Callum Nightingale. (polyglotism) wrote in invol_rpg, @ 2013-02-25 11:30:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! log, ! plot: vol of the flies, callum nightingale, libby ross |
WHO: Callie Nightingale and Will Ross.
WHAT: Callie wants the company of other New Zealanders.
WHEN: Saturday 23rd Feb (backdated)
WHERE: Callum's room
WARNINGS: none
STATUS: complete
Despite every accent sounding like a New Zealand accent to Callie she had decided that there was no substitute for a real accent, the ones her power made up in her head not feeling authentic enough to her. So she’d texted Libby, knowing she was a friend of Callum’s and a kiwi. The accent wouldn’t sound any different but Callie would know it was real and that would make all the difference. She’d taken to redecorating Callum’s room as she waited for Libby to show. Photos of famous landmarks, “must-see” places in the world adorned the walls on his side of the room, photographs being Callum’s souvenir, everything else being too expensive or a waste of space but Callie was carelessly ripping them down, instead replacing them with old pictures she’d printed off his facebook at the start of internet time. None of the pictures she’d printed off to remind her of home were ever really going to be good enough; there was Callum as a young teen, with their parents, at school rugby games, dressed up in ski gear, there was their family trip to New Caledonia, Callum’s first trip out of the country, there was Callum on his last visit back to New Zealand, meeting his baby sister for the first time, getting to hold her, all the family together, but there were none of her and she was the one who actually cared, who actually missed home. The expected knock finally came at her door, photographs abandoned for now as she moved to open it, smiling at the boy who she now realised she didn’t know the name of on the other side of the door. She couldn’t just call him Libby, she knew she wouldn’t appreciate being called Callum, but all his nicknames for her seemed fairly feminine too. “Hi, Hope,” she settled on eventually, deciding the name of her home town was least offensive, “I’m Callie.” "Will," he greeted, stepping into the room. It looked different to what Libby knew, he was aware of that much -- walls no longer coated in pictures of places and things, but now people. Pictures of home, pictures of the other half of the girl standing before him. Even if being 'Will' wasn't a huge adjustment, trying to piece together this scenario was. "You alright, then?" “Just felt like spending time with a semi-familiar face,” Callie answered, taking a seat on her desk chair, leaving the bed for Will to sit on if he wanted. Callum’s dislike for talking about real things about himself, things other than his travels and adventures, was still very present in Callie but instead of using that as a reason to not get too close to anyone Callie saw it as an opportunity to find people she trusted and wanted to talk to. Her family had been her first option, a letter already written and sent to them but she had had to pretend it was from Callum, not wanting to have to explain why some girl named Callie was suddenly claiming to be their daughter. Libby, Callie could remember from Callum’s conversations with her, had a normal reaction to being away from home and also missed her family. That along with her real accent and the fact that Callum already trusted her as much as he let himself trust people who he eventually planned on leaving, made her, or Will, the best candidate to talk to. Will didn't think twice as he claimed the bed and sprawled out comfortably, leaning against the wall and leaving his feet dangling off the edge. He smiled. "Semi-familiar is about right. I can't work out who's who anymore." Not that it mattered, since it seemed that half of IVI was still unaware as to Libby's identity. Callie smiled back, feeling more at home already. “Best to avoid most people, I think,”she responded, “Don’t want to accidentally flirt with male Moa or Laurel.” That could be awkward. Or amusing for her if it turned out male Moa liked her more than she’d liked Callum, but even with that possible amusement it was a situation she would rather avoid. She was grateful that Callum had only liked two girls here so far, reducing the number of potentially uncomfortable situations she could find herself in. "You can flirt with me instead," he offered, amused. "I still can't go to pub night so I'm guessing I won't be at too much risk for awkward scenarios." Well, unless he ran into female Ivan, though if that resulted in more snogging, he was hardly going to complain about it. Actually. There wasn't any run-ins with anyone of the opposite sex he would find overly awkward. Except maybe Kody. Was anyone aware of how old female Kody liked to be? That was a good question for the network, he noted to himself, planning to post when he had a moment to spare later tonight. “I think you’re a little young for me,” she replied honestly. Callum didn’t think about those types of things but Callie wasn’t interested in flirting with a seventeen year old boy. Maybe it was the change in gender, the age gap seeming weirder when it was the girl that was older, she was only twenty-one, she didn’t want to become a cougar yet, or maybe it was that she actually valued friendship more than Callum did. ”Anyway, we’re friends,” she added, “and I think I need friends more than I need a new boyfriend.” Pity Callum never seemed to agree. "Just kidding." Will pulled a pillow from Callum's bed and propped it behind his back, smiling to show that he wasn't bothered either way. "Dating in general is probably a bit hard here, anyway." It was one thing both Will and Libby agreed on, judging by her memories. "But friends are cool." Callie was in agreeance with Callum when it came to opinions on dating at IVI but she didn't feel the need to go into that with Will right now. "Anyway, what's Hope like?" She asked curiously. She knew it was a small town but it was hardly a must-see in New Zealand, let alone the world so Callum had never visited. "What do you miss most?" "About Hope? I don't know," he began, carefully considering his answer. "Not much in it, to be honest. Mostly I just miss being at home, you know? Hanging with my brothers, that sort of thing." “Are you close with your brothers?” A question Callum would never ask, knowing it made people think they could turn the questions around and ask about him too. “I know there’s not much in Hope, there’s a reason I’ve never bothered going.” "Yeah. Well, Scott more than Brian," Will returned and wondered how that would change if he was speaking as himself and not on Libby's behalf. Would he get along with his younger brother better than his older one? Would they be some sort of three musketeers made up of Ross boys? The questions in his mind gave him enough pause that he nearly forgot to turn it back to Callie. "You? You got siblings?" “Just one,” Callie answered. “But big age gap, not home much, we’re not close.” Though she wished they were and she knew not being able to see his sister grow up was what Callum regretted most about choosing travel over family. Just not enough to actually do anything about it. "Miss them?" “Of course,” Callie answered honestly, ”They’re family.” Though she had Callum’s memories and knew the ways he distanced himself from feeling like he missed his family she, in the short time she’d been able to experience things for herself, had been unable to do the same. Maybe it took practice. "Really?" Will was surprised -- probably because, according to Libby's memories, this was surprising information. She didn't seem to think that Callum missed his family and had branded him strange because of it. "That's normal, though. I bet most people who like their families miss home." “Yes, and actually visit,” Callie added, her disagreement with her male counterpart’s choices clear. Will snorted. "Visit, not pay for accommodation or food, do a little skiing. Sounds like a hard life." Callie laughed at that, shaking her head at how stupid Callum’s decisions sounded when Will put it that way. “Why do that when you can ski somewhere where you have to pay for everything and don’t see your family?” "Because it's not somewhere new?" Will ventured. Callie didn’t bother answering that, instead just rolling her eyes. New was not always better, even if Callum’s memories were fun, interesting memories to have. “From what I can gather,” she said instead, deciding it was time to change the subject. There was still only so much talking about herself, or Callum, she could take. “Callum and Libby like watching movies together. Want to try it?” Will wasn't entirely sure what was up with that, but since he couldn't go to pub night and had nothing else better to do with his time, he shrugged in acquiescence. "Sure. Maybe not that Inspector Rex thing though. I do not get why Libby likes it." |