[color=E52B50]”Hey, no worries big guy. I saw you dropped them, but didn’t know which class you were in next.”[/color]

If Amy was perturbed by his unclothed state, it didn’t show--one hand gently placed the charms in the massive palm of the lion Faunus, the other went to the back of her head and ruffled up the crimson spikes of her hair as she grinned, her eyes half closed. In contrast to Blaine her posture was relaxed, standing with her hips slightly to the side. 

Hopefully having the charms back would let him relax enough to, you know, allow for regular conversation. Her body language was intended to set him at ease, at least.

Sadly, though a hunter-in-training must be talented in many areas, reading signals was not one in which Blaine was proficient. He accepted the small, wooden medallions with steady hands, his unmoving face broken by a twitching lip. The world swam around him, his head light. The charms were back. His honor restored.

The faunus’s head lowered, his back at a 90 degree angle to his hips. Water dripped to the ground as the words fell from his lips in the brittle tones of a poorly maintained tuba. [color=aba000]“I thank you, ten thousand times over. I will remember this, always.”[/color]

He straightened, back as linear as the art of a discerning 9th grade trigonometry instructor. [color=aba000]“I mean...“[/color] [i]You damned fool, calm down! She knows not what value they bear, you will ruin your second impression! Casual! Act casual!!!”[/i] [color=aba000]“...I ...owe you one?” [/color]

He wasn't calming down, not a lot. Amy tilted her head to the side slightly, letting her arms fall to her sides. None of this had been out of character from her impression of him on the practice field, but she did wish he didn't think the interaction was this high stress.

Then again, if you were going to do the old method of calming down during public speaking--you know, imagining the other person in their underwear--it was probably substantially more difficult if you currently [i]were[/i] in your underwear. She waved his thanks away, smiling widely. [color=E52B50]“Happy to do it. You obviously put a lot of care into them, and I’m glad I could get them back to you.”[/color]

[i]She has no idea. Cool as a cucumber, Blaine. Cool as a cucumber.[/i] The big man relaxed ever so slightly, the last tatters of his shirt falling around him with the small slump of his shoulders. His eyes still shimmered, wet tracks across his cheeks, as the faunus relaxed. He didn’t notice. [color=aba000]“Sincerely, I appreciate this. If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, contact me. I would give you my scroll information, but I lack one currently. So… find my room and knock? This is proper?” [/color]

There was a lilt to the end of his words, and a thirty degree tilt to his head as Blaine spoke these last few sentences. From his understanding, that was still the best way to convey confusion through body language in Beacon. Or sarcasm, depending on the person. He hoped it was the first.

Amy nodded, her smile getting a quirk as he seemed to calm down a little. “Thanks for the offer. And of course,” she said, pulling a piece of paper out of her pocket and tearing it in half, writing something on one half of it and handing him both, with the pencil. [color=E52B50]“Um… just write your information on the blank one and give it back, that way neither of us will forget. My scroll information's on mine, too, if you get a scroll.”[/color]

Accepting the pieces of paper, Blaine jot down his room number on the blank in a flowing, precise script before returning it. [color=aba000]“I believe I will, in all likelihood. School funds are dedicated to most circumstances similar to my own, and a scroll is a vital tool in the field. I anticipate I will receive one before missions.”[/color] His mouth crunched into a broad grimace, revealing his teeth in a rough approximation of a smile. [color=aba000]“Thank you again. You have done me a great service. I am richer for knowing you… Amy?”[/color]


Another nod, her hand reaching out to shake his, her posture relaxing into an easy going one again. [color=E52B50] “That's me. And you're Blaine. We've been football teammates--that was already a bond stronger than stone. So if you need me for anything or just wanna hang out, let me know. Oh, and welcome to Beacon.”[/color]

For just a moment, the smile climbed his face, almost looking like it reached the eyes as Blaine took her hand in a firm grip, surprisingly rough for someone of her stature. This was a good person. [color=aba000]“Thank you. I feel very welcome. Now though, I must leave. I fear my teammates may think ill of me if I tally any further. I wish you a pleasant afternoon, classmate Amy.” [/color]

With that, the towering faunus turned, leaving the shredded remains of his shirt, the football field, and a new acquaintance behind him. With that out of the way, he could find his teammates and move on with bonding! It seemed that today was going to be better than he had thought.

Amy watched him go, a slight smile still on her face, then pulled out her scroll. 

[color=E52B50]
To: Lloyd, Ben; Negasi, Lorena; Naga, Sangue

Potential crisis averted. Are we doing something this evening or nah?
[/Color]

[@Tominas] [@Plank Sinatra] [@Krayzikk] [@NaraK]