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Post by LARK MARIE HARPER on Mar 15, 2012 14:47:19 GMT -5
  and every time i think i've finally made it
i learn i'm farther away than i have ever been before
i see the clock and it's ticking away, and the hourglass empty
what the fuck do I have to say
It had been one hell of a Summer break. Had there been a vacation or some other amazingly wonderful distraction from the shit she had been dealing with, the days would have been rather memorable but of course that was not what life had in mind. First there was Frank. The bastard of a man lashed out in drunken anger when she dropped a piece of plate-ware in the kitchen. She spent that night in the hospital—fortunately her doctor was none other than Josh, but even so he now knew of what was going on at home. Frank had only hit her one other time, and the bruise under her eye still remained but was fading. It was a good thing Lark had a habit of getting herself into trouble; otherwise people might have taken the liberty of questioning her. Even if they did, it did not matter all too much. All she had to do was say that she got in a fight, and that would be that. Anyone that knew Lark would not have been entirely surprised. On top of the ordeal with her father, Lark woke up one of those fateful summer mornings hung over and in bed with Brett. The girl had her first kiss and lost her virginity not only while she was quite intoxicated, but to a guy who had no interest in her as more than just a body. She gave herself away for nothing. Lark flinched at the thought. Friend or not, it still hurt. She felt used and useless. To top it all off this month was her birthday. Insert sarcastic excitement here.
Heaving a rather exasperated sigh, Lark trudged into the classroom to start the day. She was tired, grumpy, and could have cared less about school at that point. The people were a blur, the professor just a figure standing at the front of the classroom. Lark could not have cared less. If she knew that staying home would have been better than being at school, she would have just stayed in bed. However this was a better alternative. Sitting in class and staring at the board was a lot less stressful than anywhere else at this point. Life felt as though it was continuously sliding downhill, and she couldn’t stop it. She tossed her book bag onto the floor next to her desk and slid into the chair. Her legs were sprawled out lazily and her head craned back as though she were lounged in a lawn chair sipping iced tea. She even took an extra step and sat closer to the back of the classroom so she could bum it out until the bell rang. Lark yanked out a bag of Skittles from her cargo pocket and tore open the package, eating a few of them. She blinked a minute; she hated the orange ones, and lo and behold one of them snuck its way into her hand. Trying not to chew it too much, she grabbed a few of her favorites and popped them quickly to be rid of the orange taste. In front of her, a boy was flipping through the pages of his book and chatting amiably with a girl next to him. Smirking, she waited until neither were looking and flicked one of said orange Skittles at the boys’ head.
“What the fuck?” Was all he said as he turned around to search for the perpetrator. Lark was still lounging in her chair chewing her candy, not even trying to hide the fact that she hit him with a Skittle. He did not look pleased. Lark twitched a bit of a smile and held up her bag of candy. “I don’t like the orange ones so…thought I’d give them to you instead.” She was not feeling particularly sensitive towards her classmate that day, and could have cared less when he flicked her off and turned to face his book again. Had she felt more ballsy she might have even flicked one at the professor, but she was standing there facing them and would have preferred the satisfaction of watching her look around to see who threw something at her. Way more entertaining. So, for the time being, Lark was content to eat her favorite flavors and leave the shitty ones at the bottom for later. If only she could do that with the people she resented at the moment. Things would be infinitely easier. Sadly life was not so forgiving, so Lark had to cope with everything and burden it on her own. Switching alliances to be with the few people she felt cared seemed more and more appealing. There was nothing left for her here.
keep it inside, the image portrayed
as if i couldnt stand losing as if i couldn't be saved, no way
a small confession i think i'm starting to lose it
i think i'm drifting away from the people i really need |
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Post by ELLIOT NATHAN YEAGER on Mar 15, 2012 21:53:24 GMT -5
 Yeager glared at the tree in front of him, and if he were a Fire student, maybe he'd be able to set it ablaze. "I don't care, Smelliot, you hear?" His sister's trilling voice assaulted his ear. "Just put Robert on the phone! Goddamn, everything is an ordeal with you." His temper wasn't something that reared its head often, but he guessed a lot of people with younger siblings could relate. "Don't tell me what to do." He tilted his head to the side, eyes easing up into a frank expression of bemusement. "I swear to god, if you don't get him, Lucas will find out about the time you used his Giorgia Armani shirt as a rag to clean up soda." Gloria wasn't bending. "Then he can find about you taking the BMW to that bar downtown." She knew too much for her own good. He breathed in through his teeth, exhaled. He needed to get money, and Robert lost his cellphone. Terrific combination. "You know what, when I get home, I'm locking you in the fucking crawlspace." The threat was serious, and he was sure she knew that. Not like he hadn't done similar before.
There was a silence, and then in a low, grave voice, the girl said, "You owe money to the swear jar...stupid." She hung up then. The Water student thought that she was difficult to deal with in person, but she just proved she's a stubborn asshole in general. There was no reason for her to act like that...oh. The memory of kicking her out of the bathroom last weekend came to mind. The girl knew how to hold grudges. She imagined if she were to become an elemental, she'd be Thunder. Or maybe Wind, considering she was equal parts temperamental and outgoing. Not that he really considered it. She was adopted, after all. He pocketed his phone, headed toward the school. His summer vacation had been rather uneventful, save for Nana Grace trying to break out of rehab after surgery and Gloria deciding that she was going to uproot the backyard in search of treasure. He entered the classroom ten minutes late, and the professor looked at him, holding out his hand for a pass. Instead, Yeager slapped his hand against his, pulling him in to pat his back. "Yo man, nice to see you too." He nodded his head, and the professor told him to take a seat.
He headed near the back of class, greeting people he recognized in similar ways, talking as loudly as he could because honestly, he didn't care about causing a disturbance. He dropped his bag on the floor, sat back in his seat. His designer t-shirt was free of sweat stains even though he felt uncomfortably warm. He noticed a kid diagonally of him get pelted by a little orange dot, and his eyes moved to the offender. He grabbed the strap of his backpack, and switched seats so that he was next to her, scooted it over so the legs scrapped against the floor. He leaned in close to the brunette, propping up his cheek with his hand. "Hey baby, are your feet tired? Because you've been running through my mind all day." He finished it emphatically, winking at her exaggeratedly. If they were supposed to be doing something, he didn't notice. He imagined the little Lucas on his shoulder groaning in exasperation. "Did you bring enough to share with the class?" He held out his hand to her, moving his fingers enticingly. He did enjoy skittles, and he kind of hoped she'd be willing to share.
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Post by LARK MARIE HARPER on Mar 16, 2012 0:08:28 GMT -5
and every time i think i've finally made it
i learn i'm farther away than i have ever been before
i see the clock and it's ticking away, and the hourglass empty
what the fuck do I have to say
Lark was not very eager to be here, and it was more than obvious. The professor gained the attention of most of the class and began the lecture, which signaled it was time for Lark to do her own thing. With one swift motion the brunette yanked out an earbud from the opposite cargo pocket and stuck it into her ear. She slid out the phone and turned on her pre-made music playlist, being sure that it was only loud enough for her to hear. A brief smile graced her lips as the first song popped up. I'm Alive came through her earbud, and her head slightly tilted from side to side to move with the beat of the song. It was actually one of her favorites. Lost in her music and eating her Skittles, Lark did not even notice the water student enter the room late. Plenty of students acted out the first day back from summer break and this was no different. As she popped another Skittle into her mouth and began to chew, she felt a presence beside her. Said presence took the liberty of drowning out her music with a rather loud scraping of metal on floor, to which Lark locked her jaw briefly. As she turned to say something, she found herself looking at a rather familiar face. Lark rolled her eyes. It just had to be him, out of anyone that could have sat next to her. Their banter was fun and entertaining, but she assumed it was a one-time fluke. Looks like they were class mates.
"Aww, I didn't realize it was bring your pet to class day," Lark teased, ruffling his hair a little bit. "Where is your master? She needs to keep a closer eye on you." Lark adjusted her earbud before he leaned in. This kid was persistent in flirting, wasn't he? She had to admit it was really amusing because his was so incredibly obvious. Most guys touched her shoulder a little bit or passed a wink but he had to go the extra mile. Yeah, Brett did that too and look where it landed you. Lark fought back a faint scowl and instead turned her head to look at him, mimicking his movements with the opposite hand. "Is that so?" She raised an eyebrow. "Because..." The brunette lifted up her eyes a little towards the ceiling and tapped her cheek, as though in deep thought. It made the bruise under her eye hurt, but no matter. "Yep, I think my bullshit meter is going off. But it was a nice try." She stuck out her tongue, about to make another comment when someone cleared their throat at the front of the class. "Lark, whenever you're finished flirting...the lesson?" Lark snapped her attention away from the water student, forgetting she was actually in class. She snorted a bit and rolled her eyes. "I can hear you just fine," Lark stated dully. The professor sighed and turned back to the board. I'll probably get detention, but oh well.
Glancing back at the boy, she noticed he was holding out his hand and waggling his fingers in anticipation for a possible Skittle or two. She smirked. Did he really deserve them? Hmm. Lark looked into the red bag and examined the colors she had left. A few reds and purples, maybe some greens, but at the bottom lay all of the oranges and yellows. They were her least favorites, so figured she could spare a few. But first things first... "I believe you can have some," Lark started, pouring a pile into her hand. "But on one condition." She picked one up between her fingers and flicked it at his forehead with precision. "That was for busting up the bathroom pipes and soaking me." Another flew from her fingers. "That was for calling me a chihuahua." And yet another. "And that was for calling me a hoe." Satisfied with her onslaught of sugary retaliation, the brunette took the rest of the Skittles in her hand and set them in his own before eating one out of the bag. She half listened to the professor, half listened to the music in her ear, and slightly focused on the male sitting beside her. All of this was an insanely wonderful distraction, even if one of them happened to be an over-confident Water student. She wondered if this kid would disappear if he found out she was a Fire. Part of her hoped that he wouldn't.
keep it inside, the image portrayed
as if i couldnt stand losing as if i couldn't be saved, no way
a small confession i think i'm starting to lose it
i think i'm drifting away from the people i really need |
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Post by ELLIOT NATHAN YEAGER on Mar 16, 2012 22:10:28 GMT -5
He raised his eyebrows at the girl as she ruffled his hair, blinking. "Woof woof," he deadpanned. He popped his collar, and leaned to the side a bit. "Please, I'm nobody's bitch." Well, if anyone heard the conversation earlier, it was pretty clear he was his baby sister's bitch. In all honesty, he worried about her. He had a feeling she was going to be the wrong crowd that Lucas liked to warn her about. The kind of girl that got into scrapes and... Ugh, he couldn't imagine the other way a girl could go down. The idea of his sister actually interested in guys--any human being sexually--made him cringe. And yet here he was, being a douche bag to this chick. Yeager wasn't actually flirting. He was being an asshole, which was the opposite of what he did if he actually wanted to get with a girl. And by get, he wanted a relationship. A lot of his guy friends liked hitting and quitting it, but he was quite partial to getting to know a girl. Go figure. He watched her tap her cheek, and leaned back when she responded, putting his arms behind his head, wriggling his hips. "Don't worry, I've got better stock cliches, baby, I could go on all day." He looked up when he heard the professor.
Yeager brought his hands down hard on the desk. It wasn't as loud as it could be, but it was still a noticed disturbance. "How dare you interrupt our conversation. That is very rude of you" There was incredulous laughter from a few of his buddies, but then the professor resumed after waiting for people to quiet down, without mention of getting written up. Detention was a place he knew like his second home, actually. Mostly because he forgot assignments and books, the occasional fight brought him there as well. Pranking gone wrong, the usual. Lark seemed to contemplate it, and he groaned, dropping his head to his arms on the desk. "Condition?" he said into his arms, his voice muffled. He didn't like conditions. They were annoying. Of course, this was all for show, but could a brother get some skittles around here? He actually hadn't had breakfast this morning because he slept in. It seemed he was late with everything, and nothing had changed over his years at the Academy.
He lifted his head, blinked at her. Luckily with curly hair, there was no way it could get messed up. Yeager blinked when the skittles hit his forehead, trying to catch them in his hands. A few dropped to the floor, pattering against it, but he ate the ones he got. "Okay, I deserved those," he said with an air of nonchalance. Did he? Well, he wasn't one for contemplation on his actions. Act first, think later, endure the consequences. He held out his hands like an eager child, and threw them back, saying, "Thank you so much for assisting in feeding the needy, your donation is valued." He nodded his head, reaching down to his backpack and actually taking out his notebook. It was a lot more than he usual did in class. He'd always managed to slide by on C's before, as if some force of magic propelled him toward graduation. He reached over to her ear, took one of the headphones to hear what she was listening to. "Disturbed? Didn't they break up or something?" Well, close to breaking up. He didn't really pay much attention to music, really, but he knew about quite a few bands because it was a staple in society. Unavoidable. He grew up with Leonard Cohen and the Les Miserables sountrack.
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Post by LARK MARIE HARPER on Mar 17, 2012 0:03:43 GMT -5
and every time i think i've finally made it
i learn i'm farther away than i have ever been before
i see the clock and it's ticking away, and the hourglass empty
what the fuck do I have to say
Every time the kid popped his collar Lark could not help but emit a dry laugh of amusement. Did he really think he was the shit? She refrained from rolling her eyes. "That's because they couldn't stand to put up with you for more than five minutes," Lark commented almost sweetly, tilting her head with a smile. Sometimes being overly friendly was a lot creepier than scowling, because that's normally what they would have expected. She did not know what Elliot thought would be her response, but that was a moot point. Lark was really trying to channel her anger and frustrations with people in a different way in hopes that it would keep her more level headed. Some days it worked, and other days not so much. Today was not extremely wonderful, and neither had the past month, so even Lark could not predict how she was going to react. She scoffed a little bit and lounged back in her chair even further, fighting back a wince and grunting from the movement. It had been about two weeks since her rib had been cracked, and certain motions were definitely no-no's. "Well then please continue. I was looking forward to my ears bleeding today." She said flatly, glancing over at him with a smirk.
Had Lark been more aware she would have anticipated the boy slamming his hands on his desk, but it somewhat caught her off guard. Her expression remained neutral despite this, and merely raised her eyebrow but said nothing. The professor was not going to be happy but that did not really matter at this point. Detention sounded more appealing than home anyway. The brunette began to tap her foot on the floor to match the beat of the music, watching with half the amusement as Elliot dropped his heads on his arms. He really was a child. She flicked the skittles in turn, which he took better than she thought he would; he even went so far as to eat the couple that did not fall to the floor through his butter fingers. However, Lark's next gesture was actually meant in kindness. It was not meant to be anything more. Then again, Lark's kindness always had a way of backfiring. Like life wanted to see how angry it could make her before she finally snapped and really harmed someone. Elliot threw the skittles back in her face; Lark allowed a half frown to actually crease her lips momentarily. "Feeling a little petulant today, are we?" She asked, shaking her head and running a hand through her hair. "Oh, hope that wasn't too big of a word for you. I could find something simpler I'm sure." Some people really were just straight up ass holes. So much for that attempt. Oh well. If he wanted to thrive off of rude banter and hateful comments, then so be it. That was how Lark lived her life and was not afraid to keep it up even now.
It was actually people who acted like Elliot that created the constant defensive mechanism Lark built in herself. She had to learn to toss back whatever was thrown at her in order to keep from being run over. It was basically how she lived out the first portion of her high school years before going to the Academy. They beat up on her, called her names, and even when Lark tried to forgive them and make amends it blew up in her face. Just like a few minutes ago. Waste of time I guess. She thought with a scowl, now focused solely on her music. That was, until the petulant child reached over and took her ear bud away from her. Lark watched him with a blank stare, trying to decide if she should snatch it out of his ear and hit him with it. "Hell if I know," She replied with a tense shrug. "I listen for the music, not the drama behind it. There's enough of that shit going around as it is." With that, Lark took a moment to glance over at him. Even if he wound up on her side in the transfer of alliance, she was not even sure things would change. Lark was used to it. It shouldn't bother her. Taking out a pen, she began to write some lyrics on her arm for her next song. The notes for the guitar could be sorted out later, but for now some lyrics were as good as anything. Crossfade's "Already Gone" met her ears, and a smile graced her lips. It was actually a rather suitable song, and Lark allowed herself to tap her foot again as she continued to write on her arm.
keep it inside, the image portrayed
as if i couldnt stand losing as if i couldn't be saved, no way
a small confession i think i'm starting to lose it
i think i'm drifting away from the people i really need |
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Post by ELLIOT NATHAN YEAGER on Mar 17, 2012 20:46:43 GMT -5
As with every movement, his eye roll was theatrical, drumming his fingers against the desk. Couldn't put up with him? Ah, now he believed he could be pretty easy to deal with. Lark wouldn't know that, of course, but that's how it was. "Very true, I've never been housebroken." He shook his head as if lamenting this, pausing as he listened to the others in their conversations, pretending that they were quieter than they actually were. "Are you sure it's not because my beauty is just so intimidating?" He tilted his head as he gazed up at the lights, like they'd give him the answer to life's questions. Where will I be in ten years, will I ever find a girl I love, and where is Jimmy Hoffa buried? Not like he ever gave anything deep thought. It was speak first--and quite loudly at that--ask questions if it suits him. He didn't notice anything off about Lark, probably because he never really paid much attention. Not the most observant sort. He gave a flourish with his hand. "I gladly will," he said valiantly. "Just give me something to talk about. How about we discuss how utterly gorgeous I am." He batted his eyelashes and pouted his lips. Yeager had never really been one to try and deter rumors of his sexuality. Especially because he'd never been insulted. Being gay wasn't a bad thing, and he couldn't understand how that would be offensive.
Yeager couldn't say he was really able to read the girl, not that he wanted to either way. He took everything for what it was, the superficial. Everyone had a face they wore for others, an image they presented to the world. But there was always duality, what was underneath. He couldn't even say he was what he acted like. Then he reminded himself that he really was just a joke in himself. Give him a chance, and he was an honestly caring guy. It came out around his family, when they were in trouble, when he needed to come through and be responsible. He was able to do that. Yeager canted his head to the side, considering. "Petulant? Sounds dirty." He had a rather broad vocabulary, thanks to Lucas. "What does ambivalent mean, and give me synonyms." He was part of the reason Yeager passed all the classed that he did. The body wasn't stupid, he was just lazy, and his parents knew this.
Yeager wasn't really paying attention again, his attention always caught on something else. Two girls tittering nearby. A guy unzipping his backpack. Someone else trying to be sneaky and eating Doritos under his desk. He made a soft 'hmmm' sound when she spoke again, turning his eyes back to her. "Sucks when you're left wondering why an album hasn't come out in five years, though," he said with a smirk, drumming his hands on his stomach. Getting fat. Maybe missing breakfast was a good thing. He wasn't terribly out of shape, and he didn't want to get that way. Not a total health not, he just knew that if he let himself go he'd end up not wanting to do anything and stay inside all day. He much preferred his social life, actually going to hang out with friends. "Let's have a wager. How long do you think it'll take teach to notice the headphones?" He didn't exactly have a lot of money, but it didn't necessarily matter.
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Post by LARK MARIE HARPER on Mar 17, 2012 23:12:22 GMT -5
and every time i think i've finally made it
i learn i'm farther away than i have ever been before
i see the clock and it's ticking away, and the hourglass empty
what the fuck do I have to say
Lark scoffed and laughed a little bit, though it was rather empty and sarcastic. Although he was cocky and self-absorbed, it was a good source of entertainment none the less. She wondered if they had crossed paths a year ago if their encounters would have been any different. Would she have actually landed a punch? Would she even be taking the time to respond to him now? Lark could only wonder and allow the silence to sit between them for a moment before he asked her a question. "I highly doubt that's the case love," She replied with half the interest. "But whatever helps you sleep at night, hm?" Lark looked down at her hand and rubbed her calloused fingers together. The sign of a true musician, a guitar lover. What she would give to be able to just sit in the back of the classroom and play for the duration of class, tuning out the rest of the world. Oh, how sweet that would be. Unfortunately she couldn't so she settled for the music in her ear and used that as inspiration until she could get a hold of the instrument when she got home. A light hum formed in her throat before Elliot disrupted her thoughts again; Lark rolled her eyes.
"Let's not and say we didn't." Lark glanced over at him in time to see a batting of the eyelashes and puckering of the lips. She snorted and fought back a laugh, refraining from bringing her hand to her mouth to cover it up. That was the last thing she wanted to do, was give him satisfaction in getting a positive response out of his attitude. Instead the brunette shook her head and toyed with her phone for a moment before the amusement in her face died away. "You look like a fucked up Angelina Jolie with a bad hair day," Lark stated matter-of-factly, a smirk twitching on her lips. "But hey, someone will find it attractive, yes? Everyone can find love." She could be snarky when she wanted to be, but was not going to stoop so low as to tell anyone they were going to live out their life alone. Frank already tried to point that out to her the other day, and hearing that from him was as painful as dropping a two ton weight on her feet. No matter how irritating this guy could be, mirroring her father's actions would not reflect well on her. "As dirty as coccyx, or masticate?" Lark inquired, raising an eyebrow as she eyed him briefly with a smirk. She had to admit that 'dongle' was probably the most amusing to her, but decided to keep her comment short.
Lost in the world of lyric writing, she stopped mid-word to look over at the boy for a moment. Lark made an attempt to read him, his expressions, his actions, and came up quite empty. She was an observant person and would much rather watch people's reactions and facial expressions but with him it was difficult. Lark was not sure if he was one of those people that fit the term 'once an ass, always an ass' or if he leaned more towards the people that had a certain front that hid something else behind it. She was the latter of the two, but was unsure of him. The brunette turned back to her lyrics. "I guess, but their older stuff is better anyway." He had not yet given the earbud back, but so long as she still had one to listen then she could survive. The song faded away, replaced with "Burn" by Papa Roach, which was another favorite. Her playlist was being gracious to her today. Lark inclined her ear towards him and glanced his way, looking intrigued. "A wager huh?" She echoed, lifting her chin a little bit as though considering this bet. Lark shrugged; she might as well, there was nothing else to do. "I can manage that. I like bets. Though I'm broke, and you lost most of my skittles." She pointed at him, shaking a finger. "So what's the currency? Pocket lint?" Lark was actually surprised the professor did not notice the headphones already, but she supposed with their efforts to get the information up on the board and ignore the jabbering students in the room it was a little harder to single out one group of students as opposed to another. That was fine by her; she was in no mood to pay attention anyway.
keep it inside, the image portrayed
as if i couldnt stand losing as if i couldn't be saved, no way
a small confession i think i'm starting to lose it
i think i'm drifting away from the people i really need |
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Post by ELLIOT NATHAN YEAGER on Mar 18, 2012 2:15:15 GMT -5
Yeager dragged a hand down his face, half of his mind picking up the words coming from the professor's mouth. This was probably why he failed a lot of his classes. He never stopped talking and he had a habit of giving the proverbial--and sometimes literal--middle finger to authority figures. Of course, there was some guilt when he remembered that it was making his parents look bad. Then he remembered that now he was accountable for his own actions. "You are so cruel to me," he lamented. "I bet you're in one of those mean elements. Fire or Thunder, right?" He wondered if something like that could be called prejudice. Everyone was judged by their element, at least in high school. Growing up, some things smoothed out, like tempers and pranking and people just matured. He was holding onto his youth for as long as possible. He wasn't ready to become like his dads, sensible and mature and paying bills. Well, Brandon really. Luke was prone to his childish behavior. He was the Water, and that gave Yeager hope for the future.
His eyes gleamed. Yeager took it easily, and gave it back like a pro. His walls were impenetrable, Fort Knox. "But I still have her body, right?" He was actually very fine with his masculine body, even if he didn't have washboard abs that a girl could do her laundry on. Clearly, he was very assured of himself. Even when he was little and getting bullied by children who thought it odd that he had two fathers. And hey, he'd been a little chubby back then too. After seeing the pictures, Gloria decided that she'd never let him live that down. "I dream of the day I find a lady who enjoys a busted up Angelina Jolie with a Jewfro." He sighed, shaking his head as if never expecting that day to come. Yeager took life as it came, so he didn't exactly plan on anything happening ever, really. Why plan things? "Come now, we're in a school setting, don't get so inappropriate." He looked around in a scandalized fashion, shifting in the seat to rest his ankle on his knee. He wasn't too tall, but he was still of decent stature and had long legs.
He had to admit, it was interesting to listen to other people's taste in music. Some people surprised him, said they liked classical or some obscure form of music. Him, he listened to old R&B and soul, courtesy of Luke, and he usually just listened to the radio for anything else. She was apparently as broke as him, so he leaned back, hands still on his stomach as his thoughts seemed to sync with the music, moving along with the beat. "All right, all right," he said, his mind whirring as he tried to think of something. "Let's wager compliments. I'll bet ten compliments that he doesn't even notice. Put up your bets, meanie." He wondered if she'd follow through. She had a lot of snark in her, and he admired the gusto, though he had to wonder if she was any good at compliments. It was better than money, which he didn't have, anyway.
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Post by LARK MARIE HARPER on Mar 18, 2012 14:01:57 GMT -5
and every time i think i've finally made it
i learn i'm farther away than i have ever been before
i see the clock and it's ticking away, and the hourglass empty
what the fuck do I have to say
"I know I am," Lark replied, trying to keep her ear bud in her ear. She had yet to go out and buy a better pair, and was stuck with the shitty ones she found in a drawer in the kitchen. They were probably Frank's, but why should that matter? "But my cruelty is pretty bland compared to some. Some have called it...aggressive affection." Elliot had been pushing her buttons since they first met, and Lark set herself to make sure every reply was sarcastic or at least a small hit at his gigantic ego. She had a feeling it would not bother him much judging by his reactions before, and it made her feel better so there was no need to hesitate. No one else had been able to take her verbal jabs before without throwing a fist or storming away. Elliot actually took it like a champ. She was impressed. "Mean elements?" The girl tilted her head and turned to look at him fully now, her eyes scanning his face for a long moment to decide how to respond. Lark hardly considered them her allies anymore; the only reason she had not switched yet was because she wanted to see if there was going to be a change of heart. She wanted to be sure that switching was what she truly wanted. "I'll let you decide that for yourself. Everyone has their mean streaks no matter the element, but some are better at hiding it than others. I've just never had much of a sensor for that sort of thing." More recently her 'mean' streaks were in jest and meant to be in light humor, but not everyone understood the way she functioned. Not to mention that if she told him her element he would probably act the way most opposing elements would and turn his back. She was tired of that bullshit.
Lark finally let herself lean back into her chair again, sprawling out her legs to get comfortable. She hated sitting prim and proper ninety-five percent of the time. The only person that ever saw her dressed up was Jack for prom, and he disappeared shortly after that. It made her heart lurch. Maybe Frank was right. Her eyes flitted over to Elliot, a brief smirk tacked on her lips. "Yeah, boobs and all. You could probably sport a dress if we found you the right one. Unless you've already managed to hide a couple away in your closet." The smile faded and she turned to her phone again, changing the song. Thinking of Frank upset her, as did the brief memory of Jack. Why was that even there? Lark tried to repress it. Rain came up next on the playlist; content, she left it there and looked at her lap for a moment before deciding to answer the water student, looking over to see him looking blissful. It was really amusing how lightly he took everything. She felt almost powerless with her snide remarks by this point, but was too stubborn to relent. "Have to be pretty special. Possibly blind, but still." Lark managed a chuckle, though it was not very enthused. Her mind had drifted elsewhere for a moment, leaving her looking rather distant and wistful.
Taking notice of Elliot's shifting in his seat, Lark shook her head and ignored his comment for the time being. She tapped her foot a little, keeping up with the tempo of the slower song. It was actually one of the first songs she learned to play on the guitar, and also the one she played the night her parents decided to divorce. The song held both positive and negative memories, but enjoyed it too much to stop listening. The lyrics complete on the lower half of her arm, she stopped and tuned in to their bet. "Alright," Lark agreed, nodding a little and wrapping her index finger around her chin in thought. "I'll call your complements, and bet that he'll figure it out...within twenty minutes of the bell ringing." This was not good. Lark was good at complementing her friends, but someone she only met twice was going to be difficult. However Lark never backed down from a challenge and refused to be a pussy. She could manage something...right? "How are these complements supposed to work?" Lark asked, looking at him again. "Do they have to be direct complements? And...do we say all ten at the same time or are they gonna be spread out?" She had to know what she was going to be dealing with. Win or lose, giving a complement or receiving one was going to be hard.
[Ahh, so who wins? XD I think either way would be amusing, because for Lark both would freak her out. So...you can pick. Surprise meh. <3 lol she still doesn't know his name.]
keep it inside, the image portrayed
as if i couldnt stand losing as if i couldn't be saved, no way
a small confession i think i'm starting to lose it
i think i'm drifting away from the people i really need |
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Post by ELLIOT NATHAN YEAGER on Mar 21, 2012 18:13:15 GMT -5
Yeager hummed out loud, not even to the beat of the song. Just so his voice could be out there. He never fell silent, even when his mouth was closed--his actions were just as loud. ”Aggressive affection?” he considered. ”I like that.” He was not an aggressive person, not normally. Then again, he wasn’t a pacifist either. He merely did what he liked, plain and simple. He found that people weren’t easily defined because they all acted off how they felt. He nodded, looking at Lark when he felt her gaze on him. ”Yeah,” he said. ”It’s easy to stereotype. Fun.” He pointed at the back of the head of a kid in front of them. ”See him? Awkward, ten dollar shirt off the discount rack? Geek.” He pointed to himself. ”Me? I’m suave and handsome. In other words, a jackass.” He shrugged. ”But you already know I’m Water. Not so mysterious.” Did he have a temper, was he vindictive, gentle and kind? He was everything, just as all people had potential in them. Some things were just more kinetic than others. He was still just fucking with her, talking out of his ass in a jocular fashion.
Elliot listened to her words as if his dreams had come true, this comparison sending his heart aflutter. I can be a movie star, oh my!” He mocked a swoon, bumped arms with her. nd as for a woman he could get while looking like Angelina Jolie’s ugly twin? If she were blind, she wouldn’t be able to see his slick fashion sense, so he’d have to disagree. But he didn’t voice that out loud, only laughed at it. He liked that Lark went along with him and his little wager. He needed a little something to perk up his life. ”Twenty minutes,” he repeated, gaze flicking up to the clock. All right, it was on. At her questions, he grinned, flashing white teeth and a dimple in his left cheek. ”You really are bad at compliments,” he said. ”Of course it’s gonna be direct, not fun any other way. Like, ‘Your earlobe is very smooth.’” It was a prime example of course, and he sincerely hoped she didn’t steal. ”The winner gets to decide whether to space them out or not.” It seemed fair, at least. It was all up to whoever won when to say their compliments.
The wager certainly made class more interesting, like waiting on the edge of a sharp knife, anticipation reigning strong. He drummed his fingers on his desk, no notes, just him and himself. It almost looked like he was in the clear when the lesson finished with some time to spare, but the professor shot a piercing glare in their direction. ”Ms. Harper, put it away or I’ll keep it for myself.” He lifted his eyebrow, and Yeager pulled out the earbud, stood up from the desk and slid it back over to its rightful place. ”I owe you ten compliments,” he said with an exaggerated delight. ”Your hair is like a Manet painting. Huh, huh?” He said the last part as if waiting for approbation. ”How about this. I’ll let you decide when to take the next compliment.” He was actually being kind of, sort of decent.
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Post by LARK MARIE HARPER on Mar 21, 2012 23:20:11 GMT -5
and every time i think i've finally made it
i learn i'm farther away than i have ever been before
i see the clock and it's ticking away, and the hourglass empty
what the fuck do I have to say
It was easy to stereotype. Way too easy. Elliot had already placed her into a specific category simply because of her attitude. She did not meet many Waters, but knew enough Thunders and Fires to know that the arrogance was across the board. Some were definitely more subtle than others, but it was there none the less. Lark directed her gaze as he pointed to the kid in front of them, seeming to think on what he said before looking at him again with a smirk. "Definitely an appropriate label," She replied with a nod, slouching in the chair and wincing from the movement. Damn ribs... "Though suave and handsome can be subtracted from the equation to still make that label work." He was not a bad looking guy in the least, but a personality was what made them the most attractive. Not to say that he might have better qualities underneath, but their...whatever it was you would call them...'acquaintanceship' had been a bit rocky so she could not make a proper assessment yet.
A bit of a smile crossed her features as he dramatically fangirled over the prospect of being a movie star, and shook her head. "You're definitely dramatic enough for it," Lark stated flatly, looking at her phone again and fooling around with one of the applications. She received a text from her dad, to which she heavily scowled and shoved the phone back into her pocket. That was the last thing she wanted to deal with today. I've got enough with school. Elliot agreed to the wager, Lark now just waiting it out. "I'm good at them. I just don't give them out often because most people don't really deserve it." That was a good enough cover up she supposed, and actually quite true at the same time. "With that, I would think you're some creepy as fuck stalker who gets sexual pleasure from rubbing ear lobes." Lark let out a shudder, but agreed to the terms. Now was just a matter of seeing what was going to happen now.
Lark hated losing. More than that, she did not like being proven wrong. The minutes ticked by, Lark closing her eyes and tapping her foot along with the music as it streamed into her ear. Snarky comments died away as they both sat there and anticipated when the professor was going to call them out on the headphones, if he ever did. Finally he turned and scolded the girl for having them in her ears, and she smirked. Lark took the ear bud from Elliot, yanked them from the connector in her phone, and tossed them to the front of the classroom with little enthusiasm. "You can have 'em. They're shit anyway." The professor did not look happy at all as he left them on the floor. "Then you can pick them up and throw them away on your way out of the room after class, and take up a detention." Lark nodded and fell back into her chair again, sighing and looking rather content. It meant going home late one afternoon. That was a plus. She looked over at Elliot, and raised an eyebrow at his complement. Sarcastic or not no one ever made any sort of nice comment about her hair. Lark would not reveal that to him though. "Ah hah," Was about all she said, looking wary. "How about you just...give them whenever. Forcing them is boring. I like the unexpected." It would be weird to snap her fingers and tell the kid to just cough up a complement. She already felt like they were not even real, so it's not like it was a big deal anyway.
keep it inside, the image portrayed
as if i couldnt stand losing as if i couldn't be saved, no way
a small confession i think i'm starting to lose it
i think i'm drifting away from the people i really need |
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Post by ELLIOT NATHAN YEAGER on Mar 22, 2012 18:20:26 GMT -5
Yeager was no psychologist, but he knew some things through simple observation, just by watching people. You get only what people give. That's where he guessed stereotypes came from. But it was so easy to fit elementals into slots because their elements were exactly who they were. He was outgoing and spirited, a jokester, and it would have been surprising had he turned out as anything but a Water. "You really just like insulting me, I think that's a cover for some deeper psychological issues." His eyes never stopped dancing, the light playing off them like the sun on water. "How do you expect to be taken seriously in life when all you seem capable of is sarcasm?" Lucas liked to ask, and Yeager wasn't about to change for the sake of others. He'd be damned before he let anyone get to him.
Dramatic? Oh now, was that something not derogatory directed at him? Even if it was spoken with an uninterested tone. He'd take it. "I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me," he said, voice flattered, smile lilting like he just won Miss America. He grew up with theater and showtunes, of course it had to rub off on him. It probably gave kids another reason to mock him, considering it was such a stereotype. "So cynical, my dear, does no one impress you?" he shook his head. It could almost be taken as a superiority complex, but he didn't think so. She didn't claim to be better than anyone else. Maybe she directed that philosophy back on herself. He didn't know, and he didn't make a habit of dissecting people. "I'm sure it's not uncommon on the internet. Maybe I can find some kindred spirits." That could be a rather scary place, he thought.
Lark easily gave up her headphones. So wasteful, he thought with that air of drama, now amused that the girl had pointed it out to him. At the mention of detention, Yeager did the very appropriate, mature thing and let out a high-pitch, nasal, "Ha ha." He lifted his eyebrows after, like it was something she deserved, this detention. At least he was dishing out compliments. Flowery, lurid compliments. He grinned as he tried to gauge her reaction to his words. His face seemed to permanently be stuck in that impish expression, not dropping for a moment. "Fine then, I'll surprise you." He nodded. Would he give out genuine ones or bullshit? He didn't think she could tell, but he was actually quite the gentleman. The bell rang and the students who had not already risen from the seats got up and ushered out in an unruly fashion. "I'll see you tomorrow then, huh." Seeing as they were in the same class. He blew her a kiss before walking out of the room, to his next class.
[you can post again, or we can end it. i'm fine with whichever. xD]
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Post by LARK MARIE HARPER on Mar 22, 2012 20:52:51 GMT -5
and every time i think i've finally made it
i learn i'm farther away than i have ever been before
i see the clock and it's ticking away, and the hourglass empty
what the fuck do I have to say
The brunette shook her head a little bit, still unsure of how to respond to Elliot at times. When she wanted to be sincere he came back snarky, and when she shot out a biting comment he sounded genuine. It was annoying as fuck, and that was the reason she tried to keep all of her comments fairly consistent. "Possibly, or I really do just like insulting you because it's fun. Aggressive affection, remember?" Lark tapped the side of her head, passing him a faint wink. She really was not sure what to make of this kid. He was interesting, to say the least. Annoying, but interesting. She continued to listen to her music, glancing over at him every so often. He took everything she tossed at him with a smile, as though every insult did not exist. Lark had to admit it was rather nice to be snarky and not cause a fight.
"I can be nice when I wanna be," Lark shrugged, not really giving him a smile or encouraging his ever so chipper attitude. He did that enough on his own. Lark could actually be very nice if given the chance, but Elliot stepped on her foot in the beginning and she was still disgruntled about it. The hoe comment actually hurt, though she took it lightly. "Actually I'm impressed by quite a few people. I just need a reason to be impressed. Makes sense, eh?" Lark was actually impressed by Elliot, but it was not in her nature to admit to it. Impressed that he handled her as well as he did. One of her greatest frustrations was dealing with people that flinched when she made a sarcastic comment or got butthurt when she made an ill-thoughted comment. "Good luck with that." She said, shaking her head. He really was strange, but wasn't everyone in their own way? Lark knew she was not ordinary for sure.
The detention was a glorious thing, of course Elliot taking that brief moment make a comment about it. She rolled her eyes and glanced at him with a smirk, knowing that he was just being a dick. That was fine by Lark of course, because she would have done the same thing to him. He seemed to expect a certain response out of her when he passed the complement, but did not change his facial expression when her reply was probably less than satisfactory. Lark was not going to give him the satisfaction of flattering her just yet. Maybe in the future. At least he didn't make any remarks about when to give the complements. The bell rang and they all stood, Lark following suit. "Yeah, see ya." The girl turned just in time to see Elliot blow her a kiss; if Lark did not know any better, she could have sworn she felt her face grow warm from the gesture. She blinked and refrained from smiling. Fuck. Shouldn't be doing that. I don't go girly over that. Even so as he walked out she ran her hand over her cheek one good time before going to deal with her headphones and her impending detention.
keep it inside, the image portrayed
as if i couldnt stand losing as if i couldn't be saved, no way
a small confession i think i'm starting to lose it
i think i'm drifting away from the people i really need |
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