Drake would wake up and go through his normal morning routine making breakfast for Charlotte and himself before leaving the dorm. He was going to check in at the cafe and see if he was needed even though it wasn't his scheduled day for the cafe this week. He would find it was all good and he wasn't need so he would calmly leave and figured a morning woodland walk would be nice. Drake enjoyed the noise of wind through trees, water moving through a river, animals and bugs living their lives. They were all sounds he grew up with loving and relied on to give him comfort. Looking around he noticed an odd shape in a tree and moved to go towards it. To his surprise he found a woman laying asleep in a tree and didn't seem to be at risk of falling off from any way he could tell. The tree wasn't small and the branch though long seemed thin to him but there she was perfectly balanced in her sleep which he found outstanding in skill this woman obviously had.

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Alistar had yet another sleepless night. So in the morning she had forgone any kind of breakfast and instead made her way out to the forest. Finding a suitable tree she made short work of climbing it and getting comfortable. With practiced ease she laid back and got ready to go to sleep. Within no time she was asleep and dreaming comfortably when a sound in the stillness caught her attention bringing her back to the world of the waking. Tilting her head she opened her eyes slowly and stared at the source of the sound. Her long purple hair swaying in the wind as her amber eyes looked the strange looking man over. He seemed to be staring at her. With a sigh she shifted, a hand holding the branch as she swung down and went into a summersault landing directly in front of him silently. Standing slowly she leaned to the side with a hand on her hip. ”Hello there.” she gave him a charming smile waiting for him to respond.

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Drake watched her movements as she woke up his eyes never leaving her and, since he wasn't thinking about it looking weird, not blinking either. The woman landed right in front of him with silence which was something he recognized all too well. That was the technique of an assassin and was not one easily mastered. He looked to her hands and could see similar calluses to his own before finally meeting the woman's eyes. She was confident, warm, and fearless. She was so different from him yet he knew that both had been trained to be killers “You are an assassin….aren't you?” he asked forgetting to be relaxed and put on some feeling to his voice but instead that usual monotone of his. He didn't stop staring at her taking in everything but from her perspective it might seem like he was staring her down for a fight. The actual truth was he was trying to see what he could learn about her from her clothing and such that matched with the understanding people books he had been reading. “Why are you here?” he would also asking meaning it to sound like a normal curious question but again the monotone did not help him as that kind of question was very open to interpretation.

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Alistar quirked an eyebrow at the boy watching him look her over. The question caught her off guard and made her blink before a sly smile spread over her lips. ”You just gave yourself away. You’re new to being an assassin aren’t you?” she chuckled winking at him. The clothing she wore would reveal nothing to him. Shifting her weight to her other hip she stretched her hands above her head and cracked her shoulders. Laughing softly at his question she stepped closer surprised he would even let her near him. Reaching up she knocked on his forehead lightly. ”Why are any of us here boy. Don’t ask silly questions.” giving him an appreciative once over she shrugged with a smile and backed away.

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Drake found it odd that she brought up he had given himself away “i have no reason to kill you” he said bluntly watching her before she knocked on his forehead Drake unsure why she would do that “I was simply asking why sleep out in a tree? Is it more comfortable to you” he said looking to where she had been “i didn't think it was silly” he said looking back at her for a moment “was something i said odd or silly? I am trying to not be that way towards others” he said to her looking around starting to wonder if maybe there was some sort of reason he should be wary but his focus on that didn't last long as it focused back to her “I am sorry if i interrupted your nap” he said trying to be polite and keep the conversation going “I am Drake Barlow, it is nice to meet you” he said lightly bowing his head.

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Alistar took her earlier relaxed position as she chuckled at him. ”You never know who you will have to kill or fight later on. So you never want to give up all of your secrets or knowledge in the beginning.” She listened with a smirk on her face as he worked through his own thought process. It was actually rather adorable. ”No, you asked me why I was here. Not why I was sleeping in the tree. When gathering information, ask specific or leading questions.” she giggled softly and leaned forward to look around with him. ”This place is quiet, so yes. It was more comfortable. I’ve found not many others come out here.” she didn’t sense any lie from him but his manner of speech was strange. Fluidly she walked in a circle around him looking him over. It was obvious he was also an assassin if he had been able to pick up on it with her, but his mannerisms suggested more of a range version or stealth.. Poison? His name was truth as well. Who had trained him? Tilting her head she stopped back in front of him and crossed one arm under her chest and the other hand tapped her chin. ”Do you always try to be so polite with new people Drake?” why did he trust so easily? She didn’t understand it. Curious though she gave him another warm smile. ”I am Alistar Bastet. I shall call you Akl.” she giggled to herself. The name was from her homeland and had a double meaning. Leaning towards him she giggle cutely and gave him a wink. ”You’re adorable. I don’t give just anyone a nickname. I can tell you’re special.”

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Drake would watch with curiosity as she spoke “I do not see the point when I can tell you will learn it regardless” he said before listening to her next piece of advice nodding and having no argument with the information she was sharing though he knew that. She talked about this place being quiet and far from others which he figured meant she didn't want others meaning he was probably bothering her with his presence and figured he should probably leave her so she could get back to napping. She then asked about him being trusting “Isn't that the proper way to be around new people you are meeting?” he asked, wondering if the book he had gotten was good for all situations before focusing on her “Nice to meet you Miss Bastet” he said before thinking “Are you calling me food or wise…..or both? I find that to be an odd thing to use as a nickname as it doesn't quite describe me” he said with his monotone voice and without thinking did a quick scan around them with his eyes before focusing right back onto her “as for me being special….I find that term to be double edged” he said thinking of all the ways the cult had said he was special for their needs. Thinking of the cult took away some of the life in his expression and a glimpse of the lifeless blade meant for killing he had been trying to grow from showed for a moment before returning to his overly calm expression.

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Alistar cocked an eyebrow. ”I meant you shouldn’t let on that you had figured out I was an assassin. You could have used that to your advantage.” Again his logic was flawed. That he should be trusting of those he just meets. A frown crossed her face and she continued to look him over, very confused. She nodded to him as he said it was nice to meet her and then surprised her by knowing the meaning of her nickname for him. She chuckled at his comment before letting it turn into normal laughter. This boy was very interesting. Smiling faintly as her laughter slowed she grinned at him. ”Your handler really did a number on you didn’t they?” she gave him an almost pitying look. ”Right. Drake. Will you be returning to the place you came from once you get out of this school?” she motioned for him to follow her. Turning she started walking and led him to a small clearing in the forest that wasn’t too far. She had found it not long ago. It made for a good sparring spot.

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Drake followed her listening to her words thinking on them all “My handlers as you call them are dead, i killed them” he said simply as they began following “and if i can help it i will not return to that horrid place” he said thinking on his home, the hell, how he lived like a rat and lost his mind. No he would abandon it and live a life he now knew he could live. Determination shined in his eyes for a moment as they soon entered a small clearing Drake looking around seeing the clouds and the sunlight, something that still felt like a dream. He looked back at Alistar thinking for a moment “you keep ranking me like we are rival assassins” he said bluntly “while here…..I have been trying to become more…...than a blade” he said simply “but I am not naive. I know if I needed to I would make sure to survive. Is that the sort of answer you wanted to know?” he asked her still showing little emotion “I was trained….to focus on the kill even if…..I died.” he said thinking back hating those words “Im looking for my humanity. May i ask what your looking for because what i keep seeing when i look at you is someone looking past all this….to your goal”

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Turning to face him Alistar crossed her arms under her chest and grinned at him. She was impressed that he had taken out those who were his handlers but it also showed a lack of foresight on his part. He could have used them. Then again it really did seem like their worlds were vastly different just like their assassination styles. Amusement glittered in her eyes as she watched him look around. ”I do. Does it bother you?” she questioned before raising an eyebrow that he would be trying to hide parts of who he is. Hmm it didn’t seem like hide would be the appropriate word. Lifting a hand to her chin she bit her thumbnail in thought as amber eyes assessed him. She laughed in a scoffing manner at his question as she sauntered back to him. Booping him on the nose gently she winked, the small contact would feel nice to him, like snuggling a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer, kinda good. Retracting her hand she grinned. ”You can ask all the questions you want Akl. You should always be looking past your mark to your overall goal. Obviously you are a bit lacking or very very rusty.” stepping closer to him she would reach out and tug at his coat, opening up and looking inside. Everywhere her hands touched she would push a tad bit of her power into him. Coaxing him to be more responsive to her touch. ”You should find balance with your past and accept it all. It’s not about becoming more than a blade, or assassin like you said, but figuring out how to use the tools you were given in the way you want to use them.”

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Drake would watch her finding his body reacted to her touch oddly but did not focus too much on it as he replied “I am no rival to you.” he said to her “but no, it doesn't bother me. Like you said it isn't odd to keep one's guard up around others and I believe that's your way of keeping up a guard” he said as he watched her bite her nail before giving him an odd scoffing laugh only to then touch his nose and odd sensation hitting his body but it couldn't be placed in his mind for a moment so he did not focus too much on it for now not sure why his body reacted to the nose touch. At her words he thought for a moment “There was never an overall goal. I wasn't my own person till I was shown a truth” he said looking at her “my goal was the target they gave me, the task they needed completed. I am now becoming human again and these skills….all i can think of is transforming them into a way…..to protect what I want to protect” he said looking down at his hands for a moment. She then walked over tugging on his trench coat before opening it up as he felt her touch making more odd bodily sensations happen but his mind focused on her as she began talking about using those tools to be what he wanted them to be “Like I said….i simply want to protect what will matter to me….when i find it” he said and silently he figured he should do as she was doing but his fingers didn't move to touch her anywhere sexually but his fingers began tracing the scars that were visible here and there on her body “is this normal for you? Touching people like this?” he asked her. His hands, though ruff, seemed to be gentle and kind to each scar he touched as if it was up to him, then they would fade from reality because of his touch. His eyes seemed sympathetic as his mind drifted to some old memories “You have been through much Miss Alistar Bastet” he said before looking at her wrist “i know this, it is the eye of the sun god ra from Egyption Culture.” he said thinking for a moment “is that your faith?”

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Alistar found it amusing that he said he was no rival to her. Well it was true, but probably not for the reason he thought. She chuckled as she inspected the inside of his coat. ”Sounds like you have a goal in mind now. So stop trying to not be the blade you are. Embrace it and use it to your advantage. Ya know, turn the curse they gave you into your gift.” she grinned but raised an eyebrow as he started touching her in response. Yet it wasn’t in a way she normally would have gotten. His touch was gentle. Glancing at his hand tracing a scar she shrugged. ”I’m used to being touched and honestly, being able to get in close and disarm people like this is my assassination style.” she laughed softly cupping his cheek before booping him on the nose again. ”I’ve lived a very long time Akl.” she looked a little surprised as he recognized her tattoo. ”No. It’s my brand. My handlers were going to use me as a bargaining chip to regain favor with the Pharaoh. I was to be his bodyguard and plaything.” Her eyes glittered dangerously as she spoke of the Pharaoh and her handlers.

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Drake recognized the look she had when bringing up her handlers and quietly made a note of it. thinking to her words about embracing his curse made him wonder something “is that what you did miss Alistar Bastet?” he asked not worried if she answered or not but hoping she would As he moved grabbing her gently wrists without using to much strength “I am done….being touched...if you’d please.Your hands on me is causing an odd reaction” he said before stepping away from her looking around the small clearing and she would notice his cheeks being a bit red “you want to spar” he said simply looking back to her “you were checking my build, looking for weapons, and weak spots….correct?” he said his monotone voice almost making him sound bored wind picking up slightly for a moment as he watched a leaf float by “want kind of sparring were you wanting?” he asked, focusing back on her and stood a bit straighter. Drake looked at the ground again then her “weapons or no weapons? What rules will we abide? I am curious about why you would want to spar me but from what i can guess its to again rank me and understand me from the point of an assassin. Is….that usual for assassins where your from?” he asked her without much tone as always

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Humming curiously as he asked her if that’s what she did she only raised an eyebrow at him in answer. When he grabbed her wrist the other eyebrow joined it’s twin and subconsciously she palmed a blade. Of course unless he was looking for it he wouldn’t notice it, and at his words she tucked it away again with a soft laugh. ”Of course they are. I told you. I get in close and disarm people. Not in the way you are probably thinking.” she couldn’t help but laugh a bit noticing his red cheeks. ”You’re adorable Akl when you’re embarrassed.” she watched him walk around and look as he asked her if she wanted to spar.

Crouching down she listened to his assessment just smiling at him. Amber eyes traveled over him amused and then she laughed. ”Well, I’m up for some horizontal sparring but you just told me you didn’t want me touching you anymore.” she shrugged pouting at him playfully. ”So I guess that’s out of the question.” sighing at his barrage of questions she rested her left elbow on her knee and her chin in that hand. ”Or I could have just been coping a feel while seeing what kind of weapons you had on you.” she winked at him with a smirk.

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Drake thought about it for a moment as he looked at her and his eyes looked sad “I see” he said feeling a twinge of discomfort at his heart “you’re….insulting me” he said softly looking to the ground “i know...I am not an attractive man” he said to her before feeling annoyance. He had his emotions begin filling him as his hands balled up “no….no I am not hideous” he said looking up at her with angry determination “I am done apologizing….for my appearance” he said to her walking over to her with a serious glare as he stood now dead in front of her “despite your teasing I know what i use to look like….what i can look like again and it is a fine appearance.” he said making sure to say his words firmly as if trying to reaffirm them to himself “i was loved once….and I know i can be loved again” he said to Alistar but she was just a face to his doubts anymore “i know you flirt….as a tease to me but…” he paused thinking on his words “you helped me with your teasing…..I passed a personal test and trial just now” he said looking at her his rage dying down “thank you. But why tease someone you just met?” he asked her, finding it odd having never truly understood bullying people even to this day “Because I am doubtful you're truly attracted to me? Though i believe i will be desirable again I do not see what you could find desirable in my weak current self”

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Relaxing in her crouch she didn’t move but did grow curious as he looked sad for a moment. Tilting her head in her hand she hummed softly as he told her that she was insulting him. She wasn’t but he truly believed that she was. That was sad to her. Her amber eyes traveled over him slowly as he spoke. He wasn’t the most handsome man she had seen but he was not by far the worst either. Seeing him grow angry she smirked at him and waited to see what this boy would do. It was actually very cute and amusing to watch him. She knew she shouldn’t be having this much fun toying with him but he really was making it too easy.

Tilting her head back to look up at him as he walked to her she continued to have that playful smirk on her lips. She gave him an agreeing nod as he told her that his appearance had been a fine one. She could see that. Chuckling as he told her that he was loved once and could be loved again she wasn’t going to argue with him. As he thanked her for helping him pass some test she shrugged at him. With a sigh and softly laugh she stood slowly, her hand reaching out to snake up the side of his leg, resting on his hip lightly. ”I am not insulting you. I have no reason to. I tease you because you are fun to tease. I find it amusing the sheer back and forth you show me in your emotions.” turning she placed the other hand on his other hip, her ability sitting at a very low level as she smiled up at him. ”I agree with you. You can love and be loved, but I will disagree that you are weak currently. You really shouldn’t compare yourself to your distant past. Just be better than you were yesterday.” lifting a hand she touched his lips lightly, her eyes going hooded. ”Now, don’t go deciding what I find attractive and what I don’t. Ok? I’ll give you a glimpse of why you don’t really want to spar with me.” she smiled at him sweetly as the hand on his hip curled around him in a hug. Her body pulling flush with his and now two fingers pressed against his lips. Still smiling she would steadily increase the intensity which was made easier because she had a lot of physical connection to him now. Of course he could always push her away, but she did have a decent grip on him. Leaning up she whispered in his ear. ”If you don’t believe in yourself, believe in the people who do believe in you. Otherwise you’re calling them liars.” she chuckled softly, her breath ghosting over his ear.

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Drake was honestly very confused at this point. She basically was telling him he was attractive, he could be better than he was yesterday which was good advice but how would he put it to use, and now she was touching all over him telling him to believe in the people who believed in him and all he could think about was just who those people were. Then there was the sensation he had filling him and the only words he could find that summed it up was gentle and kind warmth. He felt the warmth spread over his tired sore form and felt actually rather good, easing his mind. Drake looked at her for a moment before gently cupping her face with his right hand “You were telling me all about what an assassin is meant to do'' he said calmly his insides feeling good but his mind that controlled how he talked was the same if not more relaxed leading to a softer tone rather than a monotone one, “but I can see your kindness is genuine, not something you're using to get close. I don't understand your words on teasing being fun though” he said thinking as he looked into her eyes and she would see his faded blue eyes thinking deeply about her looking nowhere but at her. “I can see a desire for freedom in your words…” he looked to the hand that had her seal thinking of his own marks “A brand can be a painful heavy thing” he said with knowing words “but if your words are honest….and i feel they are….then they hold no power over us” he said softly to Alistar looking back into her eyes “What is your desire? Kindness does not beget blood. Well whatever your goal I hope that fate finds a way of making sure you reach it happily” he said to her tilting his head slightly almost sad “I am also sorry...that you had to be something you didn't wish for...it is a plight i know well and despise” he said before suddenly hugging her and she would feel a kindness in this action one wouldn't expect. “I wish you to know...I can understand the pain of being used, branded, and lied to” he said to her in a quiet voice “And that I was happy to meet someone who can understand me...and though this may not be something your use to hearing since it isn't something i have heard often….Thank you for existing….and allowing me to know you even if it is only this moment”

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Alistar smiled up at Drake when he cupped her face. Well it was a start and she raised an eyebrow when he brought up the assassin stuff again. She was vaguely surprised at his soft tone and that he thought she was doing this out of the kindness of her heart. How cute. Her amber eyes did harden slightly as he brought up freedom. He had a way of killing the mood that was for sure. Granted she was trying to make a point and see him squirm a bit… which most men would have been doing by now but he didn’t seem to be. Was he that broken by his handlers? Listening to him he was making a lot of assumptions on her and she wasn’t sure she wanted to correct him at all. On one point though.. ”I never said I didn’t enjoy my profession. I don’t want to become a toy for someone like the Pharaoh but I do enjoy killing those worthy of death.” she hummed happily with a small smirk.

She blinked as he hugged her in a comforting manner. Well this most certainly was unexpected. She had honestly thought he would get aroused and awkward from her touch but it just seemed to open up his feelings and make him a romantic. Feeling awkward she patted him soothingly on the back. ”I want you to pause and think of this, how we’re standing. I told you I don’t spar or go for direct fights. When I kill people it’s like this. I get close to them and make them drop their guard. You’re right. I don’t want to kill you, but it’s something you shouldn’t forget about.” his softly spoken words made her rest her head on his arm in thought. He reminded her of a very young person who was a troubled lost soul. It made her sad for him really, the injustice of it. So hugging him back she gave him a pat on the back before stepping away. ”Feel better?” she hadn’t meant to comfort him but if that’s what had happened then she wouldn’t be upset about it.

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Drake would watch her let go, nodding “I don't disagree with those earning their death. I killed those who broke me so they could never do it again” he said as he seemed relaxed for a moment “also to reply….to what you said about you getting close. I felt it was worth the risk. I have died once already. I am not afraid of it happening again” he said calmly, looking at his hands for a moment. '' Is what I was feeling...caused by something or simply natural for people when they are in contact like that. It has been a long time for my body to feel this way that I forget if it's normal.” he said looking to her putting his hands into the trench coat pockets and looking at her for a moment actually noticing her bodies allure a bit more now a faint blush on his face “you really are beautiful Alistar Bastet” he said his tone a mix now between the soft spoken and the monotone voice as her power slowly began fading from his body. He wondered if saying that was alright or if he was possibly being rude to her but he knew he wasn't lying to her.

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Stepping away from him she stretched her arms above her head. Listening to his words she was only mildly surprised when he said he had already died. Glancing in his direction she quirked an eyebrow at him in question. Hearing his question she chuckled softly and shrugged. ”Well, both really.” grinning at him she walked back to him and pondered how to answer him. ”You didn’t react in quite the same way that most others do, but you still reacted. You see, one of my abilities has to do with manipulating a certain type of reaction from the body. It’s also one that would happen naturally between you and someone you wanted to be with physically.” Watching him put away his hands and blush while looking at her, she gave him a confident look. Which turned into a wide smile as he told her she was beautiful. It made it even better when she could tell he wasn’t lying. Reaching out she let her fingers graze over his cheek and chin. ”Well thank you. I appreciate that. You’re not too bad yourself Akl.” she laughed, placing her hand on his chest a bit to the left of the pendant she felt under his shirt. ”Do you want to feel my ability with more intensity?” she questioned, wondering if he would accept. If he wouldn’t though she would ask him to tell her about himself.

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Drake would listen and think about her power, wondering for a moment what it sounded like to him “like an aphrodisiac?” he asked, finally finding the word for it. He watched her hand as it moved over him, soon landing on his chest and looking at her when she began talking. Drake heard her ask if she could try using her power on him at its full intensity wondering just how it would make him feel. He was silent before finally speaking up on what his decision is “I am willing to try how it feels.” he said looking to her giving a consenting nod to her as he waited for whatever was about to hit him.

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Alistar chuckled softly at his comparison of her powers. ”Uh, well sure. An over simplified way of putting it but I suppose that works.” she waited to find out his answer and a devious smile spread over her lips. ”Just remember you agreed.” with a grin her hand fisted in his shirt and pulled him down the tiny bit she needed as she leaned up and kissed him. Her other hand going around to the back of his head to thread into his hair and hold him. Now normally she could have just done this by touching his chest like she had been but she thought it would be funnier to kiss him. Most people reacted more to a kiss than someone just putting their hand on your chest right? The full force of her ability would hit him immediately and continue even after she broke the kiss because she was still holding his shirt to keep him steady. Now what would he do?

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Drake was shocked by the kiss but her power turned that shock into something else. Waves of pleasure hit him and for a moment there wasn't a single worry or painful thought in his mind whatsoever. Drake slowly began kissing her back, gently hugging her back and holding her close as if she would fall if he didn't hold onto her. His kiss was gentle, loving, and thankful. Drake would feel something build up and release, but in that moment all he thought of was this moment he was sharing with Alistar. It felt right to focus on trying to please her as well during their kiss. As she pulled away he sighed, feeling a lot of stress leaving his body before he noticed something “ah….I see. That was a very intense moment Miss Alistar Bastet” he said blushing “and it seems I will need to clean when I return to my dorm. That ability of yours….I find it is rather a warm and kind one….it reminds me of the times I was visited by my goddess” he said to her thinking to those moments fondly as he was still relaxed “So thank you for letting me….i think enjoy them would be the best way to put it yes?”

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Grinning into the kiss she was happily surprised as he returned the favor and his body seemed to wake up. She had started to wonder if he was the type who just didn’t respond physically. They were rare for her to meet but they did exist. They were actually the harder marks to kill. Making sure he was steady before stepping back and letting him go she knew the effects would start to wear off but the blush on his face was just too adorable. ”Such a cutie.” she giggled, nodding to him. ”Call me Alistar. The whole Miss Bastet thing really isn’t my style. I hope you enjoyed it.” Which from the way he looked and what he said she believed he did. She blinked though and a faint blush hit her own cheeks. ”Never had anyone describe my power like that before. Or likened to a goddess visiting, but I guess that is a good thing. So I’ll take the compliment.” she laughed and put both hands on her hips winking at him. ”Anytime Akl. Now, will you be on your way to go clean your dorm?” she laughed softly rephrasing what he had said to help him save face; even as she watched him with an amused expression.

Alistar whistled as she walked wanting to check out the café again. She had first had it with Kehaw but that was for breakfast. Curiously she made her way in and looked around. Picking the same seat she had sat in before she picked up the menu and started looking it over tapping her lips with a nail as she thought about which cake to get.

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Drake was getting close to the end of his shift when he noticed a familiar face. Drake walked over and poured her a cup of water “ have you made a choice of what you would like to eat miss Alistar?” he asked her calmly, waiting to take her order. It was interesting to see her in here but he saw a lot of people come in and out of the cafe so she wouldn't be so different. He was curious as to what she would want to eat.

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She barely looked up as she heard a waiter come over and pour her a glass of water. It wasn’t until she heard a familiar voice that she did. Cocking an amused eyebrow she took in his appearance and took her time looking him over. ”Aww and you even took the time to remember my name.” she cooed at him smiling a mischievous smile. Laughing she looked to the menu and sighed undecided. ”Strawberry shortcake?” she said out loud seeming to think about it for a moment before nodding and handing him the menu. ”Yeah we’ll go with that.” giving him another smile she watched him walk away her eyes lingering on his form. A soft amused smile on her face as he came back eventually with her order. ”So you work here? When do you get off my adorable puppy?” she asked wondering how he would react to her nickname for him.

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Drake would nod “ of course. I enjoyed the time we had and I often remember names.” he said, watching her for a moment as she looked at the menu, seeming unsure at first but soon decided that she would have a strawberry shortcake. “ I will go and make that fresh for you” he said and walked away doing as he said and came back with a piping hot and fresh strawberry shortcake placing it in front of her “ Yes I do and I will be off shift after you are finished. I don't leave while i have a customer i served still at their table” he told her “ also i thought i was Akl not puppy? Or do you often give multiple nicknames to others?” he asked her curious to the answer she might give

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Alistar was chuckling and lifting an eyebrow as he told her that he enjoyed their time together and that he would often remember names. ”Well I would hope that you would have enjoyed that.” a satisfied smirk rest upon her lips as she looked him over. She nodded at him as he told her that he would make her order fresh for her. She was sure he probably did that with everyone. Letting the cake cool for a moment she listened to him and rolled her eyes. ”Then consider yourself done and join me.” it wasn’t a request. It was an order as she picked up a fork and pointed at the chair opposite of her. ”You are Akl and a puppy.” Amber eyes looked up at him with a very predatory glint. ”Don’t you enjoy being obedient prey?” she chuckled taking her first bite of her cake and savoring the flavor. Closing her eyes she let out a soft content moan enjoying the taste.

Licking her lips she waved the now bare fork dismissively. ”You are the only one who has earned a nickname so far. So count yourself very lucky.” she couldn’t remember the last time she had given anyone a nickname. Granted she typically wasn’t around people long enough to know them, to even bother. Taking another bite of the cake she took her time chewing and swallowing as she watched Drake curiously.

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Drake would glance at the boss when she told him to join her the old man simply nodded and Drake would sit down listening to her. Drake thought of the honor she was apparently bestowing on him by giving him a nickname and the look she gave him. “ Alistar, is there something after that I can offer?” he asked her, his hands on the table looking her over trying to read her language. She was hungry for something and she was definitely hunting for something and apparently he had it.

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A sly smirk graced her lips as he finally sat down and point blank asked her if there was something that he could offer her. Tilting her head she chuckled and shrugged. ”That is completely dependent on you, child. Do you think you have anything I would want?” she continued to eat her cake watching him. Did he know his own value?

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Drake would listen and think “ I don't know.” he said his eyes locking with hers “ you seem to think there is something but I honestly think of anything i am able to do that you either can't do yourself as an assassin or would really matter that much. So in truth I feel I have nothing to offer to warrant the interest you're showing other than just my simple company” he said, being blunt and honest in how he viewed himself.

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Pausing, she listened to his assessment of himself and tilted her head. Purple hair falling around her shoulders as amber eyes searched his. ”So you consider yourself an incompetent assassin?” she asked, the humor draining from her eyes. She was not a fan when people didn’t seem to understand their own value. ”Why do they let you work here if you aren’t able to do anything?” she asked eating another bite of the cake he had made her.

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Drake raised a brow “ I am able to make food, draw pictures, and play piano. I have my training but you seem to have equal training to me. I am not saying i am unable to do anything i am merely stating i don't understand why you have the eyes of someone hunting for something they want” he said calmly “ because the truth of it is I am not a handsome man, I don't socialize well, and my understanding of the world has been ruined for a very long time” he said noticing the change in her expression “ I am also confused what has suddenly annoyed you as well”

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Alistar sat back in her chair, lifting an arm to rest on the back of it as she stared at Drake silently. Her eyes looked very akin to a lazy annoyed cat. ”Let’s get something straight, yeah? I would wipe the ground with you. Don’t ever question that.” again her eyes and tone said nothing but promise. She may have found him amusing and adorable but she had no attachment to him. She could just as easily walk away from him at any point and never look back. She’d done it countless times before in her long life.

With a lazy eye blink she cocked her head to the side. ”Who and what I hunt are not your concern.” she spoke lowly before sighing and rubbing the bridge of her nose. ”Are you that dense?” she could feel a headache coming on. ”Or do you just not have any confidence in yourself?” that had to be it. Staring at him as if she were trying to decipher what kind of puzzle she was looking at she shifted and stood fluidly reaching out and turning his chair with him in it to face her. Bracing one hand on the back of his chair and the other on the table next to him she leaned closer, giving him an annoyed but pointed look. ”Normally I would walk away and let you wallow in your self-deprecation but for some reason it pisses me off. So I’m going to school you a bit.”

Taking a deep breath to center herself she leaned back slightly and looked him over critically. ”When I look at you I see a man in a child’s body and mentality. I see someone who has gone through something in his life that forced him to shove himself into the far recesses of his mind to survive. I’ve seen it before because I’ve lived a very long time.” leaning back she stood and put her hands on her hips staring at him intensely. ”You take the skillset that was, I’m guessing here, forced on you, and neglecting it to fit everyone else’s norm. Own that shit. It’s part of you now and who the fuck cares what other people think is good enough? You know I have the same skill set. So does that mean I am unattractive?” she quirked an eyebrow daring him to tell her she was. It would be his last words because she damn well knew she was hot. ”You asked me what I want from you?” she leaned down, leveling her gaze with his. ”It’s changed now. I want you to see your own self-worth.” her tone took on a velvety growl at the end.

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Drake was soon confused by the feelings he had in this situation he found himself in. Her instant dismissal that he wouldn't be a match for her and this oddly enough annoyed him. Did she think he was weak? Sure he wasn't at his best but he knew his ability. Then she didn't answer his question about what she was hunting for saying it was not his concern but considering it was about him he felt it was his concern at least somewhat. Then she seemed upset and said he was self-deprecating and that had him thinking back to what he said having not realized he had been doing that but going over the words he could see how that was somewhat true. She talked about owning his skill set and asked if she was unattractive which of course wasn't the case before going on to say her want from him had changed to seeing his own self worth.

He was silent looking at her as she was close to him being in his personal space, his eyes never looking away as he thought. Finally drake spoke after carefully thinking on how he wanted to reply to her. “ You're right about me having to shove who I was into the back of my mind. It had to be done or I would have gone insane sooner than I did. But me losing my mind is in the past and I have regained it so that isn't an excuse for that action of recessing my feelings to be continuing to go on which is something i am working on” he told her before shaking his head “ and you are far from unattractive. There is an elegance and beauty to you I don't see in others. Even these scars you have only seem to accentuate your beauty” he said looking to one of her arms and traced one “ i find you to be akin to a well thought of painting” he said before his eyes locked back on to hers “ as for my skill set i do not neglect it for others but due to my own ignorance. I am unsure how to apply it to the life I am trying to set up for myself, which is rather aggravating if I can be honest about it. But there is a misunderstanding i would like to clear up” he said sitting straighter as he kept the eye contact intact. “ I do not have much confidence in the you I am presenting to you for some of the reasons I said along with some other personal issues that rise up in moments of weakness but If there is something I know it's that things will and can change even if it seems impossible. I will become the person I desire to be and of that I swore upon my goddesses name some time ago here in this school. There is no growth without struggle and yes I will have weak moments but I wont stop trying, that is what you should know” he said sitting there “ but what of you. What future do you desire? What drives Alistar? Do you have regrets or insecurities?” he asked calmly “ and before you ask i am curious to learn about you and i am not sure how to explain why”

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She had to give the kid props. Her Akl didn’t break her gaze as she chastised him. Lesser men would have given up and looked away in the face of her wrath, but of course her Akl wouldn’t. Crossing her arms under her chest she stood just far enough away from him that if he turned in his chair his knees would just barely brush her legs. She listened to him with a raised eyebrow letting him say his piece. It would be false if she were to say she didn’t preen a little at his compliment. Goosebumps even rose up as she felt his hand touch one of the scars on her arms. With a soft huff to control her reaction she let it turn into a chuckle. That predatory look coming back to her eyes. ”Wanting to paint me Drake?” she was reminded of a line from a movie about a sinking ship.

His words about not knowing how to use his skills had her sighing. His handlers must have been so very narrow minded. In a softer voice she explained. ”Use the skills you have in ways that you wish they could be used.” she looked around the café they were in before waiting for him to finish speaking before offering him a hand to pull him to his feet. Holding his hand she pulled him outside and paused to turn and look at him. She could tell he hadn’t lied to her or even tried. She appreciated that. ”You have a lot of drive and that is a good thing. Now. If I stand here…” she moved to stand in a particularly open space several feet away. ”Tell me. What areas would be best to assassinate me from afar?” she wanted him to use his skills to pick out the ways he could kill her. She completely ignored his questions about herself and instead turned their impromptu meeting into a mini training session. She hadn’t particularly liked his questions and so chose not to answer them. She didn’t want to lie.

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Drake thought about her question “ I wouldn't mind painting you” he answered before being lead out into the hall not sure what she meant and thought about it “ shoot you from here, throw a dagger from there keeping hidden, poison dart from their in your blind spot and make sure the shot was unnoticeable so it is a delayed death” he said thinking of the quickest ways to kill her from the parameters given to him “ Now do i get my questions answered?” he asked wondering why she was avoiding giving him any real answers

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Alistar smirked as he answered her deftly and didn’t even bat an eye. Again she didn’t answer his questions right away. ”Now, what would make those scenarios more difficult? What would maybe prevent them?” she tilted her head assessing him. ”Being painted by you may not be such a bad thing.” she chuckled at the implications of her words but let that joke fall flat. ”Win this training round and I’ll answer a question as a reward.” She waited challenging him. ”If you can.” Would he take the bait?

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Drake raised an eyebrow at her ignoring his questions before offering her a deal “ so you will answer a question i ask?” he asked but figured she wouldn't be lying. “ Move in a crowd, wear thicker clothing, a body guard, moving along walls so as to limit blind spots” he said “ those i think are enough to pass this. Now I believe I do get one of my questions answered, correct?” he asked her, wondering what all this was about. There was something coy about her but he wasn't seeing it for some reason.

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Listening to him the amused look never left her face. Leaning towards him slightly she held up one finger and dramatically took a breath before just breathing out. ”Uh No. You fail. You altered the parameters of what I gave you. There is no crowd here. You assume your target knows how to move along walls etc. The point I was trying to make.” she walked back towards him and paused just in front of him. Tilting her head slightly to look up at him. ”Was that you can use your skills of knowing how to kill someone. To prevent them from being killed.” she smiled at him sweetly and teasingly. ”You’ll have to wait until the next lesson to get any of your questions answered Akl. Now, when do you want your next lesson to be?” she crossed her arms again giving him a slightly smug look.

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Drake listened wondering just how he had changed the parameters but he didn't argue figuring it would be a waste of time. However what she pointed out about his skills had never crossed his mind. Plan out how to kill someone you want to protect then think of counter measures to those methods was, to him, inspired. “ Next week, same day?” he asked her calmly. Apparently she was teaching him now which he didn't mind “ And maybe after that lesson i will try painting you” he said with no hint of flirt or joking in his voice but being truthful and albeit a bit blunt about the offer.

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Blinking it was hard for her to admit even to herself that she was vaguely disappointed that he didn’t say right now. Granted she was finding that men that this school were not the same as the men she generally came into contact with. There just seemed to be more who didn’t want to just have sex and be done with it. Lifting a hand to her cheek she leaned her face in that direction thinking as she listened to him. A faint pink hint tinted her cheeks as he brought up the painting again. She had to wonder just how dense this boy really was. Did she want to corrupt something that pure? Closing her eyes she didn’t lie to herself about this one. One side of her wanted to so bad it wasn’t even funny. The other wanted to nurture him, mother him, and watch him grow. It was a strange and very awkward dynamic. With a soft sigh she smiled and shook her head before looking at him and smiling. ”Sure handsome. I’ll come by after you get off work. I’ll let you go get some rest and continue the evening on your own.” she winked at him playfully. Letting the smile and pretense drop from her face as she turned away from him she waved as she walked away and put her hands behind her head, alone.