verdantdreams
Spacefarer
Chapter I
Inauguration
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Inauguration
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Arkham, 7:03am, September 9 2022
A loved one’s death is certainly a wave in the river that is life. While not quite a flood or a storm that leaves extensive damage in its wake, it washes over, and like nothing, it disappears, forgotten. The only evidence of said event are grains of sand displaced onto the shore from under the water, or driftwood, to remain there awaiting to be displaced once more and forgotten. Memories and feelings of the deceased remain in particular people but life runs on. Death wasn’t exactly a stranger in Arkham, and it’s denizens saw it’s fair share of deaths, whether explained or not, over the years.
So when Amity Graves appeared in the morning paper for the fourth time, notifying the citizens of the public vigil that was held by MU’s students a day ago, it sent another wave, but never a flood.
“Shame, isn’t it, love?”
Dr. Eric Park glanced up from the paper that laid on the foyer table as he hurriedly tugged on his coat, eyes on his wife, who wrapped a scarf around his neck and drawing it taught, finishing with a light peck on his lips. Whatever reciprocated love he felt for his wife at the act of affection, it didn’t show on his face, but he gave her hand a squeeze and replied, “a shame indeed.”
“Will you be working late tonight?” She asked, the question holding an undercurrent of sadness, as she watched her husband check himself in the mirror, then turning to open the door.
“Most likely. Don’t wait up for me, alright?”
“Alright, dear,” she answered. “We should have dinner sometime together—“
The chief librarian was out before she could finish his sentence, ending hers with the door slamming. Mrs. Park was now alone at the foyer of their apartment. She sighed, and looked down at her swollen belly as she felt a light kick inside. Mrs. Park cooed, “it’s ok, baby. Appa’s just very busy.”
Arkham, Massachusetts—a city frozen in time with its grey and cracked roads, decades-old architecture, and lacking of technological advances. The Miskatonic river flows lazily through the city, dividing its north and southside, a few sail boats roaming across its waters. A distant dull knell resonated throughout the city as its citizens began to wake at the sun brightening up Arkham from behind the heavy cover of clouds over the city. The summer green that dyed the forestry of Arkham began to morph into the signature autumn hues.
Its pride, Miskatonic University, also retained its ancient qualities. While relatively more lively and slightly updated compared to two decades ago, it was stubborn to change, which charmed tourist and new students alike with its great old trees and towers, it’s maintained flagstone paths and immaculate gardens.
Helia stepped onto campus grounds through the opened wrought iron gates, eye bags heavy with sleep and circles darker from absence of rest. She remedied it (attempted to) with a dark brown wide brim hat and large round sunglasses, complete with a chesnut woollen poncho over a white dress underneath. The fine arts student had plugged in earphones, listening to Radio Riverside’s livestream as she travelled towards her first class of the year.
“Good morning Miskatonic Squids, both old and new! Seven in the morning calls for the blackest coffee you can get. We’re looking to have a gloomy morning at 73 degrees with the weather cooling down later in the afternoon. But don't forget your umbrellas folks, we're looking at a 75% chance of heavy rain coming through.”
Helia sighed, and muttered to herself, “damn, my umbrella’s at home.”
“Don’t forget, dear squids, of the annual back to uni Toga Party at Oleander Manor! Held by our esteemed Key & Tome Society in collaboration with our MUSG, it sure is an event not to miss. Tickets are close to sold out! The Orator slash Best Toga of the Year title is also up for grabs, so come along and bring your inner Bacchanalian and be crowned this year’s Orator!”
Delvaux Liberal Arts Building, 4:45pm, September 9 2022
The afternoon set of classes came to a close with students exiting their classrooms. The halls within the Delvaux Liberal Arts Building were thriving with students, from freshman to senior, their chatting echoing off the panelled walls.
“Hey, did you end up buying a ticket to Toga?”
“Quimby said they’ve sold out.”
“It’s ok, you can be my plus one!”
“But what about Viv? She wanted to be my plus one.”
Helia eventually tuned out to the pair’s conversation next to her, staring at the ticket in her hand. They weren’t the only ones discussing Key & Tome’s first event of the year. Since orientation week, Toga had been a hot topic amongst the student body. Despite Amity’s passing, revelries never left their minds. Any excitement dampened from mourning flourished once again with the day of the event arriving.
“To think MU was once the epitome of a stick in the ass,” Freddy Morgan commented as he sauntered up to Helia. “That’s what Armitage said—paraphrased of course. The guy’s lamenting about the death of academia.”
“Sounds like Armitage,” Helia replied, diverting her eyes to one of the halves of the Morgan set. Freddy’s twin was nowhere to be seen. “Say, Morgan, where’s your better half?”
Freddy rolled his eyes at Helia’s comment, but replied, “she went shopping for Toga. Plus, she’s setting up the thing. You going, Mannheim?”
“Thinking about it. Octavio doesn’t wanna go anymore so he tossed this to me,” she said, and held up the ticket—card stock adorned with gold leaf details and embossed lettering. Freddy let out a low whistle, eyebrows raised.
“Sheesh, aren’t they generous with their tickets. Let me look.” Helia gave the ticket to Freddy, and examined him as he looked over the ticket.
Despite being a sophomore, Freddy has the chipper nature of a freshman. From his boyish looks to his constant upbeat disposition, many have mistaken him to be younger than expected. It was a stark contrast between him and Helia, both sophomores with opposite demeanours—Helia with her almost sickly appearance and Freddy with his glowing persona.
His apparel was, like many of the students, on the preppy or academia side—sporting a beige vintage Ralph Lauren sweater vest over a white button up. His coffee-coloured slacks were slightly wrinkled and rolled up a couple of times to make room for swifter running, grass-stained white sneakers giving away his earlier activities, of which, Helia guessed being a rag-tag game of football in the quad with the rest of the football team between classes.
“80% of them are rich kids, of course they can splurge,” she said with an exaggerated ‘know-it-all’ tone before snatching the ticket back. “I’m guessing you’re going?”
“Trust, I’ll win Orator for sure. Fay’s gonna work her magic on me.”
“Can’t wait,” said Helia, who added with a faux-sweetness slathered all over her words, “can’t wait to see you make a fool of yourself, that is. Besides, what even is the criteria of ‘Best Toga’ when it’s literally just a white sheet?"
“I’m not as lightweight as you,” he shot back, giving Helia a flick on her shoulder. “Who knows, I just know you get free drinks at the Tav for the rest of the year, but something about being great at mingling with the people, hence the ‘Orator’ title.”
“Ah, I see how it is—it’s a popularity contest with fancy wording.”
“Hey, I’ve got a chance to win. But if seeing me lose to Monty Valdemar entices you to come—scratch that, I hope you don’t show up.”
“I’d love to see that.”
“So, is that a yes?”
To this came a beat of silence. Helia responded, softly than before, “I’m conflicted to be honest. It’s kinda in poor taste, isn’t it?”
Silence hung over the pair, the subject of Amity and Alistair unintentionally brought up in their conversation with their matching solemn expressions. Despite the two being over for a while, the study group knew how much it affected their dear friend. In the time they dated, they saw how in love Alistair was with Amity, despite their ups and downs. Even though there were a few times they’ve silently agreed amongst each other that Alistair didn’t deserve the one-sided effort and would never fully understand Alistair’s thoughts, they supported the couple right until the end.
“…Amity was a key organiser of Toga this year. I’m going to honour her efforts,” said Freddy. “I may not fully like her but I admit, she’s got an amazing work ethic.”
“Do you know if Rice is going?” Helia asked, picking at the corner of her ticket as she looked down the hall for any sign of her aforementioned friend. “I haven’t spoken to him since the vigil.”
Freddy shrugged, and replied, “don’t know yet. For sure Armitage won’t be going. Fay’s trying to talk him into it though, I think. Said we all need to let loose, it’s what Amity would’ve wanted.”
“Right, Fay and Amity worked together a lot, didn’t they?”
“Yup. Plus, Cynthia wants me as her plus one. Can’t say no to my girl.”
“No offence, but please break up with her before this week ends or else, I'll have to cash out $200 to Fay.”
“Oi!”
“'Tis in jest, Morgan. Dishonour’s looking good right now though.”
“Honour gets you broke, Mannheim.”
After more bickering about Freddy’s string of short-lasting paramours, Helia parted ways with Freddy, the former having just received a text from her new friend, asking for her whereabouts. Helia texted back with, sorry B was talking to a friend, before speedwalking to the said friend’s classroom.
Freddy, in Helia’s place, waited for Alistair, leaning on the wall as he scrolled through the ‘
Helia texted back, i hope monty wins.
preach sis, Fay texted. Freddy scoffed and sent an angry emoji.
Children, the lot of you, Finley replied. I’ll see you all at the study room?
not me, gotta help my new mentee first, Helia texted back. I’ll see you guys later though xox
Freddy shot up from his leaning position, suddenly remembering he had a mentee waiting for him as well—a student taking biomed.
fuck i totally forgot my mentee, Freddy texted. i’ll meet you guys at HQ later
sorry rice. Could you and arms go ahead? Grab snacks!Armitage, please. I’ll see just you then, Rice, Finley texted. See you soon.
With that, Freddy thrusted his phone into his pocket before taking off towards the Bloomfield Science Building to find his mentee, cursing to himself along the way.
In the same building’s upper floors, the Arkham Folklore and Historical Society are gathered in an empty lecture theatre. Their own meeting came to a close, their president, Warner Vicario, waving his members off new and old as they dispersed to wherever their day calls them.
“Don’t forget the AFHS Docu-Marathon next week,” Warner announced with an almost bored voice as he packed up his laptop, unplugging it from the projector. Next to his workstation at the front sat a ticket to the Toga Party, a complimentary ticket for club presidents gifted by the MUSG. The junior sighed at the sight of it, with dark green eyes burning imaginary holes into the pricey card stock. He raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes and releasing a huff in irritation, nostrils flared. After taking a moment to calm himself, Warner lowered his hand and drummed the walnut desk, eyes glancing to his wristwatch.
‘Why did I accept becoming president again,’ he thought, contemplating, and nearly considering, throwing the highly coveted ticket into the hallway where throngs of students flow through. ‘Fay’s gonna give me an earful if I don’t show up.’
As if she’d read his mind, Warner’s phone buzzed. On his screen was ‘Fay M.’, the preview displaying, ‘the presidents are here setting up. Where r u vicar
“Fuck me,” he cursed.
Meanwhile, with Helia, she stopped short outside her mentee’s classroom, doubling over to see if it was the right one. She scanned the faces of the students filing out the door, keeping Bea’s mousy features and frumpy way of dressing in mind.
‘i’m here B
,’ Helia texted, and waited, drumming her fingers on her phone.MUSG Office, Administration Building, 5:00pm, September 9 2022
“Quimby, like I said, just tell them to find someone to go with as their plus one!” Fay exclaimed as she bursted into the empty MUSG office, arms heavy with paper bags from various boutiques and craft stores, coat flying behind her. Her normally neat hair was frazzled, and lipstick had faded during the day. “If we just let anyone in, it’ll be no different than an overcrowded gathering of hooligans and resources would be spread thin, logistics say no!”
More silence from Fay’s end as she listened to Quimby speak over the phone, to which she scoffed as she took a seat at a desk, setting her bags on the floor.
“Yes yes I’ll take care of it. I’ve just gotta meet the MM guy for his pass. And take a breather,” she explained, a little on the quiet side at the end of her sentence. She leaned back in her chair, and looked over to her right, the chair where Amity would’ve been sitting. Fay remembered the late nights together planning, not just for Toga, but many other future events for the year. She remembered how little Amity would sleep, and how much they’d laugh incredulously over Quimby misprinting documents in hopes to cheer each other up.
As these memories resurfaced, she felt tears well up in her eyes. But the sound of Quimby’s voice and a knock at the door, whom she presumed was the MM correspondent, brought her back to the present.
“One second Quimby, I’ve got a visitor,” she said before hanging up. Fay quickly blinked her tears away before calling out loud from her desk, “come in!”
Bloomfield Science Building, 5:00pm, September 9 2022
“Pick up pick up,” Freddy muttered to himself repeatedly as he jogged towards the Bloomfield Science Building, which was on the opposite end of the campus (and mind you the campus is large.) In hand was his phone, dialling ‘barney
.’Freddy cringed inwardly as he felt embarrassment and guilt creep up, manifesting itself as a rising heat in his face and ears. Second time already he’s displayed tardiness to his mentee—the very student under his care. Sure, he may be older, but he was a new student to MU and to Arkham.
“God, I hope he isn’t mad,” Freddy sighed, scratching the back of his neck. “Poor guy. Shit, why’d I sign up again?”
sophocles
Maximousse
Obnoxious
Squad141
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