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.

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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

[loverofinnocence]

Caim was reasonably sure that he was seeing things. In earnest, he really, truly was. He would have believed that. If someone objectively had said he was mad, he would have agreed. So the first time he saw Riley in the crowd, he'd thought it was simply his own selfish desire to relive a memory of the past. For history had not always been horrible - not in the academy anyway.

But the second time he saw the familiar hat, the prince knew there was something more. Something was missing, wasn't it? The creature used that made Riley the only person Caim had ever met capable of communicating with him. The trainer's own version of a 'pact' he'd always assumed.

With curiosity in full swing, Caim's pace picked up and he left what he'd deemed his chaperoning station in favour of trailing after Riley. At least until he could get within arm's reach to pull on the other man's suit. Or something.

[invariance]

There was a little bit of surprise on Riley's part when he felt someone reaching for him. This wouldn't be the first time this evening that this has happened, and you would think he'd be more aware when it occurred but sadly not. He still found himself being caught off guard, which was in poor form. His attentions were obviously in another place.

It took him but a brief moment to realise who had grabbed his suit like that. It was Caim. There was a small grin of recognition on his face. Ah yes, he remembers you. He remembers all about you.

The grin never leaves his face as he waves his hand and there is a shimmering blue around them both. There would no need for them to communicate with words.

"It has been a long time, Caim."

[loverofinnocence]

It was almost like an immediate relief. And as he stood there, face-to-face with his old friend, Caim realised in hindsight that he hadn't experienced that sensation before. Not in the same way that he had when he discovered his sister was safe. No. Whatever it was he felt was in a category all its own.

Relief... and... Joy? Was that even something he could admit to having? He certainly didn't feel he was permitted to, but people were their harshest critics.

"I had thought you to be an apparition," Caim admitted, oddly almost immediately comfortable with the notion of telepathy. "I would not have missed you sooner, of that I am certain. When is it that you arrived? How long are you staying? Is this visitation only?"

It was almost like being a young child again. Asking all of the questions all at once because he didn't know what to focus on at first. And he supposed from an outside perspective, one very well could have called him 'excitable.'

[invariance]

Riley laughed, the sound rich with amusement.All of his answers that followed were infected with this amusement. So many questions, fired in a volley at him. He expected nothing less. He was gone for a while. It felt like a lon while.

"I am not an apparition, I am as real as I possibly can be. For when I arrived, not more than two days. As for how long I am staying..."

That made Riley pause for a brief moment.

"I am currently in hold of a teaching position. Perhaps, on a permanent basis for the time being. Have I satisfied all your queries or is there more?"

[loverofinnocence]

Caim couldn't resist smiling. Well, he tried to. In all earnest, he did give it his best effort, but considering how much he had genuinely liked Riley, there seemed to be little sense in hiding that humanity in him. Besides, Caim had done just a little growing up while Riley was away. There was to be no shame in showing that.

"I could think of more if you needed me to," Caim replied in jest, his expression just slightly showing some mirth in the situation.

He motioned around, "Enjoying your stay so far?" Oh. He did have another inquiry. Oops.

[invariance]

He followed Caim's gestures, taking in the festivities surrounding them. It was a time to be merry, there was no doubt about that. "Yes, I picked a fortuitous time to return."

"But what of you, Caim? How has life treated you in my absence?"

[loverofinnocence]

Fortuitous. It was an amusing way to put it, but oddly enough Caim didn't seem to argue the validity of the statement. Perhaps it had been something of good fortune in comparison to whatever he'd faced back in his lands of far off wonder and amazement. Which beckoned the very question of where Riley had come from to begin with.

Caim knew the answer very loosely.

"As though I were an entertaining pawn," he answered rather simply. Then he lifted his hands as he gave a casual shrug. "It could be worse."