Thread: The Dirty Part of Physics [ClockworkCadence ║ Ryees]

Overall, Im certainly looking forward to the next few months here. The pen had stopped here after a few minutes of thoughtful writing, considering if more words were necessary as she nodded appreciatively at the succinct statement. She was looking forward to it. Shed learn a lot about the culture, the systems, and plenty of other useful aspects of structure and knowledge that she could apply to her work and beyond. All the while, she couldnt deny there was something captivating about the idea of also unraveling the mystery that was Professor Sherlin during her time here. He was undoubtedly the most intriguing and unique person most people could ever meetyet why? What was it that made him so different? Was it just personality alone, some aspect of his past, a mix of both and more? What are you, Professor? Her eyes shifted to the Armadillo staring sullenly at everything yet nothing, making it a point to take interest in anything Helen decided to busy herself with. Notebook for writing? A cozy place to lay. Phone in hand? Something that seemed fun to curl up in a ball with for a while. Headphones? Suddenly, they made the top of her head seem much more comfortable to lay on. Olivia wasn't sure if it was intentionally trying to spite her, or if any new object meant it had something to temporarily distract itself from the misery of its own life. Either way, Helen wasn't quite fond of it, to say the least. Hudson, Olivia. The name jolted her out of her thoughts, her hand going to briefly fish the black quill from her bag before she stood, making the short trek over to his desk that felt like miles. It was no different from any other time somebody was called up, and yet it waseyes not-so-subtly followed her, peeking out from long hair shielding the accompanying expression or from the eyelashes of a downcast face. Even if they would never know what words she'd exchange with the Professor, they still watched intently as if this walk would unveil her deepest secrets. She'd inadvertently become an outlier, something unique and new that was interesting to see through the fishbowl glass, and they waited for the moment when she suddenly would perform a trick for their amusement, or transform from a fish into a flower. Yet soon she stood in front of Professor Sherlin's desk, offering a small smile on her face and the quill in her hand to him. Good morning, Professor. She greeted him simply, noting his oddly casual posture that seemed in stark contrast to his usual tenseness, even going so far as to lean back and relax in his chair a bit. Past the initial surprise of it, the sight of him caused her to relax a bit herself, settling herself into the seat across from him, a bit reassured that this was going to be just a comfortable discussion. A quick but simple affair. The spell shielded their words from the prying ears of the classas he asked to see her hand, she obliged, lifting her hand to him, the word scabbed into her skin dully screaming up at him. Then came the simple question Why? Perfectly neutral curiosity lilted around the question. Ive been exposed to a lot of different classes, Professorits a part of what I do as a liaison. Ive had the pleasure of learning from some of the most impressive nonverbal wizards in Africa to amazingly resourceful witches in Japan. But honestly, theres so much I have yet to learn, so much I have yet to experience and to understand, despite everything Ive done. And somehow, I get this feeling like Im going to learn more than I ever have before here. She shifted in her seat a bit, a subtly pleasant expression plastered on her demeanor as she expressed her excitement and anticipation. Youyoure intriguing, Professoryoure unconventional, but brilliant all the same, and Im looking forward to my time here with you. The answer was clinical, proper, the barrier of teacher and student, stranger and stranger, a thin but palpable veil shielding herself from him. It was all true, but all very light, very uplifting. Very inaccurate to the true depth of her answer. Sherlin glanced her up and down, meaningfully, bringing his hands to his face again, fingers flat and thumbs under his chin. You wouldn't be here if you were simply looking for a challenge you'd apply to be Mr. Scamander's PR woman, or apply for the Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Your humanitarian work sent you here, but this class is not relevant for that. I will be teaching you to fight and to kill, and to not be killed. He paused, his eyes sharpening to needle points that seemed to try and bury themselves in her veins, to try and understand her at a genetic level to better understand her intellectually. Why are you here? A nearly imperceptible twitch in the corner of Olivia's mouth betrayed her inner thoughts, hidden behind a pleasant layer of professionalism that Sherlin was hell-bent on peeling back to reveal the darker gems within. Of course he could tell there was more behind all this. But did she really want to express her deeper reasons? Something in his gaze said that keeping her reasons to herself wasn't an option, however. His stare bore into her body as if it was trying to carve the answer out of her, causing her to shift uncomfortably under its scalpel. The oceans of her gaze fell downcast for a brief moment, staring into the corner of his desk thoughtfully as she softly bit her lip, the subtle barrier she'd put up dropping as her gaze returned to his. To keep a promise. Sherlin leaned forward, elbows on the desk, hands still splitting his face. Family, or lover? Family. Her weight shifted in her posture as her arms drew inward, lightly crossing as her eyes fell from his again, studying the grainy details of the wood of his desk. The concept of a lover just wasnt feasible, with how often shed find herself at the other end of the world from where shed once been. Her life had always been centered on her family, the only thing that had kept her going through everythingher family motivated her towards nearly everything she'd set out to accomplish. Kaira, my sister. Shesshes had mental and physical disabilities since she was born. The most vibrant and determined person Ive ever known, with a wonderfully unique perspective on life, able to think outside the box more than anyone else. I suppose why you intrigue me, Professor, is because you remind me a bit of her. Her gaze flickered up to his face for a moment, cautious for his trademark unpredictability as her attention fell upon her hands in her lap, fingers interlaced and thumbs slowly switching positions between being on top of the other to being covered by the other. But shes never really been able to venture outside of her hospital for very longher health is very frail. I wasI was always her protector. Still am. Whatever she's faced, I've been there to help her through, both things that are beyond her control, and things she attracts to herselfshe isnt afraid to speak her mind, so thats garnered her a few enemies over the course of her life. I kept her safeguess thats what inspired me to be an Auror, just having the ability to keep her and everyone else away from harm. Might sound dumb, but that's just how it is for me. A sigh escaped her rose-dusted lips, the pads of her thumbs tapping together in contemplation. I was... a different person when I first started out. Capable of fighting and holding my own. Didn't have any opinion about violence, it was just a necessary part of the job. But one of the times she was well enough to go outside with me, just doing some late night shopping, there was this man... Her hands were still now, lightly squeezing one another as she sank further into herself. He'd threatened her. Pulled a gun on her. And I lost it. The terror and fear in her eyes that was the worst part of it all. Not directed at the man that had nearly killed her, but at me . At seeing what I was really capable of. Her voice's strength gave out a bit, swallowing past a lump in her throat as she continued on, a bit quieter. I'd killed a man in front of her. He'd dropped the gun and was ready to run and never bother us again once he saw that I could use magic, but I still... She took a deep breath then, blinking twice as she shoved her thoughts back into the depths of her mind, her voice back to its strong yet carefully neutral quality. I chose to be a liaison after that. Couldn't handle the guilt. Even when negotiations get dicey, I'm the shield never the sword. But I still learn it I hate it, but I still need to know how to fight. Because if there's ever a time when I need to protect Kaira like that again, I need to be sure I can take on anyone to keep her safe. Her eyes finally lifted to meet his again, guarding the darkness hidden in those blue depths. Safe, and happy. Kaira sees the world through me. She never gets to experience anything outside of our hometown, except for when I visit. I get to tell her all sorts of stories about where Ive been, who Ive metits the kind of life she always wanted, just having the freedom to go out and do whatever she wants, to see everything the world has to offer, to learn everything she can about this life. The international trips might mean I dont get to see her for long periods of time, but her face just lights up so much , every time I come back with so many pictures and stories. She loves what I do probably as much as I do. Arms crossed again, then, observing her professor as the shield began to resurface between them. So that was my promiseIll keep her safe, and live for us both.