Meta and the Beast

The Professor

            I coughed, waving a hand in front of my face to help clear the smoke. "Professor?" I call as I force open the cellar door. "Professor, are you all right down there?" The smoke billows out and I try to block my eyes from it.

A shape forms and I barely have time to make sense of it before I am catching the stumbling Professor. "Wasn't quite right." He manages to choke out between his coughs.

"I think that's enough of that for now, what do you say?" I peer past him down into the clearing cellar.

"Oh, I suppose so." He sighs, "I must finish at least one of my projects for the convention. It is so very soon you know Ronald."

"Yeah, I know." I nod, "but we don't want you dying because of a fire or something down there, what would Clarissa say if you were badly injured?" I raise an eyebrow as I inquire and make sure he is steady on his feet before I let him go.

"Clarissa." He sighs, "She puts up with so much craziness and chaos from me."

"And me." I grin at him, "A bit of mischief in the mix too." I shrug innocently.

"How right you are, Ronald." He lets out a shaky laugh.

'Come on Professor, let's get you something to drink inside to help your throat. " I suggest and we make out way up the steps and inside.

"There you two are, I thought I smelled smoke." Clarissa eyes us from her chair at the table. "What is it this time?"
"I'm working on the F.I.R.E.S.T.O.R.M. Matrix, I'm sure I almost have it." Martin assures and I can see the disappointment in his face over today's failure.

"Almost is what almost burns down my home." She narrows her eyes, "Do be careful." Her eyes soften a bit before an idea seems to come to her. "We should build a workshop out behind the house, that way our house is safer and you can spread your work out as much as you like."

"Why that's a wonderful idea Clarissa." I tell her, "If you would like, I can help build it." Plans and schematics are already flowing through my mind rapidly, while I take into account the professor's preferences, trying to come up with the perfect design for him. I want to do this project right, have it be just so for him.

"How kind of you Ronald." She smiles at me and we look over to the Professor who looks to be contemplating the idea.

"It's a grand idea, I don't know that we have the money to do it right now though." He agrees before coughing some more. With a shake of her head Clarissa pushes a cup of water closer to him. "Drink Martin." The two words leave little room for discussion and he readily gulps it down.

"Why, I have more than enough money stored up from doing odd jobs around the village." I speak up and I can see them both about to protest, "Please, allow me to pay for it. It's the least I could do to help you both."

"Only if you're certain that's what you wish to do with your money." Clarissa nods, accepting my offer. "I cannot stop you from doing what you want with your own savings and property."

"It's settled then, I shall make and design a workshop for you Professor." I look to him with a smile.

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