A Bridge between Gaps (Blaine)

[Lorelei Virgo]

Ever since she had gotten the map from Bradley, she used it all the time. She hadn't gotten lost since, thanks to the trusty map. It may have seem crumpled and used, since she had used it the second she got it, navigating the school became easier. She didn't get lost anymore, and if she did, it was easy to find her way back. She would have to thank Bradley in some sort of way: perhaps some cookies she could bake herself? Friends like gifts, right? She loved the gift that he had given her, even if it was just something to help her since she didn't have one. But using the map, she had now come to a place where she desired today. It was the Faculty Offices...and while she had come, Nantosuelta had followed her, munching on leaves that were in Lorelei's bag.

She had found another copy of the map, brand new. Compared to Bradley's, Bradley's looked worse for wear. She put the new map in her pocket, still holding Bradley's in her hands. She saw a hallway, and walked down the hallway. There were a few door with name plates on them, and she walked down the hall, she noticed one of them had Carlisle on them. She stared at the door, her hand going up to knock on the door. She hesitated: after learning that Mr. Carlisle was a professor, she had suddenly no desire to see him again except in class. The last comment he made to her before leaving with Mr. Daxton had felt insulting and painful. She felt like she was ruining the chance her Grandpa gave her by applying her for the school. But Nanto had felt the stress she felt, and the bug had been trying to calm her down. So...there was one way to confront the stress, and it would be to talk to Mr. Carlisle. Perhaps...she could bridge the gap between them?

Making up her mind, she made a few light knocks at the door. "Mr...Carlisle? Are you in?" She waited to see if he was here or not. If he wasn't, she would have to come back later or tomorrow.

[Christof Drescher]

  He wasn't amused, not in the slightest. Of course, it wasn't really the visitor's fault that she had arrived at precisely a moment when Christof had been present to see Blaine. Still, for all that his logical, matter of fact nature would keep him from necessarily blaming whichever girl was requesting 'Mr. Carlisle's' presence, that didn't stop him from feeling just a bit annoyed at the timing. 

    What was Mr. Drescher doing in Mr. Carlisle's office? Well that was no one's business but their own really.  So, Christof, decided it was best to merely take up the seat opposite of the desk, as this was a normal enough situation.  It wasn't for him to invite someone into Blaine's office, especially when the other might not be ready to have the third party enter.  So, as he waited, the German instructor went about setting himself to rights. 

    He wasn't terribly disheveled, needing only to smooth out a shirt, adjust his collar, and maybe, just maybe fix a button or two. He could have just as easily been getting himself resituated after a long day. Still, he was likely still attending to a few minor details of his appearance when the guest in question was granted entrance.  Absently running his fingers through his light hair, Christof finished 'fixing' himself, and studied the girl, if she was allowed to enter. 

    He wouldn't recognize her, not having seen her, and not the sort to study student files, at least not their pictures.  However, he did recognize the pokèmon, not by name, or the fact that he had seen this particular one before of course.  Rather, he did make a point to study what sort of pokèmon were coming in with new students. 

    "It seems you are somewhat popular with the students, Mr. Carlisle", he offers absently, his tones neutral as he reached down beside the chair to pat a large, dark furry head.  Shattenblitz had chosen to stay with Christof when his packmates had left the classroom to head back to their master's lodgings, their lodgings as well of course.   The Umbereon wasn't as bothered by Blaine's presence in their master's life as Nitro, and so, was far less bothered to have laid himself down.  Now, he received his pats calmly, paying little mind to the girl or her pokèmon.  Christof would tell him if there was need for him to be concerned. 

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Word Count: 410
Tags: N/A
Notes: Christof, Shattenblitz(Umbreon)
     not likely to hang around long, just throwing in some randomness

[Blaine Carlisle]

Blaine was no more pleased for the interruption than Christof had been, the man having to scramble to fix buttons and zippers, and smooth out his own hair before he could even think of answering the student on the other side of the door. He supposed it served them right, of course, since they had far more private and appropriate quarters to be getting intimate in than an office that anyone could access - but it was a nuisance just the same. Especially since he still wasn't exactly in a proper state to receive unexpected company. 


Still, after a somewhat wry glance to Christof, he did finish smoothing out his hair and his somewhat rumbled shirt and - after clearing his throat so his voice didn't sound too suggestive of what they'd been doing - finally bid the girl enter. And when he did, his brow rose faintly in surprise. "Miss Virgo...How may I help you?" He asked in tones that might have been a bit odd for the other teacher to hear from him. Cool, professional - perhaps even a bit formal. After all, he'd already learned that the student in question wasn't fond of friendliness so he saw no reason to make the girl uncomfortable by being so.


At Christof's statement, another faintly wry glance was sent the German's way, lips threatening to twitch in amusement. Popular? Not with this girl. She and Blaine had certainly gotten off on the wrong foot, he supposed , though Blaine had merely looked at it from the point of view of one doing one's job. He might be the more casual, and laid back of professors here at the school, but he took that job very seriously - and discouraging students to think of pokemon as things to be used soley for entertainment was part of that job. It was true that the 'mons people brought with them brought great joy, and were excellent companions. But they were not toys and he disliked it when someone thought that they could use them entirely for their own entertainment. It might not have been her intention, but he'd seen no harm in nipping it in the bud - just in case. 


But she'd been perhaps notably avoiding him since, which of course was her choice , but one he hadn't quite understood the necessity of. They're meeting might have been made to be a bit touchy, but once it was done - it was done. At least to Blaine it was. So as the girl remained silent, he merely studied her, tapping fingers lightly on the desk top to keep himself from reaching over to trace patterns on the back of Christof's hand. When the temptation became to great, folded both his hands on top of the desk and just kept them still, And as he did so, he merely waited for an answer from the student - expression mildly curious.  

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Word Count: 487
Tags: Christof/Lorelei
Notes: N/A

[Lorelei Virgo]

While it wasn't really any of her business, she could hear shuffling. Perhaps she had comes at a bad time? Her thoughts started to swear at her and she was starting to feel a bit tense. She hadn't meant to interrupt; at least, not on purpose. Or maybe she had? Nanto had already started to nibble on the ends of her hair. Lorelei knew that this was always in a playful manner, but she knew that her hair ends always looks...scraggy when Nanto nibbled on them. Perhaps she should get a haircut? A trim would be a good idea...

She heard some throat clearing, and finally, Mr. Carlisle ask how she could help him. She took this as her cue to enter, so she would slowly open the door to his office. His voice sounded...weird. She seemed to tilt her head in confusion, then see looked to the other person who had spoken. To be honest, she'd never seen someone with blond hair before. Or rather, she never seen someone with blond hair recently. Everyone she bumped into had black or brown hair. But she knew that staring wasn't really polite, so she only looked at him for a second or so. "It seems that my timing is as impeccable as a pesty Pikachu. Shall I leave?" She postioned herself outside the door, starting to leave until Nanto did a little peck at Lorelei. "Ow!" She rubbed her head where Nanto had pecked her. "What...What I mean is, I'm sorry for interrupting whatever you were doing. If now is a bad time, I can leave and come back later."

Nanto had never really pecked Lorelei before, but could tell Lorelei was being a bit too stressed and she didn't want her Lorelei to just instantly leave when a situation got awkward. That and she wanted her Lorelei to not stress about that stuff anymore. She noticed the blond haired man, but she noticed more the Pokemon at his side. "Hello!" She happily clicked. "Sorry if we bothered anything...which reminds me, did we?" The fire bug tilted her head to the side, looking at the Dark Pokemon.

---

Word Count: 359
Tags: Nantosuelta, Lorelei, Christof, Schattenblitz, Blaine
Notes:

[Christof Drescher]

   There was only word that came to mind as he listened to the girl go on, 'awkward'. Indeed, she didn't seem to know what to do with herself, and that did leave him to wonder where her mind had gone, all the more prompted by the words, 'whatever you were doing'.  He himself was sure the implications had been subtle enough that most students wouldn't have thought twice about what the two men had been doing. Even with modern tolerance and the more open minded approach so such matters, statistically speaking, heterosexual coupling was the 'norm', again statistically speaking. It was possible there was something to read into the girl's frame of mind, stage of development, or past experience that was indicated in her concerns, though this was only of the most mild interest to him.

    Mind drifting back to the tone Blaine had used, he tabled his surprise, to mentally file it away for future consideration.  That, coupled with the nervousness from the girl told him that likely something had occurred between the two. He would ask Blaine about it later, or at least ask if it was a matter he would be interested in hearing. 

     The girl's actions weren't the only ones he was taking into account. He noted the behavior of her pokèmon as well, and lifted a single brow just a bit, though his expression remained cool, and mostly unreadable. He might have answered, but it occurred to Christof that this was Blaine's office, and the student had come to see him, it really was the other man's place to respond to her, and Christof wasn't exactly a social butterfly besides. 

   Shattenblitz's ears twitched subtly as the other pokèmon in the room addressed him.  Waiting until Christof was done giving him pats, and gentle scritches between his eyes, he turned his attention more fully to the fire bug.

    "I wouldn't think so... if they were bothered that much, they could have told you to leave", states the Umbreon somewhat seriously, but he didn't really mean anything by it.  Truthfully, to him, what had been transpiring hadn't been interesting, nor was it noteworthy, and of course, being a pokèmon rather than a human, he wouldn't understand the fuss that could surround a scenario just as this.  The girl wasn't dominant to Chris or Blaine, so it wasn't like he was in a place to object to their activities. "Your human allows you to correct her? " Certainly his Christof never allowed such a thing.  The German was clearly the leader, and the pack was to obey and take strength from him, not the other way around; which, for Shattenblitz and at least pack oriented pokèmon like him, that was the way it should be. 

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Word Count: 468
Tags: N/A
Notes: Christof, Shattenblitz(Umbreon)

[Blaine Carlisle]

That brow of his only shot up further at the first words to exit the girl's mouth, and while it wasn't a precisely displeased expression that sat on his features - it certainly wasn't his usual open friendliness either. All he could think was that perhaps this girl was just socially awkward - and it seemed that his thoughts on this were confirmed when she seemed to stutter over correcting the matter of her earlier...was it sarcasm? He couldn't tell with her, but regardless it seemed to him that she should know to at least make some effort to sound respectful. 


Of course, that arched brow shot right back down into the frown that followed, the observant teacher taking in the interaction between the fire bug and it's owner. It wasn't a sign of a stable trainer, and she'd need to get a handle on that. Right now it seemed like the pokemon was training the girl rather than the other way around. He made a mental note to put such an observance in her file so he could know what to watch for in areas of improvement - but he didn't think too harshly on it other than that. After all, the girl was an apprentice. New to the school, and likely new to the world of pokemon. It was only natural that she should need work. 


"Miss Virgo, I'm certain you didn't come here only to leave again." Blaine began in patient, but still decidedly cool tones as, again - he had no wish to offend so he wasn't about to employ the warmth that came far more naturally to him. Not that his words sounded stilted or fake, no...he was capable of just as much professionalism as the next person. Generally, he just preferred to be more casual. "So please, have a seat." He motioned absently to a nearby desk, and waited for her to either sit down or pull a chair up to his desk. Once she was seated, he turned his attention back to her, and raised a brow with far more subtlety than he had initially. "Now, if you wouldn't mind telling me what this was about?" A sideways glance was directed at Christof, regret in his eyes as he realized he'd likely have to ask the other man to leave. Damn this girl anyway and her interruptions (though to be fair his thoughts would be the same for anyone that had interrupted them). Then with a bit of a sigh, he turned back to the girl. "I suppose this is a matter that would require privacy, yes?" 

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Word Count: 440
Tags: Lorelei,and Christof
Notes: Formal Blaine is Formal. 

[Lorelei Virgo]

Lorelei didn't really know what to do in this situation. It was clear to her that she had bothered something. It was in the tone of voice with the blond, and it was clear by the looks from both of them that they were annoyed with her. Or rather, her timing was just that bad. She felt more stressed than before, if anything, knowing that her impression would be completely ruined for Mr. Carlisle. She had come to change her impression, or at least his impression on her. But...so far, she was doing a terrible job. She heard Carlisle talk to her, saying that he was certain that she didn't come just to leave again. "No...I didn't. But I also came unannounced...so I understand if you hold hostility towards me my unannounced visitation..." The stress was starting to build up, bit by bit. She started to pet Nantosuelta in a loving way, her hand scratching the fur. The Fire bug, turned towards Lorelei, and began to click happily and loudly, and it relieved Lorelei's stress a bit, making her facial features relax a bit. He asked her if she wouldn't mind telling him why she came. "Well..." She was starting to speak, but was still unsure about the other person in the room. The blond might have been a professor, or another staff worker. She did not want to expose to him the wrong that she did. Or rather...to someone that she clearly didn't want to talk to. "Yes...although privacy isn't required, I would like to express my rights for privacy. If...that's alright." She was talking in more of a natural tone, traces of her uneasiness no longer in her voice.

Nantosuelta looked at the Umbreon, clicking a bit in relief. "Good! Cause Lorelei got so worried about all of this...She was getting really bad headaches, and I was getting worried, too. She finally decided to have a talk with Mr. Carlisle, too..." Nanto clicked happily. "My human?...Oh, you mean Lorelei! Oh, uhhh...usually, I never corrected her. She's just been so tense lately...I've never pecked her before, and I sort of regret it." The Fire Bug seemed a bit sad, but then felt a hand scratching in her fur. It felt so nice, and she leaned into the scratching. Lorelei seemed to be speaking, and the Fire Bug was trying to de-stress Lorelei.

---

Word Count: 403
Tags: Blaine, Christof, Schattenblitz
Notes: N/A

[Christof Drescher]

   In honesty, he wasn't interested in being around to see what was going on with the girl. It was nothing personal, simply that he figured that if there was anything he needed to know about this interaction, Blaine would tell him.  That assumption was a fair one, even putting aside what entanglements existed between them, as they were colleges. So, as Blaine gave him the opportunity to exit, he was more than willing to take it.  Getting up with no sense of being rushed, and yet not taking his time about it either, Christof paused only the briefest of moments to allow himself a very subtle looking over of the other man, one that any one other than the one that look was aimed at was not at all likely to notice, especially with Blaine seated.  It made it that much more difficult for any to determine that his focus did anything other than remain firmly glued to the other's gaze, if Blaine's eyes had turned in response to his movement. 

    "We can continue this later", he offered in his absent, cool way, really as if there had been nothing going on but a business related conversation.  That had little to do with a desire to be secretive, and more to do with the fact that it was inappropriate to dip his tone suggestively in front of a student. Still, it did coincide with his tenancy to want to keep his personal life to himself.  "Mr. Carlisle... Ms. Virgo", he offers in parting, before making his way back out the of the office.

   Shattenblitz, for his part, didn't need a command to follow his Christof, not in cases like this. Once Chris was up, he allowed enough pause to see if any other command was issued, and when it was not, he too stood, watching his Christof for indications that they were to leave, or for any other matter.  Once the German instructor was off, the Umbreon fell into step just behind him, and to the side, pleased to follow along, and absently wondering if maybe they were going back to the rest of the pack now.  It didn't occur to the pack minded pokèmon that he should offer a farewell. It was in his very genetic coding, that when the leader set up a pace for going, one followed and that was that.  The leader did not concern himself with whether his followers fell in line, they were expected to simply do so... well, at least in cases like this where there was no reason for Christof to be concerned that something might be wrong.  As such, nothing else in their current environment overrode the importance of where they were going. 

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Word Count: 461
Tags: N/A
Notes: Christof, Shattenblitz(Umbreon)
            Chris out

[Blaine Carlisle]

It seemed like Blaine just couldn't win with this girl. She wanted professionalism, so he gave it to her and she went and accused him of being hostile. It was a puzzle, and honestly one he wasn't certain of how to solve - so rather than worry himself greatly over it, he chose instead to settle back in his seat and merely wait until it was appropriate for him to speak. 

His lips twitched subtly as he watched Christof go, the suggestion of continuing things 'later' definitely one he was going to take the other male up on. Really though, he should know better than to try to engage the German teacher in such a manner when offices were places that just anyone could come upon them. It certainly wasn't the girl's fault that she'd interrupted, after all - how was anyone to know what sort of thing they might just walk in on? It wasn't like they were open about their relationship yet, as things were too new between them for either of them to want to be put on public display - so really he wasn't angry. A bit comically irate, maybe, but he'd get over it. 


A bit of a nod was given to Chris, letting him know his decision on the matter of 'later', and once the door was closed behind him, turned to Lorelei - a brow arched in subtle inquisition. "Now, what may I help you with Miss Virgo? I trust you're adjusting well to the school environment?" he asked, his tones polite and only mildly concerned as he sensed the girl might not appreciate more than that. 


The firebug was, of course, worthy of note - his gaze slipping from the girl briefly to observe the pokemon she had brought with her. The pokemon was clearly in good condition, and definitely loyal to his or her owner to be sure - which was a good thing really, but again, he did make a mental note to watch for signs that it wasn't the trainer teaching the 'mon but the other way around instead. It was fine for a 'mon to help his or her human out, but one should never doubt who the source of real authority was. But again, he just figured Lorelei needed time to learn - and this was certainly the place for that. 

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Word Count: 278
Tags: Lorelei/Nanto
Notes: Blaine

[Lorelei Virgo]

Lorelei watched as the blond and his Umbreon left, wondering who exactly he was. But when he started to leave, she redirected her attention to Mr. Carlisle. There was an inkling, almost a gut feeling that the blond and Mr. Carlisle had a "special relationship", that they were dating. She supposed that it really didn't matter to her if the two of them were dating. She would take it as she could, but if they did do public displays of affection, she might get nervous and leave as soon as possible. Once the door had closed, Mr. Carlisle finally directed his attention towards her, which she felt a spark of tension hit her when he did. She rubbed the back of her neck when she felt the tension, just rubbing her neck gently with her fingers. "Well...yes, I am adjusting to the environment. While I have never really had a "formal" education, per se, I seem to be adapting well. I've never really seen Nanto this happy before." She chuckles a bit, but then she stops. "But that isn't really why I've come to you...I'll cut to the chase so you can go back and enjoy your free time with the blond." It wasn't really meant to sound negative towards either the relationship, or to either teacher. "What I mean is, I'll just tell you why I came, so that I don't bother you again and you can have free time to do whatever you want. I mean no offense to either you or the other faculty member." She had to restrain herself: she felt like the words that kept coming out of her mouth sounded...harsh.

"The reason I came here...was because of our last meeting. You probably remember most of it....but what you probably weren't aware of is how much that conversation hurt me." She frowned, just thinking about the conversation they had. "Remember how I said I would have to wait until I had a Steelix of my own before even thinking of riding one? Why did you say anything after that?" Her face contorted into hurt, wincing a bit. The wasn't good, she was starting to become more stressed again. "I had already come to the conclusion all on my own that the only way to ride any Pokemon is to have my own of it, that I have caught it of my own energy and time. and yet, you had to rub it in my face that I slipped up. You had to, with that last comment of yours. "I merely didn't want a student to suffer the same fate. Nor do I expect any Pokemon to be treated like a it's a carnival ride," right?" She started to rub her arm, shifting a bit uncomfortably in her seat. She let out a sigh, trying to calm herself. "Listen...I'm not very good with words. It seems like every word I say, you take negatively, or react negatively to it. There's no hostility, nor emotions behind the things I say, because that's how I am. You make me think negatively of every word that comes out of my mouth, and fact that you constantly do makes me...nervous, tense. It bothered me so much, that I had to come and talk to you about it..." She sighs. "Do you understand anything I'm saying? Or am I just talking to an angry brick wall?"

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Word Count: 572
Tags: Blaine, Nantosuelta
Notes: Sorry, I've been running around like a chicken with half of a head XD