004 - Bringing the First Taste of the Spring

[n0secondchances]

[Ten's gone walking through the castle today, curious to explore the building that's causing them all so much fuss. He doesn't make it very far, though, before he spots a single acorn sitting right in the middle of the lobby.

Funny... it wasn't quite the right season for acorns, was it?

Picking it up, he'll turn it over in his palm, when he notices

Comments

[drivesaniisan]

[Walking by and... stops when he sees Ten. On the floor.]

... What on earth on you doing?

[n0secondchances]

Well, technically, I think the answer to that would be nothing, since this is hardly the earth. [looking up with a smile] But then, that's not exactly the point of the question, I'd imagine.

I thought I'd seen something move, so I was looking for it... and I found something else altogether. Or... several things, actually.

[drivesaniisan]

Do not waste my time with that nonsense. [Sorry, Ten, he doesn't appreciate your humor. D:]

... let me guess. Those damn black... things... that have been running around?

[n0secondchances]

Everyone's a critic.

Yes... there do seem to be a lot of them, doesn't there? They're all over the castle, then?

[mr_stealthypnts]

[Xander is wandering by and when he sees Ten on the floor he will stop to stare. Not that he knows this is the guy he spoke to quite yet. He will stare. If not for his new unfortunate loss there would probably be food frozen halfway to his mouth.]

[n0secondchances]

[he's got his hand under the couch and he is apparently talking to something under it. Or possibly to himself. Really, either is probable at this point]

Why, there's a whole lot of you! Brilliant! Just how exactly did you all get down there?

[mr_stealthypnts]

[His curiosity is far too much for him. He's leaning over now and trying to see underneath the couch...]

Who's own there?

[n0secondchances]

[not even looking up at that] I'm not sure if it's a who as much as a what.

Ah! There we are! [and, successfully ushering one onto his hand, he'll pull one of the little soot sprites out into the light]

[cheerupemoborg]

[Eh. Hank's seen weirder!]

Drop something?

[n0secondchances]

Hmm? [glancing up from his position on the floor, completely nonplussed] No, not at all. But I might've found something.

[his gaze lingers though. Not surprised, but definitely curious. You aren't exactly the normal castle resident, are you?]

[cheerupemoborg]

[He's used to staring, but Hank can't help but feel like he's met this person before.]

Let me guess: small and black, right?

[n0secondchances]

[he doesn't stare very long. After all, he was hardly the first mix of man and machine that the Doctor had ever seen. He just happened to be the first here. The question immediately redirects his attention back to the couch] Yes indeed! A whole swarm of them. Rather shy little fellows, too.

[hard_talker]

[one of the resident bookworms is doing some residential bookworming on his way to the kitchen for a soda and a snack. he's usually very good at steering via peripheral vision, but ... well ... he's at the part where the Journeyman finally breaks into the top secret facility to rescue his brother, and it's getting really really good and OH SHIT they just shot one of the main characters and ---

--- and he just tripped over Ten's expansive legs.

Shit!

[both the book and the bookworm go flying, and Mark ends up sprawled across the lobby floor, just barely managing to catch himself from landing on his face]

[n0secondchances]

Oi!

[there's a startled shout where all of the dust sprites cower deeper in the shadows and one, lanky Doctor sits up in surprise]

[hard_talker]

Sorry, I didn't -- OH! Doc Binary. [he blushes] Great. Just great. I didn't even see -- are you okay?

[n0secondchances]

Mark! [very cheerfully answered, though his eyes are still serious. You've been through the ringer these past few days, boy, and he knows it] Oh, I'm quite alright.

You all together, over there?

[bedninja]

[Quite suddenly, there's a little boy lying on his stomach beside the Doctor, peering under the couch curiously.]

...whatever they are, they seem quite small.

[n0secondchances]

[that's enough to get the Doctor's attention, though his surprise comes in the form of raised eyebrows] Seems to be a morning for all sorts of unexpected things.

[bedninja]

[Tilting his head to look over at the Doctor and totally not noticing those raised eyebrows in a way that would be helpful to showing off the guy's surprise.]

I have noticed that mornings can be quite good for unexpected things, though! They seem to leave better impressions on people.

[n0secondchances]

Quite so! Gives a nice twist to the start of the day.

[For the moment, his curiosity is fixed solely on the boy] How exactly did you do that?