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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2013 23:02:10 GMT -5
When it comes to kinesthetic things, Charlotte is a natural. But she doesn't know that she's a natural - she's never really tried any formal instruction with that kind of thing and thus hasn't seen that she could go far with some proper guidance, mostly because there's been absence of adults paying enough attention to notice and encourage the talent. Not that her parents would get the full blame for that - they'd been rightly more concerned with keeping a roof over her head and food on the table. It's perhaps fairer to blame her gym teacher, who should have noticed but didn't care to, but that's all water under the bridge at this point. But to the degree of what a kid can learn by just messing around on playground equipment, she does have a little experience.
"Hmm, might be fun," she replies, though what she pictures in her head about a gym seems so... formal and that adds a sight hint of skepticism to her tone. The jungle gym at school had literally been play, not serious business, and it seems to her that might suck the fun out of the whole thing. Then again, she does like having some sort of physical outlet so it's worth a shot, and that's something to worry about now that she's back off the streets - she'd gotten used to basically having the run of the city and an apartment, even one this size, feels a bit confining now. Much better than juvie, yes, but the walls still seem to hold her in.
But there are certain perks to finding herself with a home to go to again, at least for... however long this ends up lasting. It isn't that easy to make friends, especially with people your own age, on the streets. Oh, there's her little network of people she'd trade things with and such, and some of them would even go out of their way a little to help her, but those were more contacts of necessity than people she actually wanted to be around. Any other friendships you kind of need to have a home if you want to maintain them, especially since the small handful of good friends from her past that have managed to stick with her this long are also lame enough to tell the cops where she is. Now she'll be able to look them up again without that problem.
And now, especially if she goes to school, there's the possibility of a boyfriend. She's not really had one before but... well, she's 16 so that's naturally something that comes to mind. Even if that means she'll have to have awkward talks with Selina as a result, she suspects that's worth it. But that's a subject to think about later, not now.
The little backflip thing she'd used to get off the bar is not something that Charlotte thought much of. Which is why the fact that Selina apparently liked it actually seems kind of weird to her. "That's just... how I always used to get down," she says, literally shrugging it off. It was fun when she was a kid, and actually still kind of is. But then Selina is up and showing her how to do it better. At first it's actually kind of annoying - she was just messing around and didn't know that her technique was going to be critiqued! Still, as she pays close attention to what Selina's doing she has to admit that the advice being given is good even if it wasn't asked for. And it's impossible for her to not notice the amount of strength involved as Selina holds her position at points that Charlotte knows she couldn't, and the fact that she lands so neatly rather than with the unceremonious plop that she'd done. Impressive... but also annoying. Show off.
She's thoughtful but quiet again as she sits and works on what's left of her food. Nothing she just did there was that big of a deal, really - absolutely nothing compared to what Selina did. Anyone can hang upside down. Maybe not anyone could sit on the bar, but that would be, like, fat people and old people. And Selina says that she's good? Eh, probably trying to be nice. Still, it's not like she's opposed to learning more of that kind of thing, so long as it doesn't get all hard and boring and unpleasant. But if it comes to that, it's not like she's never quit something before.
The look that Selina gives her now causes her to raise an eyebrow. "Bruce Wayne?" she asks, now uncertain as to whether or not she wants to know. But when told to come over she complies, taking her milkshake with her to keep her company as she goes to stand next to Selina.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2013 5:36:46 GMT -5
Selina offers a bit of a chuckle at Charlotte's response. "Yes, Bruce Wayne, amongst others. Most of the people you see in the tabloids, I know in one way or another. And he's not as 'lecherous,' as he comes off. Some people keep a public face...to keep part of them to themselves," she adds quietly.
When the girl does come over, she hands over the tablet, which is full of pictures of this and that. Different outfits, styles of clothing, bedding, and most of the things that they will need to purchase tomorrow. "Just a bit of this and that. If you see something that catches your eye, or that you like, or even like a part of it, double-tap on it, like this." Demonstrating, she hopes it will occupy the girl for a short time, so they can converse a bit. Action seems to be a main way of showing, well, anything to the girl. Which is good, because as much as Selina can talk, she's better versed in action.
"I have a bit of space to do some stretching, but there are two gyms I go to. One is owned by a friend, and we're welcome anytime, and it has much, much better equiptment than I have here, and the other...well, it's more of an elite, private place with a few machines I doubt you've seen." Grinning at that last part, she nods, and points to another tab at the top of the browser on the tablet for Charlotte. They can go to Grant's gym, first, before they can go to the cave's. At this point she doesn't think it's a smart idea to tell Charlotte that she needs to put on a blindfold, before they go somewhere.
"Based on what you -can- do on the bar, I think I have an idea of ways to...hone what you have. I don't know all the technical words for it, but I do like what I see. So if you want, we could work on your strength, and getting those muscles back to remembering what you have done. Yoga, a bit of pilates, running, and of course, gymnastics. Personally I get bored with the same thing, so we can toss a bit of free-climbing, parkour, and a few things I do myself to keep from getting bored." She crinkles her nose at this, curious to know what sort of music the teen enjoys.
Sipping on her own milkshake, Selina's mind is going off in several directions. What's she's going to tell the men in her life, how she's going to explain it, or even argue for it, if it comes to that. But moreso, she's excited about the possibilities, and how she can help Charlotte, well, to help herself. That tiny spark she saw in the girl's eyes as she was in the air, to keep that around more than the glum, gloom and doom that is hanging around her. And other that giving her things she likes to do, and do well, and gain that confidence, Selina knows that a day of pampering helps as well.
"So, a bit of an outline for tomorrow; breakfast, shopping, haircut, electronics purchasing? And any other places you think we might need to go, too." By noon she will have the extra keys and fobs for the girl, and a photo afterward will be easily enough to aquire for an ID, or liscence.
Grinning a bit at that last one, Selina think she may just go ahead and get that piece prior. She knows someone who knows someone, and in the long run, it will make things a bit easier. But she has to remember to watch herself, because a larger misstep would be harder to explain, that a smaller one.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2013 18:14:52 GMT -5
Nodding as Selina shows her what to do with the tablet, Charlotte sits down with it and quickly gets absorbed into the task. Oh yeah, this is way better than just having to sit there and say what she likes off the top of her head. It's much easier to look at something and simply decide if she likes it or not. Her apparent indecisiveness seems to vanish as she's quickly tapping through the pictures. You wouldn't think it to look at her or her background, but Charlotte has a rather sophisticated, mature taste in clothing - bold colors, often mod in styling, lacy things, fitted things, but showing some skin at an age-appropriate level. She strikes a balance somewhere between the conservative look and alternative look - daring but not slutty. But though that's the sort of look she prefers, she's never dressed like that before - partly because she wasn't the one who picked most of her life and when she did there was never enough money. As for items for her room, she favors red - lots of red. And intricate, old-fashioned designs in more red or neutrals for much of the decor. Other things, like electronics, she has a hard time choosing - um, she likes the red one? It's not that she doesn't like such things, it's that she never bothered to pay enough attention to the differences between them to form an opinion. While she sorts through the pictures, she listens to Selina, nodding periodically. " I wasn't aware that I had anything to hone," she comments dryly. There's a pause before she asks, " You really think that me just messing around was that good?" It's a bit of a thing for her to wrap her mind around. Sure she has her talents, like the shoplifting, but it never really occurred to her that there might be any that she doesn't know about. But then, it's escaped her notice that many of her more specific physical talents all fall under the same umbrella. Still, even if she's somewhat skeptical of Selina's motivations, a lot of the stuff Selina listed sounds fun to her - especially the free-climbing and parkour. Those are things she's never really tried, unless you count hopping the occasional fence, but if given the opportunity then she'd like to. The outline for the next day causes Charlotte to shrug and say, " Fine with me." It sounds like a bit of a long day to her, but then again she's used to having a lot of quiet time to herself and just going from one thing to another instead of having long lists of errands. And there's still so many new things to get used to here - more than the foster homes even, she thinks.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2013 10:39:40 GMT -5
The tablet is doing it's job. And as the teen goes through the photos, it will help Selina figure out a plan for tomorrow's outing, so they don't end up fatiguing just on clothing alone. While she herself does like shopping, sometimes it's more a means to an end. Hearing her neighbors chat it up about this benefit, that gala, and so forth is always easier to glean information from than the paper, sometimes. As Selina sits back down, she glances at the tablet here and there as Charlotte sifts through the photos, noticing a rather...interesting mix. And bold colors. She can work with that. While her own home is a rather soft, clean mix of greys, blacks, purples, and cream, with touches of art, and this or that, Charlotte seems to favor bolder, more graphic themes. And red, lots of red. Smiling at that, she chuckles a bit to herself. On her phone she already has a temporary list of places to go, and things to purchase. It should be a fun time.
Noting the dry tone, Selina lets out an affirmative murmur. "Yes. Not just any teen can figure out how to get to that bar, and then have the muscle control to just...do what you did. Some people are more naturally gifted, but discipline and natural ability combined together can get you further than just..working hard, or having natural talent." Cutting herself off before she starts rambling about the technical components of ...all of it.
"And yes. If you messing around is 'that good' as you put it, we should be able to get you up to speed rather quickly. It may delay school a bit..but considering everything, you're going to have a bit of a jack of all trades 'bootcamp' anyway. Hopefully that's ok. It will just be a collection of traditional schoolwork, rigorous physical training, and some etiquette training as well. And, there is this-" Selina reaches around to tap at the top of the tablet, a small instant messaging aplet popping up. There is an avatar for a Cat with Selina's name next to it, and a pen for Liv, and one with just Charlotte's name beside it, but no avatar.
"I know you don't have a phone quite yet, but this should suffice for now. Sort of an instant messaging system, until we get you a mobile. I work, and am on the phone quite a bit, so this is sometimes easier to get me a message, than say, calling. So if you want to head to your room, grab a snack before you go to bed, I'll see you about 7:15 in the morning. I have a few more things to straighten out that I doubt you'd want to sit in on; just conferencing, unless you want to observe, and it also gives you a bit of time to figure out if there are any other items you can think of for your room, and so forth."
With a smile, she raises her brow, hoping, just -hoping- that Charlotte is aware that the tablet is for her. At least until they can get her a laptop and phone.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2013 1:05:02 GMT -5
Glancing at the bar, Charlotte is halfway to trying to debate the point that any teen could have done what she just did. Well, except for the fat ones, naturally. And the klutzy ones. Oh, and the stupid ones. Then there's the ones that are too 'cool' for any sort of athletic activity - she hates those! Okay, so she's already eliminating a lot of people. But that doesn't mean that she's naturally gifted - it means that she's willing and able to give it a try and therefore succeeded. That's all it was. ...Or was it? She actually finds herself being torn between denial and wanting it to be true. Well, she'll just have to see how hard it is when she gets to this fancy gym place Selina talked about.
Though as Selina continues to talk about it, she says one thing that causes Charlotte to balk. "Etiquette training?" she asks, making a slight face and sounding less than thrilled. School stuff she just expected - that's a given. This other physical stuff is unexpected but it sounds like fun and worth a shot, so okay. But etiquette? That's neither expected nor fun-sounding! Why would she need something like that anyway? She knows how to behave okay. Maybe not completely proper, but then again completely proper people are just... ugh! She doesn't want to be one of those!
Fortunately, Selina distracts her from this mental griping by showing her the message thingy on the tablet. "Okay," she replies at first, but though it takes a moment for her to connect the dots she asks, "So... wait, this is for me?" Which she asks not so much because she's misunderstanding but because she's surprised by that. She's never owned such a thing before! And as much as she hates just being given things, this particular item is worse simply because - while she has no idea what a lot of this stuff costs, she knows that a tablet is pricey. Ugh...
But she tries to refocus on what Selina was saying, about the rest of her evening. No, she definitely doesn't want to sit in on Selina's phone calls. In fact, the idea of hanging out in her new room, by herself, is sounding pretty appealing right now. It would give her a real chance to just... adjust to things without having to talk to anyone. Oh, yeah, but maybe... Her eyes quickly locate the nearest clock and she somewhat hesitantly says, "Um, that's fine. But, um, I want to call my brother before it gets too late." After all, it's been far too long since she last talked to the kid. "Oh, but, um, Maureen will want someone else to tell her I'm not still on the streets before she'll let me talk to him..." she adds, frowning rather deeply at that. Which is only to be expected given there is absolutely zero trust there, but then again she doesn't see why Maureen needs to police her talking to her brother in the first place.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2013 15:09:46 GMT -5
Selina nods to the teen. "Yes. And trust me, it's not as bad as it sounds. They really should call it 'how to act politely when you really want to roll your eyes and not be with really dull, boring people, but you are obligated to' training. Especially such as reigning in those reactions and that tone. Trust me, when I was younger...I had to deal with a lot of ...boring crap. But if you smile politely, and feign that you are just...quiet, you can learn quite a bit from listening, especially as someone who's not an adult."
And it's true. Etiquette training...really is just a new set of guidelines and rules for dealing with stuffy, irritating people that you have to deal with for one reason or another. "A means to an end, if that makes sense. Because I donate to several charities, I'm expected at some places, so people think that by inviting me to this, or that, I'll automatically like them. I usually like the food, and the people watching, but that's about it." She adds with a laugh. Sometimes the company is great, but most of the time it was the Harpies, and people with too much money, and time on their hands. As an afterthought as Charlotte seems to understand the messaging system, Selina stands and goes to her desk, looking under a pile of papers for something, handing over the metallic looking 'pen' which has a sort of soft...squishy end where an eraser would be..and a ..different sort of tip. A stylus. "Here. And yes. Yours until we can narrow down if you're more a PC, or MAC. And have a phone. Which hopefully will be taken care of by tomorrow." Adding it quietly, she nods, walking back over to her desk and grabbing her phone, pressing a few buttons on it before handing it over to Charlotte.
"How about you dial, I'll talk to Mrs. McBride for a few, and then you can talk to your brother? Carl, right?" Tapping at her earpiece, Selina can hear the tapped phone number echo'ing in her ear after Charlotte enters it, the ringing of a phone soon after. Pressing a finger to her lips, she goes and sits on the loveseat. There is then a click on the phone; which Charlotte can hear, and a kindly voice calling out "Hello? McBride residence!" Rather cheerfully.
"Hello Mrs. McBride. I know this may be a bit..abrupt, but my name is Selina Kyle, and I'm calling on behalf of Ms. Charlotte Geier."
There is a slight gasp on the other end of the line, as a worried, concerned voices states; "She hasn't run away again, has she?"
Selina holds back a bit of a laugh before responding, a fleeting thought curious if the woman knows who she is. "Oh, no. I just wanted to let you know that I've taken over guardianship of her at the moment, and she's doing quite well right now. We have her in several private classes, she's excelling at gymnastics, and is currently enrolled in several foreign classes. I do believe in expanding the mind, and she's taking to the courses quite well." Holding up a finger before Charlotte can say a word, considering Maureen is on speaker, despite Selina using her ear-piece.
There is a bit of skepticism in the foster mother's voice as she says a few other things, to which Selina explains kindly. "Yes, we have had some hurdles to get through, but I believe in a solid foundation of trust, respect, and communication, always. I guess I'm not the typical 'foster parent' because I'm not. But sometimes an unconventional tact is all one needs. But Charlotte was wondering if she could speak to her brother before she heads off to bed. Oh, yes, I know it's a bit early, but we're going to get her a few new things for the school year tomorrow. Early start, you know."
Maureen understands this all too well, agreeing and calling out for Carl, which is clearly heard by Selina, and Charlotte over the speaker-phone. Pressing the speaker-phone button again, Selina hands the phone to Charlotte, quite aware of the girl's face as Selina seems to have 'lied' and blatantly to her old foster mother. Instead she calmly writes on a slip of paper "Etiquette training in use." Holding it up so Charlotte is able to see it, the words punctuated with a smile on Selina's face.
She'll just have to learn that sometimes, you have to say pretty things that are partially true, and might not necessarily be in the correct order to get ahead.
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Last Edit: Nov 19, 2013 9:21:56 GMT -5 by Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2013 3:04:11 GMT -5
Having to act politely when you don't want to be with boring people doesn't sound like fun, no matter how you package it. Personally, Charlotte would rather avoid doing the things that cause you to have to be around people you don't like in the first place. She frowns at the stylus as she takes it, brooding over something, but she doesn't comment. It doesn't have to do with the tablet though - she may not have ever owned one herself before, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't know how to work one. It's not like it's rocket science or that she hasn't had a chance to mess with one before, after all.
When Selina gives her the phone, Charlotte doesn't even need to pause for thought before she's dialing the number from memory. It is, after all, the only phone number that matters to her. "Yep," she confirms her brother's name as she passes back the phone. As Selina sits down with the phone, Charlotte seems pensive, watching and listening as if she can't really see or hear. Though the hint of a frown when she hears the cheerful answer on the other end indicates that she's indeed listening, and her lips purse at Maureen's instant reaction to her name. The woman always did rub her entirely the wrong way...
Of course, Selina's reply is confusing, and it snaps Charlotte out of her brooding mood as she's suddenly staring at Selina quite intently with a questioning expression. She doesn't need to be told to be quiet - she's certainly not going to interrupt Selina telling Maureen such things - but...
"Really?" Maureen asks, genuinely surprised by this news. There's a cautious sigh of relief before she continues, though her tone is somewhat doubtful, "That's a relief, I guess - the last we'd heard about her the police were calling, asking if we'd heard from her because she went missing from somewhere else. You be careful with that girl - all the love, attention, and rules in the world don't seem to work on her." As Mrs. McBride can't tell that she's on the speaker, she speaks freely.
And Charlotte clearly doesn't like it - all thought of what Selina said is banished as the teen's expression becomes angry - very, very angry. She stays quiet, but she stands and paces a few steps as if unable to hold still.
The rest of Selina's words don't remove the skeptical note as she adds, "Well, good luck to you!" But though the 'you're going to need it' part isn't said, she clearly means that too. "Hmm, but let me get Carl, then - he should just be in his room," she adds, her voice suddenly back to the same cheerful tone she'd used when she first answered. Followed by a harsh but muffled yell for the boy.
Those statements don't seem to make Charlotte any more pleased with the woman, but she does perk up when Maureen indicates that she's getting Carl - in fact she goes over to stand next to Selina with the clear intent of getting hold of that phone as soon as possible. She takes it and holds it to her ear, appearing to be quite anxious, though of course it takes a moment for Carl to get on the other end. While she's waiting, she compliantly reads the note Selina is holding up. The questioning expression returns, though it's far more thoughtful this time.
But apparently before she can decide what she really makes of that, a sudden shift of her expression indicates that her brother has picked up the phone. "Heeeeey, buddy!" she says, suddenly smiling - almost laughing in fact - as if the whole world has suddenly been replaced by one that's at least ten times more pleasant. And the reaction on the other end of the line is loud enough that even Selina would be able to make out the faint exclamation of a youthful voice. "Yeah! How you been?!?" she asks, more enthusiasm behind the one question than everything she's ever said to Selina combined. Then she's silent, practically cradling the phone to her ear, apparently just listening to him ramble with only the occasional sound to indicate that she's still listening. Selina is quite forgotten while she just... enjoys the sound of his voice. God, she misses that kid! The news that he's relating isn't all good, so her smile fades, but even this neutral expression is far more positive than the half depressed ones she's been sporting all day.
When the long ramble is over, the conversation seems to shift back to Charlotte. "Oh, I'm in a new place - it's really nice," she answers a question, and then the next gets a frown and an apologetic, "Yeah, I'm sorry - I couldn't or I would have." Then her frown gets even deeper as she regretfully says, "No, I'm sorry, buddy. That's just not gonna work." There's the briefest of pauses before she forces the conversation into a happier note by adding, "But! I can call you lots." And that seems to do the trick because then she grins and adds, "Yes, I promise! You're going to get tired of talking to me!" And whatever the reply to that is, it makes her laugh a little. "Well, for now I'd better go. You keep being good for Maureen, okay?" she says, adding a, "Love ya too! Bye-bye!"
Removing the phone from her ear, she hangs up the call. But though the smile lingers for a moment, by the time she seems to remember where she is and hands the phone back to Selina, it's as if the whole world has gotten ten times worse again. Okay, maybe more like eight - she feels a little better now but... eh, that's not going to last for long. "Thanks..." she remembers to tell Selina, now looking rather restless.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2013 21:32:36 GMT -5
The teaching. That is one thing she hadn't forgotten that she was going to have to do. So while there is a slew of disgruntled looks crossing Charlotte's face for a second, Selina remembers that at one point, she too was a teenager.
So once the conversation starts, Selina makes another mental note to explain to Charlotte why she did what she did, used the words she did, and why. There is always a why.
While it might be ..odd to have the former foster-mother on speaker, it's purposeful. Selina is able to watch Charlotte's yet again conflicted face, and to realize that there was ..something going on between the two. The anger radiates from the petite teen, and Selina...understands. While she is going to offer her love, and attention, rules aren't in her repertoire, and add a dash of actually doing something, and she hopes it will work.
Thanking Maureen, Selina gives the phone to Charlotte, removing the speakerphone function, and then slipping out of the room so that Charlotte can speak with her brother. Thankfully, she's still able to hear the jovial conversation between the teen and her brother; thanks to her headset. A pang hits her in her chest, reminding her that she once had a sister herself, and that familiar bond. But not any more. She's an orphan...and life has a cruel sense of humor at times.
So as she fusses in the kitchen with a cup of tea, and a cup of cocoa, she double checks a few things; the door, glances out the window, and delicately balances a shallow saucer of milk on her own mug as she makes her way back into the the room, able to catch the last of the siblings' conversation. Swapping her phone for the mug of cocoa, Selina nods to the brunette.
"You'll always be able to call your brother. And Maureen..she's something else. But as for...why I said what I did?" Selina starts, taking a sip of her tea. "A bit of a bend in the rules. Not lying, but letting her know what you are going to be doing, and excelling at. Call it a leap of faith, call it a white lie, but I like to call it trust. Faith. Someone in your corner that believes you're going to be good at something, a personal cheerleader, even." Not quite knowing what else Charlotte has questions on, she is quiet for a spell, allowing the two to take in what just happened, as well as allow time for questions.
"She is right, in a way. Rules, love, affection and attention don't always work for everyone. Good thing my recipe is a bit different." Standing, Selina goes back to her desk and pulls out a pair of earbuds, handing them to the girl as well.
"I don't know if you like music, but if you do, there is an app on the tablet you can use. You know where the bathroom is, and while it's meager for now, you'll hopefully have your own things tomorrow."
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2013 9:22:34 GMT -5
Is there something going on between Charlotte and Maureen? Oh yes! So much. Much more than even Maureen knows, actually. When Charlotte ran away from that place, it had caught the woman by complete surprise, while for the teen it was something that had built up until she just couldn't stand being there any more. She literally would rather live on the streets than have to deal with that woman or that family, as happy and friendly as it seems on the surface. And Maureen blames it on her - oh, there's anger there...
Fortunately, such thoughts are easily replaced by the good ones surrounding her brother. He's only eight, in the third grade, and all his thoughts and concerns are so typical of any boy that age. Except that he simply doesn't understand why his sister and his foster parents can't all live together in a happy family - but how does Charlotte explain that to a kid?
Her emotions feel a little rattled after the phone call, so the cup of cocoa she's handed immediately afterward is very welcome. Very, very welcome... Much more welcome than what Selina says after that. Her expression goes somewhat flat, but she tries to make it better by sipping her cocoa. It works, a little. "Okay..." is all she says after a pause, sounding skeptical, though that's somewhat of a better reaction than her first instinct dictated. Selina believes in her, huh? Well, maybe... She can't really say that she believes in herself that much. Oh, maybe she can pull it off for a few weeks or a few months, but after that... She's not sure how Selina seems to be so confident that this is going to go so well - Maureen was pretty confident too. Of course the difference between the two women is huge, but still...
Ugh, she has a lot to think about now... a lot of things that she doesn't want to think about now. So the cocoa, and - oh, music is a great idea! There's no better way to drown out thoughts than with really loud music. "Okay," she says as she takes the earbuds, glancing at all the stuff she's now holding and just... trying to be okay with it. Her expression is a little weary as she looks back at Selina and asks, "Um, anything else?" Clearly she hopes that the answer is no - she's not sure how much more she can handle right now. She was already pretty much to that point before she talked to her brother, actually, but she wasn't going to not ask to do it then - otherwise she'd have probably had to wait a day. Which would be, of course, totally unacceptable.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2013 4:27:47 GMT -5
Shaking her head, and waving her hand in a nearly dismissive way, but not in a 'get out now' sort of manner, Selina shoos the girl off with a quiet smile. "I don't know about you, but I believe I need some alone time. So unless you have anything, just come and see me in here, knocking works best, or send me a message on your tablet. Other than that, early in the morning we have a date!" She says with another smile, inwardly cringing at the 'early in the morning' part. If anything, she's good at 'been up all night early morning,' not quite 'go sleep at night, wake up early on purpose' sort of morning. So if she's going to be bright and chipper, she has things to get off her standard to-do list.
After Charlotte is safely out of her own room, Selina has nothing to worry about. The tablet has certain ..safeguards, and if Selina really needs to, she can see what the girl is doing. For now, at least. She left the room with what she was given, and nothing more, as her phone is safely on her desk, her own tea stared at for a moment before she starts a phone call, while cueing up several screens on her computer. There is an answer, but it's one of those why did you wake me responses on the other end. Surely she wouldn't have expected anything different, but, well, such is life. "I'm not going to make it tonight. No, nothing urgent. I just have early plans in the morning, that we'll have to discuss...possibly later that night. Or maybe during the day. I doubt it's news to you, considering your own set up, but yes. And I'm taking her out to get her some things of her own, get school supplies ready-" There is a gruff tone on the other end, before Selina rolls her eyes. "No, there will be a tutor to get her back in the swing of things, and no, I don't think you can say a damn word, considering your own...shall we call it track record? But if you want to stop by to wake me, I can leave the balcony open, or...we could possibly do dinner. But...no, I'll be off for a bit until we can get things settled. For as much as you, and I work, we still have a routine."
A few more words from her call, and she laughs, as they chat about a few more things, before she adds, "Well, you'll meet her one way, or the other, in both guises. I think it would just be a bit much at the moment for me to have to explain I'm seeing two men, but not really...and yes, they are who you think they are." Another gruff set of words, a bit of a laugh from both ends, and then she says her goodbyes, the phonecall ended with a click in her ear.
It's not long before she can pull up the list linked to what Charlotte has been liking, and make up another list of 'to-do's.'
It was from there she settled in, finishing up a bit of work here and there, rescheduling things, setting about a few memos to Liv for BCS the next day, as well as sending a few emails to stores she'd like to visit. They could pull a few things, and it might make it a bit easier, but might not. With how overwhelmed Charlotte looked at even the thought of something nice as a gift; albiet temporary, Selina sighed. She'd have quite a bit to overcome with this girl, anger excluded. So while she finally finishes her last email, she sets about writing a sort of diary on how things have gone; even with her own white lies, to a degree, to Maureen. If she's anything like what Charlotte's body langauge said, and the syrupy sweet voice that gives her pause, she can't be too far off from the magnanamous women she knew in her own childhood. Those 'mother's' that gave everything, and thought their kindness would always be returned. But never quite understood why some children just 'didn't get it' nor responded as well to their certain brand of 'love.' Selina understood it, and understood it all too well. But that was a totally different topic, and a subject Selina barely spoke on in her own life, as well.
So for now she has to think on how to speak with Bruce on the topic, and how he's going to take it when he meets the girl....Charlotte...a name that seems to be too much a mouthful for the minute, dark-haired girl.
A bit more tidying in her room, brushing her teeth, and changing into pj's has Selina in a dour mood; the moon rising should have her suiting up, and even Jasper is following her around curiously, wondering why she is still home. So instead, she gets in bed, setting several alarms, and picking up an oft-neglected book, reading in lamplight until she finally feels her eyes drooping, and sets the tome aside.
It's many hours later; but not enough when she feels the third of five alarms going off, her hand fumbling for her phone as she sighs heavily, and goes about shutting the damn thing off. Thankfully there is already a cup of coffee at her desk, and a note detailing that the memos have been taken care of, as well as a printed out, updated list of Charlotte's choices.
Making a beeline for the coffee, Selina sighs, watching the sun make it's gradual ascent; relishing the fact she's usually headed to bed now, instead of waking. Alas, such is life. And such is choices that have consequences that one tends to believe in. So as she glances to the time, and notes it's a quarter to six, she sluggishly starts to get an outfit together, before opening her bedroom door and meandering into the kitchen. They can either make something here, or go out, but she'll let Charlotte have options. She'll have a day of choices ahead of her, so they might as well start with some of the easier ones.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2013 8:09:18 GMT -5
"'kay - 'night!" is all that Charlotte says, not exactly rushing out that door, but also not going to linger around for long enough for Selina to change her mind. She does, indeed, need some alone time. Lots and lots of alone time. More than she's going to get, probably.
When she gets to her new room, she deposits what she'd carrying on the bed and then surveys all the... stuff for a moment. Ugh... She just doesn't want to deal with it all right now. So she doesn't - retaining the last of her milkshake, the tablet, and the earbuds, she piles the rest of the stuff on the desk and calls that good enough for now. Then she lays on the bed, messing with the tablet. She marks some more pictures, but she tires of that after a short while - eh, that's probably enough already. Then she starts messing with other things - changing around the settings, tampering with the message program without sending anything. She ends up using a quarter for her avatar.
But eventually she tires of that, so she sets the tablet aside and goes to the kitchen to raid a snack from the fridge. Fortunately, she doesn't run into anyone - she'd rather pretend that she's here alone right now. Back in her room she eats and glances at the clock - she should sleep if she has to get up early. Ugh - early! She's not a morning person! She figures out how to set an alarm on her tablet and then digs through the bags on her desk until she finds some pajamas and then gets herself ready for bed. Then she settles into it with the tablet and the earbuds, letting the music distract her from... everything. It's an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar place, but the day has been mentally and physically exhausting so it's only a little late when she falls asleep.
The next morning she groans at the tablet for waking her at such an hour. But, remembering that she's supposed to actually be getting up this early, she reluctantly pulls herself out of bed. However, she's always been very quick with her morning routine, so she didn't bother to give herself much time when she set the alarm - searching through the bags again, she simply chooses the first pair of jeans she finds with the first shirt she finds since they look okay together. Whatever. In the bathroom she pulls out the braid and finds that it indeed helped her hair not become a tangled mess - she brushes it out, only to pull it back again into her more standard ponytail. Thus, she's ready within ten minutes.
In fact, when she wanders into the kitchen the sleepiness is still in her eyes as she notes that Selina is present. So she ungracefully seats herself on the nearest barstool and looks at Selina with an unenthusiastic, groggy expression as if to announce that, in spite of this ridiculously early hour, she is present. So now what?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2013 15:51:21 GMT -5
Breakfast is what's next, but Selina isn't exactly up to voicing that yet, instead lingering over her coffee as she sits on one of the countertops herself. Yes, not exactly 'adult behavior' but it's her home. And her non-rules. Glancing over at the girl, she nods, noticing she's a bit more put together than she is, for it being so early. Ah, the joys of being young. She still has to run a brush through her hair, but other than that, she's set; dressed similarly in a pair of dark denim skinny jeans, barefoot, with a longer tunic sort of grey top. Boots will come later, of course. Sighing a bit, showing her irritation at the early morning, she finally speaks. "So, breakfast here, or at a cafe? I hate early, but it makes for less crowds shopping. Crowds..." She scrunches up her nose, showing her distaste for them. An odd contrast considering how public her life is at times.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2013 22:18:42 GMT -5
Honestly, at this hour Selina could be doing cartwheels on the countertop and Charlotte would have trouble finding the energy to find that weird. "Hmm... Cafe's better... And less work..." she comments, yawning after those words.
Making a slight face, she dully adds, "There's less crowds because everyone is still asleep." Well, a lot of them are at or are getting ready for school or work, actually, but at least they're sane enough to not be getting up by choice right now. But it seems like the more she gets to know Selina, the crazier she is. Though at least it doesn't seem to be a bad sort of crazy, at least so far.
That said, she goes silent again, waiting for Selina to do something. The lady may look tired too, but she's the adult here so she has to take the lead, meaning that Charlotte can just sit here in a near-vegetative state and simply wait for Selina to tell her to do anything else. Which is about as much thinking as she can handle right now.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2013 23:25:27 GMT -5
Downing the last of her coffee, Selina nods. "I'm going to go brush my hair. You grab...shoes, and whatever else you want to bring. Trust me, mornings aren't my favorite. It's rare I'm in bed before 5." Yawning, she scrunches her nose up at the sun barely peeking through the windows, before heading to brush her hair, slap on a bit of mascara, and grab her phone, purse, and the notes she had about wear to go. "Get your tablet, too!" Selina calls from her room, finally tugging on and zipping a pair of knee-high black boots, and grabbing a scarf.
Meeting Charlotte near the kitchen again, she spots the envelope with her name on it. Slipping her finger into it, and dropping the contents into her hand, she smiles, and waits for the girl. Once they're both there, she offers two closed fists to the girl. "You pick." If she picks the correct hand, she'll get two keys and a small fob on a simple keyring. After that little exchange, Selina opens the door, and waits for Charlotte to lock it. "Onward. We're going to walk a few blocks, eat at this cafe I know of, then go from there." Not huge on talking when her mind is still cloudy, she stuffs her hands into her pockets and waits for the elevator, which will then deposit them in the lobby, then outside into the brisk morning. "Less crowds is good for now." And less paparazzi, as well. But that's another conversation for sometime after 8 am.
It's decent walking, the park is mostly empty save for those super insane early birds walking their dogs and running, a commuter here and there in ankles-up business wear, and sensible walking shoes on the bottom. A rather peaceful time in Gotham. Another gray area that sets her soul at ease, when it's neither fully night, nor fully day.
About thirty minutes later of crossing streets and pondering the now-waking city, Selina opens the door to a not quite noticeable, not shabby, nor upscale place. A rather humble dive, or 'Mom and Pop' diner is what they're headed into. Nodding to the woman behind the counter; which is already two-thirds full, Selina goes to a corner booth, and settles in, snagging a plastic coated menu
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2013 5:43:32 GMT -5
"'Kay," Charlotte says, hauling herself up back onto her feet and then going back to her room. As she finds some socks and shoes, she tries to mull over what else she might want. Not much - the more things she takes with her, the more things she'll have to worry about all day, but there are a few things that she prefers to take with her everywhere. And, hearing Selina's yell, she gets the tablet too and puts it in the gray backpack Selina gave her yesterday - better than carrying it in her hands and given the rate that she's being given stuff lately, she could very well need it for more things later. She also finds a jacket, knowing just how cold the mornings are getting - boy, does she know how cold the mornings are!
Meeting back up with Selina in the kitchen, Charlotte only pauses for a moment before picking the correct hand when Selina holds them out. See, the trick to that game, at least when whatever is being held isn't big, is to look at the back of the person's hands and not try to determine which has the bigger bulge. Because either the person will be holding their hands equally tight and the empty hand will curve more since nothing inside it holds it straight, or the person will avoid that clue by trying to hold the held object tightly and the empty hand loosely, but that can be seen in the stretch of the skin. Either way, it's the back of the hand that's the tell.
And Charlotte only hesitates a moment before claiming the prize - it feels weird, having keys. The last time she had one was at home - the one with her real parents. But she's quiet as she locks the door behind them and slips them into her pocket, letting her thoughts remain internal. Not even trying to suppress a yawn, Charlotte nods as Selina says where they're going. A walk actually sounds kind of nice right now, especially given just how easy it is for Charlotte to start feeling stir crazy, and maybe it will help her wake up a little.
Even less eager to talk right now that usual, she's quiet as they walk. The air in Gotham is always bad, but the morning haze isn't as thick as the afternoon haze and the cold air makes it at least seem fresher. By the time they make it there, though, she's mostly awake and her stomach seems to have taken that as a sign that now is the time to inform her that she's starving. Fortunately, Selina has picked a place that doesn't look too ostentatious, which is always a good sign that the place actually offers real food. Following Selina's lead, she sits in the booth and starts browsing the menu, perusing her choices - eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, toast... can't she have all of them? Ooh, wait, they have that option! "I know what I want," she announces.
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