>>1371192
>Say hi to the boy
We don't want to disturb the girls sleep

>>1371192
>>Walk around the school for a bit.
Let's explore first

>>1371192
>>Walk around the school for a bit.

>>1371192
>>Sit down and start reading.

>>1371277
>>1371283
You don't feel like sitting down yet, so you take a look around the school. Its really big compared to what you remember of elementary school, (which was really just an old chapel that got turned into a school by the government men): there's a few long halls, a field, a special building for gym, and fancy classrooms with pipes and things. It even has nice indoor toilets! You've seen a couple signs for teachers offices, but most of them look empty. There's a door with a bunch of boxes full of paper outside that says "Counselor". You remember Dad talking about this with you: counselors are special people who help you solve your problems.

>Take a peek inside the boxes

>Go back to the classroom

>Write-In

>>1371325
>>Go back to the classroom
Don't want to leave a bad impression on our first day by being caught snooping.

>Go back to the classroom

>>1371325
>>Go back to the classroom

>>1371335
>>1371403
>>1371404
You go back to the classroom. There's a couple more students in it now, but not a lot. Then again, there ARE still 20 more minutes before classes start.

The boy in flannel's laid out a set of pencils and pens, perfectly spaced, on his desk, and is sitting in an attentive pose, eyes locked onto the blackboard. There's something weird with his hands, but you can't quite make it out.

The girl has apparently woken up, and is now busy doodling in her notebook, her tongue stuck out in concentration. She has weird metal bits stuck to her teeth: it makes her look like a robot. She looks weirdly like the boy next to her.

Another girl is seated in the back corner of the room, reading a book with a muscular man wearing a loincloth and not much else on the cover. She's chewing on an oversized eraser shaped like a star on the end of her pencil.

There's a pale boy with neatly-parted hair and a sweatervest/ascot combo seated at the front of the class. Scars seem to cover his hands and parts of his face, but don't seem to really detract from his good looks. He notices you looking, and smiles a bit at you.

Finally, there's a black-haired kid seated in the corner across from pencil-chewer, wearing a plain white T-shirt. He has a strangely hunted look in his blue, sunken and bagged eyes. He's currently hunched over his desk, looking at nothing in particular. Unlike the rest of the kids (who look your age), he looks like he's a couple years older.


>Say hi to flannel boy

>Say hi to metal-teeth girl

>Say hi to pencil-chewer

>Say hi to scar boy.

>Say hi to the old boy.

>(Shy) Sit down in the back of class.

>Write-In

>Say hi to scar boy

>>1371459
>>Say hi to scar boy.

>>1371495
>>1371522
"...Hi."

"Hello! Are you a freshman too? My name's Alfred Winchester, but you can call me Al, or Alfie, but my mom calls me that, so, y'know, might be awkward. What's yours?"
The boy sticks out one hand. You notice that it looks weird and knobbly in places, like a tree branch. You cautiously shake it.

"...Mary."

"Well it sure is nice to meet you, Mary! Well, it's nice to meet anyone new, but especially someone who's willing to shake my hand! Or talk to me. Or acknowledge I exist for more than a minute..."

He trails off for a second, and then snaps back. "Anyways, you can sit next to me if you want, buuutttt you probably shouldn't."

>Oh, ok. (talk to another kid)

>Why not?

>(Shy)Okay, if you don't want me to... (sit by yourself in the back of the class)

>(Kind) I... I don't think it's fair that people just ignore you.

>Write-In

>>1371565
>>Why not?
>Why do people ignore you?

>>1371565
>Why not?

>>1371565
>Why not?
>(Kind) I... I don't think it's fair that people just ignore you.

>>1371569
>>1371599
>>1371603
"Why shouldn't I sit next to you?"

Al smiles a little bit. "Well... I'm just really unlucky. Everyone at my old school knew that, so they just stayed away from me, because they didn't want to get caught up in it. I just don't want you to get hurt or something. It was nice talking with you!"

He pulls an astronomy book out of his backpack and starts reading it.

"Hey, new kid! Come sit by us! C'mon!" It's the girl in the seashell dress. She's waving manically at you, her hand pumping back and forth like a flag in a guster. She starts jerking the boy next to her's hand up.
"Ow... CUT IT OUT, sis! I'm trying to read!"
"But there's a new kid!"

"...We're new kids too, you realize that, right?"

>Talk to the girl and her brother.

>Sit down by Al.

>(Shy) Sit by yourself in the back of the class.

>Write-In

>>1371626
>Talk to the girl and her brother.

>>1371626
>Talk to the girl and her brother.

>>1371626
>Talk to the girl and her brother.

>>1371626
>Talk to the girl and her brother.

>>1371626
>Talk to the girl and her brother.

>>1371628
>>1371630
>>1371717
>>1371815
>>1371864
You head over to them. "Um, I'm not sure if I should-"

"HiI'mRowanandthisisOrionwe'retwinsnicetomeetcha!"

Your hand is trapped in a python-like embrace and worked like a water pump by Rowan. Orion looks over and smiles apologetically. "Sorry about her. We're kind of from the boonies, never been to the city before. The folks sprung to send us here because-"

"ORION'S A SUPER GENIUS WHO'S GOING TO SEND US TO THE MOON!"

"CALM DOWN, Rowan. And that's just not true. I'm kind of sharp, but, you know, I'm not all that," Orion says in a distinctive bragging-while-trying-to-look-like-your-not-bragging tone. "Besides, you're a pretty good artist or whatever."

"I'm going to be a FASHION designer!"

"Pfft. Same thing. So, did you go to the schools around here?"

>(Subterfuge): Totally. You should stick with me if you want to learn the ropes.

>(Subterfuge): No... I'm a transfer...

>So, where did you go then?

>(Shy) *Say nothing*

>(Shy) Walk away.

>Write-In

>>1372218
>(Subterfuge): No... I'm a transfer...
If you'll look at the sheet, we're a pretty good liar as it turns out.

>>1372218
>(Subterfuge): No... I'm a transfer...

>>1372237
>>1372290
Roll Presence + Subterfuge. Since you're a Darkling, YOU GET TO EXPLODE ON THIS ROLL!

Rolled 4, 2, 4, 5, 4 = 19 (5d10)

>>1372334

Rolled 7, 6, 8, 2, 6 = 29 (5d10)

>>1372334

Rolled 1, 2, 8, 9, 9 = 29 (5d10)

>>1372334
Finishing out rolls.

Rolled 8, 1, 7 = 16 (3d10)

>>1372467
"Um, no... I'm a transfer..."

Rowan purses her lips and gives you a weird look...

Rolled 7, 9, 2, 6, 4 = 28 (5d10)

>>1372334
>5d10

>>1372493
Then smiles. "Oh, okay! So we're in the same boat! So, come on, you gonna sit with us?"

>Um, sure...

>I'd kind of like to talk to someone else, but maybe...

>(Shy): Uh, um, no. Sorry... (Sit by self)

>Write-In

>>1372512
>Um, sure...

You mind if I try to invite the other kid over too?

>>1372512
>I'd kind of like to talk to someone else, but maybe...

>>1372578
This

>>1372578
this senpai

>>1372578
>>1372631
>>1372578
"Um, sure. Do you mind if I try to invite the other kid over too?"

"Sure! The more the merrier! Why? Is he your boyfriend~? Because if you aren't, he's totally going to be mine."

"Row, you don't even know him."

"And? He's cute. And all those scars? So dangerous~"

Orion just sighs.

You look over at Al and wave at him. "Hey, do... do you mind if you sit with me -me and these two?"

"What? You want me to sit with the both of you? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, totally! So what's your name?"

"Alfred."

"AW, MAN! I thought it'd be something cool and mysterious, like Damien or Ramses or Jasamacaron!"

"That's not an actual name, sis."

"And why not?!! It's a GREAT name!"

"I must say, it's nice to sit around such enthusiastic people! Are you sure you want me to sit with you? This isn't a joke or anything?"

"Aw, c'mon, why'd we joke about something like that with you, future hus-I mean Alfie, hehehe!"

You take a seat between the twins and pull your notebook out. Orion gives you an eye-rolling look.

It's 10 minutes before first bell, and the rest of the class is starting to drain in.


>Talk with Orion (about what?)

>Talk with Al (about what?)

>Talk with Rowan (about what?)

>Introduce yourself to the older kid.

>Introduce yourself to the eraser-chewer.

>Sit quietly.

>Write-In

>>1372957
>Talk with Orion (about what?)
Ask him jokingly if his sister is always like this

>>1372987

This

>>1371192
Woo mary quest!

>>1372987
>>1373053
"Is your sister always?.."

"So high-strung? Yeah, pretty much. My dad says I got all the brains and she got all the spunk. This is actually calm for her. Give her sugar and she's bouncing off the walls."

>Oh...

>How do you live with that?

>She seems nice.

>Where are you guys from?

>Write-In

>>1373142
>She seems nice.

>>1373142
>Oh...
>Where are you guys from?

>>1373142
>Oh...
>She seems nice.
>Where are you guys from?

>>1373255
This.

>>1373170
>>1373181
>>1373255
>>1373361
"Oh... She seems nice."

Orion smiles a bit. "I guess. It's just exhausting when you can't get away. Mom and Dad aren't letting us have separate rooms until September, because I guess they don't have room or whatever. So until then, it's the ol' bunk bed for us. I mean, it's lame, but, pffft, what can you do, right?"

He leans back in his desk chair, puts his feet up, and almost tips his chair over. He catches himself at the last second, and grins sheepishly at you. "Can you just pretend that didn't happen?"

"Okay... Where are you from?"

"Oh, my sis and I used to live in Boring. Lived in Middle Apartments, went to Boring Elementary and Boring Middle..."

"I guess you could say we were BORING kids! Ah, ah?..."

Orion shoots a glare at his sister's interjection. "That wasn't funny the FIRST time you made that joke, sis."

"Aw, what'dya know about comedy? You've got your nose in your books all the time!"

Orion lifts his nose and tries to deliver a dignified sniff. Due to his button nose and a blocked nostril, it comes out with a sound like a very tiny teakettle.

"I'll have you know I've read Swift, which is real comedy for sophisticated people."

"Ooh, I read that book too! But... how's it fancy? There's a lot of poop and butt jokes."

"I...well... shut up!"

"I mean, she has a point."

"You too, Albert!"

"It's Alfred, but thanks for getting close, at least!"

It's now 5 minutes to class. If you want to talk to anyone else before first bell, now's the time.


>Talk with Orion (about what?)

>Talk with Al (about what?)

>Talk with Rowan (about what?)

>Introduce yourself to the older kid.

>Introduce yourself to the eraser-chewer.

>Sit quietly.

>Write-In

>>1373460
>Introduce yourself to the older kid.

>>1373460
>Talk with Rowan (about what?)

Does she have any of her drawings/designs on her?

>>1373550
>>1373550
Seconding this

>>1373550
>>1374181
You take advantage of Alfred and Orion talking to get a word in with Rowan.
"Uh, do you have any of your fashion drawings with you?"

"Oh, not that many, only ALL OF THEM!" Rowan pulls a thick sketchbook out of her backpack and opens it. A significant amount of glitter dust and an errant bead fall onto her desk. Her designs are... busy. The fact that the illustrations are in eye-searingly bright shades and are "enhanced" with craft glitter, beads, gemstones, and other arts-and-crafts supplies doesn't help.

"What's this one?" you say, jabbing at a random sketch.

"Oh, you mean the TRIANGLE DRESS. It's a dress made out of triangles. Like, phph, SO many triangles. There's wires here, here, here, and HERE to support it. And it comes with a matching hat and glasses."

"I don't get it."

"ppbbt, That's okay, I get that a lot! But trust me, in the future, EVERYONE'S going to wear triangle dresses. Probably while attending dances on the MOON! You'd look SO cute in one! You should come back with Orion and me after school, I can make a dress for you! I have a LOT of fabric! Well, not on hand, but I can definitely get it fast! We could have a sleepover and EVERYTHING!"

>(Shy) Um, I-I-I c-ouldn't. (Go silent).

>I don't think my Uncle Terry would let me. B-but it sounds fun!

>...Sure.

>Write-In

>>1374267
>(Shy) Um, I-I-I c-ouldn't. (Go silent).

>>1374267
>(Shy) Um, I-I-I c-ouldn't. (Go silent).

>>1374267
>I don't think my Uncle Terry would let me. B-but it sounds fun!

>>1374950
>>1375074
You feel yourself start to flush. Going to their house? What if their parents don't like you? What if you do something embarrassing and they hate you and leave you alone and then you never have any friends forever?
"Um, uh, I-I-I c-ouldn't, s-sorry."

"Aw, why not? C'mon!"

You just hunch over, your hair falling over your face.

You hear a bell ring, and the teacher walks in. He's short, portly, and balding, with a face that glistens like a candied ham despite the air-conditioned room.

"Good day, students, I'm Mr. Lambert, and welcome to your first day of summer school." He puts down a stack of books and turns to look at the class.
"All of you are here for a reason. For some of you, it's because your parents want you to be as ready as possible for high school, and congratulations for that. Some of you are here for extra credit, or because you are pursuing an accelerated course of study. And some of you-" his gaze flickers along the back row- " are here because, for whatever reason, you require remedial lessons. But regardless of the reason you are here, I expect all of you to apply yourself fully. Yes, this is summer, but that is no excuse to slack off. What happens here DOES go on your permanent record, after all. Now, I'll be calling roll and then you will be handed your schedules. Angstrom Abernathy!"

The roll call marches on, encompassing yourself, the eraser-chewer ("...Moonbeam Lemongrass."), the older boy ("Joseph Stevenson!"), and the twins ("Orion and Rowan Stone!"). as Mr. Lambert checks off the final name and starts to put the paper away, Alfred's hand shoots up. "Um, pardon me, Mr. Lambert? I hate to be a bother, but you didn't call my name."

"Oh. Knew I forgot something. What's your name, son?"

"Alfred Winchester."

"Alright, Alfred... Winchester... Okay, anyone else? No? Good. Now, if I could get a volunteer- ah, thank you, Smith- you'll receive your schedules and go off to your first class periods."

It turns out all students in the same year get the same schedule, so you, the twins, Alfred, and Moonbeam Lemongrass are all in the same classes. Your first three periods are History, Science, and English.

Roll Intelligence + Study (3 dice) to see how well you grasp these subjects.

Rolled 9, 2, 9 = 20 (3d10)

>>1375141

Rolled 8, 5, 1 = 14 (3d10)

>>1375141

Rolled 6, 10, 7 = 23 (3d10)

>>1375141

Rolled 4, 5, 5 = 14 (3d10)

>>1375141

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>1375240

Rolled 3, 5, 5 = 13 (3d10)

>>1375141

Well note to self, talk with Moonbeam Lemongrass, she seems like she had cool parents

>>1375187
You've been reading some of the books on history and novels that Terry has lying around, so you feel okay about History and English. Science, however... you kind of feel lost there. You don't have a lot of time to talk with Orion, Rowan, or Al (although you are hit in the face with lead several times with snapped lead from five of Al's pencils).

Lunchtime eventually rolls around, and you go to the cafeteria to eat. You can see that Al and the twins have taken a seat at a table and are waving to you. Most of the other students have grouped up into their own little clubs, except for Joseph Stevenson and Moonbeam Lemongrass, who each are sitting on their own.

>(Shy) Sit by yourself.

> Sit with the rest of your group.

>Sit with Moonbeam

>Sit with Joseph

>(Kind) Invite Moonbeam to sit with you guys.

>(Kind) Invite Joseph to sit with you guys.

>(Kind) Invite both of them to sit with you guys.

>Write-In

>>1375603
>(Kind) Invite both of them to sit with you guys.

Don't want to see them get left out, plus it means there will be new people to interrogate which means we wont have to answer questions about ourself

Did we ever figure out what our Mask looks like?

>>1375603
>(Kind) Invite both of them to sit with you guys.

>>1375603
>(Kind) Invite both of them to sit with you guys.

>>1375613
>>1375633
>>1375775
You go over to Moonbeam's table.

"U-uh... you can sit with us over there if you want."

The girl looks up and smiles, showing some crooked teeth. "Ohhh, really? That'd just be radical!" She reaches into her backpack and slaps something on the front of your shirt. You look down to see a bright yellow star sticker. "Thanks, sister!"

"Oh...kay..." You head over to Joseph's table. "Hey, do you want to sit with us?..."

Joseph looks up and over to your group. "Yeah, sure." He gets up, then suddenly pauses and tilts his head to one side. "Actually, nevermind."

>Why not?

>Oh... okay...

>Write-In

>>1376029
>Oh... okay...

Well... if you change your mind... feel free to say hi

>>1376029
this >>1376034

>>1376029
>Oh... okay...

>>1376034
>>1376041
>>1376074
"Oh... okay... Well, if you change your mind, you can come over."

"Sure."

You head over to the table.

"Hey everyone, I'm Moonbeam! Your radical little black-haired friend over there invited me over!"

"Hey! I'm Rowan, this is Orion, and that's Alfie."

"Nice to meet you, Moonbeam."

"Oh, I remember you! You're that kid everyone says is cursed. What's the story with that?"

"Oh, it's really nothing, just some bad luck..."

"There's no such thing as bad luck, you know! It's all about karma, man. Listen, my dad's a guru- he could do an energy cleansing session with you, get all the bad vibes out."

"I... appreciate the offer, but I must decline. I don't believe in curses."

"Maybe not, man, but curses believe in you."

>Talk to Al (about what?)

>Talk to Orion (about what?)

>Talk to Moonbeam (about what?)

>Talk to Rowan (about what?)

>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence

>Write-In

>>1376158
>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence

>>1376158
>>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence

>>1376158
>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence

>>1376158
>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence
Listen to everyone talk about them selves, try to learn thing about the developing group dynamic.

>>1376158
>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence

>>1376162
>>1376180
>>1376189
>>1376279
You eat your lunch in silence, listening to the group:

"...It's absurd, 'Moonbeam', that's why! Curses simply don't exist! It's against all laws of logic and nature!"

"That's what YOU think, man."

"One of my ancestors drove themselves to their death obsessing over the idea that they might be 'cursed', and I won't go the same way. It's not statistically impossible for some people to be unlucky, or even highly unlucky!"

"So why are you seated at the other end of the table from us, man?"

"Well... maybe I'm just intoverted!"

"Intro-huh?"

"It means he prefers to be on his own, sis. Wish I had that luxury."

"Hey, hey. What's all your guys's signs?"

"Astrology isn't real, either! The idea that the stars control our lives is ridiculous."

"Yeah, what Alfie said!"

"Now don't be too hasty. I've had some weird coincidences happen to me that my horoscope predicted..."

"Oh, COME ON! Orion, you're a pretty smart guy- at least, from what I can tell from our couple of hours in the same class- you can't seriously think that horoscopes are real?"

"If you came from where I'm from, you'd believe, man. You'd believe."

"God, Orion, you're so CRAZY!"

"Am NOT! Mary, back me up here, I'm not crazy, right?"

"Yeah, sister. You believe in higher worlds and stuff, right?"

Moonbeam and Orion look at you from one side, and Rowan (and Alfred in the distance) look at you from the other.

>...Yeah, I believe.

>(Subterfuge) N-no. W-who'd think fairies and stuff are real, heheh....

>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, m-maybe n-not?...

>(Shy) I, I, uh I-I have to go! (Get up and leave)

>Write-In

>>1376475
>>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, m-maybe n-not?...

>>1376475
>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, m-maybe n-not?...

>>1376475
>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, m-maybe n-not?...

>>1376475
>(Subterfuge) N-no. W-who'd think fairies and stuff are real, heheh....

>>1376475
>(Subterfuge) N-no. W-who'd think fairies and stuff are real, heheh....

>>1376475
>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, m-maybe n-not?...
>I-i think maybe there are things beyond science, but they are p-probably way different that what we think of as magic. I-it's kinda w-weird to think we have the full picture either way considering how big the world is...r-right?

>>1376555

This

>>1376475
>>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, maybe not?...
Don't stutter, we're Mary of the Autumn Court, not some mentally challenged kid talking to its crush. Mary is getting good with our help, whether she wants it or not.

>>1376489
>>1376492
>>1376497
>>1376555
>>1376576
"I mean, on the one hand, m-maybe it's real, but on the other hand, it might... not... be?"

"AAGH!" Orion throws up his hands. "What sort of answer is that?!"

"Come on, Mary, you can't seriously be considering those sorts of fairy tales real! You're 13! We're smarter than that!"

"I-I just think maybe there are things beyond science, but they are p-probably way different that what we think of as magic. I-it's kinda w-weird to think we have the full picture either way considering how big the world is...r-right?"

"Well- actually, you know what? I guess that's a fair point."

"Yeah, you're totally, like, a philosopher or something, girl."

"So anyways- who wants to hang out after school~!?"

"Shouldn't we think about other things, Rowan? Like schoolwork?"

"Schoolwork, schmoolwork! It's SUMMER, let's have some fun!"

"Oh, sure! My family's new in Portland, so we should look for power spots around the school, or in downtown! It'd even help our grades, so, you know, that'd be good!"

"'Power spots'? Okay, I'm willing to believe in the paranormal, but that's ridiculous! If we're going to to something, let's go ghost hunting. I've got some experimental equipment I put together based on Jung's theoretical principles and some Kirlian film, and between the five of us, we're bound to get some evidence if we pick the right place!"

"That's horrible, man! Couldn't we do a seance to free that poor lost soul instead?"

"...Well, afterwards, I guess..."

"Bro. Bro. CHILL with the ghost stuff. We should just hang out at home with these guys! There's the creek, and the woods, and I can make you all some awesome duds!"

"Well, I suppose if we're fielding options for extracurricular activities, there's an amusement arcade that's opened up recently. All sorts of electronic games, it's all really interesting! I carry a lot of spare change with me, just in case, so I can treat you guys as thanks."

"I dunno... what do you think, Sunshine? That's what I'm calling you now. Because, you know, the sticker I put on your shirt?"


>I think just walking around and seeing these 'power spots' might be nice...

>(smile) I like ghosts.... ghost hunting, I mean.

>...I think just spending time at your house would be nice, R-Rowan.

>I can't. Uncle Terry would worry about me.

>(Shy) (remain silent).

>Write-In

>>1376615
>(smile) I like ghosts.... ghost hunting, I mean.
Let's play to our strengths.

>>1376615
FUCK.

>I've never played an electronic game before...

Should be on the above list.

>>1376615
>(smile) I like ghosts.... ghost hunting, I mean.

>>1376615
>I've never played an electronic game before...
"L-lets get to know each other before we g-go hunting, okay?"

>>1376615
>>1376662
This'n

>>1376615
>>I've never played an electronic game before...
but not for long because
>Uncle Terry would worry about me.

>>1376615
>>1376662
>>1376708
These please
We just formed the group we need to build trust before we go off an do dangerous stuff like ghost hunting. Start small you know.
Do you think the school has a phone we can call Terry with before we go.

>>1376662
>>1376708
>>1376726
"I've never played an electronic game before... but I can't stay for long, though. Uncle Terry would worry about me."

"So you live with your uncle? What's about that?"

"ROWAN! You can't just ask someone you barely know that!"

"What? We lived with our uncle."

"That was for like, two months."

"So... what do you think of our teachers?"

"Thanks for the save, Alfie!"

"Grrghn..."

"Anyways, I think Mrs. Dobowsky's nice enough."

"I bet she's a Virgo."

"Mr. Belfast seemed... intense."

"Lots of English teachers can be like that. You've just got to take it in stride-"

You hear a crackle come over the intercom, and then a voice blares out:

"Mary Freedman! Mary Freedman! Please come to the front office!"

You quickly get up and scurry up to the front desk, where a secretary is holding a telephone.

"...yes."

"Oh! Sorry, didn't see you there! Your uncle's on the phone."

She hands it down to you.

"Hey, Uncle Terry!"

"Hey, Spooky. How's the first day of school going?"

"Alright. I'm making some new friends already. They seem nice!"

"Yeah, well let me tell you, first impressions ain't always the truth. Still, glad you're out meeting new people and all that. Anyways: I think I might be out all night, there's some lost hikers that need rescuing. There's a TV dinner in the freezer, just use the instructions. Oh, almost forgot: you should probably drop in and see the counselor after school. It's his first gig teaching there, apparently, and I'm certain you'd like someone you could talk to there, yeah?"

>Okay, Uncle Terry.

>Can I go to the arcade with my friends after school?

>Can I ask you something? (whisper into the line) What if people here start asking me about fairies? What if I accidentally use my powers in front of everyone?

>Write-In

>>1376898
>Can I go to the arcade with my friends after school?

>>1376898
>Can I go to hang out with my friends after school?
Its the 70s so im not sure if this is before, after, or while arcades became shady hotspots.
Lets just say we are going hang out with friends and do homework and shit.

>>1376907
>>1376936
"Hey, can I go hang out with my friends after school?"

"Only if you get any schoolwork you have done tonight. You gotta promise me that, got it?"

You don't have much assigned from your first three periods (just some reading), and as far as you know, gym doesn't HAVE homework.
"Okay!"

"Good. Now, what'd you say you and your friends were doing again?"

>Just going to the arcade.

>(Subterfuge): We're just hanging out at one of their houses.

>Write-In

>>1376936
Before. Space Invaders, and by extension the Golden Age of Videogames, is less than a year on the horizon. Right now, arcades are kind of novelty businesses.

>>1377127
>Just going to the arcade.
There's no reason to lie here, is there?

>>1377127
>Just going to the arcade.

Going to play an electronic game (is Joust out in this time period?)

>>1377135
>>1377136
"Just going to the arcade."

You hear Uncle Terry's deep, throaty chuckle on the other end of the line. "Heh, should have guessed. You kids and your pinball games. Have fun! You'd better not dip into my spare money tin for nickels, though. I need those for parking fees!"

"Yes, Uncle Terry." You know he actually uses them to buy chewing gum (and, occasionally, cheap liquor), but you don't want to get in an argument with him.

"Good girl. Now, I gotta go hike out and find that jackass who got himself lost, probably drunk off his a- Yes, boss, I'm getting the keys to the off-roader, keep your damn pants on! Gotta go, sweetie. Bye!"

You hand the line back to the girl at the front desk and head back to your group.

"So, what was it?"

"Did you get in trouble?!"

"Use your head, sis. She was gone for like five minutes, she isn't in trouble."

"My uncle. He said I could go hang out with you when I asked."

"Excellent! We should go a bit after our last class: which one is that, again?"

"Art. We've got Math, then Gym, then Art."

"Sorry. My schedule got damp. I put my bag outside the restrooms, and when I came out, the water fountain had leaked all over it."

"See? You're cursed, man. I'm telling you, you should at least buy some purifying crystals, my mom makes these awesome necklaces-"

The bell starts ringing in the hall.

"Well, never mind. Come on, guys, let's get to Math."

Most of the coursework here is remedial work: roll Intelligence + Study (3 dice) to see how much of it you grasp.

Rolled 4, 7, 4 = 15 (3d10)

>>1377179
2+2=5!

Rolled 5, 4, 2 = 11 (3d10)

>>1377179
>3 dice

>>1377179
Education, HOOOOOOOOO

Rolled 5, 10, 7 = 22 (3d10)

>>1377210

>>1377179
>>1377210
Are you going to roll, anon?

>>1377212
>>1377213
Disregard that comment.

>>1377216
No problem, man

>>1377212
Explosion, anon?

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>1377212
Guess I'll roll it...

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1377212
>>1377229
Kablam

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>1377212
I'll blow him up

>>1377212
Well, you have a fair grasp of addition, subtraction, and multiplication, and you can easily do whole division, but once it gets to remainders, you start to lock up. Dang it.
While working, you look over and notice Moonbeam working on her exercises. Her forehead is covered in wrinkles and she has her tongue stuck out of the corner of her mouth. You're just close enough to hear her whispers:

"Seven by six is twenty-four- no! thirty-six, definitely! I think... oh, come ON, Moonbeam, you know the eight types of herbs that cure rheumatism, you should know this!..."

Orion and Al churn through their exercises in no time (despite Al's pencil snapping in half), while Rowan seems to proceed at the same pace as you.

Gym's up next. According to Coach Carter (a man who's bushy eyebrows and beard, large, hairy arms, and sharp, barking voice put you in mind of a terrier that did a lot of push-ups), the first day will consist of a "basic fitness test."

Roll Stamina + Athletics (4 dice).

Rolled 6, 1, 10, 9 = 26 (4d10)

>>1377267

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1377269
Bap

Rolled 10, 9, 7, 3 = 29 (4d10)

>>1377267

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>1377276

Rolled 5, 3, 2, 2 = 12 (4d10)

>>1377267
Finishing the rolls.

>>1377276
>>1377301
You pass through the exam with a clean bill of health: Coach Carter even remarks that he didn't expect "a pale, bookish-lookin'" girl like you to perform as well as you did. Moonbeam and Orion seem to do similarly to you, while Rowan struggles with the work-outs. Alfred was doing okay as well, up until his climbing rope snapped in half and he fell on another student who was walking across the fall pad ("IN CLEAR DAMN VIOLATION OF MY SAFETY BRIEFING!", you heard Coach yell at Mr. Lambert as the two were taken to the nurse's office). Hopefully, he's alright enough to not miss out on your trip: he's the one who proposed it, after all.

The final period is the one you've been dreading: art. You know nothing about it. What's worse, you're supposed to make a drawing for the first day of class to "represent yourself." Oh God, what should you draw?

Roll a chance die (1d10, 10 is a success, 2-9 are failures, 1 is a dramatic failure). Can spend 1 point of willpower to turn the roll into an ordinary 3-dice roll.

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1377339
Even if we fuck this up, this will be entertaining. Let's roll baby!

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>1377339

Alright, let's gamble with this one, depending on how bad it goes we might be going to talk to the councilor either way

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>1377339

>>1377356
You settle on a simplistic drawing of your Mask (similar to your Mien, save the absence of your gleaming teeth, burning-bright eyes, eye-scars, and the green-purple color throughout, and with hair that, while long, doesn't stretch to your waist on all sides and writhe slowly: so not at all like it, really) standing alongside Uncle Terry's Mask outside of your house. The teacher calls it "a good first attempt", which makes you feel okay. Rowan produces a dazzle of bright pinks and violets surrounding a weird, wavy model of herself: it looks really blurry, which according to the teacher means it's Impressionist. You notice a lot more attention seems to have been given to the clothes Rowan is wearing in the portrait than her. Orion initially refuses to paint, stating that "the blank canvas expresses my emotional state that this whole painting-your-feelings crap is a bunch of garbage"; after being threatened with being reported to the principal, he draws a red square, which he claims symbolizes "anger at having to do this assignment". Alfred returns from the nurse's office halfway through class with a slight limp and a note excusing his tardiness. With so little time provided to him, he opts to crudely draw a large, four-story house, with several vague figures staring out of windows. The teacher praises it as "technically unskilled, but full of symbolism".


The last bell rings for the day, and your class starts filing out of the halls. The route you five are swept along by the herd motion of the students takes you towards the Counselor's office: you can see that all the boxes you saw earlier are gone, and the lights in the office are on. The sign on the outside says:

SCHOOL COUNSELOR

DR. DUSKMONT

>Visit the counselor

>Go straight to the arcade

>Write-In

>>1377385
>Visit the counselor

We promised we would

>>1377385
Visit councelor
On a side note, I'm getting sick of Orion already, he reminds me of Sam too much

>>1377385
Guess we should drop by.
>Visit the counselor

>>1377385
>Visit the counselor

File: Painting in Oswald's Office.jpg (24 KB, 400x401)

24 KB JPG

>>1377390
>>1377530
>>1377609
>>1377700

"Hey, guys... can you wait for me outside? I have... something I need to do."

You make a sharp turn out of the great Post-School Migration of the American Teenager and duck into the counselor's office.

The office is plain-looking: besides a filing cabinet in a corner and a pair of plush armchairs on either side of a desk, the only decoration is a strange, brown painting hanging beneath a window. It seems to show a vaguely-human-like figure with its hands in it's mouth. It doesn't have eyes, and its hands seem to have far too many fingers.
Your eyes are quickly drawn, however, to the figure in the chair. He's tall and thin, with violet eyes and paper-white skin, no hair, a small, hooked nose, and thin lips wrapped around a mouth full of needle-like teeth. His hands end in long, pointed nails. He seems to smell strongly of leaf mold, something sugary, and pumpkins. Despite all of this, he seems more... interesting than scary. He looks up from a piece of paper and sees you.

"Oh! What a pleasant surprise! I wasn't aware that any of our people went to this school. My name is Oswald Duskmont, and, while I think I've seen you before, the name is eluding me... Do you mind reminding me?"

>...I'm Mary.

>Uncle Terry didn't say you were a changeling...

>(Shy) (Say nothing)

>Write-In

>>1377530
Which character are you referring to again?
Might have forgotten them.

>>1377832
>...I'm Mary

>>1377832
>Uncle Terry didn't say you were a changeling...

>>1377832
>>...I'm Mary.

>>1377844
>>1377874
"...I'm Mary."

"Ah, let's see... Mary, Mary- ah, you must be Mary Freedman, yes?"

"Yeah."

"Alright! Well, Mary, if you're having problems, need advice, or you just want someone to talk to, my door is always open. How are you liking your first day of school?"

"It's fine... can I go?"

"If you want to, but... are you sure there isn't something you want to talk to me about?"

>Are curses real?

>Is it possible for changelings to be friends with humans?

>No (go to meet your friends)

>Write-In

>>1377881
>>Are curses real?

>>1377881
>Are curses real?
>Is it possible for changelings to be friends with humans?

Because I think I made some

>>1377890
>>1377916
"...Are curses real?"

Oswald gives you a look. "Why do you ask? Are you concerned about accidentally cursing someone?"

"I have a friend who's really unlucky..."

"...And you're concerned that he's cursed. Well- yes, curses are real, but they're rare. Not all bad luck can be attributed to the Evil Eye or something like that. Besides, curses are almost always leveled as a punishment for wrongs inflicted, and I doubt your friend could have done something at his age to earn a curse."

"But what if he is?!"

"If he is, I'll soon know about it. Now, is there anything else?"

"Uh, yeah. Can... can a changeling and a human be friends? Because I have some friends, and they're human..."

Oswald gives you a pitying look. "That is a... hard question, Mary. Yes, you can be friends with humans, but... it will be hard. Friendship, you see, often involves a certain level of intimacy- by that I mean honesty, you understand?- and it can be hard for people like us to do that without letting them know what we are. If you want to be real friends with them, you have to let them know you: the real you. And that can be dangerous. But if you don't, can you really call them friends, true friends?..." Oswald stares off into the distance for a few seconds, before suddenly snapping back. "Sorry. Like I said, this isn't an easy question to answer. Ultimately, you need to make the decision that you believe is right."

"...Okay..."

You get up and head for the door.

"Remember, Mary: whenever you need advice, and don't feel like talking to Terry or Jerry about it, you can come and see me!"

You head down the now-empty halls and out into the warm July air. Alfred and the rest are waiting by the city bus stop at the bottom of the hill Sunrise High rests atop.
"Hey, Sunshine! What was that about?..."

"Nothing..."

"Aw, come on! We're friends, right?"

>I wanted to talk to the counselor.

>(Subterfuge) I was going to the toilet, Moonbeam. Nothing exciting.

>(Intimidate) I said nothing, okay! Back off!

>Write-In

>>1377971
>I wanted to talk to the counselor.

>>1377971
>I wanted to talk to the counselor.

>>1377971
>Write-In

The councilor is a friend of my Uncle and he wanted me to stop in and say hi.

Honesty ho!

>>1377971
this >>1377985

>>1377971
>>1377985
thirding

>>1377985
All right, I'll change my vote to this

>>1377985
>>1378134
>>1378216
>>1378222
"The counselor is a friend of my uncle, and he wanted me to stop in and say hi."

"Oh, really? What's your uncle do?"

"He's a forest ranger. He helps people who get lost near Mt. Hood."

"Protecting the land from industrialists. I like it. My dad's a guru who gives people spiritual guidance and life advice, and cleanses their auras and stuff, and my mom's a medicine woman. I'm learning how to be one too!"

"'Medicine Woman'? More like a snake-oil salesman...woman. Those natural cure-alls only work for really minor things. The people who sell them always exaggerate their effects to sucker people into buying them instead of using ACTUAL medicine."

"Hey, Alfred, lay off of her! A lot of drugs have active ingredients that come from herbs! You need to stop being so judgmental!"

"Judgmental! Do you know all the stupid trash I've had to put up with because of all the paranoia abou-"

"HEY LOOK THE BUS IS HERE LET'S STOP ARGUING NOW!"

The five of you file onto the bus. Rowan takes a seat between Alfred and Orion, with Moonbeam sitting to Orion's right. You take a seat at the end.

As the bus starts rolling, you can feel the simmering resentment between the two boys roiling under the surface.

>So... let's talk about what our parents do, and stuff...

>Talk to Alfred (about what?)

>Talk to Rowan (about what?)

>Talk to Orion (about what?)

>Talk to Moonbeam (about what?)

>Write-In

>>1378319
>So... let's talk about what our parents do, and stuff...

>>1378319
>Talk to Alfred (about what?)

"Hey... I am sorry that people have tried to force things on you and your family... we're not trying to do that. Dad always said that everybody has got a different way of dealing with things so let's just all promise ... to keep.. an open." Trail off as you realize everyone is looking at us and go silent

>>1378345
"Hey, Alfred... I'm sorry that people forced things on your family and stuff... but we aren't trying to do that. Dad says... said... that everybody's got a different way of dealing with things. So let's all promise to keep... an open..." You realize everyone's staring at you, and trail off into silence.

"... You're right. Sorry, Mary. I overreacted."

"Great, everyone's friends again! Now... let's talk about what we want to be when we grow up, or something!"

"Sure. Personally, I'd like to work at NASA. Knowing my luck, I'd probably end up being a janitor there or something... but a chance to contribute to our understanding of the universe outside of the atmosphere would be incredible."

"Fashion designer! Definitely! Although, if I had a chance, I'd settle for marrying a beautiful prince..."

"Do they even have princes anymore? I thought there were, like, all these revolutions and stuff..."

"Yeah, but they still let the princes hang out and have nice things and stuff. But anyways, once I marry a prince, I get to be QUEEN when I grow up, and that'd just be awesome! I'd live in a beautiful mansion and own a horse named Diamondancy Buttercup, and-"

"That name sounds famil-HEY. This is just like those dolls you used to play with when we were, like, five!"

"Well? A girl can dream."

"Psht. I'm going to be a cryptozoologist."

"Radical. What's a cryptozoologist?"

"It's someone who studies species that as-of-yet aren't recognized by science, like Bigfoot, and the chupacabra."

"Well, I'm probably going to be a medicine woman like my mom, but apparently I have to go to high school anyways, so... guess it's your turn, Mary."


>(Shy) Remain silent.

>I don't really know...

>I'm going to be a queen.

>I'm going to be in horror movies.

>Mortician.

>Psychologist.

>Write-In

>>1378526
>Mortician.

>>1378526
> A detective like our dad

>>1378526
>(Shy) Remain silent.

>>1378526
>>I don't really know...

>>1378600
switching to this

>>1378600

This, seems like how she would interpret our line of work

>>1378600
>>1378698
>>1378701
"I want to be a detective, like my dad."

"Your dad was a detective? AWESOME! Did he bust drug dealers and stuff?"

"ROWAN! She's probably sensitive about that."

"Oh, yeah..."

"No, it's fine."


You arrive at the Portland Arcade. The inside is a dimly-lit space filled with row after row of pinball machines. Alfie dumps out a stack of quarters, rapidly divides them into five equal piles, and hands one to each of you. The group starts scattering into the arcade.

Who do you want to spend this time with?

>Orion

>Rowan

>Moonbeam

>Alfie

>(Shy) Spend the time by yourself.

>>1378796
>>Rowan
Let's get a solid female friendship before we hang out with boys

>>1378796
>Rowan

For this >>1378809 and because honestly the siblings are my favorite so far. Still if it came down to a choice between Moonbeam and Alfred I would pick Moonbeam since she seems a lot less antagonistic and also because she could probably hook us up with useful herbs and reagents

>>1378796
>Rowan

Rolled 1, 1, 6, 10 = 18 (4d10)

>>1378809
>>1378896
"Hey, Rowan... can we hang out?"

"Yeah! I hope you like pinball, though; I'm pretty good at it!"

"Hey, sis, you ready to-"

"Oh! Sorry, Orion, I already have a player two! How about you play with Moonbeam or something?"

"Buh-"

"No, its totally good! HEY, MOONBEAM, ORION HERE WANTS TO PLAY PINBALL WITH YOU!"

"Oh, sure. Never actually played these things before. Thanks!~"

Orion's face goes red and sweaty as Moonbeam pulls him away by one arm.

"Oh, those crazy kids, right? Come on, let's do this one!"

You get pulled over to a two-player, highly-patriotic-looking pinball machine: PIONEER flashes above the scoreboard.

Roll Dexterity + Composure (5 dice). Must beat above roll.

Rolled 4, 9, 1, 4, 1 = 19 (5d10)

>>1379003

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>1379003
Exploding.

Rolled 3, 8, 9, 8, 4 = 32 (5d10)

>>1379003

Rolled 5, 4, 10, 2, 6 = 27 (5d10)

>>1379003

>>1379020

Boom

>>1379019

Hey we're pretty good at pinball

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1379026

Fuck

>>1379019
"Wow, you're pretty good at this!"

"...I guess..."

The two of you start playing on separate machines; you start adjusting to the rhythm of the pinball machines, and you start making small talk with Rowan.

>Did you always want to be a fashion designer?

>Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?

>Why's your brother believe in the supernatural?

>Write-In

>>1379081
>>Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?

>>1379081
>Why's your brother believe in the supernatural?

>>1379081
>Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?
It begins

>>1379081
>Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?
'rion and Moonbeam
sittin' in a tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G

>>1379081
>Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?
>Why's your brother believe in the supernatural?

>>1379084
>>1379105
>>1379125
"Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?"

"Well, he and I play games against each other, like, all the time, and I wanted a chance to play someone else. Plus, you know, he needs to get out and meet some girls, and if he's dating one of my friends, that'd be SUPER cool, because then I wouldn't have to worry about getting into catfights and stuff!"

"Oh!..."

"Speaking of boys..." Rowan leans in and gives you a mischievous grin, her braces gleaming. "You got someone you're sweet on, Mary?~"

>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.

>No, not really...

>Alfie seems nice?...

>Actually... maybe your brother?...

>Don't laugh... Rock Hudson.

>Write-In

>>1379190
>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk

>>1379190
>>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.

>>1379190
>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.

>>1379190
>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.

>>1379190
>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.

>>1379190
>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.

>>1379198
>>1379199
>>1379213
>>1379214
>>1379265
"There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk."

"Awww, that's so sad... but don't worry, I'm sure there's a guy out there for you somewhere! And if he is, then I'm going to find him! I'm almost as good at matchmaking as I am at fashion!"

"...You're sure about that?"

"One hundred MILLION percent, definitely! I've never met a problem I can't solve with a little smarts and a can-do attitude!"

You continue to fool around with Rowan at pinball until the sun starts to set, and everyone disperses back to their homes.

Mary's Asset learned: Determined.

You do your schoolwork for the night and head to bed, satisfied.

You take the bus to school the next day, meeting your friends in class. You notice that Moonbeam has started sitting more to the front of the class, alongside the rest of your group.

Things are pretty normal until English rolls around. All of you are busy reading excerpts from a poetry book when you start to hear a faint creaking noise. You look up to see one of the halogen lights above you slowly shaking. The right-hand screwplate holding it to the ceiling looks old and rusty, and is starting to break. If it breaks at this angle, it'll clip you before smashing straight into Alfie's face. You can see the rusty metal starting to tear...

>(Initiative) Shout 'Look Out!' as loud as you can.

>(Athletics) Tackle Alfie

>(Atheletics) Dive out of the way

>Write-In

>>1379393
>>(Athletics) Tackle Alfie

>>1379393
>(Athletics) Tackle Alfie

May as well try, also we should never ever go over to Moonbeams house, I was just reminded what our frailty is and if there's any house the has burnt sage in it it's hers

>>1379393
>(Initiative) Shout 'Look Out!' as loud as you can.

>>1379393
>(Athletics) Tackle Alfie

>>1379407
>>1379411
>>1379433
Roll Strength + Athletics (2 dice). May spend Willpower to increase to 5 dice.

Rolled 3, 13 = 16 (2d20)

>>1379437

Rolled 7, 3 = 10 (2d10)

>>1379441
Wait, scratch that last one.

Rolled 7, 4, 1, 10, 2 = 24 (5d10)

>>1379437

Spending

Rolled 8, 7, 5, 2, 3 = 25 (5d10)

>>1379437

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>1379450

Boom

>>1379450
You think quickly, and with an enormous effort, you shove Alfie down and out of the path of the light, which swings down seconds later, almost hitting the fat kid (Kyle?) to Alfie's left.

A few minutes later, class is let out early. The rest of your group crowds around Alfie.

"Al, you okay?"

"Did your beautiful, beautiful hair get hurt?"

"I know you don't believe in superstition, but please, take this, it protects against the Evil Eye-"

"I'M FINE! JUST... EAT LUNCH WITHOUT ME!!" Alfie shoves his way out of the group and bolts toward the nearest door, leaving the group dazed, arranged around the gap where he was standing.

"What'd we do?"

>Follow him

>Go and eat lunch with the other three

>Write-In

>>1379493
>Follow him

You guys go ... I'll catch up

>>1379493
>Write-In
Tell them to go ahead while we go after Al

>>1379493
>>1379509
this

>>1379500
>>1379509
>>1379526
>>1379493
What they said

>>1379500
>>1379526
>>1379532
"...Listen, you guys go ahead."

"Okay..."

"Hey, Mary, are you sure you want to go after him? He looked pretty upset. Like, REALLY upset. Punch-you-in-the-face-even-if-you're-a-girl upset."

"...Yes."

You cautiously push open the side door Alfie ran through and see him lying down on the slope, face-down in the grass, pounding his fist. You can hear muffled screaming mixed with faint sobs and gulps for air and something being whispered under his breath.

>(Stealth) Get closer and try to hear what he's saying.

>Wait for him to calm down.

>"It's not your fault, Alfred."

>Write-In

>>1379580
>(Stealth) Get closer and try to hear what he's saying.

File: not your fault.jpg (58 KB, 740x437)

58 KB JPG

>>1379580
>"It's not your fault, Alfred."

>>1379580
>(Stealth) Get closer and try to hear what he's saying.
Time to use our evil cat god given gifts to do some good

Rolled 7, 8, 2 = 17 (3d10)

>>1379626
>>1379603
Roll Dexterity + Stealth (7 dice). Must beat the above roll.

Rolled 4, 7, 7, 9, 7, 4, 1 = 39 (7d10)

>>1379700

Rolled 7, 3, 2, 4, 7, 9, 10 = 42 (7d10)

>>1379700
>7d10

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>1379725
>10

Rolled 8, 1, 4, 1, 5, 5, 10 = 34 (7d10)

>>1379700

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>1379744

>>1379725
You slip up towards where Alfie is crying and listen:

"Why does this keep happening... Mrs. Sarah... she couldn't have been right, could she? But even if it were, shouldn't the damn place?... oh, GOD, why?! Why do I have to pay for what he did?!?!! It's not my fault! IT'S NOT FAIR!"

>(Shy) Back up slowly.

>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You're okay.

>What are you talking about?

>Write-In

>>1379862
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You're okay.
He needs someone to be with him. And also this nigga is fucking cursed so maybe we should have Dadtective take care of this.

>>1379862
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You're okay.

>>1379862
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You're okay.

>>1379880
>>1379901
>>1379908
"It's okay, Alfie. You're okay."

Alfie jerks up and looks at you, glowering from reddened eyes. "Why are you spying on me?"

"I-I'm not spying-"

"YES YOU ARE DON'T LIE TO ME! You just followed me because you want to laugh, don't you?! Well, go on! Everyone does, eventually! Why do you think you guys are my only friends? Because anyone who knows me for too long ends up hating me! So will you, I know it!"

>(Empathy) Try and discern his inner emotional workings.

>(Shy) I-I'm sorry! (run off)

>Write-In

>>1379937
>(Empathy) Try and discern his inner emotional workings.
also, what exactly do our contracts do?

>>1379937
>(Empathy) Try and discern his inner emotional workings.
Man he's really stressed about all this huh.

>>1379937
>(Empathy) Try and discern his inner emotional workings.

>>1379937
>(Shy) I-I'm sorry! (run off)

Rolled 8, 10 = 18 (2d10)

>>1379945
>>1379980
>>1380007
Roll Wits + Empathy +Sensing Instability bonus (6 dice). Must beat above roll.

>>1379945
Updated sheet to summarize Contracts.

>>1379980
If you had literally everything going wrong around you all the time, you'd have damage too.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>1380014
Explosion.

Rolled 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 2 = 25 (6d10)

>>1380014
Hey, could we use Lunatic's Knowing Gaze? If he has psychological damage, it could tell us something.

>>1380022
Yep, once this roll-set is finished.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>1380022

Rolled 1, 8, 7, 5, 2, 1 = 24 (6d10)

>>1380014

Rolled 7, 10, 8, 2, 7, 10 = 44 (6d10)

>>1380014
Finishing the set.

Rolled 8, 1 = 9 (2d10)

>>1380198
'Splode.

>>1380198
>>1380206
Alfie's hurt, somewhere deep inside. He's so used to getting hurt by others that it's hard for him to cope with no getting hurt by them. He desperately wants someone to reach out and connect to, but he doesn't know how. More than anything else, he wants an explanation for his bad luck that makes sense. Something real.

>Use Lunatic's Knowing Glance

>(Kind) I'm not going to hurt you. Not ever. I promise.

>(Pledgecrafting) Listen, Alfie. I want to show you something, but it has to be a secret between us. Promise you won't tell anyone unless I say you can, and I think I can help you.

>Write-In

>>1380229
>Use Lunatic's Knowing Glance

>>1380229
>Use Lunatic's Knowing Glance

>>1380234
>>1380261
Roll Wits + Wyrd (4 dice).

Rolled 4, 8, 4, 10 = 26 (4d10)

>>1380325

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1380339

Rolled 7, 6, 8, 10 = 31 (4d10)

>>1380325

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>1380362

Boom

Rolled 8, 2, 6, 4 = 20 (4d10)

>>1380325
Finishing

Hily shit, mary is very good in this being a changeling thing

>>1380532
Hily shit, a shit in the shape os small hills

>>1380362
You look at Alfie for a few seconds, and you see into the damaged, jagged edges of his psyche:

-When Alfie becomes overwhelmed by emotion, he starts being violent: to himself or to others. This violence mostly takes the form of wild swinging (to others) or hitting his head against objects (to himself).

-Alfie has anxiety attacks whenever he's exposed to rollercoasters. These can often lead to violent lashing-out if unchecked.

"What are you looking at me like that for? STOP IT!"

>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You don't have to hurt anyone. I'm here, and I'll help you. Alright?

>(Pledgecrafting) Alfie, I can help with you being unlucky. For real. But you're going to have to promise that you aren't going to tell anyone what I'm going to show you.

>Write-In

>>1380806
>(Pledgecrafting) Alfie, I can help with you being unlucky. For real. But you're going to have to promise that you aren't going to tell anyone what I'm going to show you.

>>1380806
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You don't have to hurt anyone. I'm here, and I'll help you. Alright?
I'd rather get to know Alfie better before we show him, and in all honesty, showing our true form isn't going to help him. If anything it might make the problem worse.

>>1380806
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You don't have to hurt anyone. I'm here, and I'll help you. Alright?

Let's keep it under wraps for now, we have only just run into these people, and we should at least talk to the councilor before making this leap if not Dad or Uncle Terry

>>1380806
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You don't have to hurt anyone. I'm here, and I'll help you. Alright?

>>1380844
>>1380840
>>1380957
"It's okay, Alfie. You don't have to hurt anyone. I'm here, and I'll help you. Okay?"

Alfie balls his hands up into fists... then slowly relaxes them. "...Okay. I'm... I'm sorry you had to see that. I try so hard to be positive about it, but... it's hard for me to do that."

"It's okay. You want to eat lunch with us?"

"Sure."

The two of you enter the cafeteria and head to your friend group's table.

"Hey, guys. Sorry about earlier, I was just a bit shook up by that near miss. Good thing Mary was sitting next to me!"

"Yeah, Mary. You saved Alfie's LIFE!"

"Well, I probably wouldn't have died, but I might have gotten hospitalized, which is pretty bad..."

Your group starts eating their lunches.

>Talk to Alfie (about what?)

>Talk to Orion (about what?)

>Talk to Moonbeam (about what?)

>Talk to Rowan (about what?)

>(Shy) Eat in silence

>Write-In

>>1381015
>>Talk to Alfie (about what?)
See if we can hang out after school and find out more about the curse

>>1381015
>Talk to Orion (about what?)

Ask him if he can help us out with the Science work, a study group sort of deal will probably be the easiest way to keep up hanging out with the parents all being alright with it

>>1381035
This

>>1381035
>>1381186
"...Hey, Orion..."

"Hmph?" Orion finishes swallowing his mouthful of baloney. "What's up, Mary?"

"I could use some help with my science work..."

"REALLY!?" Orion's eyes practically light up. "I'd love to help! What're you having problems with? I mean, the basic Earth Science module's pretty easy for a lot of people, but I can understand that you might have some trouble with the expanded water cycle and stuff-"

"It's kind of all of it. I'm not really... that good with science."

"Everyone says that, but I'm willing to bet you are: you just don't realize it!"

"Yeah, now that you mention it, I could use some help with English, sister. You know a lot about that stuff, right?"

You blush slightly at the compliment. "I guess..."

"Cool! We could, like, have a study club or something after school!"

"That's definitely a good idea!"

"YEAH! BEST FRIENDS CLUB!"

"...I suppose it can't do any harm, right?"

"That's the spirit, Alfie! But where should we all meet after school?"

"I wouldn't say NO if you pressed the issue, but... my house wouldn't be the best idea. Apologies."

"Aw, why not?"

"Just trust me."

"Okay... what about your house, Mary?"

>...Maybe. If Uncle Terry's okay with it.

>...What about your house, Rowan?

>...I think Moonbeam's house is fine.

>Write-In

>>1381237
>...Maybe. If Uncle Terry's okay with it.

It's our idea, we should at least check and see, let's have us ask along with Rowan and Moonbeam as well. That way we could possibly rotate around

>>1381237
>...Maybe. If Uncle Terry's okay with it.

>>1381237
>...Maybe. If Uncle Terry's okay with it.

>>1381243
>>1381252
"...Maybe. If Uncle Terry's okay with it."

"Great! Now, I talked to Uncle earlier, and I have an idea about the best places to look for genuine hauntings!"

"Still stuck on this haunting thing, huh? Well, I guess I'll tag along, and then we'll all see that there's no such thing as ghosts."

"Is so! You'll see!"

"Fine. Let's see this Saturday!"

"Good. Meet outside the school, sundown."

>Can I come, too?

>(Leave to call Terry).

>I don't think t-that's a good idea...

>I think we should all go together... for safety.

>Write-In

>>1381474
>Can I come, too?

Mary Gang=Scooby-Gang

It's even the right time for it!

We need to get a van when one of our crew turns 16

>>1381474
>Can I come, too?

>>1381474
>Can I come, too?

>>1381474
>(Leave to call Terry).
Lets call Terry first

>>1381479
>>1381484
>>1381557
"Can I come, too?"

"What? Oh, yeah, sure. Since you're on the fence about this sort of stuff, you can serve as a neutral witness, like on TV!"

"YEAH AND I CAN COME WITH GHOST-HUNTING OUTFITS!"

"Hey! If you turn up, that makes it two-to-one against!"

"Then, like, can't I come?"

"Yeah, that's a great idea! Me and Alfie on one team, and Moonbeam and my bro-bro on the other!"

"Alright!"

You have a bit of time left, thanks to the extended lunch.

>Talk to Alfie (about what?)

>Talk to Orion (about what?)

>Talk to Moonbeam (about what?)

>Talk to Rowan (about what?)

>(Shy) Eat in silence

>(Call Terry)

>Write-In