Almost Forgot

[lastexit]

Who: Maya, Imelda, Maya's baggage (Open Prompt to be Added Later)
What: Hollow Plot
When: On a day... where there are classes? After the "Several Bones to Pick" mission.
Where: On the Grounds of the School. Keeping it vague.
Warnings: Depression and Suicide will both come up in the main thread. And possibly in the aftermath, depending where Maya is then.

Note: Once the main thread has some traction I'll link to a prompt in this log for Maya after things have happened. Depending on how much of a mess Maya is.

Hollow Hearts - Closed

Maya's classes were fairly mundane today. She didn't have her control class about manipulating her silence, nor the class for sensitives so she can manipulate and control her Hearing. Days like this she almost felt like this was a normal school.

Except for the constant noise of everyone else's magic, and the fact it was all in French. You know, those things made her remember it was all nonsense and magic.

She was heading toward the cafeteria, toward getting food, when she heard it. An impossible sound. A sound she couldn't hear, not ever again. It made her think of cheering crowds, and frozen rinks. But it was softer, sadder than the excitement of a Hockey game. Lamenting the festivities as much as being at the center. The notes not quite right, due to the sort of sound equipment an ice rink would have.

But there were other notes in the sound, she remembered those notes from the Catacombs in Paris. The sounds she put a name to. A sound of death in her mind...

She whipped around in place, looking for where the sound was coming from. It was moving, too fast. Behind a building? Was she actually insane now? She- she can't hear that sound.

She can't hear him.

Maya's not walking toward the cafeteria anymore, she looks- lost. Lost and alone. Like the whole world was melted away by whatever she was hearing.

Going into Town + Hog's Swill (Open)

Maya didn't even bother changing from her uniform before heading into town. She didn't want to bother trying to avoid people seeing her. Just leave, just run, just get some space. No guitar, no cello, just her and her books in the middle of a day in a dive bar. She ordered some cheap beer, a water, and some greasy bad-for-you pub grub.

She needed space, not to forget him, but to remember herself. That's how it always went, when she thought about him, wasn't it?

Heading back from Town + Lumiere Dorm (Open)

Eventually, still buzzed, Maya made her way back to the dorm. She'll deal with the classes she ditched later. She'll deal with the friends she didn't see later. For now she wanted to... do something.

She wasn't sure if it was 'avoid people and wait until tomorrow,' maybe 'sleep three days until it stops hurting,' or how about 'find an adventure and forget.' She was too tipsy to work on music and it's awkward to start bawling while playing a cello so she just lazed around in the Floor 1 common room waiting for something to happen. Or to sleep.

Comments

Hollow Hearts

[no_dejare_de_quererte]

Imelda herself is heading back from the cafeteria, on her way to the library or to her room--some place that she can eat her food in quiet... When she notices someone standing still in the middle of the walkway. That someone being Maya.

There's a moment where Imelda honestly considers just walking past. They didn't get off to a good start, and she honestly wouldn't consider them to be in a Good place where each other was concerned. But there's something about the way that she's standing there that gives Imelda pause. Something that makes her think that Maya doesn't look all that well at the moment.

So against her better judgment, she stops next to the girl, frowning at her with a touch of concern. "Maya? Are you alright?" She doesn't look alright, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Does it?

[lastexit]

Maya didn't register Ms. Rivera's song as she approached, and didn't react to her speaking. She was still looking around, trying to find a source for that impossible sound she shouldn't be hearing. It moved again, but this time into the open. The- thing, was a bit over six feet tall, human shaped but also not. The limbs were too small and the body too big, with what was almost a scythe in its hands. There was also a hole, you could see right through it, on the center of the creature.

But the part that Maya's eyes fixed on was that mask. It was a white mask, with black empty holes across the face. The nose of the mask jutted out, like a snout on a wolf. Or a hound.

"You ran halfway around the world, did you think I'd let you get away that easily." The voice was impossibly kind for a creature so fierce looking. So- wrong. And it was his voice, coming from that expressionless face.

And Maya's never expected to hear it again. She took a step back, everything felt wrong and- she couldn't be hearing this. And that was when the creature launched a hockey puck sized blast of dark energy at Maya's head.

[no_dejare_de_quererte]

Her concern feels validated as soon as she gets no response from Maya. The way she's looking around says she's searching for something, so Imelda turns to look as well in the same direction--only to see something that absolutely doesn't belong on the campus. She freezes for a brief moment and sucks in a breath, eyes wide as she takes in the monstrosity. Even more unbelievably, the thing speaks with a human voice--one that Imelda doesn't recognize, and she can't tell if Maya does either.

But that doesn't matter so much when the creature suddenly attacks. She grabs Maya, yanking her out of the way as the energy hurls past, further shielding her from view as Imelda puts herself between Maya and that thing. Her fingers then snap to her mouth, issuing a sharp whistle that can be heard halfway across the campus. In the distance, a large feline shape leaps off of the roof of an academic building and takes flight towards them.

Even with her back to the creature, Imelda keeps her focus trained on it over her shoulder. To Maya, she speaks quickly in a quiet but urgent voice. "Maya. Monet is behind you. A hundred feet or so. When I tell you, I need you to run for that building as fast as you can. Can you do that?"

[lastexit]

Fortunately that was definitely meant to kill her. And nearly dying did get her to snap out of it. The sound of that attack was just- wrong. It was sad, and empty. It was more a disjointed echo in a hollow chamber than a real sound to itself. It didn't change the fact that she was, well, clearly haunted.

Her attention was still not on Imelda, it was on the thing attacking them. "He'll follow me. He followed me here." Maya didn't have enough balance to keep her feet under her when Ms. Rivera pulled her from harm, she was on one knee.

The creature shook his head, "She's right, you should just go. You don't need to get between us. She belongs with me, it's better for everyone. Right Maya?"

[no_dejare_de_quererte]

"Was I speaking to you?" Imelda snaps at the creature, her gaze narrowing into a glare. She belongs with me, it's better for everyone. What kind of nonsense is that?

But she can't escape the fact that Maya seems to have some idea of what this creature is. Or at least why it's here. And that shot had been aimed directly at her head. She's in danger, and there's no way that Imelda intends to simply step aside and let this creature have at her.

Her gaze flickers to Maya and back, trying to look her over and also keep an eye on that monster. There's a sense of relief from Imelda, however faint, when Pepita swoops in and lands on the ground between her and the creature. The chimera bares her fangs at it, growling in warning.

"Come on. On your feet, niña." Imelda makes an attempt to help Maya up off her knee, now that she can afford to give her more focus. Whether that thing follows or not, she should be ready to run if needed. "What is that thing? And why is it following you?"

[lastexit]

Maya's shaking. She's actually shaking. She didn't think she could feel this much anymore. For the past year she didn't think she could feel like this. She thought that bone deep numb was all she had anymore. But here she was, terrified, horrified, confused.

Happy? A part of her got to hear his voice again. And then shattered to see him like- that.

Maya got to her feet, barely. It was still so much, and all at once.

"Tell her," the creature said. He hadn't moved yet, with the large cat between them. It adjusted its grip on the weapon it held Obscuring his sound. "Tell her who I am to you."

It takes Maya a few seconds. The barbs aren't helping her stay calm. Just say it. Say it, you've said it before. Just let her know why this is happening, why this is so much.

"His name is Cam. And I loved him until the day he died."

[no_dejare_de_quererte]

The urge to snap at that creature again is strong. Judging the the way this girl is shaking, she clearly doesn't need the needling that this thing is doing to her. She about to turn and tell Pepita to pounce on the damn thing to shut it up, when she hears Maya speak again. She sucks in a breath, holding it. She might have eventually guessed that he was some sort of undead thing, but not something nearly this personal for her.

Is this some kind of haunting? A summoning gone wrong? "Do you know how this happened?" Her voice is a touch softer. "Why he's here, and not..." Not dead, like he apparently should be. Not in the Outlands or the next life, or wherever spirits really go when their time on this plane is done.

Common Room

[betheman]

When it comes to things happening, Gongenzaka is not one to make those 'big'. Unless something dramatic comes to him he seems remarkably good at minimizing his presence if anything.

Which is absolutely incredible given he's a bear clomping around in iron geta.

As Gongenzaka enters the common room, the bear's nose twitches however- and, ears perked toward the source now, he speaks with half a whisper. The lights are on, and over there is... "Mnh..? Maya?" He trots over, peering to wherever she is in the room right now. "Should you not, be asleep?"

...

"Also, what is that smell?" that's booze it's fine buddy

[lastexit]

Maya jumps a little, as if Zaka managed to get into the room without Maya noticing, which shouldn't be possible right? "Oh, it's just you Zaka."

She didn't answer either question right away, just laying on the sofa staring up at the ceiling, giggling a little. "I think that's the cheap beer, some jerk spilled some on me." And you were drinking like a fish, "I kinda couldn't afford to keep drinking what I was when I ditched school earlier either."

[betheman]

"Mnh!" He gives a nod, and manages another sniff. "Mngh...I think, it may be mostly, what you drank... ...but, I suppose, you would be of age here..." he adds, even as his ears droop.

"...Ditched..?"

Does that mean you skipped??? Don't tell him you skipped!!

[lastexit]

"Didn't feel like going to classes today, it's fine."

Maya was, at one point, a good kid. Who went to school every day and did what her parents wanted. A long, long time ago. Times changed, and here she is.

[betheman]

"AUH-!" Gongenzaka is officially choking and torn between scolding and consoling.

He chooses...ssssccooolding? "Th- How is it fine?! What if, the teachers worried? Or, other students..!?"

At least he's not telling her off about important classwork she could have missed? Imagine if this was after hollows started attacking folks.

[lastexit]

"If the staff couldn't guess I was skipping, that's on them."

Maya you're one of a handful of students that could skip without any seers noticing.

"Students should worry about their own schoolwork, not on if I'm around."

coming back

[made_up_names]

As Maya is walking back, a figure swings by overhead. He's wearing that dumb costume, but once he spots her he'll stop pretending, at least. He lands on the ground nearby, pulling off his mask and tucking it under one arm.

"Maya?" he says, a little confused. "What're you doing out this late?"

Is it that late? Maybe he's just lost track of time.

[lastexit]

"Nothing," there was a smile to her that was... wrong. It might have to do with her walking a little uneasy, and smelling like alcohol.

"Just went into town, playing hooky. How about you? Doing spider-things? Spinning Webs? Catching flies?"

[made_up_names]

Yeah uh. Peter has experienced enough drunks in New York to know what that looks like.

"Keeping an eye out," he says, frowning a little. "Are you drunk?"

[lastexit]

"I was, not sure I am anymore."

Maya glanced over at him, "You're not about to get weird about this are you?"

[made_up_names]

Uh. Well. He sort of was going to do just that? But he looks a little sheepish when she calls him out right now.

"I guess we're technically legal here, huh," he says. "I haven't tried it yet."

He doesn't really intend to, honestly - and even if he does, he'll be sorely disappointing. With his healing factor, it's going to be next to impossible for him to actually get drunk.

[lastexit]

"Not my first time drinking, not my first time having a reason for drinking."

Maya started back toward the school, there was something casual about how she just said what was up. Specifically what came next, "When your dead boyfriend tries to kill you, it's a day to skip school and drink."

The 30th of Jan, days later, Maya's still drinking

[unpocoloco]

There's a lot on his mind tonight. He and Peter only just got attacked on these streets yesterday. But the Academy has errands for him to run and that is a part of his job. And he's going to do it. Even if he's a little jumpy and glancing down corners uneasily.

He walks with his cane in one hand and list in the other, staring down at it when he's not glancing about. He nearly misses this the girl going past. He only glances up because it's rare to see someone hobbling as bad as he does, even drunk. It's only then, with a start, that he registers the face he's seeing.

"Maya!" It's more an exclamation than a greeting. "What are you doing here, it's... really late." And there's not an instrument in sight for either of them.

[lastexit]

Maya's giggle definitely suggested where she was, although she's fairly good at walking straight and not being any more clumsy than she is sober. However the streets here aren't as kind to her shoes as the streets of home so he did stumble once. "Hector! Just- enjoying a night out."

Drowning a bit of her feelings, for a while she lamented the numbness that she was drowning in. But unearthing some feelings were worse than that. Eventually she'll calm down. But not within the weeks of having a run-in with her past. She needed a little more time to bury her feelings again.

[unpocoloco]

Oh she's enjoying alright. Just about every one of his primos went for a strong drink if and when they could. He well and knowd what this looks like. But, it's also very legal here which means his worry is only half founded.

"I... see."

He glances quickly around, seeing that she's alone. Specifically that they're both alone with no lurking monster wstching hungrily.

"Are you heading back now?"

[lastexit]

"Yeah, I'm done for the night. My roommate means well, but he gets all worried. Which is weird when he's a bear." Maya's life is weird.

She wasn't as plastered as she was a few nights ago, but things hadn't slowed down enough for her to calm down without these trips out for the night. She did have enough thought to be aware of her surroundings. Listening for the sounds of death in the air.

Which... there wasn't as far as she could hear. Nothing that sounded exactly like the echoes of death on Cam. So for the moment she moved without worry. For now, "Are you offering to escort me, since neither of us can play right now. Not because I can't play drunk, I just don't have a guitar."

[unpocoloco]

"A bear. Right." Sometimes, even in the midst of all the crazy he can somehow manage to forget how crazy this place can be at times.

Sheepishly, he laughs. "I guess I kind of am. If that's alright? Call me fussy but, there's kind of been... things going on around here lately and I would feel better seeing you make it back."

He should comment on her knowing how to play drunk but, for both better and worse, music and drinks went hand in hand sometimes. If she's drinking now, she's drank before.

[lastexit]

"He's a good kid, even when he's a bear." Maya's numbness, well, it had its perks. Getting used to Zaka's transformation was a lot easier when your body just doesn't want to react. It was very jarring when her feelings boiled to the surface, that cold cracked open by things too big for her body to just ignore. Like- recent history.

Maya shrugs, it isn't exactly like they're going in different directions. If it makes him feel better, she's not going to fight with him over it. Plus, as much as he thinks he's protecting her, she can steer them around any trouble in the area.

"I've already had a loved one try to kill me. I don't have any others restless enough to follow me to France." As far as solace was, it happened to be bitter sweet. Cam was, as far as she knew, still under containment while they sorted out this mess. Maya hadn't gone to the trouble to find out where he was contained, visit him, any of that. It was- still too much. "But this place is a magnet for weird, and we could stumble into someone else's ghost of days gone by."