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[right]Interactions: Lynn
[code]Warehouse[/code][/right][hr]

Time slowed to a hideous crawl as Daniel Mars drowned in anxiety, any self-assurance he'd won in tempering the hyperstimulation of his surroundings had leaked right out of him and been replaced with half-formed apologies. 

So overwhelming were his nerves and concern that he found himself caught in some feedback loop, the higher parts of his brain watching his body try to babble a sentence before self-consciously cutting itself off repeatedly. That same suffocating mixture of light and sound made it feel as if every eye was on him, even if his rational mind knew they probably weren’t. None of this helped by the girl’s, admittedly rather intimidating, glare as she turned on the floor and looked up at Daniel.

Then, she chuckled and her gaze softened. A gesture that was enough of a tension clearer that Daniel was able to regain his composure and respond with a weak smile of his own. Certainly it wasn’t a sign all was forgiven - Lexi would chuckle similarly before saying something inflammatory about Jesus, for example - but it was a step, at least for Daniel, to halt his directionless regret.

[quote=Lynn][color=8A2BE2]“You’re forgiven, party boy,”[/color] Lynn paused as her head crooked to the side and her smile lingered, [color=8A2BE2]“help a girl up?”[/color][/quote]

And suddenly the shame flooded right back into him. At least he had more control over it this time.

[colour=SkyBlue]”Oh! Of course, of course!”[/colour] Daniel cringed, wrapping both his hands around Lynn’s right and gently pulling her up to her feet, [colour=Skyblue]”I- I really am sorry again! I- I lost my footing, I hope you’re not hurt.”[/colour]

Even if his command of language returned, his self-flagellating mentality didn’t let up. Bad enough to crash into this poor girl, now he’d been too self-concerned to offer her a hand up, not even an hour into his first high school party and he was already becoming quite an asshole. Not helped was the sticky sensation he felt on Lynn’s hand from when she hit the floor, he hadn’t even considered the amount of refuse coagulating on the ground and slowly becoming some new, horrific organism. Returning to his apologetic smile, Daniel took the opportunity to shake Lynn’s hand.

[colour=SkyBlue]”My name’s Mars. Er, Daniel. Put them together it’s Daniel Mars, or party boy, whatever you like,”[/colour] a weak chuckle, releasing her hand and stepping back just a smidge too far to give her more breathing room than she could possibly need.

It occurred to Daniel, now not drowning in neurosis any more than usual, that he’d never actually seen this girl around town or campus, certainly she had a unique enough look that Daniel would’ve remembered if he had. So, he’d inadvertently assaulted a newcomer, yet another thing to kick himself over. At the very least, Daniel always enjoyed learning about new people and talking directly to someone was helping him put the overstimulation of the party behind him without even realising.

[Colour=SkyBlue]”Are you, um, new here?”[/Colour] He asked, having to lean forward and yell over the music a little louder on account of moving too far back, [colour=SkyBlue]”circumstances aside, it’s nice to meet you if you are!”[/colour] A thought occurred to him, better hedge his bets just in case he appeared any ruder, [colour=SkyBlue]”Uh, apologies if you’re not and I didn’t notice!”[/colour]