(Untitled)

[widowskiss]

Dressed in comfortable clothing, Natalia reaches for the morning sun, stretching idly as her students begin filing into the clearing outside the school. It’s early yet, but she’s been up for hours, her casual movements now solely to instill an sense of normality and calm in what will surely be a few nervous bodies

Comments

[widowskiss]

Natalia keeps to the edge of the class as it begins to disperse. While she'd only been harsh with Hank and Nathan, her expression is markedly more open now, friendly to welcome any comments or questions her students might have. All in all she's pleased with the progress they've made already, and even if only one student returns come Saturday, she'll at last feel she's done something better here than await the next disaster.

[everyone_takes]

It was gross to admit it, even to herself, but the jukebox playing 'Dream Police' one day was the reason Kate had signed up for this class. She'd never exactly been the type of girl to take shit from anyone, but Gene Stuart had proven once that it didn't take an especially smart guy to make Kate feel really fucking creeped out. And sometimes, not taking shit didn't even work, again, as Gene 'Creepy as Hell' Stuart had demonstrated.

Plus, Natalia was pretty much the most badass woman on the island, as far as Kate was concerned.

She wasn't the type of girl to hang around after class and talk to the teachers, but Kate found herself wandering toward Natalia anyway. "Hey," she said, grinning a little, feeling faintly self-conscious. "So, pretty awesome class. I'm excited."

[widowskiss]

"I'm glad," says Natalia. She's not a woman to need reassurances, but she'd be a fool not to feel pleasure at receiving them all the same, and her smile warms. Her satisfaction is not all with herself - Kate's done well today, her movements perhaps not as coordinated as some of the others, but that will come with time.

"I hope the theatrics didn't bother you," she adds, looking towards Nathan, still sitting sullen with his icepack. "I expect the next class will be calmer."

[everyone_takes]

"What, the dudes?" Kate asked, looking for them. "No, that was awesome. It was..." She trailed off, unsure of the word she was looking for. Tara had always taught her to be strong, but it wasn't until Lynda that she'd felt she could do something on her own, something that could be bigger than her.

"Empowering," she said finally, realizing that was what it was. "Like, I could do that one day. That's pretty cool to think about." Ballet was hard in its own way, but it was completely different than this and Kate had never done anything else in the way of being physical.

[psychoenough]

Annie Edison has never been so excited in her life. This may well be an overstatement, but not at all by much. By the end of the class, she feels more awake than she has in - Well, she can't remember when, but that just goes to show how long it has been. Admittedly, she was horrified at first, watching the instructor take out their two crashers with such ease and expertise, but by the end of the older woman's speech, Annie finds herself utterly convinced that both men had it coming. And by the end of the class itself, Annie has a new role model in her life.

More than anything, she is determined to do well in this course. Taking the instructor's advice to heart, she decides that even a physical course such as this one could benefit from a study group, of sorts. "Excuse me," she says, reaching for the shoulder of her nearest classmate. "Hi, I'm Annie. I was just thinking of getting a group together to practice these exercises when we're not in class. What do you think?"

[everyone_takes]

"Yes, totally, yes," Kate answered, more excited than she would ever admit to outside of the class. Besides the people in class with her, no one even knew she was taking the self defense course (or introduction to law) and she wasn't sure how she was going to get around Marshall finding out if she had to do the exercises at home. Some kind of group meant she'd be able to hide it better.

Even if she wasn't sure why she was hiding it.

"So, what? Like, once a week? More?" she asked.

[psychoenough]

"I was thinking at least two, maybe three," admitted Annie, watching closely for that all too familiar fall in Kate's expression which would indicate that the blonde thought her crazy. Not giving the other girl a chance to say as much, however, she quickly delved into an argument for her reasoning. "I know that's a lot, but she did say that repetition is key and ninety minutes is hardly enough time to perfect any technique. Besides, we're technically supposed to exercise daily, aren't we?"

[everyone_takes]

With her head tilted slightly, Kate considered that, then shrugged and nodded her agreement. She was only taking three classes, after all, and she didn't think ballet would have that much homework, except for practice, which she already did. Three classes and no chores basically meant she had all the time in the world.

"Okay," she said. "I'm in." It would be a lot easier to practice with someone who was in the class, too, because she hadn't exactly told anyone else that she was taking it, which meant asking Marshall to help her was out of the question. "What about after the class and then like, Monday and Thursday or something like that?"

[floozyfacade]

As class begins, Olive's flooded with nervous energy, struggling to keep from bouncing on her toes, even through the demonstration. She's had lessons with Natalia one-on-one and been grateful for them, which is every reason to be here now, reinforcing and expanding on what she's learned. She, for one, intends never to be caught off guard again, and she figures, even having spoken with Natalia and been lectured by Mark, she could use the reminders to stop blaming herself for the time she was assaulted. It isn't going to happen again if she can help it, and if it does, she'll be ready to defend herself.

She settles into a more focused state as they go through their exercises, exhausted but pleased by the time class ends. Stepping off to the side, she swipes the back of her hand across her forehead and reaches for the water she brought with her. She's got fifteen minutes until Biophysics and hydration is key.

[widowskiss]

"You have another class to get to," says Natalia, handing her a towel with a smile that's not as apologetic as it could be. Perhaps memorizing her new students' schedules is a bit much, but the spy Natalia never truly stops being considers it simply taking an interest.

She finds herself grateful for Olive's presence. She doesn't mind the role of instructor, but she finds she truly likes these young women, and Olive in particular. It's nice to have a friend. Smile sharpening, Natalia nods at the two fallen men, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Too much?"

[floozyfacade]

By now, at least, it's not much of a surprise to Olive to find that Natalia knows her schedule. There's a tiny part of her that expects Natalia to know virtually everything. She's strong and smart and talented, and rather than being strictly intimidating (though she is), she's also proved kind and good company. In short - though she's in a field that's virtually the polar opposite of everything Olive has considered doing with her life in earnest since she was old enough to distinguish between careers and saying she wants to be a pony - she's someone to look up to, even emulate.

"I won't be late," she promises, following Natalia's gaze to Nathan and Hank, swallowing back a laugh. "Maybe a little. But, uh, I think they got the message at least. And... I definitely think we're more comfortable without them participating. Or I am."

[widowskiss]

Natalia hums her agreement. She'll have to pay the older one a visit should he ever attempt to return, and it won't be one he'll enjoy. "I'll secure the perimeter if I have to," she says lightly, though of course she absolutely will should it become necessary. Her students deserve a safe place.

"I hope you weren't bored, but we'll move on to things you and I haven't covered soon enough. You have an advantage." She turns to face her more directly. "I expect you to be a leader in the course, Olive."

[motherfuckaa]

Hank wasn't sure if he was getting turned on by the flashes of women he could see in his peripheral vision or whether he was just starting to get the feeling back in his body.

The latter was probably wishful thinking and the former was definitely in his MO.

"Ladies, ladies," he began, trying to lure one to him, "who wants to flip me over like a Hankcake?" He was missing all the action on this side.

[turnedoutfine]

It was only the first class, and already Alexis was thoroughly glad she'd signed up for it. She likes Natalia already, who seems tough but fair, and more than capable. As the class ended, Alexis was already thinking of how she could go home and practice what she was learning with Detective Beckett. And her dad, of course, would make the perfect target to practice on.

Taking a long swallow of her water, Alexis dragged the back of her hand across her forehead. This felt good.