witchesreign | [action] the lobby near the dormitories.

[Since arriving and being interviewed, Sollux had spent the entirely of his stay at Balamb Garden curled up in his room. He couldn't sleep - not when he was so wound up and distinctively lacking a recuperacoon. But the outward world was a scary place, and he didn't have very high hopes for it. Despite the fact that his hosts had yet to actually do something terrible to him, it was nigh impossible to put the possibility out of mind.]

[But eventually he goes out, if only to prove to himself that he can and that he's allowed to. He's almost surprised when nobody stops him from leaving the dorms, and once he's to the lobby he's officially out of ideas of what to do with himself. Everyone he's seen is the same, pink skinned alien race he saw in Timber, and he doesn't feel comfortable talking to them. At least not of his own accord.]

[So he finds a slightly concealed area of the lobby and perches himself on it, watching people pass by, and trying to coax himself down from persistent idea that he should be trying to escape. It's not like he actually has anywhere to go.]

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[He raises and eyebrow and then sits down at the computer, using his alleged "student ID" to log in. He explores around and starts looking at some of the programs that are already on there. A benefit to his previous work - he'd gotten really good at adapting his scripts to alien technology in record time.]

Yeah, okay. [He acknowledged, sitting back.] It's workable. What did you want me to do here?

Well you said no destruction. So... make something.

[Gives him kind of a frustrated look.]

Like what?

]

Hello world's a good fallback.

]

Dude, it was your idea.

]

[That gets an eye roll.]

I haven't forgotten how to code.

Okay I may not have thought this all the way through. I mean I think you should start trying to code a virus, that shit's easy, but whatever, you said you wanted to get into the administration folders, right?

]

[He stares at the screen for a few seconds, then pushes away from the computer.]

This is stupid.

]

Actually it's pretty much the exact opposite of that.

Why do you care so much?

[He sounds frustrated.]

]

Why don't you?

[For a moment Sollux doesn't even know how to answer that, and then he stands, pushing the chair away.]

Because it doesn't have anything to do with me.

]

But it's all I have.

]

[He stands there for a long moment, and then mutters:] You have more to lose than you think.

[Another moment.]

I'm going back to my dorm.

[And he starts to leave.]

Wh- Hey! Wait!

]

[The sound of the other troll completely biffing it on a computer chair startles Sollux so badly for a moment he can't even move, his brain caught up in trying to identify any threats. But no, instead its just his younger self falling on his face. Sollux turns back to face him, body rigid.]

[Stupid kid...well, he can't just leave him like that.]

God. [He leans down, taking Sollux's hand and trying to guide him to his feet.] What do you even want...?

]

Wha? Oh. Uh. I don't know. You to find something kind of happy?

I do. [And he's staring at the floor again.] Just not this.

[Not anymore.]

]

Yeah, okay. Sorry for making you.

]

So what's your room number?

[He shrugs it off, though he still looks kind of disturbed with things.]

A117.

]

Do you think you could help me get back to my room. I think I might have sprained something...

[This kid really knows how to ruin a dramatic exist.]

Okay. Come on.

[He puts out an arm for Sollux to grab and then starts moving again.]

]

So.. What.. Did a computer wrong your honor or something?

]

[God damnit.]

[Bitterly:] I don't think you'd get it, and I've done enough whimpering at this point.

Well I can't argue that point, but you just seem to be getting pissed off now, so talking about it is less likely to lead to whimpering than you might think.