[. . . july showers bring august ghosts]

[sevenhorrorsmods]

Who: EVERYONE
When: August 3, wobbly hands
Where: Around the school!
What: some things happened. the school is suddenly a lot more crowded
Warnings: references to blood and bite injuries, but otherwise, non! unless you bring something to the party yourself

[August 3 stars off. . . weird.]

[The morning bell chimes at 6 a.m., as it usually does! But there appears to be a very thin layer of fog settled against the ground outside. Some of it seeps into the school's hallways, before dissipating in a few wisps of haze. Weird??]

[As the day goes on, you feel like you can hear strange whispers echoing in the air-- a voice, hissing the word miiiiiiiine over and over again. Also weird!]

[And by the time the afternoon hits, you may find yourself running into some very unwanted guests. You've been here two weeks, and this is the first time you're seeing these guys?? Where have they been??]

[By the way, the nurse's office is unlocked!]

Comments

[ratiocinations]

[His hands are still stained with red from helping Mr Mocha with his bandages when he turns to look at her. The urgency is clear.]

…Very well, Ms Fairplay. What is it?

[velluminous]

[ blood... is blood. she cannot let it unnerve her. a low, urgent undertone: ] Proper hauntings has at last commenced.

[ as she rolls up her sleeve just enough to reveal the edge of a frostbitten handprint. ]

[ratiocinations]

[Frowning, eyes snapping right down to that handprint. What’s happening— What’s triggered today?

He does not ask this time. It’s isn’t a hard grip, but he reaches out to take her arm in his hand, assessing with that keen look.]

What is this? Something grabbed you?

[velluminous]

[ her expression when he does makes clear she did not want him to do that, nor to draw attention to the injury amidst those who are having it much worse. she tugs back, pulls the sleeve down again. ]

Outside library. [ still speaking very low ] There was... woman.

[ratiocinations]

[When she hides that mark, he cannot help but think she’s either being prideful, stubborn, or considerate. Maybe all.]

…

Come. Let’s speak in the hall.

[He turns to lead her out, expecting her to follow.]

[velluminous]

[ that she does, and even sweeps the door closed behind them. ]

Surely you, too, are hearing whispers.

[ratiocinations]

[Spins on his heel to face her when that door has closed. He gestures with both hands at her arm, wiggling his fingers imploringly — let him see, let him see.]

I’ve seen nothing more than fog thus far, though I do not doubt a word of what you say. It appears today is the day that all the evil things come out of the woodwork, setting even more harm upon us.

[velluminous]

Drawn towards those assigned to Anzen.

[ lifts her arm with some reluctance. it's a tender wound, and painful in a way she has never before experienced.

the sleeve is still unbuttoned and easy to push up. ]

Don't you think?

[ratiocinations]

[Sleeve: pushed up. Slowly, though, so as not to agitate the wound.

It does look like a handprint. The skin around its shape is acting as though it were frostbitten. It must hurt in a strange, tender way, he thinks, for he's never been frostbitten himself.]

Clearly not only them, however. [Whatever triggered this, whether it be Anzen's curse, or they simply were the first recipients of ghostly ire, they now may live with the consequences.] Though they may have been the catalyst.

[velluminous]

[ she stares down at the handprint, too, nostrils flaring. this had better not scar.
(it will scar.) ]

That is what I mean. Attention caught, and now they are here, they may as well walk freely. Why do they not appear sooner?

[ratiocinations]

[uses this icon to convey the energy of his examining

Hovers a hand just over the shape of it, knowing better than to touch.]

I don't know.

[He can easily admit that much. Not enough data. Those of Anzen don't seem to know, either, other than possibly their curse drew more of them in.]

This will probably scar.

[lol]

[velluminous]

[ sharply, as she tugs her arm back: ] It will not.

[ but there's a verbal question mark there, that subtle upturning of her voice at the end. she's proclaiming impossibility, but she's not actually sure. the idea is just so abhorrent that she denies it on instinct. ]

[ratiocinations]

[Right. It sounds like denial. Or rather, a question that wants to make itself a statement, so very displeased.

Eyes flick up to her again, deprived of her arm.]

…Perhaps not as badly if we tend to it immediately.

[velluminous]

[ cradling the arm to her like a wounded animal: she is a mixture of pride and anger. ]

I have been warming it.

[ with her own hand. ]

[ratiocinations]

With what? Your hand? That’s insufficient.

[Tsks, frowning.]

Were my friend here— Well, no matter. It’s easy enough to apply warmth and bandages, so find a place to sit, and I’ll retrieve what we need and tend to your arm.

[Since he suspects she doesn’t want to do that back inside the nurse’s office.]

[velluminous]

[ a slight perking at "my friend". ]

I come with you. We should not move alone, hostile spirits now awaiting us.

[ratiocinations]

Very well. Come, then.

[Back into the bustle of the nurse’s office they go — he immediately starts to look for bandages, and something to warm her with.]

He’s a doctor.

[His friend. Since he of course noted her faint interest.]

[velluminous]

[ scenting so strongly of blood and sweat. sets her teeth on edge. ]

Da, I surmise this. [ to wish for him now. a pause. then, tactfully, ] You do not talk about him.

[ratiocinations]

[The scent does not bother him, at least, and eventually he finds a heat pack — according to the packaging anyway. It’ll have to do, and just like that, they’re heading out the door again.]

No, I do not. [ … ] Perhaps I do not wish to tempt fate, uttering even the mention of his existence here, as though the evils of this place may reach across time and space and infect him with its insidiousness. Or, really, perhaps it’s because you never asked.

[The questions between them have been mostly one-sided. Not that it’s really her fault, since Holmes does love to ask them.]

[velluminous]

[ a mote of surprise, first, for it so rarely occurs to her to ask. she is the type of woman, after all, to find close relationships... smothering. ]

Should I have?

[ratiocinations]

[In the hall now, time to find a place for them to sit.]

If you were at all curious? Then yes.

[To him, this is obvious. And thus: she wasn’t all that curious to start.]

[velluminous]

[ surely there is a bench outside the office. and he has effectively silenced her; she's quiet as she sits down.

this old chestnut will never leave her alone... ]

[ratiocinations]

[Sitting down, setting his things down next to him. Gestures again for her arm, and notes, of course, her sudden and complete silence.]

That was not criticism, if you are taking it that way.

[Yes, he has had to nudge her to share on her part, and no, she has not asked much on his, but Holmes is far from the sort of person who takes offense by expected civilities falling by the wayside. His pride hinges on different things.]

[velluminous]

Hm. [ slowly, tenderly, she holds out her arm. looking forward, not at. ] Then you are league unto yourself, Mister Adair, in many ways.

[ratiocinations]

[Forward, not at. If she's hoping to take refuge in the fact that his hands will be busy and therefore the moments between them will not be stilled, then she will be disappointed. Because the first step is: placing the heat pack carefully down onto her frostbite wound, warming up her skin. And just holding it there for a bit.]

Meaning?