the roof | mid afternoon | monday | august 3

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

Alex couldn't really stand the thought of spending time in his room today just because he'd spent three days sleeping on the floor. He needed to be out and moving so he went instead of low and found himself leaning against the edge of roof and sucking on a cigarette.

Three days without one for a guy with a fierce nicotine addiction was almost another version of hell on earth for him. And while the cigarette was nice, the quiet meant his thoughts skittered to unpleasant places again and he really couldn't stop them.

At least he didn't have to worry about getting his ass killed anymore. Well, not by vampires, at least.

[roof is open!]

Comments

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Some things didn't change and finding Alex on the roof just cemented one of those things.

"You were going to be up here if it rained or not, huh," Rose teased, seeing him over by the wall.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"It could've been fucking snowing and I was coming up here," he said, glancing over his shoulder at her briefly. "I needed out of my room."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't have argued with snow," she admitted. It would have seriously damaged her laying out plans though. "The sun though - I like the sun." She wandered over to lean against the wall too, consciously not looking at that bit where Merlin had been yesterday. "So general stir-crazy or did you end up in your room the whole time?"

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Passed out on the floor for three days," he said and shook his head. "Griff--"

He stopped there and shook his head at some errant memory. "--woke up first and then I woke up. We were both on the floor of our room."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Some bit of tension went out of her shoulders at the mention of Griff, and now everyone really was back and all right.

"Awww, was there cuddling?"

Because apparently snark won out even when you were freaking happy to see a friend there and himself.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

He gave her a look. It was a long look, fogged by cigarette smoke and the flicker of relief in his eyes but still a look.

"He drooled on himself."

And some snark.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Now there's a picture," Rose said. "You only drooled on the floor then?"

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"I don't drool," he said pointedly, shaking his head. "I sleep neatly. Never drooled on you, did I?"

[OH GLORIOUS DAY!!!]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"You've never slept on me for three days at once," Rose shot back, way too amused. "Things could change."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"We weren't sleeping on each other," he clarified, rolling his eyes. "He was one the floor, I was on the floor, and we just happened to have passed out near each other. Door was shut and I guess no one came looking for us."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Doesn't Griff have a girlfriend?" she asked. "You'd think she'd come looking for him at least." Rose shrugged. "Think I'd've rather been sleeping in my room. Waking up in a frickin' infirmary with hundreds of people around was creepy as hell."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Griff's got a..." He didn't even know. "Griff's a special friend. Maybe. He clams up when I ask."

Of course, Alex asked in the worst possible ways but those were just minor details. He fell quiet and tried to look at Rose without her noticing. It wasn't easy for someone who tended not to look at anyone in any sort of meaningful way.

There were supposed to be words here but he was having some trouble. Shut up.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"How do you ask?" Rose teased.

She watched the Preserve for a moment, mind wandering to what it would be like to watch that treeline every day wondering when enemies would come out of it. Looking up again, she caught Alex's glance. "What?"

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"I ask if he's boned her yet," he quipped, averting his eyes to his feet and then over the edge of the school. "Nothing. Just, you know, checking."

She seemed all right.

"Checking you out."

Oh, great cover.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad you're -" okay, not broken, here and alive "- still hot too, Alex," Rose said.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

They were so healthy, really.

"I'm always hot," he said, forcing some bravado and ego into his voice. "Even in that...place, I was hot and scruffy. So, no need to worry."

Even if it felt kind of nice that maybe someone did.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, just look at them. Complete pictures of health.

It wasn't quite a hug or a caress, but Rose reached over to touch his back, intending - if he didn't pull away - to let her hand brush down it for a moment.

"Scruffy's not the best look for you."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

He didn't pull away but he did tense up momentarily, years of past actions (thanks, Dad!) and the fact that he didn't really know how to handle displays of affection contributing to that action.

But, it was just Rose's hand and just his back so he relaxed and let go of a breath.

"I've already got some scruff," he said, rubbing his chin. "Gonna make me shave, Rose, and I like this."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

She was almost surprised that he didn't jerk back, and she let her hand rest there for another second after he relaxed before pulling it back.

"That's not so bad," Rose teased. "But once it gets a bit more overgrown you still looking like a weird tree."

Good job talking about the important things, guys.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"You talking like a full beard?" he asked, content to talk about these oh so important things for the moment. "I think it'd look fine if I kept it trimmed. It's not like I let myself get unkempt."

Unless he was on some bender somewhere.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose gave him a Look. "You are so, so wrong about that."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"You're not the one with the facial hair," he pointed and then made a show of looking closer. "Unless...you are. Are you? Let's see those whiskers!"

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

Claire had some of the Muffins (of Triumph) from the third floor common room. And she knew that the roof was a popular spot for people to emo think.

"Hi, I come bearing muffins," she said.

Oh, look, two former cabinmates that she hardly knew.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"I don't have whiskers!" she protested, trying not to smile as she reached up to try to flick him lightly on the side of his head. Rose made a face. "And if I did, there'd be wax involved."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

Alex wasn't fast enough to dodge but he did end up laughing and rubbing the side of his head.

"Wax, huh?" he asked, grinning. "Doesn't that hurt in...certain areas?"

He'd heard of bikini waxes, yes.