standing outside the [ f i r e ] ;; [open]

[Nicki]

Fey, Sorren W.
but you got to be tough
when consumed by desire
'cause it's not enough
just to stand outside the fire

It was a beautiful afternoon in Sorren's eyes: a few white clouds, beautiful blue sky, and a nice breeze to go along with it. He settled down, nice and comfortable, on a stone bench, setting his guitar on his lap. He glanced up across the courtyard, spotting some nice looking girls, and a very handsome boy, and tipped the front of his cowboy hat down a little, with a wild grin on his face, and a wink for good effect. Right before turning his gaze to his fingers as they began to strum the strings into the tune of Garth Brooks' "Standing Outside the Fire".

We call them cool,
Those hearts that have no scars to show,
The ones that never do let go
And risk it the tables being turned.

[/i]

He wasn't modest about it, really. He knew he had a good singing voice. He didn't often sing country, but he was in a Garth Brooks mood today. The songs reminded him of life in Houston, or, at least, the life he'd lived in Houston. He'd been tempted to sing "Good Ride Cowboy". He'd always been a bit of a rodeo fan, though he's never been in a rodeo himself. He knew that most people who weren't into rodeo wouldn't know who Chris LeDoux was, though, so he'd opted for another favourite. With a glance back up at those he deemed his audience, and another winning smile, he continued on.

We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame,
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always come with getting burned.
But you got to be tough when consumed by desire,
'Cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire.[/i]
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[Nicki]

((-poke- Anyone?))

[Andie Galen]

Andie went out to the courtyard, craving some fresh air and heard a boy singing a song she knew. She didn't listen to much country, but she knew some of the older songs well enough. This one was one of the ones she knew by heart, and she sang along. "We call them strong, who can face this world alone, who seem to get by on their own. Those who will ever take the fall. We call them weak, who are unable to resist the slightest chance love might exist and for that forsake it all. They're so hellbent on giving, walking a wire convinced it's not living if you stand outside the fire," she finished, letting him finish and sing her favorite part. Andie thought she was a decent singer, but it wasn't like her to sing in public. This realization hit her, and she got very nervous, but she stayed to listen to the boy play. He's really good, Andie thought, smiling slightly.

[Nicki]

Fey, Sorren W.
but you got to be tough
when consumed by desire
'cause it's not enough
just to stand outside the fire

Standing outside the fire,
standing outside the fire.
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
if you're standing outside the fire.

He trailed off at the end of the chorus, even though the song went on, and he let the guitar's sound fade before stopping it with a gently placed hand. He swung it carefully to his side, where it hung down like those newer school bags that seemed popular with some people. He winked at her as he got up to walk over to where she was.

Not bad at all. Watch your lower notes, though. They've got to ring in tune with the rest of 'em.

He commented, as he stopped in front of her, a vaguely amused smile on his face. He wasn't used to singing duets, especially unplanned ones. Nonetheless, he wasn't complaining. He stuck out his right hand, the fingertips calloused from strumming the strings, as his smile broadened slightly. Some called it flirting but, really, it was just the way he was.

Sorren Fey. Pleasure to meet you.

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[Andie Galen]

The boy finished and turned around. He winked at her, and Andie blushed. He commented on her lower notes, but introduced himself as Sorren. Andie returned his smile and shook his hand. "Andie Galen, and I know my low notes aren't the best, but I think they're better than my high notes. But that's just my opinion. So, you like Garth Brooks?" she asked.

[Nicki]

Fey, Sorren W.
but you got to be tough
when consumed by desire
'cause it's not enough
just to stand outside the fire

Oh, yes, of course. I'm a bit of a country boy by heart.

He replied with a bit of a shrug, not ashamed to admit it at all. It took a lot to throw him off his self-confident, egotistical behaviour, and talking about himself definitely wasn't going to do it. If anything, it might make him worse.

You too? Or just that song?

He queried, as his hand fell back to his side after the hand shake, settling back down flat against the guitar strings.

[/size]

[Andie Galen]

"Oh, I like a little bit of everything, country boy, but, then again, I'm a city girl. Born and raised in Manhattan. What about you?" Andie looked over the boy. He had blond hair, or at least, that's what it looked like from what she saw. He was fairly tall, too. Andie estimated at least 5'10". He was a handsome boy, that was for sure.

"So, Sorren, this your first year?" Andie asked, hoping to find someone that knew how she felt. Andie was extremely hopeful. Of course, that's what Andie was, a hopeful person. Saracastic, but friendly, and hopeful that someone would find humor in her sarcasm.

[Nicki]

Fey, Sorren W.
but you got to be tough
when consumed by desire
'cause it's not enough
just to stand outside the fire

Born in Houston, lived in Los Angeles, and then moved back to Houston before coming here.

He replied, watching her looking at him with a grin threatening to take over his face. Oh, yes, he just loved socialization. So many pretty people in the world to socialize with, after all. He counted himself in with those people, too.

As she asked her second question, he heard the hope in his voice and recognized it from his own first year at Deity High. However, he was forced to shake his head no.

Been here since grade nine, and I'm a senior now. I do believe I'm going to miss this place when I'm gone, however much I deny it while I'm still here.

[/size]

[Andie Galen]

"Oh, wow," Andie said in response to both of his answers. "I would have never guessed that you were a senior. I'm a sophomore, myself." Andie gave a nervous laugh and looked down, rubbing the back of her neck. What do I say now? "So, what's it like here?" she asked, remembering her objective. "From what I've heard, it sounds like a great place. A variety of dieties, or so it seems."

[Nicki]

Fey, Sorren W.
but you got to be tough
when consumed by desire
'cause it's not enough
just to stand outside the fire

Yeah, it is really diverse. People from all over the world come here, and deities from all different times and myths. It's actually quite interesting the kind of people you run into sometimes. Most the teachers aren't too bad either, but watch out for Mrs. Bl - I mean... Mrs. Bab.

He quickly corrected himself as he spotted a teacher out of the corner of his eye, but his foolish grin persisted to stick to his face, as he leaned closer, whispering so the teacher couldn't hear.

We call her Mrs. Blob, but only when there aren't teachers around. Don't ever sit in the first row in her class, if you can help it. She seems to always be eating something, and she chews while she speaks. You can see the bits flying out, and it's just disgusting.

[/size]

[Andie Galen]

Andie nodded. "Oh, cool." Sorren began talking about Mrs. Bab. Andie made a disgusted face. "Oh. Thanks for the advice." Andie gave a theatrical shudder. "So, Sorren, um, does anything exciting ever happen here?" Andie was struggling for conversation now.

[Nicki]

Fey, Sorren W.
but you got to be tough
when consumed by desire
'cause it's not enough
just to stand outside the fire

Ah.... It really depends on your definition of exciting. Like, if you love watching all those little high school crushes, fights, break-ups and so on.... Oh yeah, definitely lots of exciting stuff. And there's lots of sports, to, if you enjoy that. They bus us out to play against other high schools, if we promise not to use our powers or tell the secrets of Deity High. And student council tries to have a bunch of festivals, native to different pantheons of gods and goddesses or their people, along with the norm. But...Besides that...Yeah, not too much. Lots of snow-days in winter. Sometiems the doors get blocked by snow from avalanches, too, since we're stretched up the mountains. The buildings are strong enough to withstand it, they made sure of of it, but we have quite a few days off because of it.

He realized how much he'd spoken, and quickly found a way to wrap it up, waiting for a response from her.

[/size]

[Andie Galen]

"Oh," was all Andie could say in response to Sorren's speel about the snow days, etc. "Well, I'm not much one for drama, but I suppose I could do a few sports....maybe. As per snow day, I'd be fine with plenty of snow days. I think I may find it a nice place here." She looked at the ground. "So....um........." Andie trailed off, trying to find something to say.

[Nicki]

Fey, Sorren W.
but you got to be tough
when consumed by desire
'cause it's not enough
just to stand outside the fire

He sat there, sort of silent, thinking, just for a moment, before his face brightened. He'd had an idea.

Hey, you know what? There's this really neat cafe in town called Starstruck Coffee. A lot of people from school hang around there. I was thinking about going sometime soon, anyway, so why don't we go into town right now and I'll show you around a little, then we can grab something from Starstruck?

He did this a lot with the new people at the school. He liked to help them out, partially because then he made more friends, and partly because that was just the kind of guy he was.

[/size]

[Andie Galen]

Andie looked up at Sorren. "That'd be great, actually. I love coffee!" Andie paused a moment and pondered before turning back to Sorren. "Sorren," she asked thoughtfully. "What's your deity? I mean, this is a deity highschool, right? So, I was just curious. I mean, if you're not really comfortable with sharing that, I understand. I just wondered." Andie looked patiently at him, waiting for his reaction. She had a strange tendency to ramble a bit, then to be silent. She was full of contradictions. Andie was a curious one, that was for sure.