Wandering Around Town (Saffron Island)

Title: Wandering Around Town
Description: ci: Bren | iso: Open

Bren Matthews - May 19, 2012 07:41 PM (GMT)

( 'CAUSE EVERY TIME WE TOUCH, )
❝ CAN YOU FEEL MY HEART BEAT FAST? ❞

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It was snowing. The thirteen year old, amber eyed, boy glanced up toward the cloudy
sky and placed his hand out…catching a couple snowflakes. It was now winter in
Saffron Town and it was cold, the ground covered in a white blanket of snow.

Bren shivered lightly and wrapped his arms around himself, feeling quite a chill from
the cool temperature. …He was embarrassed…about what had happened between
him and Joshua.

When he had seen him at his bedroom window…without a shirt on. It had really
embarrassed him, and now he was having a hard time facing his…h-his friend.
It made him feel awkward…and strange…

It wasn’t normal to get embarrassed about stuff like this!

Bren huffed softly to himself and crossed his arms, pouting as he continued to walk
down the streets of Saffron. He actually had…no idea where he was going or what
he was going to do today.

It was cold and snowing…but he was…was trying to cool off!

Things had certainly changed in his life since he had met Joshua…

He didn’t feel like the same person anymore…

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( I WANT THIS TO LAST,)
❝ I GET THIS FEELING ❞

( season ) winter ( outfit ) ~~click!~~ ( time ) late morning ( credits ) ( m u f f i n ) of Caution!

locale-now - May 23, 2012 10:23 PM (GMT)

well the truth is that you are dangerous now
_{( wandering around town )}

This place was a ghost town, and Elsie wasn't quite sure how she felt about it. Normally she was pretty happy to be alone -- because she chose to be alone. But here, she wanted to see people, new people, meet her 'neighbors', whom she would be working for (work being used lightly), the people she'd terrorize and torture until she decided to up and leave again.
Yet no matter where she was, she couldn't find a single person. The streets were empty, the houses seemed shut up usually... she could've gone into businesses, but the whole 'opening-the-door-and-then-having-to-talk' thing seemed all too exhausting. She would much rather just stare the person down outside and state her case non-verbally.

But no one was ever there to stare at, and Elsie was left to stare herself down. What was she even doing anyway? Being cruel, mean... what was all the anger about? Elsie didn't want to be left alone with her thoughts, because they were scary. Too personal for a girl who wanted to keep everyone away.

The alchemist pulled her jacket around her tight as snow began to fall -- her usual 'uniform' didn't really give her much coverage, especially in winter. This was irritating. Everything was irritating. That kid was irritating, the mopey looking one with brown hair and big eyes, what was his problem, anyway? He looked like he was so confused and dizzy he was about to puke, and that scarlet tint to his cheeks wasn't from the cold. Elsie scowled.

Wait, some kid? Grinning, she plodded right up to poor Bren.

"Yo," she started, hands on her hips. "What's that face for, kid?" Elsie asked, slipping a hand off her left hip, she brought it up to her face and flopped it out with a little shrug. "You look like you're about to throw up or somethin'."

so you can cry yourself to sleep!
_{( elsie boucher ) w23 - late morning - bren}

(Sorry it's so short. :/)

Bren Matthews - May 25, 2012 01:19 AM (GMT)

( 'CAUSE EVERY TIME WE TOUCH, )
❝ CAN YOU FEEL MY HEART BEAT FAST? ❞

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Yo, What’s that face for, kid?”

Bren blinked rather roundly, his large eyes immediately lifting up to the woman
who…who was now standing before him. He hadn’t even noticed anyone coming
up—and he was so stupefied that, for a moment, he glanced around a bit
confused and took notice of the empty streets.

“You look like you’re about to throw up or somethin’.” The woman added with a
flip of her hand as she stared down at him rather scrutinizingly.

Bren continued to stare up at her (she was a lot taller than him…), completely
dumbfounded. His face turned a bit red as his eyebrows drew together and he
asked a bit confused; “Am I sick?”

He paused…and realized his mistake…and quickly corrected himself.

“I-I mean—I’m not sick. I’m not going to throw up.”

( ooc: That's fine! No worries, short isn't bad. ^^ Thanks for replying. )

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( I WANT THIS TO LAST,)
❝ I GET THIS FEELING ❞

( season ) winter ( outfit ) ~~click!~~ ( time ) late morning ( credits ) ( m u f f i n ) of Caution!

locale-now - May 25, 2012 02:16 AM (GMT)

well the truth is that you are dangerous now
_{( wandering around town )}

Elsie's conversation partner seemed momentarily paralyzed; or at the least, really shook up. Not that she could blame him though. Now that she got a good look at him -- the messy chestnut hair, huge golden eyes, little curveature of extra baby fat on his cheeks... he couldn't have been any older than maybe fourteen. And that was being generous; any other day, Elsie would've written him off at eight years old and been done with it. She had almost always hated kids, ever since she started traveling with Cordelia. It was scary, how fast you had to grow up when you were sold into slaver-- taken on as an apprentice. You didn't have to worry about school or homework, or being popular in class. Elsie tended to be a bit more preoccupied with where they were going to sleep for the night, and where they'd get ingredients for supper.

Well, better to be an alchemist apprentice rather than any other apprentice. Elsie should've considered herself lucky, but she never did.

Lucky, though -- that's what this kid was. Despite looking absolutely horrified and maybe having some preteen issues to work out, what all did he really need to care for? Homework, friends, a girlfriend or whatever, that was all part of growing up. He was lucky to be able to just wander around on a typical winter day. Elsie could feel her eyes narrowing, the green in her heart taking over. Seriously, jealous of a pipsqueak like this!? her mind echoed, but the feeling held strong. She was jealous, and she crossed her arms over her chest, shifting her weight to one leg.

The boy had answered her by now, as shaky as his expression was. "Oh, good to know," she said sarcastically, but decided to backtrack a bit.
"Sorry, I'm uhh," she sighed, how would she explain this, "I'm having a rough day." uncrossing her arms, she let them dropped to her side, defeatedly. What was she doing, trying to chase off the first sign off life she saw, anyway.
"What I meant to say was, like... err," this being nice stuff was hard, "you look like you're having a rough day, too. Maybe. I don't actually know."

The floundering conversation was reflected in her face. Elsie was terrible with people and her fidgety eyes and growing exasperated expression only lent itself to that fact. She sighed a little, threw her head back; "I'm so bad with people.... I'm Elsie, kid. What's your name? And what's with the long face, seriously."

so you can cry yourself to sleep!
_{( elsie boucher ) w23 - late morning - bren}

Bren Matthews - May 25, 2012 02:53 AM (GMT)

( 'CAUSE EVERY TIME WE TOUCH, )
❝ CAN YOU FEEL MY HEART BEAT FAST? ❞

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Bren continued to stare up at the woman…and wondered why she had thought he
was going to throw up. It actually made him feel a bit self-conscious, and wonder
if he looked really sick when he got all…childish and pouty.

But, that didn’t make much sense! Plus, he was more…more…annoyed…than
anything else! Well, sort of… Stupid Joshua…

“Oh, good to know.” The young woman spoke up again, after only a short pause.
But, now she sounded sarcastic and like she was calling him dumb—and the
thought made him purse his lips and frown at her…in a sulking sort of way.

“Sorry, I’m uhh…I’m having a rough day,” She ended up explaining to him with a
sigh, and then uncrossed her arms to appear less threatening and glowering
and...well, mean.

Bren gulped a little at the thought…and started to feel that same feeling he often
got when it came to socializing. He always felt so awkward and alienated. And
now he felt vulnerable and self-conscious…because he wasn’t even himself.

Or maybe he was himself…bared for the world to see. Because of a certain
stupid… Well, no, he wasn’t a jerk… He hadn’t done anything wrong to him…

“What I meant to say was, like…err, you look like you’re having a rough day, too.
Maybe. I don’t actually know.”

“O-Oh,” Bren managed to get out, but then the woman didn’t seem to be paying
attention to him and seemed to be fidgeting and rambling as she went right on
to introduce herself;

“I’m so bad with people… I’m Elsie, kid. What’s your name? And what’s
with the long face, seriously.”

Bren looked appalled and quickly lifted his hands up to feel his face.

“W-Wha—?” He returned a bit incredulously. “I don’t have a long face and I
don’t look like I’m throwing up! Do you think I’m ugly or something!”

“Well maybe, I think you are trying to imply it!” He went on to tell her in a bit
of a huff and even felt like stamping his foot down on the ground and having
a little hissy fit. But he didn’t because he decided he was going to try and be
mature. But he was tempted!

Why did she keep calling him names and saying that he looked so horrible!

Bren frowned really big as he stared up at her, more self-conscious now than
ever. He had never really thought about his looks but…but he…he didn’t
think he was ugly!

He wasn’t ugly right!

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( I WANT THIS TO LAST,)
❝ I GET THIS FEELING ❞

( season ) winter ( outfit ) ~~click!~~ ( time ) late morning ( credits ) ( m u f f i n ) of Caution!

locale-now - May 25, 2012 03:27 AM (GMT)

well the truth is that you are dangerous now
_{( wandering around town )}

Now it was Elsie's turn to look absolutely shocked and confused, all to the tune of Bren's preteen tantrum that was all adorably misguided. The woman's eyebrow raised -- what? I don't have a long face! Her jaw fell slack. He had to be kidding! Did he think she meant that literally? No one in the world ever meant that literally! It was just a saying, a phrase... this kid lived in the boonies, but country folks loved stupid sayings like that! Elsie was in complete disbelief... had this kid really never heard that phrase?

Maybe Elsie was being too generous with his age, because her only theory was he was too young to actually understand something like that. He continued with another quip about her puking comment -- of course she hadn't meant that literally, either! She had to be in some kind of alternate universe where everyone was made out of gumdrops and was expected to say sugary-sweet things all the time. What the hell was going on here!

When Bren was finished with his hissy fit, Elsie only answered him by letting out a long, drawn-out sigh. It was moments like these she needed a glass of wine and a cigarette. Shaking her head, she put her hands out in front of her as if she were giving up to the police.

"You got me kid," she said, "I really just think you're hideous. Like, straight up the ugliest dude I have ever seen in my entire life." Her voice was dripping with mockery and sarcasm -- she wasn't trying to say that at all! "My entire purpose on this island was to seek you out, tell you you're ugly, and then go on my merry way. Now that my objective is freakin' complete, I can die happy." Elsie shook her head at him -- hopefully he didn't interpret that literally either and get all confused.

"Noooo!" She added just in case,"I don't think you're ugly at all there, pal. 'Long face', it's like a phrase or something, like 'why do you look so glum?' or 'what's bothering you?'... Have you really not ever heard of that? Can we like, start over because this whoooole meeting is just a mess."

so you can cry yourself to sleep!
_{( elsie boucher ) w23 - late morning - bren}

Bren Matthews - May 25, 2012 02:10 PM (GMT)

( 'CAUSE EVERY TIME WE TOUCH, )
❝ CAN YOU FEEL MY HEART BEAT FAST? ❞

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Bren had to take in a deep breath and try to calm himself down. He was upset by
the way he kept being called names. But, he had never been in a situation like
this before and, quite truthfully, he didn’t exactly know what he was supposed to
do! It wasn’t everyday that random adults came to him and started being
really mean.

Usually, they were all very…stiff…and boring. They weren’t fun and they were
really calm. Well, most of them were anyway. He guessed there were some
adults out there who had anger problems and would get mad a lot and yell.

But usually they didn’t call people names and tell them they were ugly!

It was actually a bit disconcerting. It made him feel self-conscious and
upset…to even have to wonder if he was, in fact, ugly. He had never thought
about it before so how was he supposed to know!

“You got me kid,” The woman—what did she say her name was? He couldn’t
remember because he had been so… so mad!—began to remark. “I really
think you’re hideous. Like, straight up the ugliest dude I have ever seen in
my entire life.”

Bren was literally gaping at her now, looking to be…be…outraged!!!

“What!”

“My entire purpose on this island was to seek you out, tell you you’re
ugly, and then go on my merry way. Now that my objective is freakin' complete,
I can die happy.”

Now she was…was… she was being a bitch..!

Bren flushed a little as he used the curse word within his mind…and immediately
felt ashamed. But, at the same time, he was so angry that he…he felt like she
deserved to be called that! Because she was!

“Noooo!” She added just in case, by now, he didn’t understand that she was just
being mean! And a jerk! And Oh my God, he had never met someone who
was so mean!!! “I don’t think you’re ugly at all there, pal. ‘Long face’, it’s
like a phrase or something, like ‘why do you look so glum?’ or ‘what’s bothering
you?’… Have you really not ever heard of that? Can we like, start over because
this whoooole meeting is just a mess.”

……………

“O-Oh…,” Bren responded… “It’s a phrase?”

W-Well…

W-Well now he felt stupid, and…and he had even called her a bad word. The
thought made him flush even more and start fidgeting in his spot.

She was probably getting mad at him because he was saying stupid things and
thinking stupid things. He didn’t know! But, he felt like he should have…

“W-Well… I’m glad I’m not ugly,” He said a bit pathetically, and then blushed…as
he thought about something that…shouldn’t have even been there! Stupid window…

“What did you say your name was again?” He asked her a bit sheepishly.

( ooc: By the way locale, I really like Elsie. XD She really reminds me
of an old character I used to have and used to love to play. She was so fun, too. )

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( I WANT THIS TO LAST,)
❝ I GET THIS FEELING ❞

( season ) winter ( outfit ) ~~click!~~ ( time ) late morning ( credits ) ( m u f f i n ) of Caution!

locale-now - May 25, 2012 08:49 PM (GMT)

well the truth is that you are dangerous now
_{( wandering around town )}

Maybe this kid was in the slow class. Maybe he wasn't even in school at all, not as lucky as Elsie originally thought he was. Because as she went on her mock-tirade, he only grew more and more flustered, more angry. It was like he couldn't detect the viscous amounts of sarcasm in her voice. Elsie was beginning to wonder if maybe she should just go with the whole 'pick-on-the-child' act and stick him in a headlock too, just for good measures. She decided against it.

Despite all odds, and despite how utterly bizarre this all was, Elsie found it a bit funny. Cute even. This kid, whoever he was, had a dopey charming air about him, like the little runt of the litter who was trying to act like top dog. Even the way his face glowed red and his body shook, adorable. Like a little baby who needed guidance. Elsie liked him, whoever he was. Well, time to let him off the hook before he tried to take a swing or something. Elsie could see it now; she was a good half-a-foot taller than him; she'd hold him out from his head as he took swings at the air. Like an old cartoon. So adorable.

Finally, she explained to him that she wasn't serious, and the poor kid's face turned three shades of white. He looked a little mortified, like he felt stupid or something. Well, he probably should have, but Elsie only giggled a little (yes, giggled), hands on her hips again. He muttered about being ugly (or not being ugly), and Elsie grinned at him.

"Nope still ugly," She said playfully, a little wink, but immediately backtracked. This boy wasn't the quickest, she'd have to reiterate, "Nah, you're pretty cute, y'know, for a nine year old or whatever." Her grin was unmistakable. She was only messing with him, but there was still a chance that he wouldn't get it. "I'm sure you're a big hit at all the parties there, bub."

The scarlet finally left his cheeks (there he was again, doing that 'moody-teenager-blushing-for-no-reason' thing) and he asked her for her name.

"Elsie, Elsie Boucher." She sighed a little, all this talking and stuff was really wearing her out. "I'm new here. An alchemist. I'll be working in Saffron for a while," she glanced at him from over her nose; "So get used to the teasing, alright? And what's your name, anyhow?"

so you can cry yourself to sleep!
_{( elsie boucher ) w23 - late morning - bren}

(Thank you! I am a fan of Bren [and Joshua too~]. :] Bren's adorable. A 'little brother i never got to torture' kinda kid.)

Bren Matthews - May 27, 2012 11:07 PM (GMT)

( 'CAUSE EVERY TIME WE TOUCH, )
❝ CAN YOU FEEL MY HEART BEAT FAST? ❞

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The young woman’s demeanor seemed to change, but Bren couldn’t quite put his
finger on what…exactly…was different. Maybe it was the fact that she was
giggling or smiling at him in an almost…nice way.

“Nope still ugly,” She teased him and gave him a wink…and Bren…blushed.
Especially when she went on to tell him that he was cute—for a nine year old—and
that he must have been a big hit at all the parties.

“Elsie, Elsie Boucher,” She finally introduced herself again, and Bren was actually
listening this time.

He felt a lot less hostile or emotional now, mostly because he could see that he had
just…misunderstood. And then, mostly, as well, because she was being nice to him
now and…and it wasn’t so bad when she was being nice…

Elsie went on to explain to him that she was new here and an alchemist.

“I’ll be working in Saffron for a while. So get used to the teasing, alright? And what’s
your name, anyhow?”

“Bren…,” He told her a bit hesitantly. But then he smiled a bit nervously up at her and
decided to hold out his hand and meet her the ‘proper’ way. “I’m thirteen years old,”
He corrected her a bit proudly. “I live with my grandmother.”

…He didn’t know why he was telling her all this! He was blabbering on like a dumbo!

( ooc: Aww, thanks, I'm glad you like him too. And I'm glad
Elsie likes him. xD )

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( I WANT THIS TO LAST,)
❝ I GET THIS FEELING ❞

( season ) winter ( outfit ) ~~click!~~ ( time ) late morning ( credits ) ( m u f f i n ) of Caution!

locale-now - May 28, 2012 09:19 AM (GMT)

well the truth is that you are dangerous now
_{( wandering around town )}

Poor Bren was certainly... bashful; every other word she said was causing the kid to blush, turn red, get upset. This time though, it wasn't so bad. He didn't look about ready to punch her. Elsie wondered what it'd be like to get into a fist fight with Bren; what if this meeting had gone completely awry instead of 'pretty bad but salvageable'? She looked at him -- a sweet little creampuff. She'd pulverize him. Good thing she didn't need to... and what bad P.R. that would've been. Oh yeah I'm new here and I just beat the crap out of a baby.

Bren, He finally told her, bringing her back to reality. He had a cute little nervous smile, and his hand was outstretched; she met it with her own despite reservations about it herself, shook slightly and then was done with it. Elsie had never really been the kind of girl who liked to touch other people; she hated hugs, didn't really like to shake hands. She wasn't the most cuddly in bed and usually punched a guy if he tried to put their arm around her. It was lucky enough that most guys didn't attempt that. Or maybe unlucky. God I lead a sad life, she reminded herself sarcastically.

Bren had corrected her -- he was actually thirteen; well hey, four off wasn't that bad and now that she did look at him he had all the tell-tale signs of a teenager over that of a dejected middle child. "Oh. Sorry for the nine-year-old thing, then," She said, a little awkwardly; she wasn't really that sorry, but he seemed pretty proud to be thirteen. Elsie didn't really remember thirteen much; was she like this kid in that regard? That had only been a year after she had begrudgingly taken up apprenticeship. Things had been so different and strange; yeah, she was kind of like him. Trudging down streets looking a little uncomfortable. It kind of gave her a sense of relief, in a weird way. Yeah, this Bren kid wasn't so bad. She'd stop trying to ruin his day for real now. Jerking her head to the side, she invited Bren to walk with her; or more or less, walked with him. No sense in standing in the middle of the walkway this whole time. Besides, he might've had somewhere to go and she was holding him up.

I live with my grandmother, He told her, and Elsie answered him back with a quick, "Yeah? What's that like?" She was thankful it wasn't a Yeah, where's your damn parents? or, Old people are freakin' stupid. -- with how sensitive he seemed to be, this seemed like a better choice, even though it was kind of loaded in it's own way. If he lived with his grandma, that meant something weird was going on at home; Elsie remembered having to explain Cordelia all the time to people: No, she's not my sister, No, she's not my mom, I don't know what I'm doing here, save me... that last one usually caused a lot of trouble, more than it was worth; she dropped it after a few years. Regardless, at least Bren had had a home. She wondered what it'd be like to have grown up with a 'normal' home life, as abnormal as it could be.

[color=#c19bad]so you can cry yourself to sleep!
_{( elsie boucher ) w23 - late morning - bren}

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