Glitch

Date/Timing: 14 January 2019
Setting: Cafeteria, The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
"Here for seconds, Jones?" chirps someone in Custodial colours.
Yawn, scratch the back of your head.
"Didn't think the food was /that good," they chuckle.
Scoff, shuffle into the chow line.
"More porridge, Ranger?" asks the server.
Grunt an affirmative, collect a bowl of the mush, a fruit cup, and a giant orange juice.
Shamble to team territory and plunk down at the end of a table, back to the wall.
Techs scoot farther away—
Roll your eyes.
—then do a double-take.
Something fucked up with your face?
Check reflection in the back of your spoon.
Nope.
Perfectly normal.
Shrug, dig in.
""Pokokōhua!""
Very close clattering. 
Drag an eye up. 
Less Muddy Kiwi twin's gaping at you.
Muddier's covered in porridge and juice and glaring at the floor.
"Sorry, Ata—" 
Muddier scowls at—double takes you.
"What." 
Kiwi twins approach cautiously, perch on the opposite bench, staring all the while. 
"I think the Matrix is glitching," Muddier says finally.
Reply with a bland look.
"I could've /sworn you were leaving with Jamie when I got here," drawls Less Muddy.
"Wasn't me. Just got up."
Kiwis exchange looks.
"Maybe we need glasses?"
"Maybe ye need to leave me alone?"
Kiwis giggle nervously, skeedaddle.
Th' fuck is wrong with people this morning?
Whatever.
Porridge.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Sydney Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Logan
Category:Logan's POV
Category:Logan (ficlet)
Category:Ata
Category:Ata (ficlet)
Category:Ata and mud are buddies
Category:Rama
Category:Rama (ficlet)
Category:Logan is not a morning person
Category:The Matrix (reference)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Derek's First Day arc