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 Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 10:11 pm
She had been looking around for Professor QB far too long, with no results. In her desperation, she decided to do something that, according to rumors, would help her find the professor - that is, she climbed to the top of the roof of the demon dorms, made sure that there weren't anyone else around, and then yelled for him.
"Professor QB?!"
Then, she facepalmed, as if unable to believe that she just randomly yelled for someone from the rooftop, and waited.
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 11:17 pm
A couple of startled churrpups flying past scattered in all directions, a stray demon cat continue to lounge on the room of the demon dorms and all-in-all it was rather quiet.
The demon cat continued to groom itself quietly. A stray corrividus pecked at a bag of candied eyeballs a student had probably left - or chucked - at the roof at some point in time.
And then finally, a shadow. A very tiny one-foot shadow that looked very much like a minipet and very much the same size as the demon cat, who was not even perturbed by this not-really-minipet's presence.
< If you require my assistance, I will appear as requested. > It simply stared at Lizzy.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 4:07 am
She had honestly not expected it to work; yelling for the professor was pretty much something she did only because she was up of options. It really did not occur to her to check the school office, or with Arel... After all, she had bothered the secretary enough already. That was why, when she heard someone addressing her, she jumped in surprise, spinning around to try to locate the source of the voice.
"Professor QB?" She asked, wringing her hands as she took a step forwards the creature; it reminded her of Anna's familiar, especially that rather unnerving stare of his, "Thank you for answering! My name is Lizzy, and I, uh, know that this is very sudden, but I need your help with something... A few somethings, actually... And your insight on humans! School doesn't really teach us much about them - all I've learnt from Human Studies are that humans built boats - and my own experiences with them had been largely... Uh, kind of violent and painful..."
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 8:54 am
< I have indeed been informed that Amityville is continuing its education in the form of mentorship, which I agreed to assist in due to an owed personal favour, > The 'professor' took a more comfortable position crouched down on all four stubby legs as its ears flickered back and forth - both sets of them, < Yet I am not too sure what you request of me. Would you like me to help you answer some questions regarding Humans, or are looking for further questions to be answered that you do not know of? >
It paused for a second as it apprehended Lizzy's second comment. < Yes, this is the unfortunate problem in staying at Amityvile is it not, the school has always had a record of pain and violence. >
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 9:48 am
The temptation to grab the professor, and possibly spin him around while giggling was very strong. So was the temptation to hug him.
"Answers regarding humans will be nice," She nodded, "Specifically... Hunters." She sighed, and wrung her hands together again, "See, hunters are humans, and humans are fragile. They don't... Respawn when they die. However, they kept hurting my friends, and trying to kidnap them... Maybe we can't really die, but we can feel pain. We don't go looking for these fights, but they kept coming to fight us... And I'm confused. I don't want to hurt or kill a hunter - a human - but what if I'm in that position where I have to, in order to protect someone...?"
She thought of Stacey, and the reason why he ultimately had to die, and for a second, looked almost guilty.
"A record of pain and violence?" She frowned, tilting her head, "Amityville?"
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 10:21 am
It, or perhaps he, listened attentively, getting up to move a little closer, perhaps further away from the demon cat that was now eyeing the 'professor' like potential lunch material.
< Hunters are humans, and yet they are not. > The professor, as always, remained matter-of-factly, unashamed to hide or filter information. < They share as many characteristics with us as they do with humans, yet it would be incorrect to call them simply human. >
Its tail flickered back and forth as it elaborated. < I will try to explain in a way that you can understand. You indeed feel pain, and confusion, guilt, sadness, but these emotions are human emotions. Fear is directly created from humans, and thus without them, we could not exist. Our emotions we feel are those that simply mirror the human emotions, everything we build our lives, our culture on directly comes from humans. At one point there was even no difference between how we lived and how they lived, but now, there is a very strong divide. Humans grow and populate themselves every day, and yet it is a fine balance because as humans grow, so do we in size, strength, and population. Indeed, killing humans would not help, hurting them would only turn them more against us. When a human turns against us, it will usually seek those who have the capability to fight us, what you now call Hunters. And yet, when Hunters use our powers, they become more like us. This leaves us as a strange turning point, does it not? >
A pause for a second to let Lizzy digest these words. < I have answers, but some I have been asked as well not to divulge in. I believe it is not a secret to tell you that Amityville has had conflict in the past, but it is really of the school's personal efforts that it is the way it is. You could even call the school a strange gateway, named a school simply for convenience. > Once again, the ears flickered - a sign of annoyance perhaps - or simply a distraction? < Nevertheless it seems I am correct: my answers only lead to more questions. I would like to know if you would like to learn more directly, instead of simply asking.>
Professor QB stood up on all fours, shaking itself slightly before taking a few steps. < Will you follow me then? Perhaps seeing these humans you are confused over will help ease your concerns. >
A large abyss, simply a dark portal had already formed next to the professor as he simply waited. It seemed almost ominous, but it was most likely just a trick of the light.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 11:18 am
She listened quietly to the professor, nodding when he mentioned that they would not exist without humans; Shun had told her that he saw a vision of a life without humans on the Island of Death, during a process called 'trance'... There would be a lack of Fear, throwing this world into chaos. It was interesting to know that so much of their culture actually came from humans, that they could be so similar. Scarentines, Christmas...
"When they use our pow- Ah, their weapons? They... Become more like us?" She nodded, frowning as she looked around uncomfortably, "And Amityville... I knew they were hiding things, but..." But what sort of secret could a school hold that was so terrible? Then again, the Bogeymen had tried to shut them down several times... Looking up at the portal that had formed, she nodded, taking a deep breath before walking towards it, stopping right at the edge to look at the professor, "I'm ready."
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 1:08 pm
< Both Amityville and these Hunters have interesting pasts, but shall we save this conversation another time? > It nodded, and a split second later, sat perched on Lizzy's shoulder, peering a little forwards. < Step into the portal then, it should not take long. >
Indeed, the Professor was true to his word, in a moments breath the two of them stood at a rather exotic location, a warm, humid setting complete with lush foliage, thick vines, trees, and flowers in colours that seemed almost foreign to Halloween. There was a strange quality to the air, to even the world around them that made it very easy to point that they were no longer quite at Amityville. A small cobbled path from the portal lead downwards into deeper foliage.
< Just follow the path and we will be there soon! > The professor managed to keep perfect balance on Lizzy's shoulder. < There is a small camp up ahead, concealed to prying human eyes and Halloween alike. This is one of our DETH medical facilities. >
The walk was scenic, loud with the screeches and caws of birds, and strange creatures unlike any minipets seen in Halloween.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 11:03 pm
"Alright," She nodded, making a mental note to remember to bring this up another time. When the professor hopped onto her shoulder, the urge to treat him like a minipet grew. Thankfully, she became distracted by the completely new surroundings the moment they were on the other side of the portal, "Prying human and Halloween eyes?" She paused, looking around at the odd creatures as she walked down the path, "Are we... In the human world?"
She wanted to ask about the DETH medical facilities that he mentioned, but she had a feeling that she would know more soon.
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Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 12:54 pm
Another rackous cackle erupted through the foliage, the vague flicker of multi-coloured wings sweeping across their path. < We are almost there,> The professor promised, paws learning forward just a little more to stare past a particularly large clump of vines, < Ah, I believe we are here now. >
He hopped off in a second, navigating between the thick cluster of vines, clearly expecting Lizzy to do the same. The vines created an interesting camouflage barrier and tunnel that continued to pave through masses of foliage, flying insects, creatures gazing their general direction: if it were not for the stark white colour of the professor, Lizzy would have been long lost by now.
And then, a step late, she as at the exit of the tunnel, staring into a clearing. A small flat field of grass lead by a series of cobbled paths. Several simple huts created with what seemed like a thin, pliable wood, strapped together with organic material: straw and leaves, smoke billowing out from some areas.
The professor looked back, just slightly. < Follow me. > They took the largest cobbled path into one of several huts, weaving through a door made entirely out of small beaded stones. Inside was a relatively middle-aged lady, in the midst of washing her hands in a small wooden basin of water.
The room itself was strange, cluttered with unusual objects from large gourdes to what seemed like strips of tree bark, several weaved mats decorated with clumps of odd dried herbs and flowers. A windchime clinked softly in the background, the open roof providing more than enough light.
"Ah, professor!" Said lady wiped her hands on a simple washcloth, taking a second to unwrap her ponytail and refasten her hair tighter before apprehending the two visitors. She smiled at Lizzy, both arms on her hips."And who might this lovely lady be?"
< Lizzy, this is a colleague of mine, Doctor Carey. She is a Human working at this DETH facility. > The not-quite-minipet hopped onto the counter next to the human, and sat down, as if demanding to be petted.
"Doctor makes me sound old, we've already talked about this, professor. Just call me Lana." She indeed did seem a little older, hair greyed, wrinkles evident in the way she smiled as she indulged the tiny professor, stroking him behind the ears like a small cat.
The professor seemed rather pleased, in turn, simply closing their eyes as they talked. < Lana runs this facility with several other DETH members, currently there are only three humans stationed here, with seasonal DETH groups. This medical facility is one of the few places where DETH members work in. Though they do not scare humans, not in this facility, their goal as DETH is the same: to work with humans. In return, the humans also work with them, as you can see, they too can see us, but have learned how to co-exist together. Lana and her staff specialize in assisting injured travelers of Halloween back to their homes, which is what the other cots are for. >
"It's actually quieter right now," the human clarified, already moving on to inspect the dried herbs, "DETH will always patrol and let us know when they've spotted a potential patient and then they are responsible for bringing them back. We do the work after that, and then the trip home is also monitored by DETH. It is a pleasure to meet someone else who is interested as well in their cause."
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Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 9:51 pm
She remained silent, or maybe she was just too overwhelmed to talk, as she followed the professor through the thick foliage, and then into one of the huts. Again, she stayed silent until she was introduced to the lady human, offering her a smile, and a nod of greeting.
"Oh, hello, Doctor Carey... Lana? I'm Lizzy, it's nice to meet you!" She looked a little awkward to be addressing someone who was her senior by their name, even if she was the one who had asked her to do so. Watching the professor get petted was almost equally awkward, but she was also kind of envious; she would like to pet the professor too, when he's in that minipet-like form.
"Injured travelers? Are there many who injure themselves while on a trip to the human world?" She blinked, her gaze shifting from the professor to Lana, "Ohhh, that's wonderful to hear! Are they treated using... Halloween technology? Or human technology? Mixture of both?" She couldn't help but being curious, wondering if there was anything she could tell Malodore later, although Lana's comment made her blush, her smile turning sheepish, "It's nice to work together peacefully." Especially if they were as nice as her.
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:27 am
Lana looked thoughtful, excited almost in hearing someone ask about her line of work. Perhaps it got just a little lonely for a Human like her. "Well, Halloween and us humans can both get injured. I am sure you are aware that not all creatures made from Fear agree with each other. While I am not interested in the political side of things, arguments do happen, scuffles, but in the end no matter what sides need help, we will always be there to assist." She chuckled good-naturedly, as she rolled up her sleeve, revealing three long gash marks along her upper arm. "I got these from a particularly nasty demon that did not believe a human should be treating them. This is a job with little pay and no real, tangible reward, but I would not trade my job for the world. It's a responsibility, and if I did not do it, then who would?"
< Doctor Carey uses a mixture of Halloween and natural supplies. > The Professor elaborated, after a nod from the other for approval to explain. < Some humans not only acquire the gift to see us, but also the ability to use small amounts of Fear, and manipulate them accordingly. She does so for the benefit of our kind. >
"Here," the human gestured for Lizzy to come closer, "I will show you." She picked up a small skeletal dagger. "This is specifically used to heal small wounds, a Fear-mending dagger. I do not have Fear myself, but this item stores Fear, a Reaper-made item with a little bit of power." A laugh. "I can manipulate this easily enough, with other simple tools, but anything with a higher level of Fear we do not use at this facility due to clearance issues, amongst other things."
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:47 am
"Ohhh," She had heard of these so-called 'political differences' on the news, although she had never really paid much attention to it; she wasn't interested in politics either. When Lana rolled up her sleeve, Lizzy couldn't help staring at the gash marks; sometimes, she forgot how easy it was for humans to scar, as compared to creatures made of Fear...
"I think," She sparkled - thank you, Professor QB, for the side effect from your class that she couldn't quite control - as she walked up to the doctor, clasping her hands in her own, "You're very admirable. Your work too." She could understand why Halloween creatures would not... Trust a human though, or be too proud to allow them to help; it would be like asking for help from someone below you in the food chain.
At the professor's explanation, she simply nodded; it was like the hunters. They wielded weapons made from Halloween creatures - so the weapons they wielded were made form Fear... Which meant that they must be able to control Fear too, in a way. Something like that? She followed the woman, peeking curiously at the dagger that she was holding; honestly, she was a little wary of humans wielding daggers, because the last human-with-daggers that she had ran into had pretty much tried to hurt her.
"Ohh, I see," She smiled, pausing briefly as she looked up from the dagger at Lana, "Um, if you don't mind me asking, why did you decide to help Halloween? I mean, aren't you upset that us being in the human world is kind of... Scary, and not in a good way?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:38 pm
Lizzy's question got a small smile from Lana, though the professor simply twitched an ear in response, whether from reaction to her question or simply because a rather large fat insect had just flown lazily by to land on the windowsill.
"The answer is simple if you think about it." She chuckled. "Halloween and humans are connected. If Halloween is indeed as the Professor explains to me, Fear, which is gathered by humans, then there is clearly a reason why the two co-exist together. Halloween comes from humans, so do you not think that our responsibility is to save that unique co-existence that we share, to nurture not destroy something that is so innately part of us?"
This was the way it should have been. They should have been co-existing, humans and Halloween. This what what DETH wanted.
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:16 pm
"I... I guess I never thought of it that way," She scratched her cheek, frowning lightly, "So many of us are so used to thinking as humans as being, um, lower in the food chain-" She looked sheepish and mildly apologetic at this statement, "-it's hard to remember that we need humans to exist... Without humans, there really is no Halloween, huh?"
Food for thought. She already knew this thanks to Shun explaining the Death Isle trance to her, but this time, this was coming from a human.
"I want to learn more about DETH," She decided, looking at the professor this time, "And I was wondering... I have this good friend. He... Doesn't like humans, because we've been... Hurt by them. Is there a way to bring him somewhere where he can try scaring a human? To show them that we need the fear from them in order to survive, and peaceful co-existing is possible?" Of course, she couldn't tell him about Jericho's insanity, and direct human Fear being a possible cure for it.
"Oh! And... Is there a trick to controlling... The sparkles?"
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