[06:27]	LawfulNice	The school bells have rung. The long day is finally over. Matt doesn't get up. He sighs and pulls out his cel phone to look at the time, then starts doodling in his notebook.
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[06:30]	Malachi_Ortega	silently slides into a seat a little too close to Matt, shuffling it over and peering over Matt's shoulder to watch his drawing.
[06:31]	LawfulNice	Matt is doodling some kind of monster, destroying a city.
[06:31]	Malachi_Ortega	"This is a Nacaal?"
[06:32]	LawfulNice	"Huh?" Matt looks up.
[06:33]	Malachi_Ortega	follows him up, smiling pleasantly.
[06:33]	Malachi_Ortega	"Hi Matt. Are you coming to drama?"
[06:34]	LawfulNice	"Yeah, I guess." He shrugs. "I don't have anything else to do today."
[06:37]	Malachi_Ortega	"Great!" Mal somewhat forces enthusiasm, standing up beside him. "We're doing a dress rehearsal tonight."
[06:38]	LawfulNice	Matt stands up. He groans. "Great. I have to wear that dress again."
[06:39]	Malachi_Ortega	"Don't be like that!" Mal tries not to look predatory as he puts his chair away. "It looks good on you."
[06:41]	LawfulNice	Matt rolls his eyes. He packs his stuff and walks to the locker room. "It would looks better on a girl."
[06:43]	Malachi_Ortega	"Mmmmmaybe. They'd have to be a very pretty girl." Mal follows *closely*, grabbing his bag on the way.
[06:45]	LawfulNice	"Whatever." Matt sighs. He walks into the locker room and opens his locker. An ornate dress is inside.
[06:46]	Malachi_Ortega	looks it over, from behind Matt. His eyes widen.
[06:46]	Malachi_Ortega	"Wwwwow, that's... really cool."
[06:46]	Malachi_Ortega	takes a step back.
[06:48]	LawfulNice	"It's just a dress. I don't have much choice."
[06:49]	Malachi_Ortega	"Yeah, but-"
[06:49]	Malachi_Ortega	steps around Matt, just brushing against him as he reaches into the locker.
[06:50]	Malachi_Ortega	"Hope has done an amazing job."
[06:50]	Malachi_Ortega	admires it in the light before pressing it against Matt.
[06:51]	LawfulNice	Matt rolls his eyes. "Whatever." He takes the dress. "I'm going to get changed."
[06:53]	Malachi_Ortega	nods affirmatively, trying to give him an encouraging smile. "Sure! Me too."
[06:53]	Malachi_Ortega	leaves Matt to change, making his way to his own locker to change into his own fabulous dress.
[06:55]	LawfulNice	Matt starts getting changed, though he obviously is having a lot of trouble with the layers and ornate design.
[06:56]	Malachi_Ortega	has *practise*, and for one of the first times in his life manages to actually be fairly quick at changing clothes. Tightening it from behind, he drifts towards Matt.
[06:57]	Malachi_Ortega	"...Can I help?"
[06:57]	Malachi_Ortega	holds out a hand.
[06:57]	LawfulNice	Matt pauses. "I..." he sighs. "Yeah."
[06:57]	Malachi_Ortega	"Stand upright."
[06:58]	LawfulNice	Matt stands up straight.
[06:58]	Malachi_Ortega	positions himself behind Matt, and places his hands on Matt's hips, before pulling up on the fabric, putting it into place.
[06:59]	Malachi_Ortega	"Turn around?"
[07:00]	LawfulNice	Matt turns around, his back almost completely exposed.
[07:03]	LawfulNice	*...around, facing Mal. He's a little pink.
[07:04]	Malachi_Ortega	smiles awkwardly, a little too close to Matt's face. Mal reaches around Matt and, slowly, so as not to damage the material, pulls it up over his middle. Mal is forced to step forward again, leaving almost no room between the two, in order to tighten the thing up.
[07:05]	LawfulNice	Matt stays very still.
[07:05]	LawfulNice	"Are you almost done?"
[07:07]	Malachi_Ortega	"Almost!" Mal gives Matt another awkward smile as he fumbles a little on the last set of ties. Taking a small step back, Mal nods, beginning to adjust the dress from the front, setting it straight.
[07:07]	Malachi_Ortega	"I think that's all."
[07:07]	Malachi_Ortega	looks up at Matt, smiling warmly and deeply hoping for some kind of reciprocation.
[07:09]	LawfulNice	"Thanks." Matt looks away, blushing.
[07:10]	Malachi_Ortega	adjusts the front of his outfit for a moment before looking down at Matt's from where he stands.
[07:11]	Malachi_Ortega	"It's... very nice." Mal stumbles a little over his words, unable to find a sufficient adjective.
[07:12]	LawfulNice	Matt shrugs. He folds his arms, as if protecting himself. "Hope made it, so I guess you should compliment her."
[07:14]	Malachi_Ortega	pouts. "No, I'm complementing it on you. It only looks good because it's made for you, and you're wearing it."
[07:14]	Malachi_Ortega	pretends to look sad, frowning.
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[07:15]	LawfulNice	"Thanks, then, I guess."
[07:16]	Malachi_Ortega	smiles, pleased with this response!
[07:16]	Malachi_Ortega	"...You must like it too, though."
[07:17]	LawfulNice	"W-why would I? I don't like wearing dresses!"
[07:17]	Malachi_Ortega	"But you-"
[07:18]	Malachi_Ortega	reaches up slowly, to place a hand on Matt's arm.
[07:18]	Malachi_Ortega	"You didn't *have* to be in the play."
[07:19]	LawfulNice	"Th- Dolores asked me to do it!"
[07:19]	Malachi_Ortega	stops to think.
[07:19]	Malachi_Ortega	"Did she tell you, or, did she ask you?"
[07:21]	LawfulNice	"She asked me to. I figured I owed her."
[07:22]	Malachi_Ortega	frowns more genuinely sadly.
[07:22]	Malachi_Ortega	"Ohh, Matt... what happened?"
[07:23]	Malachi_Ortega	tries to guide Matt to a bench by his wrist.
[07:23]	LawfulNice	"Huh?" he's guided to a bench. "What are you talking about?"
[07:24]	Malachi_Ortega	sits close enough to be touching. "What did you owe her?"
[07:25]	LawfulNice	"Oh. It's nothing." He shrugs.
[07:26]	Malachi_Ortega	"Is it to do with the Nacaal?"
[07:27]	LawfulNice	"Huh?!" He sits up and looks at you directly. "What are you talking about?"
[07:28]	Malachi_Ortega	"She told me, she- don't worry." Mal smiles faintly back, putting a calming hand on his knee.
[07:28]	Malachi_Ortega	"I found out yesterday."
[07:30]	LawfulNice	Matt would turn pale if he wasn't already albino. "W-what?"
[07:30]	Malachi_Ortega	looks away, a little upset.
[07:30]	Malachi_Ortega	"I'm sorry..."
[07:31]	LawfulNice	"She... told you?"
[07:32]	Malachi_Ortega	nods softly.
[07:32]	Malachi_Ortega	"Y-yeah."
[07:33]	LawfulNice	"Damnit. She should have at least asked us..."
[07:34]	Malachi_Ortega	"I'm- I'm not going to tell anyone..." Mal removes his hand to place it with the other, in his lap, looking away, upset.
[07:35]	LawfulNice	Matt looks down, shifting. He pulls away a bit. "Good. Thank you."
[07:36]	Malachi_Ortega	"Dolores says you can steal things." Mal tries to cheer up as he changes the subject.
[07:37]	Malachi_Ortega	"What does that mean?"
[07:38]	LawfulNice	"It's just my power."
[07:39]	Malachi_Ortega	looks up at Matt, smiling a little.
[07:39]	Malachi_Ortega	"Show me?"
[07:44]	LawfulNice	Matt looks around. He sighs, then holds out his hand. He concentrates, and a black sphere appears. It fades away to reveal... a cell phone. Your cell phone.
[07:44]	Malachi_Ortega	Mal's eyes widen in amazement, looking between Matt's face and the phone in his hand.
[07:45]	Malachi_Ortega	"That's... that's cool!"
[07:50]	LawfulNice	"It's okay." He hands you the phone back.
[07:50]	Malachi_Ortega	takes it excitedly.
[07:50]	Malachi_Ortega	"What have you stolen with it??"
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[07:53]	LawfulNice	Matt stands up. "Nothing."
[07:54]	Malachi_Ortega	follows Matt to standing, placing the phone to one side.
[07:54]	Malachi_Ortega	"Oh." Mal still seems eager.
[07:55]	Malachi_Ortega	"You- what did you owe her for, then?"
[07:56]	LawfulNice	"She... helped me learn who I was."
[07:57]	Malachi_Ortega	cocks his head, waiting for him to elaborate.
[07:57]	Malachi_Ortega	"...A Nacaal?"
[07:57]	LawfulNice	Matt shrugs. "Yeah."
[07:58]	Malachi_Ortega	"...So to pay her back, she got you to dress like this for the play?"
[07:58]	LawfulNice	"Well, yeah. It could be worse."
[08:00]	Malachi_Ortega	nods excitedly!
[08:00]	Malachi_Ortega	"I- do you really not like it, though?"
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[08:02]	LawfulNice	"Not really. It just... feels strange."
[08:03]	Malachi_Ortega	"I thought so too. But. It's- you can be someone else." Mal swallows, then positions himself directly in front of Matt, holding onto his arms.
[08:03]	Malachi_Ortega	"Try doing a girl voice."
[08:05]	LawfulNice	"What, you mean like I do for the play?"
[08:06]	Malachi_Ortega	nods. "But say something different. Not your lines."
[08:08]	LawfulNice	Matt rolls his eyes "Oh my tee-hee I do so love pretty dresses and shit."
[08:08]	Malachi_Ortega	frowns, shaking his head in disapproval. "I mean- hm."
[08:10]	Malachi_Ortega	"Just be you, then, but... do a different voice."
[08:11]	LawfulNice	"I don't even know what to say." He's doing the girl voice, at least.
[08:11]	Malachi_Ortega	beams. "There, that's good!" Mal grabs Matt's hands.
[08:11]	Malachi_Ortega	"Tell me about yourself!"
[08:15]	LawfulNice	"What? I don't... like what?"
[08:15]	Malachi_Ortega	inhales.
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[08:16]	Malachi_Ortega	"Your- your character doesn't have to be exactly like you. Make a- make a character, like it was for playing Vampire, except she doesn't have to be a vampire."
[08:17]	LawfulNice	"W-what?" He breaks character. "What are you talking about?"
[08:18]	Malachi_Ortega	pauses.
[08:18]	Malachi_Ortega	"Um."
[08:18]	Malachi_Ortega	goes kind of blank.
[08:18]	Malachi_Ortega	"Maybe I'm- this might be too much." Mal looks away, thinking.
[08:18]	Malachi_Ortega	holds onto Matt's hands tightly.
[08:21]	LawfulNice	Matt looks down. "Wha- Are you trying to- to- make me like you?!"
[08:22]	Malachi_Ortega	"I'm-- I don't want to make you do it. But it's- I want to show you, because- because it's great. Um."
[08:22]	Malachi_Ortega	looks down too.
[08:23]	Malachi_Ortega	"You just seem kind of- kind of- unhappy, now. About stuff."
[08:23]	Malachi_Ortega	"So, you could try being someone else."
[08:24]	LawfulNice	"I'm fine being me. Dolores showed me who I really am."
[08:25]	Malachi_Ortega	"Oh..."
[08:25]	Malachi_Ortega	loosens his grip a little, as his arms drop to his sides.
[08:25]	Malachi_Ortega	"I'm- I'm sorry."
[08:27]	LawfulNice	"It's okay, I guess. You were trying to help."
[08:28]	Malachi_Ortega	"It's- if you don't want to try at all, then- then I'll stop, I guess."
[08:29]	LawfulNice	Matt looks guilty. "Mal, why did you... do all this?"
[08:31]	Malachi_Ortega	"I- I don't know, just- you must kind of like it or you- you wouldn't do it, and I- it's made me feel better. So I thought you would... benefit?"
[08:38]	LawfulNice	He sighs. "I just... I'm just doing this to help Dolores."
[08:38]	Malachi_Ortega	sighs, disappointed, letting go of Matt's hands.
[08:39]	Malachi_Ortega	"Okay. I'm sorry. But, can- can you do one thing?"
[08:40]	LawfulNice	"What?"
[08:41]	Malachi_Ortega	"Will you... stop thinking that I'm- wearing a costume. And- and just treat me as a girl."
[08:41]	Malachi_Ortega	goes a bit red, struggling through the last few words. He smiles nervously at Matt.
[08:42]	LawfulNice	Matt looks conflicted for a few moments. "I... I guess I can."
[08:43]	Malachi_Ortega	hops on the spot, overjoyed.
[08:44]	Malachi_Ortega	"Thankyou!!" Mal lunges at Matt, thrusting his arms around his neck.
[08:45]	LawfulNice	Matt returns the hug after a moment.
[08:48]	Malachi_Ortega	stays holding tight for a few long moments. He turns his head a little.
[08:49]	Malachi_Ortega	"...Would it be okay if I-"
[08:49]	Malachi_Ortega	doesn't finish the sentence.
[08:51]	LawfulNice	"If you what?"
[08:52]	Malachi_Ortega	has given Matt a peck on the cheek before he finishes speaking.
[08:54]	LawfulNice	Matt turns red.
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[08:55]	Malachi_Ortega	stalls for a few moments before following up.
[08:55]	Malachi_Ortega	"...Sorry."
[08:57]	LawfulNice	Matt keeps blushing. "L-let's get to practice."