July Event Log

[magicademymods]

July Event Log A Reading Rainbow Though the publication is ordinarily drier than dry toast Modified to be drier than dried toast, this quarter's issue of Thaumaturgy Today is all the rage around campus. The reason: a series of advances in motile spells! Easier and more powerful than those found in your standard book of spells (any grade), these spells achieve their power by specificity. One spell for lifting fruit, one for lifting laundry, one for lifting books, the list goes on. Though Professor Loshakle is deep at work writing a blistering reply criticizing every nuance of these spells, outside of his wrathful gaze the spells flourish as people practice them on everything they can. Copies of the issue are easy to get your hands on, if you want to give these new spells a whirl. On the other hand, your stuff or you yourself might fall victim to the spells of other students, whether by mistake or cruel jest. And woe betide those not human -- since no spell explains how to lift an anthropomorphic duck or a robot, for example, enterprising students are particularly eager to come up with one on their own, and there's only one way to test such things... It's Raw, You Donkey! There was an incident. Mistakes were made. Rice balls were detonated. Puddings were animated and sent on rampages. A cheesebread was found lodged in Makerion Keep, sunk to a depth of three feet in the walls. Whatever happened, and no one seems to have details... the Great Hall is closed and no food is being served. So... what're you going to eat? Several pop-up stands have emerged, as enterprising students try to cash in, but that costs money and who knows how the quality is. Headmaster Birony keeps showing up with pies, having made several savory ones that taste really good, actually, but can you really live on pie alone? (And do you really trust Headmaster Birony?) Some students have taken to the ultimate last resort: cooking. As it happens, the skills of the chef and of the aspiring mage are not exclusive in principle, but generally learning the one means little time to devote to the other. Faced with an oven or a grill, can you muster up the capability to make something edible? Or will you burn the water and turn bread back into grain, and thus have no choice but to avail yourself of pricey booth cooking or Cam-pies? Of course, the Great Hall will PROBABLY be open again soon, you might be able to last until then... The Defense Association In light of certain recent activities, like horrible monster attacks, Professors Trammel and Kith have teamed up to provide self-defense lessons to students who so desire. Purely optional, this extra class at the end of the school day promises study in shields, wards, basic attack spells, and mobility spells (because sometimes the best thing is to run like heck). Needless to say, these classes are quite the adventure! Students find themselves in dueling circles quite frequently, expected to carefully deflect each other's spells. Hopefully you've got the knack of it; the practice spells they have taught you don't cause any harm, but they sting like the dickens! Research on the Sundered Conflict. Conflict seems to be key. As near as the researchers can tell, all the Sundered lead lives that are simply not ordinary, and their experiments in conflict from last month produced results they didn't expect (as you all have learned) but that are most promising. Professor King herself has taken the lead on this experiment, and she warns anyone who volunteers that it is likely to be very dangerous, and they will be taking this very slow. They are, she explains, going to try to bridge the gap between you and the world you came from. A SMALL bridge, a proof of concept, no portal home and celebrations yet. But they hope it will work, and be the first step towards getting you back where you belong. If you agree, they get to work. Any student who undergoes this process immediately regains a power of their choice. It does not have to be on their application, and you do not have to provide proof during AC. It's here now. Only if you do not have a power to regain, you may regain an item instead. The price? For the next three days, you will be haunted by visions of your greatest enemy, your most hated foe, or the person you least wish to see in the world. Perhaps you hear their laughter in the darkness of your room at night. Perhaps you see a fellow student as them. Perhaps they are taunting you from just behind your shoulder... Whatever form it takes, for three days, you will be at their mercy. Or the mercy of your own mind's imagining them. Or perhaps a combination of the two. Who can say...?

Comments

[blue_ice]

reading rainbow

[ Kaiba is sitting down to study when he spots the magazine. It's potentially useful for class, so he picks it up, cracks it open....

And a bright rainbow bursts out of the pages, having the nerve to sparkle. He yelps and drops it like it's hot. ]

What the---

[He backs away and opens his class notebook. More rainbow. Dropped just as fast. Next textbook. Flung to the ground so fast. Kaiba shoots off rainbows one after the other, flinging each book away in disgust.

Inspiration strikes. He opens one book against the floor, limiting the rainbow's arc. ]

How do I stop this.

research

[ Kaiba knows by now that these research questions are really a bad idea, but he's in such a foul mood from the rainbow incident that he'll do anything to get it to stop. The promise of a treasured item helps too.

At last, the locket shaped like a trading card is in its rightful place on his chest, but it came at a terrible price. Everywhere he looks, there's a memory. Cruel laughter that he whirls to face. Cold taunts during study hours. Lonely nights with the howl of the wind.

He tries to maintain a stiff upper lip, as he'd needed to back then, but after a night of no sleep he's rather twitchy. One shadow hits the wrong way and he sees double, whirling on anyone who crosses him. ]

Leave him ALONE, you monster---

[ Whoops. ]

Research

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Whoa, hey! [First, she jerks out of the way of that swing. Secondly, Isabel catches Seto's fist and grips it--for the wiry girl she is, it's a surprisingly strong grip, and even if he tries to jerk away, she doesn't let go. Something's up, that she can tell.]

What's eating you? Leave who alone? [She'll leave the monster comment for now, but maybe he's seeing things that aren't actually there...]

You feeling all right, there, buddy?

Re: Research

[blue_ice]

[ Caught. But of course. He expects a large, rocklike hand to crush his, but the vice grip feels different. He lifts his shoulders and braces for impact, trying to summon the strength to counter when an odd voice filters through.

Those words would never come out of his mouth. His gaze flickers down. ]

...Isabel?

[ He tries to pull away...and fails, but maybe he can pull her with him. ]

We need to get out of here.

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Why? What's going on? [Yeah, trust her to be stubborn at a time like this. She does let go of him, though--she was only trying to avoid a decking, and once Seto's got some sense back, no need to keep him on lockdown.]

You need to throw me a bone, here. [She wrinkles her nose at that, but her eyes are always moving--scanning. It's just the usual student hustle and bustle that she's seeing, for the moment. But she doesn't deny that Seto's upset about something, and she's not the type to pooh-pooh that. He's usually cool and collected...she can tell he's trying to keep it together, but something's got him unhappy.]

[blue_ice]

It's my---the man who 'adopted' me. He's back, and I'm not letting him pull this again.

[ Think you can stop me, boy? Hah. The laughter rings out, and Kaiba retreats to a quiet corner. Maybe he can ground himself here. ]

Have you learned exorcism?

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Oh. [At that, she bit her lower lip. Isabel was lucky enough to have a loving, if rough-and-tumble (and a bit ridiculous at times!) family. She was well aware that not everyone had, and, well. Here it was writ large before her.]

As a matter of fact, I have, but I don't have--wait, I do have blessed salt in my room at least--Chaos! [Not that the Maine Coon is ever far away, but the rather large shadow-and-silver beast slinks up, giving Isabel a silent meow.]

Go find that bag I put the rock salt in and bring it back to me? It should be on my nightstand, where the sun and moonlight can shine on it. [Chaos just blinks wide copper eyes at her for a brief moment, before disappearing into the nearest patch of underbrush.]

I'd go myself, but I'm not sure I ought to leave you alone right now...

[blue_ice]

I'm fine. He's not hurting me.

[ Not outright, but the memories are far from pleasant. ]

I won't give him the satisfaction of winning.

[ He sneers at the apparition, then finally looks at her. ]

Do you need to know more about him to do this?

Reading Rainbow

[king_of_egypt]

[Catching the yelp, Atem looks aside from the book he was perusing towards the source. He doesn't speak up right away as he watches Kaiba with curiosity. He suspects that the other didn't realize he wasn't alone given the antics that follow.

Once satisfied, he leaves the comfort of the seat he was perched on to go and address the issue]

I didn't know you had such a ... colorful personality, Kaiba. Why you'd try and hide it is beyond me. [As always he has to give his fellow duelist a hard time before offering to help]

[blue_ice]

[ If looks could kill...well...

Atem would be feeling a little frosty right about now, because he's too befuddled by this nonsense to conjure the intent. He stacks the books in front of him and glares at them. ]

The only color I'm seeing right now is red.

[ He then looks back up at Atem. ]

Have you experienced anything like this?

[king_of_egypt]

[That look he receives let's Atem know not to push it any farther, Kaiba is upset enough. So he might have felt a little guilty about feeling amused by it.]

Ha- come on Kaiba. While rainbows might draw other's attention, they are harmless. Besides, I always thought you enjoyed being the center of attention to some extent. [Okay, maybe one more light-hearted dig. Now he'd knock it off]

I can't say that I have. Here- let me try opening one of those books.. [Holding out a hand for one] Let's see if it's either the books or you who've been enchanted.

[blue_ice]

If it were White Lightning, that'd be one thing. This is just ridiculous.

[ He gives a few passing students a sour look, but dutifully passes a book over. ]

Well? Verdict?

[king_of_egypt]

It is a bit- you are far too tall to be a leprechaun.

[Okay, Seriously. Now he's done. This is a serious issue that needs to be taken as such. Just don't ask him to say it with a straight face]

[Accepting the book, he flips it open, and nothing happens. Then he holds it out, still open towards Kaiba]

It's not doing it for me.

[blue_ice]

How could I be without the gold?

[ You're really pushing it, Atem. Kaiba just huffs, reaches out and closes the book, and reopens it. The expression on his face when the sparkling rainbow explodes off the page is nothing short of sour. ]

I have no idea how this could have happened. I haven't been hit by any obvious spells, I haven't felt off, and I haven't seen this happen to anyone else. Someone must be trying to send me a message.

[ And whatever it is, he doesn't like it. ]

research.

[puzzlers]

[ he had not stopped doing his part with the research, though things seemed to be getting more and more dangerous. yugi still wanted to help. he hadn't experienced any of the effects yet when he bumped into kaiba in the hall, which immediately had his boyfriend turning and shouting at him. he blinked, wondering if this had anything to do with that damn fantastic foil card and when he'd forced kaiba to go through. had he been harboring some bad feelings over it. h- he wouldn't be too surprised, really, what had happened was... not good... ]

K- Kaiba... [ still, kaiba looked worse for wear, a voice whispering to himself that things were better off this way. that kaiba was never his friend let alone his boyfriend. a shadowy image of himself stood to his side, but yugi did his best to ignore it. ] Kaiba, what's... what's wrong?

Re: research.

[blue_ice]

[ The shadow looms overhead, but the voice is...coming from lower? And those aren't his guardian's words, that shape is familiar in another way. Kaiba's gaze is blank and unfocused. ]

Yugi...

[ More cruel laughter. Oh, it's the one who dethroned you, isn't it? And you've fawned over him instead of reclaiming your place. How pathetic...licking his boots like a dog...

Kaiba scowls at some point up in the sky, responding to Yugi's call a little belatedly. He feels a confusing swirl of shame and dread, and he's still not entirely in touch with reality...but he eventually answers, sounding pained. ]

Go! Before anyone else gets hurt.

Re: research.

[puzzlers]

...

[ go? and who's that going to help? see. he doesn't want you anymore. and do you plan on going crying to atem? he doesn't want to see you either. you made your choice, yugi, and they've made theirs. ]

K- Kaiba, please. [ he reaches out to him, trying to grab his wrist. ] I'm sorry. [ before anyone else gets hurt? because yugi hurt him and it still hurting him. he shuts his eyes and eventually finds his hand to squeeze. ] I'm so sorry.

[blue_ice]

[ That small voice seems to break through. He's reminded so strongly of Mokuba that he feels the overwhelming urge to protect, and he squeezes Yugi's hand. ]

You're...not the one who needs to be sorry.

[ No, he's not. You should be! You're a disgrace to the family name! Heh. Kaiba's eyes flicker with dark amusement in response. ]

He is. He's a disgrace to the family name. And he dares to call me that?

[ The ghost scowls. Creatively bankrupt as well, I see?

Kaiba shudders and gently tugs on Yugi's hand. For all his bravado, he's a little shaken. ]

I'll keep you safe, Yugi.

[puzzlers]

...

[ he's not sure what sort of something kaiba is going through, but he looks confused and hurt and... yugi is tugging on his hand, moving them down the hall and leading them through the courtyard. being on the school grounds is just not a good spot for any of this. there's too many people and if the both of them are freaking out, then that's just going to be disastrous. ]

We need to... [ run, like you always do. what makes you think kaiba wants to go anywhere with you. he'd much rather find atem, i'm sure. yugi releases his hand, fear creeping from his head to his heart. ] You're probably... right...

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba's hope that this will end doesn't last long. The taunting follows him all through the halls, and he huddles closer to Yugi.

Oh, now you're clinging to him like he's going to save you? I should've put you out of your misery a long time ago. ]

Shut up!

[ He looks down at Yugi, forcing the words out as if in pain. It's hard to resist him for now, but he really should say something... ]

Not you, Yugi. It's...Gozaburo. He thinks he'll best me this time. But I'm not a weak-willed child anymore.

[ This would normally be the point where Kaiba laughs derisively, but he's sufficiently disturbed by this to be off balance. ]

[nobodys_puppet]

Research

Xion had been running, trying to lead Xemnas away from people when suddenly someone was yelling at her. Calling her a monster. She stumbled and lost her footing, hitting the ground. Wh...what?

She looked up, trying to figure out who was yelling at her, and why, and where Xemnas was....

[blue_ice]

Kaiba's vision was still double. There was a shadow in front of him...it was too small to be his stepfather. Was it Noa? Mokuba?

In a move that would probably confuse her, he crouched and whispered urgently, desperation in his eyes. "There's still time to save yourself. I'll hold him off."

[nobodys_puppet]

"What?" she asked, then realized that he must have been yelling at Xemnas. She shook her head and stood. "I'll take care of him, you get to safety." This was her fight after all. And she was the one who had led him here, even if that wasn't what she had been trying to do.

[blue_ice]

"You...what?"

That shocked him more than anything. Was she really...could she stand against him? He backed up slowly, still glaring daggers at the ghost, who laughed cruelly.

Hiding behind that? How pathetic even for you, Seto!

Kaiba looked, curious. What would she do?

She does NOT have her Keyblade out, mind.

[nobodys_puppet]

"I'll stop him, you get out of here," she said as she moved to stand between him and Xemnas, braced and ready.

"I'm your foe, leave the Somebodies alone, and fight me."

[blue_ice]

Gozaburo continued his cruel laughter, as if he'd heard nothing, and Kaiba looked on in confusion. And concern.

"I think we should both go."