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[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

You could try to be nicer...

Comments

He's new, please pardon shakiness.

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

Don't need to. They're not the ones who matter, and those who do know me.

only if you'll do the same~

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

How d'you know if they matter or not, Bren? [ Emily huffs, picking at her sleeve because he has bruises on his face again and she can't stand to look at them. ] You don't even know them!

Yay!

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

They can be depended on to be people, always wanting something. Looking out for themselves. *A frown makes it's way across his face.* Once you learn their game, they're not much different.

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

[ Behind the school, where the cafeteria fans whirr and the the sounds of the highway-- main artery in and out of this godforsaken little town-- aren't very far off, its like living in a world all their own. Em thinks this is why Brendan likes it back here, away from the cliques and the jocks and even away from Brain; away from people. Not everyone is as rotten as Brendan wants to think, but he's smart and smart people always think that makes them right.

Hoisting herself up on the raised ledge that's supposed to act as a gate but only ever seems like a challenge, Emily gives him an annoyed look, her feet dangling. ]

We're all people, that's kind of the point. The fun is in playing the game.

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

*Too many expectations, too many let-downs. Only so many burns before you start avoiding the fire. Brendan leans against the brick wall beside her.*

Even when the odds are rigged? Knowing the play is one thing, getting out ahead is another. I don't want to end up counting losses.

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

[ She's sure Brendan knows lots of plays, he was in drama with Kara when he was a freshman, after all. Not that he stayed there long or talks much about it now. Avoiding the subject is something of an area of expertise for Brendan, she thinks.

Nudging his knee with her foot, Emily can't help but sound a bit rueful when she says, ] Like you wouldn't if you could. You count losses just to remind yourself you know how.

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

*Oh Kara was good at acting. Being played for a fool was humiliating. The things he did for her... better not to think about it.*

Maybe. *He gives Em a small smile.* But I choose not to.

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

You sure about that? [ When he smiles, his dimples show up and Emily has never not been fascinated with them. She lean in and presses the pad of her finger to one, nice to see you again, it's been a while. Theoretically, she knows that drawing attention to them is the worst possible thing she could do, but she does it anyway. She likes them, and Brendan can't stop her. ]

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

*It's Em. He'll let her get away with anything. After keeping up appearances. Schools his face into a more passive expression, raising an eyebrow as if asking 'Really?'*

Yep. As sure as the sun coming up tomorrow.

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

You never know with the weather these days. [ Even though his dimple is gone, Em's still got a finger pressed lightly to his face, tracing its way down the line of his jaw as if searching for it. Wondering where that little part of him goes when he hides it away. ]

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

*He reaches up with his hands, so that they're over hers. He'll lace his fingers in with hers too, if she lets him.*

There's always another day. *Which would sound hopeful, if you didn't actually know him well.*

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

[ Fortunately, though maybe not for him, Emily does know him well-- as well as he'll let anyone know him, and she knows what that tone is to his voice. Weariness. The knowledge that another day will come and be just like the one before it and the one after will be just like today. Or that's how Brendan makes it seem.

Emily twines their fingers together the way most girls show off their manicures, spreading her fingers wide to have his slip down into the v's created at each juncture, tentatively curling her fingers over his slightly raw knuckles- trying not to hurt. ]

They might get easier if you played a little nicer.

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

*She never does. Hurt him that is.*

I'm fine with how things are. They work. *And he isn't sure he wants to interact with more people. To introduce that element of uncertainty back into his life.*

He's new, please pardon shakiness.

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

Don't need to. They're not the ones who matter, and those who do know me.

only if you'll do the same~

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

How d'you know if they matter or not, Bren? [ Emily huffs, picking at her sleeve because he has bruises on his face again and she can't stand to look at them. ] You don't even know them!

Yay!

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

They can be depended on to be people, always wanting something. Looking out for themselves. *A frown makes it's way across his face.* Once you learn their game, they're not much different.

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

[ Behind the school, where the cafeteria fans whirr and the the sounds of the highway-- main artery in and out of this godforsaken little town-- aren't very far off, its like living in a world all their own. Em thinks this is why Brendan likes it back here, away from the cliques and the jocks and even away from Brain; away from people. Not everyone is as rotten as Brendan wants to think, but he's smart and smart people always think that makes them right.

Hoisting herself up on the raised ledge that's supposed to act as a gate but only ever seems like a challenge, Emily gives him an annoyed look, her feet dangling. ]

We're all people, that's kind of the point. The fun is in playing the game.

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

*Too many expectations, too many let-downs. Only so many burns before you start avoiding the fire. Brendan leans against the brick wall beside her.*

Even when the odds are rigged? Knowing the play is one thing, getting out ahead is another. I don't want to end up counting losses.

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

[ She's sure Brendan knows lots of plays, he was in drama with Kara when he was a freshman, after all. Not that he stayed there long or talks much about it now. Avoiding the subject is something of an area of expertise for Brendan, she thinks.

Nudging his knee with her foot, Emily can't help but sound a bit rueful when she says, ] Like you wouldn't if you could. You count losses just to remind yourself you know how.

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

*Oh Kara was good at acting. Being played for a fool was humiliating. The things he did for her... better not to think about it.*

Maybe. *He gives Em a small smile.* But I choose not to.

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

You sure about that? [ When he smiles, his dimples show up and Emily has never not been fascinated with them. She lean in and presses the pad of her finger to one, nice to see you again, it's been a while. Theoretically, she knows that drawing attention to them is the worst possible thing she could do, but she does it anyway. She likes them, and Brendan can't stop her. ]

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

*It's Em. He'll let her get away with anything. After keeping up appearances. Schools his face into a more passive expression, raising an eyebrow as if asking 'Really?'*

Yep. As sure as the sun coming up tomorrow.

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

You never know with the weather these days. [ Even though his dimple is gone, Em's still got a finger pressed lightly to his face, tracing its way down the line of his jaw as if searching for it. Wondering where that little part of him goes when he hides it away. ]

[one-man-apart.livejournal.com]

*He reaches up with his hands, so that they're over hers. He'll lace his fingers in with hers too, if she lets him.*

There's always another day. *Which would sound hopeful, if you didn't actually know him well.*

[getwithpeople.livejournal.com]

[ Fortunately, though maybe not for him, Emily does know him well-- as well as he'll let anyone know him, and she knows what that tone is to his voice. Weariness. The knowledge that another day will come and be just like the one before it and the one after will be just like today. Or that's how Brendan makes it seem.

Emily twines their fingers together the way most girls show off their manicures, spreading her fingers wide to have his slip down into the v's created at each juncture, tentatively curling her fingers over his slightly raw knuckles- trying not to hurt. ]

They might get easier if you played a little nicer.