Post by Richard Maddox on Apr 17, 2016 13:16:14 GMT -6
Rain. Somehow it always brought him comfort. It always calmed him down. It always set the mood. Everyone else would avoid it. Richard got as close to it as he could. It explained why he'd stolen the seat closest to a window and furthest from everything else. He needed inspiration that day. People, as he'd found, could serve as exactly that. Much as Richard wasn't a fan of social endeavors, he was fine with simply observing. There was much to see. The more he saw, the more he pulled from. There wasn't much new for him to see in his home.
So there he was. Sitting in the library. Surrounded by books. Some were his very own. He avoided them. The less likely a chance, the better. It was why he was sitting where he was. Isolation. And to hear the rain. Richard looked up at it now. Watched it trail down the glass. Some droplets small and slow. Others were fat and fast. The patterns they drew were fascinating. Before he knew it, his pen had stilled. He lost himself in his observations. Time passed. The library was closing. Yet Richard still sat there, completely consumed.
Post by Quinn Woods on Apr 17, 2016 13:36:03 GMT -6
Quinn had been back in Kalispell for just under two weeks and she found that in the few years that she'd been away, many things had changed. The awareness of mutants was up and becoming out of hand, sprite had done a number on many and yet, they were still doing their best to be strong. It was amazing, the things that could spring up in such a short time, and although she was still working on catching her breath, she found that settling back into her home wasn't as hard as she had expected it to be. If anything, it had been almost effortless.
With her sessions over for the day and no good books to read at her apartment, she figured she would stop by the library to seek out something fresh and new. During her trip throughout Europe, she'd found herself traveling backwards in time through her books, reading Coleridge, Tennyson among others. The classics were timeless, but she'd been engulfed in some more modern reading as well. Anymore, it was hard to find something she liked though, always so frivolous and redundant, she found newer novels. With the rain cascading down the windows, she let the sound guide her around the rows of books, eyes and fingers trailing over each title.
As she passed by a man who had been sitting in the same spot for the majority of her own time there, she found him a bit odd. He wasn't looking through books, but rather watching the rain. Quinn stopped at the end of the row and looked back at the books, "Writer's block? Or simply distracted by the rain?" She asked quietly, wondering if he'd even bother with an answer. She wasn't the most approachable all the time, and even when she offered conversation, the only ones who answered were typically not in this venue.
Post by Richard Maddox on Apr 17, 2016 13:50:26 GMT -6
Suddenly there was a voice. Richard started a little bit and turned his gaze. A woman. Someone many or most would call attractive. Richard was always drawn to the eyes whenever he had to interact. This time was no different. The question? "The rain." He answered. He pulled his gaze from hers for a moment to glance back at the glass. He almost slipped back into his trance. Almost. However he was too aware of reality to miss the announcement that the library was closing. Richard looked up and frowned. He didn't want to go. Yet he knew he must.
He gathered his things. He stood. Then he realized. "Thank you." He was looking at the woman again. "I would've missed that." The library staff were used to him. Most knew he lost himself in his thoughts. Or lost himself in anything able to keep his thoughts. Like the rain. Or his work. "You should probably head out too." It was obvious advice. "They're patient to a degree here."
Post by Quinn Woods on Apr 17, 2016 16:50:26 GMT -6
The rain, such a simple answer. Quinn almost regretted saying anything, she didn't want to bother him, curiosity just won out over her better judgment to keep to herself. He was distracted by something more than just the rain, she imagined, and those who could be distracted so easily usually had something heavy weighing on their minds. It was the same way she was, always finding small things to hold her attention so that she didn't have to worry or stress about anything else. This world wasn't meant for stressing over things, it was meant to be lived in. Enjoying little wonders was part of what kept her so sane in a world of insanity.
Quinn wrapped her arms around her torso and nodded, "No problem, I'm sorry to have pulled you from your thoughts." She lifted her chin and offered a twitch of a smile when he advised her to leave as well. She planned to, but he'd been her distraction that kept her from doing so when they said it was closing before. Quinn wasn't sure she was ready to head home yet, but with it growing later, she knew that she was no longer able to linger in the library to kill time.
"Yeah, right. Too bad it's not a 24 hour kind of library, I could spend all day in here," She said with a quiet laugh as she began heading towards the door.
Post by Richard Maddox on Apr 17, 2016 16:56:48 GMT -6
An apology. It wasn't what he was expecting. Not in the least. She'd done no wrong. She'd done him a right instead. Which was why he shook his head. "No need to apologize." He returned. She offered him a smile. It was more of a twitch. More like something his face would express. He nodded back instead. His smiles were rare. His emotions mainly stayed to his books. He preferred it that way.
She laughed. It was quiet, but still curious. At least to him. He fell into step beside her. Whether or not he meant to remained a mystery even to him. "I could too." he answered. the solidarity the library offered was good. yet if he wanted to observe, he could do so as well easily. It was perfect. "You must come often." From her statement, it was what Richard could infer.
Post by Quinn Woods on Apr 17, 2016 17:11:20 GMT -6
Quinn wasn't deterred by the lack of expression she got from him, for her, she only ever expressed herself freely to those she knew well. Her students only ever saw a hard, stern expression. Her co-workers a polite, reserved expression. The few who had reached a deeper part of her had seen who she could be when she felt comfortable. And in this situation she was neither comfortable or familiar with him, nor was he with her. She did find him curious, someone that she hadn't come across around town and although it was much more bustling than it had been a few years back, it was still a small town where everyone seemed to know everyone.
"I do," She answered simply as he walked beside her. The company, although strange, didn't bother her as she walked out. If anything a little bit of mindless chatter could do her some good before returning home to the solidarity of her apartment. She enjoyed his reserved nature, respected it in fact and being the same way, knew better than to pry into one's life and reasoning for seeking such solidarity. "Or rather, I did. It's been a few years," She shrugged. The information wasn't all that personal to give out, she'd been sent by her job to travel and was back now.
Quinn glanced sidelong at him, "Do you? I haven't seen you around before. Although, I am not always so observant." And she was also terrible with faces and names. In a sea of students that she saw every day, she couldn't always remember anyone outside of her work place.
Post by Richard Maddox on Apr 17, 2016 17:18:26 GMT -6
She didn't mind his company. At least it appeared that way. She hadn't thrown him a look. one that told him to move away. So he didn't. Instead he listened as she carried on. The fact she still held the conversation was surprising. She used to visit. Now no longer. At least, not as much. It was a short answer. He gathered she was reserved much like him. it was a mutual trait he could respect. it wasn't like there was much to him anyhow. Nothing of interest.
A question. Did he visit. She wasn't observant. Yet he avoided attention. He was not surprised she hadn't noticed him before. He tried to get that result often. "I do. I usually stay to the corners." He answered, glancing up into the sky upon their exit. Still raining. He didn't mind, yet didn't want his papers wet. He pulled out an umbrella. Then glanced at the woman. "Do you have an umbrella?"
Last Edit: Apr 17, 2016 17:46:40 GMT -6 by Richard Maddox
Post by Quinn Woods on Apr 17, 2016 19:35:29 GMT -6
Quinn nodded, "I'm quite the same." Despite her looks, she was not an attention-seeker. She didn't flaunt herself around like some blonde bombshell, despite what might be popular belief. It was nice that she found some company, even as reserved in their ways as they both were. They stepped outside and she too glanced up towards the sky. It was still raining steadily, but even as her hair was perfectly straight, she didn't mind walking in the rain without an umbrella. Rain was comforting to her, the mist on her skin, the way it dripped down her face and stuck to her eyelashes.
So as he asked her and pulled one out of his own, she shook her head, "No, I don't really mind walking in the rain." Her body would warm itself if she risked hypothermia, and a little smudged make up and some waves in her hair wouldn't hurt her any. Quinn shrugged and pulled her hair over her shoulder. She was a planner by nature, always prepared for the weather if she felt it necessary, but as she had not been expecting company, she didn't figure her appearance would matter much.
"Does it bother you?" She asked curiously as she turned her head towards him, the rain falling around them.
Post by Richard Maddox on Apr 17, 2016 20:05:29 GMT -6
They were the same. According to her, at least. He could see it. From her demeanor she seemed calm. Like someone in control. Someone who knew what they wanted. He nodded his head in return. "I believe it." She appeared similar to him. Not exactly the same. But close enough from him to understand. Or at least try to. Which was why he wasn't surprised. She liked the rain. She didn't mind it. He didn't either, but wouldn't risk it. His paper could be destroyed. Just like that.
He followed her out, holding the umbrella up. She could stand under it too if she wanted. The choice was hers. Richard didn't care. She asked him a question. Did he mind. The answer was easy. "No. But I have papers that can't get wet." Without them, Richard would've simply walked. No umbrella. The rain comforted him. Kept him awake. Reminded him more of the worlds he created than the reality he lived.
Post by Quinn Woods on Apr 17, 2016 22:13:20 GMT -6
Quinn offered another twitch of her lips. It was always interesting to her, finding someone who she could relate to as far as persona went. She had found that she was drawn to expressive personalities, loud, opinionated people who were social and knew how to have a good time. More or less, her opposites. She rarely found people that were quiet and controlled like her and the one that she did know had a far deeper reasoning to his cold demeanor. Quinn wasn't a cold person, she didn't brush people off because she didn't want human interaction, she was just very calculated.
"Are you a teacher?" Quinn asked in response to his own answer. Papers that couldn't get ruined, made sense as to why he'd have an umbrella. As he held it up, she was uncertain of whether she wanted to duck under it or just walk beside him and get wet. Quinn wasn't a fan of crowding people or being crowded herself, so she decided to just walk beside him and worry more about keeping personal space than the rain that began to coat her hair. It wasn't a heavy downpour, just a sprinkling, enough to have her wet within minutes however.
Quinn ran her fingers through her wet hair and twisted it to keep it contained over her shoulder. The last thing she wanted was for her hair to become a wild mess that she would have to tame when she got home, it was more of a nuisance than it was her worrying about her appearance, though she did like to be well manicured at all times. Her attention returned to him as she waited for his answer.
Post by Richard Maddox on Apr 17, 2016 22:32:16 GMT -6
Another question. This one surprising. Was he a teacher? He glanced at her for a moment. "No. I'm a writer." It was dangerous for him to admit. But with the rain he couldn't show her. Couldn't show her his works. She wouldn't know. if she asked, that was simpler. Many people wrote on fantasy. Richard was only one more name in that long list. Easily forgotten. Like this woman would of him. He didn't even know her name.
The rain fell. She kept a good distance. He looked at her again. She didn't seem bothered as she got wet. That fact she'd kept her distance for him was surprising. Maybe she did it for herself. Richard wasn't sure. However he put the umbrella between them. Gave her a small bit of cover from the rain. "Where's your car?"
Post by Quinn Woods on Apr 18, 2016 8:59:50 GMT -6
A writer, that explained the distraction in some way. Writers seemed to have minds that traveled greater distances than their bodies ever could in just a few short moments. She'd always been fascinated by books and the way that authors could create these worlds that were so realistic and yet so full of fantasy and excitement. Quinn had never been much of a writer herself, although she'd kept her own personal story locked up in her laptop, a way of remembering things that she needed to or that she thought would one day make more sense, but it was no fantasy and it was nothing extravagant. "A writer, I suppose that is fitting. Would I have heard of you?" As an avid reader, she even kept up with the most obscure writers that she could find.
His question caught her off guard and she laughed shortly, "I didn't drive, I walked. Silly me thinking the rain would let up." Quinn shrugged and glanced at him. She did have a car, one that was sitting pretty in the lot of her apartment complex. She only ever took it out when she was driving farther distances. Walking around Kalispell was her usual way of getting from point A to be point B. In such a small town, it was just what had made sense to her. She grew up in a large city before finding herself in this tiny town. A city that required walking if there was any hope of getting somewhere without worrying about traffic.
Or she'd take a double-decker, but those had always been packed with people and she held tight to her mother whenever she was forced to ride them. "Yours?"
Post by Richard Maddox on Apr 18, 2016 9:32:32 GMT -6
A writer seemed fitting. Richard would agree. But then came the question. His heart skipped a beat. Yet his mouth didn't. "No." He answered. "Not likely." He didn't want to think of that. It was too risky. It wasn't his work. Not to the public eye. It was someone else's. A lie perhaps. Yet a lie they willingly believed. A lie Richard willingly encouraged. He didn't need the spotlight. He didn't want it.
The subject changed. She laughed. Strange. She claimed she had walked. That the rain would end. Richard glanced at it from under his umbrella. He knew rain. This wasn't going to end any time soon. He looked back to her. Another question. His car? Richard nodded and gestured towards the parking lot. "Mine is here. I can drive you." He normally wouldn't care. Yet she'd be far too drenched on her way home. Even Richard knew that.
Post by Quinn Woods on Apr 18, 2016 9:51:39 GMT -6
Quinn nodded slowly. He was either not the most well-known, didn't publish his work, or perhaps it was something else. Either way, she didn't push for information. It wasn't her place. She didn't know his name, didn't know anything about him other than that he too was frequented the library. She supposed maybe if they exchanged enough pleasantries that maybe something would come from the run-in, but Quinn had trouble with making friends that weren't social butterflies who sought out friends. It was comfortable talking to him, not having to worry about getting into personal questions that she liked to avoid. Unlike the few people she hung around, who had immediately wanted to know as much as they could find about her.
"Oh no, that's alright. I don't mind the walk, even with a bit of rain," It wasn't like she risked getting sick from the cold. Her body was fairly good at staving off illness when she wanted to be reckless. She could afford to. Besides, it wasn't like her to take rides from strangers. If she really had been worried about it, she likely would have called someone to come pick her up. "It's kind of you to suggest though, thank you," She smiled a little bit more than she had throughout their interaction. He seemed kind enough, didn't peg her as a serial killer or some kind of creep, but he was mysterious. Much like she chose to be.
Sometimes those were the people she found harder to trust.
Post by Richard Maddox on Apr 18, 2016 10:03:07 GMT -6
She didn't pressure him to speak. For that he was grateful. Maybe it was a mutual understanding. He hadn't pressed her for information. She hadn't in return. A fair trade. He could appreciate that. She turned down his offer to drive. Claimed she would be alright. Richard wasn't going to insist. He had no control over her. He could merely make an offer. Then have her react.
She thanked him for it. It felt sincere. He could see her smile. It was different. A little wider. A little brighter. A little more direct. He'd pleased her with the offer. He nodded in reply. Yet still he thought on it. His car was close now. Soon they'd part. He could imagine her walking back in the rain. He had no idea how long it would take her. She claimed she'd be fine. But Richard made one more offer. He held out his umbrella towards you. "Here." He said. "My car is close, and this is cheap. But if you don't want it, then alright." He wouldn't bother again. If she insisted she was fine, he'd believe her and leave.