Mercenary Academy

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Lyxia woke to the sound of the birds chirping outside her vented window. She yawned and looked at the clock. Just how long had her nap been? When did she even go to sleep? She had no Idea. She got up off the couch, feeling grungy and gross. She grabbed a bite to eat first, her stomach throwing a hissy fit. It looks like she had to to go to the supermarket. She was running out of a lot of things and fast. She sighed and headed for the shower, not wanting to go to the supermarket looking like she did now.

She took a quick shower, cleaning off herself and then proceeded to dress in something comfortable. Putting her hair up in a ponytail and putting on light makeup, she headed to the supermarket.

There wasn't much choice in food for her since she had a limited grocery budget. She filled 75 percent of her cart with produce and then the other 25 percent with items such as milk, eggs, bread, and some packaged foods. That should be enough, she thought to herself. She proceeded to pay for her items and head back home. As she headed home, she decided to go the long way. Through the park she usually went through when she was troubled or stressed. As she sauntered on through on her way home, she saw something poking out behind a tree. She decided to investigate.

Sure enough, there was John. His shirt was off and he was fast asleep. Blood rushed to her face and she turned, embarrassed that she had stared like that. She hoped he had not seen her....
 
"I didn't know you liked watching shirtless boys sleep..."
Heaving himself up with what appeared to be great effort, John proceeded to cross his legs, rubbing his head as if it would repel the morning headache. Having slept where he did, his hair was a mess, and his glasses appeared as though food had been eaten off of them. Though his shirt had very little in the way of dirt clinging to it, blades of grass persisted on maintaining a grip, necessitating the appropriate action - get rid of them, so the top could be worn. John spoke, brushing off his clothing as he did so. "I'd ask what you were doing, looking at me like that, but I honestly could give less of a damn. Anyway, we may as well go together, seeing as we're both up and going to the same place anyway. Not that I'm particularly interested in you any more, your secrets appear to be rather... Banal. I just need to kill time. Maybe I'll buy myself something to eat on the way. Who knows."
Shrugging his shoulders, his chest was covered once more, and few stretches were done to ease up his tired body. Nothing extravagant, but enough to loosen the tension in his muscles.
 
Lyxia's face was still red with embarrassment.

"I do not like watching shirtless men sleep, alright? I was just passing by and saw something over here so I thought I would investigate. It's pure happen stance..."

Once she heard he would be following her, this made it even more awkward. Her face turned an even brighter shade of red as she turned around to John and glared at him.

"Exactly why do you need to follow me? Go back and sleep under your tree...There are no restaurants or shops this way....There is a supermarket the other way just around the block, alright? Just leave me alone..." She walked faster, trying to lose him. Not only was she embarrassed, she was angry at herself for having that kind of reaction at seeing him half naked. She didn't even like the guy....did she? She shook her head, trying to get those thoughts out of her brain. The guy was a scum bag...A total jerk. How could she even begin to like a guy like that?

She left the park and hurried home, hoping he had listen to her and gone the other way.
 
((I never said he started following her, he implied that he would if she walked away. If he was going to follow her, I would have said.))

"Oh please, I couldn't sleep if I tried."
Not knowing where Lyxia lived, John had no idea whether what she said was the truth or not. Nevertheless, he maintained his (somewhat) respectable attitude, and kept his distance from Lyxia. After all, she had had the common decency to at least get him introduced to the head teacher, before he suspected she'd have him leave her alone. But something played on his mind - though he understood a girl blushing at the sight of a shirtless male was not uncommon, it perplexed him as to why she simply did not walk away without so much as a second glance. Nor could he fathom why she had continued to become even redder, but he gave it no more thought than he deemed appropriate.
In other words, very little.
Despite his numerous other thoughts, one intermittently mingled with the others, dipping in and out, never being thought of for more than a split second. Yet, he could not deny it was being thought about.
Why was she acting like she did? It puzzles me... Maybe I underestimated how intriguing she could be.
 
((Sorry ^^;))

Lyxia stepped into her apartment, placing all of her groceries where they belonged and keeping the bags just in case she might need them again. She then headed to her room, the setting sun shining through her blinds as she got dressed into her pajamas. She always put them on early. They were comfortable. She opened the closet where the washer and dryer was and noticed that her laundry soap was also low. She had not thought to check it when she went to the grocery store. She shrugged. She had enough for tonight. She would have to grab some tomorrow. She threw in a load of her laundry and proceeded to go watch TV until she was ready to go to bed.

Nothing good ever played on the TV. Stupid Reality show laughter and horror show screams filled her small apartment with a nauseating sound. She turned it down and proceeded to turn the channel, not wanting to disturb the friends and neighbors in the building. Besides, she didn't really like to watch those idiotic kind of shows anyway. She flipped through the channel until she found a crime scene show and it seemed it was a marathon. Good. Something good was actually on for a change. She walked out to the kitchen to grab a snack and came back to watch the show.

After watching 2 hours of TV, she was ready for bed. She shut off the TV, Locked her front door and her room door and then crawled into bed. She turned off the lamp next to her bed and fell into a deep sleep, all the while remembering that she had to meet John at the school gate at 7 am. Hopefully she would wake up in time.
 
"Boy stares up at sky,
Ponders mysteries of life,
Attempts some more sleep."
Haikus were the one form of poetry John managed to make without becoming some form of blemish on the English language, as they were but words arranged in a pattern of five syllables, then seven, then five once more. He smiled slightly at his own little composition, the memory of it whisked away without further ado. The air was warm, and with nobody around to disturb him, he once again removed his top. By no means was he a flasher - he hated the very idea of being one. It was just a habit he'd picked up at the house he'd been kept in for the duration of his exchange visit. The weather was hotter than he was used to, so he compensated. However, this time, he hoped Lyxia would be smart enough to know he would be doing such a thing, should she pass by the area again. However, it was quickly replaced in a fit of panic, when a drop of water fell. Then another. Then several. Then, an unprecedented torrent - it had the possibility to last for a minute, or pull an all-nighter. Irrespective of this, the cover provided by the tree was pitiful, yet John could not venture out of it - lest he get even wetter, while searching for more sufficient dryness.
 
Lyxia awoke to the sound of an alarm. It was the alarm set for school. Her clock read 6:00 am. She lazily dragged herself out of bed and headed out into the kitchen, making a breakfast out of an apple, a bananna and a small bowl of oatmeal. After she had scarfed down her food hungrily, she brushed her teeth and climbed into the shower. After she had gotten out she threw on her academy uniform, grabbed her backpack and headed out the door. Yes, her mornings were usually uneventful. She had nothing really to brag about them. She lived pretty well on the pay she earned from her missions. Luckily she was a light eater, otherwise she'd be living beyond her means.


She arrived at the school gate. Looking at her watch it was 6:50 am. It was early. He still had 10 minutes to show up. She was certain that he was probably getting ready now, However he did so, and was coming over. She could only hope anyway. She had brought a couple extra supplies just in case he didn't show up half decent. She found the halfwall that guarded a garden of trees and flowers and took a seat on it, deciding to wait to see if he actually showed up.
 
Looking exceptionally bedraggled, John plodded towards Lyxia, a barely audible squishing noise sounding with his every step. His hair was damp, as were his clothes, and it was evident that what little sleep he had gotten, was not sufficient at all. His occasional stumble and tired demeanour betrayed this to no end, and there was little he could do about it. But, pertaining to his usual "get-on-with-it" attitude, it seemed as though he was trying his absolute hardest to shut out the symptoms of his night spent in the rain. Clutching the side of his head, he looked to Lyxia with droopy, bloodshot eyes, and half-smiled - in a forced manner, but it was a half-smile no less.
"Good morning. Sleep well?" he asked, though it was less of a conversation starter, than something to get her to ignore his atrocious state."I can't say I feel as good as I look. I'd have dried off with a towel, but I appear to be lacking one... Oh well, I suppose I'll dry myself in the sun. Anyway, we going or what?"
 
Lyxia sighed as she pulled out a brush from her backpack and a towel. She had heard the pitter patter of the rain before she fell asleep so she knew that he would probably be wet. Not that the principal would care, but he had to look semi decent. She handed both to him and crossed her arms, leering at the boy.

"Get yourself dry at least before you go in there and brush out your hair too...Gotta look presentable to the principal. You don't need a suit or anything which is good for you. Just hurry up and dry off so we can go see him..."

She sat back down on her spot, watching John and hoping he would hurry. The principal had meetings at 7:30 am. She couldn't afford to waste any of his time unless it was worth wasting. And she knew that John wouldn't be a waste of his time. She tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for John to finish up.
 
Though it was wet, John's hair was merely damp in that respect - the towel merely mopped up excess moisture, the sun would pertain to taking care of what remained. Brushing his hair into something presentable, John began to talk, in a fashion that would cause him to appear casual. It was important he maintained a calm attitude at all times - if he was to even begin to specialise in stealth, keeping his cool would be imperative throughout. Maintaining light conversation would aid this, as it would give him something to focus on, and the silence would only build tension. Tension was an undesired thing to have in that sort of situation - or any, for that matter.
"I apologise for causing you to go to such lengths... To be honest, I would have been fine without assistance, but you bringing these is really quite an improvement upon such a situation... Though, it has to be said, it's far more probable that you care more about how I look in front of the head teacher, as opposed to my well being, hm? Understandable, I know you must hate me. I have plenty of enemies. Still, I'll be out of your hair soon enough, to the best of my ability."
 
Lyxia sighed, taking the stuff from him and shoving them in her backpack. He looked ok now.

"Your fine...I really don't mind either way. As long as your not stalking me or anything, I don't mind helping you out. Now let's go..." She headed off to the principals office, hoping John would follow. She still wasn't too sure about John joining the school. She wasn't sure he would like the cirriculum. It was boring, even for her. If he didn't like it, he might up and leave during class....Which is kinda what she did if the same lesson was repeated or felt monotonous. She had gotten in trouble several times for doing that. But she couldn't help it. She wasn't the time to listen to the same thing twice, although it would probably be in her best interest if she did.

They arrived, shortly, to the principals office. It was exactly 7:00 am. Perfect. Just the time she was aiming for. She knocked, getting a verbal confirmation to come in. She lead John inside, introducing him to the principal.

"Sir, this is John. He would like to enroll in this academy...."
 
Bowing slightly, John assumed the best humble expression he could muster, the tone accompanying it just as fitting. However, his tone was also deadly serious, a tone the likes of which rarely replaced his apathetic one, let alone demeanour. He lifted his head after a time he deemed appropriate, and cleared his throat, signalling he was to speak.
"Yes, I wish to enrol here, as a student. I have heard things about this place, and though my talents are rough and in dire need of refinement, I assure you, I am more than capable of learning. I specialise in stealth and strategic work, and wish to improve my abilities in covert operations. Disguise and infiltration are the areas I most want to work on, sir."
Throughout this, nothing would have revealed what John had been like around Lyxia, as his usual personality had been replaced by one that seemed completely different. Focussed. Determined. No jokes whatsoever. Humble. He wasn't even hinting at sarcasm - he was serious bout enrolling. Whether Lyxia was around did not matter in the slightest to him, though he supposed it would make introductions to any potential allies less complicated. Standing to attention, he looked as if he would kill on command - the scary part being that he was fully ready to.
 
Lyxia's annoyance showed. She was sure of it. She hated how he lied right through his teeth about his demeaner. She didn't care if he really meant on joining. He shouldn't be a deciever. Lyxia thought she could decieve people as soon as she enrolled in this school. In fact, John reminded her alot of what she was like back when she just started this academy 2 years ago....But being at this school changed her outlook on everything. At least John knew what kind of school this was for. When she first enrolled she was clueless and thought she could get away with a lot of crap. But she came to find out that this school wasn't like any other school and that she couldn't get away with jack squat.

The principal nodded, walking to his filing cabinet and pulling out a file of papers, setting it in front of John.

"Ok, if you want to join, I need you to fill out some basic paperwork. This paperwork will be where we start you off at. Basically it is a competency test to see where you'll be starting classes at. Lyxia here is at intermediate level already. Although she did start out with Novice experience. Who knows, with your knowledge, you might get to start out on Intermiediate. Show me where you stand...John."
 
"Yes, sir. Will do, sir."
With that, John performed yet another slight, yet polite bow, and paced purposefully from the room. Once outside, he began to ponder the possibilities of what was actually in the folder that he had been given. The sorts of questions he had been given had not been specified, but he figured that they related in some way or other, to his abilities. While he would not perform well in power or stamina-based sports, his mind and stealth abilities were certainly above-par. Thus, he reasoned the two would balance each other out, or he would be sent to a part of the school that specialised in his talents. John had, essentially, been lying about who he was - but he was only lying about what he was, not what he wanted to be. He, from that point onwards, had resolved to cut down on the quips, the annoying remarks, and anything in general that got in the way of the mission. He'd finally been freed from the clutches of banal, abusive, everyday life - he was not going to let that chance slip through his fingers, because of a stupid error in his personality. Lyxia's first impressions of him had to be proved wrong, and though it did not matter to him what she felt, he had the sneaking suspicion that she had the power to spread the truth of what he was around, and would do so in a heartbeat.
 
Lyxia left the room as soon as she could, leaving John to his own devices. She had had enough of him for the day and needed a break. Although she hadn't seen him much today, that lying brat could only be dealt with for so long. At least for her. She bode farewell to John for the day and headed off to her first class, wanting to arrive just a little bit early so that she could start her work and get it done before she headed home for the day.

Today Lyxia had a stealth operations class and a How to handle money correctly class although she knew about both of those pretty well. They just went over the guidelines to the school and basic money handling skills. Those were the classes she had in the morning. The classes she had after lunch were study periods. She used these to get her homework done so she wouldn't have to deal with it at home. Stepping into her first class, How to Handle Money Correctly, she took her seat and looked forward, ready to give the teacher her undivided attention.

As the teacher droned on and on about money and where to safely store it, she started to wonder what John was up to right about now. She hoped he wasn't causing any trouble.
 
"...And, as such, it is imperative that, whenever possible, you walk in a body of water."
As a general "feel" of his abilities were needed, various classes had been arranged for him. Stealth was the current focus, and maintaining a low profile in forest regions was the main point of the lesson. The teacher had just wrapped up a lecture, pertaining to how to cover tracks in such an environment, by walking in a body of water deep enough to conceal - or, indeed, wash away - any prints made. John seemed the most eager to pay attention, though only by a marginal mount - it was his nature to appear uninterested, and it was a habit of his to blend in. Thus, despite him remaining undivided in his attention, it looked as if he couldn't care less. Closer inspection of his paper by the teacher at the front showed this revelation, the stealth instructor having doubted John's attentiveness. The lessons slogged on for what seemed to be an eternity, but it all passed with little inconvenience, save for his pencil breaking when filling out the paperwork. His mind wandered to what insignificant post he would be given, and if he was to have someone with him - if that happened to be the case, he hoped it woudn't be Lyxia. Things were tense as it was, and he suspected his sudden two-facedness in the head's office did not go well with her.
 
Lyxia praised the bell when it excused her from that boring class. She already had a safe place to store her money. She didn't need to know the basics. WHy was she even in this class to begin with? She needed to be in the How To Safely Store Money- Intermediate level. The head teacher had to know about this. She wasn't any beginner and all the info she had just heard sounded vaguely familiar. She headed to his office with the intention of switching to a harder class. Whether that happened or not remained to be seen.

She knocked on his door. A faint come in could be heard. She opened the door and closed it, sitting in a chair in front of the head teacher.

"What is it Lyxia?"

"Excuse my intrusion, but I believe I am in a class I have already taken. I was put in the beginning How to Store Money Class and I need to be in the intermediate level. I passed the beginning level..." She handed her schedule to the head teacher (aka The Principal)

He nodded a couple times and handed it back to her.

"Indeed you are in the wrong class...I will go ahead and change your schedule...Oh and Lyxia...before you take your leave....About that new student you brought in...John was his name? Anyway, he needs a partner and I believe that since you brought him in, you get to be his partner for the time being...Is that ok with you?"

She sighed, rubbing her temples. Being with the lying brat wasn't her idea of a good Idea, but she couldn't say no to the head teacher. She nodded and headed out, waving as she excused herself. She continued to rub her temples as she walked out of his office and to her next class, hoping against all hope that she didn't have to break the news to John herself.
 
"This... Is unacceptable!"
Muttering incoherently to himself, John shuffled begrudgingly to his next class, his manner dampened somewhat - having been politely informed of his partnership with Lyxia, he flipped a lid. Internally. Outside, he appeared gracious and courteous, not at all against the idea of him going on a mission with the person he felt most uncomfortable with. Yet, underneath the surface, he was doing an acrobatic pirouette off the metaphorical handle. "How dare they... How DARE they! I refuse to be paired with her! This is an atrocity, I must take this up with the head teacher at once..."
Unbeknownst to him, he was pacing past Lyxia - and, if she listened, she could hear him complaining about his current disposition. Evidently, neither were very happy about the arrangement.
 
Lyxia passed by, convientiently passing by John. She could hear him muttering about something. It also seemed he was pacing, debating on whether to go to the head teacher or not. She rubbed her temples as she walked over to John, putting her hand on his shoulder, stopping him from whatever he was doing.

"Look, I heard you...You suck at keeping your mouth shut...As for our certain predicament, there is nothing we can do about it. When the head teacher has made his mind up, it is law...I don't like this as much as you don't, but you'll have to deal with it for now....If you prove yourself, he'll give you a different partner..."

There was no other way. If John wanted a different partner, he would have to wait for the next mission and prove himself worthy of a new partner then. And not to mention it could take weeks to get a different mission so, as long as there was no new mission available, then John was stuck with Lyxia for now. She removed her hand off his shoulder and headed off to her next class.
 
((Not much to work with here, so I'm sorry if the post is lacklustre. I really think we should move things along a little...))

"Right..."
Sighing with considerable exasperation, John continued, his mind buzzing with thoughts of how he could get out of being near Lyxia. It boiled down to him realising, however, that proving himself on the missions was the most reliable way to rid himself of her. It was not that he disliked her, but rather, that he was distracted by her. So far, for that day, thoughts of how to figure her out plagued John's mind, intriguing him further. He had tried to understand how she said she didn't mind him, despite her obvious distaste towards him.
She's like an enigma, wrapped in a mystery, who showed up in a tank top and spandex shorts... What do I even say to her to keep her from getting angry with me? People are strange creatures...
 
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