Marah

"PetSmart, hm?" Marah tapped her chin in fake consideration. "Is that where Mariana found you?"

She stuck out her tongue at Kat, playfully, before turning to Layla. "Something like that. As nice as a neighborhood in this town could get, anyway."

Marah looked around a moment, her eyes briefly landing on the girl walking behind them - hopefully she either hadn't overheard the spell talk, or (more likely) was a creature of the night herself - before focusing on the sudden appearance of Chase.

"Haven't seen her." Marah told him. "If she's here, she's probably already in class."

Thomas

"Cassie Lind? I havent seen her,but check out what I found."

Thomas pulls out the plastic terrarium where the stag beetle was showing it at the son of a cowboy.

"Isnt it neat?"

Chase

For his part, Chase was utterly uninterested in the beetle. He just shook his head and sighed, "You do you, man, but beetles aren't important at all to me right now. Cassie helped me deal when my mom got all high 'n' mighty over me coming out. And she's been gone like, almost two weeks - radio silence, except for a call from her number. She was crying - just crying on the other end. And then she hanged up."

He crossed his arms, "Just...if you guys gals and nonbinary pals see her, please please make sure she's okay. I don't know what she went through, but I'm getting a real bad feeling."

With that, Chase started to walk off nervously toward the school.

Edited by NickTheSwing on May 29th 2022 at 6:40:19 AM

Mariana Blakewood

"Talk to the police, Chase! If you have her number, they might be able to track her down!" Mariana called out as Chase depressedly walked off, before sighing slightly in the hopes that he was actually listening to her. She didn't know of Cassie—she normally didn't pay much attention to the other students—but the tale that Chase had regaled to them was admittedly haunting and one that she couldn't deny made her feel... pity.

Still, there were other things. Such as how Katarina had decided to stick with her after all. Mariana tried to hide her inward jump for joy at this, and merely gave Katarina an incredulous scowl as her head was bopped. But then she rolled her eyes and pulled her briefly into a sidelong hug, averting her gaze as she squeezed her shoulder slightly before almost pushing her away again.

"Good to know you saw reason. Don't rush off with people you barely know. Who knows what Marah has planned," she eyed Marah as if to say 'don't even dare' despite Mariana herself knowing that she probably had only the best intentions. It wasn't about the treatment of Katarina to her, and she knew that Marah knew that too. "You know what to expect from me. I'll try and tone down my... disdain, but your work is crucial and—dare I say—valued."

What does Katarina like? Does Asher know? Does she talk to zir more than me? Katarina wondered, glancing between her sibling and Katarina somewhat suspiciously. I think I need a peace offering for her. Show goodwill. For once.

Thomas buzzed off

"Oh, shit if I knew how serious the situation was I would've taken it more seriously."

Well merde he came off as an insensitive ass, worse of all is Cassie situation. What could have brought her to tears and miss school for so long? He had to know the why, if its related to Creekmoor strangeness people could bee in danger not just Cassie but still what she did for Chase is pretty selfless.

"Ill help you search, don't worry Chase."

Out of curiosity and feeling guilty Thomas would go to the school and to the men bathroom, he had a plan.

Katarina

"What she said. The police are better equipped to search for her than a gaggle of wannabee Scoobies. We don't even know what she looks like— wait, what does she look like...?"

But it was too late. A few seconds later and they were already gone. They hadn't bothered to give them the most basic information and they'd gone and wandered off. Seriously, what did they expect them to do? Stroll around town and ask every other girl their name? If they wanted to get the police's attention, that was one way to do it, but did they want to?

But her thoughts were soon rendered moot. Before she knew it, she'd been pulled into a trap and by the last person she'd expect. She would have wriggled free if she hadn't already been set loose, but it wasn't a pleasant experience. But knowing who was responsible made the whole thing a smidgen less unbearable.

"Is that so? I must say, of all the things I expected you to say, that was at the bottom of the list. I half expected you to backhand me with one fist and reprimand me with the other, but perhaps that was too much to ask for."

But she did appreciate it. She wouldn't admit it, but hearing she was valued straight from he horse's mouth was shockingly pleasing.

"Though if you value me so highly, then I suppose I should continue to live up to your expectations. Perhaps with a tad less vitriol. As you know, I can't make any promises, but fair is fair."

It was then an assortment of strange thoughts filled her head. Thoughts she wasn't sure what to do with. She wasn't sure if she'd ever thought them before. It was possible she had, but didn't know they were there, like the majority of her Netflix catoloug. But they were there all the same.

What does Mariana like? Does Asher know? Does she talk to zir more than me? Katarina wondered, glancing between Asher and Marianna somewhat suspiciously. Of course she does, ze's her sibling, for crying out loud...'

Edited by kkhohoho on May 30th 2022 at 6:04:48 AM

Hello!

Nia was about to speak more to her classmates until she smells something, a smell she has always smells, a smells that she just hates, a cat, her faces turns to disgust and cringes before grabbing her backpack and zipping it open and pulling out a bag of beef jerky, she opens the bag and smells it in joy to counter the cat smell grabbing a handful of jerky and putting them into her mouth, eating them.

“Wat…” Nia says her mouth full until eating it up seeing Chase “Oh, hello Mr. Sheriff Son sir!” She says waving at him before hearing what he is saying with her smile shrinking a bit “Oh-no, sorry but I have not seen Cassie, but if I see her, I will tell you and better I wi-“ she stops seeing Thomas “OHHH!” She yells out happily seeing the stag beetle, “Look at it go!” She says before seeing the two boys walking to the school and waving them both goodbye.

"No, I just arrived, so I don't know anything about this Cassie," she tells Chase as she twirls a part of her veil. "But if I see her, I'll be sure to let you know."

But after Chase disappears, she turns around to Sapphos, having been aware of her presence as she had sensed her coming around. Sapphos hoping to avoid them and eavesdrop hasn't quite worked in her favor as Layla approaches her.

"Wow, another new student here. How many more will we get," she says to Sapphos and wondering if anymore new arrivals will come here.

Havenhill High

A missing girl, her last cries echoing out across the cellular network. Abduction? Trafficking? Or did she leave home pursuing the same dark the investigator came to stop? And now, according to rumored whispers, she's back; safe and sound or is she changed from her walk into the shadows?

It's the fact that she was noticed that shook her out of further internal monologue, she really needed to get back onto suppressing such unnecessary and attention-consuming thoughts.

"Hm? Oh uh, hello sirs. Yeah—uh, yes. I am new."

Not technically a lie, just needed to omit the word 'student'.

"Who do you all have for homeroom?"

Havenhill High

The high school at the center of town stretched tall and wide around the area, high enough to block off the sun except through the lens of the central clocktower's glass decoration. It took up a truly vast amount of land - with about four separate entrances, cut through high fences, giving an impression of both academy and prison.

With more than 2000 students, it was said that the reason Havenhill was so expansive and full to such a degree was because it started as something else - before about four slightly out of town high schools all closed at roughly the same time. The first principal, Jonathan Elijah Richler, was a part of that most infamous part of the town's history. A scion of the most feared yet equally revered family.

It was just as well said that the current District Attorney resembled Jonathan greatly - to such a degree some students joked about them being the same person.

And as Thomas ran into the bathroom, passing by the students on the way in his dead sprint, he might've heard some chatter about something in the background. But he - and Chase as well - were bent on finding Cassie Lind.

The bathroom was empty and a vent was slightly ajar on the ceiling.

Before long, the other students, left behind by Thomas, would come up on the school themselves - the bell tolling in the distant tower as a tell that classes would be starting soon. As they entered their first classes, some among them would be able to see an empty seat near the front. By chance - or by design - most had the same starting "core" class.

People were chatting about the recent goings-on. Including the fact that Cassie Lind was gone and Caleb Richler hadn't even waited to see what was up before he - rumor had it - started shacking up with a new girl.

Those in class would also be able to see a couple police cars pulling up outside the main office. No announcements were made, but it was clear that the sheriff - Chase's father - was among those "visiting", though he was only visible from a distance.

Edited by NickTheSwing on Jun 10th 2022 at 10:22:04 AM

Havenhill High, First Class

It wasn't long before that first seat was filled. Sapphy hadn't really intended to actually attend class (she was, after all, not actually enrolled here), but she was caught up in the flow of that group of students and of course the actual legitimate police had rolled up to the school so yeah being in class would be the safest place she could be. And hey, empty seat right there she could occupy so all she needed to do was sit there without drawing attention to herself and hope that no one called her bluff.

This is probably the missing girl's desk.

The thought raced across her mind almost as soon as she sat down at the unattended desk and realized the opportunity; maybe some kind of clue was left in here... Something about the personal belongings of someone else being 'a clue' didn't sit right with her but eventually curiosity overwhelmed caution and she started examining the desk for left-behind belongings or even recent carvings that might belie Cassie Lind's fate.

But yaknow, covertly. Because Sapphy wasn't going to draw attention to herself. Hopefully.

Katarina

Katarina followed the others into class. She stayed away from the throngs of students crowding the halls, careful not to let them get close. She didn't want them discovering anything they shouldn't have, which was an all too real possibility. She wondered if attending school in the first place was the best idea, but it was better than staying cooped up as an extra-large house cat.

She placed Marrianas's books on her desk, letting them drop with a heavy thud. She plopped down in the nearest seat, only to discover that chairs were not built with her anatomy in mind. She sprung back up, grumbling as she grabbed a stool from under the windowsill.

She nearly froze when she saw the police. Even on their best days, they always gave her the willies. The last thing she wanted was to be interrogated for jaywalking. But that was before... everything. So now, on top of their usual bumbling, there was a chance they'd discover the truth. A small chance, but a chance nonetheless. And if they did...

...she didn't want to think about it. She grabbed the stool, dragging it to her desk and kicking the chair out of the way. She sat down and fidgeted in her seat, trying her best not to panic.

Edited by kkhohoho on Jun 11th 2022 at 11:19:55 AM

Mariana Blakewood

Mariana didn't audibly respond to Katarina, but she idly patted her head as they walked into the school. Once they reached the classroom, Mariana chose a seat relatively near the front but close to a window, so that she didn't have to deal so much with the unbearable teenage musk. She sighed as she stretched out in her seat, flexing her lanky limbs before sorting her books out neatly and eyeing her classmates with only vague interest.

"...Ventio..." she murmured beneath her breath, conjuring a light and refreshing gust of wind to brush through the classroom and clean the air a little. She made sure her window was open. If anything, she wished she was outdoors, but she could handle this fair enough. Even the cabin was more comfortable: at least it had natural ventilation to it. As it stood, she pulled up her sleeves and kicked off her sandals so she didn't begin to sweat. That would be unbecoming of someone of her stature.

"Katarina. They're not after you," she chided her... companion? She couldn't in good faith call her a familiar anymore after that whole debacle. "Calm down, you're practically tumbling with how much you're jittering. They're probably here about that missing girl..."

Meanwhile

Ryker would hear a voice - one which he would know as the current head of the Richler Family in Creekmoor, in fact. Sending him a message directly, and by the sound of it, quite urgent; "Ryker, I require your assistance as soon as humanly possible. If the police fail to locate that abhorrent little harlot Cassandra Lind in the school, I want you to make sure what she says remains tucked in that throat of hers, unsaid - set the Scrylings upon her. No matter what, do not allow the girl to send any messages to anyone else."

With that, the message ended - and the intent was clear.

Katarina

"Don't tell me to call down! You're the one who needs to calm down! I am the epitome of someone who does not need to... to..."

Oh, who was she fooling? It wasn't the witch who had working herself into a tizzy. She fell on her desk, resting her head as she gazed towards the ceiling.

"...forget it. Perhaps I was getting my knickers into a twist. But the last thing I need is the Keystone Kops sniffing around and putting two and two together. If I had the least bit of sensibility, I would have stayed home and saved them the trouble, but that would nessicate an ounce of common sense. A quality in shockingly short supply these days."

Thomas in the bathroom

Entering one of the stalls Thomas would close the door behind him and lock it making sure no one is watching nor hearing him. Placing a hand to his mouth, a group of 7 bees would be on his hand. His orders transmitted through the queen pheromones these 7 bees will search for Cassie more troughfully than he could. Thomas remembers Cassie face so the bees have a clue of what she looks like.

The plan is simple find Cassie trough bees while also assisting to class, if the bees find her they would track Thomas down after all a bee always knows how to make its way back to the hive.

Flushing the toilet to make the illusion he occupied it, he would make his way back to the class and sit near the window if possible, that way he can know if the bees found her.

Marah

While Mariana and Kat seemed to be murmuring about something, Marah was quiet as she walked into class and sat down. Contemplative.

The girl that had been following them had sat down at Cassie's desk. From how she covertly examined it, it was likely she knew who the desk had belonged to.

Private investigator? Marah thought. But Sapphy looked too young to be that.

Marah had not been close to Cassie, but she knew that there were no coincidences in this town. That girl had been kidnapped by someone, and possibly killed. And that meant there was danger afoot.

So Marah resolved to keep an eye on Sapphy, in case the other girl discovered something of import.

Ryker - Affirmative, Puppet Master

The message was met with a short, deafeningly quiet click. If you were listening closely it was as plain as a drop of blood in pure snow, but if your attention was elsewhere, that blood was no more discernible then the gallons of it rushing through your veins. Ryker’s eyes grew faint and wispy, his hands returning to the previous tremors before falling silent. As his eyes returned to normal he allowed himself to look around the classroom. First on Mariana, then Asher, then Marah, and then…a cat. A big cat.

Stranger things had and would be seen in times to come, and the doll was no stranger to what humans would call the unusual. He’d seen zombies, living explosions, giraffes. Giraffes scared him. But it mattered not. Branding the boy would wait until he had found the girl. His head snapped back, there his attention rested on Sapphy’s figure, interloper, how unaware of the gaping depression that the lost girl left, she fit haphazardly into the slot and left but a slight sliver of space between the pieces, soon all that remains of Cassie would be swallowed whole by the abyss of death, ACT NOW, WHILE SUPPLIES STILL LAST.

AFFIRMATIVE, PUPPET MASTER.

Edited by Yayakuza on Jun 14th 2022 at 12:53:59 PM

Layla went to class, choosing a desk that's around the middle. She had a seat while tucking her purse away from her chair. She looked around the classroom, at whatever Sapphy was doing. She was curious about the missing girl here. She figures she shouldn't be too surprised since there seems to be something going on in this town, always. One where you never know what will happen.

Sure, Layla still has her goal to be reunited with her head. But she sincerely hoped wherever Cassie was, that she'd be okay. She'd want to find the girl herself. But alas, she wasn't really sure what to do. Nevertheless, she watched Sapphy with great interest over what she was doing with the desk.

Mariana Blakewood

Mariana merely rolled her eyes, muttering a simple Gravitio beneath her breath in order to make Katarina's desk inch closer a little. She effectively pet the other girl's head, contemplating defenestration the whole time as she then gave her a sidelong hug before quickly pushing her chair and desk away again.

Kill me now.

"You'll be fine," Mariana said stiffly, her face looking like she'd just swallowed a lemon as she looked anywhere except directly at Katarina. "I, meanwhile, feel like I'm about to vomit. Excuse me as I look at the woodgrain on my desk. Mm, fascinating."

Asher, for the love of god, don't say a word. Please. Ze can't hear me. This isn't doing anything, she inwardly sighed, before spitefully muttering Laquetio beneath her breath and nonchalantly tying a random student's shoelaces together in the room so that she could feel a little better. Maple wood. Fancy for a desk.

Learning and More

As Nia was waving them goodbye, she heard the ringing of the bell tower “Oh, we’ll see you guys later in class” she says turning to see a few of her classmates already going into the school, seeing this she begins to keep up with the group to the school.

She was one of many kids in a wave trying to make it to there classes, she tried to force her way to the classroom trying not to push too hard before she walked into the classroom waving at her classmates “Heeey!” She joyfully said seating down on one of the front desks.

Asher

Asher sat zirself at the desk right behind Mari, meaning ze definitely heard her. However, ze wisely chose to hold zir tongue; instead, Mari could possibly sense Asher's smug grin beaming right at her as ze rested zir head upon tented fingers.

Edited by Akkun_K on Jun 18th 2022 at 9:07:44 AM

Katarina

Katarina wasn't sure how to feel about all the pets. She should have hated them on principle, but there was something oddly pleasing about getting her head ruffled. She nearly wriggled out of the hug, but it was over before it began. She could tell it made the witch uncomfortable, but she wouldn't have done it if she hadn't cared. And she did appreciate seeing her squirm...

"Is that meant to be a grumble of discontent or are you about to puke your contents for all to see? I'd offer to play nurse, but I don't want to give the peanut gallery any ideas..."

It was then that she sensed it. She wasn't sure what was is, but she had the distinct feeling she was being watched. It was almost as bad as the smell. She'd barely noticed it before, but the foul odor of a malicious mangy mutt was unmistakable. She didn't know if they were related, but it wouldn't be much of a shock if they were. She pinched her nose, resisting the urge to join her master in mutual vomit.

"...but my God, does something reek! Don't tell me you can't smell it! If someone didn't shove Scooby under a desk, I'll eat my hat! I thought we had a rule against letting rancid rovers on school grounds, or did I miss the memo?"

Edited by kkhohoho on Jun 18th 2022 at 6:38:25 AM

Havenhill High, First Class

Sapphy was still searching the desk when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickling.

I'm being watched.

She froze up, glancing behind her at the various students behind her and with an awkward laugh she tried to settle down in her seat and look normal. This kind of indiscretion was dangerous, while she had no clue the precise nature of those who had noticed her search, she still assumed at least one of them could be an ally of the man she vainly pursued.

Mariana Blakewood

"Yes. I mean later. I mean, shut up," Mariana grumbled in response to Katarina's sarcastic offer, flushing visibly as she registered Asher's impish grin from behind. She gave zir a faux-scowl in return, before rolling her eyes and frowning slightly at Katarina's complaint of a scent. She pursed her lips, tilting her head a fraction to the side in confusion.

"You... smell a dog? How? Where? That's strange... I can't smell anything..."

Likely feline senses... she idly noted as she tried to peer beyond the fold to see if there was indeed a rogue canine hidden somewhere. Unless Katarina was sensing... no, surely not. If so, that was its own can of worms. Out of curiosity, she glanced at Asher again. She wanted to read what ze thought of it; see their response...

"Class has never been so hatefully exciting," she sighed morosely. "Gone are the days of sitting upright and primly as a respectable professor regales us with talk of the Beyond. Now it's a veritable playground of filth and ignorance..."

She barely remembered the 'private school' cover she'd have to delude any outside listeners into believing. Then again, it was technically true. Lunaria Academy was exclusive. But 'private school' brought to mind more mundane establishments. Still more elegant than this institution, at any rate...

"Well if you're bitten on the backside by a ravenous mongrel then tell me so I can laugh at you. Maybe it'll be the humbling you deserve..." she snarked to Katarina after a moment's thought. "Or at least a source of levity for me to witness..."