alone in the wilderness

I s’pose that’s good.

I rather like my trousers to stay perfectly dry….I think it’s safe to say this conversation took a turn for the weird.

Yeah, it has. But I can assure you once more your trousers will be safe, and we can leave it at that.

Well, Cyrus, I trust you’ll find a suitable partner who doesn’t mind leading but also won’t make me wet my trousers.

Not that I would, mind you!

Hey, we can work that out. And really, I can't think of anyone that would actually make you wet your trousers.

#how to deal with stress: a novel by cyrus riviera #cyrus

hqcarmel

peppermantovani

I don’t exactly have a social life. Haven’t had one of those in quite a while. Hence my boredom.

Oh, I don't mind using 'social life' time as 'Cyrus avoids the world' time, so boredom doesn't strike too often.

#convo: mantovani

She’ll probably find me rather useless, if she’s so good as you say. Hope she doesn’t mind a lump like me bringing her down.

Maybe I should request someone who seems a bit nicer— like Mantovani? She doesn’t seem too threatening.

Pepper's nice. Not as ruthlessly efficient as Faye, but not too far off either. I could pair you with Maddie, too, but she's been awfully quiet lately.

peppermantovani

It wouldn’t be anything I can’t handle. Essays are where I excel.

Yeah? Two essays a week, plus patrols, plus a social life? I can't actually account for a social life, personally, but I hear they just eat up your time.

#convo: mantovani

peppermantovani

I can’t blame you for that, really. I could just use something to do now that I’ve no OWLs to worry about and have so much free time.

Be careful what you wish for, Mantovani. Wait till the professors start throwing essays at you left and right.

#convo: mantovani

She’s rather intimidating, but if she’ll do that for me, then yeah, I wouldn’t mind if you arranged the schedule like that.

I can make that happen, no problem. And I'm sure she's fine if you leave her alone for the most part.

You’ll probably think I’m a bit odd, but I don’t mind the work actually.

My problem is catching people doing bad things. I’m not very good at confrontation or dishing out punishments.

Then you should look to get paired up with Tennison then. I think she likes giving out punishments.

Right, I’m all for a matriarchy.

Yeah, it sounds like a lot less work for you, anyways.

Oh, well, if we’re going with House Pride and all, then my girl Janie’s got it in the bag.

Yeah-- imagine Faye though. This place would be in tip-top shape. Maybe we should just collectively elect them to be in charge of the school.

I hope next year’s Head Girl is just as good. Any ideas on who you think’ll be? I think that Mantovani’s got a good running.

Pepper? Sure. But I'd like to think Bailee's got a good running, as well. House Pride and all.

Hear, hear!

Least the Head Girls are still on top of it.

Yeah, Alex is always running a mile a minute. I envy it sometimes but hey. One of us has to be the introvert.

Well, I don’t know I’d be a good successor to you.

Hey, I'm a successor to Gerry Mullins. Maybe we're just on a steady decline as far as Head Boys go.

Thanks. I appreciate that, Cyrus.

Just doing my job. My very new, very stressful job. Don't let them appoint you Head Boy next year, Matt. It's a trap.

Ah, you’ve got nothing to apologize for. It’s my fault. I didn’t mean to bring it up, subtle or not.

Circumstances made bringing it up necessary. But I really will keep a more careful eye on the Slytherins from now on.