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Charles Monrey Junior [br]

[jabberjoes]

A Little Help?||Open

[jabberjoes]

Joe couldn’t help the slight flush rising to his cheeks as he rubbed the nape of his neck. Wow, being a dick right off the bat, that’s just lovely. Why the fuck is he looking at me like that, I’m just asking for help. He laughed a bit, but it came out somewhat awkward.

“Yeah, I know, I’m doing pretty amazing,” Joe said. “But seriously, can’t you help? Please? I’m not a metalsmith or whatever. I don’t know this shit.”

[explosioncharled-blog]

Would you look at that? Carpenter’s embarrassed, Charles thought, amusement rising. Perhaps it was wrong of him to take enjoyment from antagonizing his classmate, but he certainly didn’t care if it was. After all, with how awful he seemed to be in this class right now, Charles thought the other boy should be even more embarrassed.

“Hmm, I suppose I could help you” Charles mused, thoughtfully tapping one finger against the work space they sat at. “But then, what might I get out of helping you? It would take some of my valuable time.It might even put me behind on my own work.”  He said in a disinterested tone, turning one hand to face himself, idly checking for dirt under his nails. The action was done more in attempt to irritate Joe, rather than anything else.

[jabberjoes]

A Little Help?||Open

Metalworking was going to be easy. That’s what Joe had said to himself as he was signing up for his classes that semester.

Idiot. He cursed himself now. It was 20 minutes into the class and he was still trying to get the damn saw blade into his jeweler’s saw. He managed to put it in backwards, upside down, and even lose a couple.

After finally managing to get it set in, he began to saw into the metal sheet, aaaaaand…

THWANG!

“Damnit…” Joe cursed under his breath as the small blade splintered into two pieces.

Scooching his seat near the person sitting next to him, he whispered to them. “Yo, could you help out?”

[explosioncharled-blog]

Metalworking was an easy class for Charles. The tasks it involved were simple and logical, he was familiar with much of what they were assigned to do. It was one of the ones that he understood the most and was able to mostly block out his more annoying classmates. 

At least, it usually was one where he could block them all out.

Unfortunately for Charles, his eyes drifted from his own work early in the class and he took notice of his neighbor’s struggles. It was pitiful really, the other boy’s difficulties with the jeweler’s saw. How could someone fail that many times with such and easy part of the process.

By the time the other boy, Carpenter, he believed, managed to get his saw ready, Charles had already focused back on his own work. Of course, the noise of Joe’s saw breaking easily brought his attention back to the other boy’s work.

Amazing, Charles thought, setting aside the center punch and ball peen hammer he was preparing to use, half suppressing the mean snicker that that rose in his throat. “Help how? You seem to be doing so well on your own,” He asked quietly, a less than kind smirk on his face.

[explosioncharled-blog]

Nerves of Steel || Charles & Sierra

[ameekheart-blog]

Sierra smirks, folding her hands neatly under her chin as she watches him with amused eyes. Charlie was always so uptight! If anyone needed some fun and excitement in their life, it was definitely him. “Aww… boring! Would have been an interesting bet, too. I wonder how high a decibel I can get my voice to reach~??” She wonders, her voice increasing in volume on the last few words.

His correction only gets a blink from her in response. Ah… so that’s what it was. Charles. Sounded stuffy. Veeery fitting for this guy. “Alright then, Sir Charles.” She laughs, “This poor, pathetic commoner will do her best to remember it!” By which she meant she would probably not care enough to remember, and end up calling him whatever she wanted again at some point. Whoops~

“Well, why wouldn’t I? I’m always concerned about people,” She says, genuinely confused. Using her two index fingers, Sierra pulls the sides of her mouth down into a frown, “especially ones who look as grumpy as you… so what’s up? Had a suckish day? Got a bad grade on a test?”

The very real possibility that she could be the cause of his discomfort hadn’t even occurred to her, so she waits for his answer with an obliviously cheerful smile on her face. 

[explosioncharled-blog]

Charles rolled his eyes, of course that’s how Sierra would react. “No, it wouldn’t have,” he said, quick to try nipping the idea in the bud. He had no doubts that, if they had made a bet of it, he would have instantly lost. He truly believed that, with someone are irritatingly loud as Sierra was on a daily basis, she could definitely be louder. And wasn’t that a horrifying thought? “For note however, I believe you wouldn’t be able to exceed 120 decibels, if you even reached that.” He hoped, at least, given that was close to the loudest humans could hear without permanent damage occurring. At least, he was fairly sure it was, he recalled it coming up in some class he took.

Sierra’s response to his name brought on another roll of Charles eyes, though this one was accompanied by a small quirk in is lips. “You do that, Fields,” he remarked, the slightest hint of amusement in his voice. Honestly, he didn’t believe she’d actually remember, given they’ve shared this class for how long now and she had still called him Charlie? But her dramatics for it were mildly amusing, her referring to herself as a peasant like she had.

“You wouldn’t care because the only interaction we have is during class, and it is to such a minimal amount that you do not remember my actual name,” He explained simply, straightening his posture. They were barely on friendly terms, if even that. Suffice to say, he knew well where he must stand in regards to the girl.

[explosioncharled-blog]

Oil Bet || Charles & Doug

[pebblebrain-blog]

With his sports bag slung over his shoulder, Doug entered his dorm.  He felt so energized after soccer practice, like he could take on the world.  He didn’t understand it, but getting out and having a hard work out for was the best.  He walked in with a spring in his step, throwing his bag and the jersey he was carrying onto the corner of the room.  He almost didn’t notice his roommate working so diligently on a project of some sort.

He was sort of surprised he said anything.  ”Oh!”  He said, realizing what he had done.  “Yeah!  Sure, man.”  He grabbed his things, and took them back to his room.  When he emerged again, he was carrying an extra set of clothes and a clean towel.  He needed to take a show, but not before stopping to peer at the robot in the other’s hands.

“What’s that?” he practically snuck up behind Charles.  “Or, well, what does it do?” 

[explosioncharled-blog]

“Thank you,” Charles said mildly, bobbing his head as a more visual sign that he appreciated or approved Doug’s actions. He was already allowing himself to focus back on his work. It wasn’t like he needed to worry about his roommate’s actions anymore, and his little robot was nearly done. The sooner he finished it, the sooner he could start working on and designing another one. One likely more complicated that this, surely.

So absorbed in his work as he was, Charles visibly jumped when Doug’s voice came from behind him, hands tightening around the robot and screwdriver momentarily. Was that really necessary? He didn’t think so.

Forcing himself to relax, he rolled his eyes. The first question’s answer should be obvious really. “It’s a simple robot. When completed, it’s coding should allow for it to avoid walls on it’s own,” He explained, idly turning it over in his hands. There was a pause before he he added, “Much like the Roomba can generally avoid them and objects it might get stuck on.” Although, unlike the Roomba, this would not clean anything. As it was, it was rather pointless, but it was really only meant as a way for Charles to practice.

[explosioncharled-blog]

Idle Annoyance || Open

[inemurie-blog]

It was so irritating that it was mandatory to take a history subject. Although she’d chosen what she hoped to be the easiest one, but the content of Modern World History Studies just didn’t seem to stick in her head. History in general was so boring, and Karina struggled to concentrate on subjects she was actually interested in, let alone one that she’d successfully slept through most of the classes throughout the year.

But with finals coming up, the blue-haired girl needed to at least pass the subject. With a textbook in front of her and her head resting in one hand – partially keeping her hair back, partially forcing her eyes open – she attempted to read the passages. After restarting a single paragraph four or five times due to losing concentration, she began to whisper it to herself to force her to take the information in.

She made it around halfway down before she was interrupted and lost focus again. Looking up at the boy who was talking to her with a glare, she realised she vaguely recognised him from some of her classes.

“Wasn’t aware,” Karina said, her head sinking more heavily onto her hand. She never came to the library – how was she meant to know it was supposed to be quiet? Better for sleeping, though… She’d have to keep that in mind. “I’m trying to focus on Modern World History Studies. As you can see, it’s not working.” She had yet to turn the page she was on since arriving half an hour ago.

[explosioncharled-blog]

Charles rolled his eyes at the girl claiming she didn’t know such a basic part of what a library was. Honestly, the only way he could fathom her being so ignorant was if she had never gone to one before and somehow avoided all media where the same such rule was shown. Though it would still be utterly ridiculous even if that were the case.

“I’m sure,” he drawled, propping his own head up on a hand, expression thoroughly unimpressed.This girl, whoever she was, seemed vaguely familiar, perhaps someone from a class or two of his? Her mention of the history class he himself took helped enforce the feeling of familiarity. Not that it helped him actually remember her name at all however, he hardly bothered with memorizing the names of his peers. In the end, they were all just different levels of annoying.

“I fail to see how you struggle to focus on that,” he scoffed quietly, closing his eyes. “It’s hardly anything more than memorization, something that becomes even more exceptionally easier when broken down.” It was so easy in his eyes, simple and logical. Though he thought it as pointless as he thought it easy, it having no bearings on what he had planned for his future.

Opening his eyes, Charles glanced over at the textbook the girl had with her. “What of it is causing you difficulties?” He questioned after a moment, unsure as to why he was doing it. It’d just prolong his interaction and annoyance with her after all. Perhaps he was procrastinating from him own studies? He certainly wasn’t eager to look at his chemistry textbook, at the very least.

[explosioncharled-blog]

Idle Annoyance || Open

The school Library was hardly impressive, in Charles opinion. While it certainly had a fair share of books, few of them were particularly interesting or even vaguely entertaining. Honestly, it was hardly a place he preferred spending any sort of free time in.

Still, it was here that Charles found himself, a text book in front of him as he studied. With exams coming up, he had to ensure he knew what was needed to score high. And this would’ve been such an easy task to do, if he wasn’t forced to study in the library since his dorm roommates were being noisy. Not that the library turned out be be much better, as he heard another person mumbling near by.

“You do realize this is meant to be a quiet place, don’t you?” He said after a moment, waiting to see if the person stopped. When they didn’t he couldn’t stop the instigating comment from slipping out. “What on earth is your brainless mumbling about?” Not that he even cared.

[explosioncharled-blog]

Oil Bet || Charles & Doug

@pebblebrain

Sitting in the dorm he shared with his three peers, Charles was tinkering with a small robot. In one hand, he held the mostly finished bot, while the other held the screwdriver he was using to screw another piece to the base. Both hands were marred by their fair share of nicks and burns from earlier steps in making this robot, though he paid no mind to them. When he was finished, he’d go clean his hands and apply bandages if needed, no sooner. It was nearly done after all.

At least, that was his plan until he saw the door to dorm open in his peripherals and noted which of his roommates had arrived. Though seeing the other boy really wasn’t necessary, as the stink of Doug when he came back from whatever sport he partook in was enough of a give away.

As was the sight of a sweaty jersey finding itself somewhere other than a laundry bin. “Sterling,” Charles called out after letting out a mildly annoyed sigh. He had stopped his tinkering to look at the other redhead from the corner of his eye. “Could you refrain from dropping and leaving your dirty jerseys around the room? There are laundry baskets for a reason.” There honestly wasn’t any real hostility in his voice, mostly just slight exasperation. The discarded jerseys, while eyesores, mostly just interfered with his roomba’s cleaning and made their living space smell. Compared to when his roommates were noisy or got into disagreements, this wasn’t all that irritating.

[explosioncharled-blog]

Poe No|| Charles & Marlin

[rheinriesling-deactivated201808]

What a spoiled little prick. Marlin can see it from a mile away. He quirks a brow, seeing how the kid doesn’t even look up from his book, hearing how his tone is perfectly level without any inflection.

Rich, Marlin imagines. Rich and believing that literally everyone is beneath him.

Perhaps thankfully, Marlin doesn’t expect respect from everyone, especially little boys that aren’t even in his class. Marlin takes another drag from his cigarette and blows the smoke away, being kind enough to blow it in the opposite direction of the kid. “Enlighten me,” he says smoothly. “You seem to have the wisdom of the ages. Tell me what you were truly speaking of.”

[explosioncharled-blog]

Charles paused his turning of the page again, contemplating whether he should truly speak his hind on the matter. While he wasn’t overly concerned about what this likely hack of a teacher thought, it’d be troublesome if his comments here found a way to his parents somehow and they punished him for “damaging important social ties.” He’d really rather not have them lessen the money they sent his way periodically, he needed it for his personal robotics projects.

Finishing the page turn, Charles let a false smile show on his face, though his voice remained just as level and dry as before. “Why, I could never. That would be terribly rude to those who partook in it,” he said, glancing at the man from the corner of his eye for a moment before redirecting his attention to the book.

Internally, he added a “like you” onto the end of his sentence, given the glance confirmed his suspicions. The man was still smoking as they talked. Ugh, if he didn’t leave him alone soon, Charles was going to just leave without a word. Surely people would’ve cleared out a bit by now and he’d be able to pass without another incident, right?

[explosioncharled-blog]

Nerves of Steel || Charles & Sierra

[ameekheart-blog]

Metalworking wasn’t her favorite class (soccer had that title), but it was one of the better ones. Tinkering with stuff was kinda fun, and the thought of being able to make her own accessories and jewelry was pretty damn gratifying. If she got better with this metalworking thing, she could just make her own stuff without having to waste money buying it!

…Buuuut she guessed she would need money to actually get the metals and gems she needed for that kinda thing, huh. Meh…

While the end result was something she very much looked forward to, the actual metalworking process was kinda tedious and boring… but she managed to retain at least some patience for it, since she didn’t have a complete lack of interest in it. Now if this was a math or history class? Hah, she’d definitely be taking a one way trip to Snoozeville.

Pushing open the door to the class, Sierra announces her presence with a loud, “Yoooo!” before marching over to her seat and her rather stoic neighbor. His comment only manages to bring an amused snort out of the girl, and she drops her backpack to the floor as she sits down. “You wanna try me? Because I totally bet I could.” She might get in trouble for it, sure, but honestly– when doesn’t she?

“Aaaanyways, how are you today, Charlie?” That was probably not his actual name, but she never bothered to remember what it actually was, so this would do.

[explosioncharled-blog]

He should’ve really expected the comment to backfire on him like this. Of course the loud girl would see it more as a challenge, rather than the idle insult he meant it as. Clearly, she was a dense as she was noisy. Perhaps that was one of the reasons the school’s newspaper was filled with trash? She was part of the group that made it, was she not? It wasn’t relevant enough to Charles for him to know for sure.

“I’m not betting you anything,” he scoffed, shifting to cross his arms. “I’d rather not have my eardrums burst from any more of your noise.” It was an exaggeration, really, one given mostly to try discouraging her volume. While Sierra was definitely loud enough to cause a wince or two when unprepared for it, he tended to listen to his music at equal and greater volumes when he really got into a project. His dorm roommates were lucky he opted for headphones, even if it was just to avoid their complaining should he end up working through the night.

“And it’s Charles, not Charlie, Fields. I’d prefer if you remembered that,” he said, quick to correct what she called him, a flash of irritation in his eyes. He did not approve of anyone in this school calling him by anything else. “As for your question... do you even care?” He asked in turn with a raised eyebrow. Honestly speaking, he was doing rather well today, but considering she didn’t even seem to remember his name right, he sincerely doubted she would pay attention if he answered.

[explosioncharled-blog]

Poe No|| Charles & Marlin

[rheinriesling-deactivated201808]

Cigarettes are perhaps not the best habit to partake in every single day, but Marlin also finds that on a day like today he quite honestly doesn’t care. It was lovely outside and Marlin was blissfully free of a hangover and it’s almost nice to have an excuse to be standing in the sun, even if it involves a cancer stick.

He takes a drag, blowing the smoke into the breeze so it’ll float away rather than striking him in the face, and his eyes are drawn to a shock of red hair on what must be a student who’s settling himself in a short distance away from Marlin. He has a book, a frown, and a disdainful expression, one that keeps shooting toward Marlin, as if Marlin is encroaching on his space.

Which is interesting. And amusing. And fun to play with.

Marlin makes his way silently across the grass, crossing his arms over his chest, cigarette held safely away, just close enough that he can catch the edge of the words that the kid mumbles. “What, reading?” Marlin asks dryly, quirking a brow. “Given the money one spends on books, I highly doubt it.”

[explosioncharled-blog]

Charles’ shoulders jumped when the teacher spoke, apparently having made his way over to him while Charles wasn’t paying attention. Had he said something out loud? Given the mans words, he assumed it was the thought about smoking being for the poor. How delightful. 

“Not quite,” he said, not taking his eyes off the honestly uninteresting book as he flipped the page. If he was rude long enough, people usually left him alone. He hoped this teacher was no different. “Though the money spent on books is hardly  enough to raise them high above what I was truly speaking of.” However, if this teacher really doubted it, he didn’t think he ever saw enough money to realize it as truth. Books, for something that can be used for entertainment to some over and over again, their price hardly registered as having worth at all, at times.

Charles tried to subtly shift away from the older man, nose scrunching up. He reeked of the distasteful hobby. Did he have a lit cigarette on him or something?

[explosioncharled-blog]

A Wealth of Trouble || Charles & Elise

@bratty-blonde-and-beautiful

There were a few people at Harvest Academy who came from wealthy families, this was something Charles was well aware of. Of them, he knew a fair few decided to make a club specifically for those of similar economic standing, though it was not a club he was personally part of. As much as he looked down on those poorer than himself, he deemed it a better business decision not to make it so obvious as to join a club that was so blatant about it.

That, in no way, meant he didn’t interact with some of those who took part in such a club however. In fact, as insufferable they may be, Charles could still generally withstand them longer than most of the lower class students. And that was how he found himself working with one Elise Beaumont on a project for their Speech class. Likely, the teacher realized they might work more equally or without as much dispute as pairing either of them up with another classmate might.

“Shall we get this over with, Beaumont?” Were the first words out of his mouth when they got together to work on it. The project involved them making a joint speech at the end, though first a subject for it had to be researched and an outline of information they were covering needed to be written.

[explosioncharled-blog]

Poe No|| Charles & Marlin

@rheinriesling

When Charles wanted to be left alone more than usual, it always seemed the world started working against him. Whether it be by teachers deciding to consistently call on him to answer questions, or other students trying to make small talk or request something from him, it felt like they all came out of the woodworks in order to bother him when he nearly couldn’t stand it.

In an effort to slip away from the annoying plebeians, Charles ducked behind the English building, regretting the decision nearly immediately. The area stunk of cigarette smoke. “Disgusting,” he muttered, expression pulling into a sneer. Was he really desperate enough to stay here? Perhaps, though he couldn’t actually debate it over in his head before he noticed an older man back there with him, having likely been there first. A teacher perhaps? It didn’t really matter, he doubted someone who resorted to such a pass time as smoking would be any sort of asset in the future.

Scoffing quietly, Charles moved so he was at least upwind of the rancid smoke the man was creating before opening the book he had with him. He only had to stay here a few minutes, or until more people needed to satiate an addiction, might as well read so he wasn’t completely bored and suffering. He wasn’t even interested in the stories and poems in the book, but it at least distracted him from his surroundings.

“A poor man’s hobby,” he mumbled his thought under his breath unintentionally.

[explosioncharled-blog]

In Good Graceless || Charles & Rachel

@peony-please​

Coming from a family so well connected in business fields, Charles grew up learning the importance of networking, of keeping good connections with people who could further your ambitions somehow. As such, he often found himself offering to help out various teachers whenever they requested it. Assuming he wasn’t already busy with a pressing matter.

And that was how Charles found himself heading towards the Athletics Center, a building on the campus he rarely entered for his own classes. In his arms was a stack of papers in a few manila folders, which his history teacher had asked him to give to the Yearbook teacher. Of course, the teacher also mentioned the other teacher, Ms.Scotts, would actually be in the Dance Studio at this time of day, so here he was.

“Excuse me, Ms.Scotts...?” He called out as walked up to the open doorway, leaning forward to peek further in as he actually went through it.

[explosioncharled-blog]

Nerves of Steel || Charles & Sierra

@sierra-miist

Metalworking class always seemed like an interesting point in Charles’ day. It was one of the few classes he could take that matched up with his plans for once he graduated, and it was certainly one he certainly enjoyed most days! However, there were a few things that always put a damper on how much he could enjoy said class. Most of these things? That would be his.... loud classmates. And he didn’t mean that solely in the traditional sense.

The fact that one was bumbling in the classroom towards him had him frowning in distaste. Honestly, he wasn’t sure why the girl even bothered taking the class, given how little effort she seemed to put into her work. She seemed the energetic, and troublesome, sort as well, he thought she’d fit better with one of the many sports this school had classes dedicated to. A better fit that this class seemed to be anyway. Though, he supposed she seemed at least a bit more engaged in this class than the other class they shared.

“Could you make any more noise entering the room?” He asked dryly, as she passed his seat. His head was resting on the palm of his hand as he looked at her, clearly showing how unimpressed he was.