"I think you'd be a great Latin teacher again. You've got a talent for teaching, the kids don't act up around you. They do their work, they're afraid to disappoint you. From a teaching standpoint that's kind of a good thing. Now as to what you'd need to stay good?" Athos jogged a bit and got ahead of hir. He wanted hir to be able to look deep into his eyes, to see the darkness that was welling up in him, that could show if he needed it to. "I can tell you how I did it. It started as a bit of personal rivalry, jealousy? I wanted to be the best assassin in the world, and I was only the second best. The best retired. So, I retired, followed his example. When I got here I actually wanted to knock him off even though he was a hero to me. Inspirational. I let Drake become a sort of handler for me. I let him focus me. Sure, I could kill him on any given day. Why? What point would I be making? What I'm trying to say is, I'm a loaded gun and I know it. I had someone become the safety for that gun. He gives me projects, things to do, and once in a while trouble comes around. Safety comes off, trouble goes away, darkness gets to be put to good use. Makes me feel good."

Oh this was such a bad explanation and he knew it. It was just really hard to find the right words to tell Krynn. Shi could be evil, bad, dark, and still be good at the same time. There would always be another darkness out there... wait, that was it. "There's always someone else out there that'll be another darkness. If they're a lesser darkness than us, we can get rid of them or control them. If they're greater, we have a good reason to try to put them down when they get close. Or to stay hidden and avoid their notice. Being good, best way for a bad guy to hide. And sometimes, there's a good person out there that brings out the best of us." Didn't hurt that Athos could see hir beauty the way a few others could. Well, like he said if shi turned out to be one of the bad ones he'd either beat hir or he'd control hir.

The beast could see where he was coming from, but at the same time shi still did not want to understand everything he said. From what the ahuizotl understood, shi would need someone who was capable of controlling hir, control but release at the same time. There were only two who could have automatic control over hir like that. Both were strong, courageous and good hearted, the beast was afraid they would never let hir use what shi always craves to be. Even now shi was craving live, fresh, running blood instead of dead food that shi could not kill hirself.
When the snake jogged to get in front and dared to look hir in the eyes, the all natural reaction was to growl at him and back up a bit. To this creature that was a threat and the way he stared made the monster very uncomfortable.
I wish you would give a warning before you would do that... I can't control myself and you running about certainly won't help anybody right now in the middle of nowhere.[/I]
Shi growled again, staring at him and trying to not let hir own get riled up just because of this situation.
Without much else shi moved around him and kept walking, trying to calm hir nerves. Hir claws were out fully and hir clawtail was flexing in a dangerous manner. Ever since Krynn was allowed to wander about without supervision, shi had always craved conflict. Blake had made sure to warn hir against it though. Now was definitely a moment when shi were to be tested to see if shi would indulge in it. I can't do this... I can't stay out much longer, he'll know if I do... I need to get back.. Shi quietly thought to hirself, keeping hir back to Athos, not caring what he would do to hir right now. No matter hiw much he thought he might be able to control hir, only pure spirits can control hir. Crimson was the most pure of creatures shi had ever come in contact with. Blake was almost pure but he still had the same near effect of Crimson. But the beast did not know if shi wanted another controlling hir, it seemed like it would be horrible to be confined and become useless towards everyday living.[/color]

Ahh this was what Blake liked about hir. The danger aspect, a chance for him to prove that he was a good person and he could hold back such a creature. At least that's the impression Athos got, but Blake could be hard to read sometimes. That clawtail, he'd admit it was very unique. "You're controlling yourself fine. You just have to accept that you've got a choice. You can keep yourself under control as long as you need to, or want to. Even if you wanted to rip my throat out right now, you haven't. I wouldn't give you a very good chance at it but, if you tried then you'd learn more of your limits, more about yourself. Not suggesting you do though." He wouldn't mind a challenge. The last person that had been able to "shadow walk" or jump from one location to another, he kind of killed that guy. Very useful talent though, wished he could do it. Then there was one that could supposedly manipulate people's minds. He called himself "The Shadow" but a bullet still stopped him just the same. Such mundane rivals.

"You want one of them? I can help you." Of course shi'd likely claim to need no assistance. With Blake or Crimson though it would be quite difficult. Hmmm, why wasn't Drake on the list though?

Krynn was beginning to feel that Athos was forgetting who shi was. Shi felt he was forgetting the original reason that shi was killed and had disappeared for so many years before coming back to life through anothers body source. Flattening hir ears, Krynn disappeared into the shadows, like a Cheshire cat with only hir eyes to show for.
I have very little self control, Athos. But of course you think you are so high on your ego horse that you believe you could control me. I cannot be controlled by just anyone, the spirit has to be pure. Unless you believe you can control me through another means I suggest to rethink your plan that you are devising.[/I]
Hir eyes disappeared and shortly reappeared ten feet behind Athos with hir back to him.
I cannot control myself like you think I can. I am a monster, everyone has often made that very clear to me. I only have enough to restrain for a little while before trying to do what I do best.. Even if I had someone to control me, their life would still hang in the balance of how well their eyes can keep me still. Only two can manage that to me and they barely manage that. I do not believe they would help in this even if I begged on all fours like a dog. I just need to remain a ghost to the eye of society until my last breath.[/I][/color]

"Oh don't get me wrong I have no desire to directly control you but I do want you to know that you won't be doing much in the way of killing innocents while I'm around. Heh, I keep forgetting that you have that lovely talent to read minds don't you? Among other things I'm sure." No, he'd leave control to the dragons. He was more the executioner type. Hir sudden disappearing act was amusing, able to track hir for at least part of the time. Shi did get a little further behind than he'd thought but making a closer estimate might be to his advantage some day. Why did shi insist on being a monster though? "Monsters are a matter of whose perspective you're going by in my opinion. I give you credit because I think you deserve it. Anyone determined enough to return after being taken down, that's pretty good. Even better when you're not ripping the throats out of anyone that might be related to your past." Even if hir memory wasn't quite perfect shi could likely sense any sort of sparks of familiarity. How would shi react if he could project an image of the young green dragon now?

The beast had started to walk away while Athos was speaking, but shi did hear his thoughts. The creature wanted to hesitate in leaving, hir stubborn nature did not seem to let hir do so. The creature only lowered hir ears and kept walking and quietly muttered under hir breath.
If I wanted to kill I would have started by now.. I just won't fit in with this small place and keep my sanity as it is now..[/b]
The snake did not seem to fully comprehend the turmoil within hir mind right now. Krynn was trying hir best to be civil, to be a quiet creature that would not cause trouble for the dragons. Crimson had made hir promise to not kill unless the dragoness was there with hir. Blake said he would try to kill hir if shi made too much trouble.
Where exactly would Krynn fit in? How would shi teach when shi kind of enjoyed scaring the students into getting good grades just for hir class. This place. It felt completely wrong to hir.
Even before shi died, shi felt this place is part of the reason shi did what shi did. Shi had yet to meet others that were just like hir.

Though shi could not remember the years being here, in the school, shi could still remember hir past very well. All those years that shi lived, Krynn never met others who could speak Latin fluently, could conjure the black arts with very effective results, could disappear entirely in the darkness and reappear else where of hir choosing. Krynn lived nearly one hundred and fifty years, using magic to keep hir looking middle aged, but also using it to keep hir existence hidden from the rest of the world. Krynn had made sure that no one knew shi had been alive for so long, perhaps the oldest living thing besides the original dragons. The beast was growing tired of hir old ways and very well could flip a coin and learn to fit in, hir old habits were the kind that were incredibly hard to stop though. Shi considered it like a tattoo: once you have one it is never enough. The ahuizotl had enjoyed the hunts, the screaming, the tearing of flesh, the smell and taste of blood, and especially bathing in hir victims blood until it ran cold.
No, Krynn was a monster. Athos just did not know exactly how much of one shi was. He may have kept tabs on hir, but how much did he really know about hir? Right now, Krynn could certainly make sure Athos would never remember having this conversation tonight, but where the fun be if shi had no rivals to taunt throughout the day.
You don't know me at all... I have killed others in ways you could only dream of, in ways that would have made you get sick or have nightmares for years requiring rehabilitation. Yes, I might be calm now, I might be trying to change. One thing you lack to acknowledge is it that no one will accept me back. Just because Drake says I am okay now everyone is to accept me? Pffuh! I can smell the fear. You don't want to admit it, but you hold a fear of me as well, everyone does. I will never be accepted, even if I had the room lined with the swat team to ensure I don't get out of line, [/b]they would still feel the same. They would either fear me or try to ban together to put me down. For over a century there had been others trying to do away with me. All have failed.[/b]
The creature suddenly dropped to hir knees and sat there motionless. If not for hir shallow breathing shi could have been thought dead. After several long minutes of silence..
I care not what others think of me, but if I cannot do what I want happily I do not belong here. I probably would have better off coming back as a feral to be enjoyed as a dangerous pet...[/b]
Krynn lowered hir ears and closed hir eyes sadly. Now he knew a little of just how old shi was going to be. Shi was fast approaching one hundred and sixty and no one knew but hirself and hir long dead parents. If only shi had left a little evidence maybe someone would be able to make a big deal, but shi preffered no one know. Athos might just be the only being who even remotely knows of hir age, but he would never know hir true age.[/color]

Every time he thought he was making progress in understanding hir shi managed to throw him another curve. Huh, maybe he could learn a thing or two still. "Heh, there's times that I would like your skills. Then there's others where I'm content with my own. So, if I'm missing out on things then please enlighten me. I think I know quite a bit about you, why not share a bit? Come on you know you want to rely on or confide at least a little in someone other than those dragons." Athos gave a smirk, wondering about something. "Heheh, have you seen Verdy since you've returned? Or perhaps there's someone else you'd like to see?"

Oddly enough despite wanting a rivalry, despite wanting to sort of stay on top as the most deadly person around, despite a lot of things he kind of liked hir. Krynn was the sort that he could have well imagined as a friendly rival or as one that could have actually trained him in a few extra special fields. Over a century, hmm, only other one around here of that age was Rose. Maybe when he was done chatting with Krynn he'd stop by and discuss a few things with her?

You would think that. They do come in handy once in a while, but they are so much more of a burden if you cannot control them.. Imagine a television you can never turn off or adjust the volume on. As for disappearing goes I've been able to do it since I was little but never started honing it until I was older. As for the black arts... well I mastered those with little effort on my part.[/I]
Krynn shrugged. To hir it was not a big deal of having abilities, shi forgets that there are more ordinary beings than ones that are telepaths.
I don't share very often because everyone tends to try to use them for their own selfish purposes. Then there are those who want to know so they can steer clear, never in between...[/I]
The creature grew silent upon his speaking of a green dragon. His name sounded familiar but he had yet to show up if he did matter. By now though, it was sounding as if he were trying to taunt hir into doing something shi would regret. Shi jutted hir jaw out and thought for a minute before saying anything.
The name sounds familiar but I can't really remember him...[/I]
Someone else to see? Of course! Shi always longed to see Crimson but shi could not admit that to him. However, from hir previous comment his mind seemed to be enveloped around that.
I'm sure you already know the answer to that question.. What does this Verdy look like so I can avoid him. I'm sure he's one of them that would just about die seeing me again..[/b]
The hybrid rolled hir eyes.[/color]

"Hmm, and assuming that the television followed me around, at some point I'd probably shoot it. The disappearing, I can track you for the most part but it would be great if I had that talent. Probably a lot less effective if injured though? As for dark arts, I can probably pass on that stuff. Ever need something like that, either I'll find a local expert or find a way around it." The snake smiles softly, nodding. Yes he knew that shi would rather be in Crimson's arms right now. He'd like to see them together, hell maybe even see some little Krynnlings some day. Hmmm, he'd finally get to show off some of his fancy technology. Athos pulled out his personal camera, loaded a picture of Verdy, sent it to another nifty gadget of his, and in a moment... perhaps more effort than necessary, he was projecting a sort of hologram image of Verdy.

"This is Verdy. A young green dragon that your former self was very well acquainted with. I'm not sure if he'd panic, if he'd attack, or if he'd bow down wanting to serve you or something. Kid's always been a little unusual, he has a strange habit of always running into others that will at some point want to hurt him, eat him, or something like that. Actually he might be glad to see you, there've been times I think he felt guilty for your initial demise." He would like to see how that meeting would resolve, as amusing as it might be. He didn't want to see Krynn getting in trouble but he did want to know, it would be a fine test. Heck maybe even this projected image would give him some insight.

When Athos made it a point to talk to hir regardless of knowing if shi was paying attention, shi turned to look at him. His thoughts were beginning to intrigue hir. He actually wanted hir to succeed in being with Crimson? This was new, then again shi should have guessed it from the beginning seeing as he mentioned earlier. Hir tail flicked around.
When he started to fumble around with something, those cropped ears perked up and twitched a little to the sounds. Boy did shi ever hiss when an image suddenly popped up. The hybrid nearly jumped out of hir skin when he sent a projection out.
And you say you wish you had my abilities... You already can do magic..[/i]

Oops, hadn't quite anticipated That reaction to his efforts. "Magic? Nah, this is just a little tool I've been tinkering with. It's better indoors but there's a three dimensional image of Verdy." Sure he might have one of if not the only portable and non movie-based version of this technology but it wasn't anything too special. "I could do it with any image that I have stored in my cameras. Can even make them move but it burns out the battery pretty quick, maybe ten minutes of a moving image." Science and technology could appear to be a bit of a scary thing to others that didn't know about it. Hmm, maybe he should show Krynn how he was able to almost constantly watch Crimson? Yeah, that'd be a nice gesture, though he may never be able to get hir out of his hidden security room afterwards. "I would like to show you something else, back at the school. And you'd be free to stop by any time you wanted." Hmmm, maybe it wasn't such a good idea? What would shi think if shi knew how he had cameras in Crimson's bedroom, her restaurant, and several other places?

Athos' thoughts were very intriguing to hir. Shi felt it was very curious of Athos to offer hir a polite gesture but something seemed a little off. Rarely did anyone ever offer something without a catch. Naturally this was hir cautious side taking over, shi could feel something was off. What could Athos possibly want from hit? Right now shi had no power to entertain him with. Shi only recently regained her telepathic abilities back only to realize that hir darker abilities have resubmerged as well. Sadly, Krynn was still well in control of hirself.
What's the catch? What would I have to do in return to see this?[/I]
Shi tilted hir head to the side at him, eyes almost glowing in the dark as shi stared at the snake. Shi almost felt to trust him, the monstrous side still cautioned against it though.

"Catch? No catch really. Other than trying not to stay in there all day every day watching. This is me putting faith in you, trusting you. Besides I hang around that security room a lot too, so, I'd know where you are, heh. And if there's ever anything magical around, I'd be able to get your opinion on it a lot sooner." Athos did want to trust hir, and could always use a hand when it came to these strange magics. He could manage nine times out of ten but it was that tenth time, he wanted a backup plan just in case. Blake didn't even know about the security room, well, he knew of it but not where it was or how to get there. "So, you really like Crimson, and you'll be able to watch her during the day, or night, even hear her if you wish. I'll show you." He still wasn't quite certain how shi'd feel that he was able to watch Crimson or the others, and in a way it was putting a silver bullet in hir claws should shi ever wish to hunt down someone. Learning where all the cameras were, all the motion sensors, all the potential blind spots, able to follow a prey and learn their routine...