Office #26, Monday

[chosehumanity]

At least today, Mitchell wasn't going to have to fear being assaulted by random vampires in his office, which was a cheery enough prospect to get him to go there. This time, he found no qualms in the idea of turning on his television and sitting back in his chair with a bag of nachos.

Honestly, the whole thing had him thinking maybe he should pay a visit to Bristol again sometime soon; he was starting to feel a little caged 'round here. Maybe a tall glass of lager and some real (tasteless, paper) crisps would help assuage the feeling.

Oh well. He popped a nacho into his mouth and propped his feet up on the desk.

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[bitten_notshy]

"So," Jack observed from the doorway after his religions class, "weekend ended with nothing going too terribly wrong, or nothing that made radio...?"

He was, actually, rather proud of how well Sebastien had managed himself on the island.

[Likely to be a slow in places today.]

[chosehumanity]

"No one I knew turned up," Mitchell supplied, looking up at him, "And I was only accosted and threatened by one vampire, so unless you-know-who had some sudden gender reassignment surgery..."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack shook his head. "I mentioned you on my list of professors, but I think he only made it to see one. There's a tiny bit of trouble with daylight."

Which, really, might have been for the best, given the professor Sebastien had met was also a vampire.

"And I only met one woman I hadn't seen before. Vicki?" If he didn't know the name, Tony wasn't outed, and no harm was done.

[chosehumanity]

"Yeah, Vicki," Mitchell replied, settling back. "I would've stayed longer after daylight, but I figured I'd stop at one vague accusation of having designs on maiming a student."

Other vampires made Mitchell cranky. And possibly not entirely kind to the individuals of the species.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack rubbed his forehead. "Lovely. Ignoring that if you did have evil plans, you've had ... what is it, five months now? To carry them out."

And that Tony was as fond of limited maiming as Jack was, but that was beyond the bounds of what needed to be discussed.

"She's very young." Okay, fifteen years older than Jack and immortal, but he was grading on a curve -- for a vampire, that was a toddler. "That's what Sebastien said, at least."

[chosehumanity]

"You could tell," said Mitchell, who could've easily been mistaken for a vampire just as young as she was if you didn't pay closer attention. Vicki had, anyway. "But the visit worked out?"

Mitchell's sense of smell leaned towards yes.

[vanillajello]

"Heeey," Kate drawled, wandering into Mitchell's office. Marching in was simply out of the question today. After the weekend she'd had, she was still pretty surprised she'd even made it out bed, let alone out of the dorms today.

Still, she looked significantly less stressed out than the previous few weeks. "So, the world didn't end. Entirely."

[chosehumanity]

"I told you," he said, with a laugh in his voice. "We didn't even get smushed by elephants raining from the sky."

[bitten_notshy]

"Yes, it worked out," Jack said, refusing to blush. "I'm happy and that made him happy, so it's all very nice. And we took him bowling, which was just ... I never would have thought of it but it was about perfect."

If only because it had given the three vampires something to focus on besides glaring at each other.

"I talked to him about seeing if we can find a way to stay in this time after I graduate."

[chosehumanity]

Perfect. Bowling. With vampires. Mitchell was hiding his skeptical face; humans could be fairly odd in exploring what he wanted. He didn't need details.

"Fond of what we did to the place?" he asked, instead.

[vanillajello]

"There were a few times when I would've completely welcomed that, though," Kate noted. "Like, if I'd seen an elephant falling, I would've just ran under it, screaming 'please smush me'."

[chosehumanity]

"Now with that, you have to be more specific," he pointed out, "You could've just gone the normal route and hoped for a black hole."

[bitten_notshy]

"It might just be the island, but I think I am," Jack said. "It's ... easier. And if my history ends up tracking this one, I don't want to live through two wars just to start with."

Which, Jack realized pessimistically, might just mean he'd end up in the middle of the great war of the 21st century.

[chosehumanity]

"They were pretty bad wars," he admitted, an ironic smile on his face. "Trust me on that one." He eyed Jack. "No one else you'd be leaving?"

[bitten_notshy]

Well, he'd be pulling Sebastien away from Mrs. Smith and whatever court he'd put together in Baltimore, but that was only a point in the plan's favor in Jack's head.

"Not really. He's my family, and I have better friends here than there."

[vanillajello]

"Black holes are good for when you're just embarrassed. But elephant-smushing is for when you want someone else to have to deal with a mess, just like you've just had to," she said, able to sound amused by it now that it was over.

"Like, say, when you've had to track down your mom, who isn't currently your mom."

[chosehumanity]

He winced. "She went alter?"

[chosehumanity]

Not that Mitchell hadn't abandoned Bristol in a flurry with only George to back him up. "Sounds like a plan, then," he said, "If you can get the causeway to let you out on current-day Baltimore."

[vanillajello]

"Twice." She made a face. "First sometime a little after she left here, and then again yesterday night."

[bitten_notshy]

That's something I probably need to ask the admin team about, isn't it

"I didn't know it was moody," Jack said, pursing his lips. "It could say no?"

[chosehumanity]

Mitchell shrugged. "You're from another time," he said, "I've seen a lot, but time travel's still up to Mr. What."

[chosehumanity]

"I'm sure she didn't cause any damage," he said, pulling a face. "She was fine with me."

[vanillajello]

"Yeah, well, Alice talked to chef Tatou, so I'm kinda worried about that," she replied. "And when she was T last night, she was loose at Caritas, and who knows what she got up to there before my brother caught up with her."

She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just gonna wait and see what the consequences are."

[chosehumanity]

"Like I said, I'm sure they're not that bad," Mitchell replied, going for the reassuring smile. "The worst they can think is that you're... from a really idiosyncratic family."

[vanillajello]

"Right," Kate snorted. "I guess idiosyncratic covers the possibility that Mom hit on some of my friends. ...Which I so hope she didn't. But anyway. We'll see." She paused for a moment. "So, did she have a lot of questions for you?"

[chosehumanity]

"Nothing much," he said, leaning back, "I have excellent talking to parents skills."

[vanillajello]

"I'm sure. That's why she turned into a chirpy, old-fashioned bitch after talking to you." It was a gentle sort of snarky comment, making it obvious she didn't actually blame him.

"Well I guess that's good. I was kinda afraid she'd try to grill everyone about everything because I've been so vague."

[chosehumanity]

"I just told her you're doing well." Mitchell popped another nacho into his mouth. "And that she picked a good school. I think I deserve a bribe."

[vanillajello]

"You might be right about that," Kate smirked. "Although I'd say a reward instead of a bribe. Unless I'm supposed to bribe you into not calling Mom and telling her that I'm lazy and this place is an insane asylum."

[chosehumanity]

"Phrase it however you like," he said, loftily, and grinned. "I expect baked goods."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack didn't quite get the reference, but he understood its tone. "Should probably make a test run," he speculated. "It's let me into this time, but other worlds. I've no idea about my own."

He ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry. Talking to myself."

[chosehumanity]

"Might as well clear out your thoughts," Mitchell said, idly, "Or it'll get stuffy in there. Sounds like a plan."

[bitten_notshy]

"Something like one, anyhow," Jack agreed. "... besides, I should see what I'm in for before I commit to it anyhow."

[chosehumanity]

"You've got a few things to catch up on," Mitchell agreed. "Cars, video displays, really decadent fast food." He shot Jack a careful look. "If you do decide to wander off, take someone along, take some time to figure things out. I can even tag along if you'd need it, though no doubt you'd rather run free with the rest of the henhouse."

[vanillajello]

"Then baked goods you shall receive, kind sir." She curtsied with a grin. "So I should probably head out. Apparently I have baking to do."

[chosehumanity]

"Then sod on off." It was a cheerful order. "To the stove with you!"

[vanillajello]

"Right, I'll return to my rightful place," Kate said solemnly, then grinned at him. "Good day!"

And then she was out the door.

[bitten_notshy]

"No, hang on," Jack said thoughtfully. "I'd need to see how safe things would be for Sebastien, too. You're better equipped to do that than I am. It's not a bad idea at all."

[chosehumanity]

"I can manage that," he said, giving it a moment's thought, but not much more than that. "Just tell me when you intend to go."

[bitten_notshy]

"There's a break at the end of the month, isn't there?" Jack asked. "That week should work."