Gracie looks at Buffy "So, what does kill them or hurt them? Does fire bother them? And do you know if there are other people like you out there? Someone killed that thing"

"Miss Summers, you didn't stop by today for the permission slips you need to participate in the school's athletics program." Coach Cordova said as she walks up to the crowd. "Nice to see you're mixing in with the more.. varied group of students on campus. I know they have a healthier outlook than some of the typical cliques. "

She puts some papers on the table by Buffy.

"I need those signed by your parents as soon as you can. And please, till I have them.. don't break anything in Gym class."

"I'll look out for her Coach." Darius pipes up, drawing subtle if tactical attention to the fact that he was also amidst the eclectic crowd. No doubt she'd be surprised he was there instead of off campus for lunch or working the playbook with his teammates. Even if Coach Cordova were to figure he's just checking on his sister... It'll stand out.

He nods towards Gracie. We'll look out for her I mean."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:07, Wed 06 Apr 2011.

Gracie nods to Darius "Ya, don't worry, we will watch out for her" She thought this place was getting crowded. She was not comfortable talking about vampires with a teacher around, it sounded so crazy.

"Coach Cordova!"  Miss Williams interrupted the group.  She held a large stack of folders in her arms.  "I'm so glad I found you!  Could I ask your help with setting up for the faculty meeting?"

The...motley...assemblage of students didn't go unnoticed.  An eyebrow rose.  "Ah.  Darius.  How nice to see you and Melba venturing outside your usual social circles!  I hope you'll all bring some compelling new insights into The Canterbury Tales in our next class!"

She left, motioning B.J. to accompany her.  Seniority had its privileges, especially among the teachers!

Chan hadn't really said much of anything yet. She was still preoccupied trying to figure out how she had possibly known what was going on with the she vamps. ON the one hand it seemed pretty ridiculous in the light of day. However when she thought about the facts nothing really held up well. Obviously someone that woman's size would never have been able to push Darius around, yet she had thrown him across the alley like he were nothing.

She continued to sketch and try to work her way through the inconsistency. Once the teacher showed up everyone stopped talking, which was just fine by Chan. She needed time to think anyways. The other question lurking in her mind was what had been up with the book store clerk. Was he a vampire too, or something different?

Melba muttered to Ms Williams' (oh heck, let's get it right Emmanuelle's) retreating back, "You know, you really shouldn't press me, you KNOW what I can do to Canterbury Tales".  Then, more audibly, she said, "What about garlic, mirrors, videotape, crosses... and in the last case, do you have to be a Christian, and if you're not, does a Magen David work?  Hmm, and if it does, how devout a Jew do I have to be?"

There was a flurry of questions. Then, there was Coach Cordova. Buffy sheepishly took the papers as Darius and Gracie spoke up on her behalf. The current conversation had put soccer into the very back of Buffy's mind. She sighed in relief as Miss Williams swept Coach Cordova away. And then, more questions.

It made sense, this wasn't going to be easy for anyone to take right away, lord knew Buffy was still trying to get away from it.

"There are a lot of things that kill them. Fire isn't a bad option. Sunlight. Decapitation."

It might have surprised either teacher that had just exited the room that Buffy even knew words like 'decapitation'.

"As far as I know...I'm the only one, which is why the leader fangface was going on about killing me. I mean, there could be others out there who hunt them though..."

Garrett's experience clearly meant that there were...

Buffy just looked at Melba as she asked her questions. There was a pause and Buffy just kind of stared at the girl.

"...what?"

Melba grinned.  "Sorry, it's the circular breathing thing, we Jewish girls are taught it at birth.  I'll breathe..."  she pauses to take a breath and then asks, "But seriously, does it have to be sunlight or will UV work?"

Gracie sighs as she looks at Melba "OK, so are you going to a paper on this also, brainy girl?" boy, was she inquisitive. She knew it was nice to get all the information they could but she could not help herself. "Great, I will work up some fire to fight them"

"Sure, though I didn't think the teacher's meeting was till tomorrow. I didn't see a new email before I went out shopping for my new recruits for the team." BJ said as she walks with Ms. Williams.

"Did you know Buffy Summers was all state in her freshman year as a cheerleader? I did some checking, she's quite the athlete, despite her.. mistakes."

"The meeting was moved up.  Didn't you get the memo?  After yesterday's...incident...the Dean wanted to discuss strategies for helping the students transition.

Really, B.J., you'll need to keep up and adapt quickly if you're going to last here!"

The news of Buffy's past extra-curricular activities made Miss Williams shake her head.  "If you ask me, Buffy Summers would do better to apply her efforts toward salvaging her dismal G.P.A.!"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:17, Thu 10 Dec 2015.

"She's not that bad. She.. just doesn't see a use for any of it yet." She pointed out with a chuckle. "It's our task as teachers to show the role these issues have relevance in the real world. Why do you think I cover nutrition, health and proper methods of training their bodies in my class? It's not just to avoid health related accidents in class."

Miss Williams sighed.  "Coach, I am well aware of the challenge of student apathy.  Believe me when I say that I understand the difficulties of helping teenagers comprehend the value of being well-rounded scholars at this point in their lives.  Try persuading teenage pupils of applying the value of Chaucer or Langston Hughes to their lives!"

"Did I hear someone say 'Chaucer'?"  Clive jovially asked in his crisp, British accent.  Dressed in a sleek black business-wear, Clive looked a touch too stylish for even a private school.  He looked better suited to front a show for the Killers.

"Good afternoon, ladies!  I trust you're making the world safe for hopeful optimism?"  Clive winked at B.J. in particular.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:07, Thu 07 Apr 2011.

"I don't know.. I think if you present the context of some of the characters.. like the Prioress and the Wife of Bath.." CJ pointed out with a sparkle in her eye. "I enjoyed it a lot. And let's see how they handle the Miller's tale."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:33, Thu 07 Apr 2011.

Melba turned her gaze to Gracie and smiled her widest smile, "A paper?  Not at all. A strategy, I think.  Whether of containment or genocide, I haven't decided yet."  And then she winked, not exactly enjoying the irony but recognising it.

"Any idea of why I knew what was going on with them? Somehow I just knew that something wasn't right, and it makes next to no sense to me." It was the question that had she'd been freaking about ever since the she vamps had made their assault, and it was closely followed by another. "I also something weird when I looked at the owner of that book store." She flipped a few pages in her sketchpad, and showed them the drawing she had made. He had bright burning eyes and a rather disturbing appearance.

Gracie looks at Chan but does not say anything. She wonders if everything is going nuts. When can they just go back to being normal?

She looks Melba "Right, keep working on that. I expect it in the morning"

Melba looked over Chan's shoulder and nodded.  "Do you feel anything like that around Buffy?" she asked.

Garrett had been lost in thought when the teachers approached them. He hadn't been on any of their radars anyway, so he let himself do the necessary staring off into space that "me-time" constitutes. He'd had a trauma last night, so it was natural right? Healthy even? But was it wrong if he was exhilarated instead?

He thought he should play it off--keep the disgust on his face and rant about how horrible it was. But secretly he was squeeing his heart out. Vampires were real?!? This was some of the most awesome news he had ever heard. So what if he had had to use half the bottle of herbal shampoo to scrub the blood out of his hair for an hour and a half, vampires were real!

A tiny smile crept to his glazed-over eyes. He blinked and shoved the hair out of his face, returning to the conversation.

Craning over Melba's shoulder, he surveyed the picture Chan held up. "Either he took a serious beating from an ugly stick or... but at this point anyone could be a vampire." He tore his eyes away from the image and looked around at the rest of the group.

He felt a minor spike of nerd-dom as his pulse quickened with excitement.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:32, Sat 09 Apr 2011.

Buffy looked first to Melba.

"Pretty sure it has to be Sunlight...I mean...I've never really had a chance to try out different stuff, you know?"

She listened to Melba and Gracie banter back and forth for a bit before Garrett spoke up. She just shook her head.

"I don't mean to burst your bubble, but, uh...anybody who's walking around in sunlight probably isn't a vampire. I mean, they could be like, worshipping or serving them. But actually a vamp, nah. They'd get dusted as soon as the sun hit..."

The night before...

While Gabriel and Caitlyn worked, Mrs. Van Tiel watched from the side.  Her posture was stiff, nervous, as if awaiting failure.  Perhaps she observed the meticulous spell work a bit impatiently?  If so, surely she could be forgiven.

After all, two students were dead because vampires stalked their basement.

Nearly twelve hours later, as Buffy educated her new friends about "The Facts of Un-Life"...

Finally, when the ritual was complete, the Assistant Dean approached the veteran magicians.  "That's it, then?  We shouldn't have any unfortunate repeat...episodes?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:49, Sun 10 Apr 2011.

Caitlyn was the one to answer, as the talented magician among the pair. "It's impossible to guarantee anything when dealing with the supernatural and the magickal arts, but we don't anticipate anything. We'll be happy to stop by and assist with anything unusual, provided it doesn't interfere with the normal operating hours of the store."

Booke added, "You might be interested in knowing that one of your faculty members sent some students by the shop to pick up a rather unusual order. I'm less concerned with the selections of the faculty than with the fact that one of my more unusual tomes seemed to try to select one of the students. It's something I'll keep an eye on, but think you might wish to be apprised in the meantime."

Unseen by Gabriel or Caitlyn, Mr. Jepson listened from the nearby office.  Neither of the visiting proprietors saw or heard the school dean.  Neither saw the scowl slowly forming as he heard news of students purchasing books likely NOT on the "Approved Reading List".  His fist tightened as he receded further back into his shadowed office...


FADE TO BLACK