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## secretoracle's Games => Back Issues => Topic started by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 07:54:48 AM

Title: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 07:54:48 AM At some point Laney contacts John about going to the college library. Thursday evening is the time, and they agree to meet (somewhere?). OOC: Need a Fate roll from Laney, which is just a single D20 roll with no modifiers. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 08:22:01 AM http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1976462/ 1d20 → [6] = (6) *snickers* Laney, in her roundabout way, offered to drive them both when she arrived at John's house in that old Honda, but confessed she enjoyed John's strange method of travel better. If it's not much trouble...and he doesn't mind... Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 08:26:53 AM "Not at all." John says. Once she parks in the driveway, which John's mom insists on, they walk a little ways from the house. John picks her up. "Hang on." and they're off. It's about a minute later when John is setting her down. They're on the backside of the library building, generally out of sight of people. "I talked to Sylvia about maybe testing to see if you could determine likely spots where things might happen on Saturday. She seemed interested." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 08:32:07 AM She's always in such a daze after one of those rides, with a strange little smile and light in her eyes that seems to spin to a stop. Awareness of their new environment settles like cobwebs into her mind while his words drift by. "Sylvia? A-alright. Oh, the ceiling's so high. What about Sammy and Sarah? Oh. Colin, I guess, too. They'll be around Saturday, right? I don't know if Colin still wants to be with other earth-bound people or not. I didn't check the news about Wednesday. Western and Devon." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 08:37:54 AM "I'm just asking a couple of people along. Not everyone is really into the idea of going out and looking for trouble." John takes his phone out and sends a text message. "What sort of book did you have to do the report on?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 08:47:49 AM "You know when I took American Literature last year it wasn't so...complicated." She begins wandering down a random aisle, logging the colors, thickness, and heights of the rows of books she passes, the way sounds are absorbed, the irregular lighting, the texture of the flooring... "I couldn't concentrate at the school's library. Too many...well, I could hear the other rooms and - I don't know how you can do it every day, honestly. You really are amazing." Her voice is the softest of whispers, light as her footsteps. "I'm supposed to pick three characters in a book, describe them physically, emotionally...then link them. It's a horrible assignment. I may just do Shakespeare. She didn't exactly say it couldn't be a play." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 08:50:13 AM "So fiction?" he asks, looking at the books as they pass. "Then maybe the fiction section. You're in reference now." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 08:53:00 AM "Am I? No wonder the books are so large. Show me your favorite spot." Whirling around to face him, she stifles a giggle in her hand. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 09:28:38 AM "You're standing in it." he says, turning her to her left to face a row of books on assorted paranormal physiology. "These fourteen books represent almost the entire written works on physiology that is outside the bounds of normal people." He touches one of the books, "This one discusses the issues of tissue density when trying to use standard diagnostic methods on people who are invulnerable." he touches the next one, "This one talks about the dangers of surgery when dealing with regenerative tissue patients." He moves one book to a different shelf. "I've read most of these." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 09:33:22 AM Plucking a book from its shelf without regard for the title, Laney frowns. "Only fourteen? Out of all of these? There should be - tissue density? That's horrible. To be sick and no one knows how to help. No one at all. And this is the best school in the country for these studies? It...can't be." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 09:41:57 AM "Berkley has a good program. There is some stuff in medical journals, but as far as published books, this is it. We make up one tenth of one percent of the population and less than one percent of us are known to have unique biology. It's just a niche market you might say." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 09:51:00 AM "Yeah, but...it's like plants and minerals...every discovery might have applications we didn't think of. Pharmaceutical companies come to mind first, but understanding one abnormality, even a unique one, might help with..." And then she's distracted by the print in the book she'd opened, the pattern it makes not the words themselves. The way the light filters through her moving fingers and casts shadows across the lettering holds her attention. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 09:54:52 AM John gently takes the book from her, putting it back on the shelf. "Let's get you over to fiction." he says, guiding her through the library to the fiction section. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 10:12:18 AM Even with the lower concentration of people in the vicinity, compared to their school library, it's overwhelming. The sheer number of books available has Laney gaping up at the towering shelves. Now that the idea of a play came to her, she's fixated on it and wanders right towards the aisle where Shakespear dominates. "Too easy, I know. Because it's been studied by so many. But right now, I need easy. I'm having real trouble in that class...reading comprehension...whatever. I do fine when I'm alone at home." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 10:17:37 AM "Easy is good." John says following her. "You really need to try something to help you focus in class." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 10:43:14 AM "Structure," she says simply, kneeling right down on the floor to peruse the books on the lowest shelf. A minute later she adds, "It's alright when a pattern is so...I don't know the right word. Um...powerful? obvious?" She sighs. "If it manifests in such a way that I can't focus on anything else, it's fine if that's what the class is supposed to be working on. See? Like chemistry or math, I just...um...expand the...include the teacher and the sounds into the pattern and it's alright. Usually. Until I overhear someone whispering about the dance or making jokes or...I shouldn't be in school at all. Did you know I took the PSAT before I started this semester in October, and I did so well they said I could get into any school I wanted if I did the same with the SAT, even now. But I can't even remember how to tie my shoes some mornings. Yesterday, Mikey said I'd made a bolin knot. I don't even know what a bolin knot is. They're dropping me out of Government. Did I tell you that? My first time slot is now a resource class. Translation: babysitting for special ed kids. I don't know. It might really help. Oh, Macbeth." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 12:52:52 PM "You keep saying you need a babysitter." John says, turning his head slightly. "I'll be right back." he says, and he's gone. A minute later he returns. "You should see if they'll let you test out of some things. Mr. Landis could probably be convinced. The real reason they wanted you back was more a social issue than anything else probably." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 01:12:06 PM "They scheduled some stuff over spring break. Tests I mean. Though most of them aren't related to school, just me. Where did you go? "Huh? I wanted to come back so badly. Be normal again. I missed friends and school and...It's not the same. I'm not the same. It's a - " a nightmare. "I can't show up to some classes on time. Ever. It's like I shouldn't be there at all. "It's alright. I'd ask Adrien about that, but he's not in school anymore. He's an adult and can do whatever he wants, whenever. Yep. Macbeth. I read it freshman year. They're trying to help. The school, I mean. They have people trained to deal with...problems. We'll see, right? No, really. Where did you go?" Offering an optimistic smile, Laney uses a shelf to pull herself up to stand. It wobbles. So does she. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 02:08:30 PM John points over his shoulder, "I uh. It was nothing." He's at her side the second the shelf wobbles. One hand on it, one under her arm to support her. "You have friends. And feeling normal is something that's beyond my ability to help with. But I can try." he says offering her a smile. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 05:20:53 PM Staring past John's shoulder, Laney gives his arm an affectionate squeeze while she struggles to organize her thoughts to something that he can understand. "Thanks. Um...Listen, I'm sorry. I won't say that again, if it bothers you. I was...I wanted you to...to know that I know...I mean...I know that it's getting harder to um...deal with me. Because it's harder for me to deal with me. That's not what I meant. I...I know, and I appreciate that you're still um...here. The babysitting remark is just... "I wanted an off switch. But I guess I don't have one. If it's not something I can do. If it's something I am. So...I just...wanted you to know I'm aware and I'm glad you're um... "Well...thanks. That's all." She releases a breath she didn't realize she was holding and smiles again, saying, "You can help. You're one of the few people who...You can tell me when I'm being too weird and maybe then I can figure out how to...hide it. Can I check this out on your card? I guess I can go to the regular library, but then I won't have an excuse to come back here with you." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 05:45:47 PM John smiles and takes the book, "Not a problem. And, it's ok. I need to let you feel how you want to feel, and still just be supportive. I've just dealt with some unpleasant ideas about people with powers, that's made me a little sensitive. Your whole life has been turned upside down and all the bits tossed out of the box." He rests his hand on her arm. "Instead of trying to put everything back in the box, maybe you should just expand your world view some." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 05:53:37 PM "World? I don't know if I can handle the world, yet. Since I talked to Adrien, I've been trying to stop um...Well, I've been letting things...Trying not to...Oh, I can't explain. Relaxing is all very nice - until I end up down a street I don't recognize or late for a class, or babbling like an idiot." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 06:04:22 PM "You'll get the hang of it. It took me a while to stop breaking things." he says as they go and check out the book for her. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 06:17:44 PM "Oh, wow. Weird question: How many cribs did you escape from?" Her giggling raises about an appropriate level for a library as they approach the front desk. She mumbles apologies to no one in particular. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 06:19:33 PM "More than one." he says as they check out the book and head towards the door. "And bottles, toys, and assorted other things." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 06:27:06 PM "Another weird question...because if I had a child like...like that, I'd be terrified. Not of him, just that I couldn't be a good mother for him. Did your parents, I mean your dad, use their contacts to get special care for you?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 06:30:58 PM "My folks had a friend that was a doctor outside the government that was pretty well versed in special needs people. I only really got hurt once when I was little." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 06:37:10 PM "Yeah? What happened? Did you swallow something not suitable for children under the age of three?" As they step outside, Laney walks closer to him, her arm snug right against his, probably for warmth. That would be a normal assumption: warmth or possibly affection, especially the way she smiles up at him. Her eyes sparkle so...But she's also keeping pace with him, turns when he does; there's no wandering off, even when her attention flickers from him from time to time. He might realize he's steering. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 06:47:20 PM He wraps her arm in his. "I jumped from a railroad bridge to a tree, and the tree broke and I fell. It was pretty far and I ended up landing on some steel rebar. They got me home and got it out and then all they could do was sit with me while it healed. I heal really fast. My mom was terrified I was going to die. She was pretty mad at me for being reckless. It's part of why I'm afraid of heights. Or, was I guess. They don't bother me too much anymore." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 06:58:18 PM "Oh, that's horrible! That would kill me. Yeah, no sh*t, right? No, I mean having to watch and not being able to...do anything for you." "Still...I would've tried jumping, too. If I thought I had a chance." And she hides her mischievous grin, burying her face in his shoulder. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 07:01:07 PM "It wouldn't have been so bad if the tree hadn't been in a gulch. It was a lot further down from the tree top than I could safely fall. My strength developed faster than my invulnerability until I was about twelve I guess. It's one of the reasons my mom worries about me so much. About what I do." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 07:12:10 PM "I should have dinner again at your house and emphasize how tame you are at school, and how you stay out of trouble, and dance well, and don't do any crime fighting at all. A good boy. I keep you out of trouble. Think she'd buy that?" More giggling. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 07:20:44 PM "No." he says smiling. "She knows I get into trouble. She's happier though that I'm not the only one with powers here. At least I'm not alone." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 07:26:53 PM "That's something, I guess." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 07:29:18 PM "I couldn't have a relationship, or really many close friends. There was always the worry about how they'd react if they found out. I was a loner for a long time, until I came here. The Usual Suspects have been the most friends I've ever had in my life. And I can be me around them and not worry about having to lie all the time." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 08:31:19 PM Laney doesn't reply to that and quietly muses for a few minutes, enjoying how peaceful the campus seems this time of night, this time of year. "Should I get you into trouble, now, or do you want to go home? This isn't exactly the kind of campus tour the guidance counselors push, but one should know such things as how to get to the roof of one's academic buildings, right?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 08:40:41 PM John smiles at her as they continue to walk. "Lead on, because if we take my way you wont learn as much." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 08:49:37 PM Retaining a firm grip on his hand, Laney pulls an arm's length ahead, and off she goes. It's a wild tour through many places students aren't permitted, especially not after dark. Onto a rooftop and down again, musty storage rooms intrigue her every bit as much as the silent and empty laboratories. She has no idea where they'll end up, and she doesn't care, purely delighted to surrender to impulses for a little while. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 08:56:03 PM John follows along, letting her open doors he knows should be locked and lead them through places that should be inaccessible but she manages to find a way to without effort. They eventually end up on the roof of one of the physics buildings, surrounded by satellite dishes and assorted antennae. The view of the campus is impressive, another side offers a view of the city. "It's nice up here." he says, putting his coat around her shoulders. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 12, 2009, 09:03:35 PM She almost steps right out of the coat, drawn away by curiosity, manuevering through the obstacle course that is this particular rooftop. She's craning her neck to stare upwards for so long that she's dizzy once she stops, looks down again, and reaches for John's arm. "Do these receive or broadcast? Both? So many. The wind...it sounds...strange here." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 12, 2009, 09:11:02 PM "Yes." he says, holding her to keep her from going off the world, in as many ways as he can. "I think you may need to let go sometimes. Like when Sammy flies. You seem so happy when you just run loose at random. Not trying to go anywhere, just going." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 13, 2009, 08:20:57 AM "Just going," she whispers into the wind. "I've been trying to..like I said before. Trying to let it um...happen all the time. It's screwing up school, but it feels better. You know what I was thinking of? These things behind us reminded me. Maybe. The desert. Have you ever just run to the middle of the Mojave? Can you still hear the cities?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 13, 2009, 08:23:07 AM "My hearing isn't that good. I haven't run in the dessert before. Might be something to try." John is watching her, his hand on her arm in the event she decides to wander over the edge. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 13, 2009, 08:28:51 AM "I'm not the only one who needs to run loose around here." She has a lopsided grin when she meets his eyes for a moment. "Do you? Run anywhere. Somewhere. Nowhere. Just for fun? Or peace. Maybe run to the middle of nowhere to finish your homework without distractions." Off Laney goes again. Not necessarily over the edge of the building, but wherever she feels. The contraptions mounted on the roof have her circling...then that view and the stars. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 13, 2009, 08:50:27 AM "Sometimes. I will go out and push myself to see how fast I can go, how far." John watches her navigate the obstacles in the dark, slipping in and around like they were plain as day to her. "Maybe once I can fly I'll see how far I can go then too." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 13, 2009, 08:57:34 AM "I wanna go, too!" she blurts out excitedly, bouncing like a child and swinging John's arms. She'd turned her full attention on him, and it is startling how such dark eyes can shine. "Sammy took me flying once. It was so much fun! She - Oh, do you think anyone can hear us? It was cold, though. I'll ask her to take me again Saturday. Do you think she would? I'm jealous you get to fly every weekend like that, even if it's not by your own power. How would you do it? You can't control air. Does anyone have records of how your ancestors flew?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 13, 2009, 09:14:10 AM "Sammy loves to fly, so I doubt you'd have a hard time getting her to take you. As for how, apparently they just wanted to. It's not something that has been well documented." John is always taken a little by surprise when she focuses herself on him. He never expects it, but it always makes him smile. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 13, 2009, 10:06:22 AM "Do you want to?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 13, 2009, 10:08:55 AM "I've been working on it. Sammy has really been an angel in that regard. She helped me get over my fear of heights. Convinced me to talk to my mom about it, because in my guilt ridden brain it was probably a big reason why I hadn't been able to, fear of making her worry. But, so far I've floated, and fallen slowly. No actual flying yet really." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 13, 2009, 10:15:48 AM "Floated? Really? Can I see? You don't want to fly because of your mom? But it's safer if you can fly. Much safer. You wouldn't get hurt like you did before, if you could. If you figure out how to fly, will you take me up with you?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 13, 2009, 10:29:11 AM "I'll be happy to take you, but the first person I take up should be Sammy. After all the work she's put into helping me, she really deserves the first official flight under my own power. As for floating, it's still not something I can do at will yet." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 13, 2009, 10:33:51 AM "Can't do it at will? A happy accident?" John suddenly finds himself supporting a girl laughing so hard she can hardly stand upright. Incoherently, she tries to explain, "accident...happy..." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 13, 2009, 10:40:24 AM "More like I wasn't thinking about it and it just happened." he says, turning her so she's cradled in his arms. "Hang on." he says, turning he zips to the edge and leaps to the next roof. The thirty feet to the edge of the building was a blur, but the hundred feet from there to the next building seemed to go in slow motion. they land with a thud, but no harm. "Someone was coming up to the roof." he says, setting her down. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 13, 2009, 10:47:46 AM Laney only later realizes she might have witnessed John's "floating" first hand that night. Recovering her breath, she murmurs, "I'm s-sorry. I was too loud? I didn't think anyone could overhear with the wind like that. It sounds so strange..." Very strange. She strains to see where they had been, something else bothering her. "Who is it? Can you see? Do those things broadcast? After what happened at the theatre, I...I'm being silly. Sorry." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 13, 2009, 10:50:11 AM "It was just one of the campus police making the nightly rounds. Kids like to go up there and drink. Nothing to worry about." they can see the dot of light where the roof access door opens and the man emerges, flashlight in hand. He makes a once around the roof and then departs the way he came. "see, nothing to worry about." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 13, 2009, 10:55:40 AM "They could do worse in worse places. Rainy and I used to - Still...That's expensive equipment. Oh, damn! I had my chance to get you into trouble and blew it. Your mom would be pleased. Well, we weren't doing anything to make headlines." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 18, 2009, 12:44:04 PM ((Throwing this in here just because.)) The book captured Laney’s attention, whether it be in John’s hand or perhaps in the black and white checkered tote bag she often uses as a purse. Looking from it to John, then to the direction of the library, her gaze is unfocused for a minute. She turns to John again, her cheeks rosy from the strain of preventing mirthful laughter from escaping when she asks, “May I ask you a question?” Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 18, 2009, 01:10:43 PM "Sure." John says, "What's on your mind?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 18, 2009, 01:15:22 PM In that minute she had been so far from him, she marveled at a pattern she found beautiful in its simplicity. The book she’d selected by William Shakespeare. Seven letters in William. S is the nineteenth letter. Nineteen hundred hours. The two of them met at seven. Fourteen. Fourteen books about paranormals in the reference section. The book she’d randomly plucked from its shelf, she vaguely remembered, opened to a page on cardiovascular systems. Hearts are popular on the fourteenth day of this second month. Still battling to retain her composure, Laney stands facing John with her hands clasped behind her, her skirt swishing as she rocks from heel to toe. Affecting the posture of a shy and anxious schoolgirl, Laney asks, “Will you be my Valentine?” Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 18, 2009, 02:03:08 PM John blinks a few times. "Uh. what does that entail, exactly?" he asks. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 18, 2009, 03:50:29 PM Smiling broadly, she replies, "Damned if I know. My memories from kindergarten are hazy. I think it requires an exchange of heart-shaped candies and then we hold hands. But don't worry, it's only for the one day - and the day's almost over." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 18, 2009, 03:53:33 PM "I think I can handle that." John says, moving close enough to take her by the hand. "I'll have to take a rain check on the heart shaped candy though. I don't have any on me." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 18, 2009, 04:17:10 PM "Oh. You might have to give me something else if you don't have candy. Roses or...or was that for Halloween?" She muses on this a few seconds, then adds, "Yeah, kindergarten. It was the one day of the year you could kiss someone and not get punched." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 18, 2009, 04:45:02 PM "Times change." John says, brushing a stray bit of hair from her face. "It was a long time before I managed to kiss a girl on my own. I had a few kiss me, which was always a huge shock." He relents that the wind is against him keeping her hair from her face. "Did you have a boyfriend before you moved here?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 18, 2009, 05:15:32 PM "Yeah, they change." With a twist of her free hand, Laney has her curls tucked behind her ear, but that one newly shortened lock is stubborn. She surrenders to the wind almost as quickly as John. "Nono. I never had a boyfriend. And I was speaking as an observer. A student of the humanities, if you will. I didn't go around kissing boys. I didn't punch any, either. It's not very nice." She smiles again, a softer, thoughtful expression. "Of course, when I was six it's because they have cooties. Sixteen...Well...I didn't like any boys at school. The only boys I might've been interested in were the ones from the neighborhood I grew up with. Dad regularly announced he'd cut the balls off of any one of them that touched me. It kindof slowed my romantic life a bit. No one really appreciated his sense of humor. "So there you go. I never found a boy I wanted to kiss. Don't worry. The day's almost over." As soon as she lowers her hand, down come the black tangles across her face again, but those large eyes remain steadily peering up at him. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 18, 2009, 05:24:44 PM "It's actually not over for hours yet." John says, watching her hair become unruly again. "What did your dad do for a living?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 18, 2009, 05:32:18 PM "Plenty of time to find some candy hearts. Dad? He um...He was a detective for the Fairfax county police department. He was a lot older than mom, too. Turns out he was in the army for awhile before they met. I keep wondering what else I didn't know that now I'll never know. Funny. Maybe there's a store on campus." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 18, 2009, 05:51:30 PM "There is, just off the quad." John turns to point to the broad open space below them. "No other relatives you can ask, about mom and dad that is?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 18, 2009, 06:13:25 PM "Wow. Was that totally pathetic or what? Sorry about that. As soon as I was able to...to think about things with some perspective or whatever...I started school. A lot of things on my mind. I will, like you say, ask. Dad's got an extensive family. Did you know I'm an aunt?" There's a girlish giggle and another smile just for him. "Mom's another story. No way. Mike had to get a restraining order on Mom's brother because after the funeral... Nan was um...well off. Nan left it all to Mom after she passed and he um....He still calls sometimes to curse at Jean for giving what's his to a bastard. Mom's side of the family's all a little crazy. "It's alright. I was just missing them for a minute. They really did love each other. Mom and Dad, I mean. That's something, isn't it?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 18, 2009, 06:17:53 PM "My mom says it's the best and the worst thing in the world. And missing them is part of living I think. There I don't have much experience." John scoops her into his arms. "Hang on." He says, and then he steps off the roof. Laney can feel his muscles tremble, and it's several seconds before they actually reach the ground with a solid thud. He sets her down. "Let's go get some heart shaped candy." He takes her hand and starts towards the student store. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 18, 2009, 09:56:22 PM Laney gives their previous position a backwards glance as she allows him to tug her along. "Able to leap tall buildings in a - How high was that? I like the cherry flavored lollipops." After a few steps further, she asks, "Why is it a shock?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 18, 2009, 10:01:19 PM "It was only four stories. And it's a shock because I was never expecting it." He gets the door for her and then starts to hunt for the appropriate flavor of lollipop. "What about you? No one has ever kissed you out of the blue before?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 18, 2009, 10:06:56 PM "I didn't say - Oh...um....well...yes, but it wasn't the same. I guess I was shocked, too." Not quite as red as the flavored candy he's hunting for, but her cheeks are close to it. She finds something on the floor to stare at. "Four? Oh. I thought it was five. You should kiss first, then you'll know when to expect it. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 18, 2009, 10:37:08 PM "Makes sense." John says, handing her a heart shaped chocolate on a stick. "There you go, heart shaped candy." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 19, 2009, 07:44:44 AM She accepts, staring at the treat with the goofiest smile on her face. "Thanks! You have met your obligations. Except...I haven't. What do you want? Do you like hearts? Silly question. Who doesn't like hearts?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 19, 2009, 08:07:12 AM "Hearts are good." he says, "I like the ones that have the stuff written on them. Nothing but pure color coded sugar, but fun." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 19, 2009, 08:49:05 AM Laney skips away and insists on buying as large a bag of those tiny, chalky colored hearts as she can find here. She presents this to John, smiling triumphantly, but two seconds later she's in the throes of another fit of laughter and must leave the store to escape the stares, barely able to see for the tears as she pulls John along by his sleeve. Once outside, she whispers in that low voice she has only for his ears, "You are so evil. With my...Those messages...I wanna see." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 19, 2009, 09:20:20 AM "What's wrong? Wondering about chance and probability?" he opens the box. "They have color and messages. I wonder if there is a mathematical way to determine what combinations could exist and the chances of any given one being in here." His gaze is on her. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 19, 2009, 10:25:49 AM "You know I'm terrified of eating alphabet soup, now, right? Funny. You're saving hundreds of dollars in fees for motivational seminars, if you sit down and eat all of these."" She leans close, peering suspiciously into the box, then up at John, trying desperately to maintain a straight face. "Of course, there's a way! But with my luck, I picked the one bag that contained all the manufacturer's rejects and they're all nonsense. Technically, it's your bag, now. So they might all say 'Kiss Me' in your favorite flavor. You have to look, you know." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 19, 2009, 10:46:09 AM John smiles and finds a spot with some decent light. He carefully empties to box onto the bench and in a blur flips all the hearts upright. Sure enough, all of them are defective. Letters missing, misplaced, or just blank. John laughs, "And there you have it." he looks up at her and smiles, "Happy Valentine's Day Laney." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 19, 2009, 11:04:26 AM Sitting on the edge of the bench, Laney's scanning those little hearts for...something...The odds of this happening are - She blinks, blinks again, shakes her head as if to clear it, and says, "Oh, just eat them." And she raps John on the forehead with her lollipop. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 19, 2009, 11:38:24 AM John offers her an amused laugh, then scoops them back into the box, and begins to eat them. "It could be worse. We could have gotten ones that were intended for some medical conference on fungi or gastrointestinal disorders." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 19, 2009, 12:01:11 PM "That's horrible! You don't think I - Adrien said we can't change things. But that's not true. Just by being here, I change things, don't I? My um...accidents don't physically hurt anyone else. Just me. So far. You're probably safe since it's your box. You're probably safe, anyway." Sticking the lollipop into her mouth to silence her babbling, Laney nods and leans back, happily kicking her legs. She does watch him, maybe to see which letters he eats. Maybe. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 19, 2009, 01:07:52 PM John watches her as he eats his tiny sugar hearts. "So what next? Or, now that you have your book and your heart shaped candy is it time to head home?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 19, 2009, 06:39:54 PM "Poor John. A tragic victim of chance. I swear I didn't remember today was Valentine's Day until after we checked out Macbeth." It would be a believably sympathetic smile she has for him - if she hadn't chosen that moment to fling her now-empty popsicle stick towards the waste receptacle. It distracts her when the stick pings the edge of the bin, bounces back from the corner of the bench, and flips right in. Weird. "Um...Yeah. My mission's accomplished. I got a book. Thanks for the help. It's your call, now. Oh. We have to go to your house eventually. I mean not just for my car. I got a dress for tomorrow. It's blue. I'm not suggesting we go as a pair of blueberries. I'm just curious if it's the same shade as...um...Am I being silly? It's alright if you tell me. You look good in red. Did you know that?" Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 19, 2009, 06:50:48 PM "Red and blue. I have a collection of blue t-shirts." he says, standing and then offering her his hand, "I went through shirts a lot when I was younger. My mom finally said, pick two colors and that's what you're getting from now on. So red and blue were it." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 19, 2009, 06:56:52 PM "I can see our future in the clothing industry: fabric for accident prones. Between my history with jeans and yours with shirts, you should go shirtless and I should - Yeah. Um...Where to?" She clasps his hand in hers and hops up. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 19, 2009, 08:15:58 PM John laughs, "I should get you headed home before it gets too late. Wouldn't want to have Jean mad at me." He scoops her up off the ground into his arms. "Hang on." Then they're moving, dodging cars, people, and lamp posts. A minute later he sets her down next to the car she came to his house in. "I'll see you tomorrow at school." he says, making sure she can stand before letting go completely. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 19, 2009, 08:31:28 PM Grateful for the support while she wobbles, Laney murmurs, "The way Jean looked at me when I said I was going out makes sense, now. I don't think she'll be mad. Um...tomorrow. If you get a tummy ache from those things, don't tell me. Thanks for um...Thanks." Then she tries to open the car door before unlocking it. She figures out what the problem is after a few minutes, glances back at John, and smiles. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 19, 2009, 08:35:52 PM John watches her try the door, then unlock it. He stops her with a hand on her shoulder before she gets in. "Almost forgot." he says, leaning in slowly to kiss her. John is unnaturally warm. It radiates off him and Laney can feel it more intensely when he kisses her lips. "Happy Valentine's Day." Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: motley on March 19, 2009, 08:50:49 PM What good is a superpower if one can't predict these sorts of things? Prepared for this earlier, Laney let her guard down while fumbling for her car keys. Who kisses in a driveway? Now all she can do is gaze up at John with those glistening eyes, dark as the sky and just as full of stars. Spellbound. Title: Re: Chapter 57-11, John & Laney visit the college Post by: secretoracle on March 20, 2009, 06:11:10 AM John looks into her eyes for a few seconds. Then his voice comes out of the darkness softly, "You should head home. I'll see you tomorrow." Powered by SMF 1.1.4 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC