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

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He really hadn't been sneaking up to the roof.

Really really.

He'd just been, er, exercising. That's right. That's why he had the books in his arms and his things and a, um... stick.

Right.

He tried to figure out how he'd get past without Ino seeing him since she was in the common room.

[intraspective]

Yeah, right. With, possibly, her sister-senses Ino glanced up.

"You're lurking," she observed, flipping another page of her magazine.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I'm sneaking," he said in reply.

[intraspective]

"Uh huh," Ino said, tilting her head at him. "And does sneaking mean you're heading anywhere that's public and where people are likely to be?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I was," he said. Mildly honestly. Kind of. In a way that's only a little bit honest.

[intraspective]

She eyed him. "By going up?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"The roof is a public place," he pointed out. "And people go there often enough."

Beat.

I could have said I was flying there. I'm an idiot.

[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?"