"Nah. But it's better than nothing, right?"

-nod.

"I just wish I could- it would just be so much easier if- I just want to get this over with."

Virgil already has his school supplies picked out, but he grabs an extra paper click and starts playing with it.

"...hey."

He glances over his shoulder, makes sure there's nobody close enough to hear.

"None of us...knows what's gonna happen yet."

"I know that," he snaps.

- this is a stranger, trying to be nice, he shouldn't just- this is probably a way to get stupidly killed, just talking about this where anyone can hear, and then arguing with them- Virgil doesn't want to go like that, he never has.

"Sorry. You're right. I'm just- you know."

He probably doesn't know, and it's not like Virgil has successfully communicated it to him. Ugh.

"What else do you need? I can help you look."

"...yeah."

He adjust his bag on his shoulders.

"Uh — not holding out hope for fabric, but it wouldn't hurt. Soap is good. Ink's really good. You?"

"I didn't see any ink, but I can look.

I won't really need that much."

Virgil starts to look for ink, soap...there probably won't be fabric, but maybe the void is feeling generous.

Meanwhile:

"That's true. I have a potion recipe that the punchier types can use, and I'm a good writer, but you're right, it can't hurt to add more skills."

"I overheard someone saying year one is leaning not to die. Year two is where we get cool stuff."

"That's right. If you came in without something you can sell, trade, or use, you gotta learn fast. You seem smart, though. Just find someone to watch your back in the halls- get a girl to go with to the bathrooms, at least one- and use the next few days to find out where all your classes are and if you know anyone in them. The buddy system is your best friend."