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Post by Erin May on Feb 24, 2009 21:51:41 GMT
Erin walked into the pub and pulled down her hood, shaking off the excess water. The only reason she had come into the warm crowded pub was to get out of the freezing rain. She hated crowds, but she wasn't claustrophobic. It was people that she was scared of. The amount of people in the pub at the moment was making her extremely nervous, but she was trying not to let it show too much. If she looked as panicky as she felt, then someone was bound to come over and start talking to her, asking if she was alright. Of course she wasn't alright, if she looked alright then they wouldn't have come over. She didn't want to have to be stuck in an awkward conversation with a complete stranger in the middle of a hot, sweaty, crowded pub full of drunk witches and wizards. All she wanted was to sit in the corner with a warm butterbeer waiting for the rain to die out a little.
Erin sighed quietly to herself and held her breath as someone pushed past her. Close contact with people made her even more nervous. She pushed her hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind her ears, looking for an empty table somewhere. She saw some old guy getting out of his seat and rushed towards it, determined not to have to share a table with other people, she didn't think she could cope with that at the moment, no matter how strong she was.
She sat down as soon as she could and took her cloak off, putting it on the back of her chair.
A flustered waitress approached her, her tray already full of drinks.
"A butterbeer, please." Erin requested in her quiet voice. |
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Post by Arden Patricks on Feb 25, 2009 3:46:23 GMT
This was a terrible idea, a voice in my head lets me know with profound clarity and insight. I'm sitting at the far edge of the room with my head in my hands, trying in vain to block out all the sights and sounds, and wishing like hell I could get out of here, but so far too paralyzed with discomfort to actually try it.
I feel like I've been sleepwalking lately, not fully realizing where on Earth I'm going 'til I get there - and usually wishing I hadn't left the house. This is by far the worst place my subconscious has decided to come, however. I hated it with a passion back when I was in school, it's ridiculously crowded and noisy, and it's the first place I met Logan since we were kids. Clearly my subconscious really, really hates me.
((Sorry if that doesn't give you much to work with, but I wanted to answer....))
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Post by Erin May on Feb 26, 2009 11:11:26 GMT
Waiting for her drink, Erin looked around the room, trying to be as careful as possible not to catch anyone's eye. It was a silly thing to do, she knew that but just couldn't help herself. She hadn't been back this close to Hogwarts for years, and she wondered, as she always did, what had happened to her classmates. She hadn't known many of them properly, or at least they'd have no idea who she was. She'd been so quiet at school, no different to how she was now. A lot of people had spread rumours about her, some had tried to befriend her, but her people skills were not very good. She had had one friend at Hogwarts, but he had died during the war. She had grieved greatly, and it still hurt for her to think about him.
She realised a little too late that during her tangent of thoughts she had been so distracted she had been staring at the same spot for a long time, well same person for a long time. She looked away immediately, a blush rising in her cheeks, hoping the person had not noticed.
The waitress arrived back, placing her drink on the table before hurrying to give out the rest on her tray. Erin bowed her head and drank some of her butterbeer, knowing she had to leave a soon as she was finished.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Feb 26, 2009 15:35:32 GMT
It takes me several moments to realize I'm getting that 'you're being stared at' feeling, and then a few more to debate over whether I should look up and find out why. Looking up wins out eventually, but by then I can't tell who it was... if anyone.
Looking up does have the added bonus of making me hunch my shoulders, however, as if to make up for not hiding very well. And it also makes me realize, more than ever, that I really want to leave here.
Unfortunately in my haste, I stumble into somebody's table, tripping over my own feet and having to catch myself before I fall on the person in question. Dammit.
"Sorry," I mutter, face flaming.
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Post by Erin May on Feb 26, 2009 15:46:49 GMT
Erin looks up, gasping as someone falls directly into her table. The exact same person in question that she had been accidently staring at. The rouge in her cheeks darked greatly, one of the many drawbacks of having such pale skin. She had let her hair fall into her eyes, obscuring he face slightly, not entirely on accident. She quickly tucked it behind her ear, looking up at the girl, hoping she hadn't noticed her staring at her earlier.
"Don't be,..." She replied quietly, her voice sounding small and mousy. "...are you alright?"
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Post by Arden Patricks on Feb 26, 2009 15:57:46 GMT
"Fine," I mutter quickly, eyes on the table. "Sorry again, I - um...." I look quickly toward the door, but it seems like it's more crowded in here than ever and it's about a lifetime away. Why, why, why did I ever come here? I hate this place.
"How about you? Are you all right?" I ask, looking at her properly for once as I'm asking. At least it's something to do other than head toward the door, even though head toward the door is what I really should do.
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Post by Erin May on Feb 26, 2009 16:28:50 GMT
Erin watches her glance towards the door of and half hopes that she will just leave now, small talk could be tedious and made her uncomfortable. However, there was something about this woman that reminded Erin of herself, she wanted to know what had caused her to act this way, had she gone through similar pain that Erin had for the crowds to make her so uncomfortable. Maybe she was claustrophobic. She shook her head slightly to clear her head of these errant thoughts because the woman was speaking again.
"Oh, yeah i'm fine." Erin replied looking down at herself, as if she was checking for damage. The remains of her butterbeer were splashed across the table, but that was the only damage.
"I was never that thirsty anyway." She added with a shrug, gesturing towards the now empty butterbeer bottle that had tipped over.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Feb 26, 2009 16:34:58 GMT
I grimace slightly anyway, even though she says it's fine. "I should buy you a new one anyway... only fair."
And why would you be in here anyway unless you wanted something to drink? Enjoying the ambiance?
Actually, some people would. So never mind that.
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Post by Erin May on Feb 26, 2009 16:44:21 GMT
Erin pondered this for a while, she was still in two minds about whether or not she wanted to talk to the woman or not.
She bit her bottom lip slightly, deciding she would just open her mouth and see what came out, whether her subconcious mind yearned for some social interaction. She was by all means a bit of a loner.
"Okay, if you want to." She replied, and small smile touching her lips.
See, this isn't too bad...
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Post by Arden Patricks on Feb 27, 2009 4:07:46 GMT
I hesitate slightly, because now I'm not sure if it would be weird to just buy her a replacement drink and then leave. I still feel like every cell - or at least half of them - is screaming at me to get out of here, but... I don't know. It's not like I'll feel much better if I do go back home.
But anyway.... I shake my head to call myself back to the present, smiling faintly. "Only fair," I say again, before signaling a waitress and ordering a new butterbeer for... whoever she is.
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Post by Erin May on Feb 28, 2009 15:05:08 GMT
"Thanks." Erin mumbled, shifting nervously on her chair. She knew now that there would probably be quite a few uncomfortable silences, but at least if it got too much for her she could just make her excuses and leave.
I left the oven on, I forgot to leave the dog out, I forgot I had to meet a friend...
It was silent for what seemed like an eternity but was probably about two seconds.
"I'm Erin." She offered, not being able to take any awkwardness.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Mar 1, 2009 17:05:20 GMT
"Arden," I nod, still a bit uncertain if it's ruder to leave or to stay... but feeling very weird just standing here, so....
"Um, do you mind if I sit down?"
If she says yes, that's simple enough and I can get out of here. If no... well, at least it's a distraction.
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Post by Erin May on Apr 8, 2009 3:47:10 GMT
Erin nods in response, trying to send the name and face to a place in her mind where she can easily retrieve the information. She bites down on her bottom lip lightly, glancing at the empty seat opposite then back at Arden. Shrugging, she nods. Somehow saying the reply outloud was difficult. Erin was a complete stranger to this communication thing at the moment. [[Sorry, this is such a late reply. You don't have to respond  ]] |
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Post by Arden Patricks on Apr 8, 2009 4:14:07 GMT
((No, I want to respond... as long as you don't mind if I time jump? Especially as they haven't really started talking yet?))
Ah... well then. I'm assuming that means she doesn't mind, and now I have to try and dredge up old social skills. Or I could just say never mind, apologize for bothering her, and leave.
Actually, that sounds like a really excellent idea.
"Ah... never mind, actually. Sorry for bothering you, but... I sort of actually hate it here. Sorry."
I shake my head quickly, turning to leave.
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Post by Erin May on Apr 8, 2009 4:22:41 GMT
[[Not at all ]] Erin jolts slightly, a familiar feeling of desertion hitting her. "Oh-..." The sound escapes her lips without her noticing much. "-...okay then." She replies, not being able to disguise the strange sadness in her voice. She looks down at her hands, realising she was upset, that in the back of her mind she had been longing for some social interaction. She suddenly felt so lonely... |
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Post by Arden Patricks on Apr 8, 2009 15:09:48 GMT
Oh hell....
That didn't sound like a genuine, casual 'okay then.' It sounds like an 'oh, well if that's how you feel and if you don't want to speak to me, who am I to stop you so I guess it's just okay'... or something of the sort. I hesitate slightly, then shrug and sit down anyway. I think I've done enough selfish hurting-of-others lately.
"... I did decide to try not to unreasonably hate places though," I half-lie to cover my indecision. "So... if you like or don't mind...." I shrug slightly.
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