Tell Me How Long [Lars]

[NATALYA ARLOVSKAYA]

Ever since Natalya got here, she had been more social and had more friends than she ever had during her school years in a "normal" school back home. She barely had a moment alone here, or it felt like it, especially when she was living in a dorm with another girl and all. Sure, a boarding school was nice and all and had it's advantages. Sleeping in more, short distance to home and school... But living with someone she didn't know or chose to live with was sometimes a pain as well, the freedom was limited and despite everything being alone was sometimes nice, or someone that was quiet.

When she woke up that morning, on a Saturday luckily enough, so she got to sleep in and didn't have to wake up at an unhealthy hour of the day and try to act like she knew what she was doing, which she really didn't, she was met by a text from her friend. The Belgian woman had texted and asked if they could meet up later today at the courtyard. First, she thought about it for a moment, wondering if she had nothing to do today or if there was any homework due, but she had finished off all the homework during the week after school or during lunch, so she didn't have anything to blame it on, and she was no liar either.

'Fine, 2 o'clock by the tree?' their usual spot where they met, and when she got a 'Yeah, see you there!' She sunk back into the mattress, just for a moment more she could stay in the bed and enjoy her freedom for a bit more, before she finally rolled out of bed, hair a bit messed up and she looked kinda tired, just like she felt as well, but in a moment she would be fresh and like normal.

Doing her morning routine as usual, brushing her hair, washing her face and making sure she looked all dolled up and nicely, even putting on makeup because she actually had time for it for once, and because she liked to look nice during the weekend as well. It wasn't much of a choice on clothes, a dress or a skirt, which was her usual attire, and this time she went for a dress, because she could, and she loved her dresses.

Time didn't exactly pass quickly that day; whenever she had a designed time, she was always done way too early for it, and always ended up being bored by the end of it while she waited, wondering why she was always getting ahead of herself and did stuff that wasn't really necessary just because she was bored.

When it was half an hour left, she became too bored, and even if it was sunny and warm outside, she decided to go out anyway. Frowning when the warmth met her as she got out, wondering why summer had come this year again, and why winter wasn't all year around instead, the warmth made her too warm and uncomfortable, even if she rarely showed it, because showing weakness was not one of the traits for her to show. And luckily, the walk to the courtyard was fairly short, and she breathed out when she could finally find the big tree they usually met up under. It was too big to not notice, and provided a good share of shade that Natalya appreciated. Emma knew Natalya's dislike of warmth and sun, and was kind enough to let her stay in the shade or inside where the AC was.

Leaning against the trunk, closing her eyes as he felt a mild breeze sweep past her and play with her hair for a bit. Knowing it would mess it up but for the moment she didn't really care, it cooled her down a bit and made it a bit more bearable.

"Now, where is she?"

She mumbled for herself and looked around, and then down at her clock, 20 minutes left until they would meet, and she hoped the Belgian wasn't late, or else she would get too bored while she waited. And if Natalya became too bored when she didn't really feel like waiting or be bored, she became a bit grumpy as well, or rather more introvert than she would like to admit to herself. She just became more like her bad side than she usually was, and might not be the most pleasant to hang around.

[LARS ZUIDERDUIN]

Lars found it a little odd that his sister had wanted to meet at such a specific time and place. After all, they were siblings, and if she had wanted to see him, all she had to do was come to his dorm or call him! She was welcome any time of the day, and Lars made sure that she knew that she was one of the few people allowed this privilege. 

But that was besides the point. 

It was obvious his sister had something up her sleeve. He couldn't exactly be sure what, and it was unlike her to play tricks on him, so maybe when she did, it was obvious? That seemed a little silly to him, and Lars had a hard time wrapping his head around things. It wasn't as though the boy could read her emotions either, as the invite to meet had been received via text. His sister knew full well what she was doing. And that pissed him off. She wasn't supposed to be able to trick him so easily!!

...And yet, here he was. Walking right to the courtyard towards the goddamned tree they were supposed to be meeting at. Right on time. Because he just couldn't say no to his beloved sister. Maybe it was a curse big brothers had to endure in which they were pretty much unable to resist anything that their precious younger siblings requested of them. 

Ahhh!! Lars shook his head and clawed at his hair in frustration, hardly noticing the sleeping girl by the tree. And by the time he noticed her, it was already too late. The normally quite graceful Dutchman had already made a huge misstep, and tumbled down onto the ground in front of her, catching himself on his hands. 

"What the hell?"

When he turned around to take a good look at the culprit, he had to rub his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. He wasn't much of the religious type but was he looking at some kind of angel? Was it okay for a girl so pretty and petite to be sitting out here alone? Of course it was, she was probably a lot tougher than he was.. what with his powers that made sad people happy, and took his own happiness away. 

"Oh. Sorry... you're not hurt are you?" 

Lars scrambled up, pushing his thoughts about the pretty girl away. He quickly glanced at his watch, realizing that it was dangerously close to the time to meet up, and turned to the woman.

"And.. you haven't seen a hyperactive blonde girl who always wears ribbons running around here have you, I'm waiting for her.."

[NATALYA ARLOVSKAYA]

She had been too winded up in her own thoughts, it was one of those yet not so rare moments where she spaced out. Since she was early and had little to do, and she was tired of standing around doing nothing; she sat down on the grass by the tree. It was soft, the gardener in the school kept the nature well here. Natalya guessing he had some sort of power that kept it always perfect. She liked it, made the school look nice and it was good to sit on as well. It was a tad bit chillier on the ground, not by much, but the air felt better down there at least.

Sighing as she rested against the trunk, spaced out and kept looking ahead of herself, dress around her, and hair was blowing behind her instead of in her face, a nice change for once.

Not quite prepared for it, but suddenly she was startled and snapped out of her trance, eyes wide as she looked at the guy that had fallen in front of her suddenly. A spark of electricity played between her fingertips, prepared to attack if it was someone that might harm her. Blinking when she looked at him, electricity dying out, and she lowered her hand again. Wanting to make a really bad pun on how he had 'fallen' for her so suddenly, but yet she was quiet and just looked at him, wondering what was going on, where he came from and why he was going around falling on people like that. She might be short, but she wasn't exactly invisible to people..

"I'm fine?" She tilted her head a bit and looked at him, eyebrow arched questioningly. "You okay?" Standing up to help him, even if it wasn't in her nature to do so, and she just felt a tad bit weirded out to help a stranger, yet she did it, just because it was partly her fault, but mostly his own, that he had fallen. He needed to watch out better.

Thinking for a moment as the other asked him about a girl.. It sounded familiar. "Emma?" She questioned him, she was after all the only Emma here in school, so he couldn't exactly mix her up with someone else. A bit defensive about her friend; not wanting some weird guy bother her unless it was necessary, if she could prevent it that would be a happiness itself from her. "I'm supposed to meet her.." Looking at her wrist watch quickly. "Kinda now." Still suspect, and she was prepared to slam him against the tree in case he was some shady guy.

Stopping when it clicked to her that if the other guy meant Emma, and he was supposed to meet her now, around this time.. Why? She had asked her to meet up with Natalya, not this weird.. Yet strangely handsome guy that probably looked very good shirtless, so why would she meet up with both at the same time? Natalya took up her phone and looked at her phone and the message, where it clearly stood today and which time and place. "Yeah, I'm supposed to meet her here and now, today." Putting her phone away again, and looked up at the tall guy, a bit of a glare on him as well, not meaning it, but clearly suspicious now.

[LARS ZUIDERDUIN]

"You okay?"

Of course he was fine! If anything he was just embarrassed. Most of the time he was much more graceful! Mathias was the one who was always falling over himself.

But he was glad for her help.

"Yeah.. I'm fine." He barely managed to slip the words out before the girl- extremely beautiful girl- began to speak again.

"I'm supposed to meet her...Kinda now."

Lars' eyebrows scrunched together a moment in confusion. Would Emma really be so ditzy as to schedule meeting with two people at the same place at the same time?! The answer was no. This was without a doubt a setup made up in part by his sister.

He was used to being teased about the fact that he was pretty much continually single. And that he was just way too handsome to be alone? He didn't really think of himself as a prettyboy! And it wasn't that the teasing bothered him or anything, in fact, he did the same back to his siblings and friends... But Lars hadn't really ever found any interest in pursuing relationships. So... Emma must've found his interest for him.

He was going to kill her later, that was for sure. Not that he minded Emma's taste in girls. He couldn't say he had ever tried to earn himself a date with a pretty Scandinavian girl, his tastes had always seeme to lay with darker skinned, meek girls. But there was no denying that this girl had something all her own. In fact, she was quite beautiful.

But that was besides the point.

"Ah.. You know... Honestly I think my sister was just trying to uh.. Set us up? If you know what I mean?" Lars felt pretty dorky saying such words, but there was truth behind them. He could just hope it was the right one.

"I'm Lars by the way.. Emma is my little sister." Looking at her, it was very obvious which of Emma's friends this was. They hadn't been friends for too, too long as far as Lars could tell, but his sister had told him of a gorgeous girl with silvery-blonde hair. She mentioned that her hair was very beautiful and her eyes were intense. Of course that didn't match her intense personality.

This girl was without a doubt her friend Natalya. Lars didn't just figure that either, his powers told him he was right.

"You must be Natalya, right?"

[NATALYA ARLOVSKAYA]

Natalya was a bit perplexed by the confusion on the other male's face when she told him her, or rather Emma's plans for them, and wondered what might have caused his confusion, even if she didn't have to wait too long for the answer, even if his gaze upon her made her a bit weirded out, wondering why he was giving her such an intense look when this was their first meeting and all. She just returned it with her own, a bit colder one, not on purpose that's just how she looked at people, to see if she got any reaction from him.

Tilting her head a bit as he spoke, not quite getting it, even if his words made her a bit more confused. "Set up? She isn't a villain, she wouldn't.." Then it hit her what he meant, not really set them up as in trying to get rid of them, but the other way. "Oh.." Voice getting slightly softer when she reminded herself what it could mean as well, and she just arched an eyebrow at that information, wondering why her friend would set her up with someone, and her brother of all people as well. "Your own sister set us up because she thought we could date, tak?" Just being clear and straight to the point to see if she really got him.

"Bold." And shrugged her shoulders, not minding a date with him, that didn't necessarily meant that they had to proceed and get a relationship, she had really never been out on a date anyway, even if it wasn't her biggest interest to do, she wouldn't exactly say no to it. If he even wanted to, will say.

Not denying that he was handsome, and tall, she loved her men when they where tall, and muscular, Emma probably knew that by now, especially when she had mentioned at one point that she found her brother pleasing to look at, not to that extension that she wanted to date him, just that his type was to her liking. His harsher face didn't bother her as well, she wasn't exactly innocent on that area as well. So Emma knew her probably better than Natalya had imagined, even if she wondered why Emma wanted to set her up with someone, when she knew how Natalya was, and how she could be as well if it didn't please her enough.

"Tak. // Yes."

Standing in her place.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Lars, your sister has spoken good about you." Not even lying about that. "I guess that's what siblings do as well, but you siblings seem to be very close." Hand on her hip as she continued to observe him, not even being discreet when she was checking him out, making small nods for herself in approval inside her head.

"Do you want to make something out of her trick, or would you rather go back and mind your own business." Strange, a part of her kinda wanted him to stay, despite her slightly asocial nature, maybe get a bit disappointed that she wasn't pleasing enough to look at if he said no and went away from there. Neither would she blame him, she had quite a reputation on her, and some people where even a bit frightened by her powers.

[LARS ZUIDERDUIN]

"It's nice to finally meet you, Lars, your sister has spoken good about you. I guess that's what siblings do as well, but you siblings seem to be very close."

Lars watched as the silvery haired girl very obviously observed him, muttering and nodding to herself. It was true however, that he was indeed close to his siblings. He adored both his brother and sister to the ends of the world and to hear them speaking fondly of him to people he hadn't even met made his heart flutter a little.

But before he was able to comment on just how much he loved his siblings, Natalia was moving on to the next topic.

"Do you want to make something out of her trick, or would you rather go back and mind your own business?" The answer to that question wasn't so obvious. Or at least, he didn't think it was. The fact of the matter was, was that Lars hadn't dated in a while. Not that he had ever dated for long. He knew it was bad, but he was the type of person that really didn't... like dating, and tended to brush girls aside after they confessed to him... and after he told them they could date...

Okay so he was probably just an asshole who led people on. And maybe this was just his sister's way of trying to get him to settle down. How lovely.

"Since they speak so well of us, maybe we could make something of this..." Lars nodded, "Ah.. I-I mean, at least we can make a date out of it. What do you say?"

The Dutchman wasn't really sure if he was even going to date her for good. He didn't want his sister to win so easily. But by the same token, Natalia was really, really pretty. In fact, she was beautiful. He was quite certain that with her around his arm, as a couple, they'd get plenty of stares.

...Not that looks were the most important thing in a girl. Of course they also needed to be kind, caring, smart, talented, honest and compassionate, among many other things. He also couldn't date a girl if she knew nothing about him and just wanted to be seen with a piece of eye candy.

Maybe this girl could be the one... Lars figured it didn't hurt to give it a chance. 

"Lets go for a walk and see how things work out, okay?"

[NATALYA ARLOVSKAYA]

Natalya didn't trust easily, so when she put up the offer to actually make use of his sister's scheming, she was more or less prepared that he would say no, and walk away from there. It wasn't like it was a big deal to Natalya, her brother was pretty good at scaring people away from her, and she wasn't really a social bug, so guys or girls didn't exactly yearn for someone like her.

Yet she was surprised, even if it didn't quite show, when he did agree on a date with her, that was not something she had expected out of him. Maybe she had partly thought that he had a partner already, someone with that height and looks was surely very sough-out on the marker after all.. Was he just playing with her? Or was he someone like her? Or maybe he just didn't want to date anyone?

Who knew.

"If you don't mind that, I won't either." Heck, he was interesting, or at least his looks where, so would it hurt to peek a bit on his inside as well, to see if the personality matched the face or if he was just the latter part of it.

And was this gonna be weird or what, considering that Natalya has never gone on a date before. What did one do, act, or said? Was it just to stroll around and act like you where best friend with the other person, or actually speak in a different way? "Yeah, that sounds good to me." As she did take up his offer, waiting for him to start walking as she did that too, next to him. Not too happy with being out in the sun again, but she couldn't complain, not right now, that wouldn't be the best first impression.

Looking up at him from where she stood, pondering on what to say. "Sorry, I've never been on a date before." She began slowly, as if she was unsure whenever to say it or not. Trying not to be too awkward, yet sometimes it was hard for her to express herself properly, and when such a guy was around as well, it almost, not quite, made her nervous. "So, I apolgogise if I do anything I shouldn't." Fixing her dress, to make her seem less of an idiot after she had said that.. Why was she so carefree in her speech sometimes?

"So.." Trying to avoid that awkward talking before. "What kind of.. Powers do you have?" Fuck was she smooth or not, sometimes Natalya wanted to kick herself and her way of trying to talk to others. It went so well with her brother and sister, but with this guy, one among plenty, it was just so.. Awkward and hard.

[LARS ZUIDERDUIN]

"Sorry, I've never been on a date before. So I apologize if I do anything I shouldn't."

Lars couldn't say he was really aware of her acting strangely. Was there a certain etiquette to dating that he wasn't aware of? He wanted to say something to reassure her that she was probably going to do just fine. But honestly he wasn't even entirely sure if he'd be a good reference for these kinds of things. His track record was pretty awful.

Of course he didn't think she knew that. He really didn't think she was the type of girl who got caught up in things like that. Which made him glad. Most girls wouldn't have dated him knowing the kinds of- well he didn't want to say "awful" - but the pretty bad things he had done. But it was refreshing to find someone not involved in those things.

"What kind of.. Powers do you have?"

There it was. The question one of the two of them was bound to ask sooner or later. The second he told her his powers, she'd know right away that he was a sidekick and he'd get the whole, 'but you don't look like you'd be a sidekick' spiel that he had gotten a thousand and five times. In which case he'd have to explain, 'Look. I can still kick most of the "heros" in this school's asses' and to be honest he wasn't sure what kind of impression that would make. So maybe he would just leave the kicking ass thing off.

Besides, it was clear to him that she was a smart girl. She could probably observe that from his body size. After all, he did work out... a lot. But whatever, she did deserve to know his powers at the very least. If she wanted to ask or make assumptions about other things, he could deal with that later.

"I have physical and emotional healing... and I'm empathetic. My physical healing just speeds up body processes that are already happening. In a way I more or less give your immune system a push.. or something like that. And my other thing..." The blonde trailed off, placing a hand to his chin as if in thought, "Well, I'm not sure how it works, but basically I take people's negative emotions into my own body. I don't use it too often, really."

For now Lars would leave the minute details of his powers out. The last thing Natalia needed to know was that his powers worked best via kissing. And besides, he knew where they could have their first date. He led her to the beach, knowing the perfect spot underneath an umbrella they could sit under together. Best of all there were lounge chairs, so they didn't have to get covered in sand.

"So... what kind of powers do you have?"

[NATALYA ARLOVSKAYA]

Natalya felt hesitant. She was already slightly awkward by nature; her lack of friends and people around her that made her feel good was a vital point in that, a matter she cared about less right now. She felt a bit awkward next to him. He was tall, like, really tall, while she was short for her age as well. They where probably looking funny right now, but Natalya had rarely cared what other thought of her, maybe a bit now, when they where on a date, supposed to actually impress each other... But how did one do that, when your ability to show emotions was below zero?

Fairly impressed, he was a rare one, that had powers to heal, instead of destruction. Yet it was hard to read on her that she was; as she just simply gave him a quick look, and then watched where she put her feet, not wanting to make a great first impression by falling on her own legs. She was very athletic, and was flexible enough for three people together, and could very well match a gymnastic person. "The powers to heal.." She breathed, and nodded for herself just to underline it. "That's a good attribute, not many people has that, it feels like almost everyone can destroy, but who's there to heal what has been damaged, if there's barely anyone to do that? It's more vital than the bad things."

She arched an eyebrow thou at his next words, as that showed off that she was indeed impressed by it, letting her guard down for a moment, before she collected herself yet again. "Ah, so you can make a sad person happy? Do you take over their emotions, or do your body just.. Make it disappear?" She didn't even have in mind the hero or sidekick status, maybe because she didn't care too much about it, just details to her. And he was bigger, and stronger, she could make him go out quicker than light if she got to use her powers. But without them, she was screwed.

"I.. Actually don't know what kind of powers I have, really." It had always been a mysterious to her, she thought that she had erebokinesis, and then one day, she could control electricity as well. "I think it has something to do with the energy and matter in things, as I'm able to control and manipulate electricity." Natalya knew she was dangerous, and could be seen as a freak for that, it wasn't easy things to play around with, yet it was the element she was most familiar with. "But I'm also able to control and manipulate darkness for a strange reason."

Calm as she spoke about her powers, she didn't think they where dangerous, she loved them, and to play around with them for hours, even if they tired her out, a lot. Shrugging her shoulders as she didn't make a big deal out of it, why would she? His powers where far better than hers, and something one should be proud of.

And yet she followed him blindly, even if she was careful as well where he was taking her. Eyes drinking in the surroundings, the familiar sight, the route was different from the one she usually took, so where he was heading was a mystery to her, maybe a bit of the excitement?

A bit hesitant thou when they reached the beach, as she gave him a questioning glance.. Was the beach really a good idea for a date with her? Had he even seen her skin? It was bound to get a third degree burn if she stayed out in the sun for too long.. Yet she waited and see what he would do and take her, since he was the one with healing powers after all.

[LARS ZUIDERDUIN]

"The powers to heal.. That's a good attribute, not many people has that, it feels like almost everyone can destroy, but who's there to heal what has been damaged, if there's barely anyone to do that? It's more vital than the bad things."

Lars supposed it was true. He didn't know anyone who also possessed his power. He wouldn't have cared if anyone did to be honest, he wasn't out to be some super special individual that stood out among the rest. In fact, he wouldn't have cared if he just blend right in. But with his stature and default expression, it was hard to blend in sometimes.

"Ah, so you can make a sad person happy? Do you take over their emotions, or do your body just.. Make it disappear?"

Lars made sure to block the sun's rays as he adjusted the umbrella. He didn't mind being in the sun, but where he was from was pretty rainy most of the time, so he couldn't exactly say that his skin was used to the sun. But he didn't mind being warm. In fact, it was the reason he constantly wore a scarf back at home. He was actually pretty sensitive to the cold at times.

"I.. Actually don't know what kind of powers I have, really. I think it has something to do with the energy and matter in things, as I'm able to control and manipulate electricity. But I'm also able to control and manipulate darkness for a strange reason."

Hm. Sounded pretty cool to him. If he could control electricity, he'd sure have a fun time with it. He could only imagine the kind of fun he'd have in the class exams. Shooting electricity all over the place. Yeah. That sounded pretty cool. Much cooler than cutting his classmate's thumb and then healing it. Darkness also sounded like a power more suited to his needs. Although honestly what dd that entitle? Was darkness like.. a shadow of some kind? 

Lars quickly shook his head and realized he was being a bad date by spacing out like this. 

"We can hang out here together for a while, if you'd like. Then maybe we could go get something to eat." He figured it would be best to get to know his date before deciding whether or not she was actually was girlfriend material. She certainly looked the part, but if she was the type of woman who he wouldn't get along with, or more importantly, his siblings wouldn't get along with, he wanted nothing to do with her if he could help it.

"And as for my powers..." He just realized that he hadn't answered her question from before, opting instead to let her speak, which was fine with him, he definitely preferred not speaking if that was an option, "I take their emotions myself. And what do you mean by 'controlling the darkness'? What exactly is darkness? Is like, nighttime, when it's dark outside? Or something else?"