Doorways Chapter 3a

Darius had to turn up his music to drown out the shrieks, yelps and curses coming from the bathroom and Zach had to push the door panel four times before Darius eventually heard him and let him in.

“What the hell was that?” Zach laughed at a particularly loud howl and thud.

“My pupil resisting hot water and soap.” Darius grimaced. “Poor Netty's going to be worn to a frazzle with her. Zach she is the tattiest creature you ever laid eyes on!” Darius smiled. “Hair all over the place in wild tufts and the grimiest face and hands in existence. The only clean bit is where she's wiped the food dregs off her chin with her sleeve.”

“Oh dear. What have you let yourself in for?” Zach laughed again.

“All part of the learning process.”

“Hers or yours? It'll take more than a pass star on a certificate to take in the senior government on their own territory.” Zach pointed out.

“I know.” Darius agreed. “We actually take basic manners for granted here. We don't actually realise they're there until we see them not there.” Darius cast a swift glance towards the bathroom.

“No! Abso-bloody-lutely no! Who's is it? Mr Bowles'? Hell no Netty. Mr Hawk's just done that to make me look like a knob.” Alexandria came marching from the bathroom dressed in a pair of Darius' undershorts and one of his nightshirts.

“For crying out loud.” Darius cringed and tried not to faint. “Knob, was it Alexandria? This is a colleague of mine. Master Perrin.”

“Oh wow!” Zach stood up. “Tatty? You daft?” The transformation was, admittedly, quite remarkable. Alexandria had flawless white skin under all the grime. Netty had scrubbed, de-matted, and brushed her hair so it now hung in damp spirals down to her waist.

“Zach please.” Darius gave his fellow lecturer a dirty look. “You look a lot more refreshed now, Alexandria.”

“Well I'd have looked a right tit in that soldier suit. Where's my jeans?”

“'Where are my jeans'. I burned them in the incinerator. They were a health hazard.” Darius answered grimly.

“Well what's I supposed to wear now?” Alexandria demanded.

“'What am I supposed to wear'. I've ordered out for you some new outfits. I got the size from your contagious jeans. Miss Stafford from the Hyperstalls is getting a brigade of women on the case.” Darius explained and Alexandria settled down a bit.

“Tea anyone?” Netty breezed out of the bathroom with an armful of damp towels, making Alexandria visibly flinch.

“Sadist.” She muttered. “So you going to learn me too, Mr Perrin?”

“'Teach'.” Darius corrected automatically. “'Are you going to teach me'.”

“Why? I thought you knew what you were doing?” Alexandria looked at Darius.

“I do. I was correcting your sentence.” Darius said, with only minimal grimacing.

“Well is he then?”

“Is who, what?” Darius said in confusion