As if to pass time [Francis]

Watching other students leave even if it was only for a few days brought back a certain nostalga to Keith, it would have been nice to leave to school and live somewhere else but whatever it didn't matter. It's not like he was really taking a break from school; some of his teachers had never heard his voice or seen his face in class. He smirked at that remark and went back kicking his soccer ball against the wall.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

It was an odd noise that was replied by a lower quieter almost muffled thud when it made contact with his worn sneakers. He had had the same pair for a few years and had worn them everywhere. Beach, shops, bush, P.E and roaming. Much like his uniform, at the begining of the day it would be tucked in but by the end he would often be using his tie as a make-shift bandage or as a rope to pull something closer. His shoes and socks would be abandoned to go climb a tree or something like that and often his belt used for support.

That was the one shame about holidays; no useful uniform.

Not that he minded, he could wear normal clothes and not get in trouble. Another thing he liked, the teachers would be going home. Finally he would have peace of mind and be able to relax.

Thud. Thud. Roll.

"Dammit," he muttered chasing after the ball as it shot off in another direction.

[/quick reply]

Ahhh, another semester wrapped up, albeit messily. Francis ran a hand through his hair, disturbing the bejeweled hair clip holding it up, and sighed as he flipped through final projects--submitted only weeks prior. The quality of work wasn't terrible, but that was the problem. He was a perfectly good professor--one of the best, in his opinion--so why the mediocre output? Despite milking the most out of his students for Environmental Science, he wished it were more than a handful of little buggers who really grabbed onto the material and created something amazing out of it. It felt as though he had to wring necks to get a little enthusiasm.

It wasn't always like this. When he'd first started at Zodiac, the students and staff had been extraordinarily engrossed in both his teaching style, and the content and methods he utilized.

He grumbled slightly and placed the papers back in their folder, making a mental note to correct them later. A little fresh air would be nice. He smiled. Maybe even a swim. Not bothering to toss on something more elaborate (other than the beadwork and accessories he was already wearing), he shrugged on the cloth of the undines--the spectrum of blues settling onto his skin like foam--and made his way out of his study, careful to lock up after himself.

Sunlight streamed across his face, and he stretched his arms above his head, deciding to make his way toward the campus fountain. Water always helped him unwind. He could sneak off to the lake if need be.

Caught up in his own thoughts, he almost missed the sound of a ball thumping repeatedly against a nearby wall, the reverberation echoing throughout the courtyard. A student then? There were a handful still on campus for the holidays, undoubtedly disgruntled at having very few other options. Clicking his tongue, he continued moving toward his destination--the large, beautiful marble pool between him and the mystery lurker in the beyond.

Thump. He blinked, the aforementioned ball suddenly rolling into view, leather exterior scratching against the ground until it softly bumped into his slippered foot and rested there.

[Yay writing at one in the morning.]

Keith continued to chase the ball, it wasn't even his so he didn't care if he lost it. He borrowed it from the P.E room. He gave a sigh as he came closer, it wasn't that he hated this school or even staying here. Correction. He loved it here. He felt relaxed here and he could relax.

His mud dried shoes lead him to the ball but there was something else, he looked up then stepped back. It was a teacher, not the kind of person he wanted to have an encounter with especilly during the holidays. But this school had taught him a lot, one of those being that not all teachers conform to the law, which just so happened to be the worst for Keith. Teachers here would never call home if you did something bad and they were used to random or strange injuries and knew when to really worry.

He had come to love this place and the strange people in it. He sighed inawardly from happiness but looked back at the teacher going over many different ways to best ask for his ball back. Optionally he could just leave it and go somewhere else. The lake was always nice for swimming or he could go to the actual pool or fly around for a bit.

He was tossing up between his regular no respect for teachers method or his sucking up method. He had decided. "My ball," he pointed, "give it."

Suprisingly he did have friends and had had friends before coming here. Well most of them were friends...okay they were idiots but he was too. He was what most people classed as the class room nuicance sitting at the back texting on their phone before spitting profanaties at the teachers. The only difference was he held a set of morals close to his heart. One of these being that if someone has the power to make you suffer you should do everything in your power to make them happy.

The method worked most of the time...but now wasn't the time to be thinking. Now was the time to get his bloody ball back. He reached down picking it up turning away. Why did he bother asking?

Eyebrows shooting upward as the little delinquent demanded possession of his (or what looked like his; from what Francis could tell, it was school property) ball, Francis was stripped of any chance to speak or move when the adolescent abruptly walked over to pick it up, himself. What was the point of opening his mouth?

If there was one thing Francis couldn't stand from others, it was insolence. Especially from students. He'd lived long enough to witness children being shuffled from birth into labor, into complacency and desperation. He'd seen the privileged classes tote their prestige and wealth and beat belief systems into their offspring and future heirs. He knew the distinction between respect and pretense, the difference between gratitude and taking things for granted.

To have a student or another staff member deliberately dismiss him--his experience and his position--was infuriating, and this child deserved a little discipline to counter that apathetic haughtiness.

Before Keith took one step further, Francis calmly unfolded his arms and raised one hand into the air--and, all the sudden, the ball in the Aussie's hand was covered in a film of water, as if captured in a floating net, and while a sudden waterfall soaked Keith to the skin, Francis pulled the strands back into his fingertips, balancing the ball in his palm and tossing it from hand to hand. "Now, now. No need to be so impolite, child."

Even though he had been at this school for some time Keith still got a shock everytime he saw someone use magic with it warning. Even if it wasn't 'magic' and just one of the persons 'ratial traits' he still found shcok. However even though it was an instant he still gave a small wince leaning his head as the hand was raised. Before he knew it it was very cold especilly his hands.

He looked up to watch the ball removed from his hand and gave a shy sigh of relief. But still the thought of someone punishing him, even by the simple taking of an object, made him mad. No one had the right to do that in his mind, which had gotten him into sticky situations especilly when his view was against that of the law. He could just leave the ball, wasn't his didn't need to worry. But, no, it couldn't go like that. Then he'd be loosing and that was not or ever would be on his agenda.

"Now now no need to be so impolite," he repeated in mockary before scoffing loudly, "What are you gonna do if I decide you don't deserve kindness?" Well it was settled he was not giving this guy and easy time, no far from it. He would do everything in his power to give this guy a harder time as possible. He didn't even expect the ball back. There was pleanty else to do but he did enjoy sports the most.

Carefully he took this time to make a little bit of distance between himself and this teacher, he remembered the last time he went up against a teacher here. Even though it was all fun it still spooked him.

Watching Keith step back somewhat warily despite his bold statement, Francis had an idea. Why not? The headmaster encourage building strong relations with the student body, after all, and a little mischief hadn't been directly prohibited. (Although he'd initially taken that in another direction.)

Twirling the ball within his palm, Francis waved the other airily, dismissive. "Your opinion doesn't matter, petit garçon." He tossed the ball into the air and caught it. Giving the Aussie a lazy glance, he smirked and did a garish imitation of the other's accent. "But if ya want it, 'ow about winnin' it back, mate? Or are ya a lil' coward underneath all that hot air?"

The water in the fountain behind him shivered in response to the undine's teasing, sending a wave of challenge into the air.

If there was one thing Keith liked it was contests and challenges, he took every with entire seriousness and he loved the idea. Howveer the mockary of his accent was an annoyance. But he could push that aside for a lovely little contest.

"Whats your plan?" He asked looking over at the teacher. If he chose sports he was sure he win, he is fast and as a normal human very sporty but as a creature he could fly and it was amazing for him. Any other sort of challenge, for example academic or a quiz; he was sure to loose.

The coward comment got to him though, he refused to be called a coward. He balled his fist as if to punch something but pulled it back to keep it from wandering, "And no!" He shouted, "I practice what I preach, I'm just as strong as I say!" Something of a white lie, he was strong....for a human and generally kept a level head. Although like everyone he had his off days where he was nothing. He didn't like to talk about that.

[VERY LATE ;A;]

Undines weren't exactly known for their competitive natures, and Francis himself let any challenges come to him as opposed to the other way around. Such aggression was seen as frivolous within the community he grew up with, and sports had never been less than 'playful.'

Rudeness, however, could rarely be tolerated, and Francis wasn't about to let a mere student best him. Although, he wouldn't overdo it. While he'd never seen this Australian about campus or in any of his classes, it wasn't hard to pinpoint his personality as rather hasty, brash, and somewhat insecure. There was something off in his aura, too, but Francis couldn't quite... tell what it was. Something distorted. Maybe he could see it in action with a little provocation.

"Mmm? Let's put your money where your mouth is." He spun the ball in his hands once more, one brow lifted in a sort of mocking playfulness. "'ow well do you do in water, boy?"

Keith clenched his fist, this guy was really starting to get on his nerves. Where did he get off calling him weak? He hadn't proved any strength to himself, but he had to admit to himself in his own mind; fear was stronger than any emotion in his body right now. I hate teachers. He muttered so quietly even he could not hear the words come from his mouth.

"Why don't you?!" He retorted with a bit of spit coming from his mouth, "I don't see how you could be anything special, you're probobly too worried about your hair getting dirty~" He laughed at the end of that, "How long do you spend styling your hair in the mornings mate?"

Water....heh water was easy. Keith used to surf after school and swim on weekends. He lived by the beach and went there to clear his mind. He was very well in water, "One of my favourate fields," the thought of water inhabiting creatures had not crossed his mind and like normal humans he had to hold his breath to go under.

((It's okay~))

Easily riled up, too.

Francis smirked inwardly, although his more mature side did balance out the duties of being a teacher--one who should not govern with a clapboard, nor push the buttons of those he was meant to nurture--and the need to teach an informal lesson of respect, even if it meant taking advantage of the boy's seemingly inability to sense that he was up against a being far more powerful and ancient than he.

And one which could outswim him in mere seconds with barely a knotted breath. Did the boy forget that he'd been soaked and ridiculed by spells of water?

Hmm. When he put it that way, it was a bit unfair, wasn't it? Hearing the small murmur from the Aussie, however, who didn't appear to register his utterance, Francis clicked his tongue and shrugged his shoulders. Perhaps he could attempt swimming like a human? The irritating little boy would still be at a disadvantage, but there was no harm in poking fun at him all the same. In that case, a swift victory might be less damaging to the other's inflated ego. (Francis deftly avoided addressing his own pride.)

"My dear, it is I who proposed z'e challenge." That internal smirk made its presence upon his lips. "And I take z'at as a compliment, petite australienne; I am glad to know z'at my loveliness gets through even to your crude nature."

He jumped backward into the air, the ball still encased in his hands, as light and airy as Spring mist, a glitter of amusement in his eyes. "Although, you don't seem to realize who you're up against." A lilt came to his tongue as he dissolved in a flurry of water, headed in the direction of the lake. "No matter. You 'ave five minutes to catch up to me before we compete, d'accord?"

And with that, Keith was left by himself in the courtyard.

Keith blinked watching him, he was like a friggin acrobat. There was something odd about him and the first thing he thought of was water. He was in such a daze he barely noticed the first few words the other said before shaking his head to tune in to him taking his words as a compliment. What the hell? That wasn't supposed to be a comploment.

"OI girly!" He shouted, "If you noticed it wasn't supposed to be taken as a compliment!" He sighed only just realising what a fool he had made himself out to be and gave up. No use getting all hot and bothered over a teacher.

"Five mintutes?" He nodded, "Got it."
And I do know what I'm up against, you act like water, it's not hard to tell. He thought to himself before Franicis dashed of disapaearing. He smirked inwardly but it didn't wish to stay there and turned into a grin. There was something about this teacher he liked whether it was the fact that he seemed to have a positive persanality or the fact he was competeing with him playfully.

It had been so long he had forgotten how much some of the teachers at his old school were. The nice PE teacher and the English teacher who let him text providing he had the work written what they had written on the board. And coming here and meeting Miss Elizibeta, maybe this guy would be one of those cool teachers? Something inside him sure hoped for that as he ran after.

But he didn't run for long figuring his wings were faster, he jumped into the air spinning like a tornado before his black wings gained control and he made his way toward the destination, he looked down for Francis wondering if he could and would beat him.