[PRP] Black Out (Sathe, Niamh, Fionchaor, Ruttaga)

[Green Minuet]

When: Close to Midnight, Haunted Hallows
Where: Haunted Mansion Party

 

[Green Minuet]

Three hours had passed since the sun set. Another two rounded the clock since Sathe and Niamh escaped the haunted mansion. The party in the backyard had begun to dwindle as the food ran out and the night grew colder. The crowd dispersed in increasing waves over the course of the evening; first only a few peeled off at a time, then later in packs of five or ten. By eleven o’clock less than fifty people remained, dawdling and chatting lazily over the muted whub-whub of dance music.

And yet, Ruttaga had yet to make an appearance.

The brash chimera was nowhere to be found in the thinning crowd nor had anyone seen him. The lights had since all been turned on in the manor, as well as the illusions and actors dismissed. It was possible he had already gone back to the academy. Then again, his cell phone went straight to voicemail.  

[Mauserati]

Sathe had enjoyed the after-party for the most part, still a bit shaken by the experience, but glad they had made it through and even more glad that Niamh was safe.

He had tried calling Rutta after the first hour, but each attempt just went straight to voicemail, which was weird. Sathe didn't remember ever hearing the chimera's voicemail message before, typically because he always answered.

As the crowd dwindled he found himself almost constantly searching the crowds to see if he would turn up, and watching the exit door, as if this was one of Rutta's pranks that was waiting for the right moment.  

[Aria Starstone]

Niamh had stayed close to Sathe, the entire after party. She was glad they made it out, glad Sathe had been right there with her... But she was less glad to realize that Rutta had not... shown up.

Sure, she had not liked the brash and loud chimera. He had made her feel like somethin' was wrong with her, or that she was weak... Which she really knew she was but he made it feel worse for her... But Sathe clearly cared about the other kid, even if she was pretty sure this was the guy who Sathe had been drawing the day they met.

She had no idea, really, what their friendship was like, so she did not judge. She just worried, because Sathe was worried.

Finally, after awhile, she gently took Sathe's hand and murmured "Maybe we should go back to dorms and look for him? Do you know where his dorm is?"

Mauserati

Green Minuet

 

[Mauserati]

Sathe was holding his phone, staring at it as he debated trying to call Rutta again, when Niamh took his hand. Looking over at her, he frowned slightly with genuine worry, nodding as he squeezed her hand.

"I'm...pretty sure I know where his dorm is, though I've never visited. Not like I have with you, for sure." He slid the phone back into his pocket as he looked around one last time, before leading onward. "It's in the same building as mine, I think. C'mon."

It was weird that he found himself worrying about his rival like this. He still couldn't shake the feeling that this was all some sort of setup, the punchline for him accepting the invite to go to the haunted house with Rutta.

Aria Starstone

Green Minuet

 

[Green Minuet]

Fionchaor Gearglas

Following the dissipating trickle of party-goers, Sathe and Niamh took the path that wound around the side of the manor. In stark contract to the manicured back yard, around the side of the house trees pressed in close to the walls, blocking out the moonlight, and overgrown brambles stretched underfoot. Though it was a clear night, magic-powered crystalline lights helped to light the way beneath the shadowy canopy.

As they reached the front of the house, they walked by an elf dressed, not in costume, but in the Asphodel uniform. In addition he wielded a pen and notepad. He gave the two a curt nod they passed, at the same time making two short slashes across his notes. As his pen traced further down the page, his mouth unfurled into a scowl.

“Wait a moment,” he called. He clipped his pen into the spiral ring and crossed over to them. “Niamh and Sathe, correct?” he asked. He double-checked the names on the notepad to be sure, but it was less a sincere inquiry and more an implied how-do-you-do.

“Fionchaor Gearglas. Same class,” he explained. Same class; but not classes. The elf had been enrolled in advanced courses and attended private tutoring sessions during school hours. Were it not for his position on the student council and his participation across several of the school's extracurricular activities, he might have been an unknown for how little he saw the general student populace.

He appraised the two with a severe look. “I'm volunteering for the school for the night. Have either of you seen Ruttaga?” When he mentioned the chimera, his mouth gave the barest twitch.

Mauserati

Aria Starstone

... Braaaaains!

 

[Aria Starstone]

"Alright." Niamh said, following Sathe, her eyes trusting him to guide them both wherever it was they needed to go. She continued to hold his hand as they sought out his building, and was going to ask him something when someone stopped them before they got too far.

She turned when the stranger asked them to stop AND knew their names. She shifted to stand somewhat behind Sathe, looking the other over, eyes looking over the stranger elf. "Yesssss..." She said quietly, in response to the 'question' of who they were, very suspicious of this student. She did not like strangers approaching her and knowing who she was.

His name, other then being filed away just in case, made no impact, but when he asked them about Ruttaga, she straightened... A little. "N...Not s...since w...w...we were in the H...huh...haunted house." Dammit, the stutter was back again, but then again this stranger had honestly scared her.

Mauserati

Green Minuet

 

[Mauserati]

Sathe noticed the elf, but paid him little attention beyond that, at least until he spoke up. The tone was weird, but as he kept talking it made more sense. This guy was a nerd, probably student council or something that would get him in trouble if he made a wrong move. He would have to be well behaved or risk detention or some other waste of time. Not that he was a stranger to hanging out after school against his will, but it would mean less time with Niamh, leaving her unguarded.

"We are."He glanced to the side as Niamh hid behind him, letting go of her hand and holding it out protectively. "We were heading out to look for him, in fact. Do you know where he is?" From the question and the slight tic at speaking Rutta's name, he assumed this elf didn't know where he was. Still, maybe he would be useful, like a detective or something.

He frowned slightly at Niamh's response, hand moving to brush against her arm in reassurance. She had already had a long night, and he wasn't too keen on her being scared by some know-it-all. This elf better start talking or he was gonna escort his chimera friend back to her place, figure out what happened to Rutta later.

Aria Starstone

Green Minuet