We keep colliding

Who: Elsie and Porter
Where: Washington Street
When: afternoon

Even if it was cold out, Porter was grateful for the fresh air. Staying overnight at the school hadn't been any kind of ideal situation for him, not even if he'd had distractions in the few people he knew there. And as much as he'd been eager to get home and back to his stuff? Well, that hadn't been much of a reprieve. He'd gotten home only to find his mom and Carter eager to over-parent him, to ask how his night had gone six different times, to volunteer to take him out for lunch like he was twelve and had been a good boy at the doctor's office. Naturally, he'd declined.

And if Porter wasn't going to be given the chance to relax in his own environment without an interruption every five minutes? If his folks wouldn't even give him enough peace to work on the comic updates? Well, he was going out to spend a little money and distract himself. Of course, he was getting the impression that there was even less to do in this town once winter settled in. The streets were far from busy aside from the plows, the sidewalks empty except for a person shovelling here and there. Hell, even once he'd gotten to a little bookstore on Washington Street, there were only maybe two other actual customers in the place. Porter didn't linger once he saw the paltry option of graphic novels; if he didn't already own something they had? He didn't want it, either.

But he wasn't ready to head home in any case, and as Porter lingered outside the book shop and tucked earbuds under the folds of his hat, he swore he remembered driving past a little coffee shop somewhere nearby when he'd taken Leija home. They had to have hot chocolate, right? And maybe some kind of baked treat he could nibble on before he got prematurely full? Even if he turned out to be wrong, it was something to do.

Elsie, was oddly in a remotely decent mood today. No sudden anger burst, no sudden changing of things. It wasn't such a bad day. She was out on the streets and minding her own business when she walked past several places. A lot were closed still but some where open. She'd managed to pick up a few cds of some bands, including the new Aiden one which made her happy. More music to get onto her mp3 player. She cracked her neck a moment as she kept going, giving a small sigh of boredom.

Part of her wanted to go back to the beach, but she figured that was a lost cause with all the snow and instead walked towards the book shop, they never really had anything of interest to her, sadly, but she had another mission. Hot mocha with extra chocolate and whipped cream? Sounded really, really good right about now. Thankfully she'd remembered to get money from the ATM machine, so she was set. However, she wasn't watching where she was going (like she seldom did) and bumped right into Porter.

"Shit, sorry." She muttered

Porter was somewhat distracted as well, idly thumbing through tracks as he watched the screen of his own mp3 player. He wasn't sure what he was in the mood for, but abrupt bodily contact wasn't on the list. His head snapped up, a frown of surprise twisting his lips and fading a heartbeat later as he recognized Elsie. "Returning the favor?" he asked, the frown turning to a faint smile as he recalled how he'd first met her by running bodily into her. Porter's grin widened before she could answer, one hand waving the question away and tugging an earbud free so he could hear better. His vision was still shadowed, he guessed from the life force of the werewolf he'd fought, and crippling two of his senses was just a bad idea. "You okay?" Porter substituted for the first question.

Thankfully, she'd kept her balance, falling wasn't something she really wanted to do right now. Hearing Porter though, she glanced up and mentally kicked herself. "Maybe, karma's a bitch and all that." That was lame Elsie. She did offer a small smile and a shrug of her shoulders at him though."I'm fine, thankfully. She tilted her head and watched him a bit. "Didn't expect to exactly run into anyone on these stupid streets today, figured everyone would be indoors." It was true, she didnt. Porter though, wasn't really a bad person to run into as far as she figured. "What are you doing out here?"

"Just getting some air," he answered with a shrug in kind, glancing each way at the lack of foot traffic aside from them. "Slept on my backpack, y'know? And then my folks wanted me to hang around with them? So I just... figured I could handle being outside." Porter certainly wasn't about to admit he'd been comic shopping, though he thought the Superman beanie and Green Lantern sweatshirt might've given him away anyway. "I was just down at the book store? Figured I just needed a destination, but I'm not ready to head back yet. So now I'm heading that way," he went on with a nod towards the coffee shop, "How about you?"

Elsie pulled the black ac/dc hoodie down a bit more on her arms and looked at him, smirking slightly. "Right, a book shop that sells comics." She flicked the beanie with a small grin. Yes, she was in a good mood. "Yeah, I'm alone.Again as usual so I figured being out and walking was better then being stuck by myself." Which wasn't the whole truth, the fact was as much as she liked the silence sometimes, today she just didn't want it. "I was actually just picked up a few cds and now I'm heading to get a nice...hot mocha. Come on Green Lantern, you can make sure I get there safely."

"Hey," Porter protested with a little burn of embarrassment in his cheeks, "I was just browsing, seriously. New issues don't hit until next Tuesday." Which didn't help his case, no more than the chill making his blush stand out on his face. And by now, he should've been used to getting teased over his hobby, but it was somehow always worse when it was a girl doing the mocking. "But okay," he eventually agreed, shrugging again and moving to fall in step with Elsie, "I'll do my best. Let's just hope there's nothing yellow in our way, I'm useless in that case. What, um, what cds were you picking up?"

"That, just seriously didn't help you one single bit Porter. I hope you realize that." She glanced behind her shoulder and then shuffled through her bag bringing out some cds "I got Aiden's new one, then some old Motley ones that I didn't have. I almost got the German Tokio Hotel CD but I figure I'll go back and get it." She laughed a little bit and shook her head. "I don't really think there's anything yellow. You're safe. What're you going to get? Because you can't go and not get anything, it'd be really dumb."

He laughed with Elsie, cheeks bunchign in a grin as Porter spread his hands in a 'why me' sort of gesture. "Yeah, I know I'm just digging myself in deeper. Story of my life," he confided as they walked, "And I was just gonna get a cocoa or something. Caffeine doesn't agree with me." Really, no stimulant did, a fact Porter had learned the hard way. They all seemed to deplete the internal force that kept him healthy, and he didn't want to think that he'd have to feed again any time soon. Last time could've easily ended with his death, after all. "Tokio Rose Hotel? Nice," he commented with a grin, "I missed them last time they played where I used to live, I was kinda pissed." Of course, he'd been back east and too weak and sickly to even have a chance of making it to the concert.

"There's nothing really wrong with liking comics." She gave a shrug of her shoulders again and then patted her messenger bag. "I'm the freak into the old music with a really bad anger management problem. People suck, you just have to learn to laugh right back in their faces about it and make them think they aren't winning by putting you down." That was Elsie's way of dealing with things, bit back at people before they had a chance to hurt you. She'd done it a few times with some of the people here randomly. "I didn't have money to see them so of course I missed them." She muttered."No one knows who they are so I'm just listening to them by myself. Story of my life really."

Porter could understand that, he'd been a solitary figure for most of his life after all. Surrounded by doctors, family too, but he'd felt alone despite their presence. It wasn't until he discovered his power that he understood why he felt that way, though much hadn't changed even then. Now, though? Lately he was feeling much less alone, and the perspective was one he wanted to spread. "You don't seem all that angry to me," he noted as they walked, shoulders shrugging at Esme's assessment of herself. "And I'm still working on that whole 'dealing with jerks' thing, but pointers are appreciated. And hey, you're not the only one in this town who knows who that band is now, are you?" he asked with a slight, optimistic smile as they drew closer to the coffee shop.

:"Oh trust me Porter, you caught me on one of my rare somewhat good days, enjoy it while it last because tomorrow I could be back to 'talk to me and I'll rip your throat out.' or something far worse." She gave a small shrug of her shoulders and then laughed. "Just bite back at them, hit them where it hurts. Find something that takes away all that hot air or theirs that will make them drop it. A few times of that and they normally just give up and find a new target. You have to be smarter then them." She pulled open the door to the shop and stepped inside, debating this. "No,I'm not which is actually kind of cool. This means, if I ever go to a concert I have someone I can try and bribe to take along." She gave a small grin and headed towards the counter. "I just feel for them and all the crap the twins are having to deal with. Christ."

"No kidding," he agreed as he stepped in after Elsie, squinting and letting his eyes adjust to the dim lighting of the place. With the addition that the werewolf had given his eyesight, it was dark in here. "You wouldn't have to bribe me much to go, really," Porter confided as he squinted at the menu posted above the counter, "Just pitch in some gas money once I have my car." The idea sounded great, just a leisurely road trip without the strangeness that his life had become, a nice loud concert, and some time away from his folks. "And if this is a good day, should I avoid you in school after this? I like my throat intact, y'know."

"Consider it a deal. I'll even pay for food." She'd been saving up a long time to go to just the right concert, to her Tokio Hotel was that concert.Cute boy? On stage? One where she couldn't screw up speaking to them and just sing along to a song? Sounded like the perfect relationship to her. She gave a smile and ordered herself a double shot mocha with extra whipped cream and then glanced at Porter and ordered a hot chocolate. She gave a small head tilt at him as he was squinting. "Forget your glasses or something?" There was a moment of debating the last part of the question before giving a small shrug of her shoulders. "Maybe. Who knows, I might add you to the list of exceptions for my momentary anger outbreaks.. That might keep the jerks away from you too if they know you know me." She smirked a little bit because now the cheerleaders knew better then to screw with her, well most of them anyway.

Porter smirked as he heard her order for him, digging out his wallet and stepping to the counter. "I was just up late, my eyes are kinda tired," he lied as he counted out what he hoped were singles and paid for both of them, "It's rough falling asleep in my math classroom, y'know?" Her offer of pseudo-protection got two very different reactions in his head; one that was welcoming the idea and any distraction from the people who messed with him, and one that was a cold voice, saying they'd learn to stay away fast if he got his hands on them. Opting for the first, Porter took a moment to study which cup didn't have whipped cream before taking his drink. "I don't think I'd complain about some protection services," he agreed, turning to move for an open table.

"Coulda paid for my own ya know." She laughed a bit and then shrugged. "I think falling asleep in classes tends to be rough in any case. Specially math." She was good with numbers though, so it didn't really bother her. "Consider protection granted, mention me and I bet they'll back off at least a little bit. Though, I'm pretty sure you can handle yourself. You must have some ideas being into the comic books and stuff of what you can do to teach them a lesson." God only knows in her brain she was like venom, picking off people one by one as something else controlled her body, only it wasn't something else it was actually her. Though she never really felt like herself afterwards. She followed him and slipped into a seat before giving a glance outside. "This weather is driving me half way insane."

"Could've ordered my own," he shot back with a wink, raising his mug and sipping it gingerly. The heat was more than welcome as it trickled down Porter's throat, and he sighed in quiet satisfaction. "And I bet you could make some money if you went all mercenary and hired out protection around school," Porter suggested, wrapping both hands around the mug and keeping his smile even when Elsie suggested that he could teach some lessons. He could, but in Porter's mind that'd be edging into villainous territory, even if the very idea of draining some asshole jock or slamming people around with his energy blasts was so entertaining. "You're not from around here, then? I'm not either, but I read up online and apparently that's what this town is known for. Snow, snow, and more snow." And werewolves.

"You could have, but you were squinting at the menu, I figured I'd save you the trouble." She gave a cute smart ass smile and then leaned back."I could,but most of the people aren't worth my time really." Which to her they weren't. A lot of them deserved what they got. All the backstabbing and rumors that were started by someone looking to make a mark for themselves. Pathetic really in her mind. "Nope, I'm not. Was brought here and now I live someplace with a person that's never home." There was a small shrug of her shoulders as she leaned back. "Great, well the snow can go away and maybe a nice day at the beach where I can splash in the water would be great. Really." Not that she'd ever do that. That would mean showing off more of her body then she dared to.

That sounded shitty, in Porter's opinion. He might've disagreed with his folks, especially lately, but his mother had been such a constant presence that he'd be lost without her around. "I'm not sure the lake's ever warm enough to swim in," he ventured with a grin. It certainly hadn't been when he'd dived in after Kaysen. "Maybe if summer ever actually shows up, I'll be proven wrong. I'm good with that, seriously." He sat back, tugging off his hat and pushing his mussed hair down with a little self-conscious grin and another sip of cocoa. "And if most people aren't worth your time, does that make me special?" he teased, "I mean, you already said I was possibly exempt from your anger."

That was how Elsie's life worked. Her mother dropped her off, her other relative was just well, she wasn't sure. She guessed this was better then being put into a home though. "Wouldn't be swimming anyway, but I could point to someone that was in there and say that you were proven wrong." She wouldn't even take swimming in school, now give the girl a ice skating rink and she was pleased. "I'd ice skate somewhere but really, morons abound there too." She made a face, figures idiots kept her from doing something she loved. "You're exempt, I wouldn't use the term special. You haven't gained that status yet." She sipped at her own drink, giving a happy sigh. There something to be said about a double shot mocha to make all the crappiness happening go away.

"Well, it kinda sounds like there's morons everywhere," Porter pointed out, smiling wider at the little sigh Elsie gave. Angry girls like her were always amusing when they relaxed. "So maybe if you want to go skating or swimming, bring a couple of people? Set up a sort of idiot buffer?" He'd only ever been skating twice, and was horrible at it, but it wasn't like Porter was letting himself be limited like that any more. The darkness in his eyes was a bother, sure, but it meant he still felt strong and healthy, alive and confident enough to just try. Try making friends, going skating, climbing the tree outside of Medea's house, whatever. "Hell, bring me along. I'll be falling over on skates every five seconds, so you'll have a buffer and a reason to go tear whoever laughs a new one."

"There is, much to my dismay." then she laughed for a moment before shaking her head. "Yes, because you know I have people just waiting for a chance to hang around with me. Really, there's a line that goes all the way around the block." And there wasn't, because Elsie didn't make friends really, she tolerated certain people but friends? No. "Hmmm, there's a thought." She tapped her chin a moment as she debated this. "I'd get a laugh and get to hurt someone. I think I like the way you think, it could prove useful in the future."

Porter had to grin over the edge of his mug as he took a drink, wiping a thin line from his lip on the back of his thumb. "See? I'm working my way right on up to special, I'll be there in no time." He wondered how Medea would get along with Elsie, she didn't seem so difficult even if she said this was a rare mood. And he knew Medea had said she wanted to meet people. Maybe it'd be something to orchestrate in the future, maybe Elsie'd be game to come to one of the possible movie nights. Of course, first he'd want to meet Medea's friend she'd planned it with. "You, um, you want my number or anything? Just in case you feel like watching me bruise my tailbone?"

"Ah see, you may or you may go right back down to the feeding pool. " She smirked and shrugged a moment before looking around. She didn't get along with people for the most part because they just didn't want to deal with the bitchy attitude and she could understand that. She didn't really know what to give people in return, it was always someone expecting something for something else wasn't it? She reached into her pocket and slid over her cell phone "Go ahead and program yourself in."

He took the phone, hefting it in his palm and thumbing through the menus quickly. Phones were similar enough in their functions that it didn't take him long to punch himself into Elsie's directory, and Porter grinned at her as he raised it to his ear and let it ring. His own phone started buzzing in his pocket, playing a snippet of Silversun Pickups before he hung up, offering Elsie's phone back. "Now I've got yours too," he told her, digging out his phone and flashing the screen at Elsie, "I'll definitely give you a call soon here."

"Wow, my phone will actually be put to some use. I never use it, the battery just winds up dying....recharge and then repeat the process over and over. I normally never get to hear Rette Mich play." She shrugged and then slipped the phone back into her pocket. "I was thinking, if the weather actually loves me for once, of going skating this weekend."

"Yeah? I think I'd have the time for that," Porter said agreeably, swirling the remnants of his cocoa around in his mug. If he worked hard tonight and had his next updates for the comic ready in advance, he'd be able to hang out with Medea and Kavin, and then still have the weekend free to hang out with Elsie. And his parents couldn't even object, not if he was all caught up, especially not if it was time spent with people other than Medea. Though that necessity still riled him. "Do you think they rent them out down at the ice rink? I don't actually own a pair or anything."

"Good, sounds like a plan then. If you want you can bring some people with you." She shrugged, she didn't care. Maybe it would force her to be half way civil with people. She should at least attempt to put forth effort into these things. Elsie always did her homework when she got it so she was mostly free all the time except when she was studying, which she didn't do often anyway. "Yeah, I think they rent skates there. Most places do anyway."

"Sweet," Porter said hopefully, figuring she had to be right. How would a skating rink make money reliably without assuming that people didn't all own skates already? He seemed like he had more to say, but then his eye caught the time displayed on his phone where it sat, still in Porter's grip. "Oh crap," he murmured, pocketing it, "I think I've gotta bail, though. I put off doing stuff with my folks earlier, I guarantee they're gonna want to take me out for dinner or something." Which'd be intolerable, but that was one of the consequences of being sixteen and having a coddling mother. "But, um, I'll call soon here," he promised, wedging his earbuds back in and tugging his hat down over them again.

She looked at him and then laughed "No problem, have fun" She gave a small smirk and leaned back, she was really not in the mood to head out just yet again so she'd sit there for just a while longer. "See ya around."