Accolade 1

16:45 <~Antioch|GM> The office is lit with a cool white light.
16:45 <~Antioch|GM> Two bookshelves frame either side of the room, housing thick hardback volumes for the most part, but despite the majority of the books being about education and teaching practices, there's a nontrivial quantity of fiction populating the shelves. The first four novels in the Maggie Holt series are visible, each in their own collectors' edition sleeve, other novels that are new, unfamiliar, in their vicinity.
16:45 <~Antioch|GM> The desk itself is host to a variety of items -- a computer monitor and keyboard, of course, a calendar with countless events written in a slanted but legible all-caps, a small, miniature wooden trebuchet, and a nameplate. Abbot Henderson.
16:45 <~Antioch|GM> The vice-principal, a slightly overweight man in his mid-fifties, still with a full mop of curly hair and beard, albeit graying, clasps his hands together on the desk, doing his best to give a casual, understanding smile.
16:45 <~Antioch|GM> At the rear of the room, making herself unobtrusive, the social services caseworker, Brenda, watches over the discussion, pertinent documentation in hand.
16:45 <~Antioch|GM> "Essentially," the vice-principal says, "you'll be taking six classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in one-hour blocks, and four classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays in one-and-a-half hour blocks. There are plenty of electives to choose from -- they're in your handbook, but you're more than welcome to ask questions about any course you'd like to know more about. There's no hurry to choose, either. You have until the 22nd."
16:45 <~Antioch|GM> ||
16:46 → Yumgar joined  •  Pink|Valentine → Pink|Julia
17:00 <Pink|Julia> Valentine nods slightly, eyes fixed on knees. Trying not to look interested in the trebuchet, despite it being the only thing worth looking at in the room so far. The handbook was glanced at with less-feigned disinterest. She fidgets slightly under the attention, lips pressed tightly together. The seat is creaky. Or maybe it's just her. Brenda's eyes are set to broil, or that's how it feels at least. Admittedly, the heavy clothing
17:00 <Pink|Julia> doesn't help- moving inside to the air conditioning from the heat outside had coated the inside of her shirt with a layer of sweat she could swim in.||
17:06 <~Antioch|GM> "I know this is a... mm, difficult situation for you, in particular," Mr. Henderson continues, "but we're prepared to do anything to help. The counselors' offices are just next door to the administrative offices here, and we'll be working closely with your caseworker to make sure that your needs are being met and that the staff are being sufficiently understanding."
17:08 <~Antioch|GM> He pulls his keyboard in front of him, tapping away at a few keys.
17:08 <~Antioch|GM> "For our records, what name would you prefer we use?" ||
17:12 <Pink|Julia> Just what she needs, more understanding. Everyone has understood so well. "My name is Sebastian," she says, frowning. She'd never seen her birth certificate until last week. She glances back at Brenda, unable to help herself, a quick dark of her eyes under the shaggy fringe of hair. She'd never had it get this long before, especially in the summer. Needs. Like needing to talk to Mom and get this taken care of. Sure, they'll be a big
17:12 <Pink|Julia> help.||
17:12 <~Antioch|GM> ((Social, please. Empathy or Scrutinize would be applicable here.))
17:18 <Pink|Julia> $roll 1d6 social
17:18 <+[ATM]> Pink|Julia "social" [1]  = 1
17:30 <~Antioch|GM> "You got it," the vice-principal replies. "Anything I can do for you, any questions I can clear up while I'm here?" ||
17:37 <Pink|Julia> "What about my old school?" she asks before she can quite stop herself. A moment later, she adds, "...Nevermind." Not like he'd have anything to do with any of that, would he? He's just another tool. A cog. Her eyes settle on the trebuchet model as chewed-nailed fingertips drum on her knees.||
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17:42 <~Antioch|GM> "Well, if you're sure," he replies. He extends his hand over the desk to shake. "It's been a pleasure to meet you, Sebastian. I wish you the best of luck."
17:42 <~Antioch|GM> Two unseen voices fuzz over the vice-principal as he says Sebastian.
17:42 <~Antioch|GM> "Balthazar," one suggests, in a hollow, almost echoing tone.
17:42 <~Antioch|GM> "Portia," the other disagrees, voice crackling like the old antenna-included television set with only four channels on it. ||
17:49 <Pink|Julia> Julia takes a deep breath and tries to meet the man halfway with a suitably strong handshake - the difference between their hands, though... she can't help but flinch the slightest bit. It is so... fucked up.||
17:50 Azrael0037 → Az|Charlotte
17:53 <~Antioch|GM> His grip is much tighter, far firmer, despite efforts to match its strength.
17:53 <~Antioch|GM> "We're all looking forward to having you here," he says, letting go. "We'll be having an orientation for new students headed by some of our staff and seniors on Tuesday. We'd love to have you there."
17:53 <~Antioch|GM> The trebuchet model is well-designed. There are gears carved out of firm, solid wood, with some sort of ratcheting mechanism. Rather than use ballast, though, it seems to use a thick rubber band that can be wound around the central axle. ||
18:02 <Pink|Julia> Normally, she'd have taken that as a bit of a challenge... but that's all over, isn't it? She'll... never be that big, and to be that strong she'd have to... She mumbles something, looking down after one last glance at the model.||
18:06 <~Antioch|GM> "Fantastic," Brenda replies, apparently calling the shots here, "we'll see you on Tuesday. Until then, there's a lot to do to get ready. School supplies, new wardrobe, haircut... busy, busy."
18:06 <~Antioch|GM> "Shall we?"
18:06 <~Antioch|GM> She extends a hand. ||
18:15 <Pink|Julia> Wait, she didn't agree to... Julia glances up at the woman, poised to protest, only to be verbally run over and she doesn't even know where to /begin/ by the end of it. Shaggy eyebrows draw together as she eyes the woman's hand. Arguing that she doesn't need to be led around like a little kid would only make it look worse in front of Mr. Henderson, so she bites down on it and goes along with it... for now. She does wipe her hand
18:15 <Pink|Julia> on her jeans, though, before she does it.||
18:17 <~Antioch|GM> There's one final opportunity to browse the school campus as they head away from the vice-principal's office. It's nice, high-ceilinged, plenty of open air, very clearly a place with a plethora of students. Strange how nice it is, considering that the old school actually /cost/ money to go to.
18:17 <~Antioch|GM> "So," Brenda says. "Where to first? Anything in particular you want to get for school?" ||
18:25 <Pink|Julia> Of course, Brenda's hand doesn't look any more similar to her own than Mr. Henderson's had. Not to Julia, anyway. She shrugs. "I have plenty of stuff. At home." By which she means her old home. With all of Sebastian's stuff. She looks everywhere but at the woman. Tries to imagine this place the way she'd always heard 'public schools' are, packed like sardines with gangs and drugs and... girls.||
18:27 <~Antioch|GM> "We'll be getting that for you as soon as, well, as soon as the legal proceedings are underway," she says. "For the time being, it's totally fine for you to get the same sort of stuff. Mall first?"
18:27 <~Antioch|GM> She circles around to the passenger side of the car, a white coupe, relatively new, opening the door before taking her place in the driver's seat.
18:27 <~Antioch|GM> "Y'know," she adds, "we could probably work on getting you your learner's license, if you're up for it." ||
18:35 <Pink|Julia> The mall doesn't seem too exciting- are malls even a thing anymore? She starts to grunt a reply, circling to the passenger side as Brenda continues... and that addition gets a definite reaction. "...Really? I... yeah. I mean, the license, I mean..." Deep breath, as she attempts to open the door. "...Yeah, ok."||
18:39 <~Antioch|GM> "Awesome," she replies, apparently glad for the positive response.
18:39 <~Antioch|GM> ...
18:39 <~Antioch|GM> When they arrive at the mall, it seems as if malls /are/ still a thing. It's the middle of summer, and most of the people hanging out there are people of the same age.
18:41 <~Antioch|GM> There are guys in track shorts hanging out with girls in crop tops, people eating Italian ice underneath the sun-umbrellas of the outdoor food court. Other high-schoolers sit alongside the edge of the circular fountain at the front of the mall, and people bustle in and out of multiple entrances.
18:41 <~Antioch|GM> "Here first, yeah?" Brenda asks, gesturing towards a department store. ||
18:44 <Pink|Julia> This was not what she'd been picturing. Then again, she hadn't really known what to picture; they'd always done their shopping locally. And most everything else, other than school, and even that was pretty close to home. "Whatever," she replies, having somewhat regained her composure - such a it was - over the trip. Wipes her forehead and tries not to think of Italian ice too much as she falls in with Brenda.||
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18:54 <~Antioch|GM> "We can grab something from the food court on our way out," Brenda suggests, possibly thinking similarly Italian Ice-oriented thoughts.
18:54 <~Antioch|GM> The department store is cool, air-conditioned, and smells vaguely like plastic. The mannequins are a glossy white, and they greet the two as they walk in with a variety of poses. One, sporting a leather jacket, slouches back, hands in the jacket pockets, another, in a skirt and ruffly... shirt thing. Who the fuck knows what all these girls' clothes are called.
18:54 <~Antioch|GM> "Let's grab three or so new outfits?" she says, gesturing vaguely at the entirety of the department store. There are multiple stations featuring different types of make-up and perfume, escalators to a second floor, purses, shoes, belts, jewelry. The section of the department store dedicated to guys' clothing is pitifully small. ||
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19:01 <Pink|Julia> She makes a face, and not just because of the flash forming sweat layer as she hits the air conditioning, this time. She eyes the jacket for a moment as they pass. "Um. I need clean... socks," she says, lowering her voice and sticking a bit closer to the woman. The thought of just wearing... whatever to school is weird - it's been uniforms as long as she can remember. She'd never needed a huge wardrobe, even by guy standards.||
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19:13 <~Antioch|GM> "Alright," Brenda says. "Some t-shirts, some shorts, maybe cargo pants? It's gonna be pretty hot for a while, so no need to worry about long sleeves yet."
19:13 <~Antioch|GM> She glances towards some of the different clothes here and there, but doesn't say anything or pick anything out. ||
19:13 ⇐ Nonagon|PC_ and Yumgar quit
19:20 <Pink|Julia> "Fine," she says, rubbing her arm through the sleeve as she follows along. "So I can get a driver's license?" she asks, unable to help herself- she'd been thinking about it the whole way over, and it is certainly a... more interesting topic than all this, as she peers up at the signs to navigate, squinting a little.||
19:23 <~Antioch|GM> They walk past "Ladies - Summerwear," "Ladies - Swimwear," towards "Men's - Casual," only having to weave their way through "Ladies - Intimates" to get there.
19:23 <~Antioch|GM> There is a terribly excessive amount of lace. ||
19:32 <Pink|Julia> Eyes go down. She definitely needs clean underwear but... Like, okay, she's seen this stuff before, but turns outt hat context makes a big difference. Anyway, eyes down, picking up the pace a bit as she shoves her hands into her pockets. Her face is still quite red by the time they pass through. The lack of response is a little worrying, but she tries to focus on just getting through this. Pick up a couple things, get out of here.||
19:38 <~Antioch|GM> Gym shorts, cargo shorts swim trunks, t-shirts, polos. There's a bit of familiarity in the latter, with the old school uniform being polos embroidered with the school uniform, khaki slacks, shirt tucked in or threat of demerit.
19:38 <~Antioch|GM> Underwear and undergarments are a concerning thought. Boxer shorts have sufficed, historically, but there was a doctor after the coffee spill -- then another doctor, after the bloodwork was done, talks about puberty blockers wearing off and physical changes to expect. Not particularly pleasant to dwell on.
19:38 <~Antioch|GM> "How about this?" Brenda says, holding up a blue plaid short-sleeved button-down. ||
19:44 <Pink|Julia> "Mhm," she nods, rubbing her chest idly as she thinks about it with that sort of dread that's been creeping in to replace incredulity. Undershirts probably won't be enough for long, either. She doesn't want to think about it, so she tries to force the thought down. Wipes her face on her sleeve again as she takes the offered shirt. Nothing too unusual, no.
19:45 <Pink|Julia> She turns away, looking at the row of jeans- they all look long, unless she goes to the... kid stuff. Ugh. Bullshit.||
19:47 <~Antioch|GM> "We don't have to get everything here, mind. Plenty of other stores in the mall," Brenda says. "Also, soft pretzels. There are also soft pretzels in the mall, which we should both get."
19:47 <~Antioch|GM> "Don't sweat it too much, yeah? Grab whatever jumps out at you, and we can swing by some other place." ||
19:50 <Pink|Julia> Easy for her to say. Does the woman even sweat? Julia just shrugs and mumbles something vaguely affirmative while browsing though the shorts, which are a big easier since she has a belt. "I've never been here," she admits, sneaking a glance at the woman when she thinks she's not being watched- she's probably wrong. "Dunno what's here."||
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19:54 <~Antioch|GM> Brenda makes eye contact for that brief moment. She wiggles a white-and-navy striped V-neck on its hanger.
19:54 <~Antioch|GM> "There's a bunch of places," she says. "Probably easier if you tell me what you're going for. Graphic T-shirts, something more formal..."
19:54 <~Antioch|GM> "... or, I dunno, a blouse...?" she ventures hesitantly. ||
19:57 <Pink|Julia> Julia turns away, cheeks burning. "Just normal clothes," she says. "Just till I get my own clothes back, right?" It's not like she hadn't /expected/ her to suggest it, but, maybe she'd been hoping.||
20:00 <Pink|Julia> *hoping to avoid it for once.
20:01 <~Antioch|GM> "Yeah, alright, I gotcha," she says, recovering after a moment. "We'll just grab these, then?"
20:01 <~Antioch|GM> Brenda holds up the few shorts and shirts that haven't elicited faces of disgust or discomfort. ||
20:04 <Pink|Julia> She shakes her head, nodding, not even really looking at the selections. Honestly, she likely wouldn't notice if Brenda had been holding up a sombrero and a tutu at this moment.||
20:09 <~Antioch|GM> They take the clothes by the register, the cashier rings them up, and they wander out into the mall proper, still crowded with people. The food court's smells start to overwrite the clean and air-conditioned smell of the department store.
20:09 <~Antioch|GM> "Oh, hey," Brenda says, giving a slight nudge. "Feeling up for a haircut?"
20:09 <~Antioch|GM> She points at a salon-looking store in the mall, its windows decorated with a poster featuring a fuzzy, flop-eared humanoid mascot overgrown with hair giving a thumbs up.
20:09 <~Antioch|GM> 'Hair starting to get out of control?' the poster asks. 'Come on in for a quick trim!' ||
20:12 <Pink|Julia> She brushes her hair back. It looks... Well, she'd gotten most of her haircuts at home, with a trip to the barber a couple times a year. She'd never much enjoyed the experience. On the other hand, this is the longest her hair has ever been, which is weird too. "I guess."||
20:15 Az|Charlotte → Azreal0037
20:16 <~Antioch|GM> They walk on in, sign in on the sheet up front. Getting steered towards a barber's chair takes less time than expected, and getting to stare head-on into the mirror is somewhat of a shock.
20:16 <~Antioch|GM> "How do you want it?" the barber says, spritzing cold water everywhere. ||
20:27 <Pink|Julia> Say what you like about her, Brenda is efficient when she puts her mind to it. Julia glances around, then back to her own reflection. She had, for a couple years now, been annoyed by the thought that she looked like a little kid, the brief growth sput petering out as all the other guys caught up and then shot past her. "Short," she says. "I guess." This isn't so bad, she can deal with this.||
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20:28 <~Antioch|GM> ((Are you attempting to make your voice any deeper than it naturally is, or speaking normally?))
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20:38 <~Antioch|GM> "Absolutely," the barber says, setting to work first with trimming scissors, then a pair of clippers.
20:38 <~Antioch|GM> It becomes clear that it's not the usual school-mandated regulation cut, one-inch minimum above the eyebrows, no neck-length hair, no sideburns.
20:38 <~Antioch|GM> A considerable bit shorter than that, it seems, as the barber touches up the back and sides with a very short guard on the clippers -- and eurgh. That's a lot of forehead acne. ||
20:41 → Lysa joined  •  Jovial|GM → Joviaflight
20:44 <Pink|Julia> This... isn't helping as much as she'd expected. She wants to say something but... Well, it's kind of too late now, right? Her hands grip the arms of the chair under the sheet... whatever it's called. She licks her lips, probably getting told to stop fidgeting a few times as she does, in fact, fidget a bit. There really isn't much to look at BESIDES herself.||
20:47 <~Antioch|GM> In some places, close to the ears and the top of the neck, the hair is buzzed particularly short, but there are enough bangs left to sweep to the side.
20:47 <~Antioch|GM> The barber dusts away the trimmed-away hair (and there is, by all accounts, a lot of it), applying some baby powder here and there to make sure it doesn't stick to the skin.
20:47 <~Antioch|GM> "How is it?" she asks. ||
20:55 <Pink|Julia> Julia blinks. "Um." Huh. Really not what she'd expected at all. She glances at Brenda, wondering what SHE thinks of all this- the woman hadn't butted in so far, which is appreciated. "...Okay?" she mumbles. Honestly, all she can see is her ugly stupid face staring back at her, mostly exposed. She looks like a runty little freak.||
20:56 <~Antioch|GM> "Nice," the hollow voice chimes in.
20:56 <~Antioch|GM> "It's alright, I guess," the crackling one says.
20:56 <~Antioch|GM> "Bet your head feels a lot lighter now, huh?" Brenda asks, setting down some fashion magazine. ||
21:02 Faustus|GM → Faustus, CG|Edgar → ColdGold
21:03 <Pink|Julia> Well, in a strictly physical sense. Her nose scrunches a bit. "Y-yeah, sure." After a moment, she glances to the barber. "Um... Thank you." Ugh, she feels like even more of a kid than she /sounds./||||
21:03 <Pink|Julia> (er, just ||))
21:06 <~Antioch|GM> "You're very welcome, dear," the barber says, smiling sweetly. Brenda grabs a butterscotch lollipop at the register, waving it around a bit.
21:06 <~Antioch|GM> "You want this?" she asks, swiping a card as she does so. ||
21:14 Saff|Cwn → Saff
21:14 <Pink|Julia> Julia pulls an Alleskleber-ish face and doesn't answer Brenda, shoving her hands in her pockets. turns again to glance at herself, before stomping for the door. Even if she isn't exactly built for stomping.||
21:15 soulpelt|Wink → soulpelt|
21:15 <~Antioch|GM> "Fair 'nuff," Brenda says, unwrapping the candy and popping it in her mouth.
21:15 <~Antioch|GM> "Hey, maybe some new shoes wouldn't hurt either..."
21:15 <~Antioch|GM> ||||
[2017-07-16 19:45:59] <Antioch|GM> ...
[2017-07-16 19:53:15] <Antioch|GM> The rest of the day proceeds with far too little hair atop Sebastian's head, accompanying Brenda to a Target for some less... confusingly diverse clothing options, and the required school supplies. It's not particularly close to sunset when they get back to the group home, but it's one of those summer days that seem to stretch out for forever.
[2017-07-16 19:53:15] <Antioch|GM> Holding the door open for her, Brenda says, "I know we're currently in the midst of legal proceedings and an inquiry to get things sorted out with your extended family, so you shouldn't be here for long, but you should still try to make some friends while you're here!"
[2017-07-16 19:53:15] <Antioch|GM> From the foyer of the home, she can see past the staircase into the dining room, children mostly in their teens setting the table or otherwise preparing for dinner. Past the counter that divides the dining room and the kitchen, the scent of what's most likely chili wafts over -- with waft being too gentle a turn of phrase. The cumin-laden smell threatens to soak permanently into the carpet and the newly-purchased clothes. ||
[2017-07-16 20:00:55] → MicroIce joined (Megafire@net-56lide.dynamic.ziggo.nl)
[2017-07-16 20:03:01] <Pink|Julia> Julia resists the urge to run her hands through her hair yet another time; she's had it cut short before but never like this. The second round of clothes shopping, despite that, had been much easier, and she had managed to get most of what she'd need without comment. Mostly. But now she feels like a bug under observation, despite nobody seeming to look her way. She's got one hand in her pocket, the other's wrapped around a bag of
[2017-07-16 20:03:01] <Pink|Julia> clothes she'd insisted on carrying. It's more clothes than she'd quite realized when they were buying them, and... she feels pretty bad about that since she really won't /need/ much once things are straightened out. She eyes the mixed assortment of people, unsure of what to do or say... or even how to introduce herself, at this point.
[2017-07-16 20:05:05] <Pink|Julia> Her belly half growls, half twists, the smell not terribly inviting but all she's had to eat was that ice before and while it had done its job it certainly hadn't filled her up. It smells spicy though, which makes her nervous.
[2017-07-16 20:05:30] <Pink|Julia> So, she stands there, glancing up at Brenda. "How long?" she asks, quietly.||
[2017-07-16 20:11:30] <Antioch|GM> "Less than a month," Brenda says, putting a reassuring hand on a shoulder. "Promise."
[2017-07-16 20:11:30] <Antioch|GM> "What does it matter to you?" the buzzing, staticky voice echoes after her.
[2017-07-16 20:11:30] <Antioch|GM> There's the clink and clatter of cutlery being put in its place, of food being portioned out.
[2017-07-16 20:11:30] <Antioch|GM> "Made it just in time!" a broad-chested man greets, poking his head into the foyer, waving with a still oven-mitted hand. Brenda'd introduced him, previously -- Mr. Demetrius -- but no time to learn the names of the fellow residents, yet. ||
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[2017-07-16 20:18:12] <Pink|Julia> Julia nearly jumps at his arrival - She's still working on listening to the voices without letting them... /distract/ her. She wipes her sweaty hand on her sweatshirt as she nods to him, not quite sure what the correct greeting should be. "Thanks," she settles on. Fortunately, while there's some air conditioning it isn't quite as aggressive as the mall so while she's a sweaty mess she doesn't immediately deliquesce on entry.||
[2017-07-16 20:23:38] <Antioch|GM> The really awkward thing about this whole arrangement that everyone's skirting over? Most group homes are, apparently, assigned to one single gender. All five housemates, chatting intermittently with each other as they now dole out the contents of a bag of Fritos on every plate at the table, are girls.
[2017-07-16 20:23:38] <Antioch|GM> Would the alternative be worse? ||
[2017-07-16 20:30:10] <Pink|Julia> She... hadn't really thought about that, even when she'd met the man before and seen the place, it hadn't really hit home until... now. None of them, she thinks, looks very much like her. They certainly don't seem to act like her. She shuffles in place, glancing between the man, the bag, and Brenda.||
[2017-07-16 20:40:24] * Foss|AFK → Fossil
[2017-07-16 20:40:26] <Antioch|GM> "Come on, don't be shy," Mr. Demetrius says. It's difficult to think of him without the Mr. prefixing his name -- he carries himself like a Mr. "Take a seat."
[2017-07-16 20:40:26] <Antioch|GM> Across the counter in the kitchen, another one of the group home's guardians is tidying up the counters and stovetop. Aunt Taylor, she was introduced as -- no mention as to whose aunt she is. She's certainly not old enough to be Mr. Demetrius's aunt. ||
[2017-07-16 20:47:07] <Pink|Julia> "Yes sir," she says, falling back on school behavior. She looks around for a place to put down her burden, trying not to stare too much at anyone or anything as she takes the scene in. The plates of chips are weird, but obviously she doesn't comment on that either as she gives up and just carries the bag towards the table; she can stick it under her chair maybe. She pauses, glancing back at Brenda questioningly - she hasn't actually
[2017-07-16 20:47:07] <Pink|Julia> asked just what the woman will be doing, if she'll be leaving or...||
[2017-07-16 20:49:24] * Faustus → FaustAndAbout
[2017-07-16 20:51:04] <Antioch|GM> "Well, unless you have any other questions, I'll be seeing you tomorrow, hopefully with some updates," she says, waving.
[2017-07-16 20:51:04] <Antioch|GM> "Sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" Mr. Demetrius asks. The dinner in question seems to be a large stockpot of chili, with bowls of green onions, shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, diced tomatoes, and other fixings to be thrown in.
[2017-07-16 20:51:04] <Antioch|GM> Some of the girls are already eating -- one, who looks about the same age, hair done in cornrows, is using the chips as a scoop for the chili, while another with a too-big T-shirt with short sleeves going past her elbows is smashing up the Fritos and mixing them into the chili.
[2017-07-16 20:51:04] <Antioch|GM> "Sorry," Brenda apologizes, scratching at the back of her head, "I'm vegan." ||
[2017-07-16 20:54:10] <Pink|Julia> For the briefest moment, Julia is tempted to be vegan too. Is there a form of vegan that just eats food she likes?
[2017-07-16 20:56:03] <Pink|Julia> Instead, she pulls out a chair, trying to keep some distance, and sets her bag down. scoots into the table and peers around, biting her lip. "I'm sorry I missed saying grace," she mumbles.||
[2017-07-16 21:00:41] <Antioch|GM> Mr. Demetrius takes his place at the table, putting his hands together and closing his eyes.
[2017-07-16 21:00:41] <Antioch|GM> "Thank you, lord, for this food, for this family, for this day." He opens one eye, checking to see if Sebastian has anything to add.
[2017-07-16 21:00:41] <Antioch|GM> "Not really much of a day," the hollow, ringing voice intones.
[2017-07-16 21:00:41] <Antioch|GM> "Or food. Or family," the buzzing voice grouses. ||
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[2017-07-16 21:06:27] <Pink|Julia> Julia knows one thing - no matter how non-grateful you qare feeling, you certainly don't /say/ so. She still finds herself agreeing with the voices, but she catches herself from actually nodding. "...Amen," she says, and half rises to reach for the chili pot.||
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[2017-07-16 21:09:06] <Antioch|GM> "Hi," the Frito-slurry-eater sitting next to him says, nudging the chili pot in his direction and mashing a dollop of sour cream into her concoction. The white of the sour cream lightens the color of the chili, and tints it to look... uncomfortably like puke. "I'm Lori." ||
[2017-07-16 21:22:55] <Pink|Julia> Oh. "Um, hi." She takes a deep breath. "I'm S..." She pauses, glancing around. She... can't use her usual name here, can she? They'll... fuck. Only a month. Only a month, she just needs to get through this. "...Julia," she mumbles,hoping her face isn't too red. The name feels even weirder in her mouth than when she'd tried it out earlier. She resists the urge to shoot Brenda a look for putting her in this position. Instead, she
[2017-07-16 21:22:55] <Pink|Julia> swallows, plopping chili onto her chips, and adds, "Um. Nice shirt." She isn't actually sure what would be worse - these people knowing about her... situation or them not knowing. She really wishes she'd asked a lot more questions before they'd come in but she'd been more focused on the heat, on the shopping, and honestly she'd been if anything avoiding thinking about the home until it was too late.||
[2017-07-16 21:35:28] ⇐ Wellwick quit (uid211357@hathersage.irccloud.com): Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
[2017-07-16 21:37:40] <Antioch|GM> "Oh, fanks," she says, mouth full of the chilitrocity. "You listen to Becoming Paradise too?"
[2017-07-16 21:37:40] <Antioch|GM> Without missing a beat, she follows up with, "Can you pass me the bacon bits?" ||
[2017-07-16 21:42:15] ⇐ Jovial quit (uid231090@tooting.irccloud.com): Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
[2017-07-16 21:47:28] <Pink|Julia> "Mhm." She passes the bits, grateful for the moment to catch her thoughts. "Not really. Yet. Um. I never got to listen to a lot of stuff," she adds, feeling embarrassed - it feels /weird/ saying it out loud, like admitting to being 'weird' somehow.||
[2017-07-16 21:52:47] <Antioch|GM> She outright tips the bowl into the chili, creating a portion that seems far too large for someone with her small frame.
[2017-07-16 21:52:47] <Antioch|GM> "Save some for everyone else," Mr. Demetrius chides.
[2017-07-16 21:52:47] <Antioch|GM> "Don't let her trick you into listening into that weak-a--- weak  music," another girl chimes in from across the table. "I got real stuff worth listening to in my CDs. What kinda stuff did you have?" ||
[2017-07-16 21:57:17] <Pink|Julia> Julia gulps. "Um, I didn't get to take anything, so I don't really... I mean, it doesn't make any difference? I'll listen to... whatever?" She spreads a few onions on her chili. It doesn't help. Attempts to stir it. Damnit. She isn't used to being so... meek. But she can't walk up to the biggest girl and punch them, get her ass kicked, and be friends... can she?||
[2017-07-16 21:57:45] <Antioch|GM> ** on my CDs
[2017-07-16 22:00:13] <Antioch|GM> "Moraaaya," Lori complains, "just because you don't like my music doesn't mean you have to talk bad about it."
[2017-07-16 22:00:13] <Antioch|GM> "Sure," Moraya replies, shrugging agreeably and ignoring Lori. "I'll play some of it for you later."
[2017-07-16 22:00:13] <Antioch|GM> Aunt Taylor finally finishes up tidying the kitchen to fix herself a bite to eat. ||
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[2017-07-16 22:02:40] <Pink|Julia> Looking between one girl and the other, she decides she wants no part in it. She really isn't used to that kind of argument and can't see any way to 'win.' Is that a girl thing or a sibling thing? She takes a big bite of chili, figuring it can't be worse than school chili, right?
[2017-07-16 22:02:45] <Pink|Julia> ...Right?||
[2017-07-16 22:03:56] * FaustAndAbout → Faustus
[2017-07-16 22:05:23] <Antioch|GM> It's a good sight better than school chili, as it turns out. It's not nearly as watery, and the beef is more... definitively beefy. Having the option to put whatever in there helps, too. Lori is now busying herself with putting little disc-shaped hot dog slices in her sludge.
[2017-07-16 22:05:23] <Antioch|GM> "Can we watch a movie tonight?" one of the girls on the other end of the table pipes up.
[2017-07-16 22:05:23] <Antioch|GM> "Only if you can decide on one together before dinner is over and all the plates are put up," Mr. Demetrius replies with a smile. ||
[2017-07-16 22:07:52] <Pink|Julia> Huh. Not as bad as she'd been afraid of. She mixes it up a little more, and adds a bit of sour cream. ...Well, not so bad as long as she doesn't look too close. She digs in, though, glad that the conversation seems to have moved past her.||
[2017-07-16 22:09:58] ⇐ MicroIce quit (Megafire@net-56lide.dynamic.ziggo.nl): Ping timeout: 181 seconds
[2017-07-16 22:10:52] <Antioch|GM> The table bursts into a flurry of discussion.
[2017-07-16 22:10:52] <Antioch|GM> "Cassius and the Crow!"
[2017-07-16 22:10:52] <Antioch|GM> "The Sandlot!"
[2017-07-16 22:10:52] <Antioch|GM> "No, no, The Lifecrafter!"
[2017-07-16 22:10:52] <Antioch|GM> "Goblin Queen Three!"
[2017-07-16 22:10:52] <Antioch|GM> ||
[2017-07-16 22:16:00] <Pink|Julia> Mouth full of food, Julia realizes that she hasn't heard of any of those movies. She's kept kinda abreadst of current releases, though she'd rarely gone to the movies so usually some time behind everyone else. The chili grows on her, both as sustenance and a convenient reason to not speak.
[2017-07-16 22:16:02] <Pink|Julia> ||
[2017-07-16 22:17:02] <Antioch|GM> "We should let Julia pick," one of the girls sitting next to Mr. Demetrius says. "Since she's new and all."
[2017-07-16 22:17:02] <Antioch|GM> "Good idea," he agrees. ||
[2017-07-16 22:22:53] * Lysa → Lysa|GM
[2017-07-16 22:26:37] <Pink|Julia> Oh crap. She nearly chokes on her chili, hard swallowing and wiping at her eyes. "I. Um, I dunno what you have," she stammers. And she doesn't know girl movies, anyway. They like... romance? "I mean, I can watch... whatever." She's started to notice herself using that word a lot, recently. An uncomfortable amount, since it usually seems to go along with her giving up on something. She bites her lip. "This is, um, real good. Chili."||
[2017-07-16 22:27:35] <Antioch|GM> "What kinda movies do you like?" the girl with the cornrows asks. "We got pretty much whatever's on Blockbuster Now, and some old stuff." ||
[2017-07-16 22:30:34] ⇐ Camtist quit (uid157531@brockwell.irccloud.com): Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
[2017-07-16 22:39:06] <Pink|Julia> On the spot. "Old stuff's fine," she says, making sure to swallow slowly this time. She can feel where the chips scraped down her throat before. "I like anything, really." Just... none of that mushy stuff, please.||
[2017-07-16 22:40:06] * Lysa|GM → Lysa
[2017-07-16 22:43:49] <Antioch|GM> "Princess Bride!"
[2017-07-16 22:43:49] <Antioch|GM> "... Goblin Queen One?"
[2017-07-16 22:43:49] <Antioch|GM> "Well, The Sandlot's old."
[2017-07-16 22:43:49] <Antioch|GM> "Neverending Story!" ||
[2017-07-16 22:46:32] <Pink|Julia> Well, Princess Bride sounds obviously girly. Neverending Story sounds... long. What even is a Sandlot? "I... haven't seen Goblin Queen?"||
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> "Okay, awesome!" There's a rush to put up the plates, and one of the girls goes to microwave some sweet "kettle" popcorn in preparation for the movie.
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> Before long, all of the girls are sprawled out on the two couches in the living room -- some of them uncomfortably close.
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> It takes a moment to get the movie set up, but one of the girls sitting next to the light switch flicks it off.
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> It's an older movie, and the quality isn't fantastic, but the camera pans down over a small, snowy town.
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> A narrator's voice, female, sinister, begins to speak...
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> "You’ll experience what you experienced here, twice more. The rule of three, to make this stronger. Perhaps it will be me again. Perhaps no. But you will experience blood and darkness and fire, like you experienced it here. If you agree, it will be so.”
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> There's a pause, and ragged, fearful breathing can be heard.
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> "Yes? No? I am impatient."
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> Then another voice, a girl's, off-screen, miserable and defeated.
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> “I said anything. I... I think I meant it.”
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> Everyone hushes up as the movie starts.
[2017-07-16 22:56:16] <Antioch|GM> ||
[2017-07-16 23:00:45] <Pink|Julia> This, at least, she's familiar with- though never quite like this! She is uncomfortably aware of the closeness... and how sweaty she is, she must stink! She wants to go shower or something but bringing it up never seems quite appropriate. It is a little easier in the dark, to pretend that it's just... people even better, just shapes. Until someone talks or moves and spoils it. She tries to relax, wiping at her forehead and wondering
[2017-07-16 23:00:46] <Pink|Julia> how bad her chili breath is. And trying hard not to bump against the girls to either side.||
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[2017-07-16 23:03:59] <Antioch|GM> If anything, the proximity of other people, generating their own heat, is making the sweating worse. It doesn't help that the neighbors fidget and squirm and pass around the bowl of popcorn. Whoever's behind is occasionally burying their face in his back during the more frightening scenes. ||
[2017-07-16 23:08:28] ⇐ MicroIce quit (Megafire@net-56lide.dynamic.ziggo.nl): Ping timeout: 181 seconds
[2017-07-16 23:08:39] <Pink|Julia> The popcorn doesn't taste like popcorn, weirdly sweet. She kinda is okay with that. It isn't sugary like caramel corn or anything. Not super sticky, which is good with everyone's hands going in it. Still, it is hard to focus on the movie when... who /is/ that /touching/ her? It's funny, when it was just the guys she'd never had much of a problem with contact like that - though she'd have made fun of them for being scared - but
[2017-07-16 23:08:39] <Pink|Julia> now she just feels so hyper-aware of everything.
[2017-07-16 23:08:48] <Pink|Julia> No goblin is scarier thant that, it turns out.||
[2017-07-16 23:13:12] * Fossil → fossAsleep
[2017-07-16 23:36:50] <Antioch|GM> The movie wraps up after two goblin-filled (and uncomfortable physical contact-filled) hours. People make their way upstairs, giving Sebastian an opportunity to assess the rooming situation.
[2017-07-16 23:36:50] <Antioch|GM> Lori is a roommate, as is a taller, lanky short-haired girl named Kendall, the one who'd offered the choice of movie to him. ||
[2017-07-16 23:39:22] <Pink|Julia> Wait. Sharing a room? That hadn't... or maybe it had been mentioned but she'd not paid enough attention. Or... or or or... She really needs a shower. And to brush her teeth. And to oh jeeze are they going to change in front of her and...? She goes to retrieve her bag of clothes and toiletries, feeling as lost as she looks as she is led around to see the rooms.||
[2017-07-16 23:39:31] ⇐ Druza|away quit (uid209687@charlton.irccloud.com): Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
[2017-07-16 23:43:24] * soulpelt| → soulpelt|sleep
[2017-07-16 23:44:40] <Antioch|GM> There is, at the very least, a shared bathroom with a private (and much-needed) shower. The sink is already occupied with toothbrushes and assorted unfamiliar paraphernalia -- granted, there's also plenty of paraphernalia in the toiletry kit that Brenda'd prepared, as well as an anatomy-oriented book that's been too intimidating to crack open and read.
[2017-07-16 23:44:40] <Antioch|GM> Kiara, Adrian, and Moraya occupy the room down the hall, so it seems. One more floor up is where the grown-ups sleep. ||
[2017-07-16 23:49:37] <Pink|Julia> She'd been pretty confused at the razors, since she definitely didn't have a beard, and when she'd figured it out that hadn't helped. And hell, she'd always thought Adrian was a guy name. Maybe she could have... she tries not to think about it. That's a bed she made so he has to lie in it. Also, there's a bed hat someone else made, a very literal one, that she is also expected to lie in. Surrounded by girls. She's never done a
[2017-07-16 23:49:37] <Pink|Julia> sleepover before, for what are now obvious reasons but which had been quite a mystery before. Are they gonna ask a million questions? Are they gonna...?
[2017-07-16 23:49:47] <Pink|Julia> At least, for the moment, the voices are quiet.||
[2017-07-16 23:53:28] <Antioch|GM> The room is divided into four quarters, roughly speaking -- cabinets and dressers and desks have been aligned to demarcate each individual space, with the remainder allotted to the doorway. They're all a decent distance apart, but hardly out of "sleepover million questions" range.
[2017-07-16 23:53:28] <Antioch|GM> Lori and Kendall are already in pajamas upon Sebastian's return, though Lori's nightwear is the same chili-stained Becoming Paradise T-shirt, sans pants, while Kendall has on instead a tank top and flannel shorts. ||
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[2017-07-17 00:06:44] <Pink|Julia> The shower, at least, was a much needed reprieve, even with the weirdness of doing it in a strange place. She spends a while, as she dries off, staring at herself in the mirror. Sometimes, she sees herself - himself, that is to say - and other times... what everyone else apparently sees. Dressing in her new pajamas, she hopes she doesn't bake to death but... Well. No use prolonging it, even if nobody is banging on the door for their
[2017-07-17 00:06:44] <Pink|Julia> turn yet. She takes a deep breath and heads to 'her' room. Looks around, then firmly down - Why isn't she wearing pants? Julia is suddenly even more self conscious as she darts to her section of the room like the floor is on fire. She doesn't say anything.||
[2017-07-17 00:07:17] <Antioch|GM> "Find everything you needed?" Kendall asks. ||
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[2017-07-17 00:14:48] <Pink|Julia> She nods- feeling the little bit of bangs bounce on her forehead weirdly, contrasting with the otherwise short hair. "Mhm. I mean, uh, yeah, thanks." Still doesn't look up as she inspects her area.||
[2017-07-17 00:19:03] <Antioch|GM> A twin-sized bed, a cabinet, a desk, and a dresser drawer.
[2017-07-17 00:19:03] <Antioch|GM> "Push the bed into the corner, push the cabinet to block the side of the bed, and block the rest of the bed with the desk," the hollow voice instructs.
[2017-07-17 00:19:03] <Antioch|GM> "You can even sit on the bed and use it as a chair for the desk," suggests the buzzing voice. ||
[2017-07-17 00:21:44] <Pink|Julia> "Bu..." Oh, they almost caught her this time. She can't do anything while everyone's... watching. Are they watching? She feels watched but she really can't look. Can she even move that stuff on her own? Well, obviously she can with... but she certainly can't use her power here.
[2017-07-17 00:22:30] <Pink|Julia> But another part of her agrees with them. She feels so... useless, being tugged around and going along with... with all this crazy stuff happening. She should fight but... but...||
[2017-07-17 00:39:13] * Thalia → Thaliaway
[2017-07-17 00:40:55] <Antioch|GM> "Mind if I hit the lights, then?" Kendall says. ||
[2017-07-17 00:42:35] <Pink|Julia> Yes. Fucking. Please. "...Yeah, okay." And shut up, you two.||
[2017-07-17 00:43:48] <Antioch|GM> Kendall flips the switch.
[2017-07-17 00:43:48] <Antioch|GM> "When are you going to /do something/?" the buzzing voice complains. ||
[2017-07-17 00:46:59] <Pink|Julia> Do something... do something... do WHAT?! She blindly kicks out in the direction of the voice. Shut up, this is a bad time! Everyone's /watching/ and...||
[2017-07-17 00:49:32] <Antioch|GM> "You know what you can /do/, right?" the buzzing voice heedlessly continues.
[2017-07-17 00:49:32] <Antioch|GM> "So now it's a question of what you want to do," the hollow one says. "We'll help." ||
[2017-07-17 00:53:26] <Pink|Julia> She mouths the words in the dark, face pressed to the pillow. "I want to SLEEP!" It is a nicer pillow than the ones she's been using since leaving home. Not LIKE home, but... closer. "I want to..." What DOES she want? Does she want to just get... swept along like this? This isn't an enemy she can punch. Or one she can run from. She can't punch them into giving her mom back.
[2017-07-17 00:53:48] <Pink|Julia> Still. If she doesn't do /anything,/ she doesn't think she'll be able to take it.||
[2017-07-17 00:58:16] <Antioch|GM> "You can too punch people into giving your mom back," the buzzing voice says.
[2017-07-17 00:58:16] <Antioch|GM> "It's just a matter of finding out where she is now from the right people," the hollow voice adds. ||
[2017-07-17 00:58:25] <Antioch|GM> -||
[2017-07-17 00:58:35] <Antioch|GM> "Hunh?" Lori says. "Did you say something?" ||
[2017-07-17 01:00:35] <Pink|Julia> "...Not me!" Julia says, before burying her face in the pillow again.
[2017-07-17 01:00:38] <Pink|Julia> ||
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[2017-07-17 01:06:02] <Antioch|GM> "'kay," she mumbles. "G'night."
[2017-07-17 01:06:02] <Antioch|GM> "Night, everyone," Kendall says.
[2017-07-17 01:06:02] <Antioch|GM> "Figure out what you want to do," the hollow voice says. ||
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[2017-07-17 01:11:24] <Pink|Julia> "G'night," says Julia, hands clenched on her pillow.||
[2017-07-17 01:14:52] <Antioch|GM> ||||