{ORP Closing Ceremony} Hello and Goodbye.

[Pales]

Marushii

For once the Engraver's ability to remain stoic and expressionless was a boon to her a she was too surprised to make any real expression that would benefit the moment as the boogeyman leaned in and started to speak to her in a rather low tone making her listen carefully to make sure she heard all of this, every single word. Lattice felt nervousness build within her but she managed to hold it down. She waited for a brief moment before giving the smallest of nods when he spoke up and then she said, "All is forgiven. It seems just about any bell tone sets us off after that particular ceremony it is a bit of a ... curse that follows us through childhood."

A curse and a blessing it seemed in this case.

"Outcasts, sir, all who go through the ceremony for the bells are outcasts except for the scarelings that pin the outcast down and the Elders that do the outcast rite," it was normal to correct outsiders, "it is often said even the young go insane after that. Still it is meant to...teach everyone involved what it is to betray the Clan." This particular rite was not exactly secretive, now and again outcast Engravers wandered Halloween and some not very well off at all.

Her tone was even. Neutral.  

[Dragain]

She was dressed in black. Not that she usually wasn't, but this time, there was a grim, thin line where a smile would usually be; she shouldn't be this affected by her death. She wasn't her favorite professor, and the only class she ever took held by Professor Red ended up with her being swallowed by a Skittershark and then spat out. Yet...

Lies. LIES.

She wanted so badly to yell out at Arel, to tell everyone the truth. Retirement? Yeah, a forced retirement DUE TO HER DEATH WHILE TRYING TO PROTECT THE STUDENTS. Why did they leave it out? Why did they try to cover up what really happened? She still had a piece of that skull in a glass bottle with a blood red bow around its neck, the object tucked into the handbag she brought with her... She had intended to bury it here. She thought they would allow it.

That didn't seem like the case at all though. This was an obvious cover up... Why though? She started to play with the hem of her dress before standing up, dusting it off as she looked around, trying to spot a familiar face; they would get to the bottom of this together.  

[Pepzilla]

marushii

At the drop of a hat the boogeyman seemed to change his tone to an interestingly secretive whisper. It sent visible shudders of distortion down Pepin's spine in sheer, raw excitement. Nearly dropping her notepad the ghoul listened very closely to what he had to say.

"Back in a week. Go- go- go-t it. " That was a file to keep protected at all costs. Pepin was about to hit the minisite slot machine jackpot of leads and the other ghoul to be hearing this was part of her newspaper team. YESSS.

After marking that down on her pad Pepin blinked and stepped back. Was he about to tell her even more ah- negative. Pouting a little the ghost almost reached for the eyephone to pull out but decided to still wait on that. "No I don't mean the uh... scarf. But if that is important evidence I will note it," curiosity was getting the better of her and she had really wished she'd known this Red person better but without any bias she knew she'd be distraction-free during whatever further investigations she went through.

Ceremony, initiates, kind, recover.  

[Zyphiris]

Like many of the rest, the frost demon was amongst those seated at the closing ceremony. Edel hadn't seen anyone for the past two days after that dreadful field trip, much less brought up the events of it to the authorities .... or anyone that could possibly do something about it. After hearing what Arel had to say, or rather, what he was forced into saying, the ghoul was having second thoughts about it. This might have been worse than what she thought.

It was clear that the boogeymen were trying to cover up something. They also seemed to wield some some of authority over the school and were bent on keeping what had transpired a secret. Professor Red's “retirement” was being scripted by the local enforcers who were adamant on glossing over it, at least, for them. Edel could feel the tense atmosphere in the room – for those who had been on the field trip and witness what had actually happened, this was an outrage.

None of which Lattice would have, apparently. The frost demon looked on as the engraver confronted the blue and white cloaked reaper – the one who had been stationed outside the haunted house, the one who had given her the bell, the one she told everything to. W-What, was he a part of this too?! Their conversation grew a little hush hush and Edel couldn't make out what they were saying anymore. The frost demon looked away, sensing it was better to do so.

She couldn't help but want to question the boogeyman though. But. Not now. And definitely not in this situation.  

[LP]

Willow had attended, red's funeral dressed in a red outfit. More to honor the fallen teacher than anything else. While she sat there, listening she shook her head it wasn't something she was set to believe. Not when red was still out there on that cliff.

The tigress lingered she had been watching from a far Pepin and the Engraver talking to the boogyman. It seemed as if they weren't getting anywhere when the boogyman leaned in and whispered something to the others. It was then she made a careful approach.

Marushii

"Not to butt in..." She said after a second, "I couldn't help but notice you looked confused..." Her eyes were watching the boogyman and the other two that had been talking to him. She gave them a nod of hello, as she waited to see if he just dismissed her or not.  

[Hanyousblood]

Toby had thoroughly debated even showing up at the terrible ruse of a closing ceremony that day, yet ultimately, it was still knee-jerk propriety which triumphed over her disdain, and so, without comment, she joined the crowd of the service. Her dressage was rather unusual that day-- at least, in color. Rather than the normal dusky violets, her tailcoat and pants were a stark bat black, only contrasted by a lone, deep red in her neatly-tucked undershirt. She would never be one to openly rebel against authority, sure, but this... this was the closest she'd ever get. It was a quiet homage she refused to be ashamed of.

Naturally, Iris was with her as well: somber as ever, though at least like his master, he was clean again, and wearing a fresh harness. They'd both come back from the human world looking like hell, but if nothing else, a shared bath and some furious scrubbing had managed to rinse away the smell of ash from their bodies.

(... Toby still couldn't seem to remove the gray discoloration from her fingertips, but that was a small concern now.)

There was still a slight gingerness to her steps as she slipped in amidst the back of the crowd early in, clearly a sign that her hooves weren't quite repaired yet, but that wasn't even on her mind as she listened to Arel speaking. All creatures of Halloween came from Fear and returned to Fear... but what did that even mean, really? Maybe the particles in a body dissipated and went back to some giant Halloween aether, but that didn't tell her what happened to the essence of a person, the things that made them them, or their... consciousness? Was that even the right word for it?

Funny, being such a logical thinker as she was, Toby had often entertained silly philosophical notions of the "real" afterlife in years past, but now, when it actually mattered and she really wished for simple logical answers, it all felt like petty drivel. She yearned for some kind of comforting certainty in knowing what became of the Professor outside a crumbling stone body, yet she knew that certainty probably didn't exist-- and if she ever did find out, it would no longer be important.

... She probably needed to go and pay a moment's respect to that stone, she told herself, but as the bodies began to shuffle away, she wasn't sure she wanted to.

Iris seemed completely indifferent in what she chose. He'd stay by her side just as he always did, and that had at least simplified his life a little.  

[Blade Kuroda]

Every now and then, Jericho glanced back towards the small group further back. When the boogeyman mentioned he was in charge of respawn locations and the like, something rang a bell (no pun intended) for the dragon. He glanced over towards Riley, giving a look that indicated that he would be right back, then headed back to where the others were.

It was a small thing and at the time he was too busy helping out at the tents to really ask about it, but now seemed like a prime time to do so. He could have sworn the things were black, rather than orange. In hindsight, he should have payed more attention to them, seeing how that generally wasn't a healthy color for any sort of plant.

"Sir.. I heard you mentioning the patch... Does this mean you know what was up with those pumpkins the other day?" he asked the boogey.

Marushii

 

[Dragain]

Marushii

Noticing that Lattice was talking to a Bogeyman, Lizzy decided to join her; she missed a lot of what was said, but... That guy looked familiar. She was sure he was with Professor Red at the start of the field trip. He also looked like he was actually being helpful? Or perhaps trying to mislead them further...

"Um, sir? I didn't catch your name, but..." She frowned, joining them, "You were there at the start of the field trip...?"  

[Marushii]

Pales

He said nothing as Lattice clarified for him, merely nodding as he filed the information away for later. There were many things about Halloween that he did not know, and that particular ceremony gave him more than enough reason to look into silencing his bells. He wasn't particularly fond of the idea, but considering the reaction she had it was for the better.

In all honesty, the thought of such a ritual revolted him. His bells were for healing. Not for... that. It was a dishonor.

King Inversitle

The boogeyman seemed just as interested in Pepin as she was in his secrets. "Not the scarf? There was something else?" He inquired, curious. But, ah -- that would have to wait for another time, it seemed.

LP

"Confused? Hm. In some ways yes, in other ways no," the boogeyman said with a dismissal shrug towards Willow. "It appears that there was an announcement pertaining to Red's retirement and I missed it unfortunately." He was about to elaborate when Jericho approached.

Blade Kuroda

The dragon's question prompted an eyebrow to arch in a quizzical manner. "Pumpkins? I fear you will need to elaborate. I did not go back, as I was needed elsewhere." He waved a vague hand towards the gym, adding, "I was assisting with preparations to be exact and did not have time to go back."

Dragain

His attention was pulled aside again at Lizzy's inquiry, a sad smile tugging at his lips. "My name wasn't said, nor was Cee's. Red..." He looked away, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Red wanted to see what you students did, whether you attempted to strike out on your own or ask us personally if we could spare additional supplies. Cee would not, as his role was different. Mine..." He lightly tapped one of his bells. "I would have instructed you in how to use one of my weapons for a bit; I believe a frost demoness did learn? But the rest..."

He shook his head, dismissing the topic. "I do not think you would understand where my name came from. For now, please call me Saebel. That is close enough to my name to where I will respond and will prevent any sort of embarrassing nicknames from coming up on my end. And yourselves...?" Saebel let his eyes slowly drift across those assembled, curious.  

[Pepzilla]

Marushii

"Pepin, Pepin Molyneau." The glitch ghost sounded affirmative when she held her pend and pad parallel to one another.

It was the fact that other students had approached and he'd given them his attention that made her puff up frustratedly. Trying her best not to look flustered the ghoul patiently eyed the other students as if to have the very last word in the conversation with this Saebel figure.  

[LP]

Quite the crowd had gathered around the boogyman. Her tail flickered as she focused her eyes on him and not the others, she didn't know them so it wasn't something she was going to worry herself about.

"You mean this gathering?" She asked after a second, the tigress seemed a bit irritated she'd like to find out who started this lie and set them straight. "I wouldn't call it a retirement though sir. Not after what some of us had been through and seen." She gave an indigent scoff and then she added in a quieter tone. "I think calling this a retirement is an injustice to Red."

However, when Jericho approached one ear twitched towards him. Pumpkins? Did she know about the pumpkins? She knew there was a pumpkin patch at the start of the house... She wondered what happened to them.

"You could've helped us? More so than the pumpkin pills?" Her brows furrowed if she would've known perhaps... she muttered to herself she wished she would've known she would've had a back up for her teammates. She knew most of them had come back a mess and a half. There was another pause when she heard the boogeyman give his name, Saebel, and ask for theirs. "Willow Voltaire." She replied.

Looking over at Pepin curiously, she'd seen the glitch ghost before when Red and Arel was fighting. Of course she'd bolted a bit quickly when things got too heated between the teachers. Perhaps after she talked to team venture she'd find the glitch ghost again to speak to her. "So you're part of the newspaper?" She asked curiously when there was a break in the speaking and she wasn't interrupting anyone directly.

Marushii

Blade Kuroda

King Inversitle

 

[Dragain]

Marushii

"Saebel," She echoed softly, committing the name to memory before nodding, "Elizabeth, but I am used to being addressed as Lizzy... And... Frost demon? Edel? We were part of the same group, and she did use this bell that helped us out when we were in that haunted house! Was it given by you?"

She paused, offering the male a small, grateful smile, "Thank you for your help. It was appreciated... Professor Red... Did you know what happened to her? Why is the school... Insisting that she retired when she... You know..." Her voice trailed away as she bit down on her lower lips; he seemed willing to talk to the students at least, so maybe he wouldn't mind explaining the obvious cover up.

Then again, he was also a boogieman! She should be wary... Just in case... She clutched her handbag closer to her body, feeling the small bottle, with that small piece of Red, inside.  

[Blade Kuroda]

Oh, so the guy didn't seem to know. Shifting his wings a bit, Jericho frowned a bit.

"Pretty sure they were black," he sighed, "Probably should have said something earlier but I was a little distracted at the time, helping out at the tents."

He glanced over at the others who had gathered around. As the boogey introduced himself, the dragon kept his name in mind.

"Oh. I'm Jericho," he replied once prompted for his own name.

Marushii