Mantid #1: Origins

Alliance

Blaze walked into her art class during 2nd hour with Jack, to find Wysteria sitting there, early as usual. She wasn't working on her mask project though, which was very odd for her; she could easily work anyone under the table both physically and mentally, including Luna, without hardly breaking a sweat. But today, she was just sitting there like a rag doll. Her triangular head was cocked off to one side, with her pitch black bob and choppy bangs framing her near-white face and prominent cheekbones. Her long, elegant arms were resting straight out on the table with a mechanical pencil in her left hand. Her legs were uncrossed, despite her wearing an above-knee-length, powder blue dress, and were stretched far out in front of her, clear to the other side of the large table. The girl's deep-set, pure-bronze eyes were fierce, downcast, and with new dark circles underneath of them, looking down her skinny, gently sloping nose to the floor. But despite her limp posture, she still was very tall, and very intimidating.

Blaze went to the back of the room to retrieve her mask and some supplies, not wanting to be the one to "poke the bear," so to speak.

Jack sat down, not really feeling like doing work either. He greeted Wysteria happily, "Hey there."

Wysteria instantly looked as if she perked up, and smiled with her plump, strawberry lips, "Hello," She continued, "How's life?"

"Meh," Jack replied, "It's goin'."

"Oh... That's good," Her voice trailed off tiredly.

Jack assumed, "Lots of homework?"

"Last night, I finished three pages of math homework that are due today," She said stoically.

Jack replied, subtly implying that his work was more strenuous, "I spent five hours finishing a report for English."

Wysteria's expression was happy and smiling, but her voice darkened, responding resentfully with a short, irritated, "Mmm hmm."

Blaze returned with her sun and moon mask in hand along with a palette of paint and sat down, gently approaching Wysteria, "So, how's it goin'?"

Wysteria said back plainly, "Well."

"Any new... Projects you're working on?" Blaze asked awkwardly.

"Yes," She spoke softly, "I've been writing poetry for the Transformation Project."

"What's that?" Blaze questioned lightly.

"Writing inspirational poetry, then reading it to people for healing purposes."

Blaze continued painting and smiled, "That's cool."

Wysteria replied flatly, "Thanks."

There was a long, awkward silence that lasted for half a minute.

After a bit, Wysteria took something out of the front pocket of her large messenger bag. She then got up, straightening her posture to her full height of about 5'9", not including her 2" platform shoes, "Excuse me."

Wysteria pushed in her chair, then whipped around towards the teacher, causing her bob to fan out and twirl with her. As she walked away, Blaze could have sworn she saw a faint streak of grey in one of the underneath layers of her hair. But, that was probably the glare she got from her glasses in bright rooms like this, combined with her eyes playing tricks on her from staring at manuals for hours on end two nights before. Besides, she was only a 15 year-old sophomore, just like her. So, she dismissed it.

"May I use the bathroom?" She asked the teacher courteously, holding the thing in her right hand, then subtly gestured with it, without opening it and said under her breath, "Girl problems."