[COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][INDENT][i] The car was hot, even with the air conditioning on full blast and having been in constant motion for hours. [color=darkgoldenrod]"I'm imploring you. Don't do this."[/color] [color=white]"Really, mate? Racism? From you? Somehow, despite your... well, general behaviour, I didn't expect [b]THAT[/b] from you as well. In fact, that was one of the few redeeming things I could say about you. 'Yeah, he's a complete nutbag. But at least he's no racist.'"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"I'm not [b]BEING[/b] racist. I'm [b]ANTICIPATING[/b] racism. There's a difference."[/color] [color=white]"Really?"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"Yes, bloody really. I'm going to be the only white kid in this school for... reasons. Reasons [b]I[/b] can't even explain, because I haven't been told them. How many there do you think are going to understand that? Or care to understand that?"[/color] [color=white]"Well there's only one way to find that out, isn't there, kiddo? What's the worst that could happen? Worried the blokes there might try to beat you up?"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"No. I'm worried the [b]GIRLS[/b] will try to beat me up. I'm worried the blokes will straight up try to murder me..."[/color] The car motored past three stacked stones, with a message of greeting. [center][quote]"Nilijarrk." <"You've arrived.">[/quote] [quote]"Batjji ganyam." <"It's good to see you.">[/quote] [quote]"Gun-gwa gwoyelwa Gulumoerrgin." <"This is Larrakia Country.">[/quote][/center] [center][img]https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/84152013_10157461075531408_1433587047179555507_n.jpg?stp=cp0_dst-jpg_e15_q65_s320x320&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=eX77gSdh-OoAX_SBsow&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=00_AfB0VTR15P5otdrrR9O0vqXfvqHXZRm982lmaMTrfDJI0Q&oe=649B2163[/img][/center] [color=white]"Look at that. 'It's good to see you.' It's written right on the rock. 'Anticipating racism'... Pfft.'"[/color] The Butler scoffed. [color=darkgoldenrod]"I'll be sure to make a note of what's written on the rock when they're slamming my head into it. Although I will admit, 'This is Larrakia Country' would send a stronger message..."[/color] [color=white]"Larrakia Country."[/color] The Butler said as he passed, reading the sign aloud as if the meaning would somehow be divined in the process. [color=white]"Well, what makes you so sure that they're going to go getting aggressive with you?"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"You mean aside from the fact that the Aboriginal people of this nation have been oppressed for, well, let's round it down and call it a couple of centuries, by people of the exact same hue as I happen to be..? Hell, they'll probably view me as their local colonial representative..."[/color] [color=white]"I think you're making more of this than they will..."[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod]"Larrakia People. Saltwater people. I'm sure they're looking to be friends, going around referring to themselves as 'salty'..."[/color] The Butler just shook his head with a laugh as he turned the wheel and headed for their next destination. Haileybury Rendall School in Darwin's Berrimah suburb. [/i] [/INDENT][/INDENT][hr][CENTER][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1070792705547980842/1079957264212971520/image.png[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=SILVER][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=SILVER][b]First Class: # 2.37[/b][/COLOR] [I]Gun-gwa gwoyelwa Gulumoerrgin. This is Larrakia Country.[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][color=SILVER][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] N/A[/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=SILVER][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Time Flies When Your Two Nights Is Everyone Else's Week[/I][/right][/SUP] [INDENT] Banjo lay in the bed watching an old rerun of Degrassi Junior High. He was barely paying attention. The nurse checked the myriad readings and levels of things that surrounded him, which mildly amused him as he remembered that he'd cut out earlier and people here still seemed to be none the wiser regardless. [color=white]"Oh!"[/color] She exploded. [color=white]"They're simulcasting the Team Swap and House selection ceremony on P.R.C.U radio and P.R.C.U TV."[/color] She changed the channel over to a slightly grainier network, which at this point was showing a stadium that was slowly on it's way from being a third filled as students filed in. Some kid was trying to host the presentation, with an awkward lack of success. Banjo waited for the nurse to leave before changing the station over. Degrassi had finished and now in its place was an even older show called [i]'The Littlest Hobo'[/i] that seemed to be about a dog. Two larger men walked into his hospital room, passed the on duty nurse's station and stood over his bed. The first thought that came to Banjo's mind was "Hyperion". But if he were scared, he didn't show it. Instead his mind raced as he considered his options, and what was at his disposal. If he juiced now, he could probably kiss his spleen goodbye. It'd probably instantly shred the patch-up job the surgeon's done, but he could live without a spleen. He'd also get very little out of the controlled air conditioning and he'd turned off his solar lamp out of irritation. It also would take time, and the initial sensation often left him exposed. He could start running his mouth to assess. He still had no idea who either of these two were. They'd made no attempts to introduce, nor state their purpose. They seemed to be waiting until he acknowledged them. Which wasn't generally a good way to handle a hit. Or so Banjo thought. It did seem somewhat counterproductive for that purpose. Banjo's eyes dropped from the dog on the television to the two men in the room. One of them threw an envelope onto the bed. [color=darkgoldenrod][sup][sub]"Two men to deliver one envelope? I pity the state of this nation's postal service..."[/sub][/sup][/color] He uttered glibly. [color=honeydew]"We didn't both get sent to deliver the envelope. We both got sent to deliver your answer. Two of us, there's confirmation."[/color] One replied. Let's call this mensa candidate Tweedle-dee for simplicity's sake. Banjo opened up the envelope. Inside were two strips of cloth and three cards. [color=darkgoldenrod][sup][sub]"Geez you blokes are serious about all this bloody nonsense, arencha? I'm tryin' to get meself right in here. Why do you have to do this now?"[/sub][/sup][/color] The two men rounded the bed on different sides. [color=linen]"Because the Chancellor said he would like an untainted response from you, in terms of your choices. With the ceremony being simulcast on--"[/color] Tweedle-dum started, before noticing what Banjo had been watching. [color=linen]"You kn-- You know the AV Club/Campus Media simulcast the ceremony on campus TV and radio, right?"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod][sup][sub]"I've been informed. Yes."[/sub][/sup][/color] Banjo replied icily. [color=honeydew]"Then why are you--"[/color] Tweedle-dee started to query before Banjo cut him off. [color=darkgoldenrod][sup][sub]"Why am I seeking a modicum of respite from all of this house and team garbage that the school seems to incessantly want to pump into me and hassle me with, including repeated harassment from school representatives and lackeys - you do both know you're lackeys, right? I'd hate to be the first way you discovered that about yourselves - before I even get any real visitors allowed in to come and visit me? Gee. I wonder why I might want to block out the noise."[/sub][/sup][/color] [color=linen]"We're not lackeys."[/color] Tweedle-dum defended himself. [color=darkgoldenrod][sup][sub]"There's something about the whole vibe of how you're both standing over my bed, that gives off the sense that you're a couple-a stand-over merchants."[/sub][/sup][/color] [color=honeydew]"Stand-over merchants?"[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod][sup][sub]"That's what I said... sorry for the lack of voice. Yeah. People who get paid to come in, be big and intimidate."[/sub][/sup][/color] [color=linen]"Why? Do you find us both intimidating?"[/color] Tweedle-dum chuckled. [color=darkgoldenrod][sup][sub]"I wouldn't know. If I were susceptible to that kind of thing, I wouldn't be here in the first place, now would I?"[/sub][/sup][/color] Banjo glared. It was difficult though. Since there was two of them and they were standing on either side of the bed. Tweedle-dee backed off, and found himself a seat in the corner. [color=honeydew]"Not stand over merchants. Not even standing over. See? Now make your picks so we can get out of here."[/color] Tweedle-dum backed off as well and sat in the wheelchair he'd left on the otherside of the room. Banjo emptied the contents of the envelope onto the bed. An Eclipse arm band and a Firebird armband - presumably like one Elle would have. And three cards. He shook the envelope to try and get the cards out, before Tweedle-dum interrupted. [color=linen]"Uhh... we'd like your answer about the team selection first."[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod][sup][sub]"Why?[/sub][/sup][/color] He said, with a sigh. Why did everything always have to be something with this bloody place. [color=linen]"It's just the way it's always done. School's kind of sticklers for tradition."[/color] [color=darkgoldenrod][sup][sub]"The school's been around since 1986. The internet is older."[/sub][/sup][/color] [color=honeydew]"Well, that's how traditions get formed, isn't it? Respect for how things have always been done."[/color] Banjo sighed audibly. And nobody in the room cared for his passive aggressive display, even with how much it hurt his chest to make such a display in the first place. [color=darkgoldenrod][sup][sub]"[b]Fine.[/b]"[/sub][/sup][/color] He grunted, with enough frost that his voice practically formed icicles. [color=darkgoldenrod][sup][sub]"I'm staying put. Blackjack."[/sub][/sup][/color] [color=white]"Noted. Team 21. Blackjack."[/color] Both Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum said in unison. The next one would be trickier. Ideally he'd like to be in whatever house Calliope was in. Make things simpler. He wouldn't have to sneak around at weird hours just to see her. And whilst he certainly figured he could find a way when healthy, round curfews and any other obstacles the school could throw up, he was certainly less than that right now. Living in the same bloc would certainly help. He tapped the bottom of the envelope until the three cards slid far enough down the envelope that he could pry them out and lay each one on his chest in the bed, all three were addressed 'To Andrew' which already started him off in a pissed off frame of mind: [color=white][table=bordered][row][/row][row][cell=active][indent][b]Greetings and Salutations Andrew,[/b] We are pleased to announce that after review, we have found you to possess great tenacity, a trait that we truly hold dear and revere in House Strigidae. We hope that you'll make ours your House of choice upon receiving your offers. Sincerely, [i]Theron Demetrios[/i][/indent] [center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1070345118718099546/1070345755564453919/Strigidae.png[/img][/center][/cell][/row][/table] [table=bordered][row][/row][row][cell=active][indent][b]Greetings and Salutations Andrew,[/b] We are pleased to announce that after review, we have found you to possess great solitary assertiveness, a trait that we truly hold dear and revere in House Gulo. We hope that you'll make ours your House of choice upon receiving your offers. Sincerely, [i]Robert Priest Jr.[/i][/indent] [center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1047910123206627378/1070121926682488892/House_Gulo.png[/img][/center][/cell][/row][/table] [table=bordered][row][/row][row][cell=active][indent][b]Greetings and Salutations Andrew,[/b] We are pleased to announce that after review, we have found you to possess great motivation, a trait that we truly hold dear and revere in House Canis. We hope that you'll make ours your House of choice upon receiving your offers. Sincerely, [i]Aiden Roth[/i][/indent] [center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1047910123206627378/1070080948160430130/Canis_House_Test.png[/img][/center][/cell][/row][/table][/color] Tenacity. Assertiveness. Motivation. He thought to himself. All three traits she possessed in spades by his reckoning. He thought about how she'd made repeated efforts to see him, despite constantly being sent away for the same reasons. Butting her head repeatedly against nurses to try and see him. He thought about the way she'd stood up for him on that night. Firmly, confidently and repeatedly against different people. Her drive, and determination to get what she was going for. "Well, shit..." He flipped back through the cards. [color=linen]"So..."[/color] Tweedle-dum echoed from his wheelchair. 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