That's Just How She Makes Friends... {open}

[Minerva]

Juniper rubbed her hands and wrists as she walked. She hated morning stiffness. It made her feel so weak, so helpless, but at least it would be gone in another hour or so. Worse than her pain were the "cures". She could still taste her morning dose of...whatever healing herb it was...in her mouth. Mixed with water and swished around, the supplement looked like mud, tasted like it too. Juniper smiled and looked at the ground. The thought amused her, so she reached down and scooped some dirt on her finger. She looked around to make sure no one was watching, then she slipped it in her mouth. She grimaced and swallowed, and then began to laugh. No, the supplement doesn't taste like dirt. It tastes worse than dirt.

This was how Juniper dealt with her life. She thought of how that morning her little brother Ash had told her she had dark circles under her eyes. "It makes you look like an old lady," he had said. Not meanly, just in the teasing spirit of the family. For half a second Juniper had been offended, but in the next second she smiled and replied in a grossly exaggerated Capitol accent, "Do you like them? I got them to go with my arthritis. Dark circles have been absolutely trending this season you know." She had ruffled his hair, kissed her mother, and left for an early morning walk.
Usually she would run, but she just hadn't been feeling well enough today.

Juniper paused, she hadn't gone far yet, and she had already reached the woods that covered most of District 7. Which way today? The woods? The village? Maybe go visit someone? She paused. Or maybe let someone come visit me... Juniper smiled slyly. Maybe it's time to make a new friend. So she sat down where she was, the spot was frequented by many of District 7. And she waited. This should be interesting...

[aquatic mammalian wh0re]

Vern walked aimlessly down a currently unoccupied road, which was usually bustling with people. But, it was Thursday morning, school was out that day, and all the adults were at work. Most kids decided to either stay home and sleep or run around creating mischief in the District. But not Vern. He usually sulked around, looking for something to do, avoiding people. The woods were his getaway, where no one would disturb him, and he could be himself and watch nature at its finest. He didn't show interest in teens his age, except Savannah, his only friend. They were technically dating, but they were kind of drifting apart.

Nearing closer to the woods, Vern noticed a sound. Was it.. someone whistling? Ugh, did someone ruin this place too? He looked up, only to see a girl sitting on the ground, playing with the grass. She wasn't particularly beautiful, but she looked gentle. No, she also appeared strong, both physically and emotionally. Vern quickly judged and read her, finding her okay. What have I got to lose?

"Hey."

(OOC): Hope this sounds okay :P I'm probably gonna do first person after this, the intro seemed like it would be better in third. If you wanna get a little bit of background on Vern, here's a link: thehungergamesrpg.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=lowmidchar&thread=34952&page=1
Anyways, nice to meet you (or, post with you..) and let's have fun! ^.^

[Minerva]

And here comes today's winner. Juniper thought as the boy strolled up. She vaguely recognized him from school, but he hung around with a different crowd. Actually, I don't think he hangs with any crowd. He looked a bit annoyed, but not angry. Except for that chin. Or maybe it always juts out like that. Either way, Juniper didn't feel that she was in danger of angering him. And this little trick was just her own impromtu, bizarre way of making a new friend.

Juniper kept twiddling the grass until the boy spoke. Then she dropped it and smiled at his greeting. Let it begin. Instead of saying hello, Juniper looked straight at the boy and gave a little two note whistle, something like a songbird's morning greeting. She cocked her head to one side and waited, watching his expression. How she would continue from here depended on how this boy reacted. Juniper liked having her fun, but she would never try to hurt or scare someone.

(OOC: Sorry for the short post. It's a little rushed, and this length is significantly shorter than my norm.)

[aquatic mammalian wh0re]

After my short hello, I'm greeted with nothing but a short whistle. What, are you a bird..? I raise my eyebrows, rather shocked by her.. strange greeting. I realize it's very clear how surprised I am, so I squint at the girl sitting there. Not angrily, but curiously.

Is she a loner like me? Wait, is that even possible? I had seen other kids at school who were simply friendless, but I was a bit different. I just ignored and avoided. The girl looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place the face. There were so many kids at school, so many that I don't pay attention to, that I forget who people are.

"Uh, hi.." I decide to speak, as this situation is already awkward enough..

(OOC: That's okay. I'm not one for super long posts. I guess I'm not very descriptive..

[Minerva]

Juniper watched intently as the boy worked through what was going on. Shock...Confusion...Curiosity. Excellent. The boy was handling her unusual greeting relatively well. Even if his second attempt at conversatin was a bit repetitive.

Juniper responded in the same way she had before, but with a different whistle. "Whistle, Whistle, Chirp! Whistle, Whiste, Chirp!" Again she watched how he reacted. She hoped he would do something funny, or just give up so [/i]she could say something funny. Or maybe do something entirely unexpected. Anything to make this morning interesting, this peculiar little detour worthwhile.

[aquatic mammalian wh0re]

Responding with yet more bird sounds, I couldn't help but laugh. Hmm.. my first laugh today. I guess strangers aren't so bad after all. The girl just sat still, clearly waiting for me to do something. I raised my eyebrows a little and smiled. Smiling is almost rare for me. Except for when I'm with my little sister, it's hard to coax a smile onto my face. But there was something about this girl, something that made my heart jump a little. Her gentle humor, her soft features. Why not talk?

"Haha, very cute," I said playfully. Normally, I wouldn't open up this much, but the girl made me laugh. She wasn't a bad person or anything. In fact, I liked her.

[Minerva]

He laughed. So Juniper liked him. It was as simple as that. Anyone who can laugh at themself or their surroundings was worth getting to know in Juniper's book. And then the boy smiled. Juniper smiled back and looked him straight in the eyes. His smile looked only slightly unusual. Like he only puts it on for special occasions. Juniper laughed at herself. That makes his smile sound like an old tux.

"Haha, very cute."

The word cute took Juniper a bit offguard. Was he being sarcastic? People called Juniper funny, clever, or friendly. Never cute. But as she looked at his face, she decided he had meant what he said; he hadn't been sarcastic at all. This all went through her head in less than a second, so she promptly replied, "Mmm...Cute's a matter of opinion. Snarky might be a better word for it." But Juniper said it with a good natured smile, a smile which contradicted anything bad she might have to say about herself. That was one of Juniper's peculiarities. She often said bad things about herself in a half-joking tone, not seeking attention, just trying to make light of life. And anyone who actually knew her would never believe the things she said anyway. She looked at the boy. Juniper was the curious one now.

[aquatic mammalian wh0re]

"Hmm, so you do talk," I tease. But the words she said.. They were said with a smile, one that gave you the feeling she didn't care, or simply chose to ignore her insecurities. But snarky? No. It was funny, it actually made me smile. I look at her oddly, trying to figure her out. Normally I could read people, but there was something about her that made me second guess myself. Perhaps what was on the outside did not match what was inside. I felt like she was hurt. Like something bothered her, but she couldn't do anything about it. She definitely looked tired. What was I missing?

Finally giving up, I held out my hand, saying, "Nice to meet you. I'm Vern. I come around to the woods a lot, but I've never seen you around here." I attempted at a warm smile, but it wasn't something that came naturally to me. It probably looked stupid.

[Minerva]

"Hmm, so you do talk."

Juniper smiled. "Only when I have something worth saying. Or when something strikes me as funny, I talk a lot then too." She said it briskly, not rudely, but as though the words had just come to her and it was her duty to state a simple fact.

The boy smiled and pondered her for a second. Juniper let him, she was used to this sort of scrutiny, even if she didn't know why people found her so fascinating. Unless it was just that it's completely abnormal for a poor, disabled kid to be so happy and confident.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Vern. I come around to the woods a lot, but I've never seen you around here."

Juniper realized that she had been looking up at the boy-Vern-all this time, and finally stood up. She reached out for his hand and looked straight into his eyes. The only way I can relate to people is directly. She thought as she grasped his hand. Juniper used to have a firm handshake, a handshake that forced new acquantinces to remember her. She still had a solid grip, but the arthritis was worst in her hands.

Juniper was beginning to like this guy. Relatively good-humored, didn't take himself too seriously, direct. Those were her impressions anyway.

"I'm Juniper Knoll. And you wouldn't see me, I rarely hang around." She leaned toward Vern, lowering her voice with a confiding glance, "Don't let looks fool you, I'm wildly popular." As she finished her little speech, Juniper laughed good-naturedly. "As if anyone in their right mind cares about the world's opinion, or popularity, or any of that nonsense..."