Grinch (Flynn)

[Olivia Baker]

The Holidays were something that always got under Liv's skin. She wished it weren't the case considering the rest of the year she fancied herself a pretty happy lass but unfortunately some things she just couldn't control. This year, instead of enduring another Baker family Christmas, filled with an hour of cheer and then another 6 of smiling with rude strangers at a charity gala she'd decided to stay up in Pilot Ridge. It also helped that two of her brothers weren't going to be there. She sure as hell also didn't want to explain her report card which sported an A- in English... not acceptable. 

So here she sat, eating cheap chocolates she'd bought herself from Walgreens in her flannel pj pants, a tshirt, and fluffy socks with penguins in them, trying to forget about the day and count the hours until El's party the next day. At least that was something to look forward to. 

She hadn't spent the whole day alone, earlier she'd met up with her brother and exchanged gifts. She'd yet to open any of her gifts, didn't feel right to do it alone and anything her family had gotten her she was sure would either be a backhanded insult or just not her taste. After she'd gotten home from the Diner where they met, Liv got a phonecall from mommy dearest who raved about somebody's son who she thought Liv would look cute with. It was ironic considering her parents strong academics how much she really believed they'd ultimately end up arranging a marriage for her. Of course it didn't help that they had mixed feelings about meta humans and the idea of their daughter, in their eyes handicapped, would end up with another unfortunate soul was pure criminal. No, she'd need someone with impeccable genetics to combat it. So the interrogation began, ending with her mom telling her to not waste her time with the boys at Hammel and her screaming at her mother to stay out of her business. 

Always a pleasure. 

[Deleted]

Flynn was quite unaffected by Christmas. With his parents living in Vermont, he saw them quite often and didn’t really judge it to be any different than other days. The only aspect that made him like it were the presents and all the food. Half of them were stuff purchased with his mom’s giant collection of coupons for discounts, but at least she had been willing to hand them out for them. That was progress that only happened once a year. Either way, Christmas day was running towards its end, making him wonder who he could drag out for a night of fun. He tended to hang out with his family for lunch, simply to be free at night. Then again, the panda shifter was not sure who to bother this year around.

Other than Olivia – his most favorite person in the world. Someone had to deserve that title, and she should feel special since usually he would label himself like that. Who could love him more than he could after all? Anyway, one way or another it had reached the guy’s ears that the dark-haired beauty would be staying in for Christmas, and he just could not have that. While buying presents was not his thing, he figured that he could at least enlighten Liv with his presence. It was the best he could offer, right? Right! Only issue: how to get into her dorm to fulfill his own goal? Perhaps she wouldn’t consider letting him inside because… well, for whatever reason. Flynn couldn’t think of any, but surely she would try to resist his awesomeness. Therefore he needed a brilliant plan that would work.

Brilliance was equal to pizza. So pizza to the rescue! After having stopped by the Italian place in town, with the pizza box in his hands, Flynn walked through the corridor of the girls’ dorms. Once he reached the right door (or so he assumed), the guy plopped down, tugged a black permanent marker from the pocket of his coat. Legs bend Indian style and he rose the box to above his head, probably creating quite a funny image for anyone passing by. Tongue sticking out between his teeth, head tilted back, he wrote something on the bottom of the carton box.

The box that soon got placed on the floor in front of the dorm. He knocked the door and then hurried off to hide around the corner. Who could refuse free pizza? No one.

[Olivia Baker]

When there was a knock on the door Liv really contemplating pretending she wasn't home. She didn't want to see anyone nor was she expecting anyone and she also looked like absolute shit. But, the brunette couldn't help herself, and curiosity got the best of her so she slid off her bed, taking a road chocolate as she went to the door. When she looked out the peep hole she saw no one, odd. So she opened the door and stuck her head out. No one? Was she losing it? Maybe she should relax on the sugar.... but the pizza wofted up and she looked down seeing it.

"What?" She started laughing. What? This was so freaking random. She stepped out of her room picking up the Pizza and looking around. Was this some weird thing going on for all the pathetic kids still here on Christmas break? She opened the box, it seemed safe, she was suspicious though... could you get rufied through a pizza?

[Deleted]

Flynn could hear faint laughter and almost immediately a look of pride settled on his face. Oh yeah, he still got it! While he did want to appear and claim that she totally owed him something given he clearly had made her happy, the panda shifter remained hidden and waited until he was positive Olivia had stepped into the room again. The second the click of the door reached his ears, he turned around the corner and hurried to knock once more. A bright smile was visible as the girl opened up, most probably starting to connect the dots right away, especially thanks to the stupid expression showing.

“Hey. I just wanted to say that you should always read the tiny letters on the bottom of a pizza box.” Because, yeah, he was proud of his idea. He wanted her to go and check it and flail at his awesomeness. If Olivia were to check it out, the following text could be spotted scrabbled on the carton surface: by accepting and taking this pizza (box included) into your dorm, you agree with Flynn coming in as well and to give him at least one third of the pizza. He was just brilliant. Asking for permission to step in? What was that? That sounded so boring.

“I’m the awesome surprise that comes with it.” He announced while splaying arms up by his sides. “Ta-da!”

[Olivia Baker]

The time manipulator wasn't shocked that the pizza ninja had decided to materialize shortly after the door clicked shut. She knew the prankster couldn't be far and of course, since this was Hammel and everyone here seemed to have a motive meaning the pizza wouldn't be coming free. Who was on the other side of the door did take her off guard. "Flynn?" She laughed. She didn't know he was still around for break, though was happy to see him. 

"What?" She lifted the box to look under it, craning her neck, and squinting to read what was underneath. She chuckled and stepped to the side in response to let him in. A sudden wave or delight and horror coming over her as she remembered how crappy she looked given her plans to eat chocolate and marinate in her sweatpants. At least the place was clean, thanks to Penelope.  

"What the hell do i owe this joyous surprise to?" She asked placing the pizza down on the table as she went to get some plates, or paper towels, whatever she found first. 

"I'm sorry i look like a fucking wreck." he looked nice though, but he always did... Damn hammel boys why were literally all of them attractive? It was making the whole focus on your grades thing hard for the time manipulator. 

[Deleted]

Flynn liked to think of ‘being awesome’ as a disease. A rare one, and he happened to ‘suffer’ from it. The smile that appeared on Olivia’s face proved that his simple presence did the trick. And after that, he smoothly slid inside. For a second he scanned the common room, but it was quite like the one at his dorm, other than the more feminine touches. When the girl spoke up again, he looked over to wordlessly run his eyes up and down her body. Sure, a question had been asked first, but Flynn had his priorities.

“You look sexy”, he decided while moving over to the table where fingertips absentmindedly ran over the pizza box before a seat was taken on one of the chairs. “And I figured you could use some company because it’s Christmas and all you were going to do was hide your beautiful self in this dorm. Sooo, the only solution was for me to get inside in order to have you brighten my day.” He paused. “Well, even more so than my mom’s overly decorated Christmas tree…” For a second his thoughts seem to drift off, but they soon fell on Olivia again.

“And I sort of kind of wanted to tell you that I’ll be taking part in the student exchange.” Lips pursed a tad bit to keep himself from continuing to speak. For some reason it kind of made him feel bad, perhaps because he was positive this would tear Olivia’s world down while he had just came to cheer her up. At least it gave him a another chance to draw a smile on her face.

[Olivia Baker]

She coughed hearing the word sexy. She'd never been called that before in her life, or thought of herself in that way. "What?" She laughed unsure how else to react. Nervous laughing, always charming. She had the small feeling that she was being hit on... "How'd you even know that I was here?" She knew that she mentioned she'd be around during break but most people had plans even being at Hammel. 

The next news hit her like rocks. He was leaving? Her smile dropped into a forced one. "Wow... that's great." She said hugging him. Thats what you did when someone had good news right? Hugged them? But this news stung. She hated good byes and today she was feeling so alone to begin with that this was just adding insult to injury. 

"Wow... I... I don't know what to say." She said as she pulled away from him, her hands still on his arms. "Don't forget me while you're off having adventures. "She managed to conjure up a better smile. 

"So... the pizza." She said as she grabbed a slice. Food distraction was the best kind of distraction.

[Deleted]

Flynn thought about that question. “Might have heard someone drop it.” He mused with a small smile. “And a lady in distress is not something that I should ignore.” Even though he unintentionally made it worse by announcing that he would be taking part in the exchange program. Of course the guy was rather oblivious to the sudden switch in mood, mainly because Liv’s features had not been as lit up as they used to be to begin with.

His smile was quite bright though, happily returning the embrace before a smirk took over. “Forget you? How could I ever? You might end up wishing that I did.” With a little wink, he then turned his own focus to the pizza. “I went for a normal one, not sure what else you might like.” Sitting down, the panda shifter soon held a slice in his hands as well.

“So, um, why are you sitting in your room? Shouldn’t you be going out and having fun?” Sure, most students went home during Christmas break, yet it clearly did not account for everyone. Surely there would have been someone for her to tag along with.