Stairwell to the second floor, Tuesday evening

[lovemykilt]

Priestly had been all set to go out and walk around and generally be fairly broody over the whole Amber-turning-out-to-have-an-exclusive-boyfriend-who-turned-into-brownies thing. He had the whole look -- jacket, hands shoved in pockets, downturned look, hunched shoulders -- and he strode out through the lobby and out the front door with great purpose.

And immediately turned around and came back in because jacket or no, it was freaking cold out there!

Which would be why he was now sitting on the stairs between the lobby and the second floor, brooding. It wasn't quite as atmospheric, but it would do.

[ooc: Dude, it's a stairwell. Totally open.]

Comments

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen stomped headed into the stairwell without paying the slightest attention and nearly fell right on top of the boy who appeared to be an odd looking version of Dean or Alec.

When she'd picked herself up off the floor, she gave him a look. "Is this some sort of new Fandom thing? Random obstacle courses?"

[lovemykilt]

Priestly braced himself against the stairs, giving the girl a look right back.

"No, this is a 'hey, watch where you're going' thing."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"You are sitting directly in the way of going anywhere," she complained.

[lovemykilt]

"There's, like, a whole foot of stair over there that I'm not on."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"I have no doubt that with my luck had I gone that way you would have moved," Helen said grumpily, rubbing at her bruised shin. "Why are you sitting here? Did you forget where you live?"

It seemed a reasonable question. He was clearly new.

[lovemykilt]

Priestly snorted. "No, I didn't forget where I live."

Of course, his actual reason seemed vaguely lame just now, too.

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"I've forgotten on occasion," Helen admitted. "Not here, but when I was walking the Bounds. It could be hard to keep track."

She tilted her head. "So... why then?"

[lovemykilt]

Priestly tried to look nonchalant. "It's cold outside."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"So... you are forced to sit on the stairs?"

[lovemykilt]

"It sounds stupid when you put it like that."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"I am sure you had some reason in mind, when you sat here," she admitted, kindly for her.

[lovemykilt]

"I was totally gonna go for a walk. Clear my head. And it's cold out." Poor little California boy. "And I didn't feel like going back to my room or the common rooms."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen nodded. "Compared to my world almost everything here seems too cold. I am sorry you could not... clear your head."

When she felt broody she drew spiders or mice to her, but she hadn't met anyone else who found that comforting so she thought she probably shouldn't offer.

[lovemykilt]

Priestly might find that kinda neat. As long as they didn't crawl on him.

He shrugged. "S'okay. Can I ask a question?"

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

They wouldn't unless Helen told them to. And she would never do something that would hurt them or cause them to be hurt.

She nodded. "If you like."

[lovemykilt]

Priestly hesitated for a moment, then finally just blurted it out.

"Why are girls weird?"

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen blinked at him. "Are they?" She thought for a moment. "I think no more weird than boys, but then... well... I find most people here weird. Because I don't understand how they think or what they mean half the time. Perhaps that's why you think girls are?"

[lovemykilt]

Priestly pulled his knees up and rested his elbows on them, then his chin on his elbows.

"Yeah, I guess." He glared at the wall for a moment, then continued. "Okay, let me put it this way. If you had a boyfriend you were all committed to, would you talk about another guy's underwear and then ask him to dinner? I mean, that's totally flirting, right?"

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

She blinked. "I would not. That seems totally unfair and yes, beyond flirting."

[lovemykilt]

Priestly nodded firmly. "Totally. But then she just goes 'oh, we're going to dinner as friends'. See? Weird."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"I am sorry," Helen said sincerely. "That is an unfair thing to do."

Not that she'd ever been on a date of any kind, much less asked anyone to dinner, but still it seemed wrong.

[lovemykilt]

Priestly sighed. "Thanks." Of course, being him, he'd totally agreed to said 'dinner-as-friends' anyway. Because he was a pushover. He held out a hand. "So, uh, hi, by the way. I'm Priestly."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"Hello, Priestly," she said taking his hand. "I am Helen Haras-Uquara."

[lovemykilt]

"Nice to meet you. That's a hell of a last name you got there."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"It means I am the Hand of Uquar," she admitted. "It's... more a title, I suppose."