Paintball (Open)

[Trent Frey]

Lyric knew he had to be insane to have gone back to the school. The last time he'd been here he'd gotten beat down by a guy who'd then teased him and run off without an explanation.

But he'd heard about the festival and about paintball, whatever that was. It had sounded better than hunting down a free party, and he was beginning to care less and less about being caught. So he put on one of their white jumpsuits and grabbed a paintball wand. He was disappointed to see that it didn't do anything besides shoot paint, but it was still fun.

He hadn't come with anyone, but he wanted to play. He figured he'd just skulk around the props for a while and shoot paintballs at things. If he saw someone, then he could attack.

[Jory Addison]

Jory had heard about this game before, he had heard Sean talking about it and wanted to try it ever since. And now it was here, free, for anyone! He ha jumped on it immediately, grabbing a wand and heading out. He hadn't expected to see Lyric, of all people, and hadn't even recognized him when he shot a paintball whizzing his way. A few steps closer and his eyes widened. "I didn't know you were out!" he called, smiling and waving.

[Trent Frey]

Lyric had dodged that paintball somehow, or maybe it had just missed him. Either way he'd turned to see where it was coming from just in time to be recognized. By Jory. His face would have paled further if it had been possible, and he only just wiped the stricken look away before Jory got close enough to make out the vivid blue of his eyes. Sh~. He ducked away as though caught up in the game and sent a paintball flying purposefully wide of Jory. He needed more time than that to deal with seeing him!

[Jory Addison]

Jory ducked away from the wild shot of the paintball and continued on to find Lyric. He held the wand at the ready just in case he came up on someone else on his way. It was nice finally getting to see him, Jory couldn't even remember how long it had been. He wished he had been told when Lyric got out, but when he hadn't even heard anything else after the first failure at a visit he couldn't really expect anything different.

[Trent Frey]

Lyric headed further into the maze of props, nothing as eager as Jory to be reunited. A reunion meant confrontation with the past, not to mention the likelihood of being turned in and sent back to that hellhole. As much as he hated his life, he couldn't see another way to live it, and rehab seemed like a waste of time and purposeful torment. Why would he put himself through that?

[Jory Addison]

Jory followed, but lost sight of Lyric in the midst of everything. "Come on," he called. "Why-" he was interrupted by a hit on the back by a hard ball of paint. He squeaked and jumped, then looked around quickly before hiding behind a barricade. He heard laughing, but shook it off. For now he wasn't a prefect, it was a game. A few moments later he started off after Lyric again.

[Trent Frey]

Lyric hurried on, looking for the exit now. Angry thugs in the dark alleyways of a London slum he could deal with, but the sound of Jory's voice sent something very near fear streaking through him. He couldn't find the exit, though. Everything looked the same and turn after turn he could have been heading deeper into the center for all he knew.

[Jory Addison]

Jory lost himself in the room, away from anyone else as far as he could tell. A few turns later, though, he very nearly ran into Lyric. "Hey!" he said, somewhat breathless, and smiling. "Found you." It was really nice to see him again, it had been so long since he had been able to talk to Lyric, and so much had changed, both to him personally and to the school in general.

[Trent Frey]

Lyric's breath caught, surprise at almost running someone over, he told himself. It had nothing to do with being so close to Jory, who he'd built up so much in his mind that he was hardly a person anymore. There was no running now, and he lowered his wand, wondering why Jory was smiling at him. "Hey," he said back. Found you.

Sh~.

[Jory Addison]

"When did you get out?" Jory asked. "Are you going to start staying in the dorm again?" It was a permanent smile now, staying on and filling up his eyes. He had been in such a good mood lately and seeing Lyric again just made it better. Who would have thought they would meet up at this festival thing? Lyric was the first person he had met since coming.

[Trent Frey]

"I dropped out," Lyric said. "Unofficially." If it had been official, the gates probably wouldn't have let him through, which was why he hadn't sent an owl to the Headmistress. Just because the school had nothing to offer him didn't mean he had to burn that bridge, too. "Don't tell anyone, all right?" Not that he trusted Jory to keep his mouth shut, but it was too late, he'd already been seen.

[Jory Addison]

Jory's face fell, his smile drooping along with his eyes. "Oh," he said, disappointed. That meant he wouldn't be seeing Lyric, there wouldn't be the chance to build a friendship. "I won't, promise. Why'd you drop out, though?" he asked, bringing his eyes back up to Lyric. He wouldn't tell, not when he had been asked not to. He could keep secrets, as long as it was said that they were to be kept.

[Trent Frey]

Lyric hadn't thought he was at all affected by Jory's smile and glittering eyes until they faded. His chest constricted, then tightened further as he summoned up whatever anger he could to protect him. "I know what I need to know," he said. "There's no reason to sit in class. I've got a job, I don't need it." And the benefits of his job were a constant supply of anything he wanted, and being left the hell alone.

[Jory Addison]

"You've got a job?" Jory asked, tilting his head. "What is it?" His smile didn't come back. If Lyric had a job, then there was really no way Jory could see him very much. With one of them working and the other dealing with classes, there would be little to no free time that both of them had to get together. He wanted to try being friends again!

[Trent Frey]

"Same one I had before," Lyric said. He nearly rolled his eyes. Jory was naive to the point of stupidity. He'd never figure it out. "What's with the interview?" he asked. His eyes narrowed a bit in suspicion. "No one's asking about me, are they?" His stuff was wearing off. He started debating whether here was a good place for more or if he should wait Jory out.