[ very backdated action/text ] ϟ [ 06 ]

[subjected]

[ Backdated hideously far, to shortly after this took place - very beginning of December or so. x_x; ]

I'm resigning.

- Farron

[ Those three words are all the warning Garden as a whole will be getting out of Claire for now, as notice that, as that short and cryptic little message says, she's gone to the headmaster, ditched her title of "instructor," and is now heading off to do other things in the world - away from this place and the people who reside in it.

No goodbyes or whatever else- just her name disappearing off the class rosters and her disappearing from the campus-- or so she'd like. In other words, unless someone happens to catch her actually leaving, somewhere between her room and the front gate. Despite the plainclothes quite unlike her usual wear, she's not particularly hard to miss, considering her large bag and two sheathed gunblades- a FF8-world and FF13-style one alike...

However, it's safe to say her demeanor is deathly and she definitely isn't making eye contact unless addressed. In fact, it's a lot like she's off in her own little world entirely, dodging around anyone else in the hallway without much more than a glance spared. ]

Comments

[subjected]

I've had enough.

[ That's both the short and the more information than is really necessary version, even if it doesn't really seem like it. The woman's brows seem to be trying to meet halfway over her pale eyes, and again it's almost as if she wants to look anywhere but at Maria.

After all, the explanation for her leaving probably doesn't even make sense to anyone but her anyway... especially when her reason for staying doesn't really hold up to the logic of most people, either.

She can't stay though- not any more if she's planning on keeping herself from exploding without warning. That's the core of it. ]

[gunbladegrrl]

[With that explanation and Claire's refusal to look at her... Maria immediately jumps to a wrong, self-centered conclusion. This was her fault. She'd pressed too hard, hadn't done well enough, had just... not been good enough. She'd irritated away the one Instructor she liked most.]

[Stupid, self-centered, wrong.]

[Still, that's why she practically staggers like she's been hit in the gut, her face draining of blood. She takes a deep breath, swallows, then forces herself to stand straight and salute again.]

I wish you the best, ma'am. It's been... an honor to have your instruction.

[subjected]

[ And naturally Claire's not privy to Maria's misinterpretation, although- ]

... Thank you.

[ And alongside the highly unusual, soft sadness in her voice, she means it, really, whether or not Maria catches the intent and sudden show of sincerity. For better or worse, Claire does consider being an instructor positive; if anything, that's her one regret here in leaving behind the act of residing at Garden. ]

[gunbladegrrl]

[There's not much more she can say. Both for lack of words and a lack of ability to get them out, because her throat has closed up entirely.]

[All she can do is hold that pose, that salute, to serve as something of an honor guard. A witness to her exit.]

[She wouldn't cry, though. Wouldn't let herself. She'll only let herself get mad, in time.]