WEEK 3: CYOA (Rufus, Sumire, Taako, Dorothy)

[retellers]

Comments

[retellers]

[ They walk out into another hallway, except this one appears to be more like a modern high school hallway than the last one they were in. Lockers and classroom doors are everywhere, as well as students walking down the hall. They're all in the same uniform as the ones from inside the classroom. They all also look at the pair as they pass by them.

In the distance, they can hear organ music again. ]

[misstrust]

[ Can she be free of the braids yet--

But Dorothy has never been inside a modern high school and is also a great deal more wary for Some Reason, but she will let go of Rufus' hand and just focus on proceeding. ]

[soulus]

[He ignores the students. And now that his hand has been released, he straightens to walk briskly beside Dorothy toward the source of the music.]

[retellers]

[ It'll be hard to find the source of it, since it sounds like it's coming from the broadcast system.

One of the students does step in front of them. ]

Hi! Are you new?

[misstrust]

[ What a terrible school. ]

Just exploring. We're on our way out.

[ Hopefully. ]

[soulus]

Yes.

[They're new and they're on their way out.]

[retellers]

But there's a football game today. We're going against our longtime rivals!

[ Passing students start to whoop excitedly. There's a lot of team spirit here. ]

But next period is going to start. You should get to class.

[misstrust]

Yes, we'll be sure to do that. We wouldn't want to be late.

[ Narrator Voice: Dorothy was not sure to do that. ]

[soulus]

[Rufus does not want to go to class. But they don't have much of a choice, do they?]

[retellers]

[ She points to the nearest classroom. A few students are trickling into it. ]

Remember, it's for a brighter future.

[misstrust]

...

[ This smile is so beatific. ]

Right... of course.

[ Fine, whatever. INTO THE STUPID CLASSROOM. ]

[soulus]

[They didn't even go down the future road. Into the classroom, they go.]

[retellers]

[ The man isn't in this room, but it's filled with students like the last one was.

At the front of the room, are three of the robed figures who were sitting in the church pews. They're still praying. There are also two empty seats for Dorothy and Rufus. ]

[misstrust]

[ The first thing Dorothy does is scan the room for that man and-- well, he's either not here or cosplaying, so she takes a quiet breath and moves to sit down.

She doesn't entertain any notions that this will be pleasant, but maybe they won't try to make Rufus kill himself again. ]

[soulus]

[While Dorothy scans the room, Rufus watches the robed figures. Once it's evident that they'll just continue to pray, he moves to sit down.]

[retellers]

[ They're just chanting? It's fine.

A student next to Rufus leans over to tap him on the shoulder. ]

Oh my god, aren't you Legis' son? That's so cool.

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy lifts an eyebrow but-- well, not her conversation to butt in. So while she kind of has to listen, she's also observing the chanting hooded figures. ]

[soulus]

[He wants to throw this student.

But he does not. Instead Rufus stares at the student with a deeply unamused frown, saying nothing. The Realm operates like this, he reminds himself, so this was expected.]

[retellers]

[ The figures continue to chant, although when Dorothy blinks she may notice that they suddenly seem shorter than they were a moment ago.

The student ignores how unhappy Rufus looks. ]

You just missed his lecture. It was great. He told us to do the right thing... you do that too, right?

[misstrust]

[ ... That's not promising. Three shorter figures is a little too familiar for her liking.

So she glances away, from the figures and from Rufus. Maybe there's a nice poster of Jesus to stare at instead. ]

[soulus]

[Rufus would rather listen to Hansa preach about the Lord over the student's chattering.]

I don't care about that.

[retellers]

But Mrs. Melanie did, she was really happy to finally see him.

[ Jesus stares back.

And also, so do the hooded figures. They finally stopped praying and are now looking directly at the pair. ]

[misstrust]

[ I mean who wouldn't want to look at this pair, they're hot. You know who doesn't want to stare back?

Dorothy. Though she does finally glance Rufus' way, because demons are better than Jesus I guess. ]

[soulus]

[His face twists at the second name. Everything else fades to the background as he clenches his fists and snarls:]

Can you shut your mouth? My mother's name isn't yours to use.

[retellers]

[ The student lifts his hands up in a placating gesture. ]

Sorry, sorry. I think she's cool too.

[ He leans forward, as if to whisper, but his voice still carries over. ]

Or at least she was, until it turned out she was some dumb bitch who died just because she couldn't have some cock in her mouth, huh? What a stupid way to go.