Das Vi Danya [Open]

@"Evelyn Pierce"

"Wait, I'll decide how to react," Emman said, rummaging in his pockets for something. He pulled out a coin and flipped it. It came up heads, so he put it back in his pocket, pulled out one of his other flasks, opened it up and took a sip. Then he stowed it away again and spat out the little amount of bourbon that he drank in a magnificent albeit scripted spit-take. "Dafak?" he asked with an overly exaggerated and bemused expression, brows furrowing and jaw agape.

It was probably just the alcohol lowering Evelyn's inexperienced inhibitions, but he still had to tread lightly. The more he watched, the more it seemed like this was her very first time being drunk, which made sense and was a sign of trouble. He had to brush it off, or it would linger in her mind - which was most likely what was going on by his side in straight Russian.

"See, this why I don't let students just drink. Can't handle it. Get weird ideas and all weird shit in their heads." He took another drink from Evelyn's bottle, and kept holding onto it. She had to take a bit of a break - there was no way her body would be able to properly keep up with this.

With a hand extended he asked, "You need fresh air. Let's go?"

@"Evelyn Pierce"

The warm hug was nice, although Emman had to admit it was a bit awkward. He wasn't particularly high up in the list of faculty people would consider cuddling or generally having physical contact with, and to be snuggled by a drunk transferee made him feel both a bit happy and guilty. She towered over him and felt way too light, though that would at least make the next step a bit easier.

"Who said walk?" he said as he picked her up in his arms after putting his flasks back and tucking Evelyn's bottle into her shirt - a bit awkward, but it was better than it falling down from what he was going to do. Perhaps this was a bit more awkward than everything so far, but as he carried her out the window, strange would have been more appropriate.

The two began to fall, but unnaturally slowly, and then they stopped in midair, with Emman horizontal, planting his feet on the wall. He walked up the wall, steadily bringing the two of them to the rooftop. "This is my power. Is nonsense, is hard to explain, but is like this."

Emman began to sprint up the walls, and then with a mighty, physics-defying leap landed both of them on the roof. Not even the rooftop - just a slanted roof for the corridor. Carefully, he put her down on the flat space and yelled out, "Voila! Best view in school."

@"Evelyn Pierce"

Emman set down both his flask and Evelyn's bottle on the roof, stretching himself out and enjoying the wind on his face, rustling his short hair. He let his body relax, ignoring the fact that he technically wasn't supposed to be here. Then again, he wasn't supposed to be drinking on campus either, so...

...wait, was Evelyn floating?

"Wait." Emman put up a finger, picked up his flask, and took a quick swig, then spat it out again for that scripted spit-take that he was fond of doing. Then he put the flask away, and began to actually drink from Evelyn's bottle. "Gravity. So's why you were so light. I was going to ask what the hell you were eating. Hiya naman na balat ko sa gara ng kapangyarihan mo. (I'm ashamed now from your fancy powers.)"

He took another drink and perched himself farther from the edge, worried that drunken Evelyn would accidentally fall off. Sure, he could easily catch her, but that was going to be a pain in the ass for both of them. And if she fell wrong, that would probably end up literal.

She was starting to loosen up, which was good for Emman. Even disregarding his interest in her past, he still preferred students who were themselves, not hiding under facades or anything.

Emman launched himself into storytime, thinking it would possibly get her to open up some more. "My power... hard to explain. Is physics? I can control physics but only in my body. Basta! Is hard to explain. i can also make myself light, but only myself. Weird story for it even..."

"See, I got my power from a witch - shaman? - in Philippines. Filipino witches - shamans - mangkukulam - use curses, and I was cursed by one. I also cursed that mangkukulam in Filipino - but just made her mad, and I was cursed. Uh... hard to explain. Long story, I got this power from a curse."

@"Evelyn Pierce"

Emman took a shot, and then another, and then a third in quick succession. Vodka wasn't quite easing up his annoyance at the story, and all he could do was put an arm around Evelyn, even if she was taller than he was. And take another shot.

"Is okay. No one here will use you if you don't want to. If someone tries - you fight. You tell me, I help, and make sure you don't - grabe mas matino ako mag English pag medyo may tama na ah inang yan - get kick out. (Wow, I speak English better when a bit drunk.)"

He shook his arm as comfortingly as he could and ruffled his short hair. Outside, he was just as he normally was - intoxicated, aloof, and uncaring - but inside he was angered. The very idea of controlling another's life was against everything he stood for and espoused, and perhaps if there was a chance... he would at least free this girl as best he could.

@"Evelyn Pierce"

If it was a bit surprising when Evelyn curled up against him, Emman refused to let it show. She had a bit of a big first day, though perhaps not in the way she intended to. She probably wanted to meet people, make some friends, maybe go on a campus tour. Instead, she ended up drinking with an instructor and passing out on the roof.

Still, it wasn't all too bad. There were worse first days to have. At least she managed to loosen up a bit and talk. A certain sort of tension surrounded her, and as much as Emman preferred not to let people he was sure couldn't take too much alcohol drink, soemtimes, he had to grease the wheels a bit to get something rolling.

He looked at her sleeping all red and peaceful on his lap and smiled, gently ruffling her silver hair with one hand. Evelyn gave off a headstrong, tough vibe, but right now she looked as harmless and as normal as any other girl he'd ever met. With one hand still caressing her hair, he took one last drink and finished the last of his own drink, leaving Evelyn's untouched and closing it.

As though holding something fragile, Emman carefully placed the bottle back into Evelyn's pack and slowly lifted her up in his arms, then jumped off the roof. The two fell very slowly, and then drifted back to the same hallway that they came from through the same window.

Emman walked cautiously through the hallway and all the way to Evelyn's dormitory unit, trying not to wake her up. At her door, he let her momentarily sit on the floor while he opened it, and once he did, he picked her back up, took her in, and tucked her straight into her bed.

Before he left, he threw one last glance, brushed her hair away from her sleeping face, and whispered,

"Mag-ingat at magpakabuti ka, ha?" (You be good and take care of yourself, okay?)

and he stepped out, shut the door, and let her sleep in peace.