"It certainly does." says Rachel. Some of the classmates are appeased, some are still a little scared of him, and Karen is looking at him with an odd and thoughtful look on her face. 

"Well, then," the RA continues, motioning at Karen, "it's your turn." 

"Oh! Right!" she says, shocked out of her concentration. "So: I was invited to the USAMO and placed in the top 50, senior year -- that's a really rather selective math contest, for folks who don't know. I'm a huge fan of Star Trek, and I've written a semi-popular Avengers fanfic under a pseudonym." 

Huh. Sean really isn't sure about any of these. He suspects the math contest placement is an almost-not-quite like his nearly dancing with a professional company or nearly getting expelled, but he isn't sure; and the other two seem about equally sure-I-guess-that-could-happen in a way that makes him suspect them both of being lies just because they're so mundane. What's a 'semi-popular' fanfic anyway? Actually, that one feels like it should be true just because 'semi-popular' is a weird level to either lie about or aspire to. Unless that's what she wants people to think. He is not good at this game.

There's quite a lot of discussion about this, most of the folks deciding that the math contest pretty much has to be a dream, or a lie. The fanfic thing, which, someone asks a similar clarifying question to what Sean is thinking, Karen makes a face and explains that she means popular in fandom, but not necessarily outside of it. Everyone pretty much decides this is too specific to be false. And that leaves being into Star Trek as probably but not necessarily true. 

But when made to answer -- it turns out the math contest is in fact true -- she apparently tied for 46th with a couple other people. Which a couple people in the students kindof bug their eyes out at, and Karen looks a little smug when they do. The fanfiction was of course, as pointed out, also true -- though when pressed for which one it is, Karen says that that would be telling. Which leaves the "huge fan of Star Trek" as the lie -- which, as Karen explains, she never got into. It's Star Wars that she's a huge fan of. 

Aww, Karen looking smug is great.

Karen's pretty happy feeling smug as well. And some of the people are now looking at her as though she actually has a brain, a little bit shocked at the revelation. One of the two boys who were hitting on her before is actually looking a bit sheepish and sorry -- which means, maybe, just maybe, she might actually make some good friends here. Even if it looked bad to begin with. And worst case, she can still be friends with Sean. She's still rather confused by Sean, but he's clearly more intelligent than he appeared at first glance (or at least, that's what she's telling herself), and it seems like he had a rather troubled childhood. She's perfectly happy to help him out to settle into a good place. Still -- once this is over she should probably try and make other friends as well. There's a part of her that wants to keep making sure that Sean is ok, but Karen reminds herself that he seems pretty good on his own. He's the one who helped out her. And now she has the opportunity to make more friends. 

The last couple of people do their icebreaker. By then, everyone does actually seem to be a lot more friendly with each other -- not so much because of the game itself, but because of the debates they were having around it. It's not perfect, of course -- Elliot is still shrunk and hiding, and Zoe is still keeping to herself, as are a couple other people here -- but for the most part, the discussion and argument over the past hour means that everyone is actually pretty comfortable with each other -- or at least understands who one another is. 

"Well, I hope that was fun!" says Rachel. "We're going to be heading over to the mess hall in a few, so why doesn't everyone stand up and stretch themselves out a little." Pretty much everyone does so, stretching out the kinks from sitting for so long. "I know you all aren't ever going to be as close as the groups that are actually living together," she says, "but you do all live in relatively similar locations, off-campus. You all live in and around Kingston Hill -- so you might be seeing more of each other than you would expect. Regardless, I do hope you've started to make a few new friends. Next up -- everyone's favorite part -- lunch! Which in theory, is the first part of your tour. The mess hall is thataway," she says, pointing. "Come on and follow me." 

The students do, forming a ragged group, as people in general are wont to do. Karen sort of pulls away from Sean for the moment a little bit awkwardly, not because she doesn't like him but because, well, she wants to try and make some other friends, too. Sean can probably tell that's what her intent is. Regardless, that leaves Sean the opportunity to try and talk to someone else, if he wants. 

He thinks he'll go for the flirty girl who had a rich kid tantrum. If she's got that much money to throw around she might be useful. At least if she's got better access to it than he does.

Valerie is still pretty miffed at John for showing her up right in front of everyone like that. At least that explains why he wasn't falling for her charms (she's still a sexy hottie, not like these other loser girls). And she's still got a couple other boys who still are clearly into her (and it really is such a rush watching them bow and scrape and bend over backwards and laugh at her jokes, even the really awful ones. It's always gratifying to see the effect she has on men) but really no one particularly hot enough that she really wants to fuck them. The only other really hot boy in this crowd is the rich weirdo who was talking to the nerd girl of all things; doesn't he know he can do better than her. Seriously, people like them should really associate only with people in their proper station. 

That's not to say that she isn't going to fuck one of these pimply boys if she has to, though. She moved in a couple of days ago and it feels like she hasn't fucked in weeks. And she so very much wants to fuck someone, it's always a rush, and it's even more of a rush dumping them outside when she's done. She's going to give one of those boys the best night of their petty little lives, and then dump them on the sidewalk like the worn-out trash they are. She just has to get through this dumb lame orientation first. It's not like she really cares about this school; it's just something that'll make Daddy happy so he'll give her more money. Which he already had done; all her cute smiles and telling him how she was going to need to make sure she was ok without daddy to protect her had doubled her allowance -- she'd be able to buy tons of pretty clothes to make all the boys want her and all the girls jealous. And here she was, walking and talking to a couple lameo boys, when she'd really hoped she'd find someone a little bit more fun. 

But wait, is that weirdo rich boy coming to talk to her? Huh. Maybe he's figured out that the stupid nerdy girl is below his station and is coming to talk to someone of his proper class. Valerie figures she can probably use someone like him a dozen times or so before she gets bored of him. She puts on her best coquettish smile and slyly bats an eye in his direction as he approaches. 

...wow. The helpful persona has nothing to say here; even his predatory side is kind of uncomfortable. She's so intensely fake it's actually kind of hard to look at her.

But if he can figure out how to keep her, she'll be useful, and that's worth putting up with a fake smile or two, right?

He still has a hard time making himself smile back.

She gives a little smile back, still flirting with the other boys. She's not going to go over and talk to him, oh no, she's gonna make sure he does all the work here. That way she can always snap up one of these little boys if the big boy doesn't end up working out for some reason. She's sure one of them would love to comfort her if she gets all sniffly about how it didn't work out. Maybe even make them angry at the big strong man being mean to her. There's lots of kinds of fun she can have with these dumb boys, and so little time to do it in. She's gonna have such a fun time at college. 

It is perhaps a good thing for Valerie that Sean can't actually read her mind. Reading her body language is bad enough. The dismissive-possessive thing she's got going on with the two boys currently flirting with her, and the undercurrent of contempt in how she looks at him, and...

...you know what, fuck it. He's at least pretty sure that if he gets fed up enough he can resort to telling her off before he resorts to violence.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything," he says, stepping up to her little group. This time he hangs back, giving the other two guys clear precedence, deliberately not intruding on their space or putting himself between them and her.

The two boys, given the opportunity presented, circle in closer around the girl, the one that Sean scared off from Karen before especially. 

Valerie is a little miffed. She wanted to see him push the other two out of his way, or stand in front of them, or something. It's always such fun getting boys to fight over her. Besides, can't he see she's the hottest thing in the room? And that she wants? Valerie turns up her smile. What is he doing giving these other stupid boys a chance. 

But that's fine. He's just a nice, polite boy. Thinks he's a nice big boy scout, does he? Maybe that's why he was talking to that ugly nerd trash. Well, she can enjoy a challenge. And it's always fun to have a nice polite boy at her beck and call. 

Valerie carefully flattens out her "come hither" to a warm glow, and, with a smile, says. "Oh, not at all! We were just talking about what we think the food is going to be. Would you like to join our little conversation?"

I find being in your presence almost physically painful, he does not say, because he is trying very hard to keep his eye on the prize here.

"Do we have any reason to think the food's going to be good?"

Valerie gives her best amused snort. "Probably not compared to what you and I are used to, of course." Actually, hm, she could see a bit of a dark look on his face. Maybe, given that he's a boy scout, he doesn't respond to superiority so well. She decides to tone it down a little. "Well, at least compared to what we've had, I'm sure. But that isn't really a fair comparison, is it? I'm sure it'll be at least passable, and likely nutritious! At the very least. I'm sure it'll be fun, don't you think?"

"Man, I don't know what kind of food you think I eat. I think my favourite meal I ever had was pizza at Costco."

This is a really unstrategic thing to say but it's true and it's so hard to say anything else.

Valerie doesn't let her emotions appear on her face, or stumble at all when she hears him say that. She mentally downgrades Sean several notches. Clearly he's a simple boy who, well, even if his parents are rich clearly is mostly being lifted up by their wealth. And doesn't have a good appreciation for the finer things in life. Well, maybe if he shows him a really good time, he'll be super thankful. And... if his parents are in the habit of just giving him expensive presents like the car, maybe she can get him to give her expensive gifts too. Like clothing. Or jewelry. And, if she's being honest with herself, Valerie is pretty jealous of that car of his. Her daddy only ever got her a BMW. Maybe once they've been alone for a little bit, she can convince him to let her borrow it. For a while. Admittedly, she's never actually thought to ask daddy for a nice car like that. Maybe she will when she calls him later, and then she'll have two really expensive cars.

Still, it takes her a couple seconds to figure out how to respond to that. "Oh, really? I didn't know you were so into pizza! I bet I can take you to a really good pizza place in the city later, if you'd like to have a dinner with me?" She bats her eyes at him, just little, giving him a small hint of a seductive smile. "I'm sure it'll be delicious, and we'll have such a good time together."

Oh thank fuck. He smiles a little, and if he's more relieved than flirtatious, well, he does his best to cover it. "Sure, I'd love to."

Valerie gives him a warm grin, all the while smirking internally, and starting to mentally plan the date. What best to wear to catch his eye and make him want her... he still doesn't seem to be as into her as she'd like, for some reason, well, she's sure a bunch of makeouts will change that, but what to wear to get him to do it. Maybe, if he's so attracted to that trash with the giant tits, well, maybe she'll wear something that shows off her breasts, maybe the lovely red number with the cleavage that goes allllll the way down to her belly button. Yes, that'll do nicely.

Valerie also wonders if there's some way she can show up that bitch before the orientation is over. Maybe better not to, though, if he seems to like her, and she doesn't want to make this any harder -- though the fact that he's a hard nut to crack is making her want to have him all the more. Besides, there will be plenty of opportunity to prove that she's better than that brainy trash once she parades him in front of her.

"Awesome!" she says with a coquettish grin. "It should be a fun little outing! We can figure out the details later, maybe once this is all done, just give me your number and I can text you mine so we can work out the details!"

One of the boys glares angrily at Sean, and walks off to talk to someone else.

He manages to summon up a semi-genuine smile by picturing her lying on the floor of his torture closet bleeding in a dozen places.

"Sure thing," he says agreeably, and gives her his number.

She puts it in her phone with a smile. "Great!" I'll see you soon~" Valerie adds a bit of a seductive lilt to the "soon" before skipping off to talk to someone else, to see if it'll make him jealous. There aren't that many great prospects in this small group, but well, that guy over there looks reasonably cute. She'll also wait, oh, lets say 20 minutes or so to text him, just to make him anxious. Really, whatever it takes to make him a nervous wreck by the time they go on their date, the easier it'll be to manipulate him into being her rich boytoy until she gets bored of him.

Oh thank fuck he doesn't have to talk to her anymore.

He does his best not to instantly drop her from his attention, because he bets she'll be checking to see how interested he seems. Maybe he can just... stop trying to be an extrovert for a little while and just eat lunch and not worry about it. Good plan.

That will probably work fine, they're just coming up on the mess hall anyways.

It turns out, once they're inside, the mess hall, while it does have a cafeteria section, also has about a dozen small, fast-food-like restaurants in addition, kindof like in a food court at a mall. There's a burger place, a chinese food place, and a number of others. They're not restaurants anyone will recognize; they're pretty clearly specifically made for this college and don't exist elsewhere.

"Alright, who here has signed up for the meal plan already?" the RA asks. Some of the hands are raised, but not all of them. "Well, for those of you who haven't -- each of you are assigned meal blocks which can be used here, at the cafeteria, which will have one of several dozen rotating options every day. You can see the schedule on the meal plan website. A few of these, such as chicken finger day, you probably want to use your meal block on the cafeteria, and get to lunch early." She gives them all a grin.

"Most of the rest of the time, while the food is available, it isn't necessarily what I'd call, well, good. Though your personal preferences may differ. Regardless, on those days, you may wish to use your meal block at one of these other fine establishments here," she waves her arm in demonstration, "instead. They offer 2 or 3 different options, but always the same ones every day. If you're the kind of person who likes eating a cheeseburger with fries for lunch every day, well, you certainly have that option."

Rachel holds up a bunch of plastic cards shaped like credit cards. "Because you're all here for orientation, your meal plans haven't actually started yet. These cards have 2 meal blocks on them, one for lunch and one for dinner, as well as an additional $5 to spend on extras that aren't necessarily included in your blocks -- a number of these places will let you upgrade your blocks for an extra dollar or two, and depending on which meal plan you decided to sign up for, you may get a weekly allotment of flexible money, as well as blocks." She starts handing out the cards. "The blocks and money on these will expire after today, so if you do want to use it, you're going to need to do so before the end of the day."

She pauses for a moment, with a smile, making sure they all look like they understand, and that they all get their meal cards. "Feel free to check out and buy food at any of the many places here, and have lunch with whomever you'd like -- there are a number of other orientation groups here right now if you want to talk to any of them. If you're not on the meal plan, and you want to be, you'll want to talk to the nice folks over at that table over there." She points to a table with a short line, with two students with Orientation 2019 shirts in bright colors. "They'll be able to explain it in more detail and help you pick a plan. Regardless -- I want all of you back here by 1:20, to make sure we can get going on our tour at 1:30. That should give you all plenty of time to eat. Understood? Great! Go have fun, and feel free to talk to me or anyone else in a shirt like this if you have any questions." 

Wow this is all so needlessly complicated. Oh well. Sean is going to have INTROVERSION and BURGERS.

(Should he be getting on a meal plan so he can use this place as a hunting ground? Nah, there'll probably be plenty of other places he can pick up victims, no reason to restrict himself to fellow students. And probably there is some way to eat at the cafeteria with real human money once in a while if for some reason you really want to do that. And if there isn't, oh well.)

The line for burgers is somewhat longer than most of the rest of the lines. This is probably not too surprising. A reasonable fraction of the people from their orientation group also head for the burger line as well, including Karen -- though that's mostly because the other people she'd been talking to are heading there as well -- and seeing Sean get into that line clinches it for her.

While they're in line, Karen comes up next to Sean.

"Hey, Sean," she says. "What were you doing talking to Valerie, of all people?" She's still somewhat confused about how smart Sean is and in what ways, but she still very much wants to make sure she can help him grow. And she's sure Valerie is bad news, and is a little worried that he doesn't seem to notice, or care. (It's also a data point against him being gay, which was a bit of a surprise, but who knows.)

He smiles wryly. "I wanted to see if I could tolerate her. The answer seems to be maybe."