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Big Eyes, Small Mouth (BESM): Monster Academy - Chapter 5: Festival


Justin OOC

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"Darrik-Sempai, Marius-San," Yuuki volunteered with a slight bow of her head before gesturing at her kinswoman with a further quick bow, "This is Chihaya-Sama, Elder of the Hina Clan. I hope you are enjoying the festivel as much as we are."

There was a quick look of 'we need to talk' on the young dryad's face directed at Darrik, gone almost as quick as it appeared, "Will your honored Grandfather be staying to watch the play? I have found your take on a Florin secret agent to be most entertaining."

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Marius bowed, "It is a profound pleasure to meet two members of the Hina clan. Long have stories been told of your beauty, they have failed to do it justice." He smiled. "A play? oh yes I helped with the Theater club in my tenure here, before it grew, I've long held season tickets, though I've not gone in some time."

He smiled. "What is this year's production?

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Delilah grinned in the face of Coach Thudoski's suspicious gaze. Sure, most of the time when she brought a new girl to her it was to give her a chance to join the Cheerleading Team, but she had just met Katrina, like, two minutes ago. Gotta see if they were compatible, right? Otherwise, the fengu shui of the team couple be totally thrown off.

"Oh man, I almost forgot, the festival has a Bazaar, right? I've always wanted to see one of those! Wanna head over there, Deliliah?"

"Sure!" Delilah chirped brightly, giving the attractive Troll woman an energetic wave - which caused a series of enticing, sympathetic oscillations throughout her curvaceous body. "Later Coach, see you at practice."

The succubus grabbed Katrina's hand and began leading her with strutting briskness towards the Bazaar. Katrina having never seen someone showcase so much unconsciously extraneous movement from merely walking. Chatting animatedly and gesturing wildly for extra emphasis, Delilah only got them lost once, though she might have been distracted by a pair of pretty rears. "The Bazaar... it's not New York or Paris or Hong Kong or Tokyo, but it's pretty sweet. Has all sorts of stuff from the Monster World, and some funny stuff of what Yokai think things in the Human World is like. You'll see, just warning though, some of the Monster stuff, it's kinda grotty"

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Marius nodded. "Well that will be interesting I suppose."

Chihaya nodded. "You are A wizard I'f I'm not mistaken."

He smiled. "Yes, I am, though I assure you, today I am simply a proud grandfather, visiting my grandson."

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For Katrina and Delilah, it was easy to find the others, due to Delilah's link to Kyohei, if she chose to go there.

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Lumah allowed herself to be shown across the campus' grounds, marvelling at the people hustling and bustling, preparing for the many activities. Somehow, seeing so many people gathered hit a strange nerve, having had little dealings with others for most of her existence. It felt...rather warm and comfortable inside.

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Behind Eri, the world grew colder, but not freezing. A woman of stunning stark beauty, like the Frozen fields of the Arctic, was walking up the path. She reached Eri and smiled. "Hello, Erylinn. I see your mouth still insists on spweing such vulagrity."

"Only when necessary mother, I did not expect you so soon." She bowed low in reverence, "I would show you around if you would like, I have not seen much though..." She trailed off watching another student walk by, who was quite attractive, and Miss Nekomone.

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He found himself in a nearly empty theater, with only Serena on stage. She looked up, seeing him at the back and smiled. "Good morning, Kurosoroshiimaru. I trust everything is alright?"

"Serena." the Beast-Prince said by way of greeting as he approached the stage, his grace sufficient to make even the cursory head-nod he awarded her seem like a high accolade (which it was, as Serena well knew. Kurosoroshiimaru must be in a good mood.) He gave every appearance of gravely considering her courteous question before shrugging one shoulder. "I would imagine not, but your interest is noted. Delilah, at least, has been here." The faintest twitch of one fine black eyebrow as the glittering eyes regarded Serena almost made the demon princess blush as she remembered the succubus's... conversation. Facing the cool elegance of the hengeyokai prince's knowing gaze was hard, but Serena Aida merely smiled and lifted her chin a little.

"Indeed. She left with a new student in tow. One of yours, I believe." she said obliquely, alluding to Katrina's race. She wondered if the haughty Kurosoroshiimaru would be offended at a nekojin being called one of 'his'. It was hard to figure out exactly where all the boy's buttons were.

"So it would seem." Kuromaru's calm mien was a still pool with nary a ripple. He glanced around once more, perfect lips parting in a faint sigh as he sat down in the front row of the seats. "And no others from the Newspaper Club. We were to meet here - one supposes I am expected to wait." He draped his arms along the seat-backs and settled in with poised patience.

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Shizuka stopped, looking to the two Snow Maidens and smiling. Erilynn, Good morning. Have you been enjoying things so far? " Shizuka wore the small pin on her collar indicating she was a member of the Academy faculty. She nodded to Lumah. "I was just showing Lumah around. She just transferred to the Academy this morning."

She shook her head, bowing to eri's mother. "Forgive me, I am Shizuka Nekonome, One of the teachers hear at the academy, It's a pleasure to meet you."

The elder snow maiden smiled. "I am Ayumi Kisaragai, Erilynn is my daughter. It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Miss Nekomone." She looked to Lumah. "I just had erilynn transferred in as well, perhaps you'll be in the same class."

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Serena looked at Kuro and nodded. "Well I told Delilah and Katrina to go ahead and go enjoy the festival while they could, before the final preparations for the performance. It took minimal prompting for them to go."

She smiled. "Patience is a virtue all who rule should cultivate. So much can happen when one moves in haste. I won't be going this year, I let the others go this time, they've all worked so hard to make this happen, they deserve to have fun too."

She nodded. "Did you encounter some trouble last night?"

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It was then that A pair of stunning females came up behind Marius and Darrik, The younger wrapped her arms around Darrik, and Jezebel's voice practically purred in his ear. "There you are. I've been looking for you. I wanted you to meet my mother."

The Elder Succubi hid her surprise at seeing Marius and smiled. "I should have known."

She nodded. "Good to see you again, Dr. Marius. This is my Daughter, Jezebel."

"You always did have a penchant for biblical names, Sarah." The Elder succubus smiled, looking at Kyohei, Chihaya, and and Yuuki. "It's nice to meet the three of you as well, I am Sarah Roth." She was beautiful like all succubi, but more lean and balanced than the more fully proportioned Lilith and Delilah they were used to seeing.

Chihaya smiled. "Nice to meet you, Sarah, I am Chihaya Hina."

"I'm Kyohei Sokatsu, nice to make your acquaintance ma'am."

Sarah looked to Darrik "You must be the young man my daughter's smitten with. Be good to her, I know your grandfather." She gave him a mischievous look that only Succubi can do, and even the other elder yokai smiled.

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For Aria, as she reformed, she felt a familar presence, Her mother, Suzume stood there. How she'd gotten there was a mystery, Araia'd never felt her, seen her or smelled her. "You're spreading too far Aria, you always did."

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Lumah bowed when Shizuka mentioned her. When miss Kisaragi addressed her, she smiled energetically.

"A pleasure to meet you as well, lady Kisaragi. I am afraid I haven't had all that much time to prepare myself, but I have been taken excellent care for so far. I look forward to a great time together in class."

Inwardly she began to wonder whether she'd find the time somewhere to sneak off and get some of the...Human...essentials.

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Aria froze in place in the shadowy area she'd picked to reconstitute, and successfully fought off the urge to whirl around. The best thing to do when surprised was pretend not to have been surprised...even if it was pretty obvious.

"One can only improve by finding one's limits, and pushing them," she answered. Aria's relationship with her mother was...complex. On the one hand, Suzume had raised her, and nurtured her and treated her well; earning her love. On the other, she'd killed Aria's father and explained to her in that matter-of-fact way that Aria would one day kill the one she loved as well. That was a layer of ice that had not yet melted, and kept the warmth at bay.

"You came to see the performance," Aria said, inwardly mortified that she hadn't anticipated this. "I hope your expectations are not too high. We are just students after all."

She wondered privately how much Suzume knew about other matters on the campus. She was reasonably sure her mother hadn't had been on campus herself, but an old spider like her had little strands all over, and could read books from every vibration.

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Yuuki waited for the Hina Elder to mention her as was proper by a superior among other superiers. No such introduction came and in a slight breach of Hina ediquite she'd have never considered back home, the young Dryad bowed her head and offered to the newcoming yokai, "My name is Hina Yuuki. It is a pleasure to meet you."

She took in every detail of the newcomers behind her social mask, filing it away for future use.

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Chihaya smiled to Yuuki. "Sorry about that, I forgot to introduce my grandniece in my dotage."

Sarah smiled. "A Hina actually attending the Academy, I admit I'm impressed. I never thought to meet one of you, let alone two in a single day. Finding out that the Academy has breached even the Hina Isolationism, well that makes me profoundly happy. Perhaps there's hope for Yokai after all.."

Marius nodded. "I believe so." He looked to the children and nodded. "We're keeping them from enjoying the festival, Might I suggest allowing them to go. It would be my distinct honor to escort you ladies about the festival today. I know we all have tickets for the performance this evening."

Sarah smiled. "That would give us a chance to catch up, I can let Jeebel have Darrik until then." Chihaya nodded. "I believe Yuuki and Kyohei were on their way somewhere when I found them. If you would be so Kind I'll release them as well."

Marius smiled, "So be it." He looked to the kids. "Go have fun."

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"My daughter, Aria, you are so much more than students. You are the future of the Yokai."

She smiled. "Come now. Assume I know nothing of what goes on., tell me what you think I should know as your mother. I'm curious." Her mother was testing her, but it wasn't the same calculating tone she always used.

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Darrik's slow grin broke out on his face when Jezebel's voice crooned in his ear, and he leaned back against her with obvious happiness. My girl. It was funny how Sarah mentioned she was smitten with him, because by now... well, what had been tentative investigation of the senior's interest had become his little bit of love too. "Good?" He mocked asked. "I thought I was being great to her."

His pure blissful smile showed as he wrapped a hand with Jez's. "When my grandfather says something, you listen. Let's go." As the two began to walk off, Darrik couldn't care if Aoi suddenly appeared with evidence the Warlocks and Witches were as bad as the Celestials made them out to be. Much less any bevy of angry competitors. "So, how have you been?"

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"Well, Delilah, see anyone you know?"

Weaving deftly through the crowd of students, Delilah and Katrina seeming to be the only ones not accompanied by an adult or three, the teen succubus glanced over her shoulder at the cat-girl with grin. "Sure! I know lots of people, and even more want to know me."

Delilah pointed with unconsciously sensual grace as she followed the taste of a bundle of emotions she knew well, near as well as her own. "I know him, him, her, them... him, her - twice! That guy... he knows me but I don't know him, really." They passed a gaggle of pretty girls, mostly succubi, nymphs, and cat-girls, and Katrina had to stop as Delilah paused to share some giggle words with them, but she didn't hang out with them long, since they were with their parents. "Oh, sorry, Kat! Just had to say hi to the girls on the Cheerleading team."

Kyohei's passions drew her own like a bee to nectar. "Where was I? Oh, right! Him, her and her and her, I want to know those two girls - they're cute and twins, too!" Delilah's head turned as she followed the twins then snapped forward as she and Katrina came around a kiosk and there was her Mate of Fate. She practically squealed. "And this is Kyohei! My boyfriend, my Mate of Fate."

Delilah pounced into his arms, her hands reaching around his back and gave him a deep kiss. For a long moment, there was no one but the two of them, their mutual passions surging back and forth between them like unconquerable tides. Finally, Delilah settled back down on her heels, letting Kyohei catch his breath as she introduced everybody.

"That's Yuuki, Kyohei's room-mate - yeah, don't get me started on that. I think there can be a much better arrangement. He's Darrik - he's okay, even if he uses being a Warlock as an excuse to act like a dick sometimes." She saw who he was with and a nonplussed expression crossed her face, her sultry voice growing flat and arching her back slightly to thrust out her considerably more prominent chest at the sight of her Cheerleading team rival and co-captain. "That's Jezebelle."

Delilah's irritation didn't last though, a grin back on her face as she hauled Katrina forward. "Guys, this is Katrina DeWitt, the newest student at Monster Academy."

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Skye read the note and then rolled her eyes. She knew when to be at the theatre; Serena didn't need to remind her. With a hard swallow, she resigned herself to calm - Serena probably meant to be helpful and not patronizing. Dropping the note on her bed, she went to shower and put on new clothing. After a bit of uncertainty, she decided to wear her school uniform rather than her costume.

She meant to go straight to the theatre, but weaving her way through the crowds takes her longer than she expected. At one point, she heard Delilah's squeal, but not being in the mood to deal with the succubus, the half-celestial deftly ducked under a table and cut through a carnival game. Ignoring the angry grumbles that came from the game's staff, she continued her helter-skelter path.

She was later than she wanted to be by the time she slipped into the auditorium. Despite the annoyed look on her face when she pushed open the door, that morphed into a smile for her boyfriend. He could always change the expression on her face for the better, making her smile when she was sad. Skye was sure he could take it the other way, too - he just hadn't yet. "Kurosoroshiimaru," she said, her voice warming. Seeing Serena, her expression and voice chilled a touch. "Serena. Thank you for the note." Her voice and bearing were stiff and formal with her roommate.

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Erilynn gave a little bow, "I look forward to it too, you can call me Eri if you'd like," she offered a sweet smile. Eri spoke softly, a chill was with her, but there was a beautiful resonence with every word uttered, even if it lacked formality, it just seemed, refined. "Miss Nekomone, would it be possible to find out where I will be staying, I seemed to have left without that bit of information."

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Katrina nods. "Hello everyone. Delilah has been showing me around the campus and the Bazaar... definitely a well made festival."

She smiles, her still semi-feline teeth betraying her true nature in her human guise. "I... hope I'm not intruding."

Her southern accent was remarkably refined and well educated... like a unspoiled southern belle. "And I hope we're going to get along fine in our classes. Seems there's more than enough extracurricular activities going on as well."

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Jezebelle smiled and bit Darrik's ear lightly. "Much better now. And you? I couldn't find you last night."

She squeezed his hand. "I'd wanted to prepare you to meet Mama, but it wasn't to be. hope she didn't embarrass you."

Her irritation flashed when Delilah showed up and went right to work on Kyohei. The young nekojin in tow did have potential though.

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Kyohei returned Delilah's ministrations chastely, indicating now wasn't the time for this sort of thing. "You're cheerful as ever." He looked to Katrina. It's very nice to meet you."

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For Skye Serena smiled. " Good to see you I imagine the others will get here eventually, though it's still early. I'd figured you to enjoy the festival for a little while at least."

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Shizuka nodded. "I'll have to go to my office to find that out. I have two other students I need to find out for as well. Will the two of you be alright here at the festival while I do that?"

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Lumah smiled as the teacher broached the subject of accomodation. She'd hardly considered them before, but it would make perfect sense obviously. She was thankful that such things were taken care of here, and was quick to reassure miss Shizuka.

"Oh I think we will be fine, really. After all, what could possibly happen on school grounds?"

For some reason, considering lady Aoi's request, she felt her statement was probably rather ironic.

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Jezebelle looked to Darrik. "Not Every time..." There was a change in her tone that theirs was a lust/hate relationship. Kyohei sighed. "Come on ladies, not today. Today's about having fun." He looked to Katrina. You're welcome to join our little troupe, it will be more fun with others."

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Shizuka looked to Lumah and nodded, her eyes telling the truth of how ironic that statement really was. "Quite abit, Quite abit."

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"Anything to get out from under my mother's radar... knowing her she probably has spies in the crowd watching my every move. Or waterboarded some janitor to get the keys to the school or something just to make my life miserable..."

She sighs. "Nevermind... just had some bad news when I arrived here... I'd feel better if my Dad showed up personally. He's the only person my Mother shows a lot of caution around."

She scratches her head. "There's a lot of bazaar here and I'm sure you guys wanna enjoy it before you have to get set for the play tonight, right?"

She pays a couple yen to a nearby stall while she talks, taking a couple large, fish shaped sugar cookies.

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Much as she desired to give Kyohei and Deliah their 'couple' time and look for the tea shop the Gardening Club had been working on now that she had been released by the Elder, Yuuki didn't want to give the impression that Katrina's presense was unwelcome. It was always stupid to alienate a potential ally when one had the luxury of making them.

"A pleasure to meet you, DeWitt-San," she commented with an amused half-smile, "Assuming Katrina is your given and not your family name. I wouldn't object to you joining us before we have to report to the theater. There's a tea shop I want to look up, seeing as I've helped grow some of the tea they'll be serving."

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"Katrina is far better, you can be sure of that, Yuuki."

She scratches her head. "There's... no need to be formal with me. Formalities are only for the faculty and our parents. They like their ranks and file. We're supposed to have fun today."

"My uniform aside. Wasn't sure what to expect so, I defaulted to what my Dad's always taught me. 'Katrina... if you think they're having something formal going on, just wear your school uniform. It's a school function so just assume that's the dress code they can be... sorta strict over there.' He said."

"I'm sorry I digress... The tea would be lovely. I'd like to get the whole lay of the land here, not just one point of view."

Of course tonight after the play she might do some stalking of the grounds and get to know the high ground... the roof.

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The group went through the bazaar as only a grop of teenagers can, hitting the Tea shop that the gardening club ran, as well as many of the others. Shizuka came and showed Erilynn and Lumah to Ruby's Home, evidently they'd be staying there. The young woman was gone, though Shizuka knew the smell of human female. After that they were brought to the theater, In truth because Shizuka knew they might be needed. She'd find some way to get them to help.

Kuro and Skye had been left alone in the theater, Serena having finally wandered off, Though she returned first for final preparations. The rest of the theater club showed up, each looking to the set and making adjustments. Everyone else soon arrived, sans parents. Including Shizuka with Lumah, Sakura, Jiren, and Erilynn in tow.

"Where are Krag, the twins and Rica?"

Shizuka looked down "They won't be here?"

"What?"

"I said they won't be coming Serena. Now you're just going to have to adapt." Miss nekonome's voice had a sharp tone they'd never heard before. "Someone else will have to take up their parts."

"The Costumes..."

"We have three hours, we could make something."

Serena nodded, "Fine, but after this we'd better get an explanation."

She looked to Erilynn and Lumah. "IMy Name is Serena Aida, 've not met either of you before, but I'm going to have to ask a big favor of both of you. I need you to both play roles in Our play, since four of our performers are unavailable. I can make it worth your while if need be, You won't have to do too much, but what I need you for is something I can't edit out. Will you help us?"

She looked at Katrina and smiled. "I'd like it if you helped as well Katrina."

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It didn't take a genius to connect the events of last night with the disapperance of four of the Newspaper Club's members. Someone had gotten sloppy, careless, and the monsters stalking the academy, some of the ones they missed, had claimed a harvest. Tree take her, if she had slept alone, was it her part they'd be needing a sudden replacement for? When was this going to be over? What if something happened to Kyohei while she was elsewhere?

Features flushed with sudden anger and fear, Yuuki excused herself to the dressing rooms with a quick little bow of her head. She waved off the concern of the Theater Club member handing out costumes, closing a changing room door behind her with costume in hand and getting a handle on her social mask again. It would take some time.

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Lumah grimaced a bit at this unlikely turn of events. Even if it was a school play, it'd take more than three hours to learn the phrases, get in a role and rehearse. She nodded, slowly but determined.

"I would like to help as well, if possible. I do hope they're not major parts to be honest because there's not much time for practice."

She quickly gazed around the area at the costumes and the signs, hoping to find out what kind of roles they could be before stepping feet-first into a tragedy...

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Serena sighed. "I've never seen a nekojin so skittish." She looked around. "We can make do." She'd not wanted to use the theater members, as they'd be the ones helping keep things running smoothely, but she didn't have that Luxury. "Kana, you're up, you're gonna go Drag here. You and Eri can be the king and queen. Lumah, you'll be Miracle Maxine's Sister, I'll take over the part of Maxine."

She produced scripts, both dog-eared already indicating pages for their lines, there were precious few. "We ned to get the Costumes redone." She looked beside herself. "Haruka, You're going to have to be Fezzik. You're the tallest here next to kyohei, and We could adjust to make things work."

Haruka, the only one as tall as Kyohei, nodded. "Don't expect wonders for my dialogue." Her voice was a deep bass, She was pbviously uncomfortable being on stage.

She looked to the others. "Does anyone else have any issues."

Miss Nekomone nodded. "I'm going to go see to Katrina. She's new and doesn't really know her way around. I don't want any of you leaving the theater from now on. I won't have a repeat of last night."

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Darrik was more than a little suspicious of the connection between last night and the four being gone, but no point in pressing it right now. He went up to Haruka and gave her a reassuring look. "As long as you can rhyme well, I don't think there will be much of an issue."

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Lumah picked up one of the dog-eared booklets, holding it between two fingers as if it was some dead animal before leafing through it to find her parts. Probably they weren't going to be too shocking or memorable, but she felt like this wasn't going to be the last she'd hear of such strange occurences. After all, she hadn't been brought here to enjoy the weather....

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Miss Nekomone nodded. "Catnip is truly hell on those it affects. I have a half sister that it hits harder than a housecat. Even for me, the odor can be somewhat intoxicating if strong enough. If you don't want to be in the play, you don't have to be, come back though, I can't have you running around alone. Your mom would never forgive me."

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Haruka nodded. "I'll do the best I can. three hours isn't alot to learn the part."

"Lucy looked at her. "There's my way..."

"No."

Lumah found her par didn't have much to do, it was simply a role that needed to be filled.

------------------

Meanwhile, One of those not in the spotlight knocked on Yuuki's door. "Yuuki, it's Kana, can I come in?" The petite young girl was supposedly a dragon, but no one save Kyra could really tell, and supposedly no one knew what type.

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"Actually she would probably have you on a "rendition flight" in a matter of hours after my demise because she didn't get to do the deed herself."

She sighs. "And... I'm going to have to get a filter mask if I do anythign with the gardening club. At least something that can prevent a contact high. I... well..." She sighs "You know how folks get on Pot? I get much worse. I think it's filed in my allergies and dietary needs listing in the office."

"But... I thank you for the concern. I would be happy to see the play, but... perhaps the next production I'll consider a role. I am a good Lady MacBeth for that scottish play..."

She smiles. "I think I'll head inside anyways... if at least to give the actors some encouragement."

"Thank you, ma'am..."

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