Fourth Floor Common Room [evening]

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis was curled up on the couch, a dog at her feet and a bag of popcorn beside her.

No, of course it wasn't burned. That might imply that she had followed the directions as best she could, and still failed. Which was certainly not the case.

She flipped through the channels on the television, no real aim in mind aside from steering away from anything with that obnoxious false-sounding laughter. Her mind was elsewhere, and possibly pondering how she could possibly mock that awful woman more. It had suddenly become vastly more appealing, now that she was not allowed.

[oooooooooopen like a thing]

Comments

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Of course. You did mention caff, I think, before." Evie prepared a cup with the Darjeeling tea bag, and carefully poured the hot water into the mug after a moment. "Milk, sugar, or lemon?" She sighed a little. "This makes me miss home, a bit. My mother always did this part."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke wrinkled his nose up. "No stuff, please," he said, reaching for the mug and cradling it in his hands. "Where's your mom now? Obviously not here, of course, but back in England, right?"

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Plain as plain, then," Evie said, nodding. "And yes, she's at Oxford. Teaching at the ladies' college there. History and archaeology."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Sounds fascinating," Luke said with a smile. "My mother was involved in politics."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Was she?" Evie brightened, looking intrigued. "My Patriotism class has been discussing involvement in politics lately. Was it accepted for your mother to be politically interested, or did she have to fight to be allowed to participate?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Oh, it's commonplace," Luke said. "My twin sister's back home following in her footsteps now."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Really!" This is actually quite encouraging. Evie had never thought to ask about politics on other planets before this, aside from the big picture; wars, and people flying spacecraft, and such. "Oh, that's splendid. She's rather young for that, isn't she? Or wait, perhaps not. Is there no minimum age, back home, to be allowed to vote or help with political affairs?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke snickered. "Try telling Leia no sometime. You wouldn't ask that question. We're starting our government over again--age doesn't matter, only the willingness to pitch in. Leia's been a Senator from the time she was 16 and was raised a princess. If anyone was meant to pitch in, it's her."

The pride in his sister radiated from him like its own force.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"I *am* envious," Evie said, completely sincere. "Women aren't allowed to vote in England yet, and I'd have to be 21 in any event." She smiled at Luke's pride in his sister, and said, "Senator. Lord. Good for her! I suppose being raised a princess does help with that. Irulan's much the same, come to think of it."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Irulan?" Luke asked.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Princess Royal Irulan Corinno," Evie says carefully. "A good friend of mine here, from sometime in the future, and the planet Caitain. She's the heir to the throne, but she's already been quite trained in government affairs. To be honest, I am quite relieved not to be royal or noble blood. It sounds like a great deal of responsibility."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"You get responsibility without the blood lines or fancy title," Luke said, sounding very much like he knew what he was talking about. "At least they also get the training."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie tilted her head, thinking about that. "Do you know, that's a good point." She tapped her fingers on her teacup, pondering it. "I suppose my time doesn't want women to have the responsibility, and so they claim it's too much for us. And it's difficult not to believe it *just* a little, when they won't even willingly discuss it with you." She frowned. "I really must do more research. Just so as not to be quite so intimidated by it all."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"People who have power want to keep power, generally," Luke said, pressing his lips together. "Their reasons why don't have to make sense. They just have to keep the status quo."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"No, they don't." She sighed. "It's rather easier to see that in Egyptian culture, where the strictures are so, well. Strict. On *everything*. But harder to process in England, where standards are more relaxed, and yet still not ideal." She tilted her head. "Are you going to go into politics? Or keep flying, like you told me once?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

Luke gave her a rueful smile. "A little of both, I think. I'm a Jedi."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie frowned, certain she'd heard this before, but not sure of the significance. "I'm sorry, I'm not positive I know what that is. Wait-- is your father one too?" Perhaps it was something garbled and mangled on the Radio that she's trying to remember. "Is that, a job? Or, or, a vocation?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Kind of both," Luke said. "It's a religion, and a life calling, and really complicated and boring and hard to explain."

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

"Oh, heavens. Don't feel you must, then." Evie took a sip of her drink, then did tentatively ask, "Do you want to be one?"

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"More than anything," Luke said with a smile.

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie beamed at him. "That's all right, then." She sighed, then yawned, blinking at the unexpectedness of it. "Oh, excuse me. Perhaps I should be getting to bed soon. It is becoming late."

[tatooine-doofus.livejournal.com]

"Night, Evie!"