PatientBean

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

Sabine Bassard

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Things were going well enough. Tatiana was scrambled, Thuy was getting pissed, Prudence was stunned and getting pummeled, and Ava had her mace taken. If they could continue this momentum, they could turn the tide.

However, that candy was still bugging her. It could be nothing, but it could mean more. And Vicky was her best bet. ”I can’t. I have to keep the fight going. If I stop and spend time trying to read their thoughts, I leave myself vulnerable, or everyone else gets hurt. If we can confirm that thing is sketchy, I stand a better shot of finding out more. And even if we do find out it’s something, I won’t be able to do anything mid-fight. Just please find out what you can.”

Sabine returned her attention to the Hex Girls. Prudence looked like she was nearly down, but Thelma wasn’t going just to let them clobber her. And she was putting up some strong defense. If they could get her away and distracted enough, separated from Prudence, the others could take her out. One less Hex Girl was always the best option.

Sabine strode forward. She attempted to latch onto Thelma’s consciousness and have her stop with her wards, but Sabine felt resistance. Was Thelma onto her? Was she defending her mind.

She needed someone to distract her, for just a moment. Long enough for Sabine to stop her.

Percy latched eyes with Thelma for a minute. “What are you warding against? Good fashion sense?”

Sabine glanced over at Percy with a grin. Thelma seemed to be as well, and her attention drifted from Sabine to Percy. Sabine took her chance and sent her consciousness forward. This would be different as she wasn't changing or altering a memory. She was essentially telling Thelma to do something.

Sabine's ego manifested in Thelma's mind. In it, Sabine looked strong. Powerful. In control. "Why don't you drop those wards now? In fact, I COMMAND you to!"

Sabine felt herself establish that bond and returned to her own being. "The defenses should be down. Get her away and take care of Prudence!"

Round 1

Sabine:

• Health: 30
• Focus: 65
• Karma: 1
• Notes -
  
  
  • As an action, Sabine uses Command on Thelma for 5 Focus
  • Sabine rolls a 5, 5, and 2. Logic adds +3 for a total of 15. Thelma's defense is 17 which fails
  • Percy offers the Help action giving Sabine an Edge to her roll
  • Sabine rerolls the two which becomes a 6. 5+5+6 = 16 + 3 = 19, which is a success
  • Thelma is commanded to stop concentrating on her wards
  • Movement -
    
    
    • Sabine remains where she is standing

Strange Academy: Journey into Mystery

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Location: Hall of Ancients, Strange Academy
Grimoire: N/A
Skills: Social Cues + 3
Current Outfit

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Cassie was positively brimming with excitement. She was standing amongst many with experience and knowledge. She was most looking forward to what she would learn about herself, but of magic in general. Having been sheltered away she knew precious little about any of it. And given what she was able to do it seemed better to learn here than at home.

Professor Mikkail seemed genuine and pleasant. To hear he was from another planet might not surprise most here, but Cassie had her gasteds flabbered. He was a dragon? Or rather, like a dragon. The only dragons Cassie knew of were in fantasy novels and legends. She was already learning so much and it was the first day!

Then Professor Mikkail introduced the other two in their coven. One, Nicholas, seemed to want to be anywhere else but there. But Cassie couldn't quite get him. Perhaps he was stoic on the outside but a warm, gooey marshmallow on the inside. Yes, that had to be it. Or....gasp, was he in love with her? Cassie had read about this before. A man showing almost no interest who secrelty liked the girl. Cassie felt herself get warm a bit. Ok, Cassie, focus elsewhere. Except...

The other was...gods above...the incredibly handsome man she had been eyeing since she got here. Was someone testing her? As Mikkail spoke Cassie's mind wandered...

---

It was the start of freshman year as Cassie scrambled with her books and folders and other school-type materials. She was finally free. On her own and doing it for herself sisters! She was looking forward to the school year. Raising her hand in class to answer a question that stumped everyone else, taking part in various clubs and organizations to raise awareness for puppies or the oceans or whatever social cause was trending, and spending nights with her girlfriends having pllow fights in their shared dorm room and talking about what cute boys were around.

Cassie's mind was a-flutter when she knocked into something hard. She fell and landed with a soft thud on the grass of the quad (was it a quad? Why was it a quad? Quaaaaaad). She looked up as the sun was blocked out by the imposing figure before her. She could just make out some features as a hand was offered her. She took it willingly, allowing the touch to send ripples through her nervous system. The figure turned out to be a man as his face came into view. A face blessed by the all-seeing beings who looked over the world on a particular good day. His eyes met hers and she could swear there was a shadow of a smirk on his playful lips.

"I am so sorry miss. I was in the way. Please, allow me."

He, unfortunately, let go of her hand but scooped down to pick up the various paraphenalia she had once held. Cassie couldn't help but admire the view more as he bent down. Yep, the gods certainly blessed this man.

He returned her things. "The name's Cal. I am a student here in literature. I love reading books with strong, powerful female leads and always make sure to let women finish their sentences without interruption and don't explain myself to them like I know better than they do just because of my gender"

Could a man be more perfect. "I'm Cassiopeia, but you can cal me later." She heard that line before.

Before she could take in Cal's reaction another figure came upon them. Cassie looked over as another man came up to her. He was dressed in a leather jacket with a tight, white t-shirt on. He gave off a "idgaf" attitude. He looked her up and down and before Cassie could register if this was charming or not, he spoke. "Sup, name's Nicholas. Why don't you ditch the nerd and we can hop on my bike and later we can talk about how I act like a bad boy but am secrelty warm and care about others, especialy baby animals, and we can go to makeout point or whatever it's called here like that isn't in any shape problematic considering the audience."

Cassie felt a surge of emotion. How could she possible choose? Cal stepped forward and up to Nicholas. "I don't claim ownership of her because she is her own person and I accept all women #MeToo, but I saw her first and she clearly wants me."

Nicholas scoffed. "Please, look at me and then look at you. I can show her everything you can't wihin the confines of boundaries and consent because even though I am a rebel with a heart of gold I sill value consent because consent is hot."

"Consent is hot," Cal admitted. Then the two of them drew closer. And closer. Before...

---

Cassie snapped out of it. What did that last part mean? Anyway...

Cassie returned focus back to Professor Mikkail. "I wouldn't mind picking your brain later professor about some questions I have about my particular magic, but as of right now I am good! It is so nice to meet you all and I am looking forward to a great school year!" Cassie nestled closer to Willow, hoping she would consider it a friendly gesture. Cassie hoped she made a new friend here. She knows she could use one.

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

Sabine Bassard

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Sabine had backed up to get some distance from the onslaught. Some of the Hex Girls hit hard and she didn't want to be near any of them if it could be helped. She was not a front fighter, she did her best work from in the back. She felt her connection to Dorian still up, hoping he would use it to their advantage.

Sabine's attention was momentarily distracted seeing their names up above. Perhaps there was someone in the audience for her. Someone else had taken it upon themselves to hype up the Hex Girls also.

In that moment, Sabine felt someone watching her. Rather, someone with intent watching her. Before she could move a telekinetic barrier surrounded her. Sabine glanced around and her eyes landed on another figure. This one was a powerhouse by the looks of things. And she was inside the barrier with her. The two of them.

Fuck.

Sabine had been unprotected and part of that was her own doing. She needed to do something and fast. If she couldn't attack the barrier itself, she would have to stop her opponent. And the best way she knew how was to mess with her head. Literally.

Before she could, the woman, Tatiana, chastised her regarding Thuy's affection. "Then you can send her a message for me when I kick your ass. I am #NotInterested."

What happened next was quite the feat. She noticed outside of the barrier that April had attempted to attack the barrier with ice. It looked impressive and powerful. Again, her heart leapt at April trying to help her, to come to her defense. But the barrier remained. Sabine winced, knowing Tatiana was getting ever closer to knocking her down.

Sabine had a thought: perhaps she could get Tatiana to help her out. She normally would hate controlling another person, especially after the previous night, but she was in a competition and enemies before her would not treat her like a child in the future. She crecked her neck and prepared to unleash a command when the barrier clicked and dissipated.

Sabine looked over at Prudence and saw that the team had stunned her. The enemy's powerful telekinetic was out for now. Which meant their minds would be exposed.

"Time to waste a memory." Sabine stood her ground and sent her telekinetic link into Tatiana's mind. She wanted to find a nearby memory and she had one in particular. She wanted to see if she could eavesdrop on a strategy section and erase it. If one of hteir heavy hitters couldn't remember what the plan was, it left her vulnerable.

Sabine saw one she liked and entered it.

Tatiana's Memory

The room was suffocating.

A haze of sandal wood, white and blue sage, lavender, frankincense, and eucalyptus blurred together on the cedar burner hanging from the ceiling. She took a deep breath of the familiar concoction, the burn of herbs and magic familiar and settling. She swayed as the door slid shut behind her, all but the queen bee at least acknowledging her with a glance if not a wave. Thelma didn’t turn from the board the spelled chalk scribbled on.

“Aye, she made it!” Wil cheered, two taps of a fist as Tatiana sauntered by with files in hand. Ava didn’t bother moving from where her head lay in Wil’s lap, eyes half closed as Wil’s other hand soothed its way through shimmering hair, but offered up a lazy wave instead. Tatiana snorted in amusement at the lazy lovebirds.

“Taaaati, homegirl, you got the good from Ms. H? Gimme.” Thuy demanded, a half empty bottle swaying in one hand as she lounged in a comfortable arm chair. She reached out with her other hand, barely moving with one leg thrown up over an arm and her head resting on the other, but hissed as Skyler pulled none too gently on the hair he was braiding.

“You know the Queen gets everything first. Don’t forget the last time you stepped out of line.” Skyler reminded her, eyeing the still healing cuts along Thuy’s legs. Thuy made a distinctly unimpressed noise and subtly shifted her hanging leg out of sight. Tatiana struggled to be sympathetic; Thuy’s mistake nearly killed her and even her magic wasn’t enough to outrun whatever lived in that psychopath. In Tati's opinion, Thelma was a damn saint for letting Thuy stay on the team after that stunt.

“Well, don’t be a bitch next time and maybe you won’t get treated like one.” Tati passed the papers into Thelma’s waiting hand and stashed herself into a seat next to Prue, who was writing whatever depressing shit emo bitches wrote these days. She kicked her feet up in Prue’s lap, stared the psychic down until she turned back to her writing, and settled into listening to whatever plan the Queen Bee came up with.

“I’ll review what Agatha provided on Excelisor, but I doubt it’s anything substantial.” Thelma finally spoke, her voice hoarse and rough like it had been weeks since she last spoke. “Our plan remains unchanged. Establish defensive priority through chaotic target acquisition, buckle under their primary assault, eliminate their defensive strongholds once they press their advantage, eliminate their offensive primaries, and force the manipulators to exhaust themselves. Everyone here knows their part of the plan - Tatiana, their uncertainty will have them scatter initially. Find the weakest one that steps out of line and crush them once they’ve isolated themselves.”

“Feelin’ nice today, huh? Letting me break bicthes in with the good ole one, two punch.” Tatiana laughed. Tatiana fished out a small, green purple candy and held it up. Thelma stared at her blankly while Tatiana rolled it around in her hand. “We doing this?” Out of the corner of Tatiana’s eye, the disapproving look on Wil’s face didn’t disappear quite quickly enough and Tatiana took note of the hands covering Ava’s ears.

“If you must.” Thelma replied and turned back to her board.

Sabine had lots of questions now, but no time to process what she saw before she erased the memory in its entirety. She returned back to her mind and quickly made a beeline for Leah. She needed to be near someone who could stand their ground and protect her. "Hey, mind if I keep you company? I can't be out in the open. I saw a memory of their strategy. Tatiana is going after the weakest, which would be me. The rest are either targeting the defensive or going after the offensive. Agatha told them information about us."

Sabine left it there, but there was more. Something else was bothering her. While finding out information on your enemies wasn't agaisnt the rules as long as you did so legally (she would have to talk to Agatha), what was that candy she saw? It gnawed at her. So she sent out a quick thought to the one person she knew would hear her.

"Vicky, I know you can hear me. I saw a memory of the Hex Girl's strategizing and something in it bothered me. One of them held a small greenish, purpleish piece of I assume candy. I think there's more going on here, but I am obviously not capable of finding out much. Can you see if you can figure out what that might be?"

Round 1

Sabine:

• Health: 30
• Focus: 70
• Karma: 1
• Notes -
  
  
  • As an action, Sabine uses Edit Memory on Tatiana, costing 15 Focus
  • Sabine rolls a 5, 3, and 1. Logic adds +3 for a total of 12, resulting in the memory being erased
  • Sabine used Perception skill to spot details of memory. Sabine rolls a 6, 3, and 1 +3 for Logic for total of 13
  • Sabine spends 1 Karma to reroll the one. The new roll is a 5 for a total of 17
  • Sabine can recall details of the chosen erased memory
  • Movement -
    • Sabine moves towards tLeah and stands with her

Château de La Lune

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Millicent

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Location: Château de La Lune
Skills: N/A

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Millicent enjoyed her breakfast, admittedly, as she waited. She saw a few people, but didn’t seem to see Ivanna. Then a new face showed up. It was a man this time, but one she hadn’t seen before. Unless there was a mysterious guest that showed up randomly, and he didn’t look like a police officer, so it stood to reason that was Ivanna out of drag.

She, or he, looked so….normal? Was that good to say? Ivanna was a personality, but this man didn’t look like he sparkled where he walked, but looks could be deceiving. Glam needed a day off too.

Millicent stood up, leaving her breakfast where it was, and approached. ”Excuse me, Ivanna? Or I don’t know your outside-of-stage name. I apologize. Can we talk?”

“Brendan,” He said, smiling slightly as he met eyes with Millicent. “Yes, of course.”

Millicent walked back to her seat, hoping Brendan would follow. Once settled, she continued. ”Nasty business this morning huh? How are you holding up?”

Brendan looked uncertain as he sat down. “I don’t know…it’s weird. I’m trying not to think about it too much but…” He stared down at his food without eating.

Millicent nodded. She could definitely understand. Renee may not have been well known to many of them, but she was still here one moment and gone the next. ”I didn’t know her that well, of course, but still…horrible way to go. Did you know her?”

“No. I mean, not more than anyone else did. We talked once here,” Said Brandon.

”It’s interesting if you think about it. All of us random people called here to win a prize. None of us really knowing the other. Not even the family. Completely random. After all, they said during dinner that the family picks their person to be nominated, so it stands to reason we are all here on one of their whims. And since they have control over it, they know where we would be when we got here in our rooms. And it’s the family home so they would have access to everything. Perhaps leave a little….gift in our rooms.” Millicent looked at Brendan, hoping he understood what she was hinting at.

Brendan adjusted the way he was sitting. He quickly picked up and chugged from his hot chocolate mug, setting it down with force and staring at Millicent for several moments. “Did you get a weird note too?” He whispered finally.

Bingo.

”Yes. And I am working on trying to find out who did that and who knows that information. I believe it has to be a family member or staff because they are the ones who picked us and knew what rooms we would be in. I heard through the grapevine that you are fairly close to Felix. Do you think you could speak to him and find out who nominated whom?” Millicent was happy to have Brendan in on the loop now, but she decided not to tell him everything she knew. Not yet.

“I don’t think he knows exactly,” Said Brendan, “Though…” Brendan looked deep in thought. “Good goddess, I was drunk last night…I barely remember…I…think…he said something about how it’s not just the family nominating people…it’s all pretty fuzzy though. I don’t know how many of you got nominated by the family or not, or who nominated anyone but me.” Brendan took his hand off his fork and moved it to his pocket.

Now, that was interesting. If there were people outside the family that could nominate, that opened things up more. ”I think we should talk to Felix then. I can come with, if it helps. There’s more going on here than I think the lot of us realize. And, if I am being honest and I say this because I trust you Brendan, I don’t think Renee’s death was an accident.”

“You think someone killed her?” Brendan whispered. “Yes. We should talk to Felix again. Maybe he knows more than he wanted to tell me…do you think Felix will tell us anything though? I mean….he was in the rooms the first day, maybe he’s seen something…or if he knows who nominated Renee. Should we talk to him alone or together? Do you know if other people got notes? Did Renee? Did the staff?”

Millicent held a hand up. ”All in due time, Brendan. I do think everyone got some type of note, though I don’t know what they were. I think Felix is our best bet for figuring out who nominated us. And yes, we can go together. I don’t know if he will talk, but we can try.” Milicent didn’t admit that she would do what she could to get this information.

Brendan nodded, looking relieved. It was clear he was glad he didn’t have to go alone to talk to Felix, and it was also clear all the things Millicent had said were weighing on his mind. “Yeah…Felix will want to help. And he’ll know something, he has to know something…”

”Then let’s enjoy our brunch and see about talking to him after.” Millicent didn’t want to dwell too much on Renee at the moment. Hopefully they would be informed later if she was taken care of. If someone in the house did murder her, they would hide it. She made a mental note to talk to the doctor. He had to know if it was an accident or not.

Brendan nodded, smiling a little. “Yeah.”

Strange Academy: Journey into Mystery

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Location: Hall of Ancients, Strange Academy
Grimoire: N/A
Skills: N/A

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Cassie was thrilled to bits to find someone just as excited for this school year as she was. She tried to tamp down the excitement, especially considering Willow admitted she can see some things, but that it was up to fate. Cassie wanted to ask more, but surely that was rude to discuss someone’s blindness. Or was it rude not to?

Willow had an assortment of questions and Cassie could already feel a sisterly bond with her. And the fact they were in the same Coven was just whipped cream on the delicious milkshake that was this moment. ”Ah yes, I am a first year. It’s interesting because I heard about this school recently and actually ran away from home to attend, but then this mysterious box showed up and I figured it out, though admittedly it took me a few tries, but then I was invited and here I am and it’s so funny because today is my birthday also.” Cassie was rambling. Cassie rambled when she was excited, nervous, scared, happy, sad, angry, and whatever other emotion was cascading through her.

When Luna popped up, Cassie bit down a squeal of delight and fear. Luna was…well Luna was a bug, though not in the traditional sense. If Luna was a familiar, then it wasn’t a true bug, but a magical one. Cassie could get used to that, surely?

”A pleasure to meet you Luna. To answer your other questions our professor looks….well he’s old but he’s also fabulous? Like he looks very kind but also maybe a little bit crazy? Either way, I am sure he has lots to teach us. I am not sure who else is in our Coven. But let’s head over to him and introduce ourselves.”

Cassie would wait to see if Willow needed to be led, but surely if she got here she could take care of herself. On their way, Cassie addressed the last question. The one she didn’t really want to answer. ”Well, I don’t fully know. I wasn’t trained from a young age to wield the magic I have. In fact, I didn’t know I could do anything willingly until later on. My parents sort of held me back a bit, but from what I do know and was told, provided it all wasn’t a lie, I wield Chaos Magic. Unpredictable, destructive, dangerous. So….yeah hopefully I can learn more here.” She left the rest of that sentence alone: “before I end up destroying the world”.

Cassie sidled up to Professor Mikkail as well as the handsome stranger she wanted to get to know better. She blushed slightly before she turned her attention back to the professor. ”Hello again, professor. Seems we are in your Coven. Can I just say the pin is a work of art? Totally cute!”

“And it seems I spoke a tad too soon! Here is our first one, Ms. Cassie Belfontaine. How do you feel about the color purple?” Mikkail asked, watching her intently over the rim of glasses.
”Purple is wonderful! Definitely in my top 10 favorite colors along with pink, indigo, scarlet, yellow, cerulean…and yeah I’ll leave it at that. Why do you ask?”

“Just curious! Our first lesson will be in my sitting room and I’ve recently found myself hoarding the color.” Mikkail winked at Cassie, waiving off his joke. “But that aside, I do look forward to your exploration through your magic. It is a fascinating thing, chaos magic. I picked you personally for this. A glimpse through the past at these grand magics will certainly offer you insight into your own.”’

Cassie looked towards Cal again, willing herself to speak to him, but no surely not. That would be rude to Professor Mikkail! ”That sounds great! And an honor to be chosen. I can’t wait to get started!” She waited for Willow to introduce herself before she asked any more questions. She had a lot and they couldn’t be here all day.

Château de La Lune

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Millicent

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Location: Château de La Lune
Skills: N/A

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It felt odd to be getting breakfast so soon after seeing a dead body, but if Millicent were being honest she was starving. She had drunk a lot the night before and was feeling it this morning, though seeing Renee sobered her up quickly.

Sam and her had a plan. She was going to see Ivanna about Felix and gather information. She had to be careful about it. Millicent went and got herself some food and coffee, steering clear of the mimosas for the time being. She needed to be alert. She took a seat and ate, waiting to see if Ivanna would come join them.

It occured to her that Ivanna may not even be Ivanna. Drag Queens weren't on 24/7 after all, but she had to believe she could recognize her. Millicent was good at reading people. So she kept an eye on everyone coming and going. Process of elimination. When she caught Ivanna, she would wave her over to join her. Truth be told, she wanted to talk to her some more anyway.

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

Sabine Bassard

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It was the moment they had been working towards.

Sabine had mentally prepared herself despite recent events. The fiasco at the Kingston-Gray household that had nearly ruined her still had moments of gray. Danni storming off and not talking to anyone (least of all her), Leah essentially proposing marriage, and Vicky speaking to her about how they can now read each other's thoughts had all merged into a lump in the pit of her stomach. She had been looking forward to this. Did she still want it as badly as before?

They were facing off against a team she knew very little about. The only recognition she had was the girl she met at the hotel. The one who shamelessly flirted with her. Sabine glanced at Leah inadvertently. She didn't do anything, but did she stop it?

"This is going to be an interesting fight," she thought, knowing Vicky would hear it.

Another sinking feeling: she had no one in the stands rooting for her. She figured the Kingston and Gray families were here for Danni and Dorian and, by extension, April. She-Hulk would be for Leah. Percy had family, she was sure. Andy had family, also. She knew her father and stepmother would not be here. She was here for herself and her team, and that would have to be enough.

The battle commenced with trash talk. Before she could respond, she saw Thuy lash out at her, fiery chains aimed to hit her. She instinctively held up her arms but felt nothing. Well, not entirely true. She felt a cool presence. She looked and saw a sphere made of water wash over her, taking the brunt of the attack. The sphere dissipated and Sabine was unhurt.

She looked over at April, at how she had stuck up for her, for Leah also. Sabine wanted to run over, take April in her arms and hug her until it hurt, but now was not the time. "Thanks April."

She focused her attention back on Thuy. "I'm good, thanks. I go out with winners."

Sabine noted that, while Thuy was tough, her team were getting prepared themselves. Sabine knew she was not a powerhouse by any means. She would need to support others and take the Hex Girls down to their level.

Sabine moved back, allowing the heavy hitters to go forward. If they could protect her, she could supplement them. She eyed Dorian and briefly sent a telepathic link, allowing her to boost his abilities. He would be able to do more damage. "You got this Dorian!"

Round 1

Sabine:

• Health: 30
• Focus: 85
• Karma: 2
• Notes -
  
  
  • As an action, Sabine uses Bump Power on Dorian, costing 5 focus, to boost his Telikinetic Attack power. If the power has ranges or areas or durations, these are doubled. If the power affects a damage multiplier, add 1 to the effect. Any effects that normally happen with a Fantastic success automatically happen on any success, not just a Fantastic one. If the power has a cost, Sabine must pay it as well, with a minimum of 5 Focus.
  • Movement -
    
    
    • Sabine moves towards the back behind her team members.

Camp Athens - Closed

^{#f0e69f ....|..... outfit .....|..... roxxy's cabin}

Roxxy laid there for a few moments, letting the events from before replay over and over like a highlight reel. And damn if it wasn't enjoyable the second, third, and fifth time (fourth time was bombastic). She turned her head to see Tess, more beautiful than she had been before, laying there also. The two of them hadn't even made it to her bed (which she had not seen yet as they got to work very quickly in her living room).

Roxxy settled as the quiet lulled her to a bliss-filled stupor. She had many dalliances before. Hell, most, if not all, were just a way to spend an evening that didn't involve booze or beating the shit out of a punching bag. This was different. Roxxy couldn't quite tell if it was the change in scenery or if it was because she was with someone that saw her. Truly. Roxxy's abilities had been a blessing and a curse. Her lack of parents or any adult that gave a shit should have messed her up more, but Roxxy never felt she needed anyone else. When you can break the nose of the boy who kept pulling your hair in class or taking on a group of frat bros who felt they could "change you" when you rudely told them that if they wanted their tiny dick pleasured to have their bros do it, you build up a lot of selt-worth, admittedly maybe not the healthiest.

So being vulnerable was never something she wanted. One could argue that sex was vulnerability incarnate carnally. You opened yourself up to someone else and there could be hurt there. A misplaced comment, advantage taken. Roxxy never allowed herself vulnerability in those moments because that would be admitting something that could be used against her. Fists can take people down physically, but words had their own special brand of venom that could latch on the mind and the heart.

Tess was different. Roxxy intended this to be a good moment between them, some fun before the New Year and let's see how things go from there. But she liked Tess. A lot. Wanted to know more about her. Wanted to see how she handled things here in this new environment. See her succeed in what she desired.

Back to reality, Roxxy looked back over to Tess. "Should we head back to the party?" She asked somewhat earnestly, though she wouldn't mind just laying there a moment longer.

^{interactions ....|.... Tess............... mentions ....|.... None}

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𝔻𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕠𝕟: ℝ𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕣𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕖

I am also still down. Admittedly, I was in a big slump a bit ago, and when I got over it, I kind of forgot. But I am back with a vengeance!

Strange Academy: Journey into Mystery

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Location: Hall of Ancients, Strange Academy
Grimoire: N/A
Skills: N/A

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Cassie observed the others that followed her, noting the different ways they used their magic to grab a fish. Part of her wanted to ask an assortment of questions ranging from the more serious ("How do you make an animal friend appear out of nowhere?") to the....less serious ("Does your magical animal friend...umm....poop?"). She was especially interested in one of the students who walked around like he knew the place. "He must be a returning student here," she mused to herself.

He was quite handsome. Cassie pictured him in a romantic comedy as the type of guy the main girl would fall for but end up being a bad influence on her until she realized the boy she had such a strong friendship was the person she was meant to be with. Cassie paid special attention to him (what it's not weird!). As he reached for a fish she wondered what he would do. What sort of spell. Instead, she saw his hand shift and move and contort into a...what is that..is that a...claw?!? Cassie's midn race through the rolodex of romantic films she watched. Was this man a werewolf perhaps? No, the claw seemed not furry enough. Vampire? Did they have claws? She knew they sparkled and produced odd looking children, but nothing much about claws. As her mind spun the man pulled out a fish from one of his claw fingernail things. Was that magic? She couldn't judge. Lots of new things were happening to her.

It sort of thrilled her. She was in a new setting with new people. All sorts it seemed. Some more confident, some looking just as nervous as her. Another figure approached the tank and Cassie kept an eye on her too as she ran into it. Cassie couldn't quite tell, but perhaps the girl was blind? Or just a klutz? Either way, Cassie liked her immediately. Especially as she summoned a cute looking thing to help her with her fish.

Cassie was out of her depth, that much was certain. Did everyone here know how to control their magic? Her's terrified her and enticed her. She knew it was dangerous if left to its own devices (she blew a friggin' hole in her parent's wall!) but could she control it? Surely this was the place to do so.

Before she could approach anyone another figure entered the room. There was a sort of finality to it also, as if anyone else who wanted to enter would be forbidden because this was it ladies and gentlemen. She spoke with the confidence Cassie could only dream of and commanded the room. This was the headmistress. Cassie was disappointed, if she were being honest. She sort of hoped Doctor Strange would be here so she could speak to him, admit her thanks, possibly chew his ear off about how to go about managing her abilities and if she could be hidden away from her parents that would be just super thanks!

But, that was not to be. Not yet. Instead, she listened intently as this woman spoke about the magic of sisterhood, though she also spoke with a sort of flippancy? Was this normal?

Covens were something she knew about from fiction really, but of course if magic was real and magic schools were real then it stood to reason that covens were real too. And she was about to be placed in one! What a day she was having. She scanned the room, seeing if anyone else was as excited as her (note: they were not).

At the snap of a finger she felt a small tug on her top as she looked down. A purple sparkle eminated and soon made way for something attaching to her shirt. She noted the colors instantly and saw a pin that looked like a dragon. She lifted it a bit closer and fought the urge to squeal. It was so cute!

She glanced around the room again, quickly, to see who else had the same pin. Her eyes clocked the handsome man with the claw hand and tried to see what was on his shirt, but couldn't make it out. He had his arms around two other men. Cassie was nervous to approach but she built up the nerve and stood up, walking over to them, but soon instead of the trio, the handsome man was alone. Cassie quickly stopped and turned around and walked back to where she had been previously sat. She hoped no one caught that. It would have been so easy to talk to him with the others around, but alone? No, not yet. She looked around to see if she could catch anyone else. The girl from before...did she have...she did!

Cassie approached Willow, "Hello! Umm sorry, but I see you have the same pin I do, so I think that means we are sisters! Or whatever the term is with Covens. I'm Cassiopeia, but you can call me Cassie. It's nice to meet you!" She held out a hand and held it there before she remembered the girl bumping into the tank and how she may be blind and she put her hand down again.

Way to go Cassie.