most popular traits... "Certainly, " she said, her unflappable steadiness withstanding the change in power dynamic easily. "Let me show you the way..." she gestured toward the doorway.

[Jack Faolin]

Nikita was somehwat taken aback by this answer. Could this man be so arrogant? She had once been as confident, but she had quickly learned not to be so careless about her liasons with the Vampiric beings. Her interaction with Vance had further instilled in her a huge respect for these creatures and the necessity of approaching them with care. "You're one of the lucky ones then..." she commented simply.

"A strange thing to say..." Jack thought, was this lady hiding somethin?
In all honesty, he meant every word of what he said, he eagerly awaited the day that he could have a real fight with a vampire, but he suddenly felt it would be best not to voice this opinion.

She recognised his want to take control of the situation. She had met many men like him, the type who didn't enjoy being led. Unfortunately, she was the type of woman who did the leading. She had been told that she was intimidating for this very reason, but she had shown little care. In this situation, however, she found herself willing to submit in the interest of finding out more about the man in front of her. This was unusual, submission was not one of her most popular traits... "Certainly, " she said, her unflappable steadiness withstanding the change in power dynamic easily. "Let me show you the way..." she gestured toward the doorway.

When Jack suddenly shifted to lead the conversation, he expected some kind of resistance from Nikita, but she allowed him to take the lead which left him incredibly suprised, and somewhat relieved. Not wanting to seem any ruder than usual he smoothly turned to open the door as she gestured.
"After you, my lady." he said, and prepared to follow her out.

[Nikita Moriarty]

Jack didn't respond to Nikki's comment on his tattoo, but instead seemed to think that she was wrong. The look he gave her made her slightly uncomfortable, she didn't like the idea of giving herself away, that was all she needed to fix herself a place on the Pathetic and Pitiful bandwagon.

Jack had interesting manners that didn't exactly match his appearance. Nikita was somehwat startled be them, she had learned not to expect anything of anyone until she got to know them, but even she had a preconcieved idea of the kind of man Jack Faolin was.

Not wanting to seem any ruder than usual he smoothly turned to open the door as she gestured.
"After you, my lady." he said, and prepared to follow her out.

"Thank you," she said, giving him an unreadable look. He was so polite and it made Nikita wonder if it was just an act. Brought on by... her? She pondered the prospect briefly. Was this bad-boy intimidated into being gentlemanly? She smirked inwardly before making her way to the door and out into the corridor.

OOC: Moving this post to the Hallways on the Fourth Floor...