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 Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:23 pm
It had been several weeks since Arel's visions had dropped more information on Riley than she could handle. She had made all sorts of rash, bad, very not good decisions since then, and now she wore the proof of her stupidity on her back. She sat in a high backed wooden chair on the left wall of the secretary's office, waiting silently to be called in to see the Headmistress, and she couldn't stop fidgeting and readjusting the blanket of crystals that kept scratching the wood. Hadn't she asked for this? She'd written the letter herself, asking to see Headmistress Shox, hadn't she?
Everything seemed so much clearer, when she'd written that letter. She thought she knew exactly what she would ask the Headmistress, the moment she was allowed in the door.
Now, she was at a loss.
The secretary was suspiciously missing, but somehow, Riley wasn't worried. She'd been told to be here, at this time. If it meant waiting for hours, she'd sit here until the Headmistress had time for her. Then, she'd go inside and..
Ugh.
The crystals on her back screeched noisily against the wall as she accidentally slumped in frustration. Her back arched at the horrible feeling, and she returned to her forced ridged posture.
There was nothing left to do but wait.
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:07 pm
Quietly, the door to Hellma's office cracked open. "Enter," for a wonder, the headmistress sounded neither irritable or impatient. Perched on her desk, the look that greeted Riley was one of patient calculation. "Rare it is, that a student would choose to visit me. I see you've...upgraded, yes?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:47 am
The sound of the Headmistress's voice should have sent a shiver down Riley's back. She was lucky, then, that instead she felt the strange warmth returning - because said shiver would have caused her great pain. She stood immediately when the door opened, and walked in to enter the office. Before she even looked up, she closed the door behind her. It felt like it was important that she did so.
When she turned, her eyes met the Headmistress with a rigid confidence. That confidence only faltered for a moment, as she was reminded of her upgrade. She did not see it that way.
If you can even call it that. I'd call it more of a nuisance than anything.. She stopped her grumbling over the jagged monstrosity that now hung from her back, and her voice returned to it's smooth, confident tones. Headmistress Shox. I truly appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to see me. I'm not here to waste your time - so I will be blunt. I've spoken with a student of this school, Emily Device. She was missing for three months, Headmistress. Deep down, she assumed that this was not new information - but it was still a shock, for her. Only to be found in that island..
Riley paused, took a deep breath through her tentacles, and looked the Headmistress straight in the eye. I'm here to ask you to be honest with me. What kind of danger are we in, and is there anything I can do to prepare? If we're going to fight, whatever that fight may be, I do not intend to lose.
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:28 am
The headmistress stared coolly at the Illithid, moving only slightly at the mention of the witch, "Ah yes, the Crying Girl. I recall such a snot. It is well she was able to return, as most that have disappeared from here and other schools..haven't." Shifting her tentacles slightly, Hellma looked out her window. "For a long time, a balance has been kept..."
She paused and shifted back to stare at Riley, "But this is a discussion best had with a student of somewhat more...authority, do you not think? Some answers should be given, yes...I suppose it is time for such, but..." Lips curling in what could be either a sneer or a smile, she continued, "...I believe I will be giving them to the next Student Council President. The winner may come speak of such things with me, and perhaps some progress may be made."
Another pause.
"Though if it is that boil, I suppose I'll have to go visit him, yes?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:46 pm
Most? Other schools? Riley's face paled slightly as the implications sunk in. She took a small step forward, almost leaning in when Hellma began, but the stare had her back in her place again.
The answer she was given was a slap in the face, and her expression openly pronounced it. The mention of Barth, however, made her eyes slit thin as razors in disgust.
Headmistress, you can't be serious. You're going to leave the fate of the school to a sloth demon? Really?
She wasn't about to try to change the woman's mind, but she was visibly disgusted by the choice. She took a step back, and opened the door behind her. She looked ready to storm out, but she paused, lifting her eyes up to Headmistress Shox one last time.
You know I am the best suited student in this school for that position. The fact that I care enough to come to you about this issue should be proof enough, if there wasn't enough already. But to hold out whatever help you could give me concerning our safety, just to wait on the results of the election?
Her eyebrows furrowed deep in concern. I just hope, for all our sakes, that nothing happens between now and then. All I want to do is help. Student Council President, or not.
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:50 pm
Pen in tentacle, Hellma began sorting through through the papers on her desk, obviously this conversation was no longer worth her entire attention. "It would be well..." the headmistress began, "...not to underestimate one who knows how to get things done with the least amount of effort. But it is well that you assume you would be able to help, such confidence is a power unto itself."
Glasses glinting in the light, Hellma glanced back up at Riley, "However, I do not know you are the best suited for anything, other than visiting this office. You've waited this long to come to me, have you not? Was this because you were biding your time, collecting information concerning that island and the things that occurred there? Gather accounts from other students, or perhaps our recent staff additions, the heirs of the Horsemen clans? Were you tracking down that abominable Firth boy to investigate his imprisonment? Or were you perhaps taking a page from the sloth, and waiting for information to simply be dropped in you lap to do with what you will? Then again, maybe it was that you simply assumed everything was finished and moved on with your daily affairs without bothering to look back?"
She paused for a moment, to give the ghoul a level stare, then went back to her paperwork. "I believe we are done here."
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:21 pm
Every word was a visible jab to her ego, as it was meant to be, and Riley flinched with each passing kick down the rungs of the metaphorical ladder she'd been climbing. She bit back a retort, simply taking the hits as they came, in bitter silence. She could taste her own anger, and it was a vile, dangerous thing.
There was a moment of silence, punctuated by the rustle of papers, as Hellma disregarded her without a second glance. Riley let the Headmistress's words soak in, absorbing every lead that she was being given, unintentional or not.
Her words had been scalding, but the fact was, Riley had come here for advice - and she had just received it. Whether it was handed to her on a silver platter, or pierced her by a cold twist of a knife, it was information, nonetheless. She planned to use it.
Thank you for your time, Headmistress. Riley tried, so very hard, not to sound bitter in her voice. Still, the word headmistress held a certain heavy emphasis that left her feeling cold. I will see you again soon.
Riley exited the room, closing the door with a gentle click behind her. If she had ever been more determined to win this Student Council Election, it had paled in comparison with how important it felt, now.
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