Meeting The Phoenix

As you are still getting to know each other, you do not have a lot to talk about just yet. So when you feel it may be getting a little TOO quiet, all you can think of to fill the silence with is the occasional question about your upcoming class. Artie is happy enough to answer, even starting to show signs of becoming lively again as you demonstrate genuine interest in the topic.

"Well well, Shetland. Sniffing around the new girl? I was wondering why you and those Princess Ponies were running late. Or at least late for you."

Any and all enthusiasm Artie had does not just fade, but flat out dies. He visibly cringes at the deep, dark new voice and gains a sudden, intense interest in his shoes. You shoot a glare in the direction of the voice... and your breath catches in your throat.

It is the tall, muscular guy with dark hair and darker eyes you saw at the opening ceremonies, idly adjusting the Phoenix pin on his uniform as he stands there with a little smirk on his lips. You are about to say something you are certain is going to be pride and soul crushing but you are again shocked into silence as you see who is standing next to the guy, polishing off a bottle of water. "... Parisa?"

Parisa swallows the last of the liquid, letting out a loud gulp before opening her mouth wide and extending her tongue. It is almost as if she was showing off to the guy that she had finished the whole thing. Though the lewd manner she performs that showing off seems to imply that she might have wanted that drink to be something... else

It is at that moment Parisa notices you and snaps her mouth shut. She seems slightly embarrassed to have been caught performing such an act in public, but only slightly. "Oh hi," she says once she quickly regains her composure, "Wasn't expecting to run into you here! I was just getting some extra hydration in me before gym!"

You had thought about scheduling the required gym class for this time, but when your eyes had spotted the golem class in your available course choices, how could you have ever picked anything else?

"Ah yes," the tall, hunky guy says, "You mentioned that you'd become roommates with the girl who made a show of her orientation, didn't you, my dear."

Parisa nods at him before looking slightly embarrassed again. "Where are my manners? This is Victor. Victor Kyrie. He's my boyfriend!"

Victor nods in your direction and gives you a smile. It is simultaneously sinister and smoldering and you find yourself squirming under it a bit. Though if it is from unease or arousal, you are uncertain. It could even be both.

You give your own name in return and indicate your non-boyfriend walking companion. "It sounds like you're both familiar with Artie."

Parisa's expression starts to... fluctuate, for lack of a better word. It is almost like she seems uncertain how to react to her fellow Pegasus, looking mad one moment, neutral the next, and cautiously polite after that.

Victor reaches out a hand to rest it on her shoulder, his voice a soothing purr. "It's alright, dear. Shetland's okay for now. Right, Shetland?"

Artie flinches again, still not looking up as he mutters, "Y-Yeah."

That seems to fix whatever is causing Parisa's brain to short circuit and she finally settles on the cautious politeness. "Okay. Look... I do need to get going now. See you back at the House?"

"Sure," you reply, trying not to act weirded out by your roommate's behavior.

"Don't forget, dear," Victor interjects, "we need to finalize that project of ours later. Perhaps after lunch?"

Parisa's lips quiver for a second before she smiles wider and warmer. "Of course! Your place or mine?"

"Let's discuss that later," he replies, "You don't want to be late."

"Ah! Right!" Parisa exclaims before gathering up her things and dashing past you and Artie without a further word.

You turn your head to watch her go. How odd was that?

"W-We s-s-should g-g-go t-t-oo," Artie grumbles, his stutter growing noticeable more pronounced as he lightly, and unexpectedly, takes hold of your arm to attempt and guide you away.

You feel the same kind of odd tingling you did the first time you and Artie shook hands before your first class, though now it feels stronger, as it is traveling through your entire arm now before making your body want to shiver. You hope you are suppressing that shiver as you start to go along with the smaller man's lead.

Victor does not exactly bar your path, but he does shift himself on the path that the two of you have to pass very close to him and he gives Artie a glance as he growls, "At least this one's more on your level, Shetland."

You scowl and halt, causing Artie to stumble and let go of your arm so he can regain his balance. Whirling towards Victor you snarl, "'This one' would like to know what the hell's that supposed to mean, you jackass!"

Victor raises an eyebrow at you, looking you over for a moment. You do not know if it because he was not expecting you to speak up or if he noticed that you are still flustered from the tingling sensation and put the contraction on the wrong word. "My my," he says, "quite the feisty Pony you've found there, Shetland. Might still be something beyond a puny runt like you."

Still running on Flustered Mode instead of Calm Mode, your hand lashes out for a slap across Victor's stupid, broad and well defined right cheek. It is at that moment, as he blinks in a way that he is more reacting to the fact of the blow than any **** you put behind it, only now realize that Parisa had introduced this guy as "Kyrie".

As in one of the big four magical families, "Kyrie".

As in you have just plunge yourself headfirst into the deep end of the school's social structure after only your first period. With no flotation device.

Victor steps forward, not touching you but now close enough that you can feel his body heat radiating off of him. His dark, glittering eyes look deeply into your own as he has now genuinely noticed you and, at this close range, you find yourself terrified but still noticing how well-sculpted his face is. Even with your red hand print growing more prominent on his cheek. The pine-like smell of his cologne, or at least you think it's cologne, fills your nose and brings an annoyingly pleasant tingle to your nose.

"A feisty Pony indeed," he says before turning around and heading on his own way, "Pity you're not really my type."

Once he is gone (and you realize you probably hurt your hand more than Victor's face), you finally look back at Artie, who is standing there in shock with his eyes bulging and jaw hanging open.

You laugh nervously, scratching the back of your head with your non-slap damaged hand as you say, "Sorry. I really stepped in it there, didn't I? Hope I didn't make things worse for you."

Artie blinks and shakes his head, regaining his sullen composure to a degree. "A-Actually... I think he r-respected you for t-that. N-Not sure if that's b-better or w-w-worse."

Without another word, the two of you complete your trip to your next class. You feel you are back to square one with Artie now, thanks to that jerk with the hungry, dark eyes, movie star looks, pleasant scent and you do NOT find that jerk attractive! Not at all! He is a bully! A bully might be devastatingly handsome, but they are NOT attractive!