Hound55

Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - [CLOSED]

Well, with the deadline for new acceptances rapidly approaching, figured I might take the opportunity to kick off my own little one-man mutual appreciation society post for the stuff we've got on paper for the first 60+ posts over the last couple of months...

First off, kudos to @Lord Wraith for all of the work over the... well... years, putting this thing together and then maintaining it.

A lesser man would undoubtedly have this place broken, with fractured coding and grammatical speling eras and in a horrible state of disrepair.[/b]

@Roman always puts together quality stuff, and I'm looking forward to that thing you mentioned you're putting together with Wraith who... hey, how has he already got two mentions? Anyway... the thing that you mentioned earlier. Luce has a quality platform CS, which has me really curious to see what way things start to turn as the game further develops down it's plotline with Trials meeting trauma.

@Lord Wraith... Aww how the Hell? Three references??? This is what I get for starting at the top of the character tab and working my way down... Quality work so far with Cass, and the absolute best thing that you can say is that he has a clear, distinctive character which he hasn't strayed from as he traverses this new school environment after finally finding a home to call his own. Now you've had your three. Stay put and stop trickling into other's complimentary notes...

@Tackytaff, great work on establishing MaKenna's disinterest and manipulative streak. A great story of someone who found their happy and had it torn from them by tragic circumstances and has now been thrust into less-than-desirable circumstances. Another one I'm really curious to see how they handle the impending trials.

@Kuro, Haleigh's been a breath of fresh air as a character who fights off the disappointment in her circumstances to keep moving forward to work on herself and find a better way to be. Whilst proving herself as someone willing to sacrifice self and convenience for the benefit of those around her. She has a whole "it takes strength to make that decision, whilst everyone around her only sees the chair and views it as weakness" thing going, which is cool.

@PatientBean, d'awww, PatientBean... It has been great working through the whole Callijo thing that's been a throughline for a number of pages (and even subtly alluded to prior to that), even if Banjo can't recognise when he's on a good thing and tries to drag others into it... You've played her pitch perfect throughout and done the difficult thing in maintaining that balance and rhythm in character in a complementary fashion whilst next to one whose nature sways between 'erratic' and 'outright chaotic' at the best of times.

@Mao Mao, the other one playing a "distant" foreign exchange student... albeit one who ironically has a criminal history whilst being less felonious in nature than mine... The Trials are coming, and I think that's when we're going to see some of Inigo's backstory with his family really come into the fore...

@Zoldyck, think this might be the first game we've both been in at the same time. It's been good talking and such. Katja seems a great character and whilst she got bounced around a fair bit early, like a few characters, I'm looking forward to seeing how things develop over time as she finds her place amongst these twelve disparate youngsters, mostly raging against their situation. I think you've been doing good work, despite the jostling she's copped, and integrated it into how she's handling things very well.

@Jarl Coolgruuf, Trevor's hilarious. Which is a trait I always love and appreciate. Loving the early work with his dynamic with Rory, and I'm hoping it bears out with the pair being a major tentpole within the game. Our characters have yet to interact IC-ly, but you've created a character who can easily bounce off of anyone in his own style, from what I've seen.

@Hound55, ah... that prick. Yes, I really have been going straight down the character tab...

@webboysurf, makes sense that yours and the above's are back to back. You've both done a bang up job adding levity and humour to a corner of the game. Rory's introspection is magnificent, and the family dynamic of Rory should be a really appreciated distinctive character point down the line as the game grows and swells beyond the Trials into slice-of-life stuff. I really could see the game becoming the character arc of "Rory's hero's story" in some respects.

@psych0pomp, Trace is hilarious, caustic and fantastic. Kudos. The game wouldn't be the same without their addition, and you've done a fantastic job with every explosive post by them. Even beyond being a foil for my own character, Trace is as entertaining a component of this game as exists, and as you can attest I genuinely can't tell if you'll drop a post that is on fire, or one that will stoke uncontrollable flames... One thing's for sure, Trace will likely have to draw on fresh eyebrows at some point...

Anyway... bang up job, guys, gals, gulls, and gills... We've made a Hell of a start, and I'm looking forward to seeing how we push forward with the new folk!

P.S. Also... *SIGHS* Thank you @Lord Wraith for the Lore... which requires a whole separate thanks again, apparently...

Oh, and P.P.S. All the best @Hillan, I hope everything settles enough that you're able to have another crack again in good time.

Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - [CLOSED]

Post works best with music link...

Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - [CLOSED]

"Principal's office. One for pickup." The Butler uttered with a monotony that suggested it was far from the first time he'd uttered those words. The receptionist pointed up a staircase without raising her head from her work. The Butler ascended the staircase and rounded the corner towards the office of the Headmaster. "Jesus... Fucking... Christ..." He uttered, looking at Banjo sitting in a chair just outside the door. "Alright, now before you crack the shits, remember what I always say..." The Butler facepalmed and pinched the bridge of his nose to ease the rising tension. Banjo was sitting in his chair in a Drama club issue loin cloth, with no shirt, a Christmas twig-wreath perched on his head, and streaks of dried beetroot juice down his face, side and wrists. "...Let He who is without sin cast the first stone." The librarian passed the pair with a baffled look on her face. Banjo noticed her and tipped his wreath. "Oh... Milady." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Butler drove in silence, until the backed up questions were just too much. "H--Hoooow? Whyyyy? I don't-- I don't understand." "Yes, I've been told I work in mysterious ways..." "Knock it off... and get that shit off your head!" The Butler snatched the twig-wreath and flung it out the driver's side window as they screeched around a hard left corner. "So where we going now?" "Perth. I need time to find another bloody school for you, now... Expelled! Are you bloody jokin' me?!" "Well, I think we were about due for me to be the reason I got pulled out of a school..." The Butler glared at him. "Oh no! You're not gettin' any bloody sympathy out of me today! Nice bloody try, matey! They were gonna have you up on charges of bloody sacrilege!" "They can't." Banjo replied quietly. "Well, I hate to inform you, but yes they bloody can..! You--" "Criminal Law Consolidation Act of '35, section 137. Sacrilege requires breakage. Either break and enter, break through exit or damage or destruction of property. The ledge I set myself up to stand on? I'd rigged it to support it's own weight from the whole structure, I used elastic bands rather than nails. The cross itself wasn't damaged in any way. I looked it up beforehand." "Well how about if you're planning on doing a prank which requires you to do your own legal research on the definition of 'Sacrilege' you try and come up with another bloody idea? Why the Hell can't you just pull some kind of normal bloody prank, put a thumbtack on your teacher's seat, set off a bloody stink bomb or something? The Hell's the matter with you? Do we need to get your head read or something?" "Fuck that. Bunch of hypocrites. You know Priests at that school had been under heat for a dozen sexual offences over the past five years right? They just shuffle 'em on and cycle in a new pervert." "So your solution was to strap yourself to the cross on top of the school chapel decked out like THAT overlooking the School Assembly. You're lucky they didn't leave you up there for the whole assembly!" "They weren't going to do that..." "Only because you'd tapped into the school's speakers and were wired for sound!" "Exactly. I had a plan. Don't make out like I didn't." The Butler sat in quiet contemplation of everything that was said as they motored through the suburban sprawl. Perth was thousands of kilometres away. They were in for a long drive, whilst he planned their next moves. "Alright. But I don't buy that as a reason for a second. You just love the bloody attention." He thought for a few seconds. "That or you really are a headcase..." "I'm a fisher of men." Smirked Banjo with a shrug. "Men and laughs..."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Banjo sat with his legs crossed upon a desk, rocked back with a microphone in his hand. "Knox Grammar, it's 9:25 and you are listening to 'Banjo in the morning', my fellow Zoo Crew Drive-time team member Principal Neely couldn't make it in this morning, and we're sending him out well wishes and hope that he feels better... wherever he is..." Behind him, shouting through a locked door an angry bespectacled man is yelling and gesturing at the student filling the school's airwaves. "Banjo! BANJO! I mean it, open this door right now!" "The Tuck Shop Thunders will be giving out icy cold cans of Coke, and for those degenerates amongst you, the coked out will be getting cans of ice..." "Banjo! Banjo, this isn't funny! "The tuck shop would also like to remind you that this week's special, the beef cheese and bacon pie, will be comprised of the following detention students... Brian Haynes, Malcolm Tucker, Matthew Richardson, and because they're having a run on Matthews at the moment, Matthew Palmer and Matthew Nicholls as well. They'll also be using what little remains from last week's special, the removed tissue from Mr Stevens appendectomy, so get in quick there..." "Banjo! BANJO! Look, get him out of there... have we got the spare keys yet?" "...Aaaand Congratulations to the father of the child just delivered in sickbay, 11Cs own David Blake. It's a boy. Mazel. However, since the mother is his English teacher, Ms Krenshaw, any and all information regarding the conception can be handed in to Senior Sargent Prentice at Wahroonga Police Station... and if any camera footage remains, I'm sure that the Senior Video Committee would still be interested, care of their Head Caleb Armitage, they gather once a week on, I believe it's Thursdays, at the AV Club..? Thursdays? Yes, that sounds about right. But yes, further queries to Caleb, he'll help you out. Probably with renumeration as well if the angles are particularly saucy..." "BANJO!" "We'll also be continuing with the "Secret Sound" promotion, but a reminder, the last five callers have guessed 'Principal Neely attempting to get back into the station', just a reminder that answer was WRONG just so we don't have any more callers wasting their guess. The prize being a..." Banjo dangled a set of keys in front of his face. "...4 Series BMW. And if you're thinking 'Wow, Hey Banjo, doesn't Principal Neely have a fancy new BMW that he's been kicking around.' The answer is 'Yes, but it's a slightly different shade of blue.' So I guess he can at least attest to the quality. Perhaps tomorrow when he's feeling better he could even provide a testimonial..." "Banjo! Stop that! This is not funny, gosh darn it!" Banjo turned in his seat and raised his eyebrow at the 'Gosh darnit', then shrugged and continued. "Oh, did you see that! He looked right at me! Yes! There! The keys! You've got them! Give them here!" "Anyway, we'll be right back after following up on our music guarantee, 'Better Music and More of It', here's The Avalanches with 'Frontier Psychiatrist'..."BANJO!" ...Hoik--" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Alright, that one I'll pay... That one was funny." The Butler chuckled as he drove the car onwards. Banjo chuckled in the passenger seat. "You're kidding me. He really LEFT YOU, of all people, in the room alone, with his own keys and the door shut, to go to the bathroom..? It's like these bloody dickheads don't even read up on you... Are they just cashing tuition and coasting?" "Seems that way." "Need their bloody heads read..." He laughed warmly, then stopped. Looked across at banjo. Banjo could feel him looking at him. He knew what this was. There was a Time when, he'd have immediately put it straight on Banjo. "You're mental...", "What kind of nutcase...". That's what this was. The Butler was realising he'd started trying to justify it. And now was the second guessing. The hesitation. Perhaps it wasn't the teachers who were batshit nuts. Even with his record. Banjo sighed. And looked out the window as they sped on to the next location.

---

_{Location: Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean}

The Homecoming Trials: # 1.63 'Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy)'

---

_{Interaction(s): Rory - @webboysurf, Calliope - @PatientBean, Trace - @psych0pomp, Luce - @Roman}

Previously: Team Bonding - Conflict Resolutions: "Boot meet arse, Arse... Boot."

”Hey, Bro!”

Banjo grunted out a sigh. "Not now. Not fucking now." He'd placed the voice. It was one of the two football friends. He'd earmarked to speak with them later in the night, since he'd pegged them as probably two of the easier people to find a way of getting on with them. Something to be said for 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. But now problems with other people were spreading like an infection. Dragging more into the middle of his mess. If he could he'd have spoken with this one later.

But the repeating voice told him there wouldn't be much choice in the matter.

”Look man, we need to be trying to get along here. If you need to walk things off, walk it off… but you can’t be talking to people that way, Andy. We’re a team, like it or not… so let’s just try to get along.”

Banjo opened his mouth to respond and...

"With all due respect, you know very little about the situation so maybe just focus on your football throwing and let the grown-ups have a discourse," Calliope said to Rory. "As for you," she addressed Iñigo, "I came over here offering help and you didn't even acknowledge me, let alone how rude you treated Banjo, who also only offered help. A simple 'no we have it' would have sufficed, but as you clearly didn't even know about the lever I'll wait for a 'thank you Banjo' instead. We're supposed to be a team and bonding and stuff and I'll be the first to admit I cringed at that aspect, but at least I am trying. Banjo was trying too, and you essentially spat in his face."

Calliope took a beat to calm down before she went on, acknowledging Haleigh now, "Sorry, Haleigh. I agree that this should not be how things are handled. God, can you even imagine us at this point working as a team if this is how we act with each other on day 1? Sorry, Rory, about my grown-up comment. You meant well."

Unbelieveable. Beat-for-beat it was perfect. SHE was perfect. Exactly what he would have said... albeit with a few less four-letter word choices. He'd never felt this... understood. He didn't know it was possible for someone to "get" him so completely in only a few short hours. Hell, he wouldn't have dared believe it possible after years.

A few short hours. This was insane. How he felt was insane. No part of this made sense with how the world usually worked.

She walked over to Banjo, putting her hand on his in an attempt to get him to calm down. "You were right to suggest talking to the others. This was a misstep. That's all."

Maybe he hadn't fucked it all up. How he hadn't fucked it all up was baffling, all the missteps, the explosive responses. He wasn't calm right now, but it wasn't from anger.

He ran his fingertips across her hand, caressing it, and gave a warm smile. He'd settle for that now. After all, people were staring. Wait-- people were staring?

“Calliope, pet, you have got to tell me how managed to take Deliverance’s balls and make some snazzy jewelry out of them. I mean that’s what had to have happened here. Never seen a dog bark so hard only to back down the moment a pretty face interrupts. He had to have been snipped.” They made a pair of scissors with their fingers and pantomimed the action. “And here my money was on Rory beatin’ his ass. I mean, it’s the difference between a show dog and a mutt you find in the gutter—fleas and all. For some blokes with powers and machismo, you sure as hell love to be cucked. Bet you fuck as fast as you fight—which is not at all.” Trace laughed.

He felt naked and exposed, like he'd just been stung.

He'd forgotten his banter back-and-forth with Trace because he'd been entirely absorbed in... whatever the Hell he was just feeling right then. He tried to run his mind back through the list of jokes he'd made himself to stick it to Trace but nothing was coming to mind, because Trace had hit him with such a precision blow, he needed to gather.

His smirk was a mask and he hid behind it, people assumed something was coming when they'd see it and it bought some time. Now what was that one about-- ah yeah...

"Well, well... Trace. I thought someone had to play a haunted video cassette for you to show up, but here you are. I guess it was this weather that brought you out... only had to re-apply the SPF-100 twice with this much cloud cover, eh?" Weak. It was a start... but weak.

Ugh. He didn't even want to be doing this. It was just. Going through the motions. He hoped Calliope hadn't sensed his reaction to the "Not at All" part. How the fuck was he going to broach that issue with her now? How would she take that? "Yeah, you know what the cryptkeeper said before about not fucking... well, yeah it turns out I am a virgin. Yeah, it turns out most private boarding schools are single sex, occasionally those types of schools will bus girls in for formal events, dance classes and that kind of thing, but my less than sterling behavioural record meant they were loathe to let me off the leash. Guess they were worried I'd get poor sweet Mary Sue from the local Catholic girls school knocked up before graduation. So hey, here I am... a lameass seventeen year old virgin who... why the fuck are you thinking this..? Fuck you, Trace! Fuck ME over like this?!?! Let 'em fucking have it!"

"You've kind of put me in a fucking spot, with this banter, haven't ya? Because there's no fucking way for me to respond without punching down and being the arsehole. And every joke I could fucking hit would take a backseat to the one that God, the fates, Provenance, call-it-what-you-fucking-will played on you already, doesn't it? Because ya jus--"

He realised the laughter in his voice was gone. He wasn't poking back and forth anymore. He was swinging to hurt. Because he was hurt. And if he knew it, he was pretty damn sure Trace had just figured it out as well, even if the collection of Seppos and Canucks standing in attendance hadn't caught on because banter ain't their game.

Standing in attendance? Wait, what was the other thing Trace said? Before that... Rory? The football bloke.

These people are standing and staring cos they all thought you were going to throw down with that guy because, what, he doesn't want people shittalking?

What kind of fucking crazy animal mentalcase do they think you are?

The laughter came back into his voice. "Because ya just-- You'll have to forgive Trace here. Y'see Trace suffers from a syndrome my people call... 'Bein' a whingin' Pommy bastard.'" It was weak, he didn't give a shit. He needed to kill this bullshit and get the fuck out. Go get a 'win' somewhere.

He looked through the crowd. Sparky McGee standing with some adult... maybe a teacher? Fuck no. That'd be more of the same.

Big Saffa sheila? Nope. Trace probably poisoned that well.

The football friends? Calliope didn't seem to care for them too much.

The broad with the ring. On her phone. Nah. Too standoffish.

The one who answered his question about who that pill Tad was, when Sparky McGee was up his own arse? That'll work. She looked pretty jittery. And he recognised abandonment.

"You're right. A misstep. Just gotta try again with the right person. And I reckon there's someone who'd welcome the effort."

"Don't know what the Hell that was just now with Trace, He tried to cover his tracks in a half-arsed way after fleeing the scene in a pissweak fashion. "But it looks like someone over there's been ditched. You know her name?" He asked Calliope.

He made his way over to the nervous blonde girl. Daring to hope that Calliope might still follow.

What a fucking shambles this has been. Crazy.

- - -

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Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - [CLOSED]

<Snipped quote by PatientBean>

@Hound55

Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - [CLOSED]

@PatientBean

Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - [CLOSED]

Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - [CLOSED]

It's amazing how much one post can completely change the direction of an RP.

Mentioned to @PatientBean in the Discord, that Calliope's last post saved everyone a Hell of a lot of heartache.

This WAS going to be mine in that spot back then, except I got too tired from work and fell asleep. Amazing how much it would have changed things:

DELETED SCENES - Sliding Doors - Alternate post 1.59 - Dumb Things

Rory turned back to Trace and Katja, giving them an awkward smile and wave before just quickly jogging after Banjo. He called out, ”Hey, Bro!” In that instant, Rory panicked. He looked down at his wristband playbook, opening it for a moment as his mind grew too loud. There was too much happening to remember what that guy’s name was. He recognized the picture by the cocky grin, and quickly scanned the first name listed. Andrew… Andrew. Andy. Got it. Without so much as waiting for an acknowledgement, Rory continued, ”Look man, we need to be trying to get along here. If you need to walk things off, walk it off… but you can’t be talking to people that way, Andy. We’re a team, like it or not… so let’s just try to get along.” Rory pushed to jog a little faster to finish closing the gap, and accentuated his point by reaching out to grab Banjo’s shoulder in an effort to stop him for a moment and come to a sense of understanding.

This couldn’t possibly go wrong. Maybe Dr. Lehrer was right… maybe this team did need Rory.

@webboysurf

---

_{Location: Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean}

The Homecoming Trials: # 1.59 Dumb Things

---

_{Interaction(s): Rory - @webboysurf}

Previously: Team Bonding - Conflict Resolutions: "Boot meet arse, Arse... Boot."

”Hey, Bro!”

Banjo grunted out a sigh. "Not now. Not fucking now." He'd placed the voice. It was one of the two football friends. He'd earmarked to speak with them later in the night, since he'd pegged them as probably two of the easier people to find a way of getting on with them. Something to be said for 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. But now problems with other people were spreading like an infection. Dragging more into the middle of his mess. If he could he'd have spoken with this one later.

But the repeating voice told him there wouldn't be much choice in the matter.

”Look man, we need to be trying to get along here. If you need to walk things off, walk it off… but you can’t be talking to people that way, Andy. We’re a team, like it or not… so let’s just try to get along.”

^"Banjo..." He muttered.

"What--?"

"Andy sang as he watched and waited til his billy boiled... Andy's ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong... But I ain't fuckin' Andy. Call me Banjo. Who'd you say you were again?" A grin crossed his face at the reference which whistled far over the larger boy's head. As he stopped to turn, the other boy could see Banjo had a resigned smirk on his face. It took a few beats before he could gather himself enough from the weird cryptic garble he'd had sent his way, to realising to offer up his own name.

"I AM walking things off, and I WAS trying to get along. Then I had that effort spat back in my face, along with rudeness towards the two girls Calliope and Haleigh over there. Coupled with bull ignorance when I tried to help out. Now, I'm fine with eating the shit he served me up, I'm used to people not liking me. I'm well aware I'm not everyone's cuppa cocoa. But if you expect me to sit pretty while he pulls that shit with them..? Well, I'm doing the right thing and chewing him out and walking away now, instead of driving him into the ground like a fucking fence post."

He sighed. Realising this bloke had done nothing, and if anything was only trying to put out other people's fires.

"Look... Tyler... you seem a good sort. Just... give me some time to cool off. If you want to help, go check on the girls. Tell em I'm sorry they had to see me blow up like that. Have_{n't had to tear strips off someone like that in years. Guess it's what I get for trying to be the nice guy and putting myself out there, bein' all friendly like. This is why I just keep my bloody distance and just do my own thing at--}" He rambled on as he turned around and kept walking away, leaving the other boy in his place.

---

He'd blown everything up. And he wasn't even sure how he'd done it.

Banjo stood upon the great Southern Plateau, the strong sea wind whistling through his clothes as it screamed its own banshee's curse rising from below. Banjo added his own.

"FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK!"

There's no way Calliope would want anything to do with him now. And it hurt. It really hurt. Which was not something he was prepared to deal with before today. Hell, before just a small number of hours ago.

He'd alienated even more people than his behaviour everywhere else EVER had.

He'd brought her down after suggesting they deal with the others, something he only did because he stupidly assumed she would want that. He'd read her as the driven, competitive sort, and he figured their best bet for ultimately getting her what she'd want with success in all this trials rubbish, would be to get on the same wavelength with everyone else they were stuck with.

But she'd never given any sign that that's what she was looking to do at that moment. It was all just dumb initiative on his part.

Because he was trying WAY too hard. Because he cared WAY too much.

Then when they got to the other tent, he was friendly, jovial, put himself way out there, albeit in his own customary style.

...and he got shit on again. Like nice guys do.

Because he was trying too hard again. Why? Because again, he cared WAY too much.

He looked out over the cliff face. Somewhere, way out there Flying Boy was continuing on his journey to Who-The-Fuck-Knows, Capital: Wherever-He-Goddamn-Pleases in the Peace-Out-Motherfuckers Peninsula. And the Freedom which would come with such a gift.

Banjo turned away from the cliffs and began to walk back inland.

So what was the remedy, then?

"You know the bloody remedy. You've been thinking it all along."

He past a small pile of spare tents.

He cocked his head in contemplation.

Over to his right he heard laughter coming from around a small campfire that had just been set and recognised the voice and laughter. The redhead from the Intake House from earlier. Then he recognised the Highway Patrol wannabe. And their "pet" furry friend. It was the other team's campsite.

He turned back to the pile of tents, with a wide scheming grin. The cogs in his head well and truly turning now.

He muttered to himself. "Banjo bein' Banjo." And started picking up the tents.

---

Banjo had aproached Team 18's campsited from the "protected side" of the yurts, in the shadows cast by their burgeoning fire.

He carried spare tents and a wild idea, and now was his time to put it into action.

He opened up a tent flap and saw the familiar set of aviators resting next to a cot. It was set up for one. This was it. Faculty, not a student. Banjo left the tents outside and started dragging the interior accoutrements out into the evening air. He peeked at the campfire to check the coast was still clear and saw the tent's owner gathered around the fireplace with his team still, with a second pair of the same aviators perched on his head.

"Good God, how many pairs of those did you bring, you absolute cartoon of a man..?"

He dragged the bed out, and went back into to get his pack and strip the rest of the tent.

"And really? Sunglasses at night? You deserve all of this... Well, you're a teacher so that goes without saying... But I'm gonna enjoy it just that little bit more, because of the sweet seasoning of douchebaggery you've sprinkled into this whole affair..."

The tent was now empty.

He started checking tent flaps to see for the next call to order, and soon found what he was looking for. Another tent for one. This one with her scent clearly all over it. It wasn't hard, the faculty's tents were next to each other and he got it on the second attempt.

He now started dragging Ryan's stuff out into the early night. Checking the campfire periodically to make sure everyone stayed put.

Once it was empty, he went back in, carrying one thing, before quickly rushing back out.

He ducked back in to the Super Trooper's yurt doing the same thing. Pulled a lever and got back out again in a hurry.

Then put enough distance between himself and their campsite to sit back and watch...

---

"WHAT THE FUCK?!?"

Far off, Banjo snorted.

The Super Trooper was trying to find the tent's door and for some reason it didn't seem to have one anymore.

More snorting as the gorilla of a man, started feeling his way around the entire yurt looking for a seam.

"Someone gimme a flashlight!"

He shone it on the yurt and attempted another pass, eventually finding a seam. He pushed on the canvas slowly realising why there was no door.

"--the fuc--?"

He squeezed himself between the two tents and disappeared and Banjo couldn't hold his laughter in anymore. The flashlight was dimming and brightening as it moved in the tight space between two canvases.

"Fucking BLACKJACK?!?" The gorilla-of-a-man roared, the flashlight evidently shining on some kind of tentmarking within, as Banjo quickly decided it was time to be elsewhere. Of course they were marked tents. How else would the school keep track of them? It wasn't enough to stop him laughing as he ran.

But he didn't account for the kids, and certainly not the gung-ho, eager-to-please attitude of this first one who came tearing out with some kind of hyperspeed. Some blonde bootlicker. Teacher's bloody pet. Oh, no. Not the furry one. Different pet. This one doesn't shed fur on the furniture.

"Aww c'mon... Really? Don't be THAT prick..."

---

"I suppose you think you're pretty funny?"

"Not half as funny as you looked squeezing around between those two tents..."

Instead, Banjo uncharacteristically kept his mouth shut, with a look of vague disinterest across his face.

"Well, not so funny now, huh?! He fired back the cliche. Flecks of spit collecting on the edge of his mouth, with rage.

"I dunno. Still pretty funny from where I'm standing."

"A man can't go out to take a shit in peace?" He proferred as an excuse for his being out.

"Really? Where's your toilet paper?"

"I figured there's probably a line of port-a-loos or something over that way. What? They don't just have us shitting in the woods, do they? I mean... you'd figure they could afford it. After all, they sprung for top-of-the-line self-erecting tents for all of us, didn't they?" The Super Trooper gorilla-of-a-man visibly twitched when he dared to utter the word "tents" and it took Banjo all his effort to not crack and smirk at him.

"Especially when some people seem to even go two-tents for a person..."

Oh... killer fucking line. That's a shame. The look on his face if you just dropped that.

"We know you did this. You're the only one here. You're the only one ANYWHERE NEAR here when it happened." He spat between gritted teeth.

"Anyone see me do what you're claimin' I've done? And how long ago did it actually happen? Since I'm assuming based on what you're saying, you saw whatever you think I did happening AT THE TIME as well."

The gorilla tensed in thought, but attempted to cover it up with a beady eyed glare. He'd been sitting around the campfire for a better part of an hour now, he realised. It could've happened any-- No. It's him. This kid ran!

"Then why were you running?" He spat.

"I was walking that way to take a shit." He pointed. "I heard a lunatic... some real ape of a man scream 'Fucking Blackjack' like he wanted to kill something. I'm in Team Blackjack, I thought I was being jumped. I ran." Banjo calmly explained.

Team 18's faculty member continued to steam. No. This was the guy. It HAD to be the guy.

"It was a team Blackjack tent. It was you."

"What was?"

"In. My. Tent. It was a team Blackjack tent YOU put up in my tent."

"Well, I don't bloody know. Maybe someone put down a Team Blackjack tent first and then you just..." He brought his cupped hands together in a gesture. "...Blocked it out. You are Team Eclipse afterall."

"You think this is funny!?"

"Mate, I think it's bloody ridiculous. So I'm ridiculing it." How calm Banjo seemed was now driving the Team 18 supervising faculty member even more crazy, and he was already far too deep in his feelings to think straight in the first place.

"Wait... you're serious?" He was struggling to hold it in any further. He needed to laugh so he made himself an excuse. "Someone put a tent up... IN your tent? HAHAHAHAHA!" He laughed hard. Let out what you need to, Banjo. He wanted to laugh harder right in the man's face. But at this point he'd still be pushing his luck. He couldn't believe it, if he wasn't mistaken he even had this guy questioning whether he'd actually done it.

Ryan approached now with one eyebrow cocked. He could see she was going to be a harder sell. Still, he was surprised it had taken this long and they still hadn't realised--

"Oh, whoever did this! They did your tent too, Ms Clarke!" One of the Team 18 boys called out to their student advisor.

"Hup... there it is." He thought to himself. "Oh, and 'Ms Clarke'? Bloody Hell, their 'Tad' had these boys well trained..."

"YOU! I'm going to make it my personal business to make your life miserable--"

"I'm sorry..." He offered a look of disappointment before continuing. "...but I just don't think it's a good idea that we date. Don't get me wrong, I'm flattered." Her face was rapidly approaching the hue of her hair, and increasingly so with every second. "But the age difference is too much. I think the word is 'statutory', since I'm still seventeen. But I'll remember your offer and let it warm me in my more thoughtful moments."

"What did you just say to her?!?" Roared Matthews. Grabbing him by the collar of his PE uniform.

"Your student advisor just threatened a student. And now you're taking it to a physical place. With one who isn't even if your 'Eclipse' group. I'd have thought you'd be pretty bloody chuffed I still have my sense of humour about the whole situation... or do you need me to break it down for you?"

"Because as far as I can tell... you started the day attempting to intimidate a rival team unit..."

"Intimidate?!? It was petty trash-talk and G-rated at that!"

"Before later jumping a student FROM THAT TEAM on his own, away from the rest of his group, and making baseless accusations of some kind of tent snafu..."

"It was a Blackjack tent!"

"Before threatening." He pointed at Ryan. "And physically assaulting, at worst, restraining, at best. That student whilst presenting ABSOLUTELY no evidence that he did what you claim. Unless, that's changed and either of you have since somehow been able to prove that I did what you claim... Evidence? No? Proof?"

"Hell, the only evidence of any tent thing actually happening in the first place THAT I HAVE is entirely your word. You haven't shown me anything that proves it even happened and that this isn't some messed up cross-team hazing or intimidation garbage. All I have is your word. But that's okay... I guess I'm a little more trusting than you are."

Wow... now THAT was laying it on thick.

Ryan's nose crinkled in white hot rage. She was clearly trying to figure out how she could prove that he'd known about this before. That he was the one responsible. But Matthews had been clumsy in his early questioning. Banjo was pretty sure he could talk rings around him on his worst day, and leave him not knowing which way was up. There was no way he'd trip up now. It'd take a confession, and that wasn't happening now. No way, no how.

Banjo was pretty sure he'd payed it right. Take her off balance by pissing her off early and then make as much a mess of the Gorilla Trooper's early mistakes that she wouldn't be able to do anything.

"So unless you jokers have got anything else..." He started to walk but there was an obstacle...

A humourless Jim-Bob had appeared!

"I'll get to the bottom of this. Campsite! Now!"

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And @Lord Wraith could fill you in on the consequences of that one...

Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - [CLOSED]

"Haleigh, I need you to read out the instructions while I use the tools provided to us. Whenever you have the time, of course."

And when she was close enough to them, Iñigo stopped messing around with the lever and turned to face her. They didn't care if Banjo was still close enough to listen in to the conversation. "Sorry if I am presuming or whatever, given we hardly know each other. But you can tell me if he's starting to bother you. I have dealt with my fair share of obnoxious tourists who have overstayed their welcome. But if you're fine with him around, then let's focus on this pretentious tent and be done with it before it's too dark to see."

---

_{Location: Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean}

The Homecoming Trials: # 1.53 Team Bonding - Conflict Resolutions: "Boot meet arse, Arse... Boot."

---

_{Interaction(s): Calliope - @PatientBean, Hayleigh - @Kuro, Iñigo - @Mao Mao}

Previously: Team Bonding - Basic Introductions: "Mouth Meet Foot, Foot... Mouth."

Banjo saw the same kind of red an Australian man sees when someone attempts to order him a Fosters lager. The same kind of red that arises when someone goes the raw prawn and suggests barbies and "shrimp" are their parlance.

The same kind of red as when someone shittalks the sacred baggy green and the beloved Australian cricket team who it adorns.

Oh, fuck no, rude cun--...

"Right, listen mate," The word spat with the kind of malicious venom that only an Australian could ascribe to the word. "You were just dealing with me at the peak of my civility, because I was trying to make a good first impression. But we've pissed that away, so how about I just settle for making myself understood..."

"As I tried to explain, in the simplest of bleedin' terms, you find y'self a flat deck, slap that bad-boy down, pull the lever... ONCE, with a bit of rigour in it if you can actually muster it, and Bob's ya bloody uncle it unfurls into an instant glamp-shack. I tried to explain it to-- well, there's the other thing..." Banjo gestured at the blonde girl in the wheelchair.

"This is the point I'd refer to..." He snapped his fingers in her direction repeatedly, too pissed off from the original affront to muster any more courtesy. "Haleigh."

"Cheers. ...Haleigh, here, but you didn't even have the bloody decency to carry out basic introductions when Calli here... apologies... Calliope here. Overly familiar. Was nice enough to do so. You could have come out and said, I dunno, 'G'day Calliope, Evening Banjo, I'm Rude-Prick-Who-I-Still-Don't-Know-Who-The-Fuck-You-Are and this is Haleigh'."

"Iñigo."

"Thanks again. Helping. Appreciated. 'G'Day Calliope, Evening Banjo, I'm-Rude-Iñigo-Who-Banjo-Now-Doesn't-Give-A-Fuck-Who-He-Is and this is Haleigh. Boy, some weather it looks like we're about to have, eh?'" But no. No common bloody decency. Now I'm going to be on my way to cool off and see if I can make any better headway with someone who isn't a total prick. It's been lovely meeting you, Haleigh, if you need any more help, feel free to ask..." He then pointed at Iñigo. "You." He spun the middle digit around and walked off.

...before turning after three more steps. "Oh, and 'Tourist'? Fuck off. Sure I've been here five bloody minutes, but if you've been in this country any longer than me, I'd be bloody stunned."

And with that he stomped away.

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Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - [CLOSED]

<Snipped quote by Hound55>
well your body obviously

@TGM

Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - [CLOSED]

Also, read the entire thread and tell us what you like about each of us.