[20:11] <~consilium> The PA chime comes at six, as usual.  It's another Tuesday, and those of NERV who attend school have approximately two hours before classes properly start.
06[20:16] * Ben_McCormmick wakes slowly, sleep still in his eyes as he heads to the gym for morning PT. After a few laps in the pool, he showers off and heads to the cafeteria for some breakfast.
06[20:16] * Alex continues to read his book in his room, thinking about things. The school isn't too far away, and so he's not particularly worried about being late. For him, sleep isn't something he needs very much of anyway.
06[20:17] * Elise has already made her way to the cafeteria and has claimed most of the bacon for herself and a sizeable plate of these strange new egg things Amy had shown her.
08[20:18] * iYue (iyue@wut-89E76E43.sub-174-255-210.myvzw.com) has joined #AEChicago
06[20:18] * Elise has naturally forgetten about this school thing and is more focused on growling at anyone who so much as even looks like they want her bacon.
08[20:19] * iYue is now known as Amy
[20:20] <~consilium> The cafeteria is slowly filling with people, most of whom stare more at Elise than at the bacon.  A few mutter to each other, but it's well-known that Elise is a pilot.
06[20:20] * Marguerite was up at five, slipped out of Amy's room, and has been running nonstop since at varying paces. She's not sure whether or not she's going to eat breakfast or not.
06[20:20] * Elise has a wee bit of trouble differentiating between people staring at her and people staring at her bacon.
06[20:21] * Amy was already awake when Marguerite left, and has joined her at the gym! Yay!
06[20:24] * Ben_McCormmick shakes his head at the feral girl. He finds some bagels and loads them with cream cheese before grabbing a cup of coffee and trying to find other officers to sit with.
[20:25] <~consilium> A few early-birds and some bleary-eyed staff - possibly -still- awake from who knows what - are bustling about, some already eating.
06[20:27] * Alex continues to just read in his room. He isn't hungry.
06[20:29] * Elise consumes her bacon and eggs and whatever meat she could get her hands on... and then jumps on to the back of Ben's chair and peers over his shoulder.
[20:30] <Elise> "RAWR~"
06[20:31] * Ben_McCormmick leans forward, trying keep as much distance between her mouth and him as possible. "Whoa! Hey Elise, how're you doing this morning? Ready for school?"
[20:31] <Elise> "We're good! What's school?" She notices his bagel and coffee, "Oh whats that?"
[20:32] <Ben_McCormmick> "That's my breakfast. Why don't you have a seat?"
[20:32] <Elise> Elise leans forward to sniff at it.
06[20:33] * Ben_McCormmick wears a face of lament. Is every day going to start like this?
[20:34] <Ben_McCormmick> "Hey! If you want one, you can grab your own!"
[20:34] <Elise> "What is it?" she asks curiously.
[20:35] <Amy> Alex's door knocks!
[20:35] <Alex> "Who is it."
[20:35] <Amy> "Amy."
[20:36] <Ben_McCormmick> "You don't know what a bagel is? It's a piece of bread with a hole in the middle. And that is coffee. Adults love the stuff." He tries to figure out a way to move from the chair without knocking Elise off, but simply ends up looking awkward in his attempts.
[20:36] <Alex> "Enter."
06[20:37] * Amy does just that!
[20:37] <Amy> "Marguerite and her ceiling are both alright."
06[20:37] * Elise hops off his chair and onto another one to balance on it in a somewhat precarious fashion. "...bread bread bread... is bread good? Can we eat bread?"
06[20:37] * Alex sets his book down -- Cosmos, by Sagan -- and nods. "She hates me, doesn't she."
[20:38] <Amy> "Absolutely not. She feared the same of you."
[20:38] <Alex> "I violated social norms I wasn't aware of at the time. And."
06[20:38] * Alex freezes up again, trying to find the words.
[20:39] <Alex> "These... emotions, feelings. They are not unpleasant, but are foreign to me. I do not know how to act in accordance with them."
06[20:39] * Amy can't help but smirk.
[20:40] <Amy> "Exactly what she said."
[20:40] <Alex> "...is that amusing to you, sis-- oh."
06[20:40] * Ben_McCormmick turns to face her, coffee in hand. "You're going to hurt yourself if you keep doing that." He sighs. "Yeah, breads are good. Bagels especially. Have you never had a bagel, really?"
06[20:40] * Elise wobbles on the chair and tumbles backward to fall on her ass... though she immediately rolls backward and then hops up onto the fallen chair. "Nope!"
[20:40] <Alex> "What do you think of all of this, Amelia?"
06[20:41] * Ben_McCormmick sips his coffee. "I told you so." He turns and continues on his bagel.
[20:42] <Elise> "They'd give us bread but it wasn't tasty bread, though it had tasty meats in it!"
08[20:43] * Amy is now known as iYue
08[20:43] * Yue is now known as Amy
03[20:44] <Amy> "I think the two of you are more alike than you believe."
[20:44] <Alex> "That is not what I meant."
03[20:45] <Amy> "What did you mean?"
[20:45] <Ben_McCormmick> "There's no meat on this bagel, and I didn't see any lox left on the buffet table... But hey, you know the way to school, right?"
[20:45] <Alex> "How do you feel about this situation?"
[20:46] <Elise> "School?"
06[20:47] * Amy sits next to Alex. "I don't know. Both of you have asked me to relay information about the other, now. I think that is a good sign."
[20:47] <Alex> "It may be."
03[20:48] <Amy> "You disagree?"
[20:48] <Alex> "I am unsure."
08[20:49] * iYue (iyue@wut-89E76E43.sub-174-255-210.myvzw.com) has left #AEChicago
03[20:50] <Amy> "Then you should think things through before making your next move. For now, though." She stands up. "We have school. Please prepare. I will meet you outside in one hour."
[20:50] <Alex> "I have already prepared myself and will meet you at the school at the appropriate time."
06[20:50] * Alex stands up and gives Amy a hug.
06[20:51] * Amy returns the hug.
03[20:51] <Amy> "Please, do not screw this up, Alex. I enjoy both of your company, and would like things to remain this way."
[20:52] <Alex> "I share the same sentiment and will do my best."
[20:52] <Alex> "In turn, please try not to worry."
[20:52] <Ben_McCormmick> "Yeah, school. You know. Homework, teachers, books, that stuff? The local school isn't too far, I don't think. Maybe you should try and catch up with Amy or one of the other pilots."
06[20:53] * Elise looks at Ben dumbly, "Oooooh the place Amy took us... bleh, boooorriinggg!"
03[20:54] <Amy> "I will not. I'll see you at work." She waves and walks off.
03[20:56] <Amy> "School."
[20:59] <Ben_McCormmick> "Yeah, it sucks, but you gotta go." He morosely eats his bagel, already seeing that his morning is not going to end without a trip to the school.
[20:59] <Elise> "...why's that?"
[20:59] <Alex> Once enough time has passed, Alex hefts his bag and starts walking over.
06[21:02] * Amy stops in the cafeteria to check for Elise.
[21:02] <Ben_McCormmick> "Because. You'll understand when you're older. I hated going to school. Now, go on! You're gonna be late!"
06[21:03] * Elise grumbles and the notices Amy, "AAAAMMMYY~"
03[21:04] <Amy> "Called it. Let's go, Elise. School."
06[21:05] * Elise pouts, "We wanaa go see mister eelface instead!"
06[21:05] * Ben_McCormmick covers his ears from the screech. "There's Amy! You better get going."
03[21:05] <Amy> "Yes, but we need to go to school." She salutes Ben. "Thank you for ensuring she did not bite anyone this morning."
[21:05] <Elise> "...whys that?"
[21:07] <Ben_McCormmick> "My pleasure kiddo. I'm gonna finish my breakfast. You two run along."
[21:07] <~consilium> The school for the children of NERV (as some overly pretentious functionaries like to call it) is a subsection within the cinderblock hive, featuring a respectable "outdoor" playground lit by color-corrected lighting trees, with -actual- trees set into the still-fresh sod.  Perhaps a few dozen other kids of varying ages are filing in, their parents seeing them off for the day.
06[21:08] * Ben_McCormmick slumps as he enjoys his coffee.
06[21:09] * Alex walks, taking a look at his 'peer's' (if you could call them that) parents dropping them off before heading into the atrium. No need to spend time on the playground.
[21:09] <Alex> Actual exercise is more efficient and training is more fun.
06[21:09] * Amy drags Elise by the hand into the school. "Is everyone alright this morning?"
06[21:09] * Elise quickly decides the playground is far more interesting than anything Amy could show her and immediately runs to it.
03[21:10] <Amy> "Hey! Get back here!"
06[21:11] * Elise quickly scales a tree.
[21:12] <Elise> well should have had she been paying attention and not immedaitely tripped to land on face first into the ground.
[21:13] <Elise> "BLUH!"
06[21:13] * Amy picks her up and drags her inside. "Let's go."
06[21:13] * Elise flails and protests.
[21:14] <~consilium> There are kids reluctantly filing away from the swingsets, see-saws, and that spinny thing where you need like two kids to get it going and have to jump on if you want a ride.  The children stare as they pass, snickering at the older children acting up.
06[21:15] * Elise makes her displeasure known to anyone around her.
[21:16] <~consilium> A teacher at the door immediately recognizes Amy.  "Amalia, what's going on here?"  She nods at the struggling Elise.
06[21:16] * Alex looks in from the atrium where he's been waiting for Amy. "Amelia?"
03[21:17] <Amy> "Hello, miss Neeson. Elise is being difficult. I have it under control. Also, it's Amelia." She continues to drag her friend inside, waving to Alex.
06[21:18] * Elise grumbles and settles down into a seat to bide her time.
[21:19] <~consilium> "Elise?  Ohh, she must be the new Pilot!  Elise, is something wrong?"  She says "Pilot" with an audible capital.
[21:19] <Elise> "We wanna go to the tree!"
06[21:19] * Alex follows Amy to take their usual seats.
03[21:20] <Amy> "She's a little..." She waves her hand back and forth when Elise isn't looking.
06[21:22] * Elise quickly decides that it'd be a good idea to bolt to the nearest open window... though the fact that she isn't so much as concerned about trying to move through her classmates causes her to end up on the floor with a rathre irritated snarl.
[21:23] <~consilium> Ms Neeson stops in her line to the front desk, and stares at Elise.  "Elise!  Just what are you doing?"
03[21:23] <Amy> "See?"
06[21:24] * Amy sits at her desk and folds her hands on the table.
06[21:24] * Alex sighs and sits patiently.
06[21:24] * Elise looks up the woman wonder what she's going on about as she stands up, "Uhhhh..."
06[21:27] * Elise looks around furitively (ok well it's a complete failure as she's incapable of actually disguising her intentions) but that still doesn't stop her from vaulting over the guy that had caught her to begin with and into the window before she leaps out with a flip to land on the ground in a roll. She then takes off straight for the trees.
06[21:28] * Alex presses a button on his wristwatch.
06[21:28] * Elise can be heard giggling madly as she runs off~
06[21:28] * Amy facepalms.
[21:30] <~consilium> Ms Neeson stares.  "Well."  She goes to the phone at the desk, and dials out.  "Yes, security?  A student just escaped - The new Pilot.  No - no, she just bounded off!  Y--yes.  Yes, alright."  She hangs up, and pulls down a projector screen, beginning the morning's lesson as though a student hadn't just somersaulted out of a third-story window.
06[21:31] * Elise hasn't gone very far. Just to the tree she saw so she can climb up into them.
06[21:32] * Elise lounges in them as a large cat might.
[21:34] <~consilium> Soon, a quiet-running stylized golf-cart pulls onto the green, pausing before bearing toward the tree.  Two NERV security guards exit, and approach, as an official from the school exits, joining them.
03[21:35] <Amy> "Huh."
06[21:35] * Elise doesn't particularly care.
06[21:36] * Alex spends his time between exercises occasionally looking at Elise's predicament and scribbling weird symbols on a hand-drawn map.
[21:37] <~consilium> The shorter of the two guards steps forward.  "Elise?  Hey, Elise!  Down here!"  His voice is oddly cheerful.  Friendly.  "Hey, do you wanna come down from there?"
[21:37] <Elise> "Nope~ we like it here~"
[21:38] <~consilium> She stares at her colleague for a beat, then looks back up.  "We?  Who else is up there with you?"  To her partner, she mutters "Imaginary friend or something?"
06[21:38] * Elise looks confused.
[21:40] <~consilium> She frowns for a moment, and the official makes to speak, before she holds up her hand.  "Hey, Elise!  Hey, I betcha can't outrun our car here!"  She points at the golf-cart.
06[21:40] * Elise yawns and returns to hanging upside down in the tree.
06[21:41] * Amy raises her hand.
[21:41] <~consilium> Ms Neeson pauses in her lecture, looking at Amy.  "Yes?"
06[21:42] * Amy motions out the window. "May I be excused?"
06[21:43] * Alex gives Amy an odd little look for just a second.
[21:43] <~consilium> "Umm."  She seems momentarily confused.  "I don't think that will be necessary, someone is taking care of Elise, and I'm sure she's just fine!  Now, as I was saying . . ."  She returns to her lecture.
[21:50] <~consilium> The security guard shrugs, and clicks her radio.  "Yeah, she's up in a tree.  Not too high up, no.  Want us to--oh?  Huh.  You--well, alright . . ."
08[21:52] * Blind_Testtaker is now known as Blind_Gardener
[22:01] <~consilium> The guard unholsters a weapon, and levels it at Elise, firing quickly.
06[22:03] * Elise reacts almost instantly and leaps out of the tree roll across the ground.
06[22:03] * Alex sighs a little and presses the button on his stopwatch again.
[22:04] <~consilium> "Get her!"  Her colleague doesn't need prompting.
03[22:04] <Amy> "..."
06[22:04] * Elise lets out a defiant roar and immediately takes off running. She may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but her time in simulations and exercises has taught her that guns are bad.
06[22:04] * Amy -stares-, terrified.
[22:05] <~consilium> The guard levels her tazer at Elise again, and fires.
06[22:15] * Elise continues to run full speed, preferably toward something that she can climb up to get away and the guards will be unable to follow.
[22:15] <~consilium> She misses, wildly, as her colleague takes off after.
[22:17] <~consilium> The other guard - likely out of shape from relying on the golf-carts - quickly falls behind.
06[22:18] * Elise scampers away and decides the best course of action is head to somewhere she considers safe... (the cafeteria)
[22:19] <Alex> Meanwhile, Alex pays attention in class. Mostly.
03[22:21] <Amy> Amy stares at Elise. She grips her desk tight. "..."
06[22:22] * Elise then stays in the cafeteria and quickly forgets the entire issue as she noms things.
[22:25] <Alex> "Don't worry about Elise," Alex whispers to Amy when he has the chance. "They know what they're doing."
06[22:25] * Amy :|s.
06[22:26] * Alex decides to talk about it later.
03[22:50] <Amy> After class, Amy runs off and immediately hunts down Elise! "She needs to be okay."
03[23:10] <Amy> Not long after she starts looking, Amy finds a NERV agent whose clothes are messed up, and asks if the new pilot has been through here. Once she has directions, she chases her firend down at the pool!
06[23:10] * Elise is currently swimming merrily in circles around the pool.
06[23:13] * Elise doesn't seem to take notice of Amy when she enters.
03[23:14] <Amy> "Elise!"
[23:15] <Elise> "Wuh?"
02[23:16] * Ben_McCormmick (Ramengelio@EFBE106C.648C8FC7.240D5AC4.IP) Quit (Quit: Leaving)
03[23:18] <Amy> "You're alright!"
06[23:18] * Amy sits at the edge. "Did they hurt you?!"
[23:18] <Elise> "Why wouldnt we be?" she asks.
03[23:18] <Amy> "Because the security agents tried to tase you!"
[23:19] <Elise> "...uuuhhhhhhh...." she thinks for a moment as she float, "Oh yeah them!"
03[23:19] <Amy> "Yes, them!"
[23:19] <Elise> "They're dumb~ we got a away~"
03[23:20] <Amy> "They shouldn't have done that." Amy covers her face. "But you shouldn't have run away like that. Even if it's boring, you have to go to school."
[23:21] <Elise> "But we wanted to play in the tree!"
03[23:23] <Amy> "And sometimes I want to stay home and read. But the rules say we need to do what they tell us. Otherwise they won't let you play with Mister Eelface." She frowns. "...Or do anything else."
[23:24] <Elise> "Noooo! No one told us that! We don;'t want to not play with mister eelfaace! Weee're soorry!"
03[23:25] <Amy> "Nobody's mad at you. Just don't do it again, okay?"
06[23:25] * Elise clings the edge of the pool with a pouty face. She nods and whimpers.
03[23:26] <Amy> "Good. How about you dry off and I'll get you some bacon?"
[23:26] <Elise> "YAY~"
03[23:27] <Amy> "Good. I'll call the cafeteria. Promise you'll do what the NERV agents say from now on."
06[23:27] * Elise nods and climbs out of the pool to go dry off.
06[23:30] * Amy calls...whoever she'd call to get bacon. Maybe a restaurant that delivers and she can meet them at the insecure area or something...
03[23:32] <Amy> Well, no, that would go bad pretty much immediately. Okay, she calls the cafeteria. Maybe she'll get lucky.
03[23:33] <Amy> "Hi. This is one of the pilots. There's kind of a crisis right now. It's a long story, but is there any bacon left over from this morning?"
08[23:34] * Alex is now known as recon|away
[23:36] <~consilium> The cafeteria worker sounds . . . displeased.  "No, why would there be?  Some kid came in and ate it all, and anyway, we don't just leave food sitting around like that all day.  It's Unsanitary.  And we're serving lunch now, so no bacon."
[23:37] <~consilium> "Why do you need this morning's bacon, anyway?  The Hell kinda crisis do you need cold bacon for?"
03[23:39] <Amy> "To reheat it and give the crazy girl, so I can bribe her to stop acting crazy."
03[23:39] <Amy> "Okay, do you have anything made from the lousy parts of a pig?"
[23:40] <~consilium> "Ohh.  Uh, well.  Man.  Yeah, we have cooked hot-dogs on the grill, and some chopped ham, things like that.  What's she doing?  Threatening to kill herself or something?
03[23:41] <Amy> "No, I'm just trying to get her to stop...Being her. Alright, thank you."
[23:42] <~consilium> "Uh, sure, sure.  Right.  Well, we're still cooking lunch, so . . . yeah."  He sounds a bit at a loss.
03[23:44] <Amy> "Okay." She hangs up and turns around to wait for Elise!
03[23:46] <Amy> When she gets back, they go and eat meat! Hooraaaaayyyyy!
08[23:46] * Elise is now known as RAWK_LAWBSTAR
[23:47] <~consilium> Amy receives a message on her pager.  This has only ever meant one thing.  The Commander is calling.
03[23:49] <Amy> "Uh-oh."
03[23:49] <Amy> Amy says goodbye to Elise and heads for the Commande'rs office immediately. She knocks, already cowed. She's done more than enough to get in a fuckton of trouble, or worse...
[23:51] <~consilium> The familiar smell of pipe-tobacco greets Amy before she can knock.  "Come in."  The Commander's voice is even - unreadable.
06[23:52] * Amy enters, salutes, and sits down, entirely too practiced. She's just as blank, but there's fear behind it, plain as day.
[23:54] <~consilium> The Commander props his elbows on his clear desk, hands clasped under his chin.  "Amy.  I think we need to discuss a few things."  He stares levelly, giving no indication of speaking more.
08[23:55] * Reiz (Reiz@wut-B5FF1011.tukw.qwest.net) has joined #AEChicago
03[23:57] <Amy> "I expected, yes." She bows. "I've been trying to manage the pilots in Captain Gerhardt's absence. I forgot my rank, and started causing problems, correct?"
[23:58] <~consilium> He quirks an eyebrow.  "Manage the pilots.  I suppose that's why you climbed into the air-ducts into Marguerite's quarters?"
03[23:59] <Amy> "I suppose. I was worried about things between Alex and Marguerite. It was a mistake. These mistakes have been happening far too often lately."
Session Time: Wed Apr 06 00:00:00 2011
[00:00] <~consilium> He waits for a long minute, regarding Amy without expression.  "What things were you worried about."  Not a query, but a command.
03[00:01] <Amy> "None of us have much experience in social situations. I wasn't sure how they'd react to each other in...That context."
[00:02] <~consilium> "Mm.  What did you suspect would happen."
03[00:03] <Amy> "Worst case scenario; they misunderstand each other, get in a fight, unit cohesion suffers."
03[00:03] <Amy> "This almost happened, to be fair."
[00:03] <~consilium> "Almost?"
03[00:04] <Amy> "Well, did. They were both under suspicion that the other hated them."
[00:05] <~consilium> The Commander frowns, thinking for a beat, then stares directly at Amy.  Then laughs out loud.
03[00:06] <Amy> "..."
03[00:07] <Amy> "Commander?"
[00:09] <~consilium> "Is that so?  Hah.  Better keep a close eye on those two.  But.  Don't go into the air-ducts again.  I'd worried you were . . . having problems.  We've taken on two new pilots.  And . . . Elise recently pulled the same air-vent stunt.  Here, I thought you might be . . . testing your limits.  It's natural for you to think this means less attention, less . . . everything.  But, you're -all- pilots, and you're all essential.  NERV will
[00:09] <~consilium> take care of you all, no matter what."
03[00:10] <Amy> "Absolutely not. If anything, the opposite is true. I want them all to be at their best. I was never sure I could defeat an angel in single combat."
[00:12] <~consilium> "Well, God willing, you won't have to.  But no more crazy stunts, you got that?  We already have our hands full with . . . Elise."  He says this with a certain resignation.
03[00:12] <Amy> "Understood." She smiles. "I think I've convinced her to behave at school."
[00:13] <~consilium> He widens his eyes, leaning back a bit.  "Oh -have- you now?"
03[00:17] <Amy> "Yes. The only things she care about are bacon and Unit 03. Carrot and stick, right?"
[00:18] <~consilium> He tilts his head, and gets . . . an -odd- look.  "Heh.  That it is.  But, you should leave it up to Captain Gerhardt to take care of things like this.  It's not your call."
03[00:20] <Amy> "Understood. Where has he been, by the way?"
[00:23] <~consilium> "He's been busy with his administrative duties.  Next time you have a concern, tell -me- about it.  You know, the one with all the surveillance cameras?"
03[00:25] <Amy> "Understood, sir."
[00:26] <~consilium> "Any other concerns?"  He seems more at ease now, reaching for his pipe.
03[00:27] <Amy> "I think that's all."
[00:28] <~consilium> He nods, chuckling a bit.  "Well, keep an eye out, but just make sure you don't take things into your own hands.  That is all."  He nods toward the door, and lights his pipe.
06[00:28] * Amy salutes and leaves without another word!
03[00:28] <Amy> "Oh, also, are the guys watching us supposed to tase us?"
[00:30] <~consilium> "I heard about that, yeah.  And yes, they are, if it seems no other more reasonable response will work.  I can tell you now, though, they wouldn't have done it if they knew a safer way."
03[00:31] <Amy> "You know best, sir." She closes the door behind her and returns to her room yaaay!
08[01:02] * Marguerite is now known as jinx
06[01:05] * Amy sits on her bed, staring at the statue on her dresser. She covers her face with her hand for a second, and closes her eyes.
08[01:08] * jinx is now known as Marguerite
02[01:12] * recon|away (recon@cena.acentauri.gal) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
08[01:14] * recon (recon@cena.acentauri.gal) has joined #AEChicago
06[01:16] * Marguerite sighs, stepping off the treadmill and wiping it down with alcohol, as per etiquette. She mops her brow with a towel, drinking copious amounts of water as she takes a seat on a bench, crossing her legs. She's grateful for the opportunity to run somewhere that isn't a frozen track.
06[01:27] * Marguerite after a time, she showers and dresses again. She wonders if she should get new clothes, since she's apparently not going to Catholic school anymore...but she decides, since there's no sense worrying about it now, to see how Amy's doing; she felt a little bad about sneaking out after their sleepover.
06[01:28] * Marguerite knocks on Amy's door, three quiet taps.
03[01:31] <Amy> Marguerite hears a heavy "thud", as if Amy just jumped off her bed or something. "C-come in!"
04[01:32] * Marguerite gently opens the door, pushing it open. "Bonjour, Amy...I just wanted to apologize for slipping out this morning without saying anything. Are you well?"
03[01:33] <Amy> "Yes! Everything's fine!" She's sitting on her bed, totally obvlivious to the floating books coated in blue light behind her.
06[01:36] * Marguerite blinks twice.
03[01:36] <Amy> "What's wrong?"
04[01:36] <Marguerite> "You don't seem fine, Amy. What's wrong?"
03[01:36] <Amy> "What do you mean? I'm fine!"
06[01:37] * Marguerite glances about the room, curious if she's missing something.
06[01:38] * Amy looks where she's looking. When she peeks behind her, her face goes from forced-smile to pure, abject horror. The blur drops and the books fall to the ground.
03[01:39] <Amy> "..."
03[01:40] <Amy> "I..."
06[01:41] * Marguerite blinks three times very rapidly.
06[01:41] * Marguerite stands staring, not entirely sure what she just bore witness to.
03[01:42] <Amy> "Please don't tell anyone."
[01:45] <Marguerite> "...I won't."
03[01:45] <Amy> "Thank you."
06[01:45] * Marguerite closes the door abruptly, and strides back to the gym, rubbing her eyes with the heels of her hands.
06[01:46] * Amy frowns and runs after her!
03[01:46] <Amy> "W-wait!"
06[01:47] * Marguerite stops and turns. "Hm?"
03[01:48] <Amy> "Can we talk?"
06[01:50] * Marguerite nods, cocking her head.
06[01:51] * Amy turns around and hopes she'll follow.
04[01:52] * Marguerite turns to face her, but maintains a flat expression. "What do you want to talk about, Amy?"
06[01:54] * Amy eyes the security camera. "...One of my books."
06[01:58] * Marguerite doesn't even think to try to follow Amy's gaze. "...all right," she says. "I thought they were horribly inaccurate?"
03[02:00] <Amy> "Yes, they are. They're still interesting and worth discussion." When she closes the door behind herself and Marguerite, she bows her head. "Please tell me exactly what you saw. As a favor to a friend."
03[02:02] <Amy> "Please."
06[02:04] * Marguerite cocks her head to the other side. "I saw nothing," she says. "After all, I've nothing to tell anyone else. Yes?"
03[02:05] <Amy> "Forget what I said. I need you to tell me what you saw."
[02:06] <Marguerite> "Blue. And books falling." She stares past Amy.
03[02:07] <Amy> "I...See. Do you know what it was?"
[02:07] <Marguerite> "No," she says, chilly.
06[02:08] * Amy collapses and buries her face in her hand. She almost mumbles the answer.
03[02:10] <Amy> "I don't know why I can do it. I don't know if I want to know."
06[02:11] * Marguerite nods absently. She seems to sag inside her own body, a special flavor of exhausted. "Je sais."
03[02:12] <Amy> "Am I insane?"
04[02:15] * Marguerite shakes her head, screwing her eyes shut. "Non, Amy."
03[02:16] <Amy> "If you don't want to be my friend, I would understand. Or if you wanted to tell someone."
03[02:19] <Amy> "I would like advance warning, if possible."
06[02:20] * Marguerite takes a moment to answer. "...je veux etre votre amie," she whispers. She looks up. "But I don't want to talk, or think about this. You are Amy. Ma amie," she says. "My friend."
06[02:20] * Marguerite cracks the door open, backing out into the hall. "Do you feel ill?"
03[02:21] <Amy> "I'll be alright. Thank you, Marguerite. I will not bother you with this anymore."
06[02:22] * Amy finally smiles. "I agree."
06[02:24] * Marguerite nods. "If you are not unwell, I see no reason to report this to anyone. My life has changed much in the past...forty-eight hours," she says, turning away. She takes a deep breath, trying to correlate the contents of her brain. "So my new best friend is a witch." She glances back. "C'est la vie." She smiles.
06[02:25] * Amy laughs.
03[02:25] <Amy> "If there is anything you need, let me know."
06[02:26] * Marguerite affects her smile to broaden. "Thank you. I will. Et toi, ma amie." She steps into the hall and closes the door behind her, pulling until it clicks.
08[02:27] * Amy is now known as Yue[sleep]
06[02:28] * Marguerite returns to her room, changes into her gym clothes there, and returns to her treadmill, letting the endorphins blur out the neat spiderweb fracture in her reality.
08[02:28] * Marguerite is now known as jinx
08[04:27] * consilium is now known as consilium`afk