Gender.. issues? (Pain Killer only. >_>)

[jacob]

Lain ran her fingers through her short, now-black hair. She definitely didn't like it this way; she was so used to the weight of her pigtails and being able to let her hair down and have it fall just below her pants line.
Right now, since she was doing her 'I'm a guy' thing, she was wearing jeans and a t-shirt that looked more like a muscle shirt than anything else, though she didn't have any real muscle to show off. She was forbidden to dress in skirts now, too, because people would call her homosexual left and she really didn't need that kind of attention, especially since she had no idea how males fought, or if there even was a specific way that the male.. breed.. did that sort of thing. She didn't know! Obviously, Lain had been a female for the majority of her lifetime, and she could look, act or even talk like a girl or her cover would be blown.

This really kind of reminded her of the time she'd been on the roof of Varron, waiting for Adam/Pain Killer while she'd had her hair down. It'd been a little darker than usual, but it'd still thrown the poor guy off, so what would her being completely manified do to him? It almost made her giggle just imagining it, but she'd obviously get more than a few brows quirked her way, so she covered it with her hand.

"Where could he be?" She asked herself in a somewhat scratchy voice that sounded male but didn't really match how she looked. She had freckles salted just below her eyes from how much she'd been in the sun. It'd been bound to happen since she was out in the sun so much, really, but she didn't much like that her once-clear skin was now invaded by a bunch of brown specks.
Anyway, she surveyed the school grounds silently, obviously looking for Adam/Pain Killer; her current victim. Maybe it was a little cruel to trick him like this, but it all seemed like good fun and it's not like she'd hit on him or anything while she was pretending to be a guy, though she'd considered it. But, no; she'd just ask embarrassing and forward questions! She wouldn't do anything weird because of what his brother had done to him, though, and he should probably be thankful for that.
With a somewhat misplaced hand on her hip, she once again scanned the school grounds for her victim. Hmmm..

[Pain Killer]

In classic Pain Killer fashion, Adam had no idea someone was searching for him. In a more accurate sense, he didn't particularly care if someone was looking for him, as everyone whose opinion mattered to him was back in Varron, or so he believed. Instead, he was left with the trash of Hircine High, a school that held neither the excitement nor the interest of his former learning institute. The leaning form of Adam Rydell would be found against the wall near the bike racks, his arms crossed in front of him as he reminisced about his past year in New York, blatantly ignoring the glares given from the San Francisco natives.

So much left unfinished... I have to go back.

His sister's kidnapping still bothered him, as well it should, though it seemed there was nothing he could do about it. The Varron police had been less than helpful, and he had little doubt that the San Francisco police would be even less. With all the confusion of Varron High closing down, and the students being shipped off, Adam hadn't even had a chance to begin searching for his sister before he found himself staring at a school that hated him for no other reason then where he'd come from.

Adam's arms unfolded, his right hand dropping into his pocket, past the badge that he had earned for a tournament victory, and pulling out a small card with an 'i' design on it. It was the very same card Stern had given him when he'd been recruited into the gang, and he'd kept it with him since. Adam slowly twirled the card between his fingers, unsure as to what he should think about the younger man. He'd been smart, strong, and skilled, soundly defeating Pain Killer in a previous tournament, and in all things, almost personifying what Adam had wanted to become. Yet, his plans had been brutal, effective, but brutal.

Sighing, Adam kept twirling the card, lost in thought, oblivious to his surroundings.

[jacob]

Lain, in her very first few moments at the school, noticed how much different this school was from Varron Academy. As soon as she'd walked through the gates people had broken out into a fight; on her first day, as Adam knew, Bruce and the other guy whose name had escaped her mind had started fighting. Mm, well, something like that, anyway. Even if there were students from Varron here, there was more hidden violence than physical violence. It kind of felt tense, like people secretly didn't want her to be there just because she was from Varron. Thank whatever god there was that 'Jacob' was from Hircine, though, since she obviously hadn't thought up her little plot to freak out Pain Killer before she'd arrived at Hircine.

Whipping out her schedule, she looked down at her subjects. Her first class was geography ( just making that up ^^; ) and she had no idea where the classes in this place were, but that's where Adam came in! He probably knew his way around the school, but would he be as friendly to a male as he was to her when they'd first met? Mm, maybe not. In the back of her mind, she believed the only reason that he was nice to her was because she had purple hair, so she'd been thinking about dying it red for a while, but it'd been dyed black instead of red and she'd nearly chopped it all off. Now that she thought of it, though, Pain didn't have much of a reason to be nice to males; his brother pinning him to the wall with knives and smooching him like that. Yuck.

Finally spotting the exact person she was searching for, she smiled and walked over to where he was leaning against the wall, plucking the card that looked so important to him from his fingers. Maybe it was a little bold, but, in her mind, she knew the guy. Remembering that she looked male and had a different appearance, though, she looked the card over silently and then placed it back in between the male's fingers. "That's not a student card; what is it?" Not the best was to introduce 'himself'. "O-oh, sorry. I'm Jacob." Sticking her hand out for a hand shake, she offered a smile, which she tried to make different from her usual smile as to not get recognized. Her voice was obviously different, too; kind of like a raspy, boyish voice, like a boy with a sore throat.
Remembering her reason for confronting Adam - besides freaking him out about pretending to be a guy - she flashed her schedule in his face. "My first class is geography and I have no idea where the classroom is. I can find all my other classes, though. Could you show me where it is?" She considered adding 'sorry for the trouble', but maybe that would be a little too feminine?
Yeah, probably.

[Pain Killer]

Adam didn't even notice the card being taken from his fingers at first, his mind too focused on other things until he felt the card leave his grasp. His head snapped up towards the person who had taken it, his eyes narrowing in annoyance, before the person handed it back to him. Still, that didn't dissuade his annoyance, merely stifle it for the moment. His eyes lowered to see the hand extended, though he made no move to take it.

"Nice first impression. Don't touch my stuff ever again."

Jacob flashed his schedule, and Adam nodded in understanding. Of course, this one wanted something from him, it made sense now. Sighing, he pushed himself off the wall, stuffing the card in his pocket and gesturing with his fingers for the boy to follow him. While he didn't know exactly where the classroom was, he had a relatively good idea where it was, and so, started to head in that direction.

"So... you been in San Francisco long? I haven't seen you in Varron, before."

If this kid was one of the Varron transfers, he'd probably have a hard time. These Hircine's aren't exactly friendly... Gah, this is troublesome. While Pain Killer didn't consider himself a particularly bad guy, he couldn't very well just stand by and let kids get bullied for no good reason. Well.... not all of them.

[jacob]

Lain almost frowned when Adam didn't take her hand for a hand shake, but maybe that was for the best? Perhaps he had some sort of hand-reading powers! Like, if he shook her hand, maybe he'd instantly know it was her and go 'aha, you're Lain' and she'd be irritated that he figured it out so quickly and then he'd run away in fear of her manliness.
Okay, so maybe it wasn't so likely, but the last part would probably soon whenever it was that he figured out that she was Lain. Or maybe she'd have to give herself up? Pain Killer wasn't so perceptive when he wasn't looking; then again, was anyone?

"No, not for long," she responded to his question as to whether she'd been in San Fransisco for long. It wasn't really a lie; she'd only been here for a month or two, which may seem long to some people, but she almost never moved.
Anyway, she could see that Adam's small-talk was still as bad as it used to be. Or, maybe it was just bad around people he hadn't entirely been acquainted with yet? "Why, are you from Varron?" The response wouldn't mean much, though, since she already know he was. "Was it better there than it is here?" Things were definitely a lot harder to find in this stupid school, and it was so crowded. At least in Varron there had been gaps between the weaker students and the more, uh, feared ones. Hircine wasn't exactly as interesting/intriguing.

Remembering a few things she'd heard being muttered in the hall way, she decided to ask Adam about it. "Are the Varron transfers treated differently than the other students?" Maybe she'd want to lay low for a while? Well, nah; if she did that, she'd never get some fighting experience in, and that was something she probably needed so as to survive without people saving her from left and right.
Not that it wasn't.. romantic?

[Pain Killer]

"I certainly am. And it was much more fun than this school."

Adam shoved his hands into his pockets, his already sour mood getting slightly worse at the thoughts of what he'd left behind. What few friends he'd made were seemingly long gone, and the seemingly endless hostility was starting to grate on his nerves. Whether Jacob knew of this attitude the Hircines had quickly became apparent with his next question, and Adam gave a small but almost imperceptable sigh in response before answering.

"You could say that. Seems like Varronites are a plague, and the whole school here is the cure. Having to ignore their... stupidity... it's not easy."

He glanced at Jacob, slightly curious. Why would he tell a stranger all this? He wasn't sure why, but this slightly odd-looking male had something familiar about him. Maybe Adam recognized something of himself in this one? Deciding it wasn't worth dwelling over, his eyes drifted back to the hallway in front of them, searching for the classroom. They were close, but not quite there yet. A few more doors at least.

"Well, if you're new, and you're not from Varron, you might want to talk to someone other than myself. People might get the wrong idea, think you're a friend of mine or something. You know."

Finally, he found the door, causing him to stop moving down the hallway and walk towards it, leaning against the doorframe. He gestured towards the door with his head.

"Here we are. Geography's never moved from this classroom that I've seen, so I doubt they'll change it in the early moves they usually do. Is that it?"

He kept his eyes on the student, waiting to see if there was anything else needed. He wasn't particularly sociable, and guys had never seemed to want to talk to him other than to ask for something or start a fight. This kid seemed like he wouldn't dare start the latter, so he's simply wait and see if there was more Jacob needed.

[jacob]

'Jacob' blinked her long lashes in response to everything Adam was saying. Apparently, he was having quite the hard time at this school. But, well, what was to be expected? The people from Varron had been so, um, passionate about their plans and now that they were in a school, that could put a damper on their fun little plans. Besides, the people of Hircine probably weren't throwing their new classmates much of a welcome party. How rude.

Lain hadn't had as much exposure to the people of this school, but she was sure that the students of Hircine couldn't be as maniacal as some of the people she'd seen running around her old school. Pain Killer was one of them, but the difference with him was that he was on her side.
Or, umm, maybe he wouldn't be once she exposed herself. Like, told him she wasn't really male. Not pulling her pants down. Damn.

Blinking back to reality, an ironic smile tugged at her lips and she admired Adam's, ahem, poetry skills. "That's one heck of a metaphor. So I guess I won't be welcomed here--..." As far as Adam knew, 'Jacob' had never even been to Varron before!
Wracking her brain, she almost thanked God - despite her being a strong Atheist - when Adam uttered his next words. "I guess I won't be too welcomed if I have a 'friend' from Varron? Doesn't look like you're much open to friends anyway." So far, Pain had only helped her in very subtle ways and had tried to back out of anything personal. Heck, the guy hadn't even told 'Jacob' his name yet!

Raising both dark brows at the male's question, she turned her weight onto one foot - the poor foot - and wondered if there was anything else she could hold him up with. He did look quite desperate to move on. Keeping her eyes on him, she wondered what she could do to make things more, um, interesting. Maybe bang his head back against the door? No, that would get her killed, not to mention label her as a guy with psychopathic tendencies. And they seem to get the most attention around these places.

"Man, you really suck at small-talk. I'd hate to see you as a clown or a jester or something. I mean, you'd be hit with so much flying food. Entertain me and tell me something interesting. Is there anyone here I should look out for? Anything I shouldn't do or say? C'mon, Adam." As soon as the words slipped past her lips, she wanted to suck them back in. But then she remembered the card Adam had showed her and she rejoiced. "Sorry, I saw your name on that card of yours."
Maybe the overbearing personality was a little too much, but that was how she, as a female, perceived males. Maybe she'd been around too many obnoxious psychopaths?
Taking note of how Adam was leaning up against the door from so nonchalantly, she twirled on the tips of her toes and backed up a few steps, leaning against the wall. If he was leaning against something, why should she? It might make her look a little more male.

[Pain Killer]

OOC: Blagh, shortness.

IC:

"You're right, I don't make friends easily."

Sighing slightly, Adam leaned his head against the doorframe, his eyes closing somewhat in annoyance at this kid that didn't seem to want to leave. How can someone be so dense... I don't want to talk. Pain Killer remained silent after his words, trying to will Jacob away, but as if by some cruel hand of fate, the kid kept talking. The mention of Adam's name, however, caused him to open his eyes in minor surprise. As Jacob attempted to cover for his mistake, Adam reached into his pocket, pulling out the card Stern had given him what seemed like a lifetime ago.

"You mean this one? Which has no words on it, and just the letter 'i'?"

Adam held the card out in front of him, in plain sight for Jacob to see. Normally, he wouldn't have caught on to such a small thing, but he'd been rather focussed on this card a few minutes ago, and Jacob's excuse had triggered in him an instant distrust for the smaller student. Scowling, Adam returned the card to his pocket, then pushed himself off the doorframe, standing in front of Jacob with his arms crossed, obviously displeased.

"I'm gonna give you one chance. Why are you lying to me?"

The annoyance was clear in his voice, and after his question, Adam would simply stand and wait for a response. If it wasn't satisfactory, well, then he'd have to do what he always did to guys who pissed him off.

He'd get violent.

[jacob]

Upon hearing Adam's comment on how he didn't make friends easily, she subtly rose a brow. On her first day, it had been easy enough to make friends with the guy. Maybe he'd been a little more welcoming back then, or maybe it was because she was a girl? Or it could have just been luck. There were a few spectators, after all, and they'd been Bruce and another guy whose name she couldn't seem to remember. Him and Pain Killer had seemed to know each other.

"Gee, I never[/i. would have guessed." The words were sarcastic and she combed her fingers through her hair. I think I like it better when I'm female.
Which was good.
No sex change for Lain.

The 'male' pretty much ignored Pain Killer until the card was thrust in front of her eyes. It was white and the only thing on it was an 'i'. Well, unless Adam's name was 'i', that wouldn't do her any good. Her pupils were so small they were nearly invisible and all the cranks in her mind were jammed. "Uhh.."
There was no other excuse she could think of on such short notice. Maybe she could just come clean? But, well, that would mean that her plan would be over and she wanted things to go on for a little longer.

When the dark-haired other stood directly in front of her, she noticed the difference in their height and felt obligated to comment on it. But she bit her tongue, because that's something 'Lain' would normally do. "Well, maybe I'm not lying to you. Maybe I, um, did get your name from that card somehow." A pretty big 'somehow'.
Since she didn't think being against a wall would be a good thing if Adam lashed out at her - unless she did the old side-step and have him ram his fist into a wall - she decided to make her way to his side, slinking exactly to that spot.

Biting softly on her index finger, she jumped slightly when she realized what she was doing, putting her hand to her side abruptly. Being so nervous wasn't something she was used to, and even if she was supposed to be fairly intelligent, she couldn't think of anything to cover herself up with. "Well, there are a lot of reasons why I'd lie. Maybe I just know your name because I heard someone gossip about you? That could explain why I went over to you in the first place."
If that didn't work, she'd have to tell Adam who she was before she got a broken nose or something. Ouch.

[Pain Killer]

Pain Killer tapped his fingers on his arms, his folded arms tightening in somewhat-concealed anger as he waited for Jacob to come up with his excuse. It was obvious from the stalling that he was either incredibly nervous, or starting another lie, either possibility would bring about a completely opposite reaction from the other. When the other "male" explained himself, Adam visibly relaxed, somewhat interested in the idea that he was being talked about in school.

".... Is that so? And what, exactly, have you heard about me then?"

Adam's eyes lit up slightly as he spoke, the most excitement he'd felt in days running through him as he thought of the possibilities. Maybe word had already gotten out about his skills? After all, if only a few Varron students were transferred to San Francisco, the chances of them being the very few who could beat Pain Killer were slim to none. Hell, maybe I should just take a run at the School Captain, start my legacy off right. Then again, perhaps it was a more... intimate rumour. Someone that he'd been searching for perhaps was looking for him as well.

"Hey, these rumours... um... they wouldn't happen to have anything to do with a tall asian girl, with blue eyes, would they?"

His arms unfolded, falling to his sides as he looked at Jacob with hope in his eyes, for the first time since coming to Hircine. Perhaps this was the breakthrough he was looking for, or just another dead end. Either way, he needed to find out.

[jacob]

At first, she thought Pain Killer was going to ask if she'd seen, well, herself, and that made her happy. But, after some further investigation, she realized that she wasn't tall or Asian and certainly didn't have blue eyes. Lain's creamy, white nose wrinkled and she considered not answering or just lying to the guy. A few thoughts later, though, a grin graced her lips and she realized that this girl may be someone he had a crush on and that would be good fun to tease him about.
Ringing of Adam's got a giiiirlfriend filled her mind and she decided he'd taunt him about it.
In the, um, nicest way she could?
When he knew that she was Lain, of course.
All of the jealousy faded and she hooked her thumbs on the loops of her jeans, looking up at the still-taller male.
It surprised her that his height and looks hadn't changed much, though the man, perhaps, looked a little more weary. Maybe it was because he had something on his mind? That made her want to become 'Lain' again so that she could talk to him normally and pry like she usually did. Yay for prying!
Well, if he'd still talk to her when she told him.
Damn.

"O-oh yeah! The question." She recalled in somewhat of a nervous slur, giving a nervous giggle. Every once and a while, she would slip up without noticing. She thought of saying oooh, Adam's got a cruuush, but that would be too in character. "And who's this girl with blue eyes? But... no. Sorry." The gleam of hope in Adam's eyes was easily noticed and she wanted to lie about the rumors being related to that, but the hope would probably die even more if she said they were and then he realized there was no such girl at the school.
That would probably make him kill her even more.
"Why? Is she a friend of yours? And have you been looking for anyone else?" Eheh. She still wanted her ego boost, and if Adam wasn't going to give it to her, she'd nag and nag and tantrum. The end.

[Pain Killer]

OOC: Only.... slightly late. But since you're back, I should put this up.

IC:

"Friend? I guess you could say that."

The truth was, Adam didn't particularly know how he stood with Pan. While he may have liked her, there was nothing he'd ever noticed her do in order to show she returned those feelings. In fact, it was almost certain in Adam's mind she didn't, which made his whole search for the Xiao girl incredibly confusing. I'll never understand these things...

Slowly, ever so slowly, Pain Killer was beginning to catch on to the fact that there was something... off, about 'Jacob'. Whatever it was, however, Pain Killer still couldn't tell, and there wasn't enough for him to be overtly suspiscious.

Yet.

"Someone... else?"

The thought had never crossed his mind before, as he'd been so wrapped up in other things he'd never considered the possiblity other Varronites he knew could have been transfered here. Bruce.. .Kyukaku... Leon... K... none of them were worth looking for in a brand new school like this. If he ran into them, fine, but if not, he wouldn't lose any sleep over it. It seemed he had little to no concern for other males, though one last person did pop into his mind, the first friend he made in Varron, someone who disappeared before the school shut down.

"Well... there's one more... a girl with purple hair, usually worn in pigtails. I think she's... a sophomore?"

Adam watched 'Jacob' with mild interest, wanting to see his reaction and whether it would give him a clue as to why he was acting so odd.