Your name is Vriska Serket, and you are completely lost. It's been half an hour and you're still no closer to finding your first class than you were when you started. You couldn't sleep this morning, and so you'd gone ahead and left early, thinking that maybe you could make a good impression on your first day before the professor discovered what a miserable student you would be. Now it seemed like you'd be lucky to make it to class at all. As you walk down yet another hall, you wonder just how large Skaia University is. It had seemed fairly average on the website, nothing massive like what you are experiencing now. You knew you'd come from a small place, but seriously, how could one university be so big? You've gone up and down countless staircases and gotten turned around in this maze of hallways so many time you're ready to scream. You've passed the same motivational posters 8 times at least, and you swear if you have to walk past that janitor and her silent judgment one more time. Well, let's just say it won't be pretty.
You are starting to regret not going to the help desk on the ground floor to begin with, but you've never really been one to seek help from others. You'd rather do thing your way, even if your way does result in being trapped in the hallway maze from hell.
You turn the corner, and find yourself confronted with the same common room space you left ten minutes ago. The walls are a light blue color, and one wall is taken up by a large window overlooking nice green space below. There are several tables spaced evenly around the area, as well as a dark green couch against the back wall. Several plastic ferns litter the corners, and an old vending machine advertises an assortment of stale snacks. Bright sunlight streams in through the window and you feel a familiar ache behind your temples. Great. A migraine is just what you need today. Feeling more annoyed by the seconsd, you dig a few quarters out of your bag and deposit them into the vending machine. You press the button "B8" and watch as your pack of M&Ms are pushed forward. The machine makes a suspicious grinding noise, and stops just as the candy reaches the edge. You stand staring at the brightly colored mechanical demon for a moment before letting out a scream of frustration.
"God damn it!" You yell, slamming your fist against the glass. The M&Ms sway a bit, but don't move, as if trying to taunt you. "Fine," you hiss. "I wasn't hungry anyways."
Just then your stomach growls, betraying you. You hit the machine once more before turning away in disgust. You jump, startled by the appearance of a girl standing just a few feet away from you. She's wearing a light purple jacket, with what looks like tentacles weaving around the sides, over black jeans, along with well-worn purple sneakers. Her blond hair is cut short, and is a stark contrast to her almost violet eyes.
Shit. She probably saw all of that. You don't like other people in general, much less so when they catch you being defeated.
"You know, you really shouldn't damage school property like that," she says to you. Despite the seriousness of her tone, you can see the hint of a smile playing across her lips.
"True," you say, regarding her skeptically. "But it stole my M&Ms." You'd debated snapping at her, but she doesn't really seem intent on giving you a hard time. You don't really have any good comebacks this early in the morning anyways.
She frowns and says with what this time is clearly mock seriousness, "A most terrible crime indeed. This calls for drastic measures."
Before you can say anything else, she walks past you and deposits four quarters into the machine. She traces her fingers across several of the buttons before selecting "A8". You watch as a pack of Sun Chips are pushed forward directly above your hostage candy. They reach the end of the ledge, hang suspended precariously for a moment, and fall into the tray below without so much as brushing the packet of M&Ms. She picks up the bag of chips and idly pulls it open. After popping one in her mouth she turns to you and says,
"Now then, care to help me tip the vending machine over a bit?"
You laugh, surprised. "Sure," you reply with a sly grin. You've gotta say, you appreciate this girl's wit. Besides, as your traitorous stomach reminded you, you really could use something to eat.
"Excellent," she smiles, taking hold of one end of the machine. You take hold of the other and she counts to three.
"One, two, three," you both push against the vending machine and you crane your neck to look through the glass front.
"Is it coming loose?" She asks.
"No," you frown. The stubborn thing is snagged on something. Just your luck. You give the vending machine an extra shove, and suddenly the M&Ms, along with half of the other snacks, fall forward. You and the other girl ease the machine back into place, and stare for a moment at the load of junk food now spilling from the tray.
"An unexpected, yet not unfortunate result," she says. She smiles again. She has a nice smile, not the annoying perky kind that makes you want to punch something; but a 'my plan is working well isn't that fun' sort of smile. You think you like it. "I think this is fair payment for our determination," she announces.
"Hell yeah it is," you grin. You like the way this girl thinks. Only suckers would let an opportunity like this go to waste.
She looks at you for a moment. "My name is Rose Lalonde," she says, holding out her right hand.
"Vriska," you say, returning her handshake. "Vriska Serket." You see a look of confusion pass over her face. A moment later you realize why.
You hold your left arm up and tap it with your other hand. "It's a prosthetic," you explain, bracing yourself for the usual questions. You try, and fail, to suppress your annoyance. Just once you'd like to introduce yourself normally. At this rate people will be greeting you with Bionica jokes by the end of the week.
Her expression clears, and to your surprise she doesn't ask you anything about your "robot arm", as so many have called it. Instead she asks, "So where are you headed?"
"Well," you say with a sigh, "I was planning to go to my Psychology class. The Merciless Gods of Skaia University however seem intent on cursing me to wander these fucking halls for the rest of the eternity. Bastards…" You mutter that last part under your breath.
She raises an eyebrow at this. "Psychology huh? Well Vriska, it seems the Gods of Skaia University may not be so merciless after all."
"How's that?" You ask, tilting your head to the side.
"Because," she begins, rummaging for something in her black tote bag, "I just so happen to be taking Psychology myself. And I have this," she says triumphantly, flourishing a pamphlet with the Skaia University logo on it. It's some sort of sun on a light blue background or something. You've never really looked at it that much. You're much more interested in what it says under the logo.
"Is that?" You ask in awe, seldom daring to believe it.
"It is," she nods. "A map of Skaia University."
First the vending machine and now this. Maybe there's someone here you can stand after all. You let out a small laugh. "You might just be alright," you grin.
"Well I should hope so," she says. "After all I did just saving you from an eternity of wandering the halls of Skaia University until you starved to death."
"Good point," you say, scooping several handfuls of snack food into your own bag. It's dark blue and covered with a silver spider web design, matching well with your navy jeans and black v-neck top. The only contrast to your outfit is your lucky red sneakers. Ever since you read a mythology book as a child about red shoes being good luck you've worn practically nothing that wasn't some shade of it. Some people might say it's ridiculous to wear a particular thing solely because of a myth. Some people can fuck off.
During your internal diatribe, Rose has unfolded the map and is currently tracing her finger along its surface.
"Ah hah!" She exclaims. "Here it is," she says, showing you a small square in the map. She lets you hold it as she goes to take several snacks from the remains of their vending machine pillage. There are so many lines twisting and turning on the guide, it's no wonder you'd gotten lost. Now that you've got a map though…
"Follow me," you say, swinging your bag over your shoulder.
"Are you sure?" Rose asks, sounding surprised. "Wouldn't you rather look at the map a bit longer?"
"Oh Rose," you say, shaking your head, "Don't you know? Never doubt a Serket girl with a map." With that you stride confidently down the hall, looking briefly over your shoulder to find her following right behind you, a bemused smile flickering across her face. You navigate your way through the labyrinth of halls and staircases, smirking as you pass the janitor once more. She says nothing, but watches silently as you pass by. Several minutes later you stop before a door marked "Psychology 101".
"I'm sorry I ever doubted you," Rose says solemnly.
"I suppose you're forgiven this once," you say, opening the door. You follow her in and find a seat near the back. Rose offers you a seat next to her, but you shake your head. You appreciate wit and a nice smile. You don't appreciate attachment. Getting attached means getting close. And you of all people know the dangers of that.
AN: Thanks for reading! Next chapter will be up soon! Comments always welcome!
All rights to Homestuck belong to Andrew Hussie.