(01) wisteria arrival

[stubbornhope]

Who: Satou Kuroneko & (OPEN)
What: New Arrival
When: November 18th
Where: Hallways (lockers), Library, Science Room (outside of)
Warnings: N/A. Will Edit As Needed!


(a) Hallways / Lockers

[After waking, Satou's first instinct is to go to the library. She's certain that she will begin to panic if she thinks too hard about what's happening. The seven tally marks under her wrist itch from anxiety and she subconsciously pulls her sleeve over them. On her way to the library (or, where she mysteriously remembers it may be,) she stops at her locker. 237. Well, might as well check if she owned anything useful.

Unfortunately, nervous fingers do not handle the delicate dial well. She keeps messing up the combination, flinching when she hears footsteps in the hall or other loud noises. After a third failed attempt, Satou growls under her breath.]

Why am I acting so skittish? It's my locker... I'm not breaking in or anything... [She tugs on the lock. It doesn't open.

She groans.] These suck. If I had my magic I'd just blast it open.

(b) Library

[After confirming that her locker is empty, Satou continues on her way to the library. She's quick to find the reference books and startled to see that only reach the 1990s. Stranger still, she can't find a place to check out the books. She wanders around the library in quiet confusion for a few minutes before deciding to ask for help.

You got this, Satou. It's just talking to a stranger. You like strangers.

... But do strangers like me?

She tries to smile and be friendly when waving to the stranger, but there's a nervous twitch to that smile.]

Uh. Good day! And pardon me, but... Do you know where I go to check out books?

(c) Science Room (outside of)

[She actually wanted to check out the music room. Playing music would be a good way to get a grip on her emotions, after all. Satou has done a decent job of being as quiet as a mouse, maintaining a polite and dainty façade as she plays the role of "ideal student." But when she passes the science room, Satou catches a glance at the grinning model peering the glass.

And her facade falls as she shriek in fright and swings a kick at the door out of instinct

then crumples to the floor, holding her ankle.]

Fuuu-- auuunnnyaaugh... n-no magic... right... [Without her magic, Satou's just a normal girl, who can't even win a fight against a door.]

(d) Wild Card

(Hit me up at taiyakinonaku for a custom prompt!)

Comments

B

[dereban]

Oh, that. . . you can't. You'd have to read the books here or copy them down on a notebook or photograph or something.

[She says those words indifferently with a dismissive wave of her hand.]

[stubbornhope]

... Eh?

[Satou looks at the book again. She had hoped to check it out to read through. Copying down the contents means she'd have to finish it here anyway.]

I don't suppose that photocopies are a thing here..?

[dereban]

They are, but they're outside the library so you wouldn't be able to photocopy the books.

[stubbornhope]

... ah.

[Some very rude thoughts run through her head.

Satou will not say them aloud, but her face does briefly twist in a way that reflects them.]

Well! That's fine. There will be no overdue fees this way. I wasn't planning to read for fun anyway.

[dereban]

[She arches a brow curiously before deciding to ask, arms crossed:]

What were you planning on reading for, then--and uh, what are you looking for?

[stubbornhope]

[Satou hesitates. Her persona of a cutesy idiot can easily be wrecked by bookwork... But she would appreciate the help, so decides to open up enough to allow it.]

I thought that I might cross-check some world events I remember with the ones in these books. I'm curious about that.

c

[adsum]

[ There's another thump! soon after she falls, not one that shakes the ground but rather the wall further down the hall, of a boy having jumped backwards in surprise except there was no space to jump back into.

To his credit, his first instinct is to tentatively pick his way forward towards her, except he does throw a fearful look towards the anatomical model behind the door (still grinning, skull maybe the slightest bit ajar, as if laughing) before looking back down at Satou. ]

Did you twist it...? That was a pretty... [ ...strange sounding... ] ...alarming... scream.

[stubbornhope]

[Oh gosh, someone saw her? And heard her embarrassing scream too? Satou can feel the colour creeping up her neck already. She would never wish to be invisible again, sure, but she can wish that people didn't see her failings.

She slowly picks herself up again, using the wall to press a hand to while dragging herself to her feet. A twist? She blinks.]

O-Oh... Sorry. Did I worry you? [People worrying about her..!! Satou knows she should feel guilty for that, but a part of her is also quite happy.

A "good girl" would lean into not worrying him, right? So she laughs nervously into a chipper answer;] I-I mean uh nope nope! No twisties wisties in this foot, no siree!

[adsum]

[ His gaze slow slides away from her face at that "twistie wisties," almost as if embarrassed in her stead, unconvinced when he looks back a moment later. ]

...If you say so. That thing freaked me out too, the first time I saw it.

[ if that's any consolation ]

Best if you don't make eye contact with it.

[stubbornhope]

[... she can feel her reputation cracking. how does one recover from this kind of stupidity??

Satou also averts her gaze, but because she just heard a challenge. Fortunately she does stop herself from making eye contact with the model, instead returning her gaze to his face.]

Is it alive?

I-It can't be, right? That'd be weird?

[adsum]

[ That was not a challenge, miss!! ]

...Yeah, that would be weird.

[ Is it alive, though? ...That would depend on one's definition of the word. ]

Did you need something from inside? I could grab it for you.

B

[commences]

Oh!

( the stranger of the day happens to be that person, who is putting up a few books back properly on their respective shelves. if anyone didn't know better, they'd just think he was a student doing an honest day's work which he is, because the librarian won't give him a real job, and so he does what he can parttime because he enjoys books in general — )

If you try speaking to the Librarian, they'll just get mad... but between me and Haruka-chan, maybe we can help.

( he's looking around his legs to see if she's around, but there's no one yanking at his jacket, nor is there any books or papers being thrown onto the ground, so maybe she left. that said, she would probably get upset with him saying this.

he stands up, setting a few books down on the cart as he leans up against it. )

Which books did you need?

[stubbornhope]

[Oh, geez. She hates to be troublesome, but at the same time... Satou knows that she'll save time by accepting his help. Even the bit about the Librarian is news to her.

Satou averts her gaze shyly at first, then manages a slight smile.]

I'm trying to learn more about the history of this place. Do they have books like that?

[commences]

...That would make things too easy, and remove the mystery, don't you think?

( with a small laugh, he smiles as he turns around to grab a book from off the bookshelf, and flipping it open reveals nothing of visual use. the front cover has that as well, he seems to be reading a novel about a detective, but after the first few paragraphs, he closes it, and then sets it back in place. )

Ahah! I can help you on this place, it may not be what you're looking for, but... what will you give me in return?

[stubbornhope]

Isn't the point of a mystery to solve it..?

[Satou keeps an eye on him, wondering what he's looking for in that book. Does he like mystery novels? Then shouldn't he know the rule of solving them better than anyone?

His question catches her off guard. It's hard enough to ask for help... Now she's supposed to give him something? Does she even have any skills worth while..?]

I... uh. A high five..? Whatever's in my school locker?

[commences]

Make me breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a whole month.

( does she seem like she can cook? he doesn't know, but it's the first thing that comes to mind that most people find a luxury.

hm, maybe she'd try to poison him, but he is giving her his best with this, willing to depart with vital information. )

How does that work for you?

A

[morsecodes]

[As usual, Leo isn't really participating in the school activities. He hates school, hates being trapped here, hates he doesn't have any of his friends, and hates he can't use his fire. He had been hanging out outside in his makeshift tent (since he still wouldn't move into the dorms) and was on his way to the workshop, since that's the only thing that made him somewhat happy here, when he couldn't help but notice someone struggling with their locker.]

-- Uh. Need a hand? [His tinkering senses aren't what they normally are, either, but he knows he can definitely get a wonky lock to open.]

[stubbornhope]

[Her pride takes a hit. She does need help, but... uuuugh why does it have to be so obvious?

Satou lowers her hands from the lock.]

Yeah, kinda... I never had one of these kinds before.

[morsecodes]

Hey, no worries! Always happy to help a cute girl. [The low-key flirt comes out of habit, but mentally he can imagine Calpyso ready to punch him for it. He moves closer, taking the lock in his hands, before -- he pauses.]

Uh. Any chance you know the code? [He hates the the debuff this place has going on. Normally he'd just know, his hands would twist through the code without a problem, but now... Well, he knows he'll open it easily but it's annoying not having his normal talents.]

[stubbornhope]

[The flirt is taken with reddened cheeks, but a slightly guarded expression. She has had her share of bad run-ins with flirty behavior. He seems harmless enough, so she tries to train her suspicions off of her face. When asked, she holds up a hand.]

Here. I wrote it on my palm. My brain feels like soup though. I don't remember what these numbers mean.

[She doesn't know the left-right pattern for her lock.]

C

[rearranger]

[ The sight of a person kicking the door to the science room and only succeeding in banging her foot. It looks pretty painful. There's something comical about the entire cartoonish scene, and he snickers, but approaches her regardless. This is the girl from before./. Satou, was it? ]

Sheesh. What'd that door do to you?

[ He glances in the window, then back to her. He wasn't particularly bothered by the sight, but he supposes somebody else might be. He jerks his thumb in the direction of the model. ]

You worried about this guy? He don't bite. Well, not that I know of anyway.

[ He's never actually met it for himself, after all, given that the door was currently locked. But then, the fact that he was locked up in there meant that he couldn't. ]

[stubbornhope]

R, Ranger-san!

[Aw, fudge. Of all the people to see her like this, it had to be one of the ones she's trying to impress. Satou likes Ranger and wants to keep him around... That won't happen if he finds out that she's a door kicking weirdo!

She scrambles to her feet again, trying to pretending nothing ever happened.]

Ah... ahaha. I-I was only startled. I didn't expect to see such a face in the window! Doesn't it spook you too?

[rearranger]

[ Ranger seems to be willing enough to let it slide, at least, offering no further comment on it. He glances to the window once more. It's just an anatomical model, so it's not scary, but it is poorly placed. ]

Ehhh, it is pretty creepy that it's just hanging out in the window there, though. Must be somebody's idea of a prank.

[stubbornhope]

Oh, it's a prank? Hahaha... ha.

[She doesn't find it very funny... but maybe she should be grateful? There was a period of her life where Satou couldn't be pranked. No one could see her or acknowledge her existence back then, so no one could pull a prank on her.

Humbling herself, Satou peeks nervously at the model again... then sighs.]

It's not so bad when you know that it's there... Sorry. I was kind of noisy, huh? D-Did I bother you by screaming?

[rearranger]

Nah. It was kinda funny. Doubt you're the first one that this bastard's gotten.

[ Sorry, Satou, but it really is like watching somebody get a bit of a mean prank pulled on them. ]

Were you trying to get in there? It's locked up pretty tight.