(Just Outside) Room 326, a bit after room assignments have been distributed

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta paused just outside the door to room 326, hesitant to enter. She clutched her room assignment in her hand. Drawing a deep breath, she read the text once again: "Roommate Name: Susan Ivanova."

As with the first time she read it, her heart sunk to her stomach, a mixture of sorrow and apprehension. How had Susan ended up here? Had the latest Entil'za met her end, and was transported here for her own second chance? Or some reason less violent? Would Ivanova even remember her? The station XO had her own reasons for not trusting telepaths; despite all their work together during the Shadow War, there was still a level of discomfort on both their parts...especially after everything Lyta had done after the war.

Anyway she looked at things, Lyta found her year was going to be very interesting.

She raised her hand to the doorknob, thought better of it, and knocked. There was no immediate answer. Tapping the door again, she waited only a brief moment before twisting the knob and easing open the door. "Ivanova?" She was met with silence.

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[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

A duffel bag thumps to the ground beside Lyta. Ivanova leans against the wall outside the room and folds her arms. "Alexander," she says coolly. "What's a teep like you doing in a town like this?" Her tone isn't openly hostile, but you can tell that she wasn't pleased about her roommate selection.

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta turns and looks to Ivanova, knowing she should have heard her coming. Then again, that little resistance Susan inherited might have allowed her to sneak up.

She straightens. "I could ask you the same thing."

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

Ivanova grins, just a little. "You could. My answer would be that I asked for and requested a leave of absence from my commanding officer and the President, was granted said leave, and Zathras helped me find this little home away from home. But," here she tapped her lower lip, "Funny thing is, he just dropped me off and didn't mention anything about you. Which leads us to my original question. What are you doing in Fandom?"

[psi16.livejournal.com]

"I..." She smiles, lips taut, and draws in a deep breath, releasing it in a sigh. "Things didn't end well for me and Lorien...well, really Kosh... thought I deserved a second chance." There is a pause and she diverts her eyes. "I'm not so sure."

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

"I am. He should have left you wherever you ended up," Ivanova growled. She shouldered Lyta out of the way and jammed her key in the lock, opening the door. "As soon as I can I'm getting myself out of this room. Until then, stay out of my head and my way."

[[*grin* Oh, this is going to be fun.]]

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta clenches her fists at her side, then swallows her anger and follows Ivanova in. At the foot of one bed rests a footlocker; she knows without opening it that it is hers. She crosses and stands by the bed, knowing she will have to ease her way into what has been Ivanova's domain. Her jaw is still taut with strain as she controls her temper. "Is it all right if I take this one?" she asks as diplomatically as she can manage.

[[Hee! T'will be interesting. Better than "The Real World." One or two more, though, and I gotta crash. Meh.]]

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

"Sure," Ivanova grunts. "New room for me, too. I lived in town last semester. She dumps her duffel bag on the other bed and glances around at the spare furnishings. She'd decorate later. Now, she needed to find a shoulder to bitch on. And some duct tape. For a line down the middle of the room. Without a word, she spins on her heel and stalks out of the room, checking that she's pocketed her keys first.

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta stands still, shaking her head as Ivanova ducks out of the room. It was going to be a long term. She was determined, however, to mend fences with the commander...if such a thing were possible.

After a moment of contemplation, she turned and began unpacking her things into one of the dressers.

[psi16.livejournal.com]

[I'm gonna crash, so I'll catch ya tomorrow sometime. Real life strikes again!]