xp_logs | Haller, Betsy and Hope

"All right, it's official. I don't like this kind of yoga. I'm not the one of us in this relationship that should be the pretzel."

"Quit your bellyaching. Limber muscles mean you can get in and out without spraining something important and still manage to have a good time if you do it right."

"The in and out is more your business than mine -- ow, I thought you said this wasn't personal."

"It isn't, now lift up. higher. higher. Okay, let's try another, down dog. Like this, back arched, legs extended. Oh yes, that's it. Finally. Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"

"You wouldn't think so, now would you?"

Laughter.

"Here I am sharing my trade tools. Ones, mind you, that you've benefited from on many an occasion and yet you resist. The sooner you realize that you're my clay and that you cannot escape -- not until I make you do what I want."

"That was your mistake. What if the student is becoming the master? I've been paying attention, between all the murder attempts. For example, I know that if I roll you like <I>this</I> and bring your leg up it puts you in Wind Removing . . ."

She had been a rather strange mix of being lost in thought and feeling jittery the last few. Sitting still had been hard sometimes as the things that she neatly tucked away so often surged through her since their encounter with the Slenderman.

So, on some advice she had received she had changed in the yoga pants and shirt she used for self-defense and had gone to the gym to find something to do to settle down a little. Even it was just running through some of the exercises Ms. Stavros had shown them.

When she entered the gym though, she froze. In front of her were two people rather... intimately entwined. "Eeep" A bright blush slowly crept up as Hope stared. She didn't recognize the woman on the floor, but after two more blinks she recognized her guidance counselor on top of the woman. That realization made her move.

"Iamreallysorry..." She muttered as she twisted around, leaving the gym almost at a run.

Jim looked up just in time to see the flash of brown hair as the girl spun away and out of the room. The potential witness list was short, and run multiple times in the vain hope another candidate would materialize.

The telepath moved off Betsy and covered his increasingly red face.

"Oh dear god."

Still on the ground, Betsy tilted her head toward the entrance. "Who was that?" She peered up at Haller and saw his face. "By your color, I'd say one of yours, then? Oh dear, that is awkward." The laughter came slowly, but it bubbled out of Betsy. Her hand on her stomach, the fit took her completely over. "Go, please go." She managed between the wheezing. "You need to catch her before she posts on the journals. Might get us banned from public spaces. Oh wait, I think I hear the pitter patter of fingers on a keyboard."

The look Jim shot her as he rose had a distinct cast of "you are not helping", though he was more mortified with himself. It was true they hadn't exactly planned on the exercise transmuting into borderline public indecency, but he should have known better. Two weeks alone in Bali had made him careless, and relief at the brief respite from thinking of the last few weeks even moreso. Of all the students to walk in on them, of course it had been the demure, sheltered one . . .

He paused.

"Wait," said Jim, turning to Betsy. "We can fix this. You were an accessory, you're helping.

"You're joking." She giggled, eying him, and then the realization set in. He wasn't and the laughter stopped abruptly.

"No, no, we both know I'm bad with children." Her hands up, holding Jim back. "My horrible stint as a teacher here is proof enough among other things. Purposefully putting a child in my way, especially for someone in your position, is careless. Who knows what could happen? Do you think I avoid all of them for the fun of it? It makes getting around this school a bitch. Stop looking at me like that, I'll have no part of it."

He caught her by the wrists and gave her a grim smile. "You cannot escape -- not until I make you do what I want," he said with a hint of a teasing growl.

"But first we need to get something."

******

Hope was not entirely sure where her footsteps had taken her first, not really paying attention to her surrounding. Why in the world did she have to walk in on... well... some extreme public displays of affection from one of her teachers. When she did became more aware of them though, she was glad they had taken her to a somewhat more quiet part of the school. Which was a relief, since she was still rather fire engine red and did not want to answer questions about the why.

She stopped at a window, staring out over the bleak landscape, hoping the red would at least fade away soon and she'd be able to hide in her room. When footsteps approached a few minutes later, she looked up and saw Mr. Haller just turning around the corner. Almost as soon as she had in the gym, she spun away from the window and dove into the nearest door. She did not want to face him.

Unfortunately, that door was a cupboard with some old things stored in it... leaving her no way out...

"Hope?" Okay, keep it calm, Jim told himself as he entered the room. No need to acknowledge the fact she'd clearly just ducked into a closet to avoid him, and to be honest he didn't entirely blame her. Still, things would only get worse if he let his own embarrassment show. Mind on the game-plan.

Her face felt hot again, just when she had the idea the redness would have lessened a little. But now she was also stuck in a cupboard... Staying in there would not be very dignified, nor ladylike. Even if a big part wanted to say: "Not here! Check back later!" So she slowly pushed the door open, folding her hands in front of her and keeping as primly as possible, Hope stepped out. Her eyes remained firmly on the floor though.

"Hi, Hope," Jim said, pretending for both their sakes as if she hadn't just emerged from a broom closet. He was actually glad her eyes were on the floor; it made this easier.

"I want to apologize for what you saw in the gym," he said frankly. "I wasn't thinking, and it wasn't appropriate for a place in frequent use by the students. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable."

"Uhm... Thank you... Mr. Haller?" Hope stuttered out shyly. Her voice died away and she bit her lip before taking a deep breath and reaching for an old tactic. Pulling courtesy and formality around her like armor, she continued: "I should have remembered to inquire if the gymnasium was free before I entered. The blame also rests on my shoulders. My sincerest apologies for this."

Jim shook his head. "Public facility. You didn't do anything wrong." He continued, adroitly denying her an opportunity to protest, "But to prevent any further discomfort while she's here, I would like to introduce you to Ms. Braddock. It was bad manners not to."

"Oh no, Mr. Haller, that is not necessary. I am sure I will have another opportunity to be introduced to Ms. Braddock. I do not wish to disturb you any further." She didn't want to meet the new inhabitant of the mansion after embarrassing them like this!

He smiled. "I've already discussed it with her. I would rather handle it now than have you run into each other in the hall with no one to make the introductions. Please," he said, "I insist." He felt bad for saying it, however smilingly, but he was counting on Hope's inherent politeness to sway her.

She sighed just a little and raised her eyes just enough to glare at him from the corners of her eyes. "If you insist, sir. It... it would be an honor to be introduced to Ms. Braddock."

Well, that was likely the politest term she could have used. Still,

"Thank you. Follow me, she's waiting in the gym."

******

She had remained almost silent on her way back to the gym. Normally she would have attempted some small talk in an attempt to 'ease the atmosphere' around them, but now she remain firmly tucked away behind her strict composure. With a bit of luck that wall would also keep her from turning fire engine red yet again when she had to face Ms. Braddock again.

Only... it didn't help much. One she laid her hand on the handle of the door so she could push it open, she felt herself turning red again. She tossed another quick glare in the direction of Haller and pushed open the door. Only to come to a full stop immediately at the sight in the gym, her eyes widening in surprise and even a little shock.

Blindfolded, Betsy waited. The little sharp inhale of breath was her signal to begin the exercise. The things she did for this man, she thought with a before tucking into a roll. As her hands touched the ground, she shot three tennis balls in the air and with the other hand grabbed her katana. She completed the maneuver with a flip and a slice of the katana blade in air. Betsy smiled, satisfied, she pulled down the blindfold and peeked at her audience. "Did I get them all?"

Not a half second later, six halves fell to the ground.

"Not quite."

The voice beside Hope was still Haller's, but it had an unusual cadence. Before she could react, however, three tennis balls rose from their box at the far side of the gym and shot towards Betsy with punishing speed.

"You are such a child." She dropped the blindfold back in place and raised her sword. She heard the balls whistling towards her. The slight pressure against the blade - once, twice, and she lifted her arms slightly to catch the third.

"Now you have." The counselor's voice was back to normal. Jim turned to Hope with a smile. "Hope, this is Lady Elisabeth Braddock of the House of Braddock. Betsy, this is Hope Abbott."

She walked over to the pair, holding the blade behind her back and away from Hope. When she reached them, Betsy punched the other telepath in the shoulder. "For the last time, it's training not a telekinetic game of vengeance."

Elisabeth Braddock turned her full attention on Hope and smiled warmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Hope. David has told me quite a bit about your exploits. Something about being one of his favorites." She leaned in conspiratorially. "But don't tell the other students. They're a jealous lot."

Hope didn't react immediately. Still a shocked by the display with the sword and the blindfold, the title and the British accent send her mind running. Lady Elisabeth Braddock? She was a British peeress in her own right? She has to think for a moment about how the rules worked again. No, that was not quite it. Otherwise she would have been The Lady Braddock. And she also wasn't the wife of a Knight or a Baronet, considering what she had walked in earlier. Besides, then she would have been Lady Braddock without the The in front. That only left one thing. She must have been the daughter of a Duke, Marquess or Earl... And what was the right form of address again?

Puzzle finally complete, she once more shored her courtesy armor around herself and replied: "The pleasure is all mine, Lady Elisabeth. May I extend my sincere apologies for disturbing you earlier?" One advantage at least... the earlier surprises had at least driven a way the blush from her face.

Betsy's smile fell but only briefly. She sent an askance look to Haller, opening their mindlink. ~Are you hearing this?~ Jim shook his head unnoticed by Hope as she continued to "figure it all out." ~By all means, have a listen.~ Hope's struggle with the right title fed into both their minds. Offering a kind look to the young lady, Betsy asked Jim. ~Is she this neurotic on purpose?~

Jim sent her a telepathic nudge. ~She's still recovering from a demonic encounter, remember.~ He paused before adding, ~But I'm pretty sure you can blame most of it on her mother.~

~Dear Lord, she's still going...~

Betsy realized Hope had finished with an apology. "No trouble at all, dear. Haller has spent quite enough time on his back. He's due a win. It's always good for the loser's morale. At least now, he has a witness to prove it."

And just when she realized the blush was gone a little, it flared up again... "I am... I am sure he must be quite happy. Though I am... Though I am afraid word of his victory is not going to spread far, milady." The antiquated form of address rolled of Hope's tongue without any hesitation. Hope tossed a quick desperate look to the guidance counselor still standing besides her.

"It's all right. We appreciate your discretion, but it's not a secret." Jim gave her a lopsided smile.

"Betsy used to be a staff member here, and we've been together for a long time." He gave Betsy a nod. "She has superior combat training, so while she's in town she's been working on getting me a little more competent in hand-to-hand."

"It's been a long, arduous task...." The purple haired telepath added with a dramatic sigh, returning Jim smile with one just as wide and loving. "But I've managed somehow." She then placed her full attention on Hope, scrutinizing the young girl with a hard stare before speaking. "Now, if we're to be friends, I'll not have you courtesy'ing about and dolling out titles on my behalf. My friends call me Betsy and so shall you. Agreed?"

"Uhm." Hope thought quickly again. On one hand it would be very impolite to ignore her wishes, but she was quite uncomfortable with addressing her by her first name. "Only in private though. It would not be correct in the presence of others..." Hope fidgeted a little as she countered the offer.

"Sadly, I can't allow that." Betsy stated with a concerned look on her face. "Others will find your behavior quite odd as you will be the only one to refer me with such a formal title. You must allow me this compromise, dear, if only for your sake."

"I can use Ms. Braddock if that is acceptable." Hope countered. A very small gleam could be seen in her eyes as she realized a very small part of this was enjoying this. Yes, she was quite uncomfortable, but she didn't know many people who could match her on this area.

Betsy sighed, sounding horribly unsatisfied. "If you must. Might I add, you are quite good at bargaining." She held out her hand, spit into her palm, and held it out for the young woman. "If we're to agree, we must shake on it."

"Alright, Ms. Braddock." Hope reached out with her hand, a little hesitantly still. "I suspect Mr. Haller is an exception to the rule though?" She asked as she clasped Ms. Braddock's hand.

~Quit brain-chortling, you'll make me ruin the moment,~ Jim sent to Betsy, silently admiring the fact Hope was able to shake the woman's hand without immediately pulling away to wipe it on something. That was resolve. And a relief. Verbal sparring required the participation of both parties, and there was the barest hint of it going on from Hope's end. Those times he interacted with Hope were generally not those in which the girl was inclined to show a sense of humor. He let a pulse of gratified affection lap against Betsy's mind.

"Mr. Haller can be appropriate in public," he said aloud, giving Betsy a sidelong glance. "At least when Mr. Haller realizes it is public."

~I am two seconds from breaking this facade, so please no commentary.~ Betsy supplied mentally. ~But I must say, she's rather adorable for a dilettante.~

"Mr. Haller will refrain from talking about himself in the third person if he is to be considered polite company." She released her hand and curtsied in front of Hope. "May we never speak in such formal ways again, Lady Hope." Returning to her full height, Betsy retrieved her katana blade and offered it to the young woman. "Might I ask, how good is your hand to hand?"

Hope discretely wiped her hand as she returned the curtsey easily. "That I can do. And my hand to hand... I learned a few basics during my self defense classed, but it is definitely not my strongest suit. " She eyed the blade with a little trepidation.

"It wouldn't be a bad idea for you, I think. Physical activity can aid in mental focus." ~Careful sparring her, Betts. Once she's got the basics down I think you may find some pent-up aggression.~

Betsy sent Haller a dark look. "Mr. Haller's right, Hope. You're not the only one left to catch up. If you haven't noticed, I take great joy in teaching lost causes."

"You wish to teach me?!?!?! You mean, how to use a sword?" Hope pointed at the sword as her gaze flashed between the two adults. "I would only manage to hurt myself or even worse, my partner!"

"Then it's good I'm handy in first aid," Betsy countered. She couldn't help but smile. "This isn't a request, Hope. You will learn how it is to be a true Lady of the Court by learning how to kick everyone's collective arses. It would be my honor to be your teacher on this leg of your journey.

Hope eyed the sword again and she gently reached out to touch the blade. "My parents would have a heart attack if they knew I was learning that. I cannot do that to my father again... Not after what I already did." Her first defense that it was improper for a lady to learn already taken away, so she went immediately for the second and the more personal one.

Ah yes, Jim thought, the literal heart-attack. Still, it felt like an excuse. "There's a meditative aspect to combat as well, even aside from being able to hold your own if you need to," the counselor reminded her. "And your parents don't need to be informed of every moment of your life. If it might help and you're interested, why shouldn't you give it a try?"

She left out a sigh as she looked back and forth between the two adults again. "I am honored by your offer. But I need to consider it. Is it alright we discuss this later?" Hope replied after a few more moments of consideration.

"I would expect nothing less," Betsy supplied, a warm smile followed the words. "But do not take too long, who knows where the wind may take us at any given season." She gave Haller a sidelong glance. "That is to say, my stay at the school isn't indefinite and I'd like the opportunity to take a closer look at the efficacy of your parents teachings and shine a light at their worth from a person of my standing."

"They will probably be different from your own background, ma'am. But not without their worth and an equally valid path to walk." Hope smoothly responded. "But let me not disturb you any longer. I have still some homework to complete. Again, thank you for the offer."

Jim nodded, the motion tacitly communicating that he would no longer block an escape-attempt. "Just let her know," he said, sending to Betsy, ~Look at you. That was almost maternal.~ He paused. ~Sort of.~

"Of course." The room felt less restricted and Betsy finally felt her muscles ache. She hadn't realized how tense she was during this encounter. "Take all the time that you need. "

She wished for enough flexibility to throttle Haller. ~I told you, I don't do children anymore and yet you continue to push them on me. You unequivocally suck.~ She added. "It's been a pleasure to meet you, Hope."

"Likewise. I hope you have a pleasant day." Hope headed towards the door, just looking over her shoulder when she approached the door. Mr. Haller was looking at her and she spoke softly: "You have an interesting... partner, Mr. Haller." before she opened it and quickly slipped through.

"Wow, she actually used a meaningful pause," Jim said once the girl was safely gone. He turned to Betsy and grinned. "Either she likes you, or you just got burned by a fifteen year old."