[if april showers bring may flowers, then july showers bring. . .?]

[sevenhorrorsmods]

Who: everyone!
When: July 31st throughout the day
Where: outside, but also wherever you want to be!
What: a general all-purpose mingle with flavor
Warnings: nada

[Today, for the first time since your arrival, dark and angry clouds gather in the sky above to block out the sun. It is sweltering outside, so when those clouds eventually open up in the early afternoon, showering everyone with cool rain, rolling thunder, and a few flashes of lightning. . . it probably feels good!]

[It seems to be normal rain, for the most part. Look at it from the wrong angle and some if it may seem to be tinted red, like blood. And sometimes, when a drop spatters against the ground, a spider lily suddenly blossoms in its place. The flower dies almost immediately upon springing to life, its petals dissolving into dust that is quickly washed away by the rest of the water]

[dwbi]

[. . . things have been awfully quiet since your arrival. It feels almost a bit like the calm before the storm, doesn't it? Are you still waiting for that other shoe to drop. . .?]

[What else are you up to today!]

Comments

[presgarddihellis]

It's in my skills set, but I wouldn't say it's my area of expertise, generally.

[tailsofwoe]

Just some recreational stargazing, then?

[presgarddihellis]

... determining location, even generally, even illusionary.

A 21st century Earth, northern hemisphere is about all I could glean. Nothing particularly outstanding.

[tailsofwoe]

Mm... Not terribly surprising, if this is a border area between the realm of humans and the inhuman. I assume that means that it's closer to the land of the living, though having real food in the cafeteria already implied as much.

[presgarddihellis]

There are a number of people who aren't from an Earth at all, so it was worth investigating.

But you're not wrong that it's possible that this place is a possible border.

Am I to assume you have expertise in the world of spirits? Or is it just understanding the myths and legends of it?

[tailsofwoe]

Mm... Fair point. I still don't really have an explanation for that part.

[ Weighs her options of how to respond to that for a moment. ]

It's mostly theoretical. I was born with a slightly stronger spiritual sense than the average person, but I'm just a private citizen living an ordinary life.

[presgarddihellis]

... only slightly?

I'd advise being careful not to observe me too closely, then.

[tailsofwoe]

It's not doing much for me at the moment, aside from being able to see the same monsters everyone else can... But why do you say that?

[presgarddihellis]

... would you like to have that talk now? The one with some disturbing information?

It is related.

[tailsofwoe]

[ Slowly pulls one of her usual inscrutable smiles. ]

Sure, why not? I was just in the mood for a cup of tea.

[presgarddihellis]

[pulls a face]

The tea here is atrocious, but I suppose we'll have to make due.

[closing the book that was open in his lap and standing, gesturing further into the school]

Shall we?

[tailsofwoe]

I don't disagree, but...

[ Turns swiftly on her heel and starts heading down the hall. ]

Let's. The cafeteria, or would you prefer somewhere with more privacy?

[presgarddihellis]

Somewhere with a window would be nice. I do think the weather is a suiting mood.

[tailsofwoe]

In that case, there's no end of empty classrooms up for grabs.

[presgarddihellis]

There's sure to be some stable seating somewhere there, also.

[tailsofwoe]

Just so.

[ After walking for a bit, she turns into a random classroom a ways down the hall.

A nekomata immediately slinks over and starts climbing her, but she somewhat wearily picks it up and sets it down in a corner of the room. Though she's gentle about it. ]

—Shoo, shoo. Go play with your friends.

[presgarddihellis]

[nekomata meows and looks to Klein who just. waves at it with a smile.]

So they are lingering...

[tailsofwoe]

Going by Mocha's interpretation, it sounds like this has been their home for quite a while. They were quite happy to finally have company.

[ Takes a seat over by the wimdow and folds her hands atop the desk. ]

[presgarddihellis]

How convenient to have someone who can communicate with them. At most, they just heed my requests.

[also taking a seat, watching as the nekomata goes to another desk in the room to curl up on.]

[tailsofwoe]

You say that as if it were no big deal, but I'm relatively envious...

[presgarddihellis]

Just because they heed my requests doesn't mean they always follow them...

[sighs.]

Besides which, getting such a capability did come a large price. Including waking up in a different world with a bullet hole in the head.

[tailsofwoe]

[ . . . ]

I believe you've skipped a few important points in your explanation there.

[presgarddihellis]

You asked before how it is that I come from two different worlds?

I'm originally from China, on Earth. 201x.

But. I did what I thought was a simple Luck Enhancement Ritual from a book from the Qin and Han Dynasties.

Somehow this ended up with my getting transmigrated into the body of an unfortunate young man who'd just shot himself in the head because of a different cursed book. I ended up taking in his memories and maybe even some of his soul, so. In essence. I am both parties.

1/2

[tailsofwoe]

[ By the end of his explanation, her eyes widen slightly and her fingers twitch where they're laced together— ]

[tailsofwoe]

[ But you blink and it's gone. ]

Mm, my condolences. Such are the dangers of playing with magic you don't understand... No wonder you so adamantly warn others against dabbling with the unknown.