The Roof, Tuesday Afternoon

[bitchprince]

High ground had a lot of uses. Oversight was one of them, and it was one Arthur was greatly in need of. At long last the way up to the roof was his to find, a perch on it for him to take. His arms crossed, he stood and looked down. Thoughtful.

But he wasn't brooding.

Arthur Pendragon did not brood.

Or strut, at that. Mad old bat.

[[ open roof is open! ETA: and arthur's gone after the thread with liir ]]

Comments

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"Don't jump!" Not that Arthur looked like he was going to jump but it still felt like the right thing to say.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I knew it!" Penelope said, her anger directed at herself as she crossed the roof floor, taking herself to the edge to look out over the school lawn.

"I never should have-"

Oh. There was someone else up here.

[bitchprince]

Oh, grand.

"I was hardly thinking about it," Arthur snapped.

This was how he greeted people he didn't hate.

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"Well...good," Hannibal said, nodding. "I'm glad I was able to prevent you from even thinking about it. It's a little cold up here, ain't it?"

[bitchprince]

There was an unfamiliar voice calling out behind him. Arthur half-turned simply to see who it was, and found an unfamiliar face coupled to it. "Yes?"

[bitchprince]

"I've had to deal with far worse," he said. The irritation in his voice abated by a few small scraps. "You've recovered, then."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Pardon me, I was... I didn't know anyone else was up here."

She paused. "If I interrupted you, I can leave."

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"You didn't kill me or anything," Hannibal said but did turn the bruised side of his face towards Arthur. "Left me black and blue but I've had it happen before. And you were better."

[bitchprince]

"You haven't," he said, subdued. She'd sounded distressed, so he was loath to take his mood out on her.

However, as Arthur was about to return to his inspection of the surrounding area, he caught another glimpse of her face and... ceased returning.

[bitchprince]

"I'm glad you've learned to recognize that," Arthur said, modestly.

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"You were better that day," he amended. "Not that I want to fight you with staffs again but I really can't say something like that and not save my pride, you know?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

She nodded and caught his stare. Fingers found her nose and her brows puckered lightly in a frown.

Getting used to second looks was never going to fail to startle her, making her want to run and hide.

"You can ask, or say whatever it is you must be thinking. Most everyone does."

[bitchprince]

"I will be better every day," he said. In his opinion, it wasn't a boast, merely truth. "But you stayed upright as long as you could. There's little shame in that."

[not-fangirl.livejournal.com]

Not used to seeing someone else up there, Temari just raised an eyebrow at the boy before walking past him to sit on the edge of the roof. A nod was all she gave him in way of notice past that.

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

Hannibal decided not to argue that fact merely because he couldn't afford another duel so soon after the first. He needed his skull.

"Staffs your weapon of choice?"

[bitchprince]

There was but one question that he'd need to ask. Arthur knew magic when he saw it staring back at him from someone's very own face.

"Were you assaulted by a sorcerer?"

That would account for distress, to be certain.

[bitchprince]

"No, but they're easier if you're not quite as intent on killing your opponent," Arthur said, skirting the edges of dismissive with his tone. "Even if he's an idiot."

[rocksthescarf.livejournal.com]

Chuck was on the roof to smoke. Certainly not to grope people. That'd be insane and creepy.

...What?

"Hello Arthur," he said as he lit up a joint.

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

Hannibal narrowed his eyes briefly but wiped that away to grin again. "What's your weapon of choice? Your charming wit?"

[bitchprince]

"Terrific," Arthur muttered under his breath. He gave her no other consideration but the quick look he needed to identify her and gain some measure of her posture.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Of all the questions asked of her, never was that one.

"Something like that. A curse, more like."

A beat.

"I'm Penelope." No reason to forget her manners entirely.

[bitchprince]

"That would be one of them."

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"This is my surprised face," he said, letting his face go blank. "I'm sure you're popular with the ladies."

Pause.

"And guys."

[bitchprince]

"King Chuck," he answered, with a quick, respectful nod and an odd glance at Chuck's cigarette.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Puppies were wonderful things. Usually.

However, when big dark eyes stared back at him from what was supposed to be a cracked window, he had to admit that they could be a bit of trouble. As such, Liir flew up to the roof to make his landing, stuffing the broom matter-of-factly into the quiver at his hip once his feet touched the roof.

Seeing Arthur, he threw off a wave, but not wanting to be a bother (and with Arthur, he was quite sure it would be a bother) he settled where he was some ways away on the roof to stretch his legs a little before heading downstairs.