((Juliette Sargent continued from The Room Where It Happens))
This early in the school year, the computer lab was not overly populated, particularly at lunch. Nobody had major projects due, the staff was still vigilant enough to prevent anyone from going too wild with games or internet-based tomfoolery, and the novelty of being back in class kept a large portion of the populace socializing in the lunchroom or the halls. On a normal day, that's where Juliette would've been too, but today she had a purpose. Today, she was taking advantage of the fairly nice Macs and their suites of editing software and the powerful printers nearby to toy around with campaign posters.
It was never too early to get a start on things; as soon as she'd made up her mind that running was anything more than an idle fancy she'd begun sowing the seeds, quietly asking friends for advice or assistance, considering the time investment and her mental and emotional state and school workload, weighing pros and cons. She had, ultimately, determined that while running a proper campaign would represent a significant investment of time, it would also be valuable experience, a real project, and a project was something that she desperately needed. It was good to have something to focus on, good to have something to look forward to and plan for, something to get excited about and talk about at dinner. The election was not exactly impending, and already she'd written and discarded three different drafts of her speech. Kylie had told her to chill out, but with a laugh and an offer to listen to as many versions as Juliette wanted. Not making her stepsister regret that kindness was another thing to practice.
In any event, just as soon as the okay for posters to go up was given, Juliette intended to roll out an array, in different sizes and designs to fit different areas of the school, with an eye towards catching the gaze and sticking in the mind. She was not a naturally-talented visual artist, so this was not a simple process. Frustrations abounded; every attempt she'd made thus far carried a marked amateur vibe, and while that was likely to be true of her opposition, she wanted to be better. But that was another reason it was so important to start early.
Juliette was toying with a photograph of herself, the shot waist-up from the right, her usual warm yet close-lipped smile affixed. She'd worn white. What a mistake. What went with white on a poster? She wondered if she could adjust the hue of her blouse without making it obvious. Actually, come to think of it, could she fix her nose? But no, no, that would look vain. Her classmates knew what she looked like.
She really wished she had a better understanding of how Photoshop worked. Her fingers were tightening. She ran her right hand through her hair, as much to get it off the mouse as anything else, and took a deep breath. She had time, plenty of time. She was planning ahead. This would look good. She was just taking the first steps in that process, working on the prototypes, and imperfection at this stage, frustrating though it could feel in the moment, was not only normal but expected.
Juliette Sargent For Senior Class President
Open, early fall 2017
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MurderWeasel
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Juliette Sargent For Senior Class President
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun
((Myles Roux continued from True Colors Never Change))
There were three kinds of people who avoided the cafeteria at lunchtime: loners, weirdos, and nerds.
Myles was very decidedly none of the above, but today was an exception. Technically, he qualified for free school lunches, but he didn't actually indulge in that so-called privilege that often. Hunter High's food wasn't bad for school food, but it wasn't good enough that he would want to pay for it; if anything, he was getting one over on the people who had to. Still, a handout was a handout. He didn't like taking it. Pity from individual people was embarrassing and irritating at best. Pity from the school system itself was unbearable. Myles preferred to bring his food, but just recently, an unanticipated problem had cropped up.
The agent of Myles's doom this time was, of all things, a sale at Costco.
Namely, a sale on bulk packages of cup noodles. Mom had come home with what seemed like a pallet full of the stuff. She had saved a ridiculous amount on the purchase, and now that translated to eating a ridiculous amount of microwaved cup soup. The eating itself wasn't even the bad part; it got samey after a while, but the taste was fine.
No, the problem was that people had started noticing that Myles was eating cup noodles for lunch three times a week when he had previously brought more varied meals from home, and they had decided to start talking about it. To his face.
He had just been sitting there, minding his own business, slurping down his lunch, and pointedly ignoring anybody who told him that slurping was rude, when the question was thrown out. Just thrown on out there like the garbage it was.
"Prepping for college life or something, Myles? Are times that hard?" Innocuous enough to almost be called innocent, and not even remotely clever. If he were the forgiving sort, Myles could have granted that it probably wasn't meant as a jab at all, but he wasn't. The comment was made, and there were a few snorts and giggles around the table, and Myles had just sat there with his eyes fixed on the tabletop and his ears burning with sudden humiliation. He wasn't even sure who had said it, looking back. Somebody's younger sibling in the sophomore or junior class who got to sit at their table by merit of nepotism.
That had been last week, and Myles was both still mad about it and still not out of cup noodles at home. When the bell signaling the lunch period rang today, he had been one of the first ones out of the classroom and first in line at the microwaves, and now he was wandering the hall with his lunch in hand in search of some secluded place to eat. If people wanted to mock him - while he was right there no less, come on - then they didn't deserve his company.
The computer lab seemed like a good bet. People rarely ate in there for fear of spilling something on their tax dollars at work. Myles pushed the door open with one arm, careful not to squeeze his styrofoam cup too hard and send hot soup broth spilling out over his fingers as had sometimes happened, and slipped inside. He was somewhat surprised to see that it wasn't completely empty, but Juliette was a pretty solid category 3 in the breakdown of loners, weirdos, and nerds, so her appearance wasn't totally out of place.
She seemed to be working on a picture of herself of some sort. Interesting. Juliette was the sort of person who cared about being nice and well-liked too much to spread things around, so Myles was comfortable enough getting closer to her computer for a look at what she was doing. He got a forkful of noodles and stuck them in his mouth, and then proceeded to announce his presence with a loud slurp.
There were three kinds of people who avoided the cafeteria at lunchtime: loners, weirdos, and nerds.
Myles was very decidedly none of the above, but today was an exception. Technically, he qualified for free school lunches, but he didn't actually indulge in that so-called privilege that often. Hunter High's food wasn't bad for school food, but it wasn't good enough that he would want to pay for it; if anything, he was getting one over on the people who had to. Still, a handout was a handout. He didn't like taking it. Pity from individual people was embarrassing and irritating at best. Pity from the school system itself was unbearable. Myles preferred to bring his food, but just recently, an unanticipated problem had cropped up.
The agent of Myles's doom this time was, of all things, a sale at Costco.
Namely, a sale on bulk packages of cup noodles. Mom had come home with what seemed like a pallet full of the stuff. She had saved a ridiculous amount on the purchase, and now that translated to eating a ridiculous amount of microwaved cup soup. The eating itself wasn't even the bad part; it got samey after a while, but the taste was fine.
No, the problem was that people had started noticing that Myles was eating cup noodles for lunch three times a week when he had previously brought more varied meals from home, and they had decided to start talking about it. To his face.
He had just been sitting there, minding his own business, slurping down his lunch, and pointedly ignoring anybody who told him that slurping was rude, when the question was thrown out. Just thrown on out there like the garbage it was.
"Prepping for college life or something, Myles? Are times that hard?" Innocuous enough to almost be called innocent, and not even remotely clever. If he were the forgiving sort, Myles could have granted that it probably wasn't meant as a jab at all, but he wasn't. The comment was made, and there were a few snorts and giggles around the table, and Myles had just sat there with his eyes fixed on the tabletop and his ears burning with sudden humiliation. He wasn't even sure who had said it, looking back. Somebody's younger sibling in the sophomore or junior class who got to sit at their table by merit of nepotism.
That had been last week, and Myles was both still mad about it and still not out of cup noodles at home. When the bell signaling the lunch period rang today, he had been one of the first ones out of the classroom and first in line at the microwaves, and now he was wandering the hall with his lunch in hand in search of some secluded place to eat. If people wanted to mock him - while he was right there no less, come on - then they didn't deserve his company.
The computer lab seemed like a good bet. People rarely ate in there for fear of spilling something on their tax dollars at work. Myles pushed the door open with one arm, careful not to squeeze his styrofoam cup too hard and send hot soup broth spilling out over his fingers as had sometimes happened, and slipped inside. He was somewhat surprised to see that it wasn't completely empty, but Juliette was a pretty solid category 3 in the breakdown of loners, weirdos, and nerds, so her appearance wasn't totally out of place.
She seemed to be working on a picture of herself of some sort. Interesting. Juliette was the sort of person who cared about being nice and well-liked too much to spread things around, so Myles was comfortable enough getting closer to her computer for a look at what she was doing. He got a forkful of noodles and stuck them in his mouth, and then proceeded to announce his presence with a loud slurp.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
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MurderWeasel
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The slurp from above and behind drew Juliette's attention away from her difficulties with the editing and towards the new arrival: Myles Roux, cup ramen in hand, taking a good look at what she was working on. Immediately she smiled.
Myles was known for talking, often about things that weren't his business, which was a trait that could be a nuisance if one's secrets were spilled but was relatively harmless otherwise. Juliette made a study of not revealing what she didn't want known. Thus, Myles' appearance didn't cause her any particular concern; if anything, it represented a number of distinct but connected opportunities.
She did take brief note of his lunch, perfectly-keyed as it was to maximum computer lab devastation, but any accidents or fallout there was between him and the administration; Juliette lacked interest in haranguing him over it on a personal level and felt no particular inclination to alienate a classmate for no reason. It was not a choice she would've made, but Myles obviously wasn't her. As a matter of fact, she was skipping lunch today in service of getting some work done on this project, and while she'd had a bit of extra breakfast in preparation for that, she was noticing faint pangs. Fortunately, the food Myles had wasn't anything she actually liked.
"Hey, Myles," she said. She turned to face him more properly, not a full sit-down-in-my-office-young-man turn but one that was a little warmer than calling over her shoulder, a healthy medium between formality and apathy. She also gestured to the chair closest to hers; the computer lab had ample room, but Myles was over in her vicinity already so the least she could do was extend some courtesy and let him know his presence was not unwanted. "Have a seat? How's the new semester treating you?"
Myles was known for talking, often about things that weren't his business, which was a trait that could be a nuisance if one's secrets were spilled but was relatively harmless otherwise. Juliette made a study of not revealing what she didn't want known. Thus, Myles' appearance didn't cause her any particular concern; if anything, it represented a number of distinct but connected opportunities.
She did take brief note of his lunch, perfectly-keyed as it was to maximum computer lab devastation, but any accidents or fallout there was between him and the administration; Juliette lacked interest in haranguing him over it on a personal level and felt no particular inclination to alienate a classmate for no reason. It was not a choice she would've made, but Myles obviously wasn't her. As a matter of fact, she was skipping lunch today in service of getting some work done on this project, and while she'd had a bit of extra breakfast in preparation for that, she was noticing faint pangs. Fortunately, the food Myles had wasn't anything she actually liked.
"Hey, Myles," she said. She turned to face him more properly, not a full sit-down-in-my-office-young-man turn but one that was a little warmer than calling over her shoulder, a healthy medium between formality and apathy. She also gestured to the chair closest to hers; the computer lab had ample room, but Myles was over in her vicinity already so the least she could do was extend some courtesy and let him know his presence was not unwanted. "Have a seat? How's the new semester treating you?"
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun
There she went, with the perfectly manicured politician smile and greeting. Myles wasn't a fan of politicians or tryhards and so wasn't a fan of Juliette on principle, but there was no need to let her know that if she didn't already. Even if she did know, she seemed the type who wouldn't bother to show that she cared. She was annoyingly polished like that. He finished with his bite of food before smiling back.
"Sure, sure." He eased the chair out with a foot and sat down. He held onto his cup instead of setting it on the table. That would just be inviting comical misfortune.
Come to think of it, food and drink might actually be banned in the computer labs rather than people just not bringing them in out of concern for the equipment. Oops.
Oh well.
"Whatcha working on? Oh, I'm good by the way."
"Sure, sure." He eased the chair out with a foot and sat down. He held onto his cup instead of setting it on the table. That would just be inviting comical misfortune.
Come to think of it, food and drink might actually be banned in the computer labs rather than people just not bringing them in out of concern for the equipment. Oops.
Oh well.
"Whatcha working on? Oh, I'm good by the way."
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
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MurderWeasel
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"I'm glad to hear it," Juliette said, acknowledging Myles' status before moving to the more involved side of the conversation. As expected, he was interested in what she was doing—there was now, she belatedly realized, almost no chance she could get away with any major tweaks to her image, even if she did posses the know-how, but since she didn't that was academic—and Juliette was perfectly content to oblige his curiosity.
"I'm toying around with campaign posters," she said. "I've decided to throw my name on the student ballot this year, and I want to do a good job. But I'm not very good at this side of things."
She let out a small laugh. With it, and with her admission, some of the frustration receded. It was true: right now she was no good at Photoshop. She was, on the other hand, good at talking to her peers, and with an audience, loose and potentially-disinterested as the current one might be, she felt more in her element.
Juliette made sure to keep decent eye contact with Myles as she talked, holding his gaze without staring him down. The corners of her lips never drooped, not because she forced them to stay up but because she was feeling better. This short punk boy, who really didn't mean much to her, had nonetheless shaken her funk. These sorts of meetings and opportunities were all around, she thought. You just had to be open to them.
"I'm toying around with campaign posters," she said. "I've decided to throw my name on the student ballot this year, and I want to do a good job. But I'm not very good at this side of things."
She let out a small laugh. With it, and with her admission, some of the frustration receded. It was true: right now she was no good at Photoshop. She was, on the other hand, good at talking to her peers, and with an audience, loose and potentially-disinterested as the current one might be, she felt more in her element.
Juliette made sure to keep decent eye contact with Myles as she talked, holding his gaze without staring him down. The corners of her lips never drooped, not because she forced them to stay up but because she was feeling better. This short punk boy, who really didn't mean much to her, had nonetheless shaken her funk. These sorts of meetings and opportunities were all around, she thought. You just had to be open to them.
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun
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Somersault
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Keisha Higgins Bell - MEMORIES START
So, okay, maybe sometimes people thought Keisha was not the most dedicated member of the school newspaaper, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, she was going above and beyond right now, because she was skipping lunch and hanging out with people she actually wanted to talk to, like Ariana or Ivy or someone, and instead was going around to find the out the latest news around the school. Yeah, she was being the most dedicated, especially because school was just starting back up again. The best, really.
Then, her stomach let out a soft gurgle, and so she let out a slightly louder grumble. Well, fine. Some of what she got by skulking around and trying to listen to what was on the up and up around the whole school did indeed go into her articles or whatever, but most of it just ended up going into her brain, as gossip fodder for another time or whatever. Either way, she was doing something with her time, so no one could blame her for that. Totally not.
In any case, the hallways were kind of dank and empty, and her notebook full of journalistic observations was not going to be filled out just standing here randomly, and so Keisha began to look for somewhere where she could find something interesting going on, or at least complain sitting down rather than standing up. Time was still tick-tick ticking, and she had places to go, people to meet, and food to not think about.
Her heels clacked as she began to make her way towards the computer lab, trying to be as silent as possible. It wouldn't do for someone to find her here, even if it was ostensibly for the school newspaper, because then everyone would know she spent time wandering around like some crazy-ass person to get all the deets.
Well, she was sure some people already thought that, but that wouldn't make it any more pleasant as a reveal.
The door was already open just a bit when she had gotten there, she realized as she walked closer. That probably meant someone was inside, and so Keisha was hoping that whoever was inside wasn't a creep or anything like that, or at least someone boring she could ignore in peace. If she could even just get that, she would've been fine, but what she saw as she peeked her head in wasn't exactly what she was expecting.
She had had friendly-enough conversations with both Myles Roux and Juliette Sargent before, although never together. Both of them seemed to run in fairly different social circles, but knowing Juliette and her insatiable need to get to know the entire grade, she supposed she shouldn't have been surprised at seeing them speaking to one another.
There was still the question of what they were doing in the computer lab, however, and the cup of ramen in Myles' hand made her pretty sure that this wasn't a planned meeting. There already had been some talk of his recurring lunches going around, but Myles was nice enough and always knew something that she didn't and so she didn't mind. Wasn't as if she was all that well-off herself, anyways.
Keisha tapped on the door lightly, keeping her notebook close. If something was going down in here, she had to be the first to know.
"Hey, is it okay if I come in for a bit?"
So, okay, maybe sometimes people thought Keisha was not the most dedicated member of the school newspaaper, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, she was going above and beyond right now, because she was skipping lunch and hanging out with people she actually wanted to talk to, like Ariana or Ivy or someone, and instead was going around to find the out the latest news around the school. Yeah, she was being the most dedicated, especially because school was just starting back up again. The best, really.
Then, her stomach let out a soft gurgle, and so she let out a slightly louder grumble. Well, fine. Some of what she got by skulking around and trying to listen to what was on the up and up around the whole school did indeed go into her articles or whatever, but most of it just ended up going into her brain, as gossip fodder for another time or whatever. Either way, she was doing something with her time, so no one could blame her for that. Totally not.
In any case, the hallways were kind of dank and empty, and her notebook full of journalistic observations was not going to be filled out just standing here randomly, and so Keisha began to look for somewhere where she could find something interesting going on, or at least complain sitting down rather than standing up. Time was still tick-tick ticking, and she had places to go, people to meet, and food to not think about.
Her heels clacked as she began to make her way towards the computer lab, trying to be as silent as possible. It wouldn't do for someone to find her here, even if it was ostensibly for the school newspaper, because then everyone would know she spent time wandering around like some crazy-ass person to get all the deets.
Well, she was sure some people already thought that, but that wouldn't make it any more pleasant as a reveal.
The door was already open just a bit when she had gotten there, she realized as she walked closer. That probably meant someone was inside, and so Keisha was hoping that whoever was inside wasn't a creep or anything like that, or at least someone boring she could ignore in peace. If she could even just get that, she would've been fine, but what she saw as she peeked her head in wasn't exactly what she was expecting.
She had had friendly-enough conversations with both Myles Roux and Juliette Sargent before, although never together. Both of them seemed to run in fairly different social circles, but knowing Juliette and her insatiable need to get to know the entire grade, she supposed she shouldn't have been surprised at seeing them speaking to one another.
There was still the question of what they were doing in the computer lab, however, and the cup of ramen in Myles' hand made her pretty sure that this wasn't a planned meeting. There already had been some talk of his recurring lunches going around, but Myles was nice enough and always knew something that she didn't and so she didn't mind. Wasn't as if she was all that well-off herself, anyways.
Keisha tapped on the door lightly, keeping her notebook close. If something was going down in here, she had to be the first to know.
"Hey, is it okay if I come in for a bit?"
Yep. Politics. When he thought back on it, Myles was actually a little surprised that Juliette hadn't decided to run for student office before senior year. She was already on the student council and did... whatever it was that the student council did. Decided the homecoming theme and... probably other things. Myles's eyes glazed over for a few seconds while he racked his brain for anything else that he was aware of that the student council actually had power over, but he came up blank. Whatever it was, it happened behind the scenes and was probably boring.
Myles had no help to offer in the Photoshop department and was about to say as much, in case Juliette was gearing up to ask him, when an actual (sort of kind of) friend made her appearance.
"No," he said brightly, swiveling his chair to face Keisha with a grin on his face. "We're very busy, actually. Plotting to overthrow the teachers and stage our hostile takeover of the school any day now, so no interruptions, please."
He used the leftover momentum from his movement to continue turning the chair in a lazy circle. "Of course, if you leave and tell anybody about our plans, we'll have to kill you."
Myles had no help to offer in the Photoshop department and was about to say as much, in case Juliette was gearing up to ask him, when an actual (sort of kind of) friend made her appearance.
"No," he said brightly, swiveling his chair to face Keisha with a grin on his face. "We're very busy, actually. Plotting to overthrow the teachers and stage our hostile takeover of the school any day now, so no interruptions, please."
He used the leftover momentum from his movement to continue turning the chair in a lazy circle. "Of course, if you leave and tell anybody about our plans, we'll have to kill you."
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
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MurderWeasel
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"You heard him," Juliette added, doing her best deadpan. She was, as a matter of fact, pretty good at controlling her voice. "You're stuck in limbo."
She paused a beat, perked her smile up—and now that did require effort—and waved Keisha forward.
"You're welcome to have a seat," she said. She didn't indicate where; Keisha and Myles seemed to be on solid terms, with a sort of joking rapport between them, so Juliette thought it best to let them figure out their own arrangements. The arrival had cut the legs from the ongoing conversation, but that wasn't overly disappointing. Odds were, they'd wind their way back around to it soon enough, and even if they didn't socializing with the pair wouldn't cost anything except time that had been otherwise unproductive.
Keisha Higgins-Bell was a member of the school paper, a cheerleader, and another of those sorts who had a finger in every pie. She was thus in a similar boat as Myles, the sort of person someone less careful than Juliette might've had to be very careful around indeed. For Juliette, she was a good person to chat with, always with interesting tidbits and clever words. Juliette liked her, in more than the default way in which she liked most of her classmates. The girl also had a nice sense of dress.
In fact, if the opportunity arose, Juliette would have to see about asking Keisha's advice on the image manipulation software. Even if the girl didn't know how to work it herself, she'd probably be able to pull out whoever did do that sort of thing for the paper, and maybe even serve as an intermediary if Juliette decided to outsource. This chance encounter could be very fruitful after all.
She paused a beat, perked her smile up—and now that did require effort—and waved Keisha forward.
"You're welcome to have a seat," she said. She didn't indicate where; Keisha and Myles seemed to be on solid terms, with a sort of joking rapport between them, so Juliette thought it best to let them figure out their own arrangements. The arrival had cut the legs from the ongoing conversation, but that wasn't overly disappointing. Odds were, they'd wind their way back around to it soon enough, and even if they didn't socializing with the pair wouldn't cost anything except time that had been otherwise unproductive.
Keisha Higgins-Bell was a member of the school paper, a cheerleader, and another of those sorts who had a finger in every pie. She was thus in a similar boat as Myles, the sort of person someone less careful than Juliette might've had to be very careful around indeed. For Juliette, she was a good person to chat with, always with interesting tidbits and clever words. Juliette liked her, in more than the default way in which she liked most of her classmates. The girl also had a nice sense of dress.
In fact, if the opportunity arose, Juliette would have to see about asking Keisha's advice on the image manipulation software. Even if the girl didn't know how to work it herself, she'd probably be able to pull out whoever did do that sort of thing for the paper, and maybe even serve as an intermediary if Juliette decided to outsource. This chance encounter could be very fruitful after all.
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun
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Somersault
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While she did cover her mouth with the hand that wasn't carrying the notebook in a show of mock-surprise, Keisha couldn't help a grin from forming on her face. "Well, I'd at least be stuck in limbo with pleasant company."
Truth be told, she wasn't exactly expecting a warm reception, even if she was talking to people she did sort of know well, and so the little joke they had going on now was a fairly pleasant surprise. Still, Keisha thought about the notebook in her hand, and remembered that she just wasn't here to talk. Well, she was here to talk, but also to learn more about whatever the hell they had been speaking about before she had entered the room. Had to keep herself focused, eyes on the prize, all those sayings that tried to mean something but usually just meant jackshit. Observation, notation, all the rhymes. She was here for that.
Still, she couldn't just go and let the offer of a seat go to waste, and so she made her way to Juliette and Myles, looking for the most convenient place to park her behind for this conversation and information gathering session. Spotting a seat next to one of the monitors, she pulled it out next to Myles and sat down on the seat, making sure she didn't just go and plop on it. Juliette didn't exactly seem like the girl who'd appreciate something like that, and this was a sort-of business matter, so she kinda had to be on her best behavior.
"So," Keisha began, searching for some way to smoothly insert herself into the prior conversation. "What have y'all been up to?"
Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she spotted something on the computer next to Juliette (a poster?), but she decided not to ask about that now. Just like bump, a set, and a spike, she couldn't force something out. Had to just let it flow.
Truth be told, she wasn't exactly expecting a warm reception, even if she was talking to people she did sort of know well, and so the little joke they had going on now was a fairly pleasant surprise. Still, Keisha thought about the notebook in her hand, and remembered that she just wasn't here to talk. Well, she was here to talk, but also to learn more about whatever the hell they had been speaking about before she had entered the room. Had to keep herself focused, eyes on the prize, all those sayings that tried to mean something but usually just meant jackshit. Observation, notation, all the rhymes. She was here for that.
Still, she couldn't just go and let the offer of a seat go to waste, and so she made her way to Juliette and Myles, looking for the most convenient place to park her behind for this conversation and information gathering session. Spotting a seat next to one of the monitors, she pulled it out next to Myles and sat down on the seat, making sure she didn't just go and plop on it. Juliette didn't exactly seem like the girl who'd appreciate something like that, and this was a sort-of business matter, so she kinda had to be on her best behavior.
"So," Keisha began, searching for some way to smoothly insert herself into the prior conversation. "What have y'all been up to?"
Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she spotted something on the computer next to Juliette (a poster?), but she decided not to ask about that now. Just like bump, a set, and a spike, she couldn't force something out. Had to just let it flow.
"Lunch," Myles said simply, as his chair slowly rotated back around to face the girls. "And world domination, of course. But enough about our evil plans. What brings you here? If you're trying to get in our good graces before we enact the new world order, I hope you brought gifts."
Really, he was pleasantly surprised that Juliette had decided to go along with his little joke. She always seemed like she was above it all, and he had expected that she might not take to kindly to his derailing of her campaign work. It was possible, likely even, that she was just playing nice now that he knew she was going to be campaigning, of course. It was what he would have done if their positions were reversed.
Still, a nice surprise with an ulterior motive was better than an unpleasant one. And Juliette certainly wouldn't have any smart remarks to make about his choice of lunch, if she really wanted that vote.
Keisha, on the other hand...
Well, she had good intentions. Usually.
Really, he was pleasantly surprised that Juliette had decided to go along with his little joke. She always seemed like she was above it all, and he had expected that she might not take to kindly to his derailing of her campaign work. It was possible, likely even, that she was just playing nice now that he knew she was going to be campaigning, of course. It was what he would have done if their positions were reversed.
Still, a nice surprise with an ulterior motive was better than an unpleasant one. And Juliette certainly wouldn't have any smart remarks to make about his choice of lunch, if she really wanted that vote.
Keisha, on the other hand...
Well, she had good intentions. Usually.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
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MurderWeasel
- Posts: 2566
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:37 am
"Or a new minister of propaganda," Juliette added. "I fed the last one to the piranhas and now I know why people delegate."
Then she smiled, waited, watched and listened. The mouse lay ignored now; it would be impolite to turn away from the conversation unfolding, and besides, she was enjoying both the break and the company. This was more like what she'd be doing in a typical lunch, albeit likely in a bigger group. It was what she liked.
She was glad Myles asked about Keisha's presence; Juliette too was somewhat curious about her, though could take an educated guess. Most likely the girl was here to use the computers; Myles' innovative strategy of turning the lab into impromptu lunchroom was uncommon. Then again, Keisha could be meeting someone, cruising out of boredom, or searching for a quiet place to sleep. They'd probably know soon enough.
Then she smiled, waited, watched and listened. The mouse lay ignored now; it would be impolite to turn away from the conversation unfolding, and besides, she was enjoying both the break and the company. This was more like what she'd be doing in a typical lunch, albeit likely in a bigger group. It was what she liked.
She was glad Myles asked about Keisha's presence; Juliette too was somewhat curious about her, though could take an educated guess. Most likely the girl was here to use the computers; Myles' innovative strategy of turning the lab into impromptu lunchroom was uncommon. Then again, Keisha could be meeting someone, cruising out of boredom, or searching for a quiet place to sleep. They'd probably know soon enough.
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun
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Somersault
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:56 am
"A minister of propaganda?" Keisha asked, her smile able to be heard in her voice. "If I wasn't so dedicated to the principles of journalistic integrity, I would've gladly accepted the offer. Still, I am quite touched by that suggestion."
The banter was all well and good, but she knew that the conversation was eventually going to switch around to the reason why she was in the computer lab eventually. It wasn't exactly something that could be avoided, so trying to answer that question as gracefully as possible was all she could do. All she would do, at least, because there was no way in hell she was gonna look like a dead fish all flopping 'round. Poise, class, all of that, she had it, at least in some small measure.
What was the best way to go out and say what she was going to, without making them get all pissed as ass? Not that she was already on bad terms with any of them, but Keisha was aware of how temperamental conversations could become. There was no reason to rock the boat, at least not now, so she supposed something pretty close to the truth.
"You know, just trying to jog my brain for another article," she said, pointing to the notebook she was holding. "Just trying to put something down on paper, get a start on something."
Now, she had said her piece, but she still wasn't sure why Juliette was here, which was definitely a question that needed to be answered. Call it her journalistic instincts, gossip-hound tendencies, whatever, really, but she definitely did want to know what the down-low was on that. Who didn't? Had to fish for it, though. Slowly pull it out, with finesse and groove.
"But, hmm, either of you got any ideas on what's happening 'round here? Anything in your lives that's turning out interesting?"
The banter was all well and good, but she knew that the conversation was eventually going to switch around to the reason why she was in the computer lab eventually. It wasn't exactly something that could be avoided, so trying to answer that question as gracefully as possible was all she could do. All she would do, at least, because there was no way in hell she was gonna look like a dead fish all flopping 'round. Poise, class, all of that, she had it, at least in some small measure.
What was the best way to go out and say what she was going to, without making them get all pissed as ass? Not that she was already on bad terms with any of them, but Keisha was aware of how temperamental conversations could become. There was no reason to rock the boat, at least not now, so she supposed something pretty close to the truth.
"You know, just trying to jog my brain for another article," she said, pointing to the notebook she was holding. "Just trying to put something down on paper, get a start on something."
Now, she had said her piece, but she still wasn't sure why Juliette was here, which was definitely a question that needed to be answered. Call it her journalistic instincts, gossip-hound tendencies, whatever, really, but she definitely did want to know what the down-low was on that. Who didn't? Had to fish for it, though. Slowly pull it out, with finesse and groove.
"But, hmm, either of you got any ideas on what's happening 'round here? Anything in your lives that's turning out interesting?"
Myles helped himself to more food while Keisha and Juliette had their short back-and-forth, and he let a softer, not quite as bright smile settle on his lips when he was through.
"Oh, no," he said, tone light. "Nothing exciting going on with me at all, really. Same old song as always."
Girl. You know better than that. That was what he was really saying, whether Keisha would get the message or not.
Myles was an informant, not a headline. If people were to talk about him, he did his level best to ensure that it was on his own terms. He couldn't control what anyone said when he wasn't around, but he sure as heck wasn't going to star in any school paper editorials.
In all likelihood, Juliette was the more interesting deviation from the norm right now, with her half-finished work still on display and all. And for the record, Myles's life was actually extremely interesting all of the time, because he was an important and busy person who did important busy person things, but they needed to establish right off that he wasn't going to be adding any personal details to whatever Keisha was cooking up.
"Juliette's the one working in here." Myles peeled one hand away from his cup of soup to gesture at Juliette's computer. "I just happened to drop by."
"Oh, no," he said, tone light. "Nothing exciting going on with me at all, really. Same old song as always."
Girl. You know better than that. That was what he was really saying, whether Keisha would get the message or not.
Myles was an informant, not a headline. If people were to talk about him, he did his level best to ensure that it was on his own terms. He couldn't control what anyone said when he wasn't around, but he sure as heck wasn't going to star in any school paper editorials.
In all likelihood, Juliette was the more interesting deviation from the norm right now, with her half-finished work still on display and all. And for the record, Myles's life was actually extremely interesting all of the time, because he was an important and busy person who did important busy person things, but they needed to establish right off that he wasn't going to be adding any personal details to whatever Keisha was cooking up.
"Juliette's the one working in here." Myles peeled one hand away from his cup of soup to gesture at Juliette's computer. "I just happened to drop by."
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
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MurderWeasel
- Posts: 2566
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:37 am
"I'm trying to design posters," Juliette said, gesturing towards her screen. "I'm going to try for the presidency this year. I just hope my campaigning is better than my image manipulation."
The conversation had circled back around to what she was doing through no effort of her own, and Juliette was totally willing to talk about it, just as long as it was something interesting to her companions. She didn't peg either of them as huge school politics buffs, but that was fine; most of the student body didn't have much of an idea what the council even did. She wanted to be sure not to bore them, but also to answer any curiosities they might have about her ambitions.
It was a tough line to walk, but she found it was usually best to err on the side of under-disclosure. There would be opportunities to delve more deeply into the subject, maybe with Keisha and Myles, but otherwise with any number of other classmates. By the end of this, she'd probably be sick to death of the subject. As it was, she'd already scored a little point: they both now knew she was running and liked her enough to sit and have this little chat with her. It wasn't at all the reason she was talking with them, but if the election were to happen right this moment, those things would probably work in her favor when it came to securing the votes of the others.
"What sort of article are you looking for?" she added to Keisha. Myles seemed content to turn the lens of the discussion away from himself, and Juliette saw no reason to shove him back into the spotlight, so just gave him another little smile. He was the only member of the trio eating, so would likely appreciate a moment to scarf down some of his noodles anyways. His statement that there was nothing of interest happening with him didn't strike Juliette as overly genuine—everyone was the lead actor of their own story, after all—but she knew well what "nothing interesting happening" actually meant: "Nothing I want to talk about."
The conversation had circled back around to what she was doing through no effort of her own, and Juliette was totally willing to talk about it, just as long as it was something interesting to her companions. She didn't peg either of them as huge school politics buffs, but that was fine; most of the student body didn't have much of an idea what the council even did. She wanted to be sure not to bore them, but also to answer any curiosities they might have about her ambitions.
It was a tough line to walk, but she found it was usually best to err on the side of under-disclosure. There would be opportunities to delve more deeply into the subject, maybe with Keisha and Myles, but otherwise with any number of other classmates. By the end of this, she'd probably be sick to death of the subject. As it was, she'd already scored a little point: they both now knew she was running and liked her enough to sit and have this little chat with her. It wasn't at all the reason she was talking with them, but if the election were to happen right this moment, those things would probably work in her favor when it came to securing the votes of the others.
"What sort of article are you looking for?" she added to Keisha. Myles seemed content to turn the lens of the discussion away from himself, and Juliette saw no reason to shove him back into the spotlight, so just gave him another little smile. He was the only member of the trio eating, so would likely appreciate a moment to scarf down some of his noodles anyways. His statement that there was nothing of interest happening with him didn't strike Juliette as overly genuine—everyone was the lead actor of their own story, after all—but she knew well what "nothing interesting happening" actually meant: "Nothing I want to talk about."
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun
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Somersault
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:56 am
"Good for you, girl!" Keisha smiled at Juliette, as she began to scrawl down notes. Now, that seemed like a really good reason for the other girl to have been down here, and one that was perfectly in line with what she knew about Juliette. "Best to start early, anyways. Don't know much about image editing, but good luck to you on that front."
She would've quirked an eyebrow at Myles' not-so-much of a smile, except that politeness meant that she would probably have to save that for another date. At least, a date in which she wasn't currently kind-of interviewing one of her only leads on an article right now. Juliette may not have been the most interesting interview selection that she had ever had, but speaking to one of the candidates for Class President, even this early, couldn't really hurt.
Besides, she may have been fake, but Juliette probably would be a good, safe choice for president. Like, if Ariana or one of her actual friends was running, there was no chance in hell she was gonna get Keisha's vote, but Juliette'd work in a pinch. At the very least, she seemed able to take care of shit, and that was a quality she always admired.
"But, really, back on that article thing," She asked aloud, now tapping her pencil on her chin. Honestly, she hadn't really exited out onto the hallways with much of a plan for her next article, which could have landed her in some deep crap if anyone were really to find out, but opportunity was staring her in the face like an obsessed stalker, so taking a chance seemed as good as any. She tilted her head back to Myles for a moment, before looking back at Juliette. "I'm just trying to write up something about the student council? Maybe profiles about all the candidates, even early as now."
Yeah, she could work with this shit.
"You'd be okay with being asked some questions?"
She would've quirked an eyebrow at Myles' not-so-much of a smile, except that politeness meant that she would probably have to save that for another date. At least, a date in which she wasn't currently kind-of interviewing one of her only leads on an article right now. Juliette may not have been the most interesting interview selection that she had ever had, but speaking to one of the candidates for Class President, even this early, couldn't really hurt.
Besides, she may have been fake, but Juliette probably would be a good, safe choice for president. Like, if Ariana or one of her actual friends was running, there was no chance in hell she was gonna get Keisha's vote, but Juliette'd work in a pinch. At the very least, she seemed able to take care of shit, and that was a quality she always admired.
"But, really, back on that article thing," She asked aloud, now tapping her pencil on her chin. Honestly, she hadn't really exited out onto the hallways with much of a plan for her next article, which could have landed her in some deep crap if anyone were really to find out, but opportunity was staring her in the face like an obsessed stalker, so taking a chance seemed as good as any. She tilted her head back to Myles for a moment, before looking back at Juliette. "I'm just trying to write up something about the student council? Maybe profiles about all the candidates, even early as now."
Yeah, she could work with this shit.
"You'd be okay with being asked some questions?"