The Half-Blood Academy IC (Redo)

[Tomia]

Dominique had wrapped up.her lunch early and snuck off to the ballet studio to practice some more. Ariana watched her friend go and nudged her brother's side. "Hey Mike, we're putting on Don Quixote in a month. It's a totally big deal, Dom and I already have our parts but our partners haven't been chosen yet. Pray I don't get butter toes Bill, he can't dance for nothing. I don't know who Dom's gonna get." she said. Suddenly a ring ripped through the hall, announcing the end of lunch.

Mike was finishing up his lunch when Ariana nudged him and talked about her upcoming performance. "Well that's great sis, you know I'll be there to watch you two." He told her with a smile before adding playfully, "Even if ballet can get a little boring sometimes." He then heard her talk who her and Dom's partner would be. For reasons he didn't want to admit, Mike didn't like the idea of Dom having a male dance partner. Someone who'd be close to her and touching her all the time. But he tried to keep his expression calm and pushed the thoughts from his mind. "Well, whoever you get I know you two will be fine. You're the two best dancers in the whole school after all." He told his sister truthfully before he heard the bell go off as well. "Come on sis, we should get going to class."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

Merlin listened with a neutral face. As she told him, his expression remain neutral. When she finished, Merlin looked at her.

"Over my life time, I have learned many things. One such piece of wisdom might be applied here..." He said, "Fate can be a real bitch.... Don't tell anyone I used that word.... Anyways. You can't let your past dictate who you are. Look to your future. The future is normally brighter for people with dark pasts. But they can only reach said future by overcoming your past."

Merlin smiled, "The fact that you still go on with your life tells me you are strong, and unwilling to surrender to your past. Though you may lose some of your inner battles, you haven't yet won your war. Your like me in that way."

[Charlia]

Merlin

Merlin listened with a neutral face. As she told him, his expression remain neutral. When she finished, Merlin looked at her.

"Over my life time, I have learned many things. One such piece of wisdom might be applied here..." He said, "Fate can be a real bitch.... Don't tell anyone I used that word.... Anyways. You can't let your past dictate who you are. Look to your future. The future is normally brighter for people with dark pasts. But they can only reach said future by overcoming your past."

Merlin smiled, "The fact that you still go on with your life tells me you are strong, and unwilling to surrender to your past. Though you may lose some of your inner battles, you haven't yet won your war. Your like me in that way."

The word actually made her cringe visibly, but she recovered her composure soon enough.

Then she lowered her head.

"The fact that I still go on with my life..." she whispered, staring down at her hands.

Specifically, at two ugly, jagged lines... one on each wrist.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

Merlin looked at where she was looking, Scars.... Those cuts would have been fatal if not for her blood.... He sighed.

"Life doesn't like to give people easy ways out." Merlin stated, "That way life can beat on you, over and over again till you pass. And with immortals, well, life can be cruel." He paused, "But that doesn't make life bad. Life just try's to push everything to become stronger. By giving them massive obstacles, and forcing them to overcome or else." Merlin smiled slightly, "Life doesn't want you to give up."

[Charlia]

Merlin

Merlin looked at where she was looking, Scars.... Those cuts would have been fatal if not for her blood.... He sighed.

"Life doesn't like to give people easy ways out." Merlin stated, "That way life can beat on you, over and over again till you pass. And with immortals, well, life can be cruel." He paused, "But that doesn't make life bad. Life just try's to push everything to become stronger. By giving them massive obstacles, and forcing them to overcome or else." Merlin smiled slightly, "Life doesn't want you to give up."

She smiled bitterly now.

"Could have fooled me."

Then she closed her eyes, sighing slightly.

"I suppose you're right, though."

Although if I haven't become strong yet, after all I've been through...

Then you must be weak? Correct. You. Are. Weak.

How pathetic.

[Platypus Reborn]

Nico sat down on the stool and gave a quick thanks to Ely for the money to buy his lunch. He chose the Pasta and Garlic Bread due to his Italian origins.

"Do you know what period we have next?" He asked Ely. He took another spoonful before continuing.

"Because I think that we share all our cla- *CLUMF*," He was cut off when he gagged on his food, before spitting it out back onto the plate. He quickly covered up the mess on his plate with the napkin that was previously laid on his lap.

"Ugh! What the hell is this crap?" Nico asked bewilderingly.

[Charlia]

Nico sat down on the stool and gave a quick thanks to Ely for the money to buy his lunch. He chose the Pasta and Garlic Bread due to his Italian origins.

"Do you know what period we have next?" He asked Ely. He took another spoonful before continuing.

"Because I think that we share all our cla- *CLUMF*," He was cut off when he gagged on his food, before spitting it out back onto the plate. He quickly covered up the mess on his plate with the napkin that was previously laid on his lap.

"Ugh! What the hell is this crap?" Nico asked bewilderingly.

She stared at him.

"I wouldn't know. I haven't eaten since... well, you know."

[Platypus Reborn]

Nico sat down on the stool and gave a quick thanks to Ely for the money to buy his lunch. He chose the Pasta and Garlic Bread due to his Italian origins.

"Do you know what period we have next?" He asked Ely. He took another spoonful before continuing.

"Because I think that we share all our cla- *CLUMF*," He was cut off when he gagged on his food, before spitting it out back onto the plate. He quickly covered up the mess on his plate with the napkin that was previously laid on his lap.

"Ugh! What the hell is this crap?" Nico asked bewilderingly.

She stared at him.

"I wouldn't know. I haven't eaten since... well, you know."

"Well, this is sh- Oh, um....uh...sorry, I didn't mean to bring up painful memories," He said, eyes staring at the floor.

'Why do I have to be such an ass, ugh'

[Charlia]

She stared at him.

"I wouldn't know. I haven't eaten since... well, you know."

"Well, this is sh- Oh, um....uh...sorry, I didn't mean to bring up painful memories," He said, eyes staring at the floor.

'Why do I have to be such an ass, ugh'

"It's fine," she said dismissively, although there was a heaviness in her voice.

"You can't just lock me up here and expect me to love you because of it!"

"Can't I, though?"

"It's not like I don't remember it every time I think about my glasses, or every time I phase through a door or a wall or even a person..."

[Platypus Reborn]

"Well, this is sh- Oh, um....uh...sorry, I didn't mean to bring up painful memories," He said, eyes staring at the floor.

'Why do I have to be such an ass, ugh'

"It's fine," she said dismissively, although there was a heaviness in her voice.

"You can't just lock me up here and expect me to love you because of it!"

"Can't I, though?"

"It's not like I don't remember it every time I think about my glasses, or every time I phase through a door or a wall or even a person..."

"Did they ever catch your killer?" Nico asked inquisitively; However, it took him a moment to realize that he should have sugar-coated the question.

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

Merlin nodded, "I guess we are done here unless you want to talk some more." Merlin smiled, "Feel free to ask me any questions, and if you ever need somewhere quiet to escape to, feel free to come here. Even if I am not here..." He said as he got up and went to the desk.

Opening a drawer, he started going it, "Now where is it?" He said as he looked and started to pull things out. He pulled out and put on his desk what was expected. But then, he pulled out an old looking scroll, a map to be precise, "That's where that went. Good to know." He said as he put it on the desk.

"Found it." Merlin said as he pulled out a key. He walked over to Charlotte, and handed her the key. "Here you go. This key will unlock my door. You can drop by anytime you need to. But first period and seventh period I am teaching classes. You can still come into this room, but you'll have to wait if you want to talk to me. Ok?"

[Charlia]

"It's fine," she said dismissively, although there was a heaviness in her voice.

"You can't just lock me up here and expect me to love you because of it!"

"Can't I, though?"

"It's not like I don't remember it every time I think about my glasses, or every time I phase through a door or a wall or even a person..."

"Did they ever catch your killer?" Nico asked inquisitively; However, it took him a moment to realize that he should have sugar-coated the question.

She stared down at the floor.

"...No. They questioned him, but ultimately... they never did anything else." Her voice grew slightly bitter. "My body's probably still shut in his basement. I hate him... Oh, by all the gods, I hate him!"

How could I ever love him? Why didn't I see it?

Merlin

Merlin nodded, "I guess we are done here unless you want to talk some more." Merlin smiled, "Feel free to ask me any questions, and if you ever need somewhere quiet to escape to, feel free to come here. Even if I am not here..." He said as he got up and went to the desk.

Opening a drawer, he started going it, "Now where is it?" He said as he looked and started to pull things out. He pulled out and put on his desk what was expected. But then, he pulled out an old looking scroll, a map to be precise, "That's where that went. Good to know." He said as he put it on the desk.

"Found it." Merlin said as he pulled out a key. He walked over to Charlotte, and handed her the key. "Here you go. This key will unlock my door. You can drop by anytime you need to. But first period and seventh period I am teaching classes. You can still come into this room, but you'll have to wait if you want to talk to me. Ok?"

"Oh..." She was quite surprised.

"Thank you." She managed to smile, awkwardly. She was about to leave when something struck her.

"...Please... don't tell anyone."

Whether she meant what, exactly, she was hiding in her backpack, or what had happened to her, she didn't specify.

[Nuridia]

Two Weeks Later, Open House Day
It was the big day, at least to most of the students and teachers it was. Everybody was bustling around trying to get ready, and classes had been re-scheduled that day so that the atudents could have more time to practice their showcases. Aurelia of course was helping some of her students with their art pieces for Open House, parents would show up that night and there'd be a grand showcase for all the students to perform, it was quite nerve wracking especially as head of the Arts Department and you had to make sure the decorations were on point.

Aurelia gathered her arts students in her classroom and spoke to them.
"As you kids know, it's Arts Night tonight which means we'll be spending the day working on showcases and decorating. Now, my job is to make sure that the school and especially the showcase theater is stunning for tonight. Murals will need to be painted, backdrops and decorations made, we've already got some made but we need to finish of course. I need four volunteers to assist me, if you are finished or nearly finished with your presentations of course. I don't want to take time you need away from your art."

[Charlia]

Two Weeks Later, Open House Day
It was the big day, at least to most of the students and teachers it was. Everybody was bustling around trying to get ready, and classes had been re-scheduled that day so that the atudents could have more time to practice their showcases. Aurelia of course was helping some of her students with their art pieces for Open House, parents would show up that night and there'd be a grand showcase for all the students to perform, it was quite nerve wracking especially as head of the Arts Department and you had to make sure the decorations were on point.

Aurelia gathered her arts students in her classroom and spoke to them.
"As you kids know, it's Arts Night tonight which means we'll be spending the day working on showcases and decorating. Now, my job is to make sure that the school and especially the showcase theater is stunning for tonight. Murals will need to be painted, backdrops and decorations made, we've already got some made but we need to finish of course. I need four volunteers to assist me, if you are finished or nearly finished with your presentations of course. I don't want to take time you need away from your art."

Natalie already had her painting finished--she was calling it Curse of Blackmoor Manor--and raised her hand eagerly.

"I'll help! I'll help!"

---

Ely looked up from her photographs and nodded. "If you have anything alive, I can help with that." Not that my parents will be coming... but that's okay.

---

Charlotte just stayed silent.

She had been chosen to play a part--but not just any part--the part she both loved and hated.

Lavinia...

She felt sick every time she thought of the name.

And as if it wasn't bad enough that she had to be Lavinia, they were performing the worst scene in the play... and of course, she'd have to find some way to get around the wings. She couldn't wear the backpack, they wouldn't let her...

Why can't things just be...

Simple? Normal?

I hate this.

I don't even have any parents to come.

[Tomia]

Two Weeks Later, Open House Day

"Don't worry honey, Mike and I are here to help." John said with a smile. Since most of his students did not have an art to preform, he was free to help out his very busy wife. The fooball team had one it's first two games and Michael had incredible performance in both. "Ya mom, I can paint and stuff." Mike told his mother with a grin.

[Nuridia]

"Thank you all. Especially you, mes amours." she told her husband and son, kissing gem on both cheeks. "Ana had offered her assistance but I told her she needed to practice for her showcase. Maybe if you get down there you can catch her during practice, she was looking for you John." Aurelia told her husband and son before turning to her students. "Right everyone, grab whatever supplies you need and meet me in the cafeteria. Then on to the theater." Aurelia said, she was already in a smock with her hair braided back as she collected her supplies.

[Holy Empire of Avalon]

James listened to the Aurelia before stabbing a thumb at his easel, "I can pitch in, chief, already got my stuff ready. Can't say my decorating skills are any better than my painting skills, but I will do my best." He was already thinking of interesting ways to rig confetti to explode from a makeshift cannon, all he needed was some materials from the chemistry labs, some metal from the workshop, and a whole lot of confetti. While he was in thought everyone had already gotten ready and went off. Snatching up his apron stained red with handprints and long murderous finger lines James followed along. He caught up to Aurelia to ask her something, "Ma'am, now arts night..." He looked around, "Can siblings come or is this just parents?"

[Charlia]

"Thank you all. Especially you, mes amours." she told her husband and son, kissing gem on both cheeks. "Ana had offered her assistance but I told her she needed to practice for her showcase. Maybe if you get down there you can catch her during practice, she was looking for you John." Aurelia told her husband and son before turning to her students. "Right everyone, grab whatever supplies you need and meet me in the cafeteria. Then on to the theater." Aurelia said, she was already in a smock with her hair braided back as she collected her supplies.

Natalie gathered supplies quickly, following to the cafeteria as quickly as she could, considering her wheelchair. Ely just covertly walked through people.

---

Charlotte simply stared down at her lines, memorizing them.

Easy enough to add emotion to them. She would have preferred to have to work at it, though...

...Lavinia...

Oh, God, why?!

[Tomia]

"Thank you all. Especially you, mes amours." she told her husband and son, kissing gem on both cheeks. "Ana had offered her assistance but I told her she needed to practice for her showcase. Maybe if you get down there you can catch her during practice, she was looking for you John." Aurelia told her husband and son before turning to her students. "Right everyone, grab whatever supplies you need and meet me in the cafeteria. Then on to the theater." Aurelia said, she was already in a smock with her hair braided back as she collected her supplies.

Michael headed toward the cafeteria with his mother after grabbing all the paper and paint he'd need to help. John meanwhile smiled and headed down toward the dance studio to see his daughter. He arrived at the studio and watched the students practicing, seeing his daughter and waving to her with a smile.

[Charlia]

"Ah, Lavinia!" came a voice from behind her. She turned around to see the four other students who had been chosen walking towards her.

'Tamora' took a seat next to her, leaning back quietly. "So, how's your part coming?"

"Fine."

"She's a silent one, isn't she?" commented the boy assigned the part of Demetrius. "She doesn't seem like a Lavinia to me, but Teach knows best I suppose."

'Chiron' nodded. "She's pretty though..."

The boy playing Bassianus laughed, wrapping an arm around her and causing her to stiffen. "Don't even think about it, boys; she's all mine, remember?"

"Ah, only until tonight," 'Demetrius' smirked, "and then she's all ours. Right, bro?"

"Mhm, all ours, to do with as we please..." 'Chiron' pushed 'Bassianus' away, letting his fingers brush against Charlotte's face.

She shot to her feet, crying out, "Stop! Leave me alone!" and darting off, leaving the four others staring at each other in confusion.

"That's not how Lavinia's supposed to react..."

"Somebody needs to work on the concept of getting in character..."

"No, guys... Guys, I think she thought we were being serious..." The three boys stared at 'Tamora' in surprise.

"But that would mean she thought..."

"Yeah."

"...Do you think she's all right?"

"No." She stared after where the girl had disappeared, her voice far away. "No, I don't think she's all right... I don't think she's been all right in a very, very long time..."

[Nuridia]

Ariana was busy dancing the Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty, that was one of her favorite parts. Lined up in a row were four boys from her class who would play the princes dancing with her. She was just on the pas de deux with Stevie when all of a sudden John walked in.
"Papa!" Ana ran over to her father and kissed his cheek, tugging on the long sleeves of her blue leotard.
"Hey Mr. E, what's up?" Dominique waved from her place at the barre, she was practicing the Kitri dance from Don Wuixote. Dom preferred faster more lively roles with lots of twirling and pointe work.

Belvina and Luciana were in the music room working on their songs, Luci had chosen an old Greek piece from the play Medea, it was tragic, dramatic and haunting, just the kind that she liked. Belvina was practicing an Irish ballad, she did love Celtic music a lot and it was fun to do.
Tündér was practicing some showy magic in Merlin's classroom while Aurelia directed her students into the cafetetia.
"Right, well. We need to transform this cafeteria into something that screams fall. It's the fall season so the theme is autumn. We paint each room to resemble a different season somewhere in the world." Aurelia sighed.

[Charlia]

Ariana was busy dancing the Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty, that was one of her favorite parts. Lined up in a row were four boys from her class who would play the princes dancing with her. She was just on the pas de deux with Stevie when all of a sudden John walked in.
"Papa!" Ana ran over to her father and kissed his cheek, tugging on the long sleeves of her blue leotard.
"Hey Mr. E, what's up?" Dominique waved from her place at the barre, she was practicing the Kitri dance from Don Wuixote. Dom preferred faster more lively roles with lots of twirling and pointe work.

Belvina and Luciana were in the music room working on their songs, Luci had chosen an old Greek piece from the play Medea, it was tragic, dramatic and haunting, just the kind that she liked. Belvina was practicing an Irish ballad, she did love Celtic music a lot and it was fun to do.
Tündér was practicing some showy magic in Merlin's classroom while Aurelia directed her students into the cafetetia.
"Right, well. We need to transform this cafeteria into something that screams fall. It's the fall season so the theme is autumn. We paint each room to resemble a different season somewhere in the world." Aurelia sighed.

Well, that's easy enough. Reds, oranges, yellows, a lot of leaves...

Or possibly just a scarecrow that's literally screaming 'FALL'. But hey.

Or...

Some leaves... falling... and others screaming 'FALL' at them... that might be amusing...

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Merlin

"Remember. Safety first. We don't want anyone blowing up the cafeteria.... It's happened before.... So much paper work." Merlin said as he watched his students practice their magic for the show, "Also, remember I am marking your performances, as this is a perfect opportunity to determine how well you use it."

He looked to Tündér, "Looking good." He said before walking to each student, and offering some advice to those who appeared like they needed it.

[Barapam]

[...] Aurelia directed her students into the cafetetia.
"Right, well. We need to transform this cafeteria into something that screams fall. It's the fall season so the theme is autumn. We paint each room to resemble a different season somewhere in the world." Aurelia sighed.

"Can we do the Christmas season too?" Julia looked up at Aurelia with big hopeful eyes. Decorating was fun, but decorating for Christmas was even better! She really looked forward for the arts night, and she was almost done with her work, this was just a short pause to get the final dash of creativity going again. Julia was full of joy, in an almost childlike manner, and had completely forgot about the drama involving James, Lizzy, and herself.

At least for the moment.

[Charlia]

"What do you suppose she's--"

"Shh!"

Charlotte sat alone once more, reading over her lines and whispering them to herself. Then she stood up, and began reciting them aloud as if in a trance, the emotion showing in her words and the way she held herself. She had fallen into the role of Lavinia.

However, as she continued, something in her changed. She was no longer Lavinia, but herself, and a look of confusion crossed her face, followed quickly by dawning comprehension and absolute horror. She turned to an invisible Tamora, begging her with fear in her tone, "O Tamora! thou bear'st a woman's face--" She stopped there, and the girl hiding and watching with her three male companions whispered,

"I will not hear her speak; away with her!"

Charlotte turned again, pleading, "Sweet lords, entreat her hear me but a word!"

One of the boys whispered, "Listen, fair madam: let it be to your glory to see her tears; but be your heart to them as unrelenting flint to drops of rain."

This continued, her speaking her lines with no need to see the paper and her hidden watchers whispering their own, until finally she fell to her knees, tears streaming freely down her face as she cried out.

"O, keep me from their worse than killing lust," she begged, "And tumble me into some loathsome pit, where never man's eye may behold my body: Do this, and be a charitable murderer!"

"So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee?" the girl whispered. "No; let them satisfy their lust on thee."

"Away!" whispered 'Demetrius', "for thou hast stayed us here too long."

She fell back, terror driving her to back away from her imaginary enemies, crying, "No grace? no womanhood? Ah, beastly creature! The blot and enemy to our general name! Confusion fall--"

The boy was about to whisper his next line, but before he could she simply collapsed, sprawled on the ground, weeping bitterly.

"That's not part of the scene," whispered 'Tamora'. "...Do you think she was really acting?"

"No... None of us are that good, and we've been doing this for years... She's only seventeen. I don't think you can get acting skills like that at our age..."

"...Maybe it was a bad idea for her to be cast as Lavinia... I don't think she's responding well..."

"Yeah, but why is she acting like this? Maybe she's mentally ill or something."

The four students quietly began to formulate whispered theories, until finally one of them came up with an idea...

They all stared at her in shock, their faces slowly beginning to comprehend what was really going on with their strange classmate.

"Yeah... It was definitely a bad idea..."