Third floor common room, Sunday evening

[future_sandworm]

While he had enjoyed the cruise more than he had expected, and eventually got used to being on a ship, Leto was happy to be back. He had considered writing one of those letters he could never send to his sister at home, but decided against it - they always made him melancholy and that wasn't what he wanted.

Instead, he brought the baliset to the common room, and after tuning the instrument he began to play a slow Caladan song, one that Gurney Hallek had once taught his father.

[Open, of course!]

Comments

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

She flashed a quick smile back. "Can't talk and play at the same time?"

[future_sandworm]

"I prefer not to," he replied. "Why?"

He kept playing, the melody slow at this point.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela shrugged lightly as she settled back to listen. "Henrietta can't. She concentrates too hard on the music to carry on a conversation. I was just wondering if it was the same for you."

[future_sandworm]

He just smiled back and continued to play. When the song ended, he said: "No, not quite, but then I know this song well." His father had liked it a lot.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Somewhere during the song Triela's eyes had slid almost completely closed. When he finished they opened again. "You're pretty good with that thing," she nodded at the baliset.

[future_sandworm]

"Thank you." He assumed that was quite a compliment, coming from Triela.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

That was because he was a good judge of character. Triela didn't often comment on other peoples' skills without criticism.

"How long have you been playing?" she asked.

[future_sandworm]

"The instrument was given to me on my fifth birthday, but I my hand were too small then." It didn't answer her question, of course, but he would rather not have to explain.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"So since you were a kid," Triela elaborated. "No wonder you're so good."

[future_sandworm]

Leto smiled. "I find it a good way to distract my mind."

[bedtime :(]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"You need distracting very often?" Triela asked in a teasing tone.

[Silly human bodies and their need for sleep! I hope you slept well!]

[future_sandworm]

"When people try my patience," he replied, smirking at her.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela chuckled in amusement. "I hope you're not talking about me."

[future_sandworm]

"Why would you say that?" Leto raised an eyebrow.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"I'd hate to think I tried anyone's patience."

Which wasn't true, really. Triela tended to be indifferent to most peoples' opinions of her.

[future_sandworm]

"Why does that bother you?"

Yes, Leto suspected she didn't care much.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela frowned, then smirked.

"Okay, so it doesn't. I was just practicing sounding polite." She lifted an eyebrow, "Guess I still don't do that too well, huh?"

[future_sandworm]

"Perhaps some more practise would be advisable." Leto stopped holding back his smile.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"I suppose so," Triela sighed theatrically. "This blending in with normal people is so much work."

[future_sandworm]

"Then why do you persist?" Leto began to adjust the tuning of the baliset.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"While they haven't said so in so many words, I suspect that it's one of the main reasons I'm here." Triela rolled her eyes. "I think they want me to be able to handle more covert types of assignments."

[future_sandworm]

"And this part of your training is not really to your liking? What would you rather do to people?" He plucked the strings lightly.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"I do better on my own," she explained. "Things are easier when you don't have to worry about other people screwing everything up."

[future_sandworm]

"Not one to rely on others, then," he said drily. "I meant, what would you rather do to those who, as you put it, 'screw everything up'?"

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"Avoid them," Triela answered easily. It wasn't as if she wished them personal harm. Or, at least, not enough to do anything about it.

She cocked her head. "What about you?"