He sat on the edge of his bed, running his towel slowly through his hair. he'd had the decency to pull on a pair of shorts after taking his towel off, at least, but beads of water from his shower were still clinging to his skin, a few sliding down his back as they dripped from his hair. Classes had been a bit longer than his liking as it seemed like all of the teachers were -determined- to screw everyone over before the holidays... Not like there was actually going to be much of a holiday for him to speak of, stuck at Hillworth as he was.
He'd stayed a bit late at his last class to finish up a project. He wanted it done long before the holidays came so when they did he wouldn't have to worry about it at all. No sense in dragging work into vacation if it coudl be avoided. He'd set his headphones on his head when he'd left the classroom, not wanting to get stopped onthe way by anyone, and still had them on as he unlocked the door to his dorm. He couldn't remember if Rikard got out of class before or after him but wasn't really paying much attention anyway. He'd rolled up his sleeves to reveal sunkissed skin and his eyes were mostly closed as he nudged the door shut behind him
His brow lofted slightly as he heard the door swing open, watching his roommate for a moment before letting his towel fall aside so that hecould run fingers through his hair instead. It wasn't exactly -dry-, but at least it had stopped dripping. The whole mess was probably a sign that he was in need of a hair cut; something he would have to look into during a bit of his free time. Rik shifted slightly on his bed, letting it creak just a bit in hopes of alerting his roommate to his presence if he hadn't already noticed, not wanting the spaz to, well, spaz if he didn't.
His headphones weren't exactaly on a low volume and the sound of the bed creaking went unnoticed. He hung his bag carefully on the chair in front of his desk before he reached up to try to tuck a bit of his hair out of his face. It was a pointless jesture but he'd started to do it automatically after a while. His hand slid up and he slid his headphones off, thought didn't turn them off, and the sound of what he'd been listening to floated into the room.
He sighed before turning around and imedietly skidded back into his desk chair at the sight of someone else in the room. His heart hammered against his chest for a moment before he registered that it was just Rikard. ".....hi" Violet eyes were wide open now.
"Hey." His smirk was lazy as he leaned back on his hands, watching the other young man from where he was across the room, trying not to let his amusement drift too far into his voice. "Y'know... Odd as it may be to say this, it's almost like you're human when no one else is around. If that's the case what's the point of putting up such an air the moment you notice someone else is there?"
His eyes narrowed slightly as Rik spoke. Why couldn't he just let him be? "I'm always human." Well, mostly, but Rikard didn't need to know about that. You didn't go around telling people things like that. Shaking his head he dug around in his pocket for his ipod and turned it off though he left his headphones around his neck for the moment.
"And i dont put on an air. It's just ... how i am." he'd never been comfortable around other people. He always got in to trouble somehow when he got involved. It was easier to just avoid people in general.
"I think the uptight b***h stuff is just an air... But if it makes you feel safe, who am I to question it?" He shrugged his shoulders lightly before pushing himself up off of his bed, stretching slowly before heading over to his dresser to grab a pair of pants. "I was thinking of going out somewhere for dinner. Thought it might be better to risk meeting curfew than it would be to try and stomach the cafeteria sludge again. Feel like coming?"
"Yourself apparently." Why did people feel the need to ask who they were to question things -after- they'd already done so? It made no sense. People wondered why he hated them too. Constantly asking stupid inane questions like that didn't help their case any.
"You'd want me to talk." There was no way Rikard could drag him out anywhere and just let him keep quiet and to himself. Besides, the cafeteria food wasn't that bad so long as you were picky about what you ate.
"Amazingly, I don't talk all that much when there's food in my mouth." He smirked as he tugged a pair of jeans on, working them slowly up over his hips before giving them a proper shift into place as he zipped and buttoned them, rolling his shoulders slowly afterward. "But if you'd rather go down to the cafeteria with the rowdy crew..." He shrugged, glancing over at his roommate. "Suit yourself."
"I should remember that. Shove something in your mouth and you shut up." He shook his head and pulled off his headphones before putting them and the ipod on his desk. "If .... if you're quiet. And you give me time to change out of my uniform..."
It woudl be better than trying to sneak down to the cafeteria and get food without someone else noticing him. Someone usually did and they either wanted to make him talk or torment him for not doing so. So far meals down there hadn't been pleasent. He just didn't fit in around here.
"Most people would consider that pretty important information." His smirk broadened slightly although he was certain it would go unnoticed by his often blissfully ignorant roommate. "I'll be on my best behaviour... And I'll expect you to change. There's no way in hell I'm taking you out wearing that. You look like you're twelve in that uniform." He teased.
"...." He glared at the back of Rikard's head for a moment before heading toward the closet where he kept all his non uniform clothes. If a twelve year old was his height maybe but there was no way. No unless they had some sort of growth disorder. He knew he looked young but twelve was pushing it.
Once he was safely behind the closet door, thank whatever god would listen for mini walk in closets, he tugged off his uniform and put it in the small clothes hamper. He pulled in a pair of black pants that had chains dangling from each leg and two straps connecting his legs but leaving room for movement in the middle. Over that he pulled on a tight black long sleeved shirt and then topped that with a white button up that had a fading checker board pattern on the lower left side. Picking up a pair of boots he nudged the door back open so he could sit on the bed to pull them on.
He watched the other as he came out of the closet, resisting the urge to make any sort of comment in favor of turning so that he could put his own shoes on and check his wallet to make sure that he had the funds. Satisfied that whatever they wound up doing couldn't cost enough to break him he went to wait by the door, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against it.
He tugged his boots on and got up, running his fingers though his hair again he rasied a brow at his roommates pose. "We can go now ..." He'd probably taken too long and Rikard was getting impatient.
"It's amazing what a change of clothes can do to a person." He commented idly before turning to slip out the door, nudging it so that it wouldn't close before the other boy could come through with him.
He blinked before shaking his head at that. He didn't think changing clothes did much. Even more so when it was out of a uniform into normal clothes. "Uniforms don't make anyone look like themselves."
"Oh, I don't know about that. There are some people who wouldn't look like themselves at all if it wasn't for a uniform... Good to know I'm not stuck with one of those people, though." He grinned as he lead the way down the hall. "What are you in the mood for, Luc?"
He wasn't sure about that. Unless perhaps uniforms was expanded to not just mean the school ones. There were probably some poliece or military people who didn't look like themselves outside of their uniforms. He couldn't imagine someone their age looking like they belonged in a school uniform. They were never flattering.
"I can find something where ever you want to go."
"Mm. Nope. Not getting out of picking that easily. You at least have to give me a ballpark idea or a direction to head in if you want me to pick the place." He smirked.
He looked flustered for a moment. He wasn't used to being told to make decisions. Usually people just did what they wanted and he followed along and it was easier that way. ".....wrap sandwiches?"
His smirk turned into a bit of a grin at the look on the other young man's face. Chocking that up as a small victory he paused for a brief moment to ponder the best direction to go before heading for a place that he knew had good wraps that was attached to a small arcade. It was generally busier over the weekend but right now he was hoping it would be quiet enough to suit the other's tastes while busy enough to humor his own.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets and followed quietly after Rikard. He knew there were a lot of places that served those so they could end up in almost any part of town. He'd have to keep track of the time though. If they were out too late trouble would be an understatement.
"So are your teachers loading down the work for the holiday?" His brow lofted slightly as he glanced over his shoulder as though trying to make sure the other man was still following after him.
"I have most of it done already." His teachers had given them enough warning that he was able to get the projects organized and mostly done or at least make note of which ones wouldnt' be too hard to do over the vacation. "Some seem to be trying though." The English comp teachers seemed to like terrorizing students vacations when they could
"I think some of them are soulless bastards." He smirked, running his fingers slowly back through his hair. "either that or they know that there's a good many of the boys who don't have anywhere else to go or anything else to do... So they're trying to keep them out of trouble.
"That's what the school is for." It made sense to give students who were all at the school for misbehaving thigns to keep them from finding time to do anything else. "I still make time to visit my cousin so it can't be that much work."
"That's right. You're one of the boys who's actually -got- family here in town." He slid his hands into his pockets as they walked, keeping an easy pace. "So are you staying with your cousin over break?"
"I don't know .." he hadn't asked about that yet since he'd been so preoccupied with other things. He was pretty sure if Cordi was going home he woudl be too. His aunt and uncle weren't the sort to leave him at the schol, even more so since this woudl be the first holiday without his parents. "I suppose i am. I will have to ask her next time i see her."
"I don't think you've ever told me her name, you know..." He glanced at the other boy. "Think she's someone I'd know or is talking about family one of those things that you don't like talking about?"
"You never asked." He wasn't the sort to just volenteer information like that. He doubted Cordi wanted her name spread all over Hillworth anyway. He'd heard Crystal girls didn't talk to the Hillworth boys. Not that anything like that would stop Cordi but that wasn't the point. "Her name is Cordelia."
"Woah, wait. Cordelia Carden?" His brow lofted and for a moment his smirk was just a bit more devious than it generally was. "Well damn. It is a small world. Do me a big favor the next time you see her. Tell her Cole sends his regards."
"Yes, Cordelia Carden." He didn't want to know how his cousin knew Rikard. He really didn't. Every time someone said her name like that it ended up either being about her ... figure or about, well usually it was about her figure. And he'd done so well not mentioning the roommate to Cordi. He was afraid she'd want to meet him and then she'd try to make him socalize more or something. Somehow her already knowing Rikard was worse. "Why don't you just tell her yourself, since you know her."
"Because the last time I saw your lovely cousin she tried to slug me." He laughed, running his fingers slowly back through his hair. "We don't always see eye to eye... I don't think we ever did, but every now and then it's nice to remind her I'm still in town. Besides, I'm rooming with her cousin now... Doesn't that make me like... Extended family?"
"I think that makes you someone i shouldn't mention." He shook his head. Even more so if Cordi had tried to slug him before. That sounded like the sort of trouble he didn't want to be in the middle of. "Usually when people try to hit you it's a sign you shouldn't bother them"
"Usually... But if I avoided everyone who's tried to hit me there wouldn't be many people that I still spoke to." He grinned, shrugging his shoulders lightly. "In the end, I think she's just mad that I broke up with her before she could break up with me... Not that dating really counts for anything in 9th grade."
"Figures." Of course that's how Cordi knew him. He didn't get the point it dating though. He'd never bothered dating anyone, not that he was the type that anyone else wanted to date anyway. He shook his head and sighed softly. Maybe eventually he'd meet someone who didn't know Cordi and then the world will end
"Your cousin's a nice girl. Pretty sure she could've done way better than me back then anyways... Hell, pretty sure she could do way better than me now." He laughed. "Is this where you'd hit me if I asked whether or not she was currently seeing anyone?" Not that he really cared beyond a bit of curiosity, mind. It was just nice to catch up on those sort of things every now and then.
"Of course she could. To the girls from Crystal anyone from Hillworth is sidewalk dirt." He smirked slightly. "Not that i know of, but i haven't asked either." And Cordi might keep something like that to herself given that her parnets might make a fuss if she was dating someone. "She probably wouldn't even acknowledge you existed if she saw you" He knew Cordi wasn't that bad but it might mean Rikard would drop the subject and he coudl stop thinking about hsi cousin dating his room mate
"I've heard there are a few rebels over there at Crystal. The Cordelia I remember certainly isn't one of them, but still." He met the other boy's smirk with one of his own. "She liked to try and avoid acknowledging I existed before I transferred into Hillworth. This could very well be the proverbial nail in my social coffin. Whatever will I do."
"Buy a crowbar." He muttered to himself, almost hoping that Rikard didn't hear him. He would stick with not caring about being social. It was easier and it meant he had more time to do things he enjoyed without having to deal with someone else being stupid or trying ot make him do thigns he didn't enjoy.
"What was that?" His brow lofted as he glanced at the other for a moment before taking a turn around the corner once they'd crossed the street, heading up to the doors of the place they'd been heading for.
"Nothing." He shook his head as he looked at at the place they were heading for. It wasn't somewhere he'd been yet but the building was interesting looking at least. He'd have to come back by when he had his camera some time.
"C'mon. We'll get food and I'll be quiet for a bit... And then maybe we'll get in a few games. I'm not always that chatty when playing games either." He smirked. "Gotta have something to focus on." He nodded slowly as he lead the other up to the counter once they were inside so that they could make their order to take back to a table.
He ordered a ceaser chicken wrap and strawberry soda once it was their turn. It would be nice to not have Rik talking for a bit. "Im not good at arcade games." That had to be what the other was talking about. He could hear one and he'd thought he'd seen a pass through to the place next door. He could play chess but no one put virtual chess games in arcades.
"You don't have to be good at something in order to do it, Lucien. Sometimes people do things just to do them." He nodded slowly before placing his own order for a burger with a side of fries smothered in cheese and topped with bacon. "Just... Forget about all of the stuff that makes you crabby and uncomfortable for once, alright?"
"Being out in public makes me crabby and uncomfortable." So that was a little hard to do given the circumstances. Besides, he wasn't just nto good at games, he was -bad- at them and doing things he was bad at was a good way to make him even more uncomfortable.
"I'm starting to think that everything does." He laughed as he paid for their food before heading over to wait for the tray to be loaded up.
"Not everything." He didn't mind sitting quietly in his room and working on homework or playing his violin or wandering around taking pictures of things. People just made him nervous.
"Most things. More things do than don't." He smirked as he leaned against the wall, only pushing off of it when it came time to grab their tray, carrying it carefully. "Lead the way."
"Maybe...." It wasn't like it had ever mattered before. He'd always just gone about his way not getting in other people's way and it had worked out okay. Now though? He shook his head slightly as he headed toward a table away from the noise of the arcade and most of the other customers.
Once Lucien had picked a table he set their things down, turning the tray so that the other boy's things were on one side and his were on the other. He then turned so that he could head back to pick up two straws, a hand full of napkins and a fork to make eating his fries just a little bit less messy. "There. I think we're ready for dinner now."
He nodded and carefully stuck a straw into his drink. He was a bit surprised his choice of soda hadn't gotten a comment but maybe Rik was trying to be nice. At least in the corner he'd picked he didn't have to worry about listening to the arcade too much. It sounded like it would bust ear drums if you stood in there too long.
"See. This isn't too bad, is it?" His brow lofted slightly as he glanced over at the other after popping a fry into his mouth.
"Don't know if it's been long enough to tell about that yet." He grinned slightly before taking a bite of his wrap.
"It's not too bad at the moment, smartass." He smirked, taking a slow sip of his drink before shifting so that he could pick up his burger and chomp into that. Real food was better than school food no matter what.
He nibbled on his wrap and tried to mostly ignore Rik eating things that he was sure were a sure fire way to end up with clogged arteries and a death wish. Not that he'd ever eaten fries covered in that much stuff but they -looked- like they'd kill you. "Not being a smart a**." His voice was quiet. He was used to people who called him a smartass finding other things to call him or to do him when they thought he was still being one.
When he caught the other young man eying his fries he nudged the basket over. "Try one. They're pretty good." He nodded, continuing to watch Lucien for a moment.
"They look like they would kill you." He eyed the fries again.
"I think there are far more deadly things roaming around out there than my basket of fries." He laughed as he plucked one up for emphasis. "Just give it a try. Really. I swear it's not as bad as it looks."
"All it takes is one bit if plaque in the wrong place." He was pretty sure it was as bad as it looked. Even if the 'bad' didn't involve taste at all. After a moment he put down his wrap and picked up a fry that wasn't completely coated in cheese and bacon.
"So kind of you to look out for my heart." He smirked softly as he continued to watch Lucien. "I might almost think you cared."
He looked at Rik for a moment before shaking his head. He'd been lying about having something in his mouth keeping him quiet, at least when food was involved. It was too easy to take food out and talk.
He went back to his burger after a bit, leaning back in his chair as he contented himself with his food, still amused.
The fry wasn't bad tasting but he was convinced after that they would kill people. That much starch and fat could not be good for a person under any circumstances. Taking a sip of his soda to get rid of the taste he picked up his wrap again. That was safe. Ceaser wraps didn't kill anyone.
"Wasn't so bad, was it?" His brow lofted slightly as he took a sip of his own drink to wash down the remainder of his burger, finished with the rest of his food for now.
"I am still of the opinion it can kill you." He nodded slightly. "It didn't taste too bad though"
"There are lots of things in life that can kill you, Luc... But if you spend your entire life avoiding them you'll miss out on a lot of fun and a lot of deliciousness." He smirked as he stood so that he could take his trash over to one of the trash cans.
"Maybe." He'd enjoyed his life so far and he didn't make a habit of doing anything that could kill him. Though that seemed like it was going to change. What with his new ... abilities.
Once his trash was taken care of he returned to the table, leaning against his chair while standing. "So... Ready to move on to the rest of the evening?"
"There's a rest?" He had figured dinner would be the end of it. That's what he'd agreed to do right?
"There's an arcade right over there. I know I mentioned games." He smirked softly. "It wouldn't kill you to humor me, would it?"
"But i'm -bad-. It wont be fun for you." It couldn't be fun playing games with someone who sucked. There was no challenge. It would just be really short and the same thing over and over again.
"You don't know that. And there are lots of games over there. I'm sure we could find -something- you were good at."
"Im good at chess ..." Not arcade games. He picked up the rest of his soda and took his trash over to the trash can before nodding. He might as well get it over with and prove that he would be bad at whatever they found.
"So you need something with a little bit of strategy and a little less random chance.
"I guess?" The closest he could remember getting to an arcade game was when he was ten and he played skiball
"They've got some of those here and there... Although one of my favorites to play, especially when I've got someone with me, is Gauntlet." He grinned, leading the other young man through the arcade.
He had been right about the noise in the arcade, at least in part. It wasn't the noise itself that was the problem but the combination of sounds coming from all the different games. Combined they turned into a mass of noise that he was pretty sure would give him a headache in no time. "Sounds like a videogame not an arcade game"
"It's a game in an arcade... Kind of like Pacman and all those other big boxes that they've got with joysticks?" He gave the other a gentle nudge, guiding him towards the corner where the games he generally played were. "A lot of them have been converted into games for home consoles, though."
"I wasn't ever very good at pac-man." He new Rikard was going to regret asking him to play whatever it was they were going to end up playing. It would either be a waste of time or money or worse both.
"I don't know anyone who really is past the first stage... Except -maybe- this one kid from middle school, but I'm convinced he was a freak."
"There are lots of people who can play it well i'm sure." Given the number of people who played games and how long it had been around there had to be a lot
"I'm sure there are. Doesn't mean I know anyone who is." He laughed, holding a few tokens out to the other boy. "ready?"
"No." He took the tokens though and eyed the game. It looked like a typical video game even though it had the buttons and joystick.
"Well, go ahead and pop one of those in and then pick your character." He nodded as he slid one of his tokens into the slot so that he could do what he'd just told the other to do. "And if you have any questions... Ask them."
He eyed the machine a moment more before shaking his head. He slid a token in and after figuring out -how- to look at the characters he settled on an archer. At least that way he could stand behind everything and maybe not suck too bad.
He selected the valkyrie for himself after a bit of fussing, glancing at the other before starting the game. "alright. Let's see how far we can get."
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