Up in the morning and out to school...

[a1enzo]

This is it.

They're at the docks. Enzo's carefully culled belongings are packed in the trunk of Bob's car. The ferry is scheduled to leave soon, but they're letting the other travelers board first.

Time to say goodbye.

Comments

[a1enzo]

"But honest," Hugh points out.

Enzo is grinning hugely by now. Things are off to a promising, if somewhat random, start.

[command_dot_com]

Dot eyebrows. Then considers her options, Enzo's going to get into trouble anyways...why not direct the trouble?

"...hrmm. Can you promise me that you will make utterly sure it will be nothing illegal or anything that could get him expelled?"

[a1enzo]

Balun points at the cannon. "Blackberry code slush," he says, a tad sarcastically.

"That'd be a yes," says Hugh. "We don't do permanent damage."

Enzo, meanwhile, is moving to take a look around the room. On either side of the window is a desk. Against each side wall is a bunk bed, with two end tables hovering at the appropriate heights; there's a door in the far left corner, past the bed. Two more desks flank the door they entered by, and tucked between the door and the desk on the right is a vidwindow with four frames, each depicting a cupboard.

All the bunks but the top-right are furnished. "I already took the bottom," says a voice behind Bob and Dot, "but I can move if you want." The voice isn't anxious or apologetic, just matter-of-fact.

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob turns to see a gangly young sprite, not much older than Enzo, with orange skin and short, curly green hair. "Oh, hi. Sorry, I didn't see you there..."

[a1enzo]

"I was behind you," the boy says simply.

"And here we have Exhibit D," Hugh declares. "Caret's our other newbie; he got here a couple cycles ago." Caret nods. "Caret Gibson-Irvine, Enzo Matrix."

"Hi," says Enzo. "Top bunk's fine."

[command_dot_com]

"Pleasure to meet you, Caret." Dot steps to the side, glancing back to make sure there isn't anything else set up to surprise her.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Same here," says Bob, offering a hand to shake along with what he hopes is his best disarming smile.

[a1enzo]

"Likewise." He shakes Bob's hand, but instead of releasing it, he pulls it slightly sideways and examines his own reflection on Bob's arm curiously. Then he licks a finger of his free hand and rubs at a spot on Bob's armour, producing a soft squeaking noise. "You had a smudge," he informs him, releasing his grip at last and offering his hand to Dot instead.

[command_dot_com]

Oooh-kaaay.

Dot tenatively reaches her hand out to caret, and she thought that she was a bit of a control and neat freak. "Very...tidy, I see."

[a1enzo]

Caret shrugs. "He's meant to be shiny." And, handshake concluded, he walks over to his bed and sits on it cross-legged. "Thank you for saving the 'Net," he tells them collectively. "I was looking forward to the Academy. I'm sure most other sprites were looking forward to things too."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"...you're welcome?" says Bob, after an uncomfortable pause.

[command_dot_com]

"Thanks," Dot says smiling awkwardly.

[a1enzo]

Hugh claps his hands. "So! Now that all three of us have traumatized your keepers, what say we get you moved in?"