Watercolored Worlds:MoMA|(Ichabod) INACTIVE

[ichabod]

Ichabod gasped in mock horror to Jane's response to his compliment. "Never been called charming? Blasphemous!" he nearly shouted, creating a scene. He really found it hard to believe that a lovely young woman such as herself would never have been called charming before. She was pretty, polite, nice, pleasent- everything that qualifies someone as being charming. But why had no one ever seen it before?

Laughing, Ichabod nodded and produced a hearty "Mhmm" to acknowledge he understood. He had no problem calling her Jane. In fact, it was she who started the "Mister Crane, Miss Eyre" joking. Not that Ichabod cared. As serious as he faced everyday life, he did enjoy a bit of fun now and then.

If it would have been possible, Ichabods ears would have perked up like a dogs at her mention of reading a book about Egypt. Not only pretty, polite, nice, pleasent, charming- but also smart. "Sounds like an incredibly interesting book," he mused. "I must get my hands on it, if it really is as good as you say it is." His young eyes sparkled as he looked down at his companion. "And I think I should trust your judgement."

[ooc; took forever, but it's here! XD]

[JANE EYRE]

"Never been called charming? Blasphemous!" Jane brought a hand to her mouth to hide a giggle. People were turning to glare at them for disturbing their peaceful afternoon. Their looks made Jane giggle a little bit harder and press her hand to her mouth a little tighter. "We're in a museum," Jane reminded him between breathy chuckles. "You should try to be a little quieter," There was no hard edge to her voice, it was teasing.

Her cheery disposition faded though, when Ichabod mentioned borrowing the book. "I haven't talked to my aunt since I went to school. Or her children," She hadn't thought about the fact that she would never see those books that made her early childhood bearable. It hadn't even occurred to Jane until just then, strolling through the museum. She honestly did not miss her cousins or aunt but she would miss those books. They were antiques and weren't in print any more.

The thought weighed heavily on Jane's mind.

[ichabod]

"Wait, we're in a museum??? When did this happen?!?!" Ichabod half whispered, half chuckled. The looks the duo were getting from the various patrons of the museum where mixed with confusion, amusement, and hatred. Ichabod understood the first two, seeing as he was creating quite a scene as to keep his new companion from becoming upset again, but the last one... that one Ichabod didn't quite get.

When Jane grew quiet at his mention of the book, and spoke of her family, Ichabod slowly stopped walking and turned to face the girl. He put a hand on her shoulder, without even thinking about the cause and effect and how others would take it, or any of the other normal thought processes that he went through before, during, and after any action he took.

His scientific and literal mind began spinning as to her words and actions. Was this what she was thinking about when she cried earlier? It must have been, seeing as how she was so upset now. He hadn't know what it was that he said that had set her off, but whatever it was, he felt completely and utterly responsible. "Hey, it's okay." he smiled reassuringly. "If there's anything I've learned in my spoiled, snobby, lonely, rich-kid life, it's that you can't let some things get to you as much as you'd like to let them. Trust me."

A serious look came over Ichabods face as he spoke, complete honesty with every word. "Come on," he said, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close as he began to walk again. "Let's go before someone decides to reinact The Mummy."

[JANE EYRE]

Jane nodded and smiled a small smile, laying a hand on top of Ichabod's that rested warmly on her shoulder. She knew that he was right and despite their differing childhoods the same lesson could be shared by the both of them. It was a lesson that she had already known for most of her life and in one moment, she forgot all about it. Jane had regained her head and accepted the fact that those books were probably long gone. No matter how beautiful and precious they were, they were now in the hands of her cousins who avoided books like they were the plague.

Jane was prepared to move on when Ichabod placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him. Her shoulder was pressed against his side and she felt smaller than usual wrapped in his gangly limb. It didn't help that this was the closest she had been to a man in months.

"Let's go before someone decides to reinact The Mummy."

Jane, flushed bright pink and somewhat flustered, didn't understand the statement. Of course Ichabod didn't know that Jane didn't really watch movies or television and seldom listened to the radio. Her life was spent in relative silence with books and art her only real forms of entertainment. "The Mummy? I'm afraid I don't understand the reference,"

[ichabod]

A smile crept to the boys lips as another hand came to rest upon his. He could tell she understood, no matter how hard the lesson was to deal with, and for that, he was glad. Ichabod was never one to deal with emotional people, which would be why he was always in the lab rather than dealing with the victims or suspects during a case. Actually, Ichabod was never one to deal with people at all, and was suddenly surprised by the fact that in just a few minutes, he had become close with this girl- this stranger.

But he was comfortable with her, which was strange. Ichabod wasn't ever comfortable around anyone unless they were dead. So why was he so comfortable with Jane? It made no sense. Ichabod could not even understand it, and that was something that never happened.

Ichabod stopped in his tracks and gasped in mock horror at Janes reaction to his The Mummy comment. "Ohmygod, were you living under a rock before you came here?" he joked, then continued walking. "It's a classic! One of the best movies ever made! You must come over to my place and watch it with me sometime." Ichabod smiled down at Jane, completely oblivious that he had just proposed a situation that was, to most average minded human beings, very much like a date.

[JANE EYRE]

Jane shook her head in amusement at Ichabod. For someone she had literaly just met, he made her smile more than anyone else had. Jane was smiling real smiles, not the faked ones that were there just for propriety's sake. It had been a long time since she had laugh, since she had felt comfortable around someone. Well, it felt like a long time. Well, it hadn't been that long actually, and that's what had been bothering Jane just moments earlier.

It hadn't been that long ago and that's why Jane was crying. That had been why Ichabod hadn't let her just walk away with her head down. It was kind of funny, in retrospect, that her crying over what had happened is what had lead to her meeting a man who would make her forget, even momentarily.

At Ichabod's offer for her to join him sometime to watch the movie, Jane felt all of the lessons that were drilled into her at school kick in. "I don't think that it would be proper," Jane said in a hurry and quickly pulled out of his grip. It took her a moment to realize how she came across. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it in that way. It's just," Jane paused, thinking of how she could word what she needed to say. "I was raised in a very old fashioned boarding school and some of the lessons they taught stuck to me,"

[ichabod]

"Wha? But.. I... I.. uh.. but.." Ichabod stammered as Jane spoke, pulling away. What had he done? What had he said? Why was everything all of a sudden falling apart? Did things have to go wrong? Why had she reacted the way she did? His mind spun with questions, but no answers. Ichabod stood, dumbfounded, staring at Jane. He was confused. Why was it not proper? What had they taught her at her school? What was wrong in his proposition?

Ichabod looked down, shuffling his feet. Might as well apologize, even if he didn't know what he had done wrong. It was something he had learned over the years. Even if he didn't know what he had done that caused someone to be upset, it was best to just apologize and move along, get things over with, and live your life. "I'm sorry, Jane..." he said softly, touching her arm gently with his hand.

But the thought still nagged at him, racked his brain. What was it in his words that had drug this reaction from her? Was it something from her past? Obviously, since she mentioned her school. But why? The human mind was a mystery. Sighing, Ichabod bit his lip and turned away, not wanting to look at Jane. Not now. Not until he had figured out what went wrong.

[JANE EYRE]

"I'm sorry Ichabod," Jane shook her head, realizing her mistake. She felt like she had just kicked a puppy. Jane felt terrible for making Ichabod feel like he should apologize. "You didn't do anything wrong, I promise," She laid her hand on his bicep. "I'm just...I was raised by extremely old-fashioned Catholics. We weren't allowed to go into the main part of town without a chaperon and I-" Jane trailed, totally unsure if she was helping any.

"I have this block in my mind sometimes, about men and relationships. The last, and only man really, in my life." Jane paused and looked down. "Well, let's just say that there are a lot of bad feelings mixed in good memories about him. And I really don't want to take any of that out on you, but its left me more wary than before," Jane dropped her hand from Ichabod's arm and wrapped it around herself.

"I'm sorry. I hope you still wouldn't mind showing me the mummy exhibit," Jane smiled tiredly, somewhat forcibly.

She had just bared her soul to a man that she had just met. She had revealed everything about herself that she had been trying to hide from.

[ichabod]

Dark eyes focused in on the girl before him as she spoke, telling of her past. Ichabod listened intently, not letting a word get past his ears. She was upset, sincere, and extremely apologetic. Jane was telling the truth, but not all of it. She was holding back, but why would she want to spill her entire life history out to the gawky young man whom she had just met?

Why would she confide in him, a stranger, about her last relationship? Was the trust between the two that strong, or was she just careless as to what she told whom? Ichabod was puzzled, but tried his hardest not to let that show as he payed attention to his companion.

He wanted her to know he understood, that he accepted the fact that she was brought up in a way far different from his own, although he was still attempting to figure it out himself. Ichabod, being brought up in an elegant household and surrounded by people who also had more money than he could ever imagine, found it hard to understand that some were not as fortunate as he, and they barely lived paycheck to paycheck in order to survive.

Ichabod stood in silence as Jane finished speaking, his eyes locked on hers. He stared at her for a moment, somewhat as if he was trying to see right into her soul, trying to figure out the jigsaw puzzle that lived inside of her. She was a mystery, and one that fascinated Ichabod more than anyone he had ever met before. "Yeah, sure. Come on, lets go." he smiled softly, gently grabbing her elbow and tugging towards the directing they were previously heading.

[ooc; so so so sorry for not replying, but my internet was down so I couldn't get on =/ but now I'm back! yay!]

[JANE EYRE]

Jane shyly adverted her eyes when Ichabod turned to examine her so closely. Logically, she knew it was because of what he did professionally. A crime scene investigator was naturally more inquisitive than other people. Jane was actually a little surprised that he had left it at that, but was grateful for it. Ichabod hadn't pried like she was partly expecting. Most people, even the most uninterested, wouldn't have been satisfied by the little bit of information that she had parted with.

Jane let Ichabod steer her down the corridor, back in the direction they had been headed. "I really am sorry," She added for good measure. She had just befriended him and she didn't want to lose her new companion just because she misspoke. That didn't seem right or fair. Jane liked Ichabod, she liked his childlike enthusiasm for life and his open, funny personality.

[ichabod]

"Don't worry about it," Ichabod forced a smile through a curious expression. He didn't want Jane to know how intruiged he was by her actions, and how, in a way, he wanted to study her- as if she was part of an experiment. But he couldn't do that, she was a human being, just like he was. He could not treat her like a victim of some crime he was investigating.

But oh, how he wanted to. he wanted to understand her more than anything. She proved to be a difficult case to crack, one that would require further investigation. Ichabod knew he would have to be careful about how he acted around Jane, as to not tip her off as to what he was doing. Yes, he genuinely enjoyed her company, but his inquistive nature got the better of him.

Ichabod looked down at his shorter companion as they walked, carefully studying her features. She seemed concerned and worried and upset and greatful all at the same time, which confused the young man more than anything. He let a soft sigh escape his lips as they continued, letting his eyes wander as his mind whirled.

[JANE EYRE]

Jane pretended not to notice that Ichabod was studying her closely. They had just passed an awkward moment so she felt it would be best to avoid another one. "Tell about "The Mummy". The movie," Jane redirected the conversation back to where it had been before she had clammed up and made it uncomfortable. Really, she was genuinely interested in the movie, it wasn't like her question was asked solely for the purpose of moving on in the conversation. If it had caused Ichabod to react so strongly when she said that she had never seen it, it must be pretty good.

At least, it must be pretty good to him. And, considering the way they already got along so well, Jane was willing to bet that she would enjoy it as well. After all, they were both at an art museum; him for the mummies and her for, originally the art, and now the mummies as well. Perhaps, the film would be one more area of common ground between them, one more thing to chat happily about.

[ichabod]

Eyes glanced around at the various pieces of art that adorned the walls. Paintings the size of SUVs, and others the size of a grapefruit. Now, he could understand the small one, but he could not comprehend what would possibly compel someone to splatter paint onto a piece of paper the size of a minivan for hours.

It was somewhat contradictory for Ichabod to be thinking this, for his work required paitence, which he greatly lacked, and precise skill. The precision required to lift a finger print, or identify an unknown chemical, was equal to painting every detail on a womans face. Every shadow, every glimmer of light, every bent piece of grass needed acute attention. But Ichabod failed to take note of this. His scientific mind soared over the creativity and persistance of the artists who's entire lives were dedicated to the paintings hung on the walls.

He looked down at Jane as she spoke, taken suddenly by the break in the silence. "The Mummy?" he stuttered, forgetting what she was refering to. "OH! The movie, right." Ichabod chuckled softly at his own stupidity. "Well, it depends on which version you're talking about. The first one, the origonal and the best, is rather old, and is filmed in black and white. The new one with all these really awsome special effects was more recent, in the past ten years or so, and is cool but not as cool as the first."

Smiling, Ichabod continued to talk about one of his favorite subjects other than science and his own intelligence- movies. "Its about this archeologist that goes into this tomb in Egypt and discovers a mummy, but there's a curse and the mummies come to life and try to kill him and all these bugs come after him and..." Ichabod grinned like a child as he spoke, continuing on and on about the movie, occasionally looking down at Jane to make sure she was still with him. But mostly, he entertained himself.

[JANE EYRE]

Jane smiled slightly as the two of them walked through the hallway, listening to Ichabod ramble happily about the film. Once again, his enthusiasm was very apparant and it was still endearing. Jane let him talk, nodding along even though she was a little lost about the story (especially the bug part). She wasn't going to let her ignorance interrupt the moment since things were finally like they had been minutes earlier. So, Jane busied herself with watching the passing pieces of art, making note of which ones to go back to when she had more time that wasn't designated for mummies.

Jane saw one piece that she had been wanting to see all day. It was a piece of Holocaust art, one of the only pieces exhibited any more. It was on loan to the MoMA for only a couple of weeks and it wasn't everyday that Jane had a chance to look at a symbolist piece.

"Ichabod? May I go look at that painting over there," Jane pointed at the painting; it was of a woman holding a twisting snake. "If you don't mind, that is. If you'd rather keep moving, I'll look at it on my way out,"