Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 20:16:30 GMT -6
Trevor let out a sigh of relief, thankful that it didn't seem like Penelope was looking to hold the out of control machinations of his mind against him. She was right. It was simply that. A dream. Nothing more, nothing less. She had probably merely triggered something deeply rooted in his subconscious by invading his dream in the first place. Of course that was what happened. His aversion toward long standing commitments was already in play with this dream making it logical that Penelope would be placed in a situation to further that.
Yep. That's exactly what it was. Nothing else. Why would it be?
After a long moment of silence Trevor's eyes shifted to look over at Penelope. He couldn't make out the features of her face but she seemed to be thinking about something awfully hard. Trevor wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. "I would say 'penny for your thoughts' but I don't want to ruin any goodwill I've earned." He commented with a chuckle. "Looks like you've gone up in your head again." He pointed out thoughtfully. "What's on your mind?"
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 20:23:13 GMT -6
She tossed him a sharp glare at the terrible joke, but it quickly vanished. "Again?" she asked curiously. Was that something she did often? It wasn't something she'd really thought about before. Then again, she supposed someone in her position would spend a lot of time inside their own head. She shrugged then, her brows furrowing as she looked forward. She needed a distraction.
"Why did you invite me to this party?" They couldn't be too far off now, could they? She supposed it would be a welcome distraction. She wasn't quite at the place where he seemingly was, ready to share quite as much. Now, this had changed little in terms of where the two of them stood. That was what she wanted, right?
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 20:31:46 GMT -6
Trevor didn't reply to Penelope's inquiry, he merely nodded in confirmation. He had to admit he found himself doing the same thing far more than he preferred. It was another one of those strange things he saw in her that mirrored much of how he moved through life that caught his curiosity.
"I would've thought that'd be obvious by now." He said with a short wave of his hand. He rubbed the back of his neck a bit nervously as a witty comment bubbled to the surface and had to be forcibly shoved back down. He'd managed to open a line of communication here, the last thing he wanted to do was see it ruined by his inability to not make the sort of stupid, evasive comments that drove Penelope crazy. "It was a place where I could get you out and talk to you without the paper or school being the focus." He admitted this freely now. He had also grown tired of the run around and seeing how much more effective being straightforward had been it stood he had no desire to go back to their previous banter. Yet.
A question of his own popped into Trevor's mind and he contemplated it a moment before glancing to Penelope. "Why'd you agree to come?" He asked. She'd mentioned before that she didn't go back on promises but was that really the entire story? Trevor wasn't so sure despite the impassioned way in which she had spoken before. "Was it really only because you agreed to?"
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 20:40:27 GMT -6
"That's where you're wrong though," she said as she looked at him. "Why do you think I'm here in the first place?" Yep; School. The paper. She had no other reason to be in the middle of the forest without access to her gadgets. Well, she did. But it wasn't something she was about to mention to him. Simply because it had nothing to do with him. At least that didn't.
Penelope couldn't shake the feeling that her response probably should have been something else, but the truth was, at the time, she'd only agreed to go with him because there was something to gain from it. A story. "I agreed to come because I got something out of it," she said, her eyes moving towards him for a brief moment before going forward once more. "A story," she clarified. "I'm not a party kind of person." She doubted she had to tell him that, though. "But a promise is a promise."
Brushing her bangs out of her eyes, Penelope pursed her lips. "Who's coming to this party?"
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 20:51:46 GMT -6
Trevor nodded faintly as he took in Penelope's words. He may have been wrong but at least she wasn't throwing things at him and they were... talking. That realization struck him like a ton of bricks and it actually caused him to flinch. It was strange how they'd gone from practically arguing at every step of the way to actual, contemplative discussion. Sure they were both still feeling each other out and they were hardly giving up their deepest, darkest secrets so quickly but there was no denying this was all a step in... some... direction...
"Then enlighten me." Trevor replied simply. He was taking her assertion that he was wrong at face value. He wasn't doubting her words in the least he was merely challenging her to correct him. That's what normal people did, right? Telling people about themselves so they could all get to know each other better? Trevor wasn't all that sure and he was starting to think he wasn't very good at this 'genuine interaction' thing. "Apparently I don't know why you're out here." He paused a bit, glancing in her direction if only for a moment. "But I'd like to."
"Fifteen people." Trevor's answer came without hesitation. As they drew closer to the old campsite where he'd set up the party the sounds of the revelry could be heard echoing through the trees. By now they were far enough away from the designated campground that nothing short of a gunshot would have been heard by the Academy staff supposedly looking after the students. "Enough that I won't be missed if you'd like to take up my offer and skip it to go exploring." Trevor half stated and half asked with just a little hint of hopefulness creeping into his words. "To be honest, I'm not one for parties either. Most people our age annoy me."
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 20:57:32 GMT -6
Frowning, the brunette felt the walls come up again. It was pure instinct at this point. She furrowed her brows and pressed her lips tightly together. Then, she decided on a simpler explanation that, truth be told, wasn't entirely a lie. It was partly why she was here, after all. "The paper follows where the student goes," she said silently.
Shifting, she wondered who those fifteen people could possibly be. Then again, it didn't really matter, not to her. Unless, of course... Nevermind that. "You're not going to show up to your own party?" she asked, humor coloring her tone. "Then what was the point of inviting all those people if you're not going to attend it?" It seemed rather... Well, pointless. She doubted all this was created to get alone time with her. No, it was simply something he could use to his advantage.
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 21:06:12 GMT -6
Trevor didn't think he was getting the entire story in Penelope's vaguely cryptic reply but even he knew when it was time to let something go. He merely nodded in response and cast her a short glance. They were getting closer to the scene of the party and the lights that had been strung overhead were casting a dull, pale glow through the trees. He could see the outline of her features and the stoic look upon her face making it obvious letting the topic drop was definitely the best course of action.
"Well, it's not really my party." Trevor replied with a faint shrug. He gestured toward the white Christmas lights that were hanging over the fire pit of a long defunct series of cabins. Between the trees the emptied husks of a sister campground to the one the students were staying at could be seen. If not for the shouts and hollers of the group of kids having the alcohol fueled night of their lives it would look ripped straight out of a cheesy horror movie. "I just organized it." He paused then and chewed a bit on his lower lip before adding. "And charged fifty bucks a head." He glanced to Penelope and shrugged. "You got in for free..." He offered innocently enough.
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 21:14:20 GMT -6
Raising an eyebrow, the brunette chuckled softly. "So much for not being a party person." She looked to the event displayed in front of her. For someone who claimed they didn't like parties, well, it surely was impressive. But of course, it had come with a price. "You wouldn't have gotten me here if I had to pay." She tossed him a quick glance. "Clever."
Still, she couldn't see the appeal. Drunk teenagers? They were worse than regular teenagers. Sticking her hands into the front pocket of her hoodie, the brunette huffed as she stepped closer. She then continued onward until she found a tree she could lean against. "So your grand plan is earning money from teenagers stupid enough to pay."
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 21:26:28 GMT -6
Trevor found his plan to be absolutely brilliant. He hadn't planned on going himself, he'd just set everything up and acted as a guide. The alcohol and other 'party favors' were already there ready for consumption and the further he was to the scene the less likely he'd find himself in hot water should someone come along and bust the whole thing up. It was an easy, foolproof way of putting a few hundred dollars in his pocket.
Penelope hit the nail on the head. His exactly plan was to do just that. "Yeah!" He said nearly breaking out into laughter. Seeing Penelope's dour demeanor quickly brought that merriment under wraps though and Trevor cleared his throat, his face sobering. He then nodded again, this time with much less enthusiasm as before. "Uh, yeah." His eyes turned toward the party and he shrugged. "You know, 'a fool and his money' and all that." He waved a hand dismissively as if he was merely talking about boring, business stuff that Penelope would have no interest in.
"It's not my fault there are people out there practically begging to give their money away." Trevor moved over and took up a spot leaning against the same tree as Penelope, all the while being mindful of her personal space, of course. "Look at them." He gestured toward the party before folding his arms across his chest. "Do they look upset that they're out of fifty bucks? No. Having the night of their lives."
Trevor fell silent for a long moment as he watched the fire of the party dance and flicker through the trees. The more he looked at it the less he wanted to make his presence known to the already drunk party-goers. "Hey." He said curiously, tilting his head to the side so he could look to Penelope. "How about that walk?" He offered. "It's an actual path so you don't have to worry about tripping." Then a hand came up and tapped a finger against his temple. "And I know exactly where we're at so we won't get lost."
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 21:35:12 GMT -6
The sudden burst of enthusiasm almost had the brunette jump, then he seemed to quickly recover. "Don't hold yourself back on my account." It wasn't as if it mattered either way. He had a right to be proud of his doing, even if it was something like this. If this was what he wanted to spend his time doing, Penelope surely wouldn't stand in his way. And she didn't expect him to let her, just as she wouldn't let him, or anybody else stand in her way.
"I'm not judging you," she said, turning her head to look at him. "You don't have to justify yourself to me." Perhaps that wasn't what he was doing, but it sounded like he felt like he needed to explain.
Then, the brunette turned her head towards the group of people again. She watched them, one by one until she saw someone familiar. Someone she'd come here, to the camping trip to meet. She barely heard what Trevor was saying, lost in her own thoughts, until finally, she pushed herself away from the tree. "Hold that thought," she said quickly, cutting him off without as much as a response as she stepped away from the tree, and him, and into the party scene.
Penelope headed straight for the familiar face she'd spotted earlier. She knelt down in front of him and the two of them exchanged a few words before they both rose to their feet and walked away from the party scene. They exchanged a few more words before something small was exchanged for a small package wrapped in paper. A short nod before they separated ways and Penelope trailed back towards the tree she'd stood leaned against only a short moment before.
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 21:42:37 GMT -6
Trevor's eyes narrowed as he was cut off without an answer. He remained where he was, though, as Penelope made her way toward the campfire and the reveling teens. His head tilted in curiosity at the subtle exchange, his eyes following as the brunette girl returned. He stared at her for a moment then shifted his gaze back to the guy she had been talking to. His attention stayed on him for a bit then it finally fell back to Penelope for good.
Trevor went to speak then thought better of it, paused, then scratched the side of his head a bit. Again he looked back and forth between the guy and Penelope a couple times before slowly sliding across the tree to draw a little closer. He leaned in, watching Penelope with a wary, yet curious eye. "That was suspicious." He stated quietly. "Was that supposed to look suspicious, because that definitely looked suspicious." He studied her a bit, eyes still narrowed. "Why are you being so suspicious?"
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 21:51:41 GMT -6
Once Penelope reached the tree, she resumed her former location. Watching the boy look back and forth from the corner of her eye. She watched him as he drew closer, remaining perfectly still. Then as he started speaking, the brunette cocked her eyebrow at him. "Was it?" she asked, as if genuine. "Did it?" she added with a simple shrug. Her expression gave nothing away either. It remained perfectly blank, as if she had no idea what he was referring to. "Huh."
Patting his cheek, the brunette smiled. "Curiosity killed the cat," she gently told him as she pulled her hand back and returned to her former position, staring at the crowd in front of them with her former disinterest. No more exchanges were met with the boy from before. To both of them it almost seemed as if the other didn't exist. Just as planned.
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 21:59:53 GMT -6
"Well aren't you just full of surprises?" Trevor said with a smirk spreading across his face. He couldn't deny Penelope had caught him completely off guard by her little display any more than he could his curiosity over what it had all been about. It wasn't like him to suddenly start begging for anything and Penelope looked very much like she was going to poke and prod his curiosity until it drove him crazy. If his suspicions were right and she did intend on holding it over him he would have to play this carefully in order to save face.
'Curiosity killed the cat.' The saying brought out that smirk of Trevor's again and he responded with little hesitation. "But where human beings are concerned, the only thing a healthy curiosity can kill is ignorance." The addition to the quote was recited with perfect timing as it had been effortlessly recalled from Trevor's memory. "But really." He said, the light from the fire lending flickering, dancing quality to the mischievous gleam in his eyes. "What was that?"
Post by Penelope Adams on Apr 22, 2016 22:05:14 GMT -6
"People also say ignorance is bliss." Putting her arms behind her neck, the brunette smiled innocently and shrugged her shoulders. "Iunno." Not even his wits or charm would get her to spill. No, Penelope enjoyed this far too much. Though, that was hardly the reason she wasn't spilling. It was only a bonus. Dropping her arm back to her side, the brunette leaned against the trunk of the tree, this time with her back against him.
She had a feeling the boy didn't like not being in control or being left in the dark. As much as he might have wanted to hide it, she had already caught on the fact that he really wanted to know. And she loved it. For once, Penelope knew something Trevor didn't.
Post by Trevor Paige on Apr 22, 2016 22:14:18 GMT -6
Trevor snorted. "Then there should be a lot more happy people in world, don't you think?" He replied. His words may have been defensive in nature but his demeanor remained laid back and unphased. Penelope had gotten under his skin, of that he was certain she knew, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.
A new plan was forming in Trevor's mind, though, as was usually the case. He wasn't about to let this go without a fight. He couldn't stand the fact that she knew something he didn't and she did nothing to hide how gleeful this seemed to make her feel. This meant war and Trevor was all about fighting fire with fire. Unfortunately... Trevor had no fire. Or water. It was looking more and more like he was going to have to go into battle with the equivalent of some dried bits of gum, a strip of duct tape and a handful of packing peanuts. "Okay. You got me." He said. "Let's make a deal. Information for information. What do you say?"