Day 1: Prologue: College Counseling
Title: Prologue: College Counseling
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: G
Characters/pairings: Reader, Donna Noble
Warnings (including spoilers): None
Wordcount: 476 words
Author’s note: This series started more than three years ago, but it’s not complete, and I don’t like posting incomplete things. However, several of these chapters are done, and better out than in, as they say. I’m going to try to do a post every day for advent, but don’t be surprised if (when) that crashes and burns.
This is the prologue to my University: The Next Frontier series! Let’s see how that goes!
Summary: Your adventure begins in an unassuming office.
~~~~~
You approach the office warily, as though it could swallow you up. Its door is propped open invitingly, and a deep maroon placard beside it reads ‘University Counseling’ in calming yellow letters.
You gulp.
Inside, the walls are a uniform cream, the seats furnished in maroon. The reception desk is a deep mahogany, though it looks brown compared to the fiery red of the receptionist’s hair. She is speaking on the office telephone, but gives you a polite, if disinterested, smile as you enter.
All in all, it’s not as terrifying as you were expecting. You step up to the desk, and after a few moments you figure out that the red-headed woman is chatting with a friend. She looks up at you expectantly.
“Excuse me,” you begin, but one manicured finger raises and points to the waiting chairs. “I just want to make an appoint-” The finger jabs again, more assertively. The red-head’s eyebrows have raised, and your shoulders slump. You go sit on one of the surprisingly comfortable chairs and start to browse the magazines.
A few minutes later, the receptionist’s conversation comes to an end. You forget about the magazines and approach the desk. “Are any counselors available?” you ask.
“Nope, they’re all gone for the day,” she says frankly, cracking gum you hadn’t realized she was chewing.
“You couldn’t have told me that fifteen minutes ago?” You cross your arms.
“I was hoping for some conversation,” she says casually, as though she waylays strangers for conversations daily. You huff, and she looks at you more intently. “And you looked like you could use some help.”
You’re still a bit peeved. “Don’t you have work to do?”
She shrugs. “I’m going to be fired soon anyway. I called the Headmistress a lying slag.”
You choke. “Mrs. Duran?!” You can’t help but laugh when you imagine the look on your much-hated Headmistress’s face.
The receptionist reaches over the front of the desk. “Donna Noble.”
You shake her hand and introduce yourself, then lean against the desk.
“So what are you here for?” Donna asks, putting her elbows up by her keyboard as though she’s ready for a good gossip.
“I was hoping for some advice on universities, obviously.” You motion around the office. “I’m not sure what career I want, or about what courses to take.”
Donna frowns. “You’re not going to get much help with that here. All these people will do is bury you in uni pamphlets and print-outs.”
“Oh,” you say quietly.
She watches you for a moment, then digs into her purse. “How about this. You seem nice enough, I’ve got some friends I think could help you. “ She pulls out her mobile again and starts composing a text.
You blink. “Wait, how do you have mobile service in here? I already tried.”
Donna grins. “Oh, I get service everywhere.”
Check out the next chapter, Study Skills with Ianto Jones, or the Masterlist!