Third Floor Common Room, Friday Late Afternoon

[bitchprince]

Two particular occurrances had led to Arthur finding himself thoughtful. And worried, although that by itself was hardly anything new. In an effort not to dwell too much, he'd relocated from his room to the common room where he draped himself over a chair.

He stared at the wall.

The change of scenery already had him cheerier. Honest.

He just needed a distraction.

[[ open common room! ]]

Comments

[bitchprince]

"Penelope," Arthur greeted, bowing his head at the girl as she passed on by. He believed that was her name, right? He wouldn't forget the face, or the magic that wrought it.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

She glanced over, too wrapped up previously in her own musing's to have noticed anyone.

"Oh, hello Arthur," she returned, smiling. "How are you?"

[bitchprince]

"Perilously in need of a distraction," Arthur admitted, wryly. "How's..." he trailed off, because he was only rude in a certain kind of way. "Yourself?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"As am I," she replied, placing her apple slices on a plate before she walked over and made herself comfortable in a chair. "I am well, if not slightly bored, as I basically mentioned. My room became stifling."

She was certain her appearance affected him so she set her plate aside, not wanting to draw further attention to herself by eating in front of him. Her nose seemed to wrinkle up further when she ate.

[bitchprince]

"It's usually a good time to get out when the walls start approaching," he agreed, and made a good effort of angling no further attention towards her nose.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Or when the phone is relentless in it's ringing," she replied with a wry twist of her lips. Watching him, she plucked an apple slice and took a bite off the tip.

[bitchprince]

"The phone?"

He shot her a questioning look.

"That thing the squirrels keep failing to explain to me. It rings, then."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Telephone, actually, but yes. It rings and never shuts up. Especially when there is an irate, upset parent on the other end of the line."

Penelope was a tad irritated at her phone today.

[bitchprince]

"Other end of the line," Arthur repeated, "Right." He... was just going to accept this and move on. "Why is your parent upset?"

He would blame part concern and part utter boredom for asking the question.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I explained that I no longer wished to be engaged to a certain gentleman," she answered, shrugging. "The conversation did not go well and now she wishes that I come home at once."

[bitchprince]

"...You broke your own engagement?"

Oh god. This might lead to talk of marriages. But it was still a little... odd.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I did, yes," she replied softly. "The gentleman in question is relieved, so I don't feel terrible. I'm relieved, to a certain extent, actually."

[bitchprince]

"Well," Arthur contributed, "That's... good."

He'd once gone insane and nearly eloped with some woman. The concept still made him want to leap off of something. "Give you some time," he added.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Mm," was all she managed at that.

"Have classes been going well for you?" she asked, changing the topic. After all, it wasn't a favorite.

[bitchprince]

"My teachers continue to be insane," Arthur said, more than a little relieved to be off that particular topic. "But I'm getting used to it. Yours?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

She arched a curious brow. "Who are your teachers? And I can't complain. Movie Appreciation is a wonderful class, even if I do question particular movie choices."

[bitchprince]

"Yzma," he said, barely managing to forgo the 'mad bat' title (although it was certainly evident in his voice), "Hammer. And Sir Minsc, who actually isn't that bad for a madman." He was entertaining and knew his stuff.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I'm not familiar with the first two, but I very much like Minsc and Boo," she said, her smile warm. "How he is a madman, I am not certain. He is exuberant, which is contagious."

[bitchprince]

"Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference," Arthur said, sagely.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

She blinked, considered him. "You are serious?"

[bitchprince]

"Sure. You walk into a tavern and smash up a table in your exuberance, anyone'd call you a madman." He was rather amused by the idea, actually.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I've... not seen any such thing," she said. "Not to say that it has not happened. Sounds to me as though he is not aware of his own strength."

[bitchprince]

"The first thing he asked us to do was wreck our tables," Arthur said, remembering it fondly. "Which was good fun."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Positive energy," she decided. She would not like to think the man seriously mad.

[bitchprince]

"Positive energy," Arthur repeated, "Why not."