Stained Pride

<div align=center>Just as soon as the attack had been deflected, Carl was about to retaliate against her once more. Fantastic. She watched carefully as the fire cracked into ice and was sent hurdling towards her at what she felt a swifter speed. To make matters worse, the ice split up into smaller shards, giving her more to deal with. How was she going to take care of this?

Well, the answer of course was going to be creative. The frying pan was gone, but that didn't mean she wouldn't think of more unconventional methods. Besides, she needed to entertain herself right? With a swift motion, she summoned forth a rather pretty looking yellow umbrella. In rapid reaction time she held it as a shield to her face, the shards only stopping centimeters before it. Unfortunately it seemed that one of the longer shards hadn't gotten as lucky and managed to nick her face. With a disgruntled rub of her cheek she cast aside her umbrella, ice shards still in tact. With a snap of her fingers, that too was gone, leaving the ice that wasn't her magic to shatter against the lunchroom floor. By now a large group had gathered, including a few teachers who didn't seem to bother breaking the 'fight' up. Good, now this was gonna be a performance.

She looked to the nearest onlooker, and chuckled. "Start placing your bets, my money's on the fact that this douche is gonna lose." She looked back at Carl and shrugged. The scratch was nothing, and she hoped it wouldn't amount to anything either. Quickly she tried to come up with an attack on her own that wouldn't necessarily harm the man... Ah-hah! Using her ability over illusion, she snapped her fingers once more, a grey cloud of smoke taking her figure. In a few seconds, a fairly sized white coated tiger walked out arrogantly, still possessing that sort of spunk the woman had possessed. "Who's magic is useless now?" She asked testily, sheathing her claws before gearing up for a pounce. Sure, the illusion would only last for a measly few seconds, but if anything it proved to her that at least she was superior at not being dull.</div>

<div align=center>The tiger skidded to a halt after the pounce, swiveling in a turn to see that he was impacted slightly from her attack. She half chortle-growled out of pure satisfaction and stood up more erect. Oh, so he wasn't all that different than a person... He sure bled like one. Well, now she was getting somewhere. She didn't want to kill him or anything, but... At least the two really weren't on different levels.

"Uh huh, sure you did..." She mumbled as she took yet another stance of defense. But as she did, Carl readied yet another one of his attacks. Just as he did, the illusion ability wore off and in another smoke cloud she was back to normal. And on the ground. Sitting down casually. She looked up at him as a blinding white was being cast forth, that and what sounded like a chorus of screams from neighboring onlookers. She had to think quickly, because if she didn't... Well, she didn't want to become that ash he was speaking about.

So what was she to do? She scooted back a bit, her hand placing on her teapot.... Aha! That was it! In another cloud of smoke, the young djinn covered her head and disappeared, presumably inside of the silver teapot. It rustled with the activity before being blown back by the sheer force, smacking hard against the wall.

And it cracked. Ever so slightly.

After the attack, rubble and dust suspended in mid air. The fate of the girl was undetermined, as it was quiet and still. But then...

A finger tapped the man's shoulder. "Y'know, gotta say I'm impressed... Aim wise, at least, it seems you could hit the broad side of a barn... Just barely." The retort did have some hesitance to it, as her pot did crack... Her only weakness. But she wouldn't share that, would she? </div>

<div align=center>Unfortunately, the element of surprise wasn't on her side as of the moment. Darn, and she really wanted him to throw a fit or something. Or at the very least call it quits. Oh well, at least she could still carry on her own desires. Know how to mess with him...

Well, it looked as if her plants were never to fall into fruition. Before she could even retort to his insult he cast forth another spell, hoping to dodge the attack he pulled out. Of course, there was no such attack in the making. Instead, he had plotted to imprison her. Which, though she could teleport out of, availed.

So she leaned agitatedly bored against the rock formations, yawning. "Hey buddy, I'm not anyone's slave. I pick and choose who I want, correction." As much as she was willing to serve she only did so out of her own whim. She didn't like someone? No magic for them. But for now, she didn't bring out what she could do. She sat, waited, and stood her ground.

"Never."

She stated simply, not ready to give up the fight. The entire school could be destroyed and she would continue to defend her esteem. There was nothing that would get in the way of her self-wrought perfection. Not even the threat of death. "I don't know how many times I gotta say it, but it looks like you and I are at an impasse cuz all this big talk and I'm still alive. Even as I'm behind bars I can get out with a snap of my fingers. But you don't like teleportation? Fine. I'll use something else. But before that, I have my own question for you..." She looked up with a smirk.

"Why are you holding back? I mean, you're so much better than I am, right? Well..." The woman gestured to her torso, were a physical bullseye appeared to levitated before her. "Fire away."</div>

<div align=center>The young woman looked upon him with silent disdain. She slightly rolled her eyes, for all she heard was ‘yadda yadda insult insult I’m the best’. And she didn’t believe a single word of it. She really was a tough egg to crack. Even if she contemplated giving up the ghost on this fruitless argument she certainly wasn’t going to beg like a dog for forgiveness. Besides, this man looked bored out of his mind. As much as she’d love to see him miserable she even felt her duty to make even the biggest of jerkwads happy… As long as it benefited herself more.

”Oh, go on. Surely a plebe like me won’t be able to comprehend your own twisted logic.” She retorted sarcastically before he continued to move on. She raised a brow as he neared her, feeling the heat of his hand radiate off of him. Ick. She had to prevent herself from cringing. She kept her strength as he continuously belittled her, equating her to being nothing more than a disposable toy. Oh, if only he knew… She wasn’t one to be underestimated, and besides, she had a mentor that could probably whoop his ass in a hot minute. Or, at least, she liked to think so. She kept silent even through the tight grip of her jaw, forcing back a tight scowl that was doomed to replace her testy grin. ”Not even in your dreams ya sick pig.” She cast off his hand forcefully and straightened herself up. No way was he going to get that close to her.

”If anything I’m using you for my own amusement. And sweetie, forgive me for being just so rude earlier in not stating my identity. But, as it seems you’re just so kind enough to lower me to your filthy standard, I’m just going to put it out there that I have a goddamn name and it’s Loralei.” She gushed out confidently with a sickly sweet smile. ”On that note, I don’t think I’m going anywhere, sorry to disappoint. Though I do have to say I’m flattered that I’m worth keeping around just for now… After all, I could imagine a big old scary guy like you needs company~” To test her fate further she reached up and patted his cheek through her prison, before leaning back to chuckle. But anyway…

”So are you gonna spare my life or naw? I mean c’mon, if I die then what are you gonna do? Nobody’s will be impressed. Hell if anything word’s gonna spread around and someone five times worse than me will try to take you down. There’s people who probably quadruple your age here at this school…” Now that she thought about it, that sentiment was probably true. ”Your choice. Either way I’m not going to die.”</div>

<div align=center>With the denial of her touch, she really wasn’t fazed. Good, she wanted him to feel disdainful. However the feeling of smugness faltered only slightly with telling her to permanently shut up… To which, she laughed. ”R-really? What is this, the third grade?” She asked with a laugh, looking skeptical. He really did have the nerve of a tyrant yet the mind and retort of a child. Sure, she was the same with the letter, but at least she had an excuse. She was twenty, and he was well over four thousand. Hell, with that knowledge she assumed he would have the refined linguistics of one with a well versed pallet. Instead she got a pompous brat with the ‘I’m better than you’ attitude of an elementary school student. Shame, really.

She did have that nagging voice in the back of her head though that did somewhat validate his claims. But that was only because the words of her master had surpassed her own knowledge. In a sense, Carl was much more intelligent by her, and that was a clear fact. She really didn’t know anything, as she was a naïve young lady just getting accustomed to her power. Unlike him however her mind was willing to change, to learn. But for the good rather than the bad. It was her attitude however that wasn’t going to change. Especially for those who wanted nothing more than to see it do so. ”Wow…” She muttered, almost sounding serious for a second. Almost. ”Well, I guess I’m the biggest disgrace there it, because I’d rather die doing something stupid than at your hands. But, since I can’t die anyhow, guess we’re both SOL!” She shrugged with another giggle.

When he melted her prison, she acted with nothing to it. ”Can do.” She replied with a fake wink, taking a sloppy bow. Sure, she was going to tell alllll her friends just how amazing the great and powerful asshat was and that they should fear him. He wasn’t going to be an issue, unless he acted upon his word. But even then if he so laid a finger on someone she cared about she would make sure he would rue the day. After all, she was sure her old human friends were granted the same fate as mentoring under a supernatural creature… Right? She could come back with a demigod for all she knew. But in any case she’d hate to walk away from this, but he was obviously finished with her. And what do you know? She wasn’t a smoldering pile of ash after this ordeal. All she had was a cat scratch and a dinged teapot, which could be easily fix. He really was all bark and no bite. At least, that’s how she hoped it would stay.

”We’ll see who is who’s toy when the real time comes. And when there’s no witnesses…” After all, the whole cafeteria had been at a standstill this whole time. ”Oh, but do me a solid next time and actually put some effort into being this ‘grand magus’? I’ve seen summer camp rental magicians do cooler stuff than you. Basic elements and spells… What a drag…” Obviously, she should have been given that title. Then again she had the sneaking suspicion that he granted it to himself. ”I’d say we’re at an impasse. Because really this wasn’t anything but a time waster.” With that, she walked back up to him, and in a whisk of her hand appeared her business card. Genie for hire. Nice. ”Call me when you’re actually in the mood to do something besides inflate your ego, hm?” With that, she turned around, and proceeded to strut away as if nothing had happened. </div>

<div align=center>Truth be told, she hadn't a single battle plan in mind. When, and if, she saw him again, she would treat him the same way she did in this encounter- without a care in the world. She really wasn't looking to vanquish the ancient evil or whatnot. Unless breaking his pride counted, she would rather grant a spoiled kid's heart desire than killing him. Besides, she was incapable of it anyway. So there really was no point agitating him besides for personal boredom.

But as she exited the room, that opinion had wavered completely.

She felt his hand not only zap her, but slap her behind. She froze in her steps, her expression totally blank. She stood silently. And she felt the room go still.

Carl walked past her while she was almost in a statue-like position. What... He... She didn't know how to react. Nobody went near the booty unless they got her word. And he had broken that single rule, which was more powerful in her mind than the laws she was bound by as a genie. So what was she to do?

Her state of petrifaction thawed once he was out of sight, as she folded her arms. She would react to this the way she did with anything. Without so much of a care.

"I gave you that card for a reason, dumbass! I can grant wishes, but if you call me I sure can show you a REAL good time!" He wanted it? He could come and get it. And when he pulled that stunt again, she vowed, he would be a dead man. But she wasn't going to tell him that, was she? Naw, because that would be admitting weakness. And despite him breaking her boundaries she wasn't going to let the situation being her down. That is, until she was alone once more.

She looked down at a little girl who had assembled. The girl looked like she was barely out of kindergarten, but none the less the older girl had handed her a solid metal baseball bat lined with spikes that she couldn't even carry. Lorelei patted her on the shoulder. "Now sweetie, if a man ever pulls that on you, will you think of me and hit him so hard in his no-no zone that his grandchildren can feel it?" She asked in a polite tone, smiling. "That is, if he can have them after that in the first place." With that she narrowed her eyes towards where Carl had went, a small smile creeping on her face. With a snap of her fingers, she had poofed out in a cloud of grey smoke. She already was in the process of plotting vengeance, and boy would it be sweet. </div>