jason-ia

[jason-ia]

"It's me, indeed," Jason nodded. Fascinated as he was with the woman, as the initial wave of that fascination slowly started to dissipate, it was replaced by a combination of curiosity and the gargoyle's usual reservedness.

Nonetheless, he was more than happy to listen to what she had come from. "That's alright, I actually haven't put up the opening hours sign yet because, well..." He would have lied and said bureaucracy but a liar he was not - not always, at least, not unless it was of utmost importance to avoid or overly decorate the truth. In fact, it was pure laziness on his part.

"Well, I do offer classic self-defense classes, though that would depend who you're defending yourself against." At a place like the village - or the entire Academy grounds - he didn't have to explain what his tone insinuated. Instead, he simply carried on talking, in the same nonchalant tone.

"Have you ever practiced any sport or martial art? I would suggest French boxing, of course, but it's a demanding sport and much more...Aggressive than everything else I can offer. But, at least if you're looking for discount," he added the last bit of information with a humorous note in his voice. "You can get a 6-month discount for boxing. How about I show you some basic moves and then you can figure out if that's something you're looking for, Miss Merry?"

She did not believe in God herself- a few sessions at the local church of Poseidon where she grew up had been enough to cure the religion straight out of her. So, if the other wanted to thank anyone, he should thank her.

It took a minute or so before someone appeared and she smiled at him, tall and handsome. She was already pleased she had come- Merry was not a very subtle woman, so the way her eyes lingered on his shoulders should be obvious before she looked at the other’s eyes again and smiled more. “Oh, you are Jason?” she purred as she bowed lightly and then nodded before taking his hand and shaking it. Her skin cool but not cold to the touch.

“Oh, I am sorry- I couldn’t find the opening hours on the website so I closed my shop early to come see. I am Marina Prideaux, but everyone calls me Merry so please do so as well.” there was a warmth to her voice as she spoke- someone who wore their heart on their sleeve.

While Merry was a woman with many secrets she was very open with her emotions when she could be and most people would describe her as a good friend- and her enemies probably as a very spirited adversary.

“I am here for the boxing… training?” she said and was unsure what the advertisement had said exactly- she looked troubled. “I like some kind of self-defence classes.” The last time someone attacked her she had grabbed a kitchen utensil and had to learn how to divide a body with her favourite butcher’s knife. She would rather be less lethal and more lady-like. After all, in Merry’s thoughts, she would prefer to kill with poison or drowning, if she had to kill at all of course.

Gosh, she sure hoped the other was not a mindreader.

“So, can you help with that?”

[jason-ia]

“Well hello there! Welcome to Dark Letters Bar, anything you want I got” He smiles waving the new comer over to a stool at the bar. “Please come in, unless you’re underage then come in secretly” The Shigofumi laughed throwing his rag over his shoulder.

Jason wasn't sure if he was supposed to be flattered or slightly offended by the underage remark. At the very least, he found it funny, judging by the chuckle he let out as he took a seat by the bar. "Can't say I've ever been underage," he practically muttered to himself, though he was quite sure the other could hear him, as well.

"What's your best English Pale Ale?"

[jason-ia]

"Welcome to the academy- or well the grounds." the elf says as they look at the man for a moment, his pink eyes studying the newcomer. "I accepted your application to move here," he smiled but it did not reach those pink eyes "Don't make me regret my choices. I am the vice-principal of the academy and the villages. Please make sure to find me if you have any complaints. As I will return the favour."

"Thank you, I suppose," was Jason's initial response.

The atmosphere of being analyzed was all too familiar to the gargoyle. The pink-eyed man was neither the first nor the last to grant Jason a hearty dose of suspicion and he didn't mind it all. Except if it turned to hostility, which, by the sound of the latter words, seemed to pop its head right up, rubbing the gargoyle in the wrong way.

"Indeed, I have, I believe already expressed my gratitude for being accepted," Jason continued, locking eyes with the other. "Considering the number of demons you have running around, I highly doubt an aged gargoyle will make you regret something," he added.

@key-ia

[jason-ia]

Hey, welcome, yeah, uh... I like fighting, sometimes. I'd like to get lessons as long as it's not expensive coz I'm a broke bitch.

If it weren't entirely appropriate, Jason would have laughed. Not because the young(looking) man was funny, but because - simply - the choice of words was so darn particular that it forced at least an amused smile from the normally reserved gargoyle.

"Well, broke bitch," Jason shot right back, "You're in luck because, depending on whether you want to do hapkido, or my limited self-defense or French boxing lessons, you may be entitled for a little discounts for the first six months."

He paused for a moment, analyzing the other. "It's up to you but, if you've never done any martial arts before, I'd recommend hapkido. If you have and you want to push yourself, French boxing is your friend."

@leeknow-ia

[jason-ia]

"Hello handsome, you come here often?" The angel asks- his wings are relaxed and half on the dirty ground of the nightclub and his halo hangs crooked above his head as he smirks at the man.

He was curious - nothing else. A night-club wasn't Jason's scene, unless there was a person of interest there that he was targeting.

Tonight, however, a spell of curiosity, mixed in with having nothing to do that particular evening, led Jason to visiting the club and making at least one acquaintance before the...angel? approached him.

The wings were, naturally, quite hard to miss, even if he were squinting, but, regardless of his proclivities or even philosophies, Jason was, as always, careful.

"Hello," he replied right back, his attention split between his drink and the stranger. "Not really. First timer here."

He'd met an angel or two a lifetime ago, but he'd formed no particular opinion of the kind. They served the same God - so they said - but that was, as far as the gargoyle was concerned, about it. When it came to trust, everyone had to earn it and so, as a shadow of suspicion emerged on his face, he added, "Have we met before?"

@steve-ia

[jason-ia]

Everything he had attempted to fix the problem had totally failed.

Frustrated, and unaccustomed to damned clumsiness, Jason had been stuck in the back room for a little bit over an hour, fixing the back door. He'd just opened the studio - the preparations of which had nearly claimed his penultimate nerve - and now the door was leaving a teeth-grinding screeching sound every time he opened or closed it.

When the front door opened and he heard somebody coming in and then looking for him specifically, the gargoyle took it as a sign from God. It was a desperate thought, and of course entirely groundless, but he was a drowning master builder and anything would do.

Before stepping out to meet the newcomer, he was diligent enough to clean his hands. And lucky for him because the interested party was...Well, it wouldn't suffice to say he mistook her for some kind of goddess. Gargoyle or not, made from stone or note - Jason was a relatively simple man and whenever he saw a specimen that unusually beautiful, he couldn't help but forget his own name for a nanosecond.

"Jason," he reminded himself as he spoke to the woman. "That would be me. He took a few steps closer to the woman and then offered a hand for a shake. "I'm afraid I wasn't expecting anyone at this particular hour but I'll gladly accommodate you, Miss...?"

Skipping stones (on the water) Jason&Merry