Don't Vanish

[Seiji Lockard]

It had felt like another long day at classes and work for Seiji Lockard. It was long past lunch and dinner time would be around the corner. That meant that Seiji had to figure out what it was he was going to have to eat tonight. He also needed to figure out if he was going to go through with requesting to become a teacher along with the mutant specialist when he was done with his college classes.

He only had a few things left to do to get all the credits he needed to get his Bachelor’s degree. Many had asked him to go for a doctor but he had never really been a fan of all that schooling and wanted to get right to work helping out his fellow mutants. He felt like he was making a bit of a difference but felt so limited in his interactions with people and thus limiting his actually effect on the mutant community besides breakthroughs on information. "I know. I'll sleep on it tonight." Seiji said in response to the words in his head from his snake.

He had Akiko on him today; the little snake had not been spending as much time with him due to the winter season and how easily she got cold. Thankfully Seiji was always warm, but she just felt like staying in her even warmer tank until recently. "Charlotte...Charlotte Logan, is that you?" Seiji asked as he spotted a girl heading back to the college dorms who looked familiar. He didn't want to bother her if she was busy but he figured they could walk and talk together, if she wanted. It had been a while since he last seen the girl and was already telling Akiko to remain hidden on his person to avoid any incidents.

[Charlotte Logan]

Charlotte's teeth chattered as she hurried back towards the dorms. It had been another long day and she was thankful it was almost over and she could put her feet off- tomorrow was a half day for her and so it meant she could sleep in and relax in the morning; perhaps read a few passages from her bible and drink some hot chocolate. She'd been so busy with work recently that she hadn't really had time to relax- but when did she ever give herself that time? The girl clutched a bundle of books to her chest, with her satchel slung over her shoulder, as she trundled through the slushy snow. It had begun to melt, which made her happy. Though she loved all the seasons, she never had liked winter too much. Too cold for her liking, made her nose turn redder than rudolfs and caused her skin to dry. She prefered autumn, when it was cool but not freezing. March would bring some warmth, though it would also bring rain which could very likely turn into snow. Charlotte was about halfway across the courtyard when she heard some calling her name over the sound of her feet stomping through the slush. Turning, the blonde saw a familiar face heading towards her so she stopped. She recognized him as the guy with the snakes- they had met only once before, when she had an attack in the back of the library, but she had seen his face plenty of times before around campus.  She paused, inhaling and exhaling a cloud of smoke on the cool evening air. She checked him over for snakes- she had made acqaintces with one last time they met and didn't fancy meeting another- but saw none. She guessed they must be snuggled away under his coat- which made her a little less tense. Charlotte was afraid of snakes but she wouldn't use that as an excuse to not talk to the young guy who headed her way. She needed some friends after all. "Seiji?" Charlotte asked, timidly. She was sure that was his name, but knowing her luck it wasn't.

[Seiji Lockard]

It was good to see Charlotte again, not that he had not seen her in a while. He saw her a lot in passing around the school but it had been only once when they interacted with one another. That last and only interaction not really going all that well, but Seiji was hoping round two would be better. He was well aware of her fear of snakes, and so was Akiko. The snake that Charlotte had met had informed all of Seiji’s other snakes of how the event went.

So while Akiko was tempted to scare the living daylight out of the girl, she would obey her master. “That’s me. I’m surprised you remembered me.” Seiji said as he chuckled a little. He tucked his hands into his pockets, keeping them warm and also checking to make sure Akiko was not moving from where she was hidden. Seiji was just happy that she was at least not freaking out around him already and at least said one word to him. Progress.

“How have you been?” Seiji asked, figuring they could try to make conversation. He was also starting to move a little again, not wanting them to stand out in the cold for too long. To walk and talk was easy for Seiji to do; he was pretty skilled at multitasking thanks to an aspect of his power.