introduction to being a college student

[self_composed]

Bella packs light. (She can conjure whatever she wants, mooch off Alice for anything she wants to buy. She's wearing her riding gear and riding Tegu and only has a few other favorite-things she'd like to retain in their original forms. The black dress is one of them.) Her swag goes in saddlebags and she goes to Stanford.

It's a road trip; she wants to be able to account for her time, and besides, she likes her motorcycle. She checks into crappy little motels and once spends four minutes watching someone try and fail to disassemble her bike, from her window. (The fellow gives up eventually. Tegu does not want to come apart or move.)

At Stanford, she is there before her new roommate, who is reportedly named "Janine". Bella unpacks, and since no one's there yet, she wishes up some decorations too. She introduces herself to the RA, Maureen, and then loiters in the hall lounge, waiting for more people to meet.

Comments

[self_composed]

"You can use some of my closet space if you need it. I don't have many clothes myself," Bella says. "I got all the way here with all my stuff on my motorcycle."

[edgeofyourseat]

"You have a motorcycle," Janine observes, repeats, and/or confirms. "That's cool. What kind?"

[self_composed]

"It's a custom kind. I named it Tegu, though, so I guess it's a Tegu."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Where did you get a custom kind of motorcycle?" inquires Janine.

[self_composed]

"It was a present from my boyfriend" ([I have decided to just refer to you as my boyfriend to random people,] she informs Alice) "after he came into some money. He got it made by some guy on the Internet, I think."

[edgeofyourseat]

[Cool,] Alice says cheerfully, swinging his feet where he perches on the kitchen counter. The word is just a word. It does not have any inherent effect on what passes between them. He doesn't mind her using it and he wouldn't mind her not.

"That is cool," says Janine. "Yes, I will use some of your closet space if necessary, thank you. Would you like to have the inaugural sit on the beanbag chair?"

[self_composed]

Bella flops into the beanbag chair. "I approve," she announces.

[edgeofyourseat]

Janine applauds.

[self_composed]

Bella laughs. "So what classes are you taking?" she asks, in the time-honored tradition of College Students Making Conversation.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Calculus and linear algebra and symbolic logic and physics and electrical engineering," she says. "Because I am going to be an electrical engineer!"

[self_composed]

"Nice. I'm still undeclared. Taking a bunch of things with 'introduction to' in their names," Bella chuckles.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Well, I am also taking a bunch of things with 'introduction to' in their names," says Janine, "because it is my first year and that is how that works. The symbolic logic course is second year, though!"

[self_composed]

"I'm in Bio and Calc and Operating Systems and Politics, and I guess I get credits for orchestra too, but not for soccer."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Gosh, you're busy," says Janine. "What do you play? In the orchestra, I mean, soccer... is soccer."

[self_composed]

"Flute," says Bella, picking up the case off her desk.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Oh." Janine observes the flute. "So that is what a flute case looks like. And now I know!"

[self_composed]

Bella laughs. "What about you, what do you do apart from academic stuff?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"Alienate my peers with accidental displays of frightening intellect," says Janine. "And drop things."

[self_composed]

Bella tilts her head. "Well, I don't think you're particularly scary or alienating. Maybe a top-tier college will be a better environment for your intellect. Also, dropping things, not a hobby - have you hobbies?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"You say that only because you have not seen the frequency with which I drop things," Janine asserts. "I also read science fiction novels with embarrassing slowness."

[self_composed]

"I used to be really clumsy until a car crash knocked something back where it belonged in my ear," Bella volunteers. "I don't think we should try anything like that for you, though."

[edgeofyourseat]

"No that would be a bad idea," Janine agrees. "Please do not crash any cars into or near me."

[self_composed]

"Don't have a car," Bella says, winking. "Have a motorcycle."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Please do not crash your custom motorcycle into or near me!" she amends.

[self_composed]

"I won't, I promise," Bella says, crossing her heart.