Nishka snorted, "Assuming I'm wearin any. I'd like to see you try though, even if neither of you would know what to do next anyway. Its always fun seeing the different ways somebody's face can bruise." she said sweetly. Perverts the lot of them. They'd probably try to check as soon as she said that. Of course if they did their faces would probably be promptly met with the fist sized, very smooth, rock she was tossing in her hand menacingly. "I've already told you enough about me gray man, figure the rest out yourself, shouldn't be too hard." Not like she was keeping much in the way of secrets. "Though if the director is as dangerous as you think shit talking him probably isn't a good idea. Doubt you'll get very fun either way, man like him's got plenty of money and power, and knows how to use it." The last statement was of course aimed towards the girl. Nishka wondered if there were any other classes today, as long as she didn't have any with that toad Winston she'd be fine.

@Altasaire
"Ooo touché." Yuri said with a slight laugh before turning to takumi, "Well where you go I go were partners after all." Yuri said with a smile and thumbs up. He hope he wasn't annoying takumi but he wasn't going to break the rules well as much as he has he could though.

During the assembly Alexsis thought back to how the teacher in her first class had paired her up with a Brown-haired girl with glasses. She didn't really care whether or not Claire was a gonna be a good partner initially, Alexsis was sure that they would most likely learn to compliment each other nicely. As soon as the assembly ended she shook off the feeling of power that the man had spread through the room. Alexsis walked out of the Auditorium and looked around at the other buildings in the school before settling on visiting the the Hardlight training hall where she spawned Draceon which helped push her way through throngs of freshmen and took up residence inside a large SIM room with a viewing deck. The room began to simulate a battle scenario where Alexsis was pit against the likeness of a firing squad from WW2. The back and forth between Alexsis stealing the kinetic energy from the squad's bullets before launching a pulse of energy back at them, and the squad firing large caliber bullets which would have ripped through her if they had been real.

Gloria just rolled eyes on the little bit of high-school drama unfolding before her.
Perhaps Nishka was somewhat lonely after all, seeing as she tried to provoke others into some sort of reaction and attract attention to herself. Or bored out of her skull. Other girls was doing strange things like that all the time, after all - perhaps that was cultural. Or, perhaps, Gloria mused, she missed some crucial part of developing her social skills. Not that it mattered to her most of the times - she was entirely fine with being an outsider in the game of high-school "politics", most of the times.
Not that she was not interested in boys and their attention to her, mind you. She just preferred more developed men. Someone who could handle her sometimes wild moodswings and keep up with her enthusiasm and stamina. As her acquaintance from one of the more recent work trips eloquently put it, "A man who would not break". So what if it was mostly senior students or grownups who fit the bill so far? Her new teammate was not so bad in that regard either, actually. Maybe not very handsome, but solidly built, and if his Noble Arm was any indication of his character traits, as some researchers out there theorised....
Well, she could see about that particular option in the future. There was rather more pressing matters at hand. Such as a new director that reminded her so of certain people she hoped to not cross her paths with in the near future. She smiled at Takumi, showing some teeth in a feral-ish grin.
- So, not trade, but a gesture of goodvill, hm? Clever of you, I approve. Very vell, since ve do need to vork togeter in tis, I vill tell you about myself. Vhat do you vant to know, tough? 'ow I am came to be? Vat I am capable of? Vy did I choose tis school? Someting else?

- Though if the director is as dangerous as you think shit talking him probably isn't a good idea. Doubt you'll get very fun either way, man like him's got plenty of money and power, and knows how to use it.
— Money and power leave traces. Look at them upstream until you know the measure of the man. And if that man can't take a bit of shit-talking in stride, especially about a speech that I'm nigh positive he'd agree with me was dull, he's not fit to lead two thousand delinquents, rascals, and misfits anywhere, let alone to any sort of excellence or success.

Gloria frowned:
- Exactly. And look, vit some forevarning of 'is past 'abits ve could at least try and dodge the vorst of it.

— Speaking of rascals. What are you going to do about your.. 'teammate'? You aren't likely to progress in any meaningful way after that standoff thing. Are you gonna ask for a switch?

She looked curiously between Takumi, Nishka and Yuri:
- Could you tell me more about tat standoff ting, by te vay? I 'eard tat it vas a ting, but not reasons for such. I 'ope it's not everyday occurence 'ere?

@Progenitus

- So, not trade, but a gesture of goodvill, hm? Clever of you, I approve. Very vell, since ve do need to vork togeter in tis, I vill tell you about myself. Vhat do you vant to know, tough? 'ow I am came to be? Vat I am capable of? Vy did I choose tis school? Someting else?

— Whatever you feel comfortable telling about yourself, for a start. I hope it's a beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Takumi smiles.

- Could you tell me more about tat standoff ting, by te vay? I 'eard tat it vas a ting, but not reasons for such. I 'ope it's not everyday occurence 'ere?

— A student tried to attack Nishka here due to a verbal spat. Unprofessional, I'd say. Apparently the psych eval for this year's entry was lacking, it's the second case of an unprovoked attack today. I can only hope it stops when the instructors aren't having their hands full with the first-day tasks.

@Altasaire
- Vatever I feel comfortable.... - drawled Gloria, rubbing her chin with two fingers in thought.
- Vell, I vas born somevere Middle East. Not sure vere exactly - my people vere culled by tose 'ammer fuckers, see. I vas raised by tem, tough. A soldier, anoter varm body to 'old te rifle, or someting like tat. Escaped tem ven I got my Arm, vandered te vorld for a bit. 'elped some people 'ere, some tere. Vorked vit private military contractors, as a translator and a soldier - I knov my vay around military gear, alvays been curious about nev toys, you knov tat? One of te guys tere got me a nev ID and set me up vit 'is friends in customs, so I got my scholarship and a nev life 'ere. Do you 'ave any questions about tat part? - she sharply looked in Takumi's eyes.

Yuri just watched Gloria she was strange but he had no room to judge and neither did anyone els here, they were all kids thrown into a combat zone because they had great power "bestowed" upon them. He close his eyes for a moment, "Hmmm information." He thought to himself as he opened his eyes agin, noticing the look Gloria was giving takumi.

Nishka yawned and closed her eyes. Boring. She could only understand half of what the foreign girl said and it all sounded boring. "I'm sure our gun toting friend will get himself swapped out. He doesn't seem to like me very much so whatever." With that dismissive statement and another pop of her bubblegum Nishka fell silent. Everyone was so odd here, she really wanted to fight someone. That'd be fun.

- Do you 'ave any questions about tat part? - she sharply looked in Takumi's eyes.

— Not at this point, no. Ah, and yes, if you see this one here, — he shows her Catalina's ranking on his PD, — be sure to be wary. She's the second unprovoked psycho that's around. Our year too, if I'm reading this right.
— Unless you want to accompany me, I will now be off to collect information about our new leader.

— Unless you want to accompany me, I will now be off to collect information about our new leader.

Gloria flashed Takumi another toothy grin:
- Vell, I could try and contact my acquaintances in te PMCs. Vant to grab someting to eat on te vay....vere it is exactly ve're going?
After some thought, Gloria decided that she liked the japanese teen before her. He was polite, efficient, and, more importantly, willing to not haggle over details. Both expected of one of neo-nobility and unusual. Well, Gloria long ago learned that there is always something new in the world.

@Progenitus
— Grabbing some food would be nice. And as to where we're going... Give me a second.

Lightly caressing the handle of Vox Vulgaris, Takumi glanced through the school, acutely aware of the different patterns of behaviour around him. Someone, somewhere, would want to talk about the Director. And it would be so easy to oblige...



An imperceptible wave of assessment rippled through the building.

Yuri just stood quietly and listened to Gloria and takumi talking to one another, "If the new director is really as dangerous as these two say that could be problematic." He thought to himself he didn't want to see anyone get hurt and he didn't know of any rule saying that they couldn't do research on the staff. Yuri switched his attention the the girl and started inspect her, "Hmm a young girl covered in tattoo's now that's unique, not to mention she hasn't drawn her Noble Arms and swing it around. Can I trust her, well takumi seems to be taking a liking to her at least." He thought to himself with a smile. Shifting his gaze to Nishka once agin he never wanted to let her out of sight she wasn't the most trustable.

Left . . . left . . . right . . . left . . . bob . . . weave . . . shuffle, then BANG!

Right hook.

The pounding sound of the hits she delivered to the punching bag echoed off of the hard glass mirrors of the gymnasium, sweat traced her determined features. After the assembly in the auditorium, Catalina had managed to sneak into gym. It was here that she disciplined her mind and body, where she burned away her weaknesses and mortality by tapping into the 'hidden secrets' of her mind. Her taped knuckles protested as slammed her fist into the plastic fabric.

"...What else did I expect from someone who calls for daddy to help her instead of dealing with it herself."

Inhale.

Catalina literally saw red; she then used every pugilistic skill she knew and applied that on the body of her victim. Her heart beat rapidly from the intense work out, the feeling of rage begin to surface for the fifth time today. The rage and power are no less, just controlled and focused, like the sun blazing through a magnifying glass, and turned into a burning beam of laser light. Wild punches become deliberate attacks, months of training and technique surface in muscle memory, and the archer's flailing becomes the calculated dance of a trained warrior.

"...someone who calls for daddy.."

Exhale.

Catalina paused for a moment, hugged the swaying bag and place her forehead to rest against the bruised wall of the bag, panting. How much she desired to...

Escape.

Relief washed over her, as the thought of her lungs push it's final breathe, to her sweet escape. Catalina never had nothing to fear; growing up in a environment where any sign of weakness was unacceptable. Catalina crumbled down to the ground as she welcomed the weight of exhaustion. Swinging bag swayed, she raised her eyes toward the ceiling and froze. Time stopped as her mind raced.

" *Slabuţ, Catalina..."

His words echoed her troubled mind. Soon her body was screaming in protest, still she ignored it, lying motionless and breathing deeply.

Her father; the man radiant pure evil. In this lifetime, she was just a pawn. His pawn. Catalina never thought how different the darkness would affect a person, the darkness that thirst for one's soul. Passion poured fuel onto the flickering ember in her soul. Yet, a piece of her had a reason to fight, a reason to survive. That drive will either make her more determined or destroy her. A bitter smile touched Catalina's lips, pushed herself to her feet in one fluid motion.

She went into a stretching routine. Working quick and smoothly, she began to stretch and loosen all the things that had tightened during her long 'meditation'. The stretching issued pain and protests of it's own, but she ignored this, also. When she had loosened all her major muscle groups, she climbed onto the treadmill that sat ready waiting on the floor. Starting up a fast pace, Catalina continued to focus on her body. Everything seemed to hurt. However, she continued to run, pushing her body harder and faster. Soon her body was screaming in protest and still she ignored it as she ran harder and faster with every step.

*Weak

"Leroux, Claire and Shorbrooks, Aleksis."

Aleksis Shorbrooks… She hadn't heard that name before. Meeting new people sounded pretty exciting, though. Claire scanned the classroom, pinpointing anyone who could possibly bear the name Aleksis. She would to continue to search once recess had started, but there was no such luck.

Once that had finished, all the students filed into the hall, awaiting the entrance of the new principal. Claire didn't know much about him, but with everyone else whispering and squirming in their seats, she could tell the revelation would be exciting.

Suddenly, everything had gone silent. Not a single person was moving a muscle, playing statue in their creaky seats. Claire was confused at first, but when she finally looked up at the stage she started to realize why the whole hall had gone cold.

This hall is going to start to smell with everyone shitting in their pants and all. But, this man... He is quite imposing, that is for sure.

From then on, Claire was literally by herself. She couldn't find her partner anywhere, and since she was so focused on the chipped chair leg in class she had no idea as to what Aleksis looked like. Heck, she didn't even know if it was a boy or a girl. But that didn't matter. She just wanted to find him or her as soon as possible.

"Well, that is just great. How am I going to find this person with no guidance at all? This school is so big it might as well be a death maze!"

For now, Claire would continue to stroll around until she came across her lost partner.

Alexsis had begun to work up a sweat inside the hard-light SIM yet didn't slow down until more SIM troopers began being pumped out in order to try and subdue her. The bullets flew past Alexsis's face and impacted the far wall of the room grazing her cheek as she attempted to focus on the ones that would actually do significant damage to her if they hit.

The SIM began to spawn more and more powerful opponents in and attempt to compensate for the fact that most of the projectiles that should have hit Alexsis fall surprisingly short of the target as shown by the large amount of holo-bullets at her feet and around her. After a short recalculation the room began to adjust the way that the soldiers would fight, Half of the opponents switched to close-range combat while the others moved to flank Alexsis. Alexsis was occupied by the combat enemies for the most part as they rushed in and and slashed at her with combat knifes and other melee weapons, but the long-range troopers took every advantage they could get and shot her when she was either locked in combat or reeling from a hit she couldn't cancel fast enough. The bullets and knives left Alexsis feeling numb in the places they would hit, and very soon most of her was numb to the point where it was hard to move as quickly as she had in the beginning.

After what felt like forever Alexsis had made it to the side of the room under the barrage of bullets and hit the stop button, as soon as it was pressed the SIM instantly froze where it was and faded out of existence. The featureless door opened to her left and she exited the room, She wiped her brow with a towel that had been hung up just outside the door. "That was a nice workout though I could have done without that flank maneuver they pulled back there" she muttered to herself as she rolled her shoulder. "I should have used both of you" Alexsis said as she held up one of the twin swords and watched it catch the light of the sun. As she walked into the main area of the courtyard Alexsis stood on top of a bench to look over the mass of students until she saw someone who she thought resembled her partner.

@Jay Kalton
"You are Ms. Claire Leroux correct?" Alexsis asked after she had made her way over to the girl, "I am Alexsis Shorbrooks and if i'm not mistaken you are my partner" she said with a traditional fencer bow after realizing that Dreacion was still out.

@Altasaire

His Noble Arm's ability spread among the general populace of the school. Some noticed, others did not. What was for sure was that Vox Vulgaris managed to grab hold of no less than three responses from the school populace. These three were the only people in the school who knew something about the Director and were willing to talk about it - at least now that some persuasion came, courtesy of Takumi.

The three responses were two from the east, and one north, were all the teachers sat.

@TheWildBunnii

As Catalina began running faster and faster on the treadmill, a lone student walked in. He was short and drawl looking, looking sleepy and tired, with a noticeable slouch that made him look even smaller than he was already. He looked surprised upon seeing Catalina here.

"Oh wow, someone's actually here at this time."

Setting his large bulky bag down, the boy sat down on the floor, and stared at Catalina wordlessly.

"Going a bit hard there, aren't you?" he said in a dull, monotonous drawl.

@Altasaire@Progenitus@Eklispe
Yuri into his hands and slowly rubbed his eyes, "The things I do for companionship." He thought to himself as he removed his hands from his face. "Well what kind of food are you two interested in getting?" Yuri stopped, turning toward Nishka, "Shall you be joining us?" He questioned with puzzled look on his face she knew what they were doing so it would better to have her with them then running off and telling whoever she wanted about their plan.

Nishka shrugged, "If someone else is buying I'm eating." It was as simple as that. She didn't know if they had to pay for the meals or it was provided but either way nothing was coming out of her pocket. Personally she thought this whole business with the director was pointless. If he was as dangerous as they thought then he would know everything they knew and that they were asking about him, if he wasn't then this didn't matter. Lose-Lose. Besides, it wasn't like knowing stuff about him would help any, it wasn't like they were going to fight him unless they were outright idiots. If she was a kiss-ass she would've just left and informed the director but she wasn't, as amusing as the thought was. She'd heard something about this school having a nice gym and even some sims, maybe she should check them out later.