savetheearth | 4th Howl [Private Network Messages]

Entry tags:

4th Howl [Private Network Messages]

[Lyall enters four numbers into the Word document he's been using as his compilation of network communications, one at a time. Banagher Links, Ryuo Bakura, Anthony Janvier, and Kenji Kobayashi, even though the latter of those hasn't actually communicated with Lyall over the network. Each of his high school students receives the same message:]

This is Mr. Lyall. We need to talk. Please come by my classroom today (Saturday) at sunset if you can. Reply to this to let me know if you can get here, need a ride, or have a prior commitment.

[He sends out anther one for former students, namely Kallie Raydan, Robb Stark, and Hajime Aikawa:]

Are you all right? Have you run into any trouble since last night? I'm having a meeting for current students today at the school, if you want to come and talk about safety tips and plans.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Don't do anything stupid until then, okay?

I promise. I am not even planning on leaving the house.

You're there now?

I am. It seems to be perfectly safe so far.

[[There's a knock at your door, Lyall. Will you answer it?]]

[The unexpected knock makes Lyall jump, and it takes him a minute to slow his heartrate down enough to consider opening it. He moves to the door, gives a sniff at the crack, and abruptly relaxes and turns back the locks to open up.]

Bakura, you just about scared the life out of me. Come in. How did you even know where I live?

I saw you walking home a few times, [[It's a bit of a non committal answer as Bakura steps inside, pretty aware that it makes him seem like a creepy stalker. He's also not directly looking at his teacher.]]

Did you.

[It is a little weird. Lyall closes the door behind him, and locks all three locks on it. The house inside is relatively neat, but also relative sparse, decorated minimally with a couple framed painting prints and a lot of books. There are a few biology-oriented things, like a small animal skull here or a coffee-table sized book laying out on insectoid anatomy. All the blinds are shut, and a couple lamps are on, but it's still fairly dim inside.]

Do you make a habit of following teachers home, or am I special?

It wasn't that I was following! [[The protest is unhappy and his shoulders curl in just a touch, even as he's taking in every detail of the house. It's instinct, really.]]

I just... I notice people. [[he fidgets a bit with his hands, rubbing the already red knuckles. Lyall's keen nose may also pick up the faint smell of stale locker room air clinging to his clothing and the likely stronger smell of shampoo. That plus the knuckles make it easy to guess that Bakura spent the last few hours at the gym, most of it at the boxing bags.]]

Especially people I know...

Which is really not all that common for people to do with their teachers, Bakura.

[But he sounds more tired than he does accusatory.]

Can I get you anything? A drink? A snack?

[He pauses as he sifts through those scent levels, and adds in confusion,]

Some ice for your hands? What have you been doing all morning?

Just some water... [[he covers the knuckles of his left hand (even though the ones on the right are the worst off)]] I was at the gym. It helps, sometimes, when I get too angry. [[he shrugs slightly, trying to play it off like it's no big deal.]]

Trying to keep anyone from realizing you're home? [[nods towards the closed blinds]]

[Halfway to the kitchen, Lyall pauses to look over his shoulder at Bakura's question.]

Hmm? Oh. No, I'm just-- not particularly fond of sunlight anymore. You can turn on more lights, if you like.

[Then, disappearing into the kitchen for the water, he calls back,]

Did going to the gym help this time?

...not really. [[admits with a sigh, flopping into a chair unhappily.]]

So are you turning into a vampire, then?

Ugh. I hope not. I have yet to have any cravings for blood.

[Though, come to think of it, that vision from the night before had mentioned vampires.... He pauses, glass in hand and water running, to ponder that.]

No, I do not think so. That doesn't make sense with anything else... I don't think.

Mm... I wonder why it is, then...

[[he pauses, looking over towards the kitchen]] Anything else? Like what?

Oh, well....

[Lyall finally fills the glass up, brings it back into the living room, and offers it to Bakura. He's going to be sharing his smell thing with everyone who shows up, anyway, so there's no use hiding it now.]

I seem to have developed a very powerful sense of smell since Monday evening, n par with a dog or a better. I suppose that fits in with some vampire myths, but not all of them.

[[Bakura accepts it with a small 'Thank you,' drinking deeply as Lyall speaks]]

That sort of thing is common for most supernatural things, really. Any creature that has a bit something animal in it has enhanced senses. [[muses, as if this is just casual conversation]] Being sensitive to light... that tends to more be reserved for either "damned" creatures or things that live underground. And trolls are never said to smell any good.

[Lyall gives Bakura a dry look.]

Oh, thank you. I'm now supposed to be damned?

[He flops down into the slightly-worn armchair beside the couch, running a hand over his hair.]

I doubt I am changing into anything, anyway, Bakura... at most, this network thing is giving us new abilities. I think I would have known before now if I were the undead, after all.

I didn't mean it like that... Sorry.... [[says softly, looking down.]]

...Nothing about me's changed yet.

It's all right, I'm not really offended. And I'll be sure to tell you if I start getting any urges to bite or drink blood.

[Still dry. He finds the whole vampire thing somewhere between absurd and a little disturbing, to be honest, and so he's making light of it.]

You have had some of those visions, haven't you? That's a change, there, even if it isn't physical. I know others who haven't had anything like that happen to them, either.

[[Bakura nods]] I don't know if I would call it a vision... [[his words are careful and almost unconsciously he rubs under his eye where the faded scar is.]] But things that felt like how the numbers were. Only... more disjointed.

[[and full of far more disturbing things.]]

[Lyall watches Bakura with a little concern.]

Have you told anyone what exactly you've been seeing? Talked about them, at all? It might help to put them at more of a distance, and might help you put some order to them....

[Not that he's necessarily offering himself as someone to listen, but he kind of is. He's available, and he's already in the know.]

[[The teen shakes his head]] Who would I tell? [[half shrugs, idly poking at his other, messier scar on his left hand now.]]

Any of us stuck in this situation like you are, to start. Though I admit some may be better than others.

[Trying to talk feelings and confused memories with Jack or Kallie might not go over so well, after all.]

I may not be a counselor, or even know a lot about any of this, but I'm available to listen if you want.

[[There's very clear hesitation in the teen's expression. As much as he likes his teacher...]]

...I don't want you to think poorly of me...

[Text]

[Text]

[Text]

[Text]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]