Power Rangers Zealous Swarm

[Xanah]

OOC Thread

---

Greenfield Sixth Form College. Quite possibly one of the safest, yet draining educational institutions in the United Kingdom that any guardian can send their ward to. While yes, their alumni are guaranteed work, it is only middle tier work, the amount of graduates who excel in their field of work can be counted on two hands with fingers left over, those who excel in a field they enjoy are even less. This is because Greenfield College has a reputation for draining even the most quirky and lively people of all personality and individuality, leaving behind hollow, cynical husks with no Drive to excel in life.

In a rare bid to drum up some motivation, the faculty have organized for a school-wide field trip to the Greenfield Museum of Anthropology, particularly the Ancient Egyptian Exhibit, whose new centerpiece, which has taken the name "Remnants of The Dawn," for it's Scarab-like decals, is the latest acquisition of the Museum's Curator; Dr. Walter Stone.

Unfortunately, Greenfield isn't as safe as it has been in recent years, as a new, explicitly anarchistic cult called The Bloody Horde has shown up, threatening to "Return Humanity to The Stone Age," with a strange man known as "Aepep" who wears a decorated snake skull as a helmet leading the charge.

But as the students enter the museum, it seemed like a typical english day.

Too bad for five of these students, it was going to be anything but a normal day...

---

@Birthday, @Sol d'Trauer, @The3rdCorinthian, @Space Jawa, @Sablonus, @Kensai.

 

[Birthday]

Arthur stifled a yawn as they entered the museum. He really should have slept earlier yesterday instead of reading that book.

Standing near the entrance of the museum, Arthur lingered in the middle of the crowd of the students, where most of the students stood. Staring around at the various exhibits, Arthur wondered if the field trip meant that school was going finish later. He had to pick up Tim and Sam from their school so it would be rather inconvenient if it it did.

Arthur glanced down at the checklist he held in his hand. The teachers had asked him to take roll so nobody would simply vanish during the school trip. Looking at the list, Arthur briefly entertained the notion of doing the same thing before dispelling that fantasy.

Carrying the list, Arthur went around the group, asking people to check off their name.

@Kensai, @The3rdCorinthian, @Space Jawa, @Sablonus, @Sol d'Trauer

 

[Space Jawa]

If there was one element that made Saul Q. Kindling stand out at that moment, it was a noticeable sense of genuine excitement. Sure, normally Greenfield was as much a drag as a place could get, but today? This was his jam. The focus of the trip was one of the latest publicly available Archeological finds, and what was archeology but history transplanted to the modern era?

"Who needs a time machine to visit the past when you can just let the past travel to the present?" He said to no one in particular in a poorly thought-out attempt at a joke. He quickly realized it had sounded a lot better in his head.

"Way to be optimistic there." He heard someone say. Saul turned to see it had come from Lucy Berg, who was standing with her small ensemble of 'It Girls'.

"Uh, thanks?" Saul said with an awkward smile as he tried to accept the apparent compliment.

"Yeah, way to be optimistic there, loser." She said in the followup, eliciting a small chorus of laughter from her group before they shuffled off elsewhere.

Saul's awkward smile quickly turned to an annoyed glaring frown, but he ignored them and instead focused on pamphlet he'd picked up giving an overview of the latest additions to the Ancient Egyptian Exhibit. He briefly looked up as Arthur Atkinson - "That's his name, right?" he thought - came by, paying him attention only just long enough to satisfy the checklist before returning to the pamphlet.

 

[Kensai]

A tall, slender girl with startlingly silver-blonde hair stood off to one side of the group of students as they milled around. Nobody spoke to her, giving her just a little wider berth than they did everyone else. This wasn't anything particularly odd for Caroline Fife, whose few friends - none of whom came to Greenfield - called her "Charley". She was used to being left alone - out - however you chose to put it.

It wasn't as if she did anything to put people off. There was just something about her: how still and quiet she held herself perhaps, the way she looked at people when they talked to her, or how sometimes she'd just stop in the middle of a sentence and walk away from a conversation. The popular consensus was that she was a weird snob. Her parents were posh, that was for sure - she lived in a big house at the end of a cul-de-sac, and practiced her piano on a Steinway baby grand. Too good for the likes of Greenfield.

Popular consensus, if they'd known, would have made even more of the fact that the exhibit they were to view today had in fact been discovered by Caroline's Uncle Tim, the one who let her smoke her first cigar, always gave her a sip of his rum, and sent the most marvellous birthday presents from whichever exotic place he was digging things up at the time.

Father loathed him, but then Father loathed anyone whose life and work took them outside the values of the square mile.

A skinny boy with tousled brown hair came by with a name list. She gave him a polite nod as she put a little tick next to her name.

"Arthur, wasn't it?" she said quietly as he turned to go.

@Birthday

 

[Birthday]

Saul's awkward smile quickly turned to an annoyed glaring frown, but he ignored them and instead focused on pamphlet he'd picked up giving an overview of the latest additions to the Ancient Egyptian Exhibit. He briefly looked up as Arthur Atkinson - "That's his name, right?" he thought - came by, paying him attention only just long enough to satisfy the checklist before returning to the pamphlet.

Click to shrink...

'Saul Q Kindling, yes?' Arthur could tell that Saul was excited quite easily from the way his eyes darted around the museum, almost as if they couldn't sit still for even a second; a stark contrast to the rest of the students.

Arthur grinned apologetically at Saul, before realizing that the boy had already returned to his pamphlet and was deeply engrossed with it. Arthur stood there awkwardly for a couple more seconds, the smile slowly fading form his face. After a few more moments of awkward silence, he turned away to find more people to sign the checklist, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

'Well, at least he seems happy to be here!!' Arthur thought optimistically, before glancing towards the "It Girls".

'Unlike some people..'

A skinny boy with tousled brown hair came by with a name list. She gave him a polite nod as she put a little tick next to her name.

"Arthur, wasn't it?" she said quietly as he turned to go.

Click to shrink...

He studied the noisy crowd of bustling students before noticing a flash of white hair out of the corner of his eye. Turning, he noticed a lone tall girl standing off, noticeably apart from the rest of the students. "I..don't think I've gotten her to sign yet..." he muttered as he studied the checklist. Well, he might as well go get her to do it now. Besides, finding individual students in the midst of a crowd like this was near impossible.

"Excuse me. You have to check this box off for the teachers to know that you're present." Arthur gave her the checklist for her to mark. Looking at her from up close, the girl excluded a sense of quiet dignity. Arthur got the feeling that she had chosen to isolate herself from the rest of the group, rather than the other way around. She was also much taller than he had noticed from afar as well, standing at about the same height as him. 'I wonder. Is her hair color natural or dyed?'

"Huh? Oh, sorry!" Arthur suddenly noticed that she was holding out the checklist. He hurriedly grabbed the checklist back from her.

'Caroline Fife. So that's her name.' Arthur looked down at the checklist to confirm that she'd signed it. Nodding in thanks he turned away to find more people. However, as he turned, he heard Caroline mention his name. Turning back to her, Arthur tilted his head questioningly. "Um, yes. It is. Do you need something?"

Privately he wondered how she knew his name. This was the first time that they had met, right?

@Kensai

 

[Kensai]

He studied the noisy crowd of bustling students before noticing a flash of white hair out of the corner of his eye. Turning, he noticed a lone tall girl standing off, noticeably apart from the rest of the students. "I..don't think I've gotten her to sign yet..." he muttered as he studied the checklist. Well, he might as well go get her to do it now. Besides, finding individual students in the midst of a crowd like this was near impossible.

"Excuse me. You have to check this box off for the teachers to know that you're present." Arthur gave her the checklist for her to mark. Looking at her from up close, the girl excluded a sense of quiet dignity. Arthur got the feeling that she had chosen to isolate herself from the rest of the group, rather than the other way around. She was also much taller than he had noticed from afar as well, standing at about the same height as him. 'I wonder. Is her hair color natural or dyed?'

"Huh? Oh, sorry!" Arthur suddenly noticed that she was holding out the checklist. He hurriedly grabbed the checklist back from her.

'Caroline Fife. So that's her name.' Arthur looked down at the checklist to confirm that she'd signed it. Nodding in thanks he turned away to find more people. However, as he turned, he heard Caroline mention his name. Turning back to her, Arthur tilted his head questioningly. "Um, yes. It is. Do you need something?"

Privately he wondered how she knew his name. This was the first time that they had met, right?

@Kensai

Click to shrink...

Caroline shook her head. "Oh... no, it wasn't that. I just remembered you from last year's awards. You got the prize for top Literature student, didn't you?"

She didn't plan on mentioning that she'd been on stage as well, receiving the prize for Music. That wasn't so much of an achievement, given how few students took Music at Greenfield anyway. It was a subject that took real application to get anywhere in, and not many wanted to bother with the amount of practice it required. You could get a pass much more easily in Literature, although really doing well in it took just as much hard work as Music did.


Arthur had to be at least a little like her, then.

 

[Sablonus]

Hunched in the far corner of the exhibit room was another boy, fairly unnoticeable despite the mop of messy golden hair adorning his head like a crown. Shoulders hunched in, lanky body and lean bulk made smaller by loose clothing and a timid composure, the teenager's face was screwed in concentration, his attentions solely upon that of the sketchbook in his hands. His hand moves quickly, pencil flickering from side to side, blurring chaotically, yet efficiently.

A rough, dark, shape became clearer and clearer on the pad, sharpening into existence through the haze of lines and shapes. Some sort of warrior, armored and cape, spear at hand as they battled through a horde of demons and supernatural beast. In the background, tattered banners and ragged bodies were being thrown into the air, a serpent able to circle the world dueling the knight fang to spear, forked tongue wreathed in flames as it pounced for-

"'Wotcher, Millie!" A meaty, itchy, arm found it's way over the boy's shoulders, the collar of a disgustingly plaid shirt blocking the view of his art. "Whatcha' doin' now?"

Said student closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before answering. "J-Just.. Just drawing.."

It had become common, somewhere along the line, for other students to take turns with him, both quietly and loudly betting amongst themselves to see who could push him the farthest. And yet, he prevailed every time, though there had been the occasional close call. His parents had taught him well. Never release your frustrations, and simply push it farther down with the help of something relaxing--Like Art! Even then, his heart quickened, breath hastening and eyes narrowing as he struggled to keep himself collected. Fucking John Evans..

The annoyance rocked his head, the overpowering smell of coffee and energy drinks washing over him. "Thas' good, mate, but ah, you know only twits' an' posers act all lonely like this, right?"

Before he could even think of replying, Evans mockingly slapped his back in false comaraderie, skipping away without a care in the world, chuckling all the while. James Miligan--Not Millie--Sighed, before the tension in his body slowly ebbed away. It was times like that when he valued his peace and quiet, his alone time. Just him and his art. No distractions, no loud idiots, no nitwits, imbeciles, or tossers to interrupt his.. His..

The blonde haired, amber eyed boy looked back to his sketchbook, the irritation that had been smoothing from his features returning with a sharp intake of breath in full force. A dark brown blotch had been stained onto the center of his sketchbook, soaking into the rough pages and spilling across the carefully drawn figures and details. Ruined. Undeniably ruined. Unsalvageable--And! And. And.. Totally. Totally fine. A-Okay. He would just i-ignore-

"Mate--Duck!!" A crumpled energy drink can was thrown across the room, splattering the sketchbook--And only the sketchbook--In sticky carbonated sludge.

Though the scent of coffee and energy drinks was thick, thicker was the scent of blood as Jamie's vision twisted into a manic crimson, teeth gnashing and blood boiling beneath his deceptively loose hoodie, furred overcoat, and jeans. His eyes burned with raging fires of a dying star, all too eager to ignite and combust, knuckles white as they gripped the pad of paper, nearly tearing it in two. Grit teeth seemed to grow sharper, body trembling with rage, and for a second, his calm facade nearly snapped, twisting into the true wrathful feelings of his core.

But he pushed it deeper as he noticed somebody approaching him, a shy, sheepish, smile taking the place of the snarl that had been present not moments before. Just another day at Greenfield..

 

[Sol d'Trauer]

Greenfield Museum of Anthropology

There was something to be said for the perpetuation of the myth that if someone's headphones were up, then they were to be automatically assumed as being activated. Now, Lensherr had nothing against the site of the day's little kiddy trip – blimey, he'd enjoyed many an illustrated guide to history as a little one – but the exhibit floor was being a bit too keen on the hoity-toity for the dispersed cliques this morning. Sure, he'd mingle and nob during the luncheon hour, most days, but it was too early for that tosh. At least it felt like today deserved more class, oddly enough; hell, he'd gone to sleep early just to make himself up all presentable, avoid any nagging.

Lensherr conceded that the headphones thing was a nasty little trick, but he'd grown up around playmates who'd aspired towards nothing higher than simply taking the piss every which chance they'd manage. So, he'd essentially had to learn the trick of competent parents everywhere, and grow eyes in the back of his head; folks might think he was of special needs if he swiveled his head every which way, and that sort of image just wouldn't do, not in his family.

'Well congratulations, Mr. Evans: I am now sufficiently miffed.'

Surreptitiously zig-zagging his way around his nearest classmates' intervening bodies – sending a nod or a wave or a simple smile where appropriate, because manners still mattered – Lensherr steadily sidled closer to the one who'd had the latest unpleasant encounter with Evans.

Making sure to not step into whatever splatter was on the floor – most unsanitary, and he actually liked his bargain bin shoes, thanks – Lensherr took one last innocuous sidestep into position as the latest screen themselves moved aside. Okay, easy enough, just...he needed to be casual. He recognized this classmate: an artsy one with a very distinctive middle name; his parents had interesting tastes. Conveniently, Lensherr happened to always carry tissues and paper towel packets among other essentials, since – as in this very case – it provided a most natural segue with strange company.

...Okay, and because he was a tiny bit of a clean freak with regards to his hands. Although even the fairer gits among the ladies in attendance tended to respond more charmingly whenever he brought out the posh handkerchiefs like some old-timey gentleman... Wait, damage control, right.

"Mornin'. Kindly blot both faces, would you?"

Making a discrete show of drawing out a pair of pristine, folded sheets (because some people made faces if they thought you were handing them the wrinkled ones, despite still being unused), Lensherr held them out in offering to his side with a brief nod by way of greetings/aknowledgement. To anyone out of earshot – which counted plenty, given both the present company and the fact that John Evans had had his spot of fun, alas – Lensherr's attention seemingly wasn't on the lad at all, given he wasn't facing him head-on.

"Mind our 'esteemed' colleague Mr. Evans, govenor; no need to let his tosh queer your pitch. Although, if the piece hasn't automatically been given up on," and Lensherr made sure to sort of emphasize that bit, because yikes, the splash looked something stubborn, "you'll need to swab some bleach later. Maybe 7 parts water?

"Might not totally remove the stain, true, but chances are you'll get something like a sepia tone. Could integrate it as an artificial aging effect, really. What do you say?"

@Sablonus

 

[The3rdCorinthian]

Arthur stifled a yawn as they entered the museum. He really should have slept earlier yesterday instead of reading that book.

Standing near the entrance of the museum, Arthur lingered in the middle of the crowd of the students, where most of the students stood. Staring around at the various exhibits, Arthur wondered if the field trip meant that school was going finish later. He had to pick up Tim and Sam from their school so it would be rather inconvenient if it it did.

Arthur glanced down at the checklist he held in his hand. The teachers had asked him to take roll so nobody would simply vanish during the school trip. Looking at the list, Arthur briefly entertained the notion of doing the same thing before dispelling that fantasy.

Carrying the list, Arthur went around the group, asking people to check off their name.

@Kensai, @The3rdCorinthian, @Space Jawa, @Sablonus, @Sol d'Trauer

Click to shrink...

Laura sighed as she stood around the entrance to the Mueseum of Anthropology. Yet another attempt by the School to try and "Open the Minds" of the students here. Which of course was in really just another way of saying that they were hoping that getting a group of Students to stand around and vaguely hope it would somehow make them really care about getting somewhere.

She ran her fingers through her neck length blonde hair, and let her mind wander. She really didn't know what exactly the school was expecting. The problem wasn't with the students, it was with the dull as dishwater Teachers. Nobody was going to learn anything if nobody wanted to learn anything. The fact that the grades the school produced were actually middle of the road as opposed to outright bad was a miracle in and of itself.

It hadn't seemed a big deal when she'd started. She'd not gotten as great grades as her Sister, yes, but not bad. And Greenwhich was a safe bet for making a career out of something. It was simply that, as time went on, she'd found all that optimisim had just...drained away. It didn't help that she'd never really managed to socialise with anyone. It didn't help that her parents kept telling her to focus on her work, taking measures that prevented her from actually taking part iwith her peers. And her grades hadn't improved much recently.

'Not that she'd eve- No, don't think like that. It's not like she tries to be better than you'.

As Laura became focused on the happenings around her again, she realized that, in the time she'd been spacing out, everyone else had already been starting to form small groups. 'Dammit, this is why you don't have any real Friends Laura', she berated herself.

Laura exhaled, keeping herself under control. 'Just one more year. Just one more year and you can get out of here.'

Well, she should probably get signing up over with as quickly as she could. It was probably too late for her to join up with anyone anyway. She made her way over towards the Boy with the Checklist, who was now talking to a girl with White Hair.

(God, my ability to write shit all was drained for a while there. Finally got this up)

 

[Birthday]

Caroline shook her head. "Oh... no, it wasn't that. I just remembered you from last year's awards. You got the prize for top Literature student, didn't you?"

She didn't plan on mentioning that she'd been on stage as well, receiving the prize for Music. That wasn't so much of an achievement, given how few students took Music at Greenfield anyway. It was a subject that took real application to get anywhere in, and not many wanted to bother with the amount of practice it required. You could get a pass much more easily in Literature, although really doing well in it took just as much hard work as Music did.


Arthur had to be at least a little like her, then.

Click to shrink...

"O-oh." Arthur was taken a bit back by her answer. He remembered the prize, sure. His mother had joked about leaving him to write her speeches at court while his father had tousled his hair affectionately. Tim and Sam had spent the dinner fighting over who got to hold the certificate. The small celebration afterward was one of the few times he could remember his family coming together in one place for any given amount of time. It was...Unfortunate that it had just led to more expectations. His lips quirked into a bitter smile before vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

"Yeah. That was me. Honestly, I'm dead chuffed that you'd remember something like that." Arthur scratched the back of his head sheepishly, cracking a smile that showed no trace of his previous thoughts. He honestly was surprised though. He didn't expect any of the students here to even take notice of something like that, let alone remember it over the summer. He studied the girl as inconspicuously as possible. Now that he was reminded of the award ceremony last year, why did the girl look vaguely familiar? "Actually, did yo-"

Suddenly he found himself buffeted forewards by a solid impact on his back. Stumbling forward, Arthur looked behind him to see the caffeinated whirlwind known as John Evans sling an arm around his shoulders, smiling cheerfully. "Hey, Artie! You aren't doing anythin' important, are ya?"

Arthur resisted the urge to wrinkle his nose, despite the overwhelming smell of energy drink. 'I have a clipboard in my hand and I've been walking around this crowd for about 10 minutes. No. I'm not doing anything important, John.' Arthur privately thought before smiling back at him. "Well, no, not re-"

Before he could even stop speaking, John thrust a bag into Arthur's hands before rushing away towards his friends. "Cool, take care of this, will ya? Cheers, mate!"

Arthur stared at John back and his bag. After a few seconds, he let out a resigned sigh before slinging it over his shoulder along with his own. It wasn't worth throwing a paddy over anyway and if he didn't do it, who would? He smiled apologetically at Caroline as he turned back to face her. "Sorry about that." He tried to remember what they were talking about and came up completely empty. 'Well...Uh..This is embarrassing.'

He soon noticed an out in the form of an older girl with shoulder-length blond hair. "Um. Sorry, but could you bring any of your friends who haven't signed the list over here? I'll be back in a tick."

Arthur made his way to the older girl who seemed rather irritated on closer inspection. Before he could change his mind, however, he held the checklist out for her to sign.
"Sorry, but could I ask you to sign this? The teachers need it, you see. Cheers."

@Kensai, @The3rdCorinthian

 

[Kensai]

"O-oh." Arthur was taken a bit back by her answer. He remembered the prize, sure. His mother had joked about leaving him to write her speeches at court while his father had tousled his hair affectionately. Tim and Sam had spent the dinner fighting over who got to hold the certificate. The small celebration afterward was one of the few times he could remember his family coming together in one place for any given amount of time. It was...Unfortunate that it had just led to more expectations. His lips quirked into a bitter smile before vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

"Yeah. That was me. Honestly, I'm dead chuffed that you'd remember something like that." Arthur scratched the back of his head sheepishly, cracking a smile that showed no trace of his previous thoughts. He honestly was surprised though. He didn't expect any of the students here to even take notice of something like that, let alone remember it over the summer. He studied the girl as inconspicuously as possible. Now that he was reminded of the award ceremony last year, why did the girl look vaguely familiar? "Actually, did yo-"

Suddenly he found himself buffeted forewards by a solid impact on his back. Stumbling forward, Arthur looked behind him to see the caffeinated whirlwind known as John Evans sling an arm around his shoulders, smiling cheerfully. "Hey, Artie! You aren't doing anythin' important, are ya?"

Arthur resisted the urge to wrinkle his nose, despite the overwhelming smell of energy drink. 'I have a clipboard in my hand and I've been walking around this crowd for about 10 minutes. No. I'm not doing anything important, John.' Arthur privately thought before smiling back at him. "Well, no, not re-"

Before he could even stop speaking, John thrust a bag into Arthur's hands before rushing away towards his friends. "Cool, take care of this, will ya? Cheers, mate!"

Arthur stared at John back and his bag. After a few seconds, he let out a resigned sigh before slinging it over his shoulder along with his own. It wasn't worth throwing a paddy over anyway and if he didn't do it, who would? He smiled apologetically at Caroline as he turned back to face her. "Sorry about that." He tried to remember what they were talking about and came up completely empty. 'Well...Uh..This is embarrassing.'

He soon noticed an out in the form of an older girl with shoulder-length blond hair. "Um. Sorry, but could you bring any of your friends who haven't signed the list over here? I'll be back in a tick."

Arthur made his way to the older girl who seemed rather irritated on closer inspection. Before he could change his mind, however, he held the checklist out for her to sign.
"Sorry, but could I ask you to sign this? The teachers need it, you see. Cheers."

@Kensai, @The3rdCorinthian

Click to shrink...

Charley frowned at John's interruption. He seemed to enjoy doing that sort of thing, and she wondered if there wasn't something wrong with him. That the teachers hadn't got him to stop was quite strong evidence that there was something wrong with them.

And then... well, it had bothered Arthur enough that he'd forgotten what they were talking about, apparently - and then that had embarrassed him so that he ran away.

The best part, of course, was that she hadn't got any friends to bring over.

So she just stood waiting for Arthur to get back, feeling just a little more foolish than usual for having anything to do with this school.

 

[The3rdCorinthian]

He soon noticed an out in the form of an older girl with shoulder-length blond hair. "Um. Sorry, but could you bring any of your friends who haven't signed the list over here? I'll be back in a tick."

Arthur made his way to the older girl who seemed rather irritated on closer inspection. Before he could change his mind, however, he held the checklist out for her to sign.
"Sorry, but could I ask you to sign this? The teachers need it, you see. Cheers."

@Kensai, @The3rdCorinthian

Click to shrink...

As the brown haired boy approached her, Laura made sure to put a slight smile on her face. While she may be irritated by this trip in general, that didn't mean she had to take it out on others.

"Thank you." she replied, quickly filling her name in on the form.

"Is there anything else I need to do?" asked the girl. She'd rather get any outstanding work done sooner rather than later, as she didn't want to embarrass herself by forgetting some kind of simple thing that needed to be done.

 

[Birthday]

"Is there anything else I need to do?" asked the girl. She'd rather get any outstanding work done sooner rather than later, as she didn't want to embarrass herself by forgetting some kind of simple thing that needed to be done.

Click to shrink...

"Nope!" Arthur taking back the form. "Just, uh..Don't do anything stupid?" He looked over the sheet. It looked like he was finally done. He decided to go and hand the sheet back to one of the teacher's so that the field trip could properly get under way.

@Xalgeon

 

[Xanah]

"Nope!" Arthur taking back the form. "Just, uh..Don't do anything stupid?" He looked over the sheet. It looked like he was finally done. He decided to go and hand the sheet back to one of the teacher's so that the field trip could properly get under way.

@Xalgeon

Click to shrink...

Mr. Allen was an average teacher for Greenfield College, bored, cynical and depressed, as such he was grumbling about why he had to chaperone this trip, he was the ICT teacher, History had nothing to do with him.

Although he was upset, he was still a professional and a good person. So when one of the students taking attendance approached him, he looked up. "Ah, Mr. Atkinson, I hope everybody cooperated." Looking down at the list to see which students were assigned to which chaperone. "Mr. Atkinson, can you bring Ms. Berg, Mr. Kindling, Mr. Evens, Mr. Miligan, Mr. Lensherr and Ms. Adams to me please? Oh! While you're at it, send Ms. Fife to Mrs. Carlisle."

 

[Birthday]

Mr. Allen was an average teacher for Greenfield College, bored, cynical and depressed, as such he was grumbling about why he had to chaperone this trip, he was the ICT teacher, History had nothing to do with him.

Although he was upset, he was still a professional and a good person. So when one of the students taking attendance approached him, he looked up. "Ah, Mr. Atkinson, I hope everybody cooperated." Looking down at the list to see which students were assigned to which chaperone. "Mr. Atkinson, can you bring Ms. Berg, Mr. Kindling, Mr. Evens, Mr. Miligan, Mr. Lensherr and Ms. Adams to me please? Oh! While you're at it, send Ms. Fife to Mrs. Carlisle."

Click to shrink...

"No, Mr Allen, there was no trouble." Not that it would stop them from calling on him.

Arthur couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the teacher's words. Still, if he didn't do it, who would?

Letting out a barely noticeable sigh, he forced a smile onto his face and nodded to towards the bored teacher. "Yes, Mr Allen." Lucy Berg? Really?

He then set off towards the students Mr Allen mentioned.

He caught sight of Caroline rather easily, due to her hair and being somewhat separated from the anonymous mass of moving students.

"Hello again." Arthur greeted Caroline with a wave, "Sorry, but the teacher's told me to send you to Ms Carlsie. I think she's your chaperone for today."

He let out another barely audible sigh, staring briefly of into the direction of Lucy and her clique of "It" girls. "And I had to end up with her..." He muttered bitterly. He straightened up and met Caroline's eyes once more, continuing on with the conversation as if nothing had happened. "Anyway, it's a shame we couldn't be in the same group. I'm in Mr Allen's."

After pointing out where Ms Carlsie was to Caroline, Arthur left to find more students, bidding farewell to Caroline. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Caroline. Hopefully, I'll see you later."

 

[Sablonus]

"Mind our 'esteemed' colleague Mr. Evans, govenor; no need to let his tosh queer your pitch. Although, if the piece hasn't automatically been given up on," and Lensherr made sure to sort of emphasize that bit, because yikes, the splash looked something stubborn, "you'll need to swab some bleach later. Maybe 7 parts water?

"Might not totally remove the stain, true, but chances are you'll get something like a sepia tone. Could integrate it as an artificial aging effect, really. What do you say?"

Click to shrink...

James shuffled in place nervously, eyes flickering from side to side. Few had tried approaching him in day to day life unless shovd together as partners for some asignment, much less help him in such an overt manner. Part of him wished that he hadn't been helped at all. Social situations like this annoyed him, where he had no idea what to say or do.

Another part, however, was thankful for the help, slightly smiling at their mock-imitation of John's use of slang. "I-It.. It uh.. Don't uh.. Don't worry about.. J-Just a.. Just a sketch--Doodle--Thing.." He finally mumbled out. It didn't matter, he thought as he folded the already drying pad of paper into his satchel. It was just another drawing. He could.. He could make more or something.

"Well.. Er.. Thanks.." Why wasn't he leaving? The boy continued to fidget, anxiety squirming through his body and annoyance bubbling through the pit of his stomach.

Nope! Just bottle it up! Maybe he would draw some more, that mostly worked! ..Just as soon as they left.

 

[Space Jawa]

Saul gave an internalized 'woohoo!' as word finally came that they were actually getting to the 'field' part of the 'field trip'.

"That actually sounds kind of weird now that I actually put it to words." He thought as he considered the idea. And it was probably an incorrect statement, too. They already were 'in the field', so...

"Technicalities, right?" He thought. The important thing was that the good part of the trip was finally starting. He'd already read through the pamphlet front to back. Twice. There wasn't much more he could do with it now other than starting to commit it firmly to memory.

Being sure to actually stay within sight of Mr. Allen, Saul started in forward towards the direction of the main attraction. Probably a little further out than was warranted or the teacher would be happy with, but he eager to get in there and get a look at the thing.

 

[The3rdCorinthian]

Mr. Allen was an average teacher for Greenfield College, bored, cynical and depressed, as such he was grumbling about why he had to chaperone this trip, he was the ICT teacher, History had nothing to do with him.

Although he was upset, he was still a professional and a good person. So when one of the students taking attendance approached him, he looked up. "Ah, Mr. Atkinson, I hope everybody cooperated." Looking down at the list to see which students were assigned to which chaperone. "Mr. Atkinson, can you bring Ms. Berg, Mr. Kindling, Mr. Evens, Mr. Miligan, Mr. Lensherr and Ms. Adams to me please? Oh! While you're at it, send Ms. Fife to Mrs. Carlisle."

Click to shrink...

'Well, I guess thats how they're handling groups. At least I don't have to worry about being the fifth wheel after all.'

Still, that didn't make trying to actually get to know them any easier. She hadn't recognized anyone besides from the boy with the register. And even then, she didn't have any kind of way to break the Ice...

'Maybe just stay back? Nobody really expects anything out of you anywa-'

Saul gave an internalized 'woohoo!' as word finally came that they were actually getting to the 'field' part of the 'field trip'.

"That actually sounds kind of weird now that I actually put it to words." He thought as he considered the idea. And it was probably an incorrect statement, too. They already were 'in the field', so...

"Technicalities, right?" He thought. The important thing was that the good part of the trip was finally starting. He'd already read through the pamphlet front to back. Twice. There wasn't much more he could do with it now other than starting to commit it firmly to memory.

Being sure to actually stay within sight of Mr. Allen, Saul started in forward towards the direction of the main attraction. Probably a little further out than was warranted or the teacher would be happy with, but he eager to get in there and get a look at the thing.

Click to shrink...

'Well, at least someone was enjoying themselves,' Laura thought, seeing the boy who, while not really saying anything, was practically shaking with glee. 'Maybe I can...'

"Um...Excuse me?" She spoke up, walking over to the boy. "You seem to be excited by all of this."

 

[Space Jawa]

'Well, at least someone was enjoying themselves,' Laura thought, seeing the boy who, while not really saying anything, was practically shaking with glee. 'Maybe I can...'

"Um...Excuse me?" She spoke up, walking over to the boy. "You seem to be excited by all of this."

Click to shrink...

"Er...Uh..."

Saul was caught off guard a moment as someone approached him, a girl he didn't really recognize. Almost certainly from another class. Older, maybe? She certainly didn't look younger.

He cleared his throat a little, and tried to hold his composure lest he embarrass himself.

"How could I not be excited?" Saul said, and held up his pamphlet for a brief moment as an offhand way of clarifying what he was talking about. "This is real history. About the only way it could get any more real is if we could look back through some kind of time portal or it could wake up and talk to us."

 

[Kensai]

"Hello again." Arthur greeted Caroline with a wave, "Sorry, but the teacher's told me to send you to Ms Carlsie. I think she's your chaperone for today."

He let out another barely audible sigh, staring briefly of into the direction of Lucy and her clique of "It" girls. "And I had to end up with her..." He muttered bitterly. He straightened up and met Caroline's eyes once more, continuing on with the conversation as if nothing had happened. "Anyway, it's a shame we couldn't be in the same group. I'm in Mr Allen's."

Click to shrink...

Caroline didn't miss Arthur's murmur of discontent, and couldn't hide a sympathetic wince. She'd run into Lucy and her little coterie a few times; they were normally well content to leave her alone, since she obviously had the wherewithal to stand up to them - even if she was odd and aloof, she was pretty, well-off and talented enough that their jibes would be obviously petty and even envious. That didn't mean they hadn't tried, but she had simply stared right through them until they'd gone away.

Perhaps she spent a little too long thinking about that shower. She'd meant to say something like, "I'd have liked to be in your group too," but the moment passed, and -

After pointing out where Ms Carlsie was to Caroline, Arthur left to find more students, bidding farewell to Caroline. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Caroline. Hopefully, I'll see you later."

Click to shrink...

- all she could get out was, "Um, I hope so too, Arthur," mostly at his retreating back.

Why did this sort of thing always happen when she was trying to be friendly? Couldn't anyone wait for her to actually say anything before they started talking again, or doing something else?

 

[Sol d'Trauer]

Greenfield Museum of Anthropology

Inwardly, Lensherr couldn't help but feel a frown of sorts coming on. Why would an artist seemingly turn his back on a piece that looked like actual effort and feeling went into it? Especially when it was damaged by something that wasn't yet determined to be immutable towards fixing? Sure, there were some types who couldn't stand to see a flaw of any kind who'd scrap the whole kit and kaboodle, but this guy?

Lensherr didn't get it. He didn't get it at all, but he thought he'd caught a flicker of. . .something, when he stepped in earlier. Things were like that, life was like that: all the good bits happening at the corners of his eyes, and he was having to try figuring out what any of it meant. Was it wounded pride, perhaps? That Lensherr had butted in when the other guy was working up either a good sulk or maybe gearing up for a talking-to with Evans? Some other course? A missed opportunity, because of a stranger's nosiness?

He felt a pause in his thoughts at that last possibility. Lensherr knew all too well about missed out chances, when one's pulse was racing and the soul was a-singing to do...something.

Hmm. Another piece of random information to ruminate over, trying to fit it into anything else he thought he knew about anybody else.

Speaking of pieces...

Mr. Allen was an average teacher for Greenfield College, bored, cynical and depressed, as such he was grumbling about why he had to chaperone this trip, he was the ICT teacher, History had nothing to do with him.

Although he was upset, he was still a professional and a good person. So when one of the students taking attendance approached him, he looked up. "Ah, Mr. Atkinson, I hope everybody cooperated." Looking down at the list to see which students were assigned to which chaperone. "Mr. Atkinson, can you bring Ms. Berg, Mr. Kindling, Mr. Evens, Mr. Miligan, Mr. Lensherr and Ms. Adams to me please? Oh! While you're at it, send Ms. Fife to Mrs. Carlisle."

Click to shrink...

Now, would would Mr. Allen be casting his gaze about the assembly area... With the guy who, if memory served, was assigned to...
...to...
...Ah. Ah-hah. Yeah, that guy wasn't ambling at random through the crowd, was he?

"Well, be that as it may, more's the pity. Might have made for a decent album cover, someday. Although..." Meh, might as well try to end on light terms. Lensherr jabbed his head towards the distant classmate with a clipboard. "Is it just me, or was there a notice to check in upon arrival? Because I don't think I got that memo."

@Sablonus

 

[Sablonus]

"Well, be that as it may, more's the pity. Might have made for a decent album cover, someday. Although..." Meh, might as well try to end on light terms. Lensherr jabbed his head towards the distant classmate with a clipboard. "Is it just me, or was there a notice to check in upon arrival? Because I don't think I got that memo."

Click to shrink...

The boy nodded silently, unsure of what to say. Whatever got him out of this conversation faster.. A pang of guilt flashed through his chest, tightening his grip on the satchel of books and art supplies. This guy had helped him after all.. Or, tried to. The least he could do was be amicable.

"Y.. Y-Yeah.." James began to walk forwards, anxiety pulsing through him as he made his way for the group. Should he have said more? Less? What if-? Infuriating was the life of James L.C Mulligan--And that fury was going nowhere but deeper.

 

[Birthday]

Arthur looked down at his list, staring at the two names which had caught his attention from the very beginning. He slumped over momentarily, his mind wearily lamenting the fact that he had to talk to those two again. No, no, he shouldn't be thinking like that about his classmates. Arthur shook his head as if the action would banish the thoughts hanging around in his head. Yep, just talk to the most tiring two people he's ever met during his 17 years of existence.

Now, would Mr. Allen be casting his gaze about the assembly area... With the guy who, if memory served, was assigned to...
...to...
...Ah. Ah-hah. Yeah, that guy wasn't ambling at random through the crowd, was he?

"Well, be that as it may, more's the pity. Might have made for a decent album cover, someday. Although..." Meh, might as well try to end on light terms. Lensherr jabbed his head towards the distant classmate with a clipboard. "Is it just me, or was there a notice to check in upon arrival? Because I don't think I got that memo."

Click to shrink...

"Y.. Y-Yeah.." James began to walk forwards, anxiety pulsing through him as he made his way for the group. Should he have said more? Less? What if-? Infuriating was the life of James L.C Mulligan--And that fury was going nowhere but deeper.

Click to shrink...

Arthur noticed the two other students approaching him. "Oh, I think you're part of our group, yes?"