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Post by Veronique Poulain on Mar 30, 2009 18:46:34 GMT -5
(This is Smoke's apartment. It's a luxury suite with two bedrooms. He may describe it however he wishes.)
Smoke's apartment manages to simultaneously resemble a simple, ragged-looking, unclean little hole and a series of large museum backrooms. Space and time in these rooms seem slightly warped, partly for the convenience of having precisely as much as one needs, but mostly because Smoke thought it would be a waste not to have the place look at least a little magical. One must keep up appearances.
Directly from the front door and the short hallway is the living room. Walking inside and ducking past the first set of bookshelves- they weren't supposed to stay there, but now they're too heavy to bother moving- visitors are greeted with an overstuffed brown couch pointed at a desk, the TV and VCR/DVD player on the desk, and many more bookshelves. Every conceivable surface other than the couch is covered with playbooks, books about plays, movies ranging from high art to godawful, books about books about plays, books about costuming, things that need grading, things that have been graded but nobody wanted back, plays about plays, books about setbuilding and special effects, and in a far corner (opened once), a copy of So You Got Talked Into This: How To Teach High School Theatre. (It's very clear what Smoke spends most of his salary on.) Despite the clutter, most things are stacked or stuffed as neatly as possible, whether into the bookshelves, into boxes beside the bookshelves, or simply in stacks leaning against the boxes.
Off the living room are the bedrooms, one of which, for lack of anything else to do with it, is essentially being used as a storage room. This is where space is most warped: racks of costumes line poster-covered walls, and props get stuck wherever they end up. He hasn't been teaching long enough to gather this much stuff from what's been put on, but some of it he brought with him, some was taken over from the last theatre teacher, and some of it just... showed up one day. Smoke has about four different theories for why this happens, and it's likely that at least two of them are true.
The other one is actually being used as a bedroom, and it has a very different tone from the rest of the apartment. For one thing, it's actually furnished, and with an actual bedroom-set type deal to boot. The bed is nice, overly large, and rumpled; a set of books on magic are stacked in a shelf next to a largely unused desktop computer; clothes and uniforms are put up neatly. There's a large window with dark curtains in here, giving a beautiful view of the gardens.
The kitchen is hastily cleaned and continually stocked with stuff for hamburgers, boxed macaroni, ham sandwiches, and curry, which comprise the four things he'll stop doing other things long enough to eat.
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Post by Smoke on Oct 15, 2009 1:01:33 GMT -5
Smoke sat on the couch, going over papers for his Advanced Divination class.
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Oct 15, 2009 2:18:23 GMT -5
Hoshi tucked the box of food, still piping hot and smelling of peppers and strange spicy things Hoshi couldn't identify thanks to Ellie's wonderful cooking, beneath his arm as he knocked loudly on the door. He could only hope that Smoke could hear him. He didn't hear any sort of music or anything, but then with the sort of magic Smoke usually worked, that really didn't mean much. He could be having an AC/DC reunion concert and Hoshi would probably still hear a pin drop in the hallway.
"I have a gift," Hoshi called in loudly. "Also I finished proofreading the script."
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Post by Smoke on Oct 15, 2009 2:44:20 GMT -5
A tiny little bell rang beside Smoke. He sat up quickly, having half-fallen asleep rereading one of them; he nearly wondered if the student in question had put some sort of damned spell on the thing in hopes he'd get tired of trying to read it and just mark them lightly. That, or it was staying up until four in the morning again reading books and having fun with Michael.
Gotta be a spell, he grinned to himself as he sat the stack down and got up to get the door. I'm never growing old, right?
He checked the peephole and unclicked the locks- none of which he really needed, or were really as useful as the wards, but it was a habit he didn't want to rid himself of.
"Hey. What's- oh- mm, come in," he stepped back and waved Hoshi inside, smelling the food. If the man hadn't been here to stay, he was now. "What's up?"
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Oct 15, 2009 3:13:27 GMT -5
"I brought something to eat, and your script," he announced, stepping into the room. He grinned and sat the food down on the table. "Don't worry, Ellie cooked it. I had no hand in anything."
He flipped through the script for a moment, then passed it back to Smoke. "There are a few comments in red in the margins, some about the plot and dialogue, and some just making a few suggestions for the set and staging. In the end the decisions are yours, of course, but I thought you would appreciate having an English teacher's perspective."
Hoshi dropped onto the couch, shifting around in attempt to get comfortable in the overly soft cushions. "Work on papers, I take it?" he asked, glancing over the stack of papers on the table.
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Post by Smoke on Oct 15, 2009 3:37:41 GMT -5
"Ahaha, great." He took out a couple of plates, then thought better of it- he'd be much hungrier after talking a while- then took up the script and leapt over the couch to sit beside Hoshi.
Smoke sighed at the mention of the papers. "Yep. Advanced coin-tossing; want a look?" He flipped through the script. "How's yours going, by the way? I mean, last I knew you were writing something, a... it wasn't a novel, I think? Or was it? God, it's been a while, semester got busy fast."
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Oct 15, 2009 4:00:11 GMT -5
Hoshi snorted, idly glancing through some of the papers. "Two novels, a screenplay, an anthology of short stories, and a book of critiques on other books. I don't think I got ten thousand words on any of them. The screenplay was a complete disaster, especially. The novels just kind of got abandoned, but I'll probably finish them eventually."
Hoshi leaned back onto the couch. "So is Michael going to be around this evening? I don't think I've really spoken to him for more than fifteen minutes."
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Post by Smoke on Oct 15, 2009 4:36:23 GMT -5
"Disaster? It can't be that bad," he grinned slightly. "You're going to let me read something eventually, right?"
"Michael- gah. Is he? I've got no idea, last I knew he was out in the woods working on that golem-looking thing and making cryptic comments about- about the Lady of Shalott and Trojan schoolchildren? Do you know what the hell that was about?"
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Oct 15, 2009 16:02:07 GMT -5
He blinked. "The...what?" He shook his head, bemused. "Golem-thing? The Lady of Shallot?"
Hoshi crossed his legs and leaned back. "Michael certainly is an interesting person, I'll give you that," Hoshi murmured. He raised an eyebrow. "How did you say the two of you met?"
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Post by Smoke on Oct 15, 2009 19:02:08 GMT -5
"Oh, you haven't seen the... whatever he's making. I don't know, he says it's for the art department." Smoke shrugged.
"He flew into my window during a rainstorm and refused to leave. Things just... got stranger from there. Nice question dodge, by the way," he winked.
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Oct 15, 2009 19:54:10 GMT -5
Hoshi snorted. "If I ever actually finish anything, I'll let you read it."
"You certainly have met most of your significant others in interesting circumstances." He grinned. "How was it you met Elizabeth, again?"
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Post by Smoke on Oct 16, 2009 18:32:26 GMT -5
"Oh, god," Smoke facepalmed. "Let's see."
"I was out with Mickey doing- something- I don't remember, and we ran into her in the checkout line of this little shop. The clerk went into the back to check something and it took a while, so she started chatting with Mickey about something he'd got, y'know passing the time, and I'd just gotten bored enough to join in when suddenly the fire alarm went off and all three of us were doused with this raging jet of water from above the desk. I had to sort of collect her off the floor after she got hit in the face with it, and we had an interesting time trying to leave."
He sighed. "They said someone was supposed to come in to fix the water pressure in their building and the person they sent started fiddling with something they weren't supposed to, but that clerk looked really guilty and really dry."
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Oct 16, 2009 20:39:59 GMT -5
Hoshi chuckled. "That sounds about right. I think I met her... Oh god, what was it." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I was in a Chinese restaurant eating, and I got up to go to the bathroom. I was wearing the same sort of clothes as the waiters, and as I was walking past a table she came up and started yelling about me getting her order wrong or something and I tried to tell her three times that I wasn't the waiter. After a few minutes of her threatening to call my manager if I didn't stop arguing and fix her order, the real waiter had to step in and correct her."
He smirked. "I managed to make her feel bad enough that she bought me coffee to make up for it, and... well, you know the rest."
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Post by Michael on Oct 17, 2009 2:01:38 GMT -5
There were sounds in the kitchen. Sounds like something trying to open a paper box, followed by a sneeze and the fluttering of wings.
Blasted peppers.
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Nov 2, 2009 18:09:38 GMT -5
Hoshi glanced up at Smoke, smirking. "Either a tornado just touched down in your kitchen, or your boyfriend just got home."
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Post by Smoke on Nov 2, 2009 18:21:45 GMT -5
"Hmm, either way, I should check that out, then," Smoke grinned and moved into the kitchen. Michael was indeed sitting on the stove, still in bird form; he'd managed to get the box most of the way open when Smoke came in.
"You know, if you wanted some, you could ask." He stroked the bird-man's head and got out another plate for him. "You could also say hello to Hoshi. It'd be polite."
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Post by Michael on Nov 2, 2009 18:24:52 GMT -5
The eagle snorted, as if to say he was perfectly capable of getting his own food, opposable thumbs be damned; nevertheless, he waited for Smoke to finish making him a plate before switching back to the form of a man and taking it into the living room.
He stood beside the couch, picking at the food, and glanced down at Hoshi. Nom. "Good evening." Nom.
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Nov 2, 2009 19:02:50 GMT -5
"Evening to you too," he replied, fixing his own plate from the dish made by Ellie. "Smoke tells me you're making some sort of gollem."
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Post by Michael on Nov 2, 2009 19:09:06 GMT -5
Michael stared at the man for a moment over his plate, unsure what he was expected to respond with.
He went with the simplest idea. "I would not call it a golem, but I am indeed making something."
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Post by Hoshi Yogo on Nov 10, 2009 21:09:48 GMT -5
Hoshi raised an eyebrow at Michael. "So," he said between bites, "will you tell me anything about what you're making?"
Interacting with Michael was always difficult. He didn't seem to care for certain social subtleties, and Hoshi was never quite sure how he was supposed to act around him. He blamed the Japanese schooling system.
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Post by Michael on Nov 11, 2009 10:37:51 GMT -5
"Ah," he said with sudden comprehension. "It is made of mud and bones, covered in moss, and enchanted for strength. It is for Euro's use in spring."
He chewed a few bites of the healer's delicious cooking. "The rain has been constant lately. Rabbits are dying of illness a lot."
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Jan 22, 2010 0:00:12 GMT -5
-----------------------------
It's too early for this, Vincent thought with a sigh as he knocked on Smoke's door, casting a glance beside him at the girl-in-a-boy's-body beside him. With any luck this would be resolved quickly and painlessly... but one could never fully depend on luck to aid one in a pinch.
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Post by Smoke on Jan 26, 2010 21:10:48 GMT -5
Smoke sat up violently.
He leaned against the back of the couch- okay, fallen asleep on the couch, that's where I am- and caught his breath. The doorbell was ringing. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the VCR's clock.
What. He stumbled to his feet, stretched a little, and walked over to the door to look out the peekhole. Vincent? He opened the door a crack.
"Wha?" He asked sleepily.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Jan 26, 2010 21:23:48 GMT -5
"I'm sorry to bother you at such an ungodly hour," Vincent replied, "but I wasn't sure who else to go to. Something... unusual is going on." He moved aside, nudging... what was her name? Eve? ...forward so Smoke could see her. Him? This was horribly confusing.
"From what I understand, this young man's body is being inhabited by his dead sister's soul, with his permission. Regardless of the fact that he -- or she -- was out of bed after hours, I thought it best to ask your advice on how to handle this. Miss Farrell can tell you more about this than I can, I'm sure. If you would..." He looked down at Eve and waited.
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Evelyn Farrell
Ireth
Liam, Liam, b?m I gc?nai I do theannta...
Posts: 60
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Post by Evelyn Farrell on Jan 26, 2010 21:38:41 GMT -5
Evelyn nodded, looking uneasily up at the other professor as she spoke.
"My name is Evelyn Farrell," she began hesitantly. "I'm Liam Farrell's twin sister... or was. I was murdered two and a half years ago and somehow ended up stuck inside his mind. Don't ask me how; I'd intended to come to you to find out, as a matter of fact. Not after dark, though." She shuffled from foot to foot. "I was going to ask Liam in the morning if there was some way I could come to you in the daytime. Anyway... um.
"I can see what my brother sees, hear what he hears, et cetera. I recently discovered that I can take over his body when he's asleep, and I've been going for walks after dark to talk to people. That's the only time I can do that, really, and I don't do it very often. Liam lets me do it. I haven't been doing anything bad, besides breaking curfew. I don't mean anyone harm. I just want a normal life again."
She drew a breath and went on, "My brother came here to find out if there was a way to give me a body of my own so I could live normally again. I don't know how one would research that, or if it's even possible... but I don't even know how I got where I am right now, and I don't know how to find out."
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