un: hidden | audio

[matermali]

( cw; drug use—marijuana )

[ The woman's voice that scrapes through the network's channel keeps low and calm, with a vocal fry that is uttered in a distinctly English accent. ]

The dragon of recent arrival, whom I believe to be named Zhaera, wishes nothing to do with us, and so I would suggest leaving her be. Her only concern seems to be in mothering, and the power she wields would be no small thing if she feels the need to defend her nest. Best not to invite her ire when she has yet any cause to make of herself a monster.

She knows even less than we do about her sudden appearance. Perhaps if she did, she would not be so willing to keep to her singular cause.

I should also think that the serpents deserve no ill will en masse unless they become an immediate threat. I'm of no mind to make demands, but perhaps they can be herded into the woods where they can better find the prey they likely crave. A task I am willing to take on should any with the skill wish to assist.

Aurora has given us few choices aside from what we do with these trials presented.

[ The pause that follows is not from hesitation, but a drag that includes a whispered exhale of smoke that remains unseen on the network. Should anyone happen upon where she's seated on a bench near the café and bookstore, Vanessa—in all of her black-laced glory—is smoking a joint.

The rasp softens with her murmur. ]

We are all outsiders, after all.

Comments

[matermali]

Programming?

[maximumlegend]

Oh-- Yes, he was a robot.

[ Maybe this is a fact Fabian should have brought up a little bit earlier than just now, huh. ]

A rather simple one too, if you'd ask me. I mean, you would assume they would bother to program a robot that is supposed to look after students a little better.

[matermali]

I can't say that I know much about robots, beyond those in literature and what I have encountered here, but I find it difficult to believe anyone would consider it appropriate to look after students in any way.

Who are 'they', exactly?

[maximumlegend]

Our actual principal. Aguefort. He left Grix in charge because he wanted to take a vacation trip through time with his daughter.

[ ...

He pauses, before admitting in accordance with what Vanessa herself is pointing out here: ]

He is always just like this. I can only really think of one time he helped us, rather than making things strangely harder for us at school. You get used to it, really.