If I Could [Turn] Back T i m e

[[Ara]-->Broken]

If you could s l i t my throat, with my one
last g a s p i n g breath, I'd apologize for
[bleeding] on your shirt.

Araminta walked aimlessly into the skatpark. She was defiantely new and hadnt met anyone, though she doubted it would matter if she did anyway. Ususally she was to intimidating or just plain cold. Ara had a tendancy to act like she didnt have a care in the world and hated everyone, and for the most part that was true. But all ara really wanted was someone to care, someone to tell her it was going to be okay, even if it was a lie. THe girl sighed distressfully andthrew her skateboard to the ground, dropping her bad near the edge of the ramp.
She skated around a little, up and down the ramp not bothering to do any tricks. Ara was one of those people who hated it when kids walked around with their skateboards, showing off to everyone. Posers. Ara was one of the very few, true, emo/scene kids. She was one of the kids who really had a problem with life, who had a reason to dress the way she did, who didt go post her pictured on the internet or call herself emo. She didnt call herself anything, just Ara. She actually made sure no one was around before she started skating. Thats just the way she was, and she wasnt about to change.


[ooc--ehh, not my best. Where'd my muse go?]

[Leo Alexander]

Leo was wandering idly around the town; he could of been in some class or another, learning some information which he seriously didnt need to know, but instead, took the time to explore the area around his new-home. He'd been through the Parks, got himself a hot-chocolate from the local Starbucks, and together with his pencil and paper, continued to attempt to find somewhere, or someone, doing something worthy enough to scribble down.

Thats when he came across the Skate-park. They'd had one back home, but he rarely visited it. Infact, no-one really did, apart from the drug-addicts, who seemed to exist eternally there, never leaving, but somehow finding a way to stock up on whatever they were poisoning themselves with. It seemed entirely empty. Great, some scenery pics should be a nice warm-up.. he thought to himself, strolling towards a small bench off to the side of the park itself, with a point-of-view good enough to get a good angle. Then he noticed the skater girl there, rolling back and forth.

Either she hadnt really noticed him, or chose to ignore him entirely, so he said nothing as he took his seat; placing his polystyrene cup on the bench to his side, dropping his brown leather bag onto the floor, and removing his pencil and drawing-pad, to which he never left his room without.

"Hey!," he called out to Ara, when she appeared to not be doing anything overly intricate requiring concentration, "You mind if I.." he held up his art-pad and pencil, using the items to display his intentions, rather than trying to voice something he couldnt possibly articulate.

[[Ara]-->Broken]

They won't understand it
What you've h i d d e n from them,
And this isn't getting any [easier.]

Drugs....It was a long story. But she didnt mean to become addicted. It was a prank her friend Ritter was playing on her, he put some opium [more specificly heroin] in a drink she had, and she already had a predisposition, and she thought she was addicted to the drink. Then she suspected some foul play in the matter so she asked, and they fessed up rather easily. THey gavce her some raw heroin and she soon [unknowingly] became physicly dependant. SO, even if she wanted to quit, she couldnt.
Ara looked questioningly at the boy then "Sure..." She said in looking slightly confused. It was sort of akward to her, having someone actually looking at her to draw her. She didnt really mind but was still weary of any eyes that set in her position. She wasnt one of those attention w.hore kids. As a matter of fact, she usually tried to bring the spotlight off of herself. She girl didnt change anything she did, but she didnt change in a smug way [if that makes any sense.]. She wasnt about to change what she was doing for an onlooker.

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[Leo Alexander]

He flashed her a smile, then flipped through the various pages in his sketchbook; many of them had pictures hastily drawn onto them, very few of them actually being of people, and none of them being from around the GreenWood area. It brought a few nostalgic thoughts to his mind, but nothing he couldnt just pack up and deal with later; it was much too early to start getting home sick, he'd only been gone about a week. He found a fresh page, selected the right pencil from various choices in his pocket, then smiled again as he glanced back up at the girl.

"Thanks for this.. You don't get many people willing to be models. The few that do are either perfect for it, or couldn't act normal to save their life.." He shrugged non-chalantly, then sat back slightly, content to just watch, get a feel for the scene infront of him; half of the work is adjustment, getting the view locked in memory, so if any drastic changes occur, you can always deal with it. "Just pretend I'm not here, yeah? Well, you can still talk to me, if you want, I don't mind, and it won't make much difference on the pictures. I don't usually include mouths in the wider shots, they just look awkward and out of place... I'll shut up now.." he finished, glancing down at the work before. If he had one flaw, he talked either too much, or too little; always the inappropriate one.

"I'm Leo, by the way.." he muttered up, already furiously scribbling down on the sketchbook, starting first on the general backdrop, and advancing his way forward...

[[Ara]-->Broken]

H i d i n g behind the shadows
I'll be waiting in the dark

She sighed as she correctly positioned her feet. As the boy spoke his first comment she replied
"Tip number one. If your planning on getting anything drawn before I walk away, dont use the word model."
She said simply. She said it with good intentions but her tone has cold, as it usually was. Models. Gag. They were all either anarexic or belimic and they all thought they were so much better then anyone else. Ara never thought of herself as being above people, if she came across that way. Sure she could come up with one hell of a diss but she either said it because she hates that person, or she just could come up with a good diss for it.
To the boys other comments she just smiled slightly and said
"Okay then. I am Ara."
The girl said simply, not using her full name. She was abut to say [as he said 'Pretend I'm not here'] 'My pleasure. Just stop talking at me.' But she managed to hold her tounge. She never said talking to her, but talking at her, why? She never really, truely listened

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[Leo Alexander]

He glanced up just in time to see a slight smile slip onto her lips; these people who went around wearing black were an unusual type of people, to Leo. He always tried to be upbeat, happy, optimistic; but they always seemed intent on making things worse than they already were. True, they probably had their own reasons for doing it, and who was he to argue with their choices in clothes, disposition, personality, or anything whatsoever. But most of them seemed to have some sort of future, if only they'd brighten up and realise it. Even with a slight smile from Ara, it seemed to lighten his mood, as if he's just surpassed a major boundary.

"You have a great smile, you know? You should try it more often.. It suits you.." He grinned towards her, his eyes flicking from Ara to the paper below, his hand moving automatically, drawing whatever his eyes would lay themselves on, so well versed was he in drawing. An awkward silence lingered in the air between them, with nothing but the distant sounds of society, the wind blowing through the area, and the sound of Leos pencil to fill the gap. He always felt awkward in silence, and found he could draw better when he was actually distracted from his work, as if his thoughts would ruin his picture.

"You.. from around here? The University, that is, unless you live in the actual town. I'm just down here from the.. Maple, is it? The Maple Dorm. Needed to escape some science class or another, and theres no better way than to get to know the area than to sketch it down.. Or, so I've found..."

[[Ara]-->Broken]

Well I t r y and I won't get far,
I'll d i e and I won't get far

Ara was one of those truely f.ucked up people. She didnt make up problems as some did just to get pity, rather, she hid all her past from everyone. She didnt talk about what was, but it was constantly dwelling on her mind. She scenes of her past could not be erased or forgotten. She didnt want pity. All she wanted was someone to care. But that could happen. She refused to tell anyone, for fear they might think she is ploying for attention.
"You dont draw mouths, remember?"
She said somewhat harshly. Ara was also on of those people who dont enjoy complements. From her expiriance anyone who complemented her was just looking for a way to get in her pants. Tsktsk. She was sick of guys trying to take advantage of her, trying to get the best of her, trying to control her.
"I'm from a lot of places."
She replied simply.

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[Leo Alexander]

He looked back up to her, frowned slightly, then turned his attention back to the picture. A large grouping of trees in the background has been sketched into place, waving in the gentle breeze that brushed over the area, and now the skate-park itself was coming into fruition; a few practice lines to get the dimensions correct, and then it would all start to fit together nicely. Leo always enjoyed watching a picture come together, the many different pieces coming together to form one beautiful, breath-taking thing; if done right...

"Sorry, I was just saying.. Meant nothing by it.." He was sincerely sorry; he didnt mean to offend anyone, and usually tried to avoid conflict and friction as much as possible. All he was looking for was an easy and gentle life, a simple wish for an uncomplicated man..

"You seem.. edgy, if you dont mind me saying.. If you have somewhere else to be, just say.. I could finish the picture by memory, if I really have to, but I'd rather have a mod-.. No.. a subject. I can't force you to stay here.." He picked up the cup of hot-chocolate, hoping it had cooled down enough to drink, and took a sip. "Drink?"

[[Ara]-->Broken]

I'll make you [believe],
That I really care.
I'll look into your eyes,
I'll tell you all my l i e s.

THe girl just nodded slightly as the boy spoke then replied, her tone more reserved now
"If I had somewhere else to be maybe I would have had said no when you asked me if you could draw me."
She said, stopping her skateboard on the botton of the ramp That last part sounded a lot better in my head. She thought to herself and he offered her a drink she replied in a joking tone
"No caffine or alcohal? I'll pass."

[ooc-ouch. My muse is d e a d]

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[Leo Alexander]

((I know how you feel.. Too tired to think of something constructive to say >_<...))

"That stuff'll kill ya.." he replied, half heartedly. So he did enjoy the odd drink, and caffeine had helped him get through countless days in the past; but he was interested in her response, in more ways than just her words. He didnt like to judge, or stereotype, but for some people, it just couldnt be helped; they fit in groups far too well to just ignore and act indifferent to, so he just went with the flow.

"Where I used to live, people used to just humour me until I was half-way through, then get bored and just leave.." He shrugged, not an inch of emotion on his face, excluding the concentration on the picture below. "Maybe its me stereotyping people, think they'd all just ditch me and my pencil, but I havent met a whole lot of people who would actually stay long enough to see the picture finished.. Their loss, I guess.." He looked up tot he sky a moment, as if taking a cursory glance at the weather; the sky made little different, since he could just add in afew shades of clouds later, maybe even a glowing sun in the background to make the picture more mystical and exciting; most people seemed to like fantasy a hell of a lot more than reality, which dissapointed him..

"Ara, huh.. That short for something, or is that none of my business?" In truth, he was just trying to make idle conversation; he could never draw well in utter silence, after all.

[[Ara]-->Broken]

So follow your b l i s s
And destroy the [beauty]

As the boy spoke she replied in a very matter-of-fact tone
"People dont care. They'll do anything for attention, and f.uck you up in a desperate attempt to save their own asses from what they've done."
She said, as if it were the simpleest thing in the world. Ara didnt really enjoy talking that much, unless it was a conversation like this. She usually just sat in a corner, watching as the world flew on by. She would observe the people, play different roles just to see if they treated her different, she would just try to figure out why people were the way they were. Maybe she did it because she wanted to understand, or maybe she did it because it was the only thing left to do.
"I hate my name. For several reasons. And no, it is none of your buisness but I dont mind sharing. Its Araminta. F.uck. Who wants a name with the word 'mint in it?"

[ooc-yeah. my muse ran away. i dont blame it.
I used to be able to make 6 paragraph long
posts....gag. It's slowly coming back...
I'm too tired to think of something
mean to say.]

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[Leo Alexander]

He let out a slight laugh at her tone; she was pretty funny, whether she was being serious or not, but he tried not to laugh too much, incase he offended her in some way. He knew what many of these 'darker' people were like, and he'd rather not get on their bad side; be it before, or after, he finished her picture. But, at least she was speaking to him a bit more now, more than single word sentences, at least, like when he first sat down.

"I don't know.. I'm quite partial to spearmints, if I'm honest.." he said, a vague attempt to be funny, obviously failing miserably. "Hey, Leos not exactly the most common of names. You wouldnt believe the amount of half-serious looks peoiple give me when I introduce myself. Back home, Leos just don't exist.. or live in Wildlife Sanctuaries.." He half shrugged, his attention split evenly between Ara and her picture; the skate-park was generally done, and he had made some quick sketches of clouds for the sky; together with the background, the trees and other plants, a few random improvised passers-by, things were coming together well. Only one thing seemed to remain.

"But hey, Leos better than my real name. If I went around telling people my real name, they'd laugh me right out of the building.." He let out a soft chuckle; he had always hated his name, which is why he introduced himself at Leo; it seemed close enough to his real name to be acceptable, and didnt sound half as bad. Few people back home knew, they always assumed he was just plain Leo Alexander; sometimes, he doubted his parents even remembered. "Okay, your up.." he added, referring to the picture. He didnt need her to do anything, just continue acting as she already was. He was beginning to soften up, usually finding himself uptight around new people, so his arm moved more freely, better able to draw the more confined structure of a person. He sketched down a skeleton, and then began the detail...

[[Ara]-->Broken]

You laugh because I'm d i f f e r e n t.
I laugh because you're all the [same]

"Isnt Leo and astro-crapical sign?"
She said, not able to figure out what the word was Astrological...?? She though, but come on. Astro-crapical sounds better...sort of...okay, not really. The girl stood there, not saying much else for a while, and akward silence settling in. It wasnt until then that she got the 'spearmint' joke
"Haha. Funny."
She said, trying not to smile and keping a straight fface. She couldve laughed at her own delayed reaction, but just blew it off. Ara figured she may be one of the more 'unapporacable' people in the world but she didnt care. She wished she could say her parents tought her not to care what people thought of her, but they didnt. She tought herself. After all, what help had they ever been?

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[Leo Alexander]

In truth, he wasnt expecting a laugh from her; he could of choked from the bad smell the spearmint joke gave off. Even when she did laugh, he wasnt sure whether she was serious, or just taking the piss with sarcasm.. Either way, he didnt mind; he wasnt overly anxious about what others thought of him, which allowed him to say and do things that others may of been too embarrased to do. He hadnt become that way by choice, or force, but because it was the only option he had.

"Astro-crapical, huh? I've heard it called many things before, but thats probably a new one. But yes, its generally an Astrological name, and no, I wasnt born under Leo. Leo means 'Lion' in Latin. Its the fifth sign of the Zodiac.. or.. was it sixth.. one of the two, anyway. Late July to Late August, I believe, but dont quote me on that.. It rules the Heart and Spine, and is considered a..." He went quiet upon realising he was still talking. He didnt intentionally mean to babble; his concentration was elsewhere, so the words just kinda tumbled from his mouth like water. Since he had a pretty good memory, and had read quite a few books, there was a lot of water to fall.

"Sorry.." he said, glancing away from his picture, and back up to Ara, with large apologetic eyes. "Didnt mean to go on. Sometimes, I just can't control myself, and this deep, dark, annoying person who seems to ruin everything dives in and takes my place.." He shrugged again, a slight smile on his face, as he turned back to the picture. He had a rough drawing of her figure, and was just finishing that up, before adding some detail to the picture, then finishing touches, before proclaiming it finished. "I shouldnt be too long now, so you won't have to endure me too much longer.."

[[Ara]-->Broken]

To kill the whitest looking dove
To [hate] everything I [love]

"Its okay. I rant, too."
She said to the boy as he came to the realization he was going on a whole rant type deal about the Leo. As he continued to speak, she just shrugged and started skating again, watching him out of the corner of her eye. She didnt mean to be so untrusting, but trust was something someone had to earn, and to be honest he wasnt there yet. After the things that had happened to her, she handed out trust like candy; which wasnt very often.
"That works"
She said, in such a murmer it could have just been to herself but she didnt mind if no one heard her, she felt they never really listened anyway

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