Sebastian watched Serena walk off and felt a bit like a piece of shit... He sighed and then felt Gunner's arm fall heavily onto his shoulders and knew he was in for a fun little chat. He nodded at Lena and let Gunner steer him away. As the other boy fussed at him Sebastian felt his temper flare and had to struggle for a moment to keep it in check before he responded. Gunner was a good friend, he wouldn't take this epic headache and his own stupid mistakes out on the other guy. If he hadn't been a little drunk he would have had the sense to think before he spoke but unfortunately it was difficult to stay sober when alcohol was the only thing dampening what was going on magically in his head.
Still, the suddenly rigid set to his shoulders and the annoyance flashing in his eyes gave the irritability he was hiding a pretty obvious show... "You know I didn't do that on purpose... ESPECIALLY that. It's bad enough having ME in my head without having to feel someone else in there..."
Especially someone who felt almost as messed up emotionally as he was... If he'd thought he was capable, if he'd been a better person, maybe he'd have tried to help her but if he was going to be honest, he was too much of a coward. Helping her would mean letting her in and Anna and Gunner were all he could take as it was and it was a constant effort to stay out of THEIR heads. The difference was, they were mostly bright people... happy... strong. Their auras soothed him and helped him hold it together, letting someone else with that kind of darkness in would be asking for trouble. It would trigger his need to heal and that tapped into Spirit's area of expertise way too closely which was another kind of terror he wasn't ready to face down yet.
He took a breath, "Look, I'll apologize to her and explain it as best as I can but you know anyone around me is running the risk of me peeking into their heads... you and Anna included. I can't control it and you know damn well I wish I could. Smart people would have already abandoned my sorry ass by now."
He paused and glanced at Gunner, "Oh... and while I'm pissing people off and saying things I shouldn't, you have an admirer... or two... maybe have a little fun this year? Not everything can be about Strigoi slaying." Yeah, that little comment might get him punched but it needed saying and he'd better say it now while the alcohol was loosening his tongue because later he'd feel too obligated to keep the secrets he accidentally saw to say anything at all.
He thought of Anya and a pain in his chest joined the one in his head... He still regretted never telling her how he felt even if she HAD known, he'd still never actually SAID it... He'd been too much of a coward. She'd been the light in his black hole of an existence, she'd helped him cope... He'd stopped drinking and everything had been... better... Then, she'd been gone and everything had come back 10 fold and the drinking had gotten worse than ever. Anna and Gunner had pulled him through that and he wouldn't wish that pain on anyone... but he remembered the good part and Gunner could use a little of that warmth in his life... He was too damn focused all the time and it came from a dark place, driven yes... but dark.
~*~
Anna smiled, "Ummm, you're probably talking about Guardian Belikov. He's pretty awesome as far as mentors go but yeah there is one or two others who speak Russian here also... There is Ms. Matila, she is the Moroi instructor for Russian and for magic." She took a seat on her bed and then laid back, stretching out comfortably, "There are probably a few Moroi who speak a little too."
As Niya asked her another question Anna nodded, "Yeah, I didn't start super young like most everyone else though. I didn't join Academy till the final two years of elementary school. It took a long time to catch up to everyone else, thankfully the majority of the actual combat classes didn't start till freshman year here..." She shook her head, "Nah, I don't stay. On breaks I go home... I have a family in one of the communes and they need me there when I'm not here. My friend Gunner, he stays here to train though. He's always kicking my ass in class when I first come back because of it too."
She wasn't sure what Niya would think of that, some Dhampirs looked down on Commune Born kids, seeing them as a product of Blood Whoring and taboo relationships. Anna had kicked quite a few asses over that particular assumption when she'd first came here but since then she'd learned to ignore it... mostly. She did have a bit of a temper after all.
~*~
Alex nodded, "It is alright, I tend to mostly keep to myself anyway but it is sometimes better to get to know others."
At her excitement over parties Alex chuckled, "Staff throw very few parties but I think the students more than make up for that. Still, if you get to know the others then perhaps you could talk them into these parties. I know I would be curious to see what kind of party the instructors would throw."
He followed her along and held the door open for her.