~8 PM

[empereurs]

To: Scout 🐕

[1] Hey.
[2] If you need a distraction tonight, let me know. I'll be free after Print.

Comments

[star_boy]

To: Flint!

[1] Hey
[2] That sounds nice, if you really don't mind.
[...]
[x] I'm
[3] You doing alright?

[empereurs]

[1] Of course I don't mind.
[2] And I'm fine. Paper needs to be pushed back a little because of exploration prep, but it's not like anyone is waiting on pins and needles for our next edition of fashion advice and winter dance news.
[x] Although
[3] How are you doing?

[star_boy]

[1] You're too nice to me.
[2] I mean, according to Adam I need a lot of fashion advice, so maybe I could use that issue.
[3] I'm [...] good, I think.
[4] Just trying to keep my head focused.

[empereurs]

[1] If you asked for a fashion makeover, you'd have volunteers lining up around the common room.
[2] Or you could talk to Ces.
[3] I'm not stealing you from squad business, am I?

[star_boy]

[1] Lord, can you imagine?
[2] I don't think I'd last through a makeover, even with poor Ces.
[3] You're not - I just told everyone to do what they need tonight and get a good night's sleep.
[4] I was just going to do homework, so this sounds better.

[empereurs]

[1] I could imagine, actually. She didn't do a half-bad job with you on Halloween.
[2] But alright. I promise, no makeovers with me tonight.
[3] I wouldn't know where to start with that.

[star_boy]

[1] She had too much fun unbottoning my shirt. But she did do a good job.
[2] It's alright, I wouldn't know where to start either.
[3] Alright, so, no makeovers. What does that even leave us with to do?

[empereurs]

[1] It's a bit cold for a walk, but I don't mind if you don't.
[2] It would be quiet outside, at least.
[3] And I'll brew some hot tea when we come back in.

[star_boy]

[1] I wouldn't mind - we should take advantage before it gets extra cold.
[2] And tea's always better after you've been chilly, anyway.
[...]
[x] Weird to think we won't
[3] Excited to go home for break and get out of the frigid north?

[empereurs]

[1] Great. It's nice out tonight. Clear sky.
[2] I'll meet up with you as soon as I finish up in Print.
[3] And yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing the whole family. It's been too long.
[4] I just want the holidays to be [...] a good memory.

[star_boy]

[1] You might have to guide me a bit if I get distracted staring at the stars.
[2] I'll be ready.
[...]
[3] They will be a good memory. You're somewhere familiar, safe, with people you love.

[empereurs]

[1] I hope so.
[2] My dad just got married this summer, and we've barely spent any time together as a family.
[3] I just want to help out, and make it a nice time for everyone, you know?
[...]
[4] Too bad about all the snow. We could have tried stargazing.

[star_boy]

[1] That is an adjustment, but [...] I have faith in y'all.
[2] You already care about each other, so that's one big step already.
[...]
[x] Do you think you still have feelin
[3] Be sure to take care of yourself too, yeah? You should also have a nice time.
[4] We could still try. We might just regret it real fast.

[empereurs]

[1] [...] Yeah. That's true.
[2] Thanks, Scout.
[3] And that's tempting offer, but I'll be in a world of trouble if I let Squad 1's fearless leader get sick right before Exploration.

[star_boy]

[1] Of course
[2] It's going to be a nice Christmas - don't overthink it.
[3] What are you going to do if I just lie down in the snow?

[empereurs]

[1] Not saying it wouldn't be challenging, but I could probably carry you.
[2] And alright, alright. I'll try. Are you looking forward to Christmas?

[star_boy]

[1] I'd like to see you try, honestly.
[2] I am - it'll be nice to go home for a bit and get out of the cold.

[empereurs]

[1] I bet. How hard would you laugh if I fell into the snow trying?
[2] Yeah. I don't regret coming here, but boarding school life can be strange. It'll be nice to be normal for a bit.

[star_boy]

[...]
[1] Almost as hard as when you hit Adam in the face with that snowball?
[2] It will be.
[3] Are you going to see any friends when you're home?

[empereurs]

[1] Worth it.
[2] Don't stop too long, Mr. Thoroughgood, or I'm going to throw you over my shoulder.
[...]
[3] Yeah. I'll probably see some of them. It's just hard to know what to talk about, you know?

[star_boy]

[1] I feel a little bad about it but it was pretty amazing funny.
[...]
[2] Again, I'd like to see you try.
[3] It is. Everything feels very different, now.
[4] I guess it is.

[empereurs]

[1] We'll see.
[2] I have to get you back before you catch frostbite. Ces would never forgive me otherwise.
[3] But don't get me wrong, I'm glad we're here. I'm glad we can do something to help.
[x] But I don't
[4] Are you going to see any old friends?

[star_boy]

[1] Ces would have the sense to blame me some too, at least.
[2] Please don't throw out your back or something.
[...]
[3] I'm glad, too. Everything's just always [...] an adjustment, I guess.
[4] I'll likely see one or two, I think. But I'm busy when I'm home, so that helps me [...] avoid too much hanging out, at least.

[empereurs]

[1] Wow. You really don't think I can do it.
[2] If I had more ego, I'd be hurt.
[3] What are your friends like? Back home.

[star_boy]

[1] No no, I definitely think you can do it.
[2] Promise.
[...]
[3] They're nice. But pretty [...] traditional, in a lot of ways.
[4] How about yours?

[empereurs]

[1] Mine are the same. A couple of them are pretty open-minded, but it's still a small town.
[2] Small enough that my whole school knew we were transferring to Finchwood within a day of getting accepted.
[3] I've been told that some people think I'm too good for them now. And it's not that, it's just...
[4] Hard to know what to say when talking about Finchwood.

[star_boy]

[1] Yeah, small towns are hard. Especially
[...]
[2] I didn't tell anyone I was going, for a while.
[3] Not sure what anyone thinks of that.
[4] Sorry people think you're being all superior about it, though. It is hard to figure out what to say.

[empereurs]

[1] It's alright. I was never that popular, anyway.
[2] My family knows how I really am, even if I can't technically tell them much either.
[3] How did everyone take it when you left?

[star_boy]

[1] Really? Being very popular doesn't seem fun, anyway.
[2] I had a lot of friends, I guess, but I was only actually close to two or three people.
[...]
[3] Everyone was supportive, but a few people were upset even though they eventually got past it.
[x] Like my
[4] Did your friends take it ok?

[empereurs]

[1] I was more Neal's quiet friend. Same as you, there were maybe only two or three I really talked to.
[2] I don't know if they were happy or sad about it. More surprised?
[3] It was the exact same group of kids in our class since preschool. Any kind of change was just [...] unexpected.
[...]
[4] It feels terrible to say, but I spent most of my summer missing you guys here.

[star_boy]

[1] I imagine it's easy to just let Neal do the talking.
[2] But yeah, I can see how that could cause a bit of a ruckus.
[3] No one I knew really expected me to leave. I think even my parents were a little surprised, when I told them I was going to apply.
[...]
[4] I never really clicked with anyone at home like I have at Finchwood, so I know what you mean. It was odd being here without everyone.

[empereurs]

[1] I'm glad you applied.
[2] That both of us did, really. Without Finchwood, we would've never met.
[3] Knowing you [...] and everyone here is worth anything the SW can throw at us.

[star_boy]

[1] I am, too.
[2] I can't really imagine not knowing you. Funny to think it hasn't even been two years.
[...]
[3] We'll see if you think it's worth it when you have to pick me up out of the snow.