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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2014 15:59:20 GMT -5
"Two. Theo..." Is what. A friend? A good friend, she will admit that. But considering who she is, she just refuses to taint his life, and what he represents to her, with her nightly activities. "Just Bruce and Batman. And I said dating, not...exclusive with them." Is that even the proper term these days? Now this is a rather thoughtful conversation that Charlotte is bringing up, as is evidenced by Selina's choppy sentences, and the flustered look on her face. "Drawer to the right is silverware." She points out, hopping down from the counter once the kettle starts to whistle. Two cups are brought out, a bit of milk added to each, first, before she adds water, spoons cocoa into both, and stirs.
"Well, not just anyone, but I'm a bit more open minded that most. I just prefer they don't have a life of crime. So, of all things, the rogue's gallery is out. Other than that, if you find a superhero you like, hell, go for it." And she's honest about that.
Reaching into the fridge, she pulls out some fruit she'd cut up, and brings it to the kitchen table with two forks. Hell, it's her home, and if she wants to eat straight from the bowl, she will. "And yeah. My life is more than a little wonky, I'm realizing." She tells Charlotte, realizing that one of her closest friends may be angling for something more, and the fact her love life is more complicated with the fact that Bruce, and Batman are one in the same. "What sort of guy do you like?"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2014 3:48:03 GMT -5
The further explanation does little to lower Charlotte's raised eyebrow. Truth be told, she is enjoying just a little bit too much the sight of Selina flustered by that line of questions. Bruce Wayne and Batman? That's two very different flavors of 'questionable boyfriend' material right there...
When the silverware drawer is located, Charlotte pulls out what she needs and the spaghetti from the microwave. When she has it all gathered she ends up needing to take two trips to get everything to the table, but that's okay - like she said, she's starving! While she's doing that she listens to Selina outline her minimal boyfriend requirements. Hah, like she's going to find a guy in the rogue's gallery! Or a superhero, for that matter - how do you even meet one?
Once she has it all situated on the table, and seats herself, she decides to open up the yogurt first. Though the question that Selina asks causes her to nearly choke on the first mouthful. Forcing herself to swallow it before she does choke, it's her turn to be flustered as she says, "Um, I don't really know. I've... kind of never had one." Which she figures isn't quite as embarrassing as the fact that she's never been kissed, but it still seems like she's definitely in the minority among her peers on that count.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2014 3:39:44 GMT -5
Digging in to the fruit, Selina feels a decade younger, and much more shy. Charlotte's questions are hitting quite close to home. And she can see on the girl's face that the two men are quite different than what she'd think. And how she wishes she could explain it all, instead of being saddled with the assumption that her taste in men is more than questionable.
"You'll get there. Guys are not the best at this age. When you get to eighteen, and a bit older, they start to resemble men, instead of balls of hormones," She adds, shrugging as she spikes another piece of fruit and eats it. Her life certainly isn't 'normal,' by any means, but she doesn't think she'd ever be able to handle a straight 9-5. Even her office hours don't follow that. But that's her hours, not her staff's.
"But as to Bruce, he is different when he's not in the limelight. He has obligations, as do I. But he's rather interesting outside the dumb front. And Batman, well, you can't slap him in a suit and take him to an opening, sadly. But I've helped him with information on cases through the years, and he's saved my ass a few times when I've been in a crunch. So, he's not all doom and gloom like the stories. Try to see the person within, I try to say. And damn the people that judge. They don't know, unless they ask, and for some reason, they're not asking, and just assuming. And you know what they say about assuming." Her fork pokes the air, emphasizing her words.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2014 6:37:48 GMT -5
Charlotte's less than impressed by Selina's opinion of guys her age, and it shows in the way her eyes lower and she focuses her attention on her yogurt. Yes, guys her age are immature and flawed, but they're also very attractive... And it's not like she wants to wait until she's eighteen to date. And the guys who will be eighteen then are her age now, so why wait? But she won't comment on that, since as far as she's concerned Selina doesn't have much she can say about her boyfriend choices. Because, seriously, Bruce Wayne and Batman? Who is she to judge whatever boy she chooses to bring home if she's going to do that.
Finishing off the yogurt, it's time to tackle the spaghetti now that it's had a moment to cool and before it starts to get at all cold again - just the right temperature. While she eats it she listens as Selina tries to justify the men that she's seeing, but there's a definite skepticism to her expression. After all, she knows nothing of Bruce Wayne except what she's heard about him, and she's wondering just how 'different' and 'interesting' someone like that could be? Actually, that's not really a good question to try to answer. She'd probably have to get to know him a little before she could shake that idea.
And Batman... well, she's met him now, yes, but she saw him for all of how many seconds? It didn't really do much to help shatter the notions she'd have of him before - which is just as the cops are only a little better than the crooks, the vigilantes are only a little better than the rogues. And it's much better to steer clear of all of them. So seeing the person within? Yeah, she's hoping she doesn't get much of an opportunity to do so.
"Sounds like a speech you want to give someone else," she observes, referring to just how adamant the woman's words got at the end of it. After all, she certainly doesn't think that she's being overly judgmental. She just thinks that a billionaire playboy and a man who dresses up in a costume to beat up criminals are both kind of risky people to be dating. Because... well, they are. Maybe those in particular happen to be okay and she's certainly open to the idea that they might be and that Selina is possibly sane in making those choices, but frankly there's room for doubt unless and until they prove themselves.
And she doesn't necessarily want to get her proof, thank you - it's not like Selina's taste in men is a deciding factor in how much she wants to stick around here. After all, one of the 'guidelines' she specifically stated to Selina her first night here is that she doesn't have to like her friends. Especially boyfriends. Of course, when she'd said that she hadn't thought that she'd need that guideline this badly...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 16:57:11 GMT -5
"It is. Too many of the people I deal with are two-faced, and lie. Most people think I'm some rich bitch that kisses ass and donates money. And I'm more than that." She notices the look on the teen's face and realizes she may have been ranting a bit. "Eh. You can date. I was ranting a bit. There are a few good apples out there, still. I just ask that I meet whomever you bring home, first. Then, well, we go from there when we get to that point. I would just rather you be safe, if you're going to get intimate." She is hitning at another conversation, but one that she hopes the girl has heard, and hopes it won't be too awkward when the time comes. Selina never really had 'the talk,' herself, but she knew enough to at least be careful.
"But. Batman. And Bruce Wayne. And..." She doesn't even want to say his name, but her cheeks flush slightly. Sometimes life just gets in the way, and you can't do a damn thing about it. Or you just run from what you've wanted for years, and can't undo choices. "Honestly, though. If you have any questions, please ask. As blunt, or as 'weird' as they may be, I can probably get you a response." And she's right. It might not be the one you want, but there will be one, either way.
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Last Edit: Mar 9, 2014 9:37:42 GMT -5 by Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2014 9:36:49 GMT -5
Spinning her fork in her spaghetti, Charlotte is quiet again as Selina admits to her ranting. She might have commented on it, if it weren't for how Selina finishes off that line of thought. "I paid attention in health class," she mutters, sounding more than a little annoyed. She's bringing that up again? Does she want to talk about it? Charlotte certainly doesn't! Like she told Selina yesterday - no, technically two days ago - she's never had a real kiss so the last thing on her mind is wanting to 'get intimate' with anyone. Okay, so maybe not the last thing, but there's an awful lot of steps before that's even a possibility - not the least of which is actually finding a boy that she likes. So Selina's premature attempts to begin 'the talk' are very much not welcome - or even hints about it, for that matter. Especially not when she's eating!
In fact, she's bothered enough by it that her thoughts are still stewing even when Selina encourages her to ask more questions, so she greets that with complete silence. At first, anyway. After what probably counts as an awkward pause, she comments, "You're definitely not Maureen." Which is most certainly a compliment. Though Charlotte isn't yet entirely sure that Selina is ultimately better than her least favorite foster mother ever, there's definitely few similarities, at least.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2014 14:22:21 GMT -5
Now that is a comment if she hasn't heard one. "I'd like to hope not. If she were still around, I'd show you who helped me out. Think of everything Maureen is; and she's the complete opposite." And Delilah Bullock had been that. The perfect personification of unconditional love wrapped up in a classy dress, apron, and with a wooden spoon.
She continues to eat her fruit, and sip at her water, thankful for the quiet for now. She let the health class comment slide. She was a bit rough around the edges, so she's going to pick her fights. Not everything is worth fighting over.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 4:32:30 GMT -5
Selina's words prompting her to make the attempt, Charlotte face wrinkles at effort of trying to picture what the opposite of Maureen would be. It's a hard thing to do, actually, since the woman is this combination of traits... "I don't think that I'd like that either," is her conclusion. Because Maureen certainly wasn't all bad. Of course, what was 'good' in that woman seemed to mainly serve to make the rest of her seem worse. So in the end, the opposite of Maureen would be pretty crappy too - and that realization only seems further underline to Charlotte just what a nexus of unpleasantness the woman is.
Returning her attention to her spaghetti, she can't help but pause to enjoy the fact that she's already lost that starving feeling but still has plenty more food in front of her - a luxury she's so often not had. Even back when she was living with her parents - they always had something to eat, but there'd been a few points when her father had been out of work for long enough that the food had to be rationed. And on the streets she tended to alternate between eating well and not at all, depending on her fortunes on a particular day.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 5:31:58 GMT -5
Laughing deeply at that, Selina sets down her fork. "Let me frame it differently, since all I really know of Maureen is...that phone call. But a woman who is dressed well, yet it doesn't define her. Who's home is welcome to anyone, especially considering she has one son and three younger girls. It's warm, well lived in, and the fact a seventeen has an arrest record is looked upon as a point of pride. "Because any woman worth her weight has stood up for something at the very least; once in her life." Somewhere you're not judged for what part of the city you grew up in, who your parents are, or are not, or what you were wearing. " Selina shuts her eyes for a moment, fingers going to the pendant beneath her shirt.
"And no matter what, the phone would always be answered no matter what hour of the day was." She added quietly, eyes opening. She doesn't want to lay it on too thick with Charlotte, who's she's 99.9% sure thinks she's a nutcase, but the teen being with her sure as hell is dredging up a lot of emotions.
"So. Other than that, and committing petty theft, what do you actually like to do? Not being forced to do, to survive, or to get adults off your back? Personally, I love swimming." She offers, picking her fork back up and spearing a strawberry.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2014 17:29:35 GMT -5
Oh, Charlotte is pretty sure that Selina's a nutcase to some degree, all right. Though what's more left to be determined is whether or not there's a method to her madness. Because there very well could be - at least she hasn't felt any strong urges to run away yet. Well, except for when she was in the room with Batman, but that's different. With Maureen the feeling had been nearly instant - it only took her awhile to realize that running away was an option and to get up the nerve to do so.
Listening as Selina reminisces, Charlotte doesn't see any need to comment upon it. So Selina had some amazing woman help her a long time ago - exactly how is that relevant now? But all adults seem to think that their youth matters always, and she's used to that.
Selina's question causes Charlotte to pause for thought - it's been awhile since she's done anything that she didn't have to do for one reason or another, and even longer since she's thought about it. "Um, well, I like doing sleight of hand. I mean, that's how I shoplift, but I know how to do it 'magic' style too," she says, though she has to pause for a moment to think of others, "Um, and I like to just hang out with friends, watch TV, listen to music... Oh! And when I was younger I liked to make, like, friendship bracelets and little beaded things..." She trails off and shrugs, as she has a hard time thinking of more. So much of her life has been in the 'have to' category.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2014 22:16:20 GMT -5
For all her rambling, it seems that she's finally asked a question that gets more than one or two words out of the teen. Nodding, she listens, raising a brow at the first hobby.
"Now that's impressive. Taking a skill like that and manipulating it for both pleasure, and well, business, is a skill in and of itself, too. If you wanted, there is a hobby store if you wanted to get the supplies for bracelets. And a bead store, too." Its an offer, considering she can't really help on the friends, or tv stuff. There is a decently sized tv mounted on the living room that gets little use. She pretty much tends to live in her own bedroom, which is more set up like a small studio.
"What sort of music do you like?" She tries. Her own tastes are varied, but she does have her favorites, and go-to standbys for her different moods. And heists. But that is a different topic, for a different time.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2014 3:22:19 GMT -5
Charlotte can only shrug about the supposed impressiveness of using her sleight of hand skills for two different things. It seemed obvious enough to her - the ability to make objects seem to appear and disappear at will has applications that are all too obvious both to entertain and to steal. But she's mildly surprised when Selina turns around what she said and suggests that she could pick up her old hobby. Huh, maybe... She hasn't thought about it for a very long time, but yes she did like to do that. "'kay," she says to indicate her agreement between bites of pasta.
Though Selina's question prompts a much longer pause. "Oh, like, Katy Perry, Pink, Lorde - you know, pop/rock/electronic crap," she answers with a shrug, "I mean, I like a lot of stuff, but that's kind of what's in the middle." Her tastes are varied too, but she too has her favorites.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2014 19:39:29 GMT -5
She knows most of the artists Charlotte mentions, but she smiles at the mention of Lorde. "She's good. But hard to watch in person. Fantastic skill, and if you look on her twitter, she's not fake." Pointing with her fork, she thinks of a few stores they should look at for beads later in the day.
"Are you normally an early bird, or more a night owl?" She asks, just to steer the conversation a bit more. Considering she can just feel the sun creeping up. She's on the cusp of going back to sleep for a longish nap, or staying up and just plying herself with coffee to get back more regular in her hours.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2014 17:15:30 GMT -5
Now nearing the end of the spaghetti, Charlotte actually finds herself surprisingly wide awake - she did just wake up from a rather extended 'nap', after all. But that's more due to being well-rested than the hour of the day. And Selina's question strikes her as a little bit funny to be asking her right now, since this is kind of the time of day that's a bit of an overlap - the really early birds are probably just waking up, while the really night owls are probably thinking about bed.
"Heh, seems like everyone and everything else wants me to be an early bird," she answers, "Safest in the streets when the sun is up. Early mornings in juvie. And then both foster families..." She shakes her head though and comments, "If it was up to me, well, morning is always boring so why not sleep through it? And night is fun so why can't I stay up?" Though if she's going back to school again, the answer to both questions will be 'because you have school in the morning'. One of many things that just plain suck about being her age.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2014 20:59:05 GMT -5
Having finished with her fruit, she is already on the other side of the small counter-top that extends into their eating/dining room area. There is a small coffee pot there, which she slips one of those pods into it and presses a button.
"That is how the world is. Trying to mold everyone to one standard. My workday is pending at times. But while I like this time of day, I'm not huge on it if I have to stay up until 4am straight through."
The coffee machine hisses and sizzles as she leans on the counter and nods to the teen. "I agree. When you can see everything, less happens. I wouldn't know for foster families, sadly." It's been years since she's had to navigate that sort of thing.
"What do you think of a later start school?" She offers, sipping at her coffee. "I know I'm throwing a lot at you, really fast, but there are a few schools around. Public school, which I believe starts around seven. A private school that starts around 7:15 on the dot. And there is another school that starts around 9 or 9:30am. The only thing is that you get out later. And after school activities are sort of built in, as well. So it's not that bad. We can go look at them all, if you want."
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