New Lessons

Haleth moved briskly down the hallway, having only just finished instructing a rather incompetent class of violinists. Considering how beautiful the songs a violin could be used to play were, she couldn't help but be severely disappointed in her students. Given the amount of time some of them had been studying, they should easily have been able to play the pieces she'd assigned to them last week.

Rather, their lack of ability to play as directed seemed to be less about ability and more about a lack of desire to practice and learn - in which case, why were they here? It was a waste of everyone's time and efforts when such things came up and she hated it. She loathed it with all her heart and rather wished that the students who didn't care would simply disappear. Although Haleth knew it wasn't becoming of a teaching assistant to feel that way about the people she was meant to help and tutor, she couldn't find it in herself to feel any differently.

She simply wasn't that kind.

Still, at least one student had shown initiative today, even if it wasn't one from any of the classes she taught. Naamah, a student who'd asked for her assistance had requested she meet her in the music classroom. Unfortunately, there were rather a lot of classrooms and Haleth was, at this point, simply moving down the hall until she found her quarry.

It was as she was passing yet another empty classroom that she found the girl. She was singing to herself and dancing to her song. Haleth listened quietly for a moment, not letting on that she was there.

The girl's voice wasn't bad. Unrefined and seriously lacking in any training, but she seemed to understand that singing wasn't simply spewing out words or sounds. The transition from note to note was smooth here, which was what most singers wanted.

Haleth sighed audibly before stepping into the classroom and making her presence known. As she moved, she gathered up her long hair and fastened it in an enormous bun atop her head - and even then, her lengthy hair spilled out from it. Her hair was a soft violet color at the moment, none too painful to look at but likely a bit odd to see.

"Hello," she greeted the girl. "You must be Naamah? Am I pronouncing that right?" She examined the girl's appearance - as she clearly put effort into designing how she expected to be perceived - and offered hand to shake. "I'm Haleth Meluilloth, but you can call me Miss M if that's too hard to pronounce." She smiled easily, her eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. "And if I get to like you enough, maybe you'll just get to call me Haleth."

Haleth nodded her acknowledgment. She was pleased by the girl's enthusiasm, but she was curious. Tired of the many students who thought they knew what they were getting into only to give up halfway and walk away, she figured she might as well assess the girl before they actually began. This way, at least, she would know how to handle the teen. She stepped back into the hallway and gestured for Naamah to follow her.

"Why don't we find somewhere else for this?" she suggested. "Personally, I've been inside for way to long today."

And besides, the walk would let them chat a little. She led the girl outside, not to the courtyard, but to a small copse in the back. Some of the other instructors and older students enjoyed their smoke breaks out here, but she was pleased to see that it was quiet today. They'd have it all to themselves.

"So tell me, what got you interested in singing?" she asked, correctly assuming that's what Naamah wanted from her. Singing wasn't really her forte, but she was probably the most practiced in it given that some of her students had pursued it to fame and flash. "Do you just want the one lesson today or would you like to keep going with them?"

Haleth pulled a tiny notebook from her pocket and a pen from her shirt. She flipped to a blank page, ready to record the girl's responses. All the better to organize with, eh? Besides, the more she had down, the easier it would be to get a schedule sorted out.

Haleth took Namaah's strange words like a champ. She didn't so much as bat a lash. Given what she'd experienced in her brief travels around the world, she imagined it was just another cultural difference. Certainly, she'd seen many - what some people might find acceptable in one country was absolutely wretched in another. It had gotten confusing to begin with, but now she no longer reacted when people brought up strange things. In this case, she assumed Namaah's parents were same-gendered. It wasn't unusual and she wasn't concerned about it. There was, after all nothing wrong with it - certainly the school had no objections if what she'd seen around campus was to be any example.

What did interest her, however, were the suggestions about what her father could do. "Your father?" she echoed, curious. "Won't don't you tell me more about him?"

Her motives for studying song was interesting. Haleth wasn't the best songstress out there, but to be fair, but that was from lack of practice. Who knew? After working through the basics with Namaah and spending the requisite time practicing, perhaps they'd improve together. Still, she wasn't entirely sure what Professor Aurora's specialties were, but surely the professor was doing other things....

Well. It didn't matter. Namaah had asked for her specifically. While she wasn't the best songstress in the world, she'd been told that she was a very good teacher. If nothing else, Namaah would have no complaints about the lessons. Probably. Even teachers always learn new things.

As far as scheduling.... "Certainly. As long as we're able to find good times, we can schedule ahead a few weeks so you can get a feel for singing and see how you like it." Given the way she was speaking, Haleth could only assume that Namaah was in it for the long run.

Having finally trotted to the little clearing she'd intended to get to, she halted and turned to face the girl before finding a seat. "I'd like to chat a bit before we begin," she explained. "I find it's easier to teach students the way students want to be taught when I've talked with them about it before we begin."

Haleth's reaction to the revelation was to let it pass. Although it piqued her curiosity that a female had impregnated the girl's mother, it wasn't a professional avenue to pursue. Besides, given what Naamah was saying, there was a high possibility of some sort of supernatural power at play there.

She continued to listen, holding her thoughts until the end.

Certainly, there was a lot there to consider. Naamah professed to being a.... Tantric sorceress. Haleth was puzzled when she thought to the definitions of 'tantric' that she'd learned and how it was essentially an undefined spiritual science. It was when the girl continued, speaking about her sire's siren call and desire that Haleth realized that this was a case wherein the mercurial term was being used to describe - for a lack of better words - sex.

Interesting. Haleth narrowed her eyes as she considered the possibilities. There was a lot of potential here, so she'd have to be careful when she evaluated Naamah's skill. The girl's choice of dress suddenly made a lot more sense. It wasn't that she was promiscuous for the sole purpose of being revealing but because it came naturally to her. What better way to call her prey to her than by taunting it with the treat of potentially willing flesh and a limber body?

It also meant that she'd have to be careful regarding her dealings with this girl. Desire was a dangerous thing - as was the ability to influence another person's mind with song.

While she could understand the use of music as a tool through which some of the other gifted people in the world sought to express their power, she couldn't help but regret the lack of respect in the powerful notes of a song for their own beauty.

Her pang of regret came too quickly - Naamah spoke on about how she'd enjoyed music - still enjoyed it. Haleth smiled, pleased. That, at least, was good. Naamah would sing for the sake of singing as well as to lure in her willing victims. Song for the hunt was well enough but it was singing for the joy of it that gave the best ring.

She was surprised that Naamah found it in herself to ask about Haleth's tutoring. Most people didn't like to ask lest they discover the answer too sharp.

Fortunately for Naamah, the answer in this case wasn't sharp at all. Haleth wasn't one of the tutors that had been forced into it for behavioral reasons or because she had nothing better to do with her time.

"I tutor because I can," she said simply, the smile on her lips growing playful. "We don't often have a lot of students that enjoy music for the sake of music," she went on to explain. "A lot of the students are taking it as an elective - an easy way out, in a sense." The teaching assistant shrugged. "I have to teach plenty of them, but it's not quite as interesting as tutoring someone who wants to learn." Well. Her answer might have come out a bit oddly, but it boiled down to some very simple facts: she tutored because she wanted to teach those who wanted to be taught.

Naamah's earlier suggestion of looking at Haleth's schedule hadn't evaded her notice. She wasn't sure whether the girl was doing it intentionally or not, but she was definitely moving to.... well, for lack of better words... catch Haleth. Trying to learn more about her wasn't an indicator in and of itself, but given the girl's natural behaviors, it was something the curvaceous woman had to be aware of... and prepare for adequately.

"After lunch should be fine," she nodded thoughtfully. Although she doubted Naamah could do anything to her, it was always better to be safe than sorry. "How often would you like to meet?" she asked. "Once a week? Twice?"

Really, she wanted to know just how committed Naamah was to singing. If Naamah was naturally sensual, then Haleth had no doubt she'd be a phenomenal songstress. She'd do everything she could to bring Naamah to that level.

Which, you know, could suck a lot for whoever Naamah used those glorious powers against, but hey, whatever. Haleth was primarily concerned with the girl's vocal capabilities.

Twice a week then. That was fine - it was what most reasonable students went for. Three times or more a week was usually left to those who were planning to pursue a career in music. It wasn't common to find those who were quite so consumed by it, though, so twice a week was the average she'd found with her more interested students.

She was amused by Naamah's flattery. While it was sweet of the girl to say as much, it was still flattery all the same. The best tutor would no doubt have been the head of the department. Were it not for the projects the woman got up to, she would have been the optimal instructor, especially given her own talents in vocal training.

At Naamah's suggestion for kareoke, though.... Well. That was something she'd considered a time or two in the past, but kareoke rooms cost money. Of course, given that the island was essentially the property of the school's, perhaps there would be some way to work out a deal...? It was an avenue worth pursuing, especially if Naamah would find it a more interesting place to go.

Maybe she'd take her pupil there for a treat one day. Though the idea was certainly worth noting, Haleth knew the echo of the speakers would be interesting to consider. She wondered if they would serve to amplifying Naamah's voice or damage her song. Most kareoke institutions didn't have the high end speakers and rooms that settled the singer's voice, instead sacrificing quality for volume. "Maybe," she answered the girl. "It's something to consider if our lessons go well."

At the strange turn in conversation, Haleth paused, considering the girl's words. She seemed genuinely curious, if a bit disappointed in the people she'd described.

"There's nothing wrong with being curious." Haleth said, twirling a bit of hair with her finger. She went on to explain the school policy: "It's more common than you'd think. A lot of our students are required to take electives so they'll be better knowledgeable about the things they may encounter in the future. It's to help prevent our students from being ignorant in all things beyond their course of study." Haleth shrugged.

"Of course, there are always students who fall into electives a little more than we'd like, especially those who are undecided." Which, again, was actually fairly common. "Not everyone is fortunate enough to have an understanding of what they want to do in the future," she reminded Naamah. "And there are plenty of students here who come from difficult backgrounds or still have a lot to recover from trauma-wise." Which was true, if a bit disappointing. The outside world didn't quite know how to handle those with their particular.... talents.

"A lot of people haven't experienced or discovered enough to make a choice about what they want to do. And, as always, you have the students that just don't know how to keep moving forward so they stagnate while they look for something they'd like to pursue - some more than others." Admittedly, she frequently wondered what it would be like to know what she wanted to do right away. She had gone on to continue studying music before traveling the world. Though she'd eventually returned to the academy, there were still plenty of opportunities that she could have taken elsewhere.

And then came Naamah's next question. It caused her to pause again. It was true - Haleth did like to teach, but that wasn't necessarily because she was a teacher. It was because she taught on the side while she pursued her own studies. What would she do afterwards? She didn't know that she'd go back to her old haunts in the human world, but perhaps it was worth considering?

It wasn't as though it was hard for her to pack and move.

"Travel," she finally decided. "I would probably travel and tour the world. Although I know a lot about the basics of music, and the theory.... Well, it would be far more interesting to see and hear it in person, don't you think? And not just from one place or another. I would like to visit many cultures and places to experience how they handle their musical traditions."

It was probably fairly plain compared to most people's desires regarding the future, but Haleth was a simple person. If there was anything she had plenty of, it was time.

"What about you, Naamah?" she inquired. "Do you plan to sing professionally, get an agent, a record label - all of those things?"