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 Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:12 pm
Who: Alex and Fiach
Where: A Coffee Shop
When: Early evening
Pushing open the door to the coffee shop, Fiach sighed as the bells tinkled to tell everyone someone new had entered. Briefly wishing there were a way to make the bells quiet so that they didn't annoy everyone who walked in, he gave a small smile to the girl behind the counter before removing his hat and scrubbing a hand through his hair. Approaching the counter he glanced around to take note of the place's cleanliness, nodding in approval of it being almost as clean as he preferred for a place of business, he placed his simple order for a cup of coffee and a scone.
A look of distaste touched his face as he noticed how many people were in the store, but he decided to sit in the shop for a while anyway. He didn't get out very often of late, and even if there were too many people for his comfort, it did him some good, he knew, to be around people. Nabbing a seat in a corner, he pressed his back up against the wall and cast his gaze around the shop. Nibbling at his scone while looking about sourly, the place was well kept, he had to admit, but the tables were small and closer together than he'd have liked. Considering his height, the lights that were meant to make the place homely and cozy only made it a disaster waiting to happen.
Sipping his coffee, he made a note to himself to be sure to find a coffee shop that was more tall person friendly the next time he was out. Lower hanging lights and the smaller tables weren't exactly built for him. Though he had to admit, the electric fireplace in the middle did add a pleasant tone to the setting. With its heat oozing outwards and the flickering of the flames looking mesmerizing.
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Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:49 pm
Her brother's stick-up-his-arse antics were fit to drive Alex to drink. Not only was he as dull as graphite, but her actually drinking would likely end up with him in the hospital. He was such a bore. She pressed into the coffee shop as someone else was leaving, giving a brief smile and curt nod as she entered the warm store. She shivered momentarily, but it was her own fault, wearing her signature tank top with jeans, a light jacket draped over her shoulders. Her hair was left down for once, thick wavey tresses over her ears and neck for warmth. Of course, her bangs crossed near to her eyes, which was means for much huffing to blow them out of the way.
Alex ordered a peppermint hot chocolate - caffeine was a very bad idea for her - and was merrily sipping on the drink cupped between her hands when she spotted him. She wasn't familiar with such a dour looking expression, but she was almost certain it was Fiach. Sidestepping a little to get closer without being too obvious, she squinted and...yeah, it was him! What luck!
With a gleeful giggle, Alex closed in on the man, hunkering down by the side of his chair, a mischevious gleam in her eyes. "Fiach! Darling, why such a face? Cheer up handsome, that smile of yours is warmer than the room." To add to her cheer, she leaned on his chair and gave him a quick kiss to the cheek in greetings. "Mind if I sit with you for a few?" she asked playfully.
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Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:59 pm
Hearing a giggle coming near, Fiach ignored it while entranced by the sight of the fire. Assuming it was some teenage girl talking to a friend, he put it out of his mind until he heard someone say his name. Startled from his musings, Fiach's eyes grew wide as his jaw dropped open and he looked at the girl who'd approached him. Slow realization dawning as he recognized her as Alex, the girl he'd spoke to at the shop. Cheeks turning a brilliant shade of red as he worked his mouth to try to respond, he nearly fell out of his chair as she gave him a peck on the cheek.
That was...unexpected.
Clearing his throat, he silently willed his cheeks to stop flaming. Giving a small shake of his head, he smiled, "Not at all." Fiach's expression quickly returned to one of mild disinterest as he readjusted how he was sitting, so that his legs weren't taking up most of the room underneath the table. Eyes flicking back to the fire as if seeking the solace of its warmth, he shook his head slightly before reminding himself that he couldn't lose himself in his thoughts while in another's company.
Trying a pleasant smile once more, he politely asked, "And how are you this evening, Miss Alex?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:42 pm
The woman actually giggled at Fiach's reaction, bouncing a little on her heels before moving to take a seat next to the man, rather than across from him like any other normal human being would have. "I'm glad you remembered me," Alex admitted, not realizing she might look a little different with her hair down. "I'm doing great now that I've found you, and I'll do a whole lot better if you'd drop the 'miss.' You can save that for ladies and hopefuls, because I, good sir, am neither."
An impish grin lit her face as she crossed her legs, facing him, practically snuggled up to the warmth of her cup that she nursed from time to time. "What brings you here? I got sick of my bore of a brother, I was just gonna do some reading, but...hey, a more attractive offer came along." The foot crossed over her knee bounced it what seemed like endless energy, all smiles between her sips of hot cocoa.
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:21 pm
Wishing he could kick himself for looking like such a fool, Fiach took a deep breath to try to steady himself. Its not like she was a scary evil monster, after all. She was just a very hyperactive lady who enjoyed close physical proximity. Frowning, Fiach realized that trying to rationalize himself out of being twitchy around people was clearly not going to help. Hearing her giggle again, he hoped she took his frown at the giggling, and not at something else. Attempting to make light of the frown, he rolled his eyes at being called 'good sir'.
Smiling at how she looked with her hair down, he nearly reached a hand out to stroke it away from her neck, and compliment her on the look, but refrained. He didn't need to look crazy, though he wasn't entirely sure he came off as being entirely sane, either.
Trying for a teasing smile, Fiach responded, "I'm certainly no 'good sir', so if you want me to drop the 'miss', you drop the 'good sir'." Shrugging slightly, he glanced around the coffee shop, eyes again settling on the fire for a moment before returning to Alex' face.
"I wanted a place to relax, that's all."
Tilting his head in an inquisitive manner, he found himself asking, "Why is your brother such a bore?" She certainly didn't seem to be boring herself, and he found it hard to see her being around anyone any less active.
Taking another sip of his coffee, he rested an arm on the table as he turned his body to face Alex more easily.
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:05 pm
Alex laughed, delighted. His frowns didn't bother her, even if they were directed at her; she got frowned at a lot, but that was partially from being raised in a very traditional family...two of them, really. "You, Fiach," she extended one finger at him playfully, "have a deal." Alex smiled warmly, happily sipping her cocoa as he looked around, nodding at his explanation.
At the inquiry of her brother, another laugh escaped her, but this one more exasperated. "He works. And works. And then he works s'more. Can't even take out time for his little sister, the boob." She pouted over the lid of her cup, looking at Fiach with beseeching eyes as though he could possibly correct the matter. "He's the only family I got left and he's too busy being a sourpuss to give half a rat's patootie." Again with the pout, indignant.
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:20 pm
Surprised as he found himself laughing along with her, Fiach gave a short nod. Grinning as he confirmed, "Its a deal, then, Alex." Still finding it odd to be calling her merely 'Alex' when he barely knew her, but not willing to be called 'good sir' just to maintain polite appearances.
His lips tightening into a near frown as she spoke about her brother, he wondered if this was how Adalia spoke of him when he wasn't around. Regretting not spending more time with her, especially when confronted with a stranger who seemed to suffer a similar brother malady. Sighing at the sight of both pouts, Fiach found himself wanting to do something to make her smile again. It really wasn't fair when a woman pouted - it always made him feel bad, as though he'd done something wrong and he needed to fix the problem.
With an almost mournful laugh, Fiach scrubbed his hair back once again, "Now you're starting to sound like my sister." Taken aback that he'd said that out loud, when he'd meant to merely think it, he blushed before giving a quick apology. Feeling as if he ought to apologize for both his own statement and her brother's neglect, but succeeding with only the latter.
"I'm, ah, sorry your brother doesn't spend much time with you..."
Immediately feeling awkward for the unnecessary apology - and for being such a terrible conversationalist, Fiach tapped his fingers lightly on the table top. Racking his brain for topics that were both safe - and interesting to talk about.
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:33 pm
A snort was his reply, mingled with laughter. Alex leaned towards him, putting her warm hand over his. "It's hardly your fault Fiach. Your sister and I are only in the same boat if she lives 'a couple few' hundred miles away and comes to visit for the first time in five years. If not, meh, you're safe." She leaned back again, a strangely content look on her face. The woman smiled languidly, adding, "You're too much of an angel to be like my big brother, don't you worry." She wasn't dismissing his apology, but simply, not dwelling on it.
Alex shifted her position so that her back was almost against the arm of the chair closest to the table, her long legs nearly dangling over the opposite side. She swirled her drink in one hand, the arm closest to Fiach pressed against the edge of the table to support herself. "So you have a sister, huh? What's the age difference? Mine's six years older than me. He acts like he's ancient sometimes, and then again, acts like he's only six instead." Her green eyes rolled in mock annoyance, casting a sideways smile at the man next to her.
"I think part of his problem, though, is he was supposed to be in the family business...but he chased his own dreams and I took that mantle instead." She didn't bother to explain that his guilt likely stemmed from their parent's death while he was chasing said dreams, but hey, deeper subjects for deeper intimacies, yes? Yes. Alex shrugged her shoulders with a 'what-can-ya-do?' smile.
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:23 pm
A look of surprise registered on Fiach's face both at the snorted laughter, and the abrupt touching of her hand to his. Taking a moment to recover as he pondered over how to respond to her statement. Though he was sure she was joking, he still felt that they were very similar. Or, that at least they behaved similarly. Shrugging, he finally settled on, "Ah. Something like that. Add a few more years and pretend you moved in with your brother and you'd have a fair idea of it." Frowning slightly at the addition of the angel comment, Fiach found himself shaking his head. While he didn't want to talk about his past, he also certainly didn't want her to think he was something better than he was. Muttering quietly, he gave one last shake of his head, "I'm no angel."
Raising an eyebrow as she shifted her position into what appeared to be an awkward and uncomfortable position, he gave a small shrug before returning his attention to her words and not how she was sitting. Nodding slightly, "I do. She's about a year younger than I am." For a moment, he almost added her name, but just in case they ever ran into each other...he'd rather not. That was all he needed - was for Adalia to go and whine about him to someone he'd just met and then they'd probably run away. Chuckling a little, he continued, "I think most people can act that way. Wise one second, childish the next."
Not really understanding the whole 'family business' bit, Fiach's shoulders raised slight in a shrug, before merely saying, "I see." And feeling silly for such a noncommittal and dull answer almost immediately afterwards. Taking a drink of his coffee to cover up his mild discomfort, he realized he had absolutely no idea what to talk about. Or what questions to ask to keep the conversation going. Maybe Adalia was right and he did need to get out more.
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:46 pm
"Tsk, I can call you my angel if i want to," she stuck her tongue out at him playfully, crinkled her nose. The expression quickly melted into a half-cocked grin, stating, "If I lived with my brother, I'd...go mad. Mm, yes, no doubt driving him crazy in the process. We existed peacefully enough as kidlings, but as adults...fire and ice, we are." Alex smiled to herself, bouncing her foot as she thought fondly of her brother. As much as he drove her up the wall, she did love him. He was family.
It didn't matter much of Fiach couldn't think of anything to say, because the Italian at his side could pull conversation out of thin air. She hunkered into her chair, quite the contortionist, musing out loud, "I love the cold. There's nothing quite like a cup of hot cocoa and a fireplace, hmm? The good company helps, too. I hope you don't think I chatter too much, I have a bad tendancy to ramble when I'm happy. Which is a lot. The rambling, that is...although I suppose that makes me happy, too, hmm?"
She tilted her head to the side, her hair gliding over the back of the chair, pursing her lips to blow her hair back out of her face. Alex offered a large, silly grin at Fiach, indicating that he was free to agree without consequence. Goodness knows he wouldn't be the first.
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:12 pm
Sighing as he set his coffee cup down, Fiach pondered over how to put Alex down on calling him an angel without her getting curious. Eyes averting back to the fire, he gave a small shrug, deciding that no answer was the best answer. At least it was less likely she'd pick apart a simple shrug than she might find discrepancies in his words.
Smiling softly, almost sadly, Fiach's eyes slowly made their way back to Alex as she talked about her brother. "We don't...completely live together. I mostly stay at the shop ever since she moved in. We don't get along." Shrugging, he tried to turn his sad smile to one that was more one of teasing, "Oh, I'm sure you two don't get along that badly! You seem to be very nice..." Then again, Fiach reflected, he didn't exactly know Alex very well to begin with. This was only their second meeting, and his first meeting with Brad still stuck out in his mind. Sometimes, first impressions weren't always accurate, so as far as he knew...Alex might not be as she appeared.
Raising an eyebrow at her contortions, Fiach chuckled a bit. Mulling over her ramblings he idly played with the rim of his coffee cup. Briefly regretting not having brought his penny whistle with, it was oddly comforting to have it hanging 'round his neck. Quietly, Fiach finally thought out loud, "I think I would rather be at home, curled up on the couch or tucked away in one corner of the house..." Trailing off as if he'd only just realized he'd been talking out loud, Fiach's cheeks turned their newly normal shade of pink.
Attempting to distract from his accidental thinking out loud, he smiled and nodded, "Well, if you ramble when you're happy and you ramble a lot...it would make sense that you were then happy a lot, too."
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:36 pm
Alex chuckled, pleased. "Oh I assure you, my brother and I don't get along as well as we'd like. He's super nice too, but all it takes is difference of opinion to causes sparks. And him, well, he knows how to cause sparks and seems to take some enjoyment out of it." She laughed again, not at all bothered by saying such things. Of course, the woman didn't mean that he purposely rubbed her the wrong way, but he did know how to press buttons; that was just part of being siblings.
"That sounds delightful." The comment was quiet and could easily be missed if Fiach was too distracted. At the turn of discussion yet again, she shrugged and smiled warmly. "It's a waste to be any other way, I think. We only get one shot at this game called life, and that's probably why my brother and I argue so much. He wastes it being so...so emo and dwelling on the past, even though he wont admit it." She snorted. "Ignorant cod."
The woman was mindful not to remark on the blush and how that also looked good with his smile. She could tell she'd already gotten under his skin enough, and that was within the first five minutes of seeing each other again. Damn, but she was too good at this. Putting her cocoa on the table, she ran her fingers through her long hair, eyeing the ceiling as she did so, "Family. Can't live with 'em, can't exist without 'em. Kind of a mean predicament. Ah well." Brushing her arched bangs from her face, she picked up the cocoa again, smiling grandly at Fiach.
This, of course, was the first warning that randomness was about to be dumped in one's lap. "So! What do you do for fun, Fiach?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:29 pm
Smiling slightly, with what could have only been called a nervous, quiet laugh, Fiach gave a small shrug, "I don't think any siblings get along as well as they might like." His eyebrow twitched upwards in amusement, as he remembered a comment Adalia had once fired at him. She had told him that a little sister pestering the older brother was 'in the rules', and much to her amusement, he hadn't quite understood what she had said. Listening to Alex, though, Fiach thought it was starting to click. Lips quirking into an amused smile, he muttered, "Its in the rule books, right?"
In his musings, he had missed the comment that Alex had said, but he caught on when she continued onwards with the conversation. Mind slowly changing gears, not quite used to fast paced conversation with anyone, he couldn't help but twitch just a little. How she was describing her brother sounded like how Adalia described him to Li'tae. Rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, he merely gave a shrug. Surely she wouldn't question his lack of agreement, and if he said anything about how Adalia said similar things about him, he'd probably wind up having to answer questions. Which was something he didn't quite want to do.
Frowning slightly, he knew there were some people he could certainly live without that were part of his family. His mother, for example. He was fairly sure that Aine could have lived better - and longer - had it not been for her brother. Giving a small, sad raise of his shoulders in shrug, he took another sip of his coffee to try to cover up how his thoughts were bothering him.
Nearly choking on his coffee at the sudden change of conversation, Fiach blinked a few times as he stared blankly at the girl. As the question slowly dawned on him, his fingers went to touch the penny whistle he normally wore 'round his neck, only to come up empty handed. Returning his hands to his coffee cup, he moved as if to sip it, before quietly responding, "I, ah, play music." A blush threatened to rise to his cheeks as he hoped she didn't laugh at him. "What do you do for fun?" Hoping her response to the question would take precedence over his own admittance, therefore saving him from talking about himself, he took another drink of his coffee. Sighing softly as he realized he'd managed to drain the cup.
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:18 pm
Fiach's reaction on her last question would have garnered laughter from the playful Italian, if not for his answer. Green eyes became impossibly wide as the young woman leaned forward, practically falling out of her chair as she gripped the table for mediocre support. "You play music?" Alex was practically trembling with glee, her partial and disbelieving-but-hopeful smile giving away her enthusiasm. "What type?" A small gasp. "Do you play Irish music by chance?"
What, did he actually expect her to answer his question after he went and pinned a hobby on one of her most loved and coveted things of interest? She personally didn't have an ounce of creativity for musical instruments, but she loved music, loved it almost as much as her job. The iPod in the back of her jeans pocket would attest to that; it left her only when sleeping, quite literally.
To be fair, she did answer his question, just likely not in a way he would find acceptable. "I listen and pretend I can sing to music!" she chirruped happily, still leaning precariously between the table and Fiach from her barely seated position. "My job takes most of my time but really. If I didn't have music to zone out to or to think of good things, I'd be as nutso as my brother. What do you pla~ay?"
Alex pulled out the big guns, drawing out the word all breathy and full of delight, her eyes wide and doe-like. The woman really didn't play fair.
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:53 pm
Startled as the woman leaned forward, Fiach reached an arm out to help her only to pull it back out of embarrassment. It certainly wouldn't do to grab some strange woman's arm in the middle of a coffee shop...though he did watch closely to make sure she wouldn't fall. That would look even worse than him actually grabbing her arm, after all, if he just let her fall. Finding himself inching backwards at the look on her face. It wasn't that interesting that he played music...was it?
His jaw worked noiselessly for a short time before he finally cleared his throat and gave a short nod. Setting his coffee cup down on the table, one hand again idly reached towards where the penny whistle usually rested. Smiling wryly at the second inadvertent slip, he finally worked himself up to giving Alex an answer.
"I...mostly play Irish music...on the penny whistle. Sometimes the flute, though." Frowning at his stuttering, he focused his attention back to Alex and what she was saying. Laughing outright at how happy she sounded, "Anyone can sing, no matter how well or how poorly, everyone can sing, Alex. So don't put your voice down."
Leaning back even further at the way she said the last question, Fiach gave a nervous laugh. He'd already accidentally answered that question, and her proximity was slowly starting to wear him down.
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