|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:33 pm
She closed her eyes, tiredly reaching for the thin blanket.
This wasn't like sleeping in the pod- knowing she could roll over in her sleep- maybe even off the bed, knowing she could accidentally kick her blanket off and catch a cold. It was nice; but not reassuring enough for her.
Reine would be sleeping with the night-light on for a few more nights, even weeks, until her room was comfortable enough to be in, all alone. Tugging the blanket over her shoulder she thought of maybe dragging herself over to snuggle with Evie, but how pathetic would that look?
It was only evening, after all.. after the mission debriefing, she'd had a long shower- alone time to think about everything, but it had also made her somewhat sleepy. Burrowing her head into the pillow, she tried her best to fall asleep.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:40 pm
Jordan felt a little guilty about this, actually; after the too-public disagreement in the briefing room and the post-mission adrenaline crash, now here he was, pretty much deliberately ambushing Reine before she'd had a chance to get a rest. However, this was probably the best time to speak to her privately, and he suspected that she was going to avoid him if he let her.
So he was here at her door now. He'd left the coat and scarf in his room. This was personal, not business; he'd debated bringing coffee or tea or something, but had in the end decided against it. Might as well get this done. He knocked lightly on the door.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:45 pm
Just as her eyes closed, there was a knock on the door. Eva? Otto? The light knocking suggested it wasn't Robert, but maybe it was Petra, and now she was thinking about all these things again, it was clear she wasn't going to get to sleep anytime soon.
Still- what should she do? Perhaps if she ignored, they would go away- after all, Eva and Otto had her cellphone number and could contact her if they wanted; Reine wasn't sure she was quite ready to meet anyone other than them.
Asking who it was, while probably more polite, would mean they knew for sure she was in there- and there was nowhere to go but out of the window, into the rain; as tempted as she was to do that, if it came to it, she'd rather stay in her toasty warm bed. It seemed the general consensus was ignoring...
But what if it was Robert? He was such a creeper she knew he'd probably stand outside the room forever, until either he saw her go in, or come out of it. Aughhhhh. The uncertainty was killing her. Miserably she curled up tighter on the bed, hiding under her pillow this time.
Block everything out- that'd work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:48 pm
No answer. She might be asleep, she might be elsewhere, or she might be avoiding. Jordan knocked again, lightly; this time he called out quietly as well. "Reine? Are you there?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:57 pm
She relaxed the minute she heard his voice- not Robert. Okay. Not Petra either. Okay.
But what if either of the two of them were using him as bait, to lure her out? Clutching her pillow to her, ready to throw it if need be, she dragged herself out of bed and padded towards the door. She didn't quite care about fixing her hair at this point; it was left untied and messy from burrowing under the pillow; clearly, the need to look even remotely presentable hadn't occurred to her.
"Boss? Are you alone?" All she was imagining was Robert and Petra holding him at weapon.. point, threatening him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:39 pm
He raised his eyebrows, a little surprised by the question. "Yes," he said. "I just wanted to come by and see if you were all right. I hope I didn't wake you up."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:30 pm
There was a soft click and a pause, then the door finally opened. Jordan would have been faced with what looked like a pillow with legs; Reine was raising hers over her head, as if that could protect her somehow. Almost timidly she peered over the side of the pillow, blue eyes staring at him before somehow deciding he was 'okay'.
"I'm fine," she said finally, dropping her defenses; the pillow remained clutched in one hand by her side. "Thanks for coming by... Jordan."
Nodding to him, Reine placed her spare hand on the doorknob, as if waiting to close the door again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:02 pm
"Mind if I come in for a little while?" Jordan asked, with the most sincere face he could manage, concerned and gentle and faintly worried.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:13 pm
She blinked, surprised; if he'd just come to check on her, she'd just said she was fine, hadn't she? Staring at the doorknob, she scuffed her feet on the floor, sneaking occasional glances at him, as if hoping he'd be gone when she looked up.
It didn't seem likely to happen.
With an embarrassingly audible sigh that she tried to cover up with a cough, Reine cracked the door open a little more, allowing Jordan just enough room to come in.
"Sure, I guess, it's kind of messy in here, though."
that's just your hair, darling, not the room.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:19 pm
"Completely clean and tidy rooms are unnatural," Jordan said, and stepped into the room, taking a quick glance around. As austere as anyone's, which he'd expected, especially given that she'd just moved in. "I worry about people who can maintain that kind of organization, really." He gave her a quick smile, inviting her to share the joke.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:32 pm
The minute he entered she darted towards the door, locking it again- one 'intruder' a day was quite enough, and unlike Jordan, she wasn't the type to leave her door open.
As if her reflexes had kicked in, finally, she moved quietly to the desk and pulled its chair closer to the edge of her bed, gesturing to it as a sort-of invitation. It was only then that she caught sight of her reaction in the mirror and panicked slightly- good god, she looked worse than some of the halloweeners they'd seen- even Ally had to point that out.. Surreptitiously she picked up a brush and attempted to attack some of the tangles, still averting her eyes from him.
"I guess, for varying definitions of clean and tidy. I'd rather things look presentable, though.." There wasn't actually much in her room to fuss over, and with a somewhat dejected look she climbed back onto her bed, fluffing her pillow and folding the blanket. When she was finally done, she looked up at him again with a worried expression, as if bracing herself for some sort of attack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:43 pm
"There's a happy medium. The trick is finding it, I guess." Jordan took the offered chair and glanced politely away while she brushed her hair - probably unnecessary, but it might help her comfort level, and anyway his cousins had taught him, firmly, that you didn't interrupt a girl while she was making herself presentable. Occasionally by throwing things at him.
When she'd settled down, he smiled at her a little, a concerned sort of smile. "You looked really upset earlier."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:51 pm
A happy medium seemed as far away from her as she wanted Robert and Petra to be, but she managed a smile, at least, even though it didn't last long. Jordan's presence, while.. she couldn't say unwelcome, was slightly unnerving her- she didn't want him, of all people, to see her in this state.
"I'm fine now," she returned, almost defensively.
Reine needed to be fine- for her sake, and probably for other people, as well. Why couldn't she just break past this stupid mental wall? This wasn't Reine- it was, as Petra had said almost accusingly, Roberta.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:53 pm
A careful, sympathetic look, and Jordan leaned his elbows on his knees. "It's pretty much impossible to avoid someone in such a small area," he said quietly. "And we have no control over who we're assigned to missions with."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:57 pm
If he was looking for a response, Reine looked distinctly alarmed.
"I...is that so? Heh..heh.. well, I guess it's inevitable on an island but I'm not quite sure what you're talking about who are you trying to avoid?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
