[ phone audio, friday morning ]

[struckout]

[ It's been a while, and again, after the recent things happening, the danger, Kallie's been going over the options and spending far more time thinking than she's usually used to. It's with a low voice she addresses the network- a curious decision given her history of a generally strict adherence to text, but... she's got her reasons. ]

I've gathered a few of you are new to the city, so you might not know about this. [ Or well, she already knows there's people from here too who don't know but CARRYING ON... ] There's a sort of festival that's put on for summer at LCU. It's free to go but there's quite a bit to do, so... if you're looking for something that isn't really that serious the next few days, it's an option.

[ She cuts herself off from tacking on an "I guess" there at the end, and simply goes with putting up a URL for the whole shebang for anyone interested instead. Advertised is one "Streaking Summer," complete with promises of lots and lots of food and entertainment, music from bands of varying popularity, a paint fight(!), official-like 5k run... and a pointedly-bright fine print explaining that public nudity is technically disallowed... ]

Comments

[depolarized]

...You guys really called an event full of undergrads 'streaking summer'?

[struckout]

[ ... After a considerable, almost pointed pause (in which she once more deliberates on switching to text, but decides against it in favor of leaving her flat tone totally intact): ]

I had nothing to do with it.

[depolarized]

[Fair enough.] What are you doing? [You don't seem like the PR person, Kallie.]

[struckout]

Telling people about it.

[ Simple as that. Really.

... Never mind this is the woman who refuses to give her real name and already bears a history of chastising people for cluttering the network with less-than-serious things. ]

[depolarized]

...That many of us in one place might not be such a hot idea.

[audio]

[acequeen]

A 5k run? I haven't been in an official track event for awhile now!

[Oh, does she sound a bit excited? Oops, time to dial it down and sound nonchalant about the whole event.]

Well... I guess I could go if I'm not too busy.

[audio]

[struckout]

It's next Friday... I think there's still time to sign up.

[ Guess what Kallie's primary interest is in, too? She's been preregistered for at least a month or so.

Not that... she sounds very thrilled about it herself, to be honest. ]

[audio]

[acequeen]

Awesome. I'll be sure to sign up for it, then.

[Interest peaks through in her tone, more subtle than her last response. At least Regina can use this as an excuse to train and clear her thoughts away from that mine incident.]

[audio]

[struckout]

[ And then Kallie's not sure how to respond to that- the usual sort of polite-enough things she might pull out automatically seem a little off, in the face of this whole supernatural network thing, and the fact that supernatural evil things wanting to take over the world who also want to kill them all is lying just beneath the surface here.

It would be easier if she had something to be irritated at, but as that's not really the case here, it takes her a few moments to realize that it's actually not that hard. ]

Ah. Good luck.

[audio]

[acequeen]

Hey thanks, I'll be sure to do my best.

[This response is on the short side, but she thinks it comes across well enough. Better to participate than to dwell on supernatural creatures for a lot longer than necessary.]

— I've been jogging in the park every other day, so I like to think I'm prepared for this.

[audio]

[sweetas]

Oh...I've heard of that festival. I didn't know it was free to attend. I thought it was just LCU people.

[audio]

[struckout]

Yeah. People bring their kids and everything.

[ Heck, this will be her... sixth year attending herself or so? That isn't something she's going to mention here, though. Too personal. ]

[audio]

[sweetas]

Maybe I'll stop by, then. Things have been kind of hectic lately.

Oh, um. I'm Candy by the way. I'm new to all this.

[audio]

[struckout]

... I go by Lightning.

[ Abruptly her response is distant in an entirely different way, tone noticeably cooler. Just because she doesn't like giving her name and has an alias to rectify that... doesn't mean she particularly enjoys giving it out either. ]

[audio]

[sweetas]

O-Oh...okay... [She's worried she said something wrong.]

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

I'm not really sure that's my kind of thing, but I appreciate the offer. I'd stand out like a sore thumb amongst all the college and high school kids.

[He may be saying this because he went one year, and did exactly that: stand out and really not have much fun. Actually, it really doesn't seem like Kallie's kind of thing, either....]

Are you going?

[Audio]

[struckout]

I'm being paid to help out. [ It's matter-of-fact, but after a moment her tone manages to lean towards the drier side of things even further. ] Just enough to cover the run's registration.

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

Mmm, thought as much.

[And he just sounds amused.]

Well, I hope it isn't too unbearable for you.

[Audio]

[struckout]

[ -- Is he just humoring her? If this were any other time, she'd probably be annoyed, but... ]

Mm.

[ She's got something else on her mind, and she pauses in that sort of tension-filled way that doesn't take anything said to reveal it, practically holding her breath until, abruptly: ]

I have the sword.

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

[He's attempting to share the joke (i.e. that she really isn't the type to enjoy the "Streaking Summer") with her, actually, but his sense of humor often leaves something to be desired. Thankfully, her change of subject is much more interesting than his lack of funniness.]

Sword? You mean-- oh, that one you showed me? How interesting! Do feathers still show up when you summon it? Or do you have to summon it?

[Texted]

[espigeonage]

That's right, it is that time again. lol, I lost track.

[Texted]

[struckout]

Happens every year.

[espigeonage]

lol, so I'd imagine! Things have been so eventful it's been out of my mind entirely. Though I guess some of my friends have been chatting about it.

[struckout]

[ After coming up with and then rejecting several different options (particularly those that imply her as definitely a regular fixture at the campus), Kallie finally gives up with this rather cryptic response: ]

I guess it depends on who you talk to.

[espigeonage]

Probably! I try to talk to everyone, but I've been a little distracted of late.