watching_you | OOM: Room 130

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OOM: Room 130

As the sun sets, Veronica sits at the desk in her room, staring out the window at nothing. Though it's becoming darker in the room, she makes no move to turn on her lamp, despite the fact that soon it will be quite difficult to read the book spread open across her lap.

Truthfully, she hasn't even glanced at the book in over an hour.

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Indy deflates and affects a thoroughly dejected look.

"As if the rejection itself wasn't bad enough. You had to twist the knife, didn't ya?"

"I didn't say you were old," Veronica adds hastily, "I just said you were too old for me. Very different."

Indy peeks back at her, battling to keep his smirk under wraps.

"Good save."

Veronica leans back again, and rolls her eyes.

"You know me. Good at thinking on my feet."

"Yep. Definitely not just a pretty face."

He smiles at her, and after a moment's consideration, he moves on, adopting a slightly more careful tone.

"On a less frivolous note, you, erm, had any more panic attacks since... that night?"

"Ah." The look this earns him would be akin to peering over the tops of glasses, on someone else. "So now we're finally being honest about why you're here."

Indy frowns at her insightfulness this time.

"Well, shit. 'Scuse me for caring."

"Heh."

Her laugh is very flat.

The shadows in the room, taking cue from the sun, are shifting: the last rays of light play across the couch, across Indy. With Veronica, on the other hand, it's gotten to the point that if she leans back enough - as she does now - her face is entirely in darkness.

"From where I'm sitting, it looks less like 'caring' and more like 'judging whether Vee has lost it'."

"Load of crap," Indy humphs and folds his arms defensively. He chooses not to mention that there's a fair amount of overlap in those two options.

"There must be real bad perspective from where you're sitting."

Her silhouetted form just shrugs.

"If there's something wrong with the way I'm reading things, why are you so defensive all of a sudden?"

"'Cause I'm not assessing your mental stability. Is it so hard to believe that I care about you?"

Veronica doesn't reply. Her expression, hidden as it is in shadow, is impossible to determine.

The only indication that she's even still paying attention rests in the motion of Veronica crossing her arms.

Indy sighs.

"That's real nice, Vee."

"Real nice."

A half-shake of the head.

"I don't need anyone checking up on me, Indy. I can take care of myself."

"I'm sure you can," he replies.

His tone is sullen, but not quite deadpan.

"Sorry, I guess. Just forget I asked."

Her evasive and vaguely hostile reaction has been an answer of sorts anyway. Things still aren't right.

"Fine."

They sit in the dark for a few breaths longer, then Veronica leans over to her desk and switches on the lamp. She picks up the book that she had been holding earlier and replaces it in her lap, flipping from page to page without really taking any stock of its contents.

Eventually she glances up without really looking at anything, her eyes staring past Indy.

"Have you - have you seen Logan in the bar at all recently?"

Indy doesn't like her detached gaze, but he's kinda relieved at the break in the silence. He shakes his head.

"No."

"Doesn't mean much though. S'not like I'm an ever-present downstairs."

He cocks his head slightly.

"Why? Thought you two were permanently over."

With sharp movements, she frowns at him.

"We are. Can't I ask about him without that implying that I want to start dating again?"

Indy considers for a moment, then shakes his head firmly.

"No. Don't reckon so."

His lips twitch towards a smirk.

"The line between caring about someone and checking up on them is really blurry tonight."

For a moment, Veronica's fingers tighten on the book, and it looks like she's on the verge of chucking it at Indy.

Then she relaxes.

"Very funny."

It's spoken haltingly, a response inserted into the conversation out of obligation.

"I thought so."

For the purpose of lightening the tension a bit it was a risky comment to make, and Indy knows that. He's pleased that it doesn't incite any palpable fury—he hadn't wanted it to. The lack of smile is still disconcerting though.

"Turn-about's fair play?" he hazards.

"I suppose."

Her eyes slide off him again, and fixate on some area near her front door.

"I'm getting kind of tired," she says, voice flat.

"Subtle as a brick," Indy snorts.

"Okay, okay. I'll leave you in peace."

He removes himself from the couch and starts heading for the door. He knows he's just pretty much out-stayed his welcome, what little there was. To be fair, he hasn't felt entirely welcome since he first entered. And that just adds to his growing concerns about her.

The Veronica he's familiar with would never act like this.

"That was never one of my fine points," she says, a little sadly.

Without moving from her chair, Veronica calls, "I'll see you later."

"Yeah you will."

"Enjoy the rest of your brownie."

Before he closes the door behind him, Indy leaves her with a smile, cordial and friendly. However, the strains of worry and dismay are quite evident behind it.

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watching_you - 2007-03-21 03:28 (UTC) - Expand

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