Fourth floor common room: Monday evening

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

There was a large Firecat taking up pretty much the entire common room couch. Altra wasn't exactly giving off happy kitty vibes while he stared out the window, so it was probably best not to disturb him.

Karal didn't even try, just sat at the table with a pot of tea, attention divided between Altra, his notebook, and the box of savoury pastries he'd bought from J, GoB after class. There were far more than he could eat alone, so he'd be happy to share.

"Are you sure you don't want one?"

Altra looked at him long enough to say, :No,: then turned back to the window.

Karal shook his head and sighed, then nibbled on a pastry while he made more notes.

[ooc: open, of course.]

Comments

[im-afrog.livejournal.com]

Adam wandered into the common room, in search of something to drink. "Evening, Karal," he smiled, catching sight of his friend at the table.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Evening, Adam," Karal replied, looking up from his writing with a smile. "Are you hungry?" He nudged the box towards him. "They're very nice."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Inara was in the mood to socialize, sipping from a large mug of tea. "Karal! How are you?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Inara!" He beamed up at her. "I am very well, in fact. It's been an excellent day. Would you like to sit and have a pastry?"

[fat-halpert.livejournal.com]

Jim walked up to the fourth floor and stopped in the common room. "Hey, pastries. That's a good way to bring people in."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"I would, thank you," she decided, seating herself in a nearby chair. "How was your weekend?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Food does seem to be an irresistible attraction." Karal nudged the box a little in Jim's direction. "Would you like one? There's no shortage of them."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

If anything, his smile got wider, and he hopped up to fetch a plate, setting it in front of her before he sat down. "They're savory, so they're almost dinner. And it was wonderful! I attended a wedding, the first I've been to as a guest."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"How interesting!" Inara accepted a plate and took a bite of the pastry, enjoying the mix of flavors. "What was it like? Did you enjoy yourself?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I did. It was fascinating, very different from weddings in Karse, but the important bits were the same." He smiled and leaned back a little in his chair, describing the ceremony. "It was strange to see the bride carrying flowers instead of a candle, but considering that she later threw the bouquet, it's good that it wasn't!"

[fat-halpert.livejournal.com]

"Well, that depends on something, I think. I have to apologize to you about something first," Jim said.

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"FOOD!!!"

This was Sokka, making a running leap from the stairs and pouncing on the box of pastries.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

This was Karal dropping his notebook and staring before he started to laugh. "It is! You must be starving!"

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Do you know the significance of carrying the flowers?" She asked, fascinated by the new traditions. "And your brides carry candles?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal looked at Jim curiously. "I don't think you do, but all right. What is it?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"The flowers are thrown by the bride, and the woman who catches them is the one who will be married next. It's not mandatory," he added quickly. "Just an old tradition. And they do. The bride carries an unlit candle and the groom lights it and sets it on the altar before they take their vows, so Vkandis Sunlord will recognise that they are now united."

[fat-halpert.livejournal.com]

"A couple weeks ago I was... okay, this is going to sound weird, but I was possessed by a pumpkin. I don't know if you heard about that? But the pumpkin me kept taking your horse out for rides where I'd throw pumpkins at people," Jim confessed.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"...a pumpkin? You were possessed by a pumpkin?" Everything else sort of faded into the background, still important but...pumpkin.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"That's lovely," she said, taking another bite of pastry. "I'm still not sure about using flowers as a harbinger of future events, though."

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Sokka, with a pastry jammed in his mouth, blinked at Karal in confusion. "Why?"

Then he realized. "...OH! No, not starving. Just bored."

[fat-halpert.livejournal.com]

"That was actually pretty much my reaction when I found out," Jim said.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal blushed and pushed a bit of pastry around on his plate. "Flowers are definitely the less embarrassing of the two traditions."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Nearly as terrible," he replied, still laughing a little. "Are you less bored now? I'm not sure I know how to be entertaining."

[im-afrog.livejournal.com]

"Oh, sure," Adam wasn't about to refuse a pastry. Taking one, he smiled. "Thanks. So, how are you?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I'm very well. It was good to have time back in the Temple, even if it was an illusion." He folded his notebook shut. "And you, are you well?"