Thread Roulette: RC, Jean, and Avery

[Event !]

Dude, she's too old for you.

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery sighed as she walked into the cafeteria. The smells of pizza and hamburgers filled her senses. Getting in line she looked around the large room. She saw an almost empty table. Although Avery was normally social she didn't like to eat in front of people. Though sometimes she liked having company at lunch. Turning back to the lunch lady she got a piece of pepperoni pizza and some apple sauce. After paying for her lunch and stuff she walked over to the vending machine and got a propel flavored water.


Sighing again, she went to the open table. Taking off her jacket she placed it down beside her and then her purse beside it. Avery placed her tray down and smiled. Before sitting down she put her hair into a pony tail. Today she wore her hair straight that way she wouldn't have to worry about it so much. Avery finally sat down and started to eat her pizza. She couldn't believe cafeteria food could taste that good.

[RC Manne]

RC picked at the inside pocket of his trusted grey hoody, rolling his eyes heavily at his younger brother as they walked down the hall together. Well…Jean rolled. “Jean those stupid things are against school rules. Try to be a little more discreet with them if you’re going to wear them, would ya?” He admonished, though the scolding lacked any real power. Frankly, RC sometimes just said things to Jean without thinking. He didn’t mean to scold his little brother…it was just a habit! Especially now that Conrad and Velma weren’t around to keep everyone in line.

They entered the cafeteria and RC squinted around the area. It was fairly busy. Frankly, he
didn’t really want to share a table, but it appeared they’d have to. “You go get food, I’ll find us a table, okay Jean?” He offered, smiling down at his sibling. “And don’t roll on those stupid things in the cafeteria!” He said, holding up a finger. “You’ll fall over and look like a dork.” RC justified, playing to Jean’s greatest fear: being as big of a dork as RC was.

Once his little brother had zoomed off to get food, RC scratched the back of his neck nervously. The most open table was one occupied solely by a cute blonde girl. RC couldn’t really handle cute girls…but it was either ONE cute girl or a TABLE full of them…plus dudes. RC sighed and approached where Avery was sitting, his hands awkwardly in his pockets. “Hey! Uh…do you mind if me and my little brother sit with you?” He questioned shyly, jabbing his thumb in Jean’s direction. “Everywhere else is pretty full and Jean’s….well Jean’s a handful.” RC said with a laugh, waiting for Avery to answer before he sat down.

[Jean Manne]

Jean sighed heavily as he made a rather spectacular (in his mind) twist with his sneakers. RC was getting awfully difficult to live with, now that there was no Mom to… do what RC was doing right now. Bossing Jean around. “Right.” Jean muttered, “Like I’m going to look like a dork when I’ve got the fantastic goo-man as a brother…” Besides, his sneakers were cool. Why walk when you could roll? It was really a no-brainer, he didn’t know why RC was being so dumb about this. Besides, nobody said anything yet about his shoes. He’d change them if someone told him to.

“Kay!” He responded to his brother’s edict to go find food. More opportunity to show off his shoes. He gave his brother a sarcastic salute and zoomed away, speeding through the doors and skidding to a stop at the lunch line. He looked around to see if anyone noticed it. He thought it looked pretty impressive. If anyone saw his trick, they didn’t look appropriately impressed. Bummer. His disappointment was overshadowed by all the food at the counter. Pizza! Pizza everywhere! Grinning broadly, he grabbed two plates and began piling pizza on his plate. And a cookie. And some soda. He looked over at RC’s plate. Oh yeah. He pulled off a piece of pepperoni pizza and plopped it on his brother’s plate. And then grabbed him a water bottle. Catching the lunch lady’s dubious eye, he put on his best smile. “I’m getting food for me and my big brother.” Lunch lady promptly won over, he paid for the food with the handful of dollar bills RC gave him (he figured he’d save his own money as payment for bringing RC’s food).

Food in tow, Jean scanned the cafeteria in search of his brother. He was surprised, then, to see RC talking to… a pretty girl? A really pretty girl. And naturally, RC looked as awkward as ever. Great. Clearly, RC had to do something before he drove away the pretty girl with his extreme, soggy awkwardness. So he wheeled over to the table, a charming smile on his face and the trays in his hands.

“Hi!” Jean piped, beaming at the blonde girl. “I’m Jean, this is my brother RC. We can sit with you, right?” He looked at her a little pleadingly, “Don’t leave me all alone to sit with just my brother.” He handed RC the emptier plate and then sat down across from the girl.

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery smiled and nodded. "I was going to say sure in the first place." Avery looked at the younger boy "Hi Jean I'm Avery." Then turning her head she looked to Rc. "Hi I'm Avery. You both are more then welcome to site with me. I would like the company. So you guys are brothers? How long have you been here?" She smiled. So far Jean seemed just naturally like a little boy. Hyper active. So far she figured Rc was just shy like her only more so. "Do you two like it here?" Avery asked a lot of questions most of the time, but it was her nature. She just liked to get to know people so that she could try and make friends with them. Her pony tail wagged with the movement of her head.

She pushed her plate a little to the side, but she tried to still nibble on her piece of pizza. Her apple sauce looked pretty good. She couldn't wait to eat it. "Sorry I have a bad habit of asking way to many questions." Avery blushed.

[RC Manne]

RC resisted the urge to cuff his brother in the back of his head for being so rude to the girl. You couldn’t juts insist to sit with someone, not in high school. It was weird. And rude. But he guessed he couldn’t complain too much…she didn’t seem fazed by it. He smiled at her thankfully, silently, and sat down in front of the plate Jean practically threw at him. It had one slice of pizza on it. He looked at the pathetic plate and glared sideways at Jean.
“Cheap.” He grunted, prodding Jean in the side.

RC gave a little wave, smiling with closed lips. “ ‘m RC. Nice…nice to meet you Avery.” He said, bobbing his head in a slow nod. “And I’ve been here since I was thirteen…three years.” He said, his voice remarkably shy…but at least he wasn’t stuttering. Frankly, RC liked having Jean around when girls were involved. RC got so nervous, that having his brother to distract from his own social awkwardness made the whole ordeal way less stressful. He could just pawn the entire encounter off on Jean and probably still make a friend out of it. People loved Jean.

“There are worse habits to get into.” RC assured her, laughing slightly. Granted, he couldn’t think of any at the moment besides like…drug abuse. But he wouldn’t bring that up. He took a thoughtful bite of his pizza. “I like it here.” He said, though he sounded a bit unsure. He was frankly rather indifferent, he looked to his brother. “What about you, guy?” He asked, swallowing and scratching the back of his head.

[Jean Manne]

Jean grinned at RC, taking a big bite of his slice of pizza, putting on an over-exaggerated innocent face, batting his eyes. As he chewed his pizza, he watched his brother mumble at Avery and resisted the urge to slap his hand to his face. His poor brother was really bad at this. It wasn’t like it was that hard to talk to girls. Jean did it all the time. In fact, he preferred to talk to girls; they were pretty and smelled better anyways. Eventually, he’d have to show his brother how to really talk to girls. Right now, he had a mouthful of pizza. Mmm, pizza…

Jean swallowed once the question was directed at him. He flashed his best smile at Avery. “Yeah, we’re brothers. He’s older.” He gave Avery a look that he hoped communicated Jean’s feelings about RC’s big brother abilities. “But I’m not that young. I’m twelve. And a half.” He added importantly, nodding at Avery. “Almost thirteen. I just got here, but I’m doing pretty well on all my classes.” He didn’t want to brag, but he felt that he was doing pretty awesomely in all his classes. He was just smart like that or something. “Look what I can do!” He pulled out his trusty lump of metal. Once upon a time, it used to be a spoon. It wasn’t a spoon anymore. He stared at the lump, breathed in and out like he was taught, and thought aluminum, since that one was easier for him. The lump shivered a little and changed a shade. He… was pretty sure it wasn’t actually aluminum. But she didn’t need to know that! He looked up at Avery proudly, “It’s pretty cool, huh?”

He sighed at RC’s indifferent response to the question about if he was enjoying Hammel. Why wouldn’t RC enjoy Hammel? Hammel was awesome! Way better than the other boring schools he could have gone to. “I love it here!” He piped up, bouncing in his chair, “I like it even better now that we’ve met you, because you’re really pretty.” Well… it wasn’t as though Jean ever believed in subtle.

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery blushed slightly. Her cheeks turning a light shade of red. "Well, Thanks for the complement." Avery gave a small smile. She didn't really know what to say to that. "That is a cool ability. I would show you mine but I can't control it to well. Besides Its a nice day I wouldn't want to make it snow, or rain, or anything like that." Avery took a small bite of her pizza then placed it back down. "Unfortunately Jean I'm sixteen..." She tried to give him a small hint that he was way to young for her.

Avery looked out the window and smiled bigger when she saw the sun was shinning. "I'm pretty new here still but I really do like Hammel. Everyone here is really nice." Avery nodded her head making her pony tail bounce. "I love to make new friends. Although I can be really shy sometimes. I guess that's why I talk a lot." Avery blushed again. She was a little nervous. After the whole incident with the kid she didn't know his name (Zach). "Well then again there was that one guy I met. He was really mean. But oh well." Avery shook it from her head and just smiled. "Hammel's lunches are so much better then my other schools though."

Avery crossed her legs and adjusted her purse and jacket. She kind of wished she was outside. "I still wonder what that kid's name is though. He was just so rude. He got me so mad that I made it hail outside. I just still feel really guilty for making it hail out of no where." Avery smiled again, but what she really wanted to do was go and write in her diary. She hoped that she didn't make the boys mad by talking about the whole hail incident.

[RC Manne]

Raoul groaned quietly. Jean and that stupid lump of metal. You’d think Jean had freakin’ birthed the thing, the way he doted on it. But, admittedly, Jean’s power was amazing. Even the slight color changes in the metal spoke to the fact that one day the young boy would be able to do something much more. RC had been there for three years and had practically mastered his useless, useless ability. He practically smacked his palm to his face at his younger brother. “Dude, Jean. She’s way too old for you.” He said, making an incredulous look at his sibling. Where that kid’s brain?!

The sophomore made a face. “How could anyone be mean to you?” he asked, looking at his younger brother for validation. “You’re so nice.” He murmured, blushing slightly in contact embarrassment. God Jean had no tact! “And pretty, Jean’s right.” He added sheepishly…not as if he had much tact either.

RC blinked. “Oh so that was you, huh?” He blurted out, kicking himself almost visibly. “I-i…I mean it was really impressive. It was really sunny and then just…BAM! Hail.” RC laughed nervously. This happened every time. He reached across the table, leaning over it slightly and making a vague gesture with his hands. “Wh-what I mean is…you must be a very powerful weather manipulator if you can bring fronts in and out of anywhere. That’s really amazing.” He shrank back into himself, leaning back and scratching his neck. “I can’t do anything cool.” He grumbled, once again saddened by his amazing lack of really cool abilities

[Jean Manne]

You can make it snow??” Jean’s voice was loud with excitement, “That’s awesome!! That’s like… one of the best powers ever! Could you make it snow and rain and…” he paused, trying to figure out what else would be awesome weather-wise to have. “And… have a tornado! Can you do all that at the same time?” That would be pretty awesome. He shrugged good-naturedly at Avery’s reply at her age. “That’s okay. You’re still pretty.” He beamed at her.

He gave RC a look at his older brother’s admonishment. “So? I wasn’t trying to do anything. I just wanted to give her a compliment, geeze.” He rolled his eyes. RC never let him have any fun; and what was more fun than talking to pretty girls? RC was just ridiculous sometimes.

Jean’s eyebrows shot up when Avery mentioned someone being mean to her. “Someone was mean to you?? What are they, dumb?” He made a face, “You shoulda beat him up. That’s what I woulda done, if I was there.” He nodded authoritatively. He’d never been in a fight before, but he liked to think that he would do a pretty good job, if he got in one. He brightened at Avery’s mention of the hailstorm. “Dude, that was awesome! RC’s right, you must be really, really good at your power. You should make it hail more often. I went outside and caught some of the hail in the cup, and then one hail thing hit me in the eye. But it wasn’t a big deal.” He added quickly, looking over at RC. Maaaaybe he shouldn’t have mentioned that when his brother was right there. Now he’d probably get yelled at. Again.

He turned to RC, “That’s not true. One day, when you can hold things without dropping them, you could slip under doors and slide around on the floor and steal things. You could be like, a master thief or something.” Not that he believed RC would actually do anything like that. RC was far too “Mom” for that.

[Avery Sainsbury]

When Jean mentioned the making of a tornado Avery's body stiffened. Her body language was more in the cautious mother mode when she turned to him. "Jean tornado's are not cool! They are dangerous and can not be tamed. Like a tiger in a cage. just because its in a cage doesn't mean its a domesticated animal." Avery huffed. "Sorry I had that little outburst..." She turned back to face forward again. Looking down at the table she let out another exhausted sigh. "See, I have a little thing with tornado's. A tornado is the whole reason I'm here. See I can't "control" the weather, my emotions do. When that guy got me upset I wanted to hit him...hence the hail. One day I heard my mother and father fighting. I was so scared for my mother. I wished so hard that my dad would just get blown away. Him and my brother, I just wanted them gone. Soon after that "wish" a tornado ripped through my house. tore it literally in half." Avery looked up from the table and shook her head. "Therefore tornado's are not cool, or a good power."

Avery smiled at both of them. "I'm not amazing. My gift is all powerful or anything. I mean every time a use it depending on the size or what the weather is I get a horrible headache, the hail caused a migraine." Hearing what jean said Avery blushed "I'm so so so sorry jean. I really didn't want anyone to get hurt. Thats why I hate my ability. I can not hurt anyone. OK that is not true I really wanted to hurt that guy today, but no one else." Avery looked back to Jean "I honestly, am a very shy person. I'm just really talkative so that covers up my shyness some times. I could have never really physically hurt him. I would have felt worse then the tiny bruise I would have left on him would have made him feel. I wish you where both there then maybe I could have got his name. Thats all I wanted. But oh well."

Avery looked back to Rc."What is your ability? By hearing what Jean is saying I would guess something like, turning into liquid?" Avery smiled at Rc, she had to admit he was very cute.

[RC Manne]

RC only snorted at his brother’s response to being scolded. Compliment my ass he thought. “Okay, Cassanova. Whatever you say.” He teased, managing a sweet smiled and pinching Jean’s earlobe playfully. He folded his hands in front of him as Jean basically spoke everything he was thinking.

Frankly, he would’ve liked to sock someone who was rude to someone as nice as Avery. Like he had the backbone to do so, but he definitely had the righteous fury. Avery was such a sweet girl! How could anyone stand to make her so mad? He only listened as Jean went off, though he looked a little green when the young Alchemist went off on Tornadoes. God, what was this kid thinking?

“Jean…” RC warned quietly, hoping to stop him before it was too late. Clearly it was too late. Avery went off---well, as much as RC assumed Avery could, seeming more astonished than actually upset. RC drooped a bit in his chair, heaving a heavy sigh. He sudden stiffened looking slowly (and, might I add, with as much a measure of menace as he could muster) to Jean. “You went outside in the hail?!” He hissed quietly, knocking his brother’s elbow. “Are you dumb?!” RC added again under his breath, rapidly shaking his head and looking apologetically at Avery.

“I’m sorry about Jean…he doesn’t know what he’s saying he’s only twelve.” He ruffled his hand through his hair, tugging shyly again at the sleeve of his hoody. “Especially that bit about the thief thing.” RC wrinkled his nose. “I’m not thin enough to squeeze under doors…yet I guess.” He waved his hand in front of his face and smiled weakly at Avery.

“Uh…yeah. They call it a non-fixed matter state.” He said, making a face at the official-ish term. Sounded extra gross. Almost as gross as his actual power. “I…” RC hung his head. “I basically turn into a puddle.” He grumbled, picking at a lock of his hair. God this was embarrassing.

[Jean Manne]

Jean listened to Avery’s outburst about tornados and her past with an unnaturally solemn look on his face. He considered her words for a moment before talking slowly, “I hope you don’t think that you’re to blame for all of that. I mean, you didn’t know how to use your power yet. You’ve just got a really powerful one. It was probably really scary.”

He bounced in his chair at her next words. “But your powers are amazing. Like…” He thought for a second, “Like in a couple of years, when you’ve got your powers under control and you can make them do what you want, and not the other way around, then…” He squinted at the ceiling, thinking intently, then he brightened. “I got it! So, after a couple years, if there’s like… an island that’s being attacked by… a hurricane! And there’s no way for them to get out, or anything like that. Then! Then! You could come in and stop the hurricane. And then, when the island’s all safe, everyone will cheer for you and think you’re a hero and they’ll be right.” He beamed at her. “See? Cool power. It just takes a lot of practice.”

He waved away Avery’s attempt to apologize, “Don’t apologize, it was cool! I like hail. It’s like snow, only better.” He winced at RC’s outburst and turned to look at his irate brother. He grinned innocently, “Um. Maybe?”

He looked affronted at RC. “I know what I’m saying! You’re just mad because you don’t know how to have fun.” The last part was muttered grumpily under his breath. Hopefully RC didn’t hear him. “And you could so go under a door, you just need to eat less. That’s why I gave you the less pizza.” He nodded, grinning cheekily at RC, “You should be thanking me.”

[Avery Sainsbury]

Avery laughed. Her face brightened up and it seemed like she came back from being sad and scared about what Jean said. "First I don't think my powers would ever work like that Jean. Secondly you should becareful. Especially around here. If I would have got even madder, the hail could have gotten bigger, you could have been really hurt. Your brother has reason to be worried for that reason." Avery turned to RC and smiled. She found the boy quite attractive. "I think that may seem like a useless ability to you but I find it quite interesting. Like if someone where to try to hurt me or fight me just turn into a puddle, that way they couldn't. So i like your ability, I think it would be cool to see."

Avery took another bite of her pizza and smiled."So what grade are you in RC? Maybe we have a class or something otgether." Avery looked at Jean and she had to admit he was a cute little kid. She just wanted to give him a big hug, he was that adorable. Avery giggled to herself at the thought as she turned her attention back to RC.

[RC Manne]

RC balked. “I can s---!“ RC simple stopped in the middle of his very loud sentence and crossed his arms, readjusting his volume level. He cleared his throat. “I can totally have fun.” He said with a none-too-convincing nod. Freakin’ midget…always had to call him out. He sighed and wilted slightly. RC supposed he could occasional get a wee bit uptight.

He sighed heavily and smacked his hand to his forehead, dragging down his face in exasperation. “God, Jean. I didn’t mean thin like skinny thin. I meant…” He made a flailing gesture, frustrated that Jean had basically called him fat. “I meant like…liquid-y wise.” He grunted. Wow, RC…that sounded cool. Liquid-y. Nice work.

Admittedly, RC was put at ease when Avery laughed again. At least she wasn’t catching on to the social anxiety coming off RC in waves. RC shrugged, still managing to look a bit dejected.

“Well if someone wanted to hit me I couldn’t liquefy right away…it takes time. But I could liquefy enough to where it wouldn’t hurt.” RC took another thoughtful bite of pizza. “Might feel kinda weird if they got stuck though.” RC shivered and made a face, imagining dissolving into liquid form around the fist of an assailant. Gross.

“Grade?” RC repeated stupidly. “I’m a sophomore. But I’m trying to graduate early.” He explained. “but maybe we’ve got an elective or something together? I…think I would have remembered you though.” RC added with a shy little laugh.