{SF} As Per Usual

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

As per usual, Zoe was walking around the fair with her camera slung around her neck. Like so many of her fellow students, Zoe had volunteered to help out a little. Considering that she was now officially working for the school as a TA it only made sense for her to pitch in. Given her natural talents, it made even more sense for her to offer pictures to various festival participants.

Everyone got one free photo, taken off the digital camera the school had provided. In addition, Zoe could take other photographs. She stood near a sign that promised the one free photo and for her to be willing to go around and take pictures of people as well. Simple as that: go where they wanted, take a photo, and head back to the photo booth to print them out. Money exchanged hands, and that was that.

Except when it wasn't.

"I told you--" Zoe offered, her voice warbling as she looked up at the puffed up face of a very incised middle-aged woman. "The first--"

The woman cut Zoe off, and the poor girl winced under the onslaught. She looked down at the children near the woman, who looked more embarrassed than anything. They'd had a perfectly pleasant first photo: Zoe had showed it to them and everything had been fine. The woman had wanted another; Zoe had reminded her, then obliged. And now...

now she was shouting, insisting that it was free. "Look, if you just---" Zoe began, frustrating mounting, making her face contort and her lips purse. The woman kept going, and Zoe sighed, wondering if she should just wait it out. Her eyes flicked around for a moment, half hoping someone would help out, at least give Zoe a few more moments of silence or possibly point out precisely what she'd been saying all along.

[Lister D. Reynolds]

Someone(a teacher) had suggested(Ordered) he should take the chance to do some photography at the summer festival for the school paper. Not having anything better to do, or any choice in the matter, he wandered around the festival and tried his best to run past busy crowds and avoid people who looked like they may ask him for directions.

He had basically been stalking this girl for the best-part of an hour. It wasn't creepy or anything like that, he wasn't going drug her drink and take her to a abandoned warehouse. She was...interesting and he like'd they way she dealt with people when taking their pictures. She seemed calm and collected around them...

well except when there was a red faced hippo-shaped woman yelling a battlecry towards her. He wanted to step forward and help but...Go on! She needs your help! Heck she'll take any help, that's right even you! The woman's voice rose higher and many people gave the two a wide berth. Be brave, you cowardly piece of smeg! Go fucking help her! Go over there and shove that fucking photograph into that woman's blackhole like gob!

He took a deep breath and began to walk closer towards hippo-lady and camera girl, before turning back around. COWARD! FUCKINGCOWARD! GO AND HELP HER YOU FUCKING WASTE OF SPACE! He took a deeper breath and prepared himself to face hippo-lady. Blasting towards the two LDR took ahold of the picture and shoved in the lady's hand before trying to spin the bulky lady around, failing in a ridiculous manner.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Suddenly a young man seemed to appear as if out of no where. Zoe wasn't certain if he was some kind of mutant who had the ability to move fast or teleport or something along those lines or if she'd just been too wrapped up in her current troubles to notice. She hoped it was the former, and almost immediately felt guilty for hoping precisely that. The young man had pulled the photo, so recently printed from the camera in Zoe's hands, and now attempted to push her away.

The sheer lunacy of the situation had both Zoe and her heftier arguing partner momentarily stunned. both gaped at the young man who had apparently intervened. "Um," Zoe managed, breaking the blissful quasi-silence (couldn't quite be totally silent in the middle of a festival after all). she looked from the boy to the lady.

"The--" she began, uncertain as to how to continue now that there was another player. The middle-age woman took advantage of Zoe's stun to continue in her usual brusque manner, insisting that the young man give her the picture that had been promised, while Zoe tried, in a much quieter voice, to explain that the picture cost a few dollars, mostly donated. So it was essentially the same as before, only now with someone in between to act as a sort of buffer.

[Lister D. Reynolds]

He seemed to have only worsened the situation by giving the woman the photographs, so he now had to fix it. But how are you gonna fix it, dipshit? Hmmmm? You gonna flash about in some futile manner until one of them leaves? Or are you gonna stutter like the cowardly little prick you are? Well what's it gonna be, Sergeant Shit-for-brains?

After a few moments of confused silence between Hippo-lady and Camera-girl, the argument started again. He started to nervously stammer as Hippo-lady started yelling about how she now had the photo and Camera-girl explained how she had to pay. After a few moments of the futile argument, LDR speeded around and grabbed a couple of items.

He shoved a sheet of paper into the Hippo-lady's sausage fingers, across which read, in extremely slanted and crushed letters Sorry, in advance, but I don't think you'd understand me with my stutter so I wrote it down. Don't worry about the photo, just go and enjoy the rest of your day with your children. I'll sort out any problems regarding it.

Oh god...I hope that works.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

There was a bit more confusion and Zoe was bracing herself for this cycle of hell to just keep sucking in more and more people. Yet again she had the desire to just reach up and tap the woman on the neck. Just enough to cause her to stumble in her words for a bit. it didn't feel right though, and so Zoe just kept waiting.

Then the young man produced some paper and shoved it into the woman's hands. At least she stopped talking long enough to read, giving Zoe an opportunity. "As I explained, we generally only give one free photo and--" but she got no further before the woman harrumphed her way through the words. she gave both a severe look, but seemed willing enough to depart for now. Her embarrassed children followed in her wake.

Zoe waited a moment before looking over at the young man, uncertain as to whether or not he'd saved her, but at least relieved that he'd helped drive her away. "Thanks for that," she said, giving him a smile that showed some of that relief. "What, um, what did you write on the paper? If you don't mind me asking, that is..."

[Lister D. Reynolds]

As the hippo-lady left LDR let loose a heavy sigh before looking back at camera-girl, blushing slightly "Do-Do-Don't w-w-worry about it, I'm sur-sure you'd do the s-s-same..." He scratched the back of his head and avoided eye-contact for as long as he could. So how are you going to get out of this, creep? What plans form in your mind, dipshit?

He flicked out a few dollars from his pocket before looking her in the eyes "N-N-Nothing in pa-pa-particular...J-J-Just th-th-that I'd p-p-pay for it for her...and that I wouldn't talk because of my st-st-st-st-stu-..." He blushed redder and started to rub the back of his head before attempting to talk again "Do-Do you mi-mind if I g-g-give you a hand wi-wi-with the photography?" Motioning towards his own camera.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

The stutter made Zoe smile, the expression turning wholly sympathetic. Yes, she knew nerves all too well. She extended a hand toward the young man, taking his, holding it for a few seconds. the idea was to let the physical touch do what it always did for people. Then to let her power add its physical tingling, a brief contact no doubt giving that almost pleasant numbing.

"It's quite alright," she insisted, nodding. She raised another hand as he began pulling out dollars. "And don't worry about paying for it, really," she let out a soft laugh "there's, um, there's actually a standard we can do for it? The photos don't really cost that much, so we're allowed to bend a little if we need to? It's very much supposed to be a last resort..."

Zoe trailed off, unable to think of this as really being a last resort. Part of her felt like she should take the young man's money, that it would help sooth things over and make it easier. Thankfully said young man had a question to distract Zoe from this line of thinking. She looked up at him, her brown eyes showing the confusion, eyelids covering them for a few seconds as things processed inside.

"What? Are you--it's not very exciting," Zoe gestured around. "Not everyone's quite so forward as that woman. At most it's a matter of walking to some strange place in the festival. I've seen nearly all of it now," Zoe looked around the festival, seeming to just fully realize the veracity of that statement. She really had seen everything there, hadn't she?

[Lister D. Reynolds]

The temptation of running away grew stronger as Camera-girl took a hold of his hand, even if her smile seemed so friendly. The said temptation suddenly just became a nagging part in the back of his head as a wash of numbness came over him "D-D-Did you j-just..." The feeling of calm was not unlike the feeling of playing a game in a darkened room, you're oblivious to the world but focused upon your objective. Sub-conciously he smiled slightly, for it was nice not to feel like everyone was staring at you.

She was babbling, LDR had somewhat tuned out still being aware of what she was saying but not quite computing it all. She seemed to be having the same problem, a fact which made LDR feel even calmer. "It-t-t's just you s-seemed to know what y-your doing. And d-d-doesn't pr-pr-practice make p-p-perper..." He sighed and just gestured something along the lines of 'Well you know'.

Now's your chance Detective Dipshit! Just LEAVE! STUTTER SOMETHING ABOUT REALISING YOU'VE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING IN YOUR DORM AND RUN LIKE F?$#! Grab the money and run! This thought came screaming through his head and the smile fell from his face. Placing a hand upon his temple, LDR started to calculate how weird it would be for him to run away "Uhmm...I-I mi-mi-might ju-just go then...uhmm...y-y-your k-k-kinda busy al-al-already. I understand." He pointed at his head before checking nothing would fly out of his satchel. Feigning another smile, he stood there trying to figure out if he should leave now or wait until she said bye. That's it! You're getting away! NOW RUN!!! But... But what? Well I kinda want to stay and learn something... YOU LEARN SOMETHING? Don't make me laugh. You couldn't learn anything, not when you can't even get words out properly! You're f&*^%$# worthless! What would the point of teaching you be? Hmmm? I...uh guess you're right...

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe... seemed to know what she was doing? She had to openly stare, nearly gaping at the young man. People were saying that more and more lately, but Zoe still couldn't help but gape whenever she heard it. Since when had Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe been this person that people thought had everything together? There was a sigh there at the end, one that had Zoe wondering. Was this...

yes, as he continued, with the stuttering, Zoe did realize it. He was yet another of those who had been thrown here and sort of felt lost and overwhelmed by the world around him. Zoe smiled warmly at him, stepping forward. "It's perfectly alright, really," she insisted. She was already moving to grab one of the signs. "You can carry this so I can hold the camera. In fact, you can probably help get people. I'm not that great at getting their attention," she gave him another embarrassed smile before reaching up to tuck some more loose hair back.

Yes, that should definitely work, right? "And if you'd like, you may be able to even take a chance at doing a few photos. Like I said, it's really not that hard, but I could definitely use the help!" Now it was Zoe's turn to put on that slightly strained smile, hoping that she didn't come off like she was trying as hard as she actually was.

[Lister D. Reynolds]

He was just about to turn around and start walking, when she started to babble again. Why did she change so fast? Did she feel pity for LDR, like everyone else? Or was she just trying to be nice? LDR couldn't tell. People, it seemed, were to complicated to even question.

Holding the sign loosely he tried to give the girl a smile in exchange "S-S-S-So y-you c-can make people feel c-c-calm?" That was probably the best way to put the question. In truth he really just wanted to feel that wash of numbness again. Maybe it was addictive?

He pushed out a hand and tried to smile a bit more convincingly "Li-Li...LDR, you?" It was better to appear willing, right?

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

He took the sign, and Zoe nearly collapsed with relief. Okay, so she'd managed to do that, but she needed to pull it together a bit better than that. The question wasn't helping though: It caught Zoe by surprise and had her staring at LDR, blinking. "What? Um, not, really?" she didn't know how else to say it, really. Her power most definitely did not involve "making people calm..." or at least not in any way that people would probably like.

Oh, a hand. Zoe took it, well aware that her paralysis would transfer from the brief skin contact again. "Zoe," she offered, nodding slightly, "and I really do appreciate the help, honest," she released his hand, not wanting to retain the conversation too much. "I just... nevermind," she gestured and then looked at the sign again. "Do you think that you can get their attention? We could always try something else if you'd rather...?"

Because Zoe definitely didn't want him to do something he didn't want to do. he had volunteered to help, after all, and you certainly didn't want to abuse your volunteers.

[Lister D. Reynolds]

LDR raised an eyebrow as she looked flustered by his question. Note: Don't ask this girl about her power. The wash of numbness came over him as she took a hold of his hand, it was unfortunate he didn't focus on her words else he would have enjoyed her very interesting way of lying. Catching the end of her babble he just nodded and looked around for someone who looked like they might enjoy having a photo.

Spying a grandmother and, what he could only presume, her two grandchildren he bolted across to them and gave a strained smile before gesturing to the sign, this meant he wouldn't have to talk. He was greeted by a few 'Woahs' from the grandchildren and the grandmother seemed happy enough to get some photos taken. He waved Zoe over and stood awkwardly for a few moments before she came over.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

The handshake managed to go over well enough. Again Zoe had to swallow a sigh of relief: It was just a handshake, a little bit of contact. The celebration for little things had to be internal if Zoe didn't want people to think she was odd. She just released and gave him another nod of encouragement.

Soon enough he was taking to the task. Zoe watched as he scurried away and quickly caught the attention of a grandmother and some family. Zoe gave him some space, hesitating a few moments before the awkward standing. Then she hurried over. The spiel came out easily enough for her, and the grandmother and children wanted a photo near the carousal. Zoe nodded and then motioned for LDR to follow as they all headed that way.

Zoe wasn't sure if she should try small-talk or anything. The kids did seem interested enough. One drifted toward Zoe while the other seemed intrigued in LDR. Zoe at least had her camera to distract while they walked; she just had to hope that LDR could manage as well.

[Lister D. Reynolds]

One of the kids was staring at LDR and making him feel extremely uncomfortable. Having said that he had brought it upon himself by speeding towards them. But now the kid was asking him lots of questions like 'Are you a mutant?' 'What can you do?' 'Can you show me again?', he half-wished Zoe would step in and start babbiling about something. This wish was never fufilled, so he gave the kid a small smile "Y-Y-Y-Yeah I-I-I'm a mu-mu-mu-mutant. I-I-I'm super sp-speedy...like flash." When he said mutant the grandmother gave him a small look of contempt but said nothing. The little kid span round and looked at Zoe 'Are you a mutant too?'

After a minute or so they reached the carousal and LDR stepped back, letting Zoe do her job. It would be interesting to see how she works up close.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe kept answering the grandmother's questions: yes, she was a college student; the young boy was just a friend; yes, he was quite nice; yes, Zoe had been here a while; yes, she'd been from England; no, she'd been in the country quite a while, you just didn't lose the accent. They were thankfully getting closer and closer to their destination as they moved, and that made it easier. Plus, the lady just seemed more interesting than anything, and it wasn't like she'd burst out saying that she'd seen Zoe in the handful of viral videos the Brit had been a part of now.

The question that caught Zoe was actually the one from the kid. She started and looked up at LDR, wondering if they should even talk about it. The child had said too... "Um, yes?" Zoe managed. Thankfully they'd reached the carousal by then. Zoe unslung her camera and started directing people, gesturing for them to get into position and pose. The grandmother herded her children fairly well, though she was also looking at LDR for help.

"Um, could you help them? We just need to get a decent shot, centered there," Zoe pointed at a spot where she'd taken a few of these, "and if you'd---" the kids were already talking about going on the actual ride for their picture, which had Zoe blinking and looking to LDR. "I don't see any reason not to...?" she tried. He was going to be the one still escorting the kids, so it was at least partially his decision too.