Third Floor Common Room - Monday Morning

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

Claire was in a great mood this morning. She felt like a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders thanks to her conversation with Dinah last night. Plus there was the whole normal hormones thing.

And maybe thinking about Jon a little.

She was awake far earlier than she needed to be, so she headed down to the common room and found what she needed to bake some cookies. She put the radio on and might even be singing along a little.


[open as common rooms are!]

Comments

[future_sandworm]

"Ah." Leto made a note of being careful when he drank any tea offered to him by Karla.

"Ghanima teaches a class called 'Terrain and you' this term," he said. "And I'm sure she would be happy to talk to anyone who stops by during her office hours. Perhaps I could introduce you unless there are timezone issues." He paused, grinning. "I think you would be able to recognise her by the eyes."

[I have to disappear for a while. SP?]

[glacial_queen]

"An introduction would be appreciated," Karla told him. She would approach this Ghanima with Protocol, and the respect befitting a witch of her standing. "Though I'm sure you're right about the eyes."


[SP is love. I haven't had TZ issues with Ghanima-mun yet.]

[future_sandworm]

"I will introduce you, then," he promised, although he did feel as if someone who knew him also knew Ghanima.

"Have you visited the garden again?" Leto asked, remembering their conversation there and how Karla had tended to the plants.

[glacial_queen]

"A bit, handwavily. It was relaxing during this past weekend. One of the very few times I felt like myself, actually," Karla said, pleased that Leto had remembered. "But I didn't want people to find me there, so I didn't go often. I felt like the serenity would be broken if they did."

[future_sandworm]

"Because some people would not see the serenity like you do?" he asked. "Or simply because solitude is part of it?"

[glacial_queen]

"Well, it was, then," she said with a wry grin. "It was much easier to behave myself if no one else was around."

Karla took a deep breath. Might as well get this over with. "Leto, in the salle...I'm sorry about not concentrating well. And if I made you uncomfortable. I-- You--" she shrugged, helplessly.

[future_sandworm]

"Don't worry about that," Leto replied quickly. "There was something affecting people on the island. Neither of us were immune, but I see no reason to make too much of it." He looked at Karla, reminding himself not to reach for her hand.

[glacial_queen]

She leaned over to pat his arm, though she looked like she wasn't certain how it would be received. "True. It's just that I...before that, sex was purely theoretical, so...I'm just really new at this," she said, a little miserable.

[future_sandworm]

The touch was comforting, and a relief, as he didn't think she would appreciate physical contact. Leto let his own fingers brush lightly over Karla's to tell her he felt comfortable with it.

"You mean you haven't felt those feelings before?" That surprised him. She was young, but he hadn't expected that.

[glacial_queen]

If Karla could read inner narration, she would have laughed. Most members of the Blood were very physically affection, especially a Queen and her males. They, especially Warlord Princes, needed that touch to strengthen their bonds.

It was the touch of strangers, especially stange males, that Karla couldn't tolerate.

"No, never," she replied, shaking her head. "Darker-Jeweled witches mature at a slower rate than landens. Things were...waking up...but slowly." Living back on her familial estate with Hobart and his cronies--and trying to patch up the witches they left behind--had probably helped keep things buried, too, but Leto didn't need to know that.

[future_sandworm]

Of course, Leto didn't know that.

"Then the past week must have been more confusing to you that it was to others," he said quietly. Those kinds of feelings had never been unknown to him, through the Other Memories.

Hoping he wasn't overstepping a boundary he patted her hand lightly, but didn't linger.

[glacial_queen]

Too true.

She laced her fingers with his briefly, then released his hand. "I think it was," she said softly. "For the first few days, I didn't even understand what was happening. It was easier to control afterwards, when I did understand, but I was happier when I didn't, I think. Less of an impetus to control myself, because I didn't think anything was wrong, if that makes sense."

[future_sandworm]

Her ability to talk about this without blushing or seeming too embarrassed made responding easier. "Innocence creates a certain kind of happiness," Leto replied. "But knowledge can make it more interesting, and self control, when necessary, becomes a habit." He smiled at her.

[glacial_queen]

Discussing sex as a theoretical or academic subject would never be a problem for Karla. "I hadn't built up enough self-control to make it interesting or a habit." She grumpyfaced. "Instead, it was just a pain in my ass."

[future_sandworm]

He had to smile, but it was a warm smile. "I am sorry to hear that, although I assure you it will be more enjoyable without the influence of strange aphrodisiacs."

[glacial_queen]

"Enjoyable, but still frigh--" she paused, tried hastily to think of something besides 'Friday' she could say instead, and then gave up. "--tening." Maybe he'd think she meant something else. Like hormones were scary, or something.

[future_sandworm]

He noticed the change of word, of course, but didn't comment on it. "Well, it does involve a certain lack of control."

He avoided her eyes, remembering what Dinah had said.

[glacial_queen]

"Right," she agreed quickly. "How did you handle it?" she asked, not that she was trying to change the topic or anything. Really.

[future_sandworm]

"When I found out what was going on I stayed in my room as much as possible," he replied truthfully. "And luckily my roommate didn't decide on the same strategy."

[glacial_queen]

Karla had heard about the relationship Leto had with Arthur, but wasn't entirely certain why it was so news-worthy. Leto kissing Triela, now, that was a big deal. "Neither did mine. How soon did you figure out what was going on?"


[LJ ate my notifs]

[future_sandworm]

Leto would certainly agree with Karla there.

"On Thursday it was clear that I... lacked self control." He bit his lip. "Alice was upset. I will have to make that up to her."

He wasn't sure if Karla knew about him and Alice, but he assumed she could guess from the context.

[LJ gets no cookies]

[glacial_queen]

Karla waasn''t entirely sure she knew who Alice was. They'd spoken the first day of classes, but not since then.

And she misunderstood the concern. "Because you kissed Triela? It was fairly foolish, Leto," she scolded. "Alice was probably just concerned that you'd end up injured. ALL emotions were running high last week."

[future_sandworm]

He shook his head. "She was upset by the fact that she was the last of three people I met that day, which she learnt from the radio report. That is not a habit of mine," he assured her, then added: "And neither is kissing Triela."

[glacial_queen]

"Oh," she said quietly, thinking. Then, carefully, "But Alice is aware that you have other lovers, yes?"

Inwardly she was chanting Say yes. Say yes. Say yes, pleeeeeease. She would prefer that she go one liking Leto.

[future_sandworm]

"Oh, yes, of course," he replied quickly. "It was more a question of... how often." He laughed, shaking his head.