gurabad | 037 » on and on we carry through the fear

Ah — yes, I will!

[hastily composing an email to the widely-feared professor de leusignac, francel fires his work off with a soft and relieved sigh. after he closes his laptop screen, he takes up the pen, writing in his name and contact information in a surprisingly dignified script. the neatness of his handwriting is all the more funny when he fills in his "problem area" as "i'm just bad at things"...]

Anything else?

[ Now Zephirin's eyes linger on that line, and his eyebrows arch. Nevertheless, ascertaining which "things" Francel needs to concentrate on can be left for his first session with his tutor. ]

No, that will be fine. [ Once the piece of paper is in his hand, Zephirin tucks it inside a holder beside his keyboard. ] You'll hear from me by tomorrow evening.

[ Outside, the rain has picked up again, and Zephirin casts the window a look before scrutinizing Francel's drying hair and clothing, and contemplating the listed gaps in the boy's schedule. ]

Do you live off-campus, Francel?

Hm?

[francel glances up, unable to discern zephirin's thoughts.]

I do... though my house isn't too far. I was going to run over to the bus stops just now, actually.

[ For Zephirin, student accommodation eliminated a daily commute, and now staff parking eliminates waiting for a bus. He begins to gather up his belongings, papers slipped into a plastic sleeve. ]

Allow me to offer you a ride home. I imagine it's likely that your bus is delayed.

[ And he imagines that commuters will be vying for shelter from the weather at the bus stop, and for seats and room to stand in the aisle when they pile onto the bus. He imagines that by the time Francel arrives home, he would be soaked through. ]

H-Huh?! Ah, no, that — I'll be fine...

[really, francel is protesting just to be polite. zephirin is absolutely right that the buses are probably delayed in all this torrential rain — with all the fuss and the crowds, francel will be lucky to make it home before nightfall. a ride sounds amazing. it's incredibly tempting.

on the other hand, there are risks — like what if zephirin is a bad driver? (he doesn't look like one.) should he really just get into a stranger's car? (but he's a professor.) and what if things get weird? (francel wouldn't say no...)]

...Y-You don't mind?

I assume you don't get carsick?

[ The question isn't serious, despite its delivery.

It's no surprise that Francel declines at first — it's probable that someone who avoids taking up desk space would balk at the thought of any detour made on his account. It's possible that accepting a ride from a stranger makes him uncomfortable for other reasons, too, not without cause. He has no way of knowing for certain that he can trust Zephirin.

Unfazed, Zephirin closes his briefcase and shuts down his computer. He slips his coat back on. ]

Take precautions and let someone know that you're with me, if you wish.

[for a moment, an oddly vacant surprise seems to steal over francel's features. he looks down at his phone, his thumb reflexively pressing the screen awake — but instead of checking his messages, he turns it off again.]

...No... It wouldn't matter, anyway.

[after a beat, francel casts off his coldness; he looks up at zephirin, smiling. the boy slides his laptop and his phone back into his bag.]

If you don't mind, I'll take the ride home. I'll have to think of some way to pay you back, though. I mean, for gas if nothing else...

[ Francel's remark is somewhat jarring, strangely flat, but his personal circumstances are his own business, and Zephirin's gaze only flicks up from his coat's buttons to study the boy's face. The next moment, he picks up his umbrella, hooking it over one arm, and readies his keys and his access card. ]

There is no need. Of course, if you feel obliged, I can't stop you.

[ He pockets the piece of paper Francel filled out earlier, crosses the room, and holds the door open, waiting. ]

I-I would feel obliged! So you can't stop me!

[with that slightly flustered (and ridiculous) exclamation, francel gathers up his things and follows zephirin out the door. the young blond resembles an excited puppy, or some other small, energetic animal — were he a miqo'te, his tail would probably be bobbing to and fro in excitement.

in an effort to be helpful, francel jogs ahead a little bit in order to be the first to press the button for the elevator...]

...Where do you live, Professor, ah... V-Valhourdin?

[he stumbles over the pronunciation a little — he's not wrong, but he's guessing.]

Edited 2017-10-15 00:14 (UTC)

[ Pulling the door closed and locking it behind them hides Zephirin's returning amusement. Francel's sudden liveliness is charming, it suits him better than the odd look he wore a few moments ago. Zephirin's even steps catch up with the boy when the elevator announces reaching their floor with a ding, doors opening. They tend to shut quickly, so Zephirin places his arm over the sensor until Francel has stepped through. ]

Roughly half an hour away from campus. Have you been to Saint Reinette's Park?

[ A press of another button sends them on their way to the ground floor. ]

You'll need to give me your address or directions as I drive.

Ah, yes... It's nice there, I like that park.

[secretly, francel likes it when people are kind enough to hold elevator doors open for him, because he's usually never assertive enough to hold them open on his own. for a moment, he wonders dreamily about what kind of car zephirin drives, but then the man's question-statement takes him off-guard.]

I live in Last Vigil... you know, the gated community. So you can just drop me off anywhere near there...

[most would be proud of this fact, but francel seems faintly ashamed of it, as though he would rather not live in such prestigious, upper-class dwellings.]

[ Zephirin's nod is simultaneously agreement that the park not far from his apartment is a nice location, his admission that he recognizes the housing community where Francel lives, and acknowledgement of the boy's request. His expression doesn't change, though he has his guesses as to why Francel is embarrassed to answer. ]

I'm not overly familiar with it, but I usually drive through your suburb.

[ The elevator stops, and again Zephirin lets Francel through ahead of him. From the faculty building, they have a winding path to take through the rain to the covered parking spaces. Zephirin opens his umbrella, positioning it over their heads. ]

I suppose it's kind of hard not to.

[on account of how large the neighborhood is, for one thing...

acting on pure reflex, francel draws close to zephirin and slips his hand into the crook of the older man's elbow — because isn't it just more comfortable to walk like this in the rain? — but then he suddenly remembers himself and jerks back.]

Ah — er — forgive me! I just sort of... I just felt...

[ The weight of Francel's hand on Zephirin's arm is there and then gone in the span of seconds, as if touching Zephirin's sleeve has burned the boy's fingers. Surprise flashes across Zephirin's features, but fades before long. Walking underneath the same umbrella necessitates sharing their personal space for a while. ]

Cold? [ He presents Francel with an excuse. ] We don't have far to walk.

[it is kind of zephirin to present an excuse. francel's cheeks burn red, but the cold rain keeps him from evaporating out of embarrassment.]

...Mmm. I used to walk like that with my older brother when I was little.

[idly, francel kicks at a nearby pebble — it lands in a puddle near the sidewalk.]

He's a real big shot in the military now, I think. I haven't seen him in a few months. My other siblings and my parents tend to work late... so it's just me at home, most of the time. And the cleaning staff, but they come in on Sundays...

[ The breeze is chilly, and after a moment, Zephirin proffers his arm for Francel to take. They don't look like brothers — even if Francel's kicking his pebble makes him look young and small and dejected — but there's no one about to see them and speculate.

As Francel reveals glimpses of his family, it explains his reaction to Zephirin's suggestion to inform someone of his whereabouts. Waiting for him is an empty house.

To some extent, Zephirin can relate. He rarely saw his father, growing up. ]

Yours is a hardworking family...

[ But he doubts that Francel has brought up his home life for the sake of hearing such comments. ]

Then you're alone for the evening.

[ This comment's purpose is simply to give Francel an opening to continue, questionable though Zephirin's intentions must seem for it. ]

Edited 2017-10-15 04:52 (UTC)

[francel takes the arm given to him. his expression stays casual, but there is a tinge of greed to the way he clutches zephirin's elbow and draws himself close.]

Yes... but that's as it always is.

[the boy sighs, a tad too relaxed perhaps, but he likes the sensation of having zephirin beside him, and it's easy for him to talk about this sort of thing.]

...I'd be a pretty good target for a ransoming, huh...

Edited 2017-10-15 17:45 (UTC)

[ Francel could be joking, if he weren't in a genuinely vulnerable position. He sounds unworried, matter-of-fact, but Zephirin decides against dropping him off somewhere in the general vicinity of his street. ]

I wouldn't advertise it.

[ Carefully, Zephirin leads them along the path; the ground is slippery with puddles and dead leaves, and the trees lining it block out what little light is left on so dreary a day. At last they come to a stop beside his car, a sleek silver sedan — with a couple of fallen leaves clinging to the roof. Keeping the umbrella in place, Zephirin unlocks and opens the passenger side door at the front for Francel to get in first. The car's interior is spotless, free of clutter. ]

If you like to listen to the radio or music, go ahead.

[the car seems so clean that francel feels a little ashamed to get into it with wet shoes. still, he'd rather not keep zephirin in the rain for longer than necessary, so he slips into the passenger's seat with little hesitation. he smiles at zephirin as the professor closes the door. the car isn't exactly what francel imagined, but somehow, it suits the man.]

Do you not normally listen to the radio when you drive?

[ The mats underneath their soles are easily cleaned, and Zephirin doesn't look bothered by the state of their shoes or the water that his umbrella tracks in when he puts it in the back. In the driver's seat, he opens a compartment near the dashboard to let Francel look through the mix of CDs inside, starting the car then and slowly backing out of the parking space. ]

Not normally, no. It's a different matter when I have passengers.

[ Who might enjoy the option and prefer it to silence. Soon they're on the road, and soon after that, they're caught in wet weather traffic. ]

Are you warm enough?

[francel prefers to have something to listen to, even in someone else's car, but he doesn't want to be terribly obnoxious if zephirin is more accustomed to driving in silence. the mix of cds he keeps in his car is eclectic to say the least — francel suspects they do not reflect the man's real music taste, and is perhaps curated by his friends — but he chooses a selection of uplifting piano performances, all composed in the same modern, airy style. he sets the volume a little lower, so that he can clearly hear zephirin's voice over the music.]

Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for asking.

[despite this sudden burst of formality, francel lapses into a giggle immediately afterward.]

...I-I'm sorry! It's just — you're so much more kind than I thought you would be. It makes me really happy.

[ Francel's choice is in fact a CD that Zephirin himself enjoys — it's a go-to in a traffic jam, one situation made more bearable with some musical accompaniment. Today's traffic doesn't seem that bad yet, but it's crawling along around the typically busiest intersections.

Without taking his eyes off the road, Zephirin smiles his approval, mouth curving slightly, before he makes a soft sound almost a laugh in response to Francel's confession. ]

Most of us share one goal. Rest assured, it isn't to see our students squirm.

[ Chariberts are the exception. ]

I know, I know... but that doesn't mean everyone is so kind.

[looking at francel, one might be suddenly struck by the thought that it really would be easy to kidnap and hold him for ransom, or else just keep him locked away forever. the boy is completely at ease even in the passenger seat of an unfamiliar car; he leans back against the headrest, eyes closed, listening to the music. his seatbelt is wrapped securely around his hips. zephirin's soft, amused breath-laugh seems to linger in his ears.]

...You really didn't need to do this for me.

[ Waiting at a red light, Zephirin permits himself a glance in Francel's direction. There, he finds no trace of the boy's earlier nervousness; Francel appears relaxed, comfortable where he is.

Even so, the boy isn't carelessly trusting. Rather, any lack of self-preservation seems to stem from a lack of self-worth.

Zephirin averts his gaze, turning back to the road. The light changes, and the car rolls into motion, escaping to a side street. ]

Perhaps I intend to abduct you.

[ His retort, he realizes, borders on disregarding the rules of conduct in student-teacher interactions. ]

[francel's eyes open at that comment, but he doesn't seem offended or horrified, even when the car pulls into a side street. instead, he is playful, and mildly curious. he smiles, looking at zephirin from the corner of his eye.]

Oh no. Whatever shall I do? If you're going to abduct me, you'll need a place to hide me...

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