Second Floor Common Room

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory sat on the couch with Vladdie, watching the Eternal Champion DVDs that had just arrived. Thank God for Netflix.

She paused, and rewound a few times as she watched the Valentine's Day episode. Something seemed awfully familiar about that fiancé....

[ooc: Open to all, omg]

Comments

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Way, way back at the beginning of the year," Rory replied, her cheeks heating up. "I was drunk, almost drowned. Really boring story. New topic!"

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"You were drunk and she pushed you into a pool?" Anakin scowled. "Unacceptable."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Um." Rory was a very dark red. "She actually was kind of trying to help me. It was a really weird way to go about it, but it worked. Anyway. Look at Vladdie!"

The puppy was wriggling about in his sleep, letting out the occasional yip as he flailed happily. One might be led to believe his dreams involved chasing.

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"How would almost drowning help anything?" Anakin asked.

He smiled at Vladdie. "And yes, he is very cute."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory sighed.

"She was trying to help me get someone's attention," she mumbled. "And seriously, we should stop talking about this now because we're both going to get uncomfortable if I keep going with this topic."

She scritched Vladdie's tummy. "I wonder what he's dreaming."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin finally put it all together. "Oh," he said, suddenly finding the carpet very fascinating.

He tried to be distracted by Vladdie. "I'd think something that he can chase," he said. "Or maybe Steve."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Maybe dust or something," Rory agreed. "He's into dust."

She pushed Vladdie a little closer to Anakin, and if that meant that the puppy now provided a sort of shield in case anyone looked for Rory's hand, which was reaching for Anakin's, well...that's just how Vladdie was sleeping.

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

One of Anakin's hands might've squeezed Rory's just a little.

The other was petting Vladdie, though, so it was hard to tell.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Gosh, distracting little puppy.

Distracting, rolly little puppy.

Distracting, rolly little puppy who, oh noes, rolled closer to Anakin. Thus forcing Rory to scoot closer.

"So. What have you been up to today?"

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"Nothing remotely interesting," Anakin said. "Meditating, trying to work past some, um, weird dreams. More work from Obi-Wan, this time about trade regulations which are drier than unbuttery toast."

His hands made an unconscious wiggle. And hey, landed on top of Rory's again. How about that.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Weird dreams?" Rory asked, suddenly serious. "Anything you feel like sharing? Or just, um, the same stuff?"

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"This one's, um, different since the study group. All heavy breathing and bright lights. I don't understand it."

And anger, and fear, but he wasn't going to mention that. That part, for some reason, kept staying the same.

Anakin shrugged, trying not to seem to concerned. "I'll ask Obi-Wan in my next letter. Maybe he can help again. Either way, this isn't going to be mentioned for class if Professor Calendar wants us to share with the group."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Cake," Rory said simply. "Possibly pie. Because there is absolutely no way in hell I'm sharing the dreams that could probably use the most analyzing."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin nodded. "Well, not with everyone in class, anyway." He lowered his voice. "You know you can always tell me, though, right?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory gave a wane smile. "I know. They haven't been too interesting lately. I wasn't kidding about the cake thing." She shrugged. "And there are nightmares. Angelus, Darla, and Drusilla all make fairly regular appearances. But nothing too horrific."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin really, really wanted to give her a hug.

He settled for a quick squeeze of her hand instead.

"All of this talk of dreams," he said, yawning. "I think I'm ready for bed."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Good idea," Rory said, stopping the DVD. "I probably ought to sleep or something. Even though I don't really feel like it, it's better than dozing off while out here or something, right?"

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin nodded, reaching over to pick up Vladdie. "I'll help you into your room," he said, totally inviting himself over.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Vladdie rolled sleepily and pawed at Anakin's sleeve.

"Yes, I clearly need much help," Rory said, popping the disc into the case. "Given how much stuff I have to carry and all."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"Well, you know me," Anakin said, standing up. "I'm a helper."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Got the sleepy boy?" Rory asked, scritching Vladdie's ears affectionately. "Then you're, indeed, helping me hugely."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin grinned. "I try." He began walking out of the common room.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory followed. "I'm glad his sleep schedule seems to finally make sense," she said, watching Vladdie. "He used to be nocturnal. Which, yeah, vampire."

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

"But not so great for you," Anakin said. He smiled down at the sleeping puppy he was holding.

It was probably adorable, if you go for that sort of thing.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory did indeed go for that sort of thing. And thus she came perilously close to saying "Aww."

"Yeah, not awesome for Rory," she agreed, her tone clearly indicating her feelings regarding Anakin's adorableness. "But thankfully he sleeps most of the night now, and when I wake up, he's just quietly chatting with Steve."