fandomhighdorms | The stairwell, Sunday evening

Entry tags:

The stairwell, Sunday evening

After leaving the clinic, neatly stitched but still in a fair amount of pain, Jan made his way back to the dorms.

The smart thing to do would have been to sleep in the lobby. Yet, here Jan was, struggling up the stairs. Normally, it would take him a minute, maybe two, to leap up each set of stairs to the third floor. Tonight, he was taking them one limping step at a time.

He was going to be here for awhile.

[ooc: open, sure, and that answers the question of how Jan usually handles the stairs!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I...don't think so." His ears tilted in confusion. "I wish to eat through the winter. The food comes from the store. Sokka said you need green money before you are allowed to eat any of the food there, and that the only way to get the green money was to find a job." He looked at his hooves. "Which may prove difficult, given I lack hands."

"Oh! So you talked to Sokka!" Turtle nodded, giving Jan a sympathetic smile. "That's actually my store, you know...."

Jan nodded, and turned towards the next flight of stairs, putting one hoof on the first step. "That is why I thought you might be able to help me."

Which was certainly an interesting perspective, especially if...

Turtle lit up very quickly. "I know!" she said. "I can hire you! You can work at the store and not only get the money to pay for food, but also get a student discount for it. I mean, you probably won't be very good at stocking and the cash register might be tricky, but that's what we have Apu for."

"But, what could I do for you?" Jan asked, startled, craning his neck around to look at her hopefully. "Oh, I could drive away anyone who tried to take things without leaving money!"

"First thing that popped into my mind, too!" Turtle said with a grin. "I'd like to see someone try to steal with a warrior unicorn on staff! And you're very friendly, too, Jan, so you could help people find what they're looking for, once you've familiarized yourself with what we sell."

Jan's ears shot forward and he turned, ignoring the twinge in his shoulder, to walk over to nuzzle her. "Anyone who tries will get smacked with the flat of my horn," he promised. "Or shown my heels."

Turtle giggled, always happy to receive a nuzzle from Jan, and lightly gave him pets back along the side of his muzzle. "We do already have Liz," she said. "She's a robot dog, and she watches the store, too. I love her, but I have to admit, I think you'll be a bit more intimidating. Although I think you're probably just a susceptible to petting as she is."

Jan would have admitted that was true, if he hadn't so busy enjoying the ones he was receiving. They made him forget the hurts in his shoulder and flank. "In a herd, we groom each other, nudge, nuzzle - it is how we know we are safe and not alone, and how we communicate, more than with words." Which meant it really wasn't his fault that his ears were flopping sideways.

"Sometimes it's like that with people, too," Turtle observed, no where near letting up on rubbing Jan's muzzle. "Parents...well, some parents...will give their kids hugs and cuddles to make them feel safe and loved, and when you have someone you like, a boyfriend or a girlfriend, you do the same thing, so that sometimes, you don't even really talk, you just know how the other feels from how they hold you..."

She gave a faint smile and realized that it was very easy to be affectionate toward Jan; she almost wanted to nuzzle her nose against the soft velvet of his. "And I'll talk to G'Kar about hiring you. You can probably have one of his shifts, either Sunday or Tuesday."

"I have class on Tuesday, but only for a short time." Jan started whuffling her hair, and would have been more than happy to have his nose nuzzled.

The whuffling only got a little more giggling and a bit more vigorous of a fond rub. "I'll see about maybe getting you Sunday, then, if it's easier."

"Whatever is best for all." Jan nudged her hand, then sighed. "I should climb the rest of the stairs, and get settled for the night, so I am rested for class tomorrow."

Frowning with concern, Turtle's petting took on a sympathetic feel. "Do you have much further to go?"

"Just one more set, and then I'll be at the third floor, where my room is." He snorted. "I would ask for one lower down, but I want to stay with Dor."

"Oh, you're Dor's roommate?" Turtle asked, grinning a little, pleased to hear that. "He's okay, that Dor. Probably a good roommate for you, too, since he's very used to magical things. I'm all the way up on the fifth floor, so I've still got a while to go. Would you like me to keep you company until we get to the third, or would you just rather get the rest on your own?"

"Keep me company?" Jan replied hopefully.

"Sure," Turtle smiled, giving a small nod. "It's on my way, anywhere, and I've got time."

It meant something, really, when Turtle Wexler decided she had time for something. ~~Even if the mun was going to bed soooon~~.

"So what's it like rooming with Dor?"

~~Sleep well!~~ "He is a good roommate and a better friend," Jan replied as he once more began to climb the stairs.

"If he's around when you get back," Turtle said, "remind him about voting for me. And speaking of the elections, you're in the junior class, too, aren't you, Jan? Did you plan on voting?"

"Voting?" Jan turned a puzzled glance on her. "I am a junior, but I have never heard of voting."

"Well," Turtle said, plodding along up the stairs and never one to turn away from explaining voting, "we have elections here, for positions to help represent our classes in a student government. People are chose through voting, that is, putting a little slip of paper in a box with who you would like to represent you. I'm one of the many people hoping to represent the junior class, and so vote from you, since you're in my class, would be excellent."

That was close to the strangest thing Jan had ever heard. "So people choose who will lead?" he asked, obviously puzzled. "How do you decide? What if not everyone agrees?"

"That's why you vote," Turtle nodded. "The majority leads. Not everyone will agree; that's inevitable. But whoever has the most people on their side, then that's who will win."

He looked dubious for a moment, then remembered that humans were strange. "I will vote for you," he decided. "Because I trust you, and a leader must be able to be trusted."

(no subject)

stocksgrrl.livejournal.com - 2008-09-23 01:01 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only