The Occupants of Dorm 07 Meet [August 25]

[Braam Van Der Via]

A large box landed with a dull thud on top of several identical items by the door to dorm room 07. Out from behind the boxes emerged Braam, his normally spiked up hair hanging in his face from sweating. He swiped his forearm across his forehead then glared at the door. Now what was that combination again? He paused, oh yeah, 78-11-36-19-75. He punched the code into the lock listening as it finally clicked open. Picking up one of the boxes, he set it in front of the door to prop it open. Braam paused and looked around to see if his roommate had already moved his things in or was anywhere in the hall. “Hallo? Is daar iemand?” he called before realizing he’d lapsed into Dutch. “I mean, is anyone there?”

[Honda Kiku]

Lifting heavy objects was not Kiku's forte, plain for all to see when they passed him as he struggled immensely with carrying his suitcases down the hall. Well, more like...dragging his suitcases down the hall. He sighed and wiped his brow before continuing on, wishing the bags would grow a set of wheels to make the trek to his room easier.

Speaking of his room...which number was it again? Kiku paused again to think. Seven. Lucky number seven. At least he was pleased with his number. He just hoped his roommate would be agreeable.

R-Roommate. Kiku's stomach twisted into a knot at that. He'd been so accustomed to living with his parents and having his own space that...sharing a room with a complete stranger was...Well, he felt extremely nervous to say the least.

Kiku looked at the numbers on each door as he proceeded down the hall. 01...02...03...04...05...06...and...he stopped. It seemed as if he'd managed to catch his roommate just as he was moving in, the other asking if anybody was in the room.

"Um...I...um." Kiku stammered, having never really been good at introductions. "H-Hello! It seems we are roommates. P-Pleased to meet you." He gave a shallow bow, hoping he wasn't too awkward.

[Braam Van Der Via]

Braam bowed back briefly “It’s nice to meet you.” He paused, frowning at the large suitcases his roommate had. Then glancing back at the boxes he had he started feeling a little awkward he’d brought so much junk with him. Perhaps the easel and a couple of canvases were overboard for this sort of situation. In hindsight I probably could have just borrowed some from the art department. Ah well, too late now. After pushing the door open a little bit more he pointed to the suitcases. “You want me to help you with those?”

[Honda Kiku]

Kiku relaxed slightly after his roommate bowed back to him. He seemed to be agreeable enough. "U-Um, it's alright. I think I can manage carrying them inside." Kiku nodded, "Would you like some help with your things?"

It took a minute before Kiku realized that he didn't even know his new roommate's name...or vice versa. He mentally scolded himself before speaking again, "I..I forgot to introduce myself, my apologies. My name is Hon-er...Kiku. Kiku Honda." It felt strange saying his first name before his last. It'd take a while to get used to Western customs.

[Braam Van Der Via]

The Dutchman nodded and picked up some of his things to head inside with it when he heard the introduction his roommate gave. Jostling the light box onto his left shoulder, Braam offered his right hand out to his new roommate, “I got it. Name’s Braam Van Der Via.” He smiled briefly at Kiku, trying to reassure him that their living arrangements would work out. “And I swear I don’t bite unless it’s the full moon.” Despite the joke he wasn’t actually a werewolf, it was just a name his sister had given him back home due to his personality.

Braam fell silent wondering if his joke or personality had scared Kiku. Ah, probably shouldn’t have said that. He shook his head, well too late to take it back now. I just hope he doesn’t run off on me. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d started a fight with a roommate, but doing it on day one wouldn’t look that great even for him.

[Honda Kiku]

((...I...just remembered that each person has a code number. XD; I guess I'm like Kiku in that I'm not used to this whole spy-thing either. Should we go back and edit things or keep them as is?))

[Braam Van Der Via]

((I vote we keep it. It could be an interesting plot point down the way or something if they both know the other's name. Besides I can see it all working out.))

[Honda Kiku]

((Gotcha'. c:))

His roommate turned around and offered his hand. Kiku blinked once at the offering, before remembering that he was supposed to shake it. It was a strange custom, but easy enough. His hand gripped the other's and he tentatively gave a couple of shakes. His roommate, Braam, smiled, which reassured Kiku greatly. He even cracked a joke. Kiku managed a smile of his own, feeling awkward to say the least and not entirely sure how to reply. "I am glad for that, haha..."

He let go of the other boy's hand and pressed his fingertips together, pausing for a moment before speaking again, "I...I suppose we should finish moving in, now."

[Braam Van Der Via]

“I suppose so,” Braam shrugged and stepped inside the room flicking on the lights. He walked over to the middle of the room, blanching slightly at the sterile white walls. Talk about tasteless, I’ve seen hospital rooms that had a more welcoming environment than this. Fortunately he could talk to Kiku about decorating options. That and he had a few posters he brought with him to put up. “You want the left bed or the right?” He asked as he returned to the hall for another box. It didn't matter to him which one he had so long as it was as comfortable as a dorm bed could be.

[Honda Kiku]

His hands grabbed hold of the handles of his suitcases again, and Kiku finished his extensive trek down the hallway, making a mental note to pack a little lighter next time. Less manga, more clothing. Something of the sort. The plainness of the room was...a bit of a surprise. Lots of room for pictures and wall scrolls, though. B-But then again, Kiku didn't want to...weird out his new roommate too much. The wall decorations would have to wait.

Braam asked about bed choices. Kiku paused for a second before speaking, "U-Um...I don't...have much of a preference to be honest. How about you pick?"

[Braam Van Der Via]

Carrying another box in, Braam studied the two beds. “I’ll take this one then,” he set the box on the left one. He started to move the other boxes over to his side of the room. He returned to the hall and picked up a box, wondering what other sorts of small talk things he could say. He really wasn’t the best at this sort of thing, but he felt uncomfortable with this much silence with the stranger he would share his room with for the next school year. “So… how was the trip here?”

[Honda Kiku]

Kiku nodded when his roommate made his selection and dragged his suitcases over to the bed on the right before sitting down on the mattress to take a break. Unpacking could wait. The silence settled in the room quickly, though Kiku didn't really mind. Quiet never really bothered him, so he never really felt all that obligated to say something unless it would be impolite not to.

It seemed like his roommate didn't exactly feel the same way, though - not that Kiku minded. Small talk was alright, too. "The trip was alright. It was my first time on an airplane, but I managed everything okay. It was a long flight, but...I didn't really mind it all too much. How about you?"

[Braam Van Der Via]

Braam shrugged after he brought in the last of his boxes, “it could have been worse. My parents made me go the Iceland route from Amsterdam.” He leaned back a little feeling his back readjust to a comfortable position. He reached into his backpack and winced slightly. “Sorry if they’re a little crushed, I would have brought real ones but they wouldn’t have survived the trip.” He pulled out a bouquet of red tulips and offered them over to Kiku with a hopeful look in his eye. It was a new idea his sister had given him to offer flowers to his next roommate in an act of good faith and friendship.

[Honda Kiku]

Kiku nodded his head when Braam mentioned his flight, feeling a bit embarrassed at having complained about his own flight when it seemed that his roommate had gone through a much longer journey. He fiddled with his messenger bag, adjusting the strap up and down. Then his roommate presented him with the bouquet of flowers, and Kiku was...surprised, to say the least.

"O-Oh, you didn't have to get me anything...but I really appreciate it," he smiled as he took the tulips, "They're really pretty...Oh, wait! I have something for you as well."

Kiku held the flowers in one hand as his other hand unzipped his bag and dug around before holding out a plain white box containing a solar powered toy. He'd originally intended to put it on his desk, but giving it as a present to his new roommate was a worthy cause, too.

((Kind of like this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUtuEWQfw8Y&feature=related They move! :'D))

[Braam Van Der Via]

Opening the small box, Braam examined the toy, “this is cool. Thank you so much.” He wasn’t quite sure what it did, but he felt the compulsive need to draw it at some point. It had been a long time since he’d done anything other than a landscape, and the little toy would prove a challenge. After setting the plant down on the desk for the moment he returned his attention to all of his things but the blank wall of the dorm still caught his attention.

“How mad do you think the school would get if I repainted the room like Vincent van Gogh or Cezanne? I’m in a post-impressionist mood today.” He paused, van Gogh was a genius but his style is completely wrong for large areas with no room to move back and appreciate from a distance. Actually what about some frescos? This was his problem with the blank walls in the room was that they made him want to destroy them with color. Then again plaster is expensive… Well I’ll think of something.