Fourth floor common room, Saturday evening

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

Today had not been Rapunzel's best day at Fandom. People had been acting strange. Confusing. Even her roommate had said things that didn't make any sense!

And, well, that other thing had happened.

So she was huddled up on the couch, her knees tucked up under her chin and her hair coiled around her like it could protect her from the bad day and trying not to sniffle.

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[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

Still feeling good (if not exactly great anymore) after that coffee earlier, Dave actually danced a whole extra floor past his own. He really barely knew where he was by the time he got into the common room. "Hi!" he said, sounding fairly chipper. "How are you tonight?"

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

Rapunzel looked up in surprise as her reverie was interrupted, but upon seeing someone with such a friendly smile she did her best to muster one of her own. "F-fine," she said, her own smile appearing, but weakly.

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"You don't sound fine!" Dave said, inappropriately cheerfully. "What's wrong?"

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

"Nothing," Rapunzel said. Rather unconvincingly.

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"Come on. You can tell me," Dave said. "I'm a great listener!"

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

Well. He seemed very friendly! And that was reassuring.

"Well. Things just seem so... off today. Have you noticed that?"

[iwishiwasbig.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah," Dave said. "I started the day in serious coffee withdrawal and tried to sell my body for some coffee beans. Don't worry, nothing happened there. And the day turned out decent anyway!" All because of that heavenly black gold.

[awakestheghosts]

Two years here and Chloe was pretty sure she was never going to get used to the strangeness that happened sometimes in Fandom. Today was one of those days that everyone she knew had lost their damn mind and she was this close to calling Tori and asking her to arrange to come get her.

She was walking carefully past the fourth floor common room -- because she didn't want to attract the attention of anyone today -- when she happened to look in to see who was there.

"Hey," she asked softly when she saw the other girl. "Are you okay?"

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

Rapunzel blinked, looking up. "I'm fine." And wasn't that an obvious lie?

She just didn't want to be a bother!

[awakestheghosts]

Chloe shook her head and come further in. "You don't look like you're all right. Did someone upset you?"

She didn't think she had seen the other girl around, so she must be one of the new students. "I'm Chloe."

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

It took a soft swallow for Rapunzel to keep herself under control. "I'm Rapunzel. And... no one in particular. Just..." She sniffed. "Everything feels like it's gone wrong."

[awakestheghosts]

"Nice to meet you Rapunzel." Chloe nodded. "May I sit down?" She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Things have gone a bit... weird, that's true. But, I've seen it happen before and it will be over by Monday."

She hoped.

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

Rapunzel nodded, inviting Chloe to sit. "Happened before?" she asked in confusion, not understanding.

[awakestheghosts]

Chloe sat down. "Yeah. I've seen this weirdness that is going on this weekend my first year here. Fandom... is an interesting place."

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

"My, my, my," Elfabian said, sidling over Chloe. "Such concern for your fellow man. An admirable trait in someone who is so obviously blessed with good qualities."

[awakestheghosts]

Chloe blinked at the stranger.

"Uhm... t-thank you. I try."

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

"I can see that you do," Elfabian said, smiling like a starving man who had just found a packet of Hostess Twinkies. "Your hair is quite lovely. You must take so much time to make it look so perfect."

[awakestheghosts]

Oh yeah, she was confused. No one ever said things like to her.

"Thank you. I do my best to make sure it looks nice, but I don't know if I ever get it perfect."

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'd hardly be so hard on yourself," he said, smirking. He paused for a moment, and stepped a little to the side to see the teleprompter. "But where are my manners, I should introduce myself. I'm Elfabian, and I am very happy to meet you."

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

Elfabian had spent a good hour laughing about his revenge. After a long break to hydrate and suck on a few lozenges, he went out to infiltrate his way into the good graces of the town. He'd make friends, then burn them all.

He almost wanted to laugh just from the thought of it. But no, he must first do other things. The laughing would come later. Oh, it would come.

"Well, isn't this a lovely bunch of good, good Fandom students," he said on his way in. "Feeling particularly studious today? Why yes, I think you must be."

It was time to switch on the oooozing charm.

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

"Studious?" Rapunzel was just sitting there, trying to keep from breaking down with all the weirdness.

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

"It means spends much time studying, oddly enough," Elfabian said, walking over. "A fine activity for students to undertake, don't you think? After all, there is so much to learn. So much to find out. So many secrets to dig up."

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I know what it means," Rapunzel said quickly, not wanting to seem helpless. "And it is good," she agreed. "But... what secrets?"

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

"Oh, if I knew what secrets there were to dig up, they'd hardly be secrets," Elfabian said with a sly smile. "But we all have them, don't we? Skeletons in the closet, as they say. But I'm sure a lovely girl like you has nothing to hide at all."

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

"O-of course not," Rapunzel squeaked.

It wasn't like she had magic hair that glowed when she sang.