Friend to the Friendless {OPEN}

[zoe]

It wasn't strange for Zoe to be alone in the teacher's lounge. Her classes weren't exactly the most popular, so she didn't have much work to do. She spent most of her time in the teacher's lounge coming up with more pieces of music for the beginners in her class. It was simple sheet music that, with some instruction, they should be able to follow. It was difficult making different sheet music for different instruments though. People came to her class with a desire to learn a particular instrument. Some came in with a saxophone and others with a violin. At least she set up her classes so that one section was string and the other was wind. Regardless though, there were only a handful of students in each class.

Sighing, Zoe pushed aside the music sheet and put down her pencil. She couldn't look at it anymore, for her eyes were beginning to strain. She wasn't even sure how long she'd been there. She was almost positive it was after hours. School was out and the students should have been back in their dorm rooms. Even though she was only twenty-three, Zoe found it hard to look back on the days of her schooling. She had been home schooled because, in her time, there had been no school for the many races of the world. And Zoe stuck out like a sore thumb when she smiled that her parents had made it a point to keep her out of the human schools. That was also when she learned she shouldn't smile. Her large canines were peculiar and it brought attention her family didn't want.

Then when William took her in, he made it a point to educate her. She was home schooled and the main concentration had been music. She took to it instantly though. Other subjects were more difficult for Zoe to grasp. Foreign language, for instance, always provided a problem for her. Math was different. She was able to grasp math a bit because music was tied closely to it. She was never very good at English. She never understood the whole grammar rule thing. But she learned it all regardless.

Her mind started to wander to William and she felt a pang of guilt wash over her. She left him all alone in that house of his and his old age wasn't treating him well. His life was coming to an end. She knew that much. But the idea of losing her only family tore at her heart. She had to stop thinking about it lest she begin to cry. She took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. The last thing she needed was to think sad, mournful thoughts about William. He was too important to her.

Closing her eyes, Zoe tilted her head back and she let herself relax... maybe even doze off.

[basil]

By the time the blonde was settling down and returning back to headquarters, there flashed a bit of exhaustion in gold eyes. To himself, eyebrows creased in wonder- contemplating the things he'd done over the course of the day until now. It wasn't much. Mostly, he'd been out off campus, gathering things at the market for his first class of the following day. Odds and ends and perhaps a snack or three to place in the teacher's lounge for his fellow staff. Carefully, he held one box of a dozen donuts in one hand, and in the other a bag with another box of cookies and a similarly sized one with a few cupcakes on top of it. To be honest, they were mostly for his own indulgences but sharing was in his blood.

The actual necessities were in bags wrapped around his wrist-- a few falling down the length of his arm, but as long as they were securely in his hold he wasn't worried. Catching a whiff of the donuts closest to his nose reminded the Caladrius why it was he had been feeling so tired. He was hungry! Ah, how he couldn't wait to sit down and indulge in what he would probably claim to be his dinner. His sweet tooth was a monster of it's own.

Into lounge, he stumbled, keeping barely on both feet before he made it safely to a counter to place the variety of sweets he'd brought back. He hadn't actually noticed the other figure in the room- just hummed to himself, full of mirth and excitement for what would soon be in his belly. The energy that he had been lacking before suddenly rushed back in a mere thought. Setting the confections out in the open for the others to see them should they come around any time soon, he turned to set the important stuff to the side-- it being then that he noticed the woman sitting at the table, and he stumbled back in surprise with a bird-like screech. Promptly, startling himself, he clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Ah-- miss! I didn't see you," apologetic, he mumbled through appendages, and placed his free hand over his rapidly beating heart. He was roughly familiar with most of the staff here, so her face hadn't been too, too foreign. Her name, however; had slipped him, if he ever knew. What was worse, was that she seemed to have been resting- causing what was already an apologetic expression to fall into an even deeper look of worry.

[zoe]

It was a screech that roused her and the sudden noise startled her. Jolting away, Zoe almost fell back completely, her chair tilting back and her arms swung wildly to keep herself balanced. Finally, the two front legs of the chair landed soundly and Zoe was able to collect herself. Though thoroughly embarrassed, Zoe pushed herself to come to a stand and tried to appear cool and nonchalant - like she intended to nearly fall backward. Frantically, Zoe brushed her hair from her face and turned toward the intruder. He looked about as started as she. Zoe had been in that almost-asleep-state where her senses were dulled, but she wasn't quite sleeping yet. A drifting feeling, and then the sudden sensation of falling forcing her eyes to open suddenly. She could feel her heart racing in her chest and she tried to keep her cheeks from turning red in embarrassment. He looked sorry for having startled her, but she couldn't help but feel just as guilty, for he had sounded so frightened.

"No. No! I'm sorry!" she started frantically, stepping away from the small table she had been working on. "I didn't realize what time it was. I think I was falling asleep. I should have just left. Uh, I hope that's not against the rules. I didn't mean to-" she cut herself off, realizing how much she was rambling. She recognized the man as a fellow teacher she'd seen around. What was his name? Mr. Finch? She was sure that was it. She'd heard other students address him. But that was all she knew. She'd never spoken to him before, much like all the other teachers. The only one she'd really had any contact with was the headmistress, but that was only because the woman hired her.

She looked at the man bags and boxes he had been carrying. "Do... do you need any help with those?" she offered, fearing that awkward silence that was bound to emerge if the two just stood there apologizing to each other? She didn't know what class the man taught and she certainly couldn't make a guess just by looking at him. But if she had to, she would have guessed English. He looked like one of those English teachers - the ones who loves to give their students lengthy written assignments. She always hated it when William told her to write an essay. What kind of home schooled teenager had to write an essay for their guardian? How would someone who loves you grade an essay anyway? Zoe always hated it when William criticized her writing. It felt like a personal attack. Of course it wasn't. He was just teaching her, but it still hurt when he told her she did something wrong even if he was always gentle about it.

Zoe took a few steps toward the man, trying to figure out what he was carrying. Then the smell of something baked and sweet wafted to her nose and she had to keep herself from groaning. But her stomach grumbled audibly anyway.

[basil]

Perhaps it was the pink stained on her cheeks or the sudden nervous babble, or just the fact that she seemed still so pleasant before him, despite his untimely arrival-- but the teacher couldn't help but smile widely in response, apologetic still, but less so as the conversation seemed to shift. "It, by no means, is a crime to fall asleep in the teacher's lounge," he assured, to ease her mind before he glanced about his surroundings. Ah, right, his bags. He had forgotten he was still carrying the lot of them, but with a dismissive shake of his hand he merely set them down aside his feet.

"Ah no, no. I had been out," he started, accent carrying softly on his voice, "originally just to buy supplies for the class, but on my way back I crossed a bakery," in that moment was a playful sort of guilt that crossed his expression. "It seems I couldn't help myself," a shameful scratch to the back of his neck-- a gesture that expressed his shame in his lack of self-restraint when it came to these man-made heart attacks waiting to happen. But it was a short-lived sentiment, as the thought of indulging in such sweets gave him yet another spout of energy.

On his heels, he bounced, picking up his bags full of odd potion ingredients, the kind of glass containers you'd find in a science lab all dangerously stuffed in one flimsy bag, and moved them further away from where he stood- closer to the edge of the wall where no one was likely to step over them. He was a few seconds away from offering the goods he'd been so excited about when the sound of her stomach grumbling resonated through the, unfortunately, silent room and cut him short of his offer.

He hadn't meant to laugh, but with a few blinks, he didn't bother stifling the chuckle that fled from his mouth a split moment later. "Ah- a cupcake, perhaps? I was going to ask but your stomach answered before I had the chance." Stepping aside, he smiled- showing that he was only teasing, and allowed her to take the first pick between cupcakes, donuts, or cookies. Or all of the above, as he set them up all side by side each other on the counter, making the decision particularly tempting. "An appetite should never be left unattended, so please help yourself. But meanwhile, please accept my apology, as I've forgotten your name."

[zoe]

Her immediate assumption that he was an English teacher was quickly proven incorrect. As he moved his bags of strange ingredients and beakers to the side along the wall, Zoe quickly amended her assumption. Science teacher? Maybe a chemistry teacher. He certainly didn't look the part, or maybe Zoe just didn't have a good grasp on the stereotypes. Social interaction was not always something she was familiar with. As a matter of fact, it had never been something she was familiar with. Her parents tried to teach her how to be angry and violent, but that didn't work. Zoe never wanted to hurt people. She didn't understand the point of violence and when people were hurt, the first thing she wanted to do was help them, not kick them when they were down. The only relationship that was remotely similar to normal was her relationship with William, and even that was peculiar. He was a human raising a Chimera girl. That couldn't possible be qualified as normal.

As he spoke, Zoe found him to be more and more genuine. He seemed concerned and even a bit flustered, which she found endearing. As he moved the contents to the wall, she tried to get a better look of what was inside by craning her neck slightly. But by the time he turned back around to face her, she had reverted back to a normal appearance. She didn't want to seem nosy or anything. She could just ask him, right? As he explained his moment of weakness, Zoe's eyes scanned the many contents of sweetly baked goods along the counter. She couldn't help but think it had been more than a mere moment of weakness. She had to keep herself from smiling at the idea. She wanted to laugh, but she knew better than that. Laughing would show her monstrous fangs. He might find her unsettling if he saw that.

When her stomach growled, she'd been hoping he wouldn't hear it, but his taken aback expression proved otherwise. He laughed slightly and a hand of hers went to her stomach, almost as if holding it would quiet it. How embarrassing. She looked away for a moment. His words helped steady herself and she managed to look back at him. He revealed the contents of the cupcakes, donuts, and cookies and her eyes widened instantly. They all looked fantastic and they smelled even better. She couldn't stop her feet from taking her forward toward the counter to get a better look. She almost started drooling. "Thank you!" she said gratefully, her hand reaching for a cookie. When was the last time she ate? She couldn't even remember.

He asked her for her name as she was mid bite. She chewed quickly before swallowing. "Miss Nelson. Call me Zoe though. I figure other teachers call each other by their first name? But, uh, if I'm wrong you can just call me Miss Nelson. You're Mr. Finch, right? Um, do you teach science? I was never really good at science... not that I'm stupid or anything! But uh-" Again with the rambling! Zoe winced noticeably, mentally kicking herself.

[basil]

Pleased to please, Basil ruffled his already messy hair- neverminding the tufts of shed strands that fell to the floor, a mess he would have to clean up later. He offered a smile before reaching for a doughnut himself, stopping short when she informed him of her name. "Of course! Miss Nelson. A pleasure to finally speak with you," grin widening, he forgot momentarily the tempting stash of sugar beside him as he continued to speak.

"Yes-- you know my name?" Pleasantly surprised, he chuckled once more, mentally reminding himself that not everyone was as forgetful of names as he was. Or forgetful, in general. Still, it would take him a moment to realize he was making a name for himself at this school. "If that's the case then, Miss Zoe, please just call me Basil. I would be pleased," the 'miss' was completely by habit- instinctual, possibly, but he meant no less familiarity than referring to her by her first name implied.

Finally, he stretched out digits once again to grab onto a doughnut, expression immediately content-- almost serene, as he bit down on pastry. If he hadn't been delighted before, he certainly was now with his mouth half full of sweets. Remembering ongoing conversation, he backtracked briefly in his mind to catch all the words he thought he lost before responding.

"Close!" He smiled, though hidden behind his hand as his mouth was still full. "Good guess, though. I suppose with all of the beakers, it would appear that way," one more bite and he continued to speak with a full mouth. "Not science, but it may as well be. Defensive arts-- see, sometimes students will be required to concoct a barrier potion. Or an even something fun, like an invisible serum. The ingredients are strange. Awful tasting. Not anything like this," he pointed to pastries, "this is just brilliant." Again he laughed, mostly at himself and waited until he had fully swallowed doughnut to move on, this time.

"Miss Zoe, what is it that you teach?" He asked, attentive, hoping to coax a smile from her sometime within the current conversation. If even just once. But not particularly noticing her reluctance to do so.

[zoe]

He seemed genuine enough and Zoe was willing to put on a good face. But she'd been let down before. As soon as they saw her abnormality... usually they were able to tell something was different about her. Yet Zoe failed to realize that most of the people in this school displayed some form of an abnormality, but to Zoe, hers was magnified tenfold. Perhaps it was because she grew up being told that everyone else was bound to hate her for what she was. Such a strange upbringing and it was always on her mind. The memories of her parents constantly chased her, trying to remind her how she was supposed to be and that this sweet disposition she tried to hold onto was wrong. She was supposed to be angry at the world. She was supposed to put up a fight, but Zoe never wanted that. She never wanted to hate the world. Instead she chose to hate herself.

As Mr. Finch, or Basil rather, began to describe his class, Zoe could not describe how she felt about it. It wasn't a violent class. It was defensive. That was something she could appreciate... and also learn herself. She knew nothing about how to defend herself. She stuck more with stealth when she had to and if she wanted to avoid a confrontation. She also used her feline agility to guide her when she was being attacked... but that rarely ever happened. Because she was so terrified of confrontation, she often let others walk over her. As long as that meant she didn't have to fight them.

But his class seemed useful to people like her - people who wanted to avoid confrontation. When he compared the ingredients needed for the potions with the taste of the donuts, she couldn't help but smirk softly, careful to keep her lips together though. By now, it had become a habit. It was second nature. If she could go without talking all together she would, for slight glimpses of fang here and there could be seen, but she wasn't about to go mute.

When he asked her what she taught, Zoe couldn't help but feel slightly incompetent. Her choice of trade was so much less impressive than his. In all reality, what use was music? What use was knowing how to play an instrument when the kids of the school were always fighting and going against each other? Separating themselves into different classes. What would music do for them? It was probably another reason the class was so unpopular.

"Uh... Music..." she said softly, feeling slight inadequate. She stuffed the cookie in her mouth almost like she were eating her own words.

[basil]

Similarly, it was a mystery how Basil's upbringing didn't have a more negative effect-- with the attempts to shape him into an aggressive, power-hungry individual (it was, apparently, a Finch-family trait). Because clearly, as he stood before her, tired but grinning with attention and an unhealthy craving for pastries, his father's influence only backfired for the better. He was too kind of a person by nature to feel comfortable with the corrupt ideas his family had been conditioned with for so long. He could only reason that perhaps his mother held a similar moral standing as he, but he couldn't be sure as they'd never met.

With his hands now empty and devoid of now digesting doughnut, he reached forward for a cupcake this time- a messier treat and he'd forgotten where the paper napkins were. Insouciant, he began to eat, listening closely to the answer he was given to question about her specialty in the teaching profession. "Mm--!"

Mouth full, he suddenly remembered his manners and swallowed first before speaking. "Music! I enjoy music, so that's nice to hear," a smile, as unflattering as it may have been with stray pieces of uneaten cupcake framing his face. "I play piano, myself, but probably not as skillful as Miss Zoe, who is good enough to teach it," it was a sheepish compliment (however, only an assumption, but he felt as if it were a safe one), as he scratched the back of his neck again in nervous habit. The casual slip of brief third-person speaking, also habitual. "I hope it's something the students will enjoy. Music can be... healing," literally, almost, for his species.

"Is it music, generally, or a particular instrument? Aa, or voice?" Waiting for response again, he took that as an internal cue to take a hefty bite of the cupcake in the space of brief silence and impending reply. Quickly, Basil stepped aside again- a little ways away from the counter in case Zoe wanted to capture another treat to indulge in.

[zoe]

She watched him as he continued to eat the plethora of sweets before them and she couldn't help but wonder humorously to herself whether or not there would be anything left for the other teachers once he was done with them. She was sure he got them for everyone, but the way he was devouring them made it appear like he would have no trouble finishing off all three boxes. She had to stifle a laugh as he bit into a cupcake.

To her surprise, he seemed interested in her choice a trade. She hadn't expected anyone to put any value into what she chose to teach. This was a school for kids who were abnormal - kids who human society would disown. Music wasn't what they needed. They needed classes like Defensive Arts as some would say. But Zoe couldn't help but disagree. They needed music now more than ever - a way to vent their frustrations in a healthy and productive manner. If she could, she would teach art as well. But she was warned against opening another class so soon.

He smiled at her and she found it charming despite the remains of cupcake lining his lips and she smiled back, instinctively. But she quickly caught herself and closed her lips as casually as possible. "Oh, I completely agree!" she responded enthusiastically, her face growing serious as she thought about the implications. "Despite what some people may thing, they need music especially!" She nodded curtly in confirmation of herself. She blinked as his question and how he moved to the side. She cautiously approached the counter and shyly took a cupcake. She'd been looking at those since he brought them in, but she didn't want to take something so messy. But watching him eat so casually in front of her gave her the courage. She played with the wrapper as she answered him. "Well, since there isn't that much interest, for now, it's merely music in general. I'm going to have students pick an instrument to learn and I'll teach them how to read music."

She smiled at him softly. "Since I was little, I'd learned how to play the piano. You should play for me sometime, Mr. Finch. I'm sure you're fantastic." She bit into the cupcake, frosting hitting her nose slightly. Embarrassed, she wiped it off quickly, chewing fervently.