[And so you get ready to leave Unicorn house, guided by Rica. Any final business here?] * Ben, as they exit the house, says quietly to Rica, 'Do you mind if Kitty and I talk with you alone for a second? I think it'd be best if I said this out of earshot of any students.' Certainly. * Katherine tags along, glancing at the pictures but not getting too close. [Rica leads you to a secluded section of the hallway with a clear view both ways.] [The pictures glance back.] * Katherine covers her mouth before she eeps this time and averts her eyes. Rica! Rica's a good person to look at. Yes? 'There's no delicate way to say this, Rica, but while Jessica is a very nice girl, she's clearly very disturbed. She can't seem to distinguish fantasy from reality at all.' She speaks to an on-site psychiatrist on a tri-weekly basis. I can't give details, for obvious reasons, but her parents are well aware of the matter and have found that, with our school, she expresses her interest in fantasy in a far *safer* manner than was her previous habit. * Ben nods. 'Is this sort of... break with reality common for people in magical environments? I don't want Penny to develop similar problems.' * Rica shakes her head. "Jessica doesn't exhibit any behavior that wasn't there before she came here." * Katherine speaks up. "Past that?" She actually looks concerned now, repeating Ben's question. "Others don't develop it, do they?" * Rica shakes her head. "They're more likely to be enamored with fantasy figures than with pop or movie stars. They have a different social dynamic than your average high school. But no, their grips on reality are no looser than that of your ordinary student. (Man, I'd have her meeting at least once every two weeks.) (I know! Tri-weekly is not near enough for that girl.) * Katherine looks over at Ben, then she turns back to Rica and nods. 'You really should consider having her meet with a counselor more than once every three weeks.' Ben pauses. 'She couldn't even admit that it was *possible* for life to be different from Harry Potter novels, at first.' * Rica waits for any more questions. She actually looks vaguely uncomfortable. Talking about crazy kids may not be her thing. 'Okay, I guess we can continue on to Drake, then.' [Rica leads you on. The pictures on the way are more demonstrations of magical power, some dragons getting the better of fights with knights, some rather nice dragon holds.] * Katherine stays close to Ben and tries not to look at these pictures too hard. [The actual house is much as it is when Ben visited before, description-wise...] * Ben puts an arm around Katherine's shoulder to comfort her. [Dustin's actually currently admiring the view from a window. Crystal is off in a corner. There's a few kids who are standing near her and glancing over occasionally, but none are actually approaching.] [About a dozen other students, some you've seen around before, but none you really recognize.] (It's Fijita! And Edith!) (What was the password?) (Wits) (Wits? Not power?) (Or ambition?) (There goes our Triforce theory.) (They change it more regularly and are less obvious. :P) * Ben looks over at Katherine to see how she's holding up. [Rica incidentally didn't give the password. She knocked and a student gave it.] [She's getting some odd looks from the students. Dustin and Crystal don't really seem to have noticed you, though.] * Katherine takes a breath and composes herself, then looks around. 'Hi,' Ben says, waving at the on-looking students. [There's some discussion, homework oriented mostly.] [Crystal and Dustin glance over at that.] We have visiting parents. Please help them with any questions they have. Welcome back. * Katherine blinks at the attention. 'Thank you, Dustin. This is my wife, Kitty.' * Katherine perks at that, and she smiles at the boy. "Hello. I've heard a bit about you." [Most of the others mutter some sort of hi, but then go back to work discussion, and some discussion as to what spells would help you take over the world. One student keeps shooting down theories 'cause they haven't worked yet despite being obvious.] * Dustin smiles back. "Pleasure to meet you Ms. Ward." "Well, could just replace a world leader." "Yeah, it'd take a few spells, but get in the shake line." "One, you're adumbass and you'd be noticed even trying for one of the idiot leaders. Two, anyone in a world conquering position has mystic bodyguards." * Katherine looks around for a moment, then back to Dustin. "Would you mind showing us around? A room or two, maybe." Certainly, although I'll only be able to show you the male side of the dorms." * Katherine frowns a little. "Oh, that's right." 'I think he'll have the good sense to avoid the john.' "Well maybe start low ranking." "If it worked, people would just pull that all the time. You can't just take the most obvious application of a well known spell and think you can conquer the world with it." * Ben, as he passes the student who just spoke, leans over and says jovially. 'Maybe they did try it, and it worked.' He winks. 'You only find out if they get caught.' * Ben continues on with Katherine and Dustin. * Drake One snickers. "Naw, they cover it up if they're caught. Unless the guy does a better job, I guess." * Katherine watches Ben do that, and she smiles a little. She looks to Dustin. "Then the male side is fine. We can find a girl for a guide after." * Dustin laughs and leads you up to the dorms. * Katherine looks confused a brief moment, then she follows after checking to see that Ben's coming with. [The hallway is better adorned than Unicorn House and the doors all have more ornate locks.] * Dustin gets to his room and taps the lock with his wand. "I'll show you my room. If you want to see another guy's, I can knock and find a volunteer hopefully." * Katherine nods. * Ben nods too. [Dustin leads you to his room. It's a bit larger than the ones in Unicorn and each student has their own desk. Two are disorganized and one's clean, but Dustin sits by yet another one that has an opaque barrier covering it.] [The barrier is an inch or two above the desk. It's hard to tell if it's actually physical, but it keeps you from seeing quite well.] [Beds look quite nice and chests have better locks than the ones in Unicorn as well.] (People from Drake are the businessmen of the wizarding world. They'd get more funding.) [Desks aren't all that big, but not a bad workspace.] So, here's my humble abode. [There's currently a blond haired kid sitting by one of the messy desks.] Albert, gonna answer a few questions about the school, might bore you. * Albert nods and goes to excuse himself. (Is Rica still here?) (No, Rica stayed back in the main room) 'Kitty, I already talked with Dustin, so perhaps you should ask him any questions you have first.' * Katherine blinks. "Oh, sure. Can I go in?" * Dustin nods. "You're both welcome to enter." (Kitty's a vampire.) (We should have told Jessica!) * Katherine steps in. Because she's a vampir- dammit, mindlink. * Katherine glances around the room one more time before saying, offhandedly to Ben, "This is a bit nicer than the Unicorn rooms." She peers at the barrier, then looks to Dustin, pointing it out. "Um, what is that?" Oh, privacy shield. And yes, the Drake parents tend to donate a bit more. [You notice a small bulge above the barrier, as if there's one larger item on the desk, looks like it's the size of a tea cup. You also notice a few marks on Dustin's chest.] [You both notice that some of the markers on his chest correspond to those necessary for Arcane locks. In fact, they use the exact same technique as Maris's.] [Side note about magic locks: most people tend to personalize their locks, since you don't want any old wizard opening them. There's no signs of personalization on this one.] (Dustin has no personality!) * Katherine ohs. "Well, I was wondering about the differences between this house and the others, if you like it here, and all of that." She smiles. "Besides the extra space." Well, we focus more on practicality: skills that will help in whatever line of work we ultimately pursue. * Ben nods. 'How about plastics manufacturing? Would magic help there?' * Dustin stares at Ben for about twenty seconds, wondering if he just made the joke Dustin thinks he did. * Ben seems to have meant the question seriously. * Dustin also blushes slightly and glances at Kitty. But he seems to think Ben is serious and then follows up. Well, I'm told it's the industry of the future. But yes, we learn some skills in management that apply to any industry, and there's some study of specific spells for improved manufacturing efficiency. * Ben nods, looking intent. He's clearly considering looking into this possibility for the company he works for. * Katherine nods. "Houses share classes, right?" I mean, different houses in the same class. * Dustin nods. "Core classes and low level classes tend to be all one house; builds camraderie. But at higher levels they're far more mixed." * Katherine looks a bit relieved. "Good." She pauses a moment, then says, "I mean, Maris... you know Maris, right? She mentioned you." * Dustin smiles slightly. "Did she?" * Katherine smiles. "Yes, she did." She glances at Ben, then lowers her voice so people just wandering by in the hall won't hear. "She seemed to think highly of you, though she *did* try to cover it up. You won't go telling her I noticed, will you?" * Dustin appraises Katherine for a moment, as if choosing a course of action. He then grins slightly. "I won't. But please don't go spreading that around. Would make things harder for her." I won't. 'Aren't you two friends?' Ben asks. Quite so, I'm just not friends with all of her friends. 'That must complicate matters for you. I know that some of Kitty's friends didn't approve of me at first, but they came around eventually.' Ben smiles at Katherine. (One of her schoolmates from Japan, this girl with blue hair, kept trying to kill him...) * Dustin chuckles. "So, any other questions?" 'I think Kitty was asking you something. Dear?' * Katherine smiles back, then she looks to Dustin. "Well... Maris, she mentioned that students without magic coming in won't amount to powerful sorcerers after graduating and having to turn in the wands. She's right, isn't she?" * Dustin frowns. "She mentioned that, did she?" He has a definite tone of concern and sympathy. "But yes, she's right. However, well over half the students here don't have any natural magical ability and most are quite happy with what they manage to master." [Concern and sympathy towards Maris, not your 'kid'] 'It's a pity that there's nothing that can be done about that.' * Dustin looks pensive for a moment. "There's ways, but they're seriously expensive, or require doing favors for a rather experienced wizard. Favors that are far too costly if there's not good reason to do the favor in the first place." [Incidentally, you both recall that for the mage-lings to be a sufficient source of magical power for the school, they'd have to constitute a good bit larger percentage than the "less than half" Dustin mentioned.] (So either there are more magelings or there's an added source.) (Or our knowledge is flawed.) (Correct. And Katherine made by a bit, so she thinks that her knowledge is solid) (Which is ironic, because I just had to explain the answer to her. :P) 'I guess that would depend on how much the magic was worth for you. I hope Penny doesn't end up doing anything unwise to keep it. What do you think, dear?' Ben looks at Kitty. * Katherine looks worried. "I hope not. She can get a little carried away sometimes." * Dustin clasps his hands together, seems to be making a bit of effort not to fidget. 'Yes, like with the thing.' Ben says vaguely in the manner of someone very sure of his common frame of reference. * Dustin seems content not to inquire as to "the thing" and uses the time to settle. * Katherine looks even more put out. "If she only didn't-" She stops. "Well, she won't do it again." 'She is older now.' * Ben turns to Dustin. 'Are any students here doing anything that foolish? She probably wouldn't get the idea on her own, but if she makes friends with kids who would...' Doubtless some... Lions would. But really, they'd be doing it for themselves. She'd only get involved in something like that if she wanted to. And to be honest, most anyone with sufficient power doesn't care about a student who hasn't even graduated yet. 'Well, I'm sure that if Penny makes friends with kids like you and Maris, she'll stay out of trouble.' * Katherine nods at that. "Definitely." * Dustin smiles and is more at ease. "We take every effort to make sure none of our friends get involved with anything over their heads." 'Not like that Mallory kid.' * Dustin snickers. "Mallory, ask for help, admit that he's not good enough to handle something by his lonesome? I think not." (I lost the thread of conversation there.) * Katherine furrows her brow a little. "Are there many kids who like striking out alone like that here?" She pauses a moment. "They don't bring trouble to the rest of you, do they?" There's some. I mean, to be honest, we're kids. * Ben grins. 'You had me fooled.' * Dustin chuckles. What about illegal magic? Maris mentioned that being somewhat common in the Drake house. * Dustin shrugs. "One or two kids may experiment. They'll probably get caught and expelled before they can do much damage to themselves. There's sufficient protections they can't do anything to a fellow student." * Dustin seems to believe what he's saying. He also doesn't seem to really consider it important. 'Speaking of hurting fellow students, is there a lot of bullying? We talked about it a bit earlier, I think, but I talked with a girl named Jessica, who said you kept people from picking on Maris.' * Dustin frowns slightly. "There's teasing. There's always teasing. She likes showing off and it isn't always the most popular thing to do. She could easily handle it herself. I just don't like to see it." (He seems on the level.) 'But you try to keep an eye on her, keep her out of trouble when she tries for more than she can handle?' Whatever it takes. [He believes it. You're sure, 'cause you didn't critfail. :P] * Katherine nods. "I think I'm going to try to find someone to show me the girl's section. Do you want to keep talking to Dustin, Benji?" 'You go ahead and look at the girls' side. I think perhaps having a middle aged guy roaming around it might make some of the girls uncomfortable. Never know who's heading into the halls half-dressed, and I'm a married man.' He grins. * Dustin chuckles. * Katherine nods with a faint smile. She heads out, but not before giving Ben a kiss on the cheek. She glances back at Dustin. "Don't let him embarrass me too much." [Katherine continues in "More Overpriced Than Beanie Babies", or as Greg designated the channel at the time:] (#sabgirls) (#sabgirls gone wild!) (Oh God.) (That would actually work.) (It'd be mostly Yvonne, though. Well, maybe some Ari. We know how wild she can get.) (Especially with Yvonne.) (Ari + Yvonne action?) (I think Maggie and Angel, when drunk...) (*throws Femme Miles in.) (No. Please don't.) ( WOOO!) (We need Kahlya for the amateurs crowd) (Yeah.) (Watch! As Ari... TAKES OFF HER HOOD!) (OMFG!) (Ari's pillow talk would be all in formally structured phrases delivered in a monotone from an expressionless face.) * Ben, when Katherine's gone, turns to Dustin and says, 'It's obvious that you care a lot for Maris.' * Dustin nods and looks at Ben, wondering where he's going with this. 'But you're young. You shouldn't rush into anything you aren't ready for. Take things slowly. You've got plenty of time.' * Dustin nods and grins slightly. "It isn't the nineties or the aughts anymore. We're responsible about these things." 'Good boy.' 'I imagine that this school, with all its separation of girls and boys, makes things a bit difficult for you.' Ben grins. 'Do you have to sneak off to the woods or off-campus together?' They're about the only good place for privacy. But if you don't mind too much, I'd prefer to be discrete about how we handle ourselves. ::He then thinks for a moment and looks slightly embarrassed.:: And don't let anyone tell you that's the only reason we, or she'd go to the woods. She does really like the large rock pile by the stream. * Ben chuckles. 'Don't mind me. I'm just curious what the kids here get up to. But if Penny finds a boyfriend with his head on his shoulders, like you, that's fine. After all, Kitty and I were young once too.' * Dustin nods. 'Are there places in town for the kids to go on dates? Where have you and Maris gone? Do you just stick around the area or what?' Oh, fair number of places, although in the time we have off, there are normally a good number of other students around town, so we don't tend to go out there too often. I'm afraid I can't advise you well on that count. 'You can't go further? No magic teleporting to London?' * Dustin shakes his head. "No, we're nowhere near that powerful. Anything long distance we'd need to do by broom or conventional means. And we can't leave the school or town without parental permission or a chaperone." (And Isaac can't broom...) (Isaac can't broom without assistance.) (Oh. So he can broom with someone else? That wasn't my impression of how the brooming worked.) (I'm just going to assume the S.A.B. did a basic search to check if Isaac had taken the train to London around when the thefts occurred, right?) (And yeah, he didn't. Nor buses, near as they could tell.) 'Sorry, did you say you can't leave the school without a chaperone, or that you can't go further than the town without a chaperone?' Leave town. They know when we leave the school grounds, but are happy to let us wander, assuming we're old and responsible enough, within town. 'Well, how would they keep track of you to make sure you don't go further?' The grounds are enchanted. They note when we leave. Any of the teachers can easily check where we are. The charm would wear off given enough time and distance or a good dispel, but it's well enough done that they know if we'd removed the charm after leaving. 'Foolproof. It sounds like no one could beat that.' Of course. ::He then snickers.:: Mallory does try, but Mallory does fail. 'Well, Mallory may have the power, but he doesn't sound like he has the brains.' Well, he's got some, but Hurst's been in the business for some time, so elementary clever stuff wouldn't cut it. I'm surprised that you or Maris couldn't, though. We'd have no reason to. 'Not even for some time together?' * Ben grins. We can get that on the grounds. And on the grounds, Maris has magic. ::He grins slightly at that, and then drops it as he decides he doesn't want to detail that.:: (Off the grounds, she doesn't. I know.) (Well, not much. ('So, by the way, are you stealing magical items?') ('Funny you should ask, no.) 'By the way, how are you getting along with Isaac?' * Dustin looks guilty for a moment. "Well... I think in another year I'll get him to where he can fly unaided. I do wish I could do more for him. He's a good kid." * Ben nods. 'You're a good friend to him.' * Dustin sighs. "I guess." He closes his eyes for a moment and then opens them a bit later. "I push him too much, I think. He's ultimately going to need to learn to control his own destiny." 'You're not just talking about flying lessons, are you?' No. Well, suffice to say, I've used him for a favor or two every now and then. He understood why and thought it was worth doing, and agreed, but it's really not how he's going to become his own man." 'But I'm sure you wouldn't ask him to do anything he shouldn't be doing.' * Dustin sighs. "I don't think so, no. It's just easier to deal with people who really know their interest, and know when they want to say no." 'Isaac doesn't?' Maybe he does. He thinks he does. (No. For instance, he ran these OST RPs, and then people bugged him to make them ongoing, and...') 'Well, you have to let people make their own choices, even if you think they should make better ones.' * Dustin half nods. 'Just try to be a good friend to him, and that's all you can do.' * Dustin nods. I suppose so. 'You sound uncertain.' Well, like I said earlier, Maris is big on making sure her friends that are prone to really go try independent stupid stuff don't. I can see her point. We're all still minors. 'Is she a friend of Isaac's too?' Yeah, but thankfully while Isaac is many things, he's not impulsive. 'You know, I probably shouldn't mention this, but Jessica said some mean things about how you treated other kids. But it's obvious that she's completely wrong.' Ben shakes his head sadly. * Dustin chuckles. "Well, I do try to make sure Mallory's ego doesn't crowd all the air out of the room. And I'll admit to occasional Lion baiting, but that's only fun if they're good at fighting back." * Ben nods. He then looks faintly embarrassed, as he says, 'Just so you know, I ended up... uh... convincing her you were more like Spike on Buffy than Draco Malfoy.' He gives a look intended to convey that this is JESSICA he was talking with and that's the best he could do, okay? * Dustin cracks up. * Ben laughs too. 'She is a very peculiar girl,' he gasps out between laughs. * Dustin nods and keeps laughing. He reaches onto his desk and grabs the cup of tea as the privacy shield drops. * Ben looks at the desk. [Incidentally, contents of the desk include one map with a yellow stick that says "Remember to use the portal spell." There's also a mix of papers involving his various classes and assignments, including one on the homeland security implications of a new clairvoyance spell (one that would require several powerful wizards).] (Map of school or other?) [Also a necklace with a dull bronze locket on it.] [Ben recognizes it as a map of the adjoining area. The line marks a path from down south (which includes London) that hits a location in the surrounding area and then goes to the school. He thinks he could find the location again on a similar map.] [However, he doesn't have a strong knowledge of the area so he can't say what's likely at the location, other than relative suburbs.] 'Nice locket. Is it for Maris?' * Dustin coughs some and drinks his tea. He's still catching his breath. * Ben picks up the locket. 'Where did you get it? Kitty likes heirloom type jewelry like this, and I need to find her an anniversary present soon.' * Dustin looks slightly put off for a moment, but quickly covers it. "Actually, I got that from Crystal. It's... well. It's a charm that can be attuned to two people, only works if... ::He actually blushes slightly.:: Well, you can't use it with someone you don't care deeply about. When both of you hold it you know if the other lies, even a little. It's sort of a Drake gift." She normally holds it, but she's fixing the lock on her chest tomorrow. It was kinda pricey. * Ben nods. 'Well, I'd have no problem with Kitty knowing if I was lying.' He has rarely said something so false. 'So, you two have no secrets from each other?' * Dustin looks fairly embarrassed and cleans up his desk stuff, moving it over to his chest. "No, not really." * Ben sets the necklace down on the map. 'I thought you said you weren't going to London,' he remarks casually. * Dustin puts both the necklace and the map away. "Navigation assignment. Even if we don't fly around, we need to know how to pick flight paths to avoid freaking out non-mages and keeping well clear of airports and secure zones." 'For which class?' Flight's actually an extra-circular activity, not a class. 'But you get assignments?' * Dustin takes a moment and reaches. "Well, really something on my own initiative, key for getting a license." 'Industrious.' Ben nods. 'But don't you have to run it by Ms. Oakley or Ms. Theobold or somebody, to make sure you're doing it right?' * Dustin blinks. "Yeah. Ms. Oakley could tell you more about it if we go ask her." 'Why don't we do that?' * Dustin nods, locks his chest and stands up. "Sure." * Ben waits. * Dustin leads you out to the hallway. * Ben follows. * Dustin leads out to the room itself and walks over to Rica. 'Sorry to keep you, Rica. Is Kitty still off in the girls' section?' (You know, I actually feel guilty that we aren't really going to be sending a kid here, after all the effort these thieves have put into showing us around and answering our questions.) * Rica looks up from the kids she was talking to Yes, she hasn't been back- --Ms. Oakley, could you tell Mr. Ward about flight navigation practice? He saw the map I had and was curious. * Rica blinks for a second at Dustin's interruption and nods. (Give her the locket! Then her obvious suppressed love for Ben will prevent her lying!) (He's just going to steal it to use on Ari.) * Rica formulates her answer, and Ben notes that her eyes flit in the coming up with stories direction, not the memories direction. Go for life lessons from 'The Negotiator'. "Broom flight in some ways is like a small plane license. Since Dustin is interested in it, I've been coaching him on picking paths. Will the map be ready for tomorrow?" Yeah. [The stuff about the liscense is true. Just the assignment seems to be bull.] * Ben nods. 'Where's the flight plan for, again?' Random location. Well, not entirely random, I do try to make sure it includes some challenges. 'You... do a lot of work helping Dustin outside of class...?' Ben sounds confused, like this doesn't fit with his impression of Rica and Dustin's relationship. * Rica shakes her head. "No, he's just been working towards his license lately and it really isn't Hurst's thing." * Dustin nods. 'Well, if it's for a good cause...' * Dustin smiles and calms a little. "Not so much a good cause. I just like flying." 'Well, it's only fair. You help Isaac, after all, and Rica helps you.' [One of the students (unremarkable) that Rica was talking to remarks, "He's dang good at it too. Can lead a small convoy off his own magic."] * Dustin nods. (Thank you, random information guy!) (Random information guy is here to help!) (I want to go into his room and talk to HIM! Man, I've been going at this all wrong with the non-generic characters and their stonewalling.) [The other Drake snerks and says, "Toady." The first replies, "Look, I know who's destined for the top. I'm really just lieutenant material." "You're mook material."] * Dustin looks vaguely embarrassed at this. "Well, anything else you wanted to discuss?" 'Oh, just one more thing, I guess. What would you say I should bear in mind when suggesting Houses to Penny?' Lion if she wants socializing. ::Rica coughs.:: And courage. Unicorn if academics are really her thing. Drake if she's most interested in practical concerns. 'Thank you.' * Dustin offers his hand. "Well, pleasure talking to you, Mr. Ward. I look forward to meeting Penny." 'Thank you again for your time, Dustin.' * Ben shakes hands. 'Oh, any advice on which Lions I should talk to? I know you're not a friend of Mallory. Do you have anyone else to recommend?' Jarrett can be quite amusing in his own way, but then so can Jessica, I suppose. But not particularly, I'm afraid. * Rica seems amused at that. 'No friends of yours or,' Ben lowers his voice, 'Maris'?' And his eyes dart to Rica to see her reaction to this connection of Dustin and Maris. * Rica looks like she's suddenly paying a lot more attention to Ben and seems increasingly on edge. ( 'See? If a teacher found out about such a canon-defying relationship, she'd freak!') Jarrett and Mallory are really her main friends in that bunch. 'Oh? That must be... awkward.' [The two Drakes watch this discussion with some interest.] * Ben is still darting glances at Oakley. * Rica's still on edge but no more so. Perhaps. Well, enjoy your visit to Lion House. Try not to be mistaken for a dragon. * Ben chuckles. 'Thank you.' * Dustin then heads off, back to his room, apparently. * Ben says in a very hushed voice, to Rica, 'Do you have a problem with Dustin and Maris' relationship?' * Rica laughs. "I've just seen hints of it really, but I must admit to finding it fairly amusing." 'Because you looked...' Ben trails off, looking for a word, and shrugs. I was surprised you knew. * Ben laughs. 'You learn how to read people in the plastics business.' 'Or you don't last long.' (Yeah, plastics. Vicious stuff. Especially when they EXPLODE.) I would imagine. Failing to properly read a house-guest when you're into plastics has been known to have unfortunate consequences. * Ben snickers. 'I meant at work.' Aaah. 'We can't all fight ogres, Rica. But that doesn't mean other jobs don't have their challenges.' * Rica nods and frowns. "These days you can barely fight ogres really. Danged Shrek moves. Just like Bambi, really. Next thing you know, the suburbs will be overrun with them." * Ben looks puzzled. Oh, after Bambi came out, hunting became less popular, and the deer levels in many suburbs rose to the point that they became an active menace to drivers, since they had no predators. * Katherine comes walking back! She's holding something carefully with both hands and has a smile on her face. * Ben looks at what she's holding. * Katherine is holding a small, plush blue and green hummingbird. It looks like it's asleep, oddly enough, and... breathing. She gives Ben a quick kiss on the lips. "Do you like it? It's for Penny." * Ben kisses Katherine back. 'Is it... alive?' * Rica smiles slightly to see it but gives the couple room. * Katherine laughs a little. "Kind of, I think?" 'Does it require feeding?' * Katherine shakes her head. "And it doesn't leave droppings, either." * Ben grins. 'GREAT pet.' * Katherine nods, looking ever so pleased. "She can even teach it how to talk!" * Ben pets it. * Katherine lets him. It's plush. And asleep. Aww. 'How was the girls' side?' * Rica gives you some space. Fine, though the triple-stacked bunk was a little strange. Crystal probably made a deal with her roommates. She's a resourceful girl. 'The what?' Triple-stacked bunk. Seriously. 'She sleeps on a triple stacked bunk?' * Katherine shakes her head. "I think the other girls in the room do." * Katherine looks down at the plushie and pets it herself. It's so cute. 'What did you chat about?' Oh, just checked with her on some things we already asked the other kids. Crystal seemed very honest, and she agreed with the other kids about most things. * Katherine smiles. "She also sold me Penny's new pet. You know how she's been begging for one for years." * Ben grins. 'Oh, I know.' * Katherine pets the bird a little longer, then asks, "You didn't get bored out here, did you? I know you were talking to Dustin, but..." 'I wasn't bored. But I did miss you.' Ben smiles affectionately. * Katherine snickers, and she can't help but turn it into a laugh. "After seventeen years? You're not tired of me by now? You're going to disgust all the kids, you know." 'Never,' Ben swears. 'And let 'em be disgusted.' He winks. * Katherine laughs. "You never stop." * Ben grins. 'Do you want me to?' * Katherine smiles. "Not really, no." * Ben leans forward to whisper sweet nothings in Katherine's ear. Actually, what he whispers is, 'I trust you heard everything Dustin told me?' * Katherine laughs lightly and thwaps Ben on the arm with her free hand. "Of course." 'Rica was willing to cover for Dustin's lies,' Ben adds, then stands back. * Katherine blinks as he steps back, and it looks like she's trying to fight down a blush. "Do you really think so?" she asks, more quietly. 'With all my heart.' * Katherine actually does blush. Just a little. And she looks down at the plushie, petting it. "Same here. But you already know that." Pause. "Now, look. You've gone and embarrassed me." 'Sorry.' * Katherine grins. "You are not, but I'll accept that anyway." * Ben grins. 'You know me too well.' * Katherine huffs. "I should." She looks around. They're probably attracting attention. [Most of the Drakes are too obviously trying not to pay attention. One or two seem genuinely to be doing other things. A couple are looking over at Ben and Katherine. Rica is lounging against a wall, talking with a Drake, and glancing over at the pair of them every so often.] [One of the Drake boys keeps glancing at Katherine in a way that suggests he might have a thing for well preserved older women. Then his eyes dart to Benji and he looks away, only to repeat it a bit later.] (That is so wrong. Thank you!) * Katherine sort of shrinks towards Ben. "So... um. Lion house?" I tell you, the government elections are rigged by Paragene! Everyone knows it's Vanguard, you ninny! You're both wrong. It's the damn Girl Scouts. 'We should check them all out,' Ben agrees. Right. 'And then, perhaps a romantic walk in the woods? I hear it's the make-out spot of choice on campus.' Ben winks. (Benji winks a lot.) * Katherine covers her mouth to stifle the laugh. "Benji." 'No prying student eyes,' he continues, raising his eyebrows. 'A great place to hide out.' 'You sure you're not interested?' Well, we were going there anyway. * Ben dramatically puts his hand to his forehead. 'You wound me, Kitty.' * Katherine smiles. "But just us, not on a tour or anything? I like the idea." 'Well, Rica's probably getting sick of showing us around.' * Ben waves over at Rica. [Rica waves back distractedly.] * Katherine laughs a little. "Yeah, I bet she is." She loses the smile a little, edges closer to Ben, and says more quietly, "I hope they don't think we're too nosy or something. I'm not being too nosy, right? It's just that this place is so incredible, and..." She trails off, looking down at the bird. 'You're not being nosy, sweetie. We're here on a tour. We're supposed to ask questions.' 'And it is incredible.' * Katherine nods, reassured. "Yeah." She looks around again, regaining that smile. "It is." * Ben hugs Katherine, holding her tightly to him. And in her ear, he whispers so quietly that she needs to use her super-hearing to hear, 'Now let's find out who the ****ing culprits are, already. "Dear".' [Break!]