Rooftop Encounter (Open)

[Ryuu]

"James? Hello? Anybody home?" Ryuu asked, waving his hand in front of James' eye, checking to make sure the guy was still with them, apparently he wasn't, as evident by the confused look on his face when he had looked up, he was off in his own little world, but followed Ryuu nonetheless. "Yeah sure." Ryuu had a feeling James had absolutely no idea what he had agreed to, for all he knew, they could've said they were going to pummel him to a bloody pulp, but of course, that wasn't what he had said. "Got something on your mind? A girl perhaps? Or two...or three..." Ryuu asked, smirking slightly, as they walked down the stairs leading back into the school, and began to head towards the cafeteria. Now Ryuu was no mind reader, but usually when a guy looks that dazed and confused, it had to be something interesting, and nothing is more interesting to a guy than a girl. Ryuu however, was more interested in fights and spars, that, and playing his guitar.

"So... Where we going again?"

Ryuu just kind of stared blankly at James, as he saw Damien raise an eyebrow. "The cafeteria. Not much a memory in you, huh?" Ryuu saw Damien smile before letting out a small laugh, as Ryuu smirked slightly. "Not to worry, we're almost there. You look as if you've been daydreaming... Nothing spicy I hope... I'd hate to be come another man's fantasy, cause I don't swing that way darlin'." "I think he was daydreaming boss," Ryuu added, snickering quietly, "Though I think you don't have to worry about being his fantasy, I think he swings away from us, and towards the other side. Either that, or he needs more DHA in his diet." The cafeteria now in sight, Ryuu saw Damien take out his wallet, which reminded Ryuu to check to make sure he had enough money for lunch, as he pulled out his wallet and opened it, the picture of his sister visible through the clear pocket, either James or Damien could see it if they looked, good, he had enough money. His stomach was starting to growl, he didn't get a chance to eat, since he had been chased. "So who's the lucky girl you were daydreaming about captain?" Ryuu asked James, punching him gently in the arm, "And do you plan on kidnapping her and take her to your pirate ship mate?"

[James Everwood]

"Yar matee, I never reveal the secrets of me pirate booty," James said making a hook with two of his fingers. He looked up at his right shoulder, "Isn't that right crackers. Squack!" He started doing his impression of a parrot, "For the last time my name is Jack, squack!"

He looked around and just grabbed a muffin. He didn't have much money, but luckily, he had enough to grab a muffin. After all? How much could a muffin possibly cost? From the looks less then two dollars, which was right in James' budget. Less then a five spot was good enough for him. He pulled out the money and got ahead in line by sneaking in front of a kid who was grabbing something, he didn't care of Ryuu or the pillar had to wait in line, or if they had their own way of getting ahead. But James had mastered the subtle art of line jumping, so much so that for a 6'3" man, he might as well have been invisible to the person he skipped.

Hehehehe... and now we pay.

He paid for the muffin and then stood towards the end of the line, passing the muffin back and forth between his hands, waiting for the other two to get their stuff so they could all find a seat. Not that he needed them to sit down, but it was just a little weird eating by yourself. Unless you were at home, but in a cafeteria? He liked having company.

[Sam Ballerino]

Sam sat alone at the lunch table. She didn't mind, really; she already had homework to do, and wanted to at least make an attempt to get a start on it, since she wouldn't have much time later, what with the dance classes she'd signed up for at the local studio, and the Aikido training her father was still putting her through.

Of course, it wasn't like anyone wanted to sit next to her anyway. Her iPod headphones were on low, and she could hear the whispers as people walked by.

"Transfer..."

She didn't understand it, but it seemed that she was destined to get shit for transferring in. She sighed, resting her chin on her palm, and as she looked up, she saw James over by the food line, and the Pillar, Damien, close behind, followed by a black-haired Japanese boy that Sam didn’t recognize. James. She could avoid her homework to talk to James. She stood up so she could be seen better.

“James!!” She called, hoping her voice would carry across the crowded cafeteria.

[James Everwood]

(OOC: been awhile since anyone has posted so I'll sorta go out of order to get this thread rolling again.)

“James!!” Sam called out, and James quickly turned and took a step forward tripping on the foot of someone walking up from James left side. He hit the ground but got right back up, having barely managed to save his muffin. When he got up he looked over and his face lit up.

Wait... am I daydreaming again... how do I know if I'm not daydreaming? Oh who cares....

James waved, "Hey Sam!" He said and walked over to where she was. He took a seat next to her when he finally got to where she was, "Hey, how are you doing? I was actually going to call you later today once I got a free minute. You wouldn't believe the weird day I've been having...."

He stopped and realized he was rambling on so he shut up a little and would listen to her. He had completely forgotten about the guys he was with for a moment, but when he remembered he really did hope they'd come and sit with him and Sam. After all, they were alright guys. Not too violent or mean or anything like that from what he could tell.

[Sam Ballerino]

Sam winced as James turned toward her, and promptly fell over. But he got right back up again, seemingly unhurt, and made his way over to her and sat down.

She started glowing inside as he mentioned his intention to call her. The only coherent thought that went through her head was YAYY!!! After a minute, the schoolgirl moment passed, rationality settled back in. She realized he had said more.

“Weird day, huh? Define weird. Aliens? Attacked by a flying raccoon? Fall into any more random pretty girls?” She smirked, referencing their previous conversation.

“Oh, and by the way, are you friends with the Pillar?” She said, motioning toward Damien with her head. She thought back to earlier fight with the Director of Media. Her pathetically short fight with him, and to the proposal he made afterwards. She wondered if he was planning to make good on his offer.

[James Everwood]

(OOC: Sorry about totally taking over the post order here. =P)

“Weird day, huh? Define weird. Aliens? Attacked by a flying raccoon? Fall into any more random pretty girls?”

"Ugly goons actually. I literally had like four clumsy mistakes in a row. One of the guys got lost, but three of them chased me onto the roof it was pretty crazy...." He said.

“Oh, and by the way, are you friends with the Pillar?” She asked, making a movement towards that weird guy who stopped his fight.

"Actually I don't even know his name, me and Ryuu," He motioned with his head to his new asian buddy, "Were sparring after taking care of those goons. Probably the most fighting I've done in my life and I only really did like two moves...." He said, thinking about it, "And the pillar kid stopped the sparring match. So we stopped fighting and decided to get something to eat. To tell you the truth I was kind of hoping I'd run int you."

He smiled over at her, he had actually wanted to run into her again, "So why do you ask about the pillar? Do you know him?"

[Sam Ballerino]

"Ugly goons? Not quite so exciting as a pretty girl, I'd think..." She grinned playfully. Wow, four guys after him? But one was stupid enough to get lost... Good job there, she congratulated the unknown idiot. She listened to his talk about sparring, and was actually relieved. She wasn't the only one with no experience, and somehow that made her feel much better.

"It's ok, I don't do much fighting, either." She rolled her eyes. "That doesn't impress my dad, but that's a whole 'nother issue." She looked back up at the Pillar. "His name's Damien. I don't know if I'd exactly call us friends, but we met earlier." She looked back at James, and bit her lip, trying to hide a grin. She put her elbow on the table and her chin in her hand. "It's kind of a coincidence, you know... because I was hoping I'd run into you, too."

[James Everwood]

"Yeah, I'm not sure what to make of him so far...." James said in response to her comment about Damien. Something about her not knowing much about fighting made him feel good. On one hand, sure that meant she could use a little training just in case. But on the other hand, it also meant she hadn't had a reason to need training so far. He was glad for that at least. It wasn't like with other people he had met, or himself.

"It's kind of a coincidence, you know... because I was hoping I'd run into you, too." She said, her chin on her hand, he smiled and was turned towards her, leaning against his forearm that was on the table.

"Really?" He asked, "You know, if you aren't too busy later maybe we could go get some coffee or something. I mean, if you'd like to." James was asking her out on a date, but he was trying his best not to screw it up, "Or if you don't like coffee we could go anywhere really. Anywhere where you and I could run into each other and talk.... like we are now... except a little less.... school-ish.... what do you say?"

OK James, that wasn't too bad... smooth sailing so far, a bit of a rocky patch there for a second but you stopped yourself before you made anything seem creepy....

[Sam Ballerino]

Sam's grin got wider and wider as James stumbled through his question. A date...? For me? She did a little mental victory dance.

"No, I don't think I'm too busy later, if you don't mind waiting for my dance class to get out... But I think I'd prefer the 'anywhere, really' part. I've never been a big coffee fan." Yeah, yeah, 'who doesn't like coffee' and all that. It left a nasty taste in her mouth.

She was totally excited. She liked James a lot, and was incredibly gratified that he seemed to be just as interested in her. She still reserved judgement on whether it was actually considered a crush or not... but the possibility was definite. And one she was very open to.

"So I guess it depends on when you're free... and if you have any good ideas on where to meet. I just moved here, and I have no idea where anything interesting would be."

[Ryuu]

"Yar matee, I never reveal the secrets of me pirate booty," Ryuu heard James say as he made a hook with two of his fingers, and then looked up at his right shoulder, "Isn't that right crackers. Squack! For the last time my name is Jack, squack!" Ryuu chuckled at James' impression of a parrot, before he grabbed a muffin and line jumped ahead of a kid who had been grabbing something. Ryuu grabbed a turkey sandwich, and almost ninja-like, managed to line jump just like James had, except the kid he had jumped in front of, was a different kid. He pulled out his wallet and grabbed a bottle of chocolate milk as well, and paid for it. By the time he had paid for his food, James had already sat down with a girl who had called out his name a few minutes ago, and it seemed the two of them were already deep in conversation, as Ryuu made his way over, managing to catch the last bit of conversation that the girl had said.

"... and if you have any good ideas on where to meet. I just moved here, and I have no idea where anything interesting would be."

Smirking slightly, he crept up behind James, not making a single sound, which wasn't hard, considering how noisy the cafeteria was, before wrapping his arm around James' neck, looking like he was choking the guy. "Arr matey, this be the fair maiden that captured yee heart?" He said jokingly, as he continued to pretend to choke James, a smirk on his face, before letting go of him and pulled out a chair and placed his sandwich and chocolate milk on the table. He then looked at the girl, and bowed slightly to her. "Fair maiden, it be an honor to meet yee," he said in his pirate accent, "Heh, alright, I'll be serious. I'm Ryuu, and you are?" He asked, as he straightened up and looked at the girl, a rather calm but almost tranquil expression on his face, as he sat down in his chair.

[James Everwood]

"Well, we could always just grab some ice cream cones or some cocoa and just walk around the city, sort of exploring what there is to do," James said, since he didn't know too awful much of the city. He got out but he didn't do a lot of things. So he didn't really know a good solid place to have fun at. But walking around San Fransisco would be nice, "And sure I can meet up whene--"

"Arr matey, this be the fair maiden that captured yee heart?" James hands shot straight up as if he had a gun at his back. "Heh, alright, I'll be serious. I'm Ryuu, and you are?"

"Ryuu!" He said suddenly laughing nervously, "I have no idea what you are talking about, isn't this guy weird? This is Sam," He said, "And like he said, he's Ryuu. The one I told you about."

James really hoped that Ryuu didn't explain the situation, then again it wasn't like Ryuu could see James daydream itself, only that he was daydreaming. So there was no reason to be too worried. Unless Ryuu could read minds.

Oh dear god please tell me he can't read minds......

[Sam Ballerino]

Sam was about to answer when the Japanese boy interrupted the conversation. A Japanese boy with a... pirate accent? Oh. He was kidding. That made much more sense. She laughed at comment, blushing slightly, and even more so at James' reaction, and consequent denial.

"James, were you talking about me?" She crossed her arms and gave him a mock sort of “disciplinary mother” look, but she couldn’t hold it for long before she broke down into a fit of giggling.

Once it calmed a bit, she reached up her hand to Ryuu. “The pleasure is all mine, sir,” she said with a regal nod of her head. “I’m Sam. It’s nice to meet you.”

Assuming he took the handshake, Sam would put her hand back into her lap and look at James. “Anyway, ice cream sounds fun. And if you don’t know much about the city either, then we can get lost together.” She grinned. “Just gimme a call whenever you’re free; I can ditch a dance class or something.”

[Ryuu]

Ryuu had to stifle his laugh when he saw James' hands shoot straight up into the air like someone was holding a gun to his back. "Ryuu!" He heard James suddenly laugh nervously, "I have no idea what you are talking about, isn't this guy weird? This is Sam. And like he said, he's Ryuu. The one I told you about." "Thanks, I appreciate being called weird." He saw Sam laugh at the comment, and blush slightly, as he raised an eyebrow, he definitely had a feeling there was something between the two of them. Ryuu was pretty perceptive when it came to other people's feelings, but when it came to his own? He was as clueless as any. "James, were you talking about me?" Ryuu smirked as he saw Sam cross her arms and give James a "disciplinary mother" look. "Nice knowing you bud," Ryuu said, patting James on the shoulder, "I'll be at your funeral." He then saw Sam burst into a fit of giggling, unable to hold the serious look for very long. Once she had calmed down a bit, her saw her reach her hand up to him, as he shook her hand firmly.

“The pleasure is all mine, sir,” he heard her say with a regal nod of her head, “I’m Sam. It’s nice to meet you.” "Likewise m'lady," Ryuu replied, bowing to her, "It's nice to meet you too." He then released her hand, and saw her look back at James. “Anyway, ice cream sounds fun. And if you don’t know much about the city either, then we can get lost together. Just gimme a call whenever you’re free; I can ditch a dance class or something.” About 5 seconds into the conversation, Ryuu decided it was high time he left. "Arr matey," Ryuu said once more, wrapping his arm around James' neck once more, "I'm off, I'll see you later. It was nice meeting you Sam." Releasing James once more, Ryuu picked up his sandwich and chocolate milk, and headed out of the cafeteria, unwrapping his sandwich and taking a bite out of it.

Good on you James... Good on you. Ryuu just hoped James realized that, and hopefully, sooner than later.

OOC: Ryuu's exit.

[James Everwood]

"I can honestly say no." He said, thinking about it. He didn't say a word about her. Though he did have a thought or two about her. Or three... or forty. Ryuu commente and patted James' shoulder. James simply looked towards him and said, "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

“Anyway, ice cream sounds fun. And if you don’t know much about the city either, then we can get lost together. Just gimme a call whenever you’re free; I can ditch a dance class or something.”

"Yeah," He said, "It's a date then...." He said. Then Ryuu made another pirate joke and left. James turned and waved at him, turning back to Sam he said, "So yeah, that was Ryuu. He needs some new material, I think the pirate things getting a little old. Sometimes I think it was a horrible tragedy that this happened to my eye, that I'd be cursed to have cliche boring jokes told about it till Kingdom Come, but in times of trouble I just think to myself, 'James, at least you never have to watch Jaws 3-D ever again'."

[Sam Ballerino]

Sam was a bit disappointed when James said he'd never spoken about her, but she didn't show it on her face, though. She just grinned. "A date." She confirmed.

Damn boys and their stupid mixed signals...

She waved at Ryuu as he walked away. "It was nice to meet you, too." Turning back to James she said, "Well, it amuses me. You make a good pirate. But I'll still think of you as a knight in brown leather, if that's ok." She rather liked the image. "My own personal Indiana Jones?"

When he started talking about his eye, she had to restrain herself from asking how it had happened. Of course she wanted to know, and he did seem comfortable talking about it, but she still felt it might be a sensitive subject to approach, seeing as they'd practically just met. She also tried to ignore his comment about Jaws. It was one of those movies that she'd just never gotten around to seeing, and that anyone who found out would give her a humongous lecture punctuated with phrases like "You haven't seen it yet!? It's a freakin' classic! Everyone's seen this movie!" She just didn't want him to go there.