|
|
|
last online May 5, 2024 13:03:08 GMT -7
|
|
|
Nov 28, 2018 15:38:00 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2018 15:38:00 GMT -7
TIA THOUGHT THAT SHE'D NEVER REALLY BEEN good at factoring in the outside world, even before she immersed herself in healing. She'd always felt a little out of touch. Perhaps that was why she felt so uncomfortable seeing Rory out of uniform. It didn't fit with her perfectly curated slice of reality.
"I really... appreciate that." Tia said hesitantly. "But, you really don't have to worry about me." She gave him a smile, and this time it was easier to master. He was being thoughtful, but she didn't really expect any less from him. "I'm kind of used to being out of touch." Tia admitted, rolling her eyes at herself. The transition hadn't been very hard for Tia, the only difference being that she had a perfectly viable excuse when avoiding social situations.
However, despite the fact that Rory was very easily giving her an out. Laying offers on the table without expecting her to accept any. Tia found herself reluctant to simply snub him. It would have been easier had she not liked him as much as she did. He was kind, and a good healer. "Uh..." Tia defied her instincts to refuse and shook her head with a shrug. "I suppose I could use some help studying..." She was actually very good at studying, and had perfect the art of the mapping and laying out her workload, but perhaps company wouldn't be too horrendous. "I'll be graduating to a full medi-witch soon." Tia had been counting down the days. "I could use a little help making sure I'm ready for my final shadow examination."
Ordering him a drink of his own, Tia gratefully accepted her small glass of brandy. It gave her something to hold. A way to distract herself from talking when it seemed unwise to do so. "Not right now," Tia said, shaking her head as she turned slightly to face him. "What about you?" She asked reflexively. "You're always asking if I want to talk." Shrugging her shoulders, Tia took a sip from her brandy before adding. "What about you, Doc?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online May 5, 2024 13:03:08 GMT -7
|
|
|
Dec 7, 2018 17:20:50 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2018 17:20:50 GMT -7
Tia said that she appreciated him reaching out to her. If she were more comfortable around him, Rory would definitely have teased her about how uncomfortable she seemed, but he did not think that would help right now. She said he didn't have to worry about her, that she'd always been out of touch from others. Rory shrugged, "I wasn't worried about you, I just want you to know you're not alone. We've always gone through it." Though, maybe she was a little alone in the fact that she openly admitted she was out of touch from the people around her, that it wasn't something new to her. Momentarily, he wondered how she'd been in school, if she had close friends there or if she kept to herself like she did here. Rory found he actually couldn't guess with her, like he could with so many others.
To his surprise, she actually accepted his offer to help. Rory smiled, trying to hide his initial reaction when she said yes. "I can definitely do that. Just let me know when you want, and I can do a practice test with you or whatever you want." Rory was used to helping people prepare for this exam. He'd been working at St. Mungo's for years, helping interns and quizzing them to help them prepare. He didn't think Tia would struggle at all with the examination, but he was more than willing to help her in whatever way she wanted his help.
When Rory asked if Tia had anything else she wanted to talk about, he definitely wasn't surprised when she said no. Tia was independent and confident. He was surprised she said she wanted his help in the first place. He smiled, taking a small drink out of his own glass. He was a little surprised, however, when she turned the question back on him. "Umm," he hesitated, trying to think of what he could talk about with her. Then he chuckled, "Okay, I get your point. No, I don't think I have anything else to talk about, apart from work." Having something to talk about would mean he had a life, which Rory really didn't. He wasn't dating anyone or interested in anyone. He worked and slept. That was his life right now.
@tia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online May 5, 2024 13:03:08 GMT -7
|
|
|
Dec 30, 2018 19:55:13 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2018 19:55:13 GMT -7
THOUGH TIA FOUND RORY'S PERSISTENCE IN kindness and empathy a little bit discomfiting, she also found it infinitely admirable. He never ceased to surprise her, and she thought he was well suited in his field of choice. Tia doubted he ever had to try to be kind to her. That it came absolutely naturally. She envied him as much as she admired him. Her narrowed eyes softened unintentionally and she felt her slightly clawed fingers relax on the bar top.
"You're a good egg, Rory," She blurted out without much thought - which was entirely uncharacteristic for Tia. It was something her dad used to always say when he liked somebody. 'They're a good egg', he'd muse over the top of his coffee cup, or while reading a particular news article in his morning paper. She'd never known what it meant, but she thought she might when she thought about Rory. Her face warmed at the outburst and she turned it away self consciously, but there was the very beginnings of a little smile curling the corners of her lips. She didn't say anything else, nothing to appease him or delve in to that open ended 'we've all been through it'. She might once her next brandy arrived.
Perhaps her warmth in the light of his goodness was, ultimately, the reason why Tia accepted Rory's academic offer. She didn't like accepting help as a rule, but something had prompted her to agree wholeheartedly. She wasn't even saying it to make him feel better. She had meant it, which surprised her. "Okay," She told him simply, licking her sticky brandy lips and palming her next glass, the condensation making them damp.
Funnily enough, Rory reacted very similarly to Tia when his own question was turned back on him. He had very little to say, and Tia wondered if he too struggled with opening up to others. She thought that might have been rather hypocritical of him, if so, but she didn't blame him either. "I can talk about work..." She shrugged, looking at him over the rim of her glass, her eyes smiling as she took a very deliberate sip from her glass.
"I... okay, I had my first upchucker the other week?" She began with eyes squeezed shut, mouth pinched as she turned herself towards him more fully. She was talking to him, and it was a little stiff, but she persevered. "Like, I've seen vomit, okay, I'm not a total rookie..." She opened her eyes and relaxed a little on her stool. "But this... this was something else. Projectile..." She shivered a little, eyeing him carefully as she did. "What's your advice for getting that... smell out of your nose." She was teasing him a little bit, happy that they didn't always have to talk about serious topics. "I feel like I can still smell it.... it's been weeks."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online May 5, 2024 13:03:08 GMT -7
|
|
|
Jan 8, 2019 19:11:00 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 19:11:00 GMT -7
Rory couldn't help the smile that came to his face when Tia told him he was a good egg. He knew it probably didn't mean much, that she was likely just impressed or pleased that he searched her out and wanted to make sure she was all right, but it meant something to him. He knew it was impossible to have everyone like you, but Rory thought of himself as a likable person and he wanted people to feel comfortable around him. "Thanks," he answered softly, certain that if he said more than that it would probably embarrass her, which was not something he wanted to do right now, since they were finally getting more comfortable talking. At least, he thought they were getting more comfortable.
He was a little surprised when Tia accepted his offer, but she didn't take it back like he half expected her to. Maybe she did want help? Or maybe she just wanted someone she could feel comfortable talking to if she had any questions or wanted to study. Rory would be more than happy to do that for her. He nodded when she agreed to let him know when she needed or wanted help. He couldn't ask for more than that.
Tia mentioned that she could talk about work in the awkward silence that followed after her asking a question about his own life. It wasn't that Rory didn't want to talk to her, more like he didn't have anything to talk about. Rory's life was at St. Mungos. He wanted to help other people and be there for them and ... well, his close friends were all busy with other things. He didn't spend a lot of time with people his age.
At her next words, Rory couldn't help but chuckle. He understood clearly the expression on her face and the words she was saying. Of course she'd been around vomit before. Most people had, especially during childhood. Children often didn't realize the signs of needing to throw up, so someone else generally ended up having to take care of it. His nose scrunched as she explained a little more. Projectile? That was just gross. Then she asked her question and Rory's eyes widened a little in surprise before a quick bark of laughter escaped him. He definitely didn't expect that. "Stick your face in a bunch of flowers," he suggested, the corner of his lips twitching as he teased her back. "Or, I suppose you could ask for a nice-smelling potion to help you out with that ... or find a cologne or perfume you like that you can spray somewhere ... or someone who smells nice." Yeah, Rory was definitely teasing now, but he couldn't help it.
@tia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online May 5, 2024 13:03:08 GMT -7
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2019 12:13:24 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2019 12:13:24 GMT -7
IT WAS A LOT FOR TIA TO HONESTLY ADMIT HOW much she admired Rory. Perhaps if she'd only had one drink she wouldn't have had the courage, but she was well on her fourth, and it was making her loose around the mouth. He looked bashful to be complimented, and Tia averted her gaze in the hopes that it would make him feel better. Accepting his offer for help was like an extension of that confidence, and she grabbed for it before it was lost.
"Bunch of flowers?" Tia couldn't help the snort behind her hand, shaking her head as she looked at him in disbelief. Was he serious? Though her double-take at his teasing smile proved otherwise and she rolled her eyes at him. "Yeah, the potion is a better suggestion." She nodded, though her face warmed slightly at the idea of finding a better smelling 'person', but she thought he might've been teasing her still. She wasn't exactly a people person, but her mouth ran away from her anyways. "That right?" She said, narrowing her eyes at him. "What'd you wear?" And then she made a show of leaning forward as if to sniff him, a little smirk on her own on her face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online May 5, 2024 13:03:08 GMT -7
|
|
|
Jan 28, 2019 8:16:53 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2019 8:16:53 GMT -7
The situation with Tia was growing increasingly different. He didn't expect her to be complimenting or teasing him, but then again he hadn't meant to do the same either. He'd definitely been the one to start the teasing. He wasn't sorry about that though. He was really glad that she wasn't still pulling away. This was a different side of her and Rory was actually enjoying it. He couldn't help but laugh at her reactions to him mentioning flowers and a potion. He gained control of himself then, but she seemed embarrassed and/or stunned when he mentioned her finding someone who smelled better. He shrugged when she questioned him. "Who knows? It might help." Then she leaned forward to smell him and Rory's eyes widened. She was teasing, right? He smiled, a little nervously, though he tried to hide it. He'd started this, he couldn't be the first one to seem uncomfortable. He shrugged, "I dunno. I just grab something that I think smells good at the store." Rory didn't really ever pay attention to things like that, in all honesty.
@tia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online May 5, 2024 13:03:08 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 9, 2019 7:18:21 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 7:18:21 GMT -7
TIA LEANED BACK WHEN SHE REALISED SHE WAS getting a little too comfortable for her taste. She hadn't smelled anything in particular, but she didn't really give herself time. "That's kind of sad," She said bluntly, wrapping her hands around her glass. "My mum always said you should have a signature scent." Penelope Finch had said a lot of things, but most of the time Tia didn't listen. Except for this, she still wore the same vanilla scented perfume she'd been given as a present when she was thirteen.
Realising that she should probably explain, Tia cleared her throat and gestured with one hand as she spoke. "People's brains connect memories with scents." Shrugging her shoulders she felt a little bashful. "That's why I can't stand the smell of toffee anymore." Licking her lips, she didn't say anything more revealing, other than, "Cause it reminds me of someone." Edrik's favourite pudding had always been sticky toffee, and ever since he'd left the stupid thing always reminded her of him. She didn't like that one bit.
"This has been... fun," Tia said, realising after she said it that it was true. "But, I think I'm gonna go." She pushed her drink away and began wrestling with her coat, which she'd slung on the back of her stool. She was only a little buzzed now. "It's just-" She eventually managed to get both arms in to her jacket and pulled it up over her shoulders as she stood up. "You're a great mentor and stuff, but-" She didn't know what to say, her mouth a little dry and head a little fuzzy. "I don't want to accidentally cross a line." It was what she had been thinking deep down. All the laughing and joking was making her forget that they were colleagues, not friends. "I'll see you at work, Rory." She pressed a thin smile on her face and paid her bill, turning to leave.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
last online May 5, 2024 13:03:08 GMT -7
|
|
|
Feb 12, 2019 8:42:57 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 8:42:57 GMT -7
Tia said that it was sad he didn't have a particular cologne and Rory shrugged a little. He'd never really thought about it before, but maybe she did have a point. It was always nice to be able to connect someone with a particular scent, he thought. She went on to explain the same thing he was thinking and Rory smiled. "What kind do you usually use?" he asked, mostly to try and distract her from the sort of sadness that seemed to come over her now as she explained a little more.
He nodded when Tia said that she'd had fun with him, before saying she was going to leave. "It was fun. Thanks for letting me join you," Rory told her with a bit of a smile. She explained a bit more, saying he was a great mentor, and she didn't want to cross a line. "No worries Tia. Have a good night," Rory encouraged, nodding so she would know he wasn't offended that she was about to leave. "See you soon," he agreed, turning back to his drink. If nothing else, she'd given him quite a few things to think about, which he was grateful for.
@tia (you end? or leave it here)
|
|
|
|