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[Nikita Moriarty]

The room was silent as a tomb. A slight breeze lingered just past the windows. Nikita shivered slightly as she walked across the wooden floorboards. The memories of the summer had left her a little wary of this room, but she was determined to beat it.

The moon hung high in the blackened sky. It alone bore witness to this midnight ritual. Nikita barely slept, a result of her high stress level, so, after she had done as much marking as she could bear, she had taken to this calming pass-time. She lowered her purple mat to the ground and took off her black trainers.

Stretching slightly, she began her usual breathing cycle. She sat down and folded her legs into the Lotus Position, the rythmic timing of her breathing calmed her sufficiently.

The cool, still air served as an ideal balm to the wild daytime chaos. She could never reach this stage of peace during the day with students in the corridors. They usually made enough noise to frighten away an Utukku, not to mention the stir her outfit might have made. Her black tights and baggy grey T-shirt were not the essence of style... Still, they were comfortable and ideal for any kind of movement.

Now sufficiently calm enough to begin her session, Nikita stood and bent herself in half, touching her face to her knees and beginning her "Salute to the Sun", more like "Invitation to the sun..." she thought, considering the fact that the sun was far from getting out of bed.

[Jack Faolin]

Walking into the combat training room for a bit of midnight training, Jack moved as silently as ever practicing his silence techniques, if anyone had seen him they would have been amused that someone walking so silently would be carrying a large bottle of some sort of alchohol in his hand.

Indeed, tonight Jack would be practicing his most prefered fighting style: Drunken Boxing. And, as already mentioned, his training was already well in progress beacause he was already quite drunk.

Looking around the large room, Jack nearly leapt out of his socks at the sight of Miss Moriarty bent in half with her face touching her knees. The moonlight bathed the glorious sight with a fairy tale like glimmer. If he hadn't been as drunk he might have crept out of the room as silently as he entered, but unfortunately, to his later regret, he was very, very drunk.

"Good Lord," he mumbled, "What can a man do to get the lovely miss to do that somewhere a bit more private?" He thought about that for a second then changed his mind about what he said, not realising that it couldn't be taken back, "Good evening, ma'am," he continued, "would you mind if I share this room with you tonight? To train, of course."

[Nikita Moriarty]

Nikita was about to go into the Snake when her acute senses warned her that something was present in the room. She froze, trying to locate the sense she had picked up. She continued to breath, reaching out with her sense and feeling for the presence that had so startled her usually quiet mind. Her mind flashed with the image of Vance turning on her, but she fought it.

The presence seemed distant, almost as if trying to cloak itself. She tried to register any danger in this situation, but there was a calm in the room. She relaxed a little, still unable to pinpoint the exact source of this intrusion of her mind.

She continued her breathing, finding it harder still to concentrate. Focussing on the slow, rhythmic coolness that filled her lungs. She still souldn't shake an uneasiness that had settled unnecessarily on her heart. Then she felt it, a pulse, some kind of shock. She traced the point of origin to somewhere near the door. She recognised this presence.

"Good Lord," he mumbled, "What can a man do to get the lovely miss to do that somewhere a bit more private?" He thought about that for a second then changed his mind about what he said, not realising that it couldn't be taken back,

Nikita wanted to laugh with relief, but Professor Faolin's remark stopped her from doing so. The sheer crassness of the remark mad her slightly indignant. Keeping her cool, she rose steadily to a standing position. She turned to him, but before she could comment, she noticed something about his air that led her to believe that a significant amount of alcohol was involved.

"Good evening, ma'am," he continued, "would you mind if I share this room with you tonight? To train, of course."

Nikita smiled despite herself, it seemed that he was at least trying to make right of the situation. HIs sudden politeness could only be attributed to his sense of responsibilty, however faint, shining through. She thought for a moment, Professor Faolin was drunk. This disappointed her somewhat. Many students looked up to him and such a habit was not one she took lightly.

There was something else though, she could tell that despite this man's facade, there was something terribly wrong that he needed alcohol to hide from the truth. Her common sense told her that, after his initial comment, inviting him to train alongside her was dangerous, but she felt compelled to find out what he had to run away from. "Certainly," she said cordially, "As long as I can continue my routine in peace..." she smiled, perhaps something less... flexible was a wiser plan.

[Jack Faolin]

Jack felt the sudden need to explain his drunkenness, something he seldom felt the need to do, so he proceeded to do so, “You’re probably wondering why I’m so boozed up. Well, my preferred and most powerful style of fighting is one that requires me to be in this state, at least when training, and I do it this late to avoid being seen by our precious students.” He said this with a large hint of sarcasm, “You see, Miss Moriarty, my fighting style is the Zui Quan, I am a drunken master.”

When he finished this he paused dramatically, well, it would have been dramatic if he hadn’t stumbled a little to the left. Then he took a few more steps into the room.

"Certainly," she said cordially, "As long as I can continue my routine in peace..."

“Why, thank you,” Jack said, “I promise I won’t make a peep.”
After saying this, Jack wandered a little distance away from Nikita and prepared to begin his exercises. He placed his large bottle of Japanese Saki on the floor, making a thud. This was the first sound other than talking which he had made while in the room, he intended to remain as silent as possible so that he wouldn’t interrupt Nikita in any way. Silence was one of his specialties, having lived without making a single sound of any kind for two months as part of his training while in Japan. As the saying goes “Silence is golden.” This would mean that Jack Faolin was platinum.

Jack assumed his first fighting position, which happened to be a crouching stagger, then paused wandering if it would be polite to wait for Nikita to continue before he did. It was beginning to disturb him how he always felt the need to impress this woman with his manners, something he had never done before. He remembered his mother once telling him about a woman who would one day tame the wildness that he often showed, he had always just laughed. Trying to clear his head of these drunken thoughts, he waited for Nikita to make her next move.

[Nikita Moriarty]

Jack seemed compelled to explain his state and Nikita was a little sceptical at first, after all, it was likely that, seeing the Deputy Headmistress, he was simply trying to keep his job. She listened nonetheless, interested to know what he come up with. She imagined he was quite a creative person in many ways and probably had a very interesting excuse.

Jack felt the sudden need to explain his drunkenness, something he seldom felt the need to do, so he proceeded to do so, “You’re probably wondering why I’m so boozed up. Well, my preferred and most powerful style of fighting is one that requires me to be in this state, at least when training, and I do it this late to avoid being seen by our precious students.” He said this with a large hint of sarcasm,

Nikita didn't like his tone. After all, if he was so inclined to hate the students, why was he a teacher? The rest of his explanation intrigued her somewhat, was Jack a master of The Drunken Fist? An entirely interesting art that she was almost certain was practically dead. Jack continued and Nikki listened with a half-smile.

“You see, Miss Moriarty, my fighting style is the Zui Quan, I am a drunken master.”

She was right, but began to wonder if Jack did anything sober. "An interesting art Professor Faolin, I had thought that that style was lost somewhere in the depths of Asia, you, it seems, have proved me to be entirely incorrect..." She resisted the urge to laugh as he staggered a little, so much for his impressive statement.

“Why, thank you,” Jack said, “I promise I won’t make a peep.”
After saying this, Jack wandered a little distance away from Nikita and prepared to begin his exercises.

Nikita nodded in gratitude and watched as he walked away to begin his routine. An awkward silence ensued and she felt the need to fill the space the silence had left behind, but decided to continue her routine. She took up a Mountain stance and tried to regain her concentration. She couldn't she just had to see if Jack was really telling the truth. "I'm sorry, Professor Faolin," she said, opening her eyes and turning towards him again, "but I juts have to see what you suggest is your alibi..."

[Jack Faolin]

She was right, but began to wonder if Jack did anything sober. "An interesting art Professor Faolin, I had thought that that style was lost somewhere in the depths of Asia, you, it seems, have proved me to be entirely incorrect..."

"Indeed, and I hope to prove you incorrect where ever possible..." once again, Jack had let his drunken toungue slip, "actually, pretend I said you look absolutely ravishing tonight." Then, to answer what could have been a question, Jack said "Yes, my grandfather is the last drunken master of old and I was his only pupil in this martial art, and one day if I have children I will teach them too and they will teach their children and so on and so forth."

As Jack assumed his first position, a stumbling crouch, Nikita spoke again.

"I'm sorry, Professor Faolin," she said, opening her eyes and turning towards him again, "but I juts have to see what you suggest is your alibi..."

"And how convincing it would be," Jack said, not moving, "because I will just appear to be in a drunken stupor. To truly test this martial art one would have to be willing to stand against it. Would you like to spar, Miss Moriarty?"

[Nikita Moriarty]

"Indeed, and I hope to prove you incorrect where ever possible..." once again, Jack had let his drunken toungue slip,

His tongue seemed to have a way with him and os, it seemed, did alcohol. Nikki wanted desperately to laugh at the intoxicated professor, but instead tried to maitain a stern and serious face.

"actually, pretend I said you look absolutely ravishing tonight."

This comment threw her a little, looking down at her outfit, she looked back at Jack with confused expression. "Yes, definitely had too much to drink..." she thought, slightly amused.


Then, to answer what could have been a question, Jack said "Yes, my grandfather is the last drunken master of old and I was his only pupil in this martial art, and one day if I have children I will teach them too and they will teach their children and so on and so forth."

Nikita nodded as he answered her question, it was certainly an interesting tradition. Then a thought struck, "Hang on a minute," she thought aloud, "surely this style of combat is only an illusion to make your enemy think you are intoxicated, surely you don't actually have to have consumed vast quantities of alcohol..." She was sceptical once more, however, she was about to return to her routine. Jack did the same, but she couldn't fight her curiosity.

"I'm sorry, Professor Faolin," she said, opening her eyes and turning towards him again, "but I juts have to see what you suggest is your alibi..."

"And how convincing it would be," Jack said, not moving, "because I will just appear to be in a drunken stupor. To truly test this martial art one would have to be willing to stand against it. Would you like to spar, Miss Moriarty?"

The suggestion was not one Nikki was expecting. Spar with a drunk Professor? It didn't seem fair... Not to mention ethical. "All right, Professor, you're on..."

[Jack Faolin]

Jack had found himself in quite a concerning situation with the Deputy Headmistress and she was starting to ask some strange questions that required a little thought and soberness, something that Jack had very little of at that moment.

"Hang on a minute," she thought aloud, "surely this style of combat is only an illusion to make your enemy think you are intoxicated, surely you don't actually have to have consumed vast quantities of alcohol..."

Unwilling to discuss his preferred training method of his preferred fighting style, due to the amount of alcohol in question, Jack did not answer her question.

The suggestion was not one Nikki was expecting. Spar with a drunk Professor? It didn't seem fair... Not to mention ethical. "All right, Professor, you're on..."

Her answer was not one which Jack was expecting. The Deputy Head sparring with a drunken professor? It didn’t seem like her, but Jack was keen for a bit of practice so it pleased him that she accepted. He wouldn’t go too hard on her though, so Jack quickly thought of a simple move that would test her abilities.

Suddenly lunging forward, moving quickly to surprise his opponent, Jack knocked over his bottle of Saki, not wanting to waste any of his precious supply he quickly spun around to catch it, as he bent over towards the bottle he swung his leg up in an arc towards Nikita’s head.

[Nikita Moriarty]

Nikita was enjoying making Jack Faolin uncomfortable, albeit just a little. Her questions seemed to bother him which signalled to her that she was asking the right ones. Her moment of understanding led her to a pertinent question.

"Hang on a minute," she thought aloud, "surely this style of combat is only an illusion to make your enemy think you are intoxicated, surely you don't actually have to have consumed vast quantities of alcohol..."

Unwilling to discuss his preferred training method of his preferred fighting style, due to the amount of alcohol in question, Jack did not answer her question.

Jack's silence was telling. She had called his bluff, or was it that he couldn't properly process her question. She wouldn't have been surprised if it had been the latter, after all, there was enough alcohol in the room for two and only one of them was actually drunk. The silence was follwed by a challenge and Nikita couldn't help but take it up.

This seemed to surprise him, perhaps he didn't know her as well as he had hoped. She could tell that this was going to lead to an easier fight, he would go easy on her, she knew it.

Suddenly lunging forward, moving quickly to surprise his opponent, Jack knocked over his bottle of Saki, not wanting to waste any of his precious supply he quickly spun around to catch it, as he bent over towards the bottle he swung his leg up in an arc towards Nikita’s head.

Her thoughts distracted her momentarily, but it was little matter. As Jack lunged forward, she prepared to parry, but he himself seemed distracted. The offending bottle of Saki made Nikki roll her eyes, just as she did so, his foot seemed to be flying at her head. Grabbing his ankle, she tripped him up so that he was flat on his back. Putting her foot on his chest to hold him down, she smirked, "Come on Professor, is that the best you can do?" A little cocky, but Nikita was feeling profoundly confident as the alcohol seemed to be on her side.

OOC: Sorry about the Godmod... Discussed plotline. I promise.

[Jack Faolin]

Putting her foot on his chest to hold him down, she smirked, "Come on Professor, is that the best you can do?" A little cocky, but Nikita was feeling profoundly confident as the alcohol seemed to be on her side.

Jack suddenly found himself in a very awkward situation with a very interesting view. He took a few seconds to admire this view before taking a long swig of his precious saki.

Being an elite ninja, Jack had noticed everything in the surrounding room, even though he was quite drunk. He had payed particular attention to the yoga mat that Nikita was still standing on. Still taking his extreme swig of saki, running out of breath, he pulled the mat out from under her, throwing her off her feet.

Stumbling to his feet, Jack turned to the fallen Nikita, saying "Come on Professor, is that... um... would you like some saki?"

[Nikita Moriarty]

Jack suddenly found himself in a very awkward situation with a very interesting view. He took a few seconds to admire this view before taking a long swig of his precious saki.

Nikita was getting a little agitated at this man's persistent need to stare at her, after all, she was a human being. The way he looked at her made her feel like some sort of meat popsicle. He took another swig of saki.

Being an elite ninja, Jack had noticed everything in the surrounding room, even though he was quite drunk. He had payed particular attention to the yoga mat that Nikita was still standing on. Still taking his extreme swig of saki, running out of breath, he pulled the mat out from under her, throwing her off her feet.

Nikita was so busy paying attention to Jack's horrible habit and casting scorn upon him, she felt her mat coming out from under her. The floor came at her quickly and she hit her head hard on the wooden floor. Cursing herself inwardly, she turned over and tried to get up. It seemed Jack had beaten her to it.

Stumbling to his feet, Jack turned to the fallen Nikita, saying "Come on Professor, is that... um... would you like some saki?"

Nikki smirked, "Nice comeback," she put her hand up for him to help her. They'd drawn the first, she wanted to see what he'd do for his second attempt.

[Jack Faolin]

Nikki smirked, "Nice comeback," she put her hand up for him to help her. They'd drawn the first, she wanted to see what he'd do for his second attempt.

Jack looked at her hand for a second, wondering what he was meant to do with it, then suddenly remembered his manners. "Aha!" he said as he placed the bottle of Saki in her extended hand, "That should get you right up." He didn't picture her to be much of a drinker, but with nobility one could never tell, and she had extended her hand for a drink quite eagerly.

He wondered what her next move would be, she most certainly had more tricks up her sleeve. There seemed to be a lot more to her than she had let on as of yet, and he was quite interested as this woman seemed to stir up feelings inside of him which he thought were long since gone. Perhaps a bit of alcohol would loosen her tongue... perhaps in more ways than one, but that wasn't very likely.

Jack figured it would be very dangerous to be involved with the Deputy Headmistress in this way so he would step very lightly in this area until something came up.

"Surely it wouldn't be looked upon very lightly if the students and fellow staff knew of your late-night excapades," Jack said, knowing the same applied for himself, "just how far does the authority of the Deputy Headmistress reach, and how did you come about this interesting possition?"

[Nikita Moriarty]

Jack looked at her hand for a second, wondering what he was meant to do with it, then suddenly remembered his manners.

Jack seemed confused by Nikita's asking for help and she cocked an eyebrow as an awkward second passed. He still didn't seem to understand what she was asking. She was about to cough politely to, perhaps, jog his memory, but she didn't have to.

"Aha!" he said as he placed the bottle of Saki in her extended hand, "That should get you right up." He didn't picture her to be much of a drinker, but with nobility one could never tell, and she had extended her hand for a drink quite eagerly.

She laughed with relief as his manners returned to him. Then, something unnexpected happened. He handed her the bottle of Saki and commented on its upsides. She looked at the bottle in her hand and laughed heartily, Jack Faolin certainly kept her guessing. She could never anticipate his doing what she expected. Shrugging slightly, she took a swig of the alcohol. It was strong, but Nikita was no stranger to strong alcohol. You don't survive aristocracy parties without strong alcohol to keep you friendly.

Realising that Jack was probably not going to help her up, Nikki stood, handing the bottle back.

"Surely it wouldn't be looked upon very lightly if the students and fellow staff knew of your late-night excapades," Jack said, knowing the same applied for himself, "just how far does the authority of the Deputy Headmistress reach, and how did you come about this interesting possition?"

The comment came out of the blue. "What escapades?" she said defensively, although her face was lit with an outraged smile, "I don't know what you're up to Professor Faolin, but I came down here to practise Yoga..." She realised how dodgy the comment sounded and sincerely hoped he was too drunk to notice.

"As for your question," she continued trying to distract from her previous comment, "I'm not sure what you mean by that and I was given the position by Headmaster Vaughan shortly after my arrival her. How, may I ask, did you stumble upon that thought?"

[Jack Faolin]

Realising that Jack was probably not going to help her up, Nikki stood, handing the bottle back.

Taking the bottle from the lady, Jack took another long swig. The bottle was almost empty, he noted, but he recalled that he had a few bottles hidden in a wall panel to his left, perhaps there would be need for them in a while.

"What escapades?" she said defensively, although her face was lit with an outraged smile, "I don't know what you're up to Professor Faolin, but I came down here to practise Yoga..." She realised how dodgy the comment sounded and sincerely hoped he was too drunk to notice

Her answer confused Jack, he wasn't up to anything but he thought he'd humor her to see where she was headed, "Now now, Ms Moriarty, there's no need to pretend," he said, "you can tell anything to ol' Jack with the highest confidence."

His ears still pricked at her answer though, he seemed to have missed something in what she said that he would usually have picked up on instantly. He was no good at inuendo when he was "under the influence".

"As for your question," she continued trying to distract from her previous comment, "I'm not sure what you mean by that and I was given the position by Headmaster Vaughan shortly after my arrival her. How, may I ask, did you stumble upon that thought?"

"Heh, it is my way to stumble upon things," Jack replied, "and I seldom have much control over where I stumble"

Jack placed the near-empty bottle at Nikita's feet, then stumbled over to the wall panel he'd been thinking of earlier. Standing in front of it, he gave it five pokes in seemingly random places, the panel then fell away to reveal three fresh bottles of saki. He removed two, replaced the panel, then stumbled back to his opponent.

"Shall we continue?"

[Nikita Moriarty]

"Now now, Ms Moriarty, there's no need to pretend," he said, "you can tell anything to ol' Jack with the highest confidence."

She was pushed almost to the point of offense, but not quite. She was indignant and amused at the same time that Jack thought she was up to something untoward, after all, most didn't think she was the untoward kind. She glared at him, a hidden smirk lingering, "Well, what is it, exactly, that you think i have to tell?" It was probably not wise to ask, but Nikki was curious and couldn't help herself.

Jack seemed to have missed the innuendo of her last comment and Nikita was profoundly grateful that the alcohol was properly doing its job. The last thing she wanted was for Jack to read into anything she said.

"Heh, it is my way to stumble upon things," Jack replied, "and I seldom have much control over where I stumble"

Nikki couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, I can see that..." she said, noting his slight swaying and occasional loss and quick regaining of balance. She had never been much into excessive consuming of alcohol and was, thus, used to spotting its effects, having seen many very interesting society parties.

Jack placed the near-empty bottle at Nikita's feet, then stumbled over to the wall panel he'd been thinking of earlier. Standing in front of it, he gave it five pokes in seemingly random places, the panel then fell away to reveal three fresh bottles of saki. He removed two, replaced the panel, then stumbled back to his opponent.

Jack placed the bottle of saki at Nikki's feet and she couldn't help but wonder what the point was. Before she could question him, however, he stumbled over to the wall in a very determined and specific manner. Poking the wall, Jack confused her no end, was he so intoxicated that he was interacting with inanimate objects? No... His reason soon became very clear and Nikki's jaw dropped at the site of a significant stash of saki. "We'll have to check the school for those..." she said amazed, "We don't want any clever students picking up a drinkng habit!"
"Shall we continue?"

Nikki eyed him suspiciously before taking up a defensive stance, "Whenever you're ready... Although I don't think you'll ever be ready enough... " The smirk reappeared.