Treasure Hunt: End of Line

A small ‘urgk!’ escaped the Canadian kid when he suddenly felt his collar ride up, the pressure on his vocal cords making his eyes and tongue pop out as he was stopped mid-step. “You didn’t have to do that you know,” grumbled the boy, arranging his collar as he let himself be led to wherever Josef was planning on taking them. He shot the man a slight glare, just so he knows that the whole tugging thing was ‘not cool’. God, when did he get so pushy? Did Jordan suddenly rub off him or something?

So focused was he with the prospect of grabbing some good old caffeine and cocoa that the ominous dragon by the corner escaped him. If Jordan hadn’t mentioned dragon-slaying, he still would’ve missed it, even if they’re walking towards it’s/his direction.

“Why would you want to kill a dragon-” whispered the boy to Jordan, backing up slightly so that Josef won’t hear, “-when you can catch it?” With an impish grin, Jared opened his bag, grabbing two palm-sized plush pokeballs. “I knew I shouldn’t have left my master ball back in the dorm. Darn it.”

And yes, if you’re wondering, the boy really is planning on throwing the ball on the mandragon. Pointless, yes, but he’s actually very excited about it and is already giggling and shaking like crazy.

“You ready?” he grinned, handing one to Jordan, “Aim for the head ok?”

And off the balls went.

Ok. So maaaaybe the pokeballs were somewhat of an overkill. But come on. Sean came into the café wearing a dragon costume and he expected easily excitable teenagers to approach him in a peaceful manner? Not a chance. Considering the roller coaster Jared went through for the day, he’d happily jump over any chance of having fun he can get. Chugging balls at Institute officials who are institutions themselves included.

“Aww shucks. This is why we should’ve weakened him first,” groaned the teen when the dragon easily caught the balls in his hands. He tried to keep a straight-face throughout, but within seconds, he was burst out laughing, clutching his stomach with one hand as he put another on Jordan’s shoulder. He didn’t really know who was in the costume until he turned around and talked. Good god. He could never look at Dr. Neville the same way again. (Good luck for his turn at the sex ed seminar at that).

His boisterous laughter continued for a while (when he heard Dr. Neville speak), and though while it decreased in volume due to the looks he’s getting, it was still rather distracting. “Big words. Oh my god,” was all he could say as he tried to catch his breath, wiping the tears that form on the sides of his eyes. He was still rather red and panting hard, but he managed to pull an ‘ok’ sign out and grinned. “Not like I have a choice anyway.”

Unfortunately Sean, unless you’d use your powers on the boy, I don’t think Jared can get over laughing, or at least snickering, every time he sees you. But who knows, maybe a lecture after all this would do him some good.

As for now though, the Canadian still isn’t over the whole thing as the more Sean talked, the more mystic and ominous he becomes (that maybe what he’s going for anyway), and the more the boy wants to laugh. He had to bite his lower lip and clamp on it hard just to calm himself.

Jordan was, once again, right about Jared. He’s totally clueless about the whole thing.

“That’s hard,” he grumbled, his grin disappearing and a scowl forming to take its place. His pout was accompanied by the whole hand-on-my-chin gesture, which made him look a little too immature for his own good. “This is some kind of a trick question, isn’t it?”

He knows he should be building up on his companions ideas, but how they might connect or help just escapes him. So what if they turn on switches? There weren’t any specifications about the wall or the adjacent room, so maybe there’d be a shadow? “I don’t know. Maybe one goes to the light room and another goes to the switch room? And he shouts ‘That’s the one’ when they turn on the right switch?”

He’s hopeless. Sorry.