Katiel spent the lunch break sitting beside Lance, alternating between polite conversation and pointed glaring at the brute sitting next to Kari. She had, in all fairness, handled the situation admirably. Katiel sighed slightly, taking a bite of the food in front of him. It was pleasant, to eat once more. The food was not all that good in and of itself, but his tongue greeted it like a long-lost friend. Though the physicality of his present form had its limitations, he could not deny that he experienced a profound joy in the simple pleasures of life. The effect was ruined by Jack's proximity to Kari, however. Katiel simply did not trust him - he could see the violence running through his face. But then that was, of course, why Katiel was subject in the hierarchy of justices, rather than the hierarchy of mercies.

[b]"So how do you know Kari?"[/b] Lance asked, looking at the man beside him with a wide-eyed interest. [b]"I don't think I've seen you around before - you're new, right?"[/b]

[b]"I was assigned to her as a personal guardian to make sure she wasn't killed."[/b] Katiel said, barely paying attention to the conversation. He then snapped to attention, realising what had just come out of his mouth. Lance looked at him strangely, then shrugged and dismissed it as a brush-off. Lance was used to people making fun of him at this point: this kind of sarcastic 'none of your business' was all too familiar.

[b]"She's really something, isn't she?"[/b] Lance said, staring over at Kari wistfully. [b]"We have a couple of classes together. Have you heard her play the piano? She's friggin' amazing. Super talented, like a prodigy or something... you're not her boyfriend, are you?"[/b]

[b]"Nope."[/b] Katiel replied. He looked at Lance curiously, studying his face for a moment. [b]"Are you?"[/b]

[b]"I friggin' wish! I mean, look at her! She's pretty, talented, smart... I don't talk to her much, though. I don't think she likes me."[/b] Lance sighed. [b]"Sucks to see her with Jack. Friggin' meat-head. How did you get him to let go, anyway? He's like, a foot taller than you are."[/b]

[b]"The human body is a complex organism, replete with pressure points and weaknesses. You just need to know what you're doing."[/b] Katiel said. At that moment, the bell rang and he stood up without properly saying goodbye to Lance, instead keeping a very careful eye on Kari and making sure that he arrived to their next class at the same time as she did.