The Park, Monday Early Evening

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

Rosalind would by lying if she said that the park was not her favourite place on Fandom.

The preserve had its own appeal (sans the teal deer, even if they were appealing to the tiny bit of her that still daydreamed), but the park, with the neat paths and the benches carefully strew about at intervals that invited people to sit was her favourite.

Orderly and yet mostly natural. And very very green. She stretched her legs out in front of her, crossing them at the heels, and leaned back against the bench she sat on.

For the moment, she'd revel in her solitude and the simple beauty of the park being green around her.

It was better than thinking too hard again about things she hadn't made her mind up about quite yet.

[Oooopen.]

Comments

[raspberryturk]

Having Rikku around was great!

... No, really. It was. And Reno had enjoyed his weekend with her, in spite of the bumps and snags that had snared him along the way. But now?

Now, as in this very moment?

It was kind of important for him to get outside, walk around, get some fresh air. Remind himself what Real Life looked like, once you got past all of the little nooks and crannies that you were comfortable with. And his quest to find Real Life had led him to the park. Lately, it seemed as though the park was the place to be, if Real Life what what you were trying to sniff out.

... Oh, and there she was. As unlikely and real and jarring as she'd been the other times he'd run into her.

"Ain't gonna ever get old, is it? Green and alive, like this."

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

It was peculiar, was it not, how simply hearing a certain voice meant that the slight softening of her mood, her face, disappeared and she looked like nothing but Rosalind the Turk.

She was that, of course, but she was also very tired of thinking about... Well. About things.

"Not yet," she answered, saved from sounding stiff only by the glance she cast his way. Her eyes cool and evaluating.

Even though she felt like she'd been walking on quicksand for the last while, Rosalind was determined not to show it.

[raspberryturk]

Reno kinda knew all about walking on quicksand.

The trick to it was staying calm. And knowing how to swim.

"Plenty to take in, here. Probably won't stop catchin' you for a while, yet," he allowed.

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

She eyed him, trying to decide what was underneath the surface of his words.

"Likely not," Rosalind said, then added, "or the beach. I find myself there often as well."

[raspberryturk]

Reno cracked a little grin.

"Never used to like the beach," he admitted. "I mean, sure, view's great. Sky goes on forever, yo. But the water under it looked like it was just waitin' to swallow me up, yo. You hear enough bad shit about strong currents and undertow, and you learn to give it some respect, right?"

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

She glanced at him for a long moment, then away. Looking out at the trees and flowers and grass.

"You can get lost in the ocean," Rosalind said finally. "And nothing matters to it."

That was peculiarly soothing. The ocean did not care.

[raspberryturk]

"Yeah, there's that."

Reno sighed, looking out over the park, as well. It was easy enough to get lost in what was right here, after a year in Edge.

"You regret bein' here?"

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"I would rather be back home."

Which absolutely didn't answer his question.

[raspberryturk]

It said enough, all the same.

"You know... the way it happened for us, it ain't necessarily the way it'll go there, zoto. I mean... there's plenty of things different already, right?"

Kind of like wishful thinking and getting right to the point, all at once.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Here to feed the ducks?" Alex asked when he spotted her sitting on one of the benches. It was freaking hot and he had no idea why he was outside save for boredom. "I hear quiet stoicism messes with their digestion. Might wanna try another mood."

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"Should I try your mood on for size?" she snarked, glancing his way. "I doubt they'd care for that either. And I am not here to feed the ducks."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"What's wrong with my mood?" he asked, stopping in front of her. "I'm feeling pretty damn cheerful. Content, even. I think the ducks would love me."

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"Why don't you go and find out?" she suggested. "Go swimming with them."

Rosalind would... well, she'd probably take pictures. It was a Turk thing to do.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"What, that your oh so indirect way of wanting to see me without my shirt?" He was taking it that way even if it wasn't. It amused him even if he was sure that wasn't the case.

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"It was not," she said, arching her brows. "As I'm sure you are aware."

If not, he was stupider than Rosalind gave him credit for being.

"Do what you will," she added, with 'I don't care' laden in her voice.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"So, what if I wanted to sit down and talk your ear off?" Alex wondered, smirking.

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"I'd wonder why," she said dryly, "but the bench is not my property."

And there was room for him on it as well. So.

[boho-to-be.livejournal.com]

Christian, wearing one of his new t-shirts from the Pixie Dust stop, had never exactly made it back home after the class. He'd been exploring the town, and now his exploring had him in the park.

"Evening, Rosalind," he said, pausing by her bench. "How's the day treating you?"

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"Like most days lately," she said, very dryly. Next time, she'd pick a more secluded bench for her brooding. It was tempting to snap at him but he was being pleasant. She could surely manage some of that in return, right? "Quiet. I enjoy the park."

Which was nothing but the truth.

"And you?"

[boho-to-be.livejournal.com]

"About the same," Christian said. "Well, no -- better than most days. My class this morning took us shopping!"

Christian sometimes failed at 'heterosexual male.'

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

Rosalind gave him a considering look, matching his appearance up against his previous appearances in her presence.

"Clothes shopping?" she guessed. "What class was it that went shopping?"

She couldn't rightly compliment him on the t-shirt, other than it made him stick out less. Rosalind was not inclined to give him any... ideas.

[boho-to-be.livejournal.com]

"The one on fitting in on the island with professors Atreides and Algren," Christian answered. "It's such an interesting class. This week was fashion, the week before that was about" -- a brief pause -- "personal matters. And we've learned about gremlins!"

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

Her eyebrows shot up.

"Personal matters?" Did she really want to know? Probably not. "And gremlins."

She wished she could still believe that was a joke. "Do you feel more prepared?"

[boho-to-be.livejournal.com]

Christian went pink. "Personal ... adult relations between men and women."

He broke off, seeming to feel he'd said as much as was delicate. "Do you know some girls here, perfectly nice girls, will kiss you before engagement? I feel more prepared just knowing that."

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"For kissing?" she asked, not sure whether to be amused or not. "Or for refusing to be kissed?"

Rosalind suspected the former.

"Kissing is considered... ill-advised prior to engagement where you're from?" The idea was mildly boggling to her.