Gotta Upgrade

[Erin Hackett]

Erin smiled a little as Tim said she would be fine and noted the name down in her head as well as the advice Tim gave her in general on getting some friends. It was not like she was in any rush to get some friends and with how she was not really good at making friends face to face. She then only had a few internet friends because of her bold attitude and just overall L33tness that slipped out of her when she felt a little challenge or like she had to impress. Once she got comfortable playing and actually trusted the skills of the people she played with, then she settled and was less of an elitist, but people had to deal with that side of her first before they got to the other side. She was curious to know who this Frank Cox was as well as other wealthy kids just for the sake of meeting others that came from a lot of money.

Maybe she would end up having another male friend with Frank Cox, because that so was a guy’s name and Erin mentally snickered at the last name. Wonder if anyone ever is immature with his name. Erin thought to herself but then focused on the task at hand. "Can you show me sometime? How you do it and all? I'll show you what I can do in return." Erin asked and then offered up thinking that you had to give something in order to get something. It was like trading in a video game, you did not just give some epic gear to someone for free unless they were your friend or you were just stupid. She often capered things to video games and that was in fact what helped her to be able to come out like this and at least not be a wreck when she was closer and talking to someone. She could not really have a normal conversation with someone if she was a couple of feet away from them after all.

It would have been really bad if they had given themselves and the school away, but Erin was not super worried about it. She was confident that they would be able to play it all off. Plus worse case she would use her power to get them out of there and then hack their security system to get any video evidence of them ever being there. She did have that capability. Erin chuckled at Tim pointing out that it needed a nacho bar or something for him to be fully comfortable living here. "I think a slushy machine and a vending machine full of chips would seal the deal for me." Erin admitted as she looked over the shelves for a moment. She noted that Tim had said a few months ago, so that obviously meant things had changed for him that he would not want to be always stuck around technology. "Does your girlfriend play games with you? Video games that is." Erin asked, making sure Tim was clear that she meant video games and not some other kind of game.

"Oh right. I'll be quick." Erin said in almost a half panic as she moved away from Tim and went to find and grab the things she needed. A back up hard drive, a computer fan, and several cables. She found all of it pretty easily, feeling pretty much at home in an electronic store and had an eye for spotting out the right tec that she needed. She had even got a really good deal on a few of the cables that she picked up, specifically the HDMI cable. "Can I uh...pay for your stuff too?" Erin asked as she went back over to wherever Tim was once she found him. She figured that would be the way to help pay him back for his help and she had the money.

[Tim Tawfeek]

Tim shrugged. "I guess I can show you if you really want. Like, I've got a vid or two up already that do it, so it's not like it's some kind of big secret or something." In fact, Tim had done some vids showing off his power almost immediately after he'd gotten it. Back then, all he could manage was hanging upside down and making weird noises though, so it wasn't quite the same thing as what he could manage now.

Still, he supposed things had more or less improved. Here he was in Kalispell, getting ready to get more stuff for his computer. "A few," said Tim, shrugging, "mostly some cutesy stuff and all. She's weird, and she'd probably join me in a few games if I asked it of her," which would probably go over fairly well, since Lux could probably figure things out. Tim made a note to see if she'd be interested in at least trying; he wanted to share it with her, after all.

Tim gathered up his stuff pretty easy, though he did have to ask the clerks to get some of the memory upgrades he needed. the price tag had his eyes bulge for a moment, before he remembered that he had a backer picking up the tab. Just as he was starting to dig out the card he had to use for that, Erin came up. Tim looked at her, blinking. "Uh, I mean, you could, but i totally got this guy who's picking up the bill. Wants to make sure I stay in the whole vlogging business and stuff..." Tim finally pulled out the card, showing it to Erin. Technically, he'd gotten it in the mail and it had an obvious burn name on it, but, well, Tim didn't ask questions, not when this guy was involved.

[Erin Hackett]

"I would really like that. I like hearing about others mutations because it kind of reminds me of like video games, you know? Like being special compared to all others out there living their normal day to day boring lives." Erin tried to explain but felt like she was making it harder then she needed to, at least that was how it sounded to her. She could have simply said I like the fact that we are mutants because we are special or something along those lines instead of bringing up video games and that matter. She figured Tim would still get what she was trying to say, but she just wished she could have a redo. Life was sadly not a video game, even if they were mutants with special powers, they still had to deal with pretty much everyday life that any regular joe had to deal with. Their powers just made things a little more interesting in a good or bad way depending on how you looked at it and what happened.

"Ah, so one of those kind of girls." Erin said, not really meaning anything bad by it. Tim's words just gave her a better idea of the kind of girl that his girlfriend was and also the kind of girl that Tim was apparently attracted to. It was interesting in a way but Erin didn't dwell on it long since whomever his girlfriend was a taken women. Taken by Tim who she figured would be something of a friend to her after today. Erin offered to pay but Tim apparently had other means of paying, which she figured since why go into a store, pick things up, and not be able to pay for them? It would be just stupid but she had offered as a way to pay him back. She was not going to have a cow over the matter so if he had the means to pay and wanted to pay, and then she was not going to stop him. "Well...alright. I don't want to take another guys chance for paying for your stuff." Erin responded and gave a small smile for a moment.

She figured since he was going to pay for his stuff on his own then she might as well go first since she had been planning on doing a pay for all type deal so had all her stuff ready to be checked out. "I uh...thanks again for helping me out." Erin said after a moment, watching the guy behind the counter ring her things up and handing her card over to pay. Saying yes to bag because who really wanted to carry around something they had just bought? Dumb question. Erin mentally grumbled as she could not help but give the clerk a dirty look.

[Tim Tawfeek]

"Video games, huh? Most people go the whole comic book route. You know, superheros and all," said Tim, shrugging. He could see where the whole video game aspect came into the picture though. Having powers and being different then everyone else, more "special" in ways that no one would've really seen coming. Comic book people weren't prophets after all... though technically sci fi writers were, and what were comic artists but sci fi people just working through a different medium.

So, yeah, no further expanding of that. "Those kind of girls?" replied Tim, arching a brow. "I assure you that Lux, that's her name, is definitely a geek. She's just a different kind, one who's a little less techy. Girl's got a massive Ferby collection, like, she's the Ferby queen," and wow, he could not believe he was bragging about that. oh, hell, who was he kidding: he totally could.

Items ringing up, purchases made, and Tim was pulling out his phone to knock a few more items off his list. He'd still have to head back to the kitchen supply store to pick up a few more things, but he'd done some definite damage here. Pretty soon, he'd have a bitching setup, and the videos would start coming again.

"Hey, it's no problem," said Tim, not even looking up from his phone but just waving a hand in dismissal, "I'm totally up for helping fellow geeks. Just don't call me for a fight or something," Tim lowered his phone, chuckling nervously for a few seconds. Then his expression hardened as he added: "Seriously, I am pretty much the worst person to call if you're going to start brawling. Honest."

[Erin Hackett]

“True, but I like video games a little more then I like comic books. Plus like you said, everyone goes with that.” Erin pointed out, never being the type to like to go with what the masses thought unless she did in face agree. Comic book heroes never really appealed to her because either they were too dramatic, were too pathetic, or just boring. She had yet to ever feel that there was a well-balanced hero in a comic book, but that was her person opinion. She just personally related it to video games because you had a level of control in a video game. A comic book you just had to read while a video game you got to experience yourself. It was the whole aspect of experience that made Erin feel like it was better to compare themselves to a video game then heroes in a comic book. Erin started to nod her head when Tim began to explain the kind of girl that Lux really was.

Okay, so I was a little off. Erin thought to herself because while she figured the girl played video games, she had a feeling the girl was not really a geek, just smart. Tim explained it and while Erin was still going to stick to the fact that collecting Ferby’s was hardly geeking; and more so creepy, she would still just nod her head. It was Tim’s opinion of his girlfriend and Erin was not bold enough to bring up how she felt collecting Ferbrys could be counted as geek and maybe more so girly. If she collected say Pokémon cards or star wars figurines, then she would give her the geek title. “Ever get creeped out by being in her room, all those eyes looking at you?” Erin asked, because she personally felt like she would be creeped out, especially if she woke up in the middle of the night in Lux’s room.

They both made their purchases and Erin pretty much had everything she needed since she did not plan on adding any sort of kitchen appliances to her set up. Sure she built a computer cooling unit out of cardboard for the outside base and using part of everyday items to complete it, that had only been for fun. For her actually gear, she wanted the best of the best and would put it together herself to avoid the expensive cost of computers. Erin chuckled a little as Tim pointed out that he would not be of any help in a fight. Erin would not be good in a fight either but she would be great at getting them out and away from a fight. “I’ll keep that in mind, but if you are ever in a fight with my power I can hide you and get you out of there.” Erin offered because she felt that she would be of some help to the other boy and felt she could help a fellow geek out.

[Tim Tawfeek]

Tim shrugged. As he'd said: the video game analogy worked too. He did prefer the whole comic book thing, though he had to admit that at least some small part of him preferred that because he kept holding out hope that they'd one day move toward some kind of spandex related uniform. Seeing several of the guys around campus wearing one of those would be a small price to see Lux dressed up like an X-woman.

Every guy has to have their dreams.

"Haven't actually been in the room yet," said Tim, addressing the question asked of said dream girl. He shrugged, waving it off casually. "Haven't asked either, and I don't want to scare her or anything," or potentially get Jack to come stalking. Wouldn't be the first time that the guy had opted to hunt down Tim for no real good reason. Tim definitely want to dwell on those thoughts.

Thankfully, he didn't have to, because they had their purchases and their next plan, or at least Tim's next plan out. He nodded at her counter offer. "Sounds cool to me. Definitely sounds better than, like, anything I could do," and again with the awkward chuckling, this time ended when he reached up to adjust his glasses. "Well, uh, unless you want to tag along to the kitchen store, I guess we part ways here. Though we can totally catch each other later. You know, online and stuff," Tim was ready to offer his tags, if need be. Seemed like the right way to part and all.

[Erin Hackett]

Erin did not know what Lux looked like and she did not have the ability to read Tim's mind, but she would pretty much agree with him on being able to see any girl dressed up like a comic book hero. Well...Erin would personally would love to see a girl dressed up in a girl from a video games because she felt like certain video game women were more sexualized...but that was a tough argument to make. She just knew she would lose herself if she ever got close to a girl that had dressed up as Bayonetta. H3ll, she would probably die on the spot if she ever got to be close to any hot girl, especially a girl like a Suicide girl. Those girls were hot and now Erin was starting to feel a little warm with thinking about all these girls dressed up or just looking hot in general. Why were girls so gosh darn attractive? Oh wait he is speaking. Focus! Erin quickly caught herself out of her thoughts just at the pint Tim said 'been in her room yet'.

The yet giving away that he probably said something about how he had not been in his own girlfriend’s room yet. Well, that was weird. How did you not go into your girlfriend’s room at all? Was their relationship still super new or were they both the whole 'wait until we are married type'? Erin knew she could not wait until she was married, but then again she was still a virgin because she could just not remain bold enough being super close to someone and more often than not ended up disappearing when she was kissed by a really hot girl. Forever alone. Erin thought to herself and didn't go to ask more questions about why time had not been in his girlfriend’s room yet. She felt like that was a bit too person and not something she should ask on their first meeting and out in a public setting. She tucked that question away to be asked at another time because she planned on meeting Tim again of course.

Erin just nodded at Tim's words about how useful her power would be and she too thought it was useful but she didn't want to brag. Not in person at least. Tim then brought up the fact that basically they were sort of done involving with one another. Erin had all she needed and honestly would feel a little weird if she followed Tim around like a little lost puppy. They were not at that level of knowing and trusting one another yet. "Yeah...you are right. I should head back home. Uh...online I got by L33tHack. You?" Erin asked, figuring if she just got the online tag he liked to go by then the rest she could find out herself.

[Tim Tawfeek]

Tim thought he saw Erin drifting off there. Though since he didn't have any sort of mind reading ability or anything, he had to more or less guess if she was actually drifting based on the cues and all. He'd be willing enough to wait, at least for a little bit. She'd tagged along and seemed pretty cool, almost like a bro who thought perhaps a little too much with his penis, which, really, was about sixty percent of the bros that Tim knew, come to think of it.

But she wasn't going to tag along, and Tim definitely needed those kitchen bits. He raised a hand and had started, only to pause, soon realizing that he'd met yet another girl and hadn't really exchanged information or what have you. Happened when he just wasn't used to girls wanting to willingly talk to him. yell at him, sure, but talk civilly? Definitely not.

"TheRealBatman," he said, "with real and batman capped. Sometimes I have to play with the spelling or something, but that's my handle on stuff that matters,' he shrugged. He had quite a few, technically, since that sort of happened and all. "See ya around!" he said again, raising a hand to wave before heading off, taking only a few steps before looking back at his list.