The Roof - Monday morning before classes - 11/24

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

After a week(end) of near-hermitness in his room, subsiding on tea, hot soup, and other such things as he could make in the confines of his room, Liir was in two very different states than he'd been in when he'd gone in:

He was well, of body if not of mind or soul, not that that was odd.

And he was thoroughly sick of his room.

The bedsheets had been stripped off and put in a pile with the laundry for him to do after classes, and the window had been opened to let in fresh light, but it hadn't been quite enough. That said, he wasn't quite sure he was exactly up for company yet, and so he left it to the whims of chance; people came up to the roof almost as often as they went to the common rooms, after all, the view was lovely, and the breeze was nice enough when one had a steaming hot cup of tea and was wrapped up tight in a thick Munchkinlanderwool cloak.

[exceedingly open]

Comments

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

"Hey," Amber called out as she walked out, "I've been looking for you."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked over at her with a faint smile and nodded to the blanket/cloak (he used it for both) in offer of a spot within it.

"I couldn't stand the room any longer," he admitted.

[sorry for that; lack of notifs makes me slow to notice these things]

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

She didn't hesitate. Amber came over and snuggled in close. "Does that mean you're feeling better?"

[NP. It's the same with me.]

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He nodded.

"Sweated out most of it, so I'll be doing laundry later today," he admitted with a brief, self-depreciating smile.

"I probably shouldn't be out in the cold, but as you can see, the cloak is warm, and the room was a bit stifling."

And now that, it seemed, his body was used to the cold, he didn't feel nearly so troubled by it.

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

It was cold out here but she was bundled up good. And next to him she was warm.

"You shouldn't stay out here for long at any rate," she admonished lightly with no real conviction in her tone.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He held up the tea thermos with his other hand.

"Warm inside, warm outside."

He turned his head to get a better look at her and smiled.

"What brought you up here?"

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

Amber returned his smile, her eyes bright.

"I was looking for you."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I hope you haven't been looking too long," he said with a pale blush, "I didn't mean to worry anyone. I suppose I should leave a note of some sort next time.

"'Not dead, on roof,' or something."

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

She laughed, lightly. "Nonono. It's early, so I've only been looking for a short time. I wasn't worried as much as I was curious as to where you could be. I wanted to talk to you... about Ino."

A beat.

"Well not just Ino; I wanted to talk to you, just to see you."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He blinked.

"...she didn't try to kill you or anything, did she?"

It wasn't said in a startled or alarmed tone; it was sort of surprised but matter of fact.

But he did need to check these things.

"Or yelling?"

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

"Oh, yah, you betcha she did. I'm black and blue under this coat of mine," she said with an impish lift of her brow, teasing him because she was a terrible person.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He actually ducked his head and nearly reached out to look, concern taking precedence over--

"...that's not very funny," he pointed out, having 'caught' the habit of crinkling his nose from the very sister they were discussing at such moments as these.

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

Amber giggled, she couldn't help it. "Ino wouldn't have hurt me; there was no cause for it." At least she liked to think Ino wouldn't hurt her. Hm.

"I'm sorry," she said, drawing out the 'sorry'. "I couldn't resist. You can get me back when I least expect it."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked sideways at her as if he was going to be upset before sighing out and rolling his eyes.

"I'll get you later," he said, matter of fact, something sparkling in his green eyes.

"So... you wanted to talk to me about Ino? And it doesn't involve possible or past grievous bodily harm."

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

"Looking forward to it," she smirked. And she was. She loved surprises. Any kind.

"I did, uh-huh," Amber nodded and wormed her way in closer. "I think it's possible, Liir, that you could actually mention me when you are with her."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked over at her.

"I mention you. Occasionally."

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

"But rarely, because you're afraid you'll upset her?"

A beat.

"Am I right?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Rarely," he admitted, "because it doesn't come up and because it might bother her."

He shrugged.

"I mean no offense to you, Amber."

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

"None, taken," she said, meaning it. "It's not like we spend tons of time together worth rambling on about. But... I don't know," she shrugged. "I talked to her the other evening and you should know, that it won't bother her if you do happen to talk about me. And you said you didn't basically, but for future reference, just in case, it's cool, okay?" At least Amber chose to believe what Ino had said. As much as she could make sense of it.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He nodded.

"I'll... try to. I'll admit that I'm not as good at unlearning as I am at learning."

He closed his eyes and turned to press a kiss into her hair.

"Not that I talk a great deal anyway."

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

"I know," she said, smiling up at him. "But as a favor to me, because it would make her feel better and things... well, things went all wrong between Ino and me and I realize that there is no point to any of it. So... whatever," she said with a light shrug, rubbing her mittened gloves together.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He wrapped a corner of the cloak around her hand and smiled at her.

"I'll try."

He wanted to pull her closer but he wasn't sure if she'd want that.

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

Still smiling, Amber enjoyed his taking care of her hands. It was cute.

And she definitely wouldn't mind being pulled in closer.

"Thank you," she said. "And now since you are on the mend, we need to talk about hanging out, doing something fun, yah?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I've nothing on my plate," he admitted, "other than a bit of magic I'd like to work on, and that's just... it'll take me ages, no doubt."

[minnesota-teen.livejournal.com]

"So let's go out," she bounced a little. "I need to have some fun! We can do anything, whatever you like. I was so bored last night I arranged my socks in neat little orders determined by size, color, and fluffiness."