You're in a Tavern (for swordandsandle and I)

[Hikari]

Darkness filled the lonely dorm room. She was glad to have put in the extra money for that tiny amount of personal space, but it felt lonelier than she'd expected. A crumpled cafe apron lay on the bed with the name "Mary" in big bold letters on the name tag. She frowned staring at it. This was the most action that the bed had seen since she moved in. She hadn't had a boyfriend since freshman year. It was agony. Still there were some delightful distractions that helped to pass the time. One could only do so much studying before they became a complete hermit and never saw the light of day. She shivered at the thought as she booted up the old laptop. As of last night she'd successfully found a writing partner at her favorite roleplay forum. She'd been to several places like it, but they'd never had the sort of people she liked. The writers here were fun and dedicated, and these threads occupied her time once the sun set.

She went by the screenname lightmaiden. There was nothing "bright" about her these days. Her hair hardly ever behaved, and just trying to imagine improving her looks felt like a tall order. Still she reminded herself everyday of why she decided against joining a sorority. Those bubble headed bimbos got on her nerves, with their perfect hair and constant fake smiles. Those were the type of girls men around here wanted to fuck. It was nauseating. Soon her browser pulled up the page, the soft glow of the screen filling her with joy. Slowly she typed out her post.

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Aelwen sat in the dimly lit tavern contemplating the events of the last week. The gold in her pack would eventually run out, and the hole in her heart was still far from being mended. Everything had gone so quickly, and she'd taken all of it for granted. Perhaps she'd always foolishly thought that it would always be there, happy and warm. It was all so cold now, cold and empty. Her family was gone, and she couldn't protect them. They'd sent her to get supplies in the next village, a few things that were rare. Things like certain healing herbs, special fabrics, and candy. The candy had been for her little sister Ara. She'd always told her how her ears were silly and that they were pretty. Ara didn't know that it was because they'd had different fathers. Now she was gone like the others. The hood of her cloak was pulled up to hide her face. The last thing she wanted, was for the rowdy company at the bar to see her tear stained cheeks. She didn't want anyone to see the state she was in as she tried to fill the gap with ale and bread. Neither were particularly good and she didn't want to be bothered.

She tried to think of where she might go. Amongst the father she'd never met? She didn't know how well that would go. Her mother didn't speak of him much, all she knew was that the affair was frowned upon by his family for some reason. She didn't dare ask the reason. Images of her village in shambles seeped into her mind every now and then, filling her with grief. There had to be a way to forget about it, atleast for awhile..

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Someone banged on her door hard followed by laughter going up and down the hallways. She cringed as she opened the door. A very blonde, very drunk girl stood in the door way.

"Hey you're that girl who never comes to parties right?"

Mary swallowed hard.

"Yeah, what do you want?"

The girl giggled hysterically.

"Everybody says you're like permanently frigid or something. Are you a virgin?"

Another girl came up the door to lift up her drunk friend.

"I'm really sorry, she does really stupid shit when she's drunk."

With that she closed the door with a near slam and sat back at her desk.

"Frigid? Frigid? Where the hell do they even get that shit? I'm so warm I'm ready to burst!"

In her anger she accidently sent the post. She sighed. It was far too short for an introduction. Hopefully her partner would be understanding.

 

[swordandsandle]

Double whip iced latte, two shots of caffeine and a sprinkle of sugar, but no cream, unless they have non-dairy cream, in which case a spritz, but only if the brand isn’t generic...

The list ran on and on through Traton Ziert's brain as he peeked into the shadowed space of his dorm room, the light from the hallway casting a slightly darker shadow of his weary form onto the generic carpeting. It had been one of those days, the kind of day when you wondered why you even dragged yourself out of bed at six o'clock when it would have been so much more pleasant just to sleep until noon. Shutting the door weakly behind him, he flopped down into the cushioned chair, sighing in utter exhaustion. It was a difficult life, even though he did get most of his money from scholarships. "I told myself it would be a good experience, that it would be educational, but all internship has taught me is how to carry ten cups of coffee and memorize ridiculously complex orders. If I wanted that, I would have gotten a job and at least gotten paid."

Shaking his head, he spun himself around in the seat, before flipping open and powering up the laptop that sat their. The pleasant hum of the fans eased him a bit, his muscles relaxing and his eyes going back into focus. His eyes kept wandering back over to the door as his fingers worked across the touch-pad, opening up two internet windows, ever-vigilant for the tell-tale sign his roommate’s bulk hitting up onto the door. The man was such a jock, and what he knew about anything could fit inside a peanut shell, and there would still be room for the peanut. However, when somebody could squeal, you didn’t take any chances.

He opened up one of the links to some airhead party-picture site, setting it to a rather humorous human pyramid before minimizing it and typing in the address of his real destination into the other window. His screen name, HeartofIron, was boldly displayed in the upper corner, above a reminder of his current stories. He'd met a nice girl on the wanted ads of the site last night, somebody who just, spoke to him. Even her name, lightmaiden, was to his tastes, odd tastes for a boy his age, but his none the less. His fingers danced over the keys almost of their own accord, typing out his first post.
---
Cainian Damihell.

That's what his name used to be, what seemed to be like an eternity ago. So much had happened since then, he couldn’t convince himself that it had been months rather then years since the world had gone to the Seven Hells.

The city he was in was a filthy mess, streets paved with dung and the bodies of the dead and dying. Nobody had any safety, any influence nowadays, save what they could make with their might. Some men had their might in swords, others spells, and a precious few could even still command with words, but his might lay in the glass and clay bottles that hung over his worn jerkin, clinking slightly on each other under the moans of the suffering.

It had not been so long ago that She would have been beside him. She had been spoken now, given what little aid she could to the injured, and he might have even obliged her pleas to take one away and attempt to heal them. She was gentle, peaceful, caring... and she was a fool. Now, like so many other woman, she either graced then bed of some bandit, or had died their, her soft corpse tossed casually over a gorge somewhere. He was different, he had survived, and he had thrived, using his might, his alchemy.

The moans knawing at his ears, he turned into one of the few non-fortified buildings, a rowdy and rather uncivilized tavern, complete with wooden statues rubbed raw in all the wrong places. He hated the atmosphere, the patrons, even the smell, but the drink was cheap, and that was what mattered. He was slightly taller then most of the stunted, underfeed cutthroats in the room, and his patched leather jerkin at least didn’t look as though it had been eaten by a rapid bear. His hard face, angular and tans, beneath a shortly-cropped mop of dirty black hair, stared straight at the bar, avoiding eye contact with the more temperamental sort, before setting himself down at the nearest open seat, next to what appeared to be one of the oh-too-few freewoman, his legs flipped over to the chair next to him in a casual, don't mess with me style.

"Bartender," he shouted in a loud, but smooth voice. "Two honey wines, one for me and one for the brood." Reaching into one of his many pouches, he pulled out a couple of silvers and set them on the table, the tender proving their purity with a bite.

"You're coin's good," the tender grumbled as he headed to the back, searching for the right wine jar to empty.
-----

Confident, he pressed the reply button, sending in his first impression. He always found it easier to communicate with imaginary woman, or when he pretended to be somebody else. He'd had a few girlfriends, nothing serious, but the relationships had always been a bit awkward, his inner geekiness showing no matter how hard he tried to hide it. So, he wore this mask, this virtual mask, and it let him sleep at night. Smiling, he powered the computer down before flipping off the light, falling exhausted into bed.

He awoke the next morning with a terrible crick in the neck, to the sound of his roommate snoring in the bunk above him. Groaning, he pulled himself out of bed, pulling on a new set of cloths before heading out the door, feeling the terrible urge for a morning cup of coffee.

One small Dominican blend with two teaspoons sugar and…

Coffee, there as too much coffee in his life, even if he didn’t drink that much of it. Still, the student union had good, cheap coffee, and a rather nice waiter who always seemed to be there when he came. They had only met last year, but already the two of them where great friends, and where supposed to head out shopping for supplies tomorrow night. Picking himself up, passing out of his dorm, he walked across the lawn and entered the union, heading towards that sweet energizing elixir.

 

[Hikari]

She awoke the next morning face down on her bed. After a shower and going through her clothes, she pulled out a black t-shirt and some jeans. She put her dark hair in a bun, grabbed her things, and ran out the door. She'd be late if she didn't hurry. Sleep was still heavy on her and the sun was her eternal foe. Finally she reached the cafe door, where already a few people had lined up outside for their morning coffee. Lucky for her, Amy had shown up early.

"Mary! What's gotten into you? You're usually on time!"

The red head signaled her to hurry as the line was building outside. She quickly slid on her apron and readied the work station. Within 15 minutes they were ready to accept the morning rush. At this point every thing was automatic. Hot coffee, blended coffee, iced coffee, it all ran together. The two things she looked forward was the lovely smells from the cafe each day, and him. Sure it was kind of ridiculous, but in another life in other circumstances, she fancied that she could be with someone like him. Gorgeous, confident, looked awesome in a button up shirt. He was also polite no matter how rowdy things were in the morning. It had become the long standing routine that despite taking other orders, she was always waiting for him. She guessed they were friends, but it wasn't like he asked her to go places or meet up to study for tests. Nope, this was probably as good as it gets.

After filling a large order of caramel macchiatos she saw him standing at the back of the line. Somehow she always gathered the strength to speed up the work to bring him closer. Would she ever tell him that she went through that kind of trouble? Not in a million years. Soon he stepped up to the counter.

"Hello Traton. What can I get for you this morning?"

Amy cringed at the disgusting display.

 

[swordandsandle]

Still bed-ragged from the previous day, his clothing slightly wrinkled and his hair in as much of a mess as that little could be, he waited in a slight trance as the dozen, no, dozen and a half students in front of him mulled about, waiting for the doors of the café to open. To be honest, this much of a wait was not what he needed in the morning, and the thin smell of coffee grind in the air didn’t help him at all. Indeed, all it did was dredge up the annoying memories of yet another office-wide order.

Double large Columbian with wheatgrass extract and two scoops of sugar…

Thankfully, his own coffee was all he’d have to pick up today, because if he had to memorize another order, he thought he’d explode.

While he waited, his mind was going over the material for his test that day, the late middle ages sections of his European History course. He always took is his courses seriously; if he hadn’t he would have lost his scholarships long ago. Besides, it helped take his mind off the coffee orders. He barely noticed the door swinging open, walking the few steps in on autopilot, reviewing the details of the Ottoman capture of Constantinople. The defensive strategy, land ownership, all those pretty little details, played themselves over once, then twice, as the line slowly advanced, the scent of morning showers and coffee grind everywhere.

It was a pretty little shop, easy enough to look at if not exactly eye-catching. Needless to say, however, he wasn’t here to admire the flooring. Fifth in line, forth in line, the orders seemed to be coming in faster then before, the girl at the counter moving almost as if possessed. Her name… he knew her name… he’d seen it far too many times to forget. It was, Mary. She was always here whenever he came in for his morning cup, though a boy usually manned the station during his group runs. She usually sat just behind him in Biology too, although he’d never bothered to ask why. It wasn’t that he disliked her; she was helpful, kind, and cute in a unique sort of way. It was just that, well, he didn’t want to dirty his reputation by seeming to take interest in a publically know geek. Cough slightly into his sleeve, the last person in front of him moved to the side, delighting in their small caramel macchiatos, and he stood before the register, seeing Mary give off the trademarked waitress smile. There was one more thing he liked about this girl, something rather strange, to say the least. He liked, her, because she let him say two words he almost never heard in a coffee shop. “Hey Mary,” he gave her a nod as he pulled out his wallet, a black vinyl thing. “I’ll just have a plain black, if you don’t mind.” Reaching into his wallet, he pulled out a few ones and a five, too tired to get the exact change and slid them over the counter. “This should cover it, and consider the change to be a personal tip.” Giving her a slight smile, he slid his wallet away and waited, patently, for his favorite caffeinated drink.

 

[Hikari]

He looked a bit tired. Perhaps sleep hadn't been kind to him lastnight. Maybe he'd pulled an all nighter, like some of the morning crowd. Their bloodshot eyes looked at her as if she was some goddess of mercy sending them mead and ambrosia down from the heavens. Nope, she was just their humble morning barista. Sometimes she had to avert her eyes at times to keep from staring. He was out of her league, and it wasn't like they had anything but coffee in common. She smiled brightly as he pulled out his wallet.

“Hey Mary,”

She loved it when said her name.

“I’ll just have a plain black, if you don’t mind.”

Mary rung up the coffee and took the money from the counter, realizing he'd given her far too much.

“This should cover it, and consider the change to be a personal tip.”

It was a rather large tip and it was only black coffee. Still there was something about it that she couldn't let go.

"Amy get me a black regular back there."

In a few moments she handed him the coffee, her fingers brushing against his slightly.

"You look a bit tired today. Do try to take care of yourself okay?"

With that she handed him his receipt sending him on his way. Amy moved beside her to speak in her ear.

"Just ask him out already! It's like the fucking young and the restless with you two."

"That's not true, I'm sure he doesn't even think of me like that.."

Amy grinned.

"While you're making goo goo eyes at lover boy, the line is getting longer."

It was a long morning across the board. When she finally got off work, she found solace in a turkey and cheese sandwich with a tall iced latte. There was still so much to be done. She had several papers that needed work done, but instead she opened her laptop and began reading HeartofIron's post. Already it was the size she'd planned on posting before. Maybe a guy like him was more her type, more suited for her. Unfortunately he was probably some grossly unattractive basement dweller. Men who did things like this, well they usually had time on their hands for a reason.

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A man she didn't see at first sat beside her. She shifted her swollen eyes to get a better look at him. This man was obviously out of place. Then again, so was she, but his clothes were well mended and he obviously had the means to take good care of himself. Why had he chosen to sit by her when there was plenty of room elsewhere? More than a bit strange.

"Bartender,"

"Two honey wines, one for me and one for the broad."

She looked to this man as the bartender pushed the glasses forward. He was hardly tough looking. Most of the men in here could tear him apart. The same could be her fate, but she'd really been far too down lately to care. She didn't want him to see her. People always had weird reactions when they did, and often thought her a full elf.

"Thank you Sir. You are most kind."

She sipped the mead slowly, letting the sweet drink fill her sorrows. Was he trying to do what she thought he was?

"It's probably not good for someone like you to be in such a shifty place. They like to rob people on the way out."

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She posted the reply, remembering her next class. Biology was the class she was looking forward to the most.

 

[swordandsandle]

There was something about the way she looked at him… it was a bit strange. What was that look? His own eyes where slightly glazed over, caught up half in his own thoughts, but he’d have to be blind not to notice they way her eyes stayed on him a little longer then they should have, the way her hand always touched his when she handed him his drink, slowing down on contact. Again, he didn’t hate her, it was just, he didn’t care enough to risk his reputation. So, he went through the motions of getting his drink, leaning on the counter a bit as he watched the crew work in back, getting the plesently simple drink done quickly and efficiently, and taking the drink in his hands, feeling the warmth off the Styrofoam cup.


"You look a bit tired today. Do try to take care of yourself okay?"

He gave her a friendly smile as he took a single sip, lingering at the counter for a moment. “Will do. Stay pretty, ok?” He said, before heading off to take on the day.

And what a day it turned out to be. Sure, classes turned out to be easy enough; he knew every answer on his history test, and had enough extra time between then and his internship shift to finish up on all the papers he’d need to turn in next week. The thing was, this was entirely normal; he had always been a wiz when it came to academics. The problems had came that day turning his shift. Whatever force kept the machines in the office from jamming, breaking, and short-circuiting had apparently decided to take a vacation that day, and guess who ended up having to pull, refill, replace, and bring in every single thing. Why, the only person in the place not getting paid of course; meaning him personally. His fingers ink stained, his arms numb from all the lifting, and his eyes blown from looking through the darkness, he tumbled into his room exhausted… again. Landing on his bed, his roommate again out for something or another, most likely with a girl of some sort, all he wanted to do was close his eyes and fall into the peaceful grip of sleep. However, dragging himself over the computer, he dutifully turned it on, remembering he’d promised lightmaiden that he’d check on every night. His eyes went zombie-like over her post, stopping only for him to go over to the mini-fridge and bite down on some cold pizza. She was a pretty good writer, although he’d had some suspicions at her first post, wondering if he should have been more insistent in starting the thread. Still, cracking his weary knuckles, he set out to work.

He didn’t bother to pay much attention to the woman next to him, being lost in his own thoughts and plans. She was a tool, nothing more, he mused as he located every possible route to the exit. Maybe a tougher thing then most of the other woman, but she’d be wearing the chains or lying dead within a week if she didn’t do something about the way she carried herself, all sad and self-important. Still, as he grabbed the glass and took in the heavy, honey scent, he had the decency to respond to her, after letting out a politely concealed belch.

“Don’t mention it,” he turned his head slightly to see her face, a bit bruised but not too bad all told. He had his own sets of scars, although they where mostly down his arms, his back, and on his palms, and possible to conceal. “I had enough coin, and I’d hate to see a fellow go thirsty. Life’s too short to miss out on simple pleasures, all the more so nowadays.” Unlike her, he drained the whole glass in one good chug, letting out a long, sugary breath afterwards.

“I can handle myself well enough,” he mumbled as he patted his flasks softly. “I’ve got skills that make me a bit too dangerous to people who like to fight hand to hand. It’s you I’d be more worried about. As I said, simple pleasures can’t be missed these days, and a fresh bed slave is always welcome. If you don’t watch yourself, you might be losing more then a few silver. Of course,” he spoke half to himself, spinning the glass on the wooden surface. “They wouldn’t mess with you if you went out with me. You watch my pockets, and I think we might just be able to put both our worries to bed, no?”

Worn out, he pressed the send button and took in the last of the pizza, the hard crust scratching his throat a bit, before plopping down on his bed and trying to get to sleep, the sounds of a rather annoying small party just a floor down, the all-girls floor, pummeling at his brain.

 

[Hikari]

After several hours in the library, researching for a paper, she decided to go on home. The library was empty save for a few souls even more dedicated than she. It was already getting dark when she left the building and even darker when she'd left the cafe for a small dose of caffeine. She shuffled into the room, her arms full of books. They soon found their way onto her bed, taking the place of some kind fellow with a kink for glasses.

"Dream on Mary. Dream on." she said to herself.

Her mind drifted to the boy from the cafe, the one that called her by name. Such things were impossible and out of reach. Her last boyfriend had been a dungeon master. Guys like that were the only ones who'd date her. Guys like HeartofIron perhaps. His location was left blank in his profile, meaning that he could live anywhere. Though considering that they were on around the same time, she gathered that they were atleast in the same timezone. For all she knew, he could be anyone and anywhere. Though she tried not to think about things like that as she opened her laptop.

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“I had enough coin, and I’d hate to see a fellow go thirsty. Life’s too short to miss out on simple pleasures, all the more so nowadays.”

This man was a real character. Barging into a place like this with no weapons. He was either very clever or very stupid. Still she did enjoy his hospitality. Perhaps such a man could be useful. Her options ran over in her mind again. They didn't look very promising. If he were traveling somewhere better, she would happily go.

“I can handle myself well enough,”

“I’ve got skills that make me a bit too dangerous to people who like to fight hand to hand. It’s you I’d be more worried about. As I said, simple pleasures can’t be missed these days, and a fresh bed slave is always welcome. If you don’t watch yourself, you might be losing more then a few silver. Of course,”

Bed slave? She would sooner die and take several with her before letting such a thing happen. Though it was hardly the place for someone that looked like her. She knew what she looked like to people around here. Luckily she had more than a few tricks up her sleeve. Though what were the tricks that he carried? What manner of sorcerery was that? She drained the cup and placed it gently on the bar.

“They wouldn’t mess with you if you went out with me. You watch my pockets, and I think we might just be able to put both our worries to bed, no?”

Her eyes met his peering from beneath her cloak. Whoever and whatever he was, she was liking the sound of this proposition. She could either get drunk and stay here to meet some awful fate or leave with this seemingly kind curious fellow. Her mind was already made up.

"I like the way you think sir. We'll leave together then. However should you be the type to make me a bed slave, know that you'll regret it."

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She pushed the send button, thoroughly pleased with herself. The racket down the hallway was unbearable. Those stupid freshman were pulling this crap again. Mary changed into her pajamas and put a robe on. She then walked down the hall to bang on the door where the party was.

"Hey! What's the password!"

"Cut the crap and open the door!" she said.

"That's not very nice!"

"Well guess what! This is a dry campus! So you have two choices! Either keep the noise down, or some people are getting reported to the DA."

Didn't the people upstairs hear this? How did they sleep through all this?

 

[swordandsandle]

… he was awaken in the middle of the night by a sudden glare of light from the door, groaning loudly as his consciousness was rudely forced back into reality. It had been such a pleasant dream, something with… softness, but the details where already slipping away as his mind went on high alert, recognizing the athletic shape of the intruder almost immediately.

“Hey Brotha,” his roommate Neal bumbled his, his stance and gait suggesting he may have had a few drinks in the last hour. Traton guessed his face would suggest the same thing, provided he ever got a chance to see it. “You’ve got to check this out…”

“Look Neal,” he slid himself up agenst the wall, still half-lying and half asleep, his movements dazed and choppy. “I know you like to party, and that you’re likely too impaired to realize what you’ve just done, but some of us, those of us who actually attend all our classes, need to sleep.” He groaned as he forced himself onto his feet, his eyes finally adjusting enough to see the ruddy light reflecting off Neal’s red face. Honestly, why did he even bother trying to reason with the man? There where a hundred other boys in the dorm who where actually responsible, respectable adults, and he got paired with the one man who never mentally aged past six. Wait a moment…

Suddenly, his weary mind had put things together. How on earth could Neal have gotten drunk at this hour, when the dorms where locked and nobody was supposed to have alcohol? Then there was the annoying heavy metal music rocking the floor, and he came to a revolution; somebody was throwing an illegal party. Those happened every so often, so idiot freshman thinking she could get away with it with a cute pout and a veiled threat. Of course, then they met him.

“Ok Neal,” Tration pushed his drunk rommie down onto the bed, listening to him hiccup as let his two-day, bedraggled cloths fall to the ground, throwing a thick, tight robe of heavy black cloth around him instead. “I think it’s time you get to sleep, ok? I’m going to make sure this stupid music stops.” And with only a slight groan in response, Tration shut the door firmly but softly behind him, setting down towards the source of that dimmable sound.

After taking two flights of stairs, the blood was finally back in full flow and he was awake, looking down the hallway where Mary, yes, it was her, was banging loudly on the door that seemed to be where the sound was coming from. He walked over, straight and serious, and stood to her left, catching her eye in his. “Hey Mary, fancy meeting you here,” he smiled to himself. She was actually a bit cuter in her pajamas then in her work uniform… he could enjoy looking at that. No, he told himself, that’s not all that’s important. You have a reputation to uphold. Then again, nobody was around. “I must say, you look rather pretty tonight.” His tired smile shown out past his dreary face, slouching a bit as his focus temporarily slacked. “I bet you couldn’t sleep either, was all this racket going on. Let me handle this.” He stepped in front of her, pounding hard at the door.

“Why don’t you just go away, party pooper.” The voice came from inside, obviously annoyed.

“I don’t care weather I’m a party pooper or not,” he spoke sternly, blind serious. “What you don’t seem to understand is that I have a girl out here who would like to get to sleep, just like me,” he glanced back at Mary for a moment. “Now, you have two choices. Either you quite down enough so that those of us who want to can sleep, or I call in the sheriff on you all. Understand?”

There was a silence for a moment as he stood, confident in himself. “But, how can we dance without…”

He didn’t wait for them to finish. “Quite or police, you choose. I’m not partial to either one.” And with that, he let them be, turning around and looking at Mary, his hand held tightly around his robe. “Well, that should take care of that.” He said as the sound started to fade from the hallway, punctured only by the sighs and awws of the party winding down. “You doing ok? Anything I can do for you?” Honestly, he was too tired to care what he said right now. He knew he might regret this in the morning, but… he felt he owed her something for his roomate’s party keeping her up. An odd quirk, yes, but his.

 

[Hikari]

“Hey Mary, fancy meeting you here,”

She froze. It was as if one of her dreams was enacting itself right before her eyes. How had Traton gotten there? He looked rather good in pajamas. How is it that he'd been living just upstairs the whole time? All this time she pictured him living in nicer conditions. Still it was a wonder surprise to find him this close.

“I must say, you look rather pretty tonight.”

Her cheeks took on a pinkish tone. Had he just said those words? No one these days said she was pretty. Thinking of him being this close to her room, it gave her a few impure thoughts. The unchristened bed, most of her schoolwork done, and no roommates. Though it's not like he would ever agree to something like that.

“I bet you couldn’t sleep either, was all this racket going on. Let me handle this.”

It was difficult to know what to do or say while he came to her rescue. He banged at the door. Several girls voices could be heard inside, obviously not giving a damn about anyone else in the building. They were probably drunk out of their minds and it was more than annoying.

“Now, you have two choices. Either you quiet down enough so that those of us who want to can sleep, or I call in the sheriff on you all. Understand?”

“But, how can we dance without…”

“Quite or police, you choose. I’m not partial to either one.”

She smiled. He looked tired and still he spoke with more passion than she had.

“Well, that should take care of that.”

The whole thing was surreal. A crazy idea came to mind in the midst of it all. If perhaps she could spend a few more moments with him, she could die happy.

“You doing ok? Anything I can do for you?”

She looked him in the eyes almost beaming at him despite the long day she'd had.

"Well I was thinking since we're both up. Would you uhh like a soda or something? See I have a private room and I thought you could use a break after all that. Or you could wait out here if that's better."

She opened the door to her room and opened the fridge and pulled out a can of soda. She walked to him in the hall and handed him a can of rootbeer.

"So you coming in or waiting out here? I'll understand if the answer's no. It is rather late."

 

[swordandsandle]

"So you coming in or waiting out here? I'll understand if the answer's no. It is rather late."

At that moment, an alarm went off in the back of his head, a dull buzzing playing over his thoughts. Or, to be perfectly honest, it was two alarms. The first was a call from his mind for sleep, sending aches over his entire body, while the second was whispering a rule from the Student Regulations Handbook. Students are not allowed into the rooms of the opposite gender after nine o’clock. Together, they where both telling him not to enter her room, just go up and fall back into bed, be ready for tomorrow. He simply stood their for a moment, mentally going over the entire situations, before making a compromise, after remembering a key.

“Thank you,” he yawned as he grasped at the soda, turning over the can and checking the ingredients. After a few seconds, pleasantly discovering there was no caffeine, he let it hang at his side while he spoke, pressing to keep his sleepy eyes focused. “Honestly, I’ll never get any sleep until my idiot roommate gets all the alcohol out of his system, but there are rules agenst me going into your room at this hour. Still,” he mussed over the issue for a moment… she actually looked a bit inviting, standing in the doorway like that. “There aren’t any rules saying we can’t go sit down in the lobby. If you’d like, I’m sure I can keep you company for a little while.” He took a single step down the hall, keeping his eyes on Mary the whole time. It had to be the time, he told himself. His brain must be all loopy and that’s why she looked so much better. His arm loosened slightly around his waist, letting the top of his robe fall open a bit, revealing a bit of his chest, as he waited for her to come. She was hesitating… did that mean she only wanted him in her room? I mean, he obviously noticed the way she acted around him, especially the way her eyes shown right now, almost in reverence, but he’d always assumed it more of a schoolgirl crush then anything else. Could she really be that infatuated with him? “Although, if you just want to spend the night in your room, I understand,” he let himself lean into the wall a bit, nodding at her slightly. “I’d still love to talk with you, but I’d rather not risk expulsion.” He took a step, towards her this time, pulling himself back onto his feet, listening to the crashes and crinkling of the party being put away. “I’d really like it if you’d come with me though. What do you say?”

 

[Hikari]

It was a stupid idea, one that she'd never expected he'd accept. Already she was expecting a no, but atleast she tried. It's not like he would want to spend time with someone like her. Didn't mean she couldn't attempt it. This was several steps down from asking one to coffee, so maybe she could make peace with it now. Guys like him didn't go with girls that still had silly hobbies.

“Thank you,”

“Honestly, I’ll never get any sleep until my idiot roommate gets all the alcohol out of his system, but there are rules against me going into your room at this hour. Still,”

He was right. Seeing him suddenly had made her forget something as simple as school rules. She'd blown her chances.

“There aren’t any rules saying we can’t go sit down in the lobby. If you’d like, I’m sure I can keep you company for a little while.”

She smiled. It was as if fate was smiling on her for once. Perhaps there was a chance he'd look at her as something more than a girl who served him coffee. A girl could only dream, but what if he didn't like her? Could she handle that kind of rejection again?

“Although, if you just want to spend the night in your room, I understand,"

Then he walked towards her with that smile of his. It wasn't something she could resist.

“I’d still love to talk with you, but I’d rather not risk expulsion.”

“I’d really like it if you’d come with me though. What do you say?”

She closed the door behind her and stepped into the hallway.

"I thought you'd never ask.."

They made their way to the lobby. She took a seat by a large fake plant and opened the soda can.

"So what shall we discuss? Hmm...how about the reason you often look so exhausted?"

 

[swordandsandle]

The blood pounded at his temples, the communicative effects of several poor nights of sleep all filling up his brain at the same moment. I can't even think straight he thought, as he put one foot in front of the other, half in a daze. Still, it wasn’t as thought there was still a part of him, that part that he labored to keep locked up, that kind of wanted to get to know her. Mary was the one thing that specific part of him wanted to be; a openly nerdy person. Besides, it wasn’t as if she was butt ugly, her beauty was just more... cuteness then mature.

"I thought you'd never ask..."

Odd, he never though he would ask either. The door on either side passed him, the same woody cream color, bordered by dark red paint that was a bit more worn then one would expect, his eyes glancing over every few minutes as they caught the glint of the florcent light off Mary's glasses, the ghost of a smile fluttering across his face each time it did. There was something... strange about it, but the light seemed to highlight the color in her hair, the milky pale skin, and the smoothness of her face. For a moment, he almost considered complementing her, before his better mind managed to get a grip and stop him. No matter what happened, he would have to treat this as just a friendly little visit, no more.

He settled himself into the chair next to Mary, his body sinking mostly into the cushion of the large couch, but a bit of his shoulder resting on Mary's, feeling the smooth sensation of her pajamas on the bit of open skin. Was she wearing silk? Whatever it was, it felt good. He popped the top of his soda, the hiss penetrating the room for half a moment, before taking in a long gulp, swirling the sugary liquid around his mouth, the taste stimulating his brain just a bit, his eyes opening that much wider.

"So what shall we discuss? Hmm...how about the reason you often look so exhausted?"

He swallowed down the liquid with that, half in surprise and half in tension. Did she seriously just ask that question, and honestly care enough. He'd obviously underestimated how much of a crush she actually had on him. Shifting his body so his front was turned to her, pulling in the flap of his robe, he looked down slightly, his eyes on hers.

"Are you sure you really want to know?" His voice was concerned, tinged a bit by the scratch of his soda. "I mean, its not anything I can't handle. I'm tough enough to handle whatever they can throw at me." He stated this was the full confidence he could muster, his body sagging a bit from the effort. "I'm sorry," he finally spoke after a short period of silence. "Its not like I don't care enough to tell you. I actually would love to get to know you better," what was he saying? "I'd just…” the look on her face was so pleading, so interested, and he honestly didn’t have enough energy to argue. “I’ve got a internship down at the campaign office. I was hoping I’d get to learn something, but so far all I’ve been doing for the past three months is grunt work, nothing even remotely educational. The worst part is getting the coffee, not that there is anything wrong with the café,” he did quick damage control, sighing into his soda. “Every day, its two dozen obscenely complex orders, orders I usually have to wait at peak-time lines to get, and all so I can go back and un-jam the most recent paper jam. Sometimes…” he paused for a moment, as if imagining something. “Sometimes I just wish I could go back to High School, when I used to play video games, or play online, or just have enough time for a half-decent relationship.”

 

[Hikari]

"Its not like I don't care enough to tell you. I actually would love to get to know you better,"

"I'd just…”

She was surprised at what he was saying. Usually he seemed so confident, so away and out of reach. Perhaps she'd misheard him. Who in their right mind wanted to know about her these days? Certainly not him.

“I’ve got a internship down at the campaign office. I was hoping I’d get to learn something, but so far all I’ve been doing for the past three months is grunt work, nothing even remotely educational. The worst part is getting the coffee, not that there is anything wrong with the café,”

"Nice save," she thought to herself.

Mary could see him reliving the frustration as he explained it all. He seemed reachable and more human with every word he spoke. It was putting her at ease.

“Every day, its two dozen obscenely complex orders, orders I usually have to wait at peak-time lines to get, and all so I can go back and un-jam the most recent paper jam. Sometimes…”

“Sometimes I just wish I could go back to High School, when I used to play video games, or play online, or just have enough time for a half-decent relationship.”

It started slowly with a snicker, bubbling through her, until it became a long hearty laugh. He clearly looked confused as he sat there. Possibly mortified.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't help it! I'm just so relieved."

He still looked puzzled.

"It's just, I was worried you and I would have nothing to talk about. Yet here you are, just like me."

She smiled, looking much more relaxed than before.

"I absolutely understand that feeling. Sometimes it's nothing but work, class, studying, and sleep. Even when I have freetime, I realize that I've been so caught up in everything, that I have no one to spend it with. I have a few acquaintances, but no one I'd really call a friend."[/I]

"It's not that I can't make friends, it's that I'm shy and often don't have time for it. Usually my freetime consists of online hobbies. Things to pass the time. I guess we all wish we could go back to a simpler time."

Mary took a heavy sip of the soda and then looked back at him.

"I think both of us need to probably make more time for ourselves. I'm sure there's gotta be somethings you like to do."

 

[swordandsandle]

What on earth was he doing?

"Umm," he sat their, confused, as she broke out in laughter, almost sounding insane. For a moment, he felt himself flood in self-conciousness, his face blatently plastered with a dumb look. It was all so, uncharacteristic of him. Well, that's what I get for skipping sleep enough. he mentally chasticed himself. You end up sounding like an idiot

His mind all in a flux, he almost missed what she said next, but caught it in the corner of his attention span, flittering off into the distance. "No offence taken," he soothed her as he set the soda down on the table next to him, letting out a casual yawn. "I understand how you might think that way. I'm not the most socialable of people..." if she only knew the half of it. "Still, we're all human, aren't we?" He let the topic sit to rest their, pausing for a moment as he started to nod off right then and there...

before he shook himself awake, his eyes refocusing on the body next to him. "You're probebly the person I have the most face-to-face non-bussiness dealings with every day. Pathetic, hu?" He was brutally honest with himself, almost talking to himself rather then her. "Its just..." then, his better judgement kicked in; this wasen't the person to say this to, it said. Just get up, and handle your own demons. She dosen't need your problems.

"It's not that I can't make friends, it's that I'm shy and often don't have time for it. Usually my freetime consists of online hobbies. Things to pass the time. I guess we all wish we could go back to a simpler time."

Wow, it actually sounded like she understood what he was talking about. Indeed, he had a few online hobbies too, though he never met anybody face to face. You never could tell who you where dealing with, probebly some hopeless romantic in her late fourties or something. All things concidered, lightmaiden wasen't likely a maiden at all.

"I think both of us need to probably make more time for ourselves. I'm sure there's gotta be somethings you like to do."

"Good advice," he told her as he stood up, streching his back. "First things first, though; I've got to get some sleep. I haven't gotten a decent night in near a week." Leaning over, for reasons he never quite understood, he laid a hand on her shoulder, smiling softly. "Before I go though," he spoke almost in a whisper. "Thank's for the talk. I really needed this. Don't stay up too late, ok?" and with that, he turned around and started to shuffle back up to his room, crawled over to his roomate's bed (as he was still passed out on his) and fell asleep on the spot, his mind slipping into the realm of dreamstuff...

It was evening, and he was, for some reason, wandering about the halls of the dorm, his feet echoing through the empty passage with every step. The hallway seemed to go on forever, door after door after door, and he just kept walking, never seeming to get anywhere, only knowing that he had somewhere to go...

Then, softly, he heard a door open behind him, and he turned his head around to see a body looking out. It was Mary, only her head visable, but her shoulder's obviously bared. "See I have a private room," he heard her voice, soft and southing to his troubled ear. "And I thought you could use a break after all that." She spoke no more, simply looking at him with eyes pleading.

This isen't my heart talking, he told himself, this is my dick. Yes, I've gone too long without a girl, and now its starting to play with the last female I saw. Still, that diden't stop his dream form from looking in, entering the room, and seeing her nakedness, her looking up at him shyly...

Then, a beam of light passed over his eye, and he awoke.

 

[Hikari]

"Good advice"

He rose up sooner than expected, but she knew she was expecting too much. It was late and a school night. Who knew what sort of class he had to get to early in the morning. It was selfish to expect anything else. Still this was more than she ever hoped to have from him. It was probably better that he left now before she said anything stupid.

"First things first, though; I've got to get some sleep. I haven't gotten a decent night in near a week."

She almost felt guilty now. One never knew what sort of sleep students were getting. No wonder he was so ticked at the partiers. It was then that he placed a hand on her shoulder. That tiny gesture sent a shiver through her.

"Before I go though"

"Thank's for the talk. I really needed this. Don't stay up too late, ok?"

What had even just happened? Sure it was a friendly chat, but she could have sworn that there was something else. Like they'd found some common ground. It wasn't like it'd happen again. So there he was walking away again. Atleast she'd see him in the cafe. She really did feel foolish. Slowly she drifted back to her room and plopped down on the bed. It made her think of something. Quickly she opened the laptop to see that HeartofIron hadn't answered the last post. It made her a little disappointed. She typed a short message to him.

Hey, how are things? I'm really enjoying the thread so far. I guess I'm hoping you are as well. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I don't bite. Anyway have a nice day and I hope you sleep well.

With that she closed the computer and passed out on the bed.