fandomhighdorms | third floor common room - thursday evening

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third floor common room - thursday evening - 10/16

Liir was... not exactly pleased about his luck for today.

Today, of all days, this again, though the fact that others were in similar situations made him feel just a bit better about it. He didn't think that Penelope would mind him being green, especially considering his story about Elphaba, but it still was one more thing that'd be wrong during the dinner, one more thing than he wanted.

That said, he'd hopefully prepared a meal that would make up for it. Steak, dessert, and a light clear soup with vegetables to start them off. The food stayed in the pots and pans to stay hot and the iced pearlfruit tea he'd made was still in the icebox to stay cold.

Now, he just had to wait for Penelope.

[open, as common rooms are, but waiting for one; Penelope thread locked, if you please, and all threads will be before hers.]

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Penelope listened, nodding occassionally. It was interesting to learn of others way of living, if not feeling it was some sort of fairy tale place. It's what she was thinking, especially hearing about the colored horses.

"That sounds fascinating, Liir, the horses. Like it couldn't be true unless I saw it. I believe you, of course I do, it's just an amazing thing to comprehend."

She ate more of her soup and noticed how his cheeks warmed when he spoke of Trism.

"A close friend?"

He nodded.

"He came back for me," he said, without context, before taking a long sip of his drink.

"He's a good person. That's... rather rare in Oz."

"He came back for you?" Because that bared explaining, didn't it?

It did, but he was a bit worried about darkening the evening.

"I was in a rather terrible position. Most people would have left me to my fate. He came back and helped me.

"He didn't have to."

Penelope wanted to learn more about Liir.

"You don't have to talk about it, if you don't wish to. But I'm curious, if you care to expand on that rather terrible position?"

He breathed out and leaned forward, keeping his elbows off the table but only barely.

"I was being held captive," he said plainly enough, "and I used a bit of magic to... incapacitate the one insisting on the holding. The rest of them all ran out the door, Trism included, but he came back and untied me before helping me along my way."

She wouldn't ask what form of incapacitation he used; she didn't need to know this. What she was curious over was why he was being held captive. "Why?" she asked simply, quietly. "Why were you being held captive?"

Couldn't he think of better things to speak of? He could have mentioned the rain storm, the arch. But no, he mentioned the damnable--

"My Uncle," he said. "He wanted me to work for him, tell him about things i learned here, machines or magics that might be useful to him. He promised me time at Shiz, the University, a job in the government. A few other things."

He played with his soup, turning it with his spoon.

"I said no."

Tilting her head, she considered that thoughtfully. "Would telling him what he wished to know, be so terribly bad, Liir, if it had kept you safe, or moreover giving you all those things he promised you?"

Oh, he'd thought that way. He'd thought that way for quite some minutes and he'd been almost ready to agree. Everything he'd wanted, everything he'd dreamed of, everything a boy could ask for, really, if he was normal.

He swallowed.

"Yes. My uncle is one of the worst people I've ever gotten to meet in the flesh, and that is saying something, I assure you."

"Oh, I'm very sorry for that, and for questioning you," she said quickly, hoping she didn't offend him. "I've never known someone so terrible as that." Edward was the worst she's ever come in contact with. And possibly Lemon and his pesky sneaky ways.

"I questioned myself," he admitted softly. "I would have done it, damn the consequences, if he hadn't said just the wrong thing."

He sipped at his drink again.

"And not many have. My, er, family tends to sprout at the sides with headcases. I hope that's not too terribly offputting."

He breathed out.

"How's the soup?"

"What did you say?" she asked before she thought.

"No, it's not. My family is cursed."

If he was sharing, she could too, right?

"It's wonderful," Penelope said and took another bite, finishing it almost completely.

"He said," Liir explained, "that he could tell me what'd happened to my father, to Fiyero."

He shook his head.

"At which point, I realized that very man would be ashamed of me if I helped a bounder like Shell and promptly told him no."

Penelope was fast becoming confused. "I'm afraid I don't understand. Your father is here. What could your uncle tell you that you didn't know already?"

"He died," he said honestly with a spread of his hands.

"Back in my world. He was killed by the Gale Forcers, soldiers, before I was born."

She inhaled on a sharp gasp. "Oh my goodness!"

He winced.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to bring it up, but it's true. I'm... well, the only thing known is that he disappeared. I hope to here, now, but yes."

"I'm so sorry I was curious," she began, reaching a hand across the table in an effort to pat him, sooth him, something. "I'm at a loss for words. He's so nice, kind; maybe he could just stay here forever."

He let her hand land on his and smiled at her.

"No... no trouble," he said with a sip of his drink.

"And I'm working on something. I love him very dearly."

He tipped his head to the stove.

"I should get the steak out."

"I would offer my help to you, if there is anything I could do," she told him, giving his hand another gentle pat before she drew back.

"Oh, yes, please." Penelope almost forgot about dinner, so wrapped up in their conversation was she.

He collected to plates and went to the stove to serve up the steak. He came back and put her plate down before placing his own. He poured a little more of the iced tea and held up the pitcher for her.

"I hope they're all right. I thought the recipe looked appetizing."

"But, er, yes. Trism is a good friend. If I ever get around to bringing a few people to the Emerald City, I'd have to do introductions."

She raised her glass to him so he could refill hers as well. "Thank you, and the steak looks amazing," she said.

Penelope waited for him to be seated before she picked up her fork and knife. "I wasn't aware that we could bring people back to our own dimensions. I would enjoy seeing this place of yours, the Emerald City."

"You can. I've gone to the United States, off the island, and to my own world in the far future," he said.

He refilled her drink and put down the pitcher.

"What've you been up to the last couple of days?"

"I haven't even been off island yet," she admitted softly. "I... might try that, but later." Later when she was more comfortable with herself. More courageous.

"Nothing, really. I worked last night and aside from that, this week has been very quiet for me. Which I don't mind much. And you?"

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