“professor knightly!”

vegas leapt into action!!!!! like a tightly coiled spring he made his heroic move, his dashing action!! and that meant straightening himself up to in a strained attempt to match the professor's height, pushing himself off the wall outside the retired hero's office while rushing to tuck his phone away and bellowing, “behold! on this glorious day, a fated meeting happened - two lost souls convening at last through pure, untainted coincidence!”

or after half an hour waiting outside the professor's office browsing instagram but that was involved in fate as well. and then julio clearly seemed exhilarated - expression lit up with excitement and eyes trained on orrin. as if to watch for any sudden movements the professor had but it seemed julio was more likely to squeal with joy than do anything else right then. he was practically bouncing on his heels and it seemed the only reason a reasonable distance was being kept was that he was conscious of the mask.

“so what say you, night rot,” he emphasised the name heavily in a way that way probably meant to be dramatic but just sounded plain joyful, “what emotions befall you on this legendary eve?”


@orrin

that wasn't the sort of reply julio had been preparing for - on a brief contemplation, he wasn't sure what he had been expecting from the professor. skepticism had not been under any kinda consideration but julio's reply was, at first, booming laughter.

“hah! hours? nay, good hero, it has been only moments since we've met,” apparently choosing to gleefully misinterpret orrin he continued on, “though vegas must theorise that this blessed meeting may very well have ruptured the very fabric of space and time itself… because, for him, this meeting feels as if hours have passed too! a sign for greater things to come perhaps?”

he was grinning, but it appeared julio wasn't going to entirely ignore the implications of what orrin had said, “besides, does it not bolster your opinion instead? vegas can assure you, there is no question of commitment to education here - questions of commitment do not even come into the grand, heroic equation of vegas. commitment is guaranteed!”

petty drama? he laughed in the face of petty drama. to vegas, this was obligatory drama.

“and if time is of the essence for night rot,” julio continued, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. whether that was built-up energy from a lack of movement, or nervousness, he had yet to indicate anything but ENERGY in his voice, “vegas can… well, he can work with that! only a few more moments are required.”

@orrin

and vegas' request was granted! not without a thrilling chase scene - well, maybe chase scene was a mild exaggeration given that it didn't take much for julio to keep up with the strides of his professor, but it had the same breath-taking suspense!! hanging on the line, waiting for an answer! and it seemed orrin gave in enough to stop walking and, soon enough, complied to vegas' demands.

a stunning victory if he did say so himself!! though maybe night rot's consent was a little dubious when he conceded but julio intended to keep the next promise he was about to make, “that is more than enough! vegas assures night rot that he shall not regret it.”

“for he asks for one thing and one thing only: tutorship!” julio was to the point then but he continued on, feeling the need for clarity via synonyms, “instruction! apprenticing! mentoring that kicks to the curb all preconceptions of this known world.”

“an alluring proposal, no?”

@orrin

professor knightly was not allured; it had been entirely too premature for vegas to call it victory. and julio's expression fell not long after the professor started speaking - who wouldn't catch on to that tone? and vegas wanted to protest, he wanted to interrupt knightly in a flurry of reasons why not. yet when he opened his mouth to speak before the other finished vegas held his tongue. t'was an obvious tactical move to keep quiet, you see! a retreat, a moment to consider what to say. and dramatic pauses were suspenseful, were they not?

suspenseful even if night rot had begun to walk away.

“hah, of course there's more to come!” his laugh was rushed when he found himself once again keeping up with the professor. it made a change of what he was used to dealing with; julio couldn't really say he wasn't impartial to picking people up if they were uncooperative but the thought of that here seemed a bit… counter-productive. never mind that night rot was one of the few people that was taller than him but also an ex-vigilante, “vegas still has time left! after all, he recalls night rot issued a decree - nay, a challenge - of two minutes, correct?”

“that aside, ‘style’ is not of concern here,” julio was still wondering those implications - maybe a little sore about whatever they were - but he continued with the gusto he ever had, “for this is not about style! it is about experience.” he laced the word with emphasis and growing excitement, getting into the final crux of his stand. well, metaphorical stand given the speed.

“what other professor can provide such wisdom to a hero who only wishes to know about independence? so vegas asks - begs - for night rot's teachings.” indeed, julio was very much prepared to beg.

@orrin

still night rot put up a valiant struggle, vegas had to give the hero credit for that, though the student seemed to accept little of this rejection, “night rot should know in his heart that he cannot shut down justice by bringing up law.” agreed with it? had a mighty one truly fallen or was this part of some cunning initiation to ween out those not truly invested in justice, vegas was hoping it was the latter of those two rather than the extra third option of “professor knightly does not want to be your mentor”. for the sake of all that was righteous he ignored that one.

his hopes reached new peaks when orrin seemed like he would divulge something of great importance! julio waited for what he said with abated breath, eyes wide with interest and suspense, and following the professor's words he didn't look discouraged. in fact, he looked even more excited by it. it seemed he was positively giddy, “night rot nobly speaks of no show but behold!” vegas' grin widened, “a show night rot doth provide. a stunning tale, a moving performance, through which all mortal hearts are reached.” save for julio's, that is.

and that time when the professor begun to walk ahead again julio was prepared. with a burst of speed he deliberately headed in front of orrin, an attempt to block him off to stop him from walking away, “hark! vegas can only accept advice from his mentor, not a shadow of a hero that proclaims not to be.” chest puffed up again, hands on hips, he continued, “but perhaps a compromise is on the mists! lo and behold, this is what vegas hears the heavens say.”

“a mentorship trial period,” maybe the grandiose tone and the jazz hands managed to cover up what was a bit of a desperate plea.

@orrin