(no subject)

[browbeats]

[Big Fish]

This has been a long, exhausting month. Like, for all of us, even before Parent-Teacher Conferences (which I'm glad we all made it through in one piece), and I want to make sure we're all taking care of ourselves.

Before I go any further, yes, I was the first of us to fall asleep and get locked in the lodge, and yes, I am the one regularly seen fighting trees like they owe me money, and yes, the Ribbonfin gutters do look great, I scrubbed them myself before my parents got here. I'm not exactly the poster child for taking care of myself. This is a group effort.

So, first, the housekeeping reminders:

Dr. Perry is a very good resource for all of us. You can go see him as a one-off or make regular appointments, but also none of you should feel like I'm trying to push you to see him. It's your own choice.

Mr. Hightower is also a really good ear if you have questions, or want to talk to someone you know and trust.

Don't be afraid to talk to your friends! Or ask your friend if they need to go decompress for a little while. They might say no, they may not want to talk, but I'd rather we do this than start a habit of drinking away all our problems.

Drink plenty of water, getting a full night's rest before a test will help you retain the information better, friends are family you choose, and other assorted aphorisms. Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education. Do something with that knowledge now.

Anyways, what I really wanted to say is that I want us to do something together. I mean, I know we have our family dinners and all, but maybe a half-day kind of thing? I want a way to blow off steam as a group and not think about all of our hundreds of responsibilities and our jam-packed schedules. It's still a little cold for something like a picnic, but the lake's still frozen, we could maybe do something like ice skating and hanging out. Practice jousting. I don't care what, as long as it's fun and not schoolwork. Suggestions are welcome.

[Ursula]

I promise this isn't directed at you. We're all pretty frayed these days.

But you are okay, right?

[Ferdie]

We're terrible at keeping our cool these days, aren't we?

How are you feeling?

[Sy]

Fine.

I went to see him. It was whatever.

Comments

Big Fish

[sheepish]

Can we talk about the Strangers?

Big Fish

[browbeats]

Of course. Did you want to talk about anything in particular?

Big Fish

[sheepish]

It seems like they're targeting us specifically. For some reason, they wanted me to see Chloe cheating on Kurt with Riley. Then they took Gwen's form and had me walk them back to her cabin while she was locked in the library. Then they impersonated Ursula having a public breakdown?

I don't really trust that anyone is real anymore unless it's through journals. I reckon that's what they wanted.

Big Fish

[hotdish]

Hey, man, we can walk around with our journals open all the time if it comes down to it. Some weird magical jerks aren't enough to break us all up, right?

Big Fish

[ferdie]

Exactly.

We could also come up with other verification methods. There's got to be something.

Big Fish

[hotdish]

I wonder if those magic mirrors people won in the talent show would be any good? I mean, I guess you have to test it out first, but dude at the rate we run into these things it'll be like it's worth a try?

Big Fish

[browbeats]

I've [...] heard of them impersonating others as well, so it's not just us, but we seem to be unfortunately popular.

The Strangers definitely don't want us to be comfortable, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to fight against that. Even if it's inconvenient or time consuming or annoying. Nothing is hopeless.

And [...] be brave.

I heard that [...] in the woods a lot last year, and it got me through the worst night of my life so [...] like I said, it's not completely hopeless.

Big Fish

[sheepish]

It's happened to others? Do they know about us? Is it right of us to keep this information to ourselves instead of sharing our experiences so others can learn? Where's the balance between panic and preparedness?

I'm trying to be brave. I thought I was doing better this year. I was making a lot of progress managing my anxiety but I can feel it all unraveling. They know all my thoughts. They know all my buttons to press.

They're going to have the time of their lives with us on Valentine's day. I'm no looking forward to it.

Big Fish

[gwenniepop]

Ennis, is it still bothering you, what happened?

Big Fish

[sheepish]

Yes. It bothers me a lot. They could be anybody.

I think they're the reason you were locked in the library. I think they made sure you weren't found. Ms. Petrichor is so detail oriented, I'm sure she would be more careful after Rosy was locked in. It hadn't even been a full month yet. She notices the moment your library book is overdue. How would she not see?

But then I started thinking... What if it happened to Rosy too? Back then? What if they're also the reason why Ms. Petrichor didn't see her? But they didn't interact with anyone as Rosy.

Big Fish

[cecaelian]

Stokers

[threatens]

K. That's [...] cool.

[...] You want me to ask if you're OK, or you want me to talk about something else?

Stokers

[browbeats]

I need you to tell me I'm o Something else. Anything else. I'm trying to get the senior Ribbonfins to take care of themselves and I'm ready to just accept how hypocritical it is.

[...] It's a little late in the year to be thinking about starting new on a senior project, but I had an idea that I could use your help on.

Stokers

[threatens]

Hey. Just because you're shit at that doesn't mean you're not great at taking care of people. Just look at m Freddy.

You're starting new? I haven't even fuckin started. [...] Sure. Hit me.

Stokers

[browbeats]

We'll see about that when his report card comes out.

Jesus Christ Stoker, you haven't even started? It's [...] a thing. A pair of things. I don't know exactly what kind of things yet, I need someone who can actually do artificing to help with that, I just have the theoretical spellwork all mapped out.

But it's [...] kind of a way for two people to reach out and bug each other, even if they're a country apart.

[...] If it sounds dumb, blame the unicorn, she liked it.

Stokers

[threatens]

He's still here with us, isn't he? That's something.

Are you fuckin anticipating we're gonna be a country ap [...] Yeah. Cool. That sounds cool, I mean. I can look over what you've got? I can definitely I might I've got the time for an extra Artificing project or whatever.

[...] You're gonna want something easy to carry around, right? But like... not something you'e just gonna forget in your pocket, cause it'd be useless if the other person can't bug you.

Ferdie/Rosy

[ferdie]

Like I have very limited cool left.

How are you?

Ferdie/Rosy

[browbeats]

Don't tell me you spent it all in your first three years, Ferdinand.

I'm exhausted, but what else is new?

Ferdie/Rosy

[ferdie]

It was a slow burn for three years, and then a dump this last semester.

This is the part I remind you to take your own advice.
Which...thanks for that. I probably should've said something but this was way more eloquent. Much less panic than I would've brought.

Ferdie/Rosy

[browbeats]

Get rid of the cool. It's only been holding you back. You are now reborn as a hot mess, like me.

I already drink plenty of water, I don't have a test tomorrow, and I've already spent a good three hours trying to decide what level of education cauliflower has. I've decided it has an MFA.

[...] But I'm no longer fighting with my brother (I was fighting with my brother, by the way, to catch us up), and I won't see my parents until spring break, so my stress levels are in a nice low point right now. I'll try to keep them around here, maybe.

Ferdie/Rosy

[ferdie]

If that's all that happens, I'm doing fine.

[...] Good. I'd wondered about that. And I'm glad you survived your parents this weekend. Less glad that the cauliflower's unemployable.
[...] Keep those levels low. No burning out. This year would be impossible alone.

Rosy/Ursula

[cecaelian]

I'm [...] fine. Who doesn't want to be the only person missing from a very public airing of all your emotional baggage.

Rosy/Ursula

[browbeats]

I damaged a freshman as a distraction, that seemed to draw away a few some most the few people hanging around. I'm sure most people will be talking about prefect brutality now instead of anything that might have been happening in the second floor.

Do you think you hit your head or anything when yo earlier?

Rosy/Ursula

[cecaelian]

[...] I'll have to find that freshman and thank them for their noble sacrifice.

I found a little swelling. Apparently I don't pass out as gracefully as princesses do in the movies.

Rosy/Ursula

[browbeats]

He'll be the one with a pronounced limp. I tried telling him it'll build character but he wasn't really on board.

I bet they have fainting practice. It's probably a necessity with all those corsets they have to wear on hot days. How to faint and still attract a husband. [...] I doubt you got a concussion or anything, but let me know if you think you need a buddy to go to the infirmary or anything.