On your way to school you overhear two students behind you talking. Stylish Girl "I hope you don't mind I'm whispering, I'm on vocal rest." Cheery Boy "What for? Don't want to be called on in class this morning?" Stylish Girl "No, dummy! It's the final day for sign ups for the drama club. I want to inspire people to join when they hear me sing, so I have to give my voice some rest right now." Cheery Boy "Oh yeah, duh. Band's also got final sign ups today... But I figure anyone who wants to join already has. We don't have anything planned." Stylish Girl "You have to be able to play an instrument to join band. We just let anyone join... So I'm also hoping that when they hear me sing, people know we have a standard to uphold." Cheery Boy "Sorry, what was that?" Stylish Girl "WE HAVE A STANDARD-- oh you! You did that on purpose!" The boy laughs while the girl takes a sip from a fancy looking thermal flask as they walk past you. After a few minutes, Julian catches up to you. Julian "Hey, sleep ok with the bird in your room?" He doesn't give you time to answer. "Ezra's still stable. Still sleeps like he's in a coma. But I can't help and be worried he's gonna bite my hand every time I check he's still breathing. I know that sounds stupid, but he's possessed, right? And those spirits we saw seemed pretty aggro..." You mention Julian doesn't appear to be carrying a pool cue on him. Julian "Oh yeah, there was no way I'd get that into school with me, and dad would kill me if I got it confiscated. So I gotta go back home before we can go back in there to go grab it. If all else fails maybe Solomon can lend me one of those knives he's got. Though they're really tiny... Honestly I think I'd rather have the pool cue." Morning Afternoon Your day so far is uneventful. Classes pass quickly and you realise you're not soaking up much of what the teachers are saying, your mind is focusing on returning to the other world. During lunch your attention is briefly pulled away however. As you and Julian make your way to the cantine, you pass a open classroom from which you can hear loud singing. Julian "Last chance to join the drama club if you want. In case the wailing didn't make that clear. I think band also has their final sign ups today, but they're less obnoxious about it. Don't forget to submit your sheet today if you want to subject yourself to that, I guess." [This is where you get the choice to join either the Drama Club or Band, which opens the social link to The Lovers Arcana.] After School You make your way outside. At the gate you spot Robin; she's waiting for you. She looks forlorn, standing just off to the side as students pass her by on their way home. It's almost as if she's trying to avoid looking at anyone; perhaps to give you a chance to quietly pass her by just in case. But you don't, because you want to hear her out. Julian made a big deal about her trying to get you killed, but you simply can't believe that. So if Robin says she can explain herself, you want to listen. So you step up to her and greet her. When she looks up to meet your eyes you can practically see the wave of relief washing over her. Robin "Yon! I'm so glad to see you. Um, shall we start walking?" Instead of walking straight home to Main Street, you take a detour towards the train station. Normally this path would take you past the old factory, but Robin takes care to take a different route. Robin "So first off, I want you to know that when we first met, I didn't try to get you to join the club because I was planning to use you as bait or something. I really do care about the occult club, and I want to keep it alive, and I was asking anyone to join. It's how I ended up asking Julian, actually..." She looks away for a moment. Her expression is a mix of guilt and resentment. You can tell she can't help but dislike Julian, regardless of what happened before. Robin "Leander was very insistent on setting up wards, to protect everyone. And we did our best, especially when we found out there really might be a portal, but it's a little difficult figuring out what will work if you're not certain what you're dealing with. So it wasn't fool proof when we set out a few days ago. Which is why it went wrong... questions "You were insistent that me and Julian join you that day. You sent us the same message." "Did you really expect a portal might appear?" "Did you think maybe you could've gotten hurt instead, or Leander?"