You Ruined It. Not

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn couldn't believe what he was doing. He had to be really desperate to end up photographing his schoolbooks and some other random objects he placed on the table of the small kitchen-like area in his dorm. But desperate, he was. He wanted to test some light effect and also get more accustomed to the new camera his, dare he say it, new friend gave him. Quinn had no one to ask if they could be his model for him. There was still Pips but he doubted the ferret would ever agree to stay still long enough for its contribution to be of use to him. And so Quinn ended up having to use objects.

He refused for it to be food however. This was way too humiliating to end up taking pictures of his food like any Twitter moron on this planet. He tried to make it look good. He placed the chair, his backpack on it, the books on the table with the everything necessary to write in them. He also placed some food, a snack for the studies and a bottle of water. And then he started playing with the lighting and the angles to see if he couldn't get anything interesting out of it. Still, he was awfully boring. At least, none of his roommates were here to watch him. Or so he thought. Because just as he was about to take the pictre, Nico Martell had to show up right in front of his setting.

"You've ruined my shot!"" he exclaimed as a welcome. Seriously, what was he doing here? He thought he was alone. Did he just come in without Quinn to notice or had he been in his room all along and didn't bother with whatever noise Quinn made while working things out?

Quinn looked at his camera for the ruined shot. "On second thought, forget that, it's great," he told him. It actually wasn't so bad. He even managed to take him in such a way you'd believe he was always meant to be part of the picture. Quinn even smiled at his luck.

[Nico Martell]

Thus far, Nico hadn't had any meaningful conversations with any of his roommates. Most of his interactions had been the sort of shuffling nodding types that you just had with people who lived near you. Wasn't like you could pretend like there weren't two other guys who slept in the same general vicinity as you, especially considering the amount of laundry that seemed to show up everywhere.

Though neither of his roommates had apparently adjusted to Nico's rather quiet nature. Never one to speak, let alone listen to music or do anything really loud, Nico drifted about, his phasing even making him seem more spectral from time to time. Especially because the damn power seemed to work considerably better when Nico wasn't focusing on it and trying to use it.

Anyway, he'd apparently drifted right into a "shot." Nico jumped, almost wondering if the guy had a gun. It took him a bit to realize that it was a camera. Though the jump meant that Nico's power went into work, which meant that he'd literally left his shoes and what he'd been carrying behind. The latter wouldn't matter as much if Nico hadn't been carrying some of the aforementioned laundry. He ended up dropping the stuff everywhere, and in the end, he was pretty sure that he had a sock literally sticking out of his foot. He lifted it up, and sure enough: there it was, partially stuck through it.

Nico sighed, looking over at the other guy. "Can we not mention shooting?" he said stoically, while trying to focus on his foot, not particularly wanting to be permanently bonded with a sock (and God knows what was transferring from said sock into Nico's bloodstream right now).

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn didn’t really care about his roommates. All he asked of them was to leave him alone and he would do the same to them. They had to share this dorm but that did not make them friends and Quinn was not interested in having some activity with them to get to know each other better. He barely even stayed in the common areas when they were around. He was minding his own business and expected them to do the same. Of course, it was not always easy and Nico sure was not the hardest one to deal with around here.

Although, right now, he was the one Quinn had to deal with. Oddly enough, the laundry didn’t make the picture all that bad. Quinn had no intention of showing this as one of his best work, of course, but it didn’t turn out as bad as he thought it would. The time of testing different lighting and the many functions of his camera was over though as he had been interrupted now. It took Quinn to look at the picture to realise how bad Nico jumped. Overreacting much?

Not that Quinn bothered to tell him that because when he looked back at the guy, he was lifting a foot in the air. That would have been of little significance if a sock was not coming out of it, and not in the meaning that his sock was falling off his foot from being too big for him. No, it was stuck through his foot. Quinn frowned. This was both weird and slightly gross. “...Does that hurt?” he asked. He was not really concerned by the boy’s wellbeing. Quinn wondered how that happened and since the mere sight of it left him slightly uncomfortable, he asked if it was just as much unpleasant as it looked.

[Nico Martell]

Did it hurt? Nico was tempted to point out the lack of screaming or to make some other comment. Except that would require breaking some of the intense concentration he was having right now, what with his whole mind and most of his being focused on his foot. He could feel that uncomfortable feeling, that unnatural feeling that came with his body reintegrating with something foreign.

"Not really," he finally said, wincing slightly as the sock finally pulled free. It looked bloody now, even dripping slightly. Nico sighed, straightening up and heading over to the bathroom. Soon enough, the sound of running water could be heard as he worked on getting the blood out of it.

Nico glanced over his shoulder, tempted again to make some snide comment on how this had to make for a good picture. Except that he didn't see any reason to antagonize Quinn. Wasn't strictly his fault anyway. And mocking and antagonizing wasn't going to do anything to clean up the sock or fix Nico's power.

[Quinn Wiley]

It was a stupid question. Nico was not on the floor, crying in pain but the whole thing seemed so weird that he had to ask something and it was the first thing that came to mind. Still, he must feel something. You don’t just merge with a sock without feeling anything. At least it didn’t seem painful, making Quinn not feel bad at all for standing there and watching him as he tried to pull it out. The fact it was all bloody made it even more gross and think it had to hurt a little. Quinn didn’t need Nico to tell him this would make a nice picture, he couldn’t help himself and snapped one just as he pulled it out. The sock was still partially in his foot but some was out, dripping with blood. He thought it looked incredible but he suddenly realise that it might be hard to show it to people. They might think like him, that it was painful, and then call him a jerk for taking a picture instead of helping him.

He followed Nico to his room and watched him clean his sock from the blood staining it now. “Sorry, I guess. Didn’t mean to startle you like that,” he felt the need to tell him. He didn’t sound all that sorry and if Nico looked at him, he probably would have shrugged while saying it. Still, it was true that he never meant to startle him like that, let alone make him become one with a sock. “I thought I was alone,” he defended himself with. Nico certainly didn’t bother to look at what he was photographing nor all the lights he played with to get the effects he wanted, but he sure noticed he had a camera in his hands, since it was what surprised him. “I was taking advantage the other one was not around,” he added, the ‘other one’ being none other than their lovely roommate Jack McCarthy. It really had to be a punishment to make them share a dorm with him.

[Nico Martell]

Nico could feel the other guy coming into the bathroom. He didn't even bother to turn, but instead just worked the sock under the sink. Though Nico wasn't even sure why he was bothering: he knew damn well that he couldn't get the blood out. It would take at least bleach, and he definitely didn't have any of that around to use. He paused and looked over as Quinn approached.

"It's alright," Nico insisted, adding a little shrug. Not the first sock that he'd ruined. He paused for a moment, the bleeding sock still in his hand. He could see bits of his body still clinging to it too, almost if it had taken part of him as he'd pulled it free. Definitely not fair how his power worked: it was one that sounded so cool in theory but so grisly in practice.

Nico did have to nod about the other one not being around. He'd already grown to figure that Jack was one of those that liked attention. He hesitated again, before looking to Quinn. He held the sock up a little from the sink, bits of bloody water oozing from it. "Did you want to take a picture?" he asked, knowing it seemed slightly morbid. Still, it wasn't like you got to see a bloody sock like that every day, and Quinn did seem interested in those weird sort of pictures.

[Quinn Wiley]

That sock looked liked a lost cause. It would be easier to just throw it out in the trash and get a new pair. Quinn couldn’t see himself wearing some old socks knowing there had been blood on it, especially in that amount. But Nico seemed so unaffected by it that he might not care as much as the other boy. Or maybe he was just running out of blood-free socks.

Quinn didn't bother asking detail about the guy’s powers. Obviously, he could walk through objects. He never bothered much with the whole scientific way of describing their abilities. Who cared, when almost no one understood those words? It was simpler to just say he could walk through objects as one does through air. Whether it was scientifically right or not did not matter. Besides, he saw it with his own eyes, that was enough. And, frankly, he wouldn’t mind not seeing it again, if it had this outcome all the time.

Quinn didn’t say anything about the fact forgetting the sock sounded a little lame. He was partially responsible for it and he didn’t want to start the blame game here. “Already did,” he admitted as Nico asked if he wanted to take a picture. “Though I might not show it to anyone or they might think I was a jerk not to help you out,” he added. He didn't think he stood by while Nico pulled the sock out because he was a jerk. How many people were needed to take a sock out of your foot anyway? He seemed to be handling himself fine, even now. Just in case, Quinn looked down. There didn’t seem to be a lot of blood on the floor because of what happened. See, not a jerk. “I hope you don’t always end up with objects inside of you when you do that,” Quinn let out, again, slightly disgusted as the thought popped in his head. His power really sounded cooler when you mentioned it than when you witnessed it.

[Nico Martell]

Already did. Nico somehow wasn't surprised, but he also couldn't really act like it bothered him at all. He merely shrugged: he had all but suggested the guy do it after all. No point in acting upset that he'd done it mere seconds before Nico had offered. He just turned and tossed it into the sink, letting the water hit it.

Probably a lost cause, Nico was thinking that almost at the same time Quinn did. he didn't say it though, simply staring at the sock and all. He also didn't comment on the whole idea of Quinn being a jerk for it. He wasn't, especially not when compared to their other roommate, but Nico didn't need to remind him of that. Even if he did, it wasn't likely that Quinn would care what he thought one way or the other.

"It happens," Nico admitted, prodding it. "usually I can get out quick enough, or I don't stop phasing until I'm through. But hey," he shrugged, "that's what training is for."

More red water swirled in the sink, and Nico ran his hand through his hair, muttering a soft curse under his breath. yeah, this one was dead.

[Quinn Wiley]

Part of Quinn expected Nico to be upset. He might have suggested for him to take a picture but Quinn didn’t wait for his agreement. And he could have said it sarcastically, even though the tone was not. Some people really didn’t know how to sound like they were joking when they were. Nico was not upset however and had the reaction Quinn used the most when interacting with people: he shrugged. Why people found it so annoying when he addressed to them this way? Quinn had no problem with that as Nico gave one to him.

“Yeah I guess so.” Nico seemed awfully cool with ruining his sock. Even if it was normal to have little mishaps at first, it must be annoying when it kept happening. Quinn hated some of the side-effects of his power, mainly the heartburns it caused. He luckily never burned down his clothes. Because then he would have burned himself too. And that was a little more important than a piece of clothing.

“Sorry,” he felt like reiterating. Usually he got out fast enough for it not to happen so Quinn felt partially responsible for it. There was still blood on the sock since the water in the sink turned red. “How many of those you ruined so far? I suppose I can get new ones...” That would make them even, right? Socks were so cheap he could even buy him a whole bunch for a low price. Because Quinn didn’t see the point in buying some fancy ones if he was to merge them with himself again.

[Nico Martell]

Yeah, this definitely wasn't the first time it had happened. Seeing as Nico was essentially given an allowance for clothing here, he wasn't all that put out by it. plus, it had been his experience that people seemed willing enough to lend him socks. Or that he could potentially just not wear them in the summer (a decision he often opted for, as the less he left behind when he phased, the better off he generally was).

Nico shrugged at the second apology. He did have to laugh at the suggestion, nodding. "Sure, if you want," he said. Hey, if Quinn wanted to get rid of some of the guilt by giving Nico stuff, he was willing to go along with it. It was just socks: not like he was asking for something that was actually worth a lot of money. Plus, Quinn likely would get him something nicer than what the school would provide.

Though now Nico felt obligated to continue the conversation somehow. He considered for a moment, before nodding at the sock again: "They don't tell you about this crap when you get your powers," which nearly everyone he'd met could definitely agree with, even the ones who wanted to put on spandex and seek out supervillains.

[Quinn Wiley]

It wasn’t like Nico had ruined his shoes or anything other article of clothing that could be expensive when you constantly had to replace them. They were socks. You could get a dozen of them for a small price. If Nico had to ruin something, better it to be socks then. It was better for Quinn too, because anything else, he wouldn’t have offered to buy a new pair of. He would have told him to ask the school. If they could repair objects people broke by accident because of their power, they could buy him new clothes if they were all bloody. Right? It couldn’t be more expensive to buy some shoes or pants than it was to repair a window. Right? It wasn’t like Quinn knew the cost of things that well but he would keep thinking so.

“No, they don’t,” Quinn agreed to. Most of the time, they made it sound so cool or assured you this school would help you and you nearly believed you wouldn’t have any problem anymore if you came here but the truth was different. Quinn burned his fair share of things while training, or by accident because he coughed up and it came out against his will. Having a cough always scared him because of that. He knew it was not the same, but he still feared some might come out without him meaning to.

“You ok with the pictures I took?” He suddenly asked. It had nothing to do with the conversation they had but their previous conversation also only lasted one sentence each. Still, it was all it needed to be understood. Quinn didn’t want to just erase the pictures he took but he still felt like he had to ask. Nico couldn’t complain he had not been asked for his permission. Because, apparently, people thought he was a bit of a stalker for forgetting to ask permission every now and then.

[Nico Martell]

Yeah, Nico definitely was a member of the "powers suck" club. Even with his power, which seemed like the type of thing that would be absolutely brilliant in general and especially good given his background, he couldn't help but thinking that he'd been blessed with more suck than anything awesome. It certainly didn't help that he had moments like this, when he was staring at a bloodstained sock and feeling a tingling in his foot that people shouldn't ever experience.

A question drew Nico's attention back to Quinn. His head swiveled to look at the guy, blinking a few times. He shrugged. "No big deal," he offered, turning back to look at the sink. It was just a picture: why would Nico care about it. He reached over to wring the sock out again, before setting it on the side.

Nico hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should leave the sock there or throw it in the trash or what. he gave Quinn another look, seeing what he thought, or what the other guy had in mind. Nico's gaze did look for a camera again, as it was sort of there and he couldn't quite help but stare.

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn too had a power that seemed pretty interesting when told but wasn’t all that great when you had it. Sure, blowing fire through your mouth sounded awesome. Looking like you were about to throw up the fire, not so much. Nico’s power was also one that definitely sounded awesome. But in the movies, it was always very easy and you didn’t end up with a sock attached to your body.

“It’s just that some people don’t like that. Didn’t want you to start saying that I didn’t ask you or anything,” he explained though his tone showed just how little he cared. Because, seriously, he didn’t care. Who could he show that picture to anyway? The members of the photography club might bother to have a look but other than that, he couldn’t see anyone interested in this.

He looked as Nico cleaned his sock and left it hanging there. To dry? “You’ll want to wear it again?” Quinn wasn’t sure he’d like that. Unless it could be cleaned of all the blood. There had to be ways to remove the blood stains only Quinn was no laundry boy so he had no idea what was the best way to do it. You could find everything on the internet and certainly some way to do it but it was not his sock so he would let his roommate do it in his own time.

He looked away for a moment, thinking he had to head back to the kitchenette and try to play with the light to create effects once more. When he looked back at Nico, he noticed him staring at his camera. “I was... It’s a new camera, and I wanted to try to play with the light, see what it would do,” he felt the need to say to justify why he was in their kitchen taking pictures.

[Nico Martell]

Yeah, Nico didn't really care overmuch what Quinn did so long as it didn't actively interfere with his life. For that matter, he probably wouldn't have protested active interference all that much, unless it got too bothersome. They did live with Jack McCarthy after all: there was a fairly high tolerance to stupidity and bothering that you had to develop if you were going to be around the guy for any duration of time.

"Probably not," Nico admitted, looking back at the sock. "Don't feel like getting the blood in the trash or anything," he shrugged. He'd really only put the sock there because he couldn't think of what else to do with it. It worked there, and he didn't want to overthink it. Didn't really want a reason to do so.

Movement, and more words. Nico looked back over at Quinn. "It's cool," he said, meeting Quinn's eyes and nodding. "Shit happens," he looked back at the sock, prodding it. "not the first time this has happened either." Hence why he was handling the bloody sock like the mere annoyance it essentially was for him. Came with the whole being a mutant thing, apparently. Oh, the unbridled joy of having special powers.

[Quinn Wiley]

Jack was to Quinn as annoying as his cousins used to be, if not worse. After all, they were three to make as much noise as Jack did on his own. To be fair, he was not always bad. When he slept, he could be a joy. But Quinn, and Nico it seemed, preferred when he was not around. Made life a whole lot easier.

The fact Nico was as communicative as he was, and their mutual dislike for their roommate, made him automatically likeable to Quinn’s eyes. He might not claim they were friends but he was certainly on his ‘does not dislike’ list. The fact he was not likely to bother him every five minutes was a great plus. “Maybe if you bag it first?” For a moment, Quinn seriously wondered what ladies did with the pads but the thought of menstrual blood and even more to ask one disgusted him enough not to think of it anymore. “Or you can just throw the trash out right after,” he added with a shrug.

By the lack of reaction from Nico earlier, he already assumed it was something that happened before. It was the first time Quinn witnessed it however, so of course it would surprise him more. Quinn was about to leave him alone but the perspective of taking pictures of his school supplies had him stop in his track and turn back towards Nico. “Hey, you’re doing anything? Because if I have to take pictures of something to test the light, I’d rather it being a human being.” That was his way of asking Nico if he wanted to model. The boy might not however and Quinn refused to be disappointed so he chose to look like he really didn’t care in the end whether he said yes or no. “You don’t have to but if you’re doing nothing else...”