It was hard to describe exactly what it felt like to stand in the gloomy sunshine again, to precisely put in eloquent words how... How much it simply meant to stand there again, eyes closed and face tilted up towards the warmth. It was a sense of peace, warmth, hope, comfort -- and yet those words weren't enough. They couldn't properly begin to capture what it was like to hold ones hands out, palms facing up towards the sky as if to capture the gloomy golden rays and hold them.
Red lowered her hands and sighed, letting them fall loosely to her sides as she gazed across the fields. No, her fields. She couldn't help but to give in to the satisfied smirk. It seemed the threats she had left behind were enough to deter any would-be replacement gym instructor for claiming her position and filling it. The gym field was exactly as she left it.
...If "exactly" meant "letting weeds grow in abundance without any sort of grooming or taming." A year ago Red would have somehow taken the opportunity to disguise the boring task of clearing all of the unwanted foliage as some sort of so-called "class." Now? Now she was surprised to find that she was looking forward to the long task she set ahead of herself. Weeding would keep her outside. And after a year of being inside beneath a false sun... She liked that.
Red flicked her cloak behind her back as she knelt and began to pull weeds out by hand, tossing the offending plants into a basket she brought with her just for the occasion.
The OOC
Red is now approachable. This is not the follow-up ORP for the meta; this is merely an ORP to allow those who wish to interact with Red a chance to do so and to ask her questions/pick her brain/get rid of Insanity ICly/gain Insanity ICly/possibly attack her for killing classmates/etcetc.
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 7:35 pm
Of all the things that had occurred in the previous year, one of Xiu's greatest regrets was the fact that she had never gotten to know--or even speak to--Red. She had been a first year at the time, new and still somewhat timid, and her reasoning for not getting to know her professors was something along the lines of, "they're not going anywhere, I have all the time in the world". Thinking back on it, she had been so innocent at the time...and so naive. She had learned a lot since the reveal of the hunters, including the fact that sometimes there were no second chances.
She wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. Red was back, and whether she was back for good, Xiu didn't know, but she wasn't going to let this chance slip her by. It wasn't just pleasantries that she wanted to exchange with the werewolf either--she was still curious about what Red had told her on that battlefield. There had been something about...lending her a hand? And if it was something that could help bring the students who had sacrificed themselves back, then perhaps...
It was easy to spot the bright red cloak against the earthy colors of the field. There was a moment of hesitation--an anxiety that many students tended to feel when it came to talking to professors--and then she steeled herself and made her way forward towards the figure.
"H...hello, professor." There was a pause as she glanced past Red to stare at the field, her brows disappearing beneath her bangs as she realized what a mess it had become in the werewolf's absence. Wrinkling her nose, she turned back to Red, the corners of her lips curling upwards in a timid smile. "Do you...need any help?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 8:02 pm
Blinding rage had been something of an emotional companion to the witch, though its appearance and sudden disappearance were nothing short of wondrous. There had been so much left unsaid, left yet unexplained that she found herself swinging from destructively angry to devastatingly sad day to day. Thus far she had managed to work through a great deal of her sadness, so now it was only a faint echo that kept her smile from being nearly as bright, or even expressed itself through her wardrobe in less than exuberant tones. But it was being handled, it was being fixed. With a handful of hope and some friends, Belladonna could pick herself back up. But when she stood and found her hands clenched, her mouth set in a frown, she did not know what to do with that. Honestly, she knew it wasn't really right to be so infuriatingly mad at Professor Red. It had been an option. But as it were, Belladonna was a flawed creature and placing all the blame onto one person really suited her. Perhaps that was why she woke up one day and decided to do something about it. It wasn't much, she told herself as she dressed in a less subdued style and accompanied it with a hood for her own satisfaction, but it would do for now.
Setting off at a jog, the witch hurried across campus toward the gym, where she figured Red might be. Even if she wasn't, at least the ghoul would be able to find someone and probably coerce them into a fight. And that would be a great stress reliever. Or at least a good way to punch something really, really hard. Her reward for the physical output of running was the sight of a red cloak that made her hasten faster. Her punishment for her anger was the sight of the kind, pink haired ghoul from the fight who'd tried to help her. Once more the witch's anger shriveled on the spot as she slowed down to a trot that eventually brought her close enough to address in a polite manner both teacher and fellow student. "Hi." Oddly clipped for the usually bubbly witch, Belladonna realized all the things she had wanted to say to Red were not greetings. They were more demands, more shouts and very rude. And while she could still feel her anger on the fringes, it had mostly dissolved. A frown momentarily passed over her face as she looked between Red, the ghoul and all the weeds. Finally, after a small, stilted sigh, Belladonna waved a hand at them both. "I'll help too... If you'd like."
Marushii
emotion_awesome
Kaiyumi
emotion_kirakira
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:36 pm
The crunch of grass underfoot was enough to make Red pause for a moment, her hands frozen as they hovered. Exhale, breathe; it would be all right. Red lowered her hand and continued to search and pull, waiting to be approached first.
To Xiu and Belladonna, she slowly rolled back on her heels and stood up, taking her time to dust her knees free of non-existent dust. "If you wish to do so, you may," Red replied with a shrug. "I cannot imagine why two ghouls as yourself would be interested in pulling weeds by hand. It would be faster to set this place on fire and replant, but..." She shook her head. "I've no interest in getting this done quickly. There's something... soothing in being out here in the gloomshine, outside."
As she spoke her gaze drifted upwards towards the sky, seeming to lose focus before she brought it back down. "I do not think weeding is what brought you both out here...?"
Ah! That was...the redheaded witch who she had tried to help during the battle, right? Xiu offered the other ghoul a small smile in greeting, noting that she did not seem to be particularly...well, pleased. Of course, considering what had happened to Mort--who she had seen the witch with for much of the battle--she could not blame her. Could it be that she was here to ask Red about the same thing?
"I feel that I can understand that a little. Sometimes even the seemingly most tedious of tasks can be enjoyable." Although they were not meant for gardening or weeding, Xiu reached back to retrieve her gloves from her obi, pulling them on before crouching down and grabbing one of the weeds. Confident that she had a decent grip on the week, she sharply yanked upwards, only to end up tearing off the leaves instead of pulling out the roots.
Xiu grimaced. Okay, she...wasn't very good at this. With a little bit of effort, she managed to get the roots out on her second try.
Her gaze flickered towards Red, then Belladonna, and then finally back to the weed as she nodded slowly. "I did...want to ask you some things. I mean, I do trust you, and I'm sorry because I don't mean to sound...impatient. I am just concerned." A pause, and then she turned her eyes on the werewolf, her tail drooping a little, "The undead students, my friends, they..."
Marushii
AyeAvast
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:51 pm
"Burning the field would be a waste of resources. There is still nutrients in the ground since there are so many weeds, so we might as well just pull them all." Belladonna replied with a press of hand to hip. "And this isn't the first time I have pulled weeds." It felt important to say that, to prove that she could get her hands dirty. Maybe it was silly, but it'd already been said, so she only strode forward and picked a spot close, but still an acceptable distance, from the other ghoul. Red's second question was mostly ignored as the witch crouched down, rolled back her sleeves and grabbed at a weed. It tore out easily, roots and all, and was quickly tossed over to begin a small pile. Two more weeds were pulled up and added to the pile, though one put up a fight and had to have its roots dug out before the witch would be satisfied with it. Weeding was menial work, but Earth work, and that was something soothing. Something good. "Try grabbing the plant further down, right where the plant meets the ground. Its easier to pull that way." The witch offered to her fellow student, along with a small smile. "I'm Belladonna, by the way. Its... Nice to finally get to talk." A paltry offering it may be, but still it is a bit of friendship, a bit of propriety.
Though once the ghoul begins to speak of questions, Belladonna quickly turns her gaze back to the weeds. The things the ghoul wants to ask are not said, for she is kind and does not want to push. But the witch is used to such and though she continues to work, her voice takes on a chill. "They're gone and you took them and we want to know where and why and when they'll be back." She interjects, effectively finishing for the ghoul who is soft spoken. Later Belladonna will feel bad about being rude, of having demanded of Red who already looked so glad and wistful to be back. But for now she hurts, and has cried too much to let this go. She has grieved and worried and now she wants answers. She wants solutions, and more than that, she wants them all back. She wants back what she has lost.
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Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:45 am
Hel had heard from Mot that Red was back. Shock and disbelief didn’t even begin to cover it, but there was one thing for certain, Hel never really believed it until she saw it for herself. Just…how? That was the question that was nagging at her. How was she back now? Since she hadn’t been at the inverted Haunted House, she didn’t really have a grasp of what occurred or why.
It seemed logical to go to the gym, since that was Red’s domain after all, and it wasn’t hard to find the professor, accompanied by two ghouls that she knew, there pulling weeds. There she was. Right there. Not a giant insanity beast, or a lifeless stone statue, but there. Hel stilled after she was close, observing them all for a moment, and noted that she seemed to have arrived when they were in the middle of a conversation. The ghoul shifted her weight, hesitating for a moment longer before she knelt and started to join them all in weed pulling.
“Good day.” She greeted them all, bidding her time. She could wait to ask her own questions.
AyeAvast
Marushii
Kaiyumi
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 6:55 pm
He'd only been made aware of everyone's latest... adventure by accident. West had been keeping mostly to himself quite successfully for these last few months, but with true Halloween approaching, he found he couldn't stand the seclusion any longer. There were things to be done, preparations to see through, and he couldn't afford to piss around all day anymore, no matter how delightful sitting there doing nothing had been once he had committed to it.
Once he'd set foot outside, he couldn't help but hear. Red was alive. The rumors were everywhere, but no one could confirm if they were true. Not that he'd asked.
West didn't have much of anything to say to anyone these days, let alone their reanimated werewolf gym teacher, but he had still made a point of sauntering past her most likely haunt in the middle of his run. She looked pretty good for a colossal insanely murderous weapon hybrid. Really.
Two of the ghouls yanking weeds out of the ground near Red were familiar enough, but the third, well, he didn't think he'd ever seen her before, but something about the way she moved seemed terribly familiar. It was as if half of Hel had cloned itself, attached itself to its newly created other half, and chopped all of her hair off. West squinted. Oh well. It wasn't like he was going to get close enough to see who she was anyway.
The fever and willingness that the two ghouls went through to provide assistance earned a curious and appraising look from the gym teacher. Belladonna's point earned a nod from Red, followed by a shrug when the witch's back was turned. She did not add her personal thoughts on the matter as she knelt, returning to the long and seemingly fruitless task of weeding.
The teacher stopped, giving both Xiu and Belladonna a long look that was shared between them. "My, I see the Amityville standard of skipping classes has held up. And good day," Red greeted to Hel, giving the newcomer a nod before turning her attention back to the two that were there. "They are not gone in the sense that I think you perceive them to be. Nor did I take them. As for why..."
Red trailed off, tilting her head to one side as she studied the pair. "I do not think the more experienced hunters would have hesitated to ensure that neither of you remained as you are. What they would have done is far, far worse than any action I have taken. Have my classes taught you nothing? Or --" She broke off, snorted and shaking her head. "Nevermind. I do not think either of you attended my classes. A pity; you missed a lesson most dear."
Lucyal
AyeAvast
Kaiyumi
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 10:45 pm
Red. Canon could see red. A large swatch of it, actually, on the back of someone she wasn't familiar with. What a wonderful piece of clothing! Clearly, whomever it belonged to was a paragon of fashion and good taste. Single eye shining covetously, the Skark was lurking not so nonchalantly in the doorway, looking out towards the be-cloaked figure and her growing retinue of weeders.
Canon considered the latter thoughtfully. This pulling of weeds... Could they be trying to curry favor with the one in red? Maybe she should try pulling weeds too! Maybe the one in red would tell her where to get a cloak like that! Or maybe, just maybe, Canon could impress her into giving Canon her cloak!
The surge of excitement at the thought had the Skark out the door, across the field, and running toward the group in a flash. In a flurry of enthusiasm, she whirled around the company, striking at each individual and intentionally halting each blow before it could hit them. Greeting finished, she bowed to them.
"Well met!" she exclaimed loudly. "I am Canon Indy! I will now pull weeds!"
And she did so.
With a passion.
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Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:16 pm
Xiu's smile grew slightly as she took in Belladonna's advice, giving a little nod before turning back and, as she suggested, grasping the bottom of the weed. With a sharp yank, the plant was plucked out of the dirt, roots and all. Much, much better.
"Thank you," She offered the witch quietly, her lips curved in a smile, "And I'm Xiu. I'm glad we finally have a chance to talk as well."
Granted that they probably weren't going to get that much talking done with one another right now. When another ghoul arrived, Xiu paused from her work to stare, cocking her head to the side. Wait, was that...? But no, Hel was...wait what? Clearly it had been quite a while since the baku had last seen her, and it wasn't even until Hel had knelt down right by them that she was sure that the ghoul was her valkyrie friend.
"Hello Hel," She greeted, before turning her gaze back to Red. Her ears twitched slightly as the werewolf began to speak, her brows furrowed as she tried to take everything in. The four undead students, they...they weren't gone? What exactly had happened to them then?
She shook her head. She didn't doubt that the hunters would have done something much worse to them had they "won" that final battle. "No," Xiu admitted quietly, "I didn't take your classes, unfortunately, but--"
The baku suddenly started as Canon rushed over, jumping in surprise at the strange--and very startling--greeting that each of them had received. Wide-eyed, she stared at the new arrival blankly for a good few seconds before cracking a smile that she tried to hide behind a hand. My my, that had been quite unexpected.
Zee Oddwyn
Marushii
Lucyal
AyeAvast
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:08 am
The arrival of Hel at once startled and comforted the witch, for on one hand it meant her friend would see a very unpleasant side of her. On the other, it meant that the Valkyrie was there. If her help was needed, she would hopefully side with the witch or at the least offer what support she could. And that would be enough. The witch still waved at the Reaper, and managed a small smile for her as well. The sight of Westy was not seen, which was probably for the best, but it was the strange ghoul with one large eye who startled her into standing. It was a clumsy thing as the ghoul almost hit her, which Belladonna cannot fathom nor understand so she only ended up flinching in a most unbecoming fashion before she watched the ghoul bound off. Unsure of how to respond to that, the witch could only stare after the ghoul for a few more minutes before she pointed down at the weeds. "Be sure to uh... Pull from the... Bottom?" A part of her wants to be mad, but this little creature can't know what's going on... Instead the witch heaves a sigh, and since she is already standing, finally looks at Red. Her hands clench at her side, but she lets Xiu speak first. Only Xiu doesn't have much to say, so the witch steps forward.
"If they are not gone, where are they?" Belladonna asked in the most even voice she could muster. It wasn't easy, mostly because she was still rather upset. As well she had full right to be. So many things had become muddled and Red stood in the very center, a stark and vivid eye in a blustery storm. But it is the last sentence that Red does not finish, and ends to start another one that makes the witch really bristle. As she speaks Belladonna felt it prudent to take a few hasty and angry steps forward. "I have attended one of your classes! I have tired to take away the lesson you gave us! Shehk was there too! Ages ago, or have you forgotten what that lesson was?" Careful to keep distance between them, the witch does not stop the finger that she jabbed in the professor's direction. "It was to run! From you."
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Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:21 am
Her mind was filled with too many things. Things she wanted answered right this second! Things she... feared having answered. And some things she just didn't care about. It was partially a mix of all of the above that lead the she-wolf towards the gym, heart pounding and a ache in her chest. She... she had to see... for herself. Again. See that she... was really back. That it hadn't been some Jacking illusion!
And she wanted to... skulls! LW didn't know. She just let her feet carry her where they willed, following a familiar path towards the gym she'd been in so many times before.
But this time, it was different. The atmosphere was... tense. Oddly more... alive? It was hard not to feel that sense of knowing that the Professor in charge had once again stepped foot within the confines of her territory.
Following the scent of others, LW found a small little group forming. And... Red. Her heart did a few flips. She'd looked up to her werewolf Professor. Wanted to, maybe, be like her. Be scary like she could be. Yet... yet there was fear in her. Fear of what had happened to Red. That maybe she'd... changed. LW swallowed, rubbing at her arms as her tail twitched and she watched the others, trying to figure out what they were talking about.
Something about weeds? And the... undead students.
LW glanced towards Belladonna, a small smile forming, then looked back at her Professor.
"... Welcome back, Professor." She murmured, finding herself moving beside the witch.
Marushii
AyeAvast
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:08 pm
The arrival of Canon brought a genuine grin to the professor's face as soon as she saw how enthusiastic the ghoul was. "Pull'em good and chuck'em in here, please," Red added as she pointed to the basket she had nearby. "Pulling won't do any good if they're left on the field."
Xiu earned a nod. "Understandable. Those that took my classes acted like they were forced to be in them anyway." She didn't hide her grimace or the shake of her head at that. Clearly her pride still stung over that. Then again, her classes were rather on the harsh side...
The professor tilted her head, tapping her chin thoughtfully as Belladonna stepped forward. "Ah, now I remember." She snapped her fingers. "I also distinctly remember requesting that the students wear gym uniforms in order to avoid dirtying or otherwise ruining their regular clothes. I also remember yours happened to have a rather elaborate and frilly lace around the edges that I bit off to make said point. Really, are you still upset over that? I do not think the ripped or ruined look suits you."
She continued quickly, "But I digress. The lesson of that lesson was to run, yes. You were a first year. You and the others were not yet powerful enough or confident in your own abilities to take me on. It was a test to see who would run and who would stand and fight. It was a wise decision to flee; I do not think any would survive long against a fight. It is my preference to avoid holding back when it comes to anything. Not only do I do you a disservice, but that would do myself a disservice as well."
She turned her attention from the witch to give a nod towards LW. "Thank you. It is good to be Home again."
Red shifted her gaze back to the angry witch, taking note of the distraught Baku before her gaze caught the jogging and elusive West demon. She watched him for a bit. "As to where the students are now... Where do you believe them to be?"
The baku was suitably distracted by all the newcomers, cocking her head to the side as she noticed West standing off to the side--he received her usual smile--and she lifted a hand to wave when LW came to join them. Well, if all these people came and helped, the field would be cleared in no time!
She turned back to Red when the werewolf addressed them, casting an uncertain look towards Belladonna before turning back. Slowly--uncertainly--she shook her head. "I'm not sure where exactly, but I just know that they...don't seem to be here, at home." And though it hadn't been that long, she already missed them a great deal. She had taken reassurance from Red's words that the students were not dead or gone for good, but that anxious part of her wanted more information, like when they would be back.
Though she supposed that in either case, even if she had the information, she would have to sit back and wait anyways.
