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Tweak says, "Hey, Boy Wonder."

whiskertips (whiskertips) wrote in haunted_roads,
@ 2008-06-13 10:36:00

Entry tags:

ardin, chris

Week Nine: Saturday
Who: Ardin and Chris
When: Afternoon
Where: Old Town Towers, Lobby

The one nice thing about being an "independent contractor" was that you could take a day off whenever you wanted. That's what Ardin did yesterday. She used to live on an acreage not too long ago, and the friend she had lived with wasn't having any of the crap Ardin left behind, so it was boxed up and Ardin was told that she better come pick it up or it's going to be sold. For the life of her, Ardin couldn't remember what was in those boxes, it didn't seem like she had forgotten anything. But her ears perked up as soon as he said 'it could be sold'. If anyone was selling her stuff for cash, it would be her. People profiting off of her wasn't how things worked, Ardin liked it a whole lot better when it was the other way around. So, she was stingy with money! Who wouldn't be? It's not like income was guaranteed when you're taking it from other people.

On Friday she left early in the morning, and came back Saturday afternoon with three giant, heavy, boxes of "stuff". They were taped up pretty good too, and after getting them into the car, Ardin didn't have much energy to peak inside. All she was thinking about was how happy she was that the apartment had elevators. There was no way in hell she was carrying these things up a flight of stairs. Getting the boxes to the elevator though...that was a different story.

Parking out front, she wedged the passenger door open and the first box fell with a heavy clunk on the pavement. Letting out an annoyed sigh, she shoved it along the sidewalk and into the lobby so that it sat in front of the elevator. Ardin wasn't too worried about someone stealing it, they'd only make it a few meters before she'd be back.

Outside again, she opened the back door of her car and tried to get a grasp on the second box, but this time she noticed someone leaning against the building. He didn't seem to be doing anything, of course, around here nothing could mean anything. But he didn't smell weird as far as Ardin could tell. Rolling her eyes she peered over her shoulder, "So are you gonna help me, or what?" she said, hoping to snap the man back down to earth.

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sensing
2008-06-16 11:43 am UTC (link)

Chris was, indeed, lost in his own world. He hadn't been up for long, and he had tonight off, so he had hours upon hours of free time facing him and no idea what he should do with it. He'd taken a shower and gotten dressed, eaten a quick sandwich, and then decided to come outside for some fresh air. Maybe during that interval, he could figure out what he wanted to do.

He hadn't even really noticed Ardin and her car; he'd come down the stairs and outside, apparently, while she was in the lobby shoving the first box toward the elevator. He was looking dreamily at the sky, watching the shifting clouds and thinking about drawing them, when the sound of a voice drew his attention.

Chris actually glanced around to make sure she was talking to him, and once he determined that she was, his cheeks flushed and he pushed off from the wall to move toward her. Okay, wow, so he was completely oblivious. How had he missed her when she'd come back outside? He was socially awkward but not blind, and there was no way to miss the fact that she was gorgeous. "Uh... sure," he managed to say when he got over to her car. Reflexively, he pulled the ends of his long-sleeved t-shirt over his hands and leaned in to pick up the box, hefting it in his arms and turning to walk toward the building. He figured she'd tell him where to go from there.

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whiskertips
2008-06-17 11:47 pm UTC (link)

Ardin looked at the man expectantly as he looked around. It was in her nature to grow impatient quickly, but her better judgment had actually pulled through this time. Instead of tapping her fingers against the box she had a weak grasp on, she smiled as he grabbed the last box out of her car. "Name's Ardin" she said as she walked into the builing, adding at the last minute, "Thanks, by the way." Although she wasn't being polite for any ulterior motive, she would get a few ideas if she heard anything jingle in his pockets.

"I gotta get these up into my room, if the elevator will carry them. Y'don't mind do you? I'm just on the second floor." Ardin continued as she stepped over the boxes and into the elevator. If there was one thing she could consciously be considerate of, it was time. She hated when hers was wasted, and didn't think of herself as the type of person that would waste others. Not that she was a very 'do unto others..' type of person, but it was just one of those 'things'. Besides, quiet men always piqued Ardin's curiosity (and this guy seemed very quiet, to say the least), those were the ones you were supposed to watch out for right?

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sensing
2008-06-18 02:02 pm UTC (link)

In one front pocket of his jeans, Chris had his keys, and in the other he had a small handful of change. It was quite possible that the jingling could be audible, since he wasn't one to wear his pants overly tight. His wallet was in his apartment, since he hadn't planned to go anywhere right away. If he did, he'd go back to his room and get it. When Ardin told him her name, he concentrated on speaking clearly and not stammering when he answered her. It was a near thing, but he managed it this time. "I'm Chris. Nice t'meet you."

Second floor. Definitely no big deal. He might have trouble talking to people, but he wouldn't refuse to help someone when they asked. It wasn't as if he had anything to do, and he didn't mind taking the time at all. "Y-you're welcome." Damn, the stammer made its appearance again. At least he hadn't stammered his way through telling her his name, though. That would have really been pathetic. "Sure, it's fine," he added. "I'm on seven."

Because she really needed to know that. Mentally, Chris grimaced at his own ineptitude.

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whiskertips
2008-06-18 09:13 pm UTC (link)

Ardin wasn't opposed to loose change, but the distinct rattle of keys would definitely get her attention. The sound of keys held the distinct tune of opportunity. Opportunity for trouble, yes, but so much more. Then again, technically she was taking a day off today and she wasn't exactly starving this week so she'd probably ignore it, opportunity or not. The fact that he was helping her played to her civil side too.

Ardin smiled. Chris really did set her curiosity aflare. He didn't seem all that confident, and she was almost dying to know why. Sometimes that curiosity got the best of her, but just short of interrogating him in the elevator, she remembered that not everyone had a past like hers. Okay, so this complex seemed to be vibrating with weird people, but that didn't mean everyone was different like her.

"Been here long?" Ardin asked, picking up a box and kicking the other across the hall to her door. Balancing the box against the walls she dug her key out of her pocket and unlocked the door. "Your welcome to come in if you like. I think there's a few beers in the fridge."

Her apartment was like any other, and fairly clean too - but that was probably only because she had been away for awhile. As for her fridge, she had no idea what was in it. Likely she was right about the beer, but there was probably more than enough meat in there too. But, more importantly, what the hell was she doing? Nevermind trusting a stranger enough to let him in, what was she doing offering him something to drink?!

Oh, right. There was that curiosity. "So...what's new Chris? You seem like a pretty quiet guy."

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sensing
2008-06-20 10:13 pm UTC (link)

Chris was stealing glances at her as they rode up in the elevator. He knew that was probably rude, but he couldn't help himself. It wasn't as if he got to be around attractive women very often, and when he was, he had no clue what to say. Okay, yeah, there was Hesper, but he had no clue how to deal with her. She was attractive, most definitely, but he kept getting the feeling she might like to rip his entrails out. That was never a good thing.

"I, um, I've lived here a few months," Chris said when she asked him if he'd been here long. He stumbled into her apartment with the heavy box, sitting it down with a sigh of relief. Once he'd done that, though, he wasn't sure what to do with himself. Ardin didn't scare him the way Hesper did, but still he didn't know what to say to her.

Finally he sat himself down on the couch, his hands still tucked up into his sleeves, and he wondered why she'd jumped to the conclusion that he was quiet on the basis of a five minute acquaintance. Maybe because he'd stuttered? And it was true that he wasn't getting crazy with making conversation, or hitting on her, like most guys probably did. "Nothin' new, really," he said. "Same old. Wh-what about you?"

Great. He was talking, but he might just bore her to death in a matter of seconds.

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whiskertips
2008-06-20 11:02 pm UTC (link)

The fact that Chris wasn't making any cat calls was actually kind of refreshing. It was probably one of the reasons Ardin assumed he was quiet. Most guys would have made a comment or two, which would have put Ardin in a sour mood and then she'd make some snarky remark and her boxes wouldn't get up to her room. It was so much easier the other way around. Catching Ardin in a mood where she wasn't enjoying her arrogance and sarcasm was a rare thing, so she was definitely up for some idle chit-chat.

Ardin stood between her boxes and the fridge debating whether or not she'd crack a beer open. Apparently her offer to go rifle through her fridge wasn't appealing. It only took half a second to decide as she made her way to the kitchen. She wasn't about to worry if Chris was some crazy man offended by alcohol, it was her apartment! Leaning in the fridge she tugged a bottle out, peering under her arm, "You drink? If you don't want a beer I have," she looked back in the empty fridge, "well...there's tap water if you want it, but that's all" she was half tempted to fry up a steak but she let the urge dissipate.

Ardin walked out of the kitchen with two beers and a box cutter. If Chris didn't take the second bottle, then she'd drink it later, and the box cutters were for the obvious. She sat down on the floor and started hacking through the tape and cardboard. "Eh, not much," she shrugged, "I've only been here for a month, if that. And even then I've been at a..." she paused and squinted at nothing in particular, trying to think of the right word, "..a friend's place. I guess I left some shit there. But, I have no idea what he packed into these boxes for me."

Hugging the box with her knees she tugged out some stray shoes and a big heavy book. "If you see anything you like, have at 'er" she suggested, nudging a pair of red high heels his way with a wink. Okay, so good mood or not she couldn't resist teasing.

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sensing
2008-06-21 12:49 am UTC (link)

"Beer's fine," Chris said. He didn't usually drink, but maybe it'd loosen him up. Something like that. He'd actually tried beer before, and he liked it okay. It wouldn't be that cool to have a coughing fit and spit it out, so that was good.

He thought about asking if she needed help opening the boxes, but then he decided not to. It looked like she was handling it just fine with her box cutter. He pondered whether or not he should touch the beer bottle with his bare hand, and he decided not to. He'd found that this building stirred the things he saw with his psychometry much more than other places did, and he didn't want to take the chance. So he kept his sleeve pulled over his fingers and carefully picked the bottle up, taking a sip.

Luckily, he'd set it down by the time she winked at him, because that would have surely resulted in a messy spill. Chris' cheeks colored, but he managed to snicker softly. "I th-think they'd look better on you," he said. For him, that was major.

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((OOC: Sorry, I suck balls, but RL is normal now!)

whiskertips
2008-07-04 04:00 pm UTC (link)

Ardin's face lit up and a smile spread across her face. This guy was too cute! It had been a really long time since Ardin was in the company of someone who wasn't trying to screw her over or get something out of her. And she'd admit, it was kind of nice. "Well thanks, I think I'd have to agree with you there." she laughed, putting the box cutters down on a table.

Getting up off the floor, she settled back down on the couch beside Chris. A break was needed from the boxes, she wanted to know more about this guy. Maybe it was just Ardin, but being fairly talkative, if she felt safe enough she usually volunteered information and idle conversation. But not this guy, maybe he felt like he was unsafe? Ah well. Ardin was just going to be a brat and interrogate him until he started to relax or her curiosity was satisfied. "Have you always lived in the city?" she asked, only the beginning of the questions she had milling around in her head.

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	Re: ((OOC: Sorry, I suck balls, but RL is normal now!) sensing 2008-07-28 10:10 am UTC (link)
	((I guess I suck them too! Yummeh! Anyway, I've kind of lost momentum on this since it's so far back... I think you got busy and then I did and a ton of time passed. :\ I'd be happy to do something current with them if you wanted to!)) (Reply to this) (Parent)