Outside the Main Dorms - Monday Afternoon

[listen_to_riley]

Riley was grateful that his mother hadn't insisted on delivering him to his new school herself. He had two large, army-style duffle bags containing his clothes and books and, most importantly, his laptop bag.

He stood outside the building that was marked as the "Main Dorm" and sighed. "Well, this should be an experience."

[

Comments

[80s_sideburns]

"You planning on doing something weird, or are you lame enough that moving into a school is an experience?" Ken asked, now standing side-by-side with Riley.

[listen_to_riley]

"I was more referring to the fact that I find myself in the sticks at reform school," Riley said.

[80s_sideburns]

"So what did you do to get sent here?" Ken asked, thinking it was a good next question.

[listen_to_riley]

"Hacked into the school database and changed grades for people who paid me," Riley said, figuring there was no reason to hide it.

[strongestgirl]

Pippi had decided to have lunch out on the porch today when she saw a new guy.

"Hi there!"

[listen_to_riley]

"Hi," Riley replied, wondering why she seemed so cheerful.

[strongestgirl]

The world may never know.

"I won't ask you a silly question like if you're new because you obviously are. What's your name?"

[listen_to_riley]

"Riley Poole," he said. "I assume you're not new."

[justanotherclue]

It was quite amusing to Ben that his dad actually thought sending him to a reform school would prevent him from doing his research and continuing the hunt his grandfather had awakened his taste for.

Dad could be clueless sometimes.

That would be why even as he was looking at the outside of the main dorm, Ben was making plans in his head.

[listen_to_riley]

Riley recognized that look. "You're new, too?"

[justanotherclue]

Ben nodded. "Yeah." He extended his hand. "Ben Gates."

[listen_to_riley]

"Riley Poole," he replied, shaking Ben's hand. "I'd say it's nice to meet you, but we've both just been sent to reform school."

[6mil_dvdplayer]

Mack had tethered Delores in a grassy patch of woods nearby, and was nose-deep in one of the new manga volumes that Spencer had snuck into his bags on his trip home.

If he didn't look out, he might bump into someone or trip over something.

[listen_to_riley]

It wasn't like Riley was paying that much attention to his surroundings.

[6mil_dvdplayer]

In which case, he would shortly find himself colliding (albeit gently) with six feet even of curly-haired, manga-reading android.

"Sorry!" Mack blurted out.

[listen_to_riley]

"It's okay," Riley said, stumbling a little but managing not to drop the laptop.

[cyclopeanmerc]

A tall form appeared behind Riley and reached forward to clap him by both shoulders.

A very, very tall form. "And it will! Abandon all hope, ye who enter here!

[listen_to_riley]

Riley jumped.

Well, he would have jumped, but there was a tall person holding his shoulders.

He turned his head and looked up. "Um, hello? Are you the welcoming committee?"

[cyclopeanmerc]

"Yes. I just appointed myself to it today. I need to make sure you have the proper fear of God in your heart."

The fact that said tall person was a bit swarthy looking and had an eyepatch would probably go a long way to helping put in said fear.

[listen_to_riley]

The fear was most decidedly there. Riley nodded. "I didn't realize this was a religious school."

What was up with the eyepatch, he wondered, trying not to stare at it.