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Post by June Bankman on Jul 26, 2010 11:38:18 GMT -5
June nodded, thinking that pretending tonight was a perfectly acceptable idea. Her thoughts were far away from Gary's, though, as much as she was trying to fight it, she was thinking about Talon more and more.
She wrapped her hand around his arm that he held out to her, walking with him to the dance floor. "I kind of lost count of how many shots we had," she confessed when she turned to face him, her words not slurring, but they were all carefully enunciated. "I bet you're a good dancer, Gary." June, like Gary, was definitely drunk enough to be dancing, the alcohol hitting her quicker than it seemed to have hit Gary. "I really don't get why you're single, you know. I mean, besides ride now."
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Post by Gary Goodwin on Jul 29, 2010 0:34:57 GMT -5
Gary was still single, mostly because he chose to be. He wasn't looking for a serious relationship, not really. He probably could have had a girlfriend, if he had ever felt like he wanted to settle down. Of course, he had heard that would change if he ever found the right woman, the one who would make him want to change.
"Ah, don't cry for me," he replied casually. "I'm happy being single right now. Why should I deprive all the great girls out there of a chance with me? Besides, you know, you're only young once, so you might as well enjoy it. It won't be long before I'm being fitted with dentures and orthopedic shoes, you know."
He laughed and began to twirl her around the dance floor.
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Post by June Bankman on Aug 9, 2010 12:14:09 GMT -5
June laughed and shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. But it's nice having someone to go home to, too."
But what Gary said got her thinking. She was still young, and she felt like she had been married and settled down for twenty years now. Was she wasting away her youth with someone who didn't really know how to have fun? Then again, "fun" wasn't what made a steady relationship either. She needed to stop thinking like this, or it was going to kill her. Women had that habit of always wanting "better." June just wanted to be happy.
"Well, you're certainly humble, too," she teased him, tearing her mind away from these thoughts, even if it took her a moment to do so.
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Post by Gary Goodwin on Aug 9, 2010 22:22:25 GMT -5
"Oh, yeah, you know me," Gary joked. "I'm the very picture of humility."
Yes, he talked a big game most of the time, but it was really mostly just an act. June knew him well enough to know that. And the truth was, there were definitely times when he did wish that he had someone special in his life... someone to ask him how his day was, someone to spend his birthday with, or someone he could just do nothing at all with. Yes, it would be nice not to come home to an empty house. But he didn't want to settle for just anyone... he wanted it to be right. It seemed like a waste of time to him to stay in a relationship with someone if it wasn't right.
"The thing is, you know, I always thought that the right person was the kind of person you could see yourself growing old with. I haven't found anyone like that... present company excluded, of course." He winked at this, just to keep the mood light.
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Post by Brady Ferris on Aug 10, 2010 20:56:15 GMT -5
Abbey couldn't help but feel warm inside at his answer. Here she was, prattling on about her love for a muggle rock band that wasn't even together anymore, and he was declaring his love for helping people. If he was a workaholic, no one could really fault him for it, because it wasn't just a job for him. It was important to him; it meant something to him. Abbey thought about her own job. She liked working on the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad. She got to help people, too. And she was good at it. But at the end of the day, it was just a job. For him, his job was a way of life. And something told her that he took that same honorable, heroic approach to everything he did. "You keep saying things like that around women, and I promise you, you will not be single very long," she said, smiling softly. Brady felt his cheeks warm a little. "That is if I'm around more women than I am now." He raised an eyebrow. If he would have really thought, it would be sort of embarrassing that he only worked. Plus, he didn't think too much of any women he worked with. However, there was June. He had to admit that there was a slight care of what she thought. "I don't really get out much," he admitted with a quieter voice. "Tonight is really the first night I've gone out and that was only because Gary and June brought me. They said I needed to get out and you can't say no to them." Brady took another drink from his glass, leaving only one more drink in it. He was feeling sort of fuzzy but he just brushed it off. Looking to his glass, he found himself wanting more. Finishing off his glass, he looked at Abbey. "And if you wanted to dance, I can't promise that I'd be any good. I've never done that before." |
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Post by Abbey Jones on Aug 12, 2010 0:25:44 GMT -5
Abbey smiled at him. She didn't really think she could see much happening between her and Brady other than friendship--they were both too shy. But friendship was a good thing, and she could always use more friends.
"You'll find someone. Maybe someone who works at the Ministry, or even some girl that you help on the job. You're quiet, but you're not as bad at flirting as you think you are. Maybe I'm not, either, come to think of it."
She glanced over at the dance floor and frowned. "We could dance if you want. I'm not a very good dancer, either, so you don't have to worry about impressing me or anything. Besides, it's just supposed to be fun. Maybe we shouldn't worry so much about whether we're actually any good at it."
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Post by Brady Ferris on Aug 12, 2010 14:17:25 GMT -5
His eyebrows rose. Flirting was a concept he wasn't exactly familiar with. Brady didn't know if Abbey was flirting with him, or what it really meant by flirting. Of course it would be a little weird if he asked Gary what it was. "I don't think you're that bad," he said, figuring it was a safe answer.
At the mention of the dancing and seeing Abbey's facial expression, he could tell that she wasn't the best at dancing either. "Maybe we should have a few more first? I don't really know if I'm loose enough for moving at all other than walking." Granted Brady had never really had alcohol, he wasn't exactly sure how he was going to really handle it. Maybe one more or maybe two more would be good for him.
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Post by Abbey Jones on Aug 13, 2010 22:36:37 GMT -5
Abbey could tell by the expression on his face that he was confused about her use of the word "flirting." But really, wasn't that what they were doing? They were two strangers talking and getting to know each other. Who ever said that flirting had to mean cheesy pickup lines and fluttering eyelashes?
"You know, flirting isn't as big a deal as everyone thinks it is," she said. "No one ever said we had to be all over each other to flirt. Sometimes it's just having a regular conversation with someone you don't know. It's a way for two people to get to know each other. And that's what we're doing, isn't it?"
She laughed at his suggestion that they drink some more before they try dancing. She wasn't entirely sure that he was any more comfortable with drinking than he was with dancing.
"We can have another drink, too," she agreed readily. "But dancing doesn't have to be a big deal, either. Look at that guy, for instance," she said, pointing. The man she was pointing at was barely moving, even though it was a fast song. He was moving his head and the upper part of his body along to the rhythm, but his legs were firmly on the ground.
"He's a not a great dancer, really, but he's moving, and he's having fun. That's all it is, really."
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Post by June Bankman on Aug 16, 2010 14:12:52 GMT -5
"Oh, yeah, you know me," Gary joked. "I'm the very picture of humility." Yes, he talked a big game most of the time, but it was really mostly just an act. June knew him well enough to know that. And the truth was, there were definitely times when he did wish that he had someone special in his life... someone to ask him how his day was, someone to spend his birthday with, or someone he could just do nothing at all with. Yes, it would be nice not to come home to an empty house. But he didn't want to settle for just anyone... he wanted it to be right. It seemed like a waste of time to him to stay in a relationship with someone if it wasn't right. "The thing is, you know, I always thought that the right person was the kind of person you could see yourself growing old with. I haven't found anyone like that... present company excluded, of course." He winked at this, just to keep the mood light. June smiled at his words, just to show that she was listening. The numbness in her lips when she did this was enough to tell her that the alcohol was well in her system now, and she suddenly wasn't feeling so happy anymore. In fact, it felt quite a lot like the weight of the world was now pressing in on her. Could she see herself growing old with Talon? Well... yes. She could. But she could see the kind of life that included. It was quiet and spent all mostly at home. That wasn't what June wanted. Sometimes, but not entirely. "I don't know what I'm doing," she murmured. "Gary... excuse me," she said, pulling away from him. "I'll be right back." She just needed a minute. Fresh air, maybe. |
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Post by Brady Ferris on Aug 16, 2010 15:57:17 GMT -5
Flirting was just talking like they were? He still couldn't really wrap his mind around the concept of the term but Brady just brushed that topic off as he listened to Abbey speak of how it didn't matter about dancing. In all honesty, he wasn't even sure if he could really move with the beat of the music, let alone really move at all. Yes, maybe a few more drinks would be okay and maybe loosen him up a little bit.
Brady grabbed the bartenders attention before asking for two more drinks. He set another drink in front of Abbey, glad she wasn't talking him out of drinking what was in front of him. "I'm not even sure if I could move like that," he admitted in his honest tone. "Maybe after this one, it'll be okay. I don't want you to be completely bored by just sitting here. Plus, there's a first time for everything, right?"
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Post by Abbey Jones on Aug 18, 2010 10:38:19 GMT -5
Abbey smiled. Maybe this was good for both of them. They were both quiet people who kept to themselves, but they were talking pretty well right now. For the first time, Abbey felt a little more like her sisters, who were all more open and talkative. She had always thought of herself as the odd one in her family; the quiet, bookish, introverted one. She loved her sisters, but she envied them, too. They all had the looks and the personality. But maybe, as she talked to Brady, she wasn't quite as different from them as she'd thought. They were both learning a little something about themselves tonight.
"I'm not bored," she assured him, taking a sip from the drink that had just been placed in front of her. This was probably more than she'd ever had to drink before, but she was handling it better than she had thought. It must have been the birthday cake she'd had earlier in the evening. "I like talking to you."
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Post by Gary Goodwin on Aug 18, 2010 10:55:32 GMT -5
Had he said something wrong? He really had been talking about himself that time, and he hadn't been trying to hint at anything for her. His idea of true love was finding the kind of person he would want to wake up next to for the rest of his life; someone he could grow old with. But it was just his opinion, and he wasn't hinting that she should think about those things for her own relationship. Everyone had their own ideas of their perfect mate. And maybe he was wrong. What did he know?
But she seemed to turn pale at his words and then she was excusing herself. By the looks of her, she was about to get sick, and he couldn't very well let her go off completely alone, even if that was what she seemed to want. So he followed her at a safe distance, in case she needed him to catch her when she fell.
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Post by Brady Ferris on Aug 23, 2010 20:46:39 GMT -5
Abbey smiled. Maybe this was good for both of them. They were both quiet people who kept to themselves, but they were talking pretty well right now. For the first time, Abbey felt a little more like her sisters, who were all more open and talkative. She had always thought of herself as the odd one in her family; the quiet, bookish, introverted one. She loved her sisters, but she envied them, too. They all had the looks and the personality. But maybe, as she talked to Brady, she wasn't quite as different from them as she'd thought. They were both learning a little something about themselves tonight. "I'm not bored," she assured him, taking a sip from the drink that had just been placed in front of her. This was probably more than she'd ever had to drink before, but she was handling it better than she had thought. It must have been the birthday cake she'd had earlier in the evening. "I like talking to you." Brady's mind was starting to feel just a little fuzzy but that was fine. He wasn't falling over himself or anything like that and he was still able to make completely coherent sentences. "I like talking to you too," he agreed with a smile. "You're pretty easy to talk to." He took another drink from his glass. "I used to think that talking to girls was hard." Granted Abbey was probably the only second girl he had really ever talked to that was outside of work. "And I'm glad that you're not bored. I'm sure that Gary would probably beg to differ that you're just telling me that to make me feel better." He let out a laugh. |
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Post by Abbey Jones on Aug 23, 2010 23:37:36 GMT -5
Abbey was feeling a little fuzzy as well. Warmth was spreading through her, making the tips of her fingers and toes tingle. It was a strange, but not unpleasant feeling. She giggled, and it sounded strange and foreign to her own ears, like she was outside of herself, hearing her own laughter.
"I'll tell you a secret," she said, leaning in close to him, but not lowering her voice at all. "Girls really aren't that different from guys most of the time. We just want to be treated like human beings most of the time. But you can't tell any other girl that I told you, because most girls like to think they're mysterious and stuff."
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Post by June Bankman on Aug 25, 2010 1:16:28 GMT -5
Contrary to what Gary thought, June was not going to be sick. In fact, the direction she went was outside and nowhere towards the loo at all. She needed some fresh air, and she wanted to get her mind off the only thing that was running through it right now. Gary's words had actually hit her hard... and maybe that was what she needed. Some kind of jolt to realize that she wasn't happy. That maybe, in a more symbolic way, June's worst fears had come true... she felt trapped.
She pushed her way past the bouncer, heading around the corner of the building where there were very few people, outside of a couple of people enjoying a muggle cigarette. Whatever she hoped the alcohol would do, it wasn't. It was doing the exact opposite in fact, and tears met June's eyes the second her back hit the wall of the building. "Merlin, stop," she whispered to herself. This was really the last place she wanted to have a break down.
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Post by Gary Goodwin on Aug 25, 2010 22:46:17 GMT -5
The last thing Gary had expected her to do was walk out. When she opened the door and stepped outside, he was still a few feet behind her, and he faltered for a moment. Was she leaving? Seriously, what had he done wrong? They had just been talking and dancing, and although he admitted that he had a tendency to stick his foot in his mouth, he really didn't think he'd done anything wrong this time. After all, his previous attempts to try and get her to tell him what was wrong hadn't managed to get her upset enough to walk out.
Frowning deeply, Gary followed her out of the club, hoping that Brady was doing all right with Abbey. June was ahead of him by a good distance, and there were enough people milling about and it was dark enough outside that it was hard for him to keep her in sight. He moved a little faster, but she still disappeared from view after a minute.
She seemed to be heading toward the alleyway, though, so he took a guess that this was where she went. Sure enough, as he rounded the corner, he saw her flattened against the wall, looking like she was barely holding herself together.
He stopped again, weighing his options. On the one hand, she looked like she wanted to be left alone. But on the other hand, in his experience, when someone wanted to be left alone, it was usually the last thing they actually needed. And he couldn't in good conscience leave her out there alone.
He took a breath and approached her slowly. "Hey, Junebug?" he said, his voice gentle. "Are you OK?"
A stupid question, of course, since she very obviously was not OK. He just hoped it would be enough to break the ice.
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Post by Brady Ferris on Aug 30, 2010 17:24:48 GMT -5
Abbey was feeling a little fuzzy as well. Warmth was spreading through her, making the tips of her fingers and toes tingle. It was a strange, but not unpleasant feeling. She giggled, and it sounded strange and foreign to her own ears, like she was outside of herself, hearing her own laughter. "I'll tell you a secret," she said, leaning in close to him, but not lowering her voice at all. "Girls really aren't that different from guys most of the time. We just want to be treated like human beings most of the time. But you can't tell any other girl that I told you, because most girls like to think they're mysterious and stuff." By this time, Brady was feeling pretty good. His words still came out correctly. There wasn't any sort of slur to his words. He didn't even tense up when Abbey got close to him. He looked at her a little confused. "That doesn't really make any sense," he said honestly. "But whatever goes, I guess." He gave Abbey a sort of boyish like smile and then took another drink. "I guess we're as confusing as we think you are," he added with a shrug. |
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Post by Abbey Jones on Aug 31, 2010 22:28:19 GMT -5
(Two Beatles songs in a row... I decided that means I must post as Abbey)
Abbey let out a laugh. "Oh, no.... men aren't confusing at all," she informed him. "Men are very simple, really... it's just that women are complicated and we don't understand why men aren't the same way. Men never say what they're feeling and it frustrates women... but most of the time, it's something much simpler than women think it is. Like if a guy seems upset about something, he's probably just hungry. That's what my brother-in-law told me, anyway."
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Post by Brady Ferris on Sept 8, 2010 8:55:32 GMT -5
"We don't ever say what we're feeling I guess because we're supposed to be the ones who are looking out for you. Of course, you could probably look out for yourself, but we like to think we're the ones looking out for you." Brady had not been in a situation like that before, but from what he gathered from observing people, that was the answer that made the most sense.
"And sometimes that's true. We're a lot better off once we have something to eat. There could be something else, but that probably won't be said unless it's bothering us too much."
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Post by Abbey Jones on Sept 9, 2010 10:20:12 GMT -5
Abbey let out a little giggle, the first real sign that she was beginning to get tipsy. "That's exactly the problem with men," she replied. "Men always think they need to protect us, but women aren't as helpless as men seem to think we are. And men always want to 'fix' whatever's wrong, and sometimes it can't actually be fixed. We just want someone to understand.... someone to lean on. Sometimes all a man can really do is just be there, but we don't want anyone to fix it for us. We need to fight our own battles.... or something."
She was getting a little light-headed now, and she wasn't entirely sure that she was making sense. But everything she was saying was something she had observed in her quiet way, by watching other couples, especially her older sister and her husband.
"But you know, I think you guys might be right about having something to eat. Sometimes it's hard to think on an empty stomach... Do they have food here, I wonder? I think they should..."
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