Lofty Heights Open Log

[codicies]

Who: Everyone school-aged or school-adjacent (so basically everyone??)
What: SCHOOL HAS BEGUN
When: All through September
Where: School bus stops, School bus, and Lofty Heights
Content Warnings: n/a

Some Top-Level Ideas:

• Faculty Preparations & Mingle (Before September 8th)
  The faculty of Lofty Heights has a lot to do before the school year actually starts — prepping their classrooms, working out a curriculum, getting to know each other, getting the office to order the right supplies.



• The Wormhole Projectors on the Bus Go Pew Pew Pew
  The bus stops for Lofty Heights students are peppered throughout each of the cities. Parents and students alike are waiting there to be picked up.
  
  Once you're on the road, things seem normal... until a womrhole opens up. The bus goes right through it, and suddenly all you can see out the window is clouds below... and the massive floating school complex on the horizon.



• In-School Interaction
  Are you lost on your way to your next class? Having trouble getting your locker open? See a friend and want to chat? Or maybe there's a pack of Seniors on the pros wl for new students, looking to do a little bullying hazing.
  
  Or maybe you're already in the classroom, trying to wrangle your rowdy students — or, perhaps, you're a student trying to make sense of the current lesson.
  
  When lunch time rolls around, do you sit alone? Or do you spot a friend or acquaintance and sit with them?
  
  Anything that would make sense in the context of the school :D

Comments

Dylan Brock | Marvel Comics / Venom (9th Grade)

[codicies]

1. Bus Stop
(Little Love, KS)

Dylan's hands are clammy as he clutches the straps to his backpack, rocking on his heels. Today is the first day of school — superhero school — and he has no idea what to expect. Will it be better than before, now that he has people he can connect with? Or is he just going to be an outcast again in a completely different context?

He rocks on his heels nervously, waiting for the bus to get here.


2. Hallway
For the love of God, how do two people manage to take up an entire hallway?? It wouldn't be so bad if they weren't going at the slowest pace imaginable. Dylan keeps trying to go around them, but somehow they keep blocking his path. Finally, frustrated, he raises an arm and fires a "web" at a spot on the wall several yards ahead, Spider-Man style, hoping to rappel forward and over them.

He sails over the two students but does not stick the landing, barreling into someone else on the way down.


3. Lunchtime
Dylan's used to sitting alone at lunch back home, and falls into the same pattern here at Lofty Heights — but as he digs in, he looks up and sees someone he recognizes. He grins and waves them down to sit with him.


4. Wildcard
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Contact me at thepreciousthing to plan something else!

hello son!!!!

[frenchkissed]

( insert venom charging down the block, gooey pseudo-hair done up in curlers, like someone from a 1950s cartoon, sprinting as if his life depends on it. chances are he's leaving giant, gooey footprints in the concrete with just how hard and fast he's charging. when he reaches, dylan, he kneels on the ground in front of him and lets his motherly face peel away to reveal eddie's. )

Hey.

We, uh... just worried that you didn't have anything to each. For lunch. For school. So, we brought... money? Where is it... Where did we...

( eddie uses venom's giant hands to pat the space where his pockets would normally be, and venom comes in clutch by stretching a tendril from seemingly out of nowhere and offering dylan a twenty. )

Thanks, bud.

We know you have your Alliance card and all, but some places are weird about credit, and we didn't want you to be, like, stranded and hungry... and also we love you, like, a lot. So we sorta had to say that, too. You're cool as shit. You're gonna crush it today— No, we're not gonna say that. Why? Because he doesn't need threats— Okay, oh my God, V says that if anyone one gives you trouble, we'll eat them, but that's such a non-issue, because no one's gonna bother you. You're like the coolest kid we know. So... So, it's fine. Don't even sweat it.

papa~ 😭❤️

[codicies]

[ Dylan's bewildered for barely a second at the sight of Venom done up like a housewife, but it quickly gives way to a smile and a fit of giggling.

He takes and pockets the offered twenty, then wraps his arms around Venom's shoulders, hugging them tight. ]

Thanks for seeing me off.

[ One nice thing about starting 9th grade over again? He can start it off on right foot this time. Dad had been away on King in Black business the first time around back home, so having Eddie here now meant the world. ]

I love you guys, too.

[ It's OK to say that after 2 months, right? ]

[frenchkissed]

What? Yeah, dude. Of course. We had to say goodbye, y'know? Like, yeah, it's only for a few hours and we've all been through way, way worse, but... I don't know, it's still pretty important—if not academically important, than socially important. All that really happens on the first day academically is getting a bunch of syllabi, but... I don't know, maybe it'll be way different at a school full of superheroes. Gonna be fun either way.

( it's totally okay because venom and eddie have so much love to give!! they hug him like he's going off to war and when they let go, venom fluffs his hair. )

How're you feelin'? Excited?

3.

[qualityfriend]

[Dana smiles and waves back]

[codicies]

[ Dylan's already settled in his own spot by a window, with all his stuff sprawled around him, but takes a second to sprint over and greet Dana. ]

Dana, holy shit, we're in superhero school!

[qualityfriend]

Can't believe I've been looking forward to going back to school. How about you?

2;

[anewtruth]

She sees him perform his strange stunt, and only a second too late realizes he is coming straight at her. "Oh, shit," she mutters just before he careens right into her, knocking her books to the ground, and her into the lockers behind her.

Ciri blinks for a moment, not sure how to process what she just saw, but she settles on, "Are you all right?" before going over to help the boy back to his feet.

It's only then, when he's on his feet and looking at her properly that she recognizes him. A soft gasp escapes her, eyes widen, "You- you're the boy... from my..." Memory? Dream? She isn't sure what was going on then, but he'd been right there in the middle of it all.

[codicies]

[ Dylan's barely landed before he's already scrambling to his feet and apologizing. ]

Oh jeez, absolutely did not mean to hit you. Sorry, that's still a new move fore me —

[ He looks up and sees Ciri's face, and he lights up when he hears she recognizes him ]

Oh! Ciri! Nice to see you again!

I like your dress.

Nico di Angelo | PJO/HOO/TOA (10th grade, but in remedial 9th Grade English)

[demigoth]

Bus Stop, Sunset Hills

[ It's rare to see someone outside of a protest or over the age of six using this particular tantrum tactic, but Nico di Angelo is fully throwing himself into the role of nonviolent resistance. As a result, he's being physically drug to the bus stop by a troll-sized truancy officer, who is making a lot of false promises about how he's going to make so many friends at his new school and, really, wouldn't he like it if those nasty skeletons stopped popping up when he didn't want them to. Nico says nothing and just hangs limply from the hands that have him by the armpits.

He's put on the bus last, scowling and attempting to cling to the door. His hand slips off quickly though, and he's shoved through, stumbling into the driver, who berates him before pulling away from the curb and through the portal. Nico staggers to the first empty seat and slumps into it, looking exhausted. He can't even manage to shadow travel off the bus - he threw so much into the lost cause of losing the meta truancy officer that he'd definitely land on the moon. ]

Boys bathroom, in between 2nd and 3rd period.

[ The new backpack is in the trashcan. If you walk past the end of the stalls to where the sinks are, you'll see one of the inward-tilting windows is open and wind is whistling against it. Nico is muttering to himself as he stands with one foot on the windowsill, one hand on the window, and one on the mirror above the sink. His other foot is in angled space of the open window, trying to kick out the screen. ]

Can't even find a dead bird; it's like they cleaned everything that ever lived off the grounds.

Lunch - CW: Potential for disordered eating

[ Trashcans are a theme for the day. Nico has gotten a tray full of ... slop in the cafeteria. He's put the Kool-Aid in his backpack, apparently finding that acceptable, and dumped the rest of the tray into the first trashcan he passes. Five seconds later, it's full of a mix of red and green flames, and Nico's mouth is moving silently.

School staff are there within seconds, and the fire is quickly put out. Nico can be heard arguing about religious rights, and there is a very heated discussion with a teacher that drags on for three minutes. Somehow, miraculously, he doesn't get hauled off in the direction of the principal's office. Instead, he's dragged back to lunch line, commandeered a tray, and marched to your table and told to sit. Which he does, staring angrily at the tray that's plopped in front of him. The teacher tells him to eat his lunch, make some friends, and that they will discuss traditional offering procedures later. In detention. When she's gone, Nico mimics her. ]

We'll discuss the offerings to the Greek pantheon in detention, Mr. di Angelo. Learn to say my name right, or don't say it.

Wildcard

Let me know if you want to do something. The only class he'll attend willing is Greek. The stupid teachers wouldn't let him take Italian.

Lunch

[qualityfriend]

[Dana doesn't look very enthusiastic about having a kid who just set a trash can on fire forced to join her table. But she has to respond.]

Was that actually an offering to the Greek pantheon, or an excuse?

[demigoth]

[ That makes two not very enthused people. Nico shrugs at the question. He’s half tempted to not say anything at all, but high school is seven hours of sitting in desks and desperately trying to look attentive. This lunch is the only “free” period he has. ]

Does it matter? Whatever I say, I’m the freak.

[qualityfriend]

Aren't we all the freaks here?

And I'd like to know if you know gods or if you're a random arsonist.

lunch

[thecoolerloki]

No god would've appreciated that offering anyways.

[The person seated across from Nico is a girl around his age, with bright green eyes and long black hair. Her clothes are slightly punkish, and she pulls what seems to be a freshly made plate of pancakes and bacon out of an X-Men lunchbox. Yay magic!

She also speaks with the All-tongue, which might default to ancient Greek for Nico. It's hard to say, though, with inter-pantheon relations.]

Let’s go with it defaults to Greek, that’s fun

[demigoth]

There was an apple and a pudding cup. That’s a solid tribute, where I’m from.

[ Nico answers her in kind, in Greek. Oh, but - how does she know ancient Greek? And how does she know that he knows ancient Greek?

She’s a demigod. Why doesn’t he know here? Is she new? Maybe she’s one of the lucky ones who only comes for the summer?

Maybe it’s Artemis with a new look. He… kinda hates that idea, but manages to keep from scowling before she turns him into a fox for a hunt. ]

Who are you?

[ He’s eying her lunch. The bacon doesn’t have that chalky, cold look. That’s probably a bad sign. ]

[thecoolerloki]

I guess.

[She'd prefer something like a freshly made milkshake, but it is technically possible that other gods have bad taste.]

I'm Serrure, Mr. di Angelo.

[And although her smile is always slightly mischievous, she's treating this like it's a completely ordinary lunchtime happening. Even as she pulls out a glass from her lunchbox and it promptly fills itself with orange juice. The magic is all spells prepared by Stephen, not Loki, but it's still pretty show-offy.]

Bathroom

[codicies]

[ Dylan's been enjoying his first day of school so far — but if someone's trying to leave, he's not gonna question it.

He walks into the bathroom and spots Nico trying to climb out the window. ]

I'm not sure that's gonna help if we're in the air, dude.

Have you tried faking sick and going to the nurse?

[demigoth]

[ Meep, says the look on Nico’s face, in the space between realizing someone’s in the bathroom and recognizing the other teen. He recovers quickly.

Nico looks back out the window. ]

There’s the sports fields and stuff. They have to keep the bus somewhere.

[ He doesn’t have a fully formed plan. “I’m out” is as far as it got. ]

The nurse’d try to get in touch with my guardian to send me home.

[codicies]

[ Dylan's eyebrows go up, but he doesn't question it — he knows what it's like not to want to go home, too, for a multitude of reasons. ]

Well, I can't fly or anything, so outside of faking sick I'm not sure I can help with escape.

But once school lets out... do you need somewhere else to crash for a while?

Bus;

[anewtruth]

[Ciri can't do anything but stare with wide eyes at the absolute fit the boy is throwing. No matter how much she didn't want to go to her lessons, never in her life would she have acted like that, and she can't imagine what had possessed him.

She follows after him, eerily quiet after his tantrum, and stares at him as she passes by in her attempt to find a seat. She ends up behind him, and can't resist the urge to lean forward and around the back of the seat in front of her to hiss-whisper: ]

What that necessary?

[demigoth]

[ Nico turns to get a better look at who has to make their disapproval known, as if it's not obvious that he is probably not in the mood for this. He folds his arms over his chest and hisses back at her. ]

Yes, it was necessary. Maybe you're okay with being forced to go to a school that you don't need and don't know where it is, but I'm not.

[ Surly and unashamed. Nico would do it again - and will, tomorrow. ]

[anewtruth]

Well, it doesn't seem like they're giving you much choice. So why make such a scene?

[Look.
Look.

She's a Princess. Regardless of how far removed from that life she has become, those lessons of decorum...have a tendency to stick. ]

Ciri | The Witcher | 9th Grade

[anewtruth]

i. Bus Shenanigans

note

{A. Bus Stop [Sunset Falls]
Ciri was still trying to acclimate to the strangeness of everything in this Sphere, a feat far easier said than done, everything was just so different than it had been back home. She doesn't hate it, but it can be very overwhelming at times. Chaos was easier than technology if you asked her.

She stands at the bus stop, fussing with the dress she's wearing, which feels far too short to be wearing in public. But it's the way everything she found at the shops had been. Thankfully, she has a pair of black tights under it, but it still feels wrong. "So annoying," she mutters under her breath.

{B. Bus ride
She stares at the strange contraption when it stops and the doors creep open in that strange way bus doors always do– except she's never really dealt with a bus before and it's just... weird. She hesitates, then blinks and shakes her head, stepping up into the vehicle.

All eyes on her. Not an unfamiliar feeling, if she's honest, but a little awkward when she feels so out of step with everything. She tugs at her long ashen braid as she walks carefully down the aisle in the middle, not sure where she might be expected to sit. Was there some sort of order or hierarchy she didn't know about? Was it a free-for-all? Help a girl out.

Once seated, it's a little easier. She can at least talk to people near her, and at least conversation is simple, "I'm Ciri," she says in introduction. She's at least gotten used to not rolling out her whole title– that's awkward and gets a lot of strange stares. No one seems to know where Cintra is.

The leap through the wormhole? Not so easy. "What is that?" she asks, a mildly panicked note in her voice as they begin to approach it.

ii. In school

note

{A. Lost
Ciri never could have predicted the mass confusion that's created in a school hallway when the bell rings. Everyone is moving in unison in every direction at once, and she gets swept along with the crowd.

By the time the mass of people has thinned enough that she can step out to the edges, she's completely turned around. "Oh, where am I supposed to go?" she mutters, exasperated, staring at the schedule she'd been given, but it doesn't mean anything to her.

{B. Lunch
Today has been rough, to say the least. She doesn't understand a lot of what's being taught, and she probably needs to look into tutoring to get caught up to speed on certain things. She'll talk to all of her parental figures about it when she gets home.

With the tray of food in her hand, she stands and stares at the expanse of chattering students spread in all sorts of different groups across the cafeteria. It's the bus all over again– where is she meant to sit? Is it by grade level? Activities? Something else? She sighs and steps away from the line and heads toward a table, something isolated and empty to the far edge of the room because where else could she sit? It isn't like she knows anyone, and she doesn't want to offend someone. Easier to just go by herself.

iii. wildcard

note

HMU on Ciri's HMD / @ loyalwolf[#3540] on plurk[/discord] for something specific!

Lost

[qualityfriend]

[Dana doesn't know the school much better than any new arrival, but this girl looks completely lost.]

Need some help? [She holds out a hand.] Maybe between the two of us we can figure out where you need to go.

[anewtruth]

[Despite the very modern look of her clothes, Ciri still looks very out of place here. A girl out of time, no matter how hard she tries to adapt.]

Yes, please. [She offers the schedule to the other girl.] My name’s Ciri.