[she got a muffin and a cup of black coffee for herself and perched on a chair across from him, picking it apart with her fingers.
This close and out of the rain, she was quite a sight to see. Without the elements to get in the way, it was obvious that she wasn't just disheveled from being outside. Her clothes had started out new, here, but even with everything being free she had learned to wear things until they were practically falling apart. There were signs of wear on her elbows and knees, and rubbed patches where she'd attempted to get the worst of the paint off her clothes.
Her nails were stained with oils, the mark of her trade, and there were no signs of makeup or jewelry, except for a single, thin chain that disappeared into her oversized sweater. She might have been a bag lady on the streets of any city...or else a street urchin, for all her apparent age. Just a gamine child, barely more than a waif.
But, despite her tattered appearance, further examination would show that she was clean. Very clean. The rain and damp left the scent of mild shampoo, soap, and the slightly astringent tang of turpentine. And, despite the crumbly nature of her snack, she didn't get crumbs on the table or herself. She ate quickly, but neatly, and folded the wrapper when she was done.
On the walk over, she'd been chatty. Maybe overly so. But now that they were settled inside, she seemed content to leave him to himself while he ate, letting him settle in rather than peppering him with questions. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, though. Polite. Removed. But not at all awkward.]
[James didn't so much eat his food as...play around with it. Yes, he had the odd sip or so of the broth and nibbled on some of the noodles but he didn't...chow down, he just turned the broth around in his spoon and took the silence as an opportunity to think.
He looks quite blank-faced as he tosses his food about. Like there isn't anything going on in his brain.
[When she does speak, it's soft. Gentle even. She might not do pity, but she can understand rough circumstances and hard arrivals...and his had been harder than most.]
[she nodded] There are. And they aren't bad. I lived in one for the first several months I was here. I still keep a studio, there.
[which felt odd, really...having her own studio. It was a luxury she never would have been able to afford, back home]
There aren't really guides for finding a place. It'd kind of a first come, first serve deal. But there are people who can help you look or move furniture if you need it. I promise that more people are helpful here, than not.
[though she wouldn't blame him for doubting her word, all things considered]
I promise I'm not trying to force my company on you...but if you felt like having your own place, rather than heading back to the welcome center [...or the clinic], I could help you look now.
[He smiles glassily at her and it's positively untouched of anything. This could be taken well, or poorly. It's mostly a test, to see how her perceptions lie.]
[the smile worries her, as vacant as it is, but it doesn't set off alarms that he might be acting. Not after everything he's been through. Really, she's more worried that he won't be up for running around.
Which meant it would be better to narrow their options before trekking back out into the rain. Her brow furrows slightly, but it's with the distant look of concentration...her eyes staring past him to something else.]
Pretend it's back home...picking an apartment, there. What kind of location would you look for? Something close to the shops, or something more set off?
[her lips purse as she thinks, mentally tracing the Luceti map in her head, before she pulls her journal out of her satchel. THankfully, however soaked the rest of her is, the pages of the book seem to have been spared.
Flipping to a blank page, she hastily sketches out a rough map of the village. Most of the landmarks are unaccounted for, but she makes sure to mark C4, C7, and C1 on the page]
The houses are more private than the apartments, but you really need a group of people to live there. And, really, the apartments are large enough and empty enough that you won't be bothered unless you want to be.
[She points at a few of the other locations, unmarked.] These are apartments, too, but they're either right in the middle of town, or pretty far out from it.
These three, though. They're kind of the best we have as far as happy mediums go.
[that gets a small smile] I've been here awhile...and I'm good at remembering visuals. Just don't ask me names, unless you give me at least three tries.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
[action]
Date: 2012-05-19 07:23 am (UTC)This close and out of the rain, she was quite a sight to see. Without the elements to get in the way, it was obvious that she wasn't just disheveled from being outside. Her clothes had started out new, here, but even with everything being free she had learned to wear things until they were practically falling apart. There were signs of wear on her elbows and knees, and rubbed patches where she'd attempted to get the worst of the paint off her clothes.
Her nails were stained with oils, the mark of her trade, and there were no signs of makeup or jewelry, except for a single, thin chain that disappeared into her oversized sweater. She might have been a bag lady on the streets of any city...or else a street urchin, for all her apparent age. Just a gamine child, barely more than a waif.
But, despite her tattered appearance, further examination would show that she was clean. Very clean. The rain and damp left the scent of mild shampoo, soap, and the slightly astringent tang of turpentine. And, despite the crumbly nature of her snack, she didn't get crumbs on the table or herself. She ate quickly, but neatly, and folded the wrapper when she was done.
On the walk over, she'd been chatty. Maybe overly so. But now that they were settled inside, she seemed content to leave him to himself while he ate, letting him settle in rather than peppering him with questions. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, though. Polite. Removed. But not at all awkward.]
[action]
Date: 2012-05-19 07:55 am (UTC)He looks quite blank-faced as he tosses his food about. Like there isn't anything going on in his brain.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-19 08:00 am (UTC)Have you found a place to stay, yet?
no subject
Date: 2012-05-19 08:28 am (UTC)[He seems a bit reluctant to say that and he looks up hurriedly at her, resuming his act - hiding the seams.]
I'll find a place though! There are tons of empty ones apparently so it won't be an issue.
[If James were...free to be himself he'd make someone else do it for him.]
no subject
Date: 2012-05-19 08:39 am (UTC)[which felt odd, really...having her own studio. It was a luxury she never would have been able to afford, back home]
There aren't really guides for finding a place. It'd kind of a first come, first serve deal. But there are people who can help you look or move furniture if you need it. I promise that more people are helpful here, than not.
[though she wouldn't blame him for doubting her word, all things considered]
I promise I'm not trying to force my company on you...but if you felt like having your own place, rather than heading back to the welcome center [...or the clinic], I could help you look now.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-29 06:41 am (UTC)The sooner the better.
...If you don't mind, I mean.
no subject
Date: 2012-06-06 11:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-12 09:07 am (UTC)[He smiles glassily at her and it's positively untouched of anything. This could be taken well, or poorly. It's mostly a test, to see how her perceptions lie.]
no subject
Date: 2012-06-12 09:19 am (UTC)Which meant it would be better to narrow their options before trekking back out into the rain. Her brow furrows slightly, but it's with the distant look of concentration...her eyes staring past him to something else.]
Pretend it's back home...picking an apartment, there. What kind of location would you look for? Something close to the shops, or something more set off?
no subject
Date: 2012-06-13 08:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-19 03:28 am (UTC)[her lips purse as she thinks, mentally tracing the Luceti map in her head, before she pulls her journal out of her satchel. THankfully, however soaked the rest of her is, the pages of the book seem to have been spared.
Flipping to a blank page, she hastily sketches out a rough map of the village. Most of the landmarks are unaccounted for, but she makes sure to mark C4, C7, and C1 on the page]
The houses are more private than the apartments, but you really need a group of people to live there. And, really, the apartments are large enough and empty enough that you won't be bothered unless you want to be.
[She points at a few of the other locations, unmarked.] These are apartments, too, but they're either right in the middle of town, or pretty far out from it.
These three, though. They're kind of the best we have as far as happy mediums go.
no subject
Date: 2012-06-19 08:30 am (UTC)[As if that's amazing!
And much more interesting than an apartment.]
no subject
Date: 2012-06-19 08:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-21 05:24 am (UTC)[His smile is joined with a bit of laughter.]
What about all these at the half way point?
[He points at Community House #7.]
no subject
Date: 2012-06-21 06:13 am (UTC)I think that's the 7 apartments. [she frowned] Or maybe it's 2...
[she smiled] But there's sure to be empty rooms, if that would work for you.
no subject
Date: 2012-06-23 02:57 am (UTC)