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Post by Mister Stewart on Nov 11, 2010 23:45:21 GMT -8
Even when Ashlin was out of the room, Michael didn't move, trying to get his composure. This was unacceptable! Such behavior...he couldn't afford to slip like this, not now. Even when she returned, he didn't quite look her in the eye, taking the ice pack with a polite little nod. For a moment, he sat with it pressed to his wrist over his suit - not the most efficient way to treat it, he knew - but before he could really turn any more thoughts over in his head, suddenly the girl was very close to him, picking through his hair.
His eyes widened and shot upward, still red in the face as he wondered what the girl was doing. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but the words died in his throat...instead he settled on shutting it again, turning his gaze back downward and carefully tugging up his sleeve to slip the ice pack under. If she was paying attention, she would get just the briefest glimpse of reddish, discolored skin - how hard had he fallen on it?
It wasn't until she explained what she had been doing that he looked up again, giving another awkward, mute nod.
Mister Stewart watched the whole thing with curiosity and concern - he knew how nervous Michael got when anyone got very close to him, let alone to touch him and pick through his hair like that. The girl was kind and gentle, and that much was likely good for the boy...but he watched the way the younger man was handling his wrist, worried that he would refuse any further help.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Nov 12, 2010 0:10:15 GMT -8
Ashlin was not unintelligent but social cues had never been her forte. Too many years left to her own devices had made her slower than most in that respect, but she wasn't unobservant. The cheerful smile slowly slide off her face as she took in Michael's stiff posture, and the almost caged animal expression. "I did something bad again didn't I?" She asked quietly, resignation filling her voice as her shoulders slumped. Ash clenched her fists as she looked away. She had thought maybe things could be different here, maybe she could be different here. But if she couldn't even go this long without messing up. . .
(She couldn't hide it, she could never hide it, everybody could see it, would see it. This wrongness, her wrongness and then they'd go away. Everybody always went away.)
"I'm sorry. I-I'm not. . ." she trailed off awkwardly unsure how to explain that she had so little experience with people. That she was strange (not crazy, she wasn't crazy) and nobody ever wanted to be friends with the strange little girl who talked to her doll like it was really alive. But it wasn't as if she'd had anyone else to talk to. "Sorry." she finished sadly, half formed explanations unable to make it out.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Nov 12, 2010 0:25:16 GMT -8
Ashlin's sudden shift in mood shook Michael from his shyness somewhat, pulling his gaze back towards her as she looked away from him. He felt all at once guilty...she had, in fact, only been trying to help him. It was only that he wasn't really used to that...not really used to any sort of closeness. Shifting a bit so that he was crosslegged instead of sprawled, he cleared his throat, trying to think of what to say.
The older man looked on with great curiousity at this point...wondering what Michael would do. The girl reminded Mister Stewart of someone when she spoke - someone he had met some years ago, who had been so very apologetic and convinced something was wrong with him at every turn. Would Michael see it, too, he wondered?
Finally, sheepishly, the boy spoke in his careful, measured way.
"You...did not do anything bad - I'm just...not usually this clumsy. I'm sorry if I've made you sad...my day has been...a little bit rough, see." He smiled one of his subtle smiles - sadly, exhaustedly. His hand tightened around his wrist subconsciously.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Nov 12, 2010 9:14:25 GMT -8
At Michael's words Ash looked back toward him and seemed to reflate just a little. Maybe she hadn't messed up so badly after all, maybe she still had a chance to make friends here. She had a tiny hopeful smile on her face though there was still a sadness in her eyes. It was an old pain, too many memories of being pushed away whenever she tried to make friends brought to the surface. "Oh. I'd thought . . ." trailing off quietly she finished after a moment "People don't really talk to me much." She looked down at the ground, suddenly feeling shy herself.
It was then that she remembered the tea. Ash had forgotten it in all the commotion but it should still be nice and hot. Without another word she bounced up and scurried over to the bookshelf where she had left it. Yes, it was still hot, she was relieved to find. Returning to her previous spot she offered it to Michael with a small smile, hopeful and just a little shy.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Nov 14, 2010 1:13:34 GMT -8
Watching her as she jumped up, Michael thought about what she said, a thoughtful look in his tired eyes. He had seen that look...old pain. Rejection. He knew it well. When she brought his tea, he shifted so that he could hold the ice pack in one place by pinning it between his wrist and his knee, taking the teacup with his free hand. For a moment, his only response was a small nod of thanks...before intoning in his quiet, polite way -
"...I understand what that's like quite thoroughly...people also don't...really talk to me."
Giving her a little smile of camaraderie, he sipped from the tea, manners impeccable despite the circumstances.
Yes, Mister Stewart thought to himself, watching the two of them in silence. I do believe I like this girl.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Nov 16, 2010 22:30:15 GMT -8
Tilting her head slightly Ashlin just looked a Michael for a moment, as if trying to divine some grand truth. And then, apparently finding whatever it was she was looking for in him, she hesitantly she offered "Then, maybe we could . . . talk to each other?" There was a small vulnerable smile on her face as she asked, still unsure if she was doing the right thing. If she was offering herself up only to once more be cruelly rejected. Ash didn't think Michael was that kind of person but she had been tossed aside, ignored and rejected too many times for her to really feel secure in such an endeavor.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Nov 24, 2010 2:25:11 GMT -8
At this, the little smile on the boy's lips grew ever so slightly before disappearing behind the teacup again. He seemed to be a shy sort...tired, a little haggard. It took him a moment before he spoke, voice very quiet and timid.
"...I would like that, if we could...it would be nice, if you would like to meet with me now and again...we could catch up then."
Mister Stewart was more than pleased to hear this from his young charge - the boy kept to himself so, especially lately. Perhaps it would do him some good to speak a bit more casually with someone on a normal basis.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Dec 4, 2010 23:25:49 GMT -8
Clapping her hands together Ash smiled happily, though slightly more reservedly than she had when they'd first arrived. "We could have tea together if you'd like?" she offered. She was making a friend! Or at least she thought she was. She wasn't sure if how most went about it, but it seemed to be working well enough. Maybe things really would be different here. The thought left Ashlin with a warm feeling in pit of her stomach, and she ducked her head a bit feeling inexplicably shy. She felt as if she was in kindergarten all over again, feeling shy and vulnerable, but determined to make friends just like her mother said she would.
That was when she first started to realize maybe her mother didn't know everything. It was something she wouldn't quite believe till years later when she was sitting in an uncomfortable chair waiting for the fifth doctor in as many months to talk down to her and give her medincine she didn't need. It always made her tummy hurt, or made her feel sleepy, and she didn't even understand why she had to take it when she wasn't even sick (wasn't crazy, she wasn't, wasn't, wasn't.)
But those days were far from her mind at the moment, too caught up in the here and now. That was how Ash liked it best, but especially this now, because this now had a friend and a new home and a chance. Ash liked chances she decided, she like this one very much.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Dec 5, 2010 0:51:46 GMT -8
Michael was turning this whole encounter over in his head as well, wondering at it as he sipped from his tea. He didn't really have friends - not good ones, anyhow. He had people he spoke to, but mostly it was Mister Stewart by proxy...or those who spoke with him personally only got shallow, idle conversations. He had difficulty opening up to anyone, quite honestly...he wasn't sure he could.
But she wasn't asking him to. She was asking him to tea. He could do that.
Fidgeting slightly with the cup, he gave a little nod of the head. "I would enjoy that, if you would, too...it would be pleasant to sit and talk with you." He seemed so much less sure of himself when he wasn't speaking for the older man - like he wasn't sure how to speak for himself anymore. Maybe he wasn't? But this would be good for him for that reason. At least, that was what Mister Stewart was thinking as he sat back and watched the exchange.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Dec 5, 2010 2:32:58 GMT -8
Doing her best impression of a bobble head she laughed happily. "I'd quite like to have tea with you Michael." Then without warning the girl bounced up and almost skipped over to the counter. Instead of going around it though she merely leaned over the top. Here legs flailed a bit in the air as her her head and arms disappeared behind the counter top. After a few moments of searching Ashlin made a small triumphant noise, and squirmed off the counter. Pulling a pencil out from somewhere in one of her rare ponytails, she quickly scribbled something down on whatever she'd just retrieved. As it turned out that whatever was in fact a purple pad proudly adorned with a happily full squirrel. Ripping the page she'd just filled out off the pad she offered it to Michael with a bright smile.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Dec 5, 2010 3:28:43 GMT -8
It was a blessing in disguise that Michael was still seated on the floor - the way she suddenly hopped up to shuffle towards her counter rather startled him, very nearly making him spill his tea (and really, that would have been the final straw). Curiously, he watched her, unsure what she was doing...until she skipped back over, holding out the little sheet of notepaper. A look of understanding crossed his face and he reached into his jacket pocket, trading the notepaper for a neat little business card on nice ivory stock, proclaiming his name, station, and contact information in embossed maroon letters.
He didn't quite match the brightness of her smile, but he did smile all the same - a small, flimsy, unsure thing, but still a smile. Mister Stewart was glad. He hadn't seen even that much of a smile from the boy outside the mansion in a long, long time.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Dec 5, 2010 12:06:08 GMT -8
Ashlin glanced over the text on the card before nodding, a pleased smile still on her face, and putting the card into her pocket. It was then that Ashlin realized that in all that had been going on she'd ended up completely ignoring Mr.Stewart. Feeling a bit embarrassed at her own rudeness (it was considered rude wasn't it? She'd been told that once when her mother had, had guests over and Ashlin had run out rather unexpectedly because inspiration had just struck.) Looking between the two she asked in her best shop proprietor voice "So is there anything you needed?"
Small talk had never been Ashlin's forte, she always ended up being overly abrupt or coming off as if she was quickly changing subjects. She didn't mean to of course but the finer points of conversation had always alluded her. She didn't get enough practice she supposed.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Dec 6, 2010 3:21:20 GMT -8
When Ashlin suddenly addressed Mister Stewart, Michael suddenly remembered himself as well - and reddening a bit, he set aside the now-empty teacup, making his way to his feet to stand at attention beside the older man. It wasn't like him to so thoroughly forget his duty because of a little pain - what had gotten into him? Promptly, he bent down to listen to Mister Stewart speak, straightening up again to relay it when he was done.
"Miss Ashlin Thomas. I - that is to say, Mister Stewart - merely wanted to check in with you. To open a shop is hard work, it's true. Is the building quite all right? It gets a bit drafty in here in the night. So says Mister Stewart." Back to the usual routine...but something else was on Michael's mind. He would wait to ask...he would get Mister Stewart to the car first.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Dec 6, 2010 17:40:41 GMT -8
At the question Ashlin glanced around the shop. "The building? Oh its fine." Rocking on the heals of her feet she laughed and added with a bright smile "Really compared to the last few years, this is far from being drafty." She'd spent more than one night roughing it when she'd been backpacking, and even some of the actual places she'd stayed where far bellow what most would consider suitable. Ash hadn't minded though, it was part of the experience after all. "But thank you both for your concern, its very kind of you."
This place was already shaping up to be better than she hoped. Her mother had been worried when she said she was moving to a town in the middle of what she deemed no where. After four years of barely knowing where her daughter was baring the occasional post card Mrs.Thomas had been hoping Ashlin would settle down somewhere closer to home. She didn't understand how trapped Ash would have felt there. She tried, she really did but she had never understood her daughter and likely never would.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Dec 6, 2010 18:33:34 GMT -8
Seemingly satisfied with this, Mister Stewart gave a little nod, gesturing to Michael again. The young man bent down - but instead of relaying information, he whispered back for a moment or two, conversing behind his hand with the older man. They seemed to be having some sort of discussion - one which ended with the elder man nodding permission, regarding Ashlin with a small flourish of the hand as he started to wheel himself out of the bookstore.
Michael stayed behind for a moment, first relaying the last thing said -
"Miss Ashlin Thomas. If you are satisfied, that is great...if you have any questions, call, please don't hesitate. So says Mister Stewart." But once he had said this, he lingered a bit, waiting until the other man had left the room. He looked all at once unsure, a tiny frown crossing his lips. Was there something else he wanted to ask? He looked nervous now, eyes darting between the door and then back to Ashlin.
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