Third floor common room, Sunday early evening

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

After three days cooped up in the clinic and looking for something to distract herself with, Ivanova limped to the common room and settled herself gently onto a couch with a sigh, leaning her cane within easy reach and adjusting her sling as she stretched out and turned on the TV.

Speedskating. Not her favourite sport, but look at those legs . . .

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[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta paused just inside the common room as she saw who was there. She needed to get out of the room for a while, to get someplace that wasn't there, or a classroom, or even town. There was nothing that said she couldn't just...sit, watch television. Steeling herself, she entered and flopped onto the opposite end of the sofa. She furrowed her brow at the skating on screen. She opened her mouth to speak, looked at Ivanova, and thought better of it. Instead, she concetrated on trying to figure out exactly what the commentators were saying.

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

Ivanova shot her an odd look as Lyta practically ignored her, even though she was sitting beside her.

"I've been in the clinic for the last three days and that's all the greeting I get?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

[psi16.livejournal.com]

"I wasn't sure if you were going to acknowledge me or not. I decided to err on the side of caution." She gave a rueful smile. "How are you feeling?"

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

"Like springtime and roses," Ivanova replied snarkily. "As well as can be considered," she said more seriously. "What did you do with your weekend?"

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta sighed, sinking further into the cushions. "Studied. Lurked. I probably should have gotten out a little more, but..." She shrugged. "Just felt a bit anti-social in general."

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

"I didn't have the luxury of feeling antisocial," Ivanova groaned, dropping her head back against the couch. "I hate being cooped up in medlab. The clinic. Whatever."

[psi16.livejournal.com]

"I've never been fond of it, either." She sighed, recalling the Thirdspace incident, and how insistent Stephen had been about her blackouts. Her eyes drifted back to the television, though she didn't see it.

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

Ivanova was silent for a long time, watching the brightly-despandexed skaters zip around the track. "Look at those legs," she murmured, watching the womens' relay.

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta arched a brow. "Not really my type," she said with a smirk.

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

Ivanova glanced away with a wry expression. "Sorry. It just, ah, slipped out. Didn't mean to . . . offend." Right. Wrong telepath.

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta shrugs. "None taken. Nothing like that has been on my mind lately, anyway...despite the teenage hormones." Not since Byron. But she didn't say that.

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

"Really?" Now it was Ivanova's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Not even with Valentine's Day just around the corner?" Valentine's made her think pink. Which made her think Tonks. Mmmm, Tonks.

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta swallowed. Especially not with Valentine's around the corner. Aloud, she said, "No."

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

Ivanova just nodded. Monosyllables usually required a change of topic. "How did the history exam go for you? I can't believe I slept instead of studying."

[psi16.livejournal.com]

"I think I did okay. The ancient cultures...well, those particular ancient cultures I find pretty boring." She shrugged. "But I always get nervous before the first exam."

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

"There's one nice thing about having a career waiting for you," Ivanova murmured with a smile. "You don't really have to worry about graduating with honours."

[psi16.livejournal.com]

Lyta nodded. "If you know where you're going, it's easy to get there." She sighed. God, what put her in this funk?

Pushing herself off the sofa, she gave a weary smile to Ivanova. "Look, I'm suddenly not feeling like much company, so I'll head back to the room. See you later?"

[suzotchka.livejournal.com]

"Alright, I'll be back in a bit," Ivanova replied pleasantly, but her brow furrowed. It seems that she was the one who had managed to drive the other girl off this time. What had she said?