{ota} rah rah, sis boom bah

[heartvestment]

It's that time of year. Time to field last minute questions, figure out routes for trips, have IDs made and transcripts printed and finalize the decisions of the 18-year-olds in the Deck. It could be worse, Edie can't help but think. There weren't that many kids in each class in the Deck, after all. There could be so many more.

But this number of students committing to colleges is still a hassle, is still something that makes Evangeline Huntly very stressed. Which is why she'll be sitting on a bench in Town, grumbling to herself as she goes through files.

Comments

[unsungheart]

"Or just camping out in front of it like it's Black Friday and you have xBox on sale," Dillon says, and shrugs. "I didn't stress too much over it. But then, I probably didn't know to stress over it. Everyone else has done the whole remote thing."

[heartvestment]

"Yeah, that's actually an accurate description." Sigh sigh sigh. "I wish they were all like you, Dillon, my boy. But they all prats instead."

[unsungheart]

"That's just sad." He won't say which part is sad: that it's an accurate description, or that she wishes they were all like him. "Maybe they'll grow out of it. Eventually, after killing themselves in fancy universities." Clearly music school was the way to go.

[heartvestment]

"Eventually. But not while I still have to deal with them. Which sucks." Here is a tongue sticking out to show how sucky it is.

[unsungheart]

"You're the one who wanted to work with the future, Edie Mae," Dillon points out. He is not too mature to reach forward and grab her nose. "You could be working a nice, cushy Castle job with adults right now, you know."

[heartvestment]

"I know," she protests, swatting at his hand. "But I love these kids so much for 48 weeks of the year. Just this month. This month is agonizing."

[unsungheart]

"And also, I bet the adults would be more frequently annoying." He's guessing. Or is he? You wouldn't believe the things he gets asked to source by mature adults, Edie. "Just a few more weeks to go. But I could be persuaded to buy you a drink at Mackinnon's or the Four Suits or wherever tonight, if they're getting you down."

[heartvestment]

"Oh, please? We really should go tonight, after my office hours have ended." She winces. "Which reminds me that I'm staying late to make up for this break."

[unsungheart]

"You shouldn't stay late," he says with a lopsided smile. "You get lunches and breaks like everyone else, you know? And if you stay late to make up for one, you're basically giving them license to act...entitled. It won't kill some of them to wait until tomorrow to hear that, no, you haven't heard from the Sorbonne yet."

[heartvestment]

"... are you being Legit Dillon or Underachiever Dillon? I can't tell," she says, laughing a little. "Fine. We'll go at... seven, then? What time is good for you, cousin dearest?"

[unsungheart]

"I've got talent," Dillon says. "I can do both at the same time. But, honestly...I saw it a lot at Berklee. There were the advisors who bent over backwards, and they never got a break. Their kids tended to get more and more demanding. It's the ones who set boundaries who did better, I think."

[heartvestment]

"That does sound like Legit Dillon... fine, fine. I'm listening to you. No working late. Scout's promise."

[unsungheart]

"Good girl." He doesn't pat her on the head, because she'd get revenge on him in terrifying and creative ways. "I'll drag you out if you do."

[heartvestment]

"You're the best little brother I never had," she says with a grin. "Cordelia still beats you in the sibling area, but you're really not that bad, you know?"

[unsungheart]

"You only say that because she lets you give her makeovers and I always ran for the hills." Rightfully so, thank you very much. Dillon is not the kind of guy who's going to make guyliner a daily statement.

[heartvestment]

Dillon is not that kind of guy yet. "That. That, and she's actually my biological sister, dude."

[unsungheart]

Keep trying, Edie. It's still no. "Yeah, yeah, that tiny little detail."

[heartvestment]

"So we're going out tonight for definite, then? You rock, Dilloon. Like, seriously."

[unsungheart]

"Of course we are, Edoom." One terrible nickname deserved another. "I'll buy the first round."

[heartvestment]

"Where're you getting this money from? Aren't you too young to be employed?" Such a silly little boy. She is getting to her feet for the sole purpose of hair ruffle.

[unsungheart]

Such a sidelong look, Edie. "You might remember that they have me managing Heartsong while they hope that I remember my ambitions and deepest desires and go back to challenging up to the stratosphere." Okay, they don't say all of that out loud.

[heartvestment]

"I like you where you are. It keeps the family balanced out. We need middling people like you, Dillon. Really." She's absolutely teasing, of course.