With the transition from Vacation to School Year, there was a lot of surprising things going on. Some of which were more surprising than others.
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Sophie and Roland got the biggest surprise when they finally got home. Not only was their "first time", as it's sometimes known, expected by their friends, they got a celebratory cake of sorts.
"Really, JC?" asked Sophie, as JC and Pauline showed them the cake they got them. "You... really... shouldn't have."
"It's the thought that counts." said Pauline.
"And I shouldn't worry about eggs quite yet if I were you." said JC, much to Sophie's and Roland's sudden embarrassment, "It seems that Dinotopian's breeding season is in late winter to early spring. Just be sure to remember to take your suppressants for that time period."
"Thanks for that, JC." said Sophie, who was secretly worried that she had been "seeded".
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"So how is Ammy doing?" asked Miss Vivian of Annabelle, now that they had a chance to rest after the Bare as You Dare Competition was finished.
"She's doing quite well." replied Annabelle, "After the more adult version of the Japanese myth of Amaterasu Hides Away, she's now one of the more popular ones. The mythic performance that was part of Ammy's debut act is now one of the more popular ones. It's so popular that we've had to restrict it to once a month."
"Due in no small part to crazy Japanese fanboys?" asked Miss Vivian.
"In fact it was because of those crazy Japanese fanboys." replied Annabelle.
"I've also heard that her other performances, including private performances, has her combining acts of being an empress of heaven with a traditional Japanese geisha." said Miss Vivian.
"There's a difference?" asked Annabelle, not hearing that.
"It's actually a social/cultural gap that goes back as far as feudal Japan." answered Miss Vivian, glad to show off some of her knowledge. "The geisha, even though it means 'skilled ones', was actually part of the lowest dregs of feudal Japanese society."
"Good to know." said Annabelle. "I'll be a little sad when Ammy eventually moves to the new Asian colony."
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One of the more funny things going on was how the PET house was one of the easiest coed fraternities to get into, but it wasn't a party-style frat, much to the chagrin of those who were expecting that it was. There were also those who were glad that many "traditional" college rituals were banned in the PET, due to experiencing several of them themselves, whether or not they were considered hazing or not. While the active lifestyle was both a little difficult and demanding, it was also easy to get used to it.
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The biggest surprise (both physically and metaphorically) was from the delivery dock of Horizon Labs.
"Hi... yai yai..." said one of the scientists as he finally noticed the enormous tank holding an equally enormous brown salamander.
"This is a Japanese Giant Salamander." said his co-worker. "The largest amphibian in the world."
"No kidding." said the first scientist