Fourth floor hallway, Saturday morning

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal was going in search of tea, the kettle in his room having decided today was not a day it was going to work.

As Altra was out hunting, and Karal didn't want to bother him, it was a slightly slower trip than it would have been had he the benefit of Firecat sight. No doubt the 'cat would grizzle about it later, but the common room was only just down the hall and, really, what could possibly go wrong?

[ooc: While it is an open hallway, just for one, please?]

Comments

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

Spotting Karal in the hall, John thought he'd stop and say hi instead of just rushing out to do whatever it was he'd been planning to do as he headed downstairs.

"Hey Karal," he waved, forgetting about the blindness for a moment.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Being blind had led to Karal developing a good ear for people's voices. "Good morning, John," he called, smiling in the general direction of the voice.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"What're you up to this morning?" John asked, making his way toward Karal.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Tea," he explained. "It's a very important part of the morning, and the kettle in my room isn't working."

It was such a pity that being blind hadn't given him a good ear for other noises. Small noises. Small, scrabbling noises. Not unlike the ones that were coming from the ceiling above them.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I could go for some tea, mind if I join you?"

Sadly, the noise blended into the background for John, too. He really ought to learn to be more vigilant.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Of course not!" Karal grinned. "Tea is always better shared, and I can tell you about my visit to see Jaina."

There was a tiny creak, not unlike a vent cover being pushed aside, and a flash of beady eyes in the darkness.

Which Karal couldn't see, of course, what with the whole being blind thing.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I'll take it from your smile that it went well," John grinned in return, happy things were going well for once.

"Did you see that?" John could've sworn he saw something out of the corner of his eye.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Oddly enough, I didn't," he replied, sounding more amused than anything. "What did it look like?"

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. Just like a little flash of something..." John started, craning his neck to peer curiously at the ceiling.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"You and Altra," Karal said, shaking his head. "I'm sure it was nothing. Probably just a mouse."

Which is when the laws of comic timing kicked in, as they were wont to do, and the gremlin launched itself out of the vent, attracted to the shiny shiny medal around Karal's neck.

It landed on his head.

"Glory, get off!" Karal tried to grab it while it snapped at him, teeth sinking into his wrist. "Vkandis damned thing, that hurt!"

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Oh shit, not again!" John was torn between the desire to not be bitten and the desire to help his friend. Heroics won out and John rushed forward to help get the gremlin off of Karal.

The gremlin saw this as a really good opportunity to launch itself at John, strong jaws grabbing hold of his forearm as he reached to knock it away.

The expletives John uttered while he smacked the gremlin to the floor were not very nice.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal had a moment of utter horror, and enough time to mutter a very quick prayer, and then a wonderful, warm feeling filled him.

It was sunshine and butterflies and he felt as if he were floating. He sighed happily, beaming beatifically.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

Filled with dread, John stared down at the marks on his arm, hoping against hope that it wouldn't- when suddenly everything seemed brighter.

John smiled like a dork, feeling a burst of what could only be happiness rush through his chest. And he knew there was no denying this was love.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

There was a small sound of displaced air as Altra appeared, ears back and eyes wide. :What happened?:

Karal could see now, which was wonderful, because the world was beautiful. The hallway was beautiful. Even John was beautiful.

"I'm in love," Karal breathed.

Altra stared between them, wrinkled his nose at the smell of departed gremlin, and sighed. :We're going back to your room. Both of you. Right now.:

"No! You can't make me," Karal said mutinously. "I want to be with my love."

:Yes, I can.:

"You're just jealous," Karal told him, folding his arms.

:I'm what?: Altra's eyes narrowed. Gremlin bit or not, there were limits. :Do what you want, then. I'll just tag along.:

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

Lost in a mini daydream of him and his love riding horseback down to the beach, John was mostly oblivious to their exchange.

"You know, being in love is great. Altra should try it sometime." Maybe he should hook the Firecat up with Yoda.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"John is right." Karal smiled dreamily in John's direction. "There is nothing better in the world than realising you have found your one true love at last."

Altra made a choking noise, which was the sound of a Firecat trying desperately not to laugh.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John sighed, "Love is such a gift. We really shouldn't waste it." Taking time to drink tea and talk about some girl was placed fully in the 'wasting time' category.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal stood up straighter. "Again, you are right," he said, and nodded once. "If love is not acted upon, it might be lost."

And with that, he hurried away, a very amused Altra following along, just waiting to see what would happen next.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

Glad Karal was gone, John retreated upstairs to the fifth floor. He had new ideas for how to spend his day.