Ribsy gave a good natured eye roll to Davis. “Two three ohhhh,” she made a crash and burn motion with her fingers, then laughed. “If I am not at breakfast, come and scoop up my remains, Candidate Badger.” 

Davis chuckled low and delighted. “How about I come and we have a card game later tonight?” 

“What?” Ribsy's eyes went wide, innocent and sweet blue eyed girl, “I have homework, don't you?” 

“Fuck,” Davis shook his head. “Look, I'm sure she's just having a bad day. Take it easy on her.” 

With a companionable middle finger cocked his way, Ribsy hooked her bag up over her shoulder and went to find her room number. It wasn't far from Davis' place which was nice. It was also very much like every stereotype of what a room would look like. It smelled of sweat and perfumed soap, woman. Ribsy took in a deep breath and lined out for one of the open bunks, taking a top one and tossing her bag atop it. A smaller, heavier boned woman with dark eyes and darker skin gave her a small smile and took the other. 

“Shankari?” Ribsy leaned on the bunk and held out her hand. “Amanda Tucker, but my friends call me Ribsy.” 

Davis peered in, gave a whistle at the digs, then left as Ribsy pretended to throw something at him. Her call of, “pervert!” wafted after him and he was grinning as he entered into his rooms. 

Each bunk in his rooms was open and the other three were working out who would sleep where. Davis introduced himself and took the last bunk, being the last in the door. It only seemed fair. His bag was quickly unpacked and he settled down with the work Ribsy had unerringly said he had. The studying though was important. He wasn't the quickest tool in the shed, at least not as quick as some of the others who he'd been paired up with. During the testing, he'd been told that construction was what he was best suited for, of course. “But,” the psychiatrist had cleared his throat and tapped the page, “you're so damned sane, we may have another choice for you.” 

And so he'd ended up here. He wasn't sure just how sanity came into it, but then, up against Ribsy, maybe sanity was a bonus. Someone had to keep the ping-pongs from bouncing the walls down. 

Speaking of ping-pongs. Ribsy skated in twenty minutes later, Shankari on her coattails and a deck of cards with a pack of cigs under her arm. “Five card stud, boys?” she called out, low and sweet and Owen realized that maybe, in that moment of that stupid Japanese movie over her shoulder, he might have started to develop just the slightest bit of a crush. 

They filled in the table and Ribsy sucked on a cancer stick and Owen lost all of the money he'd set aside for one night's fun. He laid back on his bunk, read his book, and listened to the quiet talk. It was a lot like the Alaskan oil fields, the coarse talk and easy way of interacting. Everyone knew they had a job to do and they were focused on it in the way that said they would really rather not think at all about things. Someone had pulled out a bottle of whiskey but no one drank heavy. They just played, joked, and with time to spare, they made note of the need for showers and bed. 

Ribsy kicked him as she went by, her grin white and brilliant. “Davis,” she nodded her head at him. Owen went just slightly pink then reminded himself she wasn't interested in guys. Not that that made much of a difference on his interest. 

Twenty one thirty hours and Owen stood, freshly showered, ready for a day's worth of tests, and feeling legitimately nervous about the future. He tugged on his suit and looked for a breakfast spot. The space was full of others who were gung-ho at being there, unsure what to expect and so being super early. Ribsy was there, leaning against a wall, a pencil chewing in her jaws and a book stuck to her nose. She had her hair up atop her head and glasses on her eyes. She had to have twenty twenty or she couldn't be a Candidate, so he wondered at the glasses, if they were an affectation, but nevertheless, she looked comfortable. Most of the newest candidates were settled in around bowls of breakfast. Owen wasn't hungry so much so he just got a cup of joe, then settled down at a half empty table away from the others, wanting to watch the room a bit, figure out what he was going to do next.