What is this stuff? (Paul)

[Josie Raines]

There were a lot of things you could call Hammel Institute, Josie knew, but "boring" wasn't one of them. At any other school, being radioed to clean up what was described as "orange bodily fluids" would be extremely out of the ordinary, as well as a sign that some kid needed to see a doctor. At Hammel? Nah. That just meant gym class.

By the time Josie wheeled her mop bucket into the gymnasium, class was clearly over. The students had already disappeared off to their next classes. She was pretty sure she could hear showers running in one of the locker rooms, though - maybe a straggler or two. Hopefully they were gone by the one she needed to start cleaning up in there.

Well, might as well get to it. Josie pulled her bucket over to a trail of bizarre drippings - and yes, they were definitely orange - and got to work.

[Paul Wilkerson]

Ever since Paul’s powers manifested, Paul hated gym class. He always tried his best not to sweat, but sometimes it just too hard not to. And today was one of those days. At the end of class, Paul rushed to the locker room and hid in a bathroom stall. He waited until the students left.

When the lock room was quiet, he left his stall. Paul found him self in the mirror over the sink. Paul could go work for Willy Wonka at his chocolate factory. He would fit right in. Paul quickly showered and got changed.

Of course Paul had to wear a white t-shirt that day. And of course Paul was still hot and was still sweating a little. He grabbed his backpack and left the locker room. Paul stopped to check his shirt. He had orange sweat stains on his white t-shirt. He entered the gym to get to the hall.

And of course a janitor was already in the gym cleaning up his sweat trail. This day was just going to suck for Paul.

[Josie Raines]

Josie glanced up from her work at the sound of a door swinging open. Sure enough, a student emerged from one of the locker rooms. Well, now she knew the place would be empty when she was ready to tackle it.

She was ready to pay the boy no mind - he was probably going to be late to his next class, she figured - until Josie noticed the distinctive orange stains on his shirt. She continued mopping, waiting for the kid to pass by before calling out to him.

"So'd you lose a fight with a bottle of Faygo, or are you the reason I'm here?" Josie asked him, one eyebrow cocked. Okay, maybe that was a bit rude for addressing a student, but to be honest she was actually curious. She'd seen some funky powers in her time at Hammel, but orange sweat? Come on, that was pretty weird.

[Paul Wilkerson]

Paul stopped short at the Faygo comment. And this was exactly why Paul didn’t people to know what his powers were. It was bad enough that he was an oompa loompa after gym class. It was bed enough that he left a trail. It was bed enough that he has sweat stains on his shirt after his shower. And now he has a janitor being a smart ass.

He turned around to face the janitor. He glared at her. She wasn’t a teacher and couldn’t get him detention right there on the spot if he acts like a smart ass back to her, right? Paul didn’t want to take any chances, so he just stuck with his glaring.

“Sorry. Is that what you’re looking for?”

[Josie Raines]

Josie paused in her work to put her hands up defensively, hiking an innocent look onto her face.

"Settle down, scooter, no hard feelings," she answered lightly, as though the kid were out of line for being bothered. "I was just wonderin' whether I needed to get the hazmat suit. Is this shit gonna make me grow an extra set of arms or am I safe?"

Could this kid get her in trouble if he told the higher-ups she was picking on him? Probably, Josie figured. Mostly it depended on whether he'd be too embarrassed about it to tell.

[Paul Wilkerson]

Hazmat suit?! Paul’s anger filled him. He’s never been so insulted before. He was about to give the janitor a piece of his mind, but then he stopped. Paul thought about what she asked. It was just sweat that was orange in color, right? There wasn’t anything weird about his sweat that would affect other people.

To Paul’s knowledge its just orange sweat. If anything weird did happen to the janitor, then Paul would know there’s more to his “powers.”

“Its just orange sweat.” Paul said in a hateful tone because of the hazmat suit comment. Nothing should happen. Paul added in his head.


((OOC: Don't worry, nothing will happen. Just orange sweat.))

[Josie Raines]

Josie wasn't actually afraid the orange liquid was dangerous, at least as anything more than a tripping hazard. Surely if it were radioactive or something, the administration or, hell, the government would have the kid in quarantine, right? She wasn't entirely sure how that would work, but if he were that much of a risk he'd probably be locked up in, like, Area 51 or something.

But hey, it didn't hurt to hear him confirm it himself. Didn't mean she couldn't have a little more fun, either.

"Aw, that's no bueno," Josie pouted. "Here I was thinkin' I could use an extra set of arms. I could get more done at once, y'know?"

[Paul Wilkerson]

Something is wrong with this janitor. Paul declared in his head. Why would someone want more arms? Okay, Paul could see the benefits for a janitor to have more arms, but still. Paul didn’t get it.

“Why don’t you grow some more? Go jump into a tub of radioactive stuff or something. Couldn’t you find another pair somewhere here at Hammel?” Paul wasn’t trying to be a smart ass, but hopefully the janitor won’t take it the wrong way.

Since the janitor works at Hammel, she’s a meta, right? Would it be alright if Paul asks? Or would it be inappropriate for a student and a staff member to share that kind of information? But come to think of it, the janitor does know about Paul’s “powers.”

[Josie Raines]

Now Josie couldn't help but laugh - man, what if the school did just have a bucket full of radioactive shit somewhere? Wouldn't that be a riot.

"Hey, if it was that easy, this place woulda made me do it months ago!" she hooted. "Sproutin' some extra arms is probably way cheaper than payin' me to work more hours."

No longer working, she gestured to the kid with her mop handle.

"And if somebody was just running around droppin' arms everywhere, come on, that'd be even weirder than your thing, uh..." Josie'd been about to address him, but she wasn't in the habit of remembering students names. "What's your name anyway, kid?"

[Paul Wilkerson]

Paul was relived that the janitor was laughing and enjoyed what he had said. It was funny to picture someone walking around Hammel and leaving a trail of arms behind. Maybe Paul was too quick to judge the janitor. At first Paul decided that this janitor was nothing but a jerk, but now not so much. Paul mentally smacked himself for judging too quickly. His mother had always told him not judge people. But then again he wasn’t judging by appearances, but by personality. Still Paul mentally scolded himself.

Paul might as well tell her his name. The ice has broken between them now and not so intense. “Paul. And you are?”

[Josie Raines]

"Josie." Rather than step forward to shake the boy's hand, she merely offered a small smile and nod.

"An' hey, I was just fuckin' with you," she assured him. Paul seemed like a nice kid, or at least one who could handle her teasing without too much trouble. If he had a less forgiving sense of humor she'd be inclined to get him more riled up. But he seemed all right, so maybe she could give him a break. "This isn't nearly the grossest stuff I've had to clean up. Remember that plague, had everyone pukin' all over the place? Now /that/ was disgusting."

[Paul Wilkerson]

Plague? Paul had no memory of the plague. It must have ended before he started attending at Hammel. That must have been the terrible. Paul thought about it. Paul didn’t know or wanted to know what color his puke. No he wasn’t going there.

“Your job sounds like it sucks. I wouldn’t want it. No matter what the pay was.” Being a janitor was one thing. Being a janitor at Hammel was another thing. The things Josie had seen and had to clean up. Nasty.

[Josie Raines]

Josie'd had kids make fun of her, and her job, before. Plenty of times. Paul sounded sympathetic rather than malicious, though, even if he probably was exaggerating. Anybody'd clean up a puddle of half-digested mystery meat for a million bucks.

"Eh, it's a living," she shrugged. As she spoke, she adjusted her grip on the mop handle and got back to work, rinsing and dunking the ropey strands for another try at the mess on the floor. "You wanna talk terrible jobs, at least I'm not stuck in the sewers. You kids may be nasty but I'll take you over rivers of shit anyday."

From out in the hallway, Josie heard the sudden clanging of a bell, ushering students to their classes.

"Better get scootin'," she told Paul. "Although now you're already late, might as well run back to your dorm for a new shirt."

[Paul Wilkerson]

The bell rang. Normally Paul had lunch after gym class, but he had spent his lunchtime talking to a janitor. And now Paul was late for class, hungry, and had a stained orange white t-shirt.

“I wish. I don’t stay in the dorms. I’m a local student. So the only shirt that I could change into is my nasty gym shirt. Which is a lot worst then what I am wearing now. Well, I guess I should be going.” Paul pointed to the door behind him. He turned to leave the gym.

Before Paul turned the corner, he turned back to Josie. “Sorry about the mess.” And then Paul joined the rest of the students in the hall and made his way to class. He would see Josie again, especially after gym classes because he would leave a mess behind. But it’s not like he means it. It just happens.