fandomhighdorms | The trebuchet on the campgrounds, Friday afternoon

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The trebuchet on the campgrounds, Friday afternoon

Claudia was feeling weirdly restless after class, today. Pacing back and forth in her cabin restless. All she had lying around were, like, chemicals and books. She was so not in the mood to read anything, and you know, when you got down to it, those chemicals just kinda took up space and smelled funky. They were probably an affront to the island gods. She gathered it all up, books, jars of minerals, even her bunsen burner, lugged them outside, and dropped them in the trash, then went to burn off some excess energy.

Which would be why she was out dismantling the trebuchet.

With a sledge hammer.

[ooc: oh but she's gonna hate me for this in the morning. Open.]

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Peter hurried up, concerned. "What are you doing?" he said quickly. He held up a hand. "This is a ton of work you're destroying. And while it looks fun, I'm more concerned about how you're going to feel about this in the morning."

Claudia snorted. "Relieved? That I got rid of this giant waste of time?" She raised the sledgehammer for another blow, having so far mostly just managed to knock off the various shiny bits she and Scully had put on it, rather than damage it's structural integrity.

"I'm sorry, but the needs of science outweigh your own petty desires," Peter said. "So either you're going to stop, or I'm going to make you stop."

Oh, Peter was going to haaaaate himself.

"Science is nothing more than desperate flailing against the fist of an angry god." Yeah, Peter wasn't going to be alone in that. Claudia hefted the sledgehammer over one of the wheels. "You'll never stop me."

"The wheel of science will not be stopped by the chains of commonplace morality and ignorance," Peter said, trying foolishly to wrest the sledgehammer from her grasp. "You're a disgrace to the scientific community, Judas."

"You're a disgrace to mankind." Claudia yanked back on the sledgehammer. "Science has done nothing but take from me. Now it's time to return the favor!"

"Mankind is the fruit of our own works," Peter said. "Are we to let some invisible man in the sky drag us down into the dirt because we are unwilling to take the steps needed to achieve greatness?"

He didn't keep his grip on the hammer and stepped back. "You may smash our efforts, but the ideas will always be more powerful."

"What good is your 'greatness' when it's achieved on the backs of miserable people?" Claudia swung the hammer at one of the supports. It . . . barely made a dent. Look, she was scrawny, okay? She finally tossed the sledgehammer aside, huffing in frustration. "Maybe I can set it on fire."

"Oh yes, burning things," Peter said. "That is, of course, the sane and reasoned approach. Don't like it, set it on fire. Works for books, witches, and heretics all."

"Right. 'Cause burning a weapon is exactly the same as burning books and people." Claudia rolled her eyes. "Shouldn't you be hunched over a melted rat somewhere or something?"

Low, Claudia. Of course, on the other hand, she hadn't called him "Judas".

"Beats sacrificing lambs for forgiveness," Peter said. "At least science gets real results!"

"Do you see me sacrificing anything? Other than the giant waste of space." Claudia kicked the trebuchet.

Okay, now her foot hurt.

"I'm expecting it's the next step," Peter said. "You've started a dark path of ignorance, Claudia. It's a real shame as you're giving up the chance to do something that matters."

"Oh gee, I've given up on smug bastards like you. I'm so ashamed." She wanted to kick the trebuchet again, but giving up on science didn't mean she was a complete idiot. So she turned to shove Peter instead.

Peter wasn't expecting that. So much so that he actually toppled backwards. "You can't keep up an argument so you start punching," he exaggerated. "Yes, you're the one with the rational viewpoint."

Claudia loomed over him. She didn't get to do that much, looming over people, and she found she rather liked it. "You know, you're right. In fact, we could do an experiment right now. Like what happens if I decide to use that sledgehammer on something other than the trebuchet."

Yeah, she would be doing some groveling, tomorrow.

"I'm out of here," Peter said, crawling back and trying to get to his feet. "You're mental. Completely and utterly."

"Right. And you're perfectly sane." Claudia turned her back on him, reaching for the sledgehammer to continue bashing at the trebuchet. "Run away, then. Something'll catch up to you, eventually."

"And I'm sure ignorance is bliss," Peter said, scuttering off.

He had things to do. Like make a father's day card for his dad.

Scully was wandering after class, not feeling like reading, studying, analyzing, or finding out anything new. She frowned at Claudia's progress and said, "Hey. Destruction?"

"Destruction," Claudia agreed. "You here to help, or to criticize?"

"Gimme a hammer."

Scully was so going to be beating her head into a wall later on.

"Only got the one. But maybe we can find a nice heavy tree branch?"

Scully scowled. The grinned maniacally. "Slam the hammer, 'til I have a piece to slam the trebuchet with." She started ripping off glittery stuff with her nails. "This is a good place to start. I can't believe we put this shiny crap all over it."

Claudia grinned back. "I can't believe we put this thing together in the first place. What were we gonna do with it, attack city hall?"

Scully snorted. "A great idea, but with this? Nooooo!" More shiny bit flew into the air as she tore off reflector bands and sparkly tape. "Plus they would've laughed themselves sick."

"The island would've found some way to punish us."

"Enh." Scully flipped off the Island. "Let it try. Hey. We should go to Caritas tonight. We're way overdue for getting 'faced!"

Claudia nodded thoughtfully. "Think we can convince guys to let us get drunk for free?"

Scully applied her intellect to the problem.

"Sure, if we flash them!"

"I'm going to need some lower-cut shirts."

"Shopping spree!" Scully squeed.

So. Much. Faceapalming. Later.

Claudia laughed and attacked the trebuchet with renewed vigor.

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The trebuchet on the campgrounds, Friday afternoon

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