ALROY FLYNN REID
Band Teacher
Alroy stood in front of the house near his spirit horse, patiently waiting for the love of his life to join him so they could ride to their new jobs. He'd taken Old Potato for a nice long ride this morning - longer than usual since Athena had insisted against his helping her to get ready. Old Potato was quite content with the extra attention and exercise and Alroy, too, had found the ride rather calming.
He had much to be nervous about, after all. This job was his first, and he would be alone in a room full of strangers - children, yes, but strangers nonetheless. For a solitary creature of chaos, it was a difficult thing to be civil and friendly, but he had been stubborn in his desire to change who he was for the better and Athena had helped so much over the last few years with his ability to cope being around other people. She was his teacher as much his beloved wife. She made him learn and feel things he'd never imagined possible for his kind and everyday was infinitely grateful for her presence in his life. He felt confident now, so much so that when Athena had decided to take a teaching job, he had enthusiastically studied music and taken up a few instruments in order to apply as well.
It was still nerve-wracking to be sure, but between the ride with Old Potato, his past experiences and practice, and the knowledge that both Athena and Sangwen, his closest friend, were but a few classrooms away should he need help, did wonders to calm any anxieties. Indeed, the dark aura that often cast a small dose of negative energy in those around them would have reached an all time low if not for his growing concern over his wife's unusual refusal of any assistance the last few mornings.
"Do you think I did something to upset her?" he asked as he pet his horse's neck while waiting.
"
How should I know? I spend most of my time with the bird," Old Potato replied, his voice audible only to his master. "
Maybe you tugged too hard on her hair last time you brushed it."
Alroy's brow furrowed at the suggestion. "I'm always very careful with that." Nonetheless, he considered the suggestion, thinking back on previous days leading up to the sudden change of heart.
The little things they did together were moments he greatly cherished and held close to his heart. Brushing Athena's hair, cooking meals together, helping with chores - they were everyday actions to other people, but in Alroy's presumably long life, he never participated in such things. His life before Athena consisted of wondering the rolling green hills of Ireland when the moon was high and the night dark, casting fear into the hearts of any soul unlucky to cross his path. Such is the way of a dullahan and it was many, many years before Alroy had stopped and thought if there was a different path for him. It'd been a few days now and he was missing spending their quiet moments in the morning getting ready together. But if Athena no longer wanted his company at that time, he would not intrude. They still had other moments to share and he still had Old Potato to spend the time with. It did not make him any less sorry to see those morning routines go, however...
Before he could dwell too much on it, Athena appeared, her mere visage banishing all negativity from his mind. He watched as she locked the door before he smiled at her, and the whole world around her seemed to light up as she smiled back. She was just so beautiful, not just in her appearance but in everything she did, from walking to talking.
"You don't have to worry about that, Athena. We'd wait all day if we had to," he said, sweeping her into a big hug.
His horse snorted behind him. "
What's this 'we' business? Me and the bird have plans later. Sangwen's garden doesn't eat itself."
Alroy turned his head to look at Old Potato, eyebrow raised.
"
I meant 'protect'."
Alroy sighed and shook his head, before leading Athena over to Old Potato, who snorted again before folding his legs beneath him to lay on the ground. His valkyrie was very tiny for a woman - especially a Norse woman, as Old Potato often pointed out - the top of her head barely reaching his chest area. But he liked her that way, in all honesty. It made her easier to hug and cuddle with. He helped her up on the horse - Old Potato still having some impressive height even with his stomach touching ground-level - before getting up on the saddle behind her. Old Potato stood up and they were off towards the academy at a comfortable pace.
They arrived at a reasonable time at the school. Neither of them having a first period, Alroy got down off the horse first when they reached the stables and held out his arms to help Athena before asking, "Do you need any help with your class room, Athena? I have little to do for mine - most everything I need is already there."
Location: Alroy and Athena's home -> School grounds - stables
Company: Athena, her bird, his horse.
OOC: Introducing Alroy in a really huge post. (Honest to God, I did not expect it to turn out this long.)
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