The Deck | Afternoon | Monday | February 15

[therewaslife]

One of the easiest ways, Bod discovered, of dealing with leftover restless energy was to get himself out of his room. Finding it was warmer than it had been was even better. It meant he could go outside without feeling like he was going to turn into the human equivalent of an icicle.

With a walk into town on his mind, Bod decided he could wait awhile when he discovered the deck. It look little used (which made sense during the winter months) but it was warm enough today to get some use.

So, he clambered onto the deck and took a seat, making himself comfortable by stretching his leg out and tucking his arms behind his head. Of course, now that he was there, he didn't really have much to do. Staring at the sky worked for a few moments before he let his eyes slip closed.

It wasn't sleep so much as an easy way to take himself back to a different time in a different place with different people. He didn't do this often since it tended to make him maudlin but on a brisk Monday, he allowed himself the luxury.

[deck's an open place! just trying to keep myself awake!]

Comments

[therewaslife]

"I suppose I'll just hope for a quick warm up, then," he teased, situating himself a little more comfortably in his chair. "You can sit, you know. I'm not in a biting mood, I promise."

[vanillajello]

She merely smirked at him, and rocked back on her heels a bit. "I didn't plan to stay long. There's stuff to do." Pause. "But I guess I could sit down for a moment."

And so she flopped down into the nearest chair.

[therewaslife]

"Stuff to do?" he repeated, curious. "What's keeping you so busy?"

[vanillajello]

"Clothes to wash, schedule to rearrange, flowers to poke at," Kate replied easily. "Stuff. You know."

[therewaslife]

"Ah, stuff." No, he really didn't have anything like that to do for the most part. His days at home consisted of learning and wandering and he'd tried to keep that schedule when he'd arrived here. Familiarity and all.

"Was the deck just a stop on the way?" asked Bod idly.

[vanillajello]

Kate ran a hand through her hair, which was still a little tangled up in places from when she'd slept on the bus earlier in the day. "Pretty much," she replied, shrugging.

[therewaslife]

"I'm surprised you stayed," he remarked because she certainly didn't look all that comfortable to be there. And it wasn't like he hadn't noticed the short answers.

"Feeling all right?" he asked, finding it impossible not to ask even if he'd been trying and trying to restrain it.

[vanillajello]

"I'm fine."

It wasn't a lie. She wasn't looking forward to talking to Leto, and she hadn't slept well the previous night, and there'd already been a few very Fandom things happening to her today, but all in all, she was doing okay.

Better than some days the past few weeks, anyway. She even managed a small smile to accompany the statement.

[therewaslife]

"All right." The words came out slowly and a little dubiously but he didn't make any follow up statements or ask any other questions. Statement aside, she didn't seem to want to talk, at least to him, so he nodded.

Bod stayed quiet and used his talent for subtly to keep watching her, at least. Letting her visit the deck in peace? Or maybe he was just being stubborn. Or something.

[vanillajello]

Kate was going to bet on stubborn. It was a common thing in the people around her, after all.

And some would claim she was the worst of them all.

She looked into her bag again, and this time actually found a cigarette in one of the inside pockets. She couldn't help looking smug when she pulled it out, other hand slipping into her jacket pocket for the lighter.

[therewaslife]

Bod thought about making faces just because he could have moments of immaturity but he didn't. He'd gone lengthy periods without doing anything but watching people. He'd grown talented at it.

And she was being expressive, smug or not, so it was enjoyable enough for him to watch, notate, and remember for later. Sometimes being stubborn could pay off in new things learned.

[vanillajello]

Kate lit the cigarette and stuck the lighter back in her pocket, leaving her cigarette-free hand there with it.

Idly, she thought this was probably the last cigarette she'd smoke in a while. She was pretty certain it was the last one she had, and her budget wouldn't allow buying more. Might as well enjoy it.

'Enjoying it' translated to trying to blow smoke rings.

[therewaslife]

Bod spent a few more idle moments watching...whatever she was doing before he closed his eyes again, letting her have her, well, letting her have whatever she'd come on the deck for.

He'd made himself unnoticeable and easily ignored before. He could do it again even if he couldn't Fade anymore. He could close his eyes and try to take himself somewhere else.

Whatever she wanted, he wasn't going to be the one to force a conversation or make puppy eyes to get attention. Not his thing. Wasn't going to fall to him.

[vanillajello]

And Kate appreciated that more than he could possibly know, because she so didn't need anyone pursuing her attention right now. She was determined to work through all her crap one mess at a time and try her best not to get overwhelmed.

She smoked the cigarette, and made some conversation with some other people, and then when she deemed it time to leave, she came back over to him, because while he was being easily ignored, she still knew he was there and he really wasn't that easy for her to ignore.

It wasn't anything big or meaningful. Just a quick "So, I gotta go, stuff to do. I'll see you later, Bod" before she was off. But it happened.