'Alright, Chosen Sarge...don't let me down...'
Trying to keep both her nerves and her excitement suppressed, Tess stands up from her kneeled position on the ground, trying to appear casual. Rain is a few meters across from her, still working on part of the makeshift shelter they've constructed as part of today's survival class.
Rain's not aware, of course, but this assignment was actually orchestrated by her. Over the last couple of weeks, she's been asking Chosen Sarge questions about how to secure proper shelter in Asphodel. Her goal, obviously, was for him to make a class assignment out of building some kind of basic camping shelter. The class would have covered it eventually, but...she didn't want to wait for that. After all, she only has a couple of weeks left at the Academy.
Tess makes her way over closer to Chosen Sarge's position near the Academy building. As she gets closer, he seems to notice her approach and rises from the chair he's reclined in. Tess makes a point to flash him a warm, innocent smile, something she's worked to perfect in recent months. In return, a pleasant smile comes to the normally serious man's face, his curiosity evident as he waits patiently for her to cross the campground area.
The effort of adopting such a sweet persona so frequently still feels foreign to her sometimes, though Tess is already used to matters of deception from her childhood. Being the poor kid made her an easy target, and she learned how to change her behaviors however the situation demanded to stay safe. She'd make herself seem pitiful, or forgettable, or feral – whatever kept people from bullying her and gave her the responses she wanted.
Still, she was never able to pull off making people adore her. Her attire was too poor-looking, her looks were plain on a good day, and something about her aura just made people think any friendliness she showed was desperate...needy. After her Marking, though...
Most Marked experience a dramatic boost to their appearances, especially as they Ascend further, but Tess was particularly blessed. In addition to granting her the ability to sense desires and deceit, her Nature boosts her physical appearance and gives her presence a semi-enchanting effect, making others feel partial to her. The enchantment is somewhat supernatural in nature, not effective against those of higher Prestige or people like Rain.
The change in her looks, though, is very much physical. And she's found that people respond positively to her now, even without the enchanting effect, and even those who she can't sense sexual desire from. She can flash a smile, mimicking the sweet, rich girls she grew up seeing, and people will instantly be nicer to her. They'll adore her, even. Initially, the realization was startling to her.
In her prior life experience, despite several crushes on local boys and even some confessions over the years, she'd always been turned aside...not wanted. Sometimes, the rejections could be rather harsh. She'd always been deeply bitter over how people disregarded and disrespected her throughout her prior life. Deep down, she was always sure that, if people really gave getting to know her a chance, they'd see that she had a lot to offer as a person. She considers herself clever, determined, reasonable, and fiercely loyal to those few she feels have earned it, like her parents.
She felt that people just couldn't see past her poor, homely exterior. But at the Academy, after her Marking, she was finally attractive and on the way to having status, too. She was suddenly surrounded by tons of hot guys who all seemed very interested in her. She didn't even need to use her Siren Talent to entice them, they just fawned over the new her on their own. So, her change in circumstances seemed like a dream come true, at first.
Initially, she thoroughly enjoyed getting to date cute guys for the first time, having them clamoring for her affections. She got to experience her first date, her first kiss, and she reveled in other firsts of intimacy and affection as well, though she never quite worked up the courage to try everything that she wanted to.
Regardless, those first couple of weeks were blissfully enjoyable for her. She was sure at that point that, with people finally being willing to get to know her, she'd soon have friends and a partner who appreciated her...who she could appreciate and rely on in turn. Sadly, now she knows how naive that was.
Eventually, when she'd tell people about her past, assuming it wouldn't matter anymore, they...weren't receptive. Very few would cut ties with her, but many became uncomfortable and seemed to do their best to avoid talking about her upbringing or family after that. Even in the best cases, some would listen and then talk about how she didn't have to worry about it, because that's not who she was anymore. But to her, that scrappy, poor girl is her true self...she's proud of it, in fact. Yet, everyone seemed to think that person was something to be ignored.
It wasn't long before she realized that nothing had actually changed about how people felt about the real her...she'd just gained something that interested them. They were still averse to all the history and traits that make her who she is, but at least she was pleasing to their eyes, so they treated her like they valued having her around.
Nobody lied to her, nobody forced her to do anything, and most people stayed friendly and interested in her after hearing about her past. However, she couldn't help but still feel exploited. She couldn't be herself in those interactions, with those people. Maybe the guys she dated would be her boyfriend, but they were never going to appreciate the parts of her that were closest to her core. Maybe it had sweeter packaging than she expected, but she was just being used...she was social and romantic fluff.
At first, Tess was depressed by that characterization...then angry...then finally, spiteful. She decided that if people were fine just using her, why shouldn't she use them, too? She's not proud of it in retrospect, but...that's the Tess that Rain met. The one that didn't have any qualms about using her Talent to get anything she wanted. She felt that everything she was doing was just fine...her playing by all the other users' rules, and any of them that got mad at her were just hypocritical, spoiled people who were only accustomed to doing the using.
Tess lets out a wry smile at the memory of that time...
What she'd assumed about Rain, and how much his words had cut her in the moment.
She stopped using her abilities, and she even turned away the people that would try to join her at lunch. The last thing she'd have been able to tolerate was more shallow friendliness and more lies to herself about how people cared about her. Because nobody there did, not really, and she was just going to have to live with that, the same as she always had. That's how she felt.
Then, Rain reached out to her about that lunch, and agreed to owing her a favor...so clearly only doing it because he was worried about her. But she didn't care if it was out of pity...because he actually seemed to give a shit about her, even if it was nothing grand. More than that, he seemed to see and appreciate what she was going through...enough to change his mind about her.
After that, they grew closer in their class, and Tess started to realize how much Rain and how he made her feel was on her mind. Eventually, she suspected that she was...interested...in him. Then they had that wonderful movie day together amidst all her emotional turmoil, insecurities, and open questions. That evening after it, though...if she was crushing on him before that, she was downright lovesick after it.
The way he'd worked so hard to reassure her, to let her know that he appreciated her...valued and trusted her...her heart swelled with so much affection for him that she almost confessed to him then. In the weeks since, he's only reinforced that he wasn't all talk.
They've done everything he promised – sparring, daily extracurricular time together, helping her network alliances – and he's seemed genuinely happy to be doing it...with her. Rain has also made a point to praise her about how good she is with a spear, how impressive her determination and self-sufficiency is, and how much training with her has helped him grow himself. In short, it's clear to her that he appreciates her the way she's always hoped.
These last few weeks with Rain have been very interesting from her perspective as well. She's learned a lot about him, and...she very much likes what she has learned. For one, Rain is absolutely brimming with resolve. Most of the time he hides it under a flippant exterior, like he has no vested interest in anything going on. But when he gets fixated on something, she can see it in his shimmering eyes as they darken ominously – he's like an incarnation of sheer will.
Another thing she's learned is that Rain is...exceptional. She hasn't told him, but she knows that he's holding back in their sparring matches. The part of her Nature that lets her sense desires in others seems to be tied to sensing Ichor. As a result, she's gotten pretty good at gauging the flow of Ichor, even in other people.
Of course, she seems unable to sense Rain's directly, but her unique insight has taught her to recognize the physical signs of Ichor expenditure, which even Rain's Nature doesn't mask. That's why she's fairly certain that, while she uses Ichor and every non-lethal Relic in her arsenal, Rain is fighting her with just his base strength.
When she first noticed, she couldn't believe it. She has a Titan Bloodline, and even charmed herself into more Egos for Resonance after her trial, yet he has been overpowering her with ease. At the bare minimum, she knows that he has to have a Daemon Bloodline with a Nature attribute that seriously strengthens him constantly. However...she's wondered more than once if Rain is hiding the world's first God Bloodline...maybe from an especially powerful Lineage, given how secretive he is.
However, as interesting as all that is, there's something else she's learned about Rain that's on her mind more right now...a very recent revelation.
'Gods...there's no way he's actually sleeping with that Ronin girl...right!? I mean...they don't even have anything in common! Plus, she's just kind of hot, and...well maybe she's a little cool, too...if you're into that. But still! What the hell!?'
Ronin...Tess heard rumors this morning at breakfast about how she's sleeping with Rain. Actually, nobody really seems to remember Rain's name, they all just mention a mysterious, silver-eyed guy with dark features. However, that description...doesn't match anyone else. Apparently, he's been seen entering her room at night and staying for long times...repeatedly.
Tess feels her eye twitch as she tries to remain calm at the thought. Ever since their movie day together weeks ago, when Tess found out that Rain might be romantically inclined towards her, she's been planning for today. She can't let some yet unsubstantiated rumors derail everything.
Arriving in front of Chosen Sarge, she gives him a wave of her hand and a sweet smile, and he greets her in an enthusiastic voice in return.
"Tess! I hope you've found the emergency shelter class today helpful? I had some teacher's intuition that you were extra interested in hands-on practice, so I moved it up on the schedule for you!"
She cocks her head to the side, widening her eyes excitedly, and she lets her voice rise a couple octaves as she responds.
"Oh, yes, Chosen Sarge, it was wonderful! I learned so much, and it was so much fun, too! I'm very proud of the work that Rain and I did, and that wouldn't have been possible without those great teaching instincts of yours!"
Chosen Sarge beams with pride, his chest puffing out slightly.
"Well, thank you, Tess! That's very nice of you to say! Those are the most gratifying words a teacher can hear, you know? And I think you two should be proud...that's a fine shelter you built with your own two hands!"
Keeping a polite smile, Tess nods appreciatively.
"You really think so? Thanks, Chosen Sarge, I agree! Actually, now that you mention it...well..."
Tess trails off intentionally, giving her tone a nervous edge as she does. She looks away from her normally stern teacher, tucking her hair behind her ear apprehensively. Her bright green eyes glance back up at Chosen Sarge briefly, as though she's trying to decide whether to say something.
Obviously, she's already decided to say it, and she's not the least bit embarrassed or nervous about it. But this is the persona that she knows her teacher is the biggest sucker for, and she's about to ask for something really important to her.
Chosen Sarge, unaware that he's being masterfully manipulated, stares back at her in concern. His tone becomes quieter and encouraging.
"What is it, Tess? It's okay, you can talk to me. Is there something you need?"
Tess looks back at him suddenly, her eyes wide as though she's surprised and hopeful. She pretends to debate it for another moment, then she stares right at her teacher intently, her emerald eyes slightly pleading.
"...well, I was thinking about how great the shelter is, and...it seems like a waste tear it down right away. I've never been camping before, and...this is probably my last chance before the Crucible. So, I was wondering...would it be possible for Rain and I to camp out here in the shelter...just for tonight? It'd be so beautiful to sleep under the stars next to a fire, inside something we worked so hard on ourselves."
Chosen Sarge's eyes widen in surprise, and his expression becomes conflicted. He's almost certainly reflecting on the fact that students are not supposed to be outside the Academy past certain hours, without a teacher's express approval. However, he also seems to have another concern. The older Marked's eyes cast a furtive glance at the small shelter, barely big enough for two people, then back to Tess. His voice comes out hesitant.
"Well...remaining outside the Academy overnight is usually against the rules. I might be able to grant you an exception for something survival training related like this, but...are you sure about this idea? That shelter is probably smaller than you think. You and Rain will be...uhm...quite close, all night. Are you...comfortable...with that?"
Tess widens her eyes a little and glances back at the shelter, inspecting it, as though his words are fresh news to her. Naturally, she knows exactly how small the shelter is. She made sure that Rain was busy doing something else while she collected and prepared the wood for it herself, personally ensuring that the shelter could only be just big enough for both of them to sleep in it...tightly pressed together.
A satisfied smile forms on Tess's lips briefly as she stares at the shelter, Rain still putting the finishing touches on it in the distance. She turns back around to face Chosen Sarge, replacing the smile with a thoughtful expression.
"Oh yes, I see what you mean. Hmm...I guess that's fine. I really want to try it out, and I don't want to do it alone. Plus, I trust Rain, so...we'll be fine!"
Chosen Sarge studies Tess's seemingly earnest face for several seconds, then seems to come to a decision as he sighs and nods.
"Alright, if that's what you guys want I'll approve it...you are adults after all. Just make sure to remember what I taught you about preparing and maintaining shelter-side fires...don't burn part of the campground down."
Tess's face lights up in excitement, her tone coming out elated. This time, the emotion is all genuine.
"Thanks, Chosen Sarge, you won't regret it! I promise!"
With that, Tess hastily turns to make her way to Rain, preparing to solicit him for the camping idea. As her steps thump hurriedly in the dirt, leaving earshot, her teacher sighs and speaks in a wistful tone to himself as he watches his two students.
"Ah...I miss my youth..."