<span style="color: #0000FF"><span style="font-weight: bold">In the Carriage with Julien</span><br/></span><br/>"That is an optimistic presumption to make about a contract you haven't even seen," Julien replied "you really should know from<br/>the real world that despite what is written, one party will always go out of their way to make sure one is more 'equal' than the other. Why should I expect a couple of students to know that though? God forbid!" Behind her dark glasses and impassive expression, Sen continued to watch the man before them with her unusual sight as he answered her. For herself she was well-aware of the inequality of contracts, regardless what they might say. Indeed, many contracts were made for the sole purpose of obtaining the upper hand by subtle but legitmate means, however harsh the conditions of the contract might be for the less fortunate party- something she didn't doubt, based on her impressions and observations of Julien so far- that he knew full well, and had taken advantage of more times than she'd sat down to supper. She watched his aura as he turned out his hands, trying to gauge his reaction.<br/><br/>From the shifting of the colours of his aura, based on the guess that it was at least somewhat indicative of his dispostion the way other people's auras were, Sen believed the cogs of his capable mind were turning- at least, somewhat more than they had been before. He seemed amused with her answer, and even a little impressed- Sen wasn't entirely sure how she felt about that: On the one hand, it might be good that he was trying to take a measure of them, since it possibly meant he wasn't entirely certain just how much he could do, how far he could go with them yet. On the other, it might have been better if he believed he knew what they were capable of already, since it would've meant there was room for surprises later, and for him to under-estimate them. That said, what he might do if he took ill to underestimating a couple of students... Sen believed she didn't want to find out the answer to that question, or not yet. Her own sightless orbs widened behind her shades as, like Beau she caught a glimpse of what was possibly a third eye in the palm of one of Julien's hands.<br/><br/>If it was a third eye or not, his hand wasn't open enough to allow a full view, but if it was... there was a saying Sen had heard once back in her childhood, though where or when precisely eluded her at this moment. It went something along the lines of:<span style="font-style: italic">'Be repectful of those who cannot see, and wary of those who see too much'</span>. Sen didn't doubt for a second that, if Julien did indeed have a third eye, then he fitted the latter category in more ways than one. She focused her attention even more sharply on Julien as he picked up the rubix cube and spoke again.<br/><br/>"I'll tell you what," Julien announced, "just help me solve the Rubix cube and I'll make sure this experience never happened." he said with open eyes and a nurturing smile. He sighed when he noted neither Sen nor Beau made a move. Blank canvases before him. "Seriously... whoever solves it first and you both go. Did you want that in writing?" he said throwing the cube towards them; eager to see who'd catch it first.<br/><br/>Even as the cube left Julien's hand, something about his eager expression and the wording of his pronouncement occured to Sen. As the cube sailed through the air, she turned her face towards Beau and spoke her concern out. "Don't touch the cube," she said, the tone of warning evident in her voice, "if we acquiesce we make a verbal contract by virtue of doing so, and he hasn't told us everything. For instance," Sen intoned, turning her face back towards Julien as she continued, "he may have said<span style="font-style: italic">this </span>experience will never have happened- and I believe him- but he hasn't said what experience<span style="font-style: italic"> might</span>happen instead- and I don't doubt he could deliver one far worse. Secondly," she continued, "and far more importantly, he hasn't said what will happen- assuming we agree to his terms- if we<span style="font-style: italic">don't</span>solve it". Having said her piece Sen watched both Beau and Julien intently, to see what response both would have.