Icing the Blaze

[Catherine Novella]

Since moving back to pilot Ridge Cat had to make sure that everything was in order at the university for when she transferred. She had already completed her associates in at Tacoma Community College back in Seattle, and though University of Vermont didn't have the specific program she wanted it was close enough, and she supposed that she would have to go to graduate school for her master's anyway so the bachelor's didn't matter all that much.

Today she was visiting the university, getting ready to move into the dorms in the fall, and making sure she knew where her classes were. Since she is still extremely directional-challenged Cat wanted to at least have a head start at not getting lost when classes actually started. Not that she wouldn't get lost but, still. It would give her more time to memorize her way around. Having taken all of her core requirements at Tacoma Catherine looked down at her schedule smiling that it was mostly all electives and one science course.

Thus she was in the science building trying to find the offices and room 22J-L, which was her chemistry class. She had chosen chemistry over biology namely because there was no dissections and it was more about memorization. Along with the fact that she was generally really responsible and math for her was all right. It wasn't her favorite subject but she by no means had struggled with it. Hence her current location, and her map.

Brushing her hair aside and pushing up her glasses on her nose Cat looked over the map, completely and utterly lost. She looked around and didn't really see anyone, except for one male who seemed to be looking at her oddly. Cat really didn't register why, until he came up to her and looked her up and down. Blinking Cat looked up at him as he was quite tall, and shook her head lightly. She didn't really know this person who was smiling oddly at her. Before she could ask what he was doing Cat found that he had put one arm up against the wall behind her and was inching closer.

"Name's Blaze. Namely because I'm blazin' all day, and I will light up yo world. What's yo name little ma'am?"

Cat looked the taller male up and down before frowning as the stench of marijuana was radiating off of him like light off of a meta with bio-luminescene. She frowned at him and refrained from coughing by putting the map over her face, as to not inhale the stinky stench and cocked an eyebrow at his overtly intrusive nature. If this was his idea of flirting she was not impressed. Far from it actually. "That..." She sneered before continuing, "...dear sir is none of your business. Would you kindly remove your arm and let me pass now?" She really didn't want to deal with this pothead, and would not tolerate anymore intrusions of her personal space.

"Now, Now, little ma'am, no need to get all feisty." The male whom had introduced himself as 'Blaze' was licking his lip, still lecherous eyes focused on Cat. "You seem to be a little lost, I was just offerin' my services, and wanted to know yo name." Cat watched as the male smirked and continued. "Though the feisty is working for ya little ma'am. I like it." Wrinkling her nose Cat looked up at him again and rolled her eyes and quietly, as well as quickly tried to move past him. It didn't work. "Little ma'am, yo leavin' already? Now we can't have that." Before Cat could react Blaze's other hand shot out and effectively trapped her in place by the wall. "I think you should let me help ya' little ma'am."

God she hoped someone else would come. She was not inclined to use violence, but this man was getting on her nerves.

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** Note to Syd and Aeri, thanks for the use of the name and pick up lines ^>^

[Deleted]

It was a couple weeks after their camping trip. The one where Malachai insisted on bringing the two commoners that no doubt brought them down and held them back from having a better time. But whatever, the time had past and Sera wasn’t going to dwell on it(at least not here, she’d wait until she saw Malachai to gripe about it).

Sera had been to the university campus a few times since Malachai had graduated Hammel and gotten into the chemisty program. And now that Malachai was graduated again, he still hadn’t left that stupid stinky laboratory. Sera hated going there, it smelled. And it was dirty. And there was always the risk of something icky getting on her clothing. Sera didn’t know how her brother could stand working in such an environment. Either way, it didn’t matter. Sera held her tongue(sorta) when she came to visit him on campus, like she was doing today.

She had just finished with a brief visit with her brother when she stepping into the linoleum tiled hallways of the chemistry building, exasperated by the visit. Sera loved her brother immensely, there was no denying that, but sometimes he just didn’t get it! It wasn’t her fault that his friends were so high maintenance and couldn’t take a few well meant jokes. Either way, she didn’t have to be here anymore and so was well on her way towards the building’s exit when she happened upon a scene that literally made her roll her eyes.

Really, why did her brother want to hang out with such a low-life crowd.

Now Sera wasn’t physically strong in any sense of the word. She kept herself healthy, yes, but she was far from being a heavy-weight champ, or even a feather-weight champ for that matter. But she was smart, and oftentimes that was more than enough to make up for her lack of physical prowess. Let’s use the current scenario as an example. Sera barely gave notice of the altercation between the offensive man and the girl trying to get away. She didn’t even slow down as she passed by them. But she did bring her hand up and grip tightly with her bony fingers on the offending man into that soft space on the neck, just below the lower jaw. This is very painful, mind you, and quickly cuts off blood flow from the carotid artery to the brain. A person will instinctually back up in an effort to relieve the pressure inflicted upon them this way. And so this “Blaze” person did, until they’d reached the double doors at the end of the hall and Sera finally released him, allowing him to stumble backwards outside the building.

“Go away,” she spat venomously and with hateful eyes. Sera left the person where he stood and returned to the girl he was previously harassing. “Next time that happens,” she said to the blonde girl, her eyes still as sharp as a razor blade, “Punch him. Or call for help. Guys like that don’t respond to half-hearted rejections.”