Sorry, Ortho. I've already got plans with Muscle Red, one of my online gaming buddies. I gotta get back to the game as soon as this quick break's over. Could we hang out tomorrow instead?
Huh? Oh, you mean this getup. It's super handy, actually. The coat's got pockets galore, so I can stash my phone, TV remote, or anything else I want in them. And since it's made for messy work anyway, it's all good if I spill my drink on it while I'm distracted crushing noobs online.
chuckle* But wait, there's more. I swapped out the goggle lenses for the type that filter out blue light. Now I can stare at a screen for a long time without getting any pesky eye strain.
It's about the aesthetic, okay? The aesthetic! ...Also, it keeps my fingers from getting sweaty and making bad inputs on the controller. But I haven't even gotten to the kicker yet! You ready for this, Ortho? I don't think you're ready.
It's practical, AND nobody can tell I'm schlubbing it. This lab gear rules. Is there anything cooler than using a little ingenuity to turn a bummer into a bonus? I'm basically giving my clothes a New Game+.
That sounds like an excuse to be a slob to me, but hey, if it's what makes you happy. *shrug* Just, um... It's fine wearing your lab gear over your pajamas in your own room, but don't go outside dressed like that, okay? You'll get in trouble again if a teacher catches you.
Yeah, I know. "Shroud, there's a time and a place," yadda yadda yadda... Professor Trein loves going on about discretion and public morals and all that.
I'm not even remotely important. And a housewarden's just a glorified errand boy for his underclassmen. Besides, I strongly doubt I've got any kind of influence over anyone. I don't think it really matters WHAT I wear when I go out.
Even if that was true, I look up to you a lot, and I don't want other people talking about you in a bad way. Don't wear the lab gear unless you're either in your room or in class, okay?
PHEW. Boss down, finally! Insert victory jingle here. What I great way to spend a Saturday. Blue Idia needs food badly. Ah, crud, it's almost 2 AM. Man, no wonder I'm hungry. Ortho's asleep, too. I could prooobably get in another run of this quest before morning. I'll take this chance to fuel up and then hit it twice as hard. Time for one of my favorite parts of the night: the midnight snack! Today's lucky nibble is... ...gone?! Oh, right. I was vibing so hard during my game last night that I wolfed all the snacks down.
Shoot. I was supposed to order food online for express delivery today, and I totally spaced it. Can I get an F in the chat? Yeah, stomach, I hear you. What food can I get at this time of night? I guess a candy bar from the school store vending machine? Which is...outside my room. I'm feeling a little iffy about this, but surely everyone else is asleep at this hour, right? Yeah, it'll be fine. Ortho said not to go out in my lab gear, but as long as nobody sees me, it doesn't count! And changing clothes is such a hassle. Okay, we're doing this live. Gotta speedrun this snack attack so I can get back to gaming ASAP!
Agh, I lost at rock-paper-scissors again... Next time, I'm goin' scissors, mark my words! Stupid Ace and [MC], sendin' me on a snack run at this hour all alone. That's animal cruelty, I tell ya! *ahem* Not that I'm an animal. I better get back fast, or I'll miss the rest of the movie. An evil mad scientist dies, comes back as a ghost, and conducts horrific experiments... The horror!
Dude turns into a ghost, then possesses a person and experiments on himself. That's some serious obsession right there. And that white coat, dripping with all kindsa gunk after the experiments... Brrr, that's gonna traumatize me! Bein' a mad scientist AND an evil spirit? Groundbreaking. No, seriously.
Maaan, I'm scared outta my wits, but I gotta see how it all shakes down! I better buy that drink from the vending machine and... Hm? Footsteps? This late at night? ...... I-I ain't scared. It's gotta be one of those ghosts tryin' to spook me. Wait a minute... Ghosts don't have footsteps... MROW! That... That figure that just passed by...was in white, right? It couldn't be. No, that's crazy! Hey, who's messin' with me?! Come on out already!
Oh, i-it's you, Mr. Grim. I, uh, thought you were a cat. And here I was all hyped up to pet a kitty... Oh well. Say, uh, M-Mr. Grim, you're being awfully quiet today.
Oh crud, a p-person... Mr. Grim's one thing, but I-I'm not ready to talk to a person... I can't think of anything to say, and I'm dressed like...this. Oh, geez... Gah, I didn't do anything wrong! I just wanted to pamper a kitty-cat. I'm gonna run for it!
Yeesh, how hard is it to grab a couple of drinks? I'm growin' old here waiting. Not to mention that I'm parched. We finally got to rent the hottest horror flick, and it's paused at a cliffhanger! [MC], you see Grim anywhere?
Ooh, yeah. That's the one about the evil mad scientist spirit wandering the campus looking for kids to experiment on. If it catches you, you'll never make it out alive! I wonder if the story's true.
Heartslabyul Student A
Who knows? I hear his blue flames flicker eerily while he beckons to you and goes, "C'meeere..."
Heartslabyul Student B
Whoa, that's spooky!
Heartslabyul Student A
The headmage's pitching a fit about it, too. Says that if word gets out our school has evil spirits, our reputation will take a nosedive. And the ghosts are too afraid to step in. They say they could never take a bona fide evil spirit in a fight.
Urgh... *groan* Yeah, it was me. I was on my way back from the vending machine when I ran into Mr. Grim. I thought it was a cat, so I smiled nicely, but he freaked out, screamed, and passed out. Seriously, who DOES that?
