[h2][right]Matt Harken - Mordhaben's Proper[/right][/h2]

With some astonishment, Matt beheld the rather unceremonious entrance of the administrator. While he had certainly heard that there would be chimera among the staff he hadn't imagined that there were quite so many, nor that they would be quite so.... monstrous. Having never seen a chimera from up close before today Matt couldn't help but stare at the absurd lobster man, and in fact missed Boorkat's entire speech. He had no intention of being a racist, but he was rather worried about what it meant for the school if the person in charge was a monster person. A rather angry monster person, too, if his 'tone'(?) was anything to judge by. It was only the novelty of moving images that snapped Matt back to reality as the film started.

It opened up with the iconic imagery of brave young soldiers in their natural environment. Matt was a bit overwhelmed at the sheer manliness on display, although reassured at the confidence in these people's every movement. Clearly the country was being protected by the best of the best. Unfortunately Matt wasn't exactly soldier material, as he was well aware, although if he were he would have jumped at the chance to join the men in the film. It looked like a good time, after all, and he'd be doing a lot of good. But before Matt could go over the pros and cons of army life the film started to take a sudden dark turn. Some kind of evil fog monster attacked, and seemed to destroy the entire town! Matt was shocked, seeing these brave men suddenly dumbfounded. What was that thing, that it was able to so casually brush past the soldiers and deal so much damage.

The lobster man seemed to be of the opinion that this Terraphage was no longer a threat, but such words were no assurance to Matt. How was anyone supposed to stop that thing if it attacked? Certainly not the lobster. All at once his unwavering faith in the safety of the nation was severely shaken, and the ominous tone of the following message did nothing to assuage the situation. Looking a bit paler he walked into the cafeteria, hoping a bit of good food would set his mind at ease.

Like everything today, the cafeteria was filled with new sights and sounds. And now also smells. The menu was filled with things he didn't recognize, and some he did recognize but wouldn't ever have considered 'food'. Who would eat crickets? Maybe it was for the chimera. After all, there was no way that they'd be allowed to eat people on campus. While he would have to try all these new things (well maybe not the crickets) eventually, after a day filled with strangeness he longed for the comforting embrace of good, simple food. He managed to stuff most of a chicken onto his plate, complimented by baked potatoes slathered in gravy and a crop of carrots. They weren't quite as good as they were back home but no matter where you were, chicken was still chicken. At least that was one thing that would never change. Matt set upon his food with a ravenous appetite that one would not expect of such a small person. In food he found a small piece of home, which would serve him well as his day got ever stranger.

Mealtime was interrupted by a nearby scuffle with a doglike chimera. It barked something at some girl about machinery and being a soldier, licked it's plate a bunch and acted like anything it just did made sense. Matt just shrugged it off. It was a dog person, so it probably didn't know about *people* manners. Although it was a bit rude, even for dogs. Baxter back home was always nothing but pleasant. Absentmindedly Matt wondered if one was supposed to 'train' a chimera or 'educate' them. Would it be offensive if he asked? It probably would be. 

Speaking of offensive, some strange girl was loudly announcing that she was looking for a 'friend'. Matt stared for a moment and then looked away, as if protecting his eyes from a bright light. He had found it, after all of these years. That holy grail he had seen only in his dreams. Someone more socially awkward than he was. Aghast he once more glanced in her direction, as she continued to ask people. It seemed she was oblivious to the glances she was getting from the students around her, as well as the concept of 'personal space'. It hurt him in a way he didn't know he could get hurt, in a strange mixture of sympathy and secondhand embarrassment. How could she act like that? Was it even possible for a person to be that clueless? Maybe she was really drunk or something, and would come to regret this later. How horrible it would be for one's first impression to be so thoroughly ruined. Having been a bit of a social recluse all of his life Matt couldn't help but sympathize and, in a rare bout of courage, decided to do something about it. He probably wouldn't be here long anyway, so why not at least try and help this girl while he was here? The warm meal in his belly granted him confidence, and he strode up to the strange girl even as she was attempting to get someone's attention. "Ah, miss, that uh.... isn't how you find friends. You should probably sit down for a bit and sober up." Matt offered, feeling a bit more awkward now that he was actually there.