Never Break a Promise of Food… (Dalton, Lani & L.C

[Jacob Dalton]

While the tour had not been entirely drama-free, Dalton was pleased to see the two students getting along as well as could be expected given their rocky start. After an hour in which they gave him a thorough tour of the facilities, Dalton was in agreement that it was high time for lunch. Their final stop was the front office, where he inquired about the proper procedure for requesting a pass for the students to join him on an excursion into town. The lady behind the desk had quickly pulled him aside and explained that under no circumstances would he have authority to take both of these students to Pilot Ridge at this time, and why.

He wrestled with many conflicting feelings: sadness at the cause, frustration at not being able to fulfill his pledge, and the moral quandary of how best to approach this issue with them. Finally he requested a local phone book, and returned to the reception area.

"It seems we have a hitch in our plans," he explained to them: "At this time, they will not grant me authority to supervise the two of you for an expedition. No doubt in time this will change: but for now, I shall be unable to take you into town as planned.

"I offered to treat you to lunch in return for the tour. You have fulfilled your end: I have no intention of backing out on my word. While we may not be able to go into town, I can certainly order carryout or takeout."

He opened the thin phonebook to the restaurants section, sharing its contents with them. "It seems our options include three varieties of pizza, two each of Mexican or Italian, one each for Chinese, Americana, a seafood and perhaps an Indian restaurant: something called ‘Kali’s?’ Sacramento, Pilot Ridge is not. Any preferences?”

[Lani Hunter]

Lani had to admit he was starting to like this man. He had something none of the teachers had shown and that was the willingness to speak to him without fear. Not only that but he was telling Lani like it is and not sugar coating it like he was a child who might have a tantrum. An adult, Dalton was treating him more like an adult than a kid that won quite a bit of respect from him right off the bat. L.C., though they had started out rough he was finding to enjoy her company. She wasn't one of the all to against their powers nor was she so for her powers that it was annoying. It almost seemed to Lani like she had come to an agreement with her powers. Lani was still working on it but it was getting there.

After having walked around the school with the teacher Lani had actually found several places he had never known to exist. Including a new place to make a break for it. Through the kitchen. It opened to the outside wall where the dumpster was. The one flaw in the seemingly solid walls of Hammel. He felt slightly guilty for that being the first thought to cross his mind but he couldn't help it. His mind worked for escapes and alternate routes. When they arrived at the main office last Lani didn't want to go in but followed anyways. He felt exceedingly uncomfortable in a place that held only bad memories. He eyes the security desk where an officer was giving him a, 'what did you do now?' look. Lani stayed against the wall in the reception area far too anxious to sit and even appear relaxed. He looked up from pretending to examine a plant on the table when Dalton walked back out.

He groaned inwardly and a scowl crossed his face. Of course he had asked permission to take them out and of course Lani was going to be excluded from that permission. Dalton wasn't exactly faculty yet and so even under that supervision they wouldn't let Lani off his short leash. "Ah," Lani bit off a swear, "I'm almost 18 I shouldn't have to have permission." He crossed his arms a million times over not happy about his situation. He had long since sent his tennis ball back to his room, which had a permanently opened window to ease his trapped feeling. So instead of being able to hold onto his power he picked up a stapler that kept shooting staples uselessly into the floor. He uttered a noise in further annoyance and a harsh, "Lani!" from across the room from the security desk brought him back to focus. Apparently it was bad to knock over a lamp. He scowled as the man glared at him.

"Sorry," he said halfway as he turned his back to the man and back to Dalton. He couldn't be happy about the situation but the fact that he was still getting lunch softened the blow. He glanced at L.C. curiously, why was it that she couldn't go either? Surely she didn't have the kind of restrictions that he did. Lani shrugged at the suggestions, "Whatever is good with me." He said, "Anything but seafood," he added, "I hate fish." Lani was only a picky eater when it came to fish. He grew up inland and for one the thought of eating anything he had once held as a pet, even the small goldfish cousins came as a turn off for him. But the texture was just odd.

[L.C. Milliner]

L.C., at first, had only done the tour for one reason; her undying love for a free meal. It was the carnie child that was still within her egging her on through the walking show of the very large school. She showed them around the academy mostly, leading the way through the twists and turned that made any labyrinth look like a maze on the back of a child’s menu. She was the one who had pointed out the kitchen, which was open to her anytime. She always kept on the good side of the lunch ladies when she could. So while in the beginning she was not the most eager participant, she felt a bit of respect for the man she was showing around. True, he didn’t know her yet, but he wasn’t treating her like a criminal or like an inferior. She was actually emerging a little from the usual shell of bitchiness that seemed to surround her. She smiled easily and was even being somewhat nice to Lani, an unprecedented event.

As they stepped into the main office, however, she slid back into her cold shell, glaring at the front desk as Dalton left. She had animosity toward the security staff just like Lani. The only difference was that she never had the ‘escape-only-to-be-brought-back’ phase. She had the phase that was categorized as ‘sneaking-out-to-steal-things-and-having-the-arrogance-to-believe-you-can-get-back-undetected’ phase. She had outgrown it after her sophomore year, but she still had times when she slipped things into her purse and feel very little guilt. The pair of headphones the guard was staring daggers at was a good example. She frowned and looked at her shoes, biting her lip. She pulled at her bag in a nervous fashion and looked up, her face a mask of neutrality as Mr. Dalton broke the news. She should’ve known that they wouldn’t have allowed her out. The neutral mask stayed on, but her eyes crinkled slightly, a slight sign of hurt and annoyance.

She watched as a stapler rose from a desk and began ejecting staples into the floor, L.C. snorted to herself and glared at the security guard, who gave her an equally unfriendly glare. She only broke the stare when the new security guard from Japan came up behind the first guard and stared at L.C., blinking at her before grinning, revealing a row of very sharp teeth. L.C. grimaced and took a look at the woman’s eyes, which flashed a bloody red. Turning with a shudder, L.C. watched out of the corner of her eye as the woman and the guard conferred and she left, likely to go run off a faculty ID for Mr. Dalton or something. She wasn’t sure if the other two had seen her, but L.C. didn’t like her already. She couldn’t wait for her to leave.

The phone book made her hopeful. If they couldn’t go to the food, they would bring the food to them! Brilliant! She perked up noticeably and circled around the man, peering at the phone book. She had never even heard of some of the places, but from what she remembered, the pizza places weren’t half bad, and she hadn’t ordered pizza in a very long time. She looked up at Lani and when he failed to suggest anything he wanted, she jumped at the chance to order food. She pointed at the ambiguous ‘Taboni’s Pizzeria’ ad and nodded. “They make great pizza, Taboni’s place. Fantastic, even. I like anything, but I’ll take half of a pie with pineapple and black olives.” She looked up to Lani and then to Mr. Dalton, almost pleading with her facial expression. She was pouting. She never pouted. Who was she and what had she done with Lyra Milliner? “If that’s alright.” It better be, she’d be damned if she couldn’t have her dream pizza.

((OOC: I didn’t just add in my other character, what’re you talking about?))

[Jacob Dalton]

Dalton had been delighted with how the tour had unfolded. While he was most certainly interested in the facility, he could have requested the “faculty” tour from any of the staff. This was far more about both viewing the place from a student’s perspective, and seeing how these two behaved when given a focus outside their own issues. As expected, they had opened up and reaffirmed a thousand times over Dalton’s commitment to believe the best in his students right from the start. They were helpful, friendly, thoughtful, intelligent, creative, stimulating and fascinating. Now all he had to do was hold up the mirror of what he saw in them, and let them see it for themselves. That’s all: only the work of a lifetime. But a work offering rewards beyond measure.

The tour concluded as it must at the front office. As soon as they entered, Dalton realized the masks had just been slammed back into place. Inwardly he groaned and cursed himself; of course they had had difficult dealings with the rest of the staff, and found this an awkward place. But this was an unavoidable step, and he would get them through it as best they might.

When he came out of the back office, the tableau was set: the scowls being exchanged between student and security, the posed indifference, walls fully up. As he shared the initial news, he saw their impressions confirmed. He witnessed the stapler incident without comment: wrong place, wrong time.

Lani seemed noncommittal: whether he really didn’t care or wouldn’t allow himself to care right now because of the restriction, Dalton wasn’t sure. But L.C.’s reaction was delightful. Like a kid in a candy shop: Dalton couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled up inside him at her puppy-dog pout. “Half a large, pineapple and olive it is!” Dalton agreed. “How about it, Lani? If we’re ordering pizza, what’s your preference? Are you an all-meat man, or do you go for some veggies?”

He cast an eye on the ad, which sadly gave few details. “If we’re talking standard sauce, my usual preference is all meat and some mushrooms thrown in. If you don’t care for mushrooms or any particular meat, I am happy to omit them. But if Taboni’s has specialty sauces, I’ll leave the other half of the large entirely up to you and get a separate medium with an Alfredo, garlic or pesto sauce, chicken, artichokes and mushrooms.

“I suppose we should consider drinks as well. No doubt they have the popular sodas at Taboni’s, but I know I saw a grocery store on the way up. If you have some specialty soda you prefer, or juice, tea or whatnot, I could also pick something up there.”

Dalton arduously programmed the number for Taboni’s into his cell phone, having determined that it would be best to dispense with the phone book and leave the office as soon as possible. “I am sure we can find a far more pleasant place to share a meal: shall we step out?”

Once out of the office he commented: “I believe you pointed out a pond that looked like a pleasant place to go: would that appeal to the two of you? Just because we can’t leave the campus doesn’t mean we can’t get outside again, at least…”

(OOC: what? You have Taboni as a charry? I was looking, but didn't see any pizza makers!)

[Lani Hunter]

Lani was exceedingly glad when Dalton didn't comment on the stapler. He didn't think he would have reacted well. For Lani getting scolded for something caused by his emotions brought on by the control of authority. He smiled a little in thanks but no more. The smile quickly faded as his mind retreated and worked on pushing back the dark thoughts that were forming in his mind. He glanced at L.C. curiously, apparently she wasn't too fond of security either. But none of this was as bad as when he had been put on suicide watch. Apparently jumping out of windows as an experiment still counted. He just hated the office so much it made his skin crawl. The faster he could get out of here the better his sanity would be. He glanced at Dalton as he just accepted that they would have to order out. Wasn't he the least bothered? Why would he let people push him around, he was almost a staff member wasn't he? Their peers, they couldn't look down on him. Why then wasn't he angry at people controlling his life?

He shifted crossing his arms and looking off at the wall mulling this around in his head. Was Dalton alright with people pushing him around? Controlling him. Lani bristled a little and ground his teeth as the thought bothered him. Controlling, that was all people did here. He thought Dalton was different, and he was, he let himself be controlled. L.C.'s reaction was unexpected, she seemed so relaxed and he envied her. He barely caught the conversation only smiling gently at her puppy dog eyes. His thoughts were caught up in a whirlwind and he turned inward. It was the only way he could gather several thoughts and deal with them without zoning out and losing control of his power. He probably appeared to be zoning but his mind was very much aware, just more inwardly aware than outwardly.

He blinked coming back when Dalton called his name. "Huh, uh yeah, sure. I'm cool with that." He said indecisively. He made a slight face at the mention of mushrooms. He never really understood why people liked them to him they were slimy unpleasant things people threw on randomly. It wasn't that they tasted bad, it was the texture that freaked him out. "How about onions?" He inputted, partly to show that he was engaged in the conversation. He simply shrugged at Dalton, "I've never been. L.C.? You're the expert." He shrugged and cocked his head at Dalton, "They do that?" Lani asked in shock with a picky little sister he had only had standard pizza with regular sauce and meat. He felt a surge of sadness, what he wouldn't give to have a pizza 'party' with his little sister again and watch movies all night even after their parents declared they 'had' to go to bed.

Lani nodded, "Mountain Dew?" He said enthusiastically startling himself. Then more calmly, "If that's alright." He missed the stuff, this was a place that didn't really have sodas and he was really craving some energy inducing drinks. Mountain Dew was possibly the most energy filling drinks short of energy drinks, which one never gave Lani for his mind would be too hyper to control. Lani nodded at his suggestion and was first at the door holding it open for the pair to come after him. He could not get out of there faster. He glanced around slightly like he was being watched and Felt the lock on the office door with ill intent. Telling him he couldn't leave, they might get a nasty surprise one of these nights... The vengeful thoughts made the corner of his mouth rise in an expression that made his already suspicious face to a clear 'up to no good' look.

Lani nodded in agreement. He personally didn't like water but looking at it had never been a problem and it certainly did make for some breathtaking scenery. "It is an unusually nice day," Lani said absently, "Back home we'd already have snow on the ground." He smiled a little and looked back at L.C. He didn't know all that much about her but he was surely going to get her secrets on how to get in and out of this place because she certainly knew it a lot better than he did.

[L.C. Milliner]

L.C. was an enigma to many people, but if there was one thing about her, it was that she was a carnie kid, through and through. Hatred toward authority was imbedded in her veins, unhealthy food made up most of her childhood. Underhanded schemes were the basis of her kindergarten classes; graduation to stealing and pilfering 101 was a route many students chose to take. Like any carnie kid, she got easily excited over the prospect of food, and, like any respectable carnie kid, she hated to admit it. Through and through, she hated her old lifestyle. Anyone could tell by her narrowed eyes and outright hatred toward anything that resembled a circus.

At the mention of a large pizza, L.C.’s mood brightened considerably. That meant she could work with leftovers for the next few days, if needed. She was about to pipe up that she liked stuffed crust, but decided against it- that cost extra, she was sure. At Dalton’s mention of his preferences, her eyes narrowed in thought, eyebrows knitting together. The idea of specialty sauces had never occurred to L.C. before. She had only ordered pizza with red sauce, so she really had no idea there were any others. Her guess was as good as Dalton’s, so she shrugged. “I dunno about the sauce. I normally just order regular stuff.” Well, she normally had regular stuff ordered for her. She had never actually ordered pizza for herself, she had always been in some sort of group function. Ah, the pros and cons of being poor.

Drinks were easy. “Pepsi. No ice.” She chimed without a second thought, shoving her hands in her pockets, humming slightly to herself, a chipper tune that sounded similar to a video game’s ‘invincibility’ background music. That was something that L.C. tended to pilfer more often than not- she could reach up into a soda machine better then the best of some thieves, depending on the machine. She also had a habit of scrounging up quarters from people to put together the typical dollar faire for the machine. She only did that sometimes, though. She blamed sticky quick fingers and years of practice for the former method of soda receiving.

She sped out of the office without a second to spare, happy to get out of there as quick as possible. She watched as Mr. Dalton began calling up the pizza place. She wasn’t a fan of the outdoors, but she made no move to counter the idea. Instead, she stood with her hands in her pockets, listening to the talk about snow. Normally it snowed by her birthday, but this year was a dry year, and it had gone by without a single flake. She was startled to realize it had gone by without any marker at all- she hadn’t told anyone and nobody had remembered. She was nineteen now and the fifth of November had passed in meaningless obscurity. The thought depressed her and she missed the conversation, opting out to stare blankly outside for a few minutes before walking a few steps to the wall, leaning on it with a ‘thump’ as the back of her head hit it.

“Where did you live before you came here, Mr. Dalton?” She asked in a half-mutter, growing quiet and sullen again like a normal mood-swinging sullen teenager. She was snowballing off of Lani’s statement, in reality she didn’t much care, she just didn’t want anyone to start asking her questions. A good way to deflect attention was to pass it off to someone else.

[Jacob Dalton]

As expected, the students were all too eager to leave the office. Dalton also caught the face that Lani made over the suggestion of mushrooms, and grinned.

“Not a fan of the fungi, I take it? Very well then: the second half of the red sauce pizza, meat toppings and onions: the chicken Alfredo, if they have it, half mushrooms, half onions. Two halves to select from that you may like.

“Mountain Dew it is: and for the lady, Pepsi, no ice. Not to worry: I shall make sure the grocer has not snuck any ice into the bottles!”

Dalton placed the call, adjusted for a four-cheese garlic sauce with the chicken since Taboni’s did not have Alfredo, and confirmed that the pizza would be ready for pickup in 30 minutes.

“Just time for me to get to the grocery store first, get sodas and cash, then over to Taboni’s and back,” he assured Lani and L.C.: “Another ten, fifteen minute tops to pay and drive back. So: meet you by the pool in forty-five minutes.”


<< “Where did you live before you came here, Mr. Dalton?” >>

And there it was: the question from out of the blue that brought it all back...

Fleeting glimpses raged through his mind of the water raging over the car: Allison and Delia shrieking, his own hoarse cry of anguish as the car flipped over, beyond his grasp, and disappeared beneath the churning waters. Delia: screaming, always screaming silently, but with a silence so loud it cut to the heart.

For a moment, maybe for an hour he had almost forgotten. He had been so involved with the discoveries of new people and new places, the haunting shades of the past had temporarily disappeared from his mind. Even now it was but a fleeting instant before he refocused on here and now. Outwardly all they might see would be that he blinked, and that thereafter his spirits did not seem quite so buoyant.

"Sacramento: beautiful place this time of year. Still has all the colors of fall, but not quite so cold as here. Rarely snows..."

His gaze came back to Lani's face, then L.C.'s, and he smiled again. "Now, then: I'm off for sodas and pizza. Catch the two of you shortly..."

* * * * * * *



Big Blue had become a haven for him: a refuge from the storm. Neither Delia nor Allison had ever seen the car: it carried no taint of their memory. And the last two weeks, though carrying the inevitable stress of three thousand miles' worth of driving, had been a wonderful escape as well: sights he had always heard of, seen in films, but never in person until now. Martin had been the perfect traveling companion: just demanding enough to keep Dalton from drifting, not so much as to distract from the wonders of the voyage.

But Martin was not here now. The car was nearly silent. Dalton's mind was not.

The grocery store could not have come up at a better time. He desperately needed the distraction. He stepped inside, checking his watch, knowing he didn’t have much time but still taking a minute just to stroll through the aisles, get a sense for the store: then he grabbed some paper plates, some parmesan, two 24-oz bottle each of Mountain Dew, Pepsi and his favorite Sunkist from the chilled beverage section up front. He flashed a quick smile to the cashier, and on out the door.

The drive to Taboni’s was a bit easier on him. He was able to keep his focus on the road, the here and now. When he arrived, they were just pulling the pizzas out of the oven, getting ready to slice them. He grinned bemusedly: they were right according to the old rule he had learned for pizza places. If it is delivery, quote ten minutes longer than it should be: if it’s pick-up, quote ten to fifteen minutes less. Better to surprise them early at the door or to keep them waiting a few minutes to make sure the pizza is hot. He glanced around as he was waiting: Taboni’s appeared to be a very authentic, very charming family-run shop: perhaps a bit low on the frills, rustic but nice.

As they passed him the boxes, Dalton couldn’t help but notice a most extraordinary smell coming from them: basil, was it? He asked, and the girl at the register made a face. “Sorry: you asked for cheese-garlic sauce, and we’re out tonight. My brother should have told you. So Papa fixed you his special lemon-pesto sauce, and didn’t charge extra. Hope you like it.”

If the smell was any indication, it would be fabulous. He also picked up an order of their regular breadsticks and the sugar-cinnamon ones with chocolate sauce.

The drive back was quicker: Dalton’s stomach was rumbling loudly at the incredible smells filling the car. His good mood was fully restored as he swept around the curves, took the turn into the parking lot, and hopped out with pizzas, breadsticks and drinks in hand, and strode swiftly towards the pond.

“I daresay this may turn out far better than anticipated,” he chortled as he came in sight of the pond. “Let’s get this set up and dig in, shall we?”

[Lani Hunter]

Lani shrugged and nodded, he was indeed correct on that account, that was not something he preferred in any form. He laughed a little at the comment about ice. OF course he had been thinking what L.C had been thinking, that he was going to get drinks at the pizza place but turns out he would rather get them at the grocery store. Lani gave L.C. a smile and shook his head slightly, "Very specific," he commented lightly, gently teasing her for her no ice in the bottle comment. She seemed all to ready to be out of the stresses of the office almost as much as he did. He wondered why, what had she done to warrant such a treatment. He knew fully well what he had done, one more time, they threatened and they were going to get him a tracker. One more time, Lani had smiled at their bluff. For the number of times they caught him there were ten more that were successful.

Lani looked back at Dalton when L.C. asked him where he was from. The man fell silent for a moment and Lani thought he saw sometime dark growing in his eyes. "Mr. Dalton...?" He began but was cut off by the sharp answer. California? Part of Lani wondered what happened, always thinking the worst. The answer was quick, short, and to the point, unlike the almost lyrical sentences ADlton normally used. "No snow?" Lani asked jokingly, "You don't know what you're missing." He grinned trying to lighten the mood again, Dalton was so far the one with the sane mind and Lani wasn't about to let any memories come back to haunt him. Dalton, he had found was an interesting man. He was confident and strong, yet he let himself be pushed around, had there been something that happened? Lani's curiosity was blooming and he would have answers if that meant sneaking into the office files. However he was not about to let the only staff member who had treated him like a human being become upset by his questioning.

"See ya," he said absently as the man left out the doors Lani wished to rush out. He sighed and turned to L.C. and locked his icy green eyes on hers. "How about we keep questions of the past to a minimum?" He said it softly and without any real emotion behind it but the glare in his eye was clear. He didn't blame her for asking, she couldn't have known but those eyes were dark. He sighed and let it roll off his shoulders, perhaps Dalton was just the kind of person who didn't like prying. He certainly knew he would not have been very honest or happy about people asking about his personal life, but then again he certainly had secrets worth keeping. He moved through the halls, they were all but empty for the weekend. He glanced back to make sure L.C. was following him out into the sunlight. "Is it strange that there is no snow yet?" He asked curiously, she had been here longer than he had so he had no idea how the winter would be.

He was curious about L.C. as well but he was sure she would have a similar reaction to him if he asked her. And he was not in the mood to eat spikes, not today or any day. Especially since Dalton was gone and it seemed she minded her temper around him. He hesitated in walking toward the pond with a slight air of dislike toward it. Lani smiled a little, "Sorry, by the way," he said, "For not being able to go off campus." He was sure it was his fault and Mr. Dalton was just too kind to leave him out of the deal. Lani glanced around not really a fan of sitting on the ground. He found three rocks that were of decent size and lifted them one by one to put them down near where they were. It took a lot of patience and going slow, especially since they were heavy. He moved them always in a directions away from L.C. just in case they decided to go hurtling themselves into space. He dropped down onto one of them not realizing how tired that had made him.

His headache raged and Lani's brow knitted in pain. He closed his eyes and dug in his pocket for the pain medication he was not supposed to carry around with him. He glanced up when he heard a voice again. Lani stood and trotted over to Dalton, "Let me help you," he said and took the pizza's from his hands. Using his real hands not his power's hands for fear that they would not obey him after he made them behave for so long to move the rocks. Dalton seemed to have recovered from whatever had been bothering him and was back to his long winded sentences again. "Yo, L.C, wanna slice the pizza?" He called jokingly with a wide grin ready to duck a blow. Though tempting as it was to call her 'Elsie' Lani (wisely) refrained for fear of his life.

[L.C. Milliner]

L.C. blushed and ducked her head a little, feeling stupid for the ice comment. It wasn’t that she thought about ice in the bottle, it was that she had a thing for lukewarm soda. It tasted better to her for some reason, better than a cold soda. Her humming stopped abruptly and she retreated back into her own little world. She should just leave. She could cut and run during the forty-five minutes of waiting that Dalton had mentioned.

The blonde female wasn’t as perceptive as Lani was, so she had missed the meaning of the pause between her question and his answer. She noticed her didn’t seem as happy as before, but made no move to ask why, instead she nodded at his mention of Sacramento. She had never been on the west coast, only up and down the eastern seaboard so many times she would be impressed if it didn’t add up to triple digits. She watched Dalton leave and said not a word, letting Lani speak for the both of them. When he had gone, she looked to the boy, realizing that maybe leaving the two of them alone wasn’t a good idea in retrospect.

She really hadn’t bothered to look too closely earlier, but Lani wasn’t half bad looking, except when he was glaring at her.

Like he was now.

Well, shit.

L.C. blinked and, in lieu of a witty comeback or scathing comment, muttered a single ‘okay’ and let the be it. The girl had been caught off-guard and she was slightly mollified as it was. She shoved her hands in her pockets to keep them from running through anything (or anyone) and stood in silence. She switched from standing to walking with Lani as they headed to wherever he was going. She walked slowly and when he asked about snow, she looked up. “Yeah. A little.” She answered with a strict sense of conciseness, looking off to the side, away from him. She watched people walk around campus as they headed toward the pond slowly, and she only looked back to Lani when he apologized.

“It’s not you.” She said, her words short and clipped. “I’m not allowed on leave. I’m surprised the Doc can still get me out.” She let him chew on that, not bothering to disclose the details of her imprisonment or the reason behind it. Let him think it was because she was a danger to everyone around her and that if she was let loose in Pilot Ridge a blood bath would ensue. That seemed to be the general consensus of the students.

She sat on the grass, not minding the ground or the dirt. She had grown up with dirt as her plaything, and so, watching Lani move rocks, she was content to put her chin in her hand and watch them float steadily through the air and land where he wanted. It was of those moments where she wished for any other power but her own, and it wasn’t one of those few and far-between things. It took him a while, but it would’ve taken her much longer, considering she’d have to physically roll them across the ground.

“I’d give anything to have your power.” She muttered when he was done, sitting on one of the bigger rocks that allowed her to tuck her knees to her chest. She laid her head on her knees and closed her eyes, waiting on her rock in silence until the pizza had arrived. She blinked herself awake just in time to see Lani shove some meds in his pockets before going to help out Dalton. She remained on her rock, watching with mute fascination as she noted all the food. When Lani said something about her cutting the pizza she snorted and turned back into her old self, standing to take the box from him.

“It’s pre-cut, dumbass.” She said back in a mock angry manner, but she was smiling, opening the box to expose the large pizza inside. The holy grail. She inhaled the wonderful smell and grinned, her stomach growling loud enough to wake the dead. She sat on her rock and propped the box on her lap, pulling a slice out and beginning to devour it right away, turning the box to Lani to get his slice. She didn’t really stand on ceremony, although when she had swallowed her first bite, she licked her lips and looked skyward.

“Dear Jesus, this is the most amazing pizza ever. Amen.” With that, she tore back into her food, happier than a dragon with a flock of sheep in front of them. She hadn’t even noticed the breadsticks yet, but she looked around and, seeing that Lani hadn’t provided them with a table, stood and sat the box on the rock, opting to sit on the ground instead. The pineapple and black olive mixture was an explosion of flavor in her mouth compared to the bland cafeteria food. “This is so epic.” She said between bites, looking to Dalton and giving a thumbs-up of approval that was very hard to score from her. He knew how to make a student happy, that was for certain.

[Jacob Dalton]

Dalton noted at once that three rather large rocks had been moved to accommodate them closer to the pond.

“Very accommodating! Thank you, Lani. Built up an appetite, by any chance?” He quickly passed round the sodas and set out the paper plates, making good use of the rock L.C. had apparently designated for a table. He couldn’t help but notice the camaraderie forming between the two. Lani’s teasing was clearly in good humor, and L.C.’s retort likewise obviously for show, with no real heat behind her words. The difference a couple of hours could make! Though he made no comment, he was immensely gratified.

He watched the students tear into their favorites as he helped himself to the lemon-pesto chicken. Rather than follow the American tradition of starting from the center point and working one’s way back towards the crust, Dalton took a bite of the crust first. Not bad, but nothing spectacular. He alternated bits of crust and topping there after until the crust was gone, though he broke off some crust to toss in small bits to the koi.

He had always liked chicken Alfredo pizza, but this – this was incredible. “Absolutely divine,” he murmured, nodding a distinct affirmative to L.C.’s comment, even if hers was in regards to one pizza and his to the other. It seemed almost a shame to wash away the subtle flavors of the pesto with the sharp tang of orange soda, but he hadn’t thought to get water or something lighter tasting. So he sipped of the soda just enough to wet his mouth and continued to savor the pizza.

He sighed in immense satisfaction. “Nothing like a good pizza! I know some folks prefer popcorn, but for me a night in front of the telly with a good movie always went better with pizza. So, just out of curiosity: Lani, L.C.: what are some of your favorite movies?”

[Lani Hunter]

Lani looked up at L.C when she said it wasn’t him. In short he was shocked. “Interesting. Me too.” He answered just as shortly. Basically he was on every type of probation this place had. Danger to the community, danger to self, sneaking out (thank god they didn’t know about the thievery), failure to attend training, Lani was even on Academic Probation. They threatened him with this when his grades plummeted but at this point Lani didn’t care. There was no future for him anywhere academics could lead him. It wasn’t like they could threaten him with expulsion. He was pretty sure short of killing someone there is no way they would ever kick an untrained telekinetic out into the dirt. It really sucked but at the same time it wasn’t like he needed permission to go anywhere. He was about as good at scaling a wall as he was breathing.

He shook his head immediately regretting the action. He hated these headaches. Everyone said they would go away eventually but at the same time he wanted them gone now. Moving those rocks was a bad idea, now he had a headache that would make the gods cry. Lani laughed, “Trade ya.” He still didn’t understand why people would want a power like his. He was always popping pills just to keep thinking straight. He looked at her and smiled, “At least you can control yours.” He added to prove his point. Sure if he practiced more he probably would be better at it but at the same time he wanted nothing to do with it. He would definitely much rather have something physical that would make his life easier not some mental thing that was a literal headache.

Lani laughed, the action hurting his head slightly. As soon as he had that soda he could swallow the pills hidden in his fist. “You have no idea.” He said as his stomach growled much to his bemusement. His stomach was always doing that. He would have no desire or hunger but then when the food was present it was like nothing in the world mattered more than it going into his belly. He laughed at L.C.’s comment. He took a piece uttering a thanks and much more timidly putting it in his mouth. By the time he finished his first slice his headache was starting to become a persistent throb. He grabbed his soda and slipped the pills in his mouth as he mimed a yawn and drank a swift gulp of the mountain dew. Its fizz burned his throat and the energy it seemed to give him made him more aware and he could already feel his headache subsiding. They had told him to be careful with the medicine, already what he was taking was highly addictive but on the other hand he couldn’t think without having something to tame his headache.

Lani smiled and nodded in agreement reaching for another slice. He folded himself onto one of the rocks tucking his feet under himself and appearing just as comfortable balancing precariously on his toes as he was standing. He laughed at L.C.’s extreme approval of the pizza and shook his head slightly. He grinned his head feeling light and the throb faded to a pulse which was the closest he had ever gotten to having a pain free head since he’d gotten his powers. “Thanks for the pizza, Dalton… uh Mr. Dalton.” He corrected himself. He drank his soda again to keep his mouth from speaking anymore. He looked up munching happily on pizza he did not have to pay for. He cocked his head to one side as Dalton started speaking again. He swallowed a bite and shrugged, “Why not both? I don’t know.” He answered honestly, “I really like the Hannibal series.” He didn’t really watch movies all that often and one of the Hannibal movies always seemed to be on when he was home alone and bored and they always sucked him in. “How about you, Mr. Dalton, do you like those movies that are from famous classics?” His English teachers always seemed addicted to old classical movies that made the book laughable.

[L.C. Milliner]

L.C. was quick to finish two slices of pizza and she went for the breadsticks, tearing into one like it was the first meal she had seen in months. She couldn’t remember the last time she had real pizza- it seemed so far off. She had never bought pizza for herself since she started at Hammel, it just wasn’t practical. If she craved pizza she’d steal someone’s leftovers from the refrigerator in the dorm or would go without. Sometimes the cafeteria had pizza, and that satisfied her to a degree. Taboni’s, in her opinion, was just as fine when she wasn’t paying for it.

She had just finished cramming the rest of her breadstick into her mouth when Dalton asked about movies, so she gave Lani time to answer as she chewed the rest up. “Not really a movie person.” She muttered, going for another breadstick. “Don’t have time to watch them.” That was a lie. The truth was that she never bothered; she preferred books over movies, but no one else would ever know that. She hated T.V., it made no sense and most of the stuff coming out was idiotic at best. She much preferred to lay down and read, but would just as quickly shove her book under her pillow and pretend she was napping if anyone bothered her. “Though I guess Casablanca is my favorite, I bawled my eyes out when I saw it...” The teen stopped, realizing she had revealed way too much information about her habits. She was supposed to be the punk kid that didn’t know anything, not a scholar on the arts. She blamed the soda. She always got talkative when she got caffeine. “But most of the stuff coming out these days is trash.” She muttered before shoving the breadstick in her craw. Less talk, more devouring, L.C. That was all she wanted to say now that she had successfully thrown her like for old movies out in the open.

She was content to draw herself away from the conversation now and let Mr. Dalton take the spotlight, she was busy eyeing the desert breadsticks and thinking on how she would transfer the breadsticks into the big pizza box so she could throw the rest of her pizza into Sean’s fridge for breakfast the next day. No one could say the girl was picky, that was for sure; she’d be the first to admit that Taboni’s microwaved well. She contemplated leaving now, but decided she would in a bit, after she had ample time to box up her leftovers. For the time being she was content with chugging down her soda.

---

((OOC: Fail post. It'll be better in the future.))

[Jacob Dalton]

<< “Why not both? I don’t know.” He answered honestly, “I really like the Hannibal series… …How about you, Mr. Dalton, do you like those movies that are from famous classics?” >>

<< “Not really a movie person… …Though I guess Casablanca is my favorite, I bawled my eyes out when I saw it... …But most of the stuff coming out these days is trash.” >>

Dalton listened and nodded as he chewed his pizza. “The Hannibal series is well written: well crafted suspense. The writers and director know how to reach down into our primal fears, and they do it well. And Anthony Hopkins: well, let’s just say the man is nothing short of brilliant. I particularly enjoyed him in “The Edge,” with Alec Baldwin: man against nature, and against one another for desire.

“Casablanca? I congratulate you on your taste, young lady: I would wager dollars to donuts that not half the students in your class have ever seen Casablanca, let alone would appreciate it.

“As to the trash coming from Hollywood today: granted. However, I would also wager that in any given year throughout the history of cinema, you would find both treasures and tripe. The trash fades from memory with the years: the classics are those that stood the test of time.

“I find that rarely does good literature make a good film. Good literature is meant to encourage deep thought: cinema is meant to grant you an experience. Occasionally one will accomplish the goals of the other, but those are few and far between.

“I would have to say one of my all-time favorite films would be “King Kong.” I adore the classic version: Peter Jackson’s adaptation was inspired, yet a bit frenetic for my tastes: too many hair-raising certain death scenarios the crew survives beyond the possibilities of physics. And it gets to be a bit much that with blondes so scarce on the island, still every carnivore is positive that our leading lady would make a most scrumptious morsel. How would they know? Have they ever tasted blonde before?

“But Jackson does preserve the sense of the classic. What we adore is the awesome power and majesty of the great beast unfettered on his island. In his own world, he is ‘King’ indeed. No wonder he is worshipped by the natives: we find ourselves near ready to fall to our knees in awe of him.

“And yet, when he casts off his chains and rampages through the city, we know in our hearts that he must die. He is magnificent, but our society demands discipline and restraint. The great beast has neither, and leaves incalculable mayhem in his wake. That cannot be allowed.

“In my opinion, this is the great fear the mundanes hold towards we metas. They are in awe of us: many envy and crave such powers, and are jealous of what we have but they cannot possess. But above all, they fear that our powers can surmount the daily bounds of society: that should a powerful meta lose restraint through passion, they would create a rampage like Kong.

“Our society is based on laws designed to preserve to the degree possible a sense of equality among mankind: to prevent one man from too far imposing his will upon others. ‘Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal:’ the Constitution, Bill of Rights and democracy tearing down the bastion of kings.

“We rely on all our citizens walking within the bounds of such laws: if they do not, there are the courts and the jails. But what of the meta whom no jail can hold?

“We have only one hope: that the meta will do what society cannot, and restrain their own actions by choice. When we see discipline, a mild temper, proper courtesy, then we can have trust. When we see anger, acting out, and a willfulness against authority, we have cause to fear.

“I do say ‘we,’ for it is both meta and mundane for whom the undisciplined meta is a threat. A rampage would damage far more than possessions and property: it might well provoke the mob to retaliate against all metas, threatening or no. The two of you may well have the capabilities to defend yourselves, but what about your friends here who do not? What about your families?

“But fear is not the primary reason to exercise discipline. Without discipline, any goal we may set for ourselves is but a dream, for we shall not have the will and focus to pursue it to fruition. We cast ourselves adrift in a sea of disappointment, lost hopes, drowned ideals. When we learn discipline, to maintain our calm in the face of adversity, to work with others instead of against them, to set aside our momentary concerns for the greater good: then we find ourselves climbing the ladder of opportunity and success.

“You wish to harness your powers? Discipline. You wish to take charge of your life? Discipline. You wish to stand with confidence and without fear? Discipline. When we are focused: when we know our personal goals, and will not be distracted from or sabotage them by a moment’s frustration, then we are truly ourselves, and are truly seen and respected by others. ‘This above all: to thine own self be true. And then it follows as surely as night follows day, thou canst be false to no man.’”

He sighed, and focused his gaze on them both. “Would that we could have gone to town today. By the letter I have fulfilled my promise: but I would have been greatly pleased to do more.

“I have no doubt that each of you has had reasons for acting out, for rebelling against an authority which often seems capricious, and occasionally is so in fact. I know nothing at this time of what each of you faced before your arrival here: how that has shaped your views of authority and rules.

“I am new to Hammel: but I would not be here at all if I was not certain beyond doubt that this institute is founded on the intent to provide you with the tools you require to lead the happiest, most independent lives our society allows. No individual and no system is perfect: but when a group is so focused as is this staff, the balance will overcome any occasional flaw.

“Keep your tempers in check, follow the guidelines of the system, and you shall regain such privileges as would allow us to do much more. There is far greater freedom in walking openly out those doors with consent than in fleeing with the certainty of pursuit and punishment. And the pride of having nothing to hide from any man is a treasure beyond gold.

“Perhaps you fear that you are trapped in a pattern of distrust from which you cannot escape: I assure you that you can. Extend an olive branch – acknowledge sincere regret for your part in whatever portion you have had in building these walls, and I promise you shall find the walls falling down around you. If you feel you face anything less than total absolution, come to me.

“Whatever anyone has ever told you, neither of you are ‘bad people.’ You may have questions, doubts, fears like any man or woman throughout history: but at your cores, I see compassion and the will to love. I have faith in both of you: my door shall always be open, whatever your need.”

He smiled apologetically. “If I have been a bit long-winded and maudlin, please forgive me. You have both impressed me greatly, and I wished you each to know I offer you whatever support I can.”

He leaned over and picked up the pizza box with a grin. “Starting with another slice of pizza, for whoever wants it…”

[Lani Hunter]

((Sorry it took me so long I have been so out of it!))

Lani nodded in agreement with L.C. as he reached for a bread stick. He took a chunk out of the end and followed the conversation, he smiled, "Yeah I don't know what it is but it sucks me in every time." Lani had seen Casablanca once before but it had never really interested him very much. Movies like that always seemed to sooth him to sleep and the only time he had watched it his father had thrown a pillow at him to wake him up and piss him off. "I don't think its that bad," he protested in defense of modern movies, "Some modern directors and writers are very good." He wasn't saying all of them were top of the line but at the same time it was unfair to call all of them trash. He grabbed another piece of pizza and scarfed it starting to realize why his father was always saying young men were never fully fed. His body always seemed to be asking for more food.

He nodded at the literature comment he was severely happy that that wasn't the case with Dalton. He tended to agree mostly with what the man was saying but at the same time good literature was made to be seen in the mind's eye and if someone could paint that picture accurately and well then it could turn into a very good movie indeed. He smiled at the mention of King Kong. That was a good one. Classic. "I didn't like the new one. I mean you really lose something when you make everything high tech." He nodded soberly as Dalton pointed out the parallels between the beast and metas. It made him uneasy and he finished his slice and didn't reach for another one not trusting it with the direction his mind was rolling in now. Was Dalton saying that someone like him or someone like L.C. That they were too powerful. That they had to die?

He didn't voice his thoughts but it was written all over his face. The mention of a rampage hit a little close to home as he recalled the first time his power emerged and his tore the street apart. Lani glanced at L.C. when the man continued to speak about things that were dangerous and in no way the pleasant conversation he was expecting. He mention of family was what really got through to Lani the magnitude of what Dalton was trying to emphasize. "Would they do that?" He asked just barely able to keep his voice from shaking. "Would they go after our families?" He knew right then and there that if anyone even dreamed of hurting his sister or his parents that they would not live to see the sun again. And that was a promise and a vow he declared silently at that moment.

He ducked his head but did not hang it as they were scolded. He was not ashamed of what he had done but somehow the guilt was layered thick in Dalton's words. He really had no discipline, no respect for those he felt didn't deserve it which was most of those in authority. He just couldn't bring himself to believe that they were on his side and not just trying to trap him, and with his irrational fear of being trapped made this place a prison. Lani listened in continued silence bristling and retreating behind his walls as the lecture continued. Of course they would have said something to him about their delinquent nature. It wasn't until he made a comment about them being bad people that it really struck him. He didn't belong here. He never did. This was a place for good people. He was not a good person and he never had been. He didn't keep stealing because he needed to or his family needed to. He stole because he loved it.

The kindness Dalton extended even then was painful and struck Lani like a blow to the gut. Now he lowered his head unable to look the man in the eye. "You are a poor judge of character, Mr. Dalton." He replied cryptically. If everything he had ever done in his life were added up he would be locked away for well over one hundred years. He reached for another piece of pizza and stuffed a bite in his mouth to avoid explaining. Instead he supplied, "You're not like most of the teachers here." Then Lani narrowed his eyes and locked them with the new teacher, "You really know what you're talking about, did you work at place like this before?" He was trying to turn the conversation away from the stupid things that had flowed past his lips, he had basically said 'Hey I'm screwed up but I don't want your help'. He didn't want this to be a therapy session and he was not about to admit his faults. Especially not in front of L.C. Something made him not want to look a fool in front of her. Some good job he was doing.

[L.C. Milliner]

L.C. was not expecting a conversation about favorite movies to dissolve into a lecture about meta-humans in society, but she had forgotten she was talking to an English teacher.

She half-listened to him as she began to clear a box- the breadsticks were moved into the lid of the chocolate dessert breadsticks box and the other box was hastily filled with pineapple and black olive pizza. It was rude, because she moved deliberately, scraping at the cardboard with her nails, moving the pizza slowly, picking up a breadstick to toss back in, taking a few of the desert sticks to pile in the corner. She was very precise with where everything went, almost as if she was conditioned to put everything in its place. Amazingly, everything fit, and in the end she took a slice for pizza from the box and tore into it, looking out over the pond in true and utter boredom. If she wanted a lecture, she would have broken something and gone to Sean. Sean had enough lectures stored up for her she wondered if he wrote them up beforehand or made them on the spot.

Snapping from her dream world, she looked to Lani, and with a slight twitch, flared her temper. “Only if they don’t join the damn mob in the first place.” She snapped. “They can go right on ahead, for all I care.” The blonde muttered, making it clear what her opinion of her family was. She crossed her arms and listened to Dalton, smiling as if his lecture was funny to her. Her expression was sarcastic, from the glint in her eyes to the curve of her smile. To the untrained eye, she looked genuinely interested. To anyone with common sense, she looked cynical.

She was polite enough to let him finish the lecture, and let Lani finish his statement, but when he was done, she shook her head at the both of them, looking between the two. “You both really don’t get it.” She gestured for them to look around, arm whipping out as quick as lightning. “Take a look at this place. A good, hard look. We are in a prison, Mr. Dalton. A prison that calls itself a school. I never asked to be here. I never paid tuition. I don’t even pay for my damn school lunch. I am here because they have to put me in here, because I’m a ‘danger to society’.” She shoved her sleeve up her arm and jagged six inch spikes covered her arm. “I don’t even have to hurt anyone! I walk down the street like this, the cops will be shooting my ass down in a minute flat. It’s not my damn fault I’m a walking porcupine.” She was on a roll now as the spikes shot back into her arm and she pulled her sleeve down. “They shouldn’t even be allowed to hold me- I am nineteen years of age, Mr. Dalton- tell me, is it right, to force an adult, one who can vote, one who has almost every right this country has to offer, one who could serve in the armed forces, to stay in a school with children? I have to sit in classes with fourteen year olds, middle schoolers, and even kids who should still be in elementary school! This is the most fucked up system I’ve ever seen!” Oh, she dropped the f-bomb. Oops.

She picked up the pizza box, stood hurriedly. “You don’t know anything about me. You don’t know if I’m a bad person, you don’t know if I’ve killed anyone. So until you take the time to learn anything about me, don’t give me a lecture on how I should ‘be nicer’ to people and apologize. Teenagers are always wrong, aren’t we? Of course, we’re the younger ones. You adults are always saying ‘respect is earned’. Well guess what? I’m sick of dishing it out and getting nothing back. Respect me first and we’ll see what you get back.”

She glared at Lani, and she couldn’t help it, she was on so much of a roll, she couldn’t help but sneer at him. “And you. Grow a damn spine. Or would that hinder your already failing attempts to get out? Here’s a helpful hint for you, dumbass, you only get out when they want you to. Looks like you’ve got a life sentence.” She smirked condescendingly.

On that note, she turned and, with a swoop of her hand, slammed a palm against the rock closest to her. A screech of deafening proportions filled the outside as she dragged a spiked palm against it, five inch deep furrows showing where her hand had been. She pulled her hand from the rock, scattering pebbles. “Have a nice day.” She muttered, and stormed off, shoes hitting the grass harder than they should have. She was so sick of the bullshit.

Screw them all. Every one of them.

[Exit L.C.]