AfterTheFallFrontAndCenter[continued from Larger the Group, Bigger the Target] Cole, Joao, and Raina felt themselves falling backwards, gravity going riotous on them. Having not yet reached his chair, the effect for Joao was extremely pronounced, turning the world upside down. A clammy shroud wrapped around them, choking their lungs and thoughts. They could smell a faint hint of decay and roses and old fear. For a moment, these hideous sensations threatened to overwhelm them until they realized they’d returned to their own skins, back in their original seats. Their flesh felt strange, distant, not their own, like something they’d long outgrown. The sudden change of gravity was doubly hard on Joao, given that he was far more used to changes beneath the sea than above them. His athletic skills kept him from breaking open his skull like an undercooked egg, but there was an unfamiliar and unpleasant lack of grace as the sensations washed over him like an unpleasant tide, full of fetid and stale water. In the end, Joao found himself on one knee next to Raina's seat, his own right hand clutching the lip of his own seat like a life preserver. Prince Benedict was no longer on stage and most of the faculty was talking amongst themselves in worried agitation. Voices came from the nearby aisle. Joao did not immediately move from his position, but he did look up in the direction of the aisle. Recovering more quickly, Cole reached over Raina and attempted to haul Joao back into his seat. Holding back the wave of nausea that had come over her, Raina reached down to Joao, her hands surrounding his shoulders. "Are you all right?" she whispered with concern. "Should have gotten in my seat." Joao said, looking up at Cole and Raina gratefully. Most of the faculty was distracted by the group around Rusalka to notice Joao’s near-fall; all but the ever-watchful Professor Opalneria. The gaunt teacher gazed at the trio over her wire-rim glasses, a dark brow rising with curiosity. A black grimalkin at her feet raised its head as well, sharing her interest. She mouthed the words, “Is there a problem?” "Um... no, Ma'am. He just... lost his balance for a moment," Raina explained with a little grimace. Allowing Raina to tend to Joao, Cole smiled at Professor Opalneria with a very tight grin that also helped keep his breakfast in place. "Yes, Professor. Ma'am" Joao said apologetically, trying to straighten himself in the seat. He didn't look directly at her, of course, and his mind raced to try and place her in the hierarchy. With the events with Bob and Mirelle ringing in his brain like an angry tide against a rocky beach, he couldn't recall if she was one of his Professors for the upcoming term or not. "Thank you." he whispered again, mostly for the benefit of Raina, but loud enough to include and thank Cole as well. Opalneria tapped her chin, nodding with little emotion. Her grimalkin flicked its tail with annoyance, staring at them as if sizing up a potential kill. She rose from her chair, stirring the other professors out of their confused trance. Joao let out a sigh of relief. The Vice Chancellor walked to the podium, trying to reestablish control of the auditorium. “Students, students! Everything is well in hand. Please check your curriculum sheets and retire to your first classes. Thank you.” The auditorium paused momentarily before the students began to talk amongst themselves and filter out of the room. Cole stood, and helped Joao to his feet. "Let's get going," he said cheerfully, in a voice that carried to the podium. "Don't want to be late for the first class!" And he began to escort Joao and Raina out of the auditorium, much the way he'd led them in. But this time he was also watching for any sign of... what had Bob called them? The other "conduits". Cole's arm handling shook more sense into Joao. "Spasebo" he said in thanks to Cole, and looked at both of them. "What are your first classes?" he added, with similar loudness, picking up on Cole's tactic. Automatically and protectively, his hand sought Raina's as they headed away from the stage. It took Raina a moment to catch on. She stumbled along under Cole's lead, holding Joao's hand tightly and wondering how they could both have brushed the frightening recent events off so completely. But then she got it. "Oh!" she gasped as the light dawned. "Yes. Class. Um...." She looked around helplessly, unable to reach into her robes for her schedule rushing as she was. Giving up, she said, "Same as yours, I think." Her pace quickened to keep up with the boys. "Geometry?! Really!" Joao said brightly, with unforced enthusiasm. "There are worse classes we could start the day off with. Relative position of figures..." he trailed off as he changed pace subtly so Raina could catch up, and Cole could continue to lead the three of them away from the stage. As they retired toward the doorway, the trio caught a blur of blur and calico out of the corner of their eyes. In an instant, Cole felt someone leap onto his back and deftly wrap their arms and legs around him. “COOOOOOLE,” Silk cried, in a girlish squeal so shrill that it likely punctured a hole in the Pattern-Time continuum. Joao's sensitive ears hurt slightly at the highness of the familiar squeal. He turned his head. She noticed the other two and grinning brightly. “And Fish-Boy! And Really Skinny Girl I Don’t Know! YAY!” Having found her scratching post, the Katayan settled in for the long haul, her tail swishing contentedly as she squeezed the breath out of him. Cole put on a long suffering smile and patted her leg. "Thanks, Silk," he said. "I was really hoping to draw some extra attention right now. Really Skinny Girl, this is Silk, my... um... cat. Silk, this is Fish-Boy's friend Raina." Joao gave Cole a skeptical and unamused look at his appropriation of the unwelcome moniker. Centering himself, he turned his gaze to Raina. "Raina, this is one of Cole's friends, Silk. She was aboard the boat with Cole when I met him during the incident with the Avanc." Raina's eyes widened in recognition, though not necessarily of their furry companion. "Oh yes! I remember you told me that story, _Joao_," she replied, emphasizing his given name. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Silk." Silk beamed at Raina, “Ooo… I like this one, Cole. She’s pretty.” She wriggled her feline ears, “And don’t furrow your brow, Joao. I love you just as much.” Joao blinked his eyes. "Where is your friend, Miss Satonaka?" Joao enquired politely. Students began filing around them, not entirely sure of what to make of this odd sight. Silk remained oblivious to the attention she’d drawn down upon the group. “So I’ve got to get to Athanor Synthesis this morning. You’ve been elected to carry me there, Beanpole. “Now that’s settled. What’s all the juicy poop you’ve all heard recently?” "Most of the gossip I am aware of revolves around the Court of Rebma." Joao said in a tone of apology. "I am afraid I am not that well connected with the gossip in the school, save in the circles in which I swim. I do not think, Miss Silk, they would be of exceeding interest to you." Silk grinned, “You’d be surprise, Joao. I liked your home. I’m sure I could find more than a few fishies suitable for my tank, so to speak.” "Athanor Synthesis?" Cole asked Silk. "I think that's the opposite side of the campus from my rhetoric class. Sorry, Silk, I can't carry you, but I'd be happy to launch you in the appropriate direction." Raina's eyes widened at Cole's choice of verb. Trying to appear casual, she stepped back out of the way of the potential "launch." Joao stepped backwards as well, slightly wary and entirely convinced that Cole might be serious. A thick tail went around Cole’s stomach, tying Silk to him. “Well, aren’t you just the grumpy stick-in-the-arse today?” Grudgingly, she disengaged herself from Cole’s back and lowered herself to the floor. “And here I thought first day was going to be fun! I was going to share the stuff I lifted off some ganas with you. Now, you can suffer. And it’s not like you’re the only man I could be throwing myself at, you know. The school is. . .” She paused, staring out at the crowd. A sly grin curled the corners of her devious mouth. “Well, /hellloooo/ tall, dark, and strange,” she purred. The trio recognized the figure purposefully headed their way. Temnal. "I wasn't being mean, Silk, it was a serious offer," Cole explained. "You like the rooftops so much that I..." Upon recognizing Temnal, he stopped. He looked at Temnal, looked at Silk, and a devious grin crossed his face. "Silk, haven't I introduced you to my good friend Temnal? I do believe he's a prince of somewhere or other. I'm sure you two would enjoy getting to know each other. Temnal, this is Silk. Well, I gotta run." Joao bowed his head at the approach of Temnal. |
