goldencharms | FOR INFY!!!

Out of the question. Just because it's been relatively safe so far doesn't mean it will continue to be; there's no predicting the behavior of scumbags who have somehow pulled off kidnapping hundreds of people like this.

[Oh, they'll know. Anything that happens to Kalim, any injuries, any discrepancies..... He'll be the one who has to answer for them. And if he's being held accountable, that risks the rest of his family being held accountable, too. It's just going to be a mess all around, one he needs to be present for to prevent as much as possible.

He just..... can't let Kalim get hurt. That's all there is to it. It's so simple and obvious, even Kalim himself should be capable of understanding. Right?]

Ah....

[ what does he say to that? he can't help it: he's confused. Jamil should've been excited for this, shouldn't he? A chance to not have to worry about him?

Kalim's smile is a little awkward, and his posture torn between tight and fidgety, and slumping in defeat. He wants to push back, wants to tell Jamil he doesn't want him to worry. But he already has, and Jamil's already told him no.

What can he even do at this point...? ]

I-- okay...

[ he nods, acquiescing. he can't deny that there are dangers. ]

[Whew..... That takes care of their first problem. He wouldn't be able to watch over Kalim properly, if he wasn't still in a position to stay close. But that's a relatively small hurdle to clear, considering everything else they have to contend with, isn't it? There's no possible way they can rely on outside rescue in a situation like this; how would Crowley and the other professors have any idea what had happened, let alone be able to do something about this when they've apparently been brought to another dimension entirely? They have no choice but to rely on themselves, and their fellow hostages.....

If they even can organize or conspire in any meaningful way without arousing suspicion. How are they supposed to get useful information? Is it possible to insinuate himself into this "LIER" organization that had brought him here? Maybe gain enough trust to be able to search their facilities, or use Snake Charmer on someone to interrogate them without getting caught?]

We'll figure something out. In the meantime..... what have they done to you? What has life been like for you here?

[ kalim just picks himself back up once the conversation continues, his posture relaxing like they hadn't just had-- he doesn't even know what to call it. Maybe it really was just normal.

But it didn't feel normal.

Still, he wasn't going to dwell on it, or it would ruin the rest of the conversation with Jamil most likely. ]

What do you mean? It's been great!

[ he answers, impossibly chipper. ]

I get to work at a potion shop. Ruby and Lilia are a ton of fun to hang out with! Oh, and since Cater's here, we've been able to do Pop Music Club shows too! I really like it!

Great?

[Forgive him if he's a little skeptical that anything about this godsforsaken situation could possibly be great. Isn't that just like Kalim, to have unwarranted optimism about the most dangerous potential predicaments? Even so, he can't help but be a little surprised, hearing Kalim's actually employed.....]

It sounds as though you're staying busy, at least. Are--

Finished already? Here you go, boys.

.....Thank you very much.

[Jamil smiles, but there's something sharp and cold in his gaze as he stares at the waitress' retreating back. So they noticed that they weren't drinking, did they? Whoever "they" were. Why push the refreshments so hard, without giving them a chance to demur? Will they even be allowed to leave, if they don't properly partake and socialize as they're expected to?]

Thank you!

[ Kalim echoes, with sincerity. After all, that person hadn't done anything wrong. Still, he doesn't make a move to get anything to drink, instead pulling his feet up into the chair, sitting in a butterfly pattern, rocking lightly.

idly. not paying attention ]

Yeah, I'm definitely staying busy! Did you know Idia runs a cafe, too?! It's wild, I expected that from someone like Azul, but I was totally surprised when I heard he was running it. Lots of our classmates work there!

[ really... he's one of the only ones who doesn't. ]

Idia? Since when would he choose to be in charge of anything?

[Idia hates talking to people. Employees, customers--isn't dealing with that sort of thing all far beyond the tolerance levels of a shut-in like him? He's not sure if he's incredulous or impressed. Is Ortho running it all for him?

Well, that's none of his concern. Whatever Idia is doing to push outside of his comfort zone or not, maybe Idia being a business owner will come in handy somehow? Jamil pours himself a cup of tea in the meantime, looking past Kalim as he stirs in a generous spoonful of sugar--downright conservative, by Kalim's tastes, but enough that he should be able to identify the effects of whatever substances might have been added to it. It's probably in the tea, though, isn't it? Not everyone takes theirs sweetened, after all.

Now, to see if he can spot who or what may be monitoring them (and how many other pairs, throughout the restaurant?) to make sure they were drinking as they've been told to.]

Just how many classmates have been brought here? Why target Night Raven College in particular.....?

Uhh, let's see...

[ Kalim is distracted for a moment, but he still seems apprehensive about Jamil drinking the tea. But... everyone else is drinking it, and nothing's happened yet. So maybe he's overreacting...

He exhales softly. ]

A lot of people... Right now, there's Lilia, Silver, Cater, Idia, Floyd, Jade, and Rook. I don't know if they're targeting NRC or if... that's just how it is. There's a lot of people from all over here.

Nine people, now..... That's a significant amount, for a campus of our size. I can't imagine that's a coincidence, if they're capable of taking people from countless different places, even different dimensions. So why.....?

[Jamil raises his cup and takes a deep breath of steam, slow and deliberate, calculating as he keeps an eye on their surroundings. No difference in scent that he can detect. A deep, measured sip, cup lingering against his lips to blatantly show his obedience to whatever LIER agents or cameras might be watching, gaze sharp and focused as he analyzes the drink and his own bodily reactions. The taste is what he would expect, the consistency and mouthfeel are fine, the color of the tea is normal. As far as he can tell, anything they've added is colorless, odorless, able to dissolve into hot tea perfectly without leaving any telltale traces behind.

Now, how does he feel? He feels..... fine, mostly. A gentle, lingering warmth spreading through him, more than he would expect from a simple tea. A subtle..... looseness, if he had to describe it aloud? His muscles feel a little less tense, his chest a little less tight, his mind a little less dark and tumultuous. Were he not paying such intense attention, would he have even noticed? Or would he have simply chalked it up to being relieved to be able to finally relax, after such a stressful transition? Still, his head doesn't feel "funny", as Kalim had described it. His thoughts are lucid. He has full control over himself, as he sets his cup back down on its saucer.]

There's some sort of fast-acting sedative I can't identify, but even drinking in moderation, it should still only be a mild dose. An attempt to keep us complacent, no doubt.

[ so there was something in the tea... But Jamil doesn't think it's anything to worry about... Still, knowing there's something does make his heart rate spike uncomfortably for a brief moment. ]

You don't feel hot, do you?

[ he's concerned... after all, it took a minute for the first drink to work on him. But-- no, Jamil would know. He was drinking carefully. Now it was Kalim who was probably worrying too much.

But he can't help it. Conversations on "why" are forgotten as he focuses entirely on Jamil. ]

No. Or at least, not yet. We'll see if it has any slower to kick in symptoms.

[Not that he sounds particularly convinced there will be, knowing that there had been something that worked immediately..... But he'll keep an eye on it, won't he? Jamil certainly doesn't look like he intends to keep drinking just yet, at any rate. As long as Kalim knows not to partake, or at least knows the risks..... That's good enough, isn't it? Kalim will stay safe, just as he's meant to.

And him..... he can take it, easily. So far, at least, this drug is mild and benign enough to not even bat an eye over.]

[ he didn't have to do that... but Kalim furrows his eyebrows for a moment...

and then reaches out to pour himself a cup.

If it's safe enough for Jamil, it's safe enough for him. ]

Then they must not have anything too bad in it this time.

What are you doing?! We don't know if there's going to be a delayed reaction yet!

[Why is Kalim always like this?! He doesn't need to recklessly disregard his own safety when he has a poison tester, does he? Ugh! If Kalim would just wait patiently and let him do his damn job--]

[ he takes a sip, and then-- ]

Oh, there isn't enough sugar in this!

[ time to load it down. ]

I don't taste anything bad, so I think you were right! It's fine. And it isn't too bad of a blend!

[ but it isn't a great one, either. Still. now they can both enjoy tea as they talk. as he adds sugar, he continues, ]

It doesn't feel right to not drink with you! And you already said it was fine, right?

I only said it was fine so far! You can't just--

[Oh, but he can, and he will. It's too late to argue now, isn't it? Whatever will happen, will happen. Jamil can't help but sigh, shaking his head. What are they going to do if they both get hit with something stronger, more delayed, more dangerous? They don't have any family doctors on call here like they do at the palace. And there's no Professor Crewel to quickly diagnose such a poisoning, like there is on campus.....]

You idiot..... The whole point of testing it in advance is to make sure at least one of us isn't incapacitated.

[ he looks at him quite calmly, though he's smiling like they aren't talking about life or death. ]

But nothing happened. So we can keep talking like before!

Yet. That we know of.

[But there's really no convincing a guy like Kalim, is there? Any attempted scolding is just going to go in one ear and out the other, as always. So..... Fine. Fine. He has no choice but to accept it, now that Kalim is already drinking too.]

If something happens, I'll call Lilia. He'll know what to do.

[ after all, Lilia's been taking good care of him, and more importantly, Lilia's got a wealth of experience from age that there was no way Kalim and Jamil could compete with. ]

But for now, you can relax. It's not that frightening here, most of the time.

.....If you say so.

[Relaxing is the last thing he wants to do, if he's honest. Lilia hardly seems like the most reliable person to nurse anyone back to health, given the rumors he's heard.....

But it's anyone's guess if there actually will be any further effects from whatever they've been drugged with. He still doesn't feel any unnatural heat, or anything clouding his thoughts. Maybe they're just..... who even knows? Trying to forcibly pair-bond strangers for this twisted experiment they're running? It's a futile effort, if that's the case. After all, the two of them are already.....

He'd really rather not think too hard about it, when his head is hurting as it is.]

I'm not so sure we have the same definition of frightening, if everything they serve in public is tainted.

I think it's a lot easier!

And not everything is tainted. Ruby likes to get drinks from cafes and things like that, and sometimes I go with her! I just got really unlucky one time.

[ he shrugs, and that was probably more than he would've said a moment ago, but he doesn't seem too perturbed by it. He's more openly happy Jamil's there. ]

And after that, it didn't matter, since no one else could cook, especially after Riddle went back home! So I decided to try it, since I couldn't keep my promise to only eat your cooking if you weren't there.

How exactly did you get unlucky?

[Is he sure these cafe drinks aren't tainted routinely, if there's something in the tea today? Or is it that they just have sneakier, less lethal effects than Kalim has to worry about at home? Either way, mentioning a particularly "unlucky" day is clearly evidence enough that this place is dangerous, that they should be cautious.

Even that concern is momentarily distracted from, hearing that Riddle was not only seized, but has managed to escape their confinement. Without even taking the rest of them with him, or letting them in on the secret? He'd thought Riddle was more of an insufferable goody--ah, was more conscientious than that.]

Riddle went home? How?

I dunno! Silver said you were here before too.

[ Kalim shrugs-- and then rests his cheek on the palm of his hand ]

I think it just happens sometimes.

Edited 2025-01-03 07:06 (UTC)

Wait, what?!

[That's..... that's in incredibly poor taste, if it's a joke. But Silver is far too earnest to joke about something like that, isn't he? Not so rigid as Riddle, perhaps, but serious and diligent, honest and capable, kind enough that he sometimes questions how Silver ended up in Night Raven College at all. No, if Silver claims he was here at one point before, then.....

He feels a little sick just contemplating the possibility, headache only worsening as he struggles to make sense of it all. Does he have amnesia? Was his memory altered with magic or a potion? How? Why? Had they let him go deliberately for some reason, or had he managed to escape? If he had escaped, why wouldn't he remember it? If they had released him for a purpose, then why? What else had they done to him that he can't remember? Why would they need him here again, if they had been satisfied enough with..... whatever they were doing to surrender him? What reason would there be to toy with him like this?

His can hear his heartbeat racing in his ears; Jamil takes another drink, tense all over again as he forces a surge of cold anger down. Whatever reason they may have for not wanting him to remember being taken previously, nothing good can come of letting them know he's aware of it now.]

Escaping a situation like this doesn't just happen at random.

Eh...?

[ jamil was upset? Kalim can't quite make sense of the reaction, except that he feels guilty for doing that to him. perhaps not mentioning it at all was the right call. Kalim frowns, concern apparent in his face. And he stops rocking distractedly, straightens up ]

Are you upset?

[ the gears are trying to turn. he's trying to infer something. He's trying to communicate.

And instead, he gets up only to move and sit next to Jamil in the booth, leaning against him heavily without thinking about how that might be taken. ]

I'm sorry!

No, no, you're fine. I just--

[Might he have snapped at Kalim's sheer obliviousness, normally? Or pushed him away, at the very least? Instead, he's..... he doesn't know. Grateful, he guesses? The idea is horrifying in its implications, (not the least because of his own unique magic's capabilities) but better to know he's been deceived, manipulated, violated, controlled than to live in blissful ignorance. At least maybe he can try to figure out how to protect himself somehow, if he's aware of the danger.

Maybe he can figure out how to protect Kalim from this somehow, too. It's..... actually reassuring, having him so near. Can Kalim feel the way his heart is pounding, leaning against him like this? What a strange feeling, being so acutely aware of his own helplessness feeling frightening for once instead of absolutely infuriating. They're both still just teenagers, after all. What are they supposed to do against the sheer enormity of the disaster they've found themselves in?]

It's fine. Whatever they're doing to us, it's dangerous--far more dangerous than anything I'm capable of.

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