The school bell rang, signaling the end of the school week!  Friday, that blessed end of toil and harbinger of fun!  Well, at least for everyone except one Buffy Summers.  Clive Whitlock and Coach Cordova had other plans for the Slayer!  Plans which involved a summons to the gym and a long overdue conversation about Watchers & Slayers...

OOC:  Buffy's friends can feel free to tag along!

BJ sighed as she hefted her bag of gear and padding over her shoulder as she checked the time. She had told  Clive and Buffy that she had found a discrete place to work out in. It was an old boxing club that she had gotten on the sly cheap. She wanted to see what the Slayer could do and having that goal in mind meant she definitely didn't want her student tossing world record weights around in the school gym

"So, where are they? I told them I was heading towards the gym 20 minutes after." She growled

Luthien was around, leaning casually on a wall. After all, he figured he'd have to help with pushing her to her limits. He was in his white outfit...apparently a new one he'd just gotten hold of, as the old outfit was slain by the treachery of Gabrielle. Or more specifically, sewer water.

"Patience. They'll show up soon enough."

He wasn't in a hurry. It was enough for him that they were getting down to business at last.

"Yeah, she could be on time for a change. This last minute thing is so old. We need to assess Buffy's abilities so we can help her out. And I'm SURE some others will be along to put in their two bits." She said with a grin. "I know the type of person who gets involved in these things. We tell the kids to mind their business, they'd do it anyway.. instead I imagine some physical training and basic lessons in lore would be better for everyone involved. Care to help me train a handful of highschool students in the fine art of surviving vampires and other things in the shadows of the world? Because I'm quite sure at least TWO of them will show up."

Normally Watchers performed the whole intro the occult and one's destiny speech.  Clive had the unfortunate task of sharing said moment with two others.  Luthien, while he was starting to trust a little had enough floating questions around the man to make the trust shaky at best.  The last sort of thing that should be left hanging around the slayer.  Bonita, whom apparently had run ins with zombies, vampires, and werewolves before was still for all intents and purposes a regular gym teacher, an innocent bystander.  The last sort of person that should be drawn into a situation that could get her killed.  Too late on both those counts.

And now the talk was leaning on preparing kids to help Buffy, although when it came down to it the slayer was as much a youth as the rest of them.  It was a cluster and Clive couldn't help but feel responsible.  But they were better company than the tweed wearing sort that normally dove into these matters.  "Now, now a smile is always more lovely on your face than one of those patented scowls.  Luthien is right Bonita, not everyone was raised with military punctuality.  I am sure your twenty minutes will be Miss Summers thirty."

Outside

Buffy sat on a bench across the street from the gym. She'd actually rushed right over from school. The hallways had been buzzing with all sorts of talk. Of the weekend. Of who was going to what movie. Of who was going on a date with whom. Of being free for two short, sweet days. Buffy had blown past it, singularly focused. Coach Cordova had given her the address, but now that she was here...Buffy was nervous.

Not because she was scared of training, or fighting. But she was scared of what it meant. It meant that she'd be acknowledging, officially, what she'd spent years running away from. That this was all happening. And that terrified the Slayer more than any creature she'd come face to face with. Buffy stared hard at the old gym, as though if she glared hard enough, it would disappear, along with all her problems. Instead, the rundown structure sat there, unyielding, mocking her in its solemness. And so Buffy sat staring at it, trying to work up the courage to cross the street and step through those doors.

Luthien nodded.

"When you prepare workouts, don't spare the civilians. This is hard, dangerous, life threatening work. Weight training and cardio, every day, work 'em towards that goal. But don't forget the weapons training. The civilians will be involved, sooner or later. They need to know how to put the stake in the vampire's heart. Don't forsake research training either. The more varieties of demon they know how to kill without looking it up, the better off they'll be.

He paused, and said, "As a rule, make it a goal that each of the civilians can destroy a fledgling vampire on their own by this time next year. Those that are already strong may be able to do it in less time then that. Make allowances for fighting styles...if someone wishes to fight with magic or ingenuity, that's perfectly fine. Only results matter."

He continued on, "Buffy, in turn, needs all of that...plus training in how to defend her less powerful allies. Because civilians helping will get overwhelmed sometimes, and she needs to watch for that, and step in when necessary, while simultaneously knowing when NOT to help, because there's a certain confidence that comes only of overcoming the monster in front of you without assistance. And yet, having her friends around her...not doing this kind of thing alone, will probably lengthen her lifespan. Slayers rarely live to the Cruciamentum. Slayers that can legally drink are nearly unheard of. Slayers with many friends around them can live to see those things, isolation only contributes to their more normal mortality rate."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:19, Mon 30 Dec 2013.

"You assume I'm some novice at this?" BJ asked Luthien as she had listened to his speech. "How old were you when you saw your first vampire? I was younger than any of these kids. I hid. I lived. My family has been dealing with the other worldly for generations." BJ stopped talking for a moment. What was it with men in the supernatural world, they all assumed you didn't know your job. Fight, use pack tactics, never fight a vamp on it's terms. She stopped and looked at him intently as she replayed his words in her head. There was something off in them.

"What is this.. Cruciametum? Slayers were just another legend to my folks.. like the boogie man or the tooth fairy."

Luthien shook his head.

"I did not say you were a novice. You have already proven your ability. We all watched you do it. Do not take offense where none was intended. I merely reminded you the kids we are about to bring into this world have none of your experience. It will take them time to learn, and care to see to it they survive long enough to learn in the first place."

He blows off the 'how old were you' question as if it were Rhetorical.

"Fair enough, but don't mistake inexerperience for ineptness. I don't expect these kids to be vampire slayers out of an old Hammer flick but I do think that they will surprise you. We have a few athletes, one certifiable genius.. in several twists of the phrase.. and all of them didn't do anything outright stupid. I don't think they'll go looking for trouble but I intend to show them how to survive it coming to their door"

She looked at him.

"You didn't answer my last question either."

Luthien turns the floor over to Clive.

"That is for him to answer, for it is a tradition of the Watcher's Council. He will go into the details."

Clive balked as Luthien mentioned the Cruciamentum.  The fact that he knew about it was strange enough, but to mention it so matter of factly did nothing to alleviate his questions he had about the man clad in white.  Of course it wasn't the sort of thing one brought up when reassuring a Slayer.  "How do you even?  No matter.  The Cruciamentum is...well it's Watcher business that I would much rather not go into.  A tired tradition best left in the past that if at all possible I'd rather avoid actually consider putting her through when it comes time.  What was that phrase you used the other day?  It is need to know." Clive gave a cheeky smile in response.

"I was old enough to know I didn't want to see another vampire again.  Unfortunately, not everyone is allowed a choice in that matter."  He sighed for a moment before continuing.  "It's why I hope you're wrong about her not coming alone.  Even if Luthien is right in that the more the merrier for her survival chances.  They still have a shot at normal lives, fate did not deal them such a grim hand, a band of teenagers shouldn't be marching off to their deaths on a whim.  The notion is bloody insane."

BJ really hated this 'we bow to traditions' crap. A lot.

She looked over at Clive with the same strangely serpentine gaze she gave the crock-man just before she shot him out of hand. She waited about two heart beats before speaking.

"Okay Mr. 'Watcher'. What is this Cruciamentum and how does it apply to my student." His blase attitude made her more than a bit angry. "I think that the adults will need to be doing a little training as well. Mr. Whitlock, I would like to see your hand to hand skills. Luthien, I would like you to explain the basics of weapon use to any strays that show up. You showed a bit of skill with it and while I do well with my blades I doubt many will want to use them on a vampire."

BJ picked up her pack and laid it on a table, unrolling it to show a variety of weapons. Several stakes, a few blades, her pistols (unloaded), a pair of massive machetes, and a trio of silvered throwing spikes as well as her own kurkri blades.

"I'll have to get some targets for bow and crossbow work next week and a few more weight sets, but the gym is mostly set up."

"It doesn't apply to your student.  Not any time soon that is."  Clive responded still avoiding directly answering his work colleague.  He knew well enough not to make others privy to every bit of Council business.  Especially with all things considered.

"Bonita, are you sure you are not looking for an excuse to punch me?"  He casually retorted while eyeing the set of weapons the gym teacher had unravelled.  Wondering if for a moment she thought they were trying to run a Ghurka boot camp.  "Gloves and padding?"

"I think keeping information about my students that might entail their harm merits it." BJ said as she pulled on a pair of light gloves designed for making sure your hands didn't get bruised or cut in sparring and shrugged. "I dislike folk knowingly keeping information from those it effects." She said as she looked pointedly at both Luthien and then Clive.

"You're welcome to wear anything you'll be wearing when you encounter a vampire or other bugaboo of the night." She said plainly as she started doing her warmup stretches. Clearly she was a very fit and able fighter.

Considering nobody's seen Luthien wear much of anything else to date, he shrugs, as if his outfit was sufficient. He watched the way BJ stretched before her workout, and decided warming up in turn was not such a bad idea.

He had stretches of his own he did, though some of them seemed a little odd. It's difficult to guess just where he picked up some of those. They seem to be effective though.

In reply to Buffy Summers (msg # 6):

Outside

"Hey Buff, what's with the death glare? I heard you set your gym on fire at your old school, is this how you did it?" Garrett said innocently, tracing Buffy's line of sight to the gym across the way. He positioned himself like a prince on the bench next to Buffy. "I would have guessed TNT or napalm--that's Melba's fave." He plucked a dandelion full of wispy seeds and twirled it between two fingers.

"Hope you don't mind me asking, but how are you holding up?" His blue eyes searched crystalline into Buffy's.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:19, Mon 30 Dec 2013.

[Outside]
...and where Garrett is, one often finds Melissa or Melba or whatever.  Today, her hair was a particularly pale shade of mauve, almost but not quite silver.  She smiled at Garrett and twirled.

"Wouldn't dream of using TNT", she said, "because that's for blowing up the school not burning it down.  And I wouldn't use napalm either unless I wanted to kill someone.  For torching buildings, I'd use thermite, the home made kind, not commercial grade, and of course, liberal doses of good old-fashioned gasoline."

She nodded to Buffy, "Hey there Buffy.  Heard you done good against Queen Bitch.  If they're calling you in to debrief or dress down or anything like that, you could tell 'em about the British AIDS campaign and suggest that 'Don't Die of Ignorance' could be a general slogan and keeping us in the dark about the stuff that's going down could be dangerous."

Buffy looked over at Garrett guiltily. She supposed she had zero idea of just how obvious she was being. But then, she had also thought she was by herself. In truth, the company was nice now that it was here.

Buffy shook her head and chuckled. "Oh come on, now, we all know that death glares won't do that. I have to be extending my hands out, like this." Buffy dramatically raised her hands towards Garrett, squinting her eyes in mock concentration. A long quite moment passed with Buffy holding her arms out. The blonde blinked, then lowered her hands with a shrug and a look to Melba. "...it worked in Carrie..."

Buffy's gaze drifted back towards the gym as Melba commented. "Honestly, something really tells me that they couldn't keep you two away if they had an army." Buffy really wished there was an army standing there. It would have made walking away the easy option because she'd have an excuse.

"Hey, don't mock it; some people can make things explode with that much thought." He paused, "And you shouldn't squint, hun, it's bad luck and brings early crows feet. Garrett knows." Garrett put his hands on Buffy's face and gingerly pulled at the sides of her eyes.

"There. You know, I think there's a beautiful girl just waiting to come out with some accent colors. Maybe here above your eyes and your cheeks." Garrett closed one eye and turned to the side, holding up a thumb for perspective on Buffy's imaginary makeover.

"It's obvious, but you look a little stressed, and it's like you said: Mel and me wouldn't leave you on your own--even if they had that army. You've got friends now. Weird, semi psychotic and slightly phobic friends, but that's what we're offering." Garrett let slip a plotting smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:14, Tue 31 Dec 2013.

Melba grinned a cheshire cat grin (albeit that didn't end without her disappearing) and winked.  "Buffy", she spoke in an accent clearly borrowed from a hip hop video, "If they got an army, which I doubt is entirely hypothetical to be honest, you got us.  Maybe you got the others as well, but you definitely got us.  We got you back no matter the sacrifice.  Even if I gotta lose weight or something equally horrible."

She grinned at Garrett and winked, "Besides, we're your army General Summers, and I got a beef with them if they have one with you.  They kept me in the dark, denied me information.  Can you even imagine how mad that makes me?"

Buffy quirked an eyebrow at Garrett as he envisioned her makeover out loud. She blinked at him, then shook her finger. "That's how it starts, the makeup. Then, those boys'll start sweet talkin' ya. Then, they'll have you out late. And you know Pa, he wants me home dinner."

Buffy sighed and leaned back against the back of the rather uncomfortable bench. She looked over at Melba. "I suspect we'll have to make sacrifices. Probably starting with any sembelance of a social life." Buffy sighed dramatically. "I'll take all the friends I can get, you know? But I really don't want to lead an army. I can deal with partners. Heck, you can even apply for sidekick if you reallllly want."

"Well hey, dates--which I'm pretty sure qualify as social interaction if you're doing it right--are a semblance of social life, am I wrong? Just saying. You've got great cheek bones." Garrett tried not to gawk.

"I'm as badass as the next fifteen-year-old, but I think I'd be more comfortable not going toe-to-toe with anything mean and ugly." He brushed the imaginary dirt off his shoulders.

"And besides; I know some really cute guys who would love to liven up their Friday night lives with the beautiful Ms. Summers. There's a great underage club around here. I hear that's where everyone goes on the weekends. Just relaxing, ya know? Music, finger-food (I FRICKING LOVE JALAPENO POPPERS), and maybe some dancing? I mean the cool kids go there..."

He pursed his pink full lips, "Kinda makes going to the gym sound unnecessary."

Melba thought for a moment, possibly even long enough for the pause to be detectable before she said, "Partners is cool, but even if you refuse to lead, you still get to be Nestor Makhno, because you've met these vampires before and yet you're one of us, a teen, not somebody with centuries old agendas to keep to.  Still, if we DO have to get fit and stuff, I guess I can do it... just cut out the sweets and umm, what Garrett said, DANCE!"

The next pause was probably undetectable, less than the flicker from one frame to the next on celluloid.  "And I still want in when they dress you down, both because I can argue with authority, and because they have knowledge we teens may need, especially after we messed up the pretty faces of some of Gabrielle's girls."

Buffy nodded to Melba. She looked around, but didn't see anyone else. She guessed it was just the three of them. She looked to Garrett, then to Melba. The blonde sighed, then stood up and stretched. She nodded towards the gym with her head. "Time to go do...stuff?" Buffy blinked. "Sudden realization, I have no idea if this is a talking or training session..." Buffy shrugged. It was time to find out. She looked both ways, then crossed the street, stepping through the grimy glass doors of the gym that did not let you see inside the place anymore.

"Gym", muttered Melba.  "Oh well, what the Niflheim, let's go", and she nodded to Garrett, then followed Buffy.

Garrett stood and smirked at Melba. Behind his back, Garrett caused the dandelion he had been holding to erupt into flames. He let the ash trail behind as he followed  Mel and Buffy to the gym,

BJ was up on 'the rack' a series of pegs set between two beams leading up to the ceiling. The coach was holding a rod that was a bit longer than the gap and put it over her head and hooked it in place, then hung from the rod and crossed her legs to keep from standing and then with a series of muscular twitches moved upward two gaps at a time. The coach's muscle tone was impressive as she pulled her body up in a series of snapping movements that had her upwards of fifteen off the ground quickly before dropping to the mat on the floor below.

"Ah Ms. Summers.. so happy you could pencil us in your business social calender." Her smile broadened as Melba and Garret were spotted. "And more of my students show up..excellent. I hope you guys brought work out clothing, I think we'll need to see what you're capable of doing when you're not shirking your PE credit."

Melba grinned, "A bit more notice and I'd build me an exoskeleton like in Aliens for now, I guess I'm just here to give y'all a laugh".

Luthien leaned on a wall, smiling. He wouldn't be needed yet, the coach, being a coach, knew far better how to train body and mind then he did. He was there mostly to give Buffy an adequate sparring partner when the time came. A Slayer's power could not be taken lightly.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:36, Tue 07 Jan 2014.

"Cute Ms. Ellenberger, how about this.. what do you have in your pockets right now?" BJ asked as she walked over. She smiled at her as she walked over. "You guys got lucky the other night. Having the slayer.. a point in your favor. Another is that you went as a group. Question.. do you have a holy symbol on you?"

BJ's normal 'nice cheerful coach' manner isn't present.

Melba looked in her pockets, "6H pencil, penlight, waterpistol, cellphone, tampons, storecards, bottle of isopropanol, cigarette lighter. Assorted pens.  No Holy symbol unless a picture of Kurt and Courtney counts".
This message was last edited by the player at 05:19, Tue 07 Jan 2014.

Garrett tails behind Melba, close at her side. Coach seemed to be laying it on heavy just as they walked in the door. What was she playing at? Hadn't they proven themselves already?

And no. He hadn't brought any workout clothing. He also was suddenly very conscious of everyone in the room looking their way and expecting physical performance out of them. Mel seemed to be good humored about it all, but she was a little more forgiving when it came to swallowing physical performance, that damn beauty. Garrett wasn't about to get sweaty in front of all these people, especially since they were definitely going to judge him for not being as strong as the Slayer...

Forget that ish.

"But coach, shirking PE credit is how we earn our street cred," he said, half-halfheartedly.

"Sorry.. trying to point out that in the world you've come into that you need to be ready to think on your feet and do a minimal amount of prep. I could try and scare you off." She jerked a thumb at Clive. "That's his job. Watcher don't like me being here, I'm betting he likes 'bystanders' less. I just want to point out you have a powerful weapon if you want to use it. Your wits. Both of you are sharp and on your feet thinkers."


"Lecture done..what do you want out of what we're offering to teach?" BJ vaulted to distance to the boxing ring and the the ropes to stand in the ring. "Speaking of testing and evaluating, I believe you were ready to spar with me Mr. Whitlock?" BJ said, pointing to his waiting pads and headgear.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:27, Tue 07 Jan 2014.

"Coach Cordova is correct.  On all fronts.  I am not fond of her being here, but even less so of the idea of unprepared teens running into the fray.  However loathed as I am to say it Bonita, err Coach Cordova, is also correct in that if you are insistent on standing alongside Buffy your only assets are your wits.  Luckily I am not remiss to say that wits go a long way."

He knew that wasn't their first run in with vampires.  Hell it wasn't their first run in with those vampires.  Clive had been hopeful that their fellow classmate being kidnapped would dissuade them from pursuing into seeking out anything else about the supernatural.  Not that he was surprised when they weren't.  Still curious living teens were much better than deceased, there was no harm in at the very least following through with B.J.'s game plan to guarantee they'd survive.

If not only because a do as I say ultimatum would've struck too close of a chord to home.  Clive finished placing a set of gloves and protective headgear on his person before making his way towards Bonita.  And while he had absolutely no doubt in his mind as to the fact that the coach was physically fit, Clive admittedly thought she had been overselling the whole 'family had been fighting things that go bump in the night' angle.  So he when he brought himself into a defensive posture it was with an overt sense of confidence.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:16, Tue 07 Jan 2014.

Melba nodded.  "That is understood, Coach.  My first question is, do they burn, because I could make a pretty reasonable flamethrower from what's in my pockets and if the Man didn't keep threatening to try me as an adult, I could go further. Oh by the way, please don't kill Mr Whitlock, Coach, I have a few thousand questions I'd like to ask him."

Buffy pointed at Clive. "Wits and a killer sense of fashion." Buffy watched Coach Cordova step into the ring, and Clive follow her shortly thereafter. She was both insanely curious to see just who would come out on top, and she felt her own blood quicken a touch at the thought of a fight. Instead, Buffy drifted quietly to one side of the ring, and waited to see the 'fireworks'.

"Take a number Melba. I have many questions already and Mr. Whitlock is playing the 'Need to Know' on me. I doubt he'll be any more forthcoming with you." She pulled on a pair of gloves and stepped up to tap the heavier protected Whitlock.

Her first blow was fast, and rang like a gunshot as she all but threw him across the ring with a snap kick that was was nothing but a blur of motion.

"Now.. me.. I'm not the sort who wears tweed or school ties and I can only trace my family back to around the foundation of the Virgina colony on my mother's side instead of the Norman Conquest of England." The coach's casual tone didn't hide her scorn. "We folk from LA judge by action. Show me what you got Whitlock."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:12, Tue 07 Jan 2014.

Fashion was a must, and Garrett appreciated that in a miniature juggernaut like lil' B over here. "You said it Buff."

He had the same questions as Melba, and hoped that he would find out the answers sooner rather than later. Garrett nodded to Melba, jerking his chin toward where Buffy stood near the ring with the PE coach and the librarian inside. This didn't seem like a fair fight, but it is nice to laugh every once in a while.

And hey, when you get knocked on your ass sometimes you gotta laugh it off or the pain'll stick around long after. Garrett preferred never to step into the ring, and if it does come to fighting, to find a safe corner after inevitable defeat.

Clive was winded as he stumbled back to his feet as the blow knocked him clear on his back to speak nothing of the distance covered.  To say the force behind the blow was more than any educator had reason to be packing was putting it mildly.  "Yes, fashion cannot forget all the important bases.  I believe I saw those little cartoon stars."  Taking a moment to wonder if he should second the don't kill Mr. Whitlock request, Clive made his way back B.J.  She really does not like being kept in the dark.

Complying with the B.J.'s request Clive would come back at the coach with a textbook jab.  Although the motion came off comfortably even after practically being ragdolled, the difference between the speed of his fist and and B.J.'s kick was quite obvious.

As was BJ's catching the jab with almost casual ease in her hand. It looked like something out of a martial arts movie, BJ just stopping the punch dead. The others were to her back so only Clive could see the 'oh please' look in her eye as she used her left palm to snap out, grab him one handed and lift him completely off his feet and slam him to the mat.

"While this might be a boxing gym, we no longer follow the Marquis of Queensberry here Mr. Whitlock." She said casually as she stepped back to let the Watcher recover his feet and get up. "And no.. Melba, niether you or Garrett , will be sparring like this. At least at first."  She said as she glanced back at them. "Ms. Summers will be after we evaluate her current abilities though."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:09, Wed 08 Jan 2014.

Chan dragged herself in a little later than some of the others. Things hadn't really been much easier even now that she'd had at least a little time to recover. She wasn't really sleeping particularly great, and while she kept trying to draw or her paint way to some sort of resolution, as of yet it hadn't happened. So when she couldn't sleep she drew or painted, and none of it was particularly pleasant or happy.

It was hard not to think back to the last time she'd spent any length time with the others. Hard not to think back to the near paralyzing terror and certainty that her time was about to come to a vicious end. A teenage girl was not supposed to be directly confronted by her own mortality. The whole thing had been like being in a cage with a Tiger. "Hello, sorry I'm late. Darius will be in a bit, he had a few things to take care of."

Melba watched quietly, trying to memorise the moves and quietly consider whether there was anything of the slightest use to someone as plus-sized as herself.  She nodded when Chan came in and said "Hey", but otherwise remained uncharacteristically silent, upper teeth visible on her lower lip.

Meanwhile...

Cheerleader practice concluded for the afternoon.  Since it was Spring, the girls would cheer on the baseball team. The roster only changed moderately, based on dating arrangements and clique loyalty.

Gracie Lynn Dupree ALWAYS led the cheerleaders as Captain.
Lucy Whitfield always coveted her "best friend's" spot.

As usual, the girls met up in the girls' restroom just outside the cafeteria.  The cheerleaders usually sneaked smokes, gossiped, and plotted the course of the other kids' social destiny.  Beautiful, capricious, often cruel gods they were!  Gracie Lynn hung out with Lucy and a mutual friend, Kelsey Jameson.  Kelsey was a petite redhead with an impish smile and dry sense of humor.  Lucy gabbed about a party while Kelsey touched up her makeup.

Gracie remembered a rumor that Coach Cordova invited--nay, summoned--Buffy to a private gym on the west side. ..

Luthien, meanwhile, smiled at the Slayer. He hadn't forgotten what he was actually here for.

"When you get bored with watching them duke it out, you'll be sparring with me."

And then he waited, patient as ever.

Gracie Lynn looked at the other girls as she was glad to get back to more normal things. She might love her family but they were so not with it. She looked at Kelsey "So, you heard anything good recently?"

Kelsey stared into the mirror.  A deep frown showed as she applied lipstick.  The question interrupted Kelsey, who snapped, "No!"

What?" Kelsey sighed.  "Sorry, what did you say?"

"Don't be so jumpy, makeup can be fixed. I was hoping there might be some good parties soon" she said as she looked in the mirror also.

The girl  laughed weakly.  "You wouldn't let a friend go out with badly- applied lipstick, huh?" Kelsey smiled at Gracie Lynn in the mirror.

Nearby, Lucy snorted.  "I don't know, K!  Have you seen who Gracie's hanging out with lately?  She's spending way too much time visiting 'The Island of Misfit Toys'."

She looks at Lucy "Hey, I really needed some help in something and I had to go to them, so stop ragging on them"

Kelsey shrugged.  "They're not so bad.  I mean, Melba is kinda scary, but Garrett is so adorbs!" With a sneer, she added, "Besides, you're only holding a grudge because the new girl humiliated your crush in Dodgeball!"

Lucy raised her head.  "Really?  Why don't you tell Brian at the kegger tonight?"

While the girls bickered, Gracie Lynn peered into the mirror.

This time, the mirror stared back  Gracie Lynn saw her reflection peek at her friends, then turn back with a smirk.   "Tell me, why do we put up with Lucy's shit again?  Why do we put up with that bitch at all?"

Neither Lucy nor Kelsey noticed Gracie Lynn's reflection sassing her!
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:03, Tue 28 Jan 2014.

Gracie's eyes go wild. What is happening. "I, um, don't know." She wonders what is going on. She talks to Melba, didn't she do magic stuff?

When Gracie Lynn pondered calling Melba, she "heard" her reflection  make with the "tsking".  " Now, now!  You don't wanna call Melba!  Her gay friend hates you, remember?  Look at the way that boy acts when you show Darius any affection!  Boy's just jealous of us, right?""

Now she was wondering if she was crazy. She didn't want to look crazy with the other girls there, if she did, it would be around the school in a light second. "Well, I got to be going, done my smoke and I need to get something from my locker, see you all around"

"Go ahead.  Run away. ". Out of the corner of her eye, Gracie saw her reflection playfully wink. "It's okay!  You'll be back...and we'll talk soon."

Today: Gracie Lynn DuPree rolled 9 using the Unisystem system (1d10+4). will.

Gracie Lynn Dupree inspired a reputation as one of the feistiest, most strong-willed of the Jepson class!  Although the mirror softly mocked her, Gracie Lynn found the strength to walk away.  However, the words uttered by that voice lingered tantalizingly in her mind as she exited the restroom...

Back at Bonita's private gym, she faced Clive in another round of "friendly" sparring!

She got dressed for sparring and walked out onto the mat, ready to fight. "OK, what are we doing today?"

Clive stumbled as he moved to rise again continuing the disparity between the teacher's strength.  Of course when the Englishman rose to his feet, Clive made sure that his padded glove would fly out to snap BJ in the chin in the same motion he rose with.  "Yes well I don't think anyone has used the Marquess's rules in almost one hundred years Bonita.  There's a fascinating study on the growth of the London underground boxing scene.  Where it divides from bare knuckle to street...and I am rambling."

BJ took the hit, barely moving from the blow. Her look said it all as she met Clive's gaze. I have taken your measure..and you didn't impress. She wiped the blood from her split lip and turned away to the students waiting for her to talk.


"Okay.. today, we'll have Buffy doing her thing with Luthien and myself. The rest of you, we'll be discussing tactics, options and covering the basics of teamwork. You aren't going to be fighting till we understand what you know and what your instincts tell you to do. Then we'll work on giving you the right insticts to survive. THEN you get to get in the ring and learn to defend yourselves." She smiled as looked at them. "You're hear to learn to survive..not become 'Slayer lite'. So let's hear your opening questions." She said as she stepped out of the ring, pulling off her gloves.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:47, Wed 15 Jan 2014.

If Clive's family line didn't make a career path out of hanging around superhumanly strong women, he might have taken a bit of a pride hit.  But it did.  So he didn't care on that front.  The message that was read loud and clear on the other hand was bothersome as he left the mats.

Clive actually was more than a little curious as to how the Luthien would fare.  Unlike BJ, whom Clive was currently on the outs with, Clive did not trust Luthien still.  You don't dress in all white unless you're a John Woo villain.  With all respects to the Ray Bradbury classic.

"Ah, questions that does remind me.  I will eventually have to have a word with you Buffy.  With less of an audience."  He groaned as while taking off his gloves.  The woman is in better shape than any fitness instructor has business being in.  Someone needs a night off from the gym.

Melba glared at Mr Whitlock.  She may even have growled.  She held back though and said instead to Coach Cordova.  "I daresay I could afford to lose a few pounds.  Might make me a little fitter.  I know I'd hate to have to do that though so how about if I really do build that exoskeleton instead?"

Luthien took his place on the mat, and waited for Buffy. Before starting, he asked, "Do you want full contact, or do you want to hold back? We'll be fighting actual bad guys later, and we'll only heal so much by the time we go hunting them."

He didn't want to insult her if she'd take holding back as an insult, but practically speaking, hitting each other so hard their fists would go through brick and steel half the time might not be wise if they plan on actually killing bad guys later.

"So who are you really, Coach? Sure, maybe you don't go around flouting that you're a championship boxer, but I mean if vampires exist so can the Terminator, right?" Garrett eyed BJ up and down, perhaps looking for loose wires. Melba would be able to confirm or deny whether anyone would build a P.E. Bot to whip the public school kids into shape fit for the furor. Or maybe the BJ-BOT was sent to enslave them when the time was right. Garrett looked askance at Melba.

He tossed his black and purple hair to the side, away from his glistening, pristine eyes. To Clive he said, "How does this Slayer thing work? Why is Buffy so strong?"

Melba smiled to Garrett.  "Don't worry sweetie.  She's not the Terminator.  I haven't built the terminator yet."  She winked at Garrett but then turned her greenish eyes toward the Coach and smiled.  "And I'm not thinking about what she is right now because that information is probably classified and I think Mr Whitfield's information is more important for the time being, so I want to keep my head clear of stuff I could go to prison for knowing."

She turned to Mr Whitfield and said, still to Garrett, "He's probably Talamasca though, except I imagine it's nothing like Ms Rice imagined it."

"1849, The US gains California from Spain via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. That same year a vampire moved on a family that ran a farm outside what is now San Diego. The mother and father died and a son ran to a local priest, an uncle. Six years later, the son burned the vampire's nest to the ground and pulled the master vampire out of his hidey hole and watched it burn." She said as she walked over to weapons laid out on the table.

"Cordovas run into the big bad dark critters occasionally, and after a while.. they learned a few tricks. Of course we're talking one or two a generation not a weekly event like the Slayer and her Watchers. She sat down and put up her feet and looked at the kids. "Watchers have god given right to put everything behind the 'society' cover. You'll get dick from Whitlock. Oh, I don't have fancy methods like he's saying he can teach the Slayer here, but then I don't regard her as 'property' like he and his do. I'll teach you how to look around, find weapons, work together and think out the box. Almost half my vampire kills came out of one fight. None of the fancy stuff I did in the ring went into that. I hotwired a bulldozer, flattened their squat and used a tow chain and hook to pull them out of the hole." She grinned to the teens.

"I don't teach fair.. or traditional.. I teach effective." She said looking back at Clive. "Lecture done... I'll let the English refute my claim."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Wed 15 Jan 2014.

Melba grinned and whooped as Coach Cordova described hotwiring a bulldozer to destroy a vampire nest.  Then she turned to Buffy.  "Don't like the sound of you're role much.  Sounds like it's Days of Future Past and you're Rachel Summers except you're not a time traveler.  Hmm, you don't have a cousin Scott do you?"

Clive wasn't jumping to refute the last part of her claim.  His body had effective stamped all up and down the mat.  But while he wasn't going to tread into any details as he knew of the slayer line.  He could recite the speech, everything that went bump in the night eventually heard it anyways.  "Into every generation a slayer is born.  One girl in all the world, a chosen one.  She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer."

"She's that strong, because she drew the unluckiest genetic lottery a girl can draw.  Or to borrow another X-men analogy she's Scott Summers without the romance angst.  Well actually she's a teenager that's probably there too."

"Moving to lean against the wall for support.  "Bonita's flash and examples of ingenuity make for a wonderful story.  I'm sure it doesn't gloss over how many people have not succeeded in their endeavors to try and repeat such acts.  Chan was very lucky the other night.  She didn't survive because of exemplary skill, planning, or even effectiveness.  She survived only because she served as bait.  That's not a luxury one affords twice.

"However, as Bonita obviously wants me to repeat it.  Yes, I plan on keeping tight lipped on many a thing."

Luthien actually supported Clive on that one.

"That is quite true. Had Gabrielle wanted to simply eat Chan, she could've done so a solid half hour before BJ, Clive and I got there. It is worth keeping in mind vampires can drain most humans dry in about 10 seconds or so. A particularly big guy like Darius, it might take 20 seconds instead."

Melba sighed... "Right, so... we've made an enemy of Gabrielle.  That means I need to know how to kill them....  I know that Holy Water is pretty awesome but it didn't look like any of them actually died from it.  The stake through the heart thing is true.  What about the rest? Garlic?  Burning? Sunlight? (And if so does it have to be real sunlight or would high intensity UV do the job?)  Beheading?  Dropping loads of salt on the ground so they have to pick it up because all vampires are OCD?  This is all need to know stuff, Sir.  And by the way, don't ever tell me I can't do stuff because I'm Ellen Ripley's fatter cousin.  If it can be done, I'll find a way to do it."

Luthein says, "Well, that's simple enough. Beheading works, either with a sword or other implement. Sunlight works. I do not know if modern science can replicate sunlight that will damage them, you'd have to experiment with that one on your own. Fire works slowly, in that they can't heal quickly from damage done by fire, and they'll remain weak for days after being burned, but unless you actually burn them to their second death, they'll recover eventually, even if that is a week or two down the road. For the record, a second death only counts if the vampire turns to dust. Anything less then that, and you didn't finish the job. Garlic doesn't seem to work. Crosses work in terms of repelling them and delivering painful burns, but they usually aren't fatal. Holy water, as you've discovered, will burn them like acid, but they'll recover from it eventually. If you want to kill them with holy water, mix it into their blood and get them to drink it. They'll turn to dust immediately."

And that's all he's got to say about it.

"I notice most vampires don't like losing limbs, but not everyone is as skilled with a kukri as I am." BJ says as takes one of the two silvery blades and flips it into the air with casual ease. "Matching strength with a Vamp..not bright. They tend to be all straight forward and grab fixated for the most part. It worked because they are fast, strong, and resilient. You blind them, trip them or dodge..then run. Don't try straight distance, it's like trying to outrun a jaguar. He'll run you down. Broken field running, with feints and dodges is how you outrun."

She flicked the blade with casual ease to a nearby wooden column and it impacted with a loud thunk. It vibrated loudly as she looked back at the others.

"I'll be honest, my best advice? Run. Do not engage. But you're nothing if stubborn teens, you'll do what you're going to do anyway. So, I can offer tactics, methods, and skills. I'll tell you everything I know in my limited hunting experience and be honest on what it takes to survive. I won't tell you 'need to know' or such when I ask questions about things like..  Cruciamentum." She said bluntly. It was a shady move, but she knew that Melba and Garret wouldn't take 'none yer damn business' anymore than she would, and the kids were more skilled in digging up dirt than she was online. And it put Clive on the 'bad side' of the line of trust an instructor needed to have with his students.

"Okay.. aside from the weapons on the table, and the one in that beam, I want you two to give me five things you're not carrying that can slow, impede or hurt something running you down. Since this is the first exercise for you two, here is a hint. Think.. Jackie Chan."

Melba shrugged, counting off on her fingers, "Tables," One finger, "chairs," second finger, "light fittings, especially if you set off the sprinklers and let the exposed wire fall into a puddle." Third finger. "Windows, especially if broken and sharp and jagged."  Fourth finger and then she broke out in a wide grin, "and of course, you guys, who are better fighters than me and who I can get in between me and the bad guys." Thumb, then closed fist.

To Luthien, she asked.  "Has anyone tried injecting Holy water and if so how soon in that ten seconds does the vampire turn to dust?"

Luthien shook his head.

"Nobody's tried injecting that I know of. Mostly because warriors fast enough and strong enough to inject holy water would rather use a stake through the heart. I supposed if you could fire hypodermic needles of some kind from a gun, you may get around that."

Chan paled a little as they talked more and more about her... adventure the other night. It would be really nice just to be able to ignore the whole thing, but at this point she was pretty sure that wasn't an option. At the same time it was a little embarrassing ending up a hostage, dangling from a chain. "I don't suppose we could stop analyzing my Princess Toadstool impersonation, and maybe even move onto Bowser survival tactics, or how to stomp goomba's." She muttered to herself just a little louder than she had intended. The idea of her fighting off a vampire seemed pretty ludicrous, but if she could even buy herself a few more seconds that might save her life... next time, what a terrifying thought that was.

Melba smiled at Luthien...  "You don't understand... I meant injecting Holy Water into one's bloodstream.  How much would one need to make one's blood a deadly poison to vampires, and while we're at it, is there any ritual to sanctify the blood in a living host?"

Luthien scratched his chin, and said, "To my knowledge, nobody's ever tried either one. It'd be useful if it worked."

"I doubt that it would work. Intermixing blood and holy water is a thing that undoes the purity of the water." BJ said thoughtfully. "Though I think you could do some serious damage with a holy water injector around the size of a baster." She continued with a thoughtful with a look on her face.

"Chan, you're worries are part of why I'm willing to teach you all the skills that are needed to survive. My family doesn't have a lot of choice in the LA basin for 'stepping away' and I figure that you're in the same situation around here." BJ said with a shrug.

Buffy stood there, listening to the conversation go rapid fire around her. Well, hey, at least Melba was able to bounce ideas off people who knew far more than she did on this sort of thing. The problem was that Buffy didn't feel like she needed to strategize or talk. Buffy needed to hit something. In the Slayer's mind, that was what she viewed her powers as most useful for. All this talking, coupled with the stress of the past few weeks, Buffy was a bundle of emotion and energy. She find herself ditching her thin, leather jacket neatly on the steps of the ring. She climbed up on the ropes, leaning over them, pointing at Clyde first. "First of all, for X-Men analogies, one has to figure Jean Grey is a more appropriate metaphor. The whole Phoenix force thing, coupled with the great power, but the potential for good or evil, et cetera, et cetera." Buffy paused and looked around sheepishly. "What? I read comics sometimes." Buffy stepped through the ropes more aptly than a professional wrestler. "Either way, out. Before Coach finishes what she started." Her gaze drifted towards Luthien. "And you, in." Buffy did not, in the slightest, feel that she could take Luthien. But she was confident that she could inflict some damage before the sparring session was over.

Melba considered and then with a sigh said, "I'm about 40 pounds overweight, so if I exercise every day plus reduce my calory intake, I could probably lose that in six months, assuming I have six months".  She sat down and attempted a sit up.  "Unless anybody knows a magical weight reduction spell.  If you do, stick with me, I could make us zillionaires in a month."

Luthien also entered the ring, gracefully stepping between the ropes himself, and added, "You never answered me about full contact. We are going to be fighting actual bad guys later. And while we heal fast, we may not heal fast enough if we do each other too much damage in here."

Upon seeing the doubts in her eyes, he added, "There is a very good reason why you are the protector of the world and I am not. In time, you will see."

"That just sounds like fun. Aren't we ever so lucky people..." She said trying to hold back on the sarcasm. "The only way I know Melba requires two things that you're going to hate, and may take quite a bit less than quite that long. Depending on how terrible your diet is right now."

"Well since I can't spar with the Slayer till after Luthien is done," BJ says as she collects her 'students'. "So, we're doing some basic calestinics and warmups. We'll be discussing a healthy but filling diet, a routine that isn't too hard and such." BJ said as she put on her 'coach hat' and covered things in a bit more detail than she did in the gym class. She handed out a few books on diet and working out to get fit. It's not 'Iron Man/Olympic' level work out but general fitness to build on.

Buffy nodded to BJ and Clive as they exited the ring. She took a breath, and locked eyes with Luthien. She stood there for a long second, then slowly began to start circling the ring. It felt natural, as did her hands going up into a guard position. She felt a lot of fear and anger mixing together, but, somewhere deep down, she felt the thrill of adrenaline beginning to kick in.

Luthien, on the other hand, was mostly stationary, with a sort of calm serenity that belied the fact he was about to take on an opponent frankly more dangerous then any other. The spirit of the Slayer was the spirit of the world's guardian. He hoped that spirit would rise today. That he could bring that spirit out of her by being a worthy opponent.

His stance was relaxed, but he watched her carefully, waiting for her first move, whatever it turned out to be.

Melba nodded and read the books then said to the coach.  "Okay".  she recognised the needs to get fit and was ready to do so, even though the vamps were always likely to be faster than her.  She knew she could come up with a cyborg solution to take away that edge, but for now, getting fitter would do.

Buffy felt uneasy as Luthien stayed put in the center of the ring. It didn't matter, she kept circling. That is, until she stood in front of him again. She paused, on the edge of her toes, swaying. Then, in one fluid motion, she fired off three consecutive punches aimed directly at Luthien's mid-section. It was immediately followed by a hard roundhouse kick that could easily shatter a testing board...or bone, if it connected properly.

Luthien had his own strategy. He'd make himself small that Buffy might feel greater. Really, his efforts didn't even remotely resemble the sort of performance he put up against actual enemies. However underperforming he was as a warrior, he knew this may well give her the confidence she needs.

And all her strikes tagged him. It was a tribute to his supernatural resilience that those didn't break him. What Luthien still had on Buffy, despite the fact her skill proved superior in that exchange, was speed, and after the exchange he clearly got the worst of, he tagged her back with his own steel shattering fist.

Despite being tagged so much, he was actually encouraging. "Good. Keep it up."

Buffy winced as Luthien's shot landed. That had hit with a lot more force than she'd expected. But it hadn't hurt as badly as she expected it to. It staggered her backwards though. Buffy shook it off and danced backwards a few steps. Her adrenaline was up and going, and there were instincts she didn't know she had beginning to take over. Buffy drove forward again, this time, with two low kicks aimed at Luthien's left leg. She was going to slow him down first, then maybe she could tag him more effectively.

Luthien's leg was struck so hard that it would've shattered the bones in several places of anyone else. He, however, was simply knocked on his ass as Buffy had intended. There was a reason he called her the guardian of the world. As before, however, even though he was VERY thoroughly beaten that time, he still had space for a counter attack, and even as he dropped, he aimed a very solid hammerfist right at her gut, letting her feel again that rather considerable strength of his.

"This is why I called her the world's guardian. I really wouldn't recommend getting in the ring with her. What she just did to my leg would've broken yours in at least 3 places." He lifted up his pantleg to look at the bruises...and even on HIM, it looked like a major league homerun hitter took their favorite baseball bat to his leg a few times.

When he stands up again, it was a little shaky, and his stance showed he was putting no pressure or weight on the leg she'd damaged, but he added, "Good. One more round."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:16, Fri 24 Jan 2014.

Buffy gritted her teeth as she felt Luthien's fist impact her stomach. As in shape as she was, it still did not feel good at all. The Slayer staggered back a bit, catching her breath. She also observed Luthien gingerly getting to his feet, not putting pressure on the leg she'd wailed on. She nodded to herself in grim satisfaction, then advanced forward quickly, her fists snapping out. She aimed a right fist at his stomach, followed by a left at his chest, and finally a right fist again, aimed directly at his face.

But this time, she was sloppy...and easily countered. The right fist never got there, as he caught it with his own hand, her left fist was flung away wildly as he turned her around, he simply stepped behind her out of the way of her attack at his face, and had her effectively pinned with his great strength. A strength many vampires shared. Instead of attacking her while she was pinned, however, he simply kissed her throat. And held it for a solid 3 or 4 seconds. He could feel her blood rush by his lips when they touched her skin. It doesn't take much imagination to guess what a vampire would be doing instead right about now.

"If I had been a vampire...guess what would've happened instead? You got sloppy and careless."

To prove the point, she was still pinned, no matter how she squirmed. Once the point was made, though, he let her go. He was still limping on that leg, though he knew it'd heal sooner or later.

"All yours coach, if you still wish to test yourself against her bonecrushing force." His tone makes it clear it is very much against his recommendations.

"I can train her without having her hit me full force." BJ said as she slipped into the ring. "And we're not made of glass. Don't assume that we are. Buffy, did you spot what you did wrong? Strength is not everything." BJ said as she looked at the girl.

"Three methods I'd have used to break his hold: drop and roll." BJ dropped, throwing her hands and arms up to show sliding out of the hold, before rolling to one side and popping up. "strike to vulnerable spots like the arch of the foot, knee, or throat. Gouge an eye out or such. Several ways to do it. Part of this one is knowing the enemy's weak points and vulnerabilities." BJ walked up to Luthien with a wry smile as she flicked her wrist to reveal a sharp stake. One that looks to be about twice the length and diameter of a #2 pencil.

"Third..never be the victim the vampire anticipates." She looked back to Buffy. "You got the speed, strength and agility to match them in hand to hand, you just need to learn to follow your instinct and learn how to react by muscle memory, that comes with training."

"So, let's discuss how Luthien was able to catch and hold your punch." BJ said handing it back over to Luthien.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:41, Sun 26 Jan 2014.

Clive said not a word during the course of the spar.  Rather than give BJ more room to air her grievances he avoided the opportunity for further admonishment.  Choosing to sit during the ongoing after action review.  "That did bugger all about answering my own lingering question."  Clive expressed in a soft whisper to no one in particular.  His attention clearly on Luthien momentarily.

Before turning towards the students.  Instead of addressing how he would rather they not be there for the hundredth time he saved the pedantics for now. "If you insist on hunting the undead, do not ever presume yourself to not in fact be made of glass.  Because at the end of the day people are indeed frail by comparrison."  His statement addressed towards the non superhumanly durable teens.

Melba sighed and looked at the teacher.  "You misunderstand me, Sir.  I do not wish to hunt the undead.  I merely wish to have some kind of defence when they come hunting ME.  As you so rightly say, self-defence is not an option if we're talking kung fu or the like, but walking around in a suit of armour or emigrating to Alaska are not practical solutions either.  This is where holding back information is wrong.  It decreases the probability that I will be able to perfect a means to defend myself and those I love from these supernatural horrors.  I take that personally, and in the words of Quellcrist Falconer, the time comes to face the facts and act upon them."

After a pause she asked, "Are vampires as vulnerable to nuclear weapons as humans are?  I only ask because without the information I need, I will be forced back on what I know already."

She smiled her prettiest, most cherubic schoolgirl smile.

Cliver stared literally stared at Melba.  Just stared for the moment in disbelief.  There was little to no doubt in his mind that she wasn't seriously pondering the question.  But whether the query was genuine or not, Clive certainly wasn't going to be the teacher that sent Melba Ellenberger of all people off with the idea nuclear armaments were a proper line of self-defense.

"Of course can't forget what country we are in.  If it cannot be solved by a muzzle it has to be solved by nuclear weapons.  Subterfuge and more mystical means are more the sphere of influence one frequents.  I do not think any articles have been written on the subject as the means to test such theories would attract undue attention.

But I would postulate the radiation itself all but useless.  At best one would be sick for a while at worse they're walking around giving everyone cancer.  If the heat itself is enough to sear the flesh and bone you may get somewhere, but nowhere more convenient than fire.  But with enough applied force you could theoretically dust as a vampire as well."

"On the subject of applied force... I've got something to fess up to." Garrett took a deep breath. "As you may be able to imagine, or maybe not, it's difficult to be the kid nobody gets. We all have to reach out a little for something to rely on." Garrett shrugged. "Melba reaches for nuclear weapons... and I reached for the occult."

"Now I'm just playing around at this point, but I've been able to do a few things." He paused and looked from Melba to Clive. "I can't really explain them so here goes."

Garrett carefully pointed himself in the direction of nothing in particular, a safe distance away from anything or anyone at all. Under his breath he muttered the magic words, and out of his open palm burst a jet of flame!

That got Luthien's attention. Actual sorcery, and good enough to cast a jet of flame on the fly. He paused the combat training to comment.

"Casting flames on the fly without chanting any words suggests considerably more skill then you've been letting on. How long have you been practicing?"

Melba ignored, Clive who didn't recognise a threat when he heard it, but Garrett... Garrett was wonderful.  "Oh my beautiful boy", she said, "That is awesome, and like the, umm well yes, man says, skilled as well.  Anything else you can do?"

Her hazel-green eyes were pretty close to being all pupil now as her face showed the same hunger for information that a vampire has for blood.  When other people look at Garrett like that, it's his body they're lusting over, but Melba's not most people.

But then she does look back to Clive and repeat his words.  "Heat enough to sear flesh and bones".  She smiled and asked, still looking at Clive, "How hot can you make it Garrett?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Mon 27 Jan 2014.

"I've been practicing as much as I can. Here and there between class or at home. Maybe a year?"



Garrett blushed at Melba. He'd meant to tell her all this time. The books he'd been hiding from her, the canceled dinner date here and there for tutoring. The times he could have told her and released the burden definitely out weighed the benefit of keeping this secret. But now, what started as a hobby for him to control the haphazard world around him began be show potential for keeping him and others safe from the things that fascinated and haunted him. How could he keep this a secret to the group? That would have been too selfish. Still, his eyes lingered cautiously on those whom he didn't know so well. This was very personal, so much so that if someone here chided him he might curl up into a ball and rock back in forth 'til Mel loaded him into her van and took him to ice cream. The emotional branch he was perched on felt wobbly, like he might fall and burst into flames himself (emotionally speaking, but who knows?).

"I know I should have told you Mel, I'm sorry, but I thought this might be even too weird for you." He laughed and scratched behind his head. "I can do a few other things so far, make objects float, falsify papers (my grades are all magic), and I've been reading about this spirit summoning spell I want to try."

"That flame is plenty hot. I nearly singed a puppy once... poor Mr. Biggles. He was mostly fine, but the fence he was behind is toast."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:30, Mon 27 Jan 2014.

Luthien immediately grew cautious...

"Summon which spirits, exactly? Most of them are malevolent, most of what's left are neutral, very few of them truly want to help humanity."

Buffy inwardly was seething at herself for getting sloppy, and as well at what Luthien had done. She ignored both Luthien and B.J. after they spoke, slipping out of the boxing ring. Which was fine considering everyone's attention had gone to Garrett's very impressive gift. Buffy smiled a bit at the sudden discovery and sat down in a chair, trying to calm down mentally and focus. Everyone else here seemed very focused and ready. Buffy's morale seemed to come and go. As did her focus.

Chan couldn't help but nod her head in agreement with Melba's words. Normal folk really weren't meant for this sort of excitement. She'd already seen close hand just how easy it was for one of those vampires to kill someone. It would literally take seconds, and even Buffy had gone down against a full pack of the vamps. It hadn't even taken very long, which had been fairly terrifying from where she was standing.

"I think it has to depend on who you are. The Native Americans had a multitude of spirits which they worked with. I imagine a lot of them are still around in one form or another. I'm really not sure how far this whole supernatural thing goes. Were all these spirits actually real, or just some of them? I find things from that perspective a little disquieting..."

Melba smiled to Garrett and then hugged him, "It's okay Garrett.  I've always got your back, you know that.  Love means never having to say you're sorry right?  Besides, now I know, we can work together, there should be some way to synergise science and the occult... perhaps even a neutron bomb that kills demons and leaves people alone."

She winked at the coach.

Then she turned to Chan and said, "From what I've heard, most native American spirits were neutral.  A shaman's job was always difficult and dangerous because he would always have to negotiate to get the spirits to do anything."

BJ leaned up against the column closest to Buffy, having watched her back off from the rest and clearly thinking unusually deep thoughts for the girl. Not that she was shallow or anything but clearly she was still struggling with the whole 'once in a generation' crap.

She looked at the Slayer, not seeing the killer of vampires and things that go bump in the night but a teenager who was feeling the weight of a lot of things. Too many things for so young a pair of shoulders. She wanted to take that weight from her, but she couldn't. That wasn't her job or fate. This had to be Buffy's. Didn't mean she had to do it alone, despite what the Watcher said.

"You need a time out? Or you need someone to listen.." BJ whispered from her spot. "You come find me.. right now, you need to spin down, right your ship.. so I'm going to go get a pair of gatorades out of the fridge and you .. do what you need." She walked away, leaving Buffy to recover on her own while she fished out a pair of sports drinks. The big thing on her mind was moving Melba from big bombs to smaller more controllable ones.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:37, Tue 28 Jan 2014.

Although not with them physically, Darius found a way to join his friends through social media!  Chan, Buffy, and Gracie Lynn received simultaneous snapchats.  A video came first that showed cheerleader Kelsey Jameson holding a handful of Lucy Whitfield's hair while she punched the girl over and over!  Jocks surrounded the pair in a semi-circle, a little perplexed, but nonetheless entertained!  Darius sent a close up shot with the words "Bitch Beatdown" hastily scrawled, followed by one directed to Gracie that said, "Gracie, WTF?"

Melba noticed the stares and decided it was time to change the game.  She lowered herself down to the ground and attempted push ups.  She hoped to complete ten but she managed only two.

12:42, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 5 using the Unisystem system (1d10+1). Str + Sports (0) = Push ups.

...oh alright one and a half... maybe three quarters of one.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:57, Wed 29 Jan 2014.

Buffy looked at Coach Cordova, before her phone buzzed. Buffy's attention, being that of a normal teenage girl, immediately went to her mobile device, lest she miss something of social importance. Buffy's eyes went wide in surprise and she looked up to see if Chan and Gracie had seen the same image as she just had. What in the world?

Garrett was happy to feel Melba's support, but he couldn't help notice that Buffy seemed miles away. He watched her from the throng of people, between the silhouettes, feeling a pang of loneliness for her that he often felt for himself. He frowned and answered Luthien's question.

"I'm not sure what kind of spirits, but there's gotta be something good out there. Even if they're not good, we're good right? So maybe whoever they are can be beneficial to some end."

His eyes returned to Buffy, though, "What's up Buff?"

Luthien shook his head. His voice remained stern.

"Figure out what you're summoning before you summon it. Summoning something you didn't expect is the quickest way to get killed...or worse. Make sure you're summoning what you think you're summoning. Again, getting the wrong creature will get you dead or worse. There's no virtue in not doing your homework before casting your spell."

Melba collapsed into an embarrassing heap on the floor as she realised that push ups remained beyond her for now.  She resolved to try to exercise in future, even though she knew that exercise would never be a number one, or even number seven priority with her.

She wasn't oblivious though, even during her unaccustomed jockettishness.  Chan, Buffy and Gracie all getting identical calls and Buffy looking, what... "What is it, Buffy?" she asked.  "Something wrong?"

Being SnapChat, a countdown was on before the brief clip disappeared. So Buffy to a few screenshots with her phone, and handed it off to Garrett to look at/pass around. She shook her head, and shrugged. There wasn't really anything to say. A picture was worth anything she had to say.

"Oh. My. God. Is that Kelsey? Oh man oh man. I hate cheerleaders as much as the next guy, but this is too far. I had a class with her last year. She didn't strike me as the postal type."

Garrett passed the phone to Melba after flipping through the screenshots. Something was seriously wrong with everyone involved. "Who sent you this?"

Buffy looked at Chan and Gracie before looking back at Garrett. "I,um...Darius."

Melba looked at the phone and then passed it back to Buffy.  It would be for Buffy (Or Chan or Gracie Lynn) to show it to teachers, not her, she was geeky enough already.  "I hate coincidences," she said, "but suddenly I find myself wondering if there is a supernatural explanation for mild mannered and peaceful people to suddenly start beating the shit out of people?"

For Chan checking her phone was normally a casual thing, something that she did whenever she needed to fidget. It also helped her keep up with places like deviant art, and the ever important lol cat. The last she expected was watching people she knew beat the living shit out of someone. That was just messed up, crazy even. So was the vulgar subtext that she hoped her brother hadn't added. Life really need to settle down a little.

"Okay that was messed up. God I hope it's just pyscho cheerleaders, but I doubt we're that lucky." Somehow she was beginning to doubt the Slayer dealt in a business of fortune.

Buffy nodded to Chan. Normally she would quip about something being in the water. After the past few weeks...well, that could be a strong possibility. She sighed. "I think Lady Luck got a new phone and lost my number..." Buffy stood up, stretching a bit. She looked for her book bag. She was done with this for today. Too much weirdness, she needed to be anywhere but here.

Melba was waiting for one of the grown ups to intervene with some idea about what was going on but for now she walked over to Garrett and said, "So, Garrett, we need to talk about synergy, and for me, that's not a euphemism.  I think that if magic does x and science does y, the two working together does not x+y or even x times y but x to the power of y, or if it's thee and me working together, something a much higher exponential than that.  Let's find a cure for vampirism and after that, let's rule the world."  Of course she said it with a wicked grin and a bright light sparkling in those hazel eyes, everybody knew Melba wasn't interested in ruling anything, just getting the world off her back.

A cure?

"Since a vampire is a demon living in a dead human body, it isn't practical to 'cure' it. But...if you can prevent the demon from entering in the first place, you might create a vaccine of sorts."

Well, that's not entirely true, there was ONE way to cure Vampirism, but that only works on one at a time, and it's not practical for a world wide solution.

Another snapchat from Darius: a picture of Kelsey tugged off Lucy by a large boy.  The next one showed Brian White trying to slap Kelsey!  The following snap showed Kelsey smashing a beer bottle over Brian's head!

Then, a text:  This just got uglier.  I'm stepping in before someone ends up in the hospital.

Melba smiled a wolfish smile at Luthien and said, "Now a vaccine would be wonderful but also, is there any reason it can only work one at a time?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:32, Thu 06 Feb 2014.

"Damn straight! I haven't explored the possibilities yet but..." He snapped back to the reality of what was happening on the main campus. "Shouldn't we go do something about this Darius thing? Buff, what should we do?"

Melba sighed.  "First, I think we'll have to see Kelsey.  After that, we might have a clue as to what's gotten into her."

"The age of modern media."  Clive stated somewhat exasperated at that timing.  "Truly the bane of any teenagers doing stupid things all over the world."  The watcher had to agree with Chan and Buffy.  Chances were they weren't so fortunate for a problem as mundane as teenage bullying.

"As I'm sure she often is, Melba is correct in this instance.  Confirmation of a problem is ideal.  And if there is one that is supernatural and not merely hormonal.  Then some light reading is in order as you all come and reconvene with the joys of research."

BJ nodded as she took in the scene. This was the sort of thing she knew how to do, but 'Coach Cordova' didn't. Ironic that her cover was not skilled in that area, but she wasn't a 'Jump Street' type. So she had to play 'Coach' rather than doing more.

"I got a few boards set up over by the old kitchen there if you need to plot out anything, but we might need to consider another spot for 'research'. She said calmly.

"I have an adequate collection of reading material in my residence.  But would rather not damage my career as an educator by being the one who invites students over.  That would be a problematic scandalous headline to say the least.  Would take the boards over that."

Melba stood up, still sweaty from a feeble attempt at exercise and made her way to the door.  "Let's go people", she said, "something's fucked up whether it's supernatural or not.  Let's talk to Kelsey and/or Darius, yeah?"

Buffy looked at Garrett and shouldered her bookbag. "I don't see any reason why we can't do both? Split up into two groups, some of us go see Darius, others go see Kelsey?" Buffy wasn't super enthused by the idea of something out there inciting teens to fight. Supernaturally especially. "I say we divide and conquer unless someone is opposed?"

Luthien nodded. It was good to see Buffy herself taking the lead. That was as it should be.

"Where will you need me?"

Buffy thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Not in the open, I think, at least for now. It might look weird if all of us show back up, and suddenly there's a new member. You know?" Buffy made a mental note to figure out a way to work Luthien into everyday group settings. For some reason, in her head, she saw him manning the local hotdog stand, ridiculous apron and all. Buffy shook the idea out of her head and looked around to the group. "I think Gracie and Chan should go talk to Darius, Luthien, you go with them as backup. Myself, Melba, and Garrett will go try and find out more about Kelsey."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:25, Fri 21 Feb 2014.

Luthien nodded, and turned to the other two.

"Very well. Let us go, quickly."

Melba nodded.  "Sounds good to me.  Or rather it sounds like it's in my comfort zone to have Garrett there.  Let's go before I think of some reason or other why this is a bad idea." She grinned but there was no smile in those emerald eyes, only nervousness.

Gracie drove Chan to Daffin Park, arriving just in time to see flashing blue lights! The girls saw Darius talking with a female officer. They saw her say something, to which Darius shook his head. An EMT checked over Lucy, who had several noticeable--and ugly--bruises forming. This just wasn't Lucy's year! Brian was loaded into the back of an abunlance, blood drenching his face and hair. The other EMT tenderly treated a gash on his scalp.

Kelsey sat in the back of the police car. Her hate-filled gaze never once leaving the friends she'd attacked. Gracie and Chan realized they were coming into a huge mess!

OOC: Buffy, Melba, Garrett--how did you plan on checking out Kelsey?

"Oh shit!" said Melba, "That's going to make things difficult but it's more important than ever that we get to see her.  She can't be alone when she comes down from this, whatever it is.  The question is, do we go to the police station as concerned friends and wait for her, or do we have to break in?"

Buffy looked at the angry girl sitting in the back of the police car, then at Melba and Garrett. "I think we should try and act like concerned friends. If that is a no-go...someone distracts the cops while someone goes to question her?"

Luthien wondered what was going on...perhaps his presence would encourage Darius to be forthcoming with information. Still, with cops around, he didn't want to be so blunt...

"So...what's going on?"

"Good plan. I mean, I don't like blood, but you both can be just a little more concerned than I am." He said, pulling his sleeves down past his wrists and covering his nose. "We ready?" Said Garrett, looking conflicted.

"By the way, I don't volunteer for the distracting should this go south."

Melba grinned her most feral grin and said, "I'm good at distraction, Garrett-hon, you know that.  So... that's a plan."

Buffy nodded to both of them, then looked at Melba. "When it comes down to it, I think you're going to be best at talking to the cop to try and convince him to let us through. Plus, if he turns you down, you can immediately go all distraction attack on him." Buffy paused. "I think that's a thing. Anyways, lead the way..." Buffy fell in line next to Garrett, doing her best to look distraught while also making sure she and Garrett could dodge out towards Kelsey at a moment's notice.

Melba smiled and shimmied into the police station.  "Excuse me Sir", she simpered, "I wonder if you can help me?  I believe you have a friend of mine here, Kelsey?" (Yes, she did the teenage girl raised inflection thing).  "Now, I heard that Kelsey's supposed to have been violent and she's never violent.  She's the least violent person I know so I wondered if maybe you could see your way clear to maybe if you don't mind, could I maybe like, you know, see her?"

16:50, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 13 using the Unisystem system (1d10+6). Persuasion+will-1(nerd)+1(attractive).
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Mon 10 Mar 2014.

Darius stepped aside with Luthien. He watched as the police car pulled off with Kelsey in the back. "We were just hanging out. Kelsey was...on edge. Un-characteristically so. Lucy said something that set her off. Kelsey just went to town on Lucy! When Brian stepped in, shit got ugly.

Sorry. Normally, Kelsey is so chill..."

While Luthien debriefed Darius, Melba followed the police car to the nearest precinct. As soon as she got inside, she saw a black officer in her mid-20's working the desk. An older white male officer stood nearby. He looked over at Melba. At first amused by her hair color, he quickly responded to Melba's courtesy and intelligent self- presentation.

"She'll be tied up with booking for a while. Visiting hours are tomorrow, 3-5pm. If you're a friend, any information you have about the incident would help."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:12, Wed 29 Apr 2020.

Luthien observed what was going on...particularly Kelsey. He isn't sure that's the sort of problem Buffy can deal with.

"What's wrong with her isn't something the cops are equipped to handle. I'll have to talk to her later."

Of course, it didn't escape his attention that Chan was starting at him with wide eyes. As if she'd seen a piece of who he is. Well, that'd be another conversation he'd have to deal with later. He had to deal with Kelsey first.

"I know you have questions, Chan, but we have to help Kelsey first."

Melba nodded sagely as if this were important and new information, and briefly caught Buffy's and Garrett's gaze in turn before saying, "Thank you officer, so she'll still be in the reception suite.  Well, anything I can do to help of course, although I'm not sure how much I can tell you.  As I say, Kelsey is literally NEVER violent, you get me?  It's completely out of character.  Maybe she had a brain tumor or a stroke or something?  I dunno, has she seen a doctor?"

Chan was still mired waist deep in her own troubles, enough so that she was uncharacteristically distracted. Last night hadn't gone particularly well so she was paying for it today. Weird things were happening but she wasn't sure it couldn't be chalked up to something like drugs or a love triangle gone wrong. Just because strange things had been happening lately didn't mean every time something went wrong the supernatural was to blame. To her it seemed plausible that cheerleaders could go pyscho on each other like that, maybe she'd seen too many bad horror movies.

Thus far she'd decided that keeping her suspicions to herself were probably a good thing. Still she wasn't looking particularly hard either. If her spider senses weren't tingling then this was probably nothing. Luthien was a far more interesting subject anyways. She hadn't had much contact with him yesterday other than the rescue it's self, which had been among the most disgusting trials of her life. She had known he was different before, but now she was seeing him in an entirely different light. For the first time in a while she felt herself actually able to relax a little and she almost yawned at the unexpected relief.

She tore her eyes away from him and thought cool pale blue thoughts, and tried to pretend that her face wasn't turning red. If she ignored it hopefully everyone else would miss. They were all wrapped up in this fools errand and she was along for the ride, because she'd decided to show up? That didn't seem like a great reason to be here in the first place...

"We're calling the girl's family. Take this card, he'll be the detective investigating the case." Melba received a business card for one Detective Postell. The phones rang, and the officer at the desk turned away to answer it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:48, Mon 24 Mar 2014.

Buffy saw Melba's look, and between the distraction and the phone call, Buffy looked at Garrett before slowly beginning to attempt to head in Kelsey's direction. She didn't want to make a direct beeline either though. Buffy could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her adrenaline pumping as she made her way closer.

OOC: roll Dex + Crime + 1d10.

OOC:
20:17, Today: Buffy Summers rolled 16 using the Unisystem system (1d10+9). Sneaking

Buffy noticed Kelsey being detained in a room down the hall to her left. The officers at the desk seemed occupied with Melba and their own conversations. If she hustled, Buffy could snatch a few minutes to question Kelsey herself!

Melba continued to try to hold the cop's attention, talking about Kelsey's previous good character and how she has never been violent in her life before and how it's probably a brain tumour and she flicks her hair and lips her lips and smiles and asks the cop on duty, "So, what's it like being a cop. I mean, obviously you work out but is that a requirement or is it because you're like naturally hunky?"

19:46, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 26 using the Unisystem system (1d10+16). And for the flirt (sorry forgot) incl DP.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Fri 07 Nov 2014.

Luthien also wanted to question Kelsey...but he saw Buffy was getting there first. Well, why not? Let the Slayer have first crack at it. He could always come in later if Buffy turned out to need help. But if she did not, let her feel the accomplishment on her own.

Buffy seized the moment and moved as quickly as should could (without drawing attention to herself, towards the room where Kelsey sat. Buffy slipped into the room and shut the door quietly.

"I was military, Miss. Army. Got back from Iraq two years ago." The officer looked like the "Takes Himself Too Seriously" type, Über-rookie and Über-Cutie.

If you went for the square-jawed and uptight sort trained to kill you in 123 different ways! Stil, for his gruff manner and unnaturally two octaves low voice, Melba actually noticed a slight flush of the cheeks...

Luthien caught more than a few funny looks from precinct personnel. Not outright hostile, but questioning, uncertain about who he was and why he was there. He also sensed that Garrett could surprisingly be his key to navigating this particular terrain.

Meanwhile, Buffy surprised Kelsey when she sneaked into the room. Frowning, the girl asked, "Why are you here?"

OOC:

You'll have 4 minutes, Buffy! Make 'em count!

Melba smiles and asks the Officer about time in Iraq and patrolling outside the green zone and all the questions guaranteed to gather the interest of a self-obsessed war vet.  (Not the obvious questions but the ones that suggest she knows some stuff and is avidly curious - which in Melba's case is true because she is fascinated about EVERYTHING).
09:21, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 9 using the Unisystem system (1d10+7). keep talking per+know +attr - nerd.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:22, Fri 07 Nov 2014.

Buffy looked back at Kelsey and stared at her. "You're kidding, right? You just went psycho on your friend. I need to know what she did. What happened to you?"

Kelsey answered in a flat monotone. "The things she said...it's like she just...pushed this Rage button in me." She blinked. Then, in a small voice, she asked, "did I really do those awful things...?"

Out at the desk, Melba appealed to the officer's "self-obsession". However, the girl genius quickly noticed that he wasn't narcissistic, just intense. Not totally unheard of among rookie cops.

Also, he appeared somewhat interested in her. "You said you're Kelsey's friend. Are you really in high school?" He gave a slick once over that should have set a world record for discrete speed! "You look like you're in college!"

Melba found herself in the weirdest of positions and one that made her blush crimson.  Here was somebody who was interested in her ad not for her weapons grade sarcasm.  For her face, her body, her, and here's the kicker, her personality.  Somebody liked her, and he wasn't Garrett.  He wasn't even gay.

She looked away, hoping to G-d (who suddenly she believed in) that he couldn't see her breathing, shaking, sweating, damned sudden nervousness.  She looked back and met his eyes, not even noticing that she was biting her own lower lip as she said, "Oh, Sir, I'd love to say I was already at College but that's a couple years down the line." She looked down again and said quietly, "I'm only sixteen."

Garrett politely and oh-so-slyly covered his mouth as he coughed. "*Huff*jailbait*Huff*!" Could he resist a good natured, teasing grin?

No, he couldn't!
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:37, Thu 13 Nov 2014.

But then of course, Garrett had to open his pretty lil' mouth and come On, people! Melba Ellenberger?.

She smiled sweetly at the cop and then very slowly turned to Garrett and said, "Hey brother, as you well know ah AIN't jailbait.  This here ain't New Yawk aw Califawnya.  This heah is Georgia and in Georgia, ah'm only jailbait fo' muh kin."  The last word, of courdse, contained four syllables he way Melba said it.

Then she turned back to the cop and smiled and said, "Yes sir, I am a high school student.  My name is Melba, I am pleased to meet you."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:54, Wed 12 Nov 2014.

Buffy nodded, then moved over towards Kelsey. "Yes. Well...no. Kinda? Look. I don't think it was you, I think something was influencing you. I want to help, but I really need you to tell me exactly what happened. What do you remember?"

Kelsey shrank as her face crinkled in a confused grimace. "It's hard to remember. We were smoking in the Girls' bathroom near the gym. Lucy, Gracie Lynn, and me. I touched up my makeup...then...it's like a fog afterward."

She shook her head slowly. "An all-consuming fog that just swallows my memory whole. I remember the Girls' room, and Gracie leaving, then...it's hours later and I'm in the back of a police car!"

Buffy stared hard at Kelsey. She nodded. She didn't really understand, but she nodded to try and reassure the now frightened girl in front of her. "So you were in the mirror doing your makeup and...poof? Nothing? I need you to think really hard, Kelsey. From what you can remember, were there any sounds? Strange noises or maybe voices? Anything?"

Buffy looked back nervously at the door before refocusing on Kelsey. "And...not to be pushy, but if you can think harder, faster, that would be awesome."

Kelsey tried, but her lower lip quivered in frustration.  Her face crumpled as she tried, but failed to remember any more pertinent facts. "No. I'm sorry, but I can't remember anything."

However, she clutched Buffy's arm. "Wait! I know this--stay out of that restroom! I can't tell you why, but...I don't like it there..."

Buffy nodded, placing her free hand gently on top of Kelsey's clutching arms. "I'm going to figure this out. I promise."

Buffy gave Kelsey a reassuring smile, even though she was pretty much about to go do exactly what Kelsey warned her not to do. Buffy carefully extracted her arm from Kelsey's grasp. "Listen, I gotta go. And I'm not an expert, but I've watched enough crime dramas to tell you, I'd ask them for a lawyer and don't tell them anything else."

Buffy did her best to give Kelsey another reassuring look before stealthily slipping out of the room. She looked both ways, then crept back towards her friends, quietly coming up next to Garrett, watching the situation unfold between Melba and the officer.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:12, Mon 08 Dec 2014.

Luthien also slides on up. And whispers quietly.

"What'd you learn?"

Melba sees Buffy returning and she smiled and brushed her hand along the cop's forearm all gentle like and smiled and stood and said.  "Anyway officer, it's been real nice talking to you.  I hope you find it within the goodness of your heart to tell poor Kelsey that her friends are all rooting for her."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Mon 15 Dec 2014.

A few officers lingering near the front desk watched Luthien and Buffy as they walked the hall. Interestingly, they stared once at the imposing man in white, then blinked, and resumed their conversations. They paid him little attention, although the police chief passing through visibly shivered. He frowned, looking a little confused, and said, "Tonya, stop turning the air conditioner down! I'm freezing!"

However, Garrett, Melba, and Luthien almost felt overdressed. The room wasn't exactly stifling, but certainly far from "cold". Business went on as usual, with phones ringing and lots of bustle. Melba's officer smiled, and said, "I'm Jake. If you ever hang out in City Market, I'm watching the game at B & D's Burgers on Sundays."

Melba offers a podgy hand to the officer and says, "Very pleased to meet you Officer Jake and I may well do that thing."  And then she turns and makes her way back to the Melbamobile.

Luthien understood what happening...but then, such things were sometimes exactly what was needed.

He waited for Buffy to make her comments.

In reply to Melba Ellenberger (msg # 170):

Garrett's eyes popped at the officer for a moment, then, faithful as ever, he followed Melba in tow.  Once out of earshot of Officer Melba-on-the-side, Garrett let out a squeak, laugh, bark, covering his mouth. "Did you see that guy? He's putty in your hands Melba my dear. The hell with magic, you've got that raw animal magnetism. Dayum," laughter interrupted him every other word.

"So, what'd you find out Buff?" he said, looking around now for Ms. Buffs-a-lot.

Buffy looked at Luthien and Garrett, and sighed. She knew damn well that today wasn't over with. Why wasn't it that evil never rested? Couldn't it take power naps? For once?

Buffy made towards the exit, calling over her shoulder. "Come on, boys, we have a date with a girls' restroom."

Kelsey had said to stay the hell away from there, so naturally, Buffy's first inclination was to run right towards it...

"It probably wouldn't look right for either of us to go in there. And I, at least, don't want to see anything I shouldn't. It would be prudent to shoo everyone else out...and perhaps go in yourself...before calling for backup if needed. We'll be right outside."

Nobody wants to be a pervert. Well, at least Luthien doesn't.

Melba, overcome with scientific curiosity (and perhaps also curiosity about whether she can weaponise what's in there) offers to help with the shooing and evacuating.

In reply to Buffy Summers (msg # 173):

"Uhm, I don't find girl's restrooms that appealing, but hey, I support your life choices," Garrett added with a coy shrug and a toss of his beautiful mane.

It could get ugly, Garrett mused, so he kind of wanted to go in with Buffy, but he wasn't going to ask. He didn't want to get shot down just when things were getting so good. He chewed his lip and followed the resolute Buffster.

Buffy and her friends find little in the way of resistance when they reach the hall where Kelsey used her troublesome restroom. Two custodians wheel their cleaning carts into a nearby classroom. Calculus, if Buffy remembered correctly, and Melba could verify with authority, if asked.

Girls Room ahead, a bizarre outburst of school violence behind them. Why had the normally laidback Kelsey nearly broken her friend's face?  What do these young heroes do next?

Luthien took up his self assigned post of being just outside. He wasn't going to go in there for anything short of an emergency.

Melba stepped into the girl's room.  She looked around, slowly, trying to find anything unusual.  That was difficult of course because this was a place she rarely lingered long.  It was a place for the athletic, not for brains like her.

Melba saw a girls bathroom. Utilitarian, probably a little tidier than the disgusting cesspool commonly known as "The Boys' Bathroom". She'd notice a faint odor of cigarette smoke lingering under the plug-in air freshener. The mirror on the right side of the sinks looked especially well-polished.

Melba frowned.  Why was the mirror so polished when the rest of the room was just, okay.  "Mirror, mirror, on the wall", she said, "Who is the fairest of them all?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:29, Tue 10 Nov 2015.

Melba looked resplendent in her BBW-glory.

Melba, in Melba's head, played with a razor she'd borrowed from William of Occam.  She smiled at the mirror, winking  and asked aloud, "You weren't always like this, mirror. Who did this to you?"

An older black woman, one of the custodians, stepped into the restroom. "Oh. I'll come back when you girls are finished." She smiled and stepped back out. Melba thought she might have been one of the "Lifers" on the school staff.

Buffy heard the crazy stories about the mirror, believed, and decided she'd investigate. The petite blonde searched the bathroom mirrors for any telltale signs of "The Bad". However, Buffy just ended up brushing a few stray hairs back into place. "Okay, this humidity? NOT good for the hair!"

The lady janitor interrupted. Buffy smiled politely. "Thank you," she said with a small wave. Then, she heard Melba talking to the mirror.

"Who ya talking to, Mel...?" A pause and realization. "Ohhh. Is that the one?"

Melba nodded. "This is the one." she said, not looking away, "I don't know whether it's the only one but the other me is suggesting I burn down the school and salt the earth.  My question of course is who has been polishing the mirror and..."  She paused.  "Excuse me a moment," she said to the mirror and then turned away to look at the door.  "Where did that lady go?" she asked.

Talk of school burnings naturally got Buffy frowns. "I burned my last school--totally by accident! Because, vampires!" The frown quickly turned into a pout. "Really don't recommend it."

It took Buffy a moment to realize which lady Melba meant. "Oh! The cleaning lady gave us a sec to do our business." With resolve in her eye, Buffy stalked toward the mirror in question. "That should be all I need for the Magic Mirror."

If Buffy had worn long sleeves, she'd be rolling them up. "Alrighty. Magic Mirror on the wall, who's the only Slayer this Fall...okay, I suck at rhyming, so just tell me what's your dealy?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:43, Thu 12 Nov 2015.

Melba shook her head.  "Not only does smashing mirrors bring bad luck, but it also results in more mirrors.  And as for the lady, she smiled when she saw me looking in the mirror.  More to the point, I've been at this school for four years and I don't recognise her, but she seems like a lifer, not a newbie. Mysterious much?"

Why couldn't I have a cover as a history or civics teacher? BJ thought as she walked the gym floor, collecting the detritus of a class of kids. She had her 'off' period but would need to check through the gym, screen the locker rooms and the rest. Hopefully she wouldn't have a LOT of problems this week. It was bad enough last month, when she was dealing with two stoners thinking the locker room was the PERFECT place to deal and smoke.

"Does it make me a bad person to want a supernatural threat to go off?" She muttered as she kicked the last of the basketballs to the waiting bin and tossed the jump ropes onto their rack.

Buffy glanced into the mirror after Melba mentioned hearing from her own reflection...

OOC:

We'll get a Willpower roll for Buffy, too.

Buffy stared into the mirror, leaning forward as she heard her reflection talk to her, too. "Yeah, this mirror is definitely on the chatty side! It's not discreet, either, it doesn't care if it has an audience!" She gave a wary side eye, also thinking about what Melba mentioned about the cleaning lady. "Do you think the cleaning lady's of the Bad?"

Buffy hesitated as she heard a parting shot from the mirror. "Hey, I am NOT fat!" Sheepishly, Buffy then mumbled, "Sorry, Melba."

OOC:

11 for Willpower check!

Melba thinks.  "We need to cover the mirror then go find the cleaning lady. She may not be of the bad, as you say, but she may be our first lead.  And hey, don't worry.  I tend to prefer Rubensesque or BBW but yannow, fat is what I am."

Garrett, who'd stood quietly nearby, stared at the mirror with a frown. An eyebrow rose, then he shook his head and mumbled softly. "Mel...I need to sit down...!" The lanky teen stiffened, then swooned, ready to collapse!

Outside the restroom, the custodian moved in and out of a nearby classroom. She chatted with a co-worker, oblivious to Luthien or anything happening in the bathroom. She clearly hadn't made a fuss about Garrett, but then again, they weren't paid enough to do more than offer a marginal fuss!

"What're you girls FINDING in there? What's the issue?"

Luthien was getting a bit impatient with this.

Melba moved to catch Garrett before he fell.  "Cursed mirror", she called to Luthien.  "And I think that Lady who just came out," she nodded her head, "May be involved but that may just be my paranoia (and this time, I believe I may be clinically paranoid)."

Luthien frowns...

"Get the uninvolved girls out of there so I can look at it."

Melba looks around, "Just us Luthien", she says. "C'min."

Luthien, clear as he's ever going to be...looks around to make sure nobody sees him go in, then proceeds minimal fuss.

Once there...he takes the mirror on head on, examining it in...several different ways. Whether it was magic or an evil spirit in there...now it was taking HIM on.

Buffy groaned when she saw Garrett swooning. "Ohhh...Garrett, your teeter is about to totter!" The petite girl rushed over and caught the much taller boy before he hurt himself. Slayer muscle let her easily bear her friend's weight. "Easy, Garrett. I've got you!"

When Luthien entered, Buffy was cradling Garrett's head in her lap. "Okay, Mr. Mysterio, see if you have any luck with the Magic Mirror. Which, let me add, is most definitely NOT of The Good."  Buffy tenderly held her friend, while she called the friend who actually knew him best over. "Uh, Mel, you mind taking over? The Slayer should be front and center in case the Magic Mirror decides to knock out another friend!"

Luthien didn't disturb anyone when he invaded the Girl's Room. Just Buffy, Melba, and an unconscious Garrett sprawled in Buffy's lap. The mirrors loomed on the wall before him. They didn't look conspicuously evil. If anything, they looked painfully mundane! Only the girls' testimony and the unconscious boy suggested otherwise...

OOC:

Gimme a Notice check. Any Qualities and modifiers apply.

Luthien's eyes pierced the mirror. He wasn't looking at himself. Oh my no. He was looking past the mirror...and he would see.

What Luthien saw surprised him...

Meanwhile, Clive pursued his own investigation of Kelsey's acting out. He felt reasonably sure that Buffy and her friends could handle a well-populated police station. Melba demonstrated the quick thinking necessary to talk their way out of any awkward moments. Luthien clearly had the muscle to keep the students safe. Watchers traditionally advised and aided Slayers with research.

Therefore, Clive would assist with the research into this bizarre incident. For a moment, he wondered if it was truly bizarre or just hormonal. Then, remembering that Buffy's crew was involved, speedily dismissed the "Hormone" possibility.

Clive logged into a faculty computer, signing onto the account that teachers used. Maybe there was a common factor in the school incident records? The records of any student misconduct might offer a sufficient correlation that could help Clive reach an answer. He sought the Records link and attempted to demonstrate the advantage of being a 21at Century Watcher...

OOC:

20:55, Today: Big Bad, on behalf of Clive Whitlock, rolled 10 using the Unisystem system (1d10+7).  Computers check.

In reply to Big Bad (msg # 202):


Luthien stared into the mirror with unearthly resolve, and a strength not his own. It was never about him.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:59, Fri 04 Dec 2015.

Clive

The quality of the school's online security proved formidable to the Watcher. He didn't make it past general information. However, he found a reference to closed records about an unfortunate incident that occurred in a school bathroom. It just happened to be a Girl's bathroom, the date being March 24, 1985.

Luthien

Unlike vulnerable students, Luthien wasn't as easily fooled by the Mirror. He seethed silently in defiance, not cowed or weirded out in the least! The man in white stood rigidly, his jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with righteous anger!

For several seconds, he stood in a face off with the dark reflection. Then, the teens heard him shout, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, forsake this game and begone!"

Luthien saw the image instantly flicker, the glass returning to normal. Whatever he'd seen vanished--but only for the moment. An insidious magic still infused that mirror.

Luthien proceeded to tell what he'd learned.

"The power of the mirror isn't broken yet, but it's receded for now. It looks for the pride and fear within you, and tries to make it manifest."

For him, at least, the answer to pride is humility, and the answer to fear is faith and courage.

"This does need to be removed, or else anyone walking in here is subject to it."

"Let's hear it for Jesus," Buffy said maybe a little irreverently. "I'm all for smashing the mirror and taking my chances with seven years' bad luck." Hitting was the easiest solution for a Slayer.

Not the only one, though, as Garrett showed them earlier at the Coach's dojo. "If Garrett were awake, maybe he could try a little Witch-Fu? Do we know where we can find spell books to deal with The Wicked Mirror On The Wall?"

In reply to Buffy Summers (msg # 207):

Luthien, with a rather wry look, asks, "Why are you surprised? Why did you think vampires fled crosses...but not other religious symbols? On a similar note, why did you think holy water burned them? It's just water, otherwise. No microscope made will see anything different about it."

There just MIGHT be a reason for that.

"Hmmm. Smashing could backfire. A more elegant solution is probably advisable. In the worst case scenario, smashing it might release the magic into every mirror in the school or something. Magic's been known to do that."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:53, Fri 04 Dec 2015.

"Look, I'm not knocking the effectiveness of a cross as vamp repellant! If the Power of Christ compels 'em to back off, I'm all for it." That didn't mean that Luthien's claims didn't raise a few sore points for Buffy, though. "Of course, if we're getting theological, then I've gotta wonder. What kind of God lets demons and vampires prey on innocent people?"

Luthien gets mysterious again when he says, "The same one that gave people free will. Some people use that free will to build hospitals. Others use that free will to be terrorists. Why? ...Truth is, we don't know. People have been asking 'why' for thousands of years now. Answers are not any more forthcoming today then they were thousands of years ago."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:22, Fri 04 Dec 2015.

"Couldn't we just paint it black" asked Melba.  She even started singing it.

"Uhhh...you couldn't sing some Adele?" Garrett moaned as he resurfaced from foggy unconsciousness. He shifted slightly in Buffy"s lap. "Oh no. Did I bust my head...?"

Maybe Clive took advantage of modern resources disdained by traditional Watchers, but he was hardly an Anonymous-level hacker. He pulled over his smartphone. With a reluctant sigh, he called Coach Cordova...

BJ was 'off site' taking a long day to check the gym out and make sure it's ready..

She moved upwards and downwards on the salmon ladder, her body drenched in sweat as she hung from the bar a good fifteen feet in the air as she sighed and tapped the earpiece that was paired with her phone.

"You're speaking with BJ Cordova, what can I do for you?" She asked breathlessly as she hung by one arm for a second before dropped to the floor with a grunt.

Clive suppressed a groan at B.J.'s harsh greeting. He silently reminded himself that this was a necessary step. "Bonita, it's Clive." He didn't pause too long, just in case his colleague felt inclined to hang up. "You were...valid earlier with the points you raised."

Sighing, Clive extended his olive branch on good faith. "Look,I saw how you handled yourself against that monster, and the vampires. I dragged you into my problems, and you stepped up unflinchingly.

Look, it's clear that our students, not just Buffy, face significant dangers from the forces aligned against them. I'd much rather face that enemy with you beside us. Can we just start over?"

"I guess.. Does that mean you'll still be pulling the 'know more because I attended a proper school' 'tude? Or the 'you don't need to know' bits? Cause Clive, I think I made myself clear, that sails only as far as the first one of my kids getting hurt..then we'll step back in the ring and finish the bout we started. Otherwise..yeah, I can play fair and straight with you. I can hunt the fangs. Just let me know when you need a bulldozer hotwired." BJ said as she picked up a fifty pound plate and put in on the weight siting on the rack.

"Sorry that came out a bit more alpha bitch than I liked, but you rubbed me a bit raw. I'll play nice and you play nice and we keep the kids alive yes?" She counted the plates as she slid it in and locked it place. Six hundred and fifty pounds, a good set to see where the mysterious Mr Luthien was at on the food chain, and a good practice weight for Buffy.

"Very well," Clive offered with an agreeable chuckle. "Is it fair that I'll only trot out the 'Need To Know' if the Council threaten my job? They're a secretive Old Boys Club, and guard their secrets jealously. Like you, I've spent a lifetime training with my family for this. You have my word that I'll communicate as transparently as possible."

The Watcher hoped that wouldn't get his head bitten off, but boundaries worked both ways. "I hope that's agreeable, because I could use your help with research. I've hit a dead end with a computer search, and I've a feeling it's in our students' best interest that we turn that dead end into a thoroughfare.

Are your hacking skills on par with your Melee skills?"   

Chan had wandered off on her on her mind still reeling from the events of the other night. The brush with mortality had left her profoundly shaken. Her entire world had been torn asunder and all of the comforting illusions she had believed in had been torn from her. Now a dark and crueler world awaited her and it was downright terrifying. When they say that ignorance is bliss they were talking about these sorts of truths. The ones that made you aware of a startling vulnerability that you could do nothing to improve. She imagined that Children growing up during The Cold War knew something of what she was feeling.

Of course a supernatural creature ripping out your throat was whole lot more personal than being instantly killed by a bomb. She'd found herself a hidden and quiet alcove to draw away her feelings and the panic that seemed to be overtaking her whenever she allowed her emotions out of the box she had imprisoned them in. Sadly it hadn't really helped her work through the inner turmoil but at least it had brought her some sort of temporary relief.

With new found resilience she ventured out of her hidden alcove and back into the fearful world. It didn't take her too long to locate the others. "Hey. We any closer to figuring things out?"

When Chan rejoined the bathroom her friends were investigating, she found Buffy kneeling on the cool tile. Garrett lay with his head in her lap, staring and looking woozy. Melba and Luthien stood beside the far mirror overlooking the sinks. Chan instantly knew that mirror was the source of the newest troubles she'd heard about that day.

Chan couldn't help back take a glance at her reflection as she walked into the washroom. It was hard not to check to make sure that her appearance was more or less okay whenever you walked by a mirror. Of course a talking mirror wasn't even on the Chan scale of the messed up and awful, after recent events anyways.

"Nice hair." She replied as she took in the apparition of the mirror. The girl definitely looked like she was from somewhere in the early 20th century given what she was wearing and the style of her hair. Of course she was scared, Vampires were downright terrifying.

"I just can. What's wrong anyways? I mean something obviously is?"

Well, maybe not that early 20th Century! The apparition stared aghast as soon as Chan thought that. The rest was for Chan's ears alone...

"Wait, don't look at...that..."

Sigh. Maybe he should've smashed it. Let Buffy follow her instincts.

Melba sighed, "Mirror Mirror, cut us some slack, You don't want me to have to paint you black."

Melba saw her own reflection glare angrily and give her the Finger!

With a somewhat pained groan, Garrett pushed himself into a hunched sitting position. He grumpily fidgeted with his hair. When Melba began taunting the Mirror, Garrett shook his head. The rush of blood made him reconsider that move!

"No, no, NO!" Garrett croaked, but avoided further sudden movements. Wouldn't do for a repeat of the Faints. "You don't have to talk to it. It's not a person!"

Melba nods and turns from the mirror.  She kneels beside Garrett and says softly, "I'm sorry, I didn't know.  What is it then?"

Garrett curled a skender arm around Melba shoulder. She was like that rock of strength that he needed.  A soft, pleasant-feeling Rock of Strength. "I saw it in...like, a vision? It was crazy, Mel, like falling down, but inside myself."

He realized he was rambling. Did people who fainted always ramble? "Sorry. I'm feeling less 'Dainty', and still too 'Fainty'. That Magic Mirror acts like a mystical digital recording. It looks and sounds like a person, but it's...how can I explain it...I think it's like a recording that doesn't know it's not the original, real deal. If that makes sense...?"

"She's definitely a person of one sort or another. I'm just going to go out on a limb and say that she's probably some sort of a ghost. One that's probably haunting the school through the mirror. Which is sort of messed up." Chan said carrying on two conversations at once. She was lucky that life with a sibling had prepared her for this sort of a thing. Multi tasking for the win.

"To be fair it's probably the kids here that hurt you, not the school it's self. Sure kids are pretty terrible and all of us have had moments that we'd rather not remember, but that doesn't mean that we need to punished for it. Most of us learn to regret the ugliness that we do to other people. Then we try to do better in the future." She said returning her attention to the mirror. Which while messing with other people seemed not to really manage much of anything on her at all.

"I'm going to go out on a limb and say that people did some pretty terrible things to you and that it ended badly. I also can say with certainty that almost all of them regretted what happened to you. Kids aren't evil we're just really stupid sometimes and we take our hurt and frustrations out on other people not understanding the hurt that we're inflicting... I'm sorry for whatever you suffered through, but there are real monsters around here that are a real problem. If you really were looking to help people you should go after some vampires. They're a thousand times worse." Chan said her voice filling with unfeigned empathy. While she'd been spared a lot of torment at the hands of others because of her brother, she'd seen enough of it happen to the people she was close to. It took a real toll on people and probably always had. This apparition wasn't evil it was just scared and hurt.

When Garrett said the girl in the mirror wasn't "real", he immediately felt a sharp pain in his head! Agonizing pain left Garrett hunched over. His eyes clenched shut as a synaptic spike of fire drove between his eyes.

Only Chan's soothing voice halted the pain, as she placated the Mirror. She spoke reassuring words, trying to reach the lonesome apparition within the glass. The girl in the mirror shook her head quickly, her fists balled!


Luthien would see it first. The glass rippling slightly in the frame, slowly at first...

Melba, sitting beside Garrett, felt an irresistible compulsion to get up and leave...

"Normally I would say using your words would be a good place to start. I'm just guessing at what's been bothering you. What left you in your current state. I just want to help." For a number of reasons of course. The Ghost seemed like just as much of a victim as those she had goaded into some really reckless actions. If they wanted things to stop a non violent answer was generally for the best.

The pane of glass almost warped as it vibrated...

Chan wasn't even sure why she touched the warping glass. One moment she was trying to understand the distraught spirit and the next she staring at the bulging glass. It didn't occur to her that the glass might hurt her until she had already touched it.

Of COURSE! Why didn't he think of it sooner?

First, Luthien needs to see the actual spirit...which is very possibly in Melba now. An exorcism is probably overkill, if he can lay the spirit to rest by more peaceful means.

Luthien focuses for a moment...


08:55, Today: Luthien rolled 17 using the Unisystem system (1d10+8).  Here ghosty ghosty.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:55, Tue 08 Dec 2015.

In reply to Chan Simmons (msg # 230):

"Personally I prefer stabbing things with a nice, pointy stake," replied Buffy as she took a closer look at the mirror.

Melba stood up and walked away, pausing at the doorway.  She looked at Buffy and asked. "Got a spare one?" But she didn't wait for an answer.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:16, Tue 08 Dec 2015.

The glass almost shook in the frame under Chan's touch! Now that she thought about it, she remembered that she'd never touched the mirror before without something bad happening. Maybe it was a "paper cut" she'd felt afterward, a burn she'd suddenly notice, even a wart that one time. This experience helped the perceptive girl connect a few dots.

Luthien experienced a rare "Durp" moment! He'd discerned the effect of the cursed mirror, but not the root cause. In a moment of inspiration, Luthien realized that he could easily find out more. However, the Man In White found his attention split three ways...


Melba remembered where she might find what she needed...

"i know..a few things..about it. Why are you asking about potential felonies over the phone?" BJ asked curiously.

"Because I think the school might be covering up a more serious felony. Why don't we discuss this more in my classroom? No one else is around, so we've all the privacy we need."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:46, Tue 08 Dec 2015.

"Fair enough. ill be there shortly." BJ said as she disconnected and looked at the weights. She took a long breath and gripped the bar and lifted the weight clear of the bar and did ten reps in rapid series of curls before putting it down. She stood for a moment listening to the pounding in her ears as she spun and kicked the nearest heavy bag sending it high into the air.

She headed into the showers as she pondered what the Watcher found out

"Chan, I think you should back away from the mirror. The warping and wobbling is getting faster and it looks like it's gonna shatter any second!" said Buffy. The strange warping of the glass was starting to freak her out.

OOC: Buffy & Chan, make an Acrobatics check! Buffy, you can take an extra action to Grapple Chan and tackle her out of the way if she rolls too low.

Luthien realized he had a LOT to do just now.

First, he intercepted the tendril of...something...connecting Melba to the mirror. Second...it was time he did another duty...

He extended a hand to the mirror...more specifically to the girl inside of it.

"Tell me your name. Your real name."

The mirror may be about to shatter, but he's got the spirit in sight now.

It quickly became evident that Buffy's words had fallen on deaf ears. The Slayer quickly sprang to her feet and dove at Chan, tackling her to the floor in one quick motion. It was a tackle worthy of the ESPN highlight reel!
"Sorry Chan, but touching evil mirrors is a big no no. What with it being full of the bad and all," said Buffy, "Hey where'd Melba go?"

OOC: Today: Buffy Summers rolled 13 using the Unisystem system (1d10+11).  acrobatics + dex roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:07, Wed 09 Dec 2015.

Luthien saw the image in the mirror. He felt like he might even reach the tormented spirit traped within. For one instant, Luthien thought he'd made contact. Maybe he'd calm "her" before disaster struck...

Then, he heard a shrill whine and a crack as the glass EXPLODED!

Buffy saw the danger coming from the warped glass of the mirror. She jumped for her friend, tackling Chan in one one smooth jump. Buffy took the brunt of the slight impact as they slid across the bathroom floor. The girls were startled, a little stunned, but unhurt.

Luthien, on the other hand, barely shielded his face as the mirror burst in a barrage of glass shards. His shirt and jacket were shredded, his arms sliced by the hundred of pieces of glass. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so much, the mysterious man only bore several cosmetic injuries. Anyone else would have been killed.

If not for Luthien standing in the way, Garrett would have been killed by the shrapnel.

Luthien has better things to do then worry about the glass, though he thought to stand in the way of Garret to make sure the youth didn't get shredded by it.

He's still reaching out for the trapped spirit. The exploding glass is not his concern at all.

"Tell me your name."

Perhaps his blood can set the captive free.

Luthien stared intently into the empty frame of the mirror. Where there was once glass, now there were was only a fringe of jagged fringe. That fringe of glass looked like angry teeth. Luthin's blood stained the strips that remained of his white shirt.

However, Buffy, Chan, and Garrett were safe. From where they sat, they noticed that Luthien only seemed marginally hurt. Lots of cuts, but they were small, shallow cuts.

Luthien's demand was answered with a small, thready whisper from all around him. The voice issued in small gasps from the shards lying on the tiled floor. No! I'll only talk to her."

"You're not being very helpful you know. I'm just trying to figure out what happened to you. So I'm just going to have to start guessing. Eaten by Vampires? Ripped apart by werewolves? Cursed by Witches? Satanic murder cult? Demonic Disaster? Trapped in a mirror?" Chan asked working her way from the obvious into the bat shit crazy.

"Killed," said the voice pitifully, "And curse."

"Very well. When you are done, take my hand...and I will free you."

That's why he's not cleaning the blood up, at least for now.

BJ pulled up to the meeting location. She wasn't sure she trusted the Watcher but she figured a little quid pro quo. She looked forward to getting him to answer some questions, even if she had to put her ass kicking boots on to do it. But first, she had to play the role of concerned coach.

She headed in to meet the Englishman and see what he wanted her to do.

Melba waddled through the school as stealthily as she could, arriving at last in the art supplies room to see Clive there.  "Hi," she said, "Mr W.  I don't know if you know me, but I'm a friend of the Slayer and I'm guessing you might have a collection of weapons that might be of used to her right now."

Clive couldn't resist a grin when Melba questioned his remembering her. "How could I forget our lengthy conversation about superheroes and sundries during that Pyro business? There's also the trivial detail of you watching Coach Cordova clean the mat with me this morning!" Chuckling at that part, the Watcher got serious when the girl mentioned his Slayer needing weapons.

"Is Buffy in trouble?" Clive gave quality "Concern Face" as he asked. "The Coach is on her way. We're ready to help, of course. I'm also fairly certain that where we find Buffy, we'll also find Luthien helicoptering over her." The Watcher couldn't resist a snort, as even HE hovered less over The Slayer than the mysterious man.

Gracie had her backpack with her and she had finally found the Slayer and company "Wow, there you all are. What has happened?" she walks in and glances at the mirror. "What is that?"

"And I'm quite sure that Mr. Whitlock is quite looking forward to seeing the work out regimen that I have worked up for him based on his lackidasical performance in the ring." BJ said as she walked in, her normal athletic wear replaced with slacks and a blouse. She smiled grimly as she walked in and nodded to Melba.

"You got our best brain in the room, why did you need me to hack the school again?"

"Actually, Melba walked in all of a half-minute before you" Clive answered with an appropriate amount of arched eyebrow. "Bonita, we may actually need to belay the computer work. Melba came here for weapons for the Slayer."

Clive stared inquisitively at Melba. "What's her emergency? With Coach Cordova here, we have sufficient assistance available for her." He deliberately omitted mention of standard Council policy, that a Slayer was customarily expected to resolve her missions without a small army.

"Cursed mirror with a ghost trapped inside. It's what made Kelsey go all psycho on Lucy. I would recommend not talking to it, or looking at the shards on the floor," replied Buffy. Buffy turns back to the wall where the mirror used to be and, against her better judgement, decides to ask it a question. "Hey mirror ghost thingy, why did you make Kelsey attack her friend?"

Despite his honorable intentions, Luthien intuitively sensed that the mirror effectively shut down for further dialogue. The brittle presence he sensed earlier dimmed. Buffy felt foolish as she didn't get a response, either. If they planned on putting the spirit to rest, it would take more than a conversation.

Luthien shook his head.

"This won't do any more good. The spirit is...preoccupied. It will require a ritual to draw her out once more that she might be laid to rest."

"What kind of ritual and what do we need to make it work?" asked Buffy. She also made a mental note to ask Luthien about his "divine" powers later. I doubt he'll be very forthcoming, but it couldn't hurt to ask. I'm the slayer after all and it'd be nice to know a little more about him, she thought to herself.

Garrett winced as several thin stinging cuts made themselves known, though that was definitely preferable to being relegated to the role of human pincushion, as he would have been had their resident mystery man not shielded him. He reached his hand up and felt the gritty texture of powdered glass that had gotten stuck in his hair, with a shake of his head it rained down like heavy glitter.

"Wow, remind me to give you a call next time we have dodgeball. And don't wig out about moaning myrtle there, that's not her soul or anything. When I had that re-run playing in my noggin it showed her doing some sort of curse that went wrong. It's like, when she did the hex the mirror trapped a snapshot of her personality, but it's no more her than a photo of you is you."

Scrunching up his nose in consternation, Garrett reconsidered the word salad he had just let fall from his mouth.

"That made more sense when it wasn't out loud words."

"What in the world is going on?!" Mrs. Van Tiel, the Assistant Dean, stood in the doorway, a perplexed expression etched firmly in place. "Garrett, why are you in the Girls' Restroom? Why are you all on the floor?"

Before they could answer, Mrs. Van Tiel realized that Garrett wasn't the only male. When she saw Luthien, her confusion instantly became anger. "Who are you?!" Hands on hips, she glared at the other adult in the room. "You'd better explain yourself, and quickly!"

The administrator took out her phone, ready to call the police.

Luthien said, "Did you expect students to be cleaning broken glass? Admittedly, I might not be the best choice in this particular instance. You'd get sued quicker if they cut themselves on glass then you will over me helping."

Without further adieu, Luthien just...swept up the broken glass, quite thoroughly, and then left without further explanation.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:19, Thu 10 Dec 2015.

"What glass?" Van Tiel frowned, and shook her hands, trying to make sense of Luthien's evasive answer. When Luthien reached for glass, he'd find none. The floor was devoid of broken glass, Garrett's person clean of it. The mirror was whole again.

"I don't know what you're trying to pull with my students, but I'm sure the Police will get some answers!" Van Tiel held up her phone. She pressed "911" with a look of righteous satisfaction.

Chan really hard to be invisible when the School Admin just rushed in. She considered simply leaving but she'd have to get by her to do that and that would probably draw unwanted attention. So she decide it was best just to stand there and do her best to avoid notice. She always pretend she didn't know English... That seemed likely to work.

Luthien didn't wait around...and simply left. His white clothes were distinctive though, so he'd have to vanish for a good long while.

Still, he did pass by the woman...

But Luthien found Hunter, Garrett's crush, standing in the way. He glanced at his friends and the stranger, then at the Assistant Dean. Hunter then approached Van Tiel with a sheepish smile. "Um, sorry, he's actually my tutor from Armstrong.

 I paid him extra to help us with a study group today, because this quarter has been KILLING those of us who don't have the last name 'Ellenberger'! The girls needed a bathroom break, so the rest of us hung out in the hall to wait.  Then, we heard a scream in here and Garrett and Mr. White came in here to check on my friends, while I looked for campus security. I couldn't find any nearby, and I got worried about my friends."

Hunter shook his head apologetically, hands outstretched, clearly throwing himself on Mrs. Van Tiel's kindness. "I'm so sorry about this misunderstanding! It's ALL my fault and I'll take whatever punishment you think is appropriate." His head hung down for effect, looking suitably apologetic, giving her quality "Earnest Face".

"It's just that, after what happened to that guy in the basement, and the fire in the gym, Garrett and I were very worried about my friends. Mr. White is also part of a MMA club at Forsyth Park, and I didn't want Garrett to come in along, but I was...I'm embarrassed, but I was a little scared...again, I'm sorry, but please don't punish them for trying to do a good deed. Especially since I sent him in here..."

OOC:

16:44, Today:  Hunter Rossum rolled 18 using the Unisystem system (1d10+11).  Convince Van Tiel to back down .
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:46, Thu 10 Dec 2015.

Gracie picks up a cleaning brush and rolls her eyes at Mrs. Van Tiel.  She tries to wack her over the head with it.

Luthien smiled politely at that story.

"As you can see, there's quite a misunderstanding here."

Though not the one Hunter spoke of.

"I am also an associate of Mr. Whitlock and Ms. Cordova, should further verification of my identity be needed."

Flat out truth there.

"How about filling me in with what is going on? Physical training aside, I typically don't get a lot from Ms. Summers." BJ pointed out quietly.

Buffy quickly grabs Gracie by the arm before she connects with the Assistant Dean's head.
"Are you insane?! You'll get kicked out! Put that thing down before she sees you. Just play along with what Hunter said," she whispered. Buffy takes a deep breath and addresses Ms. Van Tiel. "It's just like Hunter said Ms. Van Tiel. A huge spider crawled across my hands while I was washing them and I kinda freaked out. I'm not really a fan of things with eight legs. I'm really sorry." She shudders when she gets to the part about the spider for added effect.

OOC: Today: Buffy Summers rolled 9 using the Unisystem system (1d10+6).  intelligence + influence (Convince the assistant dean I saw a huge, scary spider!).

Hunter's arrival was timely, to say the very least. Garrett had been about to blurt out with some story about them searching on the floor for a contact lens that sounded dubious even without the whole issue of Luthian clearly not being a student. He flashed a nervous smile in the vague direction of the blonde before adopting his time-honored tactic of awkwardly fiddling with every item of clothing he was wearing to avoid direct eye contact. Also, he couldn't help thinking that either Hunter had been taking acting lessons on the sly or he was a much more accomplished liar than anyone had knew previously. The whole spiel was actually pretty plausible for something whipped up in the spur of the moment.

And then disaster almost struck again, in the form of a broom wielding cheerleader about to assault their headteacher in a crowded girl's bathroom. Garrett's mouth dropped open in aghast shock, utterly blindsided by this turn of events. When Buffy managed to step in before things turned nuclear though, he pressed one open hand against his face and tried to turn it into a yawn. He didn't think it was worth backing up Hunter's story with his own account, if they all pitched in with agreement it might just end up coming off more suspicious. Instead he went for a slightly different tactic.

"Yeah Mrs. Van Tiel, plus the cops might be mad if they get here and it just turned out to be a misunderstanding."

Gracie clutched a broom, swinging for the Assistant Dean's head while her back was turned! She missed, though, and Buffy absorbed the blow. Mrs. Van Tiel seemed none the wiser. Instead, she listened to her students and Luthien.

"I see." She nodded at Hunter's story, clearly buying it. "Well, in the future, if you feel like placing yourselves in Harm's way, don't. Instead, notify a teacher and get out of there."

Mrs. Van Tiel lingered on Luthien. "I appreciate your looking out for my pupils. I will speak with Coach Cordova and Mr. Whitlock. Perhaps there's a way the school can reciprocate your helpful gesture?"

She turned on her heel and headed for the door. "Gracie Lynne! I'm looking forward to seeing what moves you've worked up at our next game!" The administrator offered a perfunctory smile. Then, she held the door. "Gentlemen, if everything is okay here, why don't we let these young ladies finish up?"

Melba screamed. "I just need a damned weapon okay? They're dissing the mirror.  I need a weapon." With that she rushed at BJ with fingers extended like claws.

Gracie frowns at Buffy, thinking whacking the woman would have been easier but went along with everyone. Then she waited until Mrs. Van Tiel left the room..

Gracie tries to step in front of Buffy and get her into a hold and turn her into the wall. She would attempt to twist Buffy's arm behind her and turns her against the wall!

Today: Gracie Lynn DuPree rolled 18 using the Unisystem system (1d10+9).  Martial arts.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:43, Sat 12 Dec 2015.

In reply to Gracie Lynn DuPree (msg # 274):

OOC: Melba's not in the Lady's Room with us. She left several posts ago.

IC: Phew! thought Buffy, That was close!
"Thank you Mrs. Van Tiel. We'll be on our way now. C'mon guys let's go find Melba," she said and started heading for the door. Buffy wanted to find her before something bad happened.

Luthien was more then happy to get out of that, even if he could've wished for more honest answers.

"...I get the idea she's in bad shape just now. We might wish to hurry."

Said in one of those 'I sense a disturbance in the Force' tones of voice.

Relieved that they had talked their overzealous administrator down, Garrett was only too happy to get out of the bathroom and get away from the Bloody Mary wannabe. The whole potential police showdown situation had put his fainting spell out of his mind for a moment, and he was surprised to find his legs unsteady beneath him as he followed Van Tiel out the door, stumbling somewhat at the threshold.

Of course, they would only get a reprieve of a few seconds before another crapstorm headed their way, his reaction more one of resignation than worry when Luthien mentioned that Melba might be in trouble. He sighed heavily, glancing both ways down the corridor though he had no idea where she had gotten off to.

"Of course she is. Anyone know where she went?"

In reply to Gracie Lynn DuPree (msg # 274):

"Gracie, what hell are you doing?!" exclaimed Buffy as the cheerleader tries to put her in a hold. Unfortunately Buffy isn't quick enough to avoid it. "Gracie, stop it! This isn't you, it's the mirror! Don't listen to it! Snap out of it!"

OOC:  Today: Buffy Summers rolled 15 using the Unisystem system (1d10+11).  dodge Gracie's hold.

Buffy, you made me really mad! You have to Pay!' she says as she tries to pull her arm up even more.

"Grace, release her. Or try that on me."

Which would probably not end well for her.

Meanwhile in the art supplies room, Melba reaches BJ, clawing at her face and growling, "Give me a damn weapon, they're dissing the mirror.  Garrett is bad."

09:28, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 13 using the Unisystem system (1d10+3).  Str + Kung Fu fingers on BJ.

Chan hadn't expected everything to suddenly go crazy after the administrator departed. It seemed like everyone had just lost their cool for no reason at all. Which put her in a bit of a predicament. "Gracie you're acting crazy. If you're going to go all tropeland on Buffy, maybe all you need to do is wake up." Chan said turning on the faucet and filling her cupped hands with water, which she then threw at Gracie's face.

"Honestly? You are attacking me for a weapon? Melba, what part of that makes sense? Think things through girl." BJ says as she side steps Melba's rush, nearly taken by surprise by the girl's attack. It was simply out of character with her and her comments indicated thoughts out of synch with her normal behaviors.

BJ side stepped and pulled out a strap tie from her jacket to hand to Clive.

"I'll need you to put these on her momentarily, after I have her restrained."

OOC: Dice rolls:
Defence
09:41, Today: B.J. Cordova rolled 13 using the Unisystem system Dex + Kung Fu (1d10+10).  Counter Move to Melba's attack.
Grapple to restrain (Dex + KF +2)
09:45, Today: B.J. Cordova rolled 11 using the Unisystem system (1d10+12).  Grapple to restrain (KF + Dex + 2).
Don't see how an 11 is possible.

Melba keeps on struggling like a wildcat, albeit somewhat less effectively.

21:33, Today: Melba Ellenberger rolled 6 using the Unisystem system (1d10+2).  Break the grapple.

Pain shot up Buffy's arm as Gracie tried to pull it up higher. She decided to try one last time to convince her friend to release her.
"Gracie, I'm not going to ask you again. You know how strong I am. Let me go, or I'm going to have to hurt you. Please Gracie, don't make me do that," said Buffy. It was clear from the menacing tone of her voice that she meant business.

OOC: Today: Buffy Summers rolled 22 using the Unisystem system (1d10+6).  INT + influence (convince Gracie to let go).

Gracie stops pulling up but doesn't let go. "Your stronger then me? A cheerleader?" she says surprised.

"Clive, get the door please." BJ said as she pulled a trio of Zip Ties from her belt. "I doubt trussing up entralled students is on the approved activities list and I dont want her to draw attention. I dont suppose you know how to free her mind from whatever hs hold of her?" BJ asked as she watched the girl thrash as she pulled the strap tight around her wrists

In reply to Gracie Lynn DuPree (msg # 286):

Crap! I forgot the mirror is the one doing the talking. Ican't let it find out I'm the Slayer, Buffy thought to herself.
"Uh...yeah I lift weights. Helps build arm strength. It came inhandy when I was a cheerleader at my old school. Why are you making Gracie attack me? I haven't done anything to you," replied Buffy. She hoped the mirror bought the bit about lifting weights. She also hoped Gracie would let go soon, so didn't have to shove her elbow into the girl's ribs.

OOC: Today: Buffy Summers rolled 15 using the Unisystem system (1d10+6).  influence + INT (convince mirror I lift weights and am totally not the Slayer!).

Out in the hall, and blessedly oblivious, Hunter watched Mrs. Van Tiel leave. Once he felt like they were safe, he shot a quizzical look at the guys. "So I'm glad to cover for your friends, Garrett, but why you guys in the girls' bathroom?" He nonchalantly reached out and brushed Garrett's arm as he asked.

Then, with a cockeyed glance, he asked Luthien, "Weren't you covered in sewer the last time I saw you?"

Luthien shrugs.

"There's...unfortunate elements in this city. I ran afoul of one of them. It ended...messily."

Melba glared at BJ whenever she could.  If she couldn't glare at BJ, she glared at Clive.  "Enthralled?  Who you calling enthralled?" she asked somewhat aggressively.

As ever, Garrett felt like his tongue had been replaced with a wad of cotton in Hunter's presence, arm jerking away as though the light touch had been an electric shock. He quickly tried to regain his composure, voice somewhat hushed given he didn't want the entire student body to think he had lost his mind. Or worse, was a dungeons and dragons fan or something.

"Uh, well, shockingly enough it wasn't pest control like you said. There's this whole deal with a girl trapped in a mirror. Not the kind that tells you you're the fairest of them all though. She seems to be possessing people and driving them crazy, like Shining level crazy."

Garrett steeled himself, deciding that even if Hunter had the remotest bit of interest in him there was no chance anything would come of it if he kept acting like a blushing milkmaid. Not that he could ever tell what Hunter's intentions were, or if he was just seeing what he wanted to.

"We owe you though, Van Tiel was about to rip us a new one. Have you been doing community theater in secret? That performance would have Meryl Streep applauding."

In reply to Buffy Summers (msg # 288):

"No, your lying. I am stronger and will show you" she says as she cranks up her arm.

B.J. easily overcame Melba, but the girl fought against the stronger woman's grip. Melba's face twisted with a rage induced by the cursed mirror. Neither teacher had ever seen the intelligent girl display such fervent anger, driven by a single-minded purpose: harming her best friend! A worried Clive cautiously fetched the requested zip ties.

In the bathroom, not even the presence in the mirror could defy a Slayer's will! Buffy's warning gave Gracie enough pause to relax her grip. She didn't release Buffy, but she wasn't tugging anymore, either. Chan's splash of water distracted Gracie and The Slayer easily tugged her arm free from the cheerleader! Gracie clearly remained under the mirror's influence.

Outside, the boys remained unaware of this violent new episode in the bathroom...

In reply to Garrett Ashcroft (msg # 292):

"Thank you, thank you!" Hunter gave a faux-bow. "My teachers always say that I'm a silver-tongued devil," he said with a chuckle.

The piece about a possessed mirror didn't entirely fly over his head, either. "An evil mirror, huh? Well, they couldn't have chosen a better place to hang it than the girls' bathroom!" Hunter cut a worried glance at the door.

"If it's as bad as you say, though, is it really a good idea for your friends to stay in there...?"

Gracie glares at Buffy "OK, you got away, now tell me where the Slayer is, I want want to KNOW!

Not good! It knows about the slayer! I can't let it entrhall me, she thought to herself, That would would be extremely bad! Buffy needed Luthien's help, but unfortunately he was outside in the hall. Maybe I can lure her out into the hall and get Luthien to work his mojo on her, Buffy thought, Well here goes nothin'!
"I know where the Slayer is. I can take you to her. Follow me," replied Buffy as she moved between Gracie and the door. She hoped this would work.

OOC: Today: Buffy Summers rolled 11 using 1d10+6.  influence+INT(Convince Gracie to follow me outside).

"OK, lead on and no tricks or else. This cheerleader is powerful."

an enraged Melba struggled against the ziplocks.   And then she ROARED as Melba would never have dreamed of roaring.  "Let me go!"

And yet again, Garrett cursed his preoccupation with Hunter, causing him to forget that his friends were still in the bathroom with a psychotic mirror ghoulie. Slightly sheepishly he acknowledged Hunter's point.

"Oh. Well now you mention it, Buffy and Gracie were meant to be just following us out."

Well aware that Van Tiel would probably not buy the story a second time, he pushed open the door a crack and called in to the two girls, the emphasis in his question making it apparent what he was really talking about to those in the know.

"Are you okay in there? Has the spider come back?"

"C'mon Chan, let's get out of here before Mrs. Van Tiel showsup again," said Buffy as she started for the door. She steps outside and as soon as Gracie is out the door she yells "Luthien grab Gracie! She's been mirrorized!" Trap sprung, she thought to herself, I hope this works.

Luthien doesn't GRAB her though. No need for anything so direct. Instead, he confronts the possessing entity on its own terms.

"Release her."

He is preparing an exorcism/spell break as needed.

Luthien entered a battle of wills with the presence oppressing Gracie. He felt the unnatural rage suffusing the otherwise easygoing cheerleader. Gracie felt as though Luthien spoke to her across a great chasm. Would he help free the Mirror's latest thrall?

OOC:

09:59, Today: Luthien rolled 20 using 1d10+13.  Exorcism (Quick Version).

'Quick exorcisms' required a good deal of focus and experience, because one had to have great Faith indeed to just order a spirit out of somebody.

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I bid you come out of her!"

Luthien's voice echoed powerfully with a voice not his own...

"Melba dear.. if you yell one more time, I'll be forced to gag you and possibly stick you in one of the stalls till we get someone who can unwammy you. Think about how uncomfortable that will be." BJ said calmly with a dangerous gimlet glare in her eye

Gracie yells "NOOOOO!" as she tries to kick Luthien with her martial arts with a high heel to his face.


Today: Gracie Lynn DuPree rolled 15 using 1d10+9.  Martial arts.

22:15, Today: Luthien rolled 16 using 1d10+15.  Total Defense.

Luthien simply deflects the attack away. It was a narrow miss, because almost all his attention was focused on the spirit, but a narrow miss remains a miss.

"You WILL come out!"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:18, Sun 20 Dec 2015.

Melba struggled to bite down on her lower lip, seeking to clamp her teeth together bloodily.

Luthien exerted his considerable will against the Mirror's influence. A possessed Gracie angrily lashed out with a dangerous kick! However, the more experienced fighter deftly blocked her kick with a side-sweep of his arm. Grabbing the cheerleader by her shoulders, Luthien once again commanded the presence. Gracie screamed, then slumped against Luthien.

In Clive's classroom, B.J. found herself dealing with a possessed Melba. Clive returned with the zip ties for his colleague. "Please don't let the Administration catch us tying up a student!"

The girl complied with the Coach, but her own natural stubbornness showed through. She not down on her lip like a defiant prisoner. Melba felt that sharp pain of biting one's lip. She could taste blood, and would indeed soon bite off her own lip if not stopped!

OOC:

Melba, you have a chance to break the control with a +1 bonus. Pain is good that way!

As the school's top cheerleader tried to kick-box Luthien, Hunter stepped back. "Whoa!" He tugged on Garrett's arm, not wanting him in the crossfire. He stared with wide eyes. "Your friends sure have a lot of drama," he said quietly, as he leaned close.

When Luthien loudly invoked "Jesus", Hunter rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I'm out of here. You should come, too, Garrett."

Gracie leans on Luthien, holding him close "Oh, that was horrible. I am so sorry if I did anything wrong"

Luthien lets himself be hugged, and shakes his head. "It's alright. That wasn't you. That was something inside of you I just got rid of. Just like a doctor gets rid of a disease."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:23, Mon 21 Dec 2015.

Melba fought the possessor while the possessor fought BJ.  As she bites down hard on her lip there's the briefest moment of lucidity but not enough, the possessor seems to be winning.

.

Buffy breathed a sigh of relief as Luthien freed Gracie from the mirror's influence.
"Don't worry about it. It wasn't your fault. We do have a problemthough, the mirror wants the Slayer. C'mon we need to go see Clive. Let's get out of here before we attract anymore attention from the faculty," replied Buffy. She turned and started heading off in Clive's direction.

"More problems then that. Gracie here wasn't the only one with that issue. Melba got caught too. Let us go, there's more influence breaking to be done."

For all that he makes it sound like he's talking to teens about peer pressure, he's got work to do. To that end, he'd head off towards Melba...and BJ and Clive...

BJ looked around for something to give Melba to bite down on, aside from her lip. This was beyond her usual 'undiagnosed medical issue' for Gym. She pulled the girl into a stall and sat her on a toilet as she looked around for something, anything, to put in the teen's mouth before she moved from bitting her lip open to biting her own tongue.

"Damnit Clive, I can't really do much here. I got a double barrel .38 derringer, my wallet, and my leatherman here. We need something to help her before she hurts herself bad! How about waking up and using some of that esoteric watcher know-how and undo ..whatever it is she's suffering from." BJ said as she settled on her wallet since the only other choice she could see was the plastic dowel that held the toilet paper in place and well. ick.

"Melba.. bite down on the wallet, it's leather with a wire mesh. I think it's better than your lower lip yes? Come on girl.. fight this." BJ whispered to her as she mulled the penalty for knocking out a student on campus. Somehow 'mystical induced fit' wouldn't be an acceptable excuse.

Melba snapped at BJ's fingers but did indeed bite the wallet hard, so hard, hoping she could chew through the leather to the wire mesh.

"Buffy wait. Are we just going to leave the mirror in there where anyone could find it?"

"Unfortunately there isn't anything we can do about it right now. Breaking it won't work, it'll just reform itself like it did a few minutes ago. We can't remove it either, because we'd run the risk of the mirror putting the whammy on me, getting tossed out of school for vandalism if we get caught walking around with it, and/or having the mirror put the whammy on anyone who walks past us. Besids Luthien said a ritual of some kind was needed to dispell the curse anyway and we can't do that right now. We need to tell Clive about that mirror and find Melba," replied Buffy.

The entire debacle had left Garrett agog; from the near-demented ferocity that the mirror had endowed Gracie with to the impromptu exorcism that packed more punch than your average televangelist, it was a miracle no-one had had to use the bathroom while the fracas had taken place. The young warlock's experience with the supernatural was admittedly limited, but he had read enough to know that what Luthien had just performed was impressive, and quite different to the regular accounts of exorcisms.

He was jarred back to the reality with Hunter's sudden grab of his arm, and the warnings about Melba's current situation set worry roiling in his head. Offering a slightly anxious half-smile to Hunter, he was clearly about to follow the rest of the gang in the hunt for his best friend.

"Away from here would be a good place to be. Will you come with us to try and find Melba? I can't help but worry she's off concocting some diabolical mad science device under the influence of Bloody Mary there."

Gracie's concern about the mirror affecting other people who approached it was a valid one, but he agreed with Buffy's thoughts that there wasn't much they could do, especially given the danger Melba might be in. Rummaging around in his backpack, Garret drew out a sheet of plain paper and a black marker, leaning up against a wall to scrawl something on it before affixing it to the door of the bathroom with sticky tape. It read,

OUT OF ORDER.

USE ALTERNATIVE BATHROOMS WHILE REPAIRS ARE CONDUCTED.

"I think that's the best we can do for the minute."

17:32, Today: Garrett Ashcroft rolled 11 using 1d10+6.  Occultism+INT (Figure out what Luthien did).

From his desk, Clive frowned at B.J.. "That's what I'm working on, Bonita! You've already proven that you're the most adept at handling the physical side of the problem. I'm pursuing the scholarly side here," he said, gesturing at his flat screen and opened books. "I'm researching spells to combat possession. At the very least, I might find a good exorcism to oust the spirit responsible for Melba's uncharacteristic outbursts."

OOC:

11 for Getting Watcher-y!

Garrett's sign would hopefully deter any stray students still wandering the halls long after school was out. Hunter looked ambivalent about Garrett's invitation. The other boy looked at Gracie and Luthien, then back at Garrett. After a few seconds of internal debate, Hunter shrugged. "Okay. Someone should come along to keep you out of trouble!" After a final glance at the bathroom door, he added, "Vampires, and now Bloody Mary? What's next, a coven of evil witches?"


Meanwhile, Melba struggled under the Mirror's blight. She felt as though she were watching her life like a movie, a distant part of her wondering if that was how people felt under the influence of PCP or even roofies. Deep inside herself, Melba Ellenberger cried out in rage at the usurping of her body! For the moment, though, she couldn't shake off the hostile power.

Clive's research suggested that this wasn't a demonic possession. It seemed more like the work of a malevolent spirit. The Watcher would find a ritual of "spirit binding" that might expel whatever held Melba in thrall. They would need a few ingredients, though, and he knew that the school didn't have what he needed.

OOC:

Melba, +1 to your next Willpower check.

Everyone else, you've reached Clive and B.J. after this update.