Rose Toren // Dark Tower Millicanon OC // Bar-place

[mm_gao]

Timestamp or no, it's Saturday, December 13th--two weeks after this and this--when Rose's door opens into Milliways unexpectedly. She doesn't hesitate a moment, just dips to grab her purse from her bedroom floor and heads inside. She's never gotten a spontaneous door, and she doesn't intend to waste it

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[notapoodle]

The moment she steps inside, she's being watched by someone. The golden haired teen leaning on the bar has a keen eye when it comes to finding what he wants, after all, and right now he's keeping his pale, unwavering gaze on her. He'll remember his manners in a minute.

"Hey there," he eventually greets, all smiles and warmth that may or may not be entirely acted out. Either way, Rose has herself a highly fashionably dressed teen in shades of blue and purple (with a fedora to match, naturally), who's already working the charm.

[ofthatantet]

Things Rose has finished with in the last two weeks: being worried about what boys think.

"Hi," she says. It's not unfriendly, but there's no rush of insecurity at being seen in OMG HER PJS. Her attention is at least 60% on the piano.

[notapoodle]

Ryan's used to never having peoples full attention. He's kind of dealt with that his entire life, and if there's one thing he learned from it, it's to just keep going anyway.

"I take it this isn't your first time. I'm Ryan, also a victim of being caught in my PJs before."

[ofthatantet]

She doesn't mean to be rude, just... Kelsi.

She apparently seems to focus on him, now, and nods, smiling. "Okay. Then please take it on faith that I haunt the Galleria on the regular and this outfit is a sad mistake of fate."

"I'm Rose."

[notapoodle]

"Oh, really." That's all he needed to know. A name. The Galleria stuff was just an interesting addition of info.

"You now, that's weird, because a friend of mine met a Rose a few weeks back." And that smile of his may not be entirely genuine anymore, as he gives a request that sounds far more like an order, "Sit down, we need to talk."

[ofthatantet]

"New Mexico," she says, a trace smile appearing... and then fading.

"I understand you may be protective of Kelsi," she says, her voice quiet and flat. "But I don't take orders."

[notapoodle]

He offers up a shrug, "Then stand, see if I care."

There's a glass of juice by his hand that he pauses to take a careful sip at, gaze kept on Rose, "So, how's the boyfriend?"

[ofthatantet]

The ambient temperature in this neighborhood seems to drop ten or twenty degrees. (There's a strong streak of scary beyond all belief that Rose inherited from her mother, and it glitters briefly in her eyes.)

However: if he knows, Kelsi told him. Therefore, he's trustworthy, or Kelsi is not as trustworthy as she thought. Betting on Kelsi:

"We broke up." Her voice stays frosty; the facts may be his business, but her guilt isn't.

[notapoodle]

Rich boys like Ryan so often have more money than sense. Rich boys like him with insanely crazy sisters also may not entirely know when to back down, and when to carry on.

He seems content enough to have a stare down, as it is.

"Pity." Dead-pan. He doesn't sound at all sympathetic.

[ofthatantet]

...Rose is not a good person to try and stare down. "I don't need any," she says calmly.

"It was dumb to kiss Kelsi when I had a boyfriend," she says. She's still unflinchingly meet his eyes; the result of the concentration is that her voice is flat and hollow. "But I don't regret kissing her. I regret that I had a boyfriend I didn't care about. Shitty for him, shitty for Kelsi."

For her, too, but if you're going to swear off pity, self-pity has to go, too. "Strike against me. Agreed?"

[notapoodle]

There's a slight furrowing of his brows as he thinks it over, his gaze still unwavering as he remains silent for a hefty pause. It often takes a little longer for things to sink in when it comes to Ryan, especially when it comes to things like this. The teen's protective, very protective.

"..

Alright.." he finally decides with a single nod, a small smile creeping to his lips that looks like it belongs there far more so than any previous frown. "But you better make it up to her."

[ofthatantet]

She relaxes; it's a visible transition, as if she laid something down.

"It's up to her if I get a chance, right?" Just slightly ruefully.

"She probably deserves better than me, Ryan. No kidding. I get that. But if she gives me the chance, I have to take it."

[notapoodle]

He's leaning casually back against the bar again, his general stance a lot more genuine than it was seconds before. An actor like him can often switch moods quicker than most people can count to three.

"Eh, she likes you. I know that much. I just wanted to make sure the feeling was at least mutual. I don't want her getting messed around." Another sip of his juice before he quickly adds, "Sorry."

Because he is. He doesn't like being a bastard.

[ofthatantet]

He should meet Rose's mother.

Wry: "Trust me. I don't accidentally go on dates with girls I don't like."

[notapoodle]

"I get it, I do," he replies with an understanding nod.

"It's just, me and Kels.. we're like.. I dunno, star-crossed lovers that weren't meant for this life or something. I mean, I love her, I really do, so I gotta look out for her." Because she's so tiny and cute and needs protecting, and he may be just a tiny bit jealous but if only because he totally would were the two of them straight. "So.. if I keep peering over your shoulder all the time? Just try and ignore me.."

[ofthatantet]

"Okay," she says.

"But watch out. Forbidden fruit, and everything. You might make me irresistable."

Hm.