towerofanimus | our subject isn't cool, but he thinks it anyway

Entry tags:

our subject isn't cool, but he thinks it anyway

Characters: Xander and YOU
Location: Any number of assorted places, details within.
Format: Actionspaaaam.
Summary: Choose your own adventure with Xander Harris!
Warnings: none?

cafeteria;

[ Every growing... young man, has to stop and eat eventually, and Xander is exceptionally fond of doing so. Admittedly, he also doesn’t trust the food here a whole lot, but that’s besides the point, he still has to eat every once in awhile. Making his way inside the cafeteria on the first floor, Xander is grabbing himself a sandwich and making faces at most of the rest of the food -- is that what pudding is supposed to look like? -- before grabbing a bag of chips and sitting down to enjoy.

If you happen to run into him, feel free to do so at any point in his lunching, including asking if you want to trade your brownie for his bag of chips. That seat across from him is empty for a reason. ]

halls;

[ While Xander is roaming, he has a tendency to forget where he’s looking. So if you want to run into him in the hallways? Or... well, more like if you want Xander to run into you in the hallway, that can happen too. ]

movies & media room;

[ Xander, while not necessarily a movie buff, is a major geek. And that’s an understatement. So the thrill of getting to peruse through endless movies upon movies that don’t exist where he comes from sort of makes him gleeful. And admittedly, he’s acquiring a stack for some day time entertainment.

Want to plop down and watch a movie with him or just scare the shit out of him while he looks through the stacks? Go right ahead, he’s still learning and he kind of wants to see if other world’s have some kind of approximation of Star Wars. Beware, start talking geek though, and he might never shut up. ]

locked for Estelle (selenic);

[ Taking one last look at the note in his hand to make sure he has the right room number, Xander knocks on the door of Estelle’s room. She had said that she was willing to teach him to fight and he’d only taken her up on her offer to see if... well, she actually could. Xander was a klutz and most of his fighting skills came from fake memories of being a military officer during that one Halloween that he tried not to think to much about.

So really, Xander’s methods of fighting were a little like how one might play a fighting game -- keysmashing until something eventually manages to hit. But who knows, maybe she could help a guy out, if this place was as dangerous as she said it was. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[When Dawn sees Xander, it's pretty much a no-brainer to go and join him.]

Hey, Xander! What're you doing?

[ Xander pauses mid bite to look up at the voice he already knows far too well. ]

Dawnie, hey. Just having second breakfast, better known as lunch. How about you?

Same.

[She sits, already poking at her salad]

They're really not big on the whole variety thing here, are they?

It's kind of like high school. [ He gives his sandwich a concerned look, like it might bite him if he's not careful. ] Except worse and without the jocks trying to accidentally drop pudding on my head.

That really happened?

[She's amused despite herself]

At least we don't have to try and work out exactly what the green stuff's supposed to be.

No, of course not. Why would you think that. [ Now is an excellent time to take another bite of that sandwich, Xander. Which is exactly what he does.

Before snorting. ]

The green stuff that i'm not going anywhere near. Never trust anything that wiggles that much, Dawnie.

It so totally happened. Come on, Xander, you know you suck at lying.

[Oh, hoping for her to let it go? It's obviously been too long]

But sometimes it's tasty!

[Eridan has a tray with some meat and fish-based items as well as a brownie, and he looks around with dissatisfaction at the tables. A lot of them are taken, and several are too close to various people he'd like to avoid, so he plops his tray down across from a human and takes a seat, bold as brass.]

This one's not taken, right?

[ Why does this feel like highschool again all of a sudden. Xander looks up and shrugs. It's not like he's particularly bothered by non-humans, they're sort of a daily thing in his life. At best, it's the tone that makes him lift an eyebrow, but he's not about to get into a fight. ]

Doesn't look taken to me. I mean except-- [ wait, oh hell, he doens't even know if that was a foot-in-mouth moment, he's not trying to be rude. ] -- you've taken it. So it looks taken now.

Right, on account a it's been taken by me. [Eridan can be a little confrontational, okay. It's sort of a default mode with anyone he doesn't know. He picks up his spoon and smirks at Xander, showing off shark's teeth] I'm Eridan Ampora.

It sure ha-- Hey. [ Hey, wait he knows that name. Xander's eyebrows shoot all the way up and he stops eating, sandwich halfway up before he sets it back down on his tray. ]

You're Eridan. Right, okay-- Coincidence that you've taken that seat because i'm Xander and you're Eriden and. Hi. Nice to finally meet you.

[Oh. Oops. His fins flatten with sudden panic] Wwait, you're Xander?

[Okay, but Xander doesn't seem pissed off even if he was being a bit of a jerk] It's nice to meet you, in person, too. Yeah.

That'd be me. [ Xander's kind of used to people being kind of jerk-y to him, or other people around him, or just to everyone. He won't name names though....... SPIKE.

But he nods. Maybe this'll be a good thing. ] Didn't really get the chance to talk much before. I mean about things that weren't... Willow related things. [ Eloquent; Xander stares at his sandwich for a few seconds before looking back up. ]

So how long've you been here?

[He nods, his fins lifting a bit and fanning out to display the colourful webbing between the spines as he relaxes. It seems Xander really doesn't have a problem with him - which is good!

He digs into his own meal, his vivid purple eyes flicking up to look Xander over even as he bends to shovel something into his mouth, chews, and swallows.]

I'vve been here a long fuckin' time. Perigees an perigees, by noww, though I havven't really been keepin' track a the exact length a time. I showwed up long before Wwill came.

[ That's... certainly an interesting display. Xander tips his head slightly as he listens, halfway fascinated by the fins thing, and halfway actually listening to what he's saying. Okay, so he's mostly listening to what he's saying, but it's still... intriguing.

Almost reminds him of that one time he almost turned into a sea monster, and then he's blinking himself back to reality because really now, Xander, that's just a rude comparison. ]

Perigees?

[You like his fins, Xander? Maybe you'd like to touch them.

The question stops him and he frowns, thinking] Uh...the human wword is moth, I think?

Edited 2012-04-06 17:19 (UTC)

[Aradia likes the media room. She likes it even more when there's someone else in there so she can see what movie they're watching and whether she might like it.

And so she makes her way over, dropping onto the sofa, though carefully soas not to hit him with her wings]

Hi!

[ He's only just put in a movie, is sitting back and getting comfy when -- did he just see wings? Accompanying someone who plopped down next to him? Suddenly it's not the television that's fascinating anymore. ]

Hi. You have wings. [ Uhm. Duh, Xander. Let's try again. ] Of course you know you have wings, i've just never seen them before. Attached to someone. Think you should get a prize for that, haven't really been surprised here yet.

[Aradia just giggles at his response.]

Well, there's always a first time.

[And then, as she recognises his voice]

Are you Xander?

[ Xander tips his head slightly because yes, yes that voice is also vaguely familiar. ]

That's me, the one and only.

Then it's nice to finally meet you properly.

[She'll bail him out after this one if he's truly stuck but she can't not be playful with it first]

[ Give him a few more seconds, okay. He's almost there. You can almost see the gears working furiously in his head... ]

You too-- It's... Aradia, right?

[She giggles and nods]

That's right. So, how are you settling in here?

[Willow runs into him in the hall, very much almost literally, but she realizes it's him just in time to turn it into a hurried, somewhat awkward hug instead.]

It's you! Hey, you. Just the guy I wanted to see.

[ No one should be surprised that the only person who could run into Xander while Xander was simultaneously running into them, was Willow. But it takes a few blinks for him to figure out that it's Willow and that she's hugging him and he's hugging her back, eyes wide with expectancy. ]

It is me. Last I checked, at least. What d'you need me for?

[To be fair, they've probably done exactly this before several times in their lives already, which explains the quick recovery.

She keeps their arms linked, not drawing back totally.] I have a huge favor to ask of you. Kind of a, uh, not fun one, but more not fun for me than for you-- I just need your moral support to get through the whole not fun experience.

[Wait, stop, talk coherently. She takes a breath.] Will you... help me tell Dawn what happened to Tara? Or at least stand there while I do it.

[ Good point. Running into things is, at the very least, a fairly common theme in Xander's life.

But yes, anyway... For at least a second, Xander looks mildly confused and then after his eyes go a big wider, he cringes. ]

She doesn't know? [ a beat ] Got it, okay she doesn't know. And we're gonna tell her. I'm gonna help you tell her. Do you really think this is a good idea? The me helping you part, I mean, not the telling part.

You can't leave me to do it alone! [she pleads, staring at him with a full on pathetic hang dog look.] I'm scared I'm gonna break down and then there'll be more crying than telling. Maybe only crying. And Dawn gets... you know.

[Sensitive, mean, angry about people dying? Take your pick. Not that Willow blames her at all, but it isn't something she feels up to dealing with.]

You don't have to say anything if you don't want to, but. Please?

[ Willow, don't give him that look, you know he can't take it. ] Dawn gets... Dawnie. I know, with the angry and the blaming and the upset and you really think i'll handle it all that much better if both of you are crying?

[ Xander will have to be there to hand out all the hugs, but that's always been his job, hasn't it. He's the cheerleader, no matter what anyone says. ]

Think it'll be kind of hard for me to not say anything, Will. But-- yeah, okay. Sure. I'll be there. As backup and support and everything else in-between that you might need me to be.

[Miserably,] I'm sorry. I am. I know this is majorly sucktastic to ask of you, but I just... I can't. I've been doing so much better, but sometimes I can't even think about her, and... having to talk about how she--

[A breath, trying to refocus.] Eridan offered to come with me instead, because apparently he has no upper limit on how understanding and perfect he can be, but I thought that would just put the awkward through the roof.

I really am sorry.

Hey, stop with the apologizing. It's not something you need to be sorry for. [ He rubs her arms a little as if she's cold, just trying to be comforting. ]

You know all those times I said i'd always be there for you? Well this is one of those times, and it hasn't changed.

[She latches onto him, trying not to sniffle and actually succeeding.]

You know that goes double for you, right? I don't care if you... you have five different weddings, I'll be right there every time, no blame.

[ Without hesitation, he offers her up a tight hug, resting his chin on top of her head. ]

I think if I make you go to five different weddings, you'll have officially earned the right to tell me it's time to settle down in a trailer with a six pack and live out my days as a bachelor.

But I won't, cause I want you to be happy. And if it takes the fifth try, I'll still be there.

[Just going to keep hugging him tightly for a few more seconds longer, because Willow hasn't had enough Xander hugs in her life lately.]

[man what the hell are movies. what is this room. how does this shit work.

Terra's doing the obligatory tower exploring since he's new, and this room interests him most so far. unfortunately, there is SO MUCH that he doesn't really know where to start, so he's staring at the shelves with a frightening intensity if someone doesn't know him well - really, he's half hoping that something will just pop out and spare him any more indecision.

his concentration breaks with the arrival of another occupant. Terra smiles and nods politely.]

[ Xander nods right back, but he's more of the bumbling polite kind of person, who doesn't really know what the meaning of manners are. Xander is far more used to foot-in-the-mouth syndrome than he is at the usual kind of conversation.

So after a second of browsing, he looks back over and sees the other guy still... staring. ]

You know, I don't think giving them the death stare is going to convince one to hop off the shelf for you. You might want to try a different approach. Good cop, bad cop kind of thing.

[he doesn't understand the last sentence, and his frown reflects that.]

...I just don't know where to start. There's too much here.

[ Okay, maybe he should try with the slower talking this time. Or less.. Xander-y words. ]

What movies have you seen?

[Terra's grin is almost apologetic.]

None. We don't have things like this where I'm from.

[The impact caused Samus to stumble - she hadn't expected the person she'd heard walking to actually walk into her. She's quick to recover, and the coat of her current outfit fluttered a bit as she spun around and pulled a pistol on the...young man?]

[ OH GOD, a gun, what is happening. Xander instantly pops his hands up and takes a few steps back because guns... guns are bad. Guns are something you don't come back from. ]

Hey, hey-- Woah, it's okay, I didn't mean anything by it. I didn't mean anything at all, I was just walking. Into you, obviously, but you can put the gun down, I swear.

[He definitely has the right door, and when Estelle answers and realizes who it is, she's all smiles.]

Hello! It's a pleasure to meet you in person!

[He gets a little bow and everything!]

[ Aw, the bow makes him grin, though he has no idea what to do in response, so he just tips his head a little in greeting. ]

You too. So, uh- Where are we gonna do this? [ And he's already starting to worry because hitting girls? Is a no-no in his books. ]

I think the twenty fifth floor would work very well! I don't have a practice sword, though...

[Minami, potentially unheard by him, leans on the back of the couch when he has a flashy science fiction movie on.]

Oh, hey! I haven't watched this since I was a kid. You on the part where Dr. Debatto and Mr. Solar were rescued by Ms. Peacock yet?

[ At the sudden appearance of a person behind him, Xander's quick to look over his shoulder, seeing a completely unfamiliar face. At least it goes along with the theme because he's never seen this movie before either. ]

Definitely haven't gotten there yet, i'm still thinking Ms. Peacock is the one who arranged the kidnapping in the first place and-- you've actually seen this movie before?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

our subject isn't cool, but he thinks it anyway

Cafeteria

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Media room

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Media Room

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Halls

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Media room--I'm totally making this up as I go

asdfjla; so am i, have no worries.