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Stanley Padgett     Okay so, this one maybe isn't... world shattering like something like... the entire city of Lampport is trapped in Labor Day Weekend, or 'spooky ghost killer slashes people from the Reversal' but....

    Yeah, maybe Stan and Charlotte are just being overly cautious or paranoid.

    The fact remains that Stanley is still standing awkwardly outside of the teacher's lounge on the first floor of the high school. In what used to be, in the long long ago, the smoking lounge, teachers get to spend their time two whole doors away from students. Too bad that Stanley seems to be intent on invading that privacy, maybe, as he fidgets with his phone, and tries to think up a good reason to poke his nose in there.
John Doe John shows up but doesn't announce himself.  The others start to show up and wait but John just stares at Stanley for a moment, then back at the door.  

He doesn't go to school here, or anywhere.

So John just opens the door.  His curse would make this action explainable to anyone watching it.  This won't have any consequences at all ever.

John is a patient and sensible person.
Kukuru Stanley, Charlotte, and John are joined by one green-haired monstrosity in the form of Kukuru, dressed unlike her usual self for once. How did she get here? Teleporting, probably, likely into an bathroom stall to minimize the odds of anyone noticing her showing up out of nowhere.

How's she dressed? Like a stereotypical older teacher, complete with the frumpy white sweater, ankle-length purple dress, and some overly thick glasses that clearly designate her as 'older teacher'. She's even got a briefcase!

There's nothing in it, but it looks official enough. Slowing to a stop by the group at the door, she takes out her phone and holds it up to her ear as though she might think it doesn't look like she's talking to them despite facing them and leaning in to whisper.

"What's the plan? What're we doing here?"
Charlotte Newman     In an effort to try and make Stanley's position Less Awkward by framing it as Students Just Kinda Congregate Wherever In The Hallway, Charlotte has joined him. Clad in her own school uniform, she hasn't taken her phone out yet.

    She does glance up when John arrives, though it takes her a second to notice him due to-- well, the usual factors. He goes for the door and she starts to move, then catches herself and leans back against the lockers, unsure how this is going to go.

    Kukuru's arrival is a lot more noticeable, at least. The 'teacher' is greeted with a little finger-wiggly wave, "We're just waiting for a friend." The usual, nebulous excuse that would work on any regular teacher, "Were you going to the teacher's lounge?"
Stanley Padgett     Stanley smiles as Kukuru takes up position with him on OPERATION TEACHER STAKE OUT. He is much less subtle about things than Charlotte. "Hi Kukuru, I'm just gonna see where she's going. Like... If she's got Mr. Cavendish's full schedule she should be doing stuff-"
    And then John just wanders past him into the lounge. "Hey John, what ar-"

    Inside? It's a lounge. There's some couches and some chairs and a computer for checking school records and a TV tuned to cable news. The less shitty one, you know. There's a couple of teachers inside, who all look up as the door just randomly opens and closes for no reason. Huh, weird.

    Two older male teachers, one of the lady PE instructors... and a pinup version of a teacher lady. Like, to a T. Ms. Agatha Salem, despite being much more clothed than OL Witch Girl, is IMMACULATE. Hair? Perfect. Her smart looking lab coat that she's still wearing for some reason? SPOTLESS. Her smart tie and vest underneath? CRISP. The sensible flats? STYLISH. She's laughing and chatting with the lady PE teacher. "Oh, you know it's just so nice to be appreciated! New year, new me, I'm just happy people are noticing the... everything~" She trills the last bit, the noise reaching out in to the hallway. It's the same tone that OL Witch Lady hums in while she's leading minions.
John Doe John just approaches the group and stands directly behind the pinup version of OL Witch girl.  Right now he's listening, trying to figure out if she can detect him or notice him.  She didn't respond to him when he entered, but she could have just been talking.  

If she doesn't he looks for something to steal from her.  A pocket book in a purse, something with ID...

Something with a home address.  Assuming he can do this without being caught and it backfires immensely.  
Kukuru Charlotte brings Kukuru's mind back to actually acting 'properly' as a teacher, and she clears her throat before nodding. "Good, good! Yes, I was just about to step inside, Charli-uhm. Miss... Charlotte."

It definitely didn't take her a second to remember her actual name. Stanley's lack of subtlety is easier to respond to in comparison, and Kukuru herself forgets the acts seconds afterwards. "Oh, good plan. Then I'll see... Schedule..."

Without much of a plan going in herself, Kukuru opts to follow John's lead! She's still hunched over as she walks, at least, although she probably doesn't look old enough to be doing that yet. Regardless of that potential inconsistency, though, she just walks in while giving those inside with a tired nod and pleasant smile, beelining for...

Actually, she's not sure what she's beelining for, but she'll have to improvise. Coffee maker, probably, since every teacher's lounge needs to have one of those. "What a busy day... How are all of you dears doing? Any trouble today with the kids, or is it just me?"
Charlotte Newman     Kukuru stumbles a bit on her name, and Charlotte just sort of helplessly smiles it away, "It's nice to see you again. Thanks for joining us, even if it's a little weird this time."

    Well, it's always a little weird, isn't it?

    With both Slothmom and InvisiTeen inside the lounge, Charlotte resumes her stakeout beside Stanley, rummaging in her handbag for something. Eventually producing a chapstick, she nearly drops it when That Sound happens. She shoots a look past Stanley at the door, then down into her bag in case she'd unlocked her phone somehow.

    "...Yeah it's definitely her," the girl admits, "Or else her voice is crazy close," Glancing aside, she asks, "We're trying to find out where she's going, right?"
Stanley Padgett     Purse purse purse, she's not carrying a purse, but she does have STUFF in her pockets. John as Miss Salem is swaying about and showing off, can manage to pull out.... a phone with a bunch of cards stuffed into the back on a holder. Well... 'stuffed', more like 'they all fit, as if brand new. The phone's brand new too. Everything is brand new. Lesse.... Agatha Salem... home address... library card... swipe card for the school... yeah this is all... very new. But 'legit'. Huh.

    As Kukuru comes in, Agatha Perks up and smiles. "Ah! Miss... ahhhh..." Agatha's brow furrows, and she holds still long enough for John to put that shit back. The PE teacher blinks. "Oh, a sub for the new year? Didn't see you at the meeting this morning..." Kukuru's got the coffee working though, so that's a point in her favor. "...Ah, they're all just rowdy for school to be back in session. Everyone's been off for two weeks, so it's back to class and people are grumpy about it," The gym teacher continues.

    Stanley looks straight at Charlotte as she flinches, and sighs. "...Yeah, definitely, though... following a teacher home is..." A bite of his lip. "....I'm sure we could do that, but..."
John Doe John doesn't return the phone and the school keycard.  He commits the address to memory and nods across at Kukuru.  He moves towards the exit, glad that his stick as an invisibility man still works.  Turning, he exits the lounge.  

"Her address is.." he says, to Char and Stanley.  "I also have her keycard.  I'm not good with computers," he says, handing the card off to Charlotte, "But you might be able to use that to check school records...or talk me through it if you think you'll be caught.

"Also got her phone.." he says, holding it up.  "So let's see...what is her pass.."
Charlotte Newman     "A bit weird?" Charlotte finishes the thought for her friend, "Usually I'd prefer to avoid contact entirely once the bell rings, but this is a weird situation. Weird situations call for weird solutions."

    John returns and she accepts the access card from him, turning it over in her hands-- carefully holding it by only the edges, "--Oh. Yeah. I'm pretty good with computers, I can do something with this once the lounge empties out, probably." One of those talents she picked up in the Watch, no doubt.

    When he starts fidgeting with the phone, she holds her hand out for it, "Give it to me before you lock it." Her other hand is already pulling out her own device, swiping through authentication to a home screen that has a Slightly More Goth Officelady Witch for a wallpaper-- the Halloween costume, naturally.
Kukuru A substitute teacher. Perfect! Kukuru hides her excitement at having a good cover through the power of "Oh, coffee's ready" and pouring a few cups for those in the lounge like a friendly (but tired) new face would before turning to the rest of the actual teachers. "Oh, I'm sorry. My name's Ku... ristine. Christine Kintover." She mumbles out with a dreary yawn, having exhausted quite a bit of her mental strength just trying to come up with a fake name. "I was hoping to show up, but I got hit by a little..."

Wait. Humans aren't that strong, right? She'll need something believable to walk away from. "... Motorcycle on the way here. But I'm here, and that's what really matters." She giggles softly, then starts passing out those cups as though she didn't just say she got hit by a vehicle. "What classes do all of you have, anyway? I was supposed to be filling in for someone, but the..."

She groans dramatically, then rubs the side of her head. "... I dropped my papers after the motorcycle. Can I just check it in here?" She gestures at the computer.
Stanley Padgett     And as the trio settle in to do their basic intelligence activities...

    Agatha, the PE teacher, and the two men who were to this point grading papers, all turn and look right at Kukuru, and sort of... boggle. "A... motorcycle?" One of the male teachers, a big fellow, shuffles over to try and get a good look at Kuku---Chhrrriistine. "Are you alright? What happened? Did you get the information from the rider?" The PE lady and Agatha both go for their phones to call for help. Only Agatha can't find her phone. "Oh. Oh No! My Phone's missing! I must have left it in my room! You handle that, I'll be right back, I'll call for HELP!"
    And then the perfect Chem Teacher is skittering out of the lounge on her flats, as Kukuru becomes the center of attention, with two big men trying to get her to a chair and a PE lady hovering to try and give the Concord lady a once over. Oh dear, we'll come back to that.

    Outside, Charlotte is busy working on that phone as Agatha goes running down the hall, back towards the science wing of the school. Stanley blinks, and then looks at the door to the lounge and back to John. "...what did you do?"

    Miss Salem's phone's password is 1692, and it opens like a breeze.
    It is factory perfect, no additions, other than the photo roll is chockablock full of selfies of her and her students, of course! Perfectly 'grammable selfies.
John Doe John looks at Stan (and then Charlotte.)

"Why are you thinking I did something?  I feel offended that you would think I'd do anything besides stealing stuff and beating up on multiversal loudmouths, their pets, and their friends," he says with a huff.  "I can't believe you'd blame me for whatever is happening."

"...I mean, for once I didn't do any violence.  Come on.  Oh, wait that means Kukuru did violence.  Nice, haha, fuck da police."
Kukuru "Eh?" Now it's Kukuru's turn to get flustered, not because she didn't get access to the computer she was hoping to, but because all the teachers inside actually seem to be genuinely concerned for her well-being. Did she pick something too small? No, maybe it was because she didn't come in looking more injured. Whatever it is, though, it's actually not too bad being the center of attention, even if she does feel a pang of guilt over misleading them to that degree.

"O-oh! Ah, yes, yes. I already filed a report with the..." Who gets the non-elite version of an incident report if someone gets mangled? "... Morgue? They said they'd take care of everything, and that I have nothing to worry about." She nods in affirmation to the trio while taking the offered seat. She glances over at at Agatha as she hurries on out of there, then back at the teachers still in there.

To Kukuru's credit, she doesn't look completely unscathed. There's still some bruising from her Christmas-time 'wrestling match' against a certain birdman that hasn't fully healed, but it's certainly not on the level of getting hit by any kind of speeding vehicle. "But don't you worry, I'm okay now. Just a little bend and a pop, and everything was okay. Really!"
Charlotte Newman     First, Charlotte pulls up her notepad app and punches in the address John just provided, before she forgets it. Next, she flips to an unfamiliar app. Thumbing Miss Salem's phone, there's a bluetooth connection chime and a little fiddling around and-- a groan.

    "Of course it's that," Charlotte tucks her own phone away and enters in 1692, explaining "Salem Witch Trials," in case her friends missed it.

    The door opens and she snaps the phone behind her back while Agatha scurries past. When she thinks it's safe, she swipes the screen and discretely copies files from Agatha's phone to her own through the hacking app; scrubbing her trail. The device is then tossed to John, "Get this back to her so she doesn't suspect anything, you have the best chance of pulling it off."

    She's not sure what Stanley's going to do, but the girl now leans into the doorway, peeking at the distracted teachers fussing over Kukuru, then glancing towards the old beat-up workstation, her thoughts returning to the keycard John snatched.
Stanley Padgett     Stanley huffs a bit as he watches Charlotte and John planning someting out, and then looks back to the lounge. "...I'll got find out what the holdup is. You two, I guess go.... do whatever. I'll be here." And with that, he's shuffling back into the Lounge.

    "The morgue? Miss Kintover..." The PE Lady huffs a bit, and then sighs. "Are you making jokes now? You could have been seriously injured..."
    It's about now that Stanley pokes his nose into the room. "...is everything okay? I heard some yelling and stuff." He's doing his best 'timid teenager' impression, which doesn't take much, just remembering this time a year ago.
    One of the fellows perks up. "Oh, Stanley, it's fine, we were just... Did you hear anything about someone being hit by a motorcycle? You seem to have your ear to the news..."
    Stan looks at Kukuru, and mouths... '...motorcycle?...'
John Doe John puts a hand on Charlotte's shoulder.

"Stay close, don't do anything obvious.  It's easier for me because I'm the source," he says.  Then as they move the world would shift for others.  As long as she's close to him people will ignore her.  Not even consider her, or even think she's there.  

For her, it's like knowing reality is crushing down on them.  Something /does not want her there/ and it lasts as long as she's near him and in this field of narrative invisibility.
Charlotte Newman     "We'll check the computer, then," Charlotte acknowledges in a quick whisper to Stanley right before he dips into the lounge himself.

    John puts a hand on Charlotte's shoulder.

    She nods as he advises her how to make use of this-- as the world bends around the boy's curse and takes her with it. She winces, setting her jaw and squaring her shoulders. It takes her a second to really acclimate, but she does eventually dip into the lounge herself, beelining for the workstation with Ms Salem's access card in hand.

    Boy, she doesn't like this feeling, but she's also mindful about saying anything that might break the illusion.
Kukuru "Jokes?" Genuine confusion creeps over Kukuru's face as she tries to figure out which part of what she said could be considered a joke, but she draws a complete blank there. "Isn't that... Normal, though? If someone gets..."

Wait. The PE Lady seems to be worried about her more than the person that supposedly hit her.Sighing in relief at not missing a joke at all, she smiles and gives the PE Lady a gentle pat on the cheek. "Oh, no, no, I'm okay. I meant for them." She clarifies, not looking bothered at all about the idea of someone else dying from hitting her with a motorcycle.

To make matters, worse, she smiles and nods at Stanley when he shows up. "Yes, dear. I left my place early just to get here on time, too." She doesn't really know where she's going with all of this anymore, but it couldn't hurt to keep the act going as long as the teachers won't let up. Realizing that John and Charlotte are heading for the workstation, however, she'll have to keep attention on herself, and the easiest way is...

Grabbing a bruise and faking discomfort! It actually does still sting a bit, so she doesn't have to act that hard to look uncomfortable. "Mm.. Mm! I guess it does still feel a  little funny, though. Like..." She tilts her head and pulls on her neck in the opposite direction. "... Or maybe it's a posture thing?"
Stanley Padgett     THE COMPUTER!

    With both John and Charlotte under his SHROUD OF SILENCE AND SHAME AND NO GOOD VILLAINY, the pair manage to make it right up to the computer, plain as day, in front of a room full of teachers and also a pair of Elites. What are you two looking for?

    THe PE lady huffs, and sighs. "It's... It's fine, just... please be careful, alright, there's a lack of good subs in the district already, alright?" She lets out a breath, and moves over to start doing some checks on Kukuru. "I'm Janet Heatherby, I coach the ladies' volleyball team. What are you here for this session?" The two fellows, seeing things in hand, make their exits... with fresh coffee, thanks Kukuru.

    Stanley moves into a position where Kukuru can see him, and mouths. "...home ec... say home ec..."
John Doe John doesn't say anything, he's not ENTIRELY sure how strong the field is when he does it like this...but he knows it's more fragile.  He just walks with her and then turns to watch the rest of the room to make sure nothing goes wrong.  If anything goes wrong...well violence is still an option.

He turns his head back from time to time to see if Charlotte's alright...though noticing the look on her face.  Yeah...well, he's used to this so he guesses she's not.
Kukuru Smiling serenely, Kukuru gives the PE lady another pat on the cheek. "Aw, thanks. You're a good person, Janet~" She says in her usual motherly tone, forgetting her act for a moment in favor of trying to give her some semblance of reassurance.  "I'm Chr... Oh, I said that already." A quick chuckle later, and then...

She has to try really, REALLY hard not to look directly at Stanley while the lady is still checking her over. Luckily, the neck bruise is probably the worst one, although there's a few lighters ones on her arms and shoulders (mostly from all the flips and slams). "Home ec. Kids these days don't know enough about how to do any of that stuff, and they're focusing way too much on testing stuff that it's kind of..."

She sighs dramatically, still angling towards buying as much time for Charlotte and John as she can. "... You know? They've gotta be more balanced at what they know."
Charlotte Newman     Charlotte nods once when John looks her way. It's not pleasant but she's got this. She spares a glance past him at Stanley trying to coach Kukuru into a reasonable cover story, holding in a laugh. The monster woman really is too sweet, sometimes.

    She flips her attention to the PC; the quicker she finishes here, the sooner this can be over with. She runs Ms Salem's card, then starts digging through records. Mostly she's interested in where Mr Cavandish went, and Ms Salem's credentials-- where she claims to have been educated, what substitute agency she's part of, anything useful on the fate of the previous Chemistry teacher and the origin of the Current one.

    Somewhat hastily, she USBs her phone into the PC to copy this information-- again, through the hacking app to scrub the process--sparing John another look. She gestures to the tabletop expectantly.
Stanley Padgett     "Oh, goodness, I understand completely, you know, I've got kids in my class who... they've got the entirety of that darned internet on their fingers and they don't know how to balance a checkbook or cook an egg or anything. Shame." Janet is... actually rather masterfully shifting at Kukuru's bits, working sore muscles into place and shifting joints... Joints. Janet's eyes go wide a bit, as she looks down at the form she's working on. "...oh my goodness, you're... are you form..." Her voice drops to a whisper. "...are you from off world?"

    Stanley lets out a very ragged breath.

    Mr Cavendish does not work for the school. There has never been an employee at this school named Trevor Cavendish. Miss Agatha Salem, has all of the same credentials as Mr. Cavendish should have. She's got the same education, the same background checks, everything. Her address, should they check the White Pages, is Mr. Cavendish's address.
John Doe John continues to wait, nodding back.  

He tries to whisper, but it won't break the veil, especially because it's not loud enough to be audible to anyone but Charlotte.  "Find anything?" he asks, turning his gaze back towards the others, and then back to the screen.  

"Or a lack of something I guess..?"
Kukuru "Right! And most of them don't even know how to clean and cut up their own meat these days. They could probably find all that stuff online, too." Kukuru chuckles despite herself, genuinely pleased to have found some kind of kindred spirit even through the acting today. She stretches herself out as Janet works on her joints and stuff, as she's got way too much stiffness in them despite how bonelessly she moves half the time outside of the view of most non-Elites elsewhere.

By the time Janet asks her that whispered question, meanwhile, Kukuru's already relaxed into a near-dozing state, slumping forward and propping her head up with her palms. "Mmhm... Eh?" She jolts up briefly when she realizes her mistake, then shakes her head quickly. The horn drills on the sides of her head say otherwise.
Charlotte Newman     Even before John speaks up, Charlotte's brows are knit together in concern and confusion, flipping through the records she's dug up. After a minute, she swipes a copy onto her phone's storage, then disconnects the device.

    She slumps back in the chair, her voice low, "Mister Cavandish...doesn't exist?" She glances towards John, then quickly gets up. She spares a glance towards Stanley and Kukuru, then gestures to John again. Her voice comes out as a tense whisper, "Ditch the phone, let's go."

    Lifting her gaze again, she gestures to Stanley that they're leaving, so he's free to find some way to disengage from... whatever chaos Kukuru is creating on the other side of the room.
Stanley Padgett     Janet gasps at the sight of the horn drills, and ooooohs. "No no no it's fine, goodness, I didn't... oh that's so exciting..." Fingers keep working along Kukuru's frame, as Janet seems to be.... counting extra bones and joints. "...Oh that's fascinating..." The gentle joy on her face to find someone with such an interesting bone structure is... well. Magical.

    Stanley just watches as Charlotte and John shuffle out of the room... only to nearly bump into Miss Salem who's skittering her way back in. "Oh! THERE IT IS." She picks up the phone from its spot next to the computer, and then looks to Kukuru and Stanley. "Mr. Padgett, Miss.... ah... Subsitute, what's going on?"

    Janet looks up and whispers, pointing to Kukuru's horns. "She's from offworld, isn't that exciting? I guess the district really IS reaching out..."
John Doe Once they're out, John releases the field and takes a seat outside the room.  That was a bit taxing, but he's fine.  

"So how did it feel?  This is honestly the first time I got to use that," he admits.  "I'm used to it, but I'm curious how it feels to others who aren't...well me."

"Anyway, didn't you owe me a food?"
Kukuru It's time to go! Kukuru can hear Charlotte's whisper clear as day even from where she's slumped over, clearly enjoying the attention from Janet with that dazed expression on her face. It's hard not to relax with that kind of attention, after all, and she's easy enough to maneuver around now that she's let her defenses down. "Do you not see a lot of people from... Er. Other countries here?"

It's not until Miss Salem comes back in with that question and Janet addresses her that Kukuru finally looks back up, still smiling serenely from the careful attention. "Mhm... It's good to be open to new stuff, especially if we want the kids to learn more about things and become better people than us one day."

She seems to have completely forgotten about keeping up an act as a completely normal teacher at this point already.