[center][color=9966CC]Main Story — Oakridge Campus — Administration Offices[/color][/center]
Rui almost jumped three feet into the air when a hand planted itself onto zher head. Zhe might have “accidently” hit the person behind zhim had it not been Alabaster, but the second Rui registered his face, zher expression of surprise bloomed into a warm smile. “Al!”

“Pestering Eric again, huh?”
“Of course! I need my daily dose of Annoying-The-F-0ut-of-Eric. It’s part of a complete breakfast for—… hey!” Rui’s tone quickly turned into one of concern and zhe tried to stop Alabaster when he took the coffee out of zher hand, “careful Al! It’s still hot!” Rui was ready to get some cold water, but when Alabaster gave the cup back to zher without changing an expression, zhe relaxed.
“Try the hazelnut next time.”
“They’re out of hazelnut. Plus, I got this to ruin Eric’s suit. I needed it to be blacker than my soul.”

Before Rui had the chance to do anything else, Olivia appeared right next to Alabaster. It was subtle, but it would take more than subtle for Rui not to notice that an awkward moment passed between Olivia and Alabaster. A quick trip to memory lane gave Rui enough to know why. Zhe decided against commenting, however.

“Rui, was that really necessary? You can be such a bitch sometimes, it’s not healthy.”

Rui stuck zher tongue out at Olivia, “You know what else is not healthy? Overdrinking.” Zhe knew zhe didn’t have to say more to hint at the fact that Rui knew what crossed Olivia’s mind. Not that Kade’s arrival gave Rui or Olivia say much more.

As Kade spoke, Rui finally retaliated Alabaster toying by leaning all zher weight against him. If he was using zher head as an armrest, zhe was going to use him as a wall. It was a playful and harmless interaction. Rui could have done much worse in retaliation, but it was highly unlikely that Alabaster would ever be the target of such action. Compared to interaction’s with other people, Rui’s banter and toying with Alabaster was toned down signify. Almost like a vicious beast trying to pet a small fluffy animal: the pets are gentle and caring, but reserved as well; the beast wants to love and protect the small animal as best as it can, but it knows that monstrous things it could do. The beast knows it would eventually become feral and that it would hurt the small animal the most.

When Alabaster suddenly ruffled Rui’s hair, zhe looked up, ready to complain about how much time and care it took to make it look perfect, but ended up not saying a word as zhe stared at his face. Zhe unwrapped one of the granola bars and pressed it against the tall man’s lips. As soon as his lips parted, for one reason or another, Rui pushed the granola bar into his mouth then immediately ruffled his hair as much as zhe could. He still had to pay for messing zher hairdo after all. Such a terrible crime was quickly forgiven, however, as Rui gave a reassuring hand squeeze. Zhe didn’t actually say anything, but zhe wanted to let Alabaster that he was not alone. 

Then, Cid Dysley came. 

Instantly, Rui’s facial expression lost all warmth and zher body stiffened. Zhe said nothing to Cid like some of the others. Zhe just stared at it him with a blank stare. The only time Rui wasn’t a living statue during this brief moment was when Eric stood up to move. Rui turned to Eric and shoved the coffee and two granola bars into his hands. If Eric seemed confused, Rui simply responded with, “Better than throwing it away.” No one needed to know that zhe got extra granola bars just in case someone was in the same predicament as Eric nor did anyone need to know that coffee was a natural appetite suppressant that might help with Eric’s hunger for a short period of time. After Eric took Rui’s “leftovers,” Rui resumed being a living statue. 

After everyone present entered his office, Cid finally broke the silent staring contest, “Will you not be joining us?”

[hr]
“No, Headmaster Cid Dysley.” Rui’s voice and stare was just as aloof as the physical distance was between zhim and the headmaster, “I would to prefer to stay out here until my presence is required.” The corner’s of Rui’s mouth elevated, but Cid knew that the young graduate was not actually smiling, “Unless you would like to order me to come inside, Headmaster Cid Dysley.” 

Cid held eye contact a little longer. Despite the space between them, he felt as though he could clearly see his own reflection from Rui’s dark deadpan eyes. He sighed and smiled weakly, “Come inside when you are ready, Rui. I’ll call you—… I’ll send one of your friends out to call you in when we need to begin.”

“As you command, Headmaster Cid Dysley.”

Before closing the door behind him, Cid turned back to look at Rui, “I’m sure you don’t need reminding, but Dr. Edrik is expected to show up… to talk with your appointed team leader.”

Rui’s eye twitched once and only once. “You tell me this as if I have a choice in the matter, Headmaster Cid Dysley.” Rui “smiled” once again, “I advise ‘you’ to not provide the illusion of freedom, if ‘you’ have no intention of giving it… Headmaster Cid Dysley.”