(semi-open) → 1

[bowfaire]

Who: Claude and various
When: March & April probably
Where: Around!
What: Catch-all for the month, including getting a "study group" going for the local youths
Warnings: n/a for now but will update

Hit me up if you'd like to plot or for me to start something.
plurk: eski
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other: PM!

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(semi-open) teeny bop study group

[bowfaire]

Who: A bunch of teens from school
When: Early March
Where: 543 Karloff Court
What: Helping each other get on the same footing in Santa Rosita and figuring out where they can poke around

(So maybe the best place to meet for regular meetings isn't the school. After figuring out some details, they've decided to meet up after school at someone's home. So why not open his door first? He's a friendly guy, after all. )

Make yourselves at home. Hungry? Thirsty?

(And while everyone can gather around in the living room or something, Claude will just dip into the kitchen to grab some snacks and drinks. It doesn't take long! Unless you're waiting for tea (gotta wait for that kettle to heat up). But everyone knows water boils faster when you aren't looking at it so let's get to work. Claude's ready to start,)

Let's get started. First things first: How's everyone holding up right now? And I mean how are you really?

(After what happened with the kidnappings and everything. Of course, there are other things he wants to talk about! Making sure everyone is on the same page in Santa Rosita, able to keep their covers and fit in properly, but those issues can wait for now.)

dw why

[shalamayne]

[ At first Anduin hadn't been sure if he was going to attend the meeting, somewhat unsure as to what it would achieve. But the more he'd thought about it the more it had seemed like a somewhat good idea. Even if nothing was achieved the invite itself seemed genuine enough. The alternative was to stay at home, mulling over what had happened and practising writing with his left hand. Thankfully his beautiful coat (a gift from Wrathion) has been expertly modified, the right sleeve now rolled up and sewn to make up for the fact the young King is now an arm down.

So Anduin turns up on time, bag of treats held in one hand as he takes a curious look around Claude's place. Most of the homes seem to be cookie cutter builds but sometimes those living in them leave their own mark.

The question snaps Anduin out of his thoughts.]

Oh well. All things considered I think I am holding up. I cannot speak for others, however. What about yourself?

[bowfaire]

(Most of these homes are the same and 543 Karloff Court is no exception, at least, at a glance. The foyer and the living room are largely the same minus a few of the more personal differences that come with each home like the photographs. There's a blanket folded over the sofa and maybe some crumbs in between the cushions but otherwise, it all looks pretty ordinary! Fitting for someone like Claude who doesn't like to reveal much about himself. Maybe his room is different? Hm.)

Better than some. (He hadn't been one of taken so he'd been able to come out of the whole ordeal relatively unscathed all things considered.) I'd say I can't complain buuuuut...

The whole place is pretty messed up.

(Is. Present tense. Everything that had happened and the way things are now.)

[shalamayne]

I believe everyone here has a right to complain, there is nothing that would lessen the emotions of another.

[ Even though Anduin had been one of the taken he'd never begrudge someone the chance to complain; everyone was unique and had their own ways of coping and he gives a small smile as if to reassure and get that point across.

Another look around lets him know the house is similar to Anduin's own. The Mace household only has the nineteen year old living in it and he makes sure to keep it spotless when time permits. Clutter would only cause problems, especially these days.]

I just hope it is only the one faction trying to cause these issues — this time it was the kidnappings, but last it seemed to be a whole different style. So yes, this place is messed up. We will get through it.

[ With that Anduin gives Claude a pat on the shoulder before motioning to the bag of treats he's placed on the side.] I didn't know what everyone liked so I hope everyone likes cookies.

[bowfaire]

(Ah, that actually gets a smile from Claude. Granted, he's been nothing but friendly since they've met up and he's been presenting himself as the real social butterfly at school but right now, his smile seems just a little more genuine. Anduin is right! Nothing can take away from how a person is feeling here. It's easy to compare suffering but this isn't a competition as far as he's concerned.)

Right. (And he's just going to take a seat on the arm of the sofa instead of the actual sofa itself,) We're in this together and there's no reason to make a competition out of who has it better or worse.

(Spoilers: Claude actually isn't fond of sweets! But he'll never turn down someone's good gestures. He's nothing but appreciative,)

Thanks. (He'll help himself to one!! Take a bite and just continue prattling,) You've been here for awhile, right?

(Longer than he has, at least.)

[shalamayne]

[ Claude sitting down seems to flick a switch in Anduin who takes a seat, knowing that the time to stand on ceremony has now passed. Sure, Claude is sitting on the arm of the chair but it's his house and his preferences. He even manages another smile, though this time it is less tired and more cheerful. Back home Anduin rarely has time to have anything to himself; ever since becoming King at the age of nineteen it's been nonstop and if it's not invading Old Gods it's the Burning Legion or the Scourge or wayward dragons. If there's one thing this place offers, it's the small chance at being just a normal teenager before hitting the grand old age of twenty.

The question from Claude gets a nod as Anduin sneaks one of the cookies for himself. ]

It has been a few months. I believe Wrathion and I turned up in what they would consider the first group. But then I would suppose we're the first group that we know of. Everything here is strange enough that I believe we're just one of many.

[righthandstand]

[Studying is for nerds, but this meeting is for more than that (and he won't complain if this is an opportunity to copy someone else's homework). Okuyasu arrives late and drops his bag by the sofa before dropping onto it.]

The scarring's fine. I had to quit the baseball team because of my missing lung. [God, and he was going to be such a cool spy! He could've been cool!]

Oh, and my Stand came back.

[inpersonation]

[ what the fuck is a stand? how the fuck is he still standing if his lung is missing??

knowing that approach won't fly with her blossom persona, noelle looks at the new guy with an expression of interest and confusion, cocking her head to the side in clear puzzlement. ]

Stand...? Is that your, um, car? [ sounds like a car name a guy would give if you give them free license to name something on their own. raoul's car getting the name the thunderroller will never not be funny as fuck to her.

then she pretends to realise what he said earlier, gasping in exaggerated panic and covering her mouth in horror. ] Y-Your lung is gone? Just like that?!

[ she leans forward, getting up in his space, her expression one of great worry as she looks over and supposedly fusses over him. (any weapons? any thing of note on him?) ] Are you okay? I'm so sorry that happened to you!

[righthandstand]

[This level of concern is not something Okuyasu is used to, but if a Noelle is genuinely alarmed, he's taking it. Free help, plus he can show off his scars. He leans back into the sofa, lightly patting his chest, under his heart.]

They took this one out. I'm not dying or anything, but it sure as hell makes running difficult.

[He points to the air with a thumb, as if someone was also standing there.]

Then I guess they felt sorry for me, 'cause I can summon my Stand again.

[inpersonation]

Oh! So a stand- [ or is it with a capital 's' with how important this sounds? ] -is... a power of yours?

[ if it's not a car and with how he describes it- there's no other conclusion for her to make.

not when he's gesturing to whatever this stand is. her eyes flicker towards the direction of where he's pointing, a too-quick expression of sharp assessment coming and going before she resumes looking nervous- though for a very different reason now. ]

T-That sounds so cool! Um... Is it alright to ask if your, um, Stand is friendly? [ she smiles and laughs a bit too loudly. ] I would hope so! We're all friends here, after all!

[righthandstand]

[So it's the same here. People without Stands can't see them, but if there's a Stand user behind all of this, Okuyasu had better be careful not to reveal his power around the police, the mayor, or anyone really.]

It just does what I tell it to. You can't see it, but check this out. [He picks up a pencil and tosses it into the empty space. It stops mid-air, as if an invisible person caught it.] See? It can help me carry stuff.

[bowfaire]

(MISSING LUNG........ Claude frowns at Okuyasu. It's clear that he's sorry for some of their company today but he saves his pity. Maybe he's projecting a bit but he's never liked it when people sorry for him. It's why he keeps things to himself.)

I'd invite you to my own games but I imagine cheering is out...

(Guess who's playing basketball for their school now? This guy.)

[righthandstand]

[Okuyasu's pride remains intact for now. He just wants to kick whoever's ass is behind this. And hey, maybe when he comes home, Josuke can heal him.]

There's more says to cheer than yelling. Like [What's a good noisemaker?] party horns. Or banging stuff together. [And Claude would know that Okuyasu specifically is cheering.]

[bowfaire]

So what I'm getting here is... I'll see you at the next game?

(Whenever that is don't @ me. But school spirit isn't really the focus of the meeting here. Sitting up straight and as if to show that he's ready to move onto another subject,)

It might be worth checking out the school sometime when everyone else is distracted. I mean, we found a whole hidden tunnel system under one school so who knows what this one could be hiding?

[righthandstand]

[Right, they were talking about actually interesting stuff. School's boring anyway.]

What about checking out all of the tunnels under the other school? They have to have something that gives us a clue.

...And it'll be a good place to ditch class.

[blackscales]

[ Wrathion arrives at the same time as Anduin, close to his side, then splits away from him in what feels like a deliberate show of distance. He languidly explores the area and drapes himself down to sit, affects a mild bored air -- but he can't help the way once in a while his eyes flit over.

Troubling, he'll have to do something about this sensation.

He looks, largely, the same as he did before -- apart from one slight difference. The gold-threaded hazel of his eyes has given way to the red glow of their natural colour, pupils completely suffused by it into nothing. This is normal enough to Anduin and himself, but he's quite aware it may be alarming for other people. He's trying to ignore anyone's startled reactions. ]

I am unharmed, though I understand not everyone was so lucky.

[ This counts as an answer. We're not discussing how unsettled he was (still is) -- no physical harm has beset him so time to move on! ]

[bowfaire]

(Intersting and noted, good sir. If you think Claude won't ever bring up someone's relationships in a conversation ever, you're wrong but have peace in knowing that there are better things to discuss right now.

He can't help but stare at Wrathion's eyes. At first, it's because he's caught off guard by the sight of the glow. He's never seen anything like it before and the feeling that settles next is curiosity. He's not the type that gets frightened easily so he's pretty calm about the whole thing. )

... Same here. (They're having a discussion and he's at least polite enough to answer first,) Not everyone, but enough that I think we can all help each other try to recover and readjust after everything.

(To put it lightly,)

You're really fine though?

(And he sort of just... taps next to his eye to show Wrathion what he's talking about. Sir, are you aware your eyes are glowing????)

[blackscales]

[ Oh? We're drawing attention to it?

Claude, didn't you get the memo that we politely ignore these things? How terrible. ]

Yes, quite alright. I'm feeling more myself than I have in some months.

[ This is really fine. They're meant to be this way. ]

It would be wise to interview all who were taken, see what they have to say.

[ Moving on from his eyes: people who were kidnapped, what do they know? Perhaps some saw more than others? Worth checking! ]

[bowfaire]

(He sure is bringing attention to it because usually glowing red eyes aren't a good sign? But Wrathion seems to be fine enough and either he's covering up the truth or things are really fine... either way, at that point, it becomes none of his business. For now.)

Mhm, any clue we can get would really help. I'm pretty worried about who ever was behind all of this... we don't really have any ideas but we have to make sure something like this doesn't happen again.

[blackscales]

[ Doesn't happen again.

Hmmm.

Wrathion works his tongue against his teeth, thinking as his eyes slowly scan the room. ]

My understanding is victims were taken in the night, even when they were housed with others. No struggle, no sound to awake anyone they were with.

[ His gaze trails back up to Claude, eyebrow lofting. How do you prevent something like that? Something with no warning? He's really open to suggestions here. A barrier would be his best bet, but most of his gifts have yet to free themselves of the shackles placed on him. ]

( closed ) anduin

[bowfaire]

(It's another day after school and another day to get together under the guise of doing their homework. Gotta keep those grades up, you know?

The topic of the day? Social studies.

Claude twirls his pen and takes a break, leaning back in his chair and letting out a sigh,)

I don't know how this place can make everything sound so boring in books but they sure find a way, don't they?

[shalamayne]

[ It truly is awful that grades are even a thing. The concept of such a system isn't foreign to Anduin, but the thought that someone would be sitting reading his work and more than likely marking it down does not sit well with the young man. That and the fact he had been a mere step away from hitting the age of twenty back home....Well, it's just that bit insulting he has to do homework again.

Still, it keeps up the image of fitting in, though Anduin can't help but wonder what the point is to that. Homework hadn't saved him from the last round of events....]

Hm? [ Anduin glances up, somewhat mollified he'd been caught up in his own thoughts.] These books are tedious to read. I have read through some ancient tomes and texts back home and even they manage to be more eventful. It's almost as if they believe nothing ever happens here...

[ Why yes, Anduin can do sarcasm on rare occasions...]

[bowfaire]

Yeah? (His voice rises in pitch towards the end, clearly curious. Ancient tomes and texts, huh...) That doesn't sound like light reading.

(Or casual reading. )

I consider myself pretty well-read back home. It's not always interesting but at least it felt like I was really learning something, you know?

(In one way or another. Here, it just feels like he's getting a dry retelling of facts instead of a full picture.)

[shalamayne]

[ Light reading. That gets some amusement from the young man. He had spent time studying the Light itself to become a better priest, so the unintended use of words is more than welcome.]

It never really is, I am certain that those in the past decided to explain things in the longest way possible. Though I suppose that it part of the fun.

[ Learning something gets a nod. Sometimes it's the most tedious, but if it's useful then it's worth it.]

Studying anything in particular back home?

[bowfaire]

In a sense.

(Wouldn't it just be easier to say "yes"? Answering directly isn't something he's particularly known for,)

Language, history, religion, government, a little bit of archery on the side... Everything I'd need to know, really. And you?