From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/19/2007 19:09:48

An eccentricity of Kanaan was continue fascination in the art of sword craft, when most athletic past times were seen as a bit too common. He liked to sweat andfight out his aggressions and confusions, and ultimately plan out how he would deal with the countless crisises that his students caused, and the ones they faced. He had seen many children in a painful variety of mishaps from teen pregnancy, to out of control powers, to violent illness and injury as well as a child's unmistakable ability to engage in a thousand silly annoying little behaviors that you had never had the imagination yourself to try out.
Including Wilbur Jenkins reading through the school rules and finding no section on livestock care in the school manula and trying to sell a group of pregnant chickens, doves, turtledoves, songbirds and ducks as bonafide familiars to the younger students, ruining a perfectly sound dormitory into a barn.

He was ready to ignore the problems of his students.
When he saw an all too familiar face. A face he very clearly recognized a few nights ago. Of some young man he thought he recognized, and very clearly had been in the company of his poor student Evie, the boy who was forced to work in the dreadful place the Hotel Mosaique, like a slave and forced to do god knows what for money.

And this wretch had the gaul to prey on him. He took a special offense at that for some reason. Though sense and propriety told him he should ignore the man socially and not even look at him, something compelled him to leave the locker room and look him square in the eye and confront him.

He folded his towel and walked straight towards the man.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/19/2007 19:18:28

Chai looked up when he heard someone actually enter the room. Well. That was interesting. Kanaan Devries. Evie had mentioned how he had been at Hotel Mosaique the other day, had told him about their frustrating conversation. that had been after things had gone a more interesting direction.

Chai finally took the moment to wipe the sweat from his brow and raised his head in inclination of greeting. And went back to practice swings on the dummy, twin swords flying in tandem, whirling at quick speeds.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/19/2007 19:45:43

He did have enough sense not to start anything with enyone while holding weapons. but that was more likely instinct.

The man stood around. "Well it appears you haven't let your skills in martial deteriorate. Thongchai Saenamuang." He managed to pronounce correctly but with an inappropriate flourish. He had spent several years trying to pronounce the name correctly only to have the boy leave before Upper school. He even called him by his first nickname like a fool for a few months, as he made sure that the boys were smuggling sweets or destroying the garden by climbing the smaller trees and fighting with each other or picking on the nerds, as they would call it.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/19/2007 19:58:14

Chai wasn't surprised that Devries remembered him, or even his name. That was the kind of man the professor had been. Cold and seemingly cruel to students sometimes maybe, but he always knew each of them by name. Chai was intrigued, however, to hear him pronounce his name close to perfectly. Few people could, even with practice. Devries certainly hadn't been able to say it while Chai was still in attendance at Salem. "My father would be highly disappointed in me if I had," Chai responded. And delivered a resounding thwack to the dummy.

He turned to face Kanaan and asked, politely, "And how have you been, Professor?" It had been years since he'd seen the other man, but he looked exactly the same: dissatisfied. "If I recall you studied the martial arts as well, did you not?"

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/19/2007 20:31:27

"If one is good at something, one has an obligation to cultivate talent and ability." Hesaid "I am coming here in the daytime of late, but it has been a difficult week. From all variety of problems that have arisen to my attention,"
He said a bit crisply.
He still hadn't worked up the nerve to comfort him about the evening, or what he would say to intimidate this reprobate.

He looked at the boy. "Though you seem to be holding back a bit for some reason." He said scratching his chin, his voice laced with double meaning.

"So where have you been? Attending to you families reputaiton and running the household? Making your family proud?"
It was not uncommon for wealthy young men to spent their whole day dealing with affairs of their family, and become professional heirs. Kanaan had tended to the DeVries legacy for several years before giving up that stressful life and doing something of less pressure that he was more suited for. He continued his loaded small talk.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/19/2007 20:43:52

"Ah, that would explain why I haven't seen you," Chai responded, watching DeVries as he spoke. "And if it appears I'm holding back, it's likely because I'd rather not have to spend geld on replacing yet another practice dummy." He'd managed to pulverize one a couple months ago, and that hadn't been the first time. Muay thai was all about force; his father had once told him that strikes didn't count it they didn't make the other person hurt.

"Running the household indeed. I work long hours, as most officials do," he replied honestly. He'd like to think he was making his father proud. He didn't know. he wouldn't ever know. His grandmother however... it seemed her pride would come in his dating and marrying a young woman, having plenty of mage children and continuing in his well-paying and highly respectable job. "It's not easy, but it's what I have to do."

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/19/2007 20:59:15

Immediately Kanaan was made angry by his innocent response. The man didn't have the decency to admit what terrible things he had done, as if he had done nothing at all that was so morally repugnant. Perhaps he had become so debauched and corrupt that he considered such things common place.
"You don't need to tell me a single thing how hard it is to do the right thing. Virtue, forbearance, restraint are all painfully difficult for most." Least of all you sir, you flesh monger. He implied with his voice. It was strange that Chai wasn't ashamed.

Kanaan turned to the wall where the practice weapons hung, before he lost his temper. He was unnerved and felt like decrying the man right now to the public. "Will you be staying long here at the dojo for your session?"

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/19/2007 21:12:21

Of course Chai felt no need to be ashamed. He hadn't done anything wrong. Prostitution was perfectly legal, and he wouldn't have been ashamed even if he had been paying for Evie's services. But Evie had outright refused Chai's money before he even had the chance to offer it, so he'd done even less supposedly wrong.

As much as DeVries may not have wanted to admit it, prostitution was both legal and commonplace. Especially considering how large the Red Light Distrct was. There was no reason to attempt to champion a prostitute who loved his job entertaining.

Chai watched DeVries turn, noticed how he seemed to be teeming with barely leashed rage. Hmm. Seemed like something was bothering him even more than usual. Chai idly wondered if he was still up in arms about Evie's working at Hotel Mosaique, which honestly, he didn't understand the problem. He shrugged. "Perhaps about another hour or so. I have plans for the evening." Plans that included Evie, he hoped. "I'm sorry, I'm not in your way or anything, am I?"

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/19/2007 21:38:50

H elooked at him "Now there is no possible way that I would be allowed to take the dojo for my own personal use." Though secretly he had dreamed about doing such a thing. "Please Feel Free to remain."
He said. "I wanted to leave before the beginners hand-to-hand practice anyway. It gets quite crowded. And grappling does seem undignified to me." He said.

He could probably go for some more sword craft and its mechanical aggression. Even the training drills would do more for his mood then most silly conversation.
"So just remain exactly where you are after all you were here first."

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/19/2007 21:47:54

Chai tilted his head. DeVries actually did seem more irate than usual. Chai watched him for a moment, wondering at his clipped answered and tense posture before finally asking, "If you wanted to spar, Professor DeVries, instead of simply waiting...?" He trailed off, uncertain if he should have made the offer. But DeVries looked like he needed to work off some tension, and Chai really did need an actual person to spar with.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/19/2007 21:57:12

He looked at him "Out of the question." He said a little too sharply "You are my student and it would be a bit of an uneven match between the two of us."
He said, "well. I only brought one sword. Not that my decades of experience, ruthless training schedule and dedication to sword craft would give me the advantage over you. I would never say that." Though he would imply it. But it was silly, Kanaan could go around fighting those he was angry with. He wouldn't have enough time.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/19/2007 22:02:12

Chai raised his eyebrow. "Uneven? Well, I suppose I have had a great deal of practice, but I do think you could hold your own against me," he replied, a challenge in his words. He had utmost and well-placed confidence in his skill, and didn't doubt that he was anything less than a master of muay thai.

He twirled his blades, lightning-fast. "I'm glad you wouldn't say that you'd have an advantage over me, DeVries. I didn't think you were a man to lie."

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/19/2007 22:37:29

No good could come from boasting. And now he had something to prove. Perhaps a thrashing would teach this young man to live a better life.

"I'll need another weapon." He said "I accept your challenge."

"Perhaps we'll suffer a surprise about how innaccurate I was about my advantage." He said.

His style certainly not as fast, resting in the circular momentum of his blade. Precis, well timed and slow. He stood still giving a nod of salute. Almost as if he had stopped entirely.

The blow of his sword wasn't something a man could easily walk away from if places just right and he didn't see the need to continue a fight beyond that single dramatic and well placed blow to the head or back.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/19/2007 22:51:20

"There are extra swords along the wall there, but I can fight with just the one if you prefer," Chai responded. "Or a staff. Or hand to hand. Where is your strength, DeVries? Where do you think you'll have an advantage?" The words were amused, but Chai pointed out multiples of the varying weapons in the room. He would adapt his style if necessary.

He gave a respectful bow as a precursor to the match, and waited for an answer, but added, "And DeVries? I'm not your student any longer. I haven't been for six years. You have absolutely no need to continue to speak as though I were. We are men ready to prove our mettle. I'm ready when you are."

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/19/2007 23:26:10

He became a bit emboldened as the man lightly egged him on, though lightly. As if he wouldn't be a warrior in his own right.

"Then, If I have no obligation to protect you, I think that you should prepare to have a very sore bottom, when I spank you with this." He said gruffily. He took the small blade, akin to a wakizashi, which would nicely as a dagger. No need to pick up extra weapons. But it was only fair to begin the match completely even. If the man had two swords he should have two swords as well. If one man had a handicap the other should as well to make all things as sportsmanlike as possible.

He waited to calculate the blow, knowing that the first aggressive motion forward made the body vulnerable.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/19/2007 23:36:16

Chai might have laughed, were he a different person. The comment was probably meant to strike at his age. He might have carried on the fighting banter, but he was already in battle mode, his eyes serious. He shifted weight, back, forward, left right and he gave DeVries a measured look. A preliminary bow to show respect for the martial arts, and he was moving.

The first strike often leaves the body open, but not when a muay thai master fights with two weapons. His right had struck with offensive force, and his left brought up a strong defense. His first move was a test, to be honest, a test to guage DeVries' own abilities. Chai wasn't moving quite as quickly as he had been just now, but it was a certainty he could in the blink of an eye.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/20/2007 00:17:07

He blocked the attack and pressed the riposte so hard that it would have broken the defenses of another lesser fighter. After many years of fencing he had an instinctive and explosive counteract, that was aimed well, and landed, but struck the tiniest bit too slow.
His moves were clean classical and simple, but with enough force and precision to nearly follow through.

He pulled back again drawing Chai inexorably forward.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/20/2007 00:29:44

It nearly broke through Chai's. Nearly. DeVries was strong, Chai granted him that. Not as quick as Chai, but very strong. Chai flowed with the move, delivering a sharp blow to the arm DeVries struck with, an incredibly precise blow that would likely swell and bruise later.

Chai moved forward like DeVries seemed to want him to, but his movements were every changing. He kept moving, but his eyes never left Devries' face, not once. he was reading him, waiting to see what he'd do next, waiting to see if his next blow was as precise and strong as the first.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/20/2007 17:24:51

Kanaan could withstand quite a few blows and it would take more to bring him down. It was better to get hit in the arms and legs then in the hands and knees and ankles.
They both circled each other, each step drawing away from Chai and circling him, trying to predict his stride to see how far his range was, and to see if he was aggressive enough to come closer.
The best swords men knew skills that made it unnecessary to clash and clatter swords against each other.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/20/2007 17:56:49

It was a good think DeVries could withstand a bit, because Chai had barely begun. DeVries had yet to land a hit; instead he still seemed to be measuring Chai, waiting for him to step in, to possibly leave himself open. Chai however was waiting for DeVries to do something besides that one attack he'd made. Swords clashing meant nothing, but it meant even less if they made no contact at all.

Chai was maybe an inch or two shorter than DeVries, but they seemed rather evenly built. Chai's years of training had him lithely muscular, and very strong, but not bulky. It's how he kept his speed up. He went in again, both attack and defense strong - defense stronger, as he remember how hard Devries' first blow could have hit.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/20/2007 23:51:56

Kanaan seemed to be looking down at the mans feet, not the range of his sword but also his stride. Faster younger and just a bit shorter in the arms.

As he attacked this time he drew him further away from the center. He had experience to know that Chai was in the wrong place for him to make an effective strike.
He led the boy to the right and the position of his hips made his front and back exposed. One more frontal assualt was all it would take.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/21/2007 00:03:59

Chai could tell Kanaan was leading him away from the center of the room. He was on his guard, as well he should be, but for what he didn't know. All he did know what that this did not at all seem like a sparring match at all. So far all Devries had done was block once and stare at Chai. It was clear he was measuring him.

Chai shook his head and bounced back just out of reach, an unusual move for a muay thai fighter. Out of character for him, he spoke. "We don't much seem to be getting anywhere, DeVries. You just gonna keep watching me or do you plan to fight? I'm not moving too fast for you, am I?"

Chai wasn't a shit-talker, never in a fight. At least never after the match began. But it it took a little goading to actually get Devries to do something then so be it. If not, this 'match' would just be a waste of time.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/21/2007 00:18:03

Away from the center of the room the fighter faced him frontally, leaving his front exposed. He knew their eyes locked so with precise and deceptive feint towards his stomach he indicated he would give a frontal attack with his side arm as he stepped into place.
His side arm crossed Chai's Blades he used his sword to give rude upward thrust into his ribs, above the hip,side stepped his Chai's riposte and ended up behind him.

The single move took a second of time.
"See that would have killed you." He said taking a defensive stance again protecting his chest and thigh. not allowing his fron to face Chai at any second of the bout.
And Chai was still moving. He had made a man cry with that blow. Now they were more even, though his blow should count more as it was more techinically precise and proficient. But he said nothing about that.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/21/2007 00:25:23

Chai took the hit hard, but he whirled and came back swinging. That was muay thai style. He wouldn't pretend DeVries's hit hadn't hurt, because there had been some serious force behind it. But Chai's own father had hit him with punishing blows, blows that nearly broke his arm, and expected him to come back swinging.

And so he did, and there was even a smile on his face as he did. This, This was a fight! He moved like lightning again, and used DeVries' own reach against him. he ducked under those long arms, and came up two quick hits, left then right, equally strong, before bouncing back again.

He was sore where Devries had struck, no doubt, and would definitely be bruising later. But he didn't really seem to mind the hit. If anything, now he was actually enjoying himself. Especially when he struck those two times in rapid succession.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/21/2007 13:34:02

The quick blows left him out of it. Not as forceful as his single blow but their were two of them on his ribs. Which would make moving harder but then all the more important to maintain a set distance. Steeping back he was taking the lead. Striking then step back, waiting for a definitive counteract and then striking another vital area.
He would only wear himself out running and stepping back. Chai would be the one taking the blows. But there was only so fast he could go, before Chai would react quickly and take him out with superficial and quick cuts.
The best he could do was keep his distance and hammer him with debilitating blows. He knew that if Chai got too close he'd be cut to ribbons.
His cardinal element, was not one of endurance or flow but timeliness, and there were a thousand strategems that could unleash power like that. He would blow himself out if he kept in the fighters range of motion. And at least in battle he had the reputaiton of being rather slippery and hard to touch.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/21/2007 13:57:39

Knowing to keep out of Chai's range and actually doing it were two different things. Especially when Chai was ever-moving and could duck under slightly longer arms, and use some of DeVries' own momentum against him. It reminded him of fighting his father. The larger heavier man could still move incredibly fast, but once Chai moved past basics, he learned how to use an opponent's own strength against them.

Not to say this would be easy. He'd have to lure DeVries into coming in to hit again. He could take on hard hit, roll with the awesome blow and deliver two more at quick speed, either increasing in their own strength, or in the same vital areas he'd already struck. It would wear them both down; they'd likely both wind up bruised and sore from the effort, but it would make for one hell of a match.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/21/2007 14:57:01

This is where feints and blocks would do well. If one could lead the fast moving fighter to block a non-existant attack then it would put him in the right position.

A feint with his side arm flinched. He jabbed straight at Chai's heart. and he used the block to push off of the young man's blow, using the momentum to narrowly avoid a blow to his left side. He slipped by him and be at his back again.

He didn't even hesitate to slide his blade across Chai's neck. It was second nature for a fencer for suck displays. Chai's right blow landed in almost the same place.

Kanaan had made a mistake. While he had "cut off his opponent's head," In the match the fight was far from over, and such a move ammounted to nothing but a point in a match. Now he was clutching his battered side.
He only hoped his legs would not tire as soon as Chai's. His torso was a wreck already.As long as he could move he could win. And he was in good condition... for his age.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/21/2007 15:21:14

Chai had side-stepped that blow at his chest, which was how he wound up with the sword at his throat. The move actually impressed him, and he stored it away for later.

His eyes did a rapid sweep of DeVries, noted him holding his side. Chai was making mulch out of his torso, and Devries was landing some incredibly precise blows of his own. It hurt, hurt a LOT, to swing both swords like Chai continued to do, but he ignored the sweat at his brow and the pain in his body to duck and offer some precision low blows.

To DeVries legs. Chai'd worked over good on his upper half, but his legs were still strong. Take them out, he could hear his father's voice saying. Take out his support, his grounding, and you take him down.

Chai's blows were powerful now, his muscles screaming in protest as he forced strength through them. If this worked as well as it should, this fight wouldn't last much longer.

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/21/2007 16:50:15

Kanaan tried to remain far away having a slight more mobility then Chai, but not enough to last as his sword blows were uncommon strong. He dodged a few of them until one blow hit his knee, right in the funny bone.

He let out a growl "FUCK!" He shouted loud enough to be heard everywhere in the dojo.

He was forced to do little more then let himself fall. "Dirty Pool. Trying to cripple me?"

He slid along the floor growling "I shouldn't expect anything honorable from a man who has to hire innocent young boys for his indecent ..." He was a strange picture lecturing and livid and red faced while dragging himself along the ground like a dog. dragging himself on the carpet.

He stood "I'll bet you think you are better then me don't you. He was incredible pain. But to him he wasn't going to bother fighting this battle against someone who would hit an old man in the knee. He actually made it to the post. But damned him if he couldn't stand, it was enough to make his head explode.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/21/2007 19:30:28

Chai's eyes flashed with a rarely seen anger and he moved fast again, pinning DeVries where he lay, twin swords crossed at his throat. "Excuse me?" His swords were easily in a position to move and swiftly crush his windpipe. "I would say something to the effect of how you only complain of my fighting tactics when you begin to lose, but I'd rather focus on what else you said."

He knew the man was referring to Evie, had to be. He must have seen them... Chai's nostrils flared. "Don't throw your judgment on me, DeVries. It's none of your business what I do in my free time. It's even less business of yours what goes on at certain places on Silk Road. And less so the fact that he is neither an innocent nor a young boy, and if fully capable of making his own decisions."

He should have stepped back, before his control snapped further, but he stayed where he was, perfectly balanced over him. It's would be hard, nigh impossible to throw him off with any ease. "And furthermore, it makes little difference as to the fact, but I most certainly did not pay him for his services."

He shook his head in muted disgust. "Is that why you walked in here reeking of barely restrained rage, DeVries? Because your pompous twisted sense of honor couldn't let you deal with the fact that a former student is a prostitute by his own choice and free will?"

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/21/2007 23:40:03

Kanaan growled at being pinned. "Let me up. If this is the choice that Evie made instead of using common sense, then he should have stayed in my responsibility much longer. Where are his parents? Why couldn't they do anything about this?" He hated being pinned. He squirmed.

"Let me up. I won't do a thing to you but give you a tongue lashing now." He grunted at the swelling welts on his body. Making mewling whining noises. "Honestly why didn't you talk sense into him then? You are the one he was with last night." He was no longer angry as much as disappointed. rested his head realizing that he was helpless until the man let him up. "You realize that he will be in danger as long as he lives this sort of life." He softened a bit "What sort of people is he with? How low do they think of him? WHat do they say behind his back, or after they've done with him for the evening?"
Kanaan knew the sort he ran with had no respect and said awful painful gossip when no one was around. He looked Chai in the eye.
"You might think it's safe because everyone is rich and, they have such an attractive lobby, but their is no way to judge that sort of thing. WHat awful things do they say about him? I just don't want to even..."
He was over come with worry. He couldn't stand to see such mistreatment, and disrespect. Kanaan was such a formal guarded lonely soul. All things were far better then to suffer indignity.
He couldn't move because the blades were at his neck. He shouldn't have to justify himself and his violently emotional reaction. But then neither should Chai, and he had acted most terribly toward the young man.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/21/2007 23:52:28

Chai nearly growled at Kanaan. "Evie made his own choice, out of his own free wil. Who am I to come and tell him to do otherwise? Who are you to try the same. He's an adult now, DeVries. He's no longer your student. He need not answer to you, to his parents, nor me." The word 'parents' was said with utter derision. Evie's parents wouldn't lift a finger to help him if help was something he required.

He stepped back then, letting DeVries up as he had requested. "Evie well knows the dangers of his job. He's hardly new to it. He can take care of himself far better than you can imagine, Devries." And I can take care of him too, Chai thought suddenly, but he left that unsaid.

"He doesn't care what people say about him after, DeVries. He's an entertainer; this is what he does, what he loves to do. Can't you see that? Can't you see he's not being mistreated?"

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/22/2007 00:07:28

How long cold it possibly last? Until he isn't so adorable any more or he picks up some loathsome social infection, or he makes light of the wrong man and finds himself with a powerful political enemy to crush him like a bug?"

He sat up "How long is it going to be just for fun? How long before he is stuck doing this for the rest of his life?"

He rubbed back his hair "If you like him. If he is your friend, you should try to protect him from himself. That is what you do for someone you love." He said offhandedly. Only trusting his instincts. "If you don't stop this kind of nonsense now, One day you'll look him in the eye and you'll see this stranger that you can't even look in the eye anymore. And your entire world will be lost. All for freedom, all for nothing. All because they made the wrong choice." He Couldn't believe the depths of experience he was sinking, and what he was revealing to Chai. "It doesn't matter that much in the end when you end up hurt and alone anyway." He shook off his mood, black and brooding.

"Are you alright over there? I didn't concuss your brains out of the head?" He laughed almost absent of pain.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/22/2007 00:13:41

"Who are you really speaking about, Devries? Because I don't think you're talking about Evie anymore. You don't know him, know what he wants, what he can or will do or be. You presume so much about him and his situation because of what? It's more than the fact you were once an authority figure to him, isn't it?"

Chai put away the wooden swords as he spoke. "I like him, DeVries. More than like him. I have for some time. But I will not govern his life. I will not treat him the way his parents once treated him. I will let him be whoever he wants him to be. And if, for some reason he should fall, then if he lets me, I'll be there to catch him and let him soar again. Is that a good enough answer for you, DeVries? Because it's more than I intended to say."

Chai shook his head. "What happened to you, DeVries? What made you feel so bitter and alone?"

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/22/2007 11:39:13

He was quite embarrassed now. He looked down at his feet as he sat. "It was someone that I loved. And someone whom I wanted to be happy, more then my whole life. Someone who made me so deluded as to think that it really doesn't matter what other people say, I used to believe that too." He said "You are young, you have a whole lifetime. How much you can do for another person, before... before something happens to you. Before you start to change. How long is it before you can't recognize yourself, Chai?"
He looked at him "Someone whose nice to you, someone who makes laugh, someone who makes you smile can leave any time. You must find someone that you can trust, someone who is faithful. ANd if you think that is everyone you will ever meet and fall in love with you are in for a lot of pain. I doubt there are many people, in the whole world, you can trust in the world to be faithful, honest, brave, honorable."
He said "Nobody else is worthy. It just all ends up being a waste of time."
He shook his head "But that is all I have to say. What do I know about anything."
Ikra who was not allowed in the dojo room peeked in and stepped one paw into the room. Looking curious. Intense and strange feelings coming out of the room were making him question his paper training as he hovered outside the door.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/22/2007 11:56:17

Chai was completely taken aback. This was a side of DeVries he'd never seen before. He'd held to his belief that the man was just an insufferable and unnecessarily cruel person, the way he treated students when Chai was at Salem. He hadn't thought anything had changed. Maybe he'd never bothered to really look.

"I'm sorry things turned out the way they did, DeVries. But projecting your own relationship with someone onto others isn't really helping either them or you. Look, I thank you for your advice, but I'm just as capable of making my own decisions as Evie is. No one person is perfect. I may not be trustworthy seeming to some, and then maybe there are others who would trust me with their secrets and their lives."

He looked up at the sound, and caught Ikra over by the door. "I might change. You might change. Evie might change. If any of us do, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Or something we should try to change, or avoid. Your concern is appreciated, DeVries, but you can let your former students live their own lives. The only way to truly learn from what may be mistakes is to be allowed to make them."

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/22/2007 13:44:55

He grumbled "Don't even think about it." He called out harshly. But it was to the familiar about to pull down the tassel on a giant Da Dao halberd, though it certainly did need to be played with.

"If you make that mistake you are only going to pray that someone had been there to try to stop you." He said barely mean enough at all for him. "Damn fools everywhere."

He had hoped that there was some comfort that he had these feelings at all. Instead of just letting the young people run off into their oblivion without a struggle. He wished that they having to endure the strict discipline and standards of Salem academy wouldn't have to bother with such terrible things out their in the real world, that he very easily would be the worst thing that they faced. He didn't mind that, if it made their employer or their girlfriend somehow meeker and easy to handle with. No one was coddled no one was given special treatment and in the world of school everyone was equal and treated fairly, even if it conscripted him to a life of stress and labour, others would think of as low-class and without meaning. He couldn't believe the things people did once they were out in the world. And maybe he shouldn't.
Instilling confidence and determination, values and the thirst for knowledge could not spare some people from a life of ease and mediocrity. Then there were those few who did learn their lessons too well, so they would commit some form of political and social suicide as they worked too hard, and followed their hearts and dared to be too exceptional in a bleak sort of world.

Kanaan hated that he had to give up something. He had gotten some glimmer of a stony Earth nature from his sainted father, rest his sould. It was sad he couldn't just allow the young people to float of into their cloud of sugary bliss. He slumped his shoulders, like a man worn down.
"Not a damn thing I can do about it now, you're 'in love' with him." He said trying to be as grumpy and formidable as possible.
He stood up.
"You know you really haven't heard the last of me. I mean you might feel compelled to say all these lovely things now but if in a year or two..." He said "Don't give me that look. Its very thoughtful that you think these things. But somehow or other time will pass and this will be a trial and you both will need help." He said "Do you think that any decent sort of affair like this has ever ever been accomplished with the gargantuan efforts of other people? Considerable risk to reputation and income. Its why half the people in the world get arranged relationships you know."
He felt like he was letting a school boy take his daughter to the dance and not facilitating prostitution, an ethical crime of severe magnitude.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/22/2007 14:07:15

Chai was blinking at DeVries now, an expression of confusion and surprise mingle on his face. In love with Evie? He hadn't said that. But he couldn't really argue the point. DeVries had hit a nail right on the head, a nail Chai wasn't entirely aware of and it had actually stunned him into silence. Silence that let DeVries ramble on for quite some time.

He finally shook his head at the end of DeVries' speech. "Some people have arranged marriages. And some marry for love. I wasn't speaking of marriage, DeVries. I was speaking of the ability to lead one's own life." But he'd been thinking of love without being aware.

He had been planning to change his clothes after his practice session, before showing up at Hotel Mosaique. But it was growing late now, and he was filled with a stronger desire than usual to see Evie. To talk to him... oh this might actually get complicated after all, mightn't it?

"I'm sorry, DeVries. I'm going to have to leave; I have some plans for the evening and I'd rather not be late. And honestly... I don't really think either of us is going to be convinced by what the other has to say."

	From: able_kanaan	Date: 08/22/2007 14:16:23

He gave the boy that terrifying probing stare that most great educators had the one that convinced you of their omnipotence and malevolence. Not that Teachers were incredibly evil or cruel, but that if they were defied they could become so dangerous.
"I don't know." His looked seemed somehow more gentle and comical, like there was something else behind it, perhaps jealousy, perhaps affection, perhaps a grudging admiration.
"You would be surprised, Master Chai." He said "You would be surprised." But said nothing else to clarify.

Barely mobile he was feeling older then ever as he hobbled out of the room. He grabbed the familiar by the scruff. The cute thing looked like it was waving at Chai, or perhaps trying to defend his mage against attack. Either way the creature gave Chai a very strange look of his own as he wriggled to and fro from Kanaan's large hand.

	From: notvanilla_chai	Date: 08/22/2007 14:31:05

Chai remembered that stare. It had frightened his as a small child, during his first years at Salem. It didn't by the time he left, and certainly didn't now.

The conversation had taken an odd turn and left Chai a bit uncertain. He eyed both DeVries and Ikra as he gathered his things and started heading for the exit. He paused though, to look at DeVries and say, respectfully, "I thank you Professor DeVries, for that match. Perhaps we can both continue to train and fight again." Moving had reminded him of his injuries, and it wasn't going to be an easy or comfortable walk over to Hotel Mosaique. He was quite sore, in fact. "I'll be seeing you around, DeVries."

And Chai left, a parting glance at the confounding man. He had plenty to think about on his slow walk back through New Meridian.