Monster High - The School Grounds

[Rorrim Rory Bludworth]

Dashner Hawke

Dashner cleared his throat. "If you'll hexcuse me... I have... Somewhere to be," he said quietly, getting up and walking away, carrying his purple tray with him.

Rory picked up his tray too, and followed after Dashner.

"Dashner, wait!" He called after his bluddy. For him to just walk away without even saying goodbye to Peggy, who he had clearly been macking on all morning was hextremely out of character for Dashner. Rory wanted to make sure he was okay.

"What's wrong?" He asked, as Dashner walked with purpose out of the Creepateria. Because it was still lunch hour, the hallways were nearly empty. "Did someone say something to make you mad?"

"No! I mean, yes. But still, no! Just...just leave me alone, okay? I have to find Vinnie and probably get hit in the face with a pie for my troubles or something." Dashner replied grumpily. "That's how un-life seems to be treating me lately, anyways."

Rory poked his index fingers together, feeling immensely uncomfortable.

"Did I...do something to get you mad?" He asked Dashner, who was rubbing his temple with one claw. "Is this about all the summoning and vanishing on Bleak Friday? I can't really control-"

"YES it's about that!" Dashner snapped off, making Rory nearly jump out of his sneakers. Dashner sighed. "I didn't mean to yell. Arrgh, I just can't do anything right! On Friday, summoning you gets Marceline yelling at me, on Thursday, going with Sally to the school Fangsgiving Feast makes the Ghostly Gossip start spreading things about me, and now I have to go talk to Vinnie and I already know that's going to end up with her yelling at me!"

It all just poured out of Dashner's mouth, a non-stop stream of pent-up frustration. Rory blinked in surprise.

"You and Marceline are supposed to be my best friends, but when all three of us fang out, I'm just the third wheel on the bicycle! Or worse, I'm left out completely. You took RONAN with you to the apple gorechard, but not me! Really?! Really!!"

"I-I didn't hacktually plan on-" Rory stammered a bit, and then his shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?! What about Marceline? Before you came along, we were really close, and now it feels like there's this big wedge-" Dashner cut himself off seeing Rory cringing away from him. He rubbed a claw over his face and took a deep breath. "-I didn't mean that like it sounded, Rory, I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated and..."

Dashner leaned back against one of the lockers and looked down at his shoes. His voice had lowered to a mumble.

"I miss Merabell."

"You miss Merabell?" Rory repeated, trying to make sense of Dashner's suddeny flurry of emotions. "But...I thought the two of you decided mutually to break up."

"Well, we didn't have a choice!" Dashner replied, stuffing his claws into his jean pockets. "She was going to go live in Japain and long distance relationships are so hard, plus she's probably going to be always on the move for now...and so I'm all alone and you and Marceline are so lovey-dovey and happy that it makes me sick!"

Dashner gnashed his teeth. Could he ever say the right thing?!

"I mean...jealous. It makes me really jealous." Dashner looked up sidelong from his shoes. Rory was leaning on the locker next to him, thinking. "I understand if you're mad at me. I'd be mad at me."

"I...didn't know you felt that way." Rory replied, after a long, uncomfortably quiet pause. "I don't think Marceline knows you feel that way, either."

"Well, you two were so happy I didn't want to be the one to mess it up for you." Dashner replied after another long pause. All this leaning against lockers wasn't very comfortable. He shifted around, squirming to get the padlock out of the small of his back. "I thought if I just ignored those feelings, they'd go away eventually."

"Dash...you're one of my beast friends ever. If something is wrong, you can always talk to me." Rory replied, looking his friend in the face solemnly. "I've heard that I'm pretty good at helping people reflect."

Dashner looked at Rory...which meant looking at a reflection of himself bouncing off of Rory's fractured face. He couldn't help it - a snort of a laugh escaped his nose.

"Helping...reflect... snrk!" Dashner couldn't help but let out a guffaw. "Yeah, I guess you could say you're made for it!"

Rory smiled as Dashner laughed. He felt relieved to see his friend finally relax.

"Yeah, I've taken a real shine to helping others look at themselves." He replied, sticking his tongue out a little bit. Dashner laughed even harder.

"Whew..." He let out a deep, refreshing breath. "I kinda do feel a little better, finally saying those things. You aren't mad at me, are you?"

"Of course not!" Rory replied, putting an arm around his friend's shoulder. "And I know if you talked to Marceline, she wouldn't be, either. And I think we both kind of owe you an apology too for making you feel so left out. I guess we were so wrapped up in each other we didn't realize how Merabell's leaving was wearing on you."

"Maybe I'll talk to her during Home Ick." Dashner nodded, picking himself up from leaning on the locker. He rubbed his back where the padlock had been gouging him. "Hey, Rory, will you do me a big favor?"

"Anything for my bluddy." Rory replied without hesitation. He didn't even ask if it was going to be dangerous.

"Would you come with me to talk to Vinnie? You know, as backup. Moral support."

"To provide your emergency contact information?" Rory asked, hefting up his own book bag to follow Dash.

"Yeah, if it comes to that. I think maybe you can help me convince her to...reflect on Perry." Dashner grinned at Rory, who grinned back.

"I'll do my beast! Have any glass cleaner handy?" Rory replied as they headed down the hallway to try to find Vinnie.  

[Vanissha de la Luz]

"I-but-We--I can't..." Words were never hard for Vanissha to speak. But Dj's words struck her like a boo-merang. Swinging back to strike her again and again in the heart.

Parts of her face were quickly becoming invisible, as her own tears were washing away her powered makeup. She could hold back her emotions no longer, and once again gave an outburst!!

"Whhhhhaaaahhhhh!!" She cryied out as she ran out the door, pushing people out of her way to get away form JD and Draconia.  

[Glen da West]

Harry Herne

Glen leaned over far to watch as Vanissha made her grand, and surprisingly wet, hexit from the creepateria. Before JD or Draconia could comment on what had just happened, Glen sat up straight, interlaced his fingers atop the table and took on a stoic look toward the final boo that has come seeking a date with 'his' Drakie.

Harry Herne.

Glen cleared his throat to draw the boo's attention back from the clouds where it seemed to have wondered -- perhaps he was contemplating Vanissha's drama induced hexit as well? Who knows?

But the moment Harry turned to look at him, Glen squinted one eye and leaned in to ask, "What is it that hasn't got what you think it has but if it has, how many has it got?"

The sound of a record screeching as several eyes turned to stare.

Glen smiled at Draconia (who was one of the staring), and he laughed, "I learned that riddle from Mister Uncle Wonky ages ago! Said it was the Red Queen's absolute favorite!"  

[Harry Herne]

Before answering the square riddle by Verdant Lad(Harry labelled him that because he didn't know if he was the Glens half of the pair or the Ma half), Harry
inclined his head deeply in a show of respect for the Dragon ghoul. Protocols must be observed. His goblin tutors were relentless with the protocols. His old monster insisted.

"Great One, it is cosmically epic pleasure to meet you. Harold Herne, son of the Erlking, Lord of the Goblins."

Harry extended his hand. Draconia took it with an arched eyebrow. Harry totally missed the fact that she seemed to have no idea what he was talking about.

"Okay, then. Hello."

Glen had been impressed with Harry's politeness. Most boos at school, new or not, would have been much more dudish about it. He cleared his throat and addressed his newest victim...er...candidate.

"Eyes over here, boody. I'm the grimterviewer. Answer the riddle please."

Harry's eye flicked to Glen in annoyance.

"The 'it' in question are Queens Titania and Mab. And they have all of the things they wish. Now, Great One-"

"Draconia."

"Draconia. If your servant has no more square riddles, I'd like to ask about your duo and the goblin you "employ." I'm host-"

"HEY! I am NOT a servant!"

"Lackey?"

"WHAT!?"

"Minion?"

"This isn't Grimspicable Me, you!"

"I have no idea what that is. Groupie? Flunky? Toady? Which title do you prefer? Perhaps Glens Ma prefers....goblin slaver?"

"DON"T MAKE FUN OF MY MOM!"

Glen officially Lost It when he heard his mom mentioned. Harry rubbed him the wrong way right after the introduction and things went downhell from there. He pulled his iCoffin wand app with flourish to send Harry the way of JD Leeds. Unfortunately for the whole creeperteria, Harry's natural instincts kicked in when he saw a threat.

To protect himself, he summoned the Wild Hunt with even thinking about. Outside the creeperteria doors, dogs howled. Every head at lunch craned towards the sound and Harry paled visibly.

"Oh by the winds of Artcis Tor, I am so boned."

The doors to the cafeteria burst open and a large pack of happily wagging dogs flooded the room. Friendly dogs in tutus. Dogs that all looked exactly like this. Boos and ghouls everywhere in the cafeteria were tackled and licked into submission, many noms were stolen, and many tails wagged. This was the dreaded Wild Hunt? Well not exactly...as a peace loving hippie, this was the wildest hunt Harry could summon. The hunt for cuddles, licks, and noms.

"Raven, no..nonononononono!"

Harry was tackled by the lead supernatural dog who licked him promptly into submission.  

[Dashner Hawke]

Dashner walked with Rorrim down the empty hallways. Of course, Perry didn't include one vital piece of information- WHERE Vinnie was. This left the two boos to keep searching for the ghoul.

Dashner was nervous. Okay... Very nervous. He and Vinnie weren't on the best terms... But Dashner felt better having Rorrim with him. They turned countless corners and finally found Vinnie in the library. Camera in claw, she seemed to be using her camera to calm herself. 'Calm.'

The two boos entered the silent library, and all anyone could hear was the click of a camera. Dashner and Rorrim slowly made their way across the room. Dashner spoke softly. "Vinnie? Are you okay?"  

[Ronan Aalto]

Of course chaos ensured as dogs flooded the creepateria. Some monsters screamed, others cooed over the cute doggies.
Ronan petted one who rested it's head on his lap and begged for scraps.

"I do not think you really want to try to eat this." He offered the mystery meatloaf, the dog jerked their head away. Clearly the animal agreed with Ronan's assessment of the food.

"Who puts a tutu on a dog?" He shook his head to the not partly scattered group at his table. Poor animal, this seemed frightfully undignified, unless of course the dog liked being a pretty ballerina.
It did seem happy enough as it licked his hand.

Ronan found himself wishing he had more to offer the animals than barely palletable meatloaf.  

[Perry Hartley]

Perry had mostly managed to rinse the soda out of his hair and shirt, being a little wet was preferable to sticky in any event.
As he exited the bathroom, he rapidly came to realise he'd missed some massive dramatic chaos.
Screams came from the creepateria, and... barking?
What in Hades name was going on in there?

As he headed back toward the creepateria to get a look, he plowed straight into the half invisible form of Vanissha.

"Woah.. watch where you're..." He stopped, it was clear the ghoul was distraught, he makeup was streaked leaving large invisible smears down her face.
"Hey... are you ok?"

Evidently the situation with JD had escalated rapidly.
Man, why did all the interesting stuff happen when he wasn't in the room?

Vanissha sniffled pathetically and threw herself into Perry's arms dramatically. He stumbled backwards in surprise. "uh..."

She was sobbing again, he couldn't make out what she was trying to say.

"Um.. there... there?" He hesitently patted her on the back and tried to wriggle his way free.

"We were supposed to be perfeeeeect!" She wailed.

Perry winced, immediately regretting showing any sort of sympathy toward the ghoul. But he was stuck now, the invisible ghoul had a grip like Hercules.

"I... it'll be ok... just.. calm down. and let me go." Perry frantically looked around for anything or anyone who might help. But everyone else was far to distracted by... tutu wearing dogs? He caught sight of a pair of them escaping the creepateria and running off down the hall excitedly.

"Vanissha... I can't.. breathe if you... cling that tight.. " He tried hard to pry those perfectly manicured fingers apart. "Calm down... please calm down."

He didn't really want to have to deal with her drama, but right now it wasn't like he had a choice. Maybe if he could get her to let him out of that bear hug, he could make a run for it?  

[Draconia St George]

Well....that was the strangest grimterview yet. A scaramel-and-black dog-creature in a tutu sat at Draconia's feet, wagging her tail and looking like she would very much appreciate a bone to nom on.

"Well aren't you a well-behaved wild summoning beast!" Draconia patted the hound on the head, and it wagged a tail appreciatively. Draconia had no real hexperience dealing with the Fair Folk, being only 16 dragon-years old, but she had heard her father talk about the frustrations of it. As an advisor to King Arthur on the mist-locked island of Avalon, he often helped to deal with other-realmers.

She seemed to recall her father ranting about their single-mindedness and quickness to jump to conclusions, but it seemed a poor choice to paint every Sidhe with the same brush, especially when she'd never met one in the flesh.

"Bella! What are you doing?!" Harry yelped as the scaramel-and-black dog hopped up into Draconia's lap for more pets. "Bad Wild Hunt! No jumping on a Great One!"

"Oh, it's okay!" Draconia tried to quell Harry as the summoned, tutu-clad creature licked her ear. "I don't mind! You're a sweet thing, aren't you? Aren't you!"

Draconia rubbed the daemon-beast's belly as it flopped over and gave a happy whine. Harry let out a defeated sigh.

"Can we call a peace treaty here and have a pow-wow? Call off your lackey and his hocus pocus so I can banish the Wild Hunt back to the aether?"

"Of course!" Draconia gave Bella the Hunt-beast one last head-scratch before pulling Glen out of a pile of wriggling, tutu-clad puppies that were engaged in an attempt to nuzzle him to death. "But first, I believe we've gotten off on the wrong claw here. Glen is not my lacky, he is my beast friend."

"He's Glen? Are you Ma then?"

"Wot?"

"PHEEEEW!" Glen breathed a sigh of relief. The other-realmly nuzzling wasn't painful or scary, but it sure was ticklish. "Boy fella, you are confused. She's not my mom. My mom is Emeralda Da West, Senator of West Oz. And NOT a goblin slaver!"

"But the centaur over there said Glen's Ma forces a goblin to cook!"

"She doesn't force him, he went to culinary school for 38 years for the privilege of being the Grand Chef of Winkie-land." Glen replied, scratching his head in confusion. "Chase better not have said anything that would hurt cook's feelings! Cook loves making him Ozzian green beet salad when he comes over!"

"I believe we have a miscommunication occurring here." Draconia replied as the Wild Hunt started to slowly fade away, happy wagging tails and tutus lastly. "No monster is enslaving anymonster else here."

"Really?" Harry asked, both seeming hopeful but also a bit deflated at the loss of a truly noble clawse to protest.

"Really. He's the highest-paid member of mom's staff!" Glen declared. "And he makes the BEAST kelpie stew in the infinite realms!"

"Kelpie stew - is that MADE from Kelpies?!" Harry steeled his resolve for the chance of a new clawse.

"No...it's a recipe created BY Kelpies." Glen replied. He grinned. "Wow, you're really passionate about things. That's great! I think that qualifies you as a good match for my Drakie. Congratulations! You're on the list!"

"Wait...list?!"  

[Shadeaux D Gloom]

"AHH! Down boy! Down! DOWN!!!"

Shad's yell was quite the contrast to the 'oo's" and "ahh's" of the rest of the students in the creepateria as the sack-boo ran up one lurch table and down the other side with a 'happy puppy' chasing after him with its tail wagging from beneath it's tu-tu.

Shad dove into a large shadow in the corner and the puppy chased him right into it -- and right out of another shadow by Draconia, JD, Harry and Glen. All looked well for Shad's imminent escape -- right up until he slipped on some 'puppy drool' and went flipping up and landed on his back and a horde of 'wild hunt' dogs ran up and started with the doggy smooches!

"Help! They're taste testing me!!!"

And soon, these last remaining Wild Hunt pups faded back to where they came from and Shad sat upright, adjusting his glasses with his hair all askew.

"Whew! Good thing I didn't panic!"  

[Vanissha de la Luz]

Perry Hartley

That was the most humiliating event of Vanissha's short unlife. Even thought she tried to explain what happened to 'Percy' all that came out was sobs of hysterics and mumbled words.

"JD-*Crys*-So Mean!! *Sniff* --Draconia totally popular!!!"

She eased her grip on her hug, but didn't let go, looking up at him, he must have understood everything she said since he was being so understanding. talking to him calmed her down just long enough to finally let go of 'Percy'.

She wiped away her tears on her designer coat, and just stood there looking pathetic, and sniffling.

"Didn't your ghoul-friend break up with you too? So... like, you totes get where I coming from..."

Suddenly an idea popped into her head.

"Your wings a way bigger then Jd's. We could totally make them all jealous, if we went out." There was a small smile as the revenge plan started turning in her mind. She could make 'Percy' the most popular boo in school and they could be the next power couple.  

[Perry Hartley]

Perry frowned. "G.. ghoulfriend?"

OH man, what'd it take to come out at this school?!

"Vinnie? we... we're not a couple. She's just.. mad at me because she thought I was into Draconia, which i'm not and she didn't believe me and she thought I lied to her at tombcoming and..."

He was rambling. He sighed, then caught sight of that wicked smile on Vanissha's face and edged away a little.

"Go out? uh.. no... no."

Her lip started to tremble, he felt a pang of guilt.

"no no, Vanissha, it's just I don't... I like boos ok?"

Well what'dy'a know, it was getting easier to say that now. He'd already shouted it enough times over the past few days, quietly explaining to one ghoul while everyone else was distracted was nothing.
He was starting to realise that despite his fears, his mother was right, nobody cared and nobody was talking about it. Not that he'd ever admit to his mother that she was right, oh no.

"But listen, you shouldn't be looking to get revenge. Making him miserable may sound like fun, heck, it IS fun but it won't make you feel better."

He reached out a hand and awkwardly patted her shoulder.

"Maybe you should just like.. talk to him, alone. "

He shook his head, musing that maybe just maybe he should sometimes listen to his own advice. Yeah like that was gonna happen.

"Just um... make sure he hasn't got anything he could throw at or on you. So no soda... or food... or developer... "

He managed a faint smile, he really had to get better at dodging.  

[Vinnie Lovecraft]

Dashner Hawke

Dashner spoke softly. "Vinnie? Are you okay?"

Vinnie eyed Dashner and Rory through her camera's viewfinder, squinting against the glare that shone off Rory's skin from the lights above. She dropped the camera, letting it hang around her neck, and glared at them.

"Can't you see I'm busy, pidgeon?" She hissed through her tentacles. "I don't care what you want, I just want you to leave me alone."

"Vinnie, we're here to help--" Dashner began.

"I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!!" She shrieked; the die-brarian "shh!"ed her sternly from the desk. Vinnie rolled her eyes and with a crackle of static in the air, she vanished into thin air.

Meanwhile, in the ghouls' bathroom, Vinnie blipped into existence once again inside a vacant stall. She slumped to the floor, a little winded from the inter-dimensional transport; and as she felt tears welling up behind her eyes she tensed and kicked the stall wall as hard as she could.  

[Falconnie Hawke]

"Vinnie! You need to LISTEN to me for onc-"

"Well, that went well," Rorrim said sarcastically as the ghoul blinked away.

"She... Can do that?" Dashner asked, still in confusion of Vinnie just... Vanishing into mid air.

MEANWHILE...

Falconnie walked out of one of the purple bathroom stalls, fixing her furry coat sleeves. She squeaked as Vinnie blinked in, and gasping in surprise as Vinnie kicked the stall. She put a claw over her heart, which was racing from the sudden surprise.

"V-Vinnie! I didn't expect to..." she tried, speaking softly.  

[Harry Herne]

Harry wandered back to the table with Kai, Layla, and company. He was thoroughly confused.

"I...made a list? Is this groovy or lame?"

Harry really hoped that the Headless Headmistress didn't realize that the Wild Hunt was summoned. As much fun as it was to get into trouble during Bite-ology for speaking his mind, the Wild Hunt would get his Old Monster called. Harry shuddered. He didn't that trouble right after getting here.  

[Vanissha de la Luz]

The emotional turmoil must have done something to Vanissha's brain as she was actually listing to all that Percy had said.

"Ohhh!!!" She took a step back looking 'Percy' up and down as if the final piece of the puzzle was put into place. "Well, Of course you are! How else would you be able to resist me?" She gave a small laugh, and plunked his head with her palm softly. "Duh! Don't worry Percy, I'm form Hauntlywood, All my old beasties where gay too. And let me tell you Hauntlywood would not run the same with out them." She nodded, knowingly.

"And since you can't be me Boo-friend, you'll just have to be my Beast-friend instead." She hugged him again only this time she let go and looked up at him.

"Don't worry it'll be Freaky-Fabulus! You can even help me get back together with JD! And I'll help you with that gay-fashion sense you seem to be badly lacking." It was starting to make her feel better to help someone else. The needy always appreciated her hard working efforts, she was sure 'Percy' would love her make over for him.

"I'll take your advise, if you take mine. I'll get JD alone. I'll talk to him until he realises his Monsterious mistake, I mean he wont be able to resits my Hauntlywood charm. No one can." She hooked an arm into her new Beasties and started walking while explaining her plan to him.

"Now here what you do with Vinnie. It has to be a grand-mounstuious-gesture! Who doesn't love that?! It's going to show you're sorry about what happened be between you and she wont be able to say otherwise. You have to film it and broadcast your apologize to the entire school! So that she and everyone else at Monster High knows your true feelings!"

She looked up and him again, he was so much taller then she was, and nodded.

"Trust me. I saw it in a movie once. And it worked! This will work too. Even better if you put it in a song. But I think I'm going to have to help you with your pitchyness. Don't worry My uncle is the Drama Club teacher, And Spectra is a close friend so I've got all the stuff we need to make this work!" Clearly she was getting very excited, her plan would work, they always do! ... Except the latest, but that was JD's fault!

"If we are going to be on camera, then I need to fix my face. Because i look-- not my beast. You need Make up too." She walked to the ghoul's rest room and dragged 'Percy' in as well.

"All the Mansters in Hautnylwood wear make-up, so don't even try to get out of it. And you're gay so it's fine for you to be in the ghoul's room... " She yanked him along, why was he resisting??

"Come-nugh-on Percy!!" She continued to pull on his arm at the door. Suddenly she heard a loud bang behind her, and turned to see Dashner's Clone Falconnie.

"Oh Hi Dashner's clone... Nice. to. Meet. You..." Was it just her... or did the clone creep anyone else out?

"V-Vinnie! I didn't expect to..." Falconnie spoke softly.

"Oh Fabulus, Vinnies here!"