I'll be there for you

[mansionstaff]

Who: EV ERY ONE
What: Graduation. Prom.
When: The evening of May 31st.
Where: The Stadium.
Warnings: WHO KNOWS

One might find the stadium a little hot and humid for those used to a spring graduation ceremony. This fine evening the Academy is experiencing its first hints of summer, a warm breeze providing relief to those who would sit on the stadium floor, which had been rearranged into a platform overlooking neat rows of chairs meant to seat the gathered crowd of faculty and students. Towards the other end of the complex was the arrangement for the prom that was to follow. Food and drink, chairs and tables, each with a floral centerpiece, and, of course, a dance floor.



Before everyone could get their party on, however, there was the main event of the evening. From his place at the podium, Master Hand watched students and staff alike find their way into the stadium. With the recent robot shenanigans, there seemed to be tensions in need of dispelling. If the Headmaster knew one thing, however, it was that some silly city antics were not going to ruin this esteemed event. Not tonight. Not if he could help it.

-------

HEY DUDES! Here's how stuff is going to work. We kick off the log with GRADUATION. This part of the log will be divided into separate threads. I'll post them all at once, so feel free to hop around, mingle, post whenever, wherever.

HOWEVER, once the PROM starts, it will be up to you guys to post your own threads. Please check out last year's log if you'd like an idea of how this works. Everything after the thread titled "DISMISSAL" (I will post that in a bit, so don't post prom threads until I have that up!) will be considered prom, though don't let that stop you from continuing to post in the graduation section.

Please label all your threads appropriately! (Examples: "SHENANIGANS AT THE FOOD TABLE", "DANCE-OFF", "THE PUNCH IS SPIKED", "BOTHER X" In general, a location + what is going on in the thread is the way to go. Obviously, more than one thread can take place at the same location. 

Linking back and forth when and if you thread hop is very much appreciated. If things start to look a bit laggy, we'll bump to the next page. Most importantly, HAVE FUN, and let a mod know about any problems or concerns you might have!

Comments

Indian Boy

[mohawk_tomahawk]

This was nothing like he expected. And Connor felt he seemed entirely out of place.

When the party started though, he stuck around. Unsure of how to be...particularly social. Some of the music seemed a bit out of taste, and Connor was not one for much dancing. Well, he would...try to if you wanted but.

Most of the time, he stood in a corner surveying the place in his rather seemingly shockingly formal wear. Which was a funny story of asking around like a dunce about how to don appropriate dress...finding and paying a tailor to fit him into one...and so forth. He felt stuffy actually. He still wore his braid and his claw necklace though. So whatever the hell was up with him was this...rustic gentleman thing. Weird. No cologne either, that stuff was terrible to smell when it came to his attention.

So either a chair, corner, or by the food (unsure if he wanted to eat it though).

[heartofarapier]

The Indian Boy had a princess. And he was Batman.
For some of the time, anyway.

So when she caught him, she was careful to look around before approaching. Creeping up behind him was likely a fruitless attempt, however. He was a man of the land and she imagined his hearing was good. It didn't stop her from lifting her hands and slipping them over his eyes.

"Hello, Connor."

[mohawk_tomahawk]

In any other circumstance, Connor would be more than alert. Norris would attest to that.

But one, this was a party. Two, the moment he heard gentle footsteps and the small hands being placed over his eyes, it was none other than something of a joke. In a lighthearted manner. The voice settled that for him, and whatever mood he was in finally turned toward to being as lighthearted as this occasion.

It was the lady he came with and looked indeed so much more regal in that dress than he did trying hard to dress nice.

"Eirika."

[heartofarapier]

She removed her hands and unable to hide her smile, she moved, so he might better see her. Then she stood as straight and as tall as she could, as if she was trying to portray her people to the best of her ability. Although she was secretly overjoyed that it was Connor whose arm she had been permitted to hold.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" she asked him curiously. Moving to his side, she looked about with interest and gave a smaller smile, not at all treasonous to how she genuinely felt regarding the situation.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Was he?


That was. He wasn't.


Huh.

"I...suppose I am," Connor said with hesitation. "This is quite an unusual party. But I am making due. The students and teachers are all having a good time. It is like they have briefly forgotten the troubles they faced."

He says that like the wallflower he was, but there was an obvious lighthearted-ness in his voice. Like nothing he said was a bad thing.

"You are doing well also, yes?"

[heartofarapier]

"It's important that people can sometimes have a semblance of peace," Eirika replied quietly. "People can only handle suffering for so long."

As she moved and looked aside from him, she examined the stadium and settled a hand against his forearm. "They shouldn't be reprimanded for their smiles." Then she looked over to Connor and her expression softened, "Just as you shouldn't either. I... understand you are not a man of many smiles, Connor, but I think you could handle having one or two."

Then she offered to him her right hand and a smile of her own, "Would you care to dance with me?"

[mohawk_tomahawk]

"It is the spirit boost they needed, I do understand that," Connor agreed. But then Connor made a near stupefied face.

"I...am not a fine dancer. Do you really wish to?"

Eirika you could just. Tug his arm and make him.

[heartofarapier]

She gave him an amused expression, "You are my escort, are you not? I wish for you to have a good time with me."

So instead, she took his hand and gave him an encouraging tug behind her, "You trust me, yes? Then trust that if I wish your companionship, I truly wish for it. If I ask you to dance with me, it's because I earnestly want you to dance with me. I have no shame in saying what I want of you."

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Connor didn't say anything. He...didn't need to, did he? It was like how his actions spoke louder. As always. We had done this jazz before. He allowed himself to be led.

He nodded at her. His face showing he had accepted this.

At least, a slow song was playing. Nothing still of his time, but as long as it wasn't that obnoxious guy he heard people call "Justin Beaver" playing, Connor was fine.

He walked with wherever she led him.

[heartofarapier]

She led him to a quieter and less populated part of the stadium. Mostly in favour of not causing him any embarrassment for she was certainly not a cruel woman by any means. The other part of it was just as much for her as it was for him. Some eyes could be the prying sort and she knew she would catch attention no matter what kind of precautions she took. It was best to make him suffer as few questions as possible.

... As few questions as were inevitable, more or less. Because undoubtedly people like his father would be about.

When she found the perfect place, or what she felt was, she eyed him expectantly. "Can you ballroom?" Eirika asked him curiously.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

As if on reflex, Connor made a small gulp. Merely he tried to swallow away his nerves. Some people he assured might be looking. He wasn't sure exactly who he was suspecting to be watching his moves. Innes, definitely. Haytham...yeah maybe definitely too. Or Desmond.

Eirika, in her beautiful gown. Connor, who was pulling off...whatever he was. Eirika alone he was sure brought some attention at the very least.

As for dancing well...Connor looked at her as they reached their spot. His eyes looking left and right of them for a brief moment before he spoke softly.

"I have not. No," Connor answered honestly. So silly.

[heartofarapier]

Her expression softened when she heard him. "All right. I'll teach you. I'm going to let you lead, however." Because to be fair, Eirika didn't have the confidence to actually do so.

She demonstrated with her hands first, how a proper man held a proper lady, and tilted her head to him. "Lead with your dominant hand. The other at my waist, or the small of my back. Whichever you prefer."

As she shifted, she tapped her feet against the ground indicatively, "In time with music. I'm not evaluating you, so you shouldn't feel too nervous."

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Right.


Okay.

"I just do not want to harm your feet in the process," Connor replied as he repeated the motions. Trying to be very gentle in his touch especially, because he had no idea what he was doing. Ballroom dancing, such a thing it was in his mind. For rich people he assumed. A luxury to be a part of such parties. Connor held one arm around her waist, the other held her hand. He tried to move...he looked.




SO NOT. LIKE HIM. He looked as silly as you might think.

hedgehog geezer

[obfuskate]

Eyes were on Connor, but not for any typical reason. It wasn't out of a sense of familiarity, nor did he find this human to be particularly engaging or interesting.

It was the necklace.

Those claws, dangling so finely from his collar, looked most exotic, very attractive. Despite that, it simply did not fit the scenery, let alone the tux. He is not from around here, isn't he? Shadow took note that he looked just a touch like the echidnas of yore, the foreign native and minimalistic appearance giving off the sensation of something tribal.

Needless to say, he'd never interacted with these types beyond Knuckles himself. This surely wasn't an echidna - likely a human, Native United Nation resident - but who was he?

He hardly realized how noticeable he was, just a foot or two away from the reclusive assassin, staring at him as if he was the most fascinating thing in the world. Oops.

grose

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Connor's senses were going off.

Hunter's instinct. An Assassin's instinct. Whatever you wanna call it. He could feel that certain presence of someone eyeing him. He was pondering over trying to have some of the food when he decided he couldn't ignore wavering feelings anymore.

Connor turned his head around until he located the one looking right at him.

An animal. A black animal with red.



Right back at you.

[obfuskate]

Shadow's ears gave a knowledgeable twitch, the look on Connor's face more than recognizable. He seemed to be on his guard, prepared to lunge if he showed himself to be a threat, from what he gathered. He knew that expression well, having faced it and donned it many a time in his life.

His first instinct was to lift an assertive hand, showing his palm to him in a signal of offered peace. "At ease. I mean no harm." He didn't know how well this one would be convinced by simply words and actions, but he wasn't about to pick a fight that wasn't necessary. It was just going to become him making an ass of himself. He had no reason to fight a possibly innocent person.

Then again, he had almost killed so many innocent people, fulfilling Maria's promise at the expense of their lives...

He frowned. He didn't like to think about that, especially not given the time and place.

"You simply... do not seem to be from here," he noted, "but I suppose most of us are not." He paused, craning his head to the side to get a better look of the accessory dangling loosely from his neck.

"A United Nation Indian, I'm guessing?"

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Connor had that face that probably deceived how he felt. He wasn't the most emotional guy. He mostly was just curious. Weirded out? Yeah maybe a little.

You WERE a...thing. What were you, seriously?

Connor put up a hand in response. Message received. All of it. He knew he stuck out. It was actually the last thing he focused on.

Indian.

He'd heard that term. Indian. Savage. Mohawk. Many people dealt that like a racial slur. Connor shrugged it off. It was petty shit.

Though with Shadow, it felt a lot more like the people he would pass that were more fascinated with him. Call him "Indian" because that's what they heard, right?

"I suppose. That is what some called my people. I had not figured I stuck out so much being surrounded by those who are unique from the other."

[obfuskate]

It was a true shame Connor's abilities did not extend to mind-reading, because frankly, Shadow didn't have a single clue that the term could have had a negative connotation. Even his own knowledge had its limits, and this was one of the many. He certainly didn't know all that much about Earth's past.

He wasn't sure how happy he was with himself about that. He's Earth's protector. Shouldn't he know everything there is to know?

...

He had some work to do, surely.

"You do not... quite, no, but I have never seen one of your people before." He didn't want to seem as if he was gawking like a fool, but he couldn't deny his fervent need for more information. Hopefully, this wouldn't end in a case of, "Curiosity killed the hedgehog."

"What year are you from?" He scratched idly at his shoulder and peered up to him from his position so far below. This one could have been as recent as the 2000s... or as early on as the segregation of remaining Indian tribesmen and women to designated reservations.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Surprise, Connor can. Except...not really.

No worries either, Connor was tossed many a questions of this sort. After all, he lived in the woods like a WILD MAN. To be fair, when Connor first entered civilization he was gawking at things as well.

He knew better now. But since this was a different time and place....filled with different people in the same boat, it was like he had to start anew. Connor was still baffled by much himself. Like right now, although he tried to keep Achilles' teachings at bay and not question everyone's identity in a rude fashion. He was better than that.

But again no worries, he wasn't judging you yet, Shadow.

"It is a few generations past my time as well as an entirely different land, I am quite certain most here have not heard of or seen my people," Connor answered. "The year was 1783."

He's said that statement a lot, hasn't he? Or at least, that year.

[obfuskate]

(For the record, Shadow's totally white in Eagle Vision. Grey areas sure are fantastic.)

1783...

Shadow wasn't standing here with his jaw dropping to the floorboards, but he certainly was astounded by the sheer time difference this one had. Thirty to fifty years back wasn't uncommon here, but nearly three centuries back was a massive rarity. Wasn't that during the United National Revolution? That meant...

Ah.

His stomach churned just slightly at the thought. Who knew what this one's been through, especially during times so primitive, so discriminatory? Humans and their foolish ways, he swore...

"I see. That is very far back. Nn..."

He awkwardly darted his gaze to the crowd and then back to him, and while he usually knew to help it, his eyes showed some genuine sympathy. Humans could be so cruel, but there were a few with pure hearts, pure minds, much like the Indian tribes of yore... and her.

"How are you adapting to the present time? Are you... comfortable?" Was that an actual, verbal worry from Shadow the Hedgehog? Perhaps.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

In sheer curiosity, Connor tried to use his Eagle Vision at times. It was hard to focus at the moment with it. In due time though, he could get adjusted and pull it off. But he mainly used it when he had an idea of whom exactly to look for.

So far, he wasn't sure of anything.

Shadow, you could talk all day with this one all about that. The time difference, the Revolution, discrimination, and all of that.

It would actually probably make out to be interesting, even though he found it hard to get into his personal life. There was so much he could only tell too. Assassins and Templars and everything.

When Shadow shown such sympathy, he wasn't sure how to handle that. As far as he knew, Shadow was the first to really...express it that way. Ask him how he WAS. Did he feel RIGHT here? Huh.

"I am...adapting as well as I can," Connor replied, face getting softer. "It was against my will, but making do with my surroundings is important."

Feeling comfortable wise? Maybe. He had made some friends. His purpose? Maybe a bit clearer.

[obfuskate]

"Against your will?" Shadow paused, as if unsure of how to react in that brief moment, the crowd's hustle and bustle jostling his brain and leaving it foggy. Once the dots connected, however, he huffed, disgruntled by the common answer.

"Humph. Of course. They take many against their wills, it seems," he mused, arms crossed neatly and brows crinkled tightly. Those hands held no sympathy. They were devoid of any emotion, as far as he could tell, and they did nothing more than making more and more lives miserable. As every day passed, as every person was dropped off, Shadow had to wonder...

Was it all ever going to stop one day?

Only time could tell.

"There is not much to be done... but I suppose I can still help you." His arms dropped to his sides once again, bright red so easily visible despite their particular surroundings being a bit darker than most. Was it the Chaos flowing through his veins that made his eyes practically glow at times? Probably.

"I am Shadow of the Truancy Office. I am not a people worker... but I know how this school generally operates," he informed him. "I can tell you all you need to know..."

Or should he?

A smirk flitted upon his lips. He didn't have to make it free. Maybe that was a little too generous.

"... for a meager fee."

Meager for a man, magnificent for a mammal.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

"Shadow..."

Then it hit him.

"Eirika had told me about you, saying you had given her knowledge. I had been meaning to find and have a discussion with you on the matter."

A fee then? Why he had to pay a fee for meager information on how to live here was...shitty. Unless if he was joking, Connor wasn't good at catching jokes. You were like giving him Information Tax. Cruddy. Might as well though...out of curiosity.

"What 'fee' would that be?"

[obfuskate]

"Three dollars."

Really?

"Enough for one cup of pudding from one of the city's finest bakeries.

"Believe me.

"This is all I need for my eternal aid to you."

Really.

Shadow just can't pass an opportunity to weasel good things out of good people, okay? Okay.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

"Three dollars."

Said Connor. In response.

It really didn't sound like a lot (seeing as how Connor was trying and sort of getting used to the money system here, sort of...just knew enough to realize three dollars wasn't alot) but...there wasn't a catch was it?

"That is really all you require?"