Sept 22--A slightly EARLIER Breakfast

[Ayami Morita]

Ayami was sitting at table with some rice and fish, eating, moping, and looking worried.

[Teri Napliotis]

Teri enters and, after grabbing a tray full of food, looks around for a place to sit. Spotting Ayami she rolls her eyes and is about to head somewhere else before she changes her mind and makes her way to Ayami's table, sitting down across from her, keeping a relatively neutral expression.

"Why so down in the dumps? We don't see anyone else around who might be..."

[Ayami Morita]

"Just what I needed--are you here to torment me, too?"

[Teri Napliotis]

"It seems like someone already beat us to it, so what's the point? We're just surprised you're not busy sucking a better mood off of someone else."

[Ayami Morita]

"I have more important things to do today. Bear-chan was comforting me last night, but she's at class."

[Teri Napliotis]

"Aww, something bad happen last night?" She doesn't sound condescending, but that doesn't necessarily mean much.

[Ayami Morita]

"...the vampires. They sent John an e-mail threatening me. Worse yet, they somehow did it from my computer, which means they were in my room or something."

[Teri Napliotis]

damn wrongassumption wasn'tclearenough stupid'dragon' rollwithit

"They really have their eyes set on you, huh? Better be careful, we wouldn't want some vampires to beat us to anything."

[Ayami Morita]

"...if you lay a single finger on me..." Ayami quaked.

[Teri Napliotis]

Teri grins and makes a swift grabbing motion to... take a sandwich from her tray.

"Now now, we'd never let ourselves stoop that low."

[Ayami Morita]

Ayami gasped in momentary panic as Teri made a snatch, but let out a sigh of relief when she just grabbed a sandwich.

"Good. You'd be no worse than those vampires if you did. At least YOU aren't threatening to kidnap me. Just trying to make my life miserable."

[Teri Napliotis]

"A bit overly nervous, are we?" She takes a bite from her sandwich before going on. "And we're not trying to make your life miserable. We're trying to show you the error of your ways, dear." Now she sounds condescending.

[Ayami Morita]

"Like spying on people? Like trying to spread rumours around the campus?" Ayami said, her voice rising.

[Teri Napliotis]

"Is it really rumours when it's true? Or are you going to tell me you didn't sleep with Angel-Boy?" She leans back in her chair a little, making a dismissive wave with her hand.

[Ayami Morita]

"It's none of your business you...you....you...voyuer."

[Teri Napliotis]

"Name calling? Really? And for your information, we have no interest what-so-ever in the details of your romps through people's beds. Anyone in the quad watching you two fly around and disappearing into the dorm would have come to the same conclusion if they had known Ryan. It's not a paticularly big secret that he... enjoys female company."

[Ayami Morita]

"It's not name-calling if it's true. And why would you even go run to John? You have no right."

[Teri Napliotis]

"Let us get this straight... It's okay for you to sleep wih Ryan, but only if John doesn't know. Where's the part that says he has no right to know the truth again, because we think we missed that."

[Ayami Morita]

"Who said he has no right to know? Hell, I invited Ryan to join us. It's just YOU have no right to tell him--he should have heard it from me or from Ryan.

Why are you so interested in John anyhow? Jealous?"

[Teri Napliotis]

carefulnow!

"Jealous? About him? No thanks. Just because you have a Godzilla-fetish doesn't mean other people do too."

[Ayami Morita]

"Oh, really? Ask around, you may be surprised.

I think I'm on to something here--that's why you came over to dance with us, right? You wanted to get some Tail! Aha! Figured you out"

[Teri Napliotis]

"Ahahahaha! Yes... yes, you got us, we're just after John. You got us aaaaall figured out now." She's honestly laughing, partly about the idea of her going after John and partly about Ayami patting her own back for figuring it all out.

[Ayami Morita]

"Well, good lord, Teri-san, you should have just come out with that to begin with. Sneaking around isn't going to get you anywhere. You have to confront him, let him know how you feel!"

Ayami takes Teri's hands. "You're fairly attractive and all, you just need to be a little more gentle with people!"

[Teri Napliotis]

Teri stares at Ayami, truly baffled at her reaction. shereallybelievesthat? ugh noit'sgood freepass! thinkofwhatwecoulddo makehertrustus yes!
She takes a deep breath, grits her teeth internally and prepares herself to play along.

"'Fairly attractive'? We're a swarm of locust, we doubt anyone would find that attractive."

[Ayami Morita]

"Well, you're not ALWAYS a swarm of locust," Ayami said, thoughtfully. "You seem like a normal, attractive Greek girl, normally--you could probably stand to do something with your hair, but that's a minor issue. In fact, if you didn't tell people, they'd probably just think you had facinating eyes.

Plus, there's always SOMEONE interested in EVERYTHING."

[Teri Napliotis]

"There's no way there are people who look at bugs 'that' way. Even I think that's weird."

letgo! no gottaseemhonest punchthepatronizingbitch! calmdown focus! makeherthinkshe'stalkingtothatimaginary'real'Terishedreamedup

Teri carefully and very begrudingly picks her next words, letting her normal expression mellow a litte.
"And you... really think that? Wouldn't that mean I was lieing to people anyway?"

[Ayami Morita]

"Like I said, you'd be surprised...."

Ayami pauses. I? That's her! I'm getting through!

"T...Teri-chan? It's only lying if it comes up. If you want to spend time with someone, it'd be best to let them know, but you don't need to walk around with a sign or anything. You're more than a swarm of insects, you're a young woman. You're strong, you're beautiful. Be confident in yourself!"

[Teri Napliotis]

Good lord that's disgustingly sweet. But she's buying it, come on now, we can do this. Maybe don't make it too well though...

"Confident? We know we're confident..." She lets her body twitch faintly before going on. "We... I... I mean, I know all that, but what's the point? I'm no good at dealing with people, they're confusing. And we already have all the company we need." She lets a bit of aggressive dismissal flow into the last sentence.

[Ayami Morita]

"No!" Ayami says, a bit louder than she intended. "People can be confusing, people can do strange things, people can seem bizzare. But, in the end, they're who you can count on. If you just keep hiding inside yourself, you're going to end up alone and miserable. If you just let the voices inside your head run you, you're an automoton. Come out, Teri-chan, we're all waiting for you..."

It's legitmate concern, if entirely misplaced and very poorly phrased.

[Teri Napliotis]

"We're not an automaton and..." her voice drops to a whisper. "...it's scary out here, Ayami..."

We're going to have to find something to punch when this is over... Urgh!

[Ayami Morita]

Ayami took both of Teri's hands. "We're here to help you, Teri-chan. Me, and Bear-chan, and John, and Ryan-kun, and everyone. You have us to fall back upon, now. That's why you're here, with friends."

[Teri Napliotis]

"But they don't like me, especially John. He hates us. And we're not here to make friends. We're here to establish our future, not play nice with everyone." She lets her voice slowly grow colder and harsh again throughout the sentences, pulling her hands away from Ayami.

[Ayami Morita]

"You again." Ayami's eyes darken. "I'll make you let her go, just you wait and see. You monster.

Teri-chan, hold on. Keep fighting; don't worry. We're here for you."

[Teri Napliotis]

"We should go." Grabbing the uneaten bits of her breakfast she turns to leave, casting a glare at Ayami that she lets change to a wide-eyed scared expression for just a second before leaving, cackling internally as she walks away. Boy she's gullible. That was almost too easy.