Poor Man's Roses (Osric, Casual) -FIN-

[OSRIC YOUNG]

“I think Osric is a fantastic name,” Siobhan said with a grin, “And you have a great story to go with it. It almost sounds like something you’d find in a novel!” Osric giggled, agreeing with her. He wasn't a stuck up person, but he did know what was likable and what wasn't about him, for the most part. And he was quite proud of his name. Naming your kid is a sign of affection at birth, after all.

After exclaiming his love for Siobhan's fantastic cooking, the woman nodded and said, “I’m glad you like them." Osric munched happily as she took one of her own.

“So, Osric, what are you up to these days? Aside from trying to teach me how to play?”

"Well, um, actually..."[/b] Osric started awkwardly, then stopped and looked back down at the cookie he was eating. He did plenty of things, and he was happy with them, but to other people, he technically did, well... nothing. He worked at the music store. He didn't want Siobhan thinking he was a total loser, though.

"I have a job at a place that sells instruments and music and stuff. It's a nice deal, because I get to play with them,"[/b] Osric said with a somewhat nervous smile. That made his job sound... normal, right? Still... he couldn't just leave out the rest, that'd be... cheating, or something. So while he tried to hold back, he ended up adding anyways, "I work odd jobs too though. And move boxes and stuff for people. As for as jobs go."[/b] He really needed to learn how to hold his tongue. But he'd at least cut himself off by saying 'as jobs go.' Baby steps.

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

Siobhan regretted asking Osric what he did when he looked rather awkward, possibly embarrassed. She didn’t know what he could have to be embarrassed about, but whatever it was, he was staring at his cookie for answers.

"Well, um, actually...I have a job at a place that sells instruments and music and stuff. It's a nice deal, because I get to play with them. I work odd jobs too though. And move boxes and stuff for people. As for as jobs go."

“Working at a music store sounds like an awesome place for someone like you – I mean, you can actually play them!”

Siobhan couldn’t imagine what there was to be embarrassed about when it came to that. He had a job he could enjoy and have fun with. He was probably knowledgeable and people wanted that when they picked out an instrument.

But she could see why he wouldn’t be as excited about telling her that he worked odd jobs and moved boxes for people. It wasn’t glamorous or something you wrote home to mom about, but it was a job. She smiled softly at him, resisting the urge to run a hand through his hair or squeeze his hand in reassurance.

“And odd jobs or moving boxes pays the bills,” she pointed out. “When I was your age, I was waiting tables by night and filing paperwork by day.”

It hadn’t been awful, but there were times when she was barely able to feed herself. But she’d made it, and when Jamie had come into her life, she’d been lucky enough to move on from all of it.

“With what it costs to live in this city, you do what you have to do.”

[OSRIC YOUNG]

“Working at a music store sounds like an awesome place for someone like you," Siobhan said graciously. She did seem to see the good in something that a lot of people took as 'You're useless.' It was wonderfully refreshing… she was so sweet. "What I mean, you can actually play them! And odd jobs or moving boxes pays the bills."

"That they do,"[/b] Osric beamed, childish pride at - for once - someone's own recognition that it didn't matter if you were a loser in society's eyes at all. As long as you could pay the few bills to be comfortable, and eat, and be happy, it didn't matter. Being happy was the most perfect thing in the world, after all.

“When I was your age, I was waiting tables by night and filing paperwork by day. With what it costs to live in this city, you do what you have to do.”

Osric was just so happy, he couldn't stop smiling. He stopped eating because it was rude to smile and have food in your mouth, but he was just so perfectly chuffed by Siobhan. She was just so nice! So Osric told her, because it was good to tell people what you thought.

"You're fantastic,"[/b] he grinned, completely honest. "Really, I mean it."[/b]

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"That they do."

Osric beamed at her comment and it was enough to reassure her that he was reassured. After all, she did know what it was like to go hungry and choose which bills would get paid that month. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than being on the streets. One really did have to do what one had to do. There was no sense in being embarrassed about it.

"You're fantastic. Really, I mean it."

Siobhan studied the smile on his face and the earnest tone he’d spoken in. She wasn’t sure what to make of that compliment. She wasn’t fantastic because she’d also been through the ringer or because she made cookies. She was just herself, just like Osric was himself. Still, it was rude to respond to a compliment like that.

“Well, thank you, Osric. I think you’re pretty fantastic, too.”

And that was honest. He was a nice young man with his future ahead of him, and not once had he made fun of her or chided her when she had made a mistake or didn’t get something automatically. He was patient and kind. She could deal with that.

“So, how often do you think we should have lessons?”

When in doubt, change the subject, after all.

“I’ve never learned anything like this, so I’m going to go by your recommendation here.”

[OSRIC YOUNG]

“Well, thank you, Osric. I think you’re pretty fantastic, too," Siobhan said with a smile, but quickly changed the subject, and Osric then understand that he had probably made her feel somewhat uncomfortable with his earnestly. Most people didn't like that, he knew.

There were so many things that people were and were not supposed to do as an adult, and it frustrated Osric. Not that he considered himself a total adult, but he was certainly old enough to be considered independent and responsible. Still, he hated all the things people were supposed to do. As a kid, he could deal with it, because they were things like "Don't yell" and "Don't run in the halls" and "For God's sake stop drawing on the walls." But now they were just… dull. Siobhan didn't seem offended by the fact that he was so straightforward, but some people seemed to be. It was a shame.

“So, how often do you think we should have lessons?" Siobhan asked, "I’ve never learned anything like this, so I’m going to go by your recommendation here.”

"Well, I've thought about this,"[/b] Osric said, because he had, "And usually when you learn and instrument you have one lesson a week. But because we're both adults and you're probably busy and stuff, it's really up to you. We can do it once a week, or every other, or once a month, whatever works. As long as you practice on your own the regularity of lessons isn't as important."[/b] They were important - he was sure he never would have gotten very good at piano or guitar without teachers (his mediocre ability to play flute and drums were testament to that) but he knew a few people who, without any training, had been dedicated enough to learn perfectly well without a teacher.

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"Well, I've thought about this and usually when you learn and instrument you have one lesson a week. But because we're both adults and you're probably busy and stuff, it's really up to you. We can do it once a week, or every other, or once a month, whatever works. As long as you practice on your own the regularity of lessons isn't as important."

Siobhan was pleased Osric had some idea. She was under no illusions that she’d be done after a single lesson, but from there she had no idea where to go. She had half convinced herself that she shouldn’t bother to learn at all, so it was good that he’d put some thought into it.

“I will practice – scout’s honor,” she replied, knowing that was the truth, but it was how often that was the question, Life got busy, work got crazy. It was something that she would need to have a stiff schedule about. “Maybe once a week would be best, though. I don’t know about you, but after a few weeks or even a month, it seems like I lose momentum on things.”

It wasn’t that she lost interest or excitement, it was just that she lost the pace that she would start off with. She’d probably over-practice everything Osric had shown her for the first week, but after that it would be less and less as she got comfortable with it. It wouldn’t be that she’d changed her mind or anything like that, it would just be that as it was familiar, she wouldn’t try as hard to make it better.

“That is if you have the time. I can make do with every couple weeks or so if it works better with your schedule.”

She’d just have to make sure she was scheduling time to practice and making sure that she held true to it. It wouldn’t be as easy as a weekly class, but she would have to manage. After all, she had asked Osric for this favor, and she didn’t want to seem like she was ungrateful or worse – a demanding, bored socialite. She wouldn’t take up any time he couldn’t afford to give.

[OSRIC YOUNG]

“I will practice – scout’s honor,” Siobhan said seriously, and Osric was pleased. She paused to think, then said, "Maybe once a week would be best, though. I don’t know about you, but after a few weeks or even a month, it seems like I lose momentum on things.”

That was certainly true for him. If he didn't keep up with something, he simply lost interest in it. "That is if you have the time. I can make do with every couple weeks or so if it works better with your schedule," she added a second later, assuring him that there was flexibility in their arrangement.

"Oh, no, I'm sure I could do once a week!" Osric reassured her. "Sometimes the time might have to be changed a little, if that's alright with you, because of my other jobs and all, but once a week is definitely best,"[/b] he smiled.

Finishing the two cookies he'd taken, he also finished off the last of his milk in a satisfying gulp, and stood, saying, "Just text me or something, and we can organize a time for next week, if you want,"[/b] he said, looking towards the living room and wondering if it would be rude to get his guitar back so he could leave now. Not that he wasn't having a nice time here or anything, he just felt it was an appropriate time for him to leave now. Or maybe he was supposed to do the dishes now? He'd let Siobhan say, if she would.

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

"Oh, no, I'm sure I could do once a week! Sometimes the time might have to be changed a little, if that's alright with you, because of my other jobs and all, but once a week is definitely best.”

Siobhan smiled, glad that Osric was up to the challenge. She was sure it would be a long haul. She was a slow learner when it came to kinesthetic things. She was quick with books and papers, but working with her hands slowed her down.

"Just text me or something, and we can organize a time for next week, if you want."

“Of course, sure, I’ll check my calendar and let you know,” she replied, standing as well. She still had most of her cookie and her glass of milk waiting, but she would take care of that, and Osric’s dishes, after he was out the door. She’d already taken up so much of his time. “I have a fairly steady routine, so I’m sure it won’t be a problem if we need to move times around.”

She walked over to the pantry and picked out a tin of cookies from her baking earlier that day. She turned and held them out to Osric.

“Here, these are for you. Thank you for coming and teaching me,” she told him really meaning it. “I’ll just get a cheque for the lesson written up for you and I can jump into practicing.”

She smiled at him, brushing his arm fondly as she made her way back into the main room where her purse was waiting.

[OSRIC YOUNG]

“Of course, sure, I’ll check my calendar and let you know,” Siobhan said, also standing, “I have a fairly steady routine, so I’m sure it won’t be a problem if we need to move times around.”

"Great," he smiled, pleased that their arrangement had been so easily thought out. He watched curiously as she turned and handed him a tin.

“Here, these are for you. Thank you for coming and teaching me, I’ll just get a cheque for the lesson written up for you and I can jump into practicing.”

"Oh, you don't have to -- thank you so much," he beamed, knowing it was rude to refuse but a tad embarrassed, even though he'd not forced Siobhan to make them for him or anything. Hopefully she just did this all the time, gave people cookies. Good thing they were delicious, made them easier to accept.

With Siobhan out of the room, Osric felt a bit awkward, and so he fancied himself with looking at her walls and things about. The kitchen was somehow just as cozy as the living room, or as cozy as a kitchen could be. It sort of made him feel like he was in a family house. He wondered if she was lonely, living alone now. She'd seemed happy when he'd met her before, and she seemed happy now. But he didn't believe that people could live alone and be perfectly content with it. Well, at least not in his case.

There was a picture of Siobhan and her late husband, and Osric once again regretted not going to the calling hours. He was sure Siobhan was a glass-half-full kind of person, and she was definitely strong, so he didn't worry too much. but just a bit.

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

Siobhan didn’t respond to Osric’s thanks and insistence that she didn’t have to be so generous towards him. She was happy to send him home with cookies and pay him for his time. It was the least she could do, after all. What she was learning was more than worth it.

She quickly fished her chequebook out of her purse and wrote out the sum she thought was fair for his time. She tore it from the book and walked back into the kitchen, pausing in the doorway to watch as Osric was looking at a picture on her fridge. It was one taken of her and Jamie just after they were married. They had been sitting at a function, drinking wine and donating ridiculous sums of money, but the picture had been taken by a friend, and it simply looked like they were sitting together and enjoying a nice evening out. She was smiling adoringly at Jamie who was looking back at her like they were the only two people in the room. It was how he looked at her whenever she spoke, and she still adored him for making her feel like she had been someone’s whole world.

“That was taken at a fundraiser for social programs for inner city youth,” she told him, walking closer so that she could look at the photo better. “It was years ago, but I still send the organization a cheque every September.”

And as far as she knew, a lot of kids benefitted from it and their names were on some benefactor’s list. It was amazing how much just a small sum of money could mean.

Speaking of which, she held the cheque out towards Osric. “And here is what I owe you. You’re really a wonderful teacher, Osric.”

[OSRIC YOUNG]

Siobhan came back, and Osric looked away from the picture when she said, “That was taken at a fundraiser for social programs for inner city youth. It was years ago, but I still send the organization a cheque every September.”

It wasn't that that interested Osric, though. Sure, charity was fantastic, and obviously Siobhan was an almost overly charitable person, but the two people in the photo just looked so happy. Seeing other people usually made him happy. But when half of that other people was dead, it somewhat changed the circumstances.

He forced himself to wipe the sour look of his face and turn to face Siobhan when she held out a check to him. "And here is what I owe you. You’re really a wonderful teacher, Osric.”

Osric blinked, and then laughed. Really, he wasn't, at all. "I think you probably beat me there, Siobhan,"[/b] Osric admitted earnestly. Siobhan was a golden example of… strength, really. He truly believed he could learn a lot from her. After all, he had no right ever being sad if she wasn't. He pocketed the check, "But thanks, Siobhan."[/b]

With that, he poked his head into the living room and then headed towards the door. "Bye,"[/b] he said, now somewhat motivated to do something useful today.

[SIOBHAN "NYX" SHAW]

Siobhan was a bit surprised when Osric laughed. "I think you probably beat me there, but thanks, Siobhan."

She frowned a bit, wondering what he could possibly mean by that. She hadn’t taught him a thing, well, unless it was how untalented she was thus far with a guitar. But she put it out of mind as Osric began to make his way to the door. She followed after him, brought up to believe that you locked the door after every guest.

"Bye.”

“Goodbye, Osric – have a safe walk home,” she urged, not sure where his home was, but it wasn’t in her neighborhood, so it was good to be cautious.

She made sure the door was snugly closed and locked behind him, leaning against it as she looked around the apartment. Somewhere up there, Jameson Luther Shaw was laughing at her, probably wondering why she was so anxious to learn now and not when he could have taught her.

“Life’s strange that way, Love,” she sighed, meaning the words for Jamie, even if she knew he wasn't really there laughing at her.

But strange as it was, it kept marching on, and she always marched along with it.

OOC: So last post for me here! Feel free to have a final Osric post, if you want, and if not I'll mark it finit!