DAY 14: TIN WHISTLER
Tin Whistler doesn't stand out of the pack. He's middling in popularity, scholastics and athletics. He's enemies with Raven Poe (but who isn't these days) and Lord Rendar, and great friends with Frank, Bones and Jay. He's also pretty chummy with Dirona and Cheesy. After so many days of couple-focused episodes, I thought it would be good to follow somebody who has a wider frame of possible interactions.
First person he runs into is Frank the Tank. Fistbump.
As they head into the school, Tin also is greeted by Lana Karron. Frank peels off to talk to Justine for a moment, and in comes Dei, who forces a confrontation on them! While they watch, Lana asks Tin to hang out with Justine more. Playing matchmaker I wonder?
So when Dei is done making a scene and the group separates, Tin guesses he might as well say hello.
He barely gets "how are you" out of his mouth before Jay whooshes up and interrupts them.
Jay's feeling pretty good today. He speaks some bolstering words to TW, and offers Tin the answers to the homework.
Off to the library. Interestingly enough, Jay takes some pretty copious notes in class. Who'd have thought the class rogue would be so meticulous with his studies. Tin's grasp of the subject matter becomes much firmer.
As Tin is about to leave the library, he's stopped by Frank. "Hey, wait a sec." "What's up?"
"Ohhhhh myyyyy." - George Takei.
Frank takes Tinwhistler in a manly embrace. Tin has no idea Frank cared. Particularly with all the Justine-Kags-Dei stuff going on. I guess that firmly upgrades their relationship from friends to crush.
Terrik comes in just as they separate, wanting to talk about the schoolwork too. He's another good friend of Frank's. THAT good a friend, wonders Tin?
Then Shakey comes into the library and announces she's having an open study session for all comers. What the heck, right? Bubble and Klew also opt in.
Then Tin starts heading toward class. He sees Cheesy in the hallway and they catch up for a bit.
He witnesses another fight in the hallway between Bhamv Three and Bubble 181. Something's just wrong with that girl.
But this time, Bhamv didn't have the element of surprise on her side, and Bubble trounces her.
The bell rings, and he heads in to take his seat for class. But despite all his preparation this morning, before too long he's asleep on his desk. Doh!
He, Frank, Shakey, and Mind detective all head to the roof to get some lunch. Lana Karron is already there, but she's preoccupied with Lord Rendar.
Cheesy lumbers by to say hello, and Terrik comes by, too, asking him to be nicer to Dei.
Ashburner comes and talks to Shakey, and the two of them head off somewhere.
Tin notices Gusto kissing Mind Detective across the roof.
A moment later, Terrik does too and runs over there to break it up. Tin shakes his head, and takes the free moment to say hi to Diriona, letting her know she just missed Cheesy.
In the hallway on the way back down from the roof, he's met by both Frank and Jay. Frank lets him know he thinks Raven Poe is dangerous, and asks what Tin thinks of Dei.
Jay's just there to act too cool for the room, apparently.
He takes a walk through the breezeway, and Bhamv Three steps in front of him, looking at him like she's got something to say. But Kags sees it too, and barges in with fake innocence. Whatever Bhamv was going to say or ask, it goes unvoiced.
But then Kags sees Frank talking to Terrik, and feels compelled to butt in to THAT as well for some reason.
The blur of socialization continues around him, and Tin spots Dei. Since Terrik asked him, he goes over to make friends. She's not very interested in talking to him though.
As he gives up, he spots Jay with his arms around Ashburner X. Now isn't THAT an interesting development.
Justine arrives shortly thereafter, but she didn't see the hug. Nevertheless, even the two of them conversing is something she decides she's got to derail.
He cuts around back of the gym, and there he sees many people watching Klew in a fistfight with Raven Poe.
Klew goes down for the count. That's a little surprising, Tin didn't know Raven had any fighting ability at all. Maybe she's been taking lessons...
As Klew struggles to get her wind back, Raven yells at the crowd, "And everybody could be NICER to Little Kagsin, GOT IT?" She storms off.
Tin helps Klew up and consoles her on her loss. She seems appreciative. In fact, one would attest to seeing the start of a new real friendship.
Bones shows up, reminds Tin to be at Kendo practice that afternoon, and heads off.
Wondering what that was all about, Tin follows him...
And finds him hugging Dei. My my. Frank sees them, but he's not interrupting. My my my.
Tin goes to talk to Frank. Still waters run deep, and it doesn't take much conversation to find out Frank's pissed off. Tin tries to cheer him up, which is a difficult job - Frank can get pretty grumpy when he wants to.
Tin wonders if he might not take a chance and try to recreate that morning's surprise occurance, but on further consideration he doesn't think Frank is in the right mood for such forwardness.
It's the end of lunch, anyway. Again Tinwhistler's circadian rhythm fails him and he falls asleep in afternoon classes as well. This is not how one progresses in their studies, Tin.
He wakes up to a sight that makes him question whether he really woke up at all or not - Shakey in a fight with Cheesy. One can only wonder what the queen of the Space Cases said to get Cheesy to where he'd actually fight! The poor guy doesn't stand a chance.
Sure enough, Shakey, who is well known for getting in fights it seems, wipes the walls with poor Cheesy quick as anything. Tin runs over to help him up, and Frank follows his lead. Seeing Frank "the Tank" heading their way with purpose, Shakey makes herself scarce.
Cheesy is very grateful as Tin helps him up and dusts him off. It appears as though their friendship is becoming more solid. Tin suggests the three of them all head to Kendo practice, but Cheesy wants to hang back for a minute, catch his breath.
So it's just Frank and Tin warming up for Kendo. It's a productive session. Tin notices Shawn Acy watching them. That's odd, isn't Shawn on the Swim team, not Kendo?
Tin asks Shawn if he wants to join in, and after a moment's relunctance, he says "Why not."
Between them, it gets out of hand. Tin thinks he's pulled something. That's not good. He has to sit out the rest of practice.
In the locker room afterwards, Cheesy has encouragement for him. Tin's pretty bummed, it's hard to walk.
Jay also sees this and offers solace in his own, slightly assholish way. It's the thought that counts, right?
Frank might have been about to do the same, but you can practically see the "!!" go off over his head, and he sprints out the door leaving a veritable cyclone in his wake. Guess the "Cockblock signal" went off, and some lusty duo somewhere is about to get ice water dumped on them.
Limping along, Tin heads toward the front gate. By the time he makes it to the courtyard, Frank is already there, looking VERY mopey. Tin hails him and does his best to raise his spirits. He wonders if Frank's mood has anything to do with what he ran off to do... maybe he caught Dei with someone. Or any it was one of a number of other people Frank's involved with, it seems lately.
Of course, Jay comes along and has to put in HIS two cents.
But it's only a minute before Justine shows up to claim him.
Tin Whistler sees Klew, she's heading for him with a cute little smile on his face, seeing him limping.
But suddenly the air is rent by a bloodcurdling scream. There's a crash, and a huge amount of hubbub, and my printscreen key stops working. Students are fleeing everywhere. Sirens begin getting louder and louder. Tin can't move fast, so Frank and Jay have to help him get clear.
In minutes, the rumor has spread like wildfire.
A student has been attacked and was taken away in an ambulance. Bhamv is rumored to have been seen in restraints, being put in the back of a police cruiser. Frank turns pale. He looks around hurriedly, yet methodically - as if trying to do a headcount, or looking for someone in particular.
An administrator puts a hand on Frank's shoulder, and has him sit down. Frank's worst fear is confirmed - his long time best friend, Terrik "the Smoking Gun," is dead.
END OF DAY 14