[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

However, despite the obvious difference, and the fact that the date clearly shows 1672, there's something about him that sets a bad cord with Y/N.

Mostly... the fact that this boy carries his face.

This distracts him long enough for a hooded figure to sneak up and gag him. 

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

Finding what she needs, she stuffs the book into her bag and heads out.... only to suddenly have a bag forced onto her head.

Luckily, Wednesday's not scared of the dark.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

__________________________________

Where We Left Off....

Let's assess, shall we? Bag over Wednesday's had for optimal disorientation that is swiftly removed after she is put into a chair, wrists tied tight enough to cut off circulation. Her eyes that had just gotten used to darkness are now blinded by the light of a projector playing some random video associated with birds, according to the shadows behind her and the caws she hears from the machine. 

Wednesday glances sideways to see another person tied up to a chair right next to her. The hooded figure then wraps his bag off too, revealing Y/N L/N's face underneath. When did he get in here? They then removed his gag, allowing him to spit on the ground. As she looks around, finding them surrounded by half a dozen hooded figures with masquerade masks to hide half of facial features, she wonders if this scenario brings a high possibility of death. This is definitely her kind of party.

"One of our guests has broken our rules and has brought someone with him." 

That is, until she hears the horrible attempt a deep, modulated voice.

"Rules?" Y/N questions as he blinks, realizing that he's actually tied up to the chair. "This dream feels more lucid than the others..."

"That's because it's not a dream." Wednesday informs him without even glancing in his general direction. Y/N blinks as he looks around, a little bit more confused than she is.

"Who is this other specimen that has breached our inner sa-"

"You can take the mask off, Bianca." Wednesday lets her know, cutting her off mid-sentence. This prompts a frustrated Siren to then bring down her hood and confirm the face of Barclay, soon followed by Kent, Divina, Ajax, Yoko, Xavier, and two other people that neither of the captives recognize. And just like that, her hopes were dashed against the rocks of bitter disappointment. "Wait, I preferred you with it on." She takes back her cool play, to which Bianca gives her a sassy look in response.

"Xavier?" Y/N reacts bewildered as he sees more than a few familiar faces reveal themselves as the ones responsible for this weird predicament that he recalls should be very close to a crime. "So, um..... I'm out of the loop here. What is this? One of Piers Anthony's Rape Trials?" 

"That's the first thing that pops to mind?" Divina questions him with a weird look, to which Y/N shrugs. Ironically, Wednesday would've preferred to be kidnapped for that than having been caught-off by a bunch of high-school clowns.

"So, is that a yes?"

"No!" Xavier quickly denies with a disgusted shake of his head, sighing as he sees that they are quickly starting to get off track. "Okay, Y/N was invited, but how did you get down here?" He asks Wednesday, causing all eyes to fall on her.

"This is your idea of an invitation?" Y/N questions before shifting uncomfortable in his char. "Please don't tell me what happens when you 'abduct' someone....."

"Rowan showed me the way here." Wednesday answers, before glancing down at the first clue that led her down this trail. "Left pocket." She invites, and Xavier glances at the others before walking over and pulling out the drawing that the non-victim left behind after getting not-mauled by a monster that 'doesn't' exist. "I tracked the watermark from the page down to the Poe statue. Then I solved the riddle."

"Wait, there's a riddle?" Kent chimes in, looking awfully confused at that statement. "I thought we just snapped twice." He says, causing everyone else to groan at his failure to understand even the basic means of exposition. 

"Wow, that blow to the head did a lot more damage than I thought." Y/N remarks with a slightly surprised look at the words that came out of his mouth. "Or did you hit the bottom of the ocean when you were born?"

"Why you-"

"Relax." Xavier quickly holds him back before Kent can do something drastic.

"Seriously, though, what is up this whole thing?" Y/N questions them as he looks around, still not actually getting any context as to why they were tied up and why they are all dressed like a massive cliche. "You guys running some kind of cult down here?"

"The Nightshades are an elite social club." Bianca explains, quick to correct Y/N's term of their group. "Emphasis on 'elite'." She adds with a degrading look, to which the boy rolls his eyes. 

"We have roof parties, campouts, the occasional midnight skinny dip." Yoko adds with a suggestive smirk.

"And Yoko's an amateur mixologist." Divina casually mentions.

"She makes a killer virgin mojito." Ajax shares with the two of them, grinning slightly. "It can get pretty wild."

"Wow, do you guys even have a bedtime?" Wednesday sarcastically asks, beating Y/N by one second to which he shuts his mouth with a mental groan. "Last I heard, the Nightshades had been disbanded."

"Yeah, the group kinda lost its charter thirty years ago after some Normie kid died." Xavier explains, a timeframe that Wednesday recalls is the exact same as the date for her father's murder case. She wonders if the two have a connection. 

"But we have a lot of wealthy alumni, so Weems looks the other way as long as nobody makes any waves." Yoko states, which somewhat explains why something like this exists despite the risky reputation it brings.

"Define 'waves'." Y/N requests with an inquisitive look, if kidnapping is assumed normal for them.

"Mostly as it sounds." Kent answers with a small shrug. "Bringing it into Jericho, trying to actually follow the old rules, or using the name as justification for some stupid thing or another."

"Someone like Rowan?" Wednesday queries, having learned that he somewhat had money to his name in the past, and the final part aligning perfectly with the incident in the woods.

"We booted that loser last semester." Bianaca shares, her and some of the other members looking weirded out at the mention of him. Sounds like he wasn't always an 'Outcast in a school of Outcasts'. "Question is, what are we gonna do with them? Only members are allowed in this library." She then brings up, bringing all judging eyes on the two roped up individuals. 

Xavier glances at them with a conflicted expression, eventually deciding to act on his instincts. "I say we do the same thing we came to do with Y/N and invite her to pledge." He suggests, creating a mixed reaction from everyone else. "Come on, we saw the kind of things Y/N can do, and Wednesday has a legacy."

"Nuh-uh, there's no way in hell! That was your idea, Thorpe, not ours!" Bianca is quick to protest, making both Wednesday and Y/N assume that it has something to do with the things they pulled in the Poe Cup. "We would be painting all of us in a bad light if we brought in the Woods-Creep. And Wednesday? We talk about not making waves? She's a tsunami!" 

"What? Because you couldn't handle being lifted up a chain and set on fire?" Wednesday calls her out, to the sight surprise of Y/N. Bianca gives her a sour look in response. "Let me save you the trouble for myself, I'm not interested in joining."

"You're seriously turning us down?" Yoko asks as if having never predicted that ever in their world. 

"I'll pass too." Y/N chimes in, doubling the spoon of salt to their wounded ego. "Clearly, only a few crimes are allowed in this 'elite' club of yours. Sure, I made it clear and even proved that I did nothing of what everyone keeps accusing me of doing and makes fun of me for. But hey, abducting someone against their will and possibly hazing them for an initiation is a-okay, right?" He sarcastically rants, giving them a very twisted smirk. Interestingly enough, nobody has anything to say to that. 

However, there's still the matter of the two non-potentials themselves. "Untie them." Bianca orders, wanting to get this over with.

"I freed us five minutes ago." Wednesday reveals as she holds up her free hand with cut-open rope dangling from it. Y/N blinks before lifting up his hands and finding them to have been freed as well.

"How did....?" He questions out-loud, bewildered. He never even felt his retrains being messed with that entire time. 

"Placebo effect." Wednesday answers as she stands and pulls Y/N up while he's feeling his wrists and the blood being pumped back through them. They both hand the ropes to Xavier as he gives Wednesday her drawing back before walking back towards the stairs, only for Kent to abruptly stand in their way purposefully. 

"Seriously?" Y/N questions with a raised brow before lunging at him, causing the Siren to do more than flinch, but jump back and hit his back against a pillar. He scoffs as the two of them then casually walk up the stairs like this was a normal day of the week. Though as Y/N leaves, Wednesday glances back at all of them with a slightly angry face.

"It's amateurs like you who give kidnapping a bad name."

__________________________________________

Nevermore: Quad

A couple days later, it's time for another annual event. However, judging by what he's heard of it, Y/N can bet that he's going to like any minute of it, unless it brings home some kind of miracle like the love of his life suddenly dropping from the sky, into his arms, completely naked. Oh, what? That's not going to happen? Then don't expect good mood Y/N today, expect the usual mood.

Sarcastic loner.

"All students will report for their volunteer jobs at ten AM sharp, followed by a community lunch at one AM." Weems continues whatever speech she was given to all of the students that have bunched up together at the Quad. "As you know, this year, Outreach Day culminates in a very special event. The dedication of a new memorial statue in the town square, which will also include performances by Nevermore students!" She mentions. 

There are some cheers and giggling in the crowd, but a small few in the crowd stay silent, like Wednesday, Y/N, and Xavier. "Yeah, and the crowd falling asleep..." Xavier mutters pessimistically to Y/N, who shrugs in response.

"As representatives of our school, I trust you will all put your best face forward." Weems concludes with that usual plastic smile, though Y/N visibly cringes in reaction to that. 

"That's in poor tastes..."

"What?" Xavier asks, squinting at him confused. Y/N answers by pointing sideways at the faceless voidskins, who give Slender a run for his money. "Oh..."

The teachers all begin handing letters over to everyone at random, which all hold one of the town's most famous locations. In other words, they've been chosen to indulge as child labor in order to win the Normie king's favor. Yeah, like that'll solve everything.

 "Yes! I got pilgrim world!" Enid exclaims as she jogs over to Wednesday, feeling lucky this year. "I do have natural people skills and a love of performing, so kind of the obvi choice. What'd you get?" She boats before asking her, prompting the less ecstatic girl to open her letter and see the name of a place she hasn't gone to before.

"Uriah's Heap, whatever that is." Wednesday answers in a monotone voice, to which Enid winces at the mention of it.

"It's this weird, creepy, antique store. You'll love it, though." Enid somewhat explains. Wednesday raises a brow at her assuming that she likes all thinks 'weird' and 'creepy', thinking that she was doing a good job at keeping that to herself. "I'm crossing my claws Ajax and I will be outreaching together."

She and Ajax share eye contact, both grinning. Over on his side, Xavier groans the second he reads his card. "Oh gosh, I got the Weathervane." He complains, mostly because of a certain guy that works there. He turns to Y/N. "yo, trade with me, please."

"Sorry pal, I got it too." Y/N regretfully informs him as he shows him what's on his card, having the same reaction he does, even stronger. Xavier then turns to Ajax who holds up a hand in refusal. 

"No way, man. I got Uriah's Heap." Ajax tells him with a slightly excited face, loud enough that Wednesday is able to catch in through her ear drums. "Sounds like Enid got it too, and it has that alleyway for breaks before lunch."

"I thought you didn't like Sinclair like that?" Y/N questions with a squint, causing Ajax's face to slowly turn from happiness to red.

"And you do know that they check you for drugs at the bus, right?" Xavier also mentions, causing Ajax to just give up with a response and sigh as he pockets his card.

"You two don't let me have anything, man..."

"Y/N." Weems voice then chimes in, and the three boys turn to see the principal approaching the Outcasts of Outcasts directly. "I'd like to inform you that you don't need to worry about your guitar. I'll have it brought to the town square this afternoon." 

Y/N blinks. "My guitar?"

"I caught you and Wednesday's combined serenade the other night." Weems explains with an admiring look. "Very impressive, you both worked well together. I volunteered the two of you to accompany the Jericho High School Marching Band at the ceremony." She lets him know, causing Y/N to slowly go wide-eyed, he glances over at Wednesday who stares back at him, definitely having just been hit with the same news before him. "I'm sure it won't be challenging to play an uplifting Fleetwood Mac melody alongside the instruments of the band?" 

"No, it's not a problem at all." Y/N 'assures' her with a overly-wide, teeth showing smile. Weems smirks satisfied as she walks away, allowing him to drop it as he turns back to the boys. "I'd rather hang myself by the balls..."

"So to summarize, Tyler Galpin, Karens, and marching band?" Xavier lists off with a massive sigh. "I share almost all of those with you, and yet I still do not want to be in your shoes right now." 

"Wow, you guys must've used up all that luck at the Poe Cup earlier." Ajax comments with a small giggle. 

"Thanks for your undying support, 'bro'." Y/N sarcastically replies as he rubs his face with a massive and loud exhale, before glancing between the two Nightshades. "So, is it too late for that-?"

"Stop."

_______________________________________

Jericho: 

The bus lands and everyone hops out, the town square being where everyone needs to go first before they start doing the 'volunteering' part of this little show-dance. Everyone in town is decorating the place like Outreach is some kind of special holiday. As Y/N steps out of the bus, he begins walking over to the square until he stops and looks over at a mannequin wearing an awfully rich looking jacket. Oddly enough, it's design liked the same one Will was wearing back in the woods.

Y/N crosses his arms, glaring at it through the display window. He can just hear it making fun of him with its faceless expression, showing just how wonderful the guy's life must be now that he's here and he's still in that school that probably doesn't know any better about their prize student. 

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

"Trouble found you, smug boy!"

"I told you what would happen, didn't I?"

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

"Why are you staring at a mannequin?" A monotone girl asks her, snapping Y/N out of his flashbacks. He glances over and sees Wednesday, apparently finding interest in his weird choice of eye-screws. 

"Reminds me of someone." Y/N cryptically answers as he keeps glaring, not giving her the satisfaction of knowing who. She would probably use it for some unnecessary part in her investigation or whatever it is she's doing around the school, looking like a girl on a mission.

"Why didn't you do it?" Wednesday then randomly asks next, causing Y/N blinks and raises a brow at her. "You've been called so many names your entire semester, and the one chance to finally be a part of the cool kids, you throw it away to still be labeled a Woods-Creep, why?" She specifies, looking like she really wants to know.

"Because there's nothing 'cool' about a wanna-be sorority." Y/N answers dismissively, not wanting to talk about that embarrassing and weird situation they were in. Wednesday hums, funny, that sounds like something she would say. "I want friends, not rich kids who spend their youth, throwing orgies." He states before glancing at her. "You know, you should try making some. They would make you more human."

"I like being voidless, it makes me neutral and invisible, helps when I need to hide my poisons." Wednesday answers pridefully, to which Y/N shrugs with a sigh, knowing that she wasn't going to listen to his advice anyway. "Besides, I have more pressing issues on my mind."

"Oh yeah? like what?" 

"Tracking down the monster that killed Xavier's former roommate." Wednesday easily answers to which Y/N slighting chuckles at the way she says it out loud, point blank. 

"Right, I almost forgot you're playing Nancy Drew for a second." He says with a slow nod as he turns to face Wednesday directly. "Why do you care about it so much, anyway? I never pegged you as the type to be so butthurt that something embarrassed you in front of the entire school by simply debunking your original claim."

"Don't pretend to act like you know me." Wednesday criticizes as she looks up at him with a small glare. "Others have tried it and ended up being extremely disappointed."

"You're right, I don't know you. But I can say for certain that I've been figuring you out." Y/N replies as he stares challenging in Wednesday's eyes, meeting her abrasive nature with knowledge. "Does that scare you?" He queries as he takes a step closer towards her, to which the girl stays still, acting like she doesn't care.

"Nothing scares me." Wednesday claims, to which Y/N hums with an amused smirk.

"Now I know you're lying." Y/N points out as she uses Wednesday's own words against her. She blinks but rolls her eyes as she begins continuing on towards the square, with the non-psychic deciding to walk with her. "What were you doing in that library thing, anyway? Didn't seem like it had any connection to what happened in the woods, the part where we found his glasses."

"I was looking for this." Wednesday answers, stopping to reach for something in her backpack, prompting Y/N to stop as well. Given how little people take him seriously, she deduces him to be safe enough to share information with. She pulls out the Nightshade book, which causes the guy who has no clue about its important to squint at it.

"What is that?" 

"A Nightshades journal. Rowan's mother owned this one." Wednesday tells him as she opens it up and scrolls through the pages until she finds the one that owns the sketched drawing. Y/N takes it and observes it with a blank face, a reaction that intrigues the girl. "You don't look so surprised upon seeing a sketch of me.

"Yeah, because Rowan already showed this to me, a couple days before the Harvest Festival." Y/N informs her as he casually hands the journal back to her. This definitely gets Wednesday's attention, glad that she chose to test him for what he knows about the case. "He said it was the reason he and Xavier had to separate. Apparently, Xavier found it in his room at one point that assumed he just stole it off of someone. I don't know, I guess Xavier's parents were also Nightshades or something." He explains with a shrug, causing Wednesday to go back and remember her vision about Xavier and Rowan fighting about something which ended with a telekinetic throw into the wall. "Anyway, he kept going on about this.... vision his mother had where a great evil would be unleashed and-"

"And how you were 'chosen one' to defeat it." Wednesday abruptly finishes his sentence for him, causing Y/N to stop talking and blink at her, perplexed. He never actually believed any of what Rowan was saying, but now hearing someone else say the same things makes him feel weird.

"Yeah...." Y/N confirms, looking Wednesday up and down with a pointed look. "How did you know that?"

"Lucky guess." Wednesday quickly lies to save her secret weapon, causing Y/N to rapidly blink at her some more, obviously skeptical. However, she doesn't look like she'll say anymore, her eyes glued to the sketch. 

"Right....." Y/N slowly nods, leaving it be for now. "But, um, yeah, he also mentioned you, even though according to his story, you wouldn't even have been in diapers yet by the time this was written." He mentions as he taps on the drawing. "Also, Crackstone would be older than Joe Biden in here." He adds, the name causing Wednesday to look up at him curiously.

"Crackstone?"

"Yeah, Joseph Crackstone, like Crackstone's Crypt?" Y/N answers, reminding her about how far of an influence the man had. Even he eventually got to know his story during the first half of his semester. "He's Jericho's founder father that Pilgrim's World is based on. The whole day's about him and his unity of Outcasts and Normies." He mentions as he points to a advertisement of Pilgrim world that a few social workers are putting up from a lamp post. "Though, between you and me, his origin story seems a little off."

"Really?" Wednesday replies as she looks over and stares into the face of the man that is supposedly responsible for this tense battleground called a society. "Off how?"

"It's just, the way it's told, sounds like something a fanfic writer would've written." Y/N answers before giving off a small shrug, knowing that's probably just his opinion. "Oh, hey, I know you don't like my advice, but take this one into consideration." He then re-grabs Wednesday's attention. "If you have Pilgrim's World, don't speak in German, it creeps everyone out."

"Why would you assume I know that particular language and use it with such malicious intent?" Wednesday queries with a blank innocent look, but Y/N knows better, and shows it with his eyes. As he walks away, a small hint of a smirk creeps on her face. 

Guess he is figuring her out.

_______________________________________

Jericho: Town Square

Sheriff Galpin idly paces around the square until he finds himself staring out into the clock of the massive church, like it's staring down at him trying to tell him something. His mind keeps going off to the sudden lack of clues that's been left behind ever since the Rowan incident, and the lack of murders since the hiker they found in the woods. But he knows that the attacks couldn't have just stopped, not yet. 

"Sheriff." A man's voice breaks him out of his mental trance, prompting him to turn around and see his technical boss, Mayor Walker, walking up to him with a familiar boy in a pilgrim outfit walking with him. "You remember my son, Lucas?"

"I sure do." Galpin response as she looks at Lucas Walker with a big smile. "I remember finding him and his boys being tangled up throughout multiple places at the Harvest Festival." He mentions playfully, not needing to call him out on the property damage, chasing, and what happened at the Weathervane. The mayor blinks as Lucas now stands there, embarrassed. 

"I'd better get to work." Lucas says as he quickly exits himself out of the conversation, getting the subtle message that the Sheriff just gave him.

"Hey, no trouble today, got it?" Mr. Walker instructs his son, who nods obediently, not wanting to deal with anymore consequences for now. The second he's out of sight, the Sheriff sees the crowd of Outcasts roaming into the square and audibly groans which doesn't go unnoticed by the mayor. "Hey, don't look too excited, those Outcast kids might think we're happy to have 'em."

"We've still got something lurking in the woods, no doubt connected to that school." Galpin states at he nods towards the lot of them, expressing the cause for his constant concerns every day and night. Then they just walk in and start 'helping' like they're part of the community, it doesn't sit right with him.

"Come on, will you stop pointing fingers at Nevermore?" Walker asks with a look, not having the same opinion as him. And even if he did, it wouldn't paint a good picture on them if they just blatantly accused non-Normies as the supernatural killer. "You know how much Jericho depends on that place? Who do you think pays for our roads, our parks, even your salary?" 

"I'm just doing my job, looking out for the well-being of our town, boss." Galpin sarcastically informs him with a shrug, prompting Noble to mentally roll his eyes.

"Look, don't lecture me, Donovan." Walker orders as he turns to face him with a very serious look. "Now, before the good citizens of Jericho elected me Mayor, I used to wear that badge, remember?" He brings up, to which Galpin hums, not needing a reminder.

"You never struck me as much of a history buff back then."

"Yeah, well, if it's good for business, then it's good for Jericho."

"Especially if your business is Pilgrim World." Galpin references, knowing the real dark history about the events that place is inspired by. Even he knows a place like that shouldn't actually exist. It's complimenting the witch trials.

"Hey." Walker almost snaps, giving him a glare. "Just find the damn bear and take care of it." He orders him seriously, forcing to Galpin to just groan and shake his head as he finds his seat. He too, has to be a part of this silly event. 

"Yes, all right. Everyone take a seat, we have a special announcement!" Noble hears the voice of Weems bringing all of the Outcast students into their suits, prompting him to quickly fix his trench coat and mentally ready himself. Once he knows he's good, he turns to the audience with a big white grin on his face, something he's practiced since the days he earned himself the office.

"Welcome! Welcome, Nevermore Academy!" Noble 'excitedly' greets everyone, arms stretched wide. Y/N and Wednesday have also caught up with the gang, leaning/standing next to the bleachers as they listen in on his grand gesture. "Now, on behalf of the entire Jericho community, we are so, so pleased to have you all here today."

"Translation, thank you for your free slave labor so we don't have to repay you for keeping our miserable little town afloat." Y/N whispers to Wednesday venomously, shaking his head as he listens to him talk. The girl doesn't visibly react to this, but something tells her that they finally agree on something.

"Your generosity and hard work are truly..... Outreach-ers!" Walker concludes his speech with a pun, laughing like he didn't have that joke written in his back pocket ahead of time. He clears his throat at the lack of response while Weems quickly takes the stage that's not really a stage.

"Okay, everyone!" Weems snaps her fingers as she talks, making sure everyone's still paying attention since this isn't going to be some long speech about unity and such. "We'll see you back here at one o'clock for lunch, enjoy!" She includes with an 'excited grin' that could make the calmest being in the area cringe. 

"Welp, good luck. We'll both need it." Y/N mutters to Wednesday as everyone stands up and starts heading to their desperate locations. Wednesday glances down and notes that if she's going to find anymore clues surrounding her investigation, then she's going to need to head to the place that is dedicated to Joseph Crackstone.  

"Enid." Wednesday calls out to her roommate, causing her to turn around to see her urgently approaching. She brings up her card and presses it against her chest. "Switch volunteer assignments?"

"What? No." Enid cringes, wincingly extremely once again at the proposition. "Uriah's Heap is definitely not my bag."

"It's an emergency. I need to check out Pilgrim World."

"But Wednesday, this is not a fair trade." Enid states as she steps away from the card like it's made out of what Uriah's Heap has to offer. "Why would I agree to spend then entire day at some dump emporium of crapola?"

"Because Ajax is going to be volunteering there." Wednesday easily answers, the mention of what he had earlier got her attention, and she sent her real best friend to check it out. "Thing sneaked a peak at his assignment, but if you're not interested-" 

"NO!" Enid practically screams as she steals the card out of Wedensday's palm, squealing as she squeezes it, giddy. "Oh my gosh! Thank you! You're the best!" She exclaims as changes direction and takes off, jumping through the doors that are literally right beside them. Satisfied inside, Wednesday then heads to Pilgrim World.

That was predictably easy....

________________________________________

Nevermore: Weathervane

Y/N and Xavier and a couple others who have gotten this assignment walk into the Weathervane together, looking around before they all awkwardly watch Tyler Galpin and some other adult wearing the same colors the other employees wear plus a little extra to signal he's important around here, discuss something with one another. Given by the body language, it looks like the younger guy is getting lectured about the day that is coming.

Eventually, the older man notices them and their Nevermore uniforms. "Ah, speak of the, uh..... volunteers." The man who Y/N can see is the manager or boss of the place remarks as he walks over to them, though notably sounding like he quickly had to change his phrasing for a few seconds there. As he approaches, he also notices a pin with an odd-looking symbol on his chest. "My name's Mr. Craven, I own the Weathervane. However, I will be gone for a couple hours, so Tyler Galpin here will be in charge of you until I return. You will all be expected to help him when he asks, and to memorize every order that's been given to you. So, be advised, you will not be getting any special treatment just because of your 'help'." He tells all of them in a blunt but quick manner, before walking past all of them and out the door.

Once the bell rings and he is gone, he Outcasts turn to Tyler, who swallows as he looks like an employee who clearly had all of this suddenly dumped on him a few minutes before they all arrived. "Okay, so uh.... aprons are in there..." He points to a room next to the emergency exit. "And.... I'll let you know what needs to be done when you come back, I guess." 

Everyone shares a look as the four all start heading inside, during which, Y/N notices a strange symbol on that expresso machine from earlier. You know, the one that was steaming up earlier? It's the same symbol that Mr. Craven had on his jacket. A skull with a witch's hat and a monocle  on its right eye. "What's wrong with you?" Tyler abruptly asks him, breaking the guy out of his staring context with it.

"Nothing...." Y/N quickly denies with a shake of his head, though when Tyler gives him a look, his curiosity gets the better of him. "What's up with that symbol on the machine? It's not on any of the Weathervane signs." He eventually asks, causing the Galpin kid to look down and notice it as well.

"Oh, it's the symbol for the Cravens. They were the most popular families here next to the Gates until most of them suddenly disappeared a few years ago. Our manager is the only one that's still around." Tyler casually explains with a shrug, not seeing any big deal with it. Y/N slowly nods, humming as he finds that interesting for some odd reason. "Why? You trying to find a new family for yourself?"

Y/N gives him a blank look in response to that comment, not surprised that he knows of his family history. "Yeah, one that's actually around." He counters with a cheeky look before heading into the employee's room, leaving Tyler go clench a towel as he gets back to work. 

Yup, the two of them are gonna get along just fine.

__________________________________________________

Nevermore: Pilgrim's World

Most of the Nevermore student body has Pilgrim World, due to it's extreme importance in the economy and identity of Jericho, as Wednesday can likely guess. It's something that attracts tourists, so there's no debate as to which place is the most rated when it comes to this town in particular. The Outcasts all just pretty much hang out while they wait for whatever leader/manager is supposed to manage them. 

Wednesday looks around until she catches Eugene taking photos for the Sirens posing with the pilgrim stand-ins with Joseph Crackstone in the center, not allowed to have anyone take his place and pretend to be him. That is.... an interesting choice. "Hey, Wednesday!" Eugene calls her over upon seeing her. "Wanna grab a Hummers group photo?" He asks, only to get a silent stare from the girl in response. "Guess not."

"Good marrow! My young Nevermore kin." A woman loudly greets everyone, which is to say that she's here for the volunteers in particular. Everyone turns and walks over to her, giving her their attention. "I am Mistress Arlene, a real. O.C." She introduces herself, causing students to either cringe or giggle in response. "Original Colonist." Arlene explains the initials, causing them all to then be silent. "Now prithe, put your cell phones on vibrate and make haste, for you are about to travel back in time to the year of Our Lord. 1625, to Jericho's first Pilgrim settlement!"

Talking like they should be excited, she begins a little tour of the massive attraction, since this place will require a bit more know-how of the environment unlike the tinier location. As they all follow her, Wednesday wonders if they are all supposed to talk in character like she will once the working part initiates. 

"Yonder, behold, the Meeting House." She gestures towards a building that, like all the others, look the part of the timeframe they are supposed to be from. "Inside is a collection of artifacts related to Jerchio's most beloved and pious founder, Joseph Crackstone." She tells them all, which Wednesday mentally notes for as important to her. "And beyond is our 'privy', America's first gender-neutral restroom."

"I haveth a query." Wednesday chimes in, obviously knowing the proper speech to get into character.

"Pray, be quick, child."

"In the Meeting House, which of Joseph's Crackstones artifacts are on display?" Wednesday asks, really wanting to know if there is a certain amount of things related to a certain something that was being held by a certain pilgrim during a certain possible end of the world. 

"It is truly a treasure trove, including original farm tools, tableware, even the Crackstone family chamber pot." Arlene answers with pride, and although Wednesday doesn't find any of those interesting, she still finds it as a clue of saying that a certain staff-looking object is there as well.

"Fascinating, I volunteer to work in there."

 "Pray, no." Arlene quickly shoots down before Wednesday can start trying to march her way into the building. "That exhibit is being renovated." She informs her, causing the girl to glance down, knowing that she can't let that stop her due to the small window frame she has to be in this idiotic idea of an theme for attractions. "Today, thou will all be working at the beating heart of Pilgrim World."

A few minutes later, everyone finds themselves standing in front of the place's famous chocolate shop. "Ye Olde Fudgery?!" Eugene reads the name out loud in excitement.

"More like Ye Old Diabetes in a box...." Wednesday mutters next to him.

"Volunteers, price up thine ears!" Arlene quickly grabs everyone's attention, holding up a box that carries all of the uniforms for boys and girls alike, meaning that they'll have to play the part as well. "Fudge is a lifeblood of our humble community, and samples equal sales. So, grab a uniform and a box, and make our forefathers proud!"

Everyone eventually takes their respective gender-appropriate uniform one-by-one, or gender of their choice. Wednesday blankly stares at her cap, feeling red at the sight of it. "Are these for muzzling tourists?" She asks with a hopefully expression, only for Arlene to give her a disapproving look.

Guess not. 

_____________________________________

(A/N) First Chapter for the next Episode is here!

As mentioned previously, I gave Y/N and Wednesday seperate jobs so I have more room to explore Y/N's arc as well as his antagonistic relationship with Tyler and friendship with Xavier and such. He will also engage in his house investigation at the Weathervane, so more time for him to shine!

Plz vote and comment, any kind counts as feedback, and I'll see you all in the next one!