Hate The Rain (open)

[James Valentine]

Jame exited the halls of the DWMA, he was instantly met with a downpour of rain, and he sighed as he met the rain with a raised middle finger aimed directly at the sky. How he hated the rain, no luck avoiding it now though. The grey clouds always seemed so gloomy and it always dampened his mood as well as his clothes. He continued walking down the steps with his happiness seeping away just as the water sucked all the warmth away from his body, not that he was cold; he had always had a decent resistance to the cold at least.

When he reached the bottom of the steps he instinctively reached for his pocket, grasping for the packet of smokes that lived there. He pulled the pack out and shuffled it around a bit so one of the cigarettes hung out of the pack which he pulled out with his mouth. Putting the pack away he grabbed his lighter, sparks arose when he flicked the flint with his thumb, but no flame. He shook the lighter and felt that there was virtually no lighter fluid left within the casing. He continued trying to strike a flame with no avail. ”Don’t suppose my luck could get any worse could it?” he muttered under his breath.

And almost on cue with his words the rain worsened, he let out a small chuckle ”Me and my big mouth” he tossed the lighter away and continued walking, smoke still in mouth despite the fact that it wasn’t lit. It would have been too late for that smoke anyway, the paper had become much to damp. When he reached the fork in the road where he faced his afternoon dilemma, to go home or to go to the Chupa Capra. He might not have been the number one customer there, a certain Death Scythe had that honor, but the girls still appreciated his company, though not as much as he appreciated theirs.

He stood there, silent in the rain, contemplating what action to take. It seemed unusually hard today. Maybe it was the rain, maybe it was the fact that this rain was just like the rain that had occurred on that day.

[Raven Armstrong]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=eeeeee][atrb=width,500,true] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 10px solid #111111; float: left; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 5px;][/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 30px; font-size: 18px; font-family: arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: -3px;]HATE THE RAIN—[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; background-color: #212121; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial; width: 450px; padding: 1px;]-----------------------[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; color: #606060;]WORDS 443. TAGGED James Valentine. [/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; background-color: #f3f3f3; text-align: justify; width: 430px; padding: 5px; border-left: 7px solid #111111; border-top: 7px solid #111111;]Within this downpour, there were little feet running swiftly towards Death City from the Residential Area. Thick combat boots splashed through puddles as a figure dashed by homes. It was a female form, cloaked in a black leather cloak with a hood hiding her face and a wooden bow strapped around her back with a quiver and bows. Her cloak was made of thick leather and only went down to her knees where her boots almost reached. She was obviously in a hurry by the way she paced herself with her running. Even when it began raining harder, it didn't slow her down, surprisingly enough. The female began muttering to herself as she ran. "Shit... I can't believe I lost track of time like that, Mom is going to kill me if I don't get this stuff and make it back home in time..!" Raven Armstrong was on her way to the Marketplace to pick up groceries for her home right outside of Death City. She was too busy with target practice passing the time that she was unaware of how late it was. As Raven rapidly approached the square, she noticed a man there with no umbrella, jacket or anything just standing there. Her eyes narrowed slightly and she skidded to a stop a few feet in front of him and rose her head enough so her face could be seen and so she could look at him with her golden eyes. Part of her wanted to just keep running past and mind her own business, but she couldn't. She clutched her hand crafted bow against her chest and looked at him. "Hey... are you lost or something, man?" She didn't hope to come off as rude or disrespectful but to most it would seem so considering she was in the pouring ran, annoyed. She wasn't even out of breath yet from all the running. She noticed the lighter on the ground and arched her brow before her attention turned back to him. Raven promptly pulled her scarf up over her mouth to cover up to her nose. Her cloak was soaked and heavy and she hated the feeling. She didn't want to have a long conversation but with her nature, she wanted to stop and help. From the looks of this guy, he couldn't be a student at the DWMA, but why he was standing around in the rain, she would never understand. "Mister..?" She said with a now muffled, questionable voice. [/style] [style=font-size: 10px; text-align: center;]TEMPLATE BY SAMARECARM OF OTE + BTN[/style]

[James Valentine]

James’ attention was only partially brought back into reality by the ninja girl skidding a few meters in front of him. He knew she was there but only partially took note of that face and kept staring into space with his current dilemma in mind. It was only when she spoke that his attention snapped to. He finally looked at her, a smirk appearing on his lips before he playfully said, “Well aren’t you a cutie.” He was joking of course, he could already tell just by looking at her that she was too young for him.

“No, I’m not lost either, just stuck for what I’m going to do next” He finally added after a pausing for a while. He kinda figured that this kid would have been a student of the DWMA, she dressed like she was related to Black*Star or someone. He also figured that she didn’t know who he was at least. Not many people did, even the ones he tutored. When she pulled up her mask to cover her face he had a puzzled look at first, then his eyes narrowed at the smoke that was still sitting in his mouth. He pulled it out and tossed it away as well, “Don’t worry kido, it wasn’t lit. Damn lighter ran out of gas” he said with a warm smile on his face.

James thought he might try to kill some time with her, until he had at least figured out what he was doing anyway. “What brings you around here, especially in whether that’s not so inviting?”

[Raven Armstrong]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=eeeeee][atrb=width,500,true] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 10px solid #111111; float: left; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 5px;][/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 30px; font-size: 18px; font-family: arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: -3px;]HATE THE RAIN—[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; background-color: #212121; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial; width: 450px; padding: 1px;]-----------------------[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; color: #606060;] TAGGED James Valentine. [/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; background-color: #f3f3f3; text-align: justify; width: 430px; padding: 5px; border-left: 7px solid #111111; border-top: 7px solid #111111;] Raven just smiled softly through the compliment. She figured he would be joking since he looked pretty old. She nods and lets go of her bow, letting her arms fall to her sides. "Well maybe next you should get a coat or an umbrella. Wouldn't want you getting sick and like.. dying." This guy definitely wasn't a student, maybe he used to be though. When he threw aside his cigarette, she arched a brow and chuckled. "Oh, it's okay. I don't like water in my face, especially rain water." Raven pulled one arm back through her cloak and shuffled through her belt. Without warning, seconds later she tossed him a small blue lighter with black flame designs around it. It was something she kept with her at all times. If she was spending lots of time in the cemetery, she would build herself a fire or for her arrows. It was the only one she had but she had ways of getting more so she didn't mind sharing. She wasn't a fan of smoking at all though. Raven had gotten distracted again. As usual, her mind was now on this stranger who seemed to want to keep her standing there soaking in the rain to chat. She shrugged and smiled warmly towards him. "Well I was supposed to go get my mom some groceries for the house but I lost track of time... again." She sighs softly and folded her arms, sliding them into her sleeves to keep dry and warm. The last thing she wanted was to catch a cold from standing out in the rain. But she figured her mom would allow her to be a little late getting home. Planning ahead, she was going to use her archery as an excuse to her poor time management. "But of course I'm in no rush, I absolutely love standing out in the rain, soaking to the bone talking to you." Her voice was full of sarcasm as she snickered lightly. [/style] [style=font-size: 10px; text-align: center;]TEMPLATE BY SAMARECARM OF OTE + BTN[/style]

[James Valentine]

James could only chuckle when the girl expressed some concern for his health. He waved away her words with his hand and a shake of the head “Don’t you worry about me, I don’t get sick from anything, I little rain won’t even give me the sniffles. So I’m definitely not going to die”. James looked on at the girl, she didn’t like the rain either it seemed. Well at least someone was sharing his pain.

James saw a flash and instinctively caught it a moment before it would have hit him in the face. The girl had surprised him, but it would take a little more to catch him offguard. He opened his hand slowly and smiled when he saw a lighter there. “Thanks, I’ll be sure to pay you back” he said with a playful wink, looks he owed a favor already, how unlike him to get himself in that situation. Nonetheless though he reached into his pocket and lit a smoke. He held out the lighter as to return it to the girl.

James nodded quietly as the girl explained her purpose. She seemed to be in a rush, I guess I shouldn’t hold her here long; it would be bad form for a tutor to get a student in trouble with their parents. Her obviously sarcastic line that confirmed the fact that she was in a hurry further emphasized this thought, and she probably didn’t want to be here.


A thought came to mind, a way to make up the lighter favor anyway. “hmm, how about I take you to get the groceries. I can explain to your mum why you are late as well. Surely you can’t get in trouble if you’re out with a Teacher” He said, not sarcastically, but in a way that almost seemed playful. The smile ever present on his lips, one could imagine it would be hard to take him seriously.

[Raven Armstrong]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=eeeeee][atrb=width,500,true] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 10px solid #111111; float: left; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 5px;][/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 30px; font-size: 18px; font-family: arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: -3px;]HATE THE RAIN—[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; background-color: #212121; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial; width: 450px; padding: 1px;]-----------------------[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; color: #606060;] TAGGED James Valentine. [/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; background-color: #f3f3f3; text-align: justify; width: 430px; padding: 5px; border-left: 7px solid #111111; border-top: 7px solid #111111;] "If you're sure. Raven wondered if he had some superhuman immune system where he wouldn't even get sick from being out in the rain. Usually when she was out without anything covering her head at least, she sneezed like crazy and ended up curled up in her favorite blanket in front of a fire. She used to do that with her dad whenever she was sick. Raven smiled as he caught the lighter just in time. She didn't think he would let it hit him but she didn't know his reflexes were that good either. So she just chuckled and held her hand out to accept the return of her lighter as she spoke back to him, shrugging lightly, "Nah, I don't need anything in return but if you're offering..". Raven smiled as she looked around the Square, just a quick glance. Of course no one else was there in this weather. Just the two of them were crazy enough to be walking around in the rain let alone just standing there talking. At his offer, she arched a brow but her expression brightened. Not only would she get help with the groceries but she would also have an excuse for her parents so she wouldn't get in trouble. It was pretty much a win-win. She looked at him questionably and rubbed her chin. "Wait! You're a Teacher? How come I've never seen you around the DWMA before then? What do you teach?" There she was, distracted again and more curious now. She had been at the DWMA for a while. She grew up in Death City so she would have seen him unless he just became a Teacher in the past few days or so. If Raven knew she was speaking with a Teacher, maybe she would be a little more respectful and less sarcastic. Teachers were the ones who controlled her grades, after all. She chuckles and pulls her mask down so her face was revealed and moved her hood so it was right at the top of her forehead so her face could actually be seen now. Her golden eyes shimmered lightly and she held her right hand out, her left still holding her lighter. "Well I'm Raven Armstrong. I'm a Meister at the DWMA. I had no idea you were a Teacher..." Imagining it now, Raven's mom would try to invite him to stay for dinner or something just to suck up to him so Raven would get better grades or the DWMA staff would be easy on her. It's most likely going to happen. She sighed softly to herself but thought at least it would be more trusting than if he was just some strange hobo or something that Raven met in the street... [/style] [style=font-size: 10px; text-align: center;]TEMPLATE BY SAMARECARM OF OTE + BTN[/style]

[James Valentine]

James wouldn’t help but let out a chuckle when she finally caught onto the fact that he was a teacher. “Well, I say teacher, but I suppose a more accurate term would be tutor. I just help students who are struggling with anything.” He said with a little pride in his voice, the job might have had it’s down, but at the end of the day he didn’t hate it as much as he told himself he did. “I’m also a Two-Star Meister” He said with his smile appearing on his face again as he held up two fingers as well.

Raven Armstrong, James tried to remember if he had heard anything about this student. She was unpatented, preferred extreme range fighter and she struggled at the theory side of things. While James wasn’t the person to help her with theory, that was stein’s job. He could easily get her out of her comfort zone in terms of extreme long range and it would be a lesson best held where she won’t die as a result of the fact that she can only fight at a single range.

This was all conversation for a later date though. Right now he simply needed to help her with groceries. “Oh!, how silly of me to forget. I’m James Valentine, at your service” he said playfully while giving a sarcastic bow. He hated formalities so he did his best to make a joke of them at any opportunity. “You can lead the way to the market” He said as took a long breath from his smoke.

[Raven Armstrong]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=eeeeee][atrb=width,500,true] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 10px solid #111111; float: left; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 5px;][/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 30px; font-size: 18px; font-family: arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: -3px;]HATE THE RAIN—[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; background-color: #212121; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial; width: 450px; padding: 1px;]-----------------------[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; color: #606060;] TAGGED James Valentine. [/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; background-color: #f3f3f3; text-align: justify; width: 430px; padding: 5px; border-left: 7px solid #111111; border-top: 7px solid #111111;]"Huh..Okay then, cool." She tilted her head slightly and narrowed her eyes slightly. "You're only Two Star? I thought Teachers.. er, Tutors would be at least Three Star.. maybe." She shrugged, it's not like she knew any better. She was only a One Star student who was barely getting started. She was lucky enough to even make it to her classes on time since she didn't even live nearby.. It was far for her at least and that's saying something. Raven giggled at the bow. It was obvious he wasn't into formalities but she couldn't help but laugh at his little bow. "Haha, nice to meet you Mr. Valentine." If he was a Tutor then if he knew about her, he might try to get her into Melee combat.. the one thing she really lacked. Hopefully he was new enough were he wouldn't know and she could fake it or something. She did practice with daggers for a couple months so she wouldn't be lying if she said she knew how to use close range combat. She's just not a fan of getting hit.. Shaking the thought and horror of fighting close range, Raven smiled and nodded, pulling her hood forward again to shield her face from the rain. Nodding towards him, she walked past him towards the Marketplace while going over what she'd need from the store as well as how much cash she had on her hidden in her cloak. She pulled her arm back into her cloak and pocketed her lighter again, patting her pocket to see how thick it was to estimate how much cash she had on her. Shrugging, she glanced at him as she continued walking towards the Marketplace. "Have you worked here long..? Where is your office anyway if you have one?" [/style] [style=font-size: 10px; text-align: center;]TEMPLATE BY SAMARECARM OF OTE + BTN[/style]

[James Valentine]

Only a two-star? James was a little surprised by that. While he may only be a two star he was still accepting some of the lower end Level Three missions without a weapon. So while he may not be at the level Stein is, he was getting close, even if it may be at a slower pace to what he might have liked. “Well that might be the case, but I’m at the top end of the Two-Star ranking. Only a matter of time before I get three star” he said confidently, she needed to learn a little respect, but he was sure that once his idea for the training session went through there would be at least a little more understanding of the different levels of strength.

James paused, how long had he been working here, three? Four years? It was almost ever since he graduated. He had spent a fair bit of time here it seems, but his penance had not yet been payed so it would continue on for a while longer yet. “I have been here a while now, and no I don’t have an office. I’m only a tutor, I just assist where needed” he said a little more serious now; his thoughts had been cast back as to his reason for staying in this place. Where everything was a constant reminder of her.

He continued the walk in silence now, his change of mood was evident from the new facial expression that had replaced his old smile. One of depression, he hated the rain, and it continued to pour without any let up. Taking another breath from his smoke he let out a long sigh. They had reached the Market place, so he patiently waited for Raven to do her thing so they could leave.

[Raven Armstrong]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=eeeeee][atrb=width,500,true] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 10px solid #111111; float: left; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 5px;][/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 30px; font-size: 18px; font-family: arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: -3px;]HATE THE RAIN—[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; background-color: #212121; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial; width: 450px; padding: 1px;]-----------------------[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; color: #606060;] TAGGED James Valentine. [/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; background-color: #f3f3f3; text-align: justify; width: 430px; padding: 5px; border-left: 7px solid #111111; border-top: 7px solid #111111;]"I meant no disrespect.." Raven smiled and looked at him, noticing his surprise. It was remarkable for anyone to even get past One Star to her since she felt she would be One Star forever considering she refuses to get a partner until she's stronger. But she doesn't seem to be making much progress. She took a deep breath but held it for a second as she got a whiff of the cigarette smoke. She got a little choked up. After she got her breath back, she nods. "Alrighty, I might ask you to Tutor me then... I hate to admit it but I might need it. You do combat training?" Raven really didn't want to admit that she had a weak point but if she was to get stronger and finally settle with a partner. When she noticed his mood change, she stopped talking and bit her lip, hoping she didn't offend him in any way. She lowered her head and glanced towards the ground as she silently walked into the store. It wasn't even 20 minutes before she came back out with two bags full in her hands. Each bag was double bagged in case they broke on her trip back home. When she walked back out and looked at him, her head tilted. She tied the loops on the bags and set them beside him before walking back into the store. Moments later she came back out with a cheap little umbrella and handed it to him with a warm smile. "I know you said you don't need it but it would make me feel better if you used this. I'd hope it would make up for earlier and if I said or did anything to upset you." Raven felt really bad about his mood suddenly changing. She didn't know anything about him so she could only blame herself. She picked up the bags after she handed him the umbrella and started walking off towards the Square again, headed to the Residential area. [/style] [style=font-size: 10px; text-align: center;]TEMPLATE BY SAMARECARM OF OTE + BTN[/style]

[James Valentine]

Well, at least she was smart enough to ask for help. Most students these days always seemed to think that they are the strongest person alive, glad to know she at least doesn’t have her head in the clouds. James became amused at his own thoughts while she shopped, eventually finishing his smoke before she came back. It was a bit of a rush because he realized that she didn’t like the smoke much and well, he wasn’t that much of an asshole.

When She returned with two very full bags James was about to motion to take them from her when she tied them up and left abruptly. An amused look of bemusement appeared when she returned with an umbrella in hand and gave it to him. “Thank you, but I really don’t need it” regardless he took it anyway as it was bad form to deny a present from a lady. He rolled it around his hands for a moment as if it was a pole arm, a small display of showmanship before he finally opened it and used it for its intended purpose. “A little bottom heavy, but it’ll do” He said to Raven with his smile finally making its way back to his lips.

He offered to take the bags from raven, if she obliged he would have easily thrown them over his shoulder like nothing. He then would proceeded to walk and held his hand over Raven so that the umbrella covered her instead of himself. He was a true gentleman at heart after all.

[Raven Armstrong]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=eeeeee][atrb=width,500,true] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 10px solid #111111; float: left; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 5px;][/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 30px; font-size: 18px; font-family: arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: -3px;]HATE THE RAIN—[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; background-color: #212121; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial; width: 450px; padding: 1px;]-----------------------[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; color: #606060;] TAGGED James Valentine. [/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; background-color: #f3f3f3; text-align: justify; width: 430px; padding: 5px; border-left: 7px solid #111111; border-top: 7px solid #111111;]"I know, but I still felt bad" Raven giggled lightly at his display and nods. "I'm glad I found one suitable for you, Mr. Valentine. Hehe." She couldn't help but smile again as he did. Seems her gesture changed his mood back so she was happy about that. Glancing at him again at his offer, she handed the bags over and smiled, folding her arms back into her sleeves again for warmth. Her hands were starting to go numb and she almost couldn't move her fingers anyway. Unfortunately her immune system wasn't the best as she began shivering. Rain was the worst, made everything just... disgusting. Shuddering lightly as she walked, Raven noticed he was holding the umbrella over her instead of himself. She tilted her head slightly but smiled and pulled her hood back slowly. Her deep blue hair was out and hung over her shoulders under her cloak. "Thank you.." Raven bit her lip lightly and sighed. There was something on her mind and she felt maybe Mr. Valentine would be able to help her with it. What would she have to loose if she just asked his opinion.. "Hey, Mr. Valentine... What are partnerships like? I've never had a Weapon Partner but I was trying to get stronger on my own before I got a partner." She ran her index finger past her nose, sniffling lightly before she continued. "So many students already have found partners and I'm wondering if by the time I'm ready there will still be someone to partner with. I just don't want to be the kind of Meister who is powerless without a weapon partner. I don't have any kind of special abilities, I can't see souls or anything.." She took a deep breath and lifted her head so she walked straight, looking ahead. For whatever reason Raven couldn't talk to her parents about it since they were partners and even got married. Raven's father isn't even a Death Scythe either.. and her older brother, she barely even knows. Is he even Meister or Weapon.. "Hmm.." Raven was lost in her thoughts again. If Mr. Valentine were to Tutor her on close range combat, maybe she would able to stronger and finally feel ready for actual partner and retire her hand made bow finally. [/style] [style=font-size: 10px; text-align: center;]TEMPLATE BY SAMARECARM OF OTE + BTN[/style]

[James Valentine]

James just nodded at the girl’s thank you; it was a simple thing for him to give up the umbrella to a girl who was shivering due to the cold. He himself almost never felt the cold so it was a simple gesture really. Then she began to talk of partners, James couldn’t help but cast his own thoughts back to his previous partner, and what had happened back then. It seemed he was spending too much time dwelling on past memories today; he needed to convince this girl to partner when he himself didn’t want one.


“Having a partner is the best thing if you want to become stronger. You learn from each other’s mistakes, you learn to protect each other’s weaknesses. You become part of a team; to have a partner is to trust someone completely, to be able to trust your life to the other person and if need be…” James paused, he knew where he was going with this and he didn’t like it. “…sacrifice your own life for the sake of the other” The words passed with a grim face.

James immediately prevented himself from becoming too depressed by distracting himself with the many things he could teach Raven. “Surely you at least know a soul purge if you can’t detect souls. Almost everybody can do one or the other” James said, he could teach her the soul purge, if her soul was large enough. He paused for a moment and gathered enough focus so that he might be able to determine the size of her soul. With his ability with soul perception that was about as good as he could so, he was pleased when he saw that it was probably above average of that of a common student. Ample power for a soul purge.

[Raven Armstrong]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=eeeeee][atrb=width,500,true] [STYLE=width: 100px; height: 100px; border: 10px solid #111111; float: left; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 5px;][/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 30px; font-size: 18px; font-family: arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: -3px;]HATE THE RAIN—[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; background-color: #212121; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: arial; width: 450px; padding: 1px;]-----------------------[/style] [STYLE=text-align: left; font-size: 10px; font-family: arial; color: #606060;] TAGGED James Valentine. [/style] [STYLE=font-size: 10px; background-color: #f3f3f3; text-align: justify; width: 430px; padding: 5px; border-left: 7px solid #111111; border-top: 7px solid #111111;]"I see..." It would definitely be a change in pace for Raven if she got a partner. She would feel stronger and more trusting to people. She's been conflicted but she does eventually want to be the best Meister the DWMA has ever seen. If getting a partner was the only way she could do that, then she would. Taking another deep breath and letting it out again, she smiled and nodded. When Raven looked up at Mr. Valentine she noticed his expression changed again and her smile faded. Looking ahead again, she spoke in a soft tone. "Guess that makes sense, yeah.. I'm going to find the coolest partner ever." She smiles again and chuckles softly with another nod. Soul Purge. It was something she had seen a couple times before by other Meisters but she herself never tried it. Shrugging lightly and sighed. "I'm not sure, I never tried. I wouldn't even know where to begin... My parents never really taught me much because I was always running off and doing my own thing." From the corner of her eye, she noticed him looking at her. Was he looking for something on her? Or maybe he could see souls too! If so, he was officially her favorite out of the DWMA staff, and the coolest. While they were walking, Raven hadn't even realized how far they got from the Marketplace. They were almost at her house. The trip seemed a lot shorter on the way there with the way she was sprinting by. She clutched her bow against her chest again and thought for a moment. "Is it possible to teach someone Soul Purge? You know how to do it too, right?" She asked with a somewhat hopeful look in her eyes. If he was able to teach her close ranged combat as well as a Soul Purge, she would be on her way to being one of the best Meister in no time even before she finds a partner. [/style] [style=font-size: 10px; text-align: center;]TEMPLATE BY SAMARECARM OF OTE + BTN[/style]

[James Valentine]

James was enjoying his time with this student, she reminded him of himself in a way. Almost made him want to get another partner, it might be nice to trust someone again. James was caught up in his own thoughts while raven spoke of getting an awesome partner. He heard her but at the same time he didn’t pondering what he was going to do in the future.

So she hasn’t even tried to use a Soul Purge. That was surprising, especially with someone of her aspirations, James quickly realized that she needed a lot more help then what she was letting on to. James figured that the sooner he started teaching her things the better it would be for her and any partner she ended up with.

“Yeah, I can use Soul Purge” He started almost sounding as if he was gloating, “I can try to teach it to you as well, but I can only open the door. You need to put the work in and go through it yourself”. James had shifted into his teaching mode, he was slightly more serious, less flirtatious, which was probably a good thing considering he was walking around with a student.

“How far is it to your house? I want to ask your mother something”, James failed to realize the randomness of the question. But he was busy formulating a training session that would help her realize her potential. So he was asking information that was required for him to finalize his plans. A grin appeared on his face, he would probably enjoy this training session a little more then he should.