A/N: Sorry about the delay. I happened to get pretty busy lately, so I doubt I'll be able to upload as often as I had the first few chapters. I hope you continue to read and enjoy this story, regardless of how long it takes for me to put up the next installment...
Chapter 9: Institute
"Stand up a little straighter, you're rounding your shoulders," Quillish whispered to Laurent as they approached the enormous and rather old boarding school known as Wammy Institute. Quillish was never quite sure he liked the title, but others had agreed that it suited the old building. Quillish wasn't one to disagree with them, for he didn't really have a better name for it, anyway.
Laurent made a half-effort to straighten himself up, "You started up this school?" he asked, his eyes trailing up the enormous structure that was somewhat covered with vines, "It looks a lot like the Clark sisters' house…"
Quillish cocked his head and looked at the building, "I suppose it does," he said with a smile, "How very peculiar."
They made their way up the drive, and after a few moments of walking, sounds of children laughing and shouting could be heard.
"It must be recess," Quillish observed casually. Laurent gave a nod. Quillish looked at his adoptive son, "Are you alright?"
Laurent gave another nod.
"You seem very uncomfortable," Qullish said, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder.
Laurent's gaze drifted down to the pebbles below his feet and rested there, "We're here to meet a friend of yours, right?"
"That's right," Quillish responded.
"…he's not going to be another one of those…?"
Quillish laughed, "Not everyone I know is like my family, Laurent!" he said, "That's the beauty of friendship! You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends."
"You chose me. I'm your family, aren't I?" Laurent responded.
"That was a very rare instance," Quillish said with a smile, "…but look at you. You're nothing like my brothers and sisters. If I could have chosen my family, they would all be like you."
Laurent shook his head, but he couldn't help but smile, "You don't mean that."
"Well, they might not all be like you, you're a rather rare sort of person, you know," Quillish laughed, "Now, come. We're keeping Roger waiting."
"Quillish!" Roger cried, dropping the papers he was holding as the two entered his office, "It's been far too long!"
"It really has, Roger," Quillish said, with a warm smile. Laurent simply watched the strange new man with mild curiosity.
Roger got up from his seat and rushed around his desk, a wide smile filling his face, "Years and years!" he laughed, his right hand taking Quillish's for a handshake, his left was placed on Quillish's shoulder, "You've missed a lot."
"I can tell," Quillish said with a smile.
Roger let go of his friend and turned to look at Laurent, who didn't move at all after he had entered the room, "You're Quillish's adoptive son, right?"
"That's right," Laurent responded, his dark eyes immediately locking onto Roger's, "My name is Laurent."
"Pleased meet you, I'm Roger Ruvie," the man said, taking Laurent's small hand for a brief handshake. Laurent gave him an awkward smile and shook the man's hand dutifully. He really didn't like being touched by strangers, no matter what form the touching took. He supposed this was better than a hug, though.
Roger turned to look at Quillish, "I couldn't really tell over the telephone, but you've certainly gotten old," he said with a smirk.
"You have as well," Quillish responded, grinning back at him.
"Well, who wouldn't with all of those brats running around? They've made me go gray before I was ready!" Roger said, his hand running over his hair, "It's you who doesn't have an excuse. You only have one child to look after, unless he's a real handful…" he looked closely at the little boy, who stared right back at him. Quillish laughed.
"I've missed you, Roger," he said.
Roger grinned, "Likewise," he responded, "Now," he continued, clapping his hands once and then making his way over to his desk, "Would you like to see some of the developments I've made in my research…?"
"That's right, you got another grant…" Quillish said with a nod, "Congratulations."
Roger smiled, "Thank you. Now… look at this. We've managed to find a pattern in the mating habits of the common housefly. Look! Look!" he picked up a rather hefty pile of papers from his desk, his eyes glittering with excitement. It was obvious that he had been in possession of this information for a long while and he was dying to tell someone about it. This was one of the reasons why Roger had missed his friend so greatly. Without Quillish, he hardly had anyone who would listen to him about anything entomology-related. The teachers in the school were apathetic to whatever information Roger ever uncovered, and the students couldn't be relied upon for any sort of deep thought. As for his friends in the field, they were working on the research with him, so whatever information he would give would be old news to them.
Quillish accepted the papers with a smile, "You and your flies…" he said, flipping through the pages with interest, "There certainly are a lot of things in here…"
"Please, read it at your leisure!" Roger beamed, "I'd like to hear your thoughts on it later!"
"Mm…" Quillish said with a nod, he scanned the papers for a few more seconds.
"So… I've been meaning to ask, is there any other reason why you have decided to make an appointment with me, besides just saying hello?" Roger asked.
"As a matter of fact, there is…" Quillish said, looking up, "I haven't been here in a long while, is there any chance you could take us around the building? I hear that there were many different renovations since I last saw it."
Roger smirked, "Of course, follow me."
"Do you mind if I leave the papers back here…?" Quillish asked, holding up the many papers in his hands.
"Not at all. Just put them back on the desk," Roger responded. He paused, "No, wait. Give them to me, I'll do it for you."
"It's really no trouble…" Quillish began.
"I insist," Roger said, taking the papers from his friend, straightening them up and placing them neatly on his desk. He clapped his hands again, "Alright, let's go."
"…and down this way, we have where we hold the science classes…" Roger continued, leading Quillish and Laurent deeper into the labyrinth of hallways, "We got a rather generous donation recently, so we used it to update all of the equipment."
"Very nice…" Quillish commented. His eyes trailed on the walls that seemed just recently painted, "I see you also got rid of that wallpaper that used to be hanging on the walls…"
"Ghastly stuff," Roger said with a shake of his head, "I like the look of paint more than paper myself… and many people agreed. They actually made a petition to rip it out!"
"Really, now?"
"Yes, really! It was actually rather funny…"
Laurent silently followed the two men, but his eyes wouldn't stop moving. At every single turn there was something new to marvel at. There were beautiful photographs and paintings that decorated the walls, large, open windows that light cascaded through so stunningly, delicate vases and crystalline decorations on pedestals… it looked like something out of a movie or book. This is a school…? Laurent thought in wonder.
"…and here we are, back at my office. What do you think?" Roger asked, turning back to the two and grinning proudly. He may not have especially liked the school when it came to the people, but the building itself was something that Roger loved almost as much as his insects.
Quillish smiled, "You've been doing a good job looking after it."
"Well, it's mostly the housekeeping and staff that keep it looking the way it does…" Roger said modestly, "But thank you."
"Laurent, what do you think of it?" Quillish asked, looking down at his adoptive son.
"It's beautiful…" Laurent responded, "I can't even believe that it's a school."
"In that case… how would you like to attend here next year?" Quillish asked.
Laurent's eyes lit up, "Really? I can go here?"
"Certainly, you're old enough," Quillish said with a smile.
"I would love to," Laurent said, eyes shining.
Roger's happy expression seemed to melt right off his face. "Wait… just like that?" he asked disbelievingly.
"I think that you'll find Laurent to be quite the capable student," Quillish said with a smile, "All of his old teachers agreed in that respect."
Roger began to look rather flustered; "It's not that I don't question your judgment…" he began.
"Good, I don't either," Quillish said with a smile.
"But… I… you… just like that?" Roger stuttered, stumbling over his words.
"Money is no issue, you know," said Quillish happily.
"Money was never an issue…!"
"Then what's the problem?"
"You're just… going to place this child in? I mean, he may certainly be smart, but I…" Roger spluttered, "He needs letters of recommendation! Transcripts! How do we know how smart he is…? All we have is your word! We can't just let him in on that… we can't just let him in just because you want it to be so! We may be a little corrupt, but we still have rules!"
"All you really have are the parents' word for a lot of the students here," Quillish responded, "Trust me, Roger. He'll do fine. Just because he's getting in using the same techniques as many of the children here… that is, with a parent with money and power… he certainly deserves a spot here more than anyone else."
"That's what all parents say…!" Roger said, sounding frustrated.
"Oh, I doubt that. Most people don't like to bring up their money and power when it comes to their children getting into such a fine establishment. They like to pretend that they got there from merit… as every parent would like it to be," Quillish said with a smile.
Roger frowned deeper, "I suppose you're right… but I… the paperwork…!"
"I'll handle it. We have all summer," Quillish responded, "Besides, you let in countless new students every year anyway. What's another?"
Roger's frown remained, but his face also took on a look of embarrassment, "I… well… I guess you're right…"
Quillish then frowned, looking down at his feet in thought, "You know… I was really hoping that all of that corruption would have lessened in the past three years. I even replaced the staff…" he sighed, "I guess people will be people…" He was silent for a few more seconds, and then he looked up again with a smile. "Now, then..." Quillish continued, "Let's go back into your office. I'm still rather curious about your housefly research."
Roger smiled in spite of himself, "Oh, alright," he said, opening the door and letting them back inside. As Laurent stepped into the room, he heard the faint sound of an unseen clock chime the hour.
It's three already…? He thought.