2nd Floor Common Room - early evening - 12/25

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

Fiona had been looking for Griff most of the day when she finally settled in the common room to hopefully catch him as he walked to his room. Of course, she knew it was entirely possible that he'd never actually walk past her, considering his talent, but it was as good an idea as any she could figure out. The little wrapped present sat next to her as she read, a glass of egg nog sitting on the table beside her mostly because that was what she'd read she was supposed to do. The TV wasn't on, but she wouldn't mind if it was. She wouldn't really mind anything right about now, because this book was even more boring than the last three times she'd read it.

[open as these things are]

Comments

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Second day in a row that Effy found herself actually going out of her way to find the company of other people, and even other people that weren't just Alex. Time of year was getting to her softer side or something.

"Fiona," she greeted after a moment. The fact she didn't look as obsessively festive as some people around here was actually more of an attraction to join her. "Alright?"

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She nodded and managed a quick little smile for Effy.

"Just fine. You?"

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Not really feeling the Christmas thing," she admitted, wandering over. But then, Effy was hardly the festive, 'sing around a tree and dress up cute' kind of girl. "Otherwise, not so bad."

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"We never celebrated anything," she admitted right back, closing the book and putting it aside, "so there's not much to 'feel'."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"We did, but, not there, so--" It was different, and Effy suspected even if she was home it would be a shit Christmas now her parents were separated or... whatever, anyway.

"Nothing, huh?" Sounded worse than the sporadic holidays celebrated in her house.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Our family didn't do holidays."

Though she had received a card from her father. She wasn't quite sure why her father had thought it funny and especially ironic, but she'd been happy to accept the soft blue sweater. It even had a little black cat button at the neck.

"Doesn't do holidays. One of the rules. And it'd be kind of weird anyway."

She looked around.

"Been a while. Things all right for you?"

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Effy shrugged, sitting back. That was... one of those questions at the moment. Honestly? They were. Confusing and complicated as things were turning out, she couldn't say any of it was bad.

"Not so bad," she allowed, curling a bit of a smile. "Benefit of break week. Fuck all to do, and lots of time to do it in."

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Not used to it, really," she said with a shrug.

"Last one was my first. We never got breaks at home. I kind of like it, but I kind of don't."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Don't know what to do with yourself?" Effy wondered. Honestly, she sometimes had that problem too. Proof of her boredom showed in all sorts of random skills she'd picked up, like morse code and learning how to pick stuff up with her toes.

[youcantfollow.livejournal.com]

It had been a rough few days for Griffin. It was only at Alejandra's urgings that he was returning to Fandom, and he wasn't feeling certain it was the right decision.

Walking up from the causeway and climbing the dorm stairs had the double bonus of lengthening the trip to the mess he'd left behind in his room and allowing him to feel normal for a few minutes.

If he'd known there were people in the common area, he might have rethought stopping in for a drink on his way through the halls. "Uh, hey." Forced interpersonal communication was a great thing.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

Fiona noticed him immediately and was grinning at him... until she actually got a look at him. She'd never exactly been the best with people even before her little birthday adventure, but even she could tell that something was very very wrong. The wrapped box and the egg nog was forgotten as she stood up and walked over to him, arms reaching up to wrap around herself in nervousness.

"Hey."

[youcantfollow.livejournal.com]

"Reading?" Griff asked lamely, unable to make himself look at her as he headed for the refrigerator. It wouldn't be right to end up bawling in public. In front of Alejandra had been bad enough.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Waiting for you, mostly," she admitted, following at something of a distance. Something was wrong, and she knew that and he had to know she knew. But he'd given her her time to settle herself when she'd felt like she would explode. The least she could do was give him the same. She'd just be... worried. Supportively.

[youcantfollow.livejournal.com]

Griff grabbed a water and turned back to her. "Right, I didn't call." He'd not actually had the thought to do so even when he was able, after. Now he felt borderline guilty that he should have at least thought of it.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She shrugged, as if to say that he didn't have to. Mostly because even if it would have been nice, if she could take one less thing off of him, she would.

"I was reading too. Enjoying the quiet."

[youcantfollow.livejournal.com]

Suddenly concerned, since he hadn't called and he had been gone and had thus very likely missed something, Griff stepped closer and asked, "But you're alright?"

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She thought about it for a moment, since she wasn't really all right because she was worried about him, but--

"I'm fine. What about you?"

[youcantfollow.livejournal.com]

Looking at her made it difficult to lie about what had just gone on. "'Bout ready to burst," he admitted, squeezing his water bottle within an inch of its life.

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

And there was someone looked even less in the festive spirit than either of them.

Effy watched him briefly, and nodded a sort of greeting and a, "Griff."

[youcantfollow.livejournal.com]

She got a very non-festive, if polite, "Effy," in response. Since leaving, the holidays had been the furthest thing from the top of his mind.

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Look like shit," she noted, oh so helpfully. For Effy that was almost concern, so he should probably be honored somehow.

[youcantfollow.livejournal.com]

He was thrilled to look like shit, given the negative amounts of time he'd spent taking care of himself. "Who are you, my personal cheerleader?"

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Can't you just see me waving pom-poms?"

... Yeah, no. Sarcasm, ahoy. She'd really have to be gremlin bitten or some shit for that.

[youcantfollow.livejournal.com]

"Sure, if they were made from leather and nails," he snorted, taking a swig from his water and wishing it wasn't. Fantastically cheerful conversation was a go!

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Got me pegged as cheerleader dominatrix?" she said, twitching a bit of a smirk. "Didn't know you had that sort of idea in you." Okay, he hadn't said that at all, but teasing him was still allowed, whatever mood he might be in.