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 Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:08 pm
Considering just how much she studied, one could say that Althaia was--at the very least--book-smart...but when it came to social situations? That was a completely different matter. Apparently the mononoke did not know what was appropriate and what was inappropriate. Furthermore, considering how most people seemed to tolerate her strange behaviour--in some cases, possibly because of her sage-status--it was unlikely that Althaia would ever learn.
Or at least, it would take a long, long time. She probably broke at least half a dozen social etiquette rules since the minute she stepped foot in Xander's classroom. Inappropriately groping--regardless of the fact that she didn't understand--the professor definitely counted.
"Oh, Xander, please do not let my compliment go to your head. You are the first man whose chest I have felt! I do not have anyone else to compare to. Althaia informed him, wagging a finger at him. At least this meant that it wasn't something she did often. Or, well, until she continued on to say, "Although, if I were to visit the next time you have a class..." She trailed off, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "Do you have any students whose genders are under question?"
At this rate, she was going to go back home to Clarus Arbor and pat the chests of all the men who passed her by, while muttering things like, "too skinny", and "no, Xander's wasn't quite so pillow-like--oh, this is a woman."
And then there Xander went, back to his grumpy face. What a pity--the smile had been quite nice. The hand that wasn't stroking Hyde went up to fiddle with the ribbons in her hair as she listened to him speak. No, she definitely did not doubt the man's words. His magic didn't just lean towards offense, but it seemed to be the very epitome of offensive magic. If he had managed to cause such decent damage on a tree when he was just playing around, Althaia was curious what he could really do when he was serious.
She stayed silent, watching his face closely as she let the realization of what she was settle in. He seemed...well, it was hard to tell. Surprised, perhaps? At the very least, she didn't think that he had expected that answer. It seemed that he had something to ask her--meeting his glower with a laugh, she curiously waited for his question.
A question that had nothing to do with her reveal, which only earned another laugh. She cuddled Hyde close, gently pressing her cheek against the snake's smooth body. "Just Hyde. I've taken quite a liking to him, I must admit."
As if that hadn't been obvious enough. If given the chance, the kirin would probably just walk out of there with him.
"And you, Xander," She began, her voice pleasant, "Are the weirdest and most amusing person I have ever met. I quite like hanging around with you."
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Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:56 pm
He didn't know why he was tolerating said strange behavior, since ordinarily Xander would have just dismissed Althaia with a flick of his wrist. Perhaps it was the fact that he had somehow subconsciously known that she was powerful, at least as powerful as he was - though in different ways. The whole offensive versus defensive magic thing, after all.
"Too late," he said airily, waving a hand. "All compliments go to my head. It's part of my charm."
He gave her what was probably a very self-satisfying smirk, brushing a few dust particles from his shirt and straightening it. Althaia had just groped his chest, after all - and while she was awkward and very....strange, Xander couldn't deny that she was, in fact, quite beautiful.
Her weird antics may or may not counteract that attractiveness.
He gave her a Look. "And please don't go around feeling up my students," he told her, very sternly, though he couldn't help but wonder what they would do if they suddenly had a kirin girl walking around groping their chests experimentally.
"...on second thought, maybe I'll let you come in. If you're good. Maybe."
"Maybe."
Why did he get the feeling he was talking to a little kid?
Xander wasn't sure how to respond to the fact that Althaia was a sage. He certainly hadn't expected something so high class for someone so...so...
...whatever she was. Althaia was just...Althaia. Xander sighed, rubbing his face again. He didn't want to admit that her company was actually somewhat interesting, and that she, at the very least, had managed to keep him both amused and entertained without intending to - a feat hardly anyone had managed before, with the exception of Runa and one or two others.
But she kept trying to steal his familiar. Not that Hyde was doing anything to protest, since all Xander could hear in his mind were quiet, pleased whispers, which only made him scowl more deeply.
"I am not," he said "weird. I think that description more works with you, little kirin."
He sat back down in his chair, rubbing his temples and propping his feet up on the desktop as he leveled a look in Althaia's direction.
"And why," he asked, sounding tired and wary at the same time. "Do you like hanging around me? It's not like I'm warm and fuzzy like certain people. And you know what I am now," he added, with a smirk.
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:11 pm
Althaia's eyes widened, and she reached out with both hands to...pat Xander on either side of his head? And she looked very serious as she did so as well, lips twisted into a concerned frown. "But Xander, you will no longer be so charming if you allow all the compliments to go to your head!" Her hands slid down to his face, and she gave his cheeks a little squish, her shoulders and her expression relaxing slightly. "Fortunately for you, I do believe that my compliment has not changed the size of your head too much."
Drawing back, a relieved smile appeared on her face, her eyes growing soft. "How fortunate. For a moment, I was concerned that I had condemned you to a lonely life." The gentle look was still on her face as she went on to say, "Women don't like men with big heads, you know. I am glad that I have not greatly diminished your chances of finding someone to procreate with."
Was she...was she really being serious?
Probably...not? Maybe!? Though her tone of voice sounded level and serious, the amused twinkle in her eyes seemed to give her away. It was always hard to tell with Althaia though. Where did her innocent facade begin and where did it end? ...Or was there even a facade?
(Hint: there isn't)
Althaia may have deflated a bit when Xander requested that she not grope his students, but her disappointment was immediately cast aside when he told her that she could maybe visit. Maybe. If she was good.
The Mononoke leaned forward, her little ears pricked up in excitement. "I'll be good!" She promised, looking not unlike an eager child, "I was very much disappointed that I had arrived too late to hear your lecture today. I wish to learn more about Arcane History." And she actually seemed genuine about this too. When it came to knowledge, Althaia just couldn't get enough.
And, of course, there was Hyde. Never not Hyde. <3
He earned a chuckle at his denial at being weird, and she said nothing to argue the point. Instead, she went on to consider his question with a thoughtful hum. "What you are means little to me. Rich, poor, Blackheart, Witch Eater--I don't judge a character based off of these things." She shrugged her shoulders, grinning, "I just think that you're quite fun, is all."
And then there was that innocent, doe-eyed look again.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:34 pm
Why was she patting his head. Why.
This question, of course, was just filed away in Xander's mind under the list of "Strange Things Althaia Does," sandwiched between the questions of "I really hope she doesn't come in and feel up my entire class trying to discern their gender" and "Does she really think my chest is that nice?"
The list was a very long one.
"You're assuming that I get a lot of compliments," said Xander, arching one brow loftily, gaze flashing towards the kirin with an inscrutable expression on his face. "Here's a hint: I don't. Therefore any compliments I do get, I stow away and keep them nice and fresh in my head for later perusal."
There was a slight pause. "Are you saying you like me?" he asked, and grinned devilishly at her, leaning forward and tweaking a strand of her hair. "Why, Althaia, I'm flattered. But I must warn you that I consider myself married to my work, so therefore any relationships are out of the question."
He leaned back in his chair, a satisfied, amused smirk on his face, and idly tugged on a strand of his own hair, curling it around one gloved finger.
Then realized what exactly she had said and proceeded to flop face down onto the desk and heave a greatly exasperated sigh.
"Did you just say the word 'procreate.' Please tell me you didn't because that is just plain weird."
The sad thing was that he could tell she was being exactly straightforward and honest with him. There seemed to be no sort of game she played - everything was just laid out how it was and that was that. She didn't try to beat around the bush, nor did she try and pretend to be anything she wasn't.
Which means only one thing, Xander thought, lifting his head up to rest his chin on the desk and eye Althaia warily.
She really is just that weird.
And now she was blinking widely at him, her eyes happy and her ears pricked. Exasperated, Xander sighed, shaking his head - not really an easy feat, since he still hadn't lifted his head from the desk and he looked rather odd doing it.
"It's not like my lectures are all that interesting," he said, and smirked. "I just like hearing the sound of my own voice."
This was only half true - he did know he was rather intelligent, and it never hurt to extol on that a bit - but the other half was that honestly the subject was interesting to him, and he did like teaching.
Even if he would never admit that fact in a million years. Xander stared blankly at Althaia.
"You think I'm...fun," he said flatly, as if trying to figure this word out. "What the hell does that even mean?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 6:37 pm
The kirin looked very serious when he told her that compliments were rare and few in-between for him. She rubbed at her chin and stared at him, clearly deep in thought. Maybe she could help him find a way to be more popular? Step one would be... "Maybe you'd get more compliments if you smiled more," She suggested, perking up at her own idea. Without hesitation, she reached out to push the corners of his lips upwards, tail waving eagerly behind her, "Just like this, and...see? Now you look much more charming!"
With her fingers still in place, she turned to look at Hyde. "Tell me honestly, Hyde--what do you think,? Will your master not attract more compliments--and potential mates--if he were to smile like so? Instead of..." She pulled her hands back, letting his features settle back into whatever expression he chose to wore at that moment.
Either the "married to my work" and "relationship" stuff went over her head, or she simply chose to ignore it and focus on the first thing he asked. Whatever the case, she suddenly leaned forward and clasped her hands together in front of her.
"Oh no, I must admit...I don't just like you--I love you!" Althaia declared, all wide-eyed innocence as she looked away bashfully. Could this be...a love confession?!
"You remind me very much of the adorable hedgehog I kept as a pet when I was young. He thought he was a tough guy with all his little spikes, but he was really a squishy softie beneath it all. I miss him so."
Of course it wasn't--who did you think you were talking to?
She seemed more than a little amused at his reactions to her words and actions, not even bothering to stifle her giggle or hide the grin on her face at his exasperation. Who knew that Blackhearts could be so much fun to chat with! She would have to make a note to introduce herself to other Blackhearts in the future if they were all like Xander.
"Whether you think they're interesting or not, I do wish to sit in on them sometime. I'll be here next class." The last part was a promise, and was emphasized with a firm nod. She would judge for herself whether this topic interested her or not!
Xander received a bright, mischievous smile for his question, and only that. She made no effort to expand what she meant by fun, though it was probably already quite clear.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:20 pm
Althaia.
Why were your hands on his face why.
What are you even doing, Althaia.
Xander was really starting to believe that there may or may not have been something missing in the kirin's pretty little head - but at the same time, he knew she was far from stupid - she had already proven her intelligence to him in many ways.
No, clearly it was in social interaction that Althaia lacked...something. Simultaneously, Xander could not help but be amused by her, and he could not help that he was somewhat fascinated by her and her weird ways.
Even if she was poking at him, attempting to get him to smile.
"I do not need to smile more," said Xander, in mild exasperation, the words coming out a bit muffled as Althaia mashed his face together. He lifted his hands, and closed his own fingers around her wrists, gently but firmly dragging them away from his poor cheeks. "And Hyde, don't answer that question, I'm fine."
The snake in question gave a low, amused hiss, completely unperturbed. Xander sighed, letting go of Althaia's wrists to rub at his temple.
She's so exhausting."
"Oh no, I must admit...I don't just like you--I love you!"
What.
His head snapped up so fast he thought he must have twisted something, Xander's eyes wide as he stared blankly at Althaia, who was looking away from him shyly. Never in his entire life had he ever heard anyone say that to him, whether romantic, platonic, familial, or otherwise, and for a few seconds his brain seemed entirely empty, Xander staring in utter shock at the kirin. Mouth dropping open, he attempted to formulate some sort of coherent response.
"You - what - that is - "
Clearly "coherent" meant "babbling like a total idiot." His face was very lightly red, Xander clearing his throat awkwardly, looking away.
"Er, Althaia, did you just - "
"You remind me very much of the adorable hedgehog I kept as a pet when I was young."
Really, could you break his brain anymore. Xander wasn't certain whether or not to feel insulted, disappointed, or relieved.
He settled for none of them, trying to adopt a completely casual expression that was very much betrayed by the redness in his cheeks, Xander resting his chin in his palm and deliberately looking away from Althaia.
"You will not," he said, in a disgruntled sounding voice, Xander closing his eyes briefly. "You're just going to disrupt it if you come - and what do you mean by fun, exactly."
This girl is going to be the death of me, I swear.
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