Coming back to the inferno. (Azurite thread)

[thepanda]

Rubbing the back of his head, a nervous habit, he waits to be seated.

“Yes sir.” Not exactly sure if elaboration is called for, he waits for the professor’s reply. His eye’s focus on the older man’s, hoping to at least get a glimpse of what’s going on in his mind.

They say the eye is the window to the soul, after all.

[Anastasia]

His eyes are perfectly neutral, not particularly cold or warm. Business eyes, almost. "If I recall, you mentioned that your family wished for you to come back when you left last," he goes on, probing onward. "Again, I am sorry for your family's loss. How have things gone there?"

Professor Tomoe is still composed - he's just not giving any cues at all right now.

[thepanda]

“Well enough, I suppose,” Azurite says, finally giving up on that avenue. “They were notably upset, both about her death and certain… concerns about the research she might have been involved in.” He pauses a moment to clear his throat, not particularly happy to recall the verbal battles surrounding that last point. “But they’re strong people. They’ll cope.”

“So they finally let me come back. And, well, here I am.”

[Anastasia]

Nodding dimplomatically to the information, he takes a moment to push up his glasses before replying. "I can understand that - some of her work she fell into near the end is most regrettable." Voice schooled into polite neutrality, he presses on. "Again, extend my most heartfelt condolences to your family from Mugen Academy."

If we'd only known about this family, would Kaolinite still be with us? Even after she took Pharaoh 90's power directly?

"I assume from this you wish to pick up your studies, yes?"

[thepanda]

Azurite nods. “That was the plan, yes. If you’d allow it, I like to return to my studies.” He glances around a bit, his magic sense open.

“Though it seems I’ve already missed something important,” he says more quietly.

[Anastasia]

"Things happen around here," Professor Tomoe says blandly enough. "If you wish, we can get you reregistered in a few days." He pauses at that, as the door is knocked on. A haircapped woman from the cafeteria brings in a pot of tea, serving it to the both of you before leaving.

After taking a sip of the warm brew, "As I was saying, if you are so inclined, it should be a simple enough matter to register you."

[thepanda]

Now there’s an ambiguous response if ever I heard one.

“I am so inclined,” Azurite says, taking the refreshingly warm beverage in hand and sipping from it. He sighs pleasantly; this certainly wasn’t the worse cup of tea he’d had.

What a difficult man to read.

[Anastasia]

"Good," he gives you a tiny nod of his head to confirm that. "As a matter of-" Cut off a second time, this time by his door opening to admit his daughter.

"Hi, Dad," she smiles, appearing in body to be nothing but a child on the border of beginning adolesense, yet still with the charming cuteness of childhood. Yet her aura...

* Hatbot --> "Azurite rolls 2d6 and gets 8."

Peering, you can sense a great power in her - far and away something you wouldn't want to face if it was gong full tilt.

"Hotaru," he smiles to the girl, "You've met Azurite before." To that, the girl smiles and bows to you. "Mr. Azurite? Ami mentioned you just now."

[thepanda]

What is it with this place and super magical people?

A lopsided grins forms and he stands, bowing more elaborately to the younger Tomoe. “Hello, Tomoe-san.” He pauses and blinks, the lopsided grin expanding even more as he processes what she said. “Mizuno-san is here? And she still remembers me, eh?” He looks toward the sky and assumes a not-quite-dramatic pose.

“Hah! My first impression was better than I’d hoped!”

[Anastasia]

"Hello," Hotaru smiles back at you, blushing slightly. "Ami-chan is do-"

That stops when Azurite starts posing. "Um....she does seem to, yes," Hotaru manages, rather taken aback by that. "If you two are friends, I could take you downstairs to meet her? She should still be in the office."

[thepanda]

Azurite turns toward the professor, awaiting his judgment.

Oops. What an inappropriate time to do that.

[Anastasia]

Professor Tomoe is smiling slightly at the entire display. "If you wish," he says, chuckling.

Ami deserves someone paying attention to her, after all.

"Go on - most of what's left now is meaningless paperwork, and I can talk to you in a day or two." Waving his hand in dismissal, "Go on if you want."

[thepanda]

Bowing toward the professor in a more professional manner, Azurite breaths a mental sigh of relief.

“Thank you, sir.” He gathers what little he has, and gestures toward Hotaru. “Would you mind leading me there? I have kinda been gone a while.” He chuckles to himself, scratching his head in embarrassment.

[Anastasia]

"Alright," she nods, leading you out of the room. As you head out, you again sense the magic that rests in her - a slight stir in it, enough to cause the entire floor's power to fluctuate.

"You're going to go to Mugen again," she asks, as she leads you out of the offices and to an elevator. Her purple sweater and sweat pants are pretty enough, going well with her short, pageboyish hair cut. "Aren't you Eudial's brother or the Twins or one of their's?"

[thepanda]

“Huh?” Azurite blinks, caught off guard a bit with that line of questioning. “Eudial… my sister?” A snicker escapes his lips as he tries not to laugh.

“No, definitely not my sister. No, I’m not related to any of the witches. My sis used to work here, though, if that’s what you mean.” He studies her as they walk, deciding finally that the girl would definitely grow into a real beauty one day. He tries to peer further into her power, the sheer strength of it drawing his attention like a lighthouse beacon.