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The beginning of a slow trickle of people onto the roof, each with their appearance well coordinated and with offerings in hand, had sent Claire scrambling back to the apartment to change out of her overalls. Rowan’s open door signaled that he may have come and gone since she had, but she didn't allow herself the time to check. She frantically tugged a brush through her hair, which fell back into place with minimal protest, and pulled on a pair of relatively snug high-waisted jeans. A dark leather jacket she yanked from an unpacked box topped a shirt that ended at the the bottom of her ribs. She halted her frantic movement only to glance at herself in the mirror, smoothing her palms across the front of her outfit. She felt it was simple enough to be safe. No bright colors, no hats, nothing patterned. Her final accessory was a pair of six packs of Heineken she yanked from the fridge, nudging the door closed with her foot before she slipped back out of the apartment and headed back up to the gathering.
The bottles rattled against one another as Claire slid both carriers onto the table amongst the other drinks, lifting one out for herself. She habitually brought the bottle to the side of her mouth, hooking her lower canine tooth beneath the cap and popping the seal. It was a party trick that came from necessity, as keeping track of herself, let alone a bottle opener, was a challenge for the young woman. Claire took a moment to kneel and properly greet the dog making his rounds with a generous ruffle of his fur before slipping back beside Bert. She had long since given up on the idea of a coffee refill and had rather begun aiding in getting the karaoke machine up and running, something she was relatively familiar with. That is until the social pressure in collaboration with the cold sent her scrambling into more appropriate attire.
Claire’s eyes subconsciously scanned the growing crowd, mostly shocked in how little she had interacted with any of them since her arrival. Besides Rowan, who had been forced to be much of her company over the past week. Roommate obligation. The rest of her socializing had occurred out and about, finding open stages in town or orientating herself to the new university. The undeniable scent of florals coaxed Claire from her own thoughts, her eyes falling on the source that had approached the small group. The gentleman held himself in a manner than seemed to demand poise of his company, but his smile was enough to offer enough comfort that she raised her hand outward. “Hello there, Xavius,” the corners of the young woman’s lips turned upward in a return of the polite gesture, but her eyes seemed to glint in rebellion of the formal greeting. “I’m Claire. Ellie if you’re feeling friendly. My day has actually been absolutely, brutally, unequivocally boring and oh, so uneventful. But here’s to hoping for a better night, aye? Grab a drink to help things along, would ya?” She smirked, gesturing with her own towards the table laden with bottles.
The bottles rattled against one another as Claire slid both carriers onto the table amongst the other drinks, lifting one out for herself. She habitually brought the bottle to the side of her mouth, hooking her lower canine tooth beneath the cap and popping the seal. It was a party trick that came from necessity, as keeping track of herself, let alone a bottle opener, was a challenge for the young woman. Claire took a moment to kneel and properly greet the dog making his rounds with a generous ruffle of his fur before slipping back beside Bert. She had long since given up on the idea of a coffee refill and had rather begun aiding in getting the karaoke machine up and running, something she was relatively familiar with. That is until the social pressure in collaboration with the cold sent her scrambling into more appropriate attire.
Claire’s eyes subconsciously scanned the growing crowd, mostly shocked in how little she had interacted with any of them since her arrival. Besides Rowan, who had been forced to be much of her company over the past week. Roommate obligation. The rest of her socializing had occurred out and about, finding open stages in town or orientating herself to the new university. The undeniable scent of florals coaxed Claire from her own thoughts, her eyes falling on the source that had approached the small group. The gentleman held himself in a manner than seemed to demand poise of his company, but his smile was enough to offer enough comfort that she raised her hand outward. “Hello there, Xavius,” the corners of the young woman’s lips turned upward in a return of the polite gesture, but her eyes seemed to glint in rebellion of the formal greeting. “I’m Claire. Ellie if you’re feeling friendly. My day has actually been absolutely, brutally, unequivocally boring and oh, so uneventful. But here’s to hoping for a better night, aye? Grab a drink to help things along, would ya?” She smirked, gesturing with her own towards the table laden with bottles.
