(Untitled)

[thisfatefulhour]

"--off campus next year!" Charles calls over his shoulder as he opens the door, laughing.

He turns, blinks, and if his grin doesn't get wider, his eyes are brighter.

"Well," he says, more quietly, "I could rethink the position."

Unslinging his backpack, he heads for a table, looking around in interest at new faces and old.

Comments

[gavemea_45]

"Off campus?"

Sam looks up from his coffee.

"If you're talking about where to live, then yeah."

[thisfatefulhour]

"That's right." He brushes a hank of hair out of his eyes. "You'd recommend it over dorms?"

[gavemea_45]

"Definitely. More space, you get to pick your roommates--"

There's a flicker of something in his glance for a second, but it's gone in the same instant. Sam's smile is easy.

"-- off campus, definitely. Although-- where's your school?"

[thisfatefulhour]

Wry -- "New York. I'm at Columbia. By the time I find anything I can afford, I'm afraid I'll be at the other end of the city."

[lyra_silver]

A young woman nearby is wiping dirt off her tartan skirt with one hand.

A small animal at her feet looks at her, muzzle tilted, as if to say, "Keep going, you haven't gotten it all off yet."

Lyra runs her hand over her skirt again unsuccessfully, before looking up and noticing Charles's gaze. "Hello," she says, smiling. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you."

[thisfatefulhour]

"Oh -- it's no trouble." Charles gives her a grin.

"You might have better luck with a little water?"

[lyra_silver]

"Very likely," Lyra laughs ruefully and stands up, rubbing her hands together to shake the dirt off. "I should have thought of it myself. I'll never quite make a lady, despite all Dame Hannah's lessons. Oh, my name is Lyra, and this is Pantalaimon."

[thisfatefulhour]

"If my sister's any guide, you can get by perfectly well without being a lady."

He tilts his head. "Lyra -- I'm Charles Wallace. Do you know someone named Will?"

[subtle_will]

Will's here tonight to wait for Lyra, but it's been a while since he's visited the bar, and there are a few other people he's happy to catch sight of. The black cat precedes him like a midday shadow, her eyes bright though his smile is mild. "Charles Wallace."

He lifts a hand, still a few strides away. "It's been a long time."

[thisfatefulhour]

"Will!"

Charles waves back. "It has. I haven't been here in months."

He looks down at the cat and waves to her, too. "Hello, Kirjava."

[subtle_will]

The black cat nearly purrs as Will settles himself near the blonde boy, smiles lighting his dark eyes. "Did you just come from school?"

[thisfatefulhour]

"The dorms." He nods back towards the door. "Classes haven't started just yet."

[puckishly]

Here's a new face!

A new face sitting on top of Charles' table, feet swinging lazily.

"Good even," he says, cheerful.

[thisfatefulhour]

Charles starts a little and blinks up at the arrival.

"Good evening?"

[puckishly]

Puck totally loves this whole randomly-showing-up-on-strangers thing. It's good to meet new people!

Hopefully, Charles feels the same.

"Oh, marvelous," he assures him. "And yours?"

(His teeth, if Charles is paying attention, are just a little too sharp for comfort, and his eyes a little too bright.)

[thisfatefulhour]

"Good and getting better."

Charles' return grin is a little distant -- polite, not warm. Because, well, there's a rather odd stranger sitting on his table.

My, what sharp teeth he has.

[ladyfirestarter]

Across the bar, Charlie catches sight of him, smiles, and starts to make her way over.

"Well hi there."

[thisfatefulhour]

"Charlie!"

The grin widens.

"Hello to you, too."

[ladyfirestarter]

She's reached where he's standing now.

"How have you been, Charles?"

[thisfatefulhour]

"I've been well," he replies, gesturing at the seat opposite. "Busy, though. You?"