10/15/2012

[notvelour]

WHO: Open to any persona user!
WHERE: The street between the school and the dorms.
WHEN: October 15th, 2012. Just past midnight.
WHY: Idk, ask the snorlax demon.

Comments

[pen_vs_laptop]

Lynne was dozing in the lounge when her phone buzzed. She jolted, smacked her knee against the table, and swore. She flipped her phone open to see a text from a friend asking if she was still up and that said friend was bored. Lynne sighed, shaking her head, but when she noticed the time, her eyes widened.

Oh, crap, when did it get so late? She'd been reading her book but she'd been tired and it'd been surprisingly quiet so she'd closed her eyes for a bit, just to relax. She hadn't expected to nod off, or at least that long. Stretching her arms, she let out a light yawn and walked a bit to get the circulation going. However, when she passed the front window, she stopped. She tilted her head slightly. Weird, was there supposed to be construction or something outside? She couldn't see exactly what was out there, not in the dark, but she didn't remember seeing anything earlier.

Deciding it wouldn't hurt to take a peek, Lynne crept out the front door. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the dark and by then, Lynne had gotten within a few metres of the shadow thing. It was bigger than Lynne had thought it would be, and the top of it kept moving too, up and down,...and there was a noise coming out of it…it sounded a lot like…

Snoring?

"Oh God." She tensed, Artemis stirring with her agitation, and took an unconscious step back. "Not another one..."

[isolatedscholar]

Lawrence had been alternating between reading and looking out the window since curfew had passed. He hadn't seen anything interesting for about an hour, and his eyes were starting to blur from focusing too hard. He was finally about to give up for the night and go to bed when he saw something that caught his interest...

It was Lynne. He saw her standing outside in front of... something. What was that? Whatever it was, it was huge... He checked his watch and made sure that the time was right. It was past midnight! This was definitely the strange behavior Oscar had spoken of. With a smile, he closed his book. Making sure to creep across the floor so as not to awaken Ezra, he quietly opened the door and slipped outside, making sure to bring it to a just as quiet close. Then, he adjusted his pin and ran downstairs.

/creeps on

[cemetaryeyes]

Poor Lawrence wouldn't slip by so easily. Unbeknownst to his room mate, Ezra had been playing cellphone games under the covers with the sound off in hopes that the mildly boring task would lull him to sleep. Things had been kind of tense when the two were in the room at the same time, ever since that argument. It wasn't really a good mood to end the day in, and so to avoid any other flare ups, Ezra'd retreated as far as he could without actually leaving the room to give the other his space.

It had been working fairly well, until Ezra had finally heard Lawrence shift from his spot... only to leave the room as quietly as possible. Even without looking, Ezra knew what the creaking floorboards sounded like when sneaking across them - he'd had to do it often enough now that he was practicing his scanning ability - and popped up from under his comforter the moment the door clicked closed. He waited for his room mate's footsteps to fade, weighing decisions in his head before following, intrigued. The opportunity to figure out what made his closed-off roommate tick was far too tempting, even if he chanced being caught.

Re: /creeps on

[isolatedscholar]

Lawrence wandered down the stairs slowly, but with purpose. He tried as much as he could not to make a sound that could alert any unwanted attention, but at the rate he was going he'd definitely miss Lynne and whatever she'd gotten involved in. He started skipping steps, being very careful of not falling down the stairs. That certainly wouldn't go over well for him. He couldn't help but feel strange as he went down the stairs to the first floor... like he was being followed. But who would follow him? He was certain Ezra was asleep; there's no way he would make such a simple error. He was also positive Ezra wouldn't want anything more to do with him with the way things had been going between the two as of late.

He was now on the first floor. He crept across the lounge, and placed his hand on the door handle. He wasn't exactly sure what he would find outside... was Lynne involved in those nefarious dealings Oscar had spoken of? Come to think of it... Lynne was there that day, as well... with the study group. It all began to make sense to him. He lamented the fact that he wouldn't get much of a chance to know Lynne now... she had always piqued his curiosity, but Lawrence couldn't bring himself to associate with anyone who would pose danger to the school. With one calm sigh, he pulled open the door and walked outside.

[cemetaryeyes]

He was certainly moving slowly. Whatever this was about, Lawrence did not want to be found out. Ezra got the feeling his room mate knew he was following and took extra care to hide his footsteps in the sound of Lawrence's.

Now they were moving outside. Past curfew, and he'd thought the other boy was a stickler for rules. Ezra paused long enough in waiting for the door to swing closed to feel the faint mental tickle that meant Xochi was stirring, interests piqued. An excited chirp told him that something was out of place, and Ezra obediently closed his eyes in the dark lobby. With more confidence than he'd had before, he felt out the surrounding area vaguely. Above them, a huge calm glow that meant sleeping bodies. Two bright lights outside the building, which he took to be Lawrence and... that was most certainly Lynne, although he'd never seen her like this before. A rush of information hit him at once, and he cast out a hand to the wall to ground himself before opening his eyes.

There was most definitely a demon out there. But his most recent interaction with Locrine, and Xochipilli's instincts made him want to approach this carefully. Taking a deep breath, he followed his room mate outside, not caring whether or not he was spotted anymore. He had to warn him to get back inside, just in case things turned sour anyways. Perhaps Lynne could help come up with some excuse...

[isolatedscholar]

Lawrence stopped. He now felt that he was definitely being followed. In front of him was a large shadow, and Lynne standing in front of it. Behind him... a mysterious stalker. The job he was given by Oscar took priority... but if this person was someone important, it was all over.

"Would you not agree that it is rather underhanded to stalk someone like this? You would have done a better job trailing me by watching from a window. Who are you. What is it that you want?" he asked the person behind him, with an offensive tone.

[cemetaryeyes]

Ezra wasn't sure what it meant that Lawrence didn't turn to face him. Was he that angry? He stared at the other's back for a moment, trying to read what he could from the set of his shoulders or his hands but found nothing. Oh, well.

"You got me there." And if he hadn't known it was him before, he sure would now. "Watching from a window won't cut it this time, Lawrence. I know we haven't gotten off to the greatest start," and here, he couldn't hold back a wince, "but please believe me when I say things can get... kind of dangerous out here, past nightfall. Hell, even during the day." Ezra walked up to Lawrence before stepping slightly past and looking at the other, a serious look on his face. His usual apologetic tone of voice when dealing with Lawrence was gone. "Right now is one of those times. Will you please go back to the dorm room?"

SRS BUSINESS IS SRS

[isolatedscholar]

"Ezra. Why am I not surprised? It really is hard to believe I made such a simple mistake; I was sure you were asleep." Lawrence shook his head slightly. His expression was a menacing one as he turned to face Ezra, "Unfortunately, I am afraid I cannot go back to the dorm room. Something is going on here. Something nefarious. And since you are so eager to have me leave, I am certain you have something to do with it." He scoffed a bit before continuing, "I figured you were no good. There was just something about you... something about the way you conducted yourself. Now tell me. What exactly is the nature of these shady activities you and the study group are involved in?"

[pen_vs_laptop]

If there was a time the expression 'from bad to worse' applied, it would be here. Lynne heard the dorm doors open and her prayer that it was one of the group went unanswered: that blond-guy from the library. She bit the bottom of her lip. This was not good, he couldn't see the demon! And what if the demon woke up? She had to get him away from here.

However, before she could intercept Lawrence, Ezra came out. From the sounds of it, he wasn't having much luck persuading Lawrence to go back in. When Lawrence spoke out, she took a calming breath and said,

"We're stargazing. There's nothing nefarious or shady about that," she said nonchalantly, hoping the lie sounded believable. "It came up in our study group we're all big star buffs. I actually came out here because I couldn't see the stars very well from inside."

[cemetaryeyes]

Ezra bristled visibly at Lawrence's words, and what had been a pleading look turned into an icy glare. The corner of his lip twitched downwards as he fought to keep the scowl off of his face. "Here's another mistake - making snap judgments about people." And over what, some petty arguments and sneaking around at night? Ezra was starting to not like what he saw about Lawrence either. "Think whatever you like about me--"

Lynne's interjection made him start and make a step back, mentally as well as physically. With a deep breath and some chiding from Xochi, Ezra's shoulders slowly lost some of their stiffness, though his voice remained just as coldly flat.

"Just forget it, okay?" Ezra took another step back before turning and starting towards Lynne, practically dismissing the other. "As you can see, it's nothing for you to worry over. Now go."

[isolatedscholar]

Lawrence had started a war. And what's worse, he would be fighting two fronts in this war. The first was Ezra, who's expression had gone from concerned to hateful in an instant. The second was Lynne, whom he could tell was lying. Badly.

He shook his head as he laughed at Ezra. "I am quite aware that people have gotten hurt, Ezra. It comes with the price of conducting shady business. That is precisely why I am stepping in. I suppose that it falls on me to put a stop to whatever it is you people have gotten yourselves involved in. Somehow, I always figured it would turn out this way, though, so I cannot say I am particularly surprised or saddened. If sneaking about is your way of keeping violence away from the school, you are definitely going about it the wrong way. I will ask you once more, and then I shall dispense with the pleasantries: what is it that you are up to?"

He now turned to Lynne, with yet another heavy scoff. "STARGAZING!? Is that really the best you can do!? It is plainly obvious that you are lying to cover for Ezra. So you must be in on it, as well... I demand that the both of you give me an answer immediately."

[pen_vs_laptop]

Lynne's mouth fell open. She didn't know this guy very well. In fact, she hadn't thought of him too badly, right up until this moment. Usually, she'd be calmer, more rational, but right now they had a demon down the road that could wake up at anytime and this guy was throwing accusations like this!

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Lynne demanded. She stalked up to Lawrence, eyes narrowed. "What the hell did we ever do to make you judge us like this? I don't even know you and you're accusing me of being in shady business and treating me - and Ezra in particular - like we're criminals. You're demanding an answer from us and we've tried talking but you seem to have already made up your mind! What gives you the right to act like this, shove your assumptions at us, and say that we're the bad guys here!?"

[cemetaryeyes]

"Don't know when to quit," Ezra hissed, refusing to look at the other. He'd do something he'd regret, he just knew it. The way Lawrence was speaking, arrogance dripping off every syllable like it was all just so obvious, was absolutely infuriating, and then he had to go and laugh at Lynne, who was doing her best to diffuse the situation...

Ezra was getting pretty sick and tired of being told what kind of person he was supposed to be - first from that stupid dummy with the name "Devil" and now from his room mate, of all people. Xochipilli's urgent warnings weren't making convincing him forcefully any less appealing, but his hands were still clenched uselessly into fists at his side. No, he'd have to go back to the dorm room eventually. He couldn't just blow up, no matter how good it would feel in the meantime.

A sigh. Ezra willed himself to turn and face the asshole who was making demands, only to find that Lynne was doing a bang-up job of putting him in his place already. He watched her rant, up close and personal, with a distantly bemused expression. Suddenly, the whole situation seemed very surreal.

[isolatedscholar]

Lawrence was completely taken aback by Lynne's outburst. She made a few good points, however, and he couldn't feel otherwise. Criminals caught in the act are usually quick to admit their faults, especially when they can't make an escape. But these people were... different. They were arguing, and rather fiercely. He couldn't help but feel that something was very wrong, but then... he remembered what Oscar said. He paid particular attention to the study group in general. If they're all in on whatever was going on... this could just be their way of getting Lawrence to leave, making him think he had the wrong idea. There was no way he'd back down. He had to continue the attack.

"It falls on me to judge you because you are suspicious. It is clearly after curfew, and you are traipsing about outside for some unknown reason. What seems so odd to me, though, is that as soon as you got to the point you are currently at, you just stopped as if you... saw something. Or could it be that you are waiting for the rest of your group to arrive? What gives me the right to act like this? Why, it is quite simple. I am the one who will be bringing all of you to justice. I have come to put a stop to your nefarious crimes, and will not leave until my goal has been reached. If you would just confess to what it is you have been doing, this would be a whole lot easier."

[pen_vs_laptop]

Lynne's fists balled at her sides. She wanted to hit him. She HATED physical contact and she wanted to clobber this arrogant asshole. Artemis was worse: the goddess sensed a threat and an insult to her charge and she wanted to take care of it with all the ancient fury the myths told of. Unfortunately, she couldn't do that. It wasn't rational, dammit, and they had bigger problems to worry about. To do that, Lynne hated the option, but if it meant they could get him away from the demon this seemed like the easier way than screaming at an unbendable ass.

"...Okay, you win," Lynne said quietly. She looked Lawrence straight in the eye. "I'll confess. You want answers, right? Let's go to the lounge and talk."

It wouldn't take care of their demon problem but she might be able to persuade Lawrence to go. Then they could come up with a way to take care of the demon.

[isolatedscholar]

Lawrence was surprised. They had yielded? He had expected this argument to drag on for some time longer.

He raised his eyebrow and cleared his throat. "Wonderful. Then, let us go to the lounge. However, Ezra must also accompany. I am afraid I cannot have him getting off as he is a part of this, as well. I expect you to be entirely honest with me and tell me everything that you are up to. And, of course, I will be taking the necessary actions to put a stop to it. Now, this way, come, come," He responded, and started walking back towards the dorm with his hands placed firmly behind his back.