Both men end up looking back at each other in silence for a few seconds before Hans raises one hand up, as if to deflect away what's coming next.
The sound of a high performance engine begins to become audible from off screen, resolving itself before long as a titanium silver Mclaren 765LT Spider, accented by crimson edges, roof down and occupied by a single individual pulls into the car park and heads towards the spaces close to the front of the Academy.
Coming to a halt perfectly centered in one of the empty bays, the engine cuts and the driver steps out a few moments later.
Hans ‘The Baron’ von Richtoven, former HWA World Champion glances up at the academy before reaching across the seat he’s just been sitting in, pulling a duffel bag out which was laid across the passenger seat.
Placing the car keys in his back pocket, he then reaches back in and grabs his mobile phone from its holder in the McLaren’s center dash and taps at it a few times before putting it to his ear.
A few seconds pass before he speaks.
(Hans): Mein schatz, that’s me here… jah… jah…
He begins to walk towards the entrance to the academy.
(Hans): I’ll be here most of the day… yes of course I’ll let you know if anything changes… no, don’t change plans because of me… jah, of course… ich liebe dich Vanessa.
Smiling at what his wife; HWA announcer Vanessa von Richtoven says in response, he ends the call and places the phone into the front left pocket of his jeans.
He finds himself a few steps away from the door by this point, and slows his pace as he comes to the door to the academy.
He catches himself a hairs breadth away from the door handle, hand hovering for a fraction before, with a deep and audible breath both in and out as he mentally prepares, he swings the door open and steps inside.
He glances at the receptionist who glances up from her desk, busy preoccupied by the phonecall she’s on as she holds it up to her ear braced against her right shoulder, both hands typing away. Her eyes glance up at Hans before doing a double take, stumbling over her words briefly before she composes himself and gestures at him to take the left corridor.
Nodding his thanks, he swings his duffel bag over his shoulder and takes a slow pace down the corridor, head turning as he does so, letting his gaze fall on the various memorabilia and framed pictures that reside in cabinets or are mounted on the walls.
Before long, he’s reached the series of office rooms that mark the end of the corridor and with it, the only one that’s currently lit up; its occupant engrossed in his work.
Moving to stand in the doorway, Hans wraps his knuckles from his free hand against the door frame as a means of announcing his presence, smiling at the man behind the desk and nodding up towards the object mounted above on the wall; a barbed wire baseball bat. Old blood stains clearly visible on it.
(Hans): Please tell me you’ve not used that on any of the students?
The man behind the desk; revealed to be Red Dragon, aka Matthew Kiriyami glances behind and up, a laugh erupting from his as he spots what Hans is looking at.
(Red Dragon): No! Of course not…
He waves Hans into the room, Hans slinging the duffel bag against the foot of the desk as he walks past and grabs one of the spare chairs, settling in across from Red Dragon.
(Red Dragon): To let you into a little secret though, it’s a great way to motivate them. You catch one of them playing up, have them come by the office for a lecture…
He looks round at the bat quickly.
(Red Dragon): They catch you looking at this…
He shrugs his shoulders gently, raising his hands up as he does so, palms out as if proclaiming his innocence.
(Red Dragon): And what do you know, they just… you know…
(Hans): Fall back into line…
(Red Dragon): Something like that.
For a few brief seconds, they both just look at one another before a snort of laughter erupts from Hans and Matthew cracks a grin as wide as his face.
(Red Dragon): Anyway, now that you’re here, I won’t have to bring them into the room, I can just have them talk to you and let me tell you…
He leans in.
(Red Dragon): I’ve made you out to be some kind of monster…
Another snort of laughter erupts from Hans paired with an overly dramatic eye roll at what he’s heard.
Matthew pauses for another second, considering his old friend.
(Red Dragon): That is why you’re here though, right?
His arms go wide, gesturing at the whole room and the wider gym surrounding the office.
(Red Dragon): The academy…?
Another brief pause from Hans, as he lets Matthew’s arms begin to fall back to his side before he acknowledges the question with a brief nod of the head in response. Matthew’s grin returns in response.
(Hans): Jah… I’m in.
(Red Dragon): F**k yes. *His fist hits the desk to punctuate his point* What broke you then? Butch’s hundredth voicemail at 3 AM? Wisdom swinging by for coffee with Vanessa and just, y’know, talking loudly about what we were up to? Or was it just you missing me?
(Hans): Like a hole in the head…
Feigning outrage, Matthew pushes back from his desk.
(Red Dragon): Oh that cut deep Hans… that cut deep…
Another laugh from Matthew as he pulls himself back to where he was sitting before.
(Red Dragon): So are you back for just the academy or is it more?
(Hans): Steady on…
(Red Dragon): I’m just saying, y’know… *He points a finger at Hans, moving it up and down to emphasis his point* … you’re in shape, so…
(Hans): *Deadpan* Why wouldn’t I be in shape?
(Red Dragon): That’s not the point I’m getting at here, stop deflecting.
(Hans): No, I’m not deflecting!
(Red Dragon): You’re absolutely deflecting!
Their voices raise up as they repeat themselves, causing some of the passing students now coming in to start preparing for the day ahead to look in through the open door. Spotting who both men are and eyes firmly locked onto the baseball bat on the wall, they hurriedly move on down the corridor causing both Hans and Red Dragon to chuckle at the sight of it.
(Hans): I’m not saying no and I’m not saying yes to anything else. Right now, this morning, I’m here for the academy.
He gestures at the duffel bag lying at the foot of the desk.
(Hans): At least let me get that put away first.
(Red Dragon): Fine. Grab the office across from mine, no one’s claimed it yet. You’ll find an ensuite shower and all that there…
He notices Hans’ raised eyebrow at that last point.
(Red Dragon): … hey, we’ve got a good set up here, don’t like it, go use the communal set up along the other corridor.
(Hans): Uh-huh, fine…
He gets up out of the chair. As he walks towards the door he stoops down, grabbing his satchel.
(Hans): So I’ll see you out there shortly?
(Red Dragon): Just finishing up some paperwork and then I’ll be out. Oh speaking of finishing up…
Hans pauses in the door frame, turning back to face Red Dragon.
(Red Dragon): We never did have that match…
Groaning, Hans flips off his friend who just leans back and laughs as he turns and walks towards his own office as the scene fades to black.
Message Thread
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