Keep It Steady (Open)

[Ian McAllister]

He laughed. "Yeah, I always liked the straying sheep too. Rossetti is great. Of course, I think I like the Pre-Raphaelite period the best because of the great detail put into each work." Ian still couldn't believe that he was actually talking about art work with somebody. He never did that, yet Roman had him going. The next time she would probably see him, he wouldn't be so open.

"Impressionalism can be admired. Of course, all artwork can. I like the way the Pre-Raphaelites really captured people's facial features and the expressions on their face. It seems that you can learn alot about the subject by just looking at their face."

[Roman Jetter]

"The brush strokes are very precise," Roman nodded, "and the colours are similiar, but look rich despite the neutral tones. I guess people actually painted to paint, and you didn't question their morals." Art was a huge thing in France, and Roman knew enough to have an intelecctual conversation with someone. She was starting to think Ian was a lot better then she first perceived.

"I like the mysteries of impressionalism," Roman's imagination was wide. "And you can learn a lot about anyone by studying their face, I'm sure." THat caused her to turn and look him in the face, rather then just staring at the sky. She wasn't good at reading people, but he looked nice.

[Ian McAllister]

"You can also learn a lot about the time just looking at a piece of art."

He smiled. "The mysteries of impressionalism are pretty cool." Ian just liked detail and he tried to be as detailed as he could, but when it came to classes and that kind of thing he always tried to play it off as if he didn't care about the work. His mother never cared what he was doing in school, or better yet she never showed interest. He didn't know if she just didn't care or what. Pushing those thoughts from his mind, he noticed that Roman was looking at him.

"Are you studying me," he asked with a little teasing.

[Roman Jetter]

"I guess you're right. They have to derive the portrait out of some truth, no?"

"I like what I don't really have. And that is the power to be something no one expects," Roman sighed. She was always restrained to her scedule of school work and small exeats to rehearse. She didn't have any courage to do anything without someone she considered close. No one at Hogwarts was a even friend yet.

"If I was studying you, then I'm not doing a very great job. I'm not really getting much," Roman laughed.

[Ian McAllister]

Ian was relieved that she wasn't really getting much from looking at him. He always did his best to mask what he was feeling and now, he knew that he was doing a pretty good job of it.

"Well then, I suppose you just like looking at me then, hm?" He was teasing her. "To be honest, you're nice to look at yourself." Ian didn't feel any embarrassment or shyness as he said it. Quite frankly he could be pretty blunt and straight to the point when he wanted to be.

[Roman Jetter]

"Oh, well, thanks Ian." Roman blushed slightly again, although she was getting almost used to compliments. She managed to keep her hands from covering her face, although it took a lot of energy. Instead, she managed to just pulled her knees to her chest in form of protection. She wondered if he could read her, like she was trying him. Roman's ability to read people was as good as her astronomy skills, which obviously didn't say much at all. "What do I read out to be?"

[Ian McAllister]

At her question, Ian studied her. Usually being quite and on his own, he started to read people. It seemed to help him stay away from those 'too preppy' about things. Seeing overly excited people made Ian frown.

"Hm. Right now, I would say that you're pretty shy. You didn't cover up your cheeks this time to cover your blush but you did bring your knees up." Ian took a breath. "Am I close?"

[Roman Jetter]

Roman was shocked, he knew all that about her just by looking at her face? She squirmed slightly, she hadn't noticed that she covered her mouth when she was embarassed or put on the spot, but now that she thought about it. That was incredible, and Roman was sorely jealous she couldn't do the same. "You seem to be more on track with my mind then I am. I guess you know people better then I thought."

"But what if I told you that you were completely off. What would you have thought of me then?"

[Ian McAllister]

"Its all about how people move," said Ian. "That's all it is. If you pay close enough attention, you can learn a lot about a person by their actions." He gave a small shrug. "It's nothing to be shy over."

"If you said that, then I would say that you were lying and you were trying to hide your shyness. Not everyone reaches up and tries to cover their blush." Ian smiled. "There's nothing wrong with being shy. Its a lot better than being loud and obnoxious."

[Roman Jetter]

Roman looked down at her body, and tapped her foot lightly against the ground. "Well, as a consolation prize, am I at least graceful when I'm showing my personality to everyone?" The concept sort of scared Roman. She didn't want people to know her personality just by looking at her. She'd prefer if they maybe came over and talked to her about it, and seemed genuinely interested.

"Not a lot of people have much against shy people. But loud and obnoxious people do have friends they talk to. Despite their not- so- becoming qualities. I bet tons of shy people are shy of people who think they can talk to everyone."

[Ian McAllister]

"You don't show your personality to just everyone," he said. "just to those who pay close attention. And yes. You are graceful." Ian smiled. He thought that at least he could try to make her feel better, and he was being honest.

"That's true. But I bet that shy people can have a lot of friends if they wouldn't think that if they said something to somebody they would reveal their life story. You don't have to think that you can talk to everyone in order to make friends. Sometimes a simple smile or hello starts a conversation. Besides, most people won't really judge you."

[Roman Jetter]

"Well, thank you for paying attention. That's very kind of you. And for the grace comment. I feel a bit better," she managed to smile. "If I could, I'd tell you about you too."

"I wouldn't mind saying something to someone, but I wouldn't want to bother them if they were in the middle of something. And I can never think of what to say after hello," Roman said quietly. "My life story isn't too interesting, but boring people isn't good either. I don't want to cause anyone any negative feelings." That was most of the reason why Roman never said much to anyone. It wasn't much of a secret, and it didn't bother her that Ian knew. But so far, he seemed to know a lot about people in general.

[Ian McAllister]

Ian didn't really want to know about himself, because he already knew. Putting up a front was what he was good at and he was going to keep shielding himself.

"Ah, but we have moved far past hello. I'm sure that no one will walk up to you and ask you your life story. And after hello, you just say something, anything. It shouldn't matter, you should just say it. You're not causing me any negative feelings. So far, you're doing great. And Roman, trust me, you are far from boring."

[Roman Jetter]

"I guess, but I doubt everyone's as nice as you, Ian," Roman sighed. "I'm sure I'd blurt something random, like asking them their favorite colour. I've done that before, with some seventh year who I was talking to. I'm sure he was ohkay with it, but it sounded juvenile, even to me." Roman blushed slightly again, "thanks. You aren't boring either."

[Ian McAllister]

"I'm probably not the most nicest person in the world," he admitted. "But trust me, there are nice people out there. Besides, you shouldn't really care what other people think. You should just be yourself." Yeah, okay, Ian was being a little hypocritical because he couldn't follow his advice completely, but it never hurt to try and get Roman to do it.

"At least you did get him talking. That is something. It doesn't matter what you say. If you can keep the conversation going, you're golden."

[Roman Jetter]

"You're nicer then a lot of people here," Roman shrugged. "You're right. But people's opinions can affect how you live your life. People's conections in life get them very far. And I just don't want someone who thinks negatively of me to affect if I get anything in the future."

"I guess, the conversation ended a bit quickly after that, although it was late at night. What do you start conversations with?"

[Ian McAllister]

"That's true, but its best to take chances. You never know how things are going to go unless you take that chance. What other people think about you shouldn't matter that much. I mean, its a good thing to have good connections but you should be yourself. Its their problem if they don't like you, not yours."

What did he start conversations with? "Well, it varies. To be honest, it just depends on the situation."

[Roman Jetter]

"Maybe so, but I'm stuck under the principles that I'm better safe then sorry," she was beginning to feel a little weird, talking about her impediments as a human being. "It just suits me. And if any one decided to take the chance to get to know me, then I should most definately start to get to know them. Anyone who would come up and talk to me has got to be at least a little interested in getting to know me, right?"

"Homework seems to be a big one for me. That's how I end up talking to anyone. This time it was Astronomy."

[Ian McAllister]

"Yeah, they should," he said. "But sometimes you should make yourself open. Sometimes, people will not come up to you if you appear to be to busy. And needing help with homework is a good start." Ian smiled widely. "As long as you are willing to continue a conversation, then I suppose you have a good friend on your hands."

Ian thought that Roman was probably one of the nicest people he was really willing to be around. That could end up being bad for him.

[Roman Jetter]

Roman was considering all this, and wished that she could just go up to someone, and start talking. But for some reason, her mind just shut off, and she continued to do homework, or review choreography in her mind. "It's easier when there's someone there you know. But I don't really know anyone. This has been the longest conversation I've had since summer, when I left France. Did you know that?" She smiled at the ground. "I really don't want to hinderance anyone. Maybe they were just about to go do something important, and I started talking, and they continued to speak to me to be polite. That would be almost rude of me."

Roman was starting to really enjoy speaking to Ian. He seemed kind and easy to speak to, although he didn't speak much about himself. Roman was never one to nessecarily open up, but Ian had that effect, she supposed. She hoped they would continue being friends after. She decided to apologize, "I must sound ridiculous. I'm sorry, you keep telling me, and I just have excuse after excuse."