OPEN SPAM

[my_freeze_ray]

[If there was one thing worse than not being able to go to science camp, it was being lumped in with the rest of the whiny science camp rejects at regular camp. So Billy had taken off by himself, determined to do science on his own, if needs be

Comments

[unduly_pitiless]

[Alice doesn't exactly sneak up on him, but she's slow to announce her presence. She's sensibly dressed for the outdoors - T-shirt, shorts, functional sandals, slight scent of sun cream - which, so far, is all spotlessly clean. Unsure if she's been noticed or not, she waits for a moment before clearing her throat:]

What are you doing?

[She's spent the previous day hiding behind a postgrad physics text, so it wouldn't surprise her at all if he decides she's a snobby bitch or just doesn't recognise her all.]

[my_freeze_ray]

[Billy glances up, then INSTANTLY LOOKS BACK DOWN, BECAUSE OHSHIT IT'S A GIRL.]

Nothing. I just-- Iwasjustlookininthe--

[He descends pretty quickly into mumbling under his breath.]

[unduly_pitiless]

[She takes a moment to process that. Dealing with post-adolescents is more what she's used to. Carefully, she kneels down opposite him, on the other side of the pool.]

Were you looking for anything in particular?

[my_freeze_ray]

[Billy shakes his head. She seems super grown up as well, and he feels stupid for being caught playing around so aimlessly.]

I was just I was just walking out here. I wasn't really looking for anything.

[He should say something else. To distract her from what he was looking at.]

I'm don't like being around too many people.

[unduly_pitiless]

Neither do I. I've never liked crowds. [She leans forward - enjoy that extremely calculated view down her top, Billy - and looks into the water, watching the dark shapes moving under the surface.]

The pond life's much more diverse here. England's too cold for a lot of species you get in this area.

[my_freeze_ray]

[Billy looks for a split second. Then IN COMES THE GUILT, and he looks down sharply, into the rock pools.]

Yeah, there are really good... pond... things.

[Billy asks, desperately groping for something cool or normal to say. Then he winces, as he realizes just how bad he failed. He should talk about the stuff he knows. Or! Or! she's English! He should ask about that!]

You're from England? Are you only over here for the camp, or do your family live here?

[unduly_pitiless]

Yes. I'm just here for the camp. [She would go on to say that this is their idea of a reward for her graduation - yet more evidence that she's a stranger in her own home - but she doesn't want to make him any more nervous. Yet.]

We don't really have anything like this back at home unless you're in the Scouts or the Girl Guides. [She glances up at him.] Is this your first year here?

[my_freeze_ray]

[Billy nods, looking a bit morose.] I know a couple of other people here from school and stuff, but I was supposed to be-- to be doing some stuff with my dad this summer.

[Don't tell pretty girls that you wanted to go to science camp. It's uncool :c]

Do you like it? So far, I mean?

[unduly_pitiless]

It's alright. I'm not used to this heat. [She sits back, crossing her legs; her tone becomes a little mournful.] I wish that one girl hadn't decided to broadcast that 'intellectual' and 'insufferable' are synonymous now.

[my_freeze_ray]

[Billy straightens up, like she's just said something which communicated directly to him.] I know! It's like... normally I look for other people who might... might be interested in the same things as I am. But after the way she was talking about this place...

[He shook his head.]

I don't wanna be associated with people like that.

[unduly_pitiless]

From what I've seen of her and people like her, they just...collect knowledge. Just for the sake of saying they have it. But if you can't apply what you know, if you can't try to help explain why things are the way they are, then that's no better than knowing nothing at all.

[my_freeze_ray]

Right! Nothing is interesting if it exists in a vaccuum! Things only matter when they're actually things that happen!

[Billy agrees emphatically.]

[unduly_pitiless]

Right. [Alice smiles across at him.] What's your name?

[my_freeze_ray]

I'm Billy. [He returns with a shy smile of his own.] What about you?

[unduly_pitiless]

Alice. [She looks back down into the water.] So is this the sort of thing you're interested in? Biology?

[my_freeze_ray]

[Billy smiled, glancing back down into the pool.] Biology is okay, but I like physics best, because all the other stuff is just what happens after Physics, or because of Physics.