BRRNG BRRNG. Sounded throughout the dorm as Craig rose from his bed. He looked over expecting to see his pile of clothes in the corner only to see Mason sound asleep with his foot pressed up against his own back. Alright, that's gonna take some getting used to. Craig stretched out his arms and walked into the bathroom grabbing whatever clothes he had in his drawers as he shut his alarm clock.
As he stepped out of the shower and brushed his teeth he released his fangs and carefully cleaned them. Small circles, 123. He then proceeded to wash his hands as his claws came out carefully cleaning them. He then carefully swept his hair back with his hand as his bangs caught back up to his forehead again. He almost walked out before almost forgetting to put on his glasses. Can't forget these. He sipped his thermos full of coffee and enjoyed the quality produced by Mason's coffee maker.
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The birds chirping and the sounds of nature permeated through the air as Craig navigated his way through campus. He looked around, seeing the campus empty for the first time, all his fellow students likely still asleep as he checked over his shoulder every now and then just in case, old habits die hard. He made his way through the gates as he walked down towards the train station of Kyoshi.
As Craig waited for his train he noticed two guys intimidating some poor sap. "Please just leave me alone. I need to get to work." the sap said. "Just give us your wallet and we'll be on our way." The lankier man snarled. Craig looked over and instinctively reached towards his satchel to grab his mask but stopped himself. Craig it's broad daylight, what're you doing? Someone else can handle this. You got a job to do. Craig pulled his hand back as his train arrived.
The sap looked over at Craig and mouthed the words for him to help. Craig stood there for a second as people got off, contemplating whether he should help this guy or not. Craig's claws slowly pushed themselves out before some people approached the three men and broke it up keeping the poor guy safe. His claws retracted back into his hand and he then turned back to the train and entered. See? You were right, someone else could handle it. Now let's just get to the Kyoshi Branch. Craig sat down for the train ride as the doors closed and the train sped off.
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Craig exited the train. He walked out towards the main streets and made his way down with a slight jog. The contents of his satchel bouncing around clattering together as he moved down Kyoshi's streets with cars and buses filled with other people trying to make an honest living. The 8 am Kyoshi commute was for the hardest of workers. Craig took a sharp left before entering the slightly more pristine looking Dispatch, He walked with a casual stride ever familiar stride.
"Um, Hello?" said the receptionist at the desk, stopping Craig in his jaunty stride. "You gotta sign in y'know. No randoms in the dispatch!" she said with annoyed undertone. "Oh sorry I'm the new guy. The transfer from Cifer, Craig Warren." he said apologetically. "Oh you're the kid that got those vigilante photos, the uh Gecko or something?" the receptionist said idly.
"I think it was Ace Dragon but uh yeah that was me." Craig said, masking his slight annoyance. Gecko? Are you for real? The receptionist handed Craig a clipboard and a pen. "Sign here, here and here and then just go down to the bosses' office. Careful though he's a little… much. " she trailed off as Craig handed her back the signed form. I've handled Mr. Brock for 2 years now. "Thanks for the heads up." Craig said walking into his new boss's office.
Craig opened the door to see an older man at the desk, he had long hair and dark red shades, typing away calmly. Craig quickly noticed the zen garden by his keyboard, the peace sign paperweight. Then he finally picked up on the smell of incense and another… mysterious scent in the room. Oh. This guy is a- "Namaste, young one." The older man looked up and greeted Craig with a slight bow and smile in a calming, lackadaisical tone. Craig, stunned for a second, snapped himself out of it before bowing back. "Uh namaste, I'm Craig, the transfer from Cifer. I got the photos of the vigilante-"
" The Iguana right?" Craig stifled his groan. What is with people and reptiles? "It was Ace Dragon but yes I got the photos of the vigilante. I also did some tech support back in the Cifer branch as well." Mr. Green nodded slowly with a solid grin paired with his red shades. "Righteous. I am Mr. Green, your spiritual guide and supervisor for your journey." Craig raised a brow. "...Journey?" he said before sitting down in the office bean bag chair.
"Yeah, man. Life is a journey and this is one of your many paths to self discovery." Mr. Green said with a widening grin "Today WarrenPeace, I need you to go to the Kyoshi Baxter Museum. They have a new exhibit featuring some kind of ancient Arabian artifact." Craig willingly ignored his nickname from his elated boss. "Anything specific about it?" Mr Green shrugged as he leaned back further into his chair. "Just that it's 'acquired' like most things in museums and it's allegedly cursed." Craig nodded slowly, filing that info away. "I see, what time should I be there for the display? Should I wear anything nice?"
"Around 6 pm and nah don't worry about it man. You'll be fine just show up and take a few photos." "Alright sir, I'll have the photos here by 8pm." "Groovy." said Mr. Green as he sank further into his chair. Craig pulled himself out of the sinking comfort of the bean bag chair and was about to head out the door.
"Wait a minute WarrenPeace." said Mr. Green in his ever slowed voice. Craig turned back around. "Usually in the museums they put up fake pieces on display. But if you got a picture of the real deal. I'll give you a bit extra and a…'bonus'." Craig nodded. This was a great chance to make some extra cash and a potential bonus was intriguing. "Got it boss, I'll see what I can do." "Right on man, just drop 'em off to me or Jade at the desk!" said Mr. Green as Craig walked out of his office. Jade sat at the desk typing away as Craig walked through. "Tried to warn ya!" she said with a slight chuckle. Wasn't good enough of a warning. "Yeah I think I got the memo now. I'll be back later." Craig said, trying to process his new work environment as he left.
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9:45 am
Craig returned to his room to see Mason watching the news on the couch as he was tinkering with another device. "Uh good morning?" Craig said "Morning." Mason replied. "I thought you went to bed late, how are you up?" "I have a 'complicated' relationship with sleeping. Anyways, where'd you head off to?" Mason said half way through a yawn as he walked over to brew them both coffee.
Craig walked over to take off his satchel as he sat on the couch. "Oh uh I was at my job. I just sort of transferred to the branch here." "I see. What are you doing for work?" "I took photos around Cifer and I do some office tech support." Craig trailed off as Mason handed him his coffee. "Thanks, now I'm kind of doing the same thing here." Craig gave a slight shrug of his shoulders.
"Hmm, didn't take you as a photography guy from what I gathered." Mason said matter-of-factly. "What makes you say that?" "Well from the first conversation we had you didn't come off as a scenery guy." Mason between slurps off his coffee. Craig raised a brow as he crossed his arms. "And how did I come off?" "Quite nervous for one." Mason said straight-faced. Craig motioned to argue, but recollected the events of the previous day. "Touche," he said in defeat. "I can admit that." Mason sipped his coffee carefully as he manoeuvred the wires in his device. The scent of coffee and the faint hum of the news anchor's voice permeated through the room
. "So…what are you working on?" Craig asked, trying to not think about his awkward antics any longer. Mason held up the mess of scrap metal and wires towards Craig. "Hopefully by the end of the day it'll be a toaster." Craig observed the mess with a hint of astonishment, his roommate was really something else. "Really?" He looked down at his coffee then back at the mechanical mess that produced it earlier. Oh, right. "So…What's that guy been talking about for the last hour?" Craig said, pointing to the news as he sat down with his coffee.
"Something about a string of thefts across the city. He's been spewing on and on about how it may be related to the lizard guy or some shit. " Mason rolled his eyes, his tone dry as ever. "I can't seriously believe people are buying that stuff." Craig looked over at Mason with a look of confusion. "You don't think Ace Dragon is real?" Craig asked equal parts curious and amused. "Is that what they call him in Cifer? Look, it's the same to me as all those other cryptids, like Nessie or Sasquatch. There's been less than a handful of sightings and accounts but nothing super concrete. I think the vigilante may be a real person, but anything about them being superhuman or some arbitrary mutant is, well, illogical. Just a series of rumors." Mason sat down his now empty mug before walking over to their room to grab his sneakers.
Craig stared off at Mason blankly for a second as Mason grabbed his sneakers. Huh, if I weren't the exact person he was talking about I'd probably agree. I haven't really shown up again since dealing with Lance, and that whole thing was only big for about a few days before it died down. Last time I talked with Nathan it seemed to blow over with him as well. Craig looked down into his satchel staring off at his eye mask. Maybe it's for the best though, that Ace Dragon stays a rumor. Mason popped back out of the room adjusting his glasses slightly. "Wanna come with me to check out the dining hall?" said Mason. Craig shook off his blank stare and zipped up his bag. "Y-Yeah! Let's go." Mason opened the door as Craig shut it behind them. "Let's see if they've got better coffee than you." Craig said with a slight smirk. "I doubt it." said Mason, his monotone voice potentially hinting towards an ounce of hurt.
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Mason and Craig arrived at Kirby Commons, they looked around seeing their peers hanging out and eating in booths, lined up at the stations or having trouble deciding between which pastry to grab. Donuts being the obvious choice. Mason noticed the coffee maker immediately with Craig sensing his annoyance. No way it's better than mine. Mason thought as he made his way to the coffee maker and snatched a cup. Mason sniffed the cup before taking his first sip. "So how's the coffee?" Craig asked. Mason's monotonous face remained after he drank the campus coffee. He then took a deep inhale before handing the cup to Craig. Craig, confused, took a sip of the Kirby Commons Coffee.. Maybe it was his heightened senses, maybe it was the time, maybe it was just to make a quick joke. But Craig had to say. "It's better than mine…" Mason begrudgingly admitted his voice ever monotone. "Come on Mason, yours is good too." Craig said with a smile trying to make Mason feel better. Unfortunately his cheers fell on stubborn ears. "Good isn't good enough..."
Mason said dejectedly as he stormed off to go grab food while Craig finished off that last cup before going into the pancake station. As he stepped in line he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Hey Craig!" said Katherine as she blew the hair out of her eyes with a slight puff, her smile highlighted by the pink dots on her cheeks . "Hey Katherine. Craig said as he turned around as he nudged over slightly down the line snagging a few pancakes for himself. "Thanks for having me and Angi over last night, it was fun just hanging out!" Katherine said as she grabbed the blueberry pancakes from the stack. "Uh you're welcome." Craig awkwardly chuckled slightly. "It's no big deal." Craig said trying to relax again his nerves being as bad as his eye sight used to be. Katherine noticed this nervous but decided to shrug it off "Right. So any plans you and Mason have today?" "Uh nothing really. I just have work today." "Where are you working?" Katherine said as the two of them started walking over to a table. "The Ditko Dispatch, I just got transferred over to the branch here. Just gotta take a few photos of what they ask." "Oh," Katherine said intrigued "I had a feeling you were a photographer! What's the muse today?" "Kyoshi Museum." "Doh!" Katherine smacked her forehead quickly out of slight embarrassment. "Of course the new Arabian exhibit! It's supposed to be super in depth!" She said with a smile. "Uh yeah, how'd you know?" Craig asked, a little intimidated. "Oh uh I watch the news a lot. Have you heard of the string of thefts around the city?" Katherine pushed forward. "Uh yeah Mason was watching earlier. You think they are connected to the vigilante?" said Craig as they finally sat down. A spark lit in Katherine's eyes, excitement beaming from her dark eyes. "Abs-" "MASE!" Craig and Katherines attention was immediately caught by the sight of Mason and Angi by the donut stand arguing.
"I saw it first, Angi." Mason said as with his hand hovering the donut. Angi's hand also hovered over the pastry carefully with bubbling annoyance. "You've been brooding over them for the past minute." she said "You were basically forfeiting!" "I was thinking!" Mason said with more annoyance than sadness. The tension between them filled the air as Craig and Katherine watched on. "You've been taking forever! It's not that hard!" Angi rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Then you pick another one, this one is mine!" Mason clamored. "It's the last strawberry sprinkles!" Angi yelled back. "It's my favorite." "It's mine too and I saw it first." Mason argued back.
Mason's grouchy brown eyes met Angi's cranky crimson eyes as they both mentally attempted to set the other on fire, to limiting effect. Suddenly Angi let out a loud sigh before she split the donuts in half. "Fine, we'll share!" Angi gave in slightly annoyed as she offered half of the donut to Mason. Mason looked at the donut then her before sighing and accepting the offer. "Fine. Thank you." They bit into their respective halves walking towards Craig and Katherine's table as Craig and Katherine looked at each other sharing a brief look of disbelief with Mason noticing he received the larger half of the donut with Angi slightly smiling a bit behind him.
"What's up Craig!" Angi said with her usual bubbliness restored. "Good morning Katherine." Mason said with his usual monotone voice restored. It was as if the two didn't just start arguing over a donut at 10 in the morning. Craig and Katherine once again took a look at each other as if to comment to each other on the absurdity of Mason and Angi before returning a greeting back to their friends. What just happened. "Hello Mason." "Hey Angi."
"So you guys got any plans for today?" Angi asked fervently as Katherine chimed in. "I have to go to this museum exhibit later for work." Craig said as he cut his pancakes slowly before noticing his lack of syrup. "He was saying earlier that he's going to take pictures of the new exhibit at Baxter Museum." Katherine interjected while she handed Craig some of her syrup as she bit down on her blueberry pancakes. Mason and Angi looked up with intrigue. "You didn't tell me you were headed to Baxter Museum." Mason grumbled. Angi's eyes sparked with excitement. "Ooh Baxter Museum sounds so fetch! Can we come with?" Craig looked around awkwardly at the table as their gazes exuded a slight pressure on him as he fumbled with his pieces of pancakes. "Well I, uh. Sure I suppose it's fine." Craig meekly stumbled. Quickly stuffing his face with pancakes. Angi and Katherine beamed with excitement while Mason remained neutral but seemed to have a slight smile on his face. "What time are you going?" said Katherine "I'll probably leave around 5." Craig slightly stammered. "Great," Angi beamed. "we'll all meet up outside the dorms then go!" The group coalesced in joy or the closest possible thing Mason could muster, for their later outing.