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]

"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?"

[worthallthis]

He chuckles. "C'mon, I don't need any aprons, geez." And he doesn't need her spending that kind of money on him. An iced drink is one thing, but a whole-ass piece of clothing? Nah...

[shadowsran]

"That'd be your first mistake! Believe me, you will lose shirts in this fight." And she will, of course, be procuring one for him anyway, not that she'll put up a fight about it now. Maybe later tonight, even - one extra stop is hardly anything. "Preparedness, Barnes!"

[worthallthis]

"Wait, lose shirts? Why would I lose shirts?" He gets the sudden mental image of a sleeve catching fire, and swivels his head around to look at her incredulously.

[shadowsran]

"Oh, you-- you really don't cook, do you?"

She laughs, one hand at her stomach.

"I mean, like, stains. You're going to get stuff on you, it's inevitable. Aprons aren't a fashion statement."

[worthallthis]

"I'm not gonna lose shirts to stains," he says, still surprised. "Stains come out, Misty, Jesus. I thought you were saying there was going to be a knife outbreak or shirt-sleeve fires or something. But if you insist, I'll try and find an apron."

[shadowsran]

"Spoken like a guy who's never had a run in with cocoa products that meant business," and there's a real effort to sound ominous that can't quite withstand the grin plastered firmly across her face. "Do what you want! Not pressuring, just saying."

He'll clearly end up with one either way.

[worthallthis]

Maybe the Goodwill has one for cheap. Or one of his neighbors has one he can borrow. If there are any that know how to cook any more than he does. "Spoken like a guy who can get all kinds of stains out of clothes. Maybe not cocoa," he admits, "but other stuff."

He gives her a sharp grin, aiming to show he's teasing rather than judging, and adds, "Maybe you need lessons in laundry, too."

[shadowsran]

Enjoy the dressed-up mock shock on display, Buck, few ever see it. "Oh, do you think that's it? Because hey, anytime you want to write up a presentation, I'd be all ears--"

There's no not ending it with a nudge, it just isn't in her.

[worthallthis]

"Just you wait, I'll have powerpoint slides and demonstrations and shit." No, he won't. That is way too much work. But if they have stain problems, he's still pretty sure he can deal with them

[shadowsran]

It lands; a laugh, as high as it is conversationally brief. "I'll keep my eyes peeled for that, then. Fingers crossed the homework's easy." They pass her building. A third of the way there. "Any other secret talents you're waiting to spring on people?"

[worthallthis]

He opens his mouth, then shuts it, looking a little less light-hearted. He makes an attempt, though: "Nah. I'm not really that talented at anything but looking creepy and calculating psychics equations." And killing people. But that's not a fun talent. He does note her stop from the night before, and passing it up. Guess it really is to the party store.

[shadowsran]

"I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree on account of most people are good at plenty more than that and you seem fine," she replies, "But I can't argue it specifically yet, so I won't. This is me putting a pin in it."

There's certainly a lot she could say to his clear thinking in a perceived crisis, but the longer she can go without reminding him of it the better. Hell, even thinking of it herself. Egh. "Humble's something."

goddamn I thought I replied to this ages ago, whoops

[worthallthis]

"I dunno, don't think I'm that good at being humble, either," he says, dragging his tone back light again. "I've got gorgeous hair, after all, and I absolutely know how to dress right."

ain't that just the way

[shadowsran]

It gets a laugh, which was presumably his intention. She's an easy lure back to the lands of levity and humor. Used to needing it on hand, herself. "Ahh, complexities, layers, nuance. Painting a real interesting portrait for me, thank you for the honesty." Whether or not it changes her actual understanding remains to be seen. "Milk it a little and you'd be a shoe in for some bigger theater roles, just keeping that out there."

seriously spent a few days wondering why YOU hadn't tagged :P

[worthallthis]

"Nah, spotlight ain't for me. Not in any role where I can't hide this, anyway." Up comes the metal hand, still in its glove from the show. "Maybe shove me at the lights or something, if you really want to drag me into all your hobbies. Engineer and all, I'd probably be okay at it."

H A H

[shadowsran]

Hardly seems worth hiding, but then, people have felt self conscious over even less. Not her place to judge, and so she doesn't. Deliberately speaks nothing to that, and hardly signals beyond a gently disbelieving little perk of her eyebrows.

"I promise that's not my goal, there will be no dragging you into everything I take an interest in. Just so happens that you left a good impression, and interests align enough for baking to be something fun, probably. Although I hadn't imagined the engineering end. Probably a cool thing too, but I'll let it slide."

Unless baking doesn't work out. He's neat, deserves to be out and about.