Post by Toby Chastain on Nov 25, 2016 15:34:30 GMT
"Uh huh," was all Toby's response to Dom's comment regarding the whole strange business. "Suuuure you did," okay, so there was more: Toby had already proven himself pretty much incapable of stopping when it would be a good time to stop prattling already.
The next comment made Toby miss a step. "Where did that come from?" Toby asked. "Seeing as I had only moments ago commented on the whole girls' locker room situation and how that was something of a blessing and all," Toby waved back that direction, before turning, now facing forward and walking more steadily. He could still hear something moving behind him, besides Dom of course, but it didn't sound like anyone was about to start threatening them any time soon.
"I'm not really one for labels," he finally said. "Besides the nerd thing. Even then, let's face it, I'm about as much dork as nerd. So even that's flexible. It's all just stuff society says to confuse us. Except the mutant thing. That's just a convenient label."
”Uh huh, suuuuure I did” Dominic responded, trying to copy the tone in Toby’s voice. He shooks his head as they quickly walked down the hallway “No offense, but don’t you sometimes want to not piss off people? I’ll give you some credit, you’re funny, but you probably get on people’s nerves, why don’t you act more normal?” He felt like Toby probably could be pretty well liked and more popular among pretty much anyone if he toned down the weirdness a bit.
“You called me adorable” he shrugged, trying his best to act like this was natural and as if he was feeling confident, but he was feeling awkward, more than he’d admit to himself “If you’re that into me then I’d rather know it, I mean, who wouldn’t be into this? I’m pretty damn hot if I must say so myself” He was trying to sound like he was joking in an attempt to not give anything away and trying to make himself feel less awkward.
“Labels? I mean, don’t they just describe parts of who we are? Not that I’m gay” he added quickly “Like, straight is a label too, but it’s just words that describes parts of who we are” Ouch this felt like it was starting to get too deep and personal for Dom “Anyway, I feel a bit sad I didn’t get more time in the girls locker room, some of them were pretty hot” he nudged Toby in the side a bit, trying to act a little bro-ish, but Toby was probably the wrong person for that.
Toby smiled and shook his head. "I'm not really worried about getting on people's nerves. I'll tick some people off; get others to like me, and it all kinda balances in the end. why pretend to be normal when I'm not," he added a slight shrug. It had been his philosophy too long for Toby to really go back on it now. Plus, he sort of liked who he was and how he was doing life just in general.
The bit about adorable and the rant that followed had Toby raising his brows. He might not have been an expect, but he couldn't help but think of the old saying "methinks the lad doth protest too much." It took considerable restraint for Toby not to blurt this, and he wanted any higher powers that were paying attention to take note for future karmic purposes.
"Sorry, you're not my type," was what he offered in a slow drawl, smirking a little. The bit about labels just had him shaking his head again. It was so much more complicated than he really felt like getting into. Except the mutant thing; Toby could talk about that all day. He had to wince at the hot girls bit though: "Yeah, but most of us are, in case you haven't noticed. Mutant genes seem to make us hotter or something. Plus, most of the hottest girls in this school are the worst. Ever heard of Ellen Banks? Yeah, don't cross her. And she's got a posse that's at least as bad as her." Toby had heard of them more than encountered, for which he was eternally grateful.
”I can tell you’re not too worried” Dominic didn’t really understand why Toby didn’t care, it was the opposite of how he saw things and how he prioritized things “Well, I’m pretty normal so being liked should be easy, don’t think I piss off anyone” he shrugged, though he was frustrated over how it wasn’t as easy at it should have been to make friends here.
Dominic laughed at Toby saying he wasn’t his type, for some reason he doubted it a little bit “Oh please, I’m everybody’s type” he shook his head. “There is a lot of attractive people here huh? Maybe that is a part of being a mutant, or maybe just good genes” He was sure his mom had been pretty in her own way, just very tired looking “Ellen Banks? Can’t say I have heard of her, is she that hot?” Dominic didn’t plan on crossing any popular people, maybe try dating someone to increase his own social status, but no crossing them.
“Basically this school is a normal school, same social rules as everywhere else except the powers and stuff” he stated what he had already noticed and guessed ages ago “Is there any social rules regarding powers? Is it something that is considered personal or do people just openly talk about it?” He had wondered about this, though he wasn’t sure if Toby would be the right person to ask.
Toby just chuckled, as he always did whenever someone from this school talked about just wanting to be normal. They'd passed normal three exits ago, and it seemed like everyone was struggling to figure that out. "Normal here is someone who doesn't sleep," he pointed at himself, "or someone who literally walks through walls," to Dom. He didn't feel any reason to go further with that, not least of all because the conversation had continued.
Toby also took note that they were still moving, and they were going to have to settle on something resembling a destination soon enough. He didn't fancy circling around and running into more people he'd managed to anger. He was half thinking about that even as they kept right on going.
"Pretty hot," Toby offered. "Pretty, blonde, rich. Hangs out with a scrawny blonde who's more that kinda trashy hot. Think Lady Gaga and Kesha, and you won't be far off," Toby shrugged. "Look, I love talking about powers and all, but we should probably figure out where the heck we're going," Toby jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "I'd rather not run into another gaggle of jocks any time soon. Courtyard's probably pretty safe... well, except for all the crazy mutants flinging fireballs and having literal laser tag..."
”You know what I mean by normal, sure there’s some extra stuff here, but I’m still pretty normal, I fit in just fine in my old school, just a normal guy here” he had been a loner at his last school, so this wasn’t completely true, but he had been a loner by choice, not because he had to be, at least that’s what he told himself.
“Hm, any of them single?” He asked, sounding a bit hopeful, of course he wouldn’t be attracted, but who says that’s important? “Gaga is crazy in a hot way and Kesha is pretty hot in a messy way” He shrugged, figuring that was the right thing to say, he felt pretty neutral towards both of them.
He glanced over at Toby, what was he talking about? They weren’t hanging out or anything, they were just going the same way and they had escaped together, this conversation was just one of those conversations you might as well have while going the same direction to avoid awkward silence, that was all there was right? He would just go back to his room now right? “Uh, I’ll just follow you, you know this place better than I do” Or maybe it wouldn’t hurt to actually hang out a little bit. Dominic had to ask himself exactly how lonely he was and how desperate for company he was, because that explained it all, it couldn’t have anything to do with him actually liking Toby could it?
Just a normal guy? "And you said you weren't adorable," Toby said, unable to keep his tongue still (he'd been doing so good up till now; he still wanted cosmic credit for that). "Don't worry; there are plenty of people who just want to keep their heads down around here. Some of them don't seem to do much though, so you're going to have to figure out what you really want."
Toby soon found himself rolling his eyes. "Which is apparently an early death. These girls are bad news. They're hot, but I'm pretty sure their vaginas are lined with teeth," Toby mimicked fangs biting with his hands. "Though if you're desperate, I also hear the lanky blonde will nail just about anything that moves. Gotta be careful not to apply that to the wrong blonde though. Or to the brunettes. Best to just leave the whole mess alone, really."
Toby had paused then, considering their position and their pathway. He did some mental calculations, pointing and gesturing, his lips moving. Toby had spent a week or so memorizing every inch of the school (again: lots of spare time on his hands), so he was pretty sure he knew where to head. "Library's probably safe, unless you want to go hiding in the dorms," he turned to look at Dom. "Jeez, you look more skittish than me. Don't worry: they're probably not following us this far," Toby turned again, fighting a smile a he continued: "We just have to hope no one snapped a pic and uploaded it to the school social media site."
”What do you mean by that?” He said, feeling a bit confused “What’s adorable? I feel like handsome or hot is more fitting myself” He shrugged. Took a second before he glared at Toby “Oh, you’re being condescending” he rolled his eyes “What’s wrong with wanting to be normal? What’s really that different about me? Except for the walking through walls thing?”
“I can handle some bad girls” He laughed “Wait... Is vagina teeth an actual power? Because if it is, I’m not going anywhere near whoever has that” That idea disturbed him even more than actual vaginas did. “I’m not desperate!” He protested “I have some standards” he didn’t want to be considered anything that moves, these blondes would probably be out of the question.
“Don’t you have to be quiet in the library? I feel like you don’t know how to be quiet” he laughed a little “I don’t have a roommate, so my room is pretty safe, the student lounge I guess is okay too, there’s usually people there though whenever I walk past” He shrugged. “Skittish? Me?” He frowned “I’m not skittish and I’m not really scared of anyone, I can defend myself if I have to” Running away earlier probably didn’t prove anything, but it was true, if someone bigger and stronger came for him he’d just phase so they couldn’t touch him and then punch back or something, he had an idea in his head but he hadn’t actually tried it out and he hoped he didn’t have to.
Post by Toby Chastain on Nov 29, 2016 14:50:21 GMT
Toby just smirked as Dom worked his way through the adorable comment. Had it been condescending? Maybe a little. But some people all but asked for it, and Dom all but had when he started prattling on about how handsome and hot he was. Was he trying to flirt with Toby or something? That sort of thing generally zoomed right by the lanky nerd, so he wasn't sure he would even go there. (At least, not without some awkward prompting and the worst possible timing he could manage).
"Pretty sure just about everything's a power," he offered. "These don't actually have teeth as far as I know, but you definitely don't want to get around them. Use those so-called-standards of yours and find someone who doesn't want to nibble your giblets." Toby shuddered with far more drama than was particularly necessary for the comment, but again, he couldn't quite help it.
Sounded like Dom was up for heading for the lounge. "Lot of people, should work," Toby allowed. He kept walking, again half-chuckling as the protests regarding the skittish nature. "Right. The whole fleeing in terror thing a few times got me confused. Excuse me," they were passing some girls, and Toby paused to gesture to Dom. "He's a totally hot manly man who's not at all afraid of you. He wanted you to know." And of course Toby would pause then, his face deadly serious while the two, relatively hot, girls looked from him to Dom with completely dumbstruck expressions.
Dominic nodded, maybe he would take Toby’s advice and not go for these apparently crazy evil girls “Alright, you convinced me for now, I’ll find someone a bit more down to earth” The social status thing was one thing, but it was possible to find someone who actually was worth spending time with who was also well liked right?
“I was not fleeing in terror, I was saving your ass, I wasn’t scared of getting my ass beat or anything, if he tried I’d just phase, no big deal, but I can’t keep the both of us phased forever so I decided to pull you out of there instead of leaving you to your fate” he explained, it was partly true, the easier thing would have been to just get himself out of there “Some gratitude would really be nice like I said earlier. On a more serious note, my last school had metal detectors because people would smuggle in knives and shit, he seemed like the type who would pull a knife if he wasn’t going to just use his fists, I didn’t want to take the risk.”
He wanted to facepalm at Toby’s comment to the girls who walked past “Don’t listen to him, he’s stupid” He punched Toby’s shoulder, not too hard or anything “You need to shut up” He turned and looked at the girls as they walked away “You really want to make me look stupid don’t you?” He shook his head, still wondering why he was still hanging out with him.
"I probably could've talked my way out of it," Toby insisted, as he'd been insisting. "And I gave you gratitude a while ago. Really not good manners to keep insisting on it after we've gone so far." He gestured toward the girls, deciding to include them in the next bit of conversation (even if they technically hadn't been around for the first bit, a fact that didn't really deter Toby from continuing anyway).
He took the punch first. "Don't you girls think that someone should just take the, what was it, two?" He looked to Dom. "It was two, right? Two thanks and go with it, instead of demanding more? I mean, obviously he's adorable, but he's clearly super needy," Toby gestured at him again, before turning to point.
"And you're the only one making yourself look stupid here," he insisted. "I'm talking you up," he raised his brows, and the girls turned to look at Dom, still momentarily speechless and obviously waiting for some sort of response there.
”Or you could have gotten your teeth knocked out” Dom shook his head, doubting Toby really could have taked his way out. “Well, I feel like you could increase the gratitude a bit, that’s all, you owe me two” he let out a small sigh as he realized the girls were still in this “Don’t mind him, he’s crazy.”
“Wow, great, two thank yous, I’m so honored” He said sarcastically and rolled his eyes “Imagine how much your chances with the ladies.. or men.. would decrease if you had your teeth knocked out?” Oh god, was he really getting carried along into this conversation and this type of humor? He flinched a bit at the adorable comment, there it was again “Really? You think I’m that adorable? I’m so flattered, but I thought I wasn’t your type?”
“I really doubt you’re helping my case at all” He said and looked at the girls “I’m sorry you got dragged into this, I don’t even know this guy to be honest, he’s just some random crazy person who is following me around right now, so I’m sorry he’s bothering you” He really wanted to get away from these girls, also he wanted Toby to shut up.
Post by Toby Chastain on Nov 30, 2016 18:31:26 GMT
"Actually ,missing teeth could be quite appealing," Toby argued, smiling ."I mean, think of the potential for sucking on things and the like. all the room, none of the biting," he winked at the guy, and the two girls looked about like girls often did around Toby: a strange mixture of disgusted and amused. At this point, that was probably the same sort of look that Dom would have around him too, not that Toby cared overmuch.
The girls had gotten up at some point, likely as Dom was talking (Toby was inclined to blame Dom for this, though he knew full that wasn't, strictly speaking, fair to the other guy). They were just smiling and waving a few fingers at the two guys as they headed off, the last bit likely being said to their backs. That didn't stop one of them from turning and pointing at Dom.
"He's right though, you are totally adorable," she said, before winking and turning to walk off with her friend.
Toby just put his hands into his pockets and grinned a stupidly confident grin.
What Toby meant was lost to Dominic, he just frowned at him, what kind of sucking was he on about? Dominic didn’t want to say anything about that in case he’d be called out for having his mind in the gutter. He glanced at the girls and had a feeling they were feeling the same way as him.
Being called adorable by one of the girls left Dominic blushing “Uh, thanks, you too?” wow Dom, real smooth. He hadn’t seen it coming and he hadn’t really known how to react, not that it was the first time he’d been given compliments, a lot of girls had told him they found him attractive or flirted with him, but he was usually a bit more prepared.
He glanced at Toby “wipe that grin off of your face” but he couldn’t help but smiling too, of course adorable was again not his word of choice, handsome would have been better but he didn’t complain. “I’d still say you’d only hurt my game, I’m not bad at girls, I get how they work” He said somewhat confidently after they had left “I’ll give you a tip or two sometime, if you’re actually into them at all.”
The smile remained even after Dom insisted on his wiping it off. If anything, that insistence just made Toby's grin broaden a little further. "Oh yeah, you've so got game," Toby said, before jerking his thumb over his shoulder. "Want to go back and ask the girls what got the attention? You know I'll do it. I have no shame."
Which was pretty much true at this point. Toby had gone through enough that shame seemed like a distant memory. Call it confidence; call it acceptance; he didn't really care. He reached up, stretching and lacing his fingers together before putting them behind his head.
"Dom," he said, speaking in a philosophical tone, "I can't help but feel that this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship. I have no idea what kind of relationship, probably a friendship or some sort of 'why is that guy near me' sort of thing, but it's definitely there. I mean, just think about it: in the short time we've been together, we've avoided getting our teeth punched out, gotten into the girls' locker room, done some flirting, and hinted at one another being gay so very, very many times," Toby laid a hand on Dom's shoulder. "Truly, I thank you for this glorious opportunity. And for the locker thing. Since you still want thanks for that for some reason."