[physical education 101]

[sevenhorrorsmods]

Who: transfer students
When: July 1̷̝̤̳̙̫̭̻̝͓̄̇̾̀̕͝9̸̙̱̹͍̮̈́́̀̅͛̐̔̋ 20
Where: the. . . gymnasium?
What: an ice breaker
Warnings: moderate physical injury (not debilitating), psychological horror (absolutely debilitating)

[The school is empty. The school is quiet. The only sound that cuts through the silence is the soft ticking of the hallway clocks that mark the passing of each second.]

[. . .]

[At least. . . until a stiff breeze whips through the classrooms, scattering dirty papers and jerking the curtains aside. The clock strikes 6:00 a.m.]

[The school bell chimes.]

[ Team rooms | Endgame | Rewards ]

Comments

[velluminous]

Journal, yes.

... Reading what?

[gamboler]

[ So that's a pattern between at least the two of their classrooms. ]

In ours, Kai-un related a brief but rather unfortunate tale of distinctly bad luck. Toe-stubbing, running into glass windows, that sort of thing. Yours?

/2

[velluminous]

[ SHE DIDN'T READ IIIIIIT ]

[velluminous]

[ splutters, ] Well, you would have to... that is... I...

1/2

[gamboler]

[ ]

[gamboler]

You didn't read it, did you.

[velluminous]

Mammon! More important matters arose, as you know!

[gamboler]

[ ANNOYINGLY: ]

What if there had been an essential clue in there?

[velluminous]

Kkhh.

[ no! she hates this!

hunches forward where she sits, her thumb with that little divot in the nail making its way between her teeth. she bites down slightly, gaze affixed to the flicker of web strands just behind him.

if she has missed something critical, something so apparent, over her concerns for a feral young woman and a man unable to conceive of the mere thought of magic... it will burn in her forever. unforgivable oversight for a would-be scribe. the journal—the first thing she should have dove for! ]

...I will...

[ have to find it again. ]

[gamboler]

[ A wave of his hand, dismissive. ]

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it now. The game's over, isn't it? Although...best we keep playing by the no name rule, at the very least.

[ Maybe the journals will play more of a role than they have so far, too. It's peculiar...who writes such a pointed journal entry like that, anyway? ]

[velluminous]

[ her dark eyes flick up. the only indication is a slight change in how the light plays on them.

with vague concern, ] You would call that "game"?

[gamboler]

It clearly was to whoever brought us here, and I like to meet others at their level.

[ And that's always easier for him. To understand utterly senseless things like this as a game brings at least some familiarity and stability to it. ]

[velluminous]

[ mmh, there is logic in that. how many stories of outsmarting the fey at their own game? and devils, too. ]

I shudder to think. Game, or "lesson"...

[gamboler]

"Lesson" gives the impression that there's something meaningful we ought to have taken away from that.

[ And he sounds loath to give their captors that much credit. ]

[velluminous]

I have taken away meaning that I intend to return punishment inflicted upon me—tenfold.

[gamboler]

[ His smile sharpens. ]

Hah. That's a wise lesson to learn. [ IS IT ] They ought to know their new "students" won't sit idly by and let ourselves be tortured. We'll remember.

[velluminous]

This academic knows how to apply that which she learns. [ her own smile is, perhaps, a touch ghoulish in return. but it only lasts for a brief moment; she hurts too much right now to maintain the demeanour. ] It is good there are more of us.

[gamboler]

[ The sentiment is shared, then. Good. ]

They may have the upper hand for now...but prey is always most resourceful when backed into a corner, when they can gamble and having nothing to lose. Ah — but let's hope it doesn't come to that, Miss Fairplay. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, as they say.

[velluminous]

[ yes. her mind is already whirring with possibilities and their outcomes. ]

I will rely upon you, then. [ something of stiff formality to this: she is not the type of woman to rely on anyone. but it's convention. it's what you say. ] When chips are down, as it is said.