Parent's Weekend: Slartibartfast has "Open Office". Saturday morning.

[isnotimportant.livejournal.com]

Benjy and Frankie, the pandimensionals, are still stood in front of the professor's chair, giving him a lengthy (if squeaky) lecture about the proper responsibilities a planetary designer owes to the client, and how they think he's been wasting his time fooling around here being a teacher.

The professor is still stood on his chair. It's been twenty-four hours now.

Oh, wait, the clocks went back an hour overnight. It's been twenty-five hours now.

His wine and his garlic bread are out of reach on the table. The garlic bread is now cold, the wine is cold no longer.

He'd be quite grateful if a student turned up, whether or not there were parents.

Comments

[isnotimportant.livejournal.com]

Yes, they commissioned the Earth from us, and then when that was destroyed, we did Earth II ... You know we built planets, yes?

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige looks even more confused now "Earth Two? Sir the world didn't get destroyed did it? When I mean is that why we're here?"

She thinks for a few moments looking deeply troubled "you build planets? no I didn't know that I thought it had something to do with the Big Bang."

[isnotimportant.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't worry about Earth one. This one's fine. And the Big Bang created the universe, not the planets. They came along much later. And there's always room for a little customisation.

There are some angry squeaks from the floor. Why can't you leave me alone? I don't work for you any more. More squeaks

Ah, I shouldn't keep on about the Earth, don't want to interfere with the programming Look, could you just pick the mice up and put them on the table? There's food there, and it'll save me worrying about them running up my robes, and I can get off this chair.

Oh, we're supposed to be doing Parent's Weekend. Are your parents here?

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige carefully picks up the mice, who seem to be squeaking at her in protest, and puts them up on a table kepping an eye on them.

She shakes her head looking upset "my parents are dead sir, my Grams is at the school, but she has three of us to check up on so I'm not sure when she'll be free. Sorry. I'll probably write the essay just to be safe. If that's ok?"

[isnotimportant.livejournal.com]

That's perfectly in order. I'm sorry about your parents. if your ... Grams? If your Grams has some free time, I'll be pleased to talk to her, but don't worry if not.

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

Paige smiles "thank you sir I'll keep that in mind and tell her. I'm sure she'd like to meet you." maybe she knows what a babelfish is

"I'm gonna go see if I can find my boyfriend friend James now. Good luck with the mice."

[isnotimportant.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Good of you to drop in.

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

That's ok sir, I'm glad a could help with a bit of luck I'll get extra credit she thinks to herself half joking