|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:10 pm
She only knew of Anthony Darrow in passing, a familiar face at the library when she'd stop by for a quick book she didn't have at home. She usually consulted him since, for whatever reason that was beyond her comprehension, he didn't use the Dewey Decimal system. They seemed to share a fondness for the stories of Camelot and the Arthurian Legends. Beyond that he was nothing more than a cute face among a sizable crowd, sadly one of the only few adults she saw on a regular basis.
And really, how strange was it that one of the only adults she ever kept in regular contact with, however brief, probably didn't even know her name?
Probably just as strange as the idea that she was standing outside of his hospital room and had been for the last twenty minutes debating on whether or not she'd actually step foot inside. She hadn't actually made a decision about it yet because it felt like stalking and that wasn't the best first impression she wanted to give. To be safe she brought a book of logic puzzles.
With a sigh she knocked on the open door to alert him to her presence and stepped just inside, trying not to appear intrusive. Unfortunately, she was here because she'd decided on it and usually had a mind to do whatever it was that she decided on, second thoughts later or not. This was one of those times, pushing her in the direction she chose and stamping out her embarrassment.
"I looked for you at the library," she explained, "and they said you were here. I'm Kyndall, by the way, Kyndall Rosen. I don't think we've ever officially met."
Of course this introduction didn't include any sort of reason why she was here, if he was interested, but at least she seemed sufficiently out of her element. Cold reading for directors she could do. Stopping by to visit an acquaintance for the benefit of her students, she couldn't. She'd warm up soon enough, of course, once he showed an interest in having her around, or a lack of distaste for it.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:32 pm
Anthony Darrow, having been sufficiently put in his place by his recent string of visitors, had to behave himself and stay in the hospital. It was beginning to wear on his nerves, in many ways. Not only was he growing stir crazy and restless, but he was beginning to feel like he was leaving too many people in danger. It was a strange thing to think, but he couldn't help it.
He knew there were senshi and other knights, members of his own team, out there, doing the exact same job. But he also knew that he usually ran into trouble when he was on patrol, and the longer he was in the hospital the longer it took him to get back to it.
In the end, he still just wanted to help.
He was resting comfortably enough in the hospital room, if not a bit bored. Not realizing he had company debating if she was going to come in and say hi or not, he was blissfully situated between sleep and waking, dozing enough to be able to think without being too weighted down with guilt or fear, or anything else that plagued him during the day.
He opened his eyes and drew a deep breath when he heard the knock at the door.
"Miss Rosen," he said, nodding his head. He remembered her name from the check out counter, often glimpsing the names of his patrons on their cards or the computer and trying to remember them but largely failing when the interaction was standard and fleeting. He smiled warmly at her in greeting, then frowned in wonder.
"I'm afraid I can't check out any books to you from here," he said with a teasing smile. He knew hospitals made people uncomfortable. They certainly made him so. "I'm happy for the visit, but what brings you over?"
He couldn't help but think she needed something, or he had forgotten to do something.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:58 pm
"If you could check out a book to me from here I'd have to reconsider my stance on technology. I'm afraid I underestimated it greatly in that case."
She came in and offered him the book of logic puzzles tucked neatly under her arm. It smelled faintly of her perfume, having been used to fan it out over her body before she came in. Then she took a seat in a neaby chair, crossing her legs neatly under her skirt. She was feeling much more comfortable now that he was not only welcoming her but feeling well enough to tease.
Two could play at that game.
At least he wasn't wrong about her wanting something but she didn't feel the need to rush into that just yet. For now she simply let her eyes sweep over him. In a suit or something more formal it was easier to make an immediate appraisal of him. In a hospital gown or something similar it was much harder to hide anything. That made it easier to get a better assessment of him than just the cursory glances she stole at the library. From here it was hard to think of why she'd never once flirted with him before. He was taken, wasn't he?
Like that stopped her. On impulse, she decided to put that thought into effect now, taking the opportunity while he wasn't in much of a position to fight back. She wanted to see how he'd take to her teasing and try to gauge what, if anything, he thought of her in return.
"I missed you, that's all. It's not the same in the library without you. A girl can take notice when a handsome guy goes missing, can't she? Have I really never asked you out before?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 9:52 pm
He laughed and nodded his head. He imagined he was officially on sick leave from the library. Again? This business was very dangerous. The protecting people one, not the checking out books.
When she offered him the book he looked at it in wonder. His leg was wrapped, his upper thigh the the source of his serious injury. Having a javelin driven through his leg had not been fun. Not that saying it made it seemed like it might be.
"Thank you," he said, for the book, though her next words caught him off guard.
Blinking, he looked her when she said she missed him. Missed him at the front desk? They had some small conversations, he was sure, and he remembered she had checked out a book once that sparked a conversation long enough to make the person in line behind her get a bit impatient, but he didn't recall ever doing anything worth missing.
He turned a very bright shade of red.
"Handsome guy, hm? Well that still doesn't explain why you're here," he said, trying to remain casual. He was used to getting flirted at, at least fleetingly at the library, but that didn't make him good at it. And that certainly didn't teach him what he needed to do in return. He had a girlfriend, after all, though he hadn't been able to contact her in a little while.
"Uhm. Ah. Well. Erm. How... how have you been?" Excellent change of topic, smooth and unnoticeable. Or so he wished.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:47 pm
"Red suits you." she teased. "I wonder if that blush colors all the way down. I don't suppose you'd mind showing me to satisfy my curiosity."
Ok, she was being a bit unfair, she admitted it. But he was adorable responding to her and she found it appealing. He was a different person outside of the library and while it might not have been fair to take advantage of man recovering in a hospital, she wasn't willing to stop. They hadn't spoken very much in the library and they didn't seem to be speaking very much now. She decided to give him a reprieve and explain why she was here.
"I've been well. I'm helping the students put on a production of Knights of the Round Table. Given your interest of the subject I thought I might beg you to come in and consult."
Her eyes leveled across at him, violet orbs taking in everything she could. Her mind clicked through a million observations, quietly filing them away as was her habit. She wasn't quite done with her teasing but at least she'd come to the heart of the matter. That and she didn't mind spending the extra time with him. It might even give them a chance to get to know one another better, to have a conversation that lasted more than a minute or two.
"I hope you'll agree, Mr. Darrow. I can really beg and be cute about it if you want me to."
She bat her eyes after this, doing her very best to be cute and mostly succeeding, she thought. She didn't seem to mind that he had a girlfriend. It wasn't like she was asking anything unusual and the flirting was icing on the cake, as it were.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 11:38 am
Tony gaped at her.
Sometimes he wondered how people could be so forward. It wasn't offputting, exactly, as she hadn't insulted him and he was still compelled to talk to her. She had just rendered him incapable of doing so for a moment, as he blushed and tried to get his mind to process what she was asking about.
When she mentioned she wanted his help for something he actually knew how to deal with and didn't feel like a fish out of water. He clung on to that, metaphorically hauling himself back into the deep end. Still uncomfortable, but at least he could tread water.
"N-no begging necessary. Or being cute. Not that... uhm," he wasn't sure where to go with that one without jumping right back onto dry land, so he pressed on with his lifeline.
"You're putting on a show based on the Knights of the Round Table? That sounds very fun. I've got a lot of research material at the library, uh, though it's in the process of moving to my house, that I can loan to you."
Trying to relax, he smiled easily at her, though her expression and teasing made him feel a bit more flustered than he was trying to let on. It was like he was wearing his tie too tight, though there was no tie to be found.
"What... what would you need a consult to do?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 12:35 pm
Ok, so flirting? Not his forte. It seemed that pesky girlfriend of his was getting in the way of her fun. Or maybe she'd just thrown him through too hard of a loop. That was entirely likely. She didn't occasionally find herself pressing the envelope when she couldn't control her impulses. She smiled, not looking the least bit ill at ease about this whole situation.
"I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable, Mr. Darrow. May I call you Tony or do you prefer Anthony?"
She leaned back in her chair and considered his next question. Very tricky, that. She didn't want to intimidate him with a list of tasks but she wanted to be fair. This was a bunch of teenagers he was committing to and she wasn't sure how he'd take to children. She didn't remember a mention of having any and never saw a ring on his finger in all the time she'd been going to the library.
"It involves coming to rehearsals and consulting with me on the script. This may mean time together in a quiet atmosphere going through your books...maybe even over dinner?"
There, that didn't sound daunting. The prospect even sounded pleasant. She dealt with children all the time...it was her job. She knew what running a production entailed. He might be a bit overwhelmed by it, as it would be impossible for him to be strictly in the background. Children don't allow anyone to do that, not really.
"Do you mind?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 12:54 pm
"Tony's fine," he said softly. Everyone called him that, after all. In fact, he wasn't sure he knew anyone who routinely called him Anthony these days.
Sometimes he forgot that was, in fact, his real name.
At least he was well versed in dealing with teenagers, or younger considering the new flock of chibi senshi running around. His life had depended on teenagers, in fact, quite often. It still did, even though now he had the means of helping them in return.
And, more commonly, his work at the library made him more comfortable in 'official' settings, like offering advice or organizing things with people, than it did in personal ones like this one on one, flirtation heavy conversation. He might stand a chance as a consult, at the very least. Except she mentioned dinner and he blushed.
"I ah, I don't mind helping, no. Definitely not. And if it's for your play, I don't mind meeting with you." He smiled, friendly and warm as ever, his nerves ebbing just a bit as he settled into the idea of being useful, even with his bum leg.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 2:13 pm
"I'm in your debt, Tony." she responded gratefully, smiling broadly at his acceptance of her proposal. Her nerves had been gone for quite a while now, flirting shamelessly with him in the meantime. She found she’d always enjoyed being around him, talking to him the few moments they could about this and that. She thought she even recalled mention of a son around Harmony’s age. It was enough to form a friendship on, if things continued this way though she did want to keep making him blush if she could. She wasn’t kidding when she said it suited him.
She had no idea what his experience with teenagers was or how extensive but it was enough he’d brave it for her sake. It was the perfect thing to do with an injured leg because he’d be sitting mostly, in his capacity, to watch the rehearsals with her or discuss the script with her somewhere quiet. She anticipated doing this as often as she could if only to enjoy his company a bit more. She felt silly but leaned forward in her chair conspiratorially and addressed him.
“May I admit a secret to you?” she asked softly, putting her violet gaze up to his. “This play is more just an excuse to get to know you as a need for your input. While I’m sure it’ll be invaluable and it’s something you enjoy, I just wanted a chance to get to know you outside of the checkout line.”
Now why on Earth had she admitted that aloud? It would have been a great deal less embarrassing should she learn to keep her mouth shut. She tried passing it off as nothing more than another tease but actually, it was a moment of honesty for her. A moment of emotional honesty, something more than passing curiosity. She actually wanted to know him and not put him off as some fleeting fad or minor infatuation.
Strange…very strange.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:29 pm
Tony wasn't sure that he was as uncomfortable as he was currently telling himself he was. He was nervous, sure, and he was certainly embarrassed, but he was actually feeling fairly at ease. Outside of all that other stuff.
He smiled at her.
Now that he had the moment to properly talk to her, he wondered how their check out counter conversations had never gotten beyond the superficial. He felt guilty, in a way, that he never took the time to offer her more than his usual level of conversation for patrons. He did his best to be nice, but things had to be fast and easy, and he couldn't remember personal details from everyone, all the time.
He wondered if that was the wrong tactic.
Eyebrows lifting, he nodded his head when she offered him a secret. What was he going to do, say no? He blinked in confusion, leaning forward as best he could. It was a bit difficult, considering the angle he was laying on the bed at, but he did it just because she had. When she spoke again another brush fire of embarrassment spread across his face, coloring everything from his cheeks, over the bridge of his nose and straight to the tips of his ears.
"It might be nice to be able to talk a bit more."
It had been as if she were reading his mind, or he hers. Still, he needed more friends his age, even if they did make him blush. He'd get over that soon enough, once he got familiar with her and more used to her company. Superficial only got him so far, after all, and he had a lot more to learn.
"I'll do what I can to help you with your production. I'm almost looking forward to it, though I hope I can actually be of some use and not sap all your time having to explain things to me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:59 pm
"One way or another, Tony, I think you will be of some use. The children will appreciate a better understanding of the material and I'll enjoy some one on one adult time. It's been a long time since I've spent time with another adult for any considerable length of time."
Weird. She simply couldn't seem to stop herself. Why him? What was it about Anthony Darrow that brought these long hidden qualities out in her? did she have, dare she say it, a crush? Impossible. She was many things but emotional was not one of them. It was one thing to pretend to have emotions like a character in a play but far harder to actually show them realistically. She liked him. She enjoyed his company. And he was appealing enough to her in a physical way despite the injury. Was she that hard up for companionship or was it him specifically?
"I should go. I'll be back tomorrow? Do you mind?"
She started gathering her things up, slipping her bag over her shoulder. She'd gone about as far as she wanted to go today and accomplished her goals. She wanted to be uncomfortable by what she was doing but as she'd already proven it wasn't enough to make her stop. If she couldn't stop the next logical step would be simply getting away from it for now until she could reign in her emotions again and start fresh tomorrow. Maybe absorbing them both into the material would help her avoid any unwanted complications.
"You've indulged me. Thank you for that. I'll bring some of my own collection tomorrow to go through, and the script, of course."
She got up and held out her hand for him, cursing herself for doing it even as she saw her hand reaching out for his. It felt more definite than simply leaving and less invasive than a hug. She'd leave it to him, whatever he directed her to do, with body language. She'd come, she saw, she was trying to conquer and it felt nice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:04 am
Tony smiled.
As surrounded by the unusual as he had been for so long, it was nice to have someone reaching out to him for something normal. His duty was, of course, to the knights and to ending the war that he hated so much, but considering how close it had come to killing him... turning to something simple as a counter point, a balance, might not be a terrible idea.
A reminder that there was a simple life out there to live, and it was worth every ounce of energy, every drop of blood he lost defending it. And not only that, but he was allowed to participate in it just as much as he was avowed to protecting it.
"I certainly don't mind," he said, stammering a bit but not from hesitation. He smiled at her, soft green eyes warming as he watched her picking up her things. He'd offer to help, but there wasn't much he could do unless she managed to drop something within arm's reach on the bed.
At her offered hand his eyebrows lifted, and then he leaned forward enough to take it and shake it. He didn't think about a hug, if only because she hadn't offered one. He was a simple man, and very oblivious to most things, particularly if they were female. Since his attention romantically was wrapped up in Suri, despite her being away, it simply did not connect with him.
"I look forward to it," he said, honestly. Of course, the promise to meet again meant he would have to stay in the hospital one more night, so his planned escape would be put off once again. It was probably for the best, and maybe these interruptions from his plot would continue if only because he knew escaping would be a mistake and he was justifying not doing it.
He didn't mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:20 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
