Towel Duty (Kvedulf)

[Lien Braska]

Her simmering hatred for Aurelian was starting to know no bounds as she finished rounding up the filthy, disgusting, putrid, and vile things the sports team called towels. Even in the girl's locker rooms these things didn't seem to be taken care of in the least. And now that she had finished gathering them all up she waited, though while basically taking very small breaths, near the office of Kvedulf Argenlet. He was to keep tabs on her while she served her week's amount of time and make sure she served it... because Aurelian knew too well that if left alone there was no way in hell Lien would be doing this.

And there was no way in hell she was going to get more time doing this. She was going to have to behave the rest of the year in her PE classes and quit ditching them. Aurelian was slick and would come up with worse punishments if she wasn't careful and she hated this filth. She also hated that instead of being out free in the forest she was stuck doing laundry of all things. Collecting disgusting pieces of used clothes only to have to watch them spin in circle in one machine, then in more circles in another machine. The only thing she was grateful for was that the school had plenty of large machines so it would take an hour and a half tops... every day of the damn school week. At least not Saturday and Sunday... cutting into her serious free time would have made the young woman revolt and Aurelian knew it.

Lien wasn't usually that difficult but she had her moments, and the two would butt heads from time to time. She hadn't fought him on this one though... she had missed a lot of PE but it was probably her least favorite subject. The only good part about it was being in the beautiful sun. But then she had to pay attention to what ever sport was going on and all that running and sweating... yuck. 

[Kveldulf Argenlet]

Kveldulf was running a tad late. He'd been in his office speaking with a student and giving them advice regarding some defense maneuvers, and how to properly execute them, no matter what the situation. In fact, he'd done such a concise job explaining everything, that when he looked up at the clock, it was 5 after the time he and the girl he was supposed to monitor were to clean towels. This was a part of the job he despised most. Everything else was cherry compared to this.... Mind you, not that he was distinctly above it, but he'd take the smell of rotting corpses on a battlefield any day over this.

He stood up and ushered the student out of his office before turning and glancing around the hall for his charge. Seeing the somewhat small girl sitting next to a pile of such god-awful smelling laundry quickly determined her whereabouts. He did a mental double-check with the email that Aurelian had sent- clearly she was a bit of a thorn in the principal's side. The scarred adult approached her. "Braska, right? Mr. Kinzoku, as you already know, notified me of your arrival. Let's both do our best to get this done and over with." His tone wasn't gloating, or mocking whatsoever. In fact, he sounded just as eager to do this job as she was...... At least he didn't have to do it alone for the week.

"Follow me. They tend to lock up the washing machines. Something about students and explosions of some sort." He spoke to no one in particular, as some of the words seemed to trail off in a mumble.... They went down the hall a ways until they reached the laundry, and he took out his key ring and started going through the different keys, trying to find the right one... a sure indicator that he was new to the position.

[Lien Braska]

She was getting impatient and she swore that this was Aurelian's idea of a sick joke. Making her stand beside disgusting laundry while waiting... again! When she heard someone approaching she gazed at the older man. "Thank God you're finally here.." she exaggerated her sigh and slump as she grabbed to the basket and started to follow him towards the machines. But when he mentioned explosions she quirked her brow a bit but shook her head. It figured with all the pryos and technopaths no in control that something would be blown up. As he fumbled with the keys she rolled her eyes and then tilted her head from side to side, trying to stretch out a knot that was back there but with no luck.

"You can call me Lien... Braska is just kinda weird for me." she called to him and let go of the basket as she waited. Once it was open she pushed it through and went to a wash machine to throw it open and started shoveling stuff into it. Her face scrunched up completely into a sour face and she gagged. "Dear lord.." she grumbled and cussed under her breath as she filled three wash machines and then grabbed the bleach and the soaps. He didn't have to direct her on how to do the laundry at least, she was experienced with living on her own and how to take care of herself.

She glanced to him once the soaps were in and sighed. "I do believe my own clothes smell after handling that nasty shit." she sighed and walked over to the sink and started to scrub up her arms with a crap ton of soap.

[Kveldulf Argenlet]

Her speaking was a bit of a surprise, though he was well conditioned not to show it. "Lien, huh? It's still weird addressing people on first names... Here we go." he said as the door clicked open. He moved in as well, putting some of the older, more rank smelling clothes into the washing machine. He just glared a bit at the stench, knowing it would only be a matter of time before they were finished and could get out of here... He finished another load, put in the soap, and began washing up, getting the stench off his hands as well. Taking a can of air freshener, he tossed it to her. "Here. This should cover up the smell til you get home."

He didn't need it so much- he'd be going straight home after this to go hunt his weekly meal. But this was technically the girl's punishment, and she still had an hour to wait, so he began to ug her about the sentence. "So what did you do to deserve this instead of time in the brig?" He still had a rough time converting his lingo from military to civilian slang, and it seemed to show more and more as he went on.

[Lien Braska]

She took the air freshener from him and gave a spray to her clothes just so she wouldn't get the hint of foul whenever she moved certain ways or whenever the wind swept against her to push foul right up into her nose. Once she was sure she smelled okay she moved over to a fold table and promptly sat upon it. "I back talked at teacher and they sent me to him. I tend to get kicked out of PE a lot.." she nodded her head a bit. "So since I missed so much PE time he gave me PE work to make up for it. Honestly I don't see the big deal. I'm in good shape so why bother with sports? It's nothing but chasing a damn ball and feeling like someone's pet. And I am no one's damn pet." she sighed, blowing a bit of the dark hair from her face as she slumped while seated on the table.

Lien hated sports... but more than hating sports she hated jocks. With a deep passion she couldn't stand going to prep rallys, being near a football player made her want to break out in hives and if any of those stupid baseball players came around her she'd show them how they used a baseball bat in New York... a broken knee cap later would surely make them get the idea that she wasn't going to be near their types.

[Kveldulf Argenlet]

He nodded as she spoke, understanding her viewpoint pretty well. "Unfortunately, we all have to be someone's monkey for at least a short time... you work hard, and you work smarter, and you'll have a few monkeys of your own to boss around." His expression lightened. "And didn't Kinzoku tell you there were other options? My classes are electives, but they also fill the Physical education requirements. You'll sweat more, but you'll be swinging bokken instead of bats." He moved to a mini-fridge and pulled out a water bottle- the fridge was stocked full of them. He didn't carry that gatorade crap. He took another bottle out and tossed it to her.

"You got an edge there, Braska. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've done a tour of service." He smiled, his scar contorting his face slightly. She reminded him of some girls he knew from the academy.... Mainly one who became his rival on the fronts. Between the two of them, they'd have led a successful campaign. But he returned to reality with a sigh and downed half of the bottle.

[Lien Braska]

She let out a long sigh, making her lips do a little flappy thing as she wiggled and swayed to show her utter hatred for all things sweat. "I hate sweating.. I'm basically a damn flower. We are not meant to sweat." she pointed out with a shake of her head. "He told me there was a self defense class but.." her eyes hesitated for a moment. "I don't fight anymore.." her voice softened a bit and she turned her attention to the wash machine like it was suddenly interesting. For someone who didn't like to sweat... there was a reason she was avoiding any sort of combat situation.

"If being a solider on the streets counts as a tour then I'd say I've done my service. I grew up in shady parts of New York... fighting was living after I left my mother's but it was better than being home. I lost fights and I ran from the war I was fighting there to come here. Aurelian said that I wouldn't have to fight anymore and I don't ever want to again." her voice was serious... what ever wars and fights she had lost had left her scarred but not on the surface and what was worse that her demons still haunted her mind. To be so young and yet so broken already... but she pushed the thoughts to the side as she brought her knee to her chest and retied up her shoe lace. "How long doe the dryers and washers usually take? I really want to get to the forest before curfew sets in."

[Kveldulf Argenlet]

He sighed. "Self defense doesn't mean fighting. Fighting is when egos clash and someone can't take it. Self defense is when there is no longer an option of saying no. Anyways, the option is there if you ever decide you're done chasing balls around." He cut away as he sensed the change in her. He still wasn't so great with waterworks, though after the war he'd had plenty himself.

"Plant, huh? Does that mean you need sunlight to synthesize energy?" He asked, changing the subject. He could tell by her words she'd gone through a lot, and most of his battles lasted from his 20's to his 50's. "Washer should finish up in about 5 minutes. The dryers take 45. Tell you what. After this I'll give you a ride to the forest, and I'll tell Kinzoku you did all your work for the week. All I'm going to ask is you com in tomorrow and Wednesday and we'll call it good." He said, finishing the water bottle and crushing it, tossing it in a can behind him. Not long after the buzzer rang and the washer finished.

[Lien Braska]

She contemplated the offer as she sat there, putting her mind to other things till the buzzer rang and she hopped off the table to retrieve the damp wrung items and started to move them into the driers. "A ride would be really appreciated. It's a long walk if not. I'll take that deal too about coming in for tomorrow and Wednesday. But still no classes in self defense either. Any sort of combat just... brings back bad memories." she finished loading up the first drier and moved onto the others till she had it all finished up. She glanced to the teacher, she didn't really know much about him.

She placed the little dryer sheets in and closed the doors before flicking them on and retook her spot on the table. "So do you go by coach, Mr. Argenlet or... what?" she asked, figuring she could at least be a little nicer to him since he was giving her a break on her punishment. She didn't usually make friends... especially not with males but she was getting better at least at being nice to them. Till they got too close... then she shut that shit down fast.

[Kveldulf Argenlet]

He listened as she spoke, shrugging when she mentioned not taking his classes. "Fine by me. On one condition- I never see you in this position again, and you do your best in PE. I don't need Kinzoku breathing down my neck with more student punishments." He was serious, but his tone was light-hearted. He moved to put clothes from one machine to another, being quick about it, before turning the dial on the dryer to the right cycle.

He glanced to her again, this time chuckling at the address. "No no, coach is just silly. And Mr. Argenlet is my late father. You can call me Argenlet, or out of school Kveld." He knew in a lot of schools this was considered disrespectful for a student to address a teacher by their last name only, but he didn't give a shit. Too much time in the military, the habit never left him.

[Lien Braska]

"Best at Pe.." she laughed at the words gazing at him like he was joking but when he was serious she shook her head. "I will do the bare minimal to get a passing grade and that's about as far as you're going to get, Argenlet. I am a flower... too much work and I wilt and sadly I am not even joking." she shook her head and made sure the dryers were all going before returning to her little spot on the table. She sat on it again and leaned back against the wall now, crossing her arms over her chest before she gave a bit of a lazy yawn and stretched her back a little.

"I wish they would just let me sit in the grass and take my time to do a set amount of situps, pushups, and miles. Nothing that would have to be absolute constant but if I could rest and take my time I wouldn't have to worry about becoming exhausted. I've never really had good endurance but..." she held up her right arm and poked her wrist. "I have chlorophyll in my veins. I do absorb energy from the sun as well as meats. Like a venus fly trap I guess. But have you ever seen those suckers move fast besides to snap shut for prey? Of course not! Pe is a waste of my energy... and if I need to stay awake during classes then it's even worse. I told Mr. Kinzoku this but he says rules are rules. You need a set amount of physical education in order to graduate. I try to behave but... sometimes my mouth forgets."

[Kveldulf Argenlet]

He shrugged, leaving it be. "As I said, as long as you're not in here or in any other form of punishment, I'll consider the deal completed. And if you only cover the bare minimum, then we'll consider it your best and leave it at that." He stood back, glancing at the clock on the wall above them, knowing there was still some time to wait before the dryer stopped. He was getting a bit anxious, but stopped and reflected.

Kveld wasn't the average teacher. He seemed part eastern mystic, part marine, and part goofball. With something deeper lurking beneath it all. He leaned again a wall, folding his arms over his chest. "So, if you don't mind my asking, what's in the forest? If you're a flower and need chlorophyll, then wouldn't the trees block out the sun? Or is it hunting?" He was merely curious, there was nothing suspicious in his tone.

[Lien Braska]

She gave a smile at the idea of the bare minimum being her very best... perhaps Argenlet wasn't such a bad guy after all. But the question had her reflect a little. It was true that the dense tree top foliage tended to make it hard for her to get sunlight. The school garden was usually where she went if she wanted sun but... it wasn't what really called to her. "You know I don't know." she paused a bit and drew a slow breath.

"There's just something about the forest that makes me feel comfortable and at home. The trees hold so much knowledge and... structure. The plants that do grow there are soft spoken and kind. Flowers are... high maintenance and usually pushy, but the forest is self maintained and independent." She calmed as she talked about it, smiling a little as she even though about being able to go to the forest and rest up in the tree tops. She would have stared there over night hidden by the leaves but some nights it was too cold for her, and there was curfew to think about as well.

[Kveldulf Argenlet]

He nodded, knowing the feeling all too well. He checked the timer on the dryer- 20 minutes left. He smiled to her. "The feeling of sanctuary.... Or in this case, freedom." He chortled, stretching as though to emphasis his point. "Are you going to need a ride back too or are you pretty sufficient making it back to the dorms on time?" He asked, as student safety was still necessary and important.

[Lien Braska]

She grinned a bit at the question, thinking of the trees and really he was right. Being in the forest was a sanctuary. Its freedom was unlike anything she had known before but then... she had lived in a city of cement where the only plants that grew in were planted and planned. Those poor trees knew nothing of freedom and sanctuary... they were more like livestock on display. They knew misery, aches and pains of being trimmed, cut into by people putting their names, or cut down when no longer wanted or needed. That had always broken her up but this forest had grown here, was wild and though it was owned by Aurelian the trees never knew that.

She blinked a bit and looked back to him. "I can make it back just fine. I don't want you to have to wait on me or anything. That's just... awkward." she gave a smirk and shrugged. It wasn't freedom if someone was waiting on you. A ride out there at least gave her a good hour more time in the woods.