Apple of Discord

[Lucy James]

"Mmmhm," she replied, nodding. Besides, he could tell her as many times as he wanted and she still wouldn't believe it unless she saw it with her own eyes. That was the thing though; Lucy wasn't naive enough to take words for truth. People had to actually prove things, and even then, she more often than not remained perfectly cynical. It was sort of her thing, she supposed, and if often came with not really giving a shit at the end of the day.

Pausing, Lucy looked at the guy. She studied his face as she walked through the words he'd offered. Well, to be fair, it wasn't too far off, but it wasn't as if... Well, okay. She did find a great deal of pleasure in torturing others, but it wasn't as if she actively sought out people. it was more so when they were the ones to approach here than anything else. She didn't care about people or their feelings, which was what made it so easy for her to tell everyone to go fuck themselves. Why this guy was so interested, she didn't know. "I don't seek people out," she commented dryly.

"That you're not going to be a professional at this-" she gestured at the pool table. "-is pretty obvious." She smirked slightly at that before shrugging it off. He did make a good point, she supposed, and she totally agreed with him. "So, what are you going to become a professional at?"

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

He understood why she’d prefer to see it. Words were easy to say. Some people gave them so much power but in the end Akeem thought actions meant more. It was easy to say you were one thing. Being so was a whole other matter. Akeem liked to judge someone on their action. Sure, he could take in consideration what some people said about a person but his final judgement would be when he’ll see the person. He didn’t like to think his judgement came from someone else. It made him feel weak. He could not be weak.

The way she commented, he had a feeling he was pissing her off, or maybe he struck a nerve somewhere. He was not sure. Although he wouldn’t put aside the thought he might have read her well and she didn’t like it. “So you’re saying it’s like with cats and dogs and the fact they always seem to go towards the one person who’s afraid or allergic to them? You’re allergic to people and they are all drawn to you somehow. Before you include me in this, remember you are the one who came to talk to me first,” he said. In the end, it mattered little whether she went after people or they came to her. She gave them the same treatment. Although there would be something a little pathetic if she was the one going after them only to kick them away the moment they started giving a shit.

She was not all that easy to read but he thought he had enough to give himself a good idea of who she was. He bet she was not as tough to crack as she believed she was, that she convinced herself she was the one manipulating people when they probably manipulated her. Still, she was worth some of his time. Might even be worth seeing her again later on.

He smirked, not offended by her choice of words. “Law,” he answered her. It might be a boring subject, lots of things to read, more than one can remember but Akeem just loved the idea he could get away with pretty much everything just by knowing how to bend the law. That didn’t mean he would do it often but the simple thought that he could was empowering. “What about you? What are you in for?”

[Lucy James]

Staring at the boy, the brunette fell silent as he spoke. Her eyes narrowed somewhat until she finally shrugged the whole thing off. She supposed it was something like that. At least, it was somewhat fitting. She didn't want people around - most of the time - but they didn't seem to want to leave her alone, despite her best efforts to push them away. It was annoying, really, especially as she'd told so many of them to bugger off. Did they listen? Of course not. They were stubborn idiots. Well, that and the simple fact that they were all clearly fucking retarded.

Their mutated DNA must have done more to them than just give them a power.

Rolling her eyes at his response, the brunette opted to simply say nothing about the matter. Law, huh? Her favorite kind of people. Not. Seriously how could someone even bother with that shit? It was just in the way, and more often than not, she got in trouble with the law. "Nothing," she replied. In fact, Lucy had made no plans about the future what-so-ever. She didn't know if she'd even be alive in a year from now, with the drug and alcohol she seemed to hold so close to heart.

What was she going to be good at? Such a stupid question. Such a waste of time. She wasn't going to become some sell-out. She was going to enjoy life her way until she kicked the bucket. it was as simple as that.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

“Then again, I don’t mind your presence at all and you are free to go whenever you want without me chasing you. I suppose that’s the kind of relationship you want out of people?” Akeem was starting to wonder if it really was just an act or if she really was like that. Maybe the act just became her nature over time. The fact she came to him made him believe that, deep inside, she wanted people around, just on her terms. She was probably one of those who wanted people but the moment she might begin to care feared to be hurt and pushed them away. Those could be so annoying. As long as she understood he was not going to be friendly and show her she could trust people, they should be fine. That is, if they were to ever meet again. He was not entirely sure about that.

He could see she considered his choice of career as lame. Obviously she was unable to see all the potential in knowing the law. It was pretty hard to get you when you knew how to bend it in your favor. He was not that twisted but he realised how some people condemned some of his actions and if he could find a justification in those books, he would use it. “Don’t underestimate it, it’s important to know it and how to use it. Plus it pays damn well,” he told her. Of course it was also about the money! He was not going to waste years in a college to end up with a job that could barely pay the rent.

He raised an eyebrow at her answer. Nothing. Okay... It was best not to go there then. “Well... still want to kick my ass?” Akeem offered her as it would be her turn to play.

[Lucy James]

"If you chased me, you'd quickly realize how much of a waste of your time that would be," she smirked, her eyes gleaming slightly as she looked at him. After all, it wasn't all a lie. She didn't mind being around people as much as she minded them pushing. That's usually when things started getting ugly: when she felt as if her hands were being forced. Now, like the boy said, she could easily walk away without him following her around, and she was fine with that. That meant she could walk away without having to deal with this, or him, and nothing else would come of it. Now, if only more people could be like that.

Shrugging her shoulders, Lucy's lips pursed. "Whatever you say," she replied. If that's what he wanted to think, she wasn't going to argue it. Didn't mean she would agree, of course. At the end of the day, it came down to just how little she cared. Which was probably why she had no idea what to make of her future. That being, if she was alive by then, anyways. With her track record of getting her ass beaten, she'd likely kick the bucket before the year was over.

It was only a matter of time.

Taking the pool stick, Lucy nodded. "Alright." She leaned over the table, putting the stick in position of the white ball and directed it towards the ball she wanted to hit. She pulled the stick back and then forward, hitting the white ball and making it roll forward and hit the ball she'd been aiming for. It bounced forward and crashed into another ball, sending it right down the rabbit hole.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

“And I don’t really like wasting my time so you see, I think we’re both happy with the way things are,” he replied to her. It was almost sad she would consider chasing after her a waste of time. Almost. He was not seeing going after her anyway. He would not ignore her should they end up next in line at the cafeteria or if they ended up at the same table in the library but he would not go after her. He was offering her a live and let live relationship. She seemed to be fine with that. Maybe it was that fact that made him not mind her presence at all. The fact they could both go away if they felt like it without risking the other to chase after them.

He swatted the air, and her opinion on his future career, away. “It’s ok. Law is not exactly the most glamorous of career,” he admitted. But he would have a spotlight, money and can be ruthless if he wanted. There really seemed to be little other profession better fitting him. His power would be more than useful too, although he knew now there were some that might actually keep an eye on him, just in case. This was so frustrating.

For now, he didn't mind playing a little game with her. She was clearly better than he was, meaning she must have played more often. He didn't mind, like he told her, he was not looking to make this a career. “I’m suddenly glad we didn’t bet anything on this.”

[Lucy James]

"Good," she nodded. In truth, Lucy was rather glad it seemed as if the two of them saw eye to eye, because that would mean they'd likely not run into any problems in the future, given that they'd at all meet again, of course. Even that was still a ball that was hanging in the air. It was so much simpler to go through life when you didn't really have any interest in the people you surrounded yourself with, be it this guy or someone else. So, here was to hoping he wouldn't grow into one of those people that seemed nearly incapable of leaving her alone.

She pursed her lips, nodding slightly as her head tilted. At least he didn't get offended. Unlike many others. "It's not," she spoke. Each for their own, of course. She wasn't about to give a boy she didn't care about shit for the career path he'd chosen for himself, as that would imply that on some level, she actually did care. Which she obviously didn't.

Peering up at him, the corner of Lucy's lips tugged upwards into something of a smirk. "Yeah," she said. Though, now that he mentioned it, it would have been a smart idea as she could have earned some easy cash on that. Ah well, she supposed it didn't matter. With the stipend the school offered, it wasn't as if she lacked in money. "Guess I ought to remember that for the next time I decide to challenge someone to a game." She straightened herself up, fingers flexing over the pool stick.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Would they ever see again? It was likely, since they were at the same school and probably staying there too. It was quite possible they would run into each other in the future. Would they talk again when that’ll happen, now that might not be as possible. He would not ignore her, sure, but he would accept to leave her alone and not extend over what common courtesy obliged one to do.

He was not going to argue with her about being a lawyer not something that interested a lot of people. It was not like being a celebrity. Everyone seemed to wish to be that, not even thinking about how they would become one, as if fame was more important as the way you achieved it. Well, in a way, he would agree. He too wanted some recognition and fame. Unlike them however, he had a plan to get there. Not just some silly reality show that would make him a washed up nobody after a few weeks.

He laughed as she agreed to his idea and even claimed she should think of that next time. “Then I guess this will be our last pool game together. At least it was a pleasant one,” Akeem replied as he played. He even chuckled slightly at that.

[Lucy James]

Pausing slightly, Lucy's brows furrowed. Now, she had no plans of seeking the boy out again, but she couldn't shake the feeling there was some reason behind why he'd chosen to word himself that way. So, either that meant that he was fishing - or she was a lot more cynical and distrusting than what she'd first though. Nevertheless, she decided to simply push the thought away and instead, Lucy nodded. "I suppose so," she slurred, head tilting.

She didn't think anyone had ever associated the word pleasant with something that had anything to do with her - be it a silly pool game or something else entirely. It didn't sit quite right with her either. She much preferred people hating her, even though this boy wasn't nearly as bad as many of the other people she'd met around campus. 

She supposed she could give him that much.

"May the best man - or woman, win." She looked at him, offering him a secretive and almost playful smirk. Her eyebrow quirked as she leaned forward, placing her palms on the edge of the pool table to support herself as her blue eyes fell onto the balls scattered across the table.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

This had been amusing. It felt like a little battle but an amusing one. He didn’t think either of them won or lost either. Well, someone would win the pool game but that didn’t count. Their banter had been pleasant to him. Maybe it was just because he needed something like that after his annoying partner trying to control everything. Lucy didn’t look too much like she wanted to control everything. She more looked like she didn’t care whatever the outcome. That suited him a lot more.

She seemed taken by surprise by what he said and it puzzled and amused him at the same time. From the way she presented herself before, he figured it was not something she heard a lot about herself. Did she like it? Not that it would matter much to Akeem. She could decided he was too weird to like her company for them to ever meet again that he’ll be fine with it.

“In this case, I think we both know who that would be,” he replied, returning her smirk. He watched her as she leaned on the table to get her shot. He was trying to see if there was anything he could get from it to get better. He didn’t think he totally suck at this. He was able to play. He just wasn’t the best. “And what is the winner going to do to celebrate their victory?”

[Lucy James]

"We'll see," she commented, tossing a quick wink in his direction. Pool wasn't entirely about skills. At least not from her experience. It was about luck too, and she would never, ever claim to be particularly lucky. Not that it really mattered one way or another. She wasn't so prideful she couldn't take losing in a pool game. In the grand scheme of things, this hardly mattered. He did however present something a lot more interesting though...

Finishing her shot, and completely failing at it, Lucy straightened herself up as she looked at the taller boy. Her head tilted slightly as a playful gleam twinkled at the corner of her eyes. "Now, you're making things a lot more interesting," she admitted with a grin, hands coming up to cross over her chest.

"Since you were the one to present the idea, it's only fair that you name your price first." Sadly, Lucy wasn't one to back out of a deal. She would likely agree to pretty much anything at this point. She was a sucker for these kind of things. Always had been. It had gotten her into heaps of trouble before.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Akeem could see why some people kept going after her. There seemed to be an interest behind this cold indifference she gave people. If her attitude could rub a lot of people off, others might be tempted to see what was underneath. Not that he was particularly interested himself though. The only thing he’d like to see underneath might be her clothes, not her metaphoric shell.

Akeem considered that n terms of luck, he probably had as little as she did. If she were to mention it, he likely would have started a contest as to who was the unluckiest one in here. He was slightly pissed he might lose this game. He was a bit of a sore loser. He tried not to think too much about that. Unless she really rubbed her victory in his face, he should be fine. Seeing how she failed her last shot, Akeem grew a bit more confident that he might actually win this. “Oh?” he let out, amused, acting as though he didn’t know what she was talking about.

He had a few ideas as to what his price might be should he win but there was a limit how much one could ask, especially over a pool game. He was not crazy enough to ask something impossible or humiliating. Surely she would name her price according to what he asks. “How about a kiss for the winner? Or are you planning to spice things up more?”

[Lucy James]

Lucy's eyebrow quirked up in immediate amusement. She considered his offer for a moment before she finally nodded, her hand outreached to shake his in agreement. "You've got yourself a deal," she said, a smirk forming on her lips as her blue eyes gleamed almost playfully. She couldn't help herself. Her pride didn't allow her to step down from a challenge - at least not something as harmless as that.

She poked his upper arm with the pool stick and leaned against the table, her eyes never once leaving him. "Your turn," she said, lips pursing. The almost playful and amused gleam didn't fade from her eyes - in truth, with the wager, it hardly mattered who'd win, as they'd both end up getting the prize one way or another. She supposed it only made things a little more amusing.

Though, even Lucy had to admit that it was slightly refreshing to meet someone who was less stuck up than most of the others she'd met around. This guy didn't strike her as the type who'd poke around her head, trying to dig up all her dark and heavy secrets - and she honestly preferred it.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Considering how she acted thus far, Akeem figured a kiss would be something she could accept to bet on. It was not too much and was even amusing when you thought about it. He wondered if he could have stolen a kiss from her otherwise. Maybe, but the risks of getting hit somewhere at the same time if he didn't use his power was also high and Akeem would not risk it. He somehow valued too much any parts she might decide to hit if he tried anything she didn’t want. And sing his power to get something he could have without seemed pointless. He wouldn’t deal with side-effects or risk greater effects on the girl than what he had hoped for. If he didn't mind using his power, he still liked to show he could get things without it. He just didn't like not to get what he wanted, is all.

She agreed to the bet and he shook her hand with a smirk to match hers. It didn’t really matter who would win, they’d have the same reward in the end. Although she could play him. He couldn’t really go after because she refused to give him a kiss. Akeem had started to think she might be a little more than high school girl trying to show off in front of a college kid. Still, if he could see what made people avoid her, he actually found that refreshing and even interesting. It would be just the reason why he might seek her out some other time. For now though, he had to try and not lose too much dignity during this pool game.

She liked to brag about her skills but Akeem would say she was not all that much better than he was. So he had a chance. It was what he kept telling himself as he hit the ball with the pool stick. The fact she didn't even bother telling him her name was of no concern anymore. It might be a little harder finding her again but with her look and personality, he was sure he’ll find out who she was in no time. He shouldn’t think of that. He should focus on winning. Even if it was her turn now. Would it be considered cheating if he accidentally bumped against her elbow as she took her shot?

[Lucy James]

When he finished his turn, Lucy leaned forward and placed the pool stick in position. She managed to hit one of the balls with the white, but it didn't go in. Instead, it crashed against the other balls and sent one of Akeem's tumbling into the hole. Issuing a low chuckle from between her clenched teeth, Lucy shook her head. Her shoulders slumped lightly before she turned towards the boy with a quirked brow.

"If I didn't know any better," she began, the corner of her lips tugging upwards into something of a smirk. "I'd say you were cheating, but," she paused, a hand coming up to pull her curls away from her face. "I can't say I can give myself that much credit." After all, she could easily enough own up to not being quite as talented as she might have pretended to be.

It wasn't like she could hide it much longer. Just her last two rounds had been proof enough that there was a high risk she'd actually lose this. Then again, seeing as how the two of them would end up with the same prize in the end anyways, did it really matter? "Your turn," she said.