Jude had been flopped over in his bed reading a book that described the various origin stories that could be found in different cultures around the world. It was a pretty interesting read thus far and he was pretty into it. There was just one small thing that kept bothering him.

Thump. Thunk. Shift.

He swore he heard a female voice amongst all that through the other side of the wall in his room. For a moment he almost dismissed it as Ariane screwing with him now that she knew where his room was but for two things. Why would she shift furniture in a room that was not hers? Also it didn't sound like Ariane at all. Jude set the book aside and crawled off of his bed as he wandered toward his door pausing a second before he exited his room and wandered to the room he heard the noises from. He stared at the closed door.

Should he open it and just walk in or should he knock? He bit his lip a bit and eventually rose up a hand and knocked on the door and then patiently awaited an answer.

There was something calming about moving furniture. Maybe it was because it required little thought and helped to wind down her nerves with the pushing. It was also a relatively normal activity, which very much contrasted the not so normal activities she had been experiencing since she had woken up. First the pod room…then that dark cove…now a voice in her head. Moving furniture though? That was a pleasant, easy, and normal thing for Mallaidh.

After pushing the bed into a corner, the young woman straightened and wiped an arm across her forehead, turning in the direction of the door as she heard a knock. Woah…that was the first knock on her door ever! She blinked, and then made her way over to it, wondering who could possibly be on the other side of it? She was now feeling anxious. Jim was a very nice guy, but it was a bit unsettling to be surrounded by completely new faces…

Mallaidh opened the door, blinking, her strawberry-blonde curls bouncing as she gave a tilt of her head and took in the appearance of her visitor. Coat, like hers, but different division! Okay…she didn’t need to call him sir. After that initial moment, her face lit up into a wide smile. “Hello!” She greeted cheerfully, maybe too cheerfully, but that was just her way. “How may I help you?”

For a brief moment as he stared at her he saw someone else and his heart gave an odd twang in his chest and a blush rose to his face and his head tilted downward a moment as he tried to recollect to himself. Sure there were major differences but his heart was jumping ahead of him and for a second he thought he saw Susie. He reached up and rubbed the side of his neck and looked up at the stranger feeling awkward and out of place all of the sudden.

"H..Hey. It seems we're neighbors," he said quietly pointing to the door that was next to hers, "I...was just...coming to see if you needed some help or something." Jude wasn't sure what to make of this at all. He wasn't prepared for this at all. "My name is Jude by the way. Death Division."

..Of course she knew that she could see his jacket. Stupid.

Uh oh! Was her visitor alright? She was about to ask, when he finally spoke up. Mallaidh placed her hands on the door frame and leaned forward, peering at the door that the young man pointed at. She rocked back on the heels of her feet, and was still just beaming, until her expression quickly shifted into one of surprise. She paused, and then her hands came up to cup her freckled cheeks. “Really!?” She cried in disbelief, staring at him wide eyed. “That’s so nice of you, oh my goodness!” First there was that nice guy Jim, and now there was this nice neighbor Jude. Mallaidh’s expression then turned into one of recognition. “Oh! Like the Beatles song? I love that song!”

She could have gotten carried away, but she managed to reign herself in this time. “Oh, I am so sorry! I almost forgot to introduce myself! My name is Mallaidh!” She pointed at her coat which was neatly hanging over chair, along with her green scarf. “I am part of the Mist Division!”

Her reaction to his offer was pleasantly energetic he found as he watched her and listened to her talk then she showed recognition of his name and also what inspired it. His mother also loved that song and sang it all the time to him and well...It kinda wore thin on him. He gave her a small nod and a nervous chuckle, "Y..Yeah like the song," he replied softly.

"That is a very nice name," he complimented sincerely and then peered over at her coat. Ah. A Mist. Nice. "Nice to meet you...Molly," he said at least that was how he had heard her name. He figured it was spelt exactly like that, right? Maybe he was wrong maybe he wasn't. He shifted his weight a bit from one foot to the other, "So..Need anything else moved around?"

“Molly” was silent for a long moment, as if she was thinking about something. She seemed rather caught up on this thought for quite a bit of time before she slapped one of her hands back to her cheeks. “Oh…but I bet you get that a lot!” She then looked very worried. “I’m so sorry!” She cried.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Jude! I think your name is very nice as well!” She offered a tentative smile after her song flub and then looked back at her room. “…Uh…gosh! That was really nice of you to come and check, but I just finished!” She opened her door wider and moved to the side, letting the Death trainee get a better look at her space. She pushed the bed towards the window in the corner, with the desk and chair beside it in another corner. “That is all right now I’m afraid…I don’t have anything else…but that’s alright! I am very thankful for the furniture I have been given.” She gave a firm nod of her head.

Jude blinked a little bit at her sudden worried expression he shook his head offering a reassuring smile, "A...actually you're the first to notice since I came onto the island." He said quietly. Not sure what to make about this young woman. She seemed so sweet and sincere he just...

He blushed slightly when she told him that she liked his name. Damn it.

Yom just seemed rather pleased with Jude's behavior. {Sssso shy with thisss one~.}

Jude mentally willed the voice to hush as he took a look around the room, "Well..then if you got everything you want and need then that is alright?" He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He wasn't sure what he could offer.

{Jude wantsss to give her all the thingsss! Caussse she remindsss him of sssomeone?}

...Shutupshutupshutup.

“Aww…but still! I bet you got that a lot before you came here!” Molly rubbed her cheek, frowning, before looking back up at Jude. “Oh…yes!” She looked back at her room. “…Actually…there is something I wish I could have brought with me but…oh…I’m sure you know…only small things….besides, it….it was just an object! Those are replaceable…e…even if had belonged to my great great-grandfather and had been passed on to me—“ Molly stopped rambling, paling a bit. “Just an object!” She reaffirmed, giving a nervous laugh.

She did look thoughtful though, and turned back to Jude. “…Would I be able to trouble you for something?” She looked at him hopefully. “Is there somewhere I can get a planner? One I can write in!”

Jude smiled still, "Don't worry yourself about it, Molly. It isn't like I want to be your friend any less than I do now just because of that..." He shrugged his shoulders a bit. He hadn't heard the song in a while and was actually kind of starting to miss it. Not that he'd admit it to anyone nearby especially those that liked to torment him on a regular basis. "What was it? It isn't just an object if it is important to you." Jude seemed adamant about this fact.

At her question he tilted his head to the side thoughtfully, "I'm sure I could help you out with that, I'll keep my eyes peeled for a planner," he promised with a wider smile. Great. He could help with something. That made him feel oddly happy.

{Becaussse you like her~. I can tell.}

...Damn it Yom.

The young woman blinked. “…Be…my friend?” This brought a wide smile to her face. “Oh wow! You’re so nice, Jude!” She honestly couldn’t remember the last time she had a friend. She had just been so busy working and working prior to her arrival here. The young man’s adamant tone startled her from her thoughts though, and she reached up to push her curls back. “….W…well….it was a fiddle. I enjoyed it very much…and I tried bringing it but ah…I couldn’t.” She twiddled her fingers. “Oh well…they said I could earn one over time, but it will probably take a while…I’m sure I’ll be kept busy until then though!” She tried to remain optimistic about it.

Molly clasped her hands together. “Oh thank you!” She was back to beaming again. “Please do let me know if you find one somewhere around! I need to get one as soon as possible!”

Wait. He said that? Outright? He flushed and smiled a bit more bashfully, "I..I guess so. I don't usually...um..outright say stuff like that." It was true. Usually he was reserved and aloof and he didn't interact unless forced to and here lately he was putting himself out there more and more. He hadn't thought of it until just now. Jude listened to her explain about the Fiddle and frowned a little bit and then nodded, "That's a shame. I have never really seen anyone play in person. I could have seen you play it."

It was a damn shame, actually. Hmm...

"Definitely will let you know, is there any reason why you need one?" Jude asked curiously. Generally he kept everything organized in his head and usually remembered things he needed to do on his own. Did Molly have memory issues? Sadly it wasn't like he could be her living, breathing personal planner though.

{Bet you wish you could.}

Peanut gallery Yom strikes again.

“I think that’s really admirable that you do!” Molly commented in awe. “Oh…you haven’t? Well, maybe I can show you one day after I earn enough to buy one! Only if you want to of course…it’s not like I’m the best at it or anything…” The young woman twirled one of her curls around her finger, suddenly itching to have a fiddle in her hands, to hear the bow sliding across the strings. Sigh. No such luck anytime soon.

“…Oh! Yes…” Molly laughed a bit. “I’m hopeless without one ~ ! It’s just easier to keep track of whatever I have going on…due dates and…deadlines and…upcoming events and important tasks!”

Molly seemed to be saying all the right things to make Jude blush and grin a bit as he shifted his shoulders, "Yeah? W..Well that's good. I guess...It's a recent change I've gone through since I got here..." It was true enough. He nodded a bit, "I'd enjoy that very much. It sounds like it'd be a lot of fun to listen to you play."

Jude nodded slightly, "Nothing wrong with that at all, Molly. I will make sure to get you one as soon as possible," he said in a tone that implied that he was now making it his mission to get her a planner that she so desperately needed.

“Seems like a good change!” If Jude was blushing, Molly was a bit as well now, and her hand cupped her cheek. “Aw geeze, you’re too kind, Jude! You’re giving me too much credit!” She waved her hand a bit, and then waved them harder when he suddenly announced that he was going to get her one.

“A..ah, no! I have a few dollars at least, I can get myself one! You don’t have to bother yourself with that!”

"Not at all. I bet you're pretty good...I mean ... if something like that meant so much to you then you probably worked with it a lot?" He asked with a slight tilt of his head some of his blush was fading now. Just a little bit. He blinked at her trying to dissuade him from buying her things.

Something he could understand but still.

He just smiled a bit as he shook his head, "It wouldn't be a bother for me at all. What am I going to do with my money? Absolutely nothing...The faculty pretty much provides food and stuff, so if I can get something to make someone happy then why not...?" It was true. Very sad but true.

Molly waved her hands at him some more. “Noooo, you’re making me blush!” She cupped her cheeks with both hands this time. “I played when I could...” She smiled a bit fondly before it faded back into a worried expression.

“You should have your money for yourself though! It’s just a planner for me, I will be able to get one eventually…er…soon hopefully! I do need one really soon…That’s really sweet of you though!”

He actually laughed a bit at her reaction, "I can't take a compliment that predicts the future?" Jude was actually teasing her a little bit. He folded his arms over his chest and nodded a bit, "I never really played an instrument so I admire those that can."

Jude snorted a bit, "Okay. Let's say. We'll see who gets the planner first, how's that?"

The young woman pressed her hands against her cheeks , giving a slight nervous laugh. “…W..well! You are part of the Death division, and I’m sure that means you’re good at gathering information…so I don’t think picking up anything, even an instrument, should be beyond your ability.” After Jude snorted a bit, Molly looked a bit dismayed. “Aw, but Jude, that’s not really fair!” Jude had money right now. She did not.

Amidst all of this, Molly also seemed to realize something. Jude had been standing out in the hall in front of her door for a good while now. Molly suddenly looked horrified. “Oh my goodness, Jude, I am so sorry! Please, come in! You can sit down at my desk! I didn’t mean to make you stand out there for so long!”

"Maybe, I don't even know what instrument I would play," he said thoughtfully before shrugging it off for the moment. He tilted his head a bit and seemed to think about it, "That is true," he said thoughtfully seeming to find the same problem with this situation that she did, "still, the sooner you get a planner the better, right? Who knows you might find one just sitting around that is new and unused."

Sometimes it happened, other Hunters leaving things just sitting there unclaimed.

There was an expression of concern when Molly suddenly looked horrified and then she told him to come in and sit down at the desk and here he actually hesitated a bit, "I don't want to take up all of your time you...Probably have way better stuff to do than to mess around and talk to me." Jude was blushing now. He'd never really hung out in a female Hunter's room.

“I’m sure you’d figure it out when the time is right ~ !” At his observation, she gave a firm nod of her head. “Ah yes, the sooner I can get one, the better.”

Molly waved a hand at him reassuringly. “Oh, you’re not taking up my time at all!” She gave a small laugh. “Way better stuff than your company? No, of course I don’t! I’m all done with my room…and well, after that, I was actually going to go to the cafeteria for lunch!”

"We shall see when it all goes down, hm?" He gave a small smile at her. It was an all encompassing comment about the instrument and even the planner. Either way Jude now had plans just to make sure she got a planner as soon as possible.

The blush on his face increased when she more or less said that his company was welcome and even wanted he looked into her room and was almost wandered in when he paused staring at her a long moment, "W...Well why don't we go to the cafeteria real quick and get food then come back up here for lunch and talk?"

Oh God. Oh God. What was he saying?

Molly wasn’t so sure and comforted by the statement, but what could she do about it? Nothing. Just wait and see and hope she’ll get a bit of pay soon so that she could buy a planner…until then…ugh, memory…not so good. Not reliable.

At Jude’s suggestion, Molly smiled brightly. “That sounds wonderful!” She chirped, clapping her hands a bit before moving across the room to pull on her boots, coat and scarf. Once those were all buttoned and secured, she turned to the Death trainee. “Ready when you are!”

Jude was determined to help Molly one way or the other and besides Christmas was just around the corner so hopefully the wait wouldn't be too terrible.

He smiled a bit wider in return and nodded waiting patiently as she got herself put together so they could go he offered over an arm a bit shyly, "Off we go then," he said softly and once she either accepted or declined his arm he lead her to the cafeteria. The walk wouldn't take too long since he knew well where the cafeteria is.

Oh my! An arm offer? How…gentleman-like! Molly was flattered as she gently took his arm, and followed along with him. “Why thank you!” Once at the cafeteria, the Mist trainee couldn’t still help but be awed about the selection of food available to them. She was never used to such a selection…not to mention the servings that were available to them.

“Do you know what you’re getting?” She asked curiously.

He nodded his head at her thanks and led the way. Once in he looked around quietly glancing at her when she questioned him about what he was going to get, he let out a soft 'hmm' before saying, "I am thinking a small sandwich and some chips?" Jude smiled a little, "Maybe a dessert for after. I like éclairs."

Wait. Why would she care to know what he liked? Augh.

"How about you?" He continued on hoping he didn't seem nervous or unusual just because he blurted things at her like that.

“Ummm…” The young woman hummed, drumming her fingers on her chin as hazel eyes swept from one end of the food line to the other.

“Uh…you know, a sandwich and some soup sound wonderful for lunch!” Molly seemed to settle on that, and went to grab for a tray and some silverware, where she handed it to Jude, and then grabbed one for her own. She smiled as Jude informed her of his favorite dessert, and gave an approving nod of her head. “That sound like an excellent dessert choice.”

"That sounds like a good choice," Jude said quietly as he accepted the tray and silverware from her and then moved to gather his lunch that he had decided on. The young man paused at the soups staring a moment or two before he got himself a bowl as well not saying a word about it though secretly feeling a bit foolish for ... various reasons.

He got his dessert and some coffee as well as he waited for Molly, "Ready to go back when you are," he said quietly clearing his throat a bit.

Sandwich and soup…oh they looked so delicious!

Molly’s stomach grumbled in anticipation. She had spent a good amount of time moving her small amount of furniture, and worked past her usual lunch time. The young woman was about ready to go as well, when she took a glance over at Jude’s tray and stared for a long moment.

Hey…

She wanted some coffee too!

Making a small detour to the coffee machine, Molly prepared herself a cup, loaded with cream and sugar, and then deemed herself ready. “I am ready now!” Now leading the way, Molly made the return trip to her room, and upon arrival, set her tray down on the edge of the desk, and took a seat on the edge of her bed, giving Jude her chair.

Anyone that got coffee was a good person in his books; it also made him feel oddly better about getting soup as well. He brushed the thought aside for the time being as he moved to follow after Molly where he stood awkwardly in the middle of her room and stared at her as she sat on her bed.

Why was she sitting on her bed?

...Oh the chair was for him. Blushing slightly he moved to set his tray down near hers and then sat down in his chair. "Umm..Th..Thanks for having Lunch with me, Molly," he said quietly as he moved to get his sandwich so he could start to eat.

Molly unrolled her fork and spoon from the napkin, and then pulled her bowl of soup closer to her, deciding to start on that. As she stare down at it though, she couldn’t help but reminiscence about some past times before she…woke up. It had been so hard to just get a bowl on the soup on the table for two…yet here she was having it so easily now. The thought saddened her for a moment, but Jude’s word snapped her out of it.

Oh dear, how rude! She had company…no time to be dwelling.

The young woman smiled at him, closing her eyes as she stirred her soup. “No, really, I should be thanking you! So, uh, thank you! I’m really happy to meet new peers and spend time with them.”

Jude blushed slightly and nodded a bit, "Welcome..I guess. I ... enjoyed talking to you so far."

He ate at his sandwich quietly now seeming to fall into a thoughtful silence, not because he was concentrating on eating or anything of the like but he was pulling together his thoughts once again so that maybe, just maybe, he could sound intelligent to the woman he was sitting near. Jude cleared his throat a bit, "Y...You can come talk to me any time, in fact. Whatever is on your mind...You can come into my room without knocking..That'd be alright with me."

....Oh God there he went again.

“Uh…” Molly wasn’t exactly sure how to handle that offer…she wasn’t exactly…about to take it…but she didn’t want to offend him either. “Uh…thank you, Jude! That’s…really thoughtful of you…” The young woman coughed, nibbling at her sandwich for a minute before she decided to bring up a relatively safer and less awkward topic than room entering. Thus she spent the rest of her lunch time with him talking about simple things.

Less awkward things.

Jude shifted a bit in his seat as he thought about what he said and resisted the urge to face palm. He just kept eating and talking with Molly as if nothing had gone awry. Hopefully things would smooth out and be less awkward as time went on. When their lunch concluded he thanked her for her time, took his tray back down and then pretty much hid in his room out of shame.