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[i]Well. I can’t remember the last time I was ignored so thoroughly. [/i]

The moment Robert laid eyes on the girl outside their team’s room, he rushed over to her, leaving Sand to look on as the two lovebirds kissed and spoke to each other, just low enough for Sand to have trouble making out the words. Before she could even think of approaching, the two went on their way, leaving Sand alone in the hallway.

[i]Rude. Walked him over from the infirmary and not so much as a ‘goodbye’.[/i] Still, a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. It seemed Robert was not quite as alone as he had told her.

Leaving the pair to their own affairs, Sand entered her room. It was only a pit-stop, either way. She stored her bag under Delta’s bed and quickly shuffled out of the room and into the dorm’s hallways once more.

The sound of sobbing made her hesitate as she turned another corner, where she saw a small girl crying in the arms of a young woman. Sisters, she guessed. It was the day for it. Perhaps she had stumbled into another heartfelt reunion? 

That was as much thought as she gave the matter, choosing to simply walk past the pair. Judging from the call she had received while waiting for Robert to come out of the infirmary, a guest of her own would arrive at the air docks soon enough. Better not to make them wait.

[hr]

Sand eyed the people milling about in the docks. An airship had recently arrived, letting out another wave of visitors mingle with their respective wave of awaiting students. Cheery conversation reached her ears from the groups ahead, where students caught up with their family and, when present, introduced them to the team members they had been staying with until then.

It was almost like a meeting with extended family, one could say.

Still, she couldn’t make out the one she had expected to see from the people leaving the airship. She had been sure this was the right vessel. Her hand reached into her pocket, producing her Scroll to check for any new messages, but the device showed her no new information. 

She flung her gaze back at the crowd with some irritation. Perhaps she should have taken her time and gotten herself some coffee on the way there.

A familiar figure drew her attention, and with nothing better to do, she began walking towards the green-clad hunter. She had not taken three steps when Trad turned and slammed straight into a nearby couple, almost earning him a swift jab to the nose for his troubles.

[i]If I didn’t know better, I’d think my teammates have rotten luck,[/i] she thought dryly. “That was interesting,” she said as she reached the group. “Hey Trad. And family? Sorry to interrupt. Have you seen a man with gray-orange hair and an ugly beard? About my height but a bit on the thick side? Probably smells of oil.”

“You sure know how to flatter someone.”

As if conjured by her dry description, a man approached from the side, appearing from behind another group of students. As she had described, the man had stout build, exaggerated by the thick jacket he had thrown over his white shirt and suspender pants. His orange hair was streaked with white, and a short but messy beard surrounded a smile as pale as his skin.

He wrapped a hand over Sand’s waist and pulled her into a hug, planting a kiss on the girl’s cheek before she could mount a protest. He looked up and down at her, knitting his brows over a prominent forehead. “Did you get higher? Quit that before I have to tiptoe to greet you.”

Sand broke out of the hug with a soft snort, looking at him with a wry smile. “You probably got shorter. And you did stink yesterday.”

“What did you expect? I was in the middle of work. Not that you have any right to complain when you went out to greet me covered in dirt and with your clothes in tatters.”

She shrugged, as if the point was of no consequence. “Why’d you think I had to call you?” 

Suddenly realizing they had begun sniping at each other before an audience, she gave a light cough, composing herself. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m Sand. This is Allen. I’m a recent transfer from Atlas.” She glanced back at Allen and said, “This is Trad, one of the teammates I told you about.”

“A guy,” he said somberly. “One of the three.”

A groan tried to escape her throat as she saw where the conversation was going, but she clamped down on it. “Really?” she asked him.

“You say that, but I was their age once, and I know what goes on in their head.”

“Even then, I’ll be fine,” she affirmed seriously.

Allen looked at her as though she had grown a second head. “What does that have to do with anything? Of course you’ll be fine. I’m not worried about you; I’m worried about them!”

Sand couldn’t contain a huff of annoyance. Glancing at the other student, she dryly offered, “Don’t worry about first impressions.” As an afterthought, she added, “Please.”

[@SevenStormStyle][@Awesomoman64]