[. . . 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]

[Oh? Why would he sense a small backpedalling to the very idea? He is not so hesitant to call his city STINKY, especially near the Thames. He cannot imagine a port city, crowded with people, can be much better.]

But it must smell like brine all day?

[velluminous]

Yes. I miss it.

[ratiocinations]

[Poor girl. But he understands; he misses London in all of its beauty and filth, too.]

And what do you miss the most?

[velluminous]

[ her gaze goes somewhat listless and faraway. ]

There was this... tremendous library...

[ratiocinations]

Oh?

[Go on.]

[velluminous]

...... gone now.

[ with a sharpish inhale, meant to signify the end of a thought. she shakes her head, dismissing it, and tugs on her arm. it hurts. ]

Please. Give me one moment.

[ratiocinations]

[Gone. In what sense? Always, his mind wants to tread back to that fire of hers…

But in this case, he can’t help but question as she tugs her arm aside-]

Very well, but we shouldn’t pause until your wound has fully thawed.

/2

[velluminous]

[ very tersely, ] I can't—

[velluminous]

[ Mammon. fuck. forcibly softening herself, Severine clears her throat to excise the quiver in an otherwise sable voice. ] Nearly. I need one minute.

[ indeed, she is several shades paler now than she was when they first sat down. keeping it all inside, where he can't see, is bearing down on her. ]

[ratiocinations]

[…Ah.

He is… far more adept at providing distance than comfort, so if that’s what she wants so desperately, he will concede.]

…A minute then.

[The heat pack and the rag are pulled away and sat down. Does she want him to… leave? For a minute or two? He can do that, as well, moving to stand.]

[velluminous]

—Where are you going?

[ratiocinations]

...Did you not wish for a minute or two to yourself? [To pull herself together.]

[velluminous]

Reprieve from heat, not from you! I am not crying babe.

[ratiocinations]

[…Well now he’s just standing here awkwardly.]

You were crying. I’m trying to be considerate.

[velluminous]

Well, I wish even less to be left alone!

[ratiocinations]

[




SITS BACK DOWN]

real tag

[velluminous]

same

[ratiocinations]

Well.

[velluminous]

...You will know if I am wanting you to leave. I will say it.

[ratiocinations]

Hmph. I suppose you are not the sort to mince words, no.

[velluminous]

Why should I? None have ever done so for me.

[ratiocinations]

I am gaining the impression that your life has been defined by degrees of solitude.

[He realizes, belatedly, that perhaps that is not a kind thing to say, even if he does not mean it harshly. His upbringing radiates in his mind: be a gentleman to a lady, be a gentleman to a lady—]

But you do have me now, Ms Fairplay. My bedside manner might be lacking, and therefore you need to be clear in your wants, but— Well. It is better than nothing, I hope.

[velluminous]

[ is it better than nothing? she scoffs out a laugh, sort of, and says nothing in reply. she cannot see what is so wrong with an isolated life, if the people who would otherwise be in it are of no intrinsic value to her. are unkind to her. sabotage her. she has never felt lonely, so—...

sticks her arm back out for him, wordlessly. ]

[ratiocinations]

[Well. Clearly she doesn’t feel the same way.

But she offers her arm all the same. Silently, he places rag and heat pack against her wound again.]

[velluminous]

What is that face for, now?