Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ridley blinked at the new little nickname for her, raising one eyebrow at him while her lips pulled into a slight frown. She looked like she was fighting with the instinct to be annoyed or a amused. After a moment she let out a huff of air, something between a scoff and a laugh. Rolling her eyes she finally came to smirk at him. "Princess, hm? I guess we'll just see about that." In her own mind, she was just about the farthest thing you could get from a princess. She had spent most of her life on a farm, and the rest of it in a small shack her uncle called a house, learning how to wield her twin blades. She'd never had much in the form of materialistic objects. Not that she ever minded. She'd never wanted much and while so many little girls longed to be princesses, attend a ball in a big fluffy dress, and marry a prince, that had never been her. She'd always been too busy climbing trees, using sticks as pretend swords, scraping up her knees. Ridley had always been a rambunctious one, constantly giving her parents a fright as she searched for her next adventure... or misadventure. They didn't always go to plan. She was no stranger to stitches or broken bones. It was behavior her parents always tried to tame, even if at one point it had only been to try and protect her. Her uncle on the other time encouraged it. He often got into as much trouble with her parents as she did. Still, she couldn't ever recall him calling her anything remotely close to princess. To this day wit was 'kiddo' or 'Rid'... usually kiddo.

As Adam took his place in front of the Professor Kail and Narx came to stand behind her, not hesitating to grip her shoulders like they were long lost friends, Ridley kept her place, standing just a few feet away from them. She didn't want to get in Adam's way and this was plenty close enough for her to do what she needed to do. He met Adam's gaze with a nod, before meeting her own and adding a slight wink to the gesture. Ridley rolled her eyes before letting out a sarcastic laugh. "A real charmer you are." She teased, letting that same sarcastic edge consume her voice. However, this time she did look slightly more amused than annoyed. If only slightly. That was until she noticed Adam's strange behavior beside her. The eyebrow twitch, the fidgeting fingers, and the polishing of glasses that had been polished to perfection just moments ago. Not to mention he moved to tie up his hair that had just barely stated would be fine. Honestly she wasn't quite sure what to make off it. He was always so happy and care free. It was always strange to see such drastic changes in what was his normally smiling face. She tried to catch his eye, raising a brow at him, but remained silent. It certainly wasn't a conversation to be had at the moment. It would have to wait for later, if it ever came up at all. She had a feeling such a conversation would bring forth a plethora of other new and confusing feelings.

With everyone's confirmation that they were ready, Adam shouted one simple word and with that he was on the mood. She watched closing as he immediately moved into a kick, flipping and moving with air with ease. She had never gotten a chance to watch Adam's fighting style up close. He had only joined Team DARK shortly after the fiasco at the mines that lead to the dissolving of Team SODA. During the battle at the mine she had been far to focused with trying to fight of the bandits while injured to have even thought about glancing in Adam's way. He was skilled, to say the least, and seeing both this and knowing the workings of his semblance, it was easy to see how he had taken out so many of the bandits by himself. An impressive feat really. He had managed to take out more of them single-handedly than any of the others. It was easy to say that without him on their side they might not have all made it out of there alive. Onyxia had barely made it out with her life as it was. However, she stopped her thoughts there. Continuing down that road would only lead to her frustrations with Scylla which would do nothing but anger her further.

Shaking her head lightly to clear it, Ridley focused her golden orbs on Kail, taking in a deep steady breath, focusing. Narx clearly thought she needed to be angry to enact the full extent of her semblance, he had been purposefully antagonizing her after all. While that wasn't entirely true, it didn't hurt either. Activating her semblance required focusing on specific injuries she had experienced and with those injuries came memories. Sometimes they were painful, dark memories, but they always lead to the same feeling in the end. Anger. Which did add a certain potency to her semblance. This was a bit different though. She had never used her semblance on someone innocent before. Least of all a teacher. Yet, not only did her own growth and progress rely on this, so did Narx's. She had to do this and she couldn't hold back. So, she tried something different. Closing her eyes, a face came to life behind her orbs. Deep brown eyes,just like she had pictured earlier... only instead of making her sick, this face made her angry. There was so much pent up hate, frustration, guilt... and pain. She was going to use it to her advantage.

Hands clenching into tight fists at her side, golden orbs snapped open and locked on Kail. Focusing on the woman's aura, she felt her own encompass it, breaking through it, fighting its way into the very neurons of her brain. It was then that the pain would come. It was not a slow process. It all happened in mere seconds, a blink of an eye. Kail would feel it as immensely as Ridley had herself. She would feel it as if it were actually happening in the here and the now, rather than the twisted illusion that it was. She would feel three, long claws biting through her skin. Tearing through muscle and tissue right across her torso. White, hot, agony. A searing pain that was enough to cause one to linger on the edge of consciousness. She knew she had when the beowolves claws had torn through her own chest, from shoulder to hip. One hand reached up slowly, running along the scars through her clothing, the other stayed balled up at her side. She focused on the pain over and over. It was unrelenting. Or at least it would be until Narx took it from her, and then he would feel it with the Same intensity that Kail had. The same intensity that Ridley once had.

Seeing just how concerned she truly was, he began to think that maybe he shouldn't have laughed quite so hard, but he hadn't been able to help it. Sure, it hadn't been a pleasant feeling. Having someone's finger jammed up your nostril usually wasn't. It had hurt a bit at first, but no real damage had been done, thanks to her gloves. So, seeing as his nose was intact and he wasn'tabout to turn into Voldemort, he couldn't help but find the situation anything but hilarious. "Cali, really, I'm fine." He assured her, voice gentle but firm. He wasn't going to argue the matter. Honestly, her fingers were small enough he really didn't think she could do much damage anyway. Not without her pestilence. However, this did give her a lead in their nose boop wars. One thing was sure, he would have to get her back, but in a far more gentle way. Considering the size damage, a reversed situation would have been far more detrimental. "Didn't mom ever tell you? You can pick you friends and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose." He teased, though he chose his words very carefully, referring to his own mother rather than her own. He smirked at her for a moment with a mischievous look in his baby blues before letting loose another laugh.

Watching her with his jacket, he really couldn't help but smile. She looked truly tranquil for once. Completely relaxed, happy even, and entirely at home. Which was explained by her next words. His expression soften as he gazed at her with electric hues. That same look of adoration returned to his face. The same expression that often consumed his expression when he looked at Cali, made all the more apparent in the tender moments like this. Her words, simple as they were, held a great meaning. If his jacket smelt like home, it meant he was her home, just as she was his home. Looking back at their past it really explained a lot. They'd lost their homes, or rather their houses at a very young age. They were left to wander the world a lone, often without much on the side of materialistic items. Often without a real roof over their head. It made Cali's cloth situation a bit complicated. In their younger years Eli often had to resort to less than ethical ways of obtaining such things. Usually more often than he ever admitted to Cali. Through that they had become each others homes, safe havens, shelters. They knew that as long as they had each other, they could make it through anything. After all, they had made it through so much already. In all honesty though, that connection had been kindled long before. Sparked at the very first moment that Eli took her hand and ignited further with every action and memory that followed until it became the raging forest fire that it was today. Smiling tenderly as t the girl, he reached out and very gently poked the tip of her nose. "And we both know there's no place like home."

Watching her, he could see that she was slowly starting to sink as the chair began to give way to her pestilence. However, it did seem to be progressing at a somewhat slower pace than normal. Even if it was just a subtle change, a small change, it was there. The grin on his lips only grew as he gave her a thumbs up. He just hoped that this would spark the same hope in her that he had always had. Eli had always believed in her and he always would. He would be there to cheer her on and support her through the thick of it all. He knew she didn't really believe that she could control the decay, he was just going through all of this to make him happy. He just hoped that this would eventually show her that she could do just that, with time and effort of course, but he wanted her to see that it was a possibility she could work towards. By the look on her face, he could tell she was at least more positive about the situation than she had been in quite some time. That was a start. After all, baby steps. At her joke, he couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. The fact that she was even able to joke with him was a good sign and he was ready to play a long in hope of earning a laugh of his own. "Truly, I should be locked up. I've created a monster." He teased, holding his arms up in a mock surrender of sorts. "Not just a monster... but a monster that is my very own weekness." He teased, but really it wasn't that far off. Eli revolved his every decision around her, would gladly put his life on the line for her, submit himself to the worst of tortures to keep her safe. Just as she would do for him.

Her teasing taunts were nothing but a challenge for him. That same spark that seemed to buzz between his finger tips speaker his deep blue eyes as he smirked at her. Her claps, cheering, and poking at him to do better was more than enough to appease his need for attention. Truly he wouldn't have mi def an audience. He only would have thrived further, but it was Cali's attention that really mattered to him. It was her attention that he truly craved. He knew she'd always been a bit entranced by his semblance. The same way he had always been entranced by her, able to see the good in her own semblence. He knew she loved watching the electricity, to see exactly what he could do. With her taunt, she knew exactly what she wanted to see as well. "Anything for you, my spider queen." He smirked as t her over his shoulder for just a moment before returning his attention the the area before him, still being sure that it was free of students. There was a practice dummy in the corner that wasn't being used, so, turning his wrists upwards, revealing the finer contraptions of his gloved weapon that were usually hidden beneath his jacket sleeves on the underside of his wrist. Aiming for the dummy, a string of webs shot from both of his wrists, weaving together as the electricity sparked along its service. He launched the web-mad net at the dummy, working just as the teacher had said to make the electricity stronger and harsher than usual.

Her comment about his mother's warning brought a bitter sweet feeling to his chest. It was a fond memory. He'd only been a small child at the time, maybe four or five. He had by no means meant for his webs to shoot straight up her nose. He'd actually been trying to climb his way into her arms, but he was still knew to his faunus ability as well as his aim. So, rather than stringing the. To her shoulder, she'd gotten a shot straight to the face. They had both laughed, despite how long it had taken her to get the sticky strings from her hair and out of her nose... on the brightside, her moth had been closed. It was one of many stories she had kept close to her, even sharing it with Cali. It was a story he would always keep close to him, along with so many others, because she was gone now. It didn't matter how far he came, the loss of his parents would always be painful. He would always miss them. There would always be a place in his heart for them, even if.Cali was his home now... even if his heart belonged to her. Besides, he knew she missed him just as much as he did. His parents had been better guardians to her than her parents ever were... apart from the few short years before everything changed. "Hey, that was an accident! As I'm sure you are fully aware." He states, holding his hands up in a mock surrender of sorts, giving her a flash of that teasing smirk, though it wasn't quite the same with that far off look on his eyes. However, any of the bitterness was chased away by the utterly sweet and adorable smile that graced her lips. It was his smile, one that was meant only for him and could always chase away even the darkest of storms.

Their playful banter went on, a constant back and forth as it always did. He would push and she would push back. She would put forth a joke and he would play along. It might have looked silly to those watching, but he wouldn't have wanted it sny other way. Plus, he had managed the one thing he'd been aiming for this entire time. "I should certainly be locked up and punished for my crimes... but I'm not so sure being locked up for all time and eternity with a creature as adorable as you could truly be considered punishment... that sounds more like a reward." He teased, glancing at her over his shoulder as he worked and sending her playful wink. However, despite the smirk, it wasn't that far off from the truth. Granted he didn't really want to spend his life locked up in a dungeon, but he couldn't possibly imagine it without Cali at his side. Looking st the two, he was clearly the independent one. He could do things on his own, didn't mind the spot like, he didn't need Cali's support... except for he did, just not in the same way that she needed his. Every decision he made was always for her better good, always to keep her safe, happy, and by his side. He needed her as much as he needed the blood that coursed through his veins. She was an integral part of his life. Without her, it would not be the same. Not just his light, but the world. To him, she was a light that burned brighter than the sinner, and were she to fade or walk away. The world, his world, would be nothing mire than black and grey.

Her reaction to his little nickname for her was even better than he could have hoped for. That adorable, melodic laugh that bubbled out into a fit of giggles. It was music to his hair. That rosy cheeked smile of hers was just the cherry on too. Even though she didn't say anything about it, Eli could guess the exact memory that had come to mind. The spider had always always had quite the cre as five imagination. His knack for making things, paired with the aid of his webs, only increased his endeavors as a child. His backyard was a place full of magical lands and far away kingdoms. Silly childhood fantasies that he brought to live with nothing more than some old cardboard boxes and some string. He shared it all with Cali, and even though she couldn't touch it... he was always sure to make her an integral part of the kingdom anyway. After all, he was king. He had that power. That is, until his mom came forth to express he couldn't have been king without a queen. Eli hadn't realized it at the time, but he definitely saw it now. She had seen the way the two felt about each other long before the were even old enough to fully understand what those feelings were. Even now, the feelings all the stronger, they knew exactly how they other felt. It was completely apparent to anyone who looks upon them. It was clear in the eyes, their smiles, their actions. There was a deep connection that could be described as nothing short of love, and yet... they had never actually said the words out loud. They'd never truly had a conversation about where they stood. Still, even all those years about Eli had chosen her as his queen, and that had not ch as need in all the time that had passed.

Eli had been deep at work, trying to make his show for her as completely magnificent as possible. After all, he was doing it all for her and she'd seen it all before. He had to make it bigger, grander, top it all off. Maybe he should have been more worried about completing his assignment than impressing Cali, but in around about way, she was helping him do just that. Trying to top everything she'd seen before was pushing him to his limits, just as the teacher had asked. However, he stopped when he heard her voice calling his name. Initially he was concerned. He spun around on his heal, striding towards her quickly. His eyebrows were furrowed together, forehead wrinkled in worry, electric eyes defensive... ready to protect. Seeing the tears on her face did not help the situation. His eyes shot around the room, as if he were trying to figure out exactly who he needed to punch. But, there was no one near them. No one had caused Cali, to cry. It was something else. Ig was only then that it all clicked into place. The tears, still wet as they fell down her cheeks. Her fingers, creasing her own face and leaving no signs of damage. She was doing it, suspending the decay. Just as he always knew she could.

He practically sprinted across the aisle to her, dropping to his knees beside her. His hand did not hesitate to cup the other side of her face, and it was a truly splendid feeling. Her skin beneath his fingertips was always wonderful, something he always craved... but this was different. For the first time he was just feeling her. Her soft tender skin beneath his fingers without all the usual side effects. There was no dryness, no rash, no irritation. Of course he would take that all if it meant being near her, but there was something about this that made is heart warm. "I told you that you could do it." He told her, a wide grin spreading on his lips. He smiled at her for a moment, but then, something else consumed him, and he couldn't help himself. It was something he'd maybe wanted to do for a long time now. Somethi g he hadn't quite realized he'd wanted. Something he knew she would never allow under normal circumstances. Sure, he could get into big trouble with it. They were in a classroom after all, but the teacher was distracted with the students she was working with and everyone else was focused on their own tasks. So, he leaned forward and in the gentlest of motions, softly caressed his lips against her own. It lasted but a moment, but it was the most blissful moment of his life. Her lips were soft and warm, tender against his own. For once there was no fear of pain or decay. There was no reason for Cali to have to push away. For just the moment, it w as s only the two of them. Pulling back, hand still gently cupping her face, blue eyes peered as t her with that same look of adoration as he waited for the blush he knew was sure to come.