The New Guy... (Open to all X'ers)

[dolemeck]

A yellow cab pulled up to the Xavier Institute, it's breaks making a bit of a squeal as it did so. Once parked, the cab driver got out and opened the passenger's side door, then moved to open the trunk of the cab, all while grumbling about the inquisitive man he had just driven here. After the passenger got out of the cab, and the steamer trunk was laid on the driveway, the cabbie took off, appearing to have been paid in full. Thank goodness for card readers in cabs these days.

Dolemeck Night stood before the mansion. It was much larger than he had anticipated, and rather grand looking. It looked like his private school, only three times the size! This was certainly going to be a change. With a light backpack by his side, he started to walk towards the main doors. His leg braces making his movements look somewhat "stiff" as he tried to make his way there.

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[fourshelled]

Porthos had enough of being cooped up in the mansion. It was a nice July day, and all suave reptiles should be out on the lawn soaking up the sun. With sunglasses on and tall lemonade.

He opened the front door and tried not to spill any of the lemonade filled to the brim of the glass. He blinked at the stranger approaching the door he was standing in.

[dolemeck]

"Oh, 'allo!" Dolemeck smiled from ear to ear as he waved to Prothos. His leg braces made a bit of an odd, metallic noise as he tried to make his way up the steps. "My name is Dolemeck. Are you one of my new classmates?"

He said nothing about how Porthos looked, and did not shy away from the sight of a walking turtle. Instead, he just smiled and tried to be polite as possible. Dolemeck even extended his right hand for a shake.

[fourshelled]

"'sup, brah?" He tilted his head down to peer over his shades. He pointed with free hand.

"Tip for next time, there's a ramp over there. Makes shreddin' the entrance easier." Considering the big head who started this school had been in a wheelchair, there were all sorts of accessibility features around.

He stopped pointing and shook Dolemeck's hand with his three fingered one. "Porthos. One of the local wildlife."

[dolemeck]

"Oh... I was so focused on getting to the door, I failed to see the ramp. Thank you for pointing that out." He looked a little embarrassed, rubbing the back of his head before speaking once more.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Prothos. I am sure we will be great chums!" Curtious and hopeful to a fault. "By any chance do you know if there is someone who can help me bring me luggage in? I am not allowed to really lift anything. Well, not physically at least."

He pointed to the steamer trunk that was resting by the stairs, and the backpack that was floating behind him... thanks to his powers.

"Still have not figured out how to lift anything as heavy as that trunk, yet. Otherwise I would not be a bother to anyone." He chuckled nervously. "I suppose that is why I am here."

[fourshelled]

"Hang loose, brah, before you get noodled by excitement." Porthos sipped his lemonade and eyed the steamer trunk. The new guy was talkative by his estimation. Not a bad thing, but lots of details to pick up. Like the English accent.

"What's the pucker factor on this thing?" He went down the steps with the ice cubes in his glass clinking. He poked at the trunk with a finger.

[dolemeck]

"Pucker... factor?" He raised an eyebrow. This time, Dolemeck took the ramp down, instead of using the steps. "You mean what is inside, aye? Just me clothes, some shoes, a coat, a formal outfit, everything I would need to last the school year, really. If I had to guess the weight, I would say... eight stone?"

[fourshelled]

"Phht. Not even a tiny pucker." He hoisted the trunk with one hand and sipped his lemonade with the other. It wasn't what he planned to do outside, but why not?

"Nice use of the info, dude. Now, can ya do it again?" He grinned as he headed toward the stairs.

[dolemeck]

"I should." He started to head back towards the ramp. Already, he was getting tired. He did his bets not to show it as he made his way back over to Porthos. "You did not have to help me, Porthos. You looked as though you were going to do something else. I could have just gone inside and found someone else..."

[fourshelled]

"Nah. 'salright, brah. Little kindness never hurts." He paused on a middle step.

"Unless you're a vampire. You didn't poof in the sun. I got my shades on. Do you sparkle in the sun?" The turtle doubted he could use the trunk as a stake. And the woods were too far away to get a proper one.

[dolemeck]

"Why would you think I was a bloody vampire?" He tried not to look shocked or dismayed by such questioning. "I do not sparkle, and I am as pale as I am from a medical condition... that is not related to vamperism! Plus being Scots and English doesn't help much in regards to coloring... We do not tan, we burn."

Were all Americans like this?

[fourshelled]

"Chillax, Louis. No need to go aggro over pop culture." Porthos shrugged and continued up the steps. He waited for the door to be opened as both of his hands were full.

[dolemeck]

Opening a door he could do. Carefully Dolemeck opened the doors to the Institute with his powers.

"Here you go... and my name is not Louis." Well, that flew over his head. He waited for Porthos to go inside first, before he followed suit. He was just about ready to collapse into a chair. "Thank you, Porthos."

[fourshelled]

"Cheyah. I know, brah." The six-foot-tall turtle sauntered in and carefully set down the trunk. He rolled his shoulders a bit to dismiss his superstrength. He did not want to break his glass of lemonade.

He nodded toward one of the waiting room. "Take a seat in there before you get hemoed, O Pale Scots English one."

[fourshelled]

Porthos had eventually fallen asleep sunning himself on the front lawn. So Athos was the turtle who came into the mansion. He scratched his shoulder as he moved his way through the hall.

[dolemeck]

Dolemeck could not help but be a bit confused. This turtle looked... different than Porthos. Would it be racist to ask if he was related to him? He had no clue how to react as he stood outside of Professor Ramsey's office with his steamer trunk (as someone had dragged it over), and his backpack on top of it.

"E-excuse me..." he asked nervously.

[fourshelled]

Athos stopped when he was addressed. He raised one scaly brow, which made the dot in the middle of his forehead distort. His hand dropped away from scratching his itch.

"Yes, berk?"

[dolemeck]

"Berk" You mean... me?" he blinked pointing to himself. "Oh, yes... did Professor Ramsey summon you to help me settle in? I mean, find my room and all, I suppose..."

Two turtles in one day, and they both had different accents? What were the chances of this happening.

"I would ask Porthos again for his help, but he looked busy and I did not want him summoned if he was doing something else."

[fourshelled]

The blueish skinned turtle looked the new guy over. "A body has to do it, huh? I'll get ya to your case. Not an empty bubble that."

He eyed the steamer trunk and then the guy's arms. He looked to be doubting Dolemeck could move it.

[dolemeck]

He placed his hands on his own head and started to focus. He was trying to lift the trunk up, but could only make it shake. He pushed it a few feet, then nearly fell over himself. He could not use his telekinetic powers to move such heavy items, not yet, anyway. Instead, Dolemeck stop himself and lifted up the backpack with ease.

"Aye, I cannot lift the trunk, myself. Nor do I know the way to the dorms." he said between breaths of air.

[fourshelled]

He shook his head. "Mindnick, o'course."

Unlike Porthos, Athos did not have superstrength in his power set. He walked over to the trunk and grabbed a handle. "Tempting to bob up," he grumbled as he started to drag the trunk behind him.

[dolemeck]

"Here, let me try and help." He was still panting, using his powers to lift the other end of the trunk to help Porthos as they walked together. He had to stop a few times to catch his breath, but never complained or asked to slow down. "I cannot lift due to a medical issue, not because I am lazy, mind you."

[fourshelled]

"Wasn't born with a sneer, berk. No need to raise the flag on yourself either." Athos kept a steady, measured pace. He stopped for the breaks when he felt a tug on the trunk slowing down.

"Less wigwag and we might make your case soon." They were approaching the boys' temporary dorms. They'd be moving to the new dooms by the end of the summer.

[dolemeck]

He wished he could understand what these turtles were telling him. He was thankful once they were at the boys temporary dorms. His shirt was soaked with sweat by the time they reached his room. He had never lifted one half of his trunk with his mind so long. Instead of looking like he was going to die, he instead looked proud of himself for what he could do.

"Thank you for your help." Once more, he spoke between gasps of air. He nearly stumbled into his room, taking his shirt off and throwing it into a nearby hamper. His back, chest, and neck were marred by surgical scars. Almost like someone had sewn him back together, again. He used his powers to drop his backpack on the bed, and then fish out a clean shirt to put on.

He did all of that while still trying to focus on the other end of the trunk that Athos was carrying, to make things easier on him.

[fourshelled]

"No skin here," Athos replied as he dropped his end of the trunk once it was fully in the room. He dispassionately looked over the scars. That probably came from not having a hard shell. Typical of primes.

"Anything else, berk?"

[dolemeck]

"Well... perhaps an introduction is in order?" He offered a gentle smile before extending his hand to Athos. "My name is Dolemeck Night. Thank you for helping me get me things in me room. I am grateful."