"Isolation was one of the problems! I was the only one here who couldn't do anything and got shunned for it!"
She put a hand on his shoulder. "And I am sorry for that as well. We didn't do the right thing by you. We should have stepped in much sooner. If you think that you can keep an even keel and go about your normal business like you've been doing, we'll take that into account. Even if you are isolated in the infirmary you'll be allowed a few visitors and it will only be for a few days at the outside. Okay?"
Tyrrin returned Fei's bow. If someone showed you respect, you had to return it. That's how you made allies. "Nothing whatsoever, Fei. We were having a conversation about the weather."
"The communal body language here states otherwise," Fei says very evenly. Noting the tone of her voice, the way she is holding her hands and the set of her jaw as she speaks, the young monk changes the subject quickly.
"Tyrrin Denulia, this is Asch Redgrave and his girlfriend Amada, both students here at Avalon. Asch is a half-vampire, and Amada is a succubus - they have risen above the callings of their darker origins," he says to the elf, "as many of the students and faculty here have done."
Turning to Asch and Amada, he says "Tyrrin and her brother Ehos have just enrolled yesterday, and are learning the ways and customs of our school. I hope you will be helpful to them in their acclimation."
"Forgive me for intruding on your discussion of the weather - I will leave the three of you to it. May your day be peaceful," he concludes as he bows to the trio and makes his way along one of the many paths surrounding the main building.
"Let's go to the jeweler first then." Vai agrees, waiting for one of her sisters to lead the way.
Ephebe led the way to the jeweler's shop. She often came here for specialized crafting supplies. She opened the door and called out, "Mr. Blibdilboop, are you in here."
A wizened gnome with bright blue hair and thick magnifying glasses on climbed up onto a step stool so he could see over the counter.
"Oh, it's you," he said grumpily. "I was hoping I'd actually get to make something today. I'm bored. Harrumph."
"Even if you are isolated in the infirmary you'll be allowed a few visitors and it will only be for a few days at the outside. Okay?"
"Just hurry and get this thing out. I don't want to have the littlest annoyance set me off." Michael says as his shoulders slump. "I'm glad Kitty's family didn't trigger the seed at least."
Phaezeriel is very tired, the exhaustion apparent in his mental voice, and he seems dazed and confused. Too near collapse to talk, he answers telepathically.
::...I'm tired...feel weak...I don't get tired...something wrong...::
At this point, Phaezeriel collapses, losing consciousness and falling to the floor.
As Khasser meets one tiger in a clash of feathers and fangs, the one bite by the paper dinosaur tries to run off, only to get caught and crushed in gigantic paper jaws. With that threat gone, Oneiro throws pieces of razor paper at the last tiger and misses as he tries to avoid cutting Khasser.
Thanks Aananda again and heads to the alchemy room, and pokes his head in, looking for Razule.
Krays sees Razule mixing something in a large beaker, whistling as he does so. After a moment it turns blue and he turns to put away. He stops when he notices Krays peeking in.
"Ah, hello there. I heard the good news and I'd like to say congratulations. Now, what has the expectant father coming to see me?"
A boy with green hair and skin is leaning over him. "Are you okay?"
When he plasneshifts back he starts toward the main entrance and gets hit with a lightning stike.
"Yes, it just caught me off guard is all. No harm done, but thanks for asking." Velvarmisan says as he stands back up.
"Ah, hello there. I heard the good news and I'd like to say congratulations. Now, what has the expectant father coming to see me?"
"Thank you! I was just speaking to Aananda, and she said that you had made her an anti-nausea concoction. Ephebe is already having a tough time, and you know how much she likes to eat." he says with a wink.
Ephebe led the way to the jeweler's shop. She often came here for specialized crafting supplies. She opened the door and called out, "Mr. Blibdilboop, are you in here."
A wizened gnome with bright blue hair and thick magnifying glasses on climbed up onto a step stool so he could see over the counter.
"Oh, it's you," he said grumpily. "I was hoping I'd actually get to make something today. I'm bored. Harrumph."
"There are more of us than just Ephebe, Mr. Blibdilboop." Vai says tentatively. She hadn't expected a gnome. "I actually had thought about having something made... if it's not too much trouble?"
"Oh my, the plumbing would never be the same if she couldn't keep anything down. I'll find the recipe and mix up some real quick." Opening up a file cabinet that might be easier to burn than organize, Raz digs around until he finds an battered old notebook. He flips through a few pages and immediately takes a pen to start editing the recipe. "It'll be easier to make it better than it was now that I've got a better stocked lab. Just give me a few minutes."
"Have you two talked about names yet?" He asks as he goes around the lab and collects what he needs. "Don't name one after me, whatever you do. I don't like my name enough to want someone else stuck with it. I'm serious, you can ask Tam or Ryo how many times they've had to dodge explosive vials."
"We haven't talked about it yet. We talked about not givign them standard dragon names, that's about it..."
"Even if you are isolated in the infirmary you'll be allowed a few visitors and it will only be for a few days at the outside. Okay?""Just hurry and get this thing out. I don't want to have the littlest annoyance set me off." Michael says as his shoulders slump. "I'm glad Kitty's family didn't trigger the seed at least."
"I'm glad too. I take it that means the visit went well? It's nice to see families that actually do care about their children. Sometimes we see way too much of the other kind."
"Come on, let's go talk to Ryo. We can sort this out and get the ball rolling on what we need to do to make you better."
As Khasser meets one tiger in a clash of feathers and fangs, the one bite by the paper dinosaur tries to run off, only to get caught and crushed in gigantic paper jaws. With that threat gone, Oneiro throws pieces of razor paper at the last tiger and misses as he tries to avoid cutting Khasser.
Jeran throws a punch seemingly into the air and a wave of force sweeps out, heading for the last tiger.
"Yes, I had this sapphire, and I was wondering if I could get it set for a necklace of some sort. I don't really know exactly what I want, but the gem is so pretty I would hate to waste it." Vai said this while walking up to the counter, digging through her bag for the specific sapphire she had picked out and then placing it on the counter for the gnome to see.
Vai hadn't really thought of that... gold or silver. Probably gold. It would match her dress. "I think gold...?" Vai wasn't too sure though. She had never bought jewelry, let alone had it made. What would look best? Something that would match her hair or something that would contrast? She glanced back at her sisters for help.
"I'm glad too. I take it that means the visit went well? It's nice to see families that actually do care about their children. Sometimes we see way too much of the other kind."
"I think they like me, or can at least tolerate me. Obaa-sama was weird though, even for this school. Very... blunt."
"Come on, let's go talk to Ryo. We can sort this out and get the ball rolling on what we need to do to make you better."
"Sounds good." Michael replied, taking one last drink from the glass before standing up. He wobbled a bit, but that was more likely from having set in one place for so long.
Or from the doubts he was having.
Nala had said the 'seed' just encouraged anger and frustrations. That meant that all the things he had done are things he would have done eventually... right?
"No problem. It happens. I was worried for a minute there. Not all the students here are resistant to lightning. I'm Pan, by the way.""Yes, it just caught me off guard is all. No harm done, but thanks for asking." Velvarmisan says as he stands back up.A boy with green hair and skin is leaning over him. "Are you okay?"
When he plasneshifts back he starts toward the main entrance and gets hit with a lightning stike.
"I am Velvarmisan. Nice to meet you."
"We haven't talked about it yet. We talked about not givign them standard dragon names, that's about it..."
"Names are names, so don't worry about whether the would go on a dragon or not. Besides, it's not like there are a lot of people on this world that could if the name was draconic or not."
Raz mixes a few ingredients together and steps away as a puff of vile smoke shoots out of the beaker.
"Okay, none of that." He mumbles as he tries a different mix. This time there is no smoke and it turns a pleasant shade of red. He tests it a few times before handing the beaker over to Krays. "Start her off with half a cup. If it's not enough, go up to three-fourths of a cup."
Aananda knocked on the door to Ryo's office. She smiled back at Michael, trying to be reassuring. She could see that he was jittery. Right at that moment the only thing she regretted about Chan being dead was that she couldn't kill him again.
The door opens to show Ryo standing in front of the large school map on the wall.
"Good morning, Ananda. I was just thinking about adding another story or wing to the school. What's up?"
"Remember way back a whole couple of weeks ago when I said that we needed to have a conference with Mr. Dacamara? Well, to be fair, I didn't either. Luckily, Mr. Dacamara has a well-developed conscience and came to confess some things he had done. Luckily for him too. It seems that we still have some clean-up from that mess from before. It'll be faster if I just tell you telepathically."
After Aananda fills him in, Ryo nods and looks to Michael.
"That is troubling. I never would have guessed such a subtle(in comparison) ploy. You are okay with a group of people removing something from your mind?"
"Yes, sir, I am. It's not like it was something I grew up with."
"Fair enough. Aananda, when would you like to attempt the psychic surgery?"
"You been here long? I don't remember you, but I kind of tend to get caught up in my own world a lot so you could have been here longer than me and I wouldn't have noticed," he admitted with a sheepish grin.
"I have only been here a week, actually."
"We haven't talked about it yet. We talked about not givign them standard dragon names, that's about it...""Names are names, so don't worry about whether the would go on a dragon or not. Besides, it's not like there are a lot of people on this world that could if the name was draconic or not."
Raz mixes a few ingredients together and steps away as a puff of vile smoke shoots out of the beaker.
"Okay, none of that." He mumbles as he tries a different mix. This time there is no smoke and it turns a pleasant shade of red. He tests it a few times before handing the beaker over to Krays. "Start her off with half a cup. If it's not enough, go up to three-fourths of a cup."
"Well, the sheer number of syllables would be a dead give away...
Thank you very much. I'll keep in mind what you said about names when the time comes. Thanks again!"
"Well, the sheer number of syllables would be a dead give away...
Thank you very much. I'll keep in mind what you said about names when the time comes. Thanks again!"
"Don't worry about it. Tell her I said hi and that I just whipped up a batch of the energy drink she likes."
After Aananda fills him in, Ryo nods and looks to Michael.
"That is troubling. I never would have guessed such a subtle(in comparison) ploy. You are okay with a group of people removing something from your mind?"
"Yes, sir, I am. It's not like it was something I grew up with."
"Fair enough. Aananda, when would you like to attempt the psychic surgery?"
"Nala doesn't feel comfortable doing it now, and I feel that she's the best choice to perform this procedure. I would say the sooner the better. A day, no more than two. That should give her time to consult with Miss Jones who will supervise the surgery, and potentially with Mother if she has a few moments to spare from Miss Shearskye's problem. This isn't Mother's area of expertise, but considering who put this thing in Michael's mind she could probably provide some insight into how it was done."
"The question is, what do we do in the meantime? Do we let Michael continue on as he has been? There haven't been any incidents in quite some time. Or do we put him into medical isolation with some visitors allowed until after the surgery?"
"The question is, what do we do in the meantime? Do we let Michael continue on as he has been? There haven't been any incidents in quite some time. Or do we put him into medical isolation with some visitors allowed until after the surgery?"
"The anti-violence wards are back up now, but since I had to completely remake them I haven't had time to test them. They may or may not work if something triggers the seed. How do you feel about being in the infirmary for a few days, Michael?"
Micahel really didn't like the fact they kept calling whatever was in his mind a 'seed'. Seeds needed something to grow in, and they made it sound he was just fertilizer.
"As much as I'm forward to my scheduled class of death and dodge rock, I'd rather not have to. I think I can keep my anger under control."
Aananda sighed. "If he feels frustrated about being stuck in the infirmary that could trigger an episode as well. Keeping this thing dormant gives us a much better chance of removing it without damage to Michael's psyche. But at the same time I think that you need supervision, just to be on the safe side," she said to Michael. "If I whipped up a mechanical 'pet' of sorts, something not metal of course or your girlfriend's familiar would eat it...I could program it to deliver a potion of calm emotions if the situation warrants it....would you be alright with that?"
"Actually if you let me tie it to your life force it'll be a great lab assistant for you after this is over. Jim has a whole army of them, and you wouldn't believe how much it speeds up crafting time."
"That... doesn't sound much different from a familiar, actually." Michael says slowly, more to himself than others. "If it keeps me from bringing down the school I guess it'll be okay, and it's not like the help wouldn't be nice."
"It's not really much different from a familiar, including the negative feedback to you if anything bad happens to it. And if anyone asks about it you can honestly say that you're helping out the advanced mechanics class with an experiment. They don't need to know that we're using that experiment to help you with your problem."
"And so soon after Kitty told me not to experiment on myself too." He laughs a little. "I can't say a little dose of calm every now and then wouldn't help. I might actually do better in your class."
"Alright. We'll go straight from here to the lab. It shouldn't take more than a half hour to make. And there's a difference between letting others experiment on you and experimenting on yourself. In theory the former is easier to undo since the person who knows what went wrong the first time isn't the one in dire need of assistance."
::I think any talk of punishments is going to have to wait until after the 'seed' is removed from his mind. I really hope we can save this one.:: she said telepathically to Ryo.
"Alright. We'll go straight from here to the lab. It shouldn't take more than a half hour to make. And there's a difference between letting others experiment on you and experimenting on yourself. In theory the former is easier to undo since the person who knows what went wrong the first time isn't the one in dire need of assistance."
"You know, somehow I don't think she'll care about that. Thank you for the help, Headmaster."
::I think any talk of punishments is going to have to wait until after the 'seed' is removed from his mind. I really hope we can save this one.:: she said telepathically to Ryo.
::We'll have to take into account the fact that he wasn't in his right mind at the time.:: Ryo sends back. ::He's worried a lot about the seed too. If we're aren't quick it could spread to anyone he copies abilities from.::
::I hadn't even considered that possibility. Once I get this homunculus made for Michael I'll go and consult with Mother immediately. And even if he wasn't in his right mind, I don't think he'll be able to forgive himself for what happened if we don't give him some form of 'penance'. I have some ideas. Things like assigning him to help with the lycan integration efforts. Basically small things that let him work through his guilt and move forward.::
::Considering his target for the slurks was a wererat, that sounds like an excellent idea. He should be fine though, but the future is a fickle thing, no matter what Ephebe says.::
"You're quite welcome, Mr. Dacamara. Have a nice day and enjoy the talent show later."
"I will."
Phaezeriel moans and rolls nearly off the bed. Simultaneously a weak pulse of telepathy spreads from him before fizzling out about 45 feet from him. Everyone within that radius sees a very brief glimpse of a hellish landscape, complete with fire, brimstone, demons, and tortured souls. It passes almost before anyone can register that they are seeing it, like a movie with two frames in the reel that have been replaced with hell.
"Don't worry about it. Tell her I said hi and that I just whipped up a batch of the energy drink she likes.""Well, the sheer number of syllables would be a dead give away...
Thank you very much. I'll keep in mind what you said about names when the time comes. Thanks again!"
Looks confused
"Will she not like that you made an anti-nausea serum? Why tell her it's the energy drink?"
Leaves the cafeteria after taking care of both trays, and heads to the Library.