H@ng T3n

[Erin Hackett]

Erin had gone up to the roof of her dorm, wanting to get a sort of high ground over view of the place she was going to be living and going to school at. It was a pretty huge campus. Maybe the same size or a little bigger than the school in Japan. It certainly didn't have that Japanese feel to it like her old school did. Way behind in technology and they didn't even have a place with neon lights or anything. Not even a rock garden or a pond full of koi fish. It was a little disappointing, but she had to remind herself that she was in America and that things were different over here so of course the school would not look and feel the same. "Didn't think I miss it this much." Erin mumbled to herself as she moved to sit on the ledge of the roof and let her feet hang over the side. Looking down at the ground below and wondering what the likely hood of survival was if you fell off. Not that she wanted to fall off or anything like that; she was not at all depressed or fed up with life.

Pulling out her phone she grumbled a little at the lack of bars she had, she really needed to get a new service provider while she was over here. Looking up at the sky she saw the dark clouds rolling in the distance and knew that she probably should head inside. Thankfully they didn't look like storm clouds, just rain, so she was not over concerned other than her tech hidden within her clothing getting wet. Standing up and turning to get off the ledge her phone ended up slipping out of her grip. Erin not wanting to end up losing her phone turned to grab it, and while she managed to grab a hold of it, her foot slipped over the edge because of her quick turn. Causing Erin's phone to land safely on the roof, and Erin over the side with her hands just managing to catch her before she could full fall. "Well...five, line, hyphen, line, one, seven..." Erin said as she held on tight, and tried to pull herself up but was not really the physically active type.

Only managing to get her leg up a little to at least be able to hold herself up a little longer. "IF THERE IS ANYONE AROUND, HELP WOULD BE GREAT!" Erin yelled as loud as she could, thinking of yelling at some noob doing something stupid in a video games so she would be at her loudest.

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn liked to get to the roof every now and then. Sure, the view was breathtaking. As a young photographer, he liked to think he had an eye for beauty. But it was not the reason why he enjoyed getting up there so much. He did because, every now and then, he liked to smoke. And, as most teenagers, he didn’t like going all the way down to a door, leave the building and walk a few steps away from it because apparently there were all sorts of stupid rules about not smoking too close of a public building’s entrance or whatever. It wasn’t like he’d be protected from the wind as it was even more of a problem up here than down on the ground. But most of the time he’d be alone or had enough room for two or three people to be there without having to stay close and talk to one another. Or have them telling him how bad cigarette could be. Like he didn't know, like he cared!

The weather was not super but he was really itching for a cigarette right now. And for some peace. His roomies were moving out as they would be college boys now and he was tired of it. He did spend some time with Pips, his ferret, locked in his room but the noise just made him want to be away. So away he went. All the way up here, with his pack of cigarettes, pulling one out as he opened the door, placing it between his lips as he reached for a lighter. People always mistook his power for pyrokinesy or something like that. It really wasn’t. He had the chemicals inside of him to create fire but he could not just snap his fingers to make it happen. It required more work than that. And the use of his mouth. A mouth busy holding onto his cigarette right now.

He was now on the roof and had lit up his cigarette, unaware what happened to a girl there also, in fact not even knowing there was a girl up here, until he heard her crying out for help. He frowned, looking around. He first noticed the phone on the ground, then the hands. What the hell was she doing!?

Quinn was not thick enough not to know something awful would happen if nothing was done. And even though he was not the most athletic, the adrenaline kicked in and had him run to the ledge. He extended his hand to grab her arm and help pulling her up, using his feet mostly as a lever, hoping she would help him out as he knew he was not very strong physically. “What were you thinking!?” he let out as he pulled, not caring one bit if he accidentally happened to kick her phone away and perhaps even damaging it.

[Erin Hackett]

Erin was starting to wonder if this was going to be the end and how dying like this would probably be better than how she would end up dying. Well better in terms of it being something action based. She figured she die of old age in her home probably playing a video games. Getting too excited at a win in her old age and suffering from a heart attack. Or probably chocking on something from again having her mouth full, getting excited at something in a video game, and resulting in her death. Falling to the ground and going splat on the ground below was not at all how she pictured she would die. She did even start to wonder hoe her dad would take it with his little emotions that he displayed. He probably cry in secrete about it but that would be it, at least that was what Erin thought.

I probably should be a lot more freak out about this then I am. Erin thought to herself as her brown eyes looked down at the ground below, thankful she was not worried about heights. She had already done her whole yelling out for help thing and even trying to pull herself up with no avail. So there was not much that she could do and she didn't see the point in really freaking out about her demise. She was more concerned with the rain at the moment actually, and squinting at the cloud to makes sure they were not thunder clouds. Just as she was feeling her grip start to feel like it was going to fail her someone was helping her out. A guy rushed over to her aid and with no questions asked he was already pulling her up. She almost half pulled away from him because he was way too close, but luckily her issue with being close to someone was over ruled by the desire not to fall to her death.

Once she was safe on the roof top she was being yelled at, causing her to try and make herself smaller for a moment. He was too close for her to feel all bold and she was even starting to move away. "I...I was just..." Erin muttered as she started slowly scooting away from the boy, until she saw her phone. It was not broken but the screen was most certainly cracked. Causing Erin to get a bit of her boldness now that her phone had been damaged. "You stepped on it! You know how expressive that phone is?!" Erin yelled back at him as she snatched up her phone and started to look it over quickly. Relaxing a little when it just looked like the screen needed to be replaced. Then realizing that she had in fact yelled at him and they were still reality close, she started to hunch forward a little and look away from him.

[Quinn Wiley]

That precious cigarette that Quinn just lit up before he heard Erin, it was now on the ground. No need to say that finding out a girl might just fall from the roof of your school could have, at the very least, the effect of you opening your mouth in shock thus making whatever was in said mouth fall to the ground. At least he ran to help her out, he didn’t just stood there, wondering what will happen. Quinn had not yet reached a point where he hated people so much he wanted to see them die. Well, he might have wished some people’s death but only the way anyone would, not seriously and obviously not so you could witness it.

He figured questioning the girl, if he ever decided to bother asking her anything, could happen after she was safe. He saw one dead person before and that was one too many. He didn’t want to see this girl, whom he didn’t even know, falling to her death. He didn’t want to run to the ledge and look over to see her broken body on the ground. Would there be blood? He didn't even want to think about it. So he pulled, not caring if he might hurt her or anything. compared to death, a dislocated shoulder was very little. The thought did cross his mind at some point that he could just as well slip with her. And that thought brought another, that he should land on her so he might actually not die, perhaps.

Luckily, none of that happened and he managed to pull her back on the roof. He panted a little and looked around. His cigarette was burning, all alone, midway to the door. He had managed to put his package and lighter back in his pockets but since it was not that easy to come back those, he grimaced. With all the anti-smoking campaigns it was almost easier for the boy t buy alcohol despite being too young than cigarettes.

He looked at the girl. A part of him wanted to know why she did that. In his mind, he did think she might have considered suicide or something. And he was deeply against that, having worse than a bad opinion about anyone who would do it. He was not religious, he just knew what it was like to be abandoned by one of those selfish people. The girl didn't answer him what she had in mind when it happened. He just wanted to call her names. You had to be stupid to do something like that. Instead, she was the one yelling. Over her phone. He rolled his eyes. He decided to keep some distance between them, going over to his cigarette to extinguish it. “Oh no, no need to thank me, I just saved your life after all,” he pointed out with irony.

[Erin Hackett]

Erin could smell the smoke on the other boy, not that she had a super nose or anything but the smell of smoke was pretty strong. Not that she had an issue with the kid smoking or anything. She smoked on occasion but it was super rare and more of a social thing that she did on the small chances that she was actually being social. One of those times being simply leaning against a wall with a friends and being passed their cigarette, using it and then passing it back. Plain, simple, and nothing that made her ever want to pick up the habit. It only look cool because of the whole breathing out smoke thing, but there were toys and what not that allowed you to do the same thing without having to worry about the harmful effects to your body.

Man, my mind really goes on tangents. Erin thought to herself now more concerned with checking over her body. The boy had just pulled her up rather roughly, no grace at all, and it certainly was not fun to be pulled up like that. Erin rolled her shoulders and looked over her arms, not feeling anything her besides her hands. They felt a little sore from having to support her body weight. Just great, I need these for so many things. Erin inner grumbled to herself because she could not have her hands be damage. They were money maker, people pleasures, and noob destroyers. Her hands were precious to her, and they did not feel broken, they were just red and felt a little sore. Some ice would more than likely do them the trick and they would be all better with no worries.

She was honestly just pleased that she was now floor splat and she had this guy to thank for that. The guy she just yelled at for damaging the screen of her phone. Opps. He was farther away now since he went to put out his cigarette so she felt bolder now, at least enough to speak without being all soft spoken or stuttering over her words. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful. Just expensive phone is all." Erin said as she wiggled the phone a little and then put it away, moving to rise to her feet and bowed her upper half respectfully at the boy. "You saved my life and therefore I owe you a great debt. If you ever want to like sneak into the girl’s bathroom or do things that you don't want to be seen or heard from. I'll help you with that." Erin said as she stood up straight, glancing at the sky for a moment. "Or if you would like money, new video game, or like a BETA pass to a video game, I can do that for you to." Erin added since she really could do all of that and she would do all of that and more because he saved her life.

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn was quite pissed at her. He had no idea who she was, and couldn’t care less, yet he helped her out. She would have fell down and be nothing but squished jelly had he not been there. Yet all she cared about was her phone. She could just get a new one. She just proved him right, people were a bunch of assholes not worthy of spending time with. They don’t even thank you when you save their lives.

At least she helped him with his bad habit in the fact he no longer wanted a cigarette anymore. In fact, he didn't want to be here at all. He just wanted to go back to his dorm, lock the door and let Pips run all over his bed or something. The ferret was a far better company than any human being. He stared at her when she finally apologized for yelling at him. “So’s your life, unless you intended to fall down on purpose,” he pointed out. In fact, life was worth a lot more than her phone.

That girl was weird. Weirder than he first thought. It wasn’t just the bowing, it was what she said. He stared at her as if she admitted being an alien from a different galaxy or something. Sneak into the girl’s bathroom? Do things without being seen? Hacked video games? That girl was definitely from another planet. Why would he want to sneak into the girl’s bathroom. Oh yeah, right, he was a guy. Because of her peculiar offer, whatever he might have had in mind in reward for his gesture entirely left his mind. She wanted to repay him, he was ready to ask her never to come near him again. Though the hacked games sounded kind of interesting, depending on what games she meant.

He didn't want to sound as if she caught his interest though. “What were you doing there in the first place, checking if you could fly?” he let out. To him, she was either suicidal or stupid and being suicidal meant she was stupid so he supposed she was only one thing in the end.

[Erin Hackett]

Erin did feel bad about yelling at him after he did just save her life and all and a phone should have been the least of her concerns. Still, once your brain registered that you were no longer in danger; that you were safe; your brain went back to its usual concerns. Erin's concerns being the state of her technology of course since they were very important to her. It always went your life, you actually need, and then your wants. Her life was safe, she was not hungry, not thirsty, and could easy run into the building before it started to rain. So then it went to her wants, which were again was her technology. Either way, she made sure to apologize, bowing out of habit from being over in Japan for most of her life and picking up many of their traditions in terms of speaking and behavior.

The only thing she had never really fully picked up was the language, only ever to say a few words here and there, read it perfectly, and understand what was being said to her but writing or speaking it always proved difficult. he probably thinks you are like the biggest jerk in the whole wide world. That you only care about cell phones and nothing else...which is a little bit true. Erin thought to herself and could not help but to chuckle a little at the other boys comment about her life being expensive. To her father it was so she supposed that put a lot of value to her life but in general she did not see it as something super special and ended up taking his words for more of a joke then anything. "No, I didn't intend to jump...I uh...slipped." Erin said, looking down because it was kind of embarrassing to say that you had almost slipped and fallen to your death were other would just see a suicide.

she watched the guy who saved her life for a moment, not really seeing any thrill when she offered to help him sneak into the girls bathroom, keep from being discovered, or hooking him up with some video games. Was he even human? Did none of those things interest him? Was he some super gay guy that wanted to be nothing but a little good angel? No, I can smell the smoke on him and his attitude says otherwise. Erin thought to herself and blinked a few times at his question as it brought her out of her thoughts about the girls locker room and video games. "I was trying to see if I could get better cell phone service and just checking out the view. Also, I know I can't fly. My power allows me to conceal myself, others, and things...can you fly?" Erin asked then after informing him of what his power was, mentally thinking that maybe if he knew her power he would be a little more excited about her offers.

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn should probably not talk. Had he been the one in a tight situation, his camera on the floor, and this girl happened to kick and break it while saving his ass, he’d probably yell at her too for damaging it. Of course, Quinn was not in her situation, he was in his, the one where he saved someone and his gesture was greeted with annoyance. It was no surprise then that he was getting hostile towards her. He tried to pretend it was because she was a human being and humans were just a bunch of selfish bastards that never cared for anything else but their comfort but Quinn was hurt that the one small act of kindness he did, not so small since he saved her life, was rewarded like this. Maybe he was the selfish one to expect more. A simple thanks before whining about her cell phone would have been nice.

Somehow, the fact she slipped instead of falling didn’t make it any better. He stared at the ledge than back at her. “What were you doing on the ledge?” he asked. He wasn’t too scared of height but his instinct told him not to stand so close of it. You don’t want to slip and fall, as she did. She explained everything or at least he assumed it was an explanation. Cell phone service and the beautiful view being blamed here. Again, nothing that worked in her favor in his book. He couldn’t care less about phones. He had no one to call. His camera was all that mattered and since it was not here, he was not interested in trying to imagine what he would feel if her phone was his camera.

“No,” he said with a scoff when she asked if he could fly. He pulled out his pack of cigarette. He decided he could use one right now. He didn’t want to admit he found her power cool. He wished he could be invisible as it was how he saw it. Quinn had no desire to take his place in life. He wasn’t even sure life had a place for him. Since he envied her he decided to do the only mature thing he knew: ignore her as he chose to smoke, moving slightly away from her, her phone and her kickass ability.

[Erin Hackett]

Erin let out another sort of embarrassed chuckle at the boy’s question of why she was on the ledge, and it indeed was a very good question. "I was trying to just get as close as I could to the satellite dish and also wanted to see the drop...all of those are lame excuses but that is why." Erin admitted and really she could not even think up a good lie to say in order to make herself sound less like a crazy person. Sure she could have remained on the roof and just outstretched her hand but then she risked dropping her phone. Plus if she fell that way then she would go head first and would have had less of a chance to catch herself. Still, it was still pretty dumb to get on the edge of the roof and she made a mental note to avoid doing that again unless there was some sort of net down below for her to land safely on. Really she was just adding a bit more to her earlier explanation in hopes that it made things a little better, but it was possible she was making things worse.

A scoffed no was the reply she got to her question about flying and figured that he could not fly already. He didn't look like her was hiding wings anywhere on his body but then again they could have been inside of his body like one mutant Erin knew from her school over in Japan. Her light brown eyes went to the pack of cigarettes he pulled a pack of cigarette. Is he ignoring me? Erin thought to herself as she squinted at the boy as he moved away and went to smoke his cigarette. Erin was most certainly thinking so many rude things to say to him that she would more than likely write up a rant on her computer or just when he was not around. She didn't even know his name, she needed to obtain that. "Mind if I have one?" Erin asked as she hesitantly moved over closer to him, pointing to his pack of cigarette since having one would not have been bad and maybe it would help with getting him to forgive her.

"I'm Hackett by the way. Erin Hackett and I owe you a life debt." Erin started off since the other boy didn't really seem to understand the fact that she owed him and she wanted that to be clear. "I uh...doubt I will have to end up saving your life so that means that I pretty much owe you a lot of favors...meaning well...you know." Erin tried to explain and yes this was a big deal to her and she disliked owing a debt so if he could start telling her what he wanted or what she could do that would have been great. Yet, she had to understand that people didn't just think up things right away with this sort of thing. "Oh...what is your power by the way?" Erin also asked and then went really quite feeling like she was talking a lot and it just made her move away from the boy a little.

[Quinn Wiley]

She was right, none of these were good excuses. He figured the service was very good around here, didn’t need to get on the edge of the roof to get a better one. Then again, he couldn’t care less about his phone. His whole life was not in it and he could resist the urge of watching every five minutes if someone’s Facebook status changed.

Quinn was not all that interested in telling her what his power was. It was not flying, of course, and he told her so. But saying he could breathe out fire would simply bring some silly MMORPG comment about dragons. He didn’t think his power was as cool as a dragon. A dragon could breathe fire at will and wouldn’t suddenly fall in hypothermia because of it. Besides, it was not really fire he breathed out and he didn’t want to go into much details. So he simply said no to the flying part and tried to deal with the fact she had such a cool power. Being the invisible man but not all the time, only at will, that was kind of nice.

He stared at her when she addressed to him again. She wanted a cigarette. He looked at his pack, as if he couldn’t understand for a moment but decided he might as well give her one. Not like he cared, right? Right. At least it meant she couldn’t say anything about how nasty it was. So he gave her one and handed his lighter. She said her name and Quinn felt as if she expected him to say his. There was a limit just how impolite he could be. “Quinn Wiley,” he replied. He never said Tarquin. It was so weird a name. He didn’t think some might find it cool, it was only odd.

She went on again about owing him big time. “No, I don’t,” he said after a moment when she claimed that he knew what kind of many favours she meant. She was not insinuating anything sexual, right? She did propose to let him play the Peeping Tom after all. He groaned a bit when she asked about his power again. Will she keep going on about this? “I... I throw vapors I can ignite,” he answered. It was more accurate than saying he could breathe fire and that did not scream dragon straight away.

[Erin Hackett]

Erin did enjoy her power when she had control over it but when she didn’t it just sucked and her ability scared her deep down. She always wondered if one day he power would just turn on and she would not be able to turn it off. Forever being invisible to those around her like she was some kind of ghost and then people would start to forget about her and then maybe even wonder if she was ever real. That would have been up there in the list of her many fears; disappearing forever. Erin was not thinking about all that at the moment and instead just kept checking the sky to ensure they still had time before the rain clouds would roll in. That and to make sure that without a shadow of a doubt that they were just rain clouds and that she was not going to end up freaking out with her power if lighting decided to strike and set of the thundering boom of thunder following it.

The skies still looked good so Erin focused on the boy who seemed to be a little confused when she asked for a cigarette. She would have understood if he did not want to share with her, but he seemed to give in and handed her one. She took it and lite it with the lighter he handed her, giving a nod of thanks as she took a quick drag from the cigarette. He gave his name; Quinn Wiley, it was certainly an interesting name and it seemed like she was at least making some progress with him. Yet she was already getting the feeling that she was not going to get much out of this guy that she owed a life debt to. She even tried to explain it all to him but he didn’t even seem to care about just the fact that she owed him big. She took another drag off of her cigarette as Quinn said that he did not really know what she was getting at with the kind of favors she owed him. Erin tapped the ashes as the tip of cigarette to the ground as she tried to think of how else to explain it.

She opened her mouth to give a few more, once she figured out a better way to explain it; or at least what she thought would be a better way to say it, but this whole socializing around someone was difficulty. “Like…if you need help with school work or better yet things that I have a talent for doing. All you have to do is ask and if it something I’m capable of doing, then I’ll do it.” Erin said as she rolled the cigarette between her fingers for a moment, only to stop when Quinn let out a groan so she went silent with her eyes looking to the ground. Erin’s eyes widened when Quinn explained what he could do, but she didn’t fully understand what he meant. He could throw vapors that he could ignite, but how did he do that? She moved away from him a little as she took one last drag on her cigarette before dropping it to the ground and grinding it into the roof to make sure it was fully out.

“That sounds pretty cool, even if you said it in a way that just makes me want to ask a lot of questions about what you exactly mean.” Erin admitted as she glance over to him, wanting him to at least give her a bit more but was not going to push it so just sort of fell into silence.

[Quinn Wiley]

Quin did notice the sky was getting dark. There were clouds threatening to come their way. Of course, they might not throw their water on them but just in case they did, Quinn would rather be inside when it happened. His emo side did not extend to liking being outside in the cold rain to look even more moody. He preferred being dry. There was nothing sexy in being all wet from the rain. You seen a cat drenched? Ugly. Not to add that his hair would curl up like crazy afterwards. He struggled enough already to straighten them. He didn't want to use an iron. It was for girls.

He took his lighter back once she lit her cigarette. She seemed to try to look chill or at least it was his impression. Quinn was not a social smoker. He did not master the back resting against the wall in a laidback yet almost mysterious kind of way. You know, like cool guys do in movies. He was not the type of guy you’d want to make a movie about, or see in one. He was totally unaware this girl probably sucked just as much as he did, socially speaking.

“How am I supposed to know things you’ve got a talent for, I don’t even know you,” he pointed out as she tried to give him examples of things she could do to repay him. Really, he thought it was unnecessary. He’d rather not have her around then keep pointing out she owed him. Or maybe he’d point it out so she could get away? Would that work? He wasn’t sure.

When she moved away, he thought it was because she expected him to throw some vapors and ignite them. “I won’t throw fire now! I’ve got a bunch of conditions for it to work,” he said, a little pissed that she might have thought he’d give her a demonstration or accidentally set her on fire or something. But apparently she just moved away to toss the cigarette to the ground. Oops. Well, he still pointed that out. Of course, his explanation didn't make much sense. He knew it was a bit hard to explain if you didn't just say it like he breathed fire. “I can create vapors inside of me and when I expulse it, I can ignite it. So it looks like I’m breathing fire. But I’m not. I’m not a dragon,” he explained. He hoped he made it clear. No dragon joke.

[Erin Hackett]

They sky was a major concern, but for now Erin tried to keep it in the back of her mind so she could at least give Quinn her full attention. Even if the guy seemed like he rather had been left alone then have to deal with her, she owed him a life debt. Still, if he did upset her she had ways of getting back at him that didn't involve her dealing with him face to face. She could have his things, sneak in his room and vandalize it, or just make his life a living hell if she was that kind of person. She was the type to make someone pay but it would take a lot for her to actually try and make someone pay in real life than it did in a video game. She already made a mental note to herself that she would probably end up shooting the guy in the head in a video game if they ever played together. It was just a feeling she had due to how things were going with them thus far. Even the smoking seemed like something that Quinn didn't feel like doing with anyone and Erin was not fully used to sticking around someone who made it clear they wanted to be alone.

At least Quinn had not said it yet, but she did have a feeling they would not stick around long with one another. "Right...sorry." Erin apologized as she messed with her cigarette a little bit before taking another drag off of it. "I'm good with computers from fixing them...hacking, and with my mutant power I can pretty much go unseen and heard...so..." Erin tried to explain but was fumbling a little bit and taking a lot of pauses before she outright ended up getting rid of her cigarette. You just had to go and owe a life debt to someone. He grew up here I bet, he does not understand how the Japanese are firm with their traditions. Erin thought to herself, and while she was not Japanese by nationality, she was a citizen and had lived by their customs for a while. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you think that I thought you were. I was just giving you some space is all..." Erin tried to explain, not wanting Quinn to be upset with her because she moved away in order to get some of her bolder nature back.

Erin watched him closely as she paid attention to what was being said to her. Quinn was explaining his power and now she understood it a little better. It took a moment but she understood and still thought his power was pretty cool. He said that it was not like a dragon, but really id did sound like a dragon to her. At least on the one kid’s movie called How To Train Your Dragon, there was a dragon that did something like that, but it had two heads. Erin wanted to point this out, but she could not with him actually stand there. She would send him a letter or an email pointing it out as well as probably other dragons that did what Quinn had described. "Soooo....if you burp...you could light said gases of the burp on fire?" Erin asked as she started to grin because the idea of it all was just entertaining in her head.

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn had always been a relatively reserved kid. Must be a downfall for not having a lot of attention from anyone, you tend to prefer your own company. Then he had way too much attention on him, not of the good type of. And then he was rejected. All of this got him to prefer being on his own. He didn't want people around. He could socialize, sometimes, through chat groups or online games, that sort of things. You don’t have to meet with anybody, if you don’t like someone, you block them and you’re fine. As easy as that. In the real life however, people tended to leave him or at least it was how he saw it and so he chose not to let them in to begin with. It allowed him to skip the pain.

So that girl was a hacker. Quinn had no computer problems. He wasn’t so good with computers anyway. He knew the main functions of it, could access a webpage, knew better than to open emails from people he didn’t know, that sort of thing, but that was about it. It was not his world. Photography was more. Still, hacking, it could be useful. She kept bringing up she had a debt. Anyone else would simply have said thank you and leave it there but she was obstinate. He could use that. But he wasn’t sure she’d let him. Anyway, he didn’t hate someone enough to do something awful to their computers using Erin for it. For now, he couldn’t figure something out. Or more like he didn’t want to admit her skills might interest him. That would mean admitting she was interesting and that was something he was not quite ready to do just yet.

Quinn felt a bit stupid when she apologized and assured him she never thought he’d throw fire just now. Okay, maybe he exaggerated there. He looked away, feeling awkward a bit but trying not to. He tried to explain what he could do. To be honest, he wasn’t entirely sure how it was done exactly. They explained to him but it was all very technical and he was just starting here so of course it was too much for him to remember all at once. But he knew it was not fire, it was related to gastric acid and because of that he had this crazy diet and he had to cough vapors out before throwing some acid to ignite it all. He knew that last one looked almost like a cat coughing off a fur ball. At least it was what he heard from others and who knows if they didn't just exaggerate it to make fun of him or not. Besides, he couldn’t be a dragon. A dragon was, like, unable to burn, right? He could burn. So there, not a dragon. He wouldn’t have to fear growing scales or wings or a tail at some point.

The way she summed it up was kind of right but at the same time it sounded so idiotic. Burping gas you could ignite. “Yeah...” he mumbled. That didn’t sound cool at all, more like silly. And a bit disgusting. “I transform gastric acid into vapors and can set it on fire. But I can’t do it all the time, I’ll just freeze to death,” he said. He wasn’t quite sure what his body heat had to do with all of this. It probably helped creating the vapors or something. If he didn’t know the human body enough to explain how heartburns happened, it was clear that he could not properly explain what he did. He looked at his cigarette. It was almost over. Three cigarettes gone in a few minutes and only one that he smoked. Seemed like a waste. Oh well, he’ll be heading back inside after and try to find something better to do.

[Erin Hackett]

Erin would have been able to understand Quinn a little, in terms of his view of other people and the feeling of just being to yourself was better than being alone. The major difference between Erin and him; other than their genders, would have been that Erin actually feared being fully alone. It was why she turned to video games in those hours of her father being away at work. There she was powerful and it did not matter if people loved or hated her there. It was an escape from where life where she could be 'someone else'. The person who she wanted to show to others but due to her fears and certain events in her life they would only get to see hints of it here and there. Still, she was not really the concern, Quinn was and she owed him a life debt.

She was already having the feeling that she had been saved by one of those guys that she was practically going to have to pull teeth from in order for him to allow her to help him in some way. That was just what she would do too, because Erin paid back her life debts. Other debts...not so much, but a life one was practically life binding. She would make it so that Quinn would want her help; need it, if she had to. That was sort of cheating but this was a life debt that was connecting the two now and it was a big deal to Erin. Erin tried her best to sum it up, but she still was a little confused on it. Like she got it, but there were still a lot of questions that she wanted to ask. Questions that she didn't feel bold enough to ask at the moment with being around Quinn and his personality that she felt like he could 'put' the hurt on her.

She got a yeah about her little sum up but then Quinn gave her more information which proved that she was not fully there. She paid attention and nodded her head as he explained his power a little more. "Oh? So every time you use your power you get colder? That kind of...sucks. So if you ever start to get really cold from using your power, you call me and I'll come and help you get warm again." Erin suggested, with a small smile, because that would be one way of paying the other boy back. There was a small rumble that came from the sky that caused Erin to quickly slide close to Quinn. She didn't really like being close to someone likes this, but that rumbling could have meant a storm and that was the case then being close to someone did not matter. "S-sorry...uh...I think I should um...head inside." Erin said in a shushed tone, practically holding a hand to cling onto an article of clothing of Quinn's.