Don’t worry about the future.

[mansionstaff]

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

It's a beautiful spring evening at Smash Academy, the barest hints of summer just beginning to touch 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 shadow bug invasion, there seemed to be tensions in need of dispelling. If the Headmaster knew one thing, however, it was that some silly 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, TAG YOUR DUDES, HAVE FUN, and let a mod know about any problems or concerns you might have!

Comments

[vela_nova]

"Thank you," she said, taking the bottle and opening it. It was nice and refreshing. "I'm assuming the punch was spiked," she added, wiping her mouth gently.

[jonny_talbain]

"You assume correctly. I remember that you don't indulge so I thought it might be wisest to stick to something with a sealed lid."

[vela_nova]

"How thoughtful of you," she replied, capping the bottle again.

"You know, the fact that the punch is invariably spiked every year almost feels like falling into a rut at this point," she suggested.

[jonny_talbain]

"I prefer to think of it as the kind of yearly tradition that builds the character of a place. Like the yearly mistletoe hanging and the yearly outbreak of uncharacteristic affection on Valentines day or the yearly overrunning of the premises by monsters or robots or evil duplicates or ghosts. Actually, those last few I could do without and it happens more than once a year on average. But you get what I mean."

[vela_nova]

"Perhaps, but for a school, those kinds of things happening hardly seems like it should be happening at all," she replied. "Monsters, robots, or other such things attacking is somewhat... counter to a safe academic environment. Moreso than odd yearly pranks."

[jonny_talbain]

"Well, it IS a fighting school." Jon reminded her. "And we certainly get put through our paces. I didn't fare particularly well during the Robot invasion, actually. It taught me more than I ever wanted to know about my own deficiencies as a fighter."

He wondered if she might have an opinion on something he'd been wondering about.

"Do you know why this city established a fighting school to begin with?"

[vela_nova]

"I suppose that's the question of the ages, huh?" she asked. "I have, and yet I still don't understand it. Though it's more often I find myself wondering why this place draws in people who don't intend or want to come here as well as willing students," Blaze added, taking another drink. "I ended up here because I was stuck here. Others have come here purposefully to learn. I don't know why..."

[jonny_talbain]

"When I first arrived, I seem to remember that the folk who had shown up here against their will were few and far between." Jon commented. "It seems... more commonplace, now."

It seemed like every week there was some new person who just kind of... showed up without any reason as to why or who wanted to get home and couldn't and wanted help to find out how.

"I wonder if that signifies something in and of itself."

[vela_nova]

"I know," she said. "And I agree. If you ask me, I think something is happening. The only question is, what."

[jonny_talbain]

"Isn't that the million dollar question." Jon replied. "I've no clue. The things we deal with for the most part seem to have little connection apart from these, ah, shadow bug creatures. They were involved in Seth's demise from what I understand and now they're back. But then again, there's nothing to say that arrivals from abroad who had no intentions of being here and the shadow bugs have a direct correlation."

[vela_nova]

"No, and yet there's nothing to say it's NOT connected either," she said, sighing. "I don't know... Maybe I'm imagining things."

[jonny_talbain]

"Aye, well, if you are then so am I." Jon replied with a nod and a shrug. "I suppose, at the very least, so long as we're wary and expecting something to happen, we can't be caught off guard."

No Jon that's called paranoia.

[vela_nova]

"Well... possibly," she replied. "In a way I hope it's just a coincidence. If it weren't, it would imply something more sinister going on. And considering the kind of sinister we've both dealt with before..."

[jonny_talbain]

"Well, what is life but a series of increasingly difficult challenges to navigate?" he replied with a smirk. "Whatever it may or may not be, folk such as ourselves aren't destined for an easy ride of it. Once we've stood up to adversity once or twice and kicked it in the backside, it's sure to come back for more in many and varied forms. If it's not something going on here, it will be something in our home dimensions."

[vela_nova]

"How very comforting," Blaze replied with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

[jonny_talbain]

"Maybe not comforting. But I can state that were the truth any different.... I'd probably grow bored." He shrugged. "A little adversity to get the blood pumping does wonders."

[vela_nova]

"I suppose so," she answered. "Although as a princess, I tend to prefer more peaceful times, for the sake of my kingdom and its people."

[jonny_talbain]

"I suppose that's a key difference between us." he commented. "Generally, I've only had to consider myself. Those around me to a lesser extent during the full moon. But I've never been responsible for a large number of people before. You must find it somewhat trying at times."

[vela_nova]

"It is," she admitted. "But it's my responsibility. A responsibility I take very seriously. I was born to protect my world."

[jonny_talbain]

He still sort of took issue with that idea. That a child was 'born to' do anything but what that child wanted to do. What if a child dreamed of becoming something other than what society had intended? What if a child aspired to something greater? But for her sake, he'd not argue.

"And I wish you all the luck in the world with that. Two worlds, essentially."

[vela_nova]

"Thank you," she answered. From an early age Blaze knew that it was her responsibility to protect the Sol Emeralds and her world. It was a destiny she never questioned. She knew it was her duty, and she would meet that duty head on. No regrets.

[jonny_talbain]

Jon took a sip from his hip flask and looked around for a moment.

"I suppose I ought to get back to chaperoning..." he said quietly. "Though, I've had... quite a nice time with you this evening."

[vela_nova]

"Yes... Thank you," Blaze replied. "It's been... fun."

[jonny_talbain]

He made a small bow.

"Good evening, then. I'll see you soon."