Mason stifled a laugh. “You shouldn’t. Do the project, I mean.”
He smiled, glancing from her to the buildings as they walked.
“Honestly, I’d love to see his reaction, too,” he said.
Mason didn’t know Tyson very well. I mean, sure, they had passed in the halls and nodded in each other’s general direction, but Mason did that with everyone. Based on what Mason had heard, Tyson was moderately full of himself— a quality Mason himself never even dreamed of possessing. Yes, he thought he was powerful, but not to the degree of bragging rights.
“What class is your project in?” he asked. “Yeah, I don’t go to class, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
He looked over, putting his hands behind his back.
“I could offer help, if you needed it.”
Mavi thought about it. The look on his face would be priceless, the rage that would follow- not so much. Tyson, from what Mavi had seen and heard, wasn't the nicest.
He'd been at the school much longer than she had. He'd had time to build a reputation.
"Home ec. We have to gather a bunch of recipes and make a dessert." Mavi had noticed when the teacher stopped herself during the class. Knew the Teacher was about to say 'family' recipes. But it didn't really matter if the Teacher had or Hadn't.
"Tricks up your sleeve huh? Guess you would, being the headmasters," Mavi stopped herself. She didn't know what to call him. She knew now that Mason wasn't the headmasters son. But at the same time, she knew he'd been raised by the school.
"Ward? Not that I mean that in a disrespectful way-"
Mason laughed. “It’s alright. Sometimes we have feuds like family.”
He shook his head. Currently, he wasn’t having the best relationship with the headmaster. He had asked to leave, and with previously failed attempts, to no surprise the headmaster had again said no. Without even a reason.
When Mason had pushed him to figure out said reason, he may have not done it in the most respectful way. But who could blame him? He was curious and frustrated. A terrible combination.
So now, for roughly two weeks, he had stayed quiet and steered clear of the high faculty.
“And sure. I don’t have home ec, but I’ll help in whatever way I can,” he said. “Also, if you want… I can help you prank Tyson. He doesn’t know me very well, and I could tell him the teacher kicked him from the class.”
A prank. Mavi let herself think about it. Yes they'd get in trouble- "okay but you don't get to take the fall. When he finds out he either thinks it was me, or we share the blame." She gave Mason a pointed look.
Most kids in this school wanted to be some kind of hero someday. And its not like Mavi knew Mason well enough to know if he was some kinda do gooder too. Though from what she'd seen so far- he seemed to be any schools average rebel.
"I'll get the project done though, so don't worry about that. But thank you though. I'm a bit more interested in this prank."
Mavi wasn't so sure she would do the project though. What was one bad grade in a sea of good ones? Its not like she was shooting for some hot rod collage. After all, Mavi was sure she'd continue with the government schools.
At least then she wouldn't have to worry about the troubles of her power then.
“Dang, I wanted the fall,” he said sarcastically. But… it wasn’t all a lie. If he could piss off the headmaster more, it’d just be fun from now on.
“But, yeah,” Mason muttered. “I just simply tell Tyson the teacher kicked him from the class. He doesn’t show up— you get all the credit. When he figures out what the heck happened, his grade will have already dropped.”
Mason took one of his hands from behind him, holding up the gauntlet. Instantly, a blade shot from his palm.
“Or, you know, I could just cut Icarus’ wings,” he said with a mischievous grin. “Aka, I ‘accidentally’ cut the drawstring to his pants in the middle of the courtyard. Whichever you prefer.”
Mason wasn’t too worried about starting fights or making people mad. He had always found a way out of conflict. Which was odd, since he found himself at the outskirts of it relatively often. The only person he had to fear was the headmaster. And, frankly, Mason found the man extremely unthreatening by his standards.
She liked the idea of his grade dropping. Oh how the mighty would fall. And she wouldn't mind getting in trouble for it when the headmaster found out. Mavi imagined the way Tyson's jaw would drop, and how his anger would flare up. But he'd have no one to pin it on.
She wasn't so sure the headmaster would find out, especially if they told tyson anonymously. But the second idea, it had Mavi raising a hand up to her mouth. Her shock obvious.
The first part of Masons sentence had her afraid for a good second. Tyson did after all have wings. "Oh my gosh, I thought you actually meant," Mavi made a slicing notion with her finger. Actting like she was actually cutting off someone's wings, "you know." She looked down, her Embarrassment obvious.
How could Mavi let herself think something like that? Besides, who would be willing to Cut off someone's wings for a stranger, over a grade to top it all off.
Mason held out his hands defensively, the blade retreating back into his palm.
“That— that’s not what I meant,” he said with a nervous laugh. “No, I’d never— no. It was just a figure of speech, sorry.”
He smiled sheepishly, a hand going to the back of his neck in embarrassment.
You idiot, he thought to himself. Way to go— she probably thinks you’re a stone-cold criminal now.
Mason mentally waved away the thoughts. His face flushed and he had to keep all of his focus on not generating a blade due to the sudden burst of involuntary emotions.
“First plan it is, then?”
((Sorry I've been gone. I'll try and give you a heads up next time it happens.))
"Yeah," Mavi cleared her throat, "First plan." She didn't think Mason was a criminal. Heck, she was related to one, and his name was Vesuvius Crow. Her brother.
Vesuvius was cold heated and manipulative. Mason, from what she'd seen so far, had actual emotions.
"I shouldn't have assumed- again." Mavi offered an apologetic smile. That was already twice in one day.
She went quiet for a while, enjoying walking with someone. Most of the people on campus avoided anyone who was considered the least bit dangerous.
But they avoided her because of her brother.
Vesuvius had gone to the school a few years back. Long before Mavi had. And after he'd dropped out, because he'd decided doing whatever he wanted was more fun, the school had been her only escape from him.
"So you're just gonna' call him? Do you have his number, or are we braking into the head masters office?"
(It’s alright, don’t worry!)
Mason gave a slight smirk.
“I do have his number, but what fun is that?”
He glanced over at Mavi, then looked away just as quickly.
“I say we break in,” he said. Although, even the thought of seeing the headmaster again made the blades beneath his skin grow hot. His heart beat faster even thinking about it.
Though, how believable would it be for Mason to just call Tyson personally? Even if the boy did think Mason was the headmaster’s son. But, for the sake of the prank— or more accurately, for the sake of Mavi— he’d have to suck it up and sneak into the office. Because who knows? He might not even have to see the headmaster anyway.
With the change of plans, Mason turned his direction of walking, heading straight for the back of the main office’s building. He smiled back at the girl, trying his best to look care-free.
“You coming?” he asked.
The thought of breaking in to the headmasters office made Mavi's entire being shake with anticipation. This didn't make her like her brother- "yeah." She replied, forcing herself to calm down. She didn't need her poison making them both clumsy with dizzyness.
Everything that could go wrong ran through her head- some things more than once. If it totally backfired at least she could say she tried. That she hadn't been a total push over her whole life.
breath, Mavi silently told herself. Taking a few more moments to gain a control on her emotions.
"Lets do this."
Mason smiled, holding up a fist as he carefully opened the back door. He casually strolled into the office, stuffing his hands in his pockets soon after. He nodded to each one of the staff members they passed, all of his focus on calming his own heart.
He slithered down the burgundy hallways, being as quiet as he could so he could hear if anyone was approaching. He stuck close to the walls, so he could make any sharp turn he had to. Occasionally peeking over to see if Mavi was following, they soon reached the elegant wooden double doors to the headmaster’s office. Mason put his ear up to the door, waited a while, then peeked in slightly.
Empty. Perfect.
He opened the door just a crack, slipping in and holding it for Mavi as well. After she entered, he shut it softly.
“So, you want me to do the talking, and you start watch?” he asked quietly. “Sound like a plan?”
Mavi nodded her head, she didn't completely trust herself to make the call. After all, Tyson knew her voice and would probably call their bluff. "Be quick." Mavi warned.
She cracked the door open just enough so she could peek out. Her eyes darting up and down the empty hall way as her heart hammered in her chest. Mavi didn't know if any of the staff members had any kind of 'gifts,' but if they did she was sure they'd have been caught already. Heck, she hadn't even been sure they'd make it this far.
The walk up here had been enough to make her think that. But everyone they'd pasted didn't even give them a second glace. Perks Mason being so close to the headmaster she guessed.
Mason reached a hand in the desk’s drawer, taking out a massive book of student information. He flipped through it carelessly, looking like he knew exactly what he was doing. Which, in all honesty, he did. This was just another day.
He nodded to himself as his finger skimmed over Tyson’s name and number. He gingerly typed it into the phone mounted on the headmaster’s desk, holding the phone to his ear.
He calmed the beating of his heart as the phone began to ring, the wire bouncing quietly off his gauntlet.
“Hello, yes, Tyson?” Mason asked, making his voice much lower. For some reason it worked. He was good at forgery and mimicry, oddly enough.
“Yes. The home ec professor wanted me to relay to you the fact that you have been withdrawn from the class, due to lack of participation. I hope you can understand our reasoning and you can schedule a meeting with the Headmaster to go over a new schedule. I can set you up a time next week.”
He paused for a moment, listening.
“Me? I’m the Headmaster’s assistant. Professor… Pen… dleton. Pendleton. No— No, I’m new. — Yes. Ok. — Will do. Thank you Tyson. See you Monday.”
He quickly hung up the phone, looking over at Mavi with a wide grin and giving two over-exaggerated thumbs up.
Mavi pumped one of her fists in the air, her face set in a big smile. "I can't believe that worked," she whispered excitedly. "I bet the look on his face was priceless."
Heavy foot falls sounded down the hall, making Mavi quickly turn to peek back out the cracked door. She cursed quietly under her breath, turning back to Mason. "Someone's coming." And by the sounds of the voices carrying down, it was the headmaster and someone else.
Poison leaked from her skin, seeping into the air as her panic set in. Whatever confidence and excitement she'd had before was now gone.
(Do you want me to write the headmaster? Or do you want to? Or do you wanna split it?)
(I dunno, it’s your choice. Possibly you because there will be more back and forth dialogue with him and Mason? I wouldn’t want to write a whole passage without really including you too)
Mason instantly covered his mouth and nose with his shirt. He bounded over to Mavi as quickly as possible, resting a hand on her shoulder and holding his breath.
“Mavi,” he said, his voice calm and collected. He turned so he could see her eyes, forcing her to look at him.
“Hey,” he began. “Hey, it’s okay. Alright? I’ll get us out of this. The best thing you can do right now is to calm down. It’s okay.”
The voices were louder now, as were the footsteps. But Mason wasn’t worried. If anything, he was dreading this. He’d avoided the Headmaster for a couple weeks now, and he was going to keep that streak building. Unfortunately, looked like it would have to end very soon.
His hand was still on Mavi’s shoulder, the slow burning from her power rising within him.
Mavi realized what she was doing as soon as she looked at Mason. That was the one thing she hated about her poison, hurting people when she didn't mean to. She took a few calming breaths, and nodded her head. As long as they didn't look suspicious, who could say they where guilty of something? But if the headmaster walked in and her poison effected him-
The door to the room pushed open. The headmaster giving Mason and Mavi a look of confusion, his eyes darting between the two. He was especially surprised to see Mason. "And what might I owe this pleasure to?" The head master asked in a gruff voice that made him seem older than he really was.
The headmaster, to everyone's surprise, was only in his late 40's. His wrinkled skin, and already graying hair was what truly made everyone think he was much older.
"I Don't suppose you're both here to just chat?" His dark brown eyes narrowed slightly twords Mason.
Mavi forced her hands into her pockets to hide the shaking. All of her focus going on keeping her poison trapped.
“I was just looking for a copy of my schedule,” Mason muttered, maintaining perfect eye contact with the Headmaster. His voice was lower than usual, and his entire “rebel” demeanor was shining through clear as day.
Before the Headmaster could reply, Mason held up a folded piece of paper. Which actually had his schedule printed on it. He had no clue why it had been in his pocket today— perhaps he had left it in these pants for a while now— but it came in handy.
“Found it,” he grumbled, unblinking. “Mavi helped me.”
He slowly took his hand from Mavi’s shoulder, putting it in his other pocket and still holding the folded paper within his two other fingers. His face showed no emotion, his voice completely monotone.
He slowly began to walk out, brushing past the Headmaster and motioning for Mavi to follow. He seemed calm— almost too calm— to the point it was unsettling.
“Have a nice day, sir,” Mason uttered under his breath, not mocking, yet not a necessarily nice tone.
The headmaster had a calm smile planted on his face, though it was obvious he was annoyed with Mason. "I had no idea you planned on attending your classes again, Mason. Hope to see you Monday." Was all The Headmaster bothered with saying back. His eyes slid to Mavi as she followed Mason out. He knew Mavi's record at the school- but he hadn't known she was friends with Mason.
"That was to close," Mavi muttered to herself once they where far enough away, and she was sure no one could hear them. She'd never seen Mason so cold before. Granted she'd only seen him around campus from time to time, and had only just started to talk to him that day.
"Are you okay?" She asked, referring to when she lost control of her powers.
Mason nodded, unsmiling.
“I’m fine,” he said, though his voice was softer. He walked through the office doors, ending back up in the courtyard.
“Thanks for having my back there,” he mumbled, rolling his shoulders with a sigh. “He’s… tough to convince. Probably didn’t believe me. But you won’t be the one punished. I will.”
He took a breath, holding it in for a moment before exhaling and closing his eyes as they walked.
“Don’t worry,” he continued. “About you or me. This is a normal occasion.”
He raised an eyebrow, cracking a small smile and flicking his eyes up to her.
“In the end we totally got Tyson, eh?” he laughed. “Mission accomplished.”
"The deal was we both take the blame. If he finds out at least tell him I was involved." Mavi had been scared senseless back in the headmasters office. But if it came down to it, she didn't want Mason taking the full anger of the headmaster.
"But yeah, we did get him." Mavi did a small victory dance with her shoulders, moving them up and down.
"Gosh I can't believe this was the first time I'd ever done something like that." She sounded like an excited little kid- maybe a little to excited, even though she really didn't do anything. "I mean, I'd never even thought of doing something like that. And you, you where grate. I can't believe he believed you. Its almost stupid really." She grinned at Mason.
Mason shrugged, brushing the hair from his eyes and holding his smile, though he turned his attention back forward.
“It was nothing, really,” he began, retiring his arm to the position propped behind his back. “And, if you ever need anything like this done again, give me a call.”
He paused, glancing over to her for a moment before looking back. He continued to walk, his footsteps like a metronome to his words. He didn’t really have a destination at the moment— just anywhere away from the main office.
“But pulling stuff like this is a dangerous hobby,” he laughed. “So maybe you getting hooked on the ‘thrill’ isn’t the best idea.”
He held up fingers as he said the word, air-quoting. Honestly, with powers like theirs, a prank call was the most tame thing they could pull.
Mavi laughed, "I don't think I could get hooked on something like this. You on the other hand, already seem hooked." She was referring to the fact that he skipped out on class all the time. But she was joking, there where no hard words behind them.
"Oh, before I forget," Mavi pulled a flip phone out of her pocket. It was a phone the school gave to all the kids who where wards of the campus. That way they'd always have a way to contact their friends or the school if needed.
Mavi had only ever had to call the school on it once, back when she still thought leaving for the weekend was a good idea. Which didn't last long.
"We should exchange numbers." She liked the idea of finally making some kind of friend. "Unless you don't want to," she quickly said. The phone already being stuffed back into her pocket.
Mason flipped his phone out, raising an eyebrow. This almost never happened to him. Actually, he was sure of it. He didn’t have a single girls’ number. Heck, the only one he did have was the Headmaster’s, and lord knows he never gave him a call.
“S-sure,” he replied, handing it over. He hoped his face didn’t look as red as it felt, but it probably was. He kept up his fiddling with the wire on his gauntlet, taking a deep breath.
It was later now, but not by much. The afternoon sun shone down on the both of them harshly, yet the air was still cool. It felt nice as he breathed it in, holding it and savoring it for a moment before exhaling again.
He glanced over to her, holding the phone out and holding up his empty hand so he could take hers.
Mavi handed him her phone, and then quickly punched her number into his. She couldn't remember the last time she'd given someone her number for none school purposes.
Of course Tyson had it because they did so many school projects together- well she did them at least. But she didn't have his number. He had asked for it at the bigening of the year and hadn't used it once. It didn't matter to her though.
"Thanks," she said with a small sideways smile. "For everything today. Its been fun actually doing something." She'd spent most weekends sitting in her dorm working on homework. "Would you by chance like to hang out again sometime? I mean, since we're both stuck on campus for the rest of the weekend."
Mason gave a laugh.
“Totally,” he replied, giving her her own phone back. He exchanged the two, putting his own back into his front pocket. He kept his motion, sinking his hands there as well.
He knew Mavi had a tracker, as did he. Though, the school was more like a house to him, so he didn’t necessarily see it as “prison.” He wondered if she felt the same, actually coming from a real family. Mason had no clue where he was from. If they were ill-intentioned or not. Certainly the way he was being raised now was not in his favor. Having the Headmaster regulate each step he took and proceeding to judge him for it was not necessarily his preference.
“And, yeah, it has been fun,” he continued, rocking back on his feet. “I haven’t done something like this in a while.”
The school wouldn't look like a prison to anyone, at least not from the outside. But it did feel like it sometimes. Especially to Mavi.
Growing up, her parents never gave her much freedom do to her powers. She and her brother had been homeschooled up until their parents disappeared, and after that Vesuvius had sent her to a normal school while he went to this one. He had claimed he wanted her to have some kind of normalcy, but looking back on it Mavi no longer believed him. And of course after her brother totally lost it, she had came here.
"Well I have never done something like this. Hanging out with someone." In all honestly Mavi didn't want to have to retreat back to her dorm yet. But with the sun slowly starting to set, curfew would be soon.
Mason nodded, scuffing his shoe on the ground as he rocked. The bright sun illuminated them both, almost giving each of them a sort of angelic backlight.
“Same here. We could go back to the common room. You know… to avoid curfew,” he suggested, knowing full-well there’d probably be other people. Though, he liked that place. It was a nice big living-room sort of place in between the girls’ and boys’ dorms. There were few games set up, but it vaguely just reminded Mason of an old wizard movie he used to watch.
He looked over at Mavi, raising his eyes up and giving a slight smile.
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan." Mavi didn't want to go back to her room anyway. Besides that she wasn't completely sure she'd ever actually hung out in the common room.
"And I can totally kick your butt at one of the games." She did another one of her little sideways smiles, and raised her eyebrows. Obviously challenging him. "First person there picks the game?" She knew she was acting childish, with the whole racing there. But if they walked they'd have time find a topic to talk about, and Mavi didn't know how much they had in common. Well besides seriously disliking Tyson.
“I was just thinking ping-pong, but in that case—,” he began, but instantly took off, running down the courtyard and looking back over his shoulder to see her expression.
Mavi at least seemed athletic, so he wasn’t very confident. Sure, Mason looked fit, but he couldn’t run well to save his life. Cardio sucked for him, but if you needed something done with powers, that was his specialty. His talents lied elsewhere, so he was happy he got a head start. Although some might consider it cheating, Mason denied it.
It was called strategy. Not cheating.
“You coming?” he called back over his shoulder, giving a smile. Halfway through the courtyard and headed off to the dorms, he was only a few yard in front. She’d likely catch up to him in no time, but at least it was fun to taunt.
Mavi's jaw dropped in surprise, but was quickly replaced by a wiled grin.
She took off in a sprint after Mason. Sure the dorms weren't far, and she had been in track in middle school. But Mavi quickly ran out of breath.
She had to quit track after the first time her powers reversed on her, and the school doctor had said running didn't let her concentrate.
Mavi stuck her tongue out at Mason when she passed him. She reached to door and pulled it open running inside before stopping. "Are you coming," she mocked as she waited for him to reach the open door.
Mavi huffed as she started to catch her breath, a wild grin still lighting her face.
