Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Mmm, sacrilicious..."

Username: 
Password:    
Remember Me
  • Create Account
  • IJ Login
  • OpenID Login
Search by : 
  • View
    • Create Account
    • IJ Login
    • OpenID Login
  • Journal
    • Post
    • Edit Entries
    • Customize Journal
    • Comment Settings
    • Recent Comments
    • Manage Tags
  • Account
    • Manage Account
    • Viewing Options
    • Manage Profile
    • Manage Notifications
    • Manage Pictures
    • Manage Schools
    • Account Status
  • Friends
    • Edit Friends
    • Edit Custom Groups
    • Friends Filter
    • Nudge Friends
    • Invite
    • Create RSS Feed
  • Asylums
    • Post
    • Asylum Invitations
    • Manage Asylums
    • Create Asylum
  • Site
    • Support
    • Upgrade Account
    • FAQs
    • Search By Location
    • Search By Interest
    • Search Randomly

Kimberly Corman hearts nerds ([info]cheatingdeath) wrote in [info]vas_captio_rpg,
@ 2009-12-09 12:25:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Day Thirty, afternoon
Who: Kimberly Corman, Connor Temple, and eventually Andy Gallagher and Elliot Reid
What: Gettin' some grub
When: Day 30, afternoon
Where: The Gym
Rating: PG-13?
Status: Active


This would be the first time Kimberly was willingly leaving the safe haven she and Connor had created in the library. Kimberly was anxious with worry. The fact that the last time she'd left, while it was through no control of her own, she and Connor had ended up in tanks, fighting for their lives and she'd lost the war was enough to deter her. It was cold as hell and Kimberly was freezing just thinking about leaving the barely-there warmth of their Safe Room just to venture into the main room again, never mind outside. But, Connor said there was food and Kimberly hadn't eaten in days. The one day she'd actually had food, the interaction between she, Connor, and Spencer had made her lose her appetite. By the time she'd gotten it back, it was too late.

Wrapping her arms around herself, Kimberly hung back from the door. "I really hope that the thrift store you keep talking about is on the way from here to the gym...I'm gonna freeze," she murmured quietly. Her heart was racing with that familiar panic of knowing she was about to do something that might end up being her last something. Hypothermia. Frost bite. Pneumonia. God she was so screwed...

"What would I have to do to get you to leave me here and bring things back to me?" she asked pathetically, giving him a weak, sheepish smile that said she was only half-joking. By the time Connor managed to bring anything back, even if it had been the theater instead, it would've been ice cold and barely worth eating, anyway, she figured.

There was really no getting out of going with Connor and she did want to spend more time with him. She just kept looking back at the clothes Connor was wearing - with perhaps a touch of jealousy or envy in her eyes - and wishing she'd been taken from someplace other than her bed. Tank top and pajama pants in the winter. Totally unfair.

(Post a new comment)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-09 07:00 pm UTC (link)
Connor looked her over with a sympathetic expression on his face. She looked completely miserable and here he was going to go dragging her around outside. In their room, they typically kept the door shut unless they were coming or going. Or, rather, if he was coming or going. Kimberly left rarely, and he didn't really blame her. Between being nearly frozen and the whole Death following her thing, he was pretty sure he'd stay put, too. It didn't exactly keep the room toasty warm, but it was at least good for blocking out the chill.

But he'd promised to protect her, and he had every intention of it. Especially after fearing he'd lost her only hours before. Connor leaned back against the door with his hands in his pockets. Ah, it was good to have pockets. No wonder she kept looking at him like that, he was practically the enemy at that point. "Tell you what," he offered, sounding as if he was about to make a huge deal with her. Which he kind of was. "I'll run over to the thrift store, pick out a couple of sweaters, you're small, most anything will fit you, and bring them back over. Then we'll hopefully find you something warm at the gym--I know I've heard there was tea and coffee and maybe one of these bleeding idiots was smart enough to have soup there, too." She could go by and pick out something nicer when she'd had a chance to warm up. Granted, visually, he enjoyed the tank top--no, no, he needed to remember to think only the most gentlemanly of thoughts. Or else listen to Andy and go in for the kill, and he had a feeling he wouldn't pull that one off well at all.

Besides, going by the thrift shop quickly would at least give him the chance to check and see if Tonks had made it out of there or if he needed to help her. If he did, it'd mean an additional trip or two, but then so be it. He wasn't going to let either of his friends suffer for any reason that he could prevent. "I doubt I'm going to find the height of fashion for you, but it should at least be comfortable enough."

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]cheatingdeath
2009-12-09 07:14 pm UTC (link)
Connor stuffed his hands in his pockets as he leaned against the door and Kimberly frowned. Lucky fuck, she thought miserably. She wondered if somewhere in his mind he was even considering or debating lending her one of his many layers. Her brow furrowed just slightly as she considered the fact that it might not even have crossed his mind. Men.

Though, he drove a hard bargain. Or not, because really, for Kimberly it was perfect. He'd get her something warm to wear and she'd get a chance to crack open the Wizard of Oz. Win-win situation, as far as she could tell. "Okay," she agreed easily enough, hugging herself tighter. "You're not gonna be really long, are you?" she asked and then, thinking of how clingy she probably sounded, she barreled on, "it's just I'm getting hungry and I'd really hate to brave the cold alone and try to find the gym by myself before I get that so-hungry-I-feel-like-I'm-gonna-puke sensation and all."

She gave him a sheepish smile and wrinkled her nose at his next statement. "I've never been that big into fashion," she replied. Well, except her coat. God, she missed her coat. Not only did it keep her warm but it was totally cute. Even without the belt that she'd hidden from herself, that coat was cute. "I'm just cold and I don't care."

A small grin spread over her lips and she decided to test Connor's shock factor. In a way, she was also trying to remember a fallen friend. Kimberly sank herself firmly into Shaina's shoes - "Condoms, whips, chains..."; "Can we go pick up the guys? I'm getting horny!"; "Whatever, your dad's cool." - and crossed her arms just under her chest. "Besides, they start to hurt, you know? After a while being like that," she said, nodding down at her chest. It wasn't a lie, actually; she was feeling a little sensitive there. "I mean Christ, I could cut diamonds," she added and, for a split second, it was almost as if she could visualize Shaina's impressed and amused expression; hear Dano's mocked moan of pleasure, and see Frankie's eyes practically bug out of his head. She cocked her eyebrows and moved her arms back up to cover her chest as she gauged Connor's expression and then rolled her eyes playfully and shook her head. "Just go, but don't take forever, basically," she laughed.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-09 07:37 pm UTC (link)
The look of compassion he'd been wearing as she went on about being hungry and cold and all slowly faded from his face. All that sat in its place was pure embarrassment, which deepened further as his eyes inevitably drifted to the area in question. Connor forced them back on Kimberly's pretty face, but he knew it'd taken too long. She had to have seen him staring. Well, it was her own fault, really, for bringing it up in the first place!

"I wouldn't know," he said with a hard swallow, moving his gaze to the wall behind her, the bookshelves nearby, anywhere but at what the cold was doing to her beneath that flimsy tank top. "Can't say I've ever had that problem," he added with an awkward little laugh. Oh, God, he was so pathetic. Stephen would have a field day if he heard about this, to say nothing of Andy. "Uh...why don't you um...go back in the room. When I open the door it's just going to get colder."

His face gave away his embarrassment more than anything else. Connor's cheeks and neck flushed bright red. But a playful little smirk crossed his face as he forced himself to add, "Not that I'm not enjoying the diamond cutting, but I don't think it's good for you to be that cold." Yeah. He was a moron.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]cheatingdeath
2009-12-09 07:52 pm UTC (link)
Kimberly's grin broadened as she caught Connor's eyes moving downward. Once he'd looked back up again, she forced a straight face and raised her eyebrows suspiciously at him, though her burning cheeks and ears probably gave away the facade. God, how did Shaina do that without feeling completely ridiculous? she found herself wondering. If there was anything after the blackness of Death and Shaina had been able to see, Kimberly knew her friend would be laughing her ass off at the two of them standing there now.

"Lucky you," she teased. Kimberly did have to admit that having the upper hand was kind of nice. Connor's awkwardness only served to make Kimberly feel a bit better; maybe he really did like her. "Yeah, you're probably not wrong," she agreed, taking a few steps back toward the office door. She stopped, though, and looked duly impressed as he went on.

The smirk on his face took her off guard almost as much as the next statement and her face burned red as she tucked her hair behind one ear, making a conscious effort to hug herself tighter - and keep her chest covered - with the other arm. "Probably not," she agreed with an airy laugh. She turned from him and pulled the office door open, closing her eyes and mentally chastising herself with an Oh, my God, Kimberly, seriously?! before looking over her shoulder at him again. "You're kinda cute when you're being a smart ass, you know that?" she asked coyly before cocking her eyebrows once at him and slipping back into the office. "I'll be waiting," she called out as she closed the door.

As soon as it was closed, she leaned up against it, letting her head drop back against the wood. "So not you," she told herself, rolling her eyes. "You suck at this..."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-09 08:13 pm UTC (link)
They were officially a pair of idiots. She was blushing, he was blushing, they were pathetic. But it did make Connor feel about a million times better that she couldn't voice these sorts of things without a slight blush. He remembered Abby trying to teach him how to talk to girls and wondered just how ashamed she'd be of him just then. He wouldn't blame her, that was for sure.

The second the door closed behind her, he banged his head against the door to the outside. Had he actually just said that? Sure, Kimberly had practically egged it on, but that didn't mean he was supposed to rise to the challenge. Oh, hell, the puns about 'rising to the challenge' were too many to even go there. He could actually feel Abby smacking him in the back of the head and Sarah falling out of her desk chair. He knew better than to talk about women like that. Honest, he did. Well. Sort of.

It was just a good thing Kimberly had shut the door before he'd had the chance to call back to her what he'd been thinking. You're kinda cute all the time. Not only was it a lame line, but Connor was already pretty sure he was in deep water. He had to get out of there and into the cold air and fast. It was probably the only thing that would save him from doing something beyond stupid.

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]cheatingdeath
2009-12-09 08:21 pm UTC (link)
Kimberly had waited a few moments to see if Connor would reply or follow her into the office and she admittedly deflated a little when he did neither. But, to be fair, she had asked him to hurry. So, when she heard the outside door open and close, Kimberly decided that was that and she would have to find something to do in the meantime.

She thought about how simultaneously proud and ashamed of her Shaina would be and how impressed Dano and Frankie would've been. She picked up the Wizard of Oz book Connor had brought in that morning and opened it to read, only her mind went elsewhere. There was talk of a resistance in the journal. She'd offered to join the fight. Kimberly wasn't really sure if those people really thought they were going to be able to get out of this place, but if they did and Kimberly left, she wondered if she'd ever see Connor again. He wasn't the sort of guy she'd have talked to under other circumstances, really. It wasn't that he wasn't her type, but really, he wasn't. He was thin and he looked nothing like the type of guy Kimberly normally dated. Connor was awkward and nerdy and nice. He was a pleasant change to the monotony of Kimberly's very minimal love life back home, though, and if she left and never saw him again, she thought to herself that that would really be a shame.

At some point, she really had gotten back to reading the Wizard of Oz. She couldn't remember where she'd left off before nodding off with her head against the wall and the book open and face down in her lap. The last thing she remembered was thinking to herself, please...no more nightmares, and then she had dozed off.

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-09 09:04 pm UTC (link)
Connor wasn't sure exactly how long he'd been gone, but he felt a bit like a hunter returning to the cave with his sought after goods. Granted his goods included two bulky sweaters, a long jacket, and what had probably been a bedspread before age had rendered it just plain ugly. No live animals to be found, not even the meat from them. But that was that cheeseburger Andy was saving him.

When Connor popped his head in the door of the saferoom, he had to smile at the picture Kimberly made, curled up on the floor with the book in her lap. Covering her with the quilt-type thing, he knelt beside her and lightly kissed her forehead, waking her as gently as he could. She needed the sleep, he knew, but she needed food in her stomach, too. To be honest, Connor was worried about her, but he wouldn't voice it. Spunky girls like her tended to tell him off for things like that.

"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty," he murmured quietly in her ear. "The not so handsome prince has arrived to whisk you off to the castle of food."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]cheatingdeath
2009-12-09 09:20 pm UTC (link)
Kimberly's eyes fluttered open slowly at the feel of Connor's lips on her forehead and his whispering in her ear. "Well, send him away; I'd rather go with you," she murmured back sleepily, smiling weakly as she looked up at him. She realized at that point, that she had a blanket on and her smile widened a little. "Thanks, Connor," she said softly, lifting her arms out from under the blanket to stretch as she yawned.

Carefully and slowly, Kimberly got to her feet and looked overa t her new...friend? Wow, she wasn't quite sure what Connor was, when she thought about it. He hadn't been kidding when he said that he wouldn't be able to hook her up with high fashion, because the sweaters were quite honestly pretty horrendous, but she appreciated them all the same and they'd keep her warm enough, she supposed, to steal away for some food. That thought in mind, Kimberly held out a hand for one of the sweaters. "I'm starving; bring it," she said with a grin.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-09 11:10 pm UTC (link)
Connor offered her a sweater, the slightly less disgusting looking of the two. He was still beaming slightly from Kimberly's remark about him not necessarily being the not so handsome prince. Of course, she could always mean he was just the not so handsome peasant, but alas. He wouldn't be able to tell that for sure without asking and he wasn't about to keep digging his hole deeper.

"It's not too far," he pointed out, waiting until she was wearing the sweater before handing her the jacket, too. As cold as she'd been, she could use the extra layers. He kept the extra sweater for himself, but he'd found he didn't really need it out there. Maybe that night when it got colder, but not just then. The weather was like a nice winter day or a bad spring one back home, and he supposed he could deal with it.

Connor made sure she was well covered before opening the door to their room and heading to the front. "Will that do? Need anything else before we head out? I feel like I'm getting you ready for a trek across the country, not across the town. City? Village, maybe. I feel a bit like we're in some medieval village some days."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]cheatingdeath
2009-12-09 11:30 pm UTC (link)
Pulling the sweater on over her head, Kimberly tried to brush her hair back and made a face. It was, as she'd said in the journal, matted from the cholorine and the knots didn't afford her a lot of movement. With a sigh, she gave up to avoid the pain of tangles and looked back at Connor.

"Cool," she said, taking the jacket and also putting it on. Already, she felt much warmer as she pulled the jacket closer around herself. "Thanks again, Connor," she repeated with a genuine smile. She still kind of felt like a slob for heading out to meet other people in her pajama pants, but maybe they'd have jeans in the thrift shop she could look for another time. When she wasn't feeling that annoying tell-tale rumble in her stomach.

Giving Connor another small smile and chewing her bottom lip as she did, Kimberly nodded. "I'm good. I feel like you are, too, sorry," she laughed. "You're awesome, you know that? Let's go get some freakin' food. You done good," she added, tugging on the coat a little and leaning her head against his shoulder. She was warmer, yeah, but she'd been so cold before that she could still use the extra warmth of Connor's body heat. "Lead on," she finished, turning her head slightly to look up at him.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-10 12:47 am UTC (link)
Considering the bad seventies clothing everyone who'd raided the thrift store was running around in, Kimberly honestly didn't look that bad in pajama pants. It didn't hurt that she was small and cute, but in this place, more people were concerned with how they were going to survive till the next day, never mind what everyone else was wearing. Of course, Connor was the wrong bloke to ask. He sort of thought she'd even look cute wearing a plastic garbage bag.

When Kimberly's head met his shoulder, he slipped his arm instinctively around her. If he were to be honest with himself, he liked the feeling of it. But he didn't really want to admit it, even if somehow that morning they'd slipped into something...different. Not a couple, but not exactly just friends, either. But that wasn't enough to make him push her away...or risk saying something completely stupid in front of her. Connor walked the majority of the way to the gym in silence, one arm snugly around Kimberly and the other tucked in his pocket.

He pulled open the door to the gym, breathing in the all too familiar scent. "You've never been in here, have you?" he asked, taking in their surroundings. The clinic was still set up in the corner, the sleeping areas scattered around the edges, and a line up of food worthy of a good London buffet graced the middle of the court. "I couldn't tell you the last time I saw that much food."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]cheatingdeath
2009-12-10 01:03 am UTC (link)
The feel of Connor's arm around her reminded Kimberly vaguely of Thomas and she felt a pang of guilt and sadness when she thought about him. It wasn't that Thomas was her boyfriend, or anything, really...but they had had sort of an unspoken understanding. She had supposed at the time, and still, actually, that it had everything to do with the fact that they'd had to watch each other's backs on a daily basis for what had seemed like forever. As much as she loved being with Connor, every minute she spent relying on him felt like a betrayal to Thomas. She tried very hard not to think about it anymore, once they'd arrived and he'd pulled open the door.

Immediately, Kimberly was overcome with the aroma of the most delicious kind. Food. Lots of it. Shaking her head slightly as she lifted it off his shoulder, Kimberly's eyes scanned the people nervously first before landing on the giant buffet. "No..." she breathed, distracted. Her stomach growled and she stepped away from Connor, wetting her lips. "I can't tell you the last time I saw that much food and I just got here a couple days ago," she pointed out with an airy laugh.

Kimberly tore her eyes away from the food to look over at Connor again. "So...what? Do we just dig in or...?" she asked, shifting her weight awkwardly from one foot to the other. While Kimberly was famished, she didn't want to look like a pig or anything. "Is there, like, somewhere we can go...away from people or something? I mean...God, I sound so anti-social and clingy and that's not it, I swear," she mumbled. "It's just...I get nervous." Actually, if she was honest with herself, she was more nervous about the food than the people. Salmonella, Food Poisoning, E. Coli, Mad Cow's Disease...there were more ways than Kimberly even wanted to think about that food could actually make her worse off than she already was, especially food that just appeared out of nowhere apparently a gift from the people who'd put them into this Hell. It didn't seem terribly trustworthy to her, no matter what the one guy on the journal had said.

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-10 01:30 am UTC (link)
Connor gave a little shrug, glancing around. It looked like a few of their fellow residents were already diving in, having been there longer than the pair of them had. Which made sense, given him making her take a nap and then taking forever to get back to her with the clothes. But there was still more than enough for the others. A sad little part of him wondered if maybe there was someone magically refilling the food, but that was crazy.

Well. Not that crazy, considering he was friends with two witches. But pretty crazy considering the people who ran the place typically preferred to starve them to death.

"I've got a friend who should be here," he said, looking around for Andy. "Boy owes me a cheeseburger, he'd better not have bailed on me." His smile was playful, though, and only grew wider when he saw Andy Gallagher in the corner munching away. Brilliant. "Oi, you already eat half the food over here?" he called, laughing despite himself. Taking Kimberly's hand in his own, he led her over, but not before giving it a reassuring squeeze. As long as she was with him, he wouldn't let a thing happen to her.

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-10 01:43 am UTC (link)
It hadn't taken long for the smell of food to waft out to Andy's van as he got dressed to meet Elliot and it had taken even less time for him to haul himself out into the cold to walk the few yards into the gym. He'd checked in with Elliot, gotten her something to eat so that she could tend to the injured man - Ianto? Was that it? He'd met the guy once, but he couldn't remember... - and then had wasted no more time digging in, himself. He hadn't had a square meal in probably six months - he figured Taco Bell and McDonalds didn't count - so Andy tried to tell himself that it would be a good idea to take it slow so he didn't end going all bulimic by the end of the day. Unfortunately, the cheeseburgers, pizza, wings, shit the whole table full, was too tempting.

He'd set aside a few burgers for Connor if only because Andy suspected if he didn't, they'd be gone before his friend would drag his awkward ass into the gym. After that, Andy indulged the hell out of himself. He wasn't sure how much time had gone by between the time he'd started eating and the time he heard Connor's voice - before this place, he'd have thought it was the accent that made it distinct, but it seemed like half the residents here were sporting the same or similar versions of accent, making it less exotic. Andy looked up...and pulled a face, impressed. "Sup Stegs?" he called back, eyeing the girl with his friend. Shit, Connor hadn't been kidding...she was pretty hot. He found himself mentally pitting the petite brunette against Tonks and trying to figure out who was hotter. It was a really tough call, in the end, but Andy went with Tonks, because the pink hair was punk chic and sexy as hell.

Getting to his feet, Andy stretched and gestured toward the cheeseburgers. "As promised," he said sincerely and then in feigned hurt he added, "where's my flowers and chocolates, bitch? That really hurts, man," he teased. "Hey," he added, nodding toward the girl with Connor. "Andy," he introduced himself.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-10 02:15 am UTC (link)
Connor noticed the look Andy was giving Kimberly. On the one hand, he was proud that the pretty girl who was the center of his friend's attention was on his arm. On the other hand, didn't it break some sort of guy code for him to not be checking out a girl Connor had obviously shown interest in? He guessed he shouldn't complain. At least that meant Andy had given approval, even if Connor didn't really need it.

"I never promised you flowers," Connor pointed out with a grin. "Serenading, yes. Chocolates, sure. But no flowers." Though a part of him did wonder if he could still make little paper flowers. That would be an interesting touch, wouldn't it? In this place, who knew if there were actual flowers growing. "So pick a tune. We could always reenact our journal wide Bohemian Rhapsody? Kimberly didn't have the joy of being around then."

Giving her hand another squeeze, Connor nodded to the beautiful woman standing at his side. The look on his face flat out said he adored Kimberly. "This is Kimberly, my roommate." That was a good word for her. It's what he had told Stephen and it was worth sticking to. She was more than a friend, not quite a girlfriend, but they definitely shared a place. Of course, he'd realize later that Andy's brain would probably take 'roommate' to mean they were shagging, but he'd fight that later. "Kimberly, this is my friend Andy. Ignore ninety-eight percent of what he says."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]cheatingdeath
2009-12-10 02:34 am UTC (link)
Kimberly stiffened slightly as Connor took her hand and started toward someone after she'd specifically asked if there was somewhere they could go to be by themselves. Maybe he hadn't heard her or maybe it was in spite of her request. But, then, the man stood up and started toward them and suddenly all she could think was that he smelled just like Dano and Frankie and that felt like home. She relaxed. The nickname the other guy had used for Connor wasn't missed, but she'd ask Connor about it later, if she remembered.

The way the new man had been looking at her hadn't been under a failure to notice by Kimberly either and she gave Connor's hand a squeeze, scooting closer to him. She listened in confused amusement at their back and forth and then the other man introduced himself as Andy just before Connor introduced her. She gave Andy a nod and a smile and looked back up at Connor, raising her eyebrows when he'd said she should ignore ninety-eight percent of what Andy said. "Oh?" she asked, smirking. "Should I be jealous, by the way?" she teased in reference to the mens' playful exchange.

Kimberly looked between the two of them and then over at the food again. For a moment, she paused, and then she looked up at Connor. "Um...so, I'm still hungry," she pointed out. "So, I'm gonna go eat and let you guys catch up," she offered. With another pause, she gave a weak wave to Andy and another squeeze of Connor's hand before stepping away and taking a deep breath to steel herself for going at lunch by herself for the time being.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-10 03:24 am UTC (link)
In fairness, Connor felt badly, dragging her around when she was obviously scared. But he was so determined nothing would happen to her that he felt sure she needed to get out and meet people. Andy seemed a safe place to start, too, as Connor knew how afraid Andy was about hurting and getting hurt, whether he'd admit it out loud or not. His connection to Luna had proven that, at least to Connor. And as much as he hated to say it, Kimberly needed her share of friends around there that weren't him, people she could lean on if...well. In that hell hole they all lived in, no one knew what each day brought. She'd woken up alone the day before, and he'd been separated from her, like it or not. What if they made that happen long term? Or what if the worst happened? He wouldn't be able to sleep easily until he knew at the very least his friends were hers and she had people on her side.

Winking, he grinned a little when she asked if she should be jealous. That flicker of 'what would Andy do?' ran through his head, and he pushed it away. What Andy would do was be himself. Win or lose. Even if Connor was very used to losing. "I had no idea you were so interested in Andy already," he teased Kimberly, releasing her hand as she stepped away.

He watched her go, feeling relatively confident she'd be alright. After all, he was only a few feet away, and the gym seemed relatively safe in comparison to some other locations. He just had to stay on his guard was all. When she was safely over to the food, he turned to Andy, shooting him a grin before grabbing the offered burger. His look was nearly bashful as he took his first bite. "Damn, was starting to think I'd never get one of those again," he said, though he knew that wouldn't be the end of it. Andy was bound to ask questions or something. But at least he didn't start it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-10 03:35 am UTC (link)
Andy watched Connor with interest when he replied to Kimberly's joke. He was also watching the way that Kimberly had shrunk against Connor; the way she squeezed his hand before she walked away. Either she was terrified of him for no reason that he could think of - because, shit, Stegs didn't know about his mind thing, so some chick he was shacking up with likely wouldn't - or she was into the guy. "Not to be a heartbreaker, but..." he started regretfully, resting a hand on Connor's shoulder, "I don't swing your way, bro," he teased, giving the other man's shoulder a squeeze before stepping back. He tipped his head slightly to the side and watched Kimberly retreat, looking impressed before looking back at Connor with raised eyebrows.

It seemed that Connor thought he was going to get away with tucking into that burger and not having to explain the sudden confidence that was making Andy so very proud of his friend. Not, of course, that Andy would ever tell Stegs that. "Not bad, Stegs, I gotta tell ya," he said quietly, sitting down again and picking up his plate. "Not too bad at all," he added with a grin, nodding in Kimberly's direction subtly.

There was a short pause before Andy opened his mouth and asked the inevitable. "When'd you grow a set, anyway? Where the hell was I? I didn't get the memo," he joked, taking a bite of a slice of pizza and trying to ignore the fact that it was reminding him of the Ninja Turtles for no real reason at all other than the fact that Connor reminded him of the Ninja Turtles and Michaelangelo had been the one obsessed with pizza. "Seriously though? Way to bag a hottie," he said in a low voice, giving Connor a nod with an expression that read only of the highest respect for his friend.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-10 03:46 am UTC (link)
Rolling his eyes, Connor shrugged, chewing for a little while before he answered. Not because he needed to think. Hell, he knew Kimberly was gorgeous. And actually seemed into him. But really, it was just fun to make Andy wonder. Besides which, he really was just grateful to have real food. He'd eat one of everything if he weren't all but certain he'd be sick as a dog later.

Finally, he glanced up at Andy, the smirk on his face impossible to miss. He hoped he didn't look smug, because he wasn't, honestly. Yeah, there was a chance Kimberly might actually like him. After all, he'd kissed her and she hadn't run screaming. Or slapped him, which he figured was a plus. But there was just as good a chance she'd find someone she liked better or she'd decide he was better as 'just a friend'. God knew Connor had heard that one enough.

So he just smiled at Andy and shook his head when he swallowed. "Don't know what you're talking about. She needed a place to stay, I found one, never left. We're just friends." Friends who'd kissed a time or two. Was that what happened when you nearly died with someone? He was pretty sure being chased by velociraptors counted as nearly dying, and he and Abby hadn't kissed afterward. Why were girls so complicated. "Remember, I'm not you. I'm not out to bag anyone."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-10 03:59 am UTC (link)
"Whatever man," Andy laughed, shaking his head. "I know that face. I make that face all the time," he added. The smirk was a dead giveaway. Whatever Connor said, he was into the girl and if he had the cajones to go for it, Andy would be silently rooting him on from the sideline. Dude seriously needed to get laid, Andy thought, because no way had he gotten any lately, based on the way he talked about girls. It'd help the guy unwind, Andy thought, because it worked well enough for Andy himself.

Surely Andy wasn't the only dude using sex to distract from the horrors of this place. Why shouldn't his buddy, too? Not that he'd readily admit it, but he thought maybe if he knew Stegs was banging some chick, too, then he wouldn't feel like such a dick every time he let Elliot's body make him forget. It wasn't like that was all Elliot was for, of course, because he cared a hell of a lot about her, but really...it did help him forget and he was forever feeling badly about that, whether or not he'd ever say it out loud.

Smirking, Andy took another bite of pizza and shook his head again, putting one hand on his chest and looking scandalized. "That really hurts, bro," he said after swallowing the bite. "That gets me right here. Is that what you think I'm all about?" The scandalized expression melted into a grin. "It's not all I'm about, anyway," he corrected. He wasn't going to say it right now, all things considered, but really all he wanted to say to Connor just then was that he was pretty sure they were all going to die in this place and so they might as well make the best of it if they could. That was what it was really about.

"Anyway, whatever floats your boat. She all right, though? I don't mean this disrespectfully, but she's kinda clingy. What's the deal with you guys? Is that her being her or you guys being whatever you really are that you don't wanna tell me about because apparently our friendship and my hunger for something interesting to talk about besides near-death experiences mean absolutely nothing to you?" he said, amusement ringing in the end of his question to let the other man know he was kidding about that part.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-10 04:25 am UTC (link)
Connor would never admit the truth to Andy unless asked outright, and he probably wouldn't even then, or at least he'd try to edge around it as best as he could. Shagging Kimberly was one of the last things on his mind. Oh, sure, he'd wondered a time or two. But for one, he wasn't as sure as Andy was that they were all going to die there, and if they didn't, he'd have to go back and look Abby in the eye and either tell her or pretend nothing had happened. And he wasn't sure he was ready for that. But there was also the fact that Connor truly had no idea what he was doing. And he sure as hell didn't have the guts to ask for advice when he couldn't make himself tell anyone that whoever he slept with 'next' would be the first.

So instead of bringing it up, he just shrugged again, polishing off the burger a hell of a lot faster than he probably should have. It was going to hurt like hell later, but he wasn't turning down food while it was actually in plain site. "She is clingy," Connor agreed, looking up to keep an eye on Kimmy. She seemed to be doing okay, no random lights were threatening to fall on her, so he turned back to Andy. "She had a lot going on back home before she got here. I don't think it'll mess with her now, but she's still scared." That was all he was going to say about it. It was Kimberly's story to tell if she chose to. "And honestly, mate, there really is nothing to tell. Well..." Oh, what the hell. "I did kind of kiss her this morning though. Nothing major," Connor rushed on quickly, "but it was definitely kissing."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-10 04:55 am UTC (link)
If Andy hadn't downed as much food as he already had in the short time span that it had been since the time he started eating and the time Connor and his new...friend...had shown up, he would've been duly impressed and admiringly disgusted by Connor's ability to wolf down the burger in what seemed like maybe record time. He said nothing about it, though. It was surprising to him that Connor admitted that the girl was clingy but at least now Andy didn't feel like a jerk for having said so first. "I know the feeling," he admitted, thinking of the shitstorm that had blown in between the time he'd met the Winchesters and the time he'd shown up in this place that morning a month ago with Luna.

Connor had said there was nothing to tell and Andy opened his mouth to playfully chide his friend when Connor went on and mentioned that there'd been a kiss. It took a lot of willpower and mental reminders of how fucking gay he'd sound if he started asking for details about something that simple to keep from doing just that, but Andy kept it to himself. Instead, he smirked at the way Connor tried to backpedal and downplay it. "Hey, man...look, I know I give you a lot of shit, but you know I'm just fuckin' with you, right? If you ever wanted me to chill, you could say and I would," he said seriously. It occurred to him as he said that, that maybe the reason Connor had tried to downplay it was because he thought Andy'd just rip on him. Which, well, he normally would've because that's how Andy rolled. It was just that, as Andy thought about it, he thought maybe he and Connor didn't know one another well enough for Andy to assume that his friend knew he was just messing around and he didn't ever actually mean to make the other man feel like he had to skirt around things to keep from being made fun of. Andy knew that feeling a little more well than he'd ever, ever admit to anyone here.

"In other, less fagtastic news, nice work, bro. I'm gonna go ahead and assume you made the move because it's way cooler if it was you and not her. You don't have to tell me...in fact, if I'm wrong, don't correct me," he joked. He took another bite of his pizza, taking it down to the crust.

"You know what I think?" he asked, his words garbled from talking while he was chewing - because, really, it was Stegs; who cared? - "I think the tides have changed in here, my friend. I think the hotties are flocking to the not-so-buff, not-so-gorgeous guys in here all of a sudden. I've kinda noticed this trend. ...I started noticing after a couple of the big, Tiger Beat cover model lookin' guys bit the dust. Like my buddy's brother...like that dude with the claws. I can't quite put the pieces together and figure out why or whether the things are related or whether we're just lucky fucks...but if it's all tied together, it makes me wonder...whether really we're not that lucky, in the long run," he said in a low voice meant just for Connor. "Stegs, in the real world, could you bag a hottie like her?" he asked, shaking his head. "Because I fucking know in the real world someone that looked like Luna wouldn't have even talked to me and someone that looked like Elliot...forget it. Maybe I'm just in paranoia mode, but it kinda freaks me out a little, I'm not gonna lie," he admitted.

Then, he paused and looked away, watching as Elliot moved away from that one guy's cot and over toward Connor's new eye candy before looking back at Connor. "Sorry for the morbid. I'm not really in a great headspace right now, man, I'm off my game the past couple of days."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-10 05:19 am UTC (link)
That was so very much not what Connor wanted to hear. Because really, Andy was only confirming what Connor already knew. He had no business being with a girl like Kimberly. She was beautiful, smart, and other than the little issue of Death being on her arse all the time, she seemed one of the cooler types who hung around with people about a dozen steps up the social ladder from him. Even Abby had her geek moments, and she was one of the more fit girls he knew. Sarah was a complete nerd, if he thought about it, and even Jenny, though older women weren't his thing, could be considered a little geeky. Kimberly didn't come off that way. Which meant if he hadn't worked so hard to save her life, he wouldn't have stood a chance.

He'd been considering more food, but at that moment, his stomach was churning. "It's like that girl I asked out at University. She said she wouldn't go out with me unless I were the last man on Earth. Well...I guess this is sort of the same thing, isn't it?" Though it was strained, he laughed anyway. "There's still guys here better than me, though. She could up and choose one of them at any time." This time, his laugh was a little more pained. "I probably shouldn't even be bringing her out in public if I'm even somewhat interested in her. One look at my friend Stephen and it's probably over from there."

No, Connor didn't have faith in himself. He'd be the first to admit that. And while he'd be hurt, if Kimberly did choose someone else, she wouldn't be the first and he wouldn't begrudge her of that. But he did hesitate for a second. "I think... Well, maybe it's kind of like meeting people online, or in a club. You wouldn't talk to them at a pub or on the street or anything, but since you're stuck together and get to talking... Maybe it goes past looks at that point."

And maybe he was thirteen and being told by his mother that someday, women would love him for his brain and not his look. Right, Mum. Connor still had no faith in that.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-10 05:34 am UTC (link)
Knitting his brow, Andy shook his head. "Nah man, that's not what I mean," he said slowly. "And don't do that, dude, that's not why I said it. What I mean is...the caste system is shifting. Former misfits at the top. Why?" he asked, finally looking back at Connor. "You think I'm this fuckin' suave son of a bitch because I make you think that; not because I am. And someone like Elliot would never give a shit about me, but she does. I know she does. She might not be in love with me or anything and shit, she might never be, but she cares. I can see it in her eyes sometimes when she worries about me. And that girl of yours, Kimberly? You don't just hang on somebody like that if you don't have some kind of interest in them. The way you say it, it sounds like they're using us and I don't think that's it at all."

Andy paused and looked back at Elliot. He thought of Dean and of Logan. He drummed his fingers on his knee and thought about them some more, especially the former. Dean had practically had a harem in this place, but it was all smoke and mirrors, except for Lexie. He thought of the way he'd seen Kimberly call Connor 'Hero' in the journal. "Shit..." he breathed and then let out a huff of laughter, looking back at Connor. "Shit, they want their own personal heroes; they don't wanna share." He paused and held up one finger as he tried to formulate his words.

"Did you ever notice how the studly dudes always have to play the hero and make sure everybody knows it?" he asked, dragging out the word 'everybody.' "Us little guys? They're always surprised when we do it. We're less arrogant. We do it because we care about them, not because we need to stroke our own egos, ho-ly motherfuckin' shit, Stegs, the chicks in this place finally see what the underdogs have known forever," he laughed. Previous thoughts of the women being their downfall floated away. "The geeks and the stoners are the cool kids now...because, dude, in a place where all the heroes come out to flaunt their feathers and compare war stories to verbally copulate and/or fight it out to see who's the biggest bad ass, the girls see it for what it is and chicks don't like that shit. Go figure, it's good to be a loser," he finished, smirking.

With that, he looked back at Elliot and Kimberly. "If it makes you feel any better," Andy started, backtracking to further identify with his friend, "I had a girl say that to me once, too. Back in high school. Well...she said she wouldn't go out with me even if I was the last guy on Earth, so I guess that makes you cooler than me," he said, looking back at Connor and grinning. "Take good care of her and she'll stick around. Start acting like you're God's gift to women and she'll move on. That's it. That's why the change in the status."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-10 04:22 pm UTC (link)
Connor listened, not interrupting. There was an amused smile on his face as he grabbed the second burger Andy had set aside for him. "You've been reading some weird books, haven't you?" he teased. Not as if his own choices of reading material wasn't different unique. But that wouldn't be as fun. "Either that or you've switched from weed to crack. No idea where you're getting that from in this place!"

Chewing up the burger, he considered. "I always heard that's how it was going to work when we all matured. They'd come to appreciate guys as people who will actually be with them long term and take care of them." He liked that idea, really. Taking care of someone was new for him. He was used to being the one who people had to save or protect, hence even now Stephen worried over him. But now, Connor had people who leaned on him, or at least wanted to share responsibilities with him.

"I think I'm okay playing the hero," he reasoned. "But it's pressure, too. I mean, don't you ever hear about something that's going on around here and feel guilty? Like... I dunno. Like you should've stopped it even though you had no control?" He had asked Chris how he dealt with the pressure, and even a true and honest angel wasn't sure how to handle it from day to day.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-10 05:41 pm UTC (link)
Shrugging, Andy got back to his meal, already feeling his stomach protest, but considering the fact that it was probably the last decent meal he'd have in a while. "I've always been philosophical when I get high," he replied casually. Andy knew he was in the minority of pot smokers when it came down to that. Most of his stoner buddies back in the day were the types that spent all their time giggling like idiots or staring at walls; Andy, on the other hand, had been pondering the meaning of life.

"See, that's what I'm saying. Maybe being in a place like this separates the people who are too busy showing off their Alpha Male bravado from the people who actually care about the people they're affecting. Whatever, I know what I mean," he laughed. Andy wasn't quite sure how to word it, but to him it all made sense. Finishing off the crust of his pizza, he looked back at Connor. "The short of it, really, is that I think it's not so bad being freaks and geeks in this place. And I think maybe that chick likes you more than someone like you is probably willing to allow yourself to believe. Like I said, you think I'm all suave and shit because I put that forth but for all the times I've given you shit about just going for it, I've second guessed myself when it comes to my own situation."

Connor's sentiment hit home and Andy looked down, nodding. "Yeah believe me, I do." He thought, then, of Luna again; of Martha. People he'd wanted to help and could do nothing for. "The worst part is, I could totally stop everything bad that's going on here, if I could just meet someone in the management," he sighed. Explaining that would be difficult enough that he regretted having said it, but it was out there in any case and he shrugged again. "So anyway, other than the near-death yesterday, how've you been since last I saw ya? I hate losing contact with people in this place, because I never know if I'll hear from them again, but my head's been all over the place. Psychologically, I've had a really rough couple of weeks," he reasoned, "not that that's an excuse for losing touch with people, but that's...my excuse," he huffed with a weak smile.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-13 12:08 am UTC (link)
As much as Connor wished he had a clue what Andy was talking about...he didn't. Because to him, no situation ever would put him in a situation more likely to, quote unquote, win the girl. Maybe it was because he'd been burned too many times, or maybe it was letting himself fall for Caroline when she'd been so bad for him or maybe he just didn't have as much faith in himself as Andy seemed to. Regardless, Connor simply couldn't grasp how the little guys, the nerds, the dorks, the stoners, the freaks could finally be what girls wanted. Not when there were blokes that looked like Stephen and Chris running around.

He didn't get a lot of time to dwell on it, though. Soon enough, Andy was switching the subject to Connor's comment about wanting to help people and being helpless to do so. And then there was that comment about just needing a member of the management in order to change everything. Either Andy thought he had some brilliant people skills and could talk them down, or he was another of Connor's friends with a special ability. And Connor wasn't completely sure he wanted to think that. For the man who'd once believed Superman was based on a real story, so many people with skills he'd only dreamed of being not only real but in his presence daily should've been awesome. Instead, it was a bit much to take in. But Andy didn't volunteer any more information, and Connor didn't push for it. Yet. It'd come in time, he had no doubt about that. He was too inquisitive in nature to simply let a comment like that slide. But the last few years working for the ARC had taught him there was a time and a place for everything. And this wasn't it.

So instead, he could do nothing but focus on the last question. "Well, you know as much as I do," Connor said with a quiet little laugh. Another worried glance was shot in Kimberly's direction, but she seemed to have settled into a conversation with a good-looking blond. "Isn't that your girl?" he asked, nodding in her direction. "Anyway, the last couple of days I've mostly been taking are of Kimberly when I can, setting us up a place to crash, nearly suffocating, and oh, yeah, now I'm here." With a laid back shrug, Connor got to his feet. Andy's pizza had looked far too good. "Not exactly Eastenders here."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-13 08:00 pm UTC (link)
When Connor said nothing and asked no questions in reference to his comment, Andy felt a bit less of an ass for having said it. Maybe it hadn't really sunk in. Maybe Connor hadn't even really heard it. Or, maybe Connor just thought that was more of Andy's self-affirmed bravado at work. In any case, what was important was that Connor didn't bring it up or push the subject. So, when Connor moved on, Andy relaxed.

"Fair enough," he replied with a sympathetic frown. He saw the way that Connor looked over at Kimberly and Andy looked over, too, by reflex. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Well, she's not actually my girl, but yeah, that's Elliot," he replied in a quiet, fond voice. The smile faded slightly and he looked back at Connor. "She's had it harder than I did the past couple of days," he added unnecessarily.

His eyebrows raised slightly. "Eastenders?" he asked. "Sorry, my America's showin', bro," he laughed, having the grace to look sheepish for not having any clue what his friend was talking about. "But yeah, I get you on the whole 'this place sucks ass' thing. Sorry you nearly died, though; that's pretty much worse off than my thing. Probably not a whole lot better off emotionally than you, but that's some scary shit," he sympathized.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-14 01:40 am UTC (link)
Connor gave an awkward little laugh and ducked his head with a shrug. "Sometimes I forget we don't all have the same programs. We get so many of yours back home... Yeah. Anyway, it's a show my ex-girlfriend Caroline used to watch. Well, I don't know, maybe she still does, but I don't talk to her anymore so I wouldn't exactly know, would I?" He was rambling again. If he didn't get a curb on that, he was going to get kicked around by someone. In fact, he was pretty sure a few times, Stephen had considered slipping into the flat and smothering him in his sleep. And sadly, he wasn't sure he'd blame him.

He watched Kimberly a moment longer, caught that tight smile of hers, and gave a reassuring nod in her direction. Elliott... He'd seen her around, talked to her in the journals. If Kimberly was in danger from anyone in this place, Elliott wasn't the one. Connor wasn't worried about her. Not at that exact moment, at least. "She's cute," he commented, then looked away quickly. Even saying it felt like some form of betrayal to Kimberly. He was still allowed to look at other women, right? It was only a kiss.

"Anyway," Connor rushed on, shooting Andy a grin, "what did you get tormented with in the end? Mine wasn't so bad, really. Okay, it sucked. Watching Kimberly drown was pretty fucking traumatic, but aside from that, it was good, really. What'd they get you with? Severed heads? Bring back someone from your olden days?" Olden days? What was he, ninety? Or Lester? Good God.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-14 01:54 am UTC (link)
Nodding both his understanding and complete lackthereof, Andy pulled a face. "Good point. This is the part where I'm probably supposed to say some shit like 'you're better off without her' or whatever, but I've fairly recently learned that exes aren't always the bad guys, so I'll refrain," he replied. "Apparently it's just a show across the pond, though; I've never heard of it," he went on, "although, then again, I haven't had a television in, like, two or three years or something..." he finished with an impish grin.

"Right?!" Andy asked enthusiastically when Connor commented that Elliot was cute. "She's fuckin' bangin' actually," he corrected. Elliot was definitely a ten so far as Andy could tell. He was willing to give Kimberly a nine on the scale, but he wasn't going to mention that to Connor. "Your girl's cute, too," he settled with, instead.

The grin on Andy's face faded when Connor asked what had happened. On top of the fact that listening to Connor talk about having to watch Kimberly die reminded him of finding Luna's body in the blood room - not to mention opened his mind to unwanted visualizations of watching Elliot tortured - it forced Andy back into the reality of what he was feeling about that particular day. Which was, of course, to say...confused. Part of him - a larger part, to be fair - was relieved. There was, however, a small part of him that felt disappointed. He was so distracted by his thoughts on the subject that he hadn't noticed Connor's wording and subsequent mental - perhaps visual on his expression - backpedalling.

"Elliot was pregnant," he said in a low, dull voice, staring down at the floor as he said it. "She was freaking out. Sick, moody, baby bump; the whole thing. She was convinced it was mine under accelerated pregnancy because of the way this place just is and I started to think maybe she wasn't wrong. ...and then they dragged me off without getting to say goodbye to her and left me locked up in a cell with Doc Lex - hello, awkward; I'm Andy - to think about it for a day and a half. Kinda fucked up," he muttered the last bit. He looked up at Connor and cocked his eyebrows once before looking down again. "Thus my defensiveness about the whole two-headed, razor-teeth babies thing."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-14 02:51 am UTC (link)
Despite the pathetically somber tone of their conversation, Connor at least gave a small smile. He had to. Andy had called Kimberly cute. He was wrong, of course and Connor knew it. Kimberly was incredible. And the thing was, she was a lot more than looks. She had such a quick mind and a good heart. So why did he still feel guilty watching her the way he was? Definitely not Caroline. Abby. And he knew it.

So instead of dwelling on the girls in question, he tuned his thoughts into what Andy was telling him. The fact that Elliott had actually shown the symptoms was even more horrifying to Connor than what they'd done to the pair psychologically. Every time Connor thought he might stand a chance at grasping the technology these people were using, they pulled something else that baffled him entirely. How could they make such physical effects on someone's body without it being some sort of permanent issue?

Rubbing his temples, Connor shook his head, thoroughly confused. "I'm telling you... You wonder why I think sex in this place is a bad idea? There. Right there." What the hell. What the freaking hell? That shouldn't even be possible, but they had. "And she's fine now," he added, nodding his head towards the blond. "Doesn't look pregnant at all."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-14 03:10 am UTC (link)
Andy gave Connor a look that read, I am not amused, Stegs, loud and clear. The last thing that Andy needed right then was a lecture on what a bad idea it was to do the one thing that he'd probably never get to do again, now, anyway. Like Elliot was going to still be interested in fucking in the back of the van after that, condoms from the pharmacy or not. "News flash, Stegs: chicks can get pregnant when you have sex with them in the real world, as well," he deadpanned just to point out to Connor how irritating that comment in particular was to him at that moment.

But when Connor nodded back to Elliot, Andy looked back at her and felt that proverbial punch in the gut all over again. If she'd stayed pregnant, then even when they got out, she'd have reason to keep him around. Now, just like before, she wouldn't. "She says she's not pregnant anymore. I'm trying to talk Doc Lex into talking Elliot into testing without actually mentioning the pregnancy thing. It makes me antsy not knowing for sure, you know?" he asked. "Not that, like, it'd be the end of the world if she was... I'd just prefer not to be blindsided by it again is all," he clarified. Then, he paused and looked back at Connor, the expression on his face - unbeknownst to him - that deer in headlights look. "I mean, you know, it'd suck for her to be pregnant here, I don't mean it'd be a good thing, mind. But, like, I'd rather know so I can make sure I'm taking extra care. You know? Like not letting her lift stuff and going out into the woods and trying to hunt for food or pick apples or something," he rambled. "Whatever, I figure she's probably right that she isn't pregnant, really, but...I'd just...rather know one way or the other, instead of thinking."

There was a short, awkward pause and then Andy opened his mouth to speak again. "So anyway, if you're so against sex in this place, what if ol' girl decides it's a good distraction? The way Elliot did? Or what if she suddenly finds you overwhelmingly irresistable?" he asked, only half-joking as he thought of the way Elliot had been acting when the Management had released the gases or pheromones or whatever they'd put into the air to make Elliot into a ragingly horny sex addict of some kind. Not that he'd minded at the time - or even now just reminiscing - of course. He looked back at Kimberly for a moment and then lolled his head slightly to look back at Connor, eyebrows raised. "You gonna turn her down? Because I'd pay to see you try," he replied sincerely.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-14 04:02 am UTC (link)
Connor was trying to laugh off the whole conversation. Because, in fairness, it sucked. Andy would be miserable if now, Elliott refused to let him touch her. Connor was miserable at the fact that they were talking this in depth about sex at all. And the girls were likely miserable because they knew the guys were talking about them. Really, it sucked all around. "Yeah, case you forgot, I'm the genius, I happen to know how human biology works, I was pretty much aware people could get pregnant on the other side." Yeah, it probably sounded a little smug, but it was basically Connor's cover. He had to have something to not make this sound like hell on earth, which for him it sort of was. "But I'm pretty sure they won't be mutated into evil creatures beyond our control back home." All he needed to do was stick his tongue out at Andy to complete the picture.

"But," he continued, trying to make his voice more reassuring than it had been, "I'm pretty sure she's still allowed to do most of the things she already does if she's pregnant. And you'll know soon enough. There's probably not a lot you can do about it right now, anyway. I mean, even if Lexie were to test her, she wouldn't have a lot to work with, not with the stuff they have here." And that right there was quite enough talk about the female anatomy, even if they hadn't gone into much detail. He was just going to move on and pretend he hadn't said a word.

Well. He would, but then there was that other question Andy had blurted out. Oh, hell. Would he? "I don't know, mate," he answered honestly, finding his eyes drifting, almost involuntarily, in Kimberly's direction. Was he attracted to her? Obviously. Had he liked snogging her? Well, clearly. But would he go that last step? It was so much to ask, so much pressure... But damn, would he actually be able to say no? "I really don't know. I... I think I'd try to. Maybe. It'd depend on the situation, I think." Like if he were upfront with her and she didn't get freaked out by the idea and things were hot and heavy and God, who was he kidding? They'd kissed twice, there was hardly any reason to be considering sex.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-14 04:28 am UTC (link)
In spite of the fact that Andy could tell Connor was trying to lighten the situation, he'd only made things worse. Andy stiffened and set his jaw at Connor's comment about mutated babies turning into evil creatures. His brows cocked once in defiance and he said nothing. If Elliot was lying to him or was wrong when she thought she was in the clear again, then Connor was insulting Andy's eventual offspring. Not cool, bro, he found himself thinking. "Sarcasm, Stegs, let me introduce you to it," he said, instead, in response to the first point Connor had made.

"And I know she's allowed, but she's malnourished just like the rest of us, so don't you think doing normal every day physical stuff would be that much more exhausting to her and, therefore, bad for the baby, if there was one? Just saying, man," he replied defiantly, tapping one finger on his temple. "Yeah, I'm aware of the lack of resources. Like I said, bro, I had a day and a half to mull it over and try to figure out how I was going to make this shit work if my meeting up with her hadn't been a figment of my imagination or a rendez-vous with some clone of her or something," he added, frowning.

Right, this conversation was going really badly and Andy didn't want to want to punch Connor in the face, but he was getting there. So when Connor seemed a bit taken off guard by his question, it was Andy's turn to feel smug. He watched Connor look over at Kimberly and Andy leaned back against the bleachers. And then Connor said he'd actually try to turn the girl down if she wanted to jump his bones and Andy's smug grin fell askew into a stupified expression. Are you secretly a fag and I'm talking to a wall right now? he wondered as he stared back at his friend. "Wow. If you can say no to that," he said, nodding toward Kimberly, "then I don't know if I should give you more or less credit than I already do, bro. Because I wouldn't be able to, if it was me." He paused and looked back at Connor, studying his face. ...and the smug grin returned. "You're totally picturing her naked right now, aren't you?" he laughed. Whether or not his friend had been doing just that, Andy didn't know, but he could almost see the cogs turning in Connor's head and if he hadn't been thinking about it before, Andy had just planted the seed. Good times.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-14 04:40 am UTC (link)
Connor was honestly tempted to just get up and leave, and maybe he should have done just that. Andy was obviously pissed, and in fairness, he didn't mean to be an arse about it. But he did make some fair points. There was no way to tell for sure if Elliott was really pregnant in this hell hole until she started showing for real. And even then, who knew if it wasn't just another trick being played on them? And as badly as Connor would feel if something was wrong with the baby when it came out, he didn't deny that it could happen. In this place? They could do or create anything and no one was able to stop them.

But then his mind had been yanked into another direction. "I already have," Connor admitted in a weak, pathetic little voice that had to clue Andy in to how completely uncomfortable Connor was. "When she got here, she was just wearing one of those little tank tops and flimsy pajama pants and... Mate, you'd have thought it, too, come on." Bundled up in a weird looking jacket and a rather hideous sweater actually helped make Kimberly less of a hormone magnet. Never mind that the pants still clung to her legs and to be honest, Kimberly had really great legs.

Swallowing hard, he shrugged his shoulders and turned away to meet Andy's gaze. "I'm not saying it's impossible or anything," he said carefully, trying not to trip over his tongue which would have been falling out of his mouth if this were one of those old Merry Melodies cartoons and he was Pepe Le Pew and Kimberly were the black cat with the paint. "I just think...that it's better to get to know someone first. To genuinely care for them." And to not have them be your first when you were in a near death scenario with them, but Connor kept that part to himself. Obviously. Some things even Leonardo didn't tell Michaelangelo.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-14 04:55 am UTC (link)
After all the talk of being able to say no to a gorgeous girl, Andy was taken by surprise once again when Connor admitted having already pictured Kimberly sans clothing. Though, he nodded in agreement with Connor; a get up like the one that his friend described sounded like it left little to the imagination. ...and then Andy's eyes got a far off look to them and he was picturing Elliot in the same outfit. In a pillow fight. With Kimberly.

Shaking his head, Andy looked back at Connor. "Hey, man, I can't even keep track of how many chicks in this place I've pictured naked anymore, so I'm sure as shit not gonna fault you for doing it to one," he laughed, holding his hands up defensively. His grin faded slightly when Connor went on with his ideals. "Yeah, I used to feel that way, too," he admitted, sounding a little nostalgic for those days when he'd held out waiting for Tracy to be ready at the same time he was. The chase had been fun, but by the time the two of them had finally done the deed, it had been perfect. In fact, in retrospect, Andy felt a little badly about not affording Elliot the same opportunity.

Letting out a sigh, Andy stretched his arms over his head and slumped slightly. He groaned and rested a hand lazily on his stomach. "Ugh, when did we start having deep conversation? What ever happened to coloring dinosaurs, playing tag, and fighting the evil Shredder?" he joked.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-14 05:07 am UTC (link)
Connor laughed under his breath, shaking his head. "Unfortunately, we grew up. Literally. In one damn day. That was cheap. I would've been cool with another few days of it." Being a little kid made things easier. No responsibilities. Just run around the gym like crazy and hope to hell Rose didn't let him get himself killed. How many times had he tried? Even at six, Chris had been lecturing him to be more careful. But he didn't know consequences of actions at only six. He didn't know how easy it was for people to die. And even now that he did, most of the time he still threw caution to the wind and did as he wanted.

"Course," he added playfully, "if I were still six, I wouldn't have met her in the first place. She needed someone who knew the place to look out for her. Even the Ninja Turtles couldn't have done it at six years old. They needed more time with Splinter first." Much better. Andy wasn't the only one who wasn't exactly enjoying the tone of serious conversation. Connor was never the type to sit back and enjoy a serious conversation, not one so personal. He could discuss the bone structure of an iguanadon for hours, but not his own personal life.

When he finally glanced back up, he gave a grin. "Seriously, don't worry about it. This place is probably just fucking with all of our heads. They're good at that." That last bit was added with a roll of his eyes. He was so over this place and the idiots running it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-14 06:20 am UTC (link)
A weak smile tugged at the corners of Andy's mouth. Wasn't that shit the truth? If he'd still be in the childlike mindset when he woke up the next day, he'd have been pretty thoroughly traumatized, he'd wager. "Yeah, no kidding. I wouldn't have hated it. Shit, Elliot gave me a chocolate bar for breakfast and I actually had other Ninja Turtles to play with for a change. You know how friggen lame it is to play that shit solo?" he asked, raising his eyebrows and smirking slightly.

To Connor's added remark, Andy huffed a laugh and gave a facial shrug. "Hey, if I'd stayed six longer, Elliot might've had a heart attack. I think she felt kinda creepy, all things considered, when I was a kid," he said, trying to get in the amusing jab at the conversation he'd had with Elliot the day he'd gone back to normal without giving too much away and embarrassing her unnecessarily.

Feeling the need for some closure on the sex conversation, Andy sat up a little straighter. "One last thing and I'll leave it at that," he prefaced. "You're gonna find out that in this place, Stegs, you get close to people fast. And you'll also see how easy it is to fall into the illusion that you're in love with someone you barely know. So, if you're planning on waiting until it's someone you care about...be careful that you don't blur the lines between that and the illusion; it's very easy here," he warned sincerely. "And that said," he went on, stretching his arms over his head again and dropping them back to his sides, "I need to mellow. I'm gonna head back into the van and fire up Moby Dick. I'm gonna go ahead and assume you're not into that, but if you wanna come with, you're more than welcome," he offered.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]leconnortemple
2009-12-15 03:22 am UTC (link)
Connor had to laugh along, really, remembering being six in this stupid place. What did he care back then whether they were in a life or death scenario? The management hadn't harmed the kids, other than put them in scary new places with people they didn't know. They'd played, had fun, been carefree, and ate all the junkfood they could manage. As far as Connor had been concerned, it was close to perfect. Maybe Andy had been shagging a girl who suddenly thought she was a pedo, but Connor hadn't. Hell, he'd only been there one day when he and Chris found themselves in the gym, waking up as strangers all over again. He'd have been perfectly content to stay that little. No stress, no pressure.

But another glance in Kimberly's direction brought a smile to his face. Which right there told him that being six would've been boring after a while. After all, at six, girls had cooties. Everyone knew that.

A part of him was tempted to tag along after Andy. Connor had never been a drug doer, despite what the young punk appearance might lead some to think. He was a thinker, and had always valued a clear mind. Which was the reason he smiled and shook his head. He needed a clear mind in this place, especially if he was being entrusted with protecting Kimberly. "No thanks, mate," he answered with a shrug. "There's still pizza I haven't touched and I'm sure I could drown myself in mashed potatoes and gravy before the night ends." Getting to his feet, he nodded towards the table but gave Andy a grin. "Seriously, though. Be careful out there. This? Probably the calm before the storm. You know. Again."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]brain_ninja
2009-12-16 04:24 am UTC (link)
Nodding, Andy had figured that Connor would decline his offer. Andy hadn't specified whether he was asking for company or a smoking buddy, so it was only fair for Connor to assume, he thought, based on what he had said. "Fair enough," he replied. "If you change your mind, I'm only parked outside. Promise not to peer pressure you to join in," he only half-joking. There was never any intention on Andy's end to push his recreational habits on others around him, but he didn't hate company when he was stoned. Or anytime, really.

Connor stood and Andy watched him nod toward the table with a grin before the more serious sentiment he imparted. "Yeah, you're talking to someone who's been here for what seems like a year. Believe me I know about calm before the storm. The earthquake was the best example, I think. Right before it, the day was beautiful, everybody was chill. Shit, Sam and I were goofing off earlier the day before and it was like..." his voice trailed off and he shrugged. He'd nearly forgotten about the Asian guy hanging from the clocktower like Lily until just then. "Anyway, yeah, I know," he said. "You too."

At that, Andy got to his feet as well, gave Elliot a nod toward the door to let her know where he was going to be once he caught her eye, and started away from the bleachers. Giving Connor a clap on the shoulder as he went, he tipped his chin at his friend. "You know where to find me, man," he said as a departing offer before heading toward the door and out of the building.

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]cheatingdeath
2009-12-10 05:07 am UTC (link)
Kimberly walked down the buffet table slowly, picking out things that interested her and pausing in front of things that normally wouldn't have, trying to decide if now was a good time to give them a chance. She could feel Connor's eyes on her and she wondered if it was because he wanted to be looking at her or because he felt like he had to. Or, for that matter, if it wasn't Connor's eyes at all that she felt. Kimberly had that feeling a lot these days. That she was being watched. It was unsettling in the best of circumstances, and Kimberly was not in the best of circumstances; not by a long shot.

Looking over her shoulder, she caught Connor looking over at her briefly and then putting his attention back on his friend and so she discounted it and went on down the buffet line until she'd reached the end of the table. Then, she made her way over to a corner of the gym as far away from the rest of the people milling around in it as possible. Normally, Kimberly wasn't a drinker, but the beer had called to her. Maybe Connor dragging her over to that Andy guy when he knew she wanted for them to be alone was his way of trying to gently tell her that she needed to get out more; meet other people. Maybe it was his way of trying to tell her that he needed a break from playing babysitter and he didn't want to feel badly about doing so.

So, she sat alone and drank and ate and hoped that the food would strengthen her body while the alcohol would strengthen her will. As she sat, she looked around the room at the people walking, sitting, and standing around. None of them seemed like threats, but then one never really knew what it would take for someone to snap. Moving her eyes away from the people, Kimberly surreptitiously studied her surroundings for signs of danger. It was so reflexive that she found herself surprised that she hadn't done so sooner, but there it was; it might've had to do with Connor's friend and Kimberly's self-consciousness reminding her that she didn't need everything thinking she was as crazy as the chick from the woods and King had thought she was. Andy was one of Connor's friends. It behooved her to put forth a good first impression. She thought maybe she had with Chris and he was a friend of Connor's. That guy Stephen, from the journal, seemed nice and he was a friend of Connor's too. So maybe Connor's friends were safe and she should just chill out and let them think she was normal.

That being said, now that she was alone, she was surveying the ceiling for cracks; the floor for upraised nails. Kimberly scanned the bleachers for loose screws and shifted uncomfortably at the sight of every single one of those things. She took a deep breath and forced herself not to focus on any of it, trying to enjoy her food and silently hoping like hell there was nothing wrong with it.

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]frickonastick
2009-12-11 05:28 am UTC (link)
Elliot had kept herself busy for as long as she could. Ianto was a good patient and after she'd stitched him up she couldn't really find many excuses to keep herself busy in respect to his injuries. Under normal circumstances she got the impression that he was a really nice guy and easy to talk to, something that was only strengthened by the number of people who asked after his health, but these were not normal circumstances and she thought it would be selfish to force her friendship on him when he was obviously trying to get over a harrowing event.

Rose was sitting with him now and Elliot had gone over the clinic close to three times and had gone through and rearranged the food so that it was easier to get to the more nutritious items. It may have come across as a little OCD, but if Elliot was honest with herself, that was the point. She needed any little bit of control that she could get at the moment.

Andy had come in and fixed her a plate of food earlier and she hadn't had the heart to tell him, after the thoughtful gesture, that she wasn't really hungry. She'd eaten the food and then made one last round only to find that Andy was involved in a conversation with another guy. Feeling a little relieved she moved towards the back of the gym, planning on ducking into the office that she'd found the first aid pamphlets in and doing some mind numbing alphabetizing. She caught sight of a girl sitting on her own in the furthest corner of the gym and paused. While she wouldn't have minded burying herself in some mindless task, the girl looked lonely and Elliot suddenly found herself thinking of Kim. She hadn't seen her in days and days and the thought that she was gone made Elliot's stomach drop.

"Hey," she said, stopping a few feet away from her. "Are you new here?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]cheatingdeath
2009-12-12 03:00 am UTC (link)
Kimberly was doing a mental inventory of all the things it would take to make this room a safe place to be. The screws in the bleachers would have to be tightened. Nails in the floor pounded in properly. The ceiling would have to be repaired, the clinic cleaned up, the floor swept and the basketball hoops discarded entirely. The food would have to be trashed by the end of the day and -

The sound of a female voice pulled Kimberly from her thoughts and she looked up quickly. "Huh? Oh, hey, hi. Yeah," she stumbled through her reply. Giving a small, uncomfortable smile, Kimberly shifted awkwardly in her seat. "I'm Kimberly. I got here a few days ago," she admitted. It was horribly intimidating having been snuck up on like that. Well, more accurately, being caught off guard like that. As she looked up at the blonde, Kimberly found herself sizing the other woman up. A little taller than Kimberly, but probably not stronger. The room was full of people; surely the other woman wouldn't hurt her with all those people watching. Though, even if she wanted to, Connor wouldn't let her, Kimberly was confident of that.

Don't be anti-social. Don't be anti-social...

"Do you want to sit?" she offered. It occurred to her just then, as she looked up at the other woman, that she looked a little bit like Shaina. Her heart sank and she found herself chewing her bottom lip. No braids, no shit-eating grin. Just a blonde woman who gave off a vibe of someone who could take care of herself and, in return, making Kimberly feel about two feet tall. Still, she took a deep breath and gave the other woman a small smile that was as inviting as she could manage, given her discomfort.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]frickonastick
2009-12-12 05:34 am UTC (link)
Elliot raised her eyebrows, not expecting for the girl's name to also be Kimberly. She wondered if that was some kind of sign. Some kind of a second chance. She knew she was probably reading way too much into things, but she couldn't help but feel guilty about losing track with Kim before.

"I'm Elliot," she said, giving her the best smile she could muster. "I've been here for..." She trailed off and shook her head. "Way too long."

She glanced towards the door to the office a few feet away and then down beside Kimberly, pressing her lips together and nodding. "Sure," she said, glancing over her shoulder and catching Andy's eye for a minute. She gave him a small smile and then turned back to Kimberly before moving to sit beside her.

"I guess they thought we'd need something to stomach eventually," Elliot said, nodding down at Kimberly's plate. "You know, besides terror and fear."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]cheatingdeath
2009-12-13 07:27 pm UTC (link)
Upon hearing the other woman's name, Kimberly's first instinct was to bite her tongue against asking, "isn't Elliot a boy's name?" Because, really, that would be rude. Besides, Kim could be a boy's name, couldn't it? Maybe not Kimberly, but still. She gave the other woman a small, sympathetic smile. "Nice to meet you. Too bad it was under said circumstances," she empathized.

The way Elliot looked after Kimberly had offered her a seat was not lost upon Kimberly. For a single, fleeting moment, Kimberly thought maybe she was off the hook and the other woman would politely decline and Kimberly could be her skittish, withdrawn self again without having to worry about putting up a front. It seemed like there was no one here she could really be herself around; not even Connor. She put on the biggest show for Connor, really, which wasn't entirely fair to him, but it was all she could do to keep from scaring him off completely. If he had any idea how really and truly wrecked she was on the inside, he'd run like hell, she thought.

She noticed, too, the way Elliot looked over to where Connor was sitting and she stiffened wondering whether the tall, pretty blonde was looking at Connor or Andy. Let it be Andy, she found herself thinking as her eyes followed Elliot's and she gave Connor a somewhat pained sort of smile that said, look: I'm trying. Only because you want me to, but I really am trying.

But she tore her eyes away from him and looked back at Elliot as she felt the other woman sit beside her on the bleachers. "Yeah, I guess..." she said softly, looking down at her plate and pushing a few things around with her fingers. "I read some stuff in that book that makes me think Connor and I weren't the only ones suffering the other day..." she murmured. "That really sucks, though. Is it always like that?" she asked, looking up at Elliot again with genuine, albeit nervous, curiosity. "Did you end up in the tanks, too? Or were you one of the people standing outside staring back at them with empty eyes?" She really and truly tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice. Whether or not she'd been successful, she had no idea.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]frickonastick
2009-12-30 05:32 am UTC (link)
"What happened to you?" Elliot heard herself asking before she could stop herself. It was rude for one thing, since she was pretty sure the girl in front of her didn't want to remember it. That might even be the reason why she was sitting so far away from the others, Elliot realized all too late.

She shook her head. "It's not always like that, but..." she hesitated not wanting to terrify the new comer but not wanting to sugar coat it either. "Sometimes it is," she amended. "People die here," she said quietly and seriously. "The tanks?" She asked looking up at her. "Was that you? I'm so sorry." She swallowed. "They put me in a glass cage with Tonks once and made us pass out on this gas. I thought I was dying."

She shuddered at the thought and crossed her arms protectively against her chest. "No tanks for me," she said, her eyes moving back towards Andy again. "They thought they'd get creative."

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Home | Site Map | Manage Account | TOS | Privacy | Support | FAQs