Haunted House College AU

[worthallthis]

While the army is covering tuition, it doesn't cover living expenses, and temporary work on-campus is better than temporary work off-campus. So when the drama department managed to raise funds for a haunted house in one of the frat houses, James put on his best "I can kill you with my pinky" look, a shabby suit (shabby is really all he has, so, lucky), and his growing out hair loose around his face and "interviewed" for a spot as in-character for a creepy fucky as possible.

He had to refuse the first offer to be one of the ghosts inside. Dropping the character and donning a slightly sheepish smile, "Really not that keen on jumping out an' scaring people. Especially the ones that get punchy when they're scared." When the interviewer looked at his resume, saw his army tour (the whole "captured and tortured" thing isn't on there, but it doesn't have to be), she just nodded and stuck him at introductions and taking tickets. The pay isn't great, but it'll cover meals for a while.

So he shows up for opening night, gets his face done all pale with stage-make up and his suit a little spruced up with a very fancy shirt underneath from the costume department, and takes in the faces of the other people who'd been brought on.

Comments

[shadowsran]

"Browsing," she answers between bites of her own. "Not dead set on anything, but pieces to work into costumes are good. Sets are always a rip-off, easier to just pick and choose something. Werewolf stuff'd be nice, or like--" And she grins, expecting a laugh, "Pirate stuff. Everyone can make pirate stuff work."

[worthallthis]

"You," he says after finishing a bite, "would make an adorable pirate. I vote that." It'd be a waste to bury her under werewolf fur and make-up. But a pirate hat, shit braided into her hair, a nice coat and a rubber sword-- it'd be great.

[shadowsran]

No joke, which earns both relief and approval. "Think so? It's where I'm leaning, but it'll depend on whether or not I can find a shirt that works. I can work around pretty much any other part and hats are everywhere, but a not-cheap-looking one's pivotal." Truthfully, any and all jewelry and hair baubles are accounted for in her usual collection. Bigger items are tricky. "Something to pass out candy in when the time comes, something for parties. Halloween's only once a year, have to get out as much as I can."

[worthallthis]

"I think a lot of shirts could work, long as you have the coat right," James suggests. "And the hat. Your hair is already great."

He finishes off one piece of pizza, starts on a second. "You get a lot of kids at your place?"

[shadowsran]

"Thank you!" With effort, she manages not to preen. Good things to hear, and valuable costume advice to be taken into account. "Mhm. Couple of people have kids, so friends come, and two floors down there's an elementary teacher - you get at least the classful around. Incredibly cute, more fun when you've got a character for them too. And good for parties, when there's so many popping up."

Essential stuff, a good costume.

"Anything like that on your end?"

[worthallthis]

"This is my first Halloween in this city, so I don't know." He considers his neighborhood as he chows through his second piece. "Probably not, if I had to guess. Kinda dingy. Lots of studio apartments. There aren't a lot of kids over there."

[shadowsran]

"Aw-- sad. That's one of the best things about the holiday, I think. Gaggles of little kids showing off cool stuff, it's cute." He's speaking to a very proud upholder of full-bar tradition. Hurting, aching wallet be damned. "Any plans for the big day?"

[worthallthis]

"Not really. I don't have a lot of spare cash, and I can't do parties anymore." He shrugs, polishing off the pizza and grabbing a beer. Pretty much nothing left, or he'd be eating that, too. Beer will do to get him home.

[shadowsran]

Fair enough, on both counts.

"Just a night in, then? There ought to be something fun to treat yourself to, it's a holiday, we're all young." Get some indulgent living done while they can, and all. Some equivalent of fun ought to be had.

[worthallthis]

"Sure there is. Discount Halloween candy the next day." He shoots her a grin over the beer bottle. "And horror movies."

[shadowsran]

"Ahhh, a cultured guy, I see." She tilts her soda in solidarity. "Playing it smart, I respect that. Should check out discount costumes, be ready to bother neighbors with your enthusiasm next year. The world could do with more pirates running around, huh?" A nudge - too new a person to gauge costume type.

With that, some laborious pocket-digging begins. "And before I forget, hold on, your list--"

[worthallthis]

"Maybe," he says with a grin that doesn't quite feel real. Planning ahead a whole year, for a holiday, beyond mapping out his classes, seems... impossible. Dumb. Pointless. His therapist says it's a trauma response, but that doesn't make it go away. "I'd make a pretty good pirate. My hair isn't as awesome as yours. But it's not bad."

[shadowsran]

"I disagree, you let the hair go a little shaggy and it's perfect, and you've got a great frame for flashy jackets." Broad enough that it would look wrapped around him more than it would look like he was piloting it - she's seen a lot of people go too bold with outerwear.

At last, a crisply folded piece of paper is produced and offered.

"The top four are cooking, all either basic level or aiming for ethnic stuff, and those have beginner options. The rest is just the other theater stuff that goes on by quarter, the cooler small hobby-sport types...tried to leave a variety."

[worthallthis]

"I just said it isn't as awesome for a pirate as yours," he laughs, but he does accept the paper and skims over it. "Didn't realize this school had so many cooking classes. Damn." Considering they have a "Russian food" course. Jesus. Gonna sip that one. "Think I'd better focus on basic-level, if I can fit any of them into my schedule."

[shadowsran]

"Don't blame me when you get hooked, cooking's secretly the best. Good for taking care of yourself, good for showing off, fun, relaxing. Pretty perfect, and I've never heard of anyone not coasting through a beginner's course." Ought to be easy, if and when he attempts it. Easy and rewarding, the kind of thing their type needs more of. "Treating yourself is how I'd think of it. A fun campus job for cash," a gesture to the fast-clearing room around them, "Some easy betterment. Good for people."

[worthallthis]

"I'll see what I can do. I doubt you'll be taking any of these." Not if he's angling for beginner and she's already considering a major.

[shadowsran]

"Probably not, but you never know! I keep a lot of irons in the fire, sometimes classes fill up before I get in or I end up with an extra block. I'd probably spring for, like...the Polynesian, or something." Not a specific passion, but something focused and themed and novel enough to definitely maintain interest. "Or-- I could probably do with the intro to baking stuff. It's, uh. A weak spot."

A funny one, if her expression is anything to go by. A world of unspoken disasters behind a bitten back grin.

"For some reason that one's sciencey enough to throw me. Baking's a beast."

[worthallthis]

"I guess we could be disasters in that one, together," he suggests. If he's going to do this thing, might as well do it with a friendly face. Especially if he doesn't wind up doing any more of this drama shit, which he's entirely uncertain on his future in.

[shadowsran]

Embarrassingly visibly, she perks at that suggestion. The goal was merely to help someone broaden their own horizons a little, break up some monotony if it happened to be present. Any courses taken alongside one another wasn't a considered factor in the slightest. It's a very good one, now that it's been proposed. Fun. She can't recall ever having picked classes with another person.

"That'd be fun! I mean, not entirely, this sounds like some embarrassing flops in store, but it'd at least be a guaranteed partner that'll do work."

[worthallthis]

Practically the only reason he'd do this is for social reasons. It's not like he's got any friends anymore, really. "Guess you'd better have a look at your schedule next semester, huh?" he says with a smirk, and finishes off his beer. "C'mon, you ready to go home? Or the party store, I guess."

[shadowsran]

"Yes!" Shameless exuberance, and whichever question she thinks she answered she follows up in short order with the other. "And yes!" Peak articulate. Two napkins and a crushed soda can neatly deposited in the trash, she is set and headed for the door. It's tempting to ask how far he's intending to accompany her, but the store is two blocks past her building. Inevitably they'll reach a turn or his building, and it'll sort itself out.

"I'll definitely have room for that class. It'll be good, no matter when we start we'll be in time to trade horrible attempts at cookies for the holidays."

[worthallthis]

Probably just to where he'd turn for his own apartment, but that's still a few blocks. He follows her out. "Hey, you never know, I might have good attempts at cookies. Maybe I have a knack for baking that I never knew about." He seriously doubts it. But the joke covers for the fact that he's got nobody to trade stories with for the holidays.

[shadowsran]

"Then you'll be showing me up, which will be devastating," clearly not, because she's still grinning, "But I'll have someone to copy, so I think I wouldn't be too broken up about your good attempts." Make it two of them. There's no shortage of neighbors and teachers easily won over by excess treats, at least. "Gonna have to swear not to get better at it than me by the time we're done with it, is all. I've got my pride, here."

[worthallthis]

"No promises," he says with a lofty grin. It still feels kind of hollow inside, but he's got a good game face. And maybe if they're any good, he and Misty can just share them, or something. Or maybe his therapist or the guys down at the VA or something. "I wouldn't worry too much about it, though. I've never baked a thing in my life, I'll probably be terrible."

[shadowsran]

"Just as likely you'll manage alright then - I'm confirmed bad, you'll have a good laugh." That she's laughing ought to indicate she's not sore about this. "I'll have to surprise you with an apron sometime, once you've signed up. A kitchenwarming gift. What colors do you like?"