Scene #8159: PNL: The Quiet Spaces Between

Owner	Pose
Stanley Padgett	Let it never be said that Stanley Padgett cannot appreciate a good thing once he's gotten it. A door he can lock. A bedroom he can have to himself. A room in a home where people aren't just going to burst inside and toss and yell at him for being not a member of the family. Privacy, which he can choose to share with people. Elsewhere in the house, Stanley is sure that there are attentive ears listening. But right now, in his space he's able to share? He's sharing it with Miss Charlotte. The little guest room at least has room enough for two people to sit on the bed and watch TV. The noise of an early 2000s dubbed US episode of Primal FIGHT World Battler Kaiju (In the US it was called Big Time Monster Fight) rumbles in the background, as Stanley munches on Pizza. There's words bubbling in his head and he's trying to sort things out with Charlotte next to him.
Charlotte Newman	It's hardly the first time Stanley's asked Charlotte to join in in watching (and sometimes mocking) suitmation stuntfests. With nothing to do today, she took up that invitation once again. Part of her also wanted to see her friend's new digs, and as a bonus, it's also Alice and Officer Stuart's house. Another person she likes and another person she--well, Charlotte is still cagey around cops but Caelan's a few steps above that by now. No chairs but a bed is fine to sit on, legs folded at the ankles, carefully eating in a way that avoids getting grease everywhere. After a bit, she breaks the silence by commenting on the movie, "That's something I haven't seen them do before, must have been hard to get right."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley was lost enough in his own head that he had to catch up with what was going on the screen. Some very practical looking tentacles wrapping around Mr. Macho as he fights the Grim Calimari. "Yeah, this was before they could afford putting CG in everything, so they had to be... really smart about some of this." A beat. "I'm sorry, I asked you over and get you pizza and like... I'm being an awful host tonight." He rakes a hand through orange hair, and grumbles. "I don't feel like going back to school tomorrow, but not going to school just feels like I'm letting them win or something and like..." Stanley sighs. "What have you been hearing from like... the spaces outside my head?" A wane little chuckle, Stanley trying to avoid looking Charlotte in the eyes right now.
Charlotte Newman	"Awful?" Charlotte glances Stanley's way, "I wouldn't say so. A bit quiet maybe." Closing an eye, she adds, "I figured you had a lot on your mind with that creep chasing you around." The other eye closes and she lets out a thoughtful noise, "The elf lady's been in the office every day this week. I think they're investigating what happened, they don't seem to be aware of the Reversal at all." "As for the other thing you're probably thinking about..." Charlotte shrugs, gesturing, "The girls titter about 'Padgett dating a rich out-of-towner' sometimes but it's... It's harmless. Those girls are pretty vapid people. They'll forget the second another candid celebrity photo pops up or their favorite boy band does a single or-- basically anything, really. Their heads only seem to be able to hold one thought at a time. I wouldn't worry about that at all."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley sighs and flops on his back on the bed, legs dangling over the side and looks up at the ceiling. vaulted just enough to fit a ceiling fan, a robin-shell blue rather than the plain white walls. "I don't want to give those two the satisfaction of being 'right' and making me leave the school, but I don't want them there harassing the rest of the student body. or YOU if they find out about you. "Rita thought we were getting engaged, so that's how far that has spread." Pffff. Stanley rubs at his brow, and then just wilts. "I don't know if I'd want to impose myself on someone like her, even if it wasn't just a misunderstanding. I'm.... I really just sort of me."
Charlotte Newman	Charlotte laughs a bit, "I don't think she's your type, but you'd know better than me. Miss Rita is... She seems to take a lot of stuff at face value. I would just set the record straight with her, she'll understand." She sets her slice down on the paper plate in her lap so that she can lean back on her hands, lifting her eyes to the ceiling fan, "I don't think it was very cool of Remee to just claim that, though. And that is a boundary you should establish." Her eyes close in thought, "As for the Solutiony people... the best thing you can do to throw them off the scent is to not do anything that arouses suspicion. And trust me--" She glances sidelong at Stanley, "You're the least suspicious guy I think I've ever met."
Stanley Padgett	"Well I guess I'm happy to hear that part at least." Stanley shifts a bit on the bed, a hand resting on his belly. "...I mean, the "not suspicious". I guess all my efforts to be, you know... cool and shit are just me being me, then." A little snort and Stanley sticks out his tongue... "All my efforts, wasted on being Extremely Normal for people." In the background, the TV flickers a bit, and there's the sound of Mr. Macho charging up his Muscle Beam to torch the Vile Squid Squad. Stanley just keeps looking at the fan. "...Two homes ago, right about now, Aunt Rachel would have been up here screaming at the both of us that we're being ungodly, that I was going to ruin a bunch of girls just like my dad ruined my mom. So I have to admit, there's been... feelings about feelings here, and whether I... uh..." Stanley grumps. "...I have to put on a good front, right? What sort of theatre kid doesn't know how to talk to girls?"
Charlotte Newman	"I think the 'cool' thing...," Charlotte starts, then reconsiders, "It's a bit funny, but if you're trying to make that your identity, I think you're cooler just being yourself." After a pause, she adds, "And if trying to be cool is part of that, who am I to say it's wrong?" Mr. Macho draws her attention again for a moment with the flashing colors, but it doesn't hold her attention long. She might have been using it as a moment to ponder over that second statement. After a bit, she closes her eyes, "Your aunt didn't let you have many friends, I take it. She doesn't sound like the type to approve of anything." She pauses for a second, then shoots a look at Stanley, "Wait. So even being able to talk to me like this is an act?" She doesn't seem offended. Looking at her face-- the girl actually seems concerned, "But you're the one who invites me to things like this, so-- you're trying, even if it's tough, right?"
Stanley Padgett	Stanley takes a moment... and then his hand finds Charlotte's in the dark. He squeezes at her hand, and she can feel him trembling. "...surprise?" A longer breath. "...I don't know if it's being away from that place or being here with people who apparently trust me or if it's Mercutio who is helping or or..." The laugh is an ugly thing, ragged at the edges. He's trying to not think about things. He squeezes a little more confidently, but he's still shaking. "Sofia?" His phone beeps. "Next episode." There's a warble, and the familiar tones of Zephyrman start to play on the TV that neither of them are looking at. The fan continues it's whirling wheel against the ceiling, the bright colors of the sentai show casting mixed shadows across the room.
Charlotte Newman	Charlotte glances down when something touches her hand. She gives that trembling palm a reassuring squeeze in return, "Gosh, I must have made your heart stop when we met at the Happycade." Eyes closing, she lifts her other hand in a gesture, "Well. Just think of me as one of the guys. You get along great with John, right? And Mister Stuart seems cooler than I thought he would be." She picks Stanley's hand up in her own, "And Alice is super cute and fun to be around, so she clearly counts too." "I think it's Mercutio, but-- Mercutio is you. Remember? Just like Galatea is me. He's another side of you. And who better to support you wholehearted than you?" She nods once, "He's your inner strength, your will, and your-- well, maybe not your sense of style-- but he's definitely got your back more than any of us ever could, no matter how hard we try."