Truant (Tag: Astrid)

Riku was bored. This place sucked. He had full mastery on his metal manipulative powers. Training was tedious and a waste of his time. So he snuck out behind the garden for a smoke. He wasn't going to do what some instructor told him if it wasn't going to benefit him some way. He lit up his cig and took a deep drag on it.

Astrid was walking through the gardens, a book in her hands and her eyes focused on it. Actual practise was always good in her opinion but still she liked to reactivate her theory knowledge just to be sure to prevent every bad situation possible. When she had just finished another chapter of her book about the heart she suddenly got disturbed by smoke and tried to wipe it away in the air. "Ugh!" Smokers, she thought to herself. It wasn't like she dislikes smokers in person or such but she clearly couldn't stay the smoke of cigarettes or anything alike.

Riku paused when he heard a soft noise of disgust. He pulled away from the tree he had been leaning against. A smirk spread across his lips when he saw the disgusted blonde. She was pretty, but apparently not a fan of his 'bad' habit. "Got a problem with it?" he asked. "Or was it the book because that looks dull too."

"Because the book?" She repeated, shocked about even the thought about it. Sure, not every book was that great and she couldn´t always know before reading one if it´s worth it or not. But how could a book every be that negative? Impossible! "Uhm well it´s true that I don´t like the smoke of cigarettes at all to be politely honest. However it´s your health and your decision so I can´t do anything about it anyways." She anwered shrugging her shoulders.

"How do you know you don't like it if you haven't tried it?" Riku asked as he offered her his lit cigarette by the butt. He smirked. He doubted a goodie goodie like her would take a huff of the little cancer stick. Yeah, he knew it was hazardous to his health. Every box said 'smoking kills'. He only ever needed one when he was bored anyways. So it wasn't like he was inhaling three boxes a day like some chain smokers.

Raising a brow she gently pushed his hand with the cigarette aside. "No thanks. I only would cough quite heavily, get an aweful taste and might get addicted due the nikotin. Also I don´t feel any need at all to try it."

"Suit yourself." Riku said as he placed the cigarette in between his lips, took one last drag until it was finished off before dropping the butt and squashing it under his shoe to make sure the fire was out. After he exhaled the smoke, turning his head away from her so she wouldn't complain, he picked up the butt before tossing it in the trash. "So what brings you out here?"

Astrid silently watched him taking care of the cigarette. Good, she thought, at least takes care of the garbage. "The fresh air I assume. I was just simply walking around, trying to find a nice place to read my book." She replied with a shrug. "How about you?"

"Skipping training," he replied. He figured that she wasn't going to stand for his tendencies. He would have lit up a second one but he had some form of manners. Riku cast a wary look of the book in her hands. He never spent much time reading. He dropped out of school when he was a kid and never developed the habit or taste for it. "Forget the book."

"Skipping training?" She repeated raising a brow. Now that sounded quite silly. At his suggestion however she was almost about to widen her eyes in shock. Sure, everybody needed a break every now and then but still education was quite important no matter if it´s practical or theoretical practice. "How about you join me instead with a book for your special education?"

"You're kidding right? I'm not reading something someone wrote about my power." he said. Most of the time they got it wrong anyways, or at least that had been his case when he was a kid, when he actually liked reading and doing well in his education. "Live a little Blondie. You really going to follow their rules for the rest of your life?"

"You don't, at all?" She said looking at him with wide opened eyes in shock. In fact she even already let her book drop but luckily catched it just at the right time. "You should rethink about that since it actually, believe it or not, can help you to learn from experience and knowledge from others. Sure, they can be wrong every now or then and you still need practise of course but still. Therefore yes, i'm planning on sticking to the rules, at least that ones and I do know how to have fun, only that it appears that he have a diffrent point of view."

"Yeah well no one understands my powers better than me." Riku replied. Nothing she said could convince him to read some dry as sand article over the uses and control of his powers. He had those down pat. He had control. He had power. "Here I thought you'd be a little fun. Guess I thought wrong."

"Mhm." She just replied, crossing her arms while looking skeptical at him. Sure, normally you yourself know about your own personal body and power best but still there were people with similar conditions which still are at least good for some advices and suggestions. At his remark about her non existing humor though she rolled her eyes before she smirked wickedly at him. "Oh you think so? I can be fun, believe me."

"Then why don't you prove it?" Riku challenged. He doubted she would take him on his offer. She did say she would follow the rules and be a 'good little agent'. Though if he was honest, messing with her was a lot more fun than he had anticipated. She had some pretty vivid reactions to things that he considered mildly tame - like his smoking habit.

"And how exactly would you want me to prove it?" Astrid questioned back, making one step closer to him. Still smirking she wondered what he would want her to do. She still was a `good girl´ but even she knew how to have fun though she highly doubted they would have sharing too much of the same humour.

"Break a rule or two." Riku replied with ease. He smirked at her. "Do something... Risky." He was waiting for her to back out, call him crazy and go on her way. He doubted her. Perhaps he shouldn't have. He was likely to get burned by his own challenge but he didn't mind one bit.

"Risky?" Astrid repeated in a higher voice as she frowed though still kept her smirk. "Well I´m afraid I´d never do anything that would result in me getting kicked out. But there is more than one way or opportunity to risk something or get adrenaline pumping through your body."

Riku smirked in response. "And what would that be?" He asked. Now this was some fun he could really get in on. He really hoped she proved him wrong, breaking a rule, doing something entertaining. If she said something like going to class or doing something that was honestly expected of them he would probably leave and head back to his dorm.

"Well how about you try to use your brain and immagination for that." She replied with a wink at him, wondering what would go through his mind.

"Ladies first," he said. "I unfortunately lack the ability to read your mind." Riku folded his arms across his chest and went back to leaning against the tree behind him. He wasn't about to let himself get taunted into assuming something that wasn't true. "You'll have to show me what you mean."

"Oh I´m sure after time you get used to it. After all we will stay her the next years right?" She replied before taking her free hand to hold her chin while thinking. What could she suggest that would please him`? Arcade maybe? ... Probably too boring. Doing nude bathing in the ocean or spa? Nah ...

Riku raised a brow. He wasn't sure he wanted to get used to someone bring so vague. After a while he wondered if it wouldn't just get annoying. But fine, let her sit there and think. She would probably end up running late or missing her training session if he kept distracting her. "Who says I'll stay in the program that long?" He asked. This was always a temporary thing for him. He never intended to stay long.

While she was still discussing with herself about what to offer him he got her out of her thought and confused her. "You don´t intend to stay in Elite? After you even applied to it?" She questioned.

"I don't stay anywhere long." Riku replied. One way or another he never did, whether it was someone forcing him out like his parents or leaving by his own choice. "Besides, why would it matter to you if I stayed or not? Getting attached to me already Blondie?"