PASSION:
10
BRAVERY:
7
FRIENDSHIP:
11
Kitten4u
is Offline
Posts: 43
|
Jul 4, 2017 9:21:31 GMT -7
Post by Alicia Johnson on Jul 4, 2017 9:21:31 GMT -7
It started with an innocent realization. Alicia always took the same route home from school. It was the one taught to her ten years ago when she first started school, and even as she got older she never deviated from it. This was the way to go home, or at least the way out of the education district so she could go somewhere with something more interesting than empty classrooms, and it simply never occurred to her that there was another way to go. It bothered her for the rest of the day, and thinking about that was far more interesting than paying attention in civics, so it continued to pick at her brain until classes were done for the day. Once they were, all she did was turn left instead of right, and suddenly she was in a new place and was curious to see what was here. While she knew she was more likely to find more empty classrooms than buried treasure, it was still the kind of curiosity that wouldn't be sated until she knew.
Alicia wasn't sure how long she spent wandering through the hallways. All things considered it was pretty boring. The floor and walls were the same sterile white that the halls she was familiar with were. In fact, if she suddenly looped back around she wouldn't even be able to tell the difference. All things considered it was pretty disappointing. So much so, that she would have gone back so she could go to the park or something, but because everything looked so similar she didn't even know where she was at this point. After a bit more wandering around in an attempt to figure it out and failing horribly, she decided to continue exploring. Maybe the buried treasure was just deeper in.
Eventually she did reach some signs that said 'RESTRICTED AREA DO NOT ENTER' which she promptly ignored because it looked exactly like everything else except for those signs. What could they possibly be hiding in such a boring looking place anyway? It couldn't have been anything that special. Sadly, the hallways were narrow enough that there was no way she could avoid being seen by the security cameras, but Alicia didn't mind much. Her parents would probably get fined, but they barely looked at the mail anymore, so they'd probably just think it was another bill and not comment on it. That's what happened the last few times she did something she shouldn't be doing anyway.
Alicia looked through any windows into the rooms that looked like empty classrooms, but probably weren't. They were all locked with more heavy duty locks than the ones on the classrooms, so breaking into them was probably out of her league. The windows would have to do.
|
|
|
PASSION:
15
BRAVERY:
12
FRIENDSHIP:
11
The heart will never lead you astray
Robin
is Offline
Posts: 46
|
Jul 4, 2017 20:30:55 GMT -7
Post by Etude Amaryllis on Jul 4, 2017 20:30:55 GMT -7
It was becoming increasingly common for Etude to be called in to cover shifts. The fellows in charge of managing the time spreadsheets figured out that if they gave her a call, chances were very high she could fill the hole unexpectedly opened up and their problem would be swiftly solved. This was part because she didn’t have many other obligations that she couldn’t put off for an extra shift at work, and part because there was little she wouldn’t immediately drop to go work that extra shift. Personal hobbies, eating, and sleeping could all be set aside for an hour or eight. The only time she turned them down was when she was in the jungle, a ways out from wherever they needed to be, and in the processes of trying to not be killed by some impossible construct of nature’s nightmares. Officer Riley had called in ill with a case of old, undercooked sheet meat, and so she’d been called to come fill in for him at the school. Etude had spent the bulk of her afternoon making sure students found the right train and the right waiting parents, making sure no one stayed behind in classrooms they shouldn’t, and making small talk with a very kind janitor about the weather and his eager dreams of setting up a pamphlet-based business. It was a nice change in pace; she couldn’t help but wonder if Officer Riley wouldn’t learn his lesson and she could steal his job more often. She was helping a teacher and the janitor clean up after a particularly expressive crayon art class when she got a call. Security cameras had picked up someone in the labs they didn’t think was supposed to be there, so she was supposed to go be there and check it out. After washing off as much rainbow off her hands as she could in a brief effort, she bid the two goodbye and went off to find the suspected trespasser. They’d said something about the room number the person was last seen near, so Etude made her way there by means of jogging down the restricted hallways in the order of whatever first appeared to be closer to the number. Then the search was on. One that, several hallways later, yielded the sound of footsteps. Because speed was important in case the trespasser was trying something dangerous like stealing explosive chemicals for the mafia, she took off at a sprint until she turned a corner and spotted a figure a ways down the hallway. Like any friendly officer trying to exude approachability and hospitality, she came to a skidding halt in hallway, pointed at the woman, and shouted at the top of her lungs, “There you are! Hey! Stop!”
|
|
|
PASSION:
10
BRAVERY:
7
FRIENDSHIP:
11
Kitten4u
is Offline
Posts: 43
|
Jul 5, 2017 11:24:01 GMT -7
Post by Alicia Johnson on Jul 5, 2017 11:24:01 GMT -7
There was a common misconception surrounding Alicia, that because of her tendency to completely ignore the rules and zone out in the class that talked about the laws that she wasn't very aware of them. It was the complete opposite: she was very aware of what they were and it gave her a good baseline for what she could get away with. She just didn't care about breaking rules or being yelled at or any of the other consequences that came with them.
So when an angry police officer came skidding down the hall, she wasn't surprised. Alicia figured she'd be hearing footsteps sooner or later because she was in a restricted area after all. For a moment, she considered moving further down the hall and around a corner to avoid being seen for a little while longer, but the footsteps were coming fast and the hallway was long. There probably wasn't much point. Instead, she continued looking through the clouded window trying to make out what was inside the weird restricted classroom. The police officer she was expecting, the loud shout she was not. It was enough to make her jump and brought her attention away from the window to the very loud officer.
Alicia recovered from the loud sound quickly, after all, it was only a loud and unexpected sound. This was one of those moments where she had a choice: she could be good and cooperate and leave, or she could be a bit more obstinate, make the officer look silly, and probably not end up staying that much longer. The choice was obvious, especially given the look in this person's face. It was entirely too serious. She frowned and tapped her cheek. She glanced at the officer, then at her own feet, then at the officer again.
"I'm not moving."
She turned back to the clouded window after that, making a point to not move her feet at all. Alicia kept her hands on the walls on either side of the window to make it clear where they were and that she wasn't doing anything threatening. As long as she made sure the officer had no reason to think that she would get hurt, Alicia was pretty sure she wouldn't be able to use any kind of force that might hurt her. Or at least that she shouldn't and given the heavy monitoring here bad things would probably happen if she did. That was good enough.
|
|
|
PASSION:
15
BRAVERY:
12
FRIENDSHIP:
11
The heart will never lead you astray
Robin
is Offline
Posts: 46
|
Jul 5, 2017 23:51:15 GMT -7
Post by Etude Amaryllis on Jul 5, 2017 23:51:15 GMT -7
Confusion flashed across Etude’s face, and her stance became somewhat deflated. “Y-yes.” She cleared her throat. “Thank you for your cooperation.”
Straightening her back, she began walking at a much slower pace towards whom she assumed to be a student. The woman was right, but that was strange. The only reason she could think of for someone to be illegally back here was if they wanted to take some of the chemicals or other materials - or perhaps results of experiments - so she was fully expecting the intruder to take their quickest escape and try to get out and away before they were caught. But she was just standing there like nothing was out of the ordinary in the slightest.
But maybe that was all part of her plan; try to put up a false face of innocence and divert attention from the crime committed or about to be so. Subvert expectations. Wait it out. She seemed unsuspicious, but that only made her suspicious, didn’t it?
“This is a restricted area, and there’s been a report of suspicious activity around here. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask to see your ID.” She says in her serious officer voice.
|
|
|
PASSION:
10
BRAVERY:
7
FRIENDSHIP:
11
Kitten4u
is Offline
Posts: 43
|
Jul 6, 2017 15:50:00 GMT -7
Post by Alicia Johnson on Jul 6, 2017 15:50:00 GMT -7
It took all of her self control not to burst out laughing, and even more than she thought she had to keep that serious expression on her face. The look on the officer's face and the stuttering that came with it was just too great. It seemed to make her a bit less on edge, which was good, but it was clear that her work was not done here. People that have some kind of authority always seemed to take themselves way too seriously.
"I'm 15, I don't have an ID."
Alicia's expression remained flat, almost exaggeratedly so, and as she turned her head back towards the officer she rolled her eyes very slightly but just enough to be noticeable. Strictly speaking it wasn't even true. It was difficult to do much of anything without her parents without some kind of ID, but she also knew that it wasn't that unusual for kids under 18 to not have one. In her case, her parents were just never around, so she couldn't rely on them for anything. Granted, she never brought her ID to school, so it's not like she had it on her anyway.
She watched the officer's distance closely, preparing to bolt if she got with in arms length of her. Given how she was glowing, Alicia knew that trying to outrun her was probably pointless, but it sounded fun anyway. It'd probably make the situation worse, but given this was already a 100% bad idea, it didn't really matter if it got worse. She just hoped they'd be able to talk a little longer before everything went into full on chase mode. There were too many jokes to be made.
|
|
|
PASSION:
15
BRAVERY:
12
FRIENDSHIP:
11
The heart will never lead you astray
Robin
is Offline
Posts: 46
|
Jul 13, 2017 14:21:37 GMT -7
Post by Etude Amaryllis on Jul 13, 2017 14:21:37 GMT -7
Ah, she just another teenager acting out against authority. It was the eyeroll that convinced Etude; the girl was bringing up far more similarities to the groups of students writing naughty words on public property than some Gnosis ‘scientist’ trying to find ‘materials’ or a Flourish member looking to plant explosives near flammable materials or replace the water in the emergency showers with more acid, or something similarly insidious. It spoke more to troubles in the young woman’s life than a want to cause any kind of real danger, and Etude felt a pang of sympathy for her.
From one of the many convenient pockets on her uniform, Etude pulled a notebook and pen. She flipped it open to the first empty page in perfect time with her stride, which she brought to a halt about a yard from the girl.
“Aright. This is a restricted area, so I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to come with me.” She said firmly, but not unkindly. Giving her a friendly smile, she assures, “If you’re supposed to be back here, we’ll get you all cleared up and you can go back to mixing chemicals and experimenting for the good of the city.”
|
|
|
PASSION:
10
BRAVERY:
7
FRIENDSHIP:
11
Kitten4u
is Offline
Posts: 43
|
Jul 14, 2017 9:06:49 GMT -7
Post by Alicia Johnson on Jul 14, 2017 9:06:49 GMT -7
Alicia paused for a moment, then looked up, tapping her finger on her chin. Her expression looked exaggeratedly thoughtful, to the point that it was clear that she wasn't thinking at all. She knew she wasn't going to cooperate already, but she wanted to have some fun with it. Clearly this was a difficult decision that required a few moments of thought before responding.
"Don't wanna."
Her attention turned back to the clouded window. It'd be easy to leave it at that, but Alicia wasn't content taking the easy path. After a moment's pause she turned back to the officer with a wide grin on her face, wide enough that her missing tooth was clearly visible.
"Come on, haven't you ever been curious about what they keep in these areas? I'm sure you have some keys or something to get into them. Let's check it out! I won't tell."
The odds of her going along with it were close to zero. Cops in general were pretty boring and all about the rules, but this one was especially serious and had an especially stiff way of talking. It was more likely to offend than anything, but Alicia didn't mind. If anything it was half the reason she did it. Once again, she looked back through the window, still ready to bolt if it came to it.
|
|
|
PASSION:
15
BRAVERY:
12
FRIENDSHIP:
11
The heart will never lead you astray
Robin
is Offline
Posts: 46
|
Jul 18, 2017 2:13:12 GMT -7
Post by Etude Amaryllis on Jul 18, 2017 2:13:12 GMT -7
Etude’s expression flattens before she puts her hands on her hips and straightens her back. “Of course I’m curious about what’s in there. It’s where all the secrets of science our scientists are discovering are!” She says proudly, as though every page of notes behind the locked doors contained a solution to one of humanity's greatest issues. “But there’s a good reason it’s off limits, and there’s no good reason for us to go in there. It’s unsafe for civilians. What if you accidentally put your hand into a vat of acid? Or bump some scientific instruments wrong and start a fire? That would be terrible for everybody.”
But that might be the entire point. The girl wasn’t new to this, as her ‘lighthearted’, she was going to call it, uncooperativeness suggested and her smile further hinted. Perhaps she should pass on a mention to the school’s theater teacher to see if some of this energy could be directed elsewhere.
Again, Etude tried a smile. Kindness would always win the day, given enough patience. Or, at least, would be good for one more go.
“Besides, I’m afraid that wasn’t a choice. You’re going to have to come with me,” she paused and raised up her writing pad, “and, can I get your name?”
|
|
|
PASSION:
10
BRAVERY:
7
FRIENDSHIP:
11
Kitten4u
is Offline
Posts: 43
|
Jul 21, 2017 7:47:40 GMT -7
Post by Alicia Johnson on Jul 21, 2017 7:47:40 GMT -7
So that's what these weird classrooms were for. Alicia's eyes lit up as she continued to try to peer through the clouded window. It wasn't quite buried treasure, but it was still pretty interesting. Who knows what sort of weird things they keep in labs? Were they developing weird monsters behind closed doors? Putting mentos in soda? Now she was really curious. It was hidden and out of the way, which just made her want to know even more.
She turned towards Etude again, her grin not fading in the slightest. Something constantly said to all the students in school immediately came to mind. Alicia knew it wasn't what they meant, she wasn't an idiot, but the words just fit so well here that she couldn't resist. It wasn't the exact words, but the general gist. She also took the effort to mimic Etude's voice and speaking style as she spoke.
"But we always have a choice! People can't just take the path of least resistance! There's so much more that everyone can do if they just put their minds to it! No one should ever tell someone that they have no choice! It completely disempowers their ability to think, encourages laziness, and reduces their ability to contribute!"
Alicia opted not to mention her name. It didn't seem that important for her little speech.
|
|
|
PASSION:
15
BRAVERY:
12
FRIENDSHIP:
11
The heart will never lead you astray
Robin
is Offline
Posts: 46
|
Jul 28, 2017 4:16:46 GMT -7
Post by Etude Amaryllis on Jul 28, 2017 4:16:46 GMT -7
Etude crossed her arms and gave Alicia a strange, yet contemplative look. That was a new one. Additionally, she wasn’t wrong. Not fully, anyway - it was very important people had choice, yes. If people had all their decisions made for them they would stop thinking, and if they stop thinking, and if people stopped stopped thinking, civilization as a whole would come grinding to a halt, wouldn’t it? Every part of what they were living in now was the direct result of someone with a good idea. They couldn’t afford to risk crushing any of those ideas under sedentary minds.
“Alright, I’ll admit that was a poor choice of words. But!” She points upwards with the pen. Since Alicia began copying her, Etude became almost more upright in her posture and grand in her tone. “Rules in this city are made for a reason! They make sure people can’t easily harm or take advantage of others, and those who try are punished. They keep the system running smoothly so that everyone can live peaceful, happy lives, and students like you can reach their fullest potential. And, most importantly, they protect our citizens. I’m asking you to come with me no less than the safety of everyone in this building and everyone in this city, but for your safety as well.”
This was very important for the student to understand. Thoughts of what questions had been left conveniently unanswered - or how much time she was wasting talking with her - were entirely unimportant in comparison.
|
|
|
PASSION:
10
BRAVERY:
7
FRIENDSHIP:
11
Kitten4u
is Offline
Posts: 43
|
Aug 2, 2017 18:25:44 GMT -7
Post by Alicia Johnson on Aug 2, 2017 18:25:44 GMT -7
Alicia wondered if she should start talking about cows or something here. It was what the weirdos on the internet always mentioned in conversations like this, even if she had no idea what they were talking about. But that didn't seem to fit into what she was doing. That wouldn't be the kind of argument this officer would use, so it was no good. Using such an argument would completely defeat the purpose of what she was trying to do here. She looked through the clouded glass for a moment until the perfect answer came to her.
The slight change in the officer's posture didn't go unnoticed. Alicia turned directly towards her, looked her right in the eye, and stood up extra straight to try to mimic her posture. Then, suddenly and dramatically, she extended her arm and pointed at the officer. Her tone became much more accusatory than before, though there was an edge of non-seriousness in it, it was more difficult to hear behind the impassioned tone.
"Then why are you glowing?. I know what that means! Everyone knows what it means! How can I believe in anything you have to say about the rules when you clearly don't follow them all yourself?"
|
|
|
PASSION:
15
BRAVERY:
12
FRIENDSHIP:
11
The heart will never lead you astray
Robin
is Offline
Posts: 46
|
Aug 11, 2017 23:09:27 GMT -7
Post by Etude Amaryllis on Aug 11, 2017 23:09:27 GMT -7
Etude leaned slightly backwards as Alicia pointed at her, as though the student’s sudden motion had summoned with it a small blast of wind. She blinked twice in surprise at the student and her leveled accusation. Glancing downward at her feet, she broke into a laughing smile. Speaking with and wearing the pride of an opponent who knew something their opposition did not, she turned that grin back on the student.
“Sorry kid, you’re going to have to try harder than that old one to trip me up. All rules are made for a reason, but not all of them remain relevant. Times change, humanity progresses, and policy makers don’t always have the time to go in and trim out old laws when there’s pressing issues that need to be taken care of. Of course, laws such as that are the exceptions, not the rule, and it should be assumed the correct path is to follow any given law until shown otherwise.”
Probably not exactly the speech the police internship would’ve told her to make, but it was true and truth was important. The student had said it earlier; people needed to remain critical and think for themselves.
At this point it was more of a hassle to have the notepad and pen in her hands than anything else. Both slid nicely back into their designated and custom-crafted pockets on her uniform, each fitting into place with the same satisfying feeling of putting on a well-worn glove.
“Don’t go saying going into these off-limits areas qualifies as one of those exceptions, though. There’s lots of good reasons why that rule should still be followed - tampering with important data, theft of expensive equipment, releasing of uncontrollable experiments into the populous - and you’ve yet to provide any qualification to why you should be allowed here. I’ll ask nicely again; please come with me.” Again, Etude gave the student the patient and friendly smile of someone just doing their job for the good of the people, and extended her hand out to her. “It’ll just be a short walk out of here and some quick and painless paperwork, and then you can get on with your evening, okay?”
|
|
|
PASSION:
10
BRAVERY:
7
FRIENDSHIP:
11
Kitten4u
is Offline
Posts: 43
|
Aug 17, 2017 6:34:56 GMT -7
Post by Alicia Johnson on Aug 17, 2017 6:34:56 GMT -7
It only took about five seconds after that speech before Alicia burst out laughing. Exactly how she managed to keep a straight face for the entire thing was a mystery for the ages that she was sure she would never figure out. She wasn't laughing at the officer though, she was laughing with her. It wasn't the response she was expecting, but it was a great response. Alicia wasn't the type to be shaken up by good things, and she saw no reason to hold back how great she thought this was. It proved that the officer at least had hope, even if she did seem to take herself a bit too seriously. It was a start.
"Never thought I'd be able to get a cop to say that," she said once her lungs allowed it.
Once again, Alicia had a choice. She could make this easy and cooperate, or continue to mess around more. Given she didn't have anything better to do, and given that the police's duties included giving people directions and consoling people that had a bad day at work, she suspected the officer didn't either. Thus, the choice was clear.
"Alright, buuut..." she paused and leaned forward for dramatic effect. "You have to catch me first."
With that, she bolted in the opposite direction. Alicia was reasonably fast, but not exceptionally so. Most of her speed she owed to her light-weight, somewhat noodly body structure. She suspected that it wouldn't take too long for the officer to catch her, and that she was going to have to pull some off some impressive maneuvers to last for a reasonable amount of time (especially considering she was probably magic and could therefore cheat), but a glorified game a tag sounded good right now. She carefully listened for the footsteps behind her. If it was one thing she'd gotten good at in her years of delinquency, it was figuring out when someone was nearby and which direction they were headed.
|
|
|