[ Have a Vampire | None | 200c ]
AUTUMN: Addison! Julian! Have you met our new classmate? This is Ora!
ADDISON: Nice to meet you, Ora.
ORA: A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I apologize for my haggard state. I’m more of a night person and not accustomed to being awake at this hour.
JULIAN: ‘This hour’? It’s the middle of the day…
ORA: Autumn has told me much about you. Would that all welcoming parties were as sweet and radiant as her.
AUTUMN: ‘Radiant’? Me?
Autumn starts to blush, and Julian clears his throat.
JULIAN: Ora, you sure talk old-fashioned… and sleep at weird hours… and wear fancy clothes…
AUTUMN: Julian, don’t be rude!
ORA: Is my outfit not fashionable?
AUTUMN: Well, I for one think it’s very… festive!
JULIAN: For a Halloween costume, maybe.
ORA: Yes, of course! A costume! I was afraid my new classmates would think me odd…
ADDISON: Of course not! There’s nothing wrong with a little spirit! We welcome all types here at our school.
ORA: I’m glad to hear it. But now, I’m afraid I must take my leave of you. This midday sun is ghastly for my sensitive skin! I fear I may burn to a crisp!
Ora gives a slight bow before fleeing indoors.
JULIAN: Okaaay… THAT was weird.
AUTUMN: I think Ora is charming!
ADDISON: Ora did seem a little… eccentric.
JULIAN: Eccentric? Are you kidding me? The clothes, the fear of the sun, the way Ora sometimes levitates off the ground…
AUTUMN: I’m sure it’s just an elaborate special effect… maybe Ora takes Halloween very seriously…
JULIAN: Do I really need to spell it out for you? ...Ora is a vampire!
AUTUMN: Julian, you’re being ridiculous! Ora is NOT a vampire!
JULIAN: Or maybe you’ve just been bamboozled by a vampire mind trick!
ADDISON: Guys, relax! And ‘bamboozled’? Really, Julian?
JULIAN: It’s a real word! I heard it in a movie! Look, I’ve seen Twilight. It starts out with a mysterious well-dressed guy and ends with all the girls in this school obsessed with his superhuman strength and old-timey charm!
AUTUMN: That’s crazy!
ADDISON: Look, we shouldn’t make any judgments. We should spend some time getting to know Ora!
AUTUMN: That’s a great idea! We could get some dinner with friends and invite Ora along!
JULIAN: Hmm… dinner, eh? I like it! But let’s do it at my place! I have some special plans for our vampiric friend…
ADDISON: I’m not sure I like the sound of that…
[ Ora, Addison, A Classmate except Julian and Autumn (Connie) | 8h | 400c ]
That night, you arrive at Julian’s house.
ADDISON: Hey, Julian! Thanks for agreeing to host!
JULIAN: No problem. It’s the least I can do for my good, HUMAN friends. Please come in!
AUTUMN: Everyone’s here but Ora. Julian, is everything ready?
JULIAN: Oh yeah. The ice box is secretly filled with holy water, every chair leg has been sharpened into a stake, and the curtains tear away in case we need to let in the sunlight come dawn!
AUTUMN: I meant ready for DINNER.
JULIAN: Oh, haha. Right. Actually, I still need a hand with a few things. Connie, could you help me and Addison in the kitchen?
CONNIE: Sure thing!
JULIAN: And Autumn, could you start setting the table?
AUTUMN: No problem!
Once Autumn leaves the room, Julian pulls you aside.
JULIAN: I’ve still got to decide what our main course will be, and I need your opinion. What dish would make the best finishing touch for our vampire trap?
ADDISON: ‘Trap’?
JULIAN: I mean… which of these sounds tastier?
ADDISON: Garlic pizza.
You chop garlic while Connie tosses the pizza dough in the air.
CONNIE: It’s like playing catch by yourself… with a soft, edible frisbee!
ADDISON: I hope that everyone likes a lot of garlic!
CONNIE: And that you have some mints handy after dinner…
JULIAN: Oh, I have a feeling that our supernatural friend will have bigger things to worry about than garlic breath…
AUTUMN: Is THAT why you wanted to host the dinner? To test your crazy theories?
Just then, the doorbell rings. Julian opens the door to find Ora standing at the doorstep.
ORA: Good evening, everyone!
JULIAN: Good evening.
Julian crosses his arms smugly, as Ora waits expectantly…
ORA: …
Julian smiles as he turns and whispers to you.
JULIAN: Vampires can’t enter a home unless they’re invited!
ORA: Um… may I come in?
JULIAN: I don’t know… MAY you?
ADDISON: Oh boy. We may be here for a while… Julian, maybe you should just let our guest in…
JULIAN: Nothing is stopping Ora from walking through the door…
ORA: Perhaps I’m unfamiliar with your customs, but where I am from one does not enter without an invitation.
AUTUMN: See? Ora is just being polite!
JULIAN: More like being weird.
Autumn grumbles and pulls out her phone.
AUTUMN: Look! You made an event page about this dinner online! Your address is listed as the location, and Ora is listed as a guest! So technically, you HAVE invited Ora into your home!
ORA: Why thank you, Julian! What a gracious and tech-savvy host!
JULIAN: Hmph.
Later, you all gather in the dining room as the food is about to be served…
JULIAN: Ora, would you mind helping me serve?
ORA: It would be my pleasure!
Picking up the tray of pizza, Ora suddenly recoils a hand in pain!
ORA: Ssss!
JULIAN: Are you all right? Does the garlic burn? Is it your natural weakness?
ORA: No, the tray is just red hot!
JULIAN: Oh… right…
ADDISON: Let’s just all enjoy our meal…
ORA: Actually, while I appreciate the fare you’ve provided, I’m afraid I can’t partake.
JULIAN: Why is that? Are you on a diet? A LIQUID diet, maybe?
ORA: Actually, yes! I’m on a juice cleanse! How did you know?
AUTUMN: Julian, you’re taking this way too far!
JULIAN: Whoa, I’m just trying to get some answers!
ORA: Forgive me… I didn’t mean to be the cause of so much tension. Maybe it’s best if I go…
ADDISON: Wait!
You protest, but Ora leaves the house, sulking!
ADDISON: Well, THAT didn’t go well.
JULIAN: Hey, I’m just trying to keep us safe from a bloodsucking monster!
AUTUMN: We should do something nice for Ora to make up for this ruined evening. Something fun!
[ Complete a Party with Ora | None | 600c ]
ADDISON: Seems like Ora had a great time at the party!
AUTUMN: I hope so! I feel so bad about how dinner turned out. I wanted this party to make Ora feel more at home.
JULIAN: Well, nothing really mystical happened. Although I will say that our new friend has NO trouble staying up all night.
ADDISON: Wait… how do you know how late Ora stayed out?
JULIAN: I… may or may not have been staked out with binoculars on Ora’s street.
AUTUMN: Julian!
JULIAN: You gotta admit, something weird’s going on!
AUTUMN: Addison, what do YOU think?
ADDISON: I think… Ora could actually be a real vampire… There’s definitely more to Ora than meets the eye.
AUTUMN: You’re siding with Julian?
JULIAN: See? Addison’s got my back! Score one for Team Vampire Hunter!
ADDISON: It’s not about taking sides! We wanted to welcome and get to know Ora. Any way look at it, this party was a success!
ORA: Addison! Autumn! Julian! There you are!
ADDISON: Hey, Ora. Did you have a good time at the party?
ORA: Oh, it was the most fun I’ve had in AGES! I’ve never been to a school where the students were so hospitable! I feel like I should give back to the community…
ADDISON: Give back? What do you mean?
ORA: I want to do something to repay the people of this town for all that they’ve done…
AUTUMN: That’s great! See, Julian? Ora LOVES this place and wants to do something nice!
ORA: ...I want to organize a blood drive!
JULIAN: Oh COME ON!
You elbow Julian discreetly, hushing him.
ADDISON: We’d love to help, Ora. What can we do?
ORA: Well, we need to get the word out about the drive. Could you help me raise money to publicize the event?
[ Spend 5000 coins | None | 20b ]
ORA: This is amazing, Addison. The money you raised paid for flyers, posters… it even funded a video ad by the A.V. Club!
JULIAN: Yeah, a video that you weren’t in, strangely enough…
ORA: I wanted to help! But I’m afraid I don’t do well on camera.
JULIAN: I thought so… bet you don’t do well in front of mirrors, either…
ADDISON: Don’t mind him, Ora. It seems like our efforts were a success! Everyone at school is talking about the blood drive!
ORA: Yes! It’s only a matter of time before they flock to us in droves, willing and eager to surrender their life force…
ADDISON: …?
ORA: To those who need it, of course.
Later, as the blood drive is being set up…
ADDISON: The quad’s set up for registration, and the nurse’s office is ready for the donations… wow, Ora, this all looks great!
ORA: I agree! This… actually means more to me than you know…
ADDISON: Anything more I can do to help?
ORA: Could you gather the first three volunteers? I’m anxious to begin drawing their blood!
ADDISON: That’s… an odd way to word it, but sure!
[ A Prep except Addison, A Cheerleader, A Nerd except Addison (Indiana, Parker, Whitney) | 12h | 800c ]
ADDISON: All right, this way everyone! Ora is waiting inside to show you the rest of the way. Any questions?
INDIANA: Is it true that this is the largest blood drive in the town’s history?
PARKER: Is it true that Ora is really a vampire who just wants to drink our blood?
WHITNEY: Is it true that there will be free cookies afterwards?
ADDISON: Yes, maybe, and definitely. Now, right this way!
JULIAN: Addison! Is it true that you just led three innocent souls into the vampire’s lair?
ADDISON: It’s just a harmless blood drive! Look, here come the volunteers now!
JULIAN: You there! Did anything about Ora seem… STRANGE to you?
INDIANA: Well… now that you mention it, Ora did sneak up behind me afterwards… to personally thank me!
PARKER: Ora was staring pretty intently at my bare neck… and recommended a massage! Turns out I have lot of upper back tension!
ADDISON: See, Julian? Nothing to worry about!
JULIAN: Wait a minute. What’s THAT?
Julian points to a cup of dark red liquid in Whitney’s hand…
WHITNEY: Oh, Ora gave it to me to drink. Looks pretty tasty! Wanna try it?
You don’t taste the liquid.
WHITNEY: Oh well. More for me!
Whitney lifts the cup for a sip…
JULIAN: We’re too late! Whitney has become a vampire too!
Julian knocks the cup out of Whitney’s hands! Looking to the snack table with horror, Julian spots a tall pitcher filled with the red liquid!
JULIAN: NOOOOO!
Julian lunges forward and knocks the pitcher to the floor with a crash! Autumn and Ora gather on the quad to see what the ruckus is.
ORA: My juice!
JULIAN: ‘Juice’, huh? A likely story!
ORA: Yes! It was the same beet and pomegranate juice I drank for my juice cleanse! I made a batch for the blood drive, but clearly you dislike the flavor if it upset you this much! Perhaps coming here was a mistake. I think I should go.
Ora turns to leave as Autumn calls you over.
AUTUMN: This is getting out of hand! We have to do something to settle things between those two!
ADDISON: Agreed!
[ Ora, Julian | 14h | 100c ]
ADDISON: We have to get Julian and Ora somewhere where they can talk, away from these crowds!
AUTUMN: I have an idea! Just grab Ora, and I’ll grab Julian. Follow my lead!
The two of you bring Julian and Ora down to the school basement. Inside, the room is a dank, dark space, with towering shelves stacked with storage crates.
ORA: What are we doing down here? What’s the meaning of this?
A loud metal clack sounds as Autumn locks the door behind her!
JULIAN: Whoa, whoa! You’re locking us in here with that monster?
AUTUMN: None of us are leaving until the two of you talk this out!
ORA: This chatter is getting us nowhere. I’ve been in this situation countless times before. Because of the way I dress and act, people always treat me like an outsider.
JULIAN: Well, you’ve got to admit, your obsession with this blood drive is kinda weird.
ORA: I wouldn’t expect a bully like you to understand.
ADDISON: Now, hold on. Julian, why don’t you give Ora a chance to explain? And Ora, you should give Julian the chance to listen.
ORA: I suppose you’re right. There’s a story behind the things I do. I suffered from several health conditions when I was a child, many years ago… I resorted to alternative health solutions. Diets and cleanses, avoiding direct sunlight and altering sleep patterns… all of which became habit. But in the end, it was a blood transfusion from a stranger that saved my life. I just wanted to give that gift to someone else.
JULIAN: Oh… I… had no idea…
Suddenly, the sound of creaking metal groans from beside you! A shelf stacked with crates bends as one of its screws pops loose… And the whole thing topples down over Autumn!
AUTUMN: Aah!
JULIAN: Autumn!
The rack clatters down over Autumn, pinning her to the floor!
ADDISON: Are you okay?
AUTUMN: I’m not hurt… but I’m trapped!
You and Julian grab the shelf and lift… but it doesn’t budge!
ADDISON: This thing weighs a ton! There’s no way we can lift it by hand!
ORA: Step aside… I’ll lift the shelf. Just be ready to pull Autumn free.
Ora grips the shelf and heaves… and slowly, it begins to budge!
JULIAN: No way… you’re actually doing it!
ORA: Almost… got it… just need a little more… strength!
[ Level Ora | None | 5r ]
Summoning one last bit of strength, Ora lifts the shelf up, giving you and Julian enough space to pull Autumn free!
ADDISON: Got her!
AUTUMN: Whew! Thanks, Ora!
JULIAN: How did you lift that shelf? That should have taken a superhuman amount of strength!
ORA: I, uh… suppose it was just adrenaline…
JULIAN: Well, whatever it was… I guess I shouldn’t have rushed to judge you. Kind of a jerk move on my end. But you’re all right, Ora.
ORA: I suppose I could have been more open with you all as well. The feeling is mutual.
Later that day, the blood drive draws to a close.
ADDISON: Congrats, Ora! The drive was a huge success!
ORA: I couldn’t have done it without all of you. You’ve showed me that there may truly be a place for me in the world.
JULIAN: So, are you gonna come celebrate with us?
ORA: Actually, I must be going. My, um… sunblock is wearing off and I must reapply…
Ora gives a wave before running off in a hurry!
ADDISON: Hmm… that was strange.
AUTUMN: Hey, guys, come look at this! This inventory sheet says that a couple packages of blood went missing, right around the time Ora left the donation center.
ADDISON: Could Ora really have been…
JULIAN: A vampire? Hey, whether a vampire, eccentric, or just plain weird, I don’t care. Ora is a friend… and one of us!
ADDISON: Couldn’t have said it better myself!
No comments:
Post a Comment