'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Up until recently maintained as a museum, the childhood home of the Braddock family has been pressed into service as classroom space for the University. Additionally, the increased demands have led to the main ballroom being converted into a cafeteria for University students on a meal plan. The old library has been bolstered with college textbooks.

'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Tue Apr 10, 2018 6:23 pm

In spite of her lovely night with Tereza and Viv, Sam's mood was soured by the brief scare that almost ruined the night. Everybody was still walking wounded, and she had no idea if Natalie and the headmistress had caught whoever had been using Cerebra.

Cerebra was out of commission, too. There was no chance of looking for Miriam any time soon, and if she'd done anything to Will, she couldn't even talk to him of late.

And Tereza was sequestered away for the moon.

So what use am I to anybody?

Sam tapes up her fingers and settles in at the drum set. Putting a large pair of headphones on, she launches into furious practice.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Narrator » Tue Apr 10, 2018 8:18 pm

Having something to focus on helps. The patterned movement channeled into an almost cathartic outburst. As a shapeshifter it's easy to be hyper-aware of your body but this seems to help her regain a more conscious control over her muscles, almost as if a cramp she didn't even know was there is easing up a little. Some of the unease that has plagued her about being at odds with herself fades, like the music is helping her come to a better accord with herself, at least for a moment. Muscles and tendons shift and adjust to the movements almost on their own, making the grip on the drumsticks more secure, the repeated movements flow more easily and for a while, immersed in the music everything seems like it could be okay, all the tensions and uncertainties solvable.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Tue Apr 10, 2018 9:51 pm

It's a welcome feeling to Sam, and as such she lets herself sink into it more than a little. It's not all that different from when she's in the middle of a fight. Sometimes everything just flows, and she needs that right now as she drums.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Narrator » Thu Apr 12, 2018 4:06 pm

As she's drumming she starts humming an accompanying melody. Not really intentionally, almost more as if muscles are moving on their own to produce kind of a strange, almost ebbing and flowing kind of hymn to go along with the drum-beats.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:05 pm

Sam blinks in confusion as she slowly becomes aware of it. She thumbs the pause button on her phone and slips off her headphones with a shrug.

Then she starts right back into drumming.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Narrator » Thu Apr 12, 2018 10:06 pm

I see now why the Phantom Queen is so placid...
The battles she fights are few and far.
She doesn't reside where war and death rage.


The thoughts shoot through Sam's head like an earworm that just popped into her head. They're a little disjointed and muddled, but she can't really deny them either.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Thu Apr 12, 2018 11:49 pm

But is that what I want? This seems like arse for lyrics, especially if it's a song I want to play or sing.

Or do I just have Morrigan on the brain still after all that mess? Danger Room's still broken, but it's not like the real thing anyway. Not for this.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Narrator » Fri Apr 13, 2018 12:07 am

But the urge is there.
To hurt, to tear.
And witness the struggle that war brings to bear.


The thoughts certainly seem to skew more towards lyrics now than before. Still kind of... brutal, but maybe Tereza's taste in music was getting to her a bit. Those could definitely fit into a Metal song of some sort.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Fri Apr 13, 2018 2:18 am

...but only the people that deserve it. War for war's sake is... pointless.

But there are doubts in her mind, remembering how she felt when she was last in Cerebra.

...but the Morrigan's favor has to mean something.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Narrator » Fri Apr 13, 2018 3:39 am

One forges their own meaning in the flames of conflict.
That is at the heart's heart of the Phantom Queen.
There are those who search for meaning and those who bring it to them.
We're the shepherds of our own creation.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:46 pm

...and my inner muse has stopped rhyming.

Sam lowers the drumsticks, casting her mind about her in confusion.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Narrator » Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:00 pm

There's nobody around. She can distantly feel the minds of other students in the building and beyond if she flexes her mental muscles, but nothing else.

How demanding, to expect a fully formed ballad to spring forth perfected and in accord with itself. You know how hard assent can be, do you not?
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:04 pm

I've had conversations with myself before, but you don't feel like one of the ones I'm familiar with.

Of course, there's some anxiety on Sam's part that she perhaps hasn't reached the bottom of the rabbit hole on parts of herself she can talk with.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Narrator » Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:22 pm

Does it frighten you?

There's almost a feeling of amusement swimming along with the thought.

You're so hesitant. Wary. Of losing yourself?
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Sat Apr 14, 2018 3:28 am

...well it's been less than a year I've been talking to the voices inside my head.

And it just so happened that they'd cropped up right as she'd managed to shut out most of the voices outside it.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Narrator » Sat Apr 14, 2018 4:01 am

Why do you struggle such with your mantle? The voices are no malediction, they're an arrow in your quiver, a tool, guidance.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Apr 16, 2018 2:41 am

Seeing as you are, apparently, a voice in my head I can't help but feel that you may be biased.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Ashlie Minamida » Mon Apr 16, 2018 4:20 pm

All the world is a voice in your head, is it not?

As she's sitting there, zoned out and having a conversation with herself, her phone buzzes with a message.

Code: Select all
Head-Mistress:
Samantha, when was the last time you used Cerebra?
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Apr 16, 2018 5:41 pm

Sam blinks, startled and not really processing until the second buzz.

Marshaling her thoughts, she responds.
Code: Select all
Not since before break, why?
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Ashlie Minamida » Mon Apr 16, 2018 5:47 pm

Code: Select all
Because the restored logs indicate that you were in it during the simulation.
Dr. McCoy is double-checking, but DNA traces in the tank's nano-fluid seem to confirm it.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Apr 16, 2018 5:52 pm

Code: Select all
That wasn't me.

A pause.

Code: Select all
At least, I'm pretty sure that wasn't me.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves


Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:22 pm

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I was multiple people for awhile. It was confusing. But I think I was only the three?

Besides, why would I work with Conduit?
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Ashlie Minamida » Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:32 pm

Code: Select all
That would have been my next question.
We know she had help from a shapeshifter and a telepath.
Or a shapeshifting telepath.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Narrator » Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:32 pm

That sounds a rather awful lot like an accusation.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:34 pm

Code: Select all
Didn't Natalie talk to you yet? I told her Conduit had someone in Cerebra. Why would I tell her that if it was me?
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Ashlie Minamida » Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:40 pm

Code: Select all
I don't know.
But you've said yourself it was confusing.
If you can be three people you can be four and you've had some mental issues in the past...
Please don't take this the wrong way, but are you certain it couldn't have been you?
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:15 pm

Code: Select all
I don't know what kind of mental issues you're accusing me of, but there's no way I'd hurt my friends like that.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Ashlie Minamida » Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:27 pm

Code: Select all
I'll just take that as a yes then.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:42 pm

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It just hurts when people think I'm crazy, alright?
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Ashlie Minamida » Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:54 pm

Code: Select all
My apologies, but I'm sure you understand the conundrum I'm faced with.
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Ashlie Minamida
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Narrator » Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:54 pm

They call crazy what their minds can't comprehend. Don't let them sully what you should wear proudly. The voice in Sam's head helpfully provides.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:55 pm

Code: Select all
You're not locking Heather up, are you?
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Ashlie Minamida » Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:37 pm

Code: Select all
Of course not. Nobody is getting locked up.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:10 pm

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Then don't look at me like someone sharing my DNA is out of the question.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Ashlie Minamida » Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:33 pm

Code: Select all
We haven't found any sign that your double was accompanying them after the simulation collapsed.
I understand the situation was chaotic, but by the time the simulation collapsed the Point was empty and everyone was thrown out in the same spot on the grounds.
I will double-check the security camera footage, but there were exactly as many people as there should have been, accounting for all the students, staff and faculty who weren't off-campus.
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Ashlie Minamida
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:38 pm

Code: Select all
That's very easy to say when you're holding to a rather particular definition of 'person,' but if I can apparently be a flock of birds, another shapeshifter can run circles around security that's looking for 'people.'
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Ashlie Minamida » Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:45 pm

Code: Select all
As I said, I will recheck the footage with this possibility in mind, but I don't believe there were any animals present.
Even you or your double can't turn into thin air.
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Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:56 pm

Code: Select all
Just keep me posted, okay?

Sam lets out a frustrated sigh, a death-grip on her phone.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: 'Til then I'll hold you like a hand grenade

Postby Narrator » Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:52 am

Why do you let them treat you like that?
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