Family

[crawler_kid]

Angel had borrowed the alleged car for the day, so, fortunately, she had a quick way to get Charlotte back to the old power station that the New Mutants had converted into their home.

"Took a lot of doing," Angel admitted.  "And a lot of that was Val, back when she lived with us, but it's home."

She put the car in park and stepped out.

"Ah think you've probably met Sara before, but probably not Aiden?"

Comments

[summersspawn]

"He especially likes shoes."

Sara took advantage of the distraction to set the basket up and out of easy reach from a certain Scottish Terrier.

"Rutgers, hm? Has Angel given you the grand campus tour yet?"

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden disappeared into the kitchen with Zip dutifully following behind him. While the two of them were grabbing lemon-lime Gatorade, Sprite, Diet Coke, and a bottle of water, Cedric was cautiously approaching Charlotte. He sniffed at her, trying to assess which was greater, his ability to get her shoes or socks or her ability to give a good skritch.

The latter won out, and the Scottie approached the new person with his tail wagging.

[latebloomin]

Charlotte cooed like the dog was the best thing in the world, quickly finding the happy spots behind the ears and belly. "Believe it or not....Dad's a cat person, and I'm allergic...I had a hampster once, but I'm pretty sure it was perished in a vacuum cleaner tragedy..."

"I've seen some of the campus..it's so huge...but that was kind of the point of me coming here."

[crawler_kid]

"Don't let that innocent face fool you, Aunt 'Lottie," Angel said. "Cedric's a master of manipulatin' people."

[summersspawn]

"Yeah. First comes the ear scratching, and the next thing you know he's sitting on your feet at dinner giving you the big, brown, starving eyes."

Sara popped the top on her Diet Coke.

"You'll learn your way around campus in no time. Just ohmigod, stay away from the cafeteria..."

[sonoflongshot]

While Cedric did a good job of distracting the ladies, Aiden had returned and passed out various drinks. Zip held onto the Mojoworlder's Gatorade while Aiden passed out the rest.

He held a cold can of Sprite out to Charlotte. "Here ya go."

[latebloomin]

"It's not manipulation if you're in on the secret." She smiled at Aiden, taking the Sprite, "Thanks...what are you all majoring in?"

[crawler_kid]

"Physical education," Angel said. "...Or Ah was anyway. Not so sure right now."

[summersspawn]

"Political Science and Nuclear Physics. I started out Poli-Sci and Aeronautics, but my sister Ray talked me into changing. And, Nuke-Phy means I get to hang out at the test reactor sometimes, which is awesome."

[sonoflongshot]

"Uh, bartending," Aiden answered as he went back to Zip to grab his drink. He twisted the top off like it was a great cover.

"I don't go to school. So, I have to make a living while these two get all academic."

[latebloomin]

"Wow...Physics is a little scary, I'll be honest. I'm going for elementary education, so I'm more at the whole baking soda volcano level of science..."

[crawler_kid]

"It's a good school," Angel said, though there was some annoyance creeping into her voice. She had her own issues, but they weren't Charlotte's.

[summersspawn]

"I don't know if it's any scarier than a room full of sugared up second graders."

Sara glanced at Angel. She knew why her friend had that tone to her voice.

"It's mostly a good school. They're trying."

[sonoflongshot]

Aiden took a swig of his drink. He frowned a bit and moved closer to Angel to sling an arm around her waist. He never liked it when she was unhappy.

[latebloomin]

She looked at Angel.

Then Sara.

Then Aiden.

"...is there something wrong?"

[crawler_kid]

"A few months back," Angel said slowly, "Ah got beaten. Pretty badly, really, by some FoH slimeballs. There's a pretty strong contingent in town, and on campus. Who've got enough influence that they're keepin' me from gettin' a student teachin' assignment too."

[summersspawn]

"They're a bunch of cowards."

[sonoflongshot]

"Well, the in-town contingent has had a few problems as of late." He gave Angel a squeeze. Not that he had actually mentioned the harrassment activity he had been up to before.