* SEVEN DEVILS ALL AROUND YOU, [emmett]

Nell arched an eyebrow at the 'unfortunately' part. She didn't like to judge people, so she wasn't going to make any assumptions based on the fact that he was a Thunder. Besides the fact that he was an enemy. Sometimes it was odd to think of it like that, what with her genes, her Thunder family, her father who she most certainly spoke to. Less nowadays thanks to the past dragging itself into the present. But she knew the Academy well, despite only having been there for two years. She was taught a very harsh lesson early in the first months, that if the enemy alliance believed you wrong them, there would be consequences. She was sure a lot of the Thunders still disliked her thanks to the fact that they had pinned the blame wrongly on her for their leader's death. She didn't care to approach them and ask.

She closed the volume she'd been reading and tapped her fingers on it. He seemed completely enthused to be here, and though she was good in situations like this, certainly made it more awkward. She could practically sense the static charge inside of him. "And I shall," she said, opening the messenger bag that slumped against her chair leg and pulling out a notebook, a pen, and a folder. "Well that's certainly know what to approach this," she spoke with a smirk as she flipped open to a page in her notebook. "If we rush, you're certainly not going to learn anything, are you?" It seemed rather counter-productive, even though she could understand the guy. He obviously didn't want to be here, and she felt bad that he had to be here. The professor wanted him to get extra help, and she was the one to provide it. She wondered if it was going to be like pulling teeth, since she certainly didn't want to brush over anything if he needed help.

She looked at him after clicking on her pen. "So what specifically do you need help with?" She questioned him, figuring it'd be better to hear it from his mouth so she could get specifics. The teacher had brushed over it to give her a general idea, but it was really up to him to tell her exactly which areas he was having trouble with. "Don't be afraid to ask questions, either, there's a reason Mr. Farrow chose me." She wasn't tooting her horn, she just wanted him to feel comfortable with her. Nell knew what she was doing, she was an intelligent enough person and she handled people well. Her father had told her before that those were good things to have, he nurtured her intelligent, but her people skills? Well, clearly something had gone wrong in that area thanks to her mother.


[the same subjects as any other high school, including elemental studies. so like english, math, etc. left it up to you. ^^]

Nell was good at hiding things, she’d spent her entire life doing so. Not only for self-preservation, but for the protection of those around her. And since meeting Jane, she’d learned how to smile when she’d like to frown. This meeting, for instance. Her demeanor was calm and easygoing, her usual half-smile touching her lips. Perfectly peaceful, like any good Earth. Nell knew he was going to be difficult, it wasn’t too hard to tell. He wasn’t being very responsive to her, but that was easy. Patience and tolerance, it really did help. She dealt with difficult people most of her life. Emmett would be another challenge with his sour demeanor. At least she could understand him. The girl didn’t like getting help for anything, the only time she remembered accepting it was when she had been…fuzzy, and Josh had taken care of her. That was a shy acceptance, though, she hadn’t wanted to bother him.

She nodded, looking at his set-up of pens and a notebook. She hadn’t gotten any details about the Thunder thanks to confidentiality, so she didn’t know his grades. And she didn’t want to, it wasn’t any of her business. ”Algebra two, awesome.” Nell had seen him take out everything, so that was good. He came prepared, which meant he wasn’t going to be the slacker type. Though she could have dealt with that, too. There was little she couldn’t endure. Her thoughts were that nothing could be as bad as they were before. Nell could agree with him on that front, but she wondered how much she should say to him, lest she get more of a lukewarm reaction. Imaginary numbers were pretty annoying, but at least it in part involved memorizing. Math had never been her forte, but she was still good at it. Good at anything when she applied herself, which was often. ”Are you graphing imaginary numbers? Because that’s at least pretty easy.” All you really had to know was what went on the x and y axis.

Nell sketched out a graph on her notebook paper with perfectly straight lines, meticulous in its design. She was developing an artist’s hand with how much doodling she did. Mostly on notes for memorization purposes. Her pen tapped against the crisp papers. ”Give me an example problem?” she told him. Or rather requested. Nell heard something from another part of the library before she could get any further in her sentence, and she looked over. It looked like two people were about to throwdown. She could be that it was a Fire versus an Earth, since they were currently at war. Nell shook her head before giving a sharp whistle. They turned her attention to her long enough for her to say, ”Librarian’s coming over, better haul butt.” One of them scowled, but both looked to check. She wondered if they’d take it outside. They eventually moved and she shook her head, ”Can’t stop fights, might as well control them.”

Nell nodded, listening to his words intently, eyes probing but not in a ‘I must discover every little detail about you’ way. No, that would only make this session more uncomfortable than it already was, and it was a good thing she didn’t get uncomfortable too easily. She could remember a lot of moments in her life, but she liked to brush by them. ”Creative thinker?” she questioned. ”Right brainers prefer creativity over logic. I get ya, vato.” She was one of those creative thinkers, though she was good enough at math. Getting better, really. It was something she couldn’t have really taught herself growing up, and so she had to do without. Last year, she didn’t need supplementary classes only for her elemental powers. She’d never had a formal education, she was pretty much a hick in that area. ”Great, that’s pretty teachable.” It was easier one-on-one, she thought. Some people just weren’t comfortable asking questions in front of others. She could understand, perhaps only on the level that she was empathetic with all those around her.

Her lips twitched into a bit of a smile when he told her to hold on, not being able to help it. Perhaps she was too friendly. Emmett was the enemy, one of her worst enemies. Well, maybe not right now. She did an excellent job at pissing off the Fire leaders recently, so she was pretty sure that element wasn’t too pleased with her. Unfortunately, Thunders were the vindictive sort, they were elephants--never forgive, never forget. Which meant not forgetting the war almost two years ago even when she wished she could. She turned to the Thunder boy after dispersing the two, lifting an eyebrow at his ‘crap’ statement. ”What’s up?” she questioned, not knowing that he might have been ashamed of being tutored. She wasn’t a mind reader, and she didn’t even think that would be an interesting power to have. Knowing everything that went on in someone else head. She’d rather leave that all up to surprise. Nell chuckled lightly when he said their should have been an intervention. ”Priorities,” she stated simply. Oh, she was that type of person to go and break up a fight, to defend her element. But she didn’t want to leave Emmett, no matter how he might have disliked her company.

She looked back to him when he had his head propped up by his hand, looking very interested. Patience of a saint, guaranteed. ”I imagine it’s how FDR felt with Stalin,” she said facetiously before shrugging. ”It’s like tutoring anyone else. Being around anyone else, really.” That didn’t mean she went and made friends with the enemy alliance willy-nilly. She learned her lesson long ago. She just didn’t step to every situation viewing the other person as an enemy. Even Emmett. ”You’re not my enemy. You’re my acquaintance.” That was really the best way to describe it. And it came from a pacifist’s point of view, someone who abhorred violence in all its forms. Besides, she had Thunder qualities of her own, things she inherited from the Fuentes family--their vindictiveness being the strongest thing she had. And even then, she couldn’t hold grudges for too long. She’d managed to forgive her father for everything. Well, almost everything. He just liked to pile the shit on, but he was the only one to blame for that. ”And how do you feel, fraternizing with the enemy?” she said, her voice in a joking tone.

It was a bit hard for her to make conversation when he seemed unable to meet her gaze. She looked at him with a lifted eyebrow, an expression that seemed to be permanently stuck on her face with him. It was better when he did train his eyes on her after a non-commital comment, the next one speaking of family. "In the genes, huh." She could get it. A lot of things were in the genes, including elements. She tried not to think about what might be passed down in her family however. There was the Fuentes men cooks, their stares and calmness, the fact they never seem to die. And then there was the Fuenteses with their intelligence and their love for music. One other thing, her main concern--mental illness. It was Josh who had reassured her that it didn't have to happen to her. But she still feared it.

Nell looked as he flipped through the pages, fingers drumming against her own. She didn't question him further when he said that it was nothing, knowing better to push. She knew people who would, but she wasn't one of those people. Others deserved their privacy, especially when they were antisocial Thunder elementals. He fussed with his hair and she pulled at a strand of her own while watching him, large brown eyes always shining with curiosity. "I suppose not," she said, spinning her engagement ring around her finger with her thumb. She loved the Waters, got along with them very well. Hey, it may have been that Sinclair gene. She knitted her eyebrows together when he mocked her, a small smile on her face, the humoring kind of smile. Emmett was lucky that it was her, and not someone with thin patience that would have stood up by now to clock him in the jaw.

The Thunder didn't seem quite convinced of her words, rather he just rolled his eyes at her. "All righty then," she said to satiate him. She wouldn't do it around him, now. Even though they did not get along, she was still a people pleaser and did not like to cause problems. She was willing to acquiesce to his words because of this. "Would you rather the Thunders be FDR? It makes no difference in my analogy," she pointed out, now doodling on her paper to preoccupy her hands. She drew a smiley face, curly handlebar mustache, a furry hat. "Didn't mean to offend you," she said honestly, not sounding off-put. By anything, really. She was unerringly calm in every situation.

Hitler? Well then. She supposed it was only fair considering she'd compared his element to Stalin. But really, that was only for the sake of comparing to enemy forces. It didn't sit well with her that Emmett compared her element to that man however. She glanced down at his hands, felt like she was in some kind of meeting. "So you're going to stay out of my way until I start messing with your element?" she asked, actually believing it. She didn't know what kind of person Emmett was, how easily provoked he could be. But if she were Hitler, then she supposed that he'd stay out of this war of their until she sent U-boats in his direction. "I guess we're stalemated, then. I really have no desire to start anything with you guys. Which is why I consider you...acquaintances." His element had a problem with her, but she only had problems with individuals. Rowena and Rafael, namely. She wondered if the two got along, and would believe it very much.

It certainly felt like a cold war speaking to Emmett. Maybe that meant they really were enemies. Still, the Earth girl refused to think on those terms. He was just a student who needed help. And she wasn't going to tell him that she felt a deeper connection with him, one that she felt with everyone. She felt too much, but she always remained convinced that it's better than not feeling at all. Better than cutting herself off. Too much experience with that. "Touché," she agreed with him. She knew about war, she'd experienced it personally. All the same. He had a point there. Those three probably all felt the same way about each other. It was good that Emmett cut himself off, because she stopped in her doodling and looked up expectantly. She was defensive of her element, ella familia. Which is why it probably wasn't good to put two enemies together like this. Not enemies. Absolute refusal.

Not violent? She liked to hear that, actually, because she'd known the Thunders to be brought to battle easily enough. It was nice to know that there were still individuals within these elements. Even though she shouldn't really feel that way about it. She watched him drop his arms into his lap, smirking a bit. "I feel much safer with you now." She leaned forward, expression quizzical. Overly trusting as she was, she didn't expect him to attack her. He had no reason at this point, and she gave him the benefit of the doubt. The way she phrased her opinions seemed to get to him. As much as she was stubborn, she also liked to put the needs of others first. Of course, that was Emmett's need in tutoring. "But doesn't that make us acquaintances? 'A person known to one, but not friend with,' that's the definition. Aren't we acquainted then?" Was she just egging him on? Ah, she didn't care. Leave it to an ex-English lit major to say something like that.

She stopped in her doodling once again. Her drawing turned out to be a triangular looking man named Pythagorus. It was little things like that which actually helped her learn. Pneumonic device and all that.   "We got a little sidetracked there," she noted, looking at the textbook. Nell didn't know whether or not she wanted any more debates with him. It left a bitter taste in her mouth. "Write down a problem you need help with?" An effort to get back on course. The library was silent once again, she could hear herself inhale. Almost too quiet in that horror b-movie way. But she was fine with it. She was fine with anything, easy to please. And libraries used to be her haunt. One library, actually. One memory that she could be certain of, not frightened by.
 

Emmett's words were true. She was too naive for her own good. Some of it was because she knew the opposite, the way someone can completely shut off the world. Not trust it, not believe in it. Nell knew the worst of human condition. Even though she didn't know anything about herself or what she wanted to be, who she would become, she knew she didn't want to turn out like the person who proved to her that people really could break. And all she had to keep in mind was that what didn't kill you outright made you stronger. "Sarcasm is an art," she said, lying her hands flat on the notebook. She didn't really mean that she felt more safer, even if she did believe him when he said that he wasn't outwardly violent. "I'll keep an eye out," she told him, smiling a little bit. Her naivete may have been her downfall, but she didn't want to stop trusting the world. She saw more good in it than bad.

He seemed amused, and she met his eyes with that frank expression of hers that revealed nothing. Her fingers twirled around the pen, and she said, "Because I enjoy your reactions so much." Again with her joking, she was really bad with that. But honestly, she didn't mean any harm by it. She never meant harm. And in the rare times that she did, you knew. Bluntly honest and genuine, she didn't try to cover up things like that. If she hated you, you would know. But it was rarely ever that simple. She couldn't just hate someone, that was too black and white. She'd tried many times but it never worked. "I like a little debate." Nell winked at him, smile still situated on her face. "Enemies. A person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another." She let that stand on its own, make of it what he will. And she simply smiled that charming little smile when he said that it was whatever.

Her smile was bright. "Need any help with that, I'm all yours." She enjoyed messing around a little too much, she hoped Emmett didn't mind. But it didn't really matter, did it, with how much he already disliked her. It was quite apparent that no matter what, she was an enemy. Plain and simple. And it didn't bother her that he thought of her that way. She didn't want to try and make him like her. Nell set out to be a support for people, but not if they didn't want it. Not if there were too many risks involved with it. She watched as the Thunder student wrote down his problem for her. "All right, you start off like this..." Nell showed him the problem, what went where and how to graph it on the lines he drew on his notebook. She was glad for the professionalism after that little break. "That make sense?" she asked in her professional voice, blinking at him curiously.