Issue 1 Downtime

There was a puff of displaced air at about 7 in the morning, wherein a girl seemed to pop into existence, looking around to make sure no one was there. This made sure, she vanished again, and then two figures burst into existence. One was the same slender girl in her bathrobe, the other a naked boy. The boy had maybe an inch to drop onto the couch, and he smelled rather strongly of alcohol. The girl was only there for a split second, and where she had stood, a pile of clothes settled to the floor.

Trev woke up as he was suddenly alone, looking around the room and wondering what the hell he'd done last night and where he was.

..and then it all came rushing back to him.

"Oh god...I did it again. Sonofa..." he mumbled to himself, rubbing his face with his hands. Trev got up, and realized he wasn't wearing any clothes. Fantastic...now where the hell are my clothes?

And that's when he realized he was in the common room.

"This happens to you a lot?" an amused voice comes from somewhere in the dark room. It takes a moment to make out the shape as it steps up and sits down in an armchair across from Trev, not caring that he's naked. Or maybe taking a closer look, it's hard to tell.

"FUCK!" he said falling back onto the couch as he heard a voice, and scrambling to cover himself with a couch cushion.

"N--no," he said quickly, "I...well, I'm not entirely sure how I got down here. Uh... last thing I remember was...er...well. Not being here."

Trev's face was bright red with embarassment and he looked at a spot on the floor nervously--hey! He found his clothes!

"I...I'm Trev. Sorry."

"Pleasure to meet you." she chuckles. "You didn't answer my question." She sounds like she's interviewing him, something that's probably on purpose.

"I...thought I did. Uh. No. No. This...um...hasn't ever happened, actually." he said keeping the couch cushion in a death grip over his lap.

Hopefully no one wanted to use it as a pillow later in the day...

"Promiscuous yet prude." she nods as if making a mental note.

"So you just sleep around a lot, but they don't always drop you off in the common room?" she snickers. And maybe it was just his nerves but Trev could swear the pillow had just gotten smaller somehow.

Wait...how does she know what I did before I got here?

Trev only gripped the pillow tighter.

"I...well...no...I guess...uh...well, normally, you see, I uh...don't have much luck with women. So uh. Um. This is...sort of new territory for me."

He swallowed uncomfortably, "I...uh....yeah. The last two nights have been a bit...not...par for the course, if you know what I mean."

"Well congratulations then! For what it's worth, I've come to learn that this is perfectly normal behaviour for college freshmen."

Yep, definitely getting smaller, though it thankfully stops just before it'd be too small to cover things up anymore.

"It...is?" he asked, hunching over to maximize the cover the pillow provided.

You're a sophomore, though, dumbass.

"Uh...thanks. I guess. Uh...I...didn't catch your name?"

"That's because I didn't tell you. So... how representative do you feel your experience has been so far regarding college?"

O...kay?

"I...uh...well...not very, really. Um. Better than last year, in a lot of respects. Worse in others. I...think if I just...uh--can I put on some clothes, please?"

"I'm not sure why you feel the need to ask for permission but what the hell... Yes, you may put on your clothes."

Well. Some people might look away, or, you know, offer to hand them to me or something...

Trev inched his way towards his pile of clothes while still sitting on the couch, the pillow covering himself, grabbed his boxers with his feet, and started working his way into them, finally pulling them up while still covering himself. Once he was satisfied those were on, he dropped the pillow and put on the rest of his clothes--though his shirt was definitely on inside out.

"Thanks..." he said, slightly less embarrassed.

"You're... welcome?"

"Okay how to phrase this... Do you enjoy strong women, Trev?" she smirks.

"Strong...how? Like, lift a car mutant strong, or empowered and...stuff. Um. Who are you?"

She laughs. "Sure, let's go with that. And fine, promise not to tell on me? I'm Aria."

"Tell on you?"

I should just go work at a McDonalds somewhere. What the hell is this?

"Uh. And...nice to meet you, Aria."

"Oh it's complicated. Don't worry your little head about it."

Trev sighed and rubbed his face with his hands, "God damnit. This week has been ridiculous and shows no sign of letting up. I'm locking myself in my dorm until classes start."

"That sounds like it'd be terribly boring."

"I've got a computer, plenty of games, and a far greater chance of avoiding crazy women there though."

"Should I be offended? I feel like I should be offended."

"Don't be. You haven't tried to sleep with me yet. If you proposition me, then I may change my answer."

"Oh don't worry, that seems like a terrible idea. No offense, sweetie."

"None taken."

Because even if I wasn't desperate for a night without sex with a random stranger, a night with someone who looks like Death isn't exactly thrilling.

"Though I'll say, for a guy you're complaining quite a bit about getting regular hook-ups."

"I...it's...a long story." he said, deciding against enlightening Aria any further.

"I've got plenty time." she points out. "I already caught you being dropped off naked in here. How much worse can it be."

"It...so they seriously carried me down here?" he asked, suddenly incredulous.

Could I seriously hook up with a chick who isn't going to dump me off unceremoniously as soon as the deed is done? Jesus. At least Zero offered to call me a cab.

"Not quite. Wait... they?" she laughs. "I have to admit, I'm impressed!"

"Y...yes. It...I'm still not even sure how it happened. And now that I'm sober, it's honestly kind of weird. They were twin sisters."

"You're kidding me... Still have your wallet?"

"I left it in my own room, just to be safe. I guess I've done at least one smart thing in the past 48 hours," he sighed.

"Congratulations! I'd recommend you go get it along with your brain." she chuckles.

Trev chuckled slightly. "If I get up and go there, I'm just going to want to stay there for the next month. I think with any luck I can avoid all three recent mistakes by just sticking to my dorm room."

This was of course before Trev looked closely at the email about his accommodations for the fall term. Specifically who he'd be sharing a bathroom with.

"It's a big campus. And you shouldn't be a big baby."

"Which one of us was the one left naked on a common room couch?" he asked defensively.

"There's not even anyone here. And I'm sure as hell leaving this part out of my notes."

"Well, you're here. Which counts as someone."