Broodygryffindor: ::stumbles through the hallways, honestly not doing as good a job at the whole stealth thing as she really should be:: ::comes to a sudden stop in front of the entrance to the Hufflepuff House and stares, fidgeting a little, crossing her arms and then uncrossing them again::
Broodygryffindor: ::takes a deep breath and knocks three times before taking a few quick, retreating steps back for no apparent reason:: ::reaches up to fuss with her hair and then fidgets some more, coughing awkwardly and frowning angrily at the ground::
EllieBranstone: ::opens the door, since she's been expecting this:: So, Meg says you want to talk to me?
Broodygryffindor: ::swallows heavily and looks up. she was expecting it too, but she still manages to look surprised:: uh... yes. ::short, dry, anxious laugh:: If, uh. you know. You don't, uh.. mind?
EllieBranstone: I guess not. ::steps aside to let her into the common room::
Broodygryffindor: ::is frowning and doesn't look like she'll be stopping any time soon, what with those wrinkles drawing themselves so deep into her forehead:: Uh, thanks. ::passes through into the common room and tries for a smile, but it doesn't work very well::
Broodygryffindor: You, um. You're mad, aren't you?
EllieBranstone: ::shrugs:: Actually, no. I was. But I got over it.
Broodygryffindor: ::tries another short laugh. it's not really any better than the first one:: Could you, uh. Could you tell me what I did wrong? ::swallows and licks her lips:: I could, you know, try. not to do it any more.
Broodygryffindor: ::smirks a little. it's one of the first expression's she's managed to get right so far:: Can't make any promises, of course...
EllieBranstone: You didn't do anything wrong, Natalie. That's why I got over it. I can't be mad at you for being honest with me.
Broodygryffindor: ... oh.
Broodygryffindor: Well, I pissed off Susan. I did do *that*.
EllieBranstone: Yeah, you did.
EllieBranstone: She just called you "evil one" in her journal.
Broodygryffindor: ::swallows:: She deserved it a little, you know. ::smirks:: And I'm sure *I* deserved *that*.
EllieBranstone: I don't know. She wouldn't tell me what happened
Broodygryffindor: ::shrugs:: She was just too fucking nosey, is all. And she didn't like it when I told her that.
Broodygryffindor: She wanted answers that I don't have and, even if I did, I should be giving them to *you*. Not to her.
EllieBranstone: Answers to what? I didn't think there were any questions left to answer.
Broodygryffindor: ... why are you doing this, Ellie?
EllieBranstone: What am I doing?
Broodygryffindor: ::closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and lets it out in a sigh. when they open again, her eyes are more focused and she speaks slowly, deliberately:: You're acting like things have changed. They. Haven't.
EllieBranstone: ::is trying *very* hard not to start crying again:: No, they haven't. Except now I know, and then I didn't. I'm not mad at you, Natalie, honest.
Broodygryffindor: ::licks her lips. there's something inside her saying she should panic which she's working very diligently to ignore:: Know what?
EllieBranstone: No.
Broodygryffindor: ::squints:: No?
EllieBranstone: No. I don't know what. Whatever it is you were talking about.
Broodygryffindor: ::frowns. it takes a second to register. and then the light bulb goes on:: Oh! ... no. You, uh. You said that you know. You... keep saying that. That you know. And, honestly Ellie, how can you, when *I* don't even know?
Broodygryffindor: I mean, I don't know whether I... ::swallows:: you know.
Broodygryffindor: ::squints:: ... did that make sense?
EllieBranstone: It made sense. And. Um. What I mean is, if you don't know, then...you probably don't.
Broodygryffindor: ::has an expression on her face that can probably be best interpreted as something somewhere around disappointment:: ...oh.
Broodygryffindor: Well, you know. ::half-smiles, but aims it primarily at the ground:: I *do* like you. I, just. fuck. I. want to take care of you? ::glances up with this frowning, questioning look on her face. like waiting to be told if what she's saying is right or not:: And, I mean. ::swallow. again:: You could do a lot better. You have to know that.
EllieBranstone: ::lower lip trembling, she does *not* want to cry in front of Natalie:: I didn't *want* to do "a lot better." I wanted *you.*
Broodygryffindor: ::doesn't even seem to realize it, but her whole face just falls. it's a look that's confusion and shock mixed together:: ::reaches out a hand as if to do *something*, moves it clumsily in the air and then awkwardly drops it back to her side. staring back at the ground again, she laughs another short, dry, brittle laugh:: God, Ellie. *why*?
EllieBranstone: I don't know. You listened to me. You're smart and funny and beautiful and you actually don't seem to mind how much I talk and...I don't know.
Broodygryffindor: ::smiles a little and glances back up:: Well, I really *don't* mind how much you talk. ::shrugs, eyes drifting away again:: I think it's... nice.
Broodygryffindor: But, uh. ::looks back up again:: I screwed it up, didn't I?
EllieBranstone: No. I don't know, Natalie. I mean... you don't know, and that just doesn't seem like a very good sign to me. I mean, what if I say "no, it's fine," and then you make up your mind and you really don't care about me at all?
Broodygryffindor: ::blinks and begins slowly shaking her head, taking another step forward:: No, I. ::swallows:: That couldn't happen. I *know* that I care about you, Ellie. ::weak smile:: I, just. uh. don't know.. how much?
EllieBranstone: Oh. Well. I mean, I'm not asking you to say you love me, or anything, you know.
Broodygryffindor: ::laughs softly and starts staring at her old friend the ground once again:: I know...
Broodygryffindor: I just don't want to hurt you. *Because* I like you.
EllieBranstone: How are you going to hurt me?
Broodygryffindor: ::shrugs and shuffles her feet a little. she's starting to realize how what she's saying actually sounds:: I don't know... It just seems to happen with me. ::smirks a bit, glancing up again:: A lot, actually.
EllieBranstone: I could hurt *you,* you know.
Broodygryffindor: ::smiles a little:: I know. ::shrugs:: I'm not as worried about me, I guess.
EllieBranstone: Well, I'm not worried about me, either.
Broodygryffindor: ::lets a gradual smirk form across her lips. it's really one of the few expressions she can manage without any trouble at all when she's feeling like this:: And, you know. If you *were* to hurt me, I imagine it'd only be because I deserved it. ::the smirk gets even bigger, to the point that it verges on a sort of twisted grin:: Usually do.
EllieBranstone: Why do you think that?
Broodygryffindor: ::shrugs:: Just from experience, I guess.
EllieBranstone: Well, I hate to break it to you, but I don't think you're nearly the awful person you seem determined to convince me you are.
Broodygryffindor: Well.. it's good that you think that. I think. ::grins, and this time it's much closer to an *actual* grin::
EllieBranstone: ::grins back::
Broodygryffindor: ::coughs awkwardly and then goes back to that anxious, staring at the ground thing::
Broodygryffindor: ::squints:: So, uh. What now?
EllieBranstone: I don't know. I was hoping you had some idea.
Broodygryffindor: Well, no, not really. ::coughs, fidgets, and glances up again:: How are you, by the way?
EllieBranstone: Okay. I have been shouted at by everyone in the school -- except Professor Dumbledore, actually. And veritaserum? Nasty tasting stuff. But other than that, I'm fine. I guess.
Broodygryffindor: ::smiles a little. weakly:: ... did I shout at you?
EllieBranstone: No. Okay, I'm exaggerating. But every teacher.
Broodygryffindor: Well, they're teachers. Shouting's just what they do.
EllieBranstone: Sprout usually doesn't. But yeah. I'm okay.
Broodygryffindor: Well, yeah. Not.. usually.
Broodygryffindor: Look, can I. I mean, you know. Is there... anything?
EllieBranstone: ::shakes her head:: I'm all right. Now.
Broodygryffindor: ... yeah.
EllieBranstone: No. I mean... I missed you.
Broodygryffindor: ::tries to restrain her smile a bit, but there's really just no stopping it. it's just too bloody big:: You did? I, uh. guess I didn't... realize. Huh. That's- ::hesitates, at a loss for words, she eventually just settles for:: -great. I mean, you know, not *great*, but... something.
EllieBranstone: Yeah, I did. I like talking to you. And I missed it.
Broodygryffindor: I think I might've missed you too. ::glances back at the ever so interesting ground. again:: you know?
EllieBranstone: Well. Here I am. ::feeling, as usual, completely stupid around Natalie::
Broodygryffindor: ::isn't exactly feeling particularly brilliant just at the moment herself:: ::snorts and looks back up at Ellie:: You know, I don't feel like I'm saying any of this.. right.
EllieBranstone: ::smiles:: You said you missed me. Well, that you might have. Did you not mean that?
Broodygryffindor: ::smiles back:: No.. I did. Just. Feels like there are better ways to say it. eh. Nicer. I guess.
EllieBranstone: Well, you could have left out the "might've." Even if it's true.
Broodygryffindor: Oh. Well. I did. Miss you. With, um. without the "might've". ::almost looks a little awkwardly embarassed, her shoulders jerking in a quick little shrug:: It just, you know. Snuck in there..
EllieBranstone: I'm glad. Well, not glad, but....
Broodygryffindor: ::smiles:: I know. what you mean. I, uh. think. ::smirks a little, a hand rubbing idly at the back of her neck:: Heh. Told you I'm not any good at this... ::drops her hand to just sort of clumsily hang in the air, clears her throat, and tilts her head a bit:: Maybe we could work on it?
EllieBranstone: Um. On...what, exactly?
Broodygryffindor: The talking.
Broodygryffindor: Don't take this the wrong way, but, uh, you're not much better than I am.
EllieBranstone: ::grins:: I go for quantity, not quality.
Broodygryffindor: Don't get me wrong, of course. I like it. It just, you know. ::smirks:: It can get to be a bit on the confusing side... sometimes.
EllieBranstone: So I've been told.
EllieBranstone: I'll try to make more sense, though.
Broodygryffindor: ::half-smiles:: Well, it's good. The way you are. Just, you know. Forgive me when I get confused? ::and the smirk just creeps right back in:: Which, knowing me, might be somewhat regularly.
EllieBranstone: Well, okay. If you'll tell me when you get confused. Because usually, I make sense to me.
Broodygryffindor: ::grins:: Only usually?
EllieBranstone: Sometimes, I don't. A lot of the time, that's when I'm talking to you.
Broodygryffindor: Oh? It isn't. I mean. It's not. ::licks her lips:: It's, uh, because of me, then? ::is absolutely brilliant, of course::
EllieBranstone: No. Yes. I don't know if it's because of you, or if it's just because.... I don't know. I start worrying about whether or not I sound stupid, and then I wind up sounding even worse.
Broodygryffindor: Not stupid. Never stupid. Just... confusing. Sometimes. Not always. Or often, even. Just, uh.. sometimes.
EllieBranstone: Well, I usually feel stupid around you. And like you think I'm about five years old.
Broodygryffindor: Well, I don't. Though I imagine I'd like you a good deal less if I actually did think that. I'm not really all that *good* with kids.
Broodygryffindor: ::snorts:: Shocking, I know.
EllieBranstone: ::giggles:: I'm stunned. And really, I'm glad you don't think of me like that.
Broodygryffindor: You're cute when you giggle. Have I mentioned that?
EllieBranstone: I'm not sure. But you can mention it whenever you want.
Broodygryffindor: It's certainly not *strutting* cute, of course. But close. And, uh. yes. I'll be sure to make a note of that.
EllieBranstone: Okay, so it's not "strutting" cute. How does it relate to "pouting" cute? ::grins::
Broodygryffindor: ::wrinkles her brow in exagerated concentration:: Not quite as cute as that, either, I imagine. You see, it's the lips with pouting. They're nice. ::smirks, mostly at herself:: Your lips, I mean.
EllieBranstone: I see. I'll keep that in mind. ::giggles again, a bit self-consciously::
Broodygryffindor: ::nods slowly, eyes slowly making their way back to the ground because, um, awkward:: It's... late.
EllieBranstone: Yeah. It is. ::a little disappointed-sounding::
Broodygryffindor: ::shuffles:: Do you think, maybe, I could just stay here? ::looks back up and offers a weak little half-smile:: I could stay here in the common room if you like. I could sleep in a, uh.. ::squints, glancing around:: ... a chair, I guess.
EllieBranstone: You want to sleep in a chair?
Broodygryffindor: Well, no. Not really.
EllieBranstone: So. Um. You were going to do better about the talking, you know.
Broodygryffindor: ::grins:: I did say that, didn't I?
EllieBranstone: That's right, you did.
Broodygryffindor: Okay. ::takes a deep breath:: Right then.
Broodygryffindor: Well, as I said, it's late, and I don't really fancy the idea of roaming the halls and chancing getting caught when I could just as well stay here. And since I'm sure you don't want me sleeping in your bed.. a chair's fine.
EllieBranstone: Um. Did you ask me what I wanted?
Broodygryffindor: ... no. But I should.
Broodygryffindor: Right. So. What do you want?
EllieBranstone: ::looking at some spot past Natalie's shoulder:: Well, I don't want you getting in trouble. And these chairs aren't that comfortable. So you'd probably better just sleep in my bed. There's room.
Broodygryffindor: ::raises her eyebrows in an expression that's only slightly incredulous. mostly it's just happy:: Awfully nice of you.
Broodygryffindor: You sure you don't mind?
EllieBranstone: Yes. I'm sure. ::doesn't sound completely sure, but nods to reinforce how certain she is::
Broodygryffindor: ::grins:: I don't bite. Promise.
EllieBranstone: You don't? What happened to Scary Natalie? ::grins back::
Broodygryffindor: Correction: I don't bite in my *sleep*. ::smirks:: That better?
EllieBranstone: Much better. ::smiles::
Broodygryffindor: But, actually, I can't rightly remember if I kick in my sleep or not. Been awhile since anyone's been in the position to inform me of such. So, uh, if I do.. feel free to kick me back, I suppose.
EllieBranstone: All right, I will.
Broodygryffindor: ::squints:: Do be gentle, though, if you don't mind.
EllieBranstone: Depends on how hard you kick me.
Broodygryffindor: ::grins:: Well, I suppose that means that *I'll* have to be gentle, then.
EllieBranstone: Or get kicked.
Broodygryffindor: Oh, but I'm quite fragile. I might break. And *then* what would we do?
EllieBranstone: I suppose I *will* have to be gentle, then, since the hospital wing's been overworked this term.
Broodygryffindor: ::smiles:: Awful thoughtful of you, dear. Really.
Broodygryffindor: So, uh. ::glances over towards the stairs and bites her lower lip:: You, uh. Ready for bed?
EllieBranstone: ::nods, looking toward the floor:: If you are.
Broodygryffindor: Yeah.. ::hesitates before taking another jerky step forward and clumsily reaching out a hand to push some of Ellie's hair back behind her ear:: It was, uh. In your face. ::makes vague little gestures with her hands, as if to help illustrate somehow. never mind that the gestures don't look even remotely like they could mean either hair or face. mostly they're just flappy and useless::
EllieBranstone: ::smiles:: Thanks. ::deep breath:: Come on. My room's this way.
Broodygryffindor: Uh, okay. ::nods a few times and follows close behind, smiling a bit, though it's mostly aimed at the back of Ellie's head::