Collab between Ryver and Shylarah

[b]Location: Cafeteria[/b]

Cameron flipped his table over and ducked beneath when he got wind of the potential fight between the three crazy girls and their equally crazy teacher. He bit down on his fisted hand. He knew he couldn't stay here long or he'd be in deep trouble. Thinking fast, the tiny boy darted behind several older students in a desperate bid for freedom. 

"[color=darkkhaki]Excuse me[/color]," he called occasionally, making sure he kept completely shielded by the rest of his fellow trainees. Mercenary, yes, but a much warranted strategy, since he suspected that the teacher could very well kill them with those projectiles. Plus, it did very little to reassure him, when he heard people yelling "ow" or cursing loudly as they received a direct hit to the forehead. "[color=darkkhaki]Careful[/color]!" 

The students, who were staring like deer in the headlights moments before, began wising up to the danger they were in and they started running en masse towards the door much to Cams' dismay. He hunched over to keep as small as possible, while he was buffeted around by the students passing pass him. Helplessly, the boy scrunched his eyes and began thinking of what his father would do in this situation.  The first thought was rejected on the spot. As light as he was, there was no way he'd crowd surf during a stampede... maybe he ought to think what Ms. Arisa, his dad's partner, would do instead. 

Slivers of half formed thoughts roiled around in his frazzled mind, as Cams searched around helplessly. He wished he could phase through the floor or walk silently through the crowd like a ghost ... oh right! Cams almost facepalmed. He could do that. Taking no chances to stop and draw the sigilium, the boy's lips began moving. 

"[color=darkkhaki]When I pronounce the word Nothing,
I make something no non-being can hold.[/color]"

Over and over again, he repeated the last stanza from Wislawa Szymborska's poem, The Three Oddest Words. It was just one of the many in the omibus his father sent him for his last birthday. At first, nothing happened. Cams tried moving his feet only to find that he had sunk ankle deep into the granite floor of the cafeteria. 

Please, let this work, the teen thought desperately. Outwardly, his lips continued mouthing the words of his incantation, but his concentration began fraying. This scene reminded him of his many nightmares where he could feel himself slowly suffocating as the crowd closed in on him on all sides. A burning sensation rushed up his throat, causing Cams to gag. And just like that, the last of his resolve evaporated. All that remained was blind panic and a desperate desire to survive. 

"[color=darkkhaki]Help![/color]" Cams yelled suddenly from the center of the thining throng. Tears sprang from his eyes and he started choking back his sobs. "[color=darkkhaki]Help... I can't get out.[/color]" The shock of failing his first incantation outside of class combined with his enochlophobia had reduced the stoic boy to the snivelling child many thought him to be. He was after all only 13. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

[b]Location: Outside with Team RPG[/b]

Bits immediately took cover in the lee of a nearby tree to avoid being blown by the wind.  Why did the Chrono seem to have no control over her alchemy?  Bits had had that problem, but thanks to two veterans she'd seen that bottling it up was not the solution.  Only active control -- knowing how to use it, as well as how /not/ to use it -- would keep her from inadvertently hurting someone.  And yet here was a Chrono with no control whatsoever.  Ridiculous.  The young woman grabbed her brother and pulled him out of the way of a clump of debris.  [color=6699FF]"Thanks sis,"[/color] he called over the howling wind, grabbing a branch to keep himself steady.  He too was surprised at the Chrono's lack of control, but it rather fit with AMRO's whole system of negligent policies and disregard for the people that worked for them.  Still, as the Chrono dragged her husband off, Sparks gave the pair a wave.  [color=6699FF]"Take care Ms. Julia, Mr. Geko!"[/color] he called after them.

"[color=cyan]Pssst,[/color]" a voice came from a tree nearby. "[color=cyan]Asylums don't grow on trees you know. Some help would be very appreciated.[/color]"

The sarcasm couldn't be helped, because Omar was beyond frustrated at the moment. The strong winds had knocked him straight into this tree where he was currently wedged firmly in the trunk. The wood swaddling him tightly made him feel like a burrito or some semi folded pita sandwhich. The situation wouldn't had been so bad if his blue haired senior didn't looked so amused.

"[color=cyan]Oi! Don't laugh,[/color]" Omar wailed in a highly exaggerated manner. "[color=cyan]How would you like being a pocket sandwich?[/color]"

Sparks smothered a laugh.  It really wasn't funny, but the poor guy looked so /frustrated/.  [color=6699FF]"Need a hand there?"[/color] he asked.  His sister looked at him sharply at that.  An axe wouldn't be a good solution.  They'd be as likely to help as to harm.  In fact, most mundane methods had that problem.

That left alchemy.

Her breath disturbed the curtain of hair obscuring her face as she sighed, but she supposed this situation warrented the use of it.  [color=6699FF]"I got it, Bits, don't worry,"[/color] Sparks told her.  He could tell she was concerned, but he didn't plan on being flashy.  [color=6699FF]"Let's see here...right."[/color]  The youth ran his hand along the split wood closest to Omari, chanting softly, [color=6699FF]"Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day, nothing gold can stay.  Golden lads and girls all must, as chimney sweepers, come to dust."[/color]  Several inches of the wood holding the other boy prisoner disintegrated at his touch, leaving just enough room to wiggle free.  [color=6699FF]"There you go!"[/color]

"[color=cyan]Thanks![/color]" Omar grinned as he slapped Sparks on the back. "[color=cyan]How about lunch? It would be my treat.[/color]" The boy laughed at the irony of his words. Food at the cafeteria was free so any treat would basically mean him handing Sparks stuff off the lunch counter. "[color=cyan]I can pass you a double helping of chocolate pudding or scoop you more of that mystery meat.[/color]" 

The boy waved to Bits as he pulled Sparks along. "[color=cyan]Come on, I'm super starved! I can eat anything right now even that blobby mystery meat.[/color]" Omar waved enthusiastically as he spotted Kiara enroute back to their school building. "[color=cyan]Oh hey, party leader,[/color]" he called jovially. "[color=cyan]How about following us to the cafeteria? We can talk more while this barbarian stuffs himself.[/color]"

[color=6699FF]"Honestly, everything there is a UFO: unidentified foodlike object.  You're better off with microwave ramen at the dorms,"[/color] Sparks joked.  [color=6699FF]"And if you want to repay me, you need to find a better method.  I know full well that you're not paying for anything they serve."[/color]  Still, the teen smiled, and turned to include Kiara.  [color=6699FF]"Hey yeah, you should join us -- and Eric too."[/color]