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It's not like Lisa dislikes teaching. Well, it's not like Lisa truly dislikes much of anything besides the idea of actually breaking a sweat— and even then, if you did a quick glance at some of the projects she plans, you'd know that was somewhat untrue.
Lisa enjoys the study of language, specifically poetry. She's a sucker for the idea of someone using mere words to construct something beautiful. The way authors can make you feel things without ever speaking to you. Lisa admires how words can make or break things.
Poetry is everywhere and it's difficult at times but that just makes it all the more appealing. But real poetry needs funding and contracts. To be a poet of that level you need connections.
In the end, Teyvat's humble high school for those all across the lands was the best option. It still deals with poetry and words just... not in the way she thought her job would. She spends a majority of the year teaching Language Arts to teens who are either smart enough or rich enough to get into one of the great colleges they provide in Liyue.
Lisa is sure Liyue's reputation is well-earned despite the fact that she never went there, preferring to go to an academy in Sumeru instead.
She's sure she doesn’t dislike teaching. There's a spark of excitement within it, and though it's certainly small she treasures it to the best of her ability. Kids have fun in her classes, anyway.
It's good enough for now. Might not be her favorite thing but it's certainly not something she hates.
It's all fine.
“Hello, hello... Who might that be?” Kaeya asks in his usual ambiguous tone. Just like that the brunette is forced out of her thoughts. Perhaps he's curious or perhaps he just wants to direct Lisa's attention to the stranger.
She's able to find what caught Kaeya's attention almost immediately. Stunning blonde hair tucked back into a ponytail. Oh, how Lisa just adored blondes. Fair skin and an athletic build to tie it all together. The young woman in question was in the middle of a crowd of students further down the hall.
She wondered if this woman was a guest speaker. The way she was dressed was so formal, maybe she was a part of local law enforcement.
Lisa’s eyes analyzed every part of the woman, the way she walked and looked and blinked, all the way down to how she used a silent hand to bring the murmurs amongst the crowd to a halt. She’s definitely been in charge of people before. Head of police? No, she knows who that is. A nice young man, pleasing to the eyes. Though certainly that wasn’t a topic to think about while at work.
“My name is Miss Gunnhildr but if it's easier for you, you may all call me Miss Jean. I’ll be in charge of teaching math to you all. I hope we can have a wonderful year together.”
She addressed the crowd calmly, glancing at each and every student. Her eyes were a shy blue it seemed, similar to the sky by the ocean front whenever it got foggy or was about to rain. The calm before the storm, some might say.
The blonde, Miss Jean, didn’t even seem to notice Kaeya and Lisa watching her.
“She seems interesting, don't you think?” Kaeya hummed. “I do wonder.. Well, I suppose it’s best to wait and see.”
”What are you on about? Planning some mischievous plot again?” Lisa teased. Her gaze drifted from the woman to the man in front of her, slowly, as if she didn’t want to let go of the sight of Gunnhildr.
“Why ever would you think that?” He feigned innocence, batting his eyelashes and pulling a small pout. The brunette simply chuckled at his behavior, shaking her head. Kaeya? Innocent? Not in a million years.
“I’m just thinking about how one of us will have to guide her around,” Periwinkle eyes met faded green ones. Thoughts were exchanged just by sharing a glance. Battles are not always loud and bloody nor are they always through sharp words. Sometimes the toughest battle was simply looking someone in the eye and realizing exactly what they were thinking.
Lisa was good at that type of battle. Not against Kaeya though. And so she settled down and brushed some of her honey brown hair out of her face.
”I’ll do it.”
_______________
Her name is Jean Gunnhildr, and she absolutely loves teaching.
She might deny it and from time to time she might hate the fact that teaching is such a passion for her. However all in all, the students make it worth it. They brighten her day.
Her favorite part of being a teacher is the way she helps to form children's futures. Jean knows it's cheesy and ridiculous to think like that. Yet she does so anyways. Teachers can make or break the way a child grows in life. They are here to help pave a path that leads to greatness for each child they come across. Or at least a majority of them.
So when a teaching job introduces itself, who is she to deny it? She had a little sister to take care of, rent to pay and while teaching in other places paid in peanuts she was teaching at the high school for all lands in Teyvat. Every last one of them. The high school that only accepts those who are willing to work hard enough to get in.
Needless to say, it pays a great deal more than regular schools. While that also meant teaching there was more work Gunnhildr was ready to put in some elbow grease in order to make ends meet.
They’re well off now, her and her sister, but she doesn’t want to get to a point where they ever run out of Mora. Mora makes the world go ‘round, and she knows just how cruel those who have it and those who need it can be.
She will never let Barbara live a life as low as that.
_______________
The crowd has settled and thinned down to a few students who are simply there to be pests. Lisa knows exactly how it is for new teachers. She was once the new girl herself and she grimaces at the thought of having to be tortured by the ‘popular’ kids again. Now she’s known to be the fun and charming but undeniably strict teacher. The teacher who will blow a fuse if pushed to her limit.
She walks over, a binder of assorted English documents in one hand and the other swaying loosely. Just who are you Miss Jean... She was skeptical of the new math teacher. It made sense in one way— the haven’t had a math teacher in a bit and while Kaeya is a good substitute he’s never good for anything permanent. However why would someone so pretty and dressed up be.. teaching?
Perhaps she was in the same situation as Lisa.
“Hey there.” A small greeting as she slipped a smile onto her lips. She waved a bit with her free hand and kept moving closer. Her words were enthusiastic but not enough to be an exclamation.
“Now why don’t you guys get to class. Miss Jean is new, you don’t want to overwhelm her do you?” Her voice was smooth and sweet as she said these words. The students agreed, some more hesitantly than others. “Sorry about them. I trust none of them have bothered you right?”
“No, of course not thank you.” Finally, the conversation starts. Gunnhildr seems almost disappointed to see the students go. It’s not as if she would never see them again.
”So, you’re teaching.. Math? All of it? You must be so intelligent, no wonder they hired you. ”
“My mistake, I must have misspoken. I’ll be teaching Algebra 2, and Trigonometry. The substitute mathematics teacher, Kaeya I believe is his name? He will be teaching the Pre Calculus and Calculus I believe.”
She’s impressed. Not because of Jean teaching Algebra 2 and Trigonometry (she could care less) but at the fact someone dressed as though she was head of the FBI really was a high school math teacher. First impressions last forever. Kaeya was right, she certainly was interesting, not to mention pretty.
“I see. I’m sure you’ll fit right in here. Do you know your way around?”
“My apologies but I’m not yet used to the layout of this school. I’m in room,” she pulled out a badge with her face on it, before continuing, “Room 208.”
”Really? That’s not too far from where my room is, just a walk down the hall. I can walk you there, if you’d like.” There’s a twinkle in her eye as Lisa says these words. It’s only a walk to a classroom but you never know what could happen on the way there.
Plus, more time getting to know Miss Jean couldn’t hurt, could it?
“I appreciate it, thank you.” Gunnhildr's response was genuine and she looked over at Lisa, waiting for them to go. “This won’t be a daily thing I promise.”
The brunette ignores that last part, opting to gesture for Jean to follow her as she starts walking down the halls. Her heels go click, click, click. Jean’s heels go clack, clack, clack. The sounds rang out against the semi full hallway.
“Do we have a coffee machine here?” A sudden question from Miss Jean, one that catches Lisa off guard so much so that she lets out a little laugh. The new girl certainly was an odd one, wasn’t she?
“A coffee machine?” She repeats almost teasingly holding back her reply. Was she upset at the question? Was her laugh a fake one to conceal her anger? Or perhaps she really was amused by the idea of a coffee machine. She laughs to the point her cheeks turn pink and her heart flutters a bit as she looks at Jean once more. “Of course we do.”
”That’s good..” They started to reach 203, Jean noticed, which meant their journey together was coming to an end. She could still hear a small suppressed giggle from Lisa every now and then.
Maybe it was because she hadn’t talked to someone new on the job in a long time but this was thrilling. Relieving. It was fun. She wondered just how much fun she could have with this. The mathematician made her way to her desk and sat down, trying to make herself comfortable meanwhile the brunette simply followed into the room. Students were already sitting down though most were too wrapped up in their own private conversation to notice the two teachers.
Lisa put one hand down on the desk, leaning over it a little just like Kaeya does whenever he visits the chemistry teacher's room. Albedo was his name. Lisa thought he was easy on the eyes, and apparently Kaeya agreed given how much he tries to make moves on him.
Gunnhildr glanced over at her, curious as to why she didn't leave. The language arts teacher simply gave her a smile.
”I’ll show you the teacher’s lounge sometime soon." The blonde looked confused at these words, so Lisa elaborated for her. "So that you can see our coffee machine, remember? How does that sound?”
"Sounds good. Maybe during lunch break?"
The brunette grins, “Works for me. It’s a date.” This came out in a flirtatious tone but that was usual for Lisa. Whether it was intentional or not didn’t matter— Jean remained seemingly oblivious to it.
Gunnhildr shifts at her desk, turning so that she could face the other teacher better. “I just realized, I never got your name.”
Maybe she did pick up on it Lisa thinks, a thought that makes her smirk slightly. “It’s Miss Minci. But since I like you.. you may just call me Lisa.” Or your future girlfriend.
Jean hummed. “I’m Gunnhildr, but everyone just calls me Jean.”
Never mind. Lisa resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow at the way the blonde simply ignored her advances. Interesting enough. “Well, I’ve got to head off before the bell rings. I’ll see you around Jean.”
With that, she left the classroom flashing one last smile at the new teacher before going to her own room. That took only thirty minutes or so. A new record for Lisa.
Only thirty minutes for her to take an interest in this woman. She's never felt an attraction so fast. Maybe it was the hair, gorgeous blonde strands that Minci was fond of on men (and women, it seemed). Maybe it was the way Jean asked silly questions or the way she spoke so formally as if she had never relaxed a second in her life. Maybe it was just the fact she was new.
No matter the reason, Lisa found her heart was speeding after that conversation. Her palms were unusually sweating-- gross, she thinks to herself, wiping it away on her pants-- and her cheeks were undeniably a bit pink.
A crush. Miss Minci has a crush.
For a mere moment, students and work were forgotten. It was just her and Jean. Lisa found herself liking this thought. Her and Jean, her newest interest. Her newest love.
Then the bell rang and she found herself seated at her desk in front of a group of students. The bell.. a reminder of where she was and what she was supposed to be doing. A reminder that she has a job to do.
Work is no place for lovesick thoughts.