#anywhere

Practice went well tonight! They're indoors due to the snow, and worked up a good sweat. Gwen actually found herself the recipient of an only slightly begrudging fistbump from co-captain Kristen. "Good work out there tonight. You were right about Becky - she's not soft, she just works better on defense than as a forward."

"Thanks" She says surprised at the actual praise "She's got a guardian mentality. " and an admission, as Kristen maybe a bitch but she's got her uses too "I noticed you lit a fire under Tammi's ass. She finally realize first pick isn't based on popularity?"

"Right. And if she keeps shaking said ass to show off for her boy toy in the stands and missing obvious blocks, then she can look for popularity on the bench instead." Kristen is... not quite brutal, but definitely no-nonsense when it comes to messing around when the gametime heat is on.

Gwen nods "Speaking of boyfriends, Darla is down from the break up.. I know you don't believe personal shit should affect play, but I was thinking, what if we set up something where every great play she made, we cut off just one section out a card board cut out of her jerk Ex? Might be theraputic for her, help her get over the hump, and frankly be fun for the rest of us in a Vinbitchtive way?"

Kristin considers this. "That could work. Just make sure that it doesn't show his face, or we're set up for some sort of talking to if the wrong person sees it. Can also use that for target practice." A grin. "Darla's too good a striker to lose."

"On the downlow" Agreed and she actually finds herself smiling back

A nod, and Kristen moves on. "HEY! Those pads aren't going to put themselves away!"

The Cheer squad that was practicing over in their corner of the gym is finishing up as well.

She moves over, time to talk to Karen

"Three, two, one... goooo, Comets! And, break! Good practice, all." The cheer coach compliments, as they break up, drifting off in other directions. Karen is fetching her backpack after dabbing at her forehead with a towel. Apparently cheering is good exercise as well, she's also worked up a bit in the overly-warm gym.

"Shouldn't want to open a window in midwinter" Gwen observes, thouggh o be fair, she's actually a bit more sensitive to the cold than say thistle, which amuses them both

Karen glances up, and smiles a little. "Gotta make sure that you watch out, though. One of our girls went straight home after practice, overheated so she didn't wear her coat, and came down with a wicked cold."

"I hear that..." A nod "Weather's funky anyway. Say, Karen, you got a mo?"

"Yeah, sure. It's Gwen, right? Comettes Captain?" A hand is offered. The nails are neatly manicured in a way that Gwen's work wouldn't allow, but with traces of old, darker ink stains on the nail beds. "Didn't know you knew me, I'm just third base on the squad."

She shakes the hand in a firm grip but wih notthing to prove "Well, it's actually not about Cheerleading. It's about litthographs? Hope I'm saying that right?"

"Oh." Karen shakes back, but her enthusiasm dims a bit - if it was Thistle, Gwen would swear her cheeks would look wan and washed out. "I mean, sure. Did you need something for the team? Like, posters, or T-shirts, or something? I can probably manage at least that."

"Actually, it's about the art contest, and.. about justice." It sounds lame, what teenage ggirl talks like this, but it's heartfelt, "I want to stick it to a guy who crushes dreams when his job is to inspire them. "

That surprises her. "You don't mean, like, Blaine the Drain?"

A wary glance around to make sure no one is there to hear her bad-mouthing a teacher. Not that other kids matter, but another teacher might take offense. Looks like the coast is clear, though.

"My god thatt's such a fittting nick name" She says "Absolutely... in a time when jerkholes are bannning books, he was trashing other people's art..and I mean that in both senses of the word. Had ceramic pieces destroyed when he didn't like them , that kind of thing. He got to you too huh? You made the mistake of putting your own spin so he trashed it verbally or otherwise... drained the joy from it?"

"Lithographs are just, like, copies, they're not art - at least, according to him. Any monkey could do it."

"As if." She says, scoffing.

"I mean, so what if, like, I didn't create all of the original pieces? I made the composition, worked it together, and made, like, a whole 'nother NEW thing out of it. It's not fair for him to say my work doesn't count!"

"Fairness smarness, it's wrong.. look, I'm learning music, do you know how many different great songs have been made from the same four chords? Let's just say a lot...if someone like you have the vision to see the typical and make it new agai, make it say somethinng it didn't before, that's art. And.. that's why I need your help..." She keeps her voice low and explains the basics she was planninngg to do, then Kat's better ideas to improve it... and yes, Art's two cents "We put these words up on display. We show others his abuse, his de-inspiration.. to those he should have lifted up instead of tearing down. We make real art, the art he hates or sneers at, and use it to bring justice for you and every other student who he has shattered."

Her voice is actually stirring. She is a charrismatic girl, and she has seen her baron at his most inspirinng. She is an echo of that, but it's a good example to be ann echo of. Her position in leadership of mortals of lacrosse adds the lessons on how to make it stick, she hopes, witth her peers

Karen listens. There's a bit of a pout to her face, but maybe that's just her normal expression. A small frown at the end, though. "I can probably help with the compilation, but I don't have any work to display, though. I stopped working on new lithos he threw my last etching into his, like, bin of shame."

"Bin of shame?" She asks

A scowl mars her pretty face, despite the makeup. "Yeah. It's like, if you don't meet the purpose of an assignment? He makes like, a deal about it, and you have to watch him throws your stuff in this trash bin in front of the entire class and keeps it as an example."

"TOTAL douche move, like, am I right?"

"It is.... " She realizes "People need to know he does that too"

"And.. I'm sorry" She says "You shouldnn't have your effort shat on like that"

"-I- know that, god." A bit of that 'plastic' sass still remains.

"Yup" A nod "Okay. Just.. some folks he's worked over are like gaslit, act like it's their fault he's a soul destroying monster. I'll take any help I can get from you so if you want to try something new as part of itt, fine by me. I want Drain ttaken down, if it helps those he wronged shine, all the better"

"You just, like, see if you can get your others on line, right? I can't make a compilation without anything to work from. Unless you're raiding the trash." A petite snort. "And I have to get to the showers. Um, you like, might want to as well, you know?"

"I hear you, in lacross, she who raises the stick raises itt as a tribe. outside of the sport, she who sweats and raises her arm raises it alone" She makes a sniff sound and smiles "See you around and thanks" She moves to go clean up

It takes her a moment to get it, but then she grins. "Right. See you later, stick girl." A wave, and she heads off.

Gwen breaks out the Irish Spring liquid soup, hits the shower. She feels... like tthey have a chance

"I'm walkin' on sunshine... WHOAAA...." She hears a voice singing as another girl showers - unfortunately, not even the echoing shower effect makes this sound good!

Still, it's not enough to ruin her mood - one down, and just a few more to go!

(scene!)

Rochallor loves his family and he's working hard to make sure it takes, but he's got a job, feeding the horsies for Dame Lavender and the Baron. But boy golly, the chimerical snow comes down heavy lately, weirdly from the South and East.

He talks to Moondance "Joe says that there's no business like snow business... and business is good"

The mare nickers and noses at Rochallor. All of the horses are fond of him, and not just because he brings chews and treats.

"I better get you some blankies, it's an anxiety thing" He pets her muzzle , stroking even "More hey hey hey too"

Joker whinnies shrilly from his stall, impatient for treats!

"Blossom stop throwing your voice" He jokes

One of the stolid older Friesians stomps a hoof, snorting at the rude young colt.

It almost seems as though the horses talk to each other, doesn't it?

He feeds the Friesian some hay beFORE Joker

Chomp chomp, and a flick of her tail, shows him right!

But everyone gets extra hey and mayb a horse blanket "now stop your belly aching and eat your greens, Joker. Don't you know sluagh kids are starving in Earth Runes?"

He doesn't have to ask twice, horses have Horse sense after all, and they are eager to eat their greens AND their grains, knowing it keeps them warm and strong.

And then he looks up, at a sky of gray and white as the winter intensifies. He's traveled enough to realize this isn't natural. "I need to lodge a complaint with the mangerment"