*The next morning came bright and early for the two demigods. They had been assigned to the same room. They had been told it was merely so that Lorenzo had an escort to get him reacquainted to the comings and goings of Pandora that he might not know due to his absence, though Lorenzo was surprised that was all it was. He had been expecting more along the lines of someone keeping an eye on him, to be sure he was not spying for Phoenix, or about to run back to them with anything valuable, be it objects or information. The almost….blaze response to his return, while it did make things run a little more smoothly, set him on edge a little. He knew that at least Madam Pouvel was aware of what truly happened, so just trusting that he turned a new leaf (even if that was more or less the truth) still made him wonder when the next shoe would drop.
...He was not going to follow that train of thought further. It would just drive him to paranoia, expecting the explosion that will (possibly, as he was coming to realise) never happen.
Instead, he finished dressing in new, clean clothes Esta had provided him in silence, waiting for C to also finished getting ready before finally speaking up in wry humor.*
Lorenzo: So, where does the leash handler say we must go today, so I might bark or wag my tail appropriately?
Agent C: *Raises eyebrow* Well, Daddy I didn't know we were into that…. I seem to learn something new about you every day.
Lorenzo: Oh? You’re the one with the ‘Daddy’ kink here. Joking aside….Truly, I am not sure where we are supposed to be going. It seems almost as though the Madam believes that I have been under….stress, and thus am not under any form of duty, yet it almost seems as though we’re to attend a meeting, considering that outfit of yours.
Agent C: *Chuckle* Just relax. You’ll see when we get there, so just chill in the meantime and take in the scenery.
*The pair buy both their breakfasts at the company shop and head for Stuart’s car. The drive to their location was peaceful, the usually bustling streets were now tamed in the early morning light, like a blessing the morning sun seemed to glisten off the dew clothed road. After the hour's drive, they arrive at a newer looking structure. The building emitted authority with its white marble columns and golden emblem.*
Agent C: Mr Lorenzo Z Huite. May I present to you… St. Author James Academy! For the ‘gifted’. Two years ago, we allowed the Mundane to co-ed with the mystic. As we… the organisation believes that now that the mundane is more… tolerant to themselves and like minded people are now running things, it’s a great opportunity to gradually integrate the ‘two worlds, so to speak.’
*The pair exit the vehicle and head towards the entrance. Tapping in the code into the keypad, the archaic looking gated open as the security greets the pair.*
Security: Morning Dae-Hyun! Is this the new teacher you were talking about?
Lorenzo:....What?
Dae-Hyun: Yup that’s ‘im. He’s only a temp, but were gonna try n convince ‘im.
Lorenzo:.... No, seriously….What?
Dae-Hyun: *Sarcastic Tone*Oh? Didn’t I tell you? Your mission was to monitor these adorable little kittens for a year. Oh, must’a slipped my mind. *Nonchalant* Oh, look at that terrible memory of mine.
Lorenzo:....Is it too late to go back on my word an assassinate you now?
Dae-Hyun: Hmm? What was that? You can't wait to see your new adorable kittens? That great! Just great! Such a determent teacher you're becoming, yes?
Lorenzo: Don’t just act like this is a joke, C. I’m not teacher material. I’m pretty sure I spent the last few years as close to insane as a person can be, and you want to put me in charge of children? Are you…..high or something?!
Dae-Hyun: Oh shut up, you’ll be fine. Besides, the kittens you’re in charge of... well… let's just say they can sense fear. They only got rid of nine teachers last year - it's an improvement really.
Lorenzo: No. I’m not doing this. Not unless you want them all dead. I am not the man I was, C. My patience is not enough to deal with kids, whether they are good kids or little shits. I am not the type of person you want in there. I don’t have a teaching degree, and I have a history now of killing people who piss me off. Age won’t save them. Reconsider this now!
Dae-Hyun: Ahahahaha! You’ll be fine. Theses kids grow on ya once they've warmed up to you. The wages are a little higher than the typical wages back at the agency, too. You know, 'coz of the work load. And the reports for each class. Yada, yada, yada.
Lorenzo: I’m not even going to be working for Pandora! I have no obligation to teach brats, I have no desire to pick up higher wages for trouble that no one informed me of, and I certainly do not want to deal with crap just because you find this funny!
Dae-Hyun: …. Wow… just wow. LISTEN *Stern Tone* You wanted to see how the agency has changed, right? Well experience their legacy first hand. You wanted a world where ‘we’ didn’t have to hide in the shadows, so then get your ass in there and observe it with your own eyes. You say you don’t have the patience, nor the constitution for it, but you haven’t done a damned thing or even given it a try. So I don’t wanna hear a DAMN thing from you until the end of the week! Give it a try before you turn it down…..
Lorenzo: That isn’t what I meant, dammit! *Pausing, taking deep breaths to calm himself, voice shaking a little when he speaks again* That isn’t what I meant at all. Observing is not teaching, C. This is a legacy that you made, and you want me to be a part of it. I get that. But I’m tainted in my ways. I don’t know how you teach the children here, what you teach them, who any of them even are. How can you expect me to just suddenly know how this school works, how much the children even know? How can I do anything but make even more mistakes without even knowing how you do things? You talk about how I say things but don't work towards it the way you think it should…..but knowing that, how can you even trust me to not fall into old ways, or to teach them things none of you want. I’m not the teacher you want, C. Please see reason.
*The morning bell strikes nine, signalling morning registration was soon to begin, however, C does not respond to Lorenzo yet and instead heads down the fall. The demigod contemplates leaving right then and there. True it would likely make C believe him to be a terrible person again, but at least it would spare the pain of the school. However, he gritted his teeth and followed instead. Fine. He would see soon enough when there was a classroom that was wiped off the face of the planet that he wasn’t suited for the role. Either that or their test scores would come back as all zeroes and he could be ‘fired’. Either worked for him. Silently, the two made their way into one of the classrooms. Inside, muffled music and rowdy voices could be heard through the door as they approached.*
Dae-Hyun: Now, Mr Huite, on the other side of the door, for the next 12 months, excluding holidays, this will be your… ‘play pen’. You will have reign over these kids’ education and well being. You’ll also be monitoring them and their progression and interaction with, not only their sets, but how they integrate with each other. Think about it as…. Those thirty something students represent the world at present. If we can make it so that this sort of environment is considered the norm, with as little prejudice as we can, then we would have successfully accomplished our mission. Don’t worry about the ‘Teaching element’ - I’ll oh so graciously tutor you on what to do and how to do it… well, at least for the first month or so. Then I’ll ease up and you’ll be an independent teacher with an assigned agent as your Teaching Assistant.
Also… you’ll realize how fulfilling this job can be, redeeming actually. But, know this, if you come in with doubts, anger, resentment, any possible hostility towards or around these kids, they are going to feel it. For better or worse… how they react towards you will be on you, so get to know them, not just as a superior but as living beings. Mundane or other wise. Long story short the more love you give to them the more love and respect you’ll get back, got it?
Lorenzo:....You’re making a serious mistake then….picking these kids to be the first you put me in contact with. Don’t you get it? I’m nothing but resentment and anger these days….
Dae-Hyun: And it's exactly why I chose these particular kids for you to govern, dumb ass. So I don't wanna hear anything more until your first week’s up, got it? Besides, daddy can't handle some iddy biddy kittens? Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
*Lorenzo’s eyes narrow, before suddenly, faster than C likely expected from him, he lashes out, kicking him into - no, through - the door, sending C flying into the classroom. Following him inside, he says nothing, other than to flip the agent off.
With an almost cartoony tumble through the door, the once rowdy classroom turns silent seeing the display.*
Voice: Nice!
*A voice calls out, as the rest of the class eyes up the ‘Fresh Meat’ of the new teacher*
Dae-Hyun: You jackass! Not cool at all!! *Slight tears* Fuck you, man.
Voice 1: Ha! Teach got his ass whooped and it only first period! lol!
Voice 2: Ha! But seriously, who’s this sherlock looking mother fucker?
*A short, sharp whistle could be heard as a makeshift shank shoots in Lorenzo’s direction. With ease, the projectile is caught between his fingers and the boisterous youths settle down once more, their voices hushed as the begin to murmur*
Voice 3: I didn’t expect him to catch it like that.
Voice 1: I know right? This should be fun!
Voice 2: Oooh, how long you wanna bet he’ll last?
Voice 4: A few weeks, if we’re lucky.
*The class begins to eye Lorenzo, their grins widening at their new ‘play thing’.*
Dae-Hyun: Settle down. NOW. Let’s start over, class. This is our trainee teacher, Mr L. Huite. I’ll be training him for the first trimester of the school year before he leads this class himself. Is that clear?
*The class stays silent with the exception of a few murmurs here and there. Agent C’s tone becomes stern once again, his smile never fading.*
Dae-Hyun: IS. THAT. CLEAR?
*The class respond in unison*
Class: YES SIR.
Dae-Hyun: Good now, Mr Huite, would you like to introduce yourself to the class?
Lorenzo [Inner thoughts]: *Sarcastically* Oh, so I can speak now, and not in a week? Tch…
Lorenzo: He’s already said my name. I major in history and I’ll be taking over this class soon enough. Let’s…..all get along from now on.
*Gives a ‘nice’ smile in return. After all, he was not deaf to the previous whispers, either. He still wasn’t about to forgive C, either, for dropping him in this, even if he was about to ‘prepare’ him from then onward. However, he could murder C another time when he wouldn’t be causing a scene by splattering blood up the walls.*
*The school day ends with only a few hiccups, the delinquents were reasonably tamed, with the exception of the numerous attempts at throwing dangerous objects at Lorenzo. Somewhere along the line, he realised that they were fascinated with the fact that he could counter them so well. Though it annoyed him at first, it turned into something of a game by the end of the school day. Surprisingly, it was kind of... ‘fun’? It wasn’t that hard to get a grasp of the general teaching pattern. Though the prospect of teaching these rambunctious youths seemed to be troublesome, it would be an ‘enjoyable’ challenge. Even so, Lorenzo hadn’t fully forgiven C just yet, and, while he wasn’t about to cause further issues while the brats were still around - the last things those kids needed was to have blood in the water when they were already like sharks swimming around the ‘fresh meat’ - there was nothing stopping him from showing his displeasure now they were gone*
Dae-Hyun: So… not as bad as you though, right? You even played their game, which was cute, no?
*Lorenzo keeps his mouth closed, resolutely ignoring the other as he focused instead on flinging one of the broken ‘weapons’ towards the dustpan, letting it hit the inside of the metal bin with an almost satisfying thunk. If nothing else, his icy silence and the force of the thrown ‘weapon’ would be response enough for the agent*
Dae-Hyun: Dude. You not gonna play the silent game with me, are you?
Lorenzo: Oh? So I can talk now? Whatever happened to “I don't wanna hear anything more until your first week’s up, got it?” *The last part is said in a very close mimic of Dae-Hyun’s voice*
Dae-Hyun: …. Let me rephrase: I don’t wanna hear you bitch about the job ‘till after your first week. Is that better, Daddy?
Lorenzo: Sleep with one eye open, ‘son’. You’re not forgiven yet.
Dae-Hyun: Oh daddy, you planning on jumping me while I sleep?
Lorenzo: I have lots of pretty ‘gifts’ from your students. I’m sure they would have a nice home in your head
Dae-Hyun: … Dude, I’ll buy you the first round of drinks if you let it go…
Lorenzo: Let what go? That you dragged me to a war zone, forgot to tell me about it, would happily let me potentially be the target of class mutiny, that you class my concerns as being nothing but bitching and still think it’s a good idea that I’ll be a teacher without any kind of qualification other than living through bits of history rather than studying it? I have nooooo idea what you’re talking about. What’s to let go? Hahaha…..go die in a hole.
Dae-Hyun: *Chuckle* Well, call it a bit of revenge on my part. Hahahahaha…. But the kids seemed to like you, so I guess you’ll be fine in no time. But anyway, let’s head back. Esta should be at home - she said she’s gonna cook for us tonight while she’s at the agency. Something about new uniforms I think.
Lorenzo: Whatever….
*While he was still a little incensed with Dae-Hyun….the man wasn’t exactly wrong. He still had a lot of misgivings about when…..if he became a solo teacher. He still had his own plans, ones C knew by now. He had no idea if it was even feasible to do both jobs. Still, he followed C back towards where Stuart was waiting for them with the car.*
Lorenzo:....I’m not saving you if you piss off Esta again. You’re on your own.
Dae-Hyun: Ha, I know you'll have my back. We’re partners, after all. So if I go down, you’ll go down with me. Hahaha.
Lorenzo: I’m not the captain of this ship, friend. You go down with whatever titanic mess you make. I’m not that good of a partner. Have fun being spider food!
*With a laugh, he entered the car, humming in response of any protests that Dae-Hyun made in response. Thankfully, despite the hint of bitterness at the situation, the journey back wasn’t as bad as it could have been, certainly not as tense as their first drive to Pandora had been. There was a hint of ‘play’ around their arguments and fake silent treatments. As such, Lorenzo’s mood, at least, was not nearly as bad as it could have been. Perhaps the habitual teasing, along with the ‘play’ from the class had teased out a few frustrations? Whatever it was, the air about the two was almost light as they bid Stuart farewell and made their way towards the entrance to Pandora once more.*
Angry Voice: The hell! I ordered you to get it done by today, so what, pray tell, have you useless sack of shits been doing! Are you or are you not here to do the will of the Gods, you incompetent fools! I thought lesser beings were supposed to be good a DOING AS THEY’RE TOLD.
*With that alone, whatever goodwill Lorenzo had been feeling dropped like hot lead*
[END]
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