BWI Airport Portalocity Lounge, Saturday Morning

[thegreatmanfredo]

Saturday morning, an elderly teal and white RV pulled into the dropoff lane outside the airport and disgorged a lanky teenaged boy and his bags onto the pavement, the driver asking him as he went if he had his laptop, migraine medication, and assorted other essentials. "Now get going and make some friends," she told him. "I've got a consult to get to in Virginia."

"I love you, Grandma," he said, and closed the door of the RV. As Xylda peeled out on her way to, he assumed, her next mark, Manfred headed into the airport, stopping off at Starbucks for a caffeine infusion before following airport employees' instructions until he found the right room. He was apparently the first one here, but he knew it was the right place because of the incredibly glittery banner.

High school, here he came.

Comments

Re: Trip to Fandom

[thegreatmanfredo]

"Uh, hi," Manfred said as he carried his bags aboard the bus.

Why did he suddenly feel vaguely wary, like the bus might blow up or something?

Re: Trip to Fandom

[uncertain_dume]

Who knew! It probably helped that there weren't any explos-- actually, no, Sabine was on the bus. There were definitely explosives.

"Hey," Kanan said, nodding at the kid. "Welcome to... the bus. I guess. The picnic'll be more engaging, I'm sure."

Re: Trip to Fandom

[thegreatmanfredo]

"I guess we could get the party started on the bus, but then someone would probably get carsick," Manfred said thoughtfully.

Re: Trip to Fandom

[uncertain_dume]

"My money is on Meep Meep back there," Kanan noted, shrugging. "And that other one was hoping to get some sleep during the bus ride."

It was like these kids wanted to suck all the fun out of it.

"... That said, you want to get the party started, I'll have my hands too full just driving it to really stop you."

Re: Trip to Fandom

[thegreatmanfredo]

"I didn't bring my party in a box, darn," Manfred said.

"...also I don't think that guy says anything but meep."

Re: Trip to Fandom

[uncertain_dume]

"I haven't heard anything but meep from him either," Kanan agreed, glancing up in the mirror to look back at Beaker for a moment. "I guess there's one in every batch of new students."

Hell, there was that one time when the only new student was the pink girl with the weaponized sprinkles.

"Fandom's a little bit like that."

Re: Trip to Fandom

[thegreatmanfredo]

"Yeah, you know, my grandma said I wouldn't be the weird kid here, but I don't think I really grasped how, uh, 'like that' it would be." Probably because he was used to always being the weird kid.

Re: Trip to Fandom

[uncertain_dume]

"Yeah, you're the weird kid right along with everyone else," Kanan replied with a shrug. "Hell, half the teachers are weird kids, too. I'm sure you'll fit in just fine."

Besides the sleepy girl, he seemed possibly more normal than the rest of them so far, at least by Earth standards. And only at a glance.

Re: Trip to Fandom

[thegreatmanfredo]

Well, there weren't any dead people on this bus, so his weird was not really in ascendancy just yet.

"Thanks, I guess," Manfred said. "I'll just uh--" he gestured vaguely and headed toward the back of the bus. "Find a seat."

Re: Trip to Fandom

[uncertain_dume]

"Not a problem," Kanan said, waving him off casually. "Welcome to Fandom."

Maybe the bus wouldn't explode!