October Event Log

[magicademymods]

October Event Log Fall Cleaning Suddenly and without warning, the lighting in or near every building on campus goes red. A second later, a deep alarm rises in volume as the buildings begin to shake. The faculty barely bat an eye as they direct students to get outside quickly. "Fall cleaning," they explain wearily to those students who have never experienced this phenomenon. Older students offer their own explanation as they move: at some point every fall the buildings of the Magicademy rearrange themselves so the cleaning golems can repair their foundations, tend to the ground around them, keep them from sinking into the caverns, that sort of thing. Totally harmless. Well, until you realize no one knows where your House tower went. Or till you need to get to class promptly except Kedrigan Hall is in the middle of a lake somehow. Or till the Library of Starchime is down in the middle of the lab caverns and you have to try to study while students practice magic in the aisles. But it's okay! This will only last for a couple of days! You can get by, right? The Bonfire To say goodbye to the warmth and hello to the frost, the Magicademy celebrates the changing of seasons with a great bonfire. A massive conglomeration of burning wood sends flame licking up some sixty feet into the air, and the warmth pouring from the huge fire wards off any hint of cold from those nearby. By tradition, the bonfire burns till morning, and many students have bedrolls or tents or even straight-out beds parked nearby so they can take their spot in keeping it lit. Others have brought food and drink, enough to selflessly share with everyone. The whole things is one big party, really; House rivalries and personal animosities and music duels are all set aside for a night as the campus unites in solidarity. It's one of the nicer times you could ask for. This Is Halloween Bad news. Terrible news. The worst news imaginable. Headmaster Birony has found out about Halloween. Diatu Magicademy is nothing but orange and black now. Carved pumpkins wander the campus and aggressively pose for anyone who glances their way (or doesn't...). Spiderwebs litter every hallways and passage, complete with spiders that patiently move their webs out of the way and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience with a sort of weariness that says they know exactly who to blame for this. A twelve-foot-high menorah sits in the Great Hall, leading some to suspect that the Headmaster's Intimations to learn more about the holiday did not produce universally-accurate results. Headmaster Birony herself patrols the grounds like a madwoman, slinging extra spookiness wherever she passes and occasionally Discovering costumes straight onto the innocent students she passes. "Spirit of the season!" she yells before fleeing, candy and toilet paper left behind in her path. If by this point you are questioning whether the Headmaster ever does actual work, rest assured you're not the first, nor will you be the last, to wonder that. Research on the SUNDERDOG! (Sunderdog!) SUNDERDOG! (Sunderdog!) This month's assignment, for those willing to undertake it: actually nothing disastrous! Instead, the researchers ask that you compare your world to another Sundered student's, then report back to them on the differences and similarities. They're most interested in magic styles, but anything you give them will have value!

Comments

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Luckily, the potential bump-ee just grabs his hands and spins him around in what can only be a dance move, grinning as neither of them end up any worse for wear. So far it seems that Isabel has escaped the Headmaster's mischievous costuming capers, dressed in autumn colors anyway--the colors of her House.

"I wonder if this is what they mean by dancing with Death? Somehow I don't think so--Anubis was just the gatekeeper and he who weighed petitioner's souls. You're no Osiris. But you do look a bit cold in that getup."

No, Isabel's not certain of the man behind the mask, but she'd given him her cloak before once, too, removing the orange fabric from her shoulders and offering it up to him.

[blue_ice]

"I should've been Osiris. He was my companion---though if you want a dance you'll have to wait until I find my clothes."

Kaiba stiffens a little as Isabel twirls him, leaving his back facing her---of course it was someone he knew well and would surely recognize him. And he's painfully aware of how much she can see. Again, this is why he hates this school. But he takes a breath and accepts the offer, draping it over his shoulders and turning back around.

"I'll get this back to you soon."

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

It's more his voice and height than anything else that speaks to who he is--certainly Isabel'd never seen him shirtless before, ever. She can imagine what might have caused those scars, and yet, she doesn't really want to bring it up. And yet--lancing the boil. She's not much of a healer, but she's got to try.

"Gozaburo?" she risks, but that's all she says. Bad enough to mention the man's name. It's stupid, probably, and so she huffs a disparaging breath.

"I can wait for you to find your clothes if you really want to dance with me, but I figure I'm not the foremost person in your mind when it comes to that." Despite her parentage, Isabel isn't even trying to be naughty, here. "And as for my cloak, I'm hardly worried, I can Discover a new one if I really need to. Just like I did this morning, because Valhudor Tower still isn't back from Yeetsville." She snorted again.

[blue_ice]

Kaiba almost laughs at her joke, but then...that name. The slightest shudder it sends through him is all the answer she needs, but he confirms with a tired nod anyway.

"Of course it was."

There's no point in the stupid mask, so he pulls it off and takes a deep breath. That thing was confining. He hates being reminded of his vulnerability, he really does. It's clear in his eyes that he's tired, and yet he isn't leaving. He meets her gaze and answers slowly, deep in thought.

"...and I don't think I'd mind it this time. Something to do until your tower gets back."

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

"If it even comes back. Did yours come back? Since I assume they all went to get cleaned, and whether or not they come back when we need them is inconsequential..."

Isabel doesn't hate the school, not like Seto does, but her annoyance at being inconvenienced certainly is perfectly clear in her tone. Still, she steps closer to him, leaning into him and sliding one arm around Seto's back. The hug isn't half-hearted by any means, but she does not prolong it, seeing as she's well aware of how thrilled he usually is to be touched by someone who isn't terribly close to him. Sure they're friends, Isabel wouldn't dream of hugging him otherwise. But she's not going to pressure him.

"We might be waiting a long time, especially if the tower is anything like the students it houses."

[blue_ice]

"Right. You can stay with me if you really need somewhere to sleep."

Kaiba takes a deep breath, and...somehow he's feeling weird and vulnerable enough that the warm touch doesn't bring his hackles up. He's actually.... He folds Isabel in his arms and holds on for a few moments, taking the offered comfort and surprising himself.

"Then we'll just have to dance a while. I can't get rusty, there's probably a Halloween ball coming if anyone tells the headmaster about that kind of thing."

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

As much as it surprises her, Isabel feels...gratified. Happy, that Seto's willing to accept the hug in the spirit it's given, and even return it, if briefly.

"I have some blankets and a tarp, and Chaos keeps me safe, but I can't say I'd be upset to have an actual roof over my head," she admits, before giving Kaiba a rather wry look, lips twitching.

"Seto. I cannot believe for a moment that you'd allow yourself to get rusty at anything! I'm sure they've told the Headmaster enough to get us all in trouble--especially if your costume was anything to go by. Still, I don't think I'd mind dancing with you..."

Not in the least, really. Isabel liked dancing!

[blue_ice]

"Then it's settled. Come on."

Kaiba leads her back to the tower, solving the entry lock's equation with a quick hand. He leads her inside, pulling blankets out from the closet. "Make yourself a spot---I'll be out in a minute."

True to his word, he is, looking much more comfortable once he emerges from the bathroom wearing a much warmer sweater and slacks. He quickly scours the cloak with a spell and folds it, setting it beside her.

"Did you want to risk heading back out, or is it safer if we take a tour of the common room?"

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

"I'm fine with a tour of the common room, if you're willing to give me one. I've never been in the Purifeul dorms before." Not because she didn't want to risk solving the equation wrong, but it just seemed...more than impolite to just walk in without an invitation if she solved it correctly!

"I suppose if there's enough room we could probably even do a little dance in there, too, hm?" Isabel's being more playful than anything, but if Seto did want to dance, she'd be all for it.

[blue_ice]

"All right."

Kaiba takes her to the appropriate place and solves today's puzzle: a tricky geometrical equation that dissolves into a crystalline glow all around them. He smirks when it's solved and opens the door for her.

It's a very sterile-looking place, all whites and blues and sharp, clean angles, but there's something almost regal about it too. He crosses the common room to pull up some stray items, including an enchanted harp from someone's Fantastics class.

He plucks the string and it starts to play on its own.

"Heh. That ought to work. ...Ready?"

And he steps forward, offering his hand.