genius.

“I’ll read it over and give it back to you before then,” She promised, “That’s good, there’s nothing from last year that’s still confusing?” Emma asked, unable to stop her fussing. Emma always tried to give her siblings the support that she didn’t really get when she was struggling to keep her head above water. 

“Emma, seriously, I am fine,” James told his older sister. “Besides, you’re talking to someone with an eidetic memory, it would be interesting to be confused on last years materials.”

“Did you not like the book you’re reading or are you just not in the mood for it?” Charlotte questioned, she was only just getting into reading when she had the spare time but even now she understood what it was like.  

“I’m just not in the mood right now. I got a little distracted and can’t seem to get back to it.”

“I probably could,” Lottie shrugged. “I don’t think I’d get many people from this place involved because most people have just shunned my ideas from the get go saying it’ll take years. Would you join?”

“I’m sure you just haven’t spoken to the right people. Sure, just tell me when and where and I’ll come.”

“I’m sure it will be great, as always. When is it due?” She questioned before placing the paper on her desk as a reminder for later even if she didn’t need one. “How are you going in that class?” 

“Tuesday,” James replied. “I’m doing okay. I kind of already know most of the stuff because I got ahead last year.”

Charlotte’s eyes practically lit up at the news, “Oh, that’s great! I was hoping that they wouldn’t end it at two with an ending like that. I’d love to start reading it now if you don’t mind me coming with you, but only if you’re not busy.” 

“No, it’s okay, honestly my mind is elsewhere now. I haven’t even really been reading for like the past fifteen minutes.”

“I did! The start was a bit slow, but I really liked the ending of it.” Charlotte responded as she moved to take the book from her bag to return it. “If you don’t mind, that’d be great! How many books are in the series?” 

"It’s a trilogy,” James stated, running his hand over the cover of the book. “I can get it to you tomorrow, unless you want to walk with me to the suites right now?”

“You should be confident enough with your own essays to not need my help.” Emma spoke, but the reality was that she would do almost anything for James including checking any kind of assignment before it was submitted. “Which class is it for?” 

“Well, statistically peer feedback makes for a better outcome,” James said. “I am confident, I just want to make sure everything looks alright. It’s for Realm History.”

“Did I scare you?” Charlotte asked, her head tilting as she talked, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to,” She said, although maybe she should have expected the flincing from the other considering how zoned out they seemed to be with the book. “I just wanted to return that book I borrowed from you, is now a bad time?” 

“Oh no, it’s fine,” James replied. “Did you enjoy it? You could borrow the sequel if you like, I have it back in my dorm.”

“Trust me, I would if I could. Back on Earth we have protests all the time but here I don’t see any happening. It’s honestly very sad,” Lottie said with a frown. “Protests are how things get done.”

James raised his eyebrows, and nodded along to her words. “Can’t you start one yourself? Isn’t that how that stuff works?”

Emma’s smile dropped from her face as she listened to her brother talk. “I knew it.” Emma said, pointing her finger at him as she talked before turning her hand outreached towards him to take the essay. “Who’s it for?” 

“Why do you think it’s for anyone? Why can’t it just be for me?”

Despite the reassurance, Emma was still suspicious towards her younger brother, “So this has nothing to do with anything other than keeping me caffeinated?” She questioned, “Hmm, I’ll believe you. Thank you.” 

James smirked behind his cup of coffee. “So, now that you’re caffeinated though, can you do me the biggest favor because you love your brother so much, and look over this essay?”

“I said you might want to tuck your feet in, that old lady with the shopping bags just tripped over one of them and she’s been giving you the dirtiest looks for the last ten minutes.” Benji pointed out, subtly gesturing to the lady in question. “You want to hope she’s not trying to hex you or something. Old lady hexes are the worst.”

“At this point in my life, I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve already been old lady hexed,” James answered with a light laugh, but moved his feet in anyway. “Besides, I’ve been sitting like this for a while, it’s not really my fault if she didn’t look where she was going.”

task 001 + character introduction: james dylan allen-reed

“The fact that the monarchies in the Otherworld still have the prince as the first in line of succession regardless of if he was born after the princess is complete and utter bullshit,” Lottie huffed. “What is it with people thinking women aren’t capable of ruling realms? I sure as hell would be better than half the kings in this place.” 

“Then why don’t you do something about it?” James suggested. “Sitting here just complaining about it, is not going to get anything done.”