{ The School Office } [Re-Open] PAGE 36: THE CALLING

[Kyrieko]

LW smiled to the two ghouls, Hadiyya and Junko. "It's a pleasure to meet you both." She said and sat down in a desk behind Hadiyya. While she sat she also slipped a piece of paper out that, for whatever reasons, she had thought to carry with her. It might have possibly been the faculty assessment form she needed to fill out.

At the opening of a particular door, LW froze and scrunched down. That woman was scary. She really hoped that Hellma wasn't the one who was really going to...do something to them. Oh Jack! LW's tail curled around her legs as she brought her knees up, effectively curling up in her desk.  

[Huni Pi]

((sleep taim for me!))

Tess almost blushed when Calder promised her his support. Oh Jack, if she only did have any imagination. And the spine to actually go through with any non-school-sanctioned plan she ever came up with. Ah well, a ghoul can pretend and dream, can't she? Even if she'll never act on them. So far, her attempt at reinventing herself has been a three-steps-forward-two-steps-back sort of deal, and it was discouraging really.

"If there are gnomes involved, no good will come of it," she agreed solemnly. "N-next month?" Oh! That's right. "W-will there be booths selling cards? O-or booths where students can give scream-o-grams from secret admirers and stuff? Maybe we can suggest this to the Student Council?" She twiddled her thumbs, suddenly feeling very embarrassed but not of the mortified sort.  

[Dragain]

Worried, the Demoness walked into the office, eyes darting around for a familiar face - she had promised herself not to get detention when she was first enrolled into the school, but it seemed to her like that was not going to happen... Not after the whole truth or dare fiasco! She frowned lightly, not quite sure what detention would bring - after all, she had heard terrible things about the last 'mass detention'...

Still, she really can't think of anything worse than the raid on Christmas town.

Taking note of her surroundings, her frown only deepened at the sighting of gnomes, and more gnomes. At the sight of a most familiar Undead ghoul though, Lizzy almost cheered out loud. Instead, reminding herself that she was in the school office, walked over quickly, boots clicking against the floor as she tiptoed to give Tess a gentle hug from the side, careful to avoid pressing down on her wings.

"I'm so glad that you're alright!" She spoke quickly, heaving a sigh of relief, "I wanted to protect you when you... Passed out, but I couldn't even see you to your room..." It was obvious from her face and tone that she felt rather guilty about that.  

[Nio Love]

It was a mystery, as to whether Riley had been in the room the entire time, or when she had joined. She was exceptionally talented when it came to being unseen, despite being so markedly unique looking. However, when she felt the process of marking, her eyes had focused keenly on Barth. The situation had become far more serious than she'd ever expected - the lazy, quiet, seemingly useless sloth demon had already found his way to marking two students, and she hadn't even marked one.

Barth's best quality, she realized, was his ability to seem like he wasn't a threat at all. But he was. Oh, he was.

Her presence would come as a surprise to the person she'd been sitting closest to at the time (LW, it happened to be) when she suddenly shifted and stood up to stand behind Israfel. She put a hand on his shoulder, but her words were heard by all.

What's so bad about a bathroom?

Little did she know.  

[S a l l y S h e e p]

It all seemed to happen so fast. Christof was awfully close now, what with going to Yaya, and Barth had been called to go somewhere else by Hellma.

"Ah.. alright." Colette worried as she watched Barth leave; her question hadn't been answered yet and he might have just gotten in trouble. The Reaper understood the expression the headmistress had made at least, and she expected nothing good would come of what awaited him. Though, as he headed out, it seemed his sister entered; and Colette gave her a little wave. Maybe it would be good to join her soon, or at least get away from Christof since Barth wasn't around to help. You know, in case the boil wanted to try anything again.

Glancing at Christof and Yaya, Colette made a disturbed frown at the patchwork and headed for the opposite side of the room. However, for the Marid, all she wished was good luck in being around that boil. She had seemed to be doing good so far though. Whatever kept him preoccupied and away was alright for Colette.

She took her seat, relatively random but still away from Christof, and used her left arm as a makeshift pillow. Colette decided she wouldn't protest if Claire visited her, but her main priority right now was catching up on her sleep. However, Colette couldn't help but observe the mark on her right hand and wonder what it was. She still hadn't pulled the arm warmer back to its full covering length and it managed to occupy her attention again.  

[Kyrieko]

Form filled out, she went back to just sitting curled up in her seat awaiting their doom. Her gaze would travel back and forth between patches (as she was now nicknaming Christof), Hadiyya and Junko, then towards the others in the room. Even as she looked around quietly, she did not notice the ghoul that was next to her. So when Riley suddenly moved and stood up, LW jumped in surprise (and SO did not utter a yip like sound) and almost fell out her her seat.  

[Tsunake]

Gargantuan was wailing.

Big, fat tears were leaking from his empty eye sockets and hitting the floor rather messily, and his hands were clamped over his jaws as though to vainly stifle his sobs. It wasn't working very well. In fact, it was pretty pathetic. G didn't wanna be back here in detention, he didn't wanna go back to the bathroom! All he'd wanted was some fun, and when Hellma cracked the door open to hiss at the sleepy sloth demon, that only made the swamp beast wail even louder.

"G w-wanna g-go hooooooomeeee!"

His tail was smashing against the wall with his fit, and G had done his best to curl himself into a corner and make himself as unnoticeable as possible. It might have worked had A, he not been so huge, B, he not been so noisy.  

[MoonKitsune]

He perked up at the event planning, and almost forgot about detention. Almost. "That sounds like a great idea, Tess. We should tell them and see if they aren't going to mess up the holiday. They had to do something. They are the Student Council." Though he still wasn't sure what the Student Council actually did aside from make speeches. Still, whatever it was, he wanted to be a part of it. Oh, the romance of it all. If he got detention for whatever happened, then he'd be really teamed. That was a sacred month, and he wasn't one to put up with Romance Hating.

And then he heard G step in and just crumble into wailing sobs, and Calder was back remembering his current detention – whatever it was. He gripped his arms and bit down on his lower lip, whining. Oh, he didn't like to think of what it would be, but he shared G's concern. While Yaya was doing a good job, Calder had been there for the Other Bathroom and decided to help cheer his friend up. The monster had saved his life. Moving over, he knelt down and tried a reassuring smile. "It's okay G. Remember, I was there too, and so was Israfel….and Tess was there." He looked about the room for other people he could spot, but the officer was getting more crowded by the minute – which really didn't make G crying any better. "You made it out of there. We all did. You even saved me from the soap beast. Remember that? You were such a big, strong, brave monster to save me. Yes you were." He would have changed into a pony to perk up the monster, but he couldn't do that in the officer.

Thinking, he started to pat his pockets, putting out whatever managed to get caught in his clothes when swimming. His pen. Some crumpled paper. A leech – G couldn't have that. A beetle – nah, too small. He decided to then check his hair, pulling out a stick, another stick, a piece of fishing line, a pebble. Drats. Oh, wait.

Calder untangled a small craw dad. It wasn't much. Barely enough to be considered a small snack, but maybe it would help. "Hey. You want this? It's still fresh. Crunchy ~ Crunchy." And it was actually still moving. The little crab probably thought it was nice and safe in Calder's hair.
 

[Marushii]

“Ahoy, snots!” Red's voice was raised a notch to cut through their voices as she sauntered into Arel's office, looking all too pleased with herself. She didn't care what everyone was talking about or what was happening or who was sulking or who wanted to go home. Rather, there was a look about her that indicated if she had a tail it would be wagging. “You lucky sods get me to watch over you for detention. Isn't that great?” Red? Was she going to actually tolerate standing with them as they cleaned up The Other Bathroom?

“Come on, follow me!” She called over her shoulder, gesturing. “The ninja gnomes'll make sure you at least follow me there. Come on – right this way.”  

[Marushii]

Wasn't she just here? Yes, she was. Red released Calder as soon as they were into the office, marching up towards Hellma's door. "Hellmaaaaa," She called, rapping on the door before opening it and entering. Calder could probably hear the murmuring of their voices and see the exaggerated gestures Red was performing as she briefed Hellma in on the situation through the foggy glass window on the door, but that was about it.  

[MoonKitsune]

He – was dead. Worse than dead. He was going to be EXPELLED! The moment he felt Red's grip on his arm, he knew there had been no easy way to back out of what he did. He was screwed. SO FAR BEYOND SCREWED! He was sub-level dirt right now under the twisting heel of the school system and he was about to see the consequences of being a dang fool. The second he was dragged, he thought about kicking back, using his hooves in every possible way – NOT KICKING THOUGH (he learned never to do that again) – to try and push himself away. Whatever faulty instinct had told him to drown someone was now telling him to run for the hills. Now WHY couldn't his instincts tell him to preserve himself BEFORE he got in trouble?

Full panic mode took him as he was dragged back to the very office he never wanted to see. He'd already been a wreak to take another detention, but what in blazes was WORSE than that? As Red released and stormed into the principle's office, Calder grabbed his ears and pulled on them.

He was ruined!!! He was going to be expelled and his parents would disown him. They'd throw him to the wolves and probably hand out whatever scraps to his relatives to prove to them that he would wind up being dog food like they always said he would!!! Farewell friends he knew but probably hated him right now! Goodbye Alabaster, you could do better! Farewell leeches – Calder was sure they would find something to fed off of.

OHGEEZ!OHGEEZ!OHGEEZ OHGEEZ OHGEEZ OHGEEZ OHGEEZ OHGEEZ OHGEEZ OHGEEZ OHGEEZ OHGEEZ!!! WHY DID HE THINK THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA?! WHY DIDN'T HIS BRAIN JUST STOP OR SHUT DOWN OR DO SOMETHING?! WHY DIDN'T HE JUST TRY AND TAME HIMSELF FOR ONE SECOND AND SSSTTTTTOOOOOOPPPPPP?????!!!!!!!!!!!!

His eyes darted about, looking for something to either kill himself with – as sweet death would be better than whatever the two shadows on the other side of the door were going to prepare for him – or the door. Could he run fast enough out of here? Could he rush out, run till he could no longer move, from whatever mad shadows and dogs would chase him, and start life anew as a drifter??!!!!

He doubted it.

Instead, he continued to pull on his ears and then reached into his pocket. He shoved all 3 leeches out and shoved them under the door. "Save yourselves. Tell the others to run." He whispered, gulping down as he went back to looking for some corner to hide. While he was uncertain of what would happen, he knew that life was OVER!!!!!
 

[and be blue]

Professor Tailor's head came up as they passed his office, blank glasses tracking the duo down the hall toward Hellma's. He let them get a bit down before he moved, in a fluid motion, dropping his penstrictor on the desk and grabbing his coat off of the back of his chair.

He followed them wordlessly, trailing Red into the classroom with one brief look down toward Calder and not a word offered in explanation.  

[MoonKitsune]

Calder had been pressing against the wall hyperventilating when the sudden click of the door opening jolted him and nearly sent his skeleton leaning out of his mouth. Instead of being Hellma's door, he turned to noticed it was the front door - and it was Professor Tailor, the Forms and Faces teacher. Ah…oh course. This was the principal's office and teachers did come and go here….

…but….for some reason, the professor had passed him and gave him a look but didn't say a word. Not a hello or any sign that he was just passing through and spotted one of his students. But he was just passing through. Right?

Right…………….

…..right?




…no.

….it couldn't be.

…..the man had no idea he was the one that….nah. He hid that. He left no clues……….right?

Calder went back to wondering if he could turn over the garbage pail and hide under it. He could make himself fit.