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]

The bliss that is ignorance. She really hasn't seen anything like he has before, but it's so easily chalked up to advanced prosthetics being tested by some brave young soldier it's easily brushed off. Not her business.

"You're right! Would you look at that, you're really coming round. A go-getter. I'm glad you chose to take baking with me." That dryness is noted and instead of nudged back, folded neatly into her momentum. "Nice to get volunteers, honestly."

[worthallthis]

"Ha ha." He rolls his eyes at her, but it's amiable. They're coming up on the shopping center with the party store in it, right about where the turn for his own apartment complex is. "See you tomorrow?" And then next semester, it seems. He's definitely going to be checking his schedule tonight. This is the closest he's come to making a friend since the war, so. Might as well see where it goes.

[shadowsran]

"Definitely! G'night." No lingering chatter when they've both got places to be and presumably rest to catch up on; statement, a little wave, unbroken stride.

The next night being the last, the turnout is similarly staggering. Not the crowds seen previously, but a steadier stream of individuals, smaller groups all seemingly realizing this was the final opportunity to duck in. It's less an immediate exhaustion, more a test of stamina. It's another frenzied break, everyone filtering through only just quickly enough to eat and move on, but the sendoff afterwards is better. A fresh case of drinks, a store bought cake, delayed cleanup time to ensure everyone gets a send off. Small, but pleasant.

Misty's propped up on a counter top, quick to extend a bottle once she's spotted him.

"You did it! Congrats, stuck it out like a champion. How're you feeling?"

[worthallthis]

"Like I need a three-week nap," James answers wryly, but he accepts the bottle with clear relief and a smile. "That's more people in a four-hour span than I've dealt with since fucking basic." But it means he can afford the nice grocery store this week, for some bulk items he was running low on, so. Worth it.

"You have a good time?" he asks her, popping the cap off his beer for a long pull while she answers. Also, he's eyeing that cake with clear greed.

[shadowsran]

"And we're all coming out stronger for it. There ought to be medals for this kind of thing." She needs to scrub the stage makeup off, a hot shower, a gallon of water and a nap, but one would be hard-pressed to guess it by looking at her. Something like a runner's high has been attained. "I did, definitely. Best part I've gotten, great turnout, catering's better than last year, dare I say the company's been pretty good..." A pointed tilt of her capped water bottle in his direction as she follows his gaze. "Hoping I get a sliver of that before you and the poltergeists demolish that poor unsuspecting cake."

[worthallthis]

"Well, clearly that means I get us both a piece right now, before it's vanished." He pushes off from the counter where he'd been leaning and pads over to collect a few slices. His might maybe be a little bit bigger than hers. And he's scraped some of the frosting off the cardboard to add to his.

He's starving, what can he say. He offers her the one that is clearly not his.

[shadowsran]

"I'll make a note of the bravery, jumping into the thick of it. Thank you." As if he could have lost his life, charging into the cake foray. There's a grateful little bow of the head as she accepts her plate, eating in small half-forkfuls to allow speedier returns to conversation.

"Also officially enrolled in baking course, so by this time next year I'll either have burned the campus down or be making the cakes, here. Cheers to that."

[worthallthis]

"Wow, now I really have to sign up, can't leave you hangin' like that. What if you need rescue from the horrible ovens?" he says with a lop-sided sort of grin. "Haven't done any of my classes for next semester yet, but I'll get on it this week."

[shadowsran]

"Exactly, see, I'm applying some pressure now to make sure you don't skip out on me. Ovens would get me, and you would feel responsible." There's only so faux-smug someone can look over a slice of bright orange cake, but she's going for it. "Core stuff comes easy just taking me awhile picking the extra-curriculars. I'm thinking maybe wood tech, too. Might come down to some coin tosses."

[worthallthis]

He chuckles, and points his plastic fork at her, half joking and half accusing. "You are never gonna graduate, I swear to god."

[shadowsran]

"Or maybe I'll graduate the most well-rounded, ahead of the curve student this place has ever had. Huh? How about that? You'll be grateful when I'm telling you what the worthwhile courses are, I'm a taste maker." There's some squaring up where she sits, empty posturing that takes quite the backseat to desserts. "Helping people, I'm a helper."

[worthallthis]

Considering his major, he doesn't have a ton of room, or brainpower, for actual elective courses. He looks vaguely amused by her posturing, though, and how quickly she gets over it. "I can see that." Say the gal who pretended to be murdered (or suicided). But he's nice enough to not bring that up. "Next semester's not for a few months, after Christmas. You got plans in between then?"

[shadowsran]

"Not really, no. Christmas is always a big play and I'm not quite that bold, people actually majoring deserve more space there anyway. I kind of drop off and just have extra time to spend on..." A twirl of the fork. "Whatever, you know? Homework, free time, maybe ask about set building if they end up needing that. Christmas is always pretty quiet."

The ranks really thin once people head home to family. Dull time of year, in her opinion. Not that he needs to hear all that. "You? Just packed full of engineering that whole time?"

[worthallthis]

It'll be a nice surprise for her when she finds he'll still be here over the holiday, himself. He shrugs, finishes off the last of his cake (where did it all go so fast? yikes), and says, "Well, and work, yeah. Unless it pays, I don't have a lot of time for extra-curriculars. It sucks."

[shadowsran]

Oof, familiar pain. "Financial aid's pretty shoddy, huh? Or are you just real go-getter about the debt? Or-- actually, no, sorry, that's prying." Another little wave of fork, before continuing the steady work of pecking at that cake. His poor, empty plate. "Did I ask what you do, before? First night's, um, a blur. I work in the nicer dining hall, but the student slots are probably more manageable than outside stuff."

[worthallthis]

"Trying to avoid too much of the debt thing." He considers another piece of cake, looking at the remaining sheet and gauging just how rude it would be. "Army pays for my tuition, but not room and board. I've got a small loan just for rent, tryin' to keep it that way." And considering how much he eats... it's hard to keep on top of it with grocery store salary.

Looking back at her, he answers, "Grocery store. Bet you didn't see that coming."

[shadowsran]

"I didn't! I mean, I know most internships don't pay or pay garbage. Wasn't expecting something in your field, per se, but maybe like...a hardware store, something kind of outdoorsy? You've got the look."

She follows his gaze, amused and sympathetic. "I can take the hit for you, if you're willing to let me. I'll look like the glutton here."

[worthallthis]

"Nah, it's okay. You got a rep with these folks already. I might as well make mine the guy who eats everything in sight." He pushes back up from the counter he'd been leaning on to collect himself another piece. "You want any more, too?"

There's enough, if the pieces are small, to split.

[shadowsran]

"I'll take it since you're offering, but don't be a hero in there. Get what you can, get out safe." Not quite leaning into any military backgrounds specifically so much as just...enjoying herself, here. Goofing around. "I'll hold down the fort here, protect the drinks."

[worthallthis]

He gives her a dry sort of look before weaving through a couple of the other actors to collect their second pieces. He uses the same plates, because he's not wasteful, thanks. The second pieces are a little smaller than the first ones, but it'll help fill his empty stomach, at least. "Mission successful," he says, offering her the plate with more of a flourish this time.

Leaning back on the counter again, he asks, going back to the previous subject, "So what kind of look does a guy have to make him look like he should be in a hardware store?"

[shadowsran]

"Well done, thank you," he's truly a trooper, and she bows some in turn.

"It's, like...I don't know how to explain it? There's a certain kind of present smartness that goes with mechanic types, gives me shop class flashbacks. But then-- I don't know, now that I'm saying it out loud I'm realizing it's ridiculous, you're broad? Kind of brings mountainy types to mind. Like you could teach somebody how to kayak or install a sink."

It definitely sounds dumb! She knows!

[worthallthis]

He chuckles a little. "Would you believe I've never been in a kayak? I'm not sure I've ever seen one." He has a bite of his cake, then adds, "I could probably install a sink, but I'm shit with outdoorsy stuff."

[shadowsran]

"Never been in one, but it looks fun," she muses. And laughs, because - well, they're right to. "You look handy! You look like a guy who would be very comfortable fiddling with something in a flannel somewhere, maybe I'm just thinking in broad-shouldered stubbly stereotypes."

[worthallthis]

"City boy, through and through," he says without embarrassment. His brief time in the desert absolutely does not count. It's not like they were ever very far from a jeep with proper rations and water canteens and shit. "And shut up, I shaved before I came here, so I'd look the part. I ain't stubbly."

He says it jokingly, though, because while he is pretty determined to keep to at least some of his pre-war looks, he's not really offended, either. Though he has to resist the urge to check with the flesh hand, just to make sure he didn't start getting super-serum facial hair, on top of everything else.

[shadowsran]

A harder laugh. "I'm not saying you're all fuzzy right now! C'mon, you look perfectly clean and spooky." No taking offense, good. Priorities, here. "Still broad, so my point stands. Lumberjackish. It's a good thing."