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May nodded at the professor and took a step towards the door. Tex was there offering his hand, but he didn't look one bit happy about it. She imagining her face mirrored his own disconnectedness. Something about leaving the entire ordeal to the teachers felt comfortable ... but dangerous. The feeling that the reaper was more dangerous than Professor Quibble kept gnawing at her.

Before walking out the door, she pulled Tex aside, grabbing both of his hands and looking seriously into his eyes.

She whispered quietly and anxiously, so that only he could hear her. "Tex ... do you really want to go out there? To the cave?" She looked down, somewhat ashamed of what she was even saying. "I ... You could go missing, like Kato ... What if Professor Quibble isn't enough and that reaper ... That reaper ..." She pursed her lips, holding her tongue for a moment. "It's really weird Tex ... I'm scared." It was an unusual feeling. Halloween citizens did the scaring, not the other way around.

He was right after all. They had to protect their friends. She was just scared of what it meant. To what lengths did she have to protect her friends? Most had the cheesy mentality that they would "take a bullet for their friends."

Not May.

May was terrified to die.

Yet she nodded, and put on a brave face. "Moonday. Promise?" A picnic sounded nice right now, actually. They'd have sandwiches and juice, in a carafe (not the Carafe, just a carafe). He could play his guitar, and she could lay there listening. Yeah. That's what they'd do.

She detached from him, but kept his hand in hers and said, "Let's do this cowboil."

Exit~

"I know you can, Argyle. I trust you to do whatever is necessary to turn the Defenders around and get them out of there. And everyone else who goes with him. Do what the Professor said." She didn't sound like she was going to follow her own advice there...

After Quibble left, Vanth nervously began to pet Janus, as if it would steady her nerves. Most of her crying and sobbing and shaking had subsided, leaving a cold hollow feeling in its wake. Rather than succumb to the urge to curl up in a ball right there and then, she began to think aloud. "We tried to stop them before. We warned them with flyers, we got help. We did everything we could except for one thing."

"Maybe it's stupid, maybe I'm just getting goaded by what that Reaper said before. But this is our fight, isn't it? We're just as much protectors of Amityville as everyone else. And when they're in trouble, when they're walking right into danger, we have to protect them and get them back." She wiped some of the half-dry tears from her eyes with her other hand. She wasn't smiling, she was pursing her lips until they went as pale as the rest of her skin. Janus's feline face remained an unreadable mask. "We have to- to be brave and make hard decisions because we know it's the right thing to do."

Bravery was not a magical aura that overtook you and defended you from all wordly harm. It was a decision, with consequences. They couldn't forget the scythe, how easily it had stopped them all. By force. She could be brave, but at the same time she could also be more scared than she'd ever been in her existence. What mattered was that the others were rescued, or that she dissipated trying. "We're only students for one more day. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not for many Octobers, but one day we'll be the adults everyone else is relying on to stand up to those who threaten our friends or families or defenseless humans. But we can do it our way. Not through pain and suffering, but defending and healing and showing everyone that fighting itself is the problem."

"I'm going to the forest," she declared suddenly, and even Janus seemed startled. "I'll follow the professor and find out what's going on with that Reaper. And our classmates and professor... won't be alone if there's trouble."

Selene gave Argyle a gentle smile, pleased beyond belief that it had worked. "I am so glad you are feeling better." She patted his arm and backed away, suddenly aware of their proximity. His idea sounded like the right one, because it was what the Professor had said. She just.. hated the thought of it. Going down there and confronting the students was something a DETH member was supposed to have the courage to do.

But she hardly had the courage to even think about it.

Vanth spoke up, and the look of awe returned to Selene's face. She listened to the stirring words, and let out a tiny sigh of longing. If only she could be as brave as Vanth, one day..

Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not for many Octobers, but one day we'll be the adults everyone else is relying on to stand up to those who threaten our friends or families or defenseless humans.

Would that day ever come, for Selene? Would she ever shed the skin of shyness and finally overcome her insecurities to help protect those she loved, and those she cared about? Including the humans who spent their days oblivious to the fight going on about them?

She doubted it. But for a moment, just for a brief moment, Vanth's speech gave her hope.

"I will accompany you, Vanth. I will not let you be alone." If she was going to have to start learning how to protect the people she cared about.. she was going to have to start today.

Ava watched quietly as DETH members began to file out of the room, which led them to make a decision on where to go next. She was curious about what was going on in the weeping forest, but she also wanted to see what was happening in the cave. Its too bad her fear ability wasn't to duplicate herself and be in two places at once. It would be really helpful in situations like this.

Smiling at the two boils, she nodded. "Sure, I'll tag along."

This was one of the reasons why she admired Professor Quibble. Despite the outbursts and panic from the other students, he managed to bring order once more. Tarot had no intention to do anything that would disobey his orders, so when Vanth and Selene voiced their desires to follow the professor to the forest she was surprised. Selene, to the forest? Her first instinct was to turn toward Arcana. Without a doubt he would follow the snake ghoul. At first she convinced herself to follow the pair to the forest, but then decided against it. She was the older twin, but they were graduating. They were growing up. Tarot couldn’t chase after her twin to watch over him forever.

For once, the twins were going to part ways.

She smiled softly and placed a hand on Arcana’s shoulder. “Arcana, I’m going to go to the cave instead—you have to make sure Selene is safe, okay?” Tarot pursed her lips. “We’re both graduating, so I know you’ll do a great job on your own. I’m really proud of how far you’ve come since we entered Amity and I want you to know that I love you a lot.” She pressed a kissed to his forehead as she reached out to reassuringly squeeze his hand. “But I’m sure you already knew that.” Finally, she let go and began to step back, but her gaze never left her younger sibling. “Be careful and if something goes wrong be sure to text me, okay?” Tarot stopped, wondering if she should really leave her little brother on his own.

She shook her head, steeling her resolve. No. They were adults now.

Then she looked to Selene. Precious, shy, absolutely-perfect-for-Arcana Selene. Tarot smiled. She wasn't going to forget you. The reaper stepped forward to hold Selene's hand with both of hers. "Your decision to follow Vanth into the forest is brave." She briefly nodded to Vanth. "That reaper, whoever he is, is strong and I want you to be careful as well." Tarot smiled. "However, I have faith all three of you will be alright and will back up the professor splendidly." She placed a kiss to Selene's forehead as well. "Don't tell Arcana this but I think you're perfect for each other." She winked at the snake ghoul before she finally left.

[ exiting ]

Arcana was of course quiet during the talk with the assistant and teacher Quibble. He made no move to add to the conversation since his fellow students and DETH members had pretty much clearly explain the story. He frowned as Quibble took the tablet and declared that their job was over. It was unsatisfying in Arcana's mind to think that he had gained nothing in the meeting of what Quibble said may be a reaper in cahoots with a human.

His frowned deepened more when Quibble requested they go to stop the defenders. Something he found unnesscary. If the defenders wanted to d**k around before graduation, it was one thing to them. Arcana had other things on his mind.

And one of those things immediatly became clear when Selene and Vanth declared that they would too, go to the forest. Taking a deep breath, he was about to voice his opinion on it when his sister's hand, gentle and loving touched him.

Their was a brief moment of agreement and tenderness between the two. A understanding at her words and he took her hand in return, pressing it to his cheek. "My sister. You be safe and you come back strong." He had always followed his sister after all, he was the younger, a shadow and silent supporter for his sister. "I'll miss you." He weakly smiled at her, flushing at the emotions arise before nodding. "I love you too sister. You better be safe too or...or...I will hurt Westhor." That was a pathetic attempt of a threat from the younger twin but...he hoped it got his point across. Watching her part, he felt a sadness and headed over to Selene. His hand shyly taking hers.

"I will go with you two...." He held Selene's hand tight and nodded to Vanth. "I am worried for you two..." and then his eyes slid to Selene, "I worry for you the most Selene. I feel...." he blushed as he tried to think of something....and instead went with simple honesty. "My feelings for you are strong Selene. I don't want to imagine you getting hurt, or worst, dying. SO if something happens....I want to you to not think about me. I want you to save yourself. I will sacrifice everything for you...." He ducked his head as the last part came out on a whisper. "Because If something happened to you, Then it would kill me anyways."

He looked over to Vanth and nodded again. "I'm...Ready..."

As promised, Taru followed behind Vanth, trying to keep her mind clear and her thoughts optimistic.

[exit]