Room 223, Saturday Afternoon

[life_inshadow]

Tara had skipped the picnic the day before. She wasn't expecting visitors, and there was no reason to subject herself to a crowd if she could help it.

Instead, she'd spent the last day or so much as she always did. Reading, testing a few simple spells, dressing Mr. Moxy out in a little costume...

Okay, maybe that last one was more of a special occasion thing.

Right now, she was going through the thrilling task of sorting her sock drawer out. It seemed like all of her tights from the winter before had spontaneously sprouted holes.

[OOC: Door cracked, post open to a few.]

Comments

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

Fiona turned to look at the new arrivals, not particularly liking the way that Tara spoke to her family. It didn't sound... good. It didn't even sound as good as how she spoke to her mother and that spoke to bad things.

"Hello," she said, thinking of a particular Ringos manager. And the arm that had been covered in third degree burns.

Eliot waved.

[jerkass-maclays.livejournal.com]

Tara was more afraid of her father and brother than anything. She smiled wanly and apologetically at Fiona and Elliot before turning back to Donny. "How'd you find my room?"

"Somebody downstairs told us," he answered. "We've been handwavily asking around about you. It seems like you know more people here than you talked to back home. Breaking out of that shell, sis?"

She was spared having to answer by her father. "Well. Hello there," he said, completely ignoring Fiona and Eliot as he wandered onto Tara's side of the room. "Spellbooks," he said, sounding disgusted. "Not past that phase, huh?"

Tara shook her head and winced, glancing to the twins out of the corner of her eye. She looked like she wanted to crawl under something.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

Fiona lifted her chin.

"I've been helping her with her Latin, actually," she said stiffly. Eliot looked like he wanted to hide too, then straightened up a little and looked at his bag pointedly.

Fiona's fingers tapped against her side in morse code.

Not Yet.

[jerkass-maclays.livejournal.com]

"Well, at least there's some proper use for that," Mr. Maclay said, setting the spellbook back on the shelf with a scowl. "How's she doing at it?"

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Very well," Fiona informed him, still a little stiff. She didn't like this man.

"We might even start on ancient Greek next."

[jerkass-maclays.livejournal.com]

"Fantastic," Mr. Maclay said curtly, clearly not that interested.

"Tara, we have to take care of some errands, but we'll see you for dinner."

It wasn't a request. Tara nodded, eyes cast down.

"Nice to meet you," he said, and lead his son away. Tara turned to her roommate. "S-sorry. About." She waved her hand to indicate the door. "You know."

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

Fiona shook her head.

"No, it's fine."

Then she looked over at Tara.

"Did, um, did you want to come with us to the mainland and stay with my aunt and uncle?"

[life_inshadow]

Tara shook her head. "Nah. They're fine. They're just" -- she shrugged. "Family makes you a little crazy, right?"

[life_inshadow]

Tara shook her head. "No. It's fine. They just ... f-family makes you crazy, right?"

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

Fiona and Eliot both nodded.

"If you change your mind," she said, wiggling her cellphone. She didn't want Tara think she didn't have any options.

[life_inshadow]

"I know," Tara said quietly. She was always shy, but just then she was unusually withdrawn, even for her. "Th-thanks."

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Okay, we'll be back tomorrow," she said with a little duck of her head.

"If there's anything, just give me a call. See you then?"

Eliot smiled at Tara encouragingly.

'Hopefully we'll get to talk a little more."