Burger Beginings [Haley]

[Melodee Riker]

((this thread is a continuation from Create Space and takes place on the same day.))

As Haley futzed around in her pockets for money, Melodee neatly stepped forward, and placed her order on top of the other girls and slid a $20 across the counter. To the other girl she explained, "I invited you."

She took the number wedge from the cashier and considered linking her arm through the other girls but decided that might be pushing it so early on. Later. "Booth or table?" The redhead tilted her head to indicate that the brunette should take the lead. She might be younger, but Haley had been around for a bit.

Once they'd chosen a place to sit, Mel set the number wedge where it could be seen so their burgers would be delivered without mix-up.

"So, is there anything I need to know in order to survive at Hammel?"

[Haley Shapiro]

Haley glared at her companion when she brandished the twenty dollar note in front of the cashier. "Yeah, throw your money like that in front of a poor girl. Make her feel even worst." She sniped at the older girl but she didn't actually stop her from paying either. Hey, a free meal is a free meal, forgetting completely that there was no such thing as a free meal.

Without replying to the princess' question, Haley went and got them both a booth, sliding in the back one to wait for their burgers. "It's a habit with you, isn't it, Princess?" Haley raised an eyebrow, gesturing to the table to indicate their current situation.

Her question brought a surprised laugh from the strength enhanced girl. "You don't survive Hammel." Haley shook her head in amusement. "You muck through the shit and hope you come out of it not too damaged."

Haley could show her companion the bruises she had been inflicted but that would be too crass for a princess. After a moment's hesitation, she pulled up her hoodie and the shirt underneath to show the purplish healing bruise she had from that scuffle with the sensation transference beeyatch. "And my power doesn't let me bruise that easily. I don't know what your power is but unless you've got like...metal for skin, you can't survive." Haley shrugged.

[Melodee Riker]

"I didn't mean to ... oh, Haley, I invited you, I'm used to paying when I do the inviting, I didn't think." Of course she had thought. Every move was calculated, every word spoken for a reason. "I guess it is a habit. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed." Going quiet and playing with the paper wrapper that had encased the straw previously, Melodee waited.

She didn't have to wait long before the subject shifted back to Hammel. "I don't have metal for skin, and I'm certainly not as strong as you. I hear things." Melodee rolled her eyes. "People, conversation. I thought I was going insane at first. Like schizophrenic or something. But I figured schizophrenic voices would be more interesting than picking up some groceries or dry cleaning. I mean, really." Chancing a smile, Mel leaned back as the tray was delivered and their respective burgers placed before them.

Adding katsup to hers and then a small pool for the fries, Mel paused to study the girl across from her. "I guess I just need to stay out of everyone's way. And avoid the practice ground if I want to come out of this alive and without scars. I wish I had something more useful. Like you."

[Haley Shapiro]

Haley looked at her companion with a raised eyebrow and rolled her eyes, looking away in semi-disgust. She shouldn't feel so offended but she had always relied on herself when it came to things like paying herself through life. Sure, that meant stealing but still, she relied on herself.

"Ew, that's boring." Haley commented on the princess' powers. There was just no sugarcoating with this girl. But she had to commend the redhead's resilience and patience.

Looking at the other girl using the ketchup, Haley turned her nose up slightly before unwrapping her burger and biting into it. She was not a fan of ketchup. "Yeah. You should. Or stick to people who are of use to you." She shrugged through a mouthful of hamburger. "That's not an invitation to cling on to me, thanks." She gave the older girl a mirthless smile. "You sure know how to flatter a girl."

[Melodee Riker]

And that was exactly what Melodee was planning on doing. Starting with Haley. Or starting her work with Haley, the other girl was more than a little rough around the edges, and would need a great deal of work to win her over. Once she did, however, Mel had the suspicion that there would be a great deal of loyalty won with her.

Biting into her own burger she allowed the comment about her powers being boring slide. Truthfully she had thought much the same thing in the beginning, but the advantages to such a thing had occurred to her later. Once she had better control -- and that too would take time -- she would be able to better control how much she heard and would then be able to use it. Or such was her plan at any rate.

Who knew how well she'd be able to control things, if at all. It might end up being one of those deals where she had to remain drugged for the rest of her life in order to simply get by.

"I wouldn't want to cling where I wasn't welcome. But I do hope we can be friends regardless. Or at least friendly acquaintances. I am enjoying spending time with you." Partially true. The time spent was well used, but enjoyable might be stretching it.

[Haley Shapiro]

Haley simply rolled her eyes when the redheaded princess started to get on Haley's nerves with her nice act. And if she didn't have a burger in her mouth to keep it shut, the orphan would have given the other girl a piece of her mind. And also because the princess had paid for her food.

She had to be on crack if she thought spending time with Haley was enjoyable. That or she was lying through her teeth. Although she didn't understand the need to lie. What would the princess gain from being nice to a scruffy orphan who couldn't even pay for her own food?

"We're gonna have to tolerate each other. We're roommates and I don't need half of the furniture smashed just because I don't like how you stacked the groceries in the cupboard." Haley pointed out with a small frown.

Munching on the rest of her burger, she forced herself to not sigh as she looked up at the other girl. "Thanks." She held up the burger as indication to what she was talking about. "I can pay for myself." She said and bit into her burger to occupy her mouth.

[Melodee Riker]

Hiding a frown behind another bite of burger, Melodee considered the situation. It wasn't going nearly as well as she had anticipated. Usually people were more than happy to be her friend. To accept her paying for everything. But not this girl.

It was time to back off, or be possibly result in making the other girl angry. she'd find another way in. It would just take more time than she was used to. That's what she got for landing herself in a school of freaks. They were probably all losers in their original habitats and weren't much better here. Haley had issues. Even Mel could see that, if she couldn't just graciously accept a lunch.

But she was useful. And therein lay the problem. Useful people who weren't grateful were harder to get to. Useful people with anger issues were even harder to get to.

"I'm sorry I offended you." That was all Mel said before falling silent again and eating her burger and fries. There was need for some major strategizing.

[Haley Shapiro]

Were Haley a better person, she would have dropped her act, apologised and proceeded to gossip about the biggest teeny bopper starlet hunk with the red-haired princess.

At this point, nobody could argue that Haley was anything but a better person.

Haley continued to eat, frowning every once in awhile at the other girl. She was going to be a problem, Haley could feel it.

[OOC: Wrappy pappy!]