[open] everyday trauma @ your library

[borntotry]

[ So you're at the local public library, and you've taken a seat to do - something, anything that suits your fancy, in this corner over here. It's a pretty nice corner, as public spaces go, cozy and well-lit, though if you stay too long the artificial lighting might start to give you a headache (there's a window, but let's face it: since when was it ever properly sunny here?). Really, it's the sort of space where you could happily lose track of time, if you were so inclined.

Except now, hovering just far back enough to almost be there by coincidence, there's a boy with a schoolbag staring at you, apparently at a loss for words, paralyzed by indecision. He comes to this library every day. He does his homework here every day. And you're sitting in his spot.

He apparently has no idea how to handle this situation. So instead he's just going to stand here, thwarted.

Because that isn't creepy or awkward at all. ]

Comments

[negativegate]

It wasn't her normal spot. Mariella couldn't even say exactly why she always chose the same spot before or why she deviated from that today, but she was pretty sure it was a dumb thing to be concerned about, anyway. She wasn't a robot.

And while she should have been studying properly, what was open in front of her was the strange notebook she'd found a couple of weeks ago. It was strange--after she'd gotten it back from Etienne, she'd seen that maybe one of his stupid guesses hadn't been so wrong: it did look like a code as opposed to a different language. She was just starting to get caught up in it...

Until a prickly feeling on the back of her neck made her turn to see some kid staring at her. Mari gave him a glare and called out, "it's rude to do that, you know."

[borntotry]

Shun started, surprised first at the movement and then that the girl was addressing him (he glanced about quickly, to be certain he wasn't mistaken). Him? Rude? Because of what...

...oh. He bowed his head and made a noncommittal sound of agreement.

"Excuse me," he managed bluntly, then averted his eyes, unsure of whether to continue. It wouldn't be - bad, he supposed, to sit somewhere else...he didn't want to be a bother....and the library was a public area, there was nothing wrong with her presence here at all, he was the unreasonable one...

...so no, he shouldn't say anything. He shouldn't say anything at all.

[negativegate]

She could have gone right back to her reading, but instead, she pushed her chair out and faced him, arms crossed. But she wasn't really angry--her glare disappeared and she tilted her head curiously--although she was thinking that this kid was a bit of a weirdo.

"What's your problem, anyway?"

[borntotry]

Shun continued to have difficulty meeting the girl's eyes, especially now that she was facing him. Taking a deep breath, he clenched his fists at his sides, then relaxed them. He wanted to walk away, but that'd be even worse, wouldn't it...?

"Nothing," he replied - then, hating the way that sounded, hesitantly glanced at the nearest chair. "Is that seat..."

He couldn't finish the question, but he hoped she could infer.

[cloudypuddle]

She would understand the pain if she knew, truly. She's as much a creature of habit as the next gal in town.

But her routine has been thrown utterly off since she was pressed to help the class with afternoon clean-up. (Apparently the usual girl had been out sick, but that was quite strange in and of itself.) Nanase wouldn't have minded, since she needed to kill a few minutes between class and swim club anyways, but the teacher was a quirky sort who kept a few animals as pets in the room, and when she went to clean their white rabbit's cage, it had slipped out and sent her on a merry chase.

She had felt out of sorts ever since.

She put it down to being late to her club and not allowed to join in, but a walk across town and stop at the library to do her homework early hadn't seen any shift in that odd impulse. It was a irritating sort of feeling - or just made her irritated - and so, when she felt further off and looked up to find someone staring at her, she grew quite cross. Much more than usual.

"What is it? Are all the other tables taken?"

[borntotry]

"Ah - no," Shun replied, glancing about. "There's one..."

....oh, that wasn't what she was asking. How could he have not caught onto that sooner. Biting his lower lip, he looked down sheepishly.

"Anyway, it's nothing," he concluded. Was she mad at him? Her voice sounded a bit sharp.

[negativegate]

She just kept eyeing him critically and responded, "Does it look like anyone's sitting there?"

Maybe she was the one being rude now, but it should have been obvious...right? It wasn't like she'd always chosen the same seat before for any reason.

[cloudypuddle]

-this wasn't helpful. She could see he caught her point - belatedly - but the awkward reaction only served to irritate, but came with a guilt for snapping at him. Which irritated her further.

Dropping her pencil with a sharp clatter, her tone offered no more welcome than before, but she pulled her school bag from the far side of the table.

"Never mind, just sit down."