Rat Kings [Telos]

Any adolescent worth their salt knew that the mall was the place to go when they really wanted to flex their teenage rebellion and spend time away from their controlling, patronizing parents. Therefore, it came as no surprise that Steven Vaughn found himself among the mall rats of the BackLight, though he kept himself separate from the roving packs of roughhousing boys and tittering flocks of females. He had absolutely no interest in socializing with them; simply existing in the vicinity of those who had a fraction of a chance of understanding his plight was good enough for him.

Thus, there he sat, sunken into the wire-framed chair beside one of the many umbrella-shaded tables that marked a nexus of restaurants amid the endless shops. The position would've looked quite uncomfortable were it not for the fact that he compensated by crossing his legs across another chair, effectively occupying two seats. It wasn't like anyone was going to come and sit with him (except for maybe that girl from earlier, though from what he understood she'd moved on to more important matters), and if they were desperate enough to need one of the two extra seats at his table they were almost certain to move it somewhere else.

It had almost gotten to be too chilly to be outside, but the young man couldn't find it in himself to be cooped up inside. No matter where he went it just felt cramped and uncomfortable, particularly when all the cafes and hangouts were already stuffed to the brim with peers. He sighed, pulling out his phone to check the time and idly sift through spam notifications before lifting his gaze to halfheartedly observe his surroundings.

Steven eyed the man approaching him, internally already complaining that something had to come along and prove his previous line of thoughts wrong. He stared blankly at the man when he asked his question, looking down and over at the extra chair that he occupied. They remained there for a pointed moment, then roved to the two extra seats beside him, then back to the man. Clearly he wanted to make the scenario as awkward as possible. After all, it was silly to ask someone for something when you were perfectly capable of getting it yourself.

Another thing he hated about parents. Huh.

"There's two more chairs right there. Don't particularly see why you need this one." he finally commented, uncrossing his legs to give a restrained stretch and put them back the other way around.

Oh, perfect. Not only was he intent on intervening in his peaceful people-watching, he had to throw his two cents in on a matter that had nothing to do with him.

"It's also rude to walk up to someone and demand they give up something when there's more of the something right there. I'm not expecting anyone to come sit with me, and it's generally considered rude to just randomly come up and sit at the same table with a random stranger if there's open tables available." he responded, the half-confused, half disproving frown pulling at his features contradicting the monotony in his voice. That was the whole point of him walking up to ask for the chair, wasn't it? To avoid just invading his personal space without permission?

"And even if there aren't any open, that doesn't change the fact that the question was... kinda dumb. Unless you're trying to make some sort of 'respect your elders' point, in which case I don't know what qualifies you to do so. I don't know you."

Steven couldn't help but give a slight roll of his eyes and sigh at the man's retort. Getting all offended when all he did was state the truth. Some poeple, honestly.

"Well, hello mister Axel Allen. I'm Steven Vaughn. I'm a high school student. Not that you actually care." he responded, then turned his gaze back to people-watching. It wasn't his intention to be antagonizing to this Axel person--that was just the way he spoke. Though, he did find what the man said about himself somewhat interesting. A motivational speaker? He never really put much stock into the people that made motivational speeches professionally, since their job was really just to whip unruly or under-productive workers into shape like a cowboy driving cattle. Still, he couldn't deny the effect that good, strong words had on people.

If only his words weren't usually taken so bitterly.

He had half a mind to strike up conversation with this slightly less of a stranger, but there was still a bitter taste from their previous interaction, and he wouldn't grace him with attention unless the man insisted. Though he couldn't help but steal a scrutinizing glance over at him every now and then. He did have his share of questions...

"Uh... huh." Steven responded dismissively, less interested in the man himself than his job.

"So, you're a motivational speaker, huh? Like, that's your job? What do they do, hire you to whip the interns into shape or something?" he questioned, obviously trying not to sound offensive but unable to keep the toxins from his tone. Clearly he needed to work on his wordplay a bit more. "Like, I never really understood what jobs like that were really for, besides being corporate schemes to raise productivity. My parents are all into business stuff like that, so that's really the only perspective I know it from."

Changing people for the better, he said. Although, that did raise an interesting question in the teenager's mind that catered to his cynicism. For the better according to whom? Of course, he didn't dare ask the question since he pretty much knew he wouldn't get a rational response. People tended to read implications that weren't there when he asked questions like that.

He wasn't much interested in the sob story, either, though there was a little light that flickered on in his head at mention of the Olympics. He supposed a world-ending phenomenon full of demons and ruin would have an effect on traditions, worldwide or not. Still, the guy's justification for doing what he did didn't sit well with Steven, and he pondered on Axel's latter statements for a few moments.

"Is that what it means to 'be someone' for you? Having people notice you or look up to you?" he asked, the first question more accusatory but his edge dulling midway through the second. After all, that technically wasn't all that different from the way he thought of things. It was just... a motivational speaker seemed so lackluster as a career path, and yet, that was exactly the sort of role he wanted to have in life. Outside of an acting career, that was.

"I mean, celebrities and popular athletes and stuff come and go all the time, when someone better than them comes along. I want to be an actor but I don't really care if I get famous or if I make people happy or whatever. I just want to do what I like doing."

But alas, there were always people trying to lay down bricks on someone else's path through life. Parents were naturally the worst offenders, but most authority figures seemed to be guilty of it.

"Why didn't you just go back to being a regular old athlete? Pick up a different sport, or something?"

Steven shrugged at the retort.

"I don't really care who notices me or acknowledges me as long as I'm doing what I want," he explained, raising a brow in curiosity as the man visibly paused. Hadn't thought of just going back to being an athlete, huh? Well, there always was the idea that jocks weren't the sharpest tools in the shed.

Still, the boy could respect having some goals to attend to before getting back on the literal and metaphorical track. He shrugged at the justification, and that was as close as the man was going to get to a positive response from the teen.

"Fair enough. Even I know life happens."

Steven continued to watch the man long after he'd given his justification. There was more thought there; he could see it in the man's expression, hear it in his words. He was curious, but no much more so than a sunbathing cat was regarding a wiggling string. He could've pounced, but he was far more comfortable enjoying his basking.

But then the string started to pull away. What, was he just going to leave, after verbally wrestling with him for a chair? He barely masked his scoff.

"Sure, I guess." he murmured in response, sinking lower into the chair and getting comfortable once more. Maybe the guy was a motivational speaker if he could motivate himself after such a short conversation.

[The King is out!]