::Calm down, I'm fine. Tired, but fine:: He thinks, his thoughts laced with just a tiny bit of pain. ::I didn't expect it is all. You still sound hurt though.:: He unwraps his mind from around hers now that the storm is over and smiles mentally. ::You can't say you're not strong anymore, not now that I've seen you stop that storm.::
::Calm down, I'm fine. Tired, but fine:: He thinks, his thoughts laced with just a tiny bit of pain. ::I didn't expect it is all. You still sound hurt though.:: He unwraps his mind from around hers now that the storm is over and smiles mentally. ::You can't say you're not strong anymore, not now that I've seen you stop that storm.::
::I was afraid of what would happen to you if I didn't. That's what happens every time I go near the wall. I..just can't any more. It hurts for so long after. And I didn't really do anything special. I..um...well, I sort of synced my thoughts with Spin's for a half a second. He probably doesn't even know I did it. I didn't know what else to do to make it stop.::
::Remember when I said you were strong because you cared about people? And it looks like if you get help from others you can handle the wall, so it looks like I was right about you being stronger with help, doesn't it?::
::Remember when I said you were strong because you cared about people? And it looks like if you get help from others you can handle the wall, so it looks like I was right about you being stronger with help, doesn't it?::
::Don't get too cocky there, Tare. That wall isn't coming down anytime soon. And you see what happens when you try to just attack it. I...I know I need help, but I...talking isn't going to fix this. As awful as the things I do remember are I can't imagine how bad that's got to be for me to think that,:: she said, indicating the wall, ::was a good idea. You're gonna have to be patient with me.::
::When you start using your nickname for me I know you're okay. Anyway, I guess it's settled then. The wall comes down.. in time.::
::When you start using your nickname for me I know you're okay. Anyway, I guess it's settled then. The wall comes down.. in time.::
::Fair enough. But no rushing it. I don't want to hurt you.::
She stepped back and wiped her eyes.
"So, not that my problems aren't fascinating and all, but moving on...how's Kam?"
"It appears discussion between Kam and that man have degraded to throwing lightning back and forth. I have checked in since I got an electric charge and powered a battery back up by walking near it."
::What was that about not getting her to do anything?:: Taron askes Jiminy privately.
"It appears discussion between Kam and that man have degraded to throwing lightning back and forth. I have checked in since I got an electric charge and powered a battery back up by walking near it."
::What was that about not getting her to do anything?:: Taron askes Jiminy privately.
"Well, I suppose it could be worse. Maybe they'll get it out of their systems?"
::Well, you did get her to admit she has a problem,:: he admitted grudgingly, ::but that problem is still just as bad as it was before. We're going to have to keep a close eye on her. She's really reckless when she's sleepwalking. Like she makes me look like the model of discretion and wisdom kind of reckless.::
"Kamenwati has a lot of lightning built up. I can't even figure out what's going through his mind right now.. it's like a haze is all that's there right now." Taron replies as he shakes his head.
"Is everything...ok?" Krays asks, as he materializes nearby, a look of concern on his face.
Vakkler sees Mr. Sinh. "Ah, you're back. I heard you were sick."
Sinh gives a sheepish grin and wipes his forehead again. "Yes, Master. I was jes a bit under the weather, as they say. Sorry to leave you in the lurch." He scans the hallway with a professional eye, "The halls are looking cleaner than I expected. Have I missed the children suddenly becoming less messy or something?"
"Not quite yet, but it will be. Thanks for the concern, Krays."
"Hey, what did you do while everyone else was gone?"
"Good, then."
Rolls his eyes
"I endured Professor Relkav for the better part of a day."
"You get a medal. I'll just need to get one made..." Taron says simply, nodding.
"I don't know. A medal might not be enough. I'm pretty sure he's working on sainthood there," Jiminy said with a wink.
"I actually had it easy. I only had to copy a bestiary once, and had some steamed grubs. Most of the other students he actualy...well..stalked down and dragged into detention, some with injury. Then he almost got into it with Mr. Aleister...it was...awkward."
"Oh, come on, Jimmy, he's not that bad."
"So, you got something planned for later? I'm betting Kam's gonna need something to cheer him up or at least take his mind off of things."
Laughs at Jimmy
"I think being a kobold helps...he dosn't seem to ahve it out for me as bad. He actually took his eyes off of me long enoug hto get out andwander looking for other familiar faces. Spin was just crashed out in the detention room, so I left him alone."
"I actually had it easy. I only had to copy a bestiary once, and had some steamed grubs. Most of the other students he actualy...well..stalked down and dragged into detention, some with injury. Then he almost got into it with Mr. Aleister...it was...awkward."
"Whoa, what? Really? I mean, he's usually pretty cranky, but that's way beyond the normal."
Laughs at Jimmy
"I think being a kobold helps...he dosn't seem to ahve it out for me as bad. He actually took his eyes off of me long enoug hto get out andwander looking for other familiar faces. Spin was just crashed out in the detention room, so I left him alone."
"Yeah, dealing with Vakkler can be exhausting," he nodded sagely. "I spend way more time with the guy than can be considered healthy, so I'd know," he added with a grin. "Just can't seem to stay out of detention."
She snorted. "More like you don't think that it's been a successful day unless at least one teacher has added to your life sentence of detention."
"So, you got something planned for later?"
*suddenly becomes interested in a flowering vine a few feet away*
"So, you got something planned for later?"*suddenly becomes interested in a flowering vine a few feet away*
"I'll take that as a yes. I'm guessing this is one of those times you want me to just butt out. But thanks for at least having the good grace not to come right out and say that you're not going to tell me because I can't keep a secret," she teased.
"Oh yeah, like I would be so rude as to not tell you I'm planning a prison break because I know you can't keep a secret." Taron says, laying the sarcasm on thick and rolling his eyes.
"Oh yeah, like I would be so rude as to not tell you I'm planning a prison break because I know you can't keep a secret." Taron says, laying the sarcasm on thick and rolling his eyes.
"Oh, is that all? Yes, just let me go run and announce that to the entire student body and faculty," she said with equal sarcasm.
"And I know it's not really a secret cause you told me out loud. Which means you weren't really worried about eavesdroppers either."
"Not in this garden. And yes, I told you out loud because there's no point in keeping it a secret. Right now the only person that could stop me wants to get away even more than I do."
"Who's up for a trip to an island between the Elemental Planes of Fire, Water, and Air? Nothing like a true sky and warm water. I've already gotten a few more people interested."
"Hey, I've already said, count me in."
"Any other time I might argue with you, but right now that sounds like a great idea."
"I'm in."
Vakkler sees Mr. Sinh. "Ah, you're back. I heard you were sick."Sinh gives a sheepish grin and wipes his forehead again. "Yes, Master. I was jes a bit under the weather, as they say. Sorry to leave you in the lurch." He scans the hallway with a professional eye, "The halls are looking cleaner than I expected. Have I missed the children suddenly becoming less messy or something?"
Vakkler shrugs. "The students were on a camping trip. I managed to...contain those who weren't."
"I'll go too, if I may?"
"I'll go too, if I may?"
"Of course you may. You're more than welcome Krays."
The kobold sighs. "Actually, I need to talk to you. Is there someplace with thick walls?"
Sinh raises an eyebrow at the kobold's use of the word 'contain' in association with 'students', imagining that would be quite a task. "Well, the janitor's closet is.. hm... well-built. I'm thinking that one of my predecessors mixed some wrong chemicals and destroyed a building given it seems bomb-proof now. We can talk there if you like, Master."
Sinh raises an eyebrow at the kobold's use of the word 'contain' in association with 'students', imagining that would be quite a task. "Well, the janitor's closet is.. hm... well-built. I'm thinking that one of my predecessors mixed some wrong chemicals and destroyed a building given it seems bomb-proof now. We can talk there if you like, Master."
Sinh raises an eyebrow at the kobold's use of the word 'contain' in association with 'students', imagining that would be quite a task. "Well, the janitor's closet is.. hm... well-built. I'm thinking that one of my predecessors mixed some wrong chemicals and destroyed a building given it seems bomb-proof now. We can talk there if you like, Master."
"Excellent. Is it far?"
"Not at all, Master."
Sinh leads Vakkler around an adjacent corner, unlocks a small locker and steps sideways into it. Vakkler follows, intrigued. What is a tight squeeze for the human is comfortable for the kobold. Pushing aside the false back of the locker, they step into a narrow and high old stone corridor. Stairs wind downwards. As they roam down the stairs and through the following corridor, Sinh answers the unspoken question. "Near as I can figure out this was once part of the old steam heating system. When it was abandoned, someone decided to turn it into a set of secret passages. I haven't looked too carefully but I'm pretty sure it isn't on the maps. The ones I saw show only that these 'old pipes' were sealed off."
After a few more bends and another staircase, they pop out of a broom closet across from a solid door marked "Janitor". Sinh opens the door and gestures for Vakkler to enter. He taps the doorframe as Vakkler passes through. The frame appears to be 5' of solid stone sandwiching a 1" thick sheet of lead. The door is solid metal with hinges that would stymie a giant. Sinh follows quickly after Vakkler and shuts the door with an air compressing WHUMP. The bolt thrown, they are isolated.
The 'closet' is probably 500 square feet and contains various cleaning supplies (neatly ordered), a sofa, several plush chairs, and a card table. Sinh indicates Vakkler should sit wherever he'd prefer. "Tea, Master Vakkler?"
Vakkler stares blankly. "Er...yes...great Hades."
Sinh's response to the comment is a slight smile as he sets about making tea in a chipped tea service. When done, he sits down across from the kobold, handing him a cup and saucer.
"What can I do for you, Master?"
Sinh's response to the comment is a slight smile as he sets about making tea in a chipped tea service. When done, he sits down across from the kobold, handing him a cup and saucer.
"What can I do for you, Master?"
Vakkler takes the tea, but doesn't drink it. "Well, there's a bit of a situation." He glances at the leafy contents of the cup and sets it down. "Nothing major, but I thought you should know. The fellow I acquired the oozes from...well, I shouldn't assume too much. Do you know what derro are?"
Sinh scratches his head, trying to stir his memory. "Well, I don't know as I've ever met one... but I've heard of them. Some sort of deep-dwelling, crazy, fey sort o' people, I think. I'm guessing this isn't a hypothetical question, Master?"
"Well, I've got to go get the living lightning bolt then. Be sure to bring anything you need or think you'll want to bring with you. We won't be staying long but you never know what will happen. Do you wanna meet back here in the garden?"
"Well, I've got to go get the living lightning bolt then. Be sure to bring anything you need or think you'll want to bring with you. We won't be staying long but you never know what will happen. Do you wanna meet back here in the garden?"
"Sounds good to me. We can meet back here in twenty minutes."
"I'm off to get Kam then. Someone be sure to stay with Ephebe." Taron says before he leaves the garden and enters the school.
"Hey, Krays, can I count on you to keep an eye on Jiminy for me? I'll go with Ephebe then since her room is closer to mine than Jiminy's temp quarters."
"Sure you can! Well, I can look out for him but I can't keep him out of trouble..."
"Sure you can! Well, I can look out for him but I can't keep him out of trouble..."
"No, problem. Just holler if you need reinforcements," she said with a wink.
Jiminy seemed unconcerned.
"I don't really need to pack anything. The benefits of reality bending. Anyways, we can just head to your room, Krays so you can grab whatever you might need. You bringing your skeleton friend along?"