Jupiter
Monster Maker
( 1x1 between @Jupiter and @DrTrollinski )
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Solitude
- Thread starter Jupiter
- Start date
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
September 1st, 2015
12:23PM
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, Nevada
Do you have a criminal record? If so, why? (Please list offenses)
'No. The only killing I've done is on the dance-floor.'
Who would have known that that was one of the primary factors to get him into this whole... Thing? I wouldn't say he applied as a joke, but he didn't mean it in the sense that he... I don't know. It wasn't a dream of his to be on this... Whatever it was. Social experiment, right? If he had to live in a building with seven others, whom of which he knew nothing about, and for all he knew, could hate entirely, for a whole year - And he got paid for it, why wouldn't he do it? Wasn't that why everyone was here? He wanted to party. He wanted to have fun. He wanted to do something interesting. He wanted to go there and come back a different person, which is why his journey began here. A short while prior to now, and that was it. Here he was.
"Yes. Yes, I'm off the plane." He chuckled into the phone. He was on the phone to one of his younger brothers - right now, it was just the thirteen-year-old he was talking to.
"Are you gonna' be leaving soon?"
"Yes."
"Are you gonna' have contact?"
"Yes, Joseph, yes I am." He chuckled. Oh my god. He spotted a coffee shop - He could go there right now. Literally, right now - He knew that if it came for them to leave, he'd be contacted on his cellphone before they left. They couldn't leave without one of the main guys, right? Well, one of the only guys, rather. Alex was certain he'd be the face of the group, the party-goer, and all that. But how many terms had they been read? He assumed all of them, but hey.
"You're... Gonna' call a lot, right?" He asked, this time sounding more saddened.
"Whenever I get the chance, you and Adrian will be the first people I talk to, you got that?" He asked.
"Uh-huh." He mumbled, and there was a long silence shortly after that.
"Think of it this way, Joe... I was there for your thirteenth, and Adrian's tenth - They're the most important ones, bro." He laughed into the phone. "You were there for my twenty-first, too, which is like, awesome." He grinned, "But still... I've gotta' go, okay? I need a coffee before I go anywhere, or I swear, I'm going to drop dead right where I stand." He snickered. "I'll call you when I get there, okay? I'm not even that far from you - I'm like... A twelve-hour car journey." He chuckled. "I've gotta' go, bro. Love you." He said.
"Yeah... Love you too, man." He choked out, then the phone was hung up.
Jesus. It hit him that he was going to be away from the two people he loved most for a whole year. A year. At least he could call them, that was the main thing. They'd be okay without him, and he'd be able to do... Something, right? He'd have contact, but that was about it.
Feeling rather glum, he walked into the coffee house that was inside the airport, dragging his suitcase and guitar case along with him. He didn't really know how to play that much on the guitar, but for all he knew, it'd be quite spirit-lifting to have that, wouldn't it? It'd be nice for a rainy day.
If they even got rain in Nevada, that is.
Jesus... Too depressing. He walked up to the counter and queued there for a nice long while until he got to the cash register - he fished out his wallet and slapped a ten-dollar bill on the counter, nodding. "I'll take a mocha, and... A... I'll have one of those oat cookies, too." He said, then leaned there and waited for the stuff to be served to him - He couldn't believe that that actually cost him eight fucking dollars, but that's airport prices for you, isn't it? He made his way over to the nearest table, seeing as all the others were taken up, and placed his stuff down there so he could sit and drink his mocha, staring at the empty seat in front of him.
He looked around, playing a game of Let's guess what fat tourist is gonna' take the seat in front of me really quickly.
Basically, a game that wasn't fun at all.
12:23PM
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, Nevada
Do you have a criminal record? If so, why? (Please list offenses)
'No. The only killing I've done is on the dance-floor.'
Who would have known that that was one of the primary factors to get him into this whole... Thing? I wouldn't say he applied as a joke, but he didn't mean it in the sense that he... I don't know. It wasn't a dream of his to be on this... Whatever it was. Social experiment, right? If he had to live in a building with seven others, whom of which he knew nothing about, and for all he knew, could hate entirely, for a whole year - And he got paid for it, why wouldn't he do it? Wasn't that why everyone was here? He wanted to party. He wanted to have fun. He wanted to do something interesting. He wanted to go there and come back a different person, which is why his journey began here. A short while prior to now, and that was it. Here he was.
"Yes. Yes, I'm off the plane." He chuckled into the phone. He was on the phone to one of his younger brothers - right now, it was just the thirteen-year-old he was talking to.
"Are you gonna' be leaving soon?"
"Yes."
"Are you gonna' have contact?"
"Yes, Joseph, yes I am." He chuckled. Oh my god. He spotted a coffee shop - He could go there right now. Literally, right now - He knew that if it came for them to leave, he'd be contacted on his cellphone before they left. They couldn't leave without one of the main guys, right? Well, one of the only guys, rather. Alex was certain he'd be the face of the group, the party-goer, and all that. But how many terms had they been read? He assumed all of them, but hey.
"You're... Gonna' call a lot, right?" He asked, this time sounding more saddened.
"Whenever I get the chance, you and Adrian will be the first people I talk to, you got that?" He asked.
"Uh-huh." He mumbled, and there was a long silence shortly after that.
"Think of it this way, Joe... I was there for your thirteenth, and Adrian's tenth - They're the most important ones, bro." He laughed into the phone. "You were there for my twenty-first, too, which is like, awesome." He grinned, "But still... I've gotta' go, okay? I need a coffee before I go anywhere, or I swear, I'm going to drop dead right where I stand." He snickered. "I'll call you when I get there, okay? I'm not even that far from you - I'm like... A twelve-hour car journey." He chuckled. "I've gotta' go, bro. Love you." He said.
"Yeah... Love you too, man." He choked out, then the phone was hung up.
Jesus. It hit him that he was going to be away from the two people he loved most for a whole year. A year. At least he could call them, that was the main thing. They'd be okay without him, and he'd be able to do... Something, right? He'd have contact, but that was about it.
Feeling rather glum, he walked into the coffee house that was inside the airport, dragging his suitcase and guitar case along with him. He didn't really know how to play that much on the guitar, but for all he knew, it'd be quite spirit-lifting to have that, wouldn't it? It'd be nice for a rainy day.
If they even got rain in Nevada, that is.
Jesus... Too depressing. He walked up to the counter and queued there for a nice long while until he got to the cash register - he fished out his wallet and slapped a ten-dollar bill on the counter, nodding. "I'll take a mocha, and... A... I'll have one of those oat cookies, too." He said, then leaned there and waited for the stuff to be served to him - He couldn't believe that that actually cost him eight fucking dollars, but that's airport prices for you, isn't it? He made his way over to the nearest table, seeing as all the others were taken up, and placed his stuff down there so he could sit and drink his mocha, staring at the empty seat in front of him.
He looked around, playing a game of Let's guess what fat tourist is gonna' take the seat in front of me really quickly.
Basically, a game that wasn't fun at all.
Jupiter
Monster Maker
It was unknown what had got Levi onto this social experiment. He had nothing about him personality wise that made him interesting, nothing that made people laugh, made him... Stand out. Apart from, you know, the fact that he used to have something different between his legs. Maybe that was what made him interesting enough to be put in this social experiment. Probably one of the only people like him that had the guts to apply. Whatever, though, right? He needed the money, and an excuse to not have to get a job for a year. Even if it meant putting up with people he didn't like...
God, he was regretting this idea more and more as the seconds ticked by.
Was he kind of looking forward to this? Maybe. I mean, it offered something new, and there were only going to be seven other people in the entire United States of America that managed to do it. It really was the land of opportunity, wasn't it? Do nothing for a year and then get given a whole lot of money, leave, go home, and pretend nothing had ever happened. He couldn't really argue.
Levi was walking along, a warm bottle of water in his hand from on the plane, which he had been on for the last three and a half hours. Sat next to some lady who kept staring at him and then, if caught, looking away as if she didn't know he existed. Ah, fun times, right? Anyway. He walked along and looked around at the sights, already sweating through his jumper. God, it was hot in Nevada, wasn't it? Just like Louisiana, where he'd lived for a year now. I mean, he had expected it, of course, but he just... You know. The planes got cold pretty easily, so he'd just come prepared.
But this was too much. So he stopped walking and pulled the bright blue jumper over his head, and then, when it was off, he found himself staring at a coffee shop.
Huh. Coffee couldn't hurt anyone.
Levi tied his jumper around his waist and dragged his suitcase along behind him. The queue was massive, as was to be expected of an airport. Everyone flying on business, which was what usually happened. So many angry men in front of him, suits and briefcases, desperate for their coffee before they boarded another flight to another meeting. Levi liked to make up stories for them sometimes, but not today. He was too tired today.
When he got to the front, he pulled his wallet out of his pocket.
"What can I get you... M'am?"
Levi looked up instantly. "Sir."
"Sorry... Sir?"
He put down a ten dollar bill and looked over the options again. "Just give me a tea, yeah?"
"Right away, sir."
And right away it was. Levi waited for a moment or two, but it would appear that the staff were desperate to get the line moving and make sure they didn't delay anyones flight, because Levi was handed his tea with a smile, which did not get returned, and then moved along.
Right, where to sit?
There was only one table that wasn't full, and did he want to sit there? No, definitely not, but he would do it anyway. I mean, he wouldn't be sat there for long, would he? And he didn't have to exactly make a lot of conversation did he? So he made his way over to the table and looked down at the boy who was sat there. Okay... Just... Ask him.
"Y'alright mate? This seat taken or can I sit here while I drink?" He raised his eyebrows and looked down at him.
God, he was regretting this idea more and more as the seconds ticked by.
Was he kind of looking forward to this? Maybe. I mean, it offered something new, and there were only going to be seven other people in the entire United States of America that managed to do it. It really was the land of opportunity, wasn't it? Do nothing for a year and then get given a whole lot of money, leave, go home, and pretend nothing had ever happened. He couldn't really argue.
Levi was walking along, a warm bottle of water in his hand from on the plane, which he had been on for the last three and a half hours. Sat next to some lady who kept staring at him and then, if caught, looking away as if she didn't know he existed. Ah, fun times, right? Anyway. He walked along and looked around at the sights, already sweating through his jumper. God, it was hot in Nevada, wasn't it? Just like Louisiana, where he'd lived for a year now. I mean, he had expected it, of course, but he just... You know. The planes got cold pretty easily, so he'd just come prepared.
But this was too much. So he stopped walking and pulled the bright blue jumper over his head, and then, when it was off, he found himself staring at a coffee shop.
Huh. Coffee couldn't hurt anyone.
Levi tied his jumper around his waist and dragged his suitcase along behind him. The queue was massive, as was to be expected of an airport. Everyone flying on business, which was what usually happened. So many angry men in front of him, suits and briefcases, desperate for their coffee before they boarded another flight to another meeting. Levi liked to make up stories for them sometimes, but not today. He was too tired today.
When he got to the front, he pulled his wallet out of his pocket.
"What can I get you... M'am?"
Levi looked up instantly. "Sir."
"Sorry... Sir?"
He put down a ten dollar bill and looked over the options again. "Just give me a tea, yeah?"
"Right away, sir."
And right away it was. Levi waited for a moment or two, but it would appear that the staff were desperate to get the line moving and make sure they didn't delay anyones flight, because Levi was handed his tea with a smile, which did not get returned, and then moved along.
Right, where to sit?
There was only one table that wasn't full, and did he want to sit there? No, definitely not, but he would do it anyway. I mean, he wouldn't be sat there for long, would he? And he didn't have to exactly make a lot of conversation did he? So he made his way over to the table and looked down at the boy who was sat there. Okay... Just... Ask him.
"Y'alright mate? This seat taken or can I sit here while I drink?" He raised his eyebrows and looked down at him.
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
Jesus. How did he end up here? He didn't even know how. He went from living in an expensive house in an expensive city, to being in the middle of a fucking dessert state, in some shitty airport, with a mocha that tasted more like cheap coffee, minus the coffee, minus the milk, and minus the apparent chocolate that went in with it - It was shit. Literally, it felt like some sort of foreshadowing thing - It felt like this was just a sign of things to come. A whole year of shit, or things not turning out to be what they said they were. The 'mocha' was just one of those things, and it was making his whole trip here a lot more depressing. He'd taken his jacket off already, but he was still sweating, and ever so gradually, the under-sides of his sleeves of his polo shirt were getting soaked with sweat. He needed deodorant, because looking at someone who you'd have to peel off of a blanket if you laid them on it wasn't exactly the most attractive thing, was it?
Ah, well. He saw someone else walk in, someone different - Well, I wouldn't say different. Just... Sometimes viewed differently, if you will. He heard the small squabble at the counter and just... Sighed. He didn't have a problem with the person who had walked in, more the person behind the counter. They'd never said 'sir' to him - So right now, he was sure that whoever was behind the counter was just saying 'sir' or 'ma'am' because they weren't sure which of either the guy was. Rather intrusive, if you think about it, but there wasn't much they could do about that. All Alex had to do was play it cool, especially seeing as he was the one that had the only free seat on his table.
When the said person came over and asked to sit down, he sipped his drink and looked up at him. "I honestly wish I could say my girlfriend was sitting there, but I'm lonely and she doesn't exist, so go ahead." He chuckled softly and motioned his hand over the seat in front of him, leaning back in his chair while waiting for Levi to sit down. He kept on sipping his drink, sighing - He knew that he needed to make some sort of conversation here. What could he do? He could always ask why they were here, or was that too soon? Yep. Too soon. He needed to break the ice a little bit.
He placed his mocha down and looked at the watery liquid splashing around in the cup, frowning a little. Jesus. He hoped that wherever he was going would have better coffee than this, because this was just dog shit. He made sure that his bags were moved a little bit so that the guy sat in front of him wasn't getting all cramped up because of it all. Once that had been done, he looked up at him and smiled a little.
"You know something, man... This coffee is... It's like making love in a canoe. You know why?" He asked. Oh, yes, he saw the opportunity to crack a joke here - He didn't have a problem with Levi. No staring, just eye-contact and whatever you have it. What else would you need for a simple conversation, right? You got nice Californians, and then you got asshole Californians - Thankfully, Alex was one of the nicer ones.
Man, dude, bro, and all those kinds of things were gender-neutral to him - He didn't give a shit who he said it to. He'd stop if someone asked, but hey... Did it really matter? He wasn't shitting on who they were, or anything. Plus, Alex was one of those crazy sports jocky guys, although he hated being stereotyped as that - He wasn't that anymore, because... He was a bit of a jerk at that time, but only to people on the team. Now? Now he was just... Just plain Alex. Still, in the sports scene, you called everyone 'dude' or 'bro'.
Still. Joke time.
Ah, well. He saw someone else walk in, someone different - Well, I wouldn't say different. Just... Sometimes viewed differently, if you will. He heard the small squabble at the counter and just... Sighed. He didn't have a problem with the person who had walked in, more the person behind the counter. They'd never said 'sir' to him - So right now, he was sure that whoever was behind the counter was just saying 'sir' or 'ma'am' because they weren't sure which of either the guy was. Rather intrusive, if you think about it, but there wasn't much they could do about that. All Alex had to do was play it cool, especially seeing as he was the one that had the only free seat on his table.
When the said person came over and asked to sit down, he sipped his drink and looked up at him. "I honestly wish I could say my girlfriend was sitting there, but I'm lonely and she doesn't exist, so go ahead." He chuckled softly and motioned his hand over the seat in front of him, leaning back in his chair while waiting for Levi to sit down. He kept on sipping his drink, sighing - He knew that he needed to make some sort of conversation here. What could he do? He could always ask why they were here, or was that too soon? Yep. Too soon. He needed to break the ice a little bit.
He placed his mocha down and looked at the watery liquid splashing around in the cup, frowning a little. Jesus. He hoped that wherever he was going would have better coffee than this, because this was just dog shit. He made sure that his bags were moved a little bit so that the guy sat in front of him wasn't getting all cramped up because of it all. Once that had been done, he looked up at him and smiled a little.
"You know something, man... This coffee is... It's like making love in a canoe. You know why?" He asked. Oh, yes, he saw the opportunity to crack a joke here - He didn't have a problem with Levi. No staring, just eye-contact and whatever you have it. What else would you need for a simple conversation, right? You got nice Californians, and then you got asshole Californians - Thankfully, Alex was one of the nicer ones.
Man, dude, bro, and all those kinds of things were gender-neutral to him - He didn't give a shit who he said it to. He'd stop if someone asked, but hey... Did it really matter? He wasn't shitting on who they were, or anything. Plus, Alex was one of those crazy sports jocky guys, although he hated being stereotyped as that - He wasn't that anymore, because... He was a bit of a jerk at that time, but only to people on the team. Now? Now he was just... Just plain Alex. Still, in the sports scene, you called everyone 'dude' or 'bro'.
Still. Joke time.
Jupiter
Monster Maker
Levi hoped to God that the guy didn't stare at him or get freaked out by his presence, tell him to go sit with someone else or make up a lie about how he was with someone. Levi only saw luggage for one person there, so he presumed that there was only him, but he could be wrong, he supposed. I mean, he wasn't one to rely on first impressions, so this guy could easily have someone with him, right? Thankfully, though, the seat was free, and Levi sat down in it with a nod of the head, moving his luggage to the side of him. Having to pack one years worth of clothes into one bag was difficult business, but he'd managed it. I mean, it wasn't like he had 365 outfits, accompanied by swimming trunks and all that shit.
He wouldn't touch a swimming costume with a ten feet pole.
When he sat down, he sipped on his tea and just grew accustomed to the fact that he had paid five dollars for garbage and a good staring contest. He didn't complain about it, despite the fact that he had only ever drank tea this bad when he was being forced to by his neighbour when he was twelve years old. He supposed that it was because of that old lady that he liked tea nowadays, or, rather, appreciated good tea when he had it. This... This was foul. But he needed it.
When the guy in front of him spoke, Levi looked up. He hadn't been looking at him because, well... He didn't like to make eye contact so much with people he didn't know. He just felt like he was being stared at, people trying to figure him out.
He couldn't help but crack a smile when he heard the joke he had made. Oh, he knew this one.
"It's fucking close to water?" He said, seriously, raising his eyebrows. He couldn't just stay serious for too long, though, because eventually he smiled and looked away at one of the people behind the counter who seemed to be getting stressed out by a lady who had just told him he had given her the incorrect order. She didn't have to be an asshole about it, but, there she was anyway.
Levi looked back at the guy in front of him, deciding that he may as well talk to him for the ten minutes that they would probably know each other. "I'm Levi." He introduced, and offered his hand over the table for him to shake. His nails cut short, his arm covered in tattoos, words, pictures, random splashes of colour. Did they have meanings? Would he ever explain them? "You?"
He wouldn't touch a swimming costume with a ten feet pole.
When he sat down, he sipped on his tea and just grew accustomed to the fact that he had paid five dollars for garbage and a good staring contest. He didn't complain about it, despite the fact that he had only ever drank tea this bad when he was being forced to by his neighbour when he was twelve years old. He supposed that it was because of that old lady that he liked tea nowadays, or, rather, appreciated good tea when he had it. This... This was foul. But he needed it.
When the guy in front of him spoke, Levi looked up. He hadn't been looking at him because, well... He didn't like to make eye contact so much with people he didn't know. He just felt like he was being stared at, people trying to figure him out.
He couldn't help but crack a smile when he heard the joke he had made. Oh, he knew this one.
"It's fucking close to water?" He said, seriously, raising his eyebrows. He couldn't just stay serious for too long, though, because eventually he smiled and looked away at one of the people behind the counter who seemed to be getting stressed out by a lady who had just told him he had given her the incorrect order. She didn't have to be an asshole about it, but, there she was anyway.
Levi looked back at the guy in front of him, deciding that he may as well talk to him for the ten minutes that they would probably know each other. "I'm Levi." He introduced, and offered his hand over the table for him to shake. His nails cut short, his arm covered in tattoos, words, pictures, random splashes of colour. Did they have meanings? Would he ever explain them? "You?"
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
"Aw, you suck." He laughed as he stole his punchline and then reached out across the table, quickly taking hold of his hand and shaking it firmly. "I'm Alex." He smiled, simply, then looked around the coffee shop really quickly. God, he hated this sort of thing. Honestly, he hated it entirely. The crowded coffee shot filled with beaming businessmen that didn't give a fuck about anyone else - He hated them. He hated most of the people here, but he was glad that Levi seemed friendly enough. It was a shame that he was going to be departing from him, though, to go on this bullshit experiment. It seemed rather extreme, and he didn't like the sound of it. Why was he being taken away from his family for a year? Why couldn't he have visits on weekends?
I guess the better question was this: Why the fuck was the experiment in the middle of a desert? He just hoped there were some trees and some grass around wherever he'd be staying, because he couldn't live without that. He wanted to go home where he had the pool, where he could spend time with his little brothers and have a good laugh, not this shit. He didn't want to be here anymore, but he knew he'd end up getting sued if he tried to go home, and right now, considering he didn't have any money, he couldn't afford to go home nor get sued, so he didn't know what other choice he had. Honestly, it was like military enrollment.
It sounds amazing, but when you get there, it's absolutely terrifying,
"Well, Levi... I'm gonna' guess you're from Australia, originally." He chuckled. "I'm from Cali, if you couldn't guess already. Switched up the high life in San Carlos to come out to a fuckin' desert for some bullshit that I didn't even want to get involved in." He sighed. "And that's why you don't do applications." He laughed and sipped on his shit-tasting coffee again, then broke his large cookie in half and bit into the one half that he picked up thereafter. He was wondering why Levi was here - He didn't look like the kinda guy that slipped into a place like this. It didn't fit him at all, or, rather, he didn't fit it.
"It sucks, but hey, it's life. And we all need to do something to get by, right?" He asked, smiling. "What about you? What brings you out here?" He asked. "My best guess is you're out here to be with family, but... I don't know, I may be wrong. You look like the kinda' guy that would enjoy California a lot more, believe me." He smiled a little and shrugged. They both looked like the guys that would enjoy California a lot more - They weren't rednecks who liked to walk around in dust and sand, that was for sure. Alex hadn't left the airport yet and he was sure he'd seen at least five pickup trucks.
I guess the better question was this: Why the fuck was the experiment in the middle of a desert? He just hoped there were some trees and some grass around wherever he'd be staying, because he couldn't live without that. He wanted to go home where he had the pool, where he could spend time with his little brothers and have a good laugh, not this shit. He didn't want to be here anymore, but he knew he'd end up getting sued if he tried to go home, and right now, considering he didn't have any money, he couldn't afford to go home nor get sued, so he didn't know what other choice he had. Honestly, it was like military enrollment.
It sounds amazing, but when you get there, it's absolutely terrifying,
"Well, Levi... I'm gonna' guess you're from Australia, originally." He chuckled. "I'm from Cali, if you couldn't guess already. Switched up the high life in San Carlos to come out to a fuckin' desert for some bullshit that I didn't even want to get involved in." He sighed. "And that's why you don't do applications." He laughed and sipped on his shit-tasting coffee again, then broke his large cookie in half and bit into the one half that he picked up thereafter. He was wondering why Levi was here - He didn't look like the kinda guy that slipped into a place like this. It didn't fit him at all, or, rather, he didn't fit it.
"It sucks, but hey, it's life. And we all need to do something to get by, right?" He asked, smiling. "What about you? What brings you out here?" He asked. "My best guess is you're out here to be with family, but... I don't know, I may be wrong. You look like the kinda' guy that would enjoy California a lot more, believe me." He smiled a little and shrugged. They both looked like the guys that would enjoy California a lot more - They weren't rednecks who liked to walk around in dust and sand, that was for sure. Alex hadn't left the airport yet and he was sure he'd seen at least five pickup trucks.
Jupiter
Monster Maker
Oh, he was so happy right now. A conversation with someone who wasn't his landlady or an old woman who stared at him awkwardly. He was suddenly blessed with this guy who made shitty jokes and didn't say anything about his gender. Refreshing, actually. Really refreshing. He managed to feel... Slightly comforted, actually, because of it, and so he leaned back in his seat and smiled at him. Alex. "It's nice to meet you, Alex." He sipped on his tea again, looking him over once and then looking at his luggage. Where was he going...? Ah, his mind was making up stories again.
Alex was here to visit an old great aunt who had left him a mysterious message on his answer phone, and soon he would be plunged into the great world of mystery and crime, becoming a man who killed the bad guys all while protecting his aunt, who was growing sicker by the day.
It was nice to escape reality like that.
"Yeah, I'm from Australia. Moved to Louisiana last year, New Orleans. Liked the voodoo culture but... It's not actually all that great when you actually get there. I'm gonna move to New York I think, instead. I wouldn't know you were from California though, mate, I don't even know what the accent sounds like." He laughed slightly and shrugged his shoulders, relaxing a lot more. Wait. What did he mean about applications? He couldn't... Nah. He couldn't mean what he thought he meant. I mean, sure, Levi had filled in an application for this social experiment, but, everyone fills out applications.
Jobs, you know? Maybe Alex had got a job out here?
"I'm not visiting family, no." He said, slowly. "The family I have left is back in Australia, probably asleep, but I ain't so sure about the time differences. I'd much rather be in California though, you're right. I mean... I'd much rather be anywhere other than here, right now. Basically, back in New Orleans, I was struggling for a job and I gotta pay off all this shit but, you know, can't find a job, getting in debt. I found this ad in the paper, this kinda... This kinda social experiment, I think, I have to come out here and live here for a year in some bullshit house with seven other people." He shrugged his shoulders, sipped on his tea again, and then sighed.
"Gotta do what you gotta do, I guess. Need the money and all."
Little did he know that he was actually talking with one of the people who was going into the house with him.
"Anyway, what about you? What, uh, application?""
Alex was here to visit an old great aunt who had left him a mysterious message on his answer phone, and soon he would be plunged into the great world of mystery and crime, becoming a man who killed the bad guys all while protecting his aunt, who was growing sicker by the day.
It was nice to escape reality like that.
"Yeah, I'm from Australia. Moved to Louisiana last year, New Orleans. Liked the voodoo culture but... It's not actually all that great when you actually get there. I'm gonna move to New York I think, instead. I wouldn't know you were from California though, mate, I don't even know what the accent sounds like." He laughed slightly and shrugged his shoulders, relaxing a lot more. Wait. What did he mean about applications? He couldn't... Nah. He couldn't mean what he thought he meant. I mean, sure, Levi had filled in an application for this social experiment, but, everyone fills out applications.
Jobs, you know? Maybe Alex had got a job out here?
"I'm not visiting family, no." He said, slowly. "The family I have left is back in Australia, probably asleep, but I ain't so sure about the time differences. I'd much rather be in California though, you're right. I mean... I'd much rather be anywhere other than here, right now. Basically, back in New Orleans, I was struggling for a job and I gotta pay off all this shit but, you know, can't find a job, getting in debt. I found this ad in the paper, this kinda... This kinda social experiment, I think, I have to come out here and live here for a year in some bullshit house with seven other people." He shrugged his shoulders, sipped on his tea again, and then sighed.
"Gotta do what you gotta do, I guess. Need the money and all."
Little did he know that he was actually talking with one of the people who was going into the house with him.
"Anyway, what about you? What, uh, application?""
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
"You don't know a California accent?" He asked.
He smirked, "Would you recognize it if I put it like this for you?" He asked, then cleared his throat and spoke up in an accent - He called this one 'the bitchy Californian girl'. "Oh my gaaawd... Like, Starbucks?" He said, then cleared his throat again and started to laugh. He sounded feminine, he sounded bitchy, and he sounded generic Californian girl - Everyone had heard that accent once in their time, especially if you chatted to people over voice chat online. You were bound to hear it, but he just shook his head and sipped his drink again. "Ah, I'm just kiddin' with ya', but yeah, that's sort of what you can expect." He said, then chuckled once more as he bit into the half of the cookie he had again.
"New Orleans, though... I was out there with my dad one time when I was like... Ten." He said. "Other than that, no. We had family in New Orleans, but they fucked off to... Italy, I think. I can't remember. That was like, eleven years ago. I didn't even know how to make a coffee when I was that age." He said, smirking after. Yeah. He was getting to be friends with Levi - He didn't want to leave. If he could just get Levi's phone number and go home, then chat online or something, that'd be cool as fuck. Now, though, the clock was ticking, and they were getting closer and closer to the departure time. They were expected to be there by 5:00PM, 7:00PM latest.
But then, something happened.
'This kinda social experiment, I think, I have to come out here and live here for a year in some bullshit house with seven other people.'
"You're shittin' me?" He asked, a little loudly. "Levi..." He leaned back in his chair and slowly shook his head, "You brilliant motherfucker. You chose the right person to sit in front of." He laughed a little, purely out of disbelief as he shoved his nearly empty cup of coffee aside and leaned forward onto the table, sucking in a long deep breath as he did so. "If I told you that... I was one of those seven people that you'd be sharing that house with, would you believe me?" He asked.
He just couldn't believe his luck. Everyone was going to need friends out of those seven people, and without them, they'd be done for, wouldn't they?
"You want the other half of this cookie?" He asked. "Housemate." He added as he slid it forward a little bit, chuckling to himself. Okay. That was a shocker.
He smirked, "Would you recognize it if I put it like this for you?" He asked, then cleared his throat and spoke up in an accent - He called this one 'the bitchy Californian girl'. "Oh my gaaawd... Like, Starbucks?" He said, then cleared his throat again and started to laugh. He sounded feminine, he sounded bitchy, and he sounded generic Californian girl - Everyone had heard that accent once in their time, especially if you chatted to people over voice chat online. You were bound to hear it, but he just shook his head and sipped his drink again. "Ah, I'm just kiddin' with ya', but yeah, that's sort of what you can expect." He said, then chuckled once more as he bit into the half of the cookie he had again.
"New Orleans, though... I was out there with my dad one time when I was like... Ten." He said. "Other than that, no. We had family in New Orleans, but they fucked off to... Italy, I think. I can't remember. That was like, eleven years ago. I didn't even know how to make a coffee when I was that age." He said, smirking after. Yeah. He was getting to be friends with Levi - He didn't want to leave. If he could just get Levi's phone number and go home, then chat online or something, that'd be cool as fuck. Now, though, the clock was ticking, and they were getting closer and closer to the departure time. They were expected to be there by 5:00PM, 7:00PM latest.
But then, something happened.
'This kinda social experiment, I think, I have to come out here and live here for a year in some bullshit house with seven other people.'
"You're shittin' me?" He asked, a little loudly. "Levi..." He leaned back in his chair and slowly shook his head, "You brilliant motherfucker. You chose the right person to sit in front of." He laughed a little, purely out of disbelief as he shoved his nearly empty cup of coffee aside and leaned forward onto the table, sucking in a long deep breath as he did so. "If I told you that... I was one of those seven people that you'd be sharing that house with, would you believe me?" He asked.
He just couldn't believe his luck. Everyone was going to need friends out of those seven people, and without them, they'd be done for, wouldn't they?
"You want the other half of this cookie?" He asked. "Housemate." He added as he slid it forward a little bit, chuckling to himself. Okay. That was a shocker.
Jupiter
Monster Maker
Levi looked slightly confused at the reaction that he got from Alex about the house. Why was he reacting like this? Was Levi's suspicion true? Had the application indeed been what he thought it was? The answer to that was yes. Yes, it was. Alex was going to be one of the seven others living together for a year, spending time together, earning money by doing fuck all. He leaned back in his chair slightly as Alex leaned forward, confused and slightly alarmed at the reaction that he had got.
"You're what? You- You are? Holy shit, mate, that's sound! Oh, thank fuck, 'cos I was kinda dreading there being some redneck religious guy bein' involved or something, but at least I got you, man, you're like... The first sane person I've met since I came to America." He laughed, and the grin on his face stayed there. "Thats insane. Fuck yeah I'll have the other half of the cookie, we're gonna be sharing a house for a year we may as well break the ice by sharing some bloody oats."
He grinned and picked up the other half of the cookie, but then broke a bit off and put the smaller bit in his mouth first, chewing on it happily. Oh, he needed that. When did he last eat? Like... Yesterday lunch time?
But the surprises weren't over yet.
No, it wasn't just Levi and Alex that were part of this house sharing experience.
A girl who had been sat at a nearby table for around an hour, waiting until she got a message telling her where she needed to go and what she needed to do, was actually someone who they would be seeing a lot over the next year. Her head was buried in a book, but she hadn't been able to concentrate much for a little while. That was alright, though, because that meant that she happily just listened to the conversations around her, one of her favourite pass-times. It wasn't like anyone even noticed that she did it, anyway, considering she looked to be reading.
'This kinda social experiment, I think, I have to come out here and live here for a year in some bullshit house with seven other people.'
The girl looked up and whipped her head around to look at the two boys. The one who had spoken, the one with the Australian accent, had his back to her, but the other one didn't. Of course, she didn't expect to recognise him, and she hated talking to people she didn't know, but this had to be an exception.
She packed away her book and slipped it into her backpack, before picking up her luggage and making her way over to the table, but talking the moment she got there so that she didn't look awkward.
"Uh... Uh, excuse me?"
The Australian one (was that a guy or a girl? She'd figure it out when they told her their name) turned and looked up at her with a grin on his face. "Can we help you?"
"Um... I think you can. I- I didn't mean to be rude and eavesdrop but you said something about a social experiment? I- I'm on that. I'm one of the eight."
"You're what? You- You are? Holy shit, mate, that's sound! Oh, thank fuck, 'cos I was kinda dreading there being some redneck religious guy bein' involved or something, but at least I got you, man, you're like... The first sane person I've met since I came to America." He laughed, and the grin on his face stayed there. "Thats insane. Fuck yeah I'll have the other half of the cookie, we're gonna be sharing a house for a year we may as well break the ice by sharing some bloody oats."
He grinned and picked up the other half of the cookie, but then broke a bit off and put the smaller bit in his mouth first, chewing on it happily. Oh, he needed that. When did he last eat? Like... Yesterday lunch time?
But the surprises weren't over yet.
No, it wasn't just Levi and Alex that were part of this house sharing experience.
A girl who had been sat at a nearby table for around an hour, waiting until she got a message telling her where she needed to go and what she needed to do, was actually someone who they would be seeing a lot over the next year. Her head was buried in a book, but she hadn't been able to concentrate much for a little while. That was alright, though, because that meant that she happily just listened to the conversations around her, one of her favourite pass-times. It wasn't like anyone even noticed that she did it, anyway, considering she looked to be reading.
'This kinda social experiment, I think, I have to come out here and live here for a year in some bullshit house with seven other people.'
The girl looked up and whipped her head around to look at the two boys. The one who had spoken, the one with the Australian accent, had his back to her, but the other one didn't. Of course, she didn't expect to recognise him, and she hated talking to people she didn't know, but this had to be an exception.
She packed away her book and slipped it into her backpack, before picking up her luggage and making her way over to the table, but talking the moment she got there so that she didn't look awkward.
"Uh... Uh, excuse me?"
The Australian one (was that a guy or a girl? She'd figure it out when they told her their name) turned and looked up at her with a grin on his face. "Can we help you?"
"Um... I think you can. I- I didn't mean to be rude and eavesdrop but you said something about a social experiment? I- I'm on that. I'm one of the eight."
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
He liked Levi's humor, that was for sure. He enjoyed how cheerful he was, he enjoyed his accent. He enjoyed his general personality - The tattoos originally made him think that he wasn't such a nice guy, but he was wrong, that was for sure. "Oats indeed." He laughed and bit into his own cookie, but looked over when the girl came over and spoke to them. He looked up at her and smiled. She was on this experiment, too? He'd have been excited if he actually met her before he knew - Levi was cooler, though. Way cooler. He didn't really care too much for this girl, but he didn't mean that in a bad way. It wouldn't hurt to have someone on his side.
"You're on it too?" He asked. "Well, fuck." He laughed, then reached out and held out an open hand to her. "I'm Alex, from The City of San Carlos in California." He chuckled. "And I am out here in the middle of a desert, thinking that it was a good idea to try and get money for doing nothing, but instead, I realized I abandoned my family, and I'm stuck here in the boiling heat for a year." He said, then shrugged a little. "Still, nice to see a friendly face, and even nicer to know that we met you before anyone else in the house did." He joked, then winked just to show he was only messing around.
"What about you, then?" He asked.
--
Oh, no. No. No. No. Too many people.
She was hyperventilating, she could feel it coming on, her breathing was gradually quickening. She came here to try and make friends and didn't even think about how she'd end up in a place like this? No, it was too busy. It was too crowded, it was too... Horrible. No. She needed to get out of here. Maybe she could... Maybe she could sneak into the luggage bay and take the flight home for free? No... No.
No. Her mother and father encouraged her to come here, so she did. She didn't even expect to win. How many college kids in her town alone had applied for this? Heck, how many people in the country had applied for this? It could have been in the millions for all they knew, or at least in the thousands. Carly didn't understand why it had to be her that was picked for this, because she didn't want to be part of it anymore. She wanted to go back home to where her mother and father were, and now that her brother had moved away from her home state, it was going to be much easier in the household.
But for now. Panic.
She ran to the nearest restroom as quick as she could and just locked herself in one of the stalls, placed her suitcases down, then sat on top of one of them to just breathe into her hands. She'd be okay. She just had to find a quiet place to sit outside the airport, and she'd be alright. She just didn't want any interaction with anyone yet. She just had to get out of there and wait for this minibus to arrive.
She was dreading the moment where she had to meet everyone else.
"You're on it too?" He asked. "Well, fuck." He laughed, then reached out and held out an open hand to her. "I'm Alex, from The City of San Carlos in California." He chuckled. "And I am out here in the middle of a desert, thinking that it was a good idea to try and get money for doing nothing, but instead, I realized I abandoned my family, and I'm stuck here in the boiling heat for a year." He said, then shrugged a little. "Still, nice to see a friendly face, and even nicer to know that we met you before anyone else in the house did." He joked, then winked just to show he was only messing around.
"What about you, then?" He asked.
--
Oh, no. No. No. No. Too many people.
She was hyperventilating, she could feel it coming on, her breathing was gradually quickening. She came here to try and make friends and didn't even think about how she'd end up in a place like this? No, it was too busy. It was too crowded, it was too... Horrible. No. She needed to get out of here. Maybe she could... Maybe she could sneak into the luggage bay and take the flight home for free? No... No.
No. Her mother and father encouraged her to come here, so she did. She didn't even expect to win. How many college kids in her town alone had applied for this? Heck, how many people in the country had applied for this? It could have been in the millions for all they knew, or at least in the thousands. Carly didn't understand why it had to be her that was picked for this, because she didn't want to be part of it anymore. She wanted to go back home to where her mother and father were, and now that her brother had moved away from her home state, it was going to be much easier in the household.
But for now. Panic.
She ran to the nearest restroom as quick as she could and just locked herself in one of the stalls, placed her suitcases down, then sat on top of one of them to just breathe into her hands. She'd be okay. She just had to find a quiet place to sit outside the airport, and she'd be alright. She just didn't want any interaction with anyone yet. She just had to get out of there and wait for this minibus to arrive.
She was dreading the moment where she had to meet everyone else.
Jupiter
Monster Maker
When the hand was extended to her, she took it and shook it with a smile on her face, listening to him. Alex. California. Likes his family. It wasn't that she took notes on these things, but she just liked to remember things that could be important later. She didn't like to offend people, say the wrong thing, and she liked to be there for people if they needed her. Knowing things about them certainly helped, for example if someone was homesick then she could take their thoughts away from California. Still.
"I'm Nali. I'm from Detroit in Michigan, and no, I don't know anyone named Troy and he most certainly isn't my boy toy." She smiled at the two of them, but this earned a small laugh from the Australian who looked away to try and hide it. "What about you?" She was hoping that they would tell her something that was... Well. That would make figuring out their gender easier. She didn't want to call them by the wrong pronouns and fuck it up, she liked to be nice to people, be there for them. She wasn't looking to make enemies on her first day.
"Levi, from Melbourne, in Australia. But I live in Louisiana. Or, I mean, I should probably say lived, considering I now live in Nevada with you guys." He laughed slightly and then shrugged his shoulders. "You wanna... You wanna sit here? I don't mind standing up."
Okay, male. Nali wouldn't forget it.
"No, no that's fine. I've been on a plane for five hours, I could do with some standing up after all of that." She smiled down at him and then looked at Alex. "So, you guys... Uh... You joined the experiment right? Why? For the money?" It wasn't like she would judge them if they did, I mean, it was a lot of money being offered to do nothing for a year. And you didn't even have to pay to do nothing either, so really, you were losing a year of your life by spending it with people that you would probably become really close to, and getting paid or it.
Couldn't really be faulted, could it?
"Yeah, that's what I'm in it for, hit some trouble and when I was looking for jobs in the paper I found the uh, the application for this. Never thought I would get in though, if I'm honest. Seemed too good to be true. Now I'm... I mean. I'm having mixed feelings about this. You guys seen nice, but you know, there'll probably be at least one person who fucks shit up for everyone." Levi shrugged and sipped on his tea again. Nah, he couldn't drink that anymore.
"That's fair enough. What about you, Alex?" She smiled at him, a smile with teeth, that were perfect and straight, shining.
"I'm Nali. I'm from Detroit in Michigan, and no, I don't know anyone named Troy and he most certainly isn't my boy toy." She smiled at the two of them, but this earned a small laugh from the Australian who looked away to try and hide it. "What about you?" She was hoping that they would tell her something that was... Well. That would make figuring out their gender easier. She didn't want to call them by the wrong pronouns and fuck it up, she liked to be nice to people, be there for them. She wasn't looking to make enemies on her first day.
"Levi, from Melbourne, in Australia. But I live in Louisiana. Or, I mean, I should probably say lived, considering I now live in Nevada with you guys." He laughed slightly and then shrugged his shoulders. "You wanna... You wanna sit here? I don't mind standing up."
Okay, male. Nali wouldn't forget it.
"No, no that's fine. I've been on a plane for five hours, I could do with some standing up after all of that." She smiled down at him and then looked at Alex. "So, you guys... Uh... You joined the experiment right? Why? For the money?" It wasn't like she would judge them if they did, I mean, it was a lot of money being offered to do nothing for a year. And you didn't even have to pay to do nothing either, so really, you were losing a year of your life by spending it with people that you would probably become really close to, and getting paid or it.
Couldn't really be faulted, could it?
"Yeah, that's what I'm in it for, hit some trouble and when I was looking for jobs in the paper I found the uh, the application for this. Never thought I would get in though, if I'm honest. Seemed too good to be true. Now I'm... I mean. I'm having mixed feelings about this. You guys seen nice, but you know, there'll probably be at least one person who fucks shit up for everyone." Levi shrugged and sipped on his tea again. Nah, he couldn't drink that anymore.
"That's fair enough. What about you, Alex?" She smiled at him, a smile with teeth, that were perfect and straight, shining.
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
"Honestly, I applied as a... I suppose more of a joke." He said. "On my application, under the criminal record part, I put in 'The only killing I've done is on the dance-floor.'" He chuckled to himself and took a bite of his cookie again, quickly chewing and swallowing it. "Once I was in, though, once I got that letter in the mail - I was shocked. Thousands of applicants from California, and... I was the one that got picked." He said. "And honestly, I regret it. Not that I'm trying to say I don't enjoy being in the company of you two, because you truly are wonderful." He grinned. "But... I left behind my little brothers. They're who I care about most." He said, simply, then reached down into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, then slipped a picture from within it, slapping it on the table in front of them both.
It was a picture of three guys, the one in the middle obviously being Alex. "This was a picture from last summer." He chuckled. "It wasn't too long after the eldest one's twelfth birthday." He said, simply. "That's Joseph." He pointed to the eldest one in the picture. "And that's Adrian." He said, a smile coming to his face as he pointed at the youngest kid in the photograph. They both had hair like him, short but thick, and they all looked quite alike - Let's just say you could tell they were brothers, and we'll leave it at that. For Californians, they were all quite pale. Even Alex was now. He looked more like he lived in one of the colder states, but he'd already said, California - Seeing as there was a pool in the background of the picture, as well as lush grass...
Yep. Cali.
He slid the picture back into his wallet and sighed, "And to think, away from them for a fuckin' year." He said, shaking his head. "I don't know what I was thinking. I promised I'd call them when I got the chance after I got there - I was there for the little guy's big one-oh, and the eldest one's big one-three, so it was okay. I didn't miss the most important ones, but... I don't know." He said, simply. "My mom's probably gonna' throw me out when I get home." He chuckled weakly, but there was sadness behind it. "Then again... If I get this said money... It won't matter, given how much it apparently is." He said.
"It makes you wonder where they get the money for this - I can't find anything online for the company hosting it. They might be a new thing - They said, no TV show. They're probably just some sort of... Charity, I guess, I mean... Who else would do a social experiment, right?" He chuckled. "For all we know, it might be for some sort of mental health charity - It could be one of those things that they're raising money with, like a big campaign. A lot of the sponsored money will be going to us, I assume." He shrugged once, then looked down at his watch.
"How long do you reckon it'll take others to get here?" He asked, looking over them both. "Actually, you know what? Enough about the journey, it's depressing me." He smirked. "Tell me something about yourselves - You guys have any brothers or sisters? Any favorite hobbies, anything like that? If you haven't guessed, I quite like guitar." He said, gently kicking his guitar case on the ground.
It was a picture of three guys, the one in the middle obviously being Alex. "This was a picture from last summer." He chuckled. "It wasn't too long after the eldest one's twelfth birthday." He said, simply. "That's Joseph." He pointed to the eldest one in the picture. "And that's Adrian." He said, a smile coming to his face as he pointed at the youngest kid in the photograph. They both had hair like him, short but thick, and they all looked quite alike - Let's just say you could tell they were brothers, and we'll leave it at that. For Californians, they were all quite pale. Even Alex was now. He looked more like he lived in one of the colder states, but he'd already said, California - Seeing as there was a pool in the background of the picture, as well as lush grass...
Yep. Cali.
He slid the picture back into his wallet and sighed, "And to think, away from them for a fuckin' year." He said, shaking his head. "I don't know what I was thinking. I promised I'd call them when I got the chance after I got there - I was there for the little guy's big one-oh, and the eldest one's big one-three, so it was okay. I didn't miss the most important ones, but... I don't know." He said, simply. "My mom's probably gonna' throw me out when I get home." He chuckled weakly, but there was sadness behind it. "Then again... If I get this said money... It won't matter, given how much it apparently is." He said.
"It makes you wonder where they get the money for this - I can't find anything online for the company hosting it. They might be a new thing - They said, no TV show. They're probably just some sort of... Charity, I guess, I mean... Who else would do a social experiment, right?" He chuckled. "For all we know, it might be for some sort of mental health charity - It could be one of those things that they're raising money with, like a big campaign. A lot of the sponsored money will be going to us, I assume." He shrugged once, then looked down at his watch.
"How long do you reckon it'll take others to get here?" He asked, looking over them both. "Actually, you know what? Enough about the journey, it's depressing me." He smirked. "Tell me something about yourselves - You guys have any brothers or sisters? Any favorite hobbies, anything like that? If you haven't guessed, I quite like guitar." He said, gently kicking his guitar case on the ground.
Jupiter
Monster Maker
Nali smiled as she looked down at the picture on the table, scanning over it and remembering their faces. They seemed like cute guys, and Alex seemed to love them quite a lot. She didn't know what must have possessed him to do this, to give up a year of his life that he could be spending with his brothers, but she had a feeling that he wouldn't regret it. I mean, he would get to call his brothers as often as he liked, right? Sure, he wouldn't see them, but he could talk to them constantly... Yeah?
Of course, the news was going to be broken to them when they got there, as the rules were gone over in the mini bus. Phones had to be given in, and only a telephone in the living room could be used, from certain hours only. They didn't know that yet, though, did they? It'd be quite sad when they found out, too. I mean, it Alex was so dead set on contacting his brothers as much as he could, only being able to use the phone once a day would be torture.
But more on that when they get there, you know?
"I'm sure you'll be able to contact your brothers, Alex." Nali smiled and pushed the photo back towards him, after Levi had seen it of course. Levi briefly excused himself however, and picked up his tea and walked over to a rubbish bin with it so that he could throw it away. He didn't take long, it wasn't like the bin was far away, was it? He slipped back into his seat just as Alex was halfway done with his speech about where they were getting their money from. That was something that he definitely didn't know.
"Maybe it is a charity, but maybe it's some rich guy or something. God knows, man." Levi shrugged his shoulders and pulled his phone out of his pocket. His phone case was a clear one, or, well, it would be if it didn't have stickers all over it. Brightly coloured ones, some saying weird shit and some saying some inspirational quotes. Basically a do it yourself phone case. Anyway, he unlocked his phone and quickly scrolled through something, his contacts list. He didn't know if he could call anyone at this point, whether they'd be asleep or not, but... Whatever. No, he wouldn't call.
He switched tabs from his phonebook to his Facebook app.
Nali was about to respond to how long she thought it would take for the others to arrive, but Alex asked them different questions instead.
"My mom and dad live in Michigan, so does my older sister. They're not very supportive of what I'm doing, they'd rather me be going out and getting a job in the real world so that I could earn money and be successful. I'm surprised that they haven't tried to marry me off to some rich guy yet, but all in due time I suppose. Still though, they... They came around to the idea when I told them how much this would get me, but they don't have to know that half of it will be going to charities, but whatever." She smiled widely and then shrugged her shoulders.
Levi smiled at her and then turned his phone screen off. "I like that. You're gonna give some to charity. I'm being selfish and using half of it to pay off debts for things like medical bills and shit like that, and then the other half to move me into a flat in New York."
"Flat?"
"Apartment."
"Oh." Nali smiled and then glanced from him to a clock that was on the wall. When would people start arriving? That was the question. Maybe they were all in the airport, and the people running this thing were just waiting for a suitable time to tell them all to make their way to the outside to go to the mystery location that was their home. She hoped it wasn't an old building, she'd always been creeped out by those. "Any family, Levi?"
"None that I talk to really. Some, I reckon, but... None close." He shrugged his shoulders and then looked at Alex again. "What'll you do with the money that you get?"
-
"Excuse me! Coming through! Move!" Lana yelled at the top of her lungs as she manoeuvred her way through a crowd of around fifty business men. This had to be a short pit stop before a flight to New York or something, because damn. There were too many here, and not enough businesses in Nevada to account for them all. Lana knew for sure there were enough businesses in New York though, I mean, she lived there.
After a pretty traumatic plane ride, Lana had her eyes shut for most of it, clutching onto her seat as the man next to her tried to tell her everything was normal, she just wanted to get outside and take a deep breath of real air. From the ground. Where she was safe, and not high up. That would be nice.
Soon enough she managed to make her way through the crowd and out of the automatic double doors, breathing in the outside world as she did so. No smoking area. Fantastic, she didn't breathe shit into her lungs. The good thing was also that there was no one out here, aside from one girl who was sat on a bench, and this was good because it meant that she could happily breathe in all the air she wanted without having to explain why she looked a fool.
After around two minutes, though, she wanted to talk to the girl who was quite simply just sat. I mean... She wanted to ask if she knew anything about this social experiment, for example, had she seen a minibus? While on the plane, if she wasn't worrying about the height, then she was worrying about the fact that she could be late for the experiment, and that she'd never make it on time.
She was probably the only person who was excited about all of this, wasn't she?
Anyway. Lana made her way over to the girl, towing her bright pink luggage case behind her. When she got to her, she sat down beside her and cut straight to the chase. "Excuse me... Have you seen a mini bus round here? Worried I might have missed it is all."
Of course, the news was going to be broken to them when they got there, as the rules were gone over in the mini bus. Phones had to be given in, and only a telephone in the living room could be used, from certain hours only. They didn't know that yet, though, did they? It'd be quite sad when they found out, too. I mean, it Alex was so dead set on contacting his brothers as much as he could, only being able to use the phone once a day would be torture.
But more on that when they get there, you know?
"I'm sure you'll be able to contact your brothers, Alex." Nali smiled and pushed the photo back towards him, after Levi had seen it of course. Levi briefly excused himself however, and picked up his tea and walked over to a rubbish bin with it so that he could throw it away. He didn't take long, it wasn't like the bin was far away, was it? He slipped back into his seat just as Alex was halfway done with his speech about where they were getting their money from. That was something that he definitely didn't know.
"Maybe it is a charity, but maybe it's some rich guy or something. God knows, man." Levi shrugged his shoulders and pulled his phone out of his pocket. His phone case was a clear one, or, well, it would be if it didn't have stickers all over it. Brightly coloured ones, some saying weird shit and some saying some inspirational quotes. Basically a do it yourself phone case. Anyway, he unlocked his phone and quickly scrolled through something, his contacts list. He didn't know if he could call anyone at this point, whether they'd be asleep or not, but... Whatever. No, he wouldn't call.
He switched tabs from his phonebook to his Facebook app.
Nali was about to respond to how long she thought it would take for the others to arrive, but Alex asked them different questions instead.
"My mom and dad live in Michigan, so does my older sister. They're not very supportive of what I'm doing, they'd rather me be going out and getting a job in the real world so that I could earn money and be successful. I'm surprised that they haven't tried to marry me off to some rich guy yet, but all in due time I suppose. Still though, they... They came around to the idea when I told them how much this would get me, but they don't have to know that half of it will be going to charities, but whatever." She smiled widely and then shrugged her shoulders.
Levi smiled at her and then turned his phone screen off. "I like that. You're gonna give some to charity. I'm being selfish and using half of it to pay off debts for things like medical bills and shit like that, and then the other half to move me into a flat in New York."
"Flat?"
"Apartment."
"Oh." Nali smiled and then glanced from him to a clock that was on the wall. When would people start arriving? That was the question. Maybe they were all in the airport, and the people running this thing were just waiting for a suitable time to tell them all to make their way to the outside to go to the mystery location that was their home. She hoped it wasn't an old building, she'd always been creeped out by those. "Any family, Levi?"
"None that I talk to really. Some, I reckon, but... None close." He shrugged his shoulders and then looked at Alex again. "What'll you do with the money that you get?"
-
"Excuse me! Coming through! Move!" Lana yelled at the top of her lungs as she manoeuvred her way through a crowd of around fifty business men. This had to be a short pit stop before a flight to New York or something, because damn. There were too many here, and not enough businesses in Nevada to account for them all. Lana knew for sure there were enough businesses in New York though, I mean, she lived there.
After a pretty traumatic plane ride, Lana had her eyes shut for most of it, clutching onto her seat as the man next to her tried to tell her everything was normal, she just wanted to get outside and take a deep breath of real air. From the ground. Where she was safe, and not high up. That would be nice.
Soon enough she managed to make her way through the crowd and out of the automatic double doors, breathing in the outside world as she did so. No smoking area. Fantastic, she didn't breathe shit into her lungs. The good thing was also that there was no one out here, aside from one girl who was sat on a bench, and this was good because it meant that she could happily breathe in all the air she wanted without having to explain why she looked a fool.
After around two minutes, though, she wanted to talk to the girl who was quite simply just sat. I mean... She wanted to ask if she knew anything about this social experiment, for example, had she seen a minibus? While on the plane, if she wasn't worrying about the height, then she was worrying about the fact that she could be late for the experiment, and that she'd never make it on time.
She was probably the only person who was excited about all of this, wasn't she?
Anyway. Lana made her way over to the girl, towing her bright pink luggage case behind her. When she got to her, she sat down beside her and cut straight to the chase. "Excuse me... Have you seen a mini bus round here? Worried I might have missed it is all."
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
"With the money..." He sighed. "I'd treat my brothers to something real nice." He said. "Maybe I'd take them on vacation some place, just me and them." He chuckled. "Heck, I'd do that when I got back, anyway, even if I had no money or lots of it." He said. "And... Alongside that, I'd probably stash it away, use some of it for a teaching course, get my own house somewhere in San Carlos, or The City of Orange - Real nice there, just expensive. I volunteered in an Elementary school not too long after I finished high school - I worked there for a few months, and the voluntary work ended up putting cash in my pocket. I helped teach sport and English - they're my strongest subjects and all." He said, smiling simply and shrugging. "I'd like to go into teaching, you know? It'd be... More of a hobby than a job,, but hey... What can you do, right?" He said. "It's still nice to have that bit on the side. The cash that comes with teaching isn't the best part - It's the time off you get, and the teaching itself. It's... Nice to be able to influence kids like that." He said.
"I've considered donating, but I don't know, I've got a lot of other things to worry about before I even think about it. My parents have been trying to force me to go to college, but... I did so well at that school, that I might just be lucky enough to go back there and have them train me, get qualified in teaching that way. That's the best method of doing things, if you ask me." He shrugged and smiled. "Still, though... There's a lot of things I'd do with my money. I just don't know where to start." He said. "I think at the top of my list is get my own place and settle down, maybe have a couple of kids of my own. All in good time, though." He said, then looked down at the table as he lifted the last of his cookie into his mouth.
"I better have contact with them. I wouldn't be able to go on for a year without talking to them - I'm gonna' be speaking to them every day, I tell you that. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't. I'd probably go insane, if I'm honest." He chuckled a little. "They're good kids. They'll be alright without me, and just as long as Joe takes good care of his brother. I know they'll get on fine. They have to." He said. Okay. He was getting a bit desperate, and he didn't even want to leave this airport. He wanted to go back on the plane and just sit there and wait for it to take him home.
"Jesus Christ, guys... I just realized." He said, wiping his head. "I really wish I could go home. I feel very... Out of place." He said, gulping once. Just homesickness, Alex.
--
When Carly heard the girl come up and talk to her, she tucked her legs up on the bench and hugged them close to her chest, and very briefly turned to look at her. "I'm..." She started weakly after a few moments of just scanning the girl up and down. "I'm waiting for one, too... I just got here, and..." She looked away again and rested her head on top of her knees, looking off across the street and into the distance. The bench was in the shade, thankfully.
"I'm going on a social experiment. I'm away from home for one year." She said, simply. She didn't like social interaction. As much as she wanted friends, now wasn't a good time. She was in an open place, and that was just a sub-factor of her phobia. She didn't like open places, nor crowded ones, and she didn't like big groups of people. She wasn't in the right frame of mind to talk. She was a very vulnerable person - that much was evident to anyone who spoke to her almost straight away.
It's going to become obvious who will take advantage of that, isn't it?
"I've considered donating, but I don't know, I've got a lot of other things to worry about before I even think about it. My parents have been trying to force me to go to college, but... I did so well at that school, that I might just be lucky enough to go back there and have them train me, get qualified in teaching that way. That's the best method of doing things, if you ask me." He shrugged and smiled. "Still, though... There's a lot of things I'd do with my money. I just don't know where to start." He said. "I think at the top of my list is get my own place and settle down, maybe have a couple of kids of my own. All in good time, though." He said, then looked down at the table as he lifted the last of his cookie into his mouth.
"I better have contact with them. I wouldn't be able to go on for a year without talking to them - I'm gonna' be speaking to them every day, I tell you that. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't. I'd probably go insane, if I'm honest." He chuckled a little. "They're good kids. They'll be alright without me, and just as long as Joe takes good care of his brother. I know they'll get on fine. They have to." He said. Okay. He was getting a bit desperate, and he didn't even want to leave this airport. He wanted to go back on the plane and just sit there and wait for it to take him home.
"Jesus Christ, guys... I just realized." He said, wiping his head. "I really wish I could go home. I feel very... Out of place." He said, gulping once. Just homesickness, Alex.
--
When Carly heard the girl come up and talk to her, she tucked her legs up on the bench and hugged them close to her chest, and very briefly turned to look at her. "I'm..." She started weakly after a few moments of just scanning the girl up and down. "I'm waiting for one, too... I just got here, and..." She looked away again and rested her head on top of her knees, looking off across the street and into the distance. The bench was in the shade, thankfully.
"I'm going on a social experiment. I'm away from home for one year." She said, simply. She didn't like social interaction. As much as she wanted friends, now wasn't a good time. She was in an open place, and that was just a sub-factor of her phobia. She didn't like open places, nor crowded ones, and she didn't like big groups of people. She wasn't in the right frame of mind to talk. She was a very vulnerable person - that much was evident to anyone who spoke to her almost straight away.
It's going to become obvious who will take advantage of that, isn't it?
Jupiter
Monster Maker
Levi listened to him, smiling. He seemed like a good guy, caring, the kind of guy who was... I don't know. Who would actually make a difference in a kids life if he could, and he probably would. He'd probably make an impact on the world, do something inspirational, be remembered. Levi didn't think that he'd do that. It was the same with Nali, actually. She seemed like the helpful kind of girl who did things purely out of the goodness of her own heart. Charity, volunteering... She was... Well. She was certainly something, wasn't she? She had a lot of good in her.
And what did Levi do?
Nothing. He did nothing good for himself or for others. He was obsessed with things, but they were menial. He didn't... He didn't do anything good. The one job he was good at didn't want him, or, rather, didn't need him. He had to try it in New York.
"Hey, don't worry man. Things are gonna be fine, you'll be able to talk to them, you'll start feeling more at home. Honestly, mate, okay... I came from Australia over here last year, I used to have a lot of friends back in Australia, they were like family to me. And now they're gone, right, but they're still my friends. I still keep in contact with 'em. Point is that I didn't feel at home, I felt so out of place, I mean. Look at me. This kinda guy, in America, shit tons of tattoos, with an Australian accent. I don't fit in here, man, but you fuckin' get used to it. You'll be fine." He shrugged his shoulders and grinned slightly, and Nali nodded her head.
"He's right. You feel out of place now, but don't worry, everything will be just fine. It's gonna be good fun, you'll see." She patted him on the shoulder and then smiled.
Three phones sounded.
A mass text received.
Levi looked down at his phone, Nali pulled hers out of her pocket, but all three phones on the table read the exact same thing.
'1pm. The minibus is waiting...'
"Aw, you beauty." Levi grinned and then stood up, tightening his sweater around his waist. He pulled up the handle of his suitcase, and smiled. "Well I guess this is us, then, huh?"
-
Lana smiled, but made sure that she wasn't sat right next to this girl. She didn't seem to like people invading her personal space at all, so she didn't continue to do that. But then she heard news that shocked her. "Social experiment?! No way! I'm on that too! Oh, wow, that's so cool! I'm Lana, and I-"
Her phone let out off a loud noise, so she stopped talking and pulled it out of her pocket.
'1pm. The minibus is waiting...'
And indeed it was, because the second that she looked up from her phone, the minibus pulled up in front of them.
"Oh, wow! This is us!"
And what did Levi do?
Nothing. He did nothing good for himself or for others. He was obsessed with things, but they were menial. He didn't... He didn't do anything good. The one job he was good at didn't want him, or, rather, didn't need him. He had to try it in New York.
"Hey, don't worry man. Things are gonna be fine, you'll be able to talk to them, you'll start feeling more at home. Honestly, mate, okay... I came from Australia over here last year, I used to have a lot of friends back in Australia, they were like family to me. And now they're gone, right, but they're still my friends. I still keep in contact with 'em. Point is that I didn't feel at home, I felt so out of place, I mean. Look at me. This kinda guy, in America, shit tons of tattoos, with an Australian accent. I don't fit in here, man, but you fuckin' get used to it. You'll be fine." He shrugged his shoulders and grinned slightly, and Nali nodded her head.
"He's right. You feel out of place now, but don't worry, everything will be just fine. It's gonna be good fun, you'll see." She patted him on the shoulder and then smiled.
Three phones sounded.
A mass text received.
Levi looked down at his phone, Nali pulled hers out of her pocket, but all three phones on the table read the exact same thing.
'1pm. The minibus is waiting...'
"Aw, you beauty." Levi grinned and then stood up, tightening his sweater around his waist. He pulled up the handle of his suitcase, and smiled. "Well I guess this is us, then, huh?"
-
Lana smiled, but made sure that she wasn't sat right next to this girl. She didn't seem to like people invading her personal space at all, so she didn't continue to do that. But then she heard news that shocked her. "Social experiment?! No way! I'm on that too! Oh, wow, that's so cool! I'm Lana, and I-"
Her phone let out off a loud noise, so she stopped talking and pulled it out of her pocket.
'1pm. The minibus is waiting...'
And indeed it was, because the second that she looked up from her phone, the minibus pulled up in front of them.
"Oh, wow! This is us!"
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
"Yeah, you're probably right. I'm just gonna' be homesick for a while, I think, I'll get over it eventually, though, I'm sure of that." He smiled simply and took a long deep breath, taking a look around thereafter. When his phone went off, he looked down at it in surprise and his heart sunk a little bit more. "Okay." He said, nodding. "Let's do this, then. I need to text my brother before we get moving, though, so I'll do that while we walk." He said, quickly swiping his phone open and going onto his contacts, but first picked up his suitcase and guitar case. Thankfully, the guitar could go over his shoulder - Although it was uncomfortable, he put his arm through the gap of the suitcase handle and dragged that along with him. He was so glad it was on wheels, but after that, he went onto the contact called 'Joseph' and opened up the messages.
'Joe, I gotta' go now - I just wanna say sorry, I know that sometimes I ain't such a good brother and it pains me to be saying that now - It's hard to think about, and I know that sometimes I've let you and Adrian down, so I'm sorry for that. I just want you to know that I'm so proud of both of you for being brave about this. I know it'll be difficult without me for a year, but I promise I'm going to be calling to talk to you whenever I can, and when I come back, I might have a special surprise for you
I love you, little dude - We've had some fun times together, and I know when I get back you're probably gonna' be more of a young man than a boy anymore, but hey, that's life.
Just remember, look after your little brother, do the things you loved doing with me with him instead, and you can take over my role until I get back - I promise you, as soon as I get home, I won't be going anywhere else again, okay? I'm gonna' be staying in California, and if I ever move out, I'm gonna' live as close as I can to you so that I can visit you and you can visit me whenever you want, okay? I wanna' be a teacher, I've made my mind up on that, so when you get off school, we'll have the same breaks
Just take good care of everyone, and yourself, while I'm gone - we all grow up sometimes, but you don't have to grow up entirely - just a little bit until I get back. Tell Adrian to keep being good, and to do all his homework, too. Tell him I love him - I love you both, and I'll speak to you when I'm on the other side '
He guessed that was enough, and seeing as he was at the exit of the airport now, that was good timing. When he saw the minibus, he saw two girls getting onto it - One of which looked very upset and reluctant to be getting on it - He watched as she climbed on, and she immediately progressed right to the back and pushed her luggage up into the overhead storage, then sat down in the corner and plugged her headphones in, looking out of the window as she did so. She hugged her knees close to her chest again.
As they got outside the minibus, Alex had a text come through which he quickly opened up.
'You've never been a bad brother, and you've never let me down. Don't say that. I love you, Alex, and Adrian does too - We'll be waiting for you when you get back, and I promise I'll hang on. This doesn't change anything between us, and I'm not angry at you at all, that's a brother's promise. We'll have fun when you get back, I'm sure. We should all just hang out for a few days out of the house, you know what I mean? Have a good time, and I look forward to speaking to you - Don't beat yourself up about it. We'll miss you, and we hope that it all goes well for you while you're there. We'll see you when you get home, man... We'll be waiting.
Love you,
Joseph and Adrian'
That was enough. No tears. He was content. He was worried about his brothers being angry at him, so once he read that, he tucked his phone away and smiled at Nali and Levi. "Okay, guys." He said, "This is it, moment of truth. Time to sweat our asses off on a nice long bus ride, right?" He laughed and stepped up into the bus, then progressed to the back - He sat on the other side of the bus to Carly, so she wasn't too bothered by the fact that he was there - He wasn't too close, and this place wasn't an open area.
Alex left enough room for Levi to sit beside him if he wanted to, and Nali.
There were more people on the way to the minibus already. Some of them looked... Interesting, for sure.
"Here we are. I'm boiling already." Alex sighed.
'Joe, I gotta' go now - I just wanna say sorry, I know that sometimes I ain't such a good brother and it pains me to be saying that now - It's hard to think about, and I know that sometimes I've let you and Adrian down, so I'm sorry for that. I just want you to know that I'm so proud of both of you for being brave about this. I know it'll be difficult without me for a year, but I promise I'm going to be calling to talk to you whenever I can, and when I come back, I might have a special surprise for you
I love you, little dude - We've had some fun times together, and I know when I get back you're probably gonna' be more of a young man than a boy anymore, but hey, that's life.Just remember, look after your little brother, do the things you loved doing with me with him instead, and you can take over my role until I get back - I promise you, as soon as I get home, I won't be going anywhere else again, okay? I'm gonna' be staying in California, and if I ever move out, I'm gonna' live as close as I can to you so that I can visit you and you can visit me whenever you want, okay? I wanna' be a teacher, I've made my mind up on that, so when you get off school, we'll have the same breaks
Just take good care of everyone, and yourself, while I'm gone - we all grow up sometimes, but you don't have to grow up entirely - just a little bit until I get back. Tell Adrian to keep being good, and to do all his homework, too. Tell him I love him - I love you both, and I'll speak to you when I'm on the other side
'He guessed that was enough, and seeing as he was at the exit of the airport now, that was good timing. When he saw the minibus, he saw two girls getting onto it - One of which looked very upset and reluctant to be getting on it - He watched as she climbed on, and she immediately progressed right to the back and pushed her luggage up into the overhead storage, then sat down in the corner and plugged her headphones in, looking out of the window as she did so. She hugged her knees close to her chest again.
As they got outside the minibus, Alex had a text come through which he quickly opened up.
'You've never been a bad brother, and you've never let me down. Don't say that. I love you, Alex, and Adrian does too - We'll be waiting for you when you get back, and I promise I'll hang on. This doesn't change anything between us, and I'm not angry at you at all, that's a brother's promise. We'll have fun when you get back, I'm sure. We should all just hang out for a few days out of the house, you know what I mean?
Have a good time, and I look forward to speaking to you - Don't beat yourself up about it. We'll miss you, and we hope that it all goes well for you while you're there. We'll see you when you get home, man... We'll be waiting.Love you,
Joseph and Adrian'
That was enough. No tears. He was content. He was worried about his brothers being angry at him, so once he read that, he tucked his phone away and smiled at Nali and Levi. "Okay, guys." He said, "This is it, moment of truth. Time to sweat our asses off on a nice long bus ride, right?" He laughed and stepped up into the bus, then progressed to the back - He sat on the other side of the bus to Carly, so she wasn't too bothered by the fact that he was there - He wasn't too close, and this place wasn't an open area.
Alex left enough room for Levi to sit beside him if he wanted to, and Nali.
There were more people on the way to the minibus already. Some of them looked... Interesting, for sure.
"Here we are. I'm boiling already." Alex sighed.
Jupiter
Monster Maker
As they walked through the airport, Levi made sure that no one walked into Alex, but mostly he was just talking to Nali, who kept making polite conversations. So far, he liked the two of them, liked who they were and how they treated him like a person with no questions asked. It was a good feeling to actually feel like a human, a guy, without people ask if he wasn't a guy. God, sometimes... He just didn't know.
"So on the plane, this woman's totally staring at me, like okay, I get it, you don't like to see a girl read Fifty Shades of Grey, but you don't gotta stare! I'm not gonna whisper it into your ear." Nali laughed quite loudly and then shrugged her shoulders, walking through the automatic doors with Levi following after her. She was chatty, that was for sure, and she smiled a lot too, but it wasn't like she had a bad smile, so Levi didn't mind.
"You're brave. Most girls read that shit in private, like some kind of guilty pleasure or something." He laughed slightly, but then went quiet when Alex spoke to him again, and he smiled at him. "Oh, god. Mate, I hope this damn bus has air-conditioning or I'm gonna be sweating like a pig. I wonder how long the drive will be..."
"Apparently we're estimated to be there for half four, and then we have to wait to go inside. Some kind of interview or something. I read the instructions." Nali smiled, but Levi instantly let out a groan.
"A three hour bus ride? Oh, god..."
The two of them slowly followed Alex onto the bus, passing a girl who was leaning her head against the window and already seemed to be passed out asleep, her jacket in her lap, just a simple black vest top on now. She was sat in the middle of the bus, on her own, and because she was sleeping he decided to just ignore her and not say anything. He'd meet her later. Anyway, they followed him down and sat beside him after putting their luggage on the chairs in front. If there were only supposed to be eight people on this minibus, then that would be fine, wouldn't it?
And there were already five on the bus.
Levi sat down next to Alex, and Nali sat down next to him. Straight away, though, Levi pulled his phone out of his pocket and then pulled his earphones out. "Three hours... I don't think I'm gonna make it."
"So on the plane, this woman's totally staring at me, like okay, I get it, you don't like to see a girl read Fifty Shades of Grey, but you don't gotta stare! I'm not gonna whisper it into your ear." Nali laughed quite loudly and then shrugged her shoulders, walking through the automatic doors with Levi following after her. She was chatty, that was for sure, and she smiled a lot too, but it wasn't like she had a bad smile, so Levi didn't mind.
"You're brave. Most girls read that shit in private, like some kind of guilty pleasure or something." He laughed slightly, but then went quiet when Alex spoke to him again, and he smiled at him. "Oh, god. Mate, I hope this damn bus has air-conditioning or I'm gonna be sweating like a pig. I wonder how long the drive will be..."
"Apparently we're estimated to be there for half four, and then we have to wait to go inside. Some kind of interview or something. I read the instructions." Nali smiled, but Levi instantly let out a groan.
"A three hour bus ride? Oh, god..."
The two of them slowly followed Alex onto the bus, passing a girl who was leaning her head against the window and already seemed to be passed out asleep, her jacket in her lap, just a simple black vest top on now. She was sat in the middle of the bus, on her own, and because she was sleeping he decided to just ignore her and not say anything. He'd meet her later. Anyway, they followed him down and sat beside him after putting their luggage on the chairs in front. If there were only supposed to be eight people on this minibus, then that would be fine, wouldn't it?
And there were already five on the bus.
Levi sat down next to Alex, and Nali sat down next to him. Straight away, though, Levi pulled his phone out of his pocket and then pulled his earphones out. "Three hours... I don't think I'm gonna make it."
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
He sat there and sighed, also whipping out his phone and reading over his brother's text one last time. He smiled as he read over it and simply texted back one last thing - a little cheesy, but he wanted to save his battery for when they got there. It was going to be difficult to do on this long ass journey, but he could certainly try. He looked down at his phone and hit two simple buttons to form a love heart.
'
'
That was that dealt with. Now that he'd expressed his love for his brother, he put in one ear phone (in the ear nearest the window) and flicked on the music on his phone, but only to a quiet volume, then looked at Nali and Levi and sighed, "Ah well, this is going to be a long journey, so let's make the most of it. Catch up on some sleep, you know, maybe chat for a while and do whatever you want." He said. "When we get there, maybe I'll be nice enough to make you all a sandwich." He laughed a little and set his head back against the chair, then shut his eyes.
"Jesus. It's hotter than Satan's asshole in this bus." He murmured to them both, but then grinned while keeping his eyes closed. He was sweating - His t-shirt was patched with sweat, mostly under the arms, but also under his neck, too, as well as on his back. He'd be peeling this shirt off as soon as he got to the house that was supposedly in the middle of nowhere. How far out was the middle of nowhere, though? Surely it would have made more sense for the social experiment to take place in a city somewhere? Or at least a small town? It had to be something like that, didn't it? Ah... Maybe the environment was a contribution to the experiment.
Mark was the next person to climb onto the bus, and he'd had Jessica following him around since she found out he was on the bus like he was. He had no mutual interest in her. He didn't like her. He didn't like her voice, where she came from, or her vulgar and loud personality - He didn't sit down at the back with everyone else. He sat down on the seat in front of the seat that was holding the luggage. He was somehow making a casual setup look smart - He was only wearing shorts, sneakers, and a Ralph Lauren polo shirt, but... He looked intelligent - He had a regular suitcase, so he must have had a special way of folding something due to the fact that it didn't seem to be that overloaded at all.
And of course, Jessica sat right next to him and did the same as what he did - put her suitcase in the overhead luggage storage. Mark had a travel-bag with him, too. He pulled out a booklet of puzzles and a pen - This one was Sudoku.
"What's that?" Jessica asked after ten seconds.
Mark was just zooming through the puzzles like it was no one's business. "A waste of time." He grumbled.
"Don't you have a phone?"
"Yes?"
"Then why don't you just download an app and get that... That game on there?" She asked.
"The fact that you can't identify Sudoku, one of the most common brain-training games in the world, which it has been for decades now, worries me." He said.
"Why?"
He slowly turned and looked at her. "So far you've answered everything I've said with a question - do you realize that?"
"You're smart, Mark." She said.
"Thanks for noticing." He smirked, then went back to his puzzle.
Jessica went silent for a long while, "Can I have your number?"
"Why would you need my number if we're going to be living together for the next year? What, do you want me to call you before you go to bed in the room next door to me?" He asked. Jessica didn't like being outsmarted. Mark wasn't even saying it in a spiteful way - He sounded genuinely curious, but deep down, anyone with half a brain knew that he was getting a kick out of it.
Jessica was silent after that.
Alex was trying to hold in his laughter with what was going on - He looked at Levi and grinned before leaning closer and whispering something, "I think I'm gonna' end up being friends with this guy." He said, simply, then leaned back with a chuckle.
So... That's seven down.
Where was the eighth?
'
' That was that dealt with. Now that he'd expressed his love for his brother, he put in one ear phone (in the ear nearest the window) and flicked on the music on his phone, but only to a quiet volume, then looked at Nali and Levi and sighed, "Ah well, this is going to be a long journey, so let's make the most of it. Catch up on some sleep, you know, maybe chat for a while and do whatever you want." He said. "When we get there, maybe I'll be nice enough to make you all a sandwich." He laughed a little and set his head back against the chair, then shut his eyes.
"Jesus. It's hotter than Satan's asshole in this bus." He murmured to them both, but then grinned while keeping his eyes closed. He was sweating - His t-shirt was patched with sweat, mostly under the arms, but also under his neck, too, as well as on his back. He'd be peeling this shirt off as soon as he got to the house that was supposedly in the middle of nowhere. How far out was the middle of nowhere, though? Surely it would have made more sense for the social experiment to take place in a city somewhere? Or at least a small town? It had to be something like that, didn't it? Ah... Maybe the environment was a contribution to the experiment.
Mark was the next person to climb onto the bus, and he'd had Jessica following him around since she found out he was on the bus like he was. He had no mutual interest in her. He didn't like her. He didn't like her voice, where she came from, or her vulgar and loud personality - He didn't sit down at the back with everyone else. He sat down on the seat in front of the seat that was holding the luggage. He was somehow making a casual setup look smart - He was only wearing shorts, sneakers, and a Ralph Lauren polo shirt, but... He looked intelligent - He had a regular suitcase, so he must have had a special way of folding something due to the fact that it didn't seem to be that overloaded at all.
And of course, Jessica sat right next to him and did the same as what he did - put her suitcase in the overhead luggage storage. Mark had a travel-bag with him, too. He pulled out a booklet of puzzles and a pen - This one was Sudoku.
"What's that?" Jessica asked after ten seconds.
Mark was just zooming through the puzzles like it was no one's business. "A waste of time." He grumbled.
"Don't you have a phone?"
"Yes?"
"Then why don't you just download an app and get that... That game on there?" She asked.
"The fact that you can't identify Sudoku, one of the most common brain-training games in the world, which it has been for decades now, worries me." He said.
"Why?"
He slowly turned and looked at her. "So far you've answered everything I've said with a question - do you realize that?"
"You're smart, Mark." She said.
"Thanks for noticing." He smirked, then went back to his puzzle.
Jessica went silent for a long while, "Can I have your number?"
"Why would you need my number if we're going to be living together for the next year? What, do you want me to call you before you go to bed in the room next door to me?" He asked. Jessica didn't like being outsmarted. Mark wasn't even saying it in a spiteful way - He sounded genuinely curious, but deep down, anyone with half a brain knew that he was getting a kick out of it.
Jessica was silent after that.
Alex was trying to hold in his laughter with what was going on - He looked at Levi and grinned before leaning closer and whispering something, "I think I'm gonna' end up being friends with this guy." He said, simply, then leaned back with a chuckle.
So... That's seven down.
Where was the eighth?
Jupiter
Monster Maker
"I'm probably gonna sleep the entire way there, so I'll try not to lean on any of you or anything." Levi laughed slightly, and then looked at Alex. "You'll make us a sandwich? Oh, I'm looking forward to that already. I'm starving, I haven't eaten properly since yesterday afternoon, and that cookie you gave me, so, yeah. Either you make the sandwich, or I'll be making my own, but damn. Food in me, please and thank you." He laughed slightly and slipped in one earphone, at Nali's side, but it didn't matter, because...
Well.
She looked kind of bored, hadn't got her phone or her book out or anything, and so Levi offered her an earphone. "I don't know if I have anything that you'll like on here, but, you know, if you need something to do."
Nali looked at him and smiled. "It's okay, thank you. I'm going to get my book out when we get moving."
The two of them looked up, though, when two other people boarded the bus. Huh. A guy and a girl. Two of the others, which made seven, so there was one person missing. He presumed it was another guy, considering so far there were four girls and three guys on the bus. He hoped he was nice, because so far everyone-
Jessica spoke.
Levi turned and looked at Alex and held a hand up for silence even though there was already some, and then turned and looked at him, whispering. "California girl." It was a nice thing for him to recognise, and it linked into the conversation that the two of them had had before they had been joined by Nali about how Levi didn't recognise Californian accents. He was only joking, of course though, everything seemed to be a joke to him right now.
He leaned back in his seat again and smiled, shuffling forwards and stretching his legs out underneath the seat. He was a tall guy, actually, obviously not someone in the six foot category, but a tall guy nonetheless.
Seven people on board.
The eighth?
Nowhere to be seen.
At least, not for fifteen minutes of hell and sweating. Levi was getting fed up of waiting, as was Nali, and Lana. Hell, I bet everyone on the bus was just itching to get moving so that they could open windows and feel the breeze hit their faces and flow through the vehicle. Where was he?
Then he boarded.
A guy with ridiculously curly hair and a big grin on his face walked onto the bus clutching a bag of candy, and he walked down the aisle until he was sat in the seat horizontally across from Mark and Jessica. "Sorry I'm late, everyone! Can't pass up a good deal on candy!"
Levi rolled his eyes and looked down at his knees. God, he was already annoyed by this guy and he'd only known him for around five seconds.
Well.
She looked kind of bored, hadn't got her phone or her book out or anything, and so Levi offered her an earphone. "I don't know if I have anything that you'll like on here, but, you know, if you need something to do."
Nali looked at him and smiled. "It's okay, thank you. I'm going to get my book out when we get moving."
The two of them looked up, though, when two other people boarded the bus. Huh. A guy and a girl. Two of the others, which made seven, so there was one person missing. He presumed it was another guy, considering so far there were four girls and three guys on the bus. He hoped he was nice, because so far everyone-
Jessica spoke.
Levi turned and looked at Alex and held a hand up for silence even though there was already some, and then turned and looked at him, whispering. "California girl." It was a nice thing for him to recognise, and it linked into the conversation that the two of them had had before they had been joined by Nali about how Levi didn't recognise Californian accents. He was only joking, of course though, everything seemed to be a joke to him right now.
He leaned back in his seat again and smiled, shuffling forwards and stretching his legs out underneath the seat. He was a tall guy, actually, obviously not someone in the six foot category, but a tall guy nonetheless.
Seven people on board.
The eighth?
Nowhere to be seen.
At least, not for fifteen minutes of hell and sweating. Levi was getting fed up of waiting, as was Nali, and Lana. Hell, I bet everyone on the bus was just itching to get moving so that they could open windows and feel the breeze hit their faces and flow through the vehicle. Where was he?
Then he boarded.
A guy with ridiculously curly hair and a big grin on his face walked onto the bus clutching a bag of candy, and he walked down the aisle until he was sat in the seat horizontally across from Mark and Jessica. "Sorry I'm late, everyone! Can't pass up a good deal on candy!"
Levi rolled his eyes and looked down at his knees. God, he was already annoyed by this guy and he'd only known him for around five seconds.
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
"California girl indeed." He laughed quietly and set his head back again, and now came the waiting game for them to wait for the next and final person to board. It was hell. The driver may have cranked up the air conditioning on the mini bus, but it was hardly doing anything. After five minutes, Mark put away his puzzle book simply because he had beads of sweat dripping onto it, and Jessica was more concerned about her make-up running more than anything else. Mark was having the time of his life sat next to her, I'll tell you that right now. Not. He wasn't having the time of his life at all - In fact, it was hell, complete and utter hell, because she just wouldn't shut up. She tried to start conversation, and he couldn't even phase her with a generic answer that was nothing more than the following:
Mhm.
He'd never been so uninterested in his whole life. He didn't bother getting up to greet anyone else, because he knew that he'd be meeting them once he got there. One of the first things he'd be doing was showering when he got the chance. He knew about the interview, and he'd done his research already. He knew that there was going to be an interview, he knew that there was going to be a place in the middle of nowhere, and he was more than certain that he was ready for anything. Mark... He looked around, and for some reason, he could only think about how none of these people knew what they were getting into.
Well, Mark. You're pretty much right - You and Nali are the only people that have done their research for this, and that's about it. No one else really knows much - He was taking a quick glance at Alex while he got the chance. Lively guy, interesting individual, rather childish smile that indicated a childish personality - He could read the guy like a book in ten minutes if he wanted to.
This year was going to be a breeze.
Or so he thought.
When the person arrived fifteen minutes late, he looked up at him and wiped his forehead. "It's been nearly twenty minutes since the mass text got sent out, and you've left us here while you were off buying over-priced airport candy?" He asked, then leaned back in his seat and sighed.
Alex looked up, "Yeah, dude. Sorta' sweating like dogs up in this bus, you'know'what'I'mean?" He asked quickly. "Take a seat, dude. If we arrive late, I don't know how many people we'll piss off, but I don't think the bus driver's very happy right now." He said, simply, and Mark looked over his shoulder at him again. Alex was a guy that liked to reason - He liked to find a peaceful resolution to a situation. He could tell immediately that his violent side wasn't the dominant one. Everyone had a violent side, but this time, he wasn't so sure if that was capable with Alex.
"Are we good to go, then?" Mark asked, looking around, and then up at the driver's seat. It was like a school field trip... Just one that went on for a whole year rather than a whole day.
Mhm.
He'd never been so uninterested in his whole life. He didn't bother getting up to greet anyone else, because he knew that he'd be meeting them once he got there. One of the first things he'd be doing was showering when he got the chance. He knew about the interview, and he'd done his research already. He knew that there was going to be an interview, he knew that there was going to be a place in the middle of nowhere, and he was more than certain that he was ready for anything. Mark... He looked around, and for some reason, he could only think about how none of these people knew what they were getting into.
Well, Mark. You're pretty much right - You and Nali are the only people that have done their research for this, and that's about it. No one else really knows much - He was taking a quick glance at Alex while he got the chance. Lively guy, interesting individual, rather childish smile that indicated a childish personality - He could read the guy like a book in ten minutes if he wanted to.
This year was going to be a breeze.
Or so he thought.
When the person arrived fifteen minutes late, he looked up at him and wiped his forehead. "It's been nearly twenty minutes since the mass text got sent out, and you've left us here while you were off buying over-priced airport candy?" He asked, then leaned back in his seat and sighed.
Alex looked up, "Yeah, dude. Sorta' sweating like dogs up in this bus, you'know'what'I'mean?" He asked quickly. "Take a seat, dude. If we arrive late, I don't know how many people we'll piss off, but I don't think the bus driver's very happy right now." He said, simply, and Mark looked over his shoulder at him again. Alex was a guy that liked to reason - He liked to find a peaceful resolution to a situation. He could tell immediately that his violent side wasn't the dominant one. Everyone had a violent side, but this time, he wasn't so sure if that was capable with Alex.
"Are we good to go, then?" Mark asked, looking around, and then up at the driver's seat. It was like a school field trip... Just one that went on for a whole year rather than a whole day.
Jupiter
Monster Maker
"Sorry, I couldn't pass it up. It was just... Standing there, in the window, saying eat me. Besides, I bet everyone on the bus has been just fine and dandy haven't they? Sure, you're sweating, but you'll thank me more when we get going and we can cool down. Gives you more a feeling of happiness when we actually get going, you know what I mean?" He grinned widely and pulled open the packet of candy. It was a large back, all the candy inside it chewy and brightly coloured. "You guys want to have any of this candy?" He called out, really to anyone on the bus.
Nali shook her head, Lana was fast asleep already, and Levi just glared at the guy, his eyebrows raised.
Wait, okay, was that a guy or a girl?
Before Kit had the chance to ask them, they turned away.
"I swear to god if he doesn't shut up the entire way I'm actually going to throw myself out of the window. Full speed or no." He shook his head slowly and looked down at his phone, unlocking it and scrolling through it so that he could choose what to listen to. It was then that the doors to the bus closed and it began to move forwards. The driver was dressed in a formal(ish) suit and he didn't say a single thing to them, just concentrated on the road.
And the minute that the bus started?
Air-conditioning.
Nali let out a sigh of relief and grinned widely. "Ata vica." She mumbled to herself, which earned her a small stare from Levi, but then a smile as he put in his earphones and rested his head on the headrest of the seat. Sleep... That would be nice. The music began to play to him, electronic, noises, beats and occasionally words, quite fast paced. Could he sleep to that? Oh, hell yes he could. He could sleep through anything.
"Hey, see! The air-conditioning is on now, we're leaving, it's just slightly delayed is all. Candy?" He offered the bag out to Mark after shuffling along so that he was on the aisle seat across from him.
Nali shook her head, Lana was fast asleep already, and Levi just glared at the guy, his eyebrows raised.
Wait, okay, was that a guy or a girl?
Before Kit had the chance to ask them, they turned away.
"I swear to god if he doesn't shut up the entire way I'm actually going to throw myself out of the window. Full speed or no." He shook his head slowly and looked down at his phone, unlocking it and scrolling through it so that he could choose what to listen to. It was then that the doors to the bus closed and it began to move forwards. The driver was dressed in a formal(ish) suit and he didn't say a single thing to them, just concentrated on the road.
And the minute that the bus started?
Air-conditioning.
Nali let out a sigh of relief and grinned widely. "Ata vica." She mumbled to herself, which earned her a small stare from Levi, but then a smile as he put in his earphones and rested his head on the headrest of the seat. Sleep... That would be nice. The music began to play to him, electronic, noises, beats and occasionally words, quite fast paced. Could he sleep to that? Oh, hell yes he could. He could sleep through anything.
"Hey, see! The air-conditioning is on now, we're leaving, it's just slightly delayed is all. Candy?" He offered the bag out to Mark after shuffling along so that he was on the aisle seat across from him.
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
Alex leaned back in his seat once the vehicle started moving and sighed - This was really it, wasn't it? There was no such thing as forfeit now, not at all. He had to just... Deal with it, as much as he didn't want to. He wanted to go home and just be with his brothers again. He wanted to hop into his car and drive them both to McDonald's and treat them to a milkshake. He didn't want to be here, because this place was just horrible. It was sticky, sweaty, and far too hot for him. He was used to the heat, being Californian, but this was a desert - It was worse than California, that's for sure. Ironically, though, this place probably had more water than California did right now, given the fact that that place was getting dryer than a mouthful of sand.
Anyway. Long journey ahead. Alex put in both headphones and just leaned back - You know, there was one city in America that did a study - When the main radio station played country music primarily, the suicide rates in the city increased. Country music was depressing in some circumstances, but in others, it wasn't too bad. Alex decided that he'd listen to something that wasn't country - He put on some AC/DC.
Highway to Hell. Oh, great.
Mark looked at Kit and sighed. "The last thing I'm going to be doing on a three-hour journey is eating candy." He said. "If we need to stop when the food coloring and preservatives messes with your stomach and makes you throw up, I'm pretty sure a lot of us aren't going to be too happy. Some of us may not come from the hottest States. I, for example, come from Maryland, of which isn't very hot at all." He said, simply. "So, before all of us get heatstroke..." He sighed and leaned back in his seat.
"I'm going to prevent the risk of bringing this to a stop by not taking any candy. Thank you for your offer, though. We should get acquainted once we arrive at the house, building, complex, ghost town... Whatever it may be." He said, then took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He was hoping that that would just shut him up. He didn't like him all that much already, if he was honest.
--
After the brutal three-hour journey, they arrived in... The middle of nowhere. The place had been built recently, it seemed, and when Alex woke up as the bus slammed to a halt, he could only smile. It looked pretty awesome, to him at least. It was a very modern design - A large house with a gate out front, and around the whole thing was a fence that was at least eight feet tall - That killed the scenery a little bit, but hey, I suppose it was necessary. Must have been to keep out wildlife, seeing as they were pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It was a modern design with slim windows and white walls, and an arched roof. It was black and white-themed, mostly, and that was about it. Inside the fence, there were patches of grass growing, all of which had water sprinklers out all over it so that it stayed alive in the heat.
"Jesus." Alex said, stretching his legs before unbuckling his seat belt and slowly rising up. "That's... Really something." He said, laughing a little. There was an orange glow now, seeing as the sun would be setting soon and all. Or, was beginning to set, rather. He looked around - Not only had he been busting to piss for the last hour, but he was starving hungry, too - He was just hoping there'd be bathrooms scattered around the house, especially if they had to go for their interviews first.
And to think, they hadn't even seen the back yard yet.
It was all going to seem like fun and games to them, wasn't it?
The bus driver rose up and slowly looked over them all. "Everyone wake up!" He called out, rather abruptly. Carly woke up and immediately hugged her legs, terrified by the man who had suddenly raised his voice. "Before you leave this bus, you must hand in your cellphones." He said. Alex felt his stomach lurch.
"Our--.. Our phones?" Alex asked. "Some of us have family to contact. You can't... You can't take the phones." He said.
"There'll be a phone inside you can use for outside contact." He said. "Rules will be explained to you during your interview. Hand them over." He said - He had a plastic sleeve in one hand, of which could be sealed up. He went over all of them and took their cellphones in the bag, not giving them the chance to write their names on it or anything like that. Alex was very reluctant to put his phone in there, but he did it anyway. He looked at the gate. It must have been mechanical. It looked to be it, seeing as there were no handles.
Once all the phones had been taken, they were free to get their stuff and get off, which is what pretty much everyone did, right?
The gate unlocked before their eyes and slowly opened up before them - Yep. Mechanical.
They were left staring upon the house and a camera mounted to the wall above the front door. Alex didn't remember any cameras being mentioned, but hey, it wasn't like it was an issue or anything like that, was it? Nah. He didn't mind at all. It was probably for security purposes.
Alex looked crushed, though. It was going to take a nudge to get him to move. He was devastated by the fact that he couldn't take his phone with him. He really didn't want to enter - He could only assume that their first stop was the foyer.
Anyway. Long journey ahead. Alex put in both headphones and just leaned back - You know, there was one city in America that did a study - When the main radio station played country music primarily, the suicide rates in the city increased. Country music was depressing in some circumstances, but in others, it wasn't too bad. Alex decided that he'd listen to something that wasn't country - He put on some AC/DC.
Highway to Hell. Oh, great.
Mark looked at Kit and sighed. "The last thing I'm going to be doing on a three-hour journey is eating candy." He said. "If we need to stop when the food coloring and preservatives messes with your stomach and makes you throw up, I'm pretty sure a lot of us aren't going to be too happy. Some of us may not come from the hottest States. I, for example, come from Maryland, of which isn't very hot at all." He said, simply. "So, before all of us get heatstroke..." He sighed and leaned back in his seat.
"I'm going to prevent the risk of bringing this to a stop by not taking any candy. Thank you for your offer, though. We should get acquainted once we arrive at the house, building, complex, ghost town... Whatever it may be." He said, then took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He was hoping that that would just shut him up. He didn't like him all that much already, if he was honest.
--
After the brutal three-hour journey, they arrived in... The middle of nowhere. The place had been built recently, it seemed, and when Alex woke up as the bus slammed to a halt, he could only smile. It looked pretty awesome, to him at least. It was a very modern design - A large house with a gate out front, and around the whole thing was a fence that was at least eight feet tall - That killed the scenery a little bit, but hey, I suppose it was necessary. Must have been to keep out wildlife, seeing as they were pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It was a modern design with slim windows and white walls, and an arched roof. It was black and white-themed, mostly, and that was about it. Inside the fence, there were patches of grass growing, all of which had water sprinklers out all over it so that it stayed alive in the heat.
"Jesus." Alex said, stretching his legs before unbuckling his seat belt and slowly rising up. "That's... Really something." He said, laughing a little. There was an orange glow now, seeing as the sun would be setting soon and all. Or, was beginning to set, rather. He looked around - Not only had he been busting to piss for the last hour, but he was starving hungry, too - He was just hoping there'd be bathrooms scattered around the house, especially if they had to go for their interviews first.
And to think, they hadn't even seen the back yard yet.
It was all going to seem like fun and games to them, wasn't it?
The bus driver rose up and slowly looked over them all. "Everyone wake up!" He called out, rather abruptly. Carly woke up and immediately hugged her legs, terrified by the man who had suddenly raised his voice. "Before you leave this bus, you must hand in your cellphones." He said. Alex felt his stomach lurch.
"Our--.. Our phones?" Alex asked. "Some of us have family to contact. You can't... You can't take the phones." He said.
"There'll be a phone inside you can use for outside contact." He said. "Rules will be explained to you during your interview. Hand them over." He said - He had a plastic sleeve in one hand, of which could be sealed up. He went over all of them and took their cellphones in the bag, not giving them the chance to write their names on it or anything like that. Alex was very reluctant to put his phone in there, but he did it anyway. He looked at the gate. It must have been mechanical. It looked to be it, seeing as there were no handles.
Once all the phones had been taken, they were free to get their stuff and get off, which is what pretty much everyone did, right?
The gate unlocked before their eyes and slowly opened up before them - Yep. Mechanical.
They were left staring upon the house and a camera mounted to the wall above the front door. Alex didn't remember any cameras being mentioned, but hey, it wasn't like it was an issue or anything like that, was it? Nah. He didn't mind at all. It was probably for security purposes.
Alex looked crushed, though. It was going to take a nudge to get him to move. He was devastated by the fact that he couldn't take his phone with him. He really didn't want to enter - He could only assume that their first stop was the foyer.
Jupiter
Monster Maker
For three hours, Levi drifted in and out of consciousness. He was awake one minute, asleep the next, unable to get comfortable, in slightly pain from something he really didn't want to mention, which meant he had to keep shuffling around until he did eventually find a completely comfortable and painless spot. Perfect. It was around an hour and a half in when that occurred, and so he fell asleep instantly after that. He hadn't been able to sleep much during the night, nervous and excited for the day ahead, but he was okay now.
The only problem with him falling asleep was the fact that he had fallen asleep next to Nali. He didn't snore or anything like that, but... After around half an hour of being asleep, his head rested on her shoulder, mouth slightly open but eyes completely shut. She didn't complain about it, didn't tell him to get off or wake him up or anything, she just adjusted her own position so that he could stay asleep and she could continue reading the book that she was reading. At least they had air-conditioning in here, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to get anything done.
Lana had been asleep for the entire journey anyway, not knowing about Kit's lateness, or the others arrival. She had meant to have a nap on the plane to try and keep herself from freaking out about the flight, but... The fear had taken over. So now she was sleeping while she was happily on the ground. Kit, however, was busy playing angry birds on his phone. Childish, stupid. Every time he won a level he had a massive grin on his face.
The bus came to a stop.
Kit almost dropped his phone but managed to keep a tight hold on it as he turned the screen off and shoved it in his pocket. Lana woke up with a small yelp as she almost fell out of her seat, and Levi... He didn't wake up. Once he was out, he was out for good. Or, at least, he was until Nali shook him, and he pulled away from her shoulder with an embarrassed look on her face, stretched, and then looked out of the window at the house that he would be living in for a year.
Oh.
Wow.
All of them seemed to be in awe at the magnificence of this building that was essentially, in some ways, theirs for a whole year. Who else could ever say that this was the kind of thing that they had been living in? Who else, especially people like them who didn't all come from money.
Well, Levi presumed a lot of them didn't, but he couldn't be sure about any of it.
He certainly didn't come from money. Why else would he be so in debt?
Slowly he started to pack his things away and put them into his bag, until he was told that he was to give his cellphone in. What? No way! He wasn't happy about that. No one was, not even Nali, who should have known about this but didn't. Still, though, they weren't gonna cause trouble, and so they gave their cellphones away with sad glances, and then slowly piled off the bus with their luggage.
An odd thought hit Levi.
Who would they be sharing rooms with?
He was sure he'd find out pretty soon.
Levi looked up at the house, stood with Nali and Alex, a small smile on his face. Kit and Lana had already made their way through the gates and had started walking towards the house, but Levi looked at Alex when he didn't move. "Dude... It's okay, man, you can call your brother from one of the phones inside, like they said. Don't worry about it." He grabbed his arm and pulled him along for a moment, but let go of it again as he walked in and up to the door.
What were they supposed to do? Knock?
Apparently Kit was thinking the same thing.
"Do we knock or ring the doorbell or anything? Will it open? Do we just go inside?"
The only problem with him falling asleep was the fact that he had fallen asleep next to Nali. He didn't snore or anything like that, but... After around half an hour of being asleep, his head rested on her shoulder, mouth slightly open but eyes completely shut. She didn't complain about it, didn't tell him to get off or wake him up or anything, she just adjusted her own position so that he could stay asleep and she could continue reading the book that she was reading. At least they had air-conditioning in here, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to get anything done.
Lana had been asleep for the entire journey anyway, not knowing about Kit's lateness, or the others arrival. She had meant to have a nap on the plane to try and keep herself from freaking out about the flight, but... The fear had taken over. So now she was sleeping while she was happily on the ground. Kit, however, was busy playing angry birds on his phone. Childish, stupid. Every time he won a level he had a massive grin on his face.
The bus came to a stop.
Kit almost dropped his phone but managed to keep a tight hold on it as he turned the screen off and shoved it in his pocket. Lana woke up with a small yelp as she almost fell out of her seat, and Levi... He didn't wake up. Once he was out, he was out for good. Or, at least, he was until Nali shook him, and he pulled away from her shoulder with an embarrassed look on her face, stretched, and then looked out of the window at the house that he would be living in for a year.
Oh.
Wow.
All of them seemed to be in awe at the magnificence of this building that was essentially, in some ways, theirs for a whole year. Who else could ever say that this was the kind of thing that they had been living in? Who else, especially people like them who didn't all come from money.
Well, Levi presumed a lot of them didn't, but he couldn't be sure about any of it.
He certainly didn't come from money. Why else would he be so in debt?
Slowly he started to pack his things away and put them into his bag, until he was told that he was to give his cellphone in. What? No way! He wasn't happy about that. No one was, not even Nali, who should have known about this but didn't. Still, though, they weren't gonna cause trouble, and so they gave their cellphones away with sad glances, and then slowly piled off the bus with their luggage.
An odd thought hit Levi.
Who would they be sharing rooms with?
He was sure he'd find out pretty soon.
Levi looked up at the house, stood with Nali and Alex, a small smile on his face. Kit and Lana had already made their way through the gates and had started walking towards the house, but Levi looked at Alex when he didn't move. "Dude... It's okay, man, you can call your brother from one of the phones inside, like they said. Don't worry about it." He grabbed his arm and pulled him along for a moment, but let go of it again as he walked in and up to the door.
What were they supposed to do? Knock?
Apparently Kit was thinking the same thing.
"Do we knock or ring the doorbell or anything? Will it open? Do we just go inside?"
DrTrollinski
Don't let the name scare you.
Alex was stood there staring at the door with the rest of them - To be honest, Levi's words hadn't helped him at all. He wanted to be able to text his brothers, not just... I don't know. He didn't want to have to wait to use a phone inside to call them. He didn't want to do any of that. He wanted to just text them while he was lying in bed at night so that he could wish his eldest bro goodnight, and he could speak to the little guy just before he was tucked into bed. He didn't want this. He wanted to cry. He wanted to fall to his knees and cry, but this place was amazing, so he wasn't going to do that just yet. He'd put up with it for now.
Mark was stood there staring at the door as well, but then sighed and placed his bags down, brushing his hands off as he stepped up to it, taking a brief moment to look at the lush grass - that was something that he hadn't seen since he left Maryland, so it was definitely nice. He looked over everyone and sighed, "As Francis Bacon once said: A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds." He said, simply, then walked up to the door and gave three firm knocks on it. He waited for a few moments, then peered in through the slim glass window to see if anyone was around. No one in sight.
Alex looked at Levi. He didn't even know who Francis Bacon was.
After a few more moments of waiting, the door clicked. Mark chuckled once. "Mechanical lock system, most likely magnetic. Strong and durable, helps prevent break-ins, and if this is high-tech... Chances are that it'll remain locked even during a power outage." He said, then gave the door a single push. It opened up and revealed a nice foyer - Straight ahead of them, there three different ways to go - One was up the stairs, and they were in the center, and on either side of the stairs were two hallways that lead to other rooms. On the walls that were on either side of the stairs, of which separated the hallways from the stairs themselves, there were glass water displays built into them - They were in clear view of the entrance, and the theme of the place was modern. It used neutral colors, so primarily black and white, but obviously there were other tones of that like charcoal, and the most part of the floor was dark polished oak, fine floorboards.
"This is fancy." Alex said, looking around slowly.
"Welcome to the home." A voice called out over an obvious intercom or speaker system - It was a man's voice, but it was creepily welcoming. Like, creepily cheerful, you know? A little too cheerful.
"Oh, great. Generic online advertisement voice guy, here we go."
"I can hear what you're saying - please remain quiet. There are important things to go over.'"
"Oh. That is fucking cool." Alex laughed. Albeit it a little shocked, but that must have been part of it. Surely, right? The foyer must have been able to record what they were saying, simply because this was one of the most vital parts of the process, right?
"Please proceed to the seats allocated to your right. Your interviews will begin shortly - The process will be explained once you are sat comfortably." The voice said.
It wasn't until then that Alex saw a camera in the top corner of the room pointing down at them, following their every move.
Oh, god.
The seats to their right were against the wall, eight of them, black leather chairs, comfy and fancy. "Is there a bathroom around here?" Alex called out.
"Down the left hallway and on your immediate left. Please do not wander too far."
Okay. Alex was starting to like this place- the voice was still creeping him out, though - Walking down the hallway, and into the rooms, he noticed that there was a camera in every room here. Sometimes there was two, one in opposite corners of the rooms, whereas in some there was just one. He didn't like the fact that there was a camera everywhere, but when he got to the tiny half-bathroom - a toilet and a sink - he was glad, because he really needed to go.
What he didn't realize, was that there was a camera in here, too.
Great. So, someone was watching him pee. How fun, right?
Anyway, the others were stuck waiting for him to return, obviously, but Alex immediately went back as soon as he'd flushed the toilet and washed his hands. He went and joined them again and placed himself down beside Levi. "This place is full of cameras, man." He whispered to him, looking around again. "I've seen about four, and we've been here for five minutes." He said, simply.
"If anyone else must depart to the restroom, please do so now. You will not get a chance til after the interviews, otherwise."
Alex was hoping that that voice wouldn't go on for too long, because... Well, he didn't like it. It was very creepy, and could probably get very intrusive at points, don't you think? They just had to give it a chance, I guess.
Mark was stood there staring at the door as well, but then sighed and placed his bags down, brushing his hands off as he stepped up to it, taking a brief moment to look at the lush grass - that was something that he hadn't seen since he left Maryland, so it was definitely nice. He looked over everyone and sighed, "As Francis Bacon once said: A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds." He said, simply, then walked up to the door and gave three firm knocks on it. He waited for a few moments, then peered in through the slim glass window to see if anyone was around. No one in sight.
Alex looked at Levi. He didn't even know who Francis Bacon was.
After a few more moments of waiting, the door clicked. Mark chuckled once. "Mechanical lock system, most likely magnetic. Strong and durable, helps prevent break-ins, and if this is high-tech... Chances are that it'll remain locked even during a power outage." He said, then gave the door a single push. It opened up and revealed a nice foyer - Straight ahead of them, there three different ways to go - One was up the stairs, and they were in the center, and on either side of the stairs were two hallways that lead to other rooms. On the walls that were on either side of the stairs, of which separated the hallways from the stairs themselves, there were glass water displays built into them - They were in clear view of the entrance, and the theme of the place was modern. It used neutral colors, so primarily black and white, but obviously there were other tones of that like charcoal, and the most part of the floor was dark polished oak, fine floorboards.
"This is fancy." Alex said, looking around slowly.
"Welcome to the home." A voice called out over an obvious intercom or speaker system - It was a man's voice, but it was creepily welcoming. Like, creepily cheerful, you know? A little too cheerful.
"Oh, great. Generic online advertisement voice guy, here we go."
"I can hear what you're saying - please remain quiet. There are important things to go over.'"
"Oh. That is fucking cool." Alex laughed. Albeit it a little shocked, but that must have been part of it. Surely, right? The foyer must have been able to record what they were saying, simply because this was one of the most vital parts of the process, right?
"Please proceed to the seats allocated to your right. Your interviews will begin shortly - The process will be explained once you are sat comfortably." The voice said.
It wasn't until then that Alex saw a camera in the top corner of the room pointing down at them, following their every move.
Oh, god.
The seats to their right were against the wall, eight of them, black leather chairs, comfy and fancy. "Is there a bathroom around here?" Alex called out.
"Down the left hallway and on your immediate left. Please do not wander too far."
Okay. Alex was starting to like this place- the voice was still creeping him out, though - Walking down the hallway, and into the rooms, he noticed that there was a camera in every room here. Sometimes there was two, one in opposite corners of the rooms, whereas in some there was just one. He didn't like the fact that there was a camera everywhere, but when he got to the tiny half-bathroom - a toilet and a sink - he was glad, because he really needed to go.
What he didn't realize, was that there was a camera in here, too.
Great. So, someone was watching him pee. How fun, right?
Anyway, the others were stuck waiting for him to return, obviously, but Alex immediately went back as soon as he'd flushed the toilet and washed his hands. He went and joined them again and placed himself down beside Levi. "This place is full of cameras, man." He whispered to him, looking around again. "I've seen about four, and we've been here for five minutes." He said, simply.
"If anyone else must depart to the restroom, please do so now. You will not get a chance til after the interviews, otherwise."
Alex was hoping that that voice wouldn't go on for too long, because... Well, he didn't like it. It was very creepy, and could probably get very intrusive at points, don't you think? They just had to give it a chance, I guess.
Jupiter
Monster Maker
Francis Bacon?
God fuckin' knew.
Once the door was open and they had made their way inside, Levi clocked one thing. Sure, the place was nice and modern and it had a good vibe aside from the cameras, the place seemed liveable and fancy, cool, but a little over the top for eight young adults to live in without trashing the place (he was sure it'd be fine but he had to at least consider that point in the grand scheme of things). It had one downfall.
Glass water displays.
He froze up for a moment before realising that they were indeed behind glass and the water couldn't touch him, and so he didn't panic any more, instead just let it be. He was fine. There was no reason to be afraid of something that couldn't touch him. It... It was a bad phobia to have. I mean, all phobias are bad to have, really, but this one was bad in a hygiene sense. Levi was terrified of water, so... You know. Did he shower? Bathe? Levi showered. He was a hygienic guy, but... He just... The shower had to be on low power, hot water, and he had to be able to get out of there quickly.
He drew the like at baths. He wouldn't sit in water for a large amount of time. Pools? Oh, they were the worst. Little did he know that the pool out back was the size of his old apartment in Louisiana.
The creepy voice that sounded was unnerving at first, but eventually they got used to it. I mean, it was just a voice, it wasn't anything like a creepy robot person stood in front of them, even if the voice sounded vaguely like a robot, and responded to the things that Alex said. He supposed it had to be able to, didn't it?
Anyway.
Lana dragged her luggage over to the seats and sat down straight away, pushing her luggage handle down and kicking her feet up on it while Kit sat down next to her, still chewing on the candy he had brought in while he looked around in awe. At the same time, though, he had an odd look in his eyes. This place was... It was weird. He wasn't sure how he was feeling. He didn't say anything though. Instead...
"Candy?"
Lana looked at him and smiled before nodding, and then she reached out and picked out a piece of candy before putting it in her mouth and chewing on it slowly. "Totally."
It would appear that no one else needed to go to the restroom before their interview, or at least, Nali and Levi didn't, and Lana and Kit seemed pretty happy sat down. Eventually Levi went and sat on a seat slightly away from the two of them, Nali happily taking a seat next to him but leaving one spare for Alex when he came back. It wasn't like a group was already forming, she just knew for certain that she liked spending time with them.
"Cameras? I know, man... I suppose it's to be expected, they gotta know what we're doing. I just hope that they don't put them in bathrooms or anything like that. We'll probably get used to them though, forget they're even there." Levi shrugged, and leaned back in his seat.
"No one needs the bathroom, let's get on with this interview stuff, man!" Ah, Kit again, being annoying as usual.
God fuckin' knew.
Once the door was open and they had made their way inside, Levi clocked one thing. Sure, the place was nice and modern and it had a good vibe aside from the cameras, the place seemed liveable and fancy, cool, but a little over the top for eight young adults to live in without trashing the place (he was sure it'd be fine but he had to at least consider that point in the grand scheme of things). It had one downfall.
Glass water displays.
He froze up for a moment before realising that they were indeed behind glass and the water couldn't touch him, and so he didn't panic any more, instead just let it be. He was fine. There was no reason to be afraid of something that couldn't touch him. It... It was a bad phobia to have. I mean, all phobias are bad to have, really, but this one was bad in a hygiene sense. Levi was terrified of water, so... You know. Did he shower? Bathe? Levi showered. He was a hygienic guy, but... He just... The shower had to be on low power, hot water, and he had to be able to get out of there quickly.
He drew the like at baths. He wouldn't sit in water for a large amount of time. Pools? Oh, they were the worst. Little did he know that the pool out back was the size of his old apartment in Louisiana.
The creepy voice that sounded was unnerving at first, but eventually they got used to it. I mean, it was just a voice, it wasn't anything like a creepy robot person stood in front of them, even if the voice sounded vaguely like a robot, and responded to the things that Alex said. He supposed it had to be able to, didn't it?
Anyway.
Lana dragged her luggage over to the seats and sat down straight away, pushing her luggage handle down and kicking her feet up on it while Kit sat down next to her, still chewing on the candy he had brought in while he looked around in awe. At the same time, though, he had an odd look in his eyes. This place was... It was weird. He wasn't sure how he was feeling. He didn't say anything though. Instead...
"Candy?"
Lana looked at him and smiled before nodding, and then she reached out and picked out a piece of candy before putting it in her mouth and chewing on it slowly. "Totally."
It would appear that no one else needed to go to the restroom before their interview, or at least, Nali and Levi didn't, and Lana and Kit seemed pretty happy sat down. Eventually Levi went and sat on a seat slightly away from the two of them, Nali happily taking a seat next to him but leaving one spare for Alex when he came back. It wasn't like a group was already forming, she just knew for certain that she liked spending time with them.
"Cameras? I know, man... I suppose it's to be expected, they gotta know what we're doing. I just hope that they don't put them in bathrooms or anything like that. We'll probably get used to them though, forget they're even there." Levi shrugged, and leaned back in his seat.
"No one needs the bathroom, let's get on with this interview stuff, man!" Ah, Kit again, being annoying as usual.
