groovygamers.com

The Usual suspects table has all the regulars.  Dave, Rob,  and Greg.

Today was class color day, so Megan was in the required yellow for Freshman.  She was wearing a yellow T-shirt by Bejeweled with a picture of Sylvester on it round various sequins, and the words “Putty Tat”.  To complete the outfit she had a pair of yellow sweats with the words “Abercrombie & Fitch” running down one leg.  She was soooooo looking forward to Homecoming.  As she made her way into the lunchroom, she waved at some people as she passed by, looking for John.

(ooc will post pictures of the clothes when I get off work)

Donnie comes in and tosses his bookbag on the table. "Wasssssssaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap? I picked up a couple booster packs of those crappy Wizards Dungeons and Dragons minis last night. I am still hoping for a few more azers for this weekend's game, but I guess I'll have to make do with some dwarf warriors with their hair painted like flame or something. Be right back. I needs me some greasy pizza."

"I still need to get some of those."  Rob says, "We're still playing Saturday right?"

"Indeed."  Greg says, doing his Teal'C impersonation from Stargate SG-1

"Hey guys."  Breanna says arriving with her tray and cane.  "Open chair somewhere?"

"Two O'Clock."  Dave says, not looking up from his book.

Breanna makes her way around to the right spot and sits down.  Dave is always at 6 O'Clock, his statement that he's not at the head of the table.  Greg is always to Dave's left and Rob is to his right. 

Donnie nods at Breanna. "Hey Breanna. That spanish quiz sucked. I should have done my homework." Donnie leaves the table to get in the lunchline.

John comes in and makes the pass by the team table to chat with some of the football players before he comes over to the Suspects table.  "Hey guys."  he's wearing a yellow t-shirt that shows off his muscular frame and his huskies football jacket.  He gives Megan a kiss as he sits down.  "Did anyone not bomb the Spanish quiz?"  he asks looking around the table.

Megan had taken her usual seat at the table as she knew John would be around soon enough.  She had said hello to those that arrived as she looked through the latest copy of Teen Cosmo.  When John came over, she eagerly returned his kiss before looking back at the magazine.  “I told you that there was going to be a quiz after the long break and we should have looked at it some last night.  Good thing I spent time on it earlier in the long weekend, so I didn’t do too badly.”

"I barely speak my own language."  John began, "I think it's totally unfair they expect me to speak another one."

Dave, Greg and Rob get a chuckle out of John's statement and Rob gives a "Here, here" and raises his soda can in toast.

Samantha comes in wearing a bright yellow Hollywood t-shirt and a yellow feather boa draped around her neck.  Her hair has been restyled and highlightedby someone who knew exactly how to bring out the best in her hair.  She's glowing with a professionally applied California tan.  She looks happy, healthy, and very relaxed.

"Hi Dave.  Hi Greg.  Mind if I wait with you guys until Elrod gets here?  I don't know if he wants to eat in the cafeteria or not.  Hey y'all.  How's it going?"

“Well, opening a book during ‘study sessions’ would probably be a helpful start.”  Megan replied as she folded a corner of one page of the magazine on an interesting article she would read later when she had more time.  She then looked up at John with a smile.  “So, we are winning Homecoming right?”

"Hey Sammy, looks like you had a good long weekend."  Megan said.

Sammy's practically buzzing with excitement.  "Oh my god, did I!  It was so cool!  I didn't want to come home!  Elrod's parents own a house right on the beach, and my room looked out over the water.  I left the window open all night just so I could hear the waves.  It was too cold to go swimming though, but El said he'd take me back out there for spring break.  The water ought to be warm enough by then.  Oh, and I got a new phone!  Mom figured it was easier just to get me a new one."

“Sounds majorly cool.”  Megan replied with a smile and then nodded.  “Yeah, by Spring Break the water should be warm enough.  Should have asked him to take you to the Caribbean, even in December the water down there is more than warm enough to swim in.”

When Sammy mentioned getting a new phone, the blonde teen smiled.  “Good, did you keep the old number?”

"Sure, but then I couldn't complain about how hard my classes are." When Megan mentions Homecoming "Of course.  We are so psyched up for that game it's going to completely rock."

Syl bops into the cafeteria with her hair in two Heidi braids, complete with school-color ribbons.  Her retro-ish denim wrap skirt--laboriously appliquéd by Mommy, of course--doesn't quite make her gym-team leotard decent.  She skips over to Donnie, lets out a little squeal, flings her arms around his shoulders, and plants a wet one on his cheek.  "Hi hi hi!  How's my hunny pot?  Who's my Pooh Bear?"  Smooch!  "Are we going to catch the Harry Potter flick this weekend?"

“Good.”  Megan replied with a smile as she began to walk her fingers up John’s arm.  “While I would cheer for you regardless, it is nice to be cheering while we are winning.”

"Hola amigos! God and Great Spirit, I love Spanish."

Colin, his camera, his huge glasses and a rather huge homemade yellow sweater arrive at the table, and he takes out his usual homemade sandwich.

"Hey, boss" he says turning towards Sylvia "Gretchen asked me to tell you that the paper's computers are fine, and that we can still get our issue out on time this week. Got any idea for it?"

"Sammy! You look wonderful! Gotta take some pics of you later. Was California up to the hype? Was Elrod up to the hype?"

He turns his head around.

"Has anyone see my wo- I mean, Sarah around?"

Sylvia rolls her eyes a little.  "Oh, sure.  Another week of frivolous headlines in the school where nothing happens.  How about another pre-Homecoming issue?  Fashion trends in formalwear?  Last-minute solutions for the hapless slacker?  Do a few more interviews with the football team?  Ask Kel.  Kel's always good at coming up with this stuff."


"You totally do!" Sylvia gushes at Sammy.  "I'm so jealous.  I so want to go back home with my sweetie."  She punctuates that with another smooch, planted on Donnie's hair.  "You look all beachy.  Is that a sunless tanner or just a natural glow?"

"I was thinking of horror stories. Maybe set in schools. A sort of Weekly World News issue where we consider what could have happened here last week. Wouldn't that be fun?"

Sylvia looks dubious.  "Halloween was like last month."

"Yeah, but school was locked up so we missed Halloween's issue."

Colin insists, looking all puppy eyed at Sylvia, the de facto director of the newspaper.

Sylvia makes decision-making faces.  "Like, give me an example.  What's your pitch?"

"Yeah, just upgraded the hardware, that's all."  Sammy kneels on a chair, draping her arms across the seat back.  Her nails have been nicely manicured too.  She's looking pretty darned good, even with the tacky yellow t-shirt and cheap boa.


"Sunless tan, plus lots of de-stressing!  El signed all of us up for a spa day just before we flew home. It was awesome!  The massage was incredible.  And yeah, El is wonderful.  I can't believe how lucky I am."  She sighs contentedly, smiling at the mental image of Elrod Janush.


"He could always doctor up photos of kids at school, make them scary looking.  What he did with my image was incredible.  I still can't get over it."

"Oh, you were fabulous to begin with, darling.  Colin just made people take a closer look."

Sammy rolls her eyes and grins.  "People keep saying that.  Don't stop!"

Colin's eyes get bright, as they always do when he's following a dream in his mind.
"Well, some smoke bombs were put in the basement. By who? Why? And those bees? And that sudden rain? What if the smoke bombs were a cover up, and some clueless guys had opened and ancient and haunted crypt just below the school? What if this is only the beginning?"

As Sylvia and Colin began talking about newspaper stuff, Megan just tuned them out as she continued to caress John’s arm.  Leaning in, she brought her mouth near his ear as she whispered, “do you have the key for the storage closet?”

"Oh,I feel a script coming on."  Greg says, grabbing his notebook and scribbling in it.


"I can certainly come into possession of it."  he says softly, turning his face to hers and kissing her. 

Dressed in a sparkle yellow t-shirt and jeans with strips of yellow tape all over it, Sarah comes in late... very late to lunch.  She walks with her head down but as soon as she gets to the table you can see she's miserable and has sore red eyes.  She slumps down next to Colin and leans on his shoulder.  "Hey," she says in a dejected tone.   

She closes her eyes and wishes she could go to Oz to get a brain. 

"Hey beautiful. What's up? You look like you could use some cheering up."

He leans close to her, rub his nose against hers, and gives her a gentle and soft kiss.

"What's happened?"

“Hmmmmm.”  Megan murmured as she was kissed by John.  “Well, I’ll be right here.”  She said when they finally came apart. 

Sammy watches Megan and John, and says "Don't wear him out, Megan.  He's been having enough trouble with his arm going weak as it is.  People are starting to say he hasn't got what it takes to go a whole game."

Megan kept her gaze on John as he went to get the key, replying.  “Don’t worry, it’s only Monday, plenty of time to rest up before the game.”

"Ye-eah, okay," Sylvia says, giving Colin an amused but wary stare.  "You and Scoob go that way.  Me, Velma, and Daphne will be covering the sci-fi club fundraiser."

Sammy shrugs.  "Whatever.  I tried."

She turns to Sylvia.  "The band is having another fundraiser too.  We're selling Thanksgiving turkeys."

"Crosier," says Sarah like she's swearing.  Her math teacher.  "We just come back to school and he greets us with a pop quiz.  I failed.. spectacularly.  It was all stuff we'd covered the last few weeks.  My homework's been good... I don't understand.  I had a total mind blank or something.  He dragged me over the coals about it.  I mean " 

She sighs and just puts her head back on Colin's shoulder.  But there across the table was a sunkissed Sammy.  "You look awesome!  How was your get away?  Why did you ever come back?  I mean I'd totally miss you.. unless like Elrod got all of us some plane tickets..."  She gave Elrod a big doe eyed look. 

Sylvia looks away from Sarah, eyes full of worry and sympathy.  "Do you have a schtick?" she asks Sammy.  "A photo opportunity for the inventive Mr. Crow?"

“Sides, he only gets tied because he is on the field so much and our running game sucks, so he has to throw almost every play..”  Megan added.  “Anyone that is talking doesn’t understand a thing about needing to use up as much of the clock as we can when we have the ball to keep the other team’s offense off the field.”

Sammy jumps off her chair, startled.  She hadn't noticed Elrod walking up to the table.  "Hey you!"  She gives him a squeeze, then turns back to Sarah.  "California was great. Elrod made me come back; some nonsense about wasting a set of perfectly good homecoming tickets if we didn't."


"A trip to the turkey farm?  Somebody gave the band director a deal on fresh, free range, organic birds."



Sammy puts up a hand to deflect Megan's defensive words.  "All I'm repeating is what I've heard people say.  Some of it is pretty bad, a lot worse than just a weak arm and no endurance."

Megan just shrugs.  “Well, people are probably just jealous.  I’d like to see some of them out there.  Sides, I can attest that he has plenty of endurance.”

"There's your assignment, Colin.  Turkey farm, some nice band people.  You can write it up as 'Wattle the band do to raise funds?'"


Sylvia grimaces.  "TMI."

Sarah covers her face and groans.  "You did not just say that."

Sylvia's grin brightens.  "Lucky for you turkeys aren't very punny."  She looks thoughtful.  "Although I bet the band would get a lot of publicity if we printed something about juicy breasts and thighs for sale."

"Oh sure, they'll gobble it up," adds Sarah. 

Having temporarily forgotten about her troubles she digs out her lunch and pulls out a sack of brownies.  She puts them in the center after taking one for herself.   

"D'oh!"

"I hope that's all there is to it.  Really, I do.  I was helping to pack the band truck after the last game, and I heard some men talking?  One said that he was going to look at game tapes because he thinks that maybe the Oak Park quarterback is throwing games... "

"Those jackasses obviously have no idea how to watch a game then." Says a voice from behind with the typical low growl.  Kel stands there in his usual attire, combat boots, chain belt, and leather jacket.  He is sporting yellow bangs and a small yellow sash on his right arm.  "Anyone who has spent time reviewing the tapes would know that it's the rest of the team's lack of skill not our freshman quarterback.  They wouldn't let him out on the field if there was any thought after one game he might be throwing them.  So let them watch it and complain, they're blowing out their own asses anyway and they should do their damn research before they start spreading rumors."  As he sits down he lets out a long breath and then stares at the rest of the group, "Also, I heard way too many puns than should exist when I walked up, dare I even ask what we're discussing?"

"Turkeys, selling their young bodies on the street for a few lousy bucks," Sylvia says.  "It's an exposé."

"Hey."  Elrod gives her a kiss.  "Sorry Sarah, I left all my plane tickets in my other pants."

Sammy shrugs.  I did what I could to try to help him, she thinks.  If I say anymore it'll sound like I actually believe the rumors.  I don't think John would throw a game, but something has been off.

"Sylvia and Colin are trying to find something to put into the school paper.  They're so desperate for a story that an upcoming poultry massacre sounds interesting."  Sammy turns to Elrod and strokes his cheek with her fingers.  "Got any new musicians that you want to have discovered?"

"I don't know, I kind of like the turkey serial killer thing."  Elrod says looking into Sammy's eyes, "Sounds romantic."

Megan looked over to see John leaving the table where the other football players were.  He nodded towards one of the exits to the cafateria as he headed that way.

"Well, see you all later."  Megan said to the others as she put her magazine back in her backpack and got up to head towards the exit after John.

"Hey." he says, gently stroking her nape. "Don't let him get to you. We'll fix it. We've got time, and you're smarter than you feel now." There is no deception, or sympathy in his eyes or his voice. He wants her to feel that he really believes in her.


"See? This is why I love taking pics for Kel's articles. He's got to mind the language there, but there's the same passion."


"I proposed a Weekly World News edition, a Weekly Husky News, if you want, to make up for Halloween, and to fill it with horror stories. Then the turkeys crept in it, and it looks like they're gonna be hard to chase away." he laughs.

"Later, Meg."

When she's far enough, he whispers to the others: "She isn't going to do what I think she's going to do, is she?"

"I don't know," Sylvia says.  "I'm not thinking about it."

"Probably best."  Dave says not bothering to look up from his book.

"I want to."  Rob says, "Megan is super hot."  He adjusts himself in his seat.

Greg chuckles into his napkin and Dave grins from behind his book.

"So, why is she sitting with us?"  Breanna says from the other end of the table.

"Because John is."  Greg answers.

"But, John's the quarterback.  Why is he here?"

"Because geek is the new chic, didn't you know?"  Still, Sylvia sounds uncertain for a moment.

"If you want a rational explanation, it's because you're friends with Sarah and Donnie, I'm with Sarah, Donnie and I are in the newspaper staff, so are Sylvia and Kel, who is with Breanna, but Sylvia and Kel are in the cheerleading team too, so we get Megan and then John. That should be it."

He thinks about it for a moment. "Well, almost. Sammy, what are you and Elrod doing here?" he asks jokingly.

"I've found that rational explanations work less than 10% of the times."

"God please save me from all the terrible puns."

He gives Sylvia a pinch. "You're the worst."

He listens to the conversation around him laughing.
 "We could do a Halloween spoof issue. Make up wild outlandish stories, treat them as if they were real and addressed as real news stories. Start out with a headline about the band sacrificing turkeys to dark powers in exchange for worldy wealth and fiscal happiness. "


"Because he's a geek in a jock's body. He wants to join the science club."

"Bite your tongue, Colin.  I am so not a cheerleader.  I'm a gymnast."  Sylvia says that crisply, pretending to take offense.

"Liar."  Donnie says with affection. "You know I love to watch you bounce around in your cheerleader outfit."

Sylvia blushes.  "That was last year's Halloween costume, and that was supposed to be private."  She picks a Cheeto up off the table in front of Dave and wings it at Donnie.

"Okay, even if I accept your explanation, which is weak at best."  Greg begins, "What is Sylvia doing with Donnie when Kel lives next door to her and they spent all summer together?"

"Ouch.  Poor form there Greg-O."  Dave says, then looks up from his book.  "Although, it's a valid question I guess."

"What am I missing?"  Breanna says, obviously confused.

"Greg is not so subtly pointing out that Sylvia is a solid eight and Donnie is more of a four like me."  Rob answers.

OOC: Everyone at the table make a Notice Check DC 20

Colin looks confused for a moment, as if something was missing from his memory, then he shakes his head.

"Sorry, boss. I meant that you met them at the gym. You all often train together, don't you?"


"Some of us fours are just lucky." Colin says, smiling at Sarah.


Notice check (1d20+12=27) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1121497)

Sarah waves away Elrod's apology.  "That's okay.  I freckle all up anyway."

Seeing that no one was making a move for the brownies she took a second one.  Their loss.  Besides, chocolate makes everything better.

OOC:
Notice Check (1d20+8=9) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1121519)

IC:

Sarah digs out a copy of Modern Metaphysics and flips open to an article entitled "Multiple Personality / Alternate Reality?"

((aww, 2 shy: http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1121565 ))

Kel smirks slightly when Megan walks off.  Then given the new turn in conversation he merely shakes his head and says, "I'm not going to pounce on every girl I meet.  Some are just luckier than others."

"Donnie's not a four!" Sylvia scolds.  "He has remarkable eyes, straight teeth, and he smells good.  That makes him at least a six, and he gets four bonus points for--"  She pauses and extemporizes.  "--knowing how to dress and when to bring flowers."


Notice Check (1d20=12) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1121578)


"Not too often.  I train at Oak Park Gymnasium."

"El is friends with Dave and Greg,  you silly boy.  You know that!"  Elrod takes a seat, and Sammy plants herself firmly on his knee, making sure that one of his arms is wrapped snugly around her waist.  She sits and half listens to the conversation going on around her, all the while feeding Elrod bits of brownie from her fingertips and looking quite pleased with herself in general.


notice check (1d20=8) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1121611)

Notice check (1d20+3=4) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1121710)

ooc: The dice gods laugh at me today.

Donnie rests his arm around Sylvia, saying "Besides, Rob, I have my sparkling wit worth a point or two. And you, Greg, are an asshole. You are lucky I am not a vindictive GM."

"Please, you're a killer GM anyway, why is pointing out you're with a hottie going to change that."

Dave and Rob have a laugh and then go back to what they were doing.

Sarah tries to drag another brownie to herself with telekinesis but nothing happens.  Probably for the best.  I'd never want to be mixed up in all the crazy stuff that's been going on.

She sighs and turns the page on the article.  She asks Donnie, "What game are you running again?  Is this the one with the things with the chains?"

Colin's eyes change again. Something's got his attention and he takes a look around, beyond the circle of his friends.

He frowns a bit and seems to be counting to himself. Then he shakes his head and stands up, taking another look around, at the few people currently in the lunch room and at the several empty tables.

"Maybe it's just me, but shouldn't there be more people? Is everybody on a strict diet? It's raining outside, and rather cold.  Have you perchance noticed if someone was missing from your classes?"

Dave, Rob, and Greg look at each other and offer shrugs.  Breanna shrugs offering "I'm still not sure who is supposed to be in my classes."

OOC: Colin roll a d20 please

Just a d20 (1d20=2) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1121760)

"Maybe their parents are keeping them away.  So many strange things have been happening here.  Like me catching the eye of a hot senior."  Sammy giggles and leans in to give Elrod the kind of kiss usually reserved for the back seat of a car or other private place.

"Don't make me get the hose Sammy." quips Sarah.  "And Greg I'd better not hear a line out of Silence of the Lambs." 

Sarah looks around at the empty tables.  "Maybe there's a bug going around?"

Kel looks around and gives a shrug, "Haven't spotted anything out of the ordinary."

Sammy looks up from her work long enough to say "I'm just searching him for those plane tickets, Sarah."  She resumes the lip lock.

Colin feels his nose running.  It's about that time Sarah realizes he has a nose bleed.  Colin feels lightheaded and like he wants to throw up, luckily he passes out before that can happen.

Having been leaning against him Sarah grabs him before he can bang his head on anything.  "Oh sh1+ !!!"

She shifts in her chair and leans him back towards herself.  "Dave!  Guys!  Somebody who knows first aid?  Help?"

Donnie leaps up and hands Sarah a handful of napkins, then runs out the cafeteria to go to the office and report it or get the nurse.

OOC: Donnie, roll a D20

Kel leaps up and with Donnie running off he says, "Here, we should get him to the nurses' office."  Kel then goes through the motions of getting Colin into his arms, gesturing for someone to help him.

d20 roll (1d20=18) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1121851)

Sammy is diverted by all of Sarah's yelling.

She reaches into her purse and retrieves a tampon.  "Shove this up his nose," she says.  "It should help with the bleeding."

Sarah grabs the napkins from Donnie and holds them to Colin's nose.   Glancing back at Sammy she sees what her friend is holding out.  "What the?  Uh.  No.  Thanks.  I'm all set."  California must have baked her brains... or Elrod did.

You make it to the office and they send the nurse.  Your head hurts.

Sammy insistently dangles the now unwrapped personal hygiene item from its string.  "It's not so different from the packing they use after a nose job.  The pressure will help to stop the bleeding, and the cotton will absorb the blood.  The string will make it easy to remove.  You should at least try it.  Are you afraid it'll turn him into a girl or something?  Hey, Colleen!  Open your eyes, and tell Sarah its okay to put a tampon up your nose so you don't ruin your sweater!"

Donnie follows the nurse back, hand rubbing his temple. He stops and gets a drink of water before catching up with the nurse. What the heck? My head wasn't aching before..

The nurse comes in and pushes to Colin.  She looks him over and takes his pulse.  "You should come lay down.  I'll call your family to come and pick you up."

"Ah Sammy?  I'm not sure mortal embarrassment works quite the same as smelling salts.  Now stop picking on my bleeding unconscious boyfriend before I give your nose it's time of the month." 

She sticks her tongue out at Sammy.

The nurse takes Colin to the office and calls his mom to come get him.


OOC:Sarah, roll a d20

Sammy replies in kind. "Go ahead.  Elrod will buy me a new one."

Mystery Roll (1d20=18) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1122217)

Sarah follows along with the nurse and stays by Colin's side. 

By the time you reach the office you have a bit of a headache.

A few minutes later Colin's mom arrives.  He's sort of conscious by then and she takes him home.

OOC: Sylvia needs to roll a D20

"Mom? Sarah? What's happened? My head really hurts. Where am I?"

"I'm taking you home honey."  his mom says, we'll get you some rest and have a doctor come take a look.

"Ok. Sounds like a good idea. I'm sorry, Sarah. I'll call you when I feel better."

Mystery Roll (1d20=17) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1122422)

Sarah gives Colin's hand a squeeze and smiles softly.  She says, "Hey, no problem.  You just take it easy.  You gave me a scare though.  I acted all girly and helpless." 

She looks at Alex and smiles a little bit.  "It's good to see you again Mrs. Crow."

Sylvia doesn't feel good, like she ate something that isn't agreeing with her.