if i think i can figure things out, is that curiosity or arrogance?

Honestly, if you really considered everything that had gone on this summer, it was kind of surprising that Topher hadn't done this sooner. 

First of all, this summer had been crap, full of people leaving and Topher being evil and oh yeah, more people leaving. Different people. This would've been the perfect stress relief at any of his old schools, where he wouldn't have given it a second thought, but here, where he wasn't even all that likely to get in trouble for it, it was even more appealing. Plus he'd just taken a class that had gone into this kind of stuff, just a little. Or he'd done extra research that hadn't necessarily been encouraged, strictly speaking. Either way: knowledge.

All that, and he'd met someone who liked to play with explosives months ago. How had it taken them even this long?

"Okay," he muttered to his companion see what I did there?. "Think we've scared off all the teal deer?"

[[for one, and then another less-shirt-wearing one! and to be clear, there is not actually going to be dangerous stuff going on; the 'splosives are teeny and will mostly be tossed at rocks and stuff. but people are welcome to overhear from elsewhere if you'd like.]]

The world hadn't ended. The world was okay and there were people hugging and crying, but the lights were still off in the room across the hall from his, which meant that Topher had only one place to check.

He didn't run, though it was a near thing, and that was mainly because his legs still felt a little shaky after having flown around a freaking mountaintop on a wingless dragon. So he walked, his heart pounding erratically with worry and hope. A nervous habit kicked in, and as he stepped into view of the very tip of the island, Topher brought one knuckle up into his mouth to chew on uncertainly.

Please let him be there, please let him be there...

[[For guess who.]]

For all the complaints that people were making about the weather, there were at least two Fandom students who seemed oblivious to the snow on this particular Saturday.

Of course, they weren’t quite aware that they were Fandom students at this particular moment, because they were far too busy battling pythons and alligators.

“What, are you stupid? Hit its jaws with the thing!” yelled Dr. Nikki Riley, gesturing to an invisible (but very menacing) alligator snapping at her cohort’s feet. At the same time, Nikki whacked a large python with what appeared to be a large woolly mammoth bone she’d found in the snow. The python hissed and slithered off.

The invisible, invisible python.

Park Ranger Terry O'Hara knew this entire mess was Riley's overly blond fault and wasn't about to let her make things worse! She had a duty to uphold. A duty to the parks. Sure, she'd given alligators some steroids, but that was all in the course of her duty!

"This is all your fault!" Terry let her know. Because it needed to be done.

[[Oh god, so open. And horrible.]]