Vier Wolff & Anna Vandemeel
Location: Owl's Nest Hotel - Library
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 10.09.1994 (SAT)
Weather: Overcast
Originally Posted by
Anna
“Why do you guys even have a library here, if you don’t mind me asking? A family hobby? Or is it typical for American hotels to have libraries or something?"
A somewhat complicated expression passed by Rachel's face, but she simply brushed it aside with a slightly amused smile. At the same time, she made a vague gesture with her hand, implicating that even she wasn't truly privy to the reason why this amazing, if chaotic, collection of books had been tucked away at the basement of an old, dilapidated hotel building.
"Well... from what I understand, my uncle started this place because people kept forgetting their books at the hotel. Eventually he simply started collecting all sorts of old texts and, well..." Rachel turned and nodded towards the shelves. "It would be a shame to keep this sort of place to ourselves, especially since the town has no proper library anymore. So, that's why we opened it to the public."
A chuckle escaped the redhead's lips.
"I doubt there's that many hotels with an odd hobby like this around the country."
Originally Posted by
Vier
“I’m good for now, but if you’re not too busy. Could I talk to you later about shopping in the town?”
This seemed to surprise Rachel a bit, as she blinked at Vier's question before flashing another, somewhat subdued smile.
"Shopping? Well, sure... I guess?" Rachel answered with a shrug. "I mean, it's not like there's that many places where you can shop out here. Your best bet would be hopping onto a bus to Seattle... But, anyways, like I said, I don't mind! I'll swing by later tonight to talk about that stuff. Right now I should leave you guys to explore the library... or in Vier's case, working."
The redhead winked at the new employee.
"I have some work to finish up myself, but I'll be sure to come notify you if it starts looking like the storm's about to hit. Wouldn't want you guys to get stuck here, instead of your dorms," she continued, giving the group a small wave of goodbye as she headed for the stairs.
And with that, it looked like both Anna Vandemeel and Vier Wolff had work ahead of themselves... different kinds, of course, but work nonetheless.
[SCENE END /// Move to NEXT Phase!]
Elise Pelltier, Alexstrasza Lockhart & John Dove
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Common Room
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 10.09.1994 (SAT)
Weather: Overcast
Originally Posted by
Elise
"Oh. Yeah. I think I do. I'm so sorry, Jake."
Jake stared at Elise for a quite while... before eventually flashing a small, if a bit tired, smile. He then shook his head.
"You've got nothing to apologize for, dude," the janitor answered, sipping on his own coffee. "Still... thanks. You're a good kid, Elise. Don't ever let anyone else tell you otherwise."
While this was happening, it seemed that the confrontation-of-sorts was over, and Sakura Tsukioka had left the common room. Behind her, she had left a somewhat chilly atmosphere, one that had slightly marred the otherwise nice morning. Even the youngest of the Coastrise siblings had fallen silent, sticking to her older brother for safety while eyeing everyone in a somewhat suspicious way.
Originally Posted by
Elise
"Huh, wonder what they might have been looking for. Still, it is awfully rude of them to have left it in disarray like that... Just what was in that storage room anyway?"
Jake shrugged his shoulders.
"Nothing important. Just old junk from back when the school had been operating in the past," he replied. "I guess the most interesting thing was that old dummy used in biology classes, but even that you guys dragged out to your Beach Party, didn't you? Who knows what that was all about..."
Originally Posted by
Elise
"Not... usually? I mean, I've heard that there's been some friction between some students, mostly rumours so I've probably heard an exaggerated version of the event, but this is the first time I've seen it happen... Sakura's usually very friendly, but she can be really... intense sometimes. Usually in overeager friendliness, but I guess it can also go the other way too..."
Jake hummed in contemplation, finishing up his coffee and glancing towards the doorway through which the girl had left.
"Well... I suppose everybody is here for a reason after all. Even the most friendly, cheerful ones..." he said quietly, almost like he didn't exactly mean for Elise to hear it.
Originally Posted by
John
“It appears I have been promoted to cleanup duty. Please gather together your empty dishes and used cutlery in an orderly fashion when you are done. Now, Miss Lockhart, if you are really not going to eat that…”
Originally Posted by
Elise
"Congratulations on your promotion, Corporal Dove, but I would never leave someone to battle against the merciless tyranny of dirty dishes alone. I'll help you with the cleanup."
Originally Posted by
John
“Oh, so I do not walk alone to the woeful battlefield of filth. I can drink to that. But we are in no hurry. This particular challenge... Remains to be resolved.”
And thus, with the two clean-up duty members more or less chosen, people in the common room began handing them the empty plates and cups. The Coastrise siblings were the first ones, Minato doing it brusquely while his youngest sister awkwardly hid behind him once more. Perhaps the events had affected Yeong-Hui more than the others in the room. Meanwhile smiled dopily at both John and Elise and slipped something in their pockets as a thank you. A quick glance revealed she had graced them with... Asparagus & Sugar Cane juices?
How curious.
Meanwhile, Miss Min, who had been wordlessly watching this all unfold, gave both Elise and John an approving nod. From the looks of it this showcase of willing readiness to do work like this raised their stocks in the eyes of their teacher.
And as the morning continues, a single question is asked from nobody in particular.
Originally Posted by
Alexstrasza
"Tell me. What is it that makes us hide our secrets?"
... Surprisingly, there's a single person that answer.
Perhaps somebody nobody expected to.
One that hadn't interacted with Alexstrasza Lockhart whatsoever during her stay in this school.
"... The fact that pretentious people have ask questions like that."
And having said that, Jake Briggs gave Elise his dishes and walked out of the common room, making the atmosphere feel even awkward.
Everything had started out quite well, quite friendly even, but at some point, the whole morning had taken a nosedive to somewhere worse.
And right now... it was hard to say just what everyone around the room was feeling.
--------- Somehow the atmosphere was as tense as the air outside, just before a storm.
[SCENE END /// Move to NEXT Phase!]
Lucille Faraday
Location: End's Store and Post
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 10.09.1994 (SAT)
Weather: Overcast
Originally Posted by
Lucille
“...Really?”
Sue Popplewell nodded, seeming rather serious... almost like a woman giving another woman a warning only the female gender could really understand.
"Really. He's... I guess he'd count as 'dandy', in a way. That's why, whenever he's dressed up for some occasion, it's better to steel your mind," the shop owner spoke in a hushed tone. "From what I understand, it's not just one or two girls whose hearts he's made go all pitter patter when he's all groomed up. So, best be forewarned and--- Ah! M-Mr. Pinkerton, there you are!"
During the quiet discussion, Jack Pinkerton had finally made his way back from the back room, holding something a rather surprising in his hands and a rather victorious grin on his face. He also looked like he had been going through dusty boxes in an even dustier storage closet, something that enforced his appearance as just a big kid in a body of an adult man.
Then, letting out a bark of a laughter, Jack slammed the thing he was carrying onto the counter in front of Lucille and Sue, before rounding the counter himself and handing the shop owner some money for the thing.
As for the thing itself?
--- It was a book.
A rather old book, from the looks of it... but also one that clearly hadn't been read through at all during its existence. On the front cover there was a picture of a familiar-looking small town, Road's End, the picture itself clearly taken from some overlook that offered a great view over the town. At the center of it was a rowdy-looking brunette of a girl, dressed in a leather jacket and with a big grin on her face. It brought to mind old travel guides to wild, dangerous places form around the world.
As for the title? It was a rather simple one.
"End of the Road - Guide to the town of Road's End and its History."
Below it was the name of the author: Remington Hartley.
"Well?"Looking rather proud of himself, Jack Pinkerton grinned at the blonde girl.
"Since you seem to like books, I figured this might come in handy for you," Jack said, gesturing towards the book. "It... it didn't really sell that well back when it was revealed, so there's plenty of copies in the back, but for someone out of town it just might prove to be useful!"
Colt Davin & Adelaide Cheshire
Location: Das Thulewerk
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 10.09.1994 (SAT)
Weather: Overcast
Originally Posted by
Adelaide
"...Hello. Are you all right?"
There was a long, long, uncomfortable silence.
Then the white-haired girl nodded, so slowly you could practically imagine hearing rusty gears turning.
"... Alright," she answered in a brusque way - like she was a stone forced to speak.
Originally Posted by
Colt
“Ope!”
At that moment, a certain transfixed boy that had been making his way down to the combo of an altar-and-a-workshop down below had finally reacted to the presence of this girl that the owner of Das Thulewerk had called "Dora". This Dora didn't seem to react to Colt's surprise in any sort of way, just staring at him in a completely emotionless, machine-like gaze as he stumbled backwards, keeping himself upright thanks to the sea of junk that covered the basement floor.
In a similar fashion, the girl known as Dora simply stared as Colt stammered out words.
Originally Posted by
Colt
“We uh, heard, uh… That you might need… A hand…?”
--- It was a horrible joke.
But worst of all...
... the girl before Colt clearly didn't get it.
She didn't understand in least bit, even when she used one of her "hands" to absent-mindedly brush the surface of the wrought-iron anvil, drawing a few sparks as she did. She took the words at a complete face value, all the while keeping that impassive, unreactive expression on her face. It truly was like staring at yet another anvil - one that didn't react to anything no matter how hard you hit it with a verbal hammer. In other words, unflinching and uncaring that Adelaide and Colt even existed before her right now.
Still... eventually, an answer came.
"... Sure."
Dora's voice was both childlike and industrial machine-like.
"... Lift that."
One of the "hands" pointed at the engine stuck in the floor, while expectantly looking at Colt.
... It really was an expectant gaze, like that of a child that refused to acknowledge she had just asked something absurd. Like someone who naturally had perfect faith that Colt, who had said he wanted to help, could do it and save her some time.
------- Truly the worst kind of gaze of them all in this kind of situation!