{CO} Oh Yeah, I'm Serious

[Demi Smith]

So Demi had arrived at the Cook-out thing, eager to eat free food and rub in everyone's faces how awesome she was now that she'd made alpha squad for security. She'd already strutted around a bit, finding the few people she actually knew and recognized (Roxana had to shoo her away no less than four times). However, as she looked, she noticed someone... missing. She'd only bothered Lister D. Reynolds a few times, but it was enough that she was starting to get attached to him, well, as attached to anyone as she got in this screwy school.

Thankfully, she knew where his room was. So it was a matter of speed-walking that way, finding the door, and starting to knock on it. "Hey, LDR!" She yelled before repeating the knock. "Hey, it's Demi! Get out here already! There's food and more food and other stuff that you're totally missing by being a loser who's hanging out in his room so come out here!" Demi hit the door a few more times. "I will so break this door down. Like, for real. It's not even that sturdy."

And Demi thumped it with her shoulder, soon rubbing it and mouthing "ow."

[Lister D. Reynolds]

The idea of a whole entire school Cook-out terrified LDR enough to make him stock up on food a few days before. What was the point in forcing LDR to interact with people he didn't want to talk to? Technically they couldn't make him leave his room if he wasn't starving himself. At this precise moment in time, he had sat down to eat a piping hot microwaved Chicken curry and had set up to watch some 3rd Rock.

The knock made LDR jumped and caused a fair few dollops of curry sauce to fall upon his white T-Shirt, making him yelp quietly. He registered it was Demi as she thumped on his door again. How the fuck did she know where his room was? Was she really gonna break his door down? There was a long pause followed by a much harder thump against his door. He gave a slow sigh before shouting "I-I-It isn't lo-lo-locked." He set his plate on the bedside table next to him.

As the door swung open violently he gave Demi a small glare "W-W-What do you w-w-want?"

[Demi Smith]

It wasn't locked? Demi actually reached down to try the handle, giving it a slight turn as she did. When the door opened, Demi had to pause and give it a long, hard look. It couldn't have done that before she'd opted to body check it? Well, it was open now, and open meant that Demi could stroll right in and see LDR.

"Uh, for you to come out?" Demi asked as she entered, rubbing her shoulder. "Didn't you hear all the yelling?" She jerked her head back to the entrance before looking to him. "Where did you even get food anyway? They shut down the cafeteria and junk so we'd have to go to this thing," Demi felt pretty proud knowing this. "Also, I wanted to show off that I made alpha squad, which means I'm a pretty big deal now..."

Demi paused and looked at the food, sniffing a few times before she did. "What is that stuff?" She repeated, suddenly really distracted by whatever it was LDR had on that plate.

[Lister D. Reynolds]

LDR rolled his eyes at her as Demi babbled even giving a over exageratted reply "Uh, W-W-Why would I w-w-want to do that w-w-when I can st-stay inside and w-w-watch fi-films?" At her question he gave a small sigh "I-I-I-I ha-had the forward pl-pl-planning to m-make I didn't have to leave my room today, by t-t-taking food from the c-c-cafeteria yesterday and microwaving it today. And that" He gestured to the plate by his side "Is ch-ch-chicken curry" Didn't she get the hint he wanted to be alone?

He gave another small sigh before cracking a smile "D-D-Did you seriously n-n-not try the d-d-door handle? W-W-Why did they let y-y-you join the Alpha Squad?" Yeah he was probabaly going to recieve a slap/punch/beatdown for that. He brought his knees underneath his chin and hugged them "I-I-I have a test with s-s-some called V-V-Vera Marcello tomorrow about s-s-security and I didn't w-w-want to have to add nerves ab-about to-today to that..." Looking up at Demi he gave her a small shrug, doubting she would care much.

[Demi Smith]

Sometimes listening to LDR really tested Demi's patience. Then again, nearly every trainer she'd ever had insisted on her actually learning to be a lot more patient, so Demi supposed this could count. She still had to really work to resist the urge to start making hurry up gestures whenever LDR talked. At least he managed to get out some kind of excuse for today (lousy) and for the chicken (pretty solid).

Demi looked at it for a bit, before looking over at him. Her eyes narrowed for a bit at the mention of the handle and the dig but, well, he'd partially earned that one. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood," she said, before sticking a finger into his food, scooping some up, and tasting it. She held there as he continued, looking at him. "Vera? I wouldn't worry about her. They're probably just, like, seeing if you've got the stuff or something. Did you want me to show up? she's, like," Demi bobbed her head, "terrified of me," she had to grin, recalling beating Vera in an outright fight and just loving every moment of it, she sighed.

Then she nodded. "Plus, you've totally got a cool power and you can always work with me. If you want this, you can totally have it." And Demi had to pause then, realizing that, well, she'd just been oddly positive. Frowning, she took another fingerful of the food. "This is good."

[Lister D. Reynolds]

Okay maybe she didn't hit him but there was a moment where she was definatley thinking about it. Oh god no...Demi please d- yep, she stuck her dirt covered finger in his food. Suddenuly LDR didn't feel hungry. LDR brought his knees in closer, giving Demi another shrug "I-I-Is there anyone y-you ha-haven't beaten u-u-up?" His eyes flicked up from the spotty duvet cover to look her in the eyes "Y-Y-You su-sure you ain't j-j-just gonna u-use it as an excuse be-be-beat me up?"

She was kinda being...nice. Was she feeling okay? Maybe she had a cold or something. "D-D-Do you really be-believe that? I-I-I me-mean do y-you really th-think they'll really le-let me jo-join?" He didn't really believe it himself. Why would they want a weakling like him.

He noticed her take another bit of food and gave another shrug "You can ha-have it if y-you wa-want."

[Demi Smith]

"The big guy who turns into steel," Demi replied, adding a shrug. So there was pretty much the one. Technically there also would've been, like, Roxana if she were being wholly honest, but Demi still wasn't completely positive who would get the better of a fight if they actually went at it. As for the excuse to beat him up, well, Demi just flashed a quick smile at that, leaving it to the imagination there.

Unfortunately the smile had to leave as Demi tried to figure out the rest of it. She had to shrug. "They take in everybody and, like, your power could be really useful if you actually did something with it," she paused while he told her she could have his food, then began nibbling at it, considering. "This is pretty good," she took a few more nibbles before moving to the side.

"See, they, like, are so into helping people that they see potential in and junk. So, yeah, you're a giant wuss, but you've got a cool power and you're really fast," Demi shrugged and then set the food back down, looking over at LDR.

[Lister D. Reynolds]

LDR gave a nod at her answer, not really knowing who she was speaking about. Her smile at his next question made him hug his knees tighter. Okay, she wasn't feeling ill. At least she was eating the food instead of taking one or two bites and leaving it in here "Y-Y-Yeah it is..." He gave her a small shrug and looked back down at his feet.

He raised an eyebrow at her "I-I-I'm not a g-g-giant wuss!" He only ever seemed to stand up for himself around Demi "I-I-I ju-just don't ha-have any co-co-confidence." Giving a sigh he shuffled across his bed, creating a space for Demi "Y-Y-You're n-not gonna j-just let me stay inside, are you? Not even wh-when we co-could watch fi-films and eat ch-chicken curry..."

[Demi Smith]

A shrug, and the guy was already looking down. What was with everyone her age and just rolling over? Especially the guys. Weren't guys supposed to be the ones who thumped their chests or just rubbed a little dirt in it or something? Must have been flipped for mutants, or at least, that was what Demi had encountered so far.

Demi let out a little snort as LDR protested. "Uh, same thing," she pointed out, wrinkling her nose slightly. She did notice his moving around a bit, making space for her and just generally getting comfortable. Films Demi never got, and she didn't see the appeal in sitting in here watching them when they could be outside actually doing something. The food was a bit more tempting though.

"Uh, you're supposed to show up at the cook out thing," she pointed out again. But she was looking at the chicken thing again. "Plus, they've got, like, a lot more food there than just that," even if it was good. "Not like I'm going to stay the whole time, so nobody's going to make you either." Demi shrugged. It seemed like just another thing you did here, and, well, Demi wanted to show off. She couldn't very well do that if they just stayed in here.

[Lister D. Reynolds]

LDR gave her a small glare as she pointed out the flaw in his argument. He seemed to have piqued her interest with the food though "I-I-I-I ha-ha-have some other th-things..." pulling his knees tighter he looked down at his feet yet again "Uhhhh, I-I-I do-don't ha-ha-have to go...no one is forcing me to...except you." The last part was muttered under his breath.

He noted her interest in the curry and gave another shrug "You can have it if you want." Yeah she was probably start dragging him out of his room if he didn't offer to give her the food.

[Demi Smith]

No one else was forcing. Demi blinked, looking at him again. How many times had she avoided people? Hid out in her room? Eaten something that wasn't really all that good for her or something that she'd actually caught (squirrels now avoided the windows near Demi's room). She'd done it herself, and she could practically see LDR doing it now.

"Uh, you're supposed to show up," she said, tapping the bowl of curry chicken again. She could see him noticing her interest in it. She could have it, if she wanted. Why was he being so nice to her? What was going on with him? And why did Demi feel almost guilty about bullying him or something now. She had been there, and Roxana had all but shooed her away...

"Why are you avoiding everyone?" she asked bluntly, looking to LDR. "It's not like they all think you're some kind of freak or something. And you don't really stick out, well, not like that or whatever," Demi shrugged. "So why hide in your room? I'm pretty much the only scary thing and I'm here."

[Lister D. Reynolds]

Why couldn't she just leave him alone? Why couldn't anyone leave him alone? Couldn't they get it through their thick skulls? He didn't want to have friends or have social interactions! He was much happy before, when none of this stuff could happen. When no one cared.

But that's what happened, people started caring. They started to give a damn whether or not LDR was in class, whether or not he was at training. That's why they were here, because Demi cared enough realize he was missing. Why should she care? He was just a wimp. A coward. He gripped his knees harder.

Then her question "Because I-I want to be alone." He muttered into his knees, knowing she wouldn't hear him. She asked it again and LDR blew his top "BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ALONE! WHY IS THAT SO HARD FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND? W-W-Why..." He shoved his head back into his knees and sighed "S-S-Sorry...I-I-I didn't me-mean to shout..."

[Demi Smith]

Wanted to be alone? Demi supposed she could get that, and was already shrugging, willing to pretty well go with it, even if she'd kept talking for a bit. When he blew his top, shouted, yelled at her, waved his arms, Demi found herself looking at him. Some people might've gotten angry back, and for a moment Demi almost considered it, particularly since she knew she could lay LDR flat in about three moves (probably less). But she couldn't help but smile.

"What are you apologizing for? That's more spine than I've seen from you since we met," Demi pointed out. She shrugged. "Plus, I totally get the whole not wanting to be around people. Particularly these people," she jerked her head toward the commons where she'd left most everyone else. "They're all pretty dumb on the whole."

Demi took another bite of the food before setting it back down, figuring that he'd definitely earned it after that little bit, even if he'd started apologizing and curling up and stuff. "Seriously, stop looking like you're about to roll over and die or something. The worst thing that happens is you get too pushy and I punch you," Demi shrugged. That didn't seem like too bad of a thing as far as she was concerned. Actually, it sounded sort of like fun...