Second Floor Common Room, Thursday Evening

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders had gone back to his room after Ares's class and taken a long nap. Luckily for him, he didn't have any classes tomorrow -- which was good considering that now his sleep schedule was going to be all wonky.

Anyway, he had finally hauled himself next door to the common room, where he was devouring a chicken Caesar salad about the size of a small jacuzzi while watching cheesy old action flicks.

"Wow, the stunt bottle over the head really is universal, apparently."

[OOC: Open like, uh, something open.]

Comments

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker stared. And stared.

"What cracked out French designer from hell designed that thing?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan turned her and answered in all sincerity. "The royal hat headdress designed this especially for me."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Why?" Parker stared her. "What did you ever do to him? Take away his fabric samples?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

"It was his gift to me at my fifteenth birthday," Irulan answered, solemnly. "It was the most elaborate hat headdress he's ever designed."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker's immediate response was Oh, you poor thing. She stifled it in favor of, "It makes you look like a demented moth." She shook her head slowly. "You're not from around here. That much is obvious."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan was confused with this reaction. "Oh, but they're meant to be butterflies not moths." And added, "I'm from Kaitain."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Welcome to Earth," Parker said dryly. "Where we wear hats for warmth or attractiveness, not... whatever you're aiming for, there." She shook her head again, still disbelieving.

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

"But this is attractive," Irulan said and touched one wing of her hat headdress, "The material is made of exquisite silk."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"As art, its incredible." Not *pretty*, but incredible. "As headgear? It's impractical and cruel. No one's looking at you. They're looking at your hat."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

"It requires hours of practice and certain skill in maintaining control." Irulan explained, earnestly. "I was only allowed to wear these headdresses at my 15th year." She seemed pretty proud of that.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Everyone wears hats like that, on Kaitain?" Parker's rather horrified. "All the time?" God, the fashion travesty laid out before her imagination....

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Somehow Irulan mistakes Parker's horror for fascination and begins to nod enthusiastically. "Everyone, but since the commoners cannot afford most of the headdreses, they fabricate their own."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Now she's really sad. Just... sad. "What is your name, new kid?" She leaves off you sad pathetic victim of the delusions of a fashion world gone wrong. "And, dare I ask: commoners?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan straightens, "I am the daughter of Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, Princess Royal Irulan Corrino of House Corrino." She inclines her head, "Greetings..."

Irulan pauses and realizes she has not asked for a name, she looks at Parker hopefully.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker's lips twitched, and she managed not to smirk, just smile. A lot. "Parker. No other titles. They weigh so much. Ask around." She inclined her head in a move she remembered from Titania. "Greetings to you as well. Emperor of...?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan considered Parker, maybe Parker was a title in itself? She certainly held herself like nobility. Irulan determined she would inquire later.

"Emperor of the Known Universe." Irulan said, you could practically *hear* the capitals.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Of course he is," Parker said cordially. Some Known Universe was missing a pwintheth, to quote Aeryn. "And you're here to-- expand your education?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan hesitated, she's come to terms with it but there were days. "Yes, my father, the Emperor, thought it wise that I, as you said, 'expand my education'."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Ah." And Parker's not going to twit her for that. The hat, yes, father being pre-emptory, no. It had to be just as difficult to tell the Emperor of the Known Universe to stuff it than the Chairman of the Centre. "Well, you'll find it's great for that. Inside classes and out." She flicked a glance at Irulan's--- head thing. "And there's always shopping, on weekends."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

Irulan was grateful Parker did not pursue the subject of her father further.

"Majority of people I spoke with share the same sentiment." Irulan said and smiled. "Shopping would also be wonderful experience."

Because shopping was a universal past time as far as Irulan's concerned.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Maybe a shopping trip into D.C. is in order, sometime soon." Parker looked thoughtful. "Or even to All & Sundries. They have a few things." Never enough to satisfy Parker, though. "This weekend I have plans. But perhaps, sometime not too far from now...." She really ought to still be snarking. "But not when you're wearing the hat. Crown. Butterfly. Thing."

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

The names of the places Parker was reeling off were unknown to her but the prospect of shopping was a cheering enough thought.

"You are right, much too elaborate for a shopping trip. I could just wear my other headdress," Irulan offered, "Or my veil."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Veil's good," Parker said immediately. "Less chance of--" Embarassing me by being seen with you? "--being bothered. Some of the more traditional sects on Earth wear them too." She smiled, shaking her head, somewhat bemused. "So, have you met a lot of people here so far?"

[irulan-atreides.livejournal.com]

"Veil it is then," Irulan said with a nod. "I've only met a middling few Kaylee, my Elder sister; Pam, my roommate; Evie Carnahan, a girl named Jo, Dean Winchester and," here she pauses, trying very, very hard not to blush, "And Jack Harkness."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker knows Jack-induced blushing when she sees it. "Ohhh, yes. Jack." She grinned wide. "Total sweetheart. Taken, sadly. A natural resource being hoarded by only two people. But still, charming as hell."