( * --- CHARLOTTE MARTIN )

Mathieu sat down next to the brunette, positioning his brief case at his feet. He held his coffee thermos on his lap and took a deep breath. The moon was beautiful tonight. The town was peaceful. He loved moments like this. “Oui.” He nodded his head, looking over to make eye contact. “New lesson plans, grading papers, trying not to pull my hair out at the lack of effort students are putting in now a days.” He let out a sigh. Yes, this newer generation was interesting. “And how are you doing this evening? Patients all behaving?” He thought the medical world was odd, just because he couldn’t relate to anything that happened inside the hospital. 

Charlotte listened and could understand to an extent about his situation. If his students were as much hassle as her medical interns then she surely could relate to him in some way or another. “Well, I’d say you’re doing a pretty good job. After all, you’ve still got a full head of hair,” she teased, with a warm smile. When the conversation turned to her, she almost laughed at his question. “When do they ever behave? But no, I’m doing fine thank you. I’m just taking a break from healing people that could probably avoid injuring themselves if they just didn’t mess about with their powers. For instance, some flying guy decided to swerve in and out of trees, and ended up smacking his head on one of the trunks.” She sighed. “Idiot.”

Just another moon || Open

Mathieu closed his brief case, fastening the gold latches. He had stayed at the school longer than he intended working on a new lesson plan. “I’m worried about time.” He chuckled, look at the watch on his wrist. “How ironic.” He quickly grabbed his coffee thermos and headed out of his classroom. The halls were dark, only a few lights were still on barely dimming the hallway. He began to whistle an old tune, a melody he heard growing up in France many, many moons ago. 

His thermos sloshed at his side as he rounded the corner, the side exit coming into view. He had no future plans for the night, he might end up doing what he always did. Mathieu had seen a lot in his many centuries, but one of his favorite sites was the night time sky. It amazed him how it never changed, it was the one constant thing in his life. When he looked at the moon, he could bring himself back to France when his beloved was alive, or even to the night he sailed to America. It brought him an odd sense of peace in his troubling world. 

As he made his way out the side exit, he noticed someone sitting on a bench. The moon shone bright tonight, illuminating the front yard of the school house. He slowly walked over to the bench, cocking his head to the side. “Mind if I sit?” He questioned, motioning to the free space. 

Charlotte regularly took her breaks from the hospital during the evenings. It seemed more peaceful and serene, and she found that with the impending curfew it meant that the streets were clear of dangerous individuals that didn’t mind using their powers for evil. Not that they would have much of a chance with the rotation of guards circulating the town.

Usually, she spent her breaks alone. However, tonight seemed different as an unfamiliar voice reached her ears. Looking up from her position on the bench, she smiled at the teacher and nodded in response. “Of course,” she said. “Late night at the office?”

khai stood, violin in hand, and it was again like he was the only person in the room. his mind often made him think so, but nothing made him feel as such when he had a violin in his hands. he had decided that it was time he needed something else to focus on, and the second he stepped into the music shop it was like it all came flooding back to him. he easily began playing nocturne in c sharp minor and became so carried away he didn’t stop until the piece was finished. that’s when he noticed someone staring at him which made him cling the violin close to him. “i, uh… i’m going to buy it.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare...” Charlotte didn’t, but she’d been mesmerised by his performance. He had definitive talent, that she was certain about. “You’re really good. You should definitely buy it,” she smiled. “I think it’d be wrong if you didn’t.”

There weren’t many people Blake liked talking to. The medical staff were some of the exceptions–she did kind of trust them, which was unusual for her. “No, it’s okay doc,” she replied. “Just a rough week. Are you okay? You don’t exactly look rosy either.”

“Would you believe if I said I was feeling ill?” The irony of a doctor being under the weather was laughable, but Charlotte smiled and shrugged. “Do you want to talk about this rough week?”

“You rarely get attention? I’m sorry but that’s something I have a hard time believing.” Flynn chuckled as he took another swig of his beer. He licked his lips as he watched her carefully. She took a step towards him and his initial reaction was to back up but he was against a counter, so he couldn’t. Her hand took his and he held his breath as she began pulling him slowly towards the dance floor. Flynn dropped his drink on a nearby table and let her pull him out and away from the counter. “I never said it would kill me but it might embarrass you.” 

“Why do you think that exactly?” Charlotte asked, curious as to his answer. She led him into the middle, and paused, giving the male a smile. His company was better than none, and she hoped he’d allow her to stick with him for the night. Outside of the hospital, she’d rarely made any friends -- at least friends that she’d partake in such activities with. “Why would I be embarrassed? Nonsense!” She declared, as she began to sway lightly to the music, lifting their hands into the air. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks anyway, do your worst.” 

In my ballets, woman is first. Men are consorts. God made men to sing the praises of women. They are not equal to men: They are better.

   OBEDIENCE is not loyalty.    SERVITUDE is not loyalty.    OBLIGATION is not loyalty.

“Oh I didn’t mean to be your audience or anything. I wasn’t just… I mean I wasn’t staring by any means I was just–” Flynn bit down on his lip before taking a large gulp of his drink. It was digging himself into his own hole, like he usually did. 

“I’m not really a dancer.” He confessed to her as she moved towards him. “You wouldn’t actually drag me onto the dance floor.” Flynn chuckled as he tilted his head to the side slightly. “Would you?”

“You’re speaking to someone who rarely gets attention, so be my audience. I sure as hell would appreciate it.” Charlotte laughed, before tilting her head and squinting her eyes at his confession. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to particularly drag you, but...” She paused, before reaching out and taking a hold of his hand, proceeding to step backwards onto the dance floor. “You better discard that drink quickly, my friend,” she laughed. “Come on, dancing with me won’t kill you.”

Flynn stood at the edge of the club, drinking while he watched everyone dance. He smiled and clapped for them. “Bravo!” He chuckled before he took another swig of his drink. His eyes widened at the next dance move that they did. “Wow! Now that might have just been the most impressive dance move I have ever seen in my life!” He shouted above the music.

Charlotte rarely took time off work, but when she did she made sure she enjoyed herself -- that was why she found herself in the middle of the dance floor of Grimstone’s finest and only club. “I didn’t realise I had an audience,” she laughed, as she made her way to the edge of the floor. “Are you coming to join me or not? Don’t make me drag you, Carver.”

Blake rubbed her temple, wondering if she should look and see who was here. “To be honest,” she began. “I wasn’t expecting anyone else to be here, but I’m not complaining about the company.”

“I was just taking a break. I can leave if you want? It looks like you could use someone to talk to though. Is everything okay, Ms. Nichols?” Charlotte asked, with concern.

Roman laughed at the question, shaking his head and lining his shot back up. “No, I’m not using my power. I can’t just perceive the ball into the pocket. I’m not cheating; you’re just that bad.”

“Oh, really? I disagree.” Charlotte replied with a laugh. “Maybe I’m just going easy on you. I know how proud guys’ like to be of themselves, I wouldn’t want to ruin that for you.”

In good spirits, Roman rolled his eyes a bit, both at Charlotte’s insistence that he’d be a good dancer, and her promise that she’d get him onto the dance floor. Yeah, yeah, he thought to himself. “People are going to be lining up, faking sick after this,” he replied. “So, mission accomplished. We’ll just have to see about the dancing thing.”

“That may be true, but at least I’ll have tonight.” Charlotte teased, with a smile. However, she sighed at his insistence to not allow himself at least once dance. “Come on, it wouldn’t hurt you to have a little fun. Besides, it’s not like you’re doing anything else. You’re literally just stood there, and I know that’s ‘guarding’ but surely it must be boring.”

“It really isn’t disappointing,” Roman assured the good doctor. “I’m two left feet and no rhythm. Have you ever seen a train wreck? It’s even worse than that. I’ll stand here and keep my dignity, thanks.” He glanced at Charlotte, Doctor Martin, whoever she was that night. “You look amazing, Doc,” he said. “Like ten million bucks. Feel free to keep me company, if the guard who can’t dance can keep your attention.”

“I don’t believe that. I reckon you’re a brilliant dancer, or at least you would be if you just gave it a go.” Charlotte laughed. At his compliment, she scoffed but smiled in appreciation. “Thanks, Guard. That’s kind of you. I wanted to show people that I can wear other things besides medical clothes and a white coat,” she shrugged. “Sure, I’ll keep you company. But be warned, I’ll get you to dance tonight.”

“Ha… Jesus. That’s nice of you to say. I’m not dancing, though. I’m working.”

“Really? Not even one dance? That’s disappointing.”

“you, uh, you know i can see you right?” khai asked, giving the other a side glance. he didn’t want to risk looking at them directly, for risk that he would get into something he wanted nothing to do with. but the other was acting strange, that was for sure.

“Oh, uh, well... stop looking at me?” Charlotte laughed a little, trying to conceal the bags she held in her hand. Unfortunately, they were too large to be hidden behind her back. However, she tried. “I’m just... I’m trying to hide the stuff I’ve bought for the dance. If someone tells my sister that I’m actually going, I have no doubt she’ll mock me.”