Lazy Day [Ros]

[ROSLYN BARKER]

Ros chuckled and gave a nod, "Well of course, food is all about opinions and tastes. However that hasn't stopped food channels from telling me what I should and shouldn't eat and what is the "best"." She commented on, "Besides, I think just traveling to world and tasting food sounds like a wonderful adventure."

Really she was glad that Russel didn't push the topic of her family, it was a conversation best saved for when they'd better become acquainted...after all who wanted to hear about a girl rejected by her own mother, so easily replaced by a lover and a son that didn't get in her way. She felt bad because she wanted to tell him, but she wasn't sure if it would be pity she'd get to see from him or if he would understand her. Ros wanted to be honest with him, maybe another day she'd tell him.

The distraction of the young animals made her happy, and it seemed to make Russel happy as well as he moved beside her. Looking at him and the puppy trying to get through the glass she giggled, "He likes you. Did you like your pets? The ones you had?" She asked as she moved to stand closer while also moving towards the door, "Yes, lets go in. I've never had a pet but I always wanted one. Mom hated animals and dad thought they were dangerous when I was smaller because I got bit by a friend's dog once." The girl was nearly so excited that she was about to press against the window to get closer, but rational told her that there was a door and that they were going to just vanish if she looked away for a minute as she pushed the door open, the sounds of life spilling out like a wave, overwhelming nearly...

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

He chuckled. It did sound pretty fun, didn't it? "Well, maybe when I'm old and retired I'll be able to do something like that. Lux pays better than most schools, but a teacher's salary still isn't going to take me all over the world."

Russel traced a line against the glass with his finger, watching as the puppy followed it with its wet nose, first in one direction, then the other. Then it got distracted by one of its siblings nipping it on the leg. How cute.

"I liked them, sure, but reptiles don't really compare to the cuddly animals, do they? I think my dad was hoping they would somehow get me interested in science. Well, beyond science fiction, that is. Didn't quite work out. I'm a little ashamed to admit my parents ended up taking care of them most of the time," he said with a sheepish grin. It was true; he hadn't really been very good at looking after his pets. He'd done a bit better with the turtle than with the salamander, though. He kind of liked the turtle better. Of course, when his friends came over they always wanted to play with the salamander, because it was fun to touch and it squirmed around, whereas the turtle just tended to sit there until everybody left.

"No pets at all? Not even fish?' he asked as he followed Ros into the pet store. He immediately turned to check out the pen of puppies. He didn't know what kind they were; he didn't know much about dog breeds, to be honest. Maybe some kind of terrier? He wasn't sure. But they were definitely cute. He wished he could get one, but they probably weren't allowed in his apartment. Not to mention, he wouldn't want to leave the poor thing alone all day while he went to work. At least he could play with them a little while he was here. He knelt down and put his hand out for the puppies to sniff from between the bars of the pen. They all seemed so excited to see people.

[ROSLYN BARKER]

The words of truth Russel spoke. Right after she'd left home she'd found it surprisingly hard to support herself, every day a struggle between calling her father to bring her home, and fighting through the bills and trying to figure out life as an independent adult. In a way she felt guilty because all it would take would be one call to do for herself that Russel doubted that he could do.

"Maybe one day, you can't give up hope." For a moment she wanted to just tell him he could have it, maybe it would be worth being dragged home for. In the past she'd been allowed to give such extravagant gifts, so maybe...She shook the thought from her head, they barely knew each other but it pleased her to please others, still something like that would probably bring up too many questions.

Going into the shop she smiled at the girl behind the counter before her attention was drawn to the puppy pen. They were all so cute romping across the pen as Russel got closer to let them smell them. It was amusing to watch the creatures climb over one another to simply get close to the English teacher as she moved to stand beside him before leaning down to offer her hand for them to sniff at as well feeling cold noses press to warm flesh as they sniffed and licked at her fingertips.

"Never, none whatsoever. I had a half brother though...well for a while at least until Mom sort of stopped caring about custody." She said, a little unfocused as she stroked one of the puppies' noses through the bars. That had been one of the harder days, barely fourteen and being told that her mother was moving even further away, given the wave-off as if it has been her choice to stop the visits. Her chest tightened as she thought about it but before she could say any more the young woman from behind the counter stood beside them smiling brightly.

"Welcome! I saw you two outside looking at the puppies earlier, they really seem to like you both. You can pick them up if you like, They're well trained." She was a pretty blond girl, probably younger that Ros even as she went to the pen and motioned to it. "It's always nice to see a cute couple in here. Puppies are really great if you're trying to start a family, good with children and also a good way to just get the feel for being a parent."

Ros has already begun to reach into the pen to pick up one of the puppies still clamoring around for attention when she heard the girl speak, stopping as her whole face went beet red.

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

No pets. That was a little sad. And a half-brother? Ros's words only raised more questions in Russel's mind, but he wasn't sure she would appreciate him asking. It seemed like she hadn't wanted to discuss her childhood, not really. As the puppies sniffed and then licked his hand, he glanced sideways at her and watched her face. He was curious; he couldn't help it. Just what had happened that she was so reluctant to talk about? But he wasn't going to ask.

And then suddenly someone behind them was talking. Russel stood up and turned to see a girl who looked like she worked in the place. He started to smile at her sheer infectious cheerfulness, but then when she mentioned them being a couple the smile slipped and his eyes went wide. Starting a family and children and--oh gosh! Was that really how it looked? Well, Ros was cute and sweet and all, and they had a lot in common... Oh dear, where was his mind going now? He could just feel the blood rushing to his face.

One hand went up to rub the back of his neck in a nervous gesture as he laughed (a little too loudly) out of embarrassment. "Oh no, w-we're not, haha! We're not a couple..." Good grief, that was embarrassing, but what else did you say in a situation like this? And did they really give off that 'couple' vibe? That was... well... he wasn't sure what he thought about that.

[ROSLYN BARKER]

Ros was surprised by Russel. He listened, something she'd rarely had people do for her. At the pen she tickled the cold noses pressing to her finger as she for a moment glanced over at him. Maybe in some way he knew where she was coming from...or at least that was what she hoped. He seemed like a kind man after all the differences and confusions of earlier seemed to melt away. Maybe she could tell him of her own life. Nothing too terribly dark, but still with that his gaze might not become something of a giveaway of any pity he'd feel towards her.

"Russel..." She began to speak up before the other woman had come by. Really it was infectious her merry manner, but her words were not what she'd expected. Fingers brushed over fur as arms were reaching into the pen, but her attention was on the girl before slowly sliding to Russel only to quickly go back to the girl. As the flustered English teacher spoke, so did she just as flustered.

"We aren't really....just friends! That's all. We both saw the puppies, and I'm too young to have kids. Not that I don't like them...I do." Ros rambled as the shopgirl stared at her and Russel. After a moment the librarian turned back to the pen unsure if this or the fall was a worse feeling of embarrassment as she went dead quiet.

"Oh. I apologize then, most of the time we just get couples in looking for pets, or looking for something for their kids." She giggled and stepped away, "If you need any help just please call out." Turning she went back to the counter leaving the two Lux employees on their own once more.

Now holding one of the puppies Ros hugged it close, stroking the silky fur as she looked to Russel once more, almost guilty in her manner as if she'd been the one doing something wrong, "I'm sorry about that..I guess it must be weird having that happen with someone who isn't your girlfriend." She spoke softly giving a small cough.

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

He was happy to hear that Ros considered him a friend, but his brain was now going in entirely the wrong circles, focusing on things he wouldn't have given much thought to before the girl's comment. For instance, the fact that she said she liked kids. It wasn't even relevant, but for some reason he just started thinking about it, and then he had to practically force his mind onto another track because he didn't know where that thought would take him and he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to let his brain take him on this ride. Besides, it was just making him even more red in the face.

He couldn't even look at Ros just yet, he felt so embarrassed. He took his hand from the back of his neck and tugged at his ear as his face cooled down. Then when she mentioned a girlfriend, he finally turned to face her, lowering his arm slowly and sticking his hand in his pocket again.

"Well, I uh, I don't have a girlfriend," he said, then before he could stop himself, "Do you have a boyfriend?" Oh shit! Why did he ask that? His eyes went wide and he put a hand over his face. "I mean, nevermind, I didn't, you don't have to answer that!" He stared down at the puppies in the pen as if they would tell him why he was acting like such an idiot suddenly.

[ROSLYN BARKER]

Among the noises of all the animals and the chaos that it created Ros stared at Russel surprised by the words that came out of his mouth so quickly. Whether or not he had a girlfriend really wasn't her business, but it did surprise her that he didn't have one. "I wouldn't have guessed. I mean you seem nice enough, and you know your books pretty well..." What was she talking about? Books? The few dates she'd ever had never really went anywhere so just what did she know? Reading books meant nothing about dating habits...

It was when he asked her if she had a boyfriend that she found herself just staring blankly at the man staring down at the puppies while the one she held licked at her face scrambling to get closer to her if that wasn't already impossible. "Never." She responded, a few moments passing as Russel rambled her own voice cutting in, "I mean I don't have one, which works with the fact that I never did. Moving and all so far away there wasn't really time."

Suddenly she began laughing, her blush dying as she caught her breath, giving a soft sigh, "It's weird being around all these kids though and still feeling that young. Everyone there is so concerned with boyfriends and girlfriends, clothes, TV...I guess as adults it still comes about." She fidgeted a little, petting the puppy she held before returning it to its pen, a little sad to let it go before others came demanding love and attention as well. "Just no time it seems for that kind of thing. You know?"

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

Focus on the puppies, just focus on the puppies; maybe the awkwardness would just go away on its own if he did that long enough. He wanted to just melt into the floor and disappear. Instead, he knelt down next to the pen and reached in to scratch one of the puppies behind its ears, then put out his other hand to do the same to another when they all started clambering for attention.

"Thanks," he said, smiling just a little to himself. He wasn't sure what book smarts had to do with getting a girlfriend, but he figured that it was a compliment coming from her. He almost mentioned that he used to have a girlfriend, but stopped himself before he opened his mouth. That would only raise questions, and he didn't want to answer any of them. Not yet.

He was shocked to hear that she had never had a boyfriend before. Turning from the pen to look up at her in surprise, he repeated, "Never? Like... never never?" Not in high school? Not even in college? How did that happen? Did she have super overprotective parents or something? That might explain why she was off on her own when her family could clearly provide for her. "You're such a sweet girl. And smart. And you can cook." 'And you're cute,' he wanted to say, but he would just blush if he did, and he'd done enough of that today. "Three pretty awesome qualities for a girlfriend to have, if you ask me."

As she talked about work, he nodded and lifted one of the puppies out of the pen. It was one of the smaller ones and it kept getting nudged out of the way by its siblings. It immediately set to licking all over his face. He laughed, craning his neck to try to keep his face out of reach of its tongue. Suddenly he felt much less awkward and embarrassed. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Hence why I haven't gotten around to visiting the library yet." The puppy squirmed in his arms and managed to reach his face again, making him laugh again. "You are a friendly little thing, aren't you?" he said to it.

[ROSLYN BARKER]

She wasn't sure if this counted as something to attribute to her own clumsiness. Falling and dropping things were one thing, but the little situations that words created, the small silences, the hesitant speech between them. It was a little funny in a way, how two people whose lives were so absorbed by words suddenly found themselves quiet as she simply watched Russel giving the small creatures the comfort of gentle pets, her own fingers tapping against the top of the pen.

"I just wonder sometimes what makes people not like books, as if they're something that provides nothing good. I think that would be something that should be important. " In all honesty it was how she felt, a trait she felt was important as she spoke softly just over the cry of the animals.

What Ros hadn't expected was to hear Russel repeat her "never", and to hear that she found herself much like he was, absorbed in staring at the cluster of yipping creatures in front of them like they had some answer. "That's weird isn't it?" She asked, laughing again as the puppy in Russel's arms still struggled to give more affection to the man. His own words made her blush "You're too sweet... trust me you'll have the student eating out of your hand if you keep talking like that. But in the end it's better this way isn't it?" She wasn't really asking Russel, but more of herself.

"He really does seem to be attached to you. Sometimes I wish it was that easy dealing with teenagers." She joked softly, looking up at Russel, "Or are you one of those that are good with both kids and pets?"

Her gaze slipped to the window, leaves rolling through the streets as the wind blew, shaking the cloth awning above the store, people huddled together walking along, stopping to look at the pen that she and Russel were standing do close to, "I'm glad you were up for running around with me today. This has become quite an adventure despite the injuries to bodies and egos."

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

"Bah, people who don't like books--any books--are just small-minded. They don't know what they're missing," he said, then added, "That's what I think, anyway. Of course, it can take some time to realize how fun reading can be if you weren't encouraged when you were younger." He saw that quite a lot with students. They would come into his class convinced that reading and books were evil simply because they had never encountered a book that interested them, or sometimes because they had trouble reading in the first place. He knew he could never change all of their minds (teenagers were too stubborn for that), but he was always happy when he helped someone find out that reading was actually not as bad as they'd thought.

He chuckled at the idea that a few compliments could make his students like him. Actually, that might not be such a bad idea. Well, it might make them like him better, but he doubted that it would make them pay any more attention, and that was his real goal, wasn't it? Besides, some of them would probably just take it as an invitation to walk all over him. He didn't really need a repeat of that first day in Creative Writing...

He laughed again when the puppy licked his face and Ros mentioned teenagers. "I don't know that I'm that good with pets. It could just be these puppies for all I know. I'm all right with kids, like younger kids, but teenagers baffle me sometimes. I often wonder if I was so self-centered and melodramatic at that age." He chuckled to himself and reluctantly put the puppy back in the pen. "Maybe I was, to a certain extent. Everything seems so much more, I dunno, momentous when you're in high school. At least that's how I remember it. But then later you realize it didn't matter half as much as you thought it did that so-and-so rejected you in the tenth grade or whatever. I guess that's just one of those things you have to learn for yourself, though."

He grinned at Ros and nudged her playfully with his elbow. "Well, I'm glad you put up with my overactive mouth. It's not often I find someone who's actually interested in what I have to say." Certainly not his students, that was for sure. Unfortunately, he was the type who just tended to keep on talking until you stopped him.

He followed Ros's gaze out the window and spotted a hot dog stand on the side of the street. That gave him an idea. He'd never had a New York hot dog. Wasn't that one of those things everybody did in New York, eat hot dogs from sidewalk vendors? "Hey, are you hungry? I know it's not quite dinnertime yet but it's been a few hours since lunch. If you even ate lunch."

[ROSLYN BARKER]

"I mean really just who comes into this world believing knowledge in any form is wrong? I mean we live in an age of it, and as long as it takes people to enjoy books it is a slow process, but the stories." She sighed, "They were my escape, you know...and it's hard to think anyone wouldn't want someone who at least understands that at some level." Ros wasn't too worried that she had to explain what she was saying to Russel at that moment, he seemed to get it

Shaking her head she drew back from the pen a bit, "No, some people just naturally are able to draw others to them. Animals, children, peers...not really charisma, but something similar in a way. Yeah, high school seems so far away now doesn't it, but so much happened." A small chuckle started up only to stop as she felt him nudge her, stumbling a bit she just smiled and blushed darkly, "Silence is nice sometimes, but when you're with a person they all have a story. I like hearing them, besides, you've been so nice to me it's the least I can do, and I enjoy your company and what you have to say."

When food became the topic her gaze went to the vendors stand outside as well as she smiled. Those, she'd seen them in the movies a lot, but this one was just outside and she couldn't help as her smile grew into a small grin, her hand coming up to cover it a bit. "Food sounds fantastic...if we linger here to long we may lose you to the puppies now won't we?" The librarian teased, hoping she hadn't lost her companions to the creatures, fighting the pang of jealousy at the thought as she started towards the door waving goodbye to the shop girl.

"I can pay...I owe you anyways, don't I?"

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

Russel grinned. He knew exactly what Ros was talking about. "Yep, you just go off to another time, another world. I remember once I came home from school reading a book, and I stayed in my room til bedtime. I completely missed dinner and everything because I was so focused on reading. And you know what? I didn't regret it at all."

He looked thoughtful when she mentioned people naturally drawing others to them. Was he like that? He wasn't sure. He had never thought about it before. He certainly didn't think of himself as charismatic. Friendly, sure, but not really the type of person people thought particularly charming. He was a little too awkward for that. Or maybe he was charming and he just didn't realize it? Nah, probably not. Somebody would have told him so by now if that were the case. Right?

"Oh I don't know, I don't really have much of a story," he said, sticking his hands in his pockets and shrugging. "Not an interesting one, anyway. And I've told you most of it now. It's just when I get to talking, sometimes I can't stop myself." He chuckled at himself, shaking his head good-naturedly. "You, on the other hand, seem to be quite a good listener. You don't find that often."

He laughed when she suggested the puppies might take over his attention. It was a real possibility, he had to admit, but less so than losing him to the books, which was why he had been partly keen on leaving the bookstore. He knew his weakness and he didn't want to tempt himself too much when he knew he couldn't afford it. The puppies he was more rational about. He followed her out the door.

"No, you don't--" he started to protest her offer to pay, then had a second thought. "All right, fine, but after this we're even, okay?" he said with a grin. He didn't want her to keep feeling guilty about their unfortunate twists of fate, and if this would put her mind at ease, then maybe that was for the best. After all, he didn't want their new friendship to be based on her feeling obligated to be nice to him. He didn't think that was what she was doing, but you never knew.

[ROSLYN BARKER]

"Oh I think that is a lie. Everyone has a story because they live a life. I doubt that is all or ever will be all Russel. I'm sure yours can only get more interesting from here." Ros said as she gave a few of the puppies one last scratch on the head before heading towards the door of the shop. "I like listening, people like being listened to...I don't mind it at all being that person. That is what friendship is based off of right?" It was sad to go, just like it had been sad to leave the shop of course, but once outside it was clear it had gotten later in the day, the sky dark...

Or maybe it was the clouds? The wind had picked up a little, but nothing that overly concerned the young woman as she made her way across the street towards the vendor. Giving him a smile she asked for two hot dogs, waiting as he got them out, glancing back over at Russel, "Fine...this will make us even. Not many people would think a few cheap hot dogs would make up for the damage, you're too nice." Getting the food from the vendor she held out Russel's to him before turning back to the cart to fix up the rather ordinary piece of food until it was covered with mustard and ketchup, taking a tentative bite of it as if never having eaten one before..

"Mmm...been a while since I've had one of these. Even cooking for myself the simple things can be nice." The librarian commented, almost giddy now, this had to have been the most fun she'd had since she'd come to this town. Russel seemed so genuinely nice, someone she could call friend, but the heavens had other ideas for the rest of their day as she felt the first cool drop of water hit the top of her head before she looked up.

"Oh no..." A small frown touched her lips as another drop fell, a light drizzle misting along the streets slowly, "I guess not every city can always have sun, now can it?" Ros sighed as she stepped back under a nearby store awning.

[RUSSEL CONNOR]

He gave her a boyish half-grin. "More interesting would be nice. Well, interesting in a good way, I hope. If I could just have more days like this I'd be happy." Interesting didn't have to be complicated, after all. It could just be slightly more eventful or meaningful. When he'd stepped out of his apartment that morning, he hadn't thought he would end up making a new friend and exploring the shops of Cinders together. Heck, he certainly hadn't thought that when he'd seen the remains of his glasses under her foot. But life was funny sometimes. In a way, he kind of owed part of it to Chaucer, for putting him in a frame of mind to see the irony of the situation. Good ol' Chaucer.

As they stepped outside, it became clear that the weather was worsening slightly. The clouds were darker and the wind was picking up. Russel instinctively tucked his book under his jacket as they made their way over to the hot dog stand and got their food. "I needed new ones anyway; I had those same ones for years," he said, zigzagging ketchup on his hot dog before he took a big bite. Some of the ketchup dripped down his chin, so he wiped it off with a finger and stuck it in his mouth, then grinned at her. "Messy eater."

Then suddenly he felt something drip on his nose and blinked. There was no way he could get ketchup there. Then there was another drop, this time on his hand. Oh, it must be sprinkling. Ros commented on it as well, and he frowned and hunched his shoulders in disappointment, tucking Chaucer further under his jacket as he stepped under the store awning with her.

"Well this sucks," he said with a sigh. "I'd say we should wait for it to stop but from the look of those clouds that's not going to be any time soon." He looked at Ros and shrugged. "Guess we should head on home before this turns into a real storm. But it was fun while it lasted, right?"

[ROSLYN BARKER]

"I think they suited you very well, but you look nice without your glasses as well." She replied, taking a moment to look up at Russel, really get a look and not just see him, even with ketchup on his face...she laughed softly as he admitted to his crime. The day had been a good one, and the longer the day went the happier she'd become.

Her own celebration becoming something of a party, a party of two, but still a party.

As they hid out under the awning she had the same thought that Russel did as well. She smiled, though the thought of the day ending now for them made her feel strangely sad. Nonetheless...she wouldn't let it show, "I lived with rain all my life, I guess I have to continue living with it don't I?" She joked softly, giving a small nod.

"Yes, I suppose it's best if we try to not out-wait Mother Nature. Could be stuck here all night if we tried. Anyways, my home is that way, " She pointed over her shoulder, stepping in the direction of the edge of their shelter, "This was really fun, I'm glad you ended up at Lux as well. Maybe on a sunnier day we can find a few more nice shops?" With that she ducked out into the rain, this time watching where her feet went as she turned back to give the English teacher one last wave of her hand.

"See you at school Russel!"