It's nice here. Nice. A lot of people would call that a good thing, but all she can think is that there has always been more than one meaning to that word, that it used to mean cunning as much as it did kindness, and here it is both. There's an undercurrent, she can feel - it's the same at some of the parties her parents went to, same as the people who smile without reaching their eyes. They're nice to her, but all that means is that they have something they're worried about. That they feel like they've done something wrong, and all they want to do is present something nice.

It's strange to feel that here, but she knows that her hosts are hesitant, that they want to escort her around, that her check-ins are frequent… that those who came with her are much the same way. There's something wrong here, it can be felt, and yet… What are they supposed to do about it? Tell someone about it?

Like someone would ever give a shit about a minor complaint. Funny, now pull the other one; that they're living out as the prologue for a shonen manga. She might be right, but being right means nothing if everyone thinks you're insane.

Everything is fine here, and reporting something is wrong is just… nobody wants to end the program early, they don't want to end up getting sent home from just the vibes and the vague feeling… even if they know that something worse is going on as well, that they wouldn't really be sent back for just the vibes.

Even still, nothing is done. Why should it be? If something really was that wrong, they wouldn't have to report it. It's not their problem to deal with. Best leave it to the adults, if something is wrong then it'll all be fine.

Taylor knows that if they're like this with them, it'll be worse with their chaperones. That people are less careful around kids, not adults.. That they think children can't do anything and should be left alone. Perhaps they're right in this situation, but… the adults won't know anything, they simply won't be allowed to.

Everything is fine. It has to be, or else… Taylor still isn't sure what the or else is, but it can't be anything good.

[Sorites]: So I'm sitting there in english class, writing an essay by hand like a heathen about… dunno, I think we were doing Lord of the Flies? I've given up trying to read anything the teacher assigns anymore - anyways, I was sitting there and I thought it would be funny to just quote the "You come before me unaware that I sit upon a throne of lies" bit and you know what he did today?

[Zeno]: I'll bite. What?

[Sorites]: He applauded me in class for the thing and I was sitting there like; this man has no idea.

[Zeno]: r/thathappened.

[Sorites]: Look, I might be a horrible liar most of the time, but at least I'm horrible at it so you know when I'm telling the truth.

[Zeno]: Sorites you're making as much sense as Abilene does when he's on three hours of sleep. Which is to say; none at all.

[Abilene]: Hey! I resemble that remark!

[Zeno]: Abilene, go the fuck to sleep it's two am for you or I will not hesitate and put you to sleep myself.

[Abilene]: A college student never rests!

[Zeno]: Honestly, mood, but I will not hesitate, bitch.

[Abilene]: Going to sleep now, mom.

[Zeno]: Good.

[Schrodinger]: Back at it again at the Krispy Kreme *bangs head on sign*

[Sorites]: Taylor~

[Schrodinger]: Zack~

[Sorites]: Schrodinger.

[Schrodinger]: Zack?

[Sorites]: SCHRODINGER!

[Schrodinger]: *Tries to turn around and run*

[Sorites]: Meme buddy, my beloved, you haven't talked to me- to any of us- in a week! It's been so long qwq

[Schrodinger]: I got caught up in work qwq… I thought I told you that?

[Sorites]: At what? Three am? You just went poof and disappeared for a week! I need my memes!

[Abilene]: What am I? Chopped liver?

[Zeno]: Abilene. Sleep. Now.

[Abilene]: meep.

[Zeno]: *Holds up the baseball bat*

[Sorites]: You can get mad at Abilene later, mom. I need my meme buddy now! Please, I beg, I'll do anything!

[Schrodinger]: Then perish.

[Sorites]: QwQ

It's not even a lie this time… she really did get caught up in work - school work this time. Just going over a few things here and there, and then the courseload picks up, and then she's talking to people, and then… well. Look, things happen, she forgets a few things and suddenly it's been a week.

UA… okay, look. She just thought it wouldn't be that hard, that she could just do the same thing that she did back home… nope. It's workload after workload after workload… it's like they're trying to keep her busy. You know, no reason… still doesn't stop her from going out and walking around, and by that, she means talking to Hisashi-Bharthari again.

That man has far too much free time… and she does not appreciate it eating into hers. What is she going to say? Sorry I couldn't do my homework, I got conned into healing one of the worst villains of the modern age and am now working for him? Like that would go over well. Yeah, no…

I'm becoming Abilene. She blinks, and looks down at her paper. Oh fuck, I'm becoming Abilene. She never thought she'd do the same, but three hours or not completing the work… yeah, she's completing her work. What? She needs her free time and if any excuse comes up… better just to complete the homework.

Even if she does hate the math homework… there are not enough words within the english language that can express how much she despises trigonometry. Look, it might be all fine and important for physics, but that isn't going to make her like it any better than she does now.

Yeah, everything's fine. If you just ignore all of the tension.