Fifth Floor Common Room, Friday Afternoon

[stars_and_money]

Jeremy was getting a fake little sibling tomorrow. He was pretty pumped about it, because his three elder siblings and a twin sister meant he'd never been a big sibling before. Even a fake one. And he was taking this new responsibility very seriously

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[shes_got_legs]

Ariel definitely made sure that her trip home concluded in time for her to be back for the big exciting newbie picnic, but then she found that she had too much time to wait until then. She supposed she should enjoy the quiet before the storm, but she just got restless and went to find some good distractions.

Common rooms. Always a good place to start. "Hey, everyone!" she offered a smile as she slipped on in and found her way to the couch. "What's going on?"

[stars_and_money]

Jeremy threw a smile her way in greeting. "Not much," he said. "Just figuring out stuff for my new little sis or bro."

He was hoping for a girl, for the record. He liked girls.

"Other than that, just chillin'."

[shes_got_legs]

Ariel gave a nod. "That's probably a good idea," she agreed. "There's a ton of stuff to remember. Do you think you're going to try to ease him or her into things by starting out small and slowly building up to the weirder stuff, or do you think you'll drop the weird bomb right away and go from there?"

[stars_and_money]

Jeremy considered this for a moment. "I don't know, I think I'll just go all in," he said then. "I mean, I think it's good to get that out in the open straight away? And --" He raised his coffee cup a bit for emphasis on that word. "-- there's the chance the kid comes from someplace weird and won't even be shaken by any of it."

[shes_got_legs]

That got a little smile out of Ariel. "It's kind of nice when that happens," she mused. "But, if you're not that lucky, I find that if you're just really earnest about it, then they can't help but believe you, because why would you make some of that stuff up? And so much of it, too."

[stars_and_money]

"I didn't believe my big bro when he told me about it," Jeremy admitted with smile that was probably a little sheepish if you looked at it right. "I though I was being hazed." He shrugged, because what could you do? "So you've done the sib thing too?"

[shes_got_legs]

"Yeah," Ariel said with a faint grin, "but one kind of didn't count because it was a returning student, so he already knew most of the things I'd be telling them. But I found it works with any new student, really. And when I was new, everything was actually pretty strange."

[stars_and_money]

Jeremy smiled and nodded. "For me too!" Well, he was a city kid from Manhattan. For him, it'd been strange to be in Maryland. "But it gets less weird, right? You get used to it, so why not hear about it right away?"

[shes_got_legs]

"Exactly!" Ariel said with a laugh. "I'll try to keep an eye out for your sibling, and if I run into him or her, I'll be sure to help convince them if they need it. It'll be even more convincing if two people are saying the same thing, right? So long as they don't think we're in cahoots."

[stars_and_money]

"Unless they think we're pulling a really elaborate prank," he agreed. "But even if they don't believe, at least we won't have lied. They'll just save the gratitude for when they do believe it, which they will."

Like Jeremy had done, for one.

[shes_got_legs]

Ariel giggled a little at that. "They'll be waking up in the middle of a field somewhere after having spent the weekend as a talking can of beans and the first thing out of their mouth will be, 'Boy, I guess Jeremy and Ariel were right! I owe them cupcakes.'"

[stars_and_money]

"And I love cupcakes," Jeremy grinned, leaning back against the couch. "See, honesty is totally worth it just for the rewards."

[shes_got_legs]

"Oh, man," Ariel laughed, hands going to her stomach, "you've just reminded me I've gone a whole week without a single cupcake! You don't suppose there are some in the cupboards, do you? That's another thing that's great to share with new kids! All the food in the common rooms!"

[stars_and_money]

Jeremy glanced idly towards the kitchen area. "I don't know, I didn't look. But I should totally order some more mimosa cupcakes from the bakery, they were maximum. I bet those would be good to share with people too."

[shes_got_legs]

"Mimosa cupcakes?" Color Ariel intrigued. She tried to think if that was a cupcake from cupcake class, but it didn't ring any bells. And if it was a cupcake she hadn't tried yet, this needed to be changed.

[stars_and_money]

"Jules suggested them in class," Jeremy clarified. "I got a craving so I had some made."