When You're Going Through Hell, Keep Going

Leonardo Ascendor. Head of the Ascendor House. Associate Professor of Transfiguration. Clearbrook Academy. Witch.

[wu-helena]

Hearing another voice, Helena set down her coffee. “Leo,” she greeted her coworker. “Just read the article?” It was an easy deduction. Ever since the announcement of the merger, several of her Brightfeaters were constantly in her office, badgering her about the whole ordeal. And with the new release, it only increased. “You think the administration would at least give us some of the details. I mean, we have to deal with the students and answer their questions.” With that she grabbed her bagel and took a bite.

[leoascendor-blog]

He ran a hand through his hair frustratingly. “Helena” Leo nodded courteous even in between wild rage his manners never left him, “How are you doing?” Then hearing her opinions on the matter he sighed irritated at everything. “Yeah. Completely agree with you there, maybe a fucking heads-up would have suffice. Now dealing with all my kids, what am I supposed to tell them? ‘Don’t worry about it, it’ll all be all right’? They’re not five, they know.”

[alfie-hewitt]

Alfie threw the papers back onto the desk before he turned and faced his brother. “You prefer I lie, and I tell you how proud I am of the family name? To act like it makes the world go round?” Alfie said as he leaned on the desk and raised an eyebrow as he watched his brother. He shook his head as he licked his lips. “Seeing you once in a blue moon wouldn’t hurt, Ninja Turtle.” Alfie said as he folded his arms over his chest. “You know my schedule, you could see me during my study breaks or something.”

[leoascendor-blog]

He crossed his arms as he heard his brother, “That’s the Ascendor sarcasm I missed.” Leo ironically said sarcastically. He shook his head not bothering to answer him and instead walked over to his fridge to get two beers. Silently he handed one to Alfie, raising his eyebrows, a faint smirk on playing on his lips at the nickname, “Ninja Turtle?” Leo opened his beer and took a sip, “I have been busy. I work, you know.”

[alfie-hewitt]

Alfie stepped past his brother and walked over to the desk. He picked up one of the papers Leo was grading and read over it before he looked up at his brother. “I need people to know you are my brother, the name alone is bad enough to deal with.” Alfie said as ran his eyes over his brother slowly. “You can still come and see me every now and then. It wouldn’t kill you.”

[leoascendor-blog]

He shut the door behind his brother and decided to stay in place lest make the situation tenser. Leo clenched his teeth at the jab of their family name, he knew how his brother felt about it but never quite understood it. He took pride in his own name, made a career because of it. Shoving his clenched fists in the pockets of his pants, “Way to say how it is, Alfred. Don’t worry about sugar coating it.” He sighed exasperated, “What do you want me to say? You tell me to give you space, I give it to you. Now you’re telling me I need to visit more often? You can’t have it both ways, Alfie.” 

[gerard-linden]

“Not everyone. I bet Miss Vogel hasn’t” he pointed out with a raised finger, thinking about his earlier run in with the woman. Maybe it was his hangover, but the Whitelighter had seemed considerably more pissy than usual. “Nope, not really. Shitty day led to shitty decisions, and here I am” Gerard replied with a chuckle, running a hand through his hair.

[leoascendor-blog]

“Miss Vogel? Yikes, it’s 8am in the morning, mate, let’s not mention her ‘till at least after noon.” Leo retorted back jokingly not being able to help himself. Then he chuckled at the other male’s answer, “Oh, I got ya. Been having some of those lately as well.” He took a sip from his mug of coffee contemplating what to say to his dear colleague. “Will say ‘it gets better’ but that’s just a bunch of crap.”

[vince-sullivan]

“Sometimes, that works. But most of the time, I’d like to at least talk before we get to the sex part.” Vince holds no judgement for quick hook-ups, which he takes a part in sometimes. But he likes meeting new people and the flirting. “Well, that attitude is not gonna help you being elected for my wingman.” He fakes a serious tone of disapproval. Soon enough he returns to the usual playful self. “Invisibility potion. I just need to organize shittons of data.” Vince finishes his beer, listening to Leo’s new things. He has heard about Leo’s mother’s condition. But that kind of topic is a thin ice to tread. He refrains from asking about her for now. “Yeah, how’s being the head of your house?”

[leoascendor-blog]

He grunted as a reply, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head, “Talk is overrated.” Leo stated simply, he wanted to focus on his job and his brother those were his priority. He just laughed at his friend, “We both know that even with all that, I’m still your wingman.” Hearing his friend discuss the new project, Leo nodded along to what was being said. Raising his eyebrows impressed he replied, “Nice, can’t say I ain’t impressed. He takes another long gulp from his beer, “It’s something else, mate. Got to admit it’s a lot of pressure but the kids make it worth it. They’re good kids.” Remarked Leo subconsciously adding Alfie to his group of ‘good kids’.

[vince-sullivan]

“Alright, you win. But I’m not making any promise– you know me. I’m deadly clumsy. Something might slip in while I deliver the pie.” He grins with a subtle touch of evil in it. He wouldn’t poison his friend… but for fun, he has less lethal potions. “I’m sure all of your students are dying to see you in shorts.” He laughs with the mental image of it. “Now, Leo, not at work. I know I have an ecstatic and intoxicating influence on you. But please do try to restrain yourself. People will talk.” He counters right back with his brazen way.

[leoascendor-blog]

He waved a dismissive hand, “Yeah, yeah just bring me pie.” Rolling his eyes at his grinning expression barely containing the smirk that wanted overcome his features. “Right? I’d like to think so.” Leo nodded wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, of course, he wasn’t at all serious but the thought of it all was hilarious enough. He laughed out loud at this friend’s response, “Ecstatic and intoxicating? Is that what they call boring and stoic now? Oh, I don’t give a rat’s ass what people say. You want to know what I say? Let them talk.”

[alfie-hewitt]

I was wondering how long it would take for you to visit me. Turns out, I am always going to be waiting on you. So here I am, in your door. Making an effort. 

[leoascendor-blog]

Leonardo was grading some papers when he heard a knock on his door. He looked at the clock and saw how late it was, grabbing a water gun from his desk since at only that hour Vince was the only one to visit him. He opened the door and froze momentarily at the sight. Leo ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply, “That’s because you said to keep my distance, remember?” Then bit the inside of his cheek to keep from saying more to his brother, he didn’t want to fight. He opened the door and ushered him in, “Come on in.”

[just-maia-warner-blog]

Her right eyebrow raised in shock and well, delight. “That’s the plan,” she said, grinning at him. “Of course not. All you said is about studying and the fruits of it and has nothing to do with liquor.” She nodded her head at him, feeling some of her stress seeping out of her system. “A reason? Remind me again because frankly enough, I seem to have forgotten why I’m even studying this hard in the first place. You sure you guys aren’t brainwashing us for better test scores?” She shook her head once again at the headmaster, wondering how many more embarrassing moments of his will be shared with her. “Free food. How can I ever turn down that?” She smiled, feeling some of her hunger coming back. “But hopefully no powder donuts, yes?”

[leoascendor-blog]

He grinned cheekily at her, “That’s my girl.” Leo audibly took a deep breath between his teeth sending her an apologetic expression, “You caught us, we have reason. We really just have this incredible urge of just sit in front of rooms filled with people. And we also like hearing the sound of our own voices. Don’t know what tell ya, kiddo.” He actually greatly valued the core values of the institute, without it’s exemplary education Leonardo didn’t know what was to be his life. At her answer to his suggestion he grinned, “Exactly! What? No?” He gave a sigh of disappointment. “Fine.” 

[leoascendor-blog]

Clearbrook Academy. The institute where Leonardo had learned everything about himself and achieved his biggest dreams. It was not with a second thought that he joined the academy’s faculty as to give back for everything it had given him. Feeling so passionately about the institute he was, therefore, naturally livid as he read The Clearbrook’s Journal piece about Clearbrook and its financial rumors. “What the hell is this? This is bullcrap.” He fumed while gesturing to the journal in his hands.

[ash-stevens-deactivated20151015]

“I don’t know your name, man.” Asher blinked, having no idea what he had even said wrong. Still, he shrugged his shoulders before laughing. “It’s the truth, man.” Furrowing his brows, he pulled his hand away with the cake. “Don’t you know that sharing is caring? Ah fuck it, I got my cake.” He said, wiping his own mouth in the process.

[leoascendor-blog]

“Leonardo Ascendor.” He replied simply knowing the boy would just figure out who he was by his name, since it carried so much weight. He tried to make himself relax but there was something about the young werewolf that just made him irritated. Maybe because you’re so alike, he dismissed the thought with a scoff. “Don’t you know I don’t care? Fine, here.” He took another pastry from the plate and handed it to him. “Next time, ask nicely.”

[gerard-linden]

Gerard looked at his colleague, a clueless expression plastered on his face. He had no idea what the hell the man had said or if he’d asked something to him. Seeing the aspirin and glass of water being offered to him, the airbender nodded “Thanks, mate. I appreciate it” he said as he lazily picked up the tablets and popped them into his mouth. Hopefully this would save him some suffering. He’d avoided the infirmary because he’d been looking to keep a low profile with his hangover. One Whitelighter seemed to hate him already, no need to make Nurse Faulker start to look at him with disapproving eyes too.

[leoascendor-blog]

He waved a hand dismissing his thanks, Leo too had some days where he woke up like his colleague. “Don’t worry about it, we’ve all been there.” Leo assured him with a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Was there an occasion? Or did you just simply wanted to get drunk? Because I respect that.”

[vince-sullivan]

“Believe what you like. But some guys do have weakness for dorky ways.” Vince gives a simple shrug accompanied by his self-assured smile. “Hmmmm. I should consort to the cabinet in my head. The process might take a while, very complicated vote system. But I’ll email you the result in few weeks.” He says cheekily, although Leo is probably his de facto wingman. Taking a sip, Vince purses his lips as he goes through the recent things. “Let’s see. Almost done with my latest experiment. Gotta make reports on it. Started a new one with Mr. Knightley…“ He doesn’t seem to realize the only new things are work-related. “You? Any news that I should be aware of?”

[leoascendor-blog]

“Why find a weakness? Just get straight to the point. You. Me. Bed. Sounds like a good time, let’s go. And that’s it.” He replied to Vince having a different view on the matter. Leo was definitely not the kind of guy to date. The man was the kind to rumple the sheets and get a move on as soon as the woman was asleep. He didn’t feel bad about it, he made sure it was consensual, Leo just didn’t have the time nor the motivation to just get to know another person. He laughed at his friends reply, “Yeah, sure, you do that.” Leo nodded as he heard the other male, he vaguely noticed him listing all work related events but he wasn’t one to judge on that. “What was that last experiment about again? And me, nope nothing new. Worrying about the rascals, they’re feeling the pressure of school.” He said completely avoiding the fact that just the other day he received a call saying his mother’s condition has worsened.

[vince-sullivan]

“Must I remind you that I’m not exactly a good cook? Or is this your way of pleading me to buy you a pie?” Although he is cackling in his impish way– because teasing Leo is one of his favourite activities– he does make a small mental note to buy the man a pie. “I’d like to introduce my students to the fascinating world of toxicology and magicl poisons. You sure you don’t wanna try? I have one that gets you high like no drug as it gradually chokes your brain.”

[leoascendor-blog]

“This is my way to get you to buy me pie, mate.” Leo replied to Vince, pie was a food that was constantly on his mind and he tried to bring it out in every conversation so he would get lots of them. But he especially tried harder on Vince just for the fun of it all, they had a good relationship. “That’s interesting, good for you. And here I was trying to make it interesting in my class by dressing up as a gym teacher. You should teach some of that, since I know nothing of it. Why would I want a drug, where I got you do that for me?” He shot back to him his voice dripping with playfulness. 

[vince-sullivan]

Vince swings around with his brows knitted. “Please. That was a classic, ‘too terrible it’s hilarious’ joke. It’s adorkable and it totally works. I know what i’m doing.” He protests, leaning against the bar with an undefeated smirk. “Aw, are you gonna be my wingman, Leo?” He nudges his friend on the side teasingly. “I will try to remember that. But you know me, I’m disastrously forgetful.”

[leoascendor-blog]

He raised his eyebrows at him, a faint smirk playing at his lips, “Sure you do.” Taking a sip from the beer he was holding, Leo gave a chuckle at his friends suggestion, “Wasn’t I already? Way to crush a man’s dreams.” He shakes his head playfully, “Oh, I know. Anyway, what’s new with you?”

[vince-sullivan]

“What do you mean, like this?” Vince tilts his head to the side, smiling sheepishly. “D’aw, I love you too, mate. But you asked me if the material was for your pie– It’s recipes for poisons. I can’t make pie out of poison.” Then he pauses as if he was contemplating it. “Well, I can, of course, but I doubt you would like it.”

[leoascendor-blog]

Leo shakes his head disappointment lighting up his features, “I just want a pie, Vince. That’s all I want.” The furrowing up his eyebrows, “Poisons? Why are you dealing with poisons? Special class? And no, I don’t think I’d like that.”

[agnesbattle]

“Well, you’re thirty-five, right?” Agnes waited a beat before continuing, “I don’t know about you but thirty-five is old. You do realize that you’re essentially halfway to being seventy? I mean. That’s crazy old!” She was only teasing. Being a thirty year old herself, she was halfway to sixty, and that didn’t sound great either. “I suppose. Doesn’t hurt if it also tastes really good though,” she said dryly, leaning back, “You know, pretty good. The whole fending of manticores during the camping trip was a hoot. Had to drag Valerio into a cave after he got his back all sliced up. And you?”

[leoascendor-blog]

He raised his eyebrows at her comment feeling slightly offended at her comment, “I-I-I’m not...old, okay, I am experienced and wise. Hey, I’m-I’m wine, I get better with age. You can’t beat a thirty-five year old scotch, can you?” Leo hurriedly pointed out trying to get the conversation about his age to end as quickly as possible. “And hey, aren’t you just five years younger than I am?” He felt his eyes widen just a fraction. “The hell did I miss” He muttered, his eyebrows denting a crease in his forehead at the mention of what happened at the camping trip. At the time that happened he was visiting his mother for the last time, so he took some time for himself over the trip. “Well, I just got back from that trip and have no interesting tale to tell.”

[professorknightley-deactivated2]

Heath grunted around his mouthful of nougat and nuts, wadding it into one cheek so he could answer Leo. “I’m thinking you haven’t been going to the right strippers,” he said. “Sad state of affairs, Ascendor. I’m going to have to take you out to a decent place one of these nights so you can get your fill of hot wings, beer, and fae strip dancers.” He swallowed the lump of candy, grimacing.

[leoascendor-blog]

He chuckled nodding to what the other professor said feeling glad he was able to joke around with his coworkers. “Oh, just tell me when you’re free and I’ll meet you there. Dive in head first and everything.” Leonardo groaned at the mention of wings, knowing the grumbling in his stomach signified the doughnuts did nothing to satisfy his hunger. “I need to get something to eat. Something with fat and filled with calories before I pass out. You look like you’re enjoying that.” He added the last sentence smirking at the male.