Still A Virgin?

[Quinn Wiley]

What Quinn liked most about Erin was that he didn’t feel forced to go out and socialize. His aunt was nice and all, but telling him to go play outside with the other boys so that they can all be friends was just wishful thinking. A guy like Quinn was meant to be bullied or at the very least ignored by the other boys, not to become their favorite playmate. Maybe it explained why most of his friends were girls. Although Quinn would say their common trait was more that they were all outcast or slightly weird. He probably was a boring friend to Erin, having little ideas as to what to do when hanging out with her. He certainly didn’t show her how much she had started to mean to him, being one of the only friends he’d had in forever. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her though. Because that would mean she’d know just how much she could hurt him by leaving. And that would make her leave. Because it was always what happened.

“Yeah, but your dad’s rich and can help you out if you’re in need. He’s got three boys to look out for too,” he pointed out as Erin said she was certain his uncle would get it and support him. “It’s not like he doesn’t want to support me. He just doesn’t want me to end up in debt or homeless because that’s not a secure job. At least not to him.” Quinn could have argued that no job was totally secured. So many were laid off without notice, without even expecting it. His dream career was as good as any other. But he also understood what the man meant. The world had less need for photographers than... whatever he would have wished Quinn chose as a career.

He startled as she hugged him. The attack was so sudden that he had to flinch at it. “I’ll try to remember that,” he replied after she thanked him. He personally wished not to end up in any life or death situation, whether she could help him out or not. This whole conversation could have taken a turn for the most awkward had they not got up to leave this place. Quinn was a tad curious about what the life as a private detective was like. “Trust me, when you’re shopping for clothes, you remember it pretty fast,” he told her. Sweaters and winter coats could get really hot really fast. At least he was not sweating too much. That would just be gross. “Yeah ok. Figure he’s not going to meet his lover in the middle of the day, right?” Plus seeing Erin,s place sort of interested him too.

[Erin Hackett]

If Erin had ever been a mind reader or better at reading people in general, she would have long since figured out why Quinn was always so...reserved and held back with making friends and even their own friendship still to this day. Yes, he had gotten a lot better but there were still moments where she could tell there was something holding back. If she knew what it was, she would have hit him and tell him just how stupid he was for thinking that she was ever going to leave him. She had made it clear in the past that they were best friends and that she didn't really plan on leaving him behind.

If anyone was going to be left behind, Erin always figured it would be Quinn leaving her behind once he got tired of dealing with someone like her. He had a valid point about her dad being wealthy...she was two and Quin's uncle did have his own boys to worry about. It was why she sat in silence for a moment. Her mind debating how she could counter that to try and still encourage her friend to follow his heart or something along those lines. "Do you want to be a Hackett? I already view you like a little brother and I'm sure my dad would be fine legally adopting you as his son. Then you would not have to worry about your Uncle supporting you but your dad in legal terms." Erin spoke up.

A part of her already felt like Quinn was going to give her a stupid look or poke holes into this idea. He tended to always have a needle ready to poke holes in her plan. This one was not really though out and kind of was the first thing that hit her mind, but it was an idea all the same. A good one in her books. If Quinn was her brother then maybe he would not feel so weird about getting things from her, her helping him out, him helping her out, and would get rid of this fear he had about being left behind. As for the hug, she felt him flinch, but didn't think much of it since she had a feeling she would startle him. She startled herself.

"Good." Erin responded simple when Quinn spoke of trying to remember that. She then waited a bit while he spoke of how it was easy to remember that he was not bothered by the cold when it was time to shop for clothing. It was odd to think of Quinn shopping for clothing, but it was weird for her to think of shopping for clothing as well. She ordered everything off line, but she supposed some could count that as shopping. "Right. So I'll show you the place, then we hang out until go time. Simple." Erin added with a nod. She had confident this was all going to go well either way.

((Tag: Quinn Wiley ))

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn did consider Erin to be his best friend. Perhaps his only real friend too. There were times when he might let it show but walls don’t break that easily. Just because you let someone in did not mean you wouldn’t end up hiding yourself in a corner and wait for them to leave at some point. Even if he very often felt comfortable enough around Erin to let her in, the defense mechanism needed more than just a bit of trust for him to drop it entirely. He likely never would. But she definitely got closer than anyone else. Had she not been gay, Quinn would have figured they would have tried to date by now. He could just see it, Erin hitting him behind the head for being so stupidly oblivious of what they were. But he luckily wouldn’t have to worry about not getting their relationship right.

Then again, he never figured about their relationship to really become that of siblings, even if it sometimes felt that way. “I doubt they’d let that happen,” he pointed out. He often felt left out but he knew it was more from his own decision than theirs. He decided to fight them from the start. “Plus I’m an adult, I don’t think I really need a father figure much.” He could also say he already felt like he owed Erin a lot and didn’t want to feel like he owed even more. He took a deep breath, exhaling it almost immediately in a heavy sigh. “You’re already giving me work. That’s kind of what I need right now.” That sure would make paying for his studies easier.

He nodded again at the plan. He turned around, mentally making sure he had everyone, grabbing what he might need, mostly his keys and his camera. He didn’t want to admit he was curious about her place. He was not sure what to expect. It would either be super neat and hi-tech or some geeky dungeon-like apartment, with action figures on shelves and empty cans and bags of chips all around. And probably a lot of hi-tech it in too. He couldn’t imagine her in any other kind of environment, unless she had a roommate. But he couldn't tell her that. So he just followed after her once he made sure everything was in order and he had all he needed.

[Erin Hackett]

Erin was silent for a moment at Quinn's first response to her. She still really didn't understand people, least of all when people didn't want to take something that was practically being handed to them on a silver plate. Well, there were always those kinds of people that either wanted to work for it or have it handed to them but it had to be what they wanted and not just anything. If that made sense. Either way, Erin didn't get why he would not want to be a Hackett with all the benefits that he should have been able to figure out just by Erin's life. "I mean...it's not like they could stop you. You are an adult." Erin pointed out first after she let her thoughts settle.

"Plus it’s not like you have to do it for a father figure. It would just be for the support. Money, family, connections, and all that jazz that you can't get with your relatives." Erin responded. Was she being heartless for thinking it was fine for him to just be done with them and go into a life that would make things so much easier for him? Erin was an only child after all and by this point she was making enough money to really not even need the help of her dad's money. 'Having' a second kid would not hurt, especially when that kid was grown and also could work and make money. Erin already considered Quinn like her younger brother, so she didn't think it would be weird at all.

She was indeed already giving him work and he could still have the job if he wanted it, he would just been a Hackett as well. Then she could get her business names 'The Hacketts' or something equally cheesy. "...the offer is there if you change your mind." Erin spoke up, leaving it at that since she was not going to force Quinn to be a part of her family. Once that was settled, they were heading out, and taking Erin's car which was simplistic and an important. The drive would not take too long before they were in town, passing by the fanciest hotel the area had to offer. Which was still pretty sub-par compared to the places that Erin had been in her life but this had been a simple small town years ago so she could not expect a whole lot.

"That’s the place. Room 507." Erin informed Quinn, not lingering around much longer and headed to her apartment, which again was simplistic on the outside. However, on the inside it was most certainly high tech, with various cameras set up around the rooms, a TV in each room, and a room that just had a tone of computer screens, monitors, and fans. "Make yourself comfortable." Erin said as she headed into her kitchen to get a soda.

((Tag: Quinn Wiley ))

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn looked at Erin. The way she was acting about this whole adopting thing made him wonder if she didn’t suggest it more for herself than his sake. She didn’t even ask her father, she sort of assumed this was possible and the only obstacle was Quinn’s stubbornness. She tried to sell it to him by assuring him money and connections. The more she talked, the more he felt like she was actually asking him to let her have a brother. “I can still have the connections by knowing you,” he pointed out. He could use her name as reference, if such a plug was useful to him. For once though, he felt like he shouldn’t argue too much with her. Shifting on his seat, he leaned a little closer t her. “You can still say I’m your brother from another mother.” Wouldn’t that be enough? Acting like they were siblings despite not really being blood-related? Even if Quinn wouldn’t mind the financial help, he’d feel like a leech, there only to get that. After all, her dad’s company didn’t interest him in the slightest. Even Erin’s job proposal was something he took only to get some money while he worked on his dream career.

The car offered no surprise to Quinn. At most did she get the comment “I figured you with some eco-friendly car. But I guess they’d stand out a little more than this one if you have to do stakeouts.” Quinn knew very little about cars so maybe it was more ‘eco-friendly’ than he first imagined, or had more technology to it than he believed. A car was a car. So long as it took you places without falling apart and didn’t cost too much in terms of fuel and repair, he was not asking more out of it. Well, for it not to be some weird color would be nice too, but that was just a bonus.

The place however... “Exactly what I pictured,” he let out with a nod as he entered and saw the room with all the computers screens. He was glad to see he at least sized her up right despite not having seen her for a little while. “Well, minus the mess. You’ve turned into a cleaning fairy while I was gone?” Or she had someone that came to clean. Had to be that.

[Erin Hackett]

Erin didn't fully know why she wanted Quinn to just be adopted by her family and to call it a day. Okay, she did know. Everything that she did had to have some benefit to her at the end of the day. If Quinn was her brother then that meant her dad would get to have a son, she would have someone else that she could talk to about family matters besides her dad, and it would make Quinn stop feeling so bad when she was helping him out with money or something. Perhaps if she told him she only helped him out and wanted to help him because it would benefit her later on. She was honestly that type of person; things had to help out her to some level and on the rare occasions they did not it normally was because the person in question was a female she had the hots for.

"Yeah...but it's not the same as having the last name Hackett, you would have to change your last name to mine." Erin pointed out. Yes, he had connections through her but his last name and family relationship would say it all on paper for him. He then got closer and whispered something that had her looking at him for a moment in silence. "Well...yeah I guess I could say that but I could say the same if you were my adopted brother." Erin pointed out. If he didn't want to be a part of her family, then that was his choice. She was giving up for the time being, but not forever. It was not like he would have to go into their line of work but his work would be helpful for her like it would now and for later when he had model friends. Beautiful, tall, and female model friends.

She could not help but to chuckle at Quinn's comment about how he figure she would be the type to drive a more eco-friendly car. "Honestly, as long as something works and achieves the job I need it to do, I don't care if its eco-friendly or not. I don't really care that much about the environment either." Erin responded. She didn't in terms of she just wanted good internet connection and electricity or whatever form of power that she could use to operate her tec. Once inside their place, she kind of half expected him to respond in such a way. "Yup, welcome to the Technology Kingdom. Home to L33t Hacker!" Erin declared before vanishing into the kitchen. She returned with a soda for herself and tossed another at Quinn before she flopped down on one of her couches.

She glared at him at his cleaning comment, before cracking her soda open. "I can be neat I'll have you know, it just depends on my mood. Plus I knew you say yes to my offer so I made sure to clean up before I went to get you." Erin responded, which was half a lie.

((Tag: Quinn Wiley))

[Quinn Wiley]

“Quinn Hackett?” There was clear disbelief in his voice as to how it sounded. At the same time, he realised that Quinn sounded a lot like Erin so he did not point it out. Quinn and Erin Hackett. They would sure sound like their ‘parents’ picked their names to rhyme together. Then again, his real name was Tarquin. Ugh, he didn’t want to think of that. Erin was still going on about having him as her little brother. “Why does it matter so much to you? It’s not like our relationship would be any different if we were siblings.” At least on his part, he didn’t think it would change anything. If she wanted to talk to him about things he didn’t want to hear, she could still do it. She didn't need to be his sister to let her see his photoshoots with hot models if that was what she was so concerned about. That girl was a bigger creep than he was.

“Really?” he said as she pointed out not caring about the environment much. Neither did he, if he thought about it. Oh, if he had a recycling bin nearby, he’d toss his paper in it but he was not going to spend two or three times the price of any other car just because it was the most eco-friendly thing you could get on the market nowadays.

Erin seemed pretty proud of her home. The technology Kingdom. That fit it well enough. “L33t hacker, is that your hacker name?” he asked, teasing her. “I was wondering, is it a real thing, the hacker card?” He was still sort of mocking her but he also wouldn’t mind if she answered truthfully. He never got it when people mentioned their hacker cards in video games and tv shows. Do hackers really have cards? You’d think they wanted to keep a low profile, since what they were doing wasn’t really legal.

He caught the bottle she tossed at him but waited a moment before opening it, in case the movement had the gas ready to blow the beverage out of the can the second he opened it. “You always end up having it your way in the end with me, don’t you?” he said as he finally opened the bottle and joined her on her couch.