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Jackie: It's not exceptionally late, but it's past curfew and the rest of the school is in a slumber-- minus Jesse. Sighing quietly and flopping around in bed, he attempts to fall back asleep. The attempt is fruitless, though (having been attempted for the better part of the last hour), and Jesse momentarily considers sneaking over to the other room to see if Tim is awake. Holding his breath, he tries to decipher any noises coming from across the bathroom, but hears nothing. Instead, he sits up in bed and blinks over at the clock, groaning for the time it displays before falling back into his pillows, clearly annoyed.


Jay: Kellen can usually fall asleep in a very short amount of time, and in the most uncomfortable of places, but that ability doesn't extend to uncomfortable circumstances. Not that he's uncomfortable, precisely, in his new dorm, but it is a change from staying with Leech. A post-dinner joint made him lazy enough to nap for a while, but he was awoken when the staff members going from room to room announced time for light's out, and now he's having trouble regaining that relaxed state of mind. Drawn from his own thoughts by the sound of his roommate shifting around, he hesitates for a moment before calling quietly. "Hey, Jesse? Y'awake?"


Jackie: Back to laying down, Jesse stares up at the ceiling in frustration-- he's always had bouts of insomnia, but he knows he's exhausted. The trek out east and the new surroundings are enough for him to curl into a ball and sleep for three days, but his body won't allow for it. When Kellen speaks up, Jesse lets out a small sigh of gratitude, then cranes his head over to look at the lump of a boy in the other bed. "I can't fucking fall asleep."


Jay: The frustration in Jesse's voice is obvious; Kellen doesn't think he's heard the boy curse prior to this. "Yeh, me neither. New place, I guess." Kellen shifts around to lie on his side, facing Jesse's side of the room. "Usually when I can't sleep, the best way to fix it is to stop trying to fall asleep, focus on somethin else for a while." Not that a night-quiet school offers a whole lot of options for items of focus.


Jackie: Blinking over at Kellen, Jesse's eyes have adjusted enough to the darkness that he can clearly make out the other boy's face, see the bright whites of his eyes. "I can't even shut off my brain, ya know? I don't even feel tired." Which makes it all the more frustrating in knowing that he should be tired, and should have fallen asleep a half an hour ago. Sighing again, he looks back up at the ceiling and shifts on his bed, his lower back sore from the new mattress. "This is stupid."


Jay: Making a vague noise of sympathy, Kellen seems to consider for a moment before sitting up and shoving the covers back, then feeling around the floor for his pants. "Well, fuck it. Not gonna fall asleep if we lay around thinking about how we aren't asleep." Finding those pants, Kellen pulls them on, and since there's a pack of smokes in one pocket, he thoughtlessly lights one up before standing to hunt down some socks and his shoes.


Jackie: Jesse stays still for a moment, thinking that Kellen is just readjusting in bed. But then he's up and out of bed and Jesse looks over at him, taking a moment to register what he's said and what he means. Sitting up, he rubs at his face and looks over at Kellen curiously. "...do you think breaking curfew on the first night is a good idea?"


Jay: He can't help but grin a little to himself for that question, waiting until the amusement passes before answering Jesse in a blatantly forced robust tone. "Of course I do! Gotta get a good start before you make it a habit." Finding his chucks, he pulls them on, not bothering to tie the laces. "C'mon, I can show you around. This place's got some really weird vibes." Kellen snags the hoodie off his desk chair and slips it on, then stands with his hands in his pockets, smoking, and obviously waiting for Jesse to give in and follow him.


Jackie: He continues watching Kellen, and while those words aren't really a justification for him, wandering around his new home with his new friend sounds infinitely more fun than trying to sleep when he knows it just won't happen. Shifting the covers off, he gets to his feet and doesn't bother changing out of his plaid pajama pants-- instead he just snags his moccasins to slip on his feet and a hoodie to tug over his head. While trying to get his head through the hole of the hoodie, he speaks up. "I noticed that earlier...it's got a really weird feeling. And the temperatures fluctuate so much." Finally getting that sweatshirt on, he pokes his head through the hole and looks at Kellen with a bit of excitement. "I think there are spirits."


Jay: Pleased that Jesse is so easily convinced, Kellen waits for him to finish dressing before heading for the door. Once in the hall, he lowers his voice appropriately, though the place seems empty enough. "I wouldn' be surprised. I don't know what the buildings were before, but a school like this musta had its fair share of psychopaths and suicides, yeh?" Reaching the end of the hall, he pauses to consider a moment, before pulling open the door to head downstairs. "We should check out the chapel. That belltower would be the perfect place to hang yourself." He's completely matter-of-fact about this, like it's something everyone would naturally think of.


Jackie: Keeping the hood up over his head, Jesse follows Kellen out of the room, being careful to shut the door quietly. He's certainly not innocent-- he's seen his fair share of trouble with Lint, but he still quirks his head in both directions to make sure the security guard isn't around. As they approach the end of the hall, he hums quietly for Kellen's words. "I wouldn't be surprised. The bars in our window look like they've been there forever. I wonder who they kept here before it was a school..."


Jay: "That is a really good question. I'm not sure how long it's been a school, even. " Falling silent as they reach the first floor, Kellen leads the way to the nearest door outside, opening on a courtyard that sits between the two longer wings of the main building and offering a path towards other buildings. Relaxing his caution somewhat now, Kellen slows a bit to walk next to Jesse and points out the various buildings as he names them. "That's a sorta auditorium-theater thing. It's newer than the rest of the place, I think. So is the art building, behind it. And the chapel's over there. There's even a graveyard behind it."


Jackie: "I doubt it's been long, I mean...maybe 50 years? But the buildings are way older than that, for sure." Still following Kellen, Jesse again looks over his shoulder as they make their way outside, unsure if the security guards were the kind that work around the clock, or just fixate on getting everyone to their rooms and then taking post in their offices. As they walk through the courtyard, Jesse nods for Kellen's words. "A graveyard? We should check that out sometime. I wonder how old the graves are. I mean, who dies in a boys school, ya know? Unless it was...like a really warped one."


Jay: Kellen nods his agreement for that assessment, weaving off the main path to avoid the lights and instead dodging around ornamental trees on the way to the chapel. "They looked old, but I didn't go in. Some of the markers were wood, even, and really worn down. Probably you can't even read them anymore." He slows down even more as they come up on the chapel, lowering his voice again. "We should be careful, though; one of the priests or staff or someone is bound to be in there, for Perpetual Devotion. We'll stay outside fer now, yeh?"


Jackie: Sticking close to Kellen, Jesse's eyes are wide as he peers around at the different buildings, totally rapt in the idea that this new home is totally fucked up. "Oh man, that's just begging for an epic ghost story." His tone is light and excited, like he's totally in his element, but then the confusion sets in. "Perpetual devotion? What's that?"


Jay: "I bet there's more than a couple of them around. We definitely have to research it." He's clearly quite pleased by Jesse's excitement, a sort of proprietorial pride in his tone, though he doesn't know much about the place either. Peering for a moment at the stained glass windows which are only dimly lit, probably by candles from the interior, Kellen eventually decides to circle towards the right to reach the graveyard more quickly. "Oh, it's -- I was raised Catholic, but my parents were pretty lax about it after my grandmother died. I haven't read the bible in a long time, but there's a part where Jesus is waiting up for something, for the masses to come take him away to his execution, I think, and the disciples were with him. He wanted them to stay awake with him, but they all fell asleep, and he asks them 'Can you not wait with me one hour?' So now devout Catholics do. At any Catholic church anywhere, you'll always find someone just sittin' there staring at the Host. They go in, sit for an hour, and leave." He shrugs, dismissing the weird custom.


Jackie: Shoving his hands in the front pocket of his hoodie, Jesse hums quietly for that, his eyes moving from the building to Kellen's face. "...oh, I see." He makes another noise, quietly of course, before continuing. "I wasn't raised in any religion, not really at least. I think it's a bit of a west coast thing." And that makes him smile a little bit before he looks back around to their surroundings.


Jackie: Back in the residence hall, Tim takes the few flights up to his dorm's hallway, tired from the long day and his time spent cleaning up the baseball equipment in the gym. As he gets to his room, he opens the door queitly, figuring Mike is asleep. As he enters the room, he doesn't bother with the light; instead, he lets his eyes adjust and then he makes his way to his side of the room, carefully placing his personal bat against the wall and then tugging off his shirt in favor of finding a tank top to slink on for bed.


Jay: "Maybe...although I've met lots of atheists on the east coast, too. I doubt my parents would've bothered with religion at all, if Grandma hadn't been so adamant about it." He shrugs again, apparently dismissing the topic altogether as they reach the iron fence surrounding the graveyard. It's covered with fancy filigree and topped with spikes, but only reaches about waist-high, which explains why another, newer, taller fence of chainlink runs just inside of it. "Damn, shoulda thought of a flashlight. But I don't have one." There is a little light emerging from the inner chapel, and some moonlight, but not enough to illuminate much. Kellen prowls along the line of the fence, looking for any weak spots in it.


Jay: Michael was asleep, but half a year in juvenile prison honed his paranoia, so he snaps awake at the slight sound of the door opening. It takes a minute to remember where he is, and during that minute of confusion he spots the bat-wielding figure creeping through the room, and reacts on instinct: He's out of bed with a switchblade in one hand and halfway across the floor before understanding returns. "Oh..." Straightening up, Mike scratches nonchalantly at his stomach, trying to act casual. "Uh. Where've you been? And why you got a bat?"


Jackie: Approaching the fence, Jesse wraps both hands around the bars of it, peering into the graveyard and inspecting whatever he can see in the moonlight. "I doubt the administrators would give us one if we asked..." Shrugging a bit, he then follows after Kellen, testing the fence as well. "Maybe Lint has one, though. I'll ask next time."


Jackie: Tim is half way through with tugging his shirt off when his room mate nearly attacks, and the noises his movements make Tim instinctively turn around. He finishes getting the shirt off and goes into a bit of a defensive stance, arms up and such, but then Mike stops and Tim relaxes a bit, although it doesn't escape him that Ness isn't at all dressed. "I clean the baseball equipment once a week. Why do you sleep with a switchblade?"


Jay: Kellen makes a noncommittal noise at that assumption; there's one administrator that would certainly supply him with a flashlight, along with pretty much anything else he wanted, but there's no need to bring that up now. "We can get one from one'a the day students, I'm sure, if nothing else. They aren't contraband, I'm sure." Circling around, but failing to find any holes in the chainlink, Kellen sighs a bit. "Or we can come back during the day, when it'd be less suspicious. "Cmon, there's a pretty spooky little courtyard by the theater with some statues." Turning away from the chapel, he tosses the cigarette he's been smoking aside and leads the way towards the other outbuildings.


Jay: That question seems to perplex Michael. He even looks down at the blade in his hand, as if it has an answer, seeking casually to close it without attracting much more notice. "'cause most places I lived, people don't use bats on baseballs." He says this reasonably, like it's a standard precaution anyone would take. "For that matter, some'a the kids here don't look very trustworthy, either." Ness probably being high on that list, but at least he's trying to be somewhat friendly, and is notably steadier on his feet now. Tossing the closed blade back onto his pillow, he paces back towards his bed and puts on his pants, more for his roommate's comfort than his own.


Jackie: "Oh, there are day students?" Jesse hums at that, hopping up onto the fence in an attempt to peer more closely at the graves. He can't make out any names or dates, and before he can try to swindle between the bars, Kellen is heading in another direction, and Jesse follows accordingly. "I bet we could get a lot of history from those statues. Wouldn't surprise me if they have some for the founders or something."


Jackie: Well, now that he knows his room mate packs a blade, Tim doesn't really take his eyes off of him until that blade is tossed away on the bed. Going to his dresser, he finds a tank top to slip on, talking while fighting through the material. "Don't think you'll have to worry about that much, here." Toeing off his shoes, he sits on his bed, stretching his arms behind his back and sighing tiredly. "Most everyone is pretty harmless."


Jay: "Yeh, I don't think they start classes until next week, though. After all of us delinquents get settled in." He flashes a teasing grin Jesse's way with the comment, obviously not seeing him as much of a delinquent. Once away from the chapel, he can speak in a normal tone of voice again, because there's no reason for anyone to be in the theater or art building at this hour. "I know there's a statue of St. Ulric. Chubby bald guy in a robe holding a fish, for whatever reason. There were a few plaques there, too, naming donors and stuff."


Jay: Michael quirks an eyebrow, looking notably skeptical for that assertation, but a little amused, too. He certainly seems more lively when he isn't drunk. "Everyone? I doubt that." Pants on, he drops onto the edge of his bed, facing Tim. "I mean, there's priests, for one thing. I've heard about Catholic priests. And that headmaster looked like he's got a few screws loose, too. Add that to two hundred-something teenage dudes all trying to be el mas chingon and...harmless isn't the first description I'd choose." There's a brief smile, more in his eyes than anywhere else, before he looks towards the window, scratching at his sleep-mussed spiked hair. "What time is it, anyway?


Jackie: That smile is infectious, and sure enough it makes Jesse smirk a little bit, nudging into Kellen with his shoulder. The hood drops from his head in that action, and he picks up the pace a bit, maybe even hopping a bit as he walks-- all excitement and curiosity. "A fish? That's hysterical. If I was made into a statue, I'd want to be holding a fish, as well."


Jackie: After hearing his joints pop from his stretching, Tim then flexes his arms out in front of him, quirking his head a bit at Mike's words because...well, he sort of has a point. Then he snorts quietly, out of amusement, and then lays down on the bed, hands going to undo the belt looped through his pants. "Guess I'm just jealous I didn't think of it first." Not having to look at the clock to tell, he then adds. "Almost one."


Jay: Kellen laughs for that, just a muted snicker. "Really? I think I'd rather be holding a guitar. Or a mace, maybe, like a badass knight. Makes me wonder, though; why a fish? Is he the patron saint of tuna, or something?" Nearing the theater, he's forced back onto the paved walkway by necessity, and hops up to walk along the narrow concrete molding lining the path.


Jay: "'course you are. I have an extra blade, if I've talked you into paranoia." Michael's gaze is inevitably drawn back by Tim's hands being near his crotch, and he watches the other boy undoing his pants until the rest of Tim's words sink in. "One? What the hell are you doing washing baseballs at one in the morning?"


Jackie: Chirping in amusement, Jesse shakes that flop of blonde hair, eyes sparkling. "Oh, come on, I was joking. If anything, I'd want to be holding...I don't know. A book of Thich Nhat Hanh or something." Unlike Kellen, Jesse stays on the path, kicking a few stones as they walk.


Jackie: Once his belt is undone, Tim yanks it loose, but doesn't bother slipping it from his pants. Instead, he shimmies the pants off his body and then tosses them towards the dresser, watching as they catch on the drawer he left open and hang there. "Think I'm set for now." Wiping at his face, he yawns quietly into his hand before answering. "Baseball equipment. Hasn;t been touched all summer, and it was filthy. I'd rather not practice with dirty equipment."


Jay: Kellen gives Jesse a cock-eyed look of bewilderment. "Gesundheit? A book of what?" Continuing his balance-beam routine until they reach a place where the path does a roundabout, Kellen then hops down and waves both hands pretentiously towards the statue towering in the middle of the circle. "Voila! Saint Ulric himself. Patron saint of seafood, mebbe." He motions more normally towards the manicured ground surrounding the statue. "The plaques are all down there; I didn't check them out too close."


Jay: "Yeah, you are." There's some tone of innuendo in that, but Mike seems to realize it won't be welcome, and amends his statement. "'cause you've got a watchdog for a roommate. No one's coming in here without me noticing." He snorts some for Tim's correction, noticing that he didn't explain why the cleaning had to be done in the middle of the night, but not commenting on it. Instead, he stands up to cross to the bathroom door. "Gotta piss." Which he presumably does, once he's shut the door, and returns a moment later. "So, where's the kids from next door? Did you leave them behind to polish cleats or something?"


Jackie: That delivers a little round of laughter from Jesse, and he gestures out with a hand discriptively. "Thich Nhat Hanh...he's a buddhist writer. Yanno." Not really wanting to get into a whole new conversation about the intricacies of the monk's writing, Jesse pounces on the talk about the statue, and hops on over to the figure, ignoring any sort of flowering or shrubbery that would protect the statue from close inspection. "Maybe he...really loved tilapia? Oh! Maybe his mother was a mermaid."


Jackie: Tim readjusts on the bed, as if he could just fall asleep in a matter of seconds, and thus he only nods for Michael's words. If there is an innuendo, he doesn't catch it too well (little asexual being he is), and then reaches over to his clock to set his alarm for a horribly early hour. When Mike returns, he doesn't immediately glance over-- not until he mentions the missing suitemates, but when he does Tim's eyebrows raise. "They're not there?"


Jay: "Ahhh..." That noise of understanding probably doesn't mean Kellen understands, but he bypasses Buddhist writers for the time being, laughing again for Jesse's suggestion. "Pretty sure Catholic dogma discounts mermaids, but mebbe we can ask a priest to make sure." Following after Jesse, he instead half-crouches to read the inscription on the black stone by St. Ulric's feet. It's quite easy to read, thanks to subtle solar lights that are planted among the shrubbery. "Ah, yeah, this one lists the names of the original founders and donors fer the school...wow, 1907! I didn't think the school had been here that long..."


Jay: Mike shakes his head, not all that concerned. "Nah, the door to their room was open, and when I went to close it I looked in - no one's there. Think they're off at some secret orgy? It was rude of them not to invite us." Because naturally, the boys missing means they're engaged in some sort of debauchery somewhere.


Jackie: Oh, more giggling from the Jesseface. Crawling up onto the statue, he peers a bit at the figure's face, then taps at its face, finding a fairly solid sound that affirms that it is made of stone. "1907? Really?" Jesse picks his head up at that, peering back over at the building and kind of swinging his body around the statue as if it were a pole. "The Progressive Era. Lots of political unrest. Isn't that right, Ulric?" And of course he looks at the status as if it'll have an answer.


Jay: Kellen snorts quietly when Jesse questions the statue, moving on to the next plaque. "If you say so, Mr. McSmartypants. Political unrest maybe has something to do with why they started the school? One of the donors was the mayor of the time." Leaning close again to inspect this plaque, he seems to find it uninformative and straightens up to move on, but pauses to stifle a yawn against his shoulder.


Jackie: Tim doesn't even finish setting his alarm before he's on his feet, shuffling over to the other room. "...I highly, highly doubt that." Poking his head into the other bedroom, he affirms that the boys aren't there and then returns to his own room, shoulders tense-- not necessarily out of worry, but there's a tinge of it somewhere. Grabbing his pants, he hops back into them, not really giving any answer for his concern of the missing boys. "And you didn't hear them or anything?"


Jay: "Well, good, I can forgive them then." He pauses short of his bed, watching Tim's unrest curiously. "Mm...no, don't think so. I mean, I heard them after dinner for a bit, but after lights out, nothing." Because it's difficult to hear things when you're passed out drunk, but he doesn't add that. "You worried?"


Jackie: "Wouldn't surprise me. I bet this place was swarming with political nut jobs. Oh! And prohibition was around then, too!" Swinging himself off of the statue, Jesse slinks on over to Kellen, catching that yawn and feeling a small tinge of guilt. "Ya tired? We can head back if you are."


Jackie: Tugging those pants the rest of the way up, Tim doesn't bother with the belt quite yet. Instead, he grabs his baseball track jacket and zips it up, peering over at Mike. "Not...worried. Just unlike Jesse. I'm gonna go look for them. Last thing he needs is to get into trouble on the first night." Stepping into his shoes, he crouches to fix them properly to his feet. "I'll be back in a bit."


Jay: "Nut jobs seem to be a theme for the place, yeh." Kellen grins a bit, amused by Jesse's enthusiasm, but not at all condescending. He shakes his head at the question. "Nah, I'm good. I'm not used to sleeping early anymore, it'll take some getting used to." And some pharmaceutical help, obviously, since Kellen takes a few steps away to drop onto a stone bench before digging into his cigarette pack and retrieving a joint stashed there. He bends down some to avoid the breeze as he lights it up, waiting until he's exhaled to speak. "You smoke?" He offers the joint out companionably.


Jay: Oh, right. Tim seemed to know one of the kids next door; Mike remembers that now. He debates a moment, but it doesn't take long for him to decide, and he hunts an army-green t-shirt from among his blankets, followed by his socks. "Hold up, I'll come with you." There's no real good reason for this offer, but Michael is enjoying the fact that his roommate is actually speaking to him now, so it seems a good idea. Once his boots are on, he snags the knife from the pillow and tucks it into a back pocket.


Jackie: That answer brings back that huge smile to Jesse's face. "Well, if you change your mind, just say so. I can go back to counting sheep." As Kellen settles onto the bench, Jesse watches him curiously; he's seen the other boy smoke before, but never wanted to ask to partake. When its offered, he shrugs a shoulder nonchalantly. "If its available." Which it is, and he reaches out to take the joint, immediately putting it to his lips and taking a hit before handing it back and talking through the smoke. "Thanks."


Jay: "Sure, anytime. Might be more effective than sheep-counting, too." When the joint is offered back, he takes it and duly hits it before continuing the pattern, handing it to Jesse again. He tilts his head back, peering upwards in interest. "Man, I've never seen so many stars in my life. Or, well, I probably have, but not in any of the places I lived, only camping and shit."


Jackie: Getting back up to a standing position, Tim goes to retrieve a small flashlight from his nightstand. He tucks it into the back of his jeans and then glances over at Mike, wrinkling his nose a little bit. "...that's all right. I'll be faster on my own." That, and well...he just wants to find Jesse, doesn't need any other distraction. "Why don't ya stay here, in case they come back?" Hey, at least he's trying to be polite.


Jay: Mike tilts his head thoughtfully, peering at Tim. It's obvious the guy wants to leave him behind, but there's little that stops a Ness bound on adventure. "I won't slow ya down any. If they come back, they don't need me here anyway. Besides, you might run into a manic monk out there, rampaging with one'a your freshly cleaned bats, and you'd need backup." Like this is the deciding word, Ness shrugs his long-sleeved mechanic's shirt on and starts for the door.


Jackie: Again, Jesse smiles for those words, nodding his agreement and taking another hit. His eyes follow Kellen's and he looks upward, blowing the smoke out to the side so as not to shield the stars. "The best is being on the beach in the middle of the night. Lint and I used to do that all the time. I can't imagine being somewhere where you could barely see them." Moving to the bench, Jesse takes a seat next to Kellen and hands over the joint.


Jackie: Tim finishes with his belt, finally, and then grabs his baseball cap, fitting it to his head backwards. He wants to argue with Mike, but...it's late and the rest of the school is quiet, and arguing will only lead to a delay in looking for his Jesse. He doesn't bother in answering that, instead just makes for the door, opening it and peering down the hallway both ways before slipping out, keeping it open for Michael before closing it quietly.


Jay: Kellen gets more introspective for that comment, his eyes going a little fuzzy as he continues to gaze up. "I've never been to the beach. I mean, we have seaports and harbors around here, but you can't call --" He breaks off abruptly at a sound from behind them, a sort of metallic clank followed by a higher-pitched rattling. Turning his head back to look over his shoulder, he searches for any sign of what made the noise before looking to Jesse in question.


Jay: Smiling slightly to himself when Tim doesn't argue, Mike follows him silently. After ascertaining that the hallway is empty and quiet, he murmurs in a velvet-and-sandpaper quiet tone. "You got any idea where he might've headed?"


Jackie: Jesse's about to add to the conversation when that clanking breaks in, and he immediately snaps his head back in the direction of which it came. Raising his eyebrows, he looks back over at Kellen, and maybe his face is showing even more excitement than before. Snapping up to his feet, he kind of bounces on his toes, eager to inspect. "Dude, what was that? Sounded terrifying." And then, of course: "Let's go find it!"


Jackie: Slinking down that hallway, but at a moderate pace, Tim goes in the direction of the main hall-- figuring that maybe the boys went to the recreation room, which is harmless enough. "They're probably just roaming the halls or something. I used to do that all the time, too." Rounding the corner, he continues down another hallway, but then spots a security guard making his rounds, albeit distractedly as the guard is reading a flier pinned to a cork board on the wall. Using one arm, he stretches it our to reach backwards and over Mike's chest, directing him back into a little cove that they can duck in and avoid being caught. In doing so, Tim steps in front of him, holding his breath to remain quiet.


Jay: The noise Kellen makes can be called nothing other than a giggle, shamefully. He stifles it quickly, waving in a manner that suggests he wants Jesse to talk softer. "I don't know what it was, but don't forget we're not s'posed to be out here. It could'a just been, y'know, a person, a staffmember or something. It sounded like it might be a door...kinda." Although the rattling noise makes him wonder. Taking another quick hit, he hands the joint back to Jesse as he gets to his feet. He cautiously looks around before starting to creep back the way they came, where the noise originated, moving with somewhat overexaggerated stealth.


Jackie: Clearly, hiding any sort of excitement is impossible for the Jesseface, and he continues to bounce in his steps; perhaps Kellen is right, maybe it's just a staff member, but then another rattling noise comes about. This time it's louder, and lasts longer, and Jesse follows nearly right behind Kellen, hunching into himself a bit in hopes of hiding himself to anyone that may be around. In a hushed voice, he whispers out to Kellen, "And what would a staff person be doing out this late. C'mon, it's gotta be something."


Jay: Michael responds to that with a noise of consideration, though he wonders why the hell anyone would bother just roaming these halls, since they're pretty boring. He might be about to respond, but luckily also spots that guard and inches back into the alcove as directed, keeping a line of sight on the guard but choosing a place where he won't be seen, himself.


Jackie: Staying put in that cove, Tim keeps his eyes on the guard until the portly man makes his way down the hallway away. Keeping put for a moment longer, he cranes his neck out into the hallway to make sure the coast is clear before heading back out in the direction he originally intended. Reaching the stairwell, he makes down the few flights until they reach the main floor, then quietly makes his way to the recreation room-- which houses nothing more than a ping pong table, a few tables and chairs for cards, and some lounging furniture.


Jay: The weed didn't help inject any sort of seriousness into Kellen's mood, and he nearly laughs again for their comical Scooby-Doo sneaking tactics. "They'd be out looking for miscreants like us, of course." He tries to sound sensible, but falls somewhat short of the mark. In this silly state, he's entirely unprepared a moment later when the clanging noises are exchanged for cracking, like a muted gunshot, much closer. Kellen freezes, eyes going wide amid their smudged liner. Directly in front of them, not more than a ten feet away, a small stand of ornamental rowan trees seem to shiver - it's an odd thing, moving from the branches of one tree to the next without any visible cause, and completely unrelated to the slight breeze.


Jay: Waiting for Tim to give the all-clear, Mike follows along behind him, keeping an eye out for any more security guards especially when they reach the main floor. Coming upon the recreation room, Ness shuffles over to peek in the windows that allow visibility from the hall (surely for security reasons). The room is obviously empty, so he looks back at Tim with a raised eyebrow.


Jackie: Sticking to behind Kellen, Jesse doesn't seem so sure of his words-- sure, maybe there are staff members out on patrol, but why make all the noise? Peeking over the other boys shoulder, he squints a bit to attempt to see better, but then those new noises break the silence and he kind of stumbles back a little bit. Reaching out, he grabs the back of Kellen's shirt, probably because he's a little spooked and doesn't want the other boy to get too far away, And clearly, three feet is too far. "...Kellen, what is that?"


Jackie: As they approach the recreation room, Tim can automatically tell that the boys aren't there-- there are no lights on, no noises being made, and it's all confirmed when Mike raises that eyebrow at him. Pursing his lips in thought, Tim scratches at the back of his neck, thinking for a moment before figuring the boys perhaps went out; there's no denying that Kellen smokes pot, and Jesse is hardly ever one to decline a joint, so he figures they're tucked out in the courtyard for a quick toke. Turning away from the rec room, he starts towards the formal entrance to the courtyard down the hall, and talks over his shoulder. "C'mon, we'll check outside."


Jay: The restraint on his shirt is unnecessary; Kellen's not going anywhere for the moment. He shakes his head mutely at first, rather than answer vocally, eyes glued to the subtle but undeniable movements of the trees. Another of those cracking sounds comes, and a fallen branch in their line of sight simultaneously splits, with each of the ends jumping up from the ground at the impact, but nothing which could have caused the impact. Kellen shivers a little, spooked, but enjoyably so. "They're rowans..." He murmurs this in the way of someone who's made an important connection, but offers nothing further.


Jay: Michael nods agreeably, and once again follows on Tim's heels. The little frission of adrenaline that the guard induced has already faded, so he merely looks around with bored curiosity as they continue. Once through the door, he speaks up again. "They don't got alarms on the doors?" This seems like a stupid oversight for a place so uptight about security.


Jackie: Still, Jesse doesn't release Kellen's shirt. He's definitely spooked now and creeps a little closer, figuring that if Kellen isn't running back to the dorm room, then they're probably safe enough. Tilting his head in confusion, he scoots a little closer to the other boy, eyes wide. "...what's a rowan?"


Jay: Or maybe Kellen's just too spooked to run for the dorms. The movement ceases, as far as he can tell, and there are no more sounds from the small grove, so he relaxes enough to answer Jesse's question. "The trees; they're rowan trees. Rowans are traditionally associated with protection from witchcraft and evil spirits, all sorts of shit like that." Apparently his bizarre knowledge isn't limited to Catholicism.


Jackie: "I think they focus more on the security on the perimeter. The buildings have more traditional security." Which really means doors that open from the inside despite being locked, and bars over all of the windows. Once entering the courtyard, Tim sticks to the pathway, peering up at the windows overlooking the courtyard to make sure no one is peering around, looking for students breaking curfew. The fire started from Kellen's cigarette isn't in site, but the smell is there, enough that it makes Tim sniff a few times and turn to Mike. "You smell that?"


Jay: Nodding, Michael tucks this knowledge away for future reference, because it's surely something he'll need to know. "So how do they secure the perimeter?" Even more something he needs to know, if he ever wants to get out of her. He doesn't notice the scent of burning until Tim mentions it, but he does afterwards, lifting his nose like a bloodhound as he sniffs. "Yeah. Something's on fire. Your friend the pyro type?"


Jackie: Keeping his eyes on the trees ahead, he eventually scoots forward enough that he's besides Kellen, and no longer behind him. "They look like they've been here for a while." Eyes still wide, he then squints them to focus more on the trees. "You think they put them here because there were witches or something? What if they burned people here?" Oh god, the excitement is back, albeit more horrified than before.


Jackie: "Twelve foot electric fence, barbed wire on top. Goes all around the perimeter." This is all said distractedly as he makes his way through the courtyard, inwardly hoping that maybe the boys are just...perched under a cherry blossom, enjoying a little weed. But when Mike affirms his suspicions, he quickens his pace, shaking his head a bit for that question. "No, not at all..." and then the fire's in site, or at least the glowing orb of it, and Tim quickens his pace to an easy jog, still being mindful and sticking towards the shrubs and trees to keep hidden.


Jay: "They've definitely been here a while. " Kellen tilts his head in thought, only recalling the joint he holds when it starts to smolder against his fingertips. He gives an exclamation and drops it, stepping on it as an afterthought, but the spark of pain obviously brought him back to full awareness. "Oh, I don't know...the Church probably wouldn't plant 'em for that reason, and there are a lot of them around, anyway." Without much thought, Kellen turns back towards the main building; he's had enough spookiness for the night. After a few paces, he speaks up in a more joking tone. "They're also supposed to be like catnip for faeries, according to Celtic lore. Think we were visited by a faery?"


Jay: Mike sneers for the continued info, but he's already subconsciously figuring out ways around that. Following after Tim is sort of automatic, now; he doesn't even question it, until they come within sight of the flames. "Uh...Tim? Why are we going towards the fire?"


Jackie: As soon as Kellen snaps out of his daze, Jesse does as well, eyes moving back to the other boy and watching as he starts back towards the main building. Standing more upright, he follows after Kellen, periodically looking back at the trees and shivering a bit from being so spooked. "I...don't think so." He emits a little bit of a laugh, maybe just to try to relax himself, and then jogs a few paces to catch up to Kellen. "But that was really, really weird."


Jay: "Fuck yeah, it was." Kellen agrees emphatically, the weirdness only fully dawning now as they leave the site. "I mean, I know we were kinda looking for creepy shit, but I didn't actually expect anything to happen." Catching unidentified light from the corner of his eye, he immediately alters course, leading Jesse away from their previous route and taking a longer one back to the main building. He's not sure he can sleep any easier, now, but he's definitely distracted.


Jackie: While Mike's words do bring up a good point, Tim doesn't pay attention to them too much. His mind is already jumping to the idea of Jesse being lit on fire, or being tortured with flaming sticks. Something incredibly ridiculous like that. And those thoughts just stress him out enough to where he comes snappy, shooting out from over his shoulder, "You don't have to follow."


Jackie: As they make their way back towards the main building, Jesse is still bounding a bit with a little bit of nerves and a whole lot of excitement. "Right? I mean, man. What the hell. There has to be more than that." And that just makes him smile, but he tones it down as they make it into the building. Whispering now, he turns a bit more into Kellen. "We're gonna have such messed up dreams, now."


Jay: Michael rolls his eyes at that, snorting. This kid would be the hero type, of course. Though he sincerely doubts there's anyone or thing being roasted alive, he continues on Tim's tail doggedly. As the church comes into view, he quirks an eyebrow, wondering if maybe this Jesse kid did decide on some arson, but as they come closer it's clear that the chapel isn't burning and the flames are behind it.


Jackie: Keeping up with the jogging pace, Tim doesn't really expect Mike to follow him. While he may be a little inwardly thankful that he did, he doesn't voice it; instead, he just bee lines to the source of the smoke, rounding around the chapel and furrowing his eyebrows when he sees nothing but the brush on fire, and no one around to admire (or run from) it. Stopping in his tracks, he keeps a little bit of distance from the fire and catches his breath a little bit, hands on his hips. Looking over at Mike, he continues to glance around, looking for any clues. "You see anyone?"


Jay: Not bothering to move as fast as Tim is, Michael catches up to him a few yards away from the paltry fire. It's not very impressive, and if someone did it intentionally, they're a failure. But at least he's not having to haul school children from a flaming church like he's Dally from The Outsiders. At the question, he casts a disinterested glance around. "Nope, no-- oh, fuck." Because there was no one, but now there is an alarmed and angry-looking priest striding towards them so quickly that his soutane is flapping around his ankles. "You two! Stay where you are. What do you think you're doing?!" And Ness is getting that awkward twisting feeling in his gut, too familiar, and his wrists seem already chilled by cold steel handcuffs.


Jackie: He really should've seen that coming, but he's a little frantic at the moment, and entirely one track minded. He snaps his head around, looking for any sign of what started the fire (or who, really), but then there's the priest coming after them and Tim immediately knows that there's no use in running: that will only make it worse. Raising his hands in defense, he tries to approach the priest in a non threatening way. "I...smelled the smoke. I wanted to make sure everything was all right..." The priest waves his hands to dismiss that, sternly approaching the two boys as he talks: "You two. With me, now!"


Jay: "This is complete bullshit!" Clearly, Mike isn't so resigned to their inevitable fate. "We didn't start this fire. Fuck, it's hardly even a fire! I mean, if I was gonna light something up, I'd do way better than this. You could piss on it and it would go out. You can't seriously think we did this?" His line of reasoning does nothing to convince the priest, who despite wearing a dress is completely self-possessed and oddly commanding. "If nothing else, you're out after hours - very after hours. Come along, now." There's nothing friendly in that tone, despite the words, and Michael grumbles as he follows after the priest, who has retrieved a cell phone from somewhere in his voluminous clothing and is apparently calling someone on speed dial to come take care of the fire as he leads Tim and Mike back to the school building and to the basement door.


Jackie: Tim opens his mouth to speak, to maybe defend himself or at least get Mike off the hook, but...then his room mate rants enough for the both of them, and it does nothing to help them. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Tim starts in the direction the priest motions for them, shaking his head because he already knows the punishment is going to blow. As they make their way to the basement, the priest details what is going on outdoors before clicking his phone off and turning towards the boys. "You know better, Mr. Armstrong. I would've thought you'd start this year off on a better foot."


Jay: That comment from the priest finally silences Mike's grumbling, and he looks at Tim interestedly. A better foot? So far he hadn't seen any indication that his roommate had any deviance in him, but perhaps he's wrong. As the priest steps forward to knock authoritatively on one of the doors in the dim stone corridor, Mike queries under his breath. "So what'd you do last year, Mr. Armstrong?" He at least sounds amused and teasing rather than pissed, now. The door opens relatively quickly for the priest's summonses, and the same diminutive pink-haired figure that Ness remembers from check in appears in the doorway, somewhat disheveled and scowling, not waiting for an explanation before speaking. "More of them? Think they could chill fer one damn night."


Jackie: When Mike speaks up, Tim lifts his head to shoot him a mild glare, not really giving any sort of explanation, but that's more so because that certain pink haired man is suddenly talking. Looking back over at Leech, he tries to give him his best apologetic look, but he knows that Leech won't have it. The priest explains the situation at Leech, of course immediately accusing Tim and Mike of the fire, and leaving the two boys to Leech as he returns to the chapel to assist in the clean up.


Jay: Leech glowers at Mike during the explanation, because he just knew that kid was going to be trouble, but when he looks at Tim, it's with one of those Leechy expressions, one eye squinted and a corner of his mouth tucked back in what can't be called a smile, but doesn't have another suitable term. He waits for the priest to leave before addressing either of them. "Fire, Armstrong? Little off from yer usual M.O."


Jackie: Looking up at Leech, Tim keeps his eyebrows raised innocently. "You won't believe me if I tell you we didn't do it, will you?" It comes off more as a statement than a question, but he gives the other man a little hopeful look, if anything at least wishing for a lighter punishment than what would typically be given,


Jay: Leech cocks his head to the side, both eyes narrowing this time. "Well, if ya did do it, sounds like ya need to work on yer aim.. Hit the vestry, next time; that's where the priests keep all the money they hoard from the collection plates." It doesn't sound like he cares too much whether they started the fire or not; he didn't apprehend them, someone else did, so he'll have to punish them either way. Reaching back into the room behind him, Leech snatches his ring of keys from the wall, then joins them in the hallway. Apparently he's oblivious to how fucking cold the stone floor is, even though he's shoeless. Still not sure what the fuck to think of this apparition, Mike only sends Tim a shifty look before following down the hall.


Jackie: Tim gives Leech a bit of a pointed look for that, shifting a little to the side to make room for him to enter the hallway. "...we'll just ignore that I play baseball, and all." Or that he's a pitcher, too. Following after Leech in a motion that looks like he's done this a dozen times before, and then giving Mike a look that may be mildly reassuring.


Jay: Leech's face isn't visible since he's walking in front of them, but he makes a noise for Tim's response that could be amused. Seeming to pick one of the doors at random, he turns and unlocks it. The door appears to be heavy, made of perhaps steel or iron, but Leech opens it easily enough. He cocks his head to the side in a wordless command for the boys to enter, which Ness - after another bewildered look at Tim - does. Leech maybe nods just a little bit when Tim passes him. "I'll come for ya in the morning. Wouldn't wanna miss your first day of class."


Jackie: Ahh, yes, a night in a cell. Tim's certainly familiar with this, enough so that he doesn't even make much noise of discontent for it; instead, he just ambles into the room after Mike and nods at Leech. "Give me enough time for a shower?" Although the tone is somewhat humored, he's serious about it. He's a little OCD about these things. Once the door is shut, Tim makes his way over to one of the cots, perching on it and sighing queitly.


Jay: Michael watches the door close, and shakes his head a bit in bafflement before turning to inspect the space. It's spare as hell, but not much worse than a holding cell. Pacing out the small room, he looks at Tim again and finally speaks. "So, this's it? We just gotta spend the night here and all's forgiven?" This seems entirely too easy to him.


Jackie: Well, if they're going to be here all night, he might as well be comfortable: Tim reaches down to unlace his shoes and toes them off, setting them on the floor beneath the cot. Looking up at Mike, he kind of snorts in amusement for that, shrugging as a means of explanation. "Basically, I guess. He's being light on us, though. You don't want to get on his bad side."


Jay: "Huh." After giving the room another once-over, Mike moves to claim the other cot, sliding back to rest against the wall. "Boring as fuck, but not so bad. What happens when they go hard on us?" He crosses his ankles over each other, patting at his pockets to make sure the contraband pack of cigarettes is there, lest he'd moved them from the pocket before he passed out earlier.


Jackie: With those shoes off, Tim scoots backwards on the bed, getting a little more comfortable (or at least, what the cot will allow) and then popping his knuckles one by one. "They...eh. They'll do the corporal punishment thing. Some medieval techniques, too." He sneers for that, because the first two months of his stay here was better spent in the basement than anywhere else. Resting his head back against the wall, he peers over at Michael, studying him for a moment, but not saying anything.


Jay: That news does manage to surprise Mike, and he might even look slightly worried. "Medieval? Like what? Iron maiden, heretic's fork, choke pear, that sorta medieval?" Surely they couldn't get away with such things. Most of these kids have parents who care, after all. "And who does this corporal punishment? Not that scrawny dude out there?"


Jackie: "...yeah, that sort of stuff. It's not fun." And to emphasize that, he sneers a bit, bringing one leg up to his chest and wrapping an arm around it comfortably. "Leech is stronger than he appears. Trust me." And with that, he lifts his hips to dig out his own pack of cigarettes-- a little secret he keeps hidden from most other students and, of course, his baseball coach.


Jay: Mike merely raises his eyebrows, not sure if Tim's telling the truth or just trying to intimidate the new kid for entertainment. After thinking it over, he gives another snort and shakes his head. "This is a weird fuckin place." He leans his head back, slouching some onto the narrow cot. When the scent of cigarette smoke reaches him, it seems like an excellent idea, so he acquires one of his smokes and lights it up. "How long have you been here, anyway?"


Jackie: It takes a few flicks of his lighter to get his cigarette lit, but once its done, Tim takes a heavy inhale, exhaling through his nose. There's a bit of amusement in his tone, and he nods his head, closing his eyes. "You have no idea." He takes to smoking his cigarette peacefully, figuring that he won't have much trouble falling asleep. He's certainly exhausted. That question catches him by surprise briefly, thinking that they'd just lull into silence, but it answers it passively. "Two years." And then he's curious about Mike, so he questions back. "What about you? Where were you before this?"


Jay: "So this's your third year?" He's still not sure why Tim would be in such a place; it seems unlikely he'd do anything to be court-ordered here, so maybe his parents just didn't like him. For the return question, Mike does something like smirking, although with quite a bit less amusement in it, and redirects his gaze to the cigarette in his hand. "At Lacy Juvenile Annex." He doubts Tim has heard of that particular facility in Orange, CA, or its reputation for harboring violent criminals who just happen to be a tiny bit underage when they're apprehended, but he figures the word 'juvenile' probably gives away what sort of place it is.


Jackie: Flicking his cigarette ash off the side of the bed, Tim nods for that question before vocalizing an affirmative. Mike's own explanation makes him raise an eyebrow and crack an eye open to size up the boy across from him. He takes a moment to process those words before eventually reclosing that eye and keeping his voice in good humor. "Oh yeh? What, you steal from the local 7-11 or something?"


Jay: Michael laughs, glad not to have to deal with an overreaction. "Oh, yeah, did that a few times. Not what they caught me for, though." He doesn't offer up what they did catch him for, however. "Spent about eight months there, which was a third of my sentence, so my case went up for review. The judge was kinda soft, and the lawyer was kinda great, so they gave me the option of moving to a reform school."


Jackie: If both eyes were open, Tim would probably roll them; he's known guys like Michael, the ones that do stupid shit and pretend it makes them hard. Of course, he's wildly off on this assumption. Taking another drag from his cigarette, Tim then shifts to laying down on the cot, not at all surprised for its lack of comfort. "What'd you get caught for, then?"


Jay: Maybe off, but not so wildly off. Mike's response might prove he's not so intent on acting hard, though: he makes a humming noise before answering, and there's a laugh in his voice. "I pissed on a tree." The memory of it still makes him laugh, and also inwardly cringe in shame, but thankfully that isn't visible.


Jackie: Well, that's certainly a surprise, and Tim doesn't even hide his amusement for that, coughing up a bit as he inhales his cigarette and laughs at the same time. It takes a minute for him to regain his composure, and he quirks his head over to look at Michael. "...seriously?"


Jay: Michael stops fighting it and just lets himself laugh, even afterwards unable to smother the grin. "Yeah, seriously." He picks his head up off the wall to look back at Tim, waving a cigarette-bearing hand in expression. "It was, like, nine AM on a fucking Sunday, and I was drunk, and it was in a park. Apparently pissing on park trees is illegal if you're not a dog." He pauses to take a drag from his cigarette, then adds: "There was a church congregation havin' a picnic, one of which was an off-duty cop."


Jackie: Tim keeps his neck cranked in the direction of Mike, eyes focused on the other boy. The amusement isn't only evident in the turn on his lips-- there's also a bit of it showing in his eyes. The more Michael explains, the more Tim laughs, enough to where we has to lay back more solidly on his back and chuckle at the ceiling. It's certainly the most expression he's shown to the other boy, and he shakes his head, voice still riddled with laughter. "Dumb fuck." And then there's more laughter that...he really can't stop.


Jay: Well, if it makes Tim laugh that much, Michael will gladly offer up some of his less admirable stories. He laughs again, too, without even a shred of self-consciousness to it. "Not my finest hour, no. When I called my friend Dennis from lock-up, he tried to act all exasperated and disappointed. Then I got to the part about the old lady in the floral housedress who had to come closer to check it out, and he lost his shit."


Jackie: The laughing just continues, not showing any hope for stopping, and Tim actually has to put his spare hand on his belly to help contain his amusement. He momentarily forgets that he's supposed to be skeptical of this new guy and instead gives in to the amusement, eventually quieting down to look back over at him. "And that qualifies you for juvie? I could understand probation, but...juvie sounds pretty harsh."


Jay: Tim is certainly more appealing when he's amused, and though he'd rather spend the night back in his own bed, Mike can't call the night an entire loss since his roommate seems to be warming up to him somewhat. At the question, he shrugs and rubs at the back of his neck in a sort of abashed manner. "Well, I had a history and a couple warrants...driving violations, mostly. And they knew, or suspected, I'd done worse. The first time around the lawyer I got wasn't so good, and the cops went for the worst sentence they could."


Jackie: Finishing up his cigarette, Tim reaches down to snub it down on the floor, the ambers from it flaring up momentarily at the action. Once it's dead, he moves back to his original position, adjusting his baseball cap to face forward so he can relax more fully against the cot. "Ah...makes sense. You from the east coast?" Tim showing interest in a person not Jesse? What is this.


Jay: Recalled to his own smoke when Tim puts his out, Ness places the filter between his lips and just lets it remain there for the time being. He shifts to the side to flop onto the cot lengthwise, wriggling a little in a vain attempt to get comfortable. "Originally, yeah." He removes the smoke now that he's settled, ashing it on the floor. "I was born in Massachusetts, but we moved west when I was still really young. Lived in California most of my life. Orange County. What about you?"


Jackie: Tipping the brim of his cap more towards his nose, Tim hides the better half of his face as he sinks into the thin cot mattress. He makes a sound for that first part, kind of figuring he was an east coaster, but then he continues and there's mild surprise in Tim's voice when he hears that Michael's more of a west coaster. "Really?" He hums for a moment, one hand scratching at his torso. "I'm from California, too. Bay area, though."


Jay: "Oh, yeah?" He sounds only mildly surprised, and after glancing at Tim - and spotting that the other boy isn't looking at anything - he goes back to staring at the ceiling himself. "Seems like there's kind of a trend. Like people in California send their kids 'back East' to straighten 'em out. Wonder why." Taking a last drag off the cigarette, Ness turns his head to gauge the distance to the unadorned toilet against the far wall, then flicks the butt into the bowl of it.