fandomhigh | BWI Airport Portalocity Lounge, Saturday

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!event: newbie shuttle

BWI Airport Portalocity Lounge, Saturday

The plane down from New York hadn't taken long, but after all the time in airports, TJ was ready to be done with it all, and was regretting her refusal to let Dad take her in the jet. But nope, she was doing this on her own, no overprotective parents around.

Somehow, she thought the biggest danger here was going to be glitter. The stuff was everywhere. Most of it was concentrated on a huge banner that read FANDOM HIGH, but it never stayed just where you put it, did it?

She wheeled her suitcase over to one of the seats and perched on the back of the seats, tail out for extra balance, and took out her phone to text back that yes, Dad, yes, Mom, she'd made it just fine. And then maybe to whine to Aunt Kate about how she'd had to do that.

[Newbie shuttle ahoy!]

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Cutter definitely wasn’t a student but he figured catching the shuttle over to Fandom made the most sense and as soon as he could get to Fandom, the sooner he could get away from London and how bad everything was over there.

He had packed as many of his books and research papers in two very large suitcases, plus the additional work he’d been doing on the plane in a smaller suitcase . He definitely had more books than clothes at this point, which he’d packed in a duffel bag.

His phone rang in the process of making his way over to the waiting area, adjusting his duffel bag he picked it up and checked it even though he knew it would be Stephen. He then put the phone back in his pocket without answering it and looked around.

“Well I think I’m in the right place,” he remarked with a rather bemused look at the banner and all that glitter.

"Kind of hard to miss, isn't it?" TJ waved and glanced up at him, though she was paying more attention to her phone.

Look, she'd been on this level for ages. She didn't want to screw it up.

At first Cutter thought he was imaging things, he rubbed his eyes and blinked several times but the colour stayed the same.

Sorry TJ, Cutter was used to dinosaurs running through England but everything else was still new to him.

It felt rude to say something about that so he nodded, “erm…yes,” he said, small talk was really not his strong point, “at least it made it easy to find,”

He was really bad at this.

Hey, he got points for not saying anything out loud. Also for not trying to kill the mutie.

"Definitely that," she agreed. "We'll probably be finding it all over for weeks."

She glanced up again, actually took in who she was talking to, and ventured, "You a teacher?"

“They do seem to like the glitter,” Cutter was not used to so much glitter, he paused at her question, “I am, Professor Cutter - I’m teaching palaeontology this semester,”

"Oh, cool. Don't think I'm taking it, but still cool."

"I don't know if you're in the right place, but I'm glad you're in the same place as me," Charlie said cheerfully. Hey, potentially months away from the aunties trying to run her life and good looking people? Charlie was happy.

Cutter was trying to not focus on his phone that had started ringing again, he let it go to voice mail, “oh are you going to Fandom High?” he asked, trying to be conversational but small talk was really not his strong point.

"Oh yes, when the aunties get an idea in their head nothing can stop them," Charlie said cheerfully. "Luckily, I think it's an awesome idea."

“Oh, I used to teach at university in London, decided I needed a change of scenery,” Cutter paused, “I’m teaching palaeontology this semester, I’m Professor Cutter,” he introduced himself.

"Palentology! Like dinosaurs, right?" Charlie was cheerful and she was happy to talk dinosaurs with a professor. Not that she could add much to any conversation, but hey. "Nice to meet you, Professor Cutter. I'm Charlie Gale."

“Like the dinosaurs,” Cutter said with a small smile, normally he would point out there was a bit more to it then that but given his experiences the last year, he was more used to dealing with living dinosaurs than fossils.

“Same here,” he told her and then realised he wasn’t entirely sure what else to say, “er - what year are you in Charlie?”

"Freshman," Charlie said. "Probably should be a sophomore, but the aunties thought this was best after the past year."

“ Oh - I’m…” Cutter was at a loss as he tried to figure out what to say, “um …I’m sorry to hear that,” he finally settled on, unsure if this was the right thing to say.

"No, no, it's fine," Charlie said. "Bit of a hiccup after I, erm, turned fifteen, but nothing dire. And this? This is going to be amazing!"

"Err, well, it is a high school, sir," Meeka says, with a respectful bob of her head. "So I cannot say with any certainty whether you are or not."

“Oh then it’s definitely the right place,” Cutter nodded with a small smile, “I’m Professor Cutter, I’m teaching palaeontology this semester,”

"Oh dear, Professor, I am so sorry!" she said, looking appalled at her misstep. "I did not realize. Please forgive my presumption."

Batting a thousand, Meeka girl.

Cutter was not offended at all, in fact he was more amused than anything, “that’s quite alright,” he assured her, “I do seem to be the only adult here at the moment, it’s probably not common for teachers to catch the shuttle,” he observed.

"I have never been to a school like this before--" Or a school at all really, tutors had come to her and her sisters "--so I am unaware of the customs. Thank you for correcting my ignorance."

From her accent - and word choice - she seemed very Not From Around Here.

“Don’t worry about it,” Cutter assured her, “My last teaching job was at a university,” he told her, “so teaching at a high school will be new to me too,”

Not quite the same thing he realised but small talk was not something that he was good at.

From her expression, Meeka was clearly uncertain why someone would go from a university to a high school--but then remembered that adjunct professorships existed in America and that this might be a step up, pay-wise.

"I am certain the school will be happy to have a man of your experience," she said. "And I hope you find your work here rewarding and fulfilling."

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BWI Airport Portalocity Lounge, Saturday

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