First Floor Lobby, Saturday Evening

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

[OOC: I don't recall ever seeing anything about a First Floor Common Room, and there must surely be a lobby at the entrance of this building, hence Lobby.]

After barricading his room with a mattress, Tick was officially on a break from grading. His break consisted of hiding, just in case the tests broke out and continued their assault on him. He'd heard that the best place to hide was in plain sight, and where is plainer than by the entrance to the dorms?

[OOC: Feel free to stop by and question the red pen marks all over his face.]

Comments

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

After trying to get some sleep (http://www.livejournal.com/users/cameronmitchell/17772.html), Cameron gives up and decides to go for another run.

"Evening, sir." He says as he noticed Tick.

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

Tick jumped a little. He seemed to calm down upon remembering that tests don't actually speak nor assume human form. As far as he knows...

"Ah, hello, Cam! How are you this evening?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

There's a slight pause before Cameron nods. "I was just heading out for a run, sir." He frowns as he notices the red marks on Tick's face.

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

Tick remembers that he didn't get a chance to barricade his windows. The tests could leave whenever they want! And they had access to all the red pens they could hope for!

"Egads, man! Be careful out there! You don't know what kind of villains are out there! You have no way of knowing!"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I will be careful, sir. But as Major K!'s sidekick, they would have to be very brave to cross my path."

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Major K! had mentioned that he was trying to get you to be his sidekick, but I hadn't heard the result. Good for you, Cam! Sidekicking is a truly noble profession!

Does this mean that you're good to join C.R.A.C.K.?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I'd love to, sir. If that's alright by you." He looks down shyly. "I thought Camboy would make a great sidekick name."

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Camboy. Cam. Boy. Camboy." Tick pondered the name.

"I like it! It's a good choice. Welcome to C.R.A.C.K., Camboy!"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron beamed up at Tick. "Thank you, sir!"

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Hello, The Tick," Tara said, peeking into the lounge. "I heard the first floor was teacher's quarters, I was wondering if there were any..." She stopped, looking at The Tick's marked face. "Um, is everything okay?"

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Any time, Camboy!

Um. I probably won't be calling you that in class. It might indicate favoritism. Are you okay with staying in your secret identity during class, Camboy?"

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Hello, Professor Maclay! Everything is just fine as long as the tests don't get out the window. Why do you ask?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"That's perfectly acceptable," Cameron nods and finally gives up on ignoring the red marks. "Are you alright, sir?"

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"I'm feeling just fine! Why do you ask?"

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Um, you have... on your face..." She frowns. "Is this a tribal thing? Like warpaint?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"You've got some sort of marks..." Cameron motioned towards his own face.

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

Tick paused, very confused. "I don't follow. Warpaint?"

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

Tick started feeling his face for any marks. Not noticing anything with his mighty sense of touch, he glanced at the hand that had just been on his face. There were some purple marks where he smudged the red ink.

"Hmm... Ink? Ah, that's just from grading tests! They were acting up a bit."

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron blinked. "The tests were acting up?"

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara shakes her head, also confused. "Um, like Native Americans? The red marks, on your face?" She frowns. "You do know you have red marks on your face?"

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Yes! They didn't seem very keen on the red pen."

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Why does everybody keep asking me that?" Tick asked himself. "Yes, student, I'm just fine! How are you tonight?"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"The papers? How can they..." Cameron stared confused at Tick. "Wait, hang on. Are the letters you write on it moving around?"

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Oh, the pen marks! Yes, Camboy just alerted me to them. I was grading some tests, and they didn't appreciate it."

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Of course not! Don't be silly!

I think the tests just don't appreciate the color red."

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"It's not silly, sir. I have a page from one of my classes where the doodles I drew came alive. They kinda worship me for some reason." He shooks his head and considered what Tick had just said. "I don't get it."

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara smiles. "The pens, or the tests?"

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Living doodles? Drawings that move? Weird!" Tick had apparently never pondered his own animated appearance.

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Why, the tests, of course. Pens just stop working if they're unhappy."

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Ah, yes, a long and terrible battle with the Evil Ungraded Tests! Worry not, chum, it's over for now!"

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Cameron agreed, giving Tick a funny look before shrugging. "I should head out now, sir. Good luck with the tests."

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Camboy! Be careful if you pass by any windows!"

[Good night!]

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Will do, sir." Cameron said, deciding it was better not to ask and headed out into the night.

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, student! Have a good night!"

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara smiles. "Sometimes they explode, though. Maybe the tests thing you're being unfair? They don't like the grades your giving them?"

[fh-resaffairs.livejournal.com]

[OOC: If you don't find this out IC from somebody, you can assume that Tara finally finds out she has a welcome packet that directs her to stop by the Office of Residential Affairs to get her housing sorted out. Anyway, yeah. Cheers.]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Well, that's an extreme example of the pen not working. But you're right!"

Tick pondered the second point. "I'm trying to be fair, but maybe we're just coming from two different perspectives. Do you think the tests might settle down if I explain the grades I'm giving?"

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Wow, that's good service. Responding to a question that was never even finished. The FH staff is truly top-notch!]

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara nods, smothering a grin. "And maybe if you explain that it's not personal?"

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Egads! I like the way you think! Maybe they'll work with me now!"

[OOC: From the right username, too!]

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara grins. "Also, it's possible some of the tests are embarrassed to be graded in front of the others. You might want to do them privately. Away from the other papers." She tries very hard not to laugh, and almost succeeds.

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"But if I do that, won't they get mad over which one is graded first?"

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"That's a good point." Tara bites her lip. "Maybe do it randomly? Shuffle them all together, so they know it's not personal? And someone else could sit with the other papers while they wait, so they don't feel neglected."

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Ooh! Shuffling sounds good! Even if it doesn't improve their moods, at least they'll be dizzy!"

"I don't know about bringing anyone else in, though. It's just too dangerous at this point!"

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara nods. "No, you wouldn't want to put anyone else in the way of angry test papers. Perhaps something to distract them? Maybe some bright and pretty pieces of paper for them to look at, so they're not so focussed on you?"

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Brilliant! I must find goldenrod paper!"

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Good luck," Tara smiles sweetly at The Tick, shaking her head slightly as she turns to go.

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, chum! Have a good night!" Tick ran off to find some goldenrod-colored paper. He had no clue where to find any this late at... Actually, he did have an idea.

[fh-resaffairs.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Actually, it's more like we're obsessive. 8) But we do try, so, thank you!]