I Hear You're A Nice Guy (Preston)

[Thorn Wyatt]

Fresh from his first experience with this academy, Elias stalks through the building, taking in the various sights and sounds. For the most part, he's interested in seeing just what the other agents can do, as well as what their personalities are like.

With this in mind, he's taken to taking up as much room in the hallways as possible, arms stretched out as if he's trying to touch both walls at the same time.

[Preston Salabim]

Normally Preston would see Elias blocking the hallways and just... making himself known. That was probably the polite way to say it. But as it was he was neck deep in research. Almost literally as he carried a stack of books nearly as tall as he was down the hallway. The same Hallway that was blocked. And then when he touched Elias' arm some of the books would teeter and he'd try to shift, only to have them collapse on the other side!

"Ooof!"

He'd grunt as he fell. Books cascading around him and his glasses knocked askew.

[Thorn Wyatt]

Elias turns to look at Preston, tilting his head slightly at the mess he'd made.

"You're clumsy."

He says, though it doesn't sound like mocking or teasing. Instead, it's just... a statement of fact.

[Preston Salabim]

"Not normally."

He'd say, picking himself up and adjusting his glasses as he examined the mess. He'd need to restack them. But without a table to use picking them up once stacked would be problematic. He assumed based on the other enrollee's comment that he would not be inclined to offer help.

[Thorn Wyatt]

"What's special about today?"

Elias bends over, essentially invading Preston's space from behind as he watches him work.

There's no way in Hell he's helping him.

[Preston Salabim]

He'd close his eyes and just breathe deeply. He could see what was happening. But he did not plan on getting worked up over it. He was better than that.

"I would think as much would be obvious."

He'd start working around Elias to stack the books.

[Thorn Wyatt]

"I'm not as smart as you, I guess."

Elias shrugs, before nudging at one of the books Preston's stacking with his foot.

"We don't have these where I'm from."

[Preston Salabim]

It was tempting to confirm, that he probably was not as smart as Preston was. But he was smart enough to let that free shot pass.

"Books?"

He'd readjust the stack and continue piling them up.

[Thorn Wyatt]

"Right. Books."

He nods, kicking the pile a little harder.

"What do you do with them?"

[Preston Salabim]

He would just straighten up. Eyeing his book pile as it shifted and teetered to nearly collapsing again. Adjusting his glasses as he took another calm breath.

"So is the preamble fun for you? Or am I the only one that can predict how this plays out?"

[Thorn Wyatt]

"Preamble? What?"

Elias frowns, bending over to pick up the top book.

"I just wanted to have this."

[Preston Salabim]

"So you are interested in the subject matter?"

[Thorn Wyatt]

Elias squints at the book.

[Preston Salabim]

If he could read he could see that it was titled A Brief History of Unaligned Aether Sites.

[Thorn Wyatt]

He can barely read, but this book in particular? Definitely not.

"Yes."