Pre-Jump Earth Literature

[aestrix]

It's a new term, and the end of the break between terms most students have been enjoying. But time marches ever on, and so at 1:00 PM, just after lunch, twenty-six students all around the age of fifteen are finding seats in an obnoxiously decorated classroom. It's one of those classrooms that tries very hard to be peppy and inspirational, and only succeeds at being very out of touch, and kind of creepy.

Soon it will be time to read about things long-dead people wrote.

Comments

[thisvorlunatic]

"I would have bloody noticed by now, trust me!"

[poll_the_stars]

"Okay, well, in that case, you are hereby approved for crying on the individual known as Yvette Vorlaine. Congratulations."

[thisvorlunatic]

He splutters.

"You're ridiculous. It's amazing."

[poll_the_stars]

"Thank you, I try!" she says, without a hint of modesty.

[thisvorlunatic]

[poll_the_stars]

[thisvorlunatic]

"Let's be best friends and save the galaxy together," he says impulsively.

[poll_the_stars]

This startles a laugh out of her.

"I um, okay, sure? I haven't had a galaxy saving best friend before." Pause. "Or, actually a best friend in general, unless my sister counts."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Me neither, not really. But I don't see why I should let that stop me."

[poll_the_stars]

Snort.

"Well! I'm sure we'll figure it out."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Of course."

[poll_the_stars]

"We'll find designated best friend things to do - uh, what do best friends do?" She thinks. "... Um... Go... Fishing?" She pauses. "Yeah I've got nothing."

[thisvorlunatic]

"We are not on the right planet to go fishing," laughs Miles. "Can you imagine? Spear-fishing in a public fountain—the looks we'd get from the locals—"

[poll_the_stars]

"Oh, that would be hilarious - it'd be even better if we got wooden spears."

[thisvorlunatic]

"On Beta Colony? Are you kidding me? We'd be surrounded by weeping antiques dealers in minutes," he snickers.

[poll_the_stars]

"I guess we shouldn't plan to roast the fish in a wood fired oven, huh?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Oh God."

[poll_the_stars]

"'This piece of wood was cut from a tree that has grown on my family's land for generations.' Toss. 'And now it is on fire.' The mortification!"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Betans."

[poll_the_stars]

She giggles.

"Betans."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I mean, my own mother is Betan, I'm not condemning the lot of them, but she has this way of saying 'Barrayarans' like it's a potent curse, so I feel it's only fair."

[poll_the_stars]

Yvette laughs.

"Yeah, I don't actually want to condemn all Betans either. Just -" She waves a hand vaguely. "It is nice to talk to another Barrayaran and trash talk."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yeah. They're just so Betan. And there are a lot of great things about being Betan! But I think sometimes they are a little too aware of that and not quite sufficiently aware that not being Betan can also have advantages."

[poll_the_stars]

"Ha. Yes. That."

[thisvorlunatic]

"My mother is wonderfully adept at avoiding this trap, but then unfortunately there are also the Franks of the world."