Stupid homework. (open)

[Alex Carpenter]

Alex was laying on the couch after getting back from class, the TV playing some rather distracting show while he read through his textbook assignment for the day. I liked school a lot better before the classes started...

((open))

[Brigid Plunder]

"You know," a voice behind the couch said, "that works better without the TV."

[Alex Carpenter]

Alex rested the book on his lap, then leaned his head back until he was grinning up at Brigid (albeit from a really odd almost-upside down angle). "Yeah, but people just walk by you if you're just reading. They'll stop for the TV," he chuckled.

[Brigid Plunder]

"Oh, heaven forbid you get something done," she chuckled.

[Alex Carpenter]

"And who says I'm not getting anything done?" Alex asked defensively, reaching back and poking her playfully in the side.

[Brigid Plunder]

"Funny, looked to me like you were watching that guy poke poisonous snakes with a stick."

[Alex Carpenter]

"Yes, and I'm reading about British imperialism. Can't a guy do both?"

[Brigid Plunder]

"Only if it's about imperialists getting bitten by poisonous snakes."

[Alex Carpenter]

Alex got a cocky smirk, holding the book up. "All right, fine, you don't believe me, you want to quiz me?" he asked.

[Brigid Plunder]

"Depends, are you just going to have the blue guy look up the answers?"

[Alex Carpenter]

"Yeah, it'd be cool if I COULD do that, but no, no cheating."

[Brigid Plunder]

"Haven't learned that trick, then?"

[Alex Carpenter]

"I don't even know that it's a trick," he said with a shrug, sitting up to make room for her on the couch. "I just think about it, and I see a blue guy that I can remote-control."

[Brigid Plunder]

"So how's it been going?" She asked, sitting down next to him.

[Alex Carpenter]

"About like you'd expect, I guess? First day of school and no one going on about how I'm Satan's messenger because I'm a mutant, that's a plus," he said with a smirk. "How about you?"

[Brigid Plunder]

"Wasn't too bad. I think maybe I overprepared."

[Alex Carpenter]

Alex couldn't help grinning at that. "Not quite as bad as you expected, then?"

[Brigid Plunder]

"Well apparently they didn't expect me to have gone through even half of the summer reading list."

[Alex Carpenter]

"Yeah, I think that's just an attempt to keep us inside and not doing anything stupid or fun all summer," Alex chuckled. "Now granted, when you're isolated and don't really have anything better to do? It's gonna happen."

[Brigid Plunder]

"I didn't really try to be a teacher's pet."

[Alex Carpenter]

"Of course you didn't," Alex scoffed, settling in and letting his arm rest along the back of the couch as he turned toward her. "Why, did someone say that?"

[Brigid Plunder]

"I got a few dirty looks," she shrugged. "I'm over it."

[Alex Carpenter]

He shrugged. "Good. It's not like everyone isn't on even ground otherwise anyway, right?"

[Brigid Plunder]

"I think everyone's just not quite familiar with their classmates, yet. Not everyone went camping with us."

[Alex Carpenter]

"Oh, so some people don't know how nuts this place can be yet?" Alex asked with a grin.

[Brigid Plunder]

"Fresh off the bus, or train, or whatever."

[Alex Carpenter]

"Oooh, we can break them in, then!" he joked, grinning.

[Brigid Plunder]

"You going to round up Captain Pineapple for that?"

[Alex Carpenter]

"I dunno, is he a drama magnet too? The more the merrier I guess," Alex said with a grin.