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#Post#: 108--------------------------------------------------
Room 339
By: morethanmusic Date: November 25, 2013, 1:16 am
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Clarence Morgan
Everyone was steadily picking up on the ritual.
Early wake up, long before his mother would even think about
getting up. It seemed, this year, she had tried to stay up, but
had fallen asleep at the table. Clarence thought this was a bit
unbelievable, but maybe it was more understandable than he
wanted to admit -- he had been avoiding her as much as possible
all summer, but that was part of the ritual too. He'd already
packed his bags, as if he'd ever completely unpacked. Slipping
out early, he had as much in his car as he could. His father's
car may appear at the driveway when the sun came up -- he
wouldn't be there to know. Clarence would already be on the
road, picking up a gallon of chocolate milk and a box of donuts
to wait out the time it took for the gates to open for the
students.
Yelling a cheerful howdy to the workers, he made up for the
mornings he would hate every moving being on the planet with a
little smile and a wave, parking in front of Austen Hall. He got
out and stood up to stretch his legs, chugging down the rest of
his milk before taking in a deep breath and heading inside to
sign in. The people here looked pretty dead for being the
welcome committee, so he pointedly gave them a wink and a nudge,
openly telling them what a blessing it actually was to not have
his parents around. Most of his friends wouldn't be here for
another hour or so -- he always moved in early. New roommate, of
course. Yeah, same old, same old. Not a surprise, not a big
deal. His stuff got in first, so he didn't give a damn.
He carried everything upstairs with more ease than he thought he
had last year. Workouts were paying off. Damn straight. A guy
who was moving in down the hall gave him a hand, carrying up the
microwave while he got the mini-fridge. The guy seemed
interested, asking about the new fridge. Yeah, he'd saved up for
it with his own money this summer. It was damn nice, but he'd
still managed that on top of school payments and what he'd had
to pay for at his mother's house during the summer. Nah, he
didn't feel bad about leaving her alone -- which was only
partially a lie.
Waving the guy off as he headed down the hall, Clarence locked
the door tight and closed the blinds, shutting himself off for a
while as he meticulously set up his room in the way he'd had it
the last two years. Flopping back on the bed, he folded his
hands behind his head and closed his eyes, relaxing in the
solitary feeling of having a room of his own for what time he
had.
This space might be borrowed, but, for now, it was his. And,
even if he had to share it with someone else sometimes, it still
was his, at least to some degree.
And his father could never barge in. And his mother wasn't
crying in the other room. And, for the semester, he was safe.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts, Harry," he whispered to himself,
smirking. "Welcome home."
#Post#: 110--------------------------------------------------
Re: Room 339
By: EloquentMisprints Date: November 25, 2013, 1:51 am
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Corzen Foster-White
Corzen watched quietly as his guardians-- parents, he would
never get used to that-- unloaded the car. Lawrence waved him
off, urging him to go sign in while they took care of the heavy
lifting. The boy moved away with a slight nod, glancing around
for the sign that read Austin Hall before moving toward quickly
and ducking into the building. Check-in was nerve-wracking, all
the papers sliding in and out of his view, under and out from
under the tip of his pen. They asked him questions, polite
conversation about whether or not his parents were helping him
move-in, he whispered the first answer to come to mind, 'no'.
And then he was handed a key, the key to the door that would
lock him away from the rest of the world just for a little
while.
He hurried back to the car, his chest rising and falling quickly
as he was struck with the sudden realization of just how many
people were rushing and scrambling around him. People yelled
excitedly and breaks squealed to a stop, each sound causing his
heart rate to rise and his blood to thunder in his ears. He
grabbed his duffle bag, waving off his half-brother and mumbling
out a quiet 'too many people' before retrieving his jacket and
bedding from the trunk and making his way back into his dorm.
The lobby was crowded, people spilling out onto the walk way and
lawn as the lined up to check-in. 'Excuse me's and 'pardon me's
and 'sorry' tumbled out of his mouth like a mantra as he pushed
in and rushed up the stairs, nearly tripping over his feet.
"339... 339... 339," he repeated, panting heavily as he moved
down the hallway until he found his room. He shoved the key into
the lock unceremoniously and twisted it, before turning the knob
and nearly falling into the room. It wasn't until he had dropped
his duffle onto the bed and fished out his copy of 'Crime and
Punishment', the one with his mother's picture tucked neatly
between the pages, that his heart started to slow and the black
edges disappeared from his vision. He licked his lips and looked
over at the boy-- man-- stretched out on the other mattress.
"H-Hello," he stammered, sliding his book onto his book onto his
desk and dropping his gaze to his feet, "I-I'm C-C-Corzen, but-
erm- y-you alr-ready know th-that, d-don't you?"
#Post#: 113--------------------------------------------------
Re: Room 339
By: morethanmusic Date: November 25, 2013, 2:04 am
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Clarence Morgan
Noise outside the room made him a little tense, but he only
stirred slightly until the door handle started to shift. He
fought to keep his body still, hearing the shaky hand that was
on the key, the shuffling and unsure movements of the person who
was definitely too light-footed to be of any real threat.
Clarence slowly opened his eyes and turned his head to look at
the new kid, who had just started to notice him.
"H-Hello," the boy said as he nervously put things aside and
stared downwards like he didn't know what to do with himself.
Clarence arched an eyebrow, swinging his feet of the bed and
planting them firmly on the floor before jumping up and
extending a steady hand for his new roommate to shake.
"Howdy there, little bro," he said, smirking.
"I-I'm C-C-Corzen, but- erm- y-you alr-ready know th-that,
d-don't you?"
Clarence tilted his head back a bit as he laughed, shaking his
head. "To be honest, I only know that because I saw your name on
the door." He reached over, hesitating a moment with his hand
right over Corzen's shoulder before making contact, in case the
kid was more nervous when people touched him. "I'm not a
poacher, so you don't have to be so spooked, Hamster Man.
Promise I don't bite." He winked, then withdrew, jabbing a thumb
back towards his bed. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the bed
by the door. I got my reasons, but if it really peeves you, we
can switch later. Are you twitchy being by the window or...?"
Shrugging a bit, he put his hands in his pockets. "I like to be
between whoever I'm rooming with and whoever might come in the
door. Old habits die hard, you know? You're part of my family
here now." He smiled a bit sadly. "But whatever makes you
comfortable, Hamster Man. You seem a bit more skittish than me."
Taking in a breath, he let out a heavy sigh, and gestured
towards the book. "First thing you unpack is a book? Thank god.
My last roommie was a party-bastard, and I hate that shit.
Party, get drunk, hang out with weird bitches, but don't bring
it back to the room, that's my policy. But..." Careful not to
touch, Clarence tilted his head to read the cover of the book.
"No fucking way. Crime and Punishment. That's good shit!" He
grinned. "I got a copy of the original Lord of the Rings novel
set, but it's old as balls. You like Tolkien?"
#Post#: 125--------------------------------------------------
Re: Room 339
By: EloquentMisprints Date: November 25, 2013, 3:25 am
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Corzen Foster-White
"H-Hello," he stammered out nervously, licking his lips and
avoiding eye contact, even as he shook hands with the bulkier
teenager.
"Howdy there, little bro," the boy responded as Corzen withdrew
his hand and stuffed in the pocket of his wrinkled jeans. Corzen
flinched ever so slightly, he really didn't want anymore family
that wasn't his... not when he couldn't have the only person who
was.
"I-I'm C-C-Corzen, but- erm- y-you alr-ready know th-that,
d-don't you?" He responded, swallowing hard and meeting his
roommate's gaze timidly. The other boy laughed and it made
Corzen smile a bit.
"To be honest, I only know that because I saw your name on the
door." His roommate commented, causing Corzen's eyes darted over
to the door and frown, a flush forming on his cheeks.
"I... I d-didn't think of that." He admitted quietly, watching
as the teenager's hand hovered just over his shoulder.
"I'm not a poacher, so you don't have to be so spooked, Hamster
Man. Promise I don't bite." His roommate said with a wink,
before jerking his thumb toward the previously occupied bed, I
hope you don't mind, but I took the bed by the door. I got my
reasons, but if it really peeves you, we can switch later. Are
you twitchy being by the window or...? I like to be between
whoever I'm rooming with and whoever might come in the door. Old
habits die hard, you know? You're part of my family here now.
But whatever makes you comfortable, Hamster Man. You seem a bit
more skittish than me."
"I--uh--I don't mind." he whispered, chewing on some loose skin
on his bottom lip,"I'm n-not picky, I-I pr-promise."
"First thing you unpack is a book? Thank god. My last roommie
was a party-bastard, and I hate that shit. Party, get drunk,
hang out with weird bitches, but don't bring it back to the
room, that's my policy. But..." His roommate trailed off a bit
and Corzen's eyes widened a fraction of a hair, shaking his head
just barely.
"N-No, sir. I wouldn't." he ducks his head and glances over at
his book.
"No fucking way. Crime and Punishment. That's good shit!" The
other boy exclaimed with a grin, his head cocked funny to get a
good look at the title. A real smile spread across Corzen's face
and his posture relaxed considerably.
"It was my mother's favorite," he commented lamely and moved
over to pick up the book, "I take it everywhere with me."
"I got a copy of the original Lord of the Rings novel set, but
it's old as balls. You like Tolkien?" The bulkier teenager
continued conversationally.
"Very much." He answered, flipping his book over in his hands,
"I can... I can recite some from the trilogy and a considerable
amount from the Hobbit. N-not that I'm br-bragging or anything."
He slunk back into his shell a bit, hugging his book to his
chest and biting down on his bottom lip.
#Post#: 126--------------------------------------------------
Re: Room 339
By: morethanmusic Date: November 25, 2013, 3:46 am
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Clarence Morgan
He kind of wanted to take quaking little Hamster Man and shake
him and yell that he wasn't gonna break his neck, but that
probably wouldn't help much.
So, he went with what he knew. Books. He mentioned his last
roommate, though, and that didn't seem to improve matters at
all. The boy was shaking like a leaf and stammering like he was
face-to-face with someone scary up on the level of Hannibal
Lecter or Dr Hal Ramsey. Seriously. This dude needed a chill
pill or maybe even a pot brownie. Not that those were legal, but
serious as all hell, this dude needed to go to a Japanese hot
springs or something. Way too wound up. Looked like he needed a
real break. Maybe it would be better if Clarence cleared out for
a while...? Breakfast sounded good.
First, though, he wanted to see if maybe the little guy just
needed to catch a break. "No fucking way. Crime and Punishment.
That's good shit!" He sent Corzen a big grin, seeing the boy
relax a bit with a smile of his own.
Fucking score.
"It was my mother's favorite," he said. His voice sounded so
mellow and unsure beside Clarence's. It made Clarence feel like
a big, loud lumberjack. "I take it everywhere with me."
Clarence nodded. "I'm the same way with mine." He went over to
his bookshelf, scanning it carefully. "I got a copy of the
original Lord of the Rings novel set, but it's old as balls. You
like Tolkien?" He glanced back, getting an affirmative answer
that satisfied him enough to pluck the large book from the
shelf.
"I can... I can recite some of the trilogy and a considerable
amount from the Hobbit."
His eyes widened, clearly impressed. "You're shitting me!"
"N-not that I'm br-bragging or anything." Corzen retreated a bit
into himself, holding his book close, looking like a tormented
child.
Shaking his head, Clarence held up his book. "Behold! We are not
bound forever in the circles of the world, and beyond them is
more than memory." Smirking, he cradled it a bit in the crook of
his elbow, not quite comfortable enough to let Corzen get close
or touch it. "My dad gave this to me. The only good thing he
gave me." He paused, shrugging. "Well, other than my good looks.
Those help in a lot of ways, you know?"
#Post#: 136--------------------------------------------------
Re: Room 339
By: EloquentMisprints Date: November 26, 2013, 2:07 pm
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Corzen Foster-White
"N-not that I'm br-bragging or anything." He said, shrinking
back a bit as the small wave of confidence passed. Part of him
thought it would be more than appropriate for him to scrawl
'human doormat' across his forehead and go curl up just outside
the dorm room door or, in the particular case, replace his bed
with a pile of shredded newspaper.
"Behold! We are not bound forever in the circles of the world,
and beyond them is more than memory." His roommate quoted,
causing the timid boy to look up. "My dad gave this to me. The
only good thing he gave me." There was a brief pause where the
bulkier boy shrugged, "Well, other than my good looks. Those
help in a lot of ways, you know?"
"An escape from reality," Corzen started quietly as he slid
passed his roommate, "is the best present an absentee parent can
give, is it not?" He placed his book carefully on the bed,
before removing a cardboard tube from his duffle and popping the
cap off. "Perhaps I should have said any parent, I suppose that
would fit just as well. And really," he pulled out a thick roll
of papers and began to unroll them on his bed, "something as
precious as a book is never a bad gift." He dug out a box of
tacks from his bag and set them on the table, grabbing a few as
he lifted one of the papers and pressed it to the wall. "Would
it be r-rude of me to ask for your assistance?"
"Your father..." Corzen began tentatively as he leaned against
the wall, "did he retire to the Grey Havens?" He nodded toward
the trilogy and cleared his throat a bit, "Perhaps he's met my
mother. Or did he fall down the rabbit hole, never to be seen
again?" He paused, smiling ironically. "Then maybe he's met my
father." He shook his head, moving away from the wall and
dropping down onto the bed with a heavy sigh.
#Post#: 309--------------------------------------------------
Re: Room 339
By: morethanmusic Date: December 9, 2013, 9:25 pm
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Clarence Morgan
Quotes seemed to make this kid perk up. Damn straight. He needed
a little confidence -- and, to be honest, helping the kid not
look like he was about to crawl away on his hands and knees made
Clarence feel a bit more comfortable too. It was like improving
Corzen's mood was like making the lights a little bit brighter
-- the darkness that had crept in while he'd been away from
school was retreating to where it belonged, which was probably
in Dr Ramsey's office or something.
"An escape from reality is the best present an absentee parent
can give, is it not?" the other boy muttered, shuffling over to
his side of the room. Clarence smirked, tilting his head back a
bit.
"In some cases," he said, simply, flopping back onto his bed and
folding his arms behind his head, closing his eyes. "Depends."
He heard Corzen shifting around in his stuff, but he wasn't
anywhere near curious enough now that he'd gotten some
conversation going between them. Always have to start with
something positive. Even if it's just a little bit.
"Perhaps I should have said any parent, I suppose that would fit
just as well."
Clarence frowned a bit, his eyes still closed. "Nah, that
depends too."
"And really, something as precious as a book is never a bad
gift."
Snorting, Clarence's face broke its seriousness. "You'd think
that, wouldn't you? But if someone packs up a copy of Consider
the Crows as a Christmas present, you're gonna say fuck that
shit faster than somebody on TBS."
It was quiet for a moment before he heard Corzen speak up.
"Would it be r-rude of me to ask for your assistance?" His voice
was so small and unsure that Clarence was sure it would make him
subconsciously drop his voice a bit lower -- mostly because it
kind of made him think of a little kid. Sitting up, Clarence
shrugged, walking over and looking at the poster for a moment
before putting a hand in the upper corner.
"Here, hold still." He slipped in front of Corzen, pinning the
top of the poster with his arm, pushing Corzen aside slightly as
he took the tacks and secured the top of the poster quickly,
then tacked the bottom. Smirking, he stepped back and put his
hands in his pockets. "Got a little practice putting shit up on
my own. No big deal. Got anything else you need put up?"
Corzen seemed to have something else on his mind, but it took
him a little bit to spit it out. "Your father..." Clarence faked
a light cough to cover up how he tensed up a little bit.
"Whatcha wanna know, Hamster Man?" he said, trying to sound as
casual as he had before.
"... did he retire to the Grey Havens?" Corzen pointedly
gestured towards the novel Clarence had mentioned. Clarence
raised an eyebrow, but said nothing yet. "Perhaps he's met my
mother. Or did he fall down the rabbit hole, never to be seen
again?" He almost spoke up, but Corzen seemed to relax a little,
and Clarence's shoulders eased a bit. " Then maybe he's met my
father."
Frowning a bit, Clarence swallowed, shaking his head. "Unless
your mother was a really shitty person, I doubt they'd even make
it to the same circle of Hell as my dad would." He put on an
awkward smile, shrugging. "But, nah, he's still out there.
Would've come to help me move in but, you know, I don't want him
around. I've got people here, people I don't want to get
protective of and possibly get sent to prison for killing him
over."
Moving over, he playfully -- lightly -- punched Corzen in the
arm. "What's the deal with your dad? He a weasel? I know how to
hunt down weasels."
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