Dani: Hey girl, it has been way too long since I've gotten to hang out with your pretty face. Whaddaya say? Would you like to grab a cup with me whenever we get the chance?
Time Frame → Monday, Sept. 7th, 2015. Lunch/Break time
Location → Cheltenham Academy, Art wing/Teacher lounge
General Notes → Brittany decides to visit the art wing out of curiosity when someone familiar bumps into her. No trigger warnings besides cute overload.
Dani let out a soft sigh as she looked at her screen. Tabs were splayed across the screen, displaying different sites with all kinds of teaching information she needed to get down, and fast. So far, she was floating above water, but one little slip could destroy the fragile foundation of what she had built. That plus her own personal feelings made it so any information was now slipping through her mind and she was hardly retaining. Grabbing her water bottle, she unscrewed the cap and took a swig; letting the tasteless liquid wash over her tongue and minimally help. Placing her hand upon the back, she closed it up and decided that a walk would help. There was still time for a quick snack before her next class. Packing away the laptop, she closed up her office and took a step outside her office. Distracted by her own thoughts, she had been looking down, wresting with her thoughts as she wandered. A little too late, she had perceived a body in front of her, unable to stop before her body collided against the other. "I am so sorry," she quickly apologized, her features softening into a remorseful expression.
Brittany had been wandering the hallway in the art wing, taking a look at some of the student projects on display. She didn't know many of the students by name, since usually the only ones she interacted with on a daily basis were the ones who came to see her for their daily medications or for chronic "headaches" or "fatigue" to get out of class. She recognized the names of a few of the artists, but not many. Still, she was impressed by the amount of work the students had accomplished so far this year and over the summer. She had been bored in her office, not having anything pressing to deal with except some paperwork. So, she decided to take a look. When someone slammed into her side, she looked over. Her face softened when she saw Dani. "Oh, don't worry about it," Brittany said with a smile. "I'm just glad it was you and not a student. I know it's bad, but I just hate making small talk with them outside of my office sometimes."
Dani returned the polite smile. "At least I bumped into you, huh? No injuries, doc, thankfully but who better?" Poking her tongue between her teeth, she relaxed as the joke left; somehow, it made her feel better. Of course, Brittany's attitude helped too. With a thoughtful hum, she gave a small shrug, showing that it was okay. "Ask a younger me, I might have agreed. But nah, I can understand that." Glancing at the piece that the nurse had been admiring before she had been interrupted, Dani gave a nod of approval. It wasn't one she had collected, but she had seen it around and admired the work; how each color was carefully placed across the medium. Other paintings hung near it, some she was proud to have put up herself so far in the show case. Next to them joined works from the students in photography and those in clothing. "That one was excellent, honestly. The way they used the paints and created light...not my class, but I can't imagine they didn't hit each mark," Dani mused.
Brittany smiled thoughtfully at the painting. She didn't know much about art at all, but she could appreciate it. "Is it hard?" She asked. "To grade art? Since it's something that's so personal?" She looked at the teacher as she waited for an answer. Dani was cute. She had kind of a baby face, but that was endearing. It made her seem genuine. People said the same thing about Brittany. They had said it was why she did well in her... previous job for so long. People just trusted that she was genuine. Dani seemed to be similar. Of course she wasn't suggesting Dani do porn or anything. Just that she was cute and seemed genuine.
Dani took a second, admiring the other girl's thoughtfulness towards art. "A little. And that is definitely the hardest part. I mean, how can you grade something that comes from someone's soul? Especially if it's how you viewed the assignment. But, you know, it's still great. Sometimes, you just have to look from a different perspective for grading these..." Looking at the art, she smiled at the case, wanted to lift a hand to it as if it would help her understand the work of art more. Refraining from the action, she just took one last glance before looking at Brittany. Something about the girl seemed kind; her crystal blue eyes blazing with kindness. Something about the other put her at ease.
Brittany: nodded in understanding. "I can respect that. It seems like a lot of pressure. I think if I was a teacher, I'd be an easy one. I feel bad giving people bad news so I feel like I'd pass everyone. It's probably for the best that I'm not. I don't think I'd be a very good one." She'd never even considered it, actually. The closest she wanted to be to a teacher was what she currently was. She loved her job, but she wasn't sure if she'd like teaching. "Did I interrupt something? I mean, were you rushing off somewhere before our collision?"
Dani hummed softly for a moment as she thought up her answer. "A bit. Not terribly so. Giving bad news isn't as terrible as you would think. It sucks, yeah. But...you just...get through. I suppose you never know. I never thought I could be either," she said, playfully winking, a soft chuckle falling from her lips. "You might be though. Never know until you try, right?" Although she had, it was in no way a bad thing and Dani didn't "No, no. It's okay. I was just on my way to get a snack, honestly."
Brittany gestured to the empty hallway. "Don't let me stop you. I'll come with you, if you don't mind. And if you think you can stay in your lane," she teased with a small laugh. "Wouldn't want another accident."
Dani hadn't been expecting to have company, yet the opportunity was not unwanted. "Not at all, please do. We wouldn't, you're right. No worries, I think I know my lane now" Dani giggled, nodding towards where the lounge awaited. "How about you first? I ran into you, it only seems fair," she offered.
Brittany laughed. "Sure," she nodded and headed toward the lounge. "I'm almost never on this side of the building. It's pretty cool, actually." Brittany tended to stay in her area of the school. She didn't have much reason to be out and about. "I'm really glad I wandered over here, though. I really could use some coffee." She walked into the quiet lounge. For a school this fancy, they probably should have better coffee, but at least the single-serve K-cups guaranteed it would be hot.
Dani grinned. "I'm glad you enjoy it. It really is," she knew she was biased but it still didn't hold her opinion back. "Yeah, that stuff is a lifesaver, isn't it?" Over the in corner rested a vending machine. Placing in the change, Dani got herself the bag of pretzels, heading back over to make herself a cup of coffee. It wasn't her absolute favorite, but it was still enjoyable. "That display...it'll change every now and then. I can always give you a head's up so you can check it out if you like it."
Brittany smiled as she made her coffee. "I'd like that," she said. "I like the idea of getting to know some of the kids outside of their trips to my office, you know? I don't really get to see them other than when they're hurt or sick. Or faking hurt or sick, at least. And so I don't really feel like I know any of them." She shrugged. It was okay. But Dani and the other teachers made connections to students all the time. The most Brittany did was help with a headache. "Plus if you'll be around, it maybe wouldn't be, like, the worst thing to visit more often." Brittany smiled. Like she thought before, Dani was cute. And she was a little alternative in a way that Brittany thought might indicate she'd be interested in girls. Not that she was trying to pick her up in the teachers lounge or anything. But it didn't hurt to flirt a little bit.
Dani looked up, listening as Brittany spoke of the children. She had honestly never thought of a nurse's job in such a way before; never realized just how little they got to interact or how that made them feel. Until now, at least. "Then you found the right place. And I'm sure there are other ways as well that you'll find. Besides, you see them at their worst; you're definitely important to them, maybe even more than they know" her lips were turned in a polite smile, full of sincerity. It was honestly meant. "I would enjoy if you did. You're lovely. It'd be nice to see you around," Dani gave a knowing look, a hint of a smirk upon her lips. Assuming was not something Dani often engaged in, but between the evident flirt and a faint gleam she was certain was twinkling in the other's eye.
Brittany grinned brightly. "Well, if a cute girl likes you thinks I'm lovely, then I guess I can't disappoint. It would just be rude." Brittany looked down and her coffee. She used to be great at flirting. She figured she might be out of practice. It was still just as fun as she remembered. It wasn't like she didn't ever do it these days. She did. She went on dates here and there. But since starting her new career, she had been less excited to get out there. But things like this, like flirting with a cute girl at work over some mediocre coffee made it exciting again.
Dani 's typical playful side couldn't resist taking the bait; a whimsical expression playing about her features as she knew she hadn't misread the situation. "I gotta be completely honest here...it would be very rude if someone attractive as yourself disappointed. Survivable. Maybe a little predictable. But still totally upsetting," she chuckled, perhaps more than she meant to. Something about laughing always managed to ebb away the stress, though. That and flirting around helped a bit too in it's own way.
Brittany cleared her throat, still smiling brightly. "So," she said, walking over to sit at one of the tables in the lounge. The chairs weren't all that uncomfortable. It was actually kind of nice. "What do you do when you're not here flirting with school nurses?" She asked, smirking over her cup of coffee.
Dani laughed softly, looking over her own, leaning back as she took a sip. "I've been exploring the city, paint back at my crib, listen to music, gym...the usual," she replied once the liquid was swallowed back. "How about yourself when you're not flirting around with art teachers," she returned the grin, taking another sip as she waited.
Brittany smirked. "Well, other that being predictably disappointing," she said, not wanting Dani to think she didn't hear her teasing earlier, "I don't do all that much. I was a dancer when I was younger. I do that as much as I can," she shrugged. She didn't do it as much as she liked. Sometimes it depressed her that she couldn't dance the way she used to. But she still loved it. "I also watch a lot of trashy TV."
Dani grinned at the comment, her earlier comment brought back between them. "Au contraire. That doesn't sound disappointing at all. Dancing is great and...okay, it so depends on what show we're talking about here with trashy TV, but usually that's pretty cool too" Dani commented, a halfway mix between sincerity and teasing as evidenced by her playful smile. She liked dancing around, even if it was more for fun than professionally, and television was a nice escape at the end of the day whenever it had been just a little too long.
Brittany laughed. "Oh, I watch it all. From those dumb reenactment shows on TLC to the Real Housewives of Wherever, I'm into it." She shrugged. "I don't do it as much as I like to. I, uh, was hurt. When I was in high school. It's not quite the same as it used to be. But it's still a lot of fun," she confessed.
Dani found herself chuckling along with the nurse. "Alright, that's cool," Dani chuckled, nodding in sincerity. "Oh..." her smile faded as she heard about the injury. "I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure you're still amazing though. Maybe I can see some of those moves someday, then." She had hardly realized the flirtatiousness of the line until after it had left her lips. A pink shade crossing her cheeks, but still smiling.
Brittany shook her head. "Oh," she said. "It's totally fine now. It messed me up for a little while but everything's a-okay now. Hardly affect my moves at all." She smiled brightly, her eyes lighting up and on the verge of giggles. "You let me know the time and place and maybe I'll show you sometime."
Dani felt her lips curl back into a smile. "Good to hear. I'm glad you still have it and that it didn't stop you." She gave an admiring look towards the other before softly adding; "Am I allowed to ask what happened?" Grinning, she brightly responded, eager to hang out more with this girl. "Besides Tuesdays, I'm free. Whenever works for you then. If you want, would Thursday works?" her brown eyes were lit up with excitement which she saw reciprocated in the others.
Brittany nodded. She didn't talk about her injury a lot, but it wasn't like it was painful subject. "I was a cheerleader," Brittany explained with a small smile. "Acrobatics and stuff, you know? Well, I took a bad tumble and my leg got really messed up. Things were just disconnected and stretched in ways they shouldn't have been. So that was the end of that." She shrugged. "Thursday would be lovely," she smiled, using Dani's word from earlier.
Dani listened intently to Brittany's story, her curiosity sated on what could have potentially hindered this girl's dancing. "Esh. That sucks so badly...look at today though, huh? Better and still dancing." She glanced back up, brown momentarily meeting blue. "Lovely," she repeated. "Maybe that's our word or something," Dani spouted out before much thought.
Brittany shrugged. "Yeah, it's not a huge loss for me. Not anymore. Actually, because I was in and out of doctors offices so much during that time, it's what made me want to become a nurse." She was thankful for her accident in a weird way. Sure, sometimes she thought maybe she could have gone on to a career in dance, but how long could that have lasted? This was a good job that she enjoyed, and she felt good about the work she did. When Dani spoke again, Brittany smiled. "It's a good word," she agreed. She had some minor butterflies in her stomach and she liked it.
Dani felt her smile grow, even if just a little, as she took in the words, finding the girl so strong. "Everything happens for a reason, right? Not that it makes it any better, but something good came out of it at least. Sometimes you need something like that to just inspire you," she lamented, thinking back to her own past. She quickly brought herself to reality, pushing those backs (the entire reason of leaving her office after all) as she focus on the girl in front. "I agree..." the words were barely above a whispered tone, but with only them in the room, she knew the other would hear.
Brittany smiled softly. "That's a good way to put it. I'm not sorry it happened." She scooted her chair a little closer to the art teacher's. "Or that you bumped into me today." Her tone matched the one Dani was using just a minute ago.
Dani watched as the nurse moved a little closer. Bringing herself up from leaning back, Dani now leaned forward, ever so slightly, her elbows propped on the sides of the chair. "I should be. But I would be lying if I said I were sorry," her eyes, the corners of her mouth slowly tugged in a cockamamie smile.
Brittany returned the smile. "No reason to be sorry," she said. "Not when it led to getting coffee with a pretty girl. I can't complain about that." Her own elbow rested on the arm of her chair closest to Dani's. Her chin rested in her hand.
Dani looked down, feining shyness for only a moment before looking up. "Well, when you almost hurt such a gorgeous girl, you kind of feel bad," she chuckled, biting on her lower lip for a second before a casual grin rested upon her mouth.
Brittany laughed. "You're pretty smooth, you know that?” Brittany smirked and pushed her hand against Dani's shoulder
Dani 's confidence glinted in her eyes. "I've heard that around. You're slick yourself." Looking down, a lighthearted chuckle fell through her lips before she let a hand fall to rest on her knee.
Brittany thought about how nice this was. Dani was sweet and she was cute. And this was just a really nice, unexpected afternoon so far. "I'm just telling you the truth," she said with a smirk. "I don't think that makes me slick."
Dani felt the day begin to lift; all prior thoughts were long gone, melted back into the past. Any negativity had long sifted away. "Ah, is that how it is," she let out a small round of laughter, the aroma of coffee adding a little something more to the atmosphere. "What if I'm just telling the truth as well, though? Still smooth"
Brittany laughed again. "Yeah, I think you know exactly what you're doing," she smiled. "I think you know exactly how cute and charming you are."
Dani put her hands up in a playful gesture. "I suppose I've heard it quite often to figure it's true. Guilty as charged. Still, hearing it is nice. And you are quite adorable and suave, yourself. I need to keep my game up," she winked, flashing a smile that hadn't quite left her face.
Brittany used one of her hands to poke at Dani's raised palm. "I know what you mean. You're keeping me on my toes. I like it," Brittany confessed.
Dani giggled at the touch, eventually reaching out to lightly tap her own finger against Brittany's hand. "You're having the same effect, I have to say. Same," she boldly spoke her own admission.
Brittany ran her finger down Dani's palm once more before sitting back. "Cool," she said, a little lamely. She felt happy, but a little nervous, not knowing exactly what to say to the other woman.
Dani felt a smug look pass over her face at the other girl's wordlessness. "Very," she said, bemusement heavy within her tone. Her eyes briefly glanced up to catch the clock; there was still a good amount of time until she needed to be back. Not wanting to end their conversation, Dani came up with an idea; they had been talking about hanging out, so she figured why not make it official. "What I think would also be cool is if you came over sometime. Whenever you're free. I can show you some art, you can show me some moves, if you'd like," she offered, now leaning back herself, not wanting to overstep any boundaries.
Brittany smiled at the offer. "I would like that a lot." They had talked about doing something on Thursday. This would be a fun thing to do then. She liked the light touches. It wasn't something she was used to lately. Of course, girls were always softer and quieter and more subtle. Brittany liked that. She liked Dani.
Dani 's joy at the offer shone through her dark irises. "Thursday then. And here..." Hunching back towards the table, she snatched a napkin, sliding the soft fabric towards her. From the table, she picked out a pen, clicking the top to reveal the tip. Carefully, she etched her number onto the thin paper. Once she was done, she slid it across the table to Brittany, letting her fingers there for a moment. "For you. This way you can keep in touch until then. And after, of course."
Brittany smiled at the gesture. "Here," she said, pulling out her phone. She typed in Dani's number and sent a text that read "I'm sitting in the teacher's lounge with a cutie. Jealous? " she laughed at herself and then put her phone down. "Now you have mine too."
Dani looked down as her phone vibrated, the words written upon the screen causing her to giggle. Typing away, the responded. "Depends. Just how cute is this teacher? I might have to be if I have any competition " A silly grin was placed upon her lips as she hit send. "Awesome because it might be a crime if I went back to classes without it. You're way too wonderful," there was no flirtatiousness meant, only complimenting, as the words flitted into the air.
Brittany giggled and wrote back a message. "Nah. Look up though." Brittany waited until Dani read and reacted to the message before leaning in and kissing her cheek quickly.
Dani glanced down, looking up to met with a kiss on the side of her face. Surprise sparked as her mouth parted into a small 'o' shape, soon closing her lips as she looked back over to the nurse. Beneath the touch of Brittany's soft lips, she felt her own warm up, crimson flashing across her cheeks as she smiled at the other girl, feigning shyness. "I'm hoping that isn't a one time thing," she boldly teased.
Brittany blushed a bit. "I'm not planning on it only being a one time thing," she laughed. Dani was so different from other people she'd been around lately. It was refreshing. And she definitely wouldn't mind kissing her cheek (or more) again.
Dani giggled; the other girl was entirely too adorable and it was catching on. "Cute," she spoke, barely above a whisper, her eyes meeting an ocean of blue. Increasing her volume back it's normal octave, Dani spoke up once again; "We can totally have all we want on Thursday then."
Brittany grinned brightly. "You better get your cheeks ready, then. Some kisses might happen to end up on them." She definitely hadn't expected this when she walked down to the art wing, but she was so glad it did.
Dani bit back a remark on how perhaps the cheeks wouldn't be only thing receiving kisses. Not that it had stopped her before, but this hardly seemed to be the place. They had been lucky enough no coworker or student had seen their overly-friendly exchanges earlier. "They will be, without a doubt. It'll be enough that you're there but...I can't lie, I'm also a little greedy and hoping for that."
Brittany giggled. "I think being a little greedy is okay in this situation." She brushed some of her own hair back behind her ear. "At least, I hope so. Because I am too."
Dani 's smile turned back into it's grin, feeling like a balloon had filled her chest by this point; her heart lighter from the spontaneous run-in with the nurse (literally). "You too? If we both agree, then I mean, I don't think it can be too wrong. Right?"
Brittany nodded. "Sounds right to me," she agreed. Looking at the time, Brittany realized they both should be getting back. "Well, Miss Harper, will you let me walk you back to your class?"
Dani quickly looked at the clock at the reminder, her eyes widening ever so slightly at the time. She had a few minutes, but it had gone completely unnoticed and she realized how easily she had forgotten. "I couldn't think of anything that sounds more enjoyable right now, Miss Pierce. As long as you're offering, the company would be great." Smiling, she got up from her seat.
Brittany stood up and waited for Dani to walk with her out of the lounge. It had been an unexpected but enjoyable part of the afternoon, and now Brittany was looking forward to Thursday more than ever.
Sade missed Melbourne, dear God did she miss that place, but at the same time she had been bored there, too. Not that there wasn’t anything to do here, no, no, there was so much to do that there wasn’t really a chance to be bored. Well…for a while it had been busy. Then after a while it had kind of lost its flare, but at least here there was more chance to see more action.
Melbourne had been good to Miss Marroy, do not believe her otherwise, there had been plenty of things to happen for her while she was there. It was just that it hadn’t been her preference of where to be. Then she had been put on a boat and sent out to a new place, and a better place, in her mind. Yes, it was hot. So hot. Heat didn’t bother Sade, she was from Louisiana where the summers were hot as hell and the winters were just as hot. The stickiness didn’t bother Sade either, again, Louisiana. The problem was that Sade didn’t like not having a way to escape the heat, but she trudged through it.
Now she was doing anything from small tasks about the camp to assisting with the injured. Now that was what she was really living for, to see the wounds and how it was all going on the front lines. The stories the men spoke – their families back home, the stories of what was going on upfront, how many Japs they had killed. It all fascinated the young brunette and though she did her job she couldn’t help but feel pulled towards speaking to any and every man she could.
The one good thing about Sade was that even though she enjoyed talking to them she wasn’t about to start taking shit from them. There were enough active duty boys running around this camp that she didn’t even have to go looking if she really wanted. That’s not what she wanted though, and so she had learned to put a stop to any advances very quickly and to make sure the men knew their places rather quickly. They could speak, yes, but she was not interested in them sexually. Especially when she worked long hours and was completely beat and attempting to help win a war, that was the woman Sade was. Not that there were women who weren’t that way, but some had other agendas and it was bizarre to her. The nerve of some people these days.
Sade sighed and ran a hand over her face needing to take a deep breath and so she left the current tent and shaded her eyes from the sun which was sudden and blinding, looking about, taking it all in simply. There wasn’t much she hadn’t seen here, but with the sun in the sky and having spent all day looking over patients it was a lovely change.
Liesel sat alone on the steps out the front of her house, visions of bread and pies and oranges filling her mind. Since Max had come to hide with the Hubermann's, food was lacking and because she was just a small girl, she got the least amount of food. But even small girls need more food than what Liesel was getting.
Tired, and with a constant rumbling in her belly, Liesel enviously watched a woman walk past with what looked like sweets in her hand, and imagined what it would be like to have something as wonderful as candy melt on her tongue.
[ooc] "This is Three Dog AROOO and you're listening to Galaxy News Radio! Bringing you the truth, no matter how bad it hurts." no but truthsies, I love Fallout 3 and New Vegas. fallout ftw!
/faints/ Fallout 3 is probably one of my absolutely favourite games! I was hoping someone in this group was a Fallout fan besides me and Snafu's mun! I guess that maaybe you'd be interested in being in the AU?
