Savor your surprise,I can sip you like a vintage wine. [Sky]

It had been days since she had spoken to the school board, days since she had heard about yet another incident that had happened at the school that they're were upset about. Yet another thing on the list of things that those old men were worried about. Every now and then, when she stayed up well past the time she was supposed to sleep - Valentina couldn't help but wonder about her predecessor. What were they like? And what had they done so much that caused these old men to be so critical of her? More often then not, she had found she was compared to the previous Headmaster, continuously and quite often. A year or so into it, she usually had to bear the brunt of it by herself - but since she started working with Mavek she found that he did make being a Headmistress quite a bit easier.

Mavek.

Valentina paused briefly in her kitchen, his name drifting and swirling into her mind like smoke. She was just finished up her last chore of the night, clad in her pajamas - loosely fit grey pajama shorts and a rather long, deep blue pajama shirt, with tiny white flower patterns near the edges - that could easily fool any onlooker into thinking that it was the only thing that existed on her person. It didn't matter though, it was what was comfortable - and Valentina never expected any evening visitors. If she did, she would be dressed quite differently.

Ever since she had started working with Mavek, he had made a lot of things easier for her. She never really had the chance to thank him, in her opinion. She always found their meetings for tea was the highlight of her day and the variety of discussions they had were always enthralling. It had occurred to her then that she hadn't really spoken to him in the past few days. During the school semester, they typically saw each other almost every day and even during breaks it was very rare that they had that much time a part.

Valentina let out a heavy sigh, she would have to reach out to him tomorrow and let him know about what the school board had said to her previously. She owed that much to him at least.

Since she had spoken to the school board, they had let her know of the addition of a college they were wanting to bring to the school. With their continued criticism of her guidance of Foresta - Valentina couldn't help but wonder to herself if she was counting down her final days. If that was the case, what would she do next? The idea of leaving Foresta brought about a sort of heart ache that Valentina was sure she couldn't face.

Clicking the light off in her kitchen, what remained now was to check the door before heading to bed. Valentina's apartment had the standard layout for most of the apartments in her building. A one bedroom, kitchen meant for a singular person and a living room that was the only decently sized room in the whole place. Valentina's decor was sparse. What decor she did have showed obvious connections to her home in Puebla, although there were no pictures of relatives or family.

While there was a beige couch and love seat, the furniture stood by themselves - with an expansive book case spread against the side of the wall they faced. There was no technology to speak of in the main area. Standing in the hallway of her apartment, Valentina briefly glanced at the door - spotting that the door was locked. It was about time she tried to get some sleep.

Between the travel and the meetings, Mavek had had a long week. Most assemblies with the school board were remote: he, the Headmistress, and a secretary alone in their cosy conference hall, taking down the demands of board members spread throughout North America. Meetings were always difficult for him. Even with their faces plain before him, reaching out his psychic tendrils to speak with people so distant was incredibly difficult, and he usually had to settle for signing or having the secretary speak on his behalf. It was hard to not feel weak and redundant in those moments. There was a reason he saw them as a last resort, a measure only to be taken when letters and emails were inefficient. He knew how to do his job, but in those moments of miscommunication, it became all the more difficult to prove as much.

The prospects of meetings with the school board had only become more nail-biting after their most recent one before the semester's end. There would be big changes, they had said. They weren't doing enough. Things needed to be dealt with. Though Valentina's anxiety had been palpatable, Mavek had tried to keep his fears to himself-- where would he go if the two of them were fired? What changes were they even talking about? Of course, the opening of a college on Foresta's campus was a massive new direction, but what did it mean for the administration? And why did they want to meet in person, with he alone, leaving his Headmistress to simmer in her own thoughts? It was unfair and he knew it. He could only hope that whatever the purpose of their meeting was, it didn't spell the end of his and Valentina's relationship. More than anything else he feared that.

And then the week had come. He didn't even know how efficiently magical travel had been streamlined. Though he had taken off from the island fully prepared to hide his true nature, when he finally arrived on-continent he was surprised to see beings just as strange as himself moving about proudly in the streets. Where had towns like these been all those years ago, before he had found his new home on Port Albion? And how had this all come together in what seemed to be no time at all? He didn't even know that the school board had somewhere to convene, aside from the bi-annual meeting on school grounds. And why had they asked him here rather than going to Foresta itself? It felt like it was a dream, a hallucination. Some conjuring of his mind's eye.

But it wasn't. The tentacle-headed man had his meetings, got to know each member of the board far better than he had ever had the opportunity to before. Shook their hands, towered above them, echoed into their minds with poise and clarity. And they had seemed... excited to speak with him. When their meetings finally began, he quickly found out the first reason they had decided to bring him outside of Port Albion-- they had already begun construction, commissioned two architects brought in from the capital to fix up the old building and work on the new. They had needed space to work, they said, hence Mavek's travel and the staff and students' temporary banishment from school grounds.

And then the second bomb dropped. They wanted him to become the first headmaster of the new school. He, Mavek Ivors, all seven feet of height and four-and-a-half feet of tentacles. The man who couldn't speak, who couldn't live in conventional society, who had spent a century wandering the Earth in search of somewhere that would accept him. The man who, in appearance, looked like he could very well be a college-aged student himself. It was a relief that they weren't letting Valentina go, but an incredible shock that rather than have her preside over both schools, they were elevating him to her status. God, what would he tell her? This was going to be a massive change for both of them.

He felt fortunate that his last day away from home was his to spend. Bearing the weight of all this change wore heavy on his shoulders. He walked through the streets musing his new position-- he had accepted the offer almost immediately, graciously, even. He was able to spend a few hours at a cafe without hiding himself, sampling their collection of teas over biscotti and croissants. He had found every book store in town and emptied his wallet more than he liked. He had spent a few hours poring over rare tomes in the library's collection. And then he went home. And that was that.

It was late in the evening when he finally set foot back on the docks of Port Albion, worn leather bags overstuffed and his body exhausted. Even in the summer heat, he wore a cotton turtleneck, a mottled grey-blue in colour and soft from years of wear. His tentacles were bound together firmly with a thick strip of leather, something he often did to restrain them from their pesky autonomy. The sea breeze enveloped him in cool, humid air, the smell of sea and salt cosy and familiar. Despite his exhaustion from the journey, he knew where he had to go. A cloudless sky and bright moon shone the path before him in approval.

Mavek felt like he was practically running, hurried steps clacking against the pavement in his long stride. He hadn't had any way to communicate with her during his time away-- he didn't have a phone, and even if he had, the board had requested confidentiality until his return-- and he knew that the passing days without him had only inflated Valentina's anxiety. Plus he wanted to see her. He had grown so accustomed to her presence, their daily rituals, their work and tea and quiet outings that spending even a few days without her had caused an ache in his chest, a sense of loss in his heart. It felt so strange to admit to himself that he had become attached. She was a mortal, after all, and he had lived a long life in comparison, with far more ahead of him. Then again, it wasn't like he hadn't been attached before.

He was out of breath when he finally reached Valentina's apartment building and had to pause at the threshold to take a breath, nearly dropping his bags at his feet as he panted. Was he that out of shape? Sure, moving on land was far more straining than through water, but he didn't realise it was that bad. Or had he really been in that much of a rush? Looking up to the moon for guidance, searching its glowing surface for some sort of direction, he found himself without answers. But he was here, ready to give Valentina the news, and as he finally climbed the stairs in approach, excitement and anxiety swirled in his stomach.

At her door, he gave a firm rap, his knuckles landing on the stained wood with a resolute thud. He searched for her mind, nearby and fortunately conscious, and swam his way into it. "Valentina." He had dropped the pretence of her surname in private company what felt like ages ago. His Madame Arias-es were a benefit for everyone else, now. It was difficult to deny their closeness. "Put the kettle on. We have much to discuss."

Just as she about to turn on her heel and head to bed, Mavek's soft lilting voice echoed through her mind. In response she felt her heartbeat quicken against her will, her knee jerk reaction to his presence on the other side of the door made her breathless. She needed to get control. Clicking the locks on her door to open, Valentina took a deep breath through her nose and let it out through her mouth before grabbing a hold of the handle of the door and pulling it open. The light of her apartment flooded out into the open, wrapping around Mavek's person like a warm embrace. Oh, how she had missed him.

"Ah," Valentina caught herself staring, "come in, please." She waved her hand out in a welcome manner, waiting patiently for him before she would close the door behind him. As she waved him on, Valentina brought her hand up to her hair to pat it in a self-conscious manner. It wasn't styled or pulled back at the time, so her natural dark curls roamed free with reckless abandon - something that wouldn't bother her as much if she didn't have company.

"What would you prefer on flavor tonight?" Valentina asked him then. "You caught me right before I was going to sleep, so I was considering chamomile for myself." She wondered what news he brought to her, as well, judging from his tone Valentina couldn't help but wonder if he was a messenger of bad news for herself. She pursed her lips at the thought, fighting back the negative emotion. More than likely this wasn't the case, she just needed to hear what he had to say first.

Though Mavek's face usually bore no hint of expression, mouth a flat line, brows relaxed and neutral, he couldn't help but greet the light that flooded over him with the gentlest curl of the lip, the most imperceptible raise of his eyes. He hadn't realised just how much he had missed the presence of his cohort in the past week, but the flutter of his heart as he ducked under the doorframe into Valentina's apartment made his whole body aware of it.

She looked as put together as he felt, barely on his feet after all that walking, though he couldn't deny the beauty of this rare glimpse of her-- her dark, cascading curls framed her heart-shaped face in an indescribable fashion. He didn't think he'd ever seen her with her hair completely down, and after witnessing it once, he wondered why she wore it up at all. Then again, who was he to complain? His own facsimile of "hair" was pulled back and out of his way half the time, too. Granted, his extra arms posed more pressing issues. He tried to pay no mind to what she was wearing, assuming she wouldn't have answered the door if she wasn't comfortable. But still, his face felt hot, his cheeks tinged lavender. He couldn't help but feel like he was interrupting.

He gave her a small nod in physical greeting when he entered, slightly irritated with himself as the smile refused to melt away. In an attempt to brush off his mix of anxiety and joy, he glanced around her apartment briefly-- standard, but still distinctly hers, her touches of decor a small delight. "Apologies for the interruption. I'm... quite exhausted myself. But I felt it best to visit as soon as I arrived back Port-side." He glanced at her once more, but averted his eyes when he felt his face growing hot again. "Chamomile sounds delightful. I'll take the same."

With the door closed behind him Mavek stepped further into the apartment, his eyes scanning over her bookshelf. He took a moment to parse what names were large enough on the books' spines to view from a distance, and just as he was about to find a place to settle down and catch his breath, he practically jumped in rememberance. "Oh, yes! Before I forget," he started, rushing to the nearest surface where he could easily rummage through his bag, "I brought something back for you."

After a moment of searching, he finally found the brown-paper-wrapped package intended for Valentina. During his last day, he had stopped in an antique shop in search of books and found an ornate hair comb, decorated with swirling gold roses, and had immediately thought of her. Turning back to Valentina, he gingerly handed it to her, still in its wrappings, and nodded at her in encouragement. "And... before your concern grows too heavy, my news is only good. But we'll discuss it over tea." Though he didn't admit that he had practically sprinted here, it was apparent in the particular moisture of his skin, his dishevelled clothing, his quiet panting. He could have looked worse, but he certainly could have looked a lot better. "Might I have a seat?"

Valentina moved to close the door behind them, clicking just the lower lock in place as she did so out of habit. Moving back toward Mavek, Valentina caught herself from moving forward any further as she watched her companion stop with the insistence that he had brought something for her. "Ah, you really didn't need too." Valentina said shyly then, her voice a bit softer than what it normally was in school. She reached out for the gift then, taking it gingerly into her hands before looking back up at Mavek. "I'll make tea, then open it, if you don't mind." She needed to attend to her guest, before she fulfilled her own desires. Never mind the fact that her olive skin had now darkened considerably around her cheeks with a light touch of color.

Valentina nodded mutely at this news, appearing to relax just a bit at the comment. "Please, go ahead. I'll be right back. Valentina stepped around him then and headed toward the kitchen with the gift in hand, the kitchen itself offering an open bar area that if Mavek sat on either side of the love seat in the living room - it would allow him open view of her.

Once she was in the kitchen, Valentina moved to set the gift down on her dining room table nearby - then taking a few steps over to grab a hold of her tea kettle that had already been cleaned and was sitting out decoratively for quick use in the morning. The kettle itself was simple in it's design, with a deep red color to it. She stayed silent as she worked, moving to fill the kettle with water - only halfway since it was late. Setting her stove to medium heat to the let the water boil and having done that, grabbing one of her teapots from a nearby cupboard and prepping it with said chamomile in the fine silver mesh inside before finding two mugs for herself and for Mavek that would allow convenience rather than appearance. She remained silent during this whole process, allowing for Mavek to peruse her library if he so chose too.

The books showed the range of her interests, a few select hidden ones in the corners being of romance novels, while the other more toward the center ranged from poetry books, mystery and a section devoted purely to nonfiction (mostly history).

Once she felt everything was set up and ready in the kitchen, Valentina reached for the present that Mavek had gotten her and made her way back into the living room - taking a seat at the opposing piece of furniture where Mavek would be. She looked down at the object, feeling oddly shy about opening any sort of present in front of him. Had she always felt like this? Another moment of silent hesitation, Valentina glanced at Mavek before finally deciding to open the present. As she did so, she did with care and precision - once the present was revealed to her, Valentina's eyes lit up in surprise and delight. "Oh, you really didn't have to, Mavek." His name rolled off her tongue with a bit more accent then the rest of her words. "This is beautiful." She said more quietly to him, glancing at him once more before examining the hair comb itself.

Once he had settled into the loveseat, long legs folding over one another as he attempted to find some comfort and poise in the small space, Mavek let his eyes drift back to the bookcase. Though he didn't watch, too tired to deal with the prospects of his own anxieties, his ears were attuned to every noise in the nearby kitchen, the rushing of the spout, the click of a burner lighting, the tap of metal on metal. Even as he read the words he didn't absorb them, far too focused on the flexing of his fingers and nervous shaking of a foot.

He wanted to say something but didn't know what, didn't know how-- simultaneously excited and exhausted, anxious and joyous, words only swirled ineffectively in his mind. Finally, as he heard her pulling aside and setting out their cups, he noted mindlessly, "My bag's twice the weight it was when I left. Managed to find a number of things I'd been looking for... my collection's beginning to look more like an archive." He weaved his fingers together nervously, then realised his gloves were still on and pulled them off, tucking them into a pocket in the front of his bag. The tension in his shoulders lessened, a relief washing over him as he rubbed his thumbs against the thin webbing between his fingers.

He had become totally lost in thought again by the time Valentina sat before him. Shaking his head to find focus, Mavek watched attentively as she unwrapped his gift, another imperceptible smile crossing his lips when she gasped at it. "The moment I set my eyes on it I knew it was meant for you. It would have been a shame to allow it to rust away in a case." He watched Valentina's face as she turned it over, felt the metal in her fingers. It really did compliment her skin tone as well as he had anticipated. After a sharp inhale, a sudden remembrance for why he was here in the first place, he sat up slightly, back straight and chin low to his collar.

"So. The news," he began, trying to find the right words, the best way to tell her that they'd no longer be working directly with one another. He still didn't know exactly how she would react. Sure, she was keeping her job, but would there be bitterness over her not taking on both roles? Would she be upset they hadn't told her what was going on first? The council had been ridiculously vague with her. It was almost criminal. "There was much discussing and pontificating... about the academy, the new college, the architects who've kicked us out of our own school. What it means for the students. How it'll all be funded. All details I'll be sure to elaborate on later. But, the important bit..." His voice trailed, leaving a quiet echo in Valentina's mind. He looked over his hands, clasped before his chest, and took a deep breath. "Well. They appointed me inaugural Headmaster. I accepted."

After an audible breath, a sharp intake through his nose, he looked back to Valentina's face, eyes wide, unblinking. "Seems we'll be working together even still, Valentina, and this time as equals." Mavek had no idea what this would mean for them, for their future. Even as they had become closer and closer friends outside of their working relationship, it had always stood as a barrier between them, a pane of glass they could never pierce, only gaze into. Had it been broken, or simply removed? He wished he knew the answer.

Valentina brought her eyes back up to Mavek's with a gentle smile as she had finished examining the hair comb, only for him to finally state what he was here for in the first place. "Right." The Headmistress said, taking the hair comb and setting it on a nearby side table so that it wouldn't be accidentally lost somewhere in the couch. "What's been going on?" She asked. She was interested of course, grinding her teeth over the fact that she could potentially be losing her own job only to have Mavek come to her door a lot more out of breath then she's ever seen him, at all. Neither one of them were in the business of over exerting themselves.

Valentina listened, waiting silently for what news he had - only to pause once the ball had been dropped. Working in the position that she had, with children and the school board she had learned even before that how to keep an unreadable expression. There was quite blatantly a split second of her processing the information, only for him to follow up with working as equals. In her mind, they always been equals - was this what changed it for him now? Another second delay and she knew that she needed to react.

"Mavek! She exclaimed as she stood up. "That's great! I'm so happy for you!" She said. She was happy for him, that was her first thought - he was going to be a Headmaster for the new college. She knew that when she first got her job as the Headmistress for the school, how excited she was for the position and how fulfilling she knew that it would be. While as her right hand man, he did get to share in a good majority of that - there were still a few things that only she could do and only she was supposed to do. Now though, now that he was going to be a Headmaster - Valentina was quick to assume they wouldn't work together in the type of setting that they always did. What did that mean?

Would she still see him everyday? Would they still be able to have tea with each other during lunch? Could he help her with certain students she was having a hard time with? Or do walks around the school? There was bound to be a divide. He would have his own section of the school to handle, he would by no fault of his own not be able to spend all day with her now. Sure, as he said they would be working together. It would be nothing like it was before, there was something about that change that planted a small seed of worry in the back of Valentina's mind.

"This is so exciting, please let me give you a hug, come here!" Now as she stood there before him, waving her hands at him to stand up and come to her - she knew just from how he had brought it to her that this was something that he had wanted. Knowing now that he hadn't considered them equals - Valentina was unsure of how to take that information. What she did know though was the she was happy for him and that was what she chose to focus on first.

Valentina's pause was moderately concerning so Mavek searched her face as she absorbed his news, curved pupils fluttering as he tried to work out what she was feeling. But ultimately, excitement took over, and relief washed over him, though a relief tinged with worry. Perhaps she really had wanted the job, then. Was he taking something from her? As much as he was excited to preside over the new school, he didn't need it. It wasn't like he hadn't spent the majority of his life a nomad, a being of the current. The Academy was the first place he had really been tethered to since leaving Liverpool as a child. Not that he thought Valentina wanted him to leave, of course-- but he didn't need to work, not really. God, was that where his mind was fleeting, now? Back to the ocean? He didn't even have to feel the heat rising in his cheeks again to know his usually neutral expression had grown more severe, eyes watching a corner, lips tight as his pointed teeth held them closed.

But when she stood, asking for a hug, a tinge of his anxiety melted away. An expression of nerves melted into one of moderate surprise, eyes growing slightly wider as Mavek looked at her again. "Ah, yes, It's... certainly going to be a change. But a good one, I hope." With a slight shrug of his shoulders and a curt nod, he stood, all seven feet of him, easily stepping into her open arms.

Though they had stood beside her plenty of times, a hug was a rarity-- he loathed to admit how self-conscious about his body he was, how sensitive it was to touch, hence the layers of thick clothing he often wore even in the summers. Even now, with the sleeves of his turtleneck rolled to the elbow, the hem tucked into the front of his slacks, he felt practically naked in fabric as thin as woven cotton. He leaned forward, the top of her head just barely hitting his collar, trying to find some reasonable space of comfort between them to wrap his arms around her. Quietly, only a whisper in her mind, he pleaded, "Be careful near the ribs... please." Although, it was hardly a concern considering the fact that even spread before her, Valentina's arms were only at his midsection. But he would never not be nervous about touch, about the unnatural thinness of his waist, his midsection only soft organs, spine, and skin.

Once he had finally pushed aside his nerves, he rest his chin gently on Valentina's head, taking in the pleasant smell of her hair. It was nice, nothing like his own smell of salt and ocean. He closed his eyes, unable to keep his mind from considering the facts of their future-- separate offices in separate buildings, dealing with different students and staff and problems. They would still make plenty of time for the little pleasantries of their relationship though, wouldn't they? He would only be a building over. They could have lunch in the gardens, meet in the mornings for tea... at least, he hoped. Desperately hoped.

Despite his excitement, he was missing her already, the reality of how much busier he would be quickly dawning on him. Even the next week was already fully scheduled for him-- a meeting with the architects, a look over the building's progress, meetings about curriculum and tuition and staffing and security. Sure, lots had been figured out without him, but there was much to catch up on and even more to be set in stone. Lifting his chin off Valentina's scalp, Mavek pressed it to his chin, looking down at her in thought. But the glass was gone, no more worrying about professionalism, no more carefully dancing around their friendship when students were near... And here she was, first to hear the news, embracing him. This was going to be good. It had to be. He couldn't stand it otherwise, couldn't stand the potential of distance.

It was meant to be a congratulatory hug, but in truth in all the time that they've spent together - it only served to make her aware of the fact that in all the years that they've worked together they had never actually embraced like this. It was an odd sensation. It also served to enforce how much taller than he was then her.

She nodded silently at his quiet plea, raising her hands and arms ever so gently up around his upper back - letting her palms lay flat against his back. She felt the weight of his chin on her forehead, briefly burying her face into his chest. She had grown so accustomed to his company, so fond of his presence. It hadn't even occurred to her right in this moment, that it could have been something more - that it could be something more. What would more be though?

She felt as he started to move away from her briefly, looking back up toward him in response. Something that she thought had been so clear before, so understood seemed to fog up as they stood there staring at each other. With hesitant movement, Valentina moved one of her arms from their embrace - bringing just a few fingertips up to Mavek's jawline. The skin to skin contact surprised her, even if it was just in the slightest movement. Hadn't they shook hands before? How was this difference? She felt her face get hot as she watched Mavek's eyes, searching, wondering - what was the next step?

A loud piercing whistle echoed through the apartment and Valentina could feel her soul jump out of her body first before she moved quickly away from Mavek. "I-I am s-so sorry, let me get that." Rushing to the kitchen, Valentina went to grab the kettle off the stove top. As she did so, the older woman paused for a moment trying to catch her breath. Every nerve in her system felt like it was firing off in directions. Rubbing her arms briefly she felt the goosebumps, she needed to focus on the tea.

A prickle on Mavek's skin rippled through him, starting from Valentina's fingers on his jaw. He felt his muscles tense and relax, his teeth grinding before he parted his lips just barely, inhaling through them as he tried to temper the warmth in his cheeks. Oh god, this wasn't good. That particular feeling, that warmth in his stomach, the slight tremble of his fingers-- he was in love with her, wasn't he? Horrible. Terrible. He couldn't go through this again. God, how long had he been feeling it? Was that what the heat in his face was? The fire in his chest, the need to come here as soon as possible? And why was he only putting this together now?

The W-shaped curve of his pupils fluttered as he searched Valentina's eyes, dipped his head at her hands' urging, pulled him just the smallest bit closer, and then... Mavek practically jumped out of his skin, the moment of consideration washed with panic before he realised it was only the kettle. One hand immediately flew to his chest, fingers feeling for his heartbeat, while the other floated just off of Valentina's back, releasing her as she parted to grab the kettle. "Of course," his voice echoed hesitantly in her mind, every muscle in his body perfectly still, preserved in air.

It took a long moment of thoughtless shock before he finally recognized his own stillness. Only when the whistling stop did he finally move, at first standing still, considering how this was at all possible. Then, as he heard the clinking of the porcelain teapot, he sunk back down into the couch, looking in the vague direction of the kitchen. His eyes found purchase in the lip of one of the counters as his mind wandered into the abyss again. He hadn't even considered loving someone in, what, almost thirty years? What even was the precise number? It had been.... the early nineties, at least. His last partner was dead by then, by the time he'd sworn romantic feelings off. It was half the reason he had travelled so distantly before landing on Port Albion. He couldn't stay in one place too long, get attached to its people. Had he made a mistake in staying here? It felt nice to have friends, but...

Brushing away the thought, he refocused, eyes snapping to his hands, fingers woven at his chest. The pale skin, his blue veins visible even in the dim light. The soft green that peeked from between his long, bony fingers. The sparse green chromatophores that flexed and scattered up his arms like shimmering freckles. The tea. he had to think about the tea. The scent of chamomile hit the air as he saw Valentina pour in his periphery, floral and calm. This wasn't a mistake. He was allowed to have feelings. And clearly, something in Valentina felt the same... well. At least that's how it appeared.

Valentina was careful and precise in her movements as she poured the boiling water into her teapot - the scent of chamomile flooded her, allowing her to relax just a tiny bit. That was until her bare thigh rubbed against one of the nearby cabinets, sending alarm bells off in her mind and in turn made her set the tea kettle down on a different burner. She was practically naked.

Valentina shook her head at herself then as she waited a second before pouring the tea into the two nearby mugs she had set out. No, she was clothed - she had a shirt and she had shorts, why on earth was she wearing shorts to bed? She should have put on her sweatpants to sleep in. She gritted her teeth then, breathing deeply through her nose as she had her back to the living room. She was so much more aware of the fact of how unprofessional this whole entire thing was. They were co-workers, but so much more than that.

So much more than that.

She had reached for him, there was something in her that propelled her to reach for him. Darla would be laughing at her now, she was career woman - she devoted her life to taking care of the school and the children in her care. She didn't have time for love.

She didn't have time for love. Right?

Valentina grabbed a hold of the mugs then, moving her way back into the living room. She noticed immediately that Mavek had taken a seat and for some reason that only offered temporary relief. She set one mug down into the area where she would take a seat, before moving over closer to Mavek to the set the other mug of tea down near him. "I've always been a big fan of chamomile for sleep, when I was younger I originally tried to take medicine since I had always had a hard time sleeping - chamomile tea was a remedy for that. Of course learning other tricks as well." She was rambling now, her voice softer, tinged with anxiety and tension. She was trying to have them move past whatever it was that just happened. If she really did feel the way she was recognized in herself, if it was love. If she loved him, did she love him? If this was really the case, it had to be better for the both of them that he was taking this Headmaster position.

As Valentina rounded her way back to the living space, mugs in hand, Mavek found himself averting his eyes, only looking up at her again when her back was to him once more. What was he, a child? Or just a fool? He was his own worst enemy as always, it seemed, muscles tensing as she rounded near him. "Ah, yes..." he responded quietly to her mindless rambling, voice a whispering echo. Why did he want to touch her, then? It was like he couldn't control his hands, fingers trembling in their approach, a soft brush against her elbow that melted into a deliberate caress.

"Ah, Valentina," he trailed, his voice even quieter now, though more distinctly his, the curling of his As holding a long note in his blended irish accent. Mavek swallowed, his gentle grip becoming firmer, eyes drilling a hole into their place of contact. Was this a mistake? What was he doing? The words erupted from his mind like water bursting through cracks in a dam, sudden and unrestrained. "May I kiss you?"

His voice was kind as usual in her mind, as it always was. As the mug connected with the table, she felt his fingers caress against her such a way that she could have sworn her knees went to jelly right then and there. The way he said her name, curling around in her mind - she wondered if it felt the same as having his tongue on her skin. Having his hands roam her body and if she was allowed to even feel this way.

His grip on her arm tightened though, causing her to stop - connecting her eyes to his. It was immediate, she never doubted her answer. She was far too gone now. Her carefully contained emotions, ripping at the seams of her sewn up demeanor. "Yes." It was always going to be yes.

With unrestrained urgency, Mavek tightened his grip at Valentina's answer, pulling her practically into his lap as he pressed his lips into hers. His heavy-lidded eyes fluttered closed, eyelashes brushing against hers, as one arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. The hand on her elbow slid up to her shoulder, then to her cheek, the backs of his nails brushing aside her loose curls. He could practically hear his heart thumping in his chest, erupting into his fingers when he gripped her tighter. She was warm, her lips soft, and he loathed to pull away, only taking a moment to breathe before returning his mouth to hers.

His entire body was hot, cheeks a deep lavender. This certainly couldn't be a mistake. It felt too perfect for that, too urgent. Though the tightness in his stomach was unmistakable, his breath heavy, his teeth knicking the inside of his lips as he pressed his mouth into Valentina's more firmly, this time. His instincts told him he should say something, the perpetually creeping anxiety insisting it was weird to have just grabbed her, but he quelled that small voice, instead focusing on his hand on her hips, her bare thighs touching him through thin fabric, the curve of her breast pressing into him. Oh god. This was serious, wasn't it?

She was pulled to him in such a way that she barely had time to catch her breath. When was the last time she had been kissed? Much less kissed like this. Their lips connected and there were no thoughts of her being human, of him being something else entirely. It was only them, in this moment, in this time. As he pressed into her, Valentina brought one hand up to his shoulder - holding on with a sense of desperate urgency that surprised herself.

The other hand was brought up near the side of his head, the pads of her fingers silently searching - noting the change between skin to tentacle. She was light in her touch, unsure and hesitant. The only thing she was sure about was when she opened her mouth more to Mavek, flicking her tongue out to trace at the seam on his mouth in a pleading manner. Every touch only served to bring her into him more, every action only enforcing that this was where she was supposed to be.