Abuse of Power [Gaston]

[Alyss Heart]

She couldn't seem to get away from this door, could she?

Alyss let out a sigh as she looked at the door to the Headmaster's Office...she was going to have to stop. Again, why would he come back? She knew damn well he up and ran when the school needed him most, and gods didn't take kindly to places where they might actually have to feel shame. She was going to have to stop hoping she'd get a chance to run into him and just talk to him for a bit, or, even more insane, that Tori might actually get the chance to meet her father.

So why. Couldn't. She. Just. Leave?

...perhaps if she tried to get in? Just...one last bit of closure then? It should be easy enough... 

She knelt down by the doorknob, peeking into the keyhole. Within moments she felt a key in her hand, and she used it to open the door...or at least try to...that...that didn't seem to be working. She frowned, pondering before she thought perhaps something was blocking the door...with her Imagination's Eye, she peeked inside.... and the ceiling had caved in. Well then. Holy hell. That certainly answered that question, didn't it? Wasn't quite the closure she was expecting, but...well, there was no way he was in there.

She took a deep breath, and prepared to FINALLY leave that stupid office behind.

[Gaston]

Naveen had been working away inside for a while now - although Gaston imagined he'd probably gotten bored or tired and fallen asleep, as the door was no nearer to being clear and Gaston no nearer to getting in to the office. Frustrated, he had gone to briefly scout out the rest of the building, which had turned out to be pretty fruitless.

As he returned to the Headmaster's corridor, he saw a figure trying to get into the Head's office and his eyes narrowed as he immediately reached for his rifle, swinging it around and pointing it at the girl. He slowly and stealthily crept forward, as he would if he was stalking a deer or a stag on one of his hunting trips.

He was almost beside the girl before he spoke.

"What's your business here? Why are you trying to get into my office?"

[Alyss Heart]

The man might as well have popped up and screamed with how far back she jumped, how quickly she raised her hands, ready to throw some warning cards if she was being attacked...but as of yet, no, she wasn't being threatened. However, as she recognized the man, she didn't relax in the slightest. It was a bit hard to forget the reason you had to revive one of your friends in the middle of Prom. Oh great, does Della know about this? She's going to lose her damn mind...

She narrowed her eyes as she processed what he was asking her. Using a similar tone of voice as she would use with someone like King Arch when he was barely toeing the line, she said, "Your office? That sounds unlikely. And I was simply surveying the damage." It was a half truth, but there was no way she was going to be sharing her brief and tragic whirlwind romance with someone like him. She lifted her chin, looking him square in the eye. "If we're to start this school again, we'll have to see what we're dealing with, wouldn't you say? If you wish to be Headmaster so badly..." She nearly laughed at the very idea, and it showed in the incredulous smile on her face before she added, "...I'd argue that would be a major concern...but I imagine you're just focused on the power trip, right? It would explain your possessiveness of an as of yet unusable room."

[Gaston]

She looked somewhat familiar, but Gaston had made a point in his life of only making an effort to remember those who fell into one of three categories: 1) they were useful to him, 2) they were a distinct threat to him, or 3) they were Gwen. This woman had clearly not fallen into any of those three categories, so Gaston did not feel bad at having no real idea who she was.

She did not appear to be an immediate threat, at least, so Gaston lowered him rifle, keeping it in his hand rather than shouldering it, however - women were crazy and who knew what this one might decide to do. He listened to her with an eyebrow raised and a smirk playing about his lips, as he took the time while she waffled on to look her up and down and take it all in. Meh, 6 out of 10, he thought to himself, on a good day.

“That’s a lot of big words for a little woman,” he smirked at her, moving past her to check the door. Nope, still blocked. He was starting to consider heading through the window himself - if people were staring to make their way to this building, and more importantly, this office, then clearly he had less time than he thought to establish his coloniser’s position. “I’m working on the unusable bit.” He shared with her, moving to the door and leaning back against it. “Someone’s got to take charge of this situation, haven’t they? And who better than me? Exceptional hunter, extensive military experience, beloved leader,” Gaston counted off his attributes on his fingers, “and dashingly handsome. What more does a headmaster need?” He winked at her, crossing his arms and letting his rifle rest against his leg.

[Alyss Heart]

That's a lot of big words for a little woman.

Alyss' eyes widened and...strangely enough she started grinning. Not like she was genuinely happy, oh no, nonononono. It was more like the sort of smile one might expect from someone locked in the asylums at Bedlam, back when she was in England. You know, if they had that stereotypical view of those with mental illnesses. It was the kind of smile that indicated that the wearer was weighing the pros and cons of murdering someone in a rather slow and painful fashion...

...but no, she didn't want to indulge the more Reddish side of her. No matter how much this man was proving he probably deserved a little torture. No, she would simply handle this in a diplomatic fashion.

"Morals, perhaps? We've certainly had enough violent headmasters...but then again, I use "big words" because I know how to use them. I can understand your complaints in that regard..." Her smile remained as she offered a royal wave. "Good luck with this whole thing, I can't imagine you'd have numerous people wanting to overthrow you, beloved leader and all," she chirped, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she aimed to wander off before she actually had to hurt him.

[Gaston]

The woman was grinning at him like a maniac, and Gaston wondered for a moment if she was actually sane. Well, as sane as a woman could be, anyway. He considered backing away - women he could deal with, but crazy people? He highly doubted that any asylum was yet set up here in Trenale, and he didn't have the support of Monsieur D'Arque like he did back at home. He wondered if he should consider getting him over here as well, having him set up shop here in Trenale, where Gaston could just send him anyone who got on the wrong side of him, or challenged him, or just whose face he didn't want to look at.

But that wouldn't help him now, with this crazy lady staring at him the way he stared at stags who had particularly magnificent antlers. His began to slowly reach for his rifle again.

Ok, she was finally talking. That was easier to deal with than the crazy eyes. He raised an eyebrow, looking at her with an amused expression on his face. "I have excellent morals, I'll have you know. And anyone's better than the last guy, surely?" She turned to walk away and the amusement slid from his face - he really hated when people left and he hadn't had the last word.

"I would be completely beloved!" He called after her, somewhat pathetically. He cleared his throat and straightened up, attempting to be a little more impressive. "And as for overthrow, let them try. I could take anyone in this place, with one hand tied behind my back." He thought for a second. "And blindfolded!"

[Alyss Heart]

"My experience with you says otherwise, but I suppose you're so used to dealing with your bruised ego through violence, you wouldn't remember specific incidents." Once again, a poisoned smile slipped on her face, especially when he implied anyone would be better than Hermes. Now, she wasn't going to defend his actions as Headmaster. He probably had no business being in the position...but to say that Gaston was somehow better than him...it wasn't just her bias, right? Even Della would agree? Gods she hoped so, she didn't want to seem that pathetic even in her own head.

Fortunately she maintained her dignity, unlike the man shouting after her. It was sort of amusing, how badly he wished to prove himself to her when he was trying to say her opinion hardly mattered. Wasn't that usually the way of his type? Caring so much about the opinion of those they looked down on?

...hmm...she almost wondered how far that desire went...on the off chance he somehow did gain the position, perhaps he could be persuaded to not be such an arse about it?

She slowly turned to face him. "If you say so, Monsieur...but wouldn't you rather win them over? Just ask my aunt, constantly fighting for your power is exhausting, and eventually you could slip, no matter how powerful you may or may not be."

[Gaston]

Her experience with him? Gaston knew she looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place her at all. He didn't particuarly care though, it wasn't like she was likely to be remotely important to him in the overall scheme of things.

He flashed her a charming smile as she turned and spoke to him, making sure to turn the charm to the max. "Oh of course, fighting my way to the top is, of course, a last resort." He winked at her. "No one wins people over like Gaston. Just give me time." He glanced back at the door. "And in the meantime, it doesn't hurt to mark your territory."

He crossed his arms, rifle once again resting against his leg, and smirked at her. "It also doesn't hurt to be prepared for a fight."

[Alyss Heart]

It was a Herculean effort to not look irritated at his response being pure arrogance again...she supposed it was too much to expect that perhaps, perhaps she could persuade him so easily. Or even at all. It was entirely possible this was a fruitless effort, but...damn it, if she went about her entire life that way, she wouldn't have helped her queendom rise from the ashes, would she? And she owed this place, as she kept saying. They needed someone with an ego that wasn't so swollen and a finger that wasn't so trigger happy.

"Perhaps not...however, you probably don't have as much time as you think. I know for a fact there'll be quite a few dissenters if it is decided that you'll be the new Headmaster. Wouldn't you rather try to circumvent that now rather than later? Put them at ease somehow?"

She was bluffing just a little, but Della had always had a decent number of friends around here, and she couldn't imagine why any of them wouldn't agree that Gaston was a terrible choice.

[Gaston]

"Once I'm in the office, which will be a mere matter of minutes, I can assure you, then the dissension won't matter. I'll have staked my claim, marked my territory - I'll be in charge. Think of me as an explorer of generations gone by, sailing around the world and claiming the land for the King. Except I'm also the King in this scenario." He grinned at her, casually checking his nails for dirt and picking it out with his other hand, flicking it aside.

"And once I'm in charge, all I have to do is beat down the natives, in this case, your dissenters." He raised an eyebrow at her. "And really, how hard could that be? Have you seen the rabble that fell through those portals?" Gaston smirked. They didn't stand a chance against him.

[Alyss Heart]

If Gaston thought his analogy with explorers and conquerors was going to ease her concerns, he truly was as ignorant as his reputation made him out to be. Nevermind the fact he was literally talking to the victim of a literal invasion, who was grappling with the affects of it to this day, but she had read of such explorers, or conquerors was the better term, and found their actions disgusting. It was another thing that often set her apart in Victorian society, and it was now another thing that made her loathe the very core of the man she was speaking to.

Still, rather than point that out (she was SURE she wouldn't get far with that method), she raised an eyebrow and asked, "You mean the world's most famous wizard, a self made soldier, a rather well renowned king...should I go on? I think you're underestimating your opposition here..." And that's not even including myself...

[Gaston]

Gaston laughed aloud at her. "No, I mean the poofy servant boy, the only soldier I saw there was me, so... duh, and the King is my bro. So good luck with that." He winked at her.

"Unless of course," He moved closer to her, standing over her and uncomfortably close, "you want to take me on yourself? I'm sure we could find a nice quiet corner to, erm, wrestle it out." He smirked at her, smoothing his hair back with his left hand while reaching out to grab her waist with his right. "Just say the word, you take me on all afternoon if you want to." He winked.

[Alyss Heart]

Alyss almost snorted when he decided to underestimate her suggestions...although seriously? Arthur was friends with him? She honestly hadn't known that and it made her question if Della knew that. Like...that seemed like the sort of thing Della would be judging him quite a bit for, because Della was one of the most judgmental people on the planet...when it mattered. Still, she had a rebuttal, was about to point out that Hermes and Della had sort of been friends, but that hardly meant she approved of him as Headmaster...

...but then Gaston did something very, very stupid. It was something she probably should have seen coming, given his reputation, but she was far more focused on the murder and arrogance at the moment, until he decided to try to touch her. She took a step back, resisting the urge to throw those cards at him that she had been planning, or tie those wrists up, preferably with thorny vines so he knew precisely her thoughts on his innuendo.

Instead, as she preferred to do (unlike her aunt), she said, "I do have a word, and it's no. And you'll do well not to suggest such a thing again." The 'if you know what's good for you' was practically a neon sign above her head. Instead of wording the threat, however, she smoothed out her skirt and said, "I can see there's nothing further to gain from this conversation. I'd wish you a good day, but I'd rather not lie to you like that." She turned away again, hoping that'd be the end of it.

[Gaston]

Rolling his eyes and raising his hand in a mock surrender motion, Gaston grinned as she stepped away. "You don't know what you're missing." He wiggled his eyebrows at her and spoke in a sing song voice.

He'd forgotten how much fun it was to wind up the prim and proper 'independent women' of Tintagel. Sure, he'd only ever had eyes for Gwen, and yes, she'd been the number one most important woman in his life from the second he laid eyes on her, but it hadn't stopped him trying it on with every semi-attractive woman that crossed his path. Of course, it was incredibly frustrating when they turned him down - and they all turned him down far too regularly, in his opinion they were fools, but it was entertaining. Back at home it had been getting too easy, there'd been no challenge anymore since all the village girls just threw themselves at his feet, and he'd had all of them so many times there was no adventure anymore. He missed the chase, and he was starting to think that getting hauled back here wasn't such an awful thing after all. The chase was back on!

She turned away and he shrugged, folding his arms and resting back against the doorframe. "Fair enough." He said nonchalantly, watching her. Not a bad view from behind, he thought to himself. "I'll let you know what job I'm giving you once I'm in the office. I'm thinking something manual."