Friday afternoon, 6th Period Class

P.E. with Coach Cordova

The last class of the last day of the week.  Thunder rumbled outside the gymnasium.  A rainy day in Coach Cordova's class typically meant either an educational movie...or the time-honored tradition of "Dodgeball".

Gym was one of the few classes that Buffy, Chan, Darius, Garrett, Gracie-Lynn and Melba had together.  As they lined up for "Roll Call", maybe a few of them wondered if Coach Cordova would resort to the old "fall-back" activity.  Another peal of thunder cracked the sky as the students awaited Coach Cordova to start class...

"Normally I'd have one of the lovely school tapes on nutrition and/or hygiene, but unfortunately the Driver's ed teacher smoked out the VCR yesterday." Coach Cordova said as she walked down the line of students.

"And I need to get a general idea of the fitness of the students in my class." She  walks along the line and points out four students. "You four have health issues that I can't ignore, so take a seat folks." She says as she returns to the front of the class and starts counting out 1's and 2's, doing what she can to break up cliches, groups and hard core friends.

"Ones on that end of the court and twos on that side." She pointed to Melba and Buffy and motioned the two students to come over. "You two are team captains. Since Miss Summers is new, she can call the toss."

The Coach flips the coin and lets Buffy call it in the air.

"Okay.. the game is dodge ball. I want to see everyone do their best."

Buffy groaned to herself as she saw Coach Cordova decide to pick her out as one of the captains. She trudged up obediently, and her head perked up when the coach told her to call the toss.

"I...uh,tails?"

Buffy let out a breath as the coin flipped in the air. She was distracted from seeing the result when Coach Cordova announced that the game they would be playing...was dodge ball.

Crap. Buffy was the worst at dodge ball. Despite being fairly athletic, she just was no good at this game. Then again, the last time she'd played had been in early middle school, long before her Slayer powers came into being. Even so, Buffy pursed her lips and waited to hear the coin toss call...

Melba was intrinsically unsuited to this particular form of torture.  She was okay at throwing the ball but dodging was quite out of the question.  By the time she wobbled over, Buffy had called so she waited to see which way the coin fell.  She shrugged impressively.

Loose, school-colored clothing engulfed the fifteen-year-old's body. He pulled at his back uncomfortably, scratching at the cotton shirt. Having sensed the upcoming picking of Coach Cordova's "1's and 2's," Garrett maneuvered himself onto the same team as Melba, hoping Cordova wouldn't see or care. He was assigned to team 2 and meandered to his side of the court.

Being 6', Garrett stuck out like a gangly, albeit elegant tower, but those hours in the art studio hadn't dulled his athletic prowess when it came to hand-eye coordination. He hovered apart from the rest of his team, looking around contemptuously at the others, keeping an eye on Melba.

"This should be interesting..." he mumbled.

"Okay.. Miss Summer's gets to choose." Coach said with a grin as she looks at Garrett directly with the 'you've not fooled me' look. "Okay, here's the rules. It's dodgeball, that is self evident. Everyone eliminated will be doing laps till someone is last person standing. I want everyone to do their best effort. Anything I think of as unsporting will be called and you WILL be doing laps, till I'm tired. I've done my one and only talk on harassment and unsportsmanlike conduct, so I don't want any excuses about 'not knowing'."

She stepped back, motioned for the side that was starting off to pick up the balls and start the melee as she pulled out her whistle and gave it a loud piercing blast before stepping back to watch with her clipboard.

Brian White sidled up alongside Buffy.  The tall blond teen was known among Jepson's student body as one of the premier athletes.  He leaned down and whispered, "_{I'm glad we made the same team, Summers!  I'll try to make sure you only have to run one lap.  You can show your gratitude with a little extra 'bounce' when you run!}"  Brian flashed a wink and cocky grin.

Then, Brian caught gave her Garrett's contemptuous look.  While Cordova looked away, he discreetly moved over beside the arty teen.  "_{Who do you think you're looking down your nose at, queer bait?  I've got a ball with your face's name on it!}"  Brian's grin turned mean.  "_{Besides, I bet you'll get a big thrill with all those balls smacking your face!}"

When B.J. turned back around, Brian met her eyes with a congenial smile.  He gave a friendly smack on the shoulder to Garrett.  "Good luck, buddy!"

Unfortunately, in addition to the strong Jock standing, Brian White was also known to the socially-challenged as Jepson's resident, sociopath pain-in-the-ass!


OOC:

B.J., for subplot's sake, you won't catch Brian in the act!

"Mmm.  Brian is so cute!"  A pretty brunette standing with Gracie Lynn admired the jock.  She indulged the moment a little longer, then frowned at the "coin toss".

"I see that Cordova's trying to 'Help The Hopeless' again!"

Gracie stood there with ehr arms crossed across her chest as she she glared at Brian as he bothered Buffy and then Garrett. She did not think he would bother her, if he knew what was good for him. She could handle herself and then she had Darious who was such a gentlemen. She didn't care what team she was on and waited.

She looks at Lucy "Maybe he is but he is an ass" she says with a smirk.

Gracie's succinct, but harsh, critique of Brian visibly surprised Lucy.  "Really, Gracie?  Funny, I thought you would've devoured him by now, too!"  The comment was made "playfully", in that way only a devoted "Frienemy" could manage.  Lucy laughed cordially as she playfully touched Gracie's arm.

"Just kidding, Gracie Lynn!  Hmm.  Maybe Brian will ask me to the Spring Formal?"

Buffy watched Brian go for a moment, not quite believing what she was hearing. She was also cursing the fact that he was on her team. Which meant she couldn't smack him with a dodge ball! Buffy sighed as she looked around. Honestly, she just wasn't looking forward to this.

Dodge ball was something she never did like that much. Buffy glanced over at the various members of her group from the night before, and also couldn't help but notice Lucy talking with Gracie.

Buffy marched back towards the starting like, like a prisoner to a firing squad, determined to get this over with...well, once the game started...

OOC:  I forgot an essential piece of information--the teams!

Buffy's Team

Buffy
Chan
Gracie-Lynn
Brian (heh-heh!)
Lucy


Melba's Team

Melba
Darius
Garrett
Kieran
Joe Campus
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:18, Tue 19 Apr 2011.

"Jackass!"  Kieran bitterly spat the word at the departing Brian.  He cut sympathetic eyes toward Garrett.  "Don't worry about that knuckle-dragger.  If he tries anything, I'll kick his ass."

Kieran Metz held an honestly-earned reputation as an "Outside Among Outsiders".  Mostly quiet, kept to himself and a select group of students.  A group that, thanks to shared Art classes, included Garrett and Melba.  Kieran's solitary nature didn't mean he was a pushover, though.

Much to the chagrin of the teachers, Kieran tended to get into a LOT of fights.  Only his talent with the guitar and paints--and the fact his father and older brother died in a house fire--shielded him from expulsion.  As the game commenced, Kieran gave Melba an encouraging "Thumbs Up".

His eyes lingered momentarily on Gracie-Lynne...and Coach Cordova...

Physed was generally the low point of Chan's day. She'd never really enjoyed any part of it. Her idea of exercise was yoga and some light jogging, but not a whole lot more than that. Of course she was starting to reconsider the wisdom of that given the recent revelation. She wasn't the least bit surprised when she found herself on the opposite team as Darian. At least the other team wouldn't have it out for her, that was positive.

She rolled her eyes when she overheard Gracie and Lucy talking, of all things about Brian. He might be pretty, but he definitely gave off a creepy no feeling. At least he was ignoring her for now, and Buffy could take care of herself.

Chan's strategy for dodge ball was simple, she just concentrated on not getting hit by the ball and otherwise ignored it. It might not be exactly in the spirit of the game, but it did cut down on laps.

Melba grinned.  "Dumb game, I know, but I'd rather avoid running laps, and I'd quite like to see that psycho running laps if possible, so I suggest we keep the ball away from him and when the time comes, hit him on the ass, then hold out as long as we can without getting hit.  If one of us gets hit, then we go on the offensive.  Does that sound like a reasonable strategy?"  Melba's ideas on teamworking in tactical situations came from an Israeli Defence Force manual and part of that involved discussing ideas with the troops first of all.

Darius listens to Coach Cordova's take on the rules. Or, rather, her version of them. He arches a disbelieving eyebrow at the mention of single elimination and the prospect of his teammates having to do laps rather than be brought back into the game with a catch. Seemed rather... unfair to those less fortunate. Not that Dodgeball was considered a fair game, it was just weird to see a school-version punnish the less sports inclined with laps while those with better skill (or a bout of good luck, it was dodgeball after all) participated in the more entertaining activity.

The fact that he couldn't just catch an intended strike, and bring teammates back onto the floor was really a downer to Darius. He liked that thrill of saving the day, and with all of the strangeness going on... he could really use the solidarity of such an event. To re-ground himself so to speak.

He's silent through Melba's discussed strategy, his head bobbing in an understanding nod. His plan would have been a little different, but this wasn't his team. This wasn't even really his moment to shine. Here, he was just one of the players, and Melba was the assigned captain. In all honesty, he'd be perfectly content to be the first one knocked out of the game~ He'd have an easier time of the laps if the game drug on for awhile.

His dad called it Followership. One of the first tennants of Leadership, is knowing when and how to follow orders. There was no reason to take charge here to Darius thinking, it was a viable tactic given the team balancing.

That's not to say he wouldn't do his best to help his team take the win. He knew some moves beyond throwing and dodging after all. Deflecting a throw with a clutched ball tended to make for a nice surprise in games like this... Or a ball in each hand~ One to block with, the other to attack with. Oh yeah. He'd try and bring home the win... unless it started to look like teammates running the laps were miserable and he were the last one standing. Then, and only then, would he consider bowing out.

She looks at the other side, knowing she is probably one of the better ones at this, well, except for Buffy. She stood ready to play and she always tried to do her best. "Come on guys, you want to hit me?" she says in a teasing voice.

Melba shrugged and started moving.  She'd just have to rely on people ignroing her.

Once Coach Cordova blew her whistle, the game was ON!  The dodgeballs flew...and it was as ugly as the students feared.  A boy who usually kept to himself threw the ball at Buffy.  The Slayer rolled her shoulder down, and the dodgeball passed over!

Kieran grinned impishly and took aim.  His ball hurtled toward Brian--who leapt to the side at the last second!  Unfortunately, Kieran's ball struck Chan, who was right behind Brian, on the calf!  Kieran winced and shrugged apologetically.

The skill which placed Darius on the football team served him well enough in the first round.  He immediately eliminated Eric Carter just as his kid sister started her first lap. The ball rebounded into Brian's grasp.

Brian wasted no time going for "First Blood".  He reared back his arm and hurled his ball with as much force as possible toward Garrett's face!  The ball would hit hard enough to break Garrett's nose.  Brian--and every other student--knew what he was plotting.  The ball closed on Garrett's pretty face, much to his (and especially Melba's) horror!

Then, at the very last second, the ball spiraled down a few inches and smacked the tip of his shoulder!  Brian's jaw dropped; he'd eliminated Garrett, but not done as much damage as he'd hoped.

Melba limply threw her ball.  It flopped onto the gym floor, and bounced once, twice, before rolling to a stop near Lucy's feet.  She eagerly plucked up the ball.  Smiling sweetly, she said to Gracie-Lynn, "Let's see if I can hit the side of a barn!"  Like a champ, she threw the dodgeball, which squarely hit Melba on her generous backside!

Nobody, but nobody could touch Gracie!  The cheerleader nimbly leapt, ducked, and pivoted out of "harm's" way.  In fact, her moves threatened to put Darius to shame!


19:47, Yesterday: Secret Roll: Big Bad rolled 9 using the Unisystem system (1d10+8). Tag Melba.
19:47, Yesterday: Secret Roll: Big Bad rolled 20 using the Unisystem system (1d10+8). Tag Garrett.
19:47, Yesterday: Secret Roll: Big Bad rolled 13 using the Unisystem system (1d10+8). Tag Gracie-Lynn.
19:46, Yesterday: Secret Roll: Big Bad rolled 13 using the Unisystem system (1d10+8). Tag Chan.
19:46, Yesterday: Secret Roll: Big Bad rolled 12 using the Unisystem system (1d10+8). Tag Buffy.

OOC:

Our first eliminations!  Chan, Garrett, and Melba are out.  Most of Buffy's team is still in play.  Time for ROUND TWO of DODGE BALL!!

Garrett, I rolled for you to move the scene forward.

Gracie dances over and beside Brian and when he tries to dodge, she accidentally steps close to him and might trip him, but she would not do it on purpose, would she. She figures anyone who tries to hurt people intentionally, deserves to land on his ass or his face.

Brian chuckled meanly as he eliminated Garrett.  When Lucy took out Melba, he openly guffawed.  Just in earshot, Lucy and Gracie heard, "_{Haw!  Took out the Emo Gayby AND his Fag Hag! Good job, Whitfield!}"  Maybe he should have paid closer attention to what happened right near him!

Was that Gracie's foot placed in the wrong place at the wrong time?  As Brian mocked his chronic victims, the cheerleader "accidentally" stepped to the side.  It was sudden and relatively subtle.  Anyone else would have face-planted on the Gym floor!

Unfortunately, a few years as a "Hurdle Jumper" on the Track Team saved Brian's ass.  Although her foot clipped his lower leg, Brian recovered and landed on both feet  "What the hell, Gracie?!"

OOC:

Brian evaded humiliation with a 17.  Ugh, I know, he's a stinker!

Melba ran her laps as slowly as she could get away with, which was probably even more slowly than her best.  As she ran, she thought.  Some might think she was thinking of ways to avenge herself on somebody or other but in truth, she couldn't be bothered.

Instead, she was thinking of ways to kill vampires.  She knew that krav mega was designd so that an elderly, overweight, Slovakian Jew could take out a fully armed SS stormtrooper, so that was an option, but she would also have to think about crossbows, flamethrowers and supersquirters filled with Holy Water.

Ever on the same page as Gracie, even if they were technically on seperate teams, Darius sights in in Brian. It didn't matter that they were in the same social click, and tended to get along for face value most days. Darius wasn't one to approve of that sort of attitude, and it wasn't one he'd openly do anything short of put in it's place.

Normally, he'd have just had a few words... asking him to chill, and remember his place. As one of the schools star athletes, he was supposed to be setting an example. The whole Power and Responsibility thing.

Due to being forced to the other side of the gym (Dodgeball rules and the painted line and all), he couldn't tactfully reign Brian in. Even yelling out a protest wouldn't help. That meant the best he could do was elimenate him from the game alongside those he'd sought to prey upon. A lesson closer to home. To remind him that he wasn't above the same fate as anyone else. It was a game after all, and even athletically gifted souls such as themselves could use a bout in humility. It would no doubt help Brian's ego that it was Darius that took him out, if anyone. But it would still mean he wasn't the amongst the last standing. In his heart, Darius would rather be taken out by anyone on the other team than Brian at that moment.

And so, Just as Gracie is tripping the youth up~ Darius takes the moment to launch his own salvo at the suddenly turned backside.

Gracie dances away as she thorws the ball at Joe. "Oh, I am so sorry Brian, it was jsut an accident. Really" she is not happy that Brian did not land on his ass or face. Same thing to her. She of course will not throw at Darious unless they are the only two left.

(ooc- Gracie Lynn DuPree rolled 16 using the Unisystem system (1d10+8). throw.
18:15, Today: Gracie Lynn DuPree rolled 9 using the Unisystem system (1d10+8). dodge.)

Chan sighed when she was hit and glared in Brian's direction. Sure he hadn't actually done anything to her and had really just ignored her, but she didn't appreciate him messing with her friends. Especially when they were just awkward as she was. She went to do her laps without further complaint, and got herself going at a decent pace. Jogging was at least something that she enjoyed more than dodge ball anyways.

Buffy gritted her teeth at Brian's actions, but didn't bother to say anything, the last thing she wanted to do was get distracted in the middle of a game. She scanned around for her next target, firing off a dodge ball at a random opposing team member.

She saw Gracie's move out of the corner of her eye, and cursed to herself when Brian deftly avoided the accident. She really wanted to see that dude fall on his face!

Buffy looked around, it seemed like her team was winning, but she didn't have time to take a full head count...




02:54, Today: Buffy Summers rolled 14 using the Unisystem system (1d10+9). Dodge.
02:53, Today: Buffy Summers rolled 15 using the Unisystem system (1d10+8). Attack!.

Try though Darius might, he still couldn't tag Brian!  "Hey Darius, how'd you make quarterback when you throw like your sister?"  He laughed openly at Jepson's Star Athlete, even as he hurled a ball that eliminated players from Melba's team.

Gracie failed in sabotaging Brian, but succeeded in eliminating one of Darius' remaining teammates.  The ball smacked Kieran in the chest, who looked a little annoyed.  It wasn't clear if he was angry at Gracie, at being eliminated...or at himself.  His face flushed red, but he loped off the court and started jogging.  Kieran's gaze kept coming back to Gracie...and another.

Soon, only Buffy, Brian, Darius, Lucy, and a student nobody really knew remained on the court.  Darius avoided the balls lobbed his way.  The dodgeballs bounced, making that strange, hollow sound.  When a ball rebounded toward his foot, Darius swept it up and immediately eliminated Lucy!

Buffy dodged the balls as adeptly as she evaded new-born vampires.  Her slender arm threw a ball that hit the "nobody" in the gut!  The ball hit with sufficient force to knock him off his feet!

Luckily, he hopped onto his feet, with only a minimal winding.  The "nobody" actually flashed Buffy a cute smile and gave her a "Thumbs Up"!  Soon, he joined the other eliminated students in jogging.

Pretty soon, only Buffy, Darius, and Brian remained on the court...




OOC:

It's the final showdown!  Darius, spend a Drama Point if you REALLY want Brian out!  LOL

"Mr. Nobody" flashed a fetching grin at Buffy.  He raised a "Thumbs Up" for the gusto she put into the throw.  Maybe nobody knew his name, but of all the students, he appeared to be the best sport about losing!

He didn't waste time running his "penalty laps".  The student fell into line alongside Garrett.  "At least that's over!  Couldn't Cordova just set up a volleyball net?"

Darius' eyes narrow. Somehow, despite having his back turned, Brian had managed to evade a perfectly solid throw... and to top it off, he'd opted to add trash talk to his list (never mind the intended insult to his sister). A lesser man might have spouted off a rebuttal, tossed an insult of his own, or even crossed the line to let Brian know physically (up close and personal like) just how much a jerk he was.

Darius was no lesser man.

True to form, he turns the other cheek and the irritation susbsides. Darius regains his calm. His cool.

Two on one weren't the best of odds, and he knows that things are grim for his teams chance of victory.

Rather than succumb to that, Darius uses it. Odds were rarely in his favor... and he always managed to do the right thing. To be in the right place, at the right time. I'll show you then. Knuckles clench on the single ball held in hand, and Darius begins a strafing run... maintaining the mobility and elusiveness to ensure he wouldn't be an easy target despite the likely crossfire about to head his way. He has eyes only for Brian, knowing that it a mere glance at Buffy would unbalance and distract him. He needed to leave her in the periphs, and hope she wasn't gung-ho on elimenating him before he got a shot off at Brian's smug face.

Because Darius has every intention of imprinting that smug face into his dodgeball. Hard.

Buffy sighed, not really wanting to eliminate Darius. She would much rather it be Darius in Brian's place. She saw the dodgeball in Darius' hands, and saw the look of determination on his face. She held off long enough to let Darius whip the ball at Brian. She prayed he wiped the smirk look off that bastard's face.

When it came down to it though, this was still a competition...and Buffy wanted to win it. She let Darius make his throw, then whipped the dodgeball in her hands right at him.




00:29, Today: Buffy Summers rolled 22 using the Unisystem system (1d10+9). Dodge.
00:29, Today: Buffy Summers rolled 20 using the Unisystem system (1d10+8). Attack!.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:32, Thu 21 Apr 2011.

Garrett turned, distractedly, toward Joe after they had fallen in step. He had spoken to him maybe once before, but his name slipped Garrett's mind now. "Oh, uh... Yeah, running's not really my fav either..." Garrett had been focused on the dodge ball game as he made his laps around the track. He hated running, but that wasn't really the issue. Brian had been going for blood--his blood! High school can be cruel, nobody knew that better than Garrett, but sometimes--if you crossed your fingers--the jock jerks got their just desserts.

Garrett had been barely jogging, intently watching Darius face off against Brian and Buffy. The pseudo-sadist in Garrett would leap for joy if Brian took one hard ball to the face... He held his breath as the ball hung in the air, praying for good luck.

Melba, still running and breathing hard, probably harder than she needed, panted to Garrett, "We need to do something about Brian."  She gave him her most evil grin and continued on, concentrating on doing the minimum.

"Less talking, more running folks." Coach Cordova called from the her spot on the bleachers where she was making notes as she watched the students do their laps and keeping one eye on the remaining trio of students. She had a feeling it would be time to split up the last two and pit them against each other. She had hoped to catch Brian in something, but once again he slipped out of things. She knew he was a thug, but he was cunning enough to not get caught outright.

Gracie starts doing the laps and listening to the others. She would get Brian at some point. She was not afraid of him and it was not just because of her boyfriend. That Buffy girl seemed to be pretty good but after seeing her move the other night, it did not surprise her. Then an idea hits her as she runs across from Brian, can she get him to watch her instead of paying attention? She tries to run so she distracts him.

The "Final Showdown" began!

Buffy and Brian outlasted everyone on her team.  Brian held his dodge ball, body loose and limber for the kill.  He grinned at Darius, confident in the apparent final outcome.  Buffy stood more apprehensively, her half-heartedness obvious to all.  Still, despite her ambivalence...there was an edge in her body language that said she'd be no easy victim!

Of Melba's team, only Darius remained standing.  He pivoted side-to-side quickly.  The same moves which helped him on the football field would serve Darius inside the gym.

Darius attacked first, throwing his ball with the precision of a star quarterback hurling his pigskin.  The dodge ball flew too fast for a wide-eyed Brian, who couldn't dodge in time.  Then, inexplicably, the dodge ball accelerated faster in the last few feet.

Like a rocket, the ball collided with Brian's face!  Blood spurted like a fountain.  Groaning in pain, Brian clutched his face as he doubled over.  Half the geekier classmates who Brian tormented cackled at his bad luck.  The other half of the class gasped collectively.

Although Buffy didn't want to eliminate Darius, the Slayer threw her ball at her new friend.  It would have ousted anyone else.  However, Darius managed to hop just far enough to his left so the ball would miss by a wish!

OOC:

Next time out, Buffy vs. Darius!

Melba frowned.  "So who's breaking the laws of physics", she muttered, not expecting an answer. Out loud, she said to Garrett, "So which one's Carrie White?"

Garrett didn't cringe or cackle like the rest; a smirk played his lips, then faded.

"Looks like Brian got his already. Man that Darius has an arm..." He looked at Melba, and threw a nod at Darius. "He definitely strikes me as a male-er, less bloody Carrie White, but see that really doesn't apply since he's hardly dressed for prom and we're more or less free from being crispy. Maybe miss blondy bounce-a-lot? Did you hear what happened at her last school in California? There could be some Carrie vibes wafting from her direction."

He stopped running, there was no way Cordova would keep them doing laps after what just happened to Brian's face; his blood was everywhere. Garrett's face screwed up at the spurting fountain, his hand rising to cover his nose. "Can douche syndrome travel through air particles?" he asked Melba.

Conviction and self-righteousness melts from Darius' face the moment he sees Brian take the ball so hard. He knew he'd thrown it hard, and with determination... Oh snap. His eyes go wide, and he takes three involuntary steps forward and across the line... uncaring about the game anymore, he's racing over to make sure he hasn't completely broken Brian's nose or something.

"Crap! COACH!" Darius calls out loudly as he moves with the speed of a concerned teammate, ensuring that Coach Cordova saw the incident and the blood flying everywhere... only marginally watching to see if Buffy is going to take advantage of his intent to cross the line and tend to his fellow athlete (but uncaring really)

Melba sighed.  "I doubt it's infectious, and if it is, it's transmitted by memes. As for Carrie, I didn't mean the whole film, just the teke ability."

"Okay, everyone go get cleaned up. I will be taking Brian to the school infirmary." Coach said as she rushed over and put a towel to the injured jock and led him away. Thank you family waivers, she thought to herself as she led him away.

Darius looks absolutely contrite, and more than a little guilt-plagued as Brian is lead away. He makes a mental note to meet up with him later, and ensure there was no bad blood. It was just a game after all, wouldn't be the first time any of them were hurt in the pursuit of athletic dominance.

Gracie runs over to Darius "Hey luv, it wasn't your fault, don't worry about it" she takes his hand as she looks into his eyes "You just put more into it then you knew you could. He should have moved though I might have distracted  him a little when I was running behind you." she grins innocently as she thinks how she wanted him out and don't like to see anyone hurt but he did deserve some of it after all, he was trying to do it to others intentionally. Now she just had to make Darius feel better.

Melba watches Gracie for a moment and then shrugs.  "Still, none of our business, Garrett... just make sure there's no pig's blood at the prom."

Buffy felt the elation of a good, hard throw and she heard a definite impact behind her as Darius' throw apparently connected. Somehow, Darius dodged her by a hair. She was reaching for another dodge ball when she heard Darius call out to Coach Cordova. Buffy turned around to see a bit of a bloody mess that had formerly been the "too cool for school" Brian.

Buffy sighed and stood there as the action happened around her. Technically, Darius had crossed the line, meaning her team had "won", but that victory...well, winning like that totally sucked.

Buffy watched as Brian was covered with a towel and escorted to the Nurse's Office. She looked back at Darius, and at the others, a bit bewildered by all that had happened. Buffy saw Gracie go over to talk to Darius, and the rest were still running. Buffy shrugged, what else could she do?

"Good game?" To no one in particular...

Melba stopped running as soon as the coach stopped the game.  "Yeah", she said to Buffy, "Interesting game anyway."  She smiled but as she spoke, she tried to work out the delta-vees, ballistics and friction of the ball's flight in her head, to get some picture on the forc that would be needed to make the ball move in mid-flight like that.

12:02, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 15 using the Unisystem system (1d10+10). Int + science (estimate force (magnitude and direction) needed to change the course).
12:02, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 25 using the Unisystem system (1d10+16). Perception + Notice + DP hold picture in head of ball's the change in the ball's flight.)

OOC Melba's a geek and this is exactly rocket science
This message was last edited by the player at 11:05, Mon 25 Apr 2011.

"Oh my god, Brian!  Are you alright?!"  Lucy rushed over to Brian's side.  She fussed and fawned over the injured athlete.  "Pinch the bridge of your nose!"

As Coach Cordova ushered Brian to the school nurse, Lucy dutifully followed.  Before she left, though, she shot a nasty glare at Darius and Gracie.

The boy who'd kept Garrett and Melba company didn't bother hiding his amusement.  He chuckled and nudged Garrett's arm.  "That's great!  Did you see his nose erupt like a geyser?

Funniest thing I've seen all day!"  While the coach helped the hurt pupil off, the boy turned to Melba.  "I can only hope someone recorded this on their iPhone!"

"Lucy, back to the class please. I don't think he wants you wailing all over him and I've got my hands full." Coach said firmly as she kept guiding her wounded student to the infirmary. The look she gave the 'pretty' was enough to get her to see that she was serious.

"You know, my dad is friends with Dean Jepson," Lucy said venomously, before stalking off.

"Funnily enough so is mine." Coach calls after her, lying through her teeth but she didn't need to know that. She sighed as she kept the wounded Bully-Jock's nose elevated.

"Come on let's get your nose taken care of."

Suddenly, B.J. heard a throat being cleared.  "Uh, Coach...do you need any help?  Like, er, getting Brian's stuff out of his locker...?"  Kieran asked helpfully, if profoundly awkwardly.

He never seemed quite able to meet her eyes.  Instead, Kieran fidgeted a little.  He could only hold her gaze but a moment, before his eyes darted off to the side.  B.J. would notice a slight flush to his cheeks.

Darius is distracted from seeing Brian and Coach Cordova exiting the gym by Gracie's appearance at his side. All shame and guilt seems to melt away, like snow under the spring sun. Gracie always seemed good at cheering him up, no pun intended!

"You can be distracting... true enough. Odds are that'll be his excuse later. It'll help with the guys, rather than admit I outted him fair and square. Good for saving face, blaming distractions on the hottest girl in school running by. Not everyone can take that distraction and turn it into inspiration like some of us..." Darius realizes what he just said a moment after saying it, and quickly looks in another direction to hide the blush that would be darkening his already dark cheeks if she caught it. Wow. Cheese much Darius? Man up dude. "Er... um. I mean. Um..."

As he looks quickly away, he spots Buffy just as she says Good Game. The laugh to comes out of his mouth is enough to cover his blush (he hopes), and he walks over to offer up a handshake for what he felt had been a good game. At least she'd been competitive without dropping to Brian's levels. That was the kind of teamwork and sportsmanship that he could respect. "It was. Good game, Buffy." He smiles warmrly at the new girl. It's not quite the same smile he reserves for Gracie, but it's assuredly a nice smile to see no doubt.

"Yeah, looks like I just ruined the chance of Dodgeball for any other classes for another year!" He offers in response to Melba's decleration of the game being interesting, but he fails to note the pensive look on her face. "Sorry if that means more laps next class or something. I know no one enjoys those." Is his apologetic comment to everyone else as the walk past towards the lockerrooms. He hadn't really stopped to think about reprecussions to his action, and now has begun to wonder about those.

Darius tries to offer Lucy a sympathetic smile and wave in response to the glare, but fends off the guilt she'd sought to reinstill in him. Gracie had sufficiently eradicated that from his mind entirely.

Gracie grins "I try to be distracting but I am only for you luv. I am sure he will but you are so much of a better athlete then him." she grins even broader when he mentions her. "Don't worry about it luv, I know what you mean." she touches her finger to his lip. She just wanted to make him feel better and not feel guilty.  She would have done it if she could but did cheerleaders have guilt? Na.

She walks along with Darius as he looks over at Buffy. "It was a good game Buffy. You were good." she smiles warmly at her. She does like this new girl.

After Brian was hurt Chan just kept jogging until the game was over. Her first instinct had been to help get him fixed up, but she decided it was best not to. He'd left her alone thus far and she preferred to avoid jumping onto his radar. She came to a stop behind Gracie and her brother clearing her throat awkwardly to make sure that they heard her. "Lighten up, it probably wasn't that bad. Hopefully you didn't actually break his nose. That might get you in a little trouble." She perked up at the mention of no more dodge ball, which was something she could definitely get behind.

Garrett inspected the nameless guy who found Brian's face eruption so funny. He shrank minutely when he felt his arm brushed. "It was pretty funny..." His eyes fell, "So, uh, I don't know if we've met... I'm Garrett." He raised his eyes slowly to see the brown-haired boy's reaction.

Just behind his new acquaintance Garrett glanced Gracie fawning over Darius. He had to restrain his gag reflex and control himself before returning his gaze to the stranger. Garrett raised a slender hand to tuck a stray tendril of hair behind his right ear.

After all this craziness, Garrett would be ecstatic to be out of his scratchy cotton Phys. Ed. clothes, however, he had no intention of 'hitting the showers' as Cordova had barked to the class. He had a habit of just changing clothes; since he never exerted any exceptional amount of energy toward school activities, it was relatively easy to get away with a changing back into his clothes accompanied by an ample re-applying of deodorant (for good measure).

In any case, Garrett's crystalline blue eyes hung on the frame of the boy in front of him, awaiting his reply.

The boy scarcely noticed Garrett's hesitance over casual touch.  Instead, he chuckled along with Garrett.  "Hey, Garrett.  I'm Hunter.  Hunter Rossum.

Aren't you in Mr. Whitlock's Art class?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:41, Sat 30 Apr 2011.

"That won't be needed, I'm sure I can get one of the teachers to get his stuff if he needs it." Coach said as she hustled the wounded student into the infirniry.

"Yeah...I just...thought I'd ask for your help...er, I mean, if I could help...!"  Kieran sputtered awkwardly.  His face reddened deeper as he slipped up.

Rubbing now sweaty palms, Kieran stepped backwards.  His gaze lingered on Cordova and Brian as they headed for the school nurse's office.  Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Gracie.

Kieran turned toward Gracie, watching her with a funny expression.  The expression became strange as he saw the cheerleader slip her fingers around Darius'...
This message was last edited by the player at 05:09, Sun 01 May 2011.

"I think he broke my dose!"  Brian groaned as the Coach tried to help him away.  "Does that mean I get to go home?"  He moaned pitifully for effect.

Meanwhile, Lucy stomped toward the Girls' locker room.  Along the way, she stalked purposefully toward Buffy.  The cheerleader stopped in front of the new girl, a furious glint in her eye.

"Hi," she said with an utter lack of cordiality.  "My, you sure showed some good moves out there, Buffy.  Funny how you eliminated everyone except Darius!  Y'know, Brian wouldn't have been hurt if you hadn't showed favoritism!

And don't think I haven't noticed you hanging out with the 'lower life forms, either.  I bet you're one of those social butterflies who tries to be friends with ALL the groups.  It doesn't work that way around here."  Lucy looked Buffy over with disdain.

"You'd better choose a side or nobody will want you around!"  With that parting shot, Lucy stomped off again.

Lucy turned the corner into the locker.  Coach Cordova exited the gym with her injured charge onto the breezeway.  Outside, the sky was black and the rain pelted the roof and sidewalk.  Thunder rumbled loudly and the ground was covered in at least an inch of rain.

Inside, a few kids lingered on the basketball court.  Lightning flashed.  The lights flickered briefly!  As they came back on, a scream was heard from the girls' lockers!

Melba, with her head buzzing full of ideas, made her way to the physics lab, perhaps with Garrett in tow, that being the way the dynamic worked.  She explained to Garrett her plan to merge together a cigarette lighter and an aerosol can to make a primitive flamethrower for use against vampires.

Unfortunately, at this time, all she did was explain because before she could even start work on the prototype, there was a scream from the girls' locker room and she needed to get straight back there.  Unlike when doing laps, this time, she really did go as fast (or unslow) as she could waddle.

"Yeah," he stammered, "I sit in the back right--sometimes I switch easels to mess with Whitty, but that gets old since I don't think he can tell the difference between most of the kids. I think it's because he inhaled too much lead paint..." Garrett cut himself off--brain catching up to his mouth.

"Nice to meet you. I'll look for you in class?" He noticed Melba trotting out of the gym, "See you around!" Garrett called as he padded briskly after her.

After changing clothes, he met back up with her and was enveloped in Melba's explanation of the pyro-mechanics of her own personal flamethrower when he heard a blood-curdling shriek. The torrential weather outside, the pent up anger of a bloody dodge ball game, and now a scream from the girl's locker room; this day was turning out to be a little too much like Clue than Garrett cared for--he could only run and hope it was all nothing.

Darius slides right into the accepting and seemingly oblivious role of allowing Gracie to fawn over him. It seemed perfectly natural, and the blush that hit his cheeks wasn't even something he noticed for once. His mood was certainly improved.

Darius laughs when Lucy tells off Buffy, and commences to stalk off. "I think maybe Lucy doesn't understand how friendship works Buffy. I seem to do well enough being friends with pretty much anyone I want." Darius says, though a small voice in the back of his mind shouts that he's in for a surprise if he continues straddeling those borders as he has this past week.

He leans his head to lock eyes with Gracie. "Think you can iron things out with her? It'd be a bad thing if she's sewing the seeds of discord with The Teams." And by that, Darius is clearly implying ALL of the teams~ including the Cheerleaders. "A woman scorned, a woman upset... you know, things of greatest danger to the spirit behind teamwork and cohesiveness." He says jokingly.

That said, he excuses himself and hits the showers as Coach had said. It's quite likely he's all sudded and scrubbing when the scream is made from the Girls Showers... The lights flickering is enough to get Darius to pick up his pace, de-sud and get out (everyone knows that it's bad to be in a shower during a lightning storm after all).

Chan couldn't help but shake her head at Lucy's petty comments to Buffy. She'd have said something but so far Lucy hadn't really noticed her, and she didn't want to exactly call attention onto herself. She existed in a largely torment free bubble, and liked to keep it that way unless something really bad was going to happen. Once Lucy had moved on, Chan caught up with Buffy. "You should just ignore her. She has little bit too high of an opinion of herself, as if spelling words and wearing a cute outfit makes her better than everyone else."

When she heard the scream and saw the flickering lights, she booked into the changing room to see what was going on. She hoped that it was just a practical joke of some kind, and not anything more sinister. Still lately it was hard to predict what would happen around here.

Gracie walks past Buffy and grins at her "Don't worry about Lucy, I will talk with her and get her in line. I don't like the way she acted" she continues towards the locker room when she hears the scream. She takes off running into the locker room. She figures Lucy broke a nail or something.

"But...I didn't..."

Buffy was taken aback at Lucy's sudden outburst. Not to the point of being reduced to tears, but still...it caught Buffy completely offguard. As Lucy stormed off, Buffy stood there numbly, the "popular" girl's harsh words ringing in her ears. For a new kid in school, that was the last thing she wanted to hear.

Buffy nodded to Darius and Gracie, their support buoying her back...a bit.

"Hey...thanks."

Buffy walked towards the girl's changing room, the dodgeball game hadn't even caused her to break a sweat...and then the light's flickered and there came a loud scream. Buffy found herself running just behind Gracie towards the source of the scream...

As Buffy and friends ran toward the Girls' lockers, the acrid smell of smoke stung their noses.  The screams grew louder and louder.  It was pretty obvious to Gracie Lynn and Darius that the screams came from Lucy.  "HELP!"

Lucy was joined by two other girls.  Whoever arrived first in the lockers would find herself held back by a high wall of fire!  The flames covered the floors by the first row of lockers.  They licked up the wall, and threatened to cut off the three students from outside help.

At the same time, the school entrance burst into flame, too!  Brian, who reached it first, found his shirt sleeve on fire!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:41, Fri 20 May 2011.

Melba moved toward the fire extinguisher, hoping that some silly little boy hadn't emptied it.  "Carrie", she said, "I know she's a bitch but she doesn't deserve that.  Let her go."

OOC - Melba works in a video shop and has her own theory about this.

The first scream cuts into Darius' shower, and his head tilts as he tries to ascertained if he'd really heard a scream or not. For a heartbeat or two he listens... but hearing nothing further, he ducks his head back under the water and washes the last vestiges of gym-sweat (not from exertion, just that film from being IN a gym). The second cry, the one that's the word HELP, echoes through the male locker room almost simultaneously with Darius turning off the water. That he HAD heard.

He's moving before he's got time to process anything. Only an after-thought is the thought behind his grabbing his towel as he runs. His feet slip twice as he wraps the towel around his lower half, but the athlete demonstrates to the less reactionary guys in the locker room precisely why he was a star athlete and he keeps his feet.

"Call the Office!" He yells encouragingly to one of the students, standing closest to the Coaches office that he dashes into. Everyone knows the Phys Ed Faculty Office is the adjoining room between the locker rooms... and Darius is sprinting through that right quick. With Coach Cordova busy elsewhere, there weren't any teachers present to call upon. Which meant, they'd have to call for one immediately.

Darius was about to cross a line, he knew that in the back of his mind... but the smell of smoke and cries for help were enough to spur him on. He wasn't going in there to snoop, he was going in there to help. Darius bursts through the offices far door and into the blind corner that would wrap around into the girls locker room. As he hits the corner, he thinks to shout: "MALE ENTERING!!", something he'd heard Coach Cordova say once when she'd come into the boys locker room, only she'd cited herself as a female obviously.

And so it is, a mere second after announcing himself, that the towel-clad adonis that is Darius Simmons rounds the corner and into the open in the girls locker room.

His eyes widen at the flames. He barely notes Melba grabbing the extinguisher, instead moving for the Towel Rack (assumedly set up identical/mirrored to the boys shower room). He grabs a handful of towels and sprints to the sink with every intent to douse them with water and prepare to combat the flames with them just like he'd seen in the movies. They could be drenched and tossed in to the students who could cover themselves and sprint through... in theory! Unless Melba got the fire taken care of first.

It was weird, Buffy had the same exact thought process as Darius, and found herself grabbing the rest of the towels that Darius didn't. Buffy didn't even think to look for and use the fire extinguisher. It was almost surreal for Buffy, trying to get the towels soaked enough to be of use, and trying to figure out just what had happened. Buffy looked at Darius.

"You want to try and go through, or put out the fires?"

Buffy fully intended to take the other task...either throwing the soaked towels down to try and extinguish flames, or to try and get the girls to safety, depending on whichever one Darius chose.

Gracie in and looks shocked at the fires, where did they come from and what started them. She runs over and pulls the fire alarm, hoping it will start the sprinkler systems. She looks to see if any of the lockers can pulled over onto the fire, covering it.

She looks at Buffy "Buffy, look in the janitors closet to see if there is a water hose" She looks at the flames to see if she can figure out what is causing it.

Chan darted off for the nearest fire alarm, knowing that it would be the best way to get the fire department here. Her next goal was to find another fire extinguisher to help put out the blaze. She didn't really want to deal with the fire herself, but she wasn't about to just let some of the girls trapped in there roast, even if they were some of the popular girls. It also occurred to her that all of her stuff was inside of the locker room, and while it wasn't more important she wasn't looking forward to losing it either.

BJ rolls her eyes as she drops off her injured student.

"Stay here and get your nose taken care of, I have to check on the rest of the Asylum." She tells the jock and heads back towards the Gym to make sure her class doesn't burn it down.

Garrett arrived right behind Melba, panting with wide eyes at the blaze. It reflected on all surfaces, making a wall of heat that rolled toward the open door they entered through. Their were already students scrambling everywhere, Buffy and Darius wetting towels, Chan and Gracie pulling alarms, and Melba going for an extinguisher (he briefly recognized the irony of this situation in light of the conversation they had been carrying out in the hall).

There was so much fire, so much light. He remembered the scream that he had heard from the hall. Why wasn't she still screaming? Was she dead? Would all of this be for a charred body?

Garrett couldn't shake it; he stood erect, for a moment that felt like ages in the light of the fire.

Then he ran to Melba's side. She would know exactly what to do.

Melba ran toward a fire extinguisher located just outside the Girls' Locker as fast as her chunky legs could carry her.  Snatching it up, she entered the locker in time to see a shocking sight.  A wall of flame cut off a half-naked Darius, completely blocking him from sight!

Darius just wet the towels in the sink when fire spread out before his eyes.  The screams grew louder as the fire spread.  Despite the immediate threat, Melba undoubtedly analyzed the fire with her keen, scientific mind.  In addition to the inexplicable phenomenon of spontaneous fire, there was something else odd about it...

Meanwhile, Gracie-Lynn and Chan simultaneously pulled separate fire alarms.  The alarm clanged jarringly, alerting the rest of the school to the danger!  Chan grabbed another extinguisher--just in time to see the sprinklers start dousing the fires outside the lockers.  If she acted quickly enough, she could help put out the larger fires.

Unfortunately, the sprinklers did NOT go off inside the locker area!  Melba and Darius fought their respective fires as best they could, but the fire kept spreading.  Impossibly, the heat inside the girls' locker felt like the heart of an industrial smelting furnace!  No human would last long in there.

To make matters worse...the door to the girls' locker slammed closed by itself!

There was something ABOUT this fire, well something other than the whole firestarter unglaublichkeit.  Melba kept fighting the flames as she tried to figure out what it was, and more to the point, what to do about it.

21:22, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 19 using the Unisystem system (1d10+10). Science (how do I stop it?).
21:21, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 12 using the Unisystem system (1d10+6). Notice.

BJ pushed her burning student to the floor, pulling off her light athletic jacket and doing her best to smother the burning portions of her student out. She had to get those flames doused so she could see to the rest of her students.

Chan almost ran face first into the door when it failed to open. The door being somehow locked had been the last thing that she'd expected. She knew the door had a lock, but it was rarely actually locked and she doubted that anyone would have done that while the fire was burning. It also occurred to her that her brother was trapped within the Locker room as well, and a cold chill ran down her spine.

She did her best to force the door open, and when she was unable to open she screamed in anger and frustration. She wasn't about to loose her brother to some dumb door and a fire that had started out of nowhere. So she did about the only thing she could think of and bashed the fire extinguisher against the door. "Somebody get an Axe or something! The door isn't budging."

Mysteries were Melba's raison d'etre... well one of them anyway, somewhere behind eating and buying new tech, and this one was a doozie.  Still, in the end mechanical problems are not so hard to fix and so...

10:38, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 22 using the Unisystem system (1d10+15). Ms Fix it + Perception +DP.

When the door slammed behind them, trapping them inside the oven-of-a-locker-room, Garrett all but threw a "holy-shit-the-sky-is-falling" fit. Melba beside him seemed to be cool calm and collected with her handy fire extinguisher, but Garrett had nothing in his hands save that super clamy layer of terror and anticipation of sudden crispification.

Melba's back was turned as she scanned the fire with a glint in her eye. She would probably figure something out--she always did, but... You could only rely on the mind-reading thing for so long.

"So? What are you thinking?" Garrett blurted at Melba, sweat beginning to slide down the sides of his crystalline brow.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:51, Mon 27 June 2011.

Darius remains fixed in single-minded determination to literally beat the fires back with the wet towels... however when it appears that tactic isn't going to work, he adopts a new one. "Fine." He says, vehemence equivelent to a curse word that he'd never use. He instead wraps a towel around each foot and secures them like shoes, then grabs a third and forth which he drapes over head and shoulders (The latter wrapping about him like a coat after a fashion) and he leaps THROUGH the flames as quickly as possible in effort to reach those trapped within, and to begin ferrying them out much as he's seen in movies.

B.J. wasted no time shoving the boy to the sidewalk.  She acted with near-military precision.  Moving fluidly, she quickly had Brian rolling on the pavement.  Just as swiftly, she doffed her jacket and began beating the flames.  Luckily, the coach put out the small fire in time.  However, she saw the cloth burned through in second degree burns!

Inside the gym, Chan, Gracie-Lynn, Kieran, and Hunter stared at the door.  They saw dark gray smoke wafting from underneath the door. The acrid stench came through with even that little bit of smoke!  Chan attempted to batter the door with the extinguisher.  A small crack appeared, but she simply wasn't strong enough to beat down the door by herself.  Her eyes teared from frustration and the smoke.

She wondered that if it were that bad outside the room, how much worse would it be inside?

While their friends tried to help, Darius, Garrett, Buffy, Melba, and Lucy faced an awful fire!  The fire spread quickly, as if eating up everything in sight.  Darius' gambit worked and allowed him to pull Annie Del Toro to safety. Unfortunately, the fire licked his back and raised a welt. (OOC: 3 points LP damage).

Lucy began couging and her knees buckled.  Melba already knew that the smoke inhalation would kill them long before the fire would!  Her eyes hastily scanned the locker room, her mind processing possibly solutions even faster...

Buffy's mind saw things slow down a bit, like in a movie. Or maybe that was because of the smoke? Buffy didn't know, but what she did know was what her instincts were suddenly screaming at her...she should try to kick the door open.

Buffy tensed up, then sprinted at the door, giving it a Spartan like kick with all the force she could muster. She didn't worry about getting burned right now, they'd all be...toasty if they didn't get out of there asap.

(00:31, Today: Buffy Summers rolled 11 using the Unisystem system (1d10+6). Kick down door.)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:35, Tue 05 July 2011.

"****!" exclaimed Melba because there are times when only the strongest oaths are appropriate and this was one of them.  "Why haven't we burned?" she asked aloud, "When the sprinklers have melted."

She pointed up toward the ceiling.  "We need a high-jumper and about 500 pounds of force to break those pipes and let the water out."

She paused and said to the empty air.  "Hey there Firestarter, sorry I got the wrong Stephen King novel but would you mind awfully UNstarting it?"

Unfortunately, Melba's plea apparently went unheard!  The fires raged even stronger.  By then, the smoke was so thick, hardly anyone could even see what was in front of their face. She noticed that it was becoming harder to breathe.

Desperately, Buffy rushed the door.  Concerns of exposing her secret identity were by then driven away by the crisis.  Buffy ran, leapt--and bashed the door open with one kick!  Most of the people trapped in the locker room found a new avenue of escape.

Except for Lucy, who'd collapsed on the locker floors!  Anyone who thought of going back to grab her would find themselves cut off by wall of fire which sprang inexplicably from the floor!

OOC:

All Cast mates are now outside the locker.  B.J. is right outside the gym.

Lucy, OTOH, is trapped in the burning locker room!  >:D

It's hard to see, exactly, what happened next. Through a window, a man seems to have jumped in. Or is he a boy? It's impossible to tell. Wearing a white tshirt, white pants, a white belt...even his shoes are white.

Crashing through the window, and apparently uncaring of the damage, the mystery man moves quickly.

He looks up for a moment, and leaps high up, grabbing the pipes, and ripping one out. The idea is that water will flow out of the broken pipe, even if it is inefficient. Might keep the school from burning down.

Then, there's Lucy. He picks the girl up, and without a word being spoken, leaps back out the window he came in.

It is interesting to note this man seems to be able to act in broad daylight.

"You alright, miss?"

Whatever damage he might've suffered from the glass and the heated pipes, and even the ambient fire don't seem to be bothering him much.

Anyone glancing back into the fiery room would see a tall man in white burst headfirst through the window.  He landed on his hands and rolled in a small ball, tumbling and bolting upright into a perfect stance.  The stranger gauged the emergency at hand.

A rapid assessment of the situation led Luthien to leap five feet off the floor in a flawless standing jump!  His hand closed around the small water pipes.  With a powerful tug, the nearest pipe attached to the sprinkler broke free.  Water sprayed over the room!

As soon as the mystery man landed, he scooped up Lucy, turn, and leaped back through the window!  Coach Cordova stood at just the right angle to see a soaked man dressed in white carrying Lucy out into the rain.

Meanwhile, a few fires still burned in the girls' locker.  The students were all safely evacuated from the lockers, but not the gym.  The fires weren't all put out yet...

OOC:

Perception + Notice rolls for all inside the gym.
Intelligence + Occultism for anyone who scores higher than a 14!

There was an English band called the Prodigy and Melba found herself singing their hit, "Firestarter" under her breath as she escaped through the breached door and into the gym.  She had an idea there was something weird in a Steven King sort of way going on but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

10:30, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 13 using the Unisystem system (1d10+6). Perception + Notice.

"Someone get him to the school infirmary, I need to check on the gym!" BJ yelled as she rushed to see what was going on and who was that that jumped out of the gym.

Buffy felt the door fly off the hinges and go crashing. She figured people would chalk it up to a weakened frame or adrenaline or something...

...she hoped.

Buffy whirled around as others rushed for the exit, but Buffy scanned the room for anything else, or anyone else...

02:17, Today: Buffy Summers rolled 18 using the Unisystem system (1d10+9). Perception + Notice.

Most of the students watched in both terror and morbid fascination.  A few helpful souls--including Chan & Gracie Lynn--readily helped evacuate the fleeing students.  The fires didn't rage as fiercely now.  Smoke lingered outside the now-flooded locker room.

The alarm brought concerned administrators to the gym.  Dean Jepson and a security guard tugged fiercely on the door.  For some strange reason, the doors there wouldn't budge, either.  "Help me get this door open," the dean bellowed.

When B.J. reached Lucy's side, the girl was alone.  She coughed in racking fits, hacking and trying to clear her lungs.  Her mystery benefactor was nowhere to be seen.

Back inside the gym, Buffy swept the gym.  No sign of demons or any vampires.  Melba couldn't shut out the flashbacks to Drew Barrymore in Firestarter or Anna Bettis in Stephen King's Carrie.

Having managed to extricated Annie Del Toro, Darius takes a moment to gather some fresh air. His eyes are a mess of tears, between the smoke and the effort of resisting any expressions of pain from the burns he'd suffered were more than sufficient excuse for his manhood. Still, once he's sure Annie isn't going to pass out and shoo's her towards the gym, he turns back just in time to see the white figure leap through the window again.

His mouth is agape, shock and awe mixing with envy. He was talented at the high jump, but THAT seemed inhuman. Unable to process it, he turns his clearing eyes to ensuring no others had been left behind or were in need of immediate evacuation.

Melba looked bemused as she did the math in her head.  She was right.  Somebody had jumped up and applied the force of more than a 500lb weight to the pipes.  That somebody was not human.  She shrugged for now, but resolved to mention it to Garrett at the next opportunity.

Garrett coughed into his shirt, eyes red and watering from breathing in smoke. Buffy had broken down the door, and he rushed through the splintered frame into the gym. He glanced over his shoulder to check where Melba was; she seemed to be lingering for some reason. He stopped short and walked back toward her.

"C'mon, let's get out of here. You can marvel at the math later," he called through his pulled-up T-shirt.

Garrett guessed at there being figures running through Melba's head as a matter of course. When she let him in on her musings, they usually ran in the pack of equations or theories explaining something or some such. Much as her brain bemused him, there was a time and a place; both somewhere far away from burning locker rooms.

02:32, Today: Garrett Ashcroft rolled 9 using the Unisystem system (1d10+6). Perception + Notice.

"Did the girl get out? Is she alive, the one who fell?" he added. Garrett hadn't seen any sign of her since they burst out of the locker room. His eyes squinted, puffy and red from the waves of heat and smoke. He barely believed they had made it out at all. If it hadn't been for Buffy...

Out in the gym he saw a group of students Chan, Gracie-Lynn, Kieran, and Hunter who had been trying to open the door from the outside. He would have to remember to thank that motley crew, when he could breath, they weren't still putting out fires, and when it would be slightly less public.

Melba let herself be led, mumbling, not quite under her breath, "But ye cannae go agin the laws of physics Captain".

Dean Jepson gripped the handles of the gym entrance with both hands.  The man wasn't weak any stretch of the imagination.  His build showed the strength of someone who was still athletic, even if he'd started getting modestly soft in the middle.  With all his strength, he YANKED on the door--

--and it suddenly yielded with no resistance, sending him stumbling back!  Jepson hastily recovered.  He looked a little flustered, but didn't waste time trying to recover false pride.  Instead, he waved the kids out the door.

"Everyone outside, quickly now!"  Rain still fell, but the clouds weren't as dark.  The sky showed signs of clearing up within the next few hours, just another transient shower in Savannah!

Jepson beckoned B.J. and Darius over.  "What in the world happened in there?  A fire truck is on the way, but I'd like to hear firsthand."  His deep-set eyes fixed them with an intense gaze.  Between a murder a few weeks earlier and now a fire, Jepson was decidedly unhappy with the recent streak of "bad luck"!

The scene looked ethereal from the top down, all sketched in pen and ink. The door flew open, and there, on the ground, lay a well dressed man in shambles with eyes bulging focused through the wide-open door. The handle hitting the gym wall sounded like a gunshot; then the man was up and shouting, his veined forehead seemed more urgent than the words "Everyone outside, quickly now!"

Garrett's vision was becoming cloudy, whether it was the trauma or the smoke he couldn't tell. He started walking toward the man and the open door, but half-way he started running to the rainy outside; to the unbaked Savannah that could cool his thoroughly freaked-outed-ness.

What the hell is going on? Do I deserve this? I don't want to be the one trapped in burning buildings or fighting off vampires or... who knows what else! I just want to survive high school---to survive period.

Garrett raised his face to the inconsistent rain, as if to send his "prayer" to whatever powers may be. He decided to ask Melba how she felt about all this, whether their lives had been better since Buffy had shown up. It was him and Melba against the world, after all.

OOC: Sorry for all the delays here, I really have not been feeling well lately. I'll try and post more regular like from here on out. Thanks for putting up with me. :)

Chan rushed over to Darius as he made his way out of the Locker room, and checked him over carefully. Her heart was still thudding against her ribs, and a feeling of immense relief was slowly breaking through the shock of what had happened. She didn't know what she would have done if something bad had happened to him. Even now she wanted someone, a Doctor most likely to tell her that everything was going to be fine.

Impulsively she gave Darius a quick hug, she was really quite fond of him after all. It occurred to her that she should probably phone her parents and let them know that everything was fine and that they weren't hurt. Learning about it on the news would only make them worry. "I'm glad that you're okay. I would have hated to have to tell Mom and Dad that you got hurt." She teased forcing herself to smile. When the Principal called Darius over, Chan followed behind him. She wouldn't be happy until after a Doctor checked him out, he probably had smoke inhalation. He certainly smelled like he might.

Coach concentrated on the situation at hand. She had one majorly burned student but there were many more inside at danger, she reminded herself as she dashed for the Gym slowing only long enough to wrench open a cabinet to grab a heavy fire extinguisher before looking to help the rest of her students out before more got burned.

Melba had finished the math now and she said to Garrett, "That guy couldn't exert that much force", she said, "But he did, or something did.  Maybe Carrie was there after all but on our side."

She'd start worryiong the problem now until she had an answer that fit all the facts and then she'd design an experiment to test further.  That was the way it worked.  She put an arm around Garrett for a moment and said, "Us against the world."

When the doors are open, and Darius can see that none are left behind, he grabs one of the water logged towels and ties it firmly about his waste as he rushes outside. Modesty? Hah.

The cold rain feels amazingly soothing on the raw and throbbing welts where he'd been burned. No doubt they'd be tender for weeks, and likely to scar if not cared for in short order. He winces only sleightly when Chan hugs him, but is quick to offer his own silent and reciprocated hug.

When he's summoned by the Principal, he hikes his towel up securely (just to be safe) and moves to answer. "I'm not sure really. I'd just gotten into the shower. There were cries for help, smoke, a fire, I ran to help... I did what I could to get people out. Some of the students escaped through the window I think..." The last bit seems more confused and disjointed than the rest, as het tries to settle the what he'd seen with what was physiclly possible in his mind.

Melba's face was so full of thought. "Are you talking about back in the locker room? I didn't get a good look, what happened?"

Then Melba's arm was around him. Damn, he knew it as soon as she said it; he couldn't have put it better than that. "Damn right we are." The words surprised even him when they came out. He shrugged for a second, glad at her touch--her confiding touch. She may not have needed it, but Garrett thought he needed a little consoling right then, and he welcomed it from his best friend.

He laughed as he tried to stifle a smile like a drawn-in cartoon.

Buffy and the problems she brought, whether or not they were her fault, could wait. They had to deal with the problem at hand, just like when he and Melba had found that dead guy in the basement...

Then he remembered where the were, standing outside of a burning building just after a crisis that had been averted by only-God-knows-what circumstances. He glanced absently at the ground, maybe it had been Carrie.

But if she was on their side, then someone needed to explain themselves. Maybe talking to Lucy was the next step--a step toward making this jacked-up, burnt-down, crap-piece of a puzzle make sense. "Maybe someone saw something, ya know?" He mused. "Maybe we should ask around."

Garrett looked up to see Chan and Darius exchanging affection. Good, he thought, they got out alright too. He still didn't see Buffy or Gracie anywhere, but he let himself assume that they were probably safe. His slightly perturbed eyes returned to Melba, his lips tightly pursed.

Buffy got hustled out of the building along with those who were able. Teachers and security guards were bustling around, going back in, ensuring that everyone was accounted for. Buffy had taken in some of her classmates' reactions...it was interesting. She sighed as she slumped down against a tree, leaning her head back and taking a deep breath.

She exhaled then looked around, noticing Chan standing with Darius as the star quarterback spoke with the Principal. Garrett and Melba were out here as well. Buffy sighed. She felt a bit like things were closing in. Terrible things kept happening, and she knew vampires were involved.

She wished she could say it was "just bad luck". But that couldn't happen. It wasn't true. She sighed and remained under the tree, letting it all sink in, and watching as friends checked on friends, making sure each other was okay.

Melba nodded.  "Sure, let's ask Buffy.", she said.  "She knew about those vampires yesterday, which is probably a clear and present danger, but the guy who stopped the fire wasn't a vampire (it was daytime) and somebody started that fire.  Again, I don't think that's a vampire thing."

She said as much to Buffy, asking Buffy whether she knew anything about other supernatural stuff.  Then when it came to the guy jumping up and breaking the pipe.  "There's superhuman strength and then there's defying the laws of physics.  If someone in mid-air exerted 500 lbs of pressure through a fist, he's go flying across the room in the opposite direction.  There was some force in the room we didn't see. Two if we count what started the fire."

Melba was happy to accept magic as an explanation on a temporary basis until she'd had time to convert "magic" into "physics" and work out the rules.

OOC:  GM standing in for Gracie...

IC:

Gracie strode through her classmates in search of one person: Darius.  She didn't interrupt Chan's hug, but as soon as they pulled apart, the cheerleader checked on the star athlete.  "Darius, I'm so glad you weren't hurt!"

Slender fingertips gently caressed his arm. "Don't scare me...us like that again, though!  Jepson would, like, crack in half and fall into the earth if anything ever happened to you!"  Although gently chiding on the surface, was there something else under that tone...?

When the alarm sounded, all classes immediately went into "Fire Drill" mode!  Teachers began herding students into the halls and out the designated evacuation routes.  Mr. Whitlock abruptly interrupted the ceramics lesson.  "Everyone, let's go out to the soccer field like we've practiced!"

He didn't say aloud that there wasn't a fire drill scheduled for that day.  Clearing out the students was like trying to steer a herd of high-strung race horses, but Clive managed it in the end.  Hastily rattling off a head count, Clive waved the Music instructor over.  "Dr. Lang, could you watch my class?  I'm supposed to check in with the rest of the Safety team."

Clive started jogging over the campus with determination.  As he ran, he scanned the crowds until he saw a few familiar faces.  He stopped when he saw a half-naked Darius.  Taking off his blazer, Clive offered it to Darius.  "Please.  Take this until we can find some clothes for you."

Then, Clive briskly crossed the field.  He would have stopped for the recovering Lucy, except that B.J. was helping her after putting out smaller fires.  Instead, Clive walked toward Buffy.  He stopped at the tree, crouching beside her.  "That's a lot of fuss, but it looks like everyone came out just fine.  How are you holding up, then?"

Garrett followed Melba in tow to meet with Buffy, but just as Melba had started firing off her theorems, Mr. Whitlock approached the three of them.

The two of them standing next to Buffy, and she and Mr. Whitlock crouching under the tree, gave Garrett the feeling that maybe Buffy did know what was going on. At least, maybe she was the best one to come up with a plan. He couldn't explain it, but as he stood peering around Melba at Buffy and Mr. Whitlock, he could feel something, almost visible, between the pair stooped there.

Garrett couldn't explain why that man Melba was talking about could do the things he did, but he knew that not all things were impossible. Sometimes, even the craziest sounding things could be real. Even vampires.

Standing akimbo, Garrett regarded the exchange before him as an observer, still trying to fit the puzzle pieces of this day in the frame of his mind. Garrett hated puzzles.

Darius becomes all the more aware of his nearly naked status the moment Gracie is on scene, and is quick to shift stance and reposition the towel again (This time a tactful adjustment to ensure angles are as flattering as possible). Not for the first time is a blush on his cheeks well hidden by the dark complexion of his skin, though Chan is sure to notice the faint shift if Gracier herself does not.

"Ah, thanks, Sir." Darius says, shrugging lightly into the jacket. A process made all the more difficult when the fabric slides across raw blistered skin and the towel threatens to drop from his waist! Luckily, pain or no pain, Darius is a well coordinated youth and he manages to maintain decency and dignaty.

Buffy barely noticed Clive as he approached, crouching beside her. It didn't register at first, so when he commented, she assumed it was one of the people she'd been through recent travails with.

"I'm fine I guess, I mean, this is all weird. I don't like any of it, so I'd be holding up better if I wasn't so pre-occupied with vampir-"

Buffy trailed off as she looked over at the person she was addressing...and realized it was most definitely not any of her group.

"I..uh..."

Buffy felt herself blushing, figuring this teacher was going to figure she was insane.

"So...this is definitely awkward..."

"Yeah.  Twilight fans are nutters, right?"  Clive winked at Buffy.

Buffy just stared at Clive. He..cracked a joke? That was it? Didn't he have the same bias all the other teachers had? Buffy had figured her reputation as a potential problem child had proceeded her here.

"I.."

Buffy shook her head and looked at Clive again.

"So...you don't think I'm crazy..."

Clive raised eyebrows.  He stared out at the smoke billowing from the now-abandoned gym, at the fire trucks now arriving at the campus.  "Why?  Because an out-of-control fire freaks you out like everyone else?"

With a grin that made him look younger, Clive shook his head. "No.  I think you're just another teenager trying to survive high school.  Which, if I understand my American pop-culture, isn't unlike one of the lower Circles of Hell?"

Buffy stared blankly at Clive like he was an alien. Where had this very cool teacher been hiding?! She felt conflicted, part of her wanting to jump with joy, and part of her still not wanting to face the fact that there was a definite vampire problem here in Savannah.

Buffy sighed and looked at Clive.

"So, at the risk of sounding like a complete moron...who are you?"

Buffy was genuinely curious, she wanted to know who this teacher was. Maybe there was an actual faculty member who could be an ally? As Clive so succinctly put it, High School was on par with hell.

It even had the bloodsuckers to go with it.

"I'm Mr. Whitlock.  I teach the Art classes."  He extended his hand for a polite handshake.  "If you ever take one of those classes, you'll have the privilege of calling me 'Clive'.  Much to the chagrin of the more traditionally-minded faculty here!"

Clive said the last as if the very notion delighted him.  Then, he glanced back at the still-smoking gym.  "I missed the first act of the show.  What happened here?"

Buffy gave a small smile as she reached out her own hand, shaking Mr. Whitlock's extended hand.

"Please tell me it's not too late to sign up for one of your art classes."

Buffy blushed a bit. She hadn't meant to blurt that out...well, like that. It had just happened. She let the red fade away as Clive glanced towards the smoking gymnasium. Buffy ever so briefly faded back to Los Angeles, then shook her head and looked back at Clive.

"I, uh...we were playing Dodgeball, and there was this really big jerk on my team, and Darius got him out, but it was kinda bloody, and I...oh, you mean..."

Buffy paused sheepishly. She closed her eyes, collecting her thoughts, the Slayer in her eagerly jumping for the chance to reconstruct the scene.

"Coach was taking jerkface to the nurse when we heard a scream from the girl's locker room. And me and Darius and Gracie went running, and the place was on fire. We didn't get to see the start. It just was. Then, as we were trying to get to the trapped people, and more fire started, like, spontaneously."

Buffy took a breath.

"There was someone that saved Lucy. I dunno who, but I swear what he did wasn't normal. But Darius got a bit burned, and I managed to...to open the door."

Kicked down the door Buffy shook off the internal thought, not wanting to give Mr. Whitlock a reason to think she WAS crazy.

"And then, we got out, and then...well, I think you're seeing the second act. What- What do you think?"

Melba arrived, with Garrett in toe and added to the last conversation.  "I was in there and what he did wasn't normal by any stretch of the imagination and if you want an explanation that appears to fit in with the laws of physics, human biology and anything else that holds together the current paradigm, then ask me tomorrow and I'll have invented something.  If you ask to early, you tend to get the truth and I'm with Jack Nicholson on that."

"'Defying the laws of Physics'...well, it's not as though such laws aren't subject to amendment, but are you talking '1st Matrix before the end', or 'Green Lantern'-level of impossibility?  Just to clarify, what exactly did you all see?"

Perhaps because Clive wasn't really that much older than the pupils, he didn't talk down to them like kids.  He stood beside them, his affect serious and genuinely curious.  This was a conversation and he'd leave the condescending scoffing to Van Tiel and the stodgier teachers.

Melba grinned.  "Well alright then, somebody jumped with no run up six feet into the air and delivered a force equivalent to dropping a five hundred pound weight in exactly the right tiny area to break the pipes (which had fused) and let the water out to kill the fire, then he jumped through the window.  Added to that, the fire itself was hot enough to have just evaporated the water... and despite the heat, I was breathing normally as if the fire itself wasn't using up the oxygen in the room. Like I said, give me a while to come up with a suitable lie, or we could just not tell anybody and let forensics sort it out."

Chan still figured that Darius probably still needed to go to the hospital. It didn't look like he needed any attention immediately though, which considering everything was about as good as she could hope for. She hadn't met the new art teacher yet, and wasn't really sure what she thought of him yet. He was obviously not from around here, but that wasn't necessarily a black mark against him.

"It seemed like more of a classic superhero sort of thing to me... Not so much Green Lantern as Superman." She'd only seen him for a few moments, and what she had seen had just left her confused. Well if vampires existed, maybe superheros did too.

When Melba rattled off a list of scientific impossibilities, Clive's eyes started glazing over about 20 seconds into the ramble.  "I'm going out on a limb and guessing that you're Melba Ellenberger!"  The tone was genial enough.  However, though they'd never met, he also said her name in that hint of exasperation of those teachers who'd found Melba...daunting.

Thankfully, Chan saved Mr. Whitlock from debating the finer points of Physics.  "Perhaps more like Spider-man?  It certainly presents a conundrum, doesn't it?"

Melba nodded.  "Yes I am, and you're right, more Spiderman than Superman and more matrix than Green Lantern."

"When I accepted the instructor position, I never thought I'd be discussing metaphysical conspiracies."  Clive grinned impishly.  "I'd love to discuss this further, but I'm neglecting my Art class.

We'll talk later!"  With a polite wave, Clive quickly took back off across campus.

Meanwhile, Miss Williams started herding the few injured toward the ambulances.  "The EMTs need to see anyone with injuries."  She paid special attention to her "TA".  "Darius, I think you'd better go to the ambulance."

Catching Buffy from the corner of her eye, Emmanuelle walked over.  "Buffy, are you all right?  Do you need one of the emergency personnel to come see you?"

Darius had barely paid attention to the metaphysical conspiracy talked. Smacked of comic-book cult nonsense. Likely it was just all of their imaginations high on adrenaline. The guy had likely had a rope or a hose, or hadn't even been there at all. CO₂ could cause hallucinations. Right? He looks at his sister with a frown, uncertain about leaving her alone with such crazy talk... yet Ms. Williams' words hadn't left much room for interpretation. He turns again to look at Gracie, as he responds to Ms. Williams. "Sure thing Prof.

"I um, gotta go down there..." Darius says, now to Gracie. "Mind keeping an eye on things... here?" He asks, subtly, so that Chan wouldn't overhear her brother asking the hot girl he likes to keep an eye on her.

"Buffy, you should have your ankle checked... those doors are pretty heavy. With all the adrenaline, you never know." He suggests over his shoulder, as he moves  towards the indicated ambulances. It was a way to inject a plausible explanation into all of their minds, and Darius was no stranger to late-noticed injuries.

Buffy took it all in, almost grateful for Melba's interruption, even though she didn't understand half of the concepts that Melba and Clive had bandied back and forth. Well, she'd gotten the part about the person being insanely strong. And superheroes. And the Matrix.

That was it.

Buffy nodded to Emmanuelle, about to refuse help when Darius spoke up as well, gesturing his head towards the awaiting EMT's. Buffy sighed and followed alongside Darius, the day's events still whirling around in her head.

She looked over at the star quarterback.

"I...what do you think?"

"I think in the heat of the moment, amazing people are capable of amazing feats." Darius says as the pair walks. history is filled with men dressed in white, showing up at fortuitous moments and performing miracles. Maybe this is just one more heaven sent miracle!"

"That'd be nice, wouldn't it? Somebody on our side for a change..."

Buffy sighed as the two approached the EMTs.

"...I didn't get to say this before, and I know it's a bit touchy-feely, but nice out on Brian."

Chan wasn't about to just let her brother leave on his own after what had happened. Sure her brother was normally the one looking out for her, but if she was hurt and going to the hospital he would definitely go with her. Besides it was what her parents would expect her to do, and she didn't think that anyone would have any problems with it. Their was also fact that she was still in her gym clothes, and the clothes she had brought this morning wouldn't exactly do her any good.

She hurried up and caught up to Darius before he got to the ambulance. "Give me your keys and I'll go home and get you a change of clothes, then meet you at the hospital." She sounded an awful lot like her mother, and had certain fierceness to her voice. It didn't seem as if she'd was willing to have any form of discussion about it. Her mind was firmly made up.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:32, Mon 15 Aug 2011.

Garrett touched Melba's shoulder. It was just them left now, everyone seemed to have somewhere else to be. He had stood contemplative throughout the metaphysical talk, about to add his two-cents when things took on a slightly more urgent-EMT-style tone. He wasn't sure, but he thought he could see some burns under Darius' towel.

He forced his mind to stray from what else lay under Darius' towel. He tried to concentrate on the exchange that had taken place...

Whitty's "we'll talk later" couldn't help but feel looming, no matter how off-hand it may have been toned.

Garrett took a couple deep breaths, mostly to check his lung capacity after having inhaled an inhuman amount of smoke (he was sure this was the case). If Melba said it was inscrutable (not her word) that they had survived, then it was probably a miracle, or something bordering it. He breathed easy, though.

Garrett jutted out his lip and shifted his weight. His arms crossed out of habit. "Should we follow them?" He asked Melba, unsure, pointing after the others on their way to the EMT. "I mean, I feel like shit, but I'm pretty sure we just survived the inside of a Nazi internment camp."

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego", said Melba, "but that would make chummy one of those 'Angels of the Lord', and I don't know about you but I ain't righteous enough for that.  Yes.  We better follow them.  C'mon m'boy, let's check it out."  And then she grinned a conspiratorial grin.  "I didn't say there WAS a conspiracy, I just offered to start one."

"From the sound of it, you've had a conspiracy baking from day one... but I say it's time we cut on the lights and check what's in 'ol Garrett's oven. How's that for a garbled metaphor?" Garrett grinned back at Melba and led the way to where the others loitered by the EMTs.

Garrett pointed to Melba, "She's inhaled entirely too much smoke, but me, I've been smoking since I was eleven. Lungs like rocks," he patted his chest affectionately and brandished a wry grin.

Over his shoulder to Melba, "I'm going in..." With a wink, Garrett inched closer to where Buffy stood.

"So, what'd you guys come up with for the man in white? And please don't say 'Angel of the Lord' because that was Melba's righteous solution." His eyes bounced between Buffy and Darius under an arched brow.

Buffy's comment regarding his out of Brian brings a smile to his mouth. "He's not such a bad guy, just gets a little full of himself sometimes." He tries to explain. Ever the nice guy, Darius was sticking up for someone who no doubt would have trounced on an excuse to bad mouth him to the new girl. Most guys saw defacement of a friend, rival, or trivial nerd, as a way of impressing hot chicks. Darius just wasn't that kind of guy. "Got skills of your own though. You should seriously consider Coach'es advice. We've got some solid teams here, and most could benefit from your abilities."

Darius looks at his sister, as though she were crazy for having asked for his keys. After a moments consideration though... he caves. "Keys are in my book-bag, safely locked away in the Men's Locker Room...

"Wait. Meet me at the Hospital? Really? The burns that bad?" He asks incredulously, and suddenly ill at ease. Hospitals weren't really his thing. He rarely got sick enough to take medicine, let alone a sick day or even a visit to the hospital. the one injury he'd ever had of sufficiently serious portent had been a dislocated shoulder. He'd popped that back into place himself, and went on to finish out the last three minutes with running plays and hand-offs. Hospitals... He shivers. Of course, his sister knows quite well that her brother has always gone out of his way to avoid hospitals. Sort of like some people (not him) were afraid of clowns. He said Hospitals were for the dead and dying. He was living. Possibly forever if he could swing it, and she had better be okay with that plan too because he fully expected her to live an hour longer than him at least. Ah, sibling love.

Coach Cordova and Miss Williams helped usher the students toward the ambulances.  A tiny handful accepted the offer to ride to Candler Hospital, including Darius.  While Dean Jepson fretted over potential legal issues, Chan & Darius made their way to the hospital.

OOC:

Anyone who wants to check on Darius may go to the hospital.  Anyone interested in staying behind may do so as well!

"I seriously need a strong drink." BJ muttered to herself as she walked over the gym facilities. Odds were she'd be out a job till the repairs were in place. Or just out of a job if the injured kid's parents had a big enough hissy. She kicked one of the kickballs out of the way grumpily as she looked the facility over.

"It sounds like a good excuse for cocktails over lunch!"  Miss Williams winked in a surprising display of impishness.  "I think we'll have the 'privilege' of an extended lunch break today.

What do you say?  I'll even play 'designated driver'--if you promise to allow me one Mint Julep!"

Buffy had waved off the EMTs. They'd checked her out and cleared her, despite strongly suggesting she go with them to the hospital. Buffy knew that she was fine though, and she didn't know if any of her Slayer stuff would show up in x-rays or blood work or...well, stuff. She was a teenage girl who'd watched way too many T.V. shows.

Instead, Buffy intended to have another look at the girl's locker room. She really wanted to try and figure out what caused the fire. She just had to wait until the teachers left that part of the building empty, then she could investigate.

Buffy heard Miss Williams speak to Coach Cordova, and ducked behind some thick bushes.

This is the opportunity he'd been waiting for. It's not quite clear how he got there, but next to Buffy in those hidden away bushes is the guy in white.

Now that she can get a clear look at him, it's REALLY hard to say how old he is. He looks like he could be anywhere from 18 to 28. Nonetheless, though he's made an appearance, he seems to be somewhat serious.

"Buffy. Lucy, whom I saved from the fire, is still in further danger. I haven't identified what started the fire, but it will attack her again. You'll want to keep an eye on her. I can tell you whoever's doing it is obssessed with her."

Apparently he knows people's names.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:21, Mon 29 Aug 2011.

"Fair enough, I figure that we could do that. You get your julep and I can have a nice irish meal and a pint or five with it." BJ says as she ducks into her office to grab her back pack.

Buffy practically fell over as someone spoke to her...from her side of the darn bushes! AND THEY ADDRESSED HER BY NAME! Buffy whirled around to find the guy in white who'd saved Lucy. She didn't even wait to hear what he had to say, instead lunging at him, intent on tackling him to the ground!

Finally, a chance for some answers!

Luthien lets himself be tackled.

"Little forward, aren't you?"

Almost chuckling at how quickly he got pounced. Good thing her friends didn't see this.

It's equally notable how he doesn't even try to get away. If anything, he looks amused.

Buffy found herself tumbling on top of Luthien as he let himself be tackled. She took a straddled position and glared down at him, grasping the collar of his shirt with her right hand.

"I'm glad someone finds this funny, generally, magical fire and near death tend to make me an unhappy girl."

She looked at Luthien.

"So why don't we start with, hi...I'm Buffy...who, or what, the hell are you? And why do you know so much about my friends?"

Luthien shakes his head.

"Fire and death aren't funny. Being pounced is."

Particularly since she's straddling him.

"As for me, I'm Luthien. And I'm here to help. In my way."

Whatever that means.

"And sometimes, I can...read people's fates, as it were. The powers after Lucy aren't done with her yet. I was serious about keeping an eye on her."

Buffy folded her arms together as she continued to stare down at Luthien, an incredulous look striking her face. So, in addition to unexplained superpowers, he was a psychic too? Buffy shook her head, why the hell did her mom decide that Georgia was the place to move to? At least in L.A., things made sense.

Well, kind of. As much as vampires and things that go bump in the night can.

"Okay, fine, so you're some kind of psychic...dude...person. Yeah..."

Buffy shook it off.

"That doesn't explain how you saved Lucy, and considering that I'm fairly sure I'm the only Slayer I know about, that leaves me asking, still, what are you?"

"I'm not allowed to say exactly what I am or why I'm here. It's one of the rules for my being here. Suffice to say, though, that if you get in over your head fighting the vampires and demons you normally fight, I'm strong enough to offer competent assistance. Your friends are willing to help you, but you'd have to watch out for them considerably more then they'd watch out for you."

Which was kind of obvious, considering he ripped a pipe open with his bare hands and then jumped in and out of a window.

"I'm also one of the few people you can spar with without worrying about hurting, if you want that."

"Sparring partner? I, what? No! Look, I don't even have a trainer person...whatever. I don't even want to be a Slayer. The Slayer? I don't know, okay?!"

Buffy had recoiled at his last sentence. The girl had been on a precarious perch since arriving, being thrust back into the role that had ruined her life out West. A new start hadn't helped matters, and now this guy was serving to remind her that not only did she not want to be doing this, but she also had no clue about it either.

"Why am I telling you this?"

Buffy stood up, getting off Luthien. She squeezed her hands tight into fists, the confusion and frustration over the recent past's events getting to her. She hit the wall, literally, before sliding down against it, hugging her knees.

Welp, with all of these newly realized, that not unexpected, emotions, there went her motivation to do ANY investigating...

Luthien, now released from his pin, simply goes over to Buffy, and goes to look her in the face.

"I'm not a Watcher, so you needn't worry about that. And even if you don't want your calling, it's in your blood. That's why you came here to investigate. You want to help Lucy. So do I. But you go to school here. I don't. So my movements are kind of limited here, except for dramatic rescues."

He offers a hand to Buffy.

"I can't save Lucy alone. The girl is slated for death unless people like us intervene. I need your help."

He waits for her to take his hand, if she wants to.

With school being out, or maybe not out as such but more or less over for the day, Melba made her way to the Video store.  She might as well see if she could get an extra shift now she was available.  Failing that, she could hang out all day at Radio Shack and see what new doodads she could find imaginative uses for.

In reply to Darius Simmons (msg #133):

"Do I really need to call Mom and Dad. Or are you going to be adult enough to not be a bonehead about it." She said sounding quite incredulous. "Look you were trapped in a burning room, and you smell like some sort of chemical fire. So you're going to go to the Hospital, if only to make me feel better." They both knew that if it was her that had been trapped in a fire, their wouldn't have even been a discussion about it. He had to get over his fear sometime, and it was better to do that sooner rather than later. With all of the fangers running around it was just a matter of time until someone got seriously hurt.

"Do we understand each other?" Her tone made it quite clear that she didn't want to hear any answer other than yes. Even if he didn't know it yet he was going to do what she wanted. It was for his own good after all.

Darius throws up his hands in dramatic symbol of surrender, like his sister he knew very well he'd be just as insistent (if not more so) were the shoes reversed.

Darius surrendered to Chan's surprising display of stubbornness.  Normally, he always got the final word in sibling disputes.  This time, though, the winner was never questioned, the outcome never in doubt. Soon, they were off to Candler hospital, where Darius' most loyal friends could come visit.

Meanwhile, Buffy was left facing the stranger who'd caused such a stir with Melba!  She faced yet another mystery that added a new layer to already existing mysteries.  What was his connection with the fire?  How had he really known about the danger?  Would they get those answers before a teacher caught them together?

While that happened, Melba took off for the video store.  She needed the hours, which would mean money, which would mean funding for her next experiment.  Garrett would either join her or not.

As that happened, B.J. took up Emmanuelle on her offer.  As they departed the campus, they were stopped by a certain Art teacher equally desperate for an escape...

Clive waved at Bonita.  "Hello!  Are you ladies off to lunch then?"  He smiled sheepishly.  "Would you...er...mind a third?  I don't think I can face the terrors of another lunch in the teacher's lounge.

No offense, Emmanuelle.  I'll pay you for the petrol!  My car is in the mechanic's garage this week..."

Buffy stared at Luthien's hand. She felt a lot of thing welling up inside her. Confusion. Mistrust. Indignation.

Frustration. Which was fast giving way to anger. Buffy ignored Luthien's hand as she stood up and brushed herself off. She gritted her teeth as she stared at this mysterious man.

"No. NO!"

Buffy clenched her hands into fists before throwing her arms wide open in exasperation.

"You're kidding me, right?! I don't know you. Hell, I barely know anyone here! I'm having a hard enough time fitting in, half the teachers here think I'm liable to burn the school down, and half the kids think I'm some kind of freak!"


Buffy shook her head.

"And now, these fanged freaks show up, and my 'destiny' rears its supposed head again. A destiny that I never asked for, and don't even know what the hell I'm supposed to be doing! I don't get half the crap you just said much less what a Watcher is! And now, now you ask me to help you?! To trust you?! And yet, you can't tell me anything about you, much less who you are or why you know so much. And you actually think I'm going to help you? You could be one of them for all I know!"

Buffy felt paused, trying to think through the rush of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.

After a moment, her eyes snapped back open, and she looked back at Luthien.

"Look, I don't know you. But you just happen to show up around the same time as all this crap, and won't say anything. So, therefore, I don't trust you. So, thanks, but no thanks. I just want to be left alone."

With that, Buffy shook her head. She'd said all she had to say, pent emotions and frustrations. With that, she stormed past Luthien, not even bothering to look back. She didn't even know why she'd bothered to try and investigate this mysterious fire, all it would have done was get her into trouble...
This message was last edited by the player at 06:28, Mon 05 Sept 2011.

But Luthien won't let that stand. Not quite yet.

"Buffy. You're experiencing a lot of pain. A lot of doubt. But will you really feel better if you ignore the problem, and let the girl die? As for Watchers, you will meet one soon. He is waiting for you within this very school. Your official mentor."

He knows damn well she won't. Nobody can really stand by and let someone die. Much less a hero. Who was born to save people.

"Take your time, if you must. If you later decide you want to work with me, I will be waiting for you at the Starbucks on Bull and Broughton at 7:00 PM tonight."

It's within walking distance, she'd be able to get there if she really wanted to.

And with that, Luthien lets her go, to do whatever her heart seems to insist on her doing. He only hopes she doesn't take so long to make up her mind that she has to deal with a death on her conscience. Still, one doesn't win trust, or even cooperation, by forcing the issue, so he must let her walk away if she insists on it.

But he'll watch her go, to see if she'll make the choice to show up or not. Yes, he can't tell her what he is. Full disclosure, sort of against his rules.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:41, Mon 05 Sept 2011.

Buffy heard him call out to her. She heard his words, and stopped. An internal debate. Should she answer? Or just ignore him and walk away?

Yeah, like the teenage girl part of her was just going to let him say that and not respond. She whirled about.

"I don't think you're hearing me. It's. Not. My. Problem. You're making me sound like this...this superhero or something. 'People like us.' 'Save Lucy, it's your destiny.' No thanks, okay. I don't want a destiny. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a teenager. Specifically, a girl. You want to know what I want to worry about? Who's gonna ask me to prom? Or, I hope my football team smashes fill in the blank rival's team on Friday! Not, 'Hey, Buffy, let's go save some lives and kills some stuff, it's our destiny."

Buffy shook her head.

"So, yeah, do yourself a favor, don't wait long. I won't be there."

Luthien is trying to empathize. But it can be justly pointed out he's not a teenage girl and never was.

"It isn't about what you want. Not really. It's about doing what other people want. It's about making the sacrifices necessary so other people can live and enjoy their lives."

But the spirit of noble heroism isn't what this girl wants to hear about right now, is it?

"But don't worry. If you follow the Slayer's path, you will not want for prom dates. You may even have more then one to choose from. If you insist on comparing it to superheroes, remember even Diana Prince had her Steve Trevor. It will be no different for you."

Yes, he just compared Buffy to Wonder Woman. And he starts chuckling at the thought of the former dressed up like the latter. He can just about picture it.

"Fair enough I guess, I'm going for a plowman's lunch, she's the DD and I guess I could use the company. I'm wanting to try out the new Irish pub and resturant nearby." BJ said with a chuckle. She could hear her grand-mother Rose chuckling at the idea of her having an Irish lunch given how much she tried to avoid her cabbage meals growing up.

"I...you...ugh."

Buffy threw her hands in the air.

"No one listens."

This mysterious man had missed the point entirely. It wasn't that Buffy wanted to be seen as a superheroine, or to step up valiantly to the rescue to gain recognition. Buffy wanted no part of it whatsoever. She didn't want guys swarming to ask her to the prom because she was the Slayer. She didn't want anyone to ever know about that part of her.

She wanted to be normal.

"Yeah...so, whatever."

And with that, Buffy walked away. She was tired of engaging in this pointless debate. She needed to get away from this school, she needed to clear her head. Buffy headed in the general direction of home, but didn't exactly make a beeline for it. One thing was for sure. She was tired of talking about "her destiny", and she would not be having coffee, or dinner, or whatever. She wanted to go home...and then she'd figure out what she wanted to do next.

Luthien sees something different, though.

A duty shunned leads to dead people, in her line of work. Still, free will is free will, and perhaps it'll take the shock of going to someone's funeral to make her see that her duty cannot be ignored without deadly consequences to other people.

"With lives on the line, we cannot afford to."

And Luthien departs. He will keep his word about being at the aforementioned Starbucks, however. Because keeping one's word is also big where he comes from.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:33, Tue 06 Sept 2011.

Melba worked a relatively short shift, making whatever excuse needed to make "first cut" at the video store.  Immediately afterward, a call went out to meet her where they first learned about the weirdness in the world.  Anyone who wanted could meet up at Vinnie Van Go Go's for pizza and conspiracy theories.

Only one block away, a late lunch for B.J., Emmanuelle, and Clive started segueing into dinner.  B.J. had chosen Molly McPherson's, a well-known pub that catered to the college set and local rugby teams.  They started the late lunch by opining about teaching in general.  However, they soon shifted into a discussion about the recent trend of weird happenings at the private school...


OOC:

Students, show up at the pizza place if you'd like.  B.J. & faculty friends will be at Molly's.  Luthien, there's no reason that you can't show up at either place.  For that matter, Gabriel & Caitlyn could also have dinner at one of those popular spots!

The stage area at the Irish pub showed signs of a musical act going later that night -- perhaps unusual for a weeknight. An upright piano had its top propped partly open, and a honey blonde was seated at the bench running her fingers over the keys, testing the action and wincing at one badly out-of-tune note.

Opening the top the rest of the way, she grabbed a tool from a case open on the floor next to her and started to adjust the strings. She seemed to be singing under her breath while she did so, a mezzo-soprano that sounded like honey with a drop of Scotch.

He'd shown up at the Bell & Booke with a sigh of regret as a "CLOSED" sign hung in the window. After school had disbanded for the day, Melba had taken off to check for an extra shift at the video store, but he'd wanted to check on the "Now Hiring" sign in the window of Bell & Booke. The place had given him shivers of curiosity. The kind that may or may not lead to the killing of cats.

In any case, with his initial plan a bust, Garrett leaned against the door of Bell & Booke contemplating the events that thronged his recent memory. Vampires, snipers, fire, and blood. He had been plagued by the last item on that list: cleaning the congealed mess out of his pristine hair took close to two hours. He thought he vaguely smelled of copper or iron from the bits of brain that had plastered his face. On the other hand, he had survived, and the monsters and champions that thrived in his subconscious were real, and they wanted blood. Blood was the life-line that bound everything together, so gathered. Garrett hadn't put much thought into the power that blood could hold.

Vampires thirsted for it; they couldn't survive without it. Slayers wanted vampires dead in a bloody mess. Somehow, that left Garrett in the middle, splattered in red and heart racing; but his heart wasn't racing from the urge to fight or flight; it was racing from the realization of his most cradled admirations. The concept of vampires had always fascinated Garrett. He had scrawled pages upon pages in his journal synthesizing, from the various Anne Rice and Dracula novels, his best conception of the nature of vampires--if they were real. And now...

They were real. He had touched one; rather, one had tackled him to the ground.

Garrett's porcelain face appeared vacant. The lines of his body leaned perfectly against the  door of Bell & Booke, as if he were a butterfly reflection of a symmetrical two-part-Garrett that leaned against the other side of the door. A strand of jet-black hair fell into his face as his chin sunk toward his chest.

His eyes fluttered and he came back to himself. Checking his phone, Garrett saw that people were meeting for a pow-wow. Vinnie's for pizza. He didn't feel much like cracking the mystery of their conflagrant gymnasium, so he'd take the long way to the pizza place. He was a block away when he paused on the corner of Molly McPherson's, an Irish pub. Traffic caused him to linger for the street to clear of cars before crossing. While he waited, Garrett surveyed the pub with a swanky expression.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Sat 10 Sept 2011.

Melba finished her shift, and stashed her uniform at home before making her way to Vinnie's for pizza and for conversation about vampires.  For so long thanks to so many authors, they had been something to admire, but Melba wasn't thinking that way.  Her horrors were dybbuks and golems, leshys and rusalkas, werewolves and vampyres from older, darker, nastier traditions.  She wasn't going to be a groupie to blood-junkies.  For her there was only one useful question when dealing with the supernatural...

"How do we kill it."  She whispered that aloud perhaps as she opened the door and, before her ass even hit the seat, she ordered a quattro stagioni.

Clive barely noticed the segue into the evening.  On any other given day, he wouldn't have sought the company of the uptight Miss Williams.  However, their impromptu faculty lunch-turned-dinner date showed some glimmers of promise that she might be human!

He'd enjoyed the outing. Even when the conversation took the turn for strange happenings.  Then...



When Caitlyn strode to the piano, Clive noticed!  His eyes trailed the lovely blonde with requisite interest.  Her looks pleased the eye, but when she started singing, Clive's ears equally pricked up.

The gorgeous vocals drew Clive like the proverbial Siren's song.  He leaned in the piano's direction, a dopey smile in place!

Bj chuckled as she leaned over to 'close' his mouth as he looked at the blonde.

"Down sailor.. this isn't an overnight liberty, we'll be here a while. Throttle back and just show her those pretty blues and don't drool on my pie." She said with a teasing grin.

Caught in the act, Clive could only sputter.  "She just...well...her voice is lovely!"  Silently, he added, As is nearly everything else about that sublime goddess!

B.J.'s sly remark about his eyes brought a furious blush to the cheeks.  "You're just determined to watch me flush various shades of red, aren't you, Bonita?"  An eyebrow arched for maximum effect.  Somehow, though, his earlier boyishness ruined the effect.

"Or just suffer coronary event. I'm not picky." BJ says impishly. "Perks of growing up in a big military family with lots of guys. I tease everyone I don't teach."

Darius is out for a ride on his bike.

After the excitement of the day before, the hash of seemingly weird events, and the looks from his parents fawning over his heroically earned wounds... Darius just needed some space. Sure, he could have just jumped into the 4Runner and driven off... but invariably he'd have ended up with other people piling into the vehicle. That's just the way it was. That's what it's for, that's why he'd gotten an SUV.

Today just wasn't the day for that. Today, Darius wanted to feel the rush of wind on his face and the numbing silence of engine and rushing air. Today was a day to ride.

Reaching one arm into the piano's guts, Caitlyn fiddled with the mistuned key for a few moments. The musically inclined might notice that its tuning was being less than cooperative, and as she pulled her arm out, she called in the direction of the bar, "Lil, I need to go grab something from my car. Keep the riff-raff off the keys, will you?" Her tone was lighthearted; her accent declared her to be a Savannah girl born and bred.

As she opened the door to the outside, she discovered the hard way that the solid wood did an excellent job of obstructing both vision and sound, as she narrowly missed clobbering an impeccably dressed and coiffed teen. Generations of manners kicked in. "I'm sorry, I couldn't see you through the door. I didn't hurt you, did I?"


The approach of a "normal" dinner hour, and successful tuning of the recalcitrant instrument, signaled the onset of a least a couple hours entertainment. Dressed now in a simple black sheath dress, compared to the jeans and blouse of mid-afternoon, the blonde seated herself on the bench and struck a few chords with no preamble. Shortly thereafter, her voice carried through the pub in a plaintive, wistful melody.

"Somewhere, someday... we'll be close together, wait and see.
Oh, by the way... this time the dream's on me."

With Darius mia, and things still a little weird around home, Chan was grateful for the chance to get out of the house. She brought her sketch book just like she always did, and headed out to meet the others. She got there a little early and started sketching while she waited for them to show up. She could always fill Darius in on whatever came up if it was important, otherwise she'd chat and do a little drawing, something she'd probably have done anyways.

"Hey! Melba!"  The boy from Cordova's class--it turned out his name was Hunter Rossum--waved from the door.  Casually, he strode over to Melba's table.

"Mind if I join you?"  A friendly smile in place, Hunter gestured at the one spare chair.


OOC:

If you sit inside Vinnie's, the space is limited, very tight--and you're sharing the same room as the pizza oven!  The majority of customers are usually seated at the outdoor cafe.  ;D

Luthien actually does not hang out with the kids this time. He has other things on his mind.

Which means he's heading to the club with BJ and Clive and the rest. Apparently, nobody bothers checking him. He's still wearing his white shirt, white pants, white shoes.

And he heads Clive's way.

"If you can tear your eyes and ears away for a minute, I have something important to talk to you about."

If Clive found Caitlyn's warm-up appealing, then the only word for her actual performance was "entrancing".  He remained positively riveted as the blond beauty sang.  So much so that he didn't register Luthien at first.

When Clive realized that Luthien was addressing him, he blinked in near-disbelief.  Almost as if saying, "surely you're not talking to me right now!"  He blinked, his mouth opened, then shut.

Something about the stranger communicated an intense urgency.  The kind that Clive only recollected seeing in humanitarian workers, Radical Left politicians...and Evangelical Christians.  The sincerity, the clean-shaven good looks, the all-white suit.  Could it be?

Clive said, "If you're trying to convert me, I'm already a member of St. Paul's Episcopal!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:53, Tue 13 Sept 2011.

Luthien chuckles.

"I've no wish to convert you. But I do have something important to discuss with you. If you'd care to step outside for a moment?"

Whatever it is, he doesn't wish to speak of it in public.

"What?"  Clive asked, clearly becoming irritated.  Perhaps he should have said, "What the bloody hell is so 'important' that you're taking me away from her?"

Instead, Clive acquiesced with reluctance.  His face a mask of strained gentility, he said, "Excuse me, ladies, this gentleman has something of great importance to share with me."

Gesturing, Clive said, "After you."  He might indulge the pushy man, but he certainly wasn't putting his back to him.  Out of Molly's they walked.

Once outside, Clive spotted Garrett hanging out on the sidewalk.  Clive acknowledged his student with a polite nod.  Then, he faced Luthien.  "Now what is it that you need to tell me, Mr...?"

Luthien, once they're in a fairly isolated area, gets straight to the point.

He also lowers his voice enough so Garret doesn't overhear what he has to say. This is private for Clive.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:00, Tue 13 Sept 2011.

In reply to Hunter Rossum (msg #171):

"I don't mind", said Melba, standing up, "But why don't we go and wait outside.  You might want to order first though, I have a XL QS on its way."  She raised her voice slightly, "Hey Vincenzo, I'll be outside yeah?"

"Okay?!"  Hunter chuckled; Melba's appetite was as legendary as her intellect.  "I'll have a calzone with feta, sun-dried tomatoes...um...bell pepper and pepperoni.  I'll be sitting outside with my friend," he pointed at the departing girl.

Outside, Hunter sat alongside Melba at one of the plastic patio sets that Vinnie's kept for the outdoor diners. He glanced around with a slightly confused look.  "Where's Garrett?  I never see you around without him!"

Garrett had subconsciously floated to the door of Molly's pub--not for creeping's sake mind you--he thought he could see Whitty and the gym teacher sitting inside. This was a scary paradox because it violated the fundamental dichotomy that teachers cannot be regular people, especially social people. He was just being observant.

Then he observed the heavy, ornate wooden door. Instinct, self-preservation--whatever you want to call it--the gods of luck must have smiled upon Garrett's good looks because he narrowly missed being clobbered by someone exiting the pub. He barely stepped out of the way, but the force of the door was enough to leave him stunned as if he'd been smacked clean across the busy street in some parallel universe.

His hand found his face and hung there, suspended and obscuring his nose from view. "No, I think I'm all here." He glanced at his shoes, "Yes, and I'm fairly certain there's a god, or I'm finally cashing in on that karma." He said, muffled through the hand covering his face.

Wide-eyed, Garrett recognized the woman who opened the door as Caitlyn Bell. He let his hand fall to his side, slightly embarrassed. "Uhm, hey, are you the owner of Bell and Booke?" They'd never met, but Garrett had done a little 'research' on Bell & Booke. Google had only a hand-full of things to say about the establishment, and the rest was intuition when he saw she looked even better than her photograph. Maybe he could make this work.

"'Cuz I was kind of looking for a job; and you did almost... you know." His eyes jerked toward the ditch in the road beside them and back again.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:03, Thu 15 Sept 2011.

"Gods or karma, it's good to have them on your side. Just make sure that you don't use your karma to trample somebody's dogma -- it's not good for either of you." she quipped.



Savannah is far too small a town for Caitlyn to be taken at all aback, especially as the store has an international reputation. With a warm tone evocative of a summer breeze, she answers, "Co-owner, if you want to get technical, but yes. I'm surprised you recognize me; I don't think I've seen you in the store before. Is there something you're interested in?"



She nods and motions in the direction she was going to be turning, to the left facing out of the doorway. "My nearly clobbering you with the door has nothing to do with your qualifications, or not, for the help we might need. Walk with me a minute while I grab a couple things from my car?" She gestures at a blue Fit whose hood can be seen just around the corner. "We can at least figure out when you might be able to swing by to talk about things in more detail."

Whether he expected anything to come of his semi-sly and underhanded way of asking for a job, Caitlyn had decided to humor him. Bomb. He nodded in reply to Caitlyn's request.

The Bell & Booke held an overpowering allure over Garrett; it tenderly itched at him from behind his eyes, as a deep longing manifesting itself. Even he didn't understand, but when his eyes emptied, he saw a vision of Garrett through the window of Bell & Booke--with twinkling eyes brimming with something. He hungered for that something.

Being in close proximity with Caitlyn, he felt he almost brushed his vision. He could feel false familiarity envelope him, like he'd followed her a hundred places before now.

"Thanks, yeah; 'preciate it." he said in that same false-familiar tone, "I'm very free, and I work hard, really. I like to work on stuff that other people hate, even if you just need something cleaned or dusted or whatever. I can lift more than fifty pounds. I'm also very good with people..." he blurted.

He noticed his hands were slightly trembling and clasped them behind his back. He swallowed.

"I'm an art student--will be if I survive high school, but I'm inspired by old books. When I hold one it's like I'm touching the author's soul--like I can see the words forming in their heads." Finally, he looked up at Caitlyn.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:08, Mon 19 Sept 2011.

Meanwhile: (OOC: Or if you prefer, CUT TO: INT. SUMMER'S HOME- NIGHT)

Buffy had managed to make her way relatively quickly. In fact, she'd run pretty much all the way home. She'd run through what homework she'd been assigned before school let out, then showered. She'd stayed in her room for a while, sitting on her bed, doing her absolute best not to think about anything to do with vampires, or slaying them.

Joyce Summers had probably never found her daughter more agreeable than this night. When she called Buffy down for late-ish dinner (work had run over), Buffy was at the table with no complaints. When Joyce suggested they watch some television, Buffy sat next to her mother, leaning on her shoulder, staring blankly at the T.V. screen. And, when it was time to sleep, Buffy hugged her mother tightly before going upstairs to her room without a contrary word or complaint.

Buffy tucked herself underneath her blankets and turned out the light, shutting her eyes. She just wanted all this to blow over.

(OOC: Back to the other stuff :P)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:14, Mon 19 Sept 2011.

(Cut to PM so as not to disrupt the flow here.)

OOC: Apologies for the double-post, but the time fork problem is fixed. Shall we cut to Vinny's for the teens, or do the grown-ups want to finish anything at Molly's first? Buffy seems determined to ignore any supernatural goings-on, so far.

Clive's jaw dropped at Luthien's whispered words.  He sputtered and attempted to collect himself, but couldn't quite recover his poise.  Fidgeting with his rolled up shirt sleeve, Clive nervously said, "Wouldn't this conversation be better in private...?

I'll need to make an excuse to my colleagues, but we should talk in a more neutral setting--alone."

Luthien nodded, as if he expected nothing less from this man.

"Of course. Do whatever you feel necessary. I will simply wait here for you."

Luthien, patiently, waits.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 08:38, Sun 30 Oct 2011.

Stepping back inside, Clive gave a hasty excuse to his colleagues with classic British crispness.  Something about "grading portfolios".  Clive then leaned toward Evangeline and whispered an urgent message.  Then, with a polite nod to Bonita--and a regretful glance toward Caitlyn--Clive took off.

As Clive bade his farewells, Garett met up with Melba and Hunter at Vinny's.  Surprisingly, they'd caught the popular pizzeria on a slow night.  Melba & Hunter sat at one of the cafe tables.  Cheese-laden goodness sat before his friends, and if Garrett hurried, there was a chance that he could enjoy it, too!

Meanwhile, Darius tore through the quiet streets of Midtown Savannah on his bike.  His route took him to Daffin Park, one of the largest public parks in the city.  As he turned near the soccer field on the south end, he saw a beat-up Dodge Ram on the opposite side of the field.  The driver looked like the roughest lowlife he'd ever seen:  shaved head, muscular arms covered in tattoos from shoulder to wrist, dirty wife-beater, a scowl that seemed permanently etched in place.  His passenger was someone well-known to Darius:  Gracie-Lynn!

Once Clive finishes doing everything that needs to be done...

Luthien is still waiting outside for him, with the same ever patient look he had on his face when Clive left to do what needed to be done.

"Let us go to wherever you think this discussion would be appropriate."

Once they get to the aforementioned location, he waits for Clive to say his peace on the subject.

Melba munched on her pizza and said to Hunter, "So you been around at school but who are you?"  She took another bite and added, "I mean what clique do yuo run with?  As for Garrett, I have no idea."

Gracie looks at the driver wondering what is going on

Darius throttles the bike forward, his speed less reckless (he IS in a park now after all) towards where the strange truck sat. As he nears he squeezes the clutch handle with his left hand, and uses his right to lift the front half of his helmet and reveal his face. He knows his voice isn't likely to be heard, so he doesn't bother shouting a greeting... instead he arcs into the spot next to the truck and offers the pair a smile and nod of greeting before cutting the engine and saying hello!

Garrett swung the door open into Vinny's and stepped inside. The place was slow, a few tables sparsely populated, but to the right, in the back, there was his best friend Melba and Hunter guy from the gym incident.

He sailed in and parked hard in the seat next to Melba. Snagging a slice from the pizza in the center (careful not to touch, approach, or eyeball Melba's slices for his own safety), Garrett took a TMNT bite of his slice, cheese arcing in a string and all.

"Hay guhs" he said, mouth full. "Am I late? Mel guess what--I talked to the Bell and Booke lady. Soon, I could be joining you and most of humanity in the working class." He grinned cheesily.

He noted Hunter across the table. "Hey Hunter, how are you?

Garrett's pupils enlarged while talking to Hunter, his head minutely tilting to the side. He liked Hunter; he seemed like a decent guy--not a douche like Brian or a domineering man's man like Darius. Hunter seemed like just the right amount of different so far--Garrett could see him sticking around. He wouldn't mind that one bit.

Once Clive was confident they were far enough out of anyone's earshot he began to fumble around through his thoughts as if stuck on a crossword puzzle.  Having regained a semblance of what one could consider his proper bearings, he attempted to fix his sleeves and maintain a steady composure.  Clive slowly parted his lips to put an end to the silence, "Not to be a prat or anything, but Luthien just who exactly are you?  You'll have to forgive me if I'm not all that trusting of someone dressed like out of a Ray Bradbury Novel"

To think just moments ago Clive had the pleasure of watching a golden haired enchantress, now he was watching an alabaster clothed pain in the butt.  Worse yet,  this man seemed to know far more than Clive cared for.

"I am Luthien, and I'm here to help. I know you want to ask 'what' not 'who', but the laws of my kind forbid me from saying. And if you're going to spend time researching, I recommend researching the enemy, for no matter your guess, I will not be able to confirm or deny anything about myself. I assure you, though, Buffy asked me the same, and I had to give her the same response."

He waves his hand, as if this conversation were getting off topic already.

"And that is all to be said on that. Back to the reason I approached. Lucy is in mortal danger. Her life is destined to be cut off shortly without the intervention of the Slayer. Buffy, however, refuses to take up her duty. It is therefore your responsibility to make sure she takes up her duty to save this girl's life."

He actually looks a little rueful.

"I attempted to persuade her to act myself, but she would not listen to me. She insists she wishes to be normal, and the fact someone will die was insufficient to persuade her to act."

Nut then...

"But you are not being asked to judge the messenger. If you wish to do that, then you may do so by the works I do, for every tree is known by its fruit. You are being asked to judge, and act on, the message itself."

Lovely, the man spoke fluid cryptic too.  He's definitely aiming for bonus points on the annoy-o-meter.  Still he was very direct in his approach to whatever it was he was trying to accomplish.  Although, it wasn't as if the watcher as anymore a fan of his duties than the she was.

"Let us say I believe you for a moment, and I go to convince my troublemaker to fight the good fight.  Save the girl, with no information to go on other than fire is bad.  What's to stop us from researching whatever it is you are as well?"

Just because Clive resented his family duties, didn't mean he planned on turning a blind eye on everything that went bump in the night.   And Luthien was very bumpesque.  Clive just preferred finesse.  He was initially going to continue to watch the slayer from a distance.  She was raw, untrained, emotional, and completely unpredictable  basically she was a teenager.  She required tact.

Of course there was the possibility that he had been telling himself that to simply enjoy what little time he had left to solely focus on his art.  Still, with the vampires the other night and now this perhaps it was time to honestly approach her.

"Nothing at all. But I garuntee you won't find it in any books in your watcher's library. Let us focus on the problem at hand."

Hmmm.

"I do not expect you and Buffy to do this alone, of course. I will aid you myself, when I can, as I already have done when I leapt into the fire. Unfortunately, I have not identified the enemy myself as yet...but I don't have your library either. If you want my help researching, I have time for it."

And he waits for the next response.

Yes because the Council was all about accepting help from strangers.  He wasn't fond of his current assignment, and he was certain he'd be less fond of whatever the outcome of letting whatever Luthien was near his books.  Which all things considered wouldn't take very long to find out.  Although he admittedly would love to see some of the miserable old git's expressions afterwards.

"Great fat load of help there.  I think I'm going to have to ask for a raincheck on that whole spending the night alone with you researching creatures.  Not that I don't trust you, but you see I don't trust you."

The last thing that he wanted to do was give Luthien anymore information on himself.  Still he couldn't take the chance that Luthien hadn't been telling the truth about Lucy being targeted.  Monsters tended to keep to their targets.  It still gave him almost zilch to work with, which undoubtedly meant it would be a long night.  To speak nothing of the fact that recruiting a certain blonde trouble magnet would certainly be hell, but at least that could wait.

"Well then, you have certainly given me a lot to consider.  But I have a lot of reading to do now it seems.  So if you don't mind, I think I'll be on my way."   His crisp accent sounding clearly through the night air.

"As you wish. The girl's life is in your hands, and that of your Slayer."

If the Watcher opts not to have him help, that is his affair, and Luthien doesn't press the issue.

Instead, he just lets the man get the work. He has, after all, gotten the ball rolling.

Luthien then departs, unless called back for some reason.

BJ walked over to the bar and smiled to the bartender.

"I'm thinking something a bit more potent. I think an Irish Car Bomb might be nice." She hadn't let her hair down in a long while.

Clive simply nodded in response before he started walking away from Luthien.  Nothing good could come from conversing anymore.  The night started out with such potential, a pity really.  It didn't help that Bonita was his ride so he was in for a trek now.  Oddly his next destination was not going to be his very own home.  The fact of the matter remained that Clive still had little information to go on, and at least seeing the damage left behind by the fire may help to shed a little light on where he should start looking.  Not that being a member of the faculty would make it any easier to enter a burnt up girl's locker room after hours.

Gracie looks over at Darious and ggrins. She can't yell over the noice and motions for him to follow them. She doesn't look like she is stressed or anything.

Chan arrived a little late to the meeting Melba had asked for, and was surprised to see that she wasn't the only one late. Unless of course not many people were coming in the first place. Her borther was blowing off some steam and she doubted that he'd be by at all today. Which was fine, as she could always fill him in on whatever was going on. She smiled at Melba as she made her way over to the table.

"How's it going Melba, anyone else planning on showing?"

"No Clue", said Melba.  "I hope so, but we're here, Garrett, you, Hunter.  Be nice if Buffy showed as well.  After all, appraently she knows how to kill those things."

Then she stopped talking to eat a slice of pizza.

Darius keeps the smile on his dace until the helmet is again in place, then frowns as he does as asked and follows

Gracie rides along in the truck waiting to see where they are going. "I hope you don't mind my boyfriend. I want you all to meet him"

"Yeah," he motioned to everyone, "With Buffy more sparse than an Asian's chin-hair we're kind of standing in sinking sand. I mean, it's not like we could just Google this stuff and have it be right... is it?"

Garrett's mouth slackened in thought, then he crammed his slice in for a bite. Chewing, he dabbed the corners of his lips with a brown napkin.

He turned to Chan, "You're brother going to show up? It looked like he got a healthy burn... I vote the only verdict is vengence; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous... and we should probably catch whoever did that to the gym so it doesn't happen again."

His eyebrows arched as he slid another bite into his mouth.

Melba sighed... "okay, questions?  Do they burn?  I know how to make a napalm substitute.  Does Holy Water work, and if so, could we fill a supa squirta from the font of St Patrick's?  Garlic?  If it works, is it the whole plant or would an extract do.  Likewise silver? Any other poisons.  Stakes through the heart?  I could build a crossbow trap but how do we lure them?  Sunlight?  Is it the sun itself or will hard UV work?  If so, maybe I could rig up a mercury vapour laser but not sure how mobile it'd be."

Earlier...



Hunter chuckled in small amusement.  "I'm not really into cliques.  They're too 'Stuck in The Eighties' for me.  Consider me a...social anarchist!"  He flashed a winsome grin as he dug into a pizza slice.

Soon, Garrett & Chan joined them at Vinnie's. Hunter's perpetual smile widened when he saw Garrett.  "You nearly missed out on a truly memorable pie!"  When Chan showed up, he said with equal friendliness, "Chan!"

Hunter pulled up a chair.  Then, he surveyed the table with what appeared to be--approval?  "Now this< is a worthy gathering!  If I were into cliques, I'd say we have the foundation for one that would be remembered at our 20th high school reunion!"

Now

While the gang talked vampires, Hunter looked in silent bemusement.  At one point, he covered a smile while his eyes flashed mirthfully. With the next pause, he spoke up. "Vampires?  Is this a LARP or are you actually talking about the living dead?"


Gracie Lynn & Darius

Out at Daffin Park, Darius followed the truck on his bike.  The scruffy driver took a path down Victory Drive.  Unless Darius were mistaken, they were headed for Thunderbolt, a suburb that was Savannah's next-to-last stop before Tybee Island.



Meanwhile...

Clive warily led Luthien to his meeting place of choice.  However, they'd barely walked a block when they were stopped on Montgomery Street.  The street lamp flickered in and out near a dark alley.  Two artsy guys in their late teens or early twenties stopped them.  They wore tees, skinny jeans, and trucker caps, just one of the "uniforms" of choice for male SCAD students.

The smaller one asked, "Hey, do you guys have a smoke?"  His taller buddy smiled pleasantly, but kept a vigilant watch on the street.

Melba looked at Hunter and said quietly.  "You think I'd use Napalm in a LARP?  I'm sure I don't have a rep for being THAT competitive."

"That's not what the Science Club president says..."

"That wasn't napalm." Melba explained helpfully.  "That was baby oil.  It wasn't my fault he didn't recognise it.  How was I to know he had a bad cold.  But that's neither here nor there, suffice to say we're not talking about LARPing."

Gracie rides along

Being a local teacher the outfits were far from unfamiliar to Clive.  In fact the locale would be a lovely location for a Grad School if there wasn't all this slayer business to deal with.  ""Sorry, not much for cigarettes here I'm afraid.  It's probably for the best bad for your health and all that other public service nonsense."  His accent was very precise as uttered his reply.  It was just simply unfortunate that anywhere he went with the ivory clad Luthien would probably attract some attention due to his monochromatic clothing choice.

Oh shit. What WAS Hunter doing here? If he had no idea what was going on with the gym and vampires and this whole rabbit hole they'd stumbled down, then...well...what was he doing here?

They'd have to give the big reveal, tell him he's not crazy--that they're not crazy. That was way too much work for this late at night. With real work to do, Garrett thought up a plan that might save some face for the group and let them operate under the radar, for the time being. I mean, who would want to drag other people into this anyway? Sometimes not knowing is better for you--body intact, mind safely sane.

"Ha! Yeah, we totally 'Larep'--you caught us! All the time. Can't get enough of it. Hah. You know, Melba, I'm not really hungry anymore, in fact I think I might just call it a night. Hey Hunter, you wanna get some ice cream from that place on the corner? It's on the way home, right? We'll talk about this Larep thing more tomorrow."

He jutted his jaw out at Melba, cocking his head to the side.

"See ya Chan."

He left his slice on the table and started toward the door, hesitating slightly so Hunter could follow.

Luthien turns an eye to the two people asking for a smoke.

"I am afraid I do not smoke either. Is there something else I can help you with?"

Melba rolled her eyes at Garrett as he made his move on Hunter but she said nothing, just grinned and let things happen as they would, whether that was the big reveal or Hunter going off with Garrett and leaving the rest to those who had already had reality thrust upon them.

Hunter smiled winningly at Garrett.  Was Garrett's plan working?  Had the shy young artist snared his crush with his charms?  It seemed that way at first...then he politely shook his head.

"But I wanted to hear more about the vampires!  It's not like you hear this kind of conversation every day from Jepson students!  Maybe we could get some ice cream later?"

OOC:  The guys approached Clive & Luthien before they could split up.  Problem solved.

IC:

"Yeah, you can treat us to dinner!"  The young men's faces shifted like liquid, their brows becoming ridged.  Their eyes became a hot yellow, and sharp fangs protruded from their mouths.

"On you, of course!"  The taller vampire rushed Luthien, while his fellow undead leaped at Clive!

Luthien, however, actually moves to engage both opponents. First, he runs at vampire #1, and introduces his own fist to the vampire's face with his right hand. After that rather solid move, he does a spinning backfist with his left hand at Vampire #2 to try and draw fire from both enemies. Clive can help, but Luthien clearly doesn't expect him to.

"Get out of here. This is not your task. Do that which you must do."

That to Clive. Apparently, he means to take the enemies himself.

The prospect of getting the hell out of dodge did endear on Clive quite a bit.  Still, while he could be expected to trust a small teenage girl to handle these sorts of things.  He couldn't be expected to trust a far more muscular man to do it.  The irony was of course not lost on him.  But as much as he disliked his duty, he didn't want to risk Luthien letting one of them go.

Sighing the British man snapped back to Luthien, "Oh hush you and fight!"  He noted that he was obviously the most frail man in the group full of monsters. I'm going to need a pint after this.  Clive moved to intercept the vampire that had originally leapt for him before Luthien's assistance.

Luthien's punch snapped the first vampire's head backward.  He gibbered stupidly and stumbled as he tried to recover.  The back-handed blow grazed the other vamp's cheek, but not hard enough to divert him from his would-be prey.  "Hey, man, wait until I'm finished eating!"

With those unfortunate words, the vampire bowled Clive over!  They stumbled into a dirty alley way.  Vampire and Clive fell into a nasty puddle hard.  The vampire squirmed in the muck in a mad bid to munch on Clive's throat.  Clearly, the undead thug was in the full throes of blood-lust!

OOC:  Next?  :)

Luthien is apparently content to launch a couple of feints at the vampire he's fighting. For the moment, Clive will have to fend for himself, as Luthien's actually slightly off his game. Also, this will turn out to be the acid test if the Watcher can truly take care of himself.

Still, his first 2 stake attempts, while on target, turn out to be feints for the third one, which is much more accurate in its aiming.

Melba grinned at Garrett, "Looks like Hunter wants his eyes opened", she said, "Loath as I am to say this but, ice cream comes second".  Then she stopped smiling and said to Hunter, "Believe it or not, I'm perfectly sane and I've seen a vampire destroyed before my very eyes with no special effects whatsoever... and believe me, I'm an expert - I work in a video shop."

Garrett's brow crinkled at the situation. It wasn't smart to get anyone else involved. Hell, Hunter could end up believing them and then getting himself killed.

"I hope you know what you're doing..." Garrett said under his breath.

Backing away from the door, Garrett scooted back into his seat at the table. Looking down at the table and his pizza, Garrett waited for Hunter's reaction, squinting to brace the blow of inevitable badness.

"...and there you have it." Garrett concluded after Melba had finished, "From the expert herself." He didn't look up, picking over his pizza.

...and then Melba grinned a wide grin all teeth and crinkly eyes and mirthfulness.  She COULD, of course be joking.

Hunter made room for Garrett's return.  A warm smile welcomed the other teen back.  He didn't move much, though, and their arms brushed for the most fleeting of seconds when Garrett sat down.

Turning back to Melba, he frowned at her impish gaze.  Then, his own smile widened into a grin.  "Is this like, a dare?"

Melba frowned.  "A dare?  I don't do dares." Then she turned to Garrett and asked, "Is ignorance a protection or would knowledge be better?"

BJ smiled as she took another pint glass from the waiter and picked up the shot glass of Paddy's with a widening grin.

"Another bad habit I can blame on the lads at McP's in San Diego." She said as she dropped the shot into the pint with a 'plop' She tipped the glass back and sipped it before putting the half filled pint glass down. "Good days those were." She said with a sigh.

Garrett recoiled slightly at Hunter's arm brushing his own. He looked up at Hunter, but the boy had finished smiling and was looking away to Garrett's relief.

He shook his head and shrugged and Melba's question. "The probability of this particular knowledge ending well for anyone is in the red. If a person wants to not wash bloody bits from their hair, then yes, ignorance is bliss. Clean, non-scarring bliss."

He leaned closer to Melba and cupped his hand over the side of his mouth to whisper, _{"I mean look at him, he's prettier than me. Constant exposure to blood and gore would ruin his complexion."}

Garrett sat back and shot Hunter an ironic smirk.

OOC:  Today, I'm NPCing Clive to move the scene along.

IC:

Clive visibly recoiled from the lunging vampire.  He held out his right arm to fend off the vamp thug.  All in vain, of course--even the lowest vampire minion outclassed Clive in strength!

Luckily, Clive never left his house unprepared!  His left hand darted inside his shirt.  Out came an ornate, small gold crucifix!  "I've never...ungh...cared for undead halitosis, you know!  Why don't you back off, then, and spare me the horror?!"

Luthien's third jab struck true!  His earlier attempts set up the vampire for a third stake thrust that hit the heart.  With a frustrated snarl, the vampire exploded in a burst of ash!

Clive struggled with his own "dancing partner".  The vampire knocked him backward into the slop in the street.  They squirmed for a moment, the British teacher attempting to push the fiend off in vain.  Snapping fangs veered closer to Clive's pale throat!

Then, the teacher plucked out a crucifix on a gold chain!  At the sight of the ornate cross, it was the vampire's turn to recoil!  With an anguished squeal, the undead monster covered his face and rolled off Clive.

Meanwhile, Hunter raised an incredulous eyebrow.  "Scars?  Are you trying to to turn me on?"  He grinned impishly, clearly savoring whatever reaction he might get.

Then, he and Garrett felt a cool hand press on their shoulders.

"Y'all keep talking like that, and you'll sure turn me on!"  Suddenly, the vampire who'd escaped them after the encounter in question stood over the boy's shoulders.  Her cool hands teasingly squeezed their shoulders.  "Right, y'all?"

Her girl-gang minions tittered in accordant amusement.  Grinning like the proverbial cheshire cat intent on swallowing a canary, Gabrielle looked Hunter over.  She obviously liked what she saw.  Her eyes locked on Melba.

In jovial tones, she said, "Damn, Roly-Poly, who knew that you knew such fine boys?  A girl just wants to...eat him up!"

The small group of friends found themselves surrounded by Gabrielle and three minions.  Probably not as many as that first night, but certainly overwhelming odds for four seemingly normal teenagers!  None of Vinnie's tattooed employees or the patrons noticed anything out of the ordinary.  At first glance, it probably looked like school friends just saying "Hi".

Would Gabrielle leave things at that?  What if they started a fight right there?  What would Chan, Garrett, and Melba do?

Meanwhile The 2nd...

Buffy found herself ensnared in the most fitful of sleep.  No matter how she turned, she couldn't quite get comfortable.  It felt as though the sheets bunched underneath her back the wrong way.  The room felt either too warm or too cool, never just right.  There was also what she swore was a magical roving bed lump!

Then, at long last, Buffy slipped into dreaming...

Buffy found herself in one of the teaching modules that the staff occasionally used.  Coach Cordova stood at the head of the P.E. class.  She gestured at a Power-Point presentation that displayed a diagram that looked oddly militaristic.  "Your attacks are useless unless you know where to hit the other team!  Head or heart, everything else is...HEY!  I told you, no smoking in class!"

Turning around, Buffy saw that only six other students were in class with her: Brian, Garrett, Gracie Lynn, Hunter, Kieran, and Lucy.  All of her classmates were on fire!  She glanced back at the Coach, who just kept on with her lecture.  She felt an urge to help, but found herself fixed to the spot!

Their skins reddened with the flames, their clothes and hair raising an acrid odor.  Yet, they didn't scream or try to roll on the floor.  Instead, they sat in their desks, eerily transfixed and burning.  Buffy was painfully aware of the burning flesh.  The stench and gruesome sight.

Then, Gracie Lynn looked curiously at Buffy.  "What's the matter, Buffy?  It doesn't hurt...you just have to know the secret to safely playing with fire..."

Then, Buffy woke up with a strangled gasp.  Her skin felt too warm, and she swore she could still smell burning hair...

OOC:

Couldn't leave our title character out, could I?  :D

Melba smiled at the vamp, locking eyes with her and saying, "Hey there, you know, if we're going to keep meeting like this, we ought to be properly introduced.  My name's Melissa, what's yours?"  She took a bite of pizza and made a face, the problem with Quatro Stagioni is, sooner or later, you get a slice with anchovies on.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Sat 07 Apr 2012.

Two of the vampires cawed at the gesture.  "Please, you're Roly-Poly!  Right?  And what the HELL kinda color is your hair supposed to be?!"  The dead girls walking cackled even louder.

"Silence, fools!"  Surprisingly, Gabrielle cut off her minions.  They immediately quieted down.  "The girl is no coward, and the fire of Intelligence burns brightly in her eyes.  She deserves better."

The gesture...and, perhaps, her accent...seemed vaguely "Old World" in that moment.  Gabrielle looked into Melba's eyes.  "I'm afraid they can't help themselves.  Though liberated from...everyday...concerns, they're still bound by the shortcomings of their culture."

"HEY!"  However, the protest was cut short with one meaningful glare from Gabrielle.  She continued.  "Melissa.  I will give you the name that I came to be known by in my...new life."  She spared a wry smile in Hunter's direction.  "You may call me Gabrielle."

Melba offered her hand to the vampire.  "Pleased to meet you Gabrielle, now what can we do for you?"  She doesn't even look at the other vampires, or even acknowledge the fact that she doesn't remember what color her hair is today.

Garrett sat, tensed like a tree. The Gabrielle woman's hand on his shoulder made him incredibly uncomfortable.

"Excuse me, could pure evil not touch me please?" He was getting flash backs from the last time he'd been assaulted by a vampire. Which didn't end well. He didn't even get to revel in Hunter's comment!

He looked up at Gabrielle with a hooded brow. Melba's reaction to them had given him just enough confidence to be dangerous.

The vampire laughed softly at Garrett's outburst.  "Are you sure it's being touched by evil that you object to...or is it something else?"  Gabrielle mocked Garrett with her laughter, her quick glance at Hunter holding an obvious question.

However, she didn't pursue the point any further.  Instead, Gabrielle let the boys go and answered Melba.  "I see that you're missing a few friends.  The red-head and that lovely brother.  The Slayer.  I want you to give the Slayer a message.

Tell her downtown is mine.  Tell her to stay out of my way because she didn't know what she was getting into when she messed with me."  Snatching up a slice of pizza, Gabrielle took a bite that looked downright suggestive.  With a playful grin, she tossed the slice onto one of the plates.  "You kids have fun, now...and don't forget to tell the Slayer what I said!"

Then, Gabrielle and her vamps turned on their heels to leave...

Luthien is infinitely more graceful this time, and behind Clive's 'dance partner' he comes, stake at the ready.

He inserts it precisely in the back of his rib cage, and this bloodsucker shall curse the earth no more.

"Clive...go home. With your Slayer absent from her duties, I have much to do. I expect you to have her ready to go tommorrow night."

Melba watched the vampires turn away.  "I take it by 'The Slayer" she means Buffy and not the heavy metal band." She smiled and patted the back of Garrett's hand, "And you see Garrett, it's not KNOWING that'll get us killed, it's not knowing.  So where IS the Slayer?  Perhaps we should go and tell her."

As an afterthought she said to Hunter, "Those were vampires".

Chan gritted her teeth and did her best to at least appear to completely ignore the fiend. For some reason she was seeing wolf beneath the sheep's clothing, and made her wonder about the store proprietor. It looked as if he were some sort of monster too, and that might mean that their was more going on than their appeared to be.

After the vamp had left she shook her head slowly, trying to rid her mind of the ick factor. This subhuman was interested in her brother, and that meant that she needed to be dealt with, and fast. <aqua>"Someone needs to put a stake in her. Before she kills even more people."</red> She muttered softly to herself, having lost her appetite.

Buffy's eyes snapped open and she let out a muted cry. Buffy immediately threw off the covers and leapt out of bed. She was breathing hard, that stench, even non-existent still in her nostrils. Buffy opened the window and leaned out, breathing in deep, trying to let the cold night air dull the panic and fear that she'd just felt. Buffy looked down to see herself shaking.

What the hell was that dream all about? Buffy kept trying to tell herself that it was just everything that she'd been through in the past couple of days. It was her unconscious mind trying to deal with the stress and trauma. Buffy's heart told her that was a load of crap. Buffy leaned against the window pane for a long moment before snapping into action. She threw on jeans, and a white t-shirt, pulling on some boots, and a little black leather jacket. She tucked a credit card and her phone into one of the pockets, and tucked a stake in as well.

With that, Buffy exited her room via the window and made her way onto the streets, intending to wandering aimlessly, and just maybe find something. Either her friends, or trouble...she wasn't sure which just yet...Anything to help her shake the mental images out of her head.

Melba nodded to Chan.  "Crossbows", she said, "The Inuit used a trap called an automat to kill polar bears.  It consisted of a very powerful crossbow, bait and a trigger.  Similar principle could work for vampires, I wonder if you have to his the heart."

"She seemed kinda nice for a vampire," Hunter offered helpfully.  He frowned at the turn of conversation taken by the girls.  "You realize that you're talking about vigilantism, right?  Isn't that considered, like, domestic terrorism now?"

Hunter turned to Garrett.  "Hey.  Are you okay?  You look kinda wigged out."

"Vigilantism" asked Melba innocently.  "Surely that's about criminals?  A rabbit doesn't consider a fox a criminal but nevertheless... if they had weapons, they would kill them.  We are in the same position vis a vis the vampire as the rabbit vis a vis the fox."

She thought for a moment and then added.  "I can kind of respect Gabrielle but like she said, her entourage... it's not vigilantism, it's more of a hygiene thing."

"So you're using fluffy animal analogies to justify sticking a sharpened piece of wood through a girl's heart."  After a pause, Hunter shrugged.  "Just so I'm clear on this."

Melba looked at Hunter long and hard as if considering putting a stake through HIS heart. Instead, she decided to wait until, as seemed inevitable, he became a vampire.  "Not necessarily, how about a nice big supasquirta full of Holy Water?  Or do your ethics make spraying water at people a mortal sin?  After all, Holy Water could be like the Chlorine in Spider Robinson's "Telempath", a weapon that convicts as well as doing its job."

Then she got a really big wide grin on her face... "We really ought to organise a wet t-shirt competition without telling any of the contestants it was Holy Water."

Garrett turned to Hunter, "No, I'm okay really." He shook off the feeling of badness that was this entire conversation.

"How about we stop talking so seriously about killing people or things or vampires. I'm not hungry any more." He said, scooting his plate away.

"I don't want to think of what it would be like to be in a one-on-one with anybody like Gabrielle. I mean, did you see her nails? Just because you're dead doesn't mean you give up on yourself. I'm with Melba, it's a hygiene issue first and foremost."

Looking back at Hunter, "Don't you think it's different with vampires? I mean, they're like clinically predisposed to chomp and chew on anyone in sight. Probably the only reason we're alive now is because Gabrielle has control over those minions of hers. Otherwise, we'd be in worse shape than Melba's pizza." he said, pointing to Melba's plate.

"If you're not going to finish that, Garrett honey", asked Melba, "Do you mind if I do?"  She gazed at the Pizza as the vampire girls had gazed at Hunter.

Buffy had wandered. She'd wandered for quite a bit, through darker parts of neighborhoods. Almost as if she was daring someone...or something to pop out at her. Something so that Buffy could take out her frustrations in full on.

She had no such luck. Instead, Buffy found herself wandering down the more populated parts of town, it was still kicking, despite it being decently late. Well, late for suburbia. Buffy couldn't help but overhear conversations. One caught her attention in particular.

...mainly because there was talk of a Holy Water wet t-shirt contest and vampires and controlling their minions. Buffy walked up quietly behind Melba, she listened for a bit before interjecting after Melba asked for the slice of pizza.

"In my experience, vampires tend to be a lot more lustful right after they first...turned? I guess that's the best way to describe it. Their masters certainly exert control if they're strong enough, though."

Buffy shrugged.

"I've always wondered if a SuperSoaker full of Holy Water would be useful..."

As Buffy caught up with friends, B.J. enjoyed the middle of Caitlyn's remarkable set.  The bar was filled, everything nice and cozy, setting an indulgent-yet-just-bawdy-enough tone.  The audience responded positively to the good music!  Several sang along on the livelier tunes.  Whether or not they could carry a tune as well as the featured performer was irrelevant!

Evangeline had parted ways, citing papers to grade.  B.J. was left alone at her table, although more than a few men--particularly military--attempted to change that particular detail!  The latest, a strapping young blond from the Hunter base, had just pulled up a stool, when something else caught Bonita's attention:  Kieran Metz and Lucy Whitfield in the process of ordering a drink in the "21 and over only" bar!

Melba smiled at Buffy, "Gabrielle says you're the slayer and she thinks downtown is her turf.  She even asked us to pass on a message about it being hers." She winked and continued, "... so what's a slayer? What can you tell us?"

"Sorry..." BJ says to the man, who looked to her to be another Army man. She felt bad shooting them down but they kept coming. "I see a couple students playing with the rules." She grinned to him with a wicked smile as she got up to go talk to said stray students.

"Excuse me ladies.. might I see your IDs?"

And into the bar comes another guy, dressed all in white. One of the few non army personell in the bar.

Luthien came here straight after assisting Clive in maintaining his connection to this mortal world. But, he felt this is exactly where he needed to be now...and drinking was the last thing on his mind.

He takes in the situation for the moment...

Appearing poised for a smart-ass remark, Kieran spun around to lay into the unexpected pest.  His mouth dropped open when he saw B.J. standing there.  "Hey...um, Coach.  _{Oh God.}"

Just like the post-dodge ball moment, Kieran's cheeks flushed a furious crimson.  He exhaled nervously and couldn't take his eyes off the floor.  Playing cool wouldn't even remotely be an option!

Buffy thought about that for a long minute. What was a Slayer? Somewhere, in the back of her head, an old, nerdy classmate muttered "A miserable pile of secrets...". Buffy shook her head, not getting the reference, and looked back at Melba.

"I wish I had a better answer other than I slay stuff."

Buffy sighed as she stretched.

"I mean what's there really to say beyond I'm some prophesied girl who has had some cool abilities 'bestowed upon her' that make me the ultimate vampire fighter...it sounds like a corny TV show, honestly."

Buffy shook her head.

"I wish I had an instruction manual. Actually, what I really wish is that I didn't even have to worry about any of this. It sucks."

Unnoticed by the Slayer, a new addition to their social circle waved amiably.  "Hi.  Hunter Rossum.  I'm in P.E. with you."  A skeptical smile remained in place.

"So...vampires are real and you're, what, the 'Chosen One' sent to destroy them all?"

Melba nodded.  "I guess we all have to worry about this stuff.  Once you know, you're stuck with knowing.  So... you have to rely on instinct or is there somebody to teach you what you need to know, like the old Chinese guy in Kung Fu?"

"And what are you doing here Mr. Metz? I'm assuming that given the ease you got into the building with, the ID you used isn't the same one you gave the school for your athletic permissions." BJ said dryly as she looked at him as she held out her ID.

"I'm, uh, I got in with, uh...there's absolutely no way you're gonna let me out of this without putting me through juvvie until I'm old enough to actually come here, huh?"  Kieran looked appropriately hang-dog with the requisite amount of sheepishness.  He offered a weak smile, the kind that brought to mind a mouse desperately hoping the cat wouldn't clamp down its jaws on its mousy little neck...

Buffy looked at Hunter, truly noticing him for the first time tonight as he interjected. She also noticed his skeptical smile.

"Believe me, Hunter, I wish it was as much bullshit as it sounds like. But, yeah, I guess you could say that. Vampires and things that go bump in the night are real. I dunno about the rest of it, I just know that I started having these godawful dreams and then I was able to stand toe to toe with the bloodsuckers."

Buffy shrugged.



Buffy looked at Melba.

"Right now, I'm totally winging it. Not gonna lie. I've got some experience, but whatever pops into my head, that's what I do. And I gotta be honest, I don't need a Mr. Miyagi, I need someone to tell me that I'm not the sole purveyor of fang-y justice, and that somebody else will take up the fight."

"We've two choices. You can hand me the ID, go home and by friday I want a five page paper on why this isn't the best thing you could have done with your night. Or we can meet tomorrow with the headmaster and discuss things with him." She said with a straight face as she holds out her hand. Clearly he was losing any fake ID either way.

Melba sighed, "In that case I'd better ask you... to kill them does it have to be real sunlight or will high intensity UV do?  Does the crossbow bolt actually have to hit the heart?  Do crosses and garlic work? Can you kill 'em by burning?  Does holy water work... and if so, does it work even if it's from a supersquirter?  Do they need permission to enter a room (or is it to pass through a door... that could be interesting)?"

With the gig up, Lucy no longer had the patience for any of it.  She huffed and rolled her eyes.  "Why don't you just ask Metz to write about the real reason he's here?  He promised me he could get us into a bar.  That sounds cool, right?

I should have known that he only wanted me as his 'beard'!"

"What are you...?"

A mean twinkle filled Lucy's eyes.  Hands on hips, she leaned closer to Kieran and Cordova.  "This freak just used his fake IDs so he could stalk you, Coach!  Kieran Metz is just a creeper and a stalker!  Don't bother denying it, you're only here because you've got blue balls for your teacher!

God, what a waste of my night!"

After Lucy's accusation, Luthien comes a bit closer to the conversation. But he says nothing. Still, he senses trouble brewing, and he felt the need to be here.

He's watching the scene quite intently.

"Annnnnnnd now we will ALL be seeing the headmaster first thing in the morning." BJ said as all consideration and empathy drained away, leaving the tough as nails physical Ed teacher behind. "one of the topics will be tact, grace and conducting oneself in public with the bearing the headmaster expects of all his students. Good night MIss Whitfield, I'll be discussing these events with the headmaster shortly. you two should go home. NOW." Her voice took on an unusual manner, like a field Marshall giving orders as she pulled out her phone and ran her thumb down her address book.

Kieran's mouth fell open in mute, helpless shock.  He winced at Coach Cordova's implied rebuke.  Then, he turned toward Lucy.  Anger set in quickly as the teen turned on his classmate.

"What did you have to go and say that for...?!"

"Because it's true!  What's the matter?  Not the romantic scenario you envisioned? It wouldn't have worked anyway.  Even the teachers don't go for weak-willed jellyfish losers!

Don't worry, though, you could always rebound with Melba Ellenberger!  Ha-ha!"  Lucy cackled as she scooped up her jacket and purse.  She was stopped by Kieran's firm grip.

"What the hell is your problem?!"  Bar patrons finally took notice with Kieran's outburst.  Several stared, a few rumblings of speculation and questioning of action stirring.  The bartender quietly signaled a well-muscled giant of a man for help.

"God, could you be more PATHETIC?!  My problem is losing a night that I'll never get back with a waste like you!"

"No, your problem is that you're an evil, heartless BITCH!"

At that, Lucy slapped Kieran.  The stinging shock made him release her.  His cheeks burned a hot red.  Then, as if reflecting his rage, the world seemed to follow suit!

Lucy rolled her eyes, ready to shoot off another quip.  Those words never came, as her lovely dark hair caught fire!  One moment, two teenagers were having a fight.  The next, one of them was on fire.  Lucy shrieked, writhing in a frantic dance as a corona of flame engulfed her head!

Before B.J. could call Dean Jepson, or even react, her phone became like a hot coal in her hand!  The cool plastic was just suddenly too hot to hold.  The tell-tale signs of welts rose angrily on her hand.  (OOC: Take 1 LP damage!)

The bouncer was stopped in his tracks as a wall of fire sprang from the hardwood floor!  A gout of fire instantly ran the length of the bar.  Tongues of flame lapped greedily at wooden table tops, flammable liquors, even a few patrons and staff!  People in the bar screamed as fires randomly burst out all over the bar.  Within minutes, the friendly pub turned into a nightmarish inferno!

BJ vaulted over the counter and shoved the bartender aside as she looked for something important as the fire started up. She glanced back and forth as she looked at the center of the 'storm' and pulled the bartender's water sprayer up and aimed it at first Lucy and then to the other teen as she yelled to the bartender and bouncer.

"Get everyone out of here! And find some goddamn extinquishers." She yelled at the top of her lungs. "EVERYONE DO NOT PANIC! LOOK FOR THE DOOR NEAREST TO YOU AND PROCEED OUTSIDE IN AN ORDERLY MANNER!"

Luthien now has several things to do. The first is to put out the flames on Lucy. He accomplishes that by using a thick rug on the floor of the bar to deprive heat to the flames. Luthien himself seems to run through the flames with impunity.

He also aims a fist at the gut of Kieran. He might not be able to control the power, but experience says if he gets knocked out, he won't be able to keep using the power. What to do after he's KO...he'll figure that out after there's no more immediate danger.

"Stay down, or I'll hit you till you pass out. You're causing the flames, though you have no control over your power. I'm here to make sure you stop causing them."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:26, Mon 30 Apr 2012.

Buffy blinked as Melba asked her plethora of questions. The Slayer didn't even know how to answer half of the questions asked of her.

"Look...I know that fire works. So does beheading. Yes, they need permission, and think of a crossbow bolt like a projectile stake. It still has to pierce the heart to be lethal. As for everything else...I don't know. I've never tried it."

Buffy shook her head.

"I was trying to avoid all this, remember?"

Clive had been dazed quite a bit after the encounter with the two vampires.  Although, it was hard to pinpoint if it was the near death experience or Luthien's assistance that bothered him more.  The fact of the matter was there was no avoiding the subject anymore, he did have to get a hold of Buffy and have 'the talk'.  As much fun as being king of shirkingshire with all the duty shirking, Clive couldn't avoid it any longer.

As a bonus he wasn't exactly in the proper mindset to go to the school alone and attempt any after hours investigation alone anymore.  Something about wandering the streets without a hundred something pound superpowered teen by his side lost its appear after being inches away from being a footnote in the obituaries didn't sit well with him any longer.

All in all it amounted to the frazzled art teacher needing another drink before a couple rigorous hours of research much like he told Luthien he would do.  Of course there was the fact that he abruptly left Bonita and Emanuelle.  One of which was his ride with his car being at the mechanic's for the week.  Knowing full well that Bonita was probably relaxing with yet another empty glass not a care in the world, and Miss Williams still being Miss Williams.  "I think I should expect the inevitable lecture on polite dinner manners from Bonita tomorrow.  She's probably having the coziest evening while I get to have my head burried in books all night."  Sighing, Clive would begin to make that long stretch back home from the meeting place with Luthien.

Melba nodded to Buffy.  "Fair enough.  We just have to establish an evidence base.  Once we know what can kill 'em, we can help.  If we spread the knowledge, you don't have to do it alone, n'est-ce pas?"

While the girls talked, Kieran sprawled on the pub's hard-wood floor.  He coughed, trying to catch his breath after taking a formidable hit!  Around them, the fire still burned, but without any further aggravation from the boy.

When Kieran could manage it, he held up his hand.  "*Cough*...I...can't control it...but I'll...try...!"  The bar staff continued hasty evacuations as firemen arrived from the Henry Street Fire Station.  They worked to douse the remaining fires and clear everyone out.

By the hour's end, Luthien and B.J. had Kieran over by Vinny Van Go-Go's.  By that point, Buffy and her friends had heard the commotion.  Maybe they were surprised to learn that the awkward Kieran was the source of their flamey troubled.

Then again, maybe not...

"You're trying, that's enough for me."

From there, he says, "Don't provoke him further. I don't want to hit him again."

Luthien then tries to help Keiran to 'meditate.'

"Just concentrate...clear your mind."

Kieran stared incredulously at Luthien.  "I start unplanned fires with my mind and you're going all Dali Lama on me?

Really?"

Luthien smiles.

"And how you do you expect to control your power if you don't start learning? I am trying to teach you control."

"I'd call it like using a muscle you haven't used willfully for a while. Just follow his instructions and give it a try, think of it as building a foundation to operate from." BJ said before lapsing back into silence again. The boy had a serious crush on her and she was split between staying and leaving. Each flare up had been around her.  "Try and think of what you did just BEFORE the fire came. It's a reflex, like how you handle a football before you pass it. The grip and spin you put it on a flight path is something you JUST know how to do. What he's trying to do is show how you to find the 'switch' without getting angry or frustrated. And now I'm going to go over there and shut up and let him walk you through it again."

"Okay," Kieran said weakly.  His gaze lingered on the hot coach as she walked away.  Not far away, Lucy moaned pitifully as the EMTs prepared her for a trip to St. Joseph's at Candler.

That brought Kieran back into the moment.  A guilty frown settled into his face and looked as if would take up permanent residence there.  He looked up at Luthien.  "When I was a kid, most of my family died in a house fire.  Everyone always told me it was 'arson'--or a 'freak accident'.

Does that mean...was I the 'freak' in question...?"

BJ frowned at that. She wanted to talk but clearly everytime she spoke up she distracted Luthien's work. She edged off a bit to give them a bit more space.

"It means you didn't have full control. Nobody does as a child. Control is something I can teach you. But you have to commit to learning how to use it. Can you do that? Fire...isn't always a bad thing. It warms countless homes, cooks, and even renews. It only brings harm if you lose control of it."

But it's up to this poor kid if he wants to learn such control.

"I hurt Lucy pretty badly because I lost my temper.  I could have hurt Coach Cordova--or my friends in Gym class!"  Kieran trembled with the breath he let out.

"Yeah."  The lad nodded resolutely.  "If you can help me stop this from ever happening again, I want to learn."

"I can. It'll take time, but I can. This'll...feel a bit like homework. But it's worth doing. In your schedule, when would you have time for this."

He waits for a time.

Clive safely reached home without further vampire troubles.  When he opened his door, he'd find a sealed envelope on the floor.  No return address or identifying marks other than a neatly-penned "Clive".

Back at City Market, the firemen gradually accomplished their goal.  The fire would soon be put out, the neighboring businesses safe from destruction.  Kieran told Luthien about the holes in his schedule.  He could meet his mysterious savior on any nights he didn't have practice.  Nearby, B.J. made a phone call.

OOC:

If Buffy & The Gang want to snoop at the scene and join Luthien, now is the time to do it.

Otherwise, just awaiting any responses from Clive & B.J., then moving on.

"That'll do for now. I'll see you then."

This young man had potential. The fire he commands did not have to be a curse. It could be a blessing instead. But only if he has full control of it. And that he can teach.

BJ puts away her phone and looks around. She knew that she should do more but she couldn't see what to do. It was clear she was a major triggering event. She'd only distract the boy but she didn't like leaving things hanging.

She slipped a business card with her work number and email to Luthien.

"I can be contacted here if you need me to cover his absences during his.. training, but I don't think my presence is helpful to his concentration."

Clive sighed as he looked down at the envelope.  He had the sneaking suspicion that it wasn't his latest paycheck from the council.  Although it did get points for penmanship, the lack of a return address added an impersonal touch to it.  Making his way over to his liquor cabinet he would reach for a bottle of whiskey as well as a small glass placing it on the dining room table next to the envelope.  Not particularly worried about the contents of the actual envelope he would pour himself a drink before opening the letter.  "Well then, seeing as this night would involve a whole lot of reading anyways.  Let's see what this secret admirer has decided to grace with me."