Fernway (Wizard RP) Chapter 1: Outside the Paranorm

[Vitam Post Mortem]

Cammie sighed a little and jumped from their perch on the third rung of the ladder to Treehouse, landing gracefully on their feet falling into step next to Jason. While the two were not the best of friends, Cammie had promised their mom they would make an effort to reach out to more than just Frankie this summer. Usually Cammie kept to themself and interacted with the other children only when Frankie would engage in the conversation as well. This wasn't because it was hard for them to talk to others, but because they hated being insincere and could never find much to say when Frankie wasn't around. They could talk for hours about nature, of course, but that would require them to show how much they care about the forest around the small town and that simply wouldn't due.

"Hi Jason," Cammie offered, "Did you guys read any good books in school this year?"

Reading was a good topic in most of the town. In a town this small, if you couldn't get out one way or another you would go stir crazy, so most children developed active imaginations or found themselves immersed in the fictional (and sometimes non-fictional) worlds of books. Older grades read a lot more than younger grades, and while reading wasn't Cammie's favorite pastime, they knew enough to hold a good conversation about it.

[Soviet Farm]

Cammie sighed a little and jumped from their perch on the third rung of the ladder to Treehouse, landing gracefully on their feet falling into step next to Jason. While the two were not the best of friends, Cammie had promised their mom they would make an effort to reach out to more than just Frankie this summer. Usually Cammie kept to themself and interacted with the other children only when Frankie would engage in the conversation as well. This wasn't because it was hard for them to talk to others, but because they hated being insincere and could never find much to say when Frankie wasn't around. They could talk for hours about nature, of course, but that would require them to show how much they care about the forest around the small town and that simply wouldn't due.

"Hi Jason," Cammie offered, "Did you guys read any good books in school this year?"

Reading was a good topic in most of the town. In a town this small, if you couldn't get out one way or another you would go stir crazy, so most children developed active imaginations or found themselves immersed in the fictional (and sometimes non-fictional) worlds of books. Older grades read a lot more than younger grades, and while reading wasn't Cammie's favorite pastime, they knew enough to hold a good conversation about it.

Jason was surprised by the sudden appearance. He quickly racked his brain, thinking back to everyone he knew. Whos this? Um... Cammie! While Jason did not trust Cammie at all, that wasn't so much something to do with Cammie as it did with humans in general. In fact, during the few times they had interacted , Cammie seemed okay. "Nothing really. Just On The Origin of Species, and a little bit of the Communist Manifesto. How about you, dude? " He took a moment to cringe inwardly. They prefer nuetral pronouns you idiot.
Jason did not want to alienate one of the few humans he felt like was not going to attack him.
"Hey, sorry about that. I forgot: neutral pronouns. Anyway, have you read anything good?"

[Vitam Post Mortem]

Jason was surprised by the sudden appearance. He quickly racked his brain, thinking back to everyone he knew. Whos this? Um... Cammie! While Jason did not trust Cammie at all, that wasn't so much something to do with Cammie as it did with humans in general. In fact, during the few times they had interacted , Cammie seemed okay. "Nothing really. Just On The Origin of Species, and a little bit of the Communist Manifesto. How about you, dude? " He took a moment to cringe inwardly. They prefer nuetral pronouns you idiot.
Jason did not want to alienate one of the few humans he felt like was not going to attack him.
"Hey, sorry about that. I forgot: neutral pronouns. Anyway, have you read anything good?"

"It is fine," Cammie smiled brightly. It meant a lot that Jason remembered their preference even though they never talked much. "Thank you for remembering." They wrapped their right arm around their back to grab their left elbow and continued to walk like that. "We read a lot of short things this year. Although we did read a book called Holes that I liked a lot. The main character reminded me of myself. I also liked "All Summer in a Day" even though a lot of the class didn't." Cammie looked away from Jason and focused their gaze on the ground as they said bashfully, "Our teacher talked a lot about poetry, but said we wouldn't get to read any until next year. Have you read any?"

In truth their teacher had read a poem by Walt Whitman and it had captivated Cammie. However, they could not remember what it was about or called for the life of them.

[The Isles of Lux]

Sienna watches her brother talk with Cammie, and she feels mixed feelings. Though she is glad Jason is interacting with other kids in a healthy way, and though she thinks Cammie seems like a perfectly nice person, one thing is bothering her. She didn't really understand what Cammie and Jason meant about "preferring pronouns". Of course, Sienna had overheard people talking nonchalantly about how Cammie didn't like to be called "her" or "him" or similar pronouns, she had figured she must have heard them wrong, or maybe it was just rumors. But here Cammie is, encouraging this behavior in Sienna's own brother with their talk of "neutral pronouns". Sienna shakes her head to herself, but says nothing. She doesn't want to be rude. So Sienna just contents herself with watching the two carefully.

---

Ozzi skips out at the front of the group, feeling quite happy and honestly quite proud of himself. Tearing himself away from his own megalomaniacal musings, Ozzi moves over to where Rita is standing/walking. "There's no need to thank me for saving the day with me ritzy speech." He jokes, putting on an air of mock pompous. Ozzi is aware that he didn't "save the day", but he likes to tease Rita anyway.

[Aona]

Ozzi skips out at the front of the group, feeling quite happy and honestly quite proud of himself. Tearing himself away from his own megalomaniacal musings, Ozzi moves over to where Rita is standing/walking. "There's no need to thank me for saving the day with me ritzy speech." He jokes, putting on an air of mock pompous. Ozzi is aware that he didn't "save the day", but he likes to tease Rita anyway.

Rita, who had been leading the group as they walked out of the woods, rolled her eyes. "Well, I dunno about saving the day." she smiled, picking up a particularly straight stick and spinning it with her wrist. She wanted to learn how to twirl using just her fingers, but for now a deception would do.

"I think I inspired pretty much everyone by myself." She joked, winking and elbowing him playfully.

[Soviet Farm]

Sienna watches her brother talk with Cammie, and she feels mixed feelings. Though she is glad Jason is interacting with other kids in a healthy way, and though she thinks Cammie seems like a perfectly nice person, one thing is bothering her. She didn't really understand what Cammie and Jason meant about "preferring pronouns". Of course, Sienna had overheard people talking nonchalantly about how Cammie didn't like to be called "her" or "him" or similar pronouns, she had figured she must have heard them wrong, or maybe it was just rumors. But here Cammie is, encouraging this behavior in Sienna's own brother with their talk of "neutral pronouns". Sienna shakes her head to herself, but says nothing. She doesn't want to be rude. So Sienna just contents herself with watching the two carefully.

Jason shook his head. Poetry and fiction never interested him. "Nothing recently. I do recall one good poem, by Martin Niemöller, called First They Came For the Socialists. It's about how people let the-"
He stopped himself when he noticed Sienna watching them. "Hey sis. Is something wrong?"

[The Isles of Lux]

Ozzi skips out at the front of the group, feeling quite happy and honestly quite proud of himself. Tearing himself away from his own megalomaniacal musings, Ozzi moves over to where Rita is standing/walking. "There's no need to thank me for saving the day with me ritzy speech." He jokes, putting on an air of mock pompous. Ozzi is aware that he didn't "save the day", but he likes to tease Rita anyway.

Rita, who had been leading the group as they walked out of the woods, rolled her eyes. "Well, I dunno about saving the day." she smiled, picking up a particularly straight stick and spinning it with her wrist. She wanted to learn how to twirl using just her fingers, but for now a deception would do.

"I think I inspired pretty much everyone by myself." She joked, winking and elbowing him playfully.

Ozzi grins at Rita, elbowing her back lightly. "Whatever you say." He shakes his head a little, mostly to himself, before speaking up again. "So where is this guy's house again?" Ozzi thinks she might have told them, but he never really pays attention to directions anyway.

Sienna watches her brother talk with Cammie, and she feels mixed feelings. Though she is glad Jason is interacting with other kids in a healthy way, and though she thinks Cammie seems like a perfectly nice person, one thing is bothering her. She didn't really understand what Cammie and Jason meant about "preferring pronouns". Of course, Sienna had overheard people talking nonchalantly about how Cammie didn't like to be called "her" or "him" or similar pronouns, she had figured she must have heard them wrong, or maybe it was just rumors. But here Cammie is, encouraging this behavior in Sienna's own brother with their talk of "neutral pronouns". Sienna shakes her head to herself, but says nothing. She doesn't want to be rude. So Sienna just contents herself with watching the two carefully.

Jason shook his head. Poetry and fiction never interested him. "Nothing recently. I do recall one good poem, by Martin Niemöller, called First They Came For the Socialists. It's about how people let the-"
He stopped himself when he noticed Sienna watching them. "Hey sis. Is something wrong?"

Sienna's eyes widen a little, for she is slightly embarrassed to have been caught watching them. Inwardly she hopes that neither of them caught any kind of disapproving look on her face.

"Hm? Oh, uh, yes. I mean no! Nothing's wrong." She smiles nervously, her face getting red with increased embarrassment. "I'm alright! How are you guys?"

[Soviet Farm]

Sienna watches her brother talk with Cammie, and she feels mixed feelings. Though she is glad Jason is interacting with other kids in a healthy way, and though she thinks Cammie seems like a perfectly nice person, one thing is bothering her. She didn't really understand what Cammie and Jason meant about "preferring pronouns". Of course, Sienna had overheard people talking nonchalantly about how Cammie didn't like to be called "her" or "him" or similar pronouns, she had figured she must have heard them wrong, or maybe it was just rumors. But here Cammie is, encouraging this behavior in Sienna's own brother with their talk of "neutral pronouns". Sienna shakes her head to herself, but says nothing. She doesn't want to be rude. So Sienna just contents herself with watching the two carefully.

Jason shook his head. Poetry and fiction never interested him. "Nothing recently. I do recall one good poem, by Martin Niemöller, called First They Came For the Socialists. It's about how people let the-"
He stopped himself when he noticed Sienna watching them. "Hey sis. Is something wrong?"

Sienna's eyes widen a little, for she is slightly embarrassed to have been caught watching them. Inwardly she hopes that neither of them caught any kind of disapproving look on her face.

"Hm? Oh, uh, yes. I mean no! Nothing's wrong." She smiles nervously, her face getting red with increased embarrassment. "I'm alright! How are you guys?"[/quote]
Jason noticed his sister's embarrassment. What's up with her? Wait a sec. It clicked suddenly. Sienna took after their dad and mom in terms of conservative religiousness, so she probably wasn't okay with the gender neutral thing. Suddenly, a mean though appeared."You guys?There's only one guy here Sienna. Cammi prefers gender neutral phrases. You know what that means right?"

[The Isles of Lux]

Jason noticed his sister's embarrassment. What's up with her? Wait a sec. It clicked suddenly. Sienna took after their dad and mom in terms of conservative religiousness, so she probably wasn't okay with the gender neutral thing. Suddenly, a mean though appeared."You guys?There's only one guy here Sienna. Cammi prefers gender neutral phrases. You know what that means right?"

"Mhm." Comes her tight lipped reply.

Sienna feels her gut twist slightly, and she wants to say something rather untactful, but she holds her tongue and her outward appearance remains friendly (if slightly embarrassed). "Yeah, sure. I was saying guys in the people way, not the.. uh.. guy way." Sienna frowns slightly, knowing her explanation sounds lame. She opens her mouth once more, but she closes it swiftly. Maybe it is best if she just stops talking.

[Cresadine]

Jason noticed his sister's embarrassment. What's up with her? Wait a sec. It clicked suddenly. Sienna took after their dad and mom in terms of conservative religiousness, so she probably wasn't okay with the gender neutral thing. Suddenly, a mean though appeared."You guys?There's only one guy here Sienna. Cammi prefers gender neutral phrases. You know what that means right?"

"Mhm." Comes her tight lipped reply.

Sienna feels her gut twist slightly, and she wants to say something rather untactful, but she holds her tongue and her outward appearance remains friendly (if slightly embarrassed). "Yeah, sure. I was saying guys in the people way, not the.. uh.. guy way." Sienna frowns slightly, knowing her explanation sounds lame. She opens her mouth once more, but she closes it swiftly. Maybe it is best if she just stops talking.

Ross looks at Jason, then at Sienna, "Jazzy lay off her. She didn't mean anythin' by it, and clearly she's embarrassed. No harm no foul. " He smiled quietly to Sienna, she wouldn't stand up for herself, but Ross, being her twin could. He liked Jason, he was a cool brother, but he could be a little prickly sometimes.

[Aona]

Ozzi grins at Rita, elbowing her back lightly. "Whatever you say." He shakes his head a little, mostly to himself, before speaking up again. "So where is this guy's house again?" Ozzi thinks she might have told them, but he never really pays attention to directions anyway.

"What, you don't know?" She asked, surprised. Smirking, she shook her head. "Well, I guess you never were one for knowing where to go. Good thing you have have me, hmm?"

"Once we get outside the woods, we have to go past Main Street and take a right, then a left. After that, it's about a quarter of a mile and we're there. It's, uhm...." she searched for a good reference point in her mind. Snapping her fingers, she smiled. "It's like, running parallel to the train station, but a few blocks apart."

[The Isles of Lux]

"What, you don't know?" She asked, surprised. Smirking, she shook her head. "Well, I guess you never were one for knowing where to go. Good thing you have have me, hmm?"

"Once we get outside the woods, we have to go past Main Street and take a right, then a left. After that, it's about a quarter of a mile and we're there. It's, uhm...." she searched for a good reference point in her mind. Snapping her fingers, she smiled. "It's like, running parallel to the train station, but a few blocks apart."

Ozzi's eyes light up with humor as Rita continues the string of jokes. Unfortunately, he is too caught up thinking about her jibe and the humor of the situation and a few other things to actually pay attention as she talks, so he just nods his head sagely and acts as if he heard her.

"Oh yeah, just two blocks down the Street Main and three rights, plus train track." He absentmindedly mumbles in agreement as she explains the directions.

[Lavan Tiri]

"What, you don't know?" She asked, surprised. Smirking, she shook her head. "Well, I guess you never were one for knowing where to go. Good thing you have have me, hmm?"

"Once we get outside the woods, we have to go past Main Street and take a right, then a left. After that, it's about a quarter of a mile and we're there. It's, uhm...." she searched for a good reference point in her mind. Snapping her fingers, she smiled. "It's like, running parallel to the train station, but a few blocks apart."

Ozzi's eyes light up with humor as Rita continues the string of jokes. Unfortunately, he is too caught up thinking about her jibe and the humor of the situation and a few other things to actually pay attention as she talks, so he just nods his head sagely and acts as if he heard her.

"Oh yeah, just two blocks down the Street Main and three rights, plus train track." He absentmindedly mumbles in agreement as she explains the directions.

Harv, who had been silently following the rest, ran to catch up with Ozzie and Rita. "Why are we bothering an old man, again? And why is this town so…inefficient," he mused, his hand unconsciously rising to scratch his itching head. Stupid cheap hair dye. As he ferreted out the itch, Harv kept talking. "Because, really, my dad says to"--and here he put on a gravelly baritone--"leave that poor man alone, but I really don't care, but my mom says"--and here he put on an airy falsetto--"do what your father says, Harvey, but that's what she says every frikkifrakkin' time I try to have an actual conversation with him instead of just letting him lecture me. But what does Mr. A do? I see him come into town sometimes to buy stuff, but that's around once every eight years, and that's not enough to live off of!"

Apparently, Harvey also had to breathe. Thank God.

[Vitam Post Mortem]

"Mhm." Comes her tight lipped reply.

Sienna feels her gut twist slightly, and she wants to say something rather untactful, but she holds her tongue and her outward appearance remains friendly (if slightly embarrassed). "Yeah, sure. I was saying guys in the people way, not the.. uh.. guy way." Sienna frowns slightly, knowing her explanation sounds lame. She opens her mouth once more, but she closes it swiftly. Maybe it is best if she just stops talking.

Ross looks at Jason, then at Sienna, "Jazzy lay off her. She didn't mean anythin' by it, and clearly she's embarrassed. No harm no foul. " He smiled quietly to Sienna, she wouldn't stand up for herself, but Ross, being her twin could. He liked Jason, he was a cool brother, but he could be a little prickly sometimes.

"I mean, I am a guy, I just like to be called neutral pronouns," Cammie said matter-of-factly as they smiled at the three of them innocently. "I am sorry if I confused anyone."

Cammie reached a hand out to Sienna in a gesture of peace. "What do you like to do, Sienna?" They could tell Sienna was embarrassed and wanted to help ease her embarrassment as much as possible.

[Aona]

Ozzi's eyes light up with humor as Rita continues the string of jokes. Unfortunately, he is too caught up thinking about her jibe and the humor of the situation and a few other things to actually pay attention as she talks, so he just nods his head sagely and acts as if he heard her.

"Oh yeah, just two blocks down the Street Main and three rights, plus train track." He absentmindedly mumbles in agreement as she explains the directions.

Harv, who had been silently following the rest, ran to catch up with Ozzie and Rita. "Why are we bothering an old man, again? And why is this town so…inefficient," he mused, his hand unconsciously rising to scratch his itching head. Stupid cheap hair dye. As he ferreted out the itch, Harv kept talking. "Because, really, my dad says to"--and here he put on a gravelly baritone--"leave that poor man alone, but I really don't care, but my mom says"--and here he put on an airy falsetto--"do what your father says, Harvey, but that's what she says every frikkifrakkin' time I try to have an actual conversation with him instead of just letting him lecture me. But what does Mr. A do? I see him come into town sometimes to buy stuff, but that's around once every eight years, and that's not enough to live off of!"

Apparently, Harvey also had to breathe. Thank God.[/quote]
Rita smiled, concern for Harvey's mile-a-minute mouth seeping through the expression. She liked Harvey, but he certainly was a lot at once.

"Nobody knows. That's why it's so mysterious....it's a case dying to be cracked." She rubbed her hands together excitedly. She could imagine them now, finding out that the enigmatic old man was secretly a spy, sent from another country. Or maybe a criminal on the run. So many opportunities!

Her eyes flicking up to Harvey's hair, she raised an eyebrow. "Hey Harv, how long ago did you dye your hair? It looks like it's irritating you."

[The Isles of Lux]

Sienna looks gratefully first at Ross, then at Cammie. Though she hesitates for a millisecond, she takes Cammie's hand and shakes it or does whatever hand greeting thing they are gonna do. "It's no problem at all, Cammie." She says kindly, glad that the tenseness of the situation has been alleviated.

"oh, uh.. I like to.. Uh.." Sienna racks her brain momentarily, trying to think of what it is that she actually likes to do. For a moment she almost says "Church." but then she thinks better of it. Desperately, Sienna looks at her brother Ross, who she has come to rely upon in social situations.

---

Ozzi raises his eyebrows at Harv, who bursts into the conversation with a slightly amusing torrent of words. Rita's mention of Harv's hair brings Ozzi's attention to it, but now that he sees it, he is intrigued. For a moment he considers asking either Harv or Rita how one actually dyes their hair, but then he decides that that is a conversation for later. Instead he just walks alongside the other two, listening and letting them do the talking for now. It just felt good to be a part of this group, this adventure. And though he wouldn't admit it to anyone, Ozzi is feeling pretty cool that most of these kids --who are almost all older than him by a year or two-- are treating him like an equal.