[001] where were you, I was worried

[notafuckingnut]

[Text.  Or, more specifically, a series of them, spread a couple minutes apart]

SETH.

Cmon Seth this isn't funny. Where the fuck r u weve got a rendezvous 2 make.

At least I think we do.

What the fuck is this place anyway?  The service sucks the beds like a rock and there isn't even a TV.

What am I supposed to do in here stare at the ceiling for an hour?  This is bullshit.

Comments

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[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[Richie is entirely too easily distracted when following individuals of the female persuasion up stairs (or really...anywhere, for that matter), so it probably wasn't all that surprising that he really only caught about half of what she was saying without someone to keep his mind on track. Consequently there was a vacant murmur of agreement after which he realized he probably actually needed to say something.]

Yeah, that sounds good. Um. Disney World's the one in Florida, right?

[See? He was paying attention. Sort of.]

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[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Disneyland is in California.

[Claire pointed to each floor as they passed it, saying what could be found there. Six had the pool table and laundromat ("You can come back and wash your clothes here, unless you'd rather trash them"), five had the library, and four had the gymnasium ("Which is where I work"). Having reached the third, she led him in the direction of the male Inmate showers.]

Your Warden will assign you a job, like kitchen staff or janitorial duty. And they're the person who can take you into the CES, which is a place that changes into almost anything you're thinking of.

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[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[More information filed away for later -- six and four being marked as the most obviously important -- before he followed her out onto the third floor. Unlike his last excursion out into the halls, he made a point not to peek into any of the rooms, instead keeping his attention on the girl and the girl alone under the pretense of gleaning as much information about this place as he could.]

I'm not working for some overweight pig with a nightstick, I don't care what the rules are. What's CES stand for?

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[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[It got a chuckle out of her, his remark.]

Uh huh. CES stands for Closed Ecological System. It's pretty cool, but you'll need a Warden to get inside. Same goes for the pub.

[Showers reached, Claire waved a hand in front of the door.]

And last, but not least, the showers.

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

So there's booze around here, at least. That's a start.

[He took a couple steps in, then paused, as if waiting for something. Turning back around to look, he gave her a questioning look, like something your puppy might give you when you put it outside and leave it there.]

...You're...not coming?

[...For some reason he thought she would be. Way to misread situations, Richie.]

Spam! - I had to share this tag with the boyfriend, you worded it so cutely! <3

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[Claire had started to rest against the wall, paused midway with her butt flush to the wall and her body half bent in mid-lean. She blinked three times, rapidly, a blush claiming her cheeks and neck.]

Oh, um, no, sorry, I...

[She was floundering for a response.

I was going to wait out here for you?

Spam! - d'awww! I'm glad you enjoyed it! <3

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

But...you said you would...you know...

[Hadn't she? Yes. She had to have, he was sure of it. Or, if she hadn't said it, the implication had been clear enough. Harmless confusion began to fade into something a little darker, a little more certain, although still with that injured, eager-to-please puppy quality to it, which maybe made it all the worse.]

Spam! - Also, once I get things figured out, may have an idea for the mirror flood, keep ya posted.

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[She defensively crossing her arms under her breasts and made a gasp, though she was almost smiling in the process.]

Nuh uh! Richie, I said I'd show you where the showers were, not how they work.

[Claire smiled in the continuing act of playing this off as friendly jest, one guy just trying to suavely change the situation to his benefit.]

I promise not to leave, okay?

Spam! - ooo sweeeet! please do!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[He frowned, trying to figure out where the discrepancy came from, which lent a sort of desperate certainty to his insistence.]

But...you said. I heard you, you can't just go back on it like that; it's not fair.

[One step forward, just one; he hasn't quite decided for sure what he's going to do about it just yet.]

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[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[Claire licked her lips in worry, beginning to worry that he hadn't, in fact, been playfully suggesting she join him. Trying to keep the nervousness that now crept over her from showing, she remained firmly in place and insisted:]

Richie, we don't even know each other. I'm sorry if it sounded that way, but I didn't mean it to, I never meant to indicate I'd go in the showers with you. I only wanted to help show you the way.

[An action she was quickly regretting.]

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[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[Indecision, and where the fuck was Seth, he was supposed to be around. He always knew what to do in these kinds of situations. A gun would have helped, obviously -- because he knew he was right here, he just knew it -- but he obviously didn't have one of those handy, so he'd just have to deal without for now. Fuck. He took another step closer, looking more disappointed and confused than anything else.]

But why would you say something like that if you didn't mean it? That's just...you don't do that.

[Enter argumentative!Richie, which sounds an awful lot like a broken record. He's...really terrible at letting things go.]

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[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[The fear was turning to anger at being accused and put in this situation. This time, when he took a step forwards, Claire slid one foot backwards.]

I don't know how you could have heard me say "I'll go in the showers with you" when I clearly said I could show you. If I had said that? Then, yeah, not exactly nice to be a cocktease, I know.

[Less stern, she sighed.] Look, I'm gonna go before this gets anymore out of hand, okay? Before either of us does something we'll regret.

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

It wasn't what you said, it was how. I saw it, don't tell me I didn't.

[The more she denied it the more frustrated he got, and the more tightly he latched onto his convictions. It wasn't about the act itself anymore, or not entirely, it was about being right, and the result was little more than a grown man's equivalent of a tantrum. He didn't advance further (fortunately), but that was probably only because he knew she'd take off if he did and then he'd never win this.]

Spam! - Heh, icon.

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

Well, I didn't mean for it to come off that way. And you're right, looking back on it now, maybe I just should have told you how to get here, but I thought it would be nice to give you a tour on the way. I know how much it can suck being the new person and instead of risking you getting lost, I just.wanted.to help.

[She was certain to reiterate her latter sentence. At no point did Claire plan on sleeping with Richie, and so soon.]

Spam! - so appropriate! sort of

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[Nooo, damn you logic. He scowled, and there was some alpha posturing, but it was evident enough that no, she was completely serious. He didn't believe her, of course - because He Knew What Was Up - but there was nothing for it now.

And who knew. Maybe she'd change her mind.

Have another mood shift, Claire. Back to (mostly) harmless, albeit embarrassed and disappointed, and the little fact that it doesn't really feel 100% authentic.]

...Fine. I guess that makes sense. Just...be careful what you say and don't do it again unless you mean it, okay?

Spam! - xD Uh huh.

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[Claire swallowed hard, and though she knew better, she knew that leaving was the smart thing to do right now, she was frightened he'd somehow follow her back to her cabin. So, she stayed. And she had promised him earlier anyhow, no way was she about to play this game all over again.]

I won't, Richie. I'm sorry, okay? [She nodded, leaning back against the wall finally.] I'm sorry. I'll wait out here.

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[And at that one, simple, confirmation, he was back to the puppy impression; she would still be here, she may have turned him down but she was still here, she wasn't leaving. She would still be there when he got back. He took it as a good sign, regardless of what her own reasoning behind it had been.]

It's okay, I forgive you. [...How generous of him.] I'll see you in a little while then.

[Much cheered, he gave her a small, self-conscious smile before heading off to the showers.]

Spam!- No email back from Yuna yet, so pretending the vamp isn't comaing.

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[She gave a small smile and nodded again. But the smile dropped the minute he was out of eyesight.

This was one of those rare moments that Claire was grateful for her bond with Franklin, in that should Richie do another 360 on her and decide to attack, the vampire would feel her distress and hopefully come running. Because it was unlikely that a plea sent out via the communicator would be fruitful.]

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[The shower was...uneventful. He sudsed and scrubbed and cleaned up as thoroughly as he could (twice - it was mostly habit by this point, and at least half circumstance) then dressed, smoothing out all the creases and adjusting his glasses before heading out, running his uninjured palm over his bangs in an attempt to get them to behave. The other he clenched and unclenched, testing, before wrapping the duct tape back around it and hoping for the best.

He seemed pleased to see that Claire had kept her word, favoring her with another half-smile when she came into view.]

Hi again.

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[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[She gave him a bob of her head, pushing off the wall.]

Feel better?

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[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

Much. I threw out the shirt, I don't think it was salvageable.

[Because yes, she needed to know this. Apparently.]

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[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[She wrinkled her nose.] Probably best.

So. I need to start my shift soon at the gym, but you want me to show you anything else first? You haven't seen the first or second floors.

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[curious face, you may have one.]

...What's up [down?] there?

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[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

Level two has the medical ward and the first floor has the kitchen and dining hall. Every floor has a common room too. Some have different things, like a piano or a cookie-cutter shark.

Spam!

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[pause. think. reflect.]

...What the fuck is a "cookie-cutter shark" and why do you have one?