|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:23 pm
Arel always took the same route every day. Every day, Moonday to Frightday, it was the same routine. He wouldn't show up at school until late in the afternoon, one o'clock. Next, he would trounce into the office. Later on, he would emerge in full regalia of once scarf and fluffy cape, holding a large stack of paper, usually cleaning bills. Two o'clock, a trip down to Breck's shed, to talk with the elusive groundskeeper, it seemed, then two-thirty he appeared in Red's office. Three o'clock, circling the music hall, muttering about the injustice of students, and then four, yelling at the mass of them as they fled their classes, handing out detentions for half an hour. Five, a very shifty looking Arel would exit, getting into the occasional fight with a gnome or shouting match with a Professor before leaving the school grounds. He would pull out a single black umbrella - open it up-
- And disappear.
This Tombsday he repeated the same routine. At around four-fifty, the doors to the office slammed closed, one School Secretary glancing at his wristwatch, looking shiftily left and right before walking down the hallway, paperless. He had never been followed and thus didn't feel threatened. It was routine, and they were just students. Oh, today was the day the results of the Horrokey tournament finals came out! Rather excitedly, he fished for his newspaper in his pockets while walking, totally not noticing as a folded black umbrella fell out of one pocket.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:45 pm
It was so easy to follow someone who had a routine. So easy, and so boring. But Riley had the patience of a true hunter, and each time she followed Arel, she pushed that boredom aside. She'd seen it, once - she'd seen him walking out of the grounds, while she watched from a tree silently. And ever since the first time she'd seen him disappear, she wondered about the school secretary. She couldn't have known that a memory, buried deep within and completely out of her reach, was warning her that there was more to him than it seemed. That memory of the day he'd shown her just a little too much, with the shake of his hand.
But now that it was gone, all she had left was suspicion.
So she followed him. Every single day, she followed the school secretary. She was there, the moment he showed up at the school. She never quite saw where he came from, but she always knew when he'd be there. She was there, just out of reach, when he left to talk to Breck. She was there, out of sight, when he headed for Red's office.
She never got too close. Never heard what they discussed. Never managed to catch his eye long enough to garner one of the detentions he was so fond of handing out. But she often wondered what made him desire such a strict, formal routine. Never once did he deviate. Never did he visit Red, before Breck.
She grew suspicious of everything.
It was one such day, as she waited just down the hall of his office, that suspicion would drive her to larsony.
When the umbrella fell, Riley's bright white eyes honed in on its presence. She didn't move - in fact she froze, more determined than ever to not be noticed. She waited, and waited, several moments just to be safe. She took a deep breath, and waited again.. but when he did not return, Riley's heels were clacking down the hall, as she ran to snatch the item and make off with it. Her footfalls never stopped, as she skidded down the length of the hall, turned the corner, and headed into a dusty back room.
The black umbrella. The same one he opened, every day, at the same time. The same umbrella that was the last thing she saw before he disappeared.
At least, she assumed it was the same umbrella. It was just a black umbrella - it could have been a different one. There was only one real way to find out.
She took another deep breath. There was no reason to rush. Her fingers flicked the umbrella open, and looked underneath it, expecting to find some answers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:46 am
And it was just that, a simple umbrella. Sealed in one corner was an interesting sigil, what looked like an officious looking pumpkin wrapped in a deep orange border, stylized in a complex emblem. On it were a few words: Reverentia Sumus. The school secretary was nowhere in sight.
Then, something begin to ring from within the umbrella. Out of all things, where its open base should be at the top, was a dangling phone line. A phone handle dropped, and began to ring loudly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:37 am
Much to her disappointment, there was no magical portal inside of the umbrella. She even reached up to poke at it, hoping for it all to be an illusion. But it wasn't. It was just an umbrella.
And umbrella with a ringing phone base.
...A phone.
Riley picked up the phone.. and then.. nothing.
Nothing, because she didn't have a mouth to speak into it, and couldn't touch the mind of anyone on the other side, because she didn't know who they were. So she just listened, in silence.Zoobey a phone. u gave her a phone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:08 pm
Silence. And then static, and then an impatient tapping. "Is this a joke, Mr. Mayor?" Riley could almost palpably hear the other, an entirely unfamiliar female voice, pursing their lips in a sort of annoyed familiarity. "Do you want a pick up portal or not? No you know what, never mind. If this is a Hellma thing, it has nothing to do with the mayoral office and any Halloween Town Hall duties. Good day."
Click.
Dialtone.
In the distance, Riley could just barely see the outline of Arel looking distressed as he retraced his steps outside on the school grounds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 7:23 pm
Mr. Mayor?
Riley's thinned gaze flickered to the silhouette that searched frantically for his missing umbrella. Her expression was doused with disbelief, and maybe, just maybe, the tiniest touch of amusement. She hooked the phone back up, before reaching out to touch the little sigil in the corner of the umbrella, whispering the words to herself, in her mind. Reverentia Sumus. Latin, obviously, easily translated. Certainly, the mayor was someone respected, but Arel? Arel?
She picked up the phone again, and this time, she tugged her school pin off with two fingers. The crunch of bone and muscle squelching filled the air as her face re-arranged itself.
This time, she would answer the phone. If it even worked a second time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 12:36 am
The phone rang again, but this time instead of completing the ring sequence a voice simply bellowed from the other line, a voice entirely different from the first. "GET YOUR a** IN HERE OR WE'LL COME AND GET YOU."
There was some scraping through the other line and then the first more familiar voice protested, "Yes, that's nice, but the umbrella portal only works one direction, the Mayor has to activate it with his bodily presence underneath the umbrella before the portal triggers and then-"
-"If you don't get here, I'LL DESTROY YOUR PRECIOUS AMITYVILLE TOMORROW."
"Idle threats," continued the original female voice in the background, "are not going to help in this situation, if you require attendance with the mayor you should reserve a scheduled slot in advance by calling our-"
-"I MEAN IT AREL. YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS. NINE. EIGHT." They were still counting.
It seems that at some point, the School Secretary had finally caught sight of Riley with the umbrella open, his face almost comically wide, mouth set into a large O. He slammed the doors open, and began running towards her, mouth still hanging open-
- And tripped over a large slime puddle the janitorial gnome had left, skidding down the hallway-
CLANG-
- Right into the garbage can, where he lay still. Nonplussed, the working janitorial gnome tied the garbage can neatly over Arel's feet, with only one boot and a scarf sticking out, and continued to clean.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 1:35 am
Riley never had a chance to respond to the voices on the other line. She pulled the phone away when someone got too loud, and listened a little too carefully at the discussion. Her eyes widened, just slightly, at the mention of destroying Amityville.
Not a fan of higher education, she guessed.
She met Arel's shocked eyes with an innocent, eyelash fluttering gaze, but the rest of her horrifying face looked like a tentacled cat after eating a mouse; metaphorically speaking.
She watched Arel storm forward, in what felt like slow motion. Her school pin was placed very gently back on her lapel, and her face twisted around just in time to see the school secretary - and possibly town mayor - plunge himself face first into a garbage can and get tied up like a satchel.
The scene was euphorically nostalgic.
She carried the open umbrella off as she headed for the garbage can, waiting until the gnome had his back turned before snatching the big bag of ice demon up, and swinging him over her shoulder. She felt the rough hit of his body against her flattened crystal wings and back, and then proceeded to walk out into the forest with her booty.
But only when she arrived at the spot where the secretary had always disappeared on her, did she drop her precious cargo - or just cargo - and open the ties, peering in the bag. Riley bend down on her haunches and gave the upside down secretary a pleasant, smug expression. It looked even cuter with an umbrella over her head - she looked like she was going to break out into a chorus of Singin' In the Slime any second now.
Hello, Arel. Her smooth voice slid out, as she held the umbrella carefully over them both. You and I have a date.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:26 am
To be fair, he was still upside down. The school secretary, trying his best to not be crushed under his own clothing decision in terms of fluffiness - one had to wonder why an ice demon dressed in heat-sealing outfits - did his best to give Riley a gruff glare. This would have worked if the only thing Riley could see at this current angle was a sweater and an overly scarf from within the bag.
"You-" the bag struggled, the booted feet kicked - "You traitor! Put me on the line! I demand re-negotiations!"
Oddly enough, the phone was once again dangling from the umbrella like an extra accessory. It wasn't ringing, however.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:54 am
The sight of Arel squirming was helplessly amusing, but she kept her laughter private. Instead, she reached in, and scooped him out of the bag, flipping him over to right him so that she could talk to his face, and not his.... fluff. As you say, Mr. Mayor. She murmured smoothly, never missing a beat. The phone was swinging lazily beside her, and she reached to pick it back up, easily handing it over to him while still holding the umbrella handle.
She patted him gently on the shoulder. But do hurry. I think we have a lot to talk about.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 10:26 pm
He froze up as he heard Riley address him by the forbidden name, well it wasn't as forbidden as people would have thought, Amityville students were just in general oblivious by nature, and dealings with Town Hall, especially regarding the minor, tedious politics, rarely crossed over to Amityville itself, and when it did, situations always seemed to conveniently solve themselves. It almost made a little more sense as to why however, Amityville was the coveted child when it came to schools and ultimately, rules. The other half of the story involved another teacher, one that recently came back from being permanently deceased.
-"TIME'S UP!." Click.
"No wait-!" Arel flailed, fumbling at the phone and then-
- A strange sensation, as the umbrella closed on the two of them, suddenly a lot larger than it should have been. Everything began to spin, colours blurring together, and Riley would be treated with a rather spectacular view of most of Halloween Town happening in an almost incomprehensible blur, in bird's eye view before-
- Thonk.
Arel went flying several feet forwards, complete with several almost comical somersaults, landing just right in front of a large wooden desk. A desk where two figures stood, one a pristine looking chimera, dressed up in official Amityville Town Hall wear, and the other a more deranged looking figure in Bogeymen rags. He had the emblem of the Bogeymen on his clothing, but it was different from the one that Red carried, and a lot more rusted.
The Bogeymen gave a shark tooth smile at the two arrivals. "Bringing in an offer already? I thought you would never-"
"- Wait wait!" The School Secretary looked extremely alarmed, stepping in front of Riley. "You have the wrong idea!"
"So, you're telling me that the negotiations with the Hunters are off then. That Amityville will be open once again to-"
"-I haven't decided anything!" It didn't require any sort of mind reader to tell that Arel was extremely, extremely nervous, and for good reason. "We, ah, about those negotiations, well, why don't you go talk to them and uh, negotiate a bit more, you know, about-"
- "It's either your school or the rest of Halloween. There's been three unwarranted kidnappings this week, and we do not want to stage an all-out war, unless you want a repeat of the Horsemen incident," They gave Arel a sharp glance. "So what will it be?" The Bogeymen turned to Riley. "Besides, I haven't heard the sacrifice voice their own opinions. So, will you save Halloween?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 10:56 pm
Riley had seen, and been through, many strange things in her short life. And as she tumbled around and watched Halloweentown swirl by as though she was seeing it through the glass of a washing machine from the inside, a single thought managed to occur to her. She was probably in over her head yet again.
They landed awkwardly, her body refusing to stop its motion until it hit a wall and flattened upside down against it. Her eyes slit open, just in time to see a glimpse of the two figures before Arel's body blocked her view.
But then she listened. She slid off the wall, and didn't move, or make a sound - she just listened. Because what she was hearing, even in those brief moments of conversation, was more than she could have ever learned in a lifetime of research. The answer to a very important question seemed to get handed to her on a silver platter, and she stared at Arel's back as she digested the information.
Negotiations with the hunters. Amityville open once more. The brief visions Riley remembered from the trance surged forward. The way those students were culled like cattle. There, in the library. That cave-
It was either Amityville, or the rest of Halloween. That statement brought Riley out of her thoughts, just in time to hear the Bogey - if he even was a Bogey, she couldn't know who to trust anymore - ask her a question. He thought she was a sacrifice, brought here by Arel to appease the hunters. Because they needed appeasing.
And this particular section of Bogeys apparently approved of appeasing. He reminded her of-
Sinclaire.
Riley straightened up, standing to her full height - which meant Arel couldn't really hide her, anymore. She even placed her hands on Arel's shoulders, in a comforting gesture. Unfortunately she wasn't a very comforting presence at the moment.
She could hear the whispers, in her mind. They weren't Insanity - not anymore. They were just the voices of reason, different strains of reason, trying to pull her in their direction. They were familiar voices, but she knew that was just her mind giving labels to the choices in front of her. So she listened to them all, but she'd made her decision before they'd even begun to argue.
--> I'm ready to give myself up for the greater good.
--> I only want to save Amityville, the rest is up to you.
--> Sorry. I'm not the saving type.
--> I should kill you all now, and save myself.
Riley's eyelids fluttered rapidly. Sorry. She murmured. I've got better things to do than be a sacrifice. Just ask Sinclaire, if you know her. Besides, if you're so hell bent on saving Halloween, maybe you should sacrifice yourself. Her face lifted in what would have been a smile. I'm sure they'd have much more use for you.
Riley disagreed so strongly, so avidly, with one single phrase that the Bogey said - and the feeling was so strong, it was hard to keep inside. We don't want an all out war, he said.
But Riley did.
Riley craved the destruction of war more than anything. Eris would have been so proud.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 12:22 am
It was a good thing that Arel was entirely oblivious to Riley's destructive tendencies since he was all about believing in the better nature of people and if Riley wanted to save herself she had all right because she was a student and shouldn't be subject to such terrible manners.
Also probably because the Bogeyman was glaring down at the school secretary in such a manner that possibly suggested any more and he might literally emit laser beams from his eyes in a fit of fury.
"As Sinclare mentioned," the Bogeyman fully reinforced his recognition of the name, "The only ones offered are the weak, the ones easy and ripe for the picking." He gave one more very, very pointed look at Riley before turning back to Arel. "Halloween is and should be a lawful place governed and resided by only the most law-abiding and strongest of citizens. We have no need for the weak, mere whelps that want to be treated and coddled, Halloween Town has a prestige and a reputation to uphold, and it is our law as Bogeymen-"
-"To allow the Town Hall to handle the final decision." Arel adamantly concluded, stomping his foot down, only to shrink back again behind Riley as the Bogeymen glared at him. "With all respect, I don't think-"
-"That's right," they snarled, "You don't think. Ever. Then you can deal with the consequences as not only Amityville is now your problem Mr. Mayor." With that they stormed out, slamming the double doors behind him.
The other figure, the chimera, had been silent till now and then she simply readjusted her glasses and crossed an item off the schedule. "Your five o-clock meeting is coming soon. Shall I postpone?"
Arel was already pulling out a glass of Apple Cider from a side drawer, pouring himself a generous cup. "No, it's fine and can you, uh, deal with this...." He made extremely obvious gestures towards Riley.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 4:26 am
The moment the Bogeyman spoke Sinclaire's name, Riley's facial features lifted in smug satisfaction. That worked better than she could have hoped. She caught that pointed glance when he mentioned weakness, but her expression had nothing but self-assured confidence playing on it. If anyone was weak, it was the one trying to negotiate with his enemy. The only person worth sacrificing here was the hot-headed Bogeyman himself.
She watched him storm out without saying a word, but once he was gone, her eyes flickered to Arel. Why are you letting that brainless bully push you around? You're apparently the Mayor. While that's still hard for me to believe, he should be groveling at your feet. Arel lacked a certain ability to make someone quake with fear, but what he lacked in intimidation, she assumed he made up for in diplomacy.
Somehow.
How else would he have managed to quietly obtain the only job she'd ever wanted since she'd come to Amityville?
He brushed off the chimera that had just been assigned to her. No, you should postpone it. Arel, you need to deal with this - she thumbed herself - right now. Yourself. Starting with explaining how the hell you of all people managed to -
She gave another glance to the chimera. Whether or not she actually respected Arel as an authority figure was irrelevant at the moment. That creature worked for him. Riley understood the need to maintain a certain level of decorum amongst underlings. So she stopped berating him in front of his receptionist, and her voice reached only his mind, now. Is there somewhere private we can go?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:37 pm
-"Lionna!" Arel suddenly interrupted very quickly, staring at his secretary while not-so-subtly pointing at Riley. "Do you have my uh, emergency phone. You know, the emergency one."
"You mean the one you use to call the Scarefari Pizza Cats for your usual order of double anchovies, hot sauce, and a dash of peppermint stuffed crust pizza? I will make an order right away."
"NO! No, the other one. The memory wipe one."
"Yes," the secretary (which was ironic because that would make her the school secretary's secretary) pushed up her glasses. "You threw that contraption into the lake the other day while shouting something like 'this thing never works!' where a group of Trick or Treaters lobbying outside to get a pay raise then took it to most likely use for their own selfish purposes. Not that you were putting it to good use anyway seeing that-"
"ARG." This was pretty much Arel's reply to Riley. He frowned, then crossed his arms, then frowned and crossed his arms. "I'm not- I'm not the Mayor, okay, I'm just taking place for the real mayor when the come back-" he hastily knocked over some picture frames of him posing in front of mayoral podiums - "And if you can't tell I am very busy."
"Your five-o-clock meeting is postponed Mr. Mayor so you can work out this problem." Lionni chimed in matter-of-factly.
Pause.
"That's it!" Arel pointed towards the door. "Out, out, all of you out! There are way too many people in my- this office and-"
-"Did someone order a double anchovies, hot sauce, and a dash of peppermint stuffed crust pizza?" Said a random monster dressed in a dashing white outfit and hat that said 'Scarefari Pizza Cats'.
"OUT!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
