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Third Floor Common Room - Monday Morning

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!]

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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."

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."

"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.

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

"Oh good," she sighed, relieved. "Well, surely she understands that the frequency was increased because of the oddness of last week, yes? I mean, you did mention it was not a habit."

Though Karla was getting the idea that Leto was...busy. And that got her speculating. "When are you graduating, Leto?" she asked.

"Yes, I think she did understand." He looked at Karla. "In a year. Why?"

"Doing a bit of math," she said vaguely. If all was going properly, a female usually had her Virgin Night around sixteen or seventeen. The male was chosen by the Steward of the Court, one who was known for his skill, delicacy, kindness, and care. She wasn't certain who was going to plan hers, perhaps the High Lord? But if it became necessary for Karla to take up planning of it herself, well, she would need someone who fit those criteria. "Just wondered, was all."

Not aware of her thoughts, Leto gave her a curious look. "And you? How old are you, Karla?"

"Fifteen," she answered. "I'm a freshman. Witch? Freshwitch? No, that just sounds stupid." She shook her head, trying to clear out any idea of 'freshwitch.' "I'm not sure how these levels translate to Kaeleeran systems of education. On the other hand, you probably don't have any classes about being a Black Widow or Healer, so it may not matter."

"I'm an junior now," Leto said, looking amused. "But there is no equivalent on Arrakis, and I haven't exactly been attending a school." He patted her hand. "But here it seems that graduation is the rite of passage for adulthood."

"Ah. In Kaeleer, achieving adulthood usually occurs when one makes the Offering to the Darkness. It starts a bit earlier with females, though, with our Virgin Nights. And I will truly become Queen once I put together my Court."

She smiled at Leto. "How do you become an adult on Arrakis. I bet it's much younger. You've mentioned before your world is a harsh one."

"Not through any rite, but when one is ready to accept the responsibilities of adulthood ~~I think, can't remember anything in canon about it.~~ My father was only fifteen when he defeated a man in single combat." He put a hand on the knife strapped to his leg. "All adult Fremen carry a crysknife."

He paused. "How will you go about to find a Court?"

"I look for males and females who I feel would be excellent members, and I offer them a contract. Usually, a Queen's First Circle is made up of close friends, people she can trust to do the right thing, for her Territory and not themselves. Who'll provide her with advice and information she needs, who will tell her the truth, who understand and love her people the way she does. Technically, an official Court is a Queen and twelve males. Once I have that, I have my Court. Of course, the First Circle has the three most important positions it it: the Steward, the Master of the Guard, and the Consort or First Escort. Even here, I'm keeping an eye out for people I think would serve a Court well. It's something I can't not do, in a way."

"So both males and females can be part of your Court?" Leto asked, interested to understand more. "And have you met anyone here whom you find suitable?" He grinned. That was a nosy question.

"Of course both can," she said, laughing. "The last thing I'd want is to have twelve males around with no one to fuss over but me! And I'll have a lot of the Province Queens serving me too, to keep an eye on me, as well as speak for her desmesne, and advise me. Ugh, I can't picture having no one but males to go to for advice!"

She wrinkled her nose at Leto. It was a nosy question. "It's hard to say who is suitable after only a few weeks here. But, yes, I've found several people who I think would make up an excellent Court. If you weren't already going to rule your own world, I would probably offer you a contract. Master of the Guard, most likely," she considered.

He laughed. "I'm flattered. And my sister would probably tell me I should stop being nosy."

"So, which roles at the Court are reserved for females and which ones are reserved for males?"

Karla chuckled. "The more I hear of her, the more I think I'm going to like your sister. Perhaps I shall woo her away from Fandom and Arrakis, and into my Court." She gave Leto a sly smile.

"None, really. Master of the Guard, the Steward, and the Consort or First Escort usually are, but there's no law or anything about it. But those are the three people closest to the Queen, and it's good for them to differ enough from her so that she's not constantly getting an echo-effect. She's most likely to go to them for information and advice, so they should have different viewpoints. Also the Steward is who people can usually go to when they need advice about the Queen, so it's useful to have a male there."

If Leto wasn't sure that Ghanima would never abandon him, he might have been nervous. "Now that would be unfair? Who would I depend on?" he teased.

Watching Karla, he continued: "Your country is an interesting one. How do you manage to adapt to Fandom, considering the differences?"

"Maybe she could switch off; a year here, a year there. I doubt she'd sign a permanent contract with my Court," Karla's grin was a bit wider, a little naughtier. "Though I wonder what I could offer to make that tempting. I mean, beyond unicorns and dragons and the like."

His last question caused her to wil, a little. "I don't know if I am, exactly," she admitted. "There's so much that I don't know, and can't understand. I'm taking it one day at a time, trying to do similar activities as I would at home, like the theatrical, and going out into the garden when it gets to be too much. But, I feel safe here, and that helps."

"Perhaps I should warn Ghanima before I introduce you!" he told Karla, grinning.

"Safety does compensate for a lot," he said. "And I believe you have people who are willing to explain." She was friends with Dinah, after all.

"But Leto, that would take all of the fun out of it," she pouted. "Or do you think you need that advanced warning?"

Saucy witch was saucy.

"And people do explain things. A lot. Generally without getting impatient even. But half the time their explanation needs an explanation of it's own."

Saucy witch got her arm poked, accompanied by a mock hurt look.

"Dinah did quite a lot of explaining when I first arrived here," he said.

Mock hurt look got an impish grin in return.

"Dinah does her best to explain things to me simply. She's very sweet, in many ways. And I hear she's still explaining things to you in an attempt to keep you from getting hurt," she said with a sidelong grin.

"Yes, she has a good heart," Leto replied. "And yes, she still explains things. I feel honoured by her concern for my welfare." He grinned. "Anything in particular she told you?"

"I think I'm more interested in what she told you," Karla teased.

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