Total Eclipse (Open RP)

[Cadence Calloway]

It was supposed to be a total lunar eclipse, and one of the science teachers at Westbrook had made arrangements for a viewing party for the school. Members of the faculty had volunteered to supervise the students who chose to come...and considering extra credit was involved, there were quite a few students that had chosen to sit out on the grounds. Some had thought to bring blankets, spreading them out over the grass. Others were packing benches here and there, huddling up together in the chilly night. Ms. Fandango had thrown together some hot cocoa for those that braved the cold...though not many seemed to be willing to risk the brew. Maybe it was the thick, sort of congealed consistency that had people hesitant?

Cadence pulled her leather coat tightly around her. It had been a gift a couple years ago from Kyle, after she'd torched her own in an attempt to escape from Crey. Despite the fact that her powers involved fire, the cold always seemed to bother her. Whether that was some sort of result from Crey's tampering with her genetics or not, it was annoying. She concentrated on heating up the area around her, a little trick she'd been working on quite a bit since arriving at Westbrook. It was strange that she had more trouble doing something that little than she did hurling fireballs. She curled up in the grass, leaning against the low brick wall that lined one of the many garden spots on the grounds. Her thoughts drifted to Etienne, wondering whether or not he would be given a chance to see the eclipse. With all the faculty around, maybe it would be okay?

The eclipse had yet to start, so she took a moment to glance around for some familiar faces. Surely she wasn't the only one taking advantage of the extra credit points.

[Zach Long]

"Zach, why are we even here?"

"Shut up; he could use the extra credit."

"But it's not even a REAL eclipse; it's just a bullshit lunar one. And I'm freezing my ass off out here."

Zach rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, making sure no one could hear him. "Then go back, E. No one asked you to tag along." He zipped up his jacket a little higher and shoved his hands deep into his pockets.

"Uggh, yeah. Deuce guys."

"Good riddance." He sat down on the ground and looked around.

"No kidding. It really is a beautiful night. So what're we supposed to be doing?" Corona plopped down on the ground next to him, crossing her legs and bouncing excitedly.

Zach shrugged reflexively, then looked around, a bit embarrassed. He repeated the motion a few times, hopefully to make it look more like he was trying to get warm and not something a bit more profane. "I think we just sign in - which we did - and not cut out early" he whispered.

"You brought your camera, right?"

"I brought YOUR camera, yes. Good luck taking shots, though."

Corona motioned for the camera. "I got this."

[Etienne Mbane]

Etienne looked up at the ceiling of his special room, the one designed to keep him safe, and more importantly, keep the students safe from him. He could feel the moon hiding above, ducking into the shadow of her sister.

Bad omen, up there,[/] he thought to himself. Whatever juju that's going down here, it's only going to get worse.

Even here, he never spent a moment alone. The Loa whispered to him, brought him gossip and news, hoping he would pick them for the next ride. He smiled at the latest, that he was there. A White Man that was no White Man. That could only be the Jesuit. He'd be back with the rest of the students soon, he hoped, or making the long drive back home. Either way, he tired of his solitary confinement, and he feared for whatever was out there.

[Arthur Rawlings]

Racist bastard or Cadence? It was the toughest dilemma he'd faced in months. On the one hand, there was Zach and the tantalizing opportunity to prod out some more archaic hate speech. On the other hand, there was the old standby, whose buttons were so easy to push she may as well be a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos--just flail wildly and victory is all but assured.

That clinched it. Hungry Hungry Hippos, while fun on a slow day, just didn't offer a challenge anymore.

"So how's lynchings these days?" Ar asked as he plopped onto the grass beside Zach, as always carefully splayed to appear carelessly haphazard. "Got any choice words for the moon when it goes black?"

[Zach Long]

"Oh shit...it's Arthur." Corona's eyes went wide, then she looked at Zach. "Stay calm, ok?"

Zach frowned, locking eyes with Corona before looking up at Arthur. "Wow. What kind of ignorant idiot do you think I am? I bet you can Wiki up a few answers in no time." Zach sat back, feeling the camera lens press into his back. "Klan is too bright for me; Redneck is too stupid. Any other suggestions?"

"Zach..."

"Oh HO...what do we have here?" The familiar voice resounded, and Eclipse was standing behind Arthur, lazily leaning on his shoulder. "Ooooo, this could be fun." He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "Please let me handle him? Please?"

"Eclipse! No!"

"No, Eclipse!" Zach shouted, reaching out for Arthur, and then stopping mid-grab looking rightfully idiotic. "I mean...it's an eclipse. The moon goes black whenever we have a new moon; I hear they look more red during a lunar eclipse."

"Smooth."

"Leave him alone!"

[Frictional Character]

Morgan spread out the blanket she had dragged with her, and plopped down on the grass next to Cadence, where it was warm.

("You should be inside studying," Carrie said.)

Morgan just waved her hand to placate the ghost, and turned to Cadence. "I miss anything?"

[Cadence Calloway]

Cadence glanced up as Morgan came over and spread a blanket out. She shook her head in reply. "Nothing just yet."

Something going on a little distance away caught her attention. She shifted a little where she sat, to see what was up. Ar and...Zach. Yeah, that looked like Zach. She was too far off to really hear what was going on, but she imagined it was nothing she wanted to be a part of. She'd caught rumors of Zach having called Etienne something particularly foul, but she hadn't bought into that rumor...well, not entirely. He'd seemed nice enough the few times she'd been around him outside of class. As for Ar, Mr. Rawlings was quickly becoming the bane of her existence at Westbrook. First with that bit about Kyle being a cat girl and being imaginary. Now it was the Bella/Jacob thing with Etienne. Morgan had suggested maybe there was a reason why he acted like such a jerk. Maybe that was the truth. Maybe it wasn't. She wasn't persuaded at this point to think differently of him, not after he'd made it a point to torment Etienne in solitary.

She made herself look away from what was going on, forced herself to change the subject before the jerk soured the whole night for her.

"You here for the extra credit? Or just curious to see the eclipse?"

[Arthur Rawlings]

Score! Could Ar call 'em or could Ar call 'em? It hadn't even been thirty seconds, and already Zach was screaming and babbling like an idiot.

"I think you're overestimating how bright Klansmen are, my unbalanced friend. It happens. You build them up so big in your head -- daydreams and hero-worship -- and they almost never live up to it." Ar settled back, getting a good view of the moon overhead. "And don't try to tell me you don't have a real zinger saved up for the red moon. Bonus points if you work in something other than casino and whiskey references. Or do you only have a problem with black?"

[Kai Eriksen]

If he'd just spent an hour studying for his science exam instead of goofing around on YouTube, he could've been warm and happy inside. Of course he bombed it spectacularly. If his science grade took another hit it was going to start spewing candy like a split pinata. The candy would however be failure candy, which he doubted would be very tasty.

He bundled up in his coat, hat, gloves, and scarf, and made his way outside with a blanket to get some extra credit (and to see some kind of spectacular astronomical phenomenon or whatever).

Who to unroll his blanket next to was a tough decision. He liked Cadence and Arthur both, and didn't really know the people they were each accompanied by. Cadence struck him as a little boring, but ultimately sweet, and that counted for a lot. Ar, by contrast, was an interesting challenge. He kept him on his toes, which Kai liked. Though he made a friendly wave in Ar's direction, he ultimately unfurled his blanket next to Cadence and Morgan and sat down; Ar, after all, probably couldn't function as a space heater.

“Cady, you have no idea how glad I am you're here. Do a guy a favor before his lips turn blue? A little more heat, maybe?”

[Zach Long]

Zach blinked. Corona and Eclipse stood, dumbfounded.

"Klansmen...bright? Did he really twist that around to think..."

"That those idiots are smart? Good lord, I think this guy is dense."

"Yeah, well, mister smarty pants, how are you gonna use that?"

Eclipse shook his head. "You know how I'd handle this, and you had me locked down for three days because of it. You handle it." They both turned when they heard Zach talking again.

"Klansmen. Bright, dude. They wear nothing but white? I'm in all black? It was a joke. Shit man, I'm not some backwards-ass Okie from..." Zach thought for a moment.

"No, not Edmund. Too high class."

"Say Norman!"

"From Norman." Eclipse hit the ground, rolling with laughter. "I called Etienne a coon-ass. Someone from the bayou, from Louisiana. If he didn't appreciate it, he can go on ahead and confront me about it, and it won't happen again." Zach glared at Eclipse then, who shrugged non-committingly. "Either way," he continued, turning his gaze back to Arthur, "You want to believe I'm some ignorant-ass prick who can't get laid to save his life because no one is going to be that blonde-haired, blue-eyed german girl he always dreamed of, fine. But don't come to my face with it." Zach stood up, grabbing the camera. His face felt hot, and he could swear the long scar that crossed his face had probably turned dark red from his frustration. "Enjoy the view." He walked off, looking for another place to sit, not looking back to notice he had left his drawing-pad behind.