Third floor common room, Saturday morning

[future_sandworm]

Even before he opened his eyes, Leto knew where we was. He had fallen asleep on the couch in the common room together with Alice, the two of them still in the formal clothes from last night and wrapped in blankets, Alice wearing some kind of fuzzy slippers. He had been generous enough to let Arthur have the room, but it had turned out better than he expected for himself too.

Leto stretched, careful so as to not wake the still sleeping Alice. Reaching out to wrap the blanket a little tighter around her, he smiled. He found that he was quite happy, and attributed this to the good company.

The murmur of voices inside his mind stirred, but he drew a deep breath, and didn't listen. Slowly he got to his feet and crossed the room. Coffee was needed.

[Alice modded with permission. It's an open common room!]

Comments

[future_sandworm]

"No, it doesn't," Leto confirmed. "But it places you in the category of people from this world but of a different time."

[endsthegame]

"I've been getting by," Ender said, calmly, warming his hands on his glass. "And you're from another planet."

[future_sandworm]

"I am," Leto said. "But I'm not the only one here."

[endsthegame]

"In Fandom, you're never truly alone," Ender said, with a twitch of his eyebrow. "Or that's the theory."

[future_sandworm]

"Does that mean you agree with or object to the theory?" Leto drank deeply from the mug.

[endsthegame]

"I think I object to people equating 'having something in common' with 'not being alone'," Ender said, neutrally.

[future_sandworm]

"There is no inherent connection between the two, no," Leto agreed. "So are you alone?"

[endsthegame]

"Not at the moment," he replied, tilting his head, "Unless you're talking metaphysically."

[future_sandworm]

"I was, yes," Leto smiled. "After all, we're both here, which would have made the question pointless."

[endsthegame]

"But that answer bought me another ten seconds," Ender said, a little dryly.

[future_sandworm]

Leto laughed, shaking his head. "You have a very odd sense of humour, Ender."

[endsthegame]

"It's not odd," Ender said, with a shake of his head, and brought the tea to his mouth again. "Arcane, maybe. Farfetched. Recondite. Someone with your eyes shouldn't be calling anyone odd."

[future_sandworm]

"I didn't call you odd," Leto pointed out, laughing. "And it's not necerraily a criticism."

[endsthegame]

"I didn't say you did," Ender pointed out. He was still calm in the face of that much laughter. "But I'll take the lack of criticism."

[future_sandworm]

Noticing that Alice began to stir, Leto glanced back at the couch. "I have to interrupt this conversation now, I'm afraid," he told Ender. "But it was a pleasure to meet you."

[endsthegame]

"Sure," Ender said. He wasn't much for that kind of protocol. "Talk to you later," he continued, drained the last of his tea, and put down the cup.