Roger Conti
Location: Eukary University, Open House Stalls
Interactions: Eddie @Appalo
Roger delicately opened the tripod on which the vintage 16mm projector sat. He knew that if he broke it he would owe the school several hundred dollars, and that was only if the school could find a working projector from a nearby seller. Shipping something as delicate as a retro film projector would also add quite a bit of cost to replacing it.
But Roger pushed those thoughts of the worst possible scenario out of his mind as he finished setting up the projector. Across the grassy field, Marco was just finishing up with putting the projector screen up. And with Niles, Kristi, and several other film students unfolding the many metal chairs for the audience. While Roger wanted to be positive and think that they would get a full house, he did wonder how many people would actually sit down to watch student films.
But Roger’s musings were interrupted by a good morning in a familiar European accent. The Capybara turned to see Eddie the Bernese Mountain Dog, his new roommate, waving at him. Roger waved back as he considered how great a roommate he was compared to his first one. When Roger had started at Eukary University, his roommate was a pot dealing Mountain Goat. He never kept his half of the room clean, and made drug deals in their room. Luckily for Roger he got kicked out of the University. And then a week after that he was replaced by Eddie, as the Bernese Mountain Dog had started in the middle of the semester.
What Roger knew about Eddie was limited, just knowing that he was from a rich Swiss family. Also he had a scary bodyguard. But Eddie seemed to have shaken off his bodyguard as he approached the stalls of the open house. In Roger’s roommate’s hands was a large bag, indicating he had actually gone into the city proper. As far as Roger knew, this was his first time.
Eddie then revealed that the bag was full of bagels and offered them to all the gathered film students. As Eddie opened the bag, Roger saw that there were literally dozens of bagels inside.
As Roger took an everything bagel he said, “While I appreciate the generosity, you might have gone a little overboard.”
“Speak for yourself,” stated Niles the Bear as he grabbed several bagels.
“You said it hon,” added Kristi the Badger as she took just as many bagels.
Roger laughed slightly before taking a bite of the bagel. It was quite good, meaning that Eddie had found one of the better bagel shops in the city. As Roger was done about half of it, Eddie asked how the booth was doing.
“Well, it’s still really early, so no one has really shown up and asked about the film department,” stated Roger, “But I’m sure people will be interested. We haven’t even started showing the student films. We’re supposed to wait on Professor Harding before we can start up the projector.”
“That does make me question, where is Professor Harding?” interjected Marco the Llama.
“I think I saw him outside the film storage room,” answered a Fox, one of the film students Roger didn’t really know, “Said something about looking his best.”
“He does realize that this is an open house, not a red carpet,” chuckled Kristi in between bites of bagels.
Roger then turned to Eddie as he finished his bagel, “Well you’re welcome to hang with us until Harding shows up. That is unless you ended up deciding to work at the business or pharmaceutical stalls?”
Roger felt bad that he hadn’t inquired with his roommate about his plans for the open house beforehand. Roger had been so enraptured in working with the film department, that he had neglected to even ask. A feeling of awkwardness overtook Roger as he looked at Eddie. Not wanting to remain in silence, Roger decided to speak up.
“Is it cool if I take another bagel?”