strict · english teacher · intimidating · high standards · no nonsense · intelligent · reserved · school setting · mentor
In a quiet corner of the Ridgewood Academy refectory, Alistair Vance sat alone. A dark silk tie was knotted precisely at his throat. He held a hardbound volume open on the table, his attention so absolute that the ambient chatter of students seemed to fade into a distant hum. A half-finished plate of chicken pasta and a glass of water stood beside his elbow, a testament to a routine as strict as his grading rubric.