Art History with Mister Romano: Life is Living Art...

It was wonderful to be there at the Academy. He had waited so long for this, learning so much in the process. Finally, he was here. Already, he had been accepted and was heading to his new room to set up. Entering it and looking around, everything was too bland, too blank. He had to fill this simple room with art, knowledge, wonder. With the box he had brought with him, he set to work. The posters went up first, great works of art and beautiful landscapes. Most of the works had plenty of open spaces, places where the sky could be seen from nearly anywhere. Once the posters were up, he looked around. Wonderful... now time to make this environment a little more three dimensional. He returned to his room with the empty box and returned with two more well balanced on one arm, filled with figures, a globe, books, some small trinkets from his past that would make great examples in his teachings. He began to place them throughout the room. Some he kept at his own desk at the front. Last from the box, he set a small sculpture of a knarled tree at his desk. He then moved to the window and opened it wide. He resolved to keep the window open at all times unless the weather was argumentative. Looking around once more, things were seeming more like a home than an institution. He smiled. Everything seemed in place. The desks were well enough apart that he could walk among his students, there was still a focus point of the room, able to draw the attention of his students if need be with some model sculpture or what-not. Currently, the direct focus was blank, but it was surrounded by some interesting things that would easily form questions or curiosity: An abalone shell, gleaming in all of its multi-colored beauty; A vase, the scene of joyful Dionysian debauchery; A model Athena, a miniature of the one found within the Parthenon; The knarled tree figure, a flat branch extended as if waiting for something; and a crystal tetrahedron, light seeming to gleam off of its every angle. Something was missing though, and he wasn't quite sure. It must have been something simple, something that would come to him in an instant. Ahh! Yes. He walked up to the board and in his own scrawling script, wrote his name. Julius Romano

From Dee:

Leander walked hand in hand with Rmasey down the hall keeping her hand In his as if it where his anchor to the ground, his ticket to happiness. She was after all, these things and much more to him. It was dangerous for a god such as himself to have so much riding on a human. Those breakable little creatures. The more time he was under his own influence as a god the more he realized how different he was now. He had to be careful with himself around others. For now though, he was completely content with Ramsey.

He’d decided that although he was a god now he’d continue on and finish his education. He was supposed to present himself on Olympus as a god later that fall and he wanted to be as prepared as possible. He’d put more curriculum on his schedule than was required but he felt it necessary. His only elective had been art history. He’d heard a new teacher was supposed to be put into play and after talking with a few other professors he was told that the mans methods were highly acclaimed.

Leander had convinced Ramsey to take the class with him and after a bit of prodding she had agreed it was a mix of the pairs favorite subjects. How bad could it be? “This is it.” he smiled at her and pushed the door open turning to plant one last sweet kiss on her lips before the class started and rules were set in place.

Ramsey held his hand tightly and stood on her toes to kiss him then she caught sight of Julius in her peripheral vision. Before their lips meant she turned quickly taking her hand from his and ran up to the professor. "Jule!" She exclaimed, a bright smile on her face. She hugged him tightly. Her Julius. She hadn't seen him in years-decades. "What happened to you, Jule? You dropped off the face of the planet!" she exclaimed lightly.

She felt him holding her tightly, and she sighed, a smile on her face. Then she remembered Lee. Her smile froze and she tensed. She broke the embrace to look at Leander. He seemed to be in shock. She stepped away from Julius a few steps and straightened her flowing blouse and jeans, clearing her throat.

It was like the breaking dawn on the first day of spring. Among the picturesque and snowy white landscape, there was beauty, but one thing could be said about the beauty of winter and that was it came with a price. That price was the cold, the absence of the warmth of the golden sun. Here before him, it was like watching the sun rise over the icey horizon of his heart, illuminating his world with golden rays of warmth, of light. The spring had come, and his iceland was soon to be lush and green once more.

His Ramsey was here.

Hearing her voice call his name, the same old nickname from long ago, was like hearing a symphony after years of silence. Turning to see her, so different, yet still the same, it took his breath away. Her beauty had only magnified in their time apart. What once had him speechless now had him breathless and he found that the smile that had come to his face so instantly couldn't go away. Then he felt her arms once more, hugging him tightly, calling back so many memories, the memories he had cherished for so long, for so many years. Her voice was still at his ear, still singing its symphony. How many years it had been that he had heard that voice. Julius was consumed in it.
"Ramsey," he said, the name like ambrosia on his tongue, "I've been traveling. I've learned so much." He took a breath, still in her arms, his arms still wrapped around her tightly, reluctant to ever let her go. "I've missed you so much, Ramsey."
He felt her stiffen and pull away. He released his arms from around her, suddenly concerned. Was it what he said? They had been away so long, had anything changed? He saw Ramsey look back to the man at the door, the man seeming to have seen a talking candlestick, he was so shocked. Realization suddenly dawned on him.
He felt his heart weigh down in his chest. They had been away too long. She had stopped waiting, if she had waited for him at all. He even noticed her hand was bare. He wondered if she had even kept it. Clouds had obscured his sunlight, his breaking spring dawn over his icey tundra.
But he couldn't help but be happy. She was there with him, and now he could win her back. The man at the door seemed powerful, he was definately a god. Julius didn't care. He saw his power. He was a Son of Hades. There was no way the spawn of death and darkness could compete with himself, Son of Zeus, the god of the skies and the King of the Gods. Looking to Ramsey again, his love, his everything... Should a fight arise, he would not back down.
He had to keep his place. He was a teacher. He was going to teach her! She was in his class. This was going to be the best class he ever had.

He was less than a breath away from his beloved when she felt her move away from under him. If he had been human he would have toppled forward and fallen on his face at her sudden move. But seeing as he was so much more than that he merely frowned and followed with his gaze to where she went. Everything seemed to slow down as soon as she wrapped her arms around this man he knew nothing of. They stayed that way for a while and he failed to hide the growing shock on his face. He whispered something to her but that isn’t what fazed him. It was the way he looked at her. It was the same adoring expression Leander felt on his face when he looked upon the very same girl he clung to so tightly.

Without meaning too, he lost just an inkling of control and his body gained an almost imperceptible surreal glow from the shadows he fought to contain. However his sudden shock and eventual anger was making it harder to do so as the spirits of old hissed and snapped questioning who this man was. He could be a new student for Leander had never before seen him. Leander muttered the words that would quiet the bombardment of apprehension only he could hear and his skin returned to its normal state. Ramsey stepped back suddenly from this man and he took that chance.

There was obviously something between Ramsey and this newcomer and he had to make sure this intruder knew what was within his limits. He caught Ramsey by the wrist and pulled her in gently. “Stand still you didn’t let me finish” he whispered playfully in her ear and glared pointedly at the new comer before kissing Ramsey deeply keeping the light touch of his fingers on his chin and his free arm wrapped around her.

Ramsey was Reeling from the kiss when it broke..."Leander Kiron. This is Julius Romano..." she introduced them mildly and pressed a hand to her head. This was going to get really complicated. thankfully the bell rang and she stepped away from the two men. They had fighting eyes-she could tell. Ay Dios Mio... she thought as she sat in the front seat. Leander was the love of her life...but she was engaged to Julius. She was starting to get a headache. They both loved her-they both had left her. Lee just happened to return sooner. She rembered the ring in her dresser drawer, then she looked to the bracelet on her wrist. The swirling soul of black and silver-mirroring Lee's tattoos.

The look in the Son of Hades' eyes was unlike any other Julius had seen anywhere on his travels. He had never seen those eyes apart from one place... The mirror.
And then he kissed her.
His breath drew in and haulted, his lungs expanding suddenly, then collapsing as if he had swallowed a vaccum of space. He felt a sharp pain in his heart as his lips touched hers. No. They didn't just touch. This was something far more than that. This was a passion that he only recalled from the past, way back in the past... with Ramsey herself. The boy-god's arm wrapped around her, his hand tilting her chin up to him, a touch so gentle, so revealing of the... love... he felt for Ramsey.
And then he saw her face.
That face sent the stabbing in his heart twisting and churning, turning his insides to pulverized mush. He saw the spark in her eyes, that faint hint, the way the kiss was so natural to her... as if they had shared many such kisses already. She... she loved...
NO!
Julius felt his anger rise, his blood boiling to an extreme degree. He looked to this boy, this Son of Hades, this... this... Blackhearted Thief who dare to kiss Ramsey like that, who dare to touch her, who dare to... who dare to LOVE her!
And he looked to Ramsey's face again and all of his anger, his rage, sank down deep. He couldn't allow himself to lose control, not here. Not now, not when he was only just reunited with her.
He didn't care if he had to win her back. He didn't care. He would. He resolved to win her back by any means nessisary.
He listened to her every word, however little there were. Leander Kiron... So that is the name of this... this viper. He couldn't keep the fight from his eyes as he reluctantly extended his hand to Leander, planning to show, through force, how ready he was to defend Ramsey, and how much he didn't aproove of him.
The bell rang. He breathed, keeping his calm. This is your first day, Julius... Your first day as a teacher and your first day in her presence again. His anger was shoved to the back of his mind as he tried to get himself in the teaching mode. One stray thought crossed his mind before he could. Why doesn't she have the ring?
He looked to Leander. "Please sit down, Mister Kiron," he said, using a slight bit of authority in his voice, putting emphasis where he felt it was needed. This... thing didn't seem worthy of the status of a god. He then shook the thoughts from his head and looked to the class.
"Good morning, everyone," he said, his voice pleasant and welcoming. "I am glad to see you all here. I am Julius Romano, and I will be your Art History teacher." He drew a line underneath his name on the board and looked to his class. Many were shocked to find that he was the teacher, especially Kiron... and Ramsey. He smiled to her before returning to adressing the entire class. "No, you do not have to reffer to me as "Mister Romano". I wouldn't even mind if you called me "Julius". I hope that this environment, this room becomes more than a classroom. I don't want to be "The Man" here. If we work together, we might actually learn something, and I hope you'll find, like the landscapes in these paintings, I am well open to a great many things." With a gesture to the posters along the walls, Julius shot a faint, near unnoticable glance to Kiron, a look that said "But I'm not open to you."

Leander Kiron stared down at his outstretched hand with contempt showing so plainly on his face you’d think the look alone would have made a lesser man cower in his shoes. The bell rang keeping him from the pleasure of refusing the intruders hand any longer. When he was told to sit with such obvious command inflicted into the tone of voice Leanders anger flared again. Who was he to command Leander to sit with that authoritarian streak in his voice. He had half a mind to show this insolent man just how much power a god with so wide a domain as himself could posses.

There were to many witnesses though, and he forced his anger into a corner before emitting a low snarl of frustration and taking a seat next to Ramsey. Needless to say he almost fell out of his spot when Julius presented himself as the teacher. “Impossible” he hissed savagely but in a tone and language only he could hear and understand. He clenched and unclenched his fist looking up just in time to catch the dirty look Mister Romano shot at him. He promptly snarled at him sounding more like the large feline he’d chosen as his symbol than anything else. ’He better have caught that ‘ Lee thought to himself.

He managed to control himself for his sake as well as that of those around him. Leander took a deep breath and slid his hands under the desk still keeping them clenched so tightly his knuckles were turning white. Still nothing on his face portrayed the storm raging within him and he turned to give Ramsey a bit of a strained smile. But it was a heartfelt one nonetheless.

Ramsey was embarassed. These two men outright fighting over her? She never could have dreamed it. There was once a time-before she met Lee-that she thought age was going to marry Julius. They had been together for years. He had given her a ring. Then he had to leave. He left just like that and she was torn to bits just like she was with Lee. But even now, she could feel her love for her Jule rising to the surface. She still loved him-despite the sixty years apart. Two little voices in her head were screaming at her and her headache was turning into a migrane. The pulsating light and sound was making her head throb-she could have sworn she heard Leander's shadows screaming. She covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut. She brought her knees to her chest in an effort to make herself smaller. Why was everyone yelling at her? Why did the lights hurt so badly?

Julius heard the growl. It sounded like a tiger, one of those beasts that didn't really have a place anywhere. Everything about this Leander Kiron was... uncertain. Everything, that is, except for his... Julius swallowed... love of Ramsey. Julius shook his head again, realizing that he was spacing out a bit on his first day. He returned to focusing on his class, already beginning to walk among them as he talked, breaking the normal barriers of teacher/student. He talked of his hopes for the class, that they may leave each day with a better understanding and appreciation for the world around them. He welcomed questions, comments, and conversation, so long as it was respectful. "I don't have many rules. Sit wherever you want, really. I just ask for respect. If we can all respect each other, and the classroom, then I don't have an issue. We are all hear to learn, and if something doesn't make sense, please ask."
A kid in the back raised his hand. "What if we have to go to the bathroom?"
"Then get up and go," Julius said. "What am I going to do, say no? If you have to go, you have to go, but just remember, the class discussions will not stop just for you." He continued to talk casually with his students.
As he passed Ramsey, he would lightly touch her desk. He saw her look and was a bit concerned. The light touch was an attempt at comforting, showing that if she needed anything, he was there. She could ask him. He would give glances of a similar nature to her too, concerned and comforting.
When he passed Kiron, he was tense and rigid. He more put his fist onto Kiron's desk, showing that he was more than ready to throw him out of the room should Kiron try anything. Every movement he made next to Kiron showed his dislike of him.
"Now everyone, remember," Julius said. "If there is anything you need, even if its not Art History related, you can ask me if you like. In class discussions, please keep it relevant. We don't want to ehar about your dog's latest trick when discussing Raphael's School of Athens, now do we? Just remember, if you need to leave the class for any reason, just ask." He looked to Ramsey, his concern showing again. Then he looked back to the class. "Unless of course you have to use the restroom, in which case, asking seems redundant."
As always, he was as relaxed and friendly as he ever was with his students, as much as he would with a new friend. He really hoped to have an open classroom. The Kiron issue would have to be worked around, but other than that... His thoughts went back to Ramsey. She looked... almost pained, as if the very lights in the room hurt her. He couldn't help but blame himself.
Then he thought of a way to keep his student;s attention, and maybe cheer Ramsey up. Gavin had, after all, been just a young thing when he and Ramsey were together. The divine hawk would make quite an impression.
With a smiple whistle, and a thought called out, a proud and noble hawk flew gracefully in from the open window and landed on the knarled tree figure, now revelaed as a perch.
"Ahh, Gavin. You were nearby. Class, this is Gavin, my good friend. He is quite an intelligent hawk and he may drop in from time to time." He smiled, already glancing over Kiron like an unimportant mark in the room, and looked to Ramsey, curious as to how she would react to seeing Gavin. He was just a chick when they were last together. Now he was proud, in the prime of life. Julius could recall when she would help him feed Gavin.

Leander smiled smugly by the third time Julius walked past his seat. It was quite apparent that Leanders presence was unnerving him. Leander suspected that the only reason he didn’t walk around Leanders desk was that Ramseys was so close to his own. There was also no missing the way he set his hand favorably upon other students desks and practically pounded on his every time he passed. He could have at least tried to mask his dislike. ’It would serve him well to.’ Lee thought to himself.

When he glanced over at Ramsey again she seemed pain. He was leaning forward to whisper the words that would make her pains dissipate, when the sharp whistle had him glaring in that direction. A hawk flew in the open window, landing on a perch and was introduced as Gavin, Romano’s pet hawk. Leander tried his best to suppress the urge of getting at Romano by introducing the pet hawk to his symbolic tiger. But it was foolish really the hawk had caused him no harm.

(OOC:// Sorry if it's a bit lacking & late guys my mind is elswhere and I have MT issues. I'll try to be around at my normal times)

Ramsey's head shot up at the sound of Gavin bursting through the window. Suddenly she was taken back to a time when Her and Julius had nursed the hawk when it was just a fledgeling. He had grown immensely since that time. He now stood, gorgeous sitting upon a gnarled tree-like perch. She had the urge to go up and stroak the light feathers-to see if the gorgeous creature remembered her as she did him.

When taken out of her reverie, her head was pounding once again, louder and faster than before. Her thoughts were screaming and she could feel rising hostility and tension in the air. Her vision was shadowing and black spots started to appear. Tears were pricking her eyes because of the immense amout of pain. She rocked slightly for a few seconds but when the pain reached its peak her sight went completely white, then black. She passed out, falling to the ground with a loud SMACK, the sound reverberating of the tile.

He watched as her expression changed from beautiful reverie to pained tension and unease. Her eyes watered and seemed to lose focus. Before he knew it, she was falling, and before he could truly think, he was rushing to her side. Gods' mercy, what is going on?! Is she alright?! Did I... Did I somehow cause this? He felt a deep ache in his heart as something told him he did. He was just so suddenly thrown back into her life when she had obviously moved on. He resolved that his hostility towards Kiron was what probably did it. So suddenly brought back into her life and he was already giving her heart more of a jolt than it could take. That has to be it, he reasoned. This is all my doing. If I want to win her back... I can't hurt her so suddenly... I've already done it once, leaving her behind. I didn't even get to properly propose to her, and I simply vanished... This is all my doing. All this tension... Julius was so consumed by these thoughts that he did not even get in Kiron's way. He stayed close to Ramsey, ready to take her in his own arms and rush her to the infirmary, but he knew. To win her back, he had to give her some time. For now, though he disliked the idea immensely, it would be best if Kiron was there to help her as well. The last thing between them was a sudden departure. She didn't need him to force his way back to the center of her heart. Besides, this Kiron seems to be the type to have a past of many many 'relationships'. Ramsey will obviously see in time that I am the better choice. All of his thinking happened in moments, and he never lost focus of his class. "Everyone, remain calm. Move your desks and give her some room." He held out his arm, looking back to his desk. Gavin took off from his perch and landed on Julius. He focused on the hawk and drew a deep breath, concentrating his energy. He breathed quiet words to Gavin that were just undistinguishable to others. The air in the room seemed to stirr just slightly in the whispers. It took all of Julius's breath for him to finish the message and the incantation in his own powers' tongue. "Fly," he said aloud to Gavin, lifting his arm as the magnificent hawk took wing. He soared out of the window, heading towards the infirmary first. His message would be recieved, informing them of Ramsey's coming. Then Gavin would fly to the office, informing them that his classroom needed a temporary teacher while he took care of her. He was not going to leave her side. This must be my fault. All the hostility I've been showing toward her new... boyfriend... has been too much. I'm trying too hard too fast. I should never have assumed she would forgive me so instantly for leaving... I won't make that mistake again. So consumed in worry for her, he was jumping to conclusions and thinking on overdrive. To the other students, he seemed like a responsible but seriously caring teacher, already knealing at Ramsey's side only a second after she dropped. He gently and carefully braced her head, holding it just slightly up from the floor, checking for any injuries. He thanked the gods that no blood was present. "I need to get her to the infirmary," he said, determined to stay by her side. He also knew what that meant. Most definately, Kiron would be there as well. He didn't care. He only cared about Ramsey's health and safety right now. If she asked for him to leave, then he would, but with her unconsious, he was not going to allow anything more to happen to her.

“Get back” Leander hissed at the onlookers, and without warning all the desks slid back a few feet forming a wide empty circle around her. Once he turned back to her however Romano was already kneeling besides her keeping her head just slightly off the ground. “I need to get her to the infirmary” Romano said. Everything infuriated him. The fact that this mans presence had made him cause Ramsey pain was chief among them and though the rational thing would have been to leave all the fury behind, Leander was not able to let go of the anger, he was far from anything rational.

He glared Romano down until he set Ramsey back on the ground gently. “You don’t have to get her anywhere.” the words he spoke were pure poison. “I don’t know who you are or where you came from but if you think you can come here and take everything that I have fought and died for you are sorely mistaken. I don’t care what past claims you think you have on her she’s mine now.” He picked her up in his arms cradling her like a child with the ease his godly powers allowed. He held her up with one arm then stroked her hair away from her face with his free hand and whispered so the spell that would allow his soul to protect her mind from anymore pain or from winding into a comatose state. All of the softness his face had held when he was gazing at her left when he looked back up at Romano. If only looks could kill. “Now get out of my way. And remember your place Demi-God, before I bury you in it.” Leander didn't bother with walking any further than outside of the classroom, that would just give Romano a chance to follow him more closely. As soon as he was out of sight he materialized out of the hall and straight next to an empty bed in the infirmary. Leander set her down gently and stroked her forehead whispering honey potions into her ear.

OOC: Finally got it. I should be signing on regularly now thanks so much for your patience guys. <3

Kiron's glare cut into Julius and told him to back away. He didn't, but he gently rest Ramsey's head down. You've caused her pain. Don't be so forward. As much as you hate him, let him care for her first. She's more adjusted to him than you right now. "You don't have to get her anywhere," Kiron said. Julius glared back at him, but it wasn't the same glare as before. He didn't like Kiron one bit, but he knew he was going to be the one to take care of Ramsey, so he had to think better of him. He didn't want Ramsey to be cared for by an idiot. Kiron continued his angry words, practically staking a claim over Ramsey. ”…she’s mine now, he said, spitting the words out as uncivilly as he could to Julius. Yours? Julius longed to spit back. Yours?! She’s not an item! He watched, internally infuriated but outwardly calm, as Kiron picked her up in his arms. He whispered to her so softly, so gently, it threatened to turn Julius inside out. He could hardly stand it. Kiron’s deathly look whipped back at him. ”…remember your place Demi-God, before I bury you in it.” Julius’s anger flared. It flared too far, too beyond Julius’s control. He was on his feet in a heartbeat, and at the door in another. The other students were but background landscape, and their surprise or confusion didn’t concern him. He was at the door, but Kiron was already gone with Ramsey. Already gone… Julius’s anger flared again. He had to get out of there. The wind picked up, sweeping in from both sides of the hall and in from his room, swirling around him until such a blur of wind surrounded him, he couldn’t be seen. Suddenly, the wind stopped, leaving behind an empty hallway.