Archive World of Darkness: The Academy - Chapter 6: The New Old Dalton

[Logic1]

Everett stood to the side of Swan as she spoke to Brahn. It seemed she was quite important in her home. They all shared the same look as they also shared the same revelation. They would come for her.

"We're her people", Everett spoke up his back straightened.

[Ravi FitzCoventry]

"Well," Ravi began, a little taken aback by the strange girl's second question as well as her fear. Regardless, he smiled with effortless charm: a predator on the prowl "My name is Ravi. And as to 'what' I am, the answer you're looking for is "fantastic"." He leaned against a haybale and tapped one finger against his smiling lips. "Or perhaps "elegant" if you fancy being restrained." He flashed the girl a rogue's grin, trying to make out more of her face to flesh out the imaginings her voice had sparked off.

"And who might you be?"

[Sylvia Dorn]

As thoughts about a reformed Relana settled in with the trio in the midst of an awkward silence, sandwiches were made and largely munched in silence.

After clearing the last of the peanut butter out of the way, Sylvia sighed and looked at the latest "guest". "Well," she finally said, "if Ahvia is to be here for a while, we'll need to make some preparation. Hooded sweatshirts are a good start, but I think that a nice head-scarf would be best. Your accent places you as a foreigner anyway, and can be mistaken for someone from a culture where a constant head covering is normal for females. It would allow for you to go out with escort, because realistically it isn't practical to keep you completely hidden away."

She looked to Lucia with a smile. "You've proven an excellent tutor and mentor to our new friend. We might have to look at using you in Dalton's mentorship program as an assistant instructor soon. Would you be willing to continue as her very careful guide to American culture? And perhaps help her work on an appropriate background story as an exchange student under private mentorship at this time?"

[SalmonMax]

It was with supreme effort of will that Renata didn't glance back at Frida's location just then. She was torn between her desire to try to talk more with Pritchard, and her keen awareness that Frida was watching. Her only real leverage with the witch was her relationship with the people hiding Swan. She had to play both sides for now, even if it meant passing up an opportunity.

She nodded at Ms Pritchard and jammed her hands in her pockets as she slouched off towards Lancaster. Once inside she flopped heavily into one of the puffy chairs in the student lounge on the first floor, to brood over an uncertain future.

[Dawn OOC]

Frida

There was a movement behind her, and she twisted to see one of the security guards. He was walking toward her, motioning for her to come toward him. Not seeing an alternative, she rose and walked toward him. “I need to see your student ID.”

“Of course,” Frida replied, digging it out of her purse.

The guard inspected it and handed it back. “You’re out after curfew,” he said, giving her a nice smile. “Let me walk you back to your dorm.” His smile was nice but even in the darkness, Frida could see that his eyes were pleasantly empty.

Sean, Ryan and Everett

“You are?” Brahn replied. “How… peculiar. That would, by all definitions make us enemies.” The room tensed but Brahn was continuing. “I know that you do not understand what you mean, though, so there is no animosity. And for now, the far more pressing issue is who took away your memories? Who would be so base as to steal you knowledge? Tell me, has there been anyone unusual around lately? Someone who has spoken oddly to you?”

There was a silence in which the three had the same thought. Ryan, as always, gave it voice. “You mean… like you?”

Brahn looked exasperated. “I mean other than myself.”

Ravi

“I’m… I am named Bren,” she said, thought Ravi couldn’t know that it was actually spelt Brihn. As he mused over a girl having what sounded like the shortened version of Brendon, she rose. “I did not think anyone would come here. I will leave now, leave you in peace.”

She was afraid and nervous. The man in him began to figure how to calm her and gain her confidence. The beast in him began to salivate – figuratively, for now.

Renata

As she slouched in the chair, Renata noticed that Sylvia’s light was on under her door. It was well past time for the teacher and dorm mother to be in bed. The young woman wondered what she was up to in there.

[Ravi FitzCoventry]

"No need to rush on my account." Ravi said smoothly, his voice a soothing purr as he raised both of his hands in a placatory gesture. "I only came up here because I heard you. I was wandering around feeling a little alone and thought that up here was someone else in need of company."

He sat on the haybale he was propped against, a sympathetic light in his gorgeous green-gold eyes.

"It seems we're both a long way from home here." He fixed his gaze on 'Bren', a warm smile curving his lips. "Of course, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong in your case. Either way, sometimes it's nice to have someone to talk with." He patted the haybale beside him.

"Want to talk?"

Click to reveal..

Ravi being reassuringly charming at the poor, lost little lamb.

Presence 4 + Persuasion 3 + Striking Looks 2 - 1 for Predator's Bearing = 8 dice.

1d10=3, 1d10=8, 1d10=10, 1d10=3, 1d10=2, 1d10=2, 1d10=7, 1d10=5

2 succs

Poppin' 10's

1d10=5

2 succs total

[Frida Ricci]

Frida swallowed her fear upon seeing the guard's empty-looking eyes, and nodded at him as he began to lead her away. Unsure as to whether he would be taking her to Mrs. Pritchard, or whether she would be recognized as one of the people from the library if she was seen, the young artist's mind began to race with different ideas. As he began to lead her away, she very casually flipped out her cell phone, tapping the "message" button on the touch screen.

"Sry cn't mk it 2 prty. Sec gard cght me in prk lot out aft crfw. Taking me bk 2 Lncstr. C u L8r?"

Of course, she didn't know if Ravi would get the clue for sure or not. He seemed quick enough, but she couldn't be sure. However, his was the only phone number of any of the students involved in this craziness that she actually had - in fact, now that she thought about it, it was probably the only other student's number she had, period. Except for that nervous boy from her History class last year. They'd worked on a project together, and had traded phone numbers then. He always showed up with his work done, but he hadn't been much of a "team player" kind of person.. very skittish whenever they had to coordinate anything. Too bad.. he was quite bright, really... LATER, Frida. But at least a couple things were certain. There was no party.. Ravi had headed back upstairs as soon as they got back, leaving Frida and Renata in the very parking lot she was claiming to be in now.. they had no plans to meet later.. and Frida had NEVER abbreviated in any previous texting they'd done since getting to know each other. Her texting was always very grammatically precise.

[Tatiana di Jadzian]

"Anyone usual?" Sean repeated uncertainly, giving the others a questioning look. "Not really... Well, I guess, maybe that bitch, Ms. Pritchard. She seemed to want Swan pretty bad and Renata claimed she had goons made from twigs and stuff." His dark brows lowered thinking back to the confrontation with the severe administrator. "She mentioned something about Amazons or something too, I think."

Sean took a step forward and crossed his arms, partially obscuring Swan's body with his own. His jaw was tight as he held his stormy eyes steady on Brahn. "Relana may have been your enemy. Swan isn't. Unless you make her one. And if you do, she won't be the only one you make."

[Ryan Jackson]

Originally Posted By: Dawn, OOC

“Tell me, has there been anyone unusual around lately? Someone who has spoken oddly to you?”

There was a silence in which the three had the same thought. Ryan, as always, gave it voice. “You mean… like you?”

Brahn looked exasperated. “I mean other than myself.”

Ryan smirked and then echoed Sean, "Yeah, Pritchard. Though really given how all of us have been acting and reacting and behaving I don't really know what odd even means anymore. I mean you walked outta a fuckin' shadow like it was nothing at all. Is that any odder than the fact that I ran blind through the woods at top speed and didn't trip, fall, or stumble once because I can fucking sense where everything around me is?"

[z022]

Lucia nodded, "Sure, although we'll have to find some way to explain my absence for the past...week, you said?" She thought for a moment and regarded Sylvia, "Would you be willing to take us into to town tomorrow so we can pick up the necessary clothing? I have a few scarves in my wardrobe, but they're not really appropriate...or opaque enough."

Lucia ate her food with efficient if still graceful movements, thinking over what she'd learned since coming back and what exactly she planned on doing now. Obviously things were afoot at the school and someone was trying to keep this all so hush-hush they'd been messing with people's minds. It had been an adventure before, surreal and interesting, but now it was taking on much darker tones. She wondered if she should worry that that didn't worry her more.

[Logic1]

As the others mentioned Pritchard Everett nodded in agreement. "Yeah, one of our people said she did what amounted to magic. Created golems or something. And Sean's right as I told you", he said and jerked a thumb toward Sean.

Everett stepped in front of Swan fully obscuring her. "There's a lot of weird shit going on and it looks like you've got the answers. We need to talk...and Swan needs rest. If she wants you can talk to her when she feels up to it until then, we have questions." Ev did his best to sound diplomatic.

[SalmonMax]

Renata frowned. Sylvia Dorn again. Seemed like whatever was going on around here, the professor was in it hip-deep. With a sudden decision, Renata got up out of the chair and went over to Professor Dorn's door. Carefully, she then set her head against the painted wood, pressing her ear up to it so as to hear what was going on inside.

[Sylvia Dorn]

Sylvia smiled again; as she'd hoped, the student council president was right on top of the requested responsibility.

"I think we can manage that," she said. "It's late now though, and you should probably try to reset your sleep cycles. I've some chamomile tea if you need, but it's better if you can manage to sleep on your own. Let's figure heading into town around ten or so; we'll beat the midday crowd, anyway."

[Ravi FitzCoventry]

The strange girl seemed reluctant. Ravi sighed to himself: some people were intriguingly difficult to pursue. Of course, that was only a few steps away from tiresomely difficult to pursue. He pursed his lips as he regarded the girl, then smiled and started to speak when a soft chime sounded in the dim hayloft. The girl jumped and retreated further into the gloom as Ravi reached for his pocket.

"Relax. It's just my phone." he told her with a faint smile. "It's a damned nuisance some of the time, but the modern age being what.. it... is...." His voice trailed off as he glanced down at the lit screen.

Originally Posted By: Frida (4 Stars: Interesting + red-hot. Date again)

"Sry cn't mk it 2 prty. Sec gard cght me in prk lot out aft crfw. Taking me bk 2 Lncstr. C u L8r?"

"Hmmm..." The change in the young nobleman's demeanour was quite telling. His playful persona slipped as he stared intently at the text of Frida's message, green eyes narrowing with predatory focus. He slipped his phone back into his pocket and stood gracefully. 'Bren' watched him carefully from the gloom.

"I'm terribly sorry." Ravi began as he stepped towards the ladder. "It appears a friend of mine needs a knight-errant. And, as the most errant of the local knights, it falls to me to take up the duty." He gave the girl a bow from the edge of the hatch. "Another time, mademoiselle."

With that, Ravi grabbed the ladder and slid down out of the hayloft. He dimly regretted having to run out on an intriguing hunt, but there was an equally intriguing friend who might be in danger of more than a demerit for breaking curfew.

Let's see. She was caught in the parking lot and the guard's supposedly taking her to Lancaster... Ravi broke into a steady loping run, heading for the parking lot and keeping his eyes peeled in the gathering dusk. As he ran, his brain threw up a random thought.

At least this isn't boring.

[Dawn OOC]

Ravi and Frida

This hadn’t been the best night for the young man. All the strangeness, only to have his relaxing conquest for the night interrupted by a lady in distress. Still, there were worse things a man could do with an evening, especially when faced with a distress call from a lady such as Frida. And there was a chance for grateful remunerations after he’d saved her.

He was behind the two, just close enough to hear them in the dark. The security guard was steering Frida right for Pritchard. The woman turned and spotted them, a pinched look crossing her face. “Frida Ricci. Where are your companions? Hiding away more dangerous enemies?” Her scowl became a smirk. “But now I have you out after curfew. How… delightful.”

Everett, Ryan and Sean

Brahn stared at them, listening to their passionate declarations of Swan’s good nature. He nodded to himself, his strange eyes thoughtful. “Then so it shall be,” he said softly. “Can you tell me where to find this Pritchard? If she is not who I seek, perhaps she can point me to the correct person.

“But before that,” he said easily, sitting down on a chair, “I am sure you all have questions. Ask, I’ll answer what I can.”

Click to reveal..

Renata, I need a Wits+Composure roll to see if you hear any conversation inside.

[Ravi FitzCoventry]

Something breathed in the back of Ravi's mind as he saw Frida and Pritchard's stooge heading towards the pinch-faced woman, unaware of his presence in the gloom behind them. His walk slowed, his weight coming down carefully on the balls of his feet as he drifted through the darkness towards the guard's unprotected, vulnerable back. Had he been conscious of it, he might have wondered at the instinctual sense of rightness he felt at that moment, slipping up behind an unaware (prey) man with hostile intent. The guard and Pritchard were keeping from Ravi something that his bestial side felt a certain entitlement to. What their intentions were did not matter, nor did the moral questions involved. He simply felt satisfaction at how easy it seemed, how fulfilling it would be. A savage exultation stirred in his breast as the noble's heir dug the toes of his shoes into the ground and half-crouched, ready to leap on the man's back, to bear him to the ground and (tear the life from him) give himself and Frida a chance to run.

Click to reveal..

1d10=9, 1d10=4, 1d10=5, 1d10=3, 1d10=6, 1d10=8

2 succs to stealth.

Letting people have some talky-time before tis time to POUNCE!

[Tatiana di Jadzian]

Sean looked at Brahn, his tense posture easing as the weird grey skinned guy didn't seem inclined to violence, despite his earlier declaration of enemies. Brahn sitting down, seemingly willing to answer their questions, Sean relaxed. He had a lot of questions, most of which he didn't even know to ask, but he had to start somewhere.

"Uh... where did you and Swan come from, how do get there or get here - someone mentioned something about a Door? - and what is this Harvest thing?" Sean said in a mild rush. "And is being chosen number one for it bad?"

[Frida Ricci]

Frida gazed at the woman, her gaze utterly passive and expressionless. Ms. Pritchard had expected either fear or bravado from a teenage girl - that was the normal response to being intimidated by an authority figure, after all. But as someone not part of the immediate staff of Dalton, someone who didn't deal with the students, she wasn't used to the young artist's oddities, and Frida was doing her best to play them up, keeping the other woman's gaze for longer than even she normally would. After an unnaturally and somewhat unnervingly long moment of silence, during which Frida gazed intently at the woman without glancing away (or even blinking, really), she tilted her head and shrugged slightly.

Click to reveal..

Intimidation roll for Frida playing up her creepiness: 6d10 → [4,5,4,3,3,10] = 1 suxx

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2600604/

Poppin' the 10: 1d10 → [5] = 0 suxx, Blargh.

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2600614/

Total Suxx: 1

"Not to my knowledge, Mrs. Pritchard. The last I saw them, it was only the one. But perhaps you can help us understand your concerns. I recall you mentioning that the person with us had killed someone. As I'm sure you're well aware, many people have experienced some sort of illness.. something that has done unpleasant things to our memories. Who was it that she killed? Is this something that's been proven, and can you tell me about the circumstances? Perhaps if you could help me understand why this girl is a threat, or tell me anything you know about why we're all so confused, I could relay your message, help everyone understand the situation. A little bit of understanding might help clear this whole miscommunication up, don't you think?"

[Logic1]

There it was again...doors. Perhaps this Brahn character would be able to explain his new found aversion to doors. "Why has your war spilled over into our world? What does it have to do with us?"

Everett looked to Swan. "You want to go lay back down while we handle this?"

[Ryan Jackson]

"OK. Yeah. For starters what's with the numbers? And the freaky shit with my head huh? It's not normal for people like us to suddenly have radar or whatever the heck it is. And why are you helping us? What's in it for you I mean?" Ryan paused as though waiting for Brahn to answer. As the other man opened his mouth to begin Ryan blurted out, "Oh and how'd you get here? And what's with the shadowy thing?"

[Dawn OOC]

Frida and Ravi

Mrs. Pritchard stared at Frida for a long moment. “She has killed security guards, but her people have killed more,” she said. “Her people are very dangerous, too dangerous for a group of children to handle. But you couldn’t leave it alone, could you?” The woman seemed to be musing more than anything else as she continued. “Last time, when we said ‘leave it to us’ most of the children did. And certainly none of the faculty stood against us.

“I mean this sincerely and for your own safety, Ms. Ricci – leave it to us. We are here to protect you from things you have no knowledge of or ability to fight.” While still stern, Frida could sense her earnestness. “Allow me to fix this, and you can go back to your room.”

The woman reached for Frida. Ravi didn’t know what she was going do, but he suddenly knew he didn’t want her to do it.

Ryan, Sean and Everett

Swan shook her head at Everett. “Thank you, but I think I need this information.”

Brahn sighed, looking frustrated. “The Caramine are seeking victims for their Harvest. If you are numbered, then you are selected to be taken for the Harvest.” Seeing the looks on their faces, he added, “The Harvest is a tribute to the Caramine. Their superior army and numbers have allowed them to dictate to others and claim the Harvest as they wish. A few have stood up to them; my own people and the Chiderans, namely. The cost of that defiance has been paid in the lives of both our peoples. My sister and I had come to aid Dalton in fighting against the Caramine.”

He glanced at Ryan. “It seems that your powers are starting to manifest. This is the reason my sister and I have revealed ourselves to you,” he said, his voice heated with emotion. “We believed that such manifestations would occur, and that those so touched would be the ones who could stop the Caramine. Not just stop the Harvest, but stop them forever. I am here to help and to guide, as much as I am able. What you have seen me do are some of the abilities I will yield as your ally. These are the skills inherent to a practitioner among my people. You will each have your own talents.”

[Ravi FitzCoventry]

...muscles coiled under velvet skin, fingers clenched into claws. He could see the old creature's face as she reached for the girl and Ravi's heart soared with savage satisfaction. None of them knew he was there, they wouldn't be expecting him to strike. They would be easy prey.

In a calmer moment Ravi might have been amazed at his savagery, but something about the old woman and the implied threat of her touching Frida had triggered some deep chord within the aristocrat, something primal that wanted to beat down those that would challenge it. With a silent snarl and acting on instinct more than thought Ravi sprang forward, aiming his whole body at a spot between the guard's shoulders.

Click to reveal..

Surprise attack = No Defense.

Str & Brawl = 6 dice. Spending a WP for 3 extra dice.

1d10=4, 1d10=1, 1d10=2, 1d10=9, 1d10=2, 1d10=8, 1d10=8, 1d10=8, 1d10=3

4 succs

= 4 Bashing

It was a body-block worthy of a star footballer. Ravi's shoulder slammed into the guard's back and sent him hurtling forwards into Pritchard. The youth twisted in the air, somehow getting his feet under him before hitting the ground so that he landed in a crouch beside his downed prey. His face half-turned to Frida, shrouded by gloom and the blue-black of his hair as he spoke, his voice as menacing as his manner.

"Frida. Go. Find Dorn." His green-gold eyes flashed as they looked back to the tangled pair on the ground. "You two. Stay down."

Click to reveal..

Can make a Presence & Intim roll if required, Madame Carver

[SalmonMax]

(OOC - Holy cow...I've been waiting all this time to see what I hear through the door, and I never read that little 'spoiler block' message until now. Maybe in the future you could put a little thing saying 'Renata' in front of secret messages to me, or PM them too or something? )

Wits 4 + Composure 3 = 7 dice

Result: 10, 2, 6, 8, 4, 2, 1

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2612609/

10 pop: 8

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2612611/

Successes: 3

[Tatiana di Jadzian]

"Got it, Harvest, bad," Sean grunted, thinking - Powers? - while glancing at Ryan. "Guess it's in our best interest to stop them, then. Only, how are us few supposed to stop an army? That might work in the movies, but not in the real-life." Though considering what seems to be going on, what's the 'real' world anymore?

The broad-shouldered jock cocked his head, arms crossed, thinking silently, trying to piece what he had heard together. Something occurred to him. "Wait. You said the Door - whatever it is - was closed for a week. Then before that, it must've been open, right? So why are these Caramine people coming here, now? If we hadn't known about the Caramines before, why would they come after us? They just randomly found us or something?"

[Frida Ricci]

As Pritchard reached for her, Frida could feel that tingle through her spine, that feeling you get when you know someone in an alley in Paris is sizing you up for mugging, or that you get right before you hit a patch of black ice on a narrow road. She took a step back, jerking away from the other woman even though she seemed well intentioned.

Suddenly, Ravi burst out of the woods, tackling the guard and managing to take Pritchard down with him.

Originally Posted By: Ravi FitzCoventry

"Frida. Go. Find Dorn."

She hesitated only a brief moment before she nodded, and darted off towards Lancaster, wishing briefly that she'd managed to acquire Ms. Dorn's number as well.

[Ryan Jackson]

"Powers? What the hell man, we don't have 'powers'" Ryan made little quote mark gestures as he said the word. "Why do I have 'powers'? Is this because of the Caramels? Did they do this? Or did you do this? What about them?" he asked continuing as he pointed to Sean and Everett, "Are they going to go all freak too?

"Oh, and how many of us were chosen to be harvests? I'm number eight so I'm guessing at least eight of us, but do you know how many?"

[Dawn OOC]

Ravi and Frida

As Frida bolted away from the three there, Ms. Pritchard struggled to get out from under her security guard. “Young man!” she all but screamed as she came to her feet, “what are you-”

As her eyes locked onto Ravi’s green ones, she stopped. “My god,” she whispered, her eyes going wide, “what did they do to you?”

Renata

Renata didn’t hear much, but she heard one thing clearly: Lucia talking about covering up her absence for the last week. That was followed by her and Sylvia talking about shopping tomorrow, of all things. Shouldn’t the teacher be reporting Lucia’s appearance rather than working to cover it up?

Ryan, Everett and Sean

Brahn dropped his face into his hands. “Dear Kikilos, you have forgotten all of it?” He lifted his head to regard them again. “There are twelve to be taken. The Caramine have done this before, and Dalton bought a truce with them to hold off the Harvest until this year. You are developing powers, all of you, some by your birth and some by some other trigger. Regardless, you are all finding yourself, or will find yourselves, capable of things you weren’t before.” He paused before adding, “Did that cover all the questions?”

[SalmonMax]

Lucia! The name was like a key, and what it unlocked was a corner of her head she hadn't even known was there. She didn't remember specifics...the memories were confused and metaphoric. Bones and ravens and her face, with its dazzling smile, only turned pensive and afraid, but resolute. Conflicting emotions, at once feeling that she was a threat, a compatriot, a friend.

What was Dorn UP to? First this strange girl, then Pritch the Witch, and now it turned out Lucia had been hidden away all along?!

Had she been calmer, more collected, Renata might have decided to play it cool, shrink back and see what happened next. But she wasn't calm, nor collected. She was confused and angry at just about everything and everyone. So instead of going back to listening, she grabbed the doorknob and wrenched the wretched wooden thing open!

[Ravi FitzCoventry]

Originally Posted By: Dawn, OOC

As her eyes locked onto Ravi's green ones, she stopped. "My god," she whispered, her eyes going wide, "what did they do to you?"

Still in a menacing crouch Ravi glared at the old woman, thought and instinct warring within him. Cultural mores dictated that he not offer Pritchard any further violence. She was an old woman and to actually strike out at someone like her was taboo. Rational thought told him to go, to follow Frida and seek safety in numbers. Curiousity made him wonder what Pritchard was seeing in his eyes that made her blanch.

All of these were secondary to the main impulses coursing through his veins, though. Pritchard was alone, helpless, an enemy. There had been a definite threatening air to her and she had sicced her guards on them in the library. He rose, uncoiling from his crouch and taking a step towards her, feeling something walking in step with him, as though a familiar stranger were sharing his skin.

"I told you to stay down." His voice was deeper, holding a husky tone that rumbled in Pritchard's ears. His eyes bored into hers as he felt his lips drawing back from his teeth. His blood was boiling, his skin felt too tight. He could practically taste Pritchard's fear on the night air, breathing it in through his mouth and nostrils.

It tasted good.

"Run." he told her, one side of him wanting her to get away from him and the other wanting to chase down prey, to drag the old feeble woman down and... No!

"RUN!" he yelled/roared this time, the voice somewhere between human and something Other... and somewhere between a plea and a challenge.

[z022]

Lucia started as the door was thrown open, moving with surprising speed to put herself between Ahvia and whomever was invading Sylvia's office. Her tensed shoulders relaxed and a relieved sigh escaped her as she made out Renata features.

"Renata." She put a hand to her chest, but smiled at the other girl, "You gave me such a fright; come in, please." She moved aside, making room for the other girl in the quickly crowding room. Lucia glanced at Sylvia, asking quietly, "I take it she doesn't remember either?"

[Tatiana di Jadzian]

Sean shifted his feet then shrugged his thick shoulders. He gave Ryan a dark look, then glanced at Everett and himself, jaw tightening. What the Hell is gonna happen to us? 'Powers' he said... like what, a superhero? He ran a hand through his raven hair then straightened his shoulders in resolve. It was looking bad, but when you're down six with a minute left in the fourth, fourth down and fifty to go, you went for long.

"Right, well, I guess that answers the questions we have for now, except for how the fuck we're actually supposed to stop these guys," Sean said. He turned to the others, including Swan. "We have to go back to Dalton and tell the others all this. And I want to see if I can find Vanessa and my sisters, make sure they're okay. Only thing that makes sense is if they went through this 'Door' too. But I'm beat and the sword exploding didn't help any either. What say we crash for a few hours then head back early, eh?"

The muscular young man focused on Swan, placing his strong hands on her shoulders, stormy eyes deep and earnest. "I don't want to make you go back there if you don't want, especially if it can be dangerous for you. If you like, Swan, you can stay here and I'll buy up some supplies and stuff to carry you through for a week or more, I should have enough savings left for that at least. Don't know if you'll be any safer, Brahn here seemed to find us pretty quick and can bamf like Nightcrawler or something, but the choice is yours."

[Sylvia Dorn]

"I take it she doesn't remember either?"

Sylvia's momentary start - accompanied, as with Lucia, by a leap from her chair and an effort to place herself between her charges and a potential threat - settled out quickly enough when she that source of the sudden invasion. With a sigh, she said, "No, Miss Hodges has been as confused as the rest of use through these past few days. Though it would seem," she added, with a raised eyebrow and the bare hint of a smile aimed with deadly accuracy at Renata, "that she is rather determined upon an education."

Gesturing at another chair, the House Mother said, "You may as well take a seat, Miss Hodges. Your student body president has returned, and has done so with an addition to our little band of conspirators. This," she said by way of introduction and a tilt of the head toward the feathered visitor, "is Ahvia, who is very much not from around here and who shall be our confidential guest for the time being. Ahvia, this is Miss Renata Hodges, another of my students and a repository of no shortage of well-aimed curiosity."

[SalmonMax]

Just seeing Lucia's face again was enough to dumbfound Renata. She wasn't sure if she wanted to run over and hug the other girl, or if she wanted to burst into some incoherent rant...but before she could do either, Ahvia was introduced.

"Ahvia? What kind of a name is that?" She looked over at the newcomer and squinted. Were those feathers? Like some kind of an Indian hat thingy? She gave the Indian a curt nod then looked back at Lucia.

"Look, I've been remembering a little more. I don't remember exactly...what happened, but I know that when I look at you, I feel guilty. So whatever I did, I'm sorry. I guess that sounds pretty hollow, but I've had a witch or something fucking around in my head, so...it's the best I got for now." She turned away and rubbed her forehead. "We tried to find you," Renata said without thinking about it. "You weren't there."

[z022]

Lucia put a hand on Renata's shoulder, squeezing it gently, "It's okay. You didn't come with me, and then you all forgot for some reason...this witch maybe?"

She shrugged and smiled slightly at the other girl, "It's probably just as well, anyways. I had the wrong key. I think someone's been padding the feathers of the stuffed animals in the Science Building with other feathers. That or my blood doesn't count as blood. So I ended up on the wrong world. Even if you guys had come after me, we'd've been in different places, unless you guys got a different feather as well." She shifted her eyes over to Ahvia, smiling a bit wider. "As it is, I've made a new friend and it seems like we got back here just in time to help out."

She sat back down, tilting her head at Renata with a curious expression. "What can you tell me about this witch that's been messing with your head? Do you know if she's human? Or if she's from another world beyond the Door?"

[Frida Ricci]

It seemed to Sylvia as if the strangeness of the night would never end at this point.. as if no matter how many situations she tried to deal with, another would spring up in it's place to make the night stretch on into eternity. That was the brief though that flickered through her mind as Lucia and Renata's discussion was interrupted by the staccato sound of shoes hitting the wooden hall of the floor at a running pace. They all sat up straighter, and a moment later they heard words that started just before there were several sharp raps at the door.

"Oh, do let her be here... Ms. Dorn? It's Frida. I need your help. It's Mrs. Pritchard again. "

She sounded out of breath, as if she'd run across at least half the campus.. and Sylvia had never known Frida Ricci to run, other than a steady jog during gym class. Of course, she'd never met someone with black irises or known anyone to turn into lawn refuse at the wave of a hand, either.. but tonight was full of interesting surprises.

[Sylvia Dorn]

At the sudden knocking, Sylvia swiveled back toward the door, the barest sign of a defensive stance hinted at in her posture. Then the voice followed the raps, and she relaxed just a touch.

This, she pondered in her increasingly sleep-deprived mind, is the night that never ends.

"It's alright," she said quickly in a low tone to those in the room, "she's caught with the rest of us in whatever this all is."

A few quick steps brought the educator to the door, and she opened it just as quickly. "Come in, Miss Ricci," Sylvia said unnecessarily, as the girl hurried into the room, and shut the door quickly behind.

[SalmonMax]

"Door...no she's human," Renata replied to Lucia, a little confused. "At least, I assume..."

At that point Frida arrived, and Ren pointed at her, nodding. "Pritchard, that's her name. She has her goons searching the campus for that girl you guys hid. They're going to start searching dorms even, once they're done with everything else."

[Frida Ricci]

She let Sylvia close the door behind her, but didn't really make it further into the room than a step past the door. Though she had just gotten here, she looked as if she were already itching to flee again.

"I got caught spying on Mrs. Pritchard from behind one of the vehicles in the parking lot, Miss Dorn. I didn't want her to see me, but she came along before I had made it back to the dormitories. She had her security guard bring me around to her, so I sent a text message to Ravi quickly in case she tried anything dangerous."

She faltered for a moment there, aware that the familiar-sounding use of the young aristocrat's name and the fact that she had thought to call on him - or had the ability to do so, implying that she had his phone number - was out of character for her, and obviously so to anyone who knew her. Frida was used to having to manage things on her own, and rarely asked for assistance.. but it was only a brief thought, and she didn't let herself get caught up in any sort of worry about rumors or gossip. Frida had never cared much what other people thought of her, and she wasn't going to start now. Especially since the person she'd asked for help might be in trouble himself for coming to her aid - her mind kept flickering back to what Renata had described Pritchard being able to do to the guards, and wondering what else she might be capable of.

"She started talking to me, saying all sorts of things that only sort of made sense. I can tell you later, but.. I thought she was going to do something to me. I don't know what. She said she'd 'fix this', and started reaching for me, but Ravi tackled her. He must have been watching. They're down there now - he sent me to get you."

The words were a well-articulated but swift outpouring, Frida's clipped British accent gaining a bit more dominance as her words became rushed. The combination of quickness and actual fear in the normally aloof girl's voice was enough to gain anyone's attention who was accustomed to her typical demeanor.

[Ryan Jackson]

"I doubt I could sleep but I'm sure as hell not going back there right now. So, yeah, we crash here." Ryan moved towards the kitchen, appeared to think better on it and then looked around, "So, umm ... you got a spare bed or something?" He was looking at Sean and as he did a huge yawn crept out of him. "Hmm. Well I guess maybe I will sleep."

[Tatiana di Jadzian]

Sean gave Ryan an understanding smirk. He was wired, but exhausted and sore too. "I got the couch here, I suppose, a hide-a-bed downstairs in the den, and two guest-rooms upstairs." Sean's grin twisted wryly. "There's also three other rooms, if you don't mind that they're girls' rooms."

Everett spoke up, claiming one of the guest-rooms, while Jason, who had been silent most of the night, musing on a book he barely remembered, written in a language he couldn't read, decided on the den. He'd been in the army and could sleep anywhere. "Guess you have a guest-room then, Ryan." Sean went and got some blankets and pillows for Jason, then showed the other boys the guest-rooms.

That done, he helped Swan up the stairs with an arm around her waist, and led her towards one of his sister's rooms, resigned to taking the other for himself. At least neither of my sisters are all that girly, insisting on ruffles and lace and pink everywhere. Though Savannah did have her unicorn phase. They all needed sleep, but he didn't think it would make everything clearer in the morning.