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Post by Eric Ludington on Oct 18, 2010 21:12:30 GMT 10
Eric sat peacefully on the second bench from the top of the school bleachers, getting wet due to some evening drizzle. His bag rested between his legs and a battered old copy of a collection of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. He pushed his dark brown reading glasses further up as he moved onto reading Masque of the Red death, having just finished The fall of the house of Usher. The fact that the already browning pages of his book were being slowly soaked didn't seem to bother Eric. He had once dropped the same copy in the bath and twice spilt tea on it and the book at survived all three brushes with total annihilation. Simply putting it over a radiator in his dorm would solve the damp and the old book would trundle on like a rickety old mine car for most likely eternity.
Yes, to Eric the book seemed indestructible and determined to survive. It reminded him of his grandmother whom, despite being well past eighty, didn't look a day over sixty. For some time the other members of the Ludington family had mused themselves with the idea that she, like Dorian Grey, had a portrait in her attic. At the age of nine Eric had attempted to search for such a portrait but alas only found, dust, bats, and a collection of old travelling cases (several of which being the cases he had used to store his stuff for school this year).
He sniffed from a touch of hay fever and wondered to himself why it was that people hated the rain so much. Ever since he was a child he had loved spending time outside during rain storms, but since having come out here to read he hadn't seen a sole. That was the idea, no one likes to go out in the rain and so if he wanted time alone to read out in the rain seemed the most logical and perfect place to be.
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Post by Basha Falstone on Oct 20, 2010 3:10:09 GMT 10
It was raining as Bea walked slowly in it. Rain like this wasn’t a big deal to her. New York rain tended to be cold and bitter. This was closer to walking in a light shower and it actually felt kind of nice. She made her away across the football field, her quest to search the place out, so, she would know where everything else had been met with the rain but she wasn’t going to let the stop her.
Her phone rang and the girl was walking past the bleachers anyway so she stopped near them but the signal was really bad. ”Let me call you back.” She said, hoping the person on the other end would be able to hear her. Phone opened so she could see the bars, she started going up the bleachers, figuring the signal might be better the closer she got to the top. She got halfway up before getting two bars, and was nearing the top when she got five, that was good.
Bea moved way from the stairs and towards the benches, not noticing the person sitting not to far away from her. She opened up the phone and started dialing, the other person picked up. ”Hey…. Yeah, everything’s fine. …. Oh, the school is great…. I know…. I know, I’ll call her soon. I promise…. No, I doing all right with it….Okay love you too. Bye.” Bea wasn’t surprised at all that the woman called to check up on her.
The rain seemed to be letting up and Bea stayed there for a moment before turning to go. It was then she noticed someone near by. ”Oh, I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t disturb you.” She commented noticing it looked like he was trying to read. She was a New Yorker so someone reading in the rain didn’t really phase her all that much.
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Post by Eric Ludington on Oct 21, 2010 6:28:50 GMT 10
Eric frowned a little when a fellow student approached, chatting on a phone, he had always found it difficult to concentrate on reading when others were talking nearby which had been his main reason for going out in the rain. Fortunately her conversation was brief. Afterwards she apologised for the disturbance so Eric decided to be polite and said, "It's alright, no harm done".
He then returned to his book, it was a particularly good part of the story, where the mysterious guest dressed in a burial shroud appeared at the prince's party. The imagery Eric's imagination conjured up for the figure had always given him shivers since he was a child. Still the ghost from Whistle and I'll come to you had to be the scariest manifestation his imagination pictured. If his mind were a painter it would be his Mona Lisa as to this day he occasionally had a nightmare about it. The credit was still due to M. R. James but Eric always felt books, and particularly descriptions were always dependent upon the imagination and so a ghost story would be utterly pointless for someone without imagination.
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Post by Basha Falstone on Oct 22, 2010 12:30:16 GMT 10
Bea smiled at him with a brief nod, glad he wasn’t upset over her interruption. She turned to start to walk back down the bleacher and leave the boy in peace, so he could finish his reading. Though, she was curious about what he was reading, she got the feeling he was trying to be alone and so leaving him to it would be best.
Though, what she hadn’t counted on was the rain had made the stairway on the bleachers a little slippery. While Bea had no problems on the way up, the way down proved to be more treacherous. Slip, fall.. She had fallen right down on the metal and gone down five levels of bleachers in the process. She tried to move but a pain in her ankle shot though her. ”Ouch!” She hissed
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Post by Eric Ludington on Oct 23, 2010 10:01:36 GMT 10
The girl left, but just as Eric was getting back into his book there was a sudden thump. As if something had landed on a hard surface like a pathway or some stairs. Eric raised an eyebrow and pricked his ears up, trying to scan for any further sounds of objects falling. Not taking his eyes off the soggy page. Having failed to detect anything Eric shrugged the sound off and went back to reading. The figure in the burial shroud was making his way through the various rooms of the party by this point, Eric already knew the plot having read the book nine times previously, but he still felt a tingle of excitement when the prince confronted the spectre.
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Post by Basha Falstone on Oct 25, 2010 13:23:11 GMT 10
Bea glanced upward to see if the boy had heard her. Well, either he hadn't or was ignoring her. She had bigger problems than that at the moment. She sighed and tried, as illogical as it might have been, to try to stand up but her ankle would take any weight and she collapsed with a *thud* back onto to stairs.
She glanced around trying to see if anyone else was around to help her but it was just her and the boy apparently. Bea looked down and noticed that her phone had fallen though one of the opens to the ground. Oh, this was just great.
She gave up and turned her head towards the boy... it was him or no one. "Excuse me." She said, loud enough so he would hear her.
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Post by Eric Ludington on Oct 26, 2010 6:27:52 GMT 10
Eric snapped his book shut when he heard the girl call out. He glanced down to see what was the matter. Raising one eyebrow, he casually placed his book in his bag and leisurely made his way down to where she was laying.
"Good Morning" He said, the contrast between his English accent and her American one being particularly clear, "What happened to you?”
It was a pointless question since it was quite clear she slipped on the wet steps, but Eric felt the need to ask anyway in case it was actually some random health complaint which had caused her to trip.
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Post by Basha Falstone on Oct 26, 2010 9:14:13 GMT 10
Bea felt a bit clumsy at this point but being Bea simply carried on. Her ankle hurt but she was calm, maybe it was simply the New Yorker in her coming out. "I slipped on the steps. I think I've injured my ankle I can't seem to stand on it." Her phone was still lying on the ground below but that was the least of her worries at the moment.
She figured actually asking for his help, was implied so repeating it seemed to not be necessary. Right then her cell rang which shocked her because she thought for sure the phone had been broken. Glancing downward she shook her head and looked back towards him. ”Well, I guess my phone still works.”
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Post by Eric Ludington on Oct 26, 2010 9:31:34 GMT 10
Eric assumed she had twisted it, having twisted one of his own in a similar circumstance. He glanced down at the phone that was now ringing. "I'll just go retrieve that for you" he said as he started making his way steadily but at quick pace to the bottom of the bleachers and round the back.
He returned after about five minutes and helped the girl onto one of the bench like seats; the task was rather easy since the girl proved quite light to Eric. Having removed her from the floor he proceeded to offer her the phone he had just collected. "Here, do you need any more help?" he asked awkwardly, Eric had never been sure of how to talk to females, "I could fetch a school nurse or something if you require".
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Post by Basha Falstone on Oct 26, 2010 23:02:03 GMT 10
Bea thanked him for his help, once he got her seated and took the phone back from him. She inspected her cell but it actually seemed to have come out of the fall unscathed. The music had since stopped playing from it but the girl wasn’t really thinking about it. Besides, the person probably either left a message or would call back, if it was that important.
”Yes,” She responded to his offer for more help. ”The nurse would be good.” She thought for a moment and flipped open her phone. ”This is the main office number I’m sure if you call it they might be able to help get the nurse.” A wince and breath came from her as she move her ankle slightly.
Bea looked down the stairs and suddenly thought of another problem. How was she going to get down the stairs?
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Post by Eric Ludington on Oct 30, 2010 0:56:18 GMT 10
Eric looked at the number on the girls phone before punching it into the keypad on his own. It rang for a few moments before a woman picked up. "Ah hello, this is Eric Ludington speaking I'm currently on some of the bleachers at the football oval with another student who requires medical attention" he said before pausing to hear her response, "Yes...., she slipped on the stairs....alright, thank you". He put his phone back n his pocket and returned her phone.
"They said the nurse will be down as soon as possible" he said, relaying the message from the woman, "I'm sure she'll be here in a jiffy". He took a seat next to her and glanced up at the sky, after all leaving her there to wait on her own would be a bit cold hearted.
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Post by Basha Falstone on Oct 30, 2010 9:16:50 GMT 10
Bea let the boy finish the conversation and sit down next to her before speaking. ”Thank you.” In the course of all this certain things had been forgotten. ”I’m Bea by the way.” Introductions had been one of those forgotten things but she figured that she should at least give him her name.
”So, what are you studying here? She asked trying mostly to make conversation and take her mind off the pain in her ankle. It wasn’t as bad as it could be she supposed, though it did hurt. Glancing to the sky, well, this would probably put a damper on that help she was supposed to get from Darren.
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Post by Eric Ludington on Oct 30, 2010 10:32:48 GMT 10
"No problem" he kept his reply short and sweet, having found that long replies to thanks usually ended up digging him a hole. He zipped up his hoodie an inch or so before answering her question, "I'm an academic student studying Modern History, Ancient History, Society and Culture, and to top it all off Geography", he sniffed due to a cold he had been developing over the last couple of days before continuing, "How about you?".
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Post by Basha Falstone on Oct 30, 2010 13:42:41 GMT 10
She, of course, had heard his name when he was speaking on the phone. Which was fine. He said what he was studying… ”Wow. That’s an impressive list. “ She was just telling the truth. ”History, can be interesting. I’m a little partial to the history of the middle ages and renaissance myself.” Though, probably not the scholar in it that he was, she did know the two had a little over lap depending on where in Europe you were talking about.
”I’m academic, also. Studying mathematics.” Though, the choice between math and science was always a little difficult for her math was really her first love. ”What year are you in?” Once again, trying to make conversation.
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Post by Eric Ludington on Oct 31, 2010 4:13:20 GMT 10
Eric grimaced when she mentioned Maths, "The devil's literature" he thought whilst being forced to relive all the long lessons of algebra and trigonometry he had endured throughout secondary school. He turned and faced her when she asked about his year group. He though t for a moment, "Errrr.... hold on a sec I just need to work this out...” He said, having attended school near home in England, Eric was still unsure about the new class system.
In England he'd been used to how the first year was reception then went from years one to eleven with two optional years in sixth form, and so Eric kept thinking he was a sixth former. "I'm in year eleven I believe, you?" he finally answered after a few minutes of calculation.
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Post by Basha Falstone on Nov 1, 2010 12:05:01 GMT 10
Math wasn’t everyone’s thing, Bea knew this; it didn’t bother her. It was just something she had always enjoyed and excelled in. She simply waited to figure out what year he was in. There could be a million reasons why he just didn’t know and she wasn’t asking. He finally came up with year eleven. ”Ten.” She commented. ”Where are you from?” She hoped that wasn’t too noisy of a question but figured it was still acceptable.
She was starting to wonder a little where the nurse was when she spotted a woman headed out to the field carrying a bag. Her thoughts that that had to be the nurse confirmed when the woman spotted them and headed up the stairs. The woman turned to Eric first. ”Do you mind sticking around for another few moments? I might need help getting her down the stairs”
She then turned to Bea and said. “Okay, this might hurt a little.” Bea winced a little at her boot being removed. A touch here, a movement there, the asking of does this or perhaps this hurt. Bea could tell by looking it was swollen. Finally, the nurse spoke up again. ”I’ll have to get you back to my office to do a good exam but it looks like you might have sprained it.” The nurse opened her bag and pulled out an ACE bandage. ”I’ll wrap it and then we’ll have to get you down the stairs.”
Bea just nodded and waited for the nurse to be done wrapping her ankle.
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Post by Eric Ludington on Nov 8, 2010 9:28:25 GMT 10
( OOC: Sorry for the really late reply!)
Eric noticed what was obviously the nurse hurrying across the sports field before he answered the next question, "I'm from Exeter, how about you?". He had been about to excuse himself so the nurse could work in peace when she asked him to stay. There was a slightly awkward period where the nurse attended to Bea, and Eric tried to remove a piece of string that had started to trail of his hoodie. By the time he had removed it the nurse said something about what she was going to do with Bea so he turned his attention back to them, waiting patiently for instruction from the nurse.
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Post by Basha Falstone on Nov 8, 2010 14:28:38 GMT 10
”I’m from New York, Manhattan.” Just to be a bit clearer as New York could mean many different places.
The nurse arrived, wrapped Bea’s ankle and then turned back towards Eric. ”If you could just help me get her down the stairs. I’ll help her up and if you don’t mind her borrowing your shoulder I can take the other side.” She turned back towards Bea. ”Can you use crutches?”
Bea had noticed the woman carrying crutches but she had left them at the bottom of the bleachers as it was easier for Bea to get down the bleachers without them for the moment. ”Yes.” She had before so she should be able to now.
”Good. Okay then whenever you’re both ready.” Bea waited for Eric’s response before moving.
(OCC: feel free to move Bea)
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Post by Eric Ludington on Nov 22, 2010 4:28:41 GMT 10
"I could tell by your accent" He remarked, "I once went there as a child, on holiday with my parents". He took one of her arms, as instructed by the nurse, and gently put it over on of his shoulders before waiting for the nurse to do the same.
Once the woman had hold of Bea's other arm they started helping Bea down the stairs. It was awkward and they fumbled a bit, since Eric was at least half a foot taller than the nurse, but despite this and the obstacle of the slippery stairs, they managed to escort Bea to the bottom of the bleachers. Eric helped her to a chair whilst the nurse sorted the crutches out for her, Eric thought crutches were a tad overkill for a sprained ankle, but he wasn't a medical professional so he kept his mouth shut.
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