Amani chuckled softly, her gaze meeting Arya’s with a twinkle of amusement. “Ah, quite the diplomatic answer, Sellenova,” she remarked, her lips quirking into a wry smile. “Perhaps you’re onto something there, does such a thing as a line between interesting and over the top exist, when both can be synonyms of each other?.” Amani questioned, dropping her pen, and grabbing her avocado toast, taking a small bite from it, her eyes never leaving that of Arya’s as she chewed. She dropped the toast in her hand, back unto the plate, and picked back her pen, but this time she did not tap-no, she simply held in in her hands, the wry smile never escaping her face. “Like your outfit for example,” Amani finally said, “Interesting, yet over the top, not many would think to dress up in a suit at,” Amani checked the time on her watch, "7:45, just to go the cafeteria and to classes, but you did. " She paused, letting her words linger in the air for a moment before continuing, “Ah, but perhaps therein lies the brilliance of it all” Amani mused, “To defy convention in such a subtle yet daring manner—now that is truly intriguing.” She reached out for another bite of her toast, savoring the feeling of it in her lips, “It’s the unexpected twists that keep life interesting, wouldn’t you say? Like finding a hidden gem amidst the ordinary.” Amani leaned back in her chair, a faint smile playing on her lips. “So, Arya Sellenova, do you see yourself as one who embraces the unconventional, or do you simply enjoy keeping the world guessing?” Before Arya could say anything, though, Amani had added, “Moreover, I like it,” She said reference to the fit, “It’s flattering on you,”
The conversation flowed, and more words were exchanged- cryptic playful words that were also quite tensed, “If we all sprouted wings and flew, then how would , Dear Adrian keep watch on us, silly,” Coyly, she had said, “We can only be Icarus, if he says it’s all right, if we stay in our all lanes and don’t threaten him too much.” Or perhaps it was the reverse, they- the students, could only ever be an Icarus, if they threatened Adrian’s position too much. During the masquerade ball, Amani had many thoughts about what happened to Miles North, though she had not allowed her mind to wonder so far, because Miles was really no one. He was a pretty face- yes, tall, and mysterious, but as insensitive as it sounds, Amani did not know him enough to care about him missing, to fake a sadden face and cry out loud ‘poor Miles! Me and him used to be friends, I would never forget the time we held hands walking to the cafeteria, a true angel’ the way people tended to do when a classmate they did not know quite well died-, but Amani knew enough to be curious about his death, to speculate about him and the rest of the missing students.
She had wondered, had it been another force or Headmaster Adrian? Had Miles North grown wings so tall and wide, that he had needed to play the role of Icarus- fall to his pride and bravery or had he simply run away.
“Yes, indeed,” Amani had agreed, taking a sip of her drink. “But first impressions are our first judges, they are what we are first judged by, the thing that will determine our initial reception in any given setting,” Amani continued thoughtfully, her gaze drifting to the bustling activity of the cafeteria before returning to Arya. “And yet, they are but a glimpse, a mere snapshot of the complexity that lies beneath the surface.” She continued, "The trick is after all, to have a good first impression and go beyond and above that first impression, " She took another sip of her drink, and ‘awwed’ “This drink has never failed me,” Amani said, as she shook the drink, 'Caramel latte is truly a classic"
As the conversation meandered into more cryptic realms, with Amani of course asking her strange questions, with amusement dancing in her eyes, Arya had replied,
stating that she was confident in her own abilities, her tone as measured and composed as ever. To which Amani simply ‘hmmed’ at that, tapping her notebook with her pen again.
“Envy and greed, no matter what anyone says, are very needed when searching for success.” In response, Amani had said, “As you said, success tends to follow those who are unafraid to seize opportunity when it presents itself, and who do you think are the most unafraid to seize that opportunity? It is the envious and the greedy of course, those who are ready to use anyone to reach what they want, those who are ready to get their hands dirty to seize success.”
Setting her cup down, Amani leaned back in her chair, the leather jacket soft against her skin. “For me, I won’t say I am an envious person- I have everything I desire after all, a loving family, money, looks, magical powers and intelligent. But I am very greedy when it comes to success, I possess what some might say a voracious appetite to succeed” She leaned closer, as if telling a secret, just between the two of them “I wish to prove myself, to validate myself, for whom? For myself of course, there is no better validation than the validation that comes from yourself, and,” Her green eyes flickered, looking pass Arya, “Proving that I can stand by myself, without my family backing me up.”
Her voice took on a softer tone, laden with introspection. “You see, , success is not merely a destination to be reached, but a journey of self-discovery and growth,” Amani continued, her words carrying a weight of earnest sincerity. “It’s about proving to oneself that one is capable of overcoming any obstacle, scaling any height, and achieving greatness beyond measure.”
Amani’s gaze held a steady intensity as she spoke, her passion for her aspirations burning brightly within her emerald eyes. “So, while some may label it as greed, I prefer to see it as an unwavering commitment to realizing my full potential,” she concluded, a determined glint dancing in her gaze. “For in the pursuit of success lies the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, to carve out a path of greatness that will endure long after we’re gone.”
Using her magic, Amani had pulled a chair out for Arya, who had accepted with a nod of thanks as she sat, as if she was accepting this little ‘game’ they were playing. Arya had asked about her life, how the world of Amani was going, to which Amani had confessed to ‘a lot’ happening but did not say more. Instead she had joked, that she was having a change of heart and listening to birds now. To that, Arya’s liped had quirked into a sardonic smile, and retorted, making Amani laugh. “Thank you,” Amani had said, a hand on her chest, “I try everyday to become an inspiration to people, long live honesty or whatever the Romans said.”
With a flick of her wrist, Amani summoned a napkin, folding it neatly on the table before her, using it to wipe any crumbs from her lips, her gaze never leaving that of Arya’s, as Amani asked about her life. “Really?” Amani arched a brow, “Now i’m intrigued, please do say more, what are these exciting things in your life.”
At the mention of ‘gardens’, Arya’s demeanor had shifted, her jaw tensing, to which Amani had simply rolled her eyes at. Sorry for insulting your master, Amani almost found herself saying, was it truly ever that serious. Arya had retorted, talking about how the most vibrant flower needed a bit of watering now and then- Arya was truly like a body guard when it came to that Dunman, Amani thought. And the last of Arya’s words, Amani’s eyes widened, before she laughed, covering her mouth with her hands as her eyes twinkled. She pulled away, "You’re funny, Sellenova. Very funny, " Amani said as she reached for her bag, she pulled a gift, one that was giving to her from her older brother to give to Ayra. “Atticus said I should give you this,” She said handing out the gift, staring at Ayra, "As for petty gossip and thinly veiled insults, I have to disagree, I find them very stimulating,’ Amani said with a sardonic smile. “There’s a certain satisfaction in keeping others on their toes, isn’t there? Watching as they scramble to decipher the true meaning behind our words, only to find themselves lost in a maze of uncertainty, because there is just something everybody always seems to forget.” Amani whispered, “Is that I love playing games,” Amani smiled, “Don’t take everything I say too seriously, Sellonova, I know you like playing the role of the bodyguard, but you can stop being so tensed, I don’t bite.” Amani rolled her eyes.
@CerealKiller
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. . . is typing ~
but she would today! So she was happy.
