Waiting, Samael? You must be good at that for having lived this long. You've spent a not-inconsiderable amount of your immortal lifespan in vampiric torpor, recovering from terrible injuries under the ground, filled with dark nightmares marking the span of centuries. You have a lot to be bitter about.

Roll to Gaze into the Abyss, and tell me about your experiences lying trapped in a coffin under the earth.

At first, it is not all that bad. Provided you're there of your own free will because necessity demands it. Then the time passes almost by itself as reality, hallucination, semi-controlled dreaming and complete blank unconsciousness mix, mingle and blend to an existence which is insane but largely painless. The really old gain stronger control and can even create internal mind-escape worlds to live within for at least some of their durance. The stronger your body, the stronger the mind, however, and the harder it is to convince to surrender; it is the final bunch of decades, when lying mostly recovered but not yet strong enough to break free, that are the real purgatory.

Sam is certainly not looking to be back in such a situation if he can help it. He is however looking to know what's happened to dear Ana and Timmy.

[Rolling to Gaze in To The Abyss: 4+1, now I don't have Sam's sheet so unsure what his Dark is but I doubt is enough to raise this roll from a Miss]

CREEP
WHIPPED
TRUANT (I think?)

"You. Are you serious?" Annalee looks ready to do murder. She has one thing she wants, she doesn't want to deal with anyone else right now, would every freaking person, monster, and animated Hot Topic just get the hell out of the way already? The answer is yes, they would. Or at least, they would find it really hard to get in the way, which was close enough. Annalee started speaking in tongues, trying to chant a spell that would completely prevent the Sphinx from doing violence of any kind, so that she could just walk right past her.

Simple, convenient. Unfortunate, however, that she had just read up on that spell today before detention and in the all the confusion hadn't really had the chance to do something like practice it. So, it was almost certainly going to go horribly wrong in interesting ways.

[Hex roll: 1+3+1=5. 1/5 Experience]

The spell you're looking for is called 'Binding'. The title is important. When it was originally scribed by powerful witches in ages past the purpose was to call up and enslave supernatural entities to your service, trapping them within arcane circles as a precursor to diabolic negotiations. It turns out that the circle part wasn't optional. The Sphinx slides forwards on her heels and then just kind of bumps into you and stop.

"What do you think you're doing?" she asks. She raises a hand casually filled with claws... and then puts it down again.

In the absence of a proper ritual circle binding her to a physical place it turns out she's been bound directly to you. You can't pull away from her or she from you, and you can't physically harm each other. You're stuck together in a weird three-legged race scenario.

At first, it is not all that bad. Provided you're there of your own free will because necessity demands it. Then the time passes almost by itself as reality, hallucination, semi-controlled dreaming and complete blank unconsciousness mix, mingle and blend to an existence which is insane but largely painless. The really old gain stronger control and can even create internal mind-escape worlds to live within for at least some of their durance. The stronger your body, the stronger the mind, however, and the harder it is to convince to surrender; it is the final bunch of decades, when lying mostly recovered but not yet strong enough to break free, that are the real purgatory.

Sam is certainly not looking to be back in such a situation if he can help it. He is however looking to know what's happened to dear Ana and Timmy.

[Rolling to Gaze in To The Abyss: 4+1, now I don't have Sam's sheet so unsure what his Dark is but I doubt is enough to raise this roll from a Miss]

You had prey creatures the last time this happened.

You remember the faces. Innocent. Vulnerable. Puppets on your strings. You were in their heads and in their veins and the world was good. The hunt was over and all that was left was toying with the already defeated prey like a cat plays with a mouse. Everything was perfect up until it wasn't.

Your hands beat against the lid of the coffin. You splintered the wood. Tore it apart. You didn't stop striking until you had surrounded yourself in splinters and finally acknowledged that they'd dumped the coffin in the back of a cement truck.

Like you said, it wasn't that bad if you were there voluntarily.

They betrayed you. Where had they got the courage? Who had put them up to it? Rache? Her face showed up in your dreams more and more. She had the skill, the power, the reasons to do something like that. But she'd always seemed like she'd sit on her grudges forever. Just as weak as the rest. Until she wasn't.

The room darkens and fills with smoke, and lightning flashes outside. Tell me of the past, Samael.

SECOND PLACE
WEREWOLF MAGNET

“I mean, if you think about it, we kiiiiiind of are?” Elodie is amazing under pressure. “You did ask me out on a tea date, after all.” Ignore the fact it was school mandated! “And there was the promise of K-I-S-S later, and besides, what else was I going to say? Oh, gosh, Dad, you’re right, I am dating this stinky, sweaty werewolf I’m currently pinned under, we absolutely were doing the badonkadonk, you can expect a fresh litter of puppies in June? You know how Dads are.”

She mimes shooting herself in the head. Don’t think about how often she’s seen the aftermath. Don’t think about that at all.

“I had to get him off the scent, and fast, and besides, we were on such a nice date already, and once we get that spell off you, we can keep going, maybe even make it official?”

She bats her eyes, trying very hard not to think about sweaty werewolves pinning her to a wall and making her sing like a dove.

“Because I’d be lots better for you than Annalee. She’s probably interested in having a hypnotized house husband to do her evil bidding, and that would be such a waste!”

Then she hops up and grabs his hands, pressing them up against her collarbone. “Come on, Timmy! Let’s stop wasting time!” It’s unclear whether she’s talking about wedding bells or having kids, with the manic gleam in her eye, and the thought of Lord Sleepshy or the Angel busting in on Unallowed Activities probably looms large in one’s imagination.

[That’s a 6 on Turning Timmy On.]

Elodie, you know, you do this sometimes. You get ahead of yourself, mind and energy bubbling up faster than it can be thought through and processed. You're flush with life and death and have everything to prove and everyone to prove it to. You have the means, motive and opportunity and, like you said, you're wasting time. Activate your Darkest Self.

You had prey creatures the last time this happened.

You remember the faces. Innocent. Vulnerable. Puppets on your strings. You were in their heads and in their veins and the world was good. The hunt was over and all that was left was toying with the already defeated prey like a cat plays with a mouse. Everything was perfect up until it wasn't.

Your hands beat against the lid of the coffin. You splintered the wood. Tore it apart. You didn't stop striking until you had surrounded yourself in splinters and finally acknowledged that they'd dumped the coffin in the back of a cement truck.

Like you said, it wasn't that bad if you were there voluntarily.

They betrayed you. Where had they got the courage? Who had put them up to it? Rache? Her face showed up in your dreams more and more. She had the skill, the power, the reasons to do something like that. But she'd always seemed like she'd sit on her grudges forever. Just as weak as the rest. Until she wasn't.

The room darkens and fills with smoke, and lightning flashes outside. Tell me of the past, Samael.

There is a lot of past to speak of. Perhaps the war? The last time I was voluntarily confined underground.

Do not mistake me for someone who enlisted because of some deep conviction or feelings of righteousness, it was simply a desire to be in the thick of the smell of blood. In my inexperience I didn't see any real cause to fear for my unlife. That changed. More things fly in the air than mere bullets. It is true that no matter how much you think you know what to expect when going in to war, it is never that. Even I found myself surprised, shocked, perhaps at times even disturbed, by the sights, sounds and smells. Don't get me wrong, it was a banquet to dream of. I had plenty of fun as we travelled, lacing my threads of control in to minds of all ranks, especially those of the officers. It was an enjoyable game that allowed me to shape my own situation to quite a comfortable one. Until it wasn't.

They say no plan survives contact with the enemy. I doubt I'll ever approach a frontline again, even for her.

She found me, just when I needed her the most, as always. Hers was the last face I saw before the coffin lid closed over my mangled body. Her hair still smelled like campfires from the smoke. I dreamed of her then, healing under the earth, as I dream of her now, trapped in this mausoleum. I am no longer buried in the ground but being entombed in this place is not all that different. No warmth. No pleasure. No peace. Mindbreaking monotony day and night. She put me in the ground then because I needed it. Perhaps she was the one who moved me to the cement truck, maybe by then she felt I deserved it. Hexes wear off, sadly. Shame, I had hoped we'd have longer.

I am not sorry.

I guess she doesn't feel the same.

But none of this is what you wanted to hear. You wanted me to tell you about my sister, Rache.

And yet that is precisely what I have done.

SECOND PLACE
WEREWOLF MAGNET

“I mean, if you think about it, we kiiiiiind of are?” Elodie is amazing under pressure. “You did ask me out on a tea date, after all.” Ignore the fact it was school mandated! “And there was the promise of K-I-S-S later, and besides, what else was I going to say? Oh, gosh, Dad, you’re right, I am dating this stinky, sweaty werewolf I’m currently pinned under, we absolutely were doing the badonkadonk, you can expect a fresh litter of puppies in June? You know how Dads are.”

She mimes shooting herself in the head. Don’t think about how often she’s seen the aftermath. Don’t think about that at all.

“I had to get him off the scent, and fast, and besides, we were on such a nice date already, and once we get that spell off you, we can keep going, maybe even make it official?”

She bats her eyes, trying very hard not to think about sweaty werewolves pinning her to a wall and making her sing like a dove.

“Because I’d be lots better for you than Annalee. She’s probably interested in having a hypnotized house husband to do her evil bidding, and that would be such a waste!”

Then she hops up and grabs his hands, pressing them up against her collarbone. “Come on, Timmy! Let’s stop wasting time!” It’s unclear whether she’s talking about wedding bells or having kids, with the manic gleam in her eye, and the thought of Lord Sleepshy or the Angel busting in on Unallowed Activities probably looms large in one’s imagination.

[That’s a 6 on Turning Timmy On.]

“No. No!” Timothy recoiled, hands and cheeks burning. “We can’t! I mean - absolutely not! Have you gone mad? Have you completely forgotten the position I’m in?!”

How. How did this go so wrong? How did she get so wrong? Why couldn’t she have told him she was so wrong sooner?!

“I don’t want to be anybody’s house husband!” He cried, backing away before those big, shining eyes could swallow him up. And she moved closer. “I don’t want to be anybody’s official, I don’t want anybody being good for me, and I certainly don’t want to spend one second more in this awful place than I have to. I’m not even supposed to be here!”

“I’m only here because of a huge, a terrible misunderstanding. And if I don’t keep out of trouble, they’re going to keep me here. If your Dad tattles on me to the administration, if anybody suspects that we’re, that we’re going steady, it’ll be...oh beans, oh biscuits, it’ll be a disaster! He can’t! I can’t! We can’t!” His poor, poor head swam terribly. His wobbly legs stumbled back. And still, she advanced. “I want out of this dreadful school, Elly! I want to go back home. I want to go back to my books and my tea and my stories. I want-”

His back met the wall.

And she closed in.

“I-I want to see my mother and father again…”

He swallowed hard.

“Don’t you care that I miss them...?”

SECOND PLACE
WEREWOLF MAGNET
DARKEST SELF

“I didn’t want to meet them until we were going steady, silly!!” He’s only saying this because he’s cursed. You can’t give a hex like that an inch! “But I guess... once we get you uncursed, we can go have dinner together!”

She leans in, gives him an air kiss next to his cheek— mwah!— and then drags him over to the door before his brain starts working again.

Knock! Knock! And then, once opened, gosh, wouldn’t you know, we’re in... the Sphinx’s lair??

“Drop that oversized kitten and break your curse on poor, innocent Timothy right now, Annalee, or else! He’s nobody’s house husband, you hussy!”

You’d better do it. There is mad power dancing in Elly-belly’s eyes, Annalee. She is at her most unpredictable and impulsive right now, and standing in front of her might as well be standing in front of a train.

This is complicated by the fact that you have not, in fact, hexed Timmy.

CREEP
WHIPPED
TRUANT

Annalee is in the middle of trying to open her backpack and inch out one of her spellbooks without being crushed by the sphinx, toppling over, or properly being able to move her arms and legs. It sort of looks like she's being slowly buried in a hot topic store that's oddly sphinx shaped. You might expect her to be awkward in this situation, but in some ways, your arrival is a blessed jolt of normalcy. And she looks positively, perhaps even unnaturally delighted to see that you brought Timothy Crompton with you. Well done, Elly-belly, we knew you were useful for something after all.

"What, the mouth hex? That was at Samael's request, but he didn't ask me to keep it." She waves a hand (as much as it can wave) and Timothy, any lingering oddity with your mouth is completely and utterly gone. "There, it was nothing, I'm glad that you enjoy my work. But now, now it's is excellent that you're here!" Her eyes light up. "I was just working on passing through the entrance, which I've never done before. And while I'm magically fused to this sphinx, I'm sure you can both assist. You see, Timmy, we really must go to the library at once. It's very urgent and I'm confident that whatever you both need, we can take care of it there!" Annalee looks at Timothy knowingly, and he might remember the last time she got him "whatever he needed."

[Spending a string on Timothy to tempt him to go with her (and Elodie if he wants) to Samael's library room. He gets an experience if he does it.]

And yet that is precisely what I have done.

You're roused from contemplation. It feels like an age later. Without focus and attention your body conserves blood, shedding even the illusion of life. Your limbs are like wood, you feel as stiff and ancient as the chair you sit in. The crackling fire gives you no warmth. You're hungry. It's so rare for you not to be hungry.

But there are sounds outside. The sound of heartbeats, audible even over the fire and footsteps. Prey walking into your lair, tangled and emotional and chaotic. Disorganized. You are roused, and in moments, you will be ready to hunt.

JEALOUS
DEFINITELY HEXED

SECOND PLACE
WEREWOLF MAGNET
DARKEST SELF

“I didn’t want to meet them until we were going steady, silly!!” He’s only saying this because he’s cursed. You can’t give a hex like that an inch! “But I guess... once we get you uncursed, we can go have dinner together!”

She leans in, gives him an air kiss next to his cheek— mwah!— and then drags him over to the door before his brain starts working again.

Knock! Knock! And then, once opened, gosh, wouldn’t you know, we’re in... the Sphinx’s lair??

“Drop that oversized kitten and break your curse on poor, innocent Timothy right now, Annalee, or else! He’s nobody’s house husband, you hussy!”

You’d better do it. There is mad power dancing in Elly-belly’s eyes, Annalee. She is at her most unpredictable and impulsive right now, and standing in front of her might as well be standing in front of a train.

This is complicated by the fact that you have not, in fact, hexed Timmy.

This is okay. This is fine. She didn’t really kiss him. He didn’t actually reciprocate. It wasn’t a real kiss. It wasn’t a real kiss. It wasn’t real at all. It was a Continental sort of gesture that was performed millions of times a day between people who didn’t have to like each other in the first place. He was safe, he wasn’t in any trouble, and so his knees had no good reason to tremble like structurally deficient gelatin. No good reason! Not a one!

wait this wasn’t where he was standing a moment ago

CREEP
WHIPPED
TRUANT

Annalee is in the middle of trying to open her backpack and inch out one of her spellbooks without being crushed by the sphinx, toppling over, or properly being able to move her arms and legs. It sort of looks like she's being slowly buried in a hot topic store that's oddly sphinx shaped. You might expect her to be awkward in this situation, but in some ways, your arrival is a blessed jolt of normalcy. And she looks positively, perhaps even unnaturally delighted to see that you brought Timothy Crompton with you. Well done, Elly-belly, we knew you were useful for something after all.

"What, the mouth hex? That was at Samael's request, but he didn't ask me to keep it." She waves a hand (as much as it can wave) and Timothy, any lingering oddity with your mouth is completely and utterly gone. "There, it was nothing, I'm glad that you enjoy my work. But now, now it's is excellent that you're here!" Her eyes light up. "I was just working on passing through the entrance, which I've never done before. And while I'm magically fused to this sphinx, I'm sure you can both assist. You see, Timmy, we really must go to the library at once. It's very urgent and I'm confident that whatever you both need, we can take care of it there!" Annalee looks at Timothy knowingly, and he might remember the last time she got him "whatever he needed."

[Spending a string on Timothy to tempt him to go with her (and Elodie if he wants) to Samael's library room. He gets an experience if he does it.]

Timothy felt his natural jawline, totally free of lumps and asymmetry. He whipped off the face mask, and - yes, yes, everything was in order. For the first time in what felt like ages, the world finally saw the face of Timothy Oglevee Crompton.

“You cursed me.”

And he was scowling furiously.

“You. You cursed me. At Samael’s request.” He broke off from Elodie and stormed up to the Witch/Sphinx mash. “Why? Why would you even do such a thing?! What could have Samael possibly said to you to make that seem like a good idea? I’ve been walking around with my face wrapped up like a ninny for days. I haven’t been able to eat. I’ve barely managed to drink. And you just let me suffer?! I was your friend, Annie! Your friend!”

He grabbed her by the shoulders. Looked her square in the eyes. And for a moment, the fire flickered, and his voice cracked.

“I thought that meant something to you. I was relieved to find another human in this nightmare prison. I thought...” He took a stiff breath, his face hardening. “It doesn’t matter. You’re no different from the rest of them.”

Delinquents. Hooligans. Cruel, horrible monsters, all.

“Now. Elodie believes there’s some manner of dark hex that’s been placed on me. If you have any intention of making up for this, you can start by looking into that. I believe you mentioned the Library as a good place to start?”

[Timothy is rolling to Shut Annie Down: 5 + 1 + 1 = 7 Annie gets to put a Condition on Timmy, and loses a String on him.]

Take the condition CRYBABY, Timmy.

CREEP
WHIPPED
TRUANT

"Please. I made you look a little off, big baby. And I am entirely confident that you would do the same thing at Samael's request if our positions were switched. One does not simply refuse him. Now, let's be off to the library and we'll easily sort out the matter of this dark curse of yours, I am confident."

Annalee seems full of energy all of a sudden. The pent-up frustration is all gone. Perhaps that's the hypnotism rewarding a success? Perhaps she's just happy to be doing something that she wants to be doing! Regardless, she waves a hand and speaks some words that make the room seem darker, then looks at the sphinx with no small amount of frustration. Does it again, taps her own shirt this time and [5+3+2=10 to act staying cool] manages to slip out of it leaving her wearing only her bra covering her ample chest. The dark red shirt seems to merge with the Sphinx and she looks at the thing. "It looks horrific on you and I'll expect it back presently, pressed and folded. We'll be going now."

[Rolling to turn on...everyone I guess. Definitely Elodie, I can do multiples if necessary. 1+2-1=2. Marking experience.]

SECOND PLACE
WEREWOLF MAGNET

“Nope! Nope nope nope nope!”

Timmy, you may notice that you have been grabbed from behind and that there are hands covering your eyes, so that you are spared the sight of Annalee the whale in her unmentionables. Which! Is a thing! You could be looking at!!

Elodie certainly is!!!

“I! Am telling!!” Ellie-belly would be pointing a hand accusatorially if she didn’t have her hands full. She starts dragging Timmy by the face backwards. “I am telling the Angel on you!! Attempted seduction! Hexing a fellow student! Dress code violations! You are going to be in all the trouble!!”

And with that, she spins Timmy around, grabs his hand, and heroically starts sprinting— urk— heroically starts dragging him out to find the angel! A path which, coincidentally, leads right past Samael’s office.

Are you going to let her get away with this, Annalee? This blatant hypocrisy??

CREEP
WHIPPED
TRUANT

Annalee just cocks an eyebrow at Elodie for a moment. For this, she covers Timmy's eyes. And after such a wonderful night they had together. Quite the hypocrite. Well, never mind that, they were going the right way and, ugh, stupid bitch was going to run Timothy right past where they were supposed to go. Annalee raced to catch up, and when they got to the library area, she simply went for the fastest, most expedient possible approach. She shoved Elodie out of the way, grabbed Timmy and pulled him into Samael's waiting space, regardless of who else might be watching.

[Lashing out physically: 5+1-1=5. We should probably wait for Thanqol now]

Samael!

Well, they're here.

Not quite like you expected, shuffling and meek and scared. Instead they're here kicking and yelling and hair-pulling and the kind of fight that would be almost comical if there wasn't that edge of feral, supernatural viciousness to it. Timmy is somehow in the midst of it, both the subject of the fight and the one who somehow seems to be getting the worst of the violence.

Do you intervene or let this play out?

SAVAGE

Samael has been sitting. Waiting. It is obvious he has been expecting them for some time by how he is sat utterly motionless, staring at the door, hands steepled, his face grave and unimpressed by the tardiness. He has spent some considerable time and thought on making sure he makes The Most ominous impression when they come through the door brimming with intimidation and feeble excuses.

Only... they don't. Instead some kind of mayhem bursts in. Like a ball of petty hair pulling, ankle biting and face scratching. It's not the loud arguing that gets him to dig his nails in to the fabric of the armrests, however, nor the fact that not one of them appears to be here to actually hand in their assignments and hells, wait, is Annalee just in her bra?! No, it is the fact that not one of them so much as notices him as their chaos collapses in to his room.

Samael Hale was on his feet in an instant and advanced on the heap. His face twisted in to a deep scowl and his fangs bared in a snarl full of contempt.

"Enough!" he snapped, in hope of getting their attention, at least for a damn moment. "What the hell is this?"

"One act of kindness. One." He raised a single index finger to emphasise his point as he pinned a cold stare to each of Elodie and Timmy's eyes. "How you managed to get from that to... this. Whatever this is. Do either of you even want to graduate?" He looked back and forth between Elodie and Timothy and then let out an aggressively exasperated sigh.

He stepped closer, leaning in to reach an arm out behind the small gaggle of delinquents to shut the door behind them, the move bringing him particularly close to Elodie as he did so, closer than ever before. Also conveniently nudging her and Timothy apart as he squeezed through, but it was Elodie he leaned closest to. Can you smell his skin this close, Elodie? Do you hear the breath he draws as his face passes yours? Do you detect that metallic tang of blood? A recent feed. Does it frighten you? Do you know who it was?

Do you wish it was you?

"Before we get to the undoubtedly riveting tale of how this spectacle came about..." with the door closed he stood back and his gaze came to lay heavily on Elodie. His hands rose to his collar and began to undo the buttons of his shirt one by one, not taking his eyes off her as his shirt gradually parted open, silently daring her to watch. "...I have a proposal for you..." He finished the buttons down his front, revealing that he wore nothing underneath.

[Rolling to Turn Elodie On: 4+3+2=9, you choose]

"...Mister Oglevee Crompton," he clarified, then undid his cuffs as well, breaking his eyes away from Elodie.

"But first things first." He shrugged the shirt off his shoulders and finally turned his eyes away from Elodie and on to Annalee. "Are you alright, Ana?" he asked seriously as he reached his shirt to wrap it around her bare shoulders. "Are you hurt?" Tucking away a strand of hair, tracing the back of a light finger to her jawline, checking for bruises or scratches. The concern on his face and in the light touches of his hand were as well rehearsed as they were intimate.

SECOND PLACE
WEREWOLF MAGNET

Ugh, please. Vampires are not hot. You know when Elodie has seen most of her vampires? When they’re a pile of ashes, or staked and carrying their ghostly head under one arm. Blood? That’s just another bodily fluid.

Vampires are not hot at all, and the only reason Elodie is radiating more heat than the sun and incapable of tearing her eyes away from you as you undo each button, one by one, your pale fingers perfect as they do their work, is because you’re a teacher. TA. Same difference. You’re supposed to be grouchy and grilling students about homework, not talking in that velvety glove of a voice while ahahahahahahabs, you habs abs.

Timmy is sweet and perfect and ordinary and the kind of boy who will give her a white picket fence. She is not thinking about white picket fences right now. She categorically can’t. She is thinking about white picket abs. And about Miss Faucher, I have chosen to oversee your detention personally. Bend over the chair and hike up your skirt so the physical punishment may begin.

When you turn away from her, she lets out a strangled little whine and fidgets guiltily, because she’s here to save Timmy and not to have weird confusing and very inappropriate thoughts about the TA.

Go ahead and take that String, and tie it around her neck, please.

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TRUANT

Annalee is having some weird feelings right now. She did her thing and the hypnotism is wearing off. But she's still got a lot of complex feelings. Okay she got Timmy here. Samael manipulated her. Samael hurt her earlier. She flinches when the finger touches her jawline. Just for an instant, she can't help it, okay?! But then his touch is soft, and delicate. He gave her his shirt, too. That's very kind of him. It felt warm, protecting her from the chilly air of the library, cool to preserve all those dusty old books. That was nice, wasn't it? Maybe he'd just reacted badly before, maybe...

Her head swam and she leaned into him. "A werewolf flung me out of a school tower and I had to leave my shirt with the sphinx at the entrance to get everyone here. And Elly-belly very nearly dragged Timmy right past the library to the Angel's room instead, which is why I had to practically tackle them in here."

JEALOUS
DEFINITELY HEXED
CRYBABY

For the first time in an age, Timothy was permitted to stand, and this gift did little to offset the ongoing misfortune.

Straightaway he yelped and put a hand up to cover Annie's indecency. No, hold that thought, that hand was also needed to cover the vampire's indecency. And Annie's. While he was at it, could he also cover Elodie? No? Was he sure about that? Perhaps he could, no, too many vampire abs, can't have that. So maybe if he just kept, yes, he could avert his eyes strategically as he moved his hand to cover the majority of the hot spots. Yes. Alright. That was the plan. Stick to it, Crompton. And no peeking, you pathetic mongrel.

"S-sir, if this is about the assignment," he placated in Samael's general vicinity. (Why couldn't he have left the door open? Why?!) "If you'll give me five minute's peace, I'm sure I could have it done and ready to turn in..."

CREEP
WHIPPED
TRUANT

Annalee is having some weird feelings right now. She did her thing and the hypnotism is wearing off. But she's still got a lot of complex feelings. Okay she got Timmy here. Samael manipulated her. Samael hurt her earlier. She flinches when the finger touches her jawline. Just for an instant, she can't help it, okay?! But then his touch is soft, and delicate. He gave her his shirt, too. That's very kind of him. It felt warm, protecting her from the chilly air of the library, cool to preserve all those dusty old books. That was nice, wasn't it? Maybe he'd just reacted badly before, maybe...

Her head swam and she leaned into him. "A werewolf flung me out of a school tower and I had to leave my shirt with the sphinx at the entrance to get everyone here. And Elly-belly very nearly dragged Timmy right past the library to the Angel's room instead, which is why I had to practically tackle them in here."

He doesn't say anything to you Annie.

No, no, it's fine. Really! There's no need. He's seen quite enough. You cursed him at Samael's behest. You let Samael feed upon you. (And don't think he didn't notice that little mark.) You lied to his face about wishing to help him, only to bring him straight into a vampire's clutches. And you nearly tore him in two to make it so. Now here he is, cooing over you like a gentleman suitor.

Speak your piece, or don't. It matters little. He's seen how it is, and he's seen quite enough, and if by chance you see him through his shielding hand, you'll find that he doesn't wish to see you at all.

[Spending a String on Annie to tempt her to pull away from Samael. Show some tangible shame for what you've done.]

CREEP
WHIPPED
TRUANT

Her head swam and she leaned into him. "A werewolf flung me out of a school tower and I had to leave my shirt with the sphinx at the entrance to get everyone here. And Elly-belly very nearly dragged Timmy right past the library to the Angel's room instead, which is why I had to practically tackle them in here."

"Indeed?" Samael said, his voice low and velvet smooth, deeply satisfied to see Annalee accept his feigned kindness. He noticed the flinch but he did not mark it. The fact that she didn't act on it was the important bit. A little bit of instinctive fear was no bad thing. He is dangerous. They'd all do well to remember that. "I don't think I have ever known one as dedicated, resourceful and loyal as you, Ana. For you my door is open. Day and night. Well done."

JEALOUS
DEFINITELY HEXED
CRYBABY

"S-sir, if this is about the assignment," he placated in Samael's general vicinity. (Why couldn't he have left the door open? Why?!) "If you'll give me five minute's peace, I'm sure I could have it done and ready to turn in..."

"It's not," Sam says in Timothy's general direction. "Though we will get to that too, although, considering how the three of you came in here I am almost afraid to ask." Samael almost smiled to himself, most of his attention still being on Annalee. "No my proposal to you is something else entirely." Then he looks up a little, as if a thought just hit him and his eyes finally turn directly to Timothy, "though it is an act of kindness, so that much holds to the theme, I suppose." Content to string poor Timmy along a little further Samael turns back to Elodie as his hands finally leave Annalee's face, having determined she is more or less unscathed.

"This werewolf," he said, "it doesn't happen to have been your significant other, by any chance, Miss Faucher? I have to give it to you, pursuing a romantic relationship within these walls it's... pretty daring considering our school rules and the... focus, that The Headmaster has on enforcing them. It must be... quite something." His eyes are once more fixated on Elodie, just like a moment ago when he dared her to watch him undress, only now he simply stands there, his voice enticing her, inviting her and welcoming her to drop her inhibitions and wax lyrical about the werewolf.

[Rolling to Hypnotise Elodie: 4+2+2=8 Demand: Gush your heart out about the werewolf right here in front of Timothy Oglevee Crompton even as you realise exactly what I've done to you]

[String taken, thankyouverymuch]

CREEP
WHIPPED
TRUANT

Annalee looks at Timothy, and at Samael. Her head is starting to clear, and she sees the way that Timothy is looking at her. Anger. Hurt. He was so easy to hurt, it hardly mattered, right? But she hadn't wanted to do that. She hadn't wanted to bring him here at all, had she? It was confusing. And now Samael was tormenting Elodie, looking at her with those eyes. What had she done? She...needed to think. She needed to get out of here. This wasn't who she wanted to be. Wasn't what she wanted to do. She was a witch! A master and lord of monstrous dealings. Not a slave. Not a servant! Timmy was right to be disappointed. She owed him better than that.

Samael, you're not looking at her right now, you're focused on Elodie, but you can feel the difference as Annalee stands up on her own feet and walks away from you, over to where Timmy is standing. Though we'll certainly hear from Elodie first before anyone else can move further than that.

[string acted upon, XP marked.]

SECOND PLACE
WEREWOLF MAGNET

Margot? Ewwwww!! Color rises to Elodie’s cheeks as she recalls the humiliating, flustering, confusing experience of being stuffed in a duffel bag with her, and making out with her in front of her one true love. No, no, no, Mister Sam, you’ve got this all wrong! She opens her mouth to explain.

“Margot? Mister Sam, she’s a werewolf. And a jock. Even in her human form, she’s sweaty all the time, and musky like an animal, and she can’t stop herself from drooling when she gets excited.” Okay, wow, harsh, but that olfactory battering is... what you remember, very strongly, yes...

Elodie’s voice drops a sepulchral octave. “And that’s what I love about her.”

?!?!?

“By Hades, I can’t be in the same room with her without thinking about how much I want to lick every inch of her clean, and then let her lick her mouth’s scent all over me~” Hold on hang on she has Confusing Feelings about stinky werewolves but wait just a darn minute here!!! “I want her to hotbox me in a locker until I can’t think about anything other than puppies.” That is categorically not true!!! “But can you imagine my reputation if I openly stooped that low? Being the girlfriend of the only human in Sleepshy, that’s a position with status.” No no no shut up Ellie that’s not why you want to be with Timmy, it’s because he’s enticingly normal! You... you want to... is that really why you want to be with him?

“Being a werewolf jock’s bitch... it’s what I touch myself to at night, as much as I put on appearances for everybody else. It’s humiliating, but... well, if I can’t admit it in confidence here, with my besties, where can I? I want her to rub her hairy, fit body all over my face, I want her to sit on me and make me yelp and whine and admit she’s my Alpha, and I can’t be honest about my depraved fantasies of being overwhelmed by her heady musk because they’re so shameful! That’s why I’m grooming Timmy to be my beard. He’ll be such a handsome little cuckold, don’t you think? I can just imagine him smoking a pipe and reading the newspaper in the living room while Margot leads me around on a leash in our bedroom. Domestic bliss! I have a house husband for financial security, and a werewolf Alpha to put me in my place and make me stink like the animals we are. Timmy’s so easily whipped, I’m sure he’d still give me kisses while my mouth stinks of my werewolf lover’s... oh, what do the wolves call it? Using the feline nickname seems so gauche, given the circumstances.”

Stop! Please stop! Why is she saying these things? Why is she speaking like she’s a hussy from the pits of Tartarus, and in front of Timmy? Why is her heart racing imagining Margot treating her tenderly, licking her so daintily, making her scent something to cherish, even while she says such filthy things? Is she just blurting out what she really thinks?

...no! In her most depraved fantasies about being a werewolf’s chew toy, she still doesn’t want to subject Timmy to that humiliation! She doesn’t want to make Margot feel ashamed for something she can’t control! And she definitely wants to smooch Timmy, maybe in a sandwich between him and Margot, and why is she crossing and uncrossing her legs so much???

Sam.

He’s staring at her so intently. He’s ever so slightly mouthing along, and he’s smirking so, so evilly! Elodie’s heart starts blaring out steam and bouncing furiously inside her chest. She is going to give him a piece of her mind, see if she doesn’t! She’ll give him the old one two! She’ll give him to Cerberus as a chew toy, and stop thinking about chew toys while he makes you talk about a girl you have really, really confusing feelings about! You have made an enemy for life! Or undeath!! However it works!!!

“So what do you think, Timmy? Oh, what am I saying!” She giggles, hiding her mouth behind one hand. “Your opinion doesn’t matter! You’ll go along with whatever I say because I’m pretty and you don’t have a spine. Now, thank Mister Sam for us, and let’s go find Margot, darling~”

If you were looking carefully at Elodie, you might see tears pricking in her eyes, running singly down her cheeks. But it is doubtful that anyone in the room save Sam can look her in the face right now.