Hospital Wing

[Alecto Carrow]

"Now, I'd heal you if only to break you again," Alecto offered pleasantly before sending a lazy cutting curse his way.

[Alexander Chevalier]

"Hm," Alex responded as he easily deflected the curse. He wasn't under any presumption that she wouldn't intensify her future advances though. She was only getting started. He suspected that she wanted to draw this out and derive as much enjoyment out of it as she could. He decided to take on a defensive standpoint though, as that was the area in which he had established the most skill. She was much too powerful to try anything offensive on anyway. He was destined to fail either way, he supposed, but he was still resolved to put as much effort into this as possible.

"From a strictly unbiased standpoint," he continued, "I can see how that would be exceedingly more effective. Are you planning on making this a regular thing?" He was the one whom had inspired her with the idea to spend more time together. If this was what she had in mind, then he was in for a very difficult time.

[Alecto Carrow]

"Why of course… aren't you excited at the prospect?" Alecto asked pleasantly as he aimed another curse his way this one blasting and a bit stronger than the last.

[Alexander Chevalier]

"Ecstatic," Alex managed to respond before hastily bringing up his wand to shield himself against her follow-up curse. He barely pulled it off and felt the inevitable breach of his limit. Anything stronger and he'd be lucky to at least somewhat dilute the damage. "By the way," he started, continuing to marvel at his own voice. How it wasn't betraying his somewhat distressed mind, he had no idea. He supposed he simply had a knack for maintaining his composure under pressure. "Have you thought of something to call me yet?"

[Alecto Carrow]

"Still playing with various ideas… Neutral has of douse been taken out of the running. Idiot is still a possibility, as well as Ravengryff…though that is more suited to Pet than you, but he's already pet. Hmm… Toy… maybe…" she said before in rapid motion flinging off two spells one high and one low one blasting and one cutting.

(If one hits him you can choose which one it was and at what level)

[Alexander Chevalier]

(Sounds good to me)

This time the woman had opted for a lower dose of the blasting spell and a higher velocity cutting hex. Alex swiftly reached up to block the first before only partially deflecting the latter. It grazed his shoulder and he gritted his teeth at the seething sting of it, blood seeping through the white fabric of his sleeve.

"Toy, huh?" He responded after a brief moment of bracing himself against the cut. It was hardly going to be the worst of it. Not even close. "That one does sound the most fitting."

[Alecto Carrow]

"I know but I'm still not sure… I'll have to think on it a bit longer," Alecto said twirling her wand and looking at him "Ahh… are you hurt?"

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex glanced to his sleeve before returning his focus to her, "scratched." He again offered a humorless smirk, "not any major damage yet. It was a good cast though. Challenging." It was to be expected of the woman, after all.

[Alecto Carrow]

"Thank you," Alecto said with a two sweet smile "I appreciate your slightly condescending tone. It's reminiscent of my pet."

[Alexander Chevalier]

"You do seem fond of him," Alex responded, keeping the image of the torture scene between she and his friend from his mind. He wasn't going to dwell on that right now. "But, it was more of a compliment. Your talent severely surpasses mine. I suppose I am admittedly a little bitter about that though." He tilted his head, "maybe I can learn a thing or two here. Again, best to focus on the positive, right?"

[Alecto Carrow]

"I don't know how positive it is," Alecto remarked thoughtfully. "Considering that since we're on opposite sides of the war I can't teach you anything really… well not in the relative term. Though to be fair you *will* learn.." She slowly walked around him.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex remained as still as possible as she circled him, following her with his eyes and holding one hand securely around his wand. "Yes, that's true," he responded, "I'll be paying attention and learn from example. It's always the best strategy to try and know your enemy, after all."

[Alecto Carrow]

Alecto laughed "Perhaps… perhaps not…" she grinned, this time her cutting curse was more vicious, laced with something to make it burn… it was also silent, her movements quick, almost dancing.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex didn't have time to respond with a counter to her curse and it hit him fully. He grimaced at the impact, the burn so much more severe than he had expected. It seared his skin and torn open a wound on his mid-torso. He stumbled forward and again gritted his teeth to keep silent.

His breathing deepened and he focused on isolating the pain before imagining the application of a numbing substance. The exercise distracted his mind a little from the severity, though he couldn't quite deter his thoughts from completely feeling the relentless heat. He composed himself enough to speak before looking to her, "well, I suppose we'll just see, won't we?"

[Alecto Carrow]

She walked over to him, running her hand through his hair and cupping his face "We will, won't we…"

Her gaze flicked over him, a small smile playing on her lips, she could see the pain in his eyes… she liked it. She liked him, a lot more than his friend, he was more fun… harder to tame. "You seem to be bleeding a bit… did you require my healing services?"

[Alexander Chevalier]

As Alecto's hands reached out to him, sifting through his hair and holding his face securely within her palm, Alex fought the urge to cringe before her. This woman terrified him, though that fear was lessened a little in contrast to the effect of his wound. He continued to hold still and unwaveringly met her gaze as she examined him. He watched as the smile spread and marveled at the pleasure she derived from witnessing the pain of her victims.

Now, how to respond? On one hand, he could let her heal him, but then it would only prolong this spar of theirs. While, on the other, he could refuse and risk provoking her for disregarding her kind offer. It really didn't matter either way, he supposed.

He held her eyes a moment before again lifting them to the ironic hat atop her head and smiling tiredly. Evaluating her reaction was so exhausting. She was so difficult to read. "Well, we can't let this end too swiftly, can we? I'm not entirely opposed to your offer...hm," he tilted his head, "I would say, 'professor' but, since you will no longer be teaching me, I'll have to think of an appropriate way to address you as well. Do you have a specific preference?"

[Alecto Carrow]

"Oh I'm interested to see what you come up with," Alecto responded in an amused tone. Giving a wink she released him before turning and heading to the medicine stores to get the poor boy a potion.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex watched her go with a soft exhale, aware of the chill she had inflicted as soon she withdrew her touch. He glanced down at his wand and wondered what else she had planned. If anything. He was starting to think she didn't always have a specific agenda. She just...reacted to the things she was presented with. The responses, choices, events. Everything. He reasoned that was what made her so completely unpredictable.

He looked up then and observed the vacant space left in her absence and awaited her inevitable return.

[Alecto Carrow]

Alecto came back with a potion and tossed it to him "It will close the cut… unfortunately because that spell was- what the Ministry considered- illegal, then they don't have anything to help with the burning so that will continue. But, on the upside, you won't pass out from blood loss so- there's that bright side you love so much."

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex caught the vial and considered it a moment before nodding and lifting it to his lips. It tasted awful, like most other potions seemed to, but he felt the effects almost immediately. His wound healed. However, as she said, that incessant burning continued.

"Yes," he began, "the bright side. Looks like you understand me already." He glanced down at the empty bottle before slowly and carefully back stepping to place it down on one of the beside tables. "I appreciate that," he motioned to the bottle and met her eyes before tilting his head, "what brought you to the hospital wing anyway? Just trying out a different occupation or something for the day?" She seemed to know her way around well enough.

[Alecto Carrow]

"Pomfrey annoyed me," was all the woman offered in her usual, borderline pleasant tone.

Though the fact that the healer had yet to make any type of appearance was not startlingly apparent, as Alecto adjusted her hat smartly on her head. "I'm normally not the healing type, but when in Rome!" She gave a flourish of her hand upon finishing the statement along with a cheerful (but eerie on her) smile.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Despite the eeriness of that smile, Alex couldn't help but look to her in slight amusement at her unexpected outburst and the adjusting of that hat. He could imagine her going up to Pomfrey, saying something intimidating and swiping the hat right off her head. The healer was probably wisely staying away from Alecto and her fun. Her fun...his amusement faded almost as swiftly as it appeared.

"And how are you enjoying the role so far?"

[Alecto Carrow]

"So far you're my first patient, aren't you lucky… or unlucky… depends perception I suppose," Alecto said finishing with a thoughtful look.

[Alexander Chevalier]

"It does," Alex replied, wondering what that look of hers meant but resolving to the fact that he couldn't possibly discern it. "Everyone perceives things a bit differently, after all. As in the case of you and I, we are almost entirely opposite, aren't we?"

[Alecto Carrow]

"Are we?" Alecto asked arching a brow. "In our fundamental beliefs yes, beyond that…"

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex wasn't sure what exactly she was insinuating, but he did pause to consider the matter for himself. What did he really know of Alecto beyond those fundamental beliefs of hers? As an individual? She was a considerably playful sort of person, as well as impulsive and opportunistic. What else? She was sadistic and had a viciously morbid sense of humor.

However, perhaps the most defining trait about her and one which set her above a great many of the cowards who fought on the Dark Lord's behalf, was that she was driven and passionate about her ideals. This war almost seemed...personal for her. Was that simply because of the firmly rooted ideals she was raised with, or was it something which inspired a particular need for vengeance? Such as a wrong some Muggle committed within her past? It was impossible to discern for certain.

But that was where they were somewhat similar. She was as fervent an individual as he was, for her own cause.

"Hm," He responded to her aloud, with an appraising stare, "perhaps that simply remains to be seen."

[Alecto Carrow]

She shot him a grin "*Now* you're thinking."

Alecto studied him before saying, quite suddenly "I like you. You're fun…. perhaps us spending a bit more time together was a good idea… though I shall have to think of a new name for you. For some reason Toy doesn't fit for me anymore."

[Alexander Chevalier]

What she abruptly said, along with that uncharacteristic and sincere grin of hers, caught Alex entirely off guard and, somehow, that terror he felt within her presence lessened just a bit. She all of a sudden intrigued him. That admission to himself was surprising as well. He was a notoriously curious individual and she had just inspired a compelling and intriguing direction for that curiosity.

"For some reason," he repeated with a hesitant, but genuine smile. "I'm still debating what name to use for you."

[Alecto Carrow]

"Professor with suffice," Alecto declared. "I may not be teaching you the full ways of war but I am still teaching you *real* muggle studies."

[Alexander Chevalier]

"Yes, of course," Alex responded, tensing just a little. He couldn't afford to let his guard down around her, no matter how intriguing she was. "If that is your preference, I'll be sure to use it. In class, at least. I still might try and think of another way to address you for circumstances such as these, where professor is rendered somewhat inaccurate."