[h3][i][b]Last Month Of Previous Semester[/b][/i][/h3] [color=darkgray]Banjo slipped quietly through the back way, around the A.R.C to get to the community farm, sneaking furtive glances behind himself to ensure nobody was watching where he was going. Just as he had for the last few months when he had spare hours. [color=white]"You again..."[/color] Laura spoke. [color=white]"You know you could just come in the front way. But then your friends might see you, hey? And then what would they think?"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"Do I look like I care what anyone thinks?"[/color] [color=white]"Ah... right now..? Yeah, you do. The usual?"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"Yeah. Yeah, the usual."[/color] Laura smiled. [color=white]"Go on then. She's already all tacked up. Figured you'd be coming. Just clip a radio."[/color] Banjo was about to open his mouth and she pre-empted him. [color=white]"Just take it, its the rules."[/color] Banjo put a raised foot in a stirrup and pulled himself up into the saddle. He opened his mouth, and Laura faced he other way miming every word he would say perfectly, they'd had this conversation far too often already. [color=darkgoldenrod]"I'm stickin' to the flats, she's the most sure-footed thing here and I'm me... if I eat dirt, bring the shotgun and put us both out of our misery..."[/color] Laura smiled and turned around. [color=white]"About that, what if I said I might have something more fun in mind..."[/color] Banjo only gave an unimpressed grimace, that could only pre-empt delivery of his relationship status. [color=darkgoldenrod]"You know--"[/color] [color=white]"No... not anything like that. Also... ew. I let the stock out to feed in the outer, thought you might want to help me bring them in."[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"..."[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"...you knew I wasn't gonna stick to the flats. Didntcha?"[/color] [color=white]"Be a waste of the most sure footed hills pony here, and like you said, you're you."[/color] She rode alongside, and handed him a clip-on radio. They rode out to the hill trails and curled around to start bringing in the ag stock. [color=white]"Keep wondering why you take that one. Is it just the--"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"No, it's not the name. Trust me when I say that has nothing to do with it."[/color] [color=white]"Ahhh... is that why you're embarrassed."[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"I take 'er cos she's the best mountain pony here. Two parts thoroughbred, one part Sable Island horse with a bitta Canadian Rustic Pony mixed in. I take her on and off the trails. Could put 'er in tap shoes and dance her back up the hills. Can go anywhere. Do anything."[/color] [color=white]"But she's a bit small, isn't she? You wouldn't want anything a bit bigger, like Palamon?"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"Palamon's a bloody clydesdale. I'm not pullin' a plough or patrollin' a bleedin' parade. I take Palamon on the slopes, we'd both be in for a ghost train ride..."[/color] Laura smiled. [color=white]"Ok."[/color] Banjo waited for it. He picked up his pace a bit. [color=white]"So it's not because she's called 'Banjo'..."[/color] He could hear her smirking in her voice behind him. He stuffed his tongue in his cheek. [color=darkgoldenrod]"I assure you. It's not a bloody selling point."[/color] [color=white]"I mean, you see how it could be found funny..."[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"Bloody hilarious."[/color] He deadpanned. [color=white]"So is that why you sneak in the back way. Don't want to be seen riding a little pony called 'Banjo'?"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"Look, she's not named after me! She was called that before I ever got here!"[/color] Laura tried not to openly laugh. Her face hid it poorly. [color=darkgoldenrod]"It's a gender neutral bloody horse name! A coincedence!"[/color] A pair of cows caught sight of the riders and broke for the safety of the hills. [color=darkgoldenrod]"And she's a rippa bloody pony at that, I won't have her coppin' no more shit."[/color] He opened up Banjo to a gallop and looked to cut the cattle off, but they'd already started their descent. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Aww Hell..."[/color] He called out as he saw the cattle break. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Hiy!"[/color] He let out a gutteral grunt to the pony and urged her on. Laura watched as Banjo's tail and hind legs disappeared down the steep descent, and pulled up her own mount. Waiting interminable seconds. She reached back for her clip on radio and called to him, only to be met with silence. [color=white]"Banjo? Banjo!?"[/color] A few seconds later the cattle emerged from down the steep hill. She waited a little longer for what chased them back up. Banjo performed a neat little sideways dressage passage gait back up the hilltop, smirking all the way. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Told ya... I could have her tap dance all the way back up here."[/color] Laura shook her head, and turned her own horse to get back to task. A clip of his heels into her sides, and Banjo was back at a trot. They continued bringing cattle in, as the sun slowly descended. Along the way the pair saw a sagged section of fence. They stopped and Banjo re-staked the post and fixed the tension, whilst Laura watched on. [color=white]"Come on... getting dark."[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"Well, it'd be quicker if you leant a bloody hand. Whose bloody job is this supposed to be anyway? I'm just a bloke borrowin' time on a rental pony."[/color] He planted his foot back in the stirrup and threw himself back over into the saddle again. [color=white]"About that..."[/color] As the pair rode back towards the setting sun, the in paddock and the stables. [color=white]"I'm a senior with no post-grad. Not looking for any fancy law degree or doctorate. Last few weeks now. Most of the community contribution kids are volunteers, but they like us to pick a successor to at least watch over the whole deal. Someone who actually knows what they're doing to make the transition smoother."[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"Eh..?"[/color] Banjo looked surprised at what he was hearing. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Awww bloody no. No bloody way. I've got a prime gig set up over at the library now. Took me years to get it all wired. I barely have to do anything at all now. They leave me bloody be. I go in-Smooth ride-Get left alone and I'm in and out."[/color] [color=white]"Yes. But is that still what you want? You could come out here, ride around, fix a fence and be left alone, with all this."[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"You understand that sounded a lot more appealing in your own head before you actually spoke those words, right?"[/color] [color=white]"There's volunteer kids on community contribution. You train them. You basically do as much or as little as you want. Depends how much you want to delegate. It's all up to you how hands on you want to be."[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"What part of anything about me makes you think I want to either have, or be, a boss? Responsible for anything beyond meself?"[/color] Laura ignored his protestations. [color=white]"Look... just think about it. Give it a few weeks to marinate. If you don't like the idea, let me know, I'll still have a couple weeks to find someone else. But you know all of this. You can fix fences, you can handle the stock, Hell, you're better at handling the hill rides than I am."[/color] Banjo sighed, and looked out at the fast setting sun. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Don't think I don't know what this is... find yourself a bloody Aussie to put in charge of the sheep dip..."[/color] Laura laughed. [color=white]"Just think about it..."[/color] [/color] [CENTER][COLOR=darkgoldenrod][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/27900000/Alex-alex-pettyfer-27913840-500-238.gif[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=darkgoldenrod][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]The Farm/The Beach[/I] - [I]Pacific Royal Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=darkgoldenrod][b]Welcome Home #1.003:[/b][/COLOR] [I]I've Been Through The Desert On A Horse... Which Shall Remain Nameless[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=darkgoldenrod][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][indent][sub][color=darkgoldenrod][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]Nil[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=darkgoldenrod][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [color=white][I]What? As If There was a whole previous game with aspects of existing continuity? That would be preposterous. Good day, sir! I SAID GOOD DAY![/I][/color][/right][/SUP][/indent] [color=gray]It was early morning, and despite the forecast for a warmer day, there was still a chill in the morn. It was Canada after all. Banjo made his way to the Community Farm for his first day in the role. He was supposed to be there earlier buuuut-- well, he was him. He was a little curious to see the kind of kids who'd be waiting for him though. Supposedly four freshmen. There were people who had been previously working the farm as their Community Contribution, but they all stepped down or transferred after it became news that he'd be in his role. Either because they'd hoped to get the role, or because they otherwise weren't eager to be working in a position "under" him. He had a reputation. These four however. Freshmen. Didn't know him. Didn't even have the sense to ask. The thought of the job was probably more on their minds than whoever the person caretaking would be. Banjo saw the four talking and looking confused. They were presumably wondering why nobody else was here. Even if they weren't on time, surely they'd be at the farm doing other duties..? He stood back and considered them with a smirk, before approaching. He slowly walked towards them rubbing his hands together. One of the students noticed him and turned to face, tapping another on the shoulder and soon they were all aware of him and waiting. He kept rubbing his hands together as he approached, then gestured to his hands with a nod of his head. Another student caught on and began mimicking him, rubbing his hands together. Banjo nodded and straightened up as if proud that someone had picked up on it, with a widening smile. He kept rubbing his hands together. Others started to pick up on it, rubbing their hands together and smiling, happy to be participating in some kind of ritualistic comeraderie, until Banjo finally broke the silence. [color=darkgoldenrod]"So who here hasn't 'ad their hand up a cow..?"[/color] The smiles dropped from their faces. Their hands suddenly froze. He cackled at their reaction. Eventually they all broke and a few started chuckling in relief. Others remained stunned. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Buncha bloody drongos. It's your first day. But seriously, keep warmin' your hands up. Y'r gonna be milkin' cows. Hey, somethin' tells me, you're gonna be a natural, Lonely Hearts."[/color] He said, referring to a quiet, weedy freshman still reeling from his initial joke. [color=blue]"Umm... You are going to be teaching us how to milk the cows, right Mister..?"[/color] A blonde girl asked. Banjo ended the sentence with a sudden hand gesture. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Two things, Blondie: First, the word 'teaching' does not exist here. Nobody is teaching anybody anything. You're going to be observing a bunch of boring chores around a farmyard environment and if any of you pick up how they're done by osmosis, then goody for you. Second, there's no Mister here. Least of all me."[/color] A mousey girl next to the blonde girl raised her hand. Banjo gave a screwfaced "Are you kidding me?" expression, but she continued to raise her hand and wait to be addressed. Banjo eventually shook his head at her inability to take a hint. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Yes? Next-to-Blondie?"[/color] [color=salmon]"Umm... Shouldn't we, like, introduce ourselves or something?"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"Why? I don't care. Also, Next-to-Blondie, considering the kind of shit and substances you're likely to be getting on your hands comin' round here... it'd be appreciated if you kept them below face level."[/color] [color=limegreen]"Then how do we ask questions? Also, don't you need to know who we are to fill out our Community Contribution cards?"[/color] Asked the remaining boy. Before covering his mouth, realising he hadn't raised his hands. [color=darkgoldenrod]"You just did it, Hugh. Congratulations on your first stage of personal development. As for the other stuff. It doesn't matter and I don't care. That's going to be a common answer. May want to write that last one down."[/color] He walked towards the milking sheds. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Now come on, I don't want to piss away all of today dealing with you lot. Day looks too damn good."[/color] He looked up at the sun with a smile across his face. [/color] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/epOJm1o.jpeg[/img][/center] [hr] [color=gray]Banjo sat on the upper flybridge of the Butler's boat in a 'Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' black band t-shirt and shorts, as the older man whistled and cast another line into the Pacific. Most of the simple conversation had been had already. What are you hoping to catch? What bait have they got you on? Areas re-trodden to death already. Dundas Island had a range of fish in its waters from salmon and chinook to halibut, and the bait of choice to the man at the tackle shop was invariably herring, and generally to reasonable success. It was dull and repetitive, but whilst the older man baited lines, his attention was busy elsewhere and conversation would be nil to stilted. So Banjo sat up in his chair on the flybridge sunbathing in the traditional sense of the word. Meanwhile, the man downstairs cutting bait in the mezzanine was getting wary of the silence. Silence and Banjo meant boredom was settling in. Boredom settting in with Banjo was bad news. So silence from the rambunctious young adult was as ominous as rolling dark cloud on the horizon. [color=white]"That your classmates over there on the shoreline?"[/color] He called up from beneath. [color=darkgoldenrod]"Possibly. Could be anyone. Most of the school's taken to the beach for the last week without classes. Other than Community Contribution duties, most kids on the island have free days."[/color] The Butler could hear the disinterest dripping off every word. He was happy just to lounge around. Maybe. [color=white]"Yeah, must be. I reckon I see your bird over there on the shore, under the umbrella in a two piece..."[/color] The boat started rocking heavily. It got slightly darker as if passing under light cloud cover and a chilled breeze blew through. [color=white]"Oi, careful! What are you doing up there?"[/color] Banjo's breathing quickened and halted, as is body turned blacker than the darkest night and the orange corona surrounded him. Muscles and sinew re-knitted within his flesh and his synapses flared and fired once again from the familiar exquisite sensation. His body stopped seizing and he regained control after the initial change, reverting to his usual appearance. Muscle throbbed with potential. The boat rocked harder still as there was an almighty splash, as Banjo jumped overboard from the flybridge and started swimming. The Butler steadied himself grabbing onto the bait table. [color=white]"Oi! OIII! You little nutcase! Don't jump off the fly! Least of all juiced up to the bloody gills! It's 38 feet and you still damn near tipped her!"[/color] But he was already barely in earshot. The Butler's smile widened, and he stretched out on on the lounge in the cabin, hands behind his head, and his hat pulled down just above his eyes, glued on the lines. Another beautiful restful day in paradise. Banjo powered through the water with long clean strokes. As he got closer he could see he was being lied to, not necessarily that Calliope wasn't there under an umbrella... more that it would have been impossible to tell. Presumably the cunning old bastard just wanted him off his boat for some more free time. The thought would normally be enough to make him get back on out of spite, but truth be told he was getting bored stiff anyhow. Fishing made a nice change, but he just went out on the water too much. Almost every day. He didn't understand how he wasn't sick of it. Banjo was done with it and he was only spending a little extra time with him because of the holidays. As he approached the shore, he worked a little harder and got himself into a wave, to body surf closer to the shore. The wash breaking gently over him. He considered catching another, but he was close enough to shore now, it'd probably be quicker just to do it under his own steam. With three more strong strokes he found himself at wading depth, and got to his feet for the walk ashore. He could make out Lorcán's board on the shore, and a grin creased across his face at the thought that maybe it wouldn't be so far fetched that she might be here. Calli generally did not care for the beach. At all. But she generally had her finger more on the social pulse of what their other team-members were up to, and if there were a few of them here, well that certainly upped the odds. His shorts squelched, he furrowed his brow and tried to wring out the edges. They'd dry soon enough though. Maybe. Shirt would at least. He took his shoes and socks off and carried them. He'd have to find a rock or something to dry them off on. [/color]