[center][h3][b][color=39b54a]Doctor George Mann[/color][/b][/h3][/center]

Sitting with the other teachers behind the Headmistress as she gave her speech to the students in the gym, George Mann supressed a yawn. He had been up all night flying around the Academy grounds as a crow. Feeling the wind through his feathers, the great sense of freedom… He always flew when he was stressed. And with the death of that poor girl, Natalie Coleman, Dr. Mann had been particularly stressed. The place where he saw generations of children grow into adults and go out into the real world, their powers finally realized, had been defiled with the blood of an innocent.

Not normally given to strong emotion Dr. Mann took a deep breath, settling his nerves. He had to be extra watchful this year. Emma had asked him to be, and he couldn’t refuse anything the Headmistress asked of him. He owed her this much, at the very least.

As the speech ended and the students began to wander off to get their packets, Dr. Mann stood up and excused himself from the other teachers. He needed to get away from the large crowd, away from all the noise. He needed time to let his mind relax and regain focus. His face sitting in its normal stern expression, it hid the turmoil going on inside his head.



Navigating the corridors of the Academy with the ease that comes from years of experience, Dr. Mann was startled to see a young woman already wandering the hallways ahead of him. She had moved fast, but seemed more inquisitive than lost. She seemed to be enjoying the freedom in fact, as he watched her spread her arms and pirouette around as she walked. 

He recognized her after a few moments observation. She was the Ukrainian girl. An interesting case. He had chatted with her for a short while before the welcoming ceremony. What was her name? Natalia!

Straightening his tie, and putting on one of his friendlier smiles, he walked up to her, calling out in greeting. “Hello Natali. It is good to see that you are in high spirits."

She turned, looking at Dr. Mann, grinning. She truly was a beautiful woman, he noted. It seemed quite likely that she would be receiving the attention from boys in the Academy in no-time. "I told you to call me Valkyrie." She put her hands on her hips, strutting out her waist as she walked to him "How has it been, doctor? I heard you had a date with the head mistress!" She had a cool and calm composure letting out an coy smirk.

"I have been well Natali, thank you for asking." He said calmly. She seemed like the playful type, he thought. But more intriguing to him was where the rumours about his Emma’s relationship came from. The rumours weren’t incorrect exactly, but they weren’t entirely true either. He sighed inwardly, remembering the old saying ‘Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.’ Seemed like the opposite was true though. "And no, the 

Headmistress and I do not have that sort of relationship." He gave her a faint smile, his green eyes flickering with bemusement. "Has something pleasant happened to you? You seem to be in exceptionally high spirits."

She straightened his tie, bending over as she almost leaned against him "Well, I am here..' She paused, thinking her words "I was bored at home, as they say... Parents equals lame?" She smiled "And here I can be me. Do you feel the same, ever?"

His hands went up to readjust his tie as he took a step away from her, his face unchanged from its faint smile. He hated it when people got too close to him, but he wouldn’t push the girl away. The students here needed attention and care, not neglect and avoidance. "Please don't do that Natali." Letting his hand fall back to his side he tilted his head slightly. "It is good you find it exciting, and perhaps enjoyable here. As for me feeling the same... What do you mean? The same what?"

"Do you not like it here?" She folded her hands behind her back, standing on her haunches, then going onto her toes. She had been like that during the ceremony to, he recalled. She looked constantly restless.

"I enjoy it very much. It is always a pleasure to teach the next generation." He said with a relaxed tone. It also helped that he was near the Headmistress and had a roof over his head, a bed to sleep in, and a nice secluded location to use his powers in. But she didn’t need to know that. "I wouldn't work here if I didn't take enjoy my job, or take pride in it."

She wheeled around "Do you think I could be an teacher?" She faced one of the paintings on the walls, studying its features. It was an original of some lesser known artist. Still seemed fancy though.

He nodded to himself. "Of course. You can be whatever you wish Natali, just make sure it appeals to you."

"Such endearment. Why don't you ever give the going away speech? You should this year!" She snickered, and swaggered herself, to start walking.

"Public speeches are not my forte." He said with a slight shrug, the idea of addressing a large crowd leaving a bitter taste on his tongue. "Nor do they appeal to me. The Headmistress is better suited to such tasks, so I leave matters like that in her capable hands."

"Such.. capable hands. I am sure you think fondly of them. Tata, my Aragorn." She kissed her hand, and waved to him, as she started to skip past him down the hallway.

He sighed quietly, but smiled none-the-less. She may prove to be a handful. At least she had good taste in literature. "Goodbye Natali. Stay well."

"Valkyrie!" She shouted, before launching herself around a corner and out of sight.

Dr. Mann rubbed a hand through his hair wearily. This was definitely going to be a busy year.

[b][Joint IC between Tapscott and Maelvona][/b]