[Wednesday, September 8, 2004.] [Today is a school day! In the middle of the week. Some people hate those Wednesdays, but not you, right? Right? You're all entering, have entered, or just about to enter your fourth period English class.] [It's been a clear, sunny day.] [Session Start? I think so.] * Luke is sitting at his desk. �@He has his briefcase on his lap. There is a pile of papers on his desk. If anyone looks, the top one is one of the quizzes from a couple of days ago. ( But the rest are all tax forms. ) * Krista walks in! Today is a... light green day, for her. She heads to the desk, nonplussed about being graded. * Charlotte walks in and sits down in her seat. Like she's going to do anything else. She's not a wednsday person. She's wearing a black T-shirt and red jeans today. Nothing special. Well, I guess red jeans are kinda special. But still. (And old Star Trek fanfic he printed out.) (For Charlotte!) (Yes.) ( Kurt/Spock OTP! ) [Jeremy walks into class by himself, today. He looks kind of out of it, but he doesn't sit in the wrong seat. And really, if he did, who'd tell him to move?] (No, he's slashing Spock/McCoy) (Now I picture Trek/SAB 2020 crossover slashfic.) (Sulu/Victor?) * Veronica walks into class, rubbing her head. She doesn't look considerably happy that it's Wednesday, or something. She's capless, but wearing a slightly oversized-T, open jacket, and slightly tattered jeans a la rage. [Christy comes walking in right after Veronica, looking quite happy that it's Wednesday. "Hi Mr. M!"] "Good morning, Christy." [Other students file in. Some of them are talking about the quiz. Most aren't. Hot Dog Guy (Matt) is doodling at his desk, but probably not on his desk. Christy looks his way as she goes to her seat, but he doesn't look up.] (Christy HDG... OTP?) (No, because he shuns her.) (Is there an abbreviation for unrequited love?) (It's still OTP.) (Theirloveissogreasy) * Krista does the good girl things, pulls out her notebook, etc. She glances to Veronica for a moment, trying not to be obvious. (Now THAT is an OTP) * Veronica doesn't notice. In fact, her eyelids look kinda weary, like she didn't have enough sleep the night before. (It isn t OTP if it s unrequited.) * Krista looks back forward to her notebook, not dwelling on Sleepy!Rica. She adjusts her glasses instead and waits. (Yes it is. If you're setting up an OTP you have to believe that the other peroson will eventually come around. TakixKatie: Theirloveissonothappening.) (I mean, she's just playing coy.) (He has yet to offer her his hot dogs.) [Christy is seated and plotting away. Pia and Jeremy stare into space, but not at each other. If you were curious.] [And the bell rings!] ( They're only avoiding each other because they don't want everyone to know they love each other! ) (Everyone loves everyone else. This game is full of love.) (But not sex.) (Just because you aren't getting any...) * Luke waits a second for the class to come to order. [Things quiet down pretty quickly, because Luke isn't a sub and they're actually getting used to him.] * Veronica glances around the classroom, scanning each face in turn carefully, taking her time. * Charlotte doesn't. * Krista is in front! Don't look at her! "I hope everyone enjoyed killing time here yesterday." [All of the same people, Veronica. Minus Ivy.] [There are a few shrugs and glances at each other. Matt raises his hand and says, "It was boring."] * Veronica doesn't seem to care. Or maybe not even notice. As she scans over the class again in reverse just as slowly. * Luke nods sadly. "And the worst part was, I'm sure you've all never experienced a boring high school class before." [Still the same people, Veronica.] * Krista doesn't seem to get the joke! * Luke stands up, setting his briefcase onto his desk. "Your quizzes have all been graded. I'll call you up to get them back." He looks down at the top few quizzes and calls out, "Henry, Jeremy, Krista, Jose." [Jeremy starts upon hearing his name and jumps to his feet, almost bumping into Jose, who was walking up from a few seats behind him.] [That done, it's *done*, and they get their quizzes. Jeremy's frowning at his sheet.] (Do I say the comments on the PCs or what?) * Krista slides out of her seat, smoothing her dress a little before walking up and looking up to Luke before taking hers! Woo. Stuff! (Sure, if that'd be easier for you.) * Luke has made no red marks on Krista's quiz, and comment at the end is: "Excellent analysis and writing style. What are you doing stuck in the regular English class? A+" (That's what I spend the SP for!) * Luke has made a lot of red marks correcting grammar and spelling on Veronica's paper. His comments are: "You unfortunately misidentified the passages you selected. Your analysis of their meaning therefore is largely incorrect. However, you made good points about the stylistic techniques used. C-" (These are based on rolls people made, incidentally.) (Like I said.) (That's what I spend the SP for.) * Luke has made only a couple of red marks on Charlotte's paper to correct a few homonym errors. His comments: "You did a very good job on this quiz. I hope to see more of this insight during class. Don't save it all for the quizzes from now on, okay? A." (Actually, Veronica's boggled that she got a C-. Which just goes to show her Luke is the easiest grader ever.) (Actually, Luke had to curve.) (The overall results Arwen indicated were too low, based on how we originally worked out the value of the rolls. Two PCs did well, but all the NPCs would have failed.) * Charlotte isn't even sure what a homonym is. (Not *all* of them. Just a lot of them.) (Balancing a semi-challenging roll for the PCs with one that won't flunk all the NPCs is not something we've worked out yet, I guess.) (Well, Charlotte rolled quite well, IIRC. Two 10s or something, right?) (No, actually, a lot of the people in the class just didn't study and had no idea what Luke was talking about, really.) (Charlotte got two 13s.) (Yeah, off two Nat 10s.) (Oh, for base roll? Yeah, two 10s.) (She had the luck, the insane luck, so she got an A she probably doesn't deserve. ;P ) ( It was good enough to fool Luke! ) (Anyway, it isn t like Luke invented the curve. The marks were all generally too low so he curved. It happens.) * Luke waits a few moments for stuff to sink in and people to look over their quizzes. [Steve looks... quietly pleased. He's slipping the quiz into a folder. Jeremy's staring at his, Pia doesn't even seem to have *looked* at her grade, and it's pretty obvious CGD doesn't want to.] [Christy seems elated.] ( Who's CGD? ) ( Canadian Game Dealer? ) (Creaky Desk Guy.) ( Oh. ) ( Next guess was going to be Caught with Guard Down ) [Matt (that's HDG to you) has looked at his grade, processed it, and flipped it over to doodle on the back of the quiz.] * Krista just smiles a little, looking self-pleased before slipping it away. She looks up to the front of the class... still pleased! Pleased. * Charlotte ruins Krista's day by also looking pleased as she slips hers away. [By their expressions, Krista and Steve were made for each other.] [And Charlotte. Threesome!] (I think not!) (Such immoral thoughts.) ( I agree. Let's ditch Steve. ) (... you're not helping your case.) * Veronica looks her quiz over for a long moment, almost not noticing that she has a quiz. She then shakes her head and slips it in her backpack. She seems like it's not much registered. "Before we go over the quiz, does anyone have any questions?" [Christy peeks over Veronica's shoulder to see her quiz. "Dude," she says quietly (but still loud enough for everyone immediately around them to hear), "You rock!"] [The kids are looking at their grades or not, but nobody seems willing to raise their hands.] * Veronica shakes her head at Christy, but doesn't respond much more than that. * Luke waits a moment and then says, "For the remainder of this class, we're going to go over the quiz. Can anyone tell me what the first passage was?" [Steve waits a little longer, then raises his hand. Because, y'know, someone's got to read it.] * Luke pauses, looking over to Pia, Henry, and the Creaky Desk Guy. * Charlotte goes white. "Oh no..." She darts out of her chair and aims for Pia. (Does Luke see anything more when he looks over there?) [Luke sees a thin trail of smoke coming from the ends of Pia's hair.] * Veronica perks up suddenly and jumps out of her chair, eyes wide for a moment, completely frozen as she watches Charlotte in vain. * Krista was paying attention to Luke! She's slow on the uptake, which means that she's just now starting to look over. [Pia nearly falls out of her chair getting up as Charlotte comes running to her. She's shaking, and then she screams as her hair *does* catch on fire, all at once.] (People with Fast Reaction Time and Charlotte, go.) "Pia! Get down on the ground! Charlotte, try to smother the flames!" Luke calls as he runs to the fire alarm and pulls it. * Veronica reaches her arm out slowly towards Pia shakily for a moment. Then instead, crouches down on the floor, cowering with her hands over her head and shaking a bit. She's murmuring low under her breath. "This isn't happening. This isn't happening..." (She was much calmer the last time.) (World's weirder now, Luke.) [Sprinklers go on and the bells start ringing and the kids are on their feet. Christy, in particular, is yelling, "Fuck!"] * Charlotte grits her teeth, and grabs at Pia. * Krista gets the picture too, trying to get up only to stumble and run into Charlotte's desk. "Oof!" Ah, she's so good at this. [Charlotte reaches into the flames, grabs something, and yanks it out. Whatever it is, it comes with flaming hair, and then *Charlotte*'s hand catches on fire. Pia is still shrieking when Charlotte does that, and she falls forward, tumbling messily over her desk and to the floor.] [Now everybody goes. The sprinklers are on! There's water everywhere! A bunch of the students are already running for the door.] (Is Pia still on fire?) (Yes. She's on fire and on the floor. And being sprinkled upon.) * Charlotte screams and tosses the thing away. Or just drops it or something. She's more concerned with putting out the fire on her hand. * Veronica looks up and slowly comes too. She still seems to be shaking slightly but manages to stare slightly at what Charlotte pulled out. (What is the order of actions now?) [Charlotte doesn't even need to roll to succeed at that. The item is tossed to the floor, the immediate area on the carpet picking up fire.] (Everybody goes, then I have NPCs go, then you guys go.) (It makes things a little easier for me.) (I went already, right? Or do I go again now?) (Go again.) * Krista looks between the various fires and manages to say, "S-someone cover her...!" * Luke looks around for something good for smothering fires and grabs whatever he sees. [He grabs a student! I mean, he grabs Jeremy's jacket, which was draped over his chair. Jeremy doesn't notice, as he's running over to the flaming whatsit.] (Luke can use the jacket, throw it, or whatever this round.) * Veronica digs through her pack, to see if she still has a water bottle from practice in there. (Well, it'll take him some time to get there, but he could throw it.) [Veronica finds it! Score!] (who is nearby?) * Veronica heads towards the flaming thing, unscrewing the water bottle as she goes. (Jeremy's the one who's moving from one location to the other. Other students are either gawking, fumbling with their own stuff, or just running out.) * Luke rushes toward the fires, holding Jeremy's jacket out. * Charlotte tosses the thingamabob in a corner and drops to the ground, rolling around. She screams all the while. 'Cause fire kinda hurts a lot. [Christy's got her cell phone out and is already dialing 911. Frank's running out, yelling, "I'll get the nurse!"] (By the third one of these, there will just be a standard procedure for who does what. :P ) (It so totally will!) (You people learn quick.) ( No way. I only got one more hand ._. ) (You'll be bringing oven mitts to school.) [Pia is scrambling around, but she just runs into another desk and screams again. The water *does* seem to have an effect on her hair, though. The fire's dying down, and Charlotte's hand is pretty nearly smothered and out.] (I assume from your warning that it will take a second to get there that I have to wait for next round?) [You're there, Luke. Everyone go!] "Pia, hold still," Luke says as he arrives and tries to put the jacket over her head. (How about Veronica?) * Charlotte doesn't seem to realize it, though, and just keeps rolling until she runs out of energy. Same with the screaming, for that matter. [Pia whimpers and jerks a little, but she does do a decent enough job holding still. Veronica, you're on the other side of the classroom at this point.] * Luke dumps the jacket over Pia's head and tries to smother the flames. * Krista looks to Charlotte, now, but she looks indecisive. And wet. She doesn't seem to have a solution to 'being on fire'. Not so smart now, is she? Her mouth works as if trying to come up with something, but... nada. * Veronica tries to do everything she can to shortcut her way to Pia and splash him with the water. Hopping over desks if she has to. [Veronica douses Pia's hair! Now she's doused and smothered. The fire is dying down.] [Meanwhile, Christy is already yelling, "TWO PEOPLE ARE ON FIRE!" Because it's, like, twice as good as one. Jeremy's yanking his shirt off (whoo, take it off!) and trying to use it to help stomp out the fire that's rapidly spreading on the carpet, but it's completely burned up and he yanks his shoe away as *it* catches on fire. "Holy shit!" he shouts as he jumps around, trying to put it out.] [Pia's hair is pretty well smothered, and she's gone from screaming to weakly whimpering. Charlotte's hand is out, though maybe she's still rolling around just to make extra sure.] [Your turn, guys.] * Charlotte runs out off energy and just lies on her back, clutching her burnt hand with her good one and sobbing. * Veronica curses. "Dammit." She checks to see if she's got enough water in there first, then runs to Jeremy to try putting out his foot. (By the fourth, you guys are going to have firemen stationed outside this room.) * Krista 's eye flicks to Jeremy and then to Charlotte, who she crosses to and says softly, "T-try to keep it away from air until the nurse gets here." [Jeremy's shoe is on fire! It smells... really, really bad. The water works, though.] * Charlotte manages to flop over, burying her hand under her stomach. Woo. ( My stomach isn't good enough! The only way is to use Krista's boobs! ) (Don't you dare.) "Everyone out into the hall," Luke says. He puts an arm around Pia to help her walk. He also calls out, "Krista, how is Charlotte? Jeremy, kick that shoe off!" * Krista replies, "Fi--" interrupted by a water-sputtering cough before saying, "Her hand is hurt, but it's out." [Jeremy doesn't need to be prompted twice, kicking the flaming shoe off so well that it goes sailing into the back wall. He runs over to Charlotte to try to help her up. The other kids start running out to the hall, too - even the gawkers.] [Go ahead, guys. Actually, end panic rounds. Which is a lot like combat, but without the punching.] (So do things as you will without waiting for me.) * Charlotte doesn't do much of anything on her own. Oh, except sobbing. She does that pretty well. * Luke supports Pia as they head out into the hall amidst the stream of students. (*rolls for Jeremy* Oh my God, that's actually a good one.) * Veronica shakes a little and stares at the scene for a second longer, glassy- eyed, before snapping out of it and coming over to Charlotte. "Dammit, girl. Are you okay?" (Does Jeremy actually get her up?) (He's male, in this game.) * Charlotte sobs, "It hurts." Well, it does. ["Come *on*," Jeremy demands. When Charlotte doesn't, he just scoops her up and carries her outside.] * Charlotte is carried! * Veronica nods. "Let me see." She half glances at Pia and then stares at Jeremy. "Hey wait a minute!" [Pia's also crying. If she's saying anything, it's impossible to tell what.] [Jeremy doesn't wait! What a jerk!] * Charlotte might complain, but her hand hurts way too much for that. [Outside, there are files of students making their way outside - rather orderly, even - and a few of them notice you guys and stop before being pushed by the back of the crowd.] [Everyone is WET.] * Veronica sighs and goes over to check Pia then. Jeremy apparently doesn't care that she CAN check it. * Krista uncrouches and starts to follow, now that Charlotte's being cared for... before her eyes widen and she hurriedly goes back to her bookbag. Must save it! IT has books in it! [Krista's bag was partially open, so now her books are partially wet.] * Luke, as soon as Pia is outside of the room, sort of shoves her at a nearby student and goes back into the classroom, heading for his desk. [The desk is there, and Matt oofs as Pia's shoved at him. "Uh, it'll be okay?" he says awkwardly.] * Krista pulls up her bookbag and catches a glance of something, which she begins to stare at before saying uncertainly, "Mr. Mendel, the fire, it's not..." (Can I check on Pia, Ard?) (Yes.) * Luke circumnavigates the fire almost without looking at it, his attention focussed on his desk. He doesn't respond to Krista. * Krista looks away from it a moment, towards Luke, and steps towards him as she takes a deep breath and says more pointedly, and patiently, "Mister Mendel? The fire isn't going out." * Charlotte runs out of energy to sob. But that doesn't make it hurt any less. * Luke reaches his desk and snatches up his briefcase. Then he turns around and blinks at the sight of Krista, as if noticing her for the first time. ( "Who are you, and what are you doing in my classroom?" ) (Haw.) [While Veronica checks Pia over, the now burned and smelling *really* bad hair crumples and literally falls apart. Her scalp is also burned, and she's sniffling and looks like she'd collapse if Matt weren't holding her up.] ( Ew. Fried brains ) * Veronica takes in a deep breath and stands up. "Matt? That's your name right? Matt?" [Matt blinks at Veronica, as he's been paying attention to Pia. "Yeah?"] "Krista?" Luke heads back toward the door, briefcase now in hand. He really doesn't seem to have heard what she was saying. You'll need to set her down now. Careful. (You're in the hall, Veronica.) (Oh!) (Well take out the third sentence then.) * Krista says a bit more forcefully, "Mister Mendel! The fire!" She poinots. ["O- okay." Matt starts to help Pia lie on the floor.] [Meanwhile, Jeremy's still carrying Charlotte. "The fire's out," he's telling her. "The ambulance will be here soon, with ice."] * Charlotte sobs and nods. It rhymes! Sorta. [True to Krista's words, the fire in the room is *still* burning. It's covering a good three feet of floor.] * Veronica sighs and nods to Matt, taking her backpack off and setting it on the ground. "Raise her feet a little so i can slide this under. Then you'll need to get some warm towels from the nurse. Or hell, go to the bathroom and soak a couple in warm water. Either way." * Luke looks over at the spreading fire. "Indeed. Which is exactly why the two of us should go out into the hall and not stay in the room that is on fire, as charming a spot as it may be." [He does as Veronica says, and speak of the devil, the nurse is coming right around the corner with Frank, who's carrying a couple of blankets. The nurse has some cold compresses and is yelling in her accented English, "This happened *again*?"] * Krista says, stubbornly, "But... it... that's not normal!" ( In that case you should stay still! ) (A brilliant idea.) Yes. Nurse? I think this girl's going into shock. * Veronica immediately turns back towards Pia and starts loosening her clothes as much as possible while keeping her morality. [She moves over to Veronica and Pia, looking them over. "We need those blankets here," she says quickly. Frank shakes his head and runs over, ready to put down blankets at the word.] (He's such a good blanket delivery man.) (It's what he exists for.) [The nurse is checking out Pia's scalp, touching it very gingerly, and mutters something in Spanish. "At least it's better than last time."] * Charlotte looks at her burnt, twisted hand for the first time and begins sobbing anew! "As opposed to people catching fire spontaneously?" Still, Luke approaches the fire- much more cautiously this time- and looks at it to see if there's any reason why it won't go out. Can I have an extra blanket? I need to check on a friend... [Jeremy winces a little as Charlotte moves, but he certainly isn't about to stop her. "It'll be okay," he says, not entirely convincingly.] * Krista looks slightly chargrined and walks... sorta-with Luke. [The nurse looks at Veronica, then nods, to which Frank hands over one (1) blanket.] * Charlotte certainly doesn't seem convinced. (Another notice roll, Krista and Luke.) * Krista gives him the lead. Because, uh, he's the teacher! Yeah. It has nothing to do with not wanting to be lit on fire. * Veronica nods in thanks and gets up, running in the direction where Charlotte was. * Charlotte whimpers. "Oh God..." And then, of all things, "How am I going to play Hoedown like this?" [Jeremy opens his mouth, and then: "Uh."] ( Thanks, Jeremy! ) (Ha.) (He's full of words of encouragement!) (He's so comforting!) ( I saved his life, too. He could at least try :( ) (On the other hand, we see how he and Ivy are a perfect pair.) (Ha.) (Oh, seriously. I bet he doesn't even know what Hoedown *is*. Unless it involves cows, which'd be really weird.) ( In a way, it does! ) (True!) * Charlotte sobs harder. [Both Luke and Krista spot a golden gleam from inside the fire.] "There's something in there." Luke looks around for anything long and pole-like, preferably non-flammable too. [There's a pointer stick used to drag down the screen for the overhead projector propped up against the blackboard!] (Kevin brought me ice cream with whipped cream!) (I should show my love by setting him on fire!) * Krista 's eyes widen, silent until Luke comments about that and then she nods uncertainly. "Yes..." she glances to him and wipes hair back from her face. Because it's STILL WET. "Uhf..." * Luke grabs the pointer and stabs it into the fire, poking at the golden gleam. [The nurse and Frank tend to Pia, while Veronica heads towards Charlotte. Her hand is twisted, blistered, and severely burned. But out.] [Right hand, for the record.] [Luke pokes the stick into the fire, and it catches flame, too! Just the end.] * Veronica takes in a deep breath and looks at Jeremy. "What's the big idea taking her all around the school instead of leaving her somewhere where she could get treated? I mean, what if she was going into shock too?" * Charlotte already is in shock! Just a different kind. [Jeremy stares at Veronica. "What, and leave her in the room with a *fire*?"] No. But you don't have to carry her all *this* way. Matt didn't. * Krista jumps slightly at the stick's failure and says, "Perhaps we can... um..." she glances around a little, taking a step back just in case the fire leaps to her. * Veronica looks over Charlotte. "You okay?" * Luke holds up the stick carefully. * Charlotte doesn't answer. Busy sobbing. ["She didn't want to move, okay?!" Jeremy looks pissed now.] * Charlotte probably inadvertantly answers Veronica's question in that way, though. [What looks like a piece of flaming, golden jewelry hangs from the end of the pole. Meanwhile, the fire also creeps up it.] [The fire on the floor starts to die down.] * Krista stares at it, crossing herself. "What wickedness..." * Veronica takes a deep breath. "You're right... You're right." She sighs a bit and looks off to the side. "Take her near the girl's bathroom. That'll make things easier." She starts walking towards said bathroom. ["But-" Jeremy looks at the nurse. "She's right there."] ( Nurse doesn't wuv me ) (Nurse is dealing with one person at a time!) * Veronica turns around and looks Jeremy over. "Yeah, but she's a little busy looking after Pia, who just happens to be going into shock. She's--" She stares at Charlotte's arm and curses. "Oh shit. I forgot!" [Jeremy looks confused. Who can blame him?] * Luke holds out the stick as far extended as he can. "I couldn't have put it better," he says. * Veronica shakes her head quickly. "No bathroom. Fuck, she's got blisters. Why didn't I notice that sooner? We've still got to get it covered though." * Krista stares at it, shifting her bookbag as she goes, "What should... could you do? Can you do?" * Charlotte doesn't know why. "Wait a minute." [Luke holds the jewelry as far away from Krista and himself as possible, which is a good five feet. The fire continues to climb another foot up the pole as he and Krista watch... and then there's a faint sizzle as the sprinklers start to work their magic, putting out the fire in the pole as well as they're handling the one on the floor. The jewelry at the end begins to melt: large, golden drops that fall to the floor.] * Krista continues staring. She shivers and clutches at a pendant that is now very easy to grab through her thoroughly wet dress. ( Can we see Krista's boobs through her shirt? ) "Resist the urge to touch the melting pendant." (I was just going to say that this is a great time to point out that Krista has boobies.) ( Damn, and I'm missing it! Damn you, Jeremy! ) (But are Charlotte and Veronica too distracted to appreciate it?) * Veronica wraps the hand lightly in the blanket, keeping it relatively loose and looking at Charlotte all the time. "Keep with me, girl. You're gonna be alright." (Shush, Charlotte. You have Veronica.) (Yeah. And Veronica's hotter. AND she's wet too.) (I imagine her dress is very immodest, and she will be very embarrassed once someone points it out.) * Charlotte looks at Veronica. "How am I going to play Hoedown?" * Krista vehemently says, "I have no desire to touch such a thing..." [The fires gradually subside as the gold melts, and before long, it's all over, with no fire and the pendant just a cooling puddle.] [Well. And property damage, two injured people, and a burnt stick.] (Swap my and Krista's things, so Krista's comment comes before "The fires..."] * Veronica looks at Charlotte and frowns slightly. "We'll...just...can you play with your other hand?" I don't know. ["Wait. Is this like a band thing?" Jeremy asks, trying to make heads or tails of this conversation.] It can't hurt to try. (Last poses, please.) (Can continue a little longer, but let me know when you're done. ;P) * Veronica takes in a deep breath and shakes her head whispering slightly. "Thank you." She apparently doesn't hear Jeremy. ( Nurse didn't even look at me! ) * Charlotte heard Jeremy, but doesn't feel like explaining it to him for some reason. "Not one for jewelry?" Luke drops the burned stick. * Veronica speaks up a little louder. "But you're crazy, you know that? Still. You saved her life." * Krista replies softly, "'Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth,' Mister Mendel." * Charlotte just sobs. * Veronica gives Charlotte a hug! A wet t-shirt hug. Which means Jeremy probably gets part of it by chance. Lucky lucky him. [Right about now, firemen are turning into your hall. One takes a look at the congregation, and he pulls out a walky talkie, saying, "Paramedics to room 164. Now."] [Session End.]