Fifth Floor Common Room, Tuesday Morning

[intraspective]

Ino had pie. Probably more pie than she needed, but whatever. She had not made any of the pie, because she was lazy and cooking, unless it was for someone else, was not something she cared to do and besides, J,GOB made perfectly good pie anyway so why bother?

Yes. So, she flopped in the common room, idly flipping through a gardening magazine she’d picked up while grabbing the pie, and wondering if anyone would come help her eat it, of if she’d be stuck with it all by herself. Ino snickered.

Well. It was pie. In Fandom. She could probably leave it in the common room and have it gone in half an hour really.

[Open as a common room is!]

Comments

[intraspective]

She gave him a level glance. "Then I suppose you wouldn't mind sticking around here then?"

It wasn't, exactly, a question.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I suppose I could do that."

Dammit.

"Could I get a hug as well? Since I'm going to be keeping you company?"

[intraspective]

"Hugs are yours for the taking," she said, setting her plate to one side and holding out her arms. No, Ino wasn't getting off the couch. He had to come in, seriously.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He came, putting his books down on the table before accepting his hug graciously. He sat down beside her.

"How've you been?"

[intraspective]

She wiggled enough to lean up against him, relaxing, and considered his question. "Pretty good, really."

Well, she'd spent a great deal of the time with Michael. What else could she say?

"You?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Well enough," he said in reply. "I saw Karal. I gave him his tea, some cookies, and gave him an apple that tastes like an orange."

[intraspective]

"I heard he was back," she said. "But haven't seen him yet. How is he?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Blind. But otherwise well. The trouble in his world is over."

[intraspective]

"...blind?" Ino asked. "I mean, radio said something about him not seeing well, but..."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He shook his head.

"Blind. He can see through Altra's eyes, but he can't see on his own. He seemed reasonably resigned to it."

[intraspective]

"Oh."

She considered that, resting her head against him as she did so.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"He'll be all right," he told her.

"He's got plenty of friends. And he's very strong inside."

[intraspective]

She shrugged a bit. "I know," Ino said, still thinking about it.

"You been up to anything else?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He shook his head.

"No. I've been reading, really. Or working on your broom. Or cooking. Apparently he learned to cook while he was gone."

[intraspective]

"Liir," she said with exaggerated patience. "I'm sure Karal can tell me this on his own. And I'm glad you went to talk to him, but still. You're not socializing enough."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Well, it just popped up," he pointed out with a roll of his eyes. "And the rest of the things I've been doing. It was just a sidenote."

"What, exactly, is enough?"

[intraspective]

Ino considered that. Seriously. "Four people a week, that aren't me."

At least. But, hey, it'd give him a number to work for.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"...that's impossible. I'd irritate the hell out of people."

Beat.

"Do shopkeepers count?"

[intraspective]

"I talk to more than four people a week," Ino said. "Without, you know, driving everyone up the wall. And, yes, shopkeepers count."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"All right then. I can do that."

[intraspective]

"And," she added brightly. "New students are in soon! You've got to totally meet them at the picnic."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"...I usually go and watch, yes."

He'd even spoken to people the last time. They'd been strange people, but it didn't really matter to him.

[intraspective]

"You're going to go," she said confidently. "And you're going to try and make friends."

Yes.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Yes, of course. And that will go so very well.

"I did try the last time. Two thought I was insane. The other one was Hinata."

Perhaps he was exaggerating, but that happened.

[intraspective]

"But, see? I bet Hinata doesn't think you're insane," Ino said. "And that's one more possible-friend than you would've had had you not talked to anyone."