fandomhighdorms | The grounds, Tuesday afternoon

Entry tags:

The grounds, Tuesday afternoon

Without classes to attend, Steerpike found himself to be at loose ends. While he was normally more than happy to spend his time alone and studying so as to better understand this place he'd ended up, he found himself growing restless, and as such, decided it was time to go for a walk.

It astounded him that they had an entire week with no obligations. Such a thing would never, ever occur in Gormenghast, where every day was filled with meaningless, yet obligatory tasks to be fulfilled by every person in the castle. Idle free time was only for the Earl and his family, and even they had daily rituals to complete.

These little brats had no idea how good they had it.

More and more, Steerpike felt that he did not belong here, not as a student. He should be more, by all rights. Not randomly turned into ugly rodents or sent to detention by those that claimed to be gods. If an idiot like that Jamie fellow could manage to usurp the throne of principal for a single day, then surely Steerpike should be able to seize control of the town.

He only had to work out how.

[ooc: if you want to poke the megalomaniac while he's plotting, feel free to do so]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Annette was sort of emo'ing. Tori vanishing like that really had her upset, and then Teddy with his news of leaving, and leaving Chad, made her feel for the both of them. So she was just a little anxious, a little down. She had made a few calls but still that didn't settle her mind.

She hoped that a good walk would clear her thoughts. She hadn't expected to really see anyone out and about and was mildly surprised when she spotted Steerpike. She was a good fifteen feet or so away from him, and she waited to see if he would see her before she lifted a hand to wave in greeting.

Steerpike had, in fact, been observing the school buildings, looking for structural weaknesses ~~as you do~~. As such, it took a few moments for him to spot Annette. He gave her a short, but polite bow.

She smiled a little; the bow was both charming and gentlemanly. Not for the first time, did she think about where he was from.

Annette decided to be cordial, so she approached him slowly, closing the gap between them. "Afternoon, Steerpike."

"Good afternoon, Annette. I should apologize for not coming to see you, but you seemed so uncomfortable with the idea of my visiting your room."

"Oh. That. Well, I don't think it's a big deal anymore." She chuckled. "I've sort of loosened up a little." Fandom does tend to do that to you. "You can stop by whenever, really. I hope I didn't come across too snobbish to you."

"I was thinking, perhaps, we might endeavor to make other arrangements. A neutral ground, as they say, so that neither of us feels as though we are invading the other person's space."

And potentially less witnesses about.

"I don't find you the least bit snobbish," he lied smoothly. "I hope you don't find me too formal or distant."

She smiled and tilted her head. That was a nice suggestion. "Sure, that would be great."

Shaking her head, she said, "No, Steerpike, I don't find you that way at all. I think you are charming and quietly reserved. It's pleasant."

She was remarkably easy to please, wasn't she. "Then we have only to determine the place." He offered her a rare smile. "I have noticed that few of the other students here are . . . able to keep to themselves and their studies."

"I would be fine with wherever you chose." She offered. "I'm not the least bit picky." His smile was nice; Annette didn't think she had seen him smile more than just a few times.

"You are not referring to just this week, are you?"

"This week has barely begun, though I suspect that it will only get worse," there was a note of light teasing in his voice, deliberately placed, even as he inwardly hated his fellow students for exactly these reasons. "I'm afraid I find it very strange that classes are actually ceasing for a week. Though not, I must say, as strange as suddenly becoming a very ugly rodent in one of those classes."

She nodded because he most assuredly was right. But as a student who has dealt with spring break before, she could understand why one might not, with the understanding of course, where one has come from, think it strange.

"I enjoy it as most of us do. Gives us all a little break from our studies and the monotony of a daily/weekly schedule." She laughed lightly at the rodent comment. "I was a cute little bunny."

Steerpike nodded. "I know you were. I remember." Another smile. "You hopped magnificently."

"But how...I mean..." Very ugly rodent... Annette's eyes widened. "You mean you were the ugly thing with the stick in its mouth?"

The smile faded. "Er. Yes. I had to be able to defend myself somehow. . . ."

Oops. "I didn't mean ugly. Did I say ugly? My bad. I meant...strangely...eye inspiring." She nodded, looking sheepish.

"That's a nice attempt. But yes, I was ugly." He folded his hands behind his back and looked out over the grounds. "Perhaps we were indicative of our inner natures. You, the immaculate white rabbit, me, a lowly, ugly rat-thing, obviously unworthy of your attentions. . . ." There was a slight smile on his face at that, the hint of a joke in his voice, should she care to pick up on it and join him in the humor.

Of course, it was possible she might agree, that Steerpike wasn't worthy of her. In which case, he would begin to plot her horrible demise.

It . . . was honestly even odds as to which he was expecting.

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him no, that that certainly wasn't right. That he wasn't unworthy of her attentions. But suddenly her father's face flashed before her eyes and he was stern and demanding and telling her that no boy was worthy enough for her. Just look what happened to Sebastian.

There was a hint of teasing in Steerpike's tone though that indicated he was doing just that, messing with her. Annette also folded her hands behind her back, lifting her chin a notch or two, attempting to look down upon him though he was quite obviously taller than her. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as the saying goes. It could be that I found you irresistable but have to keep you in your place lest you think to overstep your boundries." And she was teasing him; hopefully he could tell by the little spark of mischief in her eyes.

Steerpike raised one eyebrow and nodded slightly. "The woman's perogative."

She nodded, "Quite." And maybe her teasing didn't go over so well? Uhh-Ohh.

"How long have you been out here now, just walking around?"

"Not long. I was growing restless."

"Why's that?" She asked, curious.

Steerpike merely shrugged. "I suppose there really is only so much time one can spend in one's room with one's books."

"You need a hobby. What do you enjoy that is fun?"

Plotting to take over.

"I'd say I like people, but whenever I do, the other person thinks it's strange."

That was one she's never heard before. Interesting.

"Do you like me?"

How to approach this? Steerpike turned his head towards Annette, nodding. "Somehow . . . you please me a great deal."

[ooc: mun: *steals line straight from her great grandfather*]

She smiled softly. That was a sweet thing to say to her.

"I don't think you are strange, Steerpike."

(ooc: aww, that's something to remember forever)

"Ah, but I am. It's okay, though. I don't mind."

"And how are you strange, Steerpike?" She waved her hand a little, grinning. "As opposed to everything else around here?"

Steerpike thought for a long moment. "It's possible that this island is entirely populated by those who are strange."

She laughed lightly, "Exactly. Although I think I might be normal. But a strange person to me might consider me strange and then I wouldn't be normal at all. And even a normal person could consider me strange and still I would fit right in with all the strangness here that makes up Fandom." Her brows knitted slightly at her own words.

Sighing, she said, "Well, it doesn't really matter in the end, does it? 'Cause we're here and just have to make the best of it. Strange or not."

"I suppose so. I'm still working on how, exactly, to 'make the best of it'."

"I'll help you." She nodded. "I'm not exactly sure how. But I can try."

(ooc: bedtime for me! G'night!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The grounds, Tuesday afternoon

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject