..:New Teacher

[Alexia Flynn]

His question made Alex smirk. "Yes, they call me 'The Warden'," she repeated, laughing slightly. It was all just mild teasing, of course. Practically all the students at the school had experienced what it was like to be bullied, so the majority of them were fairly kind on the name-calling front. "They're well-meaning kids, so I don't let it bother me much."

"Ah, yes, the classes. Well, actually, they just let out for summer break yesterday, which is why I've started looking for new teachers. I've found it best to give them the summer to figure out how they'll run their classes. Some are fairly loose, using only the standard protocol, while others run the class with an iron fist. I try not to hire too many of those, though. They tend to be rather dull and bothersome after a while, and the students usually don't like them." It had seemed to her that it'd be obvious that classes would at least be out soon for the summer break, and Alex wondered why K:anode asked. Suddenly she realized why he did.

"If you're wondering where all the students are right now, we have many summer classes that we offer at the school as well. They're completely elective, with no grades, tests, or much of the standard protocol, and are taught by volunteer teachers. Summer classes are things like pottery, swing and jazz choir, mechanics... extra curricular classes that the students may not have time to take during the school year. As for the rest of the students," Alex said, glancing at her watch, "Some have summer jobs, and I believe the soccer teams are practicing right now."

A soft knock came at the door, and a little blonde head poked in. Alex smiled at the little girl and beckoned her with a hand.

"Come here, Kierra, it's okay" she said, smiling warmly as her daughter ran across the room to hide behind her. The little girl didn't know much about men, and wasn't around them very often, so they usually scared her.

"Kierra, this is Professor K:anode," Alex told her daughter, who peeked out at the man from behind Alex's chair. "Professor, this is my daughter, Kierra. She's a little shy, and she's supposed to be with her babysitter." The last part was mainly aimed at Kierra, who smiled guiltily but still didn't say anything.

[K:anode]

Summer Break. Of course! He'd totally forgotten that existed. He usually studied during it when he did go to school, so the only real difference was that he could get away from school.
"Sounds interesting."He replied when she mentioned the summer classes. It was almost an obvious thing to offer, if the students didn't have places to go during shorter breaks, why would summer be much different?

He looked around sharply when there was a knock at the door. He was almost surprised to see someone so young run in. Before he could question in it, Alexia had explained.
"Ahh.. I see the resemblance..."He mumbled, more so to himself. She did seem very shy indeed, hiding the moment she saw him. He wondered how she got along in such a big school, surrounded by so many people everyday.
Or maybe it was just him she was scared of and Alexia was trying to be nice....?

Either way, he smiled.
"Nice to meet you Kierra."He said, leaning over just a tad, then lowering his voice, "Between you and me, I've never much liked babysitters myself... But I don't suppose I'm really meant to say things like that." His tone was softer and more caring when he spoke with her, his eyes also softening, making him look all the more child-like then he already did.

[Alexia Flynn]

Alex leaned on the desk slightly. "She doesn't like men much, they tend to scare her... she's okay with girls though," she explained simply. Alex supposed it was probably her own fault that Kierra was afraid of men; she hadn't exposed her daughter to them because she didn't really trust them herself. But Kierra giggled at what K:anode said, and took a step closer to him, out from behind the chair now. The little girl was quick to make friends, and so after he had made a joke, she figured that he was an alright sort of person.

"Nice to meet you, too," she said politely, holding out one tiny hand to the man. She looked him over carefully. He didn't look too much older than her babysitter, a senior girl who was staying at Galaxium that summer before heading out to study abroad in Europe. "My babysitter didn't know what she was supposed to make for lunch, so I went to find Mommy to ask." Being only eight, Kierra never knew what sort of information she was supposed to divulge, and what she was supposed to keep quiet. Alex slumped down in her chair, sighing lightly in exasperation.

"I swear, I could tattoo instructions on the back of that girl's hand and she still wouldn't remember a single thing I told her..." she grumbled to herself, rubbing her temples with her fingers.

[K:anode]

K:anode looked a little surprised at her explanation, but he didn't say anything. It wasn't any of his business as to why Keirra was like that. Usually these things went back to the parents, so he guessed it was Alexia who had something against guys.

He shook Keirra's hand, his grip very light, careful not to hurt her. Know that she wasn't hiding he could see that she wasn't too much shorter then himself -though only average height for a girl of her age. He smirked a little at Alexia's exasperation. He got the idea this kind of thing happened alot.

"Hmm.. well, then, you can have this."He said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small cardboard box. Opening it, he took out two little square parcels of toffee. "But you have to wait until after lunch, 'Kay?" He said, his face playfully serious as he handed her the sweet. "And one for "the warden" too~"He added, putting one on her desk.

[Alexia Flynn]

Kierra smiled shyly at K:anode as she took the toffee from him. "Thank you, sir," she said politely, in a manner that showed strict enforcement of good manners in her household. "I'll make sure to wait 'til after lunch." Her smile grew in delight as K:anode offered a toffee to her mother, as well.

"Mommy!" she squealed happily, "He knows your nickname!" The little girl's smile was bright, and Alex couldn't help but smile back at her.

"Yes, sweetie, he does," she said to her daughter, then turned to K:anode, her face a bit weary. "I'm sorry, Professor, Kierra's babysitter is a little absent-minded, but usually she remembers what to give her for lunch, at least. Kierra doesn't usually interrupt interviews like this." Alex was embarrassed, to tell the truth. It was times like these when she felt like she was a bad mother, since she didn't have a better babysitter for her daughter. After all, if the babysitter didn't watch her any more closely than this, what was to stop Kierra from wandering off school grounds? And with her vivid wings, she would be found all too quickly by those from Glatox that preferred their community 'freak-free'. Who knew what they might do to her if they found her?

[K:anode]

K:anode wasn't really surprised by how polite she was. Alexia seemed the sort to make sure her child would be polite at all times.

"It's not a problem."K:anode replied, straightening. He didn't really understand why she'd get upset about it. If anything Keirra's surprise visit gave the opportunity to show if he really did get along with children or not. he considered suggesting that the girl return to her babysitter, but it wasn't his place to be instructing someone else's children, so he held his tongue. Their relationship seemed quite close from what he could tell. Alexia seemed very protective, yet the person minding her child was... well, not. He guessed she was disappointed and probably concerned for what he thought.

"So uhm, do I need map of the main school grounds?"He asked, trying to move the interview along. He was starting to feel a little restless and frankly, bored.

[Alexia Flynn]

Alex shook her head, patting the packet that she'd laid on the table. "Everything you need is in here. Maps of the school and the campus, as well as your room key and mail key." She clapped her hands together once and then stood, extending a hand for K:anode to shake.

"Well, it seems that this interview is finished, I think. It's been a pleasure to meet you, Professor," Alex told him. After shaking his hand, she ruffled her daughter's hair, kneeling down slightly to be closer to her level.

"Kierra, I'm nearly done, sweetie. I've just got a few things to put away, and then we'll go back to our room and give your babysitter the rest of the day off, okay? I'll even make your favorite lunch," she told her. It was mostly a present for behaving in front of the new teacher. Striding across the room at a business-like pace, she held the door open.

"You are dismissed, Professor. Have a nice day," she told him, her voice harried but polite.